The goal of life
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The goal of life.
Ananda Vrindavaneswari Devi Dasi: Golf is not my cup of chai but there is a tournament happening next door so it’s a good meditation. 18 holes, 18 chapters of the Gita. There’s one link. The other is the meandering journey a golf course takes, surely mirroring the meandering journey of our life. At times in the rough, at times flying high, at others chipping away in the sand pits.
One thing golf has are clear goals. Get the ball into the hole with the least number of shots as you can. That’s the focus of all the effort and the supporting rules make the game both fair and challenging. When the goal is clear the participation is more meaningful.

When we have specific goals in life we do better. They hold our mind together so it doesn’t go off kilter and take us away to lower modes. One needs to have both major and minor goals. If we ask someone ‘What is the goal of life in general?’ we will get different answers. ‘What is the goal of your life in particular?’ more different answers.

For the big picture, the general goals are happiness, meaning, freedom, and love. We would then say that you can’t have any of those to completeness unless you add the goal of questioning and remembering. Who am I? Where have I come from? To whom do I belong? Am I a child of the earth or of the heavens?

Questioning is the essence of being human. If they are set right, the goals we make around them will satisfy us.

Lifestyle of a Monk. This is an article which appeared in the…
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Lifestyle of a Monk.
This is an article which appeared in the Gujarati News Magazine, known as Chitralekha.
It is very interesting to know that how monks or sadhus receive training in ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Like other institutions, which follow the teachings of Sanatana-dharma, one of the important aspects of training in ISKCON is to become well-versed in the study of the Sastras or the Vedic scriptures. ISKCON has established various centers all over the world, and especially in India to give training to individuals who desire to dedicate their lives to the service of God and humanity. The various centers are located in Vrindavana, West Bengal, Mayapur, Mumbai, etc. There is one such center located in the outskirts of Mumbai in a village known as Galtare. There ISKCON Chowpatty has developed an eco-friendly project called Govardhan Ecovillage. In the serene atmosphere of the eco-village is established, the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha, to give systematic training to aspiring sadhus in scriptures. The Vidyapitha provides a full-time residential course of 2 years, in the study of two prominent scriptures; the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Caitanya Caritamrita.

How do individuals get an experience in the lifestyle of Bhakti in ISKCON? The manager of the operations Team at GEV, Jadhu Thakur Das, gave a reply to this question.

He said – All over the world in various institution and corporate worlds, ISKCON conducts various sessions/seminars on topics like “Search for Happiness”, “Power of Mind Control”, etc. Through such seminars, some people express an interest in knowing more about what is the lifestyle of a devotee in the Hare Krishna movement. They are advised to chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra every day, read scriptures regularly and to follow the four regulative principles – No meat eating, no gambling, no illicit sex and no intoxication.

To give them a practical experience of such lifestyle, in different countries, we have developed Bhaktivedanta Academy for Culture and Education (BACE). It is a stay facility wherein 10-12 bachelors stay together and practice the process of Bhakti under the guidance of a senior person. Simultaneously they continue their prescribed occupational duties i.e. their professional work. After a stay for at least one year in BACE, an aspiring monk gets a chance to stay in the temple, at the same time continue their professional duties. They mandatorily need to attend the morning program which starts at morning 4:30 am. This includes Mangal Aarti, Tulsi Puja, Chanting and Srimad Bhagavatam class. Then they set off to their jobs during the day time. After a year of such training, they undergo further training as a monk (Brahmachari Ashram)) or enter into married life (Grihastha Ashram). The aspiring monks are provided a brahmachari training for one year, which includes the study for becoming a Bhakti Sastri and also they are engaged in various services like temple cleanliness, assistants in puja-vidhi, book distribution, etc. The course of Bhakti Sastri includes the study of 4 books- Bhagavad Gita, Sri isopanisad, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Upadeshamrita.

The Dean of Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha, Gaurang Darshan Das, a highly educated sadhu, tells us more about the vision of Vidyapitha. He has a Masters degree in System Science and automation from ISC Bangalore.

He said – The vision of Vidyapitha is to inspire and inculcate Vaishnav qualities and a mood of selfless service in the students. Our sutra is Truth, Tradition and Transformation. Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha facilitates the study of the Absolute Truth in a Traditional method that leads to the Transformation of the hearts of the students. The course is based on the 5s model.

Sadhana which includes rising up early in the morning, attending Mangal aarti, chanting japa, kirtan and attending Srimad Bhagavatam class.
Svadhyaya – Study of Vedic Scriptures systematically which includes hearing, recollection, contemplation and speaking of the scriptures. Also learning scriptural verses.
Seva – service in GEV departments, BVVP services and Deity services.
Sangh – Through classes and study groups, assignments and presentations, retreats and Get-together.
Sadachara – BVVP aims at training the students not only academically, but also as sincere and civilized individuals with exemplary Vaishnava behavior. Exclusive sadachara classes are conducted for the students.

The current batch which has joined BVVP has students from different states in India like Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnatak, Orissa, Tamil Nadu , Gujarat and Jammu. The students joining the course are highly qualified people from various fields. We have one students with double PHD, 2 PHD students, one Doctor, one from IIT, an NRI from Maurtius, a student from new Zealand and many more. The everday schedule for the course is like this – 3 hrs of lecture, then whole day the students are absorbed in studying and preparation of exam for the next day. This schedule is applicable for 5 weekdays. In weekends, they have their services in GEV. After their training in Vidyapitha, the students get engaged in various projects or services in different ISKCON temples. Furthur, after couple more years, they accept the saffron cloth of a renunciant. These highly qualified monks or brahmacharies serve without any remuneration or salary.

Jadu Thakur Das further said – In GEV – we have a Goshala, eco-friendly cottages, a forest which is a replica of Vrindavan, beautiful landscapes, vegetable and fruit gardens, etc. All these is developed by local monks staying here. In the 40 km radius, GEV conducts its various activities like preaching activities, education of poor children, helping them with their primary and secondary education. Not only that, to refrain people from going to cities in search of earning their livelihood, GEV has employed them in its VADI project which helps them in doing sustainable farming, earning a good income by using their own land. For Eg: By the cultivation of mogra and getting it distributed. The villagers who were earning 10000 rupees per year are now earning 80000 rupees per year.

Also, in GEV, we grow different varieties of rice. We have even recovered the rare rich quality of rice which was almost extinct. Rain prediction techniques are developed based on witnessing the direction of air during specific period/day of the year known as Akhatija.

The inspiration behind all these different activities in GEV is HH Radhanath Swami. He was born in Chicago. He got initiated by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in the year 1971. He is the main guiding force in GEV and also of the many projects of ISKCON running in Mumbai.

Festival of Sravanam Kirtanam in Italy 2017 (Album with…
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Festival of Sravanam Kirtanam in Italy 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When the living entity understands the target of his life, he takes the arrow of his purified life, and with the help of the bow – the transcendental chanting of pranava, or the Hare Krishna mantra – he throws himself toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.42 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eJA7EF

Monday, July 3rd, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

Walking Through the New and Old

Now, this nice brahman (priest) by the name of Ramanada invites a group of us monks, residents of the ashram, to his home in Markham, one day every year for pizza.  The delight is on for the eight of us.  We are enthusiasts for the change of pace.  Many slices went down the tubular sections of our bodies, in addition to some good home-made soup.

Yes, it was a knock-out, and a little snooze on the couch—well-deserved for the hard work of consumption.

Ramananda and I talked about country living where there’s more green and peace.  We were actually more than dreaming.  It is not just a concept but a step away from reality.  All that’s required is to conscript another small number of like-minded souls to buy into or commit to a plan.

Incidentally, Karuna, a younger monk in the ashram, and I walked, out of curiosity, to Sherborne Commons, off of Lake Ontario.  It will be this year’s site of one of North America’s largest Chariot Festivals.  The usual spot, the Toronto Islands, are flooded due to excessive rain.

Here’s what we discovered as we ambled through neighbourhoods, and then back to the ashram.  The city is serious about creating green spaces for families in the downtown area.  Of course, everyone’s out and about because it’s summertime.  The smells are great.  The colours are green and rich.  Mind you, the concrete does exist, but it is broken by patches of play and relaxation areas.

The city is wisening up.  Also, I led Karuna to 187 Gerrard Street—now a house—formerly a temple of forty  residents, where I joined in ’73.  Going down a good Memory Lane is worth the walk.

May the Source be with you!


8 km

Sunday, July 2nd, 2017
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Russell, Ontario

New School

In this modest-sized town, a bedroom community of Canada’s capital, a small Krishna devotee nook is developing which includes a Montessori school with a Vedic edge to it.  As a monk, I have an obligation to give moral support to such an endeavour.

Heading up this noble task of educating a younger generation is Vrajabhumi, with the project funded and facilitated by Krishna Dulal, her husband.  The school has been running now for one year and is called the the Bhakta Prahlad Primary school.  Plans are to expand.

Our gathering this morning with the nine students was an actual graduation for the young ones.  Naturally all of us adults, parents, friends and ascetics were charmed by their presentation, including the launching of their CD called “Chant Together.”  The sound is crisp and clean—heart pulling.  The sound of innocence.  The sound of angels is how it also registers with me.

It’s just too bad that kids have to grow up.  It’s impossible to change the pattern.  You just can’t be a Peter Pan forever.  After all, Sri Krishna sees to the cyclic pattern of the six changes, beginning with birth to the death bell, and then repeating this circle game once again—the game of nature called samsara, designed to work toward refinement.

I wish the school all success, especially for its upcoming second year after the summer break.

At our gathering, one member, Raymond, presented a concept for an eco-village project.  It sounded good.

May the Source be with you!


8 km

New Vrindaban Kids’ Camp Makes Spirituality Fun
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By Madhava Smullen

“We never thought a spiritual event could be so much fun – we would love to come again!” wrote one family after attending the Children’s Summer Camp in New Vrindaban last year.

“Wonderful event – we can’t wait till next year,” wrote another. “Our son says he will miss New Vrindaban very badly.”

These families are in luck. After the very well-received first New Vrindaban Children’s Summer Camp drew around 25 families from up and down the East Coast, organizers Sundari Dasi and Mercy of Gopal’s Garden Preschool are turning it into an annual event.

Due to popular demand this year’s camp will be extended an extra day and will run from Wednesday July 26th to Sunday the 30th. Last year’s attendees enjoyed themselves so much that most are expected to return. Local children in and around New Vrindaban are also invited to participate.

The camp will welcome children ages 3 – 12, separating them into groups to ensure age-appropriate activities.

The fun will kick off on Wednesday with a bonfire, prasadam and ice-breakers. Every morning, the kids will greet the Deities and offer Srila Prabhupada flowers at Gurupuja, then learn yoga poses in New Vrindaban’s brand new lakeside Yogashala.

After breakfast, a variety of activities will steep them in the devotion and rural adventure of New Vrindaban. Children will get to care for the cows at the goshala, trek in the wild and learn about nature and how to identify different herbs. They’ll visit the historic site of the original Vrindaban farm and see the building where Srila Prabhupada stayed in 1969. They’ll paint terracotta pots in their own style, then learn how to transplant flowers grown in New Vrindaban into them. And they’ll learn hands-on gardening and harvesting.

The children will also do arts and crafts, where they will learn how to make jewelry and ghee whicks for the Deities. At the end of the camp, there will be competitions in freehand drawing and jewelry-making, with prizes.

“To this day Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra are still wearing jewelry made by last year’s winner!” says Sundari Dasi.

Every evening there will be exciting festivals. In Holi: Festival of Varsana, the children will spray each other with color. In Pushpa Abhisekh, they will shower small Deities of Radha-Krishna with flowers. In the Swan Boat Festival, they’ll make floating ghee lamps themselves and cast them out onto the lake as Radha Krishna glide across it. And during Rathayatra, they will get to decorate their own small chariot and pull it in a kirtan procession through New Vrindaban.

Evenings will also include campfires and stories by award-winning storyteller Sankirtan Das  from Krishna’s pastimes and the Mahabharat.

The summer camp will end with the distribution of cupcakes, certificates and prizes, as well as children getting to speak about their experience. A big Sunday Feast will round off the event.

Throughout the camp, speakers like Sankirtan Das, Gaurnataraj Das and Aruddha Dasi will give seminars on parenting, homeschooling, yoga and healing to engage the parents while their kids have fun.

“This summer camp,” says Mercy, “Is about sharing the best highlights of New Vrindaban life with families who live in cities, and don’t usually get the chance to participate in such activities.”

“It’s a hands-on experience of fun in Krishna consciousness!” Sundari adds with a grin.

Please join us for this fun Krishna conscious experience. Twenty of the twenty-five spots available for families have already been filled, so space is limited. First come, first served. Make sure to register asap! The cost is $190 per person, including lodging, meals, and activities for kids and adults.

Contact Gaurnatraj Das at 304-312-6539 or gaurnatraj@gmail.com

Or Sundari Devi Dasi at 304-312-2069 or sundaridevidasi@gmail.com

http://www.nvbhakti.com/new-vrindaban-childrens-summer-camp-2017/

 

 

Guru in the Morning
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Hare KrishnaBy Danavir Goswami

A synonym for the word guru is acarya which means one who teaches by example. Guru means preacher and preacher means acarya— äcära pracära. A devotee who executes sadhana bhakti carefully for many years may be allowed to accept disciples. A main qualification for one’s becoming a guru in the first place was his strict adherence to the practices defined by his spiritual master. After some time however if that devotee, now guiding disciples, relaxes his sadhana due to “being advanced,” or to “preaching,” or some other reason, is it not a fly in the ointment? Unable to maintain the standard after accepting disciples, he should either immediately rectify the situation or in our humble opinion, discontinue accepting more disciples until he is able to recover. Meticulous attendance at the morning program is required for devotees living in an ISKCON temple, and it is a prerequisite for receiving brahminical initiation, why then should it not apply for gurus? Continue reading "Guru in the Morning
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Krishna’s reciprocation. Shastrakrit Das: I was flooded…
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Krishna’s reciprocation.
Shastrakrit Das: I was flooded with things to do at the temple yesterday ( Sunday ) I forced myself to go out to distribute books at least for a couple of hours.
I set up book table out this Indian grocery. An hour and a half went by and only one book was distributed. I was praying like anything for some results since I had to go back to temple for Sunday feast in the next half hour.
All of a sudden an older Indian gentleman and his daughter came to my book table and took little Maha Prasad. They casually asked if I have any Srimad Bhagavatam in Gujarati? I couldn’t believe my ears.

When I showed him the Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam set he was like “oh I don’t want these thick books, I only want the Sanskrit slokas & Gujarati translations. All in just one book, one small book. I don’t want any purports.”

I explained to him “just like a mother eats rice, dhal, chapati etc which an infant can’t digest. The food gets transformed into mothers breast milk & the mother feeds that to the infant , the infant can easily digest that. Similarly, Acarya’s headed by Srila Prabhupada have digested this deep message of the Bhagavata Purana & have written purports (commentaries) in such a way we can understand easily .”

This pious man Kirit heard me out for a while & agreed to buy the Bhavatam set right then he also gave me a donation/tip for doing good work.

Anytime I go out on books against all odds Krishna reciprocates even more :)

By the way, they own an ice cream shop 🍦😁

He Govinda! “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude….
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He Govinda!
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.”
17. Grateful
Any person who is conscious of his friend’s beneficent activities and never forgets his service is called grateful. In the Mahābhārata, Kṛṣṇa says, “When I was away from Draupadī, she cried with the words, ‘He Govinda!’ This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!” This statement by Kṛṣṇa gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord simply by addressing Him, “He kṛṣṇa! He Govinda!”
The mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotee. It is clearly stated in this verse that anyone who addresses the Lord immediately attracts the attention of the Lord, who always remains obliged to him.
Another instance of Kṛṣṇa’s feeling of obligation is stated in connection with His dealings with Jāmbavān. When the Lord was present as Lord Rāmacandra, Jāmbavān, the great king of the monkeys, rendered very faithful service to Him. When the Lord again appeared as Lord Kṛṣṇa, He married Jāmbavān’s daughter and paid him all the respect that is usually given to superiors. Any honest person is obliged to his friend if some service has been rendered unto Him. Since Kṛṣṇa is the supreme honest personality, how can He forget an obligation to His servitor?
[05. Other Books by Śrīla Prabhupāda / The Nectar of Devotion, “Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu” / NoD 21: Qualities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa / 17. Grateful]
― Henri Frederic Amiel
17. Grateful
Any person who is conscious of his friend’s beneficent activities and never forgets his service is called grateful. In the Mahābhārata, Kṛṣṇa says, “When I was away from Draupadī, she cried with the words, 'He govinda!’ This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!” This statement by Kṛṣṇa gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord simply by addressing Him, “He kṛṣṇa! He govinda!”
The mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotee. It is clearly stated in this verse that anyone who addresses the Lord immediately attracts the attention of the Lord, who always remains obliged to him.
Another instance of Kṛṣṇa’s feeling of obligation is stated in connection with His dealings with Jāmbavān. When the Lord was present as Lord Rāmacandra, Jāmbavān, the great king of the monkeys, rendered very faithful service to Him. When the Lord again appeared as Lord Kṛṣṇa, He married Jāmbavān’s daughter and paid him all the respect that is usually given to superiors. Any honest person is obliged to his friend if some service has been rendered unto Him. Since Kṛṣṇa is the supreme honest personality, how can He forget an obligation to His servitor?
[05. Other Books by Śrīla Prabhupāda / The Nectar of Devotion, “Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu” / NoD 21: Qualities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa / 17. Grateful]

The Art of Meaningful Friendship
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Parsada Dasa

A confidential thought gets exposed as soon as it reaches six ears. (This means that the confidential thought should stay always between the two ears of the speaking friend and the two ears of the listening friend. As soon at the thought reaches a third person, it has reached six ears and is now exposed). As a good friend, we should know how to keep secrets. These secrets are something which can cause immense public embarrassment to our friends if revealed. These are weaknesses that have been confidentially confided in us. Continue reading "The Art of Meaningful Friendship
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The Importance Of Opposition And Life Reverses
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Hare KrishnaBy Karnamrita Das

In the lives of great persons there is always opposition and apparent road blocks in accomplishing their goals or mission in life. Whether through another person, an accident, their own body or mind, or some natural disturbance, what appears on the surface to be an impediment is passed through and the glory of the person is revealed. Practically we can see that great success in any undertaking or field is not accomplished without passing through many setbacks and even failure. In the personal growth or success literature such perseverance and determination in the face of what seem insurmountable odds are part of any great person’s story. Continue reading "The Importance Of Opposition And Life Reverses
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In The Beginning Was The Word (Album with photos) Indradyumna…
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In The Beginning Was The Word (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our 2017 summer festival tour has begun. As always, our focus is on delivering the holy names to one and all through the medium of harinama, attractive cultural shows on our festival stage, numerous booths and tents depicting India’s spiritual culture, our restaurant and many other attractions. Though rain canceled one day of festivities, the sun broke out enough the next day for us to share the wonderful world of Krsna consciousness with many fortunate souls.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UuhZKR

When we don’t get an intimation of our death, as did Parikshit, how should we practice bhakti?
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Answer Podcast

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When we are provoked, we get angry despite our resolutions not to do so – what to do?
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Answer Podcast

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See the positive, not the negative, as the primary active force in the cosmos
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Podcast

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Spiritualizing our relationships 2 – To improve relationships, decrease expectation and increase contribution
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[Phone class to everydaychant.com online sanga]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

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Become a believer
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2015, Johannesburg, South Africa, Youth Group Lecture)

Srila Prabhupada described how one corner of the spiritual world becomes covered, just as how a corner of the sky becomes covered by a cloud. So this corner of the spiritual sky that is covered, is the material world! And in the material world, people think that they have fallen into material life whereas the truth of the matter is that they are still in the spiritual world. So, therefore, it doesn’t take much – one simply has to come to the point of really getting rid of the cloud, to the point that you really believe that we are still in the spiritual world! I know you all have heard it before and everyone goes, “Yeah, yeah, yeah that’s right but we don’t believe it.”  But one day we may believe it.

Our intelligence is our security system – don’t let temptation disable it Gita 02.63
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Podcast

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Why crave for hours and years for pleasures that last for moments Gita 05.22
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Podcast

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