Gita 16.08 Materialism strips not only the other world of reality but also this world of meaning
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Gita 08.20 Those who reject a world beyond this world sentence themselves to pointless business in this world
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Gita 10.08 Blanking out questions about origins is like dealing in black money
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How to cultivate positive thinking in bhakti
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]
Podcast

Podcast Summary

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If when our mind tells a story and we consult a friend whose mind is telling the same story, how can we avoid illusion?
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Answer Podcast

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Gita 16.11 Technology is not just the provider of facility – it is also the shaper of mentality
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Podcast

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News story and audio interview about devotee musician from New…
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News story and audio interview about devotee musician from New Zealand.
Despite the high acclaim Denver received for his work as Micronism, Mechanism, and the music he released under his own name, he stopped producing a year later, pursuing a newfound interest in the Hare Krishna faith. Since then he’s spent time as a Krishna Devotee in Ashrams in NZ, Peru, and is now based in Brisbane with his wife and son.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QGS2NC

Saturday June 3, 2017
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Kimball, Nebraska

The Superstars Around Me

This morning, like most mornings, I’m walking under the superstars, the actual stars. I’m alone with them, so it seems. Traffic is nil at this hour, 3:00 a.m. I have good company with the stars that shine brightly and watch over me.
Once these dazzlers start to dissolve with the sun’s awakening about 4:15 a.m., a fresh new batch of superstars appear, but first, with sound. Multiple birds—meadowlarks, doves, red-winged black birds, and a dozen more unknown to me—present themselves in full glory, in body and sound.
When it’s time for them to lull, as the sun intensifies, then a new group of superstars take over. My feet are happy with them.
There is one more set of companions that are with me each day. And that is the group of trains that pass by me. They are operative at any hour and since the highway I’m on is laid out next to train tracks, I feel like I have the train cars, the engine, cargo cars, and cabooses as my constant amigos.
The conductor waves at times when he sees me, or blows the train whistle. He and his other comrades must wonder what I’m up to, sticking to the road everyday. They’ve never stopped their operation to ask me what’s going on, but then I think it would be an unrealistic request to ask of them. Because I’m side-by-side with the Iron Horse on a regular basis and it enthuses me , then I consider the train a superstar as well. I can’t manage without them, what to speak of the Super Soul, God, in the heart.
https://youtu.be/_pBfhIrA-BM

May the Source be with you!


20 miles

Friday June 2, 2017
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Potter, Nebraska

A Day of Gold

There was a lot of excitement in the air. The Walking Monk made it to the front page of the Sidney Telegraph with writer, Brandon L. Summers. Excellent article! Thank you! 

http://www.suntelegraph.com/story/2017/06/02/community/walking-monk-travels-highway-30/10955.html

Motorists became aware, if they picked up the news before going to work. They reciprocated with a honk or a wave. After ten miles of trekking on the historic Lincoln Highway(#30), I was whisked away by the main driver of our team, Marshall, for an hour and a half presentation with students of the North Elementary Summer Camp in Sidney.

Colleen, the principal of the summer camp program, was happy to have me speak about my walking  adventures, teach a little yoga, do some voice exercises, and get everyone to sing and dance to some ancient mantras (maha or great mantras). The age groups were kindergarten to grade six. They were a bunch of darlings (and not rascals). Participation was excellent, like the article in the paper. But, for sure, these young folks hadn’t read the paper this morning. They have another life. I did receive dozens of appreciation cards. It shouldn't be surprising that seldom does a monk come to town.
I hit the road again, on the fabulous Lincoln Highway, where in the mid-1800s, at least a half-a-million immigrants trekked here on the search for gold. Yes, the Gold Rush was on.
My gold for today was the news report, the students, and finally, two devout Krishna followers from the Denver community. The balance of the walk took Nidra, Jai Gauranga and myself to the town of Potter. What great companions they were!

May the Source be with you!


20 miles




Harinama in Barnaul, Russia, 03.06.17 (Album with photos)…
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Harinama in Barnaul, Russia, 03.06.17 (Album with photos)
“When a person really devotes himself to Krsna consciousness and begins to derive pleasure in repeating the name of his beloved Lord, this repetition captures him entirely. Sometimes he sings the holy names very loudly and dances like a madman. However, he does not care that someone can take him for a madman. He does not care about the opinions of others. This is the perfect level of repetition of the holy name ”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qKhXEc

Bhaktivedanta Clinic (1 min video) “Inauguration…
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Bhaktivedanta Clinic (1 min video)
“Inauguration clip”
Registered as Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute, it is a non-profit, non-Governmental, non-sectarian organization. This will be the first of its kind in Nepal, serving with a Spiritual theme.
The Medical team at BVH are energetic, empathic and spiritually minded with a total of 20 members including Doctors/Consultants/ Physiotherapist & Paramedics.
BVH is serving with OPD/ Physiotherapy/ Ayurveda/ Naturopathy/ Spiritual Counselling/ Psychiatry Clinic/ Meditation - Yoga/ Home Care Services/ Tele - Medicine/ Pharmacy services.
BVH sub-unit - *Red Trident* is serving by organizing Health camps/ Awareness Programs in Peri-urban & Rural areas of Nepal.
The auspicious Inauguration ceremony was on 2nd April 2017, 10:00 AM.
*We humbly request you to bless us for this project in Nepal.*
Your dear most servants at
Bhaktivedanta Hospital team, Nepal
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/pQEnrM

Jagannath ratha Yatra on Surabaya Flowers parade 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayana Das

Flowers parade to commemorate the 724th anniversary of Surabaya city was successfully attracted many visitors along the way of the parade even the sun shine brightly in the sky. It was the most eagerly awaited attraction. This event every year is always attended by thousands of people. The audience of this year parade was present-not just from Surabaya alone. Many residents outside the city of Surabaya such as Gresik, Sidoarjo and even Madura and Lamongan who always come on this event and of course Lord Jagannath also never absent on this parade. Continue reading "Jagannath ratha Yatra on Surabaya Flowers parade 2017
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ISKCON – Panihati Chip Rice Festival (Album with photos) Srila…
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ISKCON - Panihati Chip Rice Festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah, gopala govinda rama sri-mudhusudana. This is another way of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The meaning is as follows: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. He is the descendant of the Yadu family. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Gopala, Govinda, Rama and Sri Madhusudana.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 25.64 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/H4hVNY

A Beautiful SunRISE in Auckland, NZ!
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Hare KrishnaBy the Executive Team, RISE

ISKCON Auckland NZ, is pioneering the establishment of a spiritual learning centre, named Rupanuga Institute of Spiritual Education (RISE). The opening of RISE was celebrated on the 21st May, 2017 during the Sunday feast at the temple with the blessings and guidance of HH Ramai Swami Maharaj & HH Devamrita Swami Maharaj. Temple President, HG Kalasamvara das, who supported the creation of RISE wholeheartedly, spoke about the legacy left behind by Srila Prabhupada in the form of his books and the need for systematically studying them. Speaking especially on one of the books being currently studied in Bhaktisastri, “The Nectar of Instruction” he said holding the book, “If somebody reads this book given by Srila Prabhupada and follows this one book, then he can return back home, back to godhead…Just for a small price , you can attain the highest level of devotional service. He thanked devotees for starting RISE an educational Institute for spiritual education and was happy to see the congregation’s enthusiasm in enrolling for the Bhakti Sastri course. Continue reading "A Beautiful SunRISE in Auckland, NZ!
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Sannyasa Candidates 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Brajsunder Das

It is recommended that one accept sannyasa to dedicate his life for the service of the Lord, and everyone must take that kind of sannyasa, for by accepting such sannyasa one renders the best service to both his paternal and maternal families. But one should not accept the sannyasa order of the Mayavada school, which has practically no meaning. We find many Mayavadi sannyasis simply loitering in the street thinking themselves Brahman or Narayaṇa and spending all day and night begging so they can fill their hungry bellies. Mayavadi sannyasis have become so degraded that there is a section of them who eat everything, just like hogs and dogs. It is such degraded sannyasa that is prohibited in this age. Actually, Srila Sankaracarya’s principles for the acceptance of sannyasa were very strict, but later the so-called Mayavadi sannyasis became degraded because of their false philosophy, which propounds that by accepting sannyasa one becomes Narayaṇa. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejected that kind of sannyasa. But the acceptance of sannyasa is one of the items of the varṇaśrama-dharma. How then can it be rejected? Continue reading "Sannyasa Candidates 2017
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Baladeva Vidyabhusana Disappearance
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Today is Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana disappearance festival. On this day, let’s glorify this great vaishnava personality by remembering his life & pastimes.Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born in the early part of the 18th century (1720-1790) in a village near Remuna, Balasore District of Orissa. Even though he was the son of a ‘vaisHya’ (farmer), in […]

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ISKCON Birmingham: Book distribution and Harinama – Saturday 3rd…
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ISKCON Birmingham: Book distribution and Harinama - Saturday 3rd June 2017 - Birmingham City Centre (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A pure devotee always thinks himself as not-devotee. If one thinks that he is big devotee that is not good, thinking that he is first degree. We should not be puffed up. A devotee avoids it, remaining always in the second degree. Krishna has given everyone something extraordinary, and to serve Krishna with one’s extraordinary talent means successful life. Letter to Sukadeva, March 17, 1973.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Y6NHh2

ISKCON Birmingham: Saturday 3rd June 2017 – Birmingham City…
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ISKCON Birmingham: Saturday 3rd June 2017 - Birmingham City Centre (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A pure devotee always thinks himself as not-devotee. If one thinks that he is big devotee that is not good, thinking that he is first degree. We should not be puffed up. A devotee avoids it, remaining always in the second degree. Krishna has given everyone something extraordinary, and to serve Krishna with one’s extraordinary talent means successful life. Letter to Sukadeva, March 17, 1973.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Y6NHh2

Death: An inconvenient truth?
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Death: An inconvenient truth?
Life is like a game of chess – whether you’re the king, queen or pawn, at the end of the game everyone ends up in the box. Unless, of course, you get cremated. Morbid? Depressing? Dark? Though discussions on death are not usually number one on our conversation list, I was invited to the Southbank Centre a few weeks ago to speak on the topic “what happens next?” In an auditorium filled with coffins and somber lighting, I shared some thoughts on the logic of life after death. Living in a community of devotees, such concepts are seamlessly woven into daily life; birthdays are “appearance days,” my room-mate from Slovenia is “western bodied,” death is the “disappearance day,” and when someone expires we say they have “left their body.” Atma (the soul), samsara (its journey through material bodies), karma (the law which governs that transmigration) and yoga (the means of escape), are four pillars of the Vedic worldview. Comprehensive, consistent, and entirely logical.


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Sincerity Yours to Keep!
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Sincerity Yours to Keep!
Vaisesika Das: We come into the material world naked and we will leave it naked. As living entities, we don’t own anything, nor can we keep anything. However, there is one item that is uniquely ours: our sincerity. Sincerity cannot be stolen or usurped as it springs from our own freedom of choice to do the right thing.
Although sincerity is subtle and cannot be put in a bottle, it is the most powerful substance in the universe. It radiates from the eyes and hearts of those who have it. It attracts the favorable glance of the Supreme Lord, who is otherwise not attracted by anything in the entire material cosmos.


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Does chanting automatically make us kinder or do we have to strive to become kinder?
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Answer Podcast

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When Tvashta gave Narayana-kavacha that made Indra invincible, how could Tvashta himself be killed?
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Answer Podcast

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How can we remain respectful to the devatas while describing their non-supreme position or their non-ideal activities?
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Answer Podcast

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Just as the mind is personified, are other things such as Bhakti devi and Kali also personifications?
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Answer Podcast

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