Surviving the material ocean
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So earlier on in the week i had the opportunity to do a sea survival course which included a two hour practical session covering all that one needs to know in the case of abandoning the vessel.

It was for me exhausting and i found muscles i didn’t know existed, but did impress upon me how difficult and determined you have to be in order to survive; indeed the instructor made an interesting statement of fact “one is only a survivor only when you are back home” and the most vital point “the safest place is normally the boat, stay in it and only abandoned when their is no other option”

It did however focus my mind on how we chose to leave the safety of the spiritual world and being born into this material world are swept along by our senses and with each moment that passes were moving further away from Sri Krishna

Fortunately I have been offered the opportunity to get into the lifeboat in the form of the holy name’s of Sri Krishna, Srila Prabhupada books and the association of devotees; but don’t be fooled into thinking now i am safe, i am still under the influence of material nature and it only takes one moment a second of inattentiveness​ and again find myself being swept out of the lifeboat back into the material ocean and suffering.

One of the main things learnt was how to maintain once inside of the liferaft, routine and making sure that we clean out any sea water that may enter and most importantly a positive mental attitude that will be the difference between survival or not.

The only way to escape the material ocean is to maintain my own daily routine of chanting, reading and basking in the association of other devotees when the opportunity allows

And remember I’m only safe once i awaken in the spiritual world and be aware that even though we are in the spiritual life raft every second one needs to remain alert

I would however recommend a sea survival course and whilst doing it ponder how what is being learnt can be applied to our survival in finally escaping the clutches of this material ocean and how even when in the lifeboat difficulties will remain, yes spiritual life has its ups and downs but is well worth remaining with.

Don’t let the mind or others or the difficulties faced sweep one away from the lifeboat of spiritual life

Hare Krishna

Psychological Atheism
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Atheists come in a variety of shapes and sizes: default, philosophical, atheist and covered atheists. Over 30% of UK residents are self-proclaimed atheists. I would hazard a guess, that a good few of the 70% of ‘believers’ are also atheist -- physchological atheists, those who profess belief in God, but repeatedly demonstrate their inability to practically live in His presence.

ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy the Sannyasa Ministry

Welcome to volume 5 of the Sannyasa Newsletter. I would like to congratulate those who have been accepted by the GBC to take sannyasa this year. I would also like to remind those who are taking sannyasa, that as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, our only true identity is the servant of Lord Krishna's servants. In ISKCON we take sannaysa to have more opportunities for service, not to seek for opportunities to be served. Maya is always there to try to trick us and have us believe that somehow we can enjoy this material world. Only pure devotional service with humility and complete knowledge under the guidance of guru and Krishna can save us. In this issue, we find instructions that Srila Prabhupada gave on sannyasa to Bhakti Caru Swami. There is also a report on the sannyasa seminar given in Mayapur this year as well as a sannyasi profile about Guru Prasad Swami. Continue reading "ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter
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Update: 17 March 2017
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Kadamba Kanana Swami is in the Ayurvedic Hospital for a couple of days now. As a patient, he has to abide by many rules in order for his treatment to be effective. His worship of Giriraja continues. Maharaj has had some disciples and other guests paying him short visits. Bhakti Vinod Swami stopped by the hospital on Wednesday to meet Maharaj. Our aspiring godbrother, Rahul, a civil engineer who resides at the ashram in Juhu, has joined us as well as Man Beharini dd from Pune.

Maharaj mentioned some nice points in his conversations with devotees:

The acharyas are pleased when we chant, even if our chanting is not fully attentive. If someone joins Iskcon for whatever reason and thinks of Krsna for just ten seconds, he has made progress on the spiritual path. Therefore we should always appreciate anyone if they chant.

The Vedic system is a mountain of rules and regulations. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada have brought with them an ocean of mercy. We should not be neglectful towards following standards but we should use our intelligence and know with whom to be compassionate and merciful. We should behave in such a way that we take people toward Krsna rather than push them away due to rigidity. Prabhupada enforced many standards and was strict with himself but was merciful to many others.

 

 

I Pray I May Remain Among Them (Album with photos) Indradyumna…
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I Pray I May Remain Among Them (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: “Even if I have the opportunity to bathe in the ocean of pure love of Krishna, and even if I have the pure devotees of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead as my associates, I will not consent to live even for a moment, in any sacred place other than Vrajabhumi. Even if the residents of Vrindavan appear to be ordinary, and even if they fill my ears with useless gossip, I pray that I may remain among them, eternally residing here in Vraja.” Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami
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Hare Krishna Community Sues DAPL Company to Protect Sacred Lands From Rover Pipeline
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The company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, is facing a familiar legal battle over its proposed Rover Pipeline. A Hare Krishna community in West Virginia is challenging the project on religious grounds, saying that the pipeline's planned route could cut through sacred lands. While the religious organization signed leases in 2010 and 2014 to sell the natural gas under its properties, according to its federal lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Wheeling on Tuesday, those leases do not allow for any surface disturbances and blocks off sacred areas from outside intrusion.

Bhishma, Dharma, Aparadha?
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QUESTION: Bhisma is considered as one of the 12 Mahajana, which means he is a pure Vaisanava, so how come he fought against the Pandavas on the side of the adharmi?

He made a vow to protect the throne of Hastinapura, so he was bound by that vow. To break it would be adharma. At the same time, to fight on the side of the adharmi Duryodhana is also adharma, so he did not really fight on that side. He fought but did not put his heart into the fight, in fact, he told Arjuna the secret about how to defeat him, and thus gave Arjuna the secret to defeating Duryodhana.

Thus he found a way to not break his vow, but also not to be of service to an adharmi.

QUESTION: But when Arjuna kills Bhisma, a Vaisanava kills another Vaisanava. Won’t this be a Vaisanava Apradh? And can this be used by splinter groups in a Parampara to justify their opposition to one another?

These two Vaiṣṇava’s were kṣatriyas performing their duty. Moreover, Arjuna did this only with Bhiṣma’s permission. Therefore it is not aparadha and it is nothing like the infighting that goes on between religious institutions envious of one another’s resources.

Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com


Tagged: Aparadha, bhishma, Dharma, Mahabharata

From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, March 3, 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami

Prahlad Maharaj, he is the best example of someone who is so happy in devotional service. Prahlada, Pra lada is a joy or pleasure, like we have the personified pleasure potency, Haladini Shakti who is Radharani herself. So Prahlada refers to pleasure, and Prahlad as Prabhupada explains pra is pratista rupena , which intensifies the meaning of the word, so Prahlada means one who is so happy so blissful, that even the ongoing assassination attempt cannot, you know ,make him feel bad, this is really amazing. Such a level of happiness in Krishna Consciousness. We can only strive to achieve. Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, March 3, 2017
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ISKCON Auckland NZ – Harinama (Album with photos) Srila…
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ISKCON Auckland NZ - Harinama (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This contemporary civilization is so proud of its independence, but actually it is so much dependent on oil. If the oil supply is stopped, then what will these rascal scientists do? They cannot do anything. Let them try to manufacture oil in their test tubes, enough oil to run their civilization on. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SSR 6g: The Tiny World of Modern Science
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Harinam Ljubljana, ISKCON SLOVENIJA, 11.3.2017 (Album with…
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Harinam Ljubljana, ISKCON SLOVENIJA, 11.3.2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The best policy to control the mind is to desire how to spread Krsna consciousness. This is the best. Kamah krsna-karmarpane. Narottama dasa Thakura has said that you cannot be free from desire. That is not possible. This is useless attempt. They say that “You become desireless.” No, that is not possible. How can I…? If I become desireless, I become dead. So long I am living entity, I must desire. I cannot check it. Therefore kama means desire. So at the present moment, we are desiring how to become happy in this material world, how to acquire so much money, how to acquire this, how to acquire this, how to get this, how to get that. This is kama. So this brain taxation, if you engage in Krsna’s service – how to spread Krsna consciousness, how to convince people about Krsna, how to take them to the Krsna’s desire, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66] – and in this way, if you go on making plan for spreading Krsna consciousness, then your mind is controlled. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.27 – January 4, 1975, Bombay
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How can we prevent repeated falls from shaking our faith in bhakti?
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Anwser Podcast


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Markendeya Rsi prabhu becomes Bhakti Mukunda Swami!
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Hare KrishnaBy Nanda Priya Nivedita Devi Dasi

Markandeya Rsi das from ISKCON Malaysia accepted the renounced order of life from Jayapataka Swami, on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima,14th of March at Sri Mayapur. His new name is Bhakti Mukunda Swami. Joined on the seats of honor along with Jayapataka Swami were Gauranga Prem Swami, Bhakti Nityananda Swami ,Prabha Vishnu Prabhu and Atul Krishna Das. Over 500 people witnessed the Sanyas ceremony. Prabhu Vishnu prabhu spoke about Bhakti Mukunda Swami’s numerous achievements and wished him all success.Jayapataka Swami expressed his happiness on awarding Markandeya prabhu Sanyas and sincerely wished that he would carry forward Srila Prabhupada’s mission. When he received the saffron cloth from Jayapataka Swami, the audience cheered, chanting “Hari Bol! and the traditional Bengali Ulu dhwani. Continue reading "Markendeya Rsi prabhu becomes Bhakti Mukunda Swami!
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If Krishna is God, why is Vishnu widely considered to be God and Krishna his incarnation?
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Anwser Podcast


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Understanding what is our quota in material life – 2
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Denver, USA]

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TOVP: Temple Column Exterior Mock-up In Progress (Album with…
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TOVP: Temple Column Exterior Mock-up In Progress (Album with photos)
Work has recently begun on the temple columns’ exterior mock-up, a design which will be used on the columns all around the temple.
In the image below you can see half the exterior mock-up as it goes around the main column structure. The final product will be made of two pieces which will wrap around the actual column and be joined together to completely encase it. We are very happy with the design and effects of the mock-up. Once we are fully satisfied we will make the rubber molds and begin casting the column pieces in GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete), after which work will commence to install them.

We are very excited about this new aspect of the interior finishing work that has begun and hope all the devotees are pleased with our progress.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/j325Tp

Ratha Yatra in Medan, Indonesia
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Hare KrishnaBy Harinarayana Das

On the day of the Ratha yatra, 4th March 2016, devotees started to decorate the chariot, prepare the coconuts, made garlands and flowers bouquets, and some others cooked for the deities and the devotees. Many local Hindu families came to take part in the festival; the devotees welcomed them by giving them prasadam. Who does not like Jagannatha prasadam? Then the guests from police department and Counsellor of Hindu Society also came. At 7 pm all devotees and guest participated in the Gaura arati. After Gaura arati Lord Jaganath was seated on the chariot and the ceremony started. The head police officer stated that their duty as police officers was to facilitate and maintain security of the society and that they were happy to be part of the wonderful festival. Then H.H. Subhag Swami gave short speech. Maharaj told about the benefit of seeing ratha yatra and conveyed gratitude to the government authorities for assisting the devotees in organising this Ratha yatra. Maharaj offered arati to the Lord and all people gathered in front of the chariot. they were so happy singing hare Krishna Mahamantra. After arati, coconuts were broken in front of the chariot as the sign that ratha yatra has started. Continue reading "Ratha Yatra in Medan, Indonesia
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Becoming a Disciple: Entering the Ocean of Nectar
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

When Srila Rupa Goswami talked about chanting the holy name of Krishna he said that he wished he had hundreds of tongues to sing it, and thousands of ears to hear it. Not for nothing is his book named the Bhakti-Rasa-Amrita-Sindhu or the Nectar Ocean of Devotion. Strangely enough, he also said that the five primary items in the life of bhakti all had to do with taking shelter of a guru and accepting initiation from a guru. Why strange? Because the very name of Krishna, that sound vibration which made him ecstatic, was the same that had been given away freely by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – without the need for initiation. The giving of a – normally secret – mantra is one of the components of traditional initiation into any of the streams of Vedic philosophy and practise. So why is initiation required when the mantra is no longer secret, and when it has been already given to the prospective chanter, perhaps even in the street? Continue reading "Becoming a Disciple: Entering the Ocean of Nectar
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Amazing aerial photo of Mayapur during the night
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Amazing aerial photo of Mayapur during the night.
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna is coming as Caitanya Mahaprabhu to show us the way how to understand Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu means Krsna Himself, present to teach us how to understand Krsna. So Krsna is so kind: He is coming Himself. He’s teaching Bhagavad-gita. Again He is coming as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as devotee, to become a devotee of Krsna. Krsna-prema-pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. He’s not only teaching Krsna but love of Krsna. Krsna, when He personally came, He did not teach how to love Him. He simply asked, “You rascal, surrender to Me.” That’s all. “You are all rascals. You have forgotten Me. I am the Supreme. You are searching after so many wrong things. You have created so many so-called occupational and religious duties, but these are all useless.” That much. But again Krsna came to teach people how to love Krsna. Therefore Rupa Gosvami offers his respect to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te: [Cc. Madhya 19.53] “You are not only giving Krsna but giving love of Krsna.” That is very rare thing. Prema pumartho mahan. People are after dharma, after kama, moksa, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “No, above this, there is fifth perfection. That is prema, Krsna-prema.” Prema pumartho mahan. –From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.15 – Mayapur, February 22, 1976

The Walking Monk 2017-03-16 19:29:00
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Sunday, March 12th, 2017


Scarborough, Ontario


The Birth of Sankirtan


For the occasion, Gaura Purnima, the birth anniversary of Chaitanya, two venues were our destination points for our cultural presentation.  Come to think of it, we haven’t given a name to our piece, which was a narration, danced to in Odissi-style, and sung in Bengali with musical accompaniment.

Now none of us are Bengalis, but we did sing a song in that language—the language of our guru, Prabhupada—as well as the native tongue of the author of the song “Udilo Aruna.”  Bhaktivinode was a song-writer from Orissa who used the Bengali medium.

Here’s the song that I narrated in English for the Scarborough and Toronto crowds:

The Birth of Sankirtan

1.      When a tinge of red on the eastern horizon heralded the sunrise, the jewel of the brahmanas, Gaura, immediately awakened. Taking His followers with Him, He went all over the countryside, visiting the towns and villages of Nadia.

2.      The Khol drums resounded, “tathai tathai.”  The five cymbals chimed in time, and Gaura’s foot bells jingled as His golden form trembled slightly in ecstatic love for the Divine.

3.      Gaura called out to the townsfolk, “Perhaps we are wasting time—sleeping?  Then much time spent on decorating the body?  Try this vibration, with its sweet names, ‘Mukunda?  Madhava?  Yadhava!  Hari!’ engaging our full voices.”

4.      This human body, among all collective species, is a rare gift.  We must ask ourselves, “Just what are you doing?”  Have you given sufficient thought to this question?  If you do not see to the love of the darling of Yashoda, Krishna, it would be a great loss—a shame.

5.      Each time the sun rises and sets, a day passes and is lost.  Why then remain idle, and not honour the Lord of the heart?

6.      Understand this essential fact: life is temporary and full of all kinds of challenges.  So make it a priority by being under the protection of the sweet names and remain engaged in divine service.

7.      Desiring to bless all entities, the sweet name has descended to this world as a response to the need of ending the darkness of ignorance,as this sound shines like the sun in the sky of the heart.

8.      Drinking the pure nectar of the name satisfies the author of the song, Bhaktivinode.  There is nothing but the sacred name within all the 14 worlds.

(End of song)

Additional narration:

People listened to Gaura, the Golden Avatar.  Why wouldn’t they?  He was beautifully imposing ata stature of seven feet tall, broad shouldered, with a chest of a lion, eyes captivating, hair a-flow, as He danced with a swing and a sway.

The villagers were taken by the sight and sound.  With their hearts now embraced, they were motivated to move themselves and to surrender their voices in a splendorous volume, their bodies in rhythmic back-and-forth motion.

Gaura journeyed from one village to the next, offering a new engagement, a new way of being.  He made His plea.  His sharing had been done and all in good fun.  A mission had taken hold, one that would be rather bold in its projection throughout the globe.

To those who participate in Sankirtan, a warmth, a fullness and a love are achieved.

May the Source be with you!

2 km



The Walking Monk 2017-03-16 19:29:00
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Monday, March 13th, 2017
Toronto, Ontario


The Break


Students are content with their break from school.  I’ve answered the phone a few times from callers—parents—who were inquiring about the kid’s daycamp at the ashramwhere I live.

“Oh!  Yes, well, I’ll turn you over to someone who knows more about it than me.”  Eventually the caller would hear from either Geeta or Shyama Mohini, co-ordinators for a five-consecutive-day fun time, doing games, singing songs, eating together and stuff….  This is all done in a Krishna-centric environment, of course.

I popped my head in to peek at the younglings, anywhere from toddler to ten, in the temple room where most things were going on.  There was some noise.  That’s a sign of life.  It was safe sounding noise.

“Lots of energy,” Rukmini confirmed—a facilitator.

And I thought, “When properly channeled you get a great result.”  I also thought of the young children we read about in sastric texts and how they excelled because there was some good direction for them, the likes of Prahlad, Dhruva, Hanuman (who wasn’t totally human) and, naturally, Krishna and Rama.

I had to smile at the fun.  I believe I was a fairly happy kid.  I didn’t know Krishna at the time, but someone with a personality known as God, an overseeing well-wisher, protector.  Every child deserves that type of exposure and understanding.  Considering the crazy world in which we live, walls of security and fun are so essential.

I wish the best to them (all thirty of them) and all the children of the universe.

May the Source be with you!


2 km

The Walking Monk 2017-03-16 19:24:00
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Saturday, March 11th, 2017



Milton, Ontario


Get Ready for Gaura


My walking is strictly indoors right now, and that is very embarrassingly limited.  The gout can’t, at this point, handle the squeeze of the shoes.  I was driven by Nakula, the young son of Umesh, to his home.  Umesh was with me in Cuba.  We swam off the bay in Cienfuegos, where boldly he would grab palm-sized jellyfish and toss them out of his way.  Brave!

Umesh had deities installed in his home in Milton today—deities of Gaura and Nitai.  The entire world of Vaishnavas in the line of Gaura (the golden avatar) is gearing up for his birth anniversary tomorrow.  In lieu of this, we are also basically preparing for the celebrations tomorrow with a bhajan/dance presentation in His honour.

Gaura, also known as Chaitanya, was quite the chanter, and quite the walker.  He roamed throughout the countryside, going from village to village, encouraging the culture of song and dance.  His mission was unofficially inaugurated in the first decade of the 16th century in Bengal and then beyond.  It spread throughout the sub-continent of India.  Kirtan is the word affiliated with Chaitanya.

Not everyone is fully aware of kirtanjust yet.  For instance, Greg, a good friend of mine, who arrived during our practice time for bhajan, recently met a girl with an OM tattoo on her arm.  He asked her if she knew what OM meant.

“Something to do with yoga?” she guessed.

“Yes, but you’re not familiar with kirtan?”

“What’s that?”

It looks like Chaitanya’s influence still needs expanding; a little extra push from adherents like us perhaps?

May the Source be with you!


2 km

German Interfaith Dialog Asks ‘Do Religions Cause Peace or War?’
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An interreligious dialog, held in ISKCON Germany/Austria’s headquarters near Frankfurt from April 21st to 23rd, will discuss the very topical question, ‘Religion: Peacemaker or Cause of War?” This will be the third annual such event organized by ISKCON and Religions for Peace, the largest international coalition of world religion representatives dedicated to promoting peace. About 100 people will attend this April’s event

Video: Gaura Purnima Festival
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This past Sunday, March 12, 2017, the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple celebrated one of our largest festivals of the year, Gaura Purnima.  Celebrating the anniversary of the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is none other than Lord Krishna, the festival featured many special events.  Highlights of the festival included a beautiful abhisheka (bathing ceremony of small Deities) and a special presentation by Bhaktimarga Swami, Gaura-Shakti and Syamesvari Devi Dasi.  Check out the video below! (Special thanks to Sathi Prabhu for the video)

2nd Sannyasa Candidate Training Seminar Held in Mayapur
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The number of sannyasis grows from year to year in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, to well over 100; and those who take the vows of this final ashram of renunciation are, since recently, receiving formal training over and above what they receive individually in the course of their devotional lives and through the guidance of their sannyasa mentors. In pursuit of this aim of formal training, on February 18 – 22 we held a Sannyasa Candidate Training Seminar in Sridham Mayapur.

Learn to see the material and the spiritual as cumulative, not competitive
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[Talk at Colorado State University, Denver, USA]

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Understanding what is our quota in material life – 1
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Denver, USA]

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