If someone says the sparks of Krishna’s splendor are enough for me, how can we connect them with Krishna?
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WSN October 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy Mayapur Sasi dasa

You may have heard that the Russian government is trying to stop book distribution. It passed a law that does not allow anyone from any religion to promote his beliefs, and if anyone gets caught, he invites a big fine. When the devotees in Russia heard this, it caused them transcendental anxiety. Devotees are known to be quite fearless, however, so they continued distributing anyway. One devotee was caught and went to court. Fortunately, he had a good lawyer. So the judge did not rule that the devotee had done something wrong. Rather, he threw out the case. That was the protection of Lord Caitanya, and it set a precedent. Continue reading "WSN October 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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​How do prioritize between our duty to our parents and to our wife and children?
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What You Live You Give
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Hare KrishnaBy Mahatma das

I once attended a workshop facilitation training in which we were taught that many people will come to our trainings with the mindset of “I already know that.” They explained that they might know of it, about it, or are familiar with it, but they don’t know it unless they live it. So if our audience thinks they already know what we will be teaching, the learning process shuts down for them. So we were taught to joke with the audience by saying, “The three worse words in the English language for learning are, “I know that.” The point of this article is to see how this relates to us I am not the body. I’ve heard it 4000 times. I know this. Or do I? Continue reading "What You Live You Give
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Counter the inner negative conversation of doubt and desire
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Youth meeting at Dubai, UAE

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Bhakti Tree
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Krsna Kirtan das is from Croatia and his wife Amala Prema devi dasi from Turkey. They came to Australia about a year ago and served at New Gokula farm.

They have now transferred to the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle and both serve in the restaurant – he cooks and she takes care of the customers.

They also lead and participate in nice kirtan on the preaching nights.

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An Account of the Last Journey of Jagajivan Das (ACBSP)
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On Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. during the holy month of Kartik, GBC member Jagajivan Das (ACBSP) left this world at Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute, Mira Road, Thane, Maharashtra, India. Jagajivan Das was on a visit to India for the recently concluded GBC meeting. For over a decade Jagajivan Das was suffering from cardiomyopathy resulting in the weakening of his heart and leading to breathlessness on exertion.

Four Excerpts from my Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest
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Bhima Fights Baka:
Bhima, however, grabbed the Rakshasa’s throat with one hand and held him at bay while he reached for yet another tasty item. Baka was incensed. With his face contorted and his red eyes bulging and his black, matted hair flying and showing his four rows of teeth, he raised a blood-curdling scream. Bhima threw him to the ground.  Baka quickly rebounded and uprooted a nearby tree and hurled it at Bhima. Bhima dodged it, and in an instant, they both ripped trees out of the ground and charged at each other, smashing one another relentlessly.  After those trees were shredded, they uprooted more trees, hurling them at one another.  The forest around them became decimated and the Rakshasa turned to find another tree. But he did not get far. Bhima jumped and rammed his knee into Baka’s back and broke his spine. Baka fell flat on his face. As he tried to get up, Bhima quickly twisted his neck. The Rakshasa’s eyes bulged out. He vomited blood and fell dead.


The Pandavas Enter The Himalayas
The way was steep and treacherous. All around them the skies darkened. Fierce winds were suddenly upon them and enveloped them in a dust storm. They lost sight of one another.  The winds howled so fiercely that the Pandavas were nearly swept off the mountainside. The group held on tightly to boulders and scraggly trees as the winds ripped at their faces and took their breath away.  Angry winds lashed at them from one direction and then another. But soon the winds ceased as suddenly as they had come.
The Pandavas felt relief only momentarily.  Pounding rains came fast upon them as thunder flashed against distant clouds. The group scurried higher, frustrated and in tears and not knowing where to turn.  Out of nowhere, or perhaps as if the Celestials had placed it right in their path, they came upon a cave. There they took shelter from the storm, which continued to rage throughout the night. 

From Gita
Arjuna asked, “What are the qualities of one who is in divine consciousness? How does he act?”
 Krishna spoke, his voice serene and majestic. “Such a person is not disturbed by the constant changes of this world. He is beyond the dualities of success and failure. Beyond profits and losses. Beyond pleasures and pains. Beyond the constant flow of desires which come and go like the waves of an ocean.  He is forever free from fear and anger.  His senses are restrained.  He eats, speaks, sleeps and works in moderation. He is not attached to the results of his work, but neither does he try to avoid work. He sees that all worldly pleasures, which first appear sweet and alluring, ultimately sour. They have a beginning and an end, and he does not strive for such things.
“Rather, he is situated in the pursuit of transcendence. He is happy from within. He rejoices and is illumined from within. Gradually his heart opens.  He sees all beings with equal vision and acts for their welfare. And he sees Me dwelling patiently in the hearts of all as the Companion. He is centered in knowledge, peace  and compassion. A person in this consciousness remains fixed, even at the moment of death. Such a rare soul readily attains Vaikuntha, My supreme spiritual abode, free from fears and anxieties, and above heaven itself.

The Battle Begins
In the heavens, Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Charanas gathered to watch the battle below. A moment of silent anticipation descended upon Kurukshetra, a moment which hung heavy, a moment of waiting, of postponing death a little while longer, and then drums and bugles sounded and warriors blew their conch shells, and Time once again ground forward as battle cries arose from the ranks of the armies and rolled across the valley, and like a great beast stirring from its slumber, the warriors shook their weapons and rushed at one another and collided together with a thunderous force. 

Copyright, 2013, Andy Fraenkel 


To see acclaim by scholars, another excerpt and to order go to www.Mahabharata-Project.com

Special Offer
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das

I hope all is well. This holiday season I am offering a special discount to devotees looking for gifts for friends, family and especially for people you’re cultivating. My book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest has received a 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Award - awards for independent publishers and authors.


And my CD Hanuman's Quest received a 2016 Storytelling World Resource Award - in the category 'Good Resource For Any Age- kids, teens, adults.' Also have two other CDs - Sacred Voices – stories and poems from the world’s sacred traditions (great for interfaith contacts), and Brahma’s Song (stories of Brahma & Krishna). 
All prices below include shipping expenses in USA to one address.
Mahabharata: 6 copies for $72 (that's $12 each) and 10 copies for $100.
Any assortment of my three CDs: 6 for $42 (that's $7 each) and 10 for $65 ($6.50 each).
There is more information on the book and CDs, including my standard prices, at https://mahabharata-project.com/order/
My background is in theater and I have tried to use my dramatic skills to create these resources to both inspire folks and serve as a bridge to help people appreciate the Vedic/Bhakti tradition. My book is being used in several college courses. My CDs include music along with the stories for a great listening experience. Your purchase will support my work to prepare more books and Cds of this nature.
Take care, your servant, Sankirtan das (ACBSP) 

Street Spirituality
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High streets are intriguing places; a microcosm of modern life. It’s where people descend in their thousands, searching for something extra to enrich their existence. Enter the monks. This is where we spend many days and weeks; standing on street corners, speaking to random people, and showing them spiritual books.

Agnideva Offers Heartfelt New Album for ISKCON 50
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Legendary kirtaniya Agnideva Dasa’s first new album in many years, to be released in January 2017, will be entitled “Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna.” It will sound like “an intimate kirtan with friends,” producers say. Named after one of its tracks – a bhajan Srila Prabhupada wrote aboard the Jaladuta on his way to America – it will be a heartfelt offering to the ISKCON Founder at the end of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary year.

Sri Varsana Dham
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Sri Varsana Dham is the place where Srimati Radharani displayed Her childhood pastimes. This video depicts various places around Varsana. Music by Tarana & friends - Love In Action.

Krishna, please don’t let any of those Bhagavad-gita copies come back home with us!
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Hare KrishnaBy Promila Chitkara

It was December – the month of Srila Prabhupäda’s book marathon! We were quite excited when we began book distribution. We remained excited throughout. The thought of reaching out to unlimited number of souls thrilled me. The results we achieved were seemingly in proportion to our efforts. Actually, the mercy we received during this time was much beyond the external effort or internal state. There were times when nothing seemed to work out, but then everything worked out at once. The first time when we got zero response I had this feeling Krishna would do something just before we decided to give up. He did! He always does! (I recalled the past incidents when He intervened just when I was about to give up.) Continue reading "Krishna, please don’t let any of those Bhagavad-gita copies come back home with us!
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Good Intentions
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Hare KrishnaBy Sarvatma Dasa

Having had some mystical experiences as a teenager that convinced me of the existence of God, I left my native country, Argentina, for Salvador, capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia, famous for its mysticism and magic. I arrived in the area without plans, money, or acquaintances and moved into a straw hut by the beach a couple of miles from the nearest fishing village and fifty miles from civilization. It was an ideal setting of palm trees, a small lake, a river of crystalline water, and the turquoise Atlantic Ocean, in year-round eighty-degree weather. I made a new friend there. He was reading the Bible and other books about God, playing music for God, and smoking marijuana to keep in touch with "the subtle world of God consciousness." While I played saxophone and recorder, he would play guitar. We intended to satisfy God with our musical spontaneity. Continue reading "Good Intentions
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Attachment to the Holy Names
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Hare KrishnaBy Subhag Swami

Madhu means sweet. It means honey. Krishna is also called Madhu. In this material world there is one type of honey and in the spiritual world there is also a type of honey. The sweet honey in the spiritual realm is the real honey which we should hanker for. In this material world there is Kandarpa (Cupid) but in the eternal world, Madan (Cupid) is Krishna and everyone is attracted by Him. The holy name and Krishna are non different. Even great personalities such as Brahma chant the holy name in ecstasy with his four mouths. Narada Muni joyfully plays his vina melodiously accompanying the chanting of Krishna’s name. Mahadev too, blissfully calls out the Lord’s names with his five mouths. In this regard Rupa Goswami desires to have millions of tongues to taste Krishna’s nectarine names. He hankers for millions of ears to relish a tinge of the sweet holy name. Still with this I won’t be satisfied. Can we even estimate what we are missing out? Within the name is everything. Due to the diseased condition of our tongue we cannot delight in this sublime mantra. Still however we are tasting and delighting in prasad but there is a long way to go. Continue reading "Attachment to the Holy Names
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Srila Prabhupada – Disappearance Day (6th November 2016) (Album…
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Srila Prabhupada - Disappearance Day (6th November 2016) (Album with photos)
ISKCON Pakistan devotees were overjoyed by the visit of PhD Scholar HG Dr. Shyama Anand Krishna Prabhu from Australia on this special occasion.
Srila Prabhupada said: A devotee who confidently states his position and forcefully refutes others may be misunderstood to be arrogant, especially by those brought up in the pseudo-liberal belief that every opinion is as good as any other. But a devotee’s confidence comes, not from pride or dogmatism, but because he is actually right and everyone else is wrong. Devotees know the Absolute Truth and thus know everything best. (Bhagavad Gita: 15:19)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LaTM8B

Ground Breaking Ceremony for a new multi-specialty hospital at…
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Ground Breaking Ceremony for a new multi-specialty hospital at Sri Dham Mayapur happened recently during Ras Purnima festival.
The city of Sri Mayapur is expanding, with its number of visitors and its residents increasing every passing year. Kirtan priya das , Nanda Suta das and Prana Gauranga Das inspired and motivated by HH. Jayapataka Swami have stepped forward to build the hospital, for the benefit of growing number of Mayapur Community devotees.
“As a part of the development of a spiritual township , its important to have a hospital and health facility.”, HH Jayapataka Swami said. He also explained that Srila Prabhupada ,after a Govardhan puja in Mayapur saw some poor children eat scraps of left over Prasad. At that time Srila Prabhupada expressed his desire that he never wanted any one to go hungry within a ten mile radius of the ISKCON Campus. It was then that we started the Food For Life at Mayapur”. Maharaj further said that the Hospital was an extension of this instruction.

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Harinam in the rain (Album with…
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ISKCON Auckland NZ: Harinam in the rain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our philosophy is “Come. Come here, play with Krsna as cowherd boy. Come here, dance with Krsna as gopi. Come here, accept Krsna as your son, Krsna will accept you as His mother.” There will be always two, and enjoy, any way. Even as enemy, demon displaying part of enemy, Krsna killing, that is also pastime too. That is also enjoyment. Just like sometimes we fight, friend to friend, to enjoy life, because fighting is enjoyment. You become enemy of Krsna purposefully, and to fight with Him, that is giving pleasure to Krsna. Krsna is enjoying, and He also becomes so staunch enemy. So this is also transcendental pleasure. Just like Bhisma. He is piercing the body of Krsna, and He is coming with cakra. That is a pleasure. Krsna is enjoying being pierced by His devotee. And devotee is enjoying, “Now Krsna is coming to kill me.” So any way you can deal with Krsna and enjoy transcendental pleasure, either as enemy or as friend or as son or as lover, as master, as a servant – any way. Krsna is prepared to deal with you any way, in twelve rasas, akhila-rasamrta-sindhu. Raso vai sah, in the Vedas, He is the reservoir of all pleasure, transcendental. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversations – September 11, 1974, Vrndavana
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Mantra Meditation Guide
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Mantra Meditation Guide.
Recently, I had the great opportunity to help design and edit (with HH Giriraja Swami) a 4"x10" mini tri-fold brochure entitled the “MANTRA MEDITATION GUIDE.” With over 20,000 currently in print in North America, supplying LA, SD, Dallas, RVC and Tucson, I am feeling very encouraged to share the design with other yatras.
The printing cost is extremely affordable, at roughly 2.5 cents per guide, ~$160 for 5,000 copies and the design/content customization I am offering free of charge.
Additionally, I have an account with a wholesale printing company (USA) and would be happy to get a quote to place an order on your behalf.
If you are interested, feel free to contact me for more details.
All glories to your service! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
your servant,
Bhismadeva Dasa

Nature of Association. Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya: Dear…
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Nature of Association.
Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya: Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
As we approach 2nd Anniversary of our E-Magazine, we are continuing with series of Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes. In the previous issue, we covered ‘Sri Damodara Lila’, NBS#50 presents 'Deliverance of Nalakuvera and Manigriva’ and the importance of 'Sadhusanga’.
Features:
1) Deliverance Of Nalakuvera And Manigriva
Conversation between Sukadeva Goswami and Maharaja Parikshita
2) Causeless Mercy Of Narada Muni
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
3) How Can One Destroy His Material Bondage?
Sri Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakura
4) How Can We Meet A Bonafide Spiritual Master?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
5) Nature Of Association
Compilation of Verses
We pray that this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Issuu: http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_50
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/document/332174769/NBS-50

“Tell people it is the real thing…”
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“Tell people it is the real thing…”
Kadamba Kanana Swami: To our book distributors, I would like to say this. When you are distributing books on the street, it is tough because people are not waiting for you. They did not come out to the streets to buy books. They came for another reason and then suddenly some ‘extra-terrestrial’ comes in his orange dress and tries to put a book in their hands, “Woah. Noooooooooo! Not interested.”

Balaram and Radhika’s Indian Vedic Wedding at ISKCON Alachua…
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Balaram and Radhika’s Indian Vedic Wedding at ISKCON Alachua temple (Album with photos) I can’t take my eyes off of this gorgeous bride (and groom!). I had the honor and pleasure of photographing Balaram and Radhika’s wedding last month in Gainesville Florida at the Alachua ISKCON Temple. The wedding was styled and planned by the talented team at Ganjam Tribe, and they really did a fabulous job at it!

Bhakti yoga – cultural practice or spiritual science?
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Congregation program at Abudhabi, UAE
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What is wrong with we as God’s children asking him for our material needs?
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Does scripture guide us for spiritual decisions or also for material decisions?
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