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Newsletter 0007 March 2020 International Society for Consciousness (ISKCON) Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Govinda's Food For Life...... 2 Gaura Purnima Festival 2020...... 3 Monthly Sankirtan Festival ...... 3 Chant & Be Happy...... 4 Srila Prabhupada in New York ...... 5 Book delivery service...... 6 Bhakta Ken relocates...... 6 “The devotees of the Lord, DIY Make Over...... 7 who are in Krishna Hey look we are on TV!...... 7 consciousness, offer food to Featured in ISKCON news...... 7 Krishna and then eat— Sri Nrsimha Yagna for protection ...... 8 a process which nourishes Daily live streaming for you...... 8 the body spiritually. Quarantine in style!...... 8 By such action not only are Japa Circle International...... 9 past sinful reactions in the Important GBC 2020 Address...... 9 body vanquished, but the Global streaming a pick of the best...... 10 body becomes immunized to Devotees around the world...... 11 all contamination of material nature. When there is an epidemic disease, an antiseptic vaccine protects a person from the attack of such an epidemic. Similarly, food offered to This is the official community newsletter of Lord Visnu [Krishna] and ISKCON New York City, Sri Sri Govinda Temple then taken by us makes us sufficiently resistant to Become a contributor! material affection, and one email [email protected] who is accustomed to this practice is called a devotee of the Lord.” Be sure to follow us on social media -- purport 3.13

1 ISKCON NYC gears up to provide much needed meals for healthcare workers amidst New York's Covid-19 pandemic. Across the world devotees in groups big and small are busy preparing healthy prasadam meals for those who need them the most; doctors, nurses, and those in financial hardship.

Cover: Our Temple President Hansarupa Prabhu delivering 30 packed prasadam meals to healthcare professionals at Roosevelt Island.

When filling in your donation please put 'Govinda's Food For Life' in the notes. Help us to expand our

distribution of Krishna

Prasad, help our

healthcare professionals

stay fit and healthy, and

join the fight against

Coronavirus in

New York City!

2 2 On March 9th this year's Gaura Purnima Festival saw over 300 devotees gather in celebration of the birth of the Golden Avatar, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. A beautiful abhishek was performed by Srila Prabhupada's disciples and seniors. HH , HG Adarshi prabhu, HG Locanananda prabhu, HG Bhusara and HG Bhumipati came to bless us with their association.

Here is a reminder of the day's events...

33 4 4 A young man named Robert nearby cafe called 'Paradox', took an interest and began to and they were in contrast to support Srila Prabhupada in the pervious uptown crowd, various ways, he was forerunners as to what was “Since I came to New York interested to make a record soon to be known as the from Butler, Pennsylvania, with Prabhupada's chanting, hippie movement. Srila I have rented the above room and so his offer of service was Prabhupada took to them, at seventy dollars per month, accepted and he and and welcomed them, in turn and am delivering lectures on Prabhupada began to spend they recognised Prabhupada's the Bhagwat Geeta and more time together, even potential and became Srimad Bhagwatam, looking at prospective convinced that they needed to accompanied by sankirtan, properties in which to house relocate downtown... and the American ladies and the first Radha Krishna gentlemen come to hear me. Temple. Mr Robert, as You will be surprised to know Prabhupada would call him, that they do not understand was a simple man, of limited the language of sankirtan, intelligence, with little means yet they hear with attention. of connecting Prabhupada to The movement which I have useful contacts, yet he started here is completely new showed some affection and to them, because the desire to help, and so Srila Americans are generally Prabhupada reciprocated. acquainted with the Indian Mr. Robert, and the Swami yoga gymnastics as made an odd combination. performed by some Indian Prabhupāda was elderly and yogis here. They have never dignified, a deep scholar of heard of the bhakti cult of the the Bhāgavatam and the science of Krishna before, and language, whereas still they are hearing me. This Robert Nelson was artless, is a great success for me.” even in Western culture, and Srila Prabhupada in a leter to inept in worldly ways. Sumati Morarji. Together they would walk – the Swami wearing his winter From the humble beginnings coat (with its imitation fur of this simple, bare and collar), his Indian dhotī,and narrow room, Srila white pointed shoes; Mr. Prabhupada began to lecture Robert wearing old khaki on the Bhagavad Gita, pants and an old coat. introducing curious minds to Prabhupāda walked with the science of Bhakti Yoga. rapid, determined strides, He spoke with such poise, outpacing the lumbering, confidence and conviction that rambling, heavyset boy who people came despite the had befriended him. meagre and uncomfortable space, and even though these Soon word began to spread of young seekers were unsure this 'new uptown Swami' and exactly what they were new faces began to visit room searching for they believed 307. Bill Epstein, Harvey this uptown Swami could have Cohen, David Allen and it. James Greene came from a 5 Never has there been a time when so many people are looking for answers, an opportunity not to be missed by our keen sankirtan team, who began delivering transcendental literature right to your very doorstep! Why not gift some books? Never has there been a better time to introduce your friends and family to the philosophy of email: [email protected] bhakti yoga. for details

Bhakta Ken had served with us for nearly one year, helping out with Govinda's Lunch Club, we really could not have done it with out him. Soon all of us became aware of his talent for baking both savory and sweet delights with such skill, that we eagerly learnt some of his delicious recipes and utilised his culinary flair to lend support to outreach programs and Radha's Bakeshop. He will surely be missed. Rumours have it that he has now relocated to Hawaii where he has once again found himself at the service of Pictured: Bhakta Ken and a Govinda's Lunch! goodbye cake 66 As the City of New York began to close its doors, the residents of ISKCON Radha Govinda found a great opportunity to carrying out maintenance work around the building. Everyone rallied together to perform a deep clean, and give the walls a new lick of paint. Activities like this bring us closer together and make use of the current situation, as the make over continues.

Some of you may remember, that back in the summer of 2019 a few of us featured in a HBO production called 'High Maintenance'. Recently, on March 13th, epidsode 6, from season 4 was aired. Check it out to see some of our temple residents make a cameo appearance!

Faced with a reduced number out to the community, helping of devotees to carry out affected members, finding the services, no funds from the silver lining, and taking solace hundi (public donation box), from a deep philosophical and a lack of in-person tradition. association, it is undoubtedly Pictured: residents say a very challenging time. Yet goodbye to a devotee temple leaders are tackling returning to Europe amidst the the challenges head on, current pandemic. creating innovative ways to Read the full article here. 7 continue services and reach March 30th a full Sri Nrsimha Fire Yagna was performed and live streamed via our Facebook page Watch it again and bring Lord Nrsimha dev's protection right into your home.

From morning Srimad Bhagavatam to Mantra Meditation, join our growing online community and take part in classes streamed live from Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple. That's right, regular classes will continue. Join us for Meditation Monday's, Bhakti Night, Saturday Night Kirtan, Virtual Sunday Feast, Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita and memories, as well as Krishna Book Readings.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date with timings and newly announced classes!

Heartfelt kirtan from home. As the world faces lockdown check out what devotees are doing globally to help the community at large... 87 A Facebook Live event where Duration: 1 round of japa devotees from all over North (108 mantras) chanted America together by multiple come together for 10 minutes participants over 10 minutes each day to give transcendental relief to the Time: 9:00 PM ET / world 8:00 PM CT / by chanting 1 round japa. 6:00 PM PT / Starting with North America 6:30 AM IST and then, scaling up to an international level.

Japa Circle International promotes peace and wellness through chanting the names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Ramai Swami the GBC Chairman for 2020 speaks to the devotees about the COVID-19 situation and how to they can deal with some of their concerns. 99 Catch HH Kavicandra Swami Join HG Madhava Prabhu at daily on Fb live, times vary. around 2am (or catch it after) daily for heart melting kirtans live from Melbourne.

Join HG Vaisesika Prabhu and our friends at ISKCON Silicon Valley for daily classes and short inspirational films.

HH shares daily classes live from South Africa, as well as Zoom, see fb page for HG Jahnavi Jivana dasi hosts annoucements kirtans live on her youtube channel, subscribe for notifications.

Join HH Jayadvaita Swami in All around the world various a Zoom conference live from devotees are hosting classes New Jersey Mon/Wed/Fri on Krsna Katha, sharing their 8pm japa meditation and kirtan, so meeting ID 558762270 that we can come togther as a worldwide community and 'Keep the transcendental vibration flowing' Let us keep strong as devotees, and nourish our HH live need for community by online from Sri Vrindavana Dham, participation, and make efforts giving daily webinars at to become stronger in our 6am EST sadhanna to enable us to strengthen our relationship with the Lord thereby be able to comfort those in distress. 10 Radha Govinda ISGKCiOfNttsemples across have been busy feeding tens of thousands of those in need with Krishna Prasadam. The country's Prime Minister Modi, asked for assistance and ISKCON has increased its outreach to the needy tenfold. As per request and Particularly in Delhi where we requirement coming from started with 30,000 meals further afield, this distribution distributed on the first day of in Delhi will go up to 500,000 the lock down. meals every morning and Now within 2 days we have evening within next 2 days. started distributing 200,000 meals every morning and evening to underprivileged people. Join your local cause,

and help ISKCON

NYC support

New York City's health

service professionals! Food For All UK gets ready to THE COMMUNITY feed 20,000 across London NEWSLETTER OF ISKCON NEW YORK CITY per day. Distributing healthy vegan DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATION: meals to National Health Hansarupa das Service workers, school children – who often rely on CONTRIBUTORS: Bipin Bihari schools for their lunch, das, Antaryami Krsna das, Divyangi dasi, Jaya elderly, and disadvantaged Radhe Devi dasi persons throughout the City of London. Do you have a story you would Food For All has teamed up like to see in our next newsletter? with other charities and Or would you like to sponsor groups such as Extinction printing ? Rebellion, to ramp up its Please add 'Govinda's Food distribution of Krishna For Life' in the 'notes'. email: [email protected] 111 Prasadam. Thank you