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New Website for Struggling Devotees by Srutadeva das Posted June 20, 2009 We are hoping to start (if Krsna desires) a new website to be called "FOR STRUGGLING DEVOTEES - for Vaishnavas struggling with sexual issues." We are in need of someone to volunteer to help us with the design, creation and technical aspects of starting this website as we have no experience in this area. There are numerous secular and Christian sites online to help people with problems of a sexual nature. But as of yet, there is nothing for Vaishnavas. Of course, we realize that this is a sensitive and often embarrassing topic and in one sense Srila Prabhupada has already given us everything we need to overcome lust. However, online pornography is extremely easy to access and sexual addictions are rampant. Unfortunately devotees are not immune to these and other such problems. For a devotee with a sexual compulsion, just having another devotee to talk to, to reveal their mind to and somewhere to go for resources and encouragement can make all the difference in the world. It could have a significant positive impact on their spiritual lives. Lusty desires are the greatest impediment for a devotee trying to advance in Krsna consciousness. As Srila Prabhupada says, it is the shackles that Maya creates to keep us in illusion. And what a POWERFUL illusion that is. Hare Krishna! The website would need to include sections with resources from Srila Prabhupada's books; links to other sites; articles from other sites; suggested readings; a section on prayers, sadhana; and practical advice on dealing with these problems. Practical both from a secular and Krsna conscious viewpoint. Devotees would have the opportunity to correspond with other devotees struggling with the same issues. We will also be working to adapt the 12 Step program from Sexaholics Anonymous and Krsna-ize it for devotees.
So if you have experience creating websites or know someone who is in this field and would be interested in possibly helping, or if you just need someone to talk to, please email: ForStrugglingDevotees@gmail.com. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.
With the planting season and spring upon us, the need for a small pick-up truck at Gita Nagari, Port Royal, PA has grown immensely. As you may be aware, we are planning to have a large garden this year to take advantage of the lovely soil at the farm and to be able to not only supply Sri Sri Radha Damodara with fresh organic vegetables but also, hopefully, a number of devotees.
At this time our financial situation is tenuous and we are unable to purchase a vehicle. If you have a truck, still in fairly good working order, that you wish to donate, please get in touch with the Gita Nagari management at 717-527-4101 or drop a line to: adoptcows@yahoo.com.
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Tuition Sponsor Wanted by Dhanaya Gouranga Das & Mangala Malati Dasi Posted July 1, 2009 We are the parents of Krishna Priya Dasi, age 4½ years, writin with a request for anyone who might be interested in kindly sponsoring her tuition at the ISKCON school in Mayapur. She joined Pre-School in last year, now in August this year she will be in Reception were the school fees are 20,000/- rupees a year. We havebeen doing service 12 years in the temple.right now we don't have any service in temple and house to stay. We rent outside. We have a small business (Xerox machine & color photo studio) somehow we try to make about five thousand rupees in a month. With that we pay rent, electricity, milk, gas, and maintained our family. So it's not possible for us to pay 20,000/- rupees for her school fees a year. Not only have that as she goes up to other class the school fees is more. We like this school very much it has good education, Shastra, English, and very good behavior, also good teachers are there. Mangala Malati studied in this school now our son Abhimanyu going to this school, he has sponsor. We want our daughter to stay and study in this school. But now school fees are too high for us to pay. We would be so very grateful to anyone who could do this kind help for Krishna Priya. Sorry to say it is our bad situation we don't have enough and it is very hard for us to manage. We hope you accept our request and give us reply soon as possible before August. Our phone number 09002221412/ .09749213207 or email gopalji75@yahoo.com. Click Here for a photo. Hope to hear from you. Your servants,
Dhanya Gouranga Das
For the past 22 years, thousands of Inmates have had the great fortune to get familiar with Krsna Consciousness through the dedicated service of devotee volunteers. Every year, thousands of Srila Prabhupada's books are being introduced in hundreds of penitentiary institutions. With every issue of Back To Godhead, hundreds of copies are sent to eager inmate readers. Japa beads, neck beads, lectures and pictures are finding their way to this "captive audience", as mother Shyama Priya dasi affectionately used to say. For many inmates, corresponding with devotees through snail mail is the only sane or sobering contact they've had since they were incarcerated. Through the ISKCON Prison Ministry, many inmates take to the chanting of the Holy Names, to the study of the philosophy, to amazing Krsna-conscious artwork, as well as to organizing programs for the benefit of other inmates in the same jail. Not only the inmates benefit from this preaching program; over the years, many chaplains have become very favorable to the introduction of Krishna Consciousness in the jail where they serve and are now eager to get more books for their chapel and to accommodate devotees coming to do programs with the inmates. With the recent passing of Shyama Priya prabhu, ISKCON Prison Ministry's chief coordinator, my wife Bhakti-lata and I have taken on the responsibility of continuing this very important yet little-known service. Although much organization was and is still needed, many improvements have been made recently, and more are on the way. We now maintain a complete inventory of Srila Prabhupada's books in stock, and that inventory is kept current as we send and receive books. Also, since our volunteers often correspond with a dozen to a hundred inmates each, keeping track of even basic information can be a challenge. Things like the type and number of books allowed, material already sent and personal details can easily get mixed up or forgotten. To assist us in better serving the inmates, Bhakti-lata dasi created electronic folders to keep track of all relevant information. These folders are updated with each new correspondence. Part of the beauty of this service is its simplicity. ISKCON Prison Ministry has always been, and is still, a home-based service. Devotees who are writing to inmates are doing so from wherever they live, whether Temple or home. I like to summarize the simple and sublime nature of that service by the phrase "Changing lives from the comfort of your home". If you feel inclined to share Krishna Consciousness by corresponding with inmates, we'd like to have a conversation with you. Reaching out to inmates and witnessing the growth of their Krsna Consciousness is very rewarding. One must, however, know many details in order to ensure that letters and packages are not returned. We intend to compile this knowledge, the fruit of years of experience, in an instruction manual for IPM volunteers. Some of the aspects of IPM also awaiting our attention are the revival of the IPM website, the monthly newsletter, and the study correspondence courses. If you would like to receive our upcoming monthly newsletter, please let us know by sending us an email at IskconPrisonMinistry@gmail.com. To this day, the Ministry is operating on a shoestring budget of donations from a handful of generous supporters. Many donors have felt inspired to give, in part, because of Shyama Priya prabhu's personal and caring nature. As the dust of the recent transition settles, Bhakti-lata and I certainly intends to follow in her footsteps.
With all the current activities and with much more to develop ahead, we are seeking well-wishers who feel inspired to contribute any amount on a monthly basis. Steady monthly contributions create stability and predictability, which in turn facilitate growth. If you feel moved to help, simply send a contribution to ISKCON Prison Ministry, c/o Bhakti-lata dasi, PO Box 2676, Alachua, Florida, USA 32616-2676. You may also contact us by telephone at 386-418-3828 or 386-418-0578 or via e-mail at IskconPrisonMinistry@gmail.com. Please feel free to send us your suggestions on how you feel we can better serve the inmates.
The Food for Life Vrindavan (FFLV) Anual Report is now available for viewing. The report contains news and reports including:
This year administration costs were down to 4.8 % due to considerable spending on construction and purchasing land which do not attract many administration costs. This means that for every dollar you donate to FFLV, 95.2 cents goes directly to your specified project. The report is available in a low resolution format (1 MB), or high resolution format (20 MB) if you wish to print and distribute copies. The links are as follows: High resolution: Click Here
Low resolution
Click Here
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