August 2009

A Newsletter from His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Arjuna. Although it is not mentioned here, still one can
1 A Soft Heart
easily imagine that not only were Arjuna’s bodily limbs
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
quivering and his mouth drying up, but he was also crying
out of compassion. Such symptoms in Arjuna were not due
2 An Attitude of Gratitude
by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami to weakness but to his soft heartedness, a characteristic of
a pure devotee of the Lord. It is said therefore: ”One who
3 Enlightenment by the Grace of Vidura KDVXQÁLQFKLQJGHYRWLRQIRUWKH3HUVRQDOLW\RI*RGKHDGKDV
by His Grace Karnamrita dasa all the good qualities of the demigods. But one who is not a
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4 Devotee Spotlight: Akrura dasa OLWWOHYDOXH7KLVLVEHFDXVHKHLVKRYHULQJRQWKHPHQWDOSODQH
and is certain to be attracted by the glaring material energy”
(SB 5.18.12).
$6RIW+HDUW
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada -Bhagavad-gita 1.28

A
ny man who has genuine
devotion to the Lord has all
the good qualities, which
are found in godly persons or in the
demigods, whereas the non-devotee,
however advanced he may be in
PDWHULDOTXDOLÀFDWLRQVE\HGXFDWLRQ
and culture, lacks in godly qualities.
As such, Arjuna, just after seeing his
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overwhelmed by compassion for them who had so decided to
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was sympathetic from the beginning, but he felt compassion
even for the soldiers of the opposite party, foreseeing their
imminent death. And while he was so thinking, the limbs of
his body began to quiver, and his mouth became dry. He was
PRUHRUOHVVDVWRQLVKHGWRVHHWKHLUÀJKWLQJVSLULW3UDFWLFDOO\
the whole community, all blood relatives of Arjuna, had come Sri Krishna and Arjuna on
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$Q$WWLWXGHRI*UDWLWXGH he will not access gratitude because his low self-esteem will
by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami prevent him from seeing and identifying with these positive
situations in his life. In other words, such a person simply
We All Depend on the Lord cannot see the world around him or her and consequently
remains unappreciative.
When we have a mindset of  ,Q RWKHU FDVHV VRPH SHRSOH PD\ QHYHU H[SUHVV
impoverishment and fear, and do not any gratitude in spite of your endeavors to serve or assist
DSSUHFLDWHWKDWWKH6XSUHPH3HUVRQDOLW\ them. Many people these days never even say “thank you.”
RI*RGKHDGHLWKHUGLUHFWO\RULQGLUHFWO\ Sometimes they will not say “thank you” because they feel
arranges everything, it distracts from WKDWWKH\GHVHUYHZKDWHYHUFRPHVWRWKHPDQGH[SHFWHYHQ
our ability to progress and takes away PRUH WR FRPH 2WKHU SHRSOH GR QRW H[SUHVV WKHLU JUDWLWXGH
from our physical and mental sense of because they simply are not aware of what you have done
well-being. Such an unhealthy mental state may even lead to RUZKDWRWKHUVKDYHGRQHIRUWKHP7KH\FDQQRWDSSUHFLDWH
failure and bring many negative situations into our lives. For or respect what comes to them because their low self-esteem
these reasons, we want to present this conception of gratitude prevents them from attuning themselves to the kindness
since it can counteract many of these destructive mindsets. directed toward them.
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that everything rests upon the Lord. “O conqueror of wealth, /DFNRI7KDQNIXOQHVV
there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as As spiritualists, we should always be in the spirit of
pearls are strung on a thread (Bhagavad-gita 7.7). “thank you.” As we interact with people, we should always
If we really understand that all things rest upon the WKLQNDQGVD\´7KDQN\RX7KDQN\RXIRUKHOSLQJPHWRVHH
6XSUHPH3HUVRQDOLW\RI*RGKHDGZHZLOOWKHQWU\WRXVHHYHU\ P\RZQHQYLRXVQDWXUH7KDQN\RXIRUKHOSLQJPHWRORRN
circumstance in our life for growth. We can look closer at FORVHU DW P\ RZQ HJR 7KDQN \RX IRU KHOSLQJ PH WR ORRN
every situation in order to discover the message or lesson that FORVHUDWP\RZQVHOÀVKQHVV7KDQN\RXIRUKHOSLQJPHWR
ZHFDQOHDUQ,WFDQKHOSXVÀQGZD\VWRVHUYHEHWWHURUOHDUQ XQGHUVWDQGKRZ,FDQDFWDVDEHWWHUSDUHQW7KDQN\RXIRU
more about other people, the environment, and ourselves. It VKRZLQJPHWKHQHHGWREHFRPHDEHWWHUGLVFLSOH7KDQN\RX
can also help us appreciate the power and mercy of the Lord, IRUKHOSLQJPHWRÀQGZD\VWRSUHDFKPRUHHIIHFWLYHO\7KDQN
and understand the ways in which mayaLQÁXHQFHVXVVRWKDW you for helping me to understand that every situation is an
ZHFDQJHWDURXQGVXFKREVWDFOHV*UDWLWXGHLVDYDOXDEOHZD\ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR VHUYH DQG JORULI\ WKH /RUG 7KDQN \RX IRU
to take care of our physical, mental, and spiritual states. VHWWLQJDJRRGH[DPSOHµ
When we do not genuinely say thank you in our lives,
this ungrateful attitude will interfere with our spiritual growth.
What Blocks the Development of Gratitude? Sometimes we simply must come to such a level of gratitude
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7KH(QHPLHVRIWKH0LQG VLFNDQGJLYLQJPHWKLVRSSRUWXQLW\WRUHDGPRUH7KDQN\RX
 7KHHQHPLHVRIWKHPLQGVXFKDVIHDUDQ[LHW\DQJHU IRUWKLVRSSRUWXQLW\WREHPRUHLQWURVSHFWLYH7KDQN\RXIRU
grief, depression, illusion, envy, and jealousy will naturally giving me this chance to appreciate health and use it more
hinder our ability to develop gratitude because we will only HIÀFLHQWO\ZKHQ,KDYHLWµ:KHQVRPHRQHFULWLFL]HVXVZH
IRFXVRQRXURZQFKDOOHQJHVRUH[SHFWDWLRQV)HDULQGLFDWHV can thank them for helping us look closer at ourselves. When
that we are not appreciating the present or the past but are in someone praises us, we can thank the Lord for showing us
WRRPXFKDQ[LHW\DERXWWKHIXWXUH,IZHDOORZWKHLOOXVLRQV our big egos and thank Him for seeing that it needs to be
WRFDSWXUHXVZHZLOOQRWVHHRUH[SHULHQFHWKHGLYLQLW\DOO GHÁDWHG:KHQZHIDFHGLVKRQRUZHFDQWKDQNWKH/RUGIRU
around us. For instance, the false ego may sometimes cause keeping us humble and preventing us from relying entirely
a person to think solely about him or herself and develop on our own abilities. We want to have gratitude towards the
such illusions of grandeur that he or she cannot appreciate Lord, towards His representatives, and towards everyone in
RWKHUV RU VHH *RG DV WKH JUHDWHVW SHUVRQDOLW\ 2Q WKH RWKHU our environment. We can even feel grateful for those who
KDQG D SHUVRQ·V LQVHFXULWLHV RU LQIHULRULW\ FRPSOH[HV FDQ have fallen into maya for distinctly showing us what we want
DOVR LQKLELW SURSHU JUDWLWXGH 7KLV SHUVRQ PLJKW UHFHLYH VR to avoid.
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Excessive False Ego WKHSKLORVRSK\RUPD\EHEHFDXVH3UDEKXSDGDSXWHYHU\WKLQJ
 :KHQZHKDYHWRRPXFKIDOVHHJRZHZLOOGHÀQLWHO\ KHFRXOGLQWRLWWKLQNLQJKHPLJKWQRWOLYHWRÀQLVKWKHZKROH
not appreciate the behavior of other people when they set VFULSWXUH,QGHHGKHGLGQ·WÀQLVK$OWKRXJKKHÀQLVKHGRQO\D
JRRGH[DPSOHV&RQVHTXHQWO\ZKHQWKH\KHOSXVORRNFORVHU IHZFKDSWHUVRIWKH7HQWK&DQWRKHGLGJLYHXVWKH.ULVKQD%RRN
at ourselves, we will simply try to hide or fall into a defensive LQZKLFKLVDVXPPDU\RIWKDW&DQWR$Q\RIWKHYDULRXV
mode. However, if we are evolving spiritually, situations and narrations contained throughout the Bhagavatam can help us
events will happen in our lives that will allow us to see our own be freed from bodily illusion and take up the spiritual path. It
SURJUHVVLRQDQGIHHOJUDWHIXO*HQXLQHVSLULWXDODGYDQFHPHQW all depends on our receptivity coming from our inner spiritual
will naturally humble us because we will understand that necessity. Hearing Vidura’s potent words while considering
VXFKSURJUHVVLRQLVEH\RQGRXURZQPHDQV7KHJUHDWHFVWDV\ their meaning for you and contemplating the questions that
WKDWZHEHJLQWRH[SHULHQFHZLOOWKHQKXPEOHXVHYHQPRUH arise will help you go deeper into transcendence.
$OWKRXJKVXFKH[SHULHQFHVZLOOFDXVHXVWRIHHOXQZRUWK\ZH  $QLPSRUWDQWSULQFLSOH6ULOD3UDEKXSDGDGHPRQVWUDWHG
will feel eager to have more. By allowing the Lord to work SHUVRQDOO\E\´QRWÀQLVKLQJµWKHBhagavatam is that he also
through us, more positive changes will happen and we will taught about the previous acaryas H[HPSODU\ WHDFKHUV LQ
IHHOFRQVWDQWDQWLFLSDWLRQDVZHZDLWIRUWKHQH[WH[SHULHQFH JHQHUDO7KH\RIWHQOHDYHWKHLUZRUNDSSDUHQWO\XQÀQLVKHG³
DQGWKHQH[WDGYHQWXUH in other words, by their mercy they leave something for us
 to do. Of course there is always service to do for our guru.
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and disturbed will rarely have a genuine sense of gratitude, Yet, when he leaves our vision through death of the body,
even in spiritual communities. Some people only see the we have to serve in his physical absence by the strength of
negative aspects of any situation due to low self-esteem, false RXU FRQYLFWLRQV DQG UHDOL]DWLRQV ,Q IDFW DOO WKH acaryas of
HJRF\QLFLVPRUDIDXOWÀQGLQJPLQGVHWFRQVHTXHQWO\WKH\ all time are our friends and well-wishers who offer us their
miss the basic beautiful realities. Often people just search instructions and blessings.
for the faults like a rat that just connects with unhealthy or In the part of the Bhagavatam we are discussing
ÀOWK\ VLWXDWLRQV 'XH WR VRPH RI WKHVH QHJDWLYH PLQGVHWV)LUVW &DQWR &KDSWHU  HQWLWOHG ´'KULWDUDVKWUD 4XLWV
VRPHSHRSOHRQO\ORRNIRUWKHQHJDWLYHDQGZKHQWKH\ÀQG Home), Vidura represents the ideal holy person or “sadhu”,
LWWKH\KROGRQWRLWWHQDFLRXVO\7KHQSHRSOHEHJLQWRZRQGHU ZKLOH 'KULWDUDVKWUD ZDV DQG UHSUHVHQWV DQ RYHUO\ DWWDFKHG
ZK\ WKH\ IHHO VR XQIXOÀOOHG DQG XQKDSS\ DURXQG RWKHUV PDWHULDOLVWLF SHUVRQ$OWKRXJK KH KDG IDLWK LQ *RG DQG WKH
Nevertheless, in spite of their emptiness, even when they have Vedic culture, he was blinded by his worldly ambitions for his
the association of other people, they will still only consider VRQV7KHWLPHSHULRGLVDIWHUWKH.XUXNVKHWUDZDUZKHQDOO
their own plan, idea, or particular material pleasures. Even RI'KULWDUDVKWUD·VVRQVDQGDOOLHVKDYHEHHQNLOOHGDVZHOODV
neophyte spiritualists will sometimes fall into this mentality KLVKRSHVWKDWKLVVRQ'XU\RGKDQDZRXOGEHNLQJ7KHZKROH
DQG RQO\ PHGLWDWH RQ WKH IXOÀOOPHQW RI WKHLU RZQ ZDQWV EDWWOHZDVGXH³DWOHDVWH[WHUQDOO\³WR'KULWDUDVKWUD·VRYHUO\
and needs. However, this is not a mature spiritual warrior DWWDFKHG DIIHFWLRQ IRU KLV HQYLRXV VHOÀVK DQG H[FHVVLYHO\
because true spiritualists practically never think only about PDWHULDOLVWLFVRQ'KULWDUDVKWUDLVSDUWLFXODUO\WUDJLFEHFDXVH
themselves. not only did he know better than to follow his unrighteous
path, he also had constant good guidance that he ignored.
3OHDVH UHIHU WR Spiritual Warrior 5: Chapter 3 where And then in his old age he was being maintained by those
%76ZDPL HODERUDWHV RQ PDQ\ RWKHU DVSHFWV RI JUDWLWXGH SHUVRQV³WKH3DQGDYDV³ZKRPKHWULHGWRNLOO
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(QOLJKWHQPHQWE\WKH*UDFHRI9LGXUD return of Mahatma Vidura from his pilgrimage, then his
by His Grace Karnamrita dasa (ACBSP) LQVWUXFWLRQVWR'KULWDUDVKWUDWKHQ'KULWDUDVKWUD·VDZDNHQLQJ
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7
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Bhagavatam is one of my ZKR WRRN UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU WKH GHSDUWXUH RI 'KULWDUDVKWUD
IDYRULWHV :K\" 3HUKDSV LW LV DQGKLVDVFHWLFVDLQWO\ZLIH*DQGKDUL,ZLOOEHGHDOLQJZLWK
EHFDXVHLWZDVWKHFDQWRWKDW3UDEKXSDGD the second section, although the welcoming of Vidura as a
EURXJKW WR $PHULFD DQG WKH ÀUVW ERRN VDLQWO\SHUVRQE\.LQJ<XGKLVKWKLUDLVYHU\LQVWUXFWLYHDVDUH
that was available for us to study. Or Narada’s instruction.
it could be the attractive, spiritually I often write in my blogs about the importance of what
uplifting, historical stories used to teach might be called “soft,” accommodating, or indirect
3 next 
preaching, yet the scriptures are full of hard, direct preaching
about the naked form of the world and material attachment.
Although there is a time and place for everything, “hard”
preaching is not to be used in all circumstances. It is tempting
in the beginning to use it since so much of what we read and
hear is “hard,” and we may be very inspired by it as well.
However, if we speak this “naked truth” indiscriminately,
we may push away people who may require a more gradual
DSSURDFK2XUH[SHUWLVHDVSUHVHQWHUVRIWKHSKLORVRSK\RI6UL
&KDLWDQ\D ZLOO EH VKRZQ LQ KRZ ZH DUH DEOH WR FXVWRPL]H
our presentation to the level of interest of our audience.
Admittedly, not every devotee would agree with this, but this
broad outreach is what inspires me, and what I have found
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both “soft” and “hard” presentations depending on the time,
place, and circumstances.
Let us now turn our attention to the instructions by
Sri Vidura which were meant to help the blind so-called king,
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the little remaining time of his life for spiritual perfection.
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enough to read them about the great urgency of spiritual
understanding. In the second half of life, people who follow
Vedic culture arrange their time so they can be increasingly
focused on dedicating the remainder of their years for spiritual
cultivation.
“Insurmountable, eternal time imperceptibly overcomes those
who are too much attached to family affairs and are always
engrossed in their thought. Mahatma Vidura knew all this, and
WKHUHIRUHKHDGGUHVVHG'KULWDUDVKWUDVD\LQJ0\GHDU.LQJ
SOHDVHJHWRXWRIKHUHLPPHGLDWHO\'RQRWGHOD\-XVWVHHKRZ
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him to really hear Vidura and act on his advice.
Our speaking or writing will have potency to the
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or our spiritual
practices and
goals, and have
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practical life. In
addition, as we
mature spiritually
we will be able
to have empathy
for our audience
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feel. Our ability
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will increase, and we will know how to best present the
philosophy in a way that they can better appreciate. Of course
not everyone is ready for spiritual life, yet some people who
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by our broadminded, non-fanatical attitude and our deep
conviction and spirituality.
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to be applied by everyone in the same way, though we can all
be educated about the negative power of material attachment,
DQG WKH LPSRUWDQFH DQG XUJHQF\ IRU VSLULWXDO UHDOL]DWLRQ DV
the real success of our life. For most of us the point is not
whether to leave home or not, but what is favorable for our
OLIHFRQVLGHULQJRXUXQLTXHVLWXDWLRQ7KRVHRIXVDWD\RXQJ
age with family or aspirations for such need to go through
IHDUKDVRYHUWDNHQ\RXµ6% married life. At the same time we need to cultivate spiritual
knowledge and engage in sadhana (spiritual practices) in order
´+HLVFHUWDLQO\DÀUVWFODVVPDQZKRDZDNHQVDQGXQGHUVWDQGV WRUHPHPEHU.ULVKQDDQGXQGHUVWDQGWKHWHPSRUDU\PLVHUDEOH
either by himself or from others, the falsity and misery of this nature of material life. We have to develop a taste for spiritual
material world and thus leaves home and depends fully on life in order to remain involved in it.
WKH3HUVRQDOLW\RI*RGKHDGUHVLGLQJZLWKLQKLVKHDUW3OHDVH Sometimes it is said in popular culture that “the way
therefore, leave for the North immediately, without letting out is through.” Most people need to go through married
your relatives know, for soon that time will approach which OLIH 7R EH D UHQXQFLDWH³OLNH D OLIH ORQJ EUDKPDFDUL RU
ZLOOGLPLQLVKWKHJRRGTXDOLWLHVRIPHQµ6% VDQQ\DVL³WKHUH QHHGV WR EH D ´FDOOLQJµ DQG QRW GRQH WR
avoid work or being a responsible person in society. We have
We can take note that although Vidura certainly was to always think long term, because many things can be done
DUHDOL]HGGHYRWHHZKRVSRNHZLWKVSLULWXDOSRWHQF\KHDOVR WHPSRUDULO\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ \RXWK³PLOLWDU\ VHUYLFH 3HDFH
KDG D YHU\ ROG DQG LQWLPDWH UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK 'KULWDUDVKWUD &RUSVHGXFDWLRQRUUHQXQFLDWLRQ0DWXUHJXLGDQFHFDQKHOS
$OWKRXJK 'KULWDUDVKWUD KDG IRU \HDUV LJQRUHG WKH ZLVH us with introspection to better understand our self and what
counsel of his brother Vidura, he had always respected him as ZHFDQ´GLJHVWµVSLULWXDOO\³LGHDOO\ZLWKWKRVHRIWKHFDOLEHU
ZLVH³WKRXJKKLVDWWDFKPHQWIRUKLVVRQSUHYHQWHGKLPIURP of Vidura, though at least from spiritually advanced devotees
DSSUHFLDWLQJLWDWWKHWLPH,QDGGLWLRQKHQRZUHDOL]HGWKDW who can understand us and compassionately, reasonably give
Sri Vidura’s previous instructions had been the right course us good counsel.
4 next 
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(blog, Facebook, email). By helping others, my strength
+RZ DQG ZKHUH GLG \RX MRLQ WKH LQFUHDVHVDV,WKLQNWKDW.UVQDLVSOHDVHGLIZHKHOS+LVGHYRWHHV
,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6RFLHW\ IRU .ULVKQD VXFFHHG:KHQ,JRWRDSODFH,SUD\WRWKH'HLWLHV´3OHDVH
Consciousness? help me serve Your devotees here nicely.”

After reading some various translations ,I VHULRXV GRXEWV KDYH DULVHQ GXULQJ WKH FRXUVH RI \RXU
of the Bhagavad-Gita, I got Srila VSLULWXDOOLIHKRZKDYH\RXEHHQDEOHWRFRPEDWWKHP"
3UDEKXSDGD·V ERRNV DQG +DUH .UVQD
records from my friends. After chanting at home for about It happened once in the beginning when a sannyasi (our regional
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,ZDVDWWKHWLPH preached to me and helped to free me from doubts. Otherwise,
I ask my mind, “What else is better? What else makes more
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class to a full temple room of book distributors. He was shining H[SDQVLRQ RI WKH +DUH .ULVKQD PRYHPHQW" +RZ GR \RX
IURPWKHY\DVDVDQDDQGEHLQJERWKYHU\JHQWOHDQGÀUP IHHOWKDWGHYRWHHVFDQWDFNOHWKLVREVWDFOH"

&DQ\RXWHOOXVDERXW\RXU*LWD&RDFKLQJSURMHFW":KDW /DFN RI ÀUVWFODVV VSLULWXDO OHDGHUVKLS , EHOLHYH LW FDQ EH
LQVSLUHG\RXWRVWDUWWKLVSURMHFW" RYHUFRPH E\ FUHDWLQJ 6SLULWXDO *XLGDQFH 6\VWHPV LQ DOO RXU
centers. Small groups can train good preachers and leaders.
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devotees. It started in 2001, after I had read professional GHYRWHHVDQGZKRDOZD\VSUDFWLFH.ULVKQDFRQVFLRXVQHVVPRUH
leadership and coaching books for about ten years. It came as than their followers or disciples.
a natural need to follow up on training and as a desire to have
happier and more productive devotees in our movement. ,QFRQFOXVLRQSOHDVHVKDUHDQ\RWKHUWKRXJKWVRUUHDOL]DWLRQV
WKDWFRXOGEHQHÀWWKH9DLVQDYDFRPPXQLW\
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Long-term goals? %HDOZD\VJUDWHIXOWR.UVQDIRUZKDW+HKDVJLYHQ\RX'RQ·W
EODPHGRQ·WFRPSODLQGRZKDW\RXFDQZLWKZKDW\RXKDYH
7RORYHVHUYHDQGKHOSGHYRWHHVVXFFHHGDVPXFKDV,FDQ7R right where you are. Be a giver, and people will listen to you.
KHOSFUHDWHVSLULWXDOJXLGDQFHV\VWHPVLQDOO,6.&21FHQWHUV 7KHPRUH\RXJLYHWKHPRUH\RXJHWVR\RXFDQJLYHHYHQ
DOO RYHU WKH ZRUOG 7R KHOS FUHDWH PRUH .UVQD FRQVFLRXV more. Help more, judge less. 7KLVRSSRUWXQLW\WRKHOS.ULVKQD·V
leadership in the secular world. devotees succeed is the greatest blessing in my life.

+RZ GR \RX VHH .ULVKQD PDQLIHVWLQJ +LV PHUF\ LQ \RXU Akrura dasa joined ISKCON in 1983. He has spent the past
OLIH" several years helping devotees become empowered leaders. He
is based in London, England. For more information, visit www.
2KLQPDQ\ZD\V7KHGHYHORSPHQWRI*LWD&RDFKLQJLVRQH vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/newsletter.htm
RIWKHP7KHRSSRUWXQLW\WRKHOSPDQ\GHYRWHHVDOORYHUWKH
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All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying,
recording, or other wise, without prior written consent of the publisher.
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