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Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna! As we come to the end of the summer, it’s a good time to see how much we've progressed with our own spiritual lives and to help others. Summer is pleasant for japa walks by the sea, or in the countryside, and it’s also a perfect time to set our body clock a little earlier so we can chant earlier and in the mode of goodness. It’s easy to get up when the sun is streaming through the curtains, as long as we rest early, resisting the temptation to stay up late in the warm summer nights. The path of Krishna Consciousness is all about gradually controlling the mind and senses so we can experience the presence of Krishna through many things.Lord Krishna can be seen with purified senses, but otherwise we only see Him partially and then wonder why we don't always feel blissful.

This year has seen many Ratha Yatras including new ones in Totnes and Reading and LOrd Jagannatha’s mercy has been flowing for everyone who’s attended or certainly those who've helped run them. Srila Prabhupada gave us such a nectar lift in the many festivals throughout the summer months - Janmashtami, Radhastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance day.

Lord Krishna seems to be fulfilling the dreams of some devotees to expand Krishna Consciousness by opening new centres in various parts of the country. The Food For All Centre in Brighton is becoming very popular for prasadam, Bhagavad Gita Classes and kirtans. Bhakta Rob is running the centre overseen by Parasarama prabhu, and the owner of the property has been convinced that converting the building into a restaurant, ashram and temple room will be a good move. In Cambridge Michelle has persuaded someone to sponsor the running of a Restaurant after several months of her running a cafe at the local Hindu Temple for students/homeless and this has all happened through the success of the nama hatta group there. As some of you know, I'm planning to open a preaching centre in Bristol in January, and already two devotees have volunteered to run the distribution of prasadam to the homeless.

It seems that as we approach the last quarter of 2004 many devotees are getting the chance to become instruments in the hands of Lord Chaitanya’s Sankirtan Movement, so for the benefit of those who aren't yet involved please volunteer yourselves for service and experience a closer connection to Srila Prabhupada and the deities for Bristol Yatra -Sri Sri Panca Tattva. There are four S's in spiritual life which are very important -
* Sanga (association),
* Sadhana(Daily spiritual practices)
* Seva (Devotional Service) and
* Sankirtan (Glorification and Distribution of the Holy Names).
Please try to put all these into your life and feel the bliss.

your servant Minaketanarama dasa

News

H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and initiating guru has been diagnosed with advanced skin cancer. Now 55, Bhakti Tirtha Swami was born in Cleveland USA and appeared on TV as a child evangelist. He received a degree in psychology and later joined Dr.Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement. He was initiated in 1973 by Srila Prabhupada and became a renowned distributor of books to school and college libraries.

He has preached in Russia,Africa and Eastern block countries and has inspired many devotees with his books. We should all pray that Lord Krishna takes special care of this great personality.

Cardiff

Tarakanatha prabhu, who very successfully started the restaurant and preaching centre in Swansea now has a 2 floor building in Cardiff, which will serve as a holistic centre, where classes on Bhakti yoga, Hatha yoga, astrology and philosophy of Krishna Consciousness applied to topical issues will take place. A Nama Hatta was run in Cardiff for many years with great emphasis being placed in the late eighties by Rasamandala prabhu, who now serves in the Oxford Centre for Vedic Studies, and so eventually having a centre there is a fulfillment of perseverance and determination and Srila Prabhupada will be very pleased.

LEARN A SLOKA FROM BHAGAVAD GITA

Chapter 7 Verse 14.
Daivi hy esa guna mayi
Mama maya duratyaya
Mam eva ye prapadyante
Mayam etam tatanti te

This divine energy of Mine,consisting of the three modes of material nature,is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.