Initiation and the importance of glorifying our spiritual master
by Tulasi Priya devi das

Sri Guru is the representative of Lord Krishna. He has come down to this material world to reclaim us fallen souls and reestablish our lost relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.
Through the 8,400,000 species of life that we are transmigrating, the human form of life is the only means by which we can cross over this material existence and attain our original Krishna Concious position, when one has a deep desire to serve the Lord. He reveals Himself from within as paramatma and guides us to the Guru .Anaspiring student searches fora bonafide spiritual master to guide him back to Godhead who formally accepts him by giving him initiation. Thus one becomes dvija bandhu or twice born. Through the process of initiation the Guru takes over the karma of his sisya and makes it his responsibility to take him back to Godhead.

Lord Jagannatha showd His mersy
by Shyamapriya devi dasi

The day of the Jagannath Rath Yatra dawned with great excitement for all the devotees, who had come to witness this event in the land where it had originally taken place 5000 years ago.
It was a sunny day and the devotees were standing near the colourful Rath, chanting intensely on their beads, just before the arrival of Their Lorships, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra.

Love in Spiritual Brotherhood
by Ekalavya dasa brahmachari

One day last winter, I went to see His Holiness Bhagavatpada at the New Delhi temple, for an interview for the magazine Prabhupada Toshani. He was tremendously busy, but he took the time out to help inspire the Srila Prabhupada Centennial Campaigners.
I was just repeating the questions which had been thought up by my Gurumaharaja - His Holiness Lokanatha Swami Maharaj. H.H. Bhagavatpada gave wonderful answers. One devotee, after reading the interview in the Prabhupada Toshani said it was like "Perfect Questions Perfect Answers". This is the result when two pure devotees work together to glorify Srila Prabhupada.

United we stand, divided we fall
by Gita Govinda das

Srila Bhagavatpada has done so much for us that we can never repay him in any way. Our most important duty is to follow his instructions strictly, because that will please him. All his correspondence, that my wife Gita does from Bombay, Guru Maharaj gives three instructions to all his disciples - chant attentively, read one hour daily and associate with devotees. Srila Prabhupada once mentioned to his disciples, when he was very ill, that the spiritual master suffers when the disciples are not sincere. Also yesterday in the Bhagavatam class it was mentioned, that when the disciples are not united and not strong in devotional service, Lord Krishna brings them together this way so they can be more serious about serving the guru.