It seems most devotees in ISKCON rely on intuitive assumptions regarding the psychology of the audience we preach to; however, our assumptions can be erroneous. Strictness increases the attractiveness of religious organizations. This paper presents the logic behind this assertion and some recent empirical research on the role strictness plays in religious organizations

Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that grass doesn’t resist when it is walked on or thrown around. It doesn’t complain or scream out, “How dare you step on me or throw me here and there?!” As we say in California, “It goes with the flow.”

Some devotees feel that they have to be extra educated or materially qualified, or to be a GBC, sannyasa or guru with disciples, in order to serve properly in devotion. Falling short of these positions, we may feel unqualified. There are some good news for all ‘unqualified’ devotees

Today the Earth planet we inhabit, Mother Bhumi, is facing a monumental catastrophe in the form of exploiting her for oil. Though this modern artificial so-called civilization is based around wholesale destruction and pillaging of the environment, there are a few who have arisen to defend Mother Earth though soon it could be too late

This is several questions made in the form of an article. I find them intriguing and aspire for answers. I beg kind insightful devotees to offer insights, and, if they find time, to evaluate or critique the answers which i have offered according to my own limited understanding

The Place Where Lord Nrsimhadeva Came To Take Rest And Wash The Blood From His Hands After Killing Hiranyakasipu

Simple living and High thinking is the solution to economic problems. Therefore the Krishna Conscious movement is engaging devotees in producing their own food and living self-sufficiently so that rascals may see how one can live very peacefully, eat the food grains one has grown one self, drink milk, and chant Hare Krishna

In his summation during his debate with self-confessed atheist Stephen Law, HH Sivarama Swami made the following point: He said that for those individuals who take up the science of spiritual life, who “perform the experiment”, there is no need to argue

The Grade 2 children (ages 6 and 7) of Sri Mayapur International School have been studying the life of Srila Prabhupada with their teacher Kirti Kumari devi dasi. As part of their project they wrote responses to Srila Prabhupada's poem 'Markine Bhagavat Dharma' thinking about what Lord Krishna would say to His dear devote

Most of the time we complain. Sometimes we may be vocal about it but most of the time we silently complain. Why did it happen to me? Why always bad things happen to good people like me? We always consider ourselves a victim of an unjust system

I am happy to report that the GBC passed my proposal to make Srila Prabhupada's presence on the home page of all Iskcon temples and preaching centers an official guideline of the Society. Srila Prabhupada's picture is currently MIA (missing in action) on numerous temple websites around the world

If you have been to a circus you may have seen a tightrope walker constantly adjusting his long pole to keep it horizontal. Without these readjustments, the performer may lose his balance and fall. Similarly, by avoiding extreme views or behaviors that will throw us off our chosen life path, we can remain mentally, physically and spiritually balanced

The Only Deity In The World Manifested From The Heart Of Srimati Radharani. At Seva Kunj, Sridham Vrindavana (next to Sri Sri Radha-Damodara Temple)

(For the Huffington Post) India has long harbored a tradition of ethical vegetarianism, anchored on the dharmic traditions' commitment to ahimsa (nonviolence). This tradition can perhaps be encapsulated by Prabhupada's statement, "Indulgence in animal killing for the taste of the tongue is the grossest kind of ignorance,"

Pope Francis has washed the feet of prisoners and has rekindled an interest in his message of humility and care for the poor, how does this resonate with the generally accepted Vaisnava tradition of spiritual leaders having their own feet washed? Or do genuine Vaisnavas resist having their feet bathed by others?

Every society that thinks about sustainability will agree to the fact that continuity has a lot more to cover than just Eco-culture, recycling, administration etc.

When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krishna, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrishni, comes unwanted progeny

How many of us wonder why, in spite of vigorous book distribution and innovative outreach we still appear irrelevant in society? What does it mean to be relevant? Have we generally consigned ourselves to just being isolated spiritual people with near impossible Vedic world objectives? Perhaps the Durban festival holds some clues

Last year myself and my good friend Yugala-kisora Prabhu decided to do something most people would consider completely insane—namely, walk across the city of Detroit

Srila Prabhupada has stated many times and many places of the acceptable humble attitude we must have… we have nothing to offer except our humble service, how small we and our service are, and how unlimited is Sri Krishna

There are fanatics in every church and even among atheists. Do not judge them, do not hook your mind in interactions with them, and do not be attached to winning your arguments with them

SP: "So far your ideas about influencing the leaders of society, yes, that must be done. If such leaders of society can be influenced to preach on our behalf, help us to spread Krsna consciousness in some practical way, that is the best service"

In May 2012, a Chaplain from El-Paso, Texas, Steven Cottingham, emailed me in the hope of getting some books for the inmates he served

Human taste buds have grown tired of all the flesh and blood we gorge upon daily. To the tickling taste buds, what could be more savory than a cute little baby, killed in the womb itself

I had been contemplating Srila Prabhupada's greatness and outstanding position, meditating on how I could glorify him in a way which was relevant to the devotees here in Bangladesh

Yogapitha is the actual site of Lord Caitanya’s appearance. In 1893, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura established this site. He personally collected funds to purchase this land and built a small temple here

Veganism is just a dietary consideration primarily based on a certain ethic, that shows no alternatives to pro-actively engage in, which is purely egocentrically motivated

This GBC Statement on Prabhupada’s Preeminent Position is part of an ongoing effort to better educate ISKCON devotees about Srila Prabhupada’s unique stature and contributions

From time to time we hear that a certain devotee is “mature”. We know it is a positive thing, but what does it really mean? How can we become the kind of devotee that others will call “mature”? What is the evidence regarding “maturity” in our revealed scriptures?

In a laudable effort to get 'back to basics' there may well be some among the international devotee community who now view any public appreciation of George Harrison as a deviation from the main thrust of Srila Prabhupada's mission

Post independence, India has come a long way in raising the standard of all backward classes of people in society by abolishing the caste system and by trying to implement the rights and privileges listed in the Constitution

If you sit down and write some article on Krsna, that means you have to concentrate on Krsna's activities or Krsna's devotees' activities, and that very process will purify your heart. Therefore we always recommend to our students that you write articles, read our magazine, read our book

Please find enclosed some copies of news reports published so far in English

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura called this place “Vrindavana Pattan”, which means the place where the forest of Vrindavana is manifest

By enacting His intimate pastimes, Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, evokes deep primeval emotions in the hearts of the sleeping souls. Generally, when the Lord displays His pastimes in the material world the mood is one of separation

In this Age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of sannyasa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a man’s begetting children in his brother’s wife

The 5 million or so vegetarians residing in the UK must be feeling relieved at their dietary choice given the grotesque, unprecedented, bizarre and unacceptable horse meat controversy that shows no sign of abating in Europe. For the other 55 million or so non-vegetarians in the UK they have been thrown into considerable turmoil; one commented: "If horse meat were okay then our butchers would sell it"

Ekachakra is located 165km north-west of Mayapur and is easily assessable by car or bus. Ekachakra village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekachakra

A perception exists that our gurus and devotees usually function on the kanistha/madhyama level of spiritual advancement, and that whoever joins Iskcon and takes initiation will only advance as much as they, not more. Is this true?

I thought that many devotees would be interested in the following information on the times of different lilas and corresponding ages of Lord Krishna during His stay in Vraja. It is entirely taken from Srila Jiva Gosvami's commentary to SB 10.45.3

Our acaryas are very merciful. Because in this age kalau sudra sambhavah—we are all born sudras—and because we are mandah sumanda-matayo—unlucky and always disturbed, they keep giving us clear instructions for us to follow according to our times, places, and circumstances. Today, by chance—or the will of the Lord—I came across Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Sri Caitanya-siksamrta

The two main points of this purpose is bringing the members of Iskcon closer together and teaching the members of Iskcon a simpler natural way of life

According to the Manu-samhita you are all mlecchas and yavanas. You cannot touch the Manu-samhita, what to speak of translating it. So if you try to follow the Manu-samhita then you become a mleccha and yavana and your career is finished

Srila Prabhupada was serious about his use of words. If we analyse why he used “Ever well wisher” as he signed off each letter he wrote, we will discover a broad and deep purpose for doing so. Let us sample some profound meanings

I found this talk by Yamuna-devi, from the Pune Yatra 2001, so profound and powerful, I wanted to share it with you all. If you wish to learn more about—and from—this extraordinary devotee and disciple of Srila Prabhupada’s, you may visit the beautiful new website Unalloyed: The Yamuna Devi Legacy Project (www.unalloyed.org). —Giriraj Swami

Recently, there were incidents of anti-corruption protests started by some national leaders in India. They had started nation-wide awakenings to make the people alert and aware for corruption free India and curbing the use of black-money

On 2 Feb13, Sat is the Disappearance Day of Sri Jayadeva Goswami, a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, poet and composer of Dasavatara-stotra, a poetic glorification of Lord Krishna’s main incarnations

In this conversation recorded on Ramanavami in 2010, Sripada Aindra prabhu presents a deep and sastric understanding of the Guru Tattva in line of the disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya