By Vijaya DasMost temples in the world have decreased book distribution because of the pandemic, but some increased it. ISKCON of Silicon Valley had one of its best months. By using the phone or internet by selling sets, the ISV devotees did 46,788 book points, making their temple No. 1 in the world, way ahead of everyone else. They had 368 devotees taking part in the Bhaktivinoda Marathon. The New York Yuga-dharma Harinama book distribution team temporarily moved to Atlanta, away from the severe pandemic in New York, and did huge: No. 3 in the world with 9,057 book points. Their party consists of twelve...
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- 31 Jul 2020
By The Monk's PodcastThere are dangers in the spiritual path so we should have mechanisms in place for protecting the members of Iskcon, especially the leaders. An interview with HG Anuttama Prabhu.
...- 30 Jul 2020
By The ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamThe Global Devotee Care Directorate is pleased to host HH Gopal Krishna Goswami for a conversation about balancing spiritual care and organizational responsibilities.
...- 30 Jul 2020
By Sri Nandanandana dasaMy dear Daruka, do not be unhappy because of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, or the disappearance of Lord Balarama. Become patient and fixed in actual knowledge. These calamities are simply an illusory show, fabricated by My internal potency. There is no need to become agitated because of these so-called catastrophes.
...- 29 Jul 2020
By Jaganmohini Devi DasiAs a founder director of Bhaktivedanta Institute, HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, was able to lay the foundation of the Bhaktivedanta Institute under Srila Prabhupada's direct guidance. During Srila Prabhupada's final days and even before that HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami was very enthusiastic and had adopted versatile and dynamic approach to reach to intellectual community. And Srila Prabhupada very much approved and appreciated it. There are several conversations between them in this regard. Thereafter, for nearly three decades, HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swam...
- 28 Jul 2020
By ISKCON TowacoA recent ZOOM conference with HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami about the great benefits the devotee receives by worshiping properly the Deities of the Lord
...- 27 Jul 2020
By The ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamYesterday, Sunday, on the Children at Home Show by Gopi Gita Schomaker, we interviewed His Grace Sesa Prabhu, ISKCON's Minister of Education, a father, a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a mentor to devotees worldwide. He shared his journey in his ISKCON service and important instructions for families today.
...- 27 Jul 2020
By Madhava SmullenAn internship program has been launched to help build a website and carry out important research for the still under-development project âISKCON at the United Nations.â After applying and going through a rigorous approval process, The Office of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) received ECOSOC status with the UN in 2016, the highest level at which an NGO can be associated with the UN.
...- 27 Jul 2020
By Samapriya devi dasiNow America has millions of people and everyone goes on with their personal lives. If someone dies or is born or gets sick or grows a garden or plays the french horn in a symphony orchestra - not everyone hears about it or even cares. There are communities, towns, cities and states, functioning within themselves. Due to the multitudes everything has changed. So too has this happened to the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. We grew to a few thousand while Srila Prabhupada was sti...
- 26 Jul 2020
By The Monk's PodcastThe challenges that the Vedic culture is facing in contemporary India. Local governments taking over temples' assets, materialistic media deriding religious practices, famous Bollywood movies and actors in a mission against Vedic traditions, Christian conversions by unfair methods, communistic propaganda, western influence, the Muslim presence, cheating gurus, casteism, lack of an organized defense, how is Iskcon prepared to contribute to confronting this Kali-yuga degradation in the land of dharma?
...- 24 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamThe Global Devotee Care Directorate invites everyone to their weekly webinars focused on Vaishnava Seva and Devotee Care, an effort that emphasizes the culture of devotee care in our ISKCON temples and communities. We are pleased to announce this week's discussion was led by HH Niranjana Swami Maharaj, who is the force behind one of the world's largest thriving communities of devotees in Ukraine.
...- 24 Jul 2020
By Srimati DasiTo make everyone understand that He was accepting the sinful actions of Jagai and Madhai, Lord Caitanyaâs body became blackish in complexion. The Lord inquired, âWhy do you all look at Me in this manner? How do I look?â Advaita Acarya replied, âYou look like Lord Krishna.â Lord Caitanya began to laugh at Advaita Acaryaâs words and all the Vaisnavas became ecstatic and expressed their joy with jubilant sounds. Lord Caitanya then said, âBegin kirtana, and this black shroud of sin will lift from My body and enter the bodies of those who criticize the devotees of the Lord.â <...
- 23 Jul 2020
By INV CommunicationsSince everything in this material world is temporary, loss is an experience we all must go through. Rambhoru Devi encouraged participants to look at the different losses they have undergone throughout their lives and create a âtimeline of loss.â With the help of a âfeelings chart,â she guided us in understanding the emotions connected with those losses and exploring how certain feelings such as fear hold us back in various ways.
...- 22 Jul 2020
By Satsvarupa Das GoswamiI received an email from Vanamali Pandit, the temple president of Boston. He has invited me to conduct a Zoom presentation for the 49th installation anniversary on July 19th. I have agreed to do it because Prabhupada sent me alone to Boston in 1967 to open a center. I stayed there for several years and watched it grow. I have a soft spot for Boston ISKCON. I will share my memories, including the several visits of Prabhupada to the Boston temple and his installation of the Deities Radha-Gopivallabha.
...- 21 Jul 2020
By Kalakantha DasaMy experiences trying to keep sane in the prevailing pandemic through Deity worship. Sri Kapiladeva: 0 My mother, My devotees always see the smiling face of My form, with eyes like the rising morning sun. They like to see My various transcendental forms, which are all benevolent, and they also talk favorably with Me.
...- 21 Jul 2020
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of June 2020. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
...- 21 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamThis Sunday on the Children at Home Show by Gopi Gita Schomaker, we invite Her Grace Vrindavaneshvari Aguilera, a dear disciple and spiritual daughter of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami and the Early Childhood Director of the Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula school in Alachua. She shares how her family has been touched by him, and how they navigate the natural grief that arises by his departure.
...- 20 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamLet us hear how to overcome the overwhelming mental health challenges in one's spiritual life from Citi Sakti Devi Dasi who is an expert psychiatrist and practicing spiritual life for more than two decades.
...- 20 Jul 2020
By Sacinandana SwamiDeepening Bhakti course is suitable for all those who have been on the Bhakti path for some time and who would like to deepen their understanding of the philosophy and practices of Bhakti. HH Sacinandana Swami presents the five traditional ways to establish our connection with Krishna by accessing a very special space within our heart: the sacred space. It is from this space that our practices of chanting, reading, worshipping, and so on become infused with life, inner knowing, and relish!
...- 19 Jul 2020
By the Monks podcast We use speech every day in our life. But seldom do we realize itâs power. It leaves a profound impact on others, our mind and consciousness. Words create worlds. Since language affects reality, there is an irretrievable nature to the words which leave our lips. Numerous scriptural injunctions are available on the Yama and Niyama of speech. In the Nectar of Instruction, Srila Rupa Goswami's first instruction to all practitioners of bhakti-yoga is â vÄco vegam â one should control oneâs speech. In the Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (17.15), Lord Krishna says that austerity of speech con...
- 19 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamPlease join us for our "Ask a GBC-People Behind the Policies" series. This week we are very honored to host HH Guru Prasad Swami. He is being interviewed by Gopal Bhatta Das.
...- 19 Jul 2020
By Yogesvara dasaThe Bhagavad Gita has something to say about angerâtwo âsomethingsâ that seem to contradict one another. One is shockingly violent. In a startlingly passage (2.32) Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that when there is a chance for righteous battle, âhappy are the warriors to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planetsââessentially advising Arjuna to prepare to die. Krishna proceeds to say that He Himself takes up the call to fight (4.8) when there is a decline of religious principles and a rise of irreligion. At such time, He comes "t...
- 18 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamHH Purushatraya Swami reaffirms the 6th purpose of ISKCON-To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life as part of the ISKCON Incorporation Day celebration.
...- 18 Jul 2020
By Mahatma dasA lot of times when we talk about ISKCON, people think that itâs just an organization, and organizations have so many problems, and I am devoted to Prabhupada, but not to ISKCON. Bhakti Charu Swami never made that distinction, he didnât want us to make that distinction. He made it very clear that if you are criticizing ISKCON, you are criticizing Prabhupada. If you love Prabhupada, you will work to make ISKCON better. Thatâs really important because as ISKCON grows, there will always be people who will make that distinction - I am devoted to Prabhupada but I just donât like ISKCON, I...
- 17 Jul 2020
