By Kripamoya dasaWhether you like it or not, Jehovah’s Witnesses are always ready to do two things (1) Distribute books (2) Sit down and talk with you, and help you to understand. ISKCON has many book distributors, but we need more gurus.
...-
(21)
- 1 Jun 2019
By Bhaktivaibhava SwamiHere HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami, the 2019 ISKCON GBC Chairman introduces the work of the Executive Committee of the ISKCON GBC Body and gives some insights as to what they do in their service.
...- 31 May 2019
By Matsya Avatara DasaNowadays the great innovations of medical and scientific science can maintain patients alive, even those that in the past were given no hope to survive. These innovations can prolong the patient’s existence artificially even knowing that they will never regain acceptable health and life conditions. This situation is commonly called over-medication. The definition of cerebral death, since the end of the sixties has allowed for the development of transplant surgery. Before that time, the extraction of ...
- 30 May 2019
By Damodara Nityananda DasaSayyed Martuza (1590-1662), a Muslim fakir born in the Murshidabad district of Bengal, wrote poems adoring Krishna. The style of his composition is simple and rhythmic. Here is his Bengali poem that was compiled in Pada-kalpa-taru by Satishchandra Raya in 1915: Timely Compassion Syama! O friend! My afflicted life is assuaged only by You I cannot forget that auspicious day when I happened to meet You As I beheld Your moonlike face, I was overcome by restles...
- 29 May 2019
By Mina SharmaAround sixty devotees from across Europe and the US have gathered in New Vrajamandala in Spain, to participate in the European Communications Conference running from 27th - 30th May. Day one of the conference has focused upon ISKCON and the Environment, where there have been exciting presentations from a number of devotees. HG Shaunaka Rsi Dasa spoke about the Vedic Perspective on the Environment, where he discussed the Vedic concepts of Rta (cosmic order) and Rtu (cycles) and how these are innate in nature - we as material entities form a small part of the system, but our contribution is ser...
- 28 May 2019
By Purushottam Nitai DasTo control the elephant is humanly impossible. So as soon as the baby elephant is born, the elephant trainer ties him with a rope to a pole. Initially the baby elephant tries his best to break the rope but because of his tender body he fails. The newly born elephant tries again and again but every time he fails. The baby elephant gets convinced that he is not strong enough to break it. He accepts it to be his destiny and continues to be tied. And even when he gr...
- 28 May 2019
By Sri Prahlada dasNews of the peaceful death of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke on May 16th at the age of 89, has evoked praise of the charismatic leader. Dominating Australian politics in the 1980s, he is credited with introducing universal healthcare, modernising the economy, floating the dollar and of achieving the highest approval ratings of any Australian leader while in office from 1983 to 1991. A lesser known achievement is his 1987 intervention to help free the Hare Krishna devotees from state persecution in the USSR.
...- 22 May 2019
By Parasurama dasaSrila Prabhupada: "... everyone identifies to some party, either politically, socially or religiously, economically. We have got so many fields of activity. But, in each and every field, we have got a party feeling. You cannot avoid that. In political field, oh, we have got so many parties. Even in your own country, even there are democratic party or conservative party and this party, that party. Worldwide is also the capitalistic party, the communistic party. In our country also there is congress party. So party's already there. Socially also, oh, we are Christian, I am Jew, I am Hindu ...
- 20 May 2019
By Gauranga Darshan DasDid you ever notice the flow of oil being poured into a bowl? Compare it with the flow of water being poured into a cup. The difference is that the flow of oil (taila dhara) is seamless and consistent without obstruction, resembling a glossy finished column. On the other hand, the flow of water (jala dhara) is unsteady, obstructed, sprinkling water particles around. While the former seems to be focused on reaching its destination, the later seems to get distracted with diverted attention.
...- 19 May 2019
By Gadadhar dasThe Candan Yatra Festival was observed for seven days in Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara Temple, Bali. The festival started on the 5th of May and ended on the 11th of May 2019. This function is one of joy, especially for the children. For few days before devotees prepared sandalwood pulp to be applied to Lord Sri Krishna and Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai every day. Devotees decorated the pool (kunda), stage and pandal with beautiful and fragrant flowers. It was difficult to tell there was water in the pond as it was completely covered with water. Devotees were joyous this year as they had the opportunity to ...
- 18 May 2019
By Kishori JaniYesterday, we lost one of the pillars of the Iskcon movement, one of the stalwart female pioneers in Srila Prabhupada's mission- in the most glorious way! Her service to SP in the US, Kenya, Mumbai and Vrindavan is almost unparalleled. The stories and glories go on and on... But the true test comes at the end.. And the whole affair at the end for her was SO beautiful and uplifting! Witnessing it gives me so much courage and confidence that this path is real! Experiencing such a glorious passing is a true and rare gift that I'm indebted to her for sharing with us.. Something I will cherish fo...
- 16 May 2019
By the GBCResolved: Any devotees referred to in any proposal to the GBC will be identified by adding the abbreviation of their spiritual master’s name after their initiated name. The Guru Services Committee is directed to maintain this list and generate abbreviations for new initiating spiritual masters.
...- 15 May 2019
By the GBCA primary reason this issue was brought before the SAC was to consider whether a husband initiating his wife is like a guru marrying his disciple. There are major differences in the two scenarios. Traditionally, a guru is sometimes considered to be like a parent, and for a guru to marry a disciple is like a parent marrying his or her own offspring – something strongly disapproved in both general society and śāstra
...- 15 May 2019
By the GBCResolved: The following categories must be used to define any proposal being presented to the GBC Body to describe the intent of the proposal. This language which will be included in the final resolution shall henceforward have the following meanings:
...- 15 May 2019
By Indradyumna Swami Aeroflot flight SU 1492 took off from Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow at 18:02 on May 6th. It reported a malfunction 28 minutes into the flight. The captain requested and was given permission by airport control to return to the airport and make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the plane burst into flames upon landing and 41 passengers lost their lives. A person on the ground who observed the crash said it was a miracle that 33 of the passengers and 4 of the crew members survived. The news spread quickly via social media and was accompanied by horrifying videos of the ill-fated landin...
- 14 May 2019
By Hari Narayana DasOn the day of the festival, the devotees started to prepare a small chariot early in the morning from mentor ( like a rickshaw in India). The Chariot was decorated with flower garlands and a small altar was made for the lord to sit. As the evening set in, the Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra devi were brought and nicely seated on the chariot. The festival started. Devotees began to sing the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra with full enthusiasm and distributed prasadam already offered to Lord Jagannath. Srigarbha prabhu and other devotees distributed Srila Prabhupada books. Many ...
- 14 May 2019
By Gadadhar dasOn the 12th of May 2019, devotees in Bali, Indonesia headed by Jagannath Gauranga Ashram organized the annual Cida-dahi festival. The day before the festival was the bi-annual Balinese festival; Sarasvati Puja. The following day, which coincided with the Cida-dahi festival was where the locals take their purificatory bath and conduct various rituals. The festival took place at the famous Merta Sari beach. Preparation started the day before the festival with devotees setting up and decorating the pandal at the beach throughout the night. Other devotees also prepared the 25kg chipped rice Prasa...
- 14 May 2019
By the GBCThe following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods: Navadwip Dwija Gauranga Das (Bangladesh) This year. Priti Vardhana Das (Mayapur) This year. Pushpashila Shyam Das (Bangladesh) This year. Vrindavan Chandra Das (Vrindavan) This year.
...- 13 May 2019
By the GBCWhereas ISKCON requires common standards, policies, and procedures for managing investigations of misconduct or abuse, in instituting corrective and rehabilitative consequences for offenders, as well as in restorative justice for all involved when guilt is established; Resolved: That the GBC Body hereby recognizes that an “ISKCON Legal Development Committee” has been created by the ISKCON Ministry of Justice and has been delegated the following responsibilities...
...- 13 May 2019
By the GBCThe GBC Body endorses the recommendation of the GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee that it may proceed as follows: 1. That the observance of "Lalita Sasti" be removed from the calendar. 2. That the observance of the "Appearance of Radhakund" be shifted to Caitra Purnima. 3. That the observance of Bhadra Purnima be added to the calendar.
...- 13 May 2019
By the GBCISKCON Law 7.3.2 is amended to read as follows: As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one's diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes, in exceptional cases, initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus. The GBC clarifies that an individual devotee taking up the service of diksa-guru in the physical presence of their guru may be allowed as an exception when the following conditions are met. The Guru Services Committee will confirm that the candidate for becoming a second ge...
- 12 May 2019
By the GBCIn order to start a cow protection project that will be accredited within ISKCON and accepted as an ISKCON supported project, a “Cow protection Certificate of Readiness” needs to be obtained. The following are the requirements for obtaining such a certificate, which will allow new cow protection projects to commence their operations: 1. The GBC Minimum Cow protection Standards ISKCON Law 507(1999) needs to be read and fully understood before applying for the certificate. 2. An exam must be taken and passed. The questions in the exam will be based on the content of Law 507. 3. A well-th...
- 12 May 2019
By Gadadhar dasaOn the 8th of May 2019 an International Seminar was held on Communications, Religion and Culture (ISO-CRC) at the prestigious Sekolah Tinggi Agama Hindu (College of Hindu Religion), Singaraja, Bali. HH Subhag Swami was invited as the keynote speaker to attend the seminar and discourse on, ‘An Introduction to Religion and the Essence of Vedic Knowledge.’ An audience of 200 students, faculty chairman and faculty secretaries were present.
...- 12 May 2019
By the GBCWhereas the current commercial dairy systems of the world in which the older cows, practically all bulls, young and old, and most female calves are slaughtered is thoroughly condemned and abhorrent; Whereas Srila Prabhupada wrote in this regard: “These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society.” (SB 1.17.3 Purport) Resolved: By Janmastami 2022 all ISKCON centers should develop a plan whereby all milk and milk products — butter, ghee, yogurt etc. — offered to the deities are procured from protected cows. The centers may approach the International Ministr...
- 11 May 2019