By Yogeshvara DasaAs visitors to India travel north by car from Kolkata, the landscape gradually shifts from urban sprawl to pastoral farmland. High-rise housing and industrial construction sites give way to a flat horizon of villages and rice paddies. Four hours and eighty miles later, visitors enter the district of Mayapur on the banks of the Ganges River, at the point of its confluence with the Jalangi. Here at Mayapur, in the early sixteenth century, Lord Krishna in His form as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized the public chanting of Hare Krishna, Ha...
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- 9 Feb 2017
By Srutadeva dasThe kirtana was uproarious as Prabhupada entered the airport with the devotees. He was leaving New York after their first, wonderful Ratha-yatra (July 1976). The kirtana grew more intense as he went through the security check. Hari Sauri, Guru dasa, and I followed behind. In the waiting lounge, Srila Prabhupada took a seat and kindly motioned for Guru dasa to sit next to him. A well-dressed man seated on Prabhupada's other side, noticing that there were others with Srila Prabhupada, very politely moved to another seat. Prabhupada again very...
- 9 Feb 2017
By Sri Radharamana dasaIf money is the means, then what is the goal? Over 2,300 people around the world tuned in Live where 200 selected local industrialists and leaders gathered in the heart of Cape Town to hear from an ISKCON Swami and celebrity banker on this topic. With admission by invite-only, individuals considered cream-of-the-crop in the South African white community made up 80% of the gathering. The Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities in the Cape Town government, Mr Alan Winde, joined the assembly along with his wife. His Excellency Mr ...
- 9 Feb 2017
By Vijaya DasaAfter losing the No. 1 position to Mayapur for a couple of years, New Delhi again is the No. 1 temple worldwide, with 1,050,559 book points in 2016. There is always a close transcendental competition between Russia and the USA. Well, in 2016 the USA finally conquered Russia after a decade of close competitions. 2016 was particularly close: the USA won by just 1,526 book points. The USA did 752,972 points; Russia 751,446. Nepal did really well for the year, with a 19% increase: 97,503 book points. We're raising donations for a new bus to hold...
- 8 Feb 2017
By Gaur Govinda Swami How long will you sleep in the lap of the ugly witch Maya? How long? You have already slept for such a long time, lakhs and lakhs of lives. Do you want to sleep in the lap of the ugly witch Maya? Mahaprabhu is your only well-wishing friend. He loves you so much that He descended here! Krishna says, jivanam sarva- bhutesu - I am the life in all living entities." If you are not carrying Krishna in you, have you love? You have no life. You are dying at every moment. You are...
- 6 Feb 2017
By Mahatma DasThe husband as the guru of the wife is an interesting topic. Some men operate under the paradigm that since I am the guru of my wife, she is duty-bound to do anything I ask of her. I am not saying it is not the duty of the wife to submissively serve the husband, but the idea that a husband has a right to be over-demanding of his wife reflects a misunderstanding of the duty of the husband. You might think, "Are there really many men today in Iskcon who are that demanding...
- 6 Feb 2017
By Krishna-kripa Das“This idea of love in relation to the Supreme Person can be compared with the ‘universal love’ mentioned in many UFO communications. These communications often define the ultimate One as an impersonal energy or force. Yet love is something having to do with persons. If the One is impersonal in nature, then how can love have a truly universal role? Note that this problem does not come up in modern scientific theories. According to modern science, love is simply a recent outgrowth of hominid evolution in Africa, and it has nothing to...
- 5 Feb 2017
By The Times of IndiaAhmedabad: Alfred Brush Ford and his wife Sharmila organized a fundraiser at Iskcon temple on Saturday evening for the ambitious Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir (Temple of the Vedic Planetarium). Ford had started his Gujarat travels from February 1. It was the first state on his pan-India itinerary. Alfred is the great grandson of the founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford. "Gujarat is a state blessed by Lord Krishna," Albert said at the Ahmedabad meeting. "It is a great pleasure to be here. I had been to Rajkot and Dwarka several y...
- 5 Feb 2017
By Vrsabhanu dasaThe community of New Mayapur is situated near the Loire Valley in Central France. On the property of 80 hectars we find the beautiful Chateau d'Oublaise, rebuilt in the late 19th century. In the mid-seventies Srila Prabhupada visited the castle and he installed Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Who along with Sri Sri Radha Govinda Madhava are the principal Deities of the temple. Srila Prabhupada wanted his followers to develop a self-sufficient farm community in New Mayapur and a small group of devotees are working hard to ...
- 5 Feb 2017
By Urmila Devi DasiWhat are the principles that make the difference in whether or not children take up Krishna consciousness? Here are four powerful and effective keys regardless of where your children go to school, where you live, or what your family structure is.
...- 4 Feb 2017
By Matsyavatar dasNormality and illness only exist in the illusionary vision of man. In reality, there is only the immense path of spiritual evolution, characterized by vicissitudes, incidents, stages, progresses, stasis, deviations, falls and imprisonments. Certain incidents are isolated and classified by medicine and psychology as “illness”. Then medicine and psychology study them under an unconscious perspective and do not take under account the evolution context in which they are inserted. These sciences can still obtain respectable, considerable a...
- 2 Feb 2017
By Dusantya DasLike so many things, both Economy and Cow Protection can exist in the Mode of Ignorance, the Mode of Passion and the Mode of Goodness. And although the Economic models can be perceived easily through the different modes of Nature, its way more difficult to differentiate Cow Protection within the different modes of Nature. It’s only been within the last 20 years or so that Cow Protection has taken on any kind of form. That it is not just a bunch of cows hanging around a field with red hands all over them and old Maha garlands hanging disheve...
- 1 Feb 2017
By Kalakantha DasA recent presentation in Bhaktivedanta Manor about Iskcon Gainesville's, (Florida, USA) successful program of bringing in new devotees. Focusing on recruiting, preparing the proper environment, tolerate breaking secondary rules and correct once a week, offering respect and appreciation, assigning responsible duties since the beginning, vision for a future devotional career, providing proper living facilities for man and women, access to car, internet etc., zero tolerance in regards the regulative principles, systematic training, realistic c...
- 1 Feb 2017
By Madhavananda DasSri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami: You have no right to chastise, no right to correct anyone. You are not guru. Guru has that right. If you see something and you have a good heart, “He is doing something wrong that is detrimental to his bhakti.” Then go to him, pay obeisances, and tell him confidentially, not in front of others, “O my brother, I see this thing and it pains me very much that you are doing this and this. This is a great impediment on the path of devotion. I fear you will not be...
- 31 Jan 2017
By Ekalavya DasISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been known for propagating the Holy Name of Lord Krishna through the Hare Krishna Mahamantra worldwide as instructed by our previous acharyas. The weeklong festival celebrated every year aims towards engaging devotees in spreading the glories of the holy name everywhere through special kirtans, events, harinams and much more. For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and in celebration of ISKCON50, World Holy Name Week 2016 was celebrated between July 18 – August 14, 2016. We ha...
- 31 Jan 2017
By Mukhya Devi DasiRecent studies have shown that excessive incense smoke inhalation is on a similar level to inhaling secondary cigarette smoke, it contains volatile compounds which are toxic to the human body. Two members of the ISV congregation went for a physical and the doctor asked them how long they had been smokers. They had never been smokers. Inquiring about their lifestyle he deduced their smoker’s lungs were the result of excessive exposure to incense smoke. He related an article on Buddhist monks who had led a simple pure life being diagno...
- 29 Jan 2017
By Madana-mohan dasOn January 29, Wikipedia made a tribute to ISKCON50 by featuring a prominent reference to the 50th anniversary of the Mantra-Rock Dance, complete with an image of the famous promotional poster with Srila Prabhupada, under its "On This Day" section on the Main Page. The Main Page is viewed by up to 30 million visitors a day. The Mantra-Rock Dance took place on January 27, 1967 in San Francisco and became Srila Prabhupada's first major preaching event on the West Coast of the United States. It was organized by then Mukunda Dasa, Shyamasund...
- 29 Jan 2017
By Mahatma DasA devotee asked Prabhupada for help, saying that he was not able to follow the four rules. Prabhupada looked sternly at him and said, "If you do not follow the regulative principles, then no one can help you'.” Following the practices of Krsna consciousness is the platform from which help comes. It is not that we attract mercy by virtue of the fact that we are so fallen that we can't follow or don't try to follow. To think this way only perpetuates the problem. Devotees feel in great need of mer...
- 28 Jan 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiIf the opulence or knowledge of many millions of universes were clustered together, they would hardly equal a small fragment of the glory of Krsna's holy name. Krsna's holy name is my life. It is the goal of my life. It is the means I will employ to attain the goal of my life
...- 27 Jan 2017
By Kesava Krsna dasaAlbert Einstein had the insight to observe that two things were infinite: [1] Human stupidity and [2] The cosmos. But he wasn’t too sure about the second one.. There was one sagely looking fellow, a Mr. Darwin, who when analyzing the complexities of an eye, saw the absurdity of his own evolution theory, but has to his credit, convinced of the subsequent need to institutionalize his theory in school text books worldwide. When our children go to school to be indoctrinated with the thesis that we are just walking mechanistic soul-less ba...
- 26 Jan 2017
By Gokulananda dasThrough their inspired and enlightening writings, the world can now drink deeply at the inexhaustible fountain of truth of Gaura-vani, His perfect theistic revelations. Although amply confirmed in many Vedic scriptures, His divinity has been further demonstrated through the amazing lives and pure character of His many Godly followers, full of compassion and dedication to the salvation of all souls. These rare souls perfectly embody Sri Caitanya's divine sentiment of audharya, of God's intense desire to uplift all mankind. They were thus e...
- 26 Jan 2017
By Prishni Devi DasiRLTA is conducting an oral history project focusing on Sadaputa’s biographical material as a founding member of Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta Institute. This interview with Yamaraja dasa, who worked closely with Sadaputa over the years designing the layout and covers for his numerous books and BTG articles, highlights how much he is missed by his many admirers.
...- 25 Jan 2017
By Caitanya Visnu DasOn 5th January 2016, The ISKCON Dar Es Salaam, centre was opened by HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. A Yagna and Abhishek were performed to please their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. The ceremonies were performed by H.G Seva Atula Das, H.G Radhadyuti Das and H.G Caitanya Visnu Das. Local devotees had travelled from Nairobi to perform Kirtan at the festivals. H.G Umapatti describes the scene” The people of Dar are very simple; most people live in the city. They respect a lot. Very easy to preach. With 50% population being followers of the Muslim tradition and the ot...
- 25 Jan 2017
By Mahatma Das1. When taking over a position, department, project, preaching center, temple, etc., to immediately begin making drastic changes. 2. To play favorites or to speak against or criticize certain sections of devotees. 3. To do or say anything that will instill a lack of trust in a devotee's spiritual master. 4. To not give devotees facility to offer suggestions and ideas, voice opinions, or express observations in a way that will be given attention and be responded to. 5. To expect devotees to be enthusiastic about a service that you either do not encourage or facilitate. ...
- 24 Jan 2017