By Mike Mallory Bhaktimarga Swami sat calmly Monday morning as he rested in the grass of Joliet’s West Park with a water bottle at his side. Known as the “Walking Monk,” Swami covers about 20 miles a day with only a pair of sandals separating his feet from the ground. He’s in the middle of the second leg of his journey from New York City to San Francisco. “I started walking in Joliet today,” Swami said. “I found out the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail is here. That’s a piece of paradise. Y...
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- 22 Jun 2016
By Tribhanga Gopal DasA brief but fruitful meeting took place between His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja and the Indian MP in Maharaja’s quarters. During the meeting, Maharaja highlighted the importance of Go Seva, the IDVM’s ongoing OM Sri Surabhi Campaign, the interdependence of cow protection movement and village life and so on. His Holiness also gave prasadam to the Honorable MP. The Honorable MP said that he would help establish an ISKCON center in Uttar Pradesh (UP). While handing over the IDVM-India pamphlets to...
- 22 Jun 2016
By Sri Krishna Purusottama DasOn the occasion of Pani-hati cida dahi festival, His Holiness Sukadeva Goswami Maharaja has announced the offering of a new project for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada in this 50th year of ISKCON’s incorporation. Earlier this year, 10 acres of land with an existing ashram building in Tatipatri village, Andhra Pradesh, were donated to ISKCON Nellore. The land and ashram were cleared and prepared to take shape as a temple, which is now named ISKCON Tatipatri Village Ashrama, an exte...
- 20 Jun 2016
By Gokul Ananda DasJOY OF DEVOTION - SRILA PRABHUPADA IN MONTREAL. The festival is actually divided into TWO PARTS: 1. The SPECIAL CULTURAL EVENT of Friday and Saturday Sept.2-3 for the GENERAL PUBLIC as well as our devotees and members -entitled JOURNEY to the HEART of INDIA, will be held in the huge centre court of COMPLEXE DESJARDINS , one of downtown Montreal's most well-frequented office and shopping landmarks. Please SEE the 3 ATTACHMENTS below for all the detailed features of this COLORFUL EVENT mean...
- 20 Jun 2016
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of May. 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
...- 18 Jun 2016
By Indradyumna SwamiDear devotees everywhere: This evening we begin a 2 1/2 month summer festival tour. Myself and a team of 300 devotees will hold a festival every day of the week, except Mondays, from now until the beginning of September. It means over 50 festival programs, including the great Woodstock festival in early July where just under a million people are expected. We are beginning here in Moldova and moving to the Baltic Sea Coast in Poland next week. This is a herculean task and we beg your blessings,...
- 18 Jun 2016
By Kristina OrregoALACHUA – It’s 4:30 a.m., and while the rest of the world is asleep, the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua is softly lit and gently buzzing. Women wearing ornate saris and men in white, flowing dhoti and kurta remove their shoes before stepping onto sacred ground. They enter, bowing their heads and prostrating their bodies in the direction of the statue of Srila Prabhupada, the pioneer of their movement that began 50 years ago. Beads in hand and eyes closed, they’re chanting the names of G...
- 18 Jun 2016
By newsindiatimes.comThree 40-foot high, colorfully-decorated Rathayatra carts hand-pulled by devotees and surrounded by thousands of chanting and dancing people —rolled down New York’s 5th Avenue June 11 to kickoff a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness better known as the Hare Krishna Movement. The Rathayatra parade began at 12 P.M. at West 45th Street and 5th Avenue, and ended at Washington Square Park where it joined the “Hare Krishna Festi...
- 18 Jun 2016
By Nrsimhananda dasSome devotees asked me if Cameron had received a copy of Bhagavad-gita since there was no video of him receiving it. A little perspective on PM Cameron's visit to the Manor. This was his second time, the first in 2006 when he was leader of the conservative party. Krishna Dharma described his visit at that time, "Cameron could well become the next leader here in the UK. He heard the holy name, took prasadam, saw the deities and even had Lord Rama’s shoes placed on his head as he bowed before ...
- 16 Jun 2016
By the GBC Executive Committee ChairmanIn order to increase our collective awareness of the historic event of ISKCON's founding in 1966, and to help our world wide society better remember the wonderful achievements of our Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada, and his society, and upon the request of the ISKCON 50th Anniversary Committee... The GBC Executive Committee hereby recommends that at all ISKCON temples, festivals, pujas, home programs, and other community events and functions throughout the world shall incl...
- 16 Jun 2016
By New Govardhana CommunityThe Sikh Brothers Surrender. When brothers Naginder and Maninder Singh came to Australia from the Punjab eight years ago to study and work, they had not counted on pursuing a spiritually surcharged lifestyle. First settling in Melbourne, with older brother Naginder employed as a milkman and Maninder as a trainee chef, the self-proclaimed ‘naughty boys’ embraced a frivolous existence of material enjoyment. Their escapades took them to all major cities on the continent, but it was in ...
- 14 Jun 2016
By David CrickBritish Prime Minister David Cameron returned to Bhaktivedanta Manor ten years after his first visit to take part in the Bhumi Puja for the Manor's new Shree Krishna Haveli. After seeing the George Harrison garden he proceeded to the temple room where he took darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda, Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman and Hanuman and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. He also garlanded Srila Prabhupada and met some of the residents. The Prime Minster then joined some 300 guests in the main marquee. Present ...
- 12 Jun 2016
By Praghosa dasaPusta Krsna Maharaja spent a long time on the phone in the evening, informing all the temples in Madhudvisa's zone on the East Coast that he has fallen and he is no longer the GBC. However, when he came in to report his actions to Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada was angry. Prabhupada was made aware of the initial suspicions in Australia, but his idea had been to keep the affair quiet until he reached New York, where he could see Madhudvisa personally and attempt to clear everything up without a scan...
- 11 Jun 2016
By Mina SharmaA historic day celebrating ISKCON's 50th anniversary with UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who performed the ground breaking ceremony for Bhaktivedanta Manor's new Shree Krishna Haveli.
...- 11 Jun 2016
By Roh SinghRecently, I was given the honour of spending some time with His Holiness, Bhakti Charu Swami. Bhakti Charu is a spiritual master having dedicated over 40 years of his life to selfless duties within the ISKON organisation. During our time together, we explore Hindu beliefs and understandings, how their applications can greatly help reduce one’s stresses, anxieties in our modern world. Let’s explore these truths together, and discover some answers to happiness. Bhakti Charu Swami Everybody needs ...
- 11 Jun 2016
By Vrsabha dasThe first attempt to spread the sankirtana mission in Albania was in the late '80s when HH. Bhakti-Vaibhava Swami (then HG. Avinas-Candra prabhu), together with three devotees from the former Yugoslavia, spent several days in Tirana. Then, in 2010. and 2011; a handful of devotees from the Karlovac temple (Croatia), led by Mohan prabhu, had a Harinam tour of Albania. Both times they stayed for five days and were holding Harinams in Tirana, Shkoder and Durres. In addition to singing the holy names, th...
- 10 Jun 2016
By Mina SharmaThe Bhaktivedanta Manor marked the start of a new chapter in its history on Friday 10th June, as the groundbreaking ceremony for the long awaited Haveli building was led by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. The ceremony formed part of the Manor’s offerings to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, upon which Mr Cameron heartily congratulated ISKCON on by praising Srila Prabhupada on his creation of a "global mission". A reception of over 300 people, including Parliamentary Secretary Under State...
- 10 Jun 2016
By Kesava Krsna DasaBut this is where the real test of authenticity should be applied. We should ask, “So, you are loyal to Srila Prabhupada…do you value his teachings, his aggregate teachings?” The obvious answer will be yes. Then probe further. “Do you value his followers who are members of ISKCON, who are cooperating together in spite of many challenges and difficulties?” At this point, though the representative appears to be meek and humble, he or she will probably engage in anti ISKCON rhetoric and aim p...
- 9 Jun 2016
By Raga Devi dasiMuch of what Ali revealed to Bhaktitirtha Swami were his woes and complaints about how some bad choices of his led to a lot of pain and frustration. There was even a brief period that Ali complained to BT about all the burdens of fame. Ali point blank told him that his own boyhood desires of wanting great wealth, fame and popularity were still sometimes haunting and sabotaging him. The many wives & properties he wanted in youth seemed to be the most complicating of his desires. For sure, Ali ...
- 7 Jun 2016
By Tasneem ZaveryA four-wheel wooden chariot, nearly two storeys in height, it made its way slowly through the streets of Brisbane CBD on a Saturday morning in early May. Built to resemble a temple, with a colourful red and yellow pillar made of cloth topped by a golden coloured dome, it carried the idols of Lord Krishna and Sri Prabhupada, founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. It was hand-pulled by over three hundred ISKCON devotees, who used thick strong ropes with much fanfare. The c...
- 7 Jun 2016
By Sthita-dhi-muni dasaPrabhupada references his use of the “life comes from life” argument to Brahma-samhita 5.1. This verse proclaims that “Krishna who is known as Govinda . . . is the prime cause of all causes.” As Prabhupada explains it, Krishna is life, and life comes from life. Prabhupada boldly asserts that this “is not theory; it is fact.” Interestingly, Prabhupada also mentions, “Now we have to prove it.” Even though professional science falls short in facilitating the conclusive p...
- 7 Jun 2016
By Ananda Maya DasiThe title read, “Now Irish Eyes are Smiling”, an article in the Back to Godhead magazine by Mathuresa Dasa covered the installation ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, the presiding deities at ISKCON Northern Ireland’s Govindadvipa temple. The year was 1986, Ireland was still in the midst of a guerrilla warfare conflict, and it was a cover feature and multiple page spread in the publication that was the mainstay of ISKCON media coverage in the pre-internet and social media era. The install...
- 7 Jun 2016
By Gaurav MasandAfter receiving a grant of $500,000 from the Victorian government, and planning permissions from the local council, the ISKCON Temple recently held a ‘Ground breaking Ceremony’ and has begun construction of new kitchen facilities along with a redevelopment of the dining area. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by the likes of Martin Foley MP, Margaret Fitzherbert MLC and other eminent supporters. All speakers congratulated ISKCON and pledged their support for this noble cause. Ted Baill...
- 6 Jun 2016
By Sri Krishna Purusottama DasSmall temples are where the big action is! ISKCON Nellore is famous as a fired-up preaching center in Andhra Pradesh. Under the leadership of His Holiness Sukadeva Swami Maharaj, the temple is doing exceedingly well on all grounds. Preaching is on full steam, with their large congregation now actively preparing for the upcoming “Gudur Rath Yatra,” set to happen in another one month. Devotees also distribute books regularly. During a recent program, they distributed 300 copies of ...
- 6 Jun 2016