By Caitanya Charan DasModern society has devised ingenious ways of attempting to somehow forget this emptiness of the heart. Typical is the multi-billion dollar entertainment industry. Dubbed as the boredom industry, it provides people an escape-way from the frustrating grind of daily life to a celluloid world. There, they vicariously become a dream character, who speaks smartly, behaves flawlessly, fights heroically, wins invariably and enjoys erotic fantasies unlimitedly. But all that the entertainment provide...
-
- 17 Oct 2015
By Subhang Balaram DasaSince the last thirty-two years All India Padayatra has been traveling all over India, distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. The devotees of All India Padayatra have been walking through Andhra Pradesh since the last nine months. Currently more than 30 devotees including Srila Prabhupada’s disciple HG Akhiladhar Prabhu are part of this Padayatra. On the 12th evening they reached Akaramapalli Namahatta center run by ISKCON Tirupati. HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj joined them in the evening...
- 17 Oct 2015
By Satsvarupa dasa GoswamiThe East Coast was hit by severe blizzards, seven inches of snow fell on the City, with winds up to fifty miles an hour. The City of New York offered warm rooms and meals for people living in tenements without heat. JFK Airport was closed, as were train lines and roadways into the City. For the second time within eight days, a state of emergency was declared because of snow. As a lone individual, Srila Prabhupada could not do anything about the snow emergency, or the international warfare – he saw these as more symptoms of the age of Kali. Al...
- 17 Oct 2015
By Bhaktivedanta Manor CommunicationsPlease find below the September 2015 edition of the Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter, available for download. Main stories in this edition include: *Janmashtami Celebrations *Open Day *50 years on: Honouring our Founder Acarya *First ISKCON UK National Convention *ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations *The Mahabharart Tour (with the Bhaktivedanta Players)
...- 16 Oct 2015
By Rukmini Devi Dasi“Life doesn’t really make sense, does it?” I ask. “The equation doesn’t balance. We are born. Soon it’s all about getting an education. We hunt for a job, create a family, and die. What is the point of it all? Shouldn’t we ask why?” Looking straight at me, Dreadlocks doesn’t flinch. “We are driven by the taste of happiness. It is what we want most, right? Yet even those who have all the things we want can’t shrug off the feeling of being unsatisfied. Is it surprising tha...
- 16 Oct 2015
By Kalakantha DasFaith in Krishna leads to a blissful life, yet no intelligent person will find peace with blind faith and dogma. What is the rational basis for understanding and accepting the teachings of Krishna conscious texts?
...- 16 Oct 2015
By Padmapani dasTribhuvanatha Prabhu passed away on October 16, 2001, at the age of 49. He was an important and beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada who led by example. An important feature of Srila Prabhupada's mercy is the association of devotees which he has so kindly provided for our spiritual advancement and friendship. One such notable devotee and servant of His Divine Grace is our dear godbrother, Sriman Tribhuvanatha Prabhu. A sankirtana leader extraordinaire, Tribhuvanatha was always focused on preaching...
- 16 Oct 2015
By Padmapani dasBeatle drummer Ringo Starr, age 75, is on tour in North America this month with his All-Starr Band. He recently played in Victoria, Canada (October 8, 2015), spreading his now familiar message of "peace and love" along with "Hare Krishna." During his second song, "It Don't Come Easy," co-written with George Harrison and a big hit for Ringo in 1971, local concert goers confirm that Ringo enthusiastically shouted, "Hare Krishna" to his adoring audience. So wherever he goes on tour, Ringo is spreadin...
- 15 Oct 2015
By Jagannath DasGhanashyama prabhu, Dayanidhi prabhu and I had the good fortune to connect with the District Magistrate of Nadia, Sri Vijai Bharati on Tuesday the 13th of October, 2015 at his home, where we were reminded of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura who held the magistrate position, some 125 years ago. If a single word could encapsulate the evening, it would have to be inspirational. Ghanashyam prabhu had met Mr. Bharati about a month and a half earlier, and they enjoyed the comfort of speaking freely with each...
- 15 Oct 2015
By radhanathswami.comOn September 26th, 2015 Radhanath Swami joined Democratic Congresswoman and Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Tulsi Gabbard for a discussion on “Leadership Sutras from the Bhagavad-gita”, organized by Artha Forum, a community dedicated to provide healthy work-life balance and business ethics based on spiritual principles. For Silicon Valley leaders, it was a unique combination of a spiritual and political leader coming together to discuss relevant issues. Over 50 tech-entr...
- 15 Oct 2015
By Kylie KnottA full page story featuring an article on the Hong Kong ISKCON temple, along with an interview with His Holiness Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami was recently published in the South China Morning Post, a renowned English newspaper in Hong Kong, After a two week tour of China performing kirtan in a number of public events Govinda Swami's last stop was the city of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong temple organized 3 public kirtans programs for Maharaja and his kirtan group, all of which received a very favorable ...
- 14 Oct 2015
By His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaThe sincere devotee who wants to attain a perfection (Siddhi) for himself by the process of chanting the Name of the Lord must refrain from the ten kinds of offences which are quoted below from the "Padmapuranam." A serious student of Samkirtan can get rid of all the above offences if he desires so, knowing well the different forms of offences and by refraining from them by all possible precautions. This can however be done without difficulty by contin...
- 14 Oct 2015
By Tattvavit Dasa“Bhakta Tom,” he said the first week, “we’re going out to chant Hare Krishna. Please come with us.” His sincerity encouraged me. He regularly organized the inspiring chanting and dancing on the streets. Tall and charismatic, he played a drum and led the singing. Once, on seeing Jayananda entering the temple, Prabhupada paused his lecture and said of him, “Jayananda looks like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yes! He was tall and stout and strong. Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” Sri Caitanya benevolent...
- 13 Oct 2015
By GBC College staffGovardhana Ecovillage, Mumbai, Sept 28 – Oct 9 – The first group of participants to GBC College for Leadership Development completed the second residential session, thirteen days of training and association. The GBC has been reviewing the zonal configuration of the world and has identified and ratified more than 150 zones (and more are coming, as the bigger zones get gradually subdivided into more manageable sizes). At present the GBC College course focuses on preparing Zonal Supervisors to...
- 12 Oct 2015
By Krishangi Radhe Devi DasiI have just returned home after a festival at the temple and still feel the positive energy, warmth, and love shared among many friends who have now become more like family. As I entered the temple this evening, the sound of the conch shell resonated and an emphatic melody of devotional song permeated the air as the altar opened for the arati. The temple was packed, and the many friends around me clapped their hands, danced, and sang in glorification of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Under...
- 12 Oct 2015
By Krishna-kripa DasRealizations from the senior devotees attending the festival for the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in Boston. These include Bhaktimarga Swami, Candramauli Swami, Giriraja Swami, Navayogena Swami, Niranjana Swami, Romapada Swami, and Malati Devi Dasi. I share wisdom from senior devotees at the Harinama Ashram in New York City, namely Abhirama and Rama Raya Prabhus and their guest sannyasi speakers, Jayadvaita Swami and Candrasekhara Swami. In particular I have notes on Radhastam...
- 12 Oct 2015
By Iskcon VrindavanaThe elderly ladies from Bengal from tradition want to touch our feet, young people want to take selfies with us and thus try to sit as close as possible. Somebody wants to be a part of the kirtan and demands instruments to be given to him, others gladly join the kirtan but start to sing something else. There are some who come and fall into trance showing different ecstatic emotions like rolling on the flour and losing consciousness. Sometimes some mystic sadhus come to look at the kirtan party....
- 11 Oct 2015
By Syama Kunda dasThe SRC Presidency Award for Most Outstanding CSO (Club, Society and Organisation), goes to ISKCON's Bhakit Yoga Society Nature of the award: Recognition of the best CSO at the University for 2015 Criteria for award: - Made a meaningful contribution to the student experience - Must have promoted the vision of the University - Increased its membership from previous year - Improved networking with other societies - Participated in community based activities
...- 11 Oct 2015
By ISKCON New VrindabanFifty years of steady dedication, fifty years of non-stop commitment, fifty years of building memories and accomplishment. A 50th anniversary is known as a golden anniversary and throughout this year and the next, ISKCON devotees all over the world are celebrating a golden milestone of achievement of our glorious spiritual master and Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The celebrations began in Calcutta, India where Srila Prabhupada left behind the land o...
- 11 Oct 2015
By ISKCON UK CommunicationsDevotees gathered at Temples across the UK to offer deep thanks and gratitude to the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, marking 50 years since he arrived in the USA. Fifty years ago on 17th September 1965, Srila Prabhupada arrived at Boston Harbour with his message of devotion to Krishna. He was alone and unannounced, and from very simple beginnings he established an international movement of tens of thousands of devotees and palatial temple...
- 10 Oct 2015
By Iskcon HoustonBhakti Caru Swami, Romapada Swami, Gunagrahi Swami, Bhaktimarga Swami, Vaisesika Dasa, Rambhoru Devi Dasi, Radha Devi Dasi and other devotees discuss about the meaning of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon and what should be the priorities for the future. Better relations among the devotees, less big temples and more devotee care, unity in diversity, less bureaucracy and more preaching, book distribution and Harinamas were some of the subjects proposed in a recent meeting for the be...
- 10 Oct 2015
By Nikunja Vilasini Devi DasiThe Temple of Understanding has shed its light for thirty years as if untouched by time. I perceive it as a gigantic golden lotus opening its petals on a dazzling pond, or a celestial aircraft that has descended and landed on an ordinary spot. The temple's architectural perfection intrigues me with its fusion of traditional and modern design. Towering above the shimmering octagonal roof, gold-leaf-edged domes display tilaka-shaped windows that delight the eye and the soul. Austrian arc...
- 10 Oct 2015
By Parijata DasiThe TOVP management team went on site and gave approval for the production of GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) molds to begin. At the moment we are focusing on 4 different areas where the GRC molds will be used; the 24 Kalash brackets, the Chatri ribs, the 7 meters utility floor columns, and main base cornice of the Kalash brackets. The management, art team and Sadbhuja prabhu have given full consent, and are very satisfied with the mold making and its progress. Once finished, GRC will be poured in...
- 10 Oct 2015
By a DasaAnd, so, I am back to revering Sankirtana, as I did in my youth. Today, I think of Sankirtana as an extension of Krishna’s pastime of “taxing the Gopis.” First expressed in Chandidasa’s Sri Krishna-kirtana and then in Rupa Gosvami’s Dana-keli-kaumudi, this story tells of when Srimati Radharani and Her girlfriends were carrying dairy products along a country path. Suddenly, Krishna appears out of nowhere and, pretending to be a revenue official, demands a “tax” for allowing the girl...
- 9 Oct 2015