By Shaunaka Muni DasThe King of Knowledge by Srila Prabhupada came to me at a pivotal time. I got the book without wanting it. My friend wanted to share it with me after he perused it. I had no idea - I was “book distributed!” I was skeptical but on my friend’s recommendation, I studied the book for at least a month. The King of Knowledge held ample flawless arguments. At the time I was busy trying recklessly to fill my life with mind altering substances and such. The “mind altering substances and such” did not fill the void but grew it to an expansive darkness.
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- 13 Nov 2019
By Kesava Krsna DasaHere is a list of some effects of eating bhoga: (1)Makes the mind wicked. (2)Causes bewilderment. (3)Destroys clear thinking. (4)Causes lust. (5)Dampens the enthusiasm for devotional service. (6)Creates material desires. (7)Causes atheism. (8)Creates impersonal or mayavadi thoughts. (9)Causes one to commit vaisnava aparadha. (10)Causes one to commit Nama-aparadha. (11)Cause indifference to Bhakti. (12)Causes one to be inattentive while chanting. (13)Clouds fine memory. (14)Du...
- 11 Nov 2019
By Jayadvaita SwamiIn the Bhagavad-gita Krishna says, “Enjoyments born of stimulation for the senses are themselves the very sources of misery. They have a beginning and an end, and one who is wise does not delight in them.” Yet it is those enjoyments, those “gifts of God,” that religious believers are often keen to receive. By prayers, by rituals, by following commandments, by “being good,” they hope that God will grant them the gifts of good fortune, of peace and prospe...
- 9 Nov 2019
By Yogesvara Gopinath dasAfter Maharaja’s talk Papa Yedeva gave a talk and surprisingly he quoted few verses of Bhagavad-gita in his speech. He spoke on eating habits for human beings and offering to Krishna. He confirmed the supremacy of Lord Krishna also. Towards the end of his speech, he mentioned that he is building a Church in the outskirt of the city and planning to keep a deity of Lord Krishna also so African people can be introduced to Krishna Consciousness. This seems to be a big milestone as at the moment practically there is no presence of Krishna Consciousness in the country.
...- 8 Nov 2019
By Krishna Ksetra SwamiThis open access book provides both a broad perspective and a focused examination of cow care as a subject of widespread ethical concern in India, and increasingly in other parts of the world. In the face of what has persisted as a highly charged political issue over cow protection in India, intellectual space must be made to bring the wealth of Indian traditional ethical discourse to bear on the realities of current human-animal relationships, particularly those of humans with cows. Dharma, yoga, and bhakti paradigms serve as starting points for bringing Hindu—particularly Vaishnav...
- 8 Nov 2019
By Arti I do not know if the Krishna Balaram ISKCON temple in Vrindavan is among the best ISKCON Temples in the world or not but after having spent a few days here, I can say that it is definitely one of the best. A must-visit for every devotee visiting Vrindavan, it is not to be missed for anything! Built in an ornate architectural manner, the temple was inaugurated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the year 1975. Spread in a huge expanse, the ISKCON complex today houses a guest house, Govinda...
- 5 Nov 2019
By several devoteesOn the 4th of November 2010, 22:25 PM Moscow time Purnacandra Goswami passed away. It is a great loss for the entire ISKCON community. Purnacandra Maharaja joined Srila Prabhupada’s movement when he was 17 years old. For more than 38 years he served ISKCON with great dedication. His knowledge of the Vedic scriptures was vast and profound. For many years he was teaching Bhakti-sastri course and many other courses to the devotees. He had very deep attachment to Sri Vrindavana-dhama. He divided his preaching time between Russia and Balkans, but Karttik he would always spen...
- 4 Nov 2019
By Yadubara dasDear Readers, You have a great opportunity to influence movie fans worldwide to watch "Hare Krishna!" by rating the film on IMDb.com. The more votes and higher the rating the more people will be persuaded to watch the film. If you are inspired, kindly follow the included instructions.
...- 2 Nov 2019
By Giriraj SwamiTerrible, deadly fires have been raging in California recently, devastating homes and everything else on their way. I recalled Srila Prabhupada’s discussion of the first verse of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Sri Gurv-astaka. “This forest fire of material existence goes on perpetually, and the authorized person who can deliver you from this fire is called guru, the spiritual master. How does he deliver you? When there is a fire in the forest, you cannot se...
- 2 Nov 2019
By Sacinandana SwamiHere I will teach a simple process for reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam (or Bhagavad-gita or any sacred bhakti text) with relish. This process of studying sacred scripture is given in the Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad. It entails three elements and the Vaisnavas have added the fourth item: 1) Sravanam – collecting the information in the text, that is, hearing or reading the text, much like attentively listening to a lecture at the university. 2) Mananam – reflecting on the subject matter 3) Nididhyasan – contemplating on how I can practically apply this text in my own li...
- 2 Nov 2019
By Jaya Gaursundar Dasa This Hari-katha is attractive for all. It is sung by those who are already on the liberated platform due to being free from all material hankerings. It is the medicine [for those who are aiming for liberation]. Moreover, it gives pleasure to the ears and minds [of those who are complete materialists]. Due to all these reasons, which person will cease from hearing such katha, except for a butcher or the killer of his own soul?
...- 1 Nov 2019
By Kesava Bharati Das GoswamiTo help propagate this revival, I’ve made a vow to live-stream my daily reading of your books. On the Facebook App, if one searches for “Daily Readings of Srila Prabhupada’s Books” and “likes” the page, one can hear your books, either live or at one’s convenience. Now I’m reading the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. But when I finish the Bhagavatam I’ll move on to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita and read it out loud cover to cover; then the ...
- 31 Oct 2019
By Rupanuga dasaThe GBC College for Leadership Development finally opened its doors in North America on 24th October 2019 after having started Zonal Supervisor training around the world since 2015—five cohorts of leaders in India, one in Russia, one in Latin America, and one in Central Asia.
...- 30 Oct 2019
By Vijaya dasNew York Harinama has now moved up to the second position in the USA, with 10,568 book points in September. New York harinam and book distribution have become an ever-increasing ocean of transcendental bliss in the Big Apple. How pleased is Srila Prabhupada with this sankirtan team in New York City? Unlimitedly pleased.
...- 30 Oct 2019
By Giriraj SwamiSometimes people think that physical proximity to the spiritual master is an indication of special mercy or good fortune, and in one sense it may be. But the real essence of the relationship with the spiritual master is service to the instructions. And service to the instructions does not depend on physical presence. When Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay, we used to go to his quarters every morning after mangala-arati, because at around six o’clock he would go for his morning walk. One morning Harikesa Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s secretary at the time, greeted us at the door. He was very exc...
- 30 Oct 2019
By ISKCON Sannyasa Minister"We Vaisnava sannyasis carry three danda, or three sticks, combined together. The one stick is the symbol of understanding oneness. The monists only accept cinmatra, there is only one spirit soul; they do not understand the varieties of the spiritual world. And so far our three sticks are concerned, we take it for granted that we have dedicated our life for Krishna's service in three ways, namely, in our body, in our mind and in our words. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has
...- 29 Oct 2019
By Chaitanya Charan Das One of the important legends associated with Diwali is Damodara lila, a pastime in which mother Yashoda tried to tie Krishna with a rope. The rope turned out to be two fingers short. So she tied more rope, but, no matter how many ropes she tied together, the combined rope remained two fingers short. This pastime signifies that no matter how much we try, we will always fall short in our attempts to understand God with our intelligence. Modern science is finding the same about the unive...
- 28 Oct 2019
By Garga SamhitaThe hill named Govardhan is the king of the kings of mountains. It was born from Lord Hari’s own chest. It has come here by the power of Pulastya Muni. By seeing it one becomes free from having to take birth again in this world. Sri Indra said: You are the master of the demigods, the supreme controller, the Lord who is perfect and complete, the oldest, the supreme person greater than the greatest and above the material energy, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari. O master of...
- 27 Oct 2019
By honika Gope-KumarA lot of Bengali devotees lament that even though A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada instructed a number of his senior disciples to preach in Bangladesh, he personally never visited Bangladesh. However, devotees would be happy to know that Prabhupada’s Guru, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur visited Bangladesh/East Bengal several times. His preaching pastimes in Bangladesh will be described herein. Born on February 6, 1874, in the holy Jagannath Pur...
- 26 Oct 2019
By Giriraj SwamiSuch is the influence of holy places. They can elevate one’s consciousness, even the consciousness of one habituated to low thoughts. And people who go to holy places—Mayapur, Vrindavan, Jagannath Puri—can immediately feel the difference. The Nectar of Devotion, with reference to the power of living in Mathura-Vrindavan, explains, “Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Mathura-mandala: ‘I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always givin...
- 25 Oct 2019
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of September 2019. 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
...- 24 Oct 2019
By Mahatma dasThe first thing Srila Prabhupada explained to a friend of mine in their three hour meeting on how to run his business was this: "Don't compromise your principles." Srila Prabhupada often said, "I never compromised my principles. If I compromised I could have attracted more people, but then I would have given them a watered down product that would have neither been genuine nor pure. I was not prepared to compromise my principles even if no one joined my mission." The truth is that many people joined his mission; and they joined precisely because he did not compromise his ...
- 22 Oct 2019
By Bhaktin Anna27th September to 3rd of October the Conference was carried out in West Siberia, near the city with an almost Vedic name – Omsk. This city has a temple of Sri Sri Radha Govinda – the only temple in Russia with Radha Govinda Deities. The Conference proper was carried out in two venues, 30 km away from Omsk – the “Five Truths” family house and the “Planet of Cows” eco-farm.
...- 21 Oct 2019
By Aseem Krishna dasSadhu Sanga 2019 with His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaj was organized in Ayodhya Dham from 26th September to 1st October 2019. This Sadhu sanga event is organized every year at one of Lord's pastime places with the purpose for the disciples and well-wishers of His Holiness to come together to listen to and associate with their spiritual master and amongst themselves.
...- 20 Oct 2019