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...
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- 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
By Nrsimha Kavaca dasaMayapur Academy has had great success over the past 10 years, yet it is not always easy for devotees to be away from their service or home for four months. To address this challenge faced by some devotees, ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry is now bringing Mayapur Academy to the world of ISKCON for the first time. This April, ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry, partnering with ISKCON Villa Vrindavan, will expand its offerings by conducting a 12-week training program at beautiful Villa Vrindavan. Villa Vrindavan will become a regional campus of the Mayapur Academy and offer co...
- 24 Jan 2017
By Karnamrita DasSrila Prabhupada has compared chanting the holy name to making ghee. In ghee making, we boil butter, and must work to skim off the “impurities” or milk solids which rise to the surface. Then we will be able to create clarified butter, or ghee, which has so many medicinal properties and uses. This is an interesting analogy which can help us in our daily spiritual practice. We can think of our spiritual practices, like chanting the holy name, as the cleansing fire, that is meant to burn up the impurities or material contaminations. If we expect to go anywhere spiritually...
- 23 Jan 2017
By Urmila Devi DasiOur life is full of anguish when others unjustly blame us… we feel offended and angry, and feel a strong urge to defend ourselves. Is there another way, a way to freedom? "For it is in this way that you will begin to gain freedom; soon you will not care if they speak ill or well of you; it will seem like someone else’s business. It will be as if two persons are talking in your presence and you are quite uninterested in what they are saying because you are not actually being addressed by them. So here: it becomes such a habit with us not to reply that it seems as if th...
- 23 Jan 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiI inched forward to hear better and was stunned when the tallest monk told the crowd about Krsna and the spiritual world. I learned later that what he was speaking is found in the ancient Vedic scripture Brahma-samhita: Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He lives forever in the spiritual world, beyond the dualities of material life. His transcendental land of Vrndavana is populated by goddesses of fortune, who appear as milkmaids and who love Krsna beyond anything else. The trees there fulfill all desires, and the waters of immortality flow through land made o...
- 22 Jan 2017
By Yudhisthir Govinda DasNew Delhi – 21st January, 2017: ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) won a prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Award for India on 18th January in Madrid, leading over 55 countries in the category of ‘Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations’. The UNWTO awards are recognized as one of the world’s most coveted awards in the global tourism sector. The 13th edition of this award saw 139 applications from 55 countries. Govardhan Eco Village, spread over 70 acres in Wada near Mumbai is the first Indian NGO to win a UNWTO Award. It was...
- 22 Jan 2017
By Radha Mohan DasGeorge Harrison Concert. Soul Expressions Christmas Party. The P.M's Faith Advisor. Student Explore Science of Spirituality. Children's Mitzvah Day. The Chief Rabbi. Bulgarian TV. DEVI raises funds for MacMillan Cancer. A Truly Multi-Cultural Wedding. Musical Ramayan at the Watford Palace Theatre. Justice Service. Ladies Sabbatical. London Schools Study the Gita. Remembering Tribhuvananth Prabhu. BBC Young Dancer. Gita Jayanti. Govardhana Eco Village. The Final Offering for ISKCON 50. Community welcomes in New Year
...- 21 Jan 2017
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of December 2016. 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
...- 21 Jan 2017
By Somesh KumarI first came to know about ISKCON in Pune at around 1998. My sister informed me about the ISKCON temple on the Janmashtami day. First time when I saw the temple structure from outside I felt that it's not a traditional temple which is seen in India. That was confirmed when I went inside the temple as to see the devotional attitude and energy in the temple was just fantastic. Till that point I had not seen so much devotional energy anywhere else. All the devotees chanting and dancing in ecstacy in the Gaura Arati - Yes, that was what I witnessed first! Though then I did'nt k...
- 20 Jan 2017
By Mahatma dasYou feel entitled to special treatment or status, and when you don’t get it you become critical of those who should give it (or who should arrange for it to be given). You have a strong need to be right which manifests as a strong need to make others wrong. You are trying to get attention or communicate your feelings but you lack the proper skills to do this, and thus the only way to get attention is through criticism. You are an expert in a specific area(s) and therefore criticize or condemn others for their ignorance or inability. When you are misunderstood, your frustrati...
- 16 Jan 2017
By Vaishnava dasWinter Festival is being held in exceptionally beautiful place - Seminar and recreation center “Dubingiai”. Residential space is located in 4 separate buildings. Conference halls are in a separate enclosure near residential buildings. During the festival the devotees are able to rest in comfortably furnished rooms. In each room there are comfortable beds, white linens, shower, wc. Children at the festival will be able to participate in their own workshops, which will take place in a separate room. One separate room will be devoted to recreation for mothers with young c...
- 14 Jan 2017
By Yadava Hari dasThe peak of the Gita-jayanti festival was held at Grand Ballroom Pertamina, Jakarta on December 24, 2016. Many Hindu from around Indonesia participated on the celebration. Minister of Religious Affairs Republic of Indonesia through Director Jendral of Indonesia Hindu Council said that he was delighted appreciated that ISKCON in Indonesia along with Hindu organization in Indonesia celebrated the Gita Jayanti Festival.
...- 14 Jan 2017
By indianewengland.comWASHINGTON, DC–Last week Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) celebrated her re-election to US House of Representatives and was sworn into session. She took her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita once again. After the ceremony, family, friends, and supporters gathered together and visited Rep. Gabbard and congratulated her. “Tulsi shared how the Bhagavad Gita continues to serve as an inspiration in her life, and how grateful she is to the people of Hawaii for allowing her to continue to serve in Congress,” said a statement from her office. Separately, sea...
- 13 Jan 2017
By Indian PressThe story of Swami Prabhupada is so interesting and inspirational.. he started Hare Krishna movement and founded ISKCON and he is regarded as Guru Prabhupada worldwide. As Nag said to have impressed with the script he showed interest to play the role Prabhupada. The highlight of the whole episode is that ISKCON people are said to be showing interest to produce the film if Nagarjuna plays the lead role. If everything goes well, Nag will come up with another devotional film soon.
...- 13 Jan 2017
By Darpa-ha Krishna dasAmbarisa das: 2016 was a challenging year for the TOVP. However, we have come through unscathed and stronger than before. Construction continues unabated, and fundraising is branching out into newer areas all the time. Significant challenges remain, including the recent currency upheaval in India. The TOVP is more than ever depending on the friends and supporters of Srila Prabhupada’s TOVP to finish this project for the glory of Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.
...- 13 Jan 2017