By Bhakta WilfredThe Hare Krishna devotee community from Nairobi was fortunate to attend and an enlightening talk was given by Her Grace Manasiganga Mataji. She spoke at length about oneness as God's children irrespective of religion and creed and how every living entity is precious before God. In one of her points she emphasized on the protection and care of the environment which is a mother to us, as much as we should take care of the environment, we also need to take care of our spiritual selves. "if we take care of ourselves, and seek to better ourselves as individuals, then the wor...
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- 1 Oct 2017
By Chandan Yatra DasRama-tirtha-sarovara, a very important site of the great sage Valmiki’s ashram is in Amritsar. Valmiki wrote Ramayana here. Mother Sita spent her period of exile at this place in Valmiki ashram, after Lord Ramacandra banished Sita, His wife and eternal consort, during His later earthly pastimes. Pregnant and alone, Sita sought shelter at the ashram of Valmiki, where she soon gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of Lord Ramacandra at this ashram. Lava and Kusha spent their childhood here at Valmiki’s ashram. During Ashvamedha Yajna by Lord Ramacandra, Lava and Kusha ca...
- 1 Oct 2017
By Bhakta AseemUttarakhand is famous as ‘Devbhoomi’ , ‘The Land of Demigods’. It has many beautiful and serene valleys. Definitely a heaven for the yogis! But we are not yogis, we are Krsna bhaktas! Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Consciousness movement is so nice that any other process than bhakti yoga looks so petty for this age. Anywhere we preach and people are so much attracted towards this timeless philosophy i.e. The Science of Krsna Consciousness.
...- 1 Oct 2017
By MadanMohanMohini dasiPeople are fascinated to watch how we fry the pakoras in ghee (clarified butter), especially in such large woks – and they have become addicted to our tomato chutney, which we now sell in separate jars, along with dry batter and instructions on what to do to make pakoras. People tell me they wait all year long to get our food and that it’s the only thing they’ll eat at the Stomp, that it’s the best food. One year a woman came to the booth and said she wanted some of whatever we were selling. I understood that she didn’t know what they were and asked if she...
- 30 Sep 2017
By Shyama Mohini devi dasi To make our books green we are keen on using paper made from controlled, sustainable forestry practices, and working with printers who use environmentally friendly inks, varnishes, and manufacturing processes. While it’s not yet possible to make every book we print completely green (it’s more difficult when we print in Asia, for example), most of our books are FSC-certified. It’s no small thing to get an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) stamp. These days, the FSC requires that 99 percent of the materials to create a book come from controlled, sustainable, ...
- 30 Sep 2017
By Sarvalakshan DasThe MSF event was organized with nearly 75 devotees split into 9 groups, spread across the city distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books with electric enthusiasm. The devotees were accompanied on the field by His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu and His Grace Bhima Prabhu. It was as if the people of Pune were getting to taste the nectar of associating with devotees and getting these precious books without even knowing what they are getting! By distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books, the devotees seriously damaged Maya’s plans to keep the living entities in ignorance. And this da...
- 28 Sep 2017
By Iskcon AhmedabadIt was a euphoric World Holy Name Week (WHNW-2017). Respectful Gratitude to the GBCs, H.H. Lokanath Swami & Team for inspiring worldwide WHNW-2017. The World Holy Name Week (WHNW) 2017 was inaugurated at ISKCON Ahmedabad by the morning Harinaam Sankirtan (Prabhat-pheri) on 9-Sep-2017 (Saturday) at South Bopal. 10-12 young devotees got together to channel their enthusiasm to ensure that the World Holy Name Week fever grips tight across other congregation.
...- 28 Sep 2017
By Urmila Devi DasiI look back on my life as a small child. Each morning my father would rise by 5:00 A.M. and wake me soon afterwards. Or did I wake spontaneously just to be with him? I would play in his office in our home while he showered. When I was very young we would play together, each of us with a doll. His doll told me stories of his life and taught me lessons of ethics and morality. As I got older, the play became a time to talk of the important things in our lives. My father squeezed fresh orange juice, made our breakfast, and forged our friendship. He made the early morning a t...
- 27 Sep 2017
By ISKCON Puerto Rico GuraboThe preaching center was flooded with 1 meter of water, damaging all the drywalls, doors, interior and electrical, etc. Most of the interior will have to be replaced. The local congregation is not wealthy, and is challenged by their own expenses for reparation of personal property. We humbly appeal to the greater devotee community, our friends, members and supporters, to help in this moment of dire need.
...- 27 Sep 2017
By Hema Gauri DasiIskcon was represented by several devotees from around the world like Malaysia, Cape Town, portugal, New York, etc., who were invited at this Summit. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada, today, Krishna consciousness is reaching millions of people through different methods of communications. This grand gathering of WARP, surely, will take Iskcon to other dimensions. The summit was held from 17 to 20th September, in the capital of South Korea, Korea, where more than 1000 leaders from all sectors of the society such as politics, religion, humantarism, philanthropics, local and intern...
- 26 Sep 2017
By Vijaya DasaThere were three surprises in August. The first is that Padayatra India was the No. 3 temple in the world, with 25,604 book points. And it's a moving temple! It was in Kerala in August . In July the Padayatra was No. 2 in India, right behind Mayapur. I can't even imagine how pleased Prabhupada is with this dynamic team of Padayatra devotees, who travel all over India giving out the holy name and tons of books. The second surprise is Melbourne, the No. 1 temple in Australasia, with 1,711 book points. This is a temple that has focused for years on prasada distribution, which is...
- 26 Sep 2017
By TOVP staff“If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered. One does not become a loser by giving to the Lord; one becomes a gainer by millions of times.”
...- 26 Sep 2017
By Romapada SwamiNarcissism is all around us, and research shows it's on the rise. Millennials are more likely than their parents to claim they're above average in just about every way, from their leadership skills to their academic achievements to their drive to succeed. And while more millennials are getting straight A's and making plans for graduate school than previous generations, there's no evidence that they're actually any more productive or educated than their elders. This week, Shankar talks with psychologist Jean Twenge, author of Generation Me and The Narcissism Epidemic, about...
- 25 Sep 2017
By Guru Prasad SwamiNews is devotees are all safe. The temple took great damage. I would like to inform you that our temple in Puerto Rico suffered severe damages. The roof was blown off in the hurricane, and much damage to the temple room and other parts of the temple. We have not gotten a full assessment of the damages to the restaurant, but our preaching center was flooded with 1 meter of water. By Krsna's grace the devotees are all fine. The Deities were moved before the hurricane hit. I hope that our leadership can rally some support for the local temple, restaurant and preaching ce...
- 24 Sep 2017
By Luke VanderlindenThe American people have demonstrated by their election of Donald J. Trump into the office of president that the greatest significator for success in our modern age is wealth. As the popular saying goes, “Money makes the world go round.” In this way, the deluding potency of the Supreme Lord lulls souls into a false sense of security, thinking that their material assets guarantee perpetual comfort and happiness. However, sastra warns against cultivating such a worldly mentality, as it disables us from taking shelter of the Lord's mercy.
...- 23 Sep 2017
By Giriraj SwamiWe all want to know who we really are, what role we are meant to play in God’s plan, what contribution we are meant to make to God’s work. And, by God’s grace, we may get a sense of our calling, what we are meant to do in His service. But even then, we may shrink from what we know is our duty, shirk what we know is our responsibility. We may fear the challenges ahead and retreat into what we imagine will be a safer, more comfortable place. We always have that choice--to face God and the mission he ordains for us, or to flee from Him, and in doing do, depart from our true self. E...
- 23 Sep 2017
By Radha Mohan dasBhaktivedanta Manor is described aptly as a true sanctuary for the soul, a spiritual haven. ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was very pleased with Bhaktivedanta Manor and its extensive grounds. He would especially take time out of his global itinerary to spend time in his quarters upstairs at the Manor. They are to this day maintained as they were in Prabhupada’s physical presence. The exchange of love between Prabhupada and his followers is very tangibly experienced there.
...- 22 Sep 2017
By Purushottam Nitai DasSrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura explains, “Durgā is the presiding deity of this entire material universe. She is ten-armed, representing the tenfold fruitive activities. She rides on the lion, representing her heroic prowess. She tramples down Mahiṣasura, representing the subduer of vices. She is the mother of two sons, Karttikeya and Gaṇesa, representing beauty and success. She is placed between Lakshmi and Sarasvati, representing mundane opulence and mundane knowledge. She is armed with the twenty weapons, representing the various pious activities e...
- 20 Sep 2017
Indrabarta dasa: I am writing with great sorrow to report that Karunika Devi Dasi left her body on July 15, 2017, after experiencing a massive heart attack in her home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan....
- 19 Sep 2017
By Nick RalloThe dal — a silky textured soup, sunflower hued with turmeric, ginger, jalapeño and coriander powder — has always been a bright light at Kalachandji’s, and it still is. The yellow mung beans are whisked until smooth, crackling with mustard and cumin seeds and curry leaves. With a scoop of warm, textured rice alongside a spoonful of searing spicy pickle, you’ll feel two kinds of tears, caused by both spice and the emotional comfort of a perfect dish. “All the spices that we use ... they’re not just there. It’s not a whimsical thing. It’s all medicinal as well,...
- 19 Sep 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 August 2017. 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 Sep 2017
By Mahatma DasI’d like you to take a minute and envision the kind of devotee you would like to be if anything were possible. What qualities would you like to possess? How would you like to act? What kind of mentality and attitude would you like to have?
...- 18 Sep 2017
By Sacinandana SwamiThe samvartaka cloud, urged by Indra, became exhausted. Indra was hissing, but after some time even Indra could not fail to notice that there is no effect. He has noticed joyful flute music coming from under the hill. The boy looked completely happy gazing with love at His people. Vrajavasis did not even notice what Indra was doing. Not even one Govardhan-sila fell from the hill. The 7 days passed for them like 1 ghatika, 24 minutes. Finally Indra felt confused. Like falling from a high platform on the ground, ...
- 16 Sep 2017
By Anand Caitanya dasISKCON’s Govardhan Eco Village won the Spirit of Humanity Award in the Livelihood category. The 8th edition of the Spirit of Humanity awards was held on 14th Sept 2017, in a gala event at J W Marriott, Juhu, Mumbai. The event was organized by AmeriCares, a non-profit disaster relief and global health organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people around the world. The Spirit of Humanity awards recognize and reward exemplary contributions made towards the society in the fields of Child C...
- 16 Sep 2017