By Sri Nandanandana DasSrimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means the She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord's energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God. Thus, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, God is both male and female. They are One, but Krishna ...
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- 27 Aug 2017
By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami PrabhupadaDear Swami, If one has rejected God, will God still take him back? Yours, Miss Anita Keough. Srila Prabhupada: My dear Miss Keough, We are all here due to mistakes. Krishna only cares for our love. Dear Swami, Is it necessary to pursue all the different yogas in turn in order to reach the Ultimate? Yours truly, John The Srila Prabhupada: Dear Mr. The, You can walk the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building if you like. But the elevator is also there. Try ch...
- 26 Aug 2017
By Kesava Krsna DasaSome devotees are concerned that Iskcon’s overall preaching has gone ‘soft,’ thus compromising true standards. They say we must be more ‘Strong’, ‘heavy’ and ‘bold.’ Sentiments of “See how Srila Prabhupada flayed those mayavadis… and how he blasted that individual… and oh how he smashed that perception…” add excitement to the cause. Let us examine what it really takes to be ‘heavy.’ There is excitement in reading of Lord Chaitanya’s conversion of Sri Prakasananda Sarasvati an...
- 26 Aug 2017
By Krishna Dharma DasaThis question has probably caused more people to lose their faith than anything else. Why does God sit peacefully in his cloud or wherever, feet up and smoking his pipe, while we suffer all kinds of grim miseries down here on earth? The best answers we can usually manage are: a) He can’t do anything about it, b) He is mean and nasty, or c) He is not there at all. Obviously these three conclusions mean our faith is gone or as good as gone. So are there any other answers? In my short book “Why Me?”, I explore this question. Mainly based upon the Bhagavad-gita, I t...
- 25 Aug 2017
By Shaunaka Rsi DasSunday Open House Talk at ISKCON of DC. The six Bhagavad-gita values. What is the relevance of our tradition. How can we include the teachings of the gita in modern day life. Millions of people actually practice the gita every day. So let's bring it into the world we live in.
...- 25 Aug 2017
By Bhaktin Diksha“We would like to see this develop as a marathon,” says HH Lokanath Swami. “We want everyone’s participation. From GBCs to ABCs, everybody must be a part of this endeavour which glorifies the Holy Name and glorifies Srila Prabhupada - the one who shared this gift with the world at large.” This year also marks the centurial anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA. Therefore, this year’s theme is called ‘Srila Prabhupada’s gift to the world’. For this event, the team has invited coordinators from all the temples and centres across the world ...
- 25 Aug 2017
By Chaitanya Charan DasIt was 3.45 am at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. I was at the guestroom of the ISKCON temple, waiting for the ride that would take me to the airport for my flight to Panama. Shanta Vigraha P, the devotee who had coordinated my visit there and who was to drive me to the airport, had been slightly delayed. Meanwhile, I had thought of using the restroom, which was in an adjacent room. Before going there, I had locked the door of the guestroom. But then I went back to open that door slightly, thinking that as the atmosphere outside was hot and mosquito-ridden, Shant...
- 22 Aug 2017
By ISKCON desire tree networkWith growing Krishna consciousness all over the world ISKCON has been instrumental in bringing many souls under the shelter of Lord Sri Krishna with its Philosophy, Kirtans, Prasadam, etc., however the villages and tribes located in remote areas remain unaware of the good fortune in Kaliyuga. An initiative was taken by devotees from ISKCON Pune and with dedicated efforts and Krishna’s mercy a new preaching centre ”Bhagavad Darshan Prachar Kendra” was established in Bodhan village, Telangana. It was inaugurated with great pomp on 10th June 2017. Bhakta ...
- 22 Aug 2017
By ISKCON WellingtonBhakti is ahaituky apratihatā. It can neither be achieved through mundane efforts nor be terminated by any mundane cause (SB 1.2.6). But bhakti can be obtained and nurtured in the association of Lord’s devotees. It can be ignited and spread through the association of Vaishnavas. It was this knowledge, faith and desire to spread the love for Godhead that spurred the outreach Janmashtami program for the greater Wellington urban region. This year, devotees from Wellington’s Journey of Self Discovery (JOSD) group under the guidance of HG Ambarish Maharaj Das and HG Ana...
- 22 Aug 2017
By Chandan Yatra DasUjjain is an ancient holy city on the bank of the Kshipra River, today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Ujjain is the place where Lord Krishna, along with Balarama and Sudama, received education from Maharishi Sandipani. Ujjain is one of the four sites in India that host the Kumbh Mela (also called the Simhastha Mela), once in 12 years. On the occasion of Simhastha Kumbh Mela the divinity and spiritual aroma of Ujjain meets its highest peak when millions of pilgrims take dips and worship sacred River Kshipra. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven sacre...
- 21 Aug 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 July 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
...- 20 Aug 2017
By Mahatma dasCan a person with low self-esteem be spiritually advanced? Can a person with healthy self-esteem not be spiritually advanced? Is there an absolute correlation between the two? Yes, to the first two questions. But if one has low self-esteem, it can be an impediment because of the need to pull others down. Of course, high self-esteem doesn't guarantee spiritual advancement, but generally such persons have an easier time confronting and dealing with their faults. I find that many of the devotee’s problems come from not loving themselves, that is they neglect their sadhana ...
- 20 Aug 2017
By Lokanath SwamiSrila Prabhupada, you mercifully employed me as one of your office boys in this mission to spread Krishna consciousness. It is for this reason that Bombay has special significance for me. It was my spiritual birthplace.I was conceived at your first Bombay festival at Cross Maidan in 1971 and I was born in 1972 at Hare Krsna Land. Srila Prabhupada, you always said, "If you want to remember something, write it down." In the introduction to "A Transcendental Diary", Hari-sauri Dasa recalls that within two days of his assigned association with you, he purchased a blank noteb...
- 19 Aug 2017
By Vaishnava dasIt was a beautiful sunny New York afternoon, with a slight cooling breeze and the familiar scent of incense wafting out the front door of the 26 2nd Ave storefront, the birthplace of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Amid the hustle and bustle of the city's rush hour, disciples and grand-disciples made their way to the tiny temple, nearly completely hidden by scaffolding of surrounding construction projects. The sounds outside were loud, obnoxious, intrusive; but once inside, one f...
- 19 Aug 2017
By Iskcon Los AngelesIn one of the largest communities of Iskcon devotees in the USA, New Dwarka, Los Angeles, many disciples of Srila Prabhupada gathered to offer their Vyasa-puja homages to His Divine Grace.
...- 17 Aug 2017
By Giriraj SwamiMy Vyasa-puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada. Last month your spiritual granddaughter Smriti “Baby” Warrier (now Sravana Dasi) lost her son in a tragic accident at the railroad. When I wrote to offer my condolences, I was wonderstruck by her reply: “Thank you for your kind blessings and prayers for our son Nrsimha Guru. Due to the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we are all blessed with our journey in Krishna consciousness. In such a situation all we can see is Krishna’s hand and how He orchestrated the whole incident. Though it is the most horrific thing I have experience...
- 17 Aug 2017
By Srutadeva DasThe pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them.
...- 16 Aug 2017
By Kripamoya Das and Trisha MotahMother Kulangana was always known as a kind and gentle soul with a nature as sweet as her service. She will be missed by so many - the majority of the community cannot even recall a time when she was not present in their lives. Although she leaves this world behind, her legacy lives on. And in every soft mangal arati sweet the devotees of Bhaktivedanta Manor offer to Sri Sri Radha Gokulanada, there will reside the memory of Mother Kulangana’s soft and sweet devotion. Mother Kulangana’s life will remain an inspiration for generations to come. Her dedic...
- 15 Aug 2017
By Krsna Sundari dasiSrila Prabhupada gave the first Krishna deity in ISKCON to the temple in Washington DC. Sri Sri Radha Madana-Mohana were moved to a bigger temple situated on 12 acres of beautiful forested land in Potomac prior to Srila Prabhupada's visit in 1976. The building where Srila Prabhupada stayed for a whole week has been nicely preserved by the devotees. During his visit Srila Prabhupada met with scientist disciples from Bhaktivedanta Institute. They accompanied him on several morning walks in idyllic settings along the Potomac river. Devotees in the community organise vario...
- 14 Aug 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiSrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s exposition was divided into two sections, spiritual and secular, with items collected from every part of India, and the whole extravaganza covering more than one square mile. The secular division demonstrated miscellaneous departments of human endeavour, medical, educational, agricultural, arts and crafts, cattle and livestock, child welfare, athletics, and amusements. Several provincial governments sent materials to be displayed. Other attractions were performances of athletic feats such as gymnastics, ...
- 13 Aug 2017
By Mayapur CommunicationDue to the enthusiasm of the devotees of the Mayapur community, Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja celebration has grown over the years, and has now become a six day festival. Many departments of Mayapur join together to host glorifications of Srila Prabhupada on different days. These festivals are so sweet and personal; they keep the devotees constantly absorbed in gratitude for Srila Prabhupada, and allow them to express that gratitude to him.
...- 13 Aug 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiKrsna's Village of Peace at this year's Woodstock festival in Poland exceeded the expectations of everyone. With a steady stream of people passing through our site the lines for prasadam got longer and longer, large crowds spilled out of the Mantra Yoga Tent and all other activities were fully packed. From this one can appreciate that Lord Krsna is truly 'all-attractive.'
...- 11 Aug 2017
By the TOVP staffThe first Chakra of the TOVP to be installed upon the Kalash of the Planetarium Dome (Western Dome) by H.H. Jayapataka Swami. On the auspicious occasion of today's installation of the first chakra on the planetarium-wing dome, here is a message from Sriman Ambarish Prabhu
...- 10 Aug 2017
Gokul Ananda: Our ISKCON Montreal community has very recently witnessed the very sudden (yet glorious) departure of our beloved devotee 33 year-old Basab...
- 8 Aug 2017