By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamDear ISKCON Leader, please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In June 2020, the GBC SPT – Strategic Planning Support unit published a Temple Re-opening Guide and a decision-making Toolkit to support you in your efforts to re-open your temple. You will find attached, additional materials we have developed to assist you in facilitating the safe re-opening of your temple to the public.
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- 7 Aug 2020
By Gauranga DasWe are happy to share that over the last two years, in addition to the preservation work in the library, the team at BRC has made significant strides in conducting pioneering research in the field of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in collaboration with international universities led by reputed devotee scholars worldwide. We have also started MA and PhD programs on Gaudiya Vaishnavism in affiliation with Mumbai University wherein students are being guided by international devotee scholars.
...- 7 Aug 2020
By Srimati Devi DasiMahaprabhu’s lips quivered in the ecstasy of jubilation as He sang the glories of the Holy Name. His effulgent body, stoked and fueled by prema, illumined the small dark room to reveal His two constant night companions. In great ecstasy He said to Srila Svarupa Damodara in a faltering voice, “My ears are dying of thirst. Sing! Sing, My dear friend! Sing the glories of the all-merciful Holy Name.”
...- 5 Aug 2020
By Danavir GoswamiA synonym for the word guru is acarya which means one who teaches by example. Guru means preacher and preacher means acarya— äcära pracära. A devotee who executes sadhana bhakti carefully for many years may be allowed to accept disciples. A main qualification for one’s becoming a guru in the first place was his strict adherence to the practices defined by his spiritual master. After some time however if that devotee, now guiding disciples, relaxes his sadhana due to “being advanced,” or to “preaching,” or some other reason, is it not a fly in the ointment? ...
- 5 Aug 2020
By Giriraj DasaAs we come into Krishna consciousness then many a times we may get lost in the philosophy itself. The mind too likes newer subjects and intellect is also satisfied by gaining deeper understanding. However we should be careful not to feel satisfied remaining at these levels. Most of us do understand that our real position in the material world is not unlike that of a criminal put in a prison for reform. Criminals can also, rather they do, have high level of mental and intellectual capabilities!
...- 5 Aug 2020
By Pradyumna dasFor ten years, we have printed Srila Prabhupada Tributes and sent a free copy to each devotee who wrote for it. But this year, the pandemic that struck made us uncertain about whether our printers could provide the book on schedule, or even if we could deliver the physical books to all contributors. And so, for the first time, we have produced the book in electronic form only.
...- 3 Aug 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamDo we understand the Pandemic that the whole world is in grip of? Please join us to hear Dr. Milliard Hawkins (aka Madhavacarya Das), who is a lead anesthesiologist, with over two decades of practice in his field, and a recipient of several awards. Aside from his practice of medicine, he is also the senior-most IFAST (Institute For Applied Spiritual Technology) devotee in the DC area, providing guidance to all the institute devotees in the area. His support of Vaishnava community and being on the frontline of COVID-19 response, is invaluable in our efforts to unders...
- 3 Aug 2020
By Anuradha dasi When WTRF came to do an interview for a piece about New Vrindaban on channel 7’s “Discover West Virginia” program, I had no idea this would be Kirtan the baby peacock’s debut into stardom. After all, it was meant to be a general documentary, and at the end of the interview, I had just casually mentioned Kirtan’s story... It all started one day when we were sitting at home chanting japa, and we heard a strange banging, or rather scratching, at the front door. We tried to ignore it, hoping whatever it was would go away, but it didn’t. Finally, overcome by its sheer determination ...
- 3 Aug 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamLet us all join together to learn how ISKCON Dallas temple President, HG Nityananda Das and his community members responsibly handled COVID-19 outbreak. He was interviewed by HG Vraja Vihari Das.
...- 2 Aug 2020
By Samapriya dasiIn the beginning days of establishing his movement, Srila Prabhupada was assisted by a handful of dedicated disciples. Though unfamiliar with Vedic culture they were qualified through love and submission to their spiritual master. The good fortune of these devotees is unquestionable, and there is no doubt each and every one of them was worthy of their unique benediction. Whenever recounting the events Srila Prabhupada's disciples directly experienced with him in the course of their service, it is considered sacred and appreciated by all the assembled devotees.
...- 1 Aug 2020
By Gauranga Darshan DasOnce Utkaca went to the hermitage of a sage named Lomaśa, who had studied a hundred lessons in morality from Lord Brahma. For no reason, Utkaca started breaking trees there, being puffed up of his strong body. Seeing him creating an unnecessary disturbance, sage Lomaśa cursed him, “O evil-hearted one, become bodyless!” Utkaca’s body at once fell away like a snake’s old skin falls away. He became a ghostly being without a body (some say that he got an invisible body made of air). Such is the result of material pride and offense to saintly persons.
...- 1 Aug 2020
Grandma’s Home Remedies: Active Meditations to Help Me Deal with the Nitty-gritty Challenges of Life
By Srimati DasiLet’s face it – trying to become a devotee in this faithless, fast, and quarrelsome age is very, very tough. If the mind is not making life difficult for us, it will be the neighbors, some authority figure, our bodies or our family. Actually, the list is endless. How to keep faith and focus in a world so obviously made for distraction?! The real challenges come in our daily dealings in life. The philosophy sounds fine in the class atmosphere, but often we lose sight ...
- 31 Jul 2020
By Vijaya DasMost temples in the world have decreased book distribution because of the pandemic, but some increased it. ISKCON of Silicon Valley had one of its best months. By using the phone or internet by selling sets, the ISV devotees did 46,788 book points, making their temple No. 1 in the world, way ahead of everyone else. They had 368 devotees taking part in the Bhaktivinoda Marathon. The New York Yuga-dharma Harinama book distribution team temporarily moved to Atlanta, away from the severe pandemic in New York, and did huge: No. 3 in the world with 9,057 book points. Their party consists of twelve...
- 31 Jul 2020
By The Monk's PodcastThere are dangers in the spiritual path so we should have mechanisms in place for protecting the members of Iskcon, especially the leaders. An interview with HG Anuttama Prabhu.
...- 30 Jul 2020
By The ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamThe Global Devotee Care Directorate is pleased to host HH Gopal Krishna Goswami for a conversation about balancing spiritual care and organizational responsibilities.
...- 30 Jul 2020
By Sri Nandanandana dasaMy dear Daruka, do not be unhappy because of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, or the disappearance of Lord Balarama. Become patient and fixed in actual knowledge. These calamities are simply an illusory show, fabricated by My internal potency. There is no need to become agitated because of these so-called catastrophes.
...- 29 Jul 2020
By Jaganmohini Devi DasiAs a founder director of Bhaktivedanta Institute, HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, was able to lay the foundation of the Bhaktivedanta Institute under Srila Prabhupada's direct guidance. During Srila Prabhupada's final days and even before that HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami was very enthusiastic and had adopted versatile and dynamic approach to reach to intellectual community. And Srila Prabhupada very much approved and appreciated it. There are several conversations between them in this regard. Thereafter, for nearly three decades, HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swam...
- 28 Jul 2020
By ISKCON TowacoA recent ZOOM conference with HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami about the great benefits the devotee receives by worshiping properly the Deities of the Lord
...- 27 Jul 2020
By The ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamYesterday, Sunday, on the Children at Home Show by Gopi Gita Schomaker, we interviewed His Grace Sesa Prabhu, ISKCON's Minister of Education, a father, a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a mentor to devotees worldwide. He shared his journey in his ISKCON service and important instructions for families today.
...- 27 Jul 2020
By Madhava SmullenAn internship program has been launched to help build a website and carry out important research for the still under-development project “ISKCON at the United Nations.” After applying and going through a rigorous approval process, The Office of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) received ECOSOC status with the UN in 2016, the highest level at which an NGO can be associated with the UN.
...- 27 Jul 2020
By Samapriya devi dasiNow America has millions of people and everyone goes on with their personal lives. If someone dies or is born or gets sick or grows a garden or plays the french horn in a symphony orchestra - not everyone hears about it or even cares. There are communities, towns, cities and states, functioning within themselves. Due to the multitudes everything has changed. So too has this happened to the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. We grew to a few thousand while Srila Prabhupada was sti...
- 26 Jul 2020
By The Monk's PodcastThe challenges that the Vedic culture is facing in contemporary India. Local governments taking over temples' assets, materialistic media deriding religious practices, famous Bollywood movies and actors in a mission against Vedic traditions, Christian conversions by unfair methods, communistic propaganda, western influence, the Muslim presence, cheating gurus, casteism, lack of an organized defense, how is Iskcon prepared to contribute to confronting this Kali-yuga degradation in the land of dharma?
...- 24 Jul 2020
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning TeamThe Global Devotee Care Directorate invites everyone to their weekly webinars focused on Vaishnava Seva and Devotee Care, an effort that emphasizes the culture of devotee care in our ISKCON temples and communities. We are pleased to announce this week's discussion was led by HH Niranjana Swami Maharaj, who is the force behind one of the world's largest thriving communities of devotees in Ukraine.
...- 24 Jul 2020
By Srimati DasiTo make everyone understand that He was accepting the sinful actions of Jagai and Madhai, Lord Caitanya’s body became blackish in complexion. The Lord inquired, “Why do you all look at Me in this manner? How do I look?” Advaita Acarya replied, “You look like Lord Krishna.” Lord Caitanya began to laugh at Advaita Acarya’s words and all the Vaisnavas became ecstatic and expressed their joy with jubilant sounds. Lord Caitanya then said, “Begin kirtana, and this black shroud of sin will lift from My body and enter the bodies of those who criticize the devotees of the Lord.” <...
- 23 Jul 2020
