By Lalita Manjari devi dasiThe Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has recently increased its focus on succession; on the need to identify and develop new leaders. As a result the GBC has asked three of its committees to focus on ways to speed up the selection and development process without compromising the quality of the training. These three committees are the GBC Succession Committee, the GBC Organizational Development Committee, and the GBC Appointments Committee.
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- 12 Sep 2014
By Advaita Chandra dasOur modern lives and the decisions we take on a daily basis are typically driven by three major forces - DATA (D), MONEY (M) and RIGHTS (R) - which influence and move us sometimes in very subtle ways. We search for happiness by manipulating these forces to get material sense enjoyment. Unfortunately, the happiness we experience is fleeting and disappointingly unsubstantial. Consequently, many are frustrated and angry with the status quo. And, well-being, at both individual and collective levels, has been severely compromised. What's am...
- 12 Sep 2014
Abhay das: Recently we heard the sad news of the passing of Jada Bharata Prabhu, one of the first disciples of Satsvarupa Maharaja who joined ISKCON in 1977 and who did outstanding service for ISKCON throughout his life....
- 12 Sep 2014
By Kesava Krsna DasaSince we are all human, we can be expected to display human social and emotional traits. On a devotee managerial and leadership level, somehow we all expect superhuman Vaisnava traits to emerge, whatever that means, and it will probably never happen. Vaisnavas are very human, but their ways and mannerism reflect a selfless nature. Devotee leadership is best undertaken by selfless devotees who exhibit selfless traits of empathy, compassion and understanding - to be broadminded. It is easy to give our own wish list for ideal management...
- 12 Sep 2014
By Bhakti Vikas Swami"Regarding astrology, you should not listen to any of these so-called astrologers—strictly avoid. Don’t even see them. What is the use of seeing them? Astrology is meant for the materialist, but a spiritualist does not care for the future. Everything is dependent upon Krishna. So where is the necessity of astrology? "
...- 11 Sep 2014
By Divyanam DasI’m glad to inform you that World Holy Name Week (WHNW), September 5 – 15, is in full swing!! This year we are seeing increased awareness, participation and excitement for WHNW. We are getting reports from all over the world – New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, USA, Brazil, Canada, UK, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Mauritius, Middle East and of course from India. Attached are few of the reports we have received so far.
...- 10 Sep 2014
By Ekalavya dasAs World Holy Name Week 2014 progresses from day 4 to day 5, I contemplate the supreme sacrifice made by Srila Prabhupada to take sannyasa. Sannyasa means to give up all activities not favorable to Krishna consciousness. One of the inner truths of World Holy Name Week is to put aside all activities not related to Krishna consciousness. This is an opportunity to increase our chanting and hearing. Cultivate those items favorable for the outreach effort of Krishna consciousness. And also cultivate those items favourable for the inreach effor...
- 8 Sep 2014
By Ekalavya DasThis year, World Holy Name Week, which began in 1996 as a one day celebration as part of ISKCON’s Centennial Celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s birth, is bigger and better then ever before. Social media and internet have allowed us to access a large portion of the world of ISKCON. Never before has there been this capacity to spread a message to the world in such a short amount of time.
...- 8 Sep 2014
By Patita Pavana das“If there were no one to control, there would be no meaning to the conception of the supreme controller (isvara), just as there is no meaning to a king without his subjects. If all the subjects became king, there would be no distinction between the king and an ordinary citizen.. Someone may argue, “Why is there a need to create the spiritual sparks?” The answer can be given in this way: Since the Absolute Personality of Godhead is omnipotent, He has both unlimited and limited potencies. This is the meaning of omnipotent. To be omnip...
- 7 Sep 2014
By Vraja Vilasa dasaOn August 27th, for the occasion of Srila Gour Govinda Swami’s 2014 Vyasa Puja celebrations, the King of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja, King Dibyasingha Deb, attended the two day festival at ISKCON Bhubaneswar. The king took darsan of the deities Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Krsna Balarama, and Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, and then spoke for 40 minutes in the Srila Gour Govinda Swami Memorial glorifying the contributions of both Srila Gour Govinda Swami and Srila Prabhupada.
...- 7 Sep 2014
By Deva Madhava DasAfter trying our luck a few times in different spots within the limits of the 35th annual Detroit Jazz festival, we were finally forced by security (read 'lead by the benevolent will of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) to sit just outside the festival, at the corner of Woodward and Jefferson Ave. (Read 'The busiest intersection in the whole city.') The sun was beating down on the spot so direct the word 'hot' might have been applicable. The cold hardy Detroit devotees were a little apprehensive, but once they were reminded that in 2 months we'd a...
- 3 Sep 2014
By Iksvaku dasOn the auspicious day of Radhastami, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, co-minister of the Congregational Development in ISKCON, congratulated the Namahatta devotees from Sridhama Mayapur for having reached out to a record number of 15 million people in their last 35 years of preaching Krishna Consciousness. This is the result of continuous preaching initiatives aimed at encouraging congregations in their spiritual advancement. From innumerable home programs to large pandals, these preachers have successfully been able to attract this large number...
- 3 Sep 2014
By Mahatma dasIn this original five-and-a-half minute song, Mahatma dasa combines his experience as a recording artist with his appreciation of the unique qualities of Srimati Radharani that qualify Her as the greatest devotee of Krishna
...- 2 Sep 2014
By Dusyanta dasaIf this were a boxing contest in a fight between the two opponents “margarine” and “butter” it would not be a fair contest. It’s like trying to compare a little girl or boy fighting against Muhammad Ali. In this example “butter” is Muhammad Ali because butter is a natural food product. Not only is butter a natural food product but more importantly the body recognises butter when butter is ingested. Because margarine spreads are not natural, when it is ingested into the body it is not recognised as a natural product by the body....
- 1 Sep 2014
By Kesava Krsna DasaWhen unwanted types of management are perpetuated, no matter how qualified ISKCON managers might be with people skills and other necessary qualities, their attempts at trying to undo these will be difficult. There are reasons for this. We have seen the ISKCON Strategic forum enthusiastically asking for assistance from able devotees, but this needed assistance will be frustrated if these perpetuations persist.
...- 1 Sep 2014
By Bhakti devi dasiIn the week leading up to Janmastami 2014 and over its 2 day festivities, several politicians, from both local and state level, visited ISKCON’s Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir, Australia. The reason for these visits was to present our kitchen facilities in their need for upgrading and expansion, for which architectural plans have been approved and an application for a $750,000 government grant has been submitted.
...- 1 Sep 2014
By Melissa ErdmanThe United States Department of Agriculture has listed ISKCON’s Gita- nagari Farm in Port Royal, Pennsylvania as one of the most important success stories of preservation and sustainability in 2013.
...- 30 Aug 2014
By Niranjana SwamiWe have good news and bad news from Ukraine. The good news is that practically all devotees from the Lugansk region have been safely accommodated elsewhere. Meanwhile, the bad news is that as of today, August 29, 2014, it appears that the conflict could very soon be moving into Mariupol, a seaport of 500,000 and home to a very large devotee community. We must be prepared to assist these devotees should the battlegrounds extend into Mariupol and therefore different options for them are already being considered.
...- 30 Aug 2014
By Romapada SwamiStreamed and recorded live on Aug 28, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 29 Aug 2014
By Anuttama dasa and Nityananda dasStreamed and recorded live on Aug 28, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 28 Aug 2014
By Vraja Vihari dasa and Tamohara dasaStreamed and recorded live on Aug 27, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 28 Aug 2014
By Vaisesika dasa and Nityananda Pran dasStreamed and recorded live on Aug 27, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 28 Aug 2014
By Malati Devi DasiStreamed and recorded live on Aug 26, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 27 Aug 2014
By Anuttama dasa & Tamohara dasaStreamed and recorded live on Aug 27, 2014 during the NA GBC meetings in Chicago.
...- 27 Aug 2014
