By Romapada SwamiPersons who are “spiritual” are expected to be compassionate. Different people in this world have very diverse ideas of what compassion means, and how it should be expressed. Commonly, the worldly notions of compassion are far from what we understand compassion to really mean, and how it is best displayed. What kind of indication do we have from scripture, and from our acharyas, and from our spiritual teachings, about compassion? How we should repose the soul’s natural tendency for compassion, on the spiritual platform?
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- 20 May 2018
By NRR Community Development Team(3.5 MB, 52 pages PDF document) From more than 1000 Devotees, 508 Total Responses, September 2017. The Community Development Initiative (CDI) is organized by a team of community members in conjunction with the New Raman Reti Board of Directors. Our vision: A loving and well connected family of Krishna devotees, spiritual aspirants, and friends fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s Mission. Our Mission: To empower and assist our congregation to live happily ...
- 19 May 2018
By Mukhya devi dasiThe second Community Development Conference was a big success this past Saturday. There were over 100 devotees in attendance, and another 25 facilitators. The essence of the day was moving into specific focus groups of individual interest, and meeting together to see what is working, what is needed, and what being more involved would look like. The teams went through exercises together as a preview of what the actual committees (which will be identified based on a fo...
- 19 May 2018
By Parvati devi dasiLast few months we cleaned the whole dome from top to bottom in preparation for waterproofing on the dome. We have just received the materials and hope to finish the job before the rainy season. We got some special silicon for in between the tiles, reputed to withstand the expansion and contraction of our Vrndavan extreme heat and extreme cold. Then, after any excess is cleaned up, the whole dome will get coated with a clear sealant to protect it from environmental...
- 18 May 2018
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of April 2018. 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
...- 16 May 2018
By ISKCON MayapurMy bhaktas sometimes commit offenses, but in this Purusottama month, they will be protected from committing any offense. In this adhimasa, those greatly foolish persons who neglect to perform auspicious activities, such as japa, giving in charity, visiting and bathing at the holy places, and who are envious of the dvijas (brahmanas) are deemed wicked, unfortunate and living at the cost of others. Thus, they will not attain a scent of happiness, even in their dreams. Co...
- 16 May 2018
By TOVP staffPurushottam Masa or Adhik Masa is an extra month in the Vedic calendar that is inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. But it is mainly called this because Sri Krsna has placed all His potencies, mercy and blessings in this month, and also because one gets more results from any religious spiritual activities. Thus, only works of devotion (Krsna-bhakti) give results in Purusottama month.
...- 15 May 2018
By Madhusudanan DasDr. O.B.L Kapoor narrated a story about Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada who was once a pharmacist, gave him a tonic at the pharmacy. When the doctor asked for his tonic to Krishna Prem, Srila Prabhupada replied, “I do not have a tonic, but I have a formula”. This formula was the topic of the seminars during the two day retreat organized for the Wellington devotee community at Otaki, New Zealand. Drawing upon the teachings given by H.G. Radheshyam Prabhu, H.G. ...
- 15 May 2018
By Padmapani dasOne of the most enlivening times for me was when devotees used to lead the chanting of Hare Krishna in the barn for the pleasure of the cows. They all seemed to enjoy the chanting as they happily chewed on their bunches of hay. Milk production increased and we became overwhelmed with surplus amounts. Some cows even gave two full buckets per milking. The Deities were offered many nice milk products made with butter, ghee, curd and whey—so the devotees never went hungry...
- 15 May 2018
By ISKCON LeicesterDevotees speaking on the 35th anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha Madhava in ISKCON Leicester. With HH Jayadvaita Swami, Praghosa Prabhu, Shaunaka Rishi Prabhu and many others. So many sweet memories of Radha Madhava’s installation 35 years ago!
...- 14 May 2018
By Acarya DasaAnjeyanadri Hill is surrounded by lovely plantain and paddy fields. The hill has 572 steps to reach the top and offers a lovely view of the valley and of the Tungabhadra River. The Hanuman Temple at the summit is one of the attractions of the Anjeyanadri Hill, a sacred pilgrimage center for Hindus. The temple is a white-washed structure with a pyramidal roof and a mall red dome at the top. A red flag flutters in the air and is easily visible from a far-off distance. Thi...
- 14 May 2018
By Abhay Charan Nimai DasaOne day I met Akhila Dhara Prabhu, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who told me boldly, “If you want to experience the real nectar, then go on Padayatra”. So I decided to go, thinking, “If I am not going for ever, then at least I should go for a week.” So, on March 13th I joined the Padayatra India party, then in Bangalore, Karnataka. First I saw the magnificent oxen of the Kankrej breed, and I immediately paid my obeisances to them. They are hug...
- 14 May 2018
By Chandan Yatra DasThe beautiful state of Manipur is in North-East India. Manipur has a unique culture and is also known as 'Land of Gandharvas' and 'Switzerland of East'. Manipur is a Vaishnava state with Krishna Consciousness been practiced widely amongst the common masses. “Royal families at Manipur and Tripura are descendants of Arjuna's son Babhruvahana”, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1 chapter 12 verse 21 purport by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-aca...
- 13 May 2018
By Hari Narayana DasSunday night, Cilegon was hot. The moon is not round yet, dimly lighted lights on both sides of the road stretching approximately 250 meters full of people on both sides. Young-old, male-female. All liked getting out of the corners of the City. At 07.00 PM the music thrashed. All participants gathered behind the stage except the Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Subadra Devi sat on the chariot beside the honored guest stage.
...- 13 May 2018
By Michael Scherer On Mother's Day, I spoke with the president of the Hare Krishna temple in the Washington, DC area. Ananda Vrindavaneshwari Devi Dasi is widely respected and has done a lot to develop the local Hare Krishna community. We talked about her early years in Ireland, her travels, and her current work.
...- 12 May 2018
By Kesava Krsna DasaFor some reason the subject of womanhood and the roles they play within our midst has raised strong feelings, usually centred on celibacy and the potential for victimisation. This shows that women are not really the problem - our inordinate fixation on matters 'celibate' is the problem
...- 12 May 2018
By Bhakta Mohana RanganMany prominent Sri vaishnava Scholars and many eminent Social leaders and eminent media celebrities also graced the event. They spoke on the need for more information and awareness on God consciousness of ancient India and congratulated Sri Giridhari Prabhu for his work in this field. The honorable chief minister of Tamilnadu though couldn’t make up for the event but send an appreciation note. A part of which is as follows “I appreciate the activities of ISKCO...
- 12 May 2018
By TOVP staffThe usual program was held in the evening with kirtan, abhisheka and presentations by Jananivas and Braja Vilas prabhus. And once again, the devotees were so overwhelmed by Lord Nityananda’s mercy that, although only twenty five devotees were present, 65,000 Euros/77,000 USD was pledged. The temple President, Krishna Premarupa prabhu was so enthusiastic that even after we left and despite a large monthly mortgage payment, at the Sunday program he raised an additional 10,...
- 11 May 2018
By Hari-sauri dasThe future is very bright. We are organizing research projects and conferences in collaboration with Universities such as Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Stockholm University. We are also in the process of affiliating with Kolkata University. It is with deep regret then that due to significant health challenges, as of Gaura Purnima, March 2nd, 2018, I have retired from active service as Administrative Co-Director at the BRC. During the last few months I hav...
- 11 May 2018
By Mukunda Bhakti DasPrisoners danced in ecstasy with the devotees during the concluding kirtan. The total environment of Jail changed all on a sudden. ISKCON Nandankanan distributed sumptuous Krishna Prasad among the prisoners. The prisoners were blessed by the unconditioned service of the devotee of ISKCON-Nandankanon. It was a lifelong memory and experience for the prisoners, they expressed.
...- 11 May 2018
By Matsyavatara DasaThe biblical tradition tells about angels and demons existing before the world, before the creation of man. These two sets of archetypes (the archetype of light represented by the angels headed by Michael, and the archetype of darkness represented by the demons headed by Lucifer) come in direct conflict and immediately engage in a cosmic war between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The Bible explains that Lucifer (literally his name means “the bearer of light”) ...
- 9 May 2018
By Vrsabhanu dasaSince the very beginning of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to set up farm communities and become self-sufficient, depending on the land. Two of his disciples responded to an ad about a rural ashram in West Virginia and subsequently purchased an old farmhouse there. This was the start of New Vrindaban. It was meant to be a replica of Vrindavan in India. The community has gone through many different phases and at present the temple is a very busy place ...
- 9 May 2018
By TOVP staffThe temple programs, though attended by a small number of devotees due to the holiday season in Italy, were still most ecstatic and inspiring. Greeting the Padukas and Sitari, we were met by bight faced devotees who enthusiastically chanted the Holy Names, bathed the Deities and listened attentively to talks by Jananivas and Braja Vilas prabhus. Once again, the response from the small number of devotees was overwhelming and the total pledges for both temples was 81,000 Eur...
- 9 May 2018
By Garuda dasIT is important to explore and disclose how--perhaps even why--we are going to speak about Christian and Yogic theism before conducting an exploration on theism in comparative relation between the two traditions. In this kind of discussion, it is inevitable that working definitions of key terms be provided, particular terms that will be clarified and offered to facilitate the discussion. In this study, I examine and draw from the particular studies of three scholars in the...
- 6 May 2018