By Radha Mohan DasGeorge Harrison Concert. Soul Expressions Christmas Party. The P.M's Faith Advisor. Student Explore Science of Spirituality. Children's Mitzvah Day. The Chief Rabbi. Bulgarian TV. DEVI raises funds for MacMillan Cancer. A Truly Multi-Cultural Wedding. Musical Ramayan at the Watford Palace Theatre. Justice Service. Ladies Sabbatical. London Schools Study the Gita. Remembering Tribhuvananth Prabhu. BBC Young Dancer. Gita Jayanti. Govardhana Eco Village. The Final Offering for ISKCON 50. Community welcomes in New Year
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- 21 Jan 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 December 2016. 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
...- 21 Jan 2017
By Somesh KumarI first came to know about ISKCON in Pune at around 1998. My sister informed me about the ISKCON temple on the Janmashtami day. First time when I saw the temple structure from outside I felt that it's not a traditional temple which is seen in India. That was confirmed when I went inside the temple as to see the devotional attitude and energy in the temple was just fantastic. Till that point I had not seen so much devotional energy anywhere else. All the devotees chanting and dancing in ecstacy in the Gaura Arati - Yes, that was what I witnessed first! Though then I did'nt k...
- 20 Jan 2017
By Mahatma dasYou feel entitled to special treatment or status, and when you don’t get it you become critical of those who should give it (or who should arrange for it to be given). You have a strong need to be right which manifests as a strong need to make others wrong. You are trying to get attention or communicate your feelings but you lack the proper skills to do this, and thus the only way to get attention is through criticism. You are an expert in a specific area(s) and therefore criticize or condemn others for their ignorance or inability. When you are misunderstood, your frustrati...
- 16 Jan 2017
By Vaishnava dasWinter Festival is being held in exceptionally beautiful place - Seminar and recreation center “Dubingiai”. Residential space is located in 4 separate buildings. Conference halls are in a separate enclosure near residential buildings. During the festival the devotees are able to rest in comfortably furnished rooms. In each room there are comfortable beds, white linens, shower, wc. Children at the festival will be able to participate in their own workshops, which will take place in a separate room. One separate room will be devoted to recreation for mothers with young c...
- 14 Jan 2017
By Yadava Hari dasThe peak of the Gita-jayanti festival was held at Grand Ballroom Pertamina, Jakarta on December 24, 2016. Many Hindu from around Indonesia participated on the celebration. Minister of Religious Affairs Republic of Indonesia through Director Jendral of Indonesia Hindu Council said that he was delighted appreciated that ISKCON in Indonesia along with Hindu organization in Indonesia celebrated the Gita Jayanti Festival.
...- 14 Jan 2017
By indianewengland.comWASHINGTON, DC–Last week Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) celebrated her re-election to US House of Representatives and was sworn into session. She took her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita once again. After the ceremony, family, friends, and supporters gathered together and visited Rep. Gabbard and congratulated her. “Tulsi shared how the Bhagavad Gita continues to serve as an inspiration in her life, and how grateful she is to the people of Hawaii for allowing her to continue to serve in Congress,” said a statement from her office. Separately, sea...
- 13 Jan 2017
By Indian PressThe story of Swami Prabhupada is so interesting and inspirational.. he started Hare Krishna movement and founded ISKCON and he is regarded as Guru Prabhupada worldwide. As Nag said to have impressed with the script he showed interest to play the role Prabhupada. The highlight of the whole episode is that ISKCON people are said to be showing interest to produce the film if Nagarjuna plays the lead role. If everything goes well, Nag will come up with another devotional film soon.
...- 13 Jan 2017
By Darpa-ha Krishna dasAmbarisa das: 2016 was a challenging year for the TOVP. However, we have come through unscathed and stronger than before. Construction continues unabated, and fundraising is branching out into newer areas all the time. Significant challenges remain, including the recent currency upheaval in India. The TOVP is more than ever depending on the friends and supporters of Srila Prabhupada’s TOVP to finish this project for the glory of Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.
...- 13 Jan 2017
By Gour Govinda Swami Still, after the disappearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, a black period was there. Who fulfilled Mahaprabhu’s prediction? Bhaktivinode Thakur started. Because India was blindly following the West, he thought that the books and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu should be presented in English‚ and that this science should be taught in the Western world.
...- 12 Jan 2017
By Candrabhaga Devi DasiOn December 20, 2016 an international group of around 35 devotees (12 matajis, rest prabhus) left Sri Mayapur Dham from Srila Prabhupada's Bhajan Kutir for a seven day, 80 km padayatra to Katwa tirtha. Katwa is the place where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had taken sannyasa. Along the way the yatra passed other tirthas including Nrsimhapalli where Lord Nrsimhadeva had washed His nails after the battle with Hiranyakasipu. Krsnapada the ox, on his first walk out of Mayapur lead the party through Krishnanagar, Baluka, Kanainagar, Navadvip, Srirampur, Kalikatala, Agradvip, a...
- 12 Jan 2017
By Ratirupa Jahnava Devi DasiThe 25th Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava of ISKCON, Coimbatore and " ISKCON 50" Golden Jubilee celebrations was flagged off on 6th January 2017 in a grand function at Sri Annapoorna Auditorium at R.S.Puram. The occasion was graced by the presence of several dignitaries and VIPs like Sri. Srinivasan, Chairman, Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels, Dr. K.G.Bhaktavatsalam, Chairman , KG Hospital, senior ISKCON sannyasis and GBC like HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Bhakti Vinoda swami ( Zonal Secretary,Western TamilNadu and Kerala) and international devotees. On t...
- 11 Jan 2017
By bhaktin AnyaEvery day thousands of people from all over India come to Vrindavan. Especially over the last few years the number has been increasing very rapidly. I was surprised to see that the people didn’t know much about the extreme sanctity and transcendental value of the place they were in. In this way I had a nice opportunity to speak about Vrindavan. I used to say: “Do you know that you are very fortunate? Do you know why? It is because you are in the spiritual capital of all the three worlds. Everyone who comes to Vrindavan gets special benefit.” Like this I was addressing e...
- 11 Jan 2017
By Giriraj DasHG Bhurijana Prabhu, in a recent class, shared an interesting pastime during a program in Japan, when Srila Prabhupada, did not let a mayavadi sanyasi speak for too long, starting a impromptu Kirtan in the middle of his speech, much to the bewilderment of the audience. Srila Prabhupada, later, shared with his disciples that he could tolerate the mayavadi sanyasi for some time but when he started speaking that Supreme Lord has no form, no senses, can not talk and so on, then Prabhupada could not tolerate it any more! HG Bhurijan Prabhu said that such is the love Srila Prabhupad...
- 10 Jan 2017
By Bhakta Dr. Chetan HazareeIn Jagannath Puri, the annually organized Ratha-yatra engages thousands of artisans (for cart making), priests, and general populace in the service of the Lord. The king of the region is also engaged in actually sweeping the road on which the most merciful Lord rides on the chariot. Globalizing the exclusive and confidential ways, in which Srimati Radharani herself implored their Lordships Sri Krishna, Sri Balarama and Subhadra Maharani to come to Vrindavan, and then Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu danced in front of the Chariot and cleansed the Gundicha temple, Sril...
- 10 Jan 2017
By Dusyanta dasaRecently on TV in Wales a famous BBC, Welsh news reporter decided to do something about his burgeoning weight. He wanted to lose weight, become healthier and enjoy more energy. But like us all he was faced with the same wall of contradictions of diets to follow to achieve his goal. Nowadays the UK governments advice for a healthy diet is to eat a good balance of foods and carbohydrates but with little saturated fats. The fats in this instance represent meat and dairy fats. And the carbohydrates represent Breads, Pastas, Potatoes and Sugars.
...- 10 Jan 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiThe captain eventually announced that we were approaching Irkutsk but would have to circle the airport until some fog had dispersed. Some time later the two stewardesses approached me. "The captain is asking you to pray to God for all of us," one of them said. "We are running out of fuel," said the other, "and we can't circle the airport much longer." They stood waiting. "Well," said one of them, "are you going to pray?" I hesitated. Then I joined my palms, closed my eyes, and said a short prayer. When I finished, they left to tell the captain. Suddenly the plane v...
- 8 Jan 2017
By Kesava Krsna DasaAs a world body, how do the members of Iskcon – the devotees – deal with truth telling or the revelation of sensitive information in a vaisnava way, among themselves? Some believe there should be no restrictions while others urge caution due to aparadha. Is there a balanced way? It normally takes a trustworthy official statement to put a matter to rest. In between the official statement and an incidental cause for emotion and betrayal, our vaisnava approach to how knowledge or information should be revealed, is tested. If the brahminical quality of truth rules in all of our...
- 7 Jan 2017
By Daamodara Dhananjaya DasJust imagine, we are on one of the most happening streets of a modern and a rich city like Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on the New Year’s Eve at 11.00 pm, while the whole country is eagerly waiting for the clock to cross its 12. There’s so much rush that it is barely possible even to move and everyone is singing and dancing, on some extrinsic song of a C grade Hindi movie, at the top of their voices and wearing weird masks, projecting their true demoniac qualities within and above all, they are SEVERELY INTOXICATED. And in such an environment if we suddenly see a group ...
- 6 Jan 2017
By Subhananda Hari DasGo-puja was performed for global auspiciousness in Mumbai under the auspices of ‘Om Sri Surabhi Campaign’ on 1st January 2017 at Madhav Baug Goshala, located in Lakshmi Narayan Temple compound. Located in the heart of South Mumbai, the Goshala not only provided us a break from busy city life but more importantly provided us an opportunity to serve Mother Cow and worship her. The Gir cows of the Goshala were very nicely taken care by Mr. Mahesh Yadav and family, who kindly allowed us to perform the ceremony. The program started with the Harinam, followed by Tulasi...
- 6 Jan 2017
By Bhakti-lata DasiBhakta Joseph Galesburg: Hare Krsna Mother Bhakti-Lata, I would like to first thank you for all you have done for me. The books, magazines, encouraging words, the opportunity to correspond with Ram Tulasi dasa – everything. You have been so very helpful to me, and I cannot thank you enough. I am truly and forever blessed for having met you, and am eternally in your debt. I am doing my best to keep my thoughts, words, and actions functioning solely for our blessed Lord. I am chanting (stronger every day), studying Srila Prabhupada’s books, and ever seeking ways t...
- 6 Jan 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiSamskaras are Vedic purificatory ceremonies for advancing in spiritual life. One of them is vivaha-samskara, the wedding rite. Our spiritual master said that in this material world a boy naturally desires a girl and a girl naturally desires a boy, and they come together in holy matrimony to make it sacred, and they advance in material prosperity and spiritual prosperity together. I think that is a nice definition of love: “to be concerned about the needs of your beloved.”
...- 5 Jan 2017
By Radha Mohan DasA hugely successful event was organised by the Bhaktivedanta Manor community members to welcome in the New Year in both a devotional and entertaining way. The evening, held at the Navnat Centre in West London, including engaging kirtans led by Abhiseka das and Manohar das. Later Kripa Moya das joyfully led the chanting up until midnight . Earlier there was also a hilarious pantomime "Bindurella" and a play about Srila Prabhupada by the Bhaktivedanta Players as well as a dance by Shyam Jatanni. The hugely successful event was organised by many devotees, including Alpesh P...
- 5 Jan 2017
By Ajay Kamalakaran The Russian Krishnaite said he respected the right of the Orthodox priest to have an opinion but felt the young man was misguided. “We have absolutely no political agenda of any kind. Even if we had 100,000 followers in Russia, could we possibly topple a government in a country of 140 million?” Das agreed that there were many followers from Western countries but insisted that these people merely sought salvation from the “vicious cycle of karma.” He said his guru told him about how some Western intelligence agents “penetrated the ranks of the movement,” but added that t...
- 3 Jan 2017