Since the new year is around the corner, it’s natural to talk about new year’s resolutions. You might be thinking about doing something you’ve put off or making some changes for the new year. You might even be making the same resolutions you made last year at this time. Or maybe you just don’t make them anymore because you never follow through on them anyway.

“There’s hope”

Do You Just Want It or Are You Committed to Get It?

Srila Prabhupada cites Dhruva Maharaja as a perfect example of determination. He says that we should be as determined to be Krsna conscious as Dhruva was to see Krsna. Dhurva was willing to undergo any austerity to see Krsna. We learn from this that there’s a big difference between wanting something and being committed to achieving it. This is the difference between determination in the mode of ignorance and determination in the mode of goodness. In the mode of ignorance determination doesn’t get past the dreaming stage. In the mode of goodness determination is unbreakable and sustained by constant self control.

Have you ever thought it would be nice to achieve something – but then not do much about it? If you have, you probably didn’t achieve it. However, have you ever committed yourself to achieving something no matter what the cost? If you have, it’s likely you succeeded. So if you make a new year’s resolution and are not committed to achieving it, there’s a really good chance you won’t follow though.

There can be many reasons why you wouldn’t commit, but one of the most common is to think you can’t do it. We often tend to minimize our own abilities and thus see many of our goals as difficult or impossible to achieve. Yet it’s more often the case that we are qualified to do it and either we haven’t tried hard enough or we simply haven’t learned how to do it (BTW, successful people as a class are not super talented and don’t have super high IQ’s).

“Determination”

Although there may be many obstacles on the path of the sincere devotee who is preaching the glories of the Lord, such obstacles increase the determination of the devotee. Therefore, according to Srila Jiva Goswami , the continuous obstacles presented by the demigods form a kind of ladder or stairway upon which the devotee steadily progresses back to the kingdom of God.

One of the common factors among very successful people is that they all had tremendous obstacles to overcome. It was the problems they had to overcome that drove them to greater and greater heights.

In 1982 I went to Johannesburg, South Africa to be the temple president. When I first arrived I quickly learned that things had not been going well. It was a constant uphill battle just to keep things from falling apart. After some time I was finding it difficult to maintain my enthusiasm. One devotee suggested that it would be beneficial for me to read the Prabhupada lilamrita. As I read about all the struggles that Prabhupada faced in establishing, maintaining and pushing on Iskcon, I understood that if I allowed myself to become deterred by obstacles I would never be able to achieve anything significant. I then felt strongly that Krsna had put Prabhupada through so many difficulties in order that we have his example before us. Prabhupada faced the greatest challenges. And these challenges simply made him more determined.

How do you react when you are faced with repetitive challenges?

“Walking on the Head of the Obstacle”

In the previous chapter it was explained that although the demigods place obstacles in the path of the Lord’s devotees, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord the devotees are able to place their feet on the head of such obstacles and thus pass beyond them to the supreme destination.

You can tell the caliber of people by the amount of opposition it takes to discourage them. Obstacles will look large or small to you according to whether you are large or small. Did you know that legal immigrants – most of whom have fewer advantages over native-born Americans – are four times more likely to become millionaires? Therefore, we shouldn’t pray that Krsna put smaller obstacles in our way, but we should pray that he give us the strength to overcome the obstacles.

When Prabhupada told devotees how to deal with their problems (which was always to be more Krsna conscious), he would often say, “What is the difficulty?” He meant Krsna consciousness is the easily available solution and the only difficulty is not taking this solution.

“Change Doesn’t Come Easy”

Following through on a resolution usually entails making a change – and change is not always easy. If we don’t like something, we want to change it. The problem is we desire change for everyone other than ourselves! Changing ourselves often entails changing long standing habits, and that can be difficult. Did you know that when Columbus set sail for new lands most people thought the world was flat and that he was going to fall off the end of the planet? Of course that didn’t happen, proving that the world wasn’t really flat. Yet people were so resistant to change that most everyone kept on believing the world was flat while the younger generation was being taught in school that the world is round.

“From the Inside Out”

Unless you make a change within it’s unlikely that you will make a change without. One of the difficulties we face in changing is that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are. When you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.

“Act like the person you want to become. Before you can do something, you first must be something.” (Goethe)

That can be scary. We tend to cling to what we know, even if we are not satisfied with it. Fear holds us back. Yet the only way to overcome the fear is to go out and do the very thing we are afraid of doing.

If you make new year’s resolutions, realize that you probably desire improvement – yet at the same time resist change. The problem is you cannot get one without having the other. The reality is that change is possible only if you want it bad enough. You are the way you are because that’s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different you would be in the process of changing right now.

“Continually Commit”

One of the most important things to understand is that committing to change is not a one time affair. You must commit continually. I think a lot of us make the mistake of thinking we have committed to something when what we did was make a decision to change or commit, but not a decision to commit daily.

“Focus on Solutions”

If you make a resolution and have trouble following through and then start to become discouraged, you can do one of two things – and the one you choose will color your perspective. You can look to place the blame or you can look at yourself to discover your opportunities. The choice is yours. Life is usually 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it. So think what you can do, not what you can’t do. The more you hit roadblocks, the more you need to devise ways to get around them. Keep trying if something doesn’t work.The more you think about solutions, the more solutions you’ll come up with (dadami buddhi yogam tam).

Success is really just the ability to solve problems. Overcoming an obstacle is simply solving a problem. Every person has to face obstacles, make changes, and deal with problems. Successful people are just better than the average person at dealing with the same kinds of problems you and I face everyday.

So if you are dealing with difficult problems, imagine yourself sitting in front of Srila Prabhupada as he instructs you to be more determined to follow Krsna consciousness and then asks you, “What is the difficulty?” That one question can make the biggest problems appear insignificant.

“Exercise”

Here are some questions to answer that will help you move forward.

1) What specifically is holding you back from making or following through on a resolution?

2) What must you do to overcome what’s holding you back?

3) Which of these will you pursue, what will you do, and when (write down on your a calendar or daytimer what you will do and when you will do it)?

4) If you don’t get anywhere, go back to question one.


Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=5031

By Sesa Das

OK, I admit it. I’m a junkie, a New Year’s resolutions junkie. Every year I make so many resolutions, and every year I fail to keep them. I know I am not alone in this. Is there a support group out there?!

This pesky little urge to make a commitment to a project or to reforming a habit to mark the beginning of each New Year is not new and seems to be quite universal. Brooke Williams’ article, The History Behind New Year’s Resolutions, published in The Colonnade, The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia College and State University, gives this history, “…the tradition of the New Year’s resolution was created by the Babylonians 4,000 years ago. The first day of the year for this ancient civilization was March 23 and one of its popular resolutions was to return something borrowed from a friend during the previous year…The Romans celebrated the New Year on Jan. 1 and shared a similar tradition with the Babylonians. A common resolution in ancient Rome was to ask forgiveness from enemies of the past year. The Chinese New Year has been celebrated for thousands of years as well. Their New Year is somewhere between late January and early February, one of their resolution customs is housecleaning, which tops many modern-day New Year’s resolution lists. Whether or not these civilizations took their resolutions seriously and always achieved what they resolved to do is unknown. Today many resolutions are made with the best intentions, but the majority are not actually met.”

Yeah, I know all about the failures. According to a recent survey conducted by Quirkologist (one who studies the curious science of everyday lives) Richard Wiseman, as reported on www.quirkology.com, which tracked over 3000 people attempting to achieve a range of resolutions, including losing weight, visiting the gym, quitting smoking, and drinking less, “At the start of the study, 52% of participants were confident of success. One year later, only 12% actually achieved their goal.”

These statistics tell only half the story. Please understand, its not that I am just looking for help in a support group, I have years of experience that may help others. Here are a couple of things I know.

First, the reason why most people even try making resolutions is a the cyclical chain of dissatisfaction followed by the consuming desire for a fresh start in some area of their lives, and The New Year provides a great opportunity to remake ourselves. The problem is that most, why most, all, people are concerned only with an external conception of themselves, and thus their resolutions focus of superficial changes. The US government’s Office of Citizen Services and Communications reports, “The most popular resolutions in the Western world include to quit tobacco smoking, stop excessive drinking of alcohol, lose weight, and get physically fit.” Such external changes will never satisfy the real you, and keeps you locked in this repeating cycle of making and breaking resolutions.

Second, following on the first point, is something I learned in the school of hard knocks. Success is about priorities. Success will only come when you have your priorities straight.

There is an interesting lesson about priorities in the Srimad Bhagavatam. As the story goes, Lord Vishnu in disguise as Vamanadeva, a dwarf brahmana, goes to beg charity from Bali, the conqueror of the entire universe. Coming fact to face with Bali, Vamanadeva makes a strange request. He asks for only three paces of land, and that according to His footprints. Bali scuffs at this puny request and tells Vamanadeva he can offer his planets or all the wealth in the universe. Bali chides Vamanadeva, saying He doesn’t know either his (Bali’s) power, or His (Vamanadeva’s) own best interest. In reply Vamanadeva gives the following instruction that is relevant to all those who make New Year’s resolutions.

“One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds.

Material existence causes discontent in regard to fulfilling one’s lusty desires and achieving more and more money. This is the cause for the continuation of material life, which is full of repeated birth and death. But one who is satisfied by that which is obtained by destiny is fit for liberation from this material existence.”

Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 19, Texts 24-25

The lesson: understanding the nature of this material world, the nature of the real self as being spirit soul naturally different from the dissatisfactory experiences of the material world, and striving by means of internal change for lasting spiritual satisfaction, are the real priorities for everyone. Everything else will follow.

Now, obviously this is easier said than done. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be looking for a support group. Fortunately, I do have an idea where to find my support group. They gather daily at the local Hare Krishna temple for classes on Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. So this year my New Year’s resolution is going to be to attend Srimad Bhagavatam class every morning.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=92526

1) ( omitted )
2) To see myself as a survivor rather than a victim.
3) To see how I truly am the architect of my own destiny and how my feeling, thinking and willing determine how my life takes shape.
4) I resolve to reaffirm my dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON with a view to take very seriously his statement that ISKCON is his body and become determined to heal that body or die trying.
5) I resolve to set my sights on the highest possible goal. Srila Prabhupada said he would know his movement was successful if even one of his disciples became a pure devotee. My chances to satisfy this desire of my gurudeva are about as good as a snowflake in hell. Nonetheless I resolve to try or die trying.
6) I resolve to see how any apparent setback or difficulty in my life is there by Krishna’s arrangement and is really just an opportunity for me to rededicate myself to Krishna Consciousness and simply become more serious about my service to guru and Gauranga.
7) To decrease my eating and sleeping and learn to control my tongue by giving more attention to the quality of my chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
8) To make myself more available to anyone who wants support or encouragement in their effort to serve the devotees.
9) To do more to help the devotees distribute Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental literature all over the world.
10) To deepen my faith in the words of Srila Prabhupada and internally challenge and ultimately eradicate any tendency to minimize or neglect his orders.
11) To be strict with myself and always lenient with others.
12) To engage in more interfaith dialogue with members of a wide variety of approaches to God consciousness.
13) To be more effective in my efforts to present the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness to family members.
14) To be more vigilant in my efforts to use every waking moment to advance in Krishna Consciousness.
15) To eat only Bhagavat Prasad and be less distracted by mundane news and worldly events.
16) To become absorbed in Krishna Katha.
17) To fully curtail any tendency to engage in gossip or rumor.
18) To arrange my schedule so I can attend all temple programs without fail.
19) To participate more in Krishna Conscious festivals.
20) To be more gentle, peaceful and kind in all my dealings with my Godbrothers and Godsisters and Godnephews and Godnieces.
21) To always feel and voice my gratitude for the remarkable and rare opportunity I have to engage in Krishna Consciousness and actually develop love for God.
22) To see that anyone I take to be a demon is really only the external manifestation of some anartha or aparada that I have not yet eliminated from my sadhana.
23) To only use my natural built-in fault finding propensity to find fault with someone who is not yet chanting Hare Krishna, knowing full well that the minute anyone says Hare Krishna even once, they are well situated on the path to enlightenment and can no longer be subject to criticism.
24) To avoid my tendency to try to enjoy Krishna Consciousness and redirect any increase in energy back into my devotional service.
25) To seriously practice seminal continence and properly manage my ojas shakti in order to develop brahma tejas and, in that way, be a more effective preacher.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=5043

“Maintaining the prominence of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON.”

Kuladri Prabhu’s talk centers on Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON’s founder-acharya and eternal link, emphasizing the extraordinary magnitude of what one pure devotee accomplished in a short lifetime. Rather than philosophical analysis, he shares historical reflections and personal reminiscences to illustrate Srila Prabhupada’s surrender, determination, humility, and empowerment.

Key themes include:

Srila Prabhupada’s early life: his birth just after Krishna Janmashtami, his father’s deep devotion and prayers that his son serve Srimati Radharani, and early signs of leadership such as organizing childhood Ratha-yatra festivals.

Meeting Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in 1922, receiving initiation in 1933, and accepting the order to preach in English, print books, and spread Lord Chaitanya’s message without waiting for material qualifications like wealth or political change.

Renunciation and perseverance: living simply in Vrindavan, translating sacred texts under austere conditions, publishing Back to Godhead, and realizing that fulfilling the guru’s order was his sole purpose in life.

Journey to the West: traveling penniless on the Jaladuta at an advanced age, enduring heart attacks at sea, offering heartfelt prayers of surrender, and arriving in America with no apparent success for nearly a year.

Establishing ISKCON: gradual connections, early disciples, adapting preaching for a Western audience, creating devotional art, forming a society where none existed, and eventually spreading Krishna consciousness globally.

Personal service stories: Kuladri Prabhu recounts intimate moments caring for Srila Prabhupada during illness, learning lessons in compassion, attentiveness, humility, and “doing things nicely,” as well as experiences related to temple construction, altars, and preserving Prabhupada’s lotus footprints.

Legacy and empowerment: Srila Prabhupada’s worldwide impact—temples, books, devotees, festivals like Ratha-yatra on Fifth Avenue—and his tireless compassion as the personification of divine mercy.

The talk concludes with heartfelt glorification of Srila Prabhupada as a fully surrendered servant of Krishna, an eternal associate empowered to deliver the holy name across the globe, and the indispensable link through whom devotion to Krishna is received.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116923

2nd Generation

“I have built the skyscraper skeleton, now you all intelligent American and European boys and girls fill in the spaces nicely in good taste. Do not deviate from our high standard.” (Letter to Sridama, 22 Dec 1971)

3rd Generation
• If the second generation has created the basis for unity, the diversity should now be explained and harmoniously formulated. • Direct witnesses of the founder’s activities arc disappearing.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116930

In society in general there is not much focus on God. We find so many different traditions of faith but none of them give a deep understanding of our real purpose or a proper process for spiritual advancement. Vaishnava devotees feel very indebted to Srila Prabhupda for giving crucial answers to life’s questions. In this film we hear devotees in Bergamo, Italy talking about how they feel inspired by Srila Prabhupada and how he has given them so much solace in their lives. It was a nice experience to go there and make a film about their society.

“If we want to unwrap the real meaning of Christmas, then we need to look beneath the tinsel and feel grateful to the Giver of all things before even opening the box.” – Rukmini Devi Dasi.

In this reflective talk, Rukmini Devi Dasi explores gratitude as a transformative spiritual practice that brings happiness, deeper relationships, and a richer sense of meaning in life. Drawing from her decades of service within ISKCON and her experiences across cultures, she frames gratitude not as a sentiment, but as an awakened way of seeing—recognizing life itself as a series of divine gifts. Speaking during the Christmas season in India, she connects the spirit of giving associated with Christmas to the universal principle of appreciating divine mercy. To watch, click the image below.

As the visionary founder of the Urban Devi Collective, Rukmini Devi Dasi has established a vibrant platform that resonates with seekers from all walks of life.  Rukmini serves on the Board of Directors of the Bhakti Center and the Board of Trustees of the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium, and is a member of the esteemed SABHA, an international committee that advises the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

This was originally published on Rukmini’s website. To read more of her reflections and learn about upcoming events, click here

 

In Expert Take: When the Supreme Court Reopens What Appeared Closed, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court Vibhav Mishra discusses the rare decision by India’s Supreme Court to reopen a case long thought finally decided. The article centres on a 25-year dispute over the control of the Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bengaluru.

In May 2025, a Supreme Court bench ruled in favour of ISKCON Bengaluru, ending the decades-long battle. That judgment seemed to close the matter — until a review petition filed by ISKCON Mumbai led the top court to reconsider, after a split opinion among judges prompted the Chief Justice to refer the petition to a three-judge bench for open-court review.

You can read the whole post here.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/when-final-isnt-final-supreme-court-revisits-iskcon-case/

A Corinthian Minister attracted to Bhagavad Gita
Gurusakti dd: Today in Coventry I met Christine. She works as a councillor for Coventry Ciiy Council & is also a Corinthian Minister.

Christine married a Hindu Punjabi gentleman twenty years ago & learnt to speak fluent Hindi & Punjabi. The name Surya was given to her by a pundit shortly after her marriage. Speaking to Christine in Hindi, Punjabi & English felt incredible. I have never experienced speaking to an English person so naturally in both Indian languages. It felt effortless & at the same time so humorous.

Christine chose to take two Bhagavad Gitas. Although she had read it years ago, she had not read Srila Prabhupada’s version & wanted one to keep for herself & another available for others to read. She shared that it is important to understand, acknowledge & accept other people’s faiths. No matter how we perceive God, she said, in his eyes we are all his children.

Christine then shared something often spoken about within the Krishna consciousness movement. She reflected on the unrecorded years of Jesus’ life in the Bible, particularly in his thirties, & the historical accounts suggesting he travelled to India during this time, associating with sages & Vedic wisdom. She also mentioned that Jesus instructed Saint Thomas to travel to Goa, where his presence is still honoured today.

She reflected on the Christian understanding of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, & smiled as she drew an analogy with the Vedic tradition, also expressing the Divine through Krishna, Vishnu & Rama. Christine left excited to read more, learn more, & deepen her growth as a minister.

Christina’s parting words endorsed that her intention to read the Bhagavad Gita was not to challenge her faith?but to expand it.

Srila Prabhupada wrote his books not to convert or divide, but to reawaken the soul’s relationship with God. This awakening moves beyond labels & boundaries, reaching straight into the heart. Through encounters like this, the world continues to discover Srila Prabhupada as Krishna’s genius.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116918

The years 2026 and 2027 mark a significant milestone for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness—60 years since its founding and 50 years since the disappearance of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. These years provide an important opportunity not only for commemoration, but for collective reflection, recommitment, and purposeful action.

The Indian Continental Committee (ICC) 60–50 Committee in India has been constituted to guide this national observance with a clear objective: to deepen Prabhupāda consciousness across the movement while strengthening ISKCON’s spiritual and institutional foundations. The emphasis is on ensuring that remembrance leads to lasting outcomes rather than remaining limited to ceremonial observances.

The 60–50 period is envisioned as a phase of conscious alignment and purposeful engagement across ISKCON in India. Temples and centers are encouraged to systematically focus on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings, instructions, and life, while strengthening Bhāgavatam culture, devotional standards, and Vaishnava conduct. The intent is to translate appreciation for the Founder-Ācārya into sustained spiritual focus, disciplined practice, and responsible service.

To enable nationwide participation, the ICC is adopting an empowering approach. Temples are requested to appoint a local 60–50 coordinator to facilitate planning, implementation, reporting, and communication with the ICC, ensuring coherence of vision while respecting local contexts.

The initiative also actively encourages movement-wide engagement, inviting devotees and well-wishers to contribute through time, skills, professional expertise, creativity, and voluntary service. In parallel, this period is being used for institutional strengthening, including improved coordination, documentation, and leadership alignment.

The aspiration is that 2026–2027 serve as a conscious turning point, where gratitude matures into responsibility and commemoration evolves into a living, enduring legacy of service to Śrīla Prabhupāda and his mission in India.

For sugestions or participation, please contact: Support@iskconindia6050.org or +91 9321147668

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116915

By Krishna Dharma das and Chintamani Dhama dasi

This article examines the progression from sraddha to nishtha and highlights the vital role of sadhu sanga in this journey. When the sadhu sanga is properly performed, one’s initial faith is informed and properly developed. One can then undertake the devotional practices, or bhajana-kriya, correctly. In the early stages of bhajana-kriya, we still engage in materialistic activities that disrupt our devotional practice. However, as we continue practising the right sadhu sanga and bhajana kriya, we gradually purify our hearts of desires that hinder our steadiness in practice. This purification process is known as anartha nivritti. As purification deepens, the quality and quantity of our sadhu sanga and bhajana kriya improve. When sufficiently purified, we reach the stage of nishtha, where illicit sense gratification no longer interrupts our devotional service. Conversely, if our sadhu sanga is of poor quality, our initial faith becomes misinformed, as does our bhajana kriya. Consequently, we will not be purified of the undesirable tendencies within our hearts, and even after many years, we do not achieve self-control. Below, we discuss what we understand to be the correct progression from sraddha to nishtha, and where we think current institutional policies might impede devotees’ healthy progression.

Click below to download and read the complete article:
Why_is_the_process_not_working_v2

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116912
 

By Gandini devi dasi 

Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS), in cooperation with ISKCON’s North America Regional Governing Body (NA-RGB), will offer a new six-month online course titled Consciousness Studies: Ancient & Modern Perspectives, beginning January 10, 2026. Designed as a university-level program, the course equips devotees to present Bhāgavata philosophy within contemporary scientific and intellectual discourse through weekly live and recorded classes.

Śrīla Prabhupāda envisioned a movement guided by learned Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas capable of addressing the pressing questions of their time. He repeatedly emphasized that without first-class philosophical leadership, human society remains directionless, particularly in the age of Kali.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/new-online-course-explores-consciousness-from-ancient-and-modern-perspectives/

Participants in the Walk for Peace initiative. Image courtesy of Walk for Peacc USA.

Walk for Peace recently crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, which was the site of a vicious attack on a peaceful civil rights march in 1965. The WFP group of Buddhist monks, led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, started in October from their Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The 2,300-mile trek will end in Washington, D.C. sometime in February.  

Bhikkhu explained the purpose of the walk. “We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us.”  The Walk for Peace Press Release reminds us that “peace is not a destination. It is a practice.”  And as America faces various challenges, its pilgrimage to the nation’s capital “offers a simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward.” 

The monks observe strict ascetic vows, including eating only one meal a day and sleeping outside beneath a tree or in a modest facility.  One of the monks stated that their message was one “of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.” And someone on social media wrote in response, “This moment stands as a testament to what is possible when compassion leads the way.”

The Christmas season has always been about peace and goodwill. In Isaiah 9.6, the coming one is referred to as the Prince of Peace. And the next chapter warns the reader: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights, and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people” (Isaiah 10.1-2).

In the Vedic tradition, many Sanskrit prayers and teachings end with Om shanti shanti shanti.  The term shanti, which means peace, is a blessing bestowed upon the world. And it is spoken three times to emphasize its importance. Everyone in society wants peace and prosperity, but we are at a loss as to how we can attain it.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/walk-for-peace/

“Jesus Christ was such a great personality—the son of God, the representative of God. He had no fault. Still, he was crucified. He wanted to deliver God consciousness, but in return they crucified him—they were so thankless. They could not appreciate his preaching. But we appreciate him and give him all honor as the representative of God.

Of course, the message that Christ preached was just according to his particular time, place, and country, and just suited for a particular group of people. But certainly he is the representative of God. Therefore we adore Lord Jesus Christ and offer our obeisances to him.”

(Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 4)

“Who will not respect Jesus Christ? He sacrificed everything for God, even his life. So who is that rascal that he’ll not respect to Jesus Christ? What did he do wrong to the human society? He did everything for the good of the human society. Oh, I have got very, very great respect for Lord Jesus Christ. Not only… Every, I mean to say, God conscious man, he must have respect for Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about it. My Guru Mahārāja had very great respect for Muhammad, Jesus Christ…”

(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Melbourne, June 28, 1974)

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/srila-prabhupada-on-jesus-3/

By Giriraj Swami

Fifty-one years ago, on December 26, 1969, in Boston, Srila Prabhupada awarded me second initiation. He said, “Sucih means purified. And another meaning of sucih is brahman. A brahman means purified. Those who are going to be sacred-threaded today should remember that they are being accepted as sucih, as brahman. After chanting for six months or one year, it is supposed that he has already become purified. Now he should be recognized that he is purified. So this sacred thread means recognition. Sacred thread means one should understand . . . Just like one understands a man is learned by the degrees M.A., B.A., or Ph.D., similarly, when there is sacred thread it is understood that he has undergone the purificatory process under superior management, or guidance of spiritual master. This is called upanayana in Sanskrit. Upanayana: bringing him more near. The first initiation is the beginning of purification, and offering the sacred thread means bringing him more near. The principle is that those who are ordinarily initiated should not touch the Deity. Only those who are in sacred thread, they should touch. This is the system.”

Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=19521

By HH Bhakti Gauravani Goswami

New Book and Song Released

A new inspirational work, Krishna’s Cows in New Vrajamandala, has just been released, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the sacred relationship between Lord Krishna, His devotees, and the cows who share His eternal pastimes.

Excerpt from the Introduction by Yadunandana Swami:

In the pages of this book, the reader will come closer to a world where everyday simplicity becomes an offering, and the life of seemingly ordinary animals reveals an unsuspected spiritual depth. Krishna’s Cows in New Vrajamandala is not just a book about cows: it is an invitation to look with new eyes at the relationship between the human, the natural, and the divine.

We invite the reader to walk through these pages as one who strolls unhurriedly through a meadow at dawn, listening to the serene lowing of the cows and breathing the fresh air that carries with it the promise of a new day. May this book inspire us to recognize in every creature the divine spark and to understand, as Krishna’s devotees well know, that the loving care of cows is a special form of service to the Supreme.

The book also includes a song —A Day in Vrajamandala— which describes, from dawn to dusk, the pastimes of Krishna, His friends, and His cows in the spiritual world.

E-book, Song, and Music Video

The e-book, the song, and a link to the official music video are available at: https://spiritualsoundspace.com

 

Maharaja focuses on a crucial verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita about avoiding offenses toward the Lord and the Vaishnavas. He emphasizes how fundamental this principle is for spiritual advancement. Before explaining the verse, he recites related scriptural passages, sometimes set to music, noting the importance of keeping sacred texts—even digital ones—treated with reverence.

The main teaching centers on the gravity of Vaishnava aparadha (offenses). Various scriptures, including Bhagavatam, Skanda Purana, Hari-bhakti-vilasa, and others, are cited to show how blaspheming devotees leads to loss of piety, downfall, severe karmic reactions, and even suffering for one’s family or community. He explains that “killing” a Vaishnava includes harming their spiritual enthusiasm, not only physical violence.

Examples from the lives of Haridas Thakur, Nityananda Prabhu, Ramachandra Khan, and others illustrate how offenses create large-scale misfortune, while saintly devotees respond with humility. The speaker stresses that one must leave immediately when hearing blasphemy, or else spiritual life is harmed.

He also explains the role of sharp spiritual instruction—“the knife of shastra”—which cuts material attachments, and comments on the need for humility, service, and proper inquiry. Krishna’s mercy is always present, and devotees should distribute it widely, just as book distribution marathons began from Prabhupada’s encouragement.

The talk closes with the pastime of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s home, where Mahaprabhu humorously accepts a large feast after being reminded of His own divine activities. Through this, the speaker highlights the traditional Vaishnava culture of hospitality and the need for a non-critical, appreciative mood toward devotees.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116817