By Radha Mohan Das

Every Sunday at 7:00am sharp, devotees and friends gather outside Stanmore Station to begin a 5.5-mile walk to Bhaktivedanta Manor. Taking around 1 hour and 30 minutes for most participants, the walk is quickly growing in popularity.

The driving force behind this inspiring initiative is Yashu Shah, who shared:

“I’ve been walking every morning for an hour for the past 15 years, mainly for health reasons. Then, at the start of spring in March, just four of us began walking this route together. By last week, that number had grown to 18.

It’s more than just a walk—it’s a pilgrimage. It’s an opportunity to have darshan first thing in the morning, and then engage in service.”

Other participants shared their motivations:

“I am motivated by my attraction to Lord Krishna, as well as the health benefits. It’s a beautiful way to start the morning. On the way to Bhaktivedanta Manor, we chant—something we don’t always get the opportunity to do in our busy lives.

By the time I reach the Manor, I don’t even feel like I’ve walked over five miles. Sometimes I chant out loud, sometimes in my head. That’s why I’ve become a regular. When the colder months come, I hope Lord Krishna will give
us the strength to continue!”

— Rita

“A joy to walk with Krishna’s devotees and share their association.”

— 
Shalien

“It keeps you physically and spiritually fit. You can chant all the way there and truly enjoy the journey. You get to visit the temple, have darshan, and take prasad—it’s a complete experience.”

—
Bipin Gor

“I join Yasu on his regular morning walks throughout the week. One day he invited me to take part in a padayatra—a sacred walk—from Stanmore Station to the Hare Krishna temple. I thought, what better way to spend my walking days? My hobby suddenly felt more purposeful.”

—
B. S. Shah

“I joined because a good friend invited me. I thought it would be a great way to keep fit and meet people. It’s also a wonderful way to break free from the shackles of everyday pressures.”

—
Mehul Shah

Yashu offered these final words as an open invitation:

“Everyone is welcome to join—people of all ages. It’s a chance to get fit, bring your family, and share in the knowledge and experience of the temple.

Parking is easy around Stanmore on a Sunday morning, and you can join us at any point along the route. If you prefer a shorter walk, you can park on Wood Lane, off Stanmore Hill near the hospital.”

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117902

By Parijata devi dasi

Devotee Care in ISKCON: Building a Culture of Care

Devotee Care (DC) is an important and growing initiative within ISKCON aimed at nurturing the well-being of devotees and fostering a culture of care and support within the ISKCON community. Rooted in the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, Devotee Care seeks to ensure that devotees feel valued, supported, and connected.

Devotee Care broadly addresses 12 Areas of Care, which together cover the holistic needs of a devotee:

Spiritual Life & Care

Healthcare (Physical, Mental & Emotional)

Marriage, Sex & Relationships

Child-rearing & Childcare

Education & Training

Career & Employment

Financial Care

Housing

Travel & Immigration

Consumer & Lifestyle

Legal & Civic Care

Mediation Advice

At the heart of this initiative is the vision of building a caring and spiritually nourishing community for all devotees. According to Gauranga Das, DC Global Director, “Devotee Care is an expression of Vaishnava culture, where devotees support one another with sincerity, compassion, and practical care, helping create an environment in which devotees can remain inspired and steady in their Krishna consciousness.”

Devotee Care Training & Expansion
To support the growth of Devotee Care initiatives worldwide, Devotee Care courses and workshops are being conducted across the world by Damodar Das, Jai Nitai Das and their team.

These training programs aim to educate, equip and empower devotees with tools and sensitivity required to care for each other.

Damodar Das, Global DC Course Facilitator and Coordinator, shares “Devotee Care initiative is not to create departments of care but a culture of care. Devotee Care is a way of living in the spiritual world. Thus Devotee Care initiative aims at creating communities of care or in other words, Vaikuntha Communities. For the Devotee Care initiative to be successful, each devotee needs to look after his/her diverse needs (self care), seek qualified help within the community (seek care) and then wholeheartedly Extend Care to others.”

He further states,”At the completion of DC training, temple leadership is encouraged to identify at least one devotee or a small team to take responsibility for encouraging and involving the community devotees to share their love and care with each other. This alone can help establish a sustainable ecosystem of Care within the community.”

A Global Network of Devotee Care Resources
Across the world, many devotees are already offering valuable seva, expertise, and resources in the 12 Areas of Care. To make such support more accessible to the wider devotee community, the Global Devotee Care Committee is developing a Global Devotee Care Resource Directory.

Devotees who wish to contribute can:

Identify their Area of Care from the 12 areas listed above.

Refer to the “ISKCON Devotee Care Resource Areas Overview” document to determine the specific type of support they can offer:
ISKCON Devotee Care Resource Areas Overview

Submit their details through the “Call for Devotee Care Resource Contributors” form:
Call for Devotee Care Resource Contributors Form

Speaking about the importance of this initiative, Gauranga Das shared, “Many devotees across ISKCON are already offering valuable services and support in different areas of life. This initiative is an effort to bring these offerings together in a more organized way, so that devotees can easily access help when needed. All devotees are invited to participate, contribute, and support this initiative according to their capacity and inspiration.”

For more information on Devotee Care, devotees can visit:
devoteecare.org

By Atma Tattva Das, 

The ISKCON Ministry of Education is entering an exciting new phase of global development. This phase is characterized by expanded initiatives aimed at strengthening educational standards, enriching curricula, and supporting schools and learning communities across the worldwide movement.

As ISKCON continues to grow in diverse cultural and geographic contexts, the demand for structured, accessible, and spiritually grounded education has become increasingly important. Rooted in Srila Prabhupada’s vision of education as a means to cultivate spiritual understanding alongside practical life skills, the Ministry is dedicated to establishing comprehensive systems that serve devotees and the broader society alike.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/help-iskcons-education-ministry-expands-its-global-vision/

We traveled about 4 hours north of Manila to do some programs at a Nama-hatta outreach centre with a couple of van loads of devotees from Taguig and Laguna. It was a long weekend so the traffic was horrendous.

Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the trip chanting japa and had nice prasadam along the way. Once there the centre programs were great and on Sunday morning we went to a famous holiday place nearby for “beach kirtan” and prasadam.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/harinama-at-the-beach-philippines/

We are entering the sacred month of Purusottama, which comes once every three years and is said to be three times more potent than Kartik. During this month, devotees increase their chanting and hearing, and in particular they read Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad-gita, “Purusottama-yoga,” daily.

In a previous age during the Purusottama Month, Kaundinya Muni repeatedly chanted the following mantra every day throughout the sacred Adhika Masa:

govardhana dharam vande
  gopalam gopa rupinam
gokulotsavam isanam
  govindam gopika priyam

 “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, who lifted the Govardhana Hill. He is the maintainer and protector of the cows. He assumed the form of a cowherd boy and performed various transcendental pastimes. He is the great joy and grand festival of Gokula. He is the supreme controller and master of everything and everyone. He gives pleasure to the cows and the senses. He is the beloved of the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan.”

The scriptures state that by chanting this mantra thirty-three times every day with devotion during the Purusottama month, one will attain the mercy of Sri Purusottama (Sri Krishna), and attain the fulfillment of all their spiritual desires.

Hare Krishna.

Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=19089

Understanding the Glory of Purushottama Month

Purushottama Month, also known as Adhik Masa, is an extra lunar month that appears approximately every three years to harmonize the lunar and solar calendars. While materially minded people once considered this month inauspicious because it was not assigned for worldly ceremonies and rituals, Lord Krishna Himself transformed its destiny by bestowing upon it His own name — Purushottama, “The Supreme Personality.”

The scriptures describe how this neglected month approached Lord Vishnu in deep sorrow after being rejected by all. Moved by compassion, Lord Krishna granted this month extraordinary spiritual potency, declaring that anyone who sincerely worships Him during this sacred time receives immense spiritual benefit and special mercy.

For devotees, Purushottama Month is not ordinary time. It is a sacred invitation to deepen one’s relationship with Krishna through sincere chanting, hearing, service, prayer, simplicity, and spiritual reflection.

As Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu beautifully describes in the first verse of His Shikshashtakam:

“ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam”
“The chanting of the Holy Name cleanses the mirror of the heart.”

To chant is to purify the heart and make it a suitable place for the Lord to reside.
---
# The Purpose of Purushottama Month

Purushottama Month is an opportunity for spiritual acceleration.

In our normal routines, spiritual life can sometimes become mechanical or distracted. This sacred month invites us to pause, simplify our lives, and intentionally increase our Krishna consciousness.

The focus is not merely external austerity, but internal purification:

* More sincere chanting
* More attentive hearing
* More remembrance of Krishna
* More humility
* More devotional association
* More service

This month is meant to nourish devotion, not ego. Even a small offering performed with sincerity during Purushottama Month carries immense spiritual value.
---
# Recommended Practices During Purushottama Month

The scriptures and Vaishnava tradition recommend increasing devotional activities during this month. One may adopt practical vows according to one’s capacity and maintain them steadily throughout the month.

## 1. Increase Chanting of the Holy Name

The heart of Purushottama Month is increased remembrance of Krishna through chanting.

* Chant attentively every day
* Increase one’s rounds if possible
* Attend japa sessions
* Avoid inattentive chanting
* Create a peaceful atmosphere for chanting

The Holy Name cleanses the dust accumulated for years on the mirror of the heart.

---

## 2. Rise Early

If possible, wake during Brahma-muhurta (before sunrise), the most spiritually uplifting time of the day.

Morning spiritual practices performed during this time greatly nourish the mind and consciousness.
---
## 3. Read Sacred Scriptures Daily

Especially recommended:

* Bhagavad-gita
* Srimad Bhagavatam
* Krishna Book
* Teachings of Srila Prabhupada
* Pastimes of Radha and Krishna

Daily hearing purifies consciousness and strengthens spiritual conviction.
---
## 4. Offer Simple Worship

One may offer:

* Ghee lamp
* Incense
* Flowers
* Tulasi leaves
* Kirtan or bhajans
* Simple heartfelt prayers

Even simple worship offered with sincerity becomes spiritually powerful during this month.
---
## 5. Associate with Devotees

Association deeply influences consciousness.

Whenever possible:

* Attend temple programs
* Join online satsangs or japa groups
* Hear from senior devotees
* Engage in Krishna-katha
* Encourage others spiritually
---
## 6. Practice Simplicity

Purushottama Month is a time for spiritual focus and inner reflection.

Many devotees choose to:

* Reduce unnecessary entertainment
* Spend less time on social media
* Eat simpler meals
* Speak less frivolously
* Live more intentionally

Simplicity creates space for remembrance of Krishna.
---
# Foods to Eat During Purushottama Month

The emphasis is not harsh renunciation, but purity and mindfulness.

Recommended:

* Simple sattvic vegetarian meals
* Fresh fruits
* Grains
* Milk preparations
* Nuts and dry fruits
* Simple home-cooked prasadam
* Ekadashi-friendly preparations on fasting days

Most importantly:
All food should first be offered to Krishna before honoring it as prasadam.
---
# Foods and Habits to Avoid

During this sacred month, devotees traditionally try to avoid:

* Onion and garlic
* Non-vegetarian food
* Intoxication
* Gambling
* Excessive eating
* Gossip and criticism
* Idle entertainment
* Harsh speech
* Laziness and oversleeping

The purpose is not merely restriction, but purification of consciousness.

---

# Important “Don’ts” During Purushottama Month

The scriptures especially caution against:

* Criticizing devotees
* Engaging in unnecessary arguments
* Speaking ill of others
* Excessive material discussions
* Sense gratification-centered activities

Purushottama Month flourishes in an atmosphere of humility, sincerity, and respect.
---
# Charity and Service

Acts of charity performed during this month are considered highly auspicious.

One may:

* Support devotional projects
* Sponsor prasadam distribution
* Donate spiritual books
* Assist temple services
* Help devotees
* Offer seva according to one’s means

Service offered with devotion attracts the mercy of the Lord.
---
# The Mood of the Month

Purushottama Month is not meant to become a competition of austerities.

The true spirit of this month is:

* Sincerity over performance
* Devotion over display
* Transformation over pressure
* Connection over perfection

Even one sincere prayer offered during this month can deeply affect one’s spiritual life.
---
# A Sacred Invitation

Purushottama Month comes rarely, and its blessings are extraordinary.

This is a sacred opportunity to:

* Reconnect with Krishna
* Purify the heart
* Deepen one’s chanting
* Build spiritual consistency
* Strengthen devotional practices
* Receive the special mercy of Lord Purushottama

May this holy month inspire us to chant with greater sincerity, serve with greater humility, and remember Krishna with deeper love.

Hare Krishna.

Source: https://www.mayapur.com/en/blog/purushottama-month-a-golden-opportunity-for-spiritual-renewal

By Radha Mohan Dasa  

Dedicated volunteers from Bhaktivedanta Manor were recently honored with an invitation to the annual King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Hosted each year by the British monarch, the prestigious event recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions through public service, community engagement, and charitable work.

Among those invited were Ketan Patel and Ashok Parmar, accompanied by their wives, in recognition of their many years of devoted voluntary service.

“Ketan Patel has long supported the community through his involvement in Radharani’s Bakery, Sunday kitchen cooking, the Volunteers Care Council, and ticketing services at Bhaktivedanta Manor,” explained Krishna Purna dasi. “His steady and humble service has benefited thousands of visitors and devotees over the years.

For the full article, click here.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/bhaktivedanta-manor-volunteers-invited-to-the-kings-garden-party/

ISKCON Navi Mumbai has officially released the schedule and registration details for the International Gita Scholarship Test (IGST) 2026. The global initiative, designed to promote value-based education and mental clarity among youth, will culminate in a unique opportunity for top-performing candidates: an immersive, fully sponsored spiritual retreat.

The Grand Prize: A Gateway to Vedic Excellence

Moving beyond traditional scholarship models, IGST 2026 offers winners an experiential award intended to recharge both mind and spirit. Top-ranking participants will receive a two-day, one-night spiritual retreat at the ISKCON Navi Mumbai temple complex.

The retreat package includes accommodations at the temple guest house, complimentary satvic meals at Govinda’s Restaurant, and a curated program featuring mantra meditation, Bhagavad-gita–based leadership workshops, and opportunities for personal interaction with senior resident scholars.

Global Examination Schedule and Registration

To encourage broad participation, the examination has been structured to accommodate students from diverse academic backgrounds. The test will serve as the qualifying gateway for the retreat program.

The examination will be conducted on four consecutive Sundays: May 31, June 7, June 14, and June 21, 2026. Registration for both international and local participants requires a nominal fee of ₹101. Enrollment through the official portal will remain open until June 11, 2026.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-navi-mumbai-announces-igst-2026-schedule-deadlines/

Rasamandala dasa has offered us this article to help clarify some of the concerns and reservations that many of us may have with educational approaches to Vedanta and Hinduism. He reassures us with his positive treatment of the subject and with his obvious experience in the field of teaching Hinduism and Vaishnavism in British schools. He has systematised our objectives very well and marries this to the difficulty in interpretation experienced between members of the tradition and those non-practitioners who attempt to teach the tradition to others. This article is essential for those in our society engaged in the religious or academic fields.

 In my last article1, I applied modern communications theory to explore how presentations to school audiences can improve public perception of ISKCON. We also discussed how, within the statutory educational framework, there may be legitimate scope for teaching about Krishna Consciousness. We also heard how, in Britain, our Society has been fortunate to enjoy both these benefits.

However, right from the start, there were a couple of notable challenges. Firstly we were assumed, and required, to represent one of the principle world religions2, namely Hinduism. This raised pertinent, and sometimes controversial, theological questions about the identity of ISKCON and its members (we’ll come back to this later). Secondly and subsequently, this also meant that ISKCON Educational Services staff were required to make presentations not just on ISKCON and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, nor on broader Vaishnavism, but on the whole spectrum of Hinduism itself. I began to question whether this supported our Society’s aims or was even consistent with them. As I pondered, and read more school textbooks on Hinduism, I considered and noted down some of the possible benefits of speaking and writing about the subject. However, I also noticed in many school textbooks room for considerable improvement.

This concerned me. We were, whether we liked it or not, strongly identified with the broader tradition and any misrepresentation of that could reflect badly on ISKCON. On a positive note, it was evident that a large percentage of our presentation material on Hinduism per se was congruent with Krishna Consciousness, giving us ample scope to redress such errors. In other words, I concluded that the reputation of ISKCON, at least within the educational world3 , depended significantly on public perception of the broader tradition, which we had ample opportunity to influence.

What I intend to do here, therefore, is to discuss the educationalists perspective on the Hindu tradition, identifying areas of apparent misunderstanding or misrepresentation. This subject is presented mainly through the experience of our schools programme in the UK, though it naturally has implications on higher academic levels. Indeed, I hope this article, presented here principally for Krishna devotees, will form the basis of an extended study of interest to scholars (in both Religious Education and Religious Studies). My comments here are not intended to be a criticism of the educational and academic worlds, where there is increasing sensitivity towards multi-cultural issues. I hope, though, that by identifying possible shortcomings, in methodology, this article will be constructively challenging.

The subject is discussed in terms of the ten objectives which ISKCON Educational Services has formulated in teaching about Hinduism. Each objective (in bold type) is followed by a brief explanation including practical information for devotees making presentations in the educational sphere.

Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31800

Every civilized person is familiar with the concept of seva or service. Service can be of different types and of different qualities. At home, every member of the family is serving everyone else. Traditionally, the father traditionally earns for the family and is therefore known as the “breadwinner,” while the mother takes care of the home itself by cooking, cleaning, and creating a comfortable and congenial atmosphere. The children obey their parents and perform basic chores or run minor errands, according to the desires of the parents. This kind of seva is at the level of interdependence, each family member is taking care of basic needs based on the principle of partnership. It is material seva. This sort of service, in varying degrees, is also observed in animals, aquatic creatures, birds, and so on.

When we serve our employers or, as a businessman, serve our customers, this type of service is perforce carried out by circumstance and need; it is not voluntary. In the broader society, locality, or community, recognizing common material goals, we sometimes serve on local committees, advisory bodies, NGOs, or otherwise engage in activities whose outcomes are intended to affect the community at large.

This principle can apply to the much larger national and international arena as well. Those who are of a charitable bent of mind, having sufficient disposable money, freely donate materials, money, time, and efforts to those in dire want, or institutions that take care of such needy persons, in the spirit of seva, without expecting anything in return.

And yet these activities concern doing good for the body, either of those who are near and dear or those who we are not directly concerned with but still feel sympathy for. Such service is considered also to be on the material platform. Activities of this sort do not provide any lasting benefit to the soul the actual, eternal person because we all are separate from our temporary material bodies.

This brings us to the question of whether the good we think we have done is going to benefit the recipient temporarily or permanently. Service on the material platform is certainly noble when seen in the context of present social norms and pervasive economic disparities. If we consider things dispassionately, however, we can see that the suffering and happiness of every creature in the material world is preordained, being the fruit of its past karma. Acts of charity may help us obtain pious credits, but they will not help the recipient in his or her spiritual evolution towards liberation. It is therefore better that we serve others in a way that will help them reach the highest perfection, the supreme destination.

Facing the Crucial Moment

At a deeper and more fundamental level, at the spiritual level, we need to nourish the well-being of the spirit soul in order to ensure that it does not again obtain a material body and remain enmeshed in the throes of material nature, which is attended by birth, aging, disease, and death. A living entity’s best interest lies in reconnection with the Supreme Lord Krishna, or Vishnu, the only true benefactor and friend to all living beings and the only one who can grant us liberation from this debilitating condition. At the time of death, the living entity’s salvation lies in recognizing Lord Krishna’s supreme dominion over the entire creation by total surrender to that Supreme Person (Gita 7.30). Whatever form of being we think of at the time of death, that form or body we shall receive in our next birth. In a similar vein, the Lord has promised that if at the time of death we think of Him alone, we shall attain His nature without fail (Gita 8.5–6 ).

Every human being is responsible for his or her activities and consciousness in this life. Although the gross material body is left behind at death, the living entity’s desires, as well as the reactions to his past activities, accompany him after death. However, the Lord guarantees protection to all those who surrender unconditionally to Him. Surrender to the Supreme Lord Krishna is very pleasurable, especially when we see His eternally youthful and beautiful face and His enchanting smile, which can dispel all the miseries of the material world. As Bhishma lay on his bed of arrows, suffering the pangs of pain due to mortal injuries, Lord Krishna appeared at his deathbed and gave him darshana. As a result, all of Bhishma’s pain vanished, and he smiled in anticipation of his glorious future.

Most of us hold very dear to us our spouse, children, pets, possessions, house, money, and so on; if we make the mistake of hankering for any one or more of these at the time of death, in our next incarnation we will get an appropriate body to fulfill our longings, thus continuing the cycle of birth and death. Sadly, we have no one to blame but ourselves for this mammoth blunder. After all, we came into the material world because we did not wish to be subservient to the Lord and instead wanted to enjoy separately from Him.

Lord Krishna is so magnanimous that even if we lead a life of indulgence and sin but think of Him only at the time of death, He will overlook all our sins, and our disrespect and indifference to Him, and consider us His pure devotees. This concept is exemplified in the story of Ajamila in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. When a person, however materialistic or ignoble he might be, approaches the Supreme Lord with sincerity, he is gradually purified as a result of this association, since everything about the Lord is transcendental, untouched by the three modes of material nature, just as all unclean things are sterilized by the powerful rays of the sun. If we spend even a small portion of our life in loving service to the Lord, the reward will be the sterilization of our consciousness of all unclean thoughts, words, and actions.

Since none of us has any inkling when and in what situation we shall quit our body, we should always be prepared to think of the Lord and we should do so as often as possible so that we do not forget Him at the instant of death, which can sometimes be very painful or distracting and hence prevent us from remembering Krishna.

Service to the Soul – Sharing Krishna Consciousness

The Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.9.29) says: “In human society there are various activities performed for the protection of one’s wealth and life by one’s words, one’s mind, and one’s actions, but they are all performed for one’s personal or extended sense gratification with reference to the body. All these activities are baffled because of being separate from devotional service. But when the same activities are performed for the satisfaction of the Lord, the beneficial results are distributed to everyone, just as water poured on the root of a tree is distributed throughout the entire tree.”

Hence the highest welfare activity anyone can perform for any other person is to bring him to Krishna consciousness; induce him to associate with devotees, encourage him to read the authorized scriptures, such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad- Bhagavatam, and listen to the discourses of advanced devotees and spiritual masters or acharyas, and also invite him to join in the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. By one or more of these processes, anyone can be purified and steadily progress as a sincere and loving devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna, firmly established on the path to salvation and eternal spiritual life. Since the Lord and His name are non-different, when we chant His name, Krishna actually dances on our tongue, cleansing it of all sinful propensities, just as He danced on the hood of the giant serpent Kaliya, thereby subduing and cleansing the demon of his evil and spiteful nature and paving the way for his salvation.

The Lord Himself states in the Gita (18.68–69), “For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end, he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” This shows how much the Lord loves us and wants to liberate us all from this enslavement by maya, His external illusory potency, so that we may join Him in a blissful and eternally lasting reunion. It is only our ignorance or indifference that comes in the way. Many times preachers face hostile audiences and sometimes even the threat of violence by persons inimical, even though devotee preachers have nothing but love and sympathy in their hearts for the fallen creatures of Kali-yuga. Hence those who go around explaining the glories and pastimes of Lord Krishna and the substance of the scriptures to the common man should be considered the most magnanimous and munificent persons. Those saintly souls have taken up the transcendental mission of bringing the Lord’s message to the common man, who is so deeply engrossed in material life, by bringing Krishna to his doorstep, thus empowering him to inculcate all the qualities required to cross over the ocean of material life, never to come back to this miserable world. Thus no person can show his love or charity for others in a better way.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16267

With a desire to increase communication, understanding and harmony between world faiths, King Charles III of the United Kingdom arranged for faith leaders to gather with him.

With that important goal in mind, 30 leaders from Muslim, Sikh, Baha’i, Christian, Hindu and other faiths gathered at the Lambeth Palace Library in central London, an eight-story modern building dedicated to divine scriptures.

Visakha Dasi, president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, was one of the leaders to meet the King. Upon meeting her, he asked, “Where are you from?” She replied, “Bhaktivedanta Manor. This year we’re celebrating our fiftieth anniversary. I’ve just given your Private Secretary a letter inviting you to please come and visit us.” The King, having listened respectfully, replied, “Very good.”

Afterwards many of the leaders took a tour of the first floor of the library, where ancient scriptures were on display in humidity and temperature controlled cases.

“I noted that the Bhagavad-gita was absent from the displays,” explained Visakha Dasi,  “but I hope that devotees can offer one to the library to help educate the public on the importance and antiquity of this important scripture”.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118046

By Atma Tattva Das,

Devotees and senior leaders from across South Africa gathered at ISKCON Lenasia on May 9, 2026, to commemorate the 47th installation anniversary of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurahari, regarded as the first life-size deities installed in the country by the Hare Krishna movement. The in-person observance included abhishek ceremonies, kirtan, historical presentations, and reflections from senior Vaishnavas who participated in the development of ISKCON communities across Southern Africa from the late 1970s onward.

The anniversary program brought together disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, regional leaders, temple devotees, and long-time congregational members to reflect on the role the deities have played in the growth of Krishna consciousness in South Africa over nearly five decades.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-lenasia-marks-47-years-of-sri-sri-nitai-gaurahari-in-south-africa/

By Sri Radhika Devi Dasi

Strong families serve as the foundation of healthy ISKCON communities. But in today’s fast-paced and often demanding world, Grihasthas face unique challenges in maintaining harmony within while simultaneously serving the institution. Addressing the need to deepen connection while staying rooted in Bhakti values, The Atma Center for Empathic Leadership is offering a virtual course titled Relational Leadership for Couples, beginning on June 1st, 2026. This 22-week-long journey invites participants into a transformative exploration of conscious partnership through the lens of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), The Empowerment Dynamic (TED), and models of Conflict Resolution, while being firmly rooted in Krishna Conscious principles.

Relational Leadership for Couples reframes partnership as a sacred space for growth, service, and mutual upliftment. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, the course emphasizes that spiritual life is not separate from our relationships—it is expressed and tested within them. At the heart of the course is the concept of relational leadership—the capacity to take responsibility for the quality of connection we co-create. In many couples, unspoken expectations and obligations can create tension and distance. This course invites couples to rediscover giving and receiving as expressions of love, choice, and seva, rather than pressure or obligation. Participants are guided to move beyond habitual patterns of blame, withdrawal, or control, and instead cultivate skills to build emotional safety and trust, empathic presence and listening, and the ability to navigate differences with respect. Through these practices, couples will learn how to transform conflict into opportunities for deeper understanding and trust.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/a-course-to-strengthen-our-grihastha-ashrama/

From Back to Godhead

The following exchange took place after a talk by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada before the World Health Organization, in Geneva, on June 6, 1974.

WHO member: Your Divine Grace, do you have any suggestions for solving the worldwide problem of food shortages?

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. My suggestion is that people should utilize all this vacant land for crops. I have seen so much land lying dormant. For instance, in Australia and also in America, there is so much land lying dormant. The people are not utilizing it.

And whatever produce they get, sometimes they dump tons of it into the ocean to keep the prices high. And I have heard here in Geneva that when there was excess milk production, some of the people wanted to slaughter twenty thousand cows just to reduce the milk production.

This is what is going on in people’s brains. Actually, they have no brains. So if they want to get some brains, they should read these authentic Vedic literatures, and they should take spiritual guidance. And that guidance is simple: produce your food – all the food the world needs – by properly utilizing the land.

But today people will not utilize the land. Rather, they have left their villages and farmlands and let themselves be drawn into the cities for producing nuts and bolts. All right, now eat nuts and bolts.

Mahatma Gandhi’s basic program was to revive the natural, God-given way of life. Simple villages and farms. This can solve India’s – and the whole world’s – food problems. But our big Pandit Nehru topsy-turvied everything. He wanted more industrialization.

Gandhi’s program was very nice: organize yourselves into small farming villages and produce your own food. Live free from cities and factories. This way, you can work only three months and still you get your produce for the whole year.

Three months’ work for the whole year’s produce. And the rest of the time, the time you save you can use for chanting Hare Krishna. Sing the Lord’s glories and develop your original God consciousness. This is our Krishna consciousness movement. Be spiritually advanced – be a human being.

Otherwise, the life you are leading is risky. In the Bhagavad-gita (2.13) it is said, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati: however big a plan we may make, someday we will have to give up this plan, because someday we will have to give up this body. And there is no guarantee what kind of body we are going to get next time.

Suppose that this time, this life, I am very busily constructing a big skyscraper. Next time, next life, I may have to live in that skyscraper in the body of a cat or dog, because I have developed the grossly selfish, body-centered consciousness of a cat or dog. And at that time who will care about my so-called title to the skyscraper?

These are the facts. Because nobody can change nature’s law. Nature’s law is exactly like an infectious disease – expose yourself to it, and it takes hold of you, that’s all. Karanam guna-sango ‘sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu: one gets born into a nice or nasty situation because of his prior actions and because of nature’s inexorable reactions. This is nature’s law.

But now many people do not even believe that there is a life after death. In Moscow a big professor named Kotovsky told me, “Swamiji, after death there is nothing.” You see? He’s a big professor. And yet he has no knowledge of the soul. A big professor – just see. This kind of nonsense is going on.

So as this godless civilization drags on, by nature’s law there will be more and more problems. As predicted in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, there will be anavrishti, insufficient rain; and as a result, durbhiksha, insufficient food production. Of course, these problems have already begun.

And on the plea of providing relief from the drought and famine, the government will crush the people with excessive taxation. And consequently, acchina-dara-dravina yasyanti giri-kananam: the people will be so disturbed that they will give up their hearth and home and go to the forest. They will feel utterly harassed – by scarcity of rainfall, by scarcity of food, and by the government’s excessive taxation.

In such a predicament, how can one keep his brain in equilibrium? He will become mad. Unless we take the instruction of the scriptures, all these tragedies are guaranteed to befall us. So we should immediately take this instruction of the Bhagavad-gita (3.14) to heart:

annad bhavanti bhutani
parjanyad anna-sambhavah
yajnad bhavati parjanyo
yajnah karma-samudbhavah

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. And rains are produced by sacrifice.”

This is why we have introduced this movement, this chanting of the names of the Lord. This is sacrifice. And in this age of confusion, this unfortunate age, this sacrifice alone is possible. This is the remedy, the solution for all the world’s problems. But people will not take the remedy. They have got their own remedy.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=25151

The Devil always likes to help saints ‘organize’ religion, and organized religion can be problematic. But without human structures, the saint’s messages and good public works may not endure over the next three generations.
For thousands of years, whenever saintly people have searched for a good spot to live, they’ve chosen places of tranquility, far removed from the noise and clamor of the town. In a quiet place, undisturbed by distraction or temptation, surrounded by the beauty of nature, they’ve said their prayers, studied their scriptures, and engaged in meditation.

Islands, deserts, mountains and forests have all been home to generations of monks, yogis and contemplatives of every religious description. The fact that so many of them have actually found transcendence and salvation through their solitude is glorious. The great literary works of spiritual guidance written by them – the outward fruits of their inner life – are a lasting treasure for the world.

But those of us who can’t lead a life of seclusion also want the inner happiness that they experienced. We too want to deepen our spirituality. We cannot retire to the mountains and forests, but we need a helping hand along the way. Somehow, it seems, the saints have to come out of seclusion to help us ordinary folks. Luckily for us, they always have. History is filled with tales of how male and female saints have set out to share their precious wisdom and insight with the world. They’ve left their quiet places and returned to the towns and villages simply to help others.

Sometimes it’s been quite a risky business, beset with opposition, poverty, and danger. But the religious history of the world would not be the same without them. How one saint turns his message and a few early followers into an entire religious movement is a great story, every time it’s told. It involves deep spirituality and sacrifice, compassion, friendship, service, and inspiration. Then there’s the teaching, training and preparing of disciples. Finally comes the sending out of those followers into the world, successful conversion, then organising of people into a human structure for perpetuating and preserving the original message.

Of course, history books are not usually so kind to ‘religious organisations.’ And in today’s world there is widespread and ingrained suspicion of institutions generally, and religious ones in particular. We don’t trust the combination of religion and power, however great the original prophet, saint, or guru was, and however noble the cause.

There’s an old story of a saint walking down the road, a peaceful smile on his face. A farmer sees him: “Where are you going dear saint?” he says. “I’m going to start a religious movement,” replies the saint, and carries on his way. Then the farmer sees the Devil walking some distance behind the saint but obviously following him. “But you,” says the farmer, “where are you going, and why are you following him?” “Me?” replies the Devil with a cunning grin, “Why, isn’t it obvious? He’s going to start a religious movement – and I’m going to help him organise it!”

But while there are numerous historical accounts of the institutionalization that has so crippled the legacies of even the best of saints, it is also a fact that, at some point in its successful expansion, a movement of spiritual people must give itself a shape and systems in order to maintain its natural growth. Mother Nature herself has ordained that living structures of greater complexity require enhanced and disciplined systems if they are to grow. So it is with organic movements of people.

Yet the vitality that runs through such an organization, that gives it its very life, must be goodness, compassion, understanding and love. Nothing else will keep a spiritual organization factually spiritual. The proof that this is happening will be that people are coming forward to become devoted to Krishna – and remaining so.

The steady growth of ISKCON can be attributed to Srila Prabhupada’s deliberate founding of his Society as an organized mission dedicated to systematic propagation; an international body of spiritual practitioners who reach out to others to deliver his teachings. By the dedication of the early followers, his movement became established in hundreds of cities. The great challenge to ISKCON now, wherever it has spread in the world, is to ensure that both the practice and the outreach are continued through the next generation and beyond.

For this to happen, Vaishnava philosophy and culture must be understood and practiced within the homes of its members, by committed families; and the children must grow as Vaishnavas. If practised by individuals, the individuals must reach out to others and bring them to the Vaishnava life. Where, by our strategies and efforts this happens, we help to create growth. Wherever this does not happen, the results of our considerable initial efforts will be reduced.

Temples are places of serious learning for the newcomer, and permanent residences for the celibate and the retired. They function as places where joyful worship is conducted, and where rites of passage are celebrated. But in the task of saving souls, and the longer-term mission of establishing a culture over three generations – the test of sustainability – they can only be truly considered successful if all that is taught and celebrated is then reproduced in the homes of the congregation – both those who live nearby and those who live at a distance.

How do we know when our preaching is successful? As Srila Prabhupada said, our aim is simply to increase ‘the members of Krishna’s family’. If we are looking for measuring the success of our mission it must be this. Ultimately, the number of Vaishnavas created is a permanent and important measurement of the success of all our efforts – and the endurance of our tradition.

Srivasa’s niece was only four years old. Her name was Narayani. She was just seating peacefully in the corner of the room. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cried out “Narayani! Chant Krsnas name and cry in ecstatic love.” And little Narayani called out “Oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna…” and tears just irrupted from her eyes profusely, soaking her body, her limbs trembled and she felt to the ground just crying out “oh! Krsna.” But the devotees saw that they understood the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He gave the ultimate perfection of prema Bhakti to a four-year-old girl by just chanting the name of Krsna. And then Srivas Thakur, he got up, he raised his arms to started dancing and he said “my Lord I give up all fear even when you come as the supreme destroyer of the entire universe and as time personified I see that you are destroying all the fourteen worlds, I will raise my arms fearlessly and chant your Holy Names.” And then Srivas Thakur with all of his servants, maidservants, friends and relatives saw Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifest His Vaikuntha form. And Vrindavan das Thakur explains in this connection ”just see the power of a Vaishnava, any one who serve the Vaishnav, anyone who pleases a Vaishnava become so dear to the Lord. Even the servants and maidservants of Srivas attained the ultimate perfection of seeing the Lord of Vaikuntha before their eyes. This is something that even Brahma, Shiva and the greatest yogis can not see. There is no higher religious principle than becoming dear to the Vaishnavas.”
So this Narayani is the mother of Vrindavan das Thakur. It is said that Srivas Thakurs elder brother Sri Nalina Pandit. And his wife gave birth to Narayani. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would regularly give her the remnants of His food. Sometimes, Lord Caitanya would personally with His own hand feeds this little girl the food that he had eaten. And therefore, a little Narayani became famous throughout the entire Vaishnava society as she who receives the remnants of Lord Caitanya. When she was young, she was married to a great brahmin who came from Srihatta or Silet, his name was Vaikunthanath. She became pregnant. While she was carrying her child, her husband passed away. She was a widow. And the child was born. That illustrious child is Vrindavan das Thakur. Some say he was born in Mamgachi. Some say he was born in Kumar Hatta. Narayani, who was only about fifteen-year-old at the time, she was a young girl and a widow. But in Mamgachi she was given shelter by most compassionate devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Vasudev Datta. She would take care of Vasudev Datta’s, help him with his deity worship and performed so many nice chores for him. And Vasudev Datta protected and cared for Narayani and especially helped to raised little Vrindavan das.
So Vrindavan das Thakur was in that environment of Srivas Thakur, of Vasudev Datta and all the Vaishnavas. This was the association he was raised in. And it is said that he was the last disciple, was initiated by Nityananda Prabhu. Personal associate of Nityananda Prabhu. And Lord Nityananda prabhu ordered his disciple Vrindavan das Thakur to write the life story of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So, he took that order as his very life and soul. According to historians, Vaishnavas, Vrindavan das Thakur took birth, I believe it was about four years after Lord Caitanya had already taken Sanyas. And as a young man taking the order of Lord Nityananda prabhu on his head, he went to a place called Dhenur. Dhenur is not very far from Katwa, where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took Sanyas and there he made his Bhajan kutir, his home. And it was there in Dhenur that Vrindavan das Thakur wrote Sri Caitanya Bhagavat.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=74371