By Kesava Krsna Dasa
Within such a huge organisation like Iskcon, it is not surprising to sometimes experience less of the affection we expected. There are several reasons for this. But if a disciple feels this way about his or her guru in good standing, does it indicate a neglect of some sort?
The worldwide preaching mission of Iskcon is still a novelty in historical vaisnava terms. This is the first successful attempt, and still very much work in progress. Often we hear that other religious o
By Udayananda dasa (ACBSP)
Dear assembled Devotees,
I was doing some work at my home, and I was listening to some Srimad Bhagavatam lectures giving by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada told a humorous story about a rabbit that killed a lion. It was so transcendentally pleasing that I thought I would share this nectar with all the assembled devotees on this world wide web site.
“God’s energies are a variety. All those varieties are grouped into three divisions. Out of the three
About HG Kratu Prabhu
Kratu Prabhu was born in aristocratic Gujarati Gaudiya Vasihnava family on July 5, 1944.
His first exposure to ISKCON happened in 1970, at St. Louis. He later joined full-time in 1974, in Toronto. He met his Guru, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada in 1976, from whom he received a direct order for preaching Krishna consciousness. He and his wife were initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1977 in Toronto, Canada.
While in West, he worked as professional engineer for five
By Madhava Smullen
A delegation from the Hindu Forum of Belgium (HFB), including two ISKCON devotees, met with the King and Queen of Belgium as well as many influential Indian politicians last week in Delhi, India. Their aim was to gain support to make Hinduism an officially-recognized religion in Belgium.
In the delegation were Mahaprabhu Das, General Secretary of the HFB and Director of ISKCON Communications Europe; Malati Dasi, a member of the HFB’s Executive Board and Vice President of ISK
By Carly Squires
The unique city centre café has received rave reviews!
Monks live on the outskirts of civilisation in isolation – completely dissociated from modern society, and instead engaged with spirituality and tranquility.
Right? Wrong – well not in this Cardiff café any way.
Even in a world with more than its fair share of niche hipster cafés, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant run by the Hare Krishna community is still something of a rarity.
But Atma Café, on Queen Street, has integrated he
By Chaitanya Charan das
Question: How are we to see Krishna’s hand when sincere, dedicated devotees depart prematurely in tragic circumstances?
Short Answer: Krishna as death is kindly freeing those devotes from all that is material to enable them to focus undistracted on the spiritual.
Detailed Answer:
Death can seem cruel when it takes away a dear one. The Bhagavad-gita may seem to add to the bewilderment when it asserts (10.34) that the death which steals away everything is a manifestation o
By HH Romapada Swami
Answers by HH Romapada Swami
Question: Prabhupada told us to “Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy”. I have been chanting the maha mantra since two years and I am following the rules and regulations but I am still very unhappy. I guess that there is a problem somewhere with me. My life is a mess. Krishna gives me too many tests which I can’t handle. I have been struggling with my spiritual life and I am tired now. I am helpless.
I was engaged with a devotee for 1 year and we wer
From Back to Godhead
By Urmila Devi Dasi
Pure chanting of God’s names requires reverence for God in all His forms , including revealed scripture.
Esteem For Sacred Writings
This article discusses the offense of blaspheming Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.
IT IS FASHIONABLE in modern secular societies to regard sacred literature as the mythological musings of undeveloped people. Schools teach that with our current understanding of physics, medicine, psychology, d
From Back to Godhead
By Kalakantha Dasa
A look at Lord Caitanya’s “Eight Instructions” and their relevance to japa, the individual practice of chanting Hare Krishna.
A friend once told me this analogy about spiritual life: a flock of geese share strength by flying in a V formation, but if one goose goes down, the others can’t help. Similarly, though seekers of enlightenment help each other, success ultimately depends on personal effortand the kindness of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna.
Krishna’s
I have come to Mayapur many times over the years. The first time was in 1974. Between then and the 90’s I went on the Nabadwip Mandala parikrama six times without shoes! But in all the times I’ve come to Mayapur and all the parikramas I’ve gone on, I have never felt so close to the Dham as I do when I go on the Kartik Parikrama with the Mayapur Chandra’s and the 200 or so others that come along on this transcendental pilgrimage.
Small and intimate, this gathering of serious devotees, from man
Recommendation-Letter-from-ISKCON-Authority%20%281%29%20-%20for%20merge.docx
By Sadbhuja Das
Recently, we tested an electronic bell sound from the Main Dome of the TOVP. We are planning to install a permanent electronic bell in the near future to ring every hour of the day in the Holy Dhama of Sridhama Mayapur.
Kindly watch this video with the actual sound and Sadbhuja’s commentary, along with stunning aerial footage of the TOVP.
For video click here
Our very existence is an atmosphere of non-existence. Why, especially when we are not supposed to be threatened by non-existence? To simply put, we should always exist, we are eternal beings.
Our spiral to non-existence begins by 'misusing' our minute free-will by using it independently of Krishna or God. This is what Bhagavad Gita says. This misuse of free-will is termed as kama or desires free of Krishna. Independent desires entangle and bind us in the three gunas (or ropes of nature). These
By Ramai Swami
Most devotees around the world have heard of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium (ToVP) in Mayapur. The super structure is finished, tiles are being laid, but there’s a long way to go.
To this end, a devotee team headed by Ambarish Prabhu, Jananivas Prabhu and Vraja Vilasa Prabhu are traveling the world raising funds.
In the past few weeks they have been to Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne temples and I had the privilege of supporting their efforts in Melbourne. All the campaigns thus
Question: Experiencing happiness within devotional service: Is that considered selfish?
I get so much happiness with devotional service. However, I fear that if it is a selfish desire rather sincere motivation to please Krsna. How can I differentiate and improve where I am not focusing on my happiness, but rather making Krsna happy?
Romapada Swami: Feeling happiness in relation to Krishna is good! As you mature in Krishna consciousness, however, gradually and deliberately shift your attention a
By Kesava Krsna Dasa
One of the most fragile aspects of devotee interaction is the subject of obedience. Obedience to authority and obedience to devotee consensus is not always easy. Cooperation need not be blind. Lord Chaitanya showed us how.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was most obedient, towards His Mother, His seniors and the wise counsel of all others, young and old. With this obedience, the Lord did not have it all His way.
If He desired something and His superiors decided against it – with
