nitir asmi jigisatam
maunam caivasmi guhyanam
jnanam jnanavatam aham
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
A friend returning from India and dealing with jetlag added a small line in an email to me – my goal today: to stay awake.
That jumped out. What a goal, not just for the day, but for life.
In spiritual life when we think of being awake, we think of being conscious, being mindful of how we are relating with the world and with others. Being awake in bhakti means being awake to Krishna, to our particular relationship with Him, and our intentional effort to honor, respect, and grow that relationshi
It seems that the world has gone crazy. This last election cycle, and the aftermath has provoked fear and anxiety in millions of people around the world. Americans are rushing to buy land in Canada, there is talk about building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, thousands are in fear of being deported, there are demonstrations in the street, and we have a President elect who claims to know more than all the Generals.
Although I have posted this essay written by our Srila Prabhupada before, it
In Forlì, Italy, as I was entering a big office building, I was suddenly stopped by a security guard who inquired boldly:
“Who are you? Where are you going?”
She was a young lady, and she seemed quite severe and determined to not let me enter. When I presented myself and explained in a few words about our mission she changed positively and asked:
“Don’t you need a security guard for your community? I’m tired of working for these people.”
I replied, “There is an ancient proverb, rakhe krsna mare
The “American Dream” is built on the presumption of free will: If we try hard enough and work smart enough, we can reach our goals. Yet karma and destiny are some of the biggest influences in our life. Now new findings in neuroscience have a lot to say about free will vs. determination.
Hare Krsna,
In this issue of Illuminations we talk about the power and importance of visualizing ourselves as the kind of devotee we really want to be.
May you always think of Krsna.
Mahatma Das
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What You See is What You Get
I’d like you to take a minute and envision the kind of devotee you would like to be if anything were possible. What qualities would you like to possess? How would you like to act? What kind of menta
Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
In Krsna's instructions to Arjuna, He emphasizes duty both
for the common man and for the self-realized soul.
sva-dharmam api caveksya
na vikampitum arhasi
dharmyad dhi yuddhac chreyo 'nyat
ksatriyasya na vidyate
"Considering your specific duty as a ksatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so ther
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The Vice President of India, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, inaugurated ISKCON's East West Cultural Festival in New Delhi yesterday. The event also saw the Indian premiere of the film Hare Krishna! directed by Yadubara Prabhu.
Dr. Bibek Debroy, one of world's well-known economist and Indologist, executive member of India's Planning Commission (NITI Aayog) and Chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Coun