By Kripamoya Das
When Srila Rupa Goswami talked about chanting the holy name of Krishna he said that he wished he had hundreds of tongues to sing it, and thousands of ears to hear it. Not for nothing is his book named the Bhakti-Rasa-Amrita-Sindhu or the Nectar Ocean of Devotion.
Strangely enough, he also said that the five primary items in the life of bhakti all had to do with taking shelter of a guru and accepting initiation from a guru. Why strange? Because the very name of Krishna, that sou
Hrdayananda: [translating] He’s saying that he thinks the way we dress, our whole way of life, will make our movement only available to a few people, because it requires someone who is prepared to completely change his way of life.
Srila Prabhupada: Well, when there is question of knowledge, only you will find a few people to get the knowledge. When you put this question, “Find out some learned scholar,” generally they will be very…, their number will be very little. But one thing is that if t
By Kripamoya Das
Here is a brief checklist to help you with your testing of a prospective guru.
Education
The man's head was bowed and his hands held slender wooden drumsticks. His hands tapped out rhythm, his foot pounded the bass drum, the sound filled the crowded subway platform.
My eyes drew like magnets to the sticks that flew in blurs from one drum and cymbal to the next, to the next, to the next. Hypnotized, I watched the strange combination of sounds create a song of rhythm.
The A train was taking forever. So I just stared and stared at the drum player bowed over his little symphony, his
Work has recently begun on the temple columns’ exterior mock-up, a design which will be used on the columns all around the temple.
In the image below you can see half the exterior mock-up as it goes around the main column structure. The final product will be made of two pieces which will wrap around the actual column and be joined together to completely encase it.
We are very happy with the design and effects of the mock-up. Once we are fully satisfied we will make the rubber molds and begin ca
The 531st appearance anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the inspiration for devotees from the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Durban, South Africa to bake, pack and distribute 5,310 biscuits. The goal of the biscuit distribution was to help spread Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy to everyone and anyone.
A group of devotees gathered at the temple’s Govinda’s restaurant bakery facility which holds industrial ovens to bake the biscuits. Temple President, Vibhu Caitanya dasa said that
Mahatma Das: Today’s quote is entitled Krishna’s gifts. Krishna’s gifts may come through suffering. They can reform us in a way that we further advance in devotional service.
It is just sometimes that Krishna’s gift wrapping can fool us.
So the idea is that if everything in the world was perfect because we have such strong desire to enjoy we may never come to the spiritual life.
But is the suffering that pushes us. And we all know this, this is why we have become devotees or those of you who ar
Frequently asked Questions on Mentoring
When I was initiated in 1975, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to my temple president at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, asking him to make sure I followed all the rules. He wrote:
13th November, 1975
My dear Prabhavisnu das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and accept upon your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples….I also accept the following as twice-born brahmanas and their threads and mantra sheets are e
Over the past several years, New Govardhana farming community in Northern Australia, has hosted several Holy Name Retreats, featuring great souls such as His Holiness Sacinandana Swami, HG Bhurijana dasa & HG Jagattarini Devi Dasi and renowned kirtaneer Madhava. These retreats brought the community and Australian ISKCON centres together in the chanting of the Holy Names.
In 2016, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami developed the Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat in collaboration with the New Govardh
The history of the beginning of the Hare Krishna movement in Italy. Srila Prabhupada’s visit in Rome and how he changed the lives of many fortunate souls. Among them a young Franciscan monk who found in the teachings and the person of His Divine Grace the perfection of his spiritual research. The struggle with his relatives who tried to persuade him to change his mind and the unexpected help which came from a catholic priest. His interactions with the “Italian Jayananda” Somaka prabhu, his init
Rupa Raghunath das (Argentina) became H.H. Rupa Raghunath Swami Maharaja on Gaura Purnima @ ISKCON-Noida. Congratulations Maharaja!
“Gaura Premanande Hari Haribol”
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I wish you all a very happy Gaura Purnima. It is a very special occasion for us, the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the followers of Srila Prabhupada, because on this day the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in His most munificent feature as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore, we celebrate this day as our New Year and resolve to commit ourselves to the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with all our heart and soul.
Sri
Our dear Radharani devi dasi (Maria Rosa Jerves Batallas) passed away Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Cuenca, Ecuador. She had been ill with cancer for over two years, and was suffering a lot at the end.
Radharani was an initiated disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, as is her husband, Yudhisthira das, and youngest daughter, Kalindi. Radharani was so thrilled and happy when Kalindi received diksha initiation in the last year or so. She is also survived by two other daughters and several gran
We are very limited. We have tiny knowledge and tiny happiness and tiny free will. We don’t miss our free will, proof is, here we are the place people reside who misused their free will. Some few rathayatras ago I was introduced to a Chinese lady, married to an Indian man. That was a very interesting combination. An elderly, little older and when introduced to her she said I just have one question. What is that? Why creation? I said fantastic question. And the short answer is two parts. We want
Faithful followers of the BBT have adopted March 14th as “BBT Only Day” in recognition of a significant instruction Srila Prabhupada issued to all temples and members of the Society on March 14th 1974 in the following letter:
As is evident from this letter:
· Srila Prabhupada was concerned that devotees (“centres”) producing his books independently was undermining and potentially threatening the viability of the BBT.
· “This must not go on” illustrates an unambiguous desire on his part to stop
I often get asked questions by people who are looking for a guru: “What sort of teacher should I be looking for?” is shortly followed by: “And where do I begin looking for someone like that?”
After they’ve thought a few moments the next question is: “What sort of things do I have to do before I can become someone’s student?” “What happens if I don’t quite measure up?”
Some time later the questions are more about what will happen after they become initiated: “What is he supposed to teach me?” “H
Markendaya Rsi Prabhu took his sannyasa initiation from Jayapataka Swami. His new name is Bhakti Mukunda Swami. We wish him well and success in preaching!
Sankirtan Yajna Prabhu distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books directly to students at the Festival of India at George Mason University. This is one of the Universities where Festival of India has been sponsored to set-up our exhibits, tents, and distribute Krishna Prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books. Please contact us for details how to bring the Festival to a University near you. This is a sure way to get Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Krishna’s mercy.
As Lord Krishna says in the 68th and 69 vers
