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World famous plastic surgeon Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, known also for his philanthropic spirit and interest in spiritual life left this world after receiving a Krishna conscious book authored by Srila Prabhupada’s disciple HH Dhanvantari Swami.
Sri Bhakti Das and Indira Jahnava D.D.: Recently we had the opportunity to meet with him and give him the beautiful book “Jewels of Truth”, written by a great spiritual master, who in turn is also a scientist, and maxillofacial surgeon and Dr. Ivo Pitanguy´s com

The following poem (translated from Bengali) was written by Srila Prabhupada (the Founder-acarya of ISKCON) when he first arrived in America 50 years ago on September 18th (tomorrow). It would take almost a year before ISKCON was officially established. Here is an unique glimpse into Prabhupada’s heart, as he reached Boston and seriously faced the reality of his spiritual mission. It was daunting and we can feel his devotional attitude as he considers the work ahead and the courage it would take

I am prepared to live in Hell even, if I am able to serve the Lord.
In his diary for Sunday, March 6, 1966, Srila Prabhupada noted that this day in India was being celebrated as the day Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came into the world. “Devotees are enjoying the celebration” he wrote, remembering the elaborate feasts and blissful chanting that took place in Gaudiya Maths on Mahaprabhu’s Appearance Day “ I am here alone without any devotee company but I have come here to serve the Lord and not for perso

By Tan Sin Chow

BUTTERWORTH: Sanskrit is Greek to most people but for Bhanu Swami Maharaj (pic) the ancient language is a cinch to master.

The Canadian of Japanese descent said the sacred language of Hinduism may seem complicated but it was easier than most languages because it was phonetic-based.

“There are vowels and consonants but you only have to memorise 60. Reading it is easy. It is unlike the character-based Chinese or Japanese languages where you have to remember 6,000 to 10,000 charact

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 April 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Program Lecture)

Let us dedicate our whole life to Krsna. Let us gradually get rid of interruptions. It is said that pure devotional service is that which is uninterrupted. But what we do is a little service and then we think we deserve some sense gratification, “Okay, I did some service at the temple, so now I can watch TV.” In this way we are interrupting our service but gradually, we have to un-interrupt it. There should be n

"Let's enjoy now, because we might not get another chance". This is a popular notion amongst those who identify themselves as fun lovers. Despite its peppy tone, this statement reveals the fun lovers' unfortunate dependence on fun. It evokes a picture of someone who gives one's heart to someone or something, knowing well that that someone or something will desert one's life anytime. It evokes pity.

One doesn't need to seek fun to have fun. Joy comes from within for one who has given one's hear

50 years ago, at this time of the year, a 69 year old sadhu (saintly person) was on a cargo ship traveling from Kolkata to New York. He was alone on this journey and his journals at that time are a moving read. Within a year he would officially establish the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in a store front in the Lower East side of New York. Today ISKCON is flourishing throughout the world all because of the journey of this one man – our Founder-Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedant

5 Ways to Love Janmastami
Janmastami is just one day, but how we spend it can deeply inspire us for the whole year.
Krishna consciousness mean we are conscious of Krishna. He becomes an active part of our life – like a close friend or an affectionate family member we love to be around. Krishna consciousness, then, is loving to be around Krishna.
Here are 5 ways to love and be with Krishna on his birthday:
1. Come early, stay late – be close to Krishna today, close to the Temple. This is our day

Submitted by: Atmarama Das – Secretary, Festival of India-Lagos Organizing Committee
In the final countdown to the much anticipated first-ever Festival of India in Nigeria, hundreds of thrilled Indians and Nigerians witnessed the colourful Chariot Inauguration Ceremony which took place at the expansive compound of Gaurapad Charities, an ISKCON affiliated Non-Governmental Governmental Organization (NGO), at Maryland, Lagos on Sunday the 31st of July 2016.

The three towering, beautifully decorate

Mother is first guru.
Padmapani das: When I was a young man preaching in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman to the East Indian community there, I was often asked how my mother was doing. Our life members and friends were curious to know what kind of a woman would give birth to a son who became a member of the Hare Krishna movement at an age when most young men would be avidly persuing a career or attending university. It

Bhakti Charu Swami: “Another way that Krishna attracts is through His dealings with us and these dealings give rise to five principle relationships. Those five principle relationships are: neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental and conjugal. In this progression one is greater than the other. The subsequent one is greater than the preceding one. First is santa rasa, and then more deep is dasya, dasya is more profound than santa. Then sakhya (friendship) is more profound than servitorship

A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind’s demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.

First one must control his speaking power. Every one of us has the power of speech; as soon as we get an opportunity we begin to speak. If we do not speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we speak about all sorts of nonsense. A toad in a field speaks by croaking, and similarly everyone who has a tongue wants to

The immediate answer is that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How is that? Because He conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead. In other words, Kṛṣṇa is the Godhead because He is all-attractive. Outside the principle of all-attraction, there is no meaning to the word “Godhead.” How is it one can be all-attractive? First of all, if one is very wealthy, if he has great riches, he becomes attractive to the people in general. Similarly, if someone is ve

How ISKCON devotees collect, manage, and spend Krishna’s laxmi generates much discussion, especially because we have little precedent as to how a structured Vaisnava organization conducts such matters. That said, few, if any, would argue the importance of the twin principles of accountability and using all monies received directly in the service of Krishna and ISKCON’s preaching mission.

Yes, the accounts must be kept very clearly. Then everyone will be pleased with us. Not a single farthing s

Some devotees are concerned that Iskcon’s overall preaching has gone ‘soft,’ thus compromising true standards. They say we must be more ‘Strong’, ‘heavy’ and ‘bold.’ Sentiments of “See how Srila Prabhupada flayed those mayavadis… and how he blasted that individual… and oh how he smashed that perception…” add excitement to the cause. Let us examine what it really takes to be ‘heavy.’

There is excitement in reading of Lord Chaitanya’s conversion of Sri Prakasananda Sarasvati and his many follower

We are very excited to announce that we will now be posting daily darshan of our beautiful Deities on our website!  You can find the daily darshan pictures posted on the right-hand side of the page.

Our pujari (priest) department has been capturing photos each day and have been sharing them on Facebook.  We've now added them to our temple website, through our temple's Instagram account.  You can also read more about our Deities by clicking here!

Source:http://iskcontoronto.blogspot.in/2016/08

One of the 8 teachings left behind by Sri Caitanya speaks of humility. It says that one must be in a humble state of mind in order to meditate properly. We should feel lower than a piece of straw in the street actually. What does that mean and what are the implications for our practice?
Humility is a huge topic and true humility can’t be faked. It is grounded in the deep realization that we are not these bodies and not the owner of our things nor the controller of our lives. It’s coming to the

As a family therapist, I counsel people both within and outside the Hare Krishna movement. I recently received an e-mail from a young woman devotee who was unhappy in her relationship with her abusive husband but was conflicted about leaving him.

“Maybe it’s good that I feel bad about myself,” she wrote, “because that will help me develop humility.”

This wasn’t the first time I had heard this logic.

The Bhagavad-gita teaches that humility is essential for spiritual progress. Unfortunately, devo

In honour of ISKCON’s 50 year anniversary, ISKCON London organized a Boat Festival on the River Thames this past Sunday (31 July). Over 500 guests boarded the Dixie Queen at midday and for six hours we sailed up and down the Thames, with a nonstop kirtan taking place. 

The festival was advertised as a “Chant for Peace” campaign and it was covered in the media. While we travelled on the subway to the city centre to board the Dixie Queen, people recognised us as Hare Krsnas and greeted us very wa