By Atma Tattva Das
In a world driven by specialization, some individuals break the mold, embracing multiple passions and roles to enrich their lives and communities. Damodara Katha Das, a spirited soul residing at the Gita Nagari Eco Farm, is a remarkable example of such a modern-day Renaissance man. With an intriguing journey and a tapestry of talents, he has seamlessly blended traditional spiritual practices with diverse skills, embodying a multifaceted life dedicated to service and devotion.
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
An enthusiastic preacher of Krishna Consciousness and disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Subhangi Devi Dasi, left her body on the morning of August 6, 2023, in Sri Dham Mayapur. Her final rites were held on August 8, 2023, following the arrival of her son from Germany.
A very dedicated servant of Srila Prabhupada, she used to enthusiastically preach at the entry of Srila Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi by distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books despite suffering from Par
With the tiny bit of trekking that I did on the prairie frontier this morning, I noticed some heads turn. A monk is not a usual sight on this expansive landscape. On our return to large Winnipeg from Brandon, the space of infinity is obvious whether viewing from a car or on foot; you feel tiny but free in a certain kind of way. About the only thing that protrudes out of the horizon is a low level of trees and the occasional grain elevator.
Apart from the drive back to Winnipeg, it became a mix
By Thomas Haribol
The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) will offer an Online Cosmology Seminar from September 24-October, 9, 2023. The instructor for this informative offering will be Giridhari Dasa (Dr. Tiziano Valentinuzzi).
Giridhari holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Padua University (Italy) and has studied Vedic scriptures for nearly 30 years. His extensive research on Vastu, Vedic Sciences, and Bhakti Yoga has been conducted under the spiritual guidance of Radhanath Swami. He
The Institute of Science and Spirituality (ISS)- the Indian Knowledge Systems Centre of ISKCON Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Central Sanskrit University (CSU) Delhi are organizing a two-day international conference on “Philosophy of Vaiṣṇava Vedānta: Culture, Legacy and Traditions” to be held August 26-27th, 2023.
Vaiṣṇava Vedānta is the largest Hindu philosophical school, known for its devotion to Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa, and as such, was a key to the spread of the Bhakti movement in th
Gaurav and I took to the river trail along the Assiniboine that led to 'The Forks' where that river converges with the Red. But while water flows in these two forces, so little H20 has come from the skies in days. The prairies need the rains. Will they come?
The three energies that are so much spoken of in the Bhagavad-gita are very evident in all aspects of life. As we paced along, we were noticing that when greeting people, each pedestrian displayed one of those three modes – either goodness,
From Back to Godhead
Is life meaningless until we give it meaning?
A young woman from South Africa, where I live, is a candidate for the Mars One project, the brainchild of a Netherlands-based group hoping to set up a colony on Mars by 2025. She anticipates years of vigorous training, many grueling hours of intense research, an eight-month-long journey in a confined spacecraft, and difficult living conditions on a strange planet. She is excited to be part of the first human settlement on Mars,
The preeminent philosopher in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s line explains why, in this age, the Puranas are essential for accessing the Absolute Truth.
Sri Tattva-sandarbha is the first of Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Bhagavatasandarbha, or saṭ-sandarbha, six treatises that firmly establish the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. In the texts leading up to this section, the author has discredited direct perception and inference as valid means to acquiring perfect knowledge. He has concluded that only the eternal
J. Robert Oppenheimer’s relationship with Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, and the Bhagavad Gita has experienced a revival with the recent controversial Hollywood drama, “Oppenheimer.” While many articles have focused on the atomic physicist recalling a verse from the Gita when he witnessed a nuclear explosion, the author Syama Allard takes a deeper look at the relationship and parallels between Arjuna and the 20th-century scientist:
“(RNS) — On July 16, 1945, in the desert 210 miles south of Los
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
ISKCON Prison Ministry, an initiative of the BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) Mail Order Department in Los Angeles, has been a spiritual lifeline providing spiritual support and guidance to incarcerated people for five decades.
The mission of ISKCON Prison Ministry is to spread Lord Caitanya’s mercy to those who find themselves in prison within the “prison house of the material world.” Candramauli Swami, who represents ISKCON Prison Ministry at the Mayapur Fes
Sacrifice comes from the word sacred, and in one of the ancient wisdom literature’s there’s a mention about how nobody can live peacefully without some kind of sacrifice, some austerity in their life.
The term ‘austerity,’ conjure images of stern monks, impossible disciplines, and self-denial, however, austerity is not about severe asceticism but about doing something that leads to spiritual fulfillment.
A new program in one of the state prisons
At Ekachakra Dham, India
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US TO:
By Atma Tattva Das
In a significant milestone for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPOi) commemorates its 25th anniversary, underscoring its unwavering commitment to protecting the young souls within the community. Spearheading this transformative journey is Kamalesh Krishna Das, the International Director of CPO, whose dedicated leadership has played a pivotal role in nurturing the organization’s profound impact. From its modest
By Thomas Haribol
When people say, “God will give you a sign,” they usually don’t mean that literally, but for me, that’s exactly what He did.
In 2015, I was driving south on I-15 to vacation at Capitol Reef National Park. This busy interstate carries millions of cars to the “Mighty Five” national parks in southern Utah. I’d traveled this western artery many times, but on this particular drive, I was gobsmacked to see a colorful “sign” along the road, a billboard showcasing a “Krishna Temple.”
The hawk was in flight and had something clutched to its claws, and while the bird was beelining itself above me, I saw a second bird, a blackbird, making irregular dashes at the hawk. More than once it lunged towards the larger bird. Within seconds, the smaller bird gave in and took its own course, most likely frustrated by its intruder who likely stole something from the tinier bird.
This outdoor trekking that I do in the morning offers dramas such as this that you won't find when pacing on a
Registration begins 1st August!!
It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 11th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik (organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s). The Parikrama dates are 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 21st & 22nd November, 2023.
There will be two days break, for Srila Prabhuap’s disappearance day (17th of November) and Gopashtami (20th November) so that devotees can participate in the festivals.
For this year also, the parikram
We need a drummer in our little music band to make it complete. While Mahadeva is on guitar, Annapurna is on harmonium. I play on the kartalas or tambourine; we figured that the person who is left, Gaurav, could try his hand at the djembe we just purchased.
Since we have yet to reach a few more cities and communities on our tour, we thought that we could get the most out of our devotee-power. It is working out perfectly so far with Gaurav as our driver. He has a nice personality that makes our
By Sri Baladeva Dasa (One day padayatra organizer)
On Sunday, July 30th, 2023, a grand and successful one day padayatra with bullock cart was organized in manusmudia village (80km from Jamshedpur). The event was a testament to the community’s unity and enthusiasm, bringing together residents from all walks of life to celebrate a memorable day.
The padayatra commenced at Kadam tala chowk where devotees gathered with all their offerings and bhogas to welcome their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Gaurach
Interesting question! Since I have been in ISKCON over 50 years, when I came to Mayapur there was a grass hut, now there are 7,500 devotees. What will happen in 50 more years? Śrīla Prabhupāda said we should have 50,000 devotees here! When I joined ISKCON I had visited every temple in ISKCON – all three!! San Francisco, New York and Montreal. But now I don’t think it is possible, there are 600 or 800. I don’t know if they count all the outposts and namahattas. In India, I know there are 5,000 n
By Prana Natha Das
Earlier this year, the Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula boys and teachers embarked on a 17-day yatra to visit many ancient pastime places of Lord Ram and the temples and farms of ISKCON Mumbai and Nashik. Prana Natha Das and the boys share their joyful journey with us.
After a long train and bus ride, we toured the vast Juhu complex and attended darshan arati and guru puja. While there, we visited Srila Prabhupada’s apartment in the guesthouse, where Braja Hari Prabhu welcomed
