By Khusboo Basan
Thousands of devotees live partially or full-time in Mayapur, India, the international headquarters for ISKCON; hence, a very well-equipped hospital is a grave need that has been felt by residents and visiting devotees alike. Therefore, in 2022, ISKCON Mayapur began construction of a new 100-bed multi-speciality hospital on Bhaktisiddhanta Road, adjacent to the existing hospital building. The new project has reached the first-floor level and is progressing quickly.
A total of f
On April 21-23rd, Gopal’s Glorious Gang (GGG), a children’s club in Brisbane, Australia, gathered over 100 children (ages 4-16) at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat Centre, New South Wales, for a Bhakti Boost Camp. Gauranga Darshan Das, a well-known educator and author of over 30 books, was a featured guest. Fifteen volunteers and parents helped to organize and execute the event.
GGG aims to help each child become a well-rounded human being through intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth. The children
By Atma Tattva Das
The Kadamba Foundation, a registered charity founded by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami, focuses on fundraising for South African-African preaching projects and more opportunities for Africans to embrace Krishna consciousness. The foundation’s main objective is to publish, promote, and distribute new books and music while also republishing existing Kadamba Kanana Swami publications worldwide. The foundation has published 22 music albums, ten books, and numerous video and au
By Thomas Haribol
On May 9th, a group of nine Buddhist monks from Vietnam visited Govinda’s Restaurant in Tucson for lunch. While on a tour of North America, these traditional vegetarian monks found the temple’s restaurant via Google, which rated it the #1 Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant in the city. This traveling band was familiar with Govinda’s restaurants through their worldwide travels. They appreciated the wonderful prasada, asked thoughtful questions about the philosophy of Krishna Conscio
I have it down to a daily routine. After the morning arati (service) starting at 4:30 am, known to all practitioners as the mangal (auspicious) arati, I head off to those lacrosse playing fields. I dedicate an hour or more to walking the periphery while chanting the mantra of deliverance. I watch the mist rise with the sun’s pull and hope to maybe one day spot a deer, a cute woodchuck, or even a mama bear with her cubs (they have been sited here in the past).
After the liberating trek where spo
“It’s my life and I’ll do what I want.” It is the rebel mantra of the human species. Freedom is the alluring promise that teenagers have faked ID’s for, eligible bachelor and bachelorettes remain single for, and nations have fought and died for. It doesn’t matter if it’s chocolate or vanilla, what matters is that I’m free to choose. Why bother with restrictions? Life’s short, you got to get all you can, while you can. It doesn’t matter if it’s chocolate or vanilla, what matters is that I’m free
Health Update – 12/5/2023
Today the MRI scan was done, and it shows no sign of infarction or bleeding in the brain, which is very good news. Further physical tests will be done next week including tests to exclude arrhythmia and other heart conditions. Maharaja has been in better strength today than yesterday and his comprehension and ability to focus have improved. He is still feeling very tired and needs lengthy rest.
Mahārāja is very grateful for all the prayers and good wishes of the Vaiṣṇa
The Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) was established in Kolkata in 2009 by Hari Sauri Das and Pranava Das. Currently, the administrative affairs are under the supervision of Gauranga Das and Balaram Lila Das. Pranava Das and Dr. Sumanta Rudra direct the BRC’s academic affairs.
The mission of BRC is “to be a leading global institution” by collecting, preserving, researching, teaching, exhibiting, and publishing the work of the previous acaryas.
The BRC library has over 30,000 books and 4,000
Since 1995, ISKCON Youth Ministry volunteers have led the Krishna Culture Festival Tours (aka Youth Bus Tours) across North America to inspire youth in Krishna consciousness. Hare Krsna youth (18-29) are invited to apply for this year’s immersive Bhakti-yoga adventure, which will take place in the US and Canada from June 30-August 14, 2023.
“The mission of ISKCON Youth Ministry bus tours is to inspire, train, engage and empower youth in Krishna consciousness to their fullest potential, through
It was just me walking and the robins bob, bob, bobbing along in an expansive soccer and Lacrosse playing fields at Montville. All was well. The field is flat. It’s quiet and early enough (5:30 am) that the kids aren’t out yet. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind them. But then, an unleashed dog came at me, barking up a storm. He kept jumping up at me while its owner made little effort to get it off me. Rather strange. Not much of an apology either once the canine let me be. I came here to pray and the fe
By Thomas Haribol
Visakha Dasi, President of Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple, was among the invited guests at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla held at Westminster Abbey in London on April 6, 2023. Regarding the invitation, she said, “On the historic occasion of His Majesty’s Coronation, I’m honoured to be representing the Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple. And I feel privileged and delighted to be standing together with respected leaders of diverse spiritual paths.” Indeed, thi
Apparently, a man was shot across the street, but our short walk (slightly investigative in nature for any traces of blood) went in vain. The neighbourhood is not a bad one. It is simply coincidental and consequential that this violent act took place while I stayed here for a night. Much like a month ago when in Mauritius during a beach walk, we came upon a person who hung himself; I am beginning to wonder if violent events are following me.
In any case, such acts of aggression, whether self-in
The ISKCON Batam Center in Indonesia held a successful Indian Music Festival outreach in beautiful Ocarina, Batam, on April 15th, 2023. The celebration of music, dance, and spirituality attracted 250-300 guests. Locals, expatriates, and Singaporeans were all deeply affected by the event and enthusiastically participated in the many performances and activities. Batam is the largest city in the Riau Islands Province, across the Strait of Singapore, and the eighth largest city in Indonesia.
Temp
Krishna Chandra and I took to the trail along the Huron River, a narrow but full and flowing stream of water that flows to Lake Erie. In this college town there is a lot going for it besides this kayak-friendly river and adjoining trail. There is a college, and then there’s Harmony Collective, which is where Krishna Chandra stays, and where I am guested. This facility is a Krishna temple and a meeting place for lovers of bhakti yoga.
Srila Prabhupada explained to the late Cardinal Daniélou the importance of the commandment ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’.
At a recent interreligious conference, I happened to mention that we devotees of Krishna are vegetarian, and in the midst of the discussion, I referred to the Sixth Commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” A prominent Christian scholar, who was part of the discussion, asked what the commandment had to do with vegetarianism.
“It has everything to do with it!” I responded. “If you eat meat
(Tamal Krishna Goswami and Sura dasa witnessed this pastime. Sura dasa has confirmed the accuracy of this story from his diary and recollection. Sura noted that of the three reports that morning, this one brought a smile to Srila Prabhupada’s face.)
It was forty years ago, August, 1977, just three months before Srila Prabhupada was to leave our external vision. Srila Prabhupada was sitting in his room in Vrndavana, very ill and leaning up against the wall, showing little response as some sann
I knew right away that he was my teacher. It was like something that happens in books.
In September 1965 I went up to Ananda Ashram, an hour and a half out of New York City. I went there mostly to get out of the city. The Indian guru who presided at the Ashram I had met before in New York at a Yoga Society. Many of my friends were involved with him studying Raja Yoga, a form of meditation. They were very enthusiastic and tried to persuade me to come uptown with them to their meetings.
To tell t
By Khusboo Basan
Bhakti Kids Sangha is an initiative started by Abhidheya Devi Dasi and her eleven-year-old son Krishna Balaram that includes a broad number of inspiring initiatives. Some of these include establishing libraries for children, creating resources for parents, producing digital educational content, and hosting a successful podcast on YouTube.
Initially, the Bhakti Kids Sangha was started as classes on bhakti yoga that were live-streamed on Instagram and Facebook during the pandemi
Bala Krsna Das, formerly known as Bongani Mazibuko, has been creating art since childhood. Unfortunately, his impoverished situation prevented him from studying art at university. He explains, “I could not afford to attend university, but I think I could have chosen art as part of my education if I had had that opportunity.” However, his passion for art never faded, and he continued to create.
When Bongani joined the Hare Krishna movement, formally taking shelter of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Sw
Frontline servants: Remembering the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta publishing marathon
Join GBC SPT to meet the veterans and know what happened behind the scenes when Srila Prabhupada engaged his disciples in publishing Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta that turned into a marathon.
