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Internal guidelines for ISKCON Communities for proposed responses to the crisis, including holding prayer/kirtan vigils and a coordinated global harinam/ public protest event on Saturday October 23.
ISKCON communities are requested to organize local participation in these efforts in support of our fellow Vaishnavas in Bangladesh.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=96336

By Madhava Smullen

The Bhadra Campaign is a snowball that just keeps gathering size and momentum.

Also known as “Go to Goloka,” the campaign was launched in 2017 by the BBT Marketing, Communications, and Innovations team headed by Vaisesika Das. It’s inspired by the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s statement that “If on the full moon day of the month of Bhadra one places Srimad-Bhagavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.”

It’s also driven by S

It was liberating to get back to giving a Bhagavatam class and also to leading a kirtan at noon in the temple room. Varun came from Ottawa to participate, so did Krishna Chandra, our local yoga instructor. Paramahamsa was also on board. Then, to follow, was the trickle of people for Darshan, or viewing of the Krishna deities.

Covid restrictions have been gradually lifted and so now Saturday and Sunday are open for visitors and congregants to come in and benefit. However, those of us, like mysel

By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Michael Cremo is on the cutting edge of science and culture issues. In the course of a few month’s time he might be found on pilgrimage to sacred sites in India, appearing on a national television show, lecturing at a mainstream science conference, or speaking to an alternative science gathering. As he crosses disciplinary and cultural boundaries, he presents to his various audiences a compelling case for negotiating a new consensus on the nature of reality,

Sour

By Madhava Smullen 

An ISKCON UK delegation is set to attend COP26, also known as the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will run from October 31st to November 12th in Glasgow, Scotland.

The conference will bring world leaders together to discuss how to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, so as to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. They will also discuss progress made so far – many countries have already set amb

Roman and I took the scenic root on Highway 7 through the ancient Shield countryside, then through super-flat but fertile farmland, by car, before we reached the newly acquired farm in Russell, Ontario. It was a drive, not a walk – a five-hour pleasant trip – and it was well worth it. For the time-being we call this a Vaishnava Farm Garden Fest where people from the bhakti spectrum come together to share in the dreams and realities of simpler living.

Roman and I left a warm current Toronto for

My heart is like a desert, hot with the rays of the sun. This is my internal mental condition. The desire for temporary, material things cannot satisfy me because by nature they are death producing. And not one or two, but thousands of such death-producing desires have taken shelter in my mind. So, my subconscious region is always burning. This is my condition. But somehow, by the grace of sadhu and my guru, the holy name of Krishna with its infinite prospect has entered through the holes of my

Hare Krsna, dandavat pranams to the World Vaisnava community, all glories to our Divine Master, Srila Prabhupada. It is with a heavy-laden heart that we inform the sudden passing of Pita Das prabhu on Wednesday October 7th of this year 2021. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

For those who knew and loved Pita it is a great loss for us and certainly the world at large. Why is the passing of Pita prabhu such a great loss for all? Well, it is difficult to begin extolling his glories, there ar

Lessons on overcoming difficulties

Is India just a land of spices and snakes? Ones who seek true treasure amid the adversities of this subcontinent do find their jewels of spirituality hanging at every chowk. Many eyes are still surprised at the Indian economy sustaining well despite uncertain global situations.

The westerners are sensing the awakening to the Vedic stories of this nation, but Indians are unable to understand their roots. The greatest tragedy is that every other citizen of this

Once a week I get to see godbrothers (go bros for short) and godsisters (I prefer no abbreviation here) on Zoom. These souls I have the greatest reverence towards. Many of them are pioneers of Krishna Consciousness. That makes them very special.

This call occurs every Wednesday. To me it’s administration day because the discussion involves amazing challenges that they take on. At least in my context of thought I perceive them as heroes because they tackle some overwhelming issues at times. You

I looked at my watch as I stepped out of the show room in Agra. It was 9.30 in the night. I winced. It would take us more than an hour to reach Vrindavan. We had to get up for mangala arati again the next morning.

We had come to Agra to pick up some things for the upcoming project in Vrindavan, since they were not available there. Things were going on at a frenetic pace and devotees were working over time. We were compelled to come to Agra even though it was late. But I had not expected it to b

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

 All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

It’s a moment of great joy for the entire ISKCON community to welcome our beloved Srila Prabhupada in the ToVP.

With a deep sense of gratitude, we should all come together to welcome the Senapati Bhakta of Sriman Mahaprabhu in this Adbhutt Mandir.

No worries if you are not physically present in Sridham Mayapur.

Since all of us have been long waiting for this moment, ToVP is providing an unique opportunity to all the devotees to perf

 “‘Hare’ can refer to both Hari, or Krishna, the Supreme Lord, and Radha, known as Mother Hara. When perceived in the latter sense, common in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, it is an address to God’s energy, specifically His spiritual pleasure potency (hladini-shakti), who is also known as His female manifestation: Radhika. The word hari also means “thief.” In relation to Radha and Krishna, it refers to Their stealing of each other’s hearts, and the hearts of all living beings.”

[Note: The quo

One of our members expressed an apprehension about cleaning but my argument on the point goes like this: “Our whole culture is about cleaning, whether it be the heart, your temple, your house or your car. As Vaishnavas we spend, or should spend, at least a small portion of our day in cleansing.” In the context of a traditional ashram or mandir (temple), cleansing becomes a major component. Monks give considerable time to clearing and cleaning, even if it means the backyard and front yard.

And w

The award winning documentary about the urgent plight of the Yamuna River was screened in the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Haveli.

Directed by devotee Krisztina Danka PhD, the film focuses on six young people in rural India set out on a journey to find out who is poisoning their sacred river Yamuna, causing many people and animals to fall sick and even die. By the time they arrive at the foothills of the Himalayas, a shocking reality unfolds in front of them: their river has been “stolen” and replaced

By Kamala Radha Devi Dasi

After two years of research, writing, and debate, the GBC recently ratified and voted into ISKCON law a Code of Ethical Behavior. We spoke with the Code’s author, Yogesvara dasa, about the background to the Code and what changes he hopes to see in Srila Prabhupada’s movement thanks to its passage. The full official Code can be found through the GBC website here:  https://gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CODE_8-21-21_FINAL_COPY.pdf

ISKCON News: What is the purp

Once there was a lady in India called Kamabai. She lived in a small straw hut and materially speaking she was very poor. However, she had strong love for our Lord, Jagannatha, in her heart. Every morning before the Lord received His over 30 food preparations from the first-class priests in the temple, she cooked a simple stew called kitchari which traditionally consists of rice, beans and if you have enough money also vegetables. It is easy to digest and the main food of the money-less. So she

By Madhava Smullen 

The long-awaited new book, “Yamuna Devi: The Study of Seva-Puja,” is here. The work presents and expands upon the original “Deity Book,” a parchment-paged binder about deity worship and dress which Yamuna Devi, a much-loved ISKCON pioneer, and early Prabhupada disciple, created and brought with her to each ashram she resided in.

Guests frequently asked her to publish the book, and now, nine years after her passing, Dinatarini Devi, her companion in devotional life for 37 yea