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From Back to Godhead

For thirteen years at the Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, California, a developmental psychologist has been teaching sign language to Koko, a female gorilla. Although Koko shows remarkably human emotions and intelligence, her psychologist says she’s an average gorilla at best.

The Comfortable Hole

Koko’s psychologist first tried teaching her the same hand signs used by the deaf, but in time Koko began inventing her own sign language. For example, when she was shown a weddin

By Gandini Devi Dasi 

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) invites you to the Summer Discovery Series, a free online event hosted via Zoom, unfolding over three weekends—July 12–13, July 19–20, and July 26–27. This global gathering brings together 18 distinguished speakers to share insights on some of the most pressing and profound questions of our time. Designed to explore the deeper dimensions of science, consciousness, and human values, the series features a diverse group of

By Jaya Vamandeva Das

The ISKCON India Youth Council (North Wing) officially launched UDGAAR 2025, a major youth empowerment initiative aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by India’s young generation. The event in ISKCON Delhi was graced by senior ISKCON leaders, also serving as Advisory Committee Members for UDGAAR: Devakinandan Das (Zonal Secretary, ISKCON), Vrajendra Nandan Das (Communication Director, ISKCON India), Mohan Rupa Das (President, ISKCON Delhi), and Su

On July 26 and 27th, recent efforts of the BBT Youth For Book Distribution, an Initiative of the BBT MCI Team, will come to fruition in Global Youth Book Distribution Day. This project is being spearheaded by youth, for youth, in order to fulfill the deep desire of Srila Prabhupada that everyone regularly participate in book distribution. On those days, youth (loosely people ages 12-25, but anyone who identifies as “youth” is welcome) will go out with community support to distribute books and ge

I was invited to give a talk on the highest yoga principles at the new Bhakti Yoga Studio near downtown Seattle. It is a nicely set up facility and especially meant for young people who are searching for the meaning of life.

When I arrived there was already a blissful kirtan happening that lasted more than an hour. At the end everyone was so ecstatic that they spontaneously got up and danced with arms in the air.

The young devotees organizing the program told me that they took the lead from simi

Part one: THE OPULENT ANSWER

Many devotees ask how we are to understand the Ulta, or Bahudha return Ratha-yatra in Jagannath Puri? If (as Gaudiya Vaishnavas state) we consider the Gundica-yatra, or Ratha-yatra to respresent the ecstatic emotions of the residents of Vrindavan taking Krishna home from Kuruksetra. How do we then understand the return Ratha-yatra?

Is it a festival celebrating taking Krishna away from Vrindavan?

There are two sides, two answers, that can be offered to this question.

By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)

These days fewer people are interested in taking up anything that they cannot immediately apply to their lives. The common question is: “What is this going to do for me?” Or “What am I going to get out of this?” So if we cannot relate the purpose of Vedic culture or its spirituality to people today, especially to the youth, then it is not likely they will take an interest. Yet, everyone is interested in gaining more out of life, or reaching their higher

For the past 80 years, Back to Godhead magazine has served as a powerful medium for spreading Krishna consciousness around the world. First launched by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the magazine has become a cornerstone of devotional literature, offering timeless wisdom, inspiring stories, and updates on spiritual initiatives across our Society.

However, in recent years, annual subscriptions have declined. In order to continue publishing, Back to Godhead urgently needs 5,

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a five-nation tour, during which he will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil. Modi will visit Argentina, Ghana, Namibia, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago. Today, as he arrived in Ghana, he was greeted by Hare Krishna devotees singing the Maha Mantra. Recently, he also visited Croatia in June, a first for the European country.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/pm-modi-greeted-by-iskcon-devotees-in-croatia-and-ghana/

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESPECT AND HONOUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ON CANADA DAY IN THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION.

The drive to the capital city, Ottawa, population 1,000,000, is five hours, and in the early section of this national holiday, Canada’s birthday, was quiet and road friendly.  No roads are necessarily friendly for a pedestrian.  There’s always some kind of road rage.  In general, it is the happiest day of the year for Canucks (an affectionate term for ‘Canadians’).  I was able to fit in 8,000 p

Why is devotee care important in our society?

We have the most complete philosophy, and Srila Prabhupada has given us the wonderful process of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Part of that process is taking care of the devotees. Actually, Krishna says that He has nothing else to do but to take care of His devotees. And since His devotees are always thinking about Him, He is also always thinking about His devotees. So actually, devotee care is one of the primary angas or aspects of Krishna consciousness

By HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“Because of my state of complete foolishness and paucity of pious activities, although the Lord offered me His personal service, I wanted material name, fame and prosperity. My case is just like that of the poor man who, when he satisfied a great emperor who wanted to give him anything he might ask, out of ignorance asked only a few broken grains of husked rice.”

PURPORT

In this verse the word svārājyam, which means “complete independence,” is very sig

One year, When I was leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth airport on July 4, a large American flag flying in the wind caught my eye, and I was surprised by how happy I felt. I reflected on how fortunate we were to live in a country where we have freedom of religion, and how Srila Prabhupada said, “America has been so good to me to give me money, men—everything. I have no designation that ‘this is my country,’ but because they have given me so much facility, I cannot forget my obligation to them. I wan

This week in Bengaluru, Forbes India and Accel revealed their inaugural list of Top 30 Indian Minds in Artificial Intelligence ( AI). The announcement was part of a first-of-its-kind gathering of researchers, entrepreneurs, policy leaders, academics, and innovators who are shaping the future of AI. Among those selected for the honor was Ganesh Ramakrishnan (Gaura Hari Das), a member of ISKCON Chowpatty in Mumbai.

Forbes India highlighted Ramakrishnan’s role as Lead at BharatGen, India’s open-so

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

OmniLight Films Production, a Mayapur-based film production company, recently released “Three Nights,” a short film based on the story of Srila Haridas Thakur and the prostitute who was sent to defame him. Directed by Yadava Jivana Das (alias Shyamsundar), a disciple of Indradyumna Swami, the film presents a narrative that combines Krishna consciousness with cinematic storytelling and aims to engage both devotee and non-devotee audiences.

In an interview with I

By Atma Tattva Das

As the African Union (AU) assumes a permanent seat at the G20 table, faith leaders are stepping into a more prominent role in shaping global policy, and the 2025 G20 Interfaith Harmony Week, held this week in Addis Ababa, reflected that shift. Held just months before South Africa hosts the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the 2025 gathering brought together more than 350 religious leaders, diplomats, and policy experts. Among the standout voices was Salika Das of ISKCON Jos, whose

An allegory from the Srimad-Bhagavatam sheds light on the mind/body connection.

This article was originally presented at ‘Toward a Science of Consciousness,’ an international conference attended by leading scientists, physicians, philosophers, and other scholars, and hosted by the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Is There A Conscious Self distinct from the physical mechanism of the body? Is there a mind distinct from the brain? Those who answer yes to such questions are called dualists, and th

What started off as a vision to bring together the different yatras within the UK, the Rise UK National Retreat returned for its second Maha gathering from April 18-21, 2025 – this time even bigger and better than before! Once again, the Rise retreat brought together devotees from all across the country and beyond for four days of deep connection, spiritual nourishment, and profound realisations. Hosted at Nottingham Venues, this year’s theme, “Hand on Heart – Understanding the Heart of Sri Kris

Errol Musk, father of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, visited ISKCON Delhi in East of Kailash at the invitation of Dr. Vivek Bindra. In India to explore green technology and sustainable energy initiatives, the South African businessman took darshan of Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi and offered a garland to the murti of Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya.

During a press conference following the Temple visit, Musk spoke on global challenges, environmental innovation, and the spirituality he enco