As a child I often heard my mother say cleanliness is next to Godliness; in fact I heard it everyday almost. We were kids, there was dirt around, sand castles to make, cops and robbers to play, sweat to sweat, and clothes to get dirty. Especially my brother who played soccer like drinking water. Mommy could smell the dirt from miles away. She would tell us that guest could come at anytime, and worse thing is to have a dirty house when there’s a guest around. OK, kids we were; kids rooms become
South Africa has a painful history. So many people have suffered transgressions, so many have endured racial policies based on discrimination and deliberate marginalization. This history and its ongoing ramifications should never be trivialized, and any callousness should be met with a concerted effort to deepen our collective understanding of past and present pain.
Human dignity is the bedrock of our country’s constitution, which enshrines equality, human rights, freedom, non-racialism, and
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We write today to inform you that HH Bhakti Charu Swami has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently in critical condition in the ICU at a hospital in the USA.
We request the worldwide community of devotees to offer heartfelt prayers for Maharaja’s prompt and smooth recovery.
As you all know, HH Bhakti Charu Swami is a most respected Vaisnava leader who has generously given his life to the service of his be
“In order to encourage the King, who had only seven remaining days of life, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami asserted that there is no use in living hundreds of years without any knowledge of the problems of life—better to live for a moment with full consciousness of the supreme interest to be fulfilled. The supreme interest of life is eternal, with full knowledge and bliss. Those who are bewildered by the external features of the material world and are engaged in the animal propensities of the eat-drink-
By Madhava Smullen
What leads one to become a Hare Krishna youth leader, initiated brahmana, real estate and food company manager, GBC trainee, and yes, a magician, all before the age of thirty-five?
For Dattatreya Yogesvara Das, it began with family. His mother Shaktimata Dasi, who joined ISKCON in 1973, worked for the BBT in the early days; his father Bhutabhavana Das, a Prabhupada disciple, was one of the pioneers who first brought Krishna consciousness to Africa.
What’s more, as the el
This Krishna consciousness movement is spreading quickly all over the world—within four, five years. Is it my credit? No. It is Krishna’s credit. But because I have tried to do this business, people are automatically giving me the credit. They say, “Swamiji, you have done wonderful.” I have done nothing wonderful. It is Krishna’s business. Krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana. (Cc Antya-lila 7.11) Without Krishna’s strength, nobody can spread. That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta.
Krishna
There are sixteen words that encompass the maha-mantra, which is taken seriously by those of the bhakti persuasion, and preferably uttered in the morning for setting a good spiritual note; though the sound is welcome anytime of the day. There is no hard and fast rule for chanting, however, it should be noted that one makes the effort to communicate with the Divine through this medium of chanting at some time. I spend a portion of my night chanting on my beads but I also fix myself (usually on a
Krsnanandini dasi is a true warrior! Although she has recently gone into the stage of hospice care at home after a painful battle with cancer, her service spirit remains undaunted. She will be the guest presenter at yet another webinar – this time, sharing her homeschooling experience, which has never before been documented, for Vaishnava Academy, ISKCON Chicago’s homeschool cooperative.
Her homeschooling experience is unique. Who else can boast of having successfully
We have these ‘noise boys’, who are playing all their instruments in the kirtan very energetically. But that energy is not theirs, that energy is given to them by Krsna. It is Krsna’s energy which He has deposited in the ‘noise boys’, and now they have it. But as time goes by, they will not have it, a lot of that energy will be gone, won’t it? If you look at some of the elderly gentlemen, they are sitting on chairs, leaning against the wall. (laughter) They do not have the same energy anymore. S
“That is all I want in life: for this pain to seem purposeful.” ― Elizabeth Wurtzel
From the Biblical teachings of Psalm 84:10, it is said: “Better is one day in the courts of the Lord than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
The above was quoted to me by one of our resident monks, Hara Kumar—well at least the first line—when I told him that I am enjoying life in the temple ashram. “It is the place of Gopinath (Krishna) and I’m loving it,” I told him. Actually, between the two of us combined, we ha
After months under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some ISKCON temples around the world are gradually starting to reopen in phases, with safety restrictions in place according to their local government recommendations.
After being closed to the public since March 22nd, the ISKCON temple in Mount Airy, Philadelphia reopened on June 6th for Darshan only during limited hours. The move took place several days after the Governor of Pennsylva
From Back to Godhead
Bir Krishna the calf loves coconut fudge, and Sita the teamstress knows it. Her pockets bulge with the sweet as she and Bir walk to the training ring. Today the calf will learn his first call: “Get up!”
The earth is soft from the recent rain. Sita carries a lash and leads Bir with a rope tied to a blue halter. The calf bounds through a cluster of gnats, then slows as they come to the ring. What’s this?
The gate opens, and Bir walks in to explore. He treads the edge and snif
Emotions were high across the globe over the death, and today’s funeral, of an innocent George Floyd. It was a clear act of injustice on the part of the police—hence the general public is angry.
From a spiritual point of view George is resting in peace and will be known as a victim/hero. From a social perspective a number of issues need sorting out. May good reason and justice take its presence.
Personally I felt some relief that some resolve, spiritually (to do with Krishna), had come upon the
By Giriraj Swami
Srivasa Pandita is one of the members of the Panca-tattva: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasa. Vedic authorities state that in the current Age of Kali, Krishna came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Balarama came as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Similarly, Maha-vishnu appeared as Advaita Acharya, Srimati Radharani as Gadadhara Pandita, and Narada Muni as Srivasa Pandita.
panca-tattvatmakam krsnam
bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam
namami bha
By Bhakti Charu Swami
So just one stanza I shall sing from a song composed by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura,
suddha-bhakata-carana-renu, bhajana-anukula bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi, prema-latikara mula
Will you be able to sing with me? [Audience agree.] I am sorry I thought I will use the harmonium myself.
suddha-bhakata-carana-renu bhajana-anukula – the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee is conducive to spiritual advancement. If we want to make spiritual advancement then it is important
In a video released today featuring Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhakti Charu Swami, and Jayapataka Swami, these three initiating gurus and senior members of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) explain why they support the GBC resolution empowering women to serve as initiating spiritual masters in ISKCON.
Watch the video here:
The resolution included under “701.6: ISKCON spiritual masters,” and entitled “Vaisnavi Diksa-gurus — 2019” was passed by the GBC at the Midterm General Meeting in Oct
Srila Prabhupada letter to Rayarama, Oct. 22, 1971
My Dear Rayarama,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11th October 1971 and have noted the contents. I welcome you for your coming back to our society and you are feeling very nicely the association of devotees.
Srila Rupa Goswami has described that devotional service can be advanced by six processes. Perhaps you know them. They are as follows: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following the regulative principle
How many of us are fortunate to have not just good friends, but close friends with whom we can phone at any time, and for no particular reason, than to simply share a Krishna conscious realization?
How many of us are blessed to be able to shed all institutional and scholarly roles, simply to sit down in an informal setting once in a while, and discuss none other than Krishna katha?
Does it ever occur to us sometimes, particularly if we are second initiated, that the services we try to render fo
