We may think that we are free because we are making our own choices according to our own liking. But what we fail to see is that when we are not following the four regulative principles closely, we are actually in the grip of kali. This is why Srila Prabhupada formalised the four regulative principles. Pānaṁ (intoxication), dyūtam (gambling), striyaṁ (illicit sex) and śunām (meat eating) are all mentioned as the four types of adharma (irreligion). Therefore, Prabhupada pointed out that we must
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One way to address the dreaded coronavirus is to build up your strength and resistance. I hear that many of the victims of the disease are travel related. I believe that if you put your “pedal to the metal” through walking in some good air, you are being very proactive. Frankly, I do not hear much about boosting the health in these diseased times. The virus might be contracted more indoors. Maybe we are not spending enough time in nature’s security—the out-of-doors.
I actually started my
In these tough times of a global pandemic, we are all doing our bit to flatten the curve by practicing social distancing and self-quarantine. If you can’t go outside, let’s focus on the inside with HH Bhakti Charu Swami.
A newly-published booklet, entitled “ISKCON and Hinduism: Exploring the Hare Krishna Movement and its Broader Traditions,” will be used to help students and teachers in schools, as well as visitors to ISKCON temples, better understand ISKCON and how it relates to broader Hinduism. (During the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be available to order by mail)
The 26-page illustrated booklet is published by ISKCON Educational Services, (IES) which was established at Bhaktivedanta Manor over thirty years
In the 1960s, literary and media critic Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase “global village” to describe the extension of people’s frames of reference and sense of responsibility beyond their immediate surroundings, or “village.” This growing sense of connectedness, McLuhan proposed, is the natural result of a world in which electronics enable our senses (at least the senses of sight and hearing—for now) to immediately experience that which is taking place across the globe, just as we would in o
Dear Devotees and Friends,
In the 1970s Srila Prabhupada spoke forcefully against the philosophical materialism which for some time has functioned as the dominant philosophy behind the sciences, and most other academic fields (1). Prabhupada insisted that consciousness and life itself could not be reduced to the unconscious mechanics of material objects and processes. As a direct result of this teaching that “life comes from life” and not from dead matter, the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher
By Madhava Smullen
With different countries around the world at different stages of COVID-19 precautions, ISKCON Mayapur has introduced its own safety measures for visitors, community devotees, and stranded foreign devotees.
ISKCON’s headquarters in West Bengal, India has announced that starting from March 19th, temple darshan times for visitors will be restricted to 10:00am to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Arrangements will be made so that the visitor line will enter the Mayapur campus, tak
When I visited the Yukon, not so terribly long ago, I received a small gift—a key chain. Attached to this key chain is that iconic image of backpacking prospectors, struggling up a steep snowbank by way of a rope. This represents the famous Yukon Gold Rush that took place at the turn of the 20th century.
I'm intrigued with that historical time, not with the lusting for gold, but for the fact that folks were adventurous and willing to take risks starting a new life in the great north. For m
All around there is only one hot news- coronavirus. The situation seems to be getting serious in many countries with an increased sense of fear and misery all across the world as there seems to be no remedy for coronavirus. Let us try to see things from the eyes of Guru, Sadhu and Sastra and understand why such epidemics come our way what is the remedy for coronavirus and other such epidemics.
Cause of coronavirus or other epidemics
Animal killing
By practice, one should avoid eating in such a
Visitor Restriction:
1. Starting from 19 March 2020 the darshan time in the temple for visitors will be restricted to 10:00am to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:30pm. The line will be arranged in such a way that they will enter the campus, have darshan and exit the campus.
2. The other than the designated route, all other parts of the campus will be off limit for pilgrims.
3. All pilgrims and visitors will be thermal scanned at entry point to the campus. They will also be subject to compulsory disinfecti
sri visnuduta ucuh
yuyam vai dharma-rajasya
yadi nirdesa-karinah
bruta dharmasya nas tattvam
yac cadharmasya laksanam
“The blessed messengers of Lord Visnu, the Visnudutas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamaraja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion.” (SB 6.1.3) The Yamadutas had challenged, “Who are you, interfering in our business? We have come to arrest him.” So, the counterchallenge was, “You said, ‘We are servants of D
I noticed something peculiar about some of the shoppers as I walked with Corrado to our favourite chanting park, Bellevue Square. I spotted several people carrying toilet paper. I believe that some folks are caught up in what some call "panic buying". What ignited this recent practice is the awareness of the coronavirus. People are acting in a panic mode.
Of course, it is important and intelligent to take precautions. I just wish that the panic button on birth, death, old age and disease
Announcement from Krishna Balaram Mandir’s Temple President:
Everyone is familiar with the Coronavirus. They say in the news that India is now at stage 2 and stage 3 means it becomes widespread because many people are actually carrying the virus but it is dormant and not acting. We had to take hard decision, its a difficult and coordinated decision, and we are closing the Temple today at 01:00 PM for two weeks. It will be open for resident devotees only. There will be many questions and concern
By Madhava Smullen
His Grace Srutidharma Das, former temple president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, passed away on Tuesday March 10th at the temple where he dedicated his life in devotional service.
Although he took on the post of temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor in 2009, Srutidharma Prabhu served at the Manor for over forty years, starting back in 1978.
Diagnosed with cancer in early 2018, Srutidharma’s condition meant he had to withdraw from active service. He spent his remaining da
A day in the life of Shri Krishna is filled with numerous activities: tending cows, playing pranks on the women of the village, feasting on sumptuous food with the cowherd boys and vanquishing an ill-fated demon whose misfortune brings him wandering into Krishna’s abode. Considering all this, one might ask why Krishna would choose to lose sleep over dancing with a group of mere milkmaids.
The Adi Purana narrates a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, describe
By Natalia Popenko
A group photo of the European ISKCON Youth Leaders' meeting in Spain
On the last weekend of February in New Vraja Mandala ISKCON temple in Spain the first European ISKCON Youth Leaders meeting was organized. 35 ISKCON devotees from 25 European countries gathered for three days to overview the existing and future possibilities to help young devotees to develop their full potential, and opportunities within the existing Erasmus+ framework.
The main speakers presented their
In honor of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, two award-winning film were produced. While Yadubara Das’ film the Hare Krishna! presents Prabhupada’s extraordinary life, an ISKCON Communications Ministry documentary The Joy of Devotion directed by Krisztina Danka (Krishna Lila Dasi) of Karuna Productions picks up where the other film leaves off and captures Prabhupada’s worldwide impact, and gives an overview about what ISKCON is today, featuring dramatic, personal and very inspiring stories of devote
I was happy to be part of the wedding reception for Damodhara, Gujarati born practitioner of bhakti yoga. He resides in Sudbury, the place where I lived when I met Krishna monks who changed my life. I spoke a few words to the crowd, addressing my joy at his partnership, before the toast and the cake cutting.
I really support marriage and the prospect for a one-shot deal. I expressed my wish they'll have twelve kids. People roared laughing.
The reception was held right in Govinda's Dinning
There is so much fear, and perhaps rightfully so, about COVID-19 virus.
If we subscribe to the philosophy that Krishna’s plan is always for our welfare, then the COVID-19 virus is here to help us.
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important.
What is the purpose of life.
By reconnecting with family, community, and, God.
Reducing travel so that the environment, the air, lungs all get a break.
Huge regions of China are seeing blue skies and clouds for the first time in decades because the ugra
If we had a rand for every time we felt discouraged and aimless in our spheres of livelihood, we would probably be well-off by now and ready to take early retirement. Srila Prabhupada explains that everyone has a prescribed duty according to the four social dispositions; namely the priestly, warriors, merchants, and labourers. Those who properly perform their prescribed duties as an offering to God “live peacefully and are not disturbed by material conditions.” Thus they achieve the highest per
