By Madhava Smullen
A new project, The Pilgrimage, is providing luxury spiritual retreats and online education for corporate clients, while also offering ISKCON devotees the chance to earn a living amongst Vaishnava peers.
Founder Sandipani Muni Das (Kal Key), originally from Coventry in the UK, worked on Wall Street before a visit to the sacred village of Vrindavan, India changed his life. An encounter with a holy man there, who lived so simply yet was ready to share everything he had, gave
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, is my grand spiritual master, but I feel that I never really knew him so well until I read his biography Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava by my godbrother Bhakti Vikasa Swami. Many of the quotes and references below come from that work, which has helped bring me closer to my spiritual grandfather.
We are all here by the mercy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna Chaitany
Today is the auspicious appearance day of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. When our Srila Prabhupada first came to America, we had no idea of Vaishnava etiquette or culture; we had no idea how to honor the appearance day of the spiritual master. In 1970, soon after I had joined the Boston temple, Srila Prabhupada explained that the appearance day of the spiritual master is honored as Vyasa-puja, the worship of Vyasa. Srila Vyasadeva compiled the Vedic scripture
By Madhava Smullen
For devotees and spiritual people looking for devotional music in a different genre than kirtan, but just as transformational, Russian husband-and-wife duo Nilambary’s debut album, the lush film-score-like “Eternal Prayers,” could be the answer.
The record is out on February 10th. And from the sweeping strings of opener “Mangalacarana” to the classy swing of “Jiv Jago,” to the cleansing, pure chorus of “Tulasi,” to the thumping crescendo of closer “Sita Ram,” it’s a skill
By Svarupananda dasa and Jagbandhu dasa
By the blessings of our founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, and his loyal disciple, Lokanath Swami Maharaja, the ISKCON Greater Noida devotees recently organized a one-day padayatra for their young Vaisnavas.
On January 19, 2020, a cold Sunday morning, the padayatra by little Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavis took place for the pleasure of Sri Sri Gaur Nataraj Dayal Nitai and to spread the sankirtan movement, the specific missi
First established by Brahmananda Das in the 1970s, ISKCON of Tallahassee, Florida closed down before restarting in a new building in the 1990s. After struggling with financial and organizational challenges in more recent times, the center is once again getting a new lease of life with a new name – the Tallahassee Krishna House – and a new young president, Brajananda Das.
Originally from West Palm Beach in South Florida, Brajananda, 31, joined ISKCON in Gainesville in 2012 and served as a full
"Dear ISKCON Educator and Leader.
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This is a three-week countdown reminder to Viplavah 2020, the Annual International Symposium by ISKCON Ministry of Education that will be held on February 21st & 22nd, 2020, at ILS Venue in Gita Bhavan, Sridham Mayapur.
We would like to invite you for the symposium. We expect over 150 educators and leaders from around the world to participate. The participation is free for the devotees who
Back in 2009, when devotees in Radhadesh, Belgium held a small kirtan weekend with Sivarama Swami and Madhava, just 100 people attended. It was a similarly intimate group the next year, when festival coordinator Manu Magnin, then 19 years old, took over the organizing and invited his second generation friends.
Then things skyrocketed. By 2011, 300 people were attending, and by 2013, around 600. Now Radhadesh Mellows is one of the biggest kirtan festivals in the world. This
When 13-year-old Josh Menheere first noticed graffiti around the surf town where he grew up in Queensland, Australia, and learned techniques from his cousin who was dating a graffiti artist, he didn’t know that one day his own street art would spread spiritual consciousness and positively influence other kids’ lives.
Then, at age 17, an uncle introduced him and his family to Hare Krishna devotees Gunarnava Das and his wife Vishalini Dasi, Prabhupada disciples who ran the G
From Back to Godhead
A ten-year-old wonders, “Will Krishna recognize us when we return to Him?”
“Oh, these ropes of desires are strange indeed! A person tightly bound by them runs all around seeking happiness, but one freed from them stays calmly in one place.” (Niti-shastra)
“What’s it like to go back home to Krishna?” wondered ten-year-old Kiran at the weekly gathering for children from our congregation.
I responded by speaking about Goloka Vrindavana, our real home, where we aspire t
If time is relative, what about space? How to make time go slowly, or faster?
Most of us live constantly busy, living with the idea that there is not sufficient time. It would not be nice if we could stretch and contract the time at will, getting more time to do things we want, making pleasurable moments last for an eternity, and painfully experiences pass in a moment?
The good news is that time is relative. Time works differently in different parts of the cosmos. It can be stretched or contr
Practicing devotees should always feel grateful and obliged to those who assist us in developing our dormant love for Lord Krishna. Material consciousness teaches us to exploit others and it can be summed up in the “use and abuse” culture that pervades modern society. In other words, we use something or somebody temporarily until our senses are satisfied and then throw them away. It is the opposite in spiritual life.
We should always be appreciative to anyone who inspires us in our attempt in p
Lord Nityananda’s furthest reaching mercy.
As we reflect on our lives, we can agree that the help and support of others has always brought about desired changes that would otherwise not have been possible if we kept struggling on our own.
By the help of others, possibilities – starting with our birth in the present body – suddenly come into our reach. Doors open, unexpected connections are made, inspirations given, etc. All by the initiative of others.
But, what about help and support in our sp
Today is Varaha Dwadasi, the auspicious appearance day of Lord Varahadev, Boar incarnation.
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrita-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You!
The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.
“Today is the incarnation day o
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Hare Krishna,
Please Accept Our Humble Obeisances. All Glories To Shri Guru & Gauranga
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada
January 9 – 12, 2020, Washington D.C.
Fifty-one devotees from around the United States and Canada came representing their temples and preaching centers. Badrinarayan Swami, Anuttama das and Praharana devi dasi came to represent the GBC. Manorama das came in support of the ISKCON Youth Ministry, Janaki devi dasi represented the NA CPO, and Vraja Vihari das, the head of ISKCON Resolve also participated.
This is the third year the meetings have been created and run by second generation devotees he
