From Canto 11 of the book, Bhagavatam, I spoke on the Chapter ‘Aila Gita’, which details the teachings and realizations coming to an affluent king, Pururava. Oh, how in love he was with his lady, Urvasi, a heavenly beauty! At one point in the relationship, deciding to terminate it all, Urvasi left him, and the separation for him was too much. Time lapsed and he realized just how attached he was to this world and to his body, a mass of marrow, bones, sinew, blood, etc. "This body," he reflec
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The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is very happy to announce the release of a new website, www.bbt.info, your ultimate guide for all things BBT. Visit this website to learn more about BBT, its mission, organization, and governance, the unique relationship between BBT and ISKCON, and more.
Other key highlights from this website:
1. BBT Global’s Financial Statements, as well as more information about BBT Grants.
2. BBT Affiliates with information about BBT Media—the reliable source for BBT ebooks and a
The Ministry of Education invites devotees to a symposium designed to bring together the many ISKCON-members involved in Education:
"Dear ISKCON educator and leader,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We are delighted to inform you that the ISKCON Ministry of Education, will be hosting its 2nd Annual International Symposium of Education “Viplavah 2020” on February 21st & 22nd, 2020, at ILS Venue in Sridham Mayapur.
We were very encouraged by the huge numbe
I was distributing in Byron Bay, Australia. When I approached a man, he asked, “Do you remember me?”
“No, sorry, I don’t.”
“Three years ago, you gave me the Bhagavad-gita, and I gave you a donation.
I thought it might help me through my troubled times. I had lost my business and my family, so I was drinking a lot. Basically I wanted to drink myself to death. Miserable.
“I would drink and then read a few words from the Gita. Then I would drink more, then would read more. This went on for quite a
HG Satyasena prabhu ACBSP left the mortal world yesterday evening in Belgaum (India). By Krishna’s mercy, just before leaving the body, he was in the temple – all good, chanting, listening class and all of a sudden he left!
He left his body in Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti was just the day before yesterday) in the temple – while chanting, listening katha in the association of devotees, his family was there, HH Bhakti RasamritaSwami was also there – so surely he has gone back to his eternal service
By Damodarleela dasa and Arjuna Krishna dasa
Recently the Maharashtra Padayatra was at Koregaon in the Sangli district, a village enriched with devotees. Cintamani devi dasi, the daughter of a brother of Lokanath Maharaja, stays here and as part of a Vaishnava family she naturally follows the same spiritual path. Her son, Caitanya dasa, who studies in gurukul, was also at home to welcome padayatra and he sang and performed kirtan with us. They have a combined family, a rarity nowadays, and all
It was at Tyendinaga, in Mohawk Territory—where in the summer of 2012, I napped in between the rows of soy beans, and swam in a creek for a break, and where the fish bit Daruka's chest—that Jaya and I had a great breakfast this morning. Yes, indeed, Jay and I stopped at "the Twins’ farm" (as we call it) and took food for fuel.
Graham and Dhyanachandra are identical twins, who used to live in Toronto, and do janitorial services at the Krishna centre. Dhyanachandra is spending the winter in
I had the opportunity to visit Mauritius for a few days along with a few devotees from Goa. I am sharing my experience of being in this small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean for those who haven't had the opportunity to be here. Mauritius is very much like India or more specific, very much like Goa but it is definitely more beautiful than Goa.
THE BLUE ISLAND
One of the most striking feature of this place that really stands out is the colour of the ocean here. The crystal blue, transp
If one has drunk the poison of offending a devotee, one should, with that same mouth, drink the life-giving nectar of sincerely praising (and serving) that devotee. Haridasa Thakura says, “If anyone offends a sadhu in a moment of delusion and madness, he must fall at the sadhu’s feet and bitterly repent; weeping with full contrition, he must beg for forgiveness. He should declare himself a fallen wretch in need of a Vaisnava’s grace. A sadhu is very merciful; his heart will soften and he will e
One of the monks visiting at the Montreal ashram did not wake up at the usual time. I went to him reminding him of the hour.
"It's 6:30 a.m."
"I was thinking to rest a little more," he said.
Not argumentatively, but with a slight firmness, I expressed, "Well, that's eight and a half hours. That's not enough, really?" This chap is actually a good person but just once in a while….
The excuse was: "I woke up in the middle of the night so my sleep got disturbed."
My response was: "I
Are you still wondering if God exists or not? And if you know He exists, are you still not sure who He is and how to find Him? Waste no more time. After many years of in-depth research, the scholars at Vedic schoolsh have given their conclusion for the benefit of all sincere seekers of spiritual perfection. Based on the evidences found in the scriptures they confidently declare that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later on in this article we will see how they com
By Madhava Smullen
A popular Zoom conference, Wisdom of the Sages, has gone public and become a daily podcast, delivering transformational wisdom, Bhakti-yoga philosophy, and profound stories with fun and energy on Youtube, Instagram and most podcast platforms.
Hosts Raghunnath Cappo and Kaustubha Das have a comfortable chemistry, having both grown up in the New York Hardcore Punk scene of the early 1980s, found Krishna consciousness, and begun living as brahmacharis in 1988.
When Raghunath
In the introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes a very famous verse (SB 1.5.11):
tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo
yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api
nāmāny anantasya yaśo ‘ńkitāni yat
śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ
This is the verse that speaks about viplavo, a revolution, so that attracts me because I like the revolutionary spirit, the spirit of making changes, something dynamic. Prabhupada is pointing out it is the discussion of Krsna that would bring about the chan
King Sagara performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to declare his sovereignty over the neighbouring kingdoms. The 60,000 sons of Sagara were following the horse when they saw it enter a cavern where the sage Kapila was meditating. Not seeing the horse, they presumed that Kapila had hidden it.
They did not kill Kapila as he was a sage but they started disturbing his meditation. Annoyed at being disturbed, Kapila, with a curse burnt the 60,000 sons of Sagara. Time passed and later Bhagiratha, the gre
In August 2009, at the tender age of 8, Jagannath moved to Sridham Mayapur with his Mum. He was admitted to Sri Mayapur International School, grade 2 class. His natural attraction to the holy Dham was instant!
Jagannath was an all-rounder from his childhood – he actively participated in all sports (cricket, football, basketball, volleyball & table tennis) as well as devotional activities such as playing mrdanga, harmonium, kartals and singing. He was also blessed academically.
In 2012 Jagannath
By Binoy Sri Gouranga Das The second most popular mela after Kumbh Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India's biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal, and witnesses a large number of people pouring in. Celebrated with great vigor and enthusiasm, the festival has a cultural and spiritual significance where pilgrims dip themselves in the holy waters of Ganga to purify their souls.
Held during the winters, the Mela is an annual gathering of pilgrims which see a number of rituals, lit lamp
By Madhava Smullen
The latest tour by ISKCON Youth Ministry saw youth help put on four Rathayatras in the Caribbean, and some become inspired to take on active roles in the Hare Krishna Movement.
A total of about twenty-five youth participated throughout the tour, with fourteen from around the US being joined by about five local youth in both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Ages ranged from seventeen to twenty-four, with the tour running from December 14th to January 5th.
Three Rathaya
On Makara Sankranti day, miilion of pilgrims visit the holy palce of Ganga Sagar, take Makara Sankranti Snana ( bath at Ganga Sagar) and worship mother Ganga. To facilitate the pilgrims, ISKCON organises a massive Prasada distribution and give in charity blankets etc. Recognized by West Bengal State government, ISKCON Ganga Sagar’s welfare work is very much appreciated and widespread coverage is given in local media. Below is the letter from Sundar Govinda das, Director of the project.
New Year
By Madhava Smullen
If you’re looking for mantra music beyond traditional kirtan – say, a fun, sunny mix of soft rock, folk, and funk via the French Riviera and the Pacific Rim – you might want to try out Confused Soul’s new single “Madhu,” with its sing-alongability and joyful sax refrains. An album, “Riviera,” is set to follow this summer.
Confused Soul came about with the meeting of two minds who found that they had a lot in common. Chandrashekhara Acharya Das, who is half French, grew up in
Making it to Montreal is always a good venture for me. Like all visits to various communities, it is special being in the company of old friends, newcomers, and those growing toward new devotional potentials.
Jay and I and a group of local devotees, including a father and daughter from New Brunswick, took to the sidewalks east of the centreville, to catch some good but cool air, and accompany ourselves with the maha mantra, and chanting on beads. The walk was in the prime of the afternoon,
