We are experiencing how everything in this world goes through six transformations. Everything comes into being, it grows, it flourishes, it gives some by-products, then it begins to dwindle and eventually it ceases to exist. Such are the dynamics of this world. This shows us that whatever we have, is not ours. Whatever we have, is actually a gift which we get for a while over time and then Krsna takes it back. Sometimes gradually over time and sometimes very quickly. Suddenly, everything gets t
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Well, we honoured someone’s birthday today, in Govinda’s Dining Room. We remembered Suniti—a sweet, sweet lady—sweet, sweet devotee. We dared not ask her age. She’s from Malaysia. Her hubby, Keshava, was there, daughter-in-law and grandkids. It was a low-key event but with great prasadam (food blessed to the max). Friends came too.
After that warm meal, and warm people, a group of four of us left for Bellevue Square Park to chant on the grass. This place is a favourite. Karuna and I de
The first ever ISKCON-London India Retreat was organized by Champakalata Priya devi dasi and Bhaktin Aartee who led around 12 devotees on this beautiful journey in March 2019.
On Friday 8th March, the group arrived at Vrindavana around 6.00am. Later that afternoon they visited local temples such as the Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Radha Raman Temple, Radha Gokulananda Temple as well as other places like the Gopal Bhatta Goswami Samadhi, Nidhivan, Kaliya Ghat, Imli Tala, Advaita Vat and finally th
By Krishnarupa Devi Dasi & Hladini Devi Dasi
On 1 June 2019, devotees from various temples in Australia attended a one-day conference on New Govardhana farm, Murwillumbah, Northern New South Wales. Presenters at the conference were devotees who are developing Vaishnava community welfare services including mentoring, counseling, mental health support, youth support, widows support, palliative care and caring for the sick, women’s support, social justice and more. The conference was attended by
Fernando is this nice kind of guy who is great with his hands when it comes to renos. He’s also a good, safe driver, so I liked the fact that he agreed to take Karuna, Connor and myself for a ride to the starting point of our morning walk. The exact location for the start was the very place where I finished walking on the Bruce Trail in the Grimsby area last fall.
We commenced ready for a challenge. The first known challenge was to contend with some mud and moisture since a shower had occurr
By Madhava Smullen
As ISKCON UK anniversaries come thick and fast, Govinda’s Pure Vegetarian Restaurant in London is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, snapping up a steady flow of awards and celebrity endorsements and changing more than a few lives along the way.
The Soho St. restaurant, which stands next to London’s famous Radha Krishna Temple, was first launched on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day in February 1979.
Since then it has served high quality pr
I did a meagre three kilometre walk with partner, Karuna, along busy but shady streets. Much later, upon arrival at the home of Dharma and Manasi, my eyes walked over the words of Volume Two of Shamasundar’s book, Chasing Rhinos With the Swami. Like his first volume of the book of the same name, the story of his capers with our guru is completely compelling. I urge all to secure copies of these two masterpieces and read them. They are available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Rh
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is mahā-vadānyāya – He is most magnanimous. Devotees are also magnanimous where they will give gifts and receive gifts – dadāti pratigṛhṇāti (Nectar of Instruction, Text 4). This is an important point of the loving exchange of generosity and it is such generosity which is our trademark.
In the cause of working on the master plan for Mayapur, we came across a man called Charles Eisenstein, not Einstein (laughter). And Charles Eisenstein came up with this idea called ‘Sac
Daivishakti: In 1974, maybe in August, after Janmastami, Prabhupada was again recovering from his sickness. And we used to cook for Prabhupada, and then after cooking for Prabhupada we would make something for his servants and secretaries to eat.
There were three of them that we were cooking for at that time. I think it was Brahmananda Swami, Bhagavan, Srutakirti and maybe a few others. So we would bring that prasadam for them around to the front, and then a servant would come and drop off thei
By Madhava Smullen
Residents of New Vrindaban in West Virginia – ISKCON’s very first farm community – are inviting devotees around the world to make New Vrindaban their summer destination.
“We’d like devotees in all the city temples in North America and beyond to consider New Vrindaban their country home, a place where they can recuperate and regenerate physically and spiritually,” says ISKCON New Vrindaban communications director Anuradha Dasi.
New Vrindaban is a one-stop destination with
By Balimardana Das
Lil’ Krishna Kidz is a spiritual enrichment program that offers Krishna Conscious teaching and activities to kids in a fun-filled atmosphere. Lil’ Krishna Kidz was started in the San Franciso Bay Area, California, USA in May 2011 under the able guidance of Hanumatpreshaka Swami and Vaisesika Das.
These children are in 3-11 year age group. In the past year, total number individual enrollments exceeded hundreds of kids and this unique program designed to present rich Vedic c
We can see how everything is connected with Krsna. We can see that Krsna is the seed of all existence. We can see that Krsna is present everywhere. Just like it is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita by Krsna Himself – raso aham apsu kaunteya; I am the taste of water. Prabhasmi sasi suryayo; I am the light of the sun and the moon. Pranavah sarva-vedesu; I am the syllable om in the Vedic mantras. Sabdah khe paurusam nrsu; I am the sound in ether and also the ability in man (Bhagavad-gita 7.8).
So eve
This year, Sri Ganga Puja falls on June 12. Instead of reposting the glories of her appearance, one can refer to last year’s link for more information. The following is one of many sweet narrations from the Sri Caitanya-mangala, Adi-khanda 5 (translated by Subhag Swami<!– and published by Mahanidhi Swami, 1994). It describes the intimate relationship between Sri Ganga-devi and Lord Caitanya.
“Now everyone, please listen to another day of the Lord’s pastimes. During the enchanting evening atmosp
His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj gave an enlivening and enlightening 4 part seminar on “The Sacred Rivers of India” at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK.
Maharaj spoke about the importance of rivers in general. He recounted how rivers are India’s lifeline and how they enjoy a special place in prayers and its traditional practices. Most of the pilgrimages in India like Varanasi, Haridwar, Talakaveri, Nasik, Ujjain and Patna are situated along the banks of these seven rivers. The Triveni San
In an article entitled “Born to Bun: Labels to Tell Meat’s Life Story” (New York Daily News, April 4, 2013), journalist James Warren informs us about the Obama administration’s recent move to get new information on food labels in the supermarket, specifically on meat products. They now want to let consumers know where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered. Might this be too much information?
The USDA argues that such labeling is a step toward transparency, benefiting consumers on many le
On Friday my chiropractor told me, “I think you will be ready to go to India next year. You withstood the travel to the East Coast well—your body feels strong and resilient—and I think you will be able to manage the trip to India.”
He had never said anything like that to me before, and his words had the ring of truth to them. I believe that, Krishna willing, I may actually go to India next year, and that made me feel very happy.
The Lord is one without a second. He is inconceivable and He takes unlimited forms. Of all these forms, the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is particularly extraordinary because in this form he is the maha vadanyaya avatar, the most merciful incarnation.
He appeared in the land of Gauda, specifically in the land of Navadvipa Mandala, being in Sri Dhama Mayapur, particularly in the Yoga-Pitha, in Antardvipa, in the central island of the 9 islands of Navadvipa. The Lord appeared under a neem tree
"To show compassion to others in this world is the greatest way of pleasing the Supreme Lord." - Radhanath Swami.
Compassion is one of the core quality of a civilized and a refined person. And for a spiritual practitioner who wants to experience higher levels of consciousness and please the Supreme Consciousness, the quality of compassion is of utmost importance. Compassion is defined in the Oxford dictionary as "a strong feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering and a desire to help t
Compassion is one of the core quality of a civilized and a refined person. And for a spiritual practitioner who wants to experience higher levels of consciousness and please the Supreme Consciousness, the quality of compassion is of utmost importance. Compassion is defined in the Oxford dictionary as "a strong feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering and a desire to help t
"Life is a full circle. Everything comes back the way it is handled." - Elsie Mathew
Once, I was drinking some fruit juice in a stainless steel glass in our ashram. I had to leave for some place in a hurry. I left the glass thinking that someone would wash it. I came back after two days and saw that the glass was there in the exact place I had kept it, as if waiting for me. The irony is that not only I had to wash it personally but it took me more time and energy because by now the juice partic
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“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.” BG 2.6
It could be said that any time of the day is the best time of the day for connecting with transcendence – remembering you are not this body, and meditating on the sweet love of the soul that is the essence of Krishna consciousness. However, when Prabhupada was asked what is the best time for chanting japa, meditating on Krishna’s
