“A spiritual festival is not about the experience that you are having here and now. It is more than that. It creates samskaras (impressions), deepening our relationship with our spiritual master and our connection to one another. This is how we advance. All these bonds will have a part to play in the future.”
We enter Radhadesh. Fresh and crisp meets ancient and idyllic. A natural wonderland with adventure trails, cows, sacred art and possibly every book on the planet that a devotee may want. G
Diary of a Traveling Monk, Volume 15, Chapter 3
“The Mood of the Day”
Aeroflot flight SU 1492 took off from Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow at 18:02 on May 6th. It reported a malfunction 28 minutes into the flight. The captain requested and was given permission by airport control to return to the airport and make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the plane burst into flames upon landing and 41 passengers lost their lives. A person on the ground who observed the crash said it was a miracle tha
By Hari Narayana Das
Aceh is a semi-autonomous Indonesian province on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island. It’s known for beaches, diving sites and mountain wilderness areas. Banda Aceh, its capital, is home to the 19th-century Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, a regional icon with delicate Mughal tracery, black domes and a reflecting pool. Aceh used to be commonly known as the ‘ Veranda of Mecca’ under the rule of a strong Muslim Sultanate, up to 300 years ago. The city also rose to international pro
Jagai Nitai Das is a busy man who has done many services as a devotee. Earlier in his life, after joining ISKCON in 1987, he was a temple president and a book distributor. Today, the father and software developer helps with morning services and kirtan programs at the Laguna Beach temple in California, and organizes its Rathayatra festival.
But Krishna Food Relief, in which he does Harinama Sankirtana while feeding homeless people, tops it all.
“It’s by far the sweetest and most moving servic
Chandan Yatra is a very sweet festival to remember and meditate on various pastimes of the Lord. A festival that Lord kindly favors everyone to do some personal service for Him- grinding chandan, decorating, swinging Him etc… Summer festival has its own flavour. As per the tradition, Chandan Yatra festival started at Puri. In the Narendra Sarovara tank, Their Lordships Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra go on boat ride or nauka vihar with beautiful festivities. Today Lord Jagannath gave darshan a
(Proposed and Sponsored by the Ministry for Sannyasa Services)
The following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods:
Navadwip Dwija Gauranga Das (Bangladesh) |
This year |
Priti Vardhana Das (Mayapur) |
This year |
Pushpashila Shyam Das (Bangladesh) |
This year |
Vrindavan Chandra Das (Vrindavan) |
This year |
Asim Krishna Das (India) |
One year |
Bhaktipada Das (Hungary) |
One year |
Ekalavya Das (India, Middle East, North America) |
One yea |
(proposed by Sesa Das and sponsored by him and Prahladananda Swami)
Whereas ISKCON requires common standards, policies, and procedures for managing investigations of misconduct or abuse, in instituting corrective and rehabilitative consequences for offenders, as well as in restorative justice for all involved when guilt is established;
Whereas ISKCON requires policies and processes to address disputes and dispute resolutions that are based on equity, impartiality, fairness, and timeliness, and
(proposed by GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee and sponsored by Bhanu Swami and Hrdaya Caitanya Das)
Whereas ISKCON Calendar calculations were originally derived from the Gaudiya Panjika published by the Chaitanya Math in Mayapur;
Whereas it has come to the attention of the committee that there are two observances, originally taken from that source that are incorrect and need adjustment:
According to the research of the committee, the observance of “Lalita Sasti” two days before Radhastami appear
Question #1:
Many people (flat earth supporters) say that Bharata-khaëòa [our earth planet] is flat because it is just an island (dvipa) as it is mentioned in Visnu and Vayu Puranas, not as a globe. What is your opinion of the flat earth theory?
If it is flat, then how can we explain day-night changes, because a flat surface will have sunlight twenty-four hours a day, 360 days a year. The sun is not a small object that only brightens 500 yojanas (4,000 miles) area and not even 1,000 yojanas are
On the 8th of May 2019 an International Seminar was held on Communications, Religion and Culture (ISO-CRC) at the prestigious Sekolah Tinggi Agama Hindu (College of Hindu Religion), Singaraja, Bali. HH Subhag Swami was invited as the keynote speaker to attend the seminar and discourse on, ‘An Introduction to Religion and the Essence of Vedic Knowledge.’ An audience of 200 students, faculty chairman and faculty secretaries were present.
‘…it is nice that you are infiltrating into the schools and
(Proposed by Kalakantha Das, and sponsored by Niranjana Swami and Praghosa Das)
Whereas Srila Prabhupada has stated, “Progressive human civilization is based on brahminical culture, God consciousness and protection of cows.” [ SB1.19.3]
Whereas according to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions a minimum standard for Cow Protection should be maintained in ISKCON (Ratified in ISKCON Law 507 of 1999);
Whereas there are currently cows and bulls that are not being cared for properly;
Whereas it is unacce
Whereas ISKCON Law 7.3.2 now reads:
“As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one’s diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However, Srila Prabhupada and historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus, if so directed by them. In such a case, the disciple should go through the normal procedure for commencing the service of diksa-guru (7.4.1).
Resolved:
ISKCON Law 7.3.2 is amended to rea
On Jahnu-saptami twenty-five years ago His Holiness Giriraj Swami’s disciple Arca-vigraha devi dasi passed away from this world and went back to Godhead.
Mother Arca-vigraha and I were very good friends and had been friends for a long time. We first met in 1986, when she came to Vrindavan. Then, in 1987, I went to South Africa with Indradyumna Swami and we had some programs at her home in Yeoville.
Arca suffered from cancer. She got the news in late 1987, but she had some treatment done, and th
My mind is so filled with memories of Mother Arca-vigraha that it is difficult to isolate what inspired me about her. But I think she embodied the two most important devotional principles—chanting the holy names and serving the Vaishnavas—and she performed these activities with great determination and enthusiasm.
I miss her as a friend. She was older than I, and more experienced, and I learned a lot from her training, instructions, and association. I often share thoughts and experiences with he
Resolution 406.2 Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture
Milk from Protected Cows — 2019
[Guideline] (Proposed by Hrdaya Caitanya Das, sponsored by him and Devamrita Swami)
Whereas the current commercial dairy systems of the world in which the older cows, practically all bulls, young and old, and most female calves are slaughtered is thoroughly condemned and
abhorrent;
Whereas Srila Prabhupada wrote in this regard: “These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present so
Resolution 307.4 ISKCON - other
[Guideline] (Proposed by Hrdaya Caitanya Das, sponsored by him and Devamrita Swami)
Whereas plastic is often used once-off and then thrown away;
Whereas the lifetime of plastic varies from 50 years to more than 1000 years;
Whereas plastic contaminates mother earth and her inhabitants;
Whereas many ISKCON temples use plastic and foam cups, plates, spoons, water bottles, maha-prasadam packages, plastic bags, etc., once-off and then discard them despite there being
Dear Guru Gauranga Prabhu,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On behalf of the GBC Body, we respectfully offer you the title of GBC Emeritus with gratitude and appreciation for your years of contributions and services to ISKCON and dedication to Srila Prabhupada.
You pioneered Krishna consciousness and laid the foundation for ISKCON’s future growth in Switzerland in 1971, later establishing ISKCON as a legally recognized Swiss Church foundation.
Thereafter, yo
When it comes to humanity’s conception of God, it seems that each religion and culture describes the character of God differently. In some we find God described as an angry and jealous God. Or we find the God of the Old Testament of the Bible with lots of rules but little mercy. Or in other religions we read about a God who is heartless to any nonbelievers, even if they merely lack understanding. In other cultures, God recommends killing all that do not wish to surrender to the local faith. O
By Kalakantha das ACBSP
Thirty-two new Krishna devotees have completed the Spring 2019 semester at the Bhakti Academy, held at Krishna House (ISKCON of Gainesville, Florida, USA). Some highlights:
Bhakti-sastri: Seven devotees completed the full Bhakti-sastri curriculum, offered for the first time at Krishna House.
Rupachandra Prabhu, who lived at Krishna House for six years while completing his PhD studies, accepted a faculty position at a prestigious university in New York.
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