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An Aspiration by Giriraj Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 16, 2019 at 11:50am

While chanting japa this morning, I thought of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s verse about the holy name:

tunde tandavini ratim vitanute tundavali-labdhaye
karna-kroda-kadambini ghatayate karnarbudebhyah sprham
cetah-prangana-sangini vijayate sarvendriyanam krtim
no jane janita kiyadbhir amrtaih krsneti varna-dvayi

“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krs-na’ have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When

Female Inclusiveness by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 16, 2019 at 11:45am

Our topic was "guru." I will paraphrase what I said—in regard to women being empowered as gurus—to the assembly of senior men and women. All others who commented on the topic are to be confidentially honoured.

"I read the Bhagavad-gita first at the age of twenty. In Chapter One, Prabhupada purports that women are less intelligent. I struggled with that. I read on and came to Chapter 10, text 34, where our guru, Prabhupada, comments that intelligence is a feminine trait. My mind struggl

Iskcon devotees invited in important social event meet with popular stars

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 15, 2019 at 5:21pm

H.H.Radhanath Swami and HG Gauranga prabhu, during an important social event of the wedding of the son of Indian magnate Mukesh Ambani met with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Super star Rajnikanth.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=72695

Food For All Opens ‘Pay As You Can’ Café in Watford, UK

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 15, 2019 at 5:13pm

Food For All, a prasadam distribution charity run by Parasurama Das, held a grand “re-opening” for a unique café in Watford, England near Bhaktivedanta Manor on February 25th.

The café was previously known as Gokula and was run by the late Bhaja Hari Das, who passed away from a heart attack.

Food For All took it over two years ago. “I began giving out free meals every Monday, and it became very popular,” says Parasurama. “130 homeless people came the first time.

With the re-opening, Food For

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 6

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 15, 2019 at 3:00pm

Gauranga! Nityananda!

On the 6th day of Parikrama, we are wondering in the island of Rudradvipa where Nidaya Gat (border) is situated.

Early morning all the pilgrims left Pratapnagar by boat.. it is always a great time crossing the merciful waters of Mother Ganga with so many devotees, such an unique experience!

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His house (where the Yoga Pitha is situated) in the early morning heading to the Ganga. He crossed the river by swimming on His way to Katva to take sannyas

Speech by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at ISKCON Delhi

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 15, 2019 at 2:28pm

ISKCON Chairman, Honorable Gopal Krishna maharaj ji, my cabinet colleague Mr. Mahesh Sharma, my associate in the Parliament Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, other important members of ISKCON, and ladies and gentlemen present here.

I was told that people from many countries including America, UK, Russia, and Hungary have arrived to attend this program. My warm greetings to all of you.

Friends, today is a very important day.

Hare Krishna! Today is an important day. In the morning I participated in the Gandh

Every Year by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 15, 2019 at 1:30pm

Every year we arrange a lunch for the Canadian pilgrims. This year, Gauranga's Garden became our venue for bhakti-yogis from the Great White North to assemble. Monks/swamis well known like Sivarama, BB Govinda, Gopal Krishna and Bhanu Swami came, either on foot, or by rickshaw, to bless the occasion of eating. We also saw some happy cooks.

We are also in the swing of what is called "Kirtan Mela," which takes the shape of a five-day marathon of chanting with instruments. Traditionally kir

Making all the world my temple

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2019 at 4:30pm

By Jagabandhu dasa

In the morning, I sing the words of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur from Arunodaya -kirtan to millions of suffering jivas as I ride through the pre-dawn darkness on my way to work. I follow with Sri Rupa’s famous prayer of extreme self-abnegation (mat tulyo nasti papatma) and Srila Kaviraj Goswami’s obeisance to all the Gurus, Vaishnavas and the diverse aspects of the Divine Lord Who is recognized in completeness as Shree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Then I sing some verses from S

Jayadev Das to Release Dance Album “The Original Superheroes”

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2019 at 2:23pm

Arts

By Madhava Smullen

Jayadev Das (John Richardson), a popular devotee musician and drummer with 1970s pop group The Rubettes, is set to release a dance album on April 1stunder the name “Jayadev’s Mantra Crew.”

In response to the current superhero craze, the album will be called “The Original Superheroes” and will feature songs about spiritual personalities and role models.

The tracklisting is as follows:

Ganesha
Srila Prabhupada
Jesus the Christ
Om Namah Sivaya
Hey Hanuman
His Mercy Rain
Who am

New Govardhana to Open-State-of-the-Art Goshala for Cow Protection

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2019 at 2:21pm

Activism

By Madhava Smullen

A state-of-the-art new goshala facility has been built at the New Govardhana farm in Australia, setting up a bright future for cow protection in the community.

The goshala will open on March 18thwith a fire yajna, kirtan, guided tour and prasadam.

Cow protection has been going on at the thousand-acre farm in some form since its establishment in 1979.

Currently there are seventy-eight cows, divided into three categories. Retired cows are cared for by Gita Govinda Dasi and kep

The Highest Taste by Kadamba Kanana Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2019 at 2:17pm

The pastimes of Krsna have more power to capture the heart than any other pastime. Therefore, to develop love for Krsna is especially easy because Sri Krsna is all attractive and His pastimes are especially sweet. What Lord Caitanya gave us is filled with taste and there is no compromise – it is the highest taste. Taste is the special feature of Lord Caitanya’s movement.

In the Caitanya Candramrta of Prabodhananda Sarasvati the question is asked: “Where do you find renunciation as you find it

A Monk by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2019 at 2:09pm

A monk from the Orient, China, I suppose, excitedly and hurriedly ran to me with a gift. It was a gamsha, a short lower garment for sleeping in, or to be used as a towel after bathing. He doesn't know me very well, but he extended himself for that devotional touch.

"What is your name?" I asked him.

"My name is ??? Swami," he answered, with a name that was the length of the Ganges.

"Is there a short form to that?"

"Haridasa," he replied.

"Thanks. I can handle a three syllable wor

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 4

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 2:28pm

By Nitya Kishore dasi

“Jaya Jaya Sri Caitanya Jaya Nityananda, Jaya Advaita Chandra Jaya Gaura bhakta vrinda!

In the Parikrama 4th day we covered Rtudvipa and Jahnudvipa, processes arcana and vandanam respectively. Rtudvipa is where the house of the learned Vidya Vanaspati is situated and Jahnudvipa is the island where the sage Jahnu muni was living, once Bhismadeva came to visit him.

So, we can’t describe the happiness of the devotees to visit such sacred places! Champahati (or the market of j

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 2 and 3

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 1:36pm

By Nitya Kishore dasi

Gauranga!! Nityananda!!!

The last 2 days of Parikrama have been such an unforgettable experience for all the pilgrims. In the second day we visited Godrumadvipa, the island where kirtan is the process. This is where Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave comments on the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and wrote all his songs.
We were in Surabhi kunj where Sri Nityananda prabhu started His first Namahatta and from that very place the incredible mercy of Lord Nityananda crossed the whole w

Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 1

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 12:48pm

All glories to Sri Navadvipa Dhama, the birth place of Harinama sankirtan!

Sri Caitaya Mahaprabhu said: “This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon.” Kali Yuga it is an hopeless age in all respects, chanting the Holy Name is the only means to achieve even material happiness!
HH Gaura Govinda Maharaj once said: “the Holy Name will give you everything…everything and in the end the Holy Name will give you Krsna Prema

New School Textbook Teaches Success in Life Through Bhagavad-gita

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 12:35pm

By Madhava Smullen

A new textbook for schools in the Telegu language, entitled “Bhagavad-gita for Complete Success in Life,” has been written by an ISKCON devotee and published by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the organization that manages the famous Venkateswara temple.

Author Vaishnavanghri Sevaka Das, a scientist in the polymer industry who translates Prabhupada’s books into Telegu in his spare time, feels that this collaboration would be very much appreciated by Srila Prabhup

New York Brooklyn and Bhaktivedanta Institute Reports Headline March 7th Afternoon GBC Session

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 12:30pm

Mayapur, India, March 7, 3:45 PM – Following a break for lunch, members of the GBC reconvened for the afternoon session of the day’s 2019 GBC Annual General Meeting.

The first topic up for discussion was ISKCON’s Radha-Govinda Temple in Brooklyn, NY. The last few years have seen conflict over the managerial authority of the temple, prompted by an earlier proposed sale of the property.

The co-GBCs of the New York temple, Radhanath Swami and Devamrita Swami, assisted by Vaisesika Dasa and templ

A Hundred of Us by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 13, 2019 at 12:15pm

There were a hundred of us, mostly monks, men and women. We stood in a circle, and the exercise was to take some steps forward or backward, depending on the answer to the question given.

The facilitator, Vraj Bihari, asked, "How many of you are in the category of seventy years of age and above?" About a dozen took three steps forward.

"How many of you are between sixty and seventy?" That included a much larger percentage.

"How many of you came to Krishna Consciousness before 1970?"

GBC Discusses the “Solid Ground” of ISKCON’s Preaching

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 12, 2019 at 2:19pm

Mayapur, India, March 7, 12:15 PM - The morning session of the 2019 GBC Annual General Meeting continued with an hour-and-a-half presentation on the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, or BBT. The BBT was established by ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada in 1972 to publish Krishna conscious literature, and is the world's largest publisher of classic Vaishnava texts and contemporary works on the philosophy, theology, and culture of bhakti-yoga.

Vaisesika Dasa made the presentation on behalf of th

GBC Meetings Open with Discussion of TOVP

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 12, 2019 at 2:14pm

Mayapur, India, March 7, 10:00 AM –The 2019 GBC Annual General Meeting is in session in Sridhama Mayapur. The ISKCON Governing Body Commission, or GBC as it is commonly known, gathers here every year at ISKCON’s world headquarters in West Bengal. Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya,established the GBC as the ultimate managing authority for his movement. At present, the GBC body is comprised of 37 members who are each responsible for overseeing the management and spiritual standards of I

Blog

Featured Posts (13307)

An Aspiration by Giriraj Swami

Female Inclusiveness by Bhaktimarga Swami

Iskcon devotees invited in important social event meet with popular stars

Food For All Opens ‘Pay As You Can’ Café in Watford, UK

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 6

Speech by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at ISKCON Delhi

Every Year by Bhaktimarga Swami

Making all the world my temple

Jayadev Das to Release Dance Album “The Original Superheroes”

New Govardhana to Open-State-of-the-Art Goshala for Cow Protection

The Highest Taste by Kadamba Kanana Swami

A Monk by Bhaktimarga Swami

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 4

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 2 and 3

Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019: Day 1

New School Textbook Teaches Success in Life Through Bhagavad-gita

New York Brooklyn and Bhaktivedanta Institute Reports Headline March 7th Afternoon GBC Session

A Hundred of Us by Bhaktimarga Swami

GBC Discusses the “Solid Ground” of ISKCON’s Preaching

GBC Meetings Open with Discussion of TOVP

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