Vrndavana Vilasini was attached to a hippie life of independence but found that lifestyle to be no protection from painful events and the intense suffering they caused. In her travels around America, she met devotees, heard the holy name, and took prasada. Finally, she ended up back in Seattle, Washington, her hometown.
One day, I was visiting the Seattle temple when the president, Makhanlal, said to me, “Do you want to meet someone who loves God more than anyone else?” I said, “Sure!” A littl
By Sita Rama das
According to the ISKCON foundational document “Srila Prabhupada: The Founder Acarya of ISKCON” (The Founder Acarya) two ideas exist which are a rejection of Srila Prabhupada’s instruction for continuing the disciplic succession. One idea is to reject individual gurus, the other is to eliminate the GBC and have one acarya (p.24). ISKCON needs to foster both an “…intense common loyalty to ISKCON and the GBC…” and a deep “…full teaching relationship between individual gurus and di
Lord Krishna and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu come to just “one” Maha-yuga out of every 1000!
A very rare event because this means they both come just ‘’once’’ in a 24 hour day of Lord Brahma
Also all Maha-yugas happen during the day-time hours (between Sunrise to Sunset) of Lord Brahma’s day. So this means Lord Brahma’s day from Sunrise to Sunset equals 1000 Maha yugas, also known as a Catur-yuga and Divya-yuga which are -.
Satya Yuga is 1,728,000 human years,
Treta Yuga is 1,296,000 human years l
Looking back to 1987, I remember trying my best to counsel several weeping ISKCON Vaisnavas when they learned that their guru had just defaulted his position. Their guru was previously a dynamic, conquering her who shone like fire through preaching, making disciples, and leading the sankirtan movement. Yet, those weeping Vaisnavas sitting in my office would have traded all the joy they shared with him during the victories just to have him remain their own spiritually-healthy guru. These devotee
Vyenkata Bhatta lived at Sri Rangam and had a son named Gopal. When the boy came to offer his obeisances at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu the Lord picked him up and very affectionately seated him in His lap. Mahaprabhu would call Gopal after He had finished His meal and offer His remnants to the boy. In this way He prepared him for the position of Acarya.
In Nepal, Gopala Bhatta bathed in the famous Kali-Gandaki River. Upon dipping his water-pot in the river, he was surprised to see several Sha
“I would believe only in a God that knew how to dance.” – Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
A few days ago, I went for a long walk with a very dear friend. We were so absorbed in our talks that we forgot the time. All of a sudden, we found ourselves surrounded by the pitch-black night.
A recent hurricane had torn off the branches of many timeworn trees and uprooted numerous others, leaving us an ominous path back home. Fortunately, my friend had a mobile phone with torchlight function, and our
Essentially there are three planes of consciousness: enjoyment, renunciation, and devotion.
1. Enjoyment
In order to survive, the environment is geared towards exploitation. Why? Because of selfishness. We put ourselves in the center and this results in conflict as everyone has a different center.
2. Renunciation
It is taught that there can be no peace in this material existence because everything is temporary and there is so much conflict. To renounce everything and have a deep dreamless sleep
By Madhava Smullen
When the category 4 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20th, 2017, the U.S. territory’s only ISKCON temple, in Gurabo, was almost completely destroyed. The roof, veranda and porch were ripped off, the temple flooded, and equipment broken. For nearly a year after, devotees did not have electricity or running water, and groceries and gas were hard to come by.
Yet two months after the hurricane, they put on a small Rathayatra festival for the public, their fourth. T
Sri Mayapur Goshala is a happy home for Sri Radha-Madhava’s Cows. Situated in the ISKCON campus, Mayapur Goshala serves to give the best of care in terms of fodder, shelter, medication, cleanliness and an opportunity to serve the cows!
Watch in this video Mayapur Goshala’s Care for Cows!
Become a Mayapur Goshala Sevak today!
Source: http://www.mayapur.com/2019/happy-home-for-krishnas-cows-video/
Srimad Bhagavatam Verse: 9.11.18-19
Date: 23 Jan 2019
Speaker: HH Subhag Swami
Text 18: After mother Sītā entered the earth, Lord Rāmacandra observed complete celibacy and performed an uninterrupted Agnihotra-yajña for thirteen thousand years.
Translation 19:
After completing the sacrifice, Lord Rāmacandra, whose lotus feet were sometimes pierced by thorns when He lived in Daṇḍakāraṇya, placed those lotus feet in the hearts of those who always think of Him. Then He entered His own abode, the Va
By Giriraj dasa
Srila Prabhupada described Srimad Bhagavatam as the encyclopedia of spiritual life and Caitanya Mahaprabhu called it the amala purana (spotless Purana).
We all know the famous Gita Mahatamaya verse :
sarvopanishado gavo, dogdha gopala-nandanah
partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta, dugdham gitamritam mahat
All the Upanisads are like a cow, and the milker of the cow is Lord Shri Krishna, the son of Nanda. Arjuna is the calf, the beautiful nectar of the Gita is the milk, and the fortunate
By Dhirasanta Das Goswami
Once there was a sweeper in a well-known Krishna temple and he was very sincere and devoted. Every time he saw thousands of devotees coming to take darshan of the Lord, he thought that the Lord is standing all the time and giving darshan and He must be feeling very tired.
So one day very innocently he asked the Lord whether he could take the place of the Lord for a day, so that the Lord could have some relief and rest. The Deity of Krishna replied, “I do not mind taki
By Mina Sharma
A new logo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON UK has today been unveiled by the organisational team.Designed by Anantacarya Das, the striking logo encompasses the colours of the Union Jack and features a map of the UK in the background.Speaking today, Praghosa Dasa, UK GBC Chairman said:“The 50th anniversary is an historic milestone for ISKCON UK, where we lookback at the incredible story of how our first temple and deities were established in London, to today where th
By Krishna Bhagavan dasa
The Bhakta Program at RVC is a three-month introductory course in Applied Vedic Culture teaching the basics of Krishna Consciousness, and in 2018 there were eight participants.
The Bhaktas:
Bhakta Blake (29 years old) is part of a bhakti yoga community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he is currently the Sankirtana Leader and Outreach Director there. He completed the bhakta program course at RVC.
Bhakta Blake comments, “The Bhakta program at Rupanuga Vedic College provides a
As a child, Christmas was a time of great anticipation and excitement. Until my teen years that is, when it became more and more a source of disappointment—but that’s a story for another time.
Christmas, a time of giving and receiving, of goodwill for all mankind, is experienced all year long in devotional service, and it is certainly true of the prison ministry service. It is Christmas every day! And there is no disappointment, no letdown, and no hype about it: it is the real deal and it bri
We love to picnic, barbecue, celebrate birthdays and entertain guests. We may hesitate on what fast-foods are on offer. Here is some “Party-pooping” information, which should enhance our parties even more. So “let’s party,” as they say.
Technology has enabled soya to transform into burgers, sausages, prawns, chicken breasts, steaks and more. Do we have the time to make the bread rolls to go with them? Not a problem, we can always get a few dozen from the local bakery.
In this era of instant fas
“Because of my state of complete foolishness and paucity of pious activities, although the Lord offered me His personal service, I wanted material name, fame and prosperity. My case is just like that of the poor man who, when he satisfied a great emperor who wanted to give him anything he might ask, out of ignorance asked only a few broken grains of husked rice.”
PURPORT
In this verse the word svārājyam, which means “complete independence,” is very significant. A conditioned soul does not know
Srila Prabhupada walks with Yamuna Devi, one of the pioneers of ISKCON UK
In 2016, ISKCON centers all around the world celebrated the 50thanniversary of the society’s incorporation on July 13th, 1966 by Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada. Now, ISKCON UK is set to celebrate the 50thanniversary of its own incorporation, a story which has itself long been ISKCON legend.
Throughout 2019, already-scheduled festivals like London Rathayatra, Janmastami, and 24-Hour Kirtan will b
By Madhava Smullen
Shyamasundar Das, one of ISKCON’s earliest pioneers, has released Volume Two in his two-part series “Chasing Rhinos,” which gives a personal, insider’s account of major events in ISKCON’s history and a sense of the “anything’s possible” excitement and drive of those early days.
Volume 1: San Francisco and London, 1966 – 1970 came out in 2016, and followed Shyamasundar’s experiences as he assisted Prabhupada in establishing Krishna consciousness in San Francisco at the pea
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
We must not blindly follow but always use our intelligence to deeply understand our philosophy and all the stories from the different ages. In previous ages, quite outstanding things were possible. In those times, sages had amazing powers and piety was a big thing.
But now, we live in a different age. The first principle of this age is forgiveness, ksama; that is the essence. If there is no forgiveness – forget it! If you cannot forgive then you cannot be a devotee, as i
