By Gauri das
Sruti Dharma Das, Temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor, has been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. The news was unexpected as there had been no previous indications. Both his family and the temple community are adjusting to the news. Sruti Dharma had been facing various health complaints and his medical advisor spontaneously decided to run further tests, beyond what was required. The results of those tests showed several lesions on his brain. He was then admitted to Charing
By Ramai Swami
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula at New Govardhan is in the process of constructing more high school facilities.
This includes relevant earthworks and building of eight classrooms, science lab, art studio, hard court outdoor basketball court, play areas and a toilet block.
This project is partially funded by the Commonwealth Government, offering $900,000 towards the construction costs. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1,479,610.
The school, which now has well over on
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
We may think, “What about my security? I need some security; like a little money in the bank, a credit card maybe. You know, just in case, something happens. Need to be prepared. What about my security?”
But a vaisnava’s security is his goodwill; his goodwill with the people. That is the best security because goodwill goes much further than the bank. You know, the banks may say, “Well, sorry!” If you have maybe 150 000 and the bill is 160 000. The bank is not paying the
In the Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 13, we are talking about residing in Mathura dhama or Mathura mandala which refers to the holy dhama of Vrindavan. Mayapur dhama is non-different. “So this attainment of transcendental loving devotional service to the Lord is the goal of life and it can be achieved very easily for one who lives in Mathura mandala even for a few seconds.” EVEN FOR A FEW SECONDS! Just see all the benefit we are getting by being part of this Movement and understand why Srila Pra
By Bhaktisiddanta Swami
Peter Cosgrove: Governor General, Lieutennat General, Chief of Army, Commander, Royal Australian Regiment.
Due to the arrival of the Australian royalty in an entourage of 4 cars and a Mercedes limo, the main thorough fare (Rajadhirsen Marga) adjacent to Rādhā Parth-sarathi Mandir, was blocked off. Sir Peter Cosgrove, along with his wife, Lady Cosgrove, was the first ever Governor General of Australia to visit an Iskcon center, accompanied by such dignitaries as Her excel
By Madhava Smullen
For BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations Department
Since 2012, when ISKCON North America’s leaders unanimously agreed to work as one book distribution team with a collective goal, sales of Srila Prabhupada’s books have seen a dramatic increase.
Remittance to the BBT grew 20% in 2012 and 2013, and 10% each year after that, from $700,000 in 2012 to around $2.1 million in 2016.
The 2017 marathon was yet another major success, with nearly $2 million again remitted to th
Question: How do we survive exploitation and abuse and at the same time not become an impersonalist who just renounces everything? We also need to continue to have a soft-heart in order to love Krsna.
Abuse is very disgusting. As I said earlier, yayedaà dhäryate jagat (Bhagavad-gita 7.5), exploitation exists among living beings in this world. It becomes even more distasteful when such exploitive mentality enters into the relationship between devotees but at the same time it can be expected tha
“I have always had a fascination with the North.”
Issue: 2016-09-29, PHOTO: courtesy of Bhaktimarga Swami
Bhaktimarga Swami, is a 63-year-old, Ontario-born monk who has walked across Canada four times.
I am on the phone with Bhaktimarga Swami, a 63-year-old monk in Toronto. We are talking about the visit to Whitehorse he has planned for late September.
Better known as The Walking Monk, at 63 he has already walked across Canada four times, as well as across the United States, Ireland,
Spiritual Gardener is someone who first of all cultivates the garden of his own heart. He plants the right seeds, waters them nicely, and also takes out all the unwanted weeds.
He also helps others to do the same.
Srila Prabhupada writes in the Srimad-Bhagavatam Purport:
The conditional changes of the living entity are explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta in the instructions given to Srila Rupa Gosvami by Lord Sri Caitanya:
“The living entities all over the universes are enjoying the effects of
Once I gave initiation in Mayapur to a devotee and afterward, we met Jananivasa Prabhu. I said to Jananivasa Prabhu that I just gave initiation to this devotee, could you please just give him your blessings. Jananivasa Prabhu said, “Oh, you just took initiation! This is very nice because the time when you just take initiation is a very special time! It is the time where everything is still fresh and you are full of good positive energy. This is the time when you can put some really good habits
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
One can never take Krsna for granted. One should never think, “I’ve done so much service… so much! You know in my days, we used to go out on sankirtan and we used to distribute so many books, so many books that one man could not lift them! In the past, we did so much service, and that’s why in the present we don’t have to do anything!”
If we do think like this then immediately, maya is here!
Kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha hañā bhoga vāñchā kare, nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare, J
Giriraj Dasa: Gaudiya Vaishnavas, are supposed to follow the mood of Vrajavasis. Among the Vrajavasis the mood and service of gopis is considered the highest. During the day gopis are always busy in one main activity – churning butter. How can we follow this practice in the modern age of Kali-yuga?
We can very easily follow gopis by churning the verses of bhakti scriptures, especially Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. If we sincerely try to churn these verses with love and devotion then by t
Every devotee is an individual. We are not all stereotypes – all walking the same and all saying Hare Krsna in the same way. No, we are individuals who have a role to play and a contribution to make. That is what we are meant for. That is the higher plan. But when Prabhupada said, “Please, just give me this one life,” instead of just trying to be what we want, what we dream to be, what we’re always hoping for… for one life, just be the instrument of Krsna.
By Ramai Swami
Govindas restaurant and the Lotus Room in Darlinghurst are still going strong after more than twenty years of operation.
The restaurant, run by devotee couple Pratapana and Jayasri, is pretty much packed out every night.
The Lotus Room hosts kirtan evenings headed by local devotees, however, many well known international devotees come through to lead kirtans, which are also well attended.
By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)
For those of us who have traveled the length and breadth of India, there are many temples that have allowed us in and left indelible and inspiring memories for our spiritual progress. There have also been some temples who have kept us out, or even kicked us out after we have already entered, as if they do not want to share their culture with us, or anyone they feel does not meet their requirements. I can understand that to a degree. But with a little re
When someone is caught stealing red-handed and you talk about it, “That person is not honest because he is a thief. He was caught red-handed.” Well, that may be true but are you just going to label the person a thief forever!
The proof is there; he was caught red-handed. Okay, maybe he was a thief and maybe he has a weakness in that field. But maybe he can be protected; maybe one day he will come around. We see that the great Valmiki became a great devotee. He was a chor, a thief, but then he b
By Kesava Krsna dasa – GRS.
The sound of the heartbeat, the pulse of life gushing blood through thousands of arteries, veins and capillaries lending sensation to the nerve network entwined in and about organs and muscles and flesh, all bound by the bodily structure encased with a thin layer of skin in harmony with our subtle impulse, is our presentation to the world. This biological machine, city of nine gates, is a sleeping convenience to enact our wishes. Lord Krsna says:
“One who identifies
Krishna Dharma is a Vaishnava Priest and scholar. In this interview he responds to questions about Hinduism, Vedic scriptures and science.
My name is Krishna Dharma, a Vaishnava Priest and author, and I have been asked to explain how Hinduism sits with science. As some of you may know Hinduism has various branches and I personally belong to the branch known as Vaishnavism, which is essentially the monotheistic strand of the faith. My scriptures are called the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit writings co
In this article, Suhotra Swami discusses various approaches to acquiring knowledge. He examines this phenomena in terms of the three pramanas (pratyaksa, anumana and sabda), which are the recognised sources of knowledge in the Vaisnava tradition. Suhotra Swami explains that in Vaisnava epistemology sabda (hearing from an authoritative source) is accorded the greatest regard. He examines the methods of direct perception and logical argument and offers an interesting analysis of their limitation
By Madhava Smullen
A series of video blogs, or “vlogs,” featuring ISKCON guru Sivarama Swami giving a Krishna conscious perspective on current issues, have racked up over 20 million views on Facebook. Devotees behind the project see it as a way forward for outreach in the Hare Krishna Movement.
Radha Damodara Das, an engineering student who works for Apple, had the idea when he began looking for new ways to help his spiritual master reach large quantities of people.
“Two years ago I was inspire
