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By Yudhisthira Dasa  

This article aims to open the door to an emotionally and spiritually healthier attitude toward our ongoing journey of self-realization. This approach stands in stark contrast to the sectarian and fear-based renunciation that many of us in the first and second generation of ISKCON have experienced, albeit generally with no detrimental intent. After all, we took birth in human bodies for a purpose, not to deny it, but to see our human experience as an opportunity to learn bet

By Ananda Tirtha Das

The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin in February 2025. Following the ISKCON GBC Society’s Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by two GBC members, to be submitted by December 31, 2024. Please note that no proposals will be entertained after this date.

To submit a proposal, please use the fillable .pdf here. Once completed, the proposal should be emailed here.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/gbc-releases-proposal

Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj was born into a vaishya family on the banks of the Padma River in Bagayan village in Faridpur district in what is now Bangladesh. His given name was Vamsi Das. He was born sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. He is important to us because he was the diksha guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. Vamsi Das’s parents had him married at an early age according to the custom of the time, but he always remained detache

By Giriraj Swami

Today is the disappearance day of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a great devotee - a maha-bhagavata. He was a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was very renounced. He had lived for many years in Vrindavan, roaming the twelve forests, chanting the holy names of Krishna, eating by begging alms, and sleeping under trees. Later, after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace in Mayapur, Srila Jagannatha da

Contrary to some erroneous reports in Indian media, ISKCON of Houston plans to hold its Festival of Bliss on Saturday, November 9th. The following is a statement from Saranga Thakur Dasa, President, ISKCON of Houston:

“ISKCON Houston To Adapt Its Festival for 2024

In the spirit of cooperation, ISKCON Houston is voluntarily adapting its Festival of Bliss plans for 2024, by featuring the Deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, who famously brought the cha

In this video, HH Bhaktimarga Swami discusses the importance of devotional service, as explained in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, specifically SB 7.11.8-12. The verses delve into qualities essential for spiritual growth and human advancement, such as truthfulness, compassion, cleanliness, tolerance, control of mind and senses, and simplicity. HH Bhaktimarga Swami emphasizes that these are universal values applicable to everyone, regardless of their societal role.

He elaborates on the concept of varṇāś

By Chaitanya Arya

On November 2, 2024, more than 1,200 devotees from remote villages in the Satpura hill range came together to celebrate the auspicious Giriraj Govardhan Puja Mahotsav. The event, led by Nitaipad Das and Markatshyam Das, with the cooperation of Upanand Das, Jayant, Gopal, Vasant, and Chaitanya, took place in a tribal region along the South Gujarat-North Maharashtra border. This large gathering of tribal devotees signifies a growing movement to revive Krishna Consciousness in com

Today is Gopastami, the day on which Krishna and Balarama and other boys Their age, who previously had tended the calves, were given charge of the cows. This event is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.15.1):

tatas ca pauganda-vayah-sritau vraje
  babhuvatus tau pasu-pala-sammatau
gas carayantau sakhibhih samam padair
  vrndavanam punyam ativa cakratuh

“When Lord Rama and Lord Krsna attained the age of pauganda [six to ten] while living in Vrndavana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the

At the Hindu Sabha Mandir, a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, there was an incident during a temple event. Pro-Khalistan movement protesters held a demonstration outside the temple, which escalated into violence. It is unclear what led to the protest turning violent and who initiated the violence. Today, ISKCON Communications North America released a statement condemning the incident:

Statement on Attack of Hindu Sabha Mandir in Canada

November 4th, 2024

The International Society for K

Registration is going on!!

It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 12th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik (organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s). The Parikrama dates are 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th & 15th November, 2024. Adivas will be on 8th of November.

There will be one day break on12th of November.

For this year also, the parikrama will not stay overnight; we will leave each day from the ISKCON Mayapur campus at 5 AM and r

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder-Acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)

The Extraordinary Biography of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

He built a house in which the whole world can live

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was sent by the Lord Krishna to fulfil Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction “Prtvithe ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama” - In every town and villa

From October 3-6, 2024, over 120 North American leaders gathered at New Vrindaban, WV, for the North American Leadership Conference. This event brought together leaders from across the United States and Canada to discuss topics central to ISKCON’s future. However, none were as exciting as the “3/35 Vision”, an ambitious growth plan outlined by the North America Regional Governing Body (RGB) for the next decade. ISKCON News spoke with Jaya Krsna Das, a key RGB member, President of New Vrindaban,

In October, ISKCON Hungary hosted an early celebration of Diwali (Dipavali), known as “The Festival of Lights,” an event with a long-standing tradition in the local community. This exclusive gala dinner is held annually in Budapest, inviting key supporters of the yatra, public figures, decision-makers, goodwill friends, professional partners involved in Food for Life, members of the Indian Embassy, and interested media representatives.

Dipavali, celebrated around the world, marks the New Year in

By Atma Tattva Das

This year, ISKCON Turkiye hosted Bhakti Camp, attracting over a hundred devotees from Europe and the Middle East to a forest retreat near Istanbul. The camp provided an opportunity for spiritual growth and community engagement. Led by Zonal Supervisor Nrsimha Krishna Das, the theme was “Stronger Together,” which emphasized unity and collaboration among participants. Nrsimha Krishna noted that the event was organized with the involvement of various departments, contributing to

Chapter Ten: Spiritual Marriage and Balanced Training

“The soldiers in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must always possess physical strength, enthusiasm and sensual power. To keep themselves fit, they must therefore place themselves in a normal condition of life. What constitutes a normal condition will not be the same for everyone, and therefore there are divisions of varṇāśrama—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa.” (SB. 8.2.30, purport).

Śrīla P

Frequently asked Questions on Mentoring
 

When I was initiated in 1975, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to my temple president at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, asking him to make sure I followed all the rules. He wrote:

13th November, 1975

My dear Prabhavisnu das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and accept upon your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples….I also accept the following as twice-born brahmanas and their threads and mantra sheets are

From Back to Godhead

At the same time, many