By Karnamrita Das

Part one: The Metaphysic of Simultaneous, Inconceivable, Oneness, yet Difference

“In my unmanifested form
I pervade the Universe,
though I’m present everywhere
I am also apart from all.” [Bg 9.4]
In the broadest sense
Krishna is everything--
with more knowledge and focus
we learn about His energies.

Within the One Energy
there is spiritual variety
as Krishna is like the sun
his energies, the sunshine.
Here is Chaitanya’s metaphysic
of simultaneous, inconceivable
Oneness yet di

The qualities that degrade us are, unfortunately, so familiar, near and dear to us. They are “the wealth of the evil”(āsura-sampada). Krishna lists them in Gita (16.4):

dambho darpo ’bhimānaś ca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca
ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm

Hypocricy & Fraudulance

Dambha means being super loud about how wonderful we are, and extremely quiet about how lame we are.

Vanity

Darpa is the root of the Sanskrit word for mirror (darpana). It means admiring oneself, fawning over one

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 3.10 at a home program.

“‘In the Age of Kali, the sankirtana-yajna (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age.Sankirtana-yajna and Krsna consciousness go well together. Lord Krsna in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) as follows, with special reference to the s

I spent time in Vrindavan by Krsna´s grace. I had not deserved it but somehow or other, I joined there. I had the good fortune of being in the place where Krsna was so present and where Prabhupada was so present. In the Krsna Balarama mandir in every nook and corner, there was such a strong focus on Prabhupada that I understood: IT IS about Prabhupada. I saw the leaders of the movement coming to Vrindavan and I heard from them too. I heard Tamal Krsna Maharaj say, “In Vrindavan we cannot accept

I have a disciple who always signs their letters with ‘your mercy case’ instead of the usual ‘your servant’. It has been consistent over many years and it is nice. It sounds good to think with that mentality, ‘I am your mercy case!’

Whatever reminds us of our humble position, that is an asset! When we are seeing ourselves as fallen, then we feel a need for shelter. As soon as we think, “Well I know it all. I have been around for a long time,” then the difficulty begins. We immediately start to

Bonds of Love: Girija Devi Dasi. 
Girija, a devout Christian, became interested in Krishna consciousness when she learned of Srila Prabhupada’s respect for and openness to all bona fide, sincerely practiced religions.
As I got older I saw my religion declining and felt sorry. I tried Sri Aurobindo’s ashram for a year, then I tried Maharishi, then went to a convent to be a nun, but these weren’t what I was looking for. Then in 1976, when I was 24, I went to the Govardhana-puja festival at the M

By Ramai Swami

ISKCON Mayapur welcomes worldwide devotees to join us on the joyous occasion of celebrating the appearance day of Sri Narasimhadeva, Sri Narasimha Caturdasi festival 2018. This year, the festival falls on 29th April. A three days festivities including Narahari Nama Kirtan, adhivas, Maha abhisheka and Sri Narasimha Katha are planned for this year’s festival.

Sri Sthanu Narasimhadeva of Mayapur has a special place in the hearts of devotees worldwide. He is famous as performer of various pastimes,

Personal Letters from Srila Prabhupada

As a genuine spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada takes personal responsibility for the advancement of each of his students in the spiritual life of Krsna consciousness. Although now his transcendental instructions are available in book form, when Srila Prabhupada first began the Krsna consciousness movement, the only way his new disciples could get the answers to their many questions was to ask Srila Prabhupada personal

By Karnamrita Das

Some persons caught up in the counter-culture of the late '60's and '70's felt that all materiel prospects were void and society's status quo, miserable stagnation. Thus, as if in a life and death battle, they intensely felt compelled to search out meaning and happiness on the spiritual quest, appearing as their only hope. This free verse poem, inspired by the months I spent in the redwood forest in Muir Woods in Marin County [near San Francisco, California], condenses the bac

The GBC EC, on behalf of the GBC body, wishes to offer its deepest respect to Sriman Vrndavan Chandra De, on the occasion of his passing from this world.

Vrndavan Chandra De was the youngest son of His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Due to his appearance in such an exalted family, he was brought up very lovingly as a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Krsna.

When Srila Prabhupada joined the movement of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, he would host Gaudiya Math sannyasis and br

Lecture by HH Radhanath Swami

Srila Prabhupada has told us that the culmination of all of our preaching in Krsna Consciousness is to induce people to wholeheartedly chant the holy names of Krsna. The chanting of the Holy names must continue. Srila Prabhupada said we can do without temples, we can do without everything. We don’t need money. If we can get it, we will use it. We don’t need property. If we get it we will use it. We don’t need vehicles. If we get it we will use it. We don’t need go

Radhanath Swami was invited to speak on the subject of ‘Conscious Leadership’ at the Houses of Parliament last month. The event was sponsored by Shailesh Vara MP and attended by representatives of all Parties, including the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society, Mr. Stephen Timms MP. Radhanath Swami’s presentation was preceded by a more intimate meeting in Shailesh Vara MP’s office, which also included Lord Dholakia, Baroness Warsi, Seema Malhotra MP, Oliver Dowden MP

Nowhere else in the world can you walk along the roads, Lanes, and pathways and be constantly reminded of the Lord’s Holy Name than in Sri Vrindavan Dham. The street names, the names of the buildings, the signs on the shops, the Radha and Krishna names painted on the compound walls, and hearing  the kirtans of the Holy Names being sung as you pass by the different ashrams throughout the city. Automatically you must surely start chanting without even realizing you are doing it.

I recall the day

Just like us, the Lord has feelings. When someone glorifies the Lord, He is happy but if someone speaks ill words, the Lord feels pain in His heart. The pastime between Varaha and Hiaranyaksha is a display of Lord's feelings.

Hiranyaksha spoke of Lord Varaha "When You fall dead with Your skull smashed by the mace hurled by my arms, the demigods and sages who offer You oblations and sacrifice in devotional service will also automatically cease to exist, like trees without roots." Hearing this t

By Akhandadhi Das

A friend of mine recently revealed a personal moment of spirit in action. She had been chronically abused by her father and this had led to an array of deep psychological issues during adulthood. Three years ago, her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Reluctantly, she agreed to support her mother on a visit to the hospital. My friend recalled the moment she saw the man who had ruined her life. Lying on the bed, hooked up to monitors and drips, he looked so weak and hel

By Madhava Smullen

ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s youngest son, Vrindavan Chandra De, passed away at his home in Kolkata at 10:30pm on April 3rd. He had been suffering from lung cancer. 

Vrindavan Chandra was favorable to his father’s society, and ISKCON devotees were present, chanting in his room, while he passed.

Vrindavan Chandra had been the only family member present when Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta to leave for the U.S. on August 13th, 1965. He related the experience when he

By Madhava Smullen 

As ISKCON’s second and third generations progress in their lives and Krishna consciousness, their signature festival, Kulimela, is also growing and developing in new ways with every event.

This summer’s Kulimela 2018, to be held in Radhadesh, Belgium, is the tenth anniversary of the first Radhesh Mela, and the eleventh overall Kulimela since 2006. Others have been held in France, Germany, Russia, Siberia, Australia, New Zealand, and, in the U.S., Los Angeles, Alachua, and Ne