There were times when the mainstream media lumped us ‘Hare Krishna’s’ with the weird mix of pseudo religions and charlatan led cults, whose existence caused consternation among the establishment and parents alike. When out on book distribution, we would often be confronted with, “Are you sure you are not one of those dangerous David Koresh Heavens Gate suicide pact lunatics?” In many ways we had to plead our case as legitimate followers of the Vaisnava path, without being the glassy-eyed brainw
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Two court cases under the anti-terrorism amendments Irina Spring once again call into question the adequacy of the guardians of law and order. In the first case, the FSB insists that conduct worship services in a residential building are prohibited. In simple terms — encroach on the right to pray in his apartment.
At the same time in the Crimea, the judge has already ruled that the agreed religious procession through the streets of the city breaking the law.
We are talking about an event orga
Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja never compromised in His preaching, nor will I nor should any of my students. We are firmly convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all other are His part and parcel servants. This we must declare boldly to the whole world, that they should not foolishly dream of world peace unless they are prepared to surrender fully to Krishna as Supreme Lord. From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Giriraja, 30 December 1971
Source:http://www.dandavats.c
In the Narada Pancharatra, it is said bhakti begins only after we give up our material designations that is connected to our body and mind. As long as we are connected to the body and mind, any devotion we perform is mixed devotion (mixed with karma and knowledge).
When a soul engages in service to Krishna from his constitutional position as servant, then that service is called bhakti. Any service to Krishna thinking I am this body/mind becomes mixed. So this mixed service is called sadhana
We are very pleased to announce that a team of Engineers from the Manufacturing Company in Moscow that built the parts for the TOVP Kalashes has arrived in Mayapur.
A group of six engineers came to our site to assemble the grand Kalashes and no time was wasted as they enthusiastically began the work without delay. When Bhavananda prabhu heard of the beginning of such work, he rushed to meet them and admire the elements of the Kalashes.
Within a few months time, the Kalashes for the two smal
Philosophy – from the Greek words:
philo – love of, affinity for;
sophos – wisdom.
Philosophy – the love of wisdom
Wisdom – from the Old Norse visdomr – the ability to think and act utilising knowledge, experience, understanding, discernment, insight and common sense – coupled with just judgment as to action.
Philosophy means the love of wisdom, the ability to separate truth from error, reality from illusion, and the subsequent discernment as to correct action. Professional philosophers use the
"We are instructed to “surrender”; and at the same time, Srila Prabhupada encourages us to achieve apparently impossible tasks, like “Krishna-izing” the whole world, and becoming fully qualified spiritual masters in our own right."
“Is my Krishna consciousness completely dependent on the mercy of the spiritual master and Krishna, or do Ihave something to do with it?”
Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me…”, and that may sound very simple and clear. However, there are many possible layers of reali
In the association of vaisnavas, especially advanced vaisnavas, we become uplifted beyond our normal limitations of holding onto material security. We hesitate about jumping forward in spiritual life, that Krsna will catch us, that Krsna will provide, that Krsna always protects his devotee.
But some devotees die and not in good ways. Where was Krsna then? Was he not protecting? Does he protect some devotees and not others? Does it depend on the degree of one’s Krsna consciousness? Does Krsna on
When we come to the spiritual platform, we think life is only love and only peace, that there is only one feeling, one emotion… LOVE-and-PEACE.
But no, no, no… true spiritual emotions are not only lovey-dovey, it is also YOU RASCAL! We know one of Prabhupada’s favourite words was rascal. In fact, I didn’t even know the word before I started reading Prabhupada’s books. I learnt the word from Prabhupada. It may even be an outdated word but in Iskcon, it is a bit of an endearing word.
When people
Devotees came from all over Australia to attend the ISKCON three day Annual General Meeting, which was held at Melbourne temple.
Temple President, Aniruddha Das, and a wonderful team of devotees looked after everyone very nicely with accommodation and prasadam.
Many topics were discussed to help maintain and push forward ISKCON into the future.
Source:http://www.ramaiswami.com/australian-leaders-meeting/
The Bhagavad-gita says that there is austerity of the body, austerity of speech and austerity of the mind. One of the austerities of the mind is to be satisfied. This is interesting. How is it an austerity to be satisfied?
It means that when everything is proper, when all the proper arrangements are made and when things are favourable in spiritual life, then one has to stop his mind from still finding fault. One just has to be satisfied! This is the austerity of the mind – to be satisfied. This
ISKCON's Radha Govinda Mandir (Bharati Center) at 305 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
On Monday May 15th ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission hosted a Town Hall Meeting to explain why it is opposing the pending sale of Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir, and what it plans to do about it.
The sale has been a matter of interest, concern and controversy amongst the New York temple’s board members and congregation as well as devotees around the U.S. So the meeting, held at the Dweck Auditorium of
In this article, I begin with a confession of what I experience as a common experience for men with an addiction to pornography, based on my life and deep empathetic conversations with others. I will share what I believe to be the way to overcome this addiction in Krishna consciousness. This includes the necessity of an environment with minimal temptations, knowing of the science of overcoming anarthas, and the value of being genuine in relationship with others. I will take the liberty of writi
“In the last week of the last year of school, students sweat at the thought of the final exam. When they’ve passed their exams and earned their degrees, they’ll be entitled to call themselves educated.
But the Vedic culture has a different standard. The sage Canakya, whose proverbs Srila Prabhupda would often quote, tested a person’s education by three questions – questions of character and ethics.
Women as Mother:
Test one: matrvat para-daresu. In the ideal system of education, a properly trai
Panchagauda holds the record as the longest standing temple president in Vrndavan India – 8 Years-
He joined ISKCON in 1976 in Buffalo NY, then moved to Miami and managed temples there for many years.
When I met him in Vrndavan this year, (2017) he was calm and casual. He seemed to have all the time in the world for me.
“Vrndavan is home for all devotees. It’s our duty to welcome everyone, to make sure they feel at home here.”
There are a myriad of instructions on how to chant japa. All of them serve to help us achieve success. In spite of the varied nuances and techniques, why are we plagued with anarthas, struggling to reach a semblance of nistha, from which to springboard to higher levels of attainment? With thousands of shades of advice available, it seems only a select few are privileged to be relishing the chanting. Is there a secret formula to fast-track our progress?
There is mention in the Prema-Vivarta that
By the GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee
The pending sale of the ISKCON Brooklyn Temple (Radha Govinda Mandir) has generated interest, concern and even controversy in ISKCON, not just in the New York Metropolitan Area but also around the world, especially in light of the GBC Body’s stated opposition to the sale (see attached GBC Resolution no. 314). In order to foster openness, inclusivity and awareness of the current state of affairs as well as to dispel confusion and misconceptions, the GBC
Answers supplied by H.H. Romapada Swami
Question: My question is how to break habits? How can one become serious and follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions more closely?
Answer: Retraction of bad habits was compared by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as being synonymous to the jiva’s returning back to the spiritual world, because in effect these bad habits are nothing but the binding effects of our long material association and past activities.
The first step in overcoming this material conditioning
It was 1981 and early in my senior year of high school, I was walking out of the East Brook Mall in Willimantic Connecticut with two friends named Steve Walton and Clyde Hall. In my hand I was holding a bag with Jimmy Hendrix’s “Axis Bold As Love” album in it, that I had just purchased at Music World. I had loved Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced”. and had played it again and again over the summer as I delved deeply into the world of marijuana and LSD.
Though, by this time, I was burning out on dr
Hearing His Holiness Niranjana Swami’s wonderful talk, I felt we were being elevated to the spiritual world. He quoted from Visnujana Maharaja. Visnujana had a program in which he went by boat along the Ganges River, in Bengal, and chanted the holy names all day, stopping at villages along the way and chanting and speaking and distributing books about Krsna. Once, when I was in Los Angeles recovering from being sick in India, Srila Prabhupada received an issue of Back to Godhead with an article
