The world today is undergoing a major crisis; people are experiencing an all-time high level of stress, with insecurity and temporariness of life plaguing all walks of life. Spiritual books like Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam (the Bhagavat Purana) help alleviate these issues by bringing superior knowledge and happiness into people's lives.

In the Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna states, “For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the

By Kesava Krsna Dasa

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 t

By Shyama Mohini devi dasi on behalf of the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations Department

At the annual meeting of the global BBT in June, HH Jayadvaita Swami resigned as a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Since 1988, he has served as a trustee of the original BBT Trust, or as a director of the BBT International, or both (The two organizations work together). His resignation, which the BBT trustees have accepted, means that he no longer holds a post with either. His letter be

From Back to Godhead

By Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the devotee Prahlada Maharaja, a great spiritual authority, says, “Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu [Krsna], remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship…, offering pray

By Giriraj Swami

I am pleased to encourage you to participate in the Prabhupada book-distribution marathon. Srila Prabhupada explains, “Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami had no fixed residence. They stayed beneath a tree for one day only and wrote huge volumes of transcendental literature. . . . It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was Srila

By Vrndavanlila Devi Dasi (Dr Vrinda Baxi)

Despite this fast changing world where promiscuity encouraged by the hedonist approach to life is overtaking almost everywhere, India still preserves its age old veneration towards celibacy. The vast majority of girls and boys still remain celebate till their marriage and even post-marriage lead a regulated life. Of course in cities, this ‘conservative’ species are on the brink of extinction, and even when preserved, generally make the person a butt of

Remembering Not to Forget: But if its amnesia you want, Krishna will give it to you

By Satyaraja Dasa

It’s funny how if you give Krishna, God, an inch, he gives you a mile. I remember in my earliest days as a devotee, I had left the movement for some time. I was home, watching TV with my family. All of a sudden, right on the screen there was an ad for the television station with a photo of New York City streets. There he was, my Godbrother Bhaktivinoda, with a close-up of the Channel Two logo b

By Sacinandana Swami

You must know that there is bhakti with nectar and bhakti without nectar. Bhakti without nectar means that we do not obtain a taste from our spiritual practices that is higher than the taste created by material things like smartphone apps, movies and all the other ‘maya’ our town has to offer. Thus, it is very important that we perform bhakti with taste.

In other words, we need to know how we can relish the five processes of bhakti and avoid boredom. This is much like drawi

By Saroj Kumar Panda

Original article

Submitted by Amogha das

Sri Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe. His Kitchen is considered as the largest and the biggest Kitchen in the world. It is situated south-east direction of the outer compound of Srimandir. The length of the Kitchen is 150 feet, breadth is 100 feet and height is about 20 feet. It consists of 32 rooms with 250 earthen ovens within these. Around 600cooks(Suaras) and 400 assistants serve here everyday for preparing Lord’s food.

The

From Sydney we made our way to the wonderful devotee farm community of New Govardhana. We were welcomed by the small community with open arms and bright spirits.

We were told by several devotees not to expect any big fundraising results as this is a small farm community, so we were happy to just come and bring the Lord’s mercy and blessings and inspire the devotees with details of the TOVP progress. However, nothing could be further from the truth. On November 20th, after the Lord’s abhisheka a

In the midst of the lush, green Grihasta Para housing area of ISKCON Mayapur the Sri Mayapur International School is situated. The school campus features an idyllic combination of brick buildings, pathways, and tree-filled grounds, and those living nearby can often hear the children at play, performing kirtan, or practicing mridanga.

The Sri Mayapur International School, one of the educational institutes of ISKCON Mayapur, has been educating the children of Mayapur since it was founded in 1988

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

We must chant our sixteen rounds early in the morning and not spread it throughout the day. This is the spirit! There is a big difference when we chant in the morning because throughout the day when we try to chant then we are distracted and interrupted, “Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna… (the phone rings) Yes, I see. Okay, I will call back later! Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna…” And like that, throughout the day we can get caught up in 101 things while chanting our rounds and it can get v

On the 21st of November we arrived in Brisbane, Australia from New Govardhana and immediately began preparing for the evening TOVP event. Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari were nicely displayed in the temple and, as usual, we had an arati and abhisheka for Them accompanied by ecstatic kirtan.

Over 250 devotees attended the program and sat in rapt attention as Jananivas, Ambarisa, Svaha and Vraja Vilas prabhus talked about the TOVP and the importance of the project for the

Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy!!

Bhagavad Gita As It Is (18.66)

By Saranga Thakur das

Following in the footsteps of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, who was challenged by a local government authority to preach Bhagavad Gita to the inmates of Tihar prision in Delhi in 1962 and turn them into ideal characters, Madan Mohan das, ACBSP and Saranga Thakur das, ACBSP have been carrying on a lively program at the Raiford State prison. The program was pioneered by Krsna Kesava das, Kaliyaphani das and Akuti devi dasi, five years ago, and has carried on continuousl

By Gauranga Das

In the 20th century, people were completely intoxicated with material progress, growth and modernisation. In that, the 2 gruesome World Wars had inflicted lot of pain and suffering in the world. Along with external warfare, the countries also faced internal socio-economic and political pressures in the form of unemployment, poverty, economic depression, etc. People in general had become selfish and insensitive which led to rebellious attitude in the air, especially amongst the y

Lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Swami

Advent of Kali Yuga

The universe is divided in regard to time. Satyayuga, the golden age religiosity and prosperity. Treat yuga- where ¾ of the population remain God conscious. Dvapar yuga in which in the beginning half is God conscious and gradually dwindles until it intersects the kali yuga. At the beginning of the age of kali not more than 1/4th of the population follow any religious principles and gradually it becomes greater and greater in degradatio

From Back to Godhead

By Upendra Dasa

Sri Brahma-samhita is one of the oldest Vedic scriptures, and it is accepted by Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu (an incarnation of Krsna Himself who appeared 484 years ago) as the essence of Vaisnava (Krsna conscious) philosophy. The first verse of the Fifth Chapter of Sri Brahma-samhita reads: “Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal, blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, and He is the

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

Srila Prabhupada emphasised book distribution and that emphasis will never go away no matter what we do! There was a time when book distribution was THE EMPHASIS of the Hare Krsna movement and there was only a small percentage of devotees who were not part of it. But as time went on, book distribution at one point become a peripheral program – a side program and it lessened as a mainstream focus.

Now in recent years, we see a resurgence of book distribution worldwide, as

By Chaitanya Charan Das

"We need trustworthy others who can look at things objectively."