Austin, Texas – November 22nd, 2015, was a special occasion for me. I was invited to see a drama put on by the devotee children in Austin Sunday school program, many of whom I knew very well. The drama was a culmination of a semester’s learning, and looked to be wonderful.
This was also the first time I met Guruvani Mataji, the lead teacher. Before the drama began, during the bustle of children putting on elaborate costumes, Prabhus setting up cameras and mics, and Matajis applying makeup, I
During last summer ISKCON Laguna Beach held its first ever Gita Champions League event. It was organized as part of ISKCON’s 50 year anniversary. The program was announced in April with local core ISKCON 50 team. It was advertised using social media, stores and door to door to reach out to a wider audience.
A total 30 kids signed up and prepared for 2 months. Additional guidance and preparations were taught at the Sunday school in Laguna Beach. According to Krishna “This knowledge is king of
Mukunda dasa: We distributed:
150 “Beyond Birth and Death”
60 "Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers”
8 Bhagavad-gitas
5 Krishna books
3 Srimad Bhagavatams
Panca-Tattva’s Shastra Dana program has now existed for seven years.
From August 2009 to September 2016 we have distributed approximately 17,000 books.
Srila Prabhupada wrote to Cyavana das on the 26th of December 1971: ”Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity. Without books, our preaching has no solid basis”
A Durga Puja Pandal in West Bengal resembling Temple of Vedic Planetaurium
You won’t believe how many people are waiting in a looooong line to get a plate of prasadam!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/767Iz8
Iskcon 50: Message from the EO (Executive officer – appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh) of the TTD = Tirumala Tirupati Devastaanams - the managing authority for the Tirupati “Balaji” (Srila Prabhupada told us – I visited Tirumala with him during April 1974 - for a brief 3 day visit - that “Balaji” means “Baal Krishna”, that is Lord Krishna’s childhood [baal] form.) temple - India’s most visited and wealthiest Hindu temple, congratulating ISKCON on ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.
Tirupati
Let Nirantara prabhu narrate you the following events in a professionally recorded audio-production.
01 Arjuna Arrests Ashvatthama
02 Arjuna Deals with Ashvatthama
03 Krishna Delivers Uttara
04 Yudhishthira Laments
05 Yudhishthira Returns to the Scene of the Massacre
06 Bheeshma-deva Speaks
07 Bheeshma Answers Yudhishthira
08 Bheeshma-devas Prayers
09 the Reign of Maha-raja Yudhishthira
10 Krishna Departs Hastinapura
11 the Ladys of Hastinapura Glorify Krishna
12 Krishna Enters Dvaraka
13 Dvar
While he lectured, like so many of my God-brothers, I felt that Srila Prabhupada was speaking just for me and was looking at me. I felt personally addressed by Srila Prabhupada.
It reminded me of how, when Krishna ate lunch surrounded by His cowherd boyfriends, He communicated to each one of the thousands of them.
Prabhupada’s eyes were wandering over his audience, and sometimes he closed his eyes in deep concentration, but somehow he connected to every one of us.
Then, because I felt so perso
On Saturday 16th July 2016, ISKCON Laguna Beach held its first ever Gita Champions League event. It was organized as part of ISKCON’s 50 year anniversary. The program was announced in April with local core ISKCON 50 team. It was advertised using social media, stores and door to door to reach out to a wider audience.
A total 30 signed signed up and prepared for two months. Additional guidance and preparations were taught at the Sunday school in Laguna Beach. According to Krishna “This knowledge
Now in its fiftieth year, ISKCON continues to delve deeper and deeper into the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition members devote themselves to, finding new reservoirs of inspiration and wisdom.
The latest effort is a new two-volume edition of Sri Manah Siksha (Splendid Instructions to the Mind) by Raghunath dasa Goswami. Produced by Padma, Inc. and compiled by longtime ISKCON educator Urmila Dasi, it includes commentaries by Vaishnava acharya Bhaktivinode Thakur. It is the first time these commentari
Giriraj Swami’s Vyasa-puja was a festive opportunity for participants to chant, dance, feast, and glorify Lord Krishna and His devotees.
“My experience with His Holiness Giriraj Swami is that he is a clear representative, or, as Srila Prabhupada said, ‘a transparent via medium.’ So, through Giriraj Swami we see our founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This quality of Giriraj Swami is very important to me because ISKCON is a growing society that must prevail f
Photo Credits: Claudio Morelli
Ambassador of Mauritius, Mahaprabhu Das, a representative of the embassy of Fiji and Vraja Sundari Keilman Leader of the Samadhi Dance group at the event
During Europe’s main official event celebrating ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and Srila Prabhupada’s achievements, diplomats, academics and religious and human rights advocates showed their support for an increasingly respected Hare Krishna Movement.
The European event follows similarly prestigious 50th annivers
Srila Prabhupada: The members of the present Krishna consciousness movement were not born in India, nor do they belong to the Vedic culture, but within the short time they have become such wonderful devotees simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra that even in India they are well received as perfectly well behaved Vaisnavas wherever they go. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 17.1 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/iwcXrw
Srila Prabhupada taught:
nama-cintamaṇe krsna
caitanya-rasa-vigraha
purnna suddha nitya mukta-
bhinnatman karunnamaya
TRANSLATION
1) O Lord whose holy name is a cintamani jewel! O All-attractive Lord Krsna whose form is spiritual nectar! You are Perfect and pure Lord, Eternal Lord! Liberated Lord! Lord not different from Your holy name! Merciful Lord!
To read the rest of this beautiful transcendental Krsna Namavali Stotram poem: https://goo.gl/X2d6H0
So, this afternoon I just opened up and started to read from this book Amrta-vani, teachings from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. I read a lot from this book, I like different references that are given here. They are very philosophical and I see how Prabhupada was speaking so much about these points.
Of course, someone may say, “Why don’t I just read from Prabhupada’s book? Because these points are there in Prabhupada’s books”
But this book was made available, and I’ve been re
Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre (ISKCON Toronto), has always been the hub of a rich, vibrant and enthusiastic community. Whether it be grand festivals, programs at local universities and yoga studios, philosophical discussions, cooking sessions, or singing and dancing on the streets, there are events taking place for everyone's interest.
The year 2016 is a special year for Hare Krishna communities around the world as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, which was incorporated by its fou
“Buy the car and enjoy the envy in your neighbours’ eyes”. With this tagline a car company hopes to lure more people to buy their brand. And what’s wrong with the message if today people prefer buying products not because of their needs but because of their desire to flaunt their wealth to prove their worth. So before buying a car they measure the length of their neighbours’ car to make sure that their car is bigger than that of their neighbours. People stand in queue for hours to buy the late
I have always been attracted to religion and spirituality. I grew up as a Catholic, because it is the dominant religion in my country (Philippines), but when I became a teenager, I began exploring different religions and philosophies.
I would read about Buddhism and Taoism. I would also read up on some unusual stuff like Hermetics and Wicca. There was even a stage in my life where I was angry at God and became an atheist. However, I felt deep inside me that it is impossible for this universe to
We have doubts sometimes and we think, ‘Chanting doesn’t work! I’m trying to be a devotee for such a long time and I have been chanting for many years, almost every day but I feel that I am still the same fallen person that I always was…’
But Srila Prabhupada said, ‘By chanting the Holy Name once, it can purify more sins than one can commit in an entire lifetime!’
So, my only explanation is that it takes a little longer for us to become completely purified since we have been in this material
I have always been attracted to religion and spirituality. I grew up as a Catholic, because it is the dominant religion in my country (Philippines), but when I became a teenager, I began exploring different religions and philosophies.
I would read about Buddhism and Taoism. I would also read up on some unusual stuff like Hermetics and Wicca. There was even a stage in my life where I was angry at God and became an atheist. However, I felt deep inside me that it is impossible for this universe to n
