On December 26th, 2023, around 25 ISKCON youth from around the world gathered at the Senator Hotel in Kolkata for the 2nd Annual Global Youth Retreat in Kolkata and Mayapur. The much anticipated transformative 10-day retreat, organized by Inner Yoga Retreats, is a youth yatra led by Vaisesika Dasa and his wife, Nirakula Devi Dasi.
The retreat was designed to help youth who are on their winter vacation immerse themselves in Krishna Consciousness in the holy dham. This year, we explored Srila Pra
On March 26th, UK devotees performed at a special live music event in honor of Alan Ginsberg. They came at the invitation of musician and producer “Youth,” who hosted the event, which raised money for Food for Life prasadam distribution efforts.
“Poet Allen Ginsberg had a lot of personal association with Srila Prabhupada whom he helped on a number of occasions in New York, San Francisco, Columbus and elsewhere,” said a Food for All statement, “While being interviewed in various magazines, journ
Dear follower of Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for submitting so many heartfelt homages to Srila Prabhupada last year. You can view the full 2023 Vyasa-puja book here:
https://gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/spvp2023.pdf
This year we request you to submit your homage by April 2, 2024 by emailing it to vphomages@iskcon.net. Below are the standard parameters.
Hoping this meets you well, we remain
Your servants on the Sr
By Atma Tattva Das
In Zambia’s vibrant landscape, amidst the bustling cities and serene countryside, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has cultivated deep roots, fostering spiritual growth and sporadic community engagement for over four decades. ISKCON Zambia’s journey reflects not just a spiritual effort but a tapestry of challenges, triumphs, and a vision for a harmonious society.
The seeds of ISKCON’s presence in Zambia were sown over 40 years ago when devotees led
A package arrived just before the strike of noon. Sent from a distance Florida, through USPS the contents were special - a strand of japa meditation beads. They belong to a Deborah Lynn, a resident of Florida. The timely arrival of this paraphernalia was set for Deborah's initiation who through a zoom call with Floridian friends on board and where within seconds at 12 Noon I was to kickstart an initiation ceremony called diksha.
My God, Krishna works in mysterious ways with time. Deborah is
20 master students from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago decided to attend the “Journey of Self-discovery Retreat” in New Vrindaban as an alternative to their regular spring break. During their stay, they had a chance to immerse themselves in Krishna Consciousness, kirtan, and temple living. They participated in various service projects, including helping out in the cow barn and the Teaching Garden. In the garden, their tasks included reclaiming wood by removing nails from used
Ahead of inclement weather, hundreds of Krishna devotees and well-wishers gathered at the ISKCON of DC campus for the transfer of their Deities to the new temple just steps away. These joyful processions were part of the Temple Opening Festival going on this weekend, inaugurating a new home and an exciting future for one of ISKCON’s first communities.
Among the Deities that will make the new temple Their home is Madana-Mohana, the first Krishna Deity in ISKCON which was acquired by ISKCON devot
There are various kinds of yoga; such as karma-yoga, based on purifying our activities; Jnana-yoga, based on acquiring spiritual knowledge and insight; Raja-yoga, the mystical yoga system; and Bhakti-yoga, attaining union with God through love and devotion. From these yoga systems, additional systems have also developed. But these four basic forms of yoga are all discussed in the primary and essential Vedic text of the Bhagavad-gita. But out of all of them, Lord Krishna specifically directs u
I battled a storm in the snow with 8 other companions in an hour long elemental ordeal. Our destination was at an apartment in the entertainment district of Toronto's downtown. I don't imagine that show businaess this evening (live theatre and such) was doing well. The snow blasts of the day slows down everything.
However, our walking groups were not deterred in any way. I was with a high energy team members of the Bhakti Academy. Most are in their 20's. Snowball slinging along the way was not
In the bustling halls of the University of Johannesburg’s Auckland Park Campus, amidst the whirlwind of academic pursuits and extracurricular activities, there exists a beacon of spiritual guidance and growth: the Bhakti Yoga Society (BYS-UJ). Led by the dedicated efforts of Dinesvara Krsna Das, the society’s outreach project is not just about disseminating teachings; it’s a journey of personal connection and understanding, navigating the diverse cultural and spiritual landscape of the student
Last weekend, ISKCON devotees joined tens of thousands gathered in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand, for the annual Holi Festival celebrations. The two events are the result of a partnership between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Indian Association of Thailand.
In Bangkok, the celebration was held at the expansive “centralwOrld” mall, one of the largest in the world. ISKCON devotees were invited to participate in the official kickoff event, where a joyful kirtan welcomed Mr. Srett
My first stop on today's plane journey was in Montreal. I heard my name over the loudspeaker. It was only for verifying my ID.
My legal name is John Vis but since Montreal is mostly a francophone city, naturally they would address me as John Vi since in French, many last letters, including consonants, get dropped.
So Mister John Vi AKA Bhatimarga Swami, got up with passport to verify. I simply raised the incident because the person at the desk was particularly friendly. Of all the folks I
By Giriraj Swami
We welcome you to the most auspicious celebration of Sri Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Chaitanya. According to Vedic scriptures, the Absolute Truth is realized in three features: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. The impersonalist speculators want to merge and become one with God, one with the impersonal brahmajyoti, which is nothing but the transcendental effulgence emanating from the divine body of Sri Krishna. Beyond the
By HH Bhakti Charu Swami
Gaura-purnima day, The purnima, the full moon of the month of phalgun. These two months, phalgun and caitra is the vasanta season, springtime in India. In India there are six seasons and each season consists of two months. Vasanta, spring is considered to be the king of all seasons – rthuraj. This is the best of the times. Of all the six seasons Vasanta or spring is the best because the whole atmosphere at this time becomes very beautiful. The winter is over and the w
Gaura Purnima is the celebration of most auspicious and adorable advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – The Golden Avatara.
The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to establish Sankirtana Movement – the yuga dharma for this age of Kali. He appeared on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna in the year 1486 AD at Sridham Mayapura as the son of Sri Jagannath Mishra and Srimati Sachidevi.
In the revealed scriptures Lord Krsna was predicted to appear as Golden Avatara(in
By Amala Bhakta Dasa
Though Lord Caitanya is known as Krsna’s hidden incarnation,
His biographers have preserved accounts of His displays of divinity.
SOON AFTER LORD CAITANYA began His movement for chanting the holy name of the Lord (sankirtana), many of His followers would sing, dance, and play musical instruments for many hours in glorification of Lord Krsna. Some envious brahmanas resented the Lord’s increasing power and influence over the people and decided to try to check Him at any cost.
Paramananda madhavam sri caitanya isvaram. The situation in Navadvip and the whole of India that time was that people were religious but they were not spiritual. They were religious just to show on the outside but actually they did not know the purpose of religion. People spent a lot to marry off their daughter, to put on a big show to show that they were very religious. One such wealthy had no more daughters to marry off then he married a female cat or a female dog or some demigod. So this w
We welcome you to the most auspicious celebration of Sri Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Chaitanya. According to Vedic scriptures, the Absolute Truth is realized in three features: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Impersonalist speculators want to merge and become one with God, one with t
he impersonal brahmajyoti, which is nothing but the transcendental effulgence emanating from the divine body of Sri Krishna. Beyond the impersonal Brahman i
The 2024 Krishna House Retreat will be held this year on May 3-5th at ISKCON New Vrindaban in West Virginia, offering an opportunity for both new bhaktas and seasoned devotees to recharge their spiritual batteries in the living fire of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission.
“Over the past 16 years, Krishna House communities have introduced hundreds to the simple, joyous life of devotion,” said Brhat Mrdanga Das, Director of Krishna House North America. As a result, they’re full of spiritual vibranc
