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By Thomas Haribol  

Often when I offer a lamp in this spiritually-charged season of Kartik, I am reminded of a time years ago when I was seated next to a woman on a plane who was visibly distressed and quietly weeping. I said to her, “You seem really upset. Is there anything I can do to help?” She said through her tears, “I’m approaching ninety; I will die soon and cease to exist.” “What do you mean?” I inquired.  She told me that, in her understanding, souls only continue to exist after death i

By Krishna Dharma Das 

Some years ago, the GBC commissioned their Sastric Advisory Council (SAC) to produce a paper on ISKCON’s responsibility to protect its members from choosing unqualified gurus, versus the disciples’ responsibility to undergo due diligence in testing their prospective guides. This is from the GBC’s request to the SAC:

“Srila Prabhupada states that it is the responsibility of the prospective disciples to examine and test their prospective guru prior to initiation. Given that

Section 700: Gurus and Disciples

701.2 ISKCON Spiritual Masters Conditions for Second-generation Diksa-gurus — 2019 [Governing law]

Whereas ISKCON Law 7.3.2 now reads: “As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one’s diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However, Srila Prabhupada and historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus, if so directed by them. In such a case, the disciple s

Western Vaishnavas are nothing new whatsoever. Here you can see some of the first female disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.

Vishnuprya Dasi on the left and Vinodvani Dasi, whose name was Daisy Cecilia Bowtel, continued in bhajan her whole life.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/20857-2/

On July 4th, 2020, the world has lost one of its most inspiring spiritual leaders, Bhakti Charu Swami, to COVID-19. The shock and the loss made thousands of his followers numb, while others expressed their pain by posting their appreciations of their beloved master, or friend, on many different forums around the globe:

"The vacuum felt by Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s departure is immense. And that is how it should be. These feelings of separation are the proper testimony to Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s li

By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)

When the spiritual master leaves the body and moves on, it is naturally the worst day of the disciple’s life. Many times we have become accustomed to thinking of our guru in a particular way, serving him in certain ways, listening to his classes, waiting and longing for him to visit our town or local temple, engaging in special exchanges with him or her, and then suddenly all such prospects are gone. The depth of our despair can be unfathomable. So wha

Speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.41, on June 7, 1976, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada explained the following verse from the Padma Purana:

arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir
visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe ’mbu-buddhih
sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir
visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah

“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in t

(an open letter to his disciples and followers)

by Hari-dhama dasa

Hari-dhama dasa, a disciple of His Holiness Mukunda Goswami, is a qualified and experienced bereavement and grief counsellor who has worked in the UK hospice movement for more than 15 years. He is currently the on-call Hindu-Vaisnava chaplain for two major London hospitals. In this open letter he throws light on how to recognise and respond to grief and bereavement in light of the recent departure of His Holiness Srila Bhakti Ch

Gauranga das says a few words about HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja

Dear Bhakti Charu Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

It is still an unbelievable shock for me to know that I will not be able to associate with you the way I used to. I can visualize you walking so elegantly as if you are floating and this quality of effortless grace permeates every aspect of your personality. You are so dear to Srila Prabhupada that on the first meeting itself Srila Prabhupada g

HH Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Swami says a few words on HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja
All Glories to Sri Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Saraswata Sampradaya (lineage).
All Glories to my beloved Grand Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur PRABHUPADA and my beloved Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Thakur.

Our sampradaya’s prominent heritage, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj, physically left all of us on the 4th of July

Dear Disciples of Bhakti Charu Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.

When I heard the news of Maharaja having tested positive for COVID-19, I was left speechless. Daily at that time of the morning I am on a zoom Japa conference. I made the announcement to the participants in much disbelief. I checked again with my disciples if this message was in fact authentic and a part of me feverishly hoped that there was some error or this was just fake news. I could

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

While I am still trying to come in terms with the devastating news about the sudden departure of Bhakti Charu Maharaja, there is also a strong urge to glorify this exalted Vaisnava with the hope that it will give some solace to my heart.

Out of his numberless outstanding contributions to our movement like “Abhay Charan” serial, construction of the beautiful temple in Ujjain, establishing and teaching in the GBC College, etc. e

July 7th, 2020

Dear disciples, followers, and friends of Bhakti Charu Maharaja:

Hare Krishna.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

I offer my obeisances to the lotus feet of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, who is very soft-hearted and expert at compiling devotional literature.

He eloquently speaks the pastimes of Lord Krishna, his heart is full of the mellows of devotional service, and h

At the time that I was voted onto the GBC, ISKCON and its governing body was undergoing an excruciatingly difficult period of trial and testing. However, there were compensations for all our trials and tribulations, and for me the main compensation was the opportunity to serve with a number of extraordinary devotees, extraordinary especially in their dedication to Srila Prabhupada and to his mission. And chief among them, for me, was His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami. Especially, he embodied, in h

Dear Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to You. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is the 3rd day we can’t have your personal association. I’m so sad and morose at the same time I’m sure that Krishna and his associates are overflown with joy to have you among them.

A guru is someone who teaches by example. You were a guru who was teaching the whole world. You were a guru who showed the best example of all Vaisnava qualities beginning with humilit

Where will I find that loving smile filled with care and affection that made you feel so important though you are worthless…., that caused you to remember Prabhupada in any circumstance…, that was pure sweetness…? I am so angry at you for leaving me here unprotected.

Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate your departure? With whom shall I laugh reading those signs in Italian that have a strange meaning in Bengali?

Are you

Dear Disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Late Saturday evening, I was informed that your Guru Maharaja had left this world. I cannot imagine the devastating pain of separation you must be going through, but I do know the pain that I am suffering, and it is intense. I am reminded of the conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramananda Raya:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distr

My dear disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I will not attempt to imagine the pain and emotions you are going through at this moment after the departure of your beloved Guru Maharaja. I can only join Anuttama Prabhu’s memory of the pain and emotions we experienced when His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left this mortal world. Although we were aware that Srila Prabhupada was very sick at t