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Most people, including the religionists in this world, are blind formulaic followers. They want to join and identify with a group by adopting a particular style of dress, language, and social and religious rituals. Blind followers are not much interested in understanding the principles behind the rules – that’s too much work for them. They prefer to just do what they are told and not have to think about it.

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller and object of worsh

Many local seniors come to the famous Bhaktivedanta Manor to take time to enjoy the building and estate, learn about the ‘Hare Krishna philosophy’ and even bond with one another.

Most recently, for example, Mahimarnava das and Bhavani hosted no less than 21 retired businessmen from members of the local Probus Club.

Probus Clubs are for retired or semi-retired people from all walks of life and includes business or professional people, which operates worldwide.

“They were amazed at how welcoming

By Atma Tattva Das

The Youth Fest, organized by ISKCON Durban, brought together a large group of young individuals for a day focused on empowerment, service, and spiritual enrichment. This year’s event was notable for the significant collaboration among various communities and organizations, including the South African Police Services (SAPS) Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum. The collaborative effort aimed to address the spiritual needs of young people and provide them with practical life skills.

Following devastating and deadly flooding across central and eastern Europe, thousands across the region have been left in difficult circumstances, many needing to flee their homes or huddle on higher floors. Young volunteers from Food for All-UK in London were able to be on the ground within hours, offering hot meals and supplies.

Loka Saranga Das, who leads the Czech Food for All, said, “On arrival, we began cooking prasad for the desperate people, army, and helpers. It’s a big yajna, but I fe

God is one. Moreover, according to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that one God is Krishna, the cowherd boy of Vrindavan, who chooses to expand Himself unlimitedly still remain the same one Supreme Person, just to increase His own pleasure. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.28) designates this original Godhead as svayam bhagavān: Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three primary energies. The first is antarańga–śakti, or the internal potency. The second is known as taṭastha–śakti, th

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय सात भगवदज्ञान

अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम् ।

जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥ 5 ॥

अपरा– निकृष्ट, जड़;इयम्– यह;इतः– इसके अतिरिक्त;तु– लेकिन;अन्यास्– अन्य;प्रकृतिम्– प्रकृति को;विद्धि– जानने का प्रयत्न करो;मे– मेरी;पराम्– उत्कृष्ट, चेतन;जीव-भूताम्– जीवों वाली;महा-बाहो– हे बलिष्ट भुजाओं वाले;यया– जिसके द्वारा;इदम्– यह;धार्यते– प्रयुक्त किया जाता है, दोहन होता है;जगत्– संसार।

भावार्थ : हे महाबाहु अर्जुन! इनके अतिरिक्त मेरी एक अन्य परा

Click the arrow below to listen to a related podcast excerpted from the class about what are the challenges to understanding Krishna’s personal nature.
 
http://www.dandavats.com/?p=112801
 

Yogesvara Prabhu is describing the life and writings of Jiva Goswami, a 16th-century Indian philosopher and devotee of Krishna. He highlights Jiva’s struggles in establishing the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement, particularly the theft of his manuscripts containing valuable teachings. The speaker discusses the boo

The Mayapur Clean and Green Team, led by Murari Mohini Devi Dasi, has initiated a second-hand recycling store to foster environmental sustainability in the Mayapur community.

With the steady influx and outgoing of devotees, there has long been a need for a platform where individuals leaving Mayapur can pass on unneeded items to those who can use them. Similarly, newly arriving devotees often bring unnecessary items to the Dham, and this initiative provides a way to ensure those goods find a purp

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) has released its latest Meeting Highlights Report for September 18th, 2024.

ISKCON GBC MEETING HIGHLIGHTS REPORT
18 September 2024

We are pleased to present the 18 September 2024 GBC Meeting Highlights Report. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting highlighting the key topics discussed.

The meeting commenced with an invocation of prayers led by Guru Prasad Swami, followed by Hriday Caitanya Dasa reading from Caitanya Car

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu has summed it up nicely:

“The idea that we can achieve happiness though the enjoyment of our senses, especially through that prototype of all pleasure, sex and sexual love, is an illusion which is perhaps the most deeply rooted and pervasive of all human convictions… With the disintegration of traditional religions and the official establishment of secular philosophies

From a talk by Srila Prabhupada on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 25.29, January 21, 1967, San Francisco.

The laws of nature are so strict that if you have to suffer, nobody can check it. That is realized by Prahlada Maharaja. There are so many evidences. Balasya neha saranam pitarau. (SB 7.9.19) [“My Lord Nrsimhadeva, O Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and not cared for by You cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies they accept,

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय सात भगवदज्ञान

भूमिरापोSनलो वायु: खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च ।

अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥ 4 ॥

भूमिः– पृथ्वी;आपः– जल;अनलः– अग्नि;वायुः– वायु;खम्– आकाश;मनः– मन;बुद्धिः– बुद्धि;एव– निश्चय ही;च– तथा;अहंकार– अहंकार;इति– इस प्रकार;इयम्– ये सब;मे– मेरी;भिन्ना– पृथक्;प्रकृतिः– शक्तियाँ;अष्टधा– आठ प्रकार की।

भावार्थ : पृथ्वी, जल, अग्नि, वायु, आकाश, मन, बुद्धि तथा अहंकार – ये आठ प्रकार से विभक्त मेरी भिन्ना (अपर) प्रकृतियाँ हैं।

तात्पर्य : ईश्वर-विज्ञान भगव

A podcast commenting Srila Prabhupada’s book Beyond Birth and Death

An excerpt from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s book Beyond Birth and Death, explores the concept of the soul’s eternal nature, the illusory nature of material existence, and the path to liberation through Krishna consciousness. The text draws from the Bhagavad Gita to explain that the soul is distinct from the body and that true happiness lies in realizing our identity as spirit souls and transcending the limitations of

By Mona Garimella   

Sunday, September 1st, ISKCON of Richmond, located in the heart of Virginia, USA, celebrated its grand temple opening with a commemorative yajna, kirtan, cultural performances, and encouraging talks from devotees from all over the country. 

There has been a strong ISKCON initiative in Richmond for over a decade. It was incorporated in 2012 under the guidance of former GBC member Bir Krishna Goswami and now Anuttama Dasa, the current GBC leader. ISKCON Richmond holds a unique

By Syama Mohini Devi Dasi  

On a blissful day filled with devotion and joy, ISKCON Phoenix (Arizona, USA) enthusiastically celebrated the auspicious occasion of Radhashtami. The event drew over 300 devotees, all eager to take part in the celebrations. The temple was abuzz with activity, love, and an overwhelming sense of community as everyone joined together to glorify Srimati Radharani.

The preparations for Radhashtami began well in advance, as enthusiastic devotees worked tirelessly to ensure

We begin life with large, empty hearts and along our journeys it is those people who sincerely help us, who fill us—little by little.

I used to be a lot of things: naive, overworked, underpaid, afraid, restless, and an attorney in Durban’s cutthroat legal world. My husband, Venu Gopal, and I then moved to Japan where I entered the arena of teaching English as a second language to the Japanese. Now I’m a housewife and for the first time, everything on my schedule is something I’ve put there myse

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय सात भगवदज्ञान

मनुष्याणां सहस्त्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये ।

यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥ 3 ॥

मनुष्याणाम्– मनुष्यों में से;सहस्त्रेषु– हजारों;कश्चित्– कोई एक;यतति– प्रयत्न करता है;सिद्धये– सिद्धि के लिए;यतताम्– इस प्रकार प्रयत्न करने वाले;अपि– निस्सन्देह;सिद्धानाम्– सिद्ध लोगों में से;कश्चित्– कोई एक;माम्– मुझको;वेत्ति– जानता है;तत्त्वतः– वास्तव में।
भावार्थ : कई हजार मनुष्यों में से कोई एक सिद्धि के लिए प्रयत्नशील होता है और इस तरह सि