Sometimes I hear devotees or bhaktas, both young and old, accusing themselves of being slow or even stupid in attaining the right understanding on the importance of engaging in devotional service to Lord Krishna. It is as if they feel they are not making any progress, only due to their own faults. Naturally, there is no harm in being humble in their view of themselves. But we should also see the big picture and realize how far we have come just to have taken birth on this planet, and to be able
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In February 1971, in Gorakhpur, India, Srila Prabhupada received the issue of Back to Godhead with my article “The Genuine Spiritual Master” and called for me. “I saw your article in Back to Godhead,” he said. “It was very nice. You should write. This is your first business. Go on writing. We require many, many articles about Krishna consciousness. So you should devote yourself to writing.” I have taken Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to me to heart. And that article, “The Genuine Spiritual Mast
The following conversation between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in May 1974 during a morning walk in Rome.
Srila Prabhupada: Adanta-gobhir vishatam tamisram punah punash charvita-charvananam. Life after life, people are simply trying to enjoy their senses. Life after life, the same thing over and over again. The same eating, the same sleeping, the same sexual intercourse, and the same defending, either as man or as dog. Punah punash
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
The Srila Prabhupada International Heritage Museum, under the guidance of TOVP Chairman Ambarisa Das and Svaha Dasi, will be constructed in three phases. The first phase will cover 1,000 square feet and will open on February 18, 2025, during the International Leadership Sanga (ILS). The second phase will expand to 6,000 square feet, and the third will reach 21,000 square feet. In preparation for the opening, devotees are invited to contribute personal effects
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
The Prabhupada Network Team, under the leadership of Janmastami Dasa, successfully organized three Srila Prabhupada Connect Day events from July 27-28, 2024 in Sri Mayapur Dham. The events were designed to commemorate the 58th anniversary of ISKCON’s incorporation, highlight ISKCON’s transcendentally conceived seven purposes, and strengthen the community’s connection with Srila Prabhupada as our Founder-Acarya.
The program started with Jivanath Dasa’s and the
A First Nation’s person, a male artist, came to my side when I was sitting by a bench. He showed me his canvas piece he worked on for this very day. It portrayed, a mountain, a thunder bird, a bear and was a colourful, textured looking rendering. The artist wanted to know if I would buy it, but I had no money at the time, nor the walls to show it off with.
“I’m really sorry, Ben”.
While walking on Cumberland St. after a real fine Kirtan at Boulevard Lake, I passed by a couple in conversati
It was the beginning of 1977. Prabhupada was in Bombay temple. He was very sick. He had stopped all food intake – he was taking 1/4 a cup of orange juice per day. His body had only bones left – there was no flesh. And yet, he was insisting that he wanted to go to London. The doctors had given up responsibility. But as always, he was adamant.
At this time, one Pancaratrika Pandit from Bangalore named Sampat Kumar Bhattacarya came to know about Srila Prabhupada’s situation. So, he took a flight fr
Bhaktivedanta Manor had the pleasure of hosting Rev’d Canon Will Gibbs, Executive Residentiary Canon of the historical St Albans Cathedral. The visit was organised by Her Grace Vishaka Dasi (Temple President), Vinay Tanna (Head of Communications) and Radha Mohan das (Secretary), with the aim of forging closer links between Bhaktivedanta Manor and St Albans Cathedral.
Rev’d Canon Gibbs, who oversees mission and pastoral care, safeguarding, and environmental initiatives, engaged in fruitful discu
By Praghosa dasa
From 11:30am to 2pm the glorious 40ft Rath cart hosting Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra were centre stage on the streets of Dublin
With all the ongoing turmoil on the streets of the British Isles in the last while, our Ratha Yatra was a welcome respite from all of that. The day before our Ratha Yatra in Belfast was effected by riots, with our route being changed in real time as we were pulling the Rath cart, such was the volatility of the situation. Thankfully
Destructive and deadly landslides and widespread flooding from torrential rains have killed hundreds and left thousands homeless in southern India’s Kerala state. ISKCON Trivandrum immediately began taking action to supply both essentials items and packed prasadam to those affected by the devastations.
Jagat Sakshi Dasa from ISKCON Trivandrum released the following statement on August 7, 2024:
“As you are aware, the current situation in Wayanad [Kerala, India] is dire. Approximately 4,000 house
By Padasevan Bhakta Das
Residents of Gurugram, the IT capital of India, recently had a unique opportunity to experience and immerse themselves in devotional culture. From July 6th to 15th, eleven Rathayatras were organized in different parts of Gurugram. Scores of people from all age groups and different strata of society participated in the festival.
Gurugram is considered the IT Capital of India and is home to 250 of the Fortune 500 companies. Most people living here are corporate employees
We just paid the $10 fee to get to the top Mount McKay when I put a wish out there for driver Prem Kishor and passengers Care and Janardana. “I want to see a bear”. Janardana and I had enjoyed the waters of Lake Superior. The surface of this mighty lake was like glass, practically motionless water. Beautiful ! Once that great swim was over we hankered for the next Krishna thrill, hence the risk.
We were quite fascinated by the view from up top while carrying the spirit of half tourist/ half pil
krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-kala-pathojani-bhrajita
sad-bhaktavali-hamsa-cakra-madhupa-sreni-viharaspadam
karnanandi-kala-dhvanir vahatu me jihva-maru-prangane
sri-caitanya daya-nidhe tava lasal-lila-sudha-svardhuni
TRANSLATION
O my merciful Lord Caitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desert like tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krsna’s holy name, which are the pleasure a
We may not realize how our aural organs play a vital role in determining our spiritual destination.
The human body is equipped with five senses through which one is connected to the external world. These five knowledge-acquiring organs, known in the Vedas as jnanendriyas (jnana, “knowledge”; indriya, “senses”), are the ears, eyes, tongue, nose, and skin. Through them we receive information about the external world, and based on that information we act and react.
Among these senses, the ears are
By Padsevan Bhakta Das
Residents of Gurugram, the IT capital of India, got a unique opportunity to experience and immerse in devotional culture recently. From 6th July till 15th a total of 11 Rath Yatras were organized in different parts of Gurugram. Scores of people from all age groups and different strata of society got to participate in the festival.
Gurugram is considered the IT Capital of India, and is home to India HQ of scores of about 250 of the Fortune500 companies. Most people living
Dear Devotees
We are delighted to announce this year’s “Books Are The Basis” week! This global celebration will be held from September 18th to 24th to commemorate the significance of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America.
In the spring of 2020, the GBC Body passed a resolution encouraging all ISKCON centres to emphasize the importance of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books during this week. We invite all temples and communities worldwide to highlight the value of reading through lectures, addresse
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
The UK Gurukula, also known as the Hare Krishna Primary School, received a 2024 Social Impact Schools Award this summer. These awards recognize schools and their students for having a positive impact on the world.
Based on students at any school executing social action such as volunteering, fundraising, and raising awareness, the award is given by SuperKind Education C.I.C., a non-profit organization “dedicated to empowering young children to make positive cha
By Atma Tattva Das
Approximately 40 devotees from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) gathered in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, to march for peace following the devastating tornado that struck nearby Tongaat in June. Jahnava Kripa Dasi led the peace march, which aimed to uplift the spirits of those affected and remind the community of the strength found in solidarity and prayer.
“The Peace March came together because of the plight of the people in Tongaat,” explained Jahnava
Water gives life, a refreshing newness to one's feelings, a refreshing invigorating reincarnation. After an invigorating time in the water of Lake Superior's pristineness and supportive play with some of the guys from Winnipeg and the local area, I contemplated deeply on the lack of water experienced by some of my best devotees friends in the fiery basin in Venables Valley.
I'm speaking about the village of Sarangati in British Columbia where not only in the village itself but the towns around
From Back to Godhead
In the Bhagavad-gita (7.14) Lord Krishna refers to maya, the deluding material energy, as mama maya: “My maya.” We Vaishnavas accept His word on this, with profound philosophical implications.
The chief philosophical opponents of Vaishnavas are the Mayavadis, or impersonalists, who posit ultimate reality as one homogeneous impersonal energy, with no second thing: All the unique entities we perceive, whether things or living beings, are merely mirages. Variety and individual
