I have enjoyed being somewhat grounded for the last few weeks, except for a brief stretch on a set of wheels to Montreal and Ottawa. I haven’t soared up by some wings thousands of feet into the air, although that is soon to change with a scheduled flight for Alberta tomorrow. When someone says, “I’ve got itchy feet,” or “I’m getting antsy,” it applies to me, because it’s time to move on.
During my time back at home base, I’ve had the privilege to deliver numerous classes on the Bhagavatam, expl
On January 22nd 2024, the momentous occasion of the installation of Lord Rama in the newly built Ram Mandir of Ayodhya will take place.
To mark the event, everyone is invited to participate remotely in the ceremony by taking darshan of the Kalash carrying Akshata (Holy Grains) from the Ayodhya Trust, which symbolises the invite to visit the temple in Ayodhya, either on the installation day itself or sometime in the future. The Akshata (Holy Grains) will be made available to those visiting for d
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) hereby encourages and directs all ISKCON leaders, temples, and communities to arrange special celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of the appearance of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja during the months of February and March 2024. This is an important celebration for ISKCON recognizing the very special and unique importance that His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja has for ISKCON, as the Guru Mah
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Respected Vaisnavas,
All glories to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada!
It is with great spiritual joy and reverence that we, the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava Association (SGVA), announce the grand celebration of the 150th Vyasa-puja of Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, slated for the year 2024. This event holds not only the significance of marking the 150th appearance da
1. Zonal Update
In the zonal report, Malati Devi Dasi shared an inspiring update of the continued development of Krishna Consciousness in different areas of the US Midwest including Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit, amongst others. Highlights included; the commencement of the construction for a grand temple in the greater Columbus area in Ohio, the dynamic outreach taking place including at the many prestigious universities in the region, the deepening commitment to Krishna Consci
By Atma Tattva Das
Spurred by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hare Krishna Africa (HKA) platform has evolved into a transformative online and in-person network of African devotees. This innovative network utilizes social media, Zoom calls, and strategic cross-border connections to serve collaboratively on various issues facing ISKCON communities across multiple countries. Initiated by the visionary minds of Srivas Das Vanacari, Kusha Das, Jnana Caksusa Das, and Kavikarnapura Das, t
Ice has become crystal
Beware, for it is now brittle
Anything can break/snap
Water can’t run from the tap
It is a frozen planet
Snow assumes a blanket
A cover over land mass
Water is now glass
Movement is nil in the yard
Most entities are asleep
There’s a secret you can’t keep
It’s a whisper in the wind
Telling that Nature hasn’t sinned
She inserts a truth
With her face-biting tooth
Leaving moments to reflect
Pondering on what to reject
To simplify. Downscale
Life should not be pale
The white c
On January 18, 7:30 PM EDT, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) and the Vedic Friends Association (VFA) will be hosting an online webinar entitled “The Western Hindu Perspective on the Revitalization of Ayodhya Ram Mandir.”
Webinar panelists include Balabhadra Bhattacarya Dasa, Sri Nandanandana Dasa, and Kavindra Rishi. Balabhadra Bhattacarya is the President of the co-sponsoring organization, the VFA, which has as its aim “to present, preserve, protect and promote the principles and p
By Atma Tattva Das
In an alignment of spiritual vision and environmental stewardship, The Braj Kund Restoration Project, created to restore the deteriorating quality of kundas in the Braj region, reflects the essence of sustainable development and holistic conservation. For the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community, this initiative transcends the boundaries of ecological restoration; it signifies a sacred duty to preserve the sanctity of Braj – a place intrinsically
I am quite alarmed by the vast increase of homelessness in all the places I go to, and in the areas I walk. We have all seen people pushing a shopping cart with extensions on it; half-full bags dangling to the side. Clothes, sleeping gear, and some processed foods are the contents and more. I imagine for some homeless folks, you might find medications, drugs and other addictions matter.
In my walk with Uday and Navi today, we saw such a woman in a daze standing outside a department store on Blo
From A Meditation on the Importance of True Humility” in “Back to Godhead, Vol. 53, No. 5 (Sep/Oct 2019):
Guru Dasa (disciple of Bhaktimarga Swami): “The Tao Te Ching advises that humility is the best policy. One quote I like is translated as follows: ‘If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below.
If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.’ (Chapter 66)”
“Jesus also advised humility. He said, ‘So the last shall be first, and the first last: for man
Lianne Kolirin, a freelance journalist who has written for CNN, The Washington Post, The Daily Express, and The Jerusalem Post recently profiled the beginnings of the Hare Krishna movement in the UK and ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Manor.
The article was published by The Religion Media Centre. This UK-based organization seeks to be a bridge between religions and the media, “working alongside journalists and other media professionals to explain, enhance and encourage the reporting of religion, and thus
By Aseem Krishna Das
This year’s Sadhu Sanga program, organized by disciples of HH Subhag Swami Maharaja, was held from 30th December 2023 to 4th January 2024 at Janardan Swami Ashram in Nashik, Maharashtra. Each year, Maharaja selects a different place for the Sadhu Sanga program, and this time, it was the Nashik Dham.
Disciples of Subhag Swami Maharaja gathered from different parts of India and abroad to receive the association and celebrate the 84th Vyasa Puja ceremony of their beloved spiri
When I look at the span of a day involving community members, I am touching all rites of passage. Someone is calling about getting married. “Do you have the wedding hall available at such and such a date?” Another individual is personally asking about help to find a partner.
Then out of the crowd a couple approach me: “Please give us blessings, Swamiji, we are going to have our first child in four months.”
And during the feast, again, someone is saying, “My wife is in her last stages with cance
Visakha Dasi has released a new book entitled Virtues for a Happy Life: Bhagavad-gita for Children. This beautifully designed volume makes the wisdom of the Gita easily accessible through photographs, paintings, and straightforward language as it explores four virtues found in the ancient text. “For me, the four virtues highlighted in the book are foundational teachings of the Gita,” said Visakha, “equal-mindedness (seeing everyone as an atma or soul), healthy-mindedness (understanding Krishna’s
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
ISKCON UK is organizing a free international online course called Think Gita based on the teachings of S.B. Keshava Swami Maharaj. The taster session starts today January 11th at 8 pm GMT, and the 4-week course begins on 1st February, every Thursday from 8-9 pm GMT.
Raja Mukunda, who is the course instructor, is the co-founder and heads the Think Gita project and has been teaching the Bhagavad-gita for four years. He said, “People purchase the Bhagavad-gita, b
Today is Makar Sankranti. Aside from the northward movement of the sun today, it is a very important and auspicious day for the Vaishnava community, as on this day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took to the renounced order of life for the sake of liberating and distributing the Holy Name to us all. Therefore, on this auspicious day, it is important to remember the pastime activities of the Lord because He is also the master of all wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation because He
When we actually care
We are prone to share
With those in times of need
In any physical/emotional bleed
With a gentle pinch of courage
Caring becomes a universal language
Understood by plants, vegetables
Bugs, birds, and all animals
True humans are quite aware
Of the sensitivity called care
By way of touch, a smile
Kind words, listening – all worth while
But we cannot monopolize
Rather own up and apologize
For past abuses done
With a violent cleaver or gun
To compensate, begin this day
With so
Some fifty years ago in Bombay, when I first began to meet people to encourage them to support ISKCON, I was guided by the fourth verse of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Upadesamrta, kindly explained by Srila Prabhupada. It instructed me to reciprocate with the people whom I met in exchanges of love. The more care and affection we gave them, the more they would reciprocate and want to support our cause. And I knew that if they engaged in devotional service, they would enhance their spiritual lives.
dadat
On January 7th, 2024, we celebrated Ratha Yatra during the Mango Strut Parade, which has been a local happening during the last 40 years. Devotees used to chant during the parade, but there was never a Ratha Yatra until last year.
Even thousands of miles away from Jagannath Puri, Coconut Grove, where the parade is held, is a small village in Miami close to the ocean, surrounded by banyan trees, coconut, and mango trees. The village is special because Srila Prabhupada graced this place with his vi
