Not long ago I was giving a lecture to a general audience of Indians, with many Krishna devotees in the crowd. In the lecture, I raised the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or how “the whole world is one family.” Yet many devotees had not heard of this phrase before, which surprised me because I had heard this for years in the circles of my association. So, this is how I went on to describe it in my lecture, after which I received a standing ovation.
While studying Vedic culture, one thing I
Stephen Knapp, also known by his spiritual name Sri Nandanandana Dasa (Śrī Nandanandana Dāsa), is an American author, spiritual practitioner, researcher, and lecturer on Vedic culture (Sanātana Dharma) and philosophy. He is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and is a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Knapp has authored numerous books and articles focused on Vedic traditions, philosophy, and Indian spirituality. His works include The Secr
Dear Godbrothers, Godsisters, and well-wishers of HH Niranjana Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Two days ago, Maharaja had an angiography performed in Kolkata to determine the extent of blockage in his arteries. The result of the procedure showed that there is significant blockage in three of his arteries.
To date, symptoms have been very rare. Guru Maharaja has had no cardiovascular events. He is not in any pain.
Still, the cardiologist who performed
By Fergus Quinn
Govardhan Eco Farm CIC, a small hillside initiative in the Wye Valley near Symonds Yat, is bringing Srila Prabhupada’s call for “simple living and high thinking” to life under the guidance of Radha Krishna Das (Richard Higgins), Director of Good Gardeners International (GGI). Through practical demonstrations of composting, ecological design, and devotional service, the farm offers visitors a living example of how soil regeneration and spiritual practice can coexist in harmony.
Fo
By Sunanda Das,
The A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Legacy Museum in the TOVP will eventually expand in size to 21,000 sq. ft., one of the largest museums of its kind for any single person in history. The paraphernalia within its rooms will include his personal effects, clothing, tape recorders, books, recordings, and many more items of historical value to the early ISKCON days.
Regarding the spiritual nature of the acharya’s paraphernalia, Srutakirti prabhu related a story at the museum gra
I arrived safely in Montreal for our AGM Annual General Meeting. I came upon the following letter by our guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada written August 24th, 1968, when he was living in Montreal, addressed to the Right Honourable Michener, Governor General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“ISKCON (The international Society of Krishna Consciousness) is a non-lucrative organization, whose purpose is to promote the well-being of human society, and our members include people from Christian,
ECSTATIC Harinam around the Jagannatha Temple yesterday afternoon with Indradyumna Swami and 400 devotees!
Tens of thousands cheered us on as we blissfully walked and chanted around the Temple twice.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116501
Kripamoya Prabhu: Gopichand Hinduja has passed, aged 85. While most may have regarded him as an astute businessman with a sprawling empire, or simply “Britain’s richest man,” the Vaishnava community knew him as something much more.
Each morning, before breakfast, he would visit London’s Radha-Krishna temple and take part in kirtan and darshan. His obvious enjoyment and infallible regularity signalled to us his growing devotion to Krishna.
So too his kind and generous sponsorship of various ISKCO
Discover the construction of our new eco-house in New Mayapur. Built with 220 locally sourced straw bales on a wooden structure, this low-carbon design offers durability and high thermal resistance. The oak and pine beams come directly from the New Mayapur forest, combining traditional techniques with modern technology. This project uses both concrete and foundation screws, and future eco-buildings are planned to rely solely on foundation screws for an even more sustainable approach.
Source: ht
In the Bhakti tradition, we learn that there are three desires which spring forth from the soul and which can be fulfilled by a very special personality: the desire to see the divine rasa dance, to attain the kingdom of the Lord — the eternal spiritual world, Vrindavan — and to lovingly serve the divine couple.
All these desires can be fulfilled in the sacred land of Vrindavan. And how do we get there? By the mercy of a threshold guardian, Vrinda Devi.
Please make yourself more familiar with Vri
By Madana-gopala Dasa
Beyond the Binary: Recovering Moral Clarity in a Divided World
When I wrote recently that the “No Kings” protests revealed the soul’s longing for genuine, caring leaders, for the spirit of Lord Rāma rather than another self-serving ruler, some readers accused me of being “too liberal.” Others said that if I spoke about the sacredness of unborn life, I would be branded as a “religious conservative.” It seems that in much of today’s world, nuance and independent thought hav
ISKCON News: When reports surfaced that SNAP food assistance might not be funded on November 1, what prompted you and your team to take action?
Mukhya Devi Dasi, Temple President at New Raman Reti: When that news first broke, our hearts went straight to the devotees who depend on that support. Srila Prabhupada often reminded us that “charity begins at home,” and we took that to heart. We felt it was our duty as a temple community to care for our own first, especially in a moment of so much uncer
Dharma Prana is a loveable guy who spent the best years of his life serving the mission, especially in the area of book distribution. These books that are published by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust are the most cherished material on the subject of self-actualization. Dharma Prana is an outstanding devotee and disciple of the author of these fine books, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Since the mid 80s, Dharma suffered from a stroke and has not been able to form whole sentences in his speec
Preparations are underway across ISKCON for two milestone observances: the society’s 60th anniversary in 2026 and the 50th anniversary of the Tirobhava (1977–2027) of its Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. At the recently concluded GBC Midterm General Meeting in Milan in October 2025, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) gave full support to a unified, global approach for these commemorations. To raise awareness and align worldwide celebrations, Parijata
By Atma Tattva Das
Salika Das’s journey of faith began in childhood, shaped by both hardship and an insatiable search for truth. Born into a Muslim-Christian household in Nigeria, he grew up amid the complexities of a polygamous family. The loss of his younger brother at the age of three left a profound mark on him. “The departure of this young boy affected me a lot,” he recalled. “I started questioning the cause of death, and that got me more deeply into asking esoteric questions.” This curiosi
It came quite spontaneously. Vascapati, a U of T student, called me up for a break from his studies. I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk. After all, the sun was shining, temperature was 14ºC. “Let’s take the trail where I started my long-distance training for walking,” I suggested. He had the time. So, we left for the path that was ours and so many others’. We were not the only ones with the idea of a version of escapism.
Traces of Halloween were still in the residential atmosph
I received an email from someone who wanted to hear about my struggles as a devotee and how I have gotten through them, since he finds himself struggling with his chanting and feeling allured by the material world. Though I think most of the readers here are seasoned devotees, I thought I would share this in the hope that someone might find it useful, even though these are basic understandings.
Any physical life is a long journey, and so is cultivating a life of devotion. Lord Chaitanya has com
By Atma Tattva Das
Devotion and drive have shaped Gauranga Das’s commitment in the classroom and success in the boxing ring. His professional journey has also included a broad range of experiences serving others, each contributing to his development as a person and a devotee.
A central pillar in Gauranga’s life is his deep devotion to Lord Rama, who is the embodiment of virtues such as righteousness, courage, and compassion. “My faith in Lord Rama inspires me every day,” he shared, explaining ho
By H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami
Perfection means becoming a devotee of Lord Krishna.
It is stated in the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.28-29),
vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ
vāsudeva-parā yoga vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ
vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ
vāsudeva-paro dharmo vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ
“In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for re
