Blog

1 March, 2024
The meeting commenced with Srila Prabhupada’s Guru puja, followed by a reading from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25. The outgoing chair, Revati Raman Dasa, and the incoming chair, Guru Prasad Swami, presented certificates to GBC College graduates. Krishnadas Kaviraj Dasa (GBC Deputy) facilitated the straw voting process for the following proposals. For each proposal, he presented a summary and resolution and highlighted the Plus, Minus, and Interesting points.

Members in attendance engaged

This fine day started off with initiations at the grounds of the international school of Mayapura, SMIS. In this outdoor natural setting 9 candidates from Kolkata sat in by the fire pit ceremoniously called a havan, took their vows of abstaining from eating meat, gambling, intoxication but more positively agreeing to chanting japa daily and partaking in family planning.

The day-to-day mentor for these wonderful people is Suta Goswami, my student, and he arranged the whole set up. I am more or l

vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha

kripa-sindhubhya eva cha

patitanam pavanebhyo

vaishnavebhyo namo namaha

I offer respectful humble obeisances. Please bless me Love of Godhead

There are times when I feel that abusive offensive words to Devotees may appear out of the physical mouth, or inside the mind. But, maybe the abusive offensive words appears only inside the mind, and I am confusing it with it appearing out of the physical mouth. I think I suffer most of the time because I fear what if something offe

It was four months ago when the door bell rang and I found Jason at the door looking rather disturbed. Jason is an old client of mine whom I’ve known for over 20 years. I was rather shocked that he had turned up without an appointment and when I asked him why he’d come, he said that he was interested in upgrading his turntable. I could see he was upset and felt his explanation hid something deeper, so I invited him in.

Jason sat down and we talked and listened to Jazz. Then I played Vandeham wh

From the very beginning of His movement in India, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that it would spread around the world.

A look at Srila Prabhupada’s accomplishments in light of  an astounding prophecy made by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu more than five hundred years ago.

History shows that there are basically four types of people who claim to “see” the future, not including those who are simply absurd: scientists who make suppositions based on hard facts; economists, historians, and sociologists wh

It’s been a number of years since the last Sannyasi, Guru, GBC sanga in Mayapur, but it was nice to have such senior association once again in the holy dhama.

Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees to come regularly to Mayapur and Vrindavan to hear, chant and dance together. Of course, there were also a number of important topics that the leaders discussed with a view to pushing on Lord Chaitanya’s samkirtan movement.

Source: https://www.ramaiswami.com/mayapur-sggs-2/

On February 24-25th, the ISKCON Bhakti Yoga Center in south Minneapolis held its Grand Opening weekend, with hundreds attending programs throughout the two-day celebration. This summer, ISKCON News reported that local devotees would be opening a center in South Minneapolis, a strategic location within two miles of the University of Minnesota (with over 35,000 students). 

The community has been meeting for months in their new facility for Sunday feasts and weekday classes while working tirelessl

The drums are rolling. The horns are sounding. There's great anticipation for a pompous celebration. Multitudes of pilgrims are lined up for a procession which carries with it a deity of Narsinghdeva, the avatar of half man/ half lion, everyone's favourite. This avatar stands for strength and protection, a need for all people in a precarious world.

Well, the pomp and circumstance, began with more than a bang, There were many bangs and an assortment of drum bands all in a march to the major TOVP

Recently, ISKCON devotees participated in the UK Women’s Faith Forum’s inaugural event, “Keeping Hatred Off Our Streets.” The February 28th gathering in Parliament included women from across five major faith groups who are working collectively to ensure that the experiences, skills, and dedication of women in faith communities are focused on today’s key issues.

“Representing Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism, the Women’s Faith Forum is motivated by the essence of our faith tra

By Atma Tattva Das

In the heart of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community, a digital haven has emerged, providing a space for women to connect, share, and empower each other spiritually and personally. The Heart to Heart Vaishnavi Circle (HTHVC) stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of numerous women who have collectively fostered its growth and success.

Vrajalila Devi Dasi, a seasoned devotee deeply engaged in Vaishnava philosophy, spearheaded the H

The Executive Committee (EC) Chair, Revati Raman Dasa, shared a brief report of some assignments overseen by GBC EC in 2023-24. Some of these assignments include:
– Assisting Ukrainian devotees with challenges faced in the current situation
– Responding to many concerns about child protection matters
– Moving Forward with the Mayapur-Vrindavan Child Protection Office (CPO) Inquiry
– Media & Public Relations Issue
– Peru
– Bhaktivedanta Institute
– Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) Exhibits

The

The individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are eternal spiritual living PERSONS who can never be destroyed, terminated, divided into pieces or extinguished.

The individual jiva-souls are indestructible and were NEVER created, they have ALWAYS existed like Krsna has always existed.

We are all "old souls" because the jiva-souls have perpetually existed and were NEVER created.

The implications of existing for infinity is mind boggling because this means there really is no death for the jiva-

The International Temple President meeting, hosted by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) on 27 February 2024 at Mayapur, commenced with a warm welcome extended by the GBC to the International Temple Presidents. The meeting, attended by more than 150 participants, both in person at ISKCON’s international headquarters in Mayapur and online, was proficiently facilitated by Tapana Misra Das, vice chairman of the GBC Executive Committee (EC). Each table was hosted by a GBC member, with Temple

On March 3rd, thousands of devotees who were gathered in Sri Mayapur Dham for the opening of the Nrsimhadeva Wing of the TOVP witnessed the Pancha Tattva Maha-Abhisheka, which occurs every five years.

This joyful event also marks the 20th anniversary of the Sri Sri Pancha Tattva installation in 2004. Senior leaders from around the world performed the abhisheka ceremony. “The Pancha Tattva have endeared themselves to the global community of ISKCON devotees who look forward to this rare Maha-Abh

Thirty years ago I was doing the Prabhupada marathon at the Chicago airport. One afternoon, we devotees were so intoxicated by distributing books that we decided to show that one doesn’t have to speak to sell books, that book distribution just depends on our state of consciousness. So we didn’t speak.

Just after loading my bookbag with (20) maha books I tapped a man on the arm and looked him in the eye. He stopped, expecting me to say something. I didn’t. I put a book in his hand, pointed at Pr

“This was because Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma could not joke freely and Yaśodā could not liberally pamper the boys because of the presence of Nanda and his brothers. However for Kṛṣṇa’s relatives the evening meal was a hundred times more blissful because the entire family could eat with Kṛṣṇa. It was a million times more blissful for Yāśodā because of seeing the bliss of the relatives.” – Sri Govinda Lilamrta 20.52

Throughout “Sri Govinda Lilamrta,” which is arguably the most prominent boo

The Institute for Science and Spirituality Trust (ISS), the scientific study wing of ISKCON Delhi, held a 2-day international conference in August entitled, “Philosophy of Vaishnava Vedanta: Culture, Legacy and Traditions.” The conference, hosted in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University and Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, gathered world-class speakers from around the world. Recently, they have been releasing these significant presentations on their YouTube channel.

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