Mayapur Academy under the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry presents THE GAYATRI COURSE I for the devotee community of ISKCON.
The Course offers a program designed to help improve the quality of Brahmanas within ISKCON in order to promote the long-term wellbeing of Srila Prabhupäda’s Society and its members.
The program is based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupäda and his followers and gives reference to the current ISKCON Laws and writings from the broader Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition.
Subjects inc
This morning, or, what is evening in India, I participated in a Guru Conference with the theme “How to deal with Disciple Challenges.” Gurus (or teachers) spoke about and heard about their experiences in coaching their disciples (students). Presenters and listeners had the chance to dive deeper into the grave responsibility.
My thoughts on the position of guru are that he/she is a listener, adviser, coach, guide, cheer leader, blesser and truth speaker, while also being the truth applicant.
A s
Members and friends of ISKCON have asked how to send money to help devotees in Ukraine and to support relief programs for Ukrainian refugees in the region. Below are authorized sites that ISKCON News has confirmed to date. Bank details for each follow the list of charities/ not-for-profits.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/verified-donations-for-ukraine/
By Anuttama Dasa
Correcting False Reports Re: ISKCON Ukraine Food Relief and Sheltering
Misinformation has been circulating on social media and other media outlets (not ISKCON News) that fifty-plus ISKCON temples and centers in Ukraine are providing food relief and shelter for the public.
ISKCON News has confirmed that this information is false. According to ISKCON authorities on the ground in Ukraine, there is only one prasadam distribution program operating at this time. It is located in the
Devotees have started to provide food for those displaced by the conflict
ISKCON Hungary is actively participating in helping those displaced by the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. In addition to keeping up the everyday distribution of food, the Hare Krishna Food For Life program is always ready to help feed the masses who arrive from disaster areas.
To organize the catering operation, devotees have contacted the relevant government agencies and other charities and have already started the food dis
A new devotee children’s book, ‘Nimai’s Adventures’ based on the childhood pastimes of Lord Caitanya, written by Mandakini Devi Dasi is set to be released in March 2022.
The 200-page book with more than 70 beautifully illustrated pictures is based upon the scriptures, Chaitanya Bhagavat and Chaitanya Charitamrita. It is written in a narrative style revolving around the protagonist who is a ‘traveler’ mouse landing in Navadwip. On his journey, he meets many ‘devotee dhamvasi’ animals, who tell h
Don’t live in a house, live in a bhajan kutir!
We are cultivating our Krsna consciousness by building up a whole Krsna conscious world around us. That nourishes us and that is important because it is easier to remember Krsna. When we have pictures of Krsna in our house, that will remind us of Krsna. So, we have to build a bhajan kutir. Don’t live in a house, live in a bhajan kutir! Make that house a holy place. A place where we are worshipping Krsna. Let me tell you a story of Mr Gupta. He ha
It is always encouraging to see young folks coming around, showing interest in the science of bhakti yoga; particularly the Bhagavad-gita. I had two students from George Brown College come to conduct an interview for their school project. Circumstantially they arrived rather late due to the protests still going on, hence, blocked traffic was an issue.
Regardless, they liked the interview because it came out as rather candid. They asked about my personal participation as a monk:
“How, when and w
From a very young age I knew that this life that I was living was not all that there was. I started searching to find what the perfection of life is. I was told that it was wealth, a big house or an expensive car, but with each step towards success, I was less and less happy.
Then I met some devotees who introduced our family to Krishna. I quickly forgot that all of these items were even on my bucket list. Instead, I was encouraged to search for ways to see Krishna in the world. Overwhelmingly,
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As conflict heightens in Ukraine, we understand that your hearts are filled with concern about our dear devotees in the region and offer you a brief report on their situation.
The devotees wake up to a changed reality — tanks rolling through the streets in some places, explosions in their neighborhoods in others, and thesound of gunshots in the distance. While the tendency for a living entity in such a situatio
This Report has been verified by ISKCON News through a personal secretary of Jayapataka Swami who has been in touch with the devotees involved.
Update: February 26th, 2022 2pm EST
This evening, Vamshi Madhava Das, a disciple of Jayapataka Swami was shot in the hand and chest. His wife is taking care of him.
It was reported that their village, Kherson, was under attack. As of the time of this report they are unable to travel to any local hospital.
ISKCON News will be verifying and updating these
February 26, 2022
Sri Mayapura Dhama 11:30 AM EST
Dear devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I’m receiving communications from devotees all overexpressing their concerns about our devotees in Ukraine. My gratitude knows no bounds, just for your well-wishing thoughts for the Ukraine devotees’ well-being. If you will keep them in your thoughts, I’m sure there will be no limit as to the kind of support it will give them just by knowing that you are thinking
From the Gita, 11.42, “Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You ‘O Krishna,’ ‘O Yadava,’ O my friend,’ not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonoured You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses.”
Before I went off on my evening trek today, the Gita Chat group on Thur
Statement of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness on Ukraine
ISKCON Ministry of Communications
February 25, 2022
As members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), we offer our prayers for all persons who are victims of the evolving situation in Ukraine. We earnestly pray that no more innocent people may suffer and that peace will soon return to that region.
We are especially heartbroken that thousands of devotees of Lord Krishna are living in the areas i
By Anuttama Dasa
Special Report: Devotees in Ukraine Continue On Despite Fears, Instability
February 25, 2022 3 PM EST
Members of the Governing Body Commission (GBC) were given a report by leaders aware of the Ukrainian situation earlier today. What follows are selected highlights of that report, with additional information provided by other devotees familiar with the current circumstances.
Thousands of devotees of Lord Krishna live in Ukraine, and they worship at approximately twenty ISKCON c
A group of us were talking about addictions. We all know of people or are self-confessing victims of addiction, which can range from hoarding of things to substance-taking, pornography-gazing, to sex addition, cell-phone usage, coffee consumption, etc. The range is broad and broadening more with the advances of materialism and enhancement of Kali yuga pleasures.
I opine that with the lowering of spirituality in one’s life, the tendency to grab for things over God simply increases. Once you bri
From Kapila Dev Das:
How much knowledge do we actually need in order to serve the mission of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? What if we are complete fools – can we still act as divine instruments?
For some years, I was managing a theatre company in South Africa called “The Bhaktivedanta Players” We would perform all the standard ISKCON plays, like “The Touchstone”, A-Class prisoner, C-Class prisoner” “Boatman, Boatman”. Then we started getting into more serious theatrical productions like serious por
Shri Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) one of the most renowned and influential personalities of India, stayed in ISKCON Ujjain campus for 3 days from 19th February to 21st February. RSS organized their 2 days meetings in the temple’s auditorium. A total of 170 RSS men including their leaders, volunteers and security guards stayed in the temple’s Guest House and Apartments.
Shri Mohan Bhagwat had the darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan ji on the 20th morning and ga
From Back to Godhead
By Mayapur-shashi Dasa
Reflections on an article written by Srila Prabhupada in 1956 and on how we as Vaishnavas should think of Lord Buddha today.
In the May 5, 1956, issue of Back to Godhead, Srila Prabhupada published his article “Lord Buddha: The Emblem of Theism.” The opening paragraph informs us of the transcendental poet Sri Jayadeva Acharya’s worship of Lord Buddha. Srila Prabhupada then quotes the poet’s Sanskrit prayer to the ten incarnations of the Personal
Argentina devotees approached me for a Zoom call on the topic, “Personal Journey,” so I delivered what I could about my early days of contact with monks while I was at college. I was a fine arts student but more than eager to be a student of life in becoming more acquainted with who I really am and what is my purpose. I felt, at the time, that it was rather futile to just “follow the herd” and then end up dying. I was looking for human depth, so those five brahmacaris (monks) got me going.
The
