Blog

By Acarya dasa, All-India Padayatra leader

We padayatris were in Vraja-mandala parikrama from October 20 onwards while our Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar’s chariot remained parked in the courtyard of the Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram temple. Our oxen were on vacation at the Bhaktivedanta goshala and having completed parikrama we were then staying in Vrindavan dhama. I regularly visited the oxen at the goshala and they were all in good condition. One day I suddenly got the news that Vitthala had left his bo

His Grace Jnana Sukriti Prabhu (ACBSP) from Caracas left his body on the auspicious day of Sat-tila ekadasi. He was present during the visit of His Divine Grace in Venezuela in February 1975 and had the opportunity to serve him, to attend his classes and receive initiation on that occasion. He was a very scholarly devotee, renowned preacher, astrologer and visionary administrator. A very important member in the development of Krishna Consciousness in Venezuela. Please pray for the departed soul.

From ISKCON Philadelphia

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We regret to inform you that our dear friend and longtime congregational member, His Grace Caitanya Jivan Prabhu, a disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, has departed from this world on January 30, 2022. He leaves behind his wife, Jaya Sita devi dasi.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/the-passing-of-caitanya-jivan-das/

As I turned the corner at Yonge and Bloor, on my evening walk amid corporate giant edifices, I was drawn to the actual writing on the wall of one of them. Below street level, where now exists a bustling commuter train called the subway, was an underground non-denominational cemetery called Potter’s Field. It’s hard to believe that just less than 200 years ago was a sprawling 2.4 hectares of this burial ground where 6, 700 people were buried at what was then the edge of “The Woods.”

It’s a good

We are all looking for ways to progress in life, to be happy and to feel real love. From a young age, there is something deep within, that tells us that there is more out there, but we cannot find these truths alone. We must rely on the parampara, or the bona fide system of disciplic succession. Only through this unbroken chain of Vedic knowledge, can we realise the Absolute Truth.

While allowing ourselves to trust this Vedic knowledge is a challenge, and also the reward when we can realise the

From Back to Godhead

By Sacinandana Swami

This little-known holy place played a major role in the inauguration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtana movement.

During the month of Karttika, which falls across October and November in the lunar calendar, devotees of Lord Krishna are advised to increase their concentration on His worship by dedicating their daily devotional hearing and chanting to Srimati Radharani, His eternal consort. This advisory for Karttika is best carried out in a secluded

Section 700: Gurus and Disciples

701.2 ISKCON Spiritual Masters Conditions for Second-generation Diksa-gurus — 2019 [Governing law]

Whereas ISKCON Law 7.3.2 now reads: “As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one’s diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However, Srila Prabhupada and historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus, if so directed by them. In such a case, the disciple s

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The 2021 GBC Resolutions have finally been released. Due to the global pandemic, it was not possible for the GBC Body to conduct in-person meetings and therefore the AGM 2021 was conducted online. Similarly, the 2022 AGM will also be conducted online.

To ensure online resolutions become final and binding, two resolutions were passed to change the GBC’s Rules of Order. These are included in the Resolution file.

D

I have to hand it to them; Cameron and Vallabha Hari took their shovel carving through the imposing mounds of snow around the building and succeeded in making it accessible for pedestrian walkways with snow walls. Bravo to you guys!

To those who are intimidated by natures imposition, I would like to offer this advice: take them as Krishna’s way of reminding us that 1) we are not God – we are not in control, 2) Krishna is giving the opportunity to learn modesty, 3) life in this world is not all

Draupadi. Her admirable character is revealed in the most humiliating incident of her life – her disrobing by the wicked Dushasana. Though victimized in body, she refuses to be victimized in her heart. Her exceptional character transforms the lowest point in her life into the highest point. The incident in which she is the most dishonored, she emerges as the most honorable.

On that dark day, her period has just ended and she has emerged after bathing, wearing a single cloth before she puts on h

The area outside ISKCON Mayapur campus is underdeveloped and has no waste management system. Owing to this, Murari Mohini Devi Dasi has taken up this initiative and started Mayapur- Clean And Green. She supervises groups that clean the streets of Mayapur, collect the garbage, and transport it to the waste and recycling areas.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/mayapur-clean-green/

Nature did us a wonderful favour when she dumped tons of snow on the ground, on rooftops, trucks and automobiles as well as on snow. Yes, snow upon snow. It engulfed the north-eastern front of the continent. Perhaps for the first time in months the public had a break from hearing about covid and omicron. What came more in the minds of motorists, in particular, was, “Will I get home safe in this storm?”

From my window, I could see people stuck in deep snow and others with tires spinning, but the

"Everyone must perform sacrifice," Lord Krsna says. And He comes
as Caitanya Mahaprabhu to show us how easy it can be.

A lecture in London on September 5, 1973

yajna-dana-tapah-karma
na tyajyam karyam eva tat
yajno danam tapas caiva
pavanani manisinam

"Acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity, and penance purify even the great souls." (Bhagavad-gita 18.5)

There are four stages of spiritual life: brahmacarya [celibate stude

By Sunanda Das

Prabhupada Placing Ananta Sesha in the TOVP Foundation Pit, 1972

1972 was a year in Sridhama Mayapur filled with many beginnings. The Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival from March 2 – 5 commemorates four of them. These include:

• 50th Anniversary of Chota Radha Madhava’s Installation/Arrival
• 50th Anniversary of the ISKCON Mayapur Gaur Purnima Festival
• 50th Anniversary of Prabhupada Placing the Ananta Sesha Murti
• 50th Anniversary of Jananivas Prabhu as Mayapur Head Pujari

In a

Someone sent me a question asking about the status of coco. The sender found out that some Vaishnavas of the bhakti tradition consume chocolate. “So where do we stand?” was his basic question, a question worthy of asking his guru.

My answer to him was that our guru, Prabhupada, was not favourable to chocolate because of its caffeine content. When Prabhupada heard that some of his disciples were consuming hot chocolate in the evening as things were winding down, he wanted a stop to it. My good f

Faith is not bhakti but is a very important part of bhakti. The Cambridge dictionary defines ‘faith’ as, “a great trust or confidence in something or someone.” Srila Prabhupada has explained that “faith means unflinching trust in something sublime” (Bhagavad-gita 2.41, purport). He further explained, “Faith means firm conviction that if I become transcendentally engaged in the service of the Lord, then my life becomes successful. This is called faith. And that conviction must be firm, not totte

Last week I was asked, “What’s the most important practice for advancing in spiritual life?” Srila Prabhupada said chanting of Hare Krishna is most important. Some have suggested that devotee association is more important because without it, most of us wouldn’t have the strength to chant Hare Krishna.

I agree. But I think there is a principle even more fundamental than this.

OUR VERY DESIRE TO ADVANCE IN SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THE CORE CONDITION UPON WHICH OUR ADVANCEMENT IS BUILT.

“One’s devotion a

By Anandini Tikunov (8th-grade student) 

Alachua Students Map Out a Sustainable, Eco-friendly Future for their School

From January 3rd to January 14th, 2022, students at the Bhaktivedanta Academy North America (BANA) in Alachua, FL participated in an interdisciplinary project based on building a sustainable school. The project was executed by the middle school and high school student cohorts and their teachers. BANA is currently undergoing an expansion, and the school’s leaders wanted to involve

One of the people who comes on board for the Thursday Gita class, sourced from Alachua, Gainesville, is a Godsister by the name of Sankalpa. She is one of the rock pillars of our weekly group, which is a closely-knit group that enjoys each other’s company. Sankalpa is European, married to American born Janmasthami, and they have two boys (of marriageable age), Prahlad and Devala. I’ve engaged both boys in dramas in the past. She is a saintly person and lives a responsible life. In a picture tha