Higher Education
"Maybe I Expect Too Much"
He was the consummate student, disciplined, industrious. He executed homework assignments with ritual precision, distrusted the frivolity of his peers, and adored the pursuit of knowledge. Eventually my friend Ralph, in his search for meaning, committed suicide at the age of sixteen. No one was less surprised than me.
Ralph would confide to me misgivings about his studies and the value of school in general. "It's not what they're teaching us," he would
Being our closest companion, the mind needs to be constantly monitored, under the lens of divine intelligence
The word mind, as used in common parlance, connotes many things including awareness, intellect, memory, attention, intention and determination. Despite its familiar connotations, what the mind actually denotes remains vague and elusive. This is evident in logical positivist philosopher A. J. Ayer’s refusal to study the mind because “it has no locus.” Translated to nonjargon, he essent
Song by luminary Bhaktivinode Thakur
The following lyrics demonstrate this great saint’s sense of vision on the principle of unity and diversity:
1) Why do you continue to hate the way the Lord is worshiped by people of other lands? There exist a number of authentic ways to worship God according to the custom of various people living in different countries.
2) Some people worship the Lord in an untidy or careless manner, some worship Him by bending down on their knees, still others close their
The search for the source of inspiration in science, mathematics, and art
leads beyond the mechanistic framework of present-day biological theory.
SADAPUTA DASA studied at the State University of New York and Syracuse University and later received a National Science Fellowship. He went on to complete his Ph.D. in mathematics at Cornell, specializing in probability theory and statistical mechanics.
In this article we will examine how human beings acquire knowledge in science, mathematics, and ar
When I was preparing a book on the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I have been researching the centuries-old biographical tradition. In one collection of biographies, I came upon an editor’s introduction that riled me:
That from the ranks of humanity there can emerge a Socrates, a Cato, a Jesus, a More, a Newton, a Mozart, a Balzac, a Deburau, a Napoleon, is in my eyes a thing more wonderful than all the miracles ever imagined by the makers of religions…. Our desire
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
One resolution was inadvertently not included in the 2021 GBC Resolution file. This has now been corrected:
https://gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2021GBCRES.pdf
The title of the missing resolution is “Increasing the Number of Diksa-gurus” and is on page 25.
My apologies for the omission.
Your servant,
Ananda Tirtha das (GBC Corresponding Secretary)
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=96713
Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=45306
On the wedding day of Krishna’s parents, King Kamsa led the chariot of the newly married couple through the crowds when a prophetic voice from the skies revealed his fate; being slain by their eighth son, who would be Krishna. Kamsa became very defensive, unsheathed his sword and was prepared to behead his sister right on the spot. Vasudeva, Kamsa’s new brother-in-law, stepped into action holding back Kamsa’s sword-held arm. The crowd was in a panic. Vasudeva tried to reason with the impulsive
From Back to Godhead
The Graduate: A high school graduation inspires thoughts on raising a child in Krsna consciousness.
My husband and I take a seat on the shiny varnished bleachers in the large arena used for basketball games. The well-dressed crowd sits in anticipation as their sons and daughters, filing through the rear entrance in dark blue caps and gowns, prepare to graduate from high school.
I spot my son, Narayana, standing in the procession. His searching eyes meet mine, and we exchang
Though we are visiting remote areas of Orissa to document ancient temples, we couldn’t resist a pilgrimage to Jagannatha Puri. We spent the day visiting numerous sacred temples and places associated with the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, such as Siddha Bakula, where the Lord visited Haridas Thakur and planted a Bakul tree to give His devotee shade while chanting the Holy Names. That sacred tree still exists.
Read more: https://dandavats.tumblr.com/post/676166043485519872/the-sacred-abod
By Jayaprakash Ramsaran
One day, many years ago, I was standing in line at a grocery store. Some politician was on a television screen saying things that disturbed my mind. And then I thought, “Well, why am I listening to it? I’m standing here watching! It’s my own fault.” There’s a song lyric that says, “I don’t know what you expect, staring into the TV set.” The channel we watch is always our choice.
Deliberately find out how to change the channel. Or, cut the cord–just be sure to unplug it
By Madhavi Kumari devi dasi, Bhubaneswar
My husband Sundar Govind dasa and I recently joined the Utkala-Banga Padayatra for four days. Our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, always says, “Each one should join padayatra or if can’t at least do one-day padayatra,” and when padayatra reached Jatani, our hometown and suburb of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, we welcomed the padayatris and made arrangements for their accommodation.
The best part was I did book distribution with my daughter and son, Radha
702.02: Diksa-gurus [Title] – Increasing the Number of Diksa-gurus – 2021
[Meeting] – Online AGM (passed on July 29, 2021) [Category] – Statement
Whereas connection via diksa to the parampara is essential for anyone aspiring to advance in Krishna consciousness.
Whereas ISKCON needs a sufficient number of initiated devotees to perform many essential services, which can only be performed by properly initiated devotees
Whereas ISKCON still has a similar number of diksa-gurus as at the end of the
By Kamala Radha Devi Dasi
Bhakti Kids Sanga had started out with having devotional activities for families, resources for parents, and even yoga classes for children, but they heard a need in their community. There has seemed to be an influx of Hare Krishna podcasts popping up, but nothing geared towards children and family. “I’ve even noticed parents on Facebook groups for homeschooling say they wish there was a podcast” Abhidheya devi dasi shared with us.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/b
By Krishna Dharma Das
Some years ago, the GBC commissioned their Sastric Advisory Council (SAC) to produce a paper on ISKCON’s responsibility to protect its members from choosing unqualified gurus, versus the disciples’ responsibility to undergo due diligence in testing their prospective guides. This is from the GBC’s request to the SAC:
“Srila Prabhupada states that it is the responsibility of the prospective disciples to examine and test their prospective guru prior to initiation. Given that
A few of us created another Zoom Gita Study Group, with a west coast crew. It was our orientation day, but I must not forget to include three families from Saskatchewan, where they are encountering a terrific snow blizzard. “Not to worry,” I ensured Vivek and Amee. When the freak of nature rears its ugly head, we go into our holes and there’s nothing better to do on a wintry night than to cuddle around the comforting words of Bhagavan.
I want to thank those who joined today, and for every altern
The legendary singer and most recorded artist in the world (Guinness World Records) passed away on February 6, 2022 at the age of 92. I had the good fortune of meeting her in 1976 and spending several hours one on one with her over a three-day period.
In the summer of 1976, I received a call from Jagatpurusa das from Mumbai. He said that Lata (she told me to call her by her first name) and Mukesh were coming to Houston to perform in a concert and requested if I could arrange daily prasad for her
By Manojna Devi Dasi
Patanjali Muni das is head of the kitchen at Bhaktivedanta Manor, and he also oversees the preaching activities in ISKCON South Korea. Recently he ceremoniously received the life-size murti (sacred image) of Srila Prabhupada in the temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, which is situated on the border of South Korea near to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the South from the North.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/srila-prabhupada-arrives-in-south-korea/
By Snigdhamayi Sudevi Devi Dasi
India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is a US-based non-profit charity. They aim to support the poverty-stricken people of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Their focus is to empower poor people through means of education and skill development, thereby making them capable of living a sustainable life. They serve beyond the boundaries of caste, creed, and color.
In January 2022, IDRF extended its support to the India Tribal Care Trust (ITCT) through the Internationa
Shortly after my father passed away in 2008, I wrote a poem in his honour, a way of saying “Thanks!” It will be his birthday on the 1st of February. He was born in the Netherlands, the place of tulips, in 1919. As a member of the Vaishnava tradition, bhakti yoga, we have a natural obligation to feel for our parents who did so much for us. Here’s my poem:
About Dad
Dear Creator
You struck a good balance
When you linked the leaf and petal
Came a man of heart and muscle
Smooth as silk, hard as me
