From Back to Godhead
Presence of joy is higher than absence of sorrow.
I was zooming along a beautiful tree-lined highway when I slammed on the brakes. Screeeech! Thud! Generally, when you run over a squirrel scampering across the road just a little too late for you to stop, you get a sinking feeling. Unless you’re stone-hearted, the next few minutes are not joyful. The guilt of having taken a life lingers until it’s replaced by more important things. But this time I was not gripped by remo
After the horrific events of 9/11, some of my Hindu friends were concerned about their safety. They had been yelled at and threatened by strangers. And for no reason at all they were told they weren’t wanted in the USA.
Over the years, such incidents have increased. According to a recent CNN article by Harmeet Kaur, “Over the past year, researchers at the Center for the Study of Organized Hate have documented a surge of anti-Indian sentiment on X that is showing no signs of abating.”
Even FBI
Participants of the workshop with Shyamsundar Das (wearing black in folded hands).
A four-day acting workshop recently concluded in Mayapur, marking a significant step in engaging devotees through creative preaching. Organized by Shyamsundar Das of Omnilight Films, it brought together devotees eager to explore dramatic arts as a medium for expressing and sharing Krishna consciousness.
Sharing his inspiration, Shyamsundar Das said his vision was to create a platform in Mayapur where devotees with
As we approach the sacred occasion of Gītā Jayanti on Mokṣadā Ekādaśī, our hearts naturally turn toward the divine moment when Lord Krishna personally spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna. Srila Prabhupada reminds us:
“Because Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad Gita.”
For over 30 years—since 1994—the Bhaktivedanta Gita Academy (Mayapur) has been enriching countles
Nakula and I hit the trail called Split Rock. It is edged along the ocean’s coast. It is very pretty, but the path was a bit rough for a simultaneous japa meditation, so we switched and drove to the uptown on what is referred to as the Redpath which takes you along the commerce and residential area. Impressive are the colonial buildings. Also handsome is the theatre at King’s Square. This 850 seater is a real beauty as its interior has baroque style décor. I was thinking about Krishna’s g
“Money is not the problem, our consciousness is.”
This truth strikes a chord in every age, but especially in our fast-paced, digitally connected world where finance defines freedom for many. Yet for a spiritual seeker, financial freedom is not just about having more, it's about using what we have with consciousness, responsibility, and devotion.
Whether you’re a new reader just exploring Krishna consciousness or a devotee navigating family and career, the question remains universal
By Sesa Dasa
In medicine, a coma, or comatose, (from the Greek “koma”, meaning deep sleep) is a profound state of unconsciousness.
Talk about living a nightmare. There was a report on the news that a Belgian man “though to be in a coma for 23 years was actually conscious the whole time.” Alex Watts of Sky News Online writes, “For the whole time, he was trapped in his own body with no way of letting friends and family know he could hear every word they were saying.”
It gets worse. In an intervie
By Omkara devi dasi
I feel very much blessed to have the shelter and ability to take darshan of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadisha in New Dwaraka. I have lived in and outside of the temple community for over 33 years and throughout the years have had various spiritual realizations.
It is important for me to have devotee association and to go to the temple program. Even though I work full time and my day consists of many laborious hours I enjoy going to evening aroti and increasing my devotee temple
By Atma Tattva Das
Isla Pula, one of the coastal and riverside communities completely devastated by flash floods and storm surge during Typhoon Tino.
Less than six weeks after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, communities across the island found themselves facing a second wave of disaster. Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) made landfall on November 4, followed shortly by Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong). The storms brought sudden flash flooding, landslides, and storm surges that compounded t
By Brihat Mridanga Das
If you thought you knew the Bhagavad-gita, think again.
Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is is an endless mine of gems. Prabhupada Priya Devi Dasi, a veteran miner, offers priceless, jewel-like insights through her modern, accessible translations and commentaries, grounded in Prabhupada’s masterpiece. Whether someone is approaching the Gita for the first time, growing as a dedicated practitioner, or sharing its wisdom as a teacher, The Living Gita speaks to ever
Vijaya Yātrā Praṣṭhān 2025!
Yesterday was a very special day here in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. The temple was filled with colourful rangolis, joy, emotion, and a deep sense of purpose as we gathered for the Vijaya Yātrā Praṣṭhān — the official send-off for this year’s Sankīrtan party. Instead of the usual Śrīmad Bhagavatam class, the community came together to offer prayers, blessings, and encouragement to the devotees preparing to go out and distribute Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books during the annual book ma
When Nakula drove us to Rockwood Park within the city limits, I had one of those déjà vu flashes. Back in the late 70s when our temples in North America were using a host of innovations to raise funds to maintain them, someone had come up with an idea to sell handcrafted candles made by our own devotees. They were gorgeous pieces of craftsmanship and were popular with the public. One time, Krsnadasa, a godbrother, and I loaded up a truck with candles and drove eastbound for New Brunswick and
From Back to Godhead
By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Although Lord Krsna wants our full surrender,
He encourages us to progress gradually to that exalted goal.
THE Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.29.11-12) states, “The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one’s mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone’s heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down towards the ocea
It was a 5.5 magnitude, located in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, about 300kms away from Mayapur.
Three dead, several injured, tremors felt across West Bengal. Preliminary reports suggest that the earthquake was felt between 10.08 to 10.10 am for a few seconds and it was felt in Kolkata, Malda, Nadia, Cooch Behar and several other districts.
Mild earthquake in Mayapur. It was a 5.5 magnitude, located in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, about 300kms away from Mayapur. https://earthquaketrack.com/quakes/2025-11-21
By Hrishikesh Gaurang Das
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the broader devotee community in Bangladesh have reported an increasing number of security risks, social pressures, administrative complications, and misinformation-related incidents across the country. A recent internal report from ISKCON Bangladesh highlights several challenges affecting temples, religious programs, and the personal safety and rights of devotees.
According to the report, IS KCON te
On Sunday, 9th November 2025, ISKCON Finland, in collaboration with the Embassy of India, celebrated the International Gita Mahotsav. The initiative by the Government of India and the Indian Embassy, in partnership with ISKCON Finland, created an inspiring event dedicated to sharing the timeless wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, spoken by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
The celebration featured inspiring speeches by Tapo Divyam Dasa, Leader of ISKCON Finland, and His Excellency Mr. Hemant Kotalwar, Ambassad
ISKCON New Vrindaban recently hosted a 10-day Deity Worship Course facilitated by Nṛsiṁha Kavaca Dāsa of the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry (IDWM). He was joined by a skilled teaching team consisting of Murali Manohar from England, Vraj Mohan Das, Rasa Devī Dāsī, and Nāmaruci Das. This year’s participation exceeded expectations, with 37 students registering—nearly double the ministry’s preferred class size. The IDWM typically aims for 26–30 participants, with a minimum of 20, to allow for persona
For most of us, the day is broken up into three parts – morning, afternoon, and evening. How one initiates the day with a certain mindset impacts the rest of the day. If my tone in the morning is one of adventure, anticipation, gratitude, welcoming, and meditative, it will likely carry throughout the rest of the day.
On that note of optimism, four of us, including Pierre, a local man of skill, integrity, and optimism, met at Irving Nature Park an immaculately maintained piece of green, m
