By Atma Tattva Das
In the heart of Vrindavan, amidst the vibrant colors of the Holi festival of India in 2024, devotees from around the globe converged to honor the Tirobhava & Samadhi Festival for Kadamba Kanana Swami. This sacred gathering, rich in devotion and celebration, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing spiritual journey of his seniors, disciples, peers, and admirers.
From the outset, the festival’s preparations demonstrated the community’s unity and dedication. By Saturday,
Carlos is my shiatsu therapist and since my last knee surgery two years ago, I see him by appointment from time to time. After a gap I had the pleasure of having this expert work on me. After that one hour session I really didn't want it to end. Jokingly he remarked, "you are my last client for the day, just stay on the cot until I come back tomorrow morning."
"Thanks!"
However, my thoughts lingered to the other responsibilities I have. An example: every Wednesday I do a "Gita Chat" zoom c
By Atma Tattva Das
Rupa Vilasa Dasa has dedicated his life to preserving and disseminating the rich heritage of our Vaishnava acharyas through his devotional biographies. Recently, he spoke with ISKCON News about his latest offering.
At the heart of Rupa Vilasa’s service lies a deep reverence for the Vaishnava acharyas, whose timeless wisdom continues to guide and illuminate the path of Krishna consciousness for millions. Through his extensive research and insightful writing, he has meticulousl
A new poem describing today's walk:
They shouted out in silence
In the spraying sharing rain
The greens that grow without license
Free feeling and lining every lane
If ever there was moksha on earth
It was in these moments we trailed
Sensations of newness and rebirth
An unlocking after being jailed
There were three of us in the drizzle
By Mud Creek away from people
In an abode of urban dismissal
And a oneness that had us equal
In years I'm declared as senior
But physical we are not
In s
By Vibhava Krsna Das
Seven decades ago in a remote Muslim village in the Kashmir valley (where a bus would come once in a day to drop the passengers) on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, a child was born in one of the few Hindu families that lived there. Although the family belonged to Brahmin class due to their association with the local Muslims for years they gradually fell from the Brahmanical standards and became voracious meat-eaters. The boy gradually grew up very intelligent and
By Cintamani dhama dasi
Hare Krishna dear devotees. Even though I am most insignificant, I have a message which I am burning to share with you. Following the principle that a wise person can take gold even from a dirty place, I pray you will give some consideration to it and not be prejudiced by my lack of qualification.
First, allow me to tell you a little about myself. I joined in London in 1981. By 1995, I was married with three small children, and my husband, Krishna Dharma prabhu, had open
By Abeer Saha
Popular wisdom, from doctors and moms alike, is that yoga and happiness go hand in hand. Photographs and renditions of enlightened yogis often wear beatific smiles. So ingrained is this image, of the peaceful, blissful yogi, that sometimes even dedicated practitioners are lured into a false imitation of the state of brahma-nirvana (transcendence) or samadhi (trance), seeking to meet the expectations of a yoga culture that puts happiness up on a pedestal. But are “real” yogis immun
Part 2
FURTHER DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE VEDIC SANSKRIT ITSELF, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE CLASSICAL SANSKRIT ITSELF
REPEATING INTRO
This is several questions made in the form of an article. I find them intriguing and aspire for answers. I beg kind insightful devotees to offer insights, and, if they find time, to evaluate or critique the answers which i have offered according to my own limited understanding. The very questions are written in bold text. The purpose of this is for my insignificant self
Why readers and commentators miss the point of the Bhagavad-gita when they accuse Lord Krishna of wrongdoing.
By Chaitanya Charana Dasa
Some critics of the Bhagavad-gita accuse Krishna of being a warmonger unjustly inciting the pacifist Arjuna.
At first glance, the Bhagavad-gita might seem like a philosophical justification for war – Krishna speaking to Arjuna to convince him to fight. Because our modern psyche has been deeply scarred by violence rationalized using sacred texts, we may recoil f
By Rati Gopika Devi Dasi
On May-24-28th, a group of 42 youth and 18 senior devotees from ISKCON Kuala Lumpur traveled to ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Mandir in Bali, Badung (Indonesia) for a spiritual youth retreat. The much anticipated transformative 5-day gathering was organized by the ISKCON KL youth department led by Rasa Parayana Das and his wife, Rati Gopika Devi Dasi.
This 5th Annual Youth Retreat aimed to immerse the youth in the nine processes of devotional service (Navadha Bhakti).
Somehow the sun has the ability to beckon, or rather pull you out of the house to go for its embrace. I had a small crew that was enthused to step in the sun rays. This was followed by a walk for the heart and brain in the form of a class, a message from the Bhagavatam, Canto 10. We talked about the divine favours that God constantly delivers.
Visvambara took me to see two prominent members and donors to the cause of our building a temple. I suggested to him to do a marathon for fund raising.
This is several questions made in the form of an article. I find them intriguing and aspire for answers. I beg kind insightful devotees to offer insights, and, if they find time, to evaluate or critique the answers which i have offered according to my own limited understanding. The very questions are written in bold text. The purpose of this is for my insignificant self to gain clearer understanding on the subject. That would help me in completing a written presentation on Vedic culture, which
Gargamuni Swami, a young man in his early twenties was alone, a traveling mendicant. He had recently arrived in Gainesville from Miami where he had been teaching with three other sannyasis. They had decided to go separate ways, he making his way up to Gainesville.
Far from being cosmopolitan like his hometown of New York, Gainesville was a small college town, with only two main streets and a paltry excuse for a downtown. However, in the last couple of years it had become a bastion of
We usually feel that there will be another day but what if there is no other day? What if this is our last day on this planet, the last day in this body? Did we accumulate sufficient blessings in this life to make it our last? Spiritual life is about accruing blessings throughout one’s devotional life; blessings from the Supreme Lord and His devotees. These blessings are the building blocks in our spiritual life, through them we develop saintly qualities.
Blessings help us become humble, tolera
First Ph.D. for Scientifically Exploring Bhagavad-Gita with Artificial Intelligence to Solve Human-Challenges
By Dr. Amogh Gauranga Das
Dean, Bhaktivedanta College of Vedic Education, Navi Mumbai
Bhagavad-Gita is an ancient Vedic text that emerged to solve the biggest ever human challenge in this universe. Therefore, Bhagavad-Gita is believed to have a solution to all problems. A realized expert uses Bhagavad-Gita knowledge to solve people’s personal, professional and other life challenges. Lif
A research study was recently conducted to explore the impact of the 24-hour Kirtan Birmingham event on participants and the broader community, particularly during the 25th Anniversary of this extraordinary gathering. This popular annual event provided a unique opportunity to explore the spiritual experiences, sense of community, and personal transformation that participants reported as a result of their involvement.
For a quarter of a century, the devotees have come together every year in Birm
Hare Krsna Devotees
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
On the auspicious occasion of Nrsimha Chaturdasi 2024, ISKCON Mayapur would like to offer the ‘Mayapur’ App for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Sri Panca-Tattva, Sri Sri Prahlad Nrsimhadeva and Srila Prabhupada.
Vision for ‘Mayapur’ App
Srila Prabhupada said, “My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur.” The ‘Mayapur’ app is an initiative to help fulfill this vision by connecting
The rains continue, soft but cold and not conducive for walking, so we opted for taking those steps in the mall, St. Vital's Centre. Such places are obviously people places. I personally benefit from quality time with humans. Even though it is merely glances, nods or pranams, there is some connection and that is what is important.
From the shopping mall we ventured off to the home of Rahul and Payal for Kirtan and a fabulous healthy meal. They are newly weds and have a whole new life ahead o
Srivasa’s niece was only four years old. Her name was Narayani. She was just seating peacefully in the corner of the room. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cried out “Narayani! Chant Krsnas name and cry in ecstatic love.” And little Narayani called out “Oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna…” and tears just irrupted from her eyes profusely, soaking her body, her limbs trembled and she felt to the ground just crying out “oh! Krsna.” But the devotees saw that they understood the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Today is Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura’s appearance day. Sri Caitanya caritamrta (Adi 11.55) states, “Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.” In his purport Srila Prabhupada elaborates: “Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida in krsna-lila. In other words, the author of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura,
