Bhakta Mukesh: Arrival of a sadhu is the sign of Lord’s mercy; and when this mercy coincides with Balarama Jayanti that precedes Lord Krsna’s appearance day – it’s all the more a reason to rejoice in festivity and dance in ecstasy. Therefore, to celebrate the confluence of these holy tithis with the arrival of HH VedaVyasaPriya Swami Maharaj, the Journey of Self Discovery, Wellington, organised several events and festivities including a two-day Otaki retreat in honour of Maharaj and other senio

When we talk about the planet’s earliest civilization, we are talking about the world’s earliest sophisticated society after the last ice age. This means that according to the Vedic time tables, various forms of civilization have been existing for millions of years. But the first record of an organized and developed society was the Vedic culture that arose in ancient India with the Indus Sarasvati civilization, and then spread out from there in all directions around the world.

Often times we se

Dear Maharaj,

You were special. I have never met anyone like you. You were so cool, totally real, and uniquely funny; and you had this unusual sixth sense for making people Krishna conscious. You just knew how to get into people’s hearts, both devotees and non-devotees, and you knew exactly what was needed to do this in every situation. You touched the lives of many, many people because you were both a special person and deeply cared for others. Your related to everyone and thus everyone relate

A gentleman who is involved in education in ISKCON, and for whom ISKCON functions as his religious institution was bemused when he made the decision to send his daughter for university studies. Some well meaning friends commented that going to the university was morally and religiously evil or contaminating. He asked us if we could write a little about this. As we began to discuss the topic a little we found that it is a common theme amongst many people who have a life in both the religious and

New book by bestselling author Shubha Vilas |Pre-order

"Perfect Love"

We are delighted to announce the publication of a new book that gives advice on relationships and love using stories from ancient Vedic scriptures, called Perfect Love: 5.5 Ways To A Lasting Relationship. 

Happily ever afters are easier said than done. Love can be painful, it can lead to disappointments. But love is also the most precious gift we have – to give and to receive. How do we choose the right partner, and how do

In this week's podcast episode we interview Coach Nick Pereira from Canada. Nick is a business coach who integrates Krishna consciousness in his business. He has also recently opened a preaching center in his home town.

On Janmastami 2018, Coach Nick got initiated by Bhakti Marga Swami and was given the name Nakula dasa.

Now, let's hear...

• What was the response to his spiritual questions in grade school
• His challenges and learnings as a young entrepreneur at the age of 17
• What sage advice he got from

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

When was the first time you connected with someone within the realm of Krsna consciousness? How did that develop into what it did?

All those times in India that I visited, I never met devotees. But, I had seen devotees in my town in Holland. They came in a little grey van and then all these pink men came out of it. It did not seem possible for so many men to fit into such a tiny van. So instantly, I knew that something was up here. (laughter) Then, they made a line and s

My dear godbrother and friend, Giriraja Maharaja,

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

I am not usually without words but glorifying you is challenging because there is so much to say and so little time to say it! I could talk for hours about your extraordinary qualities as a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, as well as reminiscing about our 30-year friendship which is one of the deepest and most satisfying in my life.

Friendship is an essential ingredient in Krsna c

By Akruranatha Dasa

From time to time we hear that a certain devotee is “mature”. We know it is a positive thing, but what does it really mean? How can we become the kind of devotee that others will call “mature”? What is the evidence regarding “maturity” in our revealed scriptures?

I think it is a good topic for discussion and would like to hear the realizations of others. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. One of the hallmarks of a madhyama adhikari is knowing how to properly interact with diff

This is a compilation based on the works of Srila Prabhupada.

Compiled by Premanjana Das

(Pranjal Joshi)

1)

“If you sit down and write some article on Krsna, that means you have to concentrate on Krsna’s activities or Krsna’s devotees’ activities, and that very process will purify your heart. Therefore we always recommend to our students that you write articles, read our magazine, read our book. In this way if we keep ourself… Work for Krsna. This… We have come here in this pandal or in this Ku

The dictionary defines the word ‘Renunciation’ as follows – ‘the formal rejection of something, typically a belief, claim, or course of action.’ All over the world, we come across people who practice the spirit of Renunciation – There are some who renounce bad/harmful habits or renounce bad association, and there are some who renounce negative thoughts/words/deeds, etc. Again, we find people, who are a bit more serious and claim to belong to the Renounced order of life altogether, like the sain

Protect and Provide

If a case of illicit sex between a man and an unmarried woman were brought before Prabhupada, he never blamed the woman. He said it is the man’s fault because the man is supposed to be strong and intelligent, and that a woman naturally and innocently follows a man.

A man’s role is to protect and provide. Protection and exploitation are opposites. So if a woman went along with a man’s sexual aggression, Prabhupada wouldn’t blame her. Why? Because the man is supposed to guide

I love to write and am doing my best to speak more. Regardless of how inspiring or insightful I may, or may not, be, if my words don’t inspire the audience or readers to take practical action, the benefit will be very brief. Have you ever been to a seminar, workshop, or class, or read a book, where you felt very inspired, only to have it fade because you didn’t put into practice what you heard? I know I have!

Many people know what their problems are, but are unwilling, or don’t believe it is po

At around 6:20 a.m. I was doing the morning reception service at the Radha-Krishna temple in London when a huge garbage truck stopped outside. I didn’t pay much attention, being absorbed in my own business.
Then the garbageman knocked on the door and, smiling cheerfully, asked for a vegetarian book that he saw on display in the window. He wore dirty clothes and had a little wallet with holes.
He rejected “Higher Taste,” saying he needed a big vegetarian cookbook. I showed him one, but I didn’t

KRISTINA ORREGO/Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – It’s 4:30 a.m., and while the rest of the world is asleep, the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua is softly lit and gently buzzing.

Women wearing ornate saris and men in white, flowing dhoti and kurta remove their shoes before stepping onto sacred ground.

They enter, bowing their heads and prostrating their bodies in the direction of the statue of Srila Prabhupada, the pioneer of their movement that began 50 years ago.

Beads in hand and eyes closed, th

Karuna Dharini dasi: Some time ago I tried distributing books at UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles). Before long I was dreading my encounters with the kids there — they were so smart, so quick, so elite, and so uninterested in taking Srila Prabhupada’s books. I wouldn’t go back there again. They are like great yogis in that their attention on their education is unwavering. Their textbooks probably contain information that they personally formulated in their last life. My mother

Monk Walks To Promote A Simpler Way Of Life. 
By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN – He’s on a walk across America, and last Friday Bhaktimarga Swami was in downtown Buchanan on his way west toward Lake Michigan. Clothed in his orange robes, Swami made his way through town as well as west along Elm Valley Rd.
Swami is in the middle of a three-year trek across the country. He began his walk last spring and walked through the fall.
Swami has been walking for nearly a month this year, starti

Question: While traveling by trains I see many children begging. They seem hungry and I can’t bear the sight. When they ask for money, one side of me says I shouldn’t give them the money, for they might give it to people who’ll misuse it. My other side says that I should. What should I do? 
Radhanath Swami: Real joy comes through service – through serving without expecting anything material in return. When we do something and we get something in return, it gives satisfaction to the mind and to