Growing every year in size and popularity under a second generation team, Toronto Rathayatra has inspired younger devotees to take on more and more leadership in their community, and senior devotees to hand more and more to them.
Seventeen years ago, when he was only eighteen, just one second generation devotee, Kevala Bhakti Das, became part of the Rathayatra organization team. Today, the festival is put on by thirty-two younger devotees from high school kids to thirty-somethings, heading up
The recent incident in Gujarat of what has been called “cow vigilantism” has attracted widespread condemnation. While cows are immensely sacred for us, the followers of the Vedic tradition, most people in today’s world don’t share this sentiment. In fact, many find our caring for cows so incomprehensible that the term “holy cow” has come to be used as an informal expression of astonishment or disbelief. In an increasingly post-modern world, trying to impose one’s values on others backfires badl
The Berlin air, hot and stale, hung heavy above us as sleepy passengers slowly shuffled forward to the immigration desk, one by one.
"What's your final destination?" the German man in uniform barked.
"Hopefully, Vaikuntha" I joked, muttering under my breath as I handed my father our passports.
My father's eyes were merry, but his face shone no hint of amusement as he turned back to face the immigration officer. As Indian citizens that were U.S. permanent residents, we seemed a little out of
In spiritual life we follow four regulative principles: no intoxication, no meat eating, no gambling and no illicit sex. However, in the present age of Kali people think that happiness in life is derived by breaking these principles. Sadly, this sometimes results in incarceration.
ISKCON Vrindavan’s Namhatta Department has been visiting various local prisons and the devotees are seeing a miraculous turnabout on the part of the prisoners whose lives were previously centered around breaking thes
I’ve been encouraged by Vijaya Prabhu, Bhrgupati Prabhu, and the Los Angeles Temple President, Svavasa Prabhu, to write this story. I would like to include a name and picture of the main person in the story, but considering the situation, it could be a bit risky. For now I’ll call my friend “Al”.
After the 2016 Orlando shootings due to religious violence, I was having a lot of doubts in my mind. I wasn’t too sure about Islam, and I was considering whether this was truly a bona fide religion. H
Krishna-kripa Das: Dhirashanta Goswami, as part of his japa workshop at the Vaishnava Summer Festival (Baltic), graded devotees’ bead bags on a scale of 1 to 10. Cleanliness counts for a lot. He advises to wash them a minimum of once a week. Mine was not washed since the Czech Padayatra and Polish Festival tour and thus I only got 4 of 10. I shall try to keep the standard of washing once a week from now on. :-)
Kenneth R. Valpey (born December 18, 1950) is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Theologian who studied at Oxford University, St Cross College (1999–2004). While there, he conducted his research at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. He has a D.Phil. from Oxford University, where his dissertation was on Chaitanya Vaishnava murti-seva. He is also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in which Krishna Ksetra Das (spiritual name given to him by Srila Prabhupada) acts as an initiating
“The Walking Monk” made a stop in Omaha on Tuesday as part of his journey across America to celebrate his faith and promote an active, healthy lifestyle.
“It’s about going back to the basics,” Bhaktimarga Swami said. “Like Gandhi said, a simple life, high thinking. I see this as doing both of those things.”
Swami, 63, is a Hindu monk from Canada. He is walking from New York to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna religious movement, which emphasizes spiritual w
Ananda Vrinavana Devi Dasi: In spiritual parlance there are ‘thin’ places in the world. These are holy places, sacred spaces, where the line between the spiritual and materials worlds is very thin and the ability to feel and perceive our relationship with Krishna is heightened. It’s easier to chant there, to call Krishna deeply from the heart, and thus to call ourselves to experience our spiritual selves.
There are also thin days (and even thin times in the day). Janmastami is one such day. Al
We all like a good story. It makes our day, inspires our heart, and we experience a gamut of emotions. When it comes to Krishna’s birth story he doesn’t disappoint. In Sanskrit, stories about God are called Lila. This is to remind us that His stories are not of the world, although sometimes taking place in the world.
There are many reasons Krishna comes here, and they converge, layer upon layer, story upon story, to create ”Lila”. For his birth Lila, Janmastami, we’ll pick up the action in the
In the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, near Durbuy, lies the fairytale castle of Petite Somme. The castle has a long history which now houses the spiritual community, Radhadesh Ardennes. The new residents have thoroughly restored the castle and transformed it into a true spiritual oasis where you can explore the colorful culture of the Indian traditions. The castle is now one of the main attractions of the Ardennes and is open to visitors every day.
History of the Castle
The earliest record we
La Reunion Island is located southwest of Mauritius and forms part of a region of France. The La Reunion padayatra lasted a total of three days and traveled through the towns of Saint Pierre and Saint Louis located in the southern part of the island. The organizers were myself, Narasimha Tirtha Dasa from Mauritius, APREVA[1] (Association Pour le Rayonnement des Enseignements Vediques Authentique) and a group of nama-hatta devotees from the island lead by Bhakta Jean Marc. In total we were a gr
Jahnava devi dasi: In Dallas in 1972, the Deities, Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji, arrived the same day as Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada wanted to install Them in two days.
The Deities were covered with something sticky and little pieces of burlap and cloth were stuck to painted areas like Their eyes and so on.
The head pujari, Ichhamati, was concerned because she knew that when we dressed the Deities in the future we would have some difficulty. So, we tried every solvent that we could thi
This morning I did a quick study on Dhrtarastra, the father of the Kurus. This being a political season, the description of Dhrtrastra seems very approiate. I was particularly amused by this statement by Srila Prabhupada from the first canto of the Bhagavatam…
…Five thousand years ago there was one Dhṛtarāṣṭra, but at the present moment there are Dhṛtarāṣṭras in every home. (purport to SB 1.13.24)
more on Dhrtarastra
…Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind from birth. Unfortunately, he was also bereft of spiri
We’re writing on behalf of HH Mukunda Goswami to request if anyone might have seen or know of anyone who might have seen the comedy movie clip that Srila Prabhupada narrated to the devotees who were leaving for London to start the movement. It is a clip where Charlie Chaplin (or perhaps Max Linder or perhaps an impersonator) sits on a bench and some boys put glue on it so his coat gets stuck. When he gets up there is a rip and then he starts dancing with a ripped coat tail. He starts to dance
A recent presentation in Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Yogesvara Das (Mr. Greene) is a frequent lecturer and has spoken at the Pentagon, the World Economic Forum, the New York Public Library Distinguished Author series, and numerous universities.
He serves on the boards of several non-profits and provides volunteer family mediation services.
Listen to it here: http://goo.gl/fRk36J
One morning my mom shook me awake, whispering, "Honey, it's time. Your father."
Unquestioningly, with bleary eyes, I jumped out of bed and followed my mother down the hall to my father's room. There was spiritual chanting of God's names, called kirtan, going on in my dad's room. The past several days this kirtan had been going on twenty-four hours a day, non-stop. When I entered the dimly lit room, my father's bed was surrounded by several soft and somber faces. Suddenly, I was struck by how
“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it”. Bhagavad-gita VII.14
In the Bhagavata Purana the “ocean” of the material existence is described as something scaring, terrifying, in which the jivabhuta – the conditioned living entity – life after life is forced to experience birth (jati), old age (jara), disease (vyadhi) and death (mrityu).
Only by the mercy of Guru
Dear Prabhus
I hope this letter meets you and your family well and that you are all enjoying the continued blessings of Lord Krishna.
Fifty years ago this summer, Srila Prabhupada and a small group of young followers signed into existence the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The young people who
put their signatures to the founding document were all a bit puzzled, especially by the word ‘International.’ Their new society extended to a mere thirty people who regularly gathered in
