Some devotees are concerned that Iskcon’s overall preaching has gone ‘soft,’ thus compromising true standards. They say we must be more ‘Strong’, ‘heavy’ and ‘bold.’ Sentiments of “See how Srila Prabhupada flayed those mayavadis… and how he blasted that individual… and oh how he smashed that perception…” add excitement to the cause. Let us examine what it really takes to be ‘heavy.’
There is excitement in reading of Lord Chaitanya’s conversion of Sri Prakasananda Sarasvati and his many follower
We are very excited to announce that we will now be posting daily darshan of our beautiful Deities on our website! You can find the daily darshan pictures posted on the right-hand side of the page.
Our pujari (priest) department has been capturing photos each day and have been sharing them on Facebook. We've now added them to our temple website, through our temple's Instagram account. You can also read more about our Deities by clicking here!
One of the 8 teachings left behind by Sri Caitanya speaks of humility. It says that one must be in a humble state of mind in order to meditate properly. We should feel lower than a piece of straw in the street actually. What does that mean and what are the implications for our practice?
Humility is a huge topic and true humility can’t be faked. It is grounded in the deep realization that we are not these bodies and not the owner of our things nor the controller of our lives. It’s coming to the
As a family therapist, I counsel people both within and outside the Hare Krishna movement. I recently received an e-mail from a young woman devotee who was unhappy in her relationship with her abusive husband but was conflicted about leaving him.
“Maybe it’s good that I feel bad about myself,” she wrote, “because that will help me develop humility.”
This wasn’t the first time I had heard this logic.
The Bhagavad-gita teaches that humility is essential for spiritual progress. Unfortunately, devo
In honour of ISKCON’s 50 year anniversary, ISKCON London organized a Boat Festival on the River Thames this past Sunday (31 July). Over 500 guests boarded the Dixie Queen at midday and for six hours we sailed up and down the Thames, with a nonstop kirtan taking place.
The festival was advertised as a “Chant for Peace” campaign and it was covered in the media. While we travelled on the subway to the city centre to board the Dixie Queen, people recognised us as Hare Krsnas and greeted us very wa
ST LOUIS, MO -- The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) organized a Hindu chariot procession, Rath Yatra, from Hindu Temple of St. Louis to Queeny Park in Ballwin on July 6.
It included a chariot pulled by dozens of devotees over a mile using big ropes with the playing of drums and cymbals along with Lord Krishna chants.
The celebrations also included a cultural program, kirtan, yoga, henna body art, meditation, free community vegetarian meal, arati, etc. The procession r
When sites for Sunday temple feasts become dining destinations
For many Americans, the common perception of the Hare Krishna faith is young men with shaved heads and saffron robes professing their faith in airports and city centers. Founded in the 1960s by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Hare Krishnas, or International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), formed to encourage the spread of bhakti yoga, a Hindu spiritual practice in which followers devote all actions and intentio
A lone, broke and aged man once embarked on a cargo ship to an unknown land. He suffered three heart attacks but what kept the him going was a mission which was not even his own but his guru’s. A perfect beginning to the history in making. Decades later he is celebrated on CNN as one of the top 10 successful men who launched their careers after 50.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada or simply Prabhupada, in a span of five decades, has inspired thousands and established
Krishna Ksetra Swami (Kenneth Valpey): Prof. (retired) Tom Buford, who founded the Personalist Seminar 25+ years ago, graced us with his presence at yesterday morning’s session of the “Eleventh Biennial Personalist Seminar: Hindu Personalism and Schopenhauer,” here at Western Carolina University. My two presentations at this event went well: the first was a 45-minute introductory talk in preparation for my 1.5-hour talk the next morning, which I titled “The Bhakti Logos: Exploring Personalism i
In downtown San Antonio there is a a large blackboard on the side of a building that reads “Before I Die…”. Beneath the heading there are spaces for people to fill in the blank – Before I die I want to ___________.
Death is surely the great milestone of our life. It hovers close by, although we do our best to forget about it because of fear and pain. And so, even though we hear of others dying daily, we somehow think we will never die. Or that it won’t happen to us for a long time. When it does
The first question often asked about the Bhagavad-gita is why was it spoken on a battlefield? Despite a common view that religion is a major cause of war, the general view is that the two should remain separate. Religion or spirituality should result in peace not conflict. If one’s spiritual practises bring about the bloodthirsty desire to eliminate the followers of some other faith then they must be suspect. That would surely seem to make sense.
Nevertheless the Gita did arise from a war, the
On July 11, 1966, Srila Prabhupada officially registered his International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York. At the time, he had one small storefront on New York’s Lower East-Side, and a handful of students. Today, there are nearly four hundred ISKCON centers all over the world, and thousands of ISKCON devotees. ISKCON is now gearing up for its 50th anniversary, with plans for celebratory events all over the world throughout 2016.
Lecture on Aparadho ka mul karan by HG Radhe Shyam Prabhu on 25 July 2016
(Srimad Bhagavatam Canto - 04, Chapter - 02, Text 25)
(President of the Pune branch of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) that has over 600 centres worldwide Director of Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE) Holds an M.Tech from IIT-Bombay)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Recalling time with Srila Prabhupada by HG Yogesvara Prabhu
(Yogesvara Prabhu was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1969. After 13 years in temples of Europe and America, he returned to New York.)
To Listen and Download - click here
August 1, 2016
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please share the following information with your local temple and community leaders around the globe.
We are just under a month away from Janmastami, the Appearance Day of Lord Sri Krishna. Janmastami this year offers a special opportunity-for many temples the best opportunity-to promote ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and connect with the media, dignitaries, and other vips in your area.
To
Lecture on Practicing humility in a culture of promotion by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
(His Grace Caitanya Charan Prabhu is a monk and spiritual teacher in the time honored tradition of bhakti yoga. He is a editor of Back to Godhead, which is the official international magazine of the Hare Krishna movement.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Knowing the goal of life by HH Romapada Swami in 30 Jun 2016 at Naperville
(Romapada Swami‘s first encounter with Krishna consciousness came in Buffalo, in the shape of a lecture at the State University of New York in 1969. The lecturer was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following year, Romapada Swami joined the movement in Boston and was initiated in 1971.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Tens of thousands of young rock music lovers with Mohawks, tattoos, leather jackets and piercings eating prasadam, dancing joyfully in front of Jagannath’s Rathayatra cart, snapping up Prabhupada’s books and singing Hare Krishna straight from their hearts.
Welcome to Krishna’s Village of Peace at Polish Woodstock.
Running from July 15th to 17th this year, Krishna’s Village is an ISKCON success story, one of the biggest outreach efforts in the world. It’s been part of Woodstock since the music
As long summer days
make us believe
that life can last forever
Falls bring change
and cool reminders
of the movement of time
pushing us on as we
swim against it
unwilling to grow
one year older
we live in movement
in the minute by minute rhythm
of the great order of things
fall brings change
and we are surprised
by the colors of life dying
we marvel and awe
forgetting that we too
will finish and fall
chant now, and chant well
so that when our time is up
we can fall upward, into grace
and move aw
The gopīs are another example of great eagerness to see Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs came to Kṛṣṇa, being captivated by His beautiful features. They were young girls, and Kṛṣṇa was so beautiful. Actually they were lusty when they came to Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa is so pure that they became first-class devotees. There is no comparison to the gopīs’ devotion, because they loved Kṛṣṇa with heart and soul. That is the qualification. They loved Kṛṣṇa so much that they didn’t care for family or reputation when they went
