By Yudhisthira Dasa
The process of devotional life, as delineated in the four Vaishnava paths, is so systematic and detailed that almost one billion people in the world are considered followers of the Vaishnava tradition.
For nearly 50 years, I have generally thought sravanam kirtanam or hearing and chanting (the first two from the list of the nine primary processes of devotional service found in the Nectar of Devotion) applied almost primarily to hearing and chanting during japa meditation. Ho
The ISKCON Temple in DC, with its spacious and beautiful new facilities, is able to serve as a significant venue for large gatherings and events in the nation’s capital. This not only benefits the devotees but also strengthens the Temple’s partnerships with community organizations. One such partner, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), recently held its biannual meeting with its Maryland Partners on July 26th at the Temple.
“The Capital Area Food Bank leads our region’s efforts to provide equitab
I was destined for the northern city of Barrie which is practically the intersection to cottage country. But before this anticipated destination at beautiful Lake Simcoe, the Bhakti Academy asked me for that sunrise walk on the Beaches Boardwalk, the very place where our guru Srila Prabhupada, took his stroll with entourage in the summer of ’75. This is a special treat for the group, especially when I topped off the program with a reading under a maple tree from the book, "Transcendental Diary
India is currently experiencing a significantly heavier monsoon season than normal with widespread heavy rainfall affecting many regions. In response to these challenging conditions, Hare Krsna TV, a prominent 24×7 ad-free channel, has stepped up to provide much-needed assistance.
The channel has distributed custom-designed umbrellas to over 100 temples and centers across India, benefiting brahmacharis, full-time staff, and devotees. These umbrellas have been met with immense appreciation, arri
As most ISKCON News readers will know from public media reports, the nation of Bangladesh has been witnessing increasing violence, rioting, and destruction of private and public property for days.
Today the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has resigned and fled the country. Official reports are that hundreds of people have been killed including ordinary citizens and police.
The situation is very unstable and precarious. We ask that all ISKCON devotees and friends offer their ardent
What’s this thing about Peterborough. It is a city of more or less 80,000 people. It has a beautiful downtown with that warm Victorian-type of architecture. Two colleges attract students from around the world. Close to my heart in the TraNs Canada Trail running through it next to the Otonabee River.
A major yoga fest has taken place with two hundred attendees in the out-of-doors on an annual basis. That went well until cover set in, however, I’m told there are several groups conducting Kirtan
In a small town situated close to the banks of the River Yamuna there lived a man called Amrita. Nothing in life caused him more anxiety than his fear of death. One day he had an idea that if he befriended Lord Yamaraj, he would be able to keep death at a distance, and so Amrita practiced austerities and meditated upon the Lord of Death, who was verily pleased and granted him a vision.
Lord Yamaraj said, ‘I know by the aid of my divine powers that you seek to befriend me – your wish has come tru
In a heartwarming gesture of support and care, Hare Krsna TV has generously distributed free umbrellas to ISKCON Brahmacharis, temple congregation members, and staff across more than 100 temples and centers. This thoughtful initiative not only provides practical aid but also exemplifies the organization's deep commitment to compassion and community well-being. By ensuring that every devotee and staff member stays sheltered and protected, Hare Krsna TV reinforces its dedication to nurturing an
Reflections on Bhagavad Gita, As it is Chapter 1, Text 19
“Translation
The blowing of these different conch shells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
Purport
When Bhīṣma and the others on the side of Duryodhana blew their respective conchshells, there was no heart-breaking on the part of the Pāṇḍavas. Such occurrences are not mentioned, but in this particular verse it is mentioned that the hearts of the sons of Dhṛt
By Chandrika Sarva Kanti Devi Dasi
Welcoming Our Beloved Residents
It is by the Lord’s Mercy that Krishna’s Home Assisted Living is now a sanctuary for four wonderful souls who have journeyed from afar to be in a Krishna-conscious home that supports their daily needs. As we reflect on the first month since our grand opening, it is with immense gratitude that we witness the harmonious transition of these cherished individuals into our care here in Tucson, Arizona.
A Refuge of Devotion
Many of o
ISKCON Toronto celebrated its much-anticipated 52nd annual Ratha Yatra festival this past month, marking the event as the largest in its history and in North America with over 60,000 participants.
Commencing on Friday, July 12th, the festivities kicked off with its famous 12-Hour Kirtan from 10am to 10pm. Participants from around the world flew in to be part of this epic day of dancing and chanting, led by renowned kirtan leaders. This year’s theme, “Spark your bhakti flame by chanting the hol
Caru from Utah, has been helping me a lot. He has been kind to facilitate my Gita zoom classes for this week including today’s which is the South African group. They showed particular interest in his Colour Fest, popular throughout the world and something he initiated back in 1995/96. Moreover, he is a good presenter of the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness and knows how to relate to all ages.
Meanwhile at the temple ashram, residents are little by little, or perhaps a lot putting all the ite
This week we discussed disgust. Or should I say we were discussing the phenomena of being disgusted. It seems that we all get disgusted by something – at least sometime. Some of us are disgusted by Brussels sprouts; for others it’s Marmite that brings on the feeling of nausea.
Disgust means: ‘A strong distaste; nausea; loathing, a repugnance caused by somethingoffensive; a strong aversion.’
That’s a pretty intense emotion, and for a good reason. Disgust protects us from eating the wrong things,
Sometimes people say that they want to see God, or that God is not perceivable. And this is confirmed in the Vedic scripture, but with additional points of instruction on how we can perceive the Supreme Being. The Svetasvatara Upanishad (4.20) explains “His form of beauty is imperceptible to mundane senses. No one can see Him with material eyes. Only those who realize, through deep pure-hearted meditation, this Supreme Personality, who resides in everyone’s heart, can attain liberation.”
Krishna
From Back to Godhead
Are we the makers of our destiny or is life pre-destined? Find out here . . . .
In the Mahabharata, Vidura explained to Dhritarastra, “Destiny determines the consequences of our actions, not our actions themselves.” This means that we are not like programmed robots that have no free will, or no choice. Our past karma does determine what will happen in our life, but it does not determine how we will react to it.
Destiny is something like a weather forecast on a journey. A we
August 2, 2024 UPDATE:
In our latest report from Partha Dasa, ISKCON News was told that residents were allowed back into the Valley for a few hours on Saturday to assess the damage. The fire has left a devastating impact, destroying three family homes and four smaller cabins belonging to single men. Tool sheds, fencing, outbuildings, cellars, and machinery were also lost. The community is in dire need of support to rebuild and recover from this tragedy.
How you can help
Today, the Saranagati Ve
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
On July 29, 2024, Her Grace Saranagati Devi Dasi, a disciple of Giriraj Swami, departed her body around 1 pm in Mayapur. She was cremated that evening at Prabhupada Ghat. She left her body while her spiritual master was speaking to her via video call. As Maharaja blessed and encouraged her by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, she took her last breath and quit her material body.
She had been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a cancer that was traveling t
In the text “Caitanya Caritamrta “ we read about a flood - the flood of love of God, that is. Flooding is always an interesting dynamic. More commonly a flood refers to an over abundance of water that comes as a sudden melt down of ice or snow, or a gush of water from the skies.
Passionate rain came pouring down creating power outage and flooding in Southern Ontario, resisting traffic flow. The Don Valley, a major thoroughfare in Toronto got majorly impacted. For commuters and walkers, like ou
Human relationships in this modern world are scary. There is so much fear whether a relationship will last. For instance, will a marriage work out or not? Why have we changed?
This is because of the culture that we live in and the changes in the Western world and in the modern world that we witness around us. Previously, holding marriage as sacred was a very serious social thing. And if one wanted to break a marriage, it was considered as a disgrace, to the extent that the entire society an
Materialistic society teaches us to be aggressive and calculating so we can push our way through. In Vaisnava culture it is opposite – we offer respect. The reason: when you give respect without expecting something in return, you open yourself up to the power of divine blessings.
Imbibing a culture of respect, where you are deferential towards others in general but especially towards elders and vaisnavas, brings a tremendous potency to you that cannot be accessed otherwise. The driving force of
