By the GBC EC It has come to our attention that an idea is circulating that the GBC Body has overturned the CPO’s ruling in a recent case. We wish to clarify that the GBC Body, by its own rules, does not have the authority to overturn a ruling by the …
Author Archives: Dandavats
From the GBC Executive Committee
GBC Proposals AGM 2019
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By GBC Corresponding Secretary The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin on March 3, 2019. Following the ISKCON GBC Society’s Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by TWO GBC members, to be submitt…
Some Problems With “Bridge Preaching”
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By Paramadayala Nityananda Dasa
ISKCON is a monotheistic movement, based on authoritative scriptures which provide an ontology and epistemology unparalleled in the history of mankind. Monotheism, and acceptance of sacred literature is pervasive throughout the western world: and there is high regard for critical/philosophical analysis, as a means for finding truth. As such, creating an accurate perception of ISKCON in the minds of people in general is the most powerful way to attract true spiritual seekers among the masses. However, we are utilizing our energy on “bridge preaching” programs which cloud this accurate perception.
Lessons Learned On Padayatra By Devotees Of The Noida Personal Development Course
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By Acarya Dasa
When these 8 boys joined us they became part of our padayatra party, in fact we felt like they were also padayatris. Their sadhana was very strong- they used to get up at 3 am and chant their rounds before mangala arati. Not only did they attend all the programs with us but they also lead some harinamas and other programs and sang the prayers of mangala arati and Gaura arati with so much enthusiasm. They walked with us all day, tolerating the scorching sun. Sometimes we did not have much water to drink, but they never complained. Almost all of them caught a common cold due to the weather change, but they happily accepted it as part of their padayatra experience. They were all very fervent to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. One of them exclaimed, “We have never seen such book distribution anywhere! Even Muslims are taking books and participating in sankirtana. It’s a miracle they do it, it’s all mercy. Their hearts are getting transformed by the darsana of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara.”
The Future of Indonesia get a taste of the Bhagavad Gita
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By Gadadhar Das
Bali has a Hindu population of around 85%. Most of the Hindus in Bali practice the orthodox religion which has been dated back for centuries. The ‘Student Community of Hindu Dharma, Indonesia’ is the largest Hindu youth organization in the island. The mission of this organization is to spread the fundamental teachings of Hinduism to others. In every province in Indonesia there is a branch but the headquarters are in Jakarta. Although Hindus and Muslims live peacefully together in Indonesia there is a vast increase in the conversion rate of Hindus. To strengthen the faith of the Hindu community, especially the youth, the Student Community of Hindu Dharma started to actively preach about Hinduism to try and preserve this age long culture.
Diary of a Traveling Monk: “He Did His Time”
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By Indradyumna Swami I arrived in America on Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is reserved for remembering the American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the wars over the centuries. I had just come from a similar event in …
Article for the Prison Ministry
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Bhakta Krishna Kirtan: We have a new bhakta. His name is Thomas Biers and he is the MOST sincere new bhakta I’ve come across since I’ve been practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness (2009)
Sabbatical Course 2018 in UK
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Niskincana: Just to let you know, we have the next sabbatical course coming up this year. The Sabbatical course will start near the end September 2018 and finish in May 2018.
Read More…
New Mayapur – France and the mighty kofta
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By Ajita Dasa
New Mayapur has been tested by the usual lack of resources and succession. Incidentally, New Mayapur, situated in central France, 350km south of Paris, is the last place where Srila Prabhupada’s quarters are kept intact in the European continent. Being somewhat similar to New Govardhana in its history, in 2013 the France GBC requested that I help with the New Mayapur project. I started travelling there two or three times a year, for three to four weeks at a time. The New Mayapur management team secured a stall at a five-day festival in Bourges, 140km west of the project. This was the first testing ground for the famous Australian kofta arriving in the ‘land of fries’. The menu remained exactly the same as the catering menu Australians here love so much – the French dove into the nectar rather than turning up their noses!
Two Seeds that Grew in Iron
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By Urmila Devi Dasi
One day in an Armenian mountain village, a typically atheistic engineer, a man well respected in his community, sat outside for a smoke. When a truck came to deliver a package, he and his friend the truck driver talked about news from the city. As the driver carried the package to the engineer’s house, the engineer saw an unusual book in the truck: a Russian translation of Sri Ishopanishad. Curious, he picked it up. He looked at the photo of Srila Prabhupada on the back and thought, “How amazing that there is someone like this living on this planet!” Then he spontaneously fell on the ground to offer obeisance to the photo.
Sacred India in the Swan Valley!
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A sacred journey to India hidden in Western Australia’s Swan Valley! Here’s a fantastic report by Kimberley McGivern, who is in her final year studying journalism at Edith Cowan UniversityRead More…
Bhagavad Gita Distribution at Cox’s Bazar District Prison in Bangladesh: Dark Life to Light Horizon
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By Mukunda Bhakti Das Dark life in the locked cell of prison is really a hellish experience. Prisoners remain repentant on the misdeeds of their past lives and fully frustrated thinking on dark future. But Bhagavad Gita can bring a horizon of light and…
Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Surabaya Vaganza
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By Hari Narayana Das
Both sides of the streets were packed with people who wanted to see the parade. Devotees distributed one ton of oranges that already offered to the Lord Jagannath which was donated by Dina Dharini Mataji to the audiences. The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra filled the atmosphere. The devotees danced in front of Lord Jagannath and people also followed from their place. They were so happy seeing Lord Chariot. Devotees also distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books. Throughout the journey, many people witnessed various activities and cars followed by the Regional Device Organization (OPD) Pemkot Surabaya, BUMD Pemkot Surabaya, universities, agencies/ambassadors from neighboring cities and also cities from outside the province and outside the island.
WSN April 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Vijaya Dasa Denver had a great month in April. It was the No. 1 temple in the Medium Temple category worldwide. There’s a nice temple president there, Tusta Krsna Prabhu, who previously was a full-time book distributor for about fifteen years. Becau…
Cow Culture conference 2018 – California
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By Sri Krishna Purusottama das On Sunday, May 20, 2018, a conference on Cow Culture was held at the India Community Center, Milpitas, California, which is located on the Northeastern side of the area that has become known as Silicon Valley. The confere…
How Robert Kennedy heard the holy names shortly before departing this world
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By Bhusaya dasa “Wait a minute,” Ginsberg told him. “I wanted to sing you the Hare Krishna mantra. Can you stay and listen? It’ll just take one minute.” After Kennedy agreed, Ginsberg pulled out his harmonium. “He has this one-tone mouth harp, so he bl…
To Be or Not To Be- Bhakti solves it all!
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By Suhrit Krishna Das
ARISE with R.I.S.E!!! (Rupanuga Institute of Spiritual Education). The response at the time of registration was overwhelming, entries were very encouraging. Knowing the fact that this is happening for the first time in Auckland, gave enough confidence as to what could be expected. Even though it was a cold evening on Narsimha Chaturdashi yet devotees were enthralled with the idea, came up for registration and could not wait to attend the three session seminar on “ The Journey of Self- Discovery”, a systematic and scientific presentation on the essence of Bhagavad Gita.
ISKCON Mayapur Pujari Department Report – HG Jananivas Prabhu
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A report of Pujari department from H.G. Jananivas Prabhu – ISKCON, SRI MAYAPUR May-2018Read More…
Social Media made easy
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Around fifty devotees gathered together at Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK for the daylong course, which began with Ajita Das encouraging attendees to examine deeply, what they personally felt, was the biggest problem Krishna Consciousness could solve.R…
Path of surrender
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By Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami A path of surrender means attentive chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. Path of surrender means attentive study of scriptures. Path of surrender means describing the glories of Krishna to other people. Path of surren…
ISKCON New Vrindaban Continues its Jubilee-Year Celebrations
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By Anuradha Imseng
On Thursday, 17 May 2018, a second VIP event was held at ISKCON New Vrindaban to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with dignitaries, supporters, friends, and local and worldwide devotees. It was an opportunity to thank the guests for their unrelenting support during New Vrindaban’s fifty-year journey. The pre-event began with a tour of Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, the breathtaking memorial shrine (Smriti Samadhi) of Srila Prabhupada, while the lady guests were treated to henna tattoo art and saris to wear to the occasion.
Siksastakam teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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This is a very extraordinary explanation of the 1st verse of the Siksashtakam teaching of Sri Caitanya MahaprabhuRead More…
Train Song – The Journey of Life
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Life is a journey but many are blissfully unaware of its final destination. Please read Bhagavad-gita and chant Hare Krishna, to know it all in full perfection.Read More…
Preaching program at Rasipuram in Tamilnadu, India
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Krishna das: We had a wonderful prog @ Rasipuram in Tamilnadu, IndiaRead More…
Hon’ble Prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, sends message to Iskcon Russia
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By Sadhu-priya Das
On 20.05.1988, 30 years ago ISKCON Russia officially got registered in USSR . On a beautiful spring day in 1988, the Council for Religious Affairs officially registered the Moscow Society for Krishna Consciousness, concluding, or so it seemed, a longstanding feud between the devotees and the State. It was the first religious society registered in the Soviet Union since World War II. Honb’le Prime minister of India has sent his message on this occasion!
New Raman Reti Community Survey Results
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By NRR Community Development Team
(3.5 MB, 52 pages PDF document) From more than 1000 Devotees, 508 Total Responses, September 2017. The Community Development Initiative (CDI) is organized by a team of community members in conjunction with the New Raman Reti Board of Directors. Our vision: A loving and well connected family of Krishna devotees, spiritual aspirants, and friends fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s Mission. Our Mission: To empower and assist our congregation to live happily in New Raman Reti by giving devotees a voice and building a shared vision which will maximize the long term potential of our temple and community
New Raman Reti’s History
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By Gaura Shakti Das This link will open a 17MB PDF document with photos and descriptions from NRR’s history. Many can see that this just barely touches all the projects and aspects that make NRR special. There are so many devotees and projects we real…
New Raman Reti’s Community Development Conference a big success!
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By Mukhya devi dasi
The second Community Development Conference was a big success this past Saturday. There were over 100 devotees in attendance, and another 25 facilitators. The essence of the day was moving into specific focus groups of individual interest, and meeting together to see what is working, what is needed, and what being more involved would look like. The teams went through exercises together as a preview of what the actual committees (which will be identified based on a form everyone filled out called “My Offering” commitments) will be doing in conference 3.
Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir in Vrndavana gets waterproofing
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By Parvati devi dasi
Last few months we cleaned the whole dome from top to bottom in preparation for waterproofing on the dome. We have just received the materials and hope to finish the job before the rainy season. We got some special silicon for in between the tiles, reputed to withstand the expansion and contraction of our Vrndavan extreme heat and extreme cold. Then, after any excess is cleaned up, the whole dome will get coated with a clear sealant to protect it from environmental pollutions so it stays white. We might have to keep scaffolding up there for some time. Sorry for the inconvenience. It’s a long, tedious process. We also look after the Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg signs and Bhaktivedanta Swami Arch, and are doing an overall cleaning, repair and painting soon.
Inis Rath Island Revival (7 min video)
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Vrsabhanu dasa: Inis Rath Island in Northern Ireland was purchased by the Hare Krishna devotees in the mid-eighties and Sri Sri Radha Govinda were installed in 1986 with a big ceremony.Read More…
The Glories of Sri Purusottama Month by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura
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An article by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura from the Harmonist (published by Gaudiya math 2001). It is is superb and right to the point on explaining this month of Purusottama by the holy writings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.Read More…(This post has b…
NASN April 2018 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Mayapur Sasi dasa For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of April 2018. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Indi…
The Monarch of the Months
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By ISKCON Mayapur
My bhaktas sometimes commit offenses, but in this Purusottama month, they will be protected from committing any offense. In this adhimasa, those greatly foolish persons who neglect to perform auspicious activities, such as japa, giving in charity, visiting and bathing at the holy places, and who are envious of the dvijas (brahmanas) are deemed wicked, unfortunate and living at the cost of others. Thus, they will not attain a scent of happiness, even in their dreams. Conversely, those who are filled with bhakti will take advantage of this Purusottama month to perform arcana to Me. After enjoying worldly happiness, such as wealth, sons and so on, they will eventually attain residence in Goloka.”
The TOVP and Purusottama Month Vrata, May 16 – June 13
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By TOVP staff Purushottam Masa or Adhik Masa is an extra month in the Vedic calendar that is inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. But it is mainly called this because Sri Krsna has placed all His potencies, mercy and blessings in thi…
Tonic to Transcendence
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By Madhusudanan Das
Dr. O.B.L Kapoor narrated a story about Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada who was once a pharmacist, gave him a tonic at the pharmacy. When the doctor asked for his tonic to Krishna Prem, Srila Prabhupada replied, “I do not have a tonic, but I have a formula”. This formula was the topic of the seminars during the two day retreat organized for the Wellington devotee community at Otaki, New Zealand. Drawing upon the teachings given by H.G. Radheshyam Prabhu, H.G. Ambarish Maharaj Das gratefully shared his carefully collated knowledge with devotees thirsty for spiritual wisdom.
Life on Krishna’s Farm in the ’70s
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By Padmapani das
One of the most enlivening times for me was when devotees used to lead the chanting of Hare Krishna in the barn for the pleasure of the cows. They all seemed to enjoy the chanting as they happily chewed on their bunches of hay. Milk production increased and we became overwhelmed with surplus amounts. Some cows even gave two full buckets per milking. The Deities were offered many nice milk products made with butter, ghee, curd and whey—so the devotees never went hungry. By serving the Lord and His cows, we all got a taste of what life in Vrindavan must have been like when Krishna Himself lived there 5,000 years ago. It was simple yet sublime.
Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s 35th anniversary, ISKCON Leicester
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By ISKCON Leicester
Devotees speaking on the 35th anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha Madhava in ISKCON Leicester. With HH Jayadvaita Swami, Praghosa Prabhu, Shaunaka Rishi Prabhu and many others. So many sweet memories of Radha Madhava’s installation 35 years ago!
All India Padayatra Visits Hampi, The Birthplace Of Hanuman In Karnataka
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By Acarya Dasa Anjeyanadri Hill is surrounded by lovely plantain and paddy fields. The hill has 572 steps to reach the top and offers a lovely view of the valley and of the Tungabhadra River. The Hanuman Temple at the summit is one of the attractions o…
My First Experience Of Padayatra In India
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By Abhay Charan Nimai Dasa
One day I met Akhila Dhara Prabhu, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who told me boldly, “If you want to experience the real nectar, then go on Padayatra”. So I decided to go, thinking, “If I am not going for ever, then at least I should go for a week.” So, on March 13th I joined the Padayatra India party, then in Bangalore, Karnataka. First I saw the magnificent oxen of the Kankrej breed, and I immediately paid my obeisances to them. They are huge and have well shaped body and horns. The two devotees taking care of them, Damodar Lila and Janardan Prabhus, allowed me to help feed and give water to the five oxen. I was told their names were Krishna, Nandulal, Kaliya, Jaya and Narasimha. Having walked 10 years with the padayatra, Narasimha is the senior.
Transcendental art course in New Mayapur France
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In August 2018 we will have our first ever Transcendental Art Seminar in New Mayapur France. This seminar will be given by Dhriti dasi and Ram Das Abhiram Das, senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada who were personally guided by Srila Prabhupada to creat…