Author Archives: Dandavats

World Enlightenment Day is December 16th
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Hare KrishnaBy Vijaya dasa

In a lecture in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada said, “If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If he reads one sloka, one word. This is such a nice thing. Therefore we are stressing so much: ‘Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book.’ A greater mrdanga. We are chanting, playing our mrdanga. It is heard within this room or a little more. But this big mrdanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community.” Life is short. In the short time we’re here, let’s try to find some time when we can do what we know is very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. Why is book distribution pleasing to Krishna? Because He doesn’t like His parts and parcels to suffer, any more than a father likes to see his children suffer. Krsna is known as para dukha dukhi, because when He sees others suffer, He becomes concerned. He has come to help us to become free of the misery of material existence. Srila Prabhupada’s books have helped millions of people feel the joy of spiritual life.

Oncologist Finishes Translating All Srila Prabhupada’s Books into Georgian
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has already translated ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada’s books into 87 languages. But there are more to go. And today, dedicated servants working for the spiritual publisher in far flung corners of the world still continue to translate his works into their native languages, despite busy family lives and professional careers. On August 24th this year, for example, Nandapriya Das finished translating the last of seventeen volumes of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita into the language of his native Georgia, which is spoken by more than five million people. Nandapriya, an oncologist at one of Scandinavia’s largest hospitals, did most of the work on the train during his morning commute. He has now finished translating all of Srila Prabhupada’s books into Georgian for the first time ever, a monumental feat.

North American Temples Give Final Push This Marathon to Increase Already Burgeoning BBT Sales
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

Beyond the 2017 marathon, a goal has already been set of further 10% increases every year for the next ten years, reaching an annual remittance to the BBT of $5.2 million by 2026. If, however, goals continue to be exceeded at the rate they are currently, the remittance by 2026 will be an unprecedented $10 million. Why is remittance to the BBT so important? Well first of all, fifty per cent of all profits from the BBT go towards building ISKCON projects around the world, such as the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur – so those who remit to the BBT will be supporting these.

New York Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Reject Pending Petition for Sale of Hare Krishna Temple in Brooklyn
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Hare KrishnaBy Jayadvaita Swami and Guru Gauranga Das

December 6, 2017 – New York Supreme Court for Kings County Room 525 was filled with Krishna devotees opposing a petition seeking approval of the sale of their temple in Brooklyn. Also appearing in court to oppose the proposed sale were attorneys for ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC), an attorney for the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board, an attorney for the temple’s congregants and a New York Assistant Attorney General. New York State law requires court approval of the sale of real property belonging to a religious society. Typically, a religious society desirous of selling its place of worship first seeks approval from the New York State Office of the Attorney General. If the Attorney General rejects a religious society’s petition to sell its place of worship, the seller’s sole recourse is to attempt to overturn that decision in New York Supreme Court.

“Please accept me. Please accept me.”
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Hare KrishnaHare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa: “O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.” That’s all. “Please accept me.” We have no other prayer. “Please accept me.” Lord Caitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, “Please accept me. Please accept me.”

ISKCON Leadership Sanga 2018 (Early Registration Discount extended to Dec. 24th)
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Hare KrishnaBy Gopal Bhatta das

ILS 2018 will play a critical part in setting the stage for ISKCON’s future. Speakers will explore the challenges and opportunities ISKCON will face as it continues to shift into the hands of the next generations. The ILS provides a unique opportunity for a cross-pollination of thoughts and best practices. It gives a chance for devotees to observe the ISKCON world from a global perspective. In this atmosphere devotees can expand their frame of reference and become invigorated by hearing from and sharing with leaders and devotees serving Srila Prabhupada under many different circumstances. Make new friends from around the world while taking prasadam, hearing Krsna Katha, chanting bhajan and kirtan and enjoying a drama together all in Sri Dhama Mayapur! – the potential benefit for everyone involved cannot be measured.

GBC Midterm General Meeting Resolutions 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy the GBC

One World Team (passed by Correspondence Vote in September 2017) Summary: “Inspired by the success of the goal-driven model for increasing book distribution in North America, the BBT Marketing and Communications Department would like to propose a “One World Team” approach with an aim to increase book distribution in all temples around the world. By setting a unified worldwide goal and by providing methods by which congregations can be engaged in systematic book distribution efforts, the ‘One World Team’ has the potential to create a new wave of increased book distribution throughout ISKCON.” Whereas the 7th purpose of ISKCON is “With a view towards achieving all aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.” Whereas any devotee who has studied Srila Prabhupada’s life and teachings knows that he wanted his followers to inundate the world with his transcendental books. Whereas the ‘One World Team’ proposal incorporates a unified world-wide goal-driven approach for book distribution for temples all over the world. Resolved: 1. The GBC embraces the ‘One World Team’ to cooperate with the expansion and organization of book distribution all over the world. 2. The GBC Zonal Secretary will ratify the annual goals set for the ‘One World Team’ and will monitor and encourage their zones to accomplish those goals.