Effective communication is not easy. Communication doesn’t happen merely by our sending the right message – it happens when our message is rightly understood.

“People keep chanting Radhe Radhe in the entire Raval but no one has ever thought of developing this village across the Yamuna river."

May, 2014.

Visit Iskcon Panjabi Bagh 2014! (Album 45 photos)
“For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12)
http://goo.gl/18QNSk

Tens of thousands of devotees and members of the public attended the recent opening of the grand new Sri Sri Radha Madhava Mandir in Kanpur, India. A particular highlight was an elaborate dance presentation on Lord Krishna’s pastimes and the great saint Mirabai by Hema Malini. A longtime Krishna devotee and supporter of ISKCON, Malini is a legendary Bollywood actress and a Member of Parliament for Mathura.

And how much the needs of local congregation play in which deities should be installed and worshipped.

The post Varsana dd asks why Prabhupada installed deities other than Gaura-Nitai in his temples appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Diwali Celebration at the Massachusetts State House (5 min video)
“May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, Text 5.18.9)
With these words the nation’s fourth oldest state capitol, the Massachusetts State House, located in Boston’s venerable Beacon Hill, heralded the advent of the month of Diwali with a public celebration.
http://goo.gl/krnckZ

Determination vs. knowledge
Kadamba Kanana Swami: We are all in a material situation and I sum it up as, “Sometimes you are on top of the elephant and at other times, the elephant is on top of you!” That is material life, it is not going to always be easy but we must protect our spiritual life and try to do something to stand up for Krsna consciousness.
http://goo.gl/bAIgq3

American actor Andy Garcia gets Srila Prabhupada’s book.
Drumila Das ACBSP: I was walking down the street heading back to my car. I had to walk through where a film crew had set up a set. I saw the actor Jim Sturgess the actor I had got a donation from and given a book to about a month ago. We exchanged pleasantries, then as i said goodbye,I looked up and there was Andy Garcia. I said “Andy, I have a gift for you.(he was putting on clothes getting ready for a shoot) I pulled out a book called Spiritual Yoga by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and handed it to him. He was putting on a scarf or something so he directed me to hand it to his assistant, which I did. It was all very spontaneous and fast how it happened.

Hare Krishna Soul Stirring Kirtan by Bada Hari Prabhu

Progress in the Early Stages of Sādhana Bhakti

In Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu (1.4.15–16) Śrī Rūpa divided the progress of bhakti-yoga into nine stages from its seed (śraddhā, conviction/attraction) to its mature fruit (prema, full-fledged love). Some generations later, Śrī Viśvanātha wonderfully elaborated on this nine-stage progression in a book titled Mādhurya Kādambinī.

Let’s discuss the early stages of development, as they are the most relevant to 99.9% of us.

First of all, when you get an initial interest in bhakti it is called śraddhā. When this interest is strong enough, it makes you seek the company of bhaktas, so you can learn more about bhakti. The company of bhaktas is called sādhu-saṅga. When you get their company sufficiently, they begin to help you actually practice bhakti-yoga. This practice is called bhajan which is a synonym for bhakti-sādhana. The stage where we begin bhajan is called bhajan-kriyā.

Śrī Viśvanātha says [MK 2.7]:

tato bhajana-kriyā sā va dvividhā – aniṣṭhitā niṣṭhitā ca.

This bhajan-kriyā has two stages: unsteady and steady.

Unsteady Bhajan

tatra prathamam aniṣṭhitā kramena – utsāha-mayī, ghana-taralā, vyūḍha-vikalpā, viṣaya-saṅgarā, niyamākṣamā, taraṅga-raṅgiṇi – iti ṣaḍ-vidhā bhavantīti svādhāraṁ vilakṣyati

The first stage, unsteady bhajan, goes through six sequential stages…

He describes the six stages of unsteady bhajana as:

1) Novice enthusiasm.

2) …which, when it wears off, turns into unsteady interest

3) …to get beyond which, we have to face myriad doubts

4) …after somewhat satisfying those doubts, we struggle with sense objects – trying to give up bad habits not conducive to bhakti-yoga.

5) …then we struggle to adopt disciplines that are conducive to bhakti-yoga

6) …finally, we are distracted by popularity and respect that comes as a result of passing successfully through the above five stages.

Purification

When we get beyond the sixth phase above, we come to a new major stage called anartha-nivṛtti (“clearing useless things from our character”). In this stage our focus turns firmly towards self-purification.

Śrī Viśvanātha describes it [MK 3.1] :

atha anarthānāṁ nivṛttiḥ. te cānarthāś catur-vidhāḥ: duṣkṛtotthāḥ, sukṛtotthā, aparādhotthā, bhakty-utthāś ca.

Now, in anartha-nivṛtti we get rid of unwanted things. There are four types of unwanted things: (1) The results of our bad deeds, (2) The results of our good deeds, (3) The results of our lack of affection and respect, (4) The side-effects available from practicing bhakti.

He describes [3.16] that the first two clear out relatively easily. The fourth takes longer, and the third is the most difficult to root out.

Steady Bhajan

Once we purified ourselves significantly , we begin to much more effectively focus on making our bhajan itself more deep and steady. When our primary effort as devotees is to make our bhajan deeper and steadier, we are at the stage of niṣṭhā.

Śrī Viśvanātha describes [4.2]:

niṣṭhā naiścalyam utpannā yasyā iti niṣṭhitā

”Steady bhajan is fixed and unwavering.

naiścalyaṁ bhakteḥ pratyahaṁ vidhitsitam apy anartha-daśāyāṁ lay, vikṣepa, apratipatti, kaṣaya, rasāvādānāṁ pañcānām antarīyāṇāṁ durvāratvān na siddha āsīt.

Although trying every day to become unwavering in devotion, the remaining unwanted character traits present five obsticles, preventing you from achieving the goal of steadiness.

These five are:

1) Drowsiness

2) If we are not sleepy, we are Unfocused.

3) If we are focused, still it is an Apathetic focus.

4) This apathetic focus is frequently, easily interrupted by Troubles & Worries about unpleasant things.

5) …or by Hopes & Ambitions for pleasant things.

He also explains:

kīrtana-śravaṇa-smaraṇeṣu uttareṣv ādhikyena

The problems are progressively worse in attempts to deeply practice kīrtan, śravaṇa, and smaraṇa.

In other words, it is easiest to attain niṣṭhitā in the practice of Kīrtan. It is harder to attain in while practicing śravaṇa (for example, listening to someone speak Śrīmad Bhāgavatam). It is the most difficult to attain in japa, where the focus is entirely on contemplation (smaraṇa)

And he says:

anartha-nivṛtty-anantaraṁ teṣāṁ tadīyānāṁ nivṛtta-prāyatvāt naiścalyam sampadyate iti, layādy-abhāva eva niṣṭhā-liṅgam.

”Because anartha-nivṛtti is not fully complete, now one has to focus on removing these five unearths, then drowsiness and so on will disappear and one will truly attain niṣṭhā.

By the constant effort (“every day”) to keep steady focus, not so apathetic that it can be distracted by our self-centered hopes and worries — this decreases the apathy. Decreasing apathy later becomes positive, “increasing sympathy.” As we become “sympathetic” to bhakti, we develop taste for it ruci.

This begins the next stage of bhakti-yoga (with two parts, ruci and āsakti) which I would describe as “advanced.”

I would call “novice” the stages of śraddhā and sādhu-saṅga and aniṣṭha-bhajan-kriyā. “Intermediate” bhakti-yoga I would describe as anartha-nivṛtti and niṣṭhā. “Advanced” is ruci and āsakti. And “perfect” is bhāva and prema.

Thank you for reading!

BY KALESHA DASA

PENANG - I had just received a call a few mins ago from Satya Narayana Prabhu (JPS) informing a sad but expected news that his father, Sudatanu Prabhu (JPS) 77 years, left his body peacefully in Kulim hospital due to multiple organ failure.

Sudatanu Prabhu is one of the pioneer supporter in the early days when ISKCON was barely starting to preach in the north early 80s specifically in Pelam estate. In fact, many stalwart brahmacaries actively serving in ISKCON Malaysia came from Pelam estate. Prabhu very dedicatedly served traveling preachers who came to Pelam estate & also the famed Sri Rama temple where most festivals & programs was held as there was hardly any ISKCON centers established yet in the north those days.

After retiring, Prabhu was very active serving in the Kulim center and also became involved in the Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple project as a fund raiser, always inquiring about the status of temple development whenever I see him, always try to find ways and people he knows to give laxmi for the project. Even after he met with a motorbike accident, he still try his best to raise funds but being immobile hamper this service. Nonetheless, he was very very happy to know that we will be completing the temple by next year and that ISKCON will finally have a custom-built temple building to showcase Srila Prabhupada's legacy for all to see.

He was also a very active leader in the estate workers welfare and in the Telegu community as chairman for south Kedah Telegu Association.

We all know that Lord Krishna will take nice care of this dear Vaisnava and am happy that he is now at a better place. 

However, we hope devotees everywhere would extend their prayers to his family members to remain strong in Sri Guru and Gauranga's services.

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.4)

We are all in a material situation and I sum it up as, “Sometimes you are on top of the elephant and at other times, the elephant is on top of you!” That is material life, it is not going to always be easy but we must protect our spiritual life and try to do something to stand up for Krsna consciousness.

Nothing is easy; therefore first we have to work on our own conviction. We have to understand why we are doing this. The better you understand this, the more convinced you are.

I like the story of Karna. He was accepted as a disciple by Parasurama who had asked him before if he was a ksatriya. Everyone had told Karna that he was not a ksatriya so he said, “No, I am not a ksatriya.” So he was accepted by Parasurama and served him very nicely and he learnt all the astras and celestial weapons. Then, one day, Parmasurama was so pleased and was resting with his head on the lap of his disciple when an insect stung Karna in the leg. He did not want to disturb his spiritual master so with great determination, he managed to stay calm. Even though the pain was excruciating, he tolerated it and did not move. The spiritual master slept nicely but when he woke up, he saw the blood and asked what had happened. Then Karna explained that the insect had stung him in the leg. Then Parasurama smelt a ksatriya, he said, “How could you tolerate… How could you tolerate such pain? No one can tolerate such pain, except for a ksatriya!”

So, I like that point because it shows that in a moment, the tolerance of a ksatriya is stronger than a brahmana but in the long-term, the tolerance of a brahmana is stronger! But why? Because the tolerance of a ksatriya is based on determination, “I shall do it…” but how long can you say that… one day, one week, one month, one year, ten years, twenty years? It is difficult. But the brahmana, his tolerance is based on knowledge and because it is based on knowledge, therefore his conviction is stronger because he sees that he has no other alternative, “What else can I do? I know it is hard to be a devotee; I know it is a struggle but what else is there to do? There is nothing else; there is no alternative!”

 

Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Newsletter. It covers news from October/ November
Below: Russell Brand’s special orders
Comedian and actor Russell Brand personally requested devotees of the Food for All project to distribute their ‘blessed vegetarian food’ during the launch of his new book. At very short notice the devotees worked till the early hours in the Manor’s kitchen to cook something special.
Lila Jagganath Rathyatra Das and team attended the event in London and served over 500 meals to Russell’s invited guests and the media. That evening Russell also recommended the reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Again at Russell’s request, just a week later Food for All distributed hundreds of plates during a rally in Hoxton.
http://goo.gl/afOAhy

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.26

“Srila Prabhupada was paraphrasing a statement from the Nectar of devotion that if one wants to become important either in the material or spiritual sense, he can never really relish the sweet taste of Krishna consciousness. But the more one becomes the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna, the sweeter and sweeter and sweeter devotional service becomes. That is our opening to realize our actual identities and to really relish the nectar of Krishna consciousness.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.28, Phoenix, AZ

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

New Books for Christmas
The UK Book ordering committee, headed by Titiksu prabhu, recently ordered 2 new titles for mass book distribution in the UK. By the end of November, 40,000 copies of ‘Science of Self Realisation’ and ‘Veda: Secrets of the East’ will be available to all devotees!
http://goo.gl/QoNv2n

At 60, Mahattama Dasi, a former preschool teacher and caregiver for terminally ill devotees, has found a new way to give back to the community. The Mexican native has leased a two-storey house on six-acres of private land in Alachua, Florida, home to the largest ISKCON community in North America. It will serve as an “Arts and Languages Center,” as well as offering many other services to the community.

Book distribution door to door in UK
Different groups of devotees have been visiting homes in their local area. For many sanga groups and Bhakti Vriksas this has become a monthly effort.
http://goo.gl/O2QbZn

A visit to Govardhan (Album 42 photos)
The Vedic scriptures say: “Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuma for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
http://goo.gl/TJuAeo

ISKCON News Spreads Across Spanish-Speaking World
Since it was launched in January 2014, readership of ISKCON News’ Spanish language sister website ISKCON Noticias (noticias.iskcon.org) has increased rapidly, now reaching around 7,000 every week, and growing.
Readers are more far-flung, too. Although most hailed from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay when the site was first launched, today there are also readers in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Spain, as well as Spanish-speakers in the USA.
http://goo.gl/4Cysdh

Ukulele Hare krishna mahamantra - kirtan in the park (5 min video)
One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of Godhead equal to pious activities like giving in charity to brahmanas or saintly persons, opening charitable educational institutions, distributing free food and so on. The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Krishna. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
http://goo.gl/PkMVbE

Gita Project Success in UK
The Gita Project aims to distribute and donate sponsored books to various institutions including prisons, hotels, airports, hospitals and more. Many books have already been donated to different hospitals across London, and Homerton University Hospital is one amongst many to receive copies of the Bhagavad Gita. The Lead Chaplain, Robin Pfaff, expressed her appreciation for receiving these books by immediately placing several copies in the spiritual books stand outside the chapel for others to access easily.
http://goo.gl/eSmnK2

Ladies Sankirtan Party in UK
The ladies ashram recently launched an exciting initiative of traveling sankirtan. For one week every month, they travel to different cities around the country, distributing books and holding street sankirtan. If you would like to join the party contact Jagat Priya dd (jagat.priya@gmail.com). Below are some of their experiences and realisations: We are being invested with so much mercy living here, in the community of Vaishnavas, that not to share it with other conditioned souls is just miserly. Going out and trying to reach out to people giving them this sublime knowledge and giving our service to Srila Prabhupada, that is what makes book distribution such a blissful experience. And it is such a training ground for us to become more humble and surrendered. (Bhaktin Jurgita)
http://goo.gl/4aBcAz

Halifax, NS

Spring Back

 
Nature has its way of springing back after it does itself in.  A hurricaine whipped through the city of Halifax but a decade ago, flattening many of its trees.
 
Trees generally have the power to break the wind but sometimes the wind breaks the trees.  There is new growth, however, coming up in the mixture of the coniferous and desiduous forest.  This we clearly see as the four of us took our walk through Point Pleasant Park on a second consecutive day.
 
There is something to be learned from nature in this 'spring back' dynamic.  Let's say some illness forces you to be bed-ridden for a few days.  It is your strong will to be healthy again plus all the workings in your body that fight for restored health that leads you to being triumphantly cured (let's not forget the grace of God)
 
On the sports field one team loses the game but the team with its resilience of spirit will play the game again and not give up hope that they will score well in the future and win.
 
At two locations, Sahil, Nirmana, Omni and I, sat down for chanting sessions (I like Sahil's drum playing by the way).  We sat on grass and moss along along the trail at one spot and then relocated where there was more of a flow of population by the ocean side.  We were sharing, softly, our music and mantras, carefully delivering our timbre and tone of voice.
 
People appear to be in the park for personal calming.  Everyone in this world appears to be "going through stuff" and their reason for a stroll in the park, for the most part, is to recharge, bring on optimism and hope.
 
They are consciously or subconsciously trying to "spring back".  And that is why I chant everyday and walk everyday.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
12 KM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Finally, Beyond Dullness


I like to be early enough for catching a flight to wherever my destination might be.  Two of our travelling monks, Brhat and Hayagriva, dropped me off at Toronto’s airport to see that this becomes a reality. 

There’s no customs.  It’s a domestic flight.  Screening and security checks went smooth and fast.  All went fairly well, yet something hit me that didn’t go over so well for the eyes.  The décor in the waiting areas was colourless – all drab and grey.  The brief visit to the bladder room (Americans say ‘restroom’, Canadians say ‘washroom’, some Europeans tell it like it is ‘the toilette’), meant looking at off-white and grey tiles , it was unappealing.  I suddenly had a mental vision of grim-ness over dawn when it would make an appearance for us to view the outdoors.  Being the in between season of the vibrant colours of autumn and the pretty pure whiteness of snow, we are wedged in a period of, once again, greyness.

I came out from the bladder room only to be hit by more dinginess.  Most passengers were wearing black, grey and muted browns.  People were lined up and looking as if in a funeral procession.  The only sign of life, ironically, was the red poppy on people’s lapels that honour the glorious dead, soldiers of war.

Oh, and yes, there was this guy whose presence contradicted everything else.  This fellow sported a saffron-toned hoody that really stood out.  At one moment I thought to strike up a conversation and ask, “Where the heck did you find that colour that would mistake you for a Hare Krishna?”

The flight was short, under two hours.  Halifax, here I am.

A quiet couple, Sahil and Nirmana, greeted me.  We had a full day of catching up on things, food and devotion which included a chanting session at a venue on Hollis St.  True brilliance came our way when we strolled the trails at Point Pleasant Park.  It was when dusk was approaching.  The cloudy day itself became clouded by the sun’s absence.  And as it, the sun, was about to do its disappointing act, the coastal sky flaunted patches of pink.  Set as a backdrop beyond the silhouetted trees, was this spread of gorgeousness, of wondrous sky above and the glistening water of the harbor below.

I reflected on all the pictures of Krishna that my eyes have ever met.  So much colour in there.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Pickering, Ontario

Squeeze Moments


A strategy meeting, a sat sang, home program #1 and a satsang home program #2 occupied the day.
Still, I squeezed moments reading.  The quote which endeared today I wanted to share.

“Spiritual life begins with the tongue” – Srila Prabhupada

“He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga systems.” From Bhagavad Gita (6.17)

“Yoga exists in the world because everything is linked” – Desikaskor

“The soul is an emanation of the Divinity, a part of the soul of the world, a ray from the source of light.  It comes from without into the human body, as into a temporary abode, in goes out of it out of it anew; it wonders in the ethereal regions, it returns to visit it… it passes into other habitations, for the soul is immortal.”  -Ralph Waldo Emmerson

“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people.” – Samuel

“Contemplate solely the Name of God; fruitless are all other rituals.” –Sikh Adi Granth

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” – Bhagavad-gita (9.26)

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Toronto, Ontario

Addictions

 
Addiction is a hard thing to deal with.  An addict is someone who’s terribly transformed over an obsession.  It indicates lack of control, lack of discipline, lack of self-worth.  Whether the addiction is drinking, drugs, sex, pornography or any other spin on being possessed, its consequences are so devastating.  It leads to break-up of family, loss of job, loss of hygiene and of good balanced health and so on.

Somehow or other we might learn something from addicts.  Although their attention is on a weakness and not on strength, nevertheless there is some attention or focus.  If it could only be redirected.  
I walked with a dear friend whom I’ve known since living in Toronto 40 years ago.  He is a sworn alcoholic but just as he has been loyal to the bottle, he’s never forgotten God and so he’s taken the bold step towards rehabilitation.  He’s getting help, lots of it, from experts in the field of recovery.
It was reassuring that he was taking the right steps, not only to do with our walking, but to curing himself.  My friend chants mantras, has reverence towards Krishna and appears determined.

I’m not an AA guru but I felt I could offer the recommendation for him to walk more, to keep the mechanism (the body) working, to take in the good air and to dream of an improved situation.  Yes, I believe that walking does allow the person do have greater stimulation of thought, ideas and dreams and hope.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Caledon, Ontario

Students – Yay!


I was asked this evening, “How are you?” and my response was, “I’m just fine because I had a chance to speak to students today.” 

Nisheeta Menon is a Catholic teacher at Robert F. Hall Secondary School, and had invited Keshava,  a coordinator at our ashram, and I, to give a presentation at their school.  We were to discuss the Hindu path, and more particularly, the higher consciousness of Krishna. 

Keshava and I drove to the precincts of Toronto and beyond.  We were gliding through, or so it seemed (he’s fast and sharp behind the wheel).  We went through rolling hills of trees, and at their base, wetlands and cornfields, and perfectly manicured lots with mansions.  Finally, we arrived at the usual square looking educational facility and then to meet the lively staff at the school’s main office. 

The gracious Nisheeta lead us to the lecture room, where soon, two groups of grade 11 students filled the seats.  Keshava and I began our talk, explaining first the literal meanings of our names.  Then, a day in the life of a monk (me), and the life of a young professional (Keshava) in the context of Krishna being in the centre of everything.  We showed visuals, offered some words of the Gita’s philosophy, and then chanted and danced, with the students, of course. 

That last bit was the highlight for them, and for us.  Questions came from their curious minds when Keshava and I alternately responded to everything about the nature of the soul, to why we are vegetarian.  The reward to our job done was fruit, cashews, smiles and appreciations from staff and students.  It made our day.  On our return journey back to our downtown ashram, I mentioned to Keshava how I dealt with my early morning fatigue while giving a class from the book, Bhagavatam.  I read verses from the book, actual words of a very motivated sage, Shukracharya.  I read them to our group of monks with a Dracula accent which met with their approval.  It perked everyone up, including myself. 

Keshava and I had a good laugh and a good day with students. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Markham, Ontario

The Danforth Walk


Heading east with Durjoy, a young Bangladeshi, we promenaded over to Danforth Avenue to reach the very lively section, Greek Town, you walk over the Don Valley Bridge, at least that’s what people call it.  Here too, I recall a tragedy of someone throwing himself, this time off the bridge, down to the valley’s base.  The young reserved chap used to visit our temple to inform us of vegetarian events going on.  I would say he gave up his life about 30 years ago, yet the memory of it lingers.  I pray his soul is rightly situated. 

I tend not to forget these incidents.  It would be a mental labyrinth of a journey to make, if possible, to venture to and try to understand the dissatisfaction one must feel before giving up one’s life. 

‘Suicide’ is something referred to by the teachers in our line of spiritual discipline.  Sometimes dubbed as ‘spiritual suicide’, the acharyas, or teachers, speak of about some renunciants who are inclined towards the soul’s merging into an absolute oneness.  Hence, losing one’s individuality.  The other part of this equation is to speak of the Divine in terms of mere energy or light.  It is an attempt to depersonalize God, to dishonor or discredit, and reduce the Absolute to an unfeeling being.  In our Vaishnava tradition of Krishna Consciousness, we very much believe in the personality of the soul and the personality of God. 

At the final destination, which I made this evening in Markham by cheating a little bit going 40 km via a car, a group of people had a sit down to a chant.  This chant was an offering to a personal God that listens, speaks, touches, tastes, and has feelings inside.  To Damodara (Krishna), we offered small diyas (flames) to God as a child, to God as one who has loving relationships with all, and especially to those who approach Him with bhakti, devotion. 

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

State houses, traditionally meeting places of United States' governors, legislators and decision makers, rarely host gatherings related to religious expression or discourse. However, for the third year in a row the Massachusetts State House, amidst the majesty of its Hall of Flags & Grand Staircase, hosted a Diwali opening ceremony. 

Boston, october 23, 2014.

Since it was launched in January 2014, readership of ISKCON News’ Spanish language sister website ISKCON Noticias (noticias.iskcon.org) has increased rapidly, now reaching around 7,000 every week, and growing. Readers are more far-flung, too. Although most hailed from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay when the site was first launched, today there are also readers in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Spain, as well as Spanish-speakers in the USA.

Meet the lively devotees of ISKCON Helsinki and hear about their project.