Websites from the ISKCON Universe
This month, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) interviewed Anuttama Dasa, the International Director of Communications and a member of the Governing Body Commission (GBC), regarding the celebration of Navaratri and Dussehra from the perspective of an ISKCON devotee. Established in 2003, HAF is the largest and oldest education and advocacy organization for Hindu Americans. The […]
The post Leading Hindu Org Interviews ISKCON Leader on Important Festivals appeared first on ISKCON News.
BRC presents endowment check to Presidency University. As an unprecedentedly unique offering to our illustrious Guru-paramparā and the Vaiṣṇava community, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) established an endowment in honour of Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, at his alma mater—Presidency University, Kolkata, in September 2023. Over 150 years ago, in 1853, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, then known […]
The post A Momentous Tribute: Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Student Memorial Endowment at Presidency University, Kolkata appeared first on ISKCON News.
Dear Worldwide ISKCON Devotees and Congregation,
Please accept our obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We would like to wish you a happy Kartik month full of divine service to Lord Damodar, and hope you and your family are well and in blissful Krishna conscious spirits. This time of the year is always greeted with great anticipation and excitement by devotees eager to chant the Damodarastakam and remember the pastimes of the Lord with Mother Yashoda.
One important lesson to learn from this pastime is that Krishna responds to desire and effort in His service. These two elements, desire and effort, are essential in devotional service and play a key role in our progress towards love of God, Krishna prema. And therefore, it’s no wonder that the Lord tests us to see the extent of our strength of purpose and resolve in this regard, and rewards us accordingly. Krishna wants our love so we can join Him in His eternal lilas in the spiritual world and be happy, but He doesn’t force us to express it; it must come from our own heart. His job is to find ways to draw it out of us more and more as part of His lila.
The same principle applies to the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. How much do we desire to build this for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas, to fulfill their desire to spread Krishna consciousness? The intensity of our desire and willingness to sacrifice must be there for it to manifest. And this pleases Krishna more than even the temple itself, just as Mother Yashoda’s sweat and tears pleased Lord Damodar more than being bound with the rope. Rather, He was bound by Mother Yashoda’s love, which overwhelmed Him.
Now, we are approaching the next historic phase of the project, the opening of the completed Nrsimhadeva Wing, the largest Nrsimhadeva Temple in the world, during the 2024 Gaura Purnima Festival, from February 29 – March. February 29 is the auspicious 150th anniversary appearance day of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, and this will be a most appropriate time to offer the Nrsimha Wing to our Prabhupada, who can in turn offer it to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.
With that in mind, we are making an appeal for financial help again for the above stated Nrsimha Wing completion. All our focus, finances, manpower, etc. is on this goal. Our humble request to each and every one of you is to continue to support the TOVP. Many of you have made and completed pledges for which we are most grateful, and you even continue to give again and again. Those who have outstanding pledges, we request you to complete the payments as soon as possible. Some of you made pledges, but at some point stopped making payments. Some have never started their payments. Some have just a little ways to go to complete their pledges. Please re-evaluate your commitment to this project, strengthen and renew your level of enthusiasm, and show Lord Damodar, Lord Nrsimhadeva, Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas that it is your heart’s desire to open Nrsimhadeva’s Wing, and ultimately the TOVP. And the month of Kartik is a most auspicious time to do that.
Kindly consider the above and go to the Give To Nrsimha Campaign page or the Pledge Payments (International) or Pledge Payments (Indian Residents) page on the website during this auspicious Kartik time. You can begin or complete your pledges there or sponsor one of the many new options we have available.
Thank you again and may the Lord bless you and your loved ones with unlimited mercy.
Your servants,
Ambarisa das
Braja Vilasa das
Miracle in the Making ~ Home of Our Divine Protector
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp7
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
On October 15, 2023, ISCKON devotees, locals, and well-wishers gathered for the dedication of the new Krishna Balarama Hall in Vrindavan Dham. This building is part of the larger Krishna Balaram Cultural Center project that ISKCON News will report on this week. The Hall will greatly expand the Krishna Balaram temple’s ability to serve the […]
The post Krishna Balaram Hall Inaugurated in Vrindavan, Part of an Expansive Cultural Center Project appeared first on ISKCON News.
The mundaners are mostly worshipers of Durgā-devī, the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, but they do not know that Durgā-devī is but the shadow energy of the Lord.
Those who are in control of the external energy of the Lord, or in other words those who are in the material world, must first of all know how the external energy of the Lord is working under the direction of the Supreme Personality, and afterwards one may try to enter into the activities of His internal energy.
The mundaners are mostly worshipers of Durgā-devī, the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, but they do not know that Durgā-devī is but the shadow energy of the Lord. Behind her astonishing display of material workings is the direction of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).
The Brahma-saṁhitā affirms that Durgā-śakti is working by the direction of Govinda, and without His sanction the powerful Durgā-śakti cannot move even a blade of grass.
ISKCON News is continuing to follow developments in the Israel-Hamas war. Details on the ground are changing hour by hour, but we are striving to bring you the latest from multiple sources. From ISKCON Israel, “At the moment, devotees are following the instructions of the Home Front Command and are safe. Families living in the […]
The post ISKCON Israel Updates – October 17, 2023 appeared first on ISKCON News.
Chaitanya Chandra Dasa has unveiled his latest offering, an e-book titled “Traps in our Path Back to Godhead.” Drawing inspiration from a publication by Suhotra Swami during the 1990s, this e-book sets a philosophical foundation to illuminate the common pitfalls in one’s spiritual evolution, empowering one with the wisdom required to navigate and transcend these […]
The post New E-book: “Apasampradayas – Traps in Our Path Back to Godhead” appeared first on ISKCON News.
An accusation I often hear levelled at religion is that it causes so many conflicts. As the recent tragic events unfolded in the Middle East, some have indeed pointed the finger of blame at religion, as at least a factor in the long-standing dispute. Writing for the ‘Big Think’, Adam Lee observed: “…what I do believe is that that it (the Israel Palestine conflict) is being inflamed and prolonged by religious zealotry on both sides.”
When I hear such suggestions, my first thought is that they are based on a misconception of religion. Dictionaries usually describe it as a system of belief in a supernatural power. That is where disagreements tend to arise, as the above writer points out. My beliefs may well differ from and even conflict with yours, and hence, there are many faiths, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc, each asserting that their particular set of beliefs is true, while all others are misguided.
The ancient Sanskrit Vedas, however, offer a unifying definition. In Sanskrit, the word for religion is dharma. This translates more accurately as the essential nature of a thing, such as wetness in water. In the case of a person, this nature is service. We must serve someone or something, be it our boss, family members, country, or maybe just our dog. Even if we have no one to serve, we will still serve our minds and senses, which constantly demand satisfaction in one way or another. We cannot sit peacefully for long before one bodily demand or another impinges upon us, and we must act to satisfy it.
Vedic wisdom tells us this service propensity is meant for God. This is real religion, the dharma of the soul. Undoubtedly, the adherents of all the faiths mentioned earlier and most others will concur despite their external differences. Whatever our practices, the aim must be to know and love God, to unite with him and serve him eternally. When we serve anything other than God, we are never satisfied; we constantly search for the lasting fulfilment that no amount of sensual pleasure or material relationships can provide. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”
So, what goes by the name of religion these days is usually just the rituals meant to evoke our mood of divine service. Thus, religious fights are based not so much on religion itself but on the perceived means of attaining its goal, which should be love, specifically for God. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna sums this up in a simple directive: “Always think of me, offer me your respects, worship me and become my devotee. Surely then will you come to me.” This, in essence, is what all theistic faiths advocate, so what sense does it make to squabble over the practices it may be couched in? Better, surely, to focus on those practices and evoke your divine love.
Genuine followers of any faith exhibit godly qualities. They all have their saints who are invariably peaceful, compassionate and deeply spiritual. Indeed, something is going wrong if your so-called religion produces a desire to eliminate the followers of another faith. The Mahabharata says, “If your spiritual practices do not make you gentle, they are useless.” Sometimes, force might be required to maintain law and order, as we also learn from Mahabharata, but only as a last resort and never to oppress and terrorise others.
I feel saddened when I see religion blamed for conflict and violence, as the solution is portrayed as the problem. The very point of spiritual practice is to make us saintly—free of lust, greed, envy, anger and all such base urges. How else can we get rid of these impurities? They are the real problems causing our disputes and can attach themselves to any cause, not just an idea of religion. How many millions have died in conflicts where no religious fervour was involved? Both world wars, for example.
Krishna provides a perfect peace formula in the Bhagavad Gita. “Do everything for my pleasure. Accept me as the proprietor of all the world. See me as your greatest friend and well-wisher.” My spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada, once said that to achieve the brotherhood (or sisterhood) of man, we must accept the fatherhood of God. Proper spiritual practice brings us to that realisation, recognising our common humanity, indeed the commonality of all beings as parts of the one Supreme. There is no question of hatred touching the heart of one endowed with such a vision. Their love for God is extended to all his creatures.
Such universal love seems a distant utopian dream as we look with horror at the unspeakable images flashing across our screens of late. But each of us can at least transform ourselves. After all, we are the world we want to change. Krishna gives simple directions in the Bhagavad Gita, always chant his name, whatever name of God you prefer, and try to please him in everything we do, particularly by showing kindness to all. In this way, we can do our best to bring about world peace, one soul at a time.
The post Does Religion Cause War? first appeared on Krishna Dharma.
Vibhu Chaitanya Das, host of “Unveiling the Spirit and Temple President, ISKCON Sandton Located in the wealthiest mile of Africa, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Sandton – South Africa has embarked on an endeavor to share the wisdom of Bhakti yoga with a global audience. Their new podcast, “Unveiling the Spirit,” hosted by […]
The post ISKCON Sandton’s New Podcast on Bhakti Yoga and Modern Living appeared first on ISKCON News.
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Transcription
The Bhagavad Gita perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Social media and mainstream media is now filled with images of thousands of missiles being sent by the Hamas, which is the Palestinian extremist group in the Gaza Strip, attacking Israel in various cities. How do we see this terrible conflict with which thousands of people have been killed and uncountable number of people have been taken hostages, and the conflict seems to be on the verge of escalating?
I’ll talk about it from three different points, three Ns. The first N is the Nature of the violence, second is the Necessity for confrontational approaches, and last is Need for approaches beyond the confrontational. So first, while violence is an unfortunate and unavoidable part of life in this world, at the same time, the Bhagavad Gita is very careful in ensuring that violence is used within limits.
The Kshatriyas are a specially trained class of people who are meant to protect others from harm and to use force if required for that purpose. They are meant Kshatriya. They are meant to protect others from hurt and Kshatriyas never attack civilians.
That’s why the Kurukshetra war was fought at a particular designated venue, namely Kurukshetra, where the civilians were neither targeted nor killed. But the terrorist violence that we are seeing in these current attacks where missiles are launched indiscriminately, including largely on civilian targets and territories, is the antithesis of Kshatriya violence, where unarmed and unprepared, unsuspecting civilians alone are targeted for the purpose of creating fear and intimidation and terror. So, such violence against civilians needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
The second point is the necessity of confrontational approaches at times. While we all would like that conflicts be minimized or avoided or resolved by peaceful means, the reality is that sometimes some people are so maddened by their hunger for power, by their memories of grievance and the cravings for vengeance, or by their extreme ideologies, that they essentially become wicked, and that means that there is no talking sense with them.
In fact, trying to have a peaceful negotiation with such elements ends up essentially appeasing them, and appeasing people who are wicked only empowers and emboldens them to do far worse things in the future. That’s how in one way the Second World War escalated with Victor Chamberlain, the British premier, appeasing Hitler repeatedly while his expansionist activities engulfed much of Europe. So, appeasement will not work with extremist elements, and the need for confrontational approaches to weed out such elements has to be acknowledged. This in fact is the purpose of Kshatriyas.
The Bhagavad Gita says that when such approaches are required, Kshatriyas, the warrior class, they are the martial protectors of society, they do not flinch from violence. They are ready to fight where it is required. Having said that, the third point is the need for solutions beyond the confrontational.
While confrontation is required for those who are power hungry or maddened into war, whatever reason, most people from any demographic are not power hungry like that. Most people simply want to go ahead with their lives. And that’s why it’s vital that no community be lumped together in any particular way.
This particular conflict can be seen solely in religious terms and one religion attacking another and another religion trying to defend itself. And yes, the religious dimension is important in that, but humans are complex beings, and religious ideologies might motivate some people toward extremism, it is not the sole motivator for most people. We see that in the Abrahamic Accords which were inconceivable maybe a few years ago, but Israel has been able to have some kind of peaceful relations and some accord being established with UAE and also with the Saudi Arabia by de facto. So, the factors other than solely religious can guide decisions and that’s where the Bhagavad Gita’s analysis of human nature into the three modes, sattva, rajas and tamas is helpful.
The mode of tamas is associated with complaining and violence and destruction. The mode of rajas is associated with craving and fighting or doing whatever is required to fulfil the craving. The mode of sattva is associated with clarifying, trying to understand.
So, solution will not come simply by thinking that we will eradicate the enemy and thus we alone will reign. Once we go on the path of eradicating those whom we oppose or those who oppose us, where is it going to stop? Because there will always be someone or the other who opposes us. That’s why those who are extremists, those who are influenced or controlled by the mode of ignorance, they need to be neutralized.
But the vast majority is not that destructive or vindictive. Especially those who are in sattva, those who are with somewhat risen consciousness, if they are engaged with, if they are empowered, then they can come together and find a solution of some level of meaning. Now, the Bhagavad Gita says this world is a place of distress, dukhalaya. What that means is that there will never be any perfect solutions. No one will have a world in which they have no enemies, but what we can do is, even if we can’t have perfect solutions, we can at least have trade-offs. If not the most tolerable trade-offs, at least the least intolerable trade-offs. If with hard-eyed realism, people in sattva from both sides come together and have discussions, of course, after the extremist elements have been purged, then the non-confrontational approaches can also help us to come towards some level of peace. This is where the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom offers humanity in general and seekers in particular, thoughtful seekers in particular, resources for raising human consciousness.
While pursuing violent means to curb extremists, simultaneously non-confrontational methods are pursued to eventually establish a more workable peace, that is the way to go beyond such horrifying confrontations that are happening. Our prayers for the souls of all those who have unfortunately lost their lives and our prayers for strength to all those who have survived such losses. We hope that higher consciousness manifests and peace prevails soon.
End of transcription.
L-to-R, Namamrita Das, Jiva Gaurangi Dasi, “Jiva G,” and Yogesvara Das. Alachua, Florida – The Bhakti Recovery Group (BRG) Convention, held recently in Alachua, Florida, has emerged as a beacon of hope for individuals navigating the challenging path of addiction recovery within the devotee community. The convention, spearheaded by Jiva Gaurangi Dasi, “Jiva G,” the […]
The post Bhakti Recovery Group Event in Alachua Inspires Healing and Growth appeared first on ISKCON News.
🪔 Diwali Festival 🪔
Join us for this radiant occasion on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
📅 Date: Sunday, October 22nd, 2023
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
🪔 Highlights of the Event:
Come together with family and friends to celebrate Diwali and embrace the positive energy of this auspicious occasion.
The jackfruit tree under which Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON was born on 1st September 1896, is now withering and needs attention. It is situated at Srila Prabhupada’s birthplace in Kolkata, which was opened in 2021. A memorial is being built here and the preservation of the tree is a part of this project. […]
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The new Bhaktivedanta Institute journal, Purva-paksa: Fine-Tuning Opposing Views, was a “#1 New Release” in the Hindu History category for its inaugural edition of the publication. The multivolume journal features recent research of scholars worldwide who have presented at seminars, conferences, and other events hosted by the BIHS. Purva-paksa is now available as both a paperback […]
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Rupotsava, an annual celebration dedicated to Srila Rupa Gosvami, unfolded its enchanting festivities at the Vrindavan Institute of Higher Education (VIHE) this year. Commencing on the 25th of August and concluding on the 28th, the event marked the disappearance day of Srila Rupa Gosvami. The inaugural day dawned with the resonating melody of mangala arati […]
The post Celebrating Rupotsava 2023 – A Cherished Tradition at the VIHE Continues to Bless Devotees appeared first on ISKCON News.
October 12, 2023 Dear Devotees of ISKCON, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Many devotees have contacted the Communications Ministry in the last day or two with concerns regarding the Peacock Studio’s film that will be released on October 24, 2023. It is named “Krishnas: Gurus. Karma. Murder.” The film is […]
The post Communications Ministry Statement to ISKCON Devotees in Relation to Peacock Studio’s Trailer & Film “Krishnas: Gurus. Karma. Murder.” appeared first on ISKCON News.
Madana-gopala Dasa being welcomed by BAPS leaders with tilak and gifts during the multi-day inauguration festivities at the BAPS Akshardham Temple, Robbinsville, NJ The largest Hindu temple in the U.S. recently held a multi-day inauguration celebration in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Leaders from Hindu organizations worldwide participated in the festivities held on the 183-acre BAPS Swaminarayan […]
The post ISKCON Leader Honored at the Inauguration of Largest Hindu Temple in the West appeared first on ISKCON News.
Ecstatic Kirtan with Madhava hosted by the Bliss House at Yoga in Motion. San Antonio, Texas, often renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and scenic beauty, is also home to a thriving and dynamic ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) community that is making waves in the world of spirituality and the arts. Led […]
The post San Antonio’s Vibrant ISKCON Community Creatively Expanding Outreach appeared first on ISKCON News.
Dignitaries on the Dais- Left to right (audience perspective): HG Varada Krishna Das ( Temple President – ISKCON HBR Layout), HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami (Zonal Supervisor & ISKCON Coimbatore Temple President), Honourable Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya, Honourable Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, HG Narahari Chaitanya Das (Temple President – ISKCON South Bengaluru), HH Jayapataka […]
The post New ISKCON Temple Opens in Bengaluru to Serve as a Spiritual & Cultural Centre appeared first on ISKCON News.
The Vrindavan Institute of Higher Education (VIHE) is organizing a dynamic six-day onsite Teacher Training Course (TTC) in the holy month of Kartik from 18th-23rd November 2023 with Aniruddha Dasa and Bimala Prasad Dasa leading TTC1 and TTC2 respectively. The course will be held on the premises of VIHE in Vrindavana. Students will benefit greatly […]
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