13 Apr 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Diksha, Disciplic succession, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Nrsimhananda das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acharya of Iskcon, approved gurus, diksa guru, diska, diska guru, GBC resolutions, gurus in is, gurus in iskcon, history of diska guru in ISKCON, Iskcon, ISKCON history, ISKCON members, Nrsimhananda das, Siksa guru, Srila Prabhupada, suspended gurus
The other day I got a new phone, a smart phone. I wanted to see how smart it was, so I asked it a Question. “Who is Srila Prabhupada” and I was very surprised when it started talking, with authority. It also brought up a Google page with links to various articles. One of the links brought me to this very informative composition on the history of ISKCON. Although I was aware of most of the history, still to see it all written in one place was something. Thank you to Nrsimhananda Prabhu, who did a fine job of putting it all together. We share it with all of you.
History of Diksa Guru in ISKCON 1978-2014
by Nrsimhananda dasa
This is a history of GBC resolutions, gurus approved, gurus suspended, and other key events in ISKCON as specifically related to diksa and siksa gurus. Although compiled carefully over many years, and in consultation with many ISKCON members, some historians and some former members, there are undoubtedly a lot of errors and omissions in this document due to a lack of information. There are especially errors in terms of the specific years that some persons were approved or disapproved to act as diksa guru in ISKCON. Such errors are due to a lack of record-keeping on the part of any official ISKCON body. This is intended to be a public document, for the view of anyone interested in ISKCON history; it is not an internal document.
(Note: most GBC resolutions are here in a summary form; some are in the exact wording).
More
02 Apr 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Allen Ginsberg, Back to Godhead, BTG magizine, Guru das, People, Roger Siegel
Tags: 518 Frederick Street San Francisco, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Allen Ginsberg, BTG, conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Guru das, Krishna Consciousness Temple, swami
This morning I was cleaning out one of the sheds, and found this old suitcase filled with cassette tapes. There were some of the old Bhaktivedanta Archive tapes, Golden Avatar tapes, various lectures, bahjans and kirtans. I started to listed to some of the old vintage kirtans and lectures and I was filled with a nostalgic mood of yearning, for the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement. This lead me to re-examine the old Back to Godhead magazine issues. The following is one article I found very reminiscence of those early days.
A Conversation between A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami & Allen Ginsberg
Recorded by Guru Das Adhikary
Swamiji had come to San Francisco in late January, 1967 for the opening of the Krishna Consciousness Temple there, at 518 Frederick Street. Allen Ginsberg had always shown friendly and helpful interest in the Society; and he agreed to attend a giant “Mantra Rock Festival,” which the temple members were planning to hold in the Avalon Ballroom. And so, a few days before that event, the good poet came to early morning Kirtan (7 A. M.), and later joined the Swami upstairs in the apartment his pupils had rented for him.
We were sitting in the glow of this holy man, munching on Indian sweetballs cooked by the Swami, when Allen Ginsberg came through the door, a warm smile on his face.
The Swami offered him a sweetball: “Take.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, radiating mutual love.
More
11 Mar 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Vidura das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple, Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day, New Vrindaban, Tryadhisa dasi, Vidura das
Vidura Prabhu holding the umbrella serving Srila Prabhupada
On Febuary 20th a friend and Godbrother, Vidura Prabhu, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 20, 2016, at the age of 71. Vidura Prabhu is survived by his wife of 45 years, Tryadhisa Dasi, and many friends around the world.
Vidura Prabhu 1944 – 2016
Vidura Das, born November 25, 1944, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 20, 2016, at the age of 71.
A disciple of Srila Prabhupada and long time resident of New Vrindaban, Vidura and his wife of 45 years, Tryadhisa, have been serving in the Dhama since 1984.
More
30 Jan 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Vishnujana Swami, Visnujana Swami
Tags: chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krsna Book, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, missionary success, Srila Prabhupada, Visnujana Maharaja, Visnujana Swami
…I have got confidence in you because Krishna has given you special talent for chanting Hare Krishna Mantra. When you were chanting in L.A. temple in the evenings, or in the mornings, I enjoyed your chanting so nicely that I thought myself immediately carried to Vaikuntha. So I am always thankful to you for your activities in announcing the interest of our mission. Thank you very much. Most probably when I return to L.A. I may call you back just to hear your chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra.
…So take advantage and enchant those who are coming by your chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra. You will be victorious. And try to introduce our books there and it will be a great missionary success. One Krishna book sold means we go forward one step in our Krishna Consciousness. We should always remember this. (Letter to Visnujana Swami April 4, 1971)
This morning as I was reading some letters by Srila Prabhupada, this letter to Visnujana Swami really touched my heart. “My Dear Son, Visnujana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings.” Srila Prabhupada was so sweet in his dealings with his disciples, particularly those who took the mission seriously.
Full letter More
06 Jan 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Visakha devi dasi
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, feasting and festivities, God consciousness, ISKCON center, Krsna, Krsna conscious philosophy, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visakha devi dasi
click on images to enlarge
I have always enjoyed going back in time and re-reading the old Back to Godhead Magazines. This one was from 1974 and chronicles the arrival of Srila Prabhupada.
The Arrival of a Pure Devotee
by Visakha-devi dasi
New York: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder and spiritual master of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), stopped here for a few days recently as part of his continuing tour of ISKCON centers around the world. At JFK International Airport, as more than one hundred disciples royally greeted him and curious reporters thronged around him, Srila Prabhupada explained, in clear language and with fixed conviction, the Krsna conscious philosophy of a God-centered society in which “everything animate and inanimate is recognized to be controlled and owned by the Lord.”
“Will this solve the energy crisis?” one reporter asked. “Yes, why not?” Srila Prabhupada immediately responded. “The only lack in the world today is the lack of God consciousness.”
More
06 Sep 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, spiritual master, Vyasa Puja, vyasa-puga 2015, vyasa-puja homages
Sri Vyasa-puja Homage
by Vyasasan das
Dear Srila Prabhupada
On this most blessed and auspicious day, the celebration of your appearance, Sri Vyasa-puja
Please let me offer my respectful obeisances:
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Today I am reminded that 50 years ago, you boarded the ship Jaladuta, which was bound for America, just to execute the order of your spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, and preach the message of Lord Caitanya, to the Western speaking world.
This year we celebrate the 50th aniversery of that famous journey to America. While aboard the Jaladuta, on Sept 13th, 1965, in the middle of the Atlantic ocean you wrote the poem “Prayers to the Lotus Feet of Krsna”. I would like to read it here today, on this auspicious and blessed day of you appearance, to remind everyone of that famous journey and of the great sacrifice you made at the age of 69 years old, with several boxes of your books, and 40 rupees to your name.
More
27 Jul 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Changes, Ramesvara das, Srila Prabhupada's Books
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, BBTEdit.com, book changes, changes, Iskcon, Ramesvara das, responsible publishing, Srila Prabhupada's books
“I am not much fond of the idea of changing things to accommodate the
public — better to change the public to accommodate us.”
(Letter to Bali-mardana — Bombay, December 28, 1971)
“The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at
all times under standard procedure. Do not try to innovate or create
anything or manufacture anything, that will ruin everything. Simply do
as I am doing and be always serious and sincere to serve Krsna, and He
will give you intelligence how to do everything.”
(Letter to Bali-mardana, Pusta Krsna — Los Angeles, September 18, 1972)
Book Changes More
28 Jun 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Care for Cows, Cow Protection, Devotee's, Kurma Rupa das
Tags: Care For Cows, careforcows, cow protection, cows, Kurma Rupa das
Kurma Rupa Prabhu Passes
Kurma Rupa left us on the morning of Sunday 28 June, Ekadasi-tirtha in the Vaishnava calendar, in the most auspicious month of Purushottama, in the sacred land of Vrindavan.
Kurma Rupa is always overcome with bliss and love, an affectionate and kind soul who will be missed. We bow down to him, salute his sacrifices, honour his legacy, and lament his leaving us. Thank you, my dear friend, from all of us…
Visit the cows online, and support Kurma’s legacy:
http://www.careforcows.org
Untill The Cows Come Home
More
08 Jun 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Brahmananda das, Guru & Disciple
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Brahmananda dasa, leaving vrindavan, Sriman Brahmananda Prabhu, Vrindavan Dham
Brahmananda das Departs
We are sad to report the departure of Sriman Brahmananda Prabhu, on of the very first disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was well loved by many.
The following is a report from the Sampradaya Sun News and a letter that arrived in my mailbox this morning from Aprakrita Dasa, reporting the news.
Jun 07, 2015 — CANADA (SUN) — We have received news of the departure of Brahmananda das (ACBSP), who left his body in Vrindavan-dham earlier today. Brahmananda Prabhu (Bruce Scharf) joined Srila Prabhupada in New York in September 1966, as one of Prabhupada’s first disciples in New York. He was ISKCON’s first temple president.
Brahmananda was involved in nearly all aspects of Srila Prabhupada’s early preaching mission, from Ratha yatra to harinam and book sankirtan, and publishing the first issues of Back to Godhead magazine. He also arranged many lectures and meetings for Srila Prabhupada.
Also: More
05 Jun 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Devotee's, Hansadutta das, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra Meditation
Tags: books by Srila Prabhupada, chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, Handadutta das, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, holy name of Krsna, mantra meditation, philosophy of Krsna Consciousness, Srila Prabhupada
I have been going through my older files of late, and ran across this fine article posted by Hansadutta Prabhu some years ago on his site Krsna World.
Although Srila Prabhupada wrote many books, he one day asked me, “So why did I write all these books?” I said, “So we can know the philosophy, learn the philosophy.” He said, “No, the purpose of all these books is to convince you to chant the holy name of Krishna.”
The Holy Name Is All There Is
by Hansadutta das
Chanting is exactly like the simple method of inhaling and exhaling. Although it seems like a very simple act, it is nevertheless the essence of the whole thing. Without that inhaling and exhaling, none of the other activities can take place. We also understand that no one simply inhales and exhales, but all the other activities are supportive of the inhaling and exhaling.
More
04 Jun 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Madhudvisa das, Spiritual Master
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotee, disciple, guru, Iskcon, Krishna, Madhudvisa das, prabhupada, pure devotee, quotes by Srila Prabhupada, spiritual master
click on image to enlarge
The following is a very nice post written by Madhudvisa Prabhu, it is heavy, but is backed up by scripture and quotes by Srila Prabhupada himself. It was worth my time reading, and thus I share it with all of you. Hare Krishna!
The Guru Is A Pure Devotee!
by Madhudvisa dasa
During Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence there was no confusion in ISKCON over the qualifications and qualities of a bona fide guru. Srila Prabhupada was personally present and he exhibited all the qualities perfectly and all the devotees understood the spiritual master was a pure devotee. That’s what Srila Prabhupada demonstrated by his personal actions, that’s what he wrote in his books, that’s what he preached in his classes and that’s what the devotees understood and accepted. The spiritual master is a transparent via-medium to Krishna. His words are non-different from Krishna’s, hearing him is just as good as hearing Krishna personally. And his words are absolute and perfect because he is not presenting his own ideas, he is simply repeating what Krishna and the previous acaryas have said in a way suitable for the understanding of the audience. He’s not changing the message, adulterating it or adding in any ideas of his own, he’s presenting Krishna’s words and Krishna’s philosophy AS IT IS.
More
01 May 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Jayananda Thakur
Tags: disappearance of Jayananda thakur, Jayananda Thakur, Srila Prabhupada, TKG
Today we honnor the disappearance day of one of my dear Godbrothers; Jayananda Thakur. He was well loved by the whole society, and an inspiration to many.
Jayananda Thakura’s Disappearance
from Tamal Krishna Goswamis Diary
3rd May 1977: Today we received word that Jayananda Prabhu had given up his body. When Srila Prabhupada was informed he said, ‘”Yes, sooner or later we must all go.” Afterwards, tears came to His Divine Grace’s eyes. “He was one of my very best disciples. He was the first to give me five thousand dollars, which was used for printing Teachings of Lord Caitanya. He used to drive me in the car, and while driving he would be chanting.
I asked Prabhupada about Jayananda’s destination, “He is not lost. He will be promoted. If he still has some desire for sense gratification, then he will be promoted to the higher planets where he will live for ten thousand years with full enjoyment. By then, he may have perfected his devotional service and he will be transferred back to Godhead. Or, if he has not yet perfected his devotional service, he will be reborn in a very high, aristocratic, pious family But if he was thinking of Krishna, then he can have gone directly to Krishna-loka.”
More
25 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Back to Godhead, Devotee's, Krsna Consciousness
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead Magazine, BTG, Jayadvaita das, krsna consciousness, Krsna consciousness in India, Srila Prabhupada, Tamala Krsna Goswami, transcendental land of Lord Krishna, Vrndavana
As a young bhakta/book distributor back in 1975, I daily distributed Back to Godhead Magizines along with Srila Prabhupada’s books. I remember one day when the heat was oppressive, I took a break and sat beneath a shade tree and read the following article from the BTG. Reading this article sparked my desire to visit India, and planted the seed that would later bring me there. We share it with you along with some of the accompanying photos.
Conversations from India
excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine Volume 10, Number 02, 1975
A senior member of the Hare Krsna movement tells how Krsna consciousness has gone from East to West and back again.
Last March, when hundreds of devotees from all over the world gathered in India for a pilgrimage to the holy cities Mayapur and Vrndavana, I had the opportunity, after four years, to again have the association of my senior Godbrother, His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami Maharaja. The ISKCON temple in Vrndavana was then under construction, and Tamala Krsna Maharaja had a small grass-and-adobe hut nearby, which he used as a headquarters for chanting, reading and executing his various Krsna conscious duties.
After Srila Prabhupada, our spiritual master, first brought some of his devotees to India in 1970, he entrusted to Tamala Krsna Maharaja the responsibility for overseeing the Society’s various preaching programs in India. I knew something about these programs from pictures, news clippings and letters I’d received from devotees, but still I felt that I didn’t have a clear picture of what we were really doing there. However, Tamala Krsna Maharaja is always eager to talk about Krsna consciousness, and so he kindly agreed to tell me about what our movement has done in India during the past four years.
So, there in his hut in Vrndavana, the transcendental land where Lord Krsna Himself had appeared 5,000 years ago to display His transcendental pastimes, Maharaja and I spent several mornings simply talking about Krsna consciousness—and especially Krsna consciousness in India. Here is an excerpt from our conversations, which we taped to share with readers of BACK TO GODHEAD. We will print more in a future issue.
—Jayadvaita dasa; Editor, BACK TO GODHEAD
More
07 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Vyasasan das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chastisement by the Lord, devotee of the Lord, ecstasy, mercy of the Lord, My dear Vyasa, rasa-graha, special favor, taste of the lotus feet of the Lord, the sweetness of the Lord
click on image to enlarge
There are so many beautiful verses in the Srimad Bhagavatam, and I guess everyone has his favorite. I think the following verse and purport is perhaps my very favorite, because it speaks directly to me.
My dear Vyāsa, even though a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa sometimes falls down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again.
A devotee of the Lord automatically becomes uninterested in the enchantment of material existence because he is rasa-graha, or one who has tasted the sweetness of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
…even though he falls down, a devotee is never to be considered the same as a fallen karmī. A karmī suffers the result of his own fruitive reactions, whereas a devotee is reformed by chastisement directed by the Lord Himself. The sufferings of an orphan and the sufferings of a beloved child of a king are not one and the same.
..Such foolish devotees are sometimes put into difficulty by the Lord Himself. As a special favor, He may remove all material paraphernalia. By such action, the bewildered devotee is forsaken by all friends and relatives, and so he comes to his senses again by the mercy of the Lord and is set right to execute his devotional service.
Full text and purport More
29 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Gallery of Images, Guru das, Photos by Gurudas, Radha Damodar Mandir, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations
Tags: Gurudas, photos by Gurudas, Photos of Srila Prabhupada, photos of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara, Radha Damodara Mandir, Srila Prabhupada
Continuing with our series “Photos by Gurudas” we have some nice pictures of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara Mandir in India.
We have also included the following pictures as full size images as well as in a slidshow format.
More
07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Iskcon Bangalore, Madhu Pandit das
Tags: Book Distribution, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit Das, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's books
I am always happy to see Srila Prabhupada’s books being distributed. When I saw this book distribution report on facebook, I couldn’t help but post it here. ISKCON Bangalore seems to be doing an outstanding job distributing these transcendental books, and in 5 different languages as well! Very inspiring. Glories to all of Srila Prabhupada’s book distributors. Hare Krishna!
Over 78000 Copies of Gita Distributed During Book Marathon
The book marathon program of ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna temple, Bangalore which commenced on 7th Dec 2014 during the auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti, went on till 8th Feb 2015 and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony on 15th Feb, 2015.
Book distribution is one of the major activities of ISKCON centers around the world as it was the desire of Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON to spread the teachings of Vedic literature all over the world by distributing his books to the people at large as ordered by his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. In fact, Srila Prabhupada considered it as his life and soul. He instructed, guided and encouraged his disciples to engage in book distribution more and more and that would please him very much.
More
07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hansadutta das, Sivananda das, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Europe Krsna consciousness, hansadutta das, Iskcon, Krishna consciousness, Lord Caitanya's mission, Mahabhrata, sankirtan, Sivananda das, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, temple in Germany, the Hare Krishna Movement in Germany
Sivananda Prabhu
Temple in Germany
Bringing the Holy Name to Germany
by Hamsaduta Dasa
Excerpted from; German ‘Back To Godhead’ Magazine
click on above link to view the original German Back to Godhead Magazines. Great Site!
In August of 1968, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced Krsna consciousness to the European continent. At that time Srila Prabhupada was visiting the Montreal, Canada, branch of his newly founded ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). The leading devotee of the Montreal Center, Sivananda dasa brahmacari, approached Srila Prabhupada and informed him that he had saved a thousand dollars that he had intended to use for his enrollment at London University. As a surrendered soul, Sivananda offered to engage this money directly in the service of his spiritual master. He submitted to Srila Prabhupada that he no longer felt that the best use of the money was to finance his education at the university, but he suggested that he might be allowed to go to Europe to open the way there for Krsna consciousness.
More
02 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Buddha, Cow Protection, Jahnava Nitai das, Vegetarianism
Tags: buddha, Buddhism, cow is revered, cow protection, Jahnava Nitai das, Japan, meat-eating, protectors of the cow, samurai, vegetarian, vegetarianism
The following article I found very interesting. It was circulating on Face book before I saw it on the Sampradaya Sun this morning. It is very informative, and is worth reprinting here.
The Samurai: Protectors of the Cow
by Jahnava Nitai das
Mar 01, 2015 — ORISSA (SUN)
If I were to tell you, that once, no other country, save India, revered the cow as much as Japan, I could understand your disbelief. Today, we think of Japan as a meat-eating culture. However, this image is a product of the last 150 years of American influence. The traditional Japanese culture held the cow as the most sacred animal. What follows next is the true story of among the greatest protectors of the cow – the Samurai.
More
Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries
