News

Last Saturday, April 3, 2021, some of our ISKCON Alachua community youth and Sandipani Muni Krishna Dasa (of Harinama Ruci) joined the Gainesville Krishna House team for their first Harinama since the start of the pandemic. Weaving through Depot Park, devotees blissfully chanted the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and danced past groups of fortunate college students, […]

On avoiding infection:  Devotee: It was by chance that I got infected. Prabhupada: No, no. Not chance. Why did you go where there is cholera case? That is your foolishness. Why did you go there? When there is infectious disease a man is forbidden to go there. You went there without any knowledge and you […]

by Mukhya Devi Dasi Some devotees have expressed concerns over reports that the latest COVID vaccine by Johnson & Johnson may contain traces of human fetal tissue from so-called “293 cells,” and they ask if there is bad karma accrued from taking this vaccine to protect themselves from the virus. I reached out to the […]

Krishna House Harinama at Depot Park (March 2021) The J&J Vaccine Moral Dilemma (by Mukhya D.D.) Why I decided that getting vaccinated .. was the right choice for me (by Indradyumna Swami) The GBC Urges Devotees to Take All Precautions Taking Care of Your Health (by Mukhya D.D.) ISKCON North America Health Policy Kirtan Ministry […]

by Indradyumna Swami In light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting development of COVID-19 vaccines, many of my students have inquired whether they should get vaccinated or not. As a result, I wish to share my views on this issue with my students and those who look to me for advice. Of […]

You probably have a friend or family member who’s been wondering why they haven’t been receiving these newsletter emails, even though they remember getting them years ago. Chances are it’s been filed into the Promotions tab of their Gmail account, or, worse, found its way into the Spam folder. Help us help your loved ones […]

Join an online Bhakti Shastri course taught by Mayapur Institute, starting May 29, 2021, from 7 PM IST / 8:30 AM ET. Visit www.mayapurinstitute.org to register. Books: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Sri Isopanishad, Nectar of Instruction & Nectar of Devotion. Language: English. Class Duration: 2 Hours per Session. Class Schedule: Every Saturday & Sundays (2 […]

Feeling overwhelmed by challenges, problems, or adversities in your life? The Resilience group is a place that enables you to work through challenges and get back to life stronger and wiser. Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. via Zoom, facilitated by Rambhoru Dasi ACBSP, a certified Professional Chaplain and Crisis Counselor. Participation is confidential. For Zoom […]

In recent months we have been seeing escalating numbers of COVID virus spread. It is the responsibility of every devotee to know the risks, to wear a mask and social distance even within your home if you are getting together with other families. Here are our guidelines for testing and quarantining, if you have come into contact […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and caused the deaths of millions of people globally. As of February 2021 it shows no signs of slowing down. Many members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including sannyasis, gurus, and other senior devotees — as well as some younger devotees — have passed away as a result […]

By Mukhya Devi Dasi The coronavirus continues to spread. Please don’t neglect your healthcare during the pandemic. Here are some basic things we can do daily to keep our immune and respiratory systems strong as well as ayurvedic advice to build immunity and treat coronavirus. Daily Steam Inhalation Drinking herbal spice tea Exercise daily, including […]

Dear Temple Presidents and other NA Leaders,  Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.  The COVID crisis is far from over. The number of deaths and new cases remain alarmingly high, hospitals in some areas are at full capacity, and the roll out of the vaccine will take several more months in […]

by Siddha Hari Dasa for ISKCON News Bibek Debroy, Chairman of India’s Prime Minister’s Economic Council, has launched Sidharth Chhabra (Siddha Hari Dasa) and Madhavendra Puri Dasa’ upcoming book on the Bhagavata Purana.  Srila Prabhupada frequently asserted that the Puranic accounts are historical facts, although labeled mythology by modern man. In their book, the authors use […]

Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s Minister of Communications, joined with Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Muslims, Native Americans, and representatives of other faith traditions in a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service in Washington DC that included prayers, readings, hymns and blessings.  “I am honored to be part of this Interfaith Inaugural Prayer Service on behalf of ISKCON and the broader […]

Transcript of a talk given by Dr. Vasant Lad Dear Friends,Wishing you health and wellness at this time.Take care and be well,Vasant Lad and the staff of The Ayurvedic Institute Here is a transcript of Vasant Lad’s talk. Good Day Dear Friends, As we are aware about the coronavirus; it is a worldwide epidemic. People […]

Unexposed asymptomatic group: Common health keeping approaches of Ayurveda including healthy diet, healthy life-style, adequate sleep, physical activity, good conduct, care for retainable and non-retainable urges, and avoidance of disease causing factors (excessive cold and exposure to pollutants). In addition, Chyavanprasha, Brahma Rasayana, Amrit Bhallataka, Sanjeevani vati, Swarna prashan. 2. Exposed asymptomatic (Quarantined): Sanjeevani vati, Chitrakatdi vati, Chyavanprasha, Brahma Rasayana, […]

Akuti Devi Dasi reporting We have been busy at the Eco Teaching Farm the last few years putting the foundational components in place. The cobb entrance, goshala/barn, solar water pump, biogas digester, Vrinda Devi “temple shrine” built using cob and natural techniques, planned gardens and the log cabin are complete. Now comes the daily maintenance […]

by Sri Vrindavana Devi Dasi The 2020 Prabhupada Book marathon has been unique. The collective goal for ISKCON worldwide was to distribute 2 million Bhagavad-gitas. Team ISKCON Alachua (TIA) set a more modest local goal of distributing 1,080 Gitas during the month of December. Despite COVID restrictions, over 100 devotees and their families (see list) participated in […]

Here are documents prepared by devotee doctors, Dr Bakshi and Dr Verma, explaining how the Pfizer vaccine works, that it is does not contain mercury and is suitable for vegetarians, and outlining best practices to keep our families and temples safe during this pandemic. Pfizer Vaccine Ingredients COVID-19 Reference for Temples

by Sri Vrindavana Devi Dasi The 2020 Prabhupada Book marathon has been unique. The collective goal for ISKCON worldwide was to distribute 2 million Bhagavad-gitas. Team ISKCON Alachua (TIA) set a more modest local goal of distributing 1,080 Gitas during the month of December. Despite COVID restrictions, over 100 devotees and their families (see list […]

The recent loss of devotees in our NRR community has inspired a few of us to revive the End-of-Life (EOL) Care Team under the auspices of Vaishnavas CARE Alachua. It is a service that will be needed more and more as members of our community age and develop terminal illnesses. Our team’s goals are to provide […]

by David Leonhardt, The New York Times This is a three-step guide to COVID-19 risk minimization. It’s based on a New York Times survey of 700 epidemiologists and experts. 1. There is one behavior you should try to eliminate, without exception: Spending time in a confined space (outside your household) where anyone is unmasked. Don’t […]

This year has brought unique challenges in many areas of life, including in particular, economic challenges for students and new professionals. With a rapidly changing work ecosystem, it’s understandable to find ourselves stuck when preparing to make the next step professionally. “How do I best showcase my talents for a professional setting?” or “Why does […]

For information about coronavirus testing in Spanish, click here.

CDC ACCEPTED NON-TEST BASED STRATEGY 1) People with mild to moderate illness who are not severely immunocompromised: • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND • Symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) have improved 2) People […]

Christmas Day, December 25, 2020: 6 – 8 a.m., Morning Meditations, including a class by Srila Prabhupada on Christmas Day 1969. 8 – 9 a.m., Christ, Christianity and Peace on Earth, Srila Prabhupada speaks and devotees share on this topic. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., English Gita Jayanti, 18 Devotees read each chapter of Bhagavad-gita, […]

In 1976 Srila Prabhupada instructed the founding members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute “to build a model of the universe that could later be built full size at the future Mayapur Temple and Planetarium complex.” To help broadly facilitate Srila Prabhupada’s directive, the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) based in Gainesville recently hosted its second […]

Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video: HARE KRISHNA! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All Watch it, share it with friends and co-workers, glorify Srila Prabhupada on his disappearance day and beyond. The movie is free on Amazon for Prime members in the US, UK, Germany and Japan. We are working on […]

The GBC Strategic Planning Team (GBC SPT) is looking for devotees to join their team to help expand communications to the ISKCON world with inspiring, informative and useful content on websites, social media and email, and help develop an online learning community with courses on a wide range of devotional topics. Available Positions: Digital Content […]

Across the world, COVID has, for better or worse, changed the way we do many things in our lives. Countless children have attended school, Sunday school and even ‘camp’ online this year. More than ever before, children live online – making new friends, developing established relationships, learn, recreate, etc. With the added stressors COVID has […]

The Bhagvad Gita is one of the most widely respected Hindu scriptures in existence and has been a source of inspiration for many, many people. Written in Sanskrit, its 700 verses are often quoted by many great personalities who believe that the Gita has been a guiding force in their lives. The scripture, which is often […]