Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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 […]
This year is an unusual year. One of its many unusual features is that Christmas and Gita Jayanta, the speaking of Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God), are celebrated on the same day. This is a special opportunity to connect East and West. Click to read full article on Dandavats.com.
Pocket Meditations.As we settle into the rhythm of the New Year here are some pocket meditations to carry with us every day. These small reminders can bring quality to our lives and thus help us feel more alive. As the Joseph Campbell quote goes – “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of […]
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 […]
Around forty-five women from Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, and across the U.S. and Canada attended the fourth annual Urban Devi Retreat on October 17th, entitled “Welcoming Transformation” and held virtually on Zoom. Co-hosted by Urban Devi and the Bhakti Center in New York City, the inspirational all-day event ran from 7:30am to 5:30pm EDT. It […]
As part of its online Bhakti Wisdom offerings, designed for people who want to dive deeper into their practice, the Bhakti Center in New York City is offering Pathways to Perfection, a 10-part series on the nine processes of devotion. These key pathways to connect with Krishna are outlined by Prahlada Maharaja in the Srimad-Bhagavatam […]
Facing the challenges of the pandemic, ISKCON devotees have created an ever-increasing host of online sanga opportunities, which continually reveal new treasures. One particularly sweet offering, which has been running since late April but may still be undiscovered by some, is Bhakti Virtual’s “One Day in the Life of a Vaishnava,” or “Un Día En […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 10, 2020) – When it comes to religion, American teenagers and their parents tend to have a lot in common – though not quite as much as the parents may think, according to a new analysis of Pew Research Center survey data. To begin with, most U.S. teens (ages 13 to 17) […]
Since August 2015, the ISKCON Disciples Course has been mandatory for all new initiates in ISKCON, and recommended for all devotees. Developed under the direction of the Guru Services Committee, it is designed to deepen devotees’ understanding of guru tattva (the meaning of guru) and guru padasraya (taking shelter of the guru). Click to read […]
On the most auspicious day of Bhadra Purnima, purchase a set of Srimad-Bhagavatams for yourself, for family members, for friends or co-workers, or sponsor one or more sets for our temple devotees to distribute. While supplies last, get your sets for only $210 each, including shipping to anywhere in the contiguous 48 states. Click on […]
Current as of August 1, 2020 The spread of COVID-19 continues to rise in Florida. If you have any of the following symptoms you should be tested for the virus: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or […]
On this page you’ll find the darshan times, restrictions and protocols that apply at the ISKCON Alachua Temple during the COVID-19 pandemic, as of August 1, 2020. Darshan Times Mangal Arati 4:30 – 5:15 am. Everyone attending should stand on a physically distanced marked yellow X. Wear your mask during kirtan. For the […]
Come celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami at the ISKCON Alachua Hare Krishna Temple on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. We have planned an abbreviated, physically distanced festival this year. Everyone MUST be wearing a face mask on temple property. The temple will open at 11 am. Please plan your arrival after that time. All programs will be live […]
Online Shastra Courses offered through various ISKCON educational institutions have been compiled in one convenient location, at the following website: http://www.iskconcourses.com/
“When the lockdown started, nobody thought we could distribute books, and everybody was worried about what would happen,” says Shyama Mohini Dasi, co-sankirtan leader at ISKCON Toronto, Canada. “But Vaisesika Prabhu encouraged us to think differently, and innovate.” Every year since 2007, devotees at Toronto, ISKCON Silicon Valley, and other temples – inspired by Global […]
Mukundanghri Das is an environmental engineer and urban sustainability consultant. He serves as a Trustee and Chief Operational Officer in the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Africa. He is an alumnus of Wits University Bhakti Yoga Society (BYS). His greatest joy is sharing his love for Bhagavatam with others through storytelling, theatre, and the fine arts. He […]
Krsnanandini dasi is a true warrior! Although she has recently gone into the stage of hospice care at home after a painful battle with cancer, her service spirit remains undaunted. She will be the guest presenter at yet another webinar – this time, sharing her homeschooling experience, which has never before been documented, for Vaishnava […]
The ISKCON Harinam Sankirtan Ministry was appointed this year by the GBC. The minister is Lokanath Swami. In one of its first initiatives, the Ministry began Kirtan Fest Global, a global brand to promote Kirtan Festivals throughout the world. What better place to start than Mother India? Kirtan Fest Global organized the Kirtan Fest India […]
As the number of Coronavirus cases increase across our state and county, the temple is reducing its opening hours to close by 7:00 pm each evening, and will remain open for visitors only during arati times. We’ve reduced the number of marked yellow X spots in the temple room to 35 to provide more physical […]
Here are some ideas of things to do while practicing social distancing during the global pandemic: July 1-12, ISKCON Toronto will host a 12-day virtual Ratha-yatra and Festival of India, with cultural presentations, seminars, kirtans, kids’ activities, cooking demos and more. See the FestivalofIndiaTO Facebook page for details, and watch the live events on either […]
Photo Credits: World Finance Is any panic more primitive than the one prompted by the thought of empty grocery store shelves? Is any relief more primitive than the one provided by comfort food? Most everyone has been doing more cooking these days, more documenting of the cooking, and more thinking about food in general. The […]
While the coronavirus is spreading throughout the world, luckily for us, so is kindness. Even though they are physically restricted in their movement, people find ways to reach out, express appreciation to and care for one another. They sing together on balconies to cheer each other up; they leave bags of groceries at the doorstep […]
With the U.S. State of Florida, and within it Alachua County, in Phase One of Reopening from COVID-19 lockdown, ISKCON’s New Raman Reti temple in Alachua has also started phase one of a gradual reopening process with careful restrictions. To do so, Temple President Mukhya Dasi is consulting local government recommendations, as well as her […]
Two months of the Coronavirus lockdown have done what successive governments could not do in 25 years with over Rs 5,000 crore at their disposal-clean up the Yamuna river. As industrial activity halted and other commercial activities slowed during the lockdown, the Yamuna river cleaned itself, allowing numerous Indian and migratory birds to flock to […]
During Phase 1a of the reopening of our temple, for the next few weeks starting May 14, 2020, we invite individuals and their immediate family members to sign up for a time slot to come for darshan and lead the kirtan during one of our arati ceremonies on a particular day. For now we will limit […]
ISKCON Communications The International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Seeking Strength in Times of Crisis A Statement of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON Ministry of Communications Anuttama Dasa, Director May 2, 2020 As a Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition focused on uplifting human society out of suffering and […]
When 13-year-old Josh Menheere first noticed graffiti around the surf town where he grew up in Queensland, Australia, and learned techniques from his cousin who was dating a graffiti artist, he didn’t know that one day his own street art would spread spiritual consciousness and positively influence other kids’ lives. Click to read full article […]
In the U.K., devotees from ISKCON Leicester’s congregation joined a total of nearly twenty families for a groundbreaking scheme called ‘Come Dine Together,’ designed to build friendships and understanding between Hindus and Muslims. Click to read full article on ISKCON News.
Narada Das (Nathan Hartley) appeared on the BBC’s regional Bristol radio station to share a spiritual message of equality with 135,000 listeners on February 20th, quoting the Bhagavad-gita and Srila Prabhupada. Click to read full article on ISKCON News.