EXTRAORDINARY WORDS OF WISDOMMaharaja explains why we need to explain repeatedly to our children what our values are, why we are doing what we are doing until the kids fully understand & start practicing the ideals in their lives. ... See MoreSee Less
Video
NITYANANDA TRAYODASI AT SRI EKACAKRA DHAM
About 200 devotees went from Mayapur to Ekacakra in 3 buses on the 18th of February 2019. We left at 5.45am and reached our destination at noon.
A wonderful enthusiastic kirtan greeted us in the temple room. A little later the pujaris started distributing the mahaprasad straight from the Deities in clay pots for a donation of Rs.100.
The kirtan which commenced at 10.30 went on well after 2pm. Devotees took lunch and had some spare time until the buses started again at 4.15pm for Mayapur. ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
THE NUMBER ONE ENEMY OF THE SUNDAY PROGRAM
The dictionary defines ritual as “an established procedure for a religious or other rite; observance of set forms in public worship.” The mind can develop an exaggerated attachment to established procedures; thus in running the Sunday program we might fall into the trap of giving sacred status to non-absolute formulas. We might end up doing things in the same way only because “it has always been done like that.”
Let’s focus on any aspect of the Sunday program and consider whether we handle it in the best possible way: how we invite and treat guests, how we present the philosophy, how we introduce new people to the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, how we plan and deliver the lecture, the activities we offer children (if any), how we deal with shoes and coats, how we arrange the seating, when and how we distribute prasadam, and so on...
(Excerpt from the first chapter of ‘Super Sunday’ by Kaunteya Das)
For more information on this wonderful book please click iskconcongregation.com/product/super-sunday/ ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
GOOD ROLE MODELS FOR CHILDREN
…Unlike animals, the young in human society don’t grow up quickly to take their place as mature or self-sustaining members of their community. Human children have a variety of long-term needs that must be addressed: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. They need love, food, shelter, education, clothing, recreation, protection,
good association, and so on. As dedicated caretakers, spiritually conscious parents must make every effort to provide for these needs in healthy ways. This is an important part of spiritual life: caring for or serving the Lord’s servants. It cannot be neglected.
The best parents are good role models for their children. They demonstrate the spiritual way of life through words and deeds, understanding that children learn what they live. They seek out other parents or families trying to raise God-conscious children. In this way, they create a much-needed support system. Truly “It takes a village to raise a child.” (Ancient African Proverb)
Sometimes it is necessary to get parenting skills so that we can communicate better, resolve conflicts, set goals, and administer discipline in loving ways to our children. Obtaining such skills is also devotional service because it helps us carry out our parenting duties…
-Krsnanandini DD.--- (Excerpt from the book ‘Our Future Hope’)
For more information on this very interesting book please click iskconcongregation.com/product/our-future-hope/ ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
LORD CAITANYA STARTED CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
...Srila Prabhupada mentioned that Lord Caitanya did not personally establish any temples. Lord Caitanya spread the congregational chanting of Hare Krsna by preaching everywhere He went. Lord Nityananda started the Nama-hatta. But even before Lord Nityananda and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started the sankirtana movement, Srila Krsna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami described in Caitanya-caritamrta that Advaita Acharya, Srivas Thakura, and the Vaisnavas of Nadia district held meetings in the devotees’ homes. From Sri Caintanya-bhagavat (2.111) we find that Srivas Pandit and his brother loved to chant the names of Hari in his house.
After Lord Caitanya went to Sri Jagannath Puri, He sent Lord Nityananda to Bengal to start Nama-hatta. Then there was a gap of four hundred years. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura revived Nama-hatta and wrote about the importance of congregational preaching. He had over five hundred Nama-hatta groups all over Bengal. These groups were more developed than what we call Nama-hatta today. Some of the groups would meet daily. Bhaktivinoda Thakura required that every full-time member of the Nama-hatta visit five homes per day with a flag in their hand. The name of the flag was the “Victory Flag of the Holy Name.” The devotees would go door-to-door and chant Hare Krsna just like the original followers of Lord Caitanya...
(Excerpt from the introduction to ‘The Nectar of Congregational Preaching’)
For more information on this wonderful book please visit iskconcongregation.com/product/the-nectar-of-congregational-preaching/ ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
