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ISKCON Connection Newsletter, Issue 28, September 22, 2019
 
Prabhupada Nectar
Please see that all the devotees are following these principles; this program is the essential basis of our spiritual advancement

700213 - Letter to Jayapataka written from Los Angeles

February 13, 1970

1975 So. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, Cal. 90034 February 13, 1970

My dear Jayapataka,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 7, 1970.

I am glad to learn that Toronto center has got such good prospect for success. If we are simply a little sincere in the matter of spreading this movement, Lord Krishna has already guaranteed our success. It is good that there is a large population of young people in Toronto as it is the younger generation which is most appreciative of our Krsna Consciousness movement. So do your best to preach our philosophy to them that they can be inclined to join with us in spreading Lord Chaitanaya’s Samkirtan.

I am also glad to learn that everything in Montreal is now running smoothly under the direction of Sripati, and similarly that Raktak is very capable to manage the new center in Toronto as you are now feeling uncertainty what to do now yourself. From your letter it appears that Toronto has more potential for Krsna Conscious engagements, so why not remain there and assist Raktak. Our main business is service. Management of the temple must be there, but being president is not our business. Our business is to preach Krsna Consciousness. So if your presence there is helpful you may remain for some time.

Now we want some men who understand all the purports of the Shastras so that they will be able to face any questionnaires put to them especially ………. This is a very important business, and I want all of my disciples to be thoroughly versed in this way. Our first business to every initiated devotee is to chant daily sixteen round of beads without fail, and to follow the regulative principles rigidly, and our literatures must be studied with great attention. We have presented the complete philosophy of Krsna Consciousness in our books Bhagavad Gita as it is, Srimad Bhagawatam, Teachings of Lord, Chaitanya, Krsna, and others being printed, so the classes and personal study should be undertaken penetratingly. Please see that all the devotees are following these principles; this program is the essential basis of our spiritual advancement. If chanting and following of the regulation is done sincerely, without offense, all questions and doubtful points of philosophy will be cleared up by realization of Krsna from within the heart of the devotee.

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ISKCON News

Courtesy of iskconnews.org

Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat Announces 2026 Location and Registration Details
Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat Announces 2026 Location and Registration Details

Indradyumna Swami and organizers of the US Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat have announced that the 2026 gathering will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, over Memorial Day Weekend, May 22–25, 2026. The annual event, known for drawing thousands of devotees for immersive kirtan and fellowship, will be held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, a 4-star hotel on the banks of the Mississippi River.

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Auckland’s Hare Krishna School Becomes New Zealand’s First Full Year 1–13 Krishna Conscious School
Auckland’s Hare Krishna School Becomes New Zealand’s First Full Year 1–13 Krishna Conscious School

Hare Krishna School is celebrating the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s approval of its application to extend to Year 13, making it New Zealand’s only primary and secondary school where children can complete their entire education in a Krishna-conscious environment grounded in the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

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BRC Launches Bengali Language Course Through Srila Prabhupada’s Alma Mater
BRC Launches Bengali Language Course Through Srila Prabhupada’s Alma Mater

The Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has taken a significant step toward fulfilling a prophetic vision by launching an online course to learn the Bengali language in collaboration with Scottish Church College, Kolkata—the very institution where ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, pursued his education in the 1920s.

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Ambitious Devotional Anime Brings Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes to Life
Ambitious Devotional Anime Brings Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes to Life

When Aradhya-Nitai-Rama Das first stepped into an ISKCON temple four years ago, he was searching for direction. Today, he stands behind one of the most promising creative offerings emerging in the devotee community, an anime series titled Sachinandan. The project, created by his new studio, Nitai Studios, aims to present the life and mood of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through a style familiar to global audiences. It has grown into a sincere effort shaped by guidance from his spiritual master, Jayapataka Swami, and steady support from his family and mentors.

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Momentum and Collaboration Define the 2025 Zone 1 Leaders Conference in Montreal, Canada
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Leaders from more than thirty temples and outreach centers across Canada and the northern United States gathered in Montreal, Canada, from November 7th to 9th for the Annual ISKCON Zone 1 Leaders Conference. The three-day event brought together over one hundred participants for a weekend of strategy, reflection, and spiritual grounding, all centered on the conference theme: “Feel, Heal & Be Real – Strengthening Vision, Standards & Care.”

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ISKCON St. Louis Achieves Major Fundraising Victory after Purchase of New Temple Property
ISKCON St. Louis Achieves Major Fundraising Victory after Purchase of New Temple Property

Recently, ISKCON hosted a high-profile gala on November 16th, drawing over 350 attendees. It is with immense gratitude and heartfelt joy that we announce the successful completion of the fundraising event. By the divine mercy of Sri Krsna Balarama, the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, and the loving support of our dedicated devotees, donors, and well-wishers, we achieved the goal of the 1st phase. This success is not merely a financial accomplishment; rather, it is a testament to the unity, sincerity, and spiritual strength of our community.

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ISKCON UK Acquires Historic 7 Bury Place, Its First Radha Krishna Temple
ISKCON UK Acquires Historic 7 Bury Place, Its First Radha Krishna Temple

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is thrilled to announce that it has successfully acquired 7 Bury Place, the site of its original London temple, in an auction held today.

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Cinematic Project to Bring Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the World
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Nitay Mangala Das and his dedicated team are embarking on an extraordinary cinematic offering titled Chaitanya—a feature film centered on the life and mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This project seeks to move beyond a simple biographical narrative to instead directly connect the audience to the Lord: “This is not just a movie about Him — this movie is Him,” emphasized Nitay Mangala.

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TOVP Yajna Shala Grand Opening – February 11, 2026
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On February 11, 2026 the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will reach another milestone: The Grand Opening of the amazing TOVP Yajna Shala in the TOVP Gardens. This huge Yajna Shala will replace the current location at the Gurukula and become the main focal point of all yajnas performed for the Supreme Personality of Godhead on a daily basis, in perpetuity, since they started in 1986 in the Lotus Park.

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Preserving Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy: The Bhaktivedanta Archives and the TOVP Museum
Preserving Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy: The Bhaktivedanta Archives and the TOVP Museum

On February 18, 2025, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur opened the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum, a project years in the making and grounded in devotion. Hundreds of visitors flowed through its doors that morning. Soft light fell across the first wall of photographs tracing Srila Prabhupada’s life from Calcutta to New York and beyond. The sound of kirtan carried faintly from the temple courtyard. Among those who helped make the moment possible was Parama-rupa Das, founder, president, and director of preservation at the Bhaktivedanta Archives.

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Dandavats

Courtesy of dandavats.com

ATL 2025-11-26 HH Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami SB 3.20.30-31
ATL 2025-11-26 HH Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Swami SB 3.20.30-31

Listen to a class given by HH Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Mhj on text 30-31 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), canto 3, chapter 20, entitled “Conversation Between Maitreya ...

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HG Mahatma Prabhu Health Update, (November 27, 2025)
HG Mahatma Prabhu Health Update, (November 27, 2025)

Hare Krishna Dear devotees, By the grace of Lord Krishna, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and the loving prayers, yajnas, and well-wishes of Vaisnavas around the world, His Grace Mahatma Prabhu is recovering well. Considering ...

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A Temple Built on Devotion: Promise to HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Now Fulfilled
A Temple Built on Devotion: Promise to HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Now Fulfilled

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Prabhupada Memories – DVD 102 Visvakarma, Sujan dd

I grew up in a very simple, rather poor uh family in rural Minnesota. My father was a small dairy farmer and um the family was not really religious, although the most of the kids and I did go to church whenever we could. My dad was so busy that he was never able to...

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A new musical video for the 56th anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha London Isvara

By Jayadeva Das. Here’s a new video which with help of many of my friends we put together for the 56th anniversary of the installation of Śrī Śrī Radha London Isvara in Bury Place. What a great coincidence it is that the day Kavi Karnapura prabhu finished the making of his masterpiece video you are...

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Stone-Alive

By Abhijit Tolley

Suppose for a moment this stone has life. It still has all the characteristics of a stone, but now it knows it exists. No matter how many trucks choose to run over it, it feels no pain. It is, after all, just a stone. And, just as befits a stone, it doesn’t feel joy when spring is right round the corner. Isn’t that a most coveted state of existence? Granted, there’s no exhilaration in life, but not a bad price to pay for escaping the agony of being crushed under ...

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Srila Prabhupada: You chastised me, I like that. I am very happy with your words!

By Radha Govinda Swami

Prabhupada was at that time alone, so I did not recognize that he is Prabhupada. "Where is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami?" I asked Prabhupada. So he asked me, "Why you want to meet with him?" I replied, "Because he is my guru. I like him very much." Then he asked: "Why you accept him as your guru?" I said, "Because he is the servant of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu." "Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?" asked. So I said, "He is Krishna Himself." "Why you accept Lord Chaitanya as Krishna?" asked again. "Becaus...

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The Need for Struggling Together to Help Each Other

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I wanted to express my convictions today, not based upon my position as an "authority", but from a personal and open-hearted viewpoint of someone who has had many years of experience in ISKCON. If you see any validity to these years of experience, then maybe when I open my heart to you, it may influence you, in some small way, to understand why I feel that this counselor system is important. I am not here in the capacity of the GBC for Moscow. I've come to realize that hammering from the GBC doesn't open anyone's heart. Frankly, I'm tire...

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Prayers by HG Sakshi Gopal Das & Special Evening Class Given by HG Kripamoya Das – Iskcon London

Wednesday 26th November 2025 Today is the 56th Installation Anniversary Celebration of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara Prayers by HG Sakshi Gopal Das & Special Evening Class Given by HG Kripamoya Das...

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By Dayal Mora Das. ISKCON London has joyfully reacquired 7 Bury Place, the original site where Srila Prabhupada formally inaugurated the first Radha Krishna Temple in London in December 1969. This sacred building near the British Museum is where Srila Prabhupada personally installed Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara, performed abhiseka with his own hands, offered heartfelt...

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Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State, Nigeria
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All glories to the devotees in Nigeria! Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State (photos) Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State. Jai Jaganath Ananta Acharya Click on the image to read the complete post...

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Arjuna embodies the qualities of a complete mam harmonizing endeavour and earnestness. Arjuna also represents limitless knowledge and complete dependence on the divine. Arjuna’s story is one of human potential and limitation. It teaches us how to harmonize the two through sincere effort and dependence on God’s Grace Topics of Discussion Session 1- Arjuna Excels...

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ISKCON UK Reclaims Historic London Roots Through Acquisition of 7 Bury Place, the first Radha Krishna Temple
ISKCON UK Reclaims Historic London Roots Through Acquisition of 7 Bury Place, the first Radha Krishna Temple

By Praghosa dasa London, 25 November 2025: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is thrilled to announce that it has successfully acquired 7 Bury Place, the site of its original London temple in an auction held today. This landmark building close to the British Museum in London’s Bloomsbury area holds deep historical and spiritual...

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One time when Srila Prabhupada came to New Dwaraka he was passing out sweet balls instead of the traditional Prabhupada cookies. The temple was so crowded with visiting devotees, sannyasis and GBC I thought there was no way I could go up to get a sweetball. It was packed and everyone was jumping in ecstasy. I, however, had to go to the temple kitchen and perform service, and I was lamenting that I could not get a sweetball from Srila Prabhupada. At one point Sri...

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Social Care for Vaishnavas

By The Devotee Care Team

The life of the Krsna conscious society is nourished by these six types of loving exchange among the members. —Upadesamrta Provide pre- and post-marital counseling either done by trained devotees or through recommending specific people or organizations • At a certain level of community size, create a team of mature, successful grhastha trained to give premarital and post-marital counseling as well as giving help in finding spouses for devotees.

...

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By Sesa Dasa

Talk about living a nightmare. There was a report on the news that a Belgian man “though to be in a coma for 23 years was actually conscious the whole time.” Alex Watts of Sky News Online writes, “For the whole time, he was trapped in his own body with no way of letting friends and family know he could hear every word they were saying.” It gets worse. In an interview with the German magazine Der Speigel the man, Rom Houben, says, "I screamed, but there was nothing...

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Open the Tap of Your Heart

Insights that empowered my theater… | by Sulalita Devi Dasi | Nov, 2025 Insights that empowered my theater performance and how they can empower our life too. Chaitanya Prabhu (on the right, playing the soul) & His wife Ilavati Mataji (on the left, playing Material Nature) posing for their philosophical pantomime drama “Long Dream” In...

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Counselor System – Caring for Every Devotee
Counselor System – Caring for Every Devotee

By 1SKCON Chowpatty

Vaisnavism has been manifested in its purest and most wonderful form through the love and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. The most beautiful aspect of Lord Caitanya's pastimes is the loving interaction between Him and His devotees, and among the devotees themselves. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya played the role of the devotee just to teach us how to conduct our lives as devotees. In Navadvipa sometimes Lord Caitanya would bow down to His devotees and take the dust from their lotus feet. Sometimes He would wash their clothes with...

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Facing Our Reality, Living With Our Ideals
Facing Our Reality, Living With Our Ideals

By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

THE Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.29.11-12) states, "The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one's mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone's heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down towards the ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by any material condition, flows towards the Supreme Lord." In his purport, Srila Prabhupada writes, "No ma...

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Implementing Devotee Care – A Pragmatic Vision
Implementing Devotee Care – A Pragmatic Vision

By Gauranga Das

Steps for practical application. 1. Arrange seminars on devotee care regularly - preferably having the seminars delivered by those who have actually implemented devotee care. 2. Increase awareness of devotee care by wider circulation of the devotee care newsletter. 3. Display quotes about devotee care on temple notice boards just as quotes about book distribution are prominently displayed. 4. Set up a dedicated team for devotee care with a caring and competent devotee at the helm. 5. Send team members to centers where devotee care is being implemented so that they can learn not only through ...

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Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Part 154
Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Part 154


Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Part 154 - That Girl Must Be An Expert Thief!

Watch Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOVP News

Courtesy of tovp.org

Braja Vilasa Speaks Speaks About H.H. Radhanatha Swami's 75th Appearance Anniversary TOVP Opportunity
Braja Vilasa Speaks Speaks About H.H. Radhanatha Swami's 75th Appearance Anniversary TOVP Opportunity

To honor the 50+ years of unwavering, dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada, and support of the TOVP for the last 15 years by H.H. Radhanath Swami, Braja Vilasa prabhu unveils a beautiful commemorative medallion in Maharaja’s name for his 75th appearance anniversary. This medallion can be sponsored on the TOVP website. Sponsorship funds will go to the completion of the Main Wing in preparation for the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2027.

Watch Now

TOVP Presents: ISKCON Mayapur City, Present and Future
TOVP Presents: ISKCON Mayapur City, Present and Future

The TOVP Communications Department is pleased to provide a page on the TOVP website dedicated to the promotion of the ISKCON Mayapur City.

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Visions of the TOVP
Visions of the TOVP

Below is the 'Visions of the TOVP' collection of TOVP photos from various devotees in Mayapur and elsewhere, that represent colorful, imaginative, meditative and beautiful photographic artistry showing the temple.

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TOVP & Vedic Science Channel Present
TOVP & Vedic Science Channel Present

A lecture by Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa)

Evolution or "De"-evolution?

Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.45
Alachua, Florida
August 26, 1994

Even Darwin doubted his own theory, the evolution of his own mind from that of an ape. So, Sadaputa Dasa (Dr. Richard L. Thompson) presents the more sophisticated version of “devolution”, which details two parallel lines of creation: 1) the evolution of forms, and 2) the transmission of information. This dualistic approach helps to shed light on the persistent enigma of mind.

Listen Now

 

 

 

 

 

Srila Prabhupada: 
founderacharya.com, vanipedia.org

The official ISKCON website: iskcon.org,

Find your nearest temple: centres.iskcon.org

ISKCON leadership: gbc.iskcon.org

Education such ar Bhakti-shastri, Bhaktivaibhava etc: Mayapur Institute, Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education, Bhaktivedanta College Europe

News: news.iskcon.org, dandavats.com,

BBT books: bbt.org, krishna.com, vanisource.org, vedabase.com, bbtmedia.com

World Sankirtan Newsletter: wsnl.net/wsnhome.htm

Temple of Vedic Planetarium: tovp.org

Deity Worship and courses: deityworship.com, Mayapur Academy 

Inspiration & Sadhana: 
mayapur.tv, iskcondesiretree.com

Vaishnava Calendars: 
ISKCON GBC Vaishnava Calendar Comitee, GCAL (Gaurabda Calendar, a program for calculation of the calendar for vaisnavas, according Gaudiya-Vaisnava tradition.)

These dates and timings are for Sri Mayapur Dhama. Find timings for your location at the Vaishnava Calendar links.

1 December, 2025 (Monday)
Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita
Fasting for Moksada Ekadasi

2 December, 2025 (Tuesday)
Break fast 06:02 - 09:37 (Local Mayapur Time)

5 December, 2025 (Friday)
Katyayani vrata ends

Address: ISKCON GBC Office
P.O. Sri Mayapur, Nadia, WB 741313, India

Email: office@iskconconnection.org

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