Durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam: "This human form of body, it is very rarely obtained. It is not to be misused." That is the first knowledge. But people are not educated in that way. They are encouraged that go on, sense enjoyment: "Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy." Some rascal comes, so he also says, "All right, go on. Enjoy. Simply meditate for fifteen minutes." But actually, this body is not meant for aggravating sense enjoyment. We require sense enjoyment because that is a demand of th

Some random thoughts...

There are Three kinds of People in this World:

Type 1. Those who think that they're happy.

Type 2. Those who've realized that they're happy.

Type 3. Those who aren't or don't care if they're happy, but who hopefully one day, by the Grace of Lord Krishna and His Devotees, will develop into Type 2.

February 1971: Banaras, India
H.H Radha Govinda Swami recollects his meeting with Srila Prabhupad

Radha Govinda Swami:

I was in Benares at that time when Srila Prabhupada was touring, traveling India with his 40 disciples. I read in a newspaper that in America Krishna-bhakti is preached. Naturally, I was a devotee of Krishna so I liked this topic. So I went there.

Then there was a procession from Dashashvamedha Ghat to Tapan Misra's house that is now in Benares. When the procession finished,

A Life of Dedicated Service
Giving Thanks for the Life of
Jiva Pati Das Brahmacari

Jiva Pati Prabhu was born John Boehnen in 1944, Milwaukee, USA and became an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in January, 1977. He came to Bhaktivedanta Manor from Chicago in 1979 and was immediately engaged in serving Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda. He remained Their diligent and faithful servant for the rest of his life.

For thirty-three years he lovingly served the Deitie

What’s happening at the Durban Festival of Chariots 2013

Culturally Many Spiritually One

Celebrating Social Cohesion in the playground City of Durban

On Stage…

It’s an unforgettable line up of free entertainment featuring Freshlyground (Monday, 1 April 5pm) and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra (Sunday, 31 March, 5pm). From the soulful KwaMashu Gospel Choir (TBA) to the sumptuous and sizzling, Deena SA Masterchef (Saturday, 30 March 3-5pm), we are turning up the heat on the main stage.

Drum Caf

We live in the age of technology. We commute by automobiles and airplanes and communicate by emails and mobiles. The media and the Internet provide us the latest information from all over the world. Movies filled with hi-tech special effects entertain us. Air conditioners and room heaters keep our life comfortable despite climatic inconveniences….The list goes on. Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives. Of course, a few of us may have concerns about the pollution and environ

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krishna prabhus,

Around 40 devotees from the South London are visiting Radhadesh, a beautiful castle in Belgium converted into a Hare Krishna temple from Easter Sunday 31 March to Wednesday 3rd April. The cost per person is £220 (include food accommodation and travel). There are a few places left and this is a great opportunity to dive into blissful spiritual life at least for a few days. Please let me know if you want further information or are interested in coming. Haribol

The schedule

So sambandha-jnana, Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, what is the position between the living entities and the Supreme Lord. In the Vedas it is stated, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). We are related with God because He is the chief leader. Nityo nityanam. We are all nityas, eternal, and He is the chief eternal. From eternal, chief eternal, small eternals come. Just like the sun is the big illumination, and the sunshine is coming from the su

BRC has an immediate opening for a full time Assistant Librarian

Applicant Must be

• Fully computer competent
• Knowledgeable in English and Bengali (Sanskrit is a big plus) or be willing to learn at least Bengali writing and speaking.
• Have a love of books and an enthusiasm to preach
• Be willing to learn on the job as well as take necessary educational courses
  

Service includes cataloging; indexing; preservation of old books and manuscripts by scanning and other methods; interfacing with other ins

From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!
Date: March 15, 2013
Verse: SB 4.30.8 

atha mayy anapayinya  bhaktya pakva-gunasayah
upayasyatha mad-dhama nirvidya nirayad atah

TRANSLATION: Thereafter you will develop unadulterated devotional service unto Me and be freed from all material contamination. At that time, being completely unattached to material enjoyment in the so-called heavenly planets as well as in hellish planets, you will return home, back to Godhead.

PURPORT: By the grace of the Lord, th

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Krishna can be in constant companionship with us because He is omnipotent. Therefore, He can be fully in touch with us by His words. His words and He are not different. That is omnipotence. Omnipotence means that everything relating to Him has the same potency. For example, here in this material world, if we are thirsty and we want water, simply repeating "Water, water, water, water," will not satisfy our thirst, because

[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore]

From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!
Date: March 14th 2013
Verse: SB 11.5.32
Speaker: HH Radha Govinda Swami

(invocatory prayers)

krishna-varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parshadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah
 

TRANSLATION: In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He i

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

When you’re willing to ask for what you want but don’t insist on getting it, there are some potential hidden benefits as well. For example, you sometimes bring out the compassion and generosity in others. Several years ago I arrived in Mumbai very late one evening. Despite having a confirmed reservation, the hotel was overbooked and was turning people away. The man in front of me was enraged and became very threatening. 

TEXT 13

yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat

SYNONYMS

yajna-sista--food taken after performance of yajna; asinah--eaters; santah--the devotees; mucyante--get relief from; sarva--all kinds of; kilbisaih--from sins; bhunjate--enjoy; te--they; tu--but; agham--grievous sins; papah--sinners; ye--those; pacanti--prepare food; atma-karanat--for sense enjoyment.

TRANSLATION

The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they

So our position is like that. Somehow or other, we have come to this material world. Although we are a small particle, fragmental parts of the Supreme Lord, but because we are in this material world we have forgotten our relationship with God, and our... Manah-sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. We are struggling against the laws of material world, so many other things. Here also we are serving because we are eternally servant. But because we have given up the service of the Supr

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

People have become mad, pramattah, and doing all sinful activities. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. Vikarma means sinful activities. And why they are doing so? Yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti: "Simply for sense gratification." There is no higher aim, only sense gratification. The sastra says, na sadhu ayam: "This is not good." Why? Because on account of our sinful activities we have already got this painful, miserable, conditioned life, this body, and if we still go on like that, then again we shall