Self-realization means to see one's proper identity. At the present moment we are not finding out our proper identity. We are seeing to the body. I see you, your body, and you see me, my body. We have no vision of the real person, which is, who is occupying this body. This is the first lesson we get from Bhagavad-gita: dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Dehi... This body is called deha, and the owner of the body is called dehi. So

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-pr

15 Places to See Krishna

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

People often demand ‘Show me God, and I will believe in Him’. As Srila Prabhupada often said, "God is present everywhere, but we do not have the eyes to see Him." In Bhagavad gita Krishna tells in five illuminating verses 7.8-12 at least 15 places where we can see Krishna. In Rajkot last year (2006), our spirit

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Although God has given us all facilities to live peacefully on this earth, cultivate Krsna consciousness, and finally to come to Him, in this age we're unfortunate.  We are short-lived, and there are so many people without food, shelter, married life or defense from the onslaughts of nature.  This is due to the influence of this age of Kali.  Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing the dreadful situation in this age, emphasized the absolute necessity for cultivating spiritual life. And how sh

Pictures of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir's Ratha Yatra

in Queens, New York

Sunday, August 5, 2012

click for pics on Dandavats.com http://www.dinkypage.com/154626

Srila Prabhupada’s Chastisement is that of a Loving Father

I was distributing books at a famous food restaurant at Gurgaon (India). I approached a senior person while he was leaving the restaurant. From his demeanor & grey hair, I understood that he was a reputable person working with a big organization. I offered him some books, and he said that he already has some books by Srila Prabhupada, but he has now stopped reading them. I was surprised and sorry to hear this and asked him to share the re

How To Pray and What to Pray

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 18, Sukadeva Goswami describes the different varshas of Jambudvipa and the incarnation of the Supreme Lord worshiped in each. In the land known as Hari-varsha, Prahlad Maharaja offers wonderful prayers to Lord Nrsimhadev and following the footsteps of Prahlada Maharaja,

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

1 MIN reading: Krishna will hear your prayer

A widow from a poor village in Bengal did not have enough money to pay for her son’s bus fare, and so when the boy started going to school, he would have to walk through the forest all on his own.

In order to reassure him, she said: ‘Don’t be afraid of the forest, my son. Ask your God Krishna to go with you. He will hear your prayer.’

The boy followed his mother’s suggestion, a

When we talk about human society and other species in existence, we distinguishes ourself from animal society on the basis of progressive civilization. If we ask a person what is the difference between an animal and a human, he will say that we are civilized. So civilization define the difference between human beings and other forms of life. But what does define civilization ?

If we ask any modern man what is definition of Civilization. He would say more technological advancement which will give

We see in Bhagavad Gita second chapter Krishna is encouraging Arjuna to fight the battle, by emphasising on the point that it is the duty of a Kshatriya to fight on religious principles without consideration of gain or loss [BG 2.31: Considering your specific duty as a kṣatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation.] because Krishna saying to Arjuna that if one neglects his prescribed duty (accor

This is the statement of sastra, that with our these blunt material senses it is not possible to appreciate or to understand sri-krsna-namadi, Krsna, His name, His form, His quality, His pastimes, His paraphernalia, His abode, so many things. Krsna is not alone, but Krsna begins from the name. Then there is form. Generally, for the beginners, neophytes, these two things are essential: to hear the name, to hear the qualities, and see the form of the Lord, to offer worship. That is the instruction

Receptive Traveler

On the bus, en route to the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa, we stopped at a rest stop.

Coming back into the bus, I noticed a young man, and said to him: "By the way you are dressed, it looks like you are on your way to the Grahamstown Arts Festival."

He replied that he was going to the festival, and his accent sounded Spanish. So I greeted him in Spanish, and he said that he is from Brazil. I introduced myself, telling him that I am a traveling monk and that I am also

Organized Life

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

Last week it was our good fortune in Abu Dhabi, that for an entire week we could have the association and blessings of our Spiritual master, H.H. Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaja who is festive nature personified. In one of his class Maharaja gave very nice instructions to be applied in our practical life. I shall try to summ

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says,

“My dear Arjuna, any person who simply tries to understand about My transcendental appearance and activities, does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

The Personality of Godhead is not niskriya, without activiti

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Bhavāmbudhi means this great ocean of nescience, in which we are now fallen and very much struggling for existence. Exactly just like if you are thrown in the ocean, although you may be a very good swimmer, but still the condition is very dangerous… You will have to strug

Having faith in anything comes from the mood or quality of goodness (sattva-guna), which aspiring devotees of Krishna are encouraged to cultivate. Though not spiritual in itself, living and seeing through the guna or quality of goodness, is illuminating and favorable for spiritual cultivation. So part of cultivating Bhakti or the serving and remembering of Krishna in love is being situated in goodness (simplicity, peacefulness, discernment). This will be very helpful, as opposed to being in pass

udarah sarva evaite

jnani tv atmaiva me matam

asthitah sa hi yuktatma

mam evanuttamam gatim

"All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous ouls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider verily to dwell in Me.  Being engaged in My transcendental service, he attains Me." (Bg. 7.18)

Here Krsna is saying that all the men who come to HIm-whether they be distressed, in need of money, curious, etc.-are welcomed, but out of them the person who is in knowledge is very dear to Him.  The others a

The Adventures of Full Set Distribution

by Guru Dasa (Mumbai)

We are trying to distribute Srimad-Bhagavatam sets, and so we carry them to every home. And by Srila Prabhupada's mercy we have distributed many full sets following the policy of "the more you show, the more you sell." While doing this we have met with some nice people.

We entered one home and soon came to know that it belonged to a police inspector. The host invited us into his living room and offered us a seat, and as soon as he saw th