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My father used to tell me as he read my poorly written essays in school, “It’s not important that you’re not a great speller. It’s really important, however, that you know that you’re not a good speller. That way, when in doubt, you can use the dictionary.” 

My dad was absolutely correct, but not just about spelling. The same idea applies to virtually everything. In my work, for example, it’s not critical that I’m an expert editor as long as I know my own weaknesses and limitation. I can hire som

A well-known speaker started off his public speech in a strange manner – by holding up a Rupee 1000 Note! Holding up the Note high in the air in one of his hands, he addressed the curious audience, "Who would like this Rupee 1000 Note?"
    
With great cheers almost all of them raised their hands with the shout, "I want it", "I want it”!! He said, "Oh! That’s nice. Well, I am going to give this Note to one of you... But, first let me do this." Then, he crumpled the Note in his hands vigorously & n

It’s extremely rare to find a successful person who whines, complains, and frets about his circumstances. This is despite the fact that he may have overcome great obstacles to achieve his level of success. On the other hand, it’s extremely common for struggling individuals to continually blame their circumstances for their lack of joy and happiness. 

The real question is: what came first – the attitude or the success? The answer, in virtually all cases, is that the winning, positive attitude came

In the late afternoon, Srila Prabhupada was visited by a pious white South African family of five, who had driven several hours from the National capital, Canberra, just to have his darsana. Although Westerners, they had received initiation from their guru into the chanting of Lord Rama's holy names sixteen years previously in India.

Prabhupada was happy to hear that they were strict vegetarians, and that in their house-cum-temple they regularly rose early, and bathed,

Saturday, 24 April 1976

Melbourne's grim weather -- cold and overcast -- did not deter Srila Prabhupada from continuing to take his morning walks. The theme of the conversation conducted on the perimeter road that adjoined the Botanic Gardens was "real happiness versus false happiness".

Everyone in the material world, Prabhupada explained to the devotees, was being punished in different degrees. But by the covering of maya, illusion, they were thinking "We are happy". Pra

Being part of Srila Prabhupada's entourage also meant the extra responsibility to be on-call at all times.

Pusta Krsna Swami: In the very early hours of the morning, Srila Prabhupada would rise and begin translating, speaking into his dictaphone for anywhere from two to four hours. At any time between 1am to 4.30am, Prabhupada might ring his bell. I'd be sleeping, or more likely listening to him translating, while I was half awake. Prabhupada was my alarm clock. If Prabhupada

Since the Ratha-yatra festival in January 1975, disgruntled parents of two Melbourne devotees had been causing trouble. They had hired underworld thug Tom Ericksen, a so-called private detective, to "investigate" the devotees. Ericksen and his men had first been sighted at the Royal Exhibition Building on the day of the parade. They stood around displaying menacing looks, wearing dark glasses and sporting holstered guns that bulged from their double-breasted

This is very important question, that... We are working very hard in this material world, but we are not preparing ourself for death, which is a "must" fact. Everyone must die. The modern civilization, they are afraid of death, but they do not know how to counteract death. This is the modern civilization. But there is process. In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna informs us that our real problem of life is death -- birth, death, old age and disease. Birth is the beginning and then, one who has taken birth

Detachment Should be Our Nature

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

Lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaja.

 
We have heard from Jananivas Prabhu, the history of Sri Sri Radha Madhava. The histories we find when the Lord appears within this world are as especially focused on the Lord’s relationships with His loving devotees. Sri Sri Radha Madhava made Himself visible to this world through the prayers and the compassion of Srila Prabhupada our beloved guru maharaja. It was by Srila Prabhupada’s desire that today millions and millions of people every year

The Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple at Nemali is picturesque in the Krishna philosophy of worship. Lord Krishna's statue is supposed to have been found during a plough of a farm land in the village. An inscription to this effect is placed on the wall in the temple premises. The deities include Krishna as Venugopal (Venu-Flute in hand, in a standing posture), Alvar saints, Godha devi in alwar style. The temple houses a large complex including Yaga sala, and a beautiful mirror room exhibiting Lord Kri

BANSHI SHOBHITA KARA MADHURA
NILA JALAJA ATNU SHYAAMA
ARUNA ADHARA JANU BIMBA PHALA
NAYANA KAMALA ABHIRAAMA PUURANA INDU ARAVINDA MUKHA
PIITAAMBARA SUCHI SAAJA
JAI MANAMOHANA MADANA CHAVI
KRISNACHANDRA MAHAARAAJA


Glory to you, O Lord Krishna! Possessed by the comeliness of love, you enchant the minds of all. In your shapely hands lies the flute, the sound of which is ever sweet, while your body, dark of hue, is like the blue lotus; your ruddy lips like the bimba fruit, eyes like lovely lotuses, your lo

At the time of His majestic birth Krishna employed His inconceivable powers to appear in a body of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Everyone in the maternity room swelled with joy upon seeing the Lord’s exquisite transcendental form that looked like a creeper of beauty.

Mother Yasoda resembled a lake of spiritual ecstasy in which a brilliant blue lotus of personified bliss had appeared. Neither the wind nor the bees relished the fragrance of that blue lotus. That unborn lotus was never touched by t

We are entangled in this material world due to uncontrolled senses.  The yoga process is meant to control these senses.  If somehow we can manage to control the senses, we can turn our face to actual spiritual happiness and make our lives successful.

sa niscayean yoktavyo

yogo nirvinna-cetaxa

sankalpa-prabhavan kamams

tyaktv sarvan asesatah

manasaivendriya-gramam

viniyamya samantatah

sanaih sanair uparamed

buddhya dhrti-grhitaya

atma-samstham manah krtva

na kincid api cintayet

yato yato niscalati

manas c

So suffering must be there. Suffering must be there as soon as you get this material body. "Why suffering? We are enjoying." What you are enjoying? Is there any guarantee that you'll enjoy? You have got nice building, nice road, nice car. That's all right. You are enjoying. You are thinking enjoying. But is there any guarantee that you will enjoy? Any moment, you'll be finished. Any moment. So there is no guarantee. That is not enjoyment. Real enjoyment is permanent enjoyment. Just like we const

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: “I don’t believe that God exists.”
“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.
“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be aba