Some time ago I received what I considered to be a very nice compliment right here on Facebook. Someone wrote in a personal message, “I have been reading your posts and comments for the past two weeks and it seems to me that you don’t have a single solitary original thought or idea in your head and that you are completely brainwashed by Swami Bhaktivedanta.” Such praise coming from a complete stranger touched me deeply.
In a lecture given in Vrindavana, October 22, 1972 Srila Prabhupada said …
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I delivered three classes, the same as I did yesterday. At the Alachua ISKCON Centre, the class followed by discussion was in regard to a sage by the name of, Markandeya, who meditated, and performed austerities, which invoked the attention of the great Shiva and his wife, Parvati. At their sudden appearance, he executed the most humble of yogicasanasor sitting postures. Basically, he bowed to them and took a humble stance.
Our discussion then led to good behaviour within the Vaishnava cul
By Madhava Smullen
A fire has caused major damage to Govinda’s restaurant at ISKCON of Tucson, Arizona, depriving the community of its income. The temple has also lost power; however no devotees or Deities were harmed.
The fire originated in the neighboring Tire Shop at 7pm on Tuesday July 2nd, and quickly spread to the back of the Govinda’s property. There, it engulfed and completely destroyed the walk-in, food-storage shed, bathrooms, and altar paraphernalia room, where all the temple Deit
I hardly walked. It's too humid. To compensate for the loss, I swam 3 kilometres in one of those fabulous springs that the area is known for. After a lively morning program in Gainesville, one of the members of the facility called "Krishna House," took me to Ichetucknee Springs State Park.
Now, what is so unique about these springs? Here's what a brochure tells me: "Springs are amazing natural phenomenon where vast underground caves and caverns form to hold water. They are the window
"One who has faith in the inconceivable potencies of the Lord has no doubt that God can do anything." - Radhanath Swami, Author and Spiritual leader
The night after the subjugation of the great serpent Kaliya, Lord Krishna and His cowherd friends decided to rest on the banks of the Yamuna river. In the middle of the night, a huge forest fire enveloped them. It appeared that the fire would soon devour all the inhabitants of Vrndavana. As soon as they felt the warmth of the fire, they immediate
The night after the subjugation of the great serpent Kaliya, Lord Krishna and His cowherd friends decided to rest on the banks of the Yamuna river. In the middle of the night, a huge forest fire enveloped them. It appeared that the fire would soon devour all the inhabitants of Vrndavana. As soon as they felt the warmth of the fire, they immediate
By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
The history of the establishment of the great temple in Puri, and the hypocrisy of temple priests as opposed to sincere devotional worship in pure love of God. Written by the Thakur in English, 1871.
There is not a Hindu who has not heard the name of this temple. The old and the young, the male and the female, the Rajah and the ryot, and the weak and the stout, all visit this temple out of a religious curiosity. Three hundred and one miles south-west of the Vice-Reg
Hare Krishna dear devotees,
Its summer time, the ideal time to get around churning some butter. Let us try to churn the following benediction given by Lord Narasimha to Prahlada maharaj on hearing their pastime.
य एतत्कीर्तयेन्मह्यं त्वया गीतमिदं नरः
त्वां च मां च स्मरन्काले कर्मबन्धात्प्रमुच्यते
ya etat kīrtayen mahyaṁ tvayā gītam idaṁ naraḥ
tvāṁ ca māṁ ca smaran kāle karma-bandhāt pramucyate
One who always remembers your activities and My activities also, and who chants the prayers you have offered
By Madhava Smullen
In an inspiring show of cooperation, six ISKCON-affiliated organizations in the New York area collaborated to put on a hugely successful Rathayatra festival this summer – Brooklyn’s Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, the Bhakti Center in Manhattan, 26 2nd Avenue, ISKCON of Queens, New Yoga Pitha in the Bronx, and the Yuga Dharma Ashram.
The festival ran from June 7th to 9th, beginning on Friday with two special kirtan events. The first took place in Tompkins Square Park at the
Now that summer is around the corner, people already have plans for doing some serious summer camping. At an evening program at the home of Nandini Kishori, there was a sizeable gathering of especially young boys and girls, all of bhakti yoga parents. I was asked to share stories about my adventurous walks; the most intriguing one was about the grizzly encounter. There was also the time when a brahmachari and I met up with a black bear, whom, we were not aware, had her cubs nearby. She was
It is Lord Jagannath’s festival in Mayapur. In the beautiful Gundicha Mandir offered to Lord lovingly, He is enjoying His Vrindavan Pastimes ! This year a grand Ratha Yatra Mela is put up to attract everyone to festival. Everyday evening, Jagannath Astakam kirtan is sung along with lamp offering . We request everyone to take advantage of this joyful festival and visit Mayapur!
Srila Prabhupada on Ratha Yatra festival:
“I’ll request you to come and see this car festival. There is no expenditure
Just like Srila Prahbupada comments on the verse.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
In every town and village my name will be heard and sung. It will be chanted. Prabhupada said, “So that means that there will be devotees everywhere.” In other words, the holy name will find the devotees and the devotees will automatically start to take up devotional service. They are like dry grass until they are touched by this transcendental mercy. Oh yes, it is like an immed
By Madhava Smullen
It’s a mobile “studio” with the words “Ananta Mobile Wellness Solutions” inscribed on the side, next to a logo combining the heart and the brain. Inside is a surprising oasis of peace: bamboo floors and benches, green paint on the walls, plants, soft lighting and comfortable rugs.
If it pulls up to your place of work, you know your attitude to the world is about to be transformed.
Deva Madhava Das, director of the Harmony Collective in Ypsilanti, Michigan was inspired to c
Anytime a monastic guest arrives in Toronto, I feel a happy obligation to take him to the Falls, which is a mere hour and a half away. Sundarlal, from Mauritius, made it here for the first time, and along with our driver, Nanda, we took a trip on what seemed like the first day of summer this year.
Starting on foot near white water with its rushing and roaring, Sundarlal, like all newcomers, became amazed by the elemental power. While we were observing the majesty, a man from Kentucky, a
Fifty years ago, out of his causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada accepted me as his initiated disciple and wrote me the following letter:
My dear Giriraj,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj. Giriraj is the name of Goverdhan Hill, on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban Goverdhan Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devot
Just because we give good discourses, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we write nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we manage the temple nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we cook nice bhoga, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we start many temples and centers, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have completed many projects, doesn't mean that we are sp
By H.H. Chandramauli Swami
Married life especially in this age is such a trip! So many difficulties, Kali-yuga is filled with so many faults, kalerdosa-nidherajann (SB 12.3.51) an ocean of faults especially when two people try to work together to practice Krsna consciousness. So it takes determination, it takes allegiance to authorities and it takes faith that by following that it will work out.
One time one lady came to me in Vrindavan she said, “Maharaj my husband is very nice but he doesn’t tal
Devotees of Yuga Dharma Sankirtana Ashram are found chanting and distributing books at New York’s Union Square almost every day.
One of the leading sankirtana devotees, Kaliya Krishna Das, spotted world-famous author Deepak Chopra walking out of the subway and looking at his phone. He told this to Krishna Prasad Das and Gopal Champu Das, who then went to talk to Mr. Chopra. They both said hello to him. He was very nice to them and told them he had visited many ISKCON temples. One of his favori
Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12 during a Skype call with disciples, aspiring disciples, and friends in Mumbai.
“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is apprec
By Amala Prema Dasi
ISKCON Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has produced many devotees who, due to post-war recovery of the country and economic challenges, have moved to other countries around the world. Nevertheless, the remaining members do whatever they can to spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and give the Holy Name to all the people.
One such opportunity came their way when the Indian Embassy approached the
