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By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapada

Lecture given on Nov. 17, 1966, in New York City
From the Bhagavad-gita we learn about the spiritual world and the means to go there.

mam upetya punar janma
duhkhalayam ashashvatam
napnuvanti mahatmanah
samsiddhim paramam gatah

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.”—Bhagavad-gita 8.15

Krishna says

Answers by HH Romapada Swami

Question: 
I’m having difficulty understanding the divinity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Within Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11, there seems ample opportunity to reveal his name directly as an avatar. The idea that people in the age Kali aren’t capable of recognizing him – [“Thus it is understood that it is difficult for common people in Kali-yuga to recognize the incarnation of the Lord since in this age the Lord’s appearance is slightly concealed.”] – seems to be more t

Question: Experiencing happiness within devotional service: Is that considered selfish?

I get so much happiness with devotional service. However, I fear that if it is a selfish desire rather sincere motivation to please Krsna. How can I differentiate and improve where I am not focusing on my happiness, but rather making Krsna happy?

Romapada Swami: Feeling happiness in relation to Krishna is good! As you mature in Krishna consciousness, however, gradually and deliberately shift your attention a

Why do we criticize others? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said that we seek out the defects of others because of our “utter absence of humility.”

But why would we notice another’s faults (when we don’t have to) if it neither helps us, helps them or helps anybody? This question has always intrigued me. As I contemplated this question I discovered 37 answers (37 reasons we find fault with others). I share these answers with you in this newsletter.

As you read the list you may find it use

Deena Bandhu Das: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada gave me initiation in the old La Cienaga Temple in LA on the fourth day of the dark half of the month of Magh, which was 25th January, 1970. I remember it was one of the last ceremonies where Srila Prabhupada did everything. He chanted on the beads, did the yajna, and gave the lecture. After this time, Srila Prabhupada would chant on the beads in his room and someone else did the fire sacrifice.

This time Srila Prabhupda came down off his Vyas

Who is Srila Prabhuada, no one knows? But certainly an empowered and loving spiritual master, father and grand father for his sincere followers. Somehow or the other, i have been lucky to have gotten his mercy. It is up to me to accept it or reject it.

A memory:

I was traveling. I intended to come to Europe to do street clowning with my girlfriend. In New York City, we met a sankirtan devotee who gave us a book and a record, Radha Krishna Album. And when we heard this music, I remember thinkin

Resolutions are like a pod of seeds. They’ll grow.

It’s still not too late for a New Year’s resolution. You can do it. Whatever it is, rallying your determination now can make all the difference to the rest of the year.

For those of us walking the spiritual path, January is a great time for looking at the year ahead and fixing our determination to reach a target. Yes, even the spiritual life has targets, and spiritually-motivated development of mental strength is an essential prerequisite. Visu

Giriraj Swami and Anutama Prabhu spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.92.

“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains in his Anubhasya, ‘A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Krsna conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. Those who are not advanced prefer to chant the Hare Krsna mantra in a solitary plac

Glorifying the Bhagavad-Gita Through Gita Jayanti Festival in Indonesia

Knowledge is meant for distribution. Although there is already much scientific knowledge, whenever scientists or philosophers awaken to a particular type of knowledge, they try to distribute it throughout the world, for otherwise the knowledge gradually dries up and no one benefits from it. Now, therefore, the Kåñëa consciousness movement has been set up to distribute this knowledge as it is, without distortion. Although

The Ibadan, Nigeria Nagara Sankirtana Group led by Yadhunath prabhu won the West Africa 2016 book distribution Marathon with a total book score of 901 books distributed! They also won one of the two Harinam buses made available by Nagara Sankirtan! Haribol!

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=35474

Winter Festival is being held in exceptionally beautiful place – Seminar and recreation center “Dubingiai”. Residential space is located in 4 separate buildings. Conference halls are in a separate enclosure near residential buildings. During the festival the devotees are able to rest in comfortably furnished rooms. In each room there are comfortable beds, white linens, shower, wc. Children at the festival will be able to participate in their own workshops, which will take place in a separate ro

To say No to others when you are unable to or unwilling to do something can get difficult if you are too sensitive to others’ feelings. To be sensitive to others is a praiseworthy quality but undue sensitivity can land you in serious problems.

Similarly, being helpful is certainly great but overdoing it could be exhausting and even irritating. A research says that offering help to colleagues too often can adversely affect your own performance. Even for a professional “toxic handler”, simply lis

As part of their monthly spiritual nourishment devotees from all over Maharashtra have assembled in Pune for a 4-day intense discussion on Srimd Bhagavatam by HG Radheshyam Prabhu.

The sessions will be all day long with breaks in between for prasadam.

Two chapters will be covered everyday followed by exams on them, a very good opportunity for devotees to absorb themselves in Srimad Bhagavatam and get the direct mercy of all previous acaryas as said by HG Radheshym pr.

Source:http://www.iskconpu

“For centuries, people have taken many paths in search of lasting happiness. Most have come to the same conclusion: that the most powerful force is love and a life of benevolence - reaching out to the divine and others is a life imbued with the joy of devotion.” 

These opening words of the film The Joy of Devotion, directed by Krisztina Danka (Krishna-Lila dasi) film-maker and executive director of Karuna Productions and her international team, perfectly encapsulate the film's essence. 

On Thur

There is one thing I want to say about charity – vaisnava charity is not about giving donations here and there because when a vaisnava gets charitable, he does not just give some of his wealth, a vaisnava gives himself. This is the greatest charity, when we give ourselves.

This is how it works in devotional service, vaisnava generosity goes beyond logic; it goes beyond calculation; it goes beyond the limits and somehow or other Krsna helps…

Of course, there is such a thing as over endeavour. Ov

Studies disclose serious health risks from chemical cosmetics marketed for the ancient Hindu practice of adorning the forehead with red powder

By Tirtho Banerjee, Lucknow, India

The recent New Jersey case in which a couple and their 13-year-old child were diagnosed with serious lead poisoning due to regular consumption of sindoor as a food coloring has come as a shock. Sindoor was never meant for use in any type of eatable. Sindoor or kumkum as it is known in the South, is meant for use as a fo

From “MEMORIES OF SRILA PRABHUPADA” class by HH Krishna-kshetra Swami
(October 1994)

Story happens at L’Ecole de Architectur, Paris, July 1972:

At the end of one of lectures Srila Prabhupada asked for questions. One middle-aged man – apparently a Christian – stood up and said, “I am afraid there is no religiosity present here whatsoever!”

Srila Prabhupada responded immediately, with a look of genuine concern, “Oh, you are afraid?”

His simple question so clearly cut to the core of the man’s igno

When the acarya disappears, a dark period comes, just as a patch of black cloud covers up the effulgent sun. It is an unfortunate time, but it is temporary. That cloud will go away. A violent storm may come and disperse the cloud, and then the effulgent sun will come out. If you trace out history you will find that after the disappearance of an acarya, this period comes. That period came after the disappearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Then his disciple Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami appeared like