Vows are interesting creatures. In contemporary life it’s mostly a forgotten word, passe, so yesterday and ‘seriously?’. Yet they are so good for us, both binding us and freeing. They control us and simultaneously put us in full control.
In Bhakti, after some years of practice and study of the teachings, we may feel ready to take vows. Part of the preparation is the selection of a spiritual master who will be our teacher for life, and an understanding of what such a statement of commitment to t
There was once a wicked man of the lower classes. He abandoned all holy rites and gave himself to sin. He had a young wife but also kept a prostitute in his house. The wife, wishing only to please him, served them both. She washed their feet and ate only the remnants of their food. Although the prostitute tried to prevent her she continued to serve that woman in every way, along with her husband. When they lay together in bed the wife would lie nearby on the bare ground. In this way for a long
The silence of the holy name
is a quietness that is loud
it takes the breath of one who chants
it is the quiet strength of a crowd
It moves within to cover the sound
of the marching band of the mind
it ends the talk of the chattering birds
of cares and anxieties we find
The silence of the holy name
is a sound that makes us still
so that nothing of the outer world
can try our hearts to fill
It is silent to the world of names,
of designation and of roles
It is quiet still to the bustling sounds
o
We are exploring different pastimes of Lord Jagganath to coincide with rath yatra in Puri. This week we made little model carts for the Lord. These carts are quite simple to make for my preschoolers. The craft can easily be adapted to be made more complex for older kids.
Materials needed:
Cut the milk carton horizontally in half. You can then wra
The mind traps us materially and trips us spiritually.
Chaitanya Charan Das: We like our job one day and detest it the next day; we feel excited about our devotional activities sometimes and bored at other times.
Why does our mind oscillate like this?
Because it has learnt from experience that the charm of worldly objects doesn’t last for long.
This lesson can help us realize that no material object can ever offer us lasting satisfaction. However, the mind evades this realization by imaginin
Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme, and we are fragmental parts. We are fragments eternally. These things are explained in Bhagavad-gītā in different places very nicely. I request you all to keep one copy of this Bhagavad-gītā, every one of you, and read it carefully. And there will be examination in the coming September. So... Of course, that is voluntary. But I request you to prepare for the examination next September. And one who will pass the examination will get the title Bhakti-śāstrī.
Lecture on BG 2.8
Dates: Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June 2016
Invitation to participate by HG Dayal Mora dasa, ISKCON-London Brahmacari Ashram Leader
The inspiration behind the Padayatra
Padayatra is an excellent way to reach the public and show that the Hare Krishna’s really practice what they preach. As a mobile Temple, Padayatra simultaneously preaches Harinama Sankirtana, book distribution, prasadam distribution, deity worship, cow protection and the lifestyle of “simple living and high thinking” in har
From Back to Godhead
Lord Ganesha is well known for removing obstacles from the path of pure hearted souls.
Gokarna, a temple town in Karnataka, also known as Gokarna Mahabalesvara, is famous for the presence of one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Siva. Lord Ganesha is said to have established this linga. The glories of the deity of Vinayaka Ganesha of Gokarna are described by Sri Vadiraja Mahan in Tirtha prabandhah, paschima prabandhah:
dustanam vighnakarta sucarita
sujanastoma vighnapahar
There are a number of things that bemuse me and makes me wonder either my own sanity of that of others; their seems to be either a disconnect or lack of joined up thinking; or the fact that if we did stop and ask questions it may lead to a need to rethink or reamend or worse abmit it may have flaws.
As I read an interesting article on the use of sadhna sheets the devotee gave a break down of responses and use whilst offering to take more devotees on; alls well and good.
Well until you break it
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam2.3.23.
“In order to make our theoretical knowledge realized we should repeat the knowledge. It’s a very simple process in a way, but when you repeat something you get realization of what you are saying. One of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples had read that the moon was created by the churning of the ocean of milk—which seemed fantastic. She asked Srila Prabhupada, ‘What does that mean?’ Srila Prabhupada said, ‘Just repeat. The moon was churn
Jiva Goswami states in his Bhakti Sandarbha that Vrindavan is a state of consciousness. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta once said that there is an intimate correlation between nama (the holy name) anddhama (the holy land). He said that it is only within the dhama that the nama fully manifests. Of course, where there is nama, dhama becomes manifest, but dhama means ‘the state of consciousness of Vrindavan’.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “My mind is like Vrindavan.” He said that for most people, the mind a
Divine Intervention.
Sutapa Das: On recent travels around the country I met a lady who expressed frustration in her attempts to find God. She told me her story: two years of spiritual travels, countless nights of prayer, careful scriptural exploration and persistent introspection, but still no sign! “Will I ever find Him?” she asked. “I’m beginning to question whether He even exists.” What to speak of the ‘searchers,’ even the faithful often doubt that their Supreme friend is actually alive an
Excerpt from a Lecture by HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj
There are also temples doing 24 hours kirtan. I know ISKCON Aravade, Nagpur, Solapur.
We were just there just there in that area. 24 hours start either from Mangala arati time till next Mangala arati time or starts at noon or evening till next noon.
Taking turns, one day is one of the feature. We have nagar kirtan , public chanting, Japaton and internet.
These are the broad guidelines.Within those categories you could have many ideas.
In Bengal it i
Excerpt from a Lecture by HH Lokanath Swami
When I had gone to Bankura in Bengal to get the deities for Padayatra, the murtiwala, I asked him.
'What is the meaning of one hand up and one hand down like this?' He said, "This meant 'ma sucah', do not fear.
And other hand, come here, come near, do not to fear. He is pointing to His lotus feet, 'mam ekam saranam vrajah' take shelter. Do not fear."
That murtiwala was explaining. So this is the mood of Mahaprabhu. So that Caitanya Mahaprabhu deity in that
