By Jayadvaita Swami
I was neutral, ambivalent and uncommitted about getting a vaccination for COVID-19. On one hand, the available vaccines have been well tested and shown highly effective. On the other hand, they have not had the benefit of long-term testing, the kind that goes on for years. We do not know how long their effectiveness will last, how effective they may be against variants, and what side effects might show up in the long term.
Apart from that, it seemed that if I came down with
The soul is buried in layers of consciousness but the Holy Name just penetrates!
The soul is deeply buried in layers of consciousness. It is like being covered in blankets. Layers of mental energy, intellectual energy, sensual energy and these are like the blankets that cover us. So the soul is in a dormant state and all the blankets are on top. But the Holy Name just penetrates it. Some people walk around with lots of blankets, so the soul is penetrating only a little, not so deep into their
I was sitting at the park bench thinking of an urban park that is like Noah’s ark. It offers shelter to loads of people. With pandemic restrictions in full swing people are most eager for an outlet of fun and so you see a place like Ramsden Park packed with people and dogs. One recent sign was posted saying, “Toronto: 2.8 million people. 230,000 dogs.” Sometimes it seems half of these canines are in this park. For passerby’s I was greeting them with a “Happy spring!”
“Oh, is it?” asked one guy.
By Bir Krishna Goswami
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate that is the Question!
The answer to this question is not so simple. In this short essay I would like to present my thought processes.
First of all, I do not blindly accept any of the information that has been presented in the lay media either pro or con. In addition before making any decision especially decisions regarding health, I weigh different factors; especially the risk factors.
Everything we do in this world is risky. As we hear fr
By Madhava Smullen
A new 60-minute feature documentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “India’s Book of Wisdom—The Bhagavata Purana” has been released to watch for free at the Bhagavata Purana Research Project.
Hosted by Dr. Kenneth Valpey (Krishna Kshetra Swami), co-director (with Prof. Ravi M. Gupta) of the Bhagavata Purana Research Project at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, the film introduces the Bhagavata Purana to people completely new to this crown jewel of ancient Sanskrit liter
“It’s a beautiful day,” said the bespectacled middle-age man with his smart elbow padded sport suit.
I agreed. “We really didn’t have much of a winter.”
“That’s true,” he said reassuringly. He was curious and wanted to keep up the conversation. “How long have you been a Buddhist?”
“I’m a Krishna a monk. I joined in ‘73.”
“Yes, my wife is quite the admirer of Krishna Murti’s teachings.”
“Yes, he is well known.” I replied.
“That’s my connection to India. I’m from Iraq and I have lots of Indian fr
One year on from the first lock-down in the UK due to the Coronavirus, Jaya Krishna das from Bhaktivedanta Manor shares his reflections during a most challenging yet unforgettable year:
Reflecting back to exactly this time last year, I remember it as highly unsettling. There was lots of news coverage about a new virus that had completely gone out of control. By then some parts of Europe were already in lockdown and there was a political debate about whether the UK should follow suit.
The govern
Video: Click here
All glories to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to His associates, past and present!
For the pleasure of the devotees, on this Gaura Purnima day festival, we present the drama “Lord Chaitanya & Ramachandra Puri.” Let us all become immersed in the pastimes of the most munificent Sri Krishna Chaitanya and become eager for His mercy. Haribol!
Cast (in order of appearance):
Nanda dd – Madhavendra Puri/devotee
Kirtaniya dd – Isvara Puri/Govinda/devotee
Akuti dd – Ramachandra P
By Gopi Gita Schomaker
By Josh Hawley
This topic is more relevant at this point in time than any other in modern history. We stand at a crossroads of mankind. If the enlightened leadership of mankind can catch a clue from Bhagavatam, and take note of the cause of the “pinprick through out the social body at large, wherein large scale quarrels take place over even less important issues,” then there is hope.
The problems arising from gross mis-identification with matter is what is unfortunately being perpetuated by the
By Giriraj Swami
From Amrit Vani, “Nectarean Instructions for Immortality,” gleaned from the instructions of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and presented in the form of questions and answers.
Is the favor given by Mahaprabhu the highest favor?
There has never been nor will there ever be better benefactors than Mahaprabhu and His devotees. No other type of human welfare work can compare; all those others simply perform a great disservice to humanity. The favor offered by Mahaprabhu an
From Back to Godhead
By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was also known as Visvambhara (“Lord of the universe”), appeared in Bengal, India, 489 years ago and taught love of Krsna. The Vedic scriptures, such as the Vedas, Upanisads, Vedanta-sutra and especiallyBhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, all reveal Krsna to be the Supreme Truth and the dearmost friend of every living being. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita “Give up all other forms of religion and surrender to Me. I
By Bhaktimarga Swami
Introduction
The 8 verses are an expression coming from Chaitanya addressing His full
appreciation for Krishna in the form of His name, carrying the spirit of
the feeling of separation:
Victory to the sacred sound, that cleanses all around.
There’s filth in the heart, piled up from the start.
Many births of desires, have burst up like fires.
Therefore, the kirtan charge, is for humanity at large.
It’s a practice so cool, like the rays of the moon.
It’s the fruit of wisdom,
To launch Sacred Street Party’s mission to distribute 108 sets of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta as part of the BBT’s Be A Gardener campaign, HG Sutapa Das took us on a journey to connect with this most important scripture. Click to hear the story of how Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami was empowered to write.
Video: Click here
Full transcript (including thought-provoking QnA) below.
This evening we are discussing Gauranga, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the karuna avatar. The incarnation who epitomises mercy, co
By Radhanath Swami
Many devotees who are very dear to me have physically departed from this world due to the Covid-19 virus. This breaks my heart.
Srila Prabhupada desired that we do the needful to take care of our health. Our health belongs to Srila Prabhupada.
Sincere devotees who are specialist doctors of Allopathy, Ayurveda, and Homeopathy have all strongly urged me to get vaccinated.
Out of respect for them and their care, knowledge and experience, I have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
In Navadvipa lived a brahmana’s son who had no peer among the thieves. He was a brahmana in name only. His heart was filled with evil. He was the commander of an army of thieves. There was no mercy in his body. He always happily stayed among thieves. Seeing Lord Nityananda’s ornaments and His glistening necklaces of gold, pearls and coral, and seeing the many valuable things that decorated His graceful limbs, the brahmana thief decided to rob them all. Concealing his desire, the thief stayed al
A bit of a mile stone for me: I managed to walk fairly straight along the not so trustworthy balcony, without crutches. Yahoo! Perhaps Jayho! Which means pretty much the same thing. A sigh of relief, victory and healing. It tallies at 1 km.
Cameron is just a great help to me. He is with the Red Cross, does mostly construction work but took time off to take care of matters in the temple, and me. I’m grateful.
He brought up my lunch — a plate laden with asparagus, curried veggies, exquisite dahl
About Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami completed his B.E. from M.S University Baroda, MBA from Bombay University & worked for some time in a multinational Bank. Inspired by the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder acharya of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), he decided to dedicate his life for propagating the message of Bhagavad Gita and joined International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
