I have thought and written much about what it takes to stay the course in bhakti for our whole life, as well as to how not to settle into a comfortable religious life not intensely focused on making spiritual advancement. They are related subjects though usually spoken of separately. I am primarily thinking about what kind of unique guidance should be provided to devotees of different ages, needs, and personality types. I would like to ask you in the beginning for your thoughts on this subject–
The Temptations, a wildly popular Motown singing group, released their biggest hit song in 1965.
The following lyric from that long-forgotten song came to me as I was considering a very important and encouraging principle of bhakti yoga:
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.”
One might wonder how there can be sunshine on a cloudy day. (Moreover, one might justifiably ask how this lyric relates to the practice of bhakti!)
I found out.
In San Francisco, the summer months tend to be cloudy because i
Although little known in the western world, Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred spots on Earth. It is a holy pilgrimage site for people of the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon faiths.
For modern day travelers it offers an adventure unparalleled to any other adventure on the planet. In ancient scriptures Mount Kailash has been described as the center of the universe and the abode of Lord Shiva, the greatest of Vaisnavas.
Mount Everest is 8,848 meters in height and its summit has been scaled by
It is said that when it comes to the material energy, Krsna is not directly controlling this energy. He is jagad avyakta murtini (Bhagavad-gita 9.4) – He is the form in this universe who is non-manifest. Yet He is also known to be mayadekshana prakrti suyate sa caracaram (Bhagavad-gita 9.10) – He is still known as the one who is controlling everything! But He controls by His desires and He controls by His energies. Scientists like to discover how the nature works and how there are laws in the u
This journey is documented in undated Hindu sacred texts known as the Puranas written a few thousand years ago
One of India's biggest religious festivals, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, gets under way on Thursday. The festival is unique in that three Hindu gods are taken out of their temples in a colourful procession to meet their devotees. The BBC's Priyanka Pathak explains the legend behind the festival and its significance.
The biggest of these processions takes place in Puri in the eastern
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 …
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
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
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
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
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
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
