Blog

By Karnamrita Das

The Origin of Secrets and their Reflection in the World

I am finding the subject of secrets very rich, deep and important. The existence of secrets is all-pervading, and it all begins in the spiritual world, where it has it true purpose to facilitate the loving pastimes of Krishna and his devotees. For example, Krishna’s relationship with Radha and the gopis, while suspected by a few, is a secret kept from Krishna’s parents, which intensifies their love and the passion of thei

Dharmsala is a beautiful hill station in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. Located at a height of 4800ft. from sea level, it is situated on the slopes of scenic dhauladhar mountain range. The view of these mountains from our host’s roof in Dharmsala is really fascinating. Dhauladhar’s snow covered peaks decorate this valley just like a mighty crown. It’s rich flora and fauna renders the landscape even more beautiful. Dhauladhar range is a paradise for worldwide mountain trekkers and Paraglider

Exploring the anatomy of a superior-subordinate relationship with the dynamics of subordinate’s autonomy and superior’s sensitivity.

How would you feel when your senior often intervenes to correct your decisions and actions? Do you get frustrated when your choices and opinions are not appreciated but altered? Would you love to have a guide who allows you to operate with freedom and wouldn’t interfere with your autonomy?

Interference with Independence

Every individual has an independence and he

We organized 4th annual Turkish Namahatta camp on the outskirts of Istanbul, Turkey. Our special guest was HH Sivarama Swami and also there were 7 devotees from Hungarian Yatra came along with him. It was the most crowded namahatta event for us and some days we reached 70 visitors in the place. Actually, it was the best retreat we have ever organized in terms of attendance, hotel itself, staff of the hotel, weather conditions, and many other aspects. Devotees had opportunity to get HH Sivaram S

A few weeks ago, Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Satari, along with Their Graces Jananivas, Ambarisa, Svaha and Braja Vilasa prabhus paid an ecstatic visit to Hong Kong and Taiwan (Taipei) as part of the worldwide TOVP Tour that has been on the road since 2015.

However, we first would like to express our gratitude and thanks to TOVP Chairman Ambarisa prabhu and his wife Svaha mataji who, despite his busy personal schedule and pressing health issues, made the time to come to Hon

Nama Om…
Mukham karoti …
I need some warm water.
Mukham karoti…
So after spending almost a month and a half in the ICUs, after having waited for about six months to have a liver and kidney organs, Mahavaraha, he went and found out the exact system that whatever organs become available, go first to the government and which only the government hospitals do the liver transplant, Stanley Hospital which is owned by the state.

Then I had a transplant registration through the Stanley Hospital under th

Most devotees’ lives and views on devotional service change as their ashram changes. When several devotees pass through ashram changes at approximately the same time-or even if one respected devotee within a temple changes his ashram-a temple can become affected.

My writing down these developmental stages, which is similar for both individual devotees and temples (If the majority of devotees within a temple are in a similar ashram situation, it can be said that that temple is at that particular

I HAVE ALWAYS done a bit of travelling, at least since 1975 when I was fortunate enough to join Srila Prabhupada’s personal entourage. I got to travel India and around the world with His Divine Grace, and it gave me my first look at worldwide ISKCON.

I was impressed. Impressed with Srila Prabhupada and impressed with his disciples and the amazing scope of transcendental activity that was manifesting all over the globe. Unity was the key, and that was achieved through the presence and desire of

It isn’t always easy to see the funny side of things. Often I find it happens in retrospect. Recently I set off for a trip to that fabled land of chocolate and respected home of the European Union, Belgium. After loading up my trusty Satnav with the appropriate maps, I struck out by road. All went well until I approached my destination and it became apparent that the old satnav was struggling. It had taken me far out into the snow swept wilds of the Ardennes and as I peered about in alarm it su

I was reading a verse where it says, “Not by any means nor by any weapon, can one take away the possessions of a devotee.” That was interesting because I do watch over my electronics and do not leave them lying around because things sort of move in different directions. But, the possessions of a devotee cannot be taken away by any means because the true possession of a devotee is Krsna and devotional service; and devotional service cannot be taken away! Devotional service is always there. It is

By Hari Parshad Das

What kind of devotees we are making?
Subhaga Swami: Srila Prabhupada wanted all his disciples to become gurus. To spread Lord Caitanya’s message to every town and village many gurus are needed. The guru should be an elevated person, beyond material attraction. That is not easy. We must understand we can never, never, never be happy here [in the material world], despite our dreams. Srila Prabhupada said this movement is for building character. We should be introspective to see how well we are

Question: You’ve said, “in love, the pleasure comes from humility.” Can you explain this more thoroughly?

My Answer:  Non-humility means to feel that the self is of central importance. The self, however, is a very dependent entity, so to put it in a central position is unnatural and stressful because it is like putting a weak beam as the support of a house. It is very stressful, and subject to frequent collapse.

Humility is natural and therefore not stressful but joyful. Humility means taking t

WHAT IS ONE ACTION YOU COULD TAKE THAT WOULD IMPROVE YOUR LIFE? As I contemplate my upcoming talks with the title, "Facing Death to Live More Fully Today?", I have realized that this is more of a workshop than a lecture. My talk can't just be words, but has to be an extension of my heart and how I live my life. That, and the empowerment from above/within, will give my words the power to connect to the audience. I have to speak to each person in the assembly.

What I have done in preparation is t

". . .the Brahma-samhita (5.44)says, sristhi-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-shaktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibhartidurga. Maya is like a shadow of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who serves Him in the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this world. Just as a shadow has no independent power of movement but follows the substance that casts the shadow, the illusory energy of the Lord has no independent power, but bewilders the living entities according to the Lord's desire. One of Krishna's

Hacha Puri and the Peace Formula! 
Govinda Swami: Saci, Vrindavan Kirtan, and I arrived in Moscow yesterday afternoon.
On a chilly Moscow afternoon we were warmly received by Radha Raman Giridhari, Sri Rupa Manjari, Sarasvati, and Master Baladev.
We then travelled from west Moscow to south to the home of Nandi Mukhi and Radha Preyan to spend the night. They are Georgian devotees that date back to the early, early days of ISKCON during the Soviet Union.
They are both from well-to-do families dur

Harikesa das: I had been cooking for Prabhupada for a long time, but I reallyhad a hard time making chapatis because we were always in places where there were no proper stoves. To make a good chapati you need a gas stove at leastor coals, and here we are in Mauritius and I'm cooking in a closet on a one-burner electric stove that didn't even have enough power to boil water and I have to make a full meal that he likes up to his standards. So Prabhupada was complaining and complaining about the c