While waiting at the dentist’s for a cleaning, I picked up the most recent issue of “Reader’s Digest,” and I read with interest an article, “Finding Zen: A Former Worry Wart Speaks Out.” The topic was worry, anxiety, stress, and the author spoke with a visitor from Australia who had this amazing calm energy. “I asked her what her secret was, and she told me that she practised Vedic meditation, a type of silent transcendental meditation rooted in Ayurvedic tradition in which you repeat a mantra
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By Kadamba Kanana Swami
Our goal is to use the time that we have to deepen our lives. When devotees meet, it is not that we are just looking for some spiritual inspiration. Festivals where devotees come together are for lasting advancement. It is for transforming ourselves. The idea is that when devotees meet during festivals, it is not some form of entertainment or some mere questions and answers. No, it is about some deep genuine exchange and this is an opportunity to go deeper in our commitm
“Bless Up!” said the fellow, which I mistook for, “What’s Up!”
“Not too much,” I replied.
“No, I said, ‘Bless Up!’”
“We can all use some blessings!” I responded.
He was cool about it, smiled and kept walking.
What else about the walk? Oh, yes, there were three of them munching away—three skunks—a family, I suppose. They like bugs in the grass and were calmly going about their business, oblivious to the monk standing very close. They are city wildlife, quite used to us crazy humans.
Now,
By Rama Vigraha Dasa
From Back to Godhead
To say that most politicians are incompetent, and in many cases downright dishonest, isn’t very controversial. We’ve all read about their blunders, their tricks, and their schemes. So the aim of this article is not to give proof of their failure to bring about world peace and prosperity; it is rather to show that the root cause of their incompetence is selfish materialism, and that the remedy is the re- spiritualization of society through the worldwid
A few years ago, while pursuing my postgraduate studies at USM in Penang, I happen to glance over the front page of the local newspaper to read the following headlines in large capital letters: WANTED: LEADERS. The statement was being made by the then Prime Ministry of Malaysia who was expressing his dismay at the lack of leadership within his country, especially in the context of educational institutions who seemingly were not able to produce highly qualified leaders. Not only was he pointing
Hundreds of Hare Krishna worshippers are set to walk the streets of Ilford town centre escorting a wooden chariot carrying three religious dieties.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will be holding its annual “Festival of Chariots” on Sunday, September 30.
The procession will disembark from Redbridge Town Hall, in High Road, at 12pm and end in Melbourne Field, in Valentines Park, Cranbrook Road.
Raj Nagulapally, one of the event organisers, said: “It goes back to tho
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
When is the perfect time to take initiation from one’s spiritual master?
I do not know if there is a perfect time for someone to take initiation. I compare it to jumping into a pool. You know, first you put your toes in and go, “I don’t know. This is too cold for me. I’m not ready to go in there.” But then you start to think, “No, come on now. Jump! Jump! Jump!” And at some point, you finally have to jump! Before you take initiation, you must be able to for at least for
By Giriraj Swami and Sri Prahlada dasa
In honor of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America, we shall sing the poem he wrote on the ship Jaladuta as he arrived in the Boston harbor.
Song [translation]:
1: My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.
2: But I guess You have some business here. Otherwise, why would You bring me to such a terrible place?
3: Most of the population here is covered
Are our abilities and expertise valuable assistance for our devotees? Are we confident that our positive-thinking techniques and service input is pleasing to all because devotees depend on us? Is satisfaction and contentment a common feeling earned through our ‘big’ endeavours and peer acceptance? Then beware, because we could be pleased for the wrong reasons – self-empowerment can be mistaken as genuine Krishna empowerment.
One can achieve all the above successes by NOT being very Krishna cons
By Subhangi Devi Dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad! All glories to all of the Vaishnavas, especially the preachers who are saving the world from hell! All glories to your service!
Have you ever heard of terminal restlessness? Probably not, unless you are a doctor or a nurse. But although the name is new, the condition is described in Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada says:
“And similarly, miserable condition of death. When one is lying in coma, so many
Dwarkanath is twenty-nine, and our youngest monk at the moment who is living in the ashram. He is a very talented young man who loves to play the sarod and sitar for Krishna. I asked him if his schedule allowed for some chanting in the park. This week has been designated as Holy Name Week, world-wide, and so I thought to carve out at least one hour for some chanting. We both made ourselves available at 1:00 p.m. We walked to Ramsden Park, sat on the grass, and started to chant right away.
Ananda: There is a great connection between stillness and listening. “Don’t move” we say when we hear some noise around the house in the middle of the night. In yoga we hold the body still in order to hear the breath. We will hold the shoulders of our child while we tell her something important.
In the tradition of mantra meditation, the repetition of a sacred sound, how we listen, how we hear the mantra is the difference between a successful practice or not. Although in the Krishna Bhakti prac
By Sri Ramadasa
We are unabashedly ecstatic to announce that the Bhadra Campaign has launched in India with a resounding success this year! The full moon of good fortune rose on Bhadra Purnima, which was on 24-25 September 2018, *with 4485 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam* being donated to homes, offices, schools, libraries, prisons, and hospitals located across India. Devotees even distributed sets of Srimad Bhagavatam to eminent personalities and current gurus of other Vaishnava Sampradayas in Ind
From Back to Godhead
The Graduate: A high school graduation inspires thoughts on raising a child in Krsna consciousness.
My husband and I take a seat on the shiny varnished bleachers in the large arena used for basketball games. The well-dressed crowd sits in anticipation as their sons and daughters, filing through the rear entrance in dark blue caps and gowns, prepare to graduate from high school.
I spot my son, Narayana, standing in the procession. His searching eyes meet mine, and we exchang
Dandavat Pranaam.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This is shyam sundar,Youth Representative of ISKCON Youth Forum Guntur. As a Part of 'Sri Krishna Janmastami Celebrations' on the final day September 7th,ISKCON Guntur has conducted a Youth Awareness Rally on the theme 'Say No To Bad Habits-Save The Youth' which is organised by ISKCON Youth Forum Guntur.Iam attaching the link of Facebook Album also.We feel honoured if an Article is published in our Website ISKCON Desire tree.
Around 1500 studen
On September 28th, 2018, Sacinandana Swami has published a new book on chanting, entitled as The Living Name.
Just as the five life airs animate the body with life, the five powerful practices in The Living Name can enliven the chanting of the Holy Name and turn it into a dynamic and transformative experience.
This guidebook one will first learn how to align body, mind and heart (Yojana) to overcome distraction and thus embark on the path of full absorption. From here chanting in deep conne
By Subroto Biswas
The Sri Saraswat Gaudiya Vaishnava Sangha, an assemblage of 55 Gaudiya Maths celebrated the 181st Appearance day of Srila Sacchidanand Bhaktivinod Thakur, most prominent Acharya of Gaudiya Vaishnava society, at Surabhi Kunja, Swarupgunj, Nadia district on Saturday 22ndof September. Thousands of devotees of Indian and foreign origin of various Gaudiya Maths and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness attended the festivities.
The celebration began with bhajan
It was just a blessing, last week, having the company of some great souls, one of whom is Ontario-born and became a monk, Bhakti Raghava Swami. He hails from the north-Hearst / Timmins area and is from a Catholic, French-Canadian background. He is the real thing in terms of exercising simplicity and detachment from the world; appropriate qualities for a sanyasi(monk). He is an inspiration. One time in the ’70s, Bhakti Raghava Swami lost his leg when a dacoit (an armed thief) released a hom
By Caitanya Carana Dasa
The Moment we turn away from Krishna our misery begins.
The American Paradox: Spiritual Hunger in an Age of Plenty, by David G. Myers, is one among several books that use telling facts and revealing statistics to examine the reality behind the globally glamorized American dream of the happy life through wealth and sensual enjoyment. Since 1960:
• The divorce rate has doubled.
• The teen suicide rate has tripled.
• The recorded violent crime rate has quadrupled.
• The pri
By Caitanya Caran das
Imagine a person working on a computer that has viruses. He is busy typing, but the computer is hung. A computer expert informs him, “Sir, you need to install an anti-virus.” He responds curtly, “Don’t disturb me; I am busy.” The expert points out, “But Sir, your computer is not working; so all your work will be fruitless without the anti-virus” He retorts, “I will not be affected by your pessimism.”
Could we be like this thoughtlessly busy person? The Vedic texts explain
