By Kesava Krsna dasa – GRS
There are a myriad of instructions on how to chant japa. All of them serve to help us achieve success. In spite of the varied nuances and techniques, why are we plagued with anarthas, struggling to reach a semblance of nistha, from which to springboard to higher levels of attainment? With thousands of shades of advice available, it seems only a select few are privileged to be relishing the chanting. Is there a secret formula to fast-track our progress?
There is menti
By Giriraj Swami
Most resolutions take the form of “do’s”—things I resolve to do—and “don’ts”—things I resolve to not do. And Vedic wisdom tells us that all do’s and don’ts should support one main do—always remember Krishna (God)—and one main don’t—never forget Him.
Now, practically, what can we do to always remember Krishna and never forget Him? The item most favorable for remembering Him is chanting and hearing: chanting and hearing His holy names—the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—and chanting and
QUESTION: So often we are taught to chant more and more. I’ve been advised to chant fast, with pronunciation almost an afterthought; but then I’ve also been instructed to chant with clear pronunciation, which slows it down. I’ve been told we can’t even be considered truly “human” unless we chant 108 mantras 16 times a day; but now I’ve been hearing from you that one should put the effort into wholeheartedly chanting one mantra. So, why have we been instructed to chant so many rounds if it’s not
By Venu Gopal Das
A day in the life of Shri Krishna is filled with numerous activities: tending cows, playing pranks on the women of the village, feasting on sumptuous food with the cowherd boys and vanquishing an ill-fated demon whose misfortune brings him wandering into Krishna’s abode. Considering all this, one might ask why Krishna would choose to lose sleep over dancing with a group of mere milkmaids.
The Adi Purana narrates a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. The Supreme Lord, Shri
Kadamba Kanana Swami: If you do marry, then be careful that whoever you marry is a devotee. Whatever you do, do not marry a non-devotee. That would be the worst thing to do because then it will be goodbye to yourself! You can say goodbye to the self you were because that is surely a way to go down!
People spend hours and hours matching astrological charts and sometimes you get a ninety percent match! Anyway, that gives you ten percent opportunity to give each other hell; that is also there. But
Kadamba Kanana Swami: There is the story of a wrestler in South India who was very much impressed by a beautiful girl and he served her so nicely. He was opening doors and holding parasols and was doing whatever he could to please her! So, one day, Ramanuja Acharya saw that wrestler and said to him, “Why are you serving her in this way?” The boy then said, “She… is… so… beautiful!”
Then Ramanuja Acharya said, “You call that beautiful?” Now, if it had been anyone else, they would have been in se
By Ramai Swami
It’s been a tradition for me that when I’m in Sydney for New Years Eve I go on Harinama around the Opera House, Circular Quay and Rocks area.
We usually go down a little early around 5 or 6pm because as the night goes on, it’s standing room only and even if we wanted to take a Harinama through, it’s impossible to move because of the tremendous crowds.
Pratapana and Jayasri organise this particular kirtan party and the devotees are in a joyous mood, chanting and dancing along with
As we now enter the year 2018, we are fast approaching what will be perhaps the most momentous and important occasion in ISKCON’s history thus far; the completion of the Chakra installations onto the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
This event not only represents the culmination of over eight years of cooperative effort on the parts of thousands of ISKCON devotees from around the world, but heralds the beginning of a new and exciting phase towards the completion of the TOVP. It is truly another
From Back to Godhead
By Arcana Siddhi Devi Dasi
Developing the quality of empathy has many benefits for aspiring devotees of the Lord.
When I was doing my clinical psychotherapy internship in graduate school, a supervisor stressed connecting with our clients through realized empathy. Most of his interns came from privileged backgrounds, and he felt we needed more than just a theoretical understanding of our clients’ pain.
My first session in “experiential empathy” was with Doris, who suffered f
By Vrindavana Das
Where is your hometown?
I was born in Norfolk, VA where my father was in the Navy. After his discharge from the duty, we relocated to my family’s home town in NW Iowa when I was 2 weeks old. I lived in my family’s farm near Paullina IA until I graduated from High School at the age of 17 & moved to Denver CO in 1972, and then in the mountains near Evergreen until 1977.
What initially attracted you to Krishna Consciousness?
I was interested in Eastern Philosophy and had bee
From Back to Godhead
How we value, acquire, use, and relate to money reflects our inner state of being.
Sri Sukadeva Goswami said, “Money does not stay in one place. It passes from one hand to another. Ultimately no one can enjoy money, and it remains the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.14.24) Money is God’s energy. He created it, He owns it, and He controls it: “Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord
Below is the official TOVP Invitation flyer for the Chakra installation ceremony on February 7th, 2018. You may print it for your temple and post it on the internet as you wish to help get the word out.
This historic and momentous occasion is probably one of the most important in ISKCON’s history. It heralds yet another milestone of achievement in our progress towards the fulfillment of Srila Prabhupada’s deepest desire to build the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and establish Sridhama Mayapur
By Mayesvara Das
Any parent who has raised a child knows they will sometimes get into mischief that may even be dangerous or problematic. In my case, I drove my mother crazy because I loved to play in the water. It was readily available in the stream that flowed down behind the neighbor’s house and in a swamp located on the other side of the church parking lot. Simply telling me not to play in the water with my Sunday clothes on was never as dissuasive as my Dad calling me to go with him downt
By Karnamrita Das
Studying the meaning of words (semantics) whether in Sanskrit, English, or our native language and their deeper implications in our lives is a useful endeavor in our introspection and personal growth, which I see as part of the work of “anartha-nivritti,” or retiring our unwanted, spiritually unhelpful mental and physical habits. Become free from these anarthas is an interim goal, not the end, but it is meant to lead to “artha pravritti,” or the ultimate goal of loving service
Ananda Vrindavaneswari Dasi: There are big truths and small truths and truths that are true just for some and not for others.
There are also absolute truths - those that are for everyone. Dying is one of those. Old age another. No matter what we call them or how we try to avoid them, they come with the territory of the world.
These absolute truths, shared by all of us, are also powerful. Power, by this definition, is something that is stronger than us and can control us. Besides things like tim
Nadeem Khan and Zorabia Naqvi from Jaipur, Rajasthan, have broken all language barriers by winning the State Level Bhagavad Gita competitions for Essay Writing and Sloka Recitation respectively.
Born to Muslim parents, the students hail from families that speak Urdu. However, their love for the Sanskrit language did not hold them back in any capacity. And the Class 10 student Nadeem stopped at nothing to learn Sanskrit.
No one in my family knows Sanskrit. We speak Urdu at home. I decided to lea
By Purushottam Nitai Das
I was reluctant. What will be new in it? “I know the story, have seen multiple videos about him and moreover it will be available on youtube in few months.” But none of my arguments cut the ice with my wife, she was so eager to watch the “Hare Krishna!” movie that I had to finally relent. Also our third marriage anniversary was just few days later so did not want to disappoint her. We reached Kolkata’s Mani Square Mall, which has PVR theatre, before time.
Ladies in thei
By Karnamrita Das
In the lives of great persons there is always opposition and apparent road blocks in accomplishing their goals or mission in life. Whether through another person, an accident, their own body or mind, or some natural disturbance, what appears on the surface to be an impediment is passed through and the glory of the person is revealed.
Practically we can see that great success in any undertaking or field is not accomplished without passing through many setbacks and even failure.
By Bhaktimarga Swami
