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The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three kinds of internal potency, namely the hlādinī-śakti, or pleasure potency, the sandhinī-śakti, or existential potency, and the samvit-śakti, or cognitive potency. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.12.69) the Lord is addressed as follows: “O Lord, You are the support of everything. The three attributes hlādinī, sandhinīand samvit exist in You as one spiritual energy. But the material modes, which cause happiness, misery and mixtures of the two, do not exist in Yo

To our book distributors, I would like to say this. When you are distributing books on the street, it is tough because people are not waiting for you. They did not come out to the streets to buy books. They came for another reason and then suddenly some ‘extra-terrestrial’ comes in his orange dress and tries to put a book in their hands, “Woah. Noooooooooo! Not interested.”

But sometimes, somebody is just a little absent-minded and you just like, “Bang!” put the book in his hands. You know, he

Vedic culture is all about dharma. The kshatriya is not to become non-violent but they should use their violence only to protect the principles of religion thus they are protectors and not aggressors – not just big guys with big muscles; big bullies where you cross the road when you see one coming down the street. No, this is a sudra with muscles and there are plenty of them. It is not that everyone with big muscles is a kshatriya. The proof of that is Ekalavya who was practicing shooting targe

By Sri Nandanandana das

I feel there needs to be some clarification about the use of the words “Hindu” and “Hinduism.” The fact is that true “Hinduism” is based on Vedic knowledge, which is related to our spiritual identity. Many people do accept it to mean the same thing as Sanatana-dharma, which is a more accurate Sanskrit term for the Vedic path. Such an identity is beyond any temporary names as Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or even Hindu. After all, God never describes Himself as belonging t

While distributing books at a college, I met a really favorable kid named Edward. He told me he was a Bhakti Buddhist. I'd never heard that before and found it pretty cool. I gave him a set of books (seven different titles), and he gave a very nice donation. A few minutes later he came back and asked to take a picture together. We exchanged numbers and became friends.

Two days later, the Minister for Book Distribution, Vijaya Prabhu, was at the same school and met Edward again. This time he to

If we are at all aware of how dependent we are on God—for the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and our very ability to eat and drink and breathe, to think and feel and do everything else we do—we will feel grateful and want to reciprocate God’s kindness. We will want to do something for He (or She or They) who has done, and continues to do, so much for us.

We often take things for granted until we lose them. I use my right hand to chant on meditation beads, and one morning I

When they are thus valued (as any great wealth is), they will be protected by those who value them. Lack of protection indicates a lack of appreciation – that is, the fault is not with the wealth, it is with the unappreciative wealth holder. Danakeli Dasi once wrote a very nice explanation why they should be protected.

1. COWS: These animals are extremely valuable because they give a most wonderful food to us (milk), a most wonderful fertilizer & fuel (their dung), a wonderful medicine (their u

After a day off we flew from Australia to New Zealand for a one day program at the Auckland temple of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari on November 23rd. We were welcomed enthusiastically by all the devotees and prepared for the TOVP program at the temple.

300 devotees attended and participated in the Lord’s arati and abhisheka, and listened with great enthusiasm to talks about the TOVP project. Being so inspired, the devotees pledged over $300,000.

We wish to thank the Temple President Kalasamvara prab

Answer by HH Romapada Swami

Question:People should help people just for the sake of helping them, and without any additional motivation. The propagation of that kind of behavior is the positive part of society in general. Doing everything for God negates the basic human decency of every good act, even though the outcome might be the same. The difference in motivation removes all of the good will from the equation. Essentially, people who do things only for indirect purposes are only automatons.

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

Srila Prabhupada makes the point that Krsna is more eager for us to go back to Godhead than we are ourselves. We sometimes say, “Yeah, I definitely want to go back to Godhead…” but what if suddenly, we would get the opportunity?

One devotee, a friend of mine who joined ISKCON in 1967, when he was young, he was looking for the truth and he went into nature and sat down on a hill. He started meditating and he was thinking, “I really want to get out of this world.”
Suddenly

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

Our ISKCON movement is growing every day, and not growing only in numbers but it is also growing in complexity! In the earlier days, when Srila Prabhupada was establishing the preaching mission, this movement was simpler; membership was more homogenous – people of a similar age group and all engaged in the same activity.

Now, there is much more diversity! Diversity in different members of this movement and also diversity in different kinds programmes needed. We need a ve

The world today is undergoing a major crisis; people are experiencing an all-time high level of stress, with insecurity and temporariness of life plaguing all walks of life. Spiritual books like Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam (the Bhagavat Purana) help alleviate these issues by bringing superior knowledge and happiness into people's lives.

In the Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna states, “For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the

By Kesava Krsna Dasa

We love to picnic, barbecue, celebrate birthdays and entertain guests. We may hesitate on what fast-foods are on offer. Here is some “Party-pooping” information, which should enhance our parties even more. So “let’s party,” as they say.

Technology has enabled soya to transform into burgers, sausages, prawns, chicken breasts, steaks and more. Do we have the time to make the bread rolls to go with them? Not a problem, we can always get a few dozen from the local bakery.

In t

By Shyama Mohini devi dasi on behalf of the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations Department

At the annual meeting of the global BBT in June, HH Jayadvaita Swami resigned as a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Since 1988, he has served as a trustee of the original BBT Trust, or as a director of the BBT International, or both (The two organizations work together). His resignation, which the BBT trustees have accepted, means that he no longer holds a post with either. His letter be

From Back to Godhead

By Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the devotee Prahlada Maharaja, a great spiritual authority, says, “Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu [Krsna], remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship…, offering pray

By Giriraj Swami

I am pleased to encourage you to participate in the Prabhupada book-distribution marathon. Srila Prabhupada explains, “Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami had no fixed residence. They stayed beneath a tree for one day only and wrote huge volumes of transcendental literature. . . . It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was Srila

By Vrndavanlila Devi Dasi (Dr Vrinda Baxi)

Despite this fast changing world where promiscuity encouraged by the hedonist approach to life is overtaking almost everywhere, India still preserves its age old veneration towards celibacy. The vast majority of girls and boys still remain celebate till their marriage and even post-marriage lead a regulated life. Of course in cities, this ‘conservative’ species are on the brink of extinction, and even when preserved, generally make the person a butt of

Remembering Not to Forget: But if its amnesia you want, Krishna will give it to you

By Satyaraja Dasa

It’s funny how if you give Krishna, God, an inch, he gives you a mile. I remember in my earliest days as a devotee, I had left the movement for some time. I was home, watching TV with my family. All of a sudden, right on the screen there was an ad for the television station with a photo of New York City streets. There he was, my Godbrother Bhaktivinoda, with a close-up of the Channel Two logo b

By Sacinandana Swami

You must know that there is bhakti with nectar and bhakti without nectar. Bhakti without nectar means that we do not obtain a taste from our spiritual practices that is higher than the taste created by material things like smartphone apps, movies and all the other ‘maya’ our town has to offer. Thus, it is very important that we perform bhakti with taste.

In other words, we need to know how we can relish the five processes of bhakti and avoid boredom. This is much like drawi