When I approached my spiritual master for initiation, he said, “Hmmm, as good as God, are you prepared to accept that?” And I thought, “Umm, well, I don’t know…” but I just said yes with a weak voice because it is not so simple to accept the spiritual master as good as God. But this is Krsna’s standard so what can we say. So somehow, gradually we must bring the guru-disciple relationship to that point. For me, it was not so easy because I had been initiated before and that relationship did not
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In an initiation ceremony, we receive the maha-mantra. So it is like those birthdays where you get a big gift, you open up the box and inside is a gift that you already have, “Oh, I already got that! I got the holy name before.” Yes, we have the holy name already as we have been chanting for a long time before initiation. But at the time of initiation, what we are receiving?
We are receiving the holy name along with the prayer of the spiritual master who has his credit with Krsna as a result of
There was a Mr Gupta who lived in Indore in India and he had a shop selling truck parts and the whole day people would visit his shop. But there was something special about his shop in that everywhere there were pictures of Krsna! Never ever before had I seen in one space that many pictures of Krsna! There were pictures all over the wall, there were pictures on the ceiling, pictures on the door, pictures on the door knob, pictures on the table – everything had a picture of Krsna! And every day
One may want family life but how can you have a good family life without Krsna. Family life without Krsna will not be satisfactory; it will become very frustrating. It is only when we add Krsna that family life can actually start to work.
What is a job if it is not related to Krsna!? Money, money, money just for eating, sleeping and these other things. You are going to get frustrated, I guarantee you! But if you use that money for Krsna then it is okay.
In every situation, we have to make an ef
Once in India, I saw a serious drawing. It was a drawing of a frog and this particular frog was in somewhat of a precarious position because a snake had crawled up from behind and had half swallowed the frog! The mouth of the snake was slowly engulfing the frog and the front of the frog was still sticking out. Then a little fly flew past the nose of the frog and frog’s tongue shot out to catch the little fly…
So, who is the frog in the painting and who is the snake!? The snake represents time a
Are you a teenage girl between 17 & 20? You are welcome to the fun filled Girls’ Mela at Ekachakra dham. We teenagers go through a very special phase in life. We want to gradually establish ourselves in this world, and we want to be accepted as individual and almost grown-up personalities, with our own desires, talents, inclinations, hopes and plans for our future.
We don’t like to be corrected and instructed by our parents any longer – we have heard this for so many years! Now we need other ro
Every year, prominent people take part in ISKCON Hungary’s annual Divali dinner. This year, as usual, government officials, public personalities, sponsors, decision-makers, artists, representatives of other religions, university professors, scientists and others from the fields of politics and media all enjoyed the Hungarian devotees’ hospitality.
The main theme of the event was the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of ISKCON, which was showcased by an onsite exhibition and a stage program,
This year, my plan was to go outside of Vrindavan for book distribution with a team of devotees. I never even thought of doing book distribution in the Holy Dham. But because the traveling bus that we had last year was cancelled, circumstances forced me to remain in the Holy Dham. And for me, it was something new and exciting. Sometimes I would meet other devotees doing the same service having hands full of SrilaPrabhupada’s transcendental books. It was extremely inspiring for me.
Every day t
The 25th Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava of ISKCON, Coimbatore and ” ISKCON 50″ Golden Jubilee celebrations was flagged off on 6th January 2017 in a grand function at Sri Annapoorna Auditorium at R.S.Puram. The occasion was graced by the presence of several dignitaries and VIPs like Sri. Srinivasan, Chairman, Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels, Dr. K.G.Bhaktavatsalam, Chairman , KG Hospital, senior ISKCON sannyasis and GBC like HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Bhakti Vinoda swami ( Zonal Sec
Satyanarayan Dasa (head of BBT Far East, Middle East):
What magnifies the importance of this special book distribution, especially in these Far Eastern and Middle Eastern languages, is what happens to these books after they are received. We are just seeing the beginnings of their long and remarkable journey here. These fortunate tourists and university students become emotionally moved by seeing and obtaining these literatures translated into their own beloved mother tongue. And because the bo
In our backyard garden, we installed an automatic watering system invented in Israel. Hoses run underground throughout the garden and, extending from them, smaller tubes tipped with color-coded nozzles terminate near the roots of each plant. The color-coded nozzles deliver a specific amount of water appropriate for each plant.
With this automatic “drip system” in place my plants thrive. They always get the water they need even as I keep up with other duties in my life.
In a similar way, expert
Question: 1) I have a tendency to retaliate if someone says something bad to me. I have heard in a lecture that ‘If you retaliate you may please yourself but If you do not retaliate you please Krsna’. However I am not able to practically apply it in my Life. Please suggest dome practical ways to overcome this tendency.
2) I have a tendency to compare myself with others. If I see someone in a materially better condition I feel depressed. This tendency is automatic and I am not able to overcome i
This amazing story is about a saint named Mataji Pada Sevanam, from Baku, Azerbaijan (Caucasus, former part of the USSR), who re-established devotional service to Lord Nrsimhadeva and changed the hearts of many devotees due to her limitless love to Krishna, fearlessness, and determination. (From a lecture by A.C. Bhagavatamrita Keshava Swami. Barnaul, Russia December 18, 2016)
Gopal Told Me
The beginning
Once upon a time, someone distributed a Bhagavad-Gita by Srila Prabhupada to a woman. She
From The GBC Ministry for Cow Protection:
It is with great sadness that we have been informed that yesterday Sharne mataji left this world while in Sri Vrndavana Dham on a mission to serve.Her example was a real asset to our movement and her departure from this world is indeed a great loss for us. Like many vaishnavas her services were unknown to many but certainaly very known to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.I used to see her every time I visited the Goshala in Sri Mayapur, she was always very bli
Martin Luther nails his protest to the church door
Any human endeavour requires good management. Any organisation of a certain size – and some say over 150 members – requires a different system of management from that of its beginnings. But when good management dominates theology, and spiritual vitality, and moderates religious practice, and we choose a religious leader on the basis of how good a manager he is, then the very purposes for which the organisation was founded are threatened.
This y
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Our favourite song which we chant so happily, “Sarīra abidyā-jāl, joḍendriya tāhe kāl, jīve phele viṣaya-sāgore, tā’ra madhye jihwā ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,” translates to, “The senses are a network leading to death and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious to control…” It sounds quite intense actually but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, by engaging the tongue in transcendental activities of glorifying Krsna and tasting Krsna prasad, sudde
Saturday Night Harinama in London
(London 7th January, 2017)
Giridhari Prabhu leading an ecstatic kirtan in Leicester Square. Later, Parividha, Jahnavi and Saksi Gopala Prabhus led kirtan.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/XLnH8B
Varsana Swami: The efforts, austerities, and practices involved with the acceptance as a disciple do not end with initiation. Rather they begin, in a formal sense, at that point. Whatever outer challenges or inner demons we have, will be overcome by Krishna’s grace for those who persevere in their vows. It is only those who quit who will suffer defeat.
Even as the connection and dependency between the words “disciple” and “discipline” are obvious, some devotees tend to be more attentive to the
Sukhada: An Indian life member who was a nurse was explaining to Srila Prabhupada how she had a nice life, a life in the mode of goodness.
Prabhupada told her that the material world was like a boil and that blowing on a boil won’t get rid of it. It needs to be lanced.
Similarly, we need to get out of this material world by lancing our material desires and by chanting Hare Krishna.
Prabhupada was very heavy but very expert at preaching.
As Prabhupada was leaving he stopped in front of Malati an
Srila Prabhupada: O my merciful Lord Caitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desertlike tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krsna’s holy name, which are the pleasure abodes of unalloyed devotees. These devotees are compared to swans, ducks and bees. The river’s flowing produces a melodious sound that gladdens their ears. Cc Adi 2.2 text
