In the morning I have been listening to Srila Prabhupada’s wonderful talks on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta given in Juhu in November 1975, and today I was struck by his explanation of how we can feel fellowship with each other—free from envy:
“So if we accept this philosophy, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s, without falsely declaring ourself that ‘I am equal to God’ or ‘I am God,’ if you simply accept that jivera ‘svarupa’ haya—krsnera ‘nitya dasa’ [Cc Madhya 20.108], that we are eternally servant of Krishna
ISKCON is a spiritual organization personally established by Srila Prabhupada. We must take care that it doesn’t become material. Anything (husband-wife relationship, Deity worship, even prasadam) can turn material by one’s consciousness. In any Society, there must be some organization and management, otherwise there will be chaos. Even in the spiritual world, Krsna’s friends are subdivided and supervised (Lord Balarama is group leader for his cowherd boy friends; Candravali and Radharani head
Sometimes, we get so caught up in external practices that we are still not remembering Krsna – we wear tilak for years, we hear and chant for years, we serve in a temple and yet we are not really thinking of Krsna as our first priority. Every day, we hear in a lecture how Krsna is the ultimate goal and how he is the priority but still we have so many other considerations – our position in the temple, how people are dealing with us, where do I fit, how am I going to be part of it all and so on r
January 16, 2017
Dear follower of Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Kindly submit your homage to Srila Prabhupada for his Vyasa-puja book by April 15.
In addition, if you’re a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada, please check out www.sptributes.com to learn about a Vyasa-puja book open to all his disciples. The deadline for submission to this book is also April 15.
The standards for submitting an offering to the traditional Vyasa-puja book (
Once again, my heartfelt thanks goes out to all the devotees worldwide who contributed their might to support the construction of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in 2016. Without you this immense project would simply not be possible. Together we are all endeavoring to develop ISKCON’s World Headquarters and especially its centerpiece temple which will preach to the world the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the yuga dharma.
2016 was a challenging year for the TOVP. However, we have co
Krsna knows what is best for us! Thus a devotee who is intelligent will rely on Krsna. If one desires a wife then Krsna will send someone or maybe he will not. If he does not send one then so be it; what is the point in looking – looking everywhere… maybe this one… or maybe that one… and in the meanwhile just becoming totally obsessed with such mundane things without remembering Krsna. Our business is to remember Krsna and trust that Krsna will make arrangements for us.
Source:https://www.kksbl
I am entering the mood of preparing for my talk a week from Friday, on the 20th. This means for me, hours of chanting, prayer, deep contemplation and writing, in order to be as prepared as possible to say what is most essential for the audience who might attend. I always keep high ideals! The presence of my listeners is a gift for me since they bring me to higher levels of being, knowing and loving in devotion. Though I am responsible for what I bring to any discussion, the audience is consider
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapada
Lecture given on Nov. 17, 1966, in New York City
From the Bhagavad-gita we learn about the spiritual world and the means to go there.
mam upetya punar janma
duhkhalayam ashashvatam
napnuvanti mahatmanah
samsiddhim paramam gatah
“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.”—Bhagavad-gita 8.15
Krishna says
Answers by HH Romapada Swami
Question:
I’m having difficulty understanding the divinity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Within Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11, there seems ample opportunity to reveal his name directly as an avatar. The idea that people in the age Kali aren’t capable of recognizing him – [“Thus it is understood that it is difficult for common people in Kali-yuga to recognize the incarnation of the Lord since in this age the Lord’s appearance is slightly concealed.”] – seems to be more t
Question: Experiencing happiness within devotional service: Is that considered selfish?
I get so much happiness with devotional service. However, I fear that if it is a selfish desire rather sincere motivation to please Krsna. How can I differentiate and improve where I am not focusing on my happiness, but rather making Krsna happy?
Romapada Swami: Feeling happiness in relation to Krishna is good! As you mature in Krishna consciousness, however, gradually and deliberately shift your attention a
Why do we criticize others? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said that we seek out the defects of others because of our “utter absence of humility.”
But why would we notice another’s faults (when we don’t have to) if it neither helps us, helps them or helps anybody? This question has always intrigued me. As I contemplated this question I discovered 37 answers (37 reasons we find fault with others). I share these answers with you in this newsletter.
As you read the list you may find it use
Deena Bandhu Das: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada gave me initiation in the old La Cienaga Temple in LA on the fourth day of the dark half of the month of Magh, which was 25th January, 1970. I remember it was one of the last ceremonies where Srila Prabhupada did everything. He chanted on the beads, did the yajna, and gave the lecture. After this time, Srila Prabhupada would chant on the beads in his room and someone else did the fire sacrifice.
This time Srila Prabhupda came down off his Vyas
Resolutions are like a pod of seeds. They’ll grow.
It’s still not too late for a New Year’s resolution. You can do it. Whatever it is, rallying your determination now can make all the difference to the rest of the year.
For those of us walking the spiritual path, January is a great time for looking at the year ahead and fixing our determination to reach a target. Yes, even the spiritual life has targets, and spiritually-motivated development of mental strength is an essential prerequisite. Visu
Giriraj Swami and Anutama Prabhu spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.92.
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains in his Anubhasya, ‘A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Krsna conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. Those who are not advanced prefer to chant the Hare Krsna mantra in a solitary plac
Glorifying the Bhagavad-Gita Through Gita Jayanti Festival in Indonesia
Knowledge is meant for distribution. Although there is already much scientific knowledge, whenever scientists or philosophers awaken to a particular type of knowledge, they try to distribute it throughout the world, for otherwise the knowledge gradually dries up and no one benefits from it. Now, therefore, the Kåñëa consciousness movement has been set up to distribute this knowledge as it is, without distortion. Although
The Ibadan, Nigeria Nagara Sankirtana Group led by Yadhunath prabhu won the West Africa 2016 book distribution Marathon with a total book score of 901 books distributed! They also won one of the two Harinam buses made available by Nagara Sankirtan! Haribol!
Winter Festival is being held in exceptionally beautiful place – Seminar and recreation center “Dubingiai”. Residential space is located in 4 separate buildings. Conference halls are in a separate enclosure near residential buildings. During the festival the devotees are able to rest in comfortably furnished rooms. In each room there are comfortable beds, white linens, shower, wc. Children at the festival will be able to participate in their own workshops, which will take place in a separate ro
To say No to others when you are unable to or unwilling to do something can get difficult if you are too sensitive to others’ feelings. To be sensitive to others is a praiseworthy quality but undue sensitivity can land you in serious problems.
Similarly, being helpful is certainly great but overdoing it could be exhausting and even irritating. A research says that offering help to colleagues too often can adversely affect your own performance. Even for a professional “toxic handler”, simply lis
As part of their monthly spiritual nourishment devotees from all over Maharashtra have assembled in Pune for a 4-day intense discussion on Srimd Bhagavatam by HG Radheshyam Prabhu.
The sessions will be all day long with breaks in between for prasadam.
Two chapters will be covered everyday followed by exams on them, a very good opportunity for devotees to absorb themselves in Srimad Bhagavatam and get the direct mercy of all previous acaryas as said by HG Radheshym pr.
Source:http://www.iskconpu
“For centuries, people have taken many paths in search of lasting happiness. Most have come to the same conclusion: that the most powerful force is love and a life of benevolence - reaching out to the divine and others is a life imbued with the joy of devotion.”
These opening words of the film The Joy of Devotion, directed by Krisztina Danka (Krishna-Lila dasi) film-maker and executive director of Karuna Productions and her international team, perfectly encapsulate the film's essence.
On Thur
