An analysis of what made Ravana incorrigible.
The Ramayana describes how Ravana acted devilishly for most of his life and refused to reform despite repeated good advice and strong warnings. His incorrigibility raises an important question about human nature. Are some people innately bad? That raises a bigger question: Are people in general innately good or innately bad?
Let’s consider both possibilities.
Most of us would like to believe that people are basically
Our mind, an aspect of Krishna’s material energy, can be a helpful ally or a hindering foe.
Some five hundred and ten years ago, after Sri Chaitanya had taken sannyasa and was intending to travel by foot from Bengal to Vrindavan, Sri Nrisimhananda Brahmacari decided to serve Sri Chaitanya by creating a broad road for Him to walk on. What Sri Nrisimhananda created was by no means an ordinary road. In his Chaitanya-charitamrita (Madhya 1.156–159), Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami describes it:
Sanctimony is not necessarily reserved for the righteous. It’s a condition that could affect anyone: the right-wing, left-wing, atheists, and even “the sinful.” It means “making a show of being morally superior to others.” We all fall into it at one time or other, sooner or later.
In my college years, I first saw it on full display in a group of radical, hippy, spokespeople who came to speak to students about “The Revolution.” As a hippy myself, I was dismayed by their elitist and sanctimonious
Srila Prabhupada explained how an expert businessman can thrive in any economic climate. When the market booms he sells commodities and makes a healthy profit. When the market is down, he buys abundantly, remaining alert to sell when the demand rebuilds. Either way, lucrative business as usual. In the same way, the ups and downs of life are all opportunities to become spiritually wealthy. In times of peace and prosperity, we have the space to spiritually immerse ourselves, building assets of in
On February 18, 2025 the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) achieved another milestone with the Grand Opening of the Legacy Museum of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Now in its first phase of 1000 sq. ft. in size, the museum is planned to grow to an astounding 21,000 sq. ft., becoming the largest museum for any single person in the history of mankind.
This overview video of the Grand Openi
One of Utah’s leading papers, Deseret News, recently reported that Utah lawmakers have advanced a bill (SB259) that would designate several religiously significant days, including Hindu holidays Diwali and Holi, as official state “holy days.”
This bill may surprise some, given Utah’s current religious demographic, which is dominated by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with 2,126,216 adherents in a state of 3.2 million residents (2020 statistics). The next closest relig
Guru Prasad Swami was trying to correct the devotee who throws the sacred water on the pilgrims. The Maharaja caught my eye and indicated that he should not throw from the front of people, but instead from behind, especially for those who wear glasses. We were in the middle of the arati ceremony when Guru Prasad mimed out to me windshield wipers swaying back and forth. He laughed. I laughed.
This small gesture started my day. Perhaps the jesting might strike an interest in a devotional
(From an old letter)
INDIAN/AMERICAN/HARE KRISHNA
I am a devotee of Krishna and have been one for the past seven years. I am also of Indian origin, and my story is a typical one.
I have been living in North America since I was nine years old. My parents came here to complete their higher education, and upon completion of their doctorates, they decided to settle down in this, their adopted country. As the family grew, came careers, households, mortgages, etc. Along with this material, success cam
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.23)
Misers hold on to whatever wealth they have and do not want to share, and the result is they are being deprived. So here we are in Europe, we brought wealth from all over the world. We got it by hook or Captain Cook, somehow or other, we brought it in. Here it is and now we are sitting on it. But gradually, it is running out. London is still going strong but if you go a bit North, people are poor! It
“A person is not considered a great sage unless he disagrees with another sage”.
This adage suitably describes the career of La Mettrie, whose contentious writings during the eighteenth century were almost universally reviled by his contemporaries during the age of the Enlightenment. Even Frederick the Great, who afforded him protection and patronage following his banishment from France and Holland, declared that one could attain peace of mind by not reading La Mettrie’s works. Notwithstanding t
Chandramauli Swami (left) and Guru Prasad Swami (right) visiting the booth at ILS event.
ISKCON Devotee Healthcare Services, an initiative of Bhaktivedanta Hospital and Research Institute, has witnessed significant growth since its initial launch at the 2023 International Leadership Sanga (ILS), expanding its reach to countries around the world.
The highly respected Mumbai hospital is a 300-bed NABH-accredited (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) multi-specialty te
The ISKCON Birnagar Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Janmasthan Development Project is a landmark initiative that is fulfilling a long-cherished desire of Srila Prabhupada to glorify Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur at his birthplace. Despite multiple attempts during Srila Prabhupada’s manifest presence, the project didn’t materialize at that time. However, efforts continued through the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charitable Trust, which has supported the existing Janmasthan of Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
Now, under the dir
Join us for an enriching online workshop “Building the Future of ISKCON with Care, Part 2” on Saturday, March 1st, 12:30-2:30PM EST facilitated by Jai Nitai Das, North American Representative, ISKCON Devotee Care Office.
Following the initial well-received workshop from November 2024, sponsored by the North American Regional Governing Body, this second workshop will focus more on practical application strategies to cultivate and embed devotee care in our Vaishnava communities.
This workshop will
Some good news came from a disciple/student regarding our beloved Srila Prabhupada.
“Today, at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad awarded the prestigious title ‘Vishwa Guru’ to His Divine Grace Abhaya Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
“This historical moment certifies the incomparable contribution of Srila Prabhupada in the Renaissance of Sanatan Dharma and Bhakti mov
Pancadhara Das in his home studio recording instrumental music for meditation.
Jorge Luis Martin, known in the ISKCON community as Pancadhara Das, has dedicated his life to music and spirituality. As a singer-songwriter, music producer, Reiki practitioner, and Bhakti Yoga devotee, his journey—from the streets of Buenos Aires to a quiet forest retreat—reflects his deep connection to Krishna consciousness.
Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a Catholic family, Pa
Srila Prabhupada on a japa walk with Yamuna Devi Dasi, Malati Devi Dasi, and others.
The history of ISKCON has shown that Kali, the personification of the current Age of Quarrel, is adept at introducing controversies that act like storm clouds obscuring the effulgent sun of Mahaprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement. The propensity for debate, argument, and verbal conquest can be likened to turbulent winds; harsh speech to torrential rain; and fleeting victories in establishing one’s position to flashes o
Today is Shiva-ratri. Vaishnavas generally do not celebrate Shiva-ratri, and to begin, I will explain why, with reference to the Bhagavad-gita. We read from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Chapter 7: “Knowledge of the Absolute”:
TEXT 23
antavat tu phalam tesam
tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam
devan deva-yajo yanti
mad-bhakta yanti mam api
TRANSLATION
Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods,
Our drama thespian group is working very hard to assemble, once again, The Age of Kali, with gorgeous costumes. Compliments to Girisha from South Africa who put the attire together so that the actors could feel the part with some enhancement. We have made incredible headway in one way, only because the actors truly believe in the piece and the message it brings.
When I see the rehearsals, I am taken by the fact that the main character, Kali, who is notoriously nasty, parallels many of the cur
An irresistible offer from the Supreme Lord
What is the current situation of the world? Miseries and suffering everyday. Terrorist attacks, global warming, deadly diseases, earthquakes, floods. The list goes on.
But there is hope.
God has decided to give an offer to uplift ourselves from this miserable condition of life. How? By giving personal loans of His special mercy. God is our father, our best friend, and our ever well-wisher. He is supreme, so He can give unlimitedly—so much that you can’
A conversation with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In June 1976 at New Vrindaban, a Hare Krishna farm community in West Virginia, Srila Prabhupada fields questions sent to him from the editors of Bhavan’s Journal, one of Bombay’s leading cultural and religious periodicals.
Devotee: Here is the first question:
“It is said that the greatest strength of Hinduism is its catholicity, or breadth of outlook, but that this is also its greatest weakness in that there are very few re
