By Giriraja Swami
Starting To See The Center Of Things
“Ever since the Stone Age, people have come up with so many nonsensical ideas to explain the forces of nature.”
“Ever since the Stone Age, people have come up with so many nonsensical ideas to explain the forces of nature.”
From CHANT AND BE HAPPY – THE POWER OF MANTRA MEDITATION
It’s a scene that has been repeated countless times on the thoroughfares of cities throughout the Western world-from Hollywood Boulevard and Fifth Avenue in America, to London’s Oxford Street and the Champs Elysees in Paris. There, in the midst of traffic, shops, restaurants, and movie theaters, people suddenly find themselves confronted by a group of young persons singing and dancing to the beat of cylindrical drums and the brassy cadenc
On encountering Hare Krsna devotees chanting on the street, people respond with every reaction from amusement to anger. Few understand what the chanting is all about. To many, it seems a frivolity, often inspiring the remark “Get a job!”
But there’s nothing frivolous about chanting the names of God. Srila Prabhupada had great faith in the transformative power of chanting. He told us that simply by chanting Hare Krsna we would become self-realized. He spoke from experience and on the basis of th
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a worldwide religious community and confederation of over 800 temples and cultural centers, conducted Chant for Peace events during the weekend of Saturday, March 5th, 2022 around the globe to pray for all people affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and surrounding areas. ISKCON devotees all over the world promoted the uplifting process of chanting the Holy Names of God as well as the understanding of universal brotherhood and
I have to hand it to them; Cameron and Vallabha Hari took their shovel carving through the imposing mounds of snow around the building and succeeded in making it accessible for pedestrian walkways with snow walls. Bravo to you guys!
To those who are intimidated by natures imposition, I would like to offer this advice: take them as Krishna’s way of reminding us that 1) we are not God – we are not in control, 2) Krishna is giving the opportunity to learn modesty, 3) life in this world is not all
We are always being advised to chant with emotion like a child crying for its mother. But when I chant, it takes everything I got to be able to focus, so there’s like no room to also focus on emotions, kind of like you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. So, I’m wondering if Krishna will accept my arduous efforts to focus on His names as an emotion or would He consider that just mechanical?
First of all, Krishna is very satisfied if someone makes an effort in His service. However, you shou
Some days you are a friend
Some days you are foe
You swing moods up
You swing them low
I can’t always trust
You’re not in one place
You respond well to lust
Big dose or a trace
You lead me to greed
It’s not what I want
You convinced it’s a need
In truth it’s a taunt
When there is anger
Pent up inside
You then do hanker
To push it outside
I don’t know why
You are so cruel
Cunning and sly
And wanting to rule
You’re some kind of clown
Silly and joking
A laugh or a frown
Nabbing and poking
Yet you
The more we hear about Krishna, the more we become purified. We cannot understand Krishna because we are not purified. But if you hear the Krishna name, Hare Krishna—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare—if you chant and hear, you become purified. So why should we not take this simple method, as it is recommended in the shastra, harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [“In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than cha
Some restrictions becoming relaxed on Covid discipline has made it more possible for a flow of freedom in places like High Park. From noon until 4 pm, a small group of us bhakti yoga followers gathered at what Nick called “the Hill” for kirtan performance. It’s a great spot in a great park where people come to chill.
I managed to catch the last few minutes of the blissful chant before embarking on a trip (by car) north to Caledon and to a farm. Visiting this sixty-four-acre land in the rolling
GBC SPT hosts "Kirtan Prayers Global" for all devotees worldwide afflicted by Covid-19 on Saturday, May 1st and May 2nd, Sunday. Live on: https://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/kirtanprayers/
Chant for Love and Peace, kirtan event May 2nd. Live on: www.bit.ly/chantforindia
Source: https://iskconnews.org/chant-for-love-and-peace-and-kirtan-prayers-global-events,7783/
Video: Click here
Japa meditation – Do not disturb. Personal meeting with Krsna in progress!
It is devotional service that is opening up the spiritual dimension for us. In devotional service, every activity we do here is in the material world however simultaneously it has eternal spiritual benefit, or one can say that it is simultaneously connecting us to Krsna. Not only is there eternal benefit, but Krsna Himself is giving us that benefit. Krsna is personally getting involved in our lives and
Affirmations for Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
by Payal Shah
(Adapted from ‘Japa Affirmations’ by His Grace Mahatma Dasa)
Ancient Vedic texts address the notion that no amount of material accomplishments can deeply satisfy us. Our consciousness has been polluted by the material atmosphere, and as we try to exploit resources, we are in fact getting more and more entangled in complexities. Vedic wisdom attributes this condition to a lack of spiritual awareness. These Vedic wisdom texts sha
We should not think that sankirtana, or the chanting of the Lord’s holy names, is simply part of the system of mantra-yoga, or is merely a formula that has been passed down through the ages like other yoga systems. Nor is it a ritual, ceremony, or activity meant for producing good karma or positive fruitive results. Neither is it merely a way to focus the mind and achieve peace and tranquility. It is far more than any of these. It is the Lord Himself who establishes the chanting of the holy name
Let us try to learn the fundamentals of chanting of the Holy Name from Srila Prabhupada as our founder acharya explains its importance, the dos and don’ts and also the remedy if we commit offenses while chanting.
It is recommended that such chanting be performed very loudly. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Nārada Muni says that without shame he began traveling all over the world, chanting the holy name of the Lord. Similarly, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised:
tṛṇā
By HH Sacinandana Swami
As I’m sitting here in Vrindavan, as the minutes, hours and days go by, I am more and more interested in the close God, not so much the distant God. I’m less interested in the God, Who is only thought about, but not experienced, Who is philosophized about, but not seen. As I chant, I think deeply about how to establish real contact with the Lord.
What he says is, “My Lord, I am directly calling out to You now, I am directly approaching You now, by Your various names. And
Let us join together to hear from the very experienced Kirtan leaders from London as they reaffirm the Purpose #4 of ISKCON (To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu)
About the Team
Radhika Ranjan Das
Full time working professional who has been practicing Bhakti from a young age. Much of his time is spent in sharing kirtan with diverse audiences. He is a core manager for Kirtan L
At the time of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, he would say that anyone who does not chant 64 rounds, is fallen. He said to chant a minimum of 4 rounds. Now, 4 rounds did not necessarily mean going back to Godhead in this lifetime, but it meant that at least some connection is there. 64 rounds, however, was the program. That was the straight path back to Godhead. But Prabhupada brought it down to 16 rounds, accompanied by his prayer, so therefore 16 is the blessed number for going back to God
Human society is brought before the big question mark, “Does this all make sense?” the moment it is confronted with death – the existential dilemma. Vaisnava scholars hold that the teachings of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami begin in all earnestness after king Pariksit asked his urgent question: “What should I do now that I am at the brink of death? What should anyone do in this situation?”
We all live differently, but one thing is certain: each and every one of us will land before the threshold of dea
This Krishna consciousness movement is spreading quickly all over the world—within four, five years. Is it my credit? No. It is Krishna’s credit. But because I have tried to do this business, people are automatically giving me the credit. They say, “Swamiji, you have done wonderful.” I have done nothing wonderful. It is Krishna’s business. Krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana. (Cc Antya-lila 7.11) Without Krishna’s strength, nobody can spread. That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta.
Krishna
There are sixteen words that encompass the maha-mantra, which is taken seriously by those of the bhakti persuasion, and preferably uttered in the morning for setting a good spiritual note; though the sound is welcome anytime of the day. There is no hard and fast rule for chanting, however, it should be noted that one makes the effort to communicate with the Divine through this medium of chanting at some time. I spend a portion of my night chanting on my beads but I also fix myself (usually on a