harekrishna (129)

13668714089?profile=RESIZE_584xA life that allows us to reunite with mother earth and offer her products to Krishna favors our spiritual growth.

Srila Prabhupada writes, “Whatever is taken from the earth—either from the mines, from the surface of the globe, or from the atmosphere—should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Vishnu. As soon as the process of yajna [sacrifice] is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions—vegetables, trees, plants, fruit

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We’re All in Maya by Nagaraja Dasa

Kamsa%20Maya%20Raja%20Ravi%20Varma.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584xIn the Bhagavad-gita (7.14) Lord Krishna refers to maya, the deluding material energy, as mama maya: “My maya.” We Vaishnavas accept His word on this, with profound philosophical implications.

The chief philosophical opponents of Vaishnavas are the Mayavadis, or impersonalists, who posit ultimate reality as one homogeneous impersonal energy, with no second thing: All the unique entities we perceive, whether things or living beings, are merely mirages. Variety and individual identity are illusion

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Selfishness by Visakha Dasi

CrCbE0C.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584xIf, in our marriage, we focus on what we need and negate the needs of our partner, the relationship can’t last. If we give up who we are to please our partner, we may suffocate and become frustrated, resentful and depressed. One who is self-controlled doesn’t need to lord it over another, and neither does that person need to be overpowered by another. Marriage is a balance between satisfying our self and satisfying our partner. It means maintaining an awareness of the other person and their desi

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f9bb3d_d5e49a3ff96e4ae585e6cca991481ea6~mv2.jpeg?profile=RESIZE_584xThey are just 2 or 3 weeks old – twins of parents, Parama Gauranga and Rukmini, and for these two boys it was their first visit to a temple.  They behaved like a couple of rsis (sages), as quiet as could be.  Basically, they slept through the whole ceremony, a name-giving ceremony.  The oldest one has the name Nimai, and the fellow that was born following his brother received the name Nitai Rama.  The crackling of the small firepit did not phase them in the least.

 

Well, that was a program

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13660772879?profile=RESIZE_584x5 April, 1974

Seattle

Dear Sukadeva,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter, undated, and I have noted the contents…

One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind, so if our Godbrother becomes ill it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so that he can recover…. So there is no question of ill treating of our own Godbrothers simply because they are sick, nor should you allow such neglect to go on. So long we have this material body th
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13660771893?profile=RESIZE_584xkrsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-kala-pathojani-bhrajita

sad-bhaktavali-hamsa-cakra-madhupa-sreni-viharaspadam

karnanandi-kala-dhvanir vahatu me jihva-maru-prangane

sri-caitanya daya-nidhe tava lasal-lila-sudha-svardhuni

 TRANSLATION

 O my merciful Lord Caitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desert like tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krsna’s holy name, which are the plea
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13660769856?profile=originalGreat experience it always is taking that special 6:30 AM trek through the Ramsden green.  Neighbours who do the same as we do (minus the meditation beads) are seeing us as regulars.  We came to the children’s playground section of the park.  I led them there.  Anyone who knows me knows there is a time in the day where I want to be like a kid.  At the playground is a small cabin resembling a wood cabin like the type a hermit might take shelter of.  It was good connecting with it.

 

 As the

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13541789875?profile=RESIZE_584xThe public sometimes questions the words and behaviour of founders of various faith groups, whether it be Saint Peter, Mohammed, Moses, John Smith, or Brahma. Would such behaviour fit into a standard etiquette of current protocol? We mean no disrespect by raising the issue, but people do ask how Henry the 8th could do what he did.

In our portrayal of characters in our drama, Vamana, we take a hard look at spiritual figureheads like Sukracharya, and to some degree one of the very acknowledged gre
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13541457059?profile=RESIZE_584xOn the first day of Chandan Yatra in Mayapur, Sri Sri Radha Madhava with Their Asta-sakhis are offered the Rasamandala Vesa, depicting the divine Rasa Lila pastime of Lord Krishna.

Thus hearing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, speaking to pacify them, the gopīs became very much pleased. They became completely relieved of the great suffering of separation, not only by hearing the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead but also by touching His hands and legs. After this, the Supre

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13541456483?profile=RESIZE_584xMonsoon season is upon us, or so it seems. Rain has been coming down with not much of a break. It certainly makes for cooler weather, easier to work with, especially relevant to the current practice I'm having with our drama crew. Nevertheless, for some of the roles played out, a good sweat is the outcome. It is a good workout.

Before we start rehearsal, we do some warmup exercises, but to take it easy this morning, I asked my sound man, Chaitanya, to play Holtz’s composition “Neptune: The Mysti

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13541111654?profile=RESIZE_584xISKCON’s Govinda’s vegetarian restaurants form a unique blend of outreach and entrepreneurship, nourishing bodies and souls alike. Established at temple sites worldwide, these cafés serve sattvic (pure vegetarian) prasadam at fixed prices, with devotees and visitors encouraged to “eat to their heart’s content.” The profits from Govinda’s underwrite temple operations – from cow protection to educational programs – ensuring that Krishna conscious communities can flourish sustainably. Over the deca

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I Want My Eyes Back!

 

13541107458?profile=RESIZE_584xOn a warm December morning last year, around 11:00 a.m., as I sought the association of the magnificent Lord and prayed to His dear most devotee Prahlada, I found myself involved in one of His temple lilas (pastimes), much to my astonishment

After offering my obeisances to the captivating Prahlada, who stands next to his beloved Lord with his hands folded and his small body decorated with fresh fresh flowers and beautiful ornaments, I prayed, "My dear Prahlada, you are expert in receiving all

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LONG TRIP by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

 

13541106679?profile=RESIZE_584xThe trip was long and very drawn out. Three airports with much flying in between is a form of tapasya, austerity. I feel like I'm a flying monk at times.  Actually, flying would be fun. Sitting monk would be more accurate. A trip to the toilet is liberating, not because you are releasing, but you are walking or moving.
 
I chant on my meditation beads. I viewed a film, 1917. What a masterpiece of a movie! And watching history!
 
I contemplated my visits to Durban. Over the years, it has be
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It Was Indeed A Merciful Day!!!

 

13540645466?profile=RESIZE_584xYesterday, we celebrated the appearance day of Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita, and it truly felt like a day full of mercy.

From the very start, we were blessed to witness the abhishek of Their Lordships, surrounded by beautiful kīrtan and joyful faces everywhere. It was a moment of deep bliss.

Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita is none other than Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself in Gaura-līlā. Just as Rādhārāṇī is always by Kṛṣṇa’s side, in Gauralīlā, She manifests as Gadādhara Paṇḍita to quietly support Mahāprabhu throug

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ALL THAT IT TAKES by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13540201688?profile=RESIZE_584xI was happy to see my dear friend, Kalakantha from Florida, come to visit us for a few days. He came direct from Delhi on a flight. Yes, he is jet lagged, but it was hard to tell by the expert delivery of his Bhagavatam class. Before going for his catch-up sleep, we chatted on the nature of how to advance the Krishna cause. Thinking out-of-the-box is our tendency when we get together.  To be more specific, the theme of guru comes up, and in our attempts to answer the questions like, “What doe

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13539210086?profile=RESIZE_584xNestled amidst the serene landscapes of Alachua, Florida, the New Raman Reti community stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring legacy of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Established in 1977, this 127-acre spiritual haven has evolved into North America’s largest Hare Krishna community, blending ancient Vedic traditions with innovative sustainability practices. Through daily worship, educational programs, eco-conscious initiatives, and a deeply interconnected res

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Varuthini Ekadashi - Leela

 

13538963300?profile=RESIZE_584xGlories of Varuthini Ekadashi

As narrated by Lord Krishna in the Padma Purana to Maharaja Yudhishthira

Maharaja Yudhishthira once humbly inquired from Lord Krishna:

"O Janardana, please describe to me the merits of the Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of the month of Vaishakha (April–May). What is its name, and what benefits does one receive by observing it?"

Lord Sri Krishna replied:

O King! Varuthini Ekadashi is extremely auspicious, rare, and purifying. Fasting on this day destroys

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SOBER AND SINCERE by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

It happens on occasion that someone enters the temple with good intent, but they are either not so stable, are on drugs, or both. This morning, we were blessed by the presence of someone like that.

 

 A fellow came to the door, introduced himself and asked if he could sit down. His dress was casual, and to my dull recollection, he might have worn a poncho. He plopped himself down on the floor and pulled out of his long bag a number of stones – amethyst and crystals, and began praying or med

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An important part of the Itihasas are the Puranas. The Puranas are the histories of the universe and contain many stories that took place on earth or even on other planets and dimensions, or in which superhuman powers are commonplace. As we pointed out earlier, Vedic knowledge often consists of information about things from beyond our own sense perception or experience. We can be assured of its authenticity because of the fact that many Vedic scholars such as Shukadeva, Maitreya, Madhva, Raman

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13536897872?profile=RESIZE_584xGeorge Harrison’s spiritual journey stands as one of the most profound and influential connections between a Western artist and the Hare Krishna movement. His relationship with Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, and his devotion to spreading the Hare Krishna mantra, left an indelible mark on the global spiritual landscape.

A Deep Spiritual Connection

George Harrison’s fascination with Indian spirituality began in the late 1960s, as he sought peace beyond the fame and pressures of The Beatles

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