It was 1981 and early in my senior year of high school, I was walking out of the East Brook Mall in Willimantic Connecticut with two friends named Steve Walton and Clyde Hall. In my hand I was holding a bag with Jimmy Hendrix’s “Axis Bold As Love” album in it, that I had just purchased at Music World. I had loved Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced”. and had played it again and again over the summer as I delved deeply into the world of marijuana and LSD.
Though, by this time, I was burning out on dr
Discovering Spiritual Knowledge
It all began with meeting a young lady, who is an astrologer. She prepared my natal map and gave some recommendations as far as what I should and should not do. First of all, she recommended to switch to a vegetarian diet. The reason for that is because I was born on Caturdasi. It is a must for people who are born on this day to be engaged in spiritual practice. Otherwise, consequences can be really harsh. I became interested. Actually, I had always been inter
If we don’t sleep at the right time, we will sleep at the wrong time (Based on Gita 06.16)
When practicing spiritual life, we may equate spiritual advancement with denying our bodily needs such as sleep. We may deprive ourselves of sleep to demonstrate our spiritual advancement.
However, spiritual advancement centers not on physical deprivation, but on spiritual absorption. To grow spiritually, we need to become conscious of our own spiritual identity and of the supreme spiri…tual reality, Kris
I recently read one of the latest books by Ian Stevenson, entitled European Cases of the Reincarnation Type. Dr. Stevenson is a research professor of psychiatry at the University of Virginia, and he has been doing research on the subject of reincarnation for more than thirty years. Over this period, he has accumulated several hundred accounts of young children who consciously remember details of past lives, exhibit birthmarks or phobias connected with a former person’s death, or even speak flue
SB 1.1.2 … sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ‘tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat …As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.
Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.2
By the hearing process Krsna IMMEDIATELY (sadyo) is established in the heart.
Please note the word RAPT [attention, in the previous quote] – there is a consistency in the Bhagavatam methodology. One has to hear attentively.
The sadhana of hea
When I joined the Hare Krishna movement, I was 20. I was young and full of anticipation for an improved life. Well, that has happened. I am blessed. Now looking at fifty years later, my intentions are the same. I continue to work on self improvement, although externals have changed.
Other young persons had joined when I did. For instance, two of the decent people I got to know were a couple, Vallabha Chaitanya and Lila Sukha. Last week, Vallabha passed away at Saranagati where I just visited. L
This is the continuation of a conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples in New Vrindaban, West Virginia, on June 26, 1976.
Srila Prabhupada: So those who are devoted to the Lord believe they'll become happy by seeing others becoming happy.
[To Disciple:] Read the next verse.
Disciple [reading from Bhagavad-gita 16.11-12]: "The demoniac believe that to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of
* It is This Sankirtana Which is the Life and Soul of Our Movement *
The quotes from Srila Prabhupada presented here are in chronological order to give a little feel for the evolution of sankirtana and preaching in our Krishna consciousness movement. We can see how wonderfully Srila Prabhupada encouraged his devotees in their preaching efforts going from street chanting and free pamphlet distribution to book printing and distribution as our most important activity. Hare Krishna!
As Much Chantin
Be personal. Honor each individual for who he or she is. This principle was repeatedly exemplified by Srila Prabhupada throughout his time with us. As he saw how everyone is spiritually equal and should have an equal opportunity to participate in his movement according to his or her qualifications and propensities, so can we. As he encouraged everyone, so can we. In the world today, there’s a dire need for this cutting-edge, spiritual vision, a vision that’s resonant with Krishna’s teachings, t
By Jayaprakash Ramsaran
“The successful warrior is the average man with laser-like focus.” Bruce Lee
The magnifying glass is a source of constant fascination for young kids; I know it was for my brother and me. We used them to learn wilderness survival. Ostensibly, if we were ever backpacking and got lost, we’d have to start a fire. So, we took advantage of that to see how many things we could start alight by using the heat of the sun.
There we were in the backyard, finding little pieces of pap
“Life exists not because of a functioning body, but despite being in an inherently dead body.”
Life after death is a popular philosophical topic with varying opinions about its possibility. The Bhagavad-gita is clear about it – life is eternal, unimpeded by death.
“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another bo
Vaishnavi Ministry NA is organizing a gofundme fundraiser to benefit The Dasi-Ziyad Family Institute and help fund the production of this film.
The film project’s purpose is to pay tribute to Krsnanandini Dasi by presenting her inspiring life and the impact she made on her family, spiritual community, and society at large.
Your donations will help us to preserve Krsnanandini Dasi's life and legacy with a documentary that depicts Krsnanandini Dasi’s journey and
By Sukanthi Radha dasi
By Giriraj Swami
On October 28, 1972, in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.17:
srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
“Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous w
The Bhagavad-Gita is a theological and philosophical classic. In 700 concise verses, it summarises the conclusions of the Vedas, ancient scriptures written approximately 5000 years ago in the Sanskrit language. It covers topics ranging from religion to relationships, science to sociology, leadership to lifestyle management: the keys to all aspects of life, the universe and everything. For thousands of years, it has been a source of limitless inspiration for thinkers, leaders, and spiritual see
Will it be enough? Will I dedicate myself enough that when the time of death comes, that I will really be anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ (Nectar of Devotion 1.1.11); free from any other motivation, and that I can just turn to Krsna and say, “Krsna I am yours and I have no other interest than your interest and as you desire”. Will I develop abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir (Bhagavad-gita 16.1); develop that spirit of fearlessness. This fearlessness is required where we have to shift our focus and look at Krsna’s
By Damodar das
Giriraj Swami spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.6:
etevan sankhya-yogabhyam
sva-dharma-parinisthaya
janma-labhah parah pumsam
ante narayana-smrtih
“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.
Remember Krishna at the End of Life (Right click to download)
Source: http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=1
