the wisdom park - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

A Lifestyle Of Gratitude by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on April 6, 2024 at 3:00pm

"Being grateful is a state of consciousness, a state awakened awareness. Are we grateful for every breath we breathe?" - Radhanath Swami

Every opportunity that comes to us in life, we should learn to be grateful for. We can't take anything for granted. I recently got the opportunity to go to Mauritius and had a good experience there but, if it was not for Krishna's mercy, so many things could have gone wrong. It could have rained heavily and spoilt the experience. I could have got sick there

The Defective Pure Devotee By Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 9, 2023 at 5:00pm

Reading this topic, our mind naturally challenges - How can a pure devotee have defects? Shouldn't he, be free from defects? The 100% perfect person! The Mr. Perfect!

The point is that a pure devotee can't be seen with material eyes and material logic. Just like Lord Krishna can't be seen with material eyes, so also His pure devotees. You need spiritual vision to appreciate God, His abode, His name and His devotees. Thus Bhakti Vinod Thakur, one of the greatest spiritual teachers of all times

Fortune Beyond Imagination & Qualification by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on August 24, 2023 at 4:00pm

As devotees, we don't realise the great fortune of being able to wear the attire of a Vaishnava, apply Tilak on our forehead, wear Tulsi beads on our neck, chant the Holynames of Krishna, associate with His wonderful devotees, engage in His service, honour His prasadam, visit His holy dhamas, circumbulate Tulsi, see His holy deities, hear His Katha, participate in His festivals, read His words in the scriptures. These are by no way ordinary activities. These are blessings of an immeasurable kin

Simple Living & High Thinking or Simply Living & Hardly Thinking

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on November 22, 2022 at 4:30pm

By Achyut Gopal Das

I came to stay in our ISKCON Vasco ashram for a while. I bought only one pair of dhoti - kurta other than what I was wearing thinking that I will keep going back and forth to our Panjim ashram, where I usually stay. But, it so happened that I didn't get any chance of going to Panjim for the last 20 days and somehow, I didn't find the need for it too. I guess, I have learnt to happily manage with just two pairs of dhoti - kurta. It was quite a revelation for me - that it

Enroute To The Spiritual World by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on November 10, 2022 at 4:30pm

It is explained in the scriptures that on the route to the spiritual world, one will have to pass through the irresistibly attractive heavenly planets. Only very rare and fixed up souls are able to get ahead of these tests and boldly march ahead to the spiritual world. Most decide to take a break and engage in their rendezvous at the highly-eulogized heavenly pleasure gardens. Thinking about making my journey through these heavenly realms without getting stranded in these heavenly realms is a

Time to Wake Up by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on February 14, 2021 at 2:00pm

"jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo, gauracānda bole

kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole"

"Lord Gauranga is calling, "Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya?" - from a song by Bhaktivinode Thakur.

When someone is fast asleep and he needs to woken up, there are two ways to do it. One is "a soft way" and the other, is "the hard way". The soft way is by making a sound or by ringing an alarm and the hard way is by shaking the person up till h

Giving Up Pettiness To Experience Prettiness by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on September 15, 2020 at 4:20pm

"The process of Krishna consciousness will empower us when we empower it."

The other day as I was taking a bath, the plastic bucket I was using, slipped and cracked. A piece from the rim of the bucket broke off and cut my finger. As I was waiting for the bucket to refill with water, I noticed that even after a long time the bucket wasn't filling up. It's at that time, I noticed a "not so apparent" crack at the bottom of the bucket which was causing all the water to leak out. I drew a lesson

No Gaurantee by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on September 10, 2020 at 8:20pm

There is no guarantee that a strong person will live long or a weak person will die soon. There is no guarantee that an educated person will be successful or an uneducated person will be a failure. There is no guarantee that a pious person will not become sinner or an impious person will not become a saint. There is no guarantee that a rich man's son will not become poor or a poor man's son will not become rich. There is no guarantee that one who joined the race early will be the first to fin

A Small Member In A Huge Family by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on August 9, 2020 at 4:30pm

"God is unlimited, so are the number of His devotees."

Every morning after the morning program in ISKCON temples and every time devotees offer their respects to the devotees of Lord Krishna, it is a custom to chant the phrase - "ananta koti vaishnava vrinda ki jai". It means - "all glories to the unlimited, countless devotees of the Lord". I got to witness a glimpse of this phrase in the recent annual Vrindavan Yatra. The Yatra itself had 7000 registered pilgrim devotees along side lakhs of

From This Ocean To That by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on August 8, 2020 at 4:45pm

A few days ago, there was our annual Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Panjim, the capital city of Goa. Lord Jagannath rode majestically in His majestic chariot in the most majestic street of Goa. It was a beautiful procession with devotees chanting and dancing enthusiastically for the pleasure of the Lord. Towards the end of the procession, it started to rain very heavily. Most devotees were still continuing to chant and dance undettered by the heavy down pour. But, I chose to shelter myself un

Reflection by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on May 29, 2020 at 3:40pm

The first verse of the 15th chapter from the Bhagavad-Gita reads like this: “Bhagavan spoke, it is said that there is and imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.”

I was always intrigued with this verse and am often in my walks reminded of this tree of knowledge by reflections seen as an ordinary tree by a pond of water or an image of a double-up upright and upside-down pos

Be Excited by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on May 28, 2020 at 5:00pm

How many of you want to see Krishna and meet Him? Here is a good news - Krishna is more eager to show Himself to us than we are to see Him. We just need to be excited to want to see Him. Krishna is always somewhere around the corner waiting to reveal His darshan to us.

He could reveal Himself in any Mahamantra that we chant. He could pop out of any page of the Bhagavad-Gita or Srimad-Bhagvatam that we read. He can show Himself in any of His deity that we see. He could reveal Himself through a

To Hell with Lust by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on April 12, 2020 at 4:50pm

Lust is something that is so much eulogized by the world and it is something that occupies all of one's mind space and heart space. It is a powerful energy that can potentially consume anyone and everyone in it's magical grip. Even though it is so much the goal of everyone in this world, the wise and the experienced see it as a peace sucking, hellish emotion. We may consider lust to be our best friend but the reality is that, lust is our worst enemy which will destroy our peace, our happiness,

Who is your dear deer? by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 30, 2020 at 12:12pm

"Oh Lord, please transfer the attraction I have towards the objects of this world to You."

We all know the story of King Bharat from Srimad-bhagvatam who became attached to a baby deer, so much so that, he forgot to perform devotional service to The Supremely Dear Lord. Thus, his attachment and attraction to The Dear Lord was replaced by his newfound attachment and attraction to this deer. This deer became his dear deer. The result - in his next life, he was born as a baby deer. Lord Krishna ex

Selfless Love by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on March 14, 2020 at 5:17pm

I recently saw a loving father who was selflessly taking care of his mischievous child. I was observing the exhibition of his tolerance. I was left wondering about all the troubles I must have given my parents and the extent of tolerance and patience they must have exhibited in raising me up.

Whatever we are and where ever we are in life is because of the selfless sacrifice of so many people. We should always remember the sacrifices others have made for us and are making for us and feel gratefu

Close Your Eyes And Open by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 31, 2020 at 1:05pm

Don't build your house in shifting sand, build it on a solid rock foundation." - Paraphrased from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As I close my eyes to chant japa and open my eyes a little while later, I notice that something has changed. Either someone who was chanting along has got up and left or someone new joins the chanting. As I close my eyes to chant in the Kirtan on the beach and open my eyes a little while later, I notice that the scene has changed. As I go outside Goa for a few days fo

Good To Expect Bad by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 28, 2020 at 2:10pm

Mosquitoes are something that bother me and very often as an unconscious reflex action and many times as a conscious action, I catch myself killing many of them. This is just one of the many sins and offenses I commit, mentally, verbally and physically. How can I then not expect any reactions for these actions of mine. Why should I pray for a life of no difficulties. Rather, I should be praying to God to give me my quota of reactions so that I learn my lessons quickly and rectify my offensive a

Let The Failing Body Not Fail You by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on November 15, 2019 at 3:01pm

Life's Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late." - Benjamin Franklin

As I carefully see the mirror and observe my face, I notice a few strands of white hair in my chin area. Time has passing is a known fact but never expected it to pass so soon. It appears that I recently passed out of college and entered my youth but I now realize that I am almost 36 years old and a grown up adult, at least physiologically. I also realize that there is a long way to go till I become a psycholog

The Art Of Heart by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on November 8, 2019 at 5:05pm

Devotion means attention to details." - Radhanath Swami

As I was having my breakfast at our ISKCON-run restaurant at Vrindavan, I saw one lady chef cut a piece of cake, neatly place it on the center of the plate and wipe the excess cake markings very meticulously with a tissue paper. It was then served to the customer with a knife and fork. I very much appreciated the devotion this lady put in her job. No wonder, why people spend so much extra money in going to high-quality restaurants which

Strike Before The Lightning Strikes by Achyut Gopal Das

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on October 21, 2019 at 3:08pm

"Life is fragile - handle with prayer."

A few days back in Goa, while raining it thundered so loud that it literally scared many people. I was inside our ashram staring at the sky through the window and imagining what would happen if the lightning entered in the room being attracted by the mobile next to me. I then brushed off this possibility as rare and continued my work. Just a few hours later, one of my friend came to meet me. In the course of our discussion, he told me that a few weeks ago

the wisdom park (28)

A Lifestyle Of Gratitude by Achyut Gopal Das

The Defective Pure Devotee By Achyut Gopal Das

Fortune Beyond Imagination & Qualification by Achyut Gopal Das

Simple Living & High Thinking or Simply Living & Hardly Thinking

Enroute To The Spiritual World by Achyut Gopal Das

Time to Wake Up by Achyut Gopal Das

Giving Up Pettiness To Experience Prettiness by Achyut Gopal Das

No Gaurantee by Achyut Gopal Das

A Small Member In A Huge Family by Achyut Gopal Das

From This Ocean To That by Achyut Gopal Das

Reflection by Bhaktimarga Swami

Be Excited by Achyut Gopal Das

To Hell with Lust by Achyut Gopal Das

Who is your dear deer? by Achyut Gopal Das

Selfless Love by Achyut Gopal Das

Close Your Eyes And Open by Achyut Gopal Das

Good To Expect Bad by Achyut Gopal Das

Let The Failing Body Not Fail You by Achyut Gopal Das

The Art Of Heart by Achyut Gopal Das

Strike Before The Lightning Strikes by Achyut Gopal Das

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