The rich theology of the Vedic literature can end speculative attempts to resolve the apparently contradictory concepts of predestination and free will.
Kimberly picks up a tape by a rock band known for its satanic image and clicks it into her Walkman. Putting on the earphones, she turns the volume way up.
“Maybe I was just made evil,” says Kimberly to herself. That leads to another thought. “Maybe some people are made good. Like Heather. Everything always seems to go right for Heather. G
atmaupamyena sarvatra
samam pasyati yo ‘rjuna
sukham va yadi va duhkham
sa yogi paramo matah
TRANSLATION
He is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!
PURPORT
One who is Krsna conscious is a perfect yogi; he is aware of everyone’s happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. And the ca
By Jack Dodson (Kala-Svarupa Das)
Many people today, whether they are part of ISKCON or not, believe that while the Vedic tradition is full of spiritual knowledge, technical material knowledge is either absent or inaccessible to the modern person. In his essay collection, Vedic Mathematics and the Nature of Time, Vasyl Semenov (Dvija Govinda Das) systematically takes us through mathematical aspects of the Vedic tradition that are equivalent to the techniques in the Western World, and in some ca
I have never seen such a large pool of blood within the confines of our walls at 243 Avenue Road. Our head priest (pujari), Brahma, entered the temple at 3:40 AM, and when he reached the bottom of the stairs, a blood vessel burst at the base of his leg.
Fortunately, our young men of the Bhakti Academy assisted him, cleaned him, and hurried him to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment and advice. Brahma then returned when the Academy head, Visahka, and her husband, Punya, drove him back home.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s instructions come to the aid of those of us who shudder at the mention of the word “surrender.”
Growing up, my older brother and I would sometimes get into physical fights. I can’t remember what we would fight about, but a few times a month when my parents weren’t home we would end up in a skirmish. He would often bend my arm behind my back, telling me to surrender by saying “uncle.” I would scream and push and stomp until the pain would become unbearable. Then I would ye
Exploring Your Word of Honor Being Committed in a Non-Committal World
By Mahatma Das
Imagine this scene. After millions of lifetimes you finally make it back to the spiritual world. As you approach the gates of Goloka you are asked to wait because Krsna wants to come and personally greet you. You are getting more excited at every moment. You can hardly believe you have finally made it back to your eternal home.
In the distance you see a beautiful blue form coming towards you. Finally, after tra
Understanding the deeper meanings of rasa-lila.
Sarat-purnima is the first day of the month of Kartika (Oct.-Nov.). It is on this night that Lord Krsna enacts His rasa-lila in Vrndavana. The rasa-lila is the ultimate culmination of spiritual realization. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sukadeva Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the greatest of all sannyasis, and pure renunciants who have absolutely no interest in sensual enjoyment worship the five chapters
What is the appropriate response of a Vaisnava or person of faith during a time of national or global crisis? The examples of great souls and of scripture can help us understand what a Vaisnava response can look like.
From a certain perspective, we are always in a time of crisis. In the material world, there is danger at every step. Although the material world is the wonderful creation of the Divine, it is not our home, and our material position is never secure. A large part of spiritual practi
Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=113765
By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)
There has been an attempt to explain the origins of such languages as Sanskrit, Greek and Roman for many years. This is because there has been a recognition of many similarities between them, but the exact original language which they have derived from has never been identified. So they say that it is now extinct, but they call it the Proto-Indo-European Language (PIE). This has now given way to the groupings
Event flyer; Rama Kisora Dasa with Rev. Rachel McIver Morey from Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul.
In 2024, ISKCON Minnesota joined the Minnesota Multifaith Network (MMN), and during a November meeting, Rama Kisora Dasa, a community Board Member, was able to create meaningful connections with other religious congregations in the Twin Cities. Rama Kisora met MMN’s Chairperson, Robert Pickering, and following a long and meaningful conversation, Pickering invited him to present at the upcomi
Govinda Datta Dasa and Dhira-Lalita Dasa distribute 10-course prasadam lunches to grateful police officers.
Dhira-Lalita Dasa, a brahmachari at ISKCON New Dvaraka Temple, has produced an inspiring 25-minute video highlighting the partnership between the LA Temple and the Krishna Lunch So Cal food truck. Together they have distributed prasadam to many hundreds of first responders, especially firefighters who have been battling the devastating fires in LA county. Alongside police and national gua
In the spiritual world, Lord Nityānanda is the eternal companion of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is the very same Lord Balarāma, the first expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. As Lord Balarāma, He serves the Supreme Lord in all His pastimes, and in this divine incarnation as Lord Nityānanda, He appeared to assist Mahāprabhu in spreading the holy names of Kṛṣṇa through the saṅkīrtana movement.
Lord Nityānanda is the foundation of all existence, the original spiritual master, and the source of the material
thanAryan gave me a packet of breadfruit chips to include in my luggage for the trip which touches three countries. I love that breadfruit, prepared in almost any style. I had my snack. I’m set to go.
The longest portion of this flight on Caribbean Airlines was going to be from Trinidad to Canada. Seat 5 A was roomy, especially for the legs. It was my thoughts that became the major occupant in that space. Past, present, and future become the three phases of that time. When memories
The well-known Abhay Charan television series, based on Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s biography Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, will air for the first time on Suriname television in February 2025.
Suriname is a South American country bordered by Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana, with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Rich in cultural diversity, Suriname has an Indian population of about 27 percent.
The epic 45-episode series tracing the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wa
Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, offered seva alongside the successful prasadam distribution partnership with ISKCON at the Maha Kumbh Mela being held in Prayagraj, India. The collaboration combines ISKCON’s spiritual mission with the Adani Group’s logistical capabilities to distribute 100,000 meals daily during the 45-day festival. Using the famous Mega Kitchen, with its base at Govardhan Eco Village, 2,500 volunteers distribute the prasadam to dozens of locations throughout the relig
It is primarily Prabhupadadev who coordinates my programs in Guyana. The latest topic was held at the seawall right next to the Atlantic. “Youthful Ambassadors of Krishna Consciousness” was our focus. The night before in Berbice, we spoke on the topic “Bridges” since the venue was near the bridge over-arching the Berbice River. A bridge can be seen as a metaphor in spirituality. Through the system of Parampara, disciplic succession, one bridges the gap between a teacher and a listener. In
The BBT Marketing, Communications, and Innovations Team is extremely grateful to all the devotees who participated in the 2024 Live to Give campaign. Your efforts to distribute Bhagavad Gita made a positive impact on the planet and will definitely please Srila Prabhupada and our predecessor acharyas. In order to help serve you and assist you, we are requesting any devotee who participated in this campaign to fill out this quick, four question survey regarding your experiences during the campaign
Voulnteers distributing Prasadam to some of the thousands of pilgrims to the area for the Maha Kumbh.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims throng to Ayodhya Dham every day after taking a holy bath at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers during the auspicious Maha Kumbh, which started in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anticipating the arrival of millions of devotees in Ayodhya Dham on Makar Sankranti, ISKCON Ayodhya offered its “squirrel service” by serving 100,000 free mea
Translation (SB 11.10.17)
Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?
Purport
Although materialistic persons reject Kṛṣṇa consciousness and instead pursue t
