Why such a question you might ask? In one sense anyone can lead a kirtan, but let us consider a few things first. I write this as much for myself as others as I too am prone to egoism and a lack of proper attitude at times in my service.
There are few leaders, such as Indradyumna Swami and Sivarama Swami, who will only have capable devotees lead a kirtan, those who know how to keep a steady pace and stick to the same melody. I am not of the opinion that
anyone can lead at any given time, maybe
During the community sankirtan festival in March in NZ, Krishnaloka and I were both unable to go out because of some unfinished projects.
However, Caitanya Vihar’s class in the morning was very inspiring. He stressed that we shouldn’t be unmotivated to distribute books just because we might not be able to do many hours in one day. A power hour, or even thirty minutes is beneficial. Or perhaps just ten minutes, if you’re really time poor!
He suggested that having a book on us at all times means
I was on South Street in Philadelphia, just about to leave for home, but my partner was in a queue in a store, so while waiting I was doing some books.
An African-American couple, Dana and Peter, appeared to be from around here, when I met them. I asked whether they had a busy afternoon planned.
They are Philly locals, but they had just gotten off a plane after a holiday in South Korea. They were walking around during the afternoon trying to stay awake, fighting jetlag.
I showed them Srila Prab
Near the home of Ravi, in Stellarton, the Albion Trail begins, which changes its name to Samson Trail as you approach New Glasgow along East River. It is a well-maintained earth path, soft on the feet, superior to asphalt, and it goes for a mere five kilometres – a perfect length for a person (me) on physio recovery.
Our forty-five-minute drive to Antigonish ended up being more of a sit-down at a gazebo with a creek to our side and green all around. The local news “The Casket,” took interest in
It is very important to understand that the individual jiva-souls are eternal persons, each with their own unique bodily form that can change voluntarily in the spiritual world according to Krsna's pastime.
This means each individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality, and the free will to make their own decisions to stay in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, or leave.
The eternal spiritual bodily form is anti-matter (spiritual energy as in
I was on sankirtana at Botafogo Beach in Rio de Janeiro. At a bar table, there were three fat old men. One told me, “We don’t want to buy anything! I’m an Evangelical. He’s a spiritualist, and he’s a Pai-de-Santo [a priest of Umbanda, an African-Brazilian religion].”
I continued the conversation, trying to find my point, until I said, “But look, this is one of Srila Prabhupada’s books!”
The Pai-de-Santo exclaimed, “Let me see this book of Prabhupada. Prabhupada is an enlightened person!”
I was i
At times I feel like I am imposing, along with whatever crew I travel with, when we stay at someone’s home. Afterall, there are four of us (Myself, Mahadeva, Annapurna and Ryan) and that might be hard to accommodate. It could be an inconvenience.
The feedback I get from our hosts, almost all the time, is that they really appreciate the stayover. It makes a difference to those benevolent hosts. I get remarks like, “Your staying with us has helped me to get up earlier.” Or, I hear them saying, “I
Voluntary association of servitude in the Kingdom of God is only fully achieved when two are involved in loving reciprocal exchanges nurtured and encouraged by Krsna.
In the Spiritual world's of Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets, loving devotional service is never a one-way or one-sided affair.
No, real loving exchanges or service is always expressed in a reciprocal voluntary two-way exchange in God's (Krsna) Kingdom.
In Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana personal voluntary expressions of lo
There is only one classification of jiva-souls, not two as some believe.
Therefore each individual jiva-soul has two sides to their personality, they can either be nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned), or can be nitya-siddha (eternally liberated)
In this way the jiva-souls can choose for themselves to be with Krsna, or reject Krsna.
This is because each jiva-soul, as part of their spiritual constitutional make-up, has free will.
Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our
“Every living entity, beginning from Brahma, the first-born living being within the material world, down to the insignificant ant, desires to relish some sort of taste derived from sense perceptions. These sensual pleasures are technically called rasas. Such rasas are of different varieties. In the revealed scriptures the following twelve varieties of rasas are enumerated: (1) raudra (anger), (2) adbhuta (wonder), (3) srngara (conjugal love), (4) hasya (comedy), (5) vira (chivalry), (6) daya (m
Mother Nature and the Glance of the Supreme
Where do nature's gifts come from? Not from factories or power plants.
Fifty centuries ago, the people of India enjoyed boundless natural prosperity. Queen Kunti was always mindful of the gifts and their source.
ime jana-padah svrddhah
supakvausadhi-virudhah
vanadri-nady-udanvanto
hy edhante tava viksitaih
Queen Kunti said: "All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in abundance, the trees are full
Rambhadra Das, President of ISKCON Gurugram was invited to speak at the “Faculty Development Program” at Ambedkar University Delhi. The University, though only in the 15th year of its establishment, is already one of the top-ranked in India. Making in the top 150 ranked Universities in such a short span. It is renowned for its focus on innovation and research.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-gurugram-invited-to-speak-at-delhi-university/
By Yashoda Dulal Dasa
For a number of years, ISKCON Christchurch in Te Waipounamu (New Zealand’s South Island) has held a combined padayatra (a walking journey) and boat festival. There are two small rivers running through the city, the Avon and Heathcote, that pass by beautiful forested gardens as well as the prominent urban centre, which is always an ideal setting for our colourful festivals.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/easter-festival-graces-new-zealands-garden-city/
One of our local community members, Hiren, led us on a cool walk near his home on a trail along the Chain of Lakes. The sun was upon us, the water to our side, trees every which way, and pedestrians sharing the path. It made for a good morning experience.
Back at Hiren’s home, we enjoyed brunch and, as anyone who knows me knows, I will insist on using or cooking what edibles we have in abundance. That, of course, is the delicious fiddlehead produce. Sorry to bring up the name of this superfood
Below is a link to some of the ecstatic, melodious, joyful and soul stirring Hare Krishna Kirtan that was captured during the Sadhu Sanga 2022 Kirtan retreat in Spanish Fork, UT.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKKaC0m0HIfPWE-EpxMk0aQGe0-jreza0
The following Kirtaniyas are featured.
Indradyumna Swami
Kadamba Kanana Swami
Sacinandana Swami
BB Govinda Swami
Vaisesika Dasa
Bada Hari Prabhu
Madhava Prabhu
Sri Prahlad Prabhu
Acyuta Gopi Devi Dasi
At De Anza College, a student who showed interest in a book gave me various reasons for being unable to give a donation. When I agreed to give her the book free, she took a few steps away, but then she turned back and said, “I lied to you, although I have money. I was not feeling good about not giving a donation for a spiritual book.” She pulled out her card and told me to swipe a certain amount for the donation.
Another time, one student showed interest in having a book, but said that she coul
Scientific Views / The Bhaktivedanta Institute
Dr. Richard L. Thompson, a charter member of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, is a formally initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. After studying at the Stale University of New York and Syracuse University, he received a National Science Fellowship and completed his Ph.D. -in mathematics at Cornell, specializing in probability theory and statistical mechanics. His dissertation "Equilibrium States on Thin Energy Shell
The Soul in the Body
"….Overall, I don't remember too much from those days….I was always getting into things and talking in class. The teachers were strict, and we had to study hard. I played on the basketball team. And oh, those ugly high boots how we hated them!"
Robert A. Griesser recalling his school days
Today Mr. Robert Griesser (he's my father-in-law) teaches history at California's Orange Coast College. Inexorable time has carried him far from his mischievous boyhood days; fashions and c
Angiras, who is our gracious host, accepted diksha or initiation this morning. He took on the name Ambarish. He invited many of his friends to the ceremony, conducted by Kadamba Priya, and they were curious about this rite of passage. “Do you change the name on your passport now?” asked one comrade. As I mentioned in my talk at the event, which was a packed crowd in our host’s basement, “It doesn’t really change anything too much except that the candidate picks up speed in his/her spiritual ende
