Sanjaya had a successful business and his family was doing well. Then ten years ago, he suddenly was hit by a stroke and hasn't been able to physically do much since. It has put a strain on the family financially, and his good wife is working extra time to compensate. They do receive some income due to his disability. He has had time to think over the misfortune and has come to a redeeming conclusion. "Had this not happened I would not be spiritual. It brought me closer to Him," he told me.
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Indradyumna Swami: Last week here in Durban, South Africa, I visited my dermatologist – a skin specialist. Unfortunately, he found a Malignant Melanoma skin cancer on my face. The tumor was very near to the first one I had five years ago. It is called recurrence cancer. I had a PET/CT scan to see if this second tumor had metastasized (spread) throughout my body. The result came back clear. It had not spread. Nevertheless, as a precaution, my oncologist (cancer doctor) asked that while surgicall
Message from the Director
When we started our OCHS journey twenty years ago, I was focused on the study of my own Hindu denomination. I thought it time for that tradition to engage in a critical assessment of itself. We should use the apparatus of scholarship to compare its perspectives with those of other world views, and provide a basis for discussion and dialogue in a more public and global context.
In the association of wonderful scholars, such as Prof. Keith Ward, Peggy Morgan, and Prof.
By Vidura Dasa ACBSP
In Nairobi, many moons ago, Kenya was hosting the annual meeting of the African Union where the heads of state of all countries in Africa gather. We happened to have recently received a container of Bhagavatams and Gitas cleared through customs. I went to the Kenyatta Conference Centre and tried my luck at getting in. If you think Western politicians are paranoid about security you should see these African ‘Boss Men’ and their ever nervous heavy dudes. Somehow, in dhoti, ku
By Jayapataka Swami
[It says that one who hears the pastime, when they leave the body they will get the benefit of leaving in the Ganges.] Lord Caitanya’s father, Jagannath Mishra, he would go to his guru’s ashram regularly. So one night he came back and suddenly got a high fever. So Sachi Mata started crying and she didn’t know what to do. At that time Lord Caitanya was still a small boy, maybe nine years old. He said everybody in this world leaves, as a human being everyone dies. So why are y
Chandan is an enthusiastic and energetic fellow, father, husband, bhakti-yogi. He took a forward step this morning by sitting at the fire for his diksha (initiation). His new name is Chandramauli, in reference to Shiva, who carries the moon. He's happy.
My walking time was under the moon in Calgary, after the sangha program, the Sunday Open House. My dear Dhruva came out to see me as i was leaving the building. He came in his flip flops with snow all around. Luckily for me, the temperat
By Akruranatha dasa
“And so the reliance on Property, including the reliance on governments which protect it, is the want of self-reliance. Men have looked away from themselves and at things so long, that they have come to esteem the religious, learned, and civil institutions as guards of property, and they deprecate assaults on these, because they feel them to be assaults on property.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self Reliance” (1841)
The 19th century American philosopher and essayist, Ralph Waldo
An actual pair of shoes worn by Srila Prabhupada that are kept in safe custody in Radha Govinda Mandir (NYC), benedicting HH Radhanath Swami. RGM’s temple President Hansarupa Prabhu is holding them.
Another weekend of uplifting association, in New York City. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Vaisesika prabhu, and my Guru Maharaj Radhanath Swami, among others.
Last night, at the event in Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn, we had the opportunity to obtain a priceless set of Srimad Bhagavatams, with the sig
This year’s Vraja Mandala Parikrama was special due to there being a confluence [sagam] of padayatris from three different padayatras:the All-India Padayatra, the Maharashtra Padayatra, and the Uttar Pradesh Padayatra. Also present were the devotees from the soon-to-be-inaugurated (on October 17) Andhra Pradesh Padayatra.
Normally in our Vraja Mandala Parikrama tent city we have tents of various groups such as volunteers, matajis, and prabhujis, but this year we had tents named after the padaya
Spiritual seekers at Southminster Steinhauer United Church (my venue) were my audience for a talk on "Tails from Trails". That was last night. The congregants who came were really sweet. I think they found the life of a mendicant walking across Canada very interesting - everything from the practical aspects of trekking day to day, without stoppage, to the theology I've adopted, which drove me on with a passion. Mantra meditation followed the talk, with a slew of questions.
Tonight a prog
» January
06 Jan 2020 - Putrada Ekadashi
07 Jan 2020 - Sri Jagadisa Pandita Appearance Day
10 Jan 2020 - Sri Krsna Pusya Abhisheka
15 Jan 2020 - Makar Sankranti (Sun entering Capricorn)
15 Jan 2020 - Ganga Sagara Mela
15 Jan 2020 - Sri Ramachandra Kaviraja Disappearance Day
15 Jan 2020 - Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami Appearance Day
16 Jan 2020 - Sri Jayadev Goswami Disappearance Day
17 Jan 2020 - Sri Locana Dasa Thakura Disappearance Day
20 Jan 2020 - Sat-tila Ekadashi
30 Jan 2020 - Vasanta Panca
The habit of criticizing devotees is like cancer. One may think that I'm doing it for many years but nothing has happened. Cancer can stay in the body for many years undetected before it finally strikes. This habit of fault-finding and duplicitous behavior keeps increasing with time. Under the influence of Maya we think everything is alright but actually the disease is spreading before it finally strikes.
Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.23
(- By H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj 31.01.17 in Juhu
Worse than being alone is to be with a person who doesn’t like you; too many people have experienced the anguish and chaos caused by an incompatible marriage. Such travesties are systematically avoided in Vaishnava culture because, besides training and restraint in behaviour prior to marriage, all care is taken in matchmaking: “Formerly, boys and girls of similar dispositions were married; the similar natures of the boy and girl were united in order to make them happy.” (SB 3.21.15) “The centra
By Madhava Smullen In West Virginia, the first frost can hit in Fall and the last in late Spring, halting the growing season all the way from October to May.
But devotees in New Vrindaban, ISKCON’s first farm community (est 1968) have just introduced three high tunnel greenhouses, allowing them to offer locally grown flowers and vegetables to Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra and the temple kitchens all year round.
The high tunnels were installed this summer by Amish company Yoder’s Produce fr
George Harrison passed away eighteen years ago. He was not only a great musician but a good human being. He attracted thousands of people to the lifestyle of bhakti/devotion, through his music. He once wrote:
Everybody is looking for Krishna. Some don't realize that they are, but they are. Krishna is God, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be. As God is unlimited, He has many names. Allah-Buddha-Jehovah-Rama. All are Krishna, all are One.
Go
It happens and will continue to happen – someone says something to us, or about us, and we feel the emotions rise. We get ‘bent out of shape’, can’t stop the replay in our mind, and practice all kinds of imaginary ways to respond to it. This may go on for days, weeks, or even years. Resentment cooks like that. We don’t like how we feel and yet we don’t know how to shake it off. Here are some Krishna Bhakti guidelines to help:
See it as a test. We have taken up the spiritual practice of making l
By Madhava Smullen
Students of Govardhana Academy in Saranagati, Canada have baked and distributed 5,500 prasadam cookies to businesses, services and friends in the surrounding towns as a gesture of goodwill this Christmas season.
The project was a major endeavor, as there are only fifteen students at the remote school in rural British Columbia, ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Reviving an old tradition started by the school many years ago and much-loved in the area, the entire Saranag
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, is my grand spiritual master, but I feel that I never really knew him that well until I read his biography Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava by my godbrother Bhakti Vikasa Swami. Many of the quotes and references below come from that work, which has helped bring me closer to my spiritual grandfather.
We are all here by the mercy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna Caitan
Today is the divine disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada and an exalted acharya on our parampara. I am sharing a very enlightening quote by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur where he speaks about the position of acharya or jagad-guru and those who come after him as spiritual masters or diksha gurus.
Question: If Jesus Christ was a jagad -guru and his instructions are capable of bringing us deliverance, why do we need a spirit
Perhaps this sounds familiar? Do you have that friend who questions, “How are you, you ok?” In one fell swoop, he both asks and answers his inquiry. Or your mum tries incessantly to hook you up with anything that remotely resembles a spouse (a pulse being the sole requirement). In addition, one’s vocabulary would be littered with the phrase “this thing” coupled with “and all.” For those of you unacquainted with “this thing,” prepare to be astounded by its versatility. “This thing” can be used as
