Success in spiritual life requires control of the mind, and bhakti-yoga give us the ideal way to do it.
Our mind, an aspect of Krishna’s material energy, can be a helpful ally or a hindering foe.
Some five hundred and ten years ago, after Sri Chaitanya had taken sannyasa and was intending to travel by foot from Bengal to Vrindavan, Sri Nrisimhananda Brahmacari decided to serve Sri Chaitanya by creating a broad road for Him to walk on. What Sri Nrisimhananda created was by no means an ordinar
Looking for greener pastures, many Indians left their homes and migrated to other countries. Even young men and women from traditional conservative families ventured out of their insulated nests with an aim to acquire more knowledge and skills yet with a firm belief that their roots will hold them tight and not give any scope for aberrations. They went with the idea of having the best of both worlds. The best of the material world with its promise of more wealth, fame and fortune; and the ‘othe
The following conversation between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in July 1975 on an early-morning walk in Chicago.
Srila Prabhupada: Where does Darwin begin?
Disciple: He begins in the ocean. He says that some fishlike animal climbed out of the ocean and began to breathe the air.
Srila Prabhupada: Then where did the ocean come from?
Disciple: He doesn’t say.
Srila Prabhupada: Then his theory is not perfect.
Disciple: Scientists say th
A Glorious Departure: A Tribute to His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu (ACBSP)
The Vaishnava community recently witnessed the transcendental departure of His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu (ACBSP), who left his body yesterday May, 31 at 9:20 PM in Sacramento, California. A beloved and dedicated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu’s life was a profound embodiment of unwavering devotion, humility, and selfless service.
A Life Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada
The Vaishnava community recently witnessed the transcendental departure of His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu (ACBSP), who left his body yesterday at 9:20 PM in Sacramento, California. A beloved and dedicated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu’s life was a profound embodiment of unwavering devotion, humility, and selfless service.
His Grace Paradhyeya Prabhu was widely known as a humble and sincere
Mahaprasad Govinda Das, a UK-based devotee with an Ethiopian origin, recently visited Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where he donated 46 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s books—translated into Amharic—to one of Africa’s largest libraries.
Accompanied by his son, Sandipani Muni Das, Mahaprasad presented the books to the Abrehot Library, a world-class facility with over 1.4 million books housed in more than 19,000 square meters. The library’s director, Mr. Muluken Tariku, warmly received the ge
As devotees, we talk a lot about getting free from the material energy, free from the influence of maya, free from our attachments to material sense pleasures and their objects.
Why do we want to do that? What would be the reason?
Sometimes it can be confusing. It may seem like we’re taking all this too seriously, when really it’s all Krishna’s creation and life in this world can have so many pleasures to offer us.
Here is an example that perhaps will illustrate the reasons.
Suppose you are in
From Back to Godhead
An answer to the question:
"Why is a good Christian like you worshiping a Hindu god?"
People often ask me why I changed my faith from Christianity to worship of Krsna. They ask what made me give up Christianity. I am always quick to answer that I never "gave up" Christianity. The principal instruction Jesus gave was to love God, and I believe I can best do that by worshiping and serving Krsna.
What is it that makes Krsna more attractive or meaningful to me than the God of
From Back to Godhead
I offer my most respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my spiritual master and the spiritual master of the universe, from whose lotus lips has sprung the eternal message of the Vedas in the purest line of disciplic succession from Sri Krsna, the Absolute Truth, through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. He is spreading the teachings of Krsna consciousness around the planet for th
Japa is the name of the mediation a Krishna devotee does while using beads. A string of beads has 108 beads on it and the complete Hare Krishna mantra (link to our webpage here) is chanted on each bead. When you complete 108 beads you have done 1 round, which usually takes about 7 minutes. Devotees who have taken first level vows chant 16 rounds or more every day. That is 108×16 = 1726 mantras each day. If done properly this is a powerful meditation that purifies the heart and mind, and awakens
Aishwarya Kallakuri, a 14-year-old ISKCON devotee from Charlotte, North Carolina, was among the final four candidates for the highly competitive national event. This is her second year participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is celebrating its 100th edition this year.
According to a profile, “This eighth grader distributes yoga and philosophy books for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Her profound interest in learning new languages took her on trips to India
In the lives of great persons there is always opposition and apparent road blocks in accomplishing their goals or mission in life. Whether through another person, an accident, their own body or mind, or some natural disturbance, what appears on the surface to be an impediment is passed through and the glory of the person is revealed.
Practically we can see that great success in any undertaking or field is not accomplished without passing through many setbacks and even failure. In the personal g
The gift of the Holy Name is the greatest treasure because it is Krsna Himself. Everything is contained within the Holy Name. The Holy Name is more merciful than Krsna Himself. When you offend Krsna yourself, you can purify that by chanting the Holy Name. But if you offend the Holy Name, then what? Even that we can purify by chanting the Holy Name. The only remedy is chanting the Holy Name!
Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2021/05/chanting-is-the-only-remedy/
jivasya samsrtir bahvir
avidya-karma-nirmitah
yasv anga pravisann atma
na veda gatim atmanah
TRANSLATION:
There are varieties of material existence for the living entity according to the work he performs in ignorance or forgetfulness of his real identity. My dear mother, if anyone enters into that forgetfulness, he is unable to understand where his movements will end.
PURPORT:
Once one enters into the continuation of material existence, it is very difficult to get out. Therefore the Supreme P
Hare Krishna,
I am sharing below the transcript of a lecture by Srila Prabhupada where he mentions how anyone can see God! He reveals that we have Television in our heart!
Sila Prabhupada: So we are worshiping Govindam, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person. So this sound, govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi, is reaching Him. He is hearing. You cannot say that He is not hearing. Can you say? No. Especially in this scientific age, when television, radio messages are broadcast
One of the most prominent sages in the Vedic literature, he travels throughout the universe awakening love for the Lord.
NARADA MUNI is exalted in Vedic texts as one of the twelve mahajanas, or great authorities on eternal truth. Details of his life and teachings are recounted in the Narada Purana, the Padma Purana, and throughout Srimad-Bhagavatam. So advanced is his level of spirituality that in these texts he is even sometimes called “Bhagavan,” a term usually reserved for the Supreme Lord,
Srutakirti Prabhu stands as one of the most revered personalities in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), primarily known for his intimate service as Srila Prabhupada’s personal attendant. His unique position allowed him unprecedented access to the daily life and teachings of ISKCON’s founder, experiences he has generously shared through his writings, lectures, and personal interactions with devotees worldwide. His humility, dedication, and deep spiritual insights contin
Dr. Ravi M. Gupta, also known as Radhika Ramana Dasa in Vaishnava circles, represents a remarkable synthesis of rigorous academic scholarship and deep spiritual devotion. As the Charles Redd Endowed Chair of Religious Studies and Director of the Religious Studies Program at Utah State University, Dr. Gupta has established himself as one of the foremost scholars of Hinduism and Vaishnava traditions in Western academia. His extraordinary journey from a homeschooled child in a devotee family to an
Srila Prabhupada’s Western World Headquarters
Srila Prabhupada spent much time in his “Western world headquarters,” overseeing his worldwide mission.
By Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi (From Back to Godhead)
The place Srila Prabhupada called his “Western world headquarters” remains a vital oasis of Krishna consciousness.
Part One: Some History
Starting off in Midcity LA, 1968
ISKCON’s new center in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, was getting a good turnout. It was “the summer of love,” 1967, when ideali
Opening Ceremony & Pranams to HDG Srila Prabhupada.
Senior Disciples Discuss Prabhupada’s Letters. Prabhupada’s first disciples on video talk about their personal letters from Prabhupada.Maha HariNam Sankirtan Bus to Santa Monica/Venice Beach. Prabhupada Movies/Memories/Footage
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=115839
