"Truth be told, we often think the world revolves around us."
At 7.30am every morning, the temple residents and community gather for philosophical discussion. This morning’s speaker was emphasizing how insignificant we are. It seems to be a running theme through the scriptures, with innumerable stories and passages reminding us not to over-rate ourselves. A celebrated verse recommends we think ourselves lower than the straw in the street. We’re told to string that thought on a thread and wea
"The only way envious people can bring themselves into limelight is by harassing the saintly. How would anyone ever know about the dark planet Rāhu if it would not perform its regular task of eclipsing the sun?"
— Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, Durjana-nindā
When we try to do anything worthwhile, some people will criticize us. Critics can help us recognize where our contribution needs improvement. But to be helpful, their criticism needs to be constructive, not destructive.
Constructive criticis
(I had to make a comprehensive parts list detailing out the size and length of every piece of lumber required to build the chariot. This was not only needed to order the lumber, it was also how I was able to estimate the costs for every part and figure out quite closely how much the entire cart would cost to build.)
“At the present moment, India may be compared to the lame man and the Western countries to the blind man. For the past two thousand years India has been subjugated by the rule of f
A vaisnava has to be someone with a heart. A vaisnava is not just someone who chants many rounds of japa or someone who knows many slokas (sastric verses) or someone who always gets up really early when the whole world is still asleep. This is all wonderful but if that person, in spite of all these wonderful qualities, does not show a heart and does not have a heart, then he is not a complete vaisnava!
In Juhu Srila Prabhupada would go on the roof in the evening and give darshan. One evening there were five or ten devotees around him, and a few Indian guests, including a famous movie star and his wife. Somebody had brought mangoes for Prabhupada, and at one point he called for a knife and told a devotee to cut a mango and distribute it as prasada. So a brahmacari got a knife and sliced the mango, but it was dripping juice all over—it was a mess.
“You cannot cut it?” Prabhupada asked.
“The kni
One time Jadurani painted a picture of Krishna/ Radha Krishna, and Radharani is holding a garland for Krishna and Krishna is playing his flute, but when Prabhupada saw the picture, he saw that Radharani is not looking towards Krishna. So Prabhupada said what is this? he said, 'it looks like Radharani is looking for another boyfriend?.
But seriously you know, Prabhupada was like criticizing this picture, that, this is not correct. And of course she worked hard on this picture and she was crushed
London—ISKCON’s International Office of Child Protection (CPO) announced today that it has launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kartik Sharma, who drowned while swimming in the pool of the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula International School (BGIS) in Vrindavana, India, on April 24.
Although preliminary reports have been unclear, what was reported to the CPO is that Kartik, 13, originally from New Delhi, was swimming with a group of classmates with an adult sup
We all know people who are very intelligent otherwise but who act unreasonably when it comes to certain people whom they have a sour relationship with. For example, we know people who are friendly, helping, charitable, jolly at work but who are grumpy at home with their spouse. Or we know people who are very kind to most, but wont even look at certain individuals. Or we know people who are always appreciating even the little good in others, but always bad mouthing certain individuals who might h
Spirituality without God is popular today. It's a waste of time. Without accepting God as the one Supreme Person, nothing else has any intrinsic meaning. Everything else, no matter whether so-called material or so-called spiritual, is all material because it's all relative truth. An unbiased thoughtful person will definitely come to the conclusion that the Absolute Truth must be the one Supreme Person who is the ultimate source and controller of all that exists. Spirituality is about reviving on
Oh, enigmatic one,
Non-different from the Lord,
Even the breeze that you touch,
Purifies one and all.
Oh, dear Mother,
Your touch soft and silken,
Gushing love of your waters,
Comforts your hapless children.
Oh, Goddess Ganga,
Worshippable for every soul,
Accept the lamps of our hearts,
Pray take us to Krishna's abode.
Source:http://thebandwagonofmoltengold.blogspot.in/2017/04/a-prayer-to-mother-ganges.html
Bhadranga Prabhu unfortunately met with a sudden fatal accident on Friday 21st April, whilst visiting his family in New Zealand.
A little background by Gokul Lila Dasi:
In about year 2007 Krsnaloka, Sukanthi Radha, Sevamrta and myself arrived for the first time to the YHA backpackers in Napier, Hawkes Bay. One our ‘contacts’ was Bob (Bhadranga’s father) the boss of the YHA who seemed to love and despise our presence at his backpackers hostel. He became accustomed to our “portable” kitchen (pots
From Back to Godhead
When we think calmly and carefully about this wonderful universe, we can see that everything is working under the control of a supreme brain. The arrangements in nature are perfectly ordered. Things would be at random without the careful planning of a scientific and engineering brain. It is a common understanding that there is a cause behind each action. A machine cannot run without an operator. Modern scientists are very proud of automation, but there is a scientific brain
Dear Devotees and TOVP Donors,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Greetings from Sridham Mayapur and blessings from Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Panchatattva and Lord Nrsimhadeva.
This Saturday, April 29, is Akshaya Tritiya, one of the most important days in the Vedic calendar. The very word Akshaya means “that which never diminishes”. Any service or charity one performs on this day will be paid back many times over. Traditionally, this is the best day for sta
One of the unique feature of studying at MI is Mayapur Experience. Throughout the year many wonderful festivals are celebrated here, and our students get to participate in these festivals. Bhakti Sastri Bengali students participated in the wonderful Chandan Yatra Festival that started today. Today's theme is Natabara - The Best Dancer -When the wives of the brahmanas heard that Krishna was nearby they got very excited. Like rivers flowing towards the ocean the four types of food were brought tog
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(This is another billboard design I put together but later realized was a bit too out of context and weird because the average person living in Calcutta doesn’t live on the third or fourth floor of a large apartment building as suggested by the top of the cart passing through the open window. The original sketch was just a plain line drawing but I added the solid colors to enhanced the blueprint to make up for the fact that the document I scanned was really faded out and virtually unreadable.
() I had to make a comprehensive parts list detailing out the size and length of every piece of lumber required to build the chariot. This was not only needed to order the lumber, it was also how I was able to estimate the costs for every part and figure out quite closely how much the entire cart would cost to build.)
“At the present moment, India may be compared to the lame man and the Western countries to the blind man. For the past two thousand years Indi
Akshaya Tritiya is a very auspicious day according to Vedic Astrology. In Sanskrit, the word ´Akshaya´ means ´the never diminishing´, hence, Akshaya Tritiya is a day which brings good luck and success. Performing charitable activities on this day will bring blessings. The Vedic Scriptures inform us that ‘Akshaya’ means ´that which does not reduce´. Therefore, anything started on this day will grow without diminishing.
It is mentioned in the scriptures that - “The Lord is the bestower of all bened
ARTICLE SOURCE: JAYA NITAI GAURANGA
श्रीमद्भागवतं १०.८७.३०
अपरिमिता ध्रुवास्तनुभृतो यदि सर्वगतास्
तर्हि न शास्यतेति नियमो ध्रुव नेतरथा ।
अजनि च यन्मयं तदविमुच्य नियन्तृ भवेत्
सममनुजानतां यदमतं मतदुष्टतया ॥ ३०॥
अनुवाद:
यदि ये असंख्य जीव सर्वव्यापी होते और अपरिवर्तनशील शरीरों से युक्त होते, तो हे निर्विकल्प, आप संभवत: उनके परम शासक न हुए होते। लेकिन चूँकि वे आपके स्थानिक अंश हैं और उनके स्वरूप परिवर्तनशील हैं, अतएव आप उनका नियंत्रण करते हैं। निस्सन्देह, जो किसी वस्तु की उत्पत्ति के लिए अवयव की आपूर्ति
