Question: I was wondering why earth is so special? Why did Krishna manifest his pastimes here instead of some other planet?
Well, what “other planet” should he appear on? Life is centered on Earth.
Yes, there are many dimensions to the earth, sky, heavens, and under-earth, but these multi-dimensional realms (loka) are not literally identical to our modern astronomical conception of “planets.” The modern astronomical model is not the same model presented in the Purāṇa. It also describes reali
..so this is the biggest problem …on the one hand we think I really want Krishna, I really do, I really want spiritual life but on the other hand we can’t: on the other hand there is another part in us that wants something else. Sometimes when we are in the spiritual mode we don’t want that part of our self, we say “I wish I didn’t have that” but then we snap out of the spiritual mode and we again don’t want spiritual life, so much. Somehow we are accepting and then we are giving up and we ar
I have read and re-read the Foreward to The Science of Self Realization by Mukunda dasa Goswami many times now, and every time I am moved by this written account.
From the very start, I knew that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was the most extraordinary person I had ever met. The first meeting occurred in the summer of 1966, in New York City. A friend had invited me to hear a lecture by “an old Indian svamī” on lower Manhattan’s Bowery. Overwhelmed with curiosity about
Radharani’s 3 baths, 7 places, 8 pets, 8 yogapithas, 16 & 10 Names
Radhika’s Three Baths:
Karunyamrta – the nectar of grace
Tarunyamrta – The nectar of youth
Lavanyamrta – the nectar of beauty
Seven moonbeam-like Meeting Places of Radha & Krishna
1) Vrindavan (on the bank of the Yamuna river under a huge desire-tree)
2) Yavat (in the woods behind Radha’s palace there)
3) Radha-kunda (on the bank of Radha’s lake)
4) Govardhana Hill (upon the top of the hill)
5) Barshana (near the palace of Rad
Speaking of honesty - for a deep cleansing of the heart.
Sajjana Ashraya das: In the vocabolary of italian language we read: Honesty, from the latin “honestate” is the quality of an honest person, that acts with rectitude, with loyalty, justice, abstains from doing evil, a conscientious person, responsible, aligned to moral principles, that has dignity and decorum, that expresses decency and modesty. Living with dignity, with decorum, with politeness, elegantly.
It is said in the Srimad Bhaga
The Puranas relate a story concerning the divine appearance of Shrimati Radharani as follows. One day, Vrishabhanu Maharaja, who was living at Ravel at that time, went to the bank of Yamuna at around noon to take a midday bath.
As he approached the bank of the Yamuna, he saw a golden lotus flower floating on the water and shining brightly like a thousand suns. Vrishabhanu immediately waded into the river and when he came near to the golden lotus flower, he beheld the most beautiful and radian
"In the case of a tree, in the beginning there is but a small stirring in the soil. But as the years pass the small sapling grows into a magnificent, tall tree with many branches and hundreds of twigs on every branch."
From left to right: Mr. Krish Kumar (eThekwini City Treasurer), Mr. Ashwin Trikamjee ( President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha), Mr. Thembinkosi Ngcobo (Thekwini Parks, Recreations and Culture), Bhakti Charu Swami, Mr. Vivian Reddy (Businessman), Bhakti Narasimha Swami, Bhakti Prema Swami.
The evening Friday, 2nd September saw Durban come out to celebrate ISKCON 50 in grand style through a VIP gala dinner. The event was organised as a special joint effort between the two Durban te
NESTLED among the many islands of the Erne is the pretty, wooded isle of Inish Rath, home to possibly Fermanagh’s smallest religious community.
For the past 30 years, members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known to most simply as the Hare Krishnas, have called the island home. Since 1986, this group has been ever changing, attracting members from all over Ireland and far beyond.
While there are currently only 12 full time residents at the settlement – which i
This is a picture of Rama Dasa, a miniature brahma bull that has lived on the Higher Taste Rescue Ranch with Bhakta Mike for the past 20 years. Recently he has succumbed to advanced arthritis and will not get up anymore. He is being provided with 24 hour care and a caretaker has been hired to ture him and massage him during the night hours. We at the Higher Taste Rescue Ranch, a branch of ISKCON seattle, wish that all the devotees pray for him that he may take a nice devotee birth in his next
The happiness of bhakti is very hard to understand. Generally in the world we take “happiness” as being satisfaction for our body, mind, or both: pleasure of the senses, pleasing thoughts, pleasing emotions, pleasing relationships. Those who are intelligent enough to understand that we are different from body and mind seek a very different kind of happiness: liberation. In the happiness of liberation, peace and freedom are key. There is a sense of balance, detachment, and expansive bliss beyond
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the birth of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness – New York 1966-2016 – Bhagavat Atheneum / Bibliothi Contemporary Art in collaboration with Association Culture del Mondo present "Matchless Gifts: A group exhibition of work by artists related to the Krishna Consciousness Movement from its earliest days to the present" at The Bhakti Center in New York.
For the first time, the works of various artists will be exhibited collectively, spann
In 1976 Srila Prabhupada chanted and danced with devotees on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, during America’s Bi-Centennial Independence day celebrations.
On ISKCON's 50th anniversary year, we will be chanting and dancing at the same venue for a very special CHANT4CHANGE event!
CHANT4CHANGE is a unique outreach opportunity. It brings what we know to be a universal message - singing God’s names or sankirtan - to an international audience in a way they can relate to it. The
HARE KRISHNA.
Amongst the many problems of our life, one of them is continuous expectations in material or any other form from our near and dear ones, once our expectation is not fulfilled we lose our temper and feel despondent.
I believe , that the root cause of all our problems is "EXPECTATIONS". Yes, as human beings we are bound in various relationship such as mother, daughter, wife, friend etc and hence it is quite natural for many to expect something or other from each of our relationship.
HARE KRISHNA,
On one of the most auspicious day, today, Lord Sri Ganapati Bappa's Birthday and also Teacher's Day, Wishing you all and the members of your family "A VERY HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI AND ALSO A VERY JOYOUS KNOWLEDGEABLE TEACHER'S DAY." What a beautiful co-incidence that our most loveable Ganesh bappa is the controller of knowledge and also vignaharta (remover of all evils) and on his birthday this year, Teacher's day, a day when the giver of knowledge is reverentially remembered is a
Question: Why do you please think that God has only one best form or topmost in your religion and is the best and topmost only in the Form of Krishna, when there have been great holy people and saints who worship God not in the form of Krishna. So will all others not go to God, or will they go to a God in the form they can comprehend? It’s very confusing.
Romapada Swami answers: It is not a personal, sectarian opinion that we claim the form of Krishna to be topmost, nor does Krishna to belong to
HARE KRISHNA
This world has been an abode to some of the purest souls who have selflessly contributed their very best to the entire humanity. They have showered their compassion and served people with zero expectations for they forever listen to their inner voice "THEIR CONSCIENCE". The saddest part is, many times, the very people they have served inflict pain on them showing their discontent and dissatisfaction when things go wrong, yet these noble souls continue their even nobler actions des
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.30.28
anayaradhito nunam
bhagavan harir isvarah
yan no vihaya govindah
prito yam anayad rahah
SYNONYMS
anaya — by Her; aradhitah — perfectly worshiped; nunam — certainly; bhagavan — the Personality of Godhead; harih — Lord Krishna; isvarah — the supreme controller; yat — inasmuch as; nah — us; vihaya — rejecting; govindah — Lord Govinda; pritah — pleased; yam — whom; anayat — led; rahah — to a secluded place.
TRANSLATION
Certainly this particular gopi has perfectly worshipe
By Padmapani Das
Egypt was the first country in which Srila Prabhupada set foot outside of India. He stopped in Port Said on September 2, 1965 and visited the town with the captain of the Jaladuta steamship. Prabhupada said he liked it.
As I was based in Cairo from 1978 to 1983, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Port Said in 1979 as a pilgrimage to this historic city. Walking around the docks where the big freighters stopped to gather supplies en route to their worldly destinations pr
Verse 4.38: In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.
The quest to figure out who were are and what we are meant to do is one that many have embarked on. Perhaps you are on this very quest yourself.
For some people, its a journey they've been on since childhood. For oth
