In this newsletter, I conclude our discussion on guru tattva by approaching this topic from the perspective of a guru. I humbly believe that, in doing so, I speak on behalf of other gurus, both diksa and siksa (including counselors, mentors, and teachers) and thus present their vision and realizations as well.

By the way if you haven’t read Part One and Two, you can access them  by clicking here – Part 1 and Part 2

May you always think of Krsna,

Mahatma das

The guru’s perspective
I guide many devotee

I apologize for the long delay in coming out with Part Two of What is Guru. Between a busy schedule and many re-writes and re-edits, this newsletter seemed to go on forever.  By the way if you haven’t read Part One, you can access it here.

What is a Guru, and Who is a Disciple? Part One

The sastras make it clear that taking shelter of a spiritual master is fundamental to the process of krsna consciousness. But what is a guru, and what does it mean to take shelter of a guru? Although seemingly simple questions, there are nuances that not all may be aware of, and particulars that relate to the unique circumstances of the guru and disciple within ISKCON.

I could write much on this important topic, and this newsletter is just a brief su

Last week I was asked, “What’s the most important practice for advancing in spiritual life?” Srila Prabhupada said chanting of Hare Krsna is most important. Some have suggested that devotee association is more important because without it, most of us wouldn’t have the strength to chant Hare Krsna.

I agree. But I think there is a principle even more fundamental than this. I have addressed it to some degree in other newsletters, but it is so important that it deserves further discussion.

OUR VERY DE

Happy New Year.

Since I am sending this newsletter at the New Year, and this being the time when we all think about making resolutions, I felt inspired to present something on the topic of vows. So I collected and reorganized my notes and writings on this topic and I thought to share some of my reflections with you on this topic.

You may be wondering why I chose “No One Can Help You Like You Can” as the title for this newsletter. This statement comes from a conversation in which a devotee asked Pr

All of us–husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children, students, and teachers–have duties, and sometime we begrudge the performance of our duties because we think their execution will impede our personal happiness. But duty is duty, and duty must be done. Even in the cold of winter, one must bathe. And even in the heat of summer, one must cook.

Speaking on Bhagavad-gita 1.27, Srila Prabhupada gave a wonderful example of two heroic souls who adhered to their duties even in the most awkward circu

This topic is more relevant at this point in time than any other in modern history. We stand at a crossroads of mankind. If the enlightened leadership of mankind can catch a clue from Bhagavatam, and take note of the cause of the “pinprick through out the social body at large, wherein large scale quarrels take place over even less important issues,” then there is hope.

The problems arising from gross mis-identification with matter is what is unfortunately being perpetuated by the current broad

Teachers help one learn or hone a skill. Of course, as one becomes more proficient, other variants of teachers like mentors, coaches, and counselors become more relevant. Teachers are often indispensable if one wishes to perfect a skill in the least possible time with the most efficient use of time and energy.

A spiritual master - Guru - helps one make spiritual advancement and is absolutely indispensable if one wants to attain spiritial perfection - pure love for the Supreme Lord.

In modern

THE WALKING MONK - Bhaktimarga Swami: This is my last full day in Canada, on a break-of-sorts, before I depart for America to reconvene the US Walk. It does get exciting knowing I’ll be on the road again. It’s when I’m on that road, that I’m the happiest and when I get the best rest. Yes, I had to say that insomnia hit again - now that I’m not in full regimen. I’m sure if a survey is done, you will find a good amount of people are not happy due to many reasons, one of them being economics- or l

 ‘If the Krsna consciousness movement spreads all over the world, and if by the grace of Krsna everyone accepts it, the thinking of envious people will change. Everyone will think of the welfare of others. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja prays,sivam mitho dhiya. In material activities, everyone is envious of others, but in Krsna consciousness, no one is envious of anyone else; everyone thinks of the welfare of others. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja prays that everyone’s mind may become gentle by being

what is a “genuine spiritual emotion”? It means different things to different people…

“Spiritual” vs. “Mental” Emotion

Emotions occur in the mind, and are observed and experienced by consciousness. Since emotions occur in the mind, not the soul, perhaps theycannot be “spiritual”?

The mind, however, is not entirely distinct from the soul. The mind and body are actually extensions of consciousness. Without consciousness, they cease to function, they disintegrate. They cannot exist without conscio

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By David Crick

British Prime Minister David Cameron returned to Bhaktivedanta Manor ten years after his first visit to take part in the Bhumi Puja for the Manor’s new Shree Krishna Haveli.

After seeing the George Harrison garden he proceeded to the temple room where he took darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda, Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman and Hanuman and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. He also garlanded Srila Prabhupada and met some of the residents.

The Prime Minster then joined some 300 guests in the

It happened more than twenty five years ago. But its memory is very fresh even today. I recollect it in fact every Ekadasi day. I went to Mumbai Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari Temple  for the first time during monsoon time in 1990. I actually accompanied my god brother HG Srivas Pandit Das who was then a big collector through life membership. Srivas Pandit Prabhu was known to HG Devaki Nandan das Prabhu JPS who at that time was the Vice President Bombay Iskcon. The day we arrived at the temple was Ekad

A) SAMBANDHA JNANA & cow protection:
goṣvan ga yavasadina (Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.11.43)
I can be worshiped within the cows by offerings of grass and other suitable grains and paraphernalia for the pleasure and health of the cows,
(How can this be called as being related to Sambandha-jnana? Because, “Bhakti-yoga that is performed for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord Vasudeva brings about detachment from all things unrelated to Him and gives rise to pure knowledge that is free from any motiv

Are Vedic texts or shastra antiquated and irrelevant, incompatible with modern life ? Is shastra weakened by the influence of time ?

What is Vedic Knowledge ?

The stupendous written texts of Vyasadeva, the empowered literary incarnation of the Lord, have enabled a vast body of knowledge to come down to us, passed on by scrupulously honest and scholarly acaryas, mercifully unadulterated. This reservoir of information is Vedic knowledge. Unless one is specifically empowered by the Lord, it is not

The publication Suddha-Nama Bhajan, by our beloved Gurudeva, Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja has been reprinted by popular demand and is now available for sale in India.

Suddha-Nama Bhajan, a must read for aspiring Vaisnavas, takes the reader through the three stages of chanting. The first chapter nama-aparadha (the offensive stage of chanting) gives a full explanation of the ten offenses. The second chapter describes Nama-abhasa (the intermediate stage of chanting), which is the first g

During the past year, many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have written wonderful books to make Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy accessible to a broad audience. Jayadvaita Swami’s Vanity Karma features an account by a sage seeking answers on the meaning of life.Yogeshvara Das’s single volume biography of Srila PrabhupadaSwami in a Strange Land powerfully captures the remarkable journey of a holy man with a dream who changed the world.  Our Family Business: The Great Art of Distributing Srila Prabhup