At 3.05 am I wasn't exactly alone on the Rotary/ Mattamy Greenway. I was beneath millions of stars, beautifully set in the sky, some twinkling. On the surface of the ground, there were plentiful holes burrowed by their inhabitants - gophers or prairie dogs now fast asleep. The sun enthuses them. The moon and stars seem to put them to a slumber.
Just as I was leaving the Greenway I came upon one of the cutest of rodents - a skunk. It was quick to hoist up it's tail, a black and white bushy on
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu has summed it up nicely:
“The idea that we can achieve happiness though the enjoyment of our senses, especially through that prototype of all pleasure, sex and sexual love, is an illusion which is perhaps the most deeply rooted and pervasive of all human convictions… With the disintegration of traditional religions and the official establishment of secular philosophies
From a talk by Srila Prabhupada on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 25.29, January 21, 1967, San Francisco.
The laws of nature are so strict that if you have to suffer, nobody can check it. That is realized by Prahlada Maharaja. There are so many evidences. Balasya neha saranam pitarau. (SB 7.9.19) [“My Lord Nrsimhadeva, O Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and not cared for by You cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies they accept,
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय सात भगवदज्ञान
भूमिरापोSनलो वायु: खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च ।
अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥ 4 ॥
भूमिः– पृथ्वी;आपः– जल;अनलः– अग्नि;वायुः– वायु;खम्– आकाश;मनः– मन;बुद्धिः– बुद्धि;एव– निश्चय ही;च– तथा;अहंकार– अहंकार;इति– इस प्रकार;इयम्– ये सब;मे– मेरी;भिन्ना– पृथक्;प्रकृतिः– शक्तियाँ;अष्टधा– आठ प्रकार की।
तात्पर्य : ईश्वर-विज्ञान भगव
A podcast commenting Srila Prabhupada’s book Beyond Birth and Death
An excerpt from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s book Beyond Birth and Death, explores the concept of the soul’s eternal nature, the illusory nature of material existence, and the path to liberation through Krishna consciousness. The text draws from the Bhagavad Gita to explain that the soul is distinct from the body and that true happiness lies in realizing our identity as spirit souls and transcending the limitations of
By Mona Garimella
Sunday, September 1st, ISKCON of Richmond, located in the heart of Virginia, USA, celebrated its grand temple opening with a commemorative yajna, kirtan, cultural performances, and encouraging talks from devotees from all over the country.
There has been a strong ISKCON initiative in Richmond for over a decade. It was incorporated in 2012 under the guidance of former GBC member Bir Krishna Goswami and now Anuttama Dasa, the current GBC leader. ISKCON Richmond holds a unique
By Syama Mohini Devi Dasi
On a blissful day filled with devotion and joy, ISKCON Phoenix (Arizona, USA) enthusiastically celebrated the auspicious occasion of Radhashtami. The event drew over 300 devotees, all eager to take part in the celebrations. The temple was abuzz with activity, love, and an overwhelming sense of community as everyone joined together to glorify Srimati Radharani.
The preparations for Radhashtami began well in advance, as enthusiastic devotees worked tirelessly to ensure
I landed in Calgary 10 a.m. gaining an extra two hours considering the time zone change. The air in Alberta is dry but beware. “Temperatures are rising. It will be 30°C plus, a type of heat wave,” said several people upon my arrival.
Dhruva took me to his new home where partner, Kamala, and he reside. He’s been learning how to build and fix things. “It’s a guy’s domain, right ?” He agreed. Nice couple. Twelve years married. “Keep going,” is my mood and definitely theirs.
A sizeable sangha
We begin life with large, empty hearts and along our journeys it is those people who sincerely help us, who fill us—little by little.
I used to be a lot of things: naive, overworked, underpaid, afraid, restless, and an attorney in Durban’s cutthroat legal world. My husband, Venu Gopal, and I then moved to Japan where I entered the arena of teaching English as a second language to the Japanese. Now I’m a housewife and for the first time, everything on my schedule is something I’ve put there myse
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय सात भगवदज्ञान
मनुष्याणां सहस्त्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये ।
यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥ 3 ॥
मनुष्याणाम्– मनुष्यों में से;सहस्त्रेषु– हजारों;कश्चित्– कोई एक;यतति– प्रयत्न करता है;सिद्धये– सिद्धि के लिए;यतताम्– इस प्रकार प्रयत्न करने वाले;अपि– निस्सन्देह;सिद्धानाम्– सिद्ध लोगों में से;कश्चित्– कोई एक;माम्– मुझको;वेत्ति– जानता है;तत्त्वतः– वास्तव में।
भावार्थ : कई हजार मनुष्यों में से कोई एक सिद्धि के लिए प्रयत्नशील होता है और इस तरह सि
On September 7th, over 60 volunteers from the nearby Woodland Hills Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent a productive service day helping devotees at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah.
When Hare Krishnas first came to Utah Valley, they found common ground with the service-minded Latter-day Saints. Devotees Caru Das and Vaibhavi Devi Dasi discovered many shared values with them, including chastity before marriage and abstinence from alcohol, tobacc
By Atma Tattva Das
For over 15 years, Premkishor Das has been a pivotal force in organizing the Festival of India (FOI) and the Festival of Colors in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In addition to his role as a physician and manager of temple services at ISKCON Thunder Bay, Premkishor has made notable strides in creating a centralized platform for Krishna Conscious artists globally.
In a recent interview, Premkishor recounted his journey of establishing an ISKCON artist database, a project born from his d
In a social media post from Radhapriya Devi Dasi who serves as secretary to Mahatma Das, she said, “After routine testing, Mahatma Das’s doctors discovered a significant blockage in his arteries, requiring urgent surgery. To prevent a potential heart attack, they have scheduled the heart surgery for Monday, September 23, from 7 am to 12 pm EDT in Gainesville, Florida.
We kindly ask for your prayers for a smooth and successful procedure and recovery. During this time, he requests that no messages
My last two days was spent with member of TOVP which stands for “Temple of Vedic Planetarium.” It was indeed pleasant for me passing time with an American, an English-man and a South Indian. And I being Canadian by birth made it interesting. I shouldn’t forget our driver - Indresh Gaur, a Punjabi Canadian. We are a good chemistry. Our cause is one and we all happen to be more accurately spirits from a deeper point of view. Culturally we are bonded by Krishna.
One sign of true unity is when a
From Back to Godhead
Can the investigation of God through the method of Krishna consciousness really be called scientific?
God: The Evidence; The God Delusion; God: The Failed Hypothesis; The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Apparently, writing about God is the latest rage among scientists, both theistic and atheistic. Many of these authors have also been invited to speak to college crowds, and they are causing quite a stir. But is this really the best way to appro
There was no time in the history of computers when they have been used for better purposes than todays. Previously, a home computer was long time employed for entertainment, thus becoming a tool for a wasted life. Nowadays, under the restrictions imposed by the pandemic to social gatherings, more important or uplifting activities took shelter in the virtual space. Giving in this way to the computers an opportunity to nurture our higher nature. Lots of courses, webinars, spiritual classes or kir
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय छह ध्यानयोग
योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥ 47 ॥
योगिनाम्– योगियों में से;अपि– भी;सर्वेषाम्– समस्त प्रकार के;मत्-गतेन– मेरे परायण, सदैव मेरे विषय में सोचते हुए;अन्तः-आत्मना– अपने भीतर;श्रद्धावान्– पूर्ण श्रद्धा सहित;भजते– दिव्य प्रेमाभक्ति करता है;यः– जो;माम्– मेरी (परमेश्वर की);सः– वह;मे– मेरे द्वारा;युक्त-तमः– परम योगी;मतः– माना जाता है।
भावार्थ : और समस्त योगियों में से जो योगी अत्यन्त श्रद्धापूर्व
By Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Questions about INATTENTIVE CHANTING and answers by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura from his books:
Q. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
A. If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
Q. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. Th
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय छह ध्यानयोग
प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वती: समाः ।
श्रुचीनां श्रीमतां ग्रेहे योगभ्रष्टोSभिजायते ॥ 41 ॥
प्राप्य– प्राप्त करके;पुण्य-कृताम्– पुण्य कर्म करने वालों के;लोकान्– लोकों में;उषित्वा– निवास करके;शाश्वतीः– अनेक;समाः– वर्ष;शुचीनाम्– पवित्रात्माओं के;श्री-मताम्– सम्पन्न लोगों के;ग्रेहे– घर में;योग-भ्रष्टः– आत्म-साक्षात्कार के पथ से च्युत व्यक्ति;अभिजायते– जन्म लेता है।
By Kardama Muni Dasa
Bhadra Rupa Dasa, Ph.D., led an ensemble performing two of his own compositions inspired by the Gita Govinda of Sri Jayadeva Goswami to welcome Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India. Members of the Geneva Indian Community, UN officials, and international diplomats, counted at 300 or more, were invited and present, along with Swiss news media. The Minister was in Geneva to dedicate the newly built Permanent Mission of India, which houses
