In this conversation recorded on Ramanavami in 2010, Sripada Aindra prabhu presents a deep and sastric understanding of the Guru Tattva in line of the disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya

After reading your paper one gets an impression that woman have equal rights for Vedic education and Guruship and that is indeed what was happening in the far past – the Vedic age

Should devotees rejoice at the pregnancy of a royal couple? Should they express revulsion at crimes committed against defenceless people or animals? If devotees are the nicest people around, how do they react to the world around them when they are supposedly detached from all things?

This article outlines one of the foundational points for a new workshop I recently developed called the Re-Creation Workshop. The workshops deals with understanding our psychological conditioning from the Vedantic perspective and using the knowledge to live in alignment with our ideals

In ISKCON, while women are generally recognized informally as spiritual teachers, no woman has so far been formally allowed to serve as an initiating spiritual master

Ever hear the phrase, “The long arm of the law”? Most of you probably have. But just in case you haven’t, this phrase refers to the tendency for legal authorities to always, “Get their man”.

As we approach the first anniversary of Yamuna-devi’s departure—and the immersion of her ashes in the Yamuna and the dedication of her samadhi in Vrindavan—I thought to share some recollections and reflections on her glorious service, based on my talk at her memorial program in Vrindavan on December 23, 2011.

What is this? Oh my, Srila Prabhupada appearing with Allen Ginsberg? On the same stage? How is it possible?

When Sukadeva Goswami spoke this divine message to Pariksit Maharaj and assembled sages, no money was charged. When Suta Goswami repeated it to Saunak rishi and sages no money was charged

Since inception, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium has been the source of many awe inspiring moments to the devotees and followers of this project. How close one can feel to their Lords as they witness insurmountable obstacles conquered or impasses ascended, culminating in the steady incline of the temple's progress

I read, with sadness, of the death of the young Indian girl who was gang raped in Delhi. My prayers go to that departed soul, to her family, and to her friend who was also beaten and thrown off the bus.

In the near future I am sure that one day soon some dedicated devotees will take up the service of hand milking and taking care of the Ahimsa cows in a nicer way

Maharaja Rahugana thought that the pure devotee, Jada Bharata, was a sudra. The King forced Jada Bharata to carry him in a palanquin

I took this interview of Sriman Abdul Rashid– the 63-year-old designer who is the man behind the beautiful clothes and decorations of the deities of Lord Krishna and His beloved Srimati Radha at the ISKCON temple in Juhu, on the afternoon of 5th December 2012

Dear Devotee. Since Christmas is just a few days away, I thought it would be appropriate and enlightening to look at Prabhupada’s views on Christmas and Christ

Marshall County - While doomsday worriers in Moscow head for a Cold-War era bunker, and a village in France prepares for an onslaught of survivalists, at the Hare Krishna temple in New Vrindaban -- a preacher there says there's still time to get ready

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore this should be made. Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava, is not so easy. If Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava is so easy, why so many fall down, fall down? It is not easy

It is not that a devotee of God becomes like a stone, hard-hearted and devoid of emotion. A devotee feels all emotions. If his son is killed, he experiences pain and he grieves. This is his glory

Inching forward with preaching successes worldwide, our conservative or modern pursuance of Krishna consciousness is often influenced by ‘Indian’ or Western concepts. While representatives of cultural differences aim for mutual ‘Vedic’ convergence on vital and important issues, we witness arguments for or against ‘Indian’ or Western culture. Who is right?

I originally wrote this in 2004 but since then there have been earthquakes in Haiti, New Zealand, and Japan as well as massacres, suicide bombings and so many other tragedies, most recently the shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut where 20 young children were murdered

The Krsna consciousness movement prescribes sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand names), he is considered fallen (patita)

So much of the mood of preaching that Srila Prabhupada had was, Use your life properly, it is a rare opportunity! Opportunity for what? To increase our fire of desire for Krsna, making it a blazing fire, a necessity “I have to develop a relationship with Krsna!”

Like a beautiful palace with a closed door the dhama also requires a key to grant us entrance. This is chanting the Name. According to Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura it is chanting the Holy Name with loving affection

Gaur Govinda Svami says in a lecture, “How can we develop sraddha, faith? By loud sankirtan. By hearing, chanting the brahma-patnis developed faith and their husbands by attachment to rituals did not. Never feel desperate… there is all optimism

Vrndavan means naturally and spontaneously being attracted to Krsna. The all have an individual gift to offer to Krsna, but no competition, no corporate ladder, sorry. That’s just not the mood

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was focused on the Holy Name and the Bhagavatam. The Bhagavatam gives the sambandha, connection between the individual soul and the Lord, and since it is rasa-sastra, it tells a lot about His names, qualities, and especially pastimes, - in the 10th canto, but even in the 1st canto Krsna comes as a charioteer as Arjuna is embarking on his new heroic deed

But the reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami: Being neglected by their husband and seeing Kritadyuti’s opulence in possessing a son, Kritadyuti’s co-wives always burned in envy, which became extremely strong

In the early days Srila Prabhupada would put some rice in front of the temple so that the devotees could offer at least some rice. The principle is one does not go empty handed

Since the demigods are endowed with the mode of goodness, the false pride of considering oneself the Lord should certainly not affect them. When I break the false prestige of those bereft of goodness, My purpose is to bring them relief

In London Srila Prabhupada was invited to an Asiatic Society for a talk. Srila Prabhupada asked, "What do they want to hear: about Krsna?" - "No, vegetarianism" - "Then we will not go"

Krsna says that the gopikas (Srimati Radhika being the topmost) are so dear to Him. And then He leaves them and goes to Mathura. How is it possible?

The moment you are proud, you lose your vision. Humility grants perception of reality. In the words of the Bhagavatam, "the earth appears spinning due to one's spinning his eyes around" - that happens due to pride. Pride comes from a form of lust

For those whose lives have been forever improved by meeting Lord Krishna personally in the pages of the Gita, Gita Jayanti is not only a day of celebration but also a chance to express their gratitude

For the HuffPost: As a general rule, Hindu-Americans love milestones and photo opportunities. When photogenic Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to U.S. Congress, is sworn in to office with her right hand resting on a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, we will get both

Women used to be satisfied remaining out of the spotlight. Remember back in the seventies how in every shop in Loi Bazaar you could not find one woman making sales or even assisting the merchant?

Journalist Thomas Paine in 1776 sparked the American Revolution by writing and widely distributing his pamphlet, Common Sense. Fidel Castro – while in a Cuban prison – crafted his speech History will Absolve Me, had it smuggled it out of the prison and distributed to the masses

Mataji Govinda Dasi ACBSP is one of the seniormost ISKCON members and thus worthy of respect by all. She has feelingfully expressed her views on the female guru issue, citing her perception of Srila Prabhupada as she knew him among the hippies in the late 1960s

A humble offering on the 75th Vyasapuja of Srila Sripad Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Goswami Maharaja

First let me say I am writing my opinions on this issue only because of repeated emails and postings. Frankly, I had hoped to stay out of it, but since some postings have even taken the liberty of expressing my opinions at a time when there were none, I have decided I must say something

Either you follow Buddha philosophy or Sankara philosophy or Vaisnava philosophy, the ultimate goal is Krsna. You have to approach Krsna through these different types of philosophy. They are partial realization

There has been a discussion in circles of devotees regarding whether a woman can be a guru. Women are not famous for expressing themselves. They usually find it more convenient to reflect the ideas of their counterparts or their environment

Is there a temple near us that is always asking for Laksmi and struggling to pay its bills? Are the residents of that temple so busy collecting Laksmi or are so engaged that they have little quality time for other devotees, let alone themselves? Is this true dependence on Krishna? Or is there another way?

Recently a small group of devotees have been asserting that ISKCON was not meant to have any female diksha gurus. In essence their rationalization in one particular article consists of a string of varnashrama dharma quotes and supporting explanations

It is said that people don’t change when they see the light; they change when they feel the heat

Where does the border lie between impersonalism and personalism? Who is the guardian of that border and who permits crossing the border from the impersonal to the personal understanding of the Supreme Abssolute Truth?

Most of the times, we are running after money (dhan). Money is what makes the world go round, or so it appears. Many a times, this appears to be true. Money enables us to buy goods and services, food, clothing and other basic necessities of life, possessions, home, car, luxuries, etc;

As devotees and followers of the Vedic path, we already accept the premise that Lord Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago and spoke the Bhagavad-gita in the Mahabharata war. But it is always nice when scholars, other researchers and science can add support to what we already propose