Sri Sri Corastakam.
(The song about the Thief)
This song by Sri Bilvamangala Thakura expresses the sweet relationship between the devotee and Krsna, who purifies His devotee. It also highlights the special potency of Krsna’s holy name. (1) I offer my obeisances to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes. (2) I offer my obeisances to the foremost of thieves – who...

Surrendering to Krishna (video)
Lecture by HG Anuttama prabhu at ISKCON PHILADELPHIA
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We are all the eternal servants of Krishna (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Bhima Prabhu at ISKCON Juhu.
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Tolerating material miseries (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Narayani Mataji at ISKCON Los Angeles.
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CAN YOU SEE GOD? (5 min. video)
Kishor das remembers his experience with Srila Prabhupada. An outspoken lady asked Srila Prabhupada: “Swamiji, can you see God?”
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1970.
In this photo that’s Shymsundar in front and Guru Das in the back (names misspelled in the photo blurb). They accepted the awards for the first Apple Records release, ‘Radha Krishna Temple Album London’. Their awards were Top Group- Britain and World, Best LP and Best single.
Left to right: DJ Tony Blackburn, Shymasundar, Guru Das, Lulu, Cilla Black, Cliff Richards, and David Bowie.

Don’t let our desire to use something for Krishna become greater than our desire for Krishna (Based on Gita 09.26)
Chaitanya Charan Das: While driving to meet someone special, suppose we get a desire to offer them a special gift. But we get so caught in searching that gift that we lose our way and fail to reach for the meeting. By our mistaken priorities, we end up undermining the very relationship that we wanted to sweeten.

A Revolutionary Spirit.
Kadamba Kanana Swam: In the introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes a very famous verse (SB 1.5.11). This is the verse that speaks about a revolution, so that attracts me because I like the revolutionary spirit, the spirit of making changes, something dynamic. Prabhupada is pointing out it is the discussion of Krsna that would bring about the change.

Unity in diversity (video)
A seminar by Braja Bihari das in Iskcon Naperville Temple.
Brilliant presentation, often hilarious, touches on different points, explanations based on guru-sastra-sadhu.

What You Have To Do If You Have Offended A Devotee Of The Lord.
Sacinandana Swami: If one has drunk the poison of offending a devotee, one should, with that same mouth, drink the life-giving nectar of sincerely praising (and serving) that devotee. Haridasa Thakura says, “If anyone offends a sadhu in a moment of delusion and madness, he must fall at the sadhu’s feet and bitterly repent; weeping with full contrition, he must beg for forgiveness. He should declare himself a fallen wretch in need of a Vaisnava’s grace. A sadhu is very me...

The Eagle, The Fish & The Mystic Creatures in Bhakti.
By Shaunaka Muni Das.
Is it a bird-like plane? No! Is it a bird-like Superman? No, not quite! It’s Garuda! The eagle carrier of Lord Vishnu! He is certainly not just any eagle but a gigantic golden eagle, a hero of considerable strength, and devotion to God.

Can Sexuality Be Spiritual?
Principles of Freedom - By Rukmini Devi Dasi.
“What’s the big deal about sex?” asked a student, “Why does religion demonize what seems to be a natural human expression? How can we expect the world to imbibe such a restrictive philosophy? Is it not harmful to our physical and psychological development if we exert such repression? Is sex not a spiritual experience?” A Bhakti Yoga session at university can sometimes feel like a battlefield. Our theme for the month, “Spirituality and Sexu...

Dealing with aggression and anger.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: This is dependant on the seriousness of one’s anger and aggression. If it is very serious, then the person may need counseling. Krsna consciousness cannot resolve psychiatric or psychological problems. By chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, one becomes purified, and eventually, both psychological and psychiatric problems can disappear. But it is important to remember however that people who are intensely affected by such problems, whether it be anger or depression or something else that fa...

Keepers Of The Flame Of Bhakti.
Karnamrita Dasa: KEEPERS OF THE FLAME: Although this expression is most often used by our Christian brothers and sisters, I totally relate to its exclamation in relationship to what or who I am, or at least, aspire to be: A Keeper of the Flame of Bhakti, or A Keeper of the Flame of Spirituality. Personally, I see this as a responsibility for all followers of Shri Chaitanya and those who represent him. I visualize a flame burning brightly in my heart, or raising a torch in my hand to dispel darkness. To me, this is inspi...

When Mother Lorrie visited her son, Jayapataka Swami in Mayapur
Haridhvani Devi Dasi: In 1995 I went to India and that year was the 25th anniversary of HH Jayapataka Swami taking sannyasa, so his mother actually came to Mayapur at festival time. I and a few other ladies got the chance to take care of her while she was there. We would try to see to her comforts- is she hot, is she thirsty, is she hungry, would she like to go shopping? It was nice because we figured that Maharaja would be pleased if she was happy and cared for so we did our best.

Your Only Chance!
HH Sacinandana Swami: There is a reason why we are here in this world and why we often feel bewildered and afraid. It is because we have turned away from Krsna. Srila Jiva Gosvami gives an analogy: in Indian villages people used to gather in the evening and sometimes an entertainer would stand before a lantern and use his hands to project shadows on a wall while telling a story. Sometimes children and simple villagers would then become afraid because of seeing demons and witches on the wall.

Because Yudhisthira Maharaja himself was very pious, he conducted his government in such a way that people were also pious. Yad yad acarati sresthah lokas tad anuvartate. (Gita 3.21) If the leaders are perfect, then the citizens will be perfect. If the leaders are rascals …

Dealing with Anger
In 1976 I had my first boil. Beneath my skin emerged a red swollen protrusion about an inch in diameter. The inflamed mound soon had a snowcap as the infection made its way to the top. Eventually it erupted through the skin and the infection came gushing out relieving me of the pain. For the next few days the discharge continued to drain out and the boil receded. I was glad to have it over with until a friend of mine asked me “did you get the core out?” Since I hadn’t gotten...

Those who are not humble often help us to become humble (Based on Gita 13.08)
Chaitanya Charan Das: Dealing with arrogant people can be annoying and draining. To view such people positively, we can see interactions with them as opportunities to become humble.
The Bhagavad-gita (13.08) lists humility as a laudable virtue that is integral to knowledge. And humility is primarily a relational virtue; it is demonstrated and developed through our relationships with others. When people are polite with us, reciprocating similarly with them is relatively ...

Draupadi’s pot.
The five Pandava princes were heirs to the throne of the world. Duryodhana, their envious cousin, was always scheming how to get rid of them so that he could claim the crown for himself. Killing the Pandavas though, was not so easy, for Lord Krishna was their special friend. And everyone knew that Krishna’s powers were unlimited.

Introverts and Association.
Question: When we associate with devotees, is it enough to chant and hear together or is there a need for personal interaction – especially if it is hard for us because we are introverted by nature?
Answer: Srila Prabhupada writes: “Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krsna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krsna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible.“ (Srimad-Bhagavatam ,4.9.11, purport)

Waves of Time.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: In the Eleventh Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam there is a chapter entitled the Bhumi Gita – the song of the earth. The earth is explaining, “So many have tried to possess me, to control me, lord it over me. And now what remains of them? Only names.” So we see that influence of time which destroys everything and takes everything away. It is painful to lose one’s influence, to lose one’s power. It is painful to become old, but there also is an advantage, if one is engaged in devotional s...