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...

Significance of Deity service (video)
Lecture by HG Malati devi dasi at ISKCON Columbus.

Developing Love Of Godhead (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Rukmini Devi Dasi at ISKCON Chowpatty

A Krishna Conscious Mother
A Krishna Conscious mother plays a very influential role in the lives of her children, especially in the development of their Krishna consciousness.

Surdas and the sweeper.
There once lived a seeker of God called Surdas. He was eager to study and understand Spirituality (knowledge about God). He approached a Guru and requested that the Guru teach him spiritual practice so that he could get close to God.
The Guru was well aware of Surdas’ defect of anger. He knew that this would prevent Surdas from feeling closeness with God. So the Guru decided to first prepare Surdas before teaching him serious spiritual practice. So the Guru replied, “Dear Surdas, chant the Lord’s Name du...

The real artist behind all creation. A short film revealing the Truth.

Gratitude
“We should always be appreciative to anyone who inspires us in our attempt in practicing devotional service.”
HH Partha Sarathi Das Goswami: Practicing devotees should always feel grateful and obliged to those who assist us in developing our dormant love for Lord Krishna. Material consciousness teaches us to exploit others and it can be summed up in the “use and abuse” culture that pervades modern society. In other words, we use something or somebody temporarily until our senses are satisfied and then throw them ...

Vedic Cosmology (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Drutakarma Prabhu in Iskcon Los Angeles