HH Sacinandana Swami: As I’m sitting here in Vrindavan, as the minutes, hours and days go by, I am more and more interested in the close God, not so much the distant God. I’m less interested in the God, Who is only thought about, but not experienced, Who is philosophized about, but not seen. As I chant, I think deeply about how to establish real contact with the Lord.
...-
- 11 Apr 2023
A series of meditations by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, using analogies to explain the path of Bhakti yoga
...- 9 Apr 2023
In Calcutta, 1971, the temple was in quite a bad state because the temple president had become preoccupied in an incense business he had started to raise funds. In the course of his absorption in the business, the devotees in the temple were being neglected. He hardly spent any time with them, and they really had no one to look after them. They were barely surviving. A strong-bodied devotee named Sudama Vipra, who had belonged to the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang, was so famished that he would take the remnants of the ghee wicks that had been burne...
- 9 Apr 2023
To Japa, with Love!
Ananda Vrindavaneswari Devi Dasi: Chanting Krishna’s name in mantra meditation is a concentrated effort. Although we remember Krishna here and there throughout the day, japa is a focused and full immersive experience in hearing the holy name.
- 9 Apr 2023
Just because we have drunk a sip of poison doesn’t mean we have to drink the whole cup (Based on Gita 09.30)
...- 8 Apr 2023
Brahmatirtha Das: Readers are also invited to explore the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies new website for its January 2019, to be held in Gainesville, Florida
...- 8 Apr 2023
- 7 Apr 2023
Here is an enlivening interview with Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa) by longtime friend Vaishali Shah about his journey through Vedic culture, how he got started, how he became a devotee of Krishna and joined Iskcon and became a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and what became of it, what it has done for him and his writing of nearly 50 books on the spiritual topics of Vedic culture, as well as his encouragement for all others to take a serious look at what the Vedic tradition has to offer.
...- 7 Apr 2023
Vrndavana Vilasini was attached to a hippie life of independence but found that lifestyle to be no protection from painful events and the intense suffering they caused. In her travels around America, she met devotees, heard the holy name, and took prasada. Finally, she ended up back in Seattle, Washington, her hometown.
One day, I was visiting the Seattle temple when the president, Makhanlal, said to me, “Do you want to meet someone who loves God more than anyone else?” I said, “Sure!” A little later, on June 8, 1972, he invit...
- 7 Apr 2023
- 7 Apr 2023
- 5 Apr 2023
When Dharma talks about certain principles of purity, or cleanliness, or meat-eaters-those who don't eat meat will not mix with people who eat meat. That is not meant to look down or condemn those people. It is meant to preserve certain standards of cleanliness and purity, but not at the expense of condemning. You talked about how Ramanujacharya was quite radical and Ramanujacharya equated the salaries of the temple cleaners and the priests, and also, he walked with Dhanurdas, and others.
...- 5 Apr 2023
Lecture given on July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles. A talk given on the occasion of the installation of the deities Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakanatha.
...- 5 Apr 2023
Today is the appearance anniversary of Radha Kunda, the bathing pond of Srimati Radharani in Vrndavana. Devotees bathe there especially on the midnight of this day.
...
- 5 Apr 2023
Srimad Bhagavatam class given by HH Mukunda Goswami at ISKCON New Govardhana Temple.
...- 2 Apr 2023
We spend our lives working hard to secure happiness. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Ajamidha Dasa: Today’s consumer seems to be moving away from accumulating things toward acquiring new experiences and feelings, collecting mental images with which to fill his life. Thus modern man has realized an age-old truth: enjoyment is only in one’s mind.
- 31 Mar 2023
Forgiveness is Pleasing to Krsna - The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving. (SB 9.15.40)
...- 30 Mar 2023
Below is a checklist to help you determine whether or not you are practicing a life of forgiveness, and thus what you may still need to work on. Go over this checklist as many times as needed for any person you have issues with.
...- 30 Mar 2023
- 30 Mar 2023
Sri Rama-Navami booklet by Gour-Govinda Swami.
Srila Prabhupada: Nobody can be stronger than God, nobody can be wiser than God, nobody can be more beautiful than God, and nobody can be more renouncer than God. So here Lord Ramacandra exhibited the quality how He renounced the whole kingdom simply on the order of His father, His obedience to his father. He could have argued with His father, “My dear father, you, simply for keeping your promise and actuated by the dictation of a woman, you are doing this. Let us stop it. Everyone is expecting that tomorrow My coronation will be there, and they love Me so much...
- 29 Mar 2023
After some time, Lord Nityananda was approached by Madhai, where he said that “My Lord, You’ve pardoned me, You’ve given me Your mercy, but I am haunted by the idea that with my hand, I have struck You and I have caused You to bleed. And I am just obsessed with this thought that I have committed this offence to You and how can I actually be forgiven. Even though You’ve pardoned me officially, still I was thinking that I am so rotten, I am so fallen, I am so envious that I could have done such a thing.
- 27 Mar 2023
Our lives are worth more than the things that we own. Our lives can be lived for things that matter: love, hope, charity, relationships, contribution, spirituality. But not if we sacrifice them by settling for possessions that only distract us from it.
...- 26 Mar 2023
We’re spirits inside material bodies. If we do something about our own spiritual life—like find out who we really are and what we’re meant to do—life can only improve. We generally prefer consciousness to unconsciousness, except during surgery. Putting zero effort into finding our true identity and purpose while keeping our bodies and minds pleasantly occupied is like always stopping for gas but never eating. What good is keeping our car’s fuel tank full if we’re starving? How can we have a balanced spiritual diet, though, with all the stuff ...
- 25 Mar 2023