By Indradyumna SwamiSri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally traveled to different regions of India to spread the bhakti cult throughout the country. By His personal behavior He has given an example for devotees to follow. That is, one should broadcast the cult of devotional service. A Vaisnava is especially interested in para-upakara, doing good to others.
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- 4 Sep 2006
By Sajjana priya Krishna DasWhy I am not able to convince even few people who are pious and religious to chant the holy names of the Lord. Now I understand that the reason is the lack of faith in Srila Prabhupad and his books. I therefore pray at the lotus feet of Gurudev and Lord Sri Krishna to shower their mercy by instilling unflinching faith in Srila Prabhupada which alone is the only way for perfection.
...- 3 Sep 2006
Answer By Hridayananda das GoswamiThe question is, why should those who were the victims should be forced to appear as animals who are lower and more envious than snakes? What did they do to have to be forced to take birth in hell and in those forms? After all, they were the victims?
...- 3 Sep 2006
By Bhaktimarga SwamiA swami, as people are learning, travels. A swami performs austerities. A swami inspires by his words and actions. A swami makes friends and contacts people. A swami endeavors to get closer to the Creator, Krishna. A swami leads a simple life. Yes, we are living outside (camping with Garuda), cooking outside, doing our laundry, outside. Its all so simple and sweet. We are having a blast.
...- 31 Aug 2006
By Caru dasThe father of the bride came from Hong Kong. He was very religious. I could hear him mumbling many of the Sanskrit slokas with me. At the end he happily exclaimed, “I never expected any ceremony this good in America!” . . .
...- 31 Aug 2006
By Braja Sevaki ddO Gopinatha! How shall I reach the goal? My mind is overwhelmed by the powerful senses. I cannot shake off attachment to worldly pleasures...Destroy these dangerous obstacles, correct my mind and guide me to Your own true path...I am helpless, but You are Harikesa, the Lord of the senses.
...- 31 Aug 2006
By Witherspoon InstituteMarriage binds two individuals together for life, and binds them jointly to the next generation that will follow in their footsteps. Marriage elevates, orders, and at times constrains our natural desires to the higher moral end of fidelity and care.
...- 29 Aug 2006
By Praghosa Das (ACBSP)There is essentially no difference between the fanatics who embrace and use the Talmud, the Koran or the New and Old Testament, to substantiate their pillage, plunder and murder - all in the name of being the "favored Chosen Ones" of Yahweh, Allah or Jesus Christ.
...- 29 Aug 2006
By Witherspoon InstituteDivorce is also associated with poverty, depression, substance abuse, and poor health among adults. More broadly, widespread divorce poisons the larger culture of marriage, insofar as it sows distrust, insecurity, and a low-commitment mentality among married and unmarried adults.
...- 28 Aug 2006
By Vrsabha dasDear GBC members, please accept my humble obeisances. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my genuine gratitude for all you have done and are still doing for our beloved Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya’s Sankirtana mission. To assist you and Srila Prabhupada, I’d like to offer my humble contribution to the improvement of the efficiency of our ISKCON society by submitting to you this letter
...- 28 Aug 2006
By a DasaOnce, when a young hippie had attended a few Sunday feasts in the early days of the Krsna consciousness movement, he noticed that, when devotees became angry, they would say to each other, "Just chant 'Hare Krsna.'" On one particular occasion, Srila Prabhupada was in attendance, and he had become angry about something. Seeing this, the young hippie naturally turned to Prabhupada and said, "Just chant 'Hare Krsna.'"
...- 26 Aug 2006
By Balabhadra dasRead some realizations, observations, and appreciations while living close to the cows and land. There are stories from the cow’s point of view too. “Life With the Cows and Land” is a new blog started by Balabhadra das, president of ISCOWP and the ISKCON Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture.
...- 26 Aug 2006
By Witherspoon Institute The family environment provided by marriage allows children to grow, mature, and flourish. It is a seedbed of sociability and virtue for the young, who learn from both their parents and their siblings. Specifically, the married family satisfies children's need to know their biological origins, connects them to both a mother and father, establishes a framework of love for nurturing the young, oversees their education and personal development, and anchors their identity as they learn to move about the larger world.
...- 26 Aug 2006
Answers by GBC membersJagadananda Pandita has been described as an incarnation of Satybahama Devi. However, Srimati Visnupriya has also been described as the incarnation of Satybhama Devi. They both appeared in Lord Caitanaya's pastimes at the same time, so could some learned devotee kindly explain who is Jagadananda Pandita in relation to Satyabahama Devi?
...- 26 Aug 2006
By Akrura dasIf every ISKCON leader would have a mentor or a coach, it’s likely he’ll be a better leader. He could meet with his mentor at least once a month and discuss how to improve his service, based on spiritual leadership principles given in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Mentor could also take feedback from leader’s close associates and use it to help the leader improve, as well as coach leader’s associates in how they can help the leader improve.
...- 25 Aug 2006
By Madhava - nanda dasThroughout his life, a brahmana should consider material prestige to be like poison and dishonor to be like nectar. After all, if one learns to tolerate dishonor, then his agitation will subside and he will happily sleep, happily wake, and happily move about. The person who insults him will, because of his sin, become regretful, and his happiness in this and the next life will be vanquished.
...- 25 Aug 2006
By Witherspoon InstituteMarriage is under attack conceptually, in university communities and other intellectual centers of influence. To defend marriage will require confronting these attacks, assessing their arguments, and correcting them where necessary. We are persuaded that the case for marriage can be made and won at the level of reason.
...- 25 Aug 2006
Answers by GBC membersSince this unfortunate incident at our Manipur Temple many people have been questioning/asking/inquiring about "How could Lord Krsna let this happen to devotees, in His own temple". There are several ways to answer these questions and at times its hard to find the right answer.
...- 23 Aug 2006
By Bhurijana dasaWithout ever becoming tired, please always meditate on beautiful Vrndavana, which is glorious with numberless charming forests of parijata and other splendid trees, worshipped by demigods full of love for Lord Hari's lotus feet, plunged into an ocean of the light of millions of moons, and unapproachable even by the host of Upanisads.
...- 21 Aug 2006
By Subhadra dasiWith the trouble in the middle east, there has been much speculation by the media if this is indeed the beginning of World War III, the beginning of the end of the world. For some reason, I have not been overly anxious about the future, or what might be in store. And as I was reading The Bhagavad-Gita tonight, I found the answer why.
...- 20 Aug 2006
By Gokulananda das"As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging. Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one's development of a taste for these instructions is the test of one's devotional service"
...- 19 Aug 2006
By a DasaIn the end, the "religion leads to violence" argument falters; you might just as easily say that education leads to violence since there is so much violence in schools. One might counter the argument by borrowing a slogan from the National Rifle Association: Religion doesn't kill, people do.
...- 19 Aug 2006
By Praghosa Das (ACBSP)The death rate at present in this world stands at 106 people - per minute! Each passing 60 seconds finds another 106 people leaving their present body for destinations unknown! Most without having heard or recited the Holy Names even once! Thus our mission is as clear as a cloudless day in the Holy Land of Sri Dhama Mayapur!
...- 18 Aug 2006
By HDG Srila PrabhupadaMy Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because You are the director of the unmanifested total energy, and the ultimate reservoir of the material nature. My Lord, the whole cosmic manifestation is under the influence of time, beginning from the moment up to the duration of the year. All act under Your direction. You are the original director of everything and the reservoir of all potent energies.
...- 16 Aug 2006