This paper serves as a critique to the ontological view of the organism as a complex machine. In the seventeenth century, the French philosopher René Descartes claimed that only the human body has a soul, and all other organisms are mere automatons made of meat and bones. Influenced by such a line of thought, most of the scientists were also thinking that only humans are conscious and all other creatures are not. Based on empirical evidence, our published paper presents a case for ubiquity of ...

We can see from Srila Prabhupada’s example, that although cow-protection was very close to his heart, where he in fact had direct knowledge of the same set of facts as you, he himself did not give up drinking milk. Instead his response was to work very hard to educate people about cow protection. He wrote profusely and very appealingly about it in his books. He trained his western followers to appreciate the value of a civilization and economy based on cow-protection. He fascinated them by show...

“Life doesn’t really make sense, does it?” I ask. “The equation doesn’t balance. We are born. Soon it’s all about getting an education. We hunt for a job, create a family, and die. What is the point of it all? Shouldn’t we ask why?” Looking straight at me, Dreadlocks doesn’t flinch. “We are driven by the taste of happiness. It is what we want most, right? Yet even those who have all the things we want can’t shrug off the feeling of being unsatisfied. Is it surprising tha...

“Bhakta Tom,” he said the first week, “we’re going out to chant Hare Krishna. Please come with us.” His sincerity encouraged me. He regularly organized the inspiring chanting and dancing on the streets. Tall and charismatic, he played a drum and led the singing. Once, on seeing Jayananda entering the temple, Prabhupada paused his lecture and said of him, “Jayananda looks like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yes! He was tall and stout and strong. Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” Sri Caitanya benevolent...

I have just returned home after a festival at the temple and still feel the positive energy, warmth, and love shared among many friends who have now become more like family. As I entered the temple this evening, the sound of the conch shell resonated and an emphatic melody of devotional song permeated the air as the altar opened for the arati. The temple was packed, and the many friends around me clapped their hands, danced, and sang in glorification of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Under...

The Temple of Understanding has shed its light for thirty years as if untouched by time. I perceive it as a gigantic golden lotus opening its petals on a dazzling pond, or a celestial aircraft that has descended and landed on an ordinary spot. The temple's architectural perfection intrigues me with its fusion of traditional and modern design. Towering above the shimmering octagonal roof, gold-leaf-edged domes display tilaka-shaped windows that delight the eye and the soul. Austrian arc...

O Shri Hari, Krishna, You are the Remover of all that is evil in the form of materialistic desires that have chained us conditioned souls to the vicious cycle of birth and death. I eternally bow again and again in the dust of the hoof prints of the cows that follow You in Vrindavana. Again and again let us take the dust of the hooves of the cows of Vrindavana upon our heads as we fall down like a stick before the dust of the herd of Vraja. By the grace of Mother Cow alone we see imprinted here...

Spirit Matters aims to introduce aspects of Bhakti Yoga to those interested in learning about mantra meditation, yoga knowledge and how to live a more conscious life. The channel was designed as part of my honors project for my visual communication design degree, which I will complete in a few weeks. Following the Bhakti Lounge motto, my intent with this channel is to make it easy for people come to Krishna consciousness, grow in Krishna consciousness and share Krishna consciousness with o...

Many of our devotees in cities say, “What can we do?” Those who are preaching, full time devotees, they can inspire the congregation members that if you have a house and a lawn, you can grow food. Like in America, people are changing their lawn from growing grass to growing food. Because food that is grown by devotees – organic food – is very good for the health and we should know that it is important to keep our body healthy to serve Krishna properly, is it not? To make a proper materi...

Even after my dear friend and neighbor, Jaysri Radhe, mentioned her plans to give a donation to TKG Academy on Janmastami, I wasn’t prepared for what was coming. When she handed me the envelope, a big surprise was in store: $2900. And that is not all! She also informed me of her joining our school’s monthly donor program. Her generosity deeply touched my heart and I wanted to share her story. Jaysri with fatherJaysri Chasmawala’s family is from India. She was born in Boston, and growing ...

Rupa Raghunatha’s original ancestors were Christian missionaries in the 1790s. Thomas Hassall was called the ‘traveling parson’, because he used to preach from Sydney to Canberra and Newcastle riding his horse town to town. Rupa Raghunatha says, “Now I feel like I have the same missionary spirit not on four legs, but on four wheels! Often Rupa Raghunatha will set up a table with books and prasadam on the street, or walk around to each shop and show them books personally. He often feel...

He came to a place where he knew no one and was unsure if anyone would be able to help him carry out his mission. He fought sea sickness, life threatening heart attacks and braved the roughest conditions because he had such firm faith and conviction in the orders of his guru and the message of Lord Caitanya. Because of his journey and his sacrifice, I am here today. Because of his amazingly selfless personality I am able to say I've dedicated 30 years to this movement. Because of all of his hardship...

Thus we can understand that the essence of Krishna consciousness is love -- love for the Supreme Lord and all His parts and parcels. So Prabhupada arrived on the shores of America with a most appealing message at a remarkably appropriate time in the history of the world. Young people everywhere were screaming and clamoring for love, and Prabhupada distributed the highest form of love without charge. "Please chant Hare Krishna and be happy" he would tell us again and again. It's no wonder that Lord...

First of all, as explained in The Ancient World by John Haywood, “India is the birthplace of two of the world’s great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Today, nearly half the world’s population live in countries whose cultural development has been influenced by one or both of these religions. Apart from India itself, these countries include China, Tibet, Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia. The influence of ancient India was not just limit...

What is the meaning of this free-will? According to societal convention, it appears that a powerful person will be able to actualize his free will while a less privileged person in the society has less ability to actualize his/her free will. As per this convention, some have free will while others do not have. In another convention, what all I desire are expressions of my free will. Some are fulfilled while most of them remain unfulfilled. However, here is the contradiction. Something th...

I have been helping some inmates here to learn about Krishna. I believe one has written to you, Mr. Van Peterson. He’s a recovering heroin addict and is only eighteen or nineteen years old. He is in my cell. I share books with him and taught him how to chant on a Catholic rosary I got from the chaplain. I have made arrangements with the chaplain for inmates here to be allowed to have japa malas for chanting rounds. My social worker here, Elizabeth, is very interested in Krishna Consciousness ...

On September 13, 1965, Srila Prabhupada wrote the following prayer on board the Jaladuta steamship bound for America. I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you. Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, who is very dear to Lord Gauranga, the son of mother Saci, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. He is that great sa...

“These three desires are antaranga-karana, the internal cause of Krsna’s appearing as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and it was unfolded in the Gambhira with His very intimate associates. That is why the Deity of Radha-Kantha is there. Radha-Kantha is kisora-krsna, the very beautiful, eleven-year-old Krsna in Vrajabhumi. Whatever lila Krsna performs in Vrajabhumi, His svayam-rupa-lila, is Radha-Kantha’s lila. The pure, loving conjugal dealings of Krsna with the gopis is sadhya-vastu. That pre...