It’s easy to imagine being blind. A simple close of the eyelids in a somewhat dark place or a walk through an unlit room at night, and we can empathize with those who cannot see. Making oneself temporarily deaf, however, is almost impossible. First of all, it’s hard to completely seal the entrance to the ears. Putting our hands over our ears or using earplugs blocks only a portion of the sound. Secondly, much sound is transmitted through the bones of our skull, bypassing the ear. A hearing ...

Krishna speaks all languages and accepts prayers in any one of them. Still, Sanskrit, which is the language of His own abode and the planets of the demigods in this universe, is especially suitable for understanding and glorifying Him. So, when we started a gurukula, we first looked for a Sanskrit teacher. Over many years, we had several teachers who used varying methods, achieving mixed results. I suppose we included Sanskrit in the gurukula simply because Prabhupada told us it was compuls...

We know we are following dharma by the result. Prabhupada said to judge a tree by its fruits. What are the fruits? Our relationship of love and respect and peace and satisfaction, satyam, truth, are increased internally for ourselves and others. The result that we are looking for is that everyone comes closer to truth and peace and satisfaction. That’s our result. Then we go to sadhu, sastra, and guru with that in mind. Our action has to be within sadhu, sastra, guru. We can’t make something...

Certainly we Gaudiya Vaisnavas, members of ISKCON, should know what is sinful and what is not. In the ultimate sense, "sin" is anything that is not done 1) for Krishna, 2) with a desire to please Him without wanting anything in return, and 3) without any interruption in the service. Such pure bhakti is the nature of the soul, and anything contrary to that, or less than that, is untruth and sinful. But sin is of different kinds and degrees. Just as one cannot say that because a cat is an ani...

The children’s science video began with a view of the vast night sky blazing with stars. A scientist described as a famous evolutionist appeared in a corner of the screen. “When we examine the origin of the universe and the life that is in it,” he said, “we find our source to be a cold, impersonal machine.” I could almost feel a chill sweep into the room, and I shuddered. I thought of the opposite way in which the Bhagavad-gita describes the origin of everything as Krishna, the all-attractive person who is the source of all war...

From the European Leaders Meetings 2014 – presentations. This is both a topical and sensitive subject and our goal is to discuss it in a measured and productive way. So how to understand and explain some of the more controversial references from Srila Prabhupada on women and the role of women? How do they affect our own Vaishnavis and how can they can be seen in a positive light by the general public and the media?

This study considered teachers’ culture and religious upbringing, which, in this researcher’s experience, are more relevant than race or ethnicity to programs connected to the Hare Krishna Movement.

Plenty of activities & resources about Lord Ramacandra for adults to use with children ages 2-18. Posters take material from the book and make it easy to see all activities at a glance!