We can say that forgiveness is an essential part of an authentic spiritual practice. It calls us to let go, to understand, to be humble, and to reflect on our own shortcomings. Forgiveness is big, and to practice it is sometimes very difficult. Today we will explore forgiveness connected to the practice of Bhakti Yoga.

“Ordinarily, the spiritual master, husband, father, mother or superior relative accepts worship from an inferior relative, but here Rsabhadeva forbids this. First the father, spiritual master or husband must be able to release the dependent from repeated birth and death. If he cannot do this, he plunges himself into the ocean of reproachment for his unlawful activities. Everyone should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son. All these responsibilities cannot be disc...

We're seeing Krishna at every moment. We're just not aware of it. There's nowhere Krishna is not, so it's really amazing that we can't see Him. At the same time, we can't see very much with our material eyes, so we shouldn't be surprised that we can't see Krishna—the source of all that exists—personally. Even with sufficient light, we can only see what's within the visible color spectrum. Without light, we can't even see our hand in front of our face.

So the more we will clear ourselves and dip ourselves into this process of sadhana-bhakti, which is the bhakti-lata-bija, then the more our greediness and our possessiveness for Krishna will grow. And when we're possessive that we just can't live without having Krishna, when we get to the point when we don't want anything else in life, that we just want Krishna and nothing else, then that's called pure devotion. And when our devotion becomes purified, and that type of devotion is burning inside of our hearts, then Lord Krishna He cannot resist that, and Lord ...

The intelligent Queen Kunti here points out that even though Lord Krsna is dealing with her affectionately as a relative, He is not compromising His position as the well-wishing Soul of the universe. In other words, the Lord doesn’t play favorites. As He says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.29), samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu, “I am equal to everyone.” So while the Lord reciprocates with all souls, it is natural that those who love Him intensely receive His special attention, for they want Him and nothing else.

In the six principles of surrender, two are of interest, namely, 1) being convinced of Krishna's protection, and 2) keeping the Lord as one's only guardian and master. I am confident that Krishna is protecting me, and that whatever happens will be for my highest good.

Cosmology is defined as the study of the origin, purpose, structure and functioning of the universe. Vedic cosmology gives a vast amount of information about not only the structure of the phenomenal universe as we see it, but also a clear idea of the source of the manifested universe, its purpose, and the subtle laws that govern its operation.

Narottama Dasa Thakura appeared in Kheturi which I believe is in current day Bangaldesh. Eventually in his late youth or so he went to Vrindavan and in Vrindavan he met Srila Jiva Goswami and took shelter of him. Then he met Srila Lokanath Goswami and was very deeply struck by the character of Lokanath Goswami and his standards as a devotee and just who he was as a devotee

Unscrupulous people go at once to the Tenth Canto, especially to the five chapters which describe the Lord's rāsa dance. However, this portion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the most confidential part of that great literature. Unless one is thoroughly accomplished in the transcendental knowledge of the Lord, he is sure to misunderstand the Lord's worshipable transcendental pastimes in the rāsa dance and the Lord's love affairs with the gopīs. This subject matter is high...

Srila Prabhupada said that Narada Muni is a perfect brahmacari because his sole purpose is pure devotional service and to distribute pure devotional service. But Srila Narada Muni gave up his brahmacari life and he entered into household life as Srila Srivasa Thakura. So why did he do such a thing? Just like the gopis of Vrindavan gave up their chastity and they ran to Vamsivata to associate with Krishna when He played His flute. Krishna consciousness is not about moral, social or ethical values of life. We have to transcend dharma to actually enter into real dharma, the etern...

What is fear? Where does it come from? How can we learn to live a life without it? Srila Prabhupada taught that the essential cause of fear and anxiety is a lack of understanding of the nature of reality − our attachments and perceived loss which occur in the mind are actually illusory. A person who learns this begins to be free from unnecessary mental anguish. So fearless was Srila Prabhupada that, at age 69, he begged a passage on a steamship to the United States of...

A recent class of Rupa Vilas prabhu in the temple of Soho street, London, nicely analyzing the so many attractive qualities, activities and behaviors of Lord Krishna. The Lord is making so many arrangements to come towards us but unfortunately we are so busy trying to enjoy the matter.. He is coming personally in so many forms and expansions to attract us back home, back to Godhead and rescue us from the pains but we have so many excuses...

The global devotee care directorate is hosting weekly devotee care webinars to emphasize the culture of devotee care in ISKCON temples and communities worldwide. Join us to hear this week's conversation with Radhanath Swami on Devotee care principles for developing a community.

The Passing Away of Devotees in Apparently Unfortunate Circumstances, Zoom Conference with Devotees in Mumbai (video). “On numerous occasions, Srila Prabhupada has given the formula for enthusiasm: to follow all the regulative principles strictly — to chant our minimum sixteen rounds, follow the four restrictive principles, and to engage in all of the prescribed activities. That is the way to become enthusiastic and to maintain one’s enthusiasm.”

Let Me go and search for the calves,” Krsna said. “Don’t disturb your enjoyment.” Then, carrying His yogurt and rice in His hand, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, immediately went out to search for the calves of His friends. To please His friends, He began searching in all the mountains, mountain caves, bushes and narrow passages

“The love of Radhika is My teacher, and I am Her dancing pupil. Her prema makes Me dance various novel dances.”(Cc, Adi-lila 4.121-124) “You will find three topics in radha-prema. Radha-prema is so powerful that it makes Krsna, who is almighty and all-powerful, mad. Krsna is all-powerful, almighty and omnipotent, yet He becomes mad for radha-prema. So radha-prema is greater than Him. Number two is that the pleasure and happiness derived from relishing the mellow of that love, radha-prema, is unknown to Krsna. It is unknown to Him who is all-knowing. Therefore...

A very analytical and detailed description of the ontological position of Lord Balarama by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami. Authorized and refined theology presented in a language everyone can understand. Nice section of questions and answers.

Indradyumna Swami’s and my talks at the Panihati Cida-dadhi Festival in Laguna Beach on June 16 “Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows. ‘You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you. Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.’ Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased...

HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami gave an enlivening and enlightening 4 part seminar on “The Sacred Rivers of India” at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK. Maharaj spoke about the importance of rivers in general. He recounted how rivers are India’s lifeline and how they enjoy a special place in prayers and its traditional practices. Most of the pilgrimages in India like Varanasi, Haridwar, Talakaveri, Nasik, Ujjain and Patna are situated along the banks of these seven rivers. The Triveni Sangam at Allahabad is a confluence of 3 rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati. Maharaja describ...

Thereafter, Paraśurāma joined his father’s head to the dead body and placed the whole body and head upon kuśa grass. By offering sacrifices, he began to worship Lord Vāsudeva, who is the all-pervading Supersoul of all the demigods and of every living entity. After completing the sacrifice, Lord Paraśurāma gave the eastern direction to the hotā as a gift, the south to the brahmā, the west to the adhvaryu, the north to the udgātā, and the four corners — northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest — to the other priests. He gave the middle to Kaśyapa and the place known a...

The greatest spiritual disqualification is what people consider the greatest material qualifications. Greatest obstacles to spiritual progress, to have beauty, wealth, fame and knowledge, because in such a state one become proud and in that false ego one makes more and more and more one’s interest in the centre of one’s life. And then we become envious of others. A vaisnava is one who is a sincere well-wisher of anothers.

The materialists spend their whole time fixing petty problems. We should appreciate the scope, the depth, the value of Vedic wisdom. It goes to the heart of the matter. What is the first thing that’s essential for a good doctor? What is the first thing to get cured? Medical, good insurance? No. You have to have a good diagnosis, you have to know the cause of the disease is, and otherwise you might as well be taking colored water for medicine.

It is so unfortunate that today, especially in India, that people think these are fairy tales, concocted stories. No, these are not concocted stories, these are historical facts. These are facts. People think that this is mythology or whatever because they never read them. They never read the scriptures but they will say that these are all fairy tales. Another thing is that it's not just by reading the books that they understand. They will need a teacher to reveal those scriptures. We are so fortunate that we came across Srila Prabhupada's teachings. That is how we get to know what the s...