When we decide to engage our minute freedom to manipulate matter, rather than enjoy in our spiritual relationship with the Supreme, problems arise. The consciousness that we are the supreme controllers i.e. we are God, leads to sufferings, as it’s not who we inherently are. Just as a spark cannot claim to be a fire, the miniscule soul has no claim to be God. In fact, this entire creation was created for us, because we had the initial desire to play the role of God.

I used to love the thought of being a travelling monk, no responsibility or accountability to anyone, no arguments, just travel and do what you like. Obviously my idea of it was tinged with a level of escapism. Being in close proximity with the same people in a spiritual community is great but inevitably, over time there are disagreements, quarrels, the rise of envy, pride etc; familiarity usually breeds contempt.

"Due to ignorance, the materialistic person does not know anything about his real self-interest, the auspicious path in life. He is simply bound to material enjoyment by lusty desires, and all his plans are made for this purpose. For temporary sense gratification, such a person creates a society of envy, and due to this mentality, he plunges into the ocean of suffering. Such a foolish person does not even know about this." —Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.16. Due to...

"The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead." The venerable Suta Gosvami spoke this verse to a gathering of learned sages at Naimisharanya, on the banks of the river Ganges about five thousand years ago. Each of us performs work according to his position, Suta Gosvami tells us, but the work is just useless labor if it does not fulfill its main purpose: p...

By chanting Krishna’s holy name, One cleanses all the dust, From the mirror of one’s consciousness. ~ Srila Prabhupada. Strains of melodious Kirtan (holy hymns) and gregarious chants pierced through the air as I hurriedly paced across the corridor through the modestly set courtyard of the Sri Radha Kunjbihari ISKCON Temple in the camp area of Pune.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura established this Temple. One day, while taking his disciples on pilgrimage from Svananda Sukhada Kunj (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house) to Nrsimhapalli, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura saw this tract of land and told his disciples to locate the owner as he wanted it. The owner was a little perplexed.

Garuda Purana 1.142.19-29 tells the story of a Brahmin named Kaushik who lived in the city Pratishthanpur: Kaushik was afflicted with leprosy, but still his wife, Sandili, worshiped him like a god. She was very chaste and faithful to her husband. Even when he rebuked her, she never ceased to consider him her worshipable deity. One evening, Kaushik instructed his wife to take him to the house of a prostitute. Obeying his order, Sandili brought a quantity of money with her, and carrying her hu...

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada mentions the sage Mandavya Muni. Mandavya was a mighty yogi capable of great asceticism. Beneath a tree at the entrance to his asrama, he stood unmoving with upraised arms and observed a religious vow of silence. Much time passed, until one day, as the sage dutifully performed his penances, a band of thieves rushed into his asrama carrying stolen valuables. Being followed closely by a large group of police, the frightened thieves quickly co...