A colleague, Andrew, began to have headaches at the end of January. It took about 3 weeks to discover that he had a brain tumour and needed urgent surgery. Andrew's father died of cancer and had spent a year travelling the world because he had feared that he never wanted to be like his father who had always put off enjoying life until later because it was not meant to be. Andrew had a successful operation and within days was at home recovering. However, the tumour was malignant. Andrew was devastated but determined to fight. On Tuesday 18 A...

Devotee parents need to be aware of the big impact that secular teachers have in the religious education and spiritual development of their children. Neither a course of moral values or positive education can bring a permanent feeling of happiness or prepare children and teens for lost and grief that they might face at certain time in their lives. It is only through a loving personal relationship with Lord Krishna that a persona can face the hardest moment of life with integrity.

200+ participants! 600+ attendees! 12 hours of non-stop kirtan! First time in the history of ISKCON, a dedicated Kirtan Mela for the children & by the children of the age group 6 – 16 years. The whole idea of training children of initiated devotees in Kirtan skills started with summer camp of children in July 2007 where they got trained by Mayapur International school teachers and soon after that in Jan 2008, Damodardesh yatra leader HG Sri Vallabha dasa prabhu announced weekly classes named “Dridha Bhakti “classes for children of initiated devotees.

They asked Srila Prabhupada, ‘Why are you converting the Christians into Hindus?’ Prabhupada’s response was, ‘No, I am not converting Christians into Hindus or Muslims into Jews. I am simply making better Christians out of Christians, better Jews out of Jews and better Muslims out of Muslims, better Hindus out of Hindus. Prabhupada is situating them in their perfect identity. Jesus came and spoke. Who is a Christian? A true follower of Jesus Christ is a Christian. And what did Jesus preach? Jesus simply spoke about God, the Father. Who is God the Father? Are the...

As we devotees would say in the early days of ISKCON, “Chant Hare Krsna and stay high forever!” Krsna is known as Stavyapriya, one who likes being praised, so it is natural that we also find it uplifting. Srila Prabhupada often replied in letters, “I am very much happy to hear your kind appreciation, and it is very much encouraging to me.” By hearing appreciation from Srila Prabhupada about their devotional service, disciples would be encouraged for their whole life. Srila Prabhupada’s letter of appreciation of the seva of New Gokula’s arc...

By His Divine Grace I would learn what true broadmindedness really was from the great heart of someone so transcendentally magnanimous that he could "build a house the whole world could leave in." Without being intimidated by other's beliefs or converting anyone to anything but pure God Consciousness Itself. Unconditional friendliness towards all jivas reaches it’s zenith and is perfectly exemplified by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his boundless affection which suffused all his dealings. My favorite story of His Divine Grace is how ...

Another verse from the Bhagavad-gita confirms the notion of chatting on spiritual topics. Such activity brings about the greatest joy. If we talk of practical matters we may get bored. If we talk of purely mundane matters that are demeaning to others one may find stimulation but such subject matter serves to backfire. Then there are philosophical talks, as pandits do - talks which perk the intellectual side of the brain. Finally when one takes shelter of spiritual talks, it compels one to...

Conditioned souls, being victims of illusion and the repetition of the cycle of birth and death, are prone to commit errors. The material world created by the Lord is our testing place. Here at every step we are continually being tested by maya. To pass this test one has to hear the devotional message spoken by mahajanas like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Bhaktivinoda’s teachings should be preached more and more. If the leaders of present-day society sincerely desire the welfare of humanity...

“Sweet words cannot lift someone more than the best medicine whereas no weapon can destroy someone as much as harsh words” In the Srimad Bhagavatam there's a story in the Daksha yajna Lord Shiva appeared and Lord Shiva was a meditation when Daksha came and he didn't stand up and Daksha was very upset that he was disrespected and he began criticizing very heavily, criticizing Lord Shiva and of course Shiva’s wife there, Sati and she became so disturbed that the Bhagavatam explains that the words of her father Daksha were like piercing arrows in her heart an...

“One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead has all the good qualities of the demigods. But one who is not a devotee of the Lord has only material qualifications that are of little value. This is because he is hovering on the mental plane and is certain to be attracted by the glaring material energy.”. Learned sages have described the meaning of auspiciousness as love for the entire creation, caring affection for all living entities, saintly character, happiness, and other such qualities. The pe...

“By 10 o'clock the night was very dark and cloudy. Across the Ganges, in a northern direction, I suddenly saw a large building flooded with golden light. I asked Kamala if he could see the building and he said that he could. But my friend Kerani Babu could see nothing. I was amazed. What could it be? In the morning I went back to the roof and looked carefully back across the Ganges. I saw that in the place where I had seen the building was a stand of palm trees....

Krishna’s pastimes are most enchanting, but when His pure devotees like the gopīs or Sukadeva Gosvami in the Bhagavatam narrate them, they taste even more nectarean, being mixed with the love of these devotees. Thus, Mother Yasoda experienced a greater pleasure upon hearing about Krishna’s stealing pastimes from the gopīs than the gopis did by witnessing them firsthand. The gopis’ apparent angry complaints were nothing but expressions of their loving affection for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme butter thief (makhana-cora) who steals everyone’s pure heart.