When I first saw the monk from a distance, all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind. "What a loser," I thought, and wondered if he'd flunked out of school, or if he'd graduated from university but had such low marks that he couldn't get a job. I thought of myself as the epitome of what every young man should be, or if they were not, then at least they should aspire to be. I was very proud of my excellent marks in school and my prestigious job, for which I had beaten thousands of other qualified engineers. I was proud of the money I ha...

The inquisitive human mind naturally yearns to understand the universe and man's place within it. Today scientists rely on powerful telescopes and sophisticated computers to formulate cosmological theories. In former times, people got their information from traditional books of wisdom. Followers of the Vedic culture, for example, learned about the cosmos from scriptures like the Srimad-Bhagavatam, or Bhagavata Purana. But the Bhagavatam's descriptions of the universe often baffle modern students of Vedic literature. Here Bhaktivedanta Instit...

In the 5th Canto 11th Chapter Text 17 in conversations between Jada Bharata and Maharaj Rahugana the answer presents itself. “This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong. It covers the constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by the weapon of service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the Supreme Personality of Godh...

Adapted from a paper delivered at a seminar on "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Universal Brotherhood," hosted by the Gaudiya Mission and held on February 20–21, 2012, in Kolkata, India. The post-industrial world is international and multi-cultural. Thoughts can be shared at the speed of light, communication between individuals or groups anywhere on the surface of the globe happens instantaneously, and technology transcends what were once insurmountable barriers. In the last century, colonialism has been shunned, the exertion of rac...

The Seattle ISKCON temple is a happening place.  When someone enters on a Friday or Saturday, it feels like a Sunday feast.  The classrooms are filled with teachers presenting a successful seminar called Discover Yourself, a crash course on the Bhagavad Gita that wets their appetite to delve deeper into the ancient wisdom of Lord Krishna.  In the main temple hall there is a Bhagavad-gita class for curious visitors. Currently there are eight Bhakti Gita (systematic Bhagavad Gita study) and 5 Discover Your Self classes...

"It's not about whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." In the United States, most children have heard this cliche at some point in their lives, most likely after losing an athletic competition. Parents may intend it as a reminder that following the rules and losing is preferable to breaking the rules and winning. Participants certainly have several options in how they approach any sport or game, often determined by their level of maturity. Let's consider three approaches as they might apply to tennis.

Technology often increases quantity, but can potentially end up eroding quality. In ancient times, for example, sacred scriptures were few and far between, hand-copied, and in the possession of only the most fortunate. One saint’s manuscript of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the crest jewel of India’s spiritual wisdom, was blotted, smudged, and rendered practically unreadable due to the tears of love which were shed during his reading. Today, such priceless books are readily available at our fingertips; read them anywhere and anytime on our IPhones, IP...

A very popular half-truth promoted by the priests of the new age is the concept that: “We are all one.” “The manifest universe is the body of God ... all people are incarnations of the One Spirit.”. - Ernest Holmes. Many people appreciate that regardless of what body, nation, time or place we were born all of humanity shares common needs, emotions, and basic instincts. That is what gives the Oneness movement its credibility. Vegetarians in particular are able to extend this Oneness doctrine to all other forms of life and those w...

I looked around. “Wait, is this the hospital?” I thought to myself. “Why does everyone look so…happy?” I smelled incense and camphor. There was BBT art on all the walls. Everyone was wearing vaisnava attire and tilak. There was a book stall on the left. Srila Prabhupada’s chanting of the mahamantra was softly playing in the background. And, it was immaculate. For the next five weeks, I stayed at the hospital and spoke to a number of staff, patients, and their families.

Jue is scheduled to receive first initiation this month from HH Kadamba Kanana Swami. When asked what influenced her to become first a WWOOFer, then a devotee, she replied, "The first thing was the Sunday feasts; it was the best food ever, so I decided to stay on as a WWOOFer. The next was Prabhupada's books. He was answering all of my questions so perfectly. I just have to follow his instructions because everything he said makes so much sense! In addition, the devotees on the farm showed me a good example of what life is like living ...

In 1981, Venu teamed up with Ramai Swami’s Travelling Bus Party, eventually taking over that service. The visits to Cairns were found to be lucrative for the preaching mission and Venu was encouraged to take up the role of Temple President there. In 1986 he returned to New Govardhana to manage Krishna’s cows. Inwardly he nurtured a desire to populate the herd with the very transcendental Gir cows. Venu works closely with Madreya dasa in the WWOOFer programme; looks after the worm farm; ploughs the land; and maintains the fencing. ...