I have been collecting clippings and articles written by His Holiness Radhanath Swami maharaj from the Mumbai edition of ‘The Free Press journal newspaper, I collected his writings for a few months and to share them with everyone, so here I present this compilation named ‘Gems of Wisdom’.

I met her on a leading social networking website, her name was Nazia Mujeeb and she had a picture of Krishna in her profile, it surprised me that how a young muslim girl living in Mumbai had Krishna’s picture on her page. I sent her a friend request which she accepted as even I had Krishna in my profile, I started telling her more about Krishna and ISKCON on that website.

When the community was first established under the guidance of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada in 1968, it became, for many years, a shining example of the best that ISKCON had to offer. Prabhupada would often direct devotees from other newly emerging communities to study what the devotees at New Vrindaban were doing and to follow their lead in areas such as cow-protection and Deity worship. Meanwhile the cooks, jewelry makers, craftsmen and seamstresses were among the best in ISKCON.

Mantra meditation is like a workout for the mind. It strengthens us by first straining our mental muscles. We need to willingly go through the strain to get to the rewards of peace and joy.

Some years ago in Bangalore I met an elderly Indian woman in love with London. She had been living there for a long time and could not wait to go back. Seeing the Vaisnava tilak on my forehead she told me about “a wonderful book” she’d just read: “My conversations with God.” Therein, “God” tells the author there is nothing wrong with sex and money—and so many other things in support of hedonism. “In any case, the woman concluded, “all scriptures are manmade, so there is no meaning to all these restrictions we’ve been brought up with...

According to religious principles, a female guru must be chaste assistant/helpmate to her husband. She is thereby called dharma-patni. If her husband is a diksa-guru brahmana, she becomes a brahmani/guru-patni/dharma-patni. Therefore, the term FDG for Female Diksa Guru is more aptly named Female Dharma-patni Guru for there is no authorized system in a bonafide Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya for a Female to supercede her husband as Acarya.

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of Krishna-Bhakti, who wandering around in Bengal approached the door of every home. With upraised arms he exclaimed: "O Brothers! Please constantly chant the holy names of Hari. If you do so, I will take the responsibility to deliver you from the ocean of material existence."

I recently received an email from one of our Godbrother’s. It was a copy of some excerpts from a talk you gave on November 14, 2013 regarding "The Glorious Position of Srila Prabhupada". The paper was seven printed pages long and gave amazing vijnana realizations of the appearance and pastimes of Srila Prabhupada supported by appropriate shastras. This was very clear, relevant and accurate forecasting of HDG by the shastras themselves.

The time I spend chanting the Maha-mantra in the quiet early mornings is one of my most favorite times of the day. It is that special time spent in direct association with our dear Lord Sri Krsna. But there are days when I don’t feel anything special, that even in this most auspicious transcendental activity, I feel alone, and oh, so far from my dear Lord. When this happens, it is easy to wonder if I am actually receiving His mercy; if there is purpose to my chanting or if I am just wasting my time.