by Suhotra Swami – A person is an eternal being with limited freedom of choice. His awareness of what choices lie before him is shaped by time-bound material phenomena, which include experiences that are physical, emotional, and mental. The phenomena a person currently experiences are in reaction to his past actions. These reactions are plotted […]
Recently, thoughts of humility have been playing on my mind more than usual. Great prayers stress that one should be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, and ready to offer all respects to others while desiring none for oneself. In fact, the injunction is so crucial that one saint […]
Understanding ISKCON through the lens of social development and history A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established ISCKON when it consisted of one rented storefront in New York City. He wrote purposes for his new society—to teach spiritual knowledge, consciousness of our existence as a soul part of the Supreme Godhead Krishna, and a simpler natural way […]
Have any of us ever thought that high living is possible within a spiritual domain like ISKCON? There is such a thing as rising high, and living high, but not in the way that some of our corporate methods of management might teach us. Improper use of such management will lead to low living. Is […]
Mantralogy is a New York-based collective owned by Saci-suta, Keli-lalita, Gauravani, and Rasa-acharya. They strive to stimulate thekirtana scene by promoting the bhakti lifestyle alongside their professionally produced albums and their clothing line. They are probably best-known for their releases of Gauravani and As Kindred Spirits’ Ten Million Moons and The Mayapuris Mridanga, but that’s only a small part […]
Here is a fictional conversation between a ‘heavy’ preacher – used to calling people mudhas, canines and other low descriptions, and is badly in need of reform – with a reformer preacher trying to strike a balance. Let us see how the ‘heavy’ and negative can remain without turning people off. One can easily take […]
1. There’s more to life than this: Sad to say, but like Buddhism, which came later, and many other traditions of spiritual wisdom, the Vedas are quite pessimistic about the prospect of us ever quite reaching nirvana through shopping or sex. Material nature – the stuff that surrounds us – is organised in such a way […]
If Srila Prabhupada visited you, Maybe just for a day or two, And came by unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do. Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room, To such an honored guest, And all the food you’d offer, Would be the very best. And you would keep assuring him, You’re glad to have […]
The following 10 categorizations are not intended to be definitive but are offered as a tool for becoming aware of some of the most common spiritually transmitted diseases. 1. Fast-Food Spirituality: Mix spirituality with a culture that celebrates speed, multitasking and instant gratification and the result is likely to be fast-food spirituality. Fast-food spirituality is […]
“Blood,Sweat and Tears” is often used to describe an extraordinary achievement under difficult conditions. We all know how Srila Prabhupada , after a lifetime of preparation, journeyed west at a very advanced age and tolerated many physical inconviences and after much struggle and hardship established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. From his initial meeting […]
