This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
So, if we are in a work environment, should we forgive our managers? See, it depends on when somebody does something hurtful. It could be because of various reasons. One is, it is because of ignorance.
That maybe when they gave us some disproportionate work, they didn’t know what we were going through in our life or how much time it would take. Or it could be because of incompetence. That maybe that person is in that role, but they don’t have that skill.
Now, it could also be because of malevolence. Malevolence is where they want to hurt us, where they just want to make our life miserable. Now, there are people who have malice or malevolence, but they are relatively rare.
So, in general, when there is hurtful behavior, hurtful action, the cause can be from any of these. So, as a matter of positive mental attitude, it is best to start with the least negative explanation for somebody’s actions. And that is the meaning of apaishunam.
The Bhagavad Gita says we have hurtful fault-finding towards others. That means, when they do something that hurts us, start with the least negative explanation. Maybe they just didn’t know how much work was involved or how much work I already had.
Or maybe they just had too much on their head and they didn’t think properly or they are just not capable of. Whoever they found, they just dumped some work on them. So, if it’s ignorance, then I think it should be communicated with them and just let the past go.
If it’s incompetence, then maybe, now, what can we do about it? It is that sometimes some people are just, they get or they are given roles that they are not equal to. Then maybe some ways, it’s not that they want to hurt us, but it’s just that they don’t have the skill. So, somehow we can respectfully but appropriately share their load and take off their head the things which they are not competent at.
Or somebody else can do that, then they are not a bad person. But malevolence, when it is there, that’s when it’s a serious problem. So, now, we could say Kaikeyi, she was not ignorant, but here was she incompetent? Incompetent in the sense that she did not understand that mantra had her own agenda and she got influenced by mantra.
Now, see, that’s the difference between the exile that the Kauravas were sent to and Ram was sent. See, Kaikeyi had nothing directly against Ram. She just wanted to protect her son’s interest.
She felt that if Ram goes out of the kingdom for 14 years, Bharat will be able to show his ability and he will win over the citizens and after that Ram comes back also, he will not be a threat to Ram, Bharat’s kingship. The Kauravas, they hated the Pandavas. And that’s why they gave the condition of 12 plus 1 years, one year of avyatvas.
And the idea was the Pandavas were so famous, it would be almost impossible for them to stay incognito. And he would surely find them and then send them again 12 plus 1 years. And that way he would keep them in the, see, he could have at the time of gambling match itself, he could have said that lifelong we will go to the forest.
But even the biggest, the worst pain is caused to others, not just by sentencing them to lifelong pain. It is by giving them hope and then smashing their hope. So, that was the sinister sadistic plan of Durlodhan.
So, that is where it has outlined malice over there. So, I think we have to observe what is the cause and then act appropriately. Okay.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 47 By Krishna Kripa Das (Week 47: November 19–25, 2025)
Stuyvesant Falls, Chatham, New York City (Sent from Brooklyn, New York, on November 29, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
The forty-seventh week of 2025, I lived at Viraha Bhavan, the ashram of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, my Guru Maharaja, in Stuyvesant Falls, New York, for the first four days. I helped his caretakers with different services like cleaning the kitchen, waking up the deities, singing for Them, and uploading dictation tapes. I also did some personal service for Guru Maharaja. I chanted Hare Krishna one hour on the porch most days, usually in two parts, half an hour each, because of the cold. I attended the Chatham Wednesday Program. Thursday and Friday I also chanted Hare Krishna at the Hudson train station when dropping Jayadvaita Swami and Jaya Sri at the train. I went to New York City on Sunday morning, and on the I chanted Hare Krishna at the Poughkeepsie train station and then on the New York subways, going to and from the temple.
Monday and Tuesday I chanted Hare Krishna with the NYC Harinam party.
On Tuesday I facilitated the New York visit of Damodara Prabhu, who came from the UK and has faithfully served Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami for almost a month. We visited the Bhakti Center, 26 Second Avenue, Tompkins Square Park, and the Brooklyn temple, and we chanted together on NYC Harinama for two hours.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and also a lecture and a conversation of his. I share a quote from Sanatana Goswami’s Brhad-bhagavatamrita. I share quotes from articles in Back to Godhead, issue Jan/Feb 2026, by Srila Prabhupada and Visakha, Nagaraja, Satyaraja, Caitanya Carana, Gauranga Darshan, Rasamandala, Candra and Tanay Shah Prabhus. I share notes on classes by Rama Raya and Natabara Gauranga Prabhus.
Many thanks to Lila Manjari Devi Dasi, Saradbihari Devi Dasi, and Madhu Sri Prabhu for their kind donations in New York City. Thanks to Krsna Dasi for allowing me to use her phone to film kirtans at the Chatham Wednesday Program. Thanks also to Krsna Dasi for the harinama photo and video at the Hudson train station on Friday. Thanks to Rama Raya Prabhu for the photo of me on NYC Harinam.
Itinerary
November 23–January 9, 2026?: NYC Harinam – December 6: Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Vyasa-puja / Hudson Winter Walk harinama
On Thursday, I chanted Hare Krishna with my harmonium for twelve minutes at the Hudson train station when I took Jayadvaita Swami to his train. It was so nice to have a larger audience than I had on the porch in Stuyvesant Falls!
On Friday, after Jaya Sri Devi Dasi cooked quiche and apple pie for Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s lunch, three of us went with her to the train station and did harinama for fifteen minutes while waiting for the train. As soon as we began chanting a woman smiled and took a video of us. I asked Damodara Prabhu to give her “On Chanting Hare Krishna.” She was so happy she embraced the two women in our party.
At least forty people boarding, disembarking, and waiting for the trains heard our kirtan and several smiled. Krsna Dasi took this little video (https://youtube.com/shorts/EXCcccZEBgU?feature=share):
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
Hadai Prana Prabhu and friends chant Hare Krishna at the ISKCON NYC Sunday program (https://youtu.be/212G1AUfQJw):
Tuesday morning I chanted Hare Krishna at the Moynihan Train Hall for 15 minutes with my harmonium while waiting for Damodara Prabhu’s train from Hudson. Then we chanted on the E and F trains enroute to the Bhakti Center where we heard the end of Vasudeva Prabhu’s ecstatic guru-puja kirtan which must have included at least ten minutes of Hare Krishna. Then we took breakfast there. Next we did harinama to 26 Second Avenue led by Jai Nitai Prabhu.
Damodara Prabhu knew Jai Nitai Prabhu from the UK, where Jai Nitai served as president of ISKCON London at Soho Street for many years. Thus it was wonderful that Jai Nitai is one of the main tour guides for 26 Second Avenue.
Jai Nitai Prabhu explained Radhanath Swami vision for 26 Second Avenue.
The half of the storefront at the entrance would be a Hare Krishna museum,
The back half would be arranged just as it was back in 1966.
Jai Nitai said that after he shows people the museum and tells about the history of first temple in detail, when he opens the curtain separating the museum from the back and shows them what the first temple originally looked like sometimes their eyes tear up in ecstasy.
Jai Nitai let Damodara offer a new garland to Srila Prabhupada, and he gave Damodara the old one.
Although we were pressed for time as I had to offer lunch to Radha Govinda in Brooklyn, I suggested that Jai Nitai lead at least a five-minute kirtan there because it is such a special place to chant Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/XkzkNRsuDx0):
Then we did harinama to Tompkins Square Park. I suggest that Damodara might take some video of the harinama and he recorded the whole thing which amounted to seventeen minutes! We passed by 61 Second Avenue, the location of our second temple, now a bar, which Jai Nitai pointed out (https://youtu.be/1GVFcU7USaI):
After visiting Tompkins Square Park, we did harinama back to the Bhakti Center.
I visited the Soho Street temple many times when Jai Nitai was president there, and I was so happy to be doing harinama together and visiting the Prabhupada places with him!
Tuesday we chanted at Fulton Street subway station, one of the warmest and quietest, and thus a favorite of mine.
Here Kana Gopal Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Fulton Street subway station (https://youtube.com/shorts/MwBocwt5wBM):
Sometimes Google’s AI does a good job understanding the lingo of a Hare Krishna devotee.
Krishna House Thankgiving dinner of 2008.
One to remember!
A poster in a temple.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.29, purport:
“Any person authorized by either the Lord or His bona fide representative is already blessed, as is the work entrusted to him. Of course, the person entrusted with such a responsibility should always be aware of his incapability and must always look for the mercy of the Lord for the successful execution of his duty. One should not be puffed up because he is entrusted with certain executive work. Fortunate is he who is so entrusted, and if he is always fixed in the sense of being subordinate to the will of the Supreme, he is sure to come out successful in the discharge of his work. Arjuna was entrusted with the work of fighting on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, and before he was so entrusted, the Lord had already arranged for his victory. But Arjuna was always conscious of his position as subordinate to the Lord, and thus he accepted Him as the supreme guide in his responsibility. Anyone who takes pride in doing responsible work but does not give credit to the Supreme Lord is certainly falsely proud and cannot execute anything nicely. Brahma and persons in the line of his disciplic succession who follow in his footsteps are always successful in the discharge of loving transcendental service to the Supreme Lord.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.30, purport:
“The mercy the Lord bestows upon a particular person engaged in executing the responsible work entrusted unto him is beyond imagination. But His mercy is received due to our penance and perseverance in executing devotional service.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.32:
[Lord Krishna said to Lord Brahma:] “Only when you attain that state of transcendental vision in which You see Me in all living entities as well as all over the universe, just as fire is situated in wood, will you be able to be free from all kinds of illusion.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.33, purport:
“In transcendental loving service, the servitor is as free as the Lord. The Lord is svarat, or fully independent, and in the spiritual atmosphere the servant is also fully independent, or svarat, because there is no forced service. There the transcendental loving service is due to spontaneous love. A reflected glimpse of such service is experienced in the service of the mother unto the son, the friend’s service unto the friend, or the wife’s service unto the husband. These reflections of service by friends, parents or wives are not forced, but are due only to love. Here in this material world, however, the loving service is only a reflection. The real service, or service in svarupa, is present in the transcendental world, in association with the Lord. The very same service in transcendental love can be practiced in devotion here. Thus one can become from from material contamination and be situated in full independence in association with the Lord.”
“The jñanis and the devotees are actually in agreement up to the point of liberation from material contamination. But whereas the jñanis remain pacified on the platform of simple understanding, the devotees develop further spiritual advancement in loving service. The devotees develop a spiritual individuality in their spontaneous service attitude, which is enhanced on and on, up to the point of madhurya-rasa, or transcendental loving service reciprocated between the lover and the beloved.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.67, purport:
“Learned persons always think that life is wasted unless they worship Lord Krishna or become His devotee.”
“One has to continue chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and preaching the chanting of this mantra because such preaching and chanting constitute the perfection of life. One should chant Hare Krishna and preach about the urgency of making this life perfect in all respects. One should thus engage in the devotional service of the Lord and follow in the footsteps of previous acaryas, beginning with Lord Brahma and others.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.68, purport:
“The conclusion is that one Rudra is afraid of another Rudra because each and every one of them is engaged in the destruction of this cosmic manifestation. Except for the devotee, everyone is afraid of Rudra, even Rudra himself.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.69, purport:
“The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is also a prayer, for a prayer addresses the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His name and invokes good fortune by petitioning the Lord to allow one to engage in His devotional service. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra also says, ‘My dear Lord Krishna, my dear Lord Rama, O energy of the Lord, Hare, kindly engage me in Your service.’”
“One may remain situated in his own place or his own occupational duty and still lend his ear to receive the message of the Lord from realized souls. The Krishna conscious movement is based on this principle, and we are opening centers all over the world to give everyone a chance to hear the message of Lord Krishna in order to go back home, back to Godhead.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.70, purport:
“One not only should practice the instructions received from the spiritual master but should also distribute this knowledge to one’s disciples.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.71, purport:
“We should either talk of Krishna or chant Hare Krishna undeviatingly. This is called muni-vrata.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.2.32–33, purport:
“I shall seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter of everyone, even of great personalities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly not known to everyone, but He is very powerful and influential. Therefore, although the serpent of eternal time, which is fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone, ready to swallow him, if one who fears this serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the Lord gives him protection, for even death runs away in fear of the Lord. I therefore surrender unto Him, the great and powerful supreme authority who is the actual shelter of everyone.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.33, purport:
“We have actually seen that our Krishna consciousness movement has many opponents, such as the ‘deprogrammers,’ who instituted a strong legal case against the devotees. We thought that this case would take a long time to settle, but because the devotees were protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we unexpectedly won the case in one day. Thus a case that was expected to continue for years was settled in a day because of the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has promised in the Bhagavad-gita (9.31), kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: ‘O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.’”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.37:
“Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 4.50, purport:
“The transcendental mellow relished by the gopis in Vraja is superexcellently featured in Srimati Radharani. Mature assimilation of the transcendental humor of conjugal love is represented by Srimati Radharani, whose feelings are incomprehensible even to the Lord Himself. The intensity of Her loving service is the highest form of ecstasy. No one can surpass Srimati Radharani in relishing the qualities of the Lord through this supreme transcendental mellow. Therefore the Lord Himself agreed to assume the position of Radharani in the form of Lord Sri Gauranga. He then relished the highest position of parakiya-rasa, as exhibited in the transcendental abode of Vraja.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 4.106, purport:
“Lord Caitanya’s heart was full of the feelings of Srimati Radharani, and His appearance resembled Hers. Svarupa Damodara has explained His attitude as radha-bhava-murti, the attitude of Radharani. One who engages in sense gratification on the material platform can hardly understand radha-bhava, but one who is freed from the demands of sense gratification can understand it. Radha-bhava must be understood from the Gosvamis, those who are actually controllers of the senses. From such authorized sources it is to be known that the attitude of Srimati Radharani is the highest perfection of conjugal love, which is the highest of the five transcendental mellows, and it is the complete perfection of love of Krishna.”
From “Arjuna’s Concern for His Kinsmen” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
[Edited transcript of a class on Bhagavad-gita 1.44 in London on July 31, 1973.]
“We see how Krishna has equal vision. In a painting, Krishna is embracing a calf. He is not only embracing the gopis, but He is also embracing the calves and cows. That is sama-darsinah. For Krishna, anyone in Vrindavan who has come to serve Him – the gopis, the calves, the cows – all are equal. Somebody wants to serve Krishna as a calf; somebody wants to serve Krishna as a cow; somebody wants to serve Krishna as a gopi; somebody wants to serve Krishna as a cowherd boy; somebody wants to serve Krishna as His father; somebody wants to serve Krishna as His mother. These are the different mellows, different tastes. Every living entity has got his own taste for how to love Krishna. But the central point is to love Krishna.”
“And Krishna reciprocates. He has no discrimination that ‘Here is a gopi, a beautiful girl; therefore I shall love her more than I love the calf.’ No. Krishna is not partial.”
From a conversation with Carol Cameron, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, in Perth, Australia, on May 9, 1975:
“Why should I be devoted to God unless He is worthy? For instance, Krishna says, ‘You surrender unto Me.’ So unless I understand that Krishna is worthy of my surrendering to Him, why shall I surrender to Krishna? If I had demanded of you, as soon as you arrived here, that you surrender, would you have liked to do that? Unless you are fully aware of my abilities, qualities, why should you surrender?”
“So before surrendering, one has to study the person to whom he is going to surrender. Then he surrenders. That is real surrender. But blind surrender will not last.”
From a class on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.298–313 at 26 Second Avenue in New York City on December 21, 1966:
“Just like if you mix up with milk something sour and it turns into yogurt or curd, similarly, the difference between Siva and Lord Krishna is like that. He is Krishna, but because he is mixed up with this material energy, therefore he is something like that yogurt. So yogurt, the constitutional position of yogurt is nothing but milk, but it cannot become milk again. Once turned into yogurt, there is no possibility of turning into milk. Neither you can derive the benefit of milk from yogurt. Yogurt is used for some purpose; milk is used for some other purpose.
“Similarly, those who are worshipers of Siva, they cannot derive the same benefit as persons who are in Krishna consciousness.”
“The advantage is that if you want to get release from the infection of these three gunas, three qualities, then you have to render devotional service to the Lord. That is Krishna consciousness. Tam nirguno bhavet.Nirguna, when there is mention of nirguna, nirguna does not mean quality-less. Nirguna means without these contaminous three qualities of material nature.
“There are transcendental qualities. . . . You have got the list, twenty-six qualities of the devotee. Those are transcendental qualities. Those transcendental qualities are in God as well as in the living entity. But when the living entity comes in contact with material nature, those transcendental qualities are covered by the material qualities. So they are not manifested. But as soon as one becomes Krishna conscious, those transcendental qualities automatically develop. Because they are already there.”
Sanatana Goswami:
From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.158:
[Vaikuntha-dutas:] “Of the many ways to chant Krishna’s glories, foremost is His nama-sankirtana [chanting His names]. It is deemed the best because it can evoke at once the treasure of pure love for Krishna.”
Visakha Devi Dasi:
From “Protection for All” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Without exception, our bodies are doomed to perish at some point. Before that time comes, our protectors, whether our friends, relatives, or spiritual master, are charged with helping us advance spiritually so that we offer Krishna uninterrupted, unmotivated devotional service and understand His transcendental nature. Then at the time of death we’ll be qualified to go to Krishna and see Him Krishna face to face – the ultimate protection from the ultimate protector. Worldly protectors are meant to bring us to this otherworldly protection. In the final analysis, spiritual advancement is lasting protection; all other types are transient.”
Nagaraja Prabhu:
From “Limbs of Bhakti” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“We all have our likes and dislikes, and as we transition from a life based on our own desires to one based on what pleases Krishna, we’ll naturally feel some discomfort, especially in the beginning. But Krishna is, after all, the most loveable and loving person, and when we sacrifice for Him, He responds in such a way that our selfish tendencies naturally fade away.”
Satyaraja Prabhu:
From “Advaita Acarya: The Catalyst for Sri Caitanya’s Appearance and Disappearance” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“When Advaita Prabhu turned fifty, Madhavendra Puri requested Him to marry, to set an example for how married couples might live in Krishna consciousness.”
“While Advaita Prabhu’s fervent prayers brought Mahaprabhu into our world, it was Srila Prabhupada who brought Him from India to the West, completing the work that Advaita started those many years ago.”
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Sometimes in history the link to the disciplic succession has been a bhajananandi completely absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord.
The Lord told Bhaktivinoda Thakura to do his bhajana at Jagannatha Puri, and by doing so he would deliver the entire world.
The pure devotee can never lose his vision of the equality of all living beings.
Caitanya Carana Prabhu:
From “Hanuman’s Amnesia” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Maturity centers not so much on keeping small things small as on keeping big things big so that small things don’t matter so much.”
“When we animate our life with devotional purposefulness, we get a new vision of our abilities. We see them not as our possessions for establishing our glory before the world, but as divine gifts meant to aid us in raising consciousness, our own and that of others too.”
Gauranga Darsana Prabhu:
From “The Gita’s Conclusion and the Bhagavatam’s Beginning” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Service to the Lord is not an enforced activity but is our eternal, natural, constitutional activity. All other dharmas are secondary.”
“When Krishna instructs us to exclusively come under His shelter, He is emphasizing the ultimate definition of dharma, which is to lovingly serve Him, giving up our undue focus on all temporary dharmas. The idea is not just to give up dharmas but to rise in dharma. He is elevating the standard of dharma to the highest stage – loving devotional service unto Him.”
“This concluding teaching of the Gita [Bg. 18.66] is also the first teaching of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6): sa vai pusam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati – ‘The supreme occupation [para dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.’”
“When we value the Lord, our relationship with Him, and our service to Him more than everything else, we elevate our consciousness to a spiritual plane. That is the highest dharma, as described in the Gita and the Bhagavatam.”
“Exclusive surrender to Krishna offers far more than just relief from sinful reactions and the avoidance of hell. Devotional surrender to Krishna brings divine results – filling the heart with deep spiritual satisfaction and with love for Krishna. It allows one to experience complete contentment in one’s connection with Krishna. Additionally, if Krishna so desires, surrendered souls enter the spiritual world as His eternal companions to engaged in loving service to Him without distractions. Relief from sinful reactions is a byproduct of bhakti; the true reward lies in the unbreakable bond of devotion to Lord Krishna.”
“The idea is not just to sacrifice possessions, but to give up one’s possessiveness. One does not have to relinquish one’s relationships, but one must prioritize above everything else one’s eternal relationship with Krishna.”
Rasamandala Prabhu:
From “Faithful Yet Flexible: Srila Prabhupada’s Example” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Srila Prabhupada discouraged innovation that contradicted scripture, originated in speculative or egoistic motives, or diluted the core teachings. But he welcomed change that was scripturally sound, aided the preaching mission, and produced tangible devotional results. This balance reflected the genius and depth of his leadership, firmly rooted in tradition, yet responsive to time, place, and circumstance.”
“The triad [sadhu (saints), sastra (scripture), guru (spiritual preceptor)] protects against whimsy (“I feel like doing this”), ego (“My realization trumps sastra”), and sectarianism (“Only my guru’s view matters”). It reminds us that we are not freelancers in spiritual life, but servants of an authentic, time-honored lineage.”
“Imagine a postman delivering someone a letter of dismissal sent by the office head. It would be foolish for the recipient, in anger, to blame and abuse the postman instead of identifying the real sender. Similarly, when we face adversity, we often blame others without recognizing the true cause. Learned devotees understand that Krishna is the real sender of distress in one’s life, but they see distress as a manifestation of the Lord meant to purify them and relieve them of material contamination. It is a wakeup call from the Lord. Through such adversity, Krishna is communicating, ‘This world of miseries is not your true home. Come to Me in My eternal realm of bliss and joy.’ The Lord appears as distress to purify us and save us from the cycle of birth and death. While this cannot be understood from a worldly perspective, a devotee understands this completely.”
Candra Prabhu:
From “Soul, Supersoul, and the Digital Mind” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Our ever-present inner guide is infinitely more intelligent – and loving and compassionate – than AI can ever be.”
“Through self-realization, we can connect with the Paramatma, a source of love and wisdom far greater than anything the material world can offer. It leads us to fulfill our highest potential.”
“Grasping our spiritual identity also redefines our relationship with others. We begin to see every living being as a soul, worthy of respect, kindness, and empathy. This change in perspective can revolutionize how we approach social justice, the environment, and personal relationships. Compassion becomes a natural expression of understanding our shared spiritual heritage. Moreover, spiritual knowledge doesn’t cause us to retreat from the world, but to engage with it more thoughtfully, recognizing the divine in every experience.”
“AI belongs to the realm of prakrti, material nature. It is a complex machine, devoid of spiritual essence. It can mimic wisdom, but cannot experience it. AI may generate a poem about love, but it cannot experience love. It can describe the soul, but it has none.”
“The Paramatma, residing in the heart, is the source of our deepest insights. AI, by contrast, is like a parrot repeating words it doesn’t understand. This is like comparing a calculator to a teacher. The calculator can solve equations instantly, but it cannot teach you why the math matters or what to do with the knowledge. The Paramatma, like a teacher, guides not just with facts, but with purpose, love, and understanding.”
“To understand atma is to reclaim our true identity. We realize we are not the sum of our achievements, roles, or digital footprints. We are eternal souls, connected to the Supreme Soul. This awareness grounds us, uplifts us, and liberates us. It allows us to interact with others with compassion and detachment rather than anxiety and competition. It gives us strength and clarity. And it opens our heart to divine love.”
“What matters most is consistency. Even a few minutes of sincere practice each day can create deep transformation over time.”
“No matter how complex or digital our outer world becomes, our inner world remains the same. The inward journey toward self-realization is as relevant now as ever.”
Natabara Gauranga Prabhu:
The Supreme Lord Krishna, the diksa guru (initiating guru), and the siksa guru (instructing guru) are a team helping us to attain the spiritual world.
The disciples of Jiva Goswami, like Shyamananda, Srinivasa Thakura and Narottama Dasa Thakura, were such powerful preachers of Krishna consciousness that there are areas in India where there are generations of devotees inspired by them.
The residents of Vrindavan desire to increase the number of devotees of Krishna.
Tanay Shah:
From “Finding Peace in Adversity” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan/Feb 2026):
“Imagine a postman delivering someone a letter of dismissal sent by the office head. It would be foolish for the recipient, in anger, to blame and abuse the postman instead of identifying the real sender. Similarly, when we face adversity, we often blame others without recognizing the true cause. Learned devotees understand that Krishna is the real sender of distress in one’s life, but they see distress as a manifestation of the Lord meant to purify them and relieve them of material contamination. It is a wakeup call from the Lord. Through such adversity, Krishna is communicating, ‘This world of miseries is not your true home. Come to Me in My eternal realm of bliss and joy.’
“The Lord appears as distress to purify us and save us from the cycle of birth and death. While this cannot be understood from a worldly perspective, a devotee understands this completely.”
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One may ask why the saints are so enthusiastic to engage in acts of devotion to the Supreme Lord. That question is answered in this verse, because it gives pleasure to the self.
ato vai kavayo nityam
bhaktim paramaya muda
vasudeve bhagavati
kurvanty atma-prasadanim
“Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.22)
Hare Krishna Dear devotees, By the grace of Lord Krishna, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and the loving prayers, yajnas, and well-wishes of Vaisnavas around the world, His Grace Mahatma Prabhu is recovering well. Considering the amount of trauma he experienced, his progress is truly miraculous. He will most likely leave the hospital tomorrow, once Read More...
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
So, if we have to do some service but we don’t feel the confidence, now how do we develop that confidence? We could very well say that I just don’t have the talent for this particular service. Yes, two things mainly that often when we seek to do a service, we have a particular conception of success in that service and we often evaluate that oh maybe I am not good for this service, maybe I am not good enough for this service based on whether we have got that particular success or not or whether we are likely to get that particular success or not. But sometimes it is like success may be different from our definition of success.
So growth in life can be in one level attaining success or you can say reaching success but growth may also require redefining success that what is success, growth can be both ways. So what do I mean by redefining success that generally whenever we do any service, there are two aspects to the service, there is the external aspect, there is the internal aspect. The external is say if we are trying to share Bhakti, we are giving some talks, the external aspect is how many people come for the talks, how many people become inspired, how many people become transformed, that is the external aspect.
The internal aspect is that we ourselves are absorbing Krishna, that our attraction to Krishna increases, that like I said every day did I come to know Krishna a little better, I come to love Krishna a little more. So through every talk that we give, every interaction we have with others, it is not just others come to know Krishna a little better, do we ourselves come to know Krishna a little better. Now if we look at Srila Prabhupada, when he went to America, he had been trying from 1922 onwards till 1965 and he had a very little external success to show.
But still he was not bitter. The people who had tried very hard and not succeeded, then they become very bitter. But he was not at all bitter.
Those who met him in America, when he was just an unknown Swami walking on the streets of New York, they saw him, he was just so cheerful, so happy, speaking about Krishna, singing about Krishna, composing for Krishna, writing about Krishna, he was just happy with it. So we could say that there is, through our service, there is the outer impact or the outer contribution. Now we hold that no doubt.
But through our service, there is also the inner connection that is to be developed. Through our service, Krishna becomes the bigger reality for us. Based on this, we consider four quadrants.
We could say that if there is only outer contribution without inner connection, that means somebody sings very nicely. But when they are singing, their concern is not how much Krishna is pleased with me, their concern is how many people are marvelling at how nicely I sing. So then what will happen? That person will become prideful.
They will be doing the service, but it’s all about pride and ego and recognition. Now if somebody has neither outer contribution nor inner connection, then they are going to become very resentful. Nothing is working in life.
They will be bitter and resentful. Now if somebody has inner connection, there is no outer contribution. They will still be graceful.
Now if there is outer contribution, they will be grateful. Not like I am grateful. So we can say that Prabhupada, in his life from 1922 to 1966 almost, or we can say even 1968, because he didn’t get success immediately.
After 1968, the movement really took off. And then 1968 to 77, that’s when the outer contribution also started manifesting. So for us, we try to make sure, if are we meant to persist in a particular service, even when we are getting no success, then we should see through the service, am I at least experiencing the inner connection with Krishna? That’s when we will be able to persist in that service.
So some people, they may go out for distributing books and it’s just exhausting emotionally, physically and they do it, but they feel completely drained by it. They don’t even feel spiritually nourished by it. We will be spiritually purified by it, but we won’t feel nourished by it.
But if they come and do worship the deities or they come and make garlands for the Lord, they feel much more connected with the Lord. So we have to see both. Ideally would be, we would all like to be in quadrant 4. We could say that best is that we can be in quadrant 4. But if not, then at least in quadrant 3. Now, we don’t want to be in quadrant 1. If we are in quadrant 1, we should try to get to quadrant 3 soon.
But definitely we don’t want to be in quadrant 4. So for all of us, we can’t entirely control this, but we explore. Which is the service by which I can make an outer contribution? Which is the service by which I can make an inner connection? And we may have 2-3 services like that and we explore among those and one of the services may become our life’s calling and our life’s way of serving Krishna primarily. Does it answer the question?
My dear Lord, remembering you means remembering that you are so great you don’t need me—yet you still choose to use me, despite my defects and deficiencies, in your compassionate plan for all.
When I seek to help someone come closer to you, remind me that I am not their deliverer—you are. Srila Prabhupada stresses this truth when he glorifies you as the spiritual master of the whole world.
You desire to enlighten all living beings, and by your omnipotence you are fully capable of doing so—without needing me or anyone else to assist.
O supremely merciful Lord, if anyone rises from ignorance to enlightenment—even if it happens through the words I speak—it is only by your mercy upon them. You open my mouth and place your words there; you open their hearts so those words may be rightly understood and lived.
Deliver me, O Almighty, from the illusion that I can deliver anyone, and lead me into the reality that you—and you alone—can deliver me, and may use me, if you so desire, to deliver others.
Listen to a class given by HH Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Mhj on text 30-31 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), canto 3, chapter 20, entitled “Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura” given on November 26, 2025 at the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua, Florida. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is a sacred Vaishnava text from India that narrates the Read More...
Listen to a class given by HH Bhakti Prabhupada Vrata Damodara Mhj on text 30-31 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), canto 3, chapter 20, entitled “Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura” given on November 26, 2025 at the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua, Florida. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is a sacred Vaishnava text from India that narrates the Read More...
I grew up in a very simple, rather poor uh family in rural Minnesota. My father was a small dairy farmer and um the family was not really religious, although the most of the kids and I did go to church whenever we could. My dad was so busy that he was never able to Read More...
I grew up in a very simple, rather poor uh family in rural Minnesota. My father was a small dairy farmer and um the family was not really religious, although the most of the kids and I did go to church whenever we could. My dad was so busy that he was never able to Read More...
By Jayadeva Das. Here’s a new video which with help of many of my friends we put together for the 56th anniversary of the installation of Śrī Śrī Radha London Isvara in Bury Place. What a great coincidence it is that the day Kavi Karnapura prabhu finished the making of his masterpiece video you are Read More...
To honor the 50+ years of unwavering, dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada, and support of the TOVP for the last 15 years by H.H. Radhanath Swami, Braja Vilasa prabhu unveils a beautiful commemorative medallion in Maharaja’s name for his 75th appearance anniversary. This medallion can be sponsored on the TOVP website. Sponsorship funds will go to the completion of the Main Wing in preparation for the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2027.
Note: In the US, Canada and India, medallions will be shipped to you. All others can be picked up at the Mayapur TOVP office. If you cannot arrange this, please contact us at tovpinfo@gmail.com
Wednesday 26th November 2025 Today is the 56th Installation Anniversary Celebration of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara Prayers by HG Sakshi Gopal Das & Special Evening Class Given by HG Kripamoya Das Read More...
If we are at all aware of how dependent we are on God—for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and our very ability to eat and drink and breathe, to think and feel and will, and to walk, talk, and sense—we will feel grateful and want to reciprocate God’s kindness. We will want to do something for He (or She or They) who has done, and continues to do, so much for us.
We often take things for granted until we lose them. I use my right hand to chant on meditation beads, and one morning I found that I had severe pain in my hand and could no longer use it for chanting. I had taken the use of my hand for granted, but when I lost its use, I resolved to never take it for granted again and to always use it in the best way in God’s service.
How can we attempt to return some of God’s favor, some of God’s care and love for us? My spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, gave one answer:
“Whatever you have got by pious or impious activities, you cannot change. But you can change your position, by Krishna consciousness. That you can change. Other things you cannot change. If you are white, you cannot become black, or if you are black, you cannot become white. That is not possible. But you can become a first-class Krishna conscious person. Whether you are black or white, it doesn’t matter. This is Krishna consciousness. Therefore our endeavor should be how to become Krishna conscious. Other things we cannot change. This is not possible.
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.18]
Kalena, by time, you will get whatever you are destined. Don’t bother about so-called economic development. So far as food is concerned, Krishna is supplying. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. He is supplying even cats and dogs and ants. Why not you? There is no need of bothering Krishna, ‘God, give us our daily bread.’ He will give you. Don’t bother. Try to become very faithful servant of God. ‘Oh, God has given me so many things. So let me give my energy to serve Krishna.’ This is required. This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I have taken so much, life after life, from Krishna. Now let me dedicate this life to Krishna.’ This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I will not let this life go uselessly like cats and dogs. Let me utilize it for Krishna consciousness.’ ”
I pray that I will dedicate this life and everything I have—everything God has given me—fully in God’s service, following His pure devotees.
manasa, deho, geho, yo kichu mora arpilun tuya pade, nanda-kisora
“Mind, body, and home, whatever may be mine, I surrender at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!” (Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Saranagati)
My dear Lord, Srila Prabhupada here articulates his acceptance of your will, yet such acceptance never leads him to inactivity. He has endeavoured enormously to reach America and is determined to continue endeavouring.
O omnipotent Lord, his untiring effort combined with his unresisting acceptance manifests the two dimensions of surrender: accepting your will and accepting the responsibility to do your will. Both these facets of surrender are integral in one who understands themselves as an eternal part of you and who therefore knows that their plan needs to always be within your plan—never outside it.
O beloved Lord, you sometimes manifest your will through the situations around me. When these situations go completely beyond my control, bless me so that I can gracefully accept such turns of events as your will.
Simultaneously, O my eternal Master, let me remember that your will can manifest not just in the things that happen to me but also in the things that happen through me. There are times when you want me to endeavour wholeheartedly and persist despite obstacles; through such determination and dedication, I express my devotion to you.
Bless me, O infallible Lord, with the intelligence to find this delicate balance between accepting your will and accepting the responsibility to do your will.
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
Yes, if we are overwhelmed by a situation, we cannot see the bigger picture, what do we do? Well, we will not be able to see the bigger picture at that particular time. But ultimately, each one of us, we have to make one choice, will I act to make things better or will I act to make things worse? So, now we may say that who will act to make things worse, but sometimes if we are going to be caught in that tunnel vision, by that we are going to act in ways that make things worse. So this is the situation I am in, fair or unfair, that is the reality right now.
So how Prabhupada would use the word make the best of a bad bargain. So here now, what can I, how can I make the best of the situation I am in? And generally to make the best, we need to have some hope that some things will work out in the future. So it is sometimes helpful to look back at our past and see if there was some situation in our life where we felt it was the end of the world, but then through that something good came out.
So it is that, it is like one of the things which if we do introspection in life, that at a particular time if we feel what happened to me, what I refer to the incident, what happened to me, I am thinking what happened to my handwriting now here, what happened to me. So actually if we perceive it in life, maybe later we will be able to see that what happened to me actually happened for me, that through it something good came out. So even if there is one incident in our life which you can find like that, that can give us hope that, okay, it is bad and we do not deny that it is bad, but maybe something good will come out of it.
So probably this is one thing which you could do after the session, all of you can just think of in one incident, oh, this happened, something terrible happened to me, but actually it was happening for me, through it something good came out. So if you can think of one incident like that also, that can give us that equipment, that armour to face that situation without feeling resentful or collapsed, hopeless. Thank you.
Yes, fine. I was just thinking in the way that I was asking the question that, throughout your lesson also you were referring to, you said in chapter, you maybe did not say those to us, but that is what you were showing by example, okay, and those situations where we find ourselves in circumstances which we cannot understand the bigger picture, then reading the Shastra, that can give us examples, give us some examples, and by speaking with the spiritual master and keeping association with the devotees, they can also say, well, you know, I have been in situations like that, and as you said, what is happening to you may be happening for you, just have to be patient. Yes, it is a very good point.
See, it is, if the soul is here, the mind is here, and generally say people are over here. So for most of us, is this happening to me or for me? Okay, so for most people, we look at people and the world through our mind. Okay, this person is like this, somebody speaks sweetly to us, maybe in the past somebody spoke sweetly and exploited us, what does this person want from me? So we normally look at everyone through our mind.
And so if our mind is filled with negativity, this is wrong, that is wrong, everything is wrong, and we’ll also look at that person also through negativity, through negatively. We look at life also negatively, I mean. But if we have even one person who is close to us, this is where the spiritual master or the devotees are meant to be.
Then what happens is, for that one person, we look at our mind through that person. Instead of looking at that person through our mind, but we look at our mind through that person. Okay, my mind is saying, oh, it’s all gloom and doom, everything is destroyed.
But the guru sadhu shastra or the teachers are telling me, spiritual teachers are telling me, there is more to life, it’s not over. Krishna has some higher plan. So, if we have not developed that relationship, by which that person has become trustworthy for us, then we will just dismiss such statements as platitudes.
Oh, you know, you speak those things, you’re not going through what I’m going through. And we just pick these things. So, we need to have that, at least with one person, we need to have that relationship where with the whole world, we look at them through our mind.
But there is somebody who can help us to look at our mind. Guru mukha padma vakya chittate kariya ikhya. The idea that we are able to look at our mind and change our mind based on the words of our spiritual guides.
By Dayal Mora Das. ISKCON London has joyfully reacquired 7 Bury Place, the original site where Srila Prabhupada formally inaugurated the first Radha Krishna Temple in London in December 1969. This sacred building near the British Museum is where Srila Prabhupada personally installed Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara, performed abhiseka with his own hands, offered heartfelt Read More...
All glories to the devotees in Nigeria! Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State (photos) Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State. Jai Jaganath Ananta Acharya Click on the image to read the complete post Read More...
All glories to the devotees in Nigeria! Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State (photos) Sri Jaganath Rathayatra festival held in Warri Delta State. Jai Jaganath Ananta Acharya Click on the image to read the complete post Read More...
Arjuna embodies the qualities of a complete mam harmonizing endeavour and earnestness. Arjuna also represents limitless knowledge and complete dependence on the divine. Arjuna’s story is one of human potential and limitation. It teaches us how to harmonize the two through sincere effort and dependence on God’s Grace Topics of Discussion Session 1- Arjuna Excels Read More...
Arjuna embodies the qualities of a complete mam harmonizing endeavour and earnestness. Arjuna also represents limitless knowledge and complete dependence on the divine. Arjuna’s story is one of human potential and limitation. It teaches us how to harmonize the two through sincere effort and dependence on God’s Grace Topics of Discussion Session 1- Arjuna Excels Read More...
My dear Lord, let my humility never become a mask for my lack of faith. Humility is an acknowledgement of my own limitedness and often of my inability, whereas faith is the acknowledgement of your infinite ability and my need for your omnipotence. Here Srila Prabhupada, after humbly admitting his lack of ability, expresses his recognition of your divine plan and his determination to do his part in sharing your message.
Srila Prabhupada is persevering in a mission that most would have considered impossible, and he is persevering not by turning a blind eye toward obstacles but by lifting his eyes above those obstacles to you. Through such perseverance, he has already succeeded before succeeding—he is already internally, spiritually successful. What others saw as the end of possibility, he saw as the beginning of providence. And how wonderfully did you, O infallible Lord, reward his faithfulness! Over the next decade, you made him visibly successful in a way that has hardly any parallels in the history of the world.
O faith-providing and doubt-destroying Lord, please bless me to deeply appreciate and assimilate the example of Srila Prabhupada. When I face gigantic obstacles in my service, let me persevere by focusing not on my inability to remove them, but on your ability to do so.
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
Is there a borderline or a limit for tolerance? Yes, there is. I will not tolerate your question now. No, definitely.
We see in Bhagavad Gita 2.14, Tamasitikshasubharata says, Tolerate. But what to do with this tolerance? Is he saying, Tolerate the atrocities committed by the Kauravas? They occupied Draupadi, they took all your kingdoms, you should tolerate that. He is not asking you to tolerate that.
What is he asking you to tolerate? Tolerate that you have to fight Bhishma. You have to fight Bhishma and Drona. This is very difficult.
But you should tolerate this. So before tolerating, what to tolerate, what not to tolerate, it is very important to understand this. So before this, in 2.13, Bhagavan says, Intelligence.
Dehinospinathadehe We should have intelligence. And there is a simple definition of intelligence. Prabhupadaji says, See things in their proper perspective.
We have to see which things are big and which things are small. And we have to give importance to big things, not importance to small things. So Bhagavan says, You are attacking Bhishma.
He is not a body, he is a soul. The corpse of the body is a small thing. The welfare of the soul is a big thing.
Emphasize on that. And what is the result of tolerance? That is Transcendence. yam hi na vyathyante te purusham purushar shabha samadukha sukham dhiram somrutatvaya kalpate With this, immortality will be attained.
trnād api suniśhā taror api sahiṣṇā And what should be the result of this? kīrtaniya sadā hari When we tolerate, with that we can always do the good deeds of Bhagavan. This should be possible. So what is there in this? Two things can be extreme.
It can be wrong. When we face difficulties, One is that we make a small thing big. So what happens with that? We become intolerant.
A small thing says something bad to us. We get very angry and start attacking it. This is not good.
But another problem can be that sometimes we make a big thing small. This is not tolerance. This is impotence.
This is powerlessness. So we should not make a big thing small. For example, there is a class going on.
Suppose there is a mother and her baby starts crying. If the baby starts crying, I start shouting. I shout at the mother.
Can’t you handle the baby? What kind of a mother are you? Can’t you handle the baby? Go away from here. If I shout at the mother, she will become intolerant. No matter how good my speech is, after the class, you will remember how I shouted at her.
So we should not make a small thing big. But sometimes what happens? If the baby is crying and no one is doing anything for him. He is crying.
I was in Seattle. There was a Western Outreach program. There was a 3-year-old boy.
He was running in the class. No one was doing anything for him. His mother was also sitting there and she was also not doing anything.
She was giving a speech. I saw the organizer. He was also not ready to do anything.
So I gave the class. Everyone was distracted. Then the organizer told me that he had come to our class for the first time.
And this woman was from the area where there was a lot of crime. So the gang leader there had a girlfriend. So someone went to tell him something.
I didn’t have the courage. I didn’t know what to do. So the point is if someone is crying in the class then we should say something.
It has become a big thing. We are not able to hear anything. So what is the small thing here? There is some noise.
The phone rings here. Someone is crying. That is a small thing.
But if there is always some noise and we have come to do some work then we have to listen to the class. If they are not able to listen then there will be a problem. So what should tolerance do? Ideally, we will keep the small thing small.
And from that we have to keep the big thing big. So that is why before doing tolerance we should develop intelligence. What are the big things in my life and what are the small things? So if there is a problem in a relationship then every relationship has problems.
No relationship is perfect. But does this mean if someone is doing physical violence then should we tolerate that? No, there are limits. There are limits.
If our life is in danger if we feel like we are going crazy in some situation if someone says if I have to live in this situation I will commit suicide. If something big is happening then you should not change it. So we have to understand intelligently what is a big thing and what is a small thing.
Keep the small thing small and then the big thing so that we can keep the big thing big. So that is the way to tolerate constructively. What should tolerance do? We need intelligence before tolerance and from tolerance we need transcendence.
The big thing that God is big and God’s service is big that will become bigger than that. God will become more important for us. Thank you very much.
Shri Prantharaj Shrimad Bhagwatam Ki Jai Shrila Prabhupada Ki Jai Gaur Bhakta Vrinda Ki Jai Gaur Premaandhi
By Praghosa dasa London, 25 November 2025: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is thrilled to announce that it has successfully acquired 7 Bury Place, the site of its original London temple in an auction held today. This landmark building close to the British Museum in London’s Bloomsbury area holds deep historical and spiritual Read More...
My dear Lord, whenever I feel powerless or helpless, let those feelings not drag me into hopelessness. Instead, let them serve as my wake-up call to shift my hope to you—firmly, fully, and faithfully. Srila Prabhupada acknowledges here that he has no power or ability of his own, yet he sees this not as a reason for despair but as a reason to redirect his attention to you—as did Draupadi when her honor was threatened in the Kuru assembly.
O ever-accessible Lord, let his words inspire me. In moments when I feel helpless, when nothing I do seems to make any difference and is not likely to make any difference, let me not resign from my service or drift into passivity. Instead, my Lord, let me refocus my attention on you. Even if I am powerless, you are always powerful—supremely powerful. If I can just become absorbed in you, I will start becoming hopeful again.
O merciful Lord, through such absorption, please enable me to experience shelter and succour even amid overwhelming gloom and doom. Infuse me, I beg you, with the strength to take small steps even when the path ahead is shrouded in impenetrable darkness.
May you, my Lord, be my refuge now and always—in times when I feel helpless, and even when I do not.
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
See, if somebody is not that competent, but they are well connected, or they have connection with the managers and that is how they are getting more promotion or growing or they are basically, they are showing off and they are getting more than what they merit. So, how do we deal with this situation? See, in life, basically, whatever game we play, we have to understand the rules of that game. And by saying there are some spoken rules and there are some unspoken rules.
So, we cannot be naive. In this world, the material world is such that we may say, do not judge a book by its cover, but everybody judges the book by the cover, isn’t it? So, everybody looks at appearances. And that is why, if we are in a field where appearances are valued, then we have to play that game.
See, the Pandavas were virtuous and we can see the Kauravas were so vicious and in public, Duryodhana tried to dishonor and disrobe Draupadi. You know, after somebody does something so horrendous, the whole of society should be ostracizing such a person. But when eventually the war was supposed to happen, 11 Akshahunis supported Duryodhana.
Only 7 supported Yudhishthira. Were there so many evil people that they supported Duryodhana? Well, not entirely. What happened was, the Pandavas were disconnected from the world because they were in the forest.
And the Kauravas were connected with the Kshatriya world. There were always weddings and other events that they would attend. And Duryodhana told his side of the story.
We say, what is the side of the story that is there to tell over here? He did such a thing, something so terrible. But what he said was, he gave his own side of the story. He said that I didn’t force Duryodhana, Yudhishthira to gamble.
Yudhishthira gambled on his own. And he spun the whole story. Do you really think that a man who would put his own wife on stake should become the king of the world? He twisted completely around.
Says Yudhishthira is completely undeserving of being the king. Therefore, it will be a catastrophe if such a person becomes the king. And that is how he got so many supporters.
So, my point is, he set a particular narrative and people were won over by that narrative. So, if we are in a particular arena, we have to learn the rules of that arena. And just because we are good, now we can say good, there is good in terms of morality, but there is good also in terms of ability.
Ability to do what we are expected to do in that particular field. Now, of course, there have to be boundaries. If everybody in the office is doing politics and we say, I won’t be doing any politics at all, you might just get sidelined.
Now, politics, what does it mean? Politics could mean networking, politics could mean knowing who are the power groups over here and being aware and maintaining good relationships. Now, politics can mean also being backbiting and rumour mongering and there is a dirty side to politics. Now, we may not want to get involved in that.
But my point is that wherever we are, we need to recognise how things work over here. We cannot just change the system immediately. Maybe the way the system is working is bad right now.
But who can change the system? It is only somebody who rises to the top in the system, they can bring reform. Those who are at the bottom, unless they revolt, they are not going to bring any reform. So, in that sense, whatever is required, we need to do.
And it is true that people who have an attractive appearance and who have pleasing manners, that means you can just talk sweetly, they do get a big advantage in the world. But that does not mean that they are necessarily able to do good work. But that is the way life is.
We cannot change the nature, we have to work with that reality. We had a question? Thank you Prabhu for such a wonderful talk. So Prabhu, when
Insights that empowered my theater… | by Sulalita Devi Dasi | Nov, 2025 Insights that empowered my theater performance and how they can empower our life too. Chaitanya Prabhu (on the right, playing the soul) & His wife Ilavati Mataji (on the left, playing Material Nature) posing for their philosophical pantomime drama “Long Dream” In Read More...
Hearing and chanting Krishna’s name, instruction, and pastimes is the mainstay of devotional service. Please join us here for spiritual rejuvenation. ISKCON of Silicon Valley Krishna Katha | H.G. Vaisesika Dasa | 2025-11-23 | ISV Read More...
Special Sunday Feast Talk by HG Chaitanya Charan Das Srila Prabhupada’s Gift to London: Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara | Sunday Feast Talk – 23.11.2025 Special Sunday Feast Talk by HG Chaitanya Charan Das Srila Prabhupada’s Gift to London: Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara | Sunday Feast Talk – 23.11.2025 Read More...
Join us for today’s Srimad Bhagavatam / Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta class on CC Madhya-līlā 10.62–73, delivered by H.G. Navin Nirad Prabhu from ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village. Dive deep into the timeless teachings of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and enrich your devotional life with this morning’s live session Srimad Bhagavatam Class | CC Madhya 10.62–73 | H.G. Navin Read More...
My dear Lord, Srila Prabhupada is here seeking a specific blessing, which he sees as essential for his service to you. Seeking something specific from you can signify attachment, but it can also signify commitment.
O eternally loving Lord, you want me to be emotionally invested in you. You have not given me emotions so that I give them up, but so that I can give them to you. And one way I give my emotions to you is by expressing them through specific tangible service—just as in any ordinary relationship, I may express my affection for someone on their birthday by giving them a gift.
O omniscient Lord, let my desire for that particular form of service never become greater than my desire for you. Let my commitment be an expression of my desire to serve—not an attachment that makes me insist on serving only in one way or feel resentment when called to serve otherwise.
Through my commitment to serve, my beloved Lord, please draw my heart to you, so that whether my desire to serve in that particular way is fulfilled or not, my heart is fulfilled—by being filled with you.
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
So, it’s difficult to know someone’s intent and if they are doing something which seems to be a bit making us uncomfortable or something is questionable, then should we talk with them about to understand their intent? Well, yes, sometimes if we are doing a serious service with someone and if we are also seriously committed to that service, then sometimes that will require us to have some difficult discussions because we are investing ourselves in the service, somebody else is also investing themselves in the service and if they want us to be fully invested, then we have to try to understand them. Okay, you are spending so much money on renovating this particular thing in the temple and you want me to raise funds for that, but is this really this important? Do we need this or what funds we have got, do we need it for this right now? So, what’s the vision over here? So, asking that is not a wrong thing. So, questioning somebody’s intent is not necessarily questioning their ethics, but it could be also trying to understand their vision, understand their judgment, that’s something which is important if we are to be invested in that.
But if we feel uncomfortable asking that, then okay, that’s what you want to do, you do it. I am not really so invested in it and in general, the two aspects to consider that sometimes we may be expert in the particular field and somebody else might not be that expert. See, good intention will please Krishna, but good intention alone is not enough in this world.
To do things in this world, Jatayu had the good intention to protect Sita, but he just did not have the skills, he did not have the speed because of his age by which he could or the speed and the stamina. Initially, he was fast enough, but he didn’t have the stamina because of his age, because of which he just couldn’t sustain the fight against Ravan and he was killed. So, in this world, the results don’t come based only on the intentions.
We also have to consider the content of what we are doing. Once the devotees asked, the devotees had done Rath Yatra, I think here only in London and it is one of the first Rath Yatras and they made a big Rath Yatra cart. But then somehow they made it bigger than what was used in America, but they did not proportionately enlarge the wheels of the Rath cart and when they were actually doing the Rath Yatra, the Rath collapsed and it was a disaster.
Of course, they managed it quite well, but Avdi wrote to Prabhupada and asked, Prabhupada, did the Rath collapse because of our poor devotion? And Prabhupada replied to them, it collapsed because of your poor engineering. Poor engineering. So, the point is that in this world, the functional aspect is also important and so sometimes, there is one temple in India where one devotee was a civil engineer and the temple leader was very eager to complete the construction of the temple by a particular date and he was going to have a big festival to inaugurate the temple and the ceiling that he was building for the temple hall structure, it actually was not strong enough, its load-bearing capacity was not strong enough to sustain the whole structure and he was advised by some other civil engineer or something, somehow he had made that decision.
Now this devotee, I knew this person, he was a very intelligent person. He asked me, what should I do? The temple leader was a very very senior devotee and he said, I cannot question his judgment, but at the same time, if the program is going on, at that time the roof crashes and there are casualties, what am I going to do? That would be terrible. I told him that here, it is not that you are questioning the temple president or the temple leader, you are actually protecting the community, you are protecting the movement and you can be polite and respectful, but you also have to make your point clear.
So, my point is that intention might be good, but sometimes the content may not be right at that particular time. Say, if somebody cannot cook for Krishna, somebody is not very good at cooking and they are told cook for a big festival and they are very prayerful, they have big nice picture of Radha Rani, they have kirtan of Radha Rani going on, they pray to Krishna and they cook. They cook in a very very prayerful mood.
Krishna will be pleased with their cooking, but only Krishna will be pleased. They cannot cook. So, in the world, competence is also required for services.
Every year the New Varshana devotees organize a Rathayatra parade that goes down Queen Street in Auckland. This has been going on for decades and a beautiful big Jagannatha chariot is pulled through the city.
In the last year, a smaller chariot has been built that allows us to go in parades in the suburbs and smaller regional towns. I was fortunate to attend the first one in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga.
The event was joyful and the crowd waved to the devotees performing kirtan and pulling Lord Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra devi’s chariot through the center of town.
My dear Lord, Srila Prabhupada here expresses his confidence in the potency of the process of bhakti: by hearing the Bhagavatam regularly, everyone can remove the impurities that misdirect their heart’s love, thus becoming free to direct their love towards you and find therein the fulfillment they have always longed for over many lifetimes.
My fundamental misconception, O supreme enlightener, is that there exists anything lovable outside you and that it can therefore be an alternative to you. Everything attractive gets its attractiveness from you.
Help me, O all-attractive Lord, to see and help others see that whatever they desire—all that and more—they will find in you. You, O Lord, are so magnanimous—you do not want me to give up desire but to give my desire to you. Bless me, O Lord, so that I can not just intellectually understand you as the supremely desirable but also cherish you as my supremely desirable.
Just as Srila Prabhupada inspired millions to make you the life of their life, my beloved Lord, may that inspiration reach and enrich my heart—and through it, reach and enrich many other hearts.
This is an AI-generated transcript and it might not be fully accurate:
So, if devotees get stuck at the non-negotiable level itself and not move forward, yes, I think there are two broad approaches to this. One is that we may all decide that in particular areas of life, progress is very difficult for us. And we decide that in this area, this is where I am going to stay at.
I am not going to fight this battle. But that does not mean that we should not fight any battle at all. So, somebody may decide that, okay, in my sadhana, I cannot go beyond this.
This is what I am going to do. But maybe they can study scripture more, they can do seva more. So, they can take up a particular service.
So, if in every area of bhakti, we are sticking only at the non-negotiable level, then we may not grow. But while bhakti is a complete package, not everybody can grow at the same pace in all areas. For some devotees, by their very nature, their upbringing might be such that they grew up with a structure and a routine to their life.
And therefore, structures and routines such as, okay, every day wake up in this morning, come for this morning program, that will be relatively easy for them. Some devotees did not grow up with much structure in their life. And not just did not grow up, in general, some people find peace and strength in structure.
And some people find joy and strength in adventure. And adventure basically means the absence of structure, to some extent at least. So, you know, bhakti is big enough to accommodate both of them.
So, those devotees who need adventure, for example, if you consider the pujari service, that is a very much structured service. This time we have to wake up the needs, this time we have to do the pujari service, this time we have to offer bhoga. Now, on the other hand, if you consider book distribution or travelling sankirtan or travelling speaking, that is a much more adventure centred service.
In the sense that, if you meet some interesting person, you can spend a lot of time with that person. We decide I am going to be here in one city, tomorrow I am going to another city. So, we all need to find out what is the way in which we can we can joyfully practice bhakti.
So, somebody may decide with respect to structure, okay, the basic minimum structure I will have, but I will extend my service through adventure. But somebody else may say that their extension of services that, you know, I know somebody who is exactly like, yesterday I was talking with one, yesterday evening, you know, he is telling me, his spiritual master sleeps at 8.15 and wakes up at 1.17. At 8 o’clock he is talking with someone, at 8.12 he lies down, he falls asleep by 8.15. Doesn’t need an alarm, he wakes up. He has been doing this for years.
Now, he said that I tried to do that and I just can’t. I felt as if I was a terrible disciple because I can’t follow my spiritual master. But then I told him, did you talk with your spiritual master about this? It’s wonderful somebody has that level of structure, but it’s not just a matter of willpower and discipline.
It’s also a matter of neurobiology and psychology and so many other things. Some people are just that structure. It’s nice to be like that, but that’s not the only way to be a devotee.
Somebody is not able to do that does not mean that they cannot be a serious or a progressing devotee. So, I think we have to choose our battles. Some areas non-negotiable, but some areas I will move forward.
On February 11, 2026 the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will reach another milestone: The Grand Opening of the amazing TOVP Yajna Shala in the TOVP Gardens. This huge Yajna Shala will replace the current location at the Gurukula and become the main focal point of all yajnas performed for the Supreme Personality of Godhead on a daily basis, in perpetuity, since they started in 1986 in the Lotus Park.
60ft/18mL x 60ft/18mW x 30ft/8mH in size, the marble and granite structure will be surrounded by a picturesque water channel, beautiful foliage and gardens, pleasant walkways, and an elaborate foot wash area. As you enter the teakwood door entranceways, your eyes will behold forty-four marble stambhas or pillars situated around the immense 7ft/2m x 7ft/2m Yajna Peeta (arena) with its interior Yajna Kunda (fireplace) with gold, silver and copper borders and Cakra, Kalash and Dwaja decorations, along with two sacred mandalas.
Daily yajnas for the Lord’s pleasure will take place inside the TOVP Yajna Shala as an eternal fire of sacrifice, all for the upliftment of devotees, the spiritualization of the people of the world, the success of the sankirtan movement, and the protection of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON.
This presents another opportunity for devotees to participate in the development and growth of ISKCON Mayapur and the TOVP by sponsoring different aspects of the Yajna Shala, from the bricks used in construction, to the pillars to the entire yajna peeta. It is another once-in-many lifetimes seva opportunity that will also help us in our spiritual progress back to Godhead.
A Concert: Chandigarh, India. Homeland Global Park, Chandigarh, a night event in Chandigarh, India. An epic tour. Ever-epic mantras. In one word, the India tour so far: EPIC! An epic night. An epic tour. Ever-epic mantras. In one word, the India tour so far: EPIC!#ChantAndBeHappy Radhika Das Click on the image to read the complete Read More...
So we are continuing with our minieries on stimulation for ecstatic love and this will be part 153 in which we will continue to discuss the various disguises that Radha and Krishna use in their pastimes. In this episode, Krishna very cleverly disguises himself as a masseuse. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload Read More...
Hare Krishna Dear devotees, By the grace of Lord Krishna, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and the loving prayers, yajnas, and well-wishes of Vaisnavas around the world, His Grace Mahatma Prabhu is recovering well. Considering the amount of trauma he experienced, his progress is truly miraculous. He will most likely leave the hospital tomorrow, once.png)
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A Concert: Chandigarh, India. Homeland Global Park, Chandigarh, a night event in Chandigarh, India. An epic tour. Ever-epic mantras. In one word, the India tour so far: EPIC! An epic night. An epic tour. Ever-epic mantras. In one word, the India tour so far: EPIC!#ChantAndBeHappy Radhika Das Click on the image to read the complete
So we are continuing with our minieries on stimulation for ecstatic love and this will be part 153 in which we will continue to discuss the various disguises that Radha and Krishna use in their pastimes. In this episode, Krishna very cleverly disguises himself as a masseuse. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload