Due to His causeless mercy upon all living entities within the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with His plenary extensions, appeared in the family of Maharaja Iksvaku as the Lord of His internal potency, Sita. Under the order of His father, Maharaja Dasaratha, He entered the forest and lived there for considerable years with His wife and younger brother. Ravana, who was very materially powerful, with ten heads on his shoulders, committed a great offense against Him and was thus ultimately vanquished.
PURPORT
Lord Rama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His brothers, namely Bharata, Laksmana, and Satrughna, are His plenary expansions. All four brothers are visnu-tattva and were never ordinary human beings. There are many unscrupulous and ignorant commentators on Ramayana who present the younger brothers of Lord Ramacandra as ordinary living entities.
But here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the most authentic scripture on the science of Godhead, it is clearly stated that His brothers were His plenary expansions. Originally Lord Ramacandra is the incarnation of Vasudeva, Laksmana is the incarnation of Sankarsana, Bharata is the incarnation of Pradyumna, and Satrughna is the incarnation of Aniruddha, expansions of the Personality of Godhead.
Laksmiji Sita is the internal potency of the Lord and is neither an ordinary woman nor the external potency incarnation of Durga. Durga is the external potency of the Lord, and she is associated with Lord Siva.
As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (4.7), the Lord appears when there are discrepancies in the discharge of factual religion. Lord Ramacandra also appeared under the same circumstances, accompanied by His brothers, who are expansions of the Lord’s internal potency, and by Laksmiji Sitadevi.
Lord Ramacandra was ordered by His father, Maharaja Dasaratha, to leave home for the forest under awkward circumstances, and the Lord, as the ideal son of His father, carried out the order, even on the occasion of His being declared the king of Ayodhya.
One of His younger brothers, Laksmanaji, desired to go with Him, and so also His eternal wife, Sitaji, desired to go with Him. The Lord agreed to both of them, and all together they entered the Dandakaranya Forest, to live there for fourteen years.
During their stay in the forest, there was some quarrel between Ramacandra and Ravana, and the latter kidnapped the Lord’s wife, Sita. The quarrel ended in the vanquishing of the greatly powerful Ravana, along with all his kingdom and family.
Sita is Laksmiji, or the goddess of fortune, but she is never to be enjoyed by any living being. She is meant for being worshiped by the living being along with her husband, Sri Ramacandra. A materialistic man like Ravana does not understand this great truth, but on the contrary he wants to snatch Sitadevi from the custody of Rama and thus incurs great miseries.
The materialists, who are after opulence and material prosperity, may take lessons from the Ramayana that the policy of exploiting the nature of the Lord without acknowledging the supremacy of the Supreme Lord is the policy of Ravana. Ravana was very advanced materially, so much so that he turned his kingdom, Lanka, into pure gold, or full material wealth. But because he did not recognize the supremacy of Lord Ramacandra and defied Him by stealing His wife, Sita, Ravana was killed, and all his opulence and power were destroyed.
Lord Ramacandra is a full incarnation with six opulences in full, and He is therefore mentioned in this verse as kalesah, or master of all opulence.
In 1999, for ISKCON TV, Shyamasundar Prabhu recorded a series of experiences he had with George Harrison and with Srila Prabhupada:
“Srila Prabhupada treated George Harrison like an old, old friend. I spent some time with George this summer. . . . [He] has reached a very high level of spiritual development, I am happy to say. He chants Hare Krishna every day. And he is totally serene, as he has accepted life as it is. He has actually achieved a much higher level of self-realization than I can ever hope to achieve. He is peaceful and serene to a degree that is rare in a person, and at such a young age . . . Prabhupada benefited him so much. Prabhupada knew the buttons to push and not to push because of [the Beatles’] natural hesitancy to have anything public to do with Prabhupada, because they would see us then as just going after their money or their fame and not giving them the real thing. So, I tried, and Prabhupada, by his example, showed me the way to treat them: ‘Always, just keep giving them stuff. Never ask them for anything.’
“One time, though, Prabhupada did call me into his room and said, ‘You know we only have one book. We have Bhagavad-gita—that’s it.’ And maybe there was Nectar of Devotion. He said, ‘Krsna book has been finished for some time, and I got news today that it is ready for publication. How can we publish? We need this book.’ He said, ‘I want you to go and ask George for the money for this book.’ So, then I said, ‘Aww, no, Prabhupada. You know the reason that we have gotten this far with George and he has helped us so much to date is that I’ve never asked him for anything. I always wait until he offers.’ And Prabhupada said, ‘Yes, but we really need this.’ And I asked, ‘Well, how much is it?’ He said, ‘$19,000.’ In those days that was like saying $100,000. Whew. So, I said, ‘I don’t really think it is a good idea, Prabhupada.’ And he said, ‘Yes, yes it is. You’ll see. Krishna will help you. Watch this.’
“So, we had made arrangements for the next day to go look at marble. George had said that he would donate a new slab of marble for the altar. To help us select this marble, he had called on his friend David Wynn, a very famous sculptor who had designed the coinage and who had done the famous busts of Queen Elizabeth and the Beatles too. So, we went with David Wynn to the marble yards, and afterwards we went to his house for dinner. And all this time I was trying to screw up my courage. Because I had one mission that day, How am I going to ask George for this money? Here he has given us this three- or four-thousand-pound slab of marble. How can I ask him for something more on top of that today?
“We had dinner, and we were all finished eating, and it was getting late at night. It was dark. It was a long way from where I had to go in London, and George had to go all the way out someplace in the suburbs. So, finally I just did it. I said, ‘George, Srila Prabhupada asked me to ask you if you would donate money to print the Krsna book.’ I explained what the Krsna book was, and his face just got increasingly grimmer and grimmer. I could see the whole thing passing through his face, with him thinking, Oh, man, they are just another one of these groups. Here it comes. Then the room went quiet for a moment while he thought about it and fixed me with this really belligerent stare.
“And suddenly all the lights in the house went out! And BAM! A bolt of lightning hit the house. True story. The whole house shook. The sound and the light were simultaneous. After that, we sat for some minutes in silence, stunned. And when the lights came back on, I looked over at George, and he had this huge grin on his face and said, ‘Well, how much is it, then? And I told him, and he said, ‘Well, what can I do after that?’ And he came the next day and talked to Prabhupada about it.
As things turned out, George not only gave the money to print the Krsna book, but he also penned some “Words from Apple,” which was like a foreword, concluding with “All you need is love (Krishna).”
Question: When we do some activity repeatedly, like drinking or taking drugs, we get addicted to it. But as students, we study for 20, 15, 20 years, why do we never get addicted to studying?
Answer Addiction or even for that matter, it’s milder version attachment, is not just a result of repetition. Repetition is one important factor in forming the impressions inside our mind, which impel us to do that same thing again.
But while the mind is sometimes compared to a software, say a computer browser, where the sites we have visited come as auto-completes, but the mind is much more sophisticated than just a software, the history record, the history in a browser does not reflect how enthusiastic we were about visiting a particular site, whereas the mind’s impressions record that. So to understand the strength of the impressions formed in the mind, we need to consider three factors. I prefer the acronym FIT for this, frequency, intensity and time duration.
How often we do something is important, how long we do a thing is important, but probably the most important thing in forming impressions in the mind is how much is our interest, how much is our involvement at the level of emotions, at the level of absorption, basically how much is the intensity, how much are our, how much is our, how much are our emotions and desires involved in the activity. So, because activities such as drinking or doing drugs give us a quick dopamine hit and some of them are designed to give us that quick intoxicating or even irresistible pleasure. However, because of that, the problem that happens is our getting intensely involved in it is much more probable, we could say even inevitable and that is how addiction happens, attachment and addiction happens for these activities, whereas with respect to studying, it doesn’t happen because we do it because we need to do it.
It’s not because we like to do it, let alone love doing it. So because we don’t get so emotionally involved, that’s why the impressions that are formed are not that strong. Of course, there are people who love to read and they can get addicted to reading also.
Generally, the word addiction is used for strong or compulsive behavioural patterns that are destructive. So we may not use the word reading addiction generally speaking, but the principle is that along with how long or how often we do it, it’s how intensely we do it which is a critical component in determining the strength of the impressions formed.
You may recall "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder, a global hit and his best-selling single, topping charts in 28 countries. The song’s message of love without reason mirrors how a devotee calls out to Krishna through the Hare Krishna mantra—purely out of devotion. Here are adapted lyrics reflecting this sentiment, set to the original melody, produced by HG Nirantara Prabhu. Continue reading "“I just called to say I love you” → Dandavats"
HG Nirantara Prabhu ACBSP is a shining example of how devotion, talent, and dedication can come together to inspire countless lives. His contributions to the Hare Krishna movement serve as a testament to the enduring power of spirituality and music in transforming individuals and communities worldwide. As he continues on his journey, his legacy as a spiritual musician and leader will undoubtedly continue to grow, touching hearts and inspiring souls for generations to come. Continue reading "A Melody of Devotion: Nirantara Prabhu’s Enduring Legacy → Dandavats"
Discover a tapestry of spiritual journeys and community achievements with Dandavats. From celebrating ISKCON Vrindavan's 50th Anniversary, rekindling Srila Prabhupada's legacy at Krishna Balaram Mandir, to insightful sessions at the Bhakti Yoga Conference at Harvard, each article and video shares profound wisdom and devotion. Witness initiatives like Prem Sarovar's Rain Water Harvesting Pond and ISKCON Greece's impactful year, embodying the essence of service and spiritual growth. Join us in exploring these enriching narratives that inspire unity, compassion, and deep spiritual connection worldwide. Continue reading "Unity in Bhakti: Heartwarming Tales from ISKCON Communities Worldwide! April 1 → Dandavats"
Why did mother Sita enter into the earth rather than be united? Be united with Ram when he finally called her back? Answer, ultimately these are pastimes that are meant to function at two levels, their loving reciprocations between the Lord and His devotees, which work according to the Lord’s divine desire for His pleasure and they are meant to teach us some lessons in this world. So, the Ramayana broadly teaches the mood of sacrifice and Sita lives a, there are two kinds of sacrifice, there is a life of sacrifice and the sacrifice of life. In general, the life of sacrifice is actually far more demanding than the sacrifice of life.
And Sita could have ended her life when Ram let her send her to the forest. But she felt she had a responsibility to take care of her children and she did that diligently and that was her life or her life of sacrifice. And then finally, when her sons were reunited with Ram, then she demonstrated the sacrifice of life by re-entering into the earth.
Ultimately, when the Lord descends, He teaches us many lessons and while He teaches us how to do Adharma in this world, He also teaches how we are to face the end. And there is always a happy ending for the soul and the soul unites with God. But in this world, there is not always a happy ending.
In fact, the ending is there is separation in this world at this level. So, the whole of Ramayana is with its various characters diligently demonstrating their dutifulness and she is, they do that diligently in their particular ways. So, that’s how she enters into the earth and they are reunited ultimately in the higher spiritual abode.
April Fools’ Day is celebrated yearly on April 1, and today I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that we remain fools before the spiritual master, as stated in a room conversation in Bombay, August 16, 1976.
A devotee asked, “Even nitya-siddha has guru . . . Even the liberated soul, nitya-siddha?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Liberated soul never says that ‘I am liberated.’ As soon as he says ‘liberated,’ he’s a rascal. A liberated soul will never say that ‘I am liberated.’ That is liberation. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He is God—guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasan [Cc Adi 7.71]: ‘My Guru Maharaja saw Me fool number one, and he has chastised Me.’ He’s God. This is the example. If one remains always a servant, everlastingly, of guru, then he is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Guru more murkha dekhi’. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is murkha? Why He is posing Himself that murkha, ‘I am fool number one’? That means that is liberation. You must be ready always to be chastised by guru. Then he’s liberated. And as soon as he thinks that ‘I am beyond this chastisement. I am liberated,’ he’s a rascal. Why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasan? This is sahajiya-vada, thinking, ‘Oh, I have become liberated. I don’t require any direction of my guru. I’m liberated.’ Then he’s rascal. . . . So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection.”
I pray to be directed by Srila Prabhupada eternally, as his everlastingly humble servant, or servants’ servants’ servant.
Iskcon communities worldwide are vibrant with spiritual enthusiasm and impactful initiatives. Highlights include HG Daivi Shakti Mataji's profound discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam, Radhika Das's uplifting kirtan on BBC One, and Turkey's thriving Krishna Consciousness movement, marked by educational outreach and compassionate service. Additionally, there are insightful discussions by HG Atul Krishna Das on Lord Krishna's divine acts, HH Romapada Swami's illuminating insights on Lord Ramachandra's appearance, and the joyous celebrations like Ratha Yatra in Melbourne and the colorful Holi festival at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple. The launch of the MySadhana App and other significant events further showcase Iskcon's commitment to spiritual growth and community engagement. These endeavors collectively inspire a deeper connection with spirituality and a brighter future for all involved. Continue reading "Uniting Hearts Through Devotion: Inspiring Stories from Iskcon Communities Worldwide! March 31 → Dandavats"
Should we aspire for the ecstatic symptoms that are described as characteristics of pure love for Krishna at our stage, or should we aspire just for the removal of anarthas that are troubling us right now? As devotees, we certainly want to develop love for Krishna, and whatever is obstructing us in developing that love for Krishna, we want that to be removed, no doubt, and all of us will have our individual inspiration or vision about what love for Krishna means and how it can be developed. That is, that for some devotees, it may mean a deep immersion in Shastra. For some devotees, it may mean going to a holy dham like Mayapur and or singing the names of the Lord in the holy places over there.
For some devotees, it may mean worshipping the Deities in the temple. For some devotees, it may mean discussing exalted subjects of intimate Krishna pastimes with other devotees. So because it’s a personal relationship with Krishna, we cannot legislate it too much.
It’s a bond of the heart. So the most important thing in our bhakti is Anukulyasya Sankalpa Pratikulyasya Varjanam at operational level. Whatever is favorable for our devotional growth, we accept that, and whatever is unfavorable, we try to keep a distance from that.
So if it is favorable for us to move toward Krishna, that we have a vision of certain ecstatic symptoms or certain expressions of love for Krishna, then having that vision, having that aspiration, that’s wonderful. And the Artha Pravrutti and Anartha Nirrutti are both important. If we focus only on Artha Pravrutti without Anartha Nirrutti, then the danger is that we may become more Sahajiya-ik, that it’s just we are becoming sentient, we are trying to get our head to the spiritual world while our legs are still sinking on the ground in the material world.
We have not even got them out of the material world till now. On the other hand, if we get too caught only on Artha Nirrutti and don’t try for Artha Pravrutti, then we will become, we may tend to become like Mayavadis, for whom the focus is more on simply on freedom and liberation, not so much on positive attraction to Krishna. So, both are required and at different times in our life, we may feel inspired by different things.
So, whatever it is that we feel inspired by, we take that and move forward. And it’s good to have some other devotees who know our situation, whom we can consult, some seniors, either our spiritual masters, spiritual guides or some equals who know us well, so that they can guide us whether we are going too much in one direction. In general, each one of us may have our particular natural inclination for some devotees becoming very mindful and self-aware, to understand their motivations and to evaluate why particular kinds of moods or desires or hurts are rising within them because of what happened in the past, is very important as a part of their spiritual growth.
For others, all this may seem too analytical and they may feel more inspired to immerse themselves in hearing Krishna Katha and relishing Krishna Katha. Each of these modalities can help us grow, but we can go too far. Sometimes, our so-called immersing asana in Krishna Katha may be our way of running away from the hard issues that we need to deal with.
Let’s say the person may be physically wounded and they may start hearing Krishna Katha and they transcend the pain of the wound, but that doesn’t mean the wound itself is going to get cured. So, it may happen to physical, psychological level also. Similarly, it may happen that somebody may get so caught in psychological self-understanding that Krishna and Krishna’s mercy may become like a background, may become relegated to the background and that’s also not healthy.
So, we need a balance and we may need to understand what is our natural inclination so that we can take shelter of Krishna in that way. At the same time, we don’t neglect the other side by having some guide-route balances.
Question, how much should devotees read non-devotional books? Answer, there is no should over here. Sri Prabhupada didn’t really present Krishna Consciousness as a rigid set of do’s and don’ts. He focused more on helping us develop Krishna Consciousness.
And our primary reading should be reading of Shastra, so that we can become convinced about the practices of Bhakti and also learn how to practice Bhakti better, so that we can develop love for Krishna. That is what should be our focus in terms of reading. Now apart from that, we could say other reading could fall in three different categories.
One is that we may need to read some other things for our particular services. If somebody wants to start a school and they want to get a school for devotee kids and they want to get some certification, they may need to learn certain things about educational policies, they may need to get some certification for themselves as teachers or as teaching administrators. Similarly, if you want to build a temple, you may need to learn something about architecture apart from hiring architects, you need to know something basic.
So we may need to learn some principles for our particular services. If somebody wants to learn writing, they may want to read some books on writing. So first is for our services.
And second is that sometimes for our own self-understanding. We can, through the principles of Ananashram, we can understand our Varna. And that’s one valuable psychological or psychophysical categorization for self-understanding.
But there are many other frameworks available. And sometimes these could be helpful for us to understand ourselves better. So, especially if one is finding oneself in a very incompatible or uncomfortable situation, then we need to know ourselves ultimately in terms of the soul that we are.
But also we need to know ourselves in terms of the body-mind machine that we presently have, so that we can use it properly in Krishna service. So if someone is more of an introvert or someone is more of an extrovert, they need to see what services they can take up, or what kind of situation they can find shelter and strength in, so that they can practice their bhakti best. So for certain self-understanding, at the level of our nature or the level of the kind of mind that we have, some people may need to read something for that.
So, in the first category of our service, if we are living in the world and we are interacting with the world, a certain level of awareness of the world may be required as a matter of service. So, if you are living in a particular part of the world, what is the geopolitical situation in the vicinity? What is the religious undercurrents or tensions? Whether we need to read books for that? It’s not as important as that we need to be aware of those situations. So, beyond our service and our self-understanding, a third could be that some people may just have an intellectual nature and they may have a lot of intellectual curiosity.
So, for them, reading is just their nature. And they read on diverse subjects. And their reading on those subjects does not adversely affect their scriptural reading.
They were voracious readers before they came to Bhakti. And we cannot suddenly expect them to rigidly reduce their reading to only scriptural or devotional books. They will read that and they will read that voraciously.
But they may sometimes have an appetite for reading other things. It’s like somebody was very much into music before they came to Bhakti. And now they come to Bhakti.
They will naturally want to enthusiastically participate in any musical events or musical service associated with Bhakti. But just because they have become devotees now, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be musically satisfied only with the kind of tunes and the kind of singing and the kind of instruments that are used in Bhakti, traditionally or contemporarily in the moment. They may want to see what kind of music is currently trending and whether they could compose something based on that, which is devotionally compatible.
So, everybody, based on their particular nature, will have a particular kind of appetite. And that appetite needs to be fulfilled. It cannot be artificially restricted.
So, for such people, based on the particular areas of interest or curiosity they have, they may read in those areas. And based on that, they can learn and they can grow. So, that would mean that they may become more, in future, public intellectuals where they can offer scriptural commentary on current issues or they may themselves be able to connect Krishna Conscious Wisdom with many different areas of life.
And depending on the particular intellectual nature of that person, either they may be very diverse in reading a wide variety of things or they may be very specific in going deep into one field or there may well be a combination of both where they are widely read in many fields and deeply read in one field. So, that’s how it’s not a matter of should. Should one read or not read? It’s more a matter of what helps one to best achieve the ultimate purpose of life which is to develop our love for Krishna and progress towards Him while making the best contribution during our journey in this world, in this life.
The TOVP Fundraising Team is pleased to announce the upcoming TOVP Marathon 2025 Euro Tour from April 10 – May 13. Led by Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimha’s Satari, the team consisting of Jananivas, Praghosa, Braja Vilasa and UK/Euro Coordinator Sukanti Radha prabhus will be visiting multiple locations in ten countries to increase awareness and fundraise for the completion of the project.
According to Braja Vilasa, “This monumental project is opening at the end of 2026 and the celebrations will extend for three months until Gaura Purnima. The marathon continues until then, and our efforts now are to get the final support from all devotees to achieve this important goal and relocate our beloved Mayapur Deities into Their new home without fail.”
Devotees in the countries being visited are encouraged to attend and become inspired by experiencing the massive worldwide influence the TOVP will have when it hits the world stage in 2026, thus fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s dearmost desire to build this temple in Sridham Mayapur and bring the people of the whole world there.
The accomplishments of Turkey's Krishna Consciousness movement in 2024 highlight its unwavering dedication to spiritual enlightenment and social service. Through innovative outreach strategies, compassionate food distribution programs, and a strong focus on education, the movement continues to inspire individuals across Turkey while making a tangible difference in their lives. As they look forward to an even brighter future in 2025, their efforts serve as a shining example of devotion and service. Continue reading "A Year of Growth and Service: Turkey’s Krishna Consciousness Movement in 2024 → Dandavats"
Discover a vibrant tapestry of spiritual wisdom and community achievements in the latest updates from ISKCON. From enlightening discourses by revered speakers like H.G. Bhima Prabhu and H.G. Kalakantha Prabhu on the profound teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, to inspiring events like the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2025 drawing thousands to the banks of the Ganges. Celebrate the growth and service milestones of ISKCON communities worldwide, highlighted by significant meetings and projects such as the Sri Sri Krishna Arjuna Mandir in Kurukshetra. Stay tuned for the upcoming VedaBaseTM 2025 update, promising enriched spiritual resources on Lord Nrisimha-caturdasi day. Experience these stories and more, resonating with devotion and the legacy of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Continue reading "Celebrating Bhakti: Teachings, Festivals, and Milestones in ISKCON’s Global Community! March 30 → Dandavats"
ISKCON Hungary has experienced remarkable progress and accomplishments in 2024, showcasing its dedication to spreading Krishna Consciousness, promoting sustainability, and serving communities across the nation. From book distribution milestones to self-sufficiency initiatives, the organization has made significant strides in various areas. Continue reading "GBC REPORT – A Year of Growth and Service: ISKCON Hungary’s Achievements in 2024 → Dandavats"
Introduction Nestled in the tranquil foothills of the Sahyadri mountains near Mumbai, India, the Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) stands as a remarkable testament to the seamless blend of sustainability and spirituality. An initiative of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), GEV has emerged as a model eco-community that embodies the principles of environmental conservation, Read More...
Sajjani dd and Daksa das had their wedding at New Govardhana in front of the Deities, Srila Prabhupada, their families and the assembled devotees.
I remember when they were both new devotees and I was always enthused to see them settling into the devotee community so wonderfully. It was a very happy occasion.
The TOVP Fundraising Team is most happy to announce the upcoming Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching Fundraiser, from April 29 (Akshaya Tritiya – U.S.) until May 11 (Nrsimha Caturdasi – India).
On May 5, 2024, His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami departed this world to join Srila Prabhupada in eternal loving service to Lord Sri Krishna. To honor this dedicated and loving servant of our Founder-Acharya, and one of the greatest supporters of the TOVP, as well as to fulfill the instruction to him from Srila Prabhupada to “construct a temple at the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu”, we are dedicating this year’s TOVP Matching Fundraiser to his memory through a beautiful 3” wide Bhakti Ratna (Jewel of Devotion) medallion. And if you sponsor one during the 13 day fundraiser, every donation will be matched by Ambarisa prabhu!
This is yet another opportunity to help complete the magnificent Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and prepare for the historic 3-month-long Grand Opening starting December, 2026 until Gaura Purnima, 2027, when our beloved Mayapur Deities will be relocated into Their new home and palace.
Sponsor a Bhakti Ratna medallion during the thirteen days of the matching fundraiser or give a donation of any amount. Every actual monetary donation (not pledges) will be matched by Ambarisa prabhu. Medallions will be shipped worldwide.
The latest from the ISKCON world on Dandavats! H.G. Kamalini Mataji's profound discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam (10.77.03-09) highlighted Lord Keśava's vigilant defense of Dvārakā against adversities, emphasizing divine protection and strategic planning. Additionally, the community shared heartfelt reflections on spiritual events like the Golden Jubilee Vraj Mandal Parikrama, celebrating traditions and memories of Srila Prabhupada. Meanwhile, Dr. H.D. Goswami explored the philosophical depths of spiritual science, challenging conventional perspectives and highlighting the metaphysical underpinnings of existence.
Moreover, the commemoration of Ramanujacharya's legacy underscored his profound influence on the bhakti tradition in South India, a testament to enduring spiritual teachings over centuries.
These endeavors continue to enrich the spiritual discourse and foster community engagement through insightful articles, reports, and inspirational videos, reflecting the vibrant spirit of ISKCON's teachings and community life. Continue reading "Ancient Teachings, Modern Reflections: ISKCON News & Events! March 29 → Dandavats"
HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami embodies the successful integration of traditional Vaishnava principles with contemporary outreach methods. From his early days distributing Srila Prabhupada's books to his current role utilizing digital platforms for global spiritual education, he has consistently demonstrated commitment to spreading Krishna consciousness through whatever means most effectively reach people in their current circumstances. Continue reading "HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: A Digital Ambassador of Krishna Consciousness in the Modern Era → Dandavats"
QUEST Saṁvāda Podcast News QUEST Saṁvāda Podcast News 1. What is the podcast? The Institute of Science and Spirituality (ISS) presents the QUEST Saṁvāda Podcast: Questioning the Universe with Exploratory Science and Spiritual Thought, which planned to dive deep into the realms of knowledge, curiosity, and critical thinking. The QUEST Saṁvāda podcast aims to engage Read More...
Dear Maharajs and Prabhujis, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Very sad to share this devastating news, yesterday in the earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar(Burma) we lost a dear devotee named Ravi prabhuji, he is the son-in-law of late H. G. Madhavanand prabhuji and Nistha Rani Radha mataji, who are the pioneers Read More...
Ramanujacharya was a foremost teacher of the bhakti tradition. His example and teachings have shaped the bhakti movement in South India for over a thousand years.
He was born on April 13, 1017 at Sriperembudur, twenty-five miles west of modern Chennai. He was named Ilaya Perumal by his religious parents.
Ramanujacharya, coming after Sankaracharya, broadened the scope of Vedic teachings. He taught that bhakti is eternal. It’s not simply a means to God; it’s also an end in itself because it entails an active relationship with God. Service to God and His devotees is an integral part of bhakti.
Ramanuja presented God as a person, a sentient being with whom anyone can establish a loving relationship. He also broke the rigid caste barriers of his time and embraced people from all walks of life into the bhakti fold. He thereby made relationship with God not only a tangible reality, but also accessible to all.
In the bhakti tradition there are four prominent schools, and Sri Vaishnavism, led by Ramanuja, is one of them. This school maintains that the Lord Himself imparted the bhakti knowledge to His consort Lakshmi (Sri), and in the disciplic line the legacy was passed to Ramanujacharya.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 12 By Krishna Kripa Das (Week 12: March 19–25, 2025)
Tallahassee (Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on March 29, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
For the twelfth week of 2025, I remained living at ISKCON Tallahassee. I chanted Hare Krishna every day at Landis Green, behind the main Florida State University library. In Tallahassee, I distributed a Bhagavad-gita, three “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets, and seventy-one little cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch at the campus.
I tell about the exciting visit of three book distributors from Krishna Life for two and a half days.
I share a quote each from a book and a lecture of Srila Prabhupada. I share quotes from Miracle on Second Avenue by Mukunda Goswami, and from The Delaware Diaries and Beginning at Second Avenue by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share an amazing sankirtana story from Ambarish Maharaja Prabhu from the book distribution mailing list.
Thanks to Satyaraja Govinda Prabhu for his donation of bhoga and laksmi in memory of his mother who passed away recently. Please give her your blessings to return to Krishna soon.
Itinerary
January 6–April 11: Tallahassee harinamas and FSU college outreach – March 29: Tallahassee Ratha-yatra April 12: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra April 13: Gainesville harinama April 14–15: USF harinamas in Tampa April 16–20: Washington, D.C., harinamas with Sankarsana Prabhu April 21–22: NYC Harinam April 23: Flight to Brussels April 24: Layover in Oslo April 25: Kadamba Kanana Swami Vyasa-puja at Radhadesh April 26: King’s Day in Amsterdam April 27: Liege harinama April 28–May 1: Paris harinamas May 2: Sarcelles market harinama May 3–4: Amsterdam Kirtan Mela and Sacinandana Swami seminar May 5 and 6: harinama in Amsterdam, Antwerp, or Brussels May 7: Flight from Brussels to New York City May 8–June 15: NYC Harinam mid June–mid August: Paris – June 22: Paris Ratha-yatra – July 11: Amsterdam harinama – July 12: Amsterdam Ratha-yatra – July 13: Netherlands harinama
Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee
The most striking feature of this week in Tallahassee for me was the visit of three book distributors from Krishna Life in Atlanta. Last year, Mahosaha Prabhu from there distributed an entire Srimad-Bhagavatam set to a FSU student on the campus here. Mahosaha is legendary, so that is not so surprising, but this year two of the visiting devotees from Krishna Life each distributed at Bhagavatam set to a student.
Wednesday Janardana Prabhu distributed this Bhagavatam set to this young woman.
And the next day, Jagat Trata Prabhu distributed a Bhagavatam set to this young man. One interesting thing about that is the Krishna Life devotees found a video online in which book distributor, Parama Karuna Prabhu, really heavily criticized the same student for eating meat and thus cruelly and unnecessarily causing pain to God’s creatures although considering himself a follower of Jesus Christ. Apparently he had a change of heart. The student told Jagat Trata that later he met Adikarta Prabhu and got a book from him.
The Krishna Life devotees were happy to participate in our morning and evening programs here in Tallahassee, and it was wonderful to have additional devotees. I got to dance in kirtan for a change. Here Janardana Prabhu of Krishna Life chants Hare Krishna at our Tallahassee daily evening kirtan (https://youtu.be/iplQ5kw21uE):
The following Monday as I was chanting Hare Krishna at FSU I saw that student who bought the Bhagavatam set from Jagat Trata Prabhu on Thursday. I learned his name is Josh, and he got the First Canto, Part 1, from Parama Karuna Prabhu initially, then later he received Bhagavad-gita from Adikarta Prabhu. When Adikarta heard he got the Bhagavatam set he congratulated him, saying that he had made the best possible investment. Josh felt very good about getting the set and considered he got a great deal. I shared verse 1.2.6 with him, saying that universal spiritual wisdom is the standard of the Bhagavatam. I told him that I read the Bhagavatam every day for an hour after breakfast until I finished it. I mentioned that I encountered the tradition 45 years ago, and I am still finding additional knowledge within it.
The “Tally Preacher” writes chalk messages on the sidewalk near where I chant Hare Krishna. Although he has specifically blasphemed Krishna in his writings once in the past, this time he stuck to glorifying Jesus as the only savior. I thought of editing out the word “only” as Krishna also saves. So does the holy name of the Lord, which is mentioned in three places in the Bible as a savior. Of course, I didn’t actually alter the sign because I am fully engaged in chanting Hare Krishna and advertising our Krishna Lunch. Two female students independently poured water from their water bottles over the sign and smeared it, even as the Tally Preacher protested. That is why it looks smudged. I thought of taking a photo of the students doing that, but I didn’t think that would enhance my reputation with the Tally Preacher, so I just kept chanting.
Someone donated a sports drink to the preacher, which he did not want, and so he gave it to me when he left, thus improving our relationship. As it had no objectionable ingredients, I later offered it to Gaura-Nitai. It tasted pretty good.
On Fridays, Ananga Mohan Prabhu joins me for harinama for an hour or two. This week I brought out a mat so we could sit down.
Rather than print lots of little flyers to promote the Krishna Lunch, I started asking people to take photos of our poster. To those who already love Krishna Lunch, I give additional posters they can put up on kiosks near where they live or study or at a departmental office where they work.
Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu, our temple president, chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON Tallahassee Saturday evening program (https://youtu.be/7xW6z4owLw8):
On Tuesday a student asked me if I was Daru, who was temple president and Krishna Lunch cook here for many years. I said no but that I am a friend of Daru. He said his parents, Eric and Claire, remember Daru from when they studied at FSU about twenty years ago. I asked if he thought Daru would remember them. He said that they were thinking of having Daru perform their marriage ceremony, but it did not work out at the last minute, and thus Daru would probably remember them. I wrote an email to Daru, but I have not heard back.
Photos
Our Krishna Lunch menu for Wednesday includes kofta balls, and our menu for Thursday includes chili. If you break the koftas into pieces and add them to the chili, the result tastes amazingly delicious.
I never really encountered puris and ice cream before, but the brother of a devotee attending our Saturday feast in Tallahassee expanded my awareness.
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From The Nectar of Instruction, text 4, purport:
“Not only is the chanter of the maha-mantra purified, but the heart of anyone who happens to hear the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is also cleansed. Even the souls embodied in lower animals, insects, trees and other species of life also become purified and prepared to become fully Krishna conscious simply by hearing the transcendental vibration. This was explained by Thakura Haridasa when Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired from him how living entities lower than human beings can be delivered from material bondage. Haridasa Thakura said that the chanting of the holy names is so powerful that even if one chants in the remotest parts of the jungle, the trees and animals will advance in Krishna consciousness simply by hearing the vibration. This was actually proved by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself when He passed through the forest of Jharikhanda. At that time the tigers, snakes, deer and all other animals abandoned their natural animosity and began chanting and dancing in sankirtana. Of course, we cannot imitate the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but we should follow in His footsteps. We are not powerful enough to enchant the lower animals such as tigers, snakes, cats and dogs or entice them to dance, but by chanting the holy names of the Lord we can actually convert many people throughout the world to Krishna consciousness. Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity (the dadati principle).”
From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.49–51, Bowery loft, New York, April 5, 1966:
“And I am here, always working, something reading or writing, something reading or writing, twenty-four hours. Simply when I feel hungry, I take some food. And simply when I feel sleepy, I got to bed. Otherwise, always, I don’t feel fatigued. You can ask Mr. Paul whether I am doing this. So, I take, I take pleasure in doing that. I don’t feel fatigued. Similarly, when one will have that spiritual sense, he won’t feel … rather, he will … he will feel disgusted to go to sleep, to go to sleep: ‘So, sleep has come just to disturb me.’”
Mukunda Goswami:
From Miracle on Second Avenue:
“The Conway Hall lectures proved an important body of knowledge and an inspiration for the devotees around the world who eagerly awaited recordings of each one. One of the lectures, ‘Wisdom of the Vedas,’ became the introduction to Prabhupada’s book Sri Isopanishad. And a profile photo of Prabhupada taken at Conway Hall became part of the banner logo on the cover of Back to Godhead magazine.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Beginning at Second Avenue:
“Swamiji used to sit with us in the morning and say, ‘Chant one round.’ Then he would give us a japa lesson.
“We didn’t have bead bags in those days, and when we chanted together, Swamiji took his beads out of his bag and held them in his hands. We hung our beads around our necks as we chanted. We wore them out on the street, too. Those red beads became the mark of the Hare Krishna chanters.
“In his lectures, he implored the audience to chant. He promised peace and prosperity, and he assured us it didn’t cost anything. He begged us to chant the holy name anywhere—in the factory, in the subway, in hell. How could we have chanted without Swamiji’s japa lessons? He was happy to give them to us. More than anything, he wanted us to chant. This is how he hoped to satisfy his guru and all the acaryas. It had to start with us practicing sadhana.
“This is what it was like to be with him. This is an off-moment, in a sense. That’s why I wanted to paint it. He wasn’t lecturing. He was simply sitting with us, leaning over his table and allowing us to approach him to learn the art of chanting.”
From The Delaware Diaries, Volume 2 (Tachycardia):
“Connect everything to the Lord. Everything is already connected to him, but it is the writer’s job to make it clear.”
“Each person has to do it on their own. Prabhupada may help them, Bhaktivinoda Thakura may help them, but we each have to go alone. It’s between me and Krishna, you and Krishna.
“Affectionate chanting draws Krishna’s attention, and He gives you personal service in Krishna-loka. Nonaffectionate chanting doesn’t produce the result. We’ve heard that the outer form of chanting, the mere pronouncing of the syllables, is not the holy names. You have to enter the inner experience by calling to Krishna through the maha-mantra. My counting mantras, mounting numbers, is not enough. You reach your bare minimum and put aside your beads until the next day. After sixteen rounds, your work is done; you are free to do whatever you please. And the sixteen were done in a fruitive way, just to fulfill the precious obligation. If this is all you do, you have not entered the life of prayer.”
“Real chanting is crying out, “Dear Radha, dear Krishna, please engage me in Your service.” Or it is like the cry of the child for the mother. Mother Hara will come to you and fulfill your desire to serve the Lord, if that is your intention. Chanting Hare Krishna is powerful and supportive when we actually do it seriously. We need faith in Krishna and in the fact that Krishna is in His names.”
“Even if your chanting is offensive, it must be continued and worked through. From imperfection, purity will come about. I am doing the right thing when I am attempting. Remember, the names are absolute, so even a poor chanter is within the magic circle. He’s not wasting his time. He just has to endure and pray to improve. Don’t give up and go do other things besides chanting, thinking that you are hopeless. No, you are auspicious. If you just keep on chanting, you will gain success.”
[An item on a list:] “Sastra’s admirable remark that devotees who served Prabhupada and who have now strayed from him made eternal acts of service never to be denied them, and we should not speak against them now.”
“Krishna is the Lord. He is adhoksaja, beyond my senses to know. But I love him from hearing about him from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam through the purports of Srila Prabhupada.”
“Meditate on Radha and Krishna through their holy names in the maha-mantra. He chanted with us in the storefront and started us off. That’s a lifelong kirtana memory. Whatever kirtana I do now is a shadow of that early kirtana, the best, with him leading. But fingering the beads is the same, as he started us off. He chanted on my red beads, which I now keep on my altar. No, my head is not calm; it is still twinging behind the right eye. But I have said my quota for the day.”
“I have a right to talk of my headache syndrome. How I deal with it is part of my spirituality. It has severely hampered my active service. But for over thirty years, it is the definition of who I am as a conditioned soul, and so it is integrally involved with my relationship with Krishna. The fact that I live under its yoke is part of my submission to Krishna’s will. I do not complain to Him or blame Him. I accept it as a mystery, either my karma (token reaction) or Krishna’s personally handling me for His best interest in my advancement. If I despaired and whined about it, it would be better left unsaid. But since I am so committed to personal writing, I can’t omit it anymore than I can omit reports of my daily japa.”
“I’ve always used what pain-free hours I have to perform my basic sadhana and preaching and writing, painting, and occasional lecturing and meeting with disciples.”
Krsna-bhajana Prabhu:
Quoted in Renewal by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:
“Personally, this is my favorite recording of Srila Prabhupada [the one on the Happening album]. When I first met my wife, Satya-sara, she had this album and we listened to it every day, many times a day. I find Prabhupada to be very present in this particular recording, more so than any other that I have heard, whether songs, lectures, or conversations. It is as if Prabhupada is speaking to everyone in the world, from the spiritual realm, through the portal of this recording, urging us all to come back to our original Krishna consciousness, and return home.”
Ambarish Maharaja Prabhu:
From a post on the book distribution mailing list:
“I went to one factory in Russia to distribute books. On meeting the secretary I asked to see the director. She went to tell the director that someone wanted to meet him. When he came out and saw me, he asked if I was a Hare Krsna. I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ He then said to the secretary, ‘Don’t let him go, I’m going to call the police. These people should be crushed like cockroaches.’ I quietly slipped out the door and went on to other places.
“What happened afterwards was amazing. When the director went home, he found his daughter crying because his wife had had a severe heart attack. The next day, for no apparent reason, his son was imprisoned. The next day the director’s superiors, also for no reason, put him on leave and said from that day forward he should consider himself fired. To top it off, when he went home the next day, he found his house on fire. Luckily, the fire wasn’t big so the firemen were able to put it out.
“Feeling hopeless from all his misfortune, the man sat down with his religious daughter to discuss how all this could have happened. She asked her father if he had committed any grievous sins recently. Reflecting on the days before the calamities came, he remembered the Hare Krsna person he had condemned. She immediately said, ‘That’s it, you offended a saint. We have to find out where he lives and beg for forgiveness. They have temples. We have to find out where the nearest temple is.’
“Looking on the internet, they found the temple address, went to the temple, and entered the temple room. Looking around, the man said to his daughter, ‘That’s him sitting over there.’
“They both came over to me. With tears in his eyes and begging for forgiveness, he spoke about all the misfortunes that had happened since he had insulted me. I was kind to them and said he should be careful about judging people. ‘Now you’ve learned a lesson.’
“Some time passed and he again came to the temple and gave a donation to the deities. He invited me to the factory and said I should bring a lot of books and he would help me distribute them. He told the employees if anyone didn’t buy a book, they would lose their jobs.
“He told me that after he had asked for forgiveness, his wife was discharged from the hospital; she hadn’t had a heart attack after all. Then his son was let out of jail owing to wrongful prosecution, and finally he had been reinstated at work. The only thing that remained from the offense was the fire damage, to remind him.”
-----
I once memorized this verse, having read it in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, where it occurs in Madhya 19.150 and 25.83, as well as in the purport to Madhya 8.249. It describes the rarity of perfection in devotional service to the Supreme Lord and some of its characteristics.
muktanam api siddhanam
narayana-parayanah su-durlabhah prasantatma kotisv api maha-mune
“O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krishna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.5)
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Question, when we care deeply for someone and have prayed for that person and have seen magic happen in their life, if they suddenly turn upon us and say, what have you ever done for me? How do we respond, especially when prayers are invisible and when we are a sensitive person? Answer, it’s distressing, understandably, when those whom we care for feel as if we have done nothing for them. I would approach this at three levels. First is considering our own emotions and our own mental peace.
Second is considering their own emotional state and what they are going through. And third is focusing on what or whether the tangibility of prayers can somehow be demonstrated. So firstly, we all need to do two things which can sometimes seem to be opposite.
We need to develop a tender heart. At the same time, we need to cover it with a thick skin, tender heart, so that we can connect with others and experience deep and meaningful relationships and reciprocations in those relationships. And a thick skin because people will sooner or later disappoint us and may even devastate us by their actions.
And to be fair, we also may do that to them. Sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly. So Krishna says that those who are serious in the spiritual path, mould their life and their personality in such a way, or even their character in such a way that In 12.15 in the Bhagavad Gita, he says that, let us not disturb others and let us not be disturbed by others.
So this essentially means that we learn to see that while we can have relationships with others and we can have reciprocations with them, we have to avoid becoming attached to our expectations from them. Expectations are natural in any relationship, but attachment to expectations can be very disruptive. Just like attachment to anything can be disruptive.
And the way to do this is to focus primarily on the fact that while we may be doing something for someone, ultimately, we are doing it as a service to Krishna, and they are giving us an opportunity for serving them. So if our interaction, if our vision of our interaction is only limited to them, that I did this for this person, and now this person is speaking like this, then we will always be vulnerable and insecure. And we will be hurt sooner or later.
But if we see that, yes, I did this for this person, but ultimately I am meant to serve Krishna, and through this person I was serving Krishna. And whether that person reciprocates or not, this person was giving me the opportunity to serve Krishna. And rather than expecting or demanding that that person be grateful to us, then it is we who can be grateful to that person for having given us the opportunity.
Of course, if they are grateful for what we do for them, that’s wonderful. But even if they are not, we can know that our service has not gone waste, Krishna has noticed it, and Krishna will appreciate and reward it in due course. So having that vision in every interaction that I’m not just doing this for this person, but for Krishna through this person is essential if we are to not get disturbed by sometimes their disappointing lack of reciprocation or appreciation.
That’s with respect to our side. Now, generally when somebody does something unreasonable or hurtful, if you consider their actions, it’s quite likely that it is hurt people who hurt people. So maybe it is that something has happened in their life because of which they are hurting and they’re questioning what we did for them is simply a result of they going through that pain, maybe someone else let them down.
Maybe they expected something more from us at a critical time and we were not able to do that for some reason. And that’s why they are feeling let down. And it is more an expression of their hurt, rather than our lack of having done anything for them.
If you see it this way, then rather than focusing on their words, we can focus more on, okay, what is it the best thing that I can do in this situation to heal that person, to heal the relationship or to at least not aggravate things for them and for me. When Lord Rama was suddenly betrayed by Kaikeyi in order to be exiled, he saw it as just her own insecurity playing out. And that’s why he didn’t take it too seriously.
He focused on doing what was feasible. The best thing to do at that time was to just leave and go to the forest. Now, was that a palatable, enjoyable thing to do? Of course not.
But he did that because that was the best way to prevent things from becoming worse. Sometimes that’s all that we can do in a relationship. That other person is going through their own life and their own situations.
Then we may just, the only thing we can do is just keep a distance till they process what has happened and they come out of their own emotional drama and trauma. Unless, of course, they are ready to take help from us and we ourselves are not too hurt and are in a position to give help to them. Now, the last thing is the tangibility of prayers.
That is certainly not something which others can, we can show to others that I prayed for you and because of my prayers, this particular thing happened in your life. So, generally, if we recognize that in different relationships or different people value different things. So, different people have different languages of love.
For some people, words of appreciation mean a lot. So, for them, just the words when we offer a heartfelt prayer to them may themselves mean a lot. For others, for whom acts of service are more important, then they may just downplay our sincere words and say words are cheap.
They may or may not say it. So, at two levels, if a relationship is important for us, then we need to understand what it is that person values as an expression of love. And we need to do that so that that person will actually feel that we care for them and love them.
And if we have ourselves naturally a particular language of love, then we also need to connect with and bond more closely with people who share that language of love. That’s how we will have a close relationship with people who are like-minded. Sometimes we may spend a good amount of time with people and we may think that we are doing a lot for them by spending that time.
But if their language of love is, again, words of appreciation, we may be listening to them, but how much did we appreciate and encourage them during that listening? That’s what they will count. Or what did we actually do for them? So, it may be important for us to learn from such experiences and review our relationships and decide which are the relationships where we can be naturally close because that person has a similar language of love and which are the relationships where we have to be intentionally proactive in doing something so that the proximity of that relationship can be maintained. Thank you.
We often condemn material pleasures, saying that these are unsatisfactory. But then we hear in scripture that even spiritual happiness never really satisfies the heart in the sense that the devotee is always wanting more and more, just as materialists want more and more. So how is the spiritual dissatisfaction different from material dissatisfaction? The answer is in three fundamental ways.
The first is the limitedness or unlimitedness of the source. The second is the accessibility of that source for us and third is the effect of that happiness, that experience and even the pursuit on us. So we could summarize this in the acronym SAC, Source, Accessibility and Consequence.
When it comes to material happiness, the sources of material happiness themselves are finite in terms of their capacity to provide us happiness. If we wanted to enjoy looking at beautiful objects or eating delicious foods, they’re themselves limited in number. We may argue that totally there are unlimited number of attractive objects in the world if we consider what is present all over the world.
But still, those attractive objects are interspersed with many that are not that attractive. All the food that we eat is not equally delicious and in contrast with it, Krishna by definition is unlimited and he is an ocean of happiness. No material object can be considered to be an ocean and even if it were an ocean, it’s all temporary whereas Krishna is eternal.
So both in terms of the quantity and the longevity, Krishna is eternal, unlimited and everlasting in terms of him being the source of happiness which is not true with respect to sense objects which even if numerous are still finite and are all vulnerable to the deterioration and destruction by the passage of time. Thus, somebody who by great struggle gets a particular sense object, they’ll soon find that that object will no longer with the passage of time remain that beautiful or attractive and they will need to crave for some other object. In the case of Krishna, it is not that the devotee has to crave for something other than Krishna.
The devotee’s longing is to experience more and more of Krishna itself. The difference is like if somebody is in a desert and they find what seems to be initially an oasis but it soon turns out to be a very small puddle of water and immediately after that they have to search for another puddle which initially seems like to be an oasis but turns out to be just another tiny puddle whereas Krishna is like an ocean of delicious nectarian water and we can drink in one area and after that we can drink in another area and we can keep drinking and relishing in different ways at different places within the vast ocean of devotion that we enter into through developing love for Krishna. So, the second is in terms of accessibility that attractive sense objects are not easily accessible to everyone and even if they were accessible, our own senses capacity to access them is limited.
Somebody may own a shop of sweets but they can only eat so many sweets. Somebody may be in a relationship with the most good looking person in the whole world but their own body’s capacity to enjoy the company of such a person physically is limited and it becomes increasingly limited with time. So, the access to the sense objects itself is limited because there is fierce competition for getting the sense objects and even if the best sense objects are available, the capacity of our senses to access them is again limited and that’s what leads eventually to frustration when people stop physical indulgence.
It is not so much because they are satisfied but it is because their body is exhausted even though their desires are still inflamed, they stop because their body cannot go on anymore. Not because they are completely satisfied with the indulgence whereas with respect to Krishna, yes, there is difficulty in accessing Krishna initially because of our lack of purification yet Krishna makes himself accessible to us through the temple deity images, through the sacred texts and through the holy names, through his holy names and if we become purified and our mind becomes focused on Krishna and thereafter attracted to Krishna, then that access can be there for us 24 hours a day and this access is a matter of our heart, our consciousness and it does not depend on our senses and their limited capacity and thus it is that a devotee can relish the remembrance of Krishna and the joy thereof unendingly, something which is just not possible within material gratification through physical sense objects. And last is the, in the acronym S.A.C., the consequence that when we seek material pleasures, we get increasingly infatuated with them and attached to them, even addicted to them.
That keeps our consciousness increasingly restless and increasingly contaminated by the craving for that pleasure. It’s as if a shackle is formed that even while we are enjoying one object, we are being dragged toward another object. Even before we have finished drinking the water from one puddle, it’s as if there’s an invisible rope which is pulling us towards another puddle and we lose all capacity to relish the pleasure, whatever is present and that’s why once a person is addicted, what indulgence offers is not so much the positive experience of pleasure as the experience of a temporary relief from the negative experience of an increasingly intense craving.
That’s why over a period of time addicts indulge not because the indulgence feels so good but because not indulging feels so terrible and unbearable. While in some ways great devotees may also experience express dissatisfaction and a divine kind of madness in their pursuit of Krishna, there is a categorical difference because Krishna is omnipotent and omnipresent. So, even when a devotee is experiencing separation from Krishna, still the devotee’s consciousness is absorbed in Krishna and in that absorption the devotee is still experiencing the presence of Krishna and there is joy in that.
So, just the remembrance of Krishna is like nectar and this nectar comes in different flavors. When that remembrance of Krishna is accompanied with union with Krishna, that means one can perceive Krishna and be with Krishna, then that is like sweet nectar and when that remembrance is accompanied with separation from Krishna, then that is like bitter nectar. But still it is nectar in the sense that it reaches the deepest core of our being, our soul and touches and enlivens it.
So, more importantly, this longing frees us from cravings for other things which often contaminate and entangle and degrade us. So, there is a categorical difference between the dissatisfaction experienced by a devotee in that the source is unlimited, it is always accessible and the consequence is that the devotee is always spiritually enlivened even if at a surface level it doesn’t seem to be constantly joyful.
Discover the vibrant spirit of devotion echoing across ISKCON communities worldwide! From the blissful Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2025, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, to the divine drama of Krishna's Butter Tax Scam during Vraj Mandal Parikrama, each moment resonates with spiritual joy and camaraderie. Embracing sacred rituals, like the interfaith Iftar dinner in Chile and heartfelt reflections from devotees in Ujjain and beyond, these stories celebrate love, unity, and the timeless teachings of Lord Krishna. Join us on Dandavats.com to experience these uplifting tales and more Continue reading "Krishna’s Love Everywhere: Festivals, Parikramas, and Devotee Connections! March 26 → Dandavats"
Through its multifaceted efforts to share the treasure of Krishna consciousness, this extraordinary spiritual center fulfills Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction that the holy name would be chanted in every town and village across the globe—a prophecy now manifesting before our eyes through ISKCON Mayapur's tireless dedication to spreading transcendental knowledge and divine love throughout human society. Continue reading "The Radiant Jewel of Devotion: ISKCON Mayapur Temple’s Global Impact and Digital Renaissance → Dandavats"
Enlightening discourses on Srimad Bhagavatam by HG Kshudi Prabhu and inspiring lessons on reverence and familiarity by HG Brahmatirtha Prabhu, to captivating narratives like 'Cobra in the Bathroom' recounted by H.G. Srutakirti Prabhu, each piece resonates with devotion and wisdom. Delve into the divine pastimes of Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan with HG Daivishakti Mataji, and explore profound teachings from HH SB Kesava Swami and HG Shivram Prabhu. Celebrate milestones like Sriman Gauranga Prabhu's Instagram success and Bhakt Bhagwat's TEDx achievement, alongside the global outreach of HARE KRISHNA Continue reading "Spiritual Insights, Community Triumphs, and ISKCON’s Ever-Growing Global Influence Await! March 25 → Dandavats"
Question, in the Bhagavad Gita conclusion, Krishna talks about those who share his message, those who study his message and those who hear his message, how all of them are benefited. Do all of them get the same benefit and how can we ensure that we don’t choose the easier option instead of the tougher option? Answer, broadly speaking, Krishna is not explicitly stating the benefits for all three of them. For those who share his message, he says they become very dear to him and in fact there is no one sodier and then they get Parabhakti.
So that clearly indicates that they attain the highest abode. Now that’s 1868-1869, 1870, Krishna talks about those who study his message, they worship him with his intelligence. So he is saying that they worship him with their intelligence.
He doesn’t specify any destination. And then in the next verse, he talks about those who hear his message, they attain the auspicious planets. Now Chakravarti Pa there mentions in his commentary that this is also referring to the heavenly planets but to the planet of Dhruva, which is in the material world but is also in the spiritual world.
So in that sense, the prapniyat-punya-karmanam is not just the result of piety but is the result of bhakti. So Dhruva’s planet is in the material world but still it is considered a spiritual planet. And from there one attains the spiritual world.
So if we consider Chakravarti Pa’s explanation that even those at the lowest level of simply hearing Krishna’s message will also eventually attain the spiritual world, then we can say that applies to the intermediate level also where they are studying the Gita. So now when Krishna is accommodating all the levels, how can we avoid choosing the easiest path? I think it depends on we understanding the principle of love or we could say the difference between love and business or commerce. In commerce, often we want to give the least amount of service or resources or money and get the maximum amount in return.
In love, we naturally want to offer the best to the beloved. And if you are trying to get away by offering the least, then that is not a loving relationship, that is a transactional or commercial relationship. And we need to go beyond that kind of mentality.
So broadly when we see such multi-level presentation from Krishna, whether it is in the 18th chapter, whether it is in the 12th chapter, from verses 8 to 12, we need to see that this is the expression of Krishna’s loving heart. And when Krishna expresses loving heart, then we should also reciprocate with our loving heart. Krishna says as we approach him, so he rewards.
So if he is revealing his loving heart and extending his multiple levels, if we start having a calculative head, that let me do this much only and because of doing this much also I will get elevated, then Krishna will also respond with his calculative head. So when our Ajamil, after just once chanting the holy name, gets delivered from the clutches of Yamaraj, Parikshit Maharaj doesn’t think that, he doesn’t say to Shukadeva Swami, you know, Shukadeva Swami, shut up, there is no need for you to speak for 7 days now for me to hear. When the Dakshak comes, at that time I will chant one Narayan.
So just giving the options that are easier doesn’t necessarily mean that we take the easier options or that everyone uses it as a license to stay at the lowest possible level. That’s why rather than talking about this level leading to this destination and that level leading to that destination in the specifics, something which Krishna himself does not emphasize by leaving out the specific destination for 1870, what we understand is the principle that Krishna is revealing his love and it is out of his love that he is accommodating us at multiple levels. And we also reciprocate with love by trying to connect with him at the level that we can while also trying our best to connect more intimately, rising to a higher level.
Dandavats today showcases a vibrant array of spiritual insights and community activities. Recent highlights include an enlightening discussion by H.G. Daivishakti Mataji on Srila Prabhupada's Lilamrita, offering profound reflections on spiritual teachings. Sri Haridev Ji's Yatra through Behta, Bithoor, Kalpi, and Kanpur enriches with cultural exploration and devotion. Articles on Vedic origins and the disappearance of Govinda Ghosh deepen understanding. Continue reading "Enlightening Talks, Sacred Pilgrimages, and Heartfelt Devotion for Spiritual Seekers! March 24 → Dandavats"
Question, what is the Bhagavad Gita perspective on the concept of informational obesity where people have a lot of information but that simply loads their brain just as too much food can load the body? Answer, to some extent this is a distinctively modern problem because it is now that we have access to so much technology that gives access to so much information. So the Bhagavad Gita does not have a direct statement about this but broadly three points could be made. The Gita in 18.22 talks about knowledge in the mode of ignorance where it says we know one thing and we think we know everything and thus our knowledge actually blinds us to our ignorance.
So, now when we get a lot of information, there are three considerations. Is this information relevant for me? There are so many things to know in the world and of course we may say it’s good to be stay in touch with the times to be well-informed and that is true but even good things need boundaries. So Neil Postman, a prominent social critic who wrote a well-known book called Amusing Us As To Death talked about the idea of the information action ratio that from the information that I have learned what am I doing about it or is there something I can do about it or does it affect my choices on a daily basis.
Now of course in a world where things are so interconnected the only action that we may have to take is voice an opinion about certain issues and there are places where having a well-informed and balanced opinion may be important. So in that sense we may need more information than what immediately is required for our daily choices but if we are seeking information solely out of the fear of appearing to be uninformed and ignorant then we will be getting caught in the informational maze. So that’s the first part.
Then the second more important question may well be that is it holistic in the sense that when I am forming an opinion something, am I balanced, am I hearing, I am sufficiently well-read to hear both sides of the story. Sometimes the social media algorithms that feed us data they often end up reinforcing our biases by feeding us only the kind of articles that we have previously read as often called the echo chamber of social media. So thus we think we have read a lot but whatever we have read has only increased our ignorance of the alternative perspective.
That’s why is it relevant, is it balanced. The third and even more important thing in my understanding or the most important thing would be that now is it something which is assimilated. So is it something which I have translated into, is it balanced, it is as it assimilated that means can I put in my own words what I have read, what I have heard, what I have put together or is it that I just taken nuggets of information from here and there that some seem to fuel my bloat my ego or trigger my emotions, my biases but don’t really deepen my understanding.
So simply after consuming something just like our body needs time to digest before we gulp something more, we can evaluate, maybe spend a few minutes to, if you are reading a ten minute article, maybe spend two minutes trying to articulate key points in our own words. So these three points could be a bar, are we getting a balanced view, are we assimilating what we are reading and is what we are reading relevant. This could help us to ensure that what we have is informational fitness and not informational obesity.
In 1999, for ISKCON TV, Shyamasundar Prabhu recorded a series of experiences he had with George Harrison and with Srila Prabhupada:
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April Fools’ Day is celebrated yearly on April 1, and today I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that we remain fools before the spiritual master, as stated in a room conversation in Bombay, August 16, 1976.
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