Websites from the ISKCON Universe
I can’t maintain bhakti standards amid family obligations—what can I do? If we are unable to steadily follow the standards of bhakti—such as chanting or reading—due to significant family obligations, we may feel disheartened. We want to serve Krishna earnestly and understand that He is the ultimate purpose of life, but we may struggle to…
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What is the relationship between spirituality and leadership? Are spirituality and leadership connected, or are they disconnected? At first glance, they may seem completely different, but the connection depends on how we define both terms. Let’s begin with the Bhagavad Gita, and then we can broaden the discussion to generic spirituality. The Bhagavad Gita is…
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Question:I have received an opportunity to take a franchise store that sells shoes, some of which are made of leather. As a devotee, should I go into such a business if it could help me become financially stable faster, allowing me to focus more on Krishna bhakti in the future? Answer:This is a personal decision,…
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How to Respond When Pre-devotional Outreach is Publicly Criticized by Senior Devotees When some highly respected or senior devotees publicly criticize those engaged in pre-devotional outreach, it often creates confusion—especially among newer or younger devotees. Once newcomers develop faith in Srila Prabhupada, they naturally want to be faithful to him. But when they see criticism…
The post When some senior leaders publicly criticize younger people who are doing pre-devotional outreach, how can we see such unpleasant situations constructively? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Let’s understand the glory of Ratha-yatra by contemplating four aspects, centered on the acronym RATH: – R – Reach – A – Attractiveness – T – Transcendence – H – Happiness R – Reach of the Festival There are many festivals across the religious landscape of the world—and even across the landscape of Sanatana Dharma. But very few…
The post The Glory of Ratha-yatra: A Journey of the Soul appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
As those engaged in outreach today, we often find ourselves working within contemporary frameworks — such as corporate outreach — where we may be constrained and unable to directly mention Krishna. However, Srila Prabhupada was very direct in speaking about Krishna and in exposing or critiquing thought systems that diverged from bhakti. This brings up…
The post While reaching out to contemporary audiences who may be receptive only to a pre-devotional message how can we stay faithful to Srila Prabhupada’s direct devotional approach to outreach? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
So I’m grateful to be here with all of you today. This section of the Bhagavatam is one of the most challenging—not just because of the complexity of what’s happening, but also because of how closely it relates to our own lives. Whenever I’m speaking at a new place and have limited time, I like…
The post Should we accept all misfortune as God s will Mayapur Bhagavatam class – Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Host:Maharaj, my humble obeisances. Thank you so much for joining us on the Monks Podcast. It’s been a long-cherished aspiration for me to have you here. The blend of analytical rigor and devotional depth that you bring to your talks and writings is something I have deeply appreciated. Many devotees who find inspiration in my…
The post Bhakti Vijnana Maharaj Monks Podcast 209 – Healing prayers – Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
हरे कृष्णा।आज हम भगवद्गीता के पाँचवें अध्याय पर चर्चा कर रहे हैं। अब तक की चर्चा को संक्षेप में देखें, तो भगवद्गीता की शुरुआत दूसरे अध्याय के सातवें श्लोक से होती है, जहाँ अर्जुन भगवान से एक मौलिक प्रश्न पूछते हैं — “मैं आपके शरणागत शिष्य के रूप में पूछ रहा हूँ, कृपया निश्चित रूप…
The post Hindi – Chapter 5 Bhagavad Gita And Decision Making Bhagavad Gita Overview Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Question: In our Gaudiya tradition, is perfection attained by Sadhana Siddhi or Kripa Siddhi? When it comes to technical questions like this, opinions often become strongly polarized, depending on which particular scriptural references are prioritized by which devotees. Broadly speaking, if a system of classification has not been repeatedly emphasized by our Acharyas, then—according to…
The post Which is the path to perfection Kripa Siddhi or Sadhana Siddhi in the Gaudiya tradition? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The post How to live materially to grow spiritually Chowpatty Mumbai – Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The post Hindi – Chapter 4 Bhagavad Gita And Decision Making Bhagavad Gita Overview – Chaitanya Charan Das appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
When the goal matters more than the credit, creativity takes over. When Lakshmana was dying and the Sanjeevani herb was urgently needed, Hanuman didn’t waste time identifying the exact plant. He lifted the entire mountain. Not perfect. But effective. Leadership Lesson: Impact > Perfection. Action > Analysis. Sometimes, “done” is better than “just right.” Takeaway…
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While Vali faced the threat of likely dying, trapped in a cave where he had gone to kill a demon, he found the entrance blocked completely by a large boulder—one that couldn’t have sealed the cave so precisely by natural means. Still, he didn’t have to remain inside the cave for years, as Ram had…
The post Conflict resolution Part 2 Ramayan wisdom Ram and Kaikeyi versus Vali and Sugriba appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
When provoked, how do you respond? With rage—or with resolve? Captured and humiliated by Ravana, Hanuman allowed the enemy to tie his tail and mock him. But once his tail was set ablaze, he didn’t lash out blindly. He turned the fire into a message. He burned Lanka strategically—not as revenge, but as a warning….
The post Hanuman: Burning Lanka with Purpose appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Even mighty heroes sometimes forget their strength. Before the leap to Lanka, Hanuman stood unsure—doubting whether he could cross the ocean. It took the calm words of Jambavan to reignite his memory and awaken his power. “You can do this,” said Jambavan. And Hanuman soared—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Leadership Lesson: Self-doubt can…
The post Hanuman: Confidence Rekindled at the Shoreline appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
One of the biggest challenges we face is learning to deal with problems critically. What makes difficult situations even more complex is that we rarely look at them objectively — that is, we don’t ask, “What exactly happened?” Instead, we view them subjectively, focusing on two things: how the situation affected us, and what we…
The post Conflict resolution part 1 Ramayan wisdom Ram and Kaikeyi versus Vali and Sugriba appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Sometimes, the greatest act of leadership… is leaving. Vibhishana was Ravana’s brother. A trusted advisor. A royal insider. But when Ravana refused to return Sita, Vibhishana spoke out. He was mocked, insulted, and finally exiled. And so, he walked away. From power. From comfort. From blood ties. Not because he was disloyal— But because he…
The post Vibhishana: When Walking Away Is the Bravest Choice appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Imagine waiting your whole life for someone you’re not even sure will come. That was Shabari. Every day, she cleaned her hermitage. Every day, she gathered berries. And every day, she waited for Rama. Years passed. No word. No sign. But she never gave up. When Rama finally arrived, her joy wasn’t in recognition—it was…
The post Shabari: Preparation Without Applause appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
So, how should we present the concept of Varna, and how much should we emphasize it—especially when teaching the Bhagavad Gita or introducing Krishna consciousness to newcomers, particularly in the West? There is always a tension in understanding which parts of the Gita are descriptive—that is, specific to the social and historical context of the…
The post So, how should we present the Varna, the idea of Varna, and how much should we emphasize it? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
I’ve been traveling across the world for the last ten years, speaking to people from diverse traditions, cultural backgrounds, and even religious backgrounds. While there can be many differences of opinion on various issues, there’s one truth everyone can agree on, a truth that can be summarized in three words: Life is tough. Isn’t it?…
The post When our conditionings seem too strong… Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hare Krishna. Thank you for coming today. I’m delighted to be here with you. I’ll be speaking on the Bhagavad Gita, drawing from one of my latest books. You’ll receive physical copies of these books as soon as they arrive. We can read from them then, but until those arrive, I’ll discuss a common problem…
The post When people don’t accept us.. Cincinnati Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
भगवद गीता: प्रश्नों और उत्तरों का प्रवाह कल हमने एक सवाल पर चर्चा की थी, जिसका जवाब 2.50, 422, 0.72 था। हमने यह भी देखा कि भगवद गीता एक व्याख्यान नहीं है, बल्कि प्रश्नोत्तरों का संग्रह है। गीता के प्रवाह को समझने के लिए, हमें यह देखना होगा कि किस प्रकार का प्रश्न पूछा गया…
The post Hindi – Chapter 3 Bhagavad Gita And Decision Making Bhagavad Gita Overview Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Question:When the Bhagavad Gita appears to be talking about Karma Yoga, why do we suddenly find purports that emphasize Bhakti Yoga? How do we deal with this when trying to teach the Gita systematically? Answer:I’ll make three points to address this: Prabhupada’s strategy, his overall vision and purpose, and how we can align our approach…
The post When the Bhagavad Gita seems to be talking about Karma Yoga, why are there suddenly purports which talk about Bhakti Yoga? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Mandodari: The Power of Unheard Wisdom Not all leaders wear crowns—and not all dissenters seek rebellion. Mandodari, the queen of Lanka and wife of Ravana, stands out in the Ramayana as one of the most tragically overlooked voices of reason. When Ravana abducted Sita, Mandodari repeatedly warned him: “Return her. This path will only bring…
The post Leadership Lessons from the Ramayana – Through Lesser-Known Characters appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
We all know Hanuman as the mighty hero who leapt across the ocean. But do you know who reminded him he could? Before that legendary leap, Hanuman was hesitant. Unsure of himself. It was Jambavan, the wise elder of the Vanaras, who stepped forward—not to fly himself, but to ignite belief in Hanuman. “You have…
The post Jambavan: The Mentor Who Made a Hero appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The context The world has recently been treated to the spectacle of the Elon Musk and Donald Trump spat—which has turned nasty very rapidly. What was initially promised to be a bromance for the ages has withered away and degenerated into a public spat with accusations being hurled at each other in public. Irrespective of…
The post The Musk–Trump Spat: A Gita-Inspired Reflection on Conflict appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Can lack of time be an impediment to spiritual growth?Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that one of the factors that impedes bhakti is prayasa (over-endeavor). So we need to consider: What exactly is causing the shortage of time? At one level, time poverty is something almost everyone experiences. We all need to make…
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Any statement about a particular gender in Srila Prabhupada’s teachings is not meant to target or diminish any demographic. The overarching focus is on Krishna consciousness and spiritual elevation, and everything needs to be seen in that light. At times, such statements may appear anti-women or male chauvinistic. However, that was never the intention of…
The post How to understand Shrila Prabhupada statements that women are less intelligent? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Understanding the Controversy Over Book Changes Regarding the issue of book changes, somehow that topic has not caught my interest deeply, and I’ve often wondered why people are so fixated on it. Still, I’ll share my quick understanding, based on whatever I’ve studied. The way Srila Prabhupada’s books have come into existence is quite an…
The post What is your understanding of the editing of Prabhupada books? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hare Krishna. So the question is, how can we see the current conflict that is going on from a Bhagavata perspective or spiritual perspective? Yes. This is currently raging in social media. And, I’ve been asked this question repeatedly. And over the last month or so I’ve been reflecting on this. And so I’ll talk…
The post Ritvik issue philosophical psychological historical and individual perspectives appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
There yesterday? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Zoom. How okay. How many of you okay. How many of you are not there yesterday? Two. Okay. Thank you. How many of you are not there today? Okay. So, I will just do a quick recap of what I have been discussing yesterday then we will…
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My dear Lord, please guide us all, so that we can understand the deep wisdom in your words and texts, and can align our lives accordingly. Hare Krishna. So today morning, we are discussing one of the most evocative sections from the Bhagavatam, which reflects a theme common in the Bhagavatam that is death. So,…
The post How Bhishma convinced Yudhishthira – Balancing dharma & bhakti, Vancouver, Bhagavatam 1.9.20 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Thank you very much for coming. So this is basically the second part of the class which I had yesterday but it can be understood separately also. But I’ll do a quick recap of what we discussed yesterday and then we’ll move on to what we find yesterday. Can all of you see this projector…
The post How to participate in God’s plan for us – 3 guidelines. Part 2⧸2 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
That truth which everybody from any part of the world will agree with can be summarized in three words. That is life is tough. Whatever we do, whoever we will be, life is not evil. Life is difficult. And when we face the difficulties of life, if we are of a theistic bent of mind,…
The post How to participate in God’s plan for us 3 guidelines ISKCON Ottawa || Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hi, Ananga. How are you? Hi, Gayatri. Nice to see you again. Nice to see you too. The other day, I was having a conversation with one of the students from a UC university, and he’s a wonderful spiritual practitioner, very disciplined in his regular spiritual practice, has wonderful questions, thinks beyond himself, wants to…
The post Is Spirituality Meant to Be Personal or Institutional_ _ A Conversation That Unpacks It All appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Today on the sacred occasion of the Sajid Prathy, I will speak on the topic of Krishna’s or God’s love for us and our love for us. Specifically, I’ll talk about the topic of does God care? There’s so many things that go wrong in the world. So many things go wrong in our own…
The post Narasimha Chaturdashi 2025 Does God care when we are suffering_ Philadelphia – Chaitanya Charan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Is karma caused by the action itself or by the thought behind the action? Both are important. In the broad analysis of Dharma, the right thing to do, as we see in the Mahabharata, in the various deliberations, three factors are seen to be of relevance. The first is what we do, or the content…
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Does a soldier who drops a bomb on the enemies during wartime get karma? Is it better for the soldier to drop the bomb on an empty area so that there are no casualties? Life is tough. One reason it is tough is because bad things happen to us. But another bigger reason is that…
The post Will a soldier who drops bombs on the enemy during war time get karma for those actions? Would it be better for the soldier to drop the bombs on empty fields rather than on the enemies directly? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
If we are to desire Krishna and give up all other desires, what can we do when we are not even aware of what we actually desire? How can we cultivate the desire for Krishna? And how do we deal with the feeling that we have done so many things because of which we don’t…
The post How can we desire to see Krishna when we don’t even know what we actually desire and we don’t feel qualified to see Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.