Author Archives: David Haslam, UK

How much weight do we put on our intelligence? The other day I read about a young lady who was killed on the M4 a motorway I use regularly, why was she killed? Simply by exiting her car to chase…

It was with great sadness i heard about the passing away of a wonderful devotee Bhadaranga Das Prabhu most would know him as Bhakta Ben who spent some time at Bhaktivadanta Manor. His enthusiasm was indeed infectious and always took…

Camden Town is London’s hippest part of London, attracting thousands of tourists daily. We have been preaching here since 17 years and now we managed to open a nice centre. A four story building just off the high street. We…

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Central London There is a major newspaper in London called the Metro, of the top ten things to do in London over the weekend they recommended at number one, was to go on Harinam with these…

So I was asked a very interesting question the other day, it had a recurring theme that I’ve heard put in many different ways and also one that for me has the basic answer of reciprocation The question is: Why…

The other day i sat and watched a small unassuming game of rugby RCG and Merthyr it wasn’t​ a high profile Welsh regions game or international, indeed it was a small crowd in a small club rugby pitch. So why…

Nothing It has been a sobering few weeks as i finally started to sort through and clear out my basement from the things a devotee stored many years ago and sadly passed away. Out of respect I’ve gone through every…

Personal wealth It’s an interesting concept that value of individuals is sometimes based on bank balances the size of the wallet We judge depending on our own view of wealth, however it is easy to become envious of another’s personal…

So earlier on in the week i had the opportunity to do a sea survival course which included a two hour practical session covering all that one needs to know in the case of abandoning the vessel. It was for…

So meeting a wonderful devotee after his initiation i asked him a simple question “is it congratulations or commiserations?” He looked a little confused, indeed it is a transforming moment in anyone’s life; and the beginning of a life most…

When we label someone what is our intention? Is it to elevate, chastise or keep a individual in their place One of the most interesting labels I’ve been given and used effectively to sway a committee against myself was that…

When is seva not seva? Sadly I hear more and more individuals stating they want a paid job at one of the large established temples that regularly advertise such post’s, many state after all they have been devotee for many…

It is a real honour to be asked to give class indeed I’ve found it allows the opportunity to really absorb my mind in great pastimes of the Lord and ponder the lovely purport’s of Srila Prabhupada. As I prepared…

For some reason best known to my self I chose to live in the material world and be in the best and worst of yuga’s that of the age of Kali It’s the best for one can return home simply…

In this the appearance day of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivadanta Swami Prabhupada I thought writing a small vyasa puja offering Dear Srila Prabhupada Founder Acharia of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Please accept my humble obeisance All glories to…

Charge, donation or contribution I’ve been pondering these three words, how interchangeable are they and how easy it is to cheet if their misapplied We often ask for a donation especially on book distribution, if you give me a donation…

This is a recent recording of HH Devamrita Swami on real happiness
HH Devamrita Swami; real happiness

Regaining joy and equilibrium in Krishna Consciousness With each struggle comes an opportunity to learn not only about myself but also how ones own actions impacts on others and how a balance in both means that I can encourage others…

Their comes a time when one feels somewhat saddened and the struggle in Krishna Consciousness appears so futile one believes that the solution is to just give up; however each morning one sits before the home deities, offers prasadam, gives…

Dear Guru Maharaja Please accept my humble obeisance All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to your steadfastness in seva to your beloved Guru Maharaja Each and every day I wake up surprised, surprised that one remembers Sri Krishna and…

One of ISKCON’s mantra’s we hear recited time and time again is that of “Simple Living; High Thinking”; however as one observes there is in general not much Simple Living given our conditioning to consume, this being simply what we…

It was nice to be invited to hear my guru maharaja HH Devamrita Swami give a small discourse on unnatural happiness at Anna Loka in Cardiff. The audience were captivated by the insights on what we class as happiness, it’s…

One thing you notice is that if like me you use social media there is a lot of articles that come along and once you closely scrutinise them it becomes clear that the information contained is not what it seems…

There is a strange term which has often puzzled me we speak about devotee’s then the term congregational member; do we actually have congregational members? It appears to be more divisive than it initially appears, however I have found that…

There are a number of things that bemuse me and makes me wonder either my own sanity of that of others; their seems to be either a disconnect or lack of joined up thinking; or the fact that if we…

The other day I sat in one of the mandatory supervision, it’s more a paperwork exercise but is a requirement of those who oversee health care here in Wales. From a personal point of view it’s a pointless exercise and…

Dear Assembled Devotees and Wellwisher’s, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Have you ever had the experience of desiring to spread this knowledge of the soul, far and wide but you did not have the funds?…

A small video of my thought’s on a recent debate on culling badgers to prevent bovine TB; and the duality of bubble talk, whilst hiding the fact that their only aim is to cull the cow’s to make money Hare…

Hare Krishna This is a small video which I hope will help those who may find themselves struggling with their japa I pray it proves useful in making japa more productive and fun, and as always any thoughts please share…

A small video on my thought’s on showing compassion and love in order to develop and increase devotion. How we shouldn’t be surprised of fall down, but understand that we are all under the conditioning of material nature; but each…

Saturday a day of two half’s during the day time I was out in the Bristol Channel on a rib-boat getting splashed and a little cold Then home with an hour to cook a feast ready, thankfully a lovely subge…

Dear Devotees, Please Accept My Humble Obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada Saint Patrick’ parade London March 2016 It was a great opportunity to distribute Prasad, the Holy Name and Srila Prabhupada’s books. Then chanted the Holy Names with all…

Hare Krishna After the positive feedback from my last small video, I thought another one sharing a remarkable client and his small wonderful act of devotion; and some personal thoughts on how amazing he is and what I and others…

This time I have rather than written put together a small video explaining were I am and how the current one size fits all system is killing my desire to do service sadly at this moment I am currently deliberating…

Over the past few month’s I have been pondering what for me is the real meaning of mentor, and of those who have been the finest examples of mentor; this given that it is the latest buzz word being bounded…

Dear Friends, We are going out to Calais next week, we will cook for over a thousand people, plus bring lots of fruits,cake,clothes,and a big trailer of fire wood(for people’s cooking and staying warm). 6,000 people are living in damp…

It was nice to join the devotees from Kirtan West Wales at the Alltwalis Community Hall as they celebrated the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Here is a short clip of the wonderful kirtan- This also included a wonderful…

The other week as I was visiting a group of secondary school student’s as always making sure their was plenty of time for questions; one was a simple question, what two verses of your holy scriptures would you think have…

Corporate or Family ISKCON? It’s always nice to receive e-mails which are from devotees, especially when in work however recently one or two appear to have dark undertones; almost a play for why the reasons that attracted me to ISKCON…

SATURDAY NIGHT HARINAM; London (6-02-2016) RAIN AND STRONG WINDS… said the weather forecast Still there was a great turnout of devotees and the Harinam was… special again. So many nice things happened. One devotee handed out prasadam to 5-6 police…