Author Archives: Kripamoya dasa, UK

There’s a very old tradition of rituals in our Hare Krishna movement. Rather than being what people sometimes describe as ‘empty rituals,’ they are ceremonial offerings of service to the Divine, pleasing to the eye and ear, and satisfying to … Continue reading →

  Lord Vamanadeva appeared within this world from the womb of Aditi, the mother of the gods. He appeared at midday on the shravan-dvadasi, the 12th day of the lunar month of Shravan when the moon is waxing. There are … Continue reading →

I have written several times of the need in society for an increased numbers of volunteers to provide good spiritual teaching, pastoral care, encouragement and guidance. Essentially the need for gurus, by whatever nomenclature or sub-category we might wish to … Continue reading →

Our Lord and the Twelve Disciples was the title of a Victorian print hanging on the wall of my childhood Sunday school in Cornwall. I can still see it now. In different attentive postures, the twelve are gathered around their … Continue reading →

For the past twenty years, at least, people have been asking me my understanding of the various philosophical aspects and issues related to the subject of the guru and disciple relationship. Although many liked the traditional idea of practising spiritual … Continue reading →

In 1965, fifty years ago today, an elderly Indian gentleman boarded a steamship in Calcutta. He was a saffron-robed sadhu – a holy man – bound for America, a place he had never visited before, and a place where he … Continue reading →

Bhaktivinode Thakur left us all a great legacy of devotional songs and poetry. Today being the day he passed away in 1914, it is an opportunity for those of us whose lives have been enriched by his words, to take … Continue reading →

The former Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, launched his new book yesterday. I have not seen it yet, but judging by his other books, and by the important points he makes in this interview with Andrew Marr, it will be … Continue reading →

With the appointment of the United Kingdom’s first women bishops, Reverend Libby Lane as Bishop of Hull closely followed by the Reverend Alison White being appointed as the Bishop of Stockport, it was never going to be very long before … Continue reading →

A grove of Indian sandalwood trees Once, a long time ago in India, there was a poor man who lived with his wife in a small cottage deep in a forest. Every day the man would pick up sticks from … Continue reading →

This week we discussed disgust. Or should I say we were discussing the phenomena of being disgusted. It seems that we all get disgusted by something – at least sometime. Some of us are disgusted by Brussels sprouts; for others … Continue reading →

‘Closet Krishna’ the ISKCON charity shop in Rochester, Kent Last night I spoke to a gathering at Closet Krishna, the charity shop and meeting space down in Rochester, Kent. The name of the shop is borrowed from George Harrison’s description … Continue reading →

People in traditional attires play their drums during an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Record at a field in Titabar town in the northeastern Indian state of Assam January 6, 2013. A total of 14,833 Assamese people … Continue reading →

Does the small group in ISKCON serve the local temple, or does the temple serve the small group? Who serves whom?  It’s a question that’s often asked in organisations, especially in charities or campaigning groups:  Does the local branch of … Continue reading →

We are scheduled to be featured for three minutes on tonight’s edition of BBC’s ‘The One Show.’ It will probably be at the end as the show plays out. Expect lots of throwing of colored powder.

During this morning’s lecture I shared with the audience a few verses from the Paduka Sahasram of Sri Vedanta Deshika. Its a mammoth poem of 1,000 verses glorifying the footwear of God. The work is not something the Gaudiya Vaishnavas … Continue reading →

I’m afraid I laughed at the misfortunes of another human being this morning. Its not a Vaishnava quality to laugh at others, I know, and I should be much more compassionate. I’m sorry. The subject of my laughter was Mrs. … Continue reading →

At the risk of being entirely misunderstood, I must clarify for any old friends and for all Vaishnava readers that my post yesterday was not written as a campaigning shot against the traditional dhoti. Neither was it to promote the … Continue reading →

One of the consequences of modern globalization is that we are all being forced to reconsider the external elements of our respective faith traditions. The religions of the world took birth in different countries and each of them is consequently … Continue reading →

Back in 1973, George Harrison of the famous popular music group, The Beatles, purchased a large house in the Hertfordshire countryside, and gave it to a small group of devotees of Krishna. 45 years later it has become a well … Continue reading →

One subject that has come up in the last week is the notion of ‘blasphemy.’ Its an old word which we hardly use any more in English, except when we’re referring to how religions other than Christianity get offended by … Continue reading →

  In clarification of my post yesterday, I wanted to share with you some observations from a concerned Muslim scholar, Sheikh Dhiya Al-Musawi. You’ll see the video at the bottom. It is not only the Pope who describes the latest … Continue reading →

I learned today that France has deployed some 10,000 extra security personnel, both police and army, and that half of that number are for the country’s 700 Jewish schools. I also learned that the police now think that a Jewish … Continue reading →

Smashed religious imagery in Utrecht Iconoclast: 1. A person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, as being based on error or superstition. 2. A breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious veneration. Today, the former head man at … Continue reading →

A few days ago, the first Hindu was sworn in as a Member of Congress for the second time. An American national from Hawaai with a military history, she took her oath by laying her hand on the Bhagavad Gita, … Continue reading →

My old friend Ilan Chester has begun an exciting project to bring India’s spiritual tradition to western theatres. The songs are Sanskrit, the orchestras classical, the stages international. Let’s applaud his enthusiasm and creativity – and support his work.

I saw the news today of protests and counter protests in Germany. One party is protesting over the ‘Islamisation’ of Germany, a ‘Christian nation,’ and the other party is protesting their protests. Can a country own a single religion any … Continue reading →

I have shared this short video before, but it bears repetition. I hope my readers won’t mind. It’s that time of year, after all. The beginning of a year is a good time to plan the rest of it. What … Continue reading →

Its the season to be jolly, and who better to help the merriment than the devotees of Krishna helped along by their neighbours, Soho publicity company Mr. President. The result is Christmas songs with a difference, recorded, filmed and promoted … Continue reading →

This is today’s piece for the holy month of Kartik: Planting and worshipping Tulasi.

Here is the fifth in the series of Kartik pieces. This one is about Vraja Mandala Parikrama, a barefoot, 128-mile pilgrimage walk around the sacred sites of Lord Krishna’s activities in northern India.

Dear Friends, here is the fourth in the series of my Kartik pieces. This one is about the principle of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava,’ or inviting guests and hosting them in your home.

This is the third in the series of pieces for the holy month of Kartik. Today its about making a ‘sankalpa,’ a firm resolution, a voluntary commitment to do something regularly for your spiritual progress.

For the last decade in Britain there has been intense discussion about our membership of something called the European Union or ‘EU.’ Are we part of something much bigger than our borders, and if so, what are the terms of … Continue reading →

Last year I made a series of short pieces about the holy month of Kartik. Here’s the first one:

Dear Readers, the holy month of Kartik is now upon us, the time of year when it is that little bit easier to engage in bhakti, and the rewards that little bit more. Its a Vaishnava tradition to make an … Continue reading →

Here’s a newsworthy event. A new Krishna-themed charity shop / thrift shop has opened up in a small town on the Thames river not too far from London. You can hear all about it in this short film.

Every year the disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of ISKCON, compose written tributes in celebration of the day of his birth. This year I was asked to write ‘The Meaning of Vyasa Puja’ for the international book. … Continue reading →

Just in case you’re not familiar with the country’s location: this is Slovenia on the Europe map Last week my wife and I were guest speakers at a summer camp for Vaishnavas in Slovenia. Slovenia is north of Croatia and … Continue reading →