Author Archives: Manoj, Melbourne, AU

Just adding to my last post on updates, I have launched an email newsletter, “The Gita” that focuses on building our knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. Every week, I will send out a short and easy-to-understand essay from each of the chapters of the book. We will cover the 18 chapters systematically and I plan […]

Hare Krishna all! I haven’t been blogging here as often I have been in the past – 3 years to be exact! That’s what social media does to you. Been Facebooking, Tweeting & Instagraming! Anyways, early this year, I launched a website called “bhajate.com“ I am planning to use the above new site as my […]

A nice class this morning detailing out the respects paid by 3 important personalities when they hear about the arrival of Lord Krishna to this world. Srimad Bhagavatam Class: 10.02.25 Bhaktini Aruna Mataji Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, North Sydney 16.07.2017 The arrival of demigods to see the birth of Lord Krishna, is like the […]

Srimad Bhagavatam Class Notes: 10.02.23-24 HG Abhishek Prabhu North Sydney temple 15.07.2017 Kamsa was stricken with fear. He waited so many years for the 8th child to be born. All his moments were taken up, anticipating the arrival of Krishna. His fear had gone to that extent where he thought of killing his own sister […]

Had an awesome day yesterday! 2:30am: Wake up 4am – 5:25am: Travel to temple 5:25am – 6:50am: Deity paraphernalia service 6:50-7am: Gobble down maha-sweets as a award to myself for the morning activities 7am-7:10am: Checking out my friends iPad out 7:15am – 8:45am: Deity greeting, Guru Puja, Bhagavatam class 8:45am-9:30am: Massive breakfast prasadam (rice, zucchini […]

On Saturday (yesterday) at the temple, an Australian couple came to conduct a ceremony for a mother of theirs, who passed away. They were so friendly and patient with the devotees, sitting through the whole ceremony with great sincerity. It seemed to be their first. I wanted to ask them what their motivation/inspiration was for […]

Today was nice. I didn’t realise that the Vyasa puja celebration (appearance day/birthday) of His Holiness Bhakti Vikas swami was being celebrated at the Sydney temple at noon. My plan was to finish my morning service, attend the bhagavatam class, have a full breakfast 🙂 , finish my rounds and head home. As i had […]

From real life to reel life! Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the Hare Krishna movement, his contributions, his spiritual outlook and the experiences of his disciples & grand disciples will be available on the big screen in a month’s time! Through the wonderful efforts of Yadubara prabhu (John Griesser) and his wife Vishaka mataji (Jean […]

Yesterday, after the Bhagavtam class, Abhishek prabhu was approached by an elderly Indian gentleman. He was well-dressed, had a smiling face, respectful and later declared to us that he was from Bengal, a diplomat during his working years and was now retired. Visiting his son in Sydney, he was out and about when he happened to […]

My friend Abhishek prabhu gave a great Srimad Bhagavatam class yesterday in which he mentioned that every action a pure devotee performs must make impressions in the disciples heart, even if they are very trivial ones. If it doesn’t, then its hard to approach Krishna. What i understand from his statement is that all actions […]

Many people think that in the Hindu tradition, worshipping a deity or an idol is imaginary and superstitious. Why worship a stone, they ask? However, the ancient Vedic texts and the Lord Himself states that one should not think in such a way. They boldly declare that the Deity form of the Lord is a […]

Yes, it’s possible. You can offer food to the Lord. Ofcourse, the usual question from a lay person is, “Why does God need food if He is God?“. The answer from the devotees of the Lord is simple, “because He loves to!“. God is a person and He enjoys relationship with the living entities in […]

I was invited again to my dear friend Mohan prabhu’s home for breakfast. I declined the invitation as I already had one at temple but accepted the invitation for lunch! As I walked by the street to his home, I looked at the beautiful lining of trees on either side of the road sprinkled by […]

Today, Sri Prahlad prabhu gave the Sunday morning Srimad Bhagavatam talk from Canto 9, Chapter 19 (King Yayati achieves Liberation), verse 20. In this verse, King Yayati is explaining to his wife the futility of pursuing material happiness. As a part of the royal family, they had ample resources to enjoy for a long time. […]

In a world characterised by the feverish need to succeed, it’s not that difficult to see the growth of pride in one’s character. The dictionary defines pride as follows: noun a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of one’s close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely […]

My fast paced Saturday!! pic.twitter.com/akwAkdtdBZ — Krishna Kumar Dasa (@krishnakdasa) February 18, 2017 It’s amazing to observe the invisible hand of time, taking you closer and closer to your next life destination without you even realising it. Every Monday, I think back and wonder where the weekend went. When I hit Friday, I look back […]

Perhaps casually, perhaps loosely, perhaps as a habit, perhaps everyday, we say 2 words – Thank you – words that can be so life changing. In most cases, our utterance of thanks happens when we have received something we want. But to be thankful to a person or a situation, when it’s completely unfavourable to […]

Today morning’s Bhagavatam class was held by Gokuleshwar prabhu, i believe is from ISKCON Juhu (India) temple. At least that’s what i learnt from a Google search 🙂 Should have asked someone at the temple. Anyway, what I wanted to say was that it was a great class. It was funny, insightful and a great […]

I am reading this wonderful book, “Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya”, by Śrīla Sac-cid-ānanda Bhaktivinoda Thākura which is a conversation between Lord Nityānanda and the young Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī as they go on a tour (parikramā) of the holy dham. Once the parikrama is over and Srī Jīva is blessed to go to Sri Vrindhavan, he submits […]

What a shame! Its been 1.5 years since my last post 🙁 what in the world is going on you ask? Just caught up with life and distractions. But i do have so much to say and show. Let me plan my writing going forward. I think I can be consistent again.&nbs…

This is what I saw in a refrigerator few days ago – milk in 3 types! Extra Lite, Low Fat Lite and Full Cream! But i want none of those and want the “Nectarean Milk” which Srila Prabhupad is talking about below. “Milk is compared to nectar, which one can drink to become immortal. Of […]

The much awaited visit of the year is here ! HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami will be in Melbourne for the next 10 days and I attended first of his talk yesterday – Faith in Scriptures. Maharaj took time to clarify the difference between blind faith and educated faith. He cited so many examples from both […]

What a powerful photo!

I remember the time when junk food, mainly chips was a part of my work schedule. Not anymore, thanks to the spiritual journey. But i still do have snack cravings here and there during work. Dried nuts, fresh fruits and herbal tea solves the problem. But there is another item that i enjoy having once […]

“The illusioned living entity appears in so many forms offered by the external energy of the Lord. While enjoying in the modes of material nature, the encaged living entity misconceives, thinking in terms of “I” and “mine”. – Srimad Bhagavatam/2.9.2 When a bank teller who handles money everyday thinks that it belongs to him and […]

Its been few weeks since i started my new service of making the Sunday morning salad at the temple. Whenever I thought about cooking, I would contemplate on vegetables, spices and oil – boiling, frying and baking. The heavy fragrance of melting ghee, crackle of the mustard seeds, the stringent aroma of the hing, the […]

Tonight His Holiness Ramai Swami gave a talk on “Developing Spiritual Qualities”. As he went through the list from Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad-Gita, I couldn’t help noticing that I had none of those qualities. Chapter 12, Verse 13-14. One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who […]

Just remembering what is the most striking pastime sticking out for me from the Ramayana. Its mainly this one – How Lord Ram left behind everything opulent for a life of simplicity and austerity. Hope i can remember this atleast once a year on every occasion of Ram Navami.

I received this email from a senior devotee friend few days ago. I have read it twice and I find it absolutely amazing, fulfilling and true. The letter has everything that a devotee could ask for – hope, affection, guidance and love. Letter from H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj To the Worshipable Devotees of Sri Sri […]

I was a little agitated an hour ago. Something didn’t go the way i want. And when you are in that mood, your relationship with others isn’t really positive. And i hate that feeling when i realise i could have been better. The guilt kills you. Anyways, i was lucky to come in the association […]

Listening to the wonderful pastimes of the wonderful appearance day of Lord Chaitanya by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami.

This is Kalu Yala: Kalu Yala is a beautiful valley from downtown Panama City. The founders are planning to create an eco-valley with proper township. The place looks beautiful. I believe every town/city of the world needs to be built into beautiful forests and valleys without destroying the natural habitat. Humans should live amongst nature […]

Saw these birds sitting on high voltage power lines. They are fearless and comfortable on it. Had their feet been on two of the lines, they would be dead. Similarly, if we keep our focus solely on the lotus feet of Krishna, we can live comfortably in the material world. Having our thoughts on multiple […]

Please help our devotee friend, Jahnavi to complete her upcoming music album – an acoustic mix of devotional prayers and kirtan from the bhakti yoga tradition. Her indegogo page has full information on the project, donation amounts and what you will get in return.   http://igg.me/at/jahnavialbum

Spent a good part of last Saturday decorating the yoga centre in a Christmas theme. There were bells, lights, snow flake wall stickers and even a looping video on the wall showing Santa Claus on his sledge flying across the blue full moon night. I was so tired putting it all up along with another […]

Last weekend, i had the great privilege to meet His Holiness Bhaktivinoda Swami. The meet came as a complete surprise. It seemed he had expressed an interest to visit our yoga centre in the city and perhaps lead a short kirtan. Running up the stairs, i was mentally preparing on what to say to prepare […]

Me just thinking…. As practicing devotees, i think there are 3 matters that we are attracted to/concerned with most of the times: (1) Problems of the material world (2) Issues with governance (3) Atheistic mindset of the common people But to grow further spiritually, nurture an even more softer heart and to fulfil the full […]

“The most intelligent devotees, therefore, do not take to any means of self-realization except devotional service and constant engagement in the nine different processes of devotional life, especially hearing and chanting. When hearing and chanting about Your transcendental pastimes, Your devotees do not care even for the transcendental bliss derived from liberation or from merging […]