When a bad thing happens, does optimism mean seeing it as the best thing that could have happened?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post When a bad thing happens, does optimism mean seeing it as the best thing that could have happened? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Does positive thinking mean that we shouldn’t think about the past – then how will we learn from it?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post Does positive thinking mean that we shouldn’t think about the past – then how will we learn from it? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How can Chrisitan conversions in India be countered – can Hindus be united for this purpose?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post How can Chrisitan conversions in India be countered – can Hindus be united for this purpose? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Some Christians say that Kalki will be Jesus come again, not Krishna come again – how to respond?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post Some Christians say that Kalki will be Jesus come again, not Krishna come again – how to respond? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If Islam considers idolatry the greatest sin, how can it co-exist with Hinduism?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If Islam considers idolatry the greatest sin, how can it co-exist with Hinduism? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Why do post-modern Leftist scholars in India separate Islam from terrorism, but not Hinduism from the caste system?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post Why do post-modern Leftist scholars in India separate Islam from terrorism, but not Hinduism from the caste system? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

As different paths conceive God differently, do they all lead to the same goal?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post As different paths conceive God differently, do they all lead to the same goal? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ask not how could he have done that – ask what is to be done next Gita 03.39
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Ask not how could he have done that – ask what is to be done next Gita 03.39 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Monday, June 5, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Burns, Wyoming

The Cattle and Me

The cattle and I were separated by fence and ditch, but they were following me, nevertheless. As I made my last three miles in this ranch country, on Rd. 213, the two dozen or so black-breed bovines got attached to me and I to them.

Coming down the dusty road was a white pickup with a local farmer behind the wheel. This farmer put the brakes on and observed the cattle tagging along next to me. The farmer made the turn and proceeded to meet me on the road.

It was a woman—a country girl. “But I’ve spent my time in the city. I prefer the rural life,” she said, after introductions.

I told her of my walking mission with its spiritual edge. And we both agreed that commonality amongst faith groups needs to be emphasized; in other words, the agreed upon universal truths need to be honoured. It was terrific to meet a farmer with an open mind. It is not always like that. Cattle are open. Why can’t humans be?

Gary was another person who came onto my track with me today. Gary is from The Pine Bluffs Post. He spent forever looking for me. Wrong road. Directions given to him were misinformed. Finally, he caught up with me and the boys in the village of Burns. He asked all the normal questions and I answered them, informing him that it is a great ‘spirit’ walk, one that I hope will inspire others.

“Simple living. Less cars. 1.25 million people die each year from auto accidents. We could do better. Walk and chant!”  The cattle walked.

May the Source be with you!

21 miles

Exciting Plans Afoot for Spain’s New Vrajamandala. Yadunandana…
→ Dandavats



Exciting Plans Afoot for Spain’s New Vrajamandala.
Yadunandana Swami’s first move is to invite capable devotees to build up the New Vrajamandala team. (“Without a good team, you can’t be successful,” he says.) Already, Sabda Brahma Das, who previously worked at a bank, has been named the new treasurer; while retired post office manager Rafael Vasco is the accountant and temple commander.
The team’s top priority is to improve Deity worship. For this, they have calculated the minimum cost to maintain a good standard of worship, including pujari maintenance, which will bring steadiness. They’ve already secured sponsors, funding, and some new pujaris, and are looking for a head pujari to oversee the department.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/5peLJR

Hare Krishna! The Film Wins Grand Jury Prize Award
→ ISKCON News

Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All has won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona, USA, the top prize of the festival. Lead Juror Michael Kiehnert said that they awarded it to the film, which the jury felt had the potential "to reach their widest possible audience and have the greatest impact." 

Hare Krishna Iskcon Roma 2017
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaEcstatic Rathayatra in Rome, Italy. Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)

Sunday, June 4, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Nebraska/Wyoming

A New State

“Dudes” is a popular steak-house restaurant in Sidney. I didn’t know of the busy clientele, until I conveniently sat on one of the provided benches in front of the diner. The workers there were extra nice. Two waitresses came out and asked me to sign the newspaper which featured Hayagriva and myself  on the front page.

“Can we make you a hamburger? It’s on the House.”

“Thank you, but I’m a vegetarian.”

They came back a minute later saying they could serve me a veggie burger which was made out of black beans. I really appreciated them going out of their way to be friendly, but I just had to decline. I was full of the delicious wraps the boys had put together.

Kindness is truly prevalent on some days. Experience shows that people I meet are anywhere from indifferent to positive in their response to our walk.

The above interaction with the “Dudes” staff was on Friday night. Today, however, Sunday, showed more of an aloof reaction from motorists. Fortunately, we did reach some milestones. I stepped into the state of Wyoming. We also took a drive to the vibrant Denver community for the world popular ISKCON Sunday feast. Lastly, Aaron, whom I met on Tuesday, decided to join our team.

Aaron is a young man at an interesting juncture in his life. He’s giving the spiritual approach to life a chance. The three of us, Hayagriva, Marshall and myself, have accepted him Ike a younger brother (for me a son).


May the Source be with you.


20 miles


Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival 2017 & 72nd Vyasa Puja of Bhakti Charu Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

We are delighted to invite you to the ‘Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival2017 and 72nd Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’ at ISKCON Ujjain from 12th to 18th September 2017. 17th September is the day when Srila Prabhupada arrived in America to spread...

The post Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival 2017 & 72nd Vyasa Puja of Bhakti Charu Swami appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Social media – what it does for us and what it does to us
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Phone class to everydaychant.com sanga]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post Social media – what it does for us and what it does to us appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Devotion, renunciation and aversion are differentiated by the direction of emotion
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class on 11.2.48 at ISKCON, Chowpatty, Mumbai, India]

Podcast

The post Devotion, renunciation and aversion are differentiated by the direction of emotion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Dumbness is not inability to understand gibberish – it is inability to see gibberish for what it is Gita 18.63
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Dumbness is not inability to understand gibberish – it is inability to see gibberish for what it is Gita 18.63 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Hare Krishna Film Review
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Sam Slovick

If Hare Krishna! film director John Griesser’s goal was to reintroduce the world to the magic of Prabhupada, he hit his mark. Hare Krishna! is the second coming of Prabhupada. Griesser (Yadubara Das) draws the viewer into to the magic of the Hare Krishna movement through an artfully crafted, seamless, multimedia medley, drawing from a wealth of existing archival elements including photographs, film, and video interviews combined with recreations, reenactments, and graphics to achieve a cinematic flow that takes you out of the theatre and into the moment. Continue reading "Hare Krishna Film Review
→ Dandavats"

World Religions 3 – Islam – Beyond the politically correct and the politically incorrect to the philosophically correct
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post World Religions 3 – Islam – Beyond the politically correct and the politically incorrect to the philosophically correct appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

World Religions 2 – Christianity – Beyond authoritarian and humanitarian religion to transcendence
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post World Religions 2 – Christianity – Beyond authoritarian and humanitarian religion to transcendence appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

World Religions 1 – Appreciating religious diversity amidst spiritual universality
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post World Religions 1 – Appreciating religious diversity amidst spiritual universality appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Before Nirjala Ekadashi, can we take some juices or pills to increase our fasting capacity?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post Before Nirjala Ekadashi, can we take some juices or pills to increase our fasting capacity? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From the karmic perspective, what is the difference between ignorant wrongdoings and intentional wrongdoings?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post From the karmic perspective, what is the difference between ignorant wrongdoings and intentional wrongdoings? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Time of The Sages Documentary-Trailer (5 min video)The…
→ Dandavats



The Time of The Sages Documentary-Trailer (5 min video)
The Oxford Center for Hindu Studies is host to the Bhagavata Purana Research Project. As key step in this project, we have organized an international conference in Chennai, in early 2017, with some 30 specialists from around the world presenting papers and discussing different aspects of the Bhagavata Purana. This is a perfect opportunity for us to interview and film these scholars for this documentary film. We are living in a world full of anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Bhagavata Purana can act as an antidote for these diseases of the heart. It offers a broader vision which can change ourselves individually and collectively by showing ways of seeing and living based in our fundamentally joyful nature. Krishna Ksetra Swami: I am a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Since more than 40 years I study, teach, and research on the Bhagavata Purana, the crown jewel of Indias wisdom literature. I would like to make a documentary on this great literature to make it more widely known in the West. The Bhagavata Purana invites us to participate in a nontemporal, ever-expanding reality. Its an engaging nourishment for the soul. I hope well treasure with others through this film. Dr Kenneth Valpey Watch it here: https://goo.gl/fFSGuR