In Search of Sweet
It is only by intentional practices that we can begin to access spiritual tastes and emotions that are less obvious and more refined.
"When we turn away from the sun, we face our shadow. When we turn away from God, our original Source, we see ourselves as separate, and fear arises."
Just as our phone disturbs us externally, our mind disturb us internally.
One of my favourite BBC Radio Four shows is Desert Island Discs. At the end of every show the guest is figuratively sent to the island with a copy of the Bible and the entire works of Shakespeare. They can also have a book of their own choice and some important item.
Srila Prabhupada once said, “Unless in the human society the Varnasrama system is introduced, no scheme or social order, health order or any order, political order, will be successful.”
It is an odd development of the modern world that being excessively anxious about our children is considered a virtue. We consider ourselves good parents if we make life easy for them, reward them for the smallest achievement, and are anxious for their safety and well being at all times.
As long as we are living in this world we have to act, none of us can remain idle and not do anything.
“A writer is an individual who uses language to discover meaning in experience and communicate it.” Pranada certainly exemplifies this.
When thunderstorm and lightning strikes we run inside our house, and when the earth shakes we run out of our house. Is there any place where we are safe?
Shaunaka Rishi Das spent many years caring for his wife Keshava, who had chronic fatigue syndrome. In her mid-50s and suffering from depression, Keshava took her own life, with questions over the medical response leading to a traumatic two-day inquest.
According to an Indian proverb, there’s nothing that a goat won’t eat and nothing that a madman won’t say.
Bhaktivinod Thakura was a high court judge and he was so expert in his work that when he wanted to take retirement the government pleaded him not to do so.
Have you heard kirtan leaders say“Chant from the heart!”? What do they mean by this?
I fear that not being anchored to you
I will so easily be swept away
Like each tiny flower.
When we function in the world, our desires direct our vision, consciously or subconsciously.
On Radhasthami, I remembered how Lord Krishna lived in the magnificent city of Dwaraka, after leaving the simple village of Vrndavan. Amidst the opulence of Dwaraka, He was longing for the simple village life, and the love of the unsophisticated residents there, especially Sri Radha.
Is there anyone of us who want to suffer? How many of us want to be insulted by others? How many of us want to be separated from our loved ones? But almost all of us go through these phases in our life and most of the time we find we are so helpless to do anything, we silently weep.
Whether it’s the coldest pre-dawn hours of winter, or the staggering heat of May and June, the external conditions in Vrindavan are far from perfect.
When we forget that divine connectivity and try to harness nature for our separate and selfish purposes, she sometimes unleashes her divine fury.
In general, accepting criticism is the ability to stay strong and to expand. Today people cannot handle criticism. Even the thought of it throws their status quo out of control.
Some people say, “Everything is God’s plan.” Is it really? Are our mistakes his plan? If some people become alcoholics or commit suicide, did God plan that they ruin their lives?
Srila Prabhupada's role as a social innovator is sometimes overlooked when we speak about Krishna consciousness. It deserves greater emphasis.
“Truth isn’t truth.” Recently Rudy Giuliani uttered this statement on a television interview. It bewildered some and angered others. What was Giuliani trying to say?
While navigating through life’s inevitable challenges, we often increase our burdens by uncritically accepting prevailing definitions of success as our life’s goals.
Absolute privacy is a myth. Modern technology with its security cameras, internet cookies and shopping-lists from our loyalty cards ensures that we are now more highly monitored than ever before.
