Conversations about spiritual life between Bob Cohen, a young Peace Corps worker in India, and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded at the ISKCON International Center at Lord Caitanya’s Birthplace, Mayapur, India
We also invite you to visit one of the Krishna consciousness centers–anywhere in the world–and thus come closer to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Everywhere we hold Krishna conscious festivals. People become inspired to join us. Soon we hope to see hundreds of buses bringing these blissful festivals to every town and village.
We try to direct them toward what is best and most beautiful and what is most spiritually nourishing in the world about them—that is, insofar as the system allows us.
Vedic references tend toward the Big Bang theory, which suggests that at a certain time well in the future the process will reverse itself, and the universe will turn in on itself.
Kamsa heard the cries of the newborn child as his death knell, and he rushed in to kill him. But the baby flew up into the air and assumed the form of the demigoddess Maya. “You rascal,” she said to Kamsa. “The child who will kill you has already been born elsewhere. You cannot kill Him.”
This castle is ISKCON’s headquarters in Germany. Built in 1890 for a royal family, it’s called Schloss Rettershof, (“the castle of the knights”). Now it’s one of ISKCON’s more than 80 worldwide centers.
A survey of the transcendental accomplishments of the foremost spiritual teacher of the modern age, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
This ceremony is called Vyasa-puja. Vyasa is the original author of Vedic literature, and he is an incarnation of Narayana [God]. In this way, by disciplic succession, we receive transcendental knowledge.
Three festival days of special celebration for all devotees occur during August and September. Janmastami, Vyasa-puja of Srila Prabhupada and Radhastami.
Lord Visnu, who is residing within the heart of every living entity, appeared in the darkness of night as the Supreme Personality of Godhead before Devaki, who also appeared as one of the demigoddesses. The appearance of Lord Visnu at that time could be compared with the full moon in the sky as it rises on the eastern horizon.
As one needs the help of a qualified teacher to understand the material sciences, one also needs a qualified teacher to understand the science of God. Such a teacher is the spiritual master. A genuine spiritual master must be able to instruct his students in the practical details of understanding who God is, what our relationship with Him is, and how this relationship can be revived.
In Los Angeles, California, a community of three hundred Hare Krishna devotees live in a suburban neighborhood sometimes called the Hare Krishna quarter, which includes a dozen offices, four apartment buildings, a book warehouse, a stately temple and a large factory.
Many of us feel that this divorcing of the personal or devotional from learning, from wisdom, is a bad thing. And so I think we have a great deal to learn about the religions of India from people who have taken a direct, more involved and, I think, more complete and total approach to the things we read about in books.
Although the greatest person, He likes to enjoy a little sport, some friends, a bit of affection. Krishna is not different from us in this respect; He is the Supreme Great, but this does not mean He cannot enjoy relationships with His pure devotees
Krishna says: “Always think of Me and at the same time carry out your duty with your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed upon Me.”
Everyone knows that because the roots of trees store the sun’s energy, it is possible to get fire from a tree. These scientists are tiny creatures, but they are very proud. We don’t give them credit, because they are simply stating what everyone knows.
A pure devotee of the Lord like King Kulasekhara does not pray to God for material wealth, followers, beautiful women or imitation peacocks because he knows the real value of such illusory shows, if he is circumstantially placed amidst such illusory things, he does not artificially try to extricate himself or condemn such illusions.
All the press operations, including shooting with a copy camera, designing, spotting, stripping, printing, cutting and binding, are carried out by the disciples, with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
ISKCON is working to fulfill Lord Caitanya’s prophecy that in this Age of Kali the holy name of Krishna will be heard in every city, village and town. Srila Prabhupada left India, at the age of seventy to found the Krishna consciousness movement to execute this mission.