In Russia a thirteen-year-old received one of Srila Prabhupada books, became attracted to the philosophy, and went to the temple and loved everything.The devotees gave him beads and more books.He became more interested and became a devotee. But he knew his parents wouldn’t approve, so he secretly continued his Krsna consciousness. In Russia a thirteen-year-old […]

By Shyamasundara Dasa[The following history from the Valmiki Ramaya is full of import for anyone who wants to be a guru, GBC, temple president or leader in ISKCON or any spiritual institution.] From Valmiki’s Ramayana Uttara Khandha between chapters 59-60 Part one Thereafter in the bright morning Sri Rama, of lotus-like eye having performed forenoon […]

Toronto Ontario Bhati Marg SwamiIt was another one of those insomniac attacks. I had no alternative but to get out of bed at this moment of frustration and attempt to walk off the sleeplessness. The clock struck 12 midnight and so I decided to make Yonge st. south my destinational trail. It’s interesting what happened. […]

Birbal, the favourite minister of Emperor Akbar; was an uncommon man of sound common sense. Many were the scintillating conversations the two had together; time seemed to fly when Akbar was in his company.

One day Akbar said to Birbal, “I marvel at some of the fantastic beliefs that you Hindus hold. You believe that the […]

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two”wolves” inside us all.One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret,greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt,resentment, inferiority, lies, false, pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, […]

by Badrinarayana das We hear many stories of devotees receiving special treatment from people who used to attend the Krishna Lunch program-bank managers, police officers and many more have gone out of their way to show their appreciation. This ongoing column will highlight the best stories about the power of prasadam. In our first installment, […]

Once, near the peaceful village of Vrndavana, the transcendental place where Krsna manifested His pastimes on earth, there lived a scholarly brahmana (priest) and servant of Krsna. Opposite his home, there lived a prostitute. As a daily observance, the brahmana would sit in his doorway and recite the Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, then cook offering […]

Adapted from the Nrsimha PuranaThe following story from the Nrsimha Purana appeared in issue number 11 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. It illustrates the negative effects of pride, as well as the power of a chaste lady. There was once a righteous brahmana named Kasyapa. […]

By Indradyumna SwamiThe day after our last festival in Poland, I boarded a flight for India and landed the next morning in Delhi. I was going down a flight of stairs leading to Immigration and Customs when my knees buckled and I began to fall. A large man grabbed me from behind in the nick […]

There is a pastime in the Vedas about a caste Vaisnava (devotee of Krishna) learned scholar (jnani) who new all the workings of the universe and all the verses of the Vedas, he was very proud of his knowledge and universal understandings. Out side his room was a simple minded street sweeper who new nothing […]

Srila Prabhupada sometimes told the following story to illustrate how onemay mix with nondevotees and yet keep one’s devotional integrity: Once a crocodile invited a monkey in a tree to come and ride on his back.The foolish monkey jumped down from the tree and soon found himself clingingto the crocodile’s back in the middle of […]

Abhimanyu is a key personality featured in the epic Mahabharata. The son of Arjuna and Subhadra, half-sister of Lord Krishna, Abhimanyu is a partial incarnation of Chandra. An unparalleled archer, he was considered equal to his father in prowess with the bow and arrow. Abhimanyu is a key personality featured in the epic Mahabharata. The […]

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the […]

From Jataka Tales There lived in a certain place a Brahmin, whose name was Svabhavakripana, which means “a born miser.” He had collected a quantity of rice by begging, and after having dined off it, he filled a pot with what was left over. He hung the pot on a peg on the wall, placed […]

by Madhava Ghosh (The following is an article I wrote that was published in the Brijabasi Spirit in Dec.1982 (Vol. IX, #7 ). I don’t know who the artist was who did the drawing of Sonny. Somehow the editor misspelled Sonny’s name as Sony, also his last name is wrong. I may have scribbled this […]

As one’s work can take many socially acceptable forms—so can one’s preaching. Anyone can preach and help others to become Krishna conscious. It’s not just meant for the brahmanas, brahmacaris or sannyasis, although they’re usually the ones who do it. Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada both stressed that all devotees can and should preach. I […]

My name is Mahatma Das, and I am a new disciple of Krishna Das Swami. I attend the Coventry temple (UK). I had the great fortune to go out on a harinam in the centre of Coventry with devotees on Lord Nityananda’s appearance day. A pleasant gentleman called Robert, who was with his young daughter, […]

I would like to share two wonderful stories that I read. One day a king asked three questions to one of the great, knowledgeable sages in his court. First question was ” Where is God? With out a moment’s thinking, the sage said: Do you believe that butter comes from milk and you cannot see the butter in […]