gopala.org

A child looked out the window at the evening sky at the beautiful moon and requested her mother to give it to her. The mother, of course, could not do that, but she devised a plan how to satisfy the child. She brought a mirror and handed it to the child in such a way…

by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur Śrī Chaitanya-śīksāmrta 3.4 (with footnotes as in original) What is the relationship of varnāśrama, which was previously discussed, with vaidhi-bhakti? Should a person take shelter of vaidhi-bhakti and give up the rules of varnāśrama-dharma, or should he practice vaidhi-bhakti for developing devotion while still following the varnāśrama rules and duties? It…

Actually the whole world is full of Krsna’s singing, but it is appreciated in different ways by different kinds of living entities. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. Krsna is dancing, and every living entity is also dancing, but there is a difference between the…

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. This is going to be an interesting teaching practice. I like being here though as I see many opportunities to develop myself as a teacher. There is a very tangible and strong sense of support from the staff here and they are all…

So formerly nobody could slaughter an animal, nobody can cut even a tree without reason, without sanction by the Vedic injunction. At the present moment in our country, this Bharatavarsa is called punya-bhumi. Actually it is so, because on this land all the great saintly persons appeared. The incarnation of God, Lord Ramacandra, Lord Krsna,…

SB 5.26.23: ye tv iha vai vrishali-patayo nashta-saucacara-niyamas tyakta-lajjah pasu-caryam caranti te capi pretya puya-vin-mutra-sleshma-mala-purnarnave nipatanti tad evatibibhatsitam asnanti The shameless husbands of lowborn sudra women live exactly like animals, and therefore they have no good behavior, cleanliness or regulated life. After death, such persons are thrown into the hell called Puyoda, where they are…

Krishna consciousness is the process of eternal life. The process is simple and the results are sublime. You follow it and you will be happy in this life as well as in the next. Letter to: Nandakisora — San Francisco 24 — December, 1967

Reporter: Does it ever happen, Swamiji, that some disciples of yours may disagree with you in spiritual matters? Prabhupada: Unless he is a fool. (laughter) Unless he’s damn fool, they do not. (laughter) If he’s sane and sober, open-hearted, then he will agree. Srila Prabhupada – Conversation with News Reporters — March 25, 1976, Delhi

Our Krsna consciousness may not be accepted by all. That is the case in everything. But what we are presenting, that is standard. We are not cheating. Neither we are after false followers. If you agree, then you come. If you agree — “No illicit sex, no… Yes…” Why? There is no “Why?” You have…

An employer advertised for an opening in his firm and received many applications. Based on these, he selected two men and asked them to come for an interview. The employer then observed each man carefully during the interview. When the first man entered the room, he left the door open behind him. The employer spoke…

“So somehow or other, it has begun, the blessings of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, as he wanted me, he desired me. So because he desired, my… I am not very expert or educated or nothing extraordinary, but only thing is that I believed in his word. That is… You can say that is my qualification. I…

by Satyaraja dasa Shiva is among the most widely worshiped deities in India. With names such as Mahadeva (“the great god”) and Nataraja (“the king of dancers”), he is venerated in ancient holy cities like Benares, where Saivites (as his worshipers are called) devote their lives to him, viewing him as the Supreme Lord. The…

“When a sentimental devotee takes the part of becoming representative of Krishna, there is simply havoc. Srila Rupa Goswami therefore said in his Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu that devotion to Krishna without reference to authoritative scriptures is simply a disturbance.” – Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Gurudas das 15/5/1969