Let's Stand Up for Our Rights
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2010/01/17 - 3:20amOn 25 February, in the wake of court victory and a 17,500 pound award against a British clothing store, ISKCON of England issued a public statement from Sivarama Swami, which read, in part, "This is not a just a victory for Hinduism, this is a victory for the rights of religious worship and expression. This will set a standard for the future and be a warning to other companies not to use someone's religious faith as a nasty and spiteful advertising campaign."
Hollywood's "Matrix"
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2010/01/16 - 3:20am
In case you didn't see my recent newsletter or the web, this is what Hindustan Times (of India) published on February 22, 2002. They paid Rs.1000.00 for this short article entitled, "The secret message of Hollywood's "Matrix."
Interfaith and Universality
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Fri, 2010/01/15 - 3:20amOn many occasions Srila Prabhupada taught that Sanatana Dharma is the constitutional position of the living entity, and that this identification transcends all denominational designations. In the Srimad Bhagavatam he writes: "It is not a question of being Christian, Muslim or Hindu. One should be purely religious and freed from all these material designations.
Intimate pastimes
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Thu, 2010/01/14 - 3:20amSrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had an interesting view of the neophyte's taking to discussions of intimate pastimes: "As long as one has anarthas, one does not receive the good fortune of becoming a servant of Srimati Radharani. Those who discuss the transcendental pastimes of Srimati Radharani, who is the dear most servitor of Sri Krsna, are sense gratifiers, covered enjoyers and prakrita sahajiyas.
Life and Death
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Wed, 2010/01/13 - 3:20am"Don't think this won't happen to you," was one of the most instructive of Srila Prabhupada's statements made in his last days. "As sure as death" is a phrase which appears at least forty times in the body of Srila Prabhupada's recorded words.
What is initiation?
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Tue, 2010/01/12 - 3:20amThe English word "initiation" comes from the English root "initial" defined in the dictionary as meaning the beginning of something, "occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process." It is not that at initiation, a spiritual name is given, one has a guru, has passed an examination of sorts, is formally admitted into ISKCON, and that's the end.
Become a Guru
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Mon, 2010/01/11 - 3:20amIn one sense everyone in Srila Prabhupada's movement is, or can become, a guru or at least an instructor, which is one of the meanings of 'guru.'
Form and Substance
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2010/01/10 - 3:19amSrila Prabhupada created a 'voluntary' society in which people were expected to 'rise to the occasion' [his words] and do the 'impossible.' Srila Prabhupada is also on record as saying that management will follow preaching like a shadow. Of course, there are many different interpretations as to what 'preaching' means. But the point here is that Srila Prabhupada created a natural urge to chant the holy name, to realize the existence of the soul and Krishna, and to dive into the sublime philosophy of Krsna consciousness.
Success story
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2010/01/09 - 3:18amSuccess stories (the American Horatio Alger story is well known in the USA) or 'rags to riches' sagas are popular, largely because people think they can be rich and famous, win the lottery, succeed at gambling, and so on. But Srila Prabhupada's story is a unique one. He DID make it from 'rags to riches,' but what's different is that anyone, by his or her sincerity, can participate in the freedom and greatness Srila Prabhupada had.
Charlatans Abound These Days
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Fri, 2010/01/08 - 3:17amAddressing the bewildering thicket of fakes that sincere seekers often encounter, we can quote Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati from his will: "To be cheated by those who mislead people in the name of Hari katha, has become a sort of religion of this age."