In “Nityananda Caritamrita,” Vrindavana dasa Thakura writes extensively about Jagai and Madhai. He says they were born Brahamanas, and given the names Jagannatha and Madhava. He describes how they were such villains that people feared coming into contact with them, and that they were guilty of committing every type of sin, including murder.

In the West, Hare Krishna’s tend to be equated with the “New Age.” They’re usually thought to be left-wing, alternative and even radical. But in fact they are very conservative. in that they follow authority and refrain from intoxication and illicit sex.

According to Vaisnava linguists, Srila Narottama das Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur wrote many songs in poetic, somewhat simplified, Bengali, that conveyed many important Vaisnava attitudes. Regarding Krishnadas Kaviraja’s “Caitanya Caritamrta”, it is said that people could learn Bengali just by reading this book in the original language.

The recent London bombings have made me think. Terrorists regard the enemy as soulless entities and consider that total extermination is necessary. If they have a concept of God, it’s a warped one.

In many statements and written documents Srila Prabhupada said that preaching was the most important thing a Vaisnava should concentrate on, and that preaching success would depend upon dedication and purity. Srila Prabhupada once said, “I want to die with my boots on.”

A recent Back to Godhead article is called Nashik. It’s a famous place in India where Lord Ramachandra lived during his exile, and where Laxmana, according to the Valmiki Ramayana, cut off the nose of Surpinakha, the demon-ness sister of Ravana. Nashik means “nose.” This move by Laxmana is symbolic of thwarting evil and removing materialistic obstacles on the path to Krsna consciousness.

When on a walk, Srila Prabhupada was presented with the fact that Western theologians cannot reconcile reason and faith because they can’t ascertain their relationship. He said that we have a relationship with everything, including the very ground we walk on. He said that footpaths are made for human beings to walk on, so there must be a relationship between every sidewalk or footpath and every person who walks on them. In fact they are made for people to walk on. So there MUST be a relationship.

In many statements and written documents Srila Prabhupada said that preaching was the most important thing a Vaisnava should concentrate on, and that preaching success would depend upon dedication and purity. Srila Prabhupada once said, “I want to die with my boots on.”

Ultimately everything is Krishna, even maya, who performs the thankless task of keeping conditioned souls imprisoned (and attached to) the material world. Our attachments are intimated in Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 10.41: “Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” Purport – “Any glorious or beautiful existence should be understood to be but a fragmental manifestation of Krsna’s opulence, whether it be in the spiritual or material world. Anything extraordinarily opulent should be considered to represent Krsna’s opulence.”

When on a walk, Srila Prabhupada was presented with the fact that Western theologians cannot reconcile reason and faith because they can’t ascertain their relationship. He said that we have a relationship with everything, including the very ground we walk on. He said that footpaths are made for human beings to walk on, so there must be a relationship between every sidewalk or footpath and every person who walks on them. In fact they are made for people to walk on. So there MUST be a relationship.