Ananda Vrindavan Kartik is a special month to sing about sweet baby Krishna. The following sonnets are based on the beautiful prayer Damodarastakam, sung daily during this month. Obeisances to He who does control The life of every life that does exist Yet each and every individual soul Can make a choice on how to coexist To see the form of Krishna with His flute Or a little child running from a stick Or turn away from happiness and truth And stare instead at maya’s glitteri

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi Yesterday evening, I paused during my walk as a cool breeze carried a shower of colorful leaves across the sidewalk. A child getting down from the school bus ran ahead, laughing as the leaves swirled around her, while nearby someone quietly arranged pumpkins on their porch. The warmth of sunlight in the afternoon, the changing colors of the trees, and the signs of harvest all created a feeling that the neighborhood was preparing for something hopeful.

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi On many festival celebrations, the temple room is filled far beyond what anyone expects. From the welcome area to different events going on in other areas it seems crowded and busy, The food distribution queues are often big and food is to be replenished more quickly than how its planned, volunteers adjust on the go, and many step in wherever help is needed. It is not picture perfect, but somehow it feels just right. No one seems concerned that exactl

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi During a recent visit to the United States, my elderly father undertook the long flight from India despite his age and health challenges. The desire to spend meaningful time with my brother, whom he could not meet enough during an earlier visit, became an inspiration for this journey. It was a reminder of how deeply a parent's love, care, and attachment can move the heart. The wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita helps us reflect on the nature of our desires.

Ananda Vrindavan If you are planning to come to the temple to celebrate Janmastami here are some sweet tips. Come Early and Stay Late - this way you miss the big traffic and have lots of time to be with Krishna on His special day. Explore the Festival - make sure you experience everything, even the joy of observing others' joy! Do some Service - help a lot or a little. Check in at our volunteer tent and see if there is a need. Even if you have 15mins or an hour or more, the

Ananda Vrindavan Of Secret Things Recently a young couple delivered a baby and as we were celebrating I asked their friend - so what’s the baby’s name? Oh, was the reply, I know the name but they asked me not to share it. I appreciated her ability to keep her word and not tell me the name. This, I thought, is someone I can trust. “Of secret things I am silence” is part of a verse in the Bhagavad-gita, 10th Chapter. The chapter is called The Opulence of the Absolute and list

Ananda Vrindavan devi dasi I watched as the two elderly ladies came down the road while on their morning walk. Then they parted - one headed into the driveway of her house and the other crossed the street and stopped at the entrance driveway to the temple. There she stood with folded hands and bowed head towards the temple building. How nice, I thought. Pausing to acknowledge the presence of a sacred place, to offer respect and perhaps a prayer. I then wondered why she didn

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi Many of us begin life like travelers holding a mirror, constantly checking how we are seen through the eyes of others. A word of appreciation can feel like warmth, while silence or misunderstanding can feel like distance. Over time, we may notice a pattern. Even when there is recognition, the need for it can quietly return again and again. Like trying to satisfy thirst with salt water, external approval never fully settles the inner search. But the sp

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi Life often feels like moving through a crowded airport where every gate promises a different destination, yet none offer lasting rest. We rush with expectations, miss connections, face delays, and sometimes lose control over the journey we thought we were managing. In these moments, suffering appears like an unexpected announcement that interrupts our carefully planned itinerary. Sometimes life also feels like tough love from a wise parent or a loving

By Ananda Rupa devi dasi After days of rain and gray skies, it is easy to forget that the sun is still shining above the clouds. Our view changes, but reality does not. The same can happen in our relationships, workplaces, and communities. We often see only fragments of a larger story, a decision, an outcome, a conversation, or a moment in time. From that limited view, assumptions can quickly form. Yet what appears unfair may have reasons we do not know, and what seems obviou