The powerful concept of equal vision (sama darshana in Sanskrit), is not about external equality. We are different in multifarious ways. Sama darshana is about a deeper vision, a deeper seeing. It’s a reminder to acknowledge the soul's presence within all living things.  It’s one of the principles of a living spiritual practice, and by that I mean, the effort to actually live the teachings, everyday.  So when I saw the photo of the mega-rich couple on the magazine cover, shar

I recently read a story about firefighters in LA and the work involved in containing wildfires. One group is designated to walk miles and miles every day to put out smoldering ashes. Sometimes, they are buried deep and have to be dug out. They are a hidden danger and, if not discovered, have the potential to ignite and start a new fire.   What a great word, smoldering, and it made me think of what emotions might be smoldering within us. What have we buried, consciously or unc

Blessing the land of India in the 16th Century, the Golden Avatar, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was a powerful force in the blossoming of the Krishna Bhakti movement during that time.  He left behind 8 teachings known as the Siksastakam. These verses are celebrated as an essential guide to uncovering our love for Krishna. Each verse could have its own book, so filled they are with deep and wide truths. The following overview gives us a glimpse of the teachings. Come clean Anytime any

We gathered at the window to watch the snowfall. It was coming down lightly, the small flakes landing softly on the ground. I thought it wouldn’t amount to much. Next to me, a friend shared that snow experts say it’s the small flakes that actually make the big impact. Larger flakes have more water and don’t stay. And sure enough, a few hours later the small steady flakes had built up an impressive layer of whiteness. And continued to fall.  Unlike the steady covering of snow,

Ananda Vrindavan Devi In our temple room, during the meditation class, a guest was taking photos of his friends with his back to the altar. He was standing, they were sitting, and everyone was distracted watching him instead of trying to meditate. I went up to him and whispered, “Not now during class, and not with your back to the altar.” He responded, “I believe God is everywhere” (therefore I can put my back anywhere).’ To which I responded, “Yes, and He is also there on th

Ananda Vrindavan Devi “Glory to the Sri-Krishna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are

Sacinandana Swami I think in the chanting of the Holy Names, we all have to go on a journey. It usually starts by us liking the singing of the Holy names. Who wouldn't like singing? Where I come from we would always sit together in the evening and sing. That is something the pop culture has stolen away from us and has given it to the stars. But we humans are singing beings, we like to come together in a group and sing. So it is maybe on this level where the appreciation of sa

Sacinandana Swami Devotees can be thought of in three categories according to their advancement - conventional, committed and confidential. A very important point is the attitude of these different devotees. The conventional devotee is usually found to ask something of Krsna. One time, I met with such devotees and they said to me, ”O Maharaja we are building a house, but there are many obstacles. We have prayed to Krsna to overcome them, and we want to ask for your blessings

And so it happens. Life meets us with various storms of intensity - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here are five lessons on how to respond to the challenges of being alive in this material world. It’s from Krishna Book and the story of the Lifting of Govardhan Hill (link here) Storms Happen Not a day goes by without feeling some pain within ourselves or being impacted by the experiences of others. Like bad weather, difficulties will show up. Instead of trying to be in

On the scale of things, a small fracture in a small kneecap is minor. But whether minor or major, unexpected interruptions in our life demand attention, on many levels. It was a sunny afternoon when I fell and the damage was immediate. Pain shouts its message, which is a good thing. My body reacted in other ways too, and my emotions. The first was denial. “It’s just badly bruised,” I told the kind shopkeepers who brought ice, even though the swelling was clear and my loud ye