Download By Urmila devi dasi I watch the sun rising over the horizon where the Pacific Ocean touches the sky. In the beauty of its red glow painting sea, sky, and clouds, I chant the Brahma gayatri mantra, a meditation on the sun. Receiving and chanting this mantra is an essential part of diksa, initiation into the succession of spiritual teachers and disciples from the beginning of universal creation. Those unfamiliar with gayatri might wonder...

A wonderful meditation on Srila Prabhupada, founder-acarya of ISKCON, by Srimati Dasi, an Australian who lives in Vrindavana, and a very dear friend View PDF

Sometimes we may think that all we need in order to fully benefit from saintly company is to be present among enlightened souls in physical proximity. We may even think that simply following the instruction in the Bhagavad-gita to serve and ask questions is sufficient. However, in this quote we learn that the saints only give their full blessing when we approach with sincere humility.   “One should approach a Kṛṣṇa conscious person with...

Shelter keeps harm far away. Shelter is where one finds a way To safety and a place of trust; The shelter itself cannot bust Up into thousands of pieces, Tearing flesh and leaving creases In the flowing fabric of life; Shelter doesn’t stab in the back with a knife. Shelter is sturdy and strong and holds; Solid, dependable without hidden molds Which rot from within and destroy the place Just when one needs relief and grace; In illusion we seek...

Satrājit kept the jewel in his house because it gave wealth. Keeping the jewel in the house to avoid destruction brought all destruction. Listen! His brother was killed in the forest and he was killed in his house. One can clearly understand that all things not favorable to Kṛṣṇa are destroyed.” –Gopala campu