Rising above the modes

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Subtle Cosmic Button-pusher

Bhagavad_gita_as_it_is_plate_09-e1371531068663We have to raise above the modes of material nature. Nirguna. Traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. That is the statement of Bhagavad-gita. In the Vedic instruction, traigunya, Vedic instruction is dealing with the three gunas, the three material modes of nature. Nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. Nistraigunya. What is that? Because when Krsna was asking Arjuna to fight, he was in the traigunya platform, in the material platform. He was thinking, “How shall I kill my grandfather? How shall I kill my teacher? How shall I kill

2016-02-08T04:30:56+00:00October 2nd, 2015|Categories: Arjuna, Krsna, Material modes, Stories, Transcendental|Tags: |

Krsna’s body does not change

Speaker:  Srila Prabhupada
Source: We Are Controlled

When Arjuna asked Krsna, Krsna said, imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam (BG. 4.1). Krsna said that, “First of all, I narrated this yoga system of Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god.” So, in order to clear this matter, Arjuna inquired from Him: “My dear Krsna, we are born very recently. How is that You narrated this yoga system to the sun-god?” Arjuna, of course, knew everything, but in order to clear our doubts, he raised this question. And Krsna answered that “You were also present at that time, but you have forgotten.

2015-09-25T15:59:52+00:00September 24th, 2015|Categories: Arjuna, Krsna, Stories, Transcendental|Tags: , , |

Love of Krsna

Speaker:  Srila Prabhupada
Source: Devotee Doesn’t Want Anything

krishna_26_fullJust like Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches: aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va adarsanat. A devotee desires to see Krsna. But he says: “I don’t mind if You break my heart by not being present. I don’t mind. You break my heart.” Because a devotee is always anxious to see Krsna. Just like Radharani. She’s always anxious to see Krsna. But Krsna does not come. Just like Krsna left all the gopis, immediately went to Mathura. Renouncement. So much

2015-09-24T13:30:20+00:00September 9th, 2015|Categories: Chastity, Gopis, Krsna, Lord Caitanya, Prema, Renunciation, Stories|Tags: |

I cannot grant you immortality

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: The eternal struggle

Brahma-approaches-HiranyakashipuHiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal, so he underwent such severe penances that the whole universe trembled. Lord Brahma had to come to pacify him “What do you want?”

Hiranyakasipu said, “I want to become immortal!”

Lord Brahma replied, “Although I have a very long duration of life, even I am not immortal, so I cannot grant you immortality.”

So although Brahma lives for trillions of years, still he has to die. Wherever you go within this material world, either in

The Bird’s Eye

Source: Arjuna: Essence of a Hero

arjuna bird

One bright, sunny morning, a large group of young boys gathered by the woodland with their bows and arrows. But these were not just ordinary boys. These were the five Pandavas and hundred Kauravas! The five Pandava brothers and hundred Kaurava brothers were cousins, and a fierce rivalry between them began when they were only children. These young princes would eventually grow into men of incredible power. The five Pandavas were even sons of gods!

On this day Drona, their mentor and military

2015-09-07T22:46:59+00:00August 7th, 2015|Categories: Arjuna, Concentration, Dronacharya, Kauravas, Pandavas, Stories, Yudhisthira|

Bhima and the snake poison

Source: Bhima and the snake poison

Child_bhima_fight_with_NagasDuryodhana was very much worried. His father being blind, the kingdom was ruled by Pandu. After his death Yudhishthira, the heir-apparent, would in course of time become king. Duryodhana thought that as his blind father was quite helpless he must, to prevent Yudhishthira’s accession to the throne, contrive a way of killing Bhima.
He made arrangements to carry out his resolve since he thought that the powers of the Pandavas would decline with the death of Bhima.
Duryodhana and his brothers planned to

2015-09-07T22:46:59+00:00August 7th, 2015|Categories: Bhima, Duryodhana, Kauravas, Kunti devi, Lords protection, Stories, Vidura, Yudhisthira|

Brahmana and the Cobbler

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Everything Is Resting On Krsna

Brahman_and_Cobbler_09Narada Muni used to visit Narayana every day. So when he was passing on the road, so one very learned brahmana and taking thrice bath and everything very nicely, he asked Narada Muni, “Oh, you are going to Lord. Will you inquire when I shall get my salvation?” “All right. I shall ask.” And then another cobbler, he was under the tree, sewing the shoes, old shoes. He also saw Narada Muni. He also inquired, “Will you kindly inquire from God

2015-07-31T18:53:59+00:00July 30th, 2015|Categories: Faith, Narada Muni, Narayana, Stories|Tags: , , , |

Transcending the four varnas

Source: BG 3.35 Purport

VarnashramEveryone has to cleanse his heart by a gradual process, not abruptly. However, when one transcends the modes of material nature and is fully situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can perform anything and everything under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. In that complete stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the kṣatriya may act as a brāhmaṇa, or a brāhmaṇa may act as a kṣatriya. In the transcendental stage, the distinctions of the material world do not apply. For example, Viśvāmitra was originally a kṣatriya, but later on he acted as a brāhmaṇa, whereas Paraśurāma was

2015-07-31T18:58:32+00:00July 30th, 2015|Categories: Brahmana, Ksatriya, Parasurama, Stories, Visvamitra muni|

Lord Caitanya being called as God

Source: SB 1.2.16 Purport

mahaprabhu4The servants of God urge people to become devotees of the Lord. They never tolerate being called God. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was God Himself according to the indication of the revealed scriptures, but He played the part of a devotee. People who knew Him to be God addressed Him as God, but He used to block His ears with His hands and chant the name of Lord Visnu. He strongly protested against being called God, although undoubtedly He was God Himself. The Lord behaves so to warn

2015-07-02T19:43:15+00:00July 1st, 2015|Categories: Lord Caitanya, Stories|Tags: |

Worshipping a devotee is better than worshipping the Lord

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: How To Become Very Dear To God

lordwithpandavasThere is a common word in English, “If you love me, love my dog.” That is very important. So Bhagavat-priyanam, one who is very dear to Krsna. If you love such a person, then Krsna is more pleased. Krsna is more pleased. Bhagavat-priyanam.
There is a version in the Puranas, Devi Purana. Parvati was asking questions to Lord Siva, and Lord Siva was replying. So the inquiry was “Which worship is the best? Lord Siva, or Brahma or Chandra?” There

2015-07-02T19:39:50+00:00July 1st, 2015|Categories: Parvati, Service attitude, Siva, Stories|Tags: |

I have no other shelter

Speaker: Indradyumna Swami
Source: Two Parallel Tracks of Spiritual progress

Gandhi_sepia[1]Prabhupada told the story of Gandhi and his wife. Gandhi, one time, he had a terrible fight with his wife. He was so angry at her once that he threw her out of the house. It is a famous story in India. Gandhi threw his wife out of the house. “Out with you, go on the streets. Don’t come back.” Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. It was his wife. “What, you are back so soon?

2015-08-13T21:58:47+00:00June 24th, 2015|Categories: Stories, Surrender|Tags: |

Scorpion and the sage

Speaker: Radhanath Swami
Source: Advent of Kali-yuga

saintandscorpionWe know that great sages by nature are paradukha dukhi. That means their only sorrow is the sorrow of others. They only live for the welfare of others. They are even willing to suffer, to be humiliated and sometimes even be killed for the welfare of others. There’s a story where a sage was sitting on the bank of the Ganges and saw a scorpion drowning. So he picked up this scorpion to save him but the scorpion just stung him. Of course the

2015-09-21T22:04:32+00:00May 21st, 2015|Categories: Compassion, Dharma, Stories, Videos|Tags: , , |