A funny thing about Andra Pradesh and other states in South India, they have this saying. "We do not know what Krishna looks like. If someone thinks of Krishna the face that they see is that of NTR, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao."
NT Rama Rao is my favorite actor. He is the star of South India Vaishnava films of the 50's and 60's. His main roles in the films were that of Krishna and Rama but he has also played many other roles as Ravana, Karna, Duryodhan, Bhima, and many others. He also...
Seeing Krishna is the perfection of the eyes
the soul is never satiated drinking that beauty
eyelids blinking seem like a calamity hiding him
as each moment is ever fresh, like our first, best love.
_________________________________________________
Most severe weather passes us by
usually only threats of snow or storms,
though some come and yesterday we had
the first snow of the year—4 inches.
Our adult children and friends stayed over
visiting their past homes, land and memories
born as...
The naked form of matter
giving misery, heartbreak
false promises
from good advertising
birth potential smiles
rising up
through youth
education, training, titles
desires to earn
only for a few years
taking a spouse and family
raising children to do the same
then declining
falling apart
disease
realizing mortality
lamenting unfulfilled dreams
though some pleasure
it seems futile
pointless achievements
read on obituary page
whatever remains
for relatives to fight over.
Human beings fighting
for...
As aspiring devotees of Krishna it is essential that we have a philosophical attitude toward life, rather then only religious sentiments. Prabhupada's (my guru's) sannyas name--Bhaktivedanta Swami--teaches us that we have to have a philosophical understanding--Vedanta--as well as devotion--Bhakti. He taught us an important idea originally coined by Rabindranath Tagore: "Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation...
Is the time that I takes to read the entire Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
with Sanskrit verses, English verses and Srila Prabhupada's Purports.
How do I know this?
Well I have a copy of Dravida Prabhu's audio book of the complete Bhagavad-Gita and if you put it in iTunes it tells you what is the total time for the album.
I can now hear entire Bhagavad Gita while driving, it is quite helpful. If you are looking for a copy see here.
I can't wait till His Holiness Keshava Bharati Maharaja...
People like happy endings in stories, books or movies. Some would say this is “human nature” but really the body is a reflection of the soul, and the soul is by nature happy. Since we identify ourselves as the body, our conditioned reasoning only suggests the body and mind and its extensions as objects of enjoyment. Unfortunately physical manipulation and stimulation does nothing for the souls needs. We find ourselves in an unhappy position having a material body which has to function under...
In 1999 on Valentine's Day I decided to join the temple as a full time brahmacari, a full time monk. So actually Valentine's day is one the most important day of my life.
This years Valentine's Day was also a great blessing. Our temple was blessed with association of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami as well as his famous disciple Sri Prahlad Prabhu. They were both guests of honor at our TKG Academy fundraiser. This event was wonderful. It first began with an amazing play by the...
My wife and I share many things. Sometimes we share sickness, and today we are both "under the weather" with some type of flu or the like. I rose after my usual sleep quota of 7 hours to put wood on the fire and take some ginger root and lozenges for my throat, but went back to bed. After that we got up late to chant (mantra meditation or prayers). As we sat together with our tissues and my ginger tea before our beautiful Deities (scripturally described forms of God fashioned in material...
I can't say I practice this statement completely, though I appreciate the sentiment and contemplate the meaning. It is the attitude of the topmost devotee who sees everyone engaged in Krishna's service except themselves. Though I can't imitate this consciousness, remembering this statement helps me endeavor to see the good qualities in others. It is a good affirmative statement to honor people we meet or devotees we may know, and reflect that the shortcomings we may perceive in others, we may...
There are literally unlimited topics to write on for devotees. This is especially true for those of us who see the world through a writers mind--the whole world and everything and everyone may be grist for the mill of our pen, guided as we are by the Bhakti scriptures and pure devotees.We might imagine how many books there would be if as much attention were given to the Gita, Shirmad Bhagavatam or the Chaitanya Charitamrita as has been given to the Bible. We need to respect all revealed...
4 years 11 weeks agoA funny thing about Andra Pradesh and other states in South India, they have this saying. "We do not know what Krishna looks like. If someone thinks of Krishna the face that they see is that of NTR, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao." NT Rama Rao is my favorite actor. He is the star of South India Vaishnava films of the 50's and 60's. His main roles in the films were that of Krishna and Rama but he has also played many other roles as Ravana, Karna, Duryodhan, Bhima, and many others. He also...0 Comment(s)762 Reads
4 years 11 weeks agoSeeing Krishna is the perfection of the eyes the soul is never satiated drinking that beauty eyelids blinking seem like a calamity hiding him as each moment is ever fresh, like our first, best love. _________________________________________________ Most severe weather passes us by usually only threats of snow or storms, though some come and yesterday we had the first snow of the year—4 inches. Our adult children and friends stayed over visiting their past homes, land and memories born as...1 Comment(s)216 Reads