Minneapolis Kirtan Group | Krishna Kirtan | Minneapolis Krishna Kirtan

"We Appreciate Something According to Need"

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:23:14 GMT

Another beautiful story spoken by Radhanath Swami to a group of devotees and well wishers at Los Angles. This is one of those few stories that can't be found in The Journey Home. For watching more such rare stories, visit www.richardslavin.com

Spiritual Connection

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:46:30 GMT

Bhakti Tirtha Swami talks about his deep spiritual connection with Srila PRabhupada.

Madhava Kirtan

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:49:14 GMT

Kirtan by Madhava Prabhu

Help your spirit become healthy

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:43:49 GMT

This video shows the advantages of vegetarian lifestyle. If we can become physically better by being vegetarian, imagine what it can do to our emotional and spiritual well being.

The Simple Temple

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:20:52 GMT

This documentary paints an intimate portrait of daily life in a community founded on the sacred principles of love and devotional service taught by Srila Prabhupada. This hour-long documentary masterfully crafts rich color and exotic imagery into a story of two seekers who find their common truth...

Aindra kirtan in Vrindavan

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:34:27 GMT

The Journey Home

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:20:42 GMT

A trailer to 'The Journey Home', an extraordinary memoir, compiled with the rarest candor, by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Official book website : http://www.thejourneyhomebook.com/ To know more about His Holiness Radhanath Swami, visit http://www.radhanathswami.us/

American Swami in Fox News

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:12:04 GMT

AMERICAN SWAMI IN SEATTLE - KCPQ Q13 Fox News

Q&A - Bhakti Charu Swami - April 30, 2009

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:35:01 GMT

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami answers questions after the lecture in ISKCON Boston temple on April 30, 2009. Full video is at: http://iskconboston.org/

What a difference a day makes

Sat, 29 May 2010 10:30:53 GMT

"What a difference a day makes" is the title and main theme of a beautifully produced motion graphics film launched by national campaign group, Animal Aid. If everyone in the UK committed to just one meat-free day a week, this would result in greater carbon savings than taking five million cars off the road. Reducing the amount of animal products in our diets will also help to boost our health and, of course, help to end animal suffering. What more incentive do you need? So start with Meat-Free Monday and then try Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And dont forget to tell your friends and family! What a difference a day makes was created by award-winning, London-based design and motion company, Taylor McKenzie (http://www.tmck.co.uk) and features Mobys iconic track, "In my heart", as the soundtrack to the film. More info: http://www.meat-free-monday.com

Nature's IQ

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:33:47 GMT

Where do sophisticated instincts directing animal behaviour derive from? The East Australian mallee fowl (Leipoa ocellata) hatches its eggs in a quite unusual way. An example based on the book: Balázs Hornyánszky and István Tasi: Nature's IQ. www.naturesiq.com

Why is Religion so Often a Source of Conflict?

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:26:18 GMT

In this interview series we asked Radhanath Swami universal foundational questions about life and spirituality. Here is a transcript of the answer to this question: "Why is Religion so Often a Source of Conflict?" Such a sad reality. The basis of every religion is to love God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself; and ultimately everyone is our neighbor. The Srimad Bhagavatam tells that the greatest service that gives pleasure to God is to show compassion to other living beings. The purpose of all religion is to teach universal selfless love. sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokshaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6) The supreme dharma, or the supreme religion for all humanity, is not to be a Hindu or a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim or a Jain or a Zoroastrian or a Buddhist. The supreme religion for all humanity is that which awakens from ones heart, love, love for God, compassion for all living beings. And that love must be unconditional and unmotivated to actually satisfy our self, because that is our nature. So if this is the purpose and the basis of every religion, how is it that we find.. and it's been there through history.. that religion is provoking bigotry, sectarianism, division, hatred, violence? Because various religions manifest to teach the same principles in different times and different places, they have different rituals, sometimes different ways of explaining.. ..and when people identify and attach themselves with the external, superficial aspects of religion, then they will see so many differences.. ..and it can provoke such type of arrogance, ego, and even hatred and violence. The violence in the name of religion is really in the name of the false ego, it's not in the name of religion. People extend their egos through nationalism, through racism, and even through religion. We want to be the greatest. We want to be right, and everyone else is wrong. What that means is we are not understanding the essence of religion. In Sanskrit there is a word "Bhava-grahi"; a truly spiritual person is one who is always seeking the essence. When we understand the essence, then we can understand the real purpose of the ritual and the forms that are meant to facilitate and accommodate knowing the essence. But all too often we have a very superficial, external, unrealistic conception of our own religion. Long ago when I was living in India I had a very dear friend who was an 85 year old man. He was a Hindu, devotee of Lord Rama, and his best friend was a Muslim. And they used to have inter-religious dialogues between themselves every few days and I would go and discuss with them. And one day while sitting on the bank of the Ganges I asked him "In a country where there is so much conflict, and so much suspicion between Islam and Hinduism, how is it that the two of you are such good friends?" And he gave me an answer which I've never forgotten. He said "If a person has a dog, if that person stands before the dog in a three-piece suit, or in a t-shirt, or in pajamas, or in underwear, or if he stands before the dog naked, the dog will always recognize his master even in different clothes, in different settings." He said "If we cannot recognize our God when He comes in different dresses, in different forms, in different ways, and teaches through different traditions.. ..if we can't recognize our God in these different ways, then we have so much to learn from a dog." Thank you very much.

To prove evolution is impossible

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:18:27 GMT

Michael Cremo speaks about the possibility of creating the living beings by an intelligent creator.

Soul And The Body

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:13:46 GMT

Devamrita Swami talking about Soul and the Body

Does God have a Gender?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:40:09 GMT

In this interview series we asked Radhanath Swami universal foundational questions about life and spirituality. Here is a transcript of the answer to this question: "Does God have a Gender?" In this world that we live and see the basis of creation is male and female. Even in the plants there is the pollen and how the pollen is fertilized, there is male and female principles. In the fish, in the reptiles, in the animals, the birds, and in every species and race of human beings. The principle of creation is based on male and female. And the greatest pleasure that people seek within this world is generally the relationship between male and female. So does this male and female principle have an origin? The experience of joy between male and female, and the experience of creation through male and female principles. According to the Vedas; Yes. It's principle is in God. Because ultimately God is both male and female. There is Laksmi-Narayan, Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Parvati-Shiva. The Supreme Absolute Truth is one, but that one Absolute Truth has both a male and female nature. And the love between the male and female nature of God, or Radha and Krishna, is the origin of all love. And because in God there is that love, within this world which is a reflection of spiritual reality, that is the predominant feature of procreation and life is that male and female principle. Radha is the supreme mother of all living beings, Krishna's the supreme father of all living beings. And actually this male and female nature of God is not only very very prominent in the Hindu scriptures and traditions but it's also very much within the Western traditions in their mystical aspects. Shekinah is considered the bride of the Sabbath in the Kabbalist tradition, the female aspect of God. In Islam Fatimah is often seen as the female aspect of God. Within general life we say Mother Nature, Father God. So in the Vedic scriptures the female aspect of God is that aspect that is the source of all compassion, of all love, of all concern, of all care. The male aspect of God is the source of all power, the source of all wisdom.. And the unity of the male and female features of God is the complete understanding of God And perhaps in many of the religions today, because there is not enough understanding of the female aspect of God, that there is, even in the name of religion, a lack of compassion, a lack of care, a lack of concern. It's more oriented towards power, control.. In the Chinese philosophy there is the Yin and the Yang, the opposites attract each other, how everything is based on these opposites. So the male and the female feature of the Lord is really the very basis of Bhakti. And among many Catholics and other Christians there's Mary and Jesus and they approach Jesus often by first seeking the blessings and compassion of Mary. Again the male and female aspect of the Divine. Feminine Divinity is inherently within all religious traditions, And I feel that it's very very important that it be restored in people's understanding of what Divinity really is.

Why is There Suffering in the World?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:39:28 GMT

In this interview series we asked Radhanath Swami universal foundational questions about life and spirituality. Here is a transcript of the answer to this question: Why is There Suffering in the World? According to the Bhagavad-Gita, as well as according to the teachings of Lord Buddha the source of suffering is that the body is temporary, life is temporary, therefore everything is subjected to birth, ultimately old age, disease and death. And the Vedas explain there are three types of sufferings; Adhyatmika, the sufferings of one's own body and mind; Adi-bhautika, the suffering due to other living beings; and Adi-daivika, the sufferings due to natural circumstances like heat or cold, or earthquakes. And these sufferings are always there, potentially, at any moment to this physical body. The soul, Gita explains, na jayate mriyate va kadacin, that the source of life within the body, the source of consciousness, is the atma or the soul. And that soul is transcendental. In Sanskrit: sat, cit, ananda, the soul is eternal full of knowledge and full of bliss, and that's who we are. The soul is like the driver of the car, and the body is like the car. We're seeing through our eyes, hearing through our ears, smelling through our nose, tasting through our tongue, touching through our skin, thinking through our brain, loving through our heart, but who are we? Are we a brain or a heart or an eye or an ear? We are the witness, we are the soul. That is who we are. And that soul is by nature full of love, full of fulfillment. But when that soul identifies itself with the body, thinking that "This is me." and becomes completely immersed in that state, then the soul has to identify with all of the vulnerabilities and frailties of this body, and that is the source of all suffering. But in many ways the sufferings in this world are blessings because they help us to take very seriously, if we make that choice, to really understand what is deeper, what is higher than all these temporary pleasures and pains, honor and dishonor, happiness and distress, health and disease, success and failure, birth and death. The nature of the world around us, it's constituted on the basis of dualities. One brings pleasure, one brings pain. And to the degree we're attached to something that gives us pleasure, to that same degree we suffer when it's lost. And ultimately because everything is under the consumption of time, everything will be lost. So going through these experiences, thoughtful people contemplate "Is there something higher?" "Is there something deeper?" "Is there something more to life than this?" And all the great saintly teachers and all the great saintly scriptures, they are leading us in that direction, that "There is something more." This world is just a temporary place but this world can be a launching pad to help us to realize the inner treasures within our own heart. And it's usually the sufferings of this world that serve as an impetus for us to not just theoretically try to understand what is beyond, but to feel the urgent need to do something about it, to realize and experience the essence of the self. In the Bhagavad-Gita Krishna tells, dukhalayam asasvatam, that the nature of this world, when we are in ignorance of our true self, is suffering. Potentially there can be suffering at any moment, whoever we are, however wealthy, however educated, however powerful.. disease, some other person, some natural circumstance could create a disaster, create a tragedy.. So whatever happiness anybody has in this world, it's so tottering, it's like a drop of water on a lotus leaf, at any moment it could slip away. So where is permanent happiness? Where is freedom from suffering? It's only on the spiritual platform. And that's what all the great sages have come to tell us. In the Bible it is said that "Make your treasure not in this world, but make your treasure in the Kingdom of God. Because in this world your treasure will be stolen by thieves, or rusted by the elements, or eaten by moths. But if you make your treasure in the Kingdom of God, it is perfect and infallible. And then," Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is within." And similarly Lord Krishna tells in the Gita that "One should find pleasure within. One should find satisfaction within. One should be enlightened and illuminated from within. That is a person of substantial quality life, and real intelligence." We should seek that eternal reality beyond all the sufferings of this world and find real happiness.

How can I know if God Exists?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:38:40 GMT

Visit http://www.Radhanathswamiweekly.com/ to read full transcript.

What is the Purpose of Life?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:36:24 GMT

In this interview series we asked Radhanath Swami universal foundational questions about life and spirituality. Here is a transcript of the answer to this question: "What is the Purpose of Life?" The fundamental need of every living being is to love and to be loved. Without that nothing can really satisfy the heart. Objects can satisfy the senses of the body. Various emotional gratifications can satisfy the mind. But the heart is yearning, longing, to love and to be loved. In the Brahma-sutra it is said ananda-mayo 'bhyasat, which means the inherent nature of every living being is we are seeking pleasure. It is something we all have in common. Even the little ant that is crawling on the floor is seeking pleasure in a particle of sugar. The procreation of all living beings is based on that longing for pleasure. But only love can give pleasure to the heart. And we can see for example in a child, if a child is given a beautiful home, wonderful toys and games, but that child does not feel loved, the child will be insecure, unstable and unsatisfied. It is our nature, whether we are black or white or red or yellow in color, whether we're American or Russian or Indian or Pakistani or Palestinian or Israeli, whether we're young or old, rich or poor.. Whatever our particular designation may be in this world, our inherent need is to express and feel love for someone else and to feel loved by someone else. Why is it that we all have that in common? According to the Srimad Bhagavatam it is because it is the inherent nature of the soul. The soul is part of God. Nitya-siddha krsna-prema sadhya kabhu naya / sravavadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya (Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.107) That love of God is dormant within the heart of every living being, but we have forgotten that love. So we're trying to find that experience of pleasure in so many ways in this world. And because it's not really satisfying our need, so much frustration. And due to that frustration human beings can act in such strange and often dangerous ways, to themselves, to others and to the planet. It's all in the search of love. So the purpose of life is to redirect that propensity to love, of the soul, back toward God. And when we experience God's unlimited love and we feel the unlimited love of the soul for God, included within that experience is compassion and love for every living being. That is what everyone is looking for. That is the essence of every religion. And that is the highest purpose of life.

Vedic Cosmos

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:26:02 GMT

Description of the Cosmos from the ancient Vedas, thousands of years old sanskrit detailing the cosmic universal structure and a plan to build a Vedic Planetarium..

Ramayana

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:53:39 GMT

The Story of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama