English articles

In western language, ‘mantra’ is a borrowed word of Sanskrit origin. One of its several meanings is ‘a series of sacred sounds’, which is a means, and the goal, of meditation. Mantra meditation represents the Vedic principle of cultivating knowledge, according to which only the complete harmony of theory and practice can be considered real knowledge. The mahā-mantra is the most perfect of the millions of bona-fide mantras, by which absolute knowledge can be acquired in this age. The following article describes the appearance of themahā-mantra in our present age. The mahā-mantra is a garland made of the holy names …

In 1965, fifty years ago, an elderly Indian gentleman boarded a steamship in Calcutta. He was a saffron-robed sadhu – a holy man – bound for America, a place he had never visited before, and a place where he had no friends. Almost 70, he had spent the last eight years in the medieval town of Vrindavan, the home of Lord Krishna. In the last years of his life he wanted to give his spiritual message to the world, but at such an advanced age in a foreign country, and with no support, what could he do? How many would listen to …

If I get a woman’s body in my next life, my parents should raise me according to the instructions of the Vedic scriptures to become a chaste woman who is always satisfied with her circumstances. My mother will teach and show me what fidelity, chastity, service attitude, nice and decent behaviour mean. She will warn me when she thinks I behave like a female tiger – I do not want to become a woman who tries to perfect herself by breaking one man’s heart after another’s and even enjoys it. After my childhood I would like to get marry with …

28 February 1972 Śrīla Prabhupāda The purpose of this movement is especially meant for making human life, reaching the real goal. Bob: The real goal? Prabhupāda: The real goal of life. Bob: Is the real goal of life to know God? Prabhupāda: Yes. Bob: So that is the real goal, to know God. Prabhupāda: Yes. Go back to home, back to Godhead. That is the real goal of life. Just like the water coming from the sea as cloud falls down as rain and the actual goal is to flow down the river and again go to the sea. So …

He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system. Bhagavad-g¦t§ 6.17 The fast-paced style of our everyday lives provides little or no opportunity to maintain physical and mental health and inner peace. More and more people now question whether the speed and fast-living that we are so accustomed to can lead us in the right direction, or whether our attitude towards the environment—considering it an object to be used and abused and discarded thoughtlessly—is conducive to creating a better world? These are the considerations of a …

  “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain According to materialistic thinking, existence determines consciousness. Modern science says that we are nothing more that chemical elements. By certain combinations of those elements we are able to experience our own existence. The famous philosopher Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am,” meaning that the experience of his thoughts and consciousness is evidence of his existence. In other words, the use of our consciousness is the consequence of our existence, or our consciousness is determined by …