I took an interest in the Civil Rights Movement. I listened to Martin Luther King. The Vietnam War was raging. When I was 18, I was eligible for the draft, but when I went to be tested, I didn't qualify.
You can think your self to be great, you can go on thinking your self to be great, till you see all fellow devotees going Back Home Back to Godhead, while you remain in this material world only.
Religious and spiritual leaders should be held accountable for environmental activism, not only because they have access to large communities and can influence votes but because service is integral to religious and spiritual life.
Dancing together in kirtans can help us develop friendships that no Mediation Therapy can.
Sadly, in the name of progress, we have polluted the air, water, soil and the food we eat.
Humility is an ornament which attracts Krishna's heart. Beginning of all knowledge comes from humility.
Bhakti is expressed through our service attitude.
Japa, Bhajana and Kirtana are superficial to the extent that we are not humble.
Sincerity in sadhna and eagerness to serve is the basis of one's relationship with the spiritual master.
The essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions: Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings.
When we speak of the dust of the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master, we are speaking of humble approach to serve his instructions. Unless we humbly serve the instructions of the great soul, it is Krishna's arrangement the He never reveals Himself.
When the kirtan is harmonious with so many people, it’s a tumultuous beautiful sound. We can’t hear just one voice during the chorus; or rather we do hear one voice. But that one voice is actually the sound of everyone’s voice in harmony. That’s our offering to God. And why is it so pleasing to the Lord? Because we are all cooperating for a higher purpose. We are all united for the pleasure of the center, for the pleasure of Krishna, in spite of all our differences.
A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses. The master may dress in robes, suit and tie, or stand naked, but the dog will always recognize his master. If we cannot recognize God, our beloved master, when he comes in a different dress from another religion, then we are less than that dog.
My parents' selfless affection and dedication nourished and prepared me to receive the love of my guru or spiritual father, Swami Prabhupada. My parents prepared the soil in which my guru sowed the seeds of his compassion.
We have the tendency to judge others by their surface appearance, and to find only their negative qualities. But if we search beneath the surface we discover that a myriad of strains mix together to create a particular person's nature. The faults we perceive are likely to be the effect of circumstances, the psychological response to trauma, abuse, rejection, heartbreak, insecurity, pain, confusion, or disease.
Devotees are not impressed by the poverty or wealth in material sense in any way; what impresses is devotion.
A great soul is called Saragrahi that means one who is always looking for the essence of every situation that comes before us.
To purify the heart is the one and only purpose that God has created this human life.
When you take responsibility over others you have to be actually Selfless.
Real responsibility means to live and speak in such a way as to help peoples faith and not to disturb it.
The transcendental knowledge of devotional service is digested by the engyme of humility.
Taking responsibility of others means to be selfless. We have to put aside our own well being and desires as secondary and to think primarily of what is best for the persons who are looking up to us.
Materialism is the consciousness of wanting to exploit and enjoy.
Fierce Determination and Gentle Humility are the ornaments which make one attractive in the eyes of the Lord.
To be meek and humble means to have a service attitude towards God, the Vaisnavas, and all living beings. Unless we have that, our chanting will have minimal effect and many births may pass before we finally come to the conclusion.
