Daily meditation

Dear Lord,

Whatever we need to be better servants for Srila Prabhupada's mission, let it happen or come to us. Whatever we need to have taken away to become pure in Srila Prabhupada's service, let it be taken away. -H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Praying for Govardhana to protect us all

The destroyer of Mura is always eager to protect the cowherd community. He has no other interest. He maintained the honor of Govardhana Hill by lovingly holding Him aloft for seven days, playfully exhibiting with the hand that held the hill charming gestures of respectful worship. May that Govardhana, whose caves are smeared with kumkum left behind from the pastimes there of Gandharvika and Murabhit and whose exquisite boulders are covered with precious gems, protect us all. -Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

When will I grasp this instruction

Chanting a fixed number of rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra japa is the most urgent necessity and important engagement of a devotee each and every day. It should be completed before anything else. -Mahanidhi Swami

Inspiration for a simple life

"So organize this farm project, simple living. Human life is meant for God realization. We get enough milk, enough food grains, enough fruits. So there is no economic problem. Our purpose is to save time from unnecessary necessities of life, and utilize the time for developing Krishna consciousness." -Srila Prabhupada

Words to live by

Change your thoughts and you change your world. -Norman Vincent Peale

Remembering to offer with humility

Generally when you have opulences you become proud. But there is one opulence that attracts Krishna, humility. All other opulences only attract Krishna when they are offered with humility. -H.H. Radhanatha Swami

The importance of sadhu sanga

When we are children, innocent, we have no bad habits, but as we grow and associate with bad company, we also acquire all these bad habits. To give up all these bad habits means we have to associate with sadhus or devotees, saintly persons. Then we can give it up. This is called anartha-nivrtti, means giving up all unwanted bad habits. -Srila Prabhupada

Desiring to one day bring happiness to the eyes of the Lord

The spiritual eye of the devotee finds the highest satisfaction in not just seeing the eyes of Radha and Krishna, but seeing that the eyes of Radha and Krishna are seeing us.  This is the goal of our life.  Do not try to see Krishna, but try to act in such a way that Radharani's super excellent beautiful eyes and Krishna's super excellent beautiful eyes, that Their eyes will see us.  And that They will be happy when they see us with Their eyes. -H.G. Aindra dasa  

Words of wisdom from a yogi tea bag part 3

Compassion has no limit.  Kindness has no enemy.

Feeling fortunate to have the Holy Name in my life

Of sweet things, it is the sweetest, of auspicious things it is the most auspicious, and of things which purify it is supremely purifying, the Holy Name of Lord Krishna. -Sri Harer Namastakam author unknown

Trying my best to depend on Krishna

When we do not sufficiently depend on Krishna, we think of ourselves as the controllers and we interfere with Krishna's mercy, blessings, empowerment, and love descending upon us. -H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami 

In honor of earth day

For one who worships and meditates on the earth, banyan trees, tulasi, cows, brahmanas, and Vaisnavas, all his sinful reactions are diminished.  By these activities one can please Krishna, because these objects are auspicious for the world. -Bhaktivinoda Thakura 

Krishna's mercy

One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna. -BG. 4.9

I need to do what is necessary

Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -St. Francis of Assisi

Words of wisdom from a yogi tea bag part 2

Live from your heart, you will be most effective.

Words of wisdom from a yogi tea bag

Love is where compassion prevails and kindness rules.

Vyasa Puja offering 2009 to H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.  All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to express my gratitude to you for teaching me what life and love is all about.  Your compassion for all and your persistence in serving Guru and Krishna is nothing short of amazing.  

I will always treasure the association I have had with you, and your lectures and books which continue to help me grow in serving Krishna and the vaisnavas.

Thank you Gurudeva.  With love your undeserving daughter, Kiriti dasi 

What a beautiful analogy

The holy name is compared to a wonderful flower.  At the beginning, it is present as a mere bud, but then gradually, and steadily, it develops to its full-blossomed stage.  Just as a bud transforms into an attractive flower with fascinating petals, the sweet Syamasundara form of Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan will be revealed to the serious chanter.  When the bud starts to open, the chanter will be captivated by the sixty-four transcendental qualities of Krishna, which emerge from the blossoming flower of the holy name like an irresistable fragrance.  Finally, when the holy name has fully blossomed, Krishna's eternal pastimes will be revealed to the chanter.  -H.H. Sacinandana  Swami

Well worth the wait

Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari

Radharadhya dasa offering the first arotik.

Dvija mani dasa chanting the first kirtan for the deities.

Radharadhya dasa chanting some vrindavan mellows.

Dvija mani dasa, Omkara d.d., and Gayatri offering Rasika mani his first grains.  

Kisori radha and the ninny wailers minus one.  Where is Priya?

Thank you to everyone who gave us their blessings and association.  Also, thank you to everyone who cooked and brought such nice gifts.  Latannya your irish soda bread was amazing.

Special thanks to Kalpavrksa dasa for picking out such beautiful deities for us while he was in Vraja.  And extra special thanks to my dear husband for painting, sewing and making the jewelry for their Lordships.  

Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari ki jaya!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Trying to be reflective, mindful and grateful

Life is full of meaning and opportunities for growth.  When we are mindful of the beauty and accomplishments of the past, even when the present or future is not exactly what we would like it to be, we will not be disturbed.  We will still be excited about the past and appreciative for the present.  In this way, the future will be even more auspicious because we create our futures by how we have dealt with the past and how we are dealing with the present.  Being always reflective, mindful, and grateful allows us to never forget how much the Supreme Lord is sending His love in different ways. -H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami    

The simplicity and sweetness of the ladies of Vraja

The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Krishna and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on.  By their exalted Krishna consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things. -S.B. 10.44.15

For my girlfriends, thanks for the spontaneous kirtan

" The only real love in this world is when devotees with unconditional service attitude share Krishna with each other.  There is nothing sweeter, there is nothing deeper, there is nothing more satisfying to the heart than that." -H.H. Radhanath Swami