Free Writes Vyasa-puja December 4—Snowstorm It was the biggest snowfall in eight years. Anuradha from Oxford was impressed by the Americans’ community spirit in helping each other dig out. Devotees took part in shoveling the driveways and walks of old people and invalids. It is very good preaching. The neighbors love to see us work. […]

Free Writes Thanksgiving In the truly International Society of Krsna Consciousness, not many devotees know the meaning of Thanksgiving Day. It is essentially an American holiday. It is the history of the first pilgrims escaping religious persecution in England in the 1660s and settling in America. The pilgrims suffered hardships the first winter and had […]

Free Writes Devotional Topics The topic is the nine principles of devotional service: sravanam, kirtanam, visnu-smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam and atma-nivedanam. All of them or one of them can grant perfection. The topic is the five most important items in bhakti: chanting the holy names, reading Srimad-Bhagavatam, living in the holy dhama, worshiping […]

Free Writes Vyasa-Puja Books I am waiting on pins and needles to receive the shipment of books I intend to distribute on Vyasa-Puja day. It is Volume 2 of POEMS, A Retrospective. It’s getting close to the deadline date. But the devotee in charge of working with the printer tells me I’ll get the books […]

Free Writes Guests The sastras state that all guests to one’s home should be treated warmly. Even if an enemy visits, he should be treated with such friendliness that he doesn’t think himself an enemy. The uninvited guest is considered particularly honorable. A guest should be offered a nice seat, sweet words, and (according to […]

Free Writes Doughnut Plant A Hare Krsna devotee opened and operates four different Doughnut Plant restaurants in New York City. His latest opening was in Grand Central Station. Nondevotees crowd into the Doughnut Plant and enjoy the delicious varieties of doughnuts, which are made without eggs. Each batch of doughnuts is first offered to a […]

Free Writes Cowards A soldier who turns from battle and is struck on the back is considered cowardly. Vrtrasura, the leader of the demons, cursed his soldiers when they fled from the demigods in battle. He also cursed the demigods for pursuing the demons and attacking them from behind. This is against the code of […]

Free Writes Visit from Russian Sannyasi I’m receiving a visit from Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, the long-term GBC of Russia. He comes to New York City, where there are many Russian devotees. Dhanurdhara Swami is arranging his visit to see me. Dhanurdhara Maharaja says that Bhakti Vijnana Goswami wants to meet with me because “You are […]