This is actually equal to the statement that it is better to live in a cage with fire and lions then to live with materialists. To live with basically means to live in the same apartment. Whomever we live with, or share a kitchen or apartment with should be a devotee. Also, someone to whom read more>>

But who will preach? Srila Prabhupada left Vrindavan when he was already very old, at an age when most people want to remain there. I was just reading Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati’s book about how a devotee should stay in Vrindavan no matter what happens. Because if you die in Vrindavan, you will go back home read more>>

We will improve chanting if we avoid the ten offenses and chant in the mood that was taught by Lord Caitanya in Siksastaka. …if we hear his instructions carefully and dedicate our life and soul to following these instructions… We can increase surrendering to the spiritual master if we hear his instructions carefuly and dedicate read more>>

When we have many responsibilities, family, job… Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that if someone who dedicates all aspects of his life to Him, his family, home and his job, this is samadhi. Samadhi is the highest platform of yoga, and the platform of bhakti yoga can be attained immediately only if we do whatever read more>>

Why don’t we get more and deeper realizations? Why is the movement progressing so slowly? Because Vaisnavas are fighting amongst each other. When they fight and do not cooperate, they lose the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Srila Prabhupada said that our movement could be stopped only by internal difficulties, not external. If Vaisnavas learn how read more>>

How to educate our children properly in Krishna consciousness even without a gurukula? Much more important than a gurukula is a good relationship between husband and wife. If the husband and wife love each other and do not argue, if they cooperate, the children will be very good. This is the secret. I have seen read more>>

What shall we do in a situation when the economic development is very difficult? In the long run, we must encourage people to get educated. It will be easier for them to maintain themselves in higher social positions, and they will be able to influence the leaders of the society. Devotees and their children need read more>>

A brahmacari should not have a girlfriend because then he is not a brahmacari. A grihastha should not ignore his wife because this is not a grihasta Everyone of us has specific nature. Some have the nature of a grihastha, some of a brahmacari or sannyasi. This is a very specific thing. In other words, read more>>

There are differences between grihastas. Someone is a brahmana grihastha; someone is a ksatriya grihastha; someone is a vaisya grihastha; and someone is a sudra grihastha. Everyone earns his livelihood differently and develops economically in a different way. A brahmana is dependent on donations. This means that he will live austerely because people, in general, read more>>

It is the duty of a grihasta to take care of economical development Sacrifice for a grihasta is to work and maintain the rest of the society   Before leaving this world Srila Prabhupada said that 50% of his mission is still unfullfilled. This means varnasrama. Srila Prabhupada’s concern regarding the social structure is actually read more>>

Some people spent too many years in the brahmacari asrama before they got married, and they cannot get this out of their minds. They think they are still brahmacaris when they get married. They can have five children, and they still think that they are brahmacaris. My question is: If they are really brahmacaris, where read more>>

If we really want to have good families, good vaisnava community, we have to give up the enjo-ying spirit. We should not try to enjoy each other. We should try to serve each other. We are servants. Just like a typical statement for someone who is a leader, we call him a servant-leader. If someone read more>>

Leaders help and facilitate the devotees’ becoming Krishna conscious. A real leader is a servant leader. He respects the individuality of others. A real leader listens to hear what the other person needs, so that he can actually help him. Leaders lose their authority the moment they say’ “I am your authority,” or “you have read more>>

You have to respect the individuality of each person. This is a leader, a real leader, a servant leader. You have to respect the individuality of each person Not that you have to do what I say, because I am the president. Guru can say, “I am your guru, you have to do this!” However, read more>>

The best structure that I have seen is the bhakti-vriksa structure. This structure means that you meet and sit in a circle and look at each other. This helps in developing mutual relationships. The first thing that you do is something what we call “ice-breaking”. This means that everybody says something light, so that the read more>>

I see my position as a facilitator, someone who helps the devotees to help themselves. This is what a facilitator does. My function is to help the devotees. Prabhupada said that the function of a GBC is to help the devotees. Outside preaching can be done by others. Prabhupada said that the business of a read more>>

My specialty is developing Vaisnava communities. I am trying to form communities based on the example of community that we have in Fiji. Devotees form extended families. All the devotees are like a family. If someone needs help, the devotees go to help; maybe financially, or if someone is building the house . . . read more>>