Articles on Improving Sanga 

The Bhakti-lata bija

The Bhakti-lata bija

“Everything has an original cause, or seed. For any idea, program, plan or device, there is first of all the contemplation of the plan, and that is called the bīja, or seed. The...

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Different Grades of Devotional Service

Different Grades of Devotional Service

Srila Prabhupada tells us we cannot understand the Srimad Bhagavatam if we are not pure: “Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviṣṭa means that Sūta Gosvāmī drank the juice of Bhāgavatam through his ears. That is the...

Gita Support – Introduction

Gita Support – Introduction

Gita Support Introduction: Bhagavad-gita is a chapter of the epic Mahabharata, available in both complete and condensed versions. It is a ‘transcendental mystery’ (Bg 4.3) which Srila Prabhupada told us to discuss from different perspectives.  “And I am very much...

The Bona Fide Guru and Disciple

The Bona Fide Guru and Disciple

“So two things must be correct: the guru must be correct and the disciple must be correct. Then the business will be correct. And either of them---if guru is incorrect or the disciple is incorrect---there will be no action." Lecture 1973 The Bona fide Guru The minimum...

More in this series

Different Types of Guru

For sadhu sanga to be effective, we must associate with, i.e. hear from, a genuine sadhu. As we show in ‘Some Thoughts on Sraddha to Prema’, this means the bona fide guru, Srila Prabhupada.

The Bhakti-lata bija

“Everything has an original cause, or seed. For any idea, program, plan or device, there is first of all the contemplation of the plan, and that is called the bīja, or seed. The methods, rules and regulations by which one is perfectly trained in devotional service...

Different Grades of Devotional Service

Srila Prabhupada tells us we cannot understand the Srimad Bhagavatam if we are not pure: “Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviṣṭa means that Sūta Gosvāmī drank the juice of Bhāgavatam through his ears. That is the...

Gita Support – Introduction

Gita Support Introduction: Bhagavad-gita is a chapter of the epic Mahabharata, available in both complete and condensed versions. It is a ‘transcendental mystery’ (Bg 4.3) which Srila Prabhupada told us to discuss from different perspectives.  “And I am very much...

The Bona Fide Guru and Disciple

“So two things must be correct: the guru must be correct and the disciple must be correct. Then the business will be correct. And either of them---if guru is incorrect or the disciple is incorrect---there will be no action." Lecture 1973 The Bona fide Guru The minimum...

Some Thoughts On Sraddha To Nishtha

Introduction ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo ’tha bhajana-kriyātato ’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt “In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In...

Two Life Changing Secrets of the Gita

What is the first secret? To find out we must understand Srila Prabhupada’s opening sentences to his Bhagavad-Gita 1.1 purport. “Bhagavad-gītā is the widely read theistic science summarized in the Gītā-māhātmya (Glorification of the Gītā). There it says that one...

Right or Wrong: You decide

There are three perspectives widely accepted in ISKCON, which we believe are deeply problematic. We explain why below and leave you to decide. GBC should judge who is qualified to give diksa. “Indeed, how can a young neophyte evaluate a guru better than a senior...

Overcoming Obstacles in Family Discussio …

One main aim of our Improving Sanga initiative is to encourage families to discuss scripture together. We have seen the positive effect this has on relationships and our spiritual lives. […]

Learning from the Past

“The path of Krsna Consciousness is compared in the Vedas with a sharpened razor blade. If you carefully manipulate it, the blade helps by clean shaving; but a little inattention causes a bloody cheek. So this example we should always remember and carefully manipulate...