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Yamaraja  asked Maharaja Yudhisthira, ‘What is the most wonderful thing within this world?’  Mahārāja Yudhisthira replied (Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.116):  ahany ahani bhutani gacchantiha yamalayam sheshaḥ sthavaram icchanti kim ashcaryam atah param  “Hundreds and thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, but a foolish living being nonetheless thinks himself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most wonderful thing in this world.”  "Everyone has to die because everyone is fully under the control of material nature, yet everyone thinks that he is independent, that whatever he likes he can do, that he will never meet death but live forever, and so on. So-called scientists are making various plans by which living entities in the future can live forever, but while they are thus pursuing such scientific knowledge, Yamaraja, in due course of time, will take them away from their business of so-called research."  - ...

Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also because the site is considered as one of the four Dhamas (sacred place for pilgrimage) of the Hindu religion. According to ancient Sanskrit literature, the Lord Krishna founded the holy city of Dwarka, which subsequently got submerged under sea. Marine archaeological explorations of Dwarka have brought to light a large number of stone structures, which are semicircular, rectangular and square in shape in water depth ranging from inter tidal zone to 6 m. They are randomly scattered over a vast area. Besides these structures, a large number of varieties of stone anchors have  been noticed  along the structures as  well as  beyond 6 m water depth.  These findings suggest that Dwarka was one of the most busy  port centres during the past on the  west  coast of India. The comparative study of surrounding sites...

We criticize others more often than we think. Make a mental note of how often you find fault with others and why you do it (both with devotees and non devotees). See if you can go a day, a week, a month, or more without saying anything bad about anyone. (Calling a thief a thief is not considered fault-finding if one’s motive is to help or improve the situation.) Becoming free from the tendency  ... to criticize is best achieved by changing the way you see others and the world. If your general attitude is to see with the eye of appreciation, you will tend to notice the good in others instead of the bad. If you are to become free from fault-finding, this change of vision is essential. For example, you may see someone doing something you consider wrong or improper. If you are developing the tendency to see with the eye of appreciation, you’ll naturally ask yourself, “What else could this mean?” This causes you to develop a broader and more compassionate understanding of why the pe...

How to control and purify our mind? That is a very important question. It’s the essence of life. That question and its answer is the path of perfection. We become what we associate with. If we associate with impure people, impure activities, impure thoughts, we become polluted. If we associate with people who are pure, activities that are pure, and thoughts that are pure, we become purified. Srila Prabhupada, gave the example of an iron rod. If we put it in fire, it becomes red and hot like fire; and if you touch it, you’ll be burnt the same way as when you touch fire directly. That is the power of association. But if we put that same iron rod in ice, it will become as cold as ice. So, our purification or our degradation is based on what our mind and senses associate with. Krishna tells in the Bhagavad Gita that by engaging our senses and our mind, which is our sixth sense, in the service of the Lord, we become purified of all illusory designations. Elsewhere in the Vedas it is said th...

Why there is fight in name of religion? Radhanath Swami: I do not see it as a problem of religion. I see it as the problem caused by irreligion in the guise of religion. We have to find what religion actually is. Real religion does not mean a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, Zoroastrian, Jain, or Buddhist. These can be very much social, ethnic, or egoistic identities. Real religion is that process which awakens one’s love for God. Where there is the awakening of love for God, there are the qualities of tolerance, peace, compassion, mercy, self control, and forgiveness; these are the universal qualities of anyone who loves God. Where we find sectarianism, envy or cruelty that is not religion. If any of these people who fight really understood what is really in their scriptures, they wouldn’t behave with another person based on external beliefs. When a man comes home, sometimes he is dressed in a three piece suit; sometimes he comes in a swimming suit; sometimes he comes in his paj...

Who is a leader? Within the Vedic culture, anyone who had dependents was considered a leader. Therefore, not only the Kings or Heads of State (ksatriyas) were accepted as leaders, but those having dependents even in household life, are also regarded as leaders. Standard Qualities of Leaders Vedic literatures give us clear and specific information about the qualities needed for a good leader. From the Srimad Bhagavatam, the following ten qualities of leader are given: 1. influential , 2. unconquerable 3. patient 4. challenging 5. charitable, 6. can control the bodily necessities 7. forgiving, 8. attached to the brahminical nature 9. always jolly 10. truthful Srila Prabhupada explains: Leadership within the Vedic culture carries a heavy responsibility. Leader should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son. To become a parent is a life-long responsibility, at least until the childre...