by Satyanarayana Dasa: Long ago, Japan was ruled by King Yamato. He had a minister whose name was Ocho San. Ocho San had a big joint family that was famous for its cordiality and the love among its members. The family had more than a hundred members but they lived together peacefully and had a common kitchen. There was no quarrel among the family members. Anybody who visited the family was received cordially and left impressed by the service and reception by the family members.
by Satyanarayana Dasa: The mind is considered to be the prime cause of bondage, as well as misery and liberation, enmity and friendship. Mind is our link to the world outside as well as a link to inner peace. By itself, mind is neither friend or foe, nor good or bad. It all depends on how we make use of it. A mind attached to sense pleasures is our greatest enemy.
by Satyanarayana Dasa: In our search for happiness, we strive for materialistic gains to please our body and mental-sensual faculties. However, our desires are never exhausted, and we keep on working for more. That is why, in spite of the material comforts and good spiritual health, we remain dissatisfied. The solution lies simply in moderation.
by Satyanarayana Dasa: This world is the interplay of two types of energies—spiritual and material. Everything we see around us or experience is a combination of these two energies. These energies are manifest at various levels. Life is a manifestation of spiritual energy through matter. In immobile objects, such as a piece of stone, it is material energy which is prominent and spiritual energy is in a dormant state.
by Satyanarayana Dasa: Two thousand years ago, there was a great king in India named Bhartrihari. Besides being a ruler, he was a grammarian, poet, and philosopher. He wrote many wonderful books on various topics. He used to say, “Sahitya-sangita-kala-vihinah saksat pashuh puccha-vishana-hinah.” It means, a person devoid of knowledge of aesthetics, music and arts is indeed an animal, albeit without a tail and horns.
by Satyanarayana Dasa: Mantra chanting is advised as the easiest, simplest and most joyful process to attain God Realization. The technique of mantra chanting is prescribed by all major religions. Christian hymns are sung all over the world, and Muslims chant namaz five times a day. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said that among all types of sacrifices, the sacrifice of chanting the name of the Lord is the best (BG 10.25). Bhagavata Purana lays special emphasis on nama-sankirtana, or chanting the names of the Lord
by Satyanarayana Dasa: The material creation is a manifestation from a very highly concentrated point of energy. So do the scientists believe? They are experimenting to simulate the beginning of creation in a special 27 km long tunnel in Switzerland built for this purpose. In Vedic literature the highly dense energy point is called prakriti. The word prakriti means great product or great action. It can also be translated as the great flow. Prakriti is a great source from which the universe flows and towards which everything seems to be flowing.
