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Perhaps you are wondering how to be practically God conscious in your everyday life, and also the practical effect of doing so. In this excerpt Srila Prabhupada gives some very interesting insights into real happiness with God consciousness. Prabhupada: . . . so decomposes. So the outer skin has become dry. Nobody cares for it. It is lying down, the outer cover of the squash, and one dried bamboo. You have seen? You know bamboo? Part cut, it is also lying somewhere. And a piece of wear. Syamasundara: Wire. Prabhupada: Wire, that is also lying somewhere. Nobody cares. But one gentleman, he collected all these three things and prepared a string instrument. He joined the bamboo with the dry cover of squash and fitted the string, and it began to ting, ting, ting. It is called ektara. There is instrument, in India it is called ektara. The example is that so many things individually lying useless, but if somebody knows how to combine them, it becomes an instrument, very sweet, very sweet to hear. Similarly, in this world, so many things are lying dead and frustrated . . . but if they are combined together by an expert, it becomes useful. So although this world is dead body, when there is Krsna consciousness, it becomes enlivened. That is our movement. We are trying to inject Krsna consciousness in everything dead within this world. (Prabhupada drinks) Now just see all these ingredients—strawberry and . . . what is that? Atreya Rsi: Orange juice. Prabhupada: Orange and honey . . . Devotee (1): Peach. Prabhupada: . . . and peach, they are natural products from the jungle. Nobody goes to manufacture; automatically comes out. But when they are combined together, it is nectarine. None of them is manufactured by man, either this honey or the strawberry or the pineapple. Given by God. So in every step you can perceive the hands of God. Every step. That is Krsna consciousness. This nice taste you cannot create by any chemical combination. It is not possible. Because God's hand is there, it has become so tasteful drink. Man cannot make. This flower, man cannot make. This fruit . . . nothing man can make. This nice flower stick, how nicely it is made. So everything you can perceive the hands of God. This is Krsna consciousness. When you perceive the hands of God, presence of God, presence of the energy of God, then you become happy. That is the way of happiness. In every step of life you feel the hands of God. We are teaching this Krsna consciousness movement means how to perceive, realize, presence of God in everything. So there will be no disappointment.

At least 30 percent of the people we try to stop for books on distribution protest that they are not religious, and so they therefore don't want to take a book. But here in the conversation, Srila Prabhupada explains that we are actually not a religion. We are something much more. Guest: We have to pay the taxes if we belong to religious group, and we don't have to pay if we belong to the national group. There are the taxes like that. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes, taxes, yes. Guest: If you donate any money to a religion, then you have to pay taxes. But if you pay, donate any money to a national activity, then you need not to pay any taxes for that. Professor Kulshrestha: Either for religions not national? (laughter) Guest: Just religion is like, that because Nehru was a nonreligious person at that time. Seventeen years. He didn't believe in God. Prabhupada: But this is not a religion, this is a culture. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes. Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness . . . Professor Kulshrestha: And what is culture? Culture has the full . . . (indistinct) . . . aspect, and religion is the most important one. Prabhupada: Our culture, our Vedic culture, is on religion, on God consciousness, everything. The whole social structure, political structure, philosophical structure, scientific structure, everything is aiming on Visnu. Tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti suraya. Visnu, God. And in the Visnu Purana it is said: varnasramacara-vata purusena parah puman visnur aradhyate (pantha) nanyat tat-tosa-karanam (CC Madhya 8.58) So our cultural aim, Vedic cultural aim, is tad visnoh paramam padam. How to satisfy Him. But they do not know about Visnu. They have forgotten Visnu. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum (SB 7.5.31). Our self-interest is there in Visnu. Na te viduh. These foolish men, they do not know. Durasaya bahir-artha-maninah. They are uselessly hoping that they will be able to adjust things by material advancement. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes, yes. Prabhupada: That is their mistake. So-called scientists, so-called religion that, "We shall make you happy. We are discovering now new methods, new interpretation." That will not . . . that will not help. Professor Kulshrestha: The rate of those persons who are having blood pressure and such diseases, Swamiji, is rising like anything in America. Why? Because they are going away from God, you see. Prabhupada: Anxiety. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes, anxiety. Prabhupada: Blood pressure is a disease of . . .? Professor Kulshrestha: Yes. Just anxiety. Prabhupada: And anxiety is the material disease. Professor Kulshrestha: That's right. Prabhupada: That is not new; it is always. Prahlada Maharaja explained this disease to his father. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes. Prabhupada: He asked from his son, "What you have learned, best thing, explain." So he said: tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat (SB 7.5.5) This is samudvigna, anxiety. Professor Kulshrestha: Yes. Prabhupada: So, Prahlada Maharaja said: "In my opinion," tat sadhu manye "I think that this is the best thing." What is that? That "These people who are materially entrapped, they are full of anxieties." Professor Kulshrestha: Yes. Yes. Prabhupada: "So, for them it is better," hitva andha-kupam . . . hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam. Just like one is fallen in the blind well, so this so-called materialistic way of life is just like one man fallen in the blind well. So one should give it up and take shelter of Krsna. Vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta. That is first class. So this Krsna consciousness movement is preaching people, educating people, that "You take to Krsna and everything will be solved."

Although the very name "spiritual master" self-explanatory, sometimes a question arises for both newcomers and veteran devotees; is the spiritual master present beyond the physical? Can his teachings be understood even after his departure from this world? And can he still be accepted as a worshipful spiritual master? Srila Prabhupada clears up all these questions in the following excerpt from Krsna; The Reservoir of Pleasure. Some people argue that Arjuna was talking with Krsna because Krsna was present before him, whereas in my case, Krsna is not present. So how can I get directions? But that is not a fact. Krsna is present by His words—the Bhagavad-gita. In India, when we speak on the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, we regularly perform worship with flowers, or with other paraphernalia, as is required for worshiping. In the Sikh religion also, although they have no form of the Deity, they worship the book Granthasahib. Perhaps some of you are acquainted with this Sikh community. They worship this Grantha. Similarly, the Moslems worship the Koran. Similarly, in the Christian world, the Bible is worshiped. It is a fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is present by His words. Krsna is also present by His words. These personalities, either God or the son of God, who come from the transcendental world, keep their transcendental identities without being contaminated by the material world. That is their omnipotence. We are in the habit of saying that God is omnipotent. Omnipotence means that He is not different from His name, from His quality, from His pastimes, from His instruction. Therefore, the discussion of Bhagavad-gita is as good as discussion with Krsna Himself.

Perhaps you are wondering about the connection between the Hare Krishna movement and Lord Jesus Christ, Mohammed, or any other great teacher of God consciousness. Most people tend to think that religion is a competition, but Srila Prabhupada elucidates the real meaning of religion in this conversation. Atreya Rsi: She would like to know how Lord Jesus would fit into Krsna consciousness. Prabhupada: Yes, Lord Jesus says that you love God. We love God, that's all. Guest (1): Yes, but there are such different rules in the two. Prabhupada: That is not very important thing. Actually if you have learned to love God, that is wanted. (break) . . . by Lord Jesus Christ is different from the standard of our perception of lord of God, love of Godhead. Love of Godhead is one. God is one and how to love Him, that is also one. Now, we have to see by the result. Just like two physicians are there. One physician is over-crowded, another physician is counting the contents of his table. So people go to that physician who is curing very quickly, but both of them are physician. One may be very experienced, another may be not very experienced. But somehow or other one is crowded, another is not crowded. Similarly, both Christian religion or this Vedic religion is instructing people love of Godhead. Now you have to see where is the best result. That's it. Then you judge yourself. But we want that you love God. Either by this method or that method, the method is nothing. End justifies the means. If the end is that actually you have developed your love of God, then the means which you have adopted, that is alright. And if the end is not very good, then the means is also not good. So you have to judge yourself whether you are developing love for God or love for dog. Then you can judge. Why you are asking me? Guest (1): Pardon? Prabhupada: Why you are asking me? You can judge. Guest (1): Oh. Well, because I have been very confused for the last eight months. Prabhupada: Why should you be confused? If you really want to love God, so you can test yourself whether I'm increasing my love of God or increasing love of dog. People are generally in love of dog, especially in your country. Everyone has got a pet dog. And we are preaching not dog, but God, that is the difference. So you have to test yourself whether I am loving God or loving dog. That's all. And our point of view is that you love God, never mind whatever the means, whether Christian means or Jewish means or any means, Hindu means, Muslim means, it doesn’t matter. You love God, that's all. Somehow or other you come to that point. That is our missionary activities. We are teaching, "Love God".

The real wealth is not in artificial things like lipstick and iPhones. It's found in the God-given nature. Check out this nice mantra, purport and class by His Grace Purujit dasa about the history and opulence of the Vedic culture of India and how to live in an efficient, clean way. At that time Arjuna, the great warrior and conqueror of sleep, who is the intimate friend of the most beloved Supreme Lord, took up an umbrella which had a handle of jewels and was embroidered with lace and pearls. PURPORT Gold, jewels, pearls and valuable stones were used in the luxurious royal ceremonies. They are all nature's gifts and are produced by the hills, oceans, etc., by the order of the Lord, when man does not waste his valuable time in producing unwanted things in the name of necessities. By so-called development of industrial enterprises, people are now using pots of gutta-percha instead of metals like gold, silver, brass and copper. They are using margarine instead of pure butter, and one fourth of the city population has no shelter. CLASS

Ever heard of gravity? I presume you might have learned something in school and just accepted it because the teachers told you it was real. But did you ever look around at some really elementary aspects of reality and wonder; "Is all that gravity jargon just a bunch of nonsensical speculation?" If not, Srila Prabhupada is here to help you out. Syamasundara: Once you said that science means to know everything about something. Everything about something. So practically there is no science. They don’t know. "Maybe," "Could be," "Perhaps." Prabhupada: Yes, science means everything about. That is science. Now we know that. "Something" means Krsna. And so far we understand from the sastra, we can explain everything. Syamasundara: But they can’t explain anything about what they’re working with. It's all theories. Prabhupada: Law of gravitation: the apple falls down. They find out, discover law of gravitation. But why the apple falls here—now find out this way, not that way. (laughter) Syamasundara: They say that the earth, the center of the earth, is iron, is mostly iron, and that makes magnetic field around the earth so that everything is drawn toward the center. Prabhupada: But the tree grows in this way. What is that force? Syamasundara: It's trying to resist gravity. Growing means to grow against gravity. Prabhupada: But why doesn’t it grow this way? The tree is growing this way. Why not this way? Syamasundara: Sometimes, if it is trying to get the sunlight . . . Prabhupada: Sometimes . . . (break) Syamasundara: . . . the law of least resistance. Prabhupada: So change it. Grow it this way. Syamasundara: If they have to get the light, to the light, sometimes they grow like this. Prabhupada: Then there is "if." Then is beyond your control. When you say: "if," then it is beyond your control. Svarupa Damodara: It's controlled by Krsna. Prabhupada: Yes. Syamasundara: Laws of nature. Prabhupada: Yes. And nature is controlled by Krsna. Therefore ultimate controller is Krsna. Now they have manufactured this aeroplane, and the design is just like bird. They cannot make any other design and fly. The two wings must be there. Now fly your airplane without any wings. So all these Xerox copy, that's all. That is their credit—copying. And they are taking, by copying, the same childish play. By preparing something nonsense, you can make another nonsense. They are taking it, "Mother, I have done this. Mother I have done this." Mother says: "Yes, dance, dance, dance like monkey." (laughter) Mother knows what that is. This is going on. Syamasundara: So even make a little airplane out of paper and throw it, they think . . . Prabhupada: Relative. According to my knowledge I throw it, that's all. And his knowledge is mechanical. But he does not know how many big, big aeroplanes and planets are floating in the air. That is creation of God. That aeroplane, so much mechanical element, and as soon as there is a big wind, "Fasten your belt." (laughter) When there is danger, "Fasten your belt." But this big lump of matter, earth, so much, I mean, bluster and so much air and wind, but we do not feel any trembling. But it is actually blowing. That's a fact. Syamasundara: Two thousand miles, around? Prabhupada: And moving at one thousand miles per hour. They cannot understand. This is perfection. God never says: "Now a big blast is coming: fasten your belt. Fasten your belt." (laughter)

Here is a livestream of the historical initiation ceremony of Nityananda dasa and Maitreya rishi dasa. The ceremony was performed by His Grace Purujit dasa and was the 6th initiation ceremony in BLISS history. It is certain that it will not be the last. The livestream picked up several hundred views and broadcasted everything from the kirtans to the smoke filling the temple room. If you haven't had a chance to view the ecstatic day in full please kindly check out this recording.

Allen Ginsberg was a famous American-born poet and writer that befriended Srila Prabhupada in the infantile stages of the Hare Krishna movement. There are several recorded conversations between Srila Prabhupada and Allen. Here, Allen Ginsberg propagates the chanting of Hare Krishna on William Buckley's interview show. Allen is quoted as saying the chanting of Hare Krishna brings one to a "state of ecstasy."

Every Sunday the B.L.I.S.S London centre holds a mantra meditation session at 5pm with a free lecture by His Grace Purujit dasa, an experienced practitioner of Krishna consciousness and the founder of the society, and a free vegetarian/vegan feast. This particular Sunday we will also be celebrating he auspicious festival honoring the appearance of one the greatest teachers of Krishna consciousness, Sirla Bhaktivinoda Thakura. We invite everyone to join in on the fun. If you would like to participate please book now: https://www.expandthebliss.com/events

It was a continuous series of both hilarious and wonderful events at Camden down. •People were arrested •Fires were started •Bhakta Davor sold a book to David Beckham (lookalike) •A tree joined us on book distribution •His Grace Purujit Dasa Brahmacari tried some new techniques. •Maitreya Rishi dasa met a nice man called Kevin who carries around a baseball bat It's a pleasure to go out on street sankirtana, especially book distribution, because we always get to meet many varieties of nice (and sometimes not so nice) souls. London is a particularly hot hub of all kinds of people from all walks of life, countries and paths. If you happen to meet the BLISS sankirtana devotees out on your stroll somewhere in London, be sure to stop, say hello and take a nice book with you!

The initiation ceremony of Nityanada Dasa (harinam) and Maitreya Rishi Dasa (brahmin) was very successful. Although the weather called for the yajna (fire sacrifice) to be inside, we nevertheless pulled it off without a hitch. Thanks to all those who came and supported this historical event. Both the initiates give their thanks and respects to His Grace Purujit Dasa for his kindly performing the initiation, selecting the name, and for organizing everything.

Ever seen some orange and white clad, head-shaven, belling playing boys and girls chanting down the streets and wandered: "What convinced them to start doing that?" If such curiosity has arisen in you, you find the following conversation between Srila Prabhupada and John Fahey very interesting and get a basic introduction to Krishna consciousness. Prabhupada: So you understand our philosophy? John Fahey: I don't know if I understand it, I'm reading it. Prabhupada: Hmm. What is your philosophy? John Fahey: I don't know. Prabhupada: No philosophy of life? Why you are living? John Fahey: I don't know. I was just born. Prabhupada: Born—everyone is born. Cats and dogs are also born. They also live, they also die. So if we live like that—"I was born. Let me live somewhere, and die"—then what is the difference? John Fahey: None. Prabhupada: No. There is difference. That one should understand. There is difference. A man should not live like cats and dogs, because he has got a mission. John Fahey: Mission? Prabhupada: Mission. That mission is God realization. Cats and dogs cannot do it; human being can do it. Therefore in any civilized human society, there is a type of religion. May be Christianism or Muhammadanism or Hinduism or Buddhism—there is. But you cannot find this religious system in the animals life. That is the difference. If you give up this religious consciousness, or God consciousness, then we are as good as cats and dogs. That is the only difference. You go anywhere, any part of the world, civilized human being, they have got a system, which you may call religion or philosophy, to understand God. That prerogative is specially for the human being. But if you do not care for that special prerogative, then you are as good as animal. What is the difference between animal and human being unless he has got some method of understanding God? The animal eats, and we also eat. The animals sleep, we also sleep. The animal have sex intercourse; we have got also. They are also afraid of something; we are also afraid of something. Then where is the difference? John Fahey: About God, you know. Prabhupada: But that is the difference. A human being can understand what is God, what is my relationship with God, what is my duty in that relationship, what is my aim of life, where I shall go after death, wherefrom I have come. These questions must be there in human form of life; otherwise we are still in the animal kingdom. John Aloysius Fahey (February 28, 1939 – February 22, 2001) was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who played the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been enormously influential and has been described as the foundation of the genre of American primitive guitar