The soul’s journey beyond birth and death Grief is one of the most honest experiences we will ever have. It does not ask for philosophy. It simply arrives, heavy, quiet, and deeply personal. The Bhagavad Gita begins not with serenity, but with sorrow. Arjuna stands on a battlefield, overwhelmed, confused, unable to move forward. His bow slips from his hands. His heart trembles. And God does not dismiss him. The Gita is not spoken to a saint in meditation. It is spoken to a gr

In the Bhakti tradition, the personal aspect of divinity is where practitioners direct their spiritual endeavours through devotional songs, offering items of worship, sacred mantras and of course their time and energy. Over 500 years ago, the personification of this divinity appeared in the form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, who came to offer the people of this world the rare opportunity to understand and realise the deeper truths of Bhakti. What sets Sri Chaitanya apart is his m

Living the Gita, Living in Grace The Bhagavad Gita is more than scripture, it’s a sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, a warrior caught between duty and despair. Within this conversation lie timeless truths that guide us not with rigid laws but with principles that awaken the soul. These teachings are often called “commandments,” but the Gita’s voice is gentler: it invites, encourages, and empowers. Here are five essential divine teachings that shape a life of cou

Entering the Gita Through Arjuna’s Tears We all come to the edge eventually. That trembling moment when the heart can no longer carry the weight of the world, when what we thought was strength cracks like glass under pressure. It may come in the form of heartbreak, loss, the failure of a dream, or simply the aching realisation that something is missing. This is where the Bhagavad Gita begins, not with certainty, but with despair. Not with clarity, but with Arjuna, a warrior,

“Your soul will never be nourished by anyone’s love but your own.” – Anonymous February, the month of love, is often associated with romantic gestures and affection for others. But what about showing love to yourself? Self-love isn’t about thinking that you are better than others, nor is it an act of selfishness. Rather, it is an essential practice for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It involves loving and respecting yourself for who you truly are. We are not mere

They say, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." In today's digital age, where everything from workouts to spiritual guidance is just a click away, the importance of community is often overlooked. In some ways, this has disconnected us from the human connection and a sense of belonging that is crucial for our overall well-being. The Power of Physical Connection Physical health is often seen as a solo endeavour - something we achieve through pe

"Do your best and surrender the rest" Unknown The 2024 Paris Olympic Games started in July, and the Paralympics will follow in August. Athletes have been training hard for years to make it to the Games. It has taken extensive daily training, total dedication, discipline and sacrifice. They have spent time training their bodies and their minds to win. To be the best in the world. And if you can't be number one there are only two other places on the podium. This isn't like a sc

“Your mind is a garden and thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds.” ~ William Wordsworth It is mid-summer and that time of the year in England where our gardens are abundantly full of flowers at their peak. Reflecting back to a few summers ago, our lawn in a corner of our garden, was looking bare and in distress. We had done some work to our garden the previous summer and removed a large shed where the roof had started to leak. As we have be

New Year’s always start off with great hype and optimism. Exercise more, eat healthier, read more etc etc. The list sounds all too familiar, thanks to the over-saturation of New Year’s resolutions in social media over the last few years. Self-improvement websites are all the rage at this time of year with 50 New Year’s Resolutions and How To Keep Them or New Year’s Resolutions You Should Never Make, making headlines. On top of this, marketing companies have jumped on this ban

Whether's it's Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid, Chinese New Year, birthdays, anniversaries or just Fridays; life is full of celebrations; and celebrations are full of food! It’s really easy to overeat and overindulge during the festive season. All our favourite holiday dishes have been made, we tend to share the meal with loved ones - and in all the fun and joy, it’s common for us to eat a little bit more than we’re normally used to. Here are some tips to help you navigate t

Welcome to the month of Kartik- the most sacred and auspicious month in the Gaudiya Vaishnava calendar! Throughout the year, we celebrate different festivals, so what makes the month of Kartik different? During this time of year, we see different sales leading up to the festive period of Christmas and New Years. In a similar way, Kartik can be seen as a ‘spiritual sale’, where one’s offerings to the Lord is multiplied by a thousand. In the sacred Skanda Purana, it is stated t

In the sacred conversation between Shri Krishna and Arjuna, which is immortalised within the pages of Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna provides great solace to the people of this world. Lord Krishna bestows upon us divine wisdom which people of all ages, religions, ethnicities and castes can utilise and share with others, especially during times of adversity, where we may be seeking guidance. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes in the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.1-5:

The significance of the number 108 is open to interpretation. Over time, there has been much spiritual and scientific relevance given to the number. For many, the number 108 is a sacred number. Here are some spiritual and scientific meaning and facts attributed to the number 108: The wholeness of existence: Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as the number of the wholeness of existence. Astronomically, there are 27 constellations in our galaxy and each has