Practical Spirituality

How can we deal with materialistic people while practicing Krishna consciousness?

When we meet people distributing Mayavadi literature should we challenge them philosophically or just recommend Prabhupadas books and leave?

How we can train our mind to have faith in ourselves?

Why do ISKCON devotees sometimes say that they are Hindus and sometimes deny it?

How can we develop our determination?

Why do we use a bead bag for keeping our chanting beads?

Is serving deities at our place in nuclear families by ladies during 4 days of menstruation allowed in ISKCON?

Is ISKCON an American institute run by Americans who take donations given by Indians to America?

Can we speak strongly in informal meetings with nondevotees so as to prevent discussions from going in provocative directions?

When we have emotional expectations from devotees and are disappointed can we seek emotional nourishment from Krishna alone and not strive for deep relationships with devotees

Should we avoid services like writing because we will become proud by doing those services?

How can we maintain a positive attitude in devotional life when we face reversals?

Is it practical to live in the mode of goodness in our fast-paced culture?

How can we avoid blurting out and learn to think before speaking?

How can devotees choose a career that is compatible with our devotional life?

If we need some material skills for serving Krishna can we pray for those skills?

If bhakti is perfect then why does it contain restrictions?

How can we increase our taste for reading Prabhupada’s books?

What exactly is humility? How can we cultivate humlity apart from chanting and praying for it? How can we avoid becoming proud of our humility?

How can we use the holy name meditations for improving our chanting?

When some devotees use harsh words to condemn other spiritual paths, I feel uncomfortable but i dont want to offend those devotees. What should I do ?

How can we please the spiritual master, as Prabhupada repeatedly states in his books? Does this refer to diksha guru or shiksha guru? What to do when we don’t have much association with the spiritual master?

What does it mean that we should have implicit faith in the spiritual master, as Prabhupada says in his books

If science is wrong why do devotee go to a hospital when they fall sick and not to a temple?

Is Prabhupada’s appearance and activities predicted in scriptures? If so please tell them

Is chanting a service to Krishna or our expression of love to Krishna?

The mind says spiritual life is good when we are in devotee association but it says material life is good when we are in nondevotee association. How can we know when the mind is cheating us?

Modern medicine contains alcohol and meat extracts. Does taking such medicines cause sinful karma. What to do when there is no option?

How can we not lose faith in Krishna when we are faced with lots of suffering?

Is chanting the holy name and reading scriptures without preaching enough to take us back to godhead?

I feel that without association I can continue bhakti. Please explain why association is essential.

It is impossible to not see women with an enjoying mentality. Please guide.

How can we avoid lust?

Normal temples have deities of Krishna and other demigods should prasadam offered in such temple be taken or not?

If somehow it is known before birth that the child in womb is crippled can it be aborted?

If a person is born mad and to abuse god is his habit then how he can be elevated to KC?

To become Krishna conscious do we need to change our complete behaviour or do we just need to learn respect and love for Vaishnavas?

Is there any quick way to control the mind?

When we become devotees should we not read newspaper or magazines and read only spiritual books? So how will we improve our general knowledge?

Why do our anarthas increase when we start practicing bhakti? How can we avoid becoming discouraged??

How can we make our chanting purer and better?

How can we avoid prajalpa and still maintain relationship with devotees with whom we have indulged in prajalpa in the past?

We often become discouraged when our plans in devotional service dont work. How can we make plans that work?

How can bhakti help me when my grandfather is suffering terribly with a terminal disease?

Is ISKCON present eternally in the spirtual world? Can we see Srila Prabhupada there?

When obstacles distract us from KC instead of deepening our KC what should we do?

Can I chant less and do other forms of devotional service that inspire me more?

As spiritual attachment leads to material detachment how can we stay balanced?

How should we deal with phases of inner emptiness in our spiritual life?

Difference between glorification and flattery (Hindi)

Is it necessary to pray in an orderly way or can we chant anywhere?

Is body necessary for the progresss of the soul?

Why is ISKCON no longer challenging atheists as Hamsaduta Swami did in Lanka?

Can my parents be my spiritual master if they are not devotees and are not in guru parampara

What should be the highest priority in ISKCON when some devotees emphasize specific aspects like varnashrama?

How do i get ideas for writing articles and specifically articles for BTG?

If one wants to become a brahmachari how can one develop the courage to give up everything and fear of failure?

What do we do when we go through a no nectar zone in our devotional service?

What does it mean to transcend problems by Krishna consciousness?

Isn’t the boiling the milk concept contradicting to ‘jare dekho tahe kaho krishna updesh’?

When we see senior devotees affected by modes of passion (eg. too much fondness for foods like pizza) or ignorance (eg sleeping during chanting and hearing) how should we respond?

Are the different sangas of devotees within the same city recommended by Srila Prabhupada?

How can I overcome anger and study calmly college subjects that blaspheme dharma?

Is ISKCON meant for only educated people like IITians and IIMians?

When Krishna consciousness is supposed to be joyful, why does it seem so joyless?

How can we improve our concentration during meditation?

Does the mind wander more while chanting Hare Krishna as compared to other mantras?

How can we be affectionate without being attached?

What does it mean to choose material things based on their utility?

When a relative becomes hostile to a devotee, is that due to the devotee’s past karma, that person’s misuse of free will or Krishna’s arrangement?

Can we experience real love through relationships in this world?

When a relative is materially abusive how should a devotee respond?

Why do we misidentify with the mind?

When a relative becomes hostile to our devotional practices how should we respond?

How can we regulate material desires that are not sinful?

As students of science and as sadhakas how should we implement the understanding of realist and instrumentalist approaches to science?

When we see that senior devotees have factual flaws, how should we respond?

Why does mantra meditation seem to be a burden?

Can devotees use products containing Tulasi for medicinal purposes?

Why do I need a personal Guru, if all the knowledge is available and all doubts get resolved on websites like Vedabase or your website, thespiritualscientist.com?

What is the position of grihasthas in ISKCON? Should brahmacharis criticize them?

How do we respond if someone says I am satisfied in my material life and am not spiritually ambitious?

Does one have to come to goodness in terms of one’s activities before one can become transcendental?

Do Prabhupada books contain only preliminary points of Gaudiya philosophy, not its advanced tenets?

How can we succeed in leading a principle-centered life?

When we hear rumours about a senior devotee, how should we respond?

How can we avoid unwanted and offensive thoughts?

How can we control the mind when it pushes us towards harmful actions?

How can we be confident, assertive, positive without becoming proud?

Are farm communities meant to offer eco-friendly alternatives for the unsustainable modern civilization?

What did Prabhupada mean when he said that 50% of his mission was still remaining?

If the process of KC delivers us then how do we understand the verse that the guru is the only way to Krishna’s mercy?

When circumstances make our chosen standards unsustainable, what should we do?

How can we break the habit of believing that we wont be able to keep our promises?

Feeling our feelings

What are the practical steps for maintaining and improving our relationships with devotees?

Is fault finding good or bad? If its bad then how can we overcome it? 

If material happiness is like tickling then what about the happiness from humour?

Can devotees sell products made by killing flowers?

Is chanting on electronic counter equal to chanting on Tulsi beads?