Venugopal Acharya's Blog, page 2
August 2, 2025
Why Krishna Makes It Worse Before Making It Better
Expect More Pain, Not Less—If You’re Doing It Right
“Just as a blazing fire burns wood to ashes, the fire of knowledge burns all reactions of material misdeeds to ashes.”
— Bhagavad-gītā 4.37
A concerned father complained that his son was lazy and disinterested in life. His proof? The boy did no work at home. The father believed the cause was a lack of physical exercise. “If only he exercised,” he said, “he’d feel fresh and motivated.”
But upon deeper reflection, it became clear that exercise wasn’t...
From Bollywood to Bhagavad Gita – Choosing Krishna in the Browser of the Mind
“One who follows the regulated principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.” – Bhagavad Gita (2.64)
Have you ever noticed how, after visiting Bollywood.com too often, your computer’s browser starts auto-suggesting it the moment you type the letter B? It’s as if the computer knows your guilty pleasures. Similarly, when we repeatedly engage in sense gratification, our mind picks up the pattern. The moment we want to type B for Bhagavad Gita, the mind proposes Bollywood.com inste...
“He Hears What You’re Thinking” — Mystical Meetings and the Living Proof of Srila Prabhupada’s Mercy
“Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.” – Bhagavad Gita (2.29)
We were meeting for the first time, and he casually dropped a bombshell:
“Was your father working for the Indian Railways?”
Now, there are many ways to introduce yourself to a sannyasi, but having him reveal your dad’s profession before you even say “Haribol” wasn’t on my list.
I pretended not to be shocked...
When Lord Giriraj Signed the Cheque: A Miracle in Houston
“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” – Albert Einstein
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dhingra was financially endowed, yet he lived with the simplicity of a monk—spending less than a hundred dollars on himself each month. A recluse by choice or perhaps by destiny, his family and friends had long abandoned him. But he found refuge where real wealth resides: the temple. He came quietly, chanted sincerely, and served the Deities faithfully.
But as it often happens in this world, the man who was forgo...
Unsung Heroes of Bhakti: Quiet Lives, Loud Love
“The work that you do when no one is watching, will someday make you the person everyone watches.”
I remembered the above quote when I saw two senior devotees serve quietly, without any honour and glory. Their stories are incredible, but true…..
Read on…..
A young man from Japan once faced a heart-wrenching ultimatum from his billionaire father:
“If you continue this Krishna consciousness, you will not receive a single farthing from me.”
The son chose Krishna.
True to his threat, the father disowned h...
The city I never visited, But finally found
The story of a man who never stopped dancing
“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6)
Seattle, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix. Five cities in five days. I am physically exhausted, but emotionally refreshed.
Two special experiences stand out.
First, my stay at the Los Angeles temple.
Second, my reunion with Bhakta Avatar Prabhu.
The Los Angeles ISKCON temple, als...
After the Air India Crash: Why I Turned Off the News and Opened the Bhāgavatam
How News Media Triggers Curiosity, But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Awakens Compassion
This is not just an air crash story. It’s a wake-up call about what we’re feeding our minds—and who we’re trusting to guide our hearts.
Recently, while praying for the victims of the Air India crash, I was struck by a sobering realization: news channels and the media are not our friends. When my prayers are driven by what I’ve seen or read in the news, they often feel shallow, almost theatrical. There’s some emotion, but i...
Compromised Sincerity
“It is better to limp honestly on the path of truth than to run swiftly in the costume of perfection.”
My heart wants Krishna, but I am under siege by the mind!
I did six good rounds of Japa today, but the lazy, comfort-seeking voice whispered, ‘Sleep, it’s jet lag, you are tired.”
I know this voice is not me; it’s my old roommate- the mind- who doesn’t care for my real welfare. And I already know he has fooled me before. Why trust him now?
In the Bhagavad Gita (6.6), Krishna says, “For him who has ...
November 12, 2023
The Being State – From Human ‘Doing’ to ‘Human Being’ – Part 5
Let’s say instead of this approach, you decide to ‘do’ things and distract yourself with your smart phone or social media to forget the pain. There is immediate relief but the problem has compounded and soon enough, the craving would return with vengeance. You can’t supress your desires artificially; you need to face them and have the courage to accept your fallibility.
One may argue that the four A’s are also a state of ‘doing.’ Yes, but there is a difference.
It’s like removing a thorn f...
