Metta

 Mettā is a care for ourselves or for other beings that doesn’t expect anything. It’s the simple feeling of the heart that there is a wish for the well-being of ourselves or for others.

D to CEM

 We are all made of the same stuff, remember, we of the Jungle, you of the City. The same substance composes us

—the tree overhead, the stone beneath us, the bird, the beast, the star—we are all one, all moving to the same end.

P.L. Travers

JH

 No matter your

circumstances, you will end up losing everything you love, you will end up aging, you will end up ill and the problem is that we need to figure out how to make that all be alright.

Jane Hirshfield

Damodar month

 Damodar Month (दामोदर मास) is the holy month of Kartik, dedicated to Lord Krishna in His childhood form as Damodara. 🙏

When is Damodar Month in 2026?

• Start date: 26 October 2026 (some ISKCON calendars begin on 25 October)
• End date: 24 November 2026
• Today: 27 October 2026 — Damodar Month is currently being observed.

Why is it special?

According to Vaishnava tradition, Mother Yashoda lovingly tied child Krishna with a rope around His belly. The name Damodara refers to this pastime, and Kartik is considered especially dear to Lord Krishna.

What should you do during Damodar Month?

1. Offer a lamp every evening

Light a small ghee lamp or oil diya before Lord Krishna, preferably after sunset.

2. Recite Damodarashtakam

Sing or listen to the eight-verse prayer glorifying Lord Damodara.

3. Worship Tulasi and chant Hare Krishna

Offer prayers, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and read about Krishna’s pastimes.

4. Practise simple devotional living

Offer vegetarian food to Krishna, perform acts of kindness, and observe fasting on Ekadashi according to your tradition.

These practices are common in the Kartik observance.

What would you like to know about Damodar Month?

Daily puja and lamp-offering procedure

Damodarashtakam in English with meaning

Full calendar and important dates for 2026

Fasting rules and what foods to eat

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Practice the Pause

 

Practice the pause. Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.”

~ Lori Deschene

  

BG 18.15 16

 Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 18, Verses 15–16

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.15

Sanskrit (श्लोक)

अनाधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्। विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्॥ १८.१५॥

Transliteration

Adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇaṁ cha pṛthag-vidham,

Vividhāś cha pṛthak cheṣṭā daivaṁ chaivātra pañchamam.

English meaning:

Every action is accomplished through five factors:

• Adhiṣṭhāna — the body, which serves as the seat of action.
• Kartā — the doer or individual who acts.
• Karaṇam — the various senses and instruments used to act.
• Ceṣṭāḥ — the different efforts and processes involved.
• Daivam — the divine factor, or circumstances beyond one’s control.

Explanation: Krishna explains that no action happens through the individual alone. The body, the doer, the instruments, personal effort, and the divine factor all contribute to the outcome.

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.16

Sanskrit (श्लोक)

तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः। पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः॥ १८.१६॥

Transliteration

Tatraivaṁ sati kartāram ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ,

Paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān na sa paśyati durmatiḥ.

English meaning:

“Therefore, one who considers the Self alone to be the sole doer, without understanding these factors, does not see things as they truly are.”

Explanation: Krishna teaches that believing “I alone am responsible for everything” reflects an incomplete understanding. Every action depends on multiple factors, not just the individual’s will.

The deeper spiritual message

• Verse 18.15: Five factors contribute to the performance of an action.
• Verse 18.16: Do not assume that the individual ego is the sole doer.
• Practical lesson: Make sincere efforts, take responsibility for your actions, and recognise that circumstances and factors beyond your control also influence results.

In simple words: Do your duty with dedication, but let go of the ego that says, “I alone make everything happen.”

This teaching does not mean that you have no responsibility for your choices. It means understanding the difference between making an effort and believing you are the only cause of everything.

BG 18.15-16

 The three kinds of actions are—kāyik (those performed with the body), vāchik (those performed by speech), and mānasik (those performed by the mind). In each of these categories, whether we do virtuous or sinful acts, the five causes mentioned in the previous verse are responsible. Due to the ego, we think of ourselves as the doers of our actions. “I achieved this.” “I accomplished that.” “I will do this.” These are statements we make under the illusion of being the doer. Shree Krishna’s purpose in revealing this knowledge is to annihilate the soul’s pride of doership. Thus, he states that those who see the soul only as the contributory factor for action do not see things as they truly are. If the soul were not granted a body by God, it could not have done anything at all. Further, if the body were not energized by God, it could have still done nothing. The Kenopaniṣhad states:

yadvāchānabhyuditaṁ yena vāgabhyudyate (1.4)[v8]

“Brahman cannot be described by the voice. By its inspiration, the voice gets the power to speak.”

yanmanasā na manute yenāhurmano matam (1.5)[v9]

“Brahman cannot be understood by the mind and intellect. By its power, the mind and intellect work.”

yachchakṣhuṣhā na paśhyati yena chakṣhūṁṣhi paśhyati (1.6)[v10]

“Brahman cannot be seen with the eyes. By its inspiration, the eyes see.”

yachchhrotreṇa na śhṛiṇoti yena śhrotramidaṁ śhrutam (1.7)[v11]

“Brahman cannot be heard with the ears. By its power, the ears hear.”

yat prāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate (1.8)[v12]

“Brahman cannot be energized by the life airs. By its inspiration, the life airs function.”

This does not mean that the soul has no role in performing karmas. It is like the driver in the car, who controls the steering wheel of the car and decides where to turn it and at what speed to drive. Similarly, the soul too governs the actions of the body, mind, and intellect, but it should not claim credit for any action(s) for itself. If we see ourselves to be the sole cause of action, then we want to be the enjoyers of our actions as well. But when we free ourselves from the pride of doership and ascribe the credit of our efforts to the grace of God and the tools provided by him, then we also realize that we are not the enjoyers of our actions and all actions are meant for his pleasure. As explained in the next verse, this understanding helps us to dedicate to him every act of sacrifice, charity, and penance, and perform these with devotion.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        - Commentary by Swami Mukundananda                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

*What are the three categories into which all actions (whether virtuous or sinful) are classified?*

🟠 Adhiṣhṭhānam (body), kartā (soul), and daiva (providence).

🔵 Sāttvik (good), rājasik (passionate), and tāmasik (ignorant).

🟢 Kāyik (body), vāchik (speech), and mānasik (mind).

🟣 Karma (action), vikarma (forbidden action), and akarma (inaction).