WELCOME

This issue presents an excerpt from the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust’s new edition of the Ramayana, India’s cherished epic about the activities of Lord Ramachandra, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. This new book showcases the unique art of Italian artist Parama Dasa. Artists have been painting scenes from the Ramayana for centuries, but it’s safe to say there have never been Ramayana paintings quite like these, produced with state-of-the-art computer programs.

Besides extraordinary art, this issue also contains an article that’s mostly poetry. Kalakantha Dasa’s “The Cowherd Men Confused” is a poetic rendition of Lord Krishna’s pastime of lifting Govardhan Hill, which Krishna’s devotees will commemorate in late October.

This issue also touches on a musical theme: the use of music in spiritual pursuits. While attending a Bach concert with his brother, Satyaraja Dasa pondered the spiritual connections of both Western and Vaishnava music. His article “Bach to Godhead: Music and the Vaishnava Tradition” discusses the importance of music in the practice of Krishna consciousness.

Added to the mix of art, poetry, and music is an excursion into the paranormal, as Chaitanya Charana Dasa explains how near-death experiences point to the existence of the soul.

Hare Krishna.-Nagaraja Dasa, Editor

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