Truths about life from the timeless wisdom of the Bhakti-yoga tradition – fun, relevant, and deep. Learn about dharma, yoga, bhakti, and how it relates to all the basic questions of life. This show is about how to live your best life, let go of the external distractions, and uncover the spiritual happiness that lies within the heart as the true nature of the soul.
Raghunath and Kaustubha’s connection goes back to their teens in the New York Hardcore Punk Scene of the early 80s, through serving together as Bhakti-yogi monks in the 90’s, to sharing their experiences in the world of yoga in the 21st century.
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1615: Full-Hearted Bhakti: Vivid, Personal Krishna Devotion | Q & A Vol. 280
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/supersoul-farm-kirtan-fest-tickets-1376536139649?aff=oddtdtcreator
Check out Radhanath Swami's class on how to treat people at https://youtu.be/ed0Effi7Kfo?si=b97G8C-cUaBtVWf6
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1614: Is Yoga All About the Journey—or About Hitting the Target? | Q & A Vol. 279
Modern spirituality often says yoga is all about the journey. But is that what the ancient teachings really meant?
In this focused and eye-opening Q & A episode, Kaustubha explores samādhi and the true aim of yoga. Drawing from the Upanishads and Bhakti tradition, he reveals how yoga isn’t aimless—it’s intentional, transformational, and love-driven.
You’ll also hear how Krishna’s call for surrender in the Bhagavad-gītā—often misunderstood as bossy—is actually rooted in compassion and transcendental clarity.
What You’ll Learn: • The real goal of samādhi and how yoga stays focused • Why Krishna asks for everything—and how it’s not about ego • How even negative emotions can purify when directed toward God • Shishupala’s surprising liberation through hatred • Why Krishna’s confidence isn’t arrogance—and what it means for us
This isn’t vague spiritualism—it’s grounded wisdom for the seeker who wants clarity, depth, and a target worth aiming for.
Listen now and rediscover why love—with direction—is the heart of yoga.
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1613: Myth or Reality: The Misunderstood Tech of the Yogis
Could ancient yogis have tapped into a science we still don’t understand? Mystical experiences—like hearing divine messages within the heart—may sound like fantasy today, but 300 years ago a FaceTime call would’ve seemed like wizardry.
Arthur C. Clarke famously said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how imagination and humility may be the keys to rediscovering spiritual truths often mistaken for myth.
Highlights include: • Why Einstein called imagination more important than knowledge • Yoga maya vs. Maha maya: illusion that either binds or liberates • Why Krishna never incarnates alone—and who He brings with Him • Debunking the debunkers: why unseen doesn’t mean unreal • Raghunath’s mantra for spiritual openness: “Could be.”
Tune in as ancient stories, modern minds, and timeless truths come together in the pages of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
SB 10.1.21-25
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1612: Cosmic Vision, Parental Panic & the Purusha Sukta Mantras
SB 10.1.16-20
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1611: Parenting, Japa Meditation & How to Stay Inspired on the Bhakti Path | Q & A Vol. 278
From parenting struggles in spiritual life to the elusive experience of deep japa meditation – Vulnerability meets wisdom in this very real Q & A episode recorded live at the Wisdom of the Sages Retreat. Whether you’re trying to inspire your kids, stay inspired yourself, or figure out what absorption in the japa meditation actually feels like, this episode has something for you.
🌀 Key Highlights: • “Future fakers” and the art of letting go (yes, your kids might be doing it) • Japa as a spiritual shower for the soul • The illusion of control in parenting (and the relief in surrender) • Carrying retreat inspiration into everyday life—without crashing into Maya • Stoicism vs. closing circles: the struggle is real
It’s an episode for anyone walking the tightrope between devotion and daily life—packed with deep truths and just enough comic relief to keep it real.
🌸 Subscribe and tune in daily for spiritual wisdom that’s equal parts elevating and grounding.
🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiParenting #JapaMeditation #SpiritualGrowth #WisdomOfTheSages #KirtanLife #LetGoLetKrishna #FutureFakerFreeZone
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1610: Struggling with Expectations & Self-Worth: Bhakti Yoga Insights | Q & A Vol. 277
When your spiritual ideals meet your messy, modern life—what gives? In this live Q & A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle real-world questions from sincere seekers navigating work, relationships, insecurity, and the struggle for spiritual progress. With wisdom, clarity, and plenty of humor, they explore how Bhakti yoga applies when the employees let you down, the self-doubt runs deep, and the to-do list feels longer than the Ganges.
Key Highlights: • My contract with my employee vs my contract with the Universe • Can Bhakti heal your emotional wounds—or is that your therapist’s job? • “I’m not the Spiller!”—Raghunath gets cornered by family karma • How to climb out of your own karmic hole (and invite others to your cloud) • What to prioritize in a full, chaotic life—and why India may be the next step
Join the community of thousands tuning in daily for authentic, accessible yoga wisdom that meets you where you are—and points you toward where you want to go.
🎧 Listen now and let the transformation begin. 🪷 #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #YogaWisdom #AppreciationOverExpectation #InnerWork #SrimadBhagavatam #LiveFromSupersoulFarm
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1609: Surrender, Purpose, Love: Bhakti Answers the Big Questions | Q & A Vol. 276
Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle powerful questions about surrender, purpose, and love in this live Q&A from Super Soul Farm—offering timeless bhakti wisdom on the struggles modern seekers face. What does surrender really look like in practice? How do you discover your dharma without drowning in options? Can you strive for spontaneous love of God without ruining its spontaneity?
This episode brings clarity to the most misunderstood teachings of bhakti, grounding them in the lived experience of devotion. No platitudes—just real talk, deep insights, and a spiritual path that meets you where you are.
Key Highlights: • Six practical symptoms of surrender—and why they’re anything but weakness • How to avoid “mission drift” in your spiritual life • Why Krishna is already loving you—and what’s blocking you from feeling it • Service, identity, and the paradox of modern dharma • The difference between faking it and practicing it • Greed is good—when it’s for divine love
🎧 For anyone navigating spiritual life in a distracted world, this episode is a guidepost back to center.
🌀 Subscribe and tune in daily to connect with thousands on the path of bhakti yoga.
#BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #QandA #SpiritualSurrender #KrishnaBhakti #DharmaInModernLife #SixSymptomsOfSurrender #LetKrishnaLoveYou #GreedIsGood #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualPodcast #YogaWisdom
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1608: The Guru as a Transparent Via Medium: Reclaiming Sacred Connection
One of the most sacred dynamics in all of yoga culture - the relationship between teacher and student—has become both feared and misunderstood as it’s been transferred from India to the West. In this potent episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how spiritual truth flows not from information alone, but from affection, humility, and mutual sincerity. What unfolds is a spirited, honest, and occasionally hilarious exploration of how and why the guru-disciple model endures—even in an age where trust is hard to come by and everyone’s got an “enlightenment moment” in their Instagram bio.
Key Highlights: • “Victim mentality kills growth.” • A lesson from Mahābhārata: If you can’t find someone better than you, you’re probably not looking hard enough • Understanding the friendliness and familiarity with a teacher • Transmission of truth is never just intellectual—it’s relational
This episode is a call to seek wisdom where it’s real, not just where it’s trending.
🌿 Subscribe for daily bhakti wisdom and join a global community reawakening the sacred.
🎧 Listen now: #GuruDisciple #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualGrowth #SrimadBhagavatam #Vedanta #YogaPhilosophy
SB 10.1.9-15
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1607: Ask Better Questions, Break the Cycle of Samsara
There’s a big difference between asking, “How can I change this?” and asking, “What am I meant to learn from this?” In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how asking bigger, zoomed-out questions can unlock real transformation—and how Krishna’s pastimes, far from being mere spiritual folklore, offer the deepest answers to the soul’s most urgent needs. They discuss how these pastimes are meant to be approached not just through a religious lens, but through an ontological, metaphysical, and Vedantic one—and that’s when their true power is revealed.
Key Highlights:
• How shallow questions keep us stuck, and zoomed-out questions can set us free • Why good questions aren’t always comfortable—but they crack things open • How to identify life’s summum bonum—and reorient everything around it • Seeing Krishna’s life through a metaphysical lens—not just a religious one • The danger of a life built on speed and comfort, but no direction
SB 10.1.1-8
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1606: Your Ears Deserve Better Content: Yoga’s Download for Mental Clarity
Hearing the right kind of content - it doesn’t just inform you—it reforms you. It clears the mind, purifies the intelligence and equips you to easily withstand all sorts of changes, difficulties and discrepancies.
Drawing from yogic wisdom and Bhaktivedanta Swami’s piercing commentary, this episode explores how real transformation begins with sound.
Key Highlights: • Why gossip and news media ruin your day • How sacred sound rewires the mind to reject lower pleasures without repression • From anxiety to equanimity: how a shift in hearing shifts everything • Stoic meets yogi: focus on how we respond to the world • Bhaktivedanta Swami’s formula for facing hardship with unwavering peace
🎧 Subscribe and join thousands for daily inspiration through timeless wisdom. #SacredSound #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #TranscendentalHearing #SpiritualTransformation #KrishnaKatha #StoicBhakti
SB 9.24.62-67
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1605: Beyond Myth: Krishna's Pastimes, Life's Ultimate Meditation
Before there were influencers, there was the sage Vyāsa—the original content creator.
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha stand at the threshold of Vyāsa’s ultimate contribution: the telling of Krishna’s pastimes in the Tenth Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. But before Krishna enters the stage, they explore what makes these narratives far more than mythology. These aren’t just quaint stories or cultural folklore—they’re the ultimate object of awareness - living streams of divine sound, expertly composed to reprogram the mind, dissolve the thirst for material life and satisfy the innner self.
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🔹 Key Highlights:
• Why scrolling culture is drying us out—and what to do about it • Vyāsa as the O.G. spiritual content creator • What cult accusations, punk shows, and smoke-filled deprogramming cabins reveal about the power of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
The verse that shook a cynic: “Yeah… I read the first canto. That book changed me.”
SB 9.24.60-62
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1604: Shining Light on the Shadows Within: Carl Jung Meets the Wisdom of Bhakti
Misunderstood warriors, falsely accused maidens, hardhearted mystic yogis, remorseful sages, sex-addicted kings— The stories of the Ninth Canto of the Bhāgavatam reflect not just historical characters, but the shadows we all carry within.
At the cusp of entering the climactic Tenth Canto, Raghunath and Kaustubha review the string of stories leading up to it. With a little help from Carl Jung, they unpack a core principle often echoed in the bhakti tradition: while the path is centered on divine light, the great bhakti-yogis never ignored the shadows in their own hearts.
🌀 Key Highlights:
• Carl Jung meets the Bhāgavatam—why even saints have shadows to acknowledge • “No regrets” culture vs. the spiritual remorse of real yogis • How the flaws of kings became fuel for transformation • Bhajana-kriyā to anartha-nivṛtti: what inner work really looks like on the bhakti path • Why the Ninth Canto isn’t just a list of names—it’s a mirror for the heart
🎧 Listen now and reflect—because bhakti begins where pretense ends.
🌱 Subscribe and follow for daily insights → #WisdomOfTheSages #BhaktiYoga #ShadowAndLight #SrimadBhagavatam #CarlJungQuotes #SpiritualGrowth #TenthCantoAwakening
SB 9.24.53-59
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1603: Darkness, Evil & Satan: A Bhakti Yoga Perspective / Q & A Volume 275
What is Evil? Different tradition have different ideas. In this compelling Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how the Bhakti tradition understands darkness, Satan, and the concept of evil. Is it a cosmic force? A personal being? Or simply the absence of divine light?
Other questions include how to navigate workplace obligations at bars while maintaining spiritual sobriety, and what pure devotional service looks like in today’s world.
Key Highlights: • Evil explained Bhakti-style: darkness isn’t a rival force—it’s what happens when we turn away from the light • What to do when your boss schedules meetings in a bar (spoiler: garlic-soaked pizza may also be involved) • Pure devotion demystified: how love shows up in kirtan, service, and yes, even chicken coop assignments • Lessons from Mussolini to CBGB’s: the slippery slope of bad choices and the art of guarding your inner light • It’s not about being judgmental—but about choosing clarity over compromise
🎧 Tune in now and subscribe for daily wisdom rooted in the timeless teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
#BhaktiAndEvil #DarknessVsLight #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualSobriety #SelflessService #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualPodcast #QandAEpisode
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1602: Feed the Dogs, Love the World: Bhakti Yoga’s Expanding Circle of Compassion
Indian hospitality, the soft heart of a mother, and the Dog-Man of Tompkins Square Park all intersect in this powerful exploration of yoga. Drawing from the Maha Upanishad and the insight of Albert Schweitzer, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a central bhakti truth: that genuine love of God expresses itself as compassion for all living beings—not just the ones who vote like you, think like you, or smell like you.
At the heart of this episode is the unforgettable tale of King Rantideva from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam—a king whose radical acts of generosity and deep spiritual faith push us to reconsider what it really means to live a spiritual life.
🌀 Key Highlights:
• “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — The Maha Upanishad’s timeless call to expand the borders of your compassion • How great spiritualists experience suffering—and transform it into compassion • The real yoga test: when your food is hot, your stomach is empty, and a stranger knocks on the door (with dogs) • Why bhakti doesn’t exist without compassion
👁️🗨️ Real peace begins when we expand the circle. If your yoga isn’t transforming how you see others, it’s time to go deeper.
🎧 Tap in and get transrational. #KingRantideva #BhaktiWisdom #YogaOfCompassion #MahaUpanishad #SrimadBhagavatam #InterfaithWisdom #LoveBeyondBoundaries #VasudhaivaKutumbakam #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.21.1-18
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1601: Where Your Mind Goes, You Go: Bhakti Yoga, Thought Power & the Inner Algorithm
Your mind is like an algorithm. Click on lust, fear, or resentment—and guess what shows up on your mental feed? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Yoga is a way to reset the algorithm, and explore the mind as both a garden and a walled city with guarded gates.
Drawing from James Allen’s classic As a Man Thinketh and the final verses of King Yayāti’s transformation in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they unpack how thought is causal, attention is destiny, and bhakti is the ultimate reprogramming of the heart.
🔑 Key Highlights:
• James Allen meets the Bhagavatam: “Plant good seeds or get weeds. Period.” • Guard the gates of the senses like your mental Wi-Fi password • Why you should probably skip that luxury cruise and chant instead • When kitchen gossip gets karmic—Mara’s chef-side sādhanā • “Shoot the messenger,” “Relinquish your imaginary positions,” and other questionable t-shirt ideas
Whether you’re dealing with asparagus beds or mental breakdowns, this episode brings it all back to one thing: where your mind goes, you go.
🌱 Subscribe and reset the algorithm of your mind. 🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #MindTraining #SrimadBhagavatam #AsAManThinketh #YogaWisdom #KrishnaConsciousness
SB 9.19.20-29
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1600: The Anatomy of Spiritual Awakening: Letting Go Before We Lose It
From Vedic kings to aging rock stars, this episode maps the journey from pleasure to emptiness to liberation. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack why letting go of material desire—before the body gives out—is the key to spiritual freedom.
Featuring: • King Yayāti, Lord Brahmā, Stephen Hawking, Billy Idol & David Lee Roth • Addiction psychology meets Vedic wisdom • Why renunciation is the real glow-up • How material sex desire is a pale reflection of Krishna’s divine love
🎧 Listen now and wake up before it’s too late. 🌱 Subscribe for daily doses of ancient wisdom made practical.
#SpiritualAwakening #LetGo #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #ThePathOfRenunciation
SB 9.19.16-20
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1599: Exiting the Path of Emptiness: A Bhakti Yoga Take on Desire & Liberation
Ancient yoga texts call it sama-darshana—equal vision. It’s the ability to see the soul in every being, regardless of their body, background, or even behavior. And according to the sages, it’s not just a lofty idea—it’s the very foundation of a life well-lived.
Here’s the twist: it’s not just the moral thing to do—it’s the key to happiness, peace of mind, and, ultimately, a graceful exit from this world. In contrast, the pursuit of material fulfillment becomes a path of emptiness.
Listen in as Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on the yogi’s mindset: to live in a way that places no one else in difficulty, and to love in a way that clears the heart of all fear and resentment.
Key Highlights: • Sama-darshana—the yogic practice of seeing beyond externals • Why a life of non-harm and kindness clears the path to liberation • “My name is King Yayati, and I’m a sex addict.” • How material desire drives us to harm even those we love • How spiritual vision helps us let go—without fear or bitterness • And how chasing sense gratification will make a goat out of us. 🐐 (and not the good kind of GOAT)
This episode is a call to shift how we see the world—and how we live in it.
🎧 Listen now and join the global conversation on living with deeper vision. #EqualVision #BhaktiYoga #Samadarshana #SrimadBhagavatam #LettingGo #YogaWisdom #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.19.12-15
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1598: Seeing the Unseen: Yoga's Call to Look Deeper
Politics shift, bodies age, relationships break—we see the surface, the temporary illusion. Yogis look deeper to see the eternal reality behind it all.
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how sacred texts—the Bhagavad Gītā, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the Rig Veda, and the New Testament—urge us to fix our vision on the eternal. From pearls resting on a hidden thread to the saints’ constant gaze toward the divine, these traditions all point to the same truth: what’s real can’t always be seen with the eyes - so look deeper though the eyes of knowledge.
Key Highlights: • Pearls and clouds—what the sages say about what really holds life together • The world is a stereogram - keep staring into it and eventually the vision pops • Kaustubha’s near bike-lane road rage (he almost lost it.) • How bhakti can awaken even in a materially entangled life (yes, there’s hope for all of us)
🔔 Subscribe for daily episodes and timeless inspiration on the path of bhakti yoga. #BhaktiYoga #YogaPhilosophy #SrimadBhagavatam #BhagavadGita #RigVeda #StPaul #SpiritualVision #SeeTheUnseen
SB 9.18.47-51
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1597: Loss. Confusion. Melancholy. Then Freedom. | Q&A Volume 274
With humor, vulnerability, and sharp philosophical insight, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the gritty reality of spiritual growth: that it sometimes begins with a period of loss, confusion, or even melancholy—but on the other side is joy, clarity, and freedom.
This Q & A episode tackles big, relatable questions from listeners on the spiritual path:
• How do I live a life of dharma—seeing the good in everyone—without letting people take advantage of me or drain my energy? • How do I practice detachment without becoming emotionally distant from the people I love? • Does devotion to Krishna mean not exploring other spiritual traditions?
Discover how the simple mantra “Adjust. Tolerate. Focus.” can become a compass when life feels chaotic and the heart is pulled in too many directions.
Key Highlights: • Adjusting your circumstances vs. tolerating them—and how to know which to do • Why Krishna’s blessings can feel like lemon in milk—and why that’s a good thing • The difference between real detachment and just shutting down emotionally • A perspective-shifting metaphor about butter that’ll stick with you forever • Why kirtan and philosophy together are like spiritual ayahuasca (minus the vomiting)
Whether you’re navigating toxic coworkers or simply trying to love your family without losing yourself, this episode will give you both tools and comfort for the inner work that really matters.
🎧 Listen now and join thousands on the transformative path of bhakti. 🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and spiritual guidance with Raghunath & Kaustubha.
#BhaktiYoga #SpiritualGrowth #DetachmentWithLove #KrishnaConsciousness #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #KirtanAndPhilosophy #LetGoAndLetKrishna #AdjustTolerateFocus
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1596: Desire, Folly, Regret & Ultimately....Transformation
Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into the comical yet piercingly honest downfall of King Yayāti and explore how the ancient Vedic culture didn’t just shame desire—it organized it, regulated it, and ultimately helped one transcended it. Drawing from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, we uncover how real evolution begins not by denying our lower nature, but by accepting the guidance of wisdom tradition that helps us see through it.
Key Highlights: • Why the world makes you foolish when you chase desire The brilliance of varṇāśrama: not a box, but a ladder Why trying to be Krishna never works • Young Puru’s ultimate mic drop moment of detachment and devotion • Plus: How a hardcore cookbook made its way onto the show (Walk-On Wednesday… on a Friday) • And, Raghunath’s high school brawl over a mustached senior (seriously)
🎧 Listen in and laugh your way through lust, curses, wisdom, and the yogic path of real freedom.
🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual insights, and join thousands exploring bhakti-yoga through sacred texts and honest conversation.
#SrimadBhagavatam #BhaktiYoga #KingYayati #SpiritualGrowth #DesireAndDetachment #WisdomOfTheSages #VedicWisdom #YogicLife
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Find Laura Lee Flanagan's cookbook, Hardcore Vegetarian at https://a.co/d/8WgdWcn
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1595: Puranic Mean Girls & Pascal's Take on Our Inner Emptiness
Gatorade-stained beard? Check. All-night emergency room visit? Check. Spiritual wake-up call in aisle 12? Double check. But behind Raghunath’s dizzy spell and collapse on the floor of Home Depot lies a far more universal theme: our desperate urge to avoid silence, stillness, and the terrifying weight of our own inner emptiness.
Drawing from Blaise Pascal’s haunting insight—that “all of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone”—Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how distraction and diversion keep us from doing the inner work that leads to peace, purpose, and awakening.
Also: a peaceful garden walk devolves into a warrior princess throw-down.
Key Highlights: • Is that spiritual ecstasy… or dangerously low blood sugar? • Why we flee silence—and how it sabotages our spiritual evolution • Pascal meets the Bhāgavatam: diversion as the disease of our age • When status, envy, and petty revenge collide—ancient wisdom, high-school drama • Level up before the universe has to shove you down
🎧 Listen now and reflect on what’s really keeping you from peace—before your next wake-up call comes in the plumbing aisle. #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualAwakening #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #ExistentialCrisis #BlaisePascal #HomeDepotLilas #StillnessAndSilence #JapaNotNetflix
SB 9.18.1-29
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1594: Reflections, Shadows & Illusions of Love
When something looks so promising—so beautiful, so exciting—you think, this has to be it… but in the end, it leaves you empty. That’s what it means to live in the shadows - the imitations we chase: reflections that mimic the real thing, but have no substance.
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha conclude the wild and painfully relatable story of King Purūravā and Urvaśī from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and share a bit about their own heartbreaks too.
From noble warrior to emotional wreck, Purūravā’s obsession leads him to whimper before goddesses, trying to win back a woman who ghosted him in the most cosmic way.
Key Highlights: • Reflections, shadows, and AI girlfriends: welcome to Purūravā’s downward spiral • When spiritual practice becomes just another form of escapism • Kaustubha, Raghunath, and Mara share their heartbreak stories 💔 • Is Raghu Mara’s rebound? • Material solutions won’t cure our material heartbreak • The pleasure codes come preloaded with pain
Tune in for ancient wisdom, modern neurosis, and a whole lot of spiritual therapy. You may just see your own story in the shadows of King Purūravā.
🌞 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join thousands around the world on the transformative path of bhakti-yoga.
🎧 Listen now & share! #BhaktiWisdom #HeartbreakHealing #SpiritualPractice #SrimadBhagavatam #ReflectionsAndReality #PururavaAndUrvasi
SB 9.14.39-49
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1593: Desire & Despair: A Vedic Case Study in Heartbreak
When the object of our desire becomes the center of our universe, and our dignity becomes the cost of the chase. In this brutally honest and strangely hilarious episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha dissect the story of King Pururava and Urvashi—a psychological case study from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that shows what happens when infatuation clouds the intelligence and the fantasy of love eclipses reality.
Key Highlights:
• “Desire is never far from despair” • When romance becomes a shortcut to self-worth, things get weird… fast. • Toxic masculinity? For sure. But let’s talk toxic femininity too. • The ancient Vedas meet Youth of Today lyrics and Bob Dylan—because of course they do. • “Romance keeps us in Maya”—and other unsexy truths we all need to hear • And yes, Raghunath actually has a “house axe” for intruders. Don’t ask.
This episode hits the theme head-on: that heartbreak, that confusion, that desperation we feel when we lose ourselves in the fantasy of love—and how the Bhakti path calls us to something real.
🎧 Subscribe for daily wisdom rooted in timeless texts, and walk the path of Bhakti with clarity (and a little comedy).
#HeartbreakAndHumility #VedicPsychology #SrimadBhagavatam #BhaktiWisdom #IllusionOfLove #DesireVsDiscernment #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.14.17-38
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1592: Something Has to Die Inside: Threshold Sorrow in Bhakti Yoga
Not all sorrow is a step backwards—sometimes, it’s the signal that real growth has begun. In this powerful Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into what one listener calls “the sorrow of losing joy in the material world.” What unfolds is a raw, insightful conversation on threshold sorrow—the strange pain of shedding old pleasures that no longer satisfy, and crossing into the unknown terrain of spiritual depth.
🎧 All Questions Answered in this Episode: • Is it normal to feel sadness when losing taste for material pleasures? • How to understand sattva guna (the mode of goodness)? • Were Lord Rāma’s exiled sons bereft of His loving affection? • How do I know if I’m doing what God intends for me to do in life?
From the bittersweet poetry of spiritual surrender to the mystery of divine separation, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack what it means when Krishna starts cleaning out the clutter of your heart. Sometimes, enlightenment feels like heartbreak. But there’s beauty in the break.
Key Highlights: • Why “threshold sorrow” is a sign of real progress on the bhakti path • What happens when you try to relive your old joys and it just tastes like… Carvel? • Poetry can capture the bittersweet taste of spiritual growth • Why Luv and Kush weren’t spiritually shortchanged—even if their dad was Lord Rāma and they were raised by a sage in the woods • The surprising power of sattva (goodness) as more than just “calm energy” • God’s will, your purpose, and the secret of finding clarity in a confusing world
🔔 Subscribe for more daily drops of yoga wisdom and truth bombs from the bhakti tradition. 🎙️ Listen now and let the old self die—so something better can be born.
#BhaktiYoga #ThresholdSorrow #SpiritualAwakening #LettingGo #KrishnaConsciousness #WisdomOfTheSages #BhagavadGita #SitaRam #VedicWisdom #ThreeGunas #ModeOfGoodness #BhaktiTransformation #EgoDeath #LoveAndSeparation
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1591: What's Good? What's Bad? (And How Our Minds are Lying to Us)
Prince Hamlet collides with Śrīmad Bhāgavatam in this mind-bending episode on the illusion of “good and bad.” Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Bhakti Yoga, mental programming, and the transformative power of staying steady amid life’s chaos. They unpack a verse that flips the spiritual script: liberation doesn’t require a cave—it requires clarity. With vegan cheesecake hangovers, Tom Sawyer tricks, and a dose of Shakespearean angst, this episode reveals how kings lived as yogis—and how your own messy, modern life can become sacred ground for spiritual evolution.
Key Highlights: • “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” — Hamlet (and basically the Bhāgavatam too) • Why your mind is a meaning-making machine—and how that distorts reality • Eastern philosophy says good and bad are illusions—here’s what that really means • The Bhagavad-gītā’s bold message: you can transcend duality without renouncing your responsibilities • How tolerance is the first quality of a true sadhu or yogi • Why red isn’t good, blue isn’t bad, and Denmark is just a mindset
🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and share the love. #BhagavadGita #SrimadBhagavatam #BhaktiYoga #Hamlet #NonDuality #MeaningMakingMachine #SpiritualWisdom #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.13.27
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1590: Dark Corners of Our Cities, Dark Corners of Our Minds
This episode blends sacred aesthetics, urban design, dharmic leadership, and bhakti wisdom into one compelling conversation. A perfect listen for seekers, city dwellers, and anyone wondering why the world feels off—and how to realign it.
Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a luminous vision of divine-centered living from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam—where elephants spray perfume, love flows between citizens and leaders, and the architecture reflects a sacred inner life. But this isn’t just some mythic utopia. It’s a blueprint.
Key Highlights: * Simone Weil’s insight: “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.” * What Ayodhya, Delhi and the Cross Bronx Expressway tell us about spiritual disconnection * The loop of degradation—and how to break it * Lessons from Christian cathedrals, Hindu temples
🎧 Tune in now and rediscover what society looks like when it’s built around the sacred root.
#Bhagavatam #UrbanSpirituality #Ayodhya #DivineCenteredLife #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualArchitecture #SimoneWeil #WisdomOfTheSages #SacredCityDesign
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1589: No Hostility in the Heart of a Yogi: It’s a Deal Breaker
Resentment isn’t just a feeling—it’s a spiritual disease? In this power-packed episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss one of Bhakti-yoga’s most liberating teachings: the more we hear about the life and character of Lord Rāma, the more the disease of envy is cleansed from our hearts. This is a real look at the subtle ways hostility creeps into even spiritual communities… and how to root it out before it festers into full-blown inner plague.
Key Highlights: * “No hostility in the heart of a yogi”—what this really means and why it’s non-negotiable * The mind always finds a way to rationalize animosity (and what to do about it) * The ‘hot coal’ analogy that might change how you handle resentment forever * Sauerkraut, ego death, and learning to see others through Rāma’s eyes * Why spiritual life means no selective love — even for that one person
Drop the hostility. Pick up the stories of Lord Rāma. And let the heart realign with the divine.
🎧 Listen now & don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of timeless wisdom.
#NoHostility #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #LetGoOfEnvy #LoveLikeRama #SpiritualMaturity #DailyBhakti
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To revisit the recordings of the Bhakti Yoga Conference: Grace in an Age of Distraction Hosted at Harvard Divinity School please visit the following link: https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference
1588: Divine Play: The Cosmic Purpose We’re Meant to Remember
In our existence in this world, we carry the burdens of duty, judgment, and anger—and then we project them onto God. But reality? He’s just playing His flute, dancing, and inviting us back into a life of divine play (lila). In today’s Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha reveal a revolutionary truth rooted in the Upanishads, the Vedānta Sūtra, and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: the Absolute Truth isn’t weighed down by judgment or duty—the Absolute’s only “business” is joyful līlā, or divine play.
So why all the suffering and conflict in this world? We break down why Advaita Vedanta struggles to answer this—and how Bhakti Vedanta offers a beautiful, clear vision: the spiritual world is pure play, and the material world exists to help us remember how to “play nice” again.
Key Highlights: * Why Ram, even when fighting Ravana, was just playing with His friends (yes, the monkeys 🐒). * How the real nature of God isn’t the cosmic judge—but the cosmic dancer and lover. * Why suffering doesn’t contradict divine play—it points us back to love. * Vedānta’s ultimate secret: Creation exists solely for the joyful exchange of love. * Is my irritable bowel syndrome really divine play? * The Bhakti Vedanta advantage: a coherent, heart-transforming vision of the Absolute.
Rediscover the real purpose behind everything: love, joy, play—and the irresistible call of the divine flute.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of Bhakti!
🎧 Tune in now! #DivinePlay #BhaktiVedanta #VedantaWisdom #SrimadBhagavatam #BhaktiYoga #Ramayana #WisdomOfTheSages
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1587: You Don’t Complete Me: Bhakti Insight on Love & Break-up
It’s said that in the absolute reality, there are varieties of feeling—but all of them are of the same quality of transcendental bliss. How can what looks like heartbreak actually be an entry to the deepest spiritual joy? In today’s episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha examine the profound teachings behind Lord Ram’s separation from Sita, explore why material “love” is often the cause of fear, and reveal how the illusory love relationships of this world can be aligned with the spiritual reality. Forget the Hollywood endings—the Vedic sages offer a powerful upgrade in understanding the ways of love.
Key Highlights:
* Ram’s heartbreak: a cosmic love story * In union, the Beloved is seen in one place; in separation… everywhere. * Why material “love” comes with a side of fear * The oneness and the duality of the spiritual realm * You don’t need a “you complete me” moment… you need a Supersoulmate.
✨ Jump into a discussion where ancient wisdom meets everyday neuroses — and discover why true love means learning to be blissful, even when life kicks you right in the shins.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiWisdom #RamayanaRevealed #YogaOfSeparation #SpiritualHeartbreak #WisdomOfTheSagesPodcast
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1586: Finding God in the Morning and Getting Schooled by Your Kids: Interview with Julie Piatt
Why do some of life’s deepest lessons come at 4 a.m.—and others from your own children? Dive into a rich, soulful conversation where Raghunath sits down with Julie Piatt: entrepreneur, artist, and yes, a self-declared “unparentable” rebel yogi. From raising kids as gurus instead of projects, to healing herself with what can only be described as magical swamp water, Srimati shares how devotion, discipline, and a touch of cosmic mischief weave into everyday life.
Key Highlights: * Why real magic happens at 4 a.m. * Parenting without losing your mind—or your faith * How a golf-ball-sized cyst led to a total life transformation (and a kitchen evacuation) * Why sadness might actually be your superpower * The secret sauce behind creativity, devotion, and vegan cheese * Waking up early: better than a rock concert, cheaper than therapy
Whether you’re navigating spiritual life, parenting, creativity—or just trying to survive New York City—this episode offers a fresh reminder: the journey back home starts from within.
🌟 Subscribe and join thousands on the daily path of Bhakti wisdom and transformation.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiLife #SpiritualParenting #MorningMagic #SrimadBhagavatam #VeganCheese #WisdomOfTheSages #JuliePiatt #Srimati
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1585: Spiritual Insight vs Political Bias | Q&A Volume 272
Are we interpreting politics through the lens of spiritual teachings - or are we interpreting spiritual teachings through the lens of our politics? How to respond when personal political opinions get imposed upon the spiritual discussions the we go to for enlightenment? In this dynamic Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha respond to pressing questions about navigating touchy topics in bhakti communities. They unpack the real meaning of seva when service feels more like a chore list, and dive into a fascinating discussion on the parallels between the Vedic Paramatma and the Christian Holy Ghost.
Key Highlights: * How politics can sneak into spiritual discussions—and how to respond * Are we viewing sacred texts through a clean lens—or a political filter? * The art of doing real temple service (even when it’s scrubbing pots) * Seeing Krishna in the messy, humble work that nobody else wants to do * mapping the parallels & distinctions between Paramatma & Holy Ghost
In a world drowning in division, discover how true spiritual life calls us beyond party lines—into something deeper, sweeter, and eternal.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands around the world on the path of authentic bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualLife #WisdomOfTheSages #BeyondPolitics
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1584: Does the Hunger for Power Disqualify One From Holding It?
What does it means to lead without ego, serve without exploitation, and rule with spiritual detachment? In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into the extraordinary standard set by Lord Ramachandra, whose rule began not with conquest but with renunciation.
The conversation also takes a deeper look at the controversial episode of Sita’s banishment though the eyes of the sages (as opposed to the lens of ones’s own painful divorce). When seen with spiritual clarity, the pain of separation transforms into an expression of divine love, where Ram and Sita’s apparent distance reveals the depth of their unbreakable connection.
Key Highlights: * How Ram’s leadership flips modern politics on its head * Sages with melted hearts receive the supreme gift - inner illumination * Sita’s banishment—and why comparing it to your messy breakup doesn’t quite work * What Jay Shetty, and Douglas Adams and Socrates have to do with karma yoga * Abraham Lincolns touching letter about losing a loved one * Bhakti as the “Platinum Package” of yoga paths (yes, karma and jñāna are included) * How Sita Sings the Blues delights, but disappoints
🎧 Tune in for sacred stories, sharp insight, and plenty of laughs. 🌟 Subscribe and join the global bhakti movement.
#LordRam #SpiritualLeadership #BhaktiYoga #SitaAndRam #KarmaYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #Ramayana #DharmaAndDetachment #PlatinumBhaktiBundle #SrimadBhagavatam
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1583: Can You Really Clean a River with a Polluted Mind?
Think a better system will fix everything? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha encourage us to think again by exploring the idea that until we transform the mind and purify the heart, no political structure will truly work. We chase reforms, write new laws, and elect new leaders, but if we’re not addressing the root within, the same problems resurface. Different system, same chaos.
Drawing wisdom from Plato, Bhaktivedanta Swami, and Radhanath Swami, we explore how inner clarity is the foundation of any truly functional society. Also: what does Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya—and his eventual heartbreaking separation from Sita—teach us about the deepest currents of love?
Key Highlights: * “The city is what it is because the citizens are what they are.” —Plato * Why policy without purification is just window dressing * What Radhanath Swami told a government official about cleaning rivers * Love in separation: the most esoteric (and confusing) part of bhakti * A tiny chicken, a brutal pecking order, and the quest for a tribe 🐔 * Prabhupāda’s radical idea: train hearts, not just professionals * The river of love flows between two banks: union and separation
This episode is part philosophy, part Ramayana, part barnyard tale—but all bhakti.
🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and share if you’re ready to stop treating symptoms and start addressing the root.
#FixTheHeartFixTheWorld #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualSociety #PlatoToPrabhupada #LoveInSeparation #WisdomOfTheSages #BhaktivinodaThakura #RadhanathSwami
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1582: Terminal Diagnosis, Timeless Devotion: A Yogi’s Final Chapter
How do decades of spiritual practice shape your heart when death comes knocking? In this powerful episode, we hear from our longtime friend Yasso who, after forty years of devotion, is now facing terminal illness with stunning clarity and peace. What makes this conversation especially moving is how Yasso’s fearless, attitude of gratitude so closely mirrors the timeless wisdom of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, where the dying King Parīkṣit embraces his final days with devotion, humility, and total absorption in the divine.
Also in this episode: the epic homecoming of Lord Ram and the tear-jerking reunion with his brother Bharat, whose 14 years of radical simplicity (cow urine barley, anyone?) reflect the deepest brotherly devotion—zero envy, all love. And we also explore how devotional art can lift consciousness, using a vivid verse from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as our canvas. This one goes deep—real life, real death, and real bhakti.
Key Highlights: * A rare window into how a bhakti yogi prepares to leave this world * Lord Ram returns to Ayodhya—no one has ever waved a chadar with more love * No envy, no ego—just love: the bond between Ram and Bharat * Why Krishna art > overpriced splatter art * Chant Hare Krishna and don’t criticize. Boom. That’s it.
🎧 Tune in for sacred wisdom, raw honesty, and a few good laughs with Raghunath & Kaustubha.
#BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #FacingDeath #SpiritualJourney #WisdomOfTheSages #LordRam #Ramayana #HareKrishna #DevotionalArt #TerminalIllness #YogiWisdom #KrishnaConsciousness
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1581: Rethinking Empowerment: Yoga Wisdom on Commitment vs. Independence
Have you ever wondered whether the modern narrative of empowerment is missing something essential? We live in a world where empowerment is often defined as the independent freedom to do as we please. But in this thought-provoking episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a radically different idea—drawn from the bhakti-yoga tradition—that deep commitment can be a source of supernatural strength.
Sītā, whose unwavering integrity and loyalty ultimately crushed the might of Ravana, is more than a mythological figure—she’s a spiritual archetype. This episode challenges the assumption that power comes from autonomy, and offers a vision of strength rooted in devotion, integrity, and focus. Whether it’s to a person, a principle, or the Divine, commitment—according to the Bhakti tradition—isn’t weakness. It’s where real empowerment begins.
Key Highlights: * The Bhagavatam doesn’t just expose Ravana—it holds up a mirror to our modern cravings * Why unexamined desire can lead to destruction—even when you “have it all” * “Attractive, but not what I need”—the mantra that builds inner strength * The supernatural force of Sītā’s chastity and the deeper meaning of loyalty * A masculine path to power that isn’t about suppression, but sacred focus * Speaking truth to power—without hostility or ego * Raghu & Kaustubha imagine what it would it be like seeing Hanuman flying in the first class cabin
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative path of bhakti.
This isn’t just a lesson from ancient scripture—it’s a challenge to reimagine what real strength looks like in our lives today.
🎧 Tune in now and join thousands on the journey of living wisdom.
#YogaWisdom #BhaktiYoga #Empowerment #CommitmentOverFreedom #SrimadBhagavatam #Ravana #Sita #InnerStrength #WisdomOfTheSages
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1580: Ravana vs. Hanuman: How to Approach the Divine Feminine & Not Get Smoked
The Ramayana doesn’t just tell an ancient story—it reveals eternal truths. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore one of the most profound contrasts in the epic: how Ravana and Hanuman each approach Sita.
What unfolds is not just mythological drama—it’s a powerful spiritual teaching. Sita is the personification of good fortune herself. In bhakti wisdom, how we approach her—whether with reverence and devotion or with a mood of exploitation—determines the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness that flows though our lives.
This isn’t just about Sita and Ravana. It’s about all of us and the world around us.
And yes, the Pope gets a shout-out. So do monkeys with torches.
Key Highlights: * Ravana, Hanuman, and the spiritual do’s and don’ts of divine energy * Why auspiciousness isn’t random—it’s relational * The Pope, Easter, and holy humility * Monkeys vs. modern weapons: Why the jungle army wins * The arc of the moral universe is long—but don’t worry, zoom out * Why Sita’s curse beat Ravana’s black magic
🎧 Tune in for timeless wisdom, epic storytelling, and spiritual depth—with just enough monkey mischief to keep it fun.
📿 Subscribe and join the daily pilgrimage of the heart. #BhaktiWisdom #GoddessOfFortune #RamayanaTruths #JusticeAndKarma #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualTransformation #HanumanPower
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1579: Is Spiritual Truth Beyond Words? | Q&A Volume 271
Is trying to understand spiritual truth a futile task? Is it all beyond words and beyond the logical understanding of the human mind?
In this Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustubha Das, with guest host Kishori Gopi, takes on one of the deepest questions of spiritual life—whether the ultimate reality can be known, described, or even spoken of. Drawing from the ancient dialectic between Advaita Vedanta and Bhakti Vedanta, they explore how the Absolute is perceived across different schools of Indian philosophy, and whether Krishna’s teachings are meant to be understood—or simply surrendered to.
Then, things get bold and existential: If we’re not the body or the mind… why not just commit suicide? This intense question opens the door to a profound discussion on karma, the soul’s journey, and why trying to “opt out” is ill advised.
Morgan Freeman shows up. So does Groundhog Day. Somehow it all makes sense.
Key Highlights
* The Bhakti perspective: Krishna can be understood—and described—in rich detail * How Shankara’s “neti neti” approach led to the idea of the indescribable Absolute * Karma as a cosmic reformatory system * Why suicide doesn’t break the cycle—just moves it like a whack-a-mole * What Newton might say about karma (and why we’re not totally convinced) * “They muddy the waters to make them seem deep.” — Nietzsche, and also Kaustubha 🔥
🌟 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join a global community exploring life’s most important questions through the lens of ancient yoga wisdom.
🎧 Listen now. Think deeply. Laugh as well.
#VedantaQandA #BhaktiYoga #KarmaExplained #BeyondWords #SpiritualPhilosophy #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #NetiNeti #MorganFreemanOnVedanta
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1578: Fear of Loss is a Path to the Dark Side
Loss comes for everyone—but the Bhakti yogi faces it not with fear, but with training, trust, and transcendence. In this powerful episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam prepares us for the moments that shake our identity, strip our attachments, and invite us into deeper surrender. From philosophical insight to real-life stories, they reveal how detachment isn’t cold or passive—it’s the soul’s doorway to freedom.
Key Highlights: * “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” — Yoda (Bhakti approves.) * Why loss is not punishment—but a spiritual upgrade in disguise. * Chest-waxing and ego-stripping: a painful but necessary metaphor for spiritual growth. * The man who thought his wealth could buy him a free pass at the barber shop—and what that reveals about false identity. * What it means to live as if nothing is yours, and love as if everything is. * The yogi’s mindset: clarity in chaos, faith in the face of death.
🎧 Tune in now and discover how the Bhakti tradition reframes loss as grace, grief as growth, and endings as the beginning of true connection.
#LettingGo #FearOfLoss #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualTransformation #SrimadBhagavatam #EgoToEternity #YogaHumor #WisdomOfTheSages #BarberShopEgo #ChestWaxMetaphors
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1577: What is My Dharma? / Q&A Volume 270
In this deep-dive Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustuba Das and guest co-host Kishori Gopi explore one of life’s most profound questions: What is my purpose? Drawing from the teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the writings of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and the ancient tradition of Vedānta, they unpack the layered meaning of dharma—from temporary duties to the soul’s eternal calling.
Whether you’re a spiritual seeker, a yoga teacher, a parent, or simply navigating life’s changing roles, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and clarify your inner compass. Discover how your svadharma (individual calling) fits into a larger journey of evolution toward bhakti—the soul’s natural expression of love.
Key Highlights: * The difference between temporary dharma and eternal dharma * Why success in life isn’t about achievement, but alignment * The secret purpose behind your everyday responsibilities * What the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam reveals about the highest truth
🎧 This episode is a must-listen for anyone reflecting on their place in the world and longing to connect with something deeper.
🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual insights and join thousands on the transformative path of bhakti yoga.
#BhaktiYoga #SpiritualAwakening #Dharma #VedantaWisdom #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #PurposeDrivenLife #YogaPhilosophy #VedicWisdom #SelfRealization #KarmaJnanaBhakti
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1576: You Can Have a Profound Spiritual Experience, Right Now / Q&A Volume 269
This Q&A episode offers a bold reminder: a deep and transformational spiritual experience isn’t reserved for mystics in the mountains—it’s available to you right now, anywhere.
Kaustubha and guest Co-host Kishori Gopi unpack the Bhagavad-gītā’s ancient key to overcoming seasonal depression, emotional heaviness, and the constant ups and downs of modern life: detachment from the shifting mind, and connection to the ever-radiant soul within.
Learn how simply observing your thoughts and emotions—rather than identifying with them—is not just mindfulness, but a moment of true spiritual awakening.
Also in this episode: * What the Gītā says about seasonal sadness and inner stability * The profound power of stepping back from the mind and witnessing the soul * How weather, darkness, and emotional struggle can become fuel for real growth * How to raise God-connected kids in challenging circumstances * Navigating Catholicism, Krishna bhakti
Whether your long winter is literal or emotional—this episode will help you rediscover your luminosity and find clarity on how to guide others, especially your children, toward the same.
🎧 Tune in now and learn how to access what’s already within you.
#SpiritualExperienceNow #SeasonalDepression #BhagavadGitaWisdom #ParentingAndBhakti #Mindfulness #KrishnaConsciousness #BhaktiYoga #InnerPeace #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages
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1575: Please Don’t Feed the Demons: Ramayana & Our Own Hero’s Journey
Every life holds a hidden epic. In this stirring episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unlock the timeless teachings of the Ramayana and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to reveal how Lord Ram’s divine story is far more than mythology—it’s a living guide for our own transformation. Alongside the insights of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, the sages explore what it truly means to conquer inner demons and rise to the occasion of your own sacred adventure.
But this episode goes deeper than just inspiration. It offers a bold clarification of what līlā truly is—and what it’s not. It’s a common spiritual misstep to view the pain, confusion, and trauma of material life as brahman engaged in “divine play,” mistaking our suffering for the līlā of the Supreme. Raghunath and Kaustubha draw a clear line: true līlā is not the fractured experience of conditioned life, but the ecstatic, conscious, and love-saturated interactions of Krishna with His eternal energies—Ram and Sita, Radha and Krishna, Lakshman, Hanuman, and the gopīs, etc. To conflate the two is to miss the sweetness of bhakti, to remain trapped in illusion, and to miss the opportunity to enter into eternal līlā—the highest potential of the self.
Key Highlights: * Why the Ramayana is more than story—it’s a training ground for the soul * The crucial difference between true līlā and conditioned suffering * Why Lord Ram left without resentment—and how we can too * How to starve the inner Ravana and awaken your inner Hanuman * What it really means to return from the forest with “boons” for the world
Join us and rediscover your highest potential—not by pretending to be the hero, but by walking the sacred path of one who’s learning how to love.
🌟 Subscribe and walk the hero’s path with us, through ancient wisdom, daily insights, and the transformative power of bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #Ramayana #BhaktiYoga #HerosJourney #KrishnaLila #Vedanta #InnerDemons #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualPodcast #TrueLila #JosephCampbell #LordRam #SitaRam #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 9.10.1-7
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1574: How Yogis Train the Mind for the Ultimate Test
“You Won’t Rise to the Occasion—You’ll Default to Your Training”. In this episode we explore how ancient yogic wisdom aligns with the discipline of elite athletes, soldiers, and spiritual seekers. Learn how the mind, when trained in remembrance and devotion, naturally turns toward the Divine—even at the moment of death. This episode is a clarion call to train your heart, shape your consciousness, and live with purpose so that when the test comes, you’re not grasping for last-minute wisdom—you’re simply doing what you’ve always done: remembering who you’ve been meditating on all along. Drawing from the timeless teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Kaustubha, and special guest Kishori Gopi dive deep into the life of King Katvanga, a warrior-king who turned his final moment into his finest moment—not by chance, but by a lifetime of conscious preparation.
Key Highlights: * “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”—why your daily practice shapes your destiny * What King Katvanga teaches us about detachment, clarity, and the power of a single moment * How to build your spiritual default setting through consistent sādhanā * The Bhagavad-gītā’s teaching on death, remembrance, and ultimate transformation * Why even the devas admired a king who asked for no boon but truth
🎧 Don’t miss this episode that bridges warrior mindset, yogic philosophy, and bhakti devotion into a single, life-shifting meditation.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join the global bhakti movement.
#BhaktiTraining #KingKatvanga #DefaultToYourTraining #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualDiscipline #YogaOfDeath #RememberKrishna #BhaktiYoga #TrainTheMind #VedantaWisdom #FinalMoment #ConsciousLiving #SādhanāLifestyle
SB 9.9.41-49
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1573: Seeing the Sacred Woven Through Everything
The sacred isn’t far away, or locked away in a temple, a ritual, or some otherworldly realm. The sacred is the invisible thread running through the entire tapestry of life—right here, right now.
In this deeply reflective episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the Vedic concept of otam-protam—the warp and weft of reality—revealing how divinity is interwoven through every moment, every element, every being. From the descent of the sacred Ganges to the subtle presence of God in all things, this episode invites you to shift your lens and recognize the divine fabric behind the visible world.
Also featured is a moving tribute to Al Barile of SSD—a hardcore punk pioneer whose unexpected connection to the Bhāgavatam is a reminder that even the toughest exteriors can carry a sincere spiritual search within.
Key Highlights: • What “warp and weft” teaches us about the nature of reality • C.S. Lewis on the God who walks everywhere incognito • Why seeing God in everything is the highest yoga • How the Ganga purifies not just bodies, but the mind and heart • Al Barile’s surprising connection to bhakti and the search for truth
Whether you’re walking through a city street, sitting in nature, or standing in a mosh pit—the thread of the sacred is already there. Learn to see it.
🌿 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join thousands on the bhakti path.
🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #DivinePresence #SrimadBhagavatam #SacredEverywhere #OtamProtam #AlBarile #WisdomOfTheSages #PunkMeetsBhakti #GangaFlow
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1572: Should I Stay or Should I Go, Does Bhakti Require Renunciation? / Q & A Volume 268
Can you practice deep spiritual life without walking away from your worldly responsibilities? Or is renunciation—of family, career, and social ties—a necessary cost of devotion? In this essential Q&A edition of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha address one of the most pressing questions for modern spiritual seekers: can the path of bhakti be lived fully without uprooting your life? What unfolds is a powerful conversation about clarity, compassion, and the dangers of spiritual misunderstanding.
This episode dives into three thought-provoking questions:
• Is bhakti really free from the strict renunciations of other yogic paths—or is that just a myth? • How do we trust Krishna’s plan without falling into inertia or passivity? • How should we respond to skepticism around the bhakti tradition, especially in light of scandal and misrepresentation?
Key Highlights: • Why external renunciation is not the essence of bhakti—and how reorienting our vision of family, work, and social life is often the real path forward. • The subtle but vital difference between walking away from the world and seeing it through a new lens of service. • What it truly means to “accept what’s favorable and reject what’s unfavorable” for spiritual growth. • How to stay steady in your practice even when exposed to harmful or fanatical representations of bhakti. • Why spiritual life is about progress, not perfection—and how to build a path that is sustainable, sincere, and real.
🎧 Tune in now for a conversation that redefines what it means to be spiritual in the real world.
🌍 Join the bhakti movement: #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualProgress #WisdomOfTheSages #YogaInModernLife #BhaktiWithoutRenunciation #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualBurnout #SrimadBhagavatam #BhagavadGita #ModernBhakti #DailyWisdom #QandA
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1571: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 2
More than sacred—this is about cosmic justice, karmic cleansing, and the mysterious flow of divine grace. In this provocative conclusion to our two-part deep dive, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack why the Ganges is revered as the purifier of sins and how its sanctity is upheld—not just by myth or ritual, but through the living presence of Krishna and His devotees. What makes a river more than water? How does mercy override karma? And how can we become a river of grace ourselves?
Key Highlights: • The Ganges as a portal of divine compassion—from Vaikuntha to Earth. • How saintly souls become walking places of pilgrimage. • Grace vs. karma: why fairness isn’t the highest principle in the universe. • The mystical relationship between Krishna’s feet, the holy river, and the pure-hearted. • Why Bhagiratha’s mission wasn’t just personal—it was a multi-generational act of love.
Whether you’ve dipped in her waters or just dreamed of the Himalayas, this episode will change the way you see rivers, saints, and the subtle forces that shape our destiny.
🌊 Subscribe for daily spiritual insight and join a global community seeking truth through the path of bhakti.
🎧 Listen now & flow with us. #GangaRiver #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualGrace #SrimadBhagavatam #HinduWisdom #KarmaAndMercy #HolyRivers #WisdomOfTheSages #Raghunath #Kaustubha
1570: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 1
Can water actually wash away your karma? For thousands of years, pilgrims have journeyed to the Ganges River with unwavering faith that her sacred waters can liberate the soul. But where does that power come from? And why is it believed that even the most sinful acts can be purified through a simple bath in her current?
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the profound story of King Bhagirath and the descent of the Ganga, as told in the pages of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Together, they unpack ancient insights into how grace flows through sacred elements, and how divine consciousness transforms even the physical elements of this world.
Key Highlights:
• Why Bhagirath’s mission to bring down the Ganges spanned generations • The deep Vedic symbolism of “lotus feet” and approaching the divine from the ground up • Ganga’s own doubts—can she handle the sins of the world? • What makes something sacred in bhakti: form, faith, or transcendental connection?
Get ready to rethink what it means to be purified, and how spiritual energy can travel through water, sound, and intention to change the destiny of a soul.
🌊 Subscribe and connect to timeless wisdom that continues to flow.
🎧 Tune in now!
#GangesRiver #SpiritualPurification #Bhagirath #KarmaAndGrace #SacredWaters #SrimadBhagavatam #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #GangaDevi
1569: Are We Seeking Truth or Emotional Comfort?
Discover how modern psychology’s insights into motivated reasoning and confirmation bias align with ancient yogic teachings on how desire and attachment distort our perception of truth. In this eye-opening episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how both science and the Bhakti tradition describe the mind’s tendency to protect its illusions rather than seek reality. Drawing from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they unpack why truth feels so elusive, how even scholars and scientist can be blinded by comfort zones, and why the Bhāgavatam’s vision of Krishna as the personal Absolute is the ultimate disruption to the ego’s false narratives.
🔥 Key Takeaways: • Your mind isn’t always seeking truth—it’s seeking emotional safety. • Vedānta through the lens of Bhāgavatam reveals a spiritual evolution that challenges impersonalism. • Why we may cling to comforting spiritual philosophies—even when they contradict the sacred texts. • How the modes of material nature (guṇas) influence our worldviews, preferences. • The difference between subjective attraction and ontological truth in the path of bhakti.
If you’ve ever wondered why intelligent people believe completely different things—even when reading the same sacred texts—this episode will open your eyes to the filters between the self and the truth.
🎧 Stream it now and rediscover how bhakti yoga offers clarity in a world clouded by illusion. 👉 Subscribe for daily drops of wisdom rooted in sacred text & lived experience.
#BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #ConfirmationBias #MotivatedReasoning #YogaPhilosophy #VedicWisdom #SpiritualEvolution #WisdomOfTheSages #KarmaToKrishna
SB 9.8.22-26
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1568: Reality Distorted Through the Lens of Attachment & Aversion
Our perception of truth is rarely objective—it’s colored by what we crave and what we fear. In this eye-opening episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a powerful quote from Carl Jung: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Paired with deep wisdom from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they explore how our internal programming—our icchā (desires) and dveṣa (aversions)—create filters that distort our understanding of the world, ourselves, and God.
The episode takes a fascinating turn as the hosts recount the story of King Sagara’s sons, whose perception was so warped by anger and false assumptions that it led to their destruction. In contrast, a single grandson approaches with humility and clarity, revealing how higher consciousness means learning to see clearly—beyond the lens of the ego.
Key Highlights: • How unconscious preferences distort spiritual understanding • Krishna’s words on icchā and dveṣa in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.27) • Why seeing the divine requires transcending the “box” we’ve built for truth • The difference between living under illusion and recognizing Krishna’s hand in all things • A reflection on how saints, mystics, and avatars may be walking among us unnoticed
This episode isn’t just theory—it’s a call to courageously examine the filters we carry and begin the inner work of uncovering truth as it is.
🎧 Subscribe, tune in, and join the global bhakti conversation. #BhaktiWisdom #SrimadBhagavatam #CarlJung #AttachmentAndAversion #YogaPhilosophy #SelfAwareness #SpiritualPerception #ConsciousLiving #WisdomOfTheSages #KrishnaYoga
SB 9.8.19-22
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1567: Growing Through the Dark Night of the Soul / An Interview with Author Simon Haas
Life’s most painful moments often carry the seeds of our deepest transformation. In this powerful episode, author and scholar Simon Haas joins Wisdom of the Sages to illuminate how the Bhagavad Gita frames personal crisis—not as a detour from the spiritual path, but as an integral part of it. Known as Vishad Yoga, the yoga of crisis, this ancient wisdom reveals how despair can become a gateway to awakening.
Through the lens of Arjuna’s breakdown on the battlefield, Simon explains the four universal symptoms of a dark night of the soul: • Intense suffering tied to time—fear of the future, lamentation for the past, and confusion in the present • A powerful urge to withdraw from life or even give up • Confrontation with parts of ourselves we’d rather not see • A feeling of complete helplessness, where even our best tools no longer work
Rather than avoiding these moments, Simon shows us how to recognize them as sacred rites of passage—times when the soul is being reshaped by divine design. Learn how to navigate the inner battlefield with the guidance of yoga philosophy, and why the teachings of Krishna to Arjuna offer a timeless blueprint for turning breakdown into breakthrough.
Key Highlights: • Why suffering often precedes spiritual evolution • How to listen, surrender, and evolve when everything falls apart • Why the world’s greatest spiritual texts were born from suffering • Practical tools from the Gita for navigating emotional crisis
This episode is a profound companion for anyone going through grief, loss, disillusionment, or inner change. Let the Gita be your guide through the shadows.
🎧 Tune in now and walk the path of inner transformation with clarity and purpose. 🌱 Subscribe for daily insights from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad Gītā.
#DarkNightOfTheSoul #BhagavadGitaWisdom #VishadYoga #BhaktiWisdom #YogaThroughSuffering #SpiritualAwakening #WisdomOfTheSages #YogaPhilosophy #SimonHaas #TransformationThroughCrisis
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1566: Reframing Mental Suffering Through Bhakti / Q & A Volume 267
For some of us, it seems like the mind will never let us go. In this raw and deeply insightful Q&A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha confront the complex intersection of trauma, depression, and the spiritual path. They unpack how the Bhakti tradition doesn’t promise a quick fix for erasing psychological suffering—but it radically reframes it. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they explain how the soul carries the subtle mind into the next life, how karma shapes mental struggles, and how deep devotional practice can burn through even the heaviest mental burdens.
Bhakti offers a transformative lens—a way to see the mind not as the self, but as an apparatus we carry on the soul’s long journey. For anyone dealing with mental health challenges, or supporting those who are, this episode offers real spiritual tools to face it, live with it, and grow beyond it.
Key Highlights: • Why Bhakti might not quickly “fix” depression—but it can transform how we live with it • How trauma and psychological pain may carry over from previous lifetimes • The yogic technique that instantly reveals you are not your mind • Raghunath shares candid reflections on fatherhood, heartbreak, and spiritual surrender
🎧 Dive into a conversation that’s equal parts psychology and soul.
🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual insights and join a global community living the path of Bhakti.
MentalHealthAndSpirituality #BhaktiYoga #DepressionAndBhakti #KarmaAndTheMind #YouAreNotYourMind #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #BhagavadGita #HealingThroughBhakti #SpiritualTransformation*********************************************************************
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1565: No Retaliation, No Hate - A Yogi’s Guide to Loving the Unlovable
60,000 angry men attack a saint—and get reduced to ashes by their own ignorance – this epic tale from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam becomes the backdrop for a powerful conversation on radical forgiveness, spiritual transformation, and the illusiory nature of enemies. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack ancient wisdom through the lens of Lao Tzu, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela to reveal one unshakable truth: real sages see no enemies, only souls.
From corrupt olive oil empires to broken relationships, from ego battles to misused power—even from within religious life—this episode goes deep into how spiritual maturity always means rising above.
🎧 Episode Highlights: • Why transformation matters more than happiness on the path of yoga • Kapiladeva’s silent strength and what it teaches about divine vision • Bhakti’s answer to cancel culture: love those who don’t love you back • “Destroy your enemies… by making them your friends.”
🕉️ This is not just philosophy—it’s a revolution of the heart. Tap into the mindset of the sage and upgrade your spiritual operating system.
🌿 Don’t forget to subscribe and share! #BhaktiWisdom #ForgivenessIsFreedom #SrimadBhagavatam #SageLife #YogaWisdom #Kapiladeva #BhaktiPodcast #SpiritualGrowth
Join Kaustubha Das at Harvard Divinity School for Divine Revelation in Three Phases – Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavan Friday, March 28, 9-10 am ET https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference-schedule
SB 9.8.7-13
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1564: The Seed You Water Will Grow: Rewiring the Mind Through Bhakti
Anxiety, envy, fantasy, or gratitude—whatever you feed in the mind will take root and expand. That’s not just yogic philosophy, it’s neuroscience.
The wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the story of Śaubhari Muni reveal how subtle desires, left unchecked, can grow into powerful distractions that completely reroute the course of life.
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how our thoughts shape our inner algorithm, and how Bhakti offers a path back to clarity, intention, and true spiritual direction.
Key Highlights: • “The seed you water is the seed that will grow.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh • How to retrain your mental algorithm like a spiritual social media feed • Why material desires don’t die out—they intensify • Bhakti is the addiction that liberates • The path back from confusion isn’t judgment—it’s intention
📿 Tune in for a timely reminder that where your attention goes, your life follows.
🎧 Subscribe now for daily inspiration rooted in timeless wisdom. #BhaktiYoga #MindTraining #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualGrowth #YogicWisdom #TrainYourMind
Join Kaustubha Das at Harvard Divinity School for Divine Revelation in Three Phases – Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavan Friday, March 28, 9-10 am ET https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference-schedule
SB 9.6.49-55
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1563: Brad Pitt on Desperation and Loneliness
There’s a deep existential void that often accompanies material success. When Hollywood A-listers and rock legends echo the same ancient truths as the yogic sages of old, it’s giving them a listen. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha dissect a powerful quote from Brad Pitt—spoken at the peak of his fame—revealing the desperation hidden behind luxury, the spiritual failures of sensual indulgence, and the timeless Bhakti wisdom found in the story of the mystic sage Śaubharī Muni.
Key Highlights: • Why achieving the pinnacle of material success often leads to loneliness and inner collapse • The simple but profound shift from self-mastery to spiritual surrender • What Bono, Mick Jagger, and a sage meditating underwater all have in common • Watching or society descend into Super Bowl rap battle disrespect
Discover why Bhakti yoga cuts through the illusion of external success and points us to the only thing that truly satisfies: unmotivated love.
🎧 Tune in, reflect deep, and pivot toward the real treasure. #BradPittQuote #BhaktiWisdom #FameAndEmptiness #MaterialSuccess #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualPodcast #WisdomOfTheSages #ModernYogis #MickJagger #Bono #DesireAndDetachment #SaubhariMuni #BhaktiYogaTruths #VedantaForToday
SB 9.6.45-48
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1562: Where Mystic Power Falls Short
Despite achieving what many spiritual seekers only dream of— intense renunciation, self control and mystic abilities—some yogi’s in the still suffer from fear and emptiness. In this eye-opening episode, Kaustubha and guest co-host Kishori Gopi explore the downfalls of two great mystic yogis and the deeper message their stories carry: that real transformation lies not in knowledge or austerity, but from the purity of one’s heart.
Through the stories of Durvāsā, Saubhari, and the unwavering devotion of Ambarīṣa, we uncover how even the most exalted yogic accomplishments are hollow without love, humility, and inner simplicity.
Key Highlights: • Why mystic power can increase pride—and suffering • How Ambarīṣa’s humility outshines a yogi’s austerity • “Simplicity seeks God, purity enjoys Him” — the Thomas à Kempis quote unpacked • A Bhāgavatam verse revealing that even Lord Vishnu doesn’t enjoy His own opulence without the love of the devotees
Tune in to this illuminating episode to understand what truly moves the heart of God—and why it has little to do with how “spiritually accomplished” we appear.
🌊 Subscribe and join the global bhakti community rediscovering ancient truths for modern life.
🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #MysticYogaVsDevotion #PurityOfHeart #SimplicityAndDevotion #WisdomOfTheSages
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Join Kaustubha at Harvard Divinity School
Divine Revelation in Three Phases – Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavan
Friday, March 28, 9-10 am ET https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference-schedule
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1561: Karma's Cosmic Sensitivity Training & How to Opt Out / Q & A Vol 266
You’re not locked into karma—you’re being trained by it. In this illuminating Q&A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha reveal how the law of karma is less about punishment and more about cosmic sensitivity training. But the deeper question is: Do you want to stay under karma’s rule, or reconnect with the root of all existence?
🌿 Key Moments & Highlights • (Departure): Kaustubha’s sacred farewell from India, chanting mantras to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva as light streamed over the Ganges • The Indra to Indra Gopa principle – how karma reaches from the king of heavens to the microscopic germs • the subtle yet transformative distinction between being under the automated system of karma versus being under Krishna’s direct energy. • Why bhakti lifts one above karma (and why that makes Krishna personally invested in the devotee’s treatment) • (Privilege): The unexpected spiritual wealth of the widows of Vṛndāvana and how they lit up Vishaka Devi’s heart • The power of crossing a spiritual gate with no return—walking into the Himalayas to die in divine remembrance • (Real name vs. appearance): Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati’s insight on how mantra power flows from the heart, not just the syllables • The comic-yet-profound exploration of “choosing your privilege” in this life—no matter your status or circumstances
Whether you’re wrestling with life’s injustices, seeking clarity on mantra meditation, or feeling the call to go deeper into spiritual practice, this episode invites you to stop asking “what do I deserve?” and start asking “who do I serve?”
🎧 Tune in now and choose your cosmic path.
#LawOfKarma #BhaktiYoga #MantraMeditation #Mahamantra #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualPrivilege #KrishnaBhakti #Himalayas #WidowsOfVrindavan #SpiritualRetreat #KarmaVsBhakti #QandAEpisode #WisdomOfTheSages #Haridwar #DevotionalLife #IndraGopa #KirtanYoga #SpiritualDeparture
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1560: The Cost of Resentment
Resentment is a silent killer of peace—and it’s one of the biggest obstacles on the spiritual path. In this powerful episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and special guest Jiva G dive deep into the spiritual and psychological mechanics of forgiveness. With decades of experience in both Bhakti yoga and 12-step recovery, Jiva brings clarity, compassion, and hard-earned wisdom to one of the most difficult practices in human life: letting go.
Drawing from the story of King Ambarīṣa in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and real-life experiences of transformation, this conversation explores why forgiveness is not about excusing bad behavior, but about reclaiming your own power and serenity.
Key Takeaways: • How resentment blocks spiritual growth and poisons our inner world • Why self-reflection—not blame—is the first step to emotional freedom • How Bhakti and 12-step principles work together to heal deep wounds • The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation • Why forgiving others is often the key to forgiving ourselves • How spiritual community and loving support can help us do what seems impossible • Tools and mindsets that can transform lifelong patterns of hurt and shame
If you’re carrying pain from the past—or struggling to release judgment toward yourself or others—this episode offers both inspiration and real-world practices to help you move forward with strength, clarity, and grace.
🎧 Tune in now and subscribe for daily teachings that blend Bhakti wisdom with practical transformation.
#ForgivenessJourney #LetGoAndGrow #BhaktiYogaWisdom #HealingThroughBhakti #12StepRecovery #SpiritualGrowth #ResentmentRecovery #InnerPeace #WisdomOfTheSages #SelfReflection #KingAmbarisha #SrimadBhagavatam
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1559: The Power of Letting Go in Bhakti
In this eye-opening episode, Raghunath and guest co-host Jiva G dive deep into the hidden roots of addiction, attachment, and self-sabotage through the lens of bhakti. Drawing from the story of Maharaja Ambarish and the transformative insights of the 12 Steps, they explore how true renunciation isn’t about leaving the world behind—it’s about untangling the knots of the heart.
Key Highlights: 🔥 Why real renunciation happens within, not just by walking away. 🌀 The surprising link between addiction, resentment, and spiritual stagnation. 🕉️ Devotees may take no offense—but Krishna does. ❤️ How self-forgiveness and surrender unlock the path to real freedom.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own mind or weighed down by past mistakes, this episode will challenge your perspective and inspire a new way forward.
🔔 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the bhakti journey!
🎧 Tune in now! #LetGoAndSurrender #BhaktiRecovery #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 9.5.26-27
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1558: When Arrogance Meets a Yogi's Forgiveness
What happens when a powerful mystic, fueled by arrogance, tries to destroy a humble king—only to be met with kindness? The ancient encounter between Durvasa Muni and King Ambarish reveals a profound yogic truth: the greatest strength lies not in power, but in devotion.
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha as they dive deep into this riveting Śrīmad Bhāgavatam tale, exploring the transformative nature of humility, forgiveness, and the real measure of spiritual advancement. Why did King Ambarish fast for an entire year waiting for his offender? What did Durvasa Muni finally realize about true yogic power? And how does this wisdom apply to our own struggles with resentment and misunderstanding?
Key Highlights: 🔹 The hidden power of forgiving your worst enemy. 🔹 Why Bhakti transcends the paths of jñāna and mystic yoga. 🔹 The illusion of material success—even on the highest planetary realms. 🔹 How the sincere devotion of one person can transform another’s heart.
This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about strength, tolerance, and the journey to divine love.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide in the practice of Bhakti Yoga.
🎧 Listen now! #Forgiveness #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualPower #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.5.11-25
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1557: Your New Life is Going to Cost You Your Old One
Transformation isn’t cheap—it demands that we leave behind the comforts of familiarity, the rationalizations that hold us back, and the identities we’ve carefully constructed. In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the radical shift required for true spiritual evolution. Drawing wisdom from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they unpack the extraordinary story of King Ambarīṣa and his fearless surrender, revealing how real change calls for real sacrifice.
Key Highlights: 🔥 What does it really take to step into a higher version of yourself? 🔥 The unseen cost of clinging to old habits, relationships, and mindsets. 🔥 King Ambarīṣa’s astonishing act of compassion—even towards his enemy. 🔥 Dharmic reversals highlight the importance of inner essence over external appearances.
If you’ve ever felt torn between your spiritual aspirations and the gravitational pull of your past, this episode will hit home. Join us as we break down what it truly means to let go and step into a new reality.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe for daily wisdom! #SpiritualGrowth #LetGoAndGrow #BhaktiWisdom #Transformation #SrimadBhagavatam #AncientWisdom
SB 9.5.1-10
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1556: Variations on the Theme of Divine Love
Like a great classical composition, the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam unfolds as variations on a theme—repeating, refining, and revealing a singular truth through different stories and characters. That truth? Beyond the pursuit of pleasure (bhoga) and even the escape of liberation (mokṣa), the highest fulfillment is found in bhakti—a relationship of divine love.
In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how this theme plays out in the dramatic encounter between Durvāsā Muni and King Ambarīṣa. More than just an ancient tale, their story touches on something deeply relevant—our modern struggles with power, ego, and the fear of surrender. What does it really mean when Vishnu declares that He is controlled by love? And how does this vision of the divine challenge our deepest assumptions about strength, authority, and freedom?
🔥 Key Highlights: • The Bhāgavatam’s structure—how it echoes the classical technique of variations on a theme. • Why the pursuit of power, knowledge, or even liberation is ultimately incomplete. • How Bhakti rewires our understanding of strength—not as domination, but as devotion. • Vishnu’s unexpected revelation: “I am controlled by the love of my devotees.” • What true freedom looks like when it’s rooted in love rather than detachment.
If you’ve ever wrestled with the idea of a personal divine or questioned what true fulfillment looks like, this episode offers a fresh perspective—one that unfolds like a beautifully composed symphony, leading us back to the essence of spiritual life.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join a growing global conversation on Bhakti and the deeper meaning of life.
🎧 Tune in now! #DivineLove #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualFreedom
SB 9.4.65-71
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1555: The Mind Body Connection / Q & A Volume 265
The mind affects the body, the body affects the mind—but what does the bhakti tradition say about the mind-body connection? In this Q & A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the deeper yogic wisdom behind this popular concept. Are we trying to unite the mind and body, or transcend them both? And how does our environment, our food, and even our relationships shape our consciousness?
Key Topics Discussed: • The real meaning of “mind-body connection” in yoga philosophy • How intelligence, mind, and senses interact in our daily lives • The role of asana, pranayama, and diet in shaping the mind • Can food affect our consciousness? The significance of prasadam • Raising children in bhakti: creating a spiritually nourishing home • Does Krishna accept any offering? The role of devotion in food preparation
Join us as we explore the bhakti perspective on refining the mind, uplifting the spirit, and creating a life centered on devotion.
🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual insights and join thousands on the transformative path of bhakti!
🎧 Tune in now! #MindBodyConnection #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #Prasadam #YogaPhilosophy
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1554: Are We God? Are We Separate? Sri Chaitanya’s Perfect Balance
We live in an incredible era when ancient spiritual traditions are being rediscovered and redefined for the modern seeker. But amidst the extremes—one side painting God as an unreachable authority demanding blind obedience, and the other dissolving all distinction between the self and the divine—where does true spiritual clarity lie?
Sri Chaitanya’s teachings give us the perfect balance. He revealed a path of bhakti where we are both one with and different from God—eternally connected yet uniquely individual. Like the ideal parent, his message offers both guidance and freedom, discipline and affection, revealing that our highest joy comes not from control, but from loving reciprocation. And he didn’t just speak these truths—he embodied them, inaugurating a new era of bhakti where love of God is available to all, simply through the power of the holy name.
🔑 Key Highlights: • The missing piece in both Western religious thought and Eastern impersonalism—Sri Chaitanya’s perfect synthesis • How the holy name acts as a spiritual bridge, reconnecting us to our divine nature • Why true humility is empowering, not self-effacing • Spiritual Life: When to be flexible? When to be rigid? • How we are living in a special age of bhakti, where the teachings of Sri Chaitanya are spreading across the world
Sri Chaitanya’s movement isn’t just history—it’s happening right now. Tune in and be part of the wave of bhakti that is changing lives worldwide.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and be part of the global Bhakti movement!
🎧 Listen now! #SriChaitanya #BhaktiRevolution #HolyName #GauraPurnima #SpiritualAwakening
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1553: Who Sits on the Throne of Your Heart?
We all have a throne within the core of the heart—but who, or what, is sitting on it? In this powerful episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the profound teachings of Bhakti yoga that reveal how our deepest attachments shape our consciousness. Is our heart occupied by fleeting desires, ego-driven pursuits, or the all-attractive Supreme Being?
Drawing from the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they uncover Krishna’s astonishing statement: “I am completely under the control of my devotees.” Learn what it means to make space for divine love, clear out distractions, and invite Krishna to take His rightful place.
Key Takeaways: 🔹 What does it mean to truly seek God with all your heart? 🔹 The unseen power of spiritual connections—how Bhakti spreads naturally. 🔹 Why Krishna reciprocates according to the space we make for Him. 🔹 The surprising way sharing Bhakti strengthens your spiritual life. 🔹 Clearing the throne: How to identify and remove what doesn’t belong.
Join us as we dive deep into the essence of devotion and discover why making Krishna the center of our hearts brings the highest fulfillment.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and become part of the Bhakti revolution!
🎧 Tune in now! #ThroneOfTheHeart #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #KrishnaConsciousness #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 9.4.63-64
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1552: Ego on Rotation
Today’s star is tomorrow’s forgotten name. The powerful become powerless. The admired fade into obscurity. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha break down the hard-hitting truths of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, revealing how even the greatest mystics and demigods are caught in this endless cycle of illusion. Through the story of Durvāsā Muni and King Ambarīṣa, we’ll see what happens when ego collides with reality—and how true greatness is found in humility, devotion, and connection with the Divine.
Key Takeaways:
🔄 Greatness is on rotation—you may be on top now, but it won’t last. ⚡ Even the most powerful beings bow before something greater. 🙏 The secret to breaking free from the illusion of self-importance. 💡 Why a devotee’s heart holds more power than any mystic ability.
Are you still clinging to a temporary throne? Or are you ready to step into something eternal?
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the path of Bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #IllusionOfGreatness #BhaktiWisdom #EgoVsReality #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.4.50-62
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1551: Checking Your Ego at the Door to Bhakti
When resentment takes root, it poisons everything—including your spiritual path. In this no-holds-barred episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle one of the greatest barriers to real devotion: pettiness. Drawing from the teachings of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they explore how holding onto grudges, finding fault, and harboring resentment can push you out of the sacred circle of bhakti—while humility, forgiveness, and self-reflection open the door to Krishna’s pastimes.
Hear about Maharaja Ambarish’s unshakable faith, the mystic Durvasa Muni’s epic downfall, and why Prabhupāda emphasized letting go of resentment as the secret to staying strong in spiritual life. If you want to enter the 10th Canto—the heart of bhakti—you have to check your ego at the door.
Key Takeaways: 🔥 How petty arguments and grudges sabotage your spiritual progress 🔥 Why the devotees who last are the ones who let go of resentment 🔥 The fastest way to wreck your bhakti 🔥 Lessons from Rupa Goswami, Ambarish Maharaja, and the streets of India
Ready to upgrade your consciousness and clear the obstacles on your path? Tune in now.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative journey of Bhakti!
🎧 Tune in now! #ForgivenessIsStrength #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualGrowth
SB 9.4.47-49
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1550: Pure Soul Theology: We're Actually Good Underneath
A core teaching of the Bhakti tradition is that every living being is eternally sacred and ontologically pure. Though this purity may become covered by a conditioned mind shaped by past experiences, it is never lost. Understanding this transforms the way we see others—it allows us to recognize the good in everyone, rise above resentment, and live without enemies. In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore this profound vision through the story of Maharaja Ambarish and Durvasa Muni in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, revealing how a true yogi remains steady and forgiving even in the face of hostility.
Key Highlights: • The difference between external religion and true spiritual realization. • Why anger and resentment signal a lack of brahman realization. • Maharaja Ambarish’s fearless response to a mystic’s fiery attack. • The power of forgiveness through seeing the soul beyond the body and mind.
By seeing beyond temporary behaviors to the unchanging purity of the soul, we unlock the ability to forgive, cultivate compassion, and experience true inner strength.
🔥 Subscribe for daily insights and deepen your understanding of the wisdom of bhakti!
🎧 Tune in now! #PureSoulTheology #BhaktiWisdom #SrimadBhagavatam #ForgivenessAndStrength
SB 9.4.28-47
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1549: Decoding Karma -- An Interview with Radhikesh
Vedic astrology isn’t just about predicting the future—it’s an ancient science designed to help us navigate karma, understand past lives, and make empowered choices. In this mind-expanding conversation, expert astrologer Radhikesh Prabhu reveals how your birth chart is a cosmic map, offering insights into relationships, life challenges, and even hidden karmic debts. This conversation bridges the profound wisdom of the Vedas with the practical tools to navigate life’s most difficult moments.
🎧 Tune in now and join thousands on the journey of self-discovery!
🔔 Subscribe for daily wisdom & spiritual insights! #VedicAstrology #BhaktiYoga #DestinyVsFreeWill #JyotishWisdom #WisdomOfTheSages
Connect with Radhikesh at https://www.radhikeshdas.com
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1548: The Maha Mantra: Its Origin & Practice / Q & A Volume 264
The Maha Mantra has been chanted for millennia, but how far back does its history really go? In this engaging Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the origins, significance, and practice of chanting the holy names of Krishna. From understanding the ten offenses to the holy name to how Sri Chaitanya revived the Maha Mantra for all, this episode is packed with deep insights into the power of sacred sound.
Key Topics Covered: • The Ninth Offense: Should we be cautious about sharing the Maha Mantra with everyone? • Did people chant the Maha Mantra before Lord Chaitanya? What did they chant? • Can someone without formal initiation teach Bhagavad Gita and lead Kirtan? • What is Ekadashi, and how does fasting support Bhakti?
Discover how these essential aspects of Bhakti practice can elevate your spiritual journey and bring you closer to Krishna.
🌟 Don’t miss this powerful discussion! Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative path of Bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #MahaMantra #BhaktiYoga #ChantAndBeHappy #HareKrishna
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1547: Accessing Transcendence through Bhakti Ritual
Bhakti rituals have long been misunderstood—written off as primitive or irrelevant in the modern world. But beneath the surface, these practices contain a refined science of inner renewal and spiritual elevation. In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into the profound wisdom of devotional rituals, revealing how they serve as a gateway to sacred time, purifying the heart and mind. Drawing from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the insights of Romanian religious scholar Mircea Eliade, they uncover the forgotten power of worship in breaking free from the constraints of ordinary perception.
🔹 Key Highlights: • Why ancient rituals aren’t superstition but a means of accessing transcendence. • Maharaj Ambarish—how a great king ruled the world without being ruled by it. • Bhakti’s secret: How engaging the senses in devotion liberates rather than binds. • The forgotten purpose of festivals, temple worship, and spiritual gatherings.
Join the conversation as we challenge modern assumptions and reveal how sacred ritual, when practiced with devotion, brings about real inner transformation.
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🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualTechnology #AncientWisdom #SacredRituals #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 9.4.18-27
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1546: Regard this Fleeting World as a Dream
We’re all trying to build something lasting in a world designed to slip aways. The yogi King Ambarish had everything—power, wealth, and influence beyond imagination—but he saw it all as nothing more than a dream. His story is a masterclass in Bhakti Yoga, proving that true success isn’t in what we hold onto, but in what we surrender.
From kings and sages to modern-day seekers, this episode sheds light on the secret to finding real fulfillment in a temporary world.
🔹 Key Highlights: • The truth about time: why everything material eventually betrays us. • How Bhakti Yoga transforms ordinary actions into spiritual practice. • Maharaj Ambarish vs. the curse of Durvasa Muni—when divine grace overpowers mystical wrath. • The secret that even the wealthiest, most powerful people long to discover.
🌿 Let go of the illusion and embrace the eternal. Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualWisdom #DurvasaMuni #MaharajAmbarish
SB 9.4.13-20
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1545: When Life Feels Unfair
Sometimes, life deals us a hand that feels completely unjust. But the way we respond to these challenges holds a key to unlocking special blessings? In this powerful episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into the transformative wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, revealing how graceful acceptance of difficulties—no matter how unfair they seem—can lead to profound inner peace and divine rewards.
Through the ancient stories of Prashadra and Sukanya, discover how cultivating patience, tolerance, and a higher perspective can turn even life’s harshest trials into opportunities for growth and spiritual elevation.
🔑 Key Takeaways: • Why resisting fate can cause more suffering, and how acceptance brings peace. • The incredible blessings that unfold when we endure hardship with grace. • How the sacred yoga texts teach us to respond to challenges in ways that uplift the soul.
Join us for this enlightening conversation and learn how embracing life’s challenges with wisdom can transform your heart and mind.
✨ Subscribe for daily inspiration and practical wisdom from the Bhakti tradition.
🎧 Tune in now! #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 9.2.14-9.3.16
Join Grace in an Age of Distraction - Harvard Divinity School's Bhakti Yoga Conference at https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference
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1544: When Life Feels Like an Uphill Battle / Q & A Vol 263
Life’s struggles can feel relentless—debt, setbacks, and a sense of being stuck in survival mode. But what if we saw these challenges weren’t just obstacles, but invitations to transformation? In this Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha share Bhakti wisdom on navigating life’s hardships with spiritual insight and resilience.
Key Questions Answered in This Episode: 🔹 How can I balance my material struggles—like debt—while trying to grow spiritually? 🔹 How do I trust that God is guiding me when the world feels merciless? 🔹 If wealth can be a spiritual distraction, why does the Bhagavad-gītā say yogis are reborn into wealthy families?
Drawing from the teachings of great sages, this conversation offers deep yet practical wisdom to help you shift your perspective, find meaning in difficulty, and reframe life’s uphill battles as steps on the path to transcendence.
🎧 Tune in now and rediscover the strength that lies within surrender.
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#BhaktiYoga #SpiritualGrowth #KarmaAndDestiny #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam
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1543: Transcending the Victim Mindset
What if the very suffering that seems unfair is actually your greatest opportunity for growth? In this compelling episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into the power of transcending the victim mentality through a service attitude. Drawing from ancient wisdom and real-life stories, they reveal how adversity, when embraced with humility and devotion, can lead to profound inner freedom.
Hear the moving story of a warrior-turned-saint who accepted life’s harshest twists with grace, transforming obstacles into stepping stones on the path of bhakti.
Key Highlights: ✔️ The victim mentality ruins everything—how to break free. ✔️ Why service is the key to rising above resentment. ✔️ How great bhaktas turn misfortune into spiritual fuel. ✔️ The Rishikesh experience: when separation brings deeper connection.
Let go of blame, embrace bhakti, and reclaim your inner peace.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative path of devotion.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiWisdom #TranscendVictimMentality #InnerFreedom #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 9.2.1-13
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1542: Assimilating Our Suffering / Interview with Bhakti Vijnana Goswami
Bitterness or transformation—how do we digest life’s painful experiences? In this deep dive into bhakti wisdom, Srimad Bhagavatam scholar Bhakti Vijnana Goswami shares insights from his new book, Healing Prayers, which explores the profound lessons found in Queen Kunti’s prayers. These sacred verses reveal how suffering can either harden the heart with resentment or refine it with love and wisdom. They offer a blueprint for transcending the victim mentality—our most fundamental obstacle—and transforming pain into spiritual joy.
🔹 Healing Prayers—Bhakti Vijnana Goswami’s new book on Queen Kunti’s timeless wisdom 🔹 Why victim consciousness is the root of our suffering—and how to break free 🔹 How digesting life’s hardships refines our character, softens the heart, and deepens our love 🔹 The philosophy of healing: aligning the mind with the self through prayer 🔹 The astonishing power of gratitude in the face of adversity 🔹 Why Kunti prays for more calamities—and how her wisdom reveals the secret to true peace
Join us as we discuss this groundbreaking book and uncover timeless truths on how to turn life’s challenges into the very fuel for our spiritual growth.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and be part of a global community on the journey of bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #HealingThroughBhakti #SrimadBhagavatam #VictimMentality #SpiritualTransformation #BhaktiYoga #HealingPrayersBook
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1541: Mystical Perspectives on the Nature of Time / Q & A Volume 262
How can time both move and remain still? How can one moment be fully experienced forever without fading, without loss? The idea of a realm beyond time challenges everything we know. In the material world, every moment slips away, never to return—but in Krishna’s transcendental pastimes, each moment exists eternally, while at the same time, His divine play unfolds in a continuous flow.
In this Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the mysteries of time as described in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, revealing how certain truths about time can only be understood through deep spiritual meditation—just as the great teachers of the Bhakti tradition have expressed.
Other thought-provoking questions include: 🔹 Does bhakti involve a form of spiritual “disassociation,” and if so, is that a good thing? 🔹 What does it really mean to love Krishna, and how does that automatically bring the highest realization? 🔹 Is perfect pronunciation of the maha-mantra essential, or is intention more important?
Join us as we unpack these deep inquiries and reveal the spiritual science behind time, transcendence, and devotion.
🎧 Listen now and explore the timeless wisdom of bhakti! 🌟 Subscribe for daily insights and be part of a global movement of seekers.
#BhaktiYoga #SpiritualWisdom #TranscendTime #EternalReality #WisdomOfTheSages
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1540: Mystics, Kings & Devas-- They Struggle Like the Rest of Us
The kings, sages, and celestial beings described in the early chapters of the 9th Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam possess extraordinary power, longevity, and mystical abilities. Yet, despite their dominance over nature and their vast influence, they often act out of pride, emotion, and material attachment—just like common people. Their struggles, fears and anxieties serve as a stark reminder: true greatness is not found in power but in pure devotion.
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack these ancient stories and reveal their deep relevance to our own lives. Why do even the most powerful fall into pettiness? And how can we rise beyond our own limitations? With humor, insight, and wisdom, they explore how devotion, rather than power or knowledge, is the key to real transformation.
Key Takeaways: • The hidden lesson behind the mystical transformations and curses of the 9th Canto. • Why mystics, devas, and kings often remain entangled in ego-driven anxieties. • How Śrīmad Bhāgavatam shifts our focus from material achievement to the ultimate goal—pure bhakti. • “Imagination is more important than knowledge”—what Einstein’s words reveal about accessing deeper truths.
Join us as we strip away illusions of greatness and uncover the one thing that truly liberates the heart.
🔔 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative path of Bhakti!
🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualWisdom #DevotionOverPower
SB 9.1.20-42
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1539: The Secret Purpose of the Avatars
Creation and destruction, cosmic order and divine justice—these may seem like the primary reasons God engages with the world, but the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam reveals something much deeper. Krishna’s true purpose in manifesting within the material realm isn’t merely to uphold dharma or to punish the wicked—it’s to reciprocate the love of His devotees. And within that love, a happiness is found that far surpasses the impersonal peace of liberation. In this episode, Kaustubha, along with guest hosts Jiva and Chapu, explores these profound truths as Wisdom of the Sages enters the Ninth Canto.
Through the story of King Ambarish and the powerful mystic Durvasa Muni, we witness how devotion (bhakti) eclipses all other forms of spiritual attainment. The episode also unpacks a crucial philosophical hierarchy: how Brahman realization—the understanding that one is beyond the material world—is contained within Paramatma realization, which not only perceives the Divine within the heart but also recognizes the Supreme Intelligence orchestrating the workings of the entire material realm. Yet both are ultimately encompassed within Bhagavan realization, where God is understood not merely as an impersonal force or an all-pervading presence, but as the Supreme Person—Krishna—who loves, reciprocates, and reveals Himself fully to His devotees.
Key Highlights: ✨ Why Krishna’s primary concern isn’t universal order—it’s love. ✨ The joy of bhakti vs. the impersonal peace of liberation. ✨ How Brahman and Paramatma realizations are included within Bhagavan realization. ✨ Paramatma realization as the recognition of divine intelligence behind the cosmos. ✨ King Ambarish vs. Durvasa Muni: The power of devotion over mystic perfection. ✨ The Ninth Canto as the gateway to Krishna’s most intimate pastimes.
Join us as we explore the heart of divine love, the supreme happiness of bhakti, and the full spectrum of spiritual realization.
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🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualWisdom #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #BeyondLiberation
SB 9.1.1-19
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1538: Cutting the Knot: The Yogi's Guide to Freedom from Resentment
From the ancient Vedic story of King Satyavrata’s encounter with Matsya, the divine fish incarnation, to modern struggles with resentment and attachment, this episode exposes the hidden knots in our hearts that keep us trapped in illusion. Drawing from the Bhagavad-gītā and the Bhāgavatam, they reveal how true liberation begins when we let go completely, forgive instantly, and surrender to a higher wisdom.
Key Highlights: 🔥 Resentment is a form of atheism—here’s why. 🔥 Why forgiveness must be immediate and complete. 🔥 Desires vs. truth: How our attachments deceive us. 🔥 The real meaning of “cutting the knot” in yoga philosophy. 🔥 How knowledge—not wealth or possessions—is the greatest inheritance.
Break free from the illusions that hold you back. Discover how embracing divine wisdom can cut through the ties that bind and lead you to true peace and clarity.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative path of Bhakti!
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #Forgiveness #CutTheKnot #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualWisdom
SB 8.24.49-61
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1537: Surrender & Simplicity: Life Lessons from Govardhan Hill
Step into the sacred dust of Govardhan Hill, where ancient wisdom meets the modern struggle for meaning. In this immersive episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha take you on a journey through the heart of Vrindavan, recounting powerful encounters with mystical sadhus, dedicated pilgrims, and the blissful austerity of bhakti life.
From witnessing an elderly ascetic performing 108 full prostrations at every step to the awe-inspiring faith of barefoot pilgrims walking miles without hesitation, this episode challenges our perceptions of comfort, desire, and true wealth.
🔹 Are we stronger than we think—or just pampered by modern life? 🔹 Why do possessions end up possessing us? 🔹 How surrendering to the divine brings the deepest fulfillment?
Through the lens of Govardhan’s timeless devotion, discover why kirtan, faith, and simplicity are the ultimate tools to reset the mind and heart.
Join us as we reflect on the miracles of sacred pilgrimage, the power of austerity, and the profound joy of spiritual surrender.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and be part of the global bhakti movement!
🎧 Tune in now! #GovardhanHill #BhaktiWisdom #SpiritualStrength #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 8.24.31-48
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1536: Govardhan Parikrama: A Yogi’s Path to Divine Connection / Q & A Volume 261
In the heart of Vraja, where every stone is sacred and every step a meditation, Govardhan Parikrama is more than just a ritual—it’s a transformational experience. In this Wisdom of the Sages Q & A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the profound meaning of circumambulating sacred places and why yogis across generations have honored Govardhan Hill as Krishna Himself.
Why do Bhakti yogis walk barefoot around Govardhan? What happens when we physically express our devotion? And how does this practice align with the deepest truths of the yoga tradition? Raghunath & Kaustubha take on these and other interesting questions.
📌 Key Highlights: • The inner meaning of Parikrama and why it’s central to Bhakti Yoga • How Govardhan Hill is worshiped as a living deity • The mystical power of walking meditation and how it transforms consciousness • The spiritual legacy of the Six Goswamis and their deep connection to Govardhan • Temple Mysteries—Why Krishna-Balaram take center stage in Vrindavan’s ISKCON temple, while Sri Chaitanya is at the heart of Mayapur’s grand TOVP. • How was the sage Vyasa able to wite so much sacred literature?
Immerse yourself in this sacred discussion and uncover why Parikrama isn’t just about walking—it’s about centering our lives around Krishna.
🌿 Join the Bhakti movement! Subscribe for daily wisdom and be part of a global community embracing spiritual transformation.
🎧 Tune in now! #GovardhanParikrama #BhaktiYoga #KrishnaConsciousness #SacredPilgrimage #WisdomOfTheSages
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1535: What Society Gets Wrong About Success
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha challenge conventional ideas about success, wealth, and legacy, revealing why material privilege often creates division, stress, and emptiness. Instead, they uncover the ultimate privilege—to be able to serve with a pure heart.
Broadcasting from India, they reflect on their travels through sacred places like Mayapur and the awe-inspiring Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. They also share firsthand stories from spiritual seekers who left behind conventional paths in search of something deeper—and found it.
🔹 Why financial wealth often leads to family conflict instead of unity. 🔹 The hidden dangers of passing on material privilege without wisdom. 🔹 What makes Mayapur a life-changing destination for spiritual seekers. 🔹 How Krishna arranges “miracles” that guide us toward the truth.
True wealth isn’t measured in bank accounts—it’s found in the depth of our spiritual connection.
🎧 Tune in now! #TruePrivilege #SpiritualWealth #BhaktiWisdom #KrishnaMiracles #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.24.26-30
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1534: Forces That Cover Truth & the Mercy That Restores It
Can wisdom truly be lost—or does it just become hidden? And how does an unpredictable, wildly compassionate avatar break every rule to deliver divine love?
In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha take a deep dive into two extraordinary themes: the mystery of how the Vedas are preserved, lost, and rediscovered over time, and the untamed, ecstatic compassion of Lord Nityananda. From the theft of the Vedas by a cosmic demon to the fearless love that transformed dangerous criminals, this discussion explores the forces that try to conceal truth—and the unstoppable mercy that restores it.
Key Highlights:
• How ancient sages memorized vast scriptures without writing them down—and why hearing is more powerful than seeing. • The story of how a demon stole the Vedas and what it reveals about the cycles of hidden and revealed knowledge. • The rebel saint: Why Lord Nityananda’s unconventional ways hold the key to Bhakti for the modern world. • Transforming even the hardest hearts—how love, not punishment, is the Bhakti way. • Why spiritual knowledge needs to be protected—and what happens when it disappears.
Sacred wisdom has been lost and found countless times, but one thing remains constant: the mercy of those who dedicate their lives to reviving it. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that bridges the past and present, revealing the hidden dynamics of truth, love, and transformation.
🔔 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the journey of Bhakti Yoga.
🎧 Tune in now! #LostVedicWisdom #LordNityananda #BhaktiRevolution #OralTradition #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.24.1-25
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1533: More Than Ever, the World is Ready for Bhakti / Interview with Sitala Devi Dasi
The world is unraveling in division, anxiety, and distractions, yet beneath the surface, a spiritual revolution is growing. Sitala Devi Dasi, a devoted practitioner since 1970, shares her firsthand experience of the Bhakti movement’s rise—from the countercultural rebellion of the 60s to the modern explosion of devotion across the globe. This episode unveils the miracles, challenges, and transcendental vision behind Srila Prabhupada’s mission, offering a powerful perspective on the future of spiritual awakening.
Key Highlights: ✨ The countercultural rebellion that led thousands to the path of devotion. ✨ Why the world is more ready than ever for Bhakti Yoga. ✨ The moment that changed everything: meeting a pure devotee. ✨ How the consciousness behind our actions—not external labels—defines true spiritual progress.
This episode is a deep dive into the living history of the Bhakti movement, the urgency of spiritual awakening in today’s world, and the timeless wisdom that continues to transform hearts. Don’t miss it.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #SrilaPrabhupada #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualRevolution
Learn more at
https://www.youtube.com/live/lMQ8NCdiDZA?si=gJDEo2YbQYvq7eH9
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1532: The Science Behind the Vedic Planetarium
In this mind-expanding episode, Raghunath sits down with astrophysicists, astronomers, and Vedic scholars to explore one of the most ambitious scientific and spiritual projects on the planet—the Science Museum of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, India.
What did ancient Vedic texts reveal about the cosmos that modern science is only now beginning to explore? How does the universe function as a consciousness-based reality? And why did Śrīla Prabhupāda envision a Vedic planetarium as a centerpiece of his global mission?
Key Highlights: ✨ The 14 planetary systems—higher realms, subterranean heavens, and the forgotten concept of Vedic cosmography ✨ The James Webb Telescope and modern physics—how contemporary discoveries align with the Bhagavatam ✨ Are UFOs, multi-dimensional beings, and subtle matter crafts real? A scientist’s take on unexplained phenomena ✨ How the Vedas challenge the materialistic worldview and offer a paradigm shift in modern science
Join us for an electrifying conversation where Vedic wisdom meets cutting-edge astrophysics—unpacking timeless knowledge that could reshape our understanding of reality itself.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #VedicScience #AstrophysicsMeetsBhakti #ScienceOfConsciousness #VedicPlanetarium #AncientWisdom #UFOsAndVedas #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam
Learn more at
https://www.sciencephilosophy.org/
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1531: Surviving the Streets: A Former Gang Enforcer’s Path to Bhakti
A childhood spent in the sacred temples of India. A teenage descent into the violent world of organized crime. A near-death experience that changed everything. This is the raw, eye-opening story of Govinda Das—a former gang enforcer who found his way back to the spiritual path through Krishna’s grace.
Join Raghunath as he dives into Govinda’s gripping journey from a strict Vaishnava upbringing to the dangerous streets of Chicago, where he was drawn into one of the world’s most notorious gangs. Discover how years of violence, drugs, and survival eventually led him back to the teachings of bhakti and the transformative power of chanting the holy name.
🔑 Key Highlights: ✨ The hidden connection between gang loyalty and the search for belonging. ✨ How addiction, trauma, and violence led to a desperate plea to Krishna. ✨ The near-fatal accident that sparked a life-changing spiritual awakening. ✨ Why community and association can make or break one’s path in life.
Govinda’s story is a testament to the power of bhakti yoga to reclaim even the most lost souls. His raw honesty and hard-won wisdom offer profound lessons on karma, free will, and the undeniable mercy of Krishna.
🙏 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Tune in now! #BhaktiYoga #RedemptionStory #GangToGrace #SpiritualTransformation #WisdomOfTheSages
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1530: More than Informational -- This is Transformational
These aren’t just ancient tales—they’re spiritual vehicles designed to purify, elevate, and awaken the soul. In this episode, we uncover the influence of the yoga of spiritual sound and how simply hearing these divine narrations carries the power to cleanse the heart of karmic burdens, transcend intellectual boundaries, and infuse life with profound auspiciousness.
We also explore the very first verse of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.1), where Vyāsadeva boldly connects the dots between the timeless truths of the Upaniṣads, the Rig Veda, and the Vedānta-sūtra, revealing that the ultimate source described in them all is none other than Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the personal, all-pervading Absolute Truth.
Key Highlights: ✨ Why hearing sacred texts isn’t just informational—it’s transformational ✨ The potency of hearing divine pastimes to free the soul from suffering ✨ How Vyāsadeva establishes Kṛṣṇa as the heart of Vedic wisdom ✨ The secret to making any moment or ceremony deeply auspicious
Step beyond intellectual curiosity and into the transformative realm of sacred sound.
🎧 Tune in now for daily wisdom that transcends time. #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualAwakening #VedicWisdom #BhaktiYoga #KirtanRevolution #KrishnaConsciousness #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.23.28-31
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1529: Letting Go to Receive
Holding on may be is the very thing holding us back. In this compelling episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a transformative truth: divine grace isn’t a reward for perfection—it responds to sincerity. Drawing from the timeless wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the striking words of Anne Lamott, they explore how surrender isn’t a sign of defeat but the key to unlocking spiritual growth.
Key Highlights: ✨ “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.” – Anne Lamott ✨ How grace flows not to the flawless, but to the sincere-hearted. ✨ The invisible “blockers” that keep us from experiencing divine connection—and how to release them. ✨ Lessons from Prahlāda Mahārāja: why causeless mercy defies logic, effort, and lineage.
Discover why the spiritual journey isn’t about striving for perfection but creating space within to receive what’s already waiting for us.
🌟 Subscribe for daily insights and join thousands on the path of Bhakti, where letting go opens the door to everything.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #BhaktiYoga #DivineGrace #LetGoToReceive #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualGrowth
SB 8.23.7-27
Find Lora Logic's new music at
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1528: Freedom from Fear-Based Theology
Scientific studies confirm that a personal, collaborative relationship with the Divine fosters resilience, reduces anxiety, and instills a deep sense of purpose. But what does this look like beyond research? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a powerful story from the ancient text, the Srimad Bhagavatam, revealing how the essence of devotion, even when unspoken, can invoke the rarest form of divine grace.
Human life is an opportunity to inquire into the meaning of existence—a quest that naturally leads us to engage with different conceptions of God and explore what, if anything, is behind it all. In this story, we encounter a unique presentation of divinity—not as a distant judge or a figure demanding fear-based obedience, but as an intimately kind presence who responds to the sincerity of the heart, even when that devotion can’t be outwardly expressed. This contrasts sharply with fear-driven religious frameworks, which often breed guilt and anxiety. Instead, this vision of the divine fosters emotional resilience, hope, and genuine connection.
🎯 Key Takeaways: ✨ The Science of Spiritual Connection: Why studies affirm that a loving, collaborative relationship with the divine enhances psychological well-being. ✨ The Power of Sincere Devotion: How even unspoken surrender can invoke profound spiritual growth. ✨ The Power of Intention: Discover why it’s the authentic intention behind your actions—not outward displays—that truly matters. ✨ Freedom from Fear-Based Theology: How shifting from guilt and obligation to love and trust transforms both your mental health and spiritual life.
This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need perfection to experience divine grace—just a sincere heart.
SB 8.23.1-6
#FearBasedTheology #MentalHealthAndSpirituality #AncientWisdom #CauselessMercy #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualResilience #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages
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1527: Spirituality & Mental Health / Interview with Dr Chetna Kang
We explore where medical science and spirituality intersect in meaningful ways in Episode 1527. Kaustubha interviews Dr. Chetna Kang as she outlines five key pillars of spirituality that have been shown through research to positively impact mental health. These pillars are supported both by ancient spiritual wisdom and modern scientific studies.
Key Highlights: ✨ Spiritual Practices like Meditation, prayer, yoga, and mantra chanting reduce stress, lower blood pressure, regulate heart rate, improve cognitive functions, and decrease activity in fear centers of the brain. ✨ Like-Minded Spiritual Communities enhance emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and promote accountability in personal growth. ✨Positive Spiritual Psychological Attributes like forgiveness, gratitude, kindness, tolerance, patience foster emotional resilience and mental balance. ✨Sacred Architecture and Environments influence mental clarity, reduce stress, and create a sense of grounding. ✨Collaborative Relationships with Divinity promote psychological resilience, reduce anxiety, and foster a sense of purpose.
🌟 Dr Chetna Kang is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Radio Broadcaster. She serves on the Executive board of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Spirituality and Psychiatry SiG. She is also a served as teacher of Bhakti Yoga for over 25 years and is a disciple of Bhakti Tirtha Swami.
Graduating from Imperial College London as a medical doctor & specialising as an integrative adult psychiatrist, she brings together over 2 decades of experience in scientific advances in mental health with spiritual models of care.
She broadcasts for BBC Radio 4 and BBC world service and is well known for her spiritual commentary on current affairs, mental health, and wellbeing, reaching an audience in the hundreds of millions. She conceived of and presented Shrinkwrapped, a mental health and disability BBC radio show for 3 years, and features on TV, print, and digital media.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #ScienceAndSpirituality #SpiritualityAndMentalHealth #BodyMind Soul #SrimadBhagavatam
Learn more at www.instagram.com/drchetnakang www.youtube.com/@drchetnakang
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1526: The Illusion of Ownership
The moment we gain a little wealth, power, or beauty, we fall into the illusion of ownership. We think, This is mine. I earned it. I control it. But the reality? Everything we claim as ours is on loan, and the more we cling to it, the more we suffer.
In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the timeless lesson of Bali Maharaj—the king who had everything, yet willingly gave it all to the Supreme. His story exposes how material opulence blinds us, inflates our ego, and makes us forget our true position. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu reveals the ultimate mercy: sometimes, losing everything is the only way to gain what truly matters.
🎙️ Featuring kirtan leader and author Radhika Das, who shares insights from his new book Mantra Meditation and the growing global movement of sacred sound.
Key Highlights: ✨ Why we claim ownership over things that were never really ours. ✨ The intoxicating effect of material success—and how to stay grounded. ✨ How Bali Maharaj’s surrender shattered the illusion of false proprietorship. ✨ The real meaning of offering something to God when He already owns everything.
Join us as we explore the pitfalls of wealth, the deceptive nature of pride, and the path to true freedom through bhakti.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and rediscover the ancient teachings that cut through illusion.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #FalseProprietorship #BhaktiYoga #LetGoAndSurrender #BaliMaharaj #WisdomOfTheSages #MantraMeditation #SrimadBhagavatam
Check out Radhika das' new book
and on IG: @radhika_dasa
SB 8.22.17-36
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1525: Dissolving Karma Through Pure Devotion
In a society quick to judge outward appearance, we witnessed true freedom in a woman whose radiant joy shattered all preconceived notions. This profound Wisdom of the Sages episode connects her liberation with Prahlada Maharaj’s deep wisdom: to see happiness and distress not as consequences of material actions but as byproducts of our loving exchange with the Divine.
Dive into the timeless truths of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the lessons of Bali Maharaj’s surrender and the mysterious grace of Krishna. Learn how life’s challenges, even when they seem to strip us of everything, are tools of transformation from the hand of the Lord.
Key Highlights: ✨ The story of a fearless dancer who embodied being “comfortable in her skin” despite life’s hardships. ✨ Prahlada Maharaj’s profound insight: Krishna’s mercy in giving and taking. ✨ Why material opulence is a double-edged sword in spiritual growth. ✨ The secret to dissolving karma through pure devotion.
Join the conversation as we explore how to let go of false designations, embrace spiritual joy, and see life’s ups and downs through the lens of divine grace.
🌟 Subscribe for daily inspiration and be part of a global community diving deep into Bhakti yoga!
🎧 Watch or listen now! #BhaktiWisdom #DwarfWoman #SrimadBhagavatam #KrishnaGrace
SB 8.22.16
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1524: The Kumbh Mela Phenomenon / Q & A Volume 260
In this insightful Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into three thought-provoking questions important to people with an interest in Bhakti-yoga. Whether you’re considering initiation, curious about the significance of the Kumbha Mela, or wondering if there’s ever a time when it’s too late to embrace Bhakti, this episode has you covered.
Key Topics Discussed: ✨ Initiation in Bhakti Yoga – What does it truly mean, and when is the right time to take the leap? ✨ The Kumbh Mela Phenomenon – Is it worth attending, and how can we bring its essence into our daily lives? ✨ Is There a ‘Right Time’ for Bhakti? – Does spiritual opportunity have an expiration date, or is Krishna’s mercy always available?
Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting your journey, this episode provides timeless wisdom, practical insights, and encouraging reminders to stay committed to your path—no matter where you are in life.
🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual inspiration and join thousands on the path of Bhakti!
🎧 Watch or listen now! #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualWisdom #KumbhMela #Initiation #NeverTooLateForBhakti #WisdomOfTheSages
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1523: Find Strength in Surrender: Lessons from Life's Challenges
Resist or surrender? In this episode of Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on the inspiring examples of two women from our own Wisdom of the Sages community who joined us on our current pilgrimage to India. Despite facing serious health struggles, they’re showing grace and faith, reminding us that the path of Bhakti grants us the insights and strength to thrive under the most difficult circumstance. Their journey naturally connects to the story of Bali Maharaja—who, when stripped of everything, discovered the deepest connection to Krishna.
Key Highlights: ✨ How true strength is found in surrender, not control. ✨ The parallels between our everyday struggles and Bali Maharaja’s ultimate test. ✨ Finding purpose and connection even in life’s toughest moments. ✨ Why material loss can lead to spiritual gain when we shift our perspective.
Join us as we explore how surrender isn’t about giving up—it’s about rising to something higher.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #BhaktiYoga #SurrenderAndStrength #LifeLessons #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.22.6-14
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1522: Meet the Pilgrims: Real Stories from Our 2025 Retreat
Ever wondered what draws people from all walks of life to the sacred lands of India? In this special episode of Wisdom of the Sages, we sit down with modern-day pilgrims at the Govardhan Ecovillage to hear their transformative journeys—raw, inspiring, and often unexpected. From a young bhakti musician raised in the serene hills of British Columbia to a corporate professional turned kirtan enthusiast from Spain, each story offers a glimpse into the power of spiritual community and personal growth.
✨ Why do people leave everything behind to seek deeper meaning in India? ✨ The life-changing impact of spiritual environments on personal transformation. ✨ Overcoming struggles, finding purpose, and embracing the bhakti lifestyle.
Join us as we dive deep into these incredible journeys, uncovering the joys, challenges, and life lessons of those who have embarked on this sacred path.
🌟 Don’t miss out—subscribe for daily wisdom and be part of our growing global community of seekers.
🎧 Watch now and be inspired! #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualJourney #GovardhanEcovillage #KirtanExperience #YogaLife #PilgrimageStories
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1521: Govardhan Eco Village: A Temple Town Building a Sustainable Future
Ancient wisdom and modern sustainability come together in the remarkable story of Govardhan Eco Village—an award-winning spiritual and ecological community rooted in the Bhakti tradition. In this episode, Kaustubha interviews Gauranga Das about the journey of transforming a barren landscape into a thriving, sustainable sanctuary, blending devotion, leadership, and ecological innovation.
From the challenges of relocating an entire community to the visionary leadership of Radhanath Swami, we uncover how spiritual values can drive practical solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges—climate change, rural development, and social upliftment. Whether you’re a seeker, an environmentalist, or simply curious about sustainable living, this conversation will leave you inspired.
Key Highlights: 🌿 How Govardhan Eco Village became a model for sustainability and spirituality. 🏡 Lessons in leadership: embracing change and setbacks with faith and vision. 🌏 Bridging spirituality and social impact—empowering rural communities through holistic development. 🕉️ The concept of “New Vrindavan” and its deep spiritual significance.
Join us as we explore how ancient Bhakti teachings offer timeless solutions for modern challenges, proving that a life of simplicity and devotion can change the world.
Watch now and be inspired to make a difference! 🌟 Don’t forget to subscribe for daily spiritual insights and updates.
Check out Raghunath's Punk to Monk book on Kindle at https://amzn.to/3WmvYcG
#BhaktiYoga #Sustainability #EcoVillage #SpiritualLeadership #GovardhanEcoVillage #RadhanathSwami #ISKCON #SimpleLivingHighThinking #LeadershipLessons #TempleTowns #SpiritualWisdom
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1520: Reclaiming a Spiritual Legacy: The Vision for 26 Second Avenue
What if you could step into the birthplace of a global spiritual movement and experience the magic of its earliest days? In this inspiring episode, Raghunath and special guests Anantacharya and Yadunath explore the remarkable efforts to restore 26 Second Avenue—the original Hare Krishna temple. From Prabhupada’s humble beginnings in a Lower East Side storefront to his vision of an International Society for Krishna Consciousness, this conversation uncovers the power of faith, determination, and community.
✨ Discover how the restoration team is recreating the original look of 1966 with archival detective work. ✨ Learn why 26 Second Avenue is more than a building—it’s a living testament to Prabhupada’s legacy. ✨ Hear the untold stories of devotees who helped build this movement from the ground up.
Join us to witness how this sacred space is being transformed into a hub for education, pilgrimage, and immersive experiences for generations to come.
💥 Support the restoration of this historic spiritual landmark! Learn how you can contribute: https://gofund.me/fc9ba862
📖 Relive history. Feel the inspiration. Be part of the legacy. 🎧 Watch now! #26SecondAvenue #HareKrishnaMovement #BhaktiYoga #SrilaPrabhupada
To learn more and donate,
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1519: A Masterclass in Grace Under Pressure
From a Jesuit priest’s reflections on surviving Siberian labor camps to the ancient yoga texts telling of Bali Maharaj’s ultimate act of humility, this episode dives deep into the timeless principles of Bhakti Yoga. Hear how the key to perfect peace doesn’t lie in controlling life, but in surrendering to something higher.
Key Takeaways: ✨ The art of surrender: How letting go frees us from anxiety and tension. ✨ Bali Maharaj’s humility: A masterclass in grace under pressure. ✨ Why setbacks are often hidden blessings on the path to spiritual realization.
Discover how even life’s hardest moments can bring us closer to lasting peace and spiritual freedom. Tune in for an unforgettable exploration of trust, humility, and inner tranquility.
🌟 Watch or listen now and subscribe for daily inspiration on your spiritual journey. 🎧 Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with wisdom that transforms lives. #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualFreedom #SurrenderToGod #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 8.22.1-5
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1518: The Arrest of Bali: A Story of Surrender
What happens when faith is tested to its limits? In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the captivating story of Bali Maharaja’s encounter with Lord Vamanadeva. Stripped of his possessions, challenged on his word, and bound by the Supreme Lord, Bali Maharaja’s apparent downfall reveals a higher truth about surrender, integrity, and spiritual liberation.
Key Insights: ✨ Why Bali’s word of honor mattered more than his kingdom or his life. ✨ The divine plan behind Bali’s “arrest” and how it became his ultimate blessing. ✨ The symbolic power of Vamanadeva’s giant steps and their impact on universal harmony.
Discover how Bali Maharaja’s unwavering devotion transforms an apparent defeat into one of the greatest triumphs of Bhakti Yoga. This story isn’t just about faith—it’s about faith under fire and the transcendental rewards of complete surrender to God’s will.
🌟 Tune in and explore this timeless lesson from the Srimad Bhagavatam! 🎧 Subscribe to join thousands worldwide on the transformative path of Bhakti.
#BaliMaharaja #VamanaAvatar #BhaktiYoga #SurrenderToGod #SpiritualJourney
Check out the new app at https://apps.apple.com/app/id6670209189
Or on Android at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wots.wisdom_of_the_sages
SB 8.21.1-34
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1517: Territorialism & Its Spiritual Solution
Modern psychology meets ancient wisdom in this thought-provoking episode of Wisdom of the Sages which asks, “Why do we cling to that which was never truly ours?” Join Raghunath and Kaustubha as they dive into intriguing parallels between the Ultimatum Game—a groundbreaking behavioral economics experiment—and the timeless teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Explore how Bali Maharaja’s surrender to Lord Vāmanadeva reveals the illusory nature of territorial attachments and provides a new perspective to see a deeper truth: nothing in this world truly belongs to us.
✨ Key Takeaways: • What the Ultimatum Game teaches us about fairness, ego, and self-defeating decisions. • Bali Maharaja’s awe-inspiring vision of Lord Vishnu’s universal form. How spiritual wisdom can elevate our thinking and free us from endless conflict. Kaustubha shares about the time he and his wife were turned away at a famous Temple in South India for not being born “Hindu”.
🎧 Don’t miss this deep dive into Bhakti philosophy and its practical relevance in today’s world! Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the path of Bhakti.
📢 Watch now! #Territorialism #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #SurrenderToGod
SB 8.20.22-34
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1516: Vishnu's Universal Form: An Infinite Circle Whose Center is Everywhere
“God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.” – Nicholas of Cusa
What does it mean for God to exist both within everything and beyond everything at the same time? In this riveting episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha delve into the paradoxical nature of the divine, the various Universal Forms of Vishnu and the remarkable transformation of Bali Mahārāja—a so-called demon who became a pure bhakti yogi. Witness how Bali surrendered everything, even defying his own guru, to enter the world of pure devotion.
Key Highlights: ✨ The mystery of God’s universal form: how everything is within Him, yet He is beyond it all. ✨ Bali Mahārāja’s journey from conqueror of worlds to surrendered devotee. ✨ Krishna serves as the messenger of the Pandavas and blows everyones mind ✨ What Bali’s bhakti reveals about stepping out of the world of taking into the world of giving. ✨ Why the divine plan is always unfolding—even when it feels incomprehensible.
This episode brings the teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to life, exploring the paradox of divine immanence and transcendence through Bali’s ultimate act of surrender.
🎧 Watch now and uncover the cosmic truths of Bhakti Yoga. #BhaktiYoga #UniversalForm #SurrenderToGod #WisdomOfTheSages #InfiniteCircle
SB 8.20.18-21
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1515: Awakening the Soul: Inspiring Encounters with the Path of Bhakti
What happens when individuals from all walks of life immerse themselves in the transformative power of yoga, kirtan, and spiritual philosophy? In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, hear firsthand accounts from participants of the Bhakti Yoga Teacher Training with the Wisdom of the Sages team at the Govardhan Eco Village. From overcoming substance use, embracing inner joy, and rewiring the mind, to finding deep purpose through chanting and community, these stories will leave you inspired to look within.
✨ A musician reconnects with ancient drumming and discovers his past life through sacred kirtan. ✨ A young professional trades corporate life for spiritual fulfillment, guided by the wisdom of Hanuman and the Bhagavad-gītā. ✨ A cancer survivor finds hope and light, saying, “I was learning how to die—now I’m learning how to live.” ✨ Yoga teachers and seekers embrace the playful, joyous essence of Krishna consciousness.
Discover how these individuals found clarity, connection, and courage to transform their lives, proving that Bhakti yoga is not just a philosophy—it’s a path to boundless joy and spiritual liberation.
🌟 Be part of this vibrant global community. Subscribe for daily episodes and join the transformative journey of Bhakti! 🎧 Watch now and awaken your inner wisdom. #BhaktiYoga #KirtanAcademy #YogaTeacherTraining #GovardhanEcoVillage #SpiritualAwakening
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1514: Raghunath at 59: A Tribute to a Bhakti Trailblazer
On the occasion of Raghunath’s 59th birthday Kaustubha reflects on decades of friendship and Raghunath’s extraordinary impact on the world of Bhakti yoga. From the rebellious stages of the hardcore punk scene to leading life-changing pilgrimages to India, to the Wisdom of the Sages podcast, Kaustubha shares that Raghunath’s journey is a testament to courage, devotion, and an unshakable mission to share divine love.
Key Highlights: ✨ From punk rock to spiritual rockstar: how Raghunath fearlessly shared Bhakti with the world. ✨ The stages of the friendship of Raghunath and Kaustubha, both very different, yet sharing so much in common. ✨ The challenges of being a pioneer in bridging modern culture and ancient wisdom. ✨ Stories of transformation: inspiring thousands through yoga, kirtan, and community.
This episode is a celebration of a life lived with passion, purpose, and an unwavering dedication to service. Join us to honor a Bhakti trailblazer and reflect on what it means to leave a legacy of love.
🌟 Subscribe to Wisdom of the Sages for daily inspiration and join our global community of seekers.
🎧 Tune in now! #Raghunath #BhaktiYoga #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualJourney
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1513: Cosmic Mysteries, Radical Dharma & the Bag of Karmic Seeds
Prepare to challenge your perception of reality in this electrifying episode of Wisdom of the Sages. What connects Einstein’s fascination with mystery, Bali Maharaj’s unwavering surrender, and the karmic seeds we all carry? Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the profound intersections of science, spirituality, and the timeless teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
Key Highlights: ✨ The awe-inspiring emotion of mystery – Einstein’s perspective on true art and science. ✨ Bali Maharaj’s radical dharma: surrendering everything and standing firm in truth. ✨ Decoding the “bag of karmic seeds” – understanding karma beyond blame and judgment. ✨ Trusting the sages: taking baby steps toward unraveling life’s deepest mysteries.
Discover how embracing divine mystery, surrender, and spiritual discipline can transform the way you view life and its challenges. Why not take the leap into the Bhakti experiment and witness the change?
🌟 Join us on this journey of cosmic wonder and spiritual exploration. 🎧 Watch now and subscribe! #CosmicMysteries #RadicalDharma #KarmicSeeds #BhaktiWisdom
SB 8.20.8-17
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1512: Fortune Favors the Bold: A Bhakti Perspective
Courage guided by dharma is the topic of this captivating episode of Wisdom of the Sages. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the the story of Bali Mahārāja, who offered the entire universe (and more!) to the divine, and uncover parallels with Jatāyu’s fearless devotion, King Shibi’s ultimate sacrifice, and the Russian bhaktas who risked it all under Soviet rule.
🔥 Key Takeaways: ✨ “Fortune favors the bold”—what this ancient mantra really means for spiritual seekers. ✨ How risking for Krishna transforms fear into spiritual fortune. ✨ “I think Krishna Saved You.” “He always does.”
🔑 Learn how the wise feel it’s better to willingly give something up for a noble cause than to lose it inevitably through time.”
🌟 Subscribe to Wisdom of the Sages for daily wisdom and join a global community of seekers embracing bold and transformative bhakti yoga.
🎧 Watch now and explore: #BoldnessInBhakti #BhaktiYogaStories #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualCourage #WisdomoftheSages
SB 8.20.1-7
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1511: Sometimes Ya Gotta Step Up: Rising to Challenges on the Spiritual Path
Embracing sacrifice and breaking out of comfort zones. In this very spontaneous episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss how life will occasionally tap us on the shoulder and call us to step up - a moment which may be our life’s “finest hour”. Each of us will face pivotal moments on our spiritual path where we must rise to the challenge. Through personal stories of vulnerability and determination, they share how taking that leap can lead to profound transformation and spiritual growth.
🌟 Highlights of the Episode: ✨ Inspiring and hilarious real-life stories of stepping into the unknown, from leaving careers to committing fully to bhakti yoga. ✨ What a tragedy if that moment finds us unprepared or unwilling. ✨ The power of surrender: how Krishna tests our devotion and rewards our courage with spiritual empowerment. ✨ Breaking free from fear and ego to embrace your higher calling.
This episode is a call to action for anyone seeking a life of deeper purpose and meaning. Tune in to reflect on your own “finest hour” and the opportunities life presents to grow through courage and devotion.
🌸 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join a global community on the journey of spiritual awakening.
🎧 Watch now! #RiseToTheChallenge #SpiritualCourage #BhaktiYoga #KrishnaConsciousness #WisdomOfTheSages
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1510: Surrender: How Losing Everything Can Mean Gaining the Ultimate
What if losing it all was the only way to gain everything? In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, we unravel the profound truths of surrendering to the divine plan, even when it seems to defy logic. Through the timeless story of Bali Mahārāja from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, we explore how honesty, sacrifice, and faith in a higher purpose lead to unimaginable spiritual wealth.
✨ Why surrendering to the divine can unlock limitless potential. ✨ The subtle dangers of dishonesty, even when it feels justified. ✨ How dissatisfaction weakens our spiritual power, while contentment fuels our inner fire.
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha as they navigate the inspiring lessons of Bali Mahārāja’s unwavering faith, and uncover how embracing truth and surrender empowers a bhakti yogi’s journey to self-realization.
🎧 Watch or Listen now and awaken your spiritual insight! 🌟 Like, subscribe, and share with seekers on the path of divine truth. #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualPower #Contentment #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 8.19.26-43
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1509: Finding Meaning - A Journey from Skepticism to Faith / An Interview with Visakha Dasi
In this conversation, Raghunath and Visakha Dasi explore the journey of spirituality, focusing on her transformation from atheism to devotion within the Hare Krishna movement. They discuss her early life, the impact of her upbringing, and the profound experiences that led her to embrace a spiritual path. The conversation highlights the importance of community, personal growth, and the power of association with enlightened individuals. This conversation explores the transformative experiences of individuals within the Hare Krishna movement, focusing on their journeys of identity, faith, and community. Visakha also reflects on her time with Prabhupada, the founder of the movement, and share insights about the cultural contrasts between Western materialism and the spiritual fulfillment found in places like Vrindavan. They discuss the challenges faced by female devotees, the legacy of Prabhupada, and the significance of living a life dedicated to spiritual practice.
Find more about Visakha Dasi and her books at https://ourspiritualjourney.com
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1508: Finding Krishna: Trust, Faith & Falling in Love / Q & A Volume 259
How to progress from a general appreciation for God’s presence in your life, to a deeply personal love with the divine, embodied as Krishna? In this profound Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explain how one opens their heart to a personal God. They also explore how skepticism toward ancient texts and personal depictions of God can be transformed when we delve beyond superficial readings, revealing that compassion is always at the essence, guiding every teaching and tradition in Bhakti-yoga.
✨ Key Highlights: • How do you put a face on God? Moving from abstract spirituality to personal devotion. • The power of faith and trust: Why a guru’s grace and authentic teachings are key. • Is Krishna’s form limiting—or liberating?
Plus, they delve into related questions on Krishna’s supremacy in a pluralistic world, focusing on the historical and theological significance behind Srila Prabhupada’s use of the term “Supreme Personality of Godhead” and why it stands as a cornerstone in understanding Krishna’s unique position in the Bhakti tradition.
This episode unfolds as anjourney into the depths of devotion and the esoteric beauty of Krishna’s pastimes. Perfect for seekers at all stages of their spiritual path.
🌟 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join thousands on this transformative journey into love and devotion.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #KrishnaConsciousness #BhaktiYoga #FallInLoveWithKrishna #WisdomOfTheSages
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1507: How Life Teaches Us to Love Again
🎙️Explore the challenges of living a principled life and how it all has a deeper purpose: learning how to love selflessly. Broadcasting from the Govardhan Eco Village, Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on how our experiences in this world are divinely orchestrated to help us reconnect with true love, forgiveness, and spiritual growth. Drawing on wisdom from the Srimad Bhagavatam, they offer insights on how principled actions, though challenging, lead to lasting fulfillment.
Key Topics Covered: ✨ Why life in this universe is designed to teach us how to love selflessly. ✨ Why principled actions often seem to bring loss but lead to deeper fulfillment. ✨ How happiness and distress arise uninvited, like seasons, and why chasing external happiness is futile. ✨ Lessons from Bali Maharaj: Trusting the divine plan, even when it seems to cost everything.
Highlights Include: 🔸 Raghunath’s moving story of reconciling with his stepson——a profound example of sacrifice and renewal. 🔸 How Bhakti-yoga reveals the purpose behind life’s challenges: to train us in unconditional love and devotion. 🔸 Love doesn’t expect anything in return.
🕉️ Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth, deeper relationships, or a better understanding of life’s purpose, this episode offers timeless insights. Discover how Bhakti philosophy empowers us to embrace challenges as opportunities to evolve in love and consciousness.
💡 Don’t miss this life-changing discussion! Subscribe now for daily spiritual wisdom and connect with a global community of seekers.
🎧 Watch or listen now!
#WisdomOfTheSages #BhaktiYoga #LearningToLove #SrimadBhagavatam #SpiritualWisdom #HappinessWithin #GovardhanEcoVillage #ForgivenessAndHealing #KarmaAndHappiness #SelflessLove
SB 8.19.21-26
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1506: Do You Really Need That? The Hidden Cost of Materialism
🎙️ In this special episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the essence of contentment and how teachings on contentment originate in the ancient yoga texts and continue to echo through great thinkers over the ages. Broadcasting from the brand-new podcast studio at Govardhan Eco Village, they delve into timeless teachings from ancient scriptures and modern reflections that illuminate the path to true satisfaction.
Key Topics Covered: ✨ Is contentment achieved from acquiring externals? ✨ The Yoga Sutra’s teachings on contentment (santosha) ✨ Why external achievements often leave us feeling unfulfilled. ✨ Insights on detachment and how it leads to inner peace. ✨ The story of Lord Vāmana and the power of simplicity in spiritual life.
Highlights Include: 🔸 How great thinkers like the Stoics, Benjamin Franklin and Srila Prabhupada echo ancient wisdom. 🔸 How the Vedic texts adapt spiritual responsibilities to individual circumstances—balancing ambition, duty, and detachment. 🔸 The “anti-virus” approach to resetting our desires for 2025.
🕉️ Join us on this journey of self-realization, discovering how Bhakti-yoga empowers us to let go of what doesn’t serve us and embrace a life of true fulfillment.
💡 Don’t miss this transformative discussion! Subscribe now for daily spiritual insights and connect with a global community of seekers.
🎧 Watch or listen now! #WisdomOfTheSages #BhaktiYoga #Contentment #GovardhanEcoVillage #VedicWisdom
SB 8.19.17-21
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1505: Ringing in the New Year with a Higher Vibration
Happy New Year! Join Raghunath and Kaustubha in this special Wisdom of the Sages episode as they reflect on a few impactful takeaways from 2024, sharing insights on how to bring spirituality into every aspect of life. From breaking free of societal expectations to cultivating simplicity, gratitude, and devotion, this episode will inspire you to start 2025 with purpose and clarity.
Key Highlights: ✨ Why New Year’s Eve often feels empty—and how to change that. ✨ Are we products of a decadent and obscene society? ✨ Choosing higher level sound, higher level places, higher level people in 2025
Let’s leave behind what doesn’t serve us and embrace the transformative power of Bhakti-yoga. Start your New Year on the highest vibration!
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide in the journey of self-realization. 🎧 Watch now! #BhaktiYoga #NewYearWisdom #HolyName #WisdomOfTheSages
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1504: Navigating Loss and Growth: A Bhakti Perspective / Q & A Volume 258
How do we balance human emotions with spiritual wisdom? In this heartfelt Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Mara dive deep into navigating grief, supporting loved ones through loss, and staying connected to spiritual practice amidst life’s challenges. From honoring our human experience to understanding the eternal nature of the soul, discover how Bhakti philosophy offers a grounded, compassionate approach to life’s transitions.
Key Highlights:
✨ What happens to the soul at the time of death?
✨ Balancing empathy with spiritual truth when comforting others.
✨ How Bhakti practices can bring peace and clarity during times of loss.
Join us as we explore the intersection of spiritual growth and emotional healing, embracing both our humanity and divinity.
🌟 Subscribe for daily insights and join the global community on the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Watch now! #BhaktiYoga #NavigatingGrief #WisdomOfTheSages
Sign up for a Sage Group now at Session 9 Sage Groups Registration Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-53613415-session#/
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1503: Crave Less, Live More: A Yogi's Wisdom
Stoic philosophy meets the wisdom of the Bhakti tradition in this thought-provoking episode of Wisdom of the Sages. Tune in as Raghunath and Kaustubha explore teachings of simplicity and contentment through the lens of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. From the lessons of Lord Vāmana’s interaction with Bali Mahārāja to the words of the philosopher Seneca, discover how living simply transforms the heart and mind.
Key Highlights: ✨ “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” - Seneca ✨ Why extravagance is the cause of distresses and how simplicity creates peace. ✨A learned person accepts only what is needed, cultivating a life of virtue and mindfulness.
Join us as we uncover the spiritual significance of minimizing material desires and embracing kindness—the true mode of the yogi.
🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Watch now! #SimplicityAndKindness #BhaktiYoga #StoicismMeetsBhakti #SrimadBhagavatam
SB 8.19.1-17
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1502: Jesus Nuggets: A Bhakti Yoga Christmas Special
A heartfelt and thought-provoking Christmas episode of Wisdom of the Sages, where Raghunath and Kastubha explore the profound intersections between the teachings of Jesus Christ and the timeless path of Bhakti-yoga. Set against the backdrop of holiday cheer and reflection, this episode uncovers nuggets of wisdom from the New Testament that resonate with the universal principles of love, humility, and devotion.
Key Takeaways from This Episode: ✨ How Jesus’ words reflect the essence of Bhakti: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ✨ The transformative power of surrender, humility, and service, as taught by both Jesus and Krishna. ✨ Overcoming personal struggles during the holidays through spiritual grounding and community. ✨ Reflecting on how Jesus’ teachings on faith, renunciation, and forgiveness align with the Bhagavatam’s message.
Whether you’re a Bhakti practitioner, a spiritual seeker, or simply curious about how the wisdom of different traditions converges, this episode offers a unique perspective on timeless truths that transcend culture and creed.
🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring dialogue that brings together the sacred spirit of Christmas and the devotional depth of Bhakti!
#BhaktiYoga #JesusTeachings #WisdomOfTheSages #Spirituality #Faith #LoveGod #ChristmasSpecial
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1501: Infinite Longing, Infinite Love
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha in this heartfelt Christmas Eve episode as they delve into Blaise Pascal’s profound insights about the “God-shaped hole” within every human being. Together, they unpack the timeless wisdom of filling this infinite abyss not with fleeting material distractions but with Divine connection.
Through vibrant discussion and references to the Srimad Bhagavatam, they explore how the Vishnu avatar, Lord Vamana’s pastimes teach us to surrender fully and embrace a lifestyle centered on spiritual evolution.
Key Takeaways: • What does it mean to “give it all” in Bhakti yoga? • Why material achievements never truly satisfy the soul. • How surrendering to Krishna transforms suffering into fulfillment.
✨ Dive into an inspiring conversation on how Bhakti yoga offers not just spiritual solace but a roadmap to profound happiness and freedom. #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #GodShapedHole #SpiritualFulfillment #KrishnaConsciousness
Sign up for a Sage Group now at Session 9 Sage Groups Registration Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-53613415-session#/
SB 8.18.22-32
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1500: Episodes of Transformation / How Srimad Bhagavatam Changes Lives
In this milestone 1500th episode, Wisdom of the Sages celebrates the profound transformations sparked by the daily discussions of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Hear heartfelt testimonials from listeners around the globe—how Bhakti-yoga and the Wisdom of the Sages community have shifted lives toward gratitude, purpose, and peace.
Key Highlights: ✨ First-hand stories of sobriety, healing, and connection through bhakti. ✨ The power of hearing Bhagavatam daily to reshape habits and hearts. ✨ Getting to know the Wisdom of the Sages listeners.
This episode is a testament to the timeless relevance of Vedic wisdom in modern life. Whether you’re new to bhakti or a long-time practitioner, dive into a community rooted in spiritual growth and encouragement.
🌟 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join thousands worldwide in the transformative journey of Bhakti.
🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages
Sign up for a Sage Group now at Session 9 Sage Groups Registration Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-53613415-session#/
Check out Thomas Essig's documentary Something Divine at https://www.entertainmentoxygen.com
Check out Tim O'Reilly's Krishna inspired music, Rudra Principle https://share.amuse.io/cz-Fr0qZLJct
And the video for Kamsa’s Last Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IPdExERlt4
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1499: The Power of Simple Kirtan / An Interview with Madhava das
Join Raghunath in a heartfelt conversation with renowned Kirtan leader Madhava Das. This episode is filled with personal stories, and timeless lessons about the transformative power of the Kirtan.
From the scorching streets of Vrindavan to global stages, Madhava shares his journey of devotion, the wisdom of his mentor Aindra Prabhu, and how Kirtan transcends ego, connects hearts, and opens the door to divine love.
Key Highlights:
• Insights into the life and teachings of Aindra Prabhu. • How Kirtan can heal and uplift even the heaviest hearts. • Why simplicity and sincerity are the secret ingredients of Bhakti.
Whether you’re new to Bhakti or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers inspiration, laughter, and spiritual depth to transform your path.
🎧 Listen now!
#Kirtan #BhaktiYoga #AindraPrabhu #HolyName #DevotionalMusic #WisdomoftheSages
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1498: Q & A Volume 257 / The Divine, The Demoniac & Our Own Inner Demons
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha as they confront the darker corners of spiritual life. Through heartfelt questions from listeners, they explore profound truths about the battle between light and shadow within all of us.
From breaking free of addiction to understanding the very nature of evil and the demonic world view, this episode unpacks heavy topics with a balance of warmth, wisdom, and practical guidance.
Key Questions Discussed:
• What is the difference between a personal and impersonal conception of God? • How can someone struggling with addiction cultivate focus and move forward in Bhakti? • What is the purpose of “demons”?
Tune in for an inspiring and raw conversation about how Bhakti can transform even life’s most difficult challenges into stepping stones toward inner peace and divine connection.
🎧 Don’t miss this exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and spiritual awakening.
#BhaktiRecovery #YogaPhilosophy #SpiritualHealing #AddictionRecovery #BhagavadGita
Check out more about Bhakti Recovery Group at www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com
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1497: Krishna's Lila: The Lost Essence of Yoga
Dive deep into the true meaning of yoga beyond the asanas, as Raghunath and Kaustubha unravel the profound connection between yoga's meditative roots and transcendental joy. Through the enchanting Lilas of Lord Vamanadev, they reveal how Krishna’s playful incarnations hold the key to understanding life’s ultimate purpose—divine love through spiritual play.
Discover how Vedic wisdom invites us to stretch our imagination and perceive truths beyond the limits of our material experience. From the sacred ceremonies of Lord Vamanadev’s birth to his charming role as a divine beggar, this episode illuminates how Bhakti Yoga harmonizes spirituality, culture, and devotion, weaving together the cosmic and the personal.
Key Topics:
• Lord Vamanadev’s birth and sacred rituals • Bhakti as the ultimate spiritual play • The intertwining of rural simplicity, spirituality, and cosmic order • Stretching the imagination to glimpse higher spiritual truths • Krishna’s captivating nature and his transformational pastimes
🎧 Tune in for a thought-provoking and joyful exploration of Bhakti Yoga that combines humor, insight, and timeless wisdom. #BhaktiYoga #KrishnaLeela #VedicPhilosophy #Spirituality #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.18.13-21
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1496: The Spiritual Heart of Rural India
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha in this insightful episode as they explore the profound teachings of Bhakti Yoga through the lens of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Travel with them to the rural simplicity of India, where spirituality and community merge, and discover how Vedic wisdom shapes daily practices.
Hear about Lord Vamanadev’s awe-inspiring appearance.
And the deeper significance of Divine incarnations in Krishna’s spiritual lineage, as upheld by towering figures like Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati and Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
This episode also delves into the transformational power of Bhakti, the timeless cultural beauty it fosters, and the pure devotion that binds Krishna to His devotees. Whether you’re drawn to Hindu philosophy, fascinated by avatars, or looking to deepen your spiritual practice, this discussion offers a perfect blend of theology, storytelling, and inspiration.
Key Topics:
• The spiritual essence of Vamana Dev’s incarnation • Insights from the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam • Krishna’s playful, loving relationships with His devotees • Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati and the legacy of pure devotion • The cultural richness of rural India and its spiritual roots
🎧 Don’t miss this journey into the heart of Bhakti and its transformative potential. Subscribe for more content connecting ancient Vedic teachings with modern life!
#BhagavadGita #BhaktiYoga #Krishna #Spirituality #HinduPhilosophy
SB 8.18.12
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1495: Finding Your Contribution in Bhakti
SB 8.17.28-8.18.11
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1494: Time Is a River: Bhakti Wisdom
Join Raghunath and Kaustubha as they explore the profound teachings of Bhakti Yoga through the lens of time, spirituality, and self-awareness. Discover how observing the eternal time factor as a witness can inspire living fully “in the now” while fostering spiritual growth. Drawing from Aditi and Brama’s heartfelt prayers to Lord Vishnu in the Srimad Bhagavatam, this episode delves into the power of devotion, the impermanence of the material world, and the enduring hope found in spiritual practice.
Whether you’re seeking deeper insights into life’s fleeting nature or practical wisdom for cultivating mindfulness and devotion, this episode offers transformative perspectives from the Wisdom of the Sages podcast.
Key Topics
• Eternal time factor in spirituality • Observing time and its impact on spiritual growth • Aditi’s prayers to Lord Vishnu and their timeless lessons • Srimad Bhagavatam’s teachings on devotion and impermanence • Shelter and the Punk to Monk Journey
🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring conversation that bridges ancient Vedic wisdom with modern spiritual practice.
#TimeAndEternity #VedicWisdom #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualGrowth #WisdomOfTheSages
SB 8.17.21-27
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1493: Vishnu's the Socket and We're the Plugs
'Properly understood and applied, (prayer) is the most potent instrument of action.' - Mahatma Gandhi / Prayer is a yogic means to cultivate inner strength, clarity, and resolve / Similarities in Dhruva and Aditi - both had devotion mixed with material objective, but both surrendered to a valid spiritual guide, both performed devotional practices with extraordinary focus and determination, both were purified through devotional acts / we don’t lose dignity when we pray / through recognition of Vishnu’s greatness one can align with the source of power and get connected, like a plug aligns with a socket / Vishnu agrees to become Aditi’s son
SB 8.17.4-20
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1492: Home for the Holidays: Navigating Family Dynamics as a Bhakti Yogi
The holidays can be a time of joy, togetherness, and reflection—but for Bhakti-yogis, returning home to family can also present unique challenges. In this special episode of Wisdom of the Sages, we’re joined by Dhanya Rico, a mental wellness educator with advanced degrees in counselor education, and couples and family therapy. Both Dhanya and Kaustubha offer practical tools and insights for maintaining harmony when values, practices, and lifestyles differ between Bhakti practitioners and their families.
Whether it’s explaining your dietary choices, navigating awkward questions, or gracefully handling conflicting worldviews, this episode provides thoughtful guidance for turning potentially challenging moments into opportunities for deeper connection and understanding. Tune in to gain valuable wisdom for balancing your spiritual path with family dynamics this holiday season.
To join a Sage Group for Session 9, go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/c/sagegroups/
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1491: The Average Man, With Laser-like Focus
Our minds become one by reciting the sacred texts together / wrapping yourself in the holy name / surrendering to Vishnu in times of hardship / Krishna’s Star Wars level play for restoring cosmic order / the mantra is the weapon to take the empire back / shaking off the tamasic mindset / “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” — Bruce Lee / if we don’t feel the urgency, Krishna can turn up the heat / the story of Kailash the snake
SB 8.17.1-3
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1490: Changing Lives with the Bhagavad Gita
Kaustubha Das speaks with Vaisesika Das and Malini Devi Dasi on this special Gita Jayanti episode of Wisdom of the Sages as they dive deep into the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and discuss how you can participate in the campaign to distribute 4.2 million Bhagavad-gitas.
Celebrate the day this sacred text was spoken and uncover its profound wisdom for everyday life.
#BhagavadGita #GitaJayanti #WisdomOfTheSages
To contact Malini, call or message her at +1 (669) 289-5563
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1489: Take the Power Back! (From Your Own Mind)
If you are going to get the mind under control you will need a strategy / Joseph Campbell on entering the myth through ritual / how Krishna’s lilas make ritual dynamic / in Bhakti the means and the end are the same / training the heart to catch up to the externals / to love and to serve is our very nature / examining all the elements of the payo-vrata ritual / Take the Power Back! (From Your Own Mind) / our desires cause us pain - a still mind brings peace / Key Differences in Western and Eastern perspectives / Finding the commonality / feed everyone
SB 8.16.56-62
Find Queen of Hearts Bhakti inspired album Drifters at
https://open.spotify.com/album/0q7du9rjrGWqObTV4w3JvX?si=9xNTQRwETBOe-LtYLohD5Q
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1488: Devotion, Bravery & the Power of Love
Morihei Ueshiba on loyalty, devotion, bravery, the spirit of self-sacrifice and trust in the power of love / find what you have full conviction in and express it boldly / Let Krishna, in your heart, carry you through the anxiety / whatever fear you experience - try to just witness that from a distance / never allow anyone to make you feel foolish for walking away from a materialistic life / Krishna is chipping away at our big ego blob / finding beauty and satisfaction in loving service / we’re not above anybody / every body is poor and in need of prasad / How Durga appears in the land of Sri Chaitanya / the beautiful culture of distributing prasad
SB 8.16.39-55
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1487: Filmmaking for God / An Interview with Yadubara das
Raghunath interviews Yadubara das about meeting the devotees and Srila Prabhupada in 1970, travelling to India and photography and filmmaking. Yadubara's most recent film is Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and The Swami Who Started It. Learn more at https://harekrishnathefilm.com
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1486: How to Respond When God Takes Everything Away? / Q & A Volume 255
What is the attitude that we should take when it seems that God is taking everything away from us? / How can I celebrate, and explain celebrating, Christmas to my daughter as a non-Christian?
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1485: Changing Mental Algorithms Through Ritual
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. - William James / separating ourselves from our thoughts / yoga means choosing what goes on in my mind / pushing out low level thinking with ritual / the average person has 60,000 thoughts a day 45,000 of those thoughts are negative / only love moves Krishna / the guru does not manufacture a new process / making the ritual more effective through regularity and focus / are senses are only able to pick up crummy, low level energy / there’s a whole little city going on inside a cell / Raghu’s survivalist experiments
SB 8.16.22-24
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1484: Charlatan Guru Red Flags
Maya Angelou on becoming a representative / just as there are cheaters in the West - there are cheaters from the East / the big key to understand who is real - they don’t pose as an enlightened being - they present their self as a simple representative / Enlightened One red flags / guru is like a postal peon - simply making a delivery / real gurus don’t accept praise - they pass it up / the ego wants to be a guru / get educated on what a guru really is / Regardless of the level of your evolution - Bhakti is still the best remedy
SB 8.16.20-21
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1483: Celebrating the Release of VRINDAVAN, A Photo Book by Paulo Segadaes
Paulo Segadaes is a professional photographer and daily listener of Wisdom of the Sages. Here, he tells how he became inspired to go to Vrindavan, India, the center of the Krishna Bhakti tradition, where he broke through the culture shock, and under the guidance of an ideal guide, captured the fascinatingly beautiful portraits and photos in his new book, VRINDAVAN.
Follow Sega on Instagram @segadaes
Order his book at goodluckproducts.bigcartel.com Use discount code: wots108
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1482: Kaustubha Speaks on the Loss of His Mother
The material world is crumbling - but Bhagavatam is a fresh perspective / every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness - involves a rite of passage - Dan Millman - “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” / we should all have a strategy of where we want to be at the end of life / pass to the next stage and never look back / let the discomfort purify us / we need communities that help us climb higher / NO BACKSLIDING / The Ganga is beyond time - we sit on her banks and feel pain / life is moving - learn to flow with it / watching a body burn gives you some major closure / the need for spiritual education
SB 8.16.18-19
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1481: You are Never Alone
“A great soul never dies.” - Maya Angelou / the 12 Great People / the spiritual master lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him / "What is this alone? Vaishnava is never alone.” / Raghu’s morning meditations / “Rādhārāṇī, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Kṛṣṇa. To Your Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is Yours.” / uninterrupted meditation on the instructions of the great souls / Arjuna's constant meditation on Krishna’s instructions / the great intimacy of friendship between guru and disciple / How Krishna is impartial, yet favors His Devotees
SB 8.16.11-17
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1480: Serving the Poorest of the Poor in Vrindavan
Kaustubha interviews Ineke Zondag, a leader at Food For Life Vrindavan, which is a favorite Non-profit Organization of his and Raghunath’s, which provides free education, skill training, meals and medical help to over 1500 girls in Vrindavan, India.
Find more info at https://fflv.org
Reach out to Ineke at ineke@fflv.org
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1479: Why Pray for the Benefit of Another Person? / Q & A Volume 254
What is a Vaishnava? / Does it really make sense to pray for the benefit of another person, to an all knowing, all powerful God? / If someone gives you a lottery ticket is it still considered gambling?
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1478: Is This Gaslighting or Torchlighting?
"When you truly understand karma, then you realize you are responsible for everything in your life." -Keanu Reeves / raking radical responsibility / everyone loves Keanu Reeves / the definition of gaslighting / getting caught in a gaslighting loop / being encouraged to consider whether our suffering caused by ourself may not be gaslighting - it may be torchlighting / looking into the Vedic marriage of Kasyapa and Aditi / “even an enemy comes to one’s home, one should receive him in such a way that the guest will forget that his host is an enemy.” - Bhaktivedanta Swami / are we living with integrity? / Kaustubha’s prayer for his mother
SB 8.16.1-10
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1477: Let There Be For Every Pulse a Thanksgiving
“Preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song.” Konrad von Gesner / To the degree we’re grateful we are happy and to the degree we’re entitled we’re sad / Raghunath almost dies laughing / what is a pure - still heart? / alternative views of spiritual bypassing / how to be always thankful / the whole Bhakti thing is about giving thanks / ingratitude is the worst sin / Bali got power based on the principle of service to guru / The demigods are shape-shifters! / whoever is really in control (Rothchilds?) we just need to keep chanting / the ritualistic brahmanas are more like scientists than priests
SB 8.15.29-36
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1476: Real Gurus, Real Teachings, Real Affection & Care
We own nothing, God owns everything / Bali Mahārāja became a disciple of Śukrācārya and with great faith, offered everything he had / devotion to a real guru can grant one great power / the empowerment of Prabhupada’s disciples / Bali gets empowered and assembles his army / The beauty of Indra’s capital / Brihaspati reveals to Indra the key to Bali’s power / “By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement.”
SB 8.15.1-28
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1475: Balancing the Ideal & the Real
Raghu’s redecoration is a super high meditation / Kaustubha is not judging Raghunath / our challenge: to maintain the integrity of the tradition, while expressing it’s vision in a way that responds to the needs of new situations / the Ganga Tilak Lady / the universal management teams / we’re no spring chickens / Bali will become the new Indra! / we can’t even imagine the opulence of higher planets / we’ve ruined this planet for no good reason / Krishna assumes the form of great yogis / The problem with the mode of goodness is you get a little proud
SB 8.13.1-14.11
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1474: Humility is Nothing But Truth & Pride is Nothing But Lying
“Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down … a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.” - Carl Jung / "Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.” St. Vincent de Paul / pride is a costume / it hurts if you lead with your ego / pride brings anxiety / the pauper is proud of his penny / you can’t humiliate the humble / the truth will set us free / Who am I really?! / humble Lord Shiva remains unagitated and unashamed / Shiva meditates of Vishnu - beyond time and the reach of the Vedas / chanting the glories of Krishna annihilates all suffering
SB 8.12.37-47
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1473: Gurus, Initiation, Krishna, Vishnu & Sex / Q & A Volume 253
Can we be fully committed Vaishnavas without initiation? / Can I have a guru without the initiation process? / Is keeping long hair offensive or should we shave our heads? / How do we minimize sex life when we are married to a person who is not on board with the philosophy? / If Krishna is the 8th avatar of Vishnu, then how is He also “The Supreme Personality of Godhead”? Does that mean He’s above Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva?
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1472: Into the Forest with Jahnavi Harrison
Kaustubha speaks with Recording Artist Jahnavi Harrison about her brand new record “Into the Forest” which drops today!
Find her album at
https://open.spotify.com/album/4rS61VN26x28jONi3U0UWG?si=zJDRq3UWRWyoP9yO9vtBWg
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1471: The Parable of the Blind Men & the Elephant
Seeing partial truths in different spiritual traditions / we’re trying to find absolute truth with subjective lenses / knowing the one Absolute Truth as Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān / as Krishna enters the wrestling arena he is seen in 10 different ways according to various rasas / how varieties of philosophers see Krishna through the lens of their philosophy / Shiva asks to see Vishnu's form of Mohini / Vishnu completely bewilders Shiva with His feminine beauty
SB 8.12.9-37
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1470: Preparing Our Minds & Hearts for Selfless Love
Saint Teresa of Avila on making a garden of our heart / in the spiritual world there’s just Bhakti-yoga / we’re preparing our minds and hearts for selfless love / Lord Shiva shares a comprehensive exposition on the supremely divine status of Lord Vishnu / Vishnu as Supreme Controller / Vishnu as Supreme Inexhaustible / Shiva on the elevated purity of Vishnu’s devotees
SB 8.12.1-8
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1469: Letting Go of Ego & the Idea “I Am the Doer”
Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called ‘Ego’. - Friedrich Nietzsche / self realization - not sense gratification - is the goal of life / the ego bonds our sense of self to the body / the the apps on the computer of the mind / the Goddess Sawaswati in Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes / Bali tells Indra that the sadhus pity him for his ignorance / bewildered by the influence of false ego we think that we are the doers / the Bhagavad-gita’s 5 factors of action / Joan of Arcs pity for the souls of the British Army / how a child thinks that he is the doer / we need to hear from a higher perspective to understand that we are not the doers / Indra Annihilates the Demons
SB: 8.11.9-48
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1468: Kaustubha Finally Gets It - Narada Loves the Demons Too
everyone is shining after completing their Kartik vows / 3 different vows for 3 different Bhakti-yogis - personal ways to deepen Bhakti / Kaustubha finally get’s it - Narada loves the Demons too / daily Bhagavatam reflection matures knowledge into realization / Bali lectures Indra on even-mindedness / how do devotees feel always protected? - regardless of externals, they know their constitutional well being is always preserved by Krishna / both jubilation and moroseness are bliss in Bhakti
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1467: Squirreling Out in Nepal and Govardhan
A Himalayan shopkeeper gives Raghu some shilas / Jatipur lassi saves Kaustubha’s stomach / visiting the little hermitage of Krishnadas Kaviraja / Raghu and Mara - hiking and listening together / more glories of Yamuna Devi / Radhanath Swami dismisses Kaustubha / appreciating Lokasaranga Swami aka Paravat Maharaja / It takes a settled mind to live in seclusion / The passing away of Sarath Jois / Kaustubha cooks mind-blowing Halava for Patabbhi Jois / Raghu is almost too Krishna Conscious / Raghu and Kaustubha both wrap up a chapter
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1466: Death & the Planetary System
We’re not interested in going to higher planets / If we think we can find out everything with our limited senses- we can’t / Take what resonates and apply it/ Have reasonable faith and healthy doubt and Take a little step forward / Are our choices upgrading or degrading our life? / Refine what you let into your life / Great sages reveal the imperceptible / We need qualifications for higher planets / Even if we went to the moon, could we see anything? / Our Sadhana helps us see the world differently
SB 8.11.1-8
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1465: Remembrance of Krishna Dissipates All Dangers
Bali attacks the Deva's with illusory weapons / "When the naked carnivorous demons show up with tridents ...... well, that's kinda where I draw the line." / as the dangers of a dream cease when the dreamer awakens, simply by remembrance of Krishna one becomes free from all dangers
SB 8.10.38-57
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1464: Bhakti Poetry with Dravida Das
In this captivating interview Kaustubha speaks with Dravida Das, a Sanskrit editor and reciter of Sanskrit Bhakti poetry. Dravida Das also adapts Sanskrit verses into English poetry, and composes English Bhakti poems of his own as well.
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1463: How to Get Over Sadness? Q&A Volume 252
How to get over sadness? / How to support my friend was diagnosed with a life altering disease? / Why does Raghunath recommended chanting at least one round of japa while on pilgrimage? / Is it ok to drink tulsi tea?
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1462: The Battle Between the Demigods & the Demons
great souls hook your heart - and then tug on it / Bhakti is charming / bringing back story telling / just accept there’s things we can’t perceive / stretching the imagination / Never fight on the back of a duck / the appearance of Bali Maharaja / Demigods and the Demons battle
SB: 8.10.1-37
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1461: I Want to Have a Heart Like That! For Eternity!
Indra let’s go at Govinda Kund / Braja Roaming with Krishna’s devotees / singing about how Krishna wakes up / the girls’ excuses to see Krishna / hearts heavy with love for Krishna / “This Divine love is what life is really all about.” / This yoga is very different - it’s nothing but love / Bhagavatam’s cinematic battle scenes introduce an important character - the demon Bali Maharaja / Vishnu is an expansion of little Krishna / Krishna’s games / the gopis joyfully sing of Krishna, who had so deeply touched their hearts / I want to have a heart like that! For eternity! / How do you get that feeling? / the essence of all advice /
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1460: Bhaktivedanta Swami - Meditations Prior to Coming West
Testimony from the Pūjārī from Śrī Advaita Ācārya’s house in Śāntipura, West Bengal / Prabhupada’s tears and prayers for mercy and empowerment in service / testimony from Śrīpāda Hṛdayānanda Bābājī Mahārāja “Never have I seen anyone do sādhana like he did.” / Testimony from Śrīman Kishanlal Sharma Paṇḍita - “his glance was so deep with feeling and mercy” / Please don’t worry about the scorpion. Don’t disturb. He is also a devotee / Testimony from Acharya Nirmal Chandra Goswāmī - “After getting inspiration from the Goswāmīs, he began to translate in his mind.”
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1459: What Does Chanting Japa Do For You? / Q&A Volume 241
Something I struggle with is seeing Krishna in everyone, even those that have deeply wounded us with no desire to change. How can I make peace with this? / What does chanting japa do for you?
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1458: Can We Learn to Operate on the Eternal Level?
the Sun the Moon and Rahu / experiments in Vedic astrology / do you want to be connected or amputated? / Kaustubha’s Rahu period ends / Raghu’s Rahu period ends / trying to carve out a place of comfort for me and mine vs recognizing our shared connection to the root / leaning into the Bhagavatam / When Raghu thought he was going to die / from materialistic activity, no one benefits / can we learn to operate on the eternal level?
SB 8.9.20-29
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1457: Ornate, Devotional Beauty in “Bombed Out” Vrindavan
Raghu’s “secret sadhana” / seeing the ornate, devotional, beauty of Bhakti in “bombed out” Vrindavan / the authentic Bengali Bhakti experience / knowledge of self-realization, devoid of the Divine personal love, has no beauty / winding up at Prabhupada’s feet / sometimes the world will put us through a crazy mind game / conflict is eating us up / lack of faith in the greater plan / Krishna works through His energies / sidestepping the hurricane of hate / Mohini Murti bewilders the demons
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1456: Searching for Krishna in Vrindavan
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss their thoughts and feels upon arriving in Vrindavan / being greeted like members of the family / connecting with the Bengali pilgrims through kirtan / moving rituals at the sacred pond, Radha Kunda / Radha Kund is messy but pure / going deep / 3 rules for a deeper experience in Vrindavan / Vrindavan has frequencies we can’t perceive / seeing past the thin material layer / we’re living in a Bhakti renaissance
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1455: Processing the World's Suffering / Q & A Volume 240
I understand that suffering is part of this material world and may be Krishna’s will but it saddens and disturbs me to see so much senseless suffering. How can I reconcile this? / Upon returning from a pilgrimage to India, how to carry this high vibe home and maintain it? / Please explain the sacred stones (shilas).
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1454: Forgiveness Sets You Free / Q & A Volume 239
What is the key to forgiveness, if we’re trying to forgive to move forward what’s the process? It doesn’t make the trauma go away, so how is forgiveness supposed to help you? / Why does Krsna Balaram Temple in Vrindavan sing a different song in the morning than all the other temples? / How to bring the right attitude into my morning practices? / How to help someone new to Bhakti ease into the practice without becoming overwhelmed?
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1453: Learning How to Let Go
disconnected from our roots, we create a “theater of the absurd” / the eternal dharma that we all share - we’re all designed to serve with love / if you don’t feel shame when doing shameful things - something’s wrong with us / wandering up to the Himalayas to die / “Now, I’m meant to let go.” / we churn, we work, we sweat, we suffer - and then we learn that we just need to let go / Divine love prevails all trauma / we’re gonna keep hurting each other until we evolve
1452: The Goddesses Mood Brings All Good Fortune
The Goddess Laxmi appears from the ocean of milk / Laxmi’s discernment in giving her self entirely to Visnu / Laxmi’s devotional mood brings all good fortune / the coronation of Laxmi / the female energy of God is personified good fortune / be blessed by Laxmi or deal with Durga / Laxmi chooses Vishnu / neglect of lax results in depression, bewilderment and frustration SB 8.8.9-29
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1451: Unconditional Love is our Innate Operating System
The party is in Udaipur and its ever-fresh / Raghu confirms Kaustubha’s Krishna Miracle / Unconditional love is our innate operating system / things never go as smoothly as you want- even for the devas / the Goddess of Fortune lives to be enjoyed - does that trigger us? / the idea that we exist for the pleasure of another is triggering - but LOVE REQUIRES IT! / Krishna is waiting for us to come to his level of unconditional love / What’s your peace formula, Smarty pants? / the Goddess Laxmi’s got no issues
SB 8.8.1-8
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1450: Compassion is Included Within Bhakti
Bhakti is caught more than taught / You just gotta ask (for Krishna prasad) / tenderness of heart towards Kṛṣṇa is bhakti - tenderness of heart towards everyone is compassion / You play the bhakti game there’s no bad luck / Krishna pleased = Shiva pleased = everyone pleased / the highest method of worshiping God, in the heart of everyone, is to accept voluntary suffering to relieve the suffering of others
SB 8.7.1-46
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1449: Freeing Oneself & Reclaiming Happiness / An Interview with Eddie Stern
Kaustubha interviews his old friend Eddie Stern, a yoga teacher, author, and researcher based in New York City. Eddie has a multi-disciplinary approach to yoga which includes studying traditional texts and combining the application of the practices contained within them to science, research, technology, and collaboration.
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1448: Practical Steps in Finding Guidance in Bhakti Yoga / Q & A Volume 238
What are some practical steps for finding teachers and gurus to give practical advice if one lives far from a temple / How should one prepare their mind for physical austerities on the path of Bhakti? / How can I better share Bhakti teachings in my own voice, rather than just parroting what others say?
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1447: What Will Vishnu Ask of Us?
The effulgent, beautiful vision of Lord Vishnu melts anxiety / nothing can touch Vishnu’s hear, but devotion / Lord Brahma speaks from that higher level / when Vishnu asks you to be patient, take the high road and cooperate with your enemies / with any great service, the first thing to appear from the churning / the demons agree to a truce
SB 8.6.1-39
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1446: Yogis Know the Root of Existence (& They Water It)
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." - J. R. R. Tolkien / the difference between material & spiritual / spiritual endeavors come with rollover credits / Krishna is willing to meet you where you are at / Krishna is the root of all existence, and we are all the leaves / when you love Krishna you love everyone, every dog, even every cockroach / you can’t see the root, but it’s there
SB 8.5.47-50
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1445: Making Big Decisions on a Spiritual Path / Q & A Volume 247
How should I navigate differences of opinions regarding important decisions on my Bhakti path? / How do we balance our material/human reactions & necessities with our spiritual aspirations? / Why don't we chant over the 'guru' bead?
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1444: The Simplest Acts Can Become Acts of Meditation
becoming aware and contemplative to see miracles everywhere / “when you are grateful, you are happy” - Thich Nhat Hanh / Bhaktivedanta takes spiritual gratitude to its conclusion - who are we grateful to? / I’s collide / Sri Caitanya’s teaching are so illuminating - that we are both one with, and different from, God / should we have learned Sanskrit, or would we have just become more arrogant? / Krishna works through multifarious energies, and has nothing to do (except his transcendental loving adventures) / sweet baby Krishna saved Raghu / when it comes to seeing God, we’ve got dog-eyes / what does it mean to use God’s name in vain? / karmic - people who are convinced that happiness will be found through the external things of this world / hard karmic work leads to dissatisfaction / if we find happiness through service we can always be satisfied / good times in the Philadelphia Temple
SB 8.5.44-47
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1443: What Does It Mean to Be "Centered"?
security, guidance, wisdom, and power flow from a solid, unchanging core / wherever you look, you can see examples of the rotation around a center as a healthy, harmonious model / Brahma helps the Devas get centered around Vishnu / India’s temples were architecturally designed to center our awareness / Kerala Mural art’s depictions of the universal leaders centered around Vishnu / Rasa dance as a mandala / the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra as a mandala / centering through seeing the universe as the body of Vishnu
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1442: Vishnu as the Hub of the Wheel of Samsara
Brahma and the Devas goes to the ocean of milk / Raghunath’s body is a universe / don’t think slave master - think dog master / Vishnu’s omniscience / the material body resembles the wheel of a mental chariot / Brahma establishes the nature of the self in relation to Vishnu, the hub of the wheel of samsara / you are that - and at the same time different / Lila isn’t irritable bowel syndrome / the opportunity to be happy within this material world is illusion / Krishna can call off His illusory energy
SB 8.5.26-30
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1441: Livin' la Brahmaloka
scientific research has determined that people driving luxury cars are 5 times more likely to cut off other drivers / we must consider how the body that we are in is affecting our thoughts and behaviors / through Bhakti one let’s go of all upadhis (false designations) / Lord Indra - the Bhagavatam’s repeated reference to confusion and embarrassment due to pride of opulence / the zoomed-out, pure atmosphere of Brahmaloka / fear and panic is the time for a satva guna check in / Brahma’s mediation on Vishnu / why we need sankirtan in Kali Yuga / Brahma’s not groveling, he’s sharing the love and appreciation in his heart
SB 8.5.17-25
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1440: Walking Towards God - An Interview with Hrdaya Caitanya
Raghunath interviews Hrdaya Caitanya about his walking journey from France to India and his realizations along the way.
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1439: Unworthiness, Forgiveness & Codependency / Q & A with Dhanya Rico
How can I root out my feelings of unworthiness and my need for validation and sympathy, so that I can genuinely practice Bhakti? / How to apologize and how to forgive in a genuine way? / When I set boundaries, I feel guilt. Is this my codependent nature creeping in?
Dhanya Rico holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education, and holds a Specialist’s degree in Couples and Family therapy.
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1438: Zooming Out to Gain Perspective
hearing from our people in Lebanon / we’re all shifting positions / Bhakti is taking our listeners beyond the ignorance of nationalism / laying out the universal staffs / our universe is like a tiny mustard sed in a huge bag of seeds / zooming out to see the Universal rulers as insignificant (and Krishna beyond them) / God comes as a Tortoise!?! / good Karma can ruin your life / Indra in the Vedas vs Indra in the Bhagavatam
SB 8.5.1-16
Check out Thomas Essig's movie Something Divine at
https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/feed/27dec5f6-099d-470c-99e3-acf88cc994fb
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1437: Ritual Morning Trance and the Algorithms of the Mind
Thomas Merton on the greatest need of our time / our ritual morning trance is being set by algorithms / today’s news editors are algorithms, focused on increasing user engagement by exploiting our weakness to click on hate, greed and fear / choose healthy algorithms for your mind / re-engaging the senses in something positive and uplifting / fill your head with beautiful thoughts / the only important thing in existence is the connection between self and God and the love exchanged there / when connected to Krishna, all the details become relevant, valuable, powerful, beautiful, purifying and satisfying
SB 8.4.13-26
Check out Thomas Essig's movie Something Divine at
https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/feed/27dec5f6-099d-470c-99e3-acf88cc994fb
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1436: How Will Our Blessing be Revealed?
zooming out to get the past-life background stories / the nature of Krishna is that all he does is bless / fear is just the inability to see Krishna’s hand in everything / as different as we are, we all go through the same things / the crocodile is revealed as a former Gandharva / the elephant is revealed as King Indradyumna / King Indradyumna renounces the kingdom to live as a yogi / King Indradyumna receives the sages curse as a blessing
SB 8.4.1-12
Check out Thomas Essig's movie Something Divine at
https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/feed/27dec5f6-099d-470c-99e3-acf88cc994fb
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1435: I'm For Truth, No Matter Who Tells It
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” - The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. / “I'm for truth, no matter who tells it.” - Malcolm X / spiritual knowledge is the only panacea / only those free of materialistic strategies have the bandwidth to absorb their minds in God within their hearts / home, relatives, friends, money, etc. will fail as a strategy for happiness / Tolstoy’s Father Sergius finds true spirituality in a simple housewife
SB 8.3.17-33
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1434: Why Don't You Take a Clear Stance on U.S. Politics? / Q & A Volume 245
I’ve been a bit concerned about the both side-ism you have maintained regarding U.S. politics. Why don’t you take a clear political stance on your podcast? / How can I root out my need for validation and sympathy, so that I can genuinely practice Bhakti?
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1433: A Rhyming Elephant Reveals the Mysteries of the Universe
“Nature has her own logic, her own laws, she has no effect without cause nor invention without necessity.” / nothing makes senses until we understand that there are 2 types of energy, material and spiritual / life (consciousness) doesn’t operate according to material laws / huge atheistic speculations grounded on tiny bits of scientific research / there is a fascinating, philosophical, poetic manual to the universe and what’s beyond / a rhyming, talking, celestial elephant reveals the mystery of the universe / Vishnu as the cause of all causes - beyond time and space / material theories can never reach the origin / Vishnu reveals the spiritual realm to Brahma / reality is seen in relation to Vishnu / reality is reveal in the pure mind / losing faith in material joy
SB 8.3.15-18
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1432: Krishna: "You Do You" / Us: "Don't Call Me"
the purifying feeling of satsang / learning spirituality through studying the relationships of Vaishnavas / who am I emulating (among the characters of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita)? / accepting criticism and correction / “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” - Michelangelo / a false presumption among atheists - that God is attached to our worship / Why doesn’t God write “Accept Me” across the sky? / the Bhagavad-gita’s more nuanced idea of God / Krishna says “You do you” - we say “Don’t call me” / A result gives one a glimpse of its cause / what was there before the beginning of time?
SB 8.3.14
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1431: Self Luminous Vishnu Shines Within the Heart
Vishnu can not be known by the mind and senses / Vishnu is know through devotion, pure of material desire / the nondual Supreme Absolute Truth manifests as the avatars, the material energy and as the impersonal, attritubeless brahman / even our own body is not our own / the false presumption that for something to be accepted as real it must be perceivable empirically
SB 8.3.10-13
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1430: To Love at All is to Be Vulnerable
we lock our hearts in caskets of selfishness / for the sake of love God becomes vulnerable / to practice Bhakti we need to understand who we are, who Krishna is, and the nature of the relationship / Krishna is the Purusha - the primeval, personal, animating principle / Krishna is the earth, the potter, the potter's wheel and the pot / qualifications to see the truth - vimukta-saṅgāḥ - disinfected of material conditions, bhūta-ātma-bhūtāḥ - equal to all living entities; / suhṛdaḥ - friends to everyone, aloka-vratam avraṇaṁ - flawless in carrying out spiritual vows / the foundation of spiritual knowledge / we’re just little sparks switching seats
SB 8.3.2-10
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1429: Mantras are Capsules of Spiritual Awareness
At every crossroads on the path that leads to spiritual consciousness, the mind has placed 10,000 thoughts to guard material consciousness / confronting our comforts, pleasures and fears / don’t medicate- meditate / don’t DEflect - REflect / seeing behind the minds of others / karmic reactions, manifest and unmanifest / Gajendra fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence / the revival of divine consciousness from the previous life / capsules of spiritual awareness in the subconscious mind / harmonizing the mind with the devotional nature of the self is called yoga / Raghunath chooses mangala arati
SB 8.2.32 - 8.3.1
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1428: Our Unique Path of Bhakti - An Interview with JivaG
Raghunath and Jiva G discuss hitting rock bottom, finding your higher power, uprooting anarthas, and the importance of a 12 step program. Check out Jiva's Bhakti Recovery podcast.
Learn more at https://www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com
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1427: The Externals vs the Essence - Q & A Volume 244
As someone is not as a formal devotee, I struggle when asked to explain my spirituality. Could you offer any suggestions on how I might describe my spiritual stance to others? / If we can always pick up our spiritual life again in the next life, then what is the urgency of practicing in this lifetime? / Can you explain who is addressed as a maharaj vs a prabhu? What is a bramacari, or a sannyasi? What are the various levels of priests at the temple? Who is allowed to go on the altar?
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1426: Witnessing the Self Passing Through Shakespeare's 7 Ages
All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players. - William Shakespeare / infant, school boy, lover, soldier, justice, old man & infant again / we’re destined to perform a karmic role for a few days / spiritual knowledge helps one to pass through stages of life gracefully / Same substance, but More depth / appreciation sets the mind for knowledge absorption / in our battle with illusion, we need to be in a position which maintains our strength and enthusiasm / Gajendra contemplation: “It’s all coming to an end! I need to seek the real shelter”
SB 8.2.28-31
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1425: Rethinking "Surrender" as an Active Verb
examining surrender in various contexts: military, romantic, artistic, spiritual / surrendering the ego / Kaustubha concedes that Raghu is more of a “wood guy” - but they both have to let this identity go / actively choosing to accept our fate / Krishna lets us run til we’re materially exhausted / our real bio: I’m a tiny spirit soul here for a few days, to love / the elephant Gajendra’s alpha existence is about to turn on a dime
SB 8.2.9-27
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1424: An Anemic Definition of Bhakti & the Non Dual Path
Manu and the Devas are the universal staff in service of Vishnu / Manu is preserving the sad-dharma over the course of his age / the 8th canto illustrates what surrender looks like through 3 narrations (Gajendra, the churning of the ocean of milk & Bali Maharaja) / lets not redefine Bhakti in order to sound inclusive / we don’t object to a person's inclination towards the non-personal energy of Krishna (brahman), but when they deny Krishna Himself, and devotion to Him - that’s when we object / a description of the heavenly planets
SB 8.1.17-8.2.8
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1423: You're Designed for Divine Love (But You're Not Ready for it Yet)
“Wisdom is not knowledge, it is a realization of the scheme and of one's own part in it.” - Algernon Blackwood / THE UNIVERSAL SCHEME: you are designed to enjoy divine love (but you're not ready for it until you're free of all selfishness) / we’re doing the material world wrong / the faith of Richard Dawkins / the most fantastic creation myth is that everything came from nothing / the universe is the energy, body, and property of Krishna - work in harmony with that and you never get entangled by karma / great sages get us started by working for good karma in order to connect us with the sacred texts / the same source of knowledge gives different instructions according to our level of evolution
SB 8.1.14-16
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1422: Can Advaita and Bhakti Vedanta Both be Correct? / Q & A Volume 243
Is it possible that both the Jnana and Bhakti paths are correct in their understanding of “enlightenment“? That some people are naturally inclined towards devotion and due to conditioning and past samskaras some are naturally inclined to the jnana path? And after the dissolution of ego some would experience universal, impersonal, infinite consciousness, and others would experience the bliss of devotion to a personal form of God?
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1421: Two Prototypes of Aging - the Sage & the Karen
“Asceticism is to remain pure amidst impurities.” - Guru Nanak / the yogi’s practice of austerity is like a way of establishing controlled laboratory conditions / the Bhagavad-gita on who is a true renunciate and a true mystic (Bg. 6.1) / the Bhagavad-gita on who is a poser (Bg. 3.6) / more on spiritual communism / Krishna embodies apparently contradictory attributes / as the virtual reality programer remains beyond the encoded laws of the VR, so Krishna lies beyond the laws of the world / 2 prototypes of aging, the Sage and the Karen (sorry, people named Karen)
SB 8.1.10-13
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1420: With Asceticism, Wisdom Bears Fruit
Has my pursuit of comfort and pleasure clouded my perception of truth? / Why should a yogi stand on one foot? / Patanjali’s Kriya-yoga = austerity + study of the self + surrender to God / “With asceticism, wisdom bears fruit.” - Ali ibn Abi Talib / yogic regulations key in on the animalistic basics of sleeping, eating and sex / Manu’s contemplation - there is a conscious intelligence behind everything, and everything is His property / spiritual communism can’t be legislated, it has to be inspired
SB 8.1.9-10
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1419: Prayers for Sri Radha's Sidelong Glance
Building up to tomorrow's festival of the appearance of Sri Radha, Raghunath and Kaustubha read from Lord Shiva’s poem, The Sri Sri Radha-Kripa-Kataksha Stava (Prayers for the Merciful Side-long Grace of Sri Radha).
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1418: The Subtle is the Solid & the Solid is the Subtle
The wisdom of Srimad Bhagavatam is the medicine for our illness and pain / Entering Canto 8 / every one of us has a crocodile glommed on our leg / we need to practice spirituality from a position of strength / every one has a back story / What are the subtle bodies on the higher planets like? / the subtle is the solid / Manu walks away from kingly power to meditate on the truth
Our Goal for 2024 : At least 68,000 Srimad Bhagavatam sets around the world. We will be happy to share extra sets for those who need them. Here are 4 options:
1. They can get a set of Srimad Bhagavatam for themselves. 2. They can sponsor a set of Srimad Bhagavatam for their friends, family or fellow WOTS listeners 3. They can sponsor a set of Srimad Bhagavatam and we will find a Recipient who is eagerly waiting for a set. (Hospitals, Prisons, Remote and tribal villages in India, people in Ukraine, people in South America, etc) 4. If they want to receive a sponsored set we can ship anywhere within USA and Canada They can text/whatsapp/call Malini at this number: +1 (669) 289-5563 and we will take care of all the requests.
SB 8.1.1-8
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1417: Freedom from the Meatrix - Interview with the Makers of Christspiracy
Raghunath talks with filmmakers Kip Anderson and Kam Waters about the making of their films - Seaspiracy, What the Health, Cowspiracy and their newest film, Christspiracy. They discuss the Dead Sea scrolls, the 'meatrix', music ministry, and the importance of eating a liberated diet.
Learn more at https://www.christspiracy.com
And connect with Kip and Kam at https://www.instagram.com/christspiracy/
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1416: Family, Humility, Tolerance & Setting Boundaries - Q & A Volume 242
How to deal with family functions which are centered around alcohol and where all the conversations are gossip and superficial? / Is it possible to be humble, tolerant and still set boundaries?
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1415: The Blessing of Losing One's Beauty
“The perception of beauty is a moral test.” - Henry David Thoreau / where we find beauty reveals a lot about our character / perceiving beauty from the perspective of selflessness / the immature stage of vedanta denies beauty - the mature stage sees it all in relation to Krishna / kriyādvaita: oneness in actions / dravyādvaita: oneness in objectives / In Narada’s previous life he was a Gandharva intoxicated by beauty / the blessing of losing one’s beauty / the Para Brahman lived in the home of the Pandavas
SB 7.15.64-80
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1414: Bhagavad Gita's Formula for Seeing God Everywhere
the satisfaction found in singular focus / seeing oneness in conceptions, actions and objectives lifts one’s awareness beyond the material / Krishna is horizontal and vertical cause of the cosmic manifestation / seeing this world as nothing but God’s energy / Krishna’s message to Arjuna about the highest of all yogis / How to see God everywhere / real liberation is sweet surrender
SB 7.15.62-63
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1413: Like a Flame or a River -This World is Real and Unreal
Educate through love / we are trying to hold onto something solid, in an ever-shifting world / the solid is the subtle and the subtle is the solid / God is the unchanging thread holding the changing world together / Don’t try to redecorate your hotel room- do the inner work and move on / there’s a way to carry god consciousness into your changing world / losing faith in the material world
SB 7.15.59-61
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1412: The Snake & the Rope Revisited
Chandogya Upanisad tells that what we meditate on we become / Sarva khalvidam brahma - what does it mean, that everything is brahman? / Bhagavad-gita 14.27 - Krishna is the basis of brahman / Bhagavad-gita 10.12 - Krishna is the Supreme Brahman / all creation is made possible by brahman’s potential power / Brahman manifests as Krishna’s multifarious energies: parasya saktir vividaiva sruyate (Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.8) / 4 ways that Sankara’s Snake-rope metaphor fails - superimposition is impossible without – Similarities in attributes, Independent reality to both things, Prior experience of what is being superimposed, an outside entity coordinating the common superimpositions / the advaitin bliss is merely the neutral stage of relief from suffering / the opposite of being One Million Dollars in debt is not being free of debt, it’s owning one million dollars / Don’t throw Sweet Baby Krishna out with the bathwater
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1411: I Can't See a Rope as a Snake Unless Snakes Really Exist
“We don’t see reality. We see our reality.” - Professor Mercer from The Irrational / the Dartmouth Scar Experiment, sports, and the OJ trial all illustrate how mental impressions shape our perception / Vedanta’s classic metaphor of the snake and the rope / it is impossible to superimpose one idea unto another, if the former doesn’t exist in reality - ergo - the form variety and individual personhood of this reflected in this world must exist in reality
SB 7.15.55-58
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1410: Meeting Keshava Swami
Kaustubha interviews S.B. Keshava Swami about his training and service as a monk, as well as some insights on America through the eyes of a monk and questions on money and careers.
To learn more about HH Keshava Swami Maharaj, go to https://www.keshavaswami.com
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1409: What is the Significance of Lineage (Sampradaya) in Bhakti Yoga? / Q & A Volume 241
What is the significance of sampradaya? / Do you see a rise in those choosing to practice Bhakti-yoga or is consumerism too strong? / Why shouldn’t one point their feet at the altar? / Why don’t we pass the guru (or Krishna) bead when we chant on a mala? / What is the signifigance of the Tulsi beads?
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1408: Ego Dissolution
“True sanity entails in one way or another the dissolution of the normal ego.” - R. D. Laing / the re-establishment of the true identity as servant of the divine / the purpose of ritual is the impression it leaves in the mind / through knowing (jnana) - one naturally lets go (vairagya) / When the senses are illuminated with knowledge ritualistic sacrifice may dissolve / offer sacrifice into the senses - the senses into the mind - the mind into mantra / attaining finer levels of bodies up to the top of the universe / the Bhagavad-gita compares all the yoga practices and, in the end, says - just surrender to Krishna
SB 7.15.52-54
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1407: The Materialistic Drive Doesn't Fit Into This World
materialism has no limiting principle in a world of limitations / the yogi places a limiting principle on materialistic drives / E. F. Schumacher as a brahminical voice in a materialistic boom / the flaw of democracy (no one will vote for a limiting principle) / basking in the afterglow of Prabhupada’s appearance day festival / a guru wrings out our disqualifications for devotional service / materialistic expansion vs materialistic reduction / letdown is woven into the path of material enjoyment - it can’t deliver satisfaction / the descent from the heavens back into a human body
SB 7.15.48-51
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1406: Don't Think Slave Master, Think Kung Fu Master
until we come under the tutelage of one who has mastered their senses, we remain a slave / resuming our spiritual identity / the promise of happiness through material enjoyment never delivers / the material energy is showing us that there is no hope on the path of material enjoyment / the blessing of regret
SB 7.15.45-47
Find Bali's novel at https://a.co/d/5r0MrrY
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1405: Srila Prabhupada's Miracle
On the anniversary of the day of his birth, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss the life and contribution of Srila Prabhupada, who first brought the teachings of Bhakti to the West.
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1404: Sweet Baby Krishna Extravaganza - Janmastami Special with Krishna Murari Goswami
On the occasion of Krishna's appearance, Raghunath talks with Krishna Murari Goswami about the traditions, songs and stories of Nandagram and Vrindavan.
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1403: Love is Transrational - An Interview with Prof. Edwin Bryant
Learn more at http://www.edwinbryant.org
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1402: How to See the Guru in a Healthy Way - Q & A Volume 240
What are your thoughts about AI created devotional art? / How are we to look at a relationship between guru and student in a healthy way? / Should we correct other devotees when reading Sanskrit?
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1401: Am I in Control or Am I Being Controlled?
it’s not so much our bad habits that are the obstacle to our spiritual growth, it’s hypocrisy / the renunciants meditate on the future state of our body / bhoga and taiga - shift back and forth between enjoyment and renunciation / bringing back the Upanishadic metaphors / the body is a chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the reins, the intelligence is the driver, the self is the passenger / these sacred texts are encouraging us to think about our situation, and then embrace self control based on knowledge of the self / the mantra is the bow, the self is the arrow, and the target is the Supreme Being
SB 7.15.37-44
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1400: Tom Landry & the Guru Principle
Tom Landry’s coaching and the guru principle / guru - the practical and mystical sides / the guru’s conviction instills faith in the disciple / all can be accomplished automatically through faith and devotion to a valid guru / like an ambassador, a guru is a representative / getting past the initial threshold in controlling the mind / controlling the mind and senses in connection to the guru
SB 7.15.23-36
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1399: Dealing with Our Inner Tuco
Narada’s heartfelt instructions on contentment and greed / You won’t experience emptiness when you feel God in the heart / Just one wandering sense is enough for mission drift / guru scandals stemming from lack of contentment / anger can be vented, but greed is never satisfied / approach wealth like a sage / by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up greed / dealing with our inner Tuco
SB 7.15.20-22
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1398: The Contentment of the Yogi
“Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontentment makes rich men poor”. - Benjamin Franklin / the Gītā informs us that desire is the real enemy of the embodied soul, since it is never satisfied and burns like fire (the more you feed it, the more it grows) / one only has to wear one pair of shoes—one doesn't need to cover the entire earth with leather (in other words - let me adjust myself rather than adjust the world) / the materialist is content with their internal development, the yogi is content externally, but always feeling the need to improve the quality of their internal life / we’re being driven by our senses / a warning for spiritual leaders - without contentment our education, austerity, reputation and knowledge will dwindle and disappear
SB 7.15.15-19
See Raghunath's interview on Soul Ashreya podcast at https://youtu.be/rgn4lelO_fE?si=IUr3o-kpKTZqiWsY
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1397: The Quality of Mercy Droppeth
William Shakespeare on the quality of mercy / seasoning justice with mercy / Bhakti is all about the softening of the heart / our fascination with the moment of awakening / for one who is satisfied in the self - there is no duty / “Vaisnava means one who is able to sit down anywhere, under any conditions, and be happy.” - Srila Prabhupada / bringing discernment into Eastern traditions
SB 7.15.9-14
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1396: The Power of Small Groups / An Interview with Kripamoya Das
Kaustubha interviews author Kripamoya Das about his new book “Sanatana Dharma” and his realizations garnered over 50 years of presenting Bhakti in small groups.
Pre-order Kripamoya Das' book at https://a.co/d/j7ez7mA
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1395: How to Root Out Our Own Inner Hate? / Q&A Vol. 239
How can to root out our own inner hate? / How can we build faith in Krsna and His benevolence if we don't frequently experience it in this life? / How to understand the topic of chanting silently in the mind vs chanting aloud?
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1394: The Spiritual Food Episode
once you get it, it makes so much sense / diving and surfacing in a blissful river of kirtan / unless you have knowledge the whole material world is tortuous / we’re in god’s house / George Harrison on the power of spiritual food / life is just better off when we’re appreciative / passing out prasadam in Jaipur and Govardhana / sharing love through food / the consciousness is developed through offering food to the ancestors / the highest dharma is achieved through giving up all animosity to other living beings, in body, words and mind / the test: do we participate in others' hostility?
SB 7.15.7-8
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1393: The Anti Hate Episode
James Baldwin on the self-destructive nature of hate / hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system / if you sit in (media) mud, you’re gonna get dirty / bringing bad habits into sacred circles destroys spiritual life / remedy for hate - see everyone as connected to God and feed them prasadam / replace the wafer with a gulab jamun cooked with love / we can barely handle even a tiny fraction of Krishna’s opulences / the art of reminding others who they are without condescension
SB 7.15.1-6
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1392: Seeing the Object of Divine Love Everywhere
the futility in external worship that lacks spiritual vision / we’re all worshiping and meditating on someone / the worshipper sees the object of their affection everywhere / seeing God in the brahmanas / Krishna worships His devotees
SB 7.14.41-42
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1391: God in the Temple, God in the Heart
Clarance Clemons on the calm mind and connecting with the inner self / inner connection isn’t cheap - austerity and renunciation aid contemplation and meditation / God in the heart gives intelligence to the individual soul according to his capacity for understanding / when we could no longer access God in the heart through samadhi, the sages provided temple worship / the evolution from karma to jnana to bhakti is a natural progression, widely observed in areas of spiritual evolution, but most clearly and thouroughly articulated in Srimad Bhagavatam / temple worship without respecting God in the heart of everyone, is like pouring ghee into ashes
SB 7.14.38-40
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1390: The Simple Formula - Come Together for Kirtan & Prasad
“The end of all knowledge should be service to others.” – Cesar Chavez / our individuality is eternal / when Arjun’s illusion was dispelled he didn’t merge into Krishna / Narada anticipates the shallow approach to the ritual and recommends service to others / the formula is to come together for Kirtan and prasad / auspicious times for ceremonies / auspicious places for ceremonies / a Vaiṣṇava is a walking holy place / The key to the universe - the universe is like a tree whose root is Krishna - by serving Him you serve everyone
SB 7.14.17-37
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1389: Experiencing the Krishna Effect - Interview with Radhika Das
How to find liberation from the false ego / Transformation happens on the other side of new experiences / Find your Krishna confidence / It’s between you and God / Learn to fly your own plane and enjoy your own company / It’s you and me (baby) Krishna
Find more at https://www.radhikadas.com
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1388: Q & A Volume 238
What is the meaning of “faith”? / The separation of church and state-- is God the enemy?
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1387: Serve & Feed Everyone
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." - Muhammad Ali / how arranged marriages work / through duty, love develops / wealth should be engaged in service others to avoid the pit of entitlement / “What are all these people doing at our wedding?” / worship the Supreme Being in the core of everyone’s heart by service to others / service to the Devas / service to the saintly people / service to everyone / service to the animals and plants / serve and feed everyone
SB 7.14.15-16
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1386: Minimize Needs - Minimize Anxiety
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.- Aesop / A person who has given up all sense of proprietorship can alone attain real peace. - Bhagavad-gita 2.71 / minimize needs to minimize anxiety / Giving up the sense of proprietorship - right down to the food we eat / don’t underestimate the power of prasad / Kaustubha’s garlic misadventure / Gracias Madre - I only wan’t Krishna’s prasadam / be like the Cataka bird / Raghu’s eucharist stealing misadventure
SB 7.14.14
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1385: Practicing Bhakti in the Presence of Those Who Don’t
the non-pretentiousness of the Bhakti-yogi / the diplomacy of the Bhakti-yogi / the simplicity of the Bhakti-yogi / the communal spirit of the Bhakti-yogi / the Bhakti-yogi conquers over lust
SB 7.14.6-13
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1384: Will We Be with Loved Ones After Death?
“the glories of our blood and state, are shadows, not substantial things” James Shirley / shadows, reflections, mirages and Virtual realities, are all derived from something real / keep hearing wisdom and some of it will stick / offering mind, body and home / Raghu on “The Hands of Time” / the “affection” of family life / the medicine of hearing Bhagavatam again and again / how to practice Bhakti in the presence of those who don’t? / will we be with loved ones after death? / Druhva’s mother follows him to the spiritual realm / expanding the family tree to all living beings / don’t worry about the jell-o!
SB 7.14.1-5
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1383: What About the Pygmies?
take false ideas about what we need and false ideas about who we are, and offer them into the total material energy / bewildered by dualities arisen from attraction and repulsion / we’re not the body, we’re not the mind / taking shelter of the big bird / the simple idea that we are not the body is the beginning of living together in peace / being heroic through not letting public opinion limit us / the growth of Bhakti is facilitated by favorable conceptions, favorable sentiments and favorable lifestyle
SB 7.13.44-46
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1382: Q & A Volume 237
How is Vishnu the same or different than Krishna? / How to understand self loathing and toxic shame in Kali Yuga, and how to take shelter of Radharani?
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1381: The Bee, the Python & the Power in Accepting One’s Fate
Power portrayed as Changing fate vs Power portrayed as accepting fate / How much energy can by saved (and redirected towards life’s spiritual goal) through acceptance? / the industrious bee vs the python who accepts his fate / acceptance applied to food / acceptance applied to clothes / acceptance applied to shelter and vehicles / acceptance applied to one's feelings and reactions to other people / through acceptance the python man became the well wisher of everyone - and merged his mind and ego into the material energy / the heroism of the priests of the Titanic
SB 7.13.37-43
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1380: The Pursuit of the Unnecessary Consumes our Minds
simplicity is essential for the yogi’s focused mind / the root of our problems is the desire for unnecessary prestige and money / The bee is super industrious - but so distracted that it doesn’t realize that everything it is working for is taken away / the python is accepting whatever comes
SB 7.13.33-37
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1379: Are You Ready for the Moment When It's All Taken Away?
The American Psychological Association discovers that the more you endorse materialistic values, the more you suffer / big house means big problems / no matter how hard we work for prosperity, we are still living in an incredible vulnerable body / we are victimized by our material desires / Bhagavatam offers an access point of samsara cakra / are you ready for the moment when everything will be taken away? / the greedy suffer from insomnia / the bee works so hard to accumulate the honey, and then it all gets taken away
SB 7.11.30-32
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1378: The Nightmare of Materialism & the Awakening of the Soul
Wassily Kandinsky’s thoughts on materialism / materialism as a value and materialism as an ideology / prosperity gospel as the hucksters materialism in the guise of spirituality / prosperity gospel in the realm of Bhakti / Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and the saints are on the side of self control - on the other side are the hucksters / forgetfulness (of our spiritual nature) leads to misery / you think about what you think about / running after happiness in the material world / matter grows from life / the water were searching for is Krishna
SB 7.13.28-29
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1377: Q & A Volume 236
When practicing Bhakti-yoga, is it normal to become increasingly disengaged in idle talk and uninterested or disturbed by gossip? And how can I control my thoughts and emotions when spending time with the people I love and care about, but who engage that way? / Does at least part of the subtle body travel with the soul to the next body?
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1376: One Big Reincarnation Squirrel
the story of Shanti Devi, one of the most thoroughly documented and authenticated cases of reincarnation / a little girl in Delhi remembers her previous life in Mathura / Shanti meets her husband and son from the past life / Shanti returns to Mathura / Gandhi appoints a committee of 15 prominent parliamentarians, national leaders, and members from the media to study the case / Kaustubha isn’t real / how many children with memories of past lives will it take to convince a skeptic? / the timeless wisdom of the Bhaavad-gita is where we start to figure out what is the meaning of this life
see more at https://www.carolbowman.com/reincarnation-forum
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1375: Observe & Withdraw - A Sage's Response to Materialism
Observe the nature of material enjoyment to see its false promise / Expectations cause stress / attachments lead to anger / seeing the power of male/female connection beyond material enjoyment / happiness of the self is natural / the happiness born of the contact of the senses with objects is a mental concoction / Is there any happiness in a cigarette?
SB 7.13.26-27
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1374: Desires are the Cause of Transmigration
Lao Tzu - “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you” / sattva guna conditions one with a sense of happiness and knowledge - raja guna is born of unlimited desires and longings / we can’t snuff out our desires, we need to refine them / “When speaking in spiritual circles, one's statements must be upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying.” A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami / seek the blessings of the Vaishnavas at important forks in the road / desires cause transmigration through the different species of life / human life is the junction - where you can break free / you don’t want to be reborn as a dove! Or a deer! Or a human for that matter!
SB 7.13.23-25
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1373: It's All One Path with Different Degrees of Success
Thoreau experiences the unearthly nature of the Vedas / Thoreau’s balance of contemplation and activism / The Vedas feel nonsectarian, because Vyasadeva isn’t trying to wrestle you into immediate submission to the highest truth - he nudges you to take the next step in your evolution / Prahlad was able to recognize the Python man as special, because Vishnu instructed him in the heart / Kaustubha goes to jail / Krishna gives instructions in the heart according to the manner of their surrender / everyone follows Krishna’s path in all respects / karmis, jnanis, yogis, and bhaktas all all on the same path at different degrees of success
SB 7.13.22
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1372: Interview with Madhava's Rock Band
Raghunath interviews the award winning (and his personal favorite) musical group Madhava’s Rock Band!
Find out more about Madhavas Rock Band at https://www.youtube.com/madhavasrockband
and support their girls' education initiative in Nandagao at https://www.projectkrish.com
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1371: Q & A Volume 235
How can I transition from a spiritual seeker into a deeper Bhakti practitioner, and quell my doubts when reading sacred texts? / How to stay even minded and not lose relationships during a divisive election season? / How to know where to put your spiritual focus / Why do bad things happen to good people?
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1370: Layers of the Mind & Layers of the Cosmos
becoming aware of yourself as the witness of the mind / pause and ask yourself, “where is my mind right now?” / change your thoughts, change your life / when Narayana predominates one’s heart, then their transcendental eyes are revealed / make some room for Krishna in the heart / Krishna is simultaneously eager for us to turn to him, and accommodating to our will to choose not to / The journey to reach Krishna through the layers of the cosmos / Krishna’s embrace and sweet words when we return
SB 7.13.19-22
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1369: In Search of the Hidden Saints
"There are the saints of every day, the 'hidden' saints, to which we can all belong" - Pope Francis / Tolstoy's hidden saint Pashenka / our sincerity is soiled by desire for human praise / Pralahd goes in search of the hidden saints / we shouldn't attempt to understand the pas of a Vaisnava / a saintly person may not expose himself to the vision of human society / the most humble are the most glorious
SB: 7.13.10-13
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1368: How Not to Drain the Battery of Spiritual Focus
6 things a sannyasi should avoid / even non-sannyasis can take some essential teachings from the sannyasi regulations / we need some people, with both feet in the spiritual realm, wandering around the material realm / avoid literature without spiritual benefit / avoid making a living by making a living / avoid indulging in arguments and counterarguments / Daniel Dennett's the 4 steps to arguing intelligently / Bhaktivedanta Swami's multi-faceted approaches / Sri Caitanya's method of argument / avoid alluring disciples with material benefits / avoid reading many books / avoid increasing material opulences unnecssarily
SB: 7.13.7-9
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1367: The Power of Our Words, Thoughts & Presence
a vow of silence can mean simply refraining from mundane talk / The power of our words, thoughts and presence / a little self-disgust can be a big breakthrough / our thoughts can move us through the universe and beyond / Raghu and Kaustubha communicate nonviolently / wherever you are, you can be in a holy place / Pilgrimage shows a world revolving around God / Arjuna asks Krishna about one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence. How does he speak? - how neither praises or criticizes the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of this world / not getting caught up in praise or criticism allows space to observe the power of time - Krishna impersonal representation
SB 7.13.5-6
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1366: We Can't Let Politics Normalize Hatred Within
dealing with the assassination attempt - wishing well for both the shooter and the shot / appreciating the compassion of care-givers / the power of the Bhagavad-gita’s vibration / the regulations are designed to facilitate essential realizations / be like the dried coconut – embodied but detached from the body / the magic happens when we stretch out of our comfort zone / sannyasi regulations - wander every day, go naked, carry no bags / sannyasi realizations - satisfied in the self, peaceful, well-wishing friend of everyone, dependent solely on God / see God in everything and everything in God
SB 7.13.1-4
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1365: Self Discipline in Music & Bhakti - Interview with Classical Violinist Alexandra Tirsu
Alexandra Tirsu is recognized as one of the leading violinists of her generation and a devoted Bhakti-yogini. Here, Kaustubha interviews her about the intersection of her two worlds, that of Bhakti-yoga and the high pressure world as a solo violinist in classical music. Topics include….
• Feeling spirituality in music • Self discipline in music & Bhakti • The power of repetition in practice • The affection between teacher and student • How Bhakti helps one to negotiate high pressure environments
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1364: Q & A Volume 234
Is Good Karma Bad & Bad Karma Good? / What if I’m not attracted to Krsna for some of His qualities like wealth and fame?
Check out Bhaktivedanta Institute's inaugural summer school at https://www.youtube.com/@bihstudies/streams
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1363: Dissolving the Body & Mind By Meditation
the Universal plot - consciousness trapped in ego-based self interest gradually becoming free / a better way to frame out the world / “why me?” and “it’s not fair!” are mantras of maya / these social codes and austerities prepare one to see God everywhere / codes for retirement to the forest / dissolving the body & mind by meditation / standing alone as spirit - in the body but separate from it / our bodies, senses, mind, etc. have all been loaned to us and must be returned to their owners, the Devas / perfect knowledge of the self constitutes merging of the material body into the five material elements
SB 7.12.16-31
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1362: Oneness and Difference Beyond Duality
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius / So why do we always try to find happiness by adjusting the externals? / what if everyone was thinking higher thoughts? / the yoga mat is just the doormat / all the regulations of the yoga culture are designed for improving the quality of our thoughts - if we forget that, we miss the point / the conception of duality, which is epitomized by the duality between man and woman / the sage sees everyone with equal vision / all the leaders need spiritual training / Mahabharata and the Puranas are validated by the Upanishads as "Panchama Veda" - the 5th Veda / Srimad Bhagavatam is the commentary of the Vedanta Sutra by the author himself / all the regulations are there to help us see how God is in everything, and not in everything
SB: 7.12.10-15
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1361: There's Beauty in Self-Discipline
Raghunath's early enthusiasm self-discipline / Kaustubha leaves NY behind / mind over matter and spirit over mind / understanding the high guardrails of Vedic culture / everyone loves a doting mother / Prabhupada's cultural flexibility
SB: 7.12.8-9
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1360: Reflecting on Our Training as Young Monks
there is the pain of discipline or the pain of regret / reflecting with appreciation at our training as young monks / the power of the discipline of rising early / phone discipline / the connection between rising late and depression / the tradition of begging on behalf of the guru / the thoughtfulness of the approaching sexuality in yoga culture / becoming a virtuous, well-disciplined young man / the guru's intolerance of incompetence is just what we needed / how boys think and speak about girls - with self-discipline (as a yogi) or without self-discipline (the modern West) / the 7 mothers
SB: 7.12.4-7
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1359: Living Receptors of Eternal Vibrating Knowledge
the social codes found in the yoga tradition are designed to facilitate ease in self-discipline and higher thoughts / the only requirement to be in this club is an affection for Krishna / followers of the Veda claim that it is apaurusheya, "not created by any person" / in meditative trance, sages became living receptors of the vibrating knowledge of the cosmos / reading minds & controlling the minds of others - it's all real! / days-rasa - the genuine affection felt for a teacher or master / hypocrisy creates skepticism a healthy type of submission / when Western people portray a healthy form of submission they commonly look toward the East
SB: 7.12.1-3
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1358: A Perfect Moment with Acyuta Gopi
Acyuta Gopi is a legendary kirtan singer, writer, award winning poet, storyteller and mother. In this interview she and Kaustubha discuss her feelings of isolation as a young devotee in New York City's public schools, her growing faith in Bhakti in her teens, the profound experience of childbirth, developing inner dialogues with God, and how spiritual practice opens us up to finding "perfect moments" any time, anywhere.
Find more information from Acyuta Gopi at the following:
WEBSITE: https://www.acyutagopi.me/about
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@acyutagopi
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/acyutagopi
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/govindagirl_acyutagopi
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1357: Q&A Volume 233
How to get through heartbreak? / Is the "Ritvik" idea of disciple succession legitimate?
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1356: God May Tag a Person, a Podcast, or a Pakora
"Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others" - Horace Jackson Brown Jr. / antah sukha (inner happiness) - when you understand that your happiness is not dependent on anything external you'll no longer feel that you have to impose your needs on others, or change others / sometimes God tags a person, a podcast, or a pakora / inner happiness frees up the mind and heart to care for others / the caveat - if everyone's not playing their roles it all falls apart / drops can feed a fire and a flood can extinguish it / birth in a particular family helps shape us, but doesn't confirm our qualifications
SB: 7.11.28-35
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1355: Mother is All Around Us
SB: 7.11.18-27
'I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everythign else' / the faulty logic that demands empiric evidence / "Mother is all around us" / the symptoms of a brahmana / the sympoms of a warrior / the symptoms of the business leader / the symptoms of the employee / the qualities of a dharmic wife
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1354: Shedding Uncomfortable Layers of Well-Starched Religiosity
pure, naked spiritual encounter vs designer label spiritual fads / the real stumbling block to Bhakti is hypocrisy / dealing with the Western triggers to Eastern thought / understanding Vedic hierarchies / respect is both functional and fundamental / why is it better to do your own duty imperfectly, than another's perfectly? / the world is in a state of emergency - we need more Brahmanas
SB:7.11.15-17
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1353: What if Our Leaders Were Trained in Leadership?
Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love...and then we return home / the quality of our questions determines the quality of our lives / when we become capable of loving we return home / are the ancient ethical codes relevant to us today? / wouldn't it be better if our leaders were trained in leadership? / all ethics and codes are meant to bring you to devotion / the Vedic solution to toxic masculinity / the spiritual leaders are meant to direct the business leaders in caring for their employees
SB:7.11.13-15
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1352: Q & A Volume 232
How to share the wisdom of Bhakti with someone who is afraid of death? / How to process the experience of seeing people leave the path of Bhakti?
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1351: Scientists ask "Are Animals Conscious?" Well...DUH!
Consciousness has building blocks? OK, then go ahead and build us some / Why not admit that the Bhagavad-gita's presentation on consciousness still holds up? / you can't observe spirit with material instruments / consciousness is the irreducible symptom of spirtiual energy / originally it wasn't a "caste system", it was a code of ethics and leadership training / want the power and fame? You can be number 2. Wanna be number one? You've gotta give up everything.
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1350: Unsubscribe, Unfollow, Turn It Off & Go Outside
The Surgeon General calls for warning labels on social media platforms / social media scrolling is like injecting stupidity straight into our veins / unsubscribe, unfollow turn it off and go outside / sattva doesn’t sell anymore / Mara is reprograming Raghu’s phone / until we regulate our senses we’re just polished animals / remaining silent and grave / contemplate whether one is the body or the soul / Give in charity if you wanna be human / contemplate that every one is part of god / hearing about the activities and instructions given by Krishna
SB 7.11.8-11
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1349: Kids in Candy Stores with Credit Cards
the pristine consciousness of the sage Narada / the best of the A list sages / 2 ways in which Krishna is the root of all dharma / the formula for satisfying the soul / Don’t end up majoring in minor things / let's not water down the meaning of ahimsa / how rendering service to saintly persons saved Raghunath & Kaustubha / we’ve been living like kids in candy stores with credit cards
SB 7.11.1-10
Ayurveda Mama: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum https://a.co/d/08GfbCnZ
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1348: Pushing & Peeling the Layers That Cover My Mind
Willow’s “Symptom of Life” is bringing Vedic contemplation into Pop culture / The Bhagavad-gita’s art of work - give your full effort, and be resigned to destiny / just hear Krishna’s pastimes to understand the highest absolute truth / We’ve got everything- breathwork, shape shifting, exercise, cooking, wisdom, conspiracy theories… / pushing and peeling myself out of my disguise / pushing and peeling the layers that cover my mind / pain as the prompt to change / all you know has vanished again / transcending virtue and sin
SB 7.10.64-70
See Willow's Tiny Desk concert at
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1347: Q & A Volume 231
What does it mean to belong to Radha & Krishna? / Questions around feasting and fasting in Bhakti-yoga
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1346: We Are Tiny, Dependent & Unlimitedly Powerful
astrology: mature vs superficial applications / Srimad Bhagavatam is the key to understanding all of the Vedic sacred texts / Krishna is the person behind the spiritual energy / Krishna is beyond the demigods / Shiva and the Devas saved by Krishna / The unseen power of providence can turn our agenda upside down / bypassing the logical malfunction that reality must be according to our liking / we are tiny, and dependent, but we also have a type of unlimited power
SB 7.10.50-64
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1345: "Prophet Style" Interview with Sacinandana Swami
on friendship / on forgiveness / on aging / on prayer / on pain / on death
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1344: Q&A Volume 230
How to understand the fate of one who has taken their own life? / How to help our children become God conscious? / Is there a place for hallucinogens in Bhakti?
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1343: Q & A Volume 229
1342: The Divine Person Behind the Spiritual Energy
Inferring the Divine string holding everything together / 3 levels of the absolute truth / Krishna is the most attentive friend / Krishna’s not our stepping stone / We are individual, eternal sparks of the divine / Sacrifice means understanding we are not the center / Krishna is the unconditional love we’re looking for
SB 7.10.48-49
1341: The 4 Questions – An Interview with Author, Vaisesika Dasa
the ability to ask a question of great consequence is a power laying dormant within us / ask the BIG questions / in order to receive rewarding answers, what is important for the questioner? / marrying our purpose / enjoyment, renunciation or dedication? / what is the lesson? - an aphorism to shift from negative to positive thinking / our power is always in the present moment / full attention
1340: Q&A Volume 228
How can we transcend karma? / How should someone on a spiritual path react when todl they are being passive aggressive? / Why does Krishan appeal to Arjuna on a materialistic level in the Bhagavad-gita?
1339: What is a Guru? – An Interview with Brighupada Das
Bhrigupad Das (Mans Broo) is a lecturer in Religious Studies at Abo Akademi University. He gained his PhD in 2003 with a thesis on the guru in Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
1338: How Yogis Develop Spiritual Bodies
What if this isn’t THE reality? / Leo Tolstoy - “Our life is but one of the dreams of that more real life, and so it is endlessly, until the very last one, the very real life of God.” / video games are double illusion / our desire for movies, VR, and fantasy reveal that illusion doesn’t satisfy - we need to go back to reality / even the evil king Sishupala has a back story / karma - acknowledging our own responsibility in our suffering helps us heal and cultivates virtue / how to develop a spiritual body - full absorption in seeing God everywhere / there’s regular Dharma, and then there is Bhagavat Dharma / just by hearing about Krishna one is liberated / the truth will set you free
SB 7.10.40-47
1337: Raghu Brings the Dhammapada to Bible Study
a traditional yogi's appreciation of Bhakti in the West / the irony of how the claim of cultural appropriation can play into the hands of the oppressors / reincarnation in Johnathon Livingston Seagull / the fallacy of original sin / the fallacy of eternal damnation / the logical strength of reincarnation / the fallacy of reunion in heaven / Raghunath brings the Dhammapada to His Christian Club / contemplate and feel the distinction between your self, mind and body / the full evolution is love / our meditation on determines our destination
SB 7.10.36-39
1336: The Worst Thing You Can Do for Your Spiritual Life
“In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing your self." — Martin Luther King Jr. / the worst thing you can do for your spiritual life / in the healthy state of awareness, Krishna’s name makes us cry / resentment and anger shrivels us up / cultivating gratitude - we can’t control other people, but we can control our attitudes / best to leave murders and psychopaths for professionals / shifting from the vision of bodily differences to spiritual commonality / except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world / We need to feel “All These people are here, but primarily, I’m always living with God in my heart.”
SB 7.10.30-35
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1335: Karma - How We Invest in Our Own Bondage
George Harrison on the only reason we’re on this planet / we live in a virtual reality governed by the law of karma / breaking the addiction to external pleasures through addiction to internal experience / stay in the kirtan and keep the vibe high / when Raghu and Kaustubha will be like when they get old / Krishna gets personally involved in the karmic destiny of His devotees / tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam - do that as an offering to Me / Bhakti relieves the fever of anxiety / Guru nishta can change our karmic destiny / the automated penal system of Karma / from the germ up to Indra, they all get their karma / what if we could see the karmic course of our own past lives?
SB 7.10.27-29
1334: Duty - the First Step in Conquering the Mind
“Getting distracted by trifles is the easiest thing in the world… Focus on your main duty.” - Epictetus / if you sincerely want Truth, that’s god consciousness / duty drags you back on track / western vs eastern attitudes toward duty / Too much choice makes a person miserable / duty makes the mind more peaceful / duty is prescribed specifically according to one’s mindset / the days of the employer / we’re indebted to our forefathers, the great sages, human society, etc. / one connected with the Supreme has no more debts / Brahma’s non-envious demeanor / all yogic rules and regulations serve one goal - to always remember Krishna
SB 7.10.23-26
1333: Q & A Volume 227
I want to be initiated into the path of Bhakti but I struggle to chant the required 16 rounds per day, so I feel guilty - can you please share some advice? / How can I keep myself and my daughter on the path of Bhakti when we live far away from other devotees? / Can you explain the analogy from Srimad Bhagavatam - that when one’s face is decorated, the reflection of one’s face in a mirror is also decorated?
Check out our new website at www.wisdomofthesages.com
1332: The Courage to Lead a Spiritual Life
It does not matter that you are in the material world - so long as you stay connected through hearing spiritual content / St. Francis’s counterintuitive formula for life / the courage to lead a spiritual life / St. Francis gets naked / your net worth is your spirit to contribute / by bringing your awareness to the purity of a devotee's love, our own awareness is purified / decorating oneself with the qualities of patience, tolerance, and kindness, etc. / devotees purify all places
SB 7.10.13-22
1331: The Loss of Our Spiritual Identity
Thomas Merton on climbing the ladder of success / analyze what your win is before you start the hustle / in a generation or two we will be forgotten / the Bhakti-yogi’s goal is a pure, soft heart / accepting that we are both very close and very far from the goal / “As soon as we have material desires, we lose our spiritual identity.” - Bhaktivedanta Swami / even as we live in the material world, by regularly hearing the sacred texts, our hearts and minds remain absorbed in spirit
SB 7.10.8-12
1330: An Exposition on the Nature of Pure Love
Can there be competition on the spiritual platform? / can there be fear on the spiritual platform? / “Your problem is that you are not afraid enough of maya” A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami / by contemplating the objects of the senses ……. / 2 types of perfected Bhakti Yogis - the eternally perfect and those who achieve perfection through practice / “love” desiring material benefit in exchange for their devotional service is no better than a merchant / a “master” who bestows benedictions motivated by a desire for prestigious is just as bad / filtering out all the impurities that contaminate pure love in the heart / We’re all searching for unconditional love
SB 7.10.1-7
1329: Bhakti Yoga is an Internal Beauty Routine
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." - Kahlil Gibran / if external beauty is our currency, the market is gonna crash / for the Bhakti-yogi - the primary concern is the quality of their own heart / somehow, winning the lottery doesn’t buy happiness / one can reframe life’s struggle and pain as a purification of the heart / if we lean into Bhakti (and focused on the internal work) we could solve the world’s problems / religion doesn’t cause war - but the superficial understanding of it does / you’ve gotta start working on not being a dirty old man when you’re young / the more entitled we are, the less happy / satisfy the root, all the leaves are satisfied / foreshadowing the rasa of the 10th canto
SB 7.9.52-54
1328: An Arrow Sharpened by Constant Meditation
It’s not ALL about the journey - there is a goal to yoga / OM is the bow; the self is the arrow; God is said to the target / Marcus Aurelius on having a purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward / when Raghu received the pretentious “Do less” instruction / Bhagavad-gita showed how to focus all of your worldly responsibilities as part of your spiritual goal / the hodgepodge lodge of spirituality / the relative value of silence, vows, study, austerities, duties, mantras, etc. / spiritual posers / all becomes revealed through love and service
SB 7.9.46-51
1327: Q & A Volume 226
Where does desire reside, in the mind or in the self? / Is everything Krishna’s grace, or are there pockets of free will where His Grace doesn’t penetrate? / How to give life advice to someone who is resistant? / How to keep an elevated mind when experiencing chronic pain? / How to make my life an offering?
1326: Q & A Volume 225
How can I learn tolerance and not get upset with people? / What should I keep in mind when raising my children? / How to explain my Bhakti practice to people who don’t like the fact that I have changed?
1325: Your Senses Have Their Own Agenda
“Caught in that sensual music all neglect, Monuments of unageing intellect.” – William Butler Yeats / all the great wisdom traditions were able to recognize the inability for sense gratification to deliver happiness / the devotee has one optimistic eye and one pessimistic eye / your senses have their own agenda for you / Prahlad doesn’t want to be delivered alone / sex desire is like an itch - the more you scratch it the more it itches
SB 7.9.40-45
1324: A Love Supreme
John Coltrane – “God breathes through us so completely, so gently we hardly feel it, yet, it is our everything.” / spirituality starts as a vague intuition there’s more / Coltrane’s symbolism of Divine love in all 12 keys / the greatest secret of the sacred text - there is a person behind everything and He can be connected to through love / Vishnu as the soul of the universe / the universe manifests as a tree grows from a seed / Brahma meditates and discovers God spread throughout his own body and senses / Little Prahlad drops the universal manual in our laps!
SB 7.9.32-38
1323: Nrisimha Avatar Fascinates the Sages
The Nrisimha Avatara’s heart frolics with his own playful pastimes / He fascinates the great sages / He enlightens His devotees from within their hearts / although ferocious, He is very soft and kind to devotees / He is here and there and everywhere / Prahlad’s gratitude to his guru / Prahlad identifies Vishnu as the designer behind the universe’s design / the inconceivable brilliance in the design of the elm seed / we are not creators we are manipulators
SB 7.9.28-31
A Girl Can Touch The Sky continues its theatrical release following sold-out screenings with Q & A sessions in Birmingham, U.K., and Dublin, Ireland.
The NYC screening with Q & A chaired by Shikha Uberoi (India’s former No.1 professional tennis player and social entrepreneur) has been confirmed for Saturday, June 22nd, 6-8 pm as part of the Her Vision International Film Festival at Slate, Manhattan.
Tickets can be purchased at https://slate.ticketsauce.com/e/4th-annual-her-vision-international-film-festival/tickets
You can see the trailer, reviews and the link to book tickets at www.agirlcantouchthesky.com
1322: The Counterintuitive Truth about Happiness
Leo Tolstoy - “Joy can only be real if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.” / figuring out how to use your gift as an offering / material enjoyment is junk food- service is nourishment / the unique Bhakti idea of serving the servant / the whole point is to be connected / desires for future happiness are like a mirage in the desert / the counterintuitive truth - true happiness is derived though serving other (not through being served) / Lord Vishnu is impartial
SB 7.9.24-27
1321: All My Dreams Pass Before My Eyes, a Curiosity
all the great wisdom cultures draw our attention to our helplessness to the force of time / all your money won't another minute buy / the 3 modes of material nature - without our knowledge, external influences are working their way into your mind / basically, we’re all like defiant teenagers / ahem… um, debating Christian and atheist philosophers, the concept of karma kind of solves the whole thing / we’re being crushed by the wheel of time / Prahlad’s perspective as a witness of the destruction of a materialist at the highest level
SB 7.9.20-23
1320: Practicing Bhakti in War-torn Iraq - Interview with Partha Sarathi das
While serving in active duty as a sergeant in the US Army in war-torn Iraq, Partha-sarathi Dasa maintained his devotion and encouraged it in the hearts of others.
1319: Q & A Volume 224
Why don’t you guys present a higher Vedic standard? / Why don’t you guys present a more tolerant standard? / How can I support someone who doesn't share my beliefs?
1318: The Material World is Rigged
reading the world's patterns, recognizing the truths operating through them, coming to terms with those truths / the Taoist law of reverted effort - when humans try to fix things by their actions, the effect will be the exact opposite of that desired / the great paradox of our time: everything is both better and worse than ever before / material pursuit guarantees material problems / are we resisting the internal growth our problems are designed to initiate / happiness is found in the never changing, misery is found in the ever-changing
SB 7.9.17-19
1317: Always Carrying That Higher Idea in the Heart
"Your future, your hard dangerous path is this: to mature and to find God in yourselves.” Herman Hesse / we’ve gone from letters, to emails, to written text messages, to emojis / we’ve gone from Shakespeare, to movies, to YouTube, to scrolling reels / focus on the higher call – let go of petty annoyances / Michael Jordan’s vices and virtues / Vishnu’s nature is innately, completely satisfied / frustration through resistance to the flow of giving to Krishna / the comfort in atheism
SB 7.9.10-17
1316: Giving Liberates the Soul of the Giver
selfishness is the core of our bondage / the quality of your heart, while giving, makes a difference / world peace can’t be done? / why Bhakti is translated as devotional service / faith without works is dead / eternal love is a higher aspiration than eternal peace / Prahlad's prayer with a heart softened by love / why our material opulences can’t touch the heart of God
SB 7.9.4-9
1315: How We Miss the Spiritual Essence
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.” - St. Augustine / in fighting over inessential details we miss the essence / Bhagavatam is sarva-vedānta-sāraṁ - the essence of all the Vedic literature / if the inessential details aren’t bringing us to the essence, we can drop them / the mind unburdened by material concerns can appreciate the mercy of Vishnu / even anger and thievery can bring you closer to God / the paw or the claw
SB 7.8.54 - 7.9.3
1314: The Malware of the Mind
“We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are.” – origin unknown / we each perceive the world through a uniquely programed mind / Religion = regulation for the purpose of checking sin, Yoga = regulation for purpose of clear perception / one must carefully choose and maintain the files downloaded to the mind / the Nagas are concerned with wealth and sex / the yogi will voluntarily give up wealth and sex for truth perception / prayers from different planetary perspectives
SB 7.8.47-53
1313: Q & A Volume 222
Where Does All the Darkness in the world come from? / How to deal with the struggle of re-integrating after returning from a spiritual pilgrimage? / Who were the 6 Goswami’s of Vrindavan and what was their role?
1312: Our Heaviest Burdens are the Thoughts in Our Heads
the burdens of hate and resentment / “Some of the worst things in my life never even happened” - Mark Twain / the attractiveness of the unburdened / Bhagavatam juxtaposes the burdened and the unburdened / Brahma expresses wonder / brahma gives credit for creation to Vishnu / Shiva gives credit for destruction to Vishnu / Indra’s prayer and lamentation of mixed devotion / Vishnu dissipates the gloom in our hearts / austerity can bring about creative power and lucid thought / The forefathers were burdened with concerned about sacrifice / The siddha yogis were concerned about their mystic abilities being restored / The Vidyādharas were concerned about the knowledge they attain through meditation
SB 7.8.40-46
1311: Play Until You Can Play Like Yourself
“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.” - Miles Davis / Krishna gets lost in his own play / first we follow the rules until we can play spontaneously / Lila is both playful and didactic / our divine love is warped by the element of selfishness / understanding the false representations of the original rasas reflected in the material world / boiling away the ego and programing in the mind to get to the self / we’re practicing to fall in love out of this world / they had better airplanes in the past / the joyful scene of the fall of the tyrant / sages, yogis, singers, dancers, zombies, snake people, bird people - Vishnu’s Dharshan make the Met Gala seem pale in comparison
SB 7.8.32-39
Bhakti’s Esoteric Feature - Lila & Rasa
Lila refers to Krishna's play, in the dramatic sense, as well as in the sense of child's play or ease / Rasa refers to the particular loving mood relished in the exchange of love with Krishna / it's not that Krishna's lila is modeled after the drama of this world, rather it's the other way around / the sages borrowed construct from the Sanskrit dramatist to explain Krishna's lilas / it's all happening to heighten the experience of love / Hiranyakasipu's horrific threat / Nrisimhadeva's rasa of anger / Nrisimhadeva's heightens the love and satisfies Pralad, Brahma, and the Devas / without the darkness of this world we would never develop the determination to let it all go
SB 7.8.24-30
1309: From Each Little Thing We Draw Counsel for Spiritual Life
“Every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe.” - Albert Einstein / both the believer and the skeptic are investing faith / Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.” - May Sarton / climbing the hill at Tirupati / “Is your God in this pillar?” / all varieties of Avatars spring from Krishna / Sri Nrsimhadeva appears to taste the ferocious anger of pure love / demons get the claw, devotees get the paw / when your ego collapses.
SB 7.8.11-24
1308: Martin Luther King's Metaphysical Personalism
“The clue to the meaning of ultimate reality is found in personality.” Dr. Martin Luther King / our understanding of our shared connection to God dissolves our divisive mentalities / denial of the Personality behind the Universe removes the element of gratitude from our thinking / Ishvara in the yoga sutras is a “special person” / the Supreme Person energizes our senses, bodies and minds / “Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world.” - Sri Prahlad / the real enemies are within
SB 7.8.7-10
1307: Q & A Volume 222
How do I find a Krishna a conscious way to prepare my family pet and the environment for his death? / I know we place significant importance on actually saying the mantra out loud, but is my method a legitimate way to chant? / How can one meet a guru if they live far from a temple?
If you have a question, e-mail us at wisdomofthesages108@gmail.com
1306: The Physicist Needs a Guru (Can Science Rule Out the Soul?)
Is self-replication the measure of life? / is there a sufficient level of intelligence for matter to become conscious? / is there an “emergent property” that creates consciousness? / is Brian Cox really “damn sure” that consciousness is physical (our could it be that it is just very subtle)? / “Because He is subtle, He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know.” - Bhagavad-gita 13.16 / “the living entity, even though situated in varieties of bodies, is aloof from them due to his subtle nature… therefore it is impossible to see with the material eyes … no one in science can ascertain this.” - Bhaktivedanta Swami / what is the compulsion of empiricists to deny the existence of the soul? / Prahlad converts his school / Prahlad triggers his father / just as different grades of fire all derive heat and light from the sun, we all drive our power from the same source
SB 7.8.1-7
1305: Bhagavad Gita Themes in Kipling's 'If'
seeing life’s problems as tests, and rising to meet them / even-mindedness when all are losing their heads / all the great saints had to respond to persecution / the impostors of Triumph and Disaster / pretentiousness as the next level of the test / always responding with positive energy / passing through the world, uncorrupted / no one is barred from Bhakti / neither charity, austerity, sacrifice, cleanliness, etc. can move Krishna - he’s waiting for pure love / the mature vision - beyond religious symbols and externals - recognizing God in everyone
SB 7.7.48-55
1304: Beautiful Destitution
“Beware of over-concern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.” - Rudyard Kipling / the emptiness that drives us to seek fulfillment through externals / the treasure in the heart of the sadhu / affection for others running through affection for Krishna / prema is the wealth that makes everything else appear pale / the steady engagement in releasing, accepting and stepping up one notch / the ocean of eternal happiness / “This is misery, but it gives me a laugh…. All that is left of this family life is a list of names.” - Bhaktivedanta Swami / “I gradually take away all the wealth of those upon whom I am merciful.” - Krishna / with Krishna, there’s beauty in destitution
SB 7.7.45-47
1303: The Truth Blockers - Attachment, Fear & Resentment
“The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” - Friedrich Nietzsche / don’t be afraid to turn it all upside down / “It makes no material sense” / The George Costanza Approach - do the opposite / these mantras are timeless / the pessimistic eye (towards the material world) and the optimistic eye (towards the spiritual world) / 2 radically different ways of thinking about the body - (1) it’s destined to be food for the worms, (2) it belongs to others / there are 2 people in your body (and the other one created it) / Truth Blockers - Attachment, Fear & Resentment / sorry, we don’t accommodate those kind of thoughts in this mind
SB 7.7.43-45
1302: Doomscrolling & the Endeavor for Happiness
all our conveniences are making our minds less patient / less patient minds are less happy / as soon as you endeavor for happiness it backfires / change your algorithms / you can’t be happy unless you’re satvic / break the doomscrolling cycles / a zoomed out perspective of history / a wise person develops simplicity / for small things we complicate our lives / this AI isn’t the future we hoped for
SB 7.7.40-42
Check out Raghunath on the Rich Roll podcast at https://youtu.be/BLopUQdMIGk?si=xNJMpiZ-46qqLK2c
1301: Q & A Volume 221
What is your Bhakti-yoga elevator pitch? / Did Sri Chaitanya know He was Krishna? / If we are not the body, why is it important that our ashes are thrown in the Ganges river after we die?
1300: 1300!
Celebrate Episode 1300 with us as we hear testimonials from Wisdom of the Sages listeners about how the podcast, Bhakti & Srimad Bhagavatam have transformed their lives.
Check out Timothy Todd's t shirts at https://www.etsy.com/shop/Timothytoddtshirts
1299: Cluttered Space = Cluttered Mind
We don’t realize the burden that’s weighing us down (resentment, anger, fear, etc.) like a dreadlocked, homeless dog / "It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men." - Jean de la Bruyere / Jatayu was a complete success / evolution of motive from Karma to Jnana to Bhakti / good intentions are everything / Bhakti delivers brahma-nirvāṇa / Krishna is easily accessible, being the friend in the heart of everyone / material good fortune is flickering / Krishna gives us what we need- we don’t need to save clutter / cluttered space means cluttered mind
SB 7.7.37-39
1298: Q & A Volume 220
Can you kindly explain the “three principal energies?” -Internal, External and Marginal? / Can you speak on the dance between faith in guru vs. having a relationship that is overly dependent? / As a neophyte devotee, how do I get the taste for praying?
1297: Q & A Volume 219
Is dancing in your home as powerful as dancing in the temple?
1296: Lexus Today, Gremlin Tomorrow – Take Care Not to Devalue Anyone
Raghunath’s dream instruction / definitions of humility / Kaustubha’s dream instruction / time changes everything - take care not to devalue or hurt anyone / the material world prunes our self image / Lexus today, Gremlin tomorrow / the challenge to the ego of shaving the head / advanced spirituality appearing as madness / advanced spirituality appearing as material attachment / just one wandering sense can send you completely adrift / burning the seeds of material desires to ashes / transforming matter to spirit SB 7.7.35-36
1295: The Shame in the Game of the Critic
don’t just be a critic - plant a seed in the ground - do something, no matter how small! / the shame in the game of the critic / the tension, the waiting period, the resolution / focus on growth in the waiting period / Sri Caitanya’s visit to Varanasi / humility through understanding one’s blissful nature / the sannyasis of Varanasi discover the nectar of Bhakti Vedanta
SB 7.7.34
1294: Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Bhagvatam’s prescription - focus the mind on Krishna, see Krishna in everyone / Yoga Sutra’s prescription - focus the mind in general, relate to others with sattvic clarity / the disinterest of the referee / comparison is the thief of joy - the dangers of social media / friendship toward those who are happy, compassion toward those in distress, joy toward those who are virtuous, equanimity toward those who are non-virtuous / the evolution from equanimity to empathy / the dissolution of one’s lower nature
SB 7.7.30-33
1293: Modern Psychology: Lack of Faith or Act of Faith?
Kaustubha explores questions about the application of modern mental health therapies in the context of the practice of Bhakti-yoga with Relationship Counselor, Dhanya Rico and Hospital Chaplain, Kula Pradipa Das.
Find Dhanya's newest song at
https://open.spotify.com/album/17HCyp59thGRtJPUhyKAUi?si=iczTCsYTRPCefe4vvILAew
1292: Guru Education vs. Guru Indoctrination
Bhakti is the confidential teachings of Vedanta / the heart needs to be opened to understand Bhakti / compassion through not asking “what is their karma?”, but instead asking “what is my dharma?” / individuality should not be suppressed / Education not indoctrination - how to think, not what to think / the role of menial service / understanding bhakti is not merely academic - it involves both inquiry (to gain information), and service (to purify the heart) / Eastern vs Western attitudes towards hierarchies
SB 7.7.29-31
1291: I am the Never-Changing Perceiving the Ever-Changing
the self is a flashlight; wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep are the layers that cover its illumination / are we any less helpless in the waking state, than we are in the dream? / just as the changing body is not me, the same is true for the changing mind / anchoring our awareness in something beyond change / 2 yogas - turning consciousness away from the world and directing it to the source of the world / moving through this world as an actor with awareness of the director and the nature of the film / our fundamental identities and our functional identities / extending the duration of our moments of spiritual awareness / harmonizing our external pursuits with our internal values / moving forward with balance
SB 7.7.28-29
1290: The Theme of Hospitality in Devotional Yoga
Kaustubha Interviews Krishna Kshetra Swami (Dr Kenneth Valpey) on the specialty of the Srimad Bhagavatam and the importance of the reoccurring theme of hospitality found in its narratives.
Find his upcoming course at
https://ochsonline.org/course/bhagavata-purana-sacred-text-tradition/
1289: From PUNK to MONK!
On the day of its official release, Raghunath and Kaustubha read from and discuss Raghunath's memoir From Punk to Monk, available at https://a.co/d/bqccpnS
1288: Q & A Volume 217
Is it primitive to believe that the eclipse is inauspicious?
If you have questions, e-mail us at wisdomofthesages108@gmail.com
1287: The Perception of Wakefulness, Dreaming & Deep Sleep
Its okay to be a dented can / de-mything the sacred texts / in whatever you shine in, you become an influencer / our karma gives us a recipe for future experiences / as changing aromas are evidence of the air that carries them, changing states of awareness are evidence of the soul that experiences them / just as one knows all things made of clay by knowing a piece of clay, one can know everything by knowing Krishna / our material experience is like a bad dream (unwanted and temporary)
SB 7.7.25-27
1286: Knowing Yourself is the Beginning of All Wisdom
to understand “what is the meaning of life?”, we first need to understand “who am I?” / Is our happiness coming from the soul or the ego? / purifying the mind through self analysis / the self is distinct from from all things that undergo creation, maintenance and destruction / life doesn’t develop from the body - the body develops from life / what’s the real creation myth? / attachment, fear and anger block perception of the divine / Einstein’s humility
SB 7.7.24
1285: Q & A Volume 216
Can you clarify the practice of japa for a relative newcomer like me? / What does it mean to "take shelter” of Krishna & Radha?
1284: The Dark Places We Go When We are Drunk on the World
“I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves”? - Ludwig Wittgenstein / athāto brahma-jijñāsā - now is the time to inquire about the Absolute Truth / people get intoxicated by their good karma / the soul is the observer / a spiritually advanced person can understand how the spiritual particle exists within the body / One must find the soul by analysis, saying, “This is not it. This is not it.” / My body and mind are shape shifters / Epstein Island and the dark places we go when we are drunk on the world
SB 7.7.21-23
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1283: Figuring Out Life Begins with "I'm Not My Body"
win the hearts of Brijbasis / there are no external disqualifications for Bhakti / hearing with faith is the key / figuring out life begins with “I’m not my body” and ends with seeing Krishna everywhere / artificial consciousness is a bluff / the empiricists have moved the goalposts / the most important questions of life lie beyond the scope of material science / if this philosophy is right, everything I know is wrong / look deeper into the Autostereogram until you see the self realization
SB 7.7.17-20
1282: God Has Empowered All of Us in Different Ways
“The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy… and to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation and we, (Lawyers) and scientists, don’t know how to do that.” - Gus Speth / God has empowered all of us in different ways (the politician has a role and the monk has a role) / the material world is designed to crack your shell / Narada instructs Prahlad in the womb / are women less intelligent than men? / cold-hearted, analytical Jnana vs the tender affection of Bhakti / Srimad Bhagavatam elevates the feminine disposition / Srila Prabhupada’s pride in his tradition breaking female disciples
SB 7.7.1-16
1281: Re-presenting the Epic Mahabharata - An Interview with HD Goswami
Raghunath and Kaustubha interview HD Goswami about his new translation of the Mahabharata.
1280: Why Sri Chaitanya Is So Special
On the occasion of the appearance anniversary of Sri Chaitanya, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss how special and important He is, even among the avatars of Krishna.
1279: Q & A Volume 215
Is it ok to have friendships with people who are not Krishna bhaktas / Is it ok to get wisdom and truths from teachers who are not Krishna bhaktas / What are your recommendations for a devotee who lives too far from a Temple?
1278: The Essence That Lies Beyond Religion
being used for a mighty purpose vs being a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances / the power of revolving around the Divine principle / we avoid diversions such as nonconstructive criticism, gossip, and politics / the world is our reform school / the essence that lies beyond religion / Sri Caitanya’s talks with Ramananda Raya / the false expectations of love we receive from films / sage level 4 / Bhakti is understood not simply by reading books, but by receiving it from someone who embodies it / becoming endowed you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple
SB 7.6.26-30
1277: Bhagavatam’s Innocent, Rebellious Appeal to the Essence of Being
“Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence and an appeal to the essence of being.” - Albert Camus / find philosophy you can live / Prahlad is pure to the core and entirely rebellious / what is the use of following the principles of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation? / Bhagavatam rebels against the message of the previous Vedic texts / In the Vedas Indra is the hero - in the Bhagavatam Vritrasura is the hero / the innocence of Sukadeva / the pure-hearteness of Pariksit / you’ve gotta want Krishna / liberation is like going to a water park all by yourself
SB 7.6.25
1276: Let the Mantra be the Stick Shift (to Shift the Gears of Consciousness)
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3.16 / religion is more concerned with salvation - spirituality is more concerned with transformation / access to God is easy because 1) you are intimately related to Him 2) He is present everywhere 3) He is always aware of you / nature arranges to keep the secrets of transcendence concealed from the intrusions of mundane intelligence / the theology is that God is in everyone - the practice is to act without enmity or duality, showing mercy to all / let the mantra be the stick shift / you stalk Krishna and He will stalk you
SB 7.6.19-24
1275: Q & A Volume 214
My head is in the philosophy of Krishna Bhakti, but my heart is with Jesus and the saints. Is that ok? / How can we tell the difference between satisfaction, happiness, and peace stemming from the mode of goodness, and that from actual spiritual advancement? / “With the upcoming solar eclipse could you speak a little to significance of solar eclipses in this tradition and what actions can be taken to divert any negative forces that may come with it?
1274: Einstein as the Brahmin in ”Oppenheimer”
Uncompromised brahmins should engage the military powers - not the other way around / Einstein as the brahmin in the film Oppenheimer (framed in nature, speaking distilled, essential thought, removed from urgent, fear-based thinking) / beware the separatist conception / Prahlad shines light on the dangers of family attachments / Prahlad as 5 year old revolutionary / we won’t be indoctrinated into separatist thinking! / revolution sans-hatred / separatist thought leads to cruelty / our rulers should be inspired and tethered by higher thinkers / if your goal is sense gratification, you’ll stay in bondage / find a roadmap to liberation / we can be both monk and revolutionary
SB 7.6.16-18
1273: A Spiritual Household Transforms Caterpillars to Butterflies
it’s what we put in our consciousness in our downtime that shapes who we are / sacred literature is ever fresh and always relevant / sometimes goodness can cheat you out of greatness / Bhagavatam is one big intervention for the material world / hear Bhagavatam on a regular basis in youth and old age, in good health and bad / our daily activities are what change us / add a sense of urgency to your spiritual life / the current of material family life can pull you down the beach / morning Sadhana is like a daily pilgrimage / let God be your God (not someone else) / where does our mind go in extreme situations? / find great souls who know how to harness the energy
SB 7.6.11-15
1272: Putting a Child in a Car Seat is Real Tolerance
Prabhupada didn’t mince words / everything is meant to support our relationship with God / don’t sacrifice the whisper of the heart to the contaminant of the mind / now is the time for self reflection / taking care of a baby and putting a kid in a car seat is real tolerance / renunciation or frustration and arrogance? / material nature lops and prunes your attachments / it’s not your wife or husband- it’s the beloved of Krishna entrusted to your care / chisel off the hard edges of the ego to serve family / marriage is meant to make you holy not happy / Raghu is not a narcissist
SB 7.6.6-9
1271: The Practices of Training the Mind
Kaustubha’s Vrindavan wanderings / Prayer is about saying what needs to be said / Vrindavan is the culture of Bhagavatam / While you’re healthy, focus on Bhakti and don’t waste any time / Train the mind to ease your suffering / “We must engage in the supreme practices of training the mind. There is no other way.” - Geshe Kelsang Gyatso / Kaustubha’s affirmation: “We don’t think like that.” / Raghu’s affirmation: “We don’t criticize.” / Discern but don’t criticize / If I don’t live that internal life, then I’m just an artificial, showbottle, so-called bhakti practitioner / Advanced Bhakti-yogis don’t waste time. / Join AA just for the affirmations!
SB 7.6.5
1270: Krishna is Sending People to Mess With Your Head
Meander into random temples / focus and simplicity / move the internal mountains of attachment and petty grievances / everywhere we turn someone is trying to sell us happiness / kindness saves a ton of mental baggage / simplicity saves us issues with stuff - kindness saves us from issues with people / when you become very focused on spiritual life, it affects everyone / we’re off the leash looking for distractions / Vishnu is our real soulmate / game-changer: happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress
SB 7.6.1-5
1269: Q & A Volume 213
How does puruṣārtha (the Vedic concept of 4 human pursuits) relate to Bhakti? / Is it true that one can be liberated in this life, even though you live a “normal” householder life, or do you have to become a monk? / Do you have a good book recommendation which simply outlines Bhakti in a way that is completely approachable?
1268: Chat Thread Arguments & Hardened Hearts
Eat, sing and dance to create community / “Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him.” - Louis L'Amour / anger leaves you dirty and depleted / The greater the ego the greater the rage / It’s our behavior through the day that affects japa / Chat thread arguments drain integrity and harden hearts / Hiranyakashipu’s rage against little Prahlad
SB 7.5.33-57
1267: The Highest Dharma is Divine Love
“These people were so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back.” - Tuesdays With Morrie / everyone is starving - but not for food - for love / the highest dharma is divine love / addiction to material life leads to darkness / Yamunacharya squirrel / take the dust of the feet of the Vaishnavas / we’re just a tiny blade of grass in a huge meadow / arrogance is a truth blocker / Krishna’s presence accumulates in the heart, and we draw from that when we chant
SB 7.5.30-32
1266: Can We Be Happy With Nothing?
“People haven’t found meaning in their lives, so they’re running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find these things are empty too.” - Tuesdays With Morrie / we’ve gotta figure out what success looks like before we start climbing the ladder / the old musk deer analogy / externals just won’t make us happy / am I chewing the chewed? / your new car is chewing the chewed / Krishna’s name is heart deep not lip deep / Bhakti is an everlasting ever sweetening gobstopper / can we be happy with nothing? / Bhakti gets more bubblelicious as you go
SB 7.5.25-30
1265: Getting Pulled in the Draft of the Great Souls Before Us
You get an authentic experience through an authentic lineage / “Everybody is looking for Krishna. Some don't realize that they are, but they are.” - George Harrison / Rishikesh Kirtan mela / the love is in the details / one incarnation for one devotee / just by remembering the great souls before us we get pulled in their draft / a little self disgust can be healthy / service is a natural expression of love / the Vedas have already given us a map / don’t be a Kramer to Krishna / love in the mood of service, love in the mood of a friend
SB 7.5.23-24
1264: See God in the Temple – See God Everywhere
No more inattentive chanting / hear and chant here to prepare to hear and chant in holy places (and vice versa) / India is messy but pure / accept that our life is in Krishna’s hands and get on the Uber motorcycle / see God in the temple to practice seeing God everywhere / there has to be someone in the center of existence, to create harmony, otherwise we just battle in competition - Krishna is that center / we have to accept responsibility for the evil in the world / the devotion is in the details / It’s hard to find God in the heart, but easy to find God in the temple
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1263: Let Vrindavan Rest in Your Mind
Raghu and Mara chant Yamunastakam on the banks of the river / Kaustubha says goodbye to Sri Dham Mayapur / PULL THE TRIGGER! / concentrate your thoughts like the sun’s rays through a magnifying glass / the practices of Bhakti are not mere religious rituals, they are yogic practices designed to focus the mind on the most satisfying object / “Let my mind, with attention fixed on no other object, repeatedly carry its affection to Krishna, just as the Ganga carries a full stream of water to the ocean“ - Queen Kunti / Bhagavatam is one royal calamity after another / never let go of desperation even when things are rosy / bathing in the dust of Vrindavan
1262: Mantra Meditation - Not Lip Deep, but Heart Deep
the power in hearing about lives of the great saints / the sun is setting, move along / the power in eating saffron filled gulab jamuns / Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati’s vision / You cannot vibrate the holy name simply by moving the lips and tongue. The pure name of krishna is not lip deep, but heart deep / the sound descends from the transcendental world into the heart, then rises through the lips and tongue - that vibration is the holy name of Krishna / "Maintain your worldly obligations in whatever way you can, but make the eternal principle, devotion to Krishna, the true provision for your voyage through life” / we’re wasting time trying to beautify a reflection
1261: Each One of Us Matters & Has a Role to Play
“Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference.” - Jane Goodall / both Hanuman and the little squirrel were equal, because both were giving their all / “Krishna has some plan for you. Always think in that way, and very soon he will provide everything to your heart's desire.” - Srila Prabhupada / Kaustubha is not Taylor Swift / lose faith in the material world providing us happiness / trade your expectations for appreciation BrahmaJi! / the chanting and hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are transcendentally full of mellows / we don’t need a high birth or good karma to advance in spiritual life - just chant
SB 7.5.19-24
1260: Freeing Up the Mind for Meditation
let resentment go to free up the mind in chanting meditation / What are the qualities of a Bhakti-yogi? They are like a rooster, a crane, salt, and you! / a rooster picks out the valuable nourishment even in the dung / salt enhances all the other flavors and yet takes no credit / the crane ignores the petty little fish and stays focused on what counts / in the end, Radha and Krishna are the only “Big Fish” / don’t let validation from others be your food / we can be the handle of the Vishnu axe / dharma, artha, kama, moksha, and beyond that is prema - the highest goal / don’t go to the jewelry store and walk out with some plastic - don’t go to the Vedas or the sadhu for material wealth
SB 7.5.15-18
1259: The Krishna Magnet & the Rust of Illusory Desire
Bhagavatam presents the theology of devotion in the context of the creation of the universe and the following lineages of demigods, sages and royal lines descending from the gods of the sun and moon / omniscience helps in debate / to the extent we are sectarian, we’re rowing the boat but the anchor is down / party line spirit blocks perception of the Paramatma / Krishna’s like a magnet, we’re like iron - when the rust of our illusory desires is removed we are naturally attracted / our love attracts even Krishna
SB 7.5.11-14
1258: The Doors of Perception
“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” - William Blake / “…when the good is a furlong off, and we with our beetle eyes can only see three inches, it takes some confidence in general principles to pull us through.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / confidence in the principle of aham bramasmi / the pandit sees everyone equally / saintly persons try to emulate Prahlada’s character by practicing freedom from animosity / only devotion grants access to the greatest secrets of the Vedic wisdom / the last snare of illusion
B 7.5.6-12
1257: What it Takes to be an Instrument of Healing
Creeps are out there / what it takes to be an instrument of healing / “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” - Jesus / it’s not spoken allegiance that makes one a son of God, it's aligning one's heart with His / Kaustubha runs with the Squirrel / the innocence which can tame the spirit of the unicorn / The 1st illusion - identifying with the body; leads directly to the 2nd illusion - seeing in terms of friends and enemies / having no enemies is based on perceiving inherent spiritual equality of all life / “What did you learn in school today?” - “That any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering"
SB 7.4.40-7.5.5
1256: 3 Levels of God Realization: Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavan
How do you introduce higher dimensions of consciousness into your awareness? / Bhagavatam isn’t valid because it's ancient. It's ancient because it's valid. / growth means seeing your circumstances through a higher lens / the planets have a pull - so add the Krishna graha into your life / thesis: we are completely different from God - antithesis: we are one with God - synthesis: we are both one with and different from God / 3 levels of God realization: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan / “God is my baby” - you can’t make this stuff up!
SB 7.4.37-40
1255: Mantras, Yantras & the All Auspicious Krishna Planet
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius / temples (and ritual) are all about elevating the quality of our thoughts / clearing the head and heart of resentment, anger and bitterness / we find what we’re looking for / the Vastu Purusha / you can’t change the planets you were born under, but you can make Krishna the predominating planet that shines auspiciousness in your life / how the great devotees see Krishna everywhere / stop relying on our good karma for happiness
SB 7.4.35-37
1254: Q & A Volume 212
How can we best face our own mortality? / Can you speak on the relationship between Radha and Krishna / Are there any stories of Krisna with cats?
1253: This is Not the Future We Wanted!
"Humans doing the hard jobs on minimum wage, while the robots write poetry and paint, is not the future I wanted." - Karl Sharro / ya can’t beat the system / simplicity & kindness / because we remain servants of our senses, we can never be satisfied / the Devas give up food and sleep, meditating to connect with Vishnu / connection with Vishnu dissipates the fear / the qualities that facilitate spiritual experience - sense control, mind control, kindness, respect, giving shelter, deep friendship, freedom from pride
SB 7.4.18-34
1252: It's Not the Mountain We Conquer, but Ourselves
Anything we have to conquer can be integrated as part of our Bhakti practice / give it your best effort and be detached from the results / mastering an even mind, equal vision and inner happiness / becoming successful emotion managers / Hiraṇyakaśipu terrorizes the universe / pass on praise or it’ll kill you / broken egos search for satellites
SB 7.4.1-17
1251: Gandhi's 7 Social Sins
seek employment in the field, and with the kind of people you would select if you had no need for money / religion has been stripped of the sacrifice of ones body, words and mind / do you need to erase your conscience to enjoy? / the demonic mentality can’t recognize one’s dependence on the higher power / work in harmony with the system - because you can’t cheat it
SB 7.3.17-38
1250: Pablo EscoBear & the God Shaped Hole in the Heart
Andrew C. Thornton II’s unbridled greed - how much cocaine do you need to sell to be happy? / Dr Bruce Alexander and the Rat Park Experiments / “One should accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” / All there is to satisfy the senses, can’t satisfy one who’s senses are uncontrolled / The demonic mentality is taking Vishnu out of the picture / the soul gives life to the body, not the other way around / Hiranyakashipu is no better than the Cocaine Bear
SB 7.3.6-16
1249: Q & A Volume 211
As an adoptee, how can I understand the longing I have to meet my birth mother in the context of Bhakti-yoga? / Does a yogi just accept their ADHD, or do they try to mitigate it? / Is it too early to speak to my 5 year old about death and reincarnation? / How to process life’s curses?
1248: Q & A Volume 210
How do we become normalized to suffering, however abominable it may be? / Will you please explain ISKCON’s view of the Trimurti? (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) / How important is it for us to desire to go back to Godhead?
1247: The Vrindavan Flower Vendor
the Vrindavan flower vendor / if daily, love infused seva became mandatory in New York City / aligning one’s heart with the heart of God / the service itself is the payment / we see God in the deity to see God in the heart of every / Raghu would use the mystic powers only for good / the great commentators speak on austerity / don’t lay out during the meteor shower
SB 7.2.58 - 7.3.5
1246: Receiving Knowledge from Nature / Interview with Giridhari Das
Raghunath interviews Giridhari Das, an American who left his past behind, moved to Holy India, built his own cob house, grows his own food, and practices Bhakti-yoga.
1245: If a Psychiatrist & a Guru Sat With Us Through a Horror Movie
“Sometimes a dream almost whispers.” - Steven Spielberg / are we asking for advice, or for an instruction? / we're being driven around in a rental car / you can have Krishna consciousness right now, if you really want it / if we had a psychiatrist and a guru with us in the movie theater / the message is everywhere - that we’re all gonna die / śmaśāna-vairāgya - the detachment in a cemetery
SB 7.2.45-57
1244: Real Truth is the Medicine
“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” – Mother Teresa / there’s a lot of crazy talk in our mind / sometimes God’s plan is for Raghu to keep the stage dive money / never consider yourself to be the Ultimate cause / put in the effort, but understand there’s a greater plan / we grow by applying wisdom to misfortune, death, grief, betrayal, etc. / real truth is the medicine
SB 7.2.39-44
1243: We Follow Our Mind Like a Slave Until We Find Truth
we’re living out the dream of Bhaktivinode Thakura / what good are my beauty products when this body burns? / isn’t it just sane to recognize and appreciate all that’s provided for me? / because we lack conviction in our spiritual nature, we focus on the differences and suffer / we follow our mind like a slave until we find truth / our thoughts and meditations are creating our next body right now
SB 7.2.22-38
1242: Q & A Volume 209
How can Sri Chaitanya give the highest gift to the most unqualified? / Please explain, who are the Pancha Tattva? / Is loving God as Father a lower type of love?
1241: Plant a Tree!
“The one who plants trees knowing that he or she will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” — Rabindranath Tagore / As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, simply worshiping the Supreme Person through Bhakti automatically satisfies the demigods / don’t cut down trees- just build around them / take special care of your initiation beads / trees are sacred and so are squirrels / we’re like straws being washed down a river
SB 7.2.13-21
1240: Beautiful Devotional Audacity
one who is content enjoys transcendental happiness without endeavoring / for one who has mastered ahimsa, others become nonviolent in their presence / We need a class of pure hearted spiritualists without a material agenda / It’s simple math to see the value of a cow / There’s gotta be an adult in the room to stop all the junk mail / no good comes after 10 pm / Srila Prabhupada’s beautiful devotional audacity
SB 7.2.1-12
1239: Jai Sri Ram!
(may God) deliver you from externals, and bestow upon you an inward occupation, which will absorb you so that your attention is not drawn away - Rumi / Begging for the removal of envy and animosity / let your meditation be thick like honey on Krishna / may our minds go to Krishna spontaneously / our inner meditation will deliver us to our spiritual body / it’s hard to be kind when you’re a hornet / the curse of a Bhakti-yogi is ultimately a blessing / the background history of the demon Shishupal
SB 7.1.30-48
1238: Q & A Volume 208
What are some of the do’s and don’ts when attending a temple? / Can you tell us about Sri Caitanya?
1237: Emancipate Yourself from Mental Slavery
"If something can corrupt you, you’re corrupted already." — Bob Marley / Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. — Bob Marley / get obsessed with things that lift you up / knowledge frees one from the pain of insults / our issues all stem from our bodily concepts / enmity is a powerful meditation / Through song, ritual, music or meditation, bring your mind to Krishna
SB 7.1.22-29
1236: What We Meditate Upon, We Become
Raghu’s official apology to Bob Marley / “We become what we think about most of the time, and that’s the strangest secret.” - Earl Nightingale / Only if one contemplates something continuously does it become fixed as internal consciousness and manifest as a part of one’s nature. - Sri Madhvacharya / spiritual culture makes it easy to meditate all the time / Krishna is the most purifying force / Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail / “Everything is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa and is acting and moving by the supreme desire of Kṛṣṇa. This understanding, this consciousness, is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” - Srila Prabhupada / Raghu would be looking for Sisupala’s head
SB 7.1.16-21
1235: The Wisdom in Accepting Our Fate
the wisdom in accepting our fate / it’s the strong person who can accepts reversals in life without complaint / we have very little control beyond our own mind / entering Sage Level 3 / Sisupala’s focused hatred of Krishna / Krishna’s cool headed tolerance of Sisupala’s insults / right in the mists of the worlds great kings and sages, Krishna effortlessly takes Sisupala’s life / how did a deamon like Sisupala receive the moksha of merging into the body of Krishna?
SB 7.1.13-15
1234: How to Guard Your Snow Globe-like Heart
‘Have your heart always turned towards the Divine…. It is not exterior silence that makes a monk, but silence of the heart.’ - Theodora of Alexandria / how to guard your snow globe heart / love God above all things, preserve tranquility, be meek and without malice, avoid obscenity and silliness, love non-covetousness, don’t neglect communal prayer - Theodora of Alexandria / Raghu Has Forgiven Elvis Costello & Moved On / It’s one thing to align with God externally, but it’s a life’s work to align entirely internally / Krishna is never partial / How did a demon like Sisupala get liberated?
SB 7.1.7-11
1233: Q & A Volume 207
How can I clear the bad karma accumulated through activities of the past? / If one of the pillars of Bhakti is to take no offense, why does the SB speak about the danger of offending pure devotees? / What is the Bhakti viewpoint on chanting japa silently?
1232: Passing Through the Gates of Crisis
“In ancient India, soul-searching crisis was not concealed or imbued with shame, but viewed as an important time of transition, a deep rite of passage.” - Simon Hass / passing through the gates of soul searching crisis to the next level of spiritual advancement / sacred literature- it’s one crisis after another / Krishna is independent, but likes to be dependent on devotees / there is growing evidence that depression is linked to television watching / why not binge out on the sacred texts? / binging Krishna gives you life, binging tv gives you depression
SB 7.1.1-6
1231: The Soul Within the Body & Behind the Mind
“I have tried to be impartial, though I know that a man's past always colors his views.“ - Will Durant / only the impartial can see the truth / true impartiality is found through seeing the soul within the body and behind the mind / Vishnu is both a cat and a dog person / the result of mixed devotion is fear, the result of our devotion is freedom / What is the way to get pure devotion? / because the body of the conditioned soul is infected by the three qualities of nature, dualities arise such as enmity and friendship, attachment and detachment
1230: Q & A Volume 206
My question is about the difference between Shaivism and Vaishnavism? / Should we pray for others? / What advice should I give families as a hospice nurse?
1229: Spend 5 Minutes with Your Worst Enemy
when two enemies are talking, they're not fighting / if you spend five minutes with your worst enemy you will find that you both have something in common / Bhakti rituals destroy cruelty in the heart / Wanna change the world? Change yourself / Radhanath Swami's internal purity is changing the world externally / Understanding and respect leads to change / When the talking ceases the ground becomes fertile for violence / Vishnu and Laxmi are the original power couple
SB 6.18.1-6.19.28
1228: Am I a Warmonger?
love others and God above all / Hate the greed, tyranny and animal appetite within ourselves / Spiritual freedom is the true happiness / See ourselves with the big I identity / We’re just concocting mental turbo scenarios / Our mind creates happiness and distress in illusion / Understand we’re living within a movie / Tragedy is around the corner and nobody gets a pass / We need to fully understand this illusory world in order to navigate and transcend it / Knowledge and detachment come naturally to bhakti yogis / No one is dear or inimical, but he’s an auspicious friend to all / We need to be free of attachment to be free of hatred / Pull a Citraketu to disarm your haters / Vaishnavas don’t retaliate
SB 6.17.31-41
1227: Expect Your World to Get Turned Upside Down
You can choose your destiny by who you hang out with / What can ya do when truth comes in an uncool package? / There’s magic to be had / Take advantage of spirituality and connection however you can (even in Catholic school) / Don’t be worried about world wars and corruption, acharyas are being born/ You can lose the taste for the forbidden fruit / Take radical responsibility- I got what I got, now what? / Stop blaming to find peace / Be fixed only in the service to God / Once you have a deep spiritual connection, good and bad don’t affect you so much / When you’re out of the prison, you don’t care about extra jello / Tolerate hardship in the service of Narayana / Rise above negativity and respond like Citraketu
SB 6.17.22-30
1226: Q & A Volume 205
How to deal with feelings of inauthenticity when social obligations seem to get in the way of spiritual commitment? / How does my job fit in with my spiritual practice?
1225: Shooting Straight to Acceptance
"The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance." - Nathaniel Branden / the 5 stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance / shooting straight to acceptance / the comedy of when we can’t accept / Just because you join the Bhakti club doesn’t mean you’re liberated / As spiritual ambition rises, resentment anger and depression decreases / Am I capable of shooting straight for acceptance? / You get what you get and don’t be upset / However and wherever I can serve, please let me serve
SB 6.17.17-21
1224: The Darkest Region of Materialistic Thought
“It isn’t that they can’t see the solution. It is that they can’t see the problem” - GK Chesterton / don’t just fix the symptoms, get to the root of the disease / our problem is that we see ourselves as disconnected from the root of all existence / Citraketu gracefully accepted his curse / Pariksit gracefully accepted his curse / Prithu gracefully responded to Indra’s offenses / Indra lacked grace, and always tried to hold onto his position / the more we try to rectify reversals, the more we enter into the darkest region of materialistic thought
SB 6.17.1-16
1223: Divine Love - Ask for Nothing More
“To love or to have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life.” - Victor Hugo / Our desires drive us to pursue pleasure - but we end up getting the opposite results / pride in one's material experience brings contradictory results / a living being’s sense of identity apart from Kṛṣṇa is called māyā / having forgotten our purpose since time immemorial, we are situated in different bodies, as men, animals, demigods, etc. / when one is engaged in transcendental service one becomes at once liberated from this illusion
SB 6.16.59-65
1222: The World Isn’t Our Paradise, it’s Our University
without self knowledge we are slaves / don’t let our senses carjack us / yoga starts with understanding how our machines work / the world isn’t our paradise, it’s our university / I’m not the enjoyer, I’m the student / Vishnu to the soul “Um, both you, and the world, are produced, pervaded and supported by Me / deep sleep, dreaming and wakefulness are insubstantial phases of conditional life / “Pay now or pay later.” - Raghunath / forgetfulness of our oneness with God is the cause of transmigration / we can try to tweak tradition, but instead we blow it up
SB 6.16.52-58
1221: Q & A Volume 204
Should I be attached or detached as a parent? / Where do the gunas first get mentioned? / Are the different ages in life linked to the gunas? / How can we prepare to die in relation to the gunas? / How should we interact with people who are visibly affected by the lower gunas?
1220: Bhagavad Gita Gives Relief to the Burning Heart
Bhagavad-gita is common sensical and profound / books change the world / Krishna was the original thought leader-influencer / what the world needs now is love via BG / just hear carefully / consult the Gita in all critical times / the Bhagavad-gita is impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space
Goal: 3.7 Million Gita’s around the world. https://livetogive.webflow.io/
To donate, text/whatsapp/call Malini at this number: +1 (669) 289-5563
1219: Albert Einstein on the Illusion of Separateness
"The quest for liberation from this bondage [or illusion] (of seeing ourselves as separate) is the only object of true religion." - Albert Einstein / our nature is intrinsically connected the whole / Krishna is the hub (holding everything together) and the root (nourishing everything) / “Persons who are too materialistic always see separateness.” - Srimad Bhagavatam / substantial relationships are built on spiritual truth / chant japa with attention and intention to open the safe / the key to confidential Vedanta is not renunciation, austerity or learning - it has to do the the state of our heart / Krishna reveals his love when we come correct / 2 keys to the safe - spiritual sound and form
SB 6.16.47-51
1218: I Can't Save My Face & My Butt at the Same Time
reaching out when struggling over the holidays / I can’t save my face and my butt at the same time / praying for more stuff within the prison cell / it’s not sectarianism, it’s orienting our minds to higher thinking in whatever tradition one is from / frying out the seeds of material desire / freedom from the mentalities of “you and I” and “yours and mine”
SB 6.16.36-46
1217: If All is Matter, What Really Matters?
response to a Stephen Hawking anti-nugget - we get it that computers don’t have an afterlife, but their users do / response to a Christopher Hitchens anti-nugget - we get it that germs cause disease, but where did the germs come from? / the forgotten past of microbiology from Sage Scientist Kanva in the Atharvaveda / nobody has a monopoly on truth / It takes a scientist, a philosopher and a theologian / If we’re just bags of chemicals, why give holiday gifts? / Sattvika-bhavas - unpremeditated, involuntary expression arising directly from the spiritually surcharged consciousness / unconquerable Krishna is conquered by love / even Brahma is a secondhand God
SB 6.16.31-35
1216: Digital Avatars Don’t Make You Immortal
Um, sorry Kiss, but your digital avatars don’t make you immortal / centrifugal vs centripetal force / glowworms only appear bright in the dark / the truth is we are fallible, vulnerable and dependent / finding meaning and happiness in truth, not illusion / sometimes our tragedy is just a little karma left to burn / clearing all the corrupted files in the mind
SB 6.16.21-31
1215: Q & A Volume 203
Can you please clarify the difference between imperfect senses and being illusioned as described in Vedic epistemology? / Can you share your thoughts about depression and the need for a guide to study Bhagavad-gita? / Is there any scriptural advice for a situation regarding the heart hardening to those who have done us wrong? / Do you have any practical guidance on studying Bhagavad-gita?
1214: Come Out of the River a Different Person
“You have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.” – Marcus Aurelius / We are all made of the superior energy of God. / We are far more effulgent than the sun! / we can be permeated and vitalized by God’s ever-blissful spiritual rasa / Social media has us dancing like puppets / You want resurrection? We got resurrection / our senses and mind are nothing but trouble / we’re qualitatively one with god, and quantitatively different / hear the sage’s wisdom, watch the body burn, and come out of the river a different person
SB 6.16.11-20
1213: Excuse Me Indian Gentlemen in the Back, but This is Satyam
“It’s better to conquer grief than to deceive it.” —Seneca / Citraketu conquers grief / deluded by ignorance, the living entity wanders in the forest of this material world, enjoying the happiness and distress resulting from his past deeds / let grief open you up to truth / Excuse Me Indian Gentlemen in the Back, but This is Satyam / “and this schizophrenia, we call pleasure” / we can love but we can’t possess / if I was a director I would cut to the faces of the co-wives / Krishna has a better plan / Bhagavatam solves the world’s problems
SB 6.16.7-10
1212: Cold to the Illusion - Warm to the Spirit
the gift of the association of pure devotees / mantras change your vision / Has your lord ever manifested into a boar or a dwarf?! / to the degree you want to be closer to Krishna he comes closer to you / our children are our children for a moment / See past the temporary roles and love the soul beneath / to love an actor you need to see beyond the illusion of the roles they play / be cold to the illusion but warm to the spirit
SB 6.16.1-6
1211: All That is Left is a List of Names
“You have no choice. You must leave your ego on the doorstep before you enter love.” ― Kamand Kojouri / Bhaktivedanta is the fullest expression of the self / To the degree there’s ego, there’s no room for intimacy / looking at our own pain with the discernment of a stone cold Vendantin and a soft heart of a Bhakti-yogi / ask the sages for knowledge during times of pain / wisdom eases the pain of grief / “All that is left of this family life is a list of names.” - Srila Prabhupada / when you’re wailing on the floor, you’ve just got a little karma to burn
SB 6.15.17-28
1210: The Ego is a Clever Monkey
“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.” - Colin Powell / I identify only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa / “The ego is like a clever monkey, which can co-opt anything, even the most spiritual practices, so as to expand itself.” ― Jean-Yves Leloup / because the individual soul has desired to act in forgetfulness of his original identity since time immemorial, he is accepting different positions in material bodies and being designated according to many divisions of nationality, community, society, species and so on / 2 two side effects of Bhakti - 1. freedom from material designations 2. and one’s senses are purified (of the drivers of desire)
SB 6.15.8-16
1209: Q & A Volume 202
How to come to the point where I do everything purely the love of Krishna? / Should I be putting my chanting first before any other aspects of my Sadhana/Seva? / I have lost most access to long term memory so have a hard time maintaining a steady practice. Can you help?
1208: The Message of the A-List Sages
“Your children are not your children. They come through you but not from you.” - Kahlil Gibran / Share what’s valuable but give them breathing room / the litmus test for what’s real - does it exist in all 3 phases in time? / We are not the body; we are spiritual beings trapped in the body / our massive problems are actually tiny / We have no independent potency to create / take this to your bosom
SB 6.15.1-7
1207: Grief is the Crack Where Truth Can Enter
“If we climb high enough, we will reach a height from which tragedy ceases to look tragic.” - Irvin D. Yalom / without the spiritual lens, life’s tragedies (and it’s meaninglessness) become crushing / tragedy will come- nobody gets a pass / all our hopes for material happiness come with grief as the flip side / grief is the crack where truth can enter / tragedy can break your faith in God or break your faith in false promise of happiness in illusion / Let our most tragic moments be the most transformative / seeking out discomfort for spiritual growth / You want miracles, we got em!
SB 6.14.49-61
1206: Spiritual Trajectories are Often Born of Tragedy
“Tragedy is like strong acid. It dissolves away all but the very gold of truth.” - D. H. Lawrence / tragedy can kickstart our spiritual evolution / if we could only see our spiritual trajectories over the course of lifetimes / there’s real hope and beauty in material collapse / the material world always puts some sand in your sweet rice / Bhagavatam instructs as a ruler, a friend, and lover / Citraketu’s joy quickly turns to pain
SB 6.14.1-49
1205: Good Karma Can Ruin Your Life
“People who sincerely search will find the same truth in every age and culture. The direction is always toward more love and union-in ever widening circles.” - Richard Rohr / Sanatana dharma is the ultimate in inclusivity / the soul is never warped / may our actions please lord Krishna / all the same things are happening in the celestial world / our desires got us to this miserable place / good karma can ruin your life / for a devotee there is no bad karma / Indra’s long, painful, embarrassing journey all began with neglecting to honor the noble truth speaker in his life
SB 6.13.1-23
1204: When We Need Him Most, The Avatar Appears
Kirtan is magic / Krishna will crush your desire to be the center / We just gotta let go…and then it all comes / a devotee’s not interested in maintaining some position / Just when we need him most, the avatar appears / Indra recognizes that Vritrasura is a pure devotee
SB 6.12.18-35
1203: Q & A Volume 201
Is our path more about supporting others or should we be focused more on our own path? / In moments when doubts and hardships were overwhelming how are you able to turn it around?
1202: We're Back & Dreaming of the Future
After both being sick for 5 days, Raghu and Kaustubha squirrel away for a show about their experiences and thoughts while under the weather. Topics include... • the glory of the devotees of Alachua Fl. • the soon to be released Mahabharata from HD Goswami • Jahnavi Harrisons music descending from the spiritual world • and a dream about the future for Wisdom of the Sages listeners
Check out Kaustubha's upcoming Vani course:
The Sages' Insight MASTERCLASS WITH KAUSTUBHA
https://courses.vanischool.com/sage
Check out the Jahnavi Harrison song Kaustubha mentions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2PJF3YRClw
Stay up to date on our events at www.wisdomofthesages.com
See what Raghunath is up to at www.raghunath.yoga
1201: Q & A Volume 200
What does it mean to be an authentic person on a Bhakti path? / Could you share a little advice on raising a child in Bhakti? / Clicker counters vs tulsi beads for counting japa - is one method better than the other?
1200: You Cannot Change Your Cage, You Have to Change Yourself
“the Matrix can remain our cage or it can become our chrysalis, ... To be free, you cannot change your cage. You have to change yourself.” - Neo, The Matrix Screenplay / we lose our dignity and our focus chasing pleasures in the matrix / the world is a virtual reality designed to to train us to love purely / loving purely means entirely selfless, and encompassing everyone / 'Perform your duty equipoised, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.' - Bhagavad-gita 2.48
SB 6.12.1-17
1199: Tinder Swindlers and Crazy Joe Davolas
“What is life?… It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time.” - Crowfoot / observe nature, reflect and journal / Vritrasura starts blowing Indra’s mind! / What is the fruit of devotion mixed with material desire? Enmity, anxiety, mental agitation, pride and belligerence. / we’ve all got a Crazy Joe Davola / Vritrasura offers his body, words & mind to Vishnu / Vritrasura shares his tender, inner, feminine side / Vritrasura’s desire to serve the servants / rooting out the inner tinder swindler
SB 6.11.22-27
1198: The Material World is Designed to Humiliate Us
thoughts on kirtan / have faith the Maha-mantra will reveal everything / “Our bodies are just temporary vessels for our souls, which will go on forever. You really are an extension of the power that created the whole universe, no matter what drags you have on.” -RuPaul / we wear many drags / note what we’re leaning into to escape our pain / material focus keeps you on a rollercoaster of ups and downs / the material world is designed to humiliate us / devotees are awarded fearlessness / let the jackals eat this body
SB 6.11.6-21
1197: Once You Dress Like a Cowherd Boy, You’ve Gotta Own It
we’ve gotta reject the aspects of religion that prevent us from uniting in kirtan / kirtan can lift us to the spiritual world / once you dress like a cowherd boy you’ve gotta own it / great personalities are not disturbed by insults / welcome insults as an opportunity / why should anything in this illusory world disturb our connection to Krishna? / let’s be ready to die a glorious death / duels have umpires
SB 6.10.13 - 6.11.5
Check out the Mayapur Kirtan that Kaustubha mentions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRLV7ZEMQ18
1196: Mental Hygiene / An Interview with Yogi Charu
Raghunath and Kaustubha interview their longtime friend, Yogi Charu, about the importance of maintaining a daily sadhana and other practices for physical, spiritual and mental health.
Check out Charu's book, https://a.co/d/3L4z0zB
Learn more about Yogi Charu and his latest offerings at https://www.yogicharu.com/
1195: Q & A Volume 199
How to explain Bhakti to a concerned spouse? / Why is religion the cause of so much war? / How to react when through serving others you feel like you are being taken advantage of? / How to explain Bhakti to skeptical family members?
1194: The Body Must Be Engaged for the Benefit of Others
you need your WHY to wake up in a good mood / Meaning comes from serving others / If you’re waking up in a bad mood most days, it’s not normal / if we’re trying to squeeze enjoyment out of sleep we’re missing the excitement of spiritual life / Engage your body as an offering for higher purpose / Prabhupada lived it / Bhagavatam is keying into the bhakti disposition / The body must be engaged for the benefit of others, or else it will be the source of tribulation and misery / Give your body give your breath give your blood
SB 6.10.1-12
1193: Walk Through Your Hell Without Spite, Resentment or Revenge
“… either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” - Martin Luther King Jr. / the lives of heros inspire us to make the most of our own / walk through your hell without spite, resentment or revenge / creating a devotional disposition / attachments cloud truth perception / Krishna is easily accessible to the pure and truthful / exclusive yogic focus on Krishna / the beautiful Bhagavatam continually turns stereotypical dharma paradigms upside-down / the world is designed to prune and prod us to become unconditional lovers
SB 6.9.45-55
1192: Dear Krishna, We Love You But...
we’ve been marked by great souls / 'A good disposition is a virtue in itself.' - Ovid / ignorance causes the negative cycle, knowledge breaks it / 1 weekend with devotees can recalibrate your compass / the anxiety of the Devas vs the peace of Vritrasura / the anxiety of the Devas vs the peace of Krishna / Dear Krishna, we love you but….. could you please annihilate our enemies? / Don’t ask Krishna for things, just glorify him / when the demigods are utterly helpless, they approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in grief and with tears in their eyes / the fully evolved disposition
SB 6.9.40-44
1191: Striving for the Bhakti Tipping Point
“Time and reflection change the sight little by little 'til we come to understand.” - Paul Cezanne / with time and steady reflection for wisdom will take root / Striving For the Bhakti Tipping Point / Bhakti carries the potential to transcend all religious differences / No one has a monopoly on God / incessant transcendental bliss flows in the minds of those who taste a drop of Krishna’s glories / happiness of sense gratification is merely a reflection / how to become they the real friends of everyone / the beggars may be the experts at achieving the real goal in life
SB 6.9.38-39
1190: The Vishnu Stereogram
'We cannot attain the presence of God. We're already totally in the presence of God. What's missing is awareness.' - David Brenner / spirituality means trying to see what’s holding it all together / the Vishnu stereogram / letting go of the externals for awareness of Krishna / Raghu and Kaustubha have documentary dreams / the polluted eagerness for knowledge / external happiness comes with a dose of external distress / God’s rage is bliss, and his bliss is bliss
SB 6.9.34-37
1189: Q & A Volume 198
• How does our Bhakti practice influence the greater good in this Age of Kali (the Age of Quarrel)?
• What do the scriptures say about the duration of Kali-yuga?
• Is it just something that we must endure while staying focused on our own spiritual practice or is it possible that conflict will diminish as the tradition spreads?
1188: Smiling Affectionately at the Nervous, Proud Little Ego
as we mature, we stop fighting (and start laughing at) the ego / Give up the race- we’re destined to lose / laughing at who we’ve tried to present ourselves as / the demigods have knowledge but not wisdom / eradicating the darkness in the heart / we are all pure souls covered by our mind’s conditioning / open your eyes and just see (and be seen)
SB 6.9.26-33
1187: The Eye of Devotion Tinged with the Salve of Love
“I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural gardens where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers.” - Zitkala-Sa / we’re a healthy blend of pagans and theists / here’s a postulate - that there is much to see that we are not seeing / What’s standing between me and my ability to see God? / the center of the universe is everywhere / If we move through the world harming others, we become callous and blind / we are trying to be separate independent Gods / the centrifugal force in the act of sex / if you wanna enjoy the flavors of power and opulence, you’re choosing illusion / the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love
SB 6.9.25
1186: Kaustubha Finally Loses It! (And Says It's All Real)
Kaustubha has a high bar for Krishna miracles / Miracles can shake us out of our skepticism / Figure out your offering and go full speed ahead / Krishna doesn’t want one song- he wants every note of every song / Before reciting the Srimad Bhagavatam we must remove our tin foil hat / we think we’ve let go of the ego, but we haven’t / Krishna chops away and sands us for pure bhakti / take your problems to Ganga devi and cry / When ya got nothing, you’ve got everything
SB 6.9.23-24
Check out Page Family Bhakti & Queen of Hearts at https://open.spotify.com/album/0LOiCYBJCH4IlcMdWPcVBQ?si=qmJuLLQqS86qXhP0y-6-xA
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ladOWRvRXTPo475wh_IUTtGcxNIe3mexc&si=eU504J96wA3JimGV
Instagrams: @queenofheartsband108 @pagefamilybhakti @krishnawestchicago
@krishnadasbhakti
1185: Q&A Volume 197
What is the objective of Karma? / Given the state of the world, the corruption, greed, and the pervasive evil that has shown itself increasingly over the past few years do you believe Krishna has returned? / If we are all just playing roles, why marry?
1184: Q & A Volume 196
How to help a victim of abuse? / How to keep up with the modern world without getting entangled? / How to understand the Impersonal feature of the Absolute?
1183: Seeing the Soul in Everyone is the Only Answer
recommit to your Bhakti / everything is a distraction from the holy name / Life is short, war is everywhere -get serious about Bhagavatam // The more pain we see, the more determined we need to be to see spirit soul within / To the degree we are moved by hate we’ve lost our spiritual way / we have to learn forgiveness because we’re all fallible / positive attitude is a joke without spiritual substance / stop tripping over the same Maya
SB 6.8.12-22
1182: Krishna's Not Power Hungry, He's Love Hungry
Indra’s karmic proclivity leads to his next big mistake / Pure devotional service doesn’t breed fear / Krishna accepts the mood, not our expertise / one who accepts Bhakti will never blunder on his path, even while running with eyes closed, he will never trip or fall / Krishna’s not power hungry He’s love hungry / Do it as an offering!
SB 6.9.5-11
1181: Q & A Volume 195
What are some ways that we can benefit the most spiritually during the month of Kartik? / How to respond to temple priests who seem like the “money changers” rejected by Jesus? / Is praying for the well being of a loved one like praying for material things?
1180: 15 Generations of Devotion - Interview with Krishna Murari Goswami
Raghunath sits down with Krishna Murari Goswami and discusses the onset of the auspicious month of Kartik.
1179: Q&A Volume 194
Chronic illness – how to know when to try to fix it or when to accept it? / If we don’t forgive we will have similar difficult relationships with family members in our next life?” / What is the connection between Bhakti-yoga and Jnana-yoga? / How to see Krishna in your dreams?
1178: The Gradual Path to Letting Go of Everything
“First things first … he’s got three heads.” / material existence is riddled with envy fear and worry / Indra blows it again! / freedom comes with a price / the gradual path of letting go / big opulence leads to big bewilderment / Laxmi belongs to Vishnu, not to our Maya / attachment creates humiliation / sadhu’s gotta cut- don’t be a dirty old man / Indra is the hero of the Vedas, but the buffoon of the Bhagavatam (because Vyasa want’s to show us that mixed devotion is not the goal of life)
1177: Adjust the World, or Adjust to the World
you surrender and then you transcend to body and are in a totally different space / don’t weaponize your opulences / anything we’re proud of will be removed / pride sets one up for competition, anxiety, fear and humiliation / Krishna doesn’t tolerate false pride / our bodies have a low ceiling for enjoyment and a high ceiling for pain / we are the enjoyed, not the enjoyer / don’t try to adjust the world to your enjoyment - adjust yourself to be harmonious with the world / your devotion is everything
1176: Mara Finally Loses It
there’s constant war everywhere / the jiva is at war with the time factor / now is the time to connect with spirit / Narayana kavacha is a comprehensive insurance policy / we are existing in God and God is existing in us at every moment / Be careful what you wish for / purify, refine and distill our desires / our goal is to have prema as our only desire
1175: Q&A Volume 193
What does transformation look like? / How can I keep the peace I’ve been feeling pilgrimage when I return home to figure out my material life? / How to gracefully move through mental layers of cynicism, skepticism and fault-finding?
1174: There but for the Grace of God Go I
we’re missing out on a map for dharma / Visvarupa is broad minded, Indra divides on party lines / all the yoga, rituals, austerities, etc. are meant to lead to pure love / pure devotees are happy to serve in heaven or hell / Indra’s prayers remind us of Hiranyakashipu / there but for the grace of God go I / Gods mercy follows the devotees mercy
1173: The Heavy Luggage of Material Desire
too many possessions is like carrying a lot of luggage when you travel - it just creates anxiety / Siddhartha would be no greedy hawker of incantations / “A brāhmaṇa who desires to achieve happiness by gaining wealth through professional priesthood must certainly have a very low mind.” - Visvarupa / to the degree you get into bhakti, you’re satisfied with simplicity / the sooner we realize our happiness comes from within, the sooner we’re relieved of anxiety / the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
SB 6.8.1-15
1172: Why Worry? Radha Knows Exactly What I Need
India’s timeless spiritual culture / our faces and wrinkles and abs are all about to burn / feel the presence of great souls in the holy places / add transcendental sound during downtime / “Why should I worry? Radharani knows exactly what I need" / in bhakti, if your intention is pure , mistakes don’t matter / ask Krishna to stir it up / Indra’s desires are the cause of his anxiety / Indra did not have Visvarupa’s broad-mindedness
SB 6.7.31-40
1171: Q & A Volume 192
Can gratitude reinforce material attachments? / How do I surrender? / How to get the most out of a pilgrimage experience? / How do we know wether we’re sincere?
1170: Keep It Sacred!
“Etiquette is the science of living. It embraces everything. It is ethics. It is honor”. - Emily Post / Can juniors bless seniors? / Bhagavatam is repeatedly encouraging us to see the divinity, dignity and spiritual potential in every living being - this is the fundamental spiritual principle / everyone should be respected as a temple of the Supreme / keep it sacred!
SB 6.7.25-30
1169: Raghunath Saves a Worm, Kaustubha Saves a Pigeon
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” – Martin Luther King Jr. / dismantling the barriers of our love / what’s so special about the cows and the Brahmanas? / by adopting a diet dependent on cruelty and petroleum based industry we are rapidly creating hell on earth / the positive alternative is an economy and diet based on simple living and a relationship of cooperation and love between humans and animals
SB 6.7.22-24
1168: Enmity, Anxiety, Mental Agitation, Pride & Belligerence
Krishna is involved in every aspect of our life / how material opulence increases enmity, anxiety, mental agitation, pride and belligerence / we go through so much endeavor to increase and maintain our possessions, and we suffers great unhappiness when we lose them / external etiquette is for the internal change
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SB 6.7.13-21
1167: Good Times Create Weak Men
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” ― G. Michael Hopf / Krishna kindly dismantles all of our false identities / the arc in the life of a sadhu / the wise voluntarily accept austerity / Indra’s opulence makes him weak - and brings on the hard times
SB 6.7.12-13
1166: The Voice of Mixed Devotion in the Heart
Ingratitude is the frost that nips the flower even as it opens/ Don’t repay gifts with ingratitude / Do we hear the voice of Daksha in our own heart? / Good karma can be bad and bad karma can be good / material enjoyment bewilders us and covers our gratitude / Anything I’ve got, I’ve received from my teachers / everything becomes a waste of time if you don’t remember why you’re doing it
SB 6.6.1-6.7.11
1165: Q & A Volume 191
How do I know if I’m choosing the right faith tradition? / If the Maha Mantra is the Yuga Dharma, were people chanting it before? / What is universal love?
1164: Q & A Volume 190
Is it ok to chant while doing other things? / How to respond to manipulation in spiritual circles? / How would you explain that God can be a person too someone brand new to Bhakti?
1163: Drop the Petty Counter-Cursing
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” - Marcus Aurelius / yogis anticipate criticism and accept it without becoming petty / If you don’t purge your material attachment, it will get taken away anyway / material enjoyment is the cause of all unhappiness / the Bhakti equation - as love increases, detachment increases / Bhakti-yogis don’t don’t counter-curse
SB 6.5.41-44
1162: Narada News Network - Completely Independent & Unbiased
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” - Winston Churchill / let the world love or hate you and stay even minded / forget body positivity - go for spirit positivity / the real enemy is the mind’s negative programing and insecurity / “A perfect Vaiṣṇava’s position should be just like Nārada Muni’s, completely independent and unbiased.” - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami / we need high caliber devotees in our life / Daksha’s half truths / knowledge and detachment arise automatically through devotion
SB 6.5.39-41
1161: When Religion Becomes Repulsive
we’re born indebted / all debts are paid through Bhakti / all rules and rituals are meant to serve love - when we forget that, then religion becomes repulsive / awakening gratitude is the threshold of spiritual life / Daksha’s blindness to pure devotion / How much Daksha is inside me?
SB 6.5.36-38
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1160: What Barriers Have I Built Against Love
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. — Rumi / become the person Mr. Right is looking for / What’s the barrier keeping us from receiving Divine Love? / the mantra is the third rail / if we are hearing wisdom daily then when suffering comes we’ll be able to process it and grow / everyone was getting delivered except Daksha (what was his barrier?)
SB 6.5.21-35
1159: Truth Alone Will Endure
“Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.” - Mahatma Gandhi / of the unreal there is no endurance and of the real there is no change - Bhagavad-gita 2.16 / time is more than a measure, it’s a powerful force / floppy disks are a poor investment / shastra are our real father / One should not become a parent if they cannot save their dependents from the impending danger of death
SB 6.5.19-20
1158: Q & A Volume 189
Can it be favorable to walk the path of Bhakti with a partner who doesn’t? / In leading a Bhagavad-gita study group, how can I be respectful to those whose faith is different than mine? / How can I reframe suffering?
1157: The Treachery of Images
this is not a pipe, this is not success, this is not happiness, this is not my child, this is not love / “To look at something as though we had never seen it before requires great courage.” — Henri Matisse / we’re living in the world of names / “Human life is simply meant for self-realization.” – A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami / this life is neither comfortable nor secure / the soul yearns for the eternal / to the degree you invest in illusion, you strengthen the illusion / spiritually - the name and the named are non-different
SB 6.5.18
1156: To the Degree of Our Envy, We Live in Illusion
when devotees come, everything becomes auspicious / “Great calm, generous detachment, selfless love, disinterested effort: these are what make for success in life.” - Rabindranath Tagore / don’t just run with the current - pause, breathe and examine / Zip it up! Our material bodies are not eternal! / to the degree of our envy, we live in illusion / don’t let a cheating intelligence drag you around / austerity and knowledge are on the edge of samsara, but they flow quickly (in the form of anger and ego)
SB 5.6.15-17
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1155: Those on This Path Are Resolute in Purpose
anyone can draw / dismantling the blocks to creativity / identifying and processing our emotions / build a bridge of empathy / centering the intelligence around Krishna / in yoga there is a practice and a goal
SB 6.5.13-14
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1154: Is My Entire Life Built Upon a False Premise?
“False happiness is like false money... when it is brought to the touch, we find the lightness and alloy, and feel the loss.” - Alexander Pope / sattvic, rajasic and tamasic happiness / false happiness = senses contacting external objects, real happiness = internal nature of the self / what’s the use of karma endeavor for temporary happiness / the false premise upon which we build our entire lives
SB 6.5.1-12
1153: Q & A Volume 188
How is it possible to perceive and love Krishna's presence, and not fall into despair, in the sick, backwards state of the world we are living in? / How should I honor an altar at home? / Which books would you recommend, Srila Prabhupada’s original editions or the current revised editions?
1152: Q & A Volume 187
For a Bhakti-yogi, can it be at all helpful to incorporate other yogic practices such as kundalini, tantra, kriya, etc.? And if so, how can one practice safely while keeping Krishna in the center?
1151: Dismantling the Ego in the Land of Radha's Love
Conventional Vedanta vs Esoteric Vedanta / Vaishnava acharyas give us a glimpse of Esoteric Vedanta / centrifugal knowledge vs centripetal knowledge / Krishna works through multifarious energies / Radha is the personification of the pleasure potency - the embodiment of Divine Love / when our heart becomes softened it can receive the pleasure potency from the heart of another who has it / approaching the esoteric with reverence / dismantling the ego in the land of Radha's Love / when will Sri Radha cast Her merciful sidelong glance upon me?
http://www.harekrsna.de/Radha-kripa-kataksha-stava.htm
1150: We Carry Within Us a Divine Spark
“We carry within us a divine spark, and if we chose to recognize it, our lives have dignity, meaning, hope.” - Dean Koontz / we aren’t selfish by nature – selfishness is an artificial imposition / yoga is all about remembering who you are / Bhakti-yogis are already liberated / how is Krishna the God of love? / the peril of offense
SB 6.4.51-54
1149: There is No Austerity Equal to a Balanced Mind
there is no happiness equal to contentment / there is no disease like covetousness / there is no virtue like mercy / shastra calls us to be cool headed / if we purify our existence by tapasya we can do wonderful things by the grace of the Lord / austerities for the body, words, and mind / our speech should be truthful, pleasing, beneficial, non-agitating / we all come in the achyuta-gotra - the family of Krishna
SB 6.4.47-50
1148: 2 World Views - Richard Dawkins vs. Willie Nelson
“We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it.” Willie Nelson / Woah! There’s a purpose to suffering!?! / 2 world views – the world has no design or purpose or the everything in the world is designed with purpose / we can simultaneously hold 2 ideas - that we must be compassionate to all who suffer and that we cause our own suffering / the best way to deal with our own pain is to take responsibility / the bank robbery analogy / the evidence is everywhere - the question is how you interpret it / a formula for seeing God behind everything / WOTS - a simple fun way to Vedic epistemology / we can’t remove every thorn in the world, but we can put on some shoes
SB 6.24.46
1147: Everywhere is a Holy Place
“It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of.” - Jonathan Swift / the body and mind have faults but the self is pure gold / It’s the people that come that make a place holy / see God everywhere and everywhere becomes holy / the inconceivable form of Vishnu / Daksha places the manifestations of the Divine in a hierarchy / harmony is only around Lord Vishnu, not apart from him / Vishnu is always smiling
SB 6.4.32-45
1146: Q & A Volume 186
I feel unmotivated and depressed when it comes to my practice of devotion = any advice? / If our relationships in the material world are just temporary roles, what is the point of marriage?
1145: Let's Not Quibble
“Those who cannot understand how to put their thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of debate.” - Nietzsche / just as fire is hidden in wood - the Paramatma is hidden in the material elements / yoga is a practice of seeing God in everything / Paramatma puts us under a spell - we forget our own identities and argue incessantly without ever reaching a conclusion / Nyaya’s 3 types of debate / Daniel Dennett’s 4 steps to arguing intelligently
SB 6.4.27-31
1144: Seeing Through Eyes Trained in Knowledge
“Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.” - Don Herold / why am I waiting in line to buy these sneakers? / Is all our pleasure from our ego? / ultimately we are just looking for love / we are unaware of forces that engage us / there’s a firewall preventing our perception of paramatma / every aspect of our experiences is designed for our growth / the dark worldview = this world is unreal, without foundation, without a controller, and risen without cause / most live under the spell of material nature / seeing through eyes trained in knowledge / endeavoring transcendentalists can see behind the firewall / cats vs monkeys
SB 6.4.25-26
1143: Paramatma Writes the Songs
we can’t pay our spiritual debts back, but we can pay them forward / understanding our place in the levels of awareness / our experiences are being governed by unseen forces / the Supersoul is directing the workings of our senses / we own nothing / Paramatma writes the songs that make the whole world sing / If you were to find out how this entire universe works, would you expect that it all would be ordinary, or would you expect to hear things that would BLOW YOUR MIND!
To donate a Bhagavatam set, contact Malini at +1 669 289 5563
SB 6.4.24
1142: Love is the Highest Dharma!
Respect to those practicing Bhakti where it’s illegal and dangerous / imagination is more important than knowledge / Mahabharata Super Squirrel – Abhimanyu’s death, Arjuna’s vow, and Krishna’s cheating out of love / Krishna cheats out of love again when Karma is killed / love is the highest dharma!
1141: The Firewall Between Us & Spiritual Perception
Wisdom of the Sages is mother approved (with cautious optimism) / “Realism is not a matter of any fidelity to an empirical reality..” - John Fiske / There’s no empirical evidence that all that exists falls within the realm of empirical evidence. / there’s a firewall between us and spiritual perception / virtue is a key to knowledge / sambhanda jnana (knowledge of the nature of our relationship) / ants have eyes, but they can’t see very well / there could be a blue cowherd boy at the center of Swiss cheese universes
SB 6.4.23
1140: Q & A Volume 185
Is a broken heart real or just an illusion? / How should a Bhakti-yogi apply Vedic Astrology? / Why is Rathayatra celebrated on so many different days?
1139: Raging in Denial of What Our Inner-Self is Telling Us
anger is an acid / anger ends in shame / the 2 things one should never be angry about / anger is a wind that blows out our reasoning / the best speech you will ever regret / raging in denial of what our inner self is telling us / would Plato hang out with Raghu and Kaustubha? / how many times is anger mentioned in Bhagavad-gita / transcending anger through devotion / Pajapati Daksha comes back
1138: What Kindness, Humility & Intelligence
Raghunath and Kaustubha share their appreciation for Srila Prabhupada on the day of the festival celebrating his appearance.
1137: Krishna Poetry
On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmastami (the appearance of Krishna) Raghunath & Kaustubha share some of their favorite verses of devotional song and poetry.
1136: Every Body is a Temple
“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.” / Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you? 1 Corinthians 6:19 / carry god awareness with you everywhere / “Please abide in the temple of my heart both day and night, O Krsna Murari” - Bhaktivinode Thakura / the clash between mixed devotion & pure devotion / we all got a little daksha-like resistance to pure devotion / don’t shame people to change- inspire them / a leader is a protector / soften the heart to make fertile ground for Bhakti to grow / every body is a temple
SB 6.4.1-13
1135: Q & A Volume 184
What does it mean to be self realized or God realized? / How to respond to scandals in Bhakti communities? / How do understand our indebtedness without feelings of lack of self-worth and shame?
1134: Q & A Volume 183
How does one know when they should be initiated? / How can I best support my friends during times of tragedy?
1133: The World is a Mess - But What Does That Prove?
The world is a mess - but what does it prove? / universal harmony through placing the Divine source in the center / trying to leave Bhakti is like being a yo-yo / Karma, Janna, and Bhakti are found throughout the world’s spiritual traditions / karmic ritualistic atonement in Buddhism / Bhagavatam is traveling throughout the universe, illustrating through a variety of dialogs, the superiority of Bhakti / you can’t get the goal (Krishna Prema) through Vedic ritualistic atonement / I wonder what the Yamaduta’s were wearing / Prabhupada got it
SB 6.3.33-35
1132: Painful Life Experience + Spiritual Knowledge = Spiritual Realization
“We are good at preparing to live, but not very good at living.” - Thich What Hanh / we’re vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere / we’re can be in eternity Right Now through Bhakti / Lord Brahma installed 5 features of illusion into the material world / painful life + spiritual knowledge = spiritual realization / Like honey, Bhagavatam is derived from a most beautiful source, thick, sweet and nourishing / becoming a Great Goose
SB 6.3.28-32
1131: Raghu Takes the "Absurd Trolley Problems" Quiz
New York becomes Vrindavan when Radha and Krishna are the center / would Raghu pull the lever to kill 1 person in order to save 5? / “To save a family, abandon a man.” - Vidura / it’s not always easy to determine right from wrong / we like to think that we are the one pulling the lever when in fact we are all tied to the tracks / Yuddhisthira on what is the most amazing thing / Ajamila was living like he wasn’t tied to the tracks / with Bhagavat Dharma it’s the intention that counts / even Yājñavalkya and Jaimini don’t understand Bhagavat Dharma / the Yamadutas are ordered to not even go near the devotees
SB 6.3.23-27
1130: The Highest Dharma is Understood by the Pure of Heart
Happy 10th birthday Little Karuna! / there’s dharma and then there is dharmaḥ paraḥ, the highest dharma, Bhagavat Dharma, Bhakti / keep the highest dharma as the main thing, and every other dharma is covered / every sage is in debt to Vyasadeva / what is “Cheating Dharma”? / the highest dharma is understood by the pure of heart / After chanting and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form, pastimes and qualities of the Lord
SB 6.3.22
1129: Interview with Crispian Mills of the Band Kula Shaker
Raghunath and Kasutubha speak with Crispian Mills about his life of bringing the magic of Bhakti into popular music.
1128: Q & A Volume 182
Why does my devotional consciousness fluctuate? / How to respond to a mind full of negativity and self-loathing? / How do disciples approach the passing away of their guru?
1127: Happiness Through Flowing Within the Universal Laws
Immanuel Kant’s view of morality / morality is designed to facilitate the realization of happiness / our wellbeing is determined by our willingness to flow within the universal laws / objective moral truths warrant a supernatural explanation / does morality develop out of evolutionary need? / secularists have trouble explaining why human beings have intrinsic value, rights, and moral obligations / Yamaraja explains that dharma is established by Bhagavan / to understand the confidential dharma you have to approach it through a valid lineage
SB 6.3.19-21
1126: Beyond Mindfulness Lies Confidential Knowledge
“When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you” – Thich Nhat Hanh / beyond mindfulness Lies the confidential knowledge of devotion / those free of resentment, envy and hostility can understand the confidential knowledge / your good fortune may trigger someone else’s self-loathing / my issues with others may reflect my own issues with God / the devotees wander with full independence / “My Life…My Rules…..BUT / the devotees are always protected / material danger is not meant for devotees
SB 6.3.17-18
1125: We Don't Die
we don’t die / grounded in the reality of the timeless soul / there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge – the mature fruit of all mysticism / there’s hope in a decaying material world / all this life is about is learning what to let go of and what to hold onto / saying goodbye to everything
SB 6.3.13-16
1124: As Pearls Are Strung On a Thread
slow down and go deep in the mantra / sadhana helps us cope with life’s curveballs / keep steady and don’t be discouraged / don’t dilly dally in the unimportant / nowhere in the weave of the universe is Krishna not present / there is the material energy, and the spiritual energy, and it all rests on Krishna, like pearls strung on a thread
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SB 6.3.1-12
1123: How Yogis Set Their Intentions
“The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind.” - Napoleon Bonaparte / austerity can strengthen the mind and bring peace / engaging the intellect as a rational filter / freeing up the mind to hear the direction of the Supersoul / Ajamila’s regret / Ajamila’s yogic knowledge / Ajamila sets his intention / Ajamila’s return to Vaikuntha
SB 6.2.26-49
1122: Q & A Volume 181
Is God an energy, a person, or both? / Once you reach the spiritual realm… what happens? / How do the physical instructions of yoga asana lead to a quiet mind?
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1121: Let It Come & Let Me Grow Through It
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” ― Proverbs 4:23 / spirituality can be understood as a practice of purifying our desires from the level of exploitation, to renunciation, to devotion / don’t be so harsh on people, they’re mostly good hearted / chasing our desires will take us all over the universe / Bhakti-yogis aren’t so interested in counteracting their karma - the say “let it come and let me grow through it” / there can be purification in regret
SB 6.2.12-25
1120: 10 Important Considerations for Meditation
“Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo / the resolution to die can add beauty and grace to life / practice saddhana like you will die tomorrow - study like you will live forever / "The mantra that is not received in a genuine lineage does not produce results.” / one must receive the instructions for how to access the power of the mantra from a qualified instructor / our conceptions, sentiments and lifestyles are important for meditation
SB 6.2.11
1119: All the Noise Distracts Us from Life's Essence
the relentless noise we’ve created is distracting us from the essence of life – contemplation and meditation / the Vishnudutas make their case / calling out the name Narayana, in a helpless condition, wiped out lifetimes of bad karma for Ajamila / in Kali-yuga we are all sudras / there are so many books of dharma - but Vyasadeva, the author of them, points out that in this age we shall get light from Srimad-bhagavatam / Bhagavatam promotes the chanting of Krishna’s names from the beginning to the mille to the last verse / humility, tolerance, giving respect to everyone, and freedom from the need for prestige - these open us up to absorption in mantra meditation / we don’t live by Manu Samhita, we live by Srimad Bhagavatam
SB 6.2.1-10
1118: Invest Love in All You Do
whatever you do, do it as an offering, and as beautifully as possible / work done as an offering is karma free / fixed in this principle of renunciation, one receives Krishna / home life can purge one of ego / Ajamila’s downfall / letting go of the concept of friends and enemies / don’t let porn into your life, even a little / the Yamadutas rest their case
1117: We're Trapped in a Cocoon of Our Own Karma
"Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside wakes.” – Carl Jung / What am I, beyond the external ego presentation? / we’ve got layers to shed before we get to our authentic self / our relationship with our body is dream-like / our choices determine our next body / this is not religious dogma – it’s an invitation to think about life in a different way / the proposition that maybe “there really is no such thing as Consciousness” is completely absurd (because consciousness is required even to ask the question) / attachments cloud truth perception
SB 6.1.49-52
1116: Q & A Volume 180
How can I reconcile my non-binary gender identity with Bhakti? / What can I do to help the soul of my aging dog on his spiritual journey? / Does it makes senses to pray for world peace in the Kali Yuga?
1115: People Don't Want That Real
Be careful what you get involved with, 'Cause you can't support a cause but then hate the effects that it causes. - DEE 1 / go all the way with Bhakti, don’t just dabble, because this life is slipping away / getting to bed early and waking early gets you flowing with the favorable currents / make your daily japa meditation a power hour / we’re bugged- paramatma and yamaraj know everything
SB 6.1.37-49
1114: Karma? Warm, Jnana? Warmer, Bhakti? Red Hot!
“Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.” - William Shakespeare / “Earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice.”- William Shakespeare / Sage Vyasadeva sets out to crack our faith in ritualistic religious atonement / Karma? Warm, Jnana? Warmer, Bhakti? Red Hot! / turning to God once with sincere surrender trumps everything / just one of the wandering senses can drag you down a slippery slope / It’s not so much the prostitute that brought his bad karma, it’s what he did to others in order to maintain her / Ajamila calls out Narayana! And the messengers of Vishnu arrive
SB 6.1.18-36
1113: If Your Heart Hasn't Softened, You Haven't Understood
austerity, celibacy, even-mindedness, charity, renunciation, truthfulness, cleanliness, and regulative principles - all don’t quite get to the root of material desire / Bhakti uproots the weeds of karma / the desire to enjoy this world (karma) and even the desire to become free of the sufferings of this world (jnana) are both “all about me” / Vyasa recommends Bhakti as a path free from fear - even while running with eyes closed / if your heart hasn’t softened, you haven’t understood what life is about
SB 6.1.13-17
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1112: The Periodic Shaving of Karmic Stubble
we all need stability, guidance, and a contribution for growth in our spiritual life / the periodic shaving of karmic stubble / atonement vs. at-one-ment / Bhagavatam highlights the conflict between mixed devotional service and pure devotional service / religion is interested in salvation, spirituality is interested in transformation / Bhakti can burn the seeds of bad karma / “Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.” - Thomas Paine / the disciple passes the first test
SB 6.1.1-12
1111: 28 Reasons to Go to Hell
our habits are like seeds - they grow / Bhagavatam’s 16,000 verses has 28 about hell (and they are shared in order to frame a message of spiritual optimism) / the bad karma that results in seeing hell mostly has to do with acts of cruelty / hell is reasonable / if you are in a position of power….don’t misuse it / what if we treated sex as if it were truly sacred?
SB 5.26.1-40
1110: Q & A Volume 179
My wife and I spend our free time getting high and watching TV. I want to spend time with her but also want to break these habits. What to do? / Why is the Bhagavad-gita, in particular, studied on its own, among some many sections of Mahabharata? / Krishna and Arjuna grew up together so why would Krishna’s cosmic form startle Arjuna?
If you have questions, e-mail them to us at wisdomofthesages108@gmail.com
1109: To See a World in a Grain of Sand
through even insignificant observable objects - we get truths about what lies beyond the observable / contemplating what’s beyond is purifying and nourishing / external virtue extends from internal life / spirituality is the key to overcoming injustice / seeing others as their fullest potential / our bodies were designed to enjoy and suffer - but there’s a silken twine of spiritual joy that runs through them / to conquer our minds and give pleasure to our hearts, Krishna appears in different incarnations and manifests many pastimes / this universe is like a tiny mustard seed / without a universal designer there is no objective morality / mystery is built into our world for a purpose
SB 5.25.9-15
1108: Materialists Chase Desires - Yogis Modify Desires
the universe (Paramatma) is eavesdropping on your every desire / materialists chase desires – yogis modify desires / popular model of success = the ability to satisfy desires – yogic model of success = the ability to modify desires / a twofold strategy for dealing with desire 1. Jnanic - Reflection on the illusory nature of matter 2. Bhakti - hearing and remembering the descriptions Krishna / For those who hear about and meditate upon Krishna, He… enters the cores of their hearts, vanquishes corrupted files and cuts to pieces the hard knot within the heart
SB 5.25.6-8
1107: All Sensations Originally Exist in the Spiritual Body
we’ve been traveling the universe, from the top of the bubble to the bottom / devotees meditate upon on the presiding deity of false ego to / be purified of the false conception of I and mine / this universe is like a tiny mustard seed / all sensations originally exist in the spiritual body / how to approach sacred topics with the right attitude
SB 5.25.1-5
https://www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com/recovery-retreats
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1106: Is it Bad Karma, or is It a Blessing?
don’t take the fun out of Bhakti / You don’t own your kids. Or anything else. / God shifts our life’s circumstances to make these truths come to life / In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things,- there is no samadhi / is it bad karma, or is it a blessing? / Bali zooms out / there is nothing of this material world that will satisfy me deeply
SB 5.24.22-25
1105: Bhagavad-gita Special / Ch. 15 Purushottama Yoga / Part 2
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / Krishna’s guided meditation – how to contemplate his sustaining presence in everything / Krishna pervades the heart of everyone / even to forget Him, we need Krishna’s help / beyond the condiitioned and liberated souls there is the Supreme Soul who enters the world and maintains it / knowing Krishna as the ultimate person, and engaging in His loving service is the most confidential secret of the Vedic literature
1104: Bhagavad-gita Special / Ch. 15 Purushottama Yoga / Part 1
Raghunath and Kautstubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / this world is a reflection of a tree that we get entangled in / one must cut down the tree with the weapon of detachment - and then surrender to the original person - the source / the keys to transcendence / a summary of existence in illusion / those with the eye of knowledge can see what’s happening / contemplations for seeing Krishna’s presence in everything
1103: Q & A Volume 178
Does the soul really have feelings or are feelings the product of the mind-ego? / What's a good morning ritual for starting a Bhakti-yoga practice? / Do the thoughts at the the moment of death really determine the next birth, and if so, isn’t that kind of Random
1102: Thank You for Your Sincerity Sinéad O'Connor
“At some point the entire population of the earth is gonna have to look back at the essence of spirituality.” — Sinead O'Connor / Krishna and His name are non different / spiritual practice begins with refining perspective and culminates in refined perception / the vast, timeless Vedic texts have earned my faith / kindness and simplicity are the basic yogic principles / negative sound in the head can arrest our evolution / see your experiences as tailored for your evolution / happiness doesn’t come from sense contact with externals / thank you for your sincerity, Sinéad O'Connor
SB 5.24.21
1101: Living the Truth, Moment to Moment
life as an exploration of living the truth / have I become comfortable projecting a lie? / living the truth, moment to moment / discarding our temporary identities / our default identity is pure spirit / 3 levels of purity in mantra meditation / the spread of Bhakti beyond the Sanskrit language into the local vernaculars / the rise of the “lowborn” Bhakti exemplars / the power of even a glimpse of the pure mantra
SB 5.24.20
1100: You Can’t Satisfy One Who’s Senses are Uncontrolled
“All that there is within the universe to satisfy the senses, cannot satisfy one whose senses are uncontrolled.” - Sri Vamanadeva / always look for the deeper essence / the Bhagavatam shows us dharmic reversals again and again, even the demons can be glorified more than the devas - if they have devotion
Follow Shyamesvari on Instagram @mridangawallii
SB 5.24.1-20
1099: Disintegrating the Bad Karma Programming
“Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” - Soren Kierkegaard / freedom requires a concerted, disciplined effort to direct our thoughts / the thoughts of a pure Bhakti-yogi radiate into the minds of those around them / meditate on Vishnu 3x a day / bathe to refresh your mind 3x a day / don’t meditate on murder before bed / Vishnu meditation 3 times a day disintegrates the bad karma programing in the mind
SB 5.23.8-9
1098: Your Body is a Universe
“This house, this car, this plane, this furniture, this bank account, so much reputation and fame, none of them are of any use to me.” - Kyrzayda Rodriguez / we’re not here to just enjoy ourselves / death as the final exam and we’ve gotta prepare for it / Bhagavatam is Vyasa's way of clarifying everything / the devas are like tax collectors / your body is a universe
SB 5.20.5-33
1097: Q & A Volume 177
Who is supreme - Vishnu, Rama, or Krishna? / Can conditioned people have unconditional love? / How can care-givers grow through their challenges? / How to find and recognize good guidance when you come to the forks in the road?
1096: Q & A Volume 176
If we can’t remember our past life, how does it help us grow? / Is the instruction to give up bad association a bit harsh? / What is OM all about?
1095: Hear, Practice & Experience Spiritual Truth
“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.” ― Isaac Newton / sense perception and inference are valid ways of knowledge, but that can’t answer the big questions / science isn’t determined by consensus - politics is / life is not meant for sense gratification / the desire to hear grows in the heart of one who serves / Krishna purifies the mind & heart of the hearer / the result of Bhakti is happiness - and then positive scientific knowledge of the Absolute Truth / we don’t need to be a blind follower
SB 1.2.6-20
1094: It's OK if We Can't Figure Everything Out
Bhagavatam holds us steady through life’s ups and downs / we choose our actions and Vishnu sends the karma / it’s ok if we can’t figure everything out / there’s a subtle layer imbued with false ego surrounding the universe / you can live on the sun with a fire body / Surya is the representative of Vishnu / we’re moths born in a bag of cashews
SB 5.20.5
1093: Alien Perspectives of Earthly Opportunities
normalize Vedic wisdom / a short life on earth is better than billions of years in the heavens / making the best use of this earth portal / intelligent people not take no interest in places where ,the river of Krishna’s pastimes don’t flow / Krishna will purify our desires / the subtle is the solid
SB 5.19.23-31
1092: Earth Is the Portal to Freedom
“and so begins their journey of awakening" - Henri Bergson / choosing knowledge over the veils of ignorance / the first day of Purushottama month / keep the practices alive and mindful / proclivities are previous life practices / devotees can activate the devotion within us / Earth is the portal to freedom
SB 5.19.19-21
1091: Terrorized & Flattened by Trivialities
“We're all going to die, all of us, what a circus! That alone should make us love each other but it doesn't. We are terrorized and flattened by trivialities, we are eaten up by nothing.” ― Charles Bukowski / we are like moths / we become purified by remembering the holy rivers / we take birth according to our karma
SB 5.19.16-19
1090: Q & A Volume 175
Do you have advice for people entering marriage? / Should I give up the practice of Bhakti out of frustration? / Why do you think Krsna doesn't allow us to see Him? / With leaders growing older, how can the Krishna movement keep itself relevant to the current youth?
1089: Q & A Volume 174
As a Bhakti-yogi, can I acknowledge my feelings and still take no offense? / How to view the premature loss of a child through the lens of Bhakti?
1088: Skeleton Keys to Deeper Awareness
“Awareness needs constant refreshing.” Rick Rubin / approaching the state of constant openness to receiving / our practices create space for awareness / Patanjali’s definition of practice / skeleton keys to the secret chambers of awareness / a good attitude goes a long way in Bhakti / respect to the seniors, kindness to juniors / accepting even the unfair criticism / humility as a way of opening up to learning lessons at every moment
1087: Creating the Space for Spiritual Inspiration
The value of simplicity is to open our minds for Krishna’s inspiration / Untangle the knots of revenge and anger, and control the senses to create space for Krishna / Prepare and sincerely endeavor for connection to Krishna / The joy of life is not your family or your motorcycle / Get off the superficial level and get on the self transformational level and become fearless / We don’t care if you wear a robe or get a Krishna tattoo- understand nothing is ours / Be cynical about the body or you’ll get swept away / Make the best of a bad bargain- identify with the spiritual self / Nobody is sleeping on a bed of nails anymore / Your False security will be ripped away, take shelter of Krishna
SB 5.19.14-15
1086: The Race to Keep Up with Prabhupada with Special Guest Pradyumna Prabhu
The mind is the slayer of the real / Pleasure and pain are mental experiences / Ignorance of self is the field that kleshas and attachments grow from / Identity with the body is the genesis of illusion / Yoga practice requires surrender to God or it cultivates the ego
SB 5.19.13-14
1085: Theosophy, Srila Prabhupada & the Roots of the American Yoga Movement - Interview with Pradyumna
Raghunath talks with famed Sanskrit scholar Pradyumna Prabhu about Madame Blavatsky and other mystics, the early days in Calcutta, and the parallels among Baha'i, theosophy and bhakti yoga, and more.
1084: Vishnu is the Witness, We Get Attached
Our creations are insignificant / How can we be proud when we don’t even know how to do anything? / Vaishnavas don’t take any credit / Real humility is truth - we are tiny and not in control / Consider your accomplishments from a zoomed out perspective / Give up the taste for prestige / Understand that we are made of God’s energy / Thank god for the Vedic framework / The leaves of the tree get their stability/connection from the roots / We’re manipulators not creators / Krishna is transcendental to our faults and aloof to attachments
SB 5.19.8-12
1083: “Bhakti Fugue State” - Interview with Ananta Govinda
Raghu and Kaustubha interview Ananta Govinda about kirtan, creativity, becoming an instrument and the “Bhakti Fugue State”.
Find out more at anantacuffee.com
1082: Revealing One’s Mind in Confidence
the necessity of revealing one’s mind in confidence / duplicity is a recipe for disaster / “Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets.“ - Ludwig van Beethoven / always striving for the deeper levels of awareness / Lord Rama is a connoisseur - he only wants pure love - material qualities such as one’s birth in an aristocratic family, personal beauty, eloquence, sharp intelligence or race or nation can’t touch His heart / the price for achieving God’s favor is simply one’s sincere eagerness to have it / Krishna wants every waking moment
SB 5.19.7
1081: Q & A Volume 173 with Sacinandana Swami
What can I do to love and accept myself? / What is the essence of love? / How do we handle relationships with family, friends & loved ones that are not on this Bhakti path? / How can we be a good Bhakti friend? / How do people stay motivated in Bhakti without the fear of hitting rock bottom? / What journey does the soul take after leaving the body? / How did you decide to dedicate your whole life to the path of renunciation and to Krishna? / How to face my shortcomings without blaming myself and making the problem even bigger?
1080: Q&A Volume 172 with Sacinandana Swami
Questions from our live audience at the Wisdom of the Sages retreat in Tuscany.
How can one transform or purify subtle egoistic desires? / How do you develop compassion for someone who has hurt you? / How do you know when it’s time persevere or time to move on? / Is there an eternal place of Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes in the spiritual realm? / What are the recommended practices for Purushotama month?
1079: Bhakti Art in the Villas of Tuscany
Raghu Interviews Mikele, owner of Villa Casa Vecchia and Bhakti artist Vayu, about their individual paths to Bhakti and their art collaborations.
1078: The Earthquake Episode
Raghunath and Kaustubha speak about love in separation and survive a Tuscan Earthquake live on the show.
SB 5.19.6
1077: Art is Meant to Enlighten- Interview with the Croatian Twins
Mathurananda and his twin Velcro discuss with Raghu their hardcore backgrounds, first temple experiences, and how they bhakti-fied their careers.
Check out their award winning short animated films: https://youtu.be/qe6gWsklnh0
1076: What Will it Take to Expand My Perception?
"Every now and then a man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes / good qualities are measured by the character of Lord Rama / Hanuman speaks of the consciousness that facilitates perception of Lord Rama / material “happiness” is the cause of distress
SB 5.19.1-5
1075: The Pursuit of Happiness is the Pursuit of Reality
Krishna is naturally controlled by love / the pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of reality / self realization not sense gratification / Krishna creates this world only because the conditioned souls want to enjoy it / if life seems unfair it might just be that the scoreboard is displaying a score based on previous play (karma) / expect that things won’t go smoothly
SB 5.18.38-39
1074: The Quiet Mind Sees Behind the Scenes
the man who preserves his selfhood, is ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence / Silence is the cornerstone of character / even mindedness is yoga / Bhagavad-gita, Native American Wisdom and the hundredth monkey effect / the quiet mind recognizes what’s happening behind the scenes
SB 5.18.37
http://Courses.vanischool.Com/happy
1073: Q & A Volume 171
Does the soul feel, or is that just the mind/ego? / What happens to one who commits suicide and can we help?
1072: Q & A Volume 170
Are my mystic interests at odds with Bhakti? / How to connect all of Krishna’s manifestations with Krishna of Vrindavan?
1071: The Search for God Within Everything
Bhagavatam is that friend that tells you the truth / the truth is simple - everything will crumble but we’re spiritual beings / simplify, be kind, and we will be able to read the messages life sends us / excavate the spiritual self / pluck me Krishna I’m yours / just as fire is concealed in wood, Vishnu is within everything / When one understands that the Lord is within the heart and sees Him everywhere, they have perfect knowledge / if we only we all had a wholehearted percentage meter
SB 5.18.36
1070: Appreciating Djokovic and Jokic
appreciating the character of Novak Djokovic and Nikola Jokic / pass the praise like a Vaishnava / maintain humility because your position is temporary / we can become possessed by greed in a moment / can I appreciate it when others are praised / love is demonstrated through sacrifice / Vishnu is the generator and we are the lightbulbs / Vishnu is worshiped alongside the Goddess of Fortune and Mother Earth
SB 5.18.34-35
1069: Richard Dawkins Has Issues
you can’t find the painter by evaluating the chemical composition of the paint and canvas (but you know there is one) / if Richard Dawkins’ thoughts are developed through a random and meaningless flux of the atoms, then why are they more valid than anyone else’s thoughts? / if you’ve haven’t given up your biases you are just a so-called scientist / “the speculative research work of a so-called scientist or philosopher is always interrupted when he dies, and the laws of nature go on without regard for his work.”
SB 5.18.33
https://links.themodernyogipodcast.com
1068: Black Elk's 'Great Spirit' is Paramatma
"when the moon is full, it is as if the Great Spirit were upon the whole world" — Black Elk / paramatma = the 3 Vishnus / even Lord Brahma is a tiny being / Lord Shiva sees like Black Elk / strive for Vasudeva consciousness - aware that Krishna is within everything and everything is within him / greed never satisfies / don’t let our mind degrade us / Lord Shiva sees like Black Elk
SB 5.18.32
1067: Jesus, Black Elk & Raghunath’s Mother
the Rathayatra experience / Did Jesus appear at Raghunath's birth? / Black Elk’s Paramatma realization / slow down, look at nature, reflect and consider what is beneath the surface / Vishnu is within everything and everything is within Vishnu / cupcakes are a type of medicine too / “I’m not saying I’m the anointed one….but I could be.” - Raghunath
1066: Q & A Volume 169
Q & A live from the Bhakti Center's Wisdom of the Sages retreat.
1065: Dealing with Spiritual Dissatisfaction
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss dealing with spiritual dissatisfaction and how to take the next step in spiritual life.
1064: Perceiving Spiritual Form as the Origin
Kirtan mindset: don’t try to have some “experience” - just sing for Krishna’s pleasure / may the pure spiritual energy of Vrindavan be generated within our hearts / it’s our nature to love and to serve / “it's by creation's donation that you are maintained, but you'd rather turn your back” / atheistic science as intellectual bullying / can you live your philosophy? / Krishna’s prerogative isn’t whimsical, it’s all to do with the softening of the heart for divine love / inquire with deep sincerity and humility
SB 5.18.28-31
1063: We are Tiny Sparks of Pure Spiritual Energy
Anthony Hopkins wisens with age / softening the soul through the blows of fate / my goal is to reach the end in harmony with myself / it’s all a miracle / the sincere search for truth is God Consciousness in itself / Raghu as ant overlord / Richard Dawkins refuses to see the gardener / overcoming delusion to realize Krishna’s presence both externally and internally / knowing our place in the macro/micro hierarchy / it’s enough to know that we are tiny sparks of incredible pure spiritual energy
SB 5.18.24-27
1062: Goddess Laxmi’s Higher Perspective
the power of cow seva / Laxmi Devi shares Her higher perspective / Bhagavatam pokes at our idea of security / our predicament - a time spark of spiritual energy, trapped in and identifying with the body and mind, moving through a world programed with time, karma and the gunas / we’ve lost touch with our bliss and eternality / our live’s are like eggs on the spoon of a toddler / the heartbreak and lamentation of the material world / Bhagavatam goads us towards the higher choices
SB 5.18.19-23
1061: It Takes a Scientist, a Philosopher, & a Theologian
Bhakti culture is ready to explode / Laxmi Devi’s love for Vishnu / it gives pleasure to glorify your beloved / we’re searching for perfection in reflections of the Divine / the sass of the Gopis / God is the ultimate soulmate / it takes a Scientist a Philosopher and a Theologian to understand what’s beyond the virtual reality
SB 5.18.15-18
1060: All the World's a Stage
the British scholars completely missed the beauty, sophistication and spiritual depth of the Orissan culture developed around Lord Jagannath / Raghu’s Rathayatra pastime / all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players / Shakespeare’s seven ages / play our roles as an actor, play them well, but always know that the real life is beyond the stage
1059: I Was Made for Another World
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis / earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy - only to suggest the real thing / earthly blessings are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage / when the living entity remains in contact with the all-pervading Vāsudeva, he manifests his spiritual power / we're like fish out of water / letting go of the bewilderment of materialistic “love” / the checklist of sorrows that follow materialistic life
SB 5.18.13-14
1058: Can Materialists Possess Good Qualities?
excessive criticism robs us of higher cognitive power / when we hear “family life” critiqued in sacred texts, think “affection limited to one’s own family, community or nation” / 2 issues with family attachment – A. Seeing externals as our source of happiness, B. Limiting our affection to a small group / If I’m compassionate only to members of my own family, can it be said that I am truly compassionate? / the religious focus on the faults in others, the spiritual see the good and magnify it
SB 5.18.10-12
1057: Fascinating, Mind-Blowing Wonders Are Everywhere
there’s fascinating mind blowing wonders in every nook and cranny of existence / do we hear life’s wake-up calls, or do we just go on trying to find some enjoyment? / appreciate the architect - duh / “all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor” - Krishna / appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance / by accepting devotional service we will think of each other’s welfare
SB 5.18.1-9
1056: The Persistent Illusion that We Call 'Reality'
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” - Albert Einstein / what we call reality is the level of illusion that we keep coming back to / we’re searching for reality on a Hollywood set / our choice - sense gratification or self realization / Don’t spiritual bypass Vyasadev / behind all the layers of illusion is sweet Krishna / love the root and you will love every living being / nature is nothing but a machine operated by the Supreme Person
SB 5.17.21-24
1055: Q & A Volume 168
Can spiritual advice be spiritual bypassing? / Do the Vedic texts support gun control? / How to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped? / How to practice Bhakti in a world where I need to “code-switch”? / What does a committed Bhakti practice look like for a career person?
1054: The Descent of the River Ganges
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.” ― William Blake / the Ganges originates at the feet of Lord Vishnu / every living being can purify his mind by touching it’s water / Dhruva accepts the Ganges on his head and feels devotional ecstasy / the Santa Rishis keep the water on their heads and practice Bhakti / the water flows thru the heavens / Lord Shiva’s prayers to Vishnu
SB 5.17.1-20
1053: Opening Up the Doors of Perception
“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” – Aldous Huxley / perception is the combination of our thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and awareness / what we consume creates our filters / I am an atomic particle of consciousness - Krishna is the infinite conscious entity - this world is a house of correction meant to reform my tendency to remain absent in our relationship / wear the lens of divinity / We Are Bugs, Living Under a Desk in a Ghetto / connect and spiritualize everything / this world is our finishing school
1052: Close Your Eyes & Sing to Krishna
when Krishna is pleased, everyone’s pleased / we are in debt to all those who’ve selflessly loved us / treat your guests like God / Krishna saves Draupadi / in kirtan, don’t worry about pleasing the crowd - just please Krishna and everyone is pleased automatically / close your eyes and sing to Krishna / Krishna saves Kaustubha / Krishna always saves us
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1051: Walk With the Knowledge That You Never Walk Alone
Audrey Hepburn on beauty and poise / Bhagavad-gita on poise / real inclusivity means looking to Paramatma / find the good in others and fan that flame / gratitude vs entitlement / Bhakti waters the root of the tree / tasmin tuṣṭe jagat tuṣṭam - when Krishna is pleased, everyone is pleased / Bhakti addresses all social maladies / Bhakti satisfies all the devas / Bhakti touches both the saintly and the thugs / becoming accustomed to having our mind dwell in fundamental level thought
SB 5.15.13 / BG 13.29
1050: A Vision of Spiritual Leadership
there will always be people who will criticize - so just do the right thing / dial into your offering / Krishna anxiety - purchase it at any price / a leader’s first responsibility is to unite / how a leader must satisfy the citizens / how a leader satisfy women / how a leader must satisfy the earth / how a leader must satisfy the wise / how a leader must satisfy other leaders
SB 5.15
1049: Q & A Volume 167
How do I gain that 100% faith / What's the relationship between vijnana and bhakti? / Can our spiritual attachments degrade back to material attachments if we are not careful of our intentions?
1048: Q & A Volume 166
How to keep faith when negative emotions haunt us? / How to let go of negative habits? / How does Kaustubha organize his day?
1047: It's Life's Illusions That I Recall, I Really Don't Know Life at All
Joni Mitchell’s vision of duality / the ups and downs of lowercase L love / “I should’ve listened to the Swami.” / the Shakers didn’t lose (in their spiritual investment) / Joni brings the Jnana, Pete Seeger brings the Bhakti / we all feel melancholy till we turn and face “The Sun” / This world churns us / the power of Krishna’s flute / Krishna churns the hearts of the Gopis
1046: Mind Experiment: We're Ants on an Alien Ant Farm
Are we was so focused on achieving that we’re missing some great point about life? / Mind Experiment: We are ants in an alien ant farm. Are we learning the lessons we’re meant to learn, or just working aimlessly? / What good is speeding if you’re heading the wrong direction? / The satisfaction of devotion makes material success and liberation seem insignificant / Bharata’s last prayer as a deer / “happiness arose out of all I didn't want or need, not all I did. - Pico Iyer
SB 5.14.44-46
1045: A Little Bhakti is a Permanent Asset
all material success is time bound / Bhakti is the path of Garuda, material success is the path of the flies / the depth of Bharata’s renunciation / a little devotional service rendered sincerely is a permanent asset
SB 5.14.41-43
1044: Turning Down the Volume of the Ego
“Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.” - Henry David Thoreau / Srimad Bhagavatam is the commentary on Vedanta Sutra, by the author himself / creating enmity and dying without achieving life’s mission / all material success winds up in failure as long as we maintain the “I and Mine” illusion / turn down the volume of the ego and listen for Krishna’s whisper / humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights / you don’t have to change your position, just purify your purpose
SB 5.14.40-41
1043: Exiting the Forest of Material Enjoyment
if we cannot display wisdom, then we will clash like (legally blind moles) / when we are out of touch with our spiritual nature we are prone to misjudge intentions and exaggerate the dangers / at times we may have to live with an imperfect, untidy world / necessity knows no law / any sane person can understand that there’s no happiness in the prison / saintly persons, who are friends to all living entities, have a peaceful consciousness
1042: Public Schools With Spiritual Insight - Interview With Navin Krishna Das
The Avanti Schools are a family of state funded schools in the UK which draw from traditional Bhakti texts like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam to foster in their students not only educational excellence but also character formation and spiritual insight. In this episode, Kaustubha interviews Navin Krishna Das (Nitesh Gor) the Chief Executive of Avanti Schools Trust.
1041: Q & A Volume 165
Can you share examples of women in Bhakti to follow - stories, authors, books, teachers, examples, etc? / How to get past self-loathing?
1040: Self-loathing in the Cage of Material Enjoyment
regard this fleeting world like this… / the 4 sights of Gautama Buddha, which led to his realization of the impermanence and the ultimate dissatisfaction of conditioned existence / sleep is eating up our time / people try to drag us down / we stay in this cage for just a little material happiness / wealth is chanchala / oh the self-loathing / the indefatigable wheel of time / pseudo svāmīs, yogīs and incarnations / we’re running around like monkeys
SB 5.14.20-33
1039: In the End it’s Love Alone That Really Matters
consensual reality is significantly flawed / certainty is a mirage / security a delusion / the tyranny of the dull mind threatens / laughter is holier than piety / freedom is sweeter than fame / in the end it’s love and love alone that really matters / we can’t handle Krishna’s opulences / everything we’ve got is meant to offered back / the cheap blessings of so-called sadhus and swamis / the pain of family squabbles / the pain of putting on all the social ceremonies
SB 5.14.13-19
1038: We’re Born Naked & We Die Naked
you can’t beat the system -the laws break you / swinging on the pendulum of material enjoyment & renunciation / Bhakti transcends selfish concerns / This world is designed more for pain than it is for pleasure / Naked we come into this world and naked we go out. In the interim we falsely claim, “This is my…” / the intense suffering of being criticized / hate ages you / don’t hate the assessor
SB 5.14.9-12
1037: And I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Srimad Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature / “God does not float on your horizon, he sleeps in your substance. Vanity runs, love digs.” - Gustave Thibon / “If you fly away from yourself, your prison will run with you.” - Gustave Thibon / mirages and will-o’-the-wisps / we’re chasing wealth, we’re chasing sex, we’re chasing a better home, but when we get there….poof / the materialist perpetually wanders in material existence, struggling to get the necessities of life / we create “artificial necessities” / the secret of nature’s ways / I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
SB 5.14.7-8
1036: Ya Can't See 3D Art Wearing an Eye Patch
is this world heaven or hell? / it takes two eyes to see the truth of this world - material cynicism is one eye, spiritual optimism the other / when stereoscopic depth perception kicks in we understand what we’re doing here / this world isn’t meant to be a paradise, it’s a university / try on the Bhagavatam’s philosophy / human being on earth - it’s a great opportunity / uncontrolled senses are plunderers / family members can be like Jackals / chasing the mirage / “at last, my love has come along” / our life is an egg tottering on the spoon of a toddler
1035: Q & A Volume 164
Do you have any tools for bridging the gap between being aware and actually taking control of the mind and senses? / What is the meaning of this world’s emotional rollercoaster? / Why do the deva's desire the human form of life? / What was Raghunath’s hope behind his band Shelter?
1034: The Blinding Effect of Pride & Cultural Chauvinism
the need to root out pride and cultural chauvinism / the devotion of Ida Straus / our mantras are a lifeline We’re living on hopes piled on hopes / materially pessimistic, spiritually optimistic / neglect thoughts of being offended / what does lotus feet mean? / humbly serve the instructions of the great souls to see Krishna
SB 5.13.21-26
1033: Transcending Thoughts of Friends and Enemies
On the occasion of the festival celebrating the appearance of Sri Nrisimhadeva the Lion like Avatara of Vishnu, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss the stories and teaching of Nrisimhadeva and his boy devotee Sri Prahlada.
https://youtu.be/R4xKn0w3WMM
1032: A Formula for Producing Pure Thoughts
a formula for producing pure thoughts / japa and kirtan are real silence / Jada Bharata reveals his true identity / there is no good investment in this material world / material enjoyment will break your heart / the sword of knowledge
SB 5.12.14-16
1031: Joe Strummer, Our Dehumanization & Bhakti Heart Transfer
“We've all got to stop just following our own little mouse trail…. People are out there doing bad things to each other… they've been dehumanized. It's time to take the humanity back... Without people you're nothing.” - Joe Strummer / let’s put spiritual knowledge back in the center / greed is going nowhere / you have to discipline yourself to find truth / the deepest spirituality is shared heart to heart / the transformative power of listening respectfully / let your heart go out to the worms / Am I dehumanized?
SB 5.12.13
1030: Sectarianism, Inclusivism & Hyper-Inclusivism
“In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climbs, and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of the Great Knowledge.” - Henry David Thoreau / no dogmatism - rather, question from all angles / step back and see how Vyasadeva is framing his message / Understand the progression in Vedic thought through hardcore - Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, Sick of it All, Shelter / Give your heart to a deeply realized soul
SB 5.12.12
1029: Fine-tuning the Balance Between Immersive & Inclusive Bhakti / Interview with Chaitanya Charan Das
Chaitanya Charan, a prolific author and speaker on Bhakti and Bhagavad-gita speaks with Kaustubha on two ends of a spectrum in spiritual practice - immersive/world-rejecting on one end, and inclusive/world affirming on the other, and the need to find the right balance.
1028: Q & A Volume 163
How to explain Bhakti to Orthodox Jews? / Where does a queer man find a Bhakti community?
1027: The Earth is a Goddess & Perfect Seers Know It
" the true joy in life: being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one – instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy" - George Bernard Shaw / we need a purpose to wake up for everyday / the Bhakti framework – we all share an eternal dharma of divine love - and we embrace and later let go of a series of temporary dharma’s designed to uncover the eternal / This is how we explain God - one, nondual source, pervading everything and everyone (inside and out) - but known intimately as a person / is belief in a personal God something we’ve evolved beyond? / perfect seers know that the three features of the one Absolute Truth are different perspective views / the perspective needed to understand that the earth is a goddess
SB 5.12.11
Check out www.wisdomofthesages.com and www.raghunath.yoga for more info on events
1026: Don't Try to Fix the Dream - Try to Wake Up!
Bob Dylan on how we are bombarded by insulting and humiliating “wonder bread” music / are we insulting our true self? / although the universe may temporarily appear to be the truth, it ultimately has no real existence / nondual knowledge is the ultimate truth / nondual knowledge as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan
SB 5.12.9-11
1025: Our Whole Lives Are Just Blips in Time
spiritual knowledge well applied facilitates social justice (rather than bypassing / seeing the world as illusion (spiritual perspective) grants relief from suffering / the world’s a mess - water the root, not every leaf / this life is just a blip / our bodily existence is as unreal as the physical manifestation of any dream in the brains neurotransmitters / by understanding the original cause of different varieties, one can understand everything
SB 5.12.7-8
1024: Don't Just Think You're Not Your Body, Know It!
“Most people see what they expect to see, what they want to see, what they've been told to see, what conventional wisdom tells them to see - not what is right in front of them in its pristine condition.” Vincent Bugliosi / don’t just think you’re not your body, know it / the true self has nothing to do with our worldly dealings / control the senses by eating prasadam / Bhakti takes spirituality to the next level
SB 5.12.4-6
1023: Ya Don’t “Create” Clean Water, Ya Stop Polluting it
to ask is to break the spell / "Blind belief and passive consumption can be broken through the simple act of asking questions." - Neil Postman / the yoga culture’s acclaim for thoughtful questioning / we presume we will be happier if we are materially successful - and never ask the right questions / question from all different angles / Bhakti is experience based - not just faith based / we don’t need to just conform- we need to transform / knowledge is revealed to the virtuous / “We need new tools in science.” - Do we? / you don’t “create” clean water / you don’t “create” life in a laboratory / a guru is pleased with the student when they inquire with sincerity
1022: Q & A Volume 162
Family therapist/Bhakti-yogini Dhanya Rico joins Wisdom of the Sages to address some difficult questions.
• How to deal with a difficult person who is permanently in your life? • In dealing with someone who has emotional problems, how does one release judgment and show compassion and yet keep your heart at a distance so you don’t get hurt?
1021: Confronting the Birth to Death Time-lapse
never sniff glue! / the compelling, confronting, fascinating birth to death time-lapse diorama / we have to shift our perception in order to understand what we are doing here / the most amazing thing in the universe - we think we won’t die / “Don't become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin." - Ivan Pavlov / when we dissociate anything from it’s origin we are in illusion / yogis see everything in it’s relation to Krishna / the discovery of Brahma Samhita Ch. 5 / don’t bust into the Grantha Samadhi / the beautiful sages - 6 Goswamis of Vrindavan / Kaustubha’s Vrindavan pilgrimage / preparing the mind for Vrindavan / understanding Krishna is the master key
1020: Learning to Ignore the Mind
anxiety for your children never ends / the mind can be an unruly, unappeasable 5 year old / sometimes the best option is to ignore the mind / the mind and senses are meant to work for us, not the other way around / when one’s mind is absorbed in the material conception, one thinks that they belong to a particular nation, family, country or creed / upādhis - false designations we adopt, disguises of the spirit / a gift of aging is understanding the cycles of the world / our false intimacy with the body - it’s going to walk away, and it won’t call back / conquer this mind by the weapon of service
SB 5.11.15-17
1019: The Variables That Generate Our Unique Blend of Thoughts
“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” Oscar Wilde / we’re zeros desperately searching for 1 / the variables that generate our unique blend of thoughts - the physical elements, nature, the original cause, culture, destiny, time / stepping back to see ourselves separate from our desires /developing a strategy to respond to the challenge of the minds programing / Vasudeva - everyone dwells in Him, and He dwells within everyone / If we don’t realize that the soul of the universe is within our own bodies, that is very sad
SB 5.11.11-14
1018: Hookup Apps & the Negative Thought Loops
we have 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day, 80% are negative, 95% are repetitive / Bhagavatam predicted Kali-yuga minds would be always disturbed - the National Science Foundation confirms it / technology has created a bizarre world, and it’s driving us mad / yogis are in the business of retraining our thoughts / the senses are channels to the mind / we can consciously design our mind’s programming / the mind can be the cause bondage or liberation / we need a game plan, otherwise the team of the mind and senses are going to crush us / swipe right for Krishna
SB 5.11.8-10
1017: This World is a Metaphysical Costume Party
“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.” - John Naisbitt / do we have the cognitive ability to distill information into wisdom? / we’re not asking all the most important questions / mental stability through knowledge of matter and spirit / the materialistic mind covering the living entity’s soul carries it to different species of life / we’re trying to find our tribe at a costume party / wrapping our heads around the idea that we could take birth as an animal / Prabhupada’s distinction between Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma / your mind is a pond and your emotions are the fish / Mara’s mind stretch
SB 5.11.6-7
1016: Q & A Volume 161
Why is there conflicting information about the practices and regulations in Bhakti-yoga? / How to root out “false Bhakti” in oneself?
1015: Parallels in Modern & Vedic Leadership – Interview with Bhuta Bhavana Das
Bhuta Bhavana Das (Ed Anobah) graduated in Philosophy and Economics at the London School of Economics and is currently responsible to training 47,000 leaders in a global financial organization. He’s also been practicing Bhakti-yoga for over 25 years. In this episode he discusses parallels in leadership from both modern and Vedic sources, especially regarding the importance for leaders in developing unity while honoring diversity. Ed Anobah Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ed-anobah-podcast/id1520006462 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edanobah/
1014: The Corrupted Files Within the Mind
“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius / “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald / our minds have been corrupted (made unreliable by alterations) / how the 3 gunas corrupt the mind / Without yoga, we’re helpless / Don’t get pulled into a bird body
SB 5.11.4-5
1013: Anne Frank’s Spiritual Insight
“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” - Anne Frank / this world moves in cycles / the remedy for hate is spiritual insight / material awareness is like a dream - when we realize that material happiness is insufficient we begin to wake up
SB 5.11.1-3
1012: Sometimes All We Need is a Different Perspective
release the ego and sing with the devotees / functional identity vs fundamental Identity / we’ve got to simultaneously hold both the conventional perspective and the transcendental perspective / seeing the world through the perspective of what we hear from Bhagavatam / Bhagavad-gita’s formula for receiving spiritual insight / spiritual insight = seeing all living beings as part of the Supreme
IG: keshava_rgm
SB 5.10.23-25
1011: Decoding the Messages of the Universe
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” - Walt Whitman / “Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness.” - Sri Caitanya / “Whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.” Sri Krishna / seeing everything (family, money, property, responsibility) through it’s relationship to Krishna is the key to the code / seeking clarity between alternating conventional and transcendental contexts / material attachments lead to material suffering
SB 5.10.19-22
1010: Words that Slacken the Knot in the Heart
“The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.” —David Foster Wallace / do we point the truth only at others, or can we point it at ourselves? / Jada Bharata accepts karmic responsibility for his own circumstances / “Is everything going well in your endeavor to conquer the repetition of birth and death?” / King Rahugana bows down / Rahugana’s only fear, offending a truth speaker
SB 5.10.14-18
1009: Inter-Interview
Raghunath and Kaustubha ask each other…..
• When did you know that you had to commit your life to Bhakti? • What were your biggest doubts in the beginning? • What are your biggest doubts now?
1008: Q & A Volume 160
What’s the difference between love and Love? / Should we sing mantras glorifying the demigods? / What is the importance of studying verses in Sanskrit?
1007: We're Not Naughty by Nature
"Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.” - Elbert Hubbard / karma is a natural law designed to foster a disposition of kindness, compassion and generosity / karma helps us own the consequences of our choices and actions / a little suffering can be healthy for our evolution / our desire for stability is indicative of our eternal nature / lust is nothing but love transformed / a real friend walks hand in hand with you toward divinity / we’re not naughty by nature
SB 5.10.13
1006: King Today, Dog Tomorrow
I Love Mayapur / our material positions are merely conventional / externally operating according to material convention, internally thinking on the spiritual level / king today, dog tomorrow / for some time we play as master or servant, as actors play / do extraordinary things for an extraordinary life / stage dive into reality
SB 5.10.11-12
https://www.youtube.com/@IloveMayapur
1005: We’re Like Straws Floating on the Waves of an Ocean
“Affirm the spirit, the Eternal I” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox / children can break your attachment and the knot in the heart / externally - operate according to convention, internally - think beyond convention / we are gathered together like straws floating in the waves of an ocean… inevitably separated by the laws of the waves / every living being can be a channel of love /the reflection of the spiritual real shows itself when the turbulence of the mind is quieted / the ant’s soul is important too / the keys exist even if they aren’t under the lamppost / the soul is never tired / austerity and penance is meant for seeing the distinctions between body and soul / you’re not ripped! You’re not this body.
1004: The Awakened Don't Judge Those that Sleep
“We are very good lawyers for our own mistakes but very good judges for the mistakes of others.” Anonymous / Raghunath is not the spiller! / yoga creates space between stimulus and response / condemn activities, not people / don’t forget your principles, even when times are tough / ants are people too / distinction between rajo-guṇa and sattva-guṇa
SB 5.10.1-8
1003: The Underlying Messages in The Ramayana / Interview with Dr. Shubha Vilas
In the Western world there is no equivalent to texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are universally loved, from childhood till death, and chock-full of wisdom on many levels. Dr. Shubha Vilas was raised in the tradition of the Ramayana and in this interview he shares this ancient text’s relevance and how it can best be understood.
Learn more at http://www.shubhavilas.com/
1002: Q & A Volume 159
How to understand dementia in a Bhakti context? / Is Krishna real?
1001: Radha, Laxmi, Durga & Kali
Radha is the para-shakti, the origin of all the shakti’s including Laxmi, Durga, Kali, etc. / Krishna protects those who - never identify with the body, are liberated from the knot in the heart, always engaged in welfare activities for all living entities, and never contemplate harming anyone / mental discipline in the morning / what does Krishna mean when He says “My devotee never perishes“ / the protection of Jatayu the vulture
SB 5.9.20
1000! Radhanath Swami Interview
For episode 1,000, Radhanath Swami shares his thoughts on friendship, aging, money, forgiveness, raising children, prayer and bhakti.
999: Fearsome Kali Saves Krishna's Gentle Devotee
when we keep our minds simple, it all starts to click / religion can be a distraction from spirituality / Narada’s confession to the hunter Mrgari- “If you must kill, then please…..” / Vaisnava’s respect Kali and worship Radha / Kali protected Krishna’s devotee, and killed her own
SB 5.9.12-20
998: Small Minds Will Disparage Your Spiritual Ambition
we all have the potential to achieve the goal of yoga, in this lifetime / what’s the real measure of success? / fight the demons within - “Not Today Satan!” / make your life mission to uncover and experience your true spiritual nature / doing small things with great love is a perfect success / Jada Bharata was beyond the dualities of happiness and distressed caused by respect or disrespect - we can’t imitate it, but we can draw principles from it / good & bad are mental speculations (this is not about ethics - it’s about the relativity of material pleasure) / our minds are programed to see some things as attractive and others as repulsive - this programing can be changed
SB 5.9.7-11
997: Inner Spiritual Life, Beyond the Externals
“Spirituality is about awakening the eyes, the ears, the heart, so that you can see what’s always happening right in front of you.” / the external life of the brahmana / the internal life of the Bhakti-yogi / we can’t let ourselves be distracted by external prestige or material blessings / we may forget death, but death never forgets us
SB 5.9.1-6
996: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things
• What is your favorite chapter or passage the sacred texts? • Who is your favorite kirtan leader? • Share a story of a memorable kirtan • What is your favorite temple?
995: Q&A Volume 158
Is there any kind of basic ritual I could perform to offer food? / How to respond to a narcissist's criticisms? / How to understand Bhagavad-gita 12.18? / What are the death rites for Bhakti-yogis?
994: Observe Nature & Follow the Clues
“Discipline yourself, and others won't need to.” - John Wooden / to the extent we don’t discipline ourselves, life will discipline us / observe nature and follow the clues / an important part of any wisdom culture is how it helps us to voluntarily accept what nature will otherwise force us to accept involuntarily / “You have practiced how to bark in the legislative assembly. Now become a dog and go on barking.” - Srila Prabhupada / repentance precedes reconciliation / if we slip from our yogic discipline we may wake up with hooves!
SB 5.8.28-31
Narayanam namaskryta
Naram caiva narottamam
Devim saraswatim vyasam
Tato jayam udirayet
Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rishi, the supermost human being, unto Mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author.
nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
993: Self-discipline & the Algorithms of the Mind
“Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly.” - Julie Andrews / Better to pay now than pay later with compound interest / yoga means gaining ground in the battle of the mental algorithms / we can consciously choose our mind’s direction and direct your own destiny / keep chanting and it will get sweeter / Bharata takes his next birth as a deer
SB 5.8.26-27
992: This World Will Make You Cry
struggles are an opportunity to walk the walk / rationalizing your illusion is a bad look / justice and mercy / this world will make you cry / we’re all gonna fall in love and get killed / stimulus for spiritual feelings / this world is an upside down reflection / our spiritual friendships are so important
Check out Dani's art at www.stillwatercraftco.com
SB 5.8.20-25
991: Our Attachments Generate Our Illusion
Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached. - Simone Weil / we are just here to love without caveats / we’re so attached to the jello that we’re unwilling to leave our jail cell / love every living being the way you love your dog / Shankara’s 5 Stanzas on the Loin Cloth / every material attachment will be pruned / our wrinkles are okay / you’re not the most anything / wisdom cuts out our big fat ego
SB 5.8.15-19
990: Is Bettering Oneself at Odds with Bettering the World?
“Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.”- Marcus Aurelius / improving the world and improving oneself are not diametrically opposed to each other / seek the commonality, not the difference / Although Bharata's compassion seemed noble, it was really all about him / the Vedic cultures stages of life / rationalization is intelligence in service of the false ego / the Bhagavatam is right again!
SB 5.8.9-14
989: Q & A Volume 157
How to teach yoga to a primarily Judeo Christian population without offending? / How to overcome fear of death? / What’s a simple “Bhakti pitch” to a Christian? / Should we risk our spiritual bank account for material security?
988: Analyzing a Yogi’s Diversion from Truth
genuine intimacy is based on truth, not illusion / is my intimacy with others facilitating my remembrance or my forgetfulness of God’s presence behind everything? / In my roles of maintaining others do I act in the awareness of being a representative of The Supreme Maintainer, or as an artificial maintainer? / What was it, about the form of the fawn, that drew the attention of Bharata?
987: Lessons from the Elephant Whisperers
happiness comes simply / animals are people too / we crave service for meaning in life / Vishnu is in the sun / all of our heat and light can be traced back to the sun, and the sun can be traced back to Krishna - the cause of all causes / Everything is in Krishna, and Krishna is within everything
SB 5.7.13-14
986: Preparing for the Heart to Melt
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” - Helen Keller / Bhakti is about preparing the heart to melt / what if we were all taught from childhood that God is within the heart of every living being? / peace of mind comes from giving not taking / the devotees have Krishna always etched within their hearts / the progression in Bhakti-yoga - faith, association with advanced practitioners, purification through regular practice, freedom from unwinding things in the heart, becoming firmly fixed, gaining taste, addiction to the taste, the sprout of pure love, pure love
SB 5.7.8-12
985: Everything Everywhere All At Once
mundane world views based on the limited perception of our senses / messengers exist to wake us up and reveal the wonder that lies beyond our perception / life is meant for self discovery and everything happening in the universe can be interpreted and applied in that context / compassion and love lie at the heart of the self discovery / Can there be spiritual form? / the difference between matter & spirit / we’re getting caught in the laundry cycle of the mundane / am I perpetually annoyed? / self-discovery and empathy emerge together / ethics open the door to perceiving truth
SB 5.7.7
984: Ritual in the Life of a Bhakti-yogi / Interview with Brighupada Dasa (Dr Måns Broo)
In this interview Brighupada shares some fascinating insights on the role of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan and how they presented innovative ideas and practices of Bhakti within the context of an ancient tradition.
Brighupada Dasa (Dr Måns Broo), is a senior lecturer at the Department of Comparative Religion, Åbo Akademi University, Finland. His recent publication “Haribhaktivilāsa of Sanātana Gosvāmin” describes the normative ritual life of a Krishna devotee.
https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/63760?fbclid=IwAR1kkEziqOu8fhXIEexTcLv_1QOrt7_WKynUoLoqxibIh-KLfPe8gzki5rc
983: Q & A Volume 156
How do we make amends when we have wronged someone? / Is there a problem with the impersonal conception of God?
982: Gratitude is Being Fixed in Reality
sometimes we need a loving nudge / gratitude liberates us from the prison of self–preoccupation / the less we are preoccupied with ourselves, the happier we are / if you don’t feel loved or cared about, start loving & caring for others / in witnessing the cruelty of others, and feeling the hopelessness in it, the cruelty in yourself is diminished / speak your blessings and gratitude / gratitude is being fixed in reality / thank you death / Vedic rituals were communal expressions of gratitude / the maturation of gratitude
SB 5.7.1-6
981: Materialistic Whack-a-Mole Solutions
our respects to HH Kadamba Kanana Swami / "the last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.” - Victor Frankl / we all should become self-sufficient / the bodily conception creates unnecessary demands / what success looks like - freedom from hankering and lamenting / Satisfaction through self-realization is called svarūpānanda / to become happy by making material adjustments is impossible / the whack-a-mole principle / our remedies are often worse than our miseries / Chairman Mao’s whack-a-mole policies / our material solutions need to be in the context of self-realization / the 4 noble truths
SB 5.6.19
980: Yogis Let Go of Hankering & Lamentation
“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson / letting go of hankering for things in the future, and lamenting things of the past / there’s always going to be some sand in the sweet rice / Be Here Now (with Krishna) / to become happy by making material adjustments is impossible / Goddess Saraswati can revoke our intelligence at any time / Death holds a mirror before us / the best master is the best servant
SB 5.6.18
979: Is My Ladder Leaning Against the Wrong Wall?
Is My Ladder Leaning Against the Wrong Wall? “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.” ― Stephen R. Covey / the Bhakti-yogi has no interest in the mystic magic tricks / liberation personified waits at the door of the Bhakti-yogi with folded hands
978: Who is Sri Chaitanya?
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss Sri Caitanya, the Krishna Avatar, in terms of his internal and external purposes of appearing, along with calling out danger of personality cults and false claims of being an avatar.
977: Q & A Volume 155
Why do we have to experience loss in this world … the loss of loved ones, and will we ever be reunited? / How to make one’s life an offering to God? / How to improve at japa meditation?
976: Imitation vs Authenticity in Spiritual Practice
authentic practice allows for individuality, imitation limits it / imitating the great saints doesn’t help anyone / hippies were imitating Rsabhadeva / adjusting tradition, maintaining the compassionate purpose / it makes perfect sense to worship stones!
SB 5.6.9 - 14
975: Thinking About Death Can Clarify Your Life
the inevitable global influence of Bhakti / thinking about death can clarify your life / cemeteries are full of indispensable people / Yogamaya - Krishna voluntarily becomes influenced by illusion for play / What was Rsabdeva trying to avoid by living as an avaduta? (And how can it be applied in our lives?) 1. Prajalpa (gossip and unhelpful talk), 2. Entanglement in the regular material affairs, 3. Ego related thought, 4. Being seen as a saint
SB 5.6.6-8
974: It's Not a Curse, It's a Greater Plan
Don’t preach, be the example / We’re being sold a false identity / Our identity is a divine spark of God and we’re meant to reconnect with it / Let go of the excess baggage and scrub the window of the soul / Be cautious trusting the mind & following your instinct / don’t offend devotees if you want to control the mind / mind your own business & Control your own senses & mind / Give love, inspire and assist others on their spiritual path / there’s always a greater plan / Perfect randomness is part of a divine tapestry / Sometimes purification comes by fire
SB 5.6.3-6
973: Getting Real
Maya is a black out curtain / Call in the light and watch magic happen / What is my conditioning and what is real? / find your authentic self before Madison Ave sold you your looks / our vehicles have nothing to do with us / The world is a maze / Pruning enhances our growth / Cultivate knowledge to help understand tragedy / Weave knowledge in daily to cultivate wisdom / How can there be anything wrong when I’ve got Krishna? / We’ve been practicing anxiety for lifetimes / Krishna has dropped a bell over us for protection
SB 5.6.1-3
972: Growing Impatient with Our Own Skepticism
Nick Cave on the death in 2015 of his teenage son, Arthur / understanding of our vulnerability / step beyond the full force of the grief and experience a kind of joy that is entirely new / grief can enlarge the heart heart / in bhakti, not only do you survive, you thrive / better not to judge - you never know who you’re dealing with / yogic practices of extreme renunciation / if this world is unreal, then in one sense there is no good and bad
SB 5.5.29-35
971: Q&A Volume 154
What is the Importance of Initiation / Is the desire for peer association in Bhakti due to ego or is it my true soul wanting to connect? / Any advice for the spiritually vacant? /
970: Simple Living & High Thinking / Interview with Plenitud Farm
Raghunath interviews Draupadi and Vaishnava about Plenitud Farm, PR. They discuss water harvesting, SuperAdobe huts, permaculture, and more. For more info, check out https://www.plenitudpr.org/welcome
969: Lose Yourself (& Find Yourself) in Service
" The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi / Get out of the bathtub! / even self reflection needs guidance / Mickey Mouse costumes won’t satisfy us / don’t hate the warden, take responsibility for your crimes / don’t attach your worth to a false designation (upadhi) / engage your senses for the master of the senses / the senses are like apps, someone is maintaining their functioning / meditating on your own death
SB 5.5.27-28
968: The Line Dividing Good & Evil Cuts Through the Heart
The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn / When I start to hate, I’m off my spiritual path / Put the microscope on me / Bhakti Yoga means rooting out one’s animosity / I don’t have to be the lawyer, judge and jury - I can be the mailman / What pleases Vishnu - is not so much about sacrifices or offerings to Him - it’s 2 things – 1. honoring and learning from virtuous people, 2. respecting the spiritual equality in all living beings / The quality of the Vaisnava Brahmin - akiñcanānām mayi bhakti-bhājām - they do not want to possess anything. They simply engage in devotional service.
SB 5.5.25-26
967: We Can All Become the Personified Vedas
applying spiritual principles to times of tragedy / Bhakti is devotion & service / handling the rough waves on the surface, while being situated in the deep calm / rituals need substance / the qualities of a brahmana / Bhakti-yogis take no offense and harbor no resentment / We can all become the personified Vedas
https://www.etsy.com/shop/VvlcanHaus
SB 5.5.23-24
966: How the Guru Enters the Heart of the Disciple
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss memories and instructions they received from Kaustubha’s guru, Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami, on the 21st anniversary of his passing from this world.
965: The Entire Cosmos is a Cooperative
Thanks Hare Krishna Movement (for helping promote animal rights) / leverage your influence for good / the entire cosmos is a cooperative / finding the social balance thru inspiration rather than legislation / finding happiness in truth, not in things / be guided by the wise and self controlled / Jatayu the vulture of the Ramayana, probably history’s most popular bird / recognize the hierarchy on the level of bodies, and the equality on the level of the soul
SB 5.5.20-22
964: Mystics, Planets, Gems & Spirits / Interview with Vedic Astrologer Radhikesh Das
Raghunath and Radhikesh Prabhu discuss planetary influences, being possessed by ghosts, our roadmap of karma, yajnas, gemstones and more.
Find out more about Radhikesh at https://www.radhikeshdas.com/
963: Q & A Volume 153
Any advice for a recovering Atheist? / How can we bring up teenage kids who are more empathetic, understanding and caring? / If God has a plan, are we still free to choose? / How to deal with feelings of comparison to others?
962: All the Stuff They Never Taught Us in School
Pity me not, your nose will grow too / teach your kids the law of karma / opt out of a society of envy / I dont wanna be in a pack of dogs / we’ve been addicted to Maya for lifetimes / Align your heart with the heart of God
SB 5.5.15-19
961: Entering the Flow of the Spiritual World
Mayapur is buzzing with devotional energy / Radha embodies the ecstatic energy of love / through cultivating a relationship with the Deities you can incur magic / Krishna Lila - Its not a Warner brothers cartoon! / immerse yourself in Vrindavan with proper focus & perspective and never have downtime / Krishna Lila draws you in, purifies and refines you / Bhakti is trickling down from great souls - immerse yourself in the flow / May auspiciousness reign!
960: The Only Disqualification is Hypocrisy
the only disqualification is hypocrisy / there’s a power of honesty and vulnerability / Don’t doubt that Bhakti can change the world / having a healthy self-disgust / be a religious virtuoso (you’re not a fanatic) / thoughtful enthusiasm and patience is a necessity for spiritual advancement / Bhakti yoga- the means and the end are the same
959: Q&A Volume 152
If Krishna is the creator, is He responsible for creating the issues that plague humanity? / How to see all living entities without distinction, and still make important distinctions? / How can the soul be both eternally separate and never separated from God? / Is reincarnation always sequential? / How to “come out” as a Bhakti-yogi to a catholic family?
958: How the Ancient Temples Energize Our Minds
Raghunath and Kaustubha share from their recent visits to the temples of Srinathji in Rajasthan and Sri Padmanabhaswamy in Kerala, and explain how these ancient masterpieces of science and art were designed to create harmony by bringing our awareness to essential spiritual truths.
957: Raghu and Jiva Do Sweet Baby Krishna
The words that come out of our mouth attract people or repel people / Hear and chant about Vrindavan to gain entry / Prioritize romancing Krishna / May we all grow and change / We’ve got good people in our life
Reading from Ananda Vrindavan Campu
956: Atma & Paramatma - The Original Soulmates
the universe is working for our evolution / our bodies are like bowling shoes - we have to give them back / the attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence / masculine - feminine dichotomy plays out in homosexual relationships as well / the door to our cage is wide open, but we're attached to the food inside / knowledge slackens the knot in the heart / jnana via The Twilight Zone / shoot the robot of illusion
SB 5.5.7-9
955: Lessons From a Departing Sage
Service to the great souls opens the doors to liberation / the temptation to exploit women’s bodies is the dark door in life / Let service to great souls be your austerity / great souls see everyone in a relation to their spiritual identity, are very peaceful, and satisfied, are without anger, are well-wishers of everyone / lock the dark door of porn / The living entity is not really connected with this material world / the excitement of desire robs us of peace / the desire for sense gratification is never fulfilled / we’re just test driving different vehicles until we evolve to the point of love / get back in the water
SB 5.5.2-6
954: Yogis Don’t Talk Like That
Vishnu descends to recalibrate and enliven / birth as a human is a rare opportunity to learn and be liberated / we all have an eternal spiritual nature - don’t settle for temporary happiness / formula for human life - divine austerity, to purify the heart, leading to liberation / car culture has gotta collapse / Bright Door: Service to the great souls opens the doors to liberation / Dark Door: exploitation of women for sex / when it come to porn, everyone has to draw a hard line and not cross it / speaking about women as sex objects - yogis don’t talk like that!
SB 5.5.1-2
953: Q & A - Volume 151
Can we make adaptations for Senior Citizen Bhakti-yogis? / Why do materialist sometimes seem happier than spiritualists? / How to explain the yamas and niyamas to a new audience?
952: Gentlemen Start Your Yajnas!
the return of the Varkala Jellyfish / Sri Nityananada - God manifests in unlimited ways for enjoyment / Krishna is behind everything / respecting the Devas in the context of Krishna / how the seers of the truth define what is real
SB 5.4.16-19
951: Hate the Hate Within Yourself
it’s inevitable that Bhakti will spread / keeping the message of the Bhagavatam as the main thing / respond to the darkness but see the light / Vyasadeva was is a beautiful sage / wanna be a chosen person- become qualified / he crow of old age and death is coming / “Serves him right” is a red flag that you’re in maya / Kaustubha reveals his evil to the world / filter out animosity
SB 5.4.11-15
950: Mental Stability Through Focusing On Tradition
tuning into the power of ancient sacred places / mental stability through timeless rituals vs mental instability through 15 second videos which disappear forever in 24 hours / celibate student life as preparation for a successful marriage / what do you do when you drop your baby in the hundi? / why pop n lock when you can play mridanga?
SB 5.4.6 - 10
949: Let My Religious Side Die & Let My Spiritual Side Rise
Kaustubha’s birthday reflections / let the religious part of me die and the spiritual part of me rise / aspiring to develop real yogic vision / cultivate Feelings of gratitude daily / accepting austerity expertly & joyfully / depend on Krishna and hear his whisper / 8 symptoms of a liberated soul from Chandogya Upanishad
SB 5.4.1-5
948: From Vishnu to Krishna - Interview with Nityananda Das
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss with the charming and learned monk Nityananda Das about his youth in South India practicing in the ancient Bhakti lineage of the great teacher Sri Ramanuja and how he eventually came to the lineage of Sri Caitanaya.
947: The Names Rama & Krishna Have Been Resounding Forever
the names of Rama & Krishna have been resounding from the hills in India for longer than we can calculate / the humility of parents who can learn from their children / What is the next step on my path? What could I let go of, or what could I embrace that will make a real difference in the awakening of my own self realization / material energy is a glue trap / there are higher goals in life than getting stuff / the need for truth tellers who can’t be bought
946: Meeting More of the Others
Raghunath and Kaustubha interview more of the guests from their retreat at the Govardhan Eco Village in India.
945: A Bhakti-yogi Born Into the Slums of Bombay / An Interview with Janeshwar Das
Janeshwar Das, Raghunath's assistant on his India pilgrimages, shares his inspiring story of being born and raised in the slums in Bombay and his courageous and fascinating path to Bhakti.
944: Grief, Love & Service on the Path of Bhakti / An Interview with Sri Govinda
In this emotional and touching episode, Raghunath & Kaustubha bring their friend Sri Govinda onto the show to discuss the loss of his young son, the sprouting of his faith in Krishna, meeting his fiancé, and taking up services as a successful financial consultant coming to the path of Bhakti.
943: Revealing Our Minds In Confidence / Interview with Relationship Counselor Dhanya Rico
Raghunath & Kaustubha speak with Dhanya Rico, a professional Relationship Counselor and Bhakti-yogini, about the importance of honesty and revealing our minds to people we can trust.
942: Q & A Volume 150 - Reincarnation / Questions with Walter Schreifels
I look at my dogs life with envy, why are some births considered lower? / If you’re born on a higher planet and you still have a mind, what about it would be an improvement over the planet we’re already on? / Who judges or decides our next births?
941: Meeting the Others
Raghunath and Kaustubha share their thoughts on Victoria’s Vedic wedding, and interview some of the guests from their retreat at the Govardhan Eco Village in India.
940: I Won’t Be Groomed for Cruelty
Will we learn to live in harmony with nature, or will we run off the edge of a cliff? / the cow and bull provide everything we need / Ella’s Story - I Won't Be Groomed for Cruelty
939: Striving For the Next Level of Awakening
Krishna is not interested in wealth, He just wants only our devotion / the story of Kolavecha Sridhar / Make a little time for a sincere sadhana and it can transform everything else / strive for the next level of awakening / all our desires and fantasies are prayers - and Paramatma is the heart monitor
SB 5.3.4-13
938: Sometimes You Go With the Wildcard
Priests can be bigots and cops can be saints / it’s not your intelligence position that counts, it’s the quality of your heart / how did marriage get so complicated? / sometimes you go with the wild card / keeping the consciousness pure and uncontaminated before rituals / the beauty of the vision of Lord Vishnu
SB 5.3.1-3
937: Q & A Volume 149
How do we learn from karma? / How can we bring yoga into our everyday life while still being in line with the people around us instead of maybe scaring them off by religious or spiritual theories? / Where to start if you’re new to Bhakti and a little overwhelmed by all the resources? / What happens to the souls of those who achieve impersonal liberation?
936: All Truths Manifest in the Pure Heart
In a moment we’ll be gobbled by the frog of death / “As soon as the heart is pure, all truths sparkle in it in a minute; all truth in the universe will manifest in your heart if you are pure enough.” - unknown / it’s reasonable I can’t perceive everything / we’re all untouchables but there’s hope / don’t let your mind be a broken record / let your heart become a place of pastimes for Krishna
SB 5.1.30-41
935: Looking at the Universe from a Different Angle
planning for our (birthday) enjoyment can bring great distress / 1 person with a sincere focus on service can change the world / work externally, but always think of Krishna internally / the soul of the universe is within each of our hearts / yogis see the world as moving specifically for the purpose of their enlightenment / looking at the universe from a different angle
SB 5.1.22-29
934: Greatness Lies in Giving Up Resentment
Resentment blocks the flow of grace / evolve or repeat / devotion shrinks the ocean of the material world down to the amount of water in a calf’s footprint / To do the right thing, when it is difficult, is a sign of goodness. To do it without resentment is a sign of greatness. / Lord Rama had no resentment / Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions.
SB 5.1.19-21
933: Yogis Recode the Impressions In the Mind
“The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind.” - Napoleon Bonaparte / Yogis recode their experience through the filter of intelligence / bolstering the intellect by daily hearing the truth / It’s a war on Maya out there / Self control is the secret of being in the world but not of the world / We have to work on our mind wherever we are / how family life can be yoga / there’s a noble way to age
SB 5.1.17-18
932: Q & A Volume 148
• What’s the root of intention? • Is Krishna immoral? • If we reincarnate as an animal, how do we get back to human birth? • Is there sin and repentance in Bhakti?
931: Religion, Hypocrisy, Prostitution & Tricks of Chance
SB 5.1.13-16
930: To Isolate or To Insulate?
Can one really be in the world but not of the world? / Lord Brahma descends on a swam / the highly qualified language of the yogis / don’t flatter, but set your mind right with appreciation / we don’t need to isolate, we need to insulate / find a community to help us evolve / seeking blessings before our endeavors / God is coming back in vogue
SB 5.1.8-12
929: Finding Yoga In Worldly Responsibilities
learning to live in harmony with nature / power comes from austerity / stop manufacturing what we can’t throw away / the reality is we’re about to die / know your why / Bhagavatam clarifies everything / the sage expands their affection from My family, to everyone
SB 5.1.1-7
928: Take it In, Process it & Let it Go / A Special New Years Episode
Raghunath and Kaustubha speak about their own lives in 2022 and how hearing Srimad Bhagavatam every day made a difference.
927: Q & A - Volume 147
Advice for an Intensive Care Unit Nurse. - How to give your patients what they need but also save some energy for yourself. - Prayers to offer to patients when they are sick or actively dying.
Advice for parents cooking for picky eaters
926: You’re About to Lose Everything (Superficial)
convenience and comfort breed complaints and intolerance / downgrading from the tour bus to the van / you’re about to lose everything (superficial) / reach out, but don’t tip and fall / indulgence is miserable / a yogi is satisfied somehow or other / Maitreya concludes the 4th Canto with a description of the God of Love / although Krishna is self-sufficient, He becomes dependent on His devotees
SB 4.31.19-31
925: Be a Contributor, Not a Collector
wash your brain and think for yourself / joy is the default of the spirit soul / being is more fulfilling than having or doing the most / don’t blame God / we are not this earth suit / we’re all going through the same things / Krishna is accelerating our karma / have faith in the bhagavatam and fall in love with Krishna / choose enthusiasm and associate with enthusiastic people / keep spirit at the forefront of our consciousness / purify your mental contamination / focus on the inner reformation / Make Krishna your Number 1
SB 4.31.17-20
924: Look Deep Into Nature, Not Deep Into Dogma
" Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein / existential clues are found in nature / devotion makes up for all external shortcomings / lack of devotion leaves any strengths or achievements hollow of true, lasting meaning / the primary lesson taught through the functioning of this world is the need to reestablish our connection with our source / our identity is in relation to, and granted by, our source / don’t just accept this as religious dogma - look deep into nature / by watering the root, the entire tree is satisfied / everything emanates from Krishna, and in due course of time everything enters into Him again
SB 4.31.11-16
923: A Sage Must Be Independent & Unbiased
All that counts in life is intention.” - Andrea Bocelli / evolved souls look past the externals and understand, sympathize, and appreciate the person underneath - and it’s palpable / our past doesn’t equal our future / a perfect Vaiṣṇava should be completely independent and unbiased / put the people before the regulations / the devotee is the great reminder / external imperfection becomes perfect when one's purpose is selfless / external perfection becomes imperfect when one’s intentions are selfish / Krishna is Bhava Grahi Janardana - He accepts one’s mood and intention / say his name!
SB 4.31.3-10
922: Q & A - Volume 146
Are there any Krishna consciousness nonprofits that work to provide food for the hungry, help children in need, or other charitable works? / Can we trust healing mediums?
Make a donation to
921: Virtue Over Comfort
“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” - Confucius / step out of your comfort zone for growth / real growth comes from taking responsibility and releasing resentment / growth = growing pains / the message of Bhagavatam comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable / the comforts of home reinforce limited perspective / cultivating expansion of perspective from love for my small circle, to love for every living being
SB 4.31.1-2
920: Why We Should Marry the Trees
“I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.” — Alan Watts / forests are the lungs of our land / who has priority—humans or nature? / dharmic leadership brings about the Earth’s flourishing / a shortage of natural resources indicates the lack of dharmic leadership / Bhagavatam gives trees agency and voice in its narrative / human and nonhuman - parts of the same whole / responsible leadership plays a central role in averting ecological crises
919: Trees Are People Too
you never know what Krishna is going to use to bring you back / don’t mistake the flute for the player of the flute / don’t get too comfortable- this isn’t your home / the whole material world is a sad story / offer what you got / material desire breeds ignorance / trees are people too / see every body as a temple - by such vision you will satisfy the Lord / one who desires self-realization and thus subdues his powerful anger
SB 4.30.39-51
918: Our Little Mouths Can Create So Much Suffering
our little mouths can create so much suffering / our speaking apparatus is an amazing faculty - very effective in either binding us or releasing us / Yoga is a process of cleaning the window for the sunlight to come in / we can create the spiritual world in the material world by vibrating transcendental words / pure words - relieve material hankerings, and remove envy and fear / Krishna is present where His devotees discuss Him / superficial spirituality sees God in the Temple only - deeper spirituality sees God in people
SB 4.30.35-38
For the Live to Give campaign of Bhagavad Gita distribution, text/whatsapp/call Malini at: +1 (669) 289-5563
917: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. - Matthew 5.8 / what does the heart need to be purified of? / "In monasteries, seminaries, retreats and synagogues, they fear hell and seek paradise. Those who know the mysteries of God never let that seed be planted in their souls.” - Omar Khayyam / a moment of interfaith harmony / destitution is a prodding for Krishna / the yogis ask for their benediction - to be around those who speak of Vishnu, birth after birth / Find people who lift you higher and keep them close / hearing about Krishna relieves anxiety
916: Society’s Norms Seemed Tortuously Senseless / Interview with Bhakti Poet & Contemplative Madan Mohan Das
Madan Mohan is an old friends of Raghunath & Kaustubha going back to their teens. A deep thinker and poet, he shares his thoughts and experiences as a youth that led him to the practice of Bhakti, where he’s at today, and some of his poems.
915: Q & A - Volume 145
Spirituality or Spiritual Bypassing? / If Bhaktivedanta Swami were alive today do you believe he would restrict the internet? / Can y'all recommend some slokas (or mantras) that are good to memorize?
914: Love Makes Desire Itself Altruistic
that love should be transitory is intolerable / love leaps over the massive of our selfishness / love makes desire itself altruistic / love plants the interests of another in the center of our being / loving one (well used) prepares us to love all / bhakti yogis meditate on name, qualities, form and pastimes / let’s god’s satisfaction be our benediction / the Absolute Truth is realized in three features / one has to approach the Supreme Person through the impersonal Brahman / liberation is just the neutral point
SB 4.30.26-30
913: Lowercase Love Stinks!
“To find love I must enter into the sanctuary where it is hidden, which is the mystery of God.” - Thomas Merton / there’s a secret love with capital L / lowercase love stinks / the reflection appears just like the reflected source, but it’s backwards / our mind and words can’t capture the Supreme / Krishna outsources creation, maintenance and destruction / knowing Krishna makes the world of duality seem meaningless / Wisdom of the Sages came overcome malefic planets / Krishna’s lotus feet are captivating
SB 4.30.14 - 20
912: Transforming Social Responsibility Into Yoga
when the intention is selfless, work becomes yoga / “one who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender” - Bhagavad-gita 3.6 / a sincere sweeper in the street is far better than the charlatan meditator / the devotee does not feel hackneyed or stereotyped / in the heart of the devotee the Paramatma reveals Himself as ever-increasingly new
SB 4.30.14-20
911: Ambition, Aggression, Competition & Our Desire to be Happy
am I a criminal or a victim? / Alexander the Great could have been content (right now) / satva guna = contentment, raja guna = discontentment / get off the treadmill / even the #1 materialist is in anxiety / striking the balance between competition & cooperation / the material model vs the spiritual model / there’s room for competition in the spiritual realm
SB 4.30.13
910: The Need to Question Our Sacred Cows
“One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.” - Georg C. Lichtenberg / the need to question our sacred cows / the maturity needed to question our sacred cows / there’s always time for questions in discussions of Santana dharma / the danger of giving up independent thought / question - boil away what’s not real - and then place your faith on a more stable foundation / the need to question the sacred texts / the need to let others question
909: Sage Groups - The Unit for Transformation
In today's show we hear from the participants of The Wisdom of the Sages Sage Groups, a way of connecting weekly online, in a small group setting, to learn, question and share, about practicing Bhakti-yoga.
908: Spiritual Life is a Festival - Interview with Krishna Murari Goswami
Raghunath speaks with Bhanu-Nandini about connecting with God as a child while escaping a war torn country, and with Krishna Murari Goswami about the origins of Holi and growing up as a 14th generation Goswami in Nandagram.
40% of Divya’s MasterClass at https://divyas.com/?ref=6799 and 15% off your first purchase with code Wisdomofthesages15
10% off Happy Girl Kitchen with coupon code WISDOM
Chasing Rhinos 3 book set at www.chasingrhinos.com
907: I Know But One Freedom, Freedom of the Mind
I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery / thank God I am not my mind! / if our body is forced to age, are we really free? / try a mantra mind experiment / Lord Vishnu appears / Lord Vishnu appreciates the friendship of the Pracetas / the mind can be trained out of lust, greed and envy
SB 4.30.1-13
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906: The Strength It Takes to Let Go
“There are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” - Ann Landers / we are just playing our roles then we give them up / life will go on without us - they’ll be telling jokes at our funeral / spiritual maturity lies in managing polarities / we want eternal life in a temporary world - it doesn’t work / everything within time is a dream
SB 4.29.80-85
905: Dreams as Evidence of Previous Lives
dreams as evidence of previous lives / “Because consequential things in our present experience turn inconsequential with the passage of time, as they do in a dream, we can be said to be in a dream.” - Spiritual Scientist / The mind of the living entity continues to exist in various gross bodies / our old neighborhoods are like a dream / we’re passing through bodies even during our sleep / shrinking the karmic stockpile / losing identification with the body during deep sleep, fainting, shock, death, fever / understand the purpose of the virtual reality
Get 10% off Happy Girl Kitchen products with coupon code WISDOM https://happygirlkitchen.com/
4.29.66-79
904: Lensa AI & Our Desire for Fantasy
Lensa AI - a dream within a dream / when I want you, all I have to do is dream / we are constantly choosing the blue pill / we take on new bodies based on our desire and our punya (karmic merit) / working out, plastic surgery, makeup, hair styles, Lensa AI - all different ways of trying to taste the fantasy / Bring your warm and fuzzy to Vrindavan / the old want to look young, the young want to look old - we’re never happy with what we’ve got / Yogis decide “I want reality”, and the promise is that reality is way better than the fantasy
SB 4.29.62-65
903: Transformation Starts With One Good Choice
Raghu Dreamt of Prabhupada - Kaustubha dreamt of Ringo / 3 apps operating on the computer of the mind - manas, ahankara and buddhi / consciously reprograming the mind / recreate the samskara / transformation starts with one good choice / trap, cotton candy and other forms of junk food / in dreams, do we go somewhere else? - are we somewhere else right now? / Positive habits lead to positive desires
SB 4.29.61
902: Q & A - Volume 144
How to practice humility and tolerance? / How to prepare for pilgrimage? / Can you explain the 36 Tattvas (from Shaivism) in the context of bhakti? / Are there rituals to be performed before Japa meditation?
40% off Divya's Masterclass with link https://divyas.com/?ref=6799
901: Q & A - Volume 143
Should we be detached from our family? / Are tattoos motivated purely by ego? / What does it mean to practice bhakti “without deviation?
900: Bhagavad Gita (What's Your Favorite Verse?)
For Episode 900, Raghunath and Kaustubha hear from their listeners about their favorite verses from Bhagavad-gita.
899: The Maya Dream of the Material World
Prestige is a slippery slope / sometimes you have to make a change and don’t look back / hyper-inclusivism vs hierarchal-inclusivism / Look for lessons everywhere
SB 4.29.55-62
898: Love Without Possession
we’re here to love, not to control / our deepest attachments are our deepest vulnerabilities / we are trying to taste the rasa that Krishna enjoys / we can’t protect someone from their destiny / Bhagavad-gita’s formula = being complete dutiful, and completely detached / the love formula - two souls, holding hands, walking towards Divinity / Don’t you get it - we’re all about to die?! / At any moment your woohoo could end with a bonk / Get the hell out of the garden!
SB 4.29.52-54
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897: Siddhartha's Lesson (Mini-Me, You Don't Complete Me)
“the river laughs both at me and at you” / to what path, to what deeds, to what sufferings have we been called? / “even if you died 10 times for him, you would not succeed in relieving him of even the smallest fraction of his destiny.” / “this pain is of the sort that is tempting to laugh about” / Siddhartha lives his past again and comes back to OM / the novice sees materialists with disgust, the master sees them with love / “everything returned again, that had not been fully suffered and resolved; it was always the same sorrows being suffered again and again.”
896: Siddhartha's Letting Go
getting over our pretense / Mara’s a good hearted woman in love with a good-timin’ man / we’re just wandering spirits looking for a way out / the Supersoul is provided remembrance, knowledge & forgetfulness / the Supersoul knows our desires like Amazon Prime / take shelter of the root for all good fortune in the heart / Siddhartha’s letting go
SB 4.29.50-51
895: Q & A - Volume 142
How to deal with guilt, shame and regret on the Bhakti path? / How can women navigate the effects of menstruation on their daily sadhana?
894: Algorithms are Distorting Our Perception
algorithms are distorting our perception of reality - we need to be meeting with people in person more / dance unabashedly / all the sages draw from the teachings of Vyasa / how do we know that Bhakti is not just a concession, rather than the goal? / this is not our real home
SB 4.29.45-49
893: Zoom Out & Be Thankful
Thanks to the Wisdom of the Sages family! / Its ok to recreate family / appreciate people and spread gratitude / zoom out and be thankful / choose serving the devotees over serving the senses / Narada has the cure for our material disease / the secret of success is hearing from the right person / receiving Bhakti through a heart to heart transfer / Hee Haw will not endure
SB 4.29.38-45
892: Postulate 7 - Evolve or Repeat
Bhagavatam is the thread holding it all together — Essential, relevant, and practical / time comes along and ruins the illusion / There is no material solution / have courage and take shelter / all of our suffering is due to illusion / the only real solutions lie in spiritual principals / we have to laugh at ourselves and our own attachments / Postulate 7 - Evolve or Repeat
SB 4.29.34-37
891: Between My Problems & Their Solutions Lie My Attachments
“Every solution to every problem is simple. It's the distance between the two where the mystery lies.” ― Derek Landy / my attachments stand in the way of the simple solution / kindness & simplicity are always the solution / lean into spiritual life / the wise can find great joy with nothing / sometimes you’ve gotta get the mafia involved / the sacred cow vs the tractor / a meat-based diet and economy dependent on cruelty, machinery and fossil fuels vs simple living and loving cooperation between humans and cows
SB 4.29.32-33
890: Q & A - Volume 141
How can one apply Bhakti wisdom to the grief of the loss of a loved one?
889: Our Minds are Being Altered by Outside Influences
The influences of the gunas are woven into the tapestry every object w encounter, and every circumstance we experience / a wise person learns how to make the gunas work for them / only when one is content, can they focus inward
SB 4.29.26-32
888: Peeling Away the Layers of Attachment
careful what you look for- you’ll find it / attachment clouds truth perception / who am I in this story - wise Narada or the attached king? / peeling away the layers of attachment / the humility of Akinchana Krishna das Babaji / am I in control or am I being controlled?
SB 4.29.1-27
887: The Only Satisfying Identity is 'I am Spirit'
the need for material success, popularity, and power stem from self-rejection / "Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” Henri J.M. Nouwen / don’t get triggered out of the treasure / the only satisfying identity is I am spirit / the soul is a person and an enjoyer in reality / non-binary gender identification mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam / our factual position - both one with and different from God / every Starbucks should have a swan
40% off Divya's Masterclass with link https://divyas.com/?ref=6799
SB 4.28.55-65
886: Q & A - Volume 140
What do you do when your guru gives you an instruction but your heart and intuition say something else? / Was Srila Prabhupada a saint?
40% off Divya's Masterclass with link
885: Q & A - Volume 139
Guru Questions
884: Q & A - Volume 138
Can one love, without loving themselves first? / What can I do for Krishna? Is intention enough? / Any advice for bringing kids on pilgrimage? / How does a swami become a swami?
883: Who am I Among the Dwellers of Plato's Cave?
“A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.” - Saul Bellow / How deep is my need for illusion? / Our home is the spiritual world / Plato’s allegory - Life as we know it, is like being chained in a cave and forced to watch shadows of reality projected on a stone wall / Who am I, among Plato’s cave dwellers? / things in the physical world are flawed reflection of the ideal forms in the spiritual world / Is there a source of light that will reveal the falsity in even our most basic assumptions? / physicists speak of a real world behind the world of perception and change / when the living entity wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world / how we both fall and never fall, from the spiritual world / you should try to realize the meaning of what I have said through cit-samadhi, spiritual meditation
SB 4.28.54
882: The Message Life Delivers at the Funeral Pyre
how to relieve the world’s suffering / spiritual knowledge as a way of checking the imbalance of values in life, and achieving real unity and peace / “The more directly one aims to maximize pleasure and avoid pain, the more likely one is to produce instead a life bereft of depth, meaning and community.” - Emily Esfahani Smith / the Supersoul isn’t a judge, He’s a friend / how many burials or funeral pyres of our loved ones have we witnessed in our many lifetimes? / funeral pyre renunciation / how many times have we heard that voice and ignored it? / desiring earthly enjoyments, we’ve become attached / we’re allowed to unfollow whoever we want
881: Mastering the Inner Voice Formula
in life’s most difficult moments, when one feels most alone, we may hear the voice of God within / we have an eternal friend in the heart / we’re still far away from our original home / we’ve been traveling in different forms throughout this material world / we’ve forgotten our spiritual life and have been placed in various miserable conditions / our sense of identity shifts from one body to another / we’re in the process of remembering what we are / formula to hear God - follow the instructions of a master - and then God will instruct you in the heart / just because there’s lots of fool’s gold doesn’t mean there isn’t any real gold
880: Taking a Picture in the Heart
perceiving the spiritual world in the material world / whatever our view of reality is, it’s going to be far out, and require faith / taking a picture in the heart / when our interests merge with those of the Supersoul / the practice of the disciple - serving with love and affection, giving up sensual enjoyments, renunciation, austerity, peace and steadiness / the disciple cries when the guru leaves / the disciple and guru are live together eternally through the instructions
879: Q&A Volume 137
What’s happening in the Spiritual World? / Are feelings of unworthiness on the Bhakti path common? / What is Hare Krishna 2.0?
878: Broken Pickers - We’re attracted to the Causes of Our Suffering
Broken Pickers - We’re attracted to the Causes of Our Suffering
Krishna disguises himself as a boatman / Krishna disguises himself as a snake doctor / Are we attracted to things that are causing suffering? / the meaning of life is as simple as fixing our broken picker / the king develops attraction to Krishna through austere yoga / dharma is meant for developing attraction to Krishna - SB. 2.2.8 / the distinction between the soul and the Supersoul / we are the witness in the body - doing nothing / don’t trust your instincts
877: Practical Spiritual Principles for Us Dented Cans
old death-defying India vs new materially developed India / how the king became fixed in spirit - austerity, learning, regulative principles, self-control / practical ways to include austerity in our lives / Sri Chaitanya gave the highest spiritual sentiments to the most dented cans / Krishna is everything.” Bhagavad-gita 7.19 / “For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome.” Bhagavad-gita 12.5
876: Counterintuitive Wisdom for the Conditioned Mind
the biggest cause of my distress is planning for happiness / beware of being the enjoyer in Vrindavan / if you come in a mood of service it’s like you’re already liberated / material indulgence always ends in indigestion / me first mentality is like Lord of the Flies / happiness through service is the peace formula / all there is within the universe for satisfying one’s senses cannot satisfy a person who’s senses are uncontrolled / if your happiness is from your ego, prepare for pain / contentment opens you up to deeper spirituality / association is everything
875: How the Mind Gives Birth to Detachment
Pustulate 4 - let Krishna be the attractive one (because we can’t handle the fame, power, beauty, wealth, etc.) / Krishna is the original addiction, the one that never gets old / the guru gives birth to attraction to Krishna - and the practices of Bhakti / the practices give birth to the varieties of devotion expressed though the authentic Bhakti lineages / the mind unites with attraction to Krishna and gives birth to detachment to external pleasures / a real disciple carries firewood / a real guru is expert in understanding the Vedic conclusion and always fixed in spirit / Bhakti is without selfish motive, and directed to Krishna, the root of all existence
874: A Model's Journey Back to Bhakti / Interview with Shara McGlinn
Kaustubha interviews Shara McGlinn about growing up in Bhakti, and her journey through professional modeling, acting, recovery and back.
873: Q&A Volume 136
• How does a Bhakti-yogi face workplace challenges? • Can a Buddhist Love Krishna? • How can I be responsible for being misled by the heart and mind Krishna gave me?
872: Appreciating Bhaktivedanta Swami
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of his Tirobhava (passing from this world) Raghunath and Kaustubha share their appreciation for Bhaktivedanta Swami by reading a short bio and hearing from Allen Ginsburg, George Harrison, Thomas Merton, and scholars Harvey Cox and Stillson Judah.
871: Real Bhakti Lineages vs Personality Cults
the mood needed to enter a holy place / we suffer for our over-indulgence / we move toward who we meditate on / a devotee has no vision other than Krishna / don’t criticize but discern / charlatans exist in the East too / pseudo-avatāras,-svāmīs,-yogīs and others
870: Sex, Violence & Their Relation to Truth Perception
letting go of resentments for Diwali / the loneliness of death / remembering the inner friend and well-wisher / open your home in loving service / starting the conversation with God in your heart / through control of the sex-drive, power is attained / in the presence of one who is established in nonviolence, enmity is abandoned
869: Dharmic Reversals / An Interview with Dr. Ravi M. Gupta
Kaustubha discusses with Professor Ravi Gupta about the unique role of Srimad Bhagavatam in the broader yoga tradition, and how it presents “Dharmic Reversals” where common religious, social hierarchies (in terms of gender, age, caste and even species) are turned upside-down. Dr. Ravi M. Gupta (Radhika Ramana dasa) is the Charles Redd Professor of Religious Studies and Department Head for History, Religious Studies, and Classics at Utah State University. He is the author or editor of four books, including an abridged translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam (with Kenneth Valpey), published in 2017 by Columbia University Press. Ravi has received four teaching awards, a National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship, three research fellowships, and a book award. He is a Permanent Research Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and a past president of the Society for Hindu Christian Studies. He speaks around the world on topics related to Chaitanya Vaishnavism, Vedanta philosophy, and Krishna bhakti traditions.
868: Q & A - Volume 135
Any advice for people coming to Bhakti later in life? / Am I practicing detachment or avoiding responsibility? / If God is singular, how can we all be God?
867: Fate Ordains That Dearest Friends Must Part
“But fate ordains that dearest friends must part.” – Edward Young / there’s only one friend that we don’t part with / starting the conversation with God in the heart / the wise voluntarily renounce what time will take away involuntarily / the spirit soul is the principal factor within the body / our schools need to engage us with spiritual knowledge / spiritual knowledge can heal us socially and psychologically
SB 4.28.23-25
866: My Mind is in the Past, My Mind is in the Future
we try to keep death under wraps / Pompeii can happen at any moment / fear, dread and resignation at the moment of death / fear for our loved ones in the future / regret about how we treated loved ones in the past / life will go on without us / they’ll be eating chips and dip, and laughing at your funeral / the iceberg of death is coming, destroying love and romance / only spiritual knowledge will save us from the pain of separation / our miserly intelligence limits our love
SB 4.28.18-22
865: My Body is Not I, My Property is Not Mine
“… our concern must be to live while we're alive - to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.” - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross / we’re here for self realization / there’s a bigger ROI on your spiritual life / yoga wisdom could save yoga asana / Postulate 4 - My body is a vehicle for devotional service / sexual attraction is the basic principle of material existence, and leads to thinking in terms of I and mine / who is the real sannyasi?
SB 4.28.14-17
864: I Sneeze - I'm a Man / I Sneeze - I'm a Woman
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”- Haruki Murakami / the terror of death without spiritual knowledge / “Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.” Jean de La Fontaine / death can be a gift to put your life in perspective / our deep affections for family should be based on truth / the chains of habit are too light to be felt until they’re too heavy to be broken
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SB 4.28.1-13
863: Food Charged with Prana - Interview with Divya Alter
Divya Alter discusses her new cookbook, how to incorporate ayurveda in your daily life, the importance of prana and pranic foods, and more.
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862: Q & A - Volume 134
How to explain your new interest in Bhakti to loved ones? / Can you pinpoint the reasons why you both got into Bhakti?
861: Inspiration for Our Stay in the Planet Earth Guesthouse
know that Krishna listens to the voice of your chanting / share the spiritual messages that strike you with others / remain clear that we are staying only a short time in the guesthouse of planet earth / do I treasure things that aren’t so valuable? / are my thoughts giving me energy? / finding the small spark in the heart and acting out of love
https://www.urbandevi.com/the-inspiration-list/
860: Life Just Doesn't Get Any Better than This!
dying as a spiritually aware person / time is creeping up on us / Time gives birth to Old Age, who teams up with Fever & Disease to attack our body / Vaishnavas are immune the anxiety and suffering of old age and disease / even curses can be blessings / old age can be an impetus for our spiritual life / separating ourselves from our external reality through Bhakti / yoga leads to boundless happiness, truth, and steadiness through life’s greatest challenges
Bhakti Tirtha Swami's last kirtan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0B8vOZJ3WY
SB 4.27.21-30
859: Observe, Learn, Grow, Love & Then Return Home
we’re here to observe, learn, grow, love and then return home / you don’t need to decorate your hotel room / Postulate 14 - let Krishna be the attractive one / we can’t handle fame, wealth, beauty, etc. / both materialistic piety and decadence lie on the other side of truth / Krishna comes in the form of time and forces us to surrender / our life airs are being attacked by time, along with the days and nights / every time the sun sets we can reflect that my body is losing a battle / for those who identify with the body, time brings anxiety / time brings disease
SB 4.27.5-20
858: Material Happiness Will Shoot You in the Groin
what is normal now is really abnormal / the blind pursuit of materialism is a hamster wheel of debt / making sense of an upside world through Bhakti / stay where you are but cultivate wisdom / Bhagavatam juxtaposes spirituality, not only with moral decadence, but with materialistic piety as well / material enjoyment is just a thin veneer over suffering / material happiness will shoot you in the groin / disease and time are creeping up on us / what’s your pillow, that helps you sleep through life’s important messages?
SB 4.27.1-4
857: Clear Out Ordinary- Make Room for Extraordinary
the desires of the guru are always in the heart of the disciple / “What is sacred is considered to be ordinary & what is ordinary is considered to be so important.” - Radhanath Swami / Clear out the junk in your mind to make space for the extraordinary / let your Inner archaeologist dig deep / Krishna’s Lila as the ultimate focal point / It’s not just cleaning and emptying the house, it’s filling the house with love / the higher consciousness is inaccessible through the material senses / meditation on Krishna’s Lila arises in the consciousness, reveals itself and summons the eternal, blissful participation of those who meditate upon it / Krishna’s dance is the churned essence of all the Vedic literature
856: Q&A Volume 133 with Radhanath Swami
855: Q & A - Volume 132
How to associate with “wonderful” non devotees? / How to find joy again after the loss of my daughter? / Can you share 1 everyday practice for people who don’t live in an ashram? / How to gracefully receive worship, praise, validation & love?
854: This is What Unsteady Spiritual Practice Looks Like
clutter smothers, simplicity breathes / the results that arise from weakness of heart / what unsteady spiritual practice looks like - (1) enthusiasm based on over-confidence, which is thus feeble and short-lived, (2) irresolute, sporadic, endeavors, (3) indecisiveness and doubts constantly assailing one’s resolve, (4) the battle with desire for worldly sense objects, (5) the inability to uphold vows, (6) delighting in the mundane benefits afforded by bhakti
853: Begging Our Dharmic Intellect to Come Back
once we neglect it, dharmic intelligence does not come back so easily / a mind without devotion and dharma endowed intelligence is like an empty home / worse than the tangible karmic reaction is the deepening of adharmic disposition which steals our freedom / reestablishing dharmic intelligence through giving up false ego and respecting the Bhakti-yogis / battling the voices of adharma in the mind / we are both tiny and significant / our subordination to insignificant objects / in weakness we buy into false arguments
SB 4.26.14-26
852: Resetting the Algorithm in the Mind
“No man was ever wise by chance.” – Seneca / the lifelong attempt to acquire wisdom / I want your body, but not the emotions that come with it / the mind’s power over us is eroded by hearing (śravana), reflecting (manana), and meditating (nididhyāsana) / working the renunciation muscles / resetting the algorithms in the Mind / what do we need to “unfollow” / coming back to our dharmic intelligence
SB 4.26.10-13
851: Cynical Hippies & Stone Hearted Killers
“Remember that pain has this most excellent quality. If prolonged it cannot be severe, and if severe it cannot be prolonged.” - Seneca / “There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall.”- Gandhi / there is something to learn from our pain / “Apart from separation from the devotee of Kṛṣṇa, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.” - Ramananda Raya / cynical German hippies / we’re all spirit souls, treat everyone with dignity / animals are not dead stone, but the killers of animals are stonehearted / attachment covers truth perception
SB 4.26.5-9
850: The Ties Between Our Cruelty & Our Suffering
"Let us train our minds to desire what the situation demands." - Seneca / lust is the beginning of misogyny / we’ve got a quiver of unlimited desires / a womanizer can’t be kind / cruel reactions follow cruel behavior / global pandemics, climate change related disasters, and war are all tied to the cruelty of factory farming
SB 4.26.1-4
849: Q & A - Volume 131
How to practice humility free of shame & unworthiness? / Am I callous or wise? / How to study with devotion? / What is compassion in a Bhakti context?
848: Q & A - Volume 130
How to explain Krishna to my child? / Is it wrong to put down a pet? / Why does the Vedic Literature teach in a progression to Bhakti?
847: The Bikini Cardboard Cut-out Seen Through the Lens of Reason
“When 'happiness' eludes us - as, eventually, it always will - we have the invitation to examine our programmed responses and to exercise our power to choose again.” - Richard Rohr / do we feel invited to resent, complain, feel self-pity…..or examine our mind? / the 9 gates of the body / expanding the space between stimulus and response / the bikini cardboard cut-out seen through the lens of reason / there’s no reward for dancing dogs
SB 4.25.24-62
846: The Battle to Reclaim the Mind
“Contemplation is an alternative consciousness that refuses to identify with or feed what are only passing shows. It is the absolute opposite of addiction, consumerism or any egoic consciousness.” - Richard Rohr / contemplation is freedom / pause for thought / the mind should be our employee / “sattvic scrolling” / if we could only monitor the mind / Jagrat (waking state), Svapna (dreaming state), Sushupti (deep sleep state) / in the waking state the mind experiences outward impressions - in the dreaming state, it creates its own impressions developed from the materials of the waking hours / Japa locks you into the sacred sound / “From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.” Bhagavad-gita 6.26
845: 2 People, Holding Hands, Walking Towards Divinity
Egoic consciousness is the one we all normally operate with, until we are told there is something else! – Richard Rohr / identifying our common central reference point is the key to “checking the imbalance of values” and “achieving real unity and peace in the world” / my body is deteriorating while I’m in it / there’s no even playing field in the material world / egoic consciousness = seeing everything in the context of the enjoyment of our senses - rather than in the context of the Source that it stems from / when 2 people strike a deal - thinking that the other will satisfy them - they are setting up for conflict / ego consciousness does not necessarily mean David Lee Roth
SB 4.25.40-43
844: Bypassing vs Facing the Obstacles with Wisdom
“Faith is not for overcoming obstacles; it is for experiencing them—all the way through!” - Richard Rohr / read 5 Bhagavad-gita versus today / this isn’t bypassing, it’s facing the obstacles with wisdom - so we can grow / giving up on figuring out the meaning of life is bypassing / before the truth sets you free, it makes you miserable / the dream within the dream / positive role models lift us up / what is prana?
SB 4.25.34-39
843: Q & A - Volume 129
Idolatry & Bhakti - what’s the deal? / What is pure devotion pure of?
842: Lowercase love, the Demoniac & Satanic Friends
“Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.” ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet / postulate 31 - upper and lower case love / We should have a mad pursuit for growth (not happiness) / understanding the “demoniac” mentality / Kaustubha’s Satanic friend / the idea that there is no moral foundation to the world doesn’t hold up / selfishness leads to pain and anxiety / time is running out - Now is the time to inquire into the absolute truth
SB 4.25.29-33
841: Q & A - Volume 128
How to have better inter-sangha relations? / How to become more sincere? / How to get over feelings of insecurity? / Is there a motive in Bhakti?
840: Did I Change My Mind, or Did My Mind Change Me?
“The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness.” - Khalil Gibran, The Prophet / that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within timelessness / spiritual energy means beyond time / why Raghunath hangs out in graveyards / how much of my time is spent in timelessness? / great cultures were built on contemplation of life’s most important questions / three apps operating on the computer of the mind - manas, ahankara, and buddhi / freedom is most effectively taken away by giving the illusion of freedom
SB 4.25.27-32
E-mail officialjahnavi@gmail.com and put WoS giveaway and your city in the subject line
839: Observing My Emotions, as the Inner Witness
“Accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.” – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet / Bhagavad-gita 2.14-15 / becoming the inner witness by disengaging from identification with our thoughts and emotions and just observing them / by embracing the delusion of dualities it becomes impossible to acquire self realization / without self realization there’s no God realization / human life is meant for asking the important questions
838: The Murder of the Passion of the Soul
“Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral.” ― Khalil Gibran, The Prophet / austerity feels difficult at first, and liberating in the end / the mind is a computer, the senses are the plug in devices, the soul is the user (and the battery) / our senses are servants of the mind, each with hundreds of desires / attachment and aversion are two sides of the same coin
837: Q & A - Volume 127
How does one know when they are ready to make a commitment to seek a guru and initiation? / How does one chant mantras on beads? / How to let go of resentment?
836: Sing, Dance, Eat & Tell Stories Together - Every Day
“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / we need to sing together / how the results of yoga practice become firmly rooted through culture / Raghu’s recent parenting wins / Brooklyn Radha Govinda Temple back in the 80’s / India is lame (but with spiritual assets), the West is Blind (but with material assets) / blinded by the glitter of material opulence
835: Naked Man & the Box Revisited
“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / are we free or are we following the programing in the mind? / shrimp scampi or cockroach scampi - what’s the difference / naked man and the box revisited / yoga is aimed at uncovering the true self, underneath the mental programing / we are all the king of our bodies, wandering with an unknown friend - the paramatma / for one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached - Bhagavad-gita 6.7 / we can’t find satisfaction through the body
SB 4.25.7-12
834: Postulate 1 - I'm a Lover by Nature
who is Narada? / don't be fooled by the highlight reels of peoples life / don’t work on decorating your prison cell, work on your reformation / never forget the reason behind the rule (divine love) / we’ve been wandering through different bodies and planets / everyone has dormant kṛṣṇa-bhakti — love for Kṛṣṇa — and in the association of good devotees, that love is revealed
SB 4.25.6
833: Why Isn't Michael Jordan Happy?
“It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / the impulsive part of the mind is programed to believe externals bring happiness - the reflective part of the mind can reprogram it / “I acted and behold, service was joy.” - Rabindranath Tagore / what are “fruitive activities”? / material enjoyment comes with suffering - no way around it / even Michael Jordan’s not happy / when we try to take Krishna’s role we crash
SB 4.25.1-5
832: Interview with Gurudas - The Ripples from Prabhupada Carry On
Gurudas and Raghunath discuss the early days with Prabhupada, the Beatles, and his new book, The Swami who Rocked the Worlds, as well as his nonprofit organization The Vedic Care Charitable Trust. More info here https://vediccarecharity.org
831: Q & A - Volume 126
Why do we have to suffer so much? / Is it wrong for a yogi to drink coffee & tea? / Could you share a good morning ritual for someone with PTSD?
830: Be Like Water
“Be like water, making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.” - Bruce Lee / the universe is designed to assist us - so don’t be so rigid / the balance of knowing when to be soft like grass and when to be rigid like a tree / instead of sizing up the whole world find the good qualities / you won’t find self worth through others’ shortcomings / to serve the universe - start by meditating on it’s source
SB 4.24.71-79
829: Don't Go Wide, Go Deep
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Bruce Lee / starve your distractions, feed your focus / find God in your heart and meditate on Him continuously / One who sees the Supersoul equally present everywhere, in every living being, does not degrade themself by their mind / Kaustubha’s prema breath work / Haridas Thakura become the Namacharya / keep digging into the mantra / keep digging into your heart
SB 4.24.70
828: Bruce Lee & Brahman Realization
The medicine for my suffering I had within me from the very beginning but I did not take it.” - Bruce Lee / don’t empower the triggers / materialists look without, spiritualists look within / hack away at the unessential - distill the mind / triggers direct you toward your self work / here’s the key - human life is meant for inquiry of Absolute truth / 3 features of the Absolute Truth - Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan / you can’t understand a sage by the externals / the formula - staying situated in you social position, purify internally through chanting, and carry out your social duties
SB 4.24.68-69
827: Our 2 Options: Evolve or Repeat
“You don’t ask God to give you things, you depend on God for your inner theme.” - Bruce Lee / worship ≠ self-deprecation / focus all our good qualities to Krishna / worship = the development of deep respect and love for every living being / will we run our life away on the hamster wheel, or focus on learning life’s lessons? / we have 2 options: evolve or repeat / the rarity of human birth / 9 symptoms of an advanced devotee
SB 4.24.67
826: World Peace Can't Be Done
Srimad bhagavatam - the great reminder / We aren’t selling you a religion, we’re waking up your true identity / excavate your spiritual identity / Bhakti is all inclusive / Let everyone sweep their own door and the whole world will be clean / Check ourselves on giving unsolicited advice / its hard to heal in isolation / friends don’t cosign friends’ nonsense / world peace can’t be done, but there can be peace in our consciousness / fame exacerbates pain / even chickens are greedy / we are not the centre, we are satellites of the centre
4.24.64-66
825: Beauty & Love - Material vs Spiritual / Interview with Vaisesika Dasa
Vaisesika Dasa and Kaustubha discuss the Srimad Bhagavatam's presentation of beauty & love on the spiritual plane and how this world is a reflection of that.
824: Q & A - Volume 125
Radhastami Special: How to understand Radha’s suffering in separation from Krishna?
823: Thomas Merton's Introduction to Bhagavad Gita
the secret of human life lies in the surrender to and awareness of Krishna / the Gita fuses worship, action and contemplation in a fulfillment of daily duty that transcends all three through becoming an instrument of a transcendent will / the Gita remains utterly vital / Swami Bhaktivedanta brings to the West a salutary reminder that we lack the inner depth of an authentic metaphysical consciousness / without illuminated consciousness, we live life with tragic seriousness / the absence of violence in the Gita’s content, context and consequence / our future fantasies become a repugnant present / “In obedience to that inner truth we are at last free.” - Thomas Merton
822: Cosmic Player-Haters & the Big Flip Flop
Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.” - Thomas Merton / The Big Flip-flop = selfishness leads to suffering, selflessness leads to happiness / don’t be a Cosmic Player hater / real romance = holding hands and walk together toward Divinity / living a life both more serious and less serious than the one who does not sense the inner cosmic dynamism / capital e Enjoyer vs lower case enjoyers / Am I just a child and is my entire life just playing with a toy imitation?
SB 4.24.62-63
821: Past, Present & Future are Unnatural for the Soul
internal, external and marginal energies / we’re the marginal engird trying to enjoy the external energy / it’s reasonable to infer that someone is holding everything together / past, present and future are natural for the soul / it’s hard for us to conceive of existence without time / our desire to enjoy in competition with krishna is the cause of our material existence
https://www.mandala.org/upcoming-events/chantcamp2022
SB 4.24.61
820: Inner Dr. Evil, Meet My Inner Thomas Merton
“Reason is in fact the path to faith, and faith takes over when reason can say no more.” - Thomas Merton / atheism is a type of faith / spirituality is about respecting all other spirits / Raghu says Choose! / the external, internal and marginal energies / the body is planned obsolescence / if there’s a corrupt guru in your kitchen, practice Bhakti in the garage / my inner Dr. Evil, is battling my inner Thomas Merton / we’re all are being maintained - grow up and acknowledge it
SB 4.24.61
819: You are That! (But Not Like That)
“to be a saint means to be myself” Thomas Merton / sainthood is within us - chip it away / if I’m not being a saint, I’m not being myself / Western salvation vs Eastern self-realization / tat tvam asi - you are that (but not like that) / We are God’s energy yet we are individual / the personal conception makes everything click / Sri Caitanya schools the monist sannyasis / Arjuna - “how can one transcend the material energy?” - Krishna - “through Bhakti-yoga” / Krishna is the basis of brahaman / three manifestations of the Absolute Truth - Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavan
SB 4.24.60
818: Q & A - Volume 124
How do you navigate loneliness on the path of Bhakti? / How to keep Bhakti alive while living in the ordinary world? / How to share Bhakti with my kids? / How to describe Bhakti to someone new to it?
817: Q & A - Volume 123
Can we trust our intuition? / How to get through spiritual puberty? / What’s so special about me, that I found the path of Bhakti? / What to do if you feel your spiritual teacher’s advice is wrong?
816: Past & Future Exist Only in the Mind
"Neither the past nor the future exists.” - Yoda / A key for meditation – what distracts our mind most is thoughts of the past and thoughts of the future / the past is not for enjoying through reminiscing or wallowing in lamentation and the future is not for yearning or fantasy, they are both for upgrading the present / the past can enrich the present through knowledge gained by experience / envisioning the future can bring direction to the present / bhakti is transferred from the heart of a devotee / live to be corrected / putting a positive spin on the 10 offenses
SB 4.24.59
815: Triggers - Both Good & Bad
drop the mysteries of the universe on someone’s lap / Bhagavatam makes your home sacred / Bhagavatam untangles all difficulty / one moment’s association with a devotee can shift your trajectory / we’re out of our real element / a devotee can trigger the dormant devotion in the heart of another / devotional service IS our thing, we just forgot / getting past the triggers
SB 4.24.58
814: Luminous Beings Are We, Not this Crude Matter
Yoda gets it - we’re not these bodies / hear the gong of God for a paradigm shift / we go through many bodies, even in this one life / the force of the false ego causes the eternal self to identify with the temporary body / now (while you’re in a human body) is the time to inquire into the Absolute Truth / happiness is the natural situation of the living entity / the Bhakti-yogi can transcend the influence of time / death is a symptom of material infection / resist the flow of mundane material life - confront your own dark force
SB 4.24.56-57
813: My Dark Side You Are. Reject You I Do
Yoda speaks to the reflection of his own evil / rejecting our inner evil through patience and training / light up your life with transcendental practices / hearing and reflecting on truth provides our foundation for life / Bhakti-yoga is all about refining and directing emotions / everyone loves Shiva / its easier to cry / Indra wants Bhakti - the monists need Bhakti / why Bhakti is easier / love alone satisfies Krishna
SB 4.24.53-55
812: Train Yourself to Let Go of Everything
“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” — Yoda / Dig in and examine your fears to cultivate detachment / through reflection we fear less / though Bhakti we transfer attachment and fear / Bhagavatam dissipates the darkness of the heart / Fearfulness is the result of material involvement / a real yogi is focussed on ridding their heart of darkness / you light up my life Sri Krishna
SB 4.24.52
811: Interview with Jiva G / Introduction to the Bhakti Recovery 12 Step Program
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss the Bhakti Recovery Group with Jiva G and other participants about how principles from 12 step recovery can be applied in the context of Bhakti-yoga, and how it’s not just for hardcore drug addicts, but can help address a very wide range of addictive behaviors.
More info at https://www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com
810: Q & A - Volume 122
Where do you draw the line between a medicine and an intoxicant? / Is it ever ok for me to serve meat to an elderly, disabled relative? / Why does Krishna give us free will when we are so prone to misuse it?
809: Let Krishna Shine Within Our Hearts!
Krishna tags people to touch our lives / seek the spiritual essence, beyond the external stereotypes / humility is the conduit for Krishna’s mercy / sweet Krishna places liberation in the hands of the devotees / let Krishna shine within our hearts! / the infinite love and beauty of Krishna’s eyes / Krishna cannot check the rising tide of love He feels for his devotees / Lord Shiva Glorifies the beauty of Krishna’s form
SB 4.24.45-52
808: Shiva's Meditative Focus on the Form of Krishna
Jane Goodall on balancing the clever brain and the human heart / if we dare to look into those eyes, then we shall feel their suffering in our hearts / “If the factory farm does indeed unravel – and it must – then there is hope that we can, gradually, reverse the environmental damage it has caused.” Jane Goodall / magic happens when you start to romance Krishna / imagine Lord Shiva coming up to you and telling you what he meditates on! / Shiva’s meditative focus on the form of Krishna / Call Krishna and he will come
SB 4.24.44
807: Generating Pure, Spiritual Energy
Bhakti culture develops the sentiments favorable for yoga transformation / prune the vestigial limbs that don’t serve us / Shiva appeals to Krishna to purify his body and mind / change our choices to expand our free will / our bad choices make us miserable / Am I triggered by Krishna’s central role? / If my pleasure brought pleasure to everyone else, then I would be the supreme enjoyer / cultivate the spirit of Vrindavan within / Bhakti - its a formula that works / declare your real identity to check your ego (I’m a pure spirit soul)
SB 4.24.41-43
806: Am I a Virus in the Universal Body of Lord Vishnu?
Jane Goodall’s unannounced moments of true awareness / don’t freak out, freak in / stepping out of the current of time to experience moments of true awareness / the Universe is the body of Vishnu - are we healthy cells, or a virus? / don’t fight the flow - fight the anti-flow / the Vedas are an instruction manual for this human body / “It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words.” / Sage Engage - we all need to serve / settle into your relationship, career, service and teachers / everything is revealed through spiritual sound
SB 4.24.36-40
805: Jane Goodall is Feeling the Spiritual Power
Jane Goodall is playing the role of a Brahmin / feeling spirituality in nature / the benefits of ashram life / pure and auspicious mantras make our minds pure and auspicious / happiness through loving service is our nature / false ideas impressed within our minds are the cause of our losing touch with our true nature and seeking happiness externally / mantras should be transcendental, pure and auspicious / mantras should be received carefully and attentively / getting into Anjali Mudra / the disciple must be respectful and the guru must be kind-hearted / Jane Goodall gets it - there must be a Master of Integration behind everything
SB 4.24.31-35
804: Q & A - Volume 121
How do you practice Bhakti sincerely without holding back and at the same time, not lose relationships? / What’s the difference between chanting japa and kirtan? / Does Krishna love everyone?
803: Even the Appendix has a Purpose
“All Creatures exist for a purpose. Even an ant knows what that purpose is--not with its brain, but somehow it knows. Only human beings have come to a point where they no longer know why they exist.” ― Lame Deer / when you set the ego aside you can feel love in your heart / Others are real / ants don’t need to find themselves / even the appendix has a purpose / Naimittika-dharma (temporary) & Nitya-dharma (eternal) / our passion needs purpose / we need to tie our temporary purpose to our eternal purpose
802: The Bhagavad Gita's Hierarchical Inclusivism
“To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face one must be able to love the meanest of creation as oneself.” - Gandhi / how loving a 3 legged pitbull can light you up / ego and arrogance block our understanding of God / we are tiny insignificant specks - part of something greater / a gentle person is self satisfied; sensitive and concerned for others / interpretation of the Indian head bobble is an art / Lord Shiva’s cinematic entrance / the Bhagavad-gita’s hierarchal inclusivism solves the Rubik’s Cube of Vedic thought
SB 4.24.21-30
801: Calm & Quiet, Like the Mind of a Great Soul
meeting a great soul on pilgrimage can change your life / when we chant with great care and attention, our spiritual life takes off / meeting Lord Shiva is very rare / Kali and Durga are serious women / the mind of a great soul is calm and quiet / our minds are always disturbed / the disciples of a great soul become very calm and quiet in mind / becoming pleased with whatever Krishna wants
SB 4.24.1-20
800: Truth, Triggers & Taking It to the Soul
Heal so that you can hear what is being said without the filter of your wounds.” - Dr. Thema / truth is truth / another person’s behavior towards oneself = a reflection of their relationship with themselves / the only answer - “take it to the soul” / truth gives us a framework for tragedy / the rarity of human birth / this is a tough world, but it is not our true home / would you enter the fire?
SB 4.23.15-39
799: If Jesus Loves Me, Why Do You Hate Me So Much?
“God instructs the heart, not by ideas, but by pains and contradictions.” –18th century French Mystic Jean Pierre De Caussade / It’s gonna be so great when we finally see God in everyone’s heart / when the mind is conquered, the Supersoul is already reached / Dr. Pain makes house calls for our growth / mysticism (yoga) & detachment (from Jnana) are meant to bring us to the lotus feet of Krishna / to the degree that we let go of resentment and anxiety and practice bhakti, it lightens the load / the point of Jnana & yoga is to remember Narayana at the end / we’re the double dropped dented cans
SB 4.23.13-14
798: Interview with Bhaktimarga Swami - The Walking Monk
Kaustubha speaks with Bhaktimarga Swami a monk who has crossed the continent of North America five times on foot. The Walking Monk shares why he does it, the joy of meeting people, the value of being alone, and of feeling small.
797: Q & A - Volume 120
Why am I moved by simple kirtan and turned off by commercialized kirtan? / Can one attain Krishna Bhakti in just one lifetime, or does it take many? / Should a Bhakti-yogi refrain from wearing gold and jewels / Is the 'evil eye’ real?
796: This Podcast Will End Your Material Life
this place is a dream….you wake up laughing at what you thought was your grief / look at our suffering from different angles / we know too much to be able to enjoy the material world / Krishna 2.0 is accessible to everyone! / we need a release valve from the pressure cooker of the material world / transcendental sound is the power washer of Kali Yuga / add wisdom to your practice / this podcast will end your material life
SB 4.23.6-12
795: 6 Termites Eating Away at Our Spiritual Life
You are not responsible for the programming you picked up in the “download years” of your childhood, but you are 100% responsible for installing the upgrades. - (source unknown) / the mind is a computer / don’t forget to install the Buddhi app / take radical responsibility for upgrading your programming / examine if it’s real pleasure or just your ego / who was Rupa Goswami? / the termites that eat away at our spiritual foundation
794: Our Souls and Minds are Starving (for Spiritual Conversation)
we’re burning through time quick / it’s not the what’s that make a difference, it’s the who’s / Happy Birthday Mara! / our souls and minds are starving (for spiritual conversation) / beware the termites of spiritual life
SB 4.23.1-5
793: Interview with Musical Artist Jahnavi Harrison
Kaustubha & Jahnavi discuss her upcoming tour, her experience of bringing kirtan to the stage, her recent wedding, her father’s influence and practicing Bhakti as a newly married woman.
Find out more about her upcoming tour at https://jahnavimusic.com
792: Q & A - Volume 119
How to process disappointing experiences in holy places? / How to view people from different faiths equally when there are long histories of violence and oppression? / How to respond to beggars from a Bhakti perspective?
791: I'm not OK, You're Not OK & That's OK
metalheads are people too / I’m not okay, you’re not okay and that’s okay / we shouldn’t sacrifice long term growth by settling for cheap, temporary positivity / more on Karma-yoga / my child has their own higher power / rituals for conception / Raghu draws the line / burn like the sun / when we are inwardly content, we can move gently and with grace
SB 4.22.52-63
790: Try This One On-- "Nothing is Mine"
there’s a Bhakti Tsunami coming / great souls are taking birth / Bhakti recovery group is going to change the world / Karma-yoga 1st requirement - Phalaṁ brahmaṇi sannyasya : giving the fruits of activity to the Supreme / trying to take what’s not ours screws everything up / we’re just secondhand creators / This consciousness is called nirmama, or “nothing is mine.”
SB 4.22.51
789: All Squirrels All Day
Raghunath and Paramananda broadcast live from Poland
788: Q&A Volume 118 / Ask a Swami
His Holiness Sacinandana Swami answers live questions from our listeners at the Wisdom of the Sages retreat at Villa Vrindavan
787: Q & A - Volume 117
Raghunath and Kaustubha answer live questions from the retreat participants at Villa Vrindavan.
786: How Many Lifetimes Have I Been Through?
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." - Marcus Tullius Cicero / education steers our choices - our choices become us / we think we are independent, but we’ve been divinely cared for / Krishna has an eye on you / Bhagavatam teaches us to Zoom out even more / the material world is a fading dream / how many lifetimes have I been through? / let go of the cactus / in bhakti it’s all good / spiritual knowledge is the perfect benediction / the sages share the knowledge to develop the conviction to break the cycle
4.22.41-47
785: Kaustubha's Message from the Pope
784: What Do I Know? What Makes Sense? What Do I Believe?
4.22.38
783: Q & A - Volume 116
What really makes you believe Krishna is real? / What does it mean to surrender to Krishna?
782: The Sublime Mixed Emotions of Losing a Devotee Friend
the sublime mixed emotions of Mary in Michelangelo’s Piete / Bhakti provides coping mechanisms for the glue traps and tragedies of material world / art is creativity engaged in highlighting and preserving something sacred / "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark" Michelangelo / setting the bar high - Bhagavad-gita 6.20-23 / Krishna predominates with love / what is actual spiritual culture? / tat tvam asi - you’re not exactly that
SB 4.22.37
781: The Blessed Departure of Gopal Chandra
with death comes sobriety / Gopal was simple and selfless / don’t miss the opportunities and lessons for growth that life is sending / the key to life: humility + tolerance + showing respect to others, not expecting respect for oneself = deep, constant spiritual absorption / the model of a mother’s love for her child / Raghu renames the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel / Raphael’s appreciation of Michelangelo / Vaisnavas die to live
780: The Body is a Universe, the Universe is a Body
accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the one you’re with, with all your heart / treat everyone with the same quality of love that you treat those you love the most / the body is a universe, the universe is a body / Vishnu is the soul of the universe / awareness of the Supersoul in every nook and cranny is uplifting
SB 4.22.37
779: Life, Death & the Demolition Derby
keeping Krishna at the the center of our life of wacky hijinks / do we pick up exactly where we left off in the previous life? / those who understand life, let go of judgment / we have no clue where people are at /stepping out of automated karma / with every choice, we’re choosing a new body / dharma, artha, kama & moksha / we don’t have to go cold turkey / higher life and lower states of life exist only in relation to the interchange of the modes of material nature
SB 4.22.34-36
778: Interview with Gopi Gita
Raghunath and Kaustubha talk with Gopi Gita about parenting, teaching, bhakti practices, and her new book Leadership Parenting. More info at www.gopigita.com
777: Q & A - Volume 115
How do we practically put Krsna first in our pursuits? / Is personality a superficial aspect of the mind or do we have a transcendental personality? / how can one practice Ekadashi? / What do I do if I just can't connect with the Maha Mantra?
776: Spock, Karma Yoga & the End Game
“I neither enjoy the idea of command nor am I frightened of it. It simply exists, and I will do whatever logically needs to be done.” - Mr. Spock / make Krishna the end game / detached work leads to liberation / practice letting go / Gopal Chandra’s detachment / self realization not sense gratification / receiving the blessing of departing yogis / let go of the material world one more notch
SB 4.22.32-33
775: Vulcans Never Self-Loathe
“Pain is a thing of the mind. The mind can be controlled.” - Mr. Spock / being human is an inconvenience, but it is manageable / separating suffering from pain / Vulcans never self-loathe / when we turn fruitive activities into acts of devotion we can understand that we are not different from anyone else, regardless of the form / our real consciousness is getting sucked up / pornography - draw the line and don’t flirt with it / all the activities of the lost soul are performed on a false basis
SB 4.22.29-31
774: Spock's Spiritual Vision & Our Unstable Identities
faith develops in small increments / don’t be a shooting star be a rising moon / "I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life." - Mr. Spock / treat every little being with dignity / transcending distinctions between external and internal / upadhis - false designations / our false designations are unstable / functional and fundamental identities / the perfect conception of oneness
SB 4.22.27-28
773: Death Doula Monday
Let go of your past and future, it’s just you and Krishna / Burning is learning / There’s a healthy bitterness in the transition of death / surrender is going to come anyway, best to do it voluntarily with a smile / "In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see” - Mr. Spock / Our perception can be clouded by attachment & fear / become detached through devotion / burning away the material body through devotion
SB 4.22.25-26
772: Q & A - Volume 114
Raghunath and Kaustubha answer live questions from the audience at Supersoul Farm
771: Q & A - Volume 113
Vegan or Vegetarian? / How to Deal with Chronic Pain
770: Get Off the Mental Platform & Identify as a Soul!
get off the mental platform and start identifying as a soul! / he who can control the mind is in charge / Mr. Spock - “we can control the mind, therefore we can control the pain” / “To give free rein to the senses is to shackle the soul.” ― Theoleptos / “The ignorant man passes through the world dead to all pleasures, save those of the senses.” - “Sammy” Smiles / kindness and simplicity! / the great yogis understood that ahimsa requires a vegetarian diet / yoga means following, not making it up / elevate the mind by remembering Krishna’s character and pastimes / follow the yoga regulations without criticizing others / reprograming the mind through tolerating the dualities
SB 4.22.24
769: I'm Better than This! (The Bittersweet Flavor of Self Disgust)
human beings are sensation-receiving machines / people have little access to the possible world existing beyond their sensations - or do they? / after the indulgence - how do you feel? / there’s bitter sweetness in self-disgust / the mind is living in the glue trap of desire / material pleasure is chewing the chewed - spiritual pleasure has newer and newer flavors / Yamunacarya’s devotion is reignited / I’m better than this! / trade in small L love for big L Love / I don’t want to live in a hope to enjoy life- I want to enjoy life / the cotton candy of material enjoyment leads to nausea / the satisfaction of serving
SB 4.22.22-23
768: Preparing the Temple of the Heart
Bhakti is a practice of inviting God to reside in the temple of the mind or heart / have faith in the process / always feel encouraged to go deeper / after one handles the bad habits, next comes the subtle desires / progress not perfection
CC Madhya 12.135
https://sanskritsense.thinkific.com/courses Code- wisdom25off
767: I’m Born, I Forget My True Identity
I’m born, I forget my true identity, I get caught up in the drama, I expire before I learn my lessons, I’m born / our nature is to be attracted, it’s just a question of what we’re attracted to / the ultimate goal for the welfare of human society is detachment from the bodily concept of life and increased and steadfast attachment for Krishna / Krishna is a magnet, we are the iron, our false designations are the rust
SB 4.22.18 - 22
766: Pure Speech and the Quality of Hanuman's Words
it’s degrading for a brave, intelligent creature to waste time arguing with an ass / pointless argument is a disqualification for Vrindavan consciousness / if we knew how precarious our situation was we’d do something / good karma can be bad, bad karma can be good / our speech should be meaningful, appropriate, concise and sweet / the quality of Hunuman’s speech / society has lost appreciation for quality speech
SB 4.22.15-17
765: Sanskrit Philology - An Interview with Jeffrey Armstrong
Raghunath & Kaustubha discuss Philology (the study of language in oral and written historical sources) with Sanskrit expert Jeffrey Armstrong.
Learn more at https://jeffreyarmstrong.com or https://gitacomesalive.com
764: Q & A - Volume 112
Can you bridge the gap between Bhakti and other spiritual stuff? / What would be your advice or perspective on beginners growing pains in finding meaningful relationships in Bhakti?
763: Mental Concoction & the Woo-Tang Clan (sic)
gratitude - start with thanking the sun / if you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be fulfilled / the ungrateful are getting owned by the world / a grateful mind is a great mind / gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder / freedom comes from simplicity / good & bad are concoctions of the mind / resetting the impulsive mind with the intellect / what is woo for one is woe for the other
SB 4.22.14
762: Sing Meaningful Songs, Tell Meaningful Stories
the Sanskrit Vedic sciences have passed the test of time / let's sing meaningful songs, tell meaningful stories / get out of the meta verse and grow vegetables / the appearance of the child sages / receive a guest with humility and hospitality / every week is gratitude week for Maharaja Prthu
SB 4.21.50-4.22.14
https://theayurvedaexperiment.com
761: Honoring the Masters
“Forget injuries, never forget kindness.” - Confucius / getting even with those who have helped you / regulating practices of gratitude / Bhagavatam asks us to mature from ritualistic consciousness, to the level of seeing God in others / clarity of vision is maintained through faith, austerity, scriptural conclusions, full sense and mind control, and meditation / the Vedas are compared to a mirror because they reveal everything about the world / may good behavior be my wealth / honoring the masters
SB 4.21.41-49
760: Making it a Mission to Serve Great Souls
the root of joy is gratefulness / the root of sadness is entitlement / learning to be grateful before you unwrap the gift / the need to grant status to the wise / tolerance, penance, knowledge and education are the qualities of the brahmanas / Krishna serves the brahmanas / dharma isn’t black and white / making it a mission to serve great souls
SB 4.21.38-40
759: Q & A -- Volume 111
Can Bhakti yogis gain truth through other traditions?
758: Superspreaders of the Holy Name
See people for their potential / We aren’t cutting things out, we’re adding spirit / our work should be aligned with our liberation / Sacrifice foolish speech for transcendental sound / Woo world Wednesday / Our lives are teetering- you might forget death, but death hasn’t forgotten you / This body is a rented vehicle / Offending a vaishnava is losing at Kerplunk / Discern but don’t condemn
4.21.33-37
757: Q & A - Volume 110
756: A Little of the Esoteric Side of Bhakti
755: Krishna is the Root, We are the Leaves
the spiritual purity of Madhava Prabhu’s kirtan / Bhagavatam brings fire under the feet and bliss in the heart / pull Krishna back into your heart / the mystery of the universe revealed - Krishna is the root, we are the leaves / Donkey perspective - are they fanning me or are they fanning Jesus?
SB 4.21.32
754: The River Goddess Ganga
On the occasion of Ganga Puja, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss the glories of the river and goddess with Sacinanadana Swami
SB 4.21.30-31
753: Trade in Your iPad for a Creek
catching echos of the cosmic dance / cultivating pure vision / trade in your iPad for a creek (careful about staring into fire) / the natural opulences /the Vedas are a manual for how to live in harmony with God and Nature / truth of dharmic principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person
SB 4.21.1-29
752: Hold Me Closer Cosmic Dancer
“What is serious to men is often trivial in the sight of God” - Thomas Merton / “If we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance” - Thomas Merton / seeing the good fortune in God’s plan / we are the bird in the kitchen / the esoteric side of Bhakti-yoga - the varieties of divine love / Krishna is calling us to dance
SB 4.20.33-38
751: Interview with Gopal Chandra
750: Q & A - Volume 109
How to help someone who feels they can have no compassion or empathy? / Can you please explain the flow of wealth and power within the Varnasrama system, and how it is different from historical and modern feudalism? / Is food offered by Sikhs to the Guru Granth Sahib considered prasad by Krishna bhaktas? / Have we been planets, gods and goddesses at some point in our journeys?
749: Don't Blame -- Reframe
“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.” – Plato / the 6 enemies - lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy / 6 more “enemies” to be conquered - the 5 senses and the mind / through devotion one can see heaven, hell and liberation with an equal mind / don’t blame, reframe / the mysteries of the world have fallen on our lap / getting beyond the triggers
SB 4.20.31-32
748: Simplicity, Samadhi & Existential Shifts
SB 4.20.30
747: Is Love an Existential Reality?
SB 4.20.27-29
746: The Awakening Voice of a Pure Devotee
Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul – Democritus / Dr. Pain comes to Raghunath (reminding him that none of this is ours) / the beauty and simplicity of Krishna’s devotees / the awakening voice comes through the mouth of a pure devotee / let Krishna reclaim you / never break a devotee relationship
SB 4.20.25-26
745: Loneliness in the Waterpark of Liberation
SB 4.20.19-25
744: Q & A - Volume 108
How does yoga “clean the mirror of the heart”? / When trying to fix a relationship, can we intentionally resolve the quarrel or it all comes down to Krishna's mercy? / How are we to know when we are dealing with a Perfected Being, and what is the difference between a Perfected Being and an incarnation of Krishna? / What is the Mantra at the beginning of the song “Message of the Bhagavat”?
743: The Answer Lies Much Deeper than Political Solutions
SB 4.20.17-18
742: Jacked, Tanned & Disappointed
SB 4.20.15-15
741: Study Like You'll Live Forever
SB 4.20.12-14
instagram link: @bhakti_kids_sangha facebook link: Bhakti_kids_sangha | Facebook youtube link: Bhakti_kids_sangha - YouTube
740: Uniting Duty with the Principle of Love
we’re walking right past clues to the magic of the universe / the stars admonish us for our pettiness / the recipe for inner satisfaction - tying your functional dharma to your fundamental dharma / Bhagavatam ties all sorts of theistic worship into one excellent principle - Bhakti / knowledge of calculus doesn’t diminish addition and subtraction / duty, performed for any reason but love, is a waste of time
SB 4.20.10-11
739: Our 2 Identities - Functional and Fundamental
SB 4.20.1-9
738: The Relevance and Appeal of Bhagavad Gita -- Interview with Chaitanya Charan Das
737: Q & A Volume 107
736: Gaslighting vs. the Genuine Call for Introspection
735: Ya Can’t Reduce Dharma to a List of Rules
the gravity of Indra’s transgression / all that glitters is not gold (there are plenty of phony holy men out there) / Prthu prepares to kill Indra / the Brahmanas prepare to kill Indra / Brahma overlooks Indra’s behavior / deontological ethics vs consequentialism / the stories of Balaka, Kaushika and Mrigari the hunter / ya can’t reduce dharma to a list of rules / sometimes it’s better to speak a lie than to speak the truth
SB 4.19.13-32
734: Fake Sannyāsa vs Real Sannyāsa
we’re not buying into the false dichotomy – that other-worldly thought is opposed to worldly good / feeling vitalized by plugging into Bhakti / use the thorn to remove the thorn / Bhagavavad-gita on fake sannyasa vs real sannyasa / cultivating internal renunciation while embracing one’s external duties
SB 4.19.10-12
733: The Perennial Danger of ‘Religion'
the reality of death can quickly deepen our spiritual insight / when it’s bad it’s good / ritual is meant to re-mind us / the perennial danger of 'religion' / seeing God in fire, the sun, water and other elements, in the heart of the guest, and in one’s own heart / when Indra embarrasses himself it’s in front of everyone! / real prosperity is accepting the gifts of the cows, earth, rivers, trees, and oceans
SB 4.19.3-9
732: Dharmic Reversals & I Love Lucy
SB 4.19.1-2
731: The More You Chase Happiness, the More it Eludes You
730: Spiritual Knowledge is the Panacea
SB 4.18.22
729: Dharma, Karma & the Cosmic Balance
SB 4.18.19-22
728: Thoreau’s Pathways in the Mind
SB 4.18.8-18
727: Dharmic Living vs The Jerry Springer Show
all your money won’t another minute buy / if I can only walk with sufficient carelessness I am sure to be filled / nature is constantly speaking to us / life is a riddle / there’s truth in many paths, but some go further / hierarchical inclusivism / Bhagavatam presents a relentless focus on Bhakti causing dharmic reversals in terms of age, gender, caste and status / a learned person takes the essence of knowledge from all places / the laws of dharma are meant to bring out the best in us / when we ignore the sages we end up with Jerry Springer Show
SB 4.18.1-7
726: Interview with Vedasara Das / Bhakti is the Language of the Heart
Vedasara speaks of his journey as a 5 year old, lost in India, wandering with his 8 year old brother, how they grew up in a bhakti-yoga ashram, and of his services today in Atlanta, Georgia, serving the unhoused, and sharing Bhakti from heart to heart.
725: Q & A - Volume 106
How to handle negative energy in the workplace? / Can I just choose a mantra? / Can I practice Krishna Bhakti and still believe in Jesus too? / Why are there so many paths, philosophies and religions to begin with?
724: Austerity is the Wealth of the Brahmanas
everything is right / Bhaktivedantins see this world as a reflection of the spiritual world / am I a toiler? / for money, for little pleasures, for being slightly honored, we scold & insult each other / austerity is the wealth of the brahmanas / we need a thick skin and a thin skin / memories of Navidwipa Mandala Parikrama / the Earth surrenders / fate is the language of God
SB 4.17.27-36
723: Siddhartha, the Inner Buddha & Universal Completeness
don’t starve your inner Buddha / all sin already carries the divine forgiveness in itself / perceived danger when spirituality is seen through the lens of social justice / a deeper, more genuine compassion born of spirituality / spiritual vision cuts through division / in deep meditation, there is the possibility to see everything is good, everything is perfect, everything thing is Brahman / everything only requires my consent to be good for me / all of us are in rehab but only a few consent to it / all facilities are given to us to realize the Complete Whole / all forms of incompleteness are experienced due to incomplete knowledge / the illusory representation of completeness cannot fully satisfy us
722: Aligning Your Heart with the Great Souls
“my goal is this: always to put myself in the place in which I am best able to serve, wherever my gifts and qualities find the best soil to grow” / turning your ambition over to Krishna / aligning the heart with the great souls / being bigger than the pettiness of the material world / the most genuine compassion is grown out of deep introspection / you might be the jerk / the universal system of order is designed to foster gratitude in the hearts of humans / non-binary mentions in Bhagavatam
SB 4.17.1-26
721: Krishna, I am Yours
the material world is pruning everything away - you can get bitter or grow / I had to experience despair in order to experience grace / humility is the conduit for grace / sharing Bhagavatam pleases the great devotees / foreshadowing of Prithu’s pastimes / anything started on this day will grow without diminishing / start something auspicious today / Vaishnavas spiritualize everything / the day we say “Krishna, I am Yours!” is the day the magic begins
SB 4.23-27
720: Does Absolute Power Corrupt Absolutely?
allowing one's mind & heart to be shaped by the stories of the Bhakti tradition / a tsunami of Bhakti inundates NY / the beauty of kirtan masters inspiring devotion / government has both liberal & conservatives concerns / does absolute power corrupt absolutely? / when there’s no trust, there’s a need for transparency / government can’t play favorites / the common portrayals of the relationship between rulers and sages / the ruler should be a philosopher / respect for women / the King’s duty is to inspire piety for he bears the karma of the people
4.16.9-22
719: Q & A - Volume 105
Raghunath & Kaustubha answer questions about mantra meditation. Is there a way I can clear my mind before chanting? / Is it considered disrespectful to not keep your beads in a bag when you chant? / Is chanting while multi-tasking disrespectful? / Is it OK to silently chant the mantra? / Is it acceptable to chant while practicing yoga asana?
718: Breathing Thoughts of Unity
wisdom is ripened knowledge / you can give knowledge but you can’t give wisdom / daily sadhana cuts away ego, fear, anger, arrogance & resentment / seeing value in both liberal & conservative viewpoints / the trainings of sages is the safeguard against tyranny / the greatest burden on Mother Earth is a liar / I’ll lose my own happiness if I don’t learn tolerance / I’ll compromise my own well being if I’m not kind / no one gets a pass on forgiveness / the ornaments of a sadhu / sacred texts are our GPS
SB 4.16.6-8
717: Walking Holy Places
716: Cigars, Prostitutes & an Old Lady Climbing on a Sannyasi
wedding excitement! / Kaustubha’s apology / my spiritual director said it’s ok if I pray while I smoke / spiritual regulations are prescribed differently to different people / renunciation isn’t the goal of spirituality - devotion is / arrogance is a greater sin than weakness / humility is fertile ground for spiritual growth / wisdom has to do with understanding how things grow / better to be with a prostitute thinking of God, than in the church thinking about a prostitute / the old lady who climbed on the Sannyasi
715: Echoes of the Upanishads in Modern Science
"we do not belong to the material world that science constructs for us” Schrodinger / quantum physics = science catching up to the past / modern science finds echoes of it’s theories in the Upanishads / one can use hallucinogens to expand perspective, or one can read Bhagavatam / what am I not perceiving? / why do I scoff at perception beyond my imagination? / deep down we know we are all tiny specks / the taste for being glorified vs the taste for glorifying others / guru, sadhu & shastra / the yogi controls body, words & mind / what if we filtered out all of speech that had no value? / the Bhagavad-gita’s austerity of speech
SB 4.16.1-5
714: Q & A - Volume 104
How do you know when to take charge or when to let go? / How can we understand and appreciate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross from a Bhakti perspective? / What can we really do to stop the mind from suffering issues of self esteem? / Is it wrong to cut ties with family who were never really there to begin with?
713: Catching Up to the Past
what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others / the depth of our spirituality is shown through our relationship with others / a sincere broadminded person should be able to suspend their skepticism / science requires objectivity and admitting what you don’t know / whatever good qualities we possess have been gifted to us by others / bowing the body to the parents & the mind to the teachers
SB 4.15.1-26
712: Our Common Connection to the Root
2 formulas - work for material prosperity vs cultivate spiritual principles / reluctantly, the sages enthrone Vena / arrogant Vena outlaws dharma / it’s our common connection to the root that connects us to each other / the sages kill Vena with sound / the sages churn the body of Vena
SB 4.14.1-46
711: Your Mind is a Pond, Your Feelings are the Fish
think of your mind like a pond and your feelings as fish / Bhagavad-gita begins with - you’re not your body, you’re not your mind / tolerating the feelings without being disturbed / Vedic genetics /your watermelon seed can’t become a cantaloupe / free speech, but with respect / the Devas boycott Anga’s ritual / evil Vena / if you can’t change the circumstance, change how you view them / Anga cuts out
SB 4.13.19-49
710: Seeing the Soul in the Beggar
“Those who crusade not for God in themselves, but against the devil in others, never succeed in making the world better” / first, seek to understand / work on getting rid of your personal hate / back to sage level 1 / pāñcarātrika-vidhi vs bhāgavata-mārga / Utkala’s apparent madness / bhajanānandī vs goṣṭhy-ānandī / stories of the devas coming in disguise / we’ll all be tested on the depth of our sama darshana / seeing the soul in the beggar / where is your heart and mind when you’re dealing with “crazies”?
SB 4.13.1-18
709: Q & A - Volume 103
Did Sri Chaitanya have a favorite kirtan melody? / When can one become a teacher? / I can’t stop feeing bodily ecstasies in relation to Bhakti - Is this some amazing mercy or is there something potentially wrong or wrong with me?
708: Stepping on the Head of Death
he who kisses the joy as it flies, lives in eternity's sunrise / one undisturbed by happiness & distress & who is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation / the nature of spiritual happiness is that it is always increasing / Dhruva steps on the head of death / we’re here to learn that this life is for giving and not taking / we catch Krishna with love / be friendly to all, but be careful who you let in your heart / seeing everything in connection with God / Raghu was a closet Rush fan
SB 4.12.29-52
707: Seeing God Beyond the Temple
noticing sensation without giving it meaning / Emily Dickinson - Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church / instead of getting to Heaven, at last – I’m going, all along / temple ritual can be empty - or it can give one eyes to see God beyond the temple / the depth of concentration required for Astanga-yoga / samadhi as trance - samadhi as incessant directed thought / in Bhakti, the means and the end are the same
SB 4.12.17-28
706: What Reflections Tell Us About Reality
what does it mean, that we are living in an illusion? / time reveals this world as illusion / when we realize it’s a dream, we’re about to wake up / reflections are both real and illusory / a reflection always indicates the existence of the substance it reflects / reflections appear exactly like the substance they reflect, and yet are the exact opposite / the qualities we need to perceive reality / from within, keep your mind aloof, externally execute the material duties perfectly
SB 4.12.15-16
705: Are Our Dreams Less Real than “Reality”?
is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? / are our dreams less real than “reality”? / there’s always anxiety when we’re in disguise / we’re tiny and fragile & the world doesn’t revolve around us / how Dhruva lived - engaged in sacrifice, seeing God in everyone, respectful & kind / a devotee is not interested in enjoyment or affected by distress / Dhruva hands off his relative power so he can engage his mind more fully in the absolute / divine or demoniac qualities / use the dream to escape the dream
SB 4.12.10-15
704: We Own Nothing
we own nothing / when we think of ourselves as the owner, we’re placing ourselves at odds with nature / the test is how to love everything around us, but not try to possess it / going deeper means understanding that even our bodies, words and minds belong to Krishna / with or without merit, we cling to our justification tightly / do not remove, but improve / if we aren’t feeling the connection between us, we’re in illusion / we’re here to learn tolerance and humility / a repeating theme in Bhagavatam - what benediction to choose
SB 4.11.30-4.12.9
703: Interview with Harley Flanagan
Raghunath & Kaustubha interview their longtime friend Harley Flanagan, founder of New York hardcore band Cro-Mags and the person that introduced them to Bhakti in their youth.
Follow Harley on IG @harleyfflanagan
702: Q & A - Volume 102
Is it my duty to care for my parents? / How to bring the mind to Krishna in meditation, when the mind always goes toward business? / How we can do our best to not judge others? / How much importance is placed on chanting 16 rounds of daily japa meditation? / Krishna book or Bhagavad-gita, which should I start with? / Is there a proper “grace” prayer that Bhakti-yogis can offer prior to eating a meal?
701: 2 Levels of Awareness – Relative & Absolute
there's the cause & there’s the cause of all causes / God’s behind everything but not responsible for anything / not all yakshas are bad / when we face God from the absolute position we’ll find the relative problems to be merely flickering / ways to cultivate the absolute vision on a daily basis / my absolute identity is the servant of the servant of the lover of the gopis
SB 4.11.22-29
700: Nugget 700 - Mother is All Around Us
two babies in the womb ask “is there life after delivery?” / mother is all around us- sometimes when you’re in silence you can hear her / how we relate with others can lead to brahma-nivanam (spiritual bliss) / thinking on 2 levels of awareness / Manu & the Sages ask Dhruva to zoom the hell out / will we always be so polarized? / polarity in Bhakti communities / Krishna is responsible for everything and nothing / Krishna is moving the wheel, but you’re shaping the clay
SB 4.11.15-21
699: The 2 Things We Should Never be Angry About
the 2 things we should never be angry about / the greatest remedy for anger is delay / Manu leads Dhruva’s intervention / anger is born of frustration / controlling anger is elementary, controlling frustration is more advanced / I can try to remove every thorn and pebble on my path - or I can just put on a pair of shoes / the more difficult worship is seeing God in everyone / the 3 levels of Bhakti-yogis
SB 4.11.1-14
698: How Sages Cut Through the Illusory Crap
the Wise Woman’s Stone / Dhruva fights the Yakshas / life can throw a lot of crap at you / hearing & chanting the names of Vishnu cuts through all the illusory crap / face life’s problems boldly, chant the names of Vishnu & He will light bright lamps on your path
SB 4.10.1-30
697: The Only True Law is That Which Leads to Freedom
Bhakti = high caliber partying / the only true law is that which leads to freedom / hanging onto the principle & adjusting the details / coming back a different person / ya gotta respect the elders / letting go of their pettiness & cruelty / however you’re treated, let go of animosity in your heart - it will only bring pain
SB 4.9.37-67
696: Interview with Malati Devi Dasi
One of the original disciples of Srila Prabhupada in the West, Malati Devi Dasi was part of a dynamic group who assisted Srila Prabhupada in bringing Bhakti to San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury scene in 1967, to the Beatles in London, and later throughout India.
695: Q & A -- Volume 101
Am I the doer? Is God? Or is the material Energy? / How to navigate feelings of fear, anxiety, insecurity & discomfort when seeing your partner engaged in maya? / Mindless, soulless jobs - Is it dharmic to stay in them, or to leave them?
694: The Duties of Motherhood as Yoga
Tibetan Book of the Dead - “Recognize what it is that you truly need! It is a sacred teaching!” / the moments of our past disappear like a dream / the past is always perfect, depending on how we perceive it / a living entity must have desires; that is the symptom of life / devotees should always remain satisfied with the standard of comforts offered by the Lord / motherhood can foster selflessness / duty is the first step in mastering the mind / the story of Father Sergius
SB 4.9.35-36
693: The Fear of Sitting Alone with the Mind
repeating baleful patterns without recognizing it is a tragedy / recognizing the patterns but feeling helpless in breaking them is a trial / to transcend the fear that undergirds the patterns is a triumph / the fear of sitting alone with the mind / sitting alone with Lord Vishnu in the heart / how could Dhruva feel unfortunate? / don’t waste your austerities on useless things / Krishna Bhakti is a pure soul theology / realization of the Supersoul transcends all negative patterns in one shot / relinquish hate — respond with kindness & tolerance
SB 4.9.34
692: Creating Friends & Enemies in Our Minds
Sacinandana Swami explains the Global Puja for Ukraine / don’t underestimate the power of group prayer / spread the wave of auspiciousness / Bhagavatam tools help diffuse road rage / hearing Bhagavatam daily aligns mind & behavior with the soul’s nature / the material situation is always shifting and spiritual reality stays the same / how to understand the concept in Vedanta that good & bad are all unreal / happiness has nothing to do with externals / enemies are a concoction / never walk your dog around a candala
SB 4.9.33
691: The Purity of Our Intention is Everything
it’s ok not to have convictions on everything / Bhagavatam delivers on its promises / truth of dharma is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person / faith comes in small increments / any endeavor other than Bhakti isn’t worthy of your soul / it’s not our expertise, self discipline, learning or detachment - it’s the purity of our intention that is everything / I’ve been to Hollywood, I’ve been to Redwood, I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold / don’t treat God like Amazon Prime / where we disagree with Sadhguru - love is an existential reality / Krishna, all I want is you
SB 4.9.25-32
690: The Oscars – Why are We Entertained by Insults?
even in honoring others we can’t help from insulting others / our events & entertainment should uplift / spiritual separation is union / spiritual lamentation gets you higher / feeling of separation from Vrindavan & great souls is pure medicine / Divine love flows between the embankments of union & separation / all our expertise may be a ladder up against the wrong wall / we give it our full effort, and the results are up to God
689: Q & A -- Volume 100
How to make the workspace a sacred space? / How to offer food to Krishna in a restaurant? / Is there room for healthy cynicism in Bhakti? / Which should one prioritize studying - lilas, siddhanta, or sambhandha? / How can one best explain their Bhakti practice in their day-to-day interactions? / What should I consider when it comes to maintaining my business & practicing a spiritual life?
688: Slashed by the Sword of Time
spirituality is about seeing the spirit soul in the body glove / the sword of time cuts away everything material / we are black belts at consumption - big deal! / the material bucket list doesn’t fulfill the heart / the fish doesn’t want skittles it wants water / don’t try and beat the system- Krishna has a plan / a moment’s association with a great soul can change the trajectory of your life / add spiritual knowledge to your opulences / free will is the space between stimulus and response / to the degree that we are dominated by rajas and tamas, we don’t have much free will / mukti is already within bhakti
SB 4.9.9-24
687: Q & A -- Volume 99
Live from the Himalayas, Raghunath answers questions from his ‘live live’ group of trekkers
Why is being born into material wealth considered good karma? / What advice to you have for someone who loves bhakti but doesn’t plan to seek initiation? / How do I keep this connection after I get home when I don’t have a community? / How can I bake bhakti into my hatha yoga studio? / How can I stay in the holy Dham? / How do I integrate my experience from here when I arrive home and explain it to my family and friends? / How do you know when the right time to make a big career shift? / Let’s talk about sex
686: Chasing Sexy Skin Bags
Janeshwar's story / gurus have unlocked a treasure trove of spiritual goodies / we have a great toolbox, community and culture / we become empowered by practicing Bhakti / grab on to the feet of teachers and humbly serve to receive the trickle down of wisdom / change your lenses and smear your eyes with the salve of love / we waste our life chasing other skin bags / don’t fall in love with a glove / fill up at the transcendental gas station
4.8.80-4.9.9
Follow Janeshwar at mantra_prema_photography
685: White Water Rafting through the Material World
our sadhana trains us to call for Krishna during the rapids and turbulences of life / we’re all in training for the moment of death / you need a regulated committed practice to see results / a little bit of Bhakti is wonderful to add to your life. so is a bathtub. or a swimming pool of bhakti / God is non different from the mantra / invite Krishna in—call him / follow the notes and directions of previous travelers on the path / our whole life is a spiritual experience / get addicted to things that serve us
SB 4.8.57-80
684: Mad Squirreling
our lives are Buddhist sand mandalas that are about to blow away / the soul is meant to give love / our minds screw us up from our innate desire to serve & love / let the mud of the mind settle so you can see Krishna / cultivate an attitude of being satisfied simply / calling the sacred rivers / doing worship in the mind / grinding sandalwood in Guruvayor / Krishna appears in a dream to Andal’s father / Krishna comes in a dream to Madhavendra Puri / Krishna talks a priest in his dream about Madhavendra puri
SB 4.8.55-58
683: Q & A - Volume 98
How do we ascertain the right dose of yoga wisdom to share with others, without coming across like a God-botherer and putting them off? / How do I make sense of my increasing desire to disentangle from the material world while not yet being established in faith of Krishna’s love? / How does one know when they are qualified to identify themselves as a devotee? / What are the connections and history between Bhakti Yoga, Hinduism and the western Hare Krishna movement?
682: A Guru Can Sacrifice a Detail for a Principle
you don’t need to take a selfie of devotional service / meditate on the Lord’s features / Vishnu is the king of givers / samadhi rids the mind of material contaminants / concentration on Vishnu relieves one of resentment, anxiety, anger, depression / focus of the mind gives energy & strength / Guru prescribes when to sacrifice details for principles, and adjust for time, place and circumstances
SB 4.8.47-54
681: Beautiful Lord Vishnu is in Everyone’s Heart
Raghu’s morning wandering in Vrindavan / only our bodies are vulnerable – the soul is eternal / as we realize our eternality we become joyful / your miniMe is a trick of maya / looking into the eyes of animals / don’t look monkeys in the eyes unless you’re a sadhu / we all have to surrender to a superior, so choose carefully / we all have beautiful Lord Vishnu in our hearts / Lord Vishnu’s form isn’t imaginary - Narada’s seen it
SB 4.8.46
680: Flip the American Dream
there’s a sweetness in Bhakti melancholy / the effect of seeing a sadhu / feeling a call from within the deep caverns of their selves / flip the American dream / there’s nothing of this material world that will satisfy my heart / there’s a deeper steady happiness that’s achievable if you devote yourself / Vishnu’s never mopey / there’s a face behind the shine / we’ve all got hang ups / the beautiful form of Lord Vishnu
SB 4.8.45-46
679: Raghunath's First Time in Vrindavan
In preparation for his upcoming trip to India, Raghunath shares stories of Vrindavan and answers questions about what makes Vrindavan so sacred, why Govardhan Hill is shrinking, and how to enter the holy dham and mentally prepare for a pilgrimage
678: Q&A - Volume 97
Is my occasional frustration directed at God helpful in developing our relationship? / How can I see Krishna in everyone, even those who frustrate me? / What is the reason for different ways to spell Krishna and different ways of referring to Bhagavad-gita? / Should I respond to arguments that “African Yoga” predates “Indian Yoga”?
677: We’ve Got a Box Full of Tools to Heal the Mind
align body & mind with the nature of the soul / make your whole life an offering / Narada’s advice - don’t be affected by honor & dishonor - learn to by satisfied with whatever comes by destiny - try to adopt the right attitude toward everyone - no animosity for anyone - in this way you will be unaffected by the miseries of this world / we have a treasure trunk of tools to heal the mind / meditating on emptiness is harder - it’s not us saying this, it’s Krishna / empty the mind of turbo scenarios, revenge and espionage (material consciousness) & fill it with sweet Krishna
SB 4.8.39-44
676: Bhakti in Ukraine – An Interview with Niranjana Swami
It may be news to many, but there is a large scale, vibrant community of Krishna Bhakti in Ukraine. Niranjana Swami is ISKCON’s Governing Body Commissioner for Ukraine. In this interview Raghunath and Kaustubha ask him about the history of Bhakti in the former Soviet Union, and what it was like serving there undercover during Soviet times. Niranjana Swami also shares his personal experiences witnessing the character of the Ukrainian devotees serving under the pressures of military conflict in 2014, and updates us on what is happening on the ground right now. if you would like to helping the devotees in Ukraine or devotees serving Ukrainian refugees please follow this link - https://iskconnews.org/verified-donations-for-ukraine/ or send via PayPal to vrajamohan1008@gmail.com
675: What’s My Next Step Toward Self Realization?
be compassionate to those less qualified, make friends with equals, be pleased with those who are more qualified / this isn’t random etiquette or social restrictions designed to keep us down, it’s a formula for happiness / Rama’s response vs Dhruva’s response / when you expect accolades, you set yourself up for disappointment / what’s my next step toward self realization? / smooth out the dance between soul & ego
SB 4.8.34-38
https://outofthisworldstudios.org
674: There’s No Need to Endeavor for Happiness
approaching Lord Shiva to enter Vrindavan / the material world will always fall short / You can’t blame your way to a better future / material life plays out as a combination of good & bad karma / accepting all reversals as a gift / when a guru doesn’t test a disciple's sincerity - red flag / sincerity is the key / there's no need to endeavoring for happiness -it comes automatically, just like distress
673: The More Real You Get, the More Unreal the World Gets
the more authentic you are, the less authentic the world seems / seers of the truth know what's real (the eternal) & what’s unreal (the temporary) / the lotus eyed lord mitigates distress / remembering the lotus eyed lord makes everything pure / Krishna gives hope to the dented cans of the world / the guru appears when one gets serious / we’re wandering around the universe, lifetime after lifetime / our dissatisfaction is another feature of the illusory energy
SB 4.8.23-28
672: The Depth of Vedic Astrology -- An Interview with Drew Lawrence
Raghunath and Drew dive into cosmic compatibility, traveling soul groups, karma from previous lives, and personal stories. Drew is a renowned author, consultant, speaker, visionary and Sanskrit scholar. Learn more at https://www.drewlawrence.com or contact him at drewjlawrence@gmail.com
671: Q & A - Volume 96
How to deal with Neurodivergent disorders, like Asperger’s, which make it difficult to socialize, in Bhakti communities, which are so social by nature? / As a practitioner, does weakness of heart, like lust, bar us from the association of Divinity? / If the soul travels from body to body, how come we can't speak when we're born? / If the mind travels with the soul, what knowledge stays in it? / What is "good" and "bad" karma? / What are some practices I can cultivate to deepen my devotion besides just chanting? / Is there a form of esoteric Krishna Bhakti to study?
670: Bringing the Awareness to God in the Heart
character & competence / Bhakti is transmitted from one heart to another / there’s every good reason to be angry, anxious & depressed – but Bhagavatam is our anchor / the bittersweetness in destitution / grief tastes bitter but it's meant to lead to intimacy of surrender, which is sweet / hold on to the chains of Bhakti / when we inflict pains on others, we suffer pain ourselves / truth is truth wherever it comes from / stir it around! / Godhead means Godness / bringing the awareness to God in the heart
SB 4.8.17-22
669: The Shoebill Stork and the Inner Eye of Wisdom
wise souls see even the shoebill stork with the inner eye of wisdom / the soul is of the same nature regardless of its body / It’s the mind that’s warped, not the soul / true equality is based on principles of truth, not on a material conception / false equality, based on the body, doesn’t bring peace / you need the inner eye of wisdom to be an instrument of peace in the world / don’t let shoebill storks in the delivery room! / a wise person knows what to accept and what to change / wishing inauspicious for others brings inauspiciousness to yourself
SB 4.8.5-17
668: Harsh Speech is Born in the Family of Adharma
remain in your position and just add bhakti / we can get over our own issues by getting lost in service to others / is my harsh speech justified, or is it born from anger, greed, envy, and adharma? / our own harsh speech and anger should be red flags / we can replace lifetimes of negative programming by contemplating truth / don’t be a supercar fail, you silly goose! / the shoebill stork is the creepiest creature of all time!
https://outofthisworldstudios.org/#/ IG @mukunda_maharaja
SB 4.8.1-4
667: Insults – We Don’t Have to Accept Them
if you don’t accept an insult it stays with the one who spoke it / don’t accept an insult by granting it an emotional reaction/ Lord Vishnu is the root / nothing is independent of Krishna - that is oneness / food with love and devotion brings no karma / all of our thoughts and duties can be an offering to God / we’re not interested in good or bad karma (we want akarma) / turn back to Krishna to break out of the system / hats off to Daksha
SB 4.7.55-61
666: Every One of Us Has a Purpose
every thing has a purpose & every person has their dharma / our unique, temporary dharma connects us to our shared, eternal dharma / we’re perfect & pure, we are just covered / see everything in connection to Vishnu to see peace / you can’t win the competition in the material world / Krishna isn’t Judge Judy shaming us, he’s the supreme benevolent friend / we all benefit when we offer to the root / pain and conflict are designed to turn us toward truth
SB 4.7.54 & BG 5.29
665: Prophet Style Interview with Raghunath
on India / on pilgrimage / on mentors / on beauty / on food / on the body / on family / on love
664: Q & A Volume 95
Why and how are certain verses selected as invocations before classes in the Bhakti tradition? / The term “plenary portion” is used throughout the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam commentaries. What exactly does this term mean? / Can you suggest a good book about Krishna’s childhood days? / How important is the observance of Ekadashi in one’s Bhakti-yoga practice?
663: Linen Sheets on Prison Cots
Daksha's new beginnings / get off the Hate Express / don’t cheat yourself out of growth and evolution by solidifying your partial truth / what do we do when we make a mistake? learn and accept full responsibility / we’re here to evolve, not to extend our prison sentence
SB 4.7.45-53
662: Ritual Precision vs Devotional Intention
What's more important, the precision of our ritual or our mood in performing it? In this episode Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss recent reports of how the Catholic Church deemed invalid twenty years of Baptisms preformed by a priest who unintentionally changed one word in administering the sacrament. In some Vedic paths the precision of ritual and mantra chanting is emphasized. But as the paths rise to the level of Bhakti it’s the intention that is all important. The conversation spans important sources of wisdom including the Vedas, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and The Brady Bunch.
http://bhakticenter.org/join-our-team-3/
661: We Don’t Need to Change Anything - Just Add Bhakti
hearing Bhagavad-gita & Srimad Bhagavatam is the easy way to get out of illusion / even the powerful & strong are vulnerable to suffering & fear / the 4 paths of yoga conclude with hearing (Bhagavad-gita 13.26) / hearing is the nectar which delivers one from death / sthāne sthitāḥ - (fixed in your position) we don’t need to give up anything, just add bhakti / deep love is higher than peace
https://outofthisworldstudios.org/#/
SB 4.7.41-44
660: We’ve Got a False Sense of Freedom
the materialistic dream has failed / we need an adult in the room / every object is radiating 1 of 3 influences / letting go of destructive habits / we’ve got a false sense of freedom / Bhakti is the formula for freedom from the modes of material nature / understanding the gunas is the first step to transcending them / get some shlokas in your head / what does it look like to be free from the gunas? / Divine love is where it all goes
SB 4.7.39-40
659: The Power of Bhakti-yoga Culture
On the 31st anniversary of their initiation ceremony in Vrindavan, Raghunath and Kaustubha reminisce about the day, discuss the meaning of initiation into a Bhakti lineage, samskaras, and the power and purpose of Bhakti-yoga culture.
658: Prophet Style Interview with Kaustubha Das
on friendship / on aging / on marriage / on being a good man / on prayer / on forgiveness / on love
657: Q & A Volume 94
In this special Q & A episode Raghunath & Kaustubha answer four questions from Karuna, an 8 year old girl, and daily Wisdom of the Sages listener from Lebanon. Why did Krishna show us an example of doing his duty when he could just tell us to do it? / When I was reading Srimad Bhagavatam I thought that was how many humans are on this Earth, but are there always more coming? / In Narada-Bhakti-Sutra it said that Krishna dislikes the proud but likes the humble - so does Krishna like everyone except the proud or does He like everyone? / Yesterday i was talking with my mom about what worship you do in each yuga, so she was telling me that in the Satya yuga they do austerity to please Krishna etc. So do they please Krishna, or Krishna is only pleased when we chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra?
656: Mindfulness & Peace with a Purpose
extract spiritual substance from the mundane / move straight like a bullet train with your service, detached from the results / we must go on struggling to be sadhus - recognize & resist the urge towards animosity & anger / the more we think that we are in control the less able we are at recognizing who is / Kaustubha’s confession / mindfulness & peace with a purpose / the Hare Krishna’s didn’t make this stuff up, it’s been around for millennia / Krishna is inclined to his devotees
SB 4.7.38
655: Seeing Beyond the Limitations of Our Senses
what will we shove in the hole of our loneliness? / secrets & duplicity in ashramas / it’s ok to be vulnerable / Daksha’s wife shares a joke! / pramanas - ways of gaining knowledge / this knowledge is descending / direct perception has it’s limitations / Bhagavatam is giving us windows into another dimension / discipline of the senses expands our insights / those who see God in everyone are very, very dear to God
SB 4.7.36-39
654: Happiness is an Inside Job
SB 4.7.32-35
653: Q & A - Volume 93
Was the goddess Sati in illusion when she took her own life? / How important is sangha --even if it is only online sangha? / How to set up an altar in one's home?
652: Truth is Revealed Through Devotion
trade in expectations for appreciations / Ben Franklin nugget / saragrahi = essence seeker / spiritual reality lies beyond the scope of the material senses / we don’t know what we don’t know / who was Sankaracharya? / “just worship Govinda you fools” / reality is revealed through devotion - the problem is we want the purple pill / spiritual greed / the power of love is more powerful than God
SB 4.7.31
651: Just Enough Religion to Hate (Not Enough to Love)
If your path of self-improvement is making you hate, you’re doing something wrong / don’t focus on religious rituals and throw away God / we’re gonna trip up on our spiritual path - pick yourself up and keep going / time is a snake, the world is full of ditches & the fire of lamentation is blazing / our material happiness is in a very precarious position / Raghu is thinking like Lord Shiva again / our materialistic life is nothing but hankering for the future and lamenting the past / Bhakti is living in the eternal present / knowledge of what lies beyond the senses descends - you don’t climb up to it
SB 4.7.28-30
650: Aging Brings Either Horror or Wisdom
a David Bowie birthday nugget for Kaustubha / aging brings either horror or wisdom / aging is working for our spiritual life, if we don’t identify with body / the trauma of aging can make us humble / letting go of the facade / we are trying to be controllers of the material world- just be tolerant / the prison warden analogy / Raghu is thinking like Prabhupada again / it’s not us - Krishna said all these things! / don’t get stuck in Scranton
SB 4.7.25-27
649: Religion vs Spirituality - An Interview with Chaitanya Charan Das
what do we mean by spiritual not religious? / ritualism, intolerance & dogmatism / Krishna didn’t demand Arjuna’s obedience, he asked for his deep deliberation / focused on differences vs focused on commonality / regulation is success vs regulation is the means / motive of salvation vs motive of transformation / spirituality as a state of mind, spirituality as a state of reality, spirituality as a path / spiritual manifestations in nature / does my spiritual experience lead to the stage of spiritual reality? / is my aversion to religion genuine or based on my aversion to regulating myself? / Spirituality transcends religion in Bhagavad-gita & Srimad Bhagavatam / only spirituality leads to complete satisfaction of the soul
648: Q & A - Volume 92
647: Cleaning Out the Spam Folder of the Mind
Marcus Aurelius zooms the hell out / cleaning out the spam folder of the mind / the Yoga system is meant to get the soul back on track / false ideas impressed within our minds are the cause of our losing touch with our true nature and seeking happiness externally / hitting the warning bumps in the material world / asking the “big why” in life / Daksha had the right lifestyle, but the wrong sentiments / niyamāgrahaḥ - following all the rules without knowing their purpose / the smile of Vishnu / yoga starts with controlling the tongue
SB 4.7.17-24
646: Does My Speech Pass the Hot Mic Test?
sing your death song & die like a hero going home / what will it take in our life to die nobly? / burning is learning / no longer blaming the world for your shortcomings is the dawn of liberation / my gluetraps are my blessings / does my speech pass the hot mic test? / honor every being (they could be a deva in disguise) / the stumbling blocks are tests of our sincerity / Bhagavad-gita is anti cancel culture / this book is alive!
SB 4.7.12-16
645: We’re Death Doula from Dayton, Ohio
we all can be death doulas / Srimad Bhagavatam is one long death doula session / No Raghunath - you’re not a death Doula / Who do I need to say “thank you”, “I love you” and “I’m sorry” to today? / the brain is just hardware - consciousness is generated from the soul / Daksha’s goat-headed remorse / Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam purifies the heart like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water / God is perceived in the repentant heart / we’ve been battling the force of time & material energy - time to surrender and embrace God
SB 4.7.7-11
644: Were Past Civilizations More Advanced?
if equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me / selflessness doesn’t deny the need for adherence to dharmic principles / Sri Chaitanya’s unconditional love / there will never be enough validation from others to make me feel whole / Xenotransplantation - is it possible to transplant a goat’s head to a human? / is it possible that past civilizations were more advanced? / we’ve got to throw out our material attachments to receive the more valuable treasures
SB 4.7.1-6
643: The Beauty of the Yogi is Forgiveness
no blame, no reasoning no argument, just understanding / rewire & recalibrate the vehicle by hearing wisdom daily / we’re doing time in the material world & hopefully learning lessons / tread with care with everyone you meet / taking offense is the first domino / the beauty of a tapasvi is forgiveness / we’re all strapped a time bomb that’s about to blow / you can’t use the energy unless you know how to handle the energy / do all of my activities please God? / There is no real happiness without connecting to the roots / saranagati!
SB 4.6.48-53
642: Interview with Sri Prahlada - From Childhood Activism to PhD in Spiritual Leadership
born into Bhakti / being schooled in ashrams / freeing the Soviet Krishna devotees / traveling the world with Indradyumna Swami / becoming a professor / Leadership Lessons From the Bhagavad-gita
Follow on IG @sriprahlada_official Follow on FB Sri Prahlada Das
641: Q & A - Volume 91
640: RED FLAG - Feeling Pain When Others Flourish
SB 4.6.36-47
639: Yoga = Governing the Kingdom of Our Thoughts
don’t let the birds of sorrow build a nest in your mind / Louisa May Alcott sounds like a yogi / wisdom & austerity purify the senses / material desire leads to frustration and anger / material desire destroys knowledge & wisdom / regulate the senses to loosen the noose of addiction / austerity without devotion can harden the heart / if you identify with that which can be broken you will eventually feel broken / don’t scratch the itch of material existence
SB 4.6.35
638: Can We Expand Our Minds & Not Be So Glib?
a good attitude goes a long way / you can’t bring the ‘me first and the gimmes gimmes’ into your spiritual life / before you dismiss it glibly, you need to examine it / Lord Shiva is 48 miles tall? / we’ve lost our potency - we’re domesticated dogs / space, as described in Bhagavatam, involves unlimited scales & dimensions / our experience is very tiny & limited / divine love is the highest pursuit / Srimad Bhagavatam clarifies everything
SB 4.6.31-35
637: Life is a Series of Repeating Lessons
The tubes of life float you down the river together just for a moment / Life is a series of repeating lessons designed to help us face the fact that there are forces more powerful than us / bow down mister / Apologize whole heartedly with complete conviction / Brahma didn’t say “Not my circus, not my monkeys” / We think we’re advanced…..not even close / the iPhone, the Giraffe & the Zebra all teach us to accept that unbelievable things are possible
SB 4.6.6-31
636: How to Apologize
the unexamined life is not worth living / examining the mind’s desires / Raghu slows down / what good is your religion if you’re offending great souls? / Daksha loses his head / Lord Brahma - the adult in the room, the voice of reason / be quick to apologize / apologize without mental reservations
4.5.20- 4.6.6
635: Interview with Yogi Charu - The Mind’s Needs, Cravings, Aspirations & Yearnings
Arjuna’s focus / gaining insights though practicing austerities / combining introspection with austerities / the fasting of Maharaja Pariksit and the sages / how can people less adept apply practices of austerity? / Krishna is in the Earth, in the food & in the fire of digestion / 4 quadrants of desire - needs, cravings, aspirations & yearnings / Prabhupada gave us so many ways to focus on Krishna
Learn more at http://www.yogicharu.com or http://bhakticenter.org.
634: Q & A -- Volume 90
How can we bridge the gap between the truth that I am not the body & the practical reality that I need to take care of the body? / Are we karmically responsible for our thoughts & our dreams? / If I drink a glass of wine at dinner, would that make me less fit for Krishna consciousness? / How do I keep myself from feelings of envy & dejection when I hear of my peers out-achieving me? / Was Arjuna on psychedelics & was Krishna his guru in the use of psychedelics? / Can you please discuss how to interpret traditional yogic recommendations to sleep less in relation to modern recommendations for sleep?
633: Metaverse -- The Next Big Thing That Won't Make Us Happy
Zuckerberg doublespeak / metaverse the next big thing that won’t make us happy / the dream within the dream within the dream / all this technology is making us weak / there are no adults in the room / Prabhupada’s vision of Bhakti in cooperation with earth & animals / persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance shall get light from Srimad Bhagavatam / it’s about internal devotion, not the externals / Daksa’s chickens come home to roost / don’t mess with Lord Shiva / all hell breaks loose
4.4.31-4.5.19
632: How Dharma Cultivates Letting Go
the wise waste neither men nor words / even four harnessed horses cannot bring imprudent words back into the mouth / pray for the blessing to lose interest in village talk / the path of enjoyment & the path of renunciation / there’s nothing of this world that will satisfy my heart / all the rules are meant to lead to Bhakti / dharma - from brahmacarya to gṛhastha to vānaprastha to sannyāsa / Sati sets off the spontaneous human combustion
4.4.20-30
631: Sati Rebukes the Religious Orthodoxy
focus on progress not perfection / the message of the Bhagavatam is that love (not religion) is the highest pursuit / if one’s not careful their religion can foster envy & animosity / the spiritualist sees beyond the surface / the great souls magnify the good in others / if someones shares gossip with me - then what is wrong with me? / hearing criticism of great souls kills spiritual life / great souls transcend religious rules
4.4.11-19
bhaktirecoverygroup@gmail.com www.jivagcoaching.com
630: Sati Speaks Truth to Power
practice charity, austerity & sacrifice (on your birthday) / the Shiva -Shakti element of Shiva & Sati’s dialog / Bhagavatam is meant to end our cycles of bad karma / getting over the triggers to hear the real message / deluded by the feminine nature - deluded by the masculine nature / Sati’s posse go to the event / the women receive Sati warmly & the men cold / when anger becomes justified / Sati speaks truth to power / don’t take offense, don’t make offense / great souls overlook the faults in others and magnify what good they see
SB 4.3.23-4.4.12
629: The Real Namaste
what’s in your cup will spill out when you’re rattled / the wise let go of opportunities for enjoyment & embrace opportunities for service / false ego leads to distress leads to envy / the real namaste is to see the presence of God in everyone / Raghu is thinking like Prabhupada again! / when you see the soul & Supersoul in everyone the mind never becomes degraded / if the body is a temple, then who is the deity in the temple? / the guru is a postal peon
4.3.18-22
628: An Interview with Leela Vilasini — Vrindavan is Where I Belong
Sadhaka Leela Vilasini discusses moving from Kazakhstan to Vrindavan, the potency of Vrindavan and of the Brijbasis. She dives into Govardhan Lila, where the heart of Vrindavan is uncovered, ordinary talks are not ordinary and Krishna is in the center. Can you handle committing to Krishna?
627: Q & A -- Volume 89
How to avoid the post death results of bad karma? / How can we think of karma in an individual way when we are so interrelated and affected by the effects of karma? / What do the scriptures say about the mantra Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram as compared to the maha mantra and is it ok to focus my mediation on both Rama & Krishna? / How to understand the Bhagavad-gita’s instruction that worship of the demigods is less intelligent?
626: Our Material Assets are all 0s Waiting for the 1
to be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it (and other wisdom by Confucius / resentment is a distraction from spiritual progress / pride makes your third eye blind / all of our good qualities are ruined by a little bit of arrogance / material exhaustion advantageous / put the supreme One in front of your zeros
SB 4.3.11-17
625: Shiva De-Escalates the Liberal / Conservative Conflict
what will I be holding on to when everything falls apart? / Krishna is controlled by the power of love / Krishna is not Judge Judy / evolved people are morally diverse / Shiva de-escalates the conflict / Daksha’s pride / utsaha-mayi - puffed up with enthusiasm / Raghu loses it in the Delhi Airport / Sati’s ominous desire to attend Daksha’s ceremony
SB 4.2.33-4.3.10
624: Ana's Incredible Near Death Experience
Todays Walk-On Wednesday segment spontaneously turned into a full hour interview because we had to hear the whole story of Ana’s near death experience. Ana Syro is a 29 year old mother in Cali, Colombia who listens to Wisdom of the Sages every day. In the past year she has dealt with the premature birth of her daughter, the collapse of her business, her husband leaving her, leukemia and a bone marrow transplant, hospitalization due to covid, and a mysterious lung ailment that brought her to the precipice of death. At the very moment that her heart stopped her connection to Bhakti came to the forefront in an amazing way.
623: Cursing and Counter-Cursing Among the Brahmanas & Shaivites
the secret of change / a mere denouncer is the enemy of progress & Nature / criticism and complaining exhaust us / Ned Flanders (neophyte brahmanas) vs Sideshow Bob (neophyte Shaivites) / the material field is so unsteady that even great personalities become infected by the atmosphere of anger / the curse on the brahmanas is still alive today / the curse on the Shaivites is still alive today / who is Brghu?
SB 4.2.27-32
622: Our Search for Validation Gets Ugly
the mind is always searching for a network to join / the good qualities of Lord Shiva / the deep need for prestige / when our mental turbo scenarios are spoken out loud / self importance is the biggest trip line / am I Shiva or am I Daksha? / spiritual life requires introspection
4.1.1-4.2.26
621: Facing Life's Greatest Challenges - Interview with Astrologer Radhikesh Sharma
Radhikesh Sharma shares form his own unique life challenges how knowledge from Srimad Bhagavatam & Vedic Astrology can help one understand, face and grow through life’s greatest tests.
https://radhikeshdas.com/radhikesh-das/ E-mail yourdestiny108@gmail.com
620: Q & A Volume 88
Is it ok to kill garden pests? / How to be a good father, husband and still render service and be detached? / How do Bhakti-yogis get over feelings of distrust of the “outside" world? / Is Paramatma in my heart, or is Krishna in my heart?
619: Devahuti Achieves Samadhi!
Devahuti’s prayers to her son Kapiladeva / spiritual status is based on merit not birth / the Vedic teachings conclude in the chanting of the Holy Name & one who chants the Name is glorious / Kapiladeva’s final instructions / Devahuti achives samadhi / the conclusion of Canto 3 - one who speaks or hears this achieves devotion to Bhagavan
3.33.1-37
618: Say Goodbye to Hollywood
our material enjoyments are so low grade / all the yoga paths cultivate detachment, each in their own way / attachments cloud truth perception / “my truth” & “your truth” / perceiving different features of the absolute like different features of an elephant / say goodbye to Hollywood (the desire to be the star, the attractor, Krishna) either willingly, or by the force of time / all the paths are meant to lead to Krishna / the disqualifications for Krishna perception / the qualifications for Krishna perception / make Krishna the most dear
SB 3.32.27-43
617: God is More Than a Metaphysical Amazon Prime
Bhakti-yogis are Karma-yogis and more, because they directly cultivate love for Krsna / sakama vs niskama (attached workers vs detached workers) / karma-yoga can purify the consciousness of all the false narratives / the time factor extends to the heavens of this universe / why people honor the forefathers and why Bhakti-yogis don’t need to
SB 3.32.1-26
616: The Next Birth of a Materialist
the stages of the embryo’s development / the sufferings in the womb / the prayers within the womb / losing memory during birth / the sufferings of childhood / buying into the false narrative again, that happiness will be found through externals / losing all our good qualities / becoming a dancing dog in the hands of maya / balancing healthy material pessimism with healthy spiritual optimism
3.31.1-48
615: The Life & Death of a Materialist
time is blowing us around like a cloud in the sky / even the hog in the sewage gutter thinks “life is good” / our deep rooted attachments / anxiety due to attachments / the bad karma we create due to attachments / then it all goes to hell / if you look closely you’ll see hell all around you / it’s all a wake up call
3.30.1-34
614: Q & A -- Volume 87
How can I answer my 5 year old when he asks “Why did God make me sick on the day of the Christmas play?” / Are Krishna and Christ the same? / Was Jesus a shaktyavesa-avatara? / Is resurrection considered possible in the yoga tradition? / Did Prabhupada ever comment on ‘the missing years’ of Jesus in India? / Why would the teachings of Bhagavad-gita be considered higher than the teachings of the Bible? / Does Lord Jesus Christ appear in the spiritual sky with the body he manifested on the earth? / Do Indian Vaisnavs address Krishna as Krsta?
613: Krishna Codes, Downloads & Installs Time
the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome / learning the beauty of generosity & tasting the happiness of giving / knowledge is the understanding that my material attachment brings pain & my material detachment brings relief / time is the cause of change in matter / Krishna codes, downloads & installs time into the material world / if I know the benevolent coder the program gives inspiration, if not it gives fear / spiritual world = no time & no fear, material world (the reflection) = time & fear
3.29.36-45
612: Throwing the Brahmana Out with the Bathwater
Carl Jung on fear & wonder / don’t throw the Brahmana out with the bathwater / Steven Covey as a contemporary Brahmana / Recognizing and applying the true Varnashram Dharma / offer respect and dignity to every living / even the most dented can can transform with association of a pure devotee
3.29.31-35
611: Examining Our Fear of Hierarchies
getting through the pain of divorce / Zoom out - look at decades not days / life’s struggles can foster intimacy with God / why the talk of hierarchy? / see spiritual equality & discern the material hierarchy / societies are divided into four / brahmana (leadership counsel, educating, religious ministering) / ksatriya (establishing & enforcing law & justice, protecting) / vaishya (job Creators, employers, entrepreneurs / sudras (employees) / the deeply spiritual transcend the hierarchy
3.29.31-32
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610: Riding a Squirrel to Manipur
doing small things with great love / the need for nuance / every castle we build will turn to sand / we do your dharma as best you can with selflessness & detachment / Manipur’s only thrash band - Phoenix / more need for nuance - we are all both equal & unequal / what is true equality? / treat everyone with dignity - it’s basic math like the ABCs / what’s the criteria to determine one place as better than another?
SB 3.29.27-30
609: The Futility of Superficial Religion
superficial religion is simply imitation / superficial religion is like offering oblations into ashes / superficial religion deprives one of peace of mind / superficial religion never pleases Krishna / superficial religion causes fear / spirituality = seeing God everywhere, in the heart of everyone & in one's own heart / spirituality through kindness to everyone / how spiritually infused ritual cuts the knot of false ego / how to cultivate the vision of God within fire, the sun, water, the heart of the guest & in one’s own heart
3.29.20-27
608: Q & A - Volume 86
What is meant by Krishna’s internal, external & marginal energies? / If we are incarnated as a dog, or an insect, or as a blade of grass, how is our next incarnation determined? / Just how entangling is the law of karma – do we have to come back to accept the charity that we gave in the past? / Is coffee evil?
607: Wannabe Spirituality
friendship with the wicked is like a clay pot, easily broken and impossible to mend / friendship with the wise is like a gold pot, difficult to break yet easy to mend / bad company / yogis are straightforward / 2 fundamental practices of Bhakti - hearing & chanting / the point of all the practices is they lead to attraction to Krishna / even if you pronounce Krishna wrong, He knows what you mean / the difference between religion & spirituality / don’t stay a wannabe Vaishnava
3.29.18-21
606: Respect, Compassion & Friendship
focus on your dreams, not your nightmares / just as the name of a medicine cannot cure a disease, knowledge of scripture bears no fruit if not applied in times of adversity / the need to be dutiful - while committing as little violence as possible / the purpose of temple worship / mundane tasks become sacred when you put God in the center / what it means to see everyone as spiritual / showing respect to seniors / showing compassion to juniors / cultivating friendship with equals
SB 3.29.15-17
605: My Attitudes Towards People Cloud my Mind
is my daily contemplation my highest spiritual potential? / cultivate an attitude of friendship toward those who are happy / cultivate an attitude of compassion toward those in distress / cultivate an attitude of joy toward those who are virtuous / cultivate an attitude of equanimity toward those who are nonvirtuous / our attitudes towards others are clouding our mind / the inclination for enlightenment is natural to the pure sāttvic mind / are we free or are we just puppets of the modes of nature?
SB 3.29.14
604: Talking Bhagavad-gita with Paramananda
On the occasion of the anniversary of the speaking of the Bhagavad-gita, and World Gita Day, Kaustubha and Paramananda discuss how the Gita entered their lives, favorite verses, how the Gita can be consulted in all critical times for solace from all kinds of mental agonies and how it helps one find their way out of great entanglements which may embarrass one in some critical hour.
https://livetogive.webflow.io Malini 1 669 289 5563
603: Talking Bhagavad Gita with Vaisesika Dasa
broadcasting spiritual knowledge in order to check the imbalance of values and to achieve real unity and peace / Bhagavad-gita summarizes all the Vedic teachings / Bhagavad-gita transcends & synthesizes religiosity & spiritual escapism / Bhagavad-gita finally demonstrates how to be in the world but not of it / two energies - material and spiritual / the senses the mind and the intelligence / the 3 modalities that are radiating from all material objects / simplifying everything through focus & surrender to our divine source
https://livetogive.webflow.io Malini 1 669 289 5563
602: More Krishna Miracles - An Interview with Shyamasundar Das
In this interview Shyamasundar Das discusses his recently released Volume 3 of “Chasing Rhinos with the Swami” as well as his time with the Beatles and his cameo appearance in the new Beatles film “Get Back”.
www.chasingrhinos.com chasingrhinos@gmail.com
601: Q & A – Volume 85
A small piece of me screams a bit when I think about humility and quieting my ego. For women, and other marginalized groups, is it possible that we need to get bigger and take up a bit more space before we relinquish a power we've never really even had? / Are Krishna bhakti kirtan and Shiva bhakti kirtan the same? / How can we understand the presence of child abuse within religious and spiritual organizations and how should justice be pursued? / Could you recommend a type of “Hindu for Dummies” book to me?
If you’re interested in contributing to the ISKCON efforts in child protection, please visit https://www.iskconchildprotection.org/ or https://www.safetemple.org/
600: The Past Life Memories Episode
For the 600th episode Raghunath is granted free rein into the paranormal as he & Kaustubha discuss Dr. Ian Stevenson’s research into past life memories, and we hear stories from the podcast audience.
599: What is Bhakti?
bhakti as an emotion / bhakti as a state of consciousness / bhakti as a yoga practice / bhakti as a school of thought / bhakti as an historic spiritual movement / pure love vs sleazy proposals / we’re in an historic era of bhakti / thoughts on sleazy gurus / look for teachers that point up the ladder / little Karuna chants the shikshastakam / bhaki-yogis don’t even ask for liberation
SB 3.29.13
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598: Stripping Down the Layers of Material Muck
knowledge is the best wealth because it can’t be stolen, is priceless & it’s imperishable / unadulterated bhakti is when there is no motive getting in the way of the love flow between God & us / bhakti works if you work it, & you're worth it, so work it / purifying the heart so Krishna will enter / habits are just the first layer of muck to cut through - then come the hidden motives / our nature is to be attracted to Krishna / what is raga-bhakti?
SB 3.29.11-12
597: Lobsters Have Feelings Too!
the UK figures out that octopuses, crabs, and lobsters are “sentient beings” / why didn’t we ever discuss “what is life” in school? / when people bring their envy, pride & anger into spiritual circles should it affect our faith? / 4 types of children analogy - the vikarmi, karmi, jnani & bhakta
SB 3.29.8-10
596: An Interview with Keli Woods - Falling Upwards
Kaustubha interviews Keli about crafting his recently released EP, Falling Upwards, available here https://keliwoods.hearnow.com/falling-upwards Follow Keli on IG @keli__woods
595: Q & A – Volume 84
Is it possible that we can be reincarnated in the past ? / How do we, practically, take pleasure in the Self? / Is there anything that you think I should consider before approaching a guru for initiation? / Why is it important not to take offense?
594: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
spiritual optimism & material pessimism / I don’t mean to minimize your suffering - but you should / materialism causes fatigue, spiritual energy is refreshing / knowledge is the greatest gift / tamasic influence on bhakti practice - proud, violent & angry yogis / don’t give up critical thought - just give up criticism
SB 3.29.3-8
593: The Religious Beliefs of Stephen Hawking
what is a pure devotee? / why saying “bhakti is the ultimate” is not sectarian - because there is nothing greater than love / the liberation found through jnana-yoga is just the neutral stage / do the laws of nature disprove or prove that God exists? / who says that human life is accidental? / the universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science? / the Church of Satan & is there really good & bad?
SB 3.29.1-2
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592: Will We Know Our Loved Ones After We Die?
Bruce Springsteen on what happens when we die / our individuality is not dependent on the body / we are sparks of the eternal fire / we exist in a realm pervaded by selfishness / we’re diseased with the desire to be God / will we know our loved ones after we die? / sambhanda, abhideya & prayojana / our dharma is to serve the whole
SB 3.28.39-44
591: Q & A - Volume 83
How an I explain karma to someone who has a deep emotional resistance to it? / How can karma, free will & Krishna being the controller all exist simultaneously? / How can I maintain sobriety & a strong spiritual practice when traveling on the road? / I know as devotees we are supposed to have our minds fixed on Krishna at all times, but how can we make sure to do that if we leave our body suddenly in a tragic, un-peaceful way?
590: Black Friday -- Planting Seeds of Desire
place of surrender - the Sanskrit origin of serendipity / give all of your fruits to Krishna / how pleasure & pain are a symptom of ignorance / material happiness is like the happiness of a madman / material happiness is temporary & pales in comparison to spiritual happiness / it can be either very enlightening or very depressing to think deep / how karma plays out for the liberated yogi / examining the experience of having a finger cut off in virtual reality / wanna be used by Krishna
SB 3.28.36-38
589: What Good is a Still Mind & a Dirty Heart?
the virtue of gratitude is essential to Bhakti / ingratitude is the greatest crime / set aside time to count your blessings / contentment lives only in the hearts of those who are grateful / when we bring the meditation to Vishnu we find the relief we been searching for / what good is a still mind & a dirty heart? / the vision of the Vishnu’s face charms even Cupid & benefits the sages / when the mind is illuminated with spiritual energy SB 3.28.26-36
588: Spiritual Strategies
where are we going with the stillness of the mind? / double team mind & troubled heart by hearing & visualizing / keeping our conceptualization personal / we need spiritual strategies to deepen our practice / maximize the early morning hours / give an entire day to seva / meditation on Krishna dispels the gloom of the heart / meditation on Krishna is a thunderbolt that shatters the mountain of inauspiciousness in the mind
SB 3.28.19-25
587: Replacing the Reruns in the Mind
what do we need to accept (or let go of) / where’s the tip of the nose? / the description of God begins with His smile / fear of a personal God / if Krishna was on the Dating Game / the Kaustubha jewel / Krishna coming home with the cows ins the original parade / seeing God within one's own heart
SB 3.28.12-18
586: An Interview with Madhuri Pura Das — Simplifying Bhakti
get, then give the gift of bhakti / if we are conscious, there must be a source / invest in the eternal - Bhakti for the Big Day / start with a desire, find a crew, gotta get a guru / hang out with God in sound form / Bhakti won’t work in a hard heart—put down the grudges
Find Madhu at info@madhu.life or on IG @madhu.life
585: Q & A – Volume 82
Should I try to find love in the material world or should I just keep turning towards Krishna, eventually my heart and mind will fully settle into bhakti? / Tilak - who wears it, why & when? / How does someone in a long term relationship or a non-Vedic marriage balance the physical and emotional needs of their partner with their own desire to serve Krishna in an appropriate state, and will I ever be able to take initiation if my partner or spouse is not a devotee?
584: Forgiveness is a Quiet Mind
carving out a little sadhana routine / yoga is reclaiming our freedom from the mind / material sound is exhausting / push through the flavorless period to develop taste for sadhana / withdrawing the senses / make the mind a friend / transcending the modes of nature through meditation on Krishna / put up a roadblock on the path of revenge / the universe is held together by forgiveness / forgiveness is a quiet mind / forgiveness is the highest virtue
3.28.11
583: Climbing the Ladder to Samadhi
we all need a road map / focusing on the present moment though concentration on the breath / still your body to focus and energize the mind / Kaustubha’s meditation classes / breaking away from the turbo scenarios in the mind / carve out a little time & commit to a sadhana / climbing the ladder to samadhi / inhale, hold, exhale / we’re Cycle of Sin from Dayton , Ohio!
SB 3.28.5-11
582: For Convenience We Throw Out Everything Good
in the name of convenience we throw out everything good / “As long as you think the problem is out there, that very thought is the problem” / “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” / Your thought is the first domino / Prabhupada isn’t raising the bar, he’s showing us where the bar is / yoga tradition is based on parampara, not charisma / what if our business leaders, from an early age, were taught the ethic that “The more you help others is your glory? / Spiritual communism
SB 3.28.4
581: Aligning the Mind & Heart
aligning the mind & heart - wisdom from White Buffalo Calf Woman / the Power Of The Universe (Paramatma) will come to your assistance / the hurt of one is the hurt of all & the honor of one is the honor of all / we’re shooting arrows into our circle of concern with no effect / work on your circle of influence and it will expand to your circle of concern / sva-dharma-ācaraṇam — executing one’s prescribed duties / santoṣaḥ — contentment / ātmavic-caraṇārcanam - worship the lotus feet of a knower of the soul / namaste = not me, you / grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś - letting go of conventional religion / mita-medhyādanaṁ - eating frugally / vivikta-kṣema-sevanam - dwelling in a secluded place
SB 3.28.1-3
580: Interview with Artist Dhrti Dasi – Bhakti in Perspective
coming to art in childhood / discovery Bhakti at New York’s School of Art & Design / the BBT Art Department in LA / the privilege of painting for Srila Prabhupada / Prabhupada’s vision for Realism in Bhakti art / perspective as an aid to entering into the pastimes / absorbing the mind through creating art / become a transparent via medium / mastering the rules before breaking them / we can all be artists
You can find Dhrti Dasi’s artworks at:
FaceBook & Instagram: @sosacredart & online at:
579: Atmarama – One who Rejoices in the Self
to obtain wisdom requires independent, serious effort / knowledge vs wisdom / I may know how to build a car, but do I know where to drive it? / Ātmārāma means “one who rejoices in the self,” / a materialist tries to satisfy himself in relation to his body – a devotee tries to satisfy the Superself / it’s not the activity, its the state of mind in which one performs the activity / would we be attracted to the enjoyment on the heavenly planets? / what about mystic powers?
SB 3.27.24-30
578: FOMO Perpetuates our Material Existence
yin deficiencies & yangaholics / self-care vs self-pampering / FOMO / the guru is the cloud who extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence / for the yogi, nothing needs to be happening / tamasic times & self-destruction / the faultiness in our thinking which prevents us from standing in our glory SB: 3.27.23-24
577: We’re All Individuals Intrinsically Tied to the Whole
even while trapped within the body & mind, the yogi is free / like a piano key , we have an individual identity intrinsically tied to a larger whole / reading to find a gem / reading as an act of worship / reading out loud / our feeling of being lost is illusory / are purusha & prakriti inextricable? / the method to break free - hear about Krishna (for a long time) & be dutiful / how to receive perfect knowledge & transcendental vision
SB 3.27.14-22
576: Superficial Objections to Spirituality (from Right & Left Perspectives)
the greatest duty of every Bhakti-yogi is to live & speak without hypocrisy / people who try to force circumstances become the slaves of their circumstances / superficial objections to spirituality from right & left perspectives / spiritual insights on acceptance are neither teachings promoting lack of personal ambition (right), or tools of social oppression (left) / we gotta clean up our own act before we can clean up the Earth
SB 3.27.8-13
575: How Spiritual Rx Works
the need for trust in bhakti / #doubtyourdoubts / bhakti is spread from one heart to another / let’s start with - what do I know? / as a doctor prescribes medicine as well as diet & lifestyle - a guru prescribes an object of meditation along with lifestyle practices to facilitate absorption / kindness & simplicity / insulate don’t isolate / “if your dharma allows”
SB 3.27.6-8
574: Q & A Volume 81
is installing the Bhagavatam recommended or necessary? / how do I serve my yoga students by not freaking them or tiptoeing around God? / are offenses during Kartik also multiplied by 1000? / how is Krishna’s teasing endearing? / can the concept of ahimsa ever be broadened to allow for killing of animals for a community’s survival? / how do I care for my tulsi mala? / if you could redo your brahmacharya training, what would you add and remove?
573: Get Down Off Your Elephant & Bow Down Mister
pride will ruin your spiritual path / beware of egocentric red flag mantras like “how dare you?!”, “who do you think you are?!” / when things don’t go your way, you get bitter or better / gratitude for our humbling experiences / let the exchanges of love transform our hearts / see yourself in Indra / transform negative thought loops with japa and sacred literature / get off your elephant & bow down
Watch Raghunath's Ted talk here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjTWz4WKusU
572: Our Minds Are Like the Gowanus Canal
happy Diwali - time to let go of our resentments / our minds are like the Gowanus Canal / the more we engage in the matrix, the more we forget our nature / practicing bhakti-yoga with intensity is the way out / friendship is encouraging you to raise the bar / Visvamitra & Menaka / Raghu loses it at the airport / our conditioned nature can be engaged in yoga
SB 3.27.5
571: Bending Spoons & Dodging Bullets
our desire + the reactions to our deeds (karma) = our next body in the matrix / the law of karma is cosmic sensitivity training / the whole material world is hope, desire & fear / mystic perfections as matrix transcendence / bending spoons & dodging bullets? when we’re ready we won’t have to / Bhakti-yogis aren’t interested in mystic perfection (except for Raghunath) / channel your excellence towards God / when we realize that Krishna is the friend of everyone we transcend the matrix
SB 3.27.1-4
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-kirtan-album-from-madi-das-dave-stringer#/
570: The Lady in the Red Dress - “Look Again”
by nature we are unchanging - but we identify with the body & mind, which by nature are always changing / we all have our lady in the red dress / our attachments are causing our fears / we are shifting from body to body in the matrix due to our “faulty actions” / when you act on behalf of the higher power you transcend the laws / every object has it’s nature / like water that has become solid - we can regain our true nature
SB 3.27.1-3
569: He’s in the Universe, He’s in Your Heart, Now Meditate on Him
the material elements expand telescopically / Bhagavatam language can be both literal & metaphorical / characteristics of intelligence - from doubt, to misapprehension, to correct apprehension / the intelligence of knowing when to withdraw / sound is the primeval form of energy / matter is activated by the inner presence of the Divine – He is also in you – now meditate on Him
568: Q & A - Volume 80
My father suffers from schizophrenia & his violent behavior traumatized me in my youth. He’s recently been institutionalised & doctors have contacted me as his next closest relative to make decisions with regard to his treatment. Is it ok to turn my back on him or should I find something inside of me and try to help him by visiting and rekindling a relationship? / Is there a part of us that currently exists in the spiritual world, perhaps in a dormant state, like sleeping, and we haven't really left the spiritual world at all? / How do books like Bhagavad-gita & Srimad Bhagavatam address the environment? / I know we are here to serve Krishna, but in what ways are we here on an individual level?
567: What is Time? Thoughts from the Spiritual Scientist
matter is eternal, but it’s transformations are temporary / time as a concept / what does time teach us? time is the transformer / material existence is a rom com that turns into a horror film / 24 Sankhya, a Buddhist perspective / 25 Sankhya, a Monist perspective / 26 Sankhya, a Bhakti perspective / Western science analyzes matter, Vedic science also analyzes the experiencer of matter, the purusha
www.thespiritualscientist.com www.gitadaily.com
566: Better to be a Jalopy Moving Forward
fantasies are our dreams within the dream / Raghu’s failed kindergarten romance / the spiritual origin of teasing & flirting / rationalization as the intelligence in service of the false ego / better to be a jalopy moving forward than a Ferrari moving backwards / defining yoga / the 5 fluctuating states of mind / it’s not sectarian to say it all leads to Krishna / Krishna’s description of the sage of steady mind
565: Is Your Mind Corrupting Your Intellect?
universal creation & destruction comes in cycles / God the Father & Mother Nature / the manas (mind) is the sitting place of desire - it corrupts the senses & the intellect / strengthening the intellect though hearing wisdom daily
564: The Supersoul Within & the Time Factor Without
Bhisma’s 9 deathbed instructions / the external bath & the internal bath / in the material realm, nothing is more powerful than time / we can chose whether to listen to the Supersoul, but we have to listen to time / our default setting is enjoyment / hang out with people that light you up / we need purification to tune into the Supersoul / sadhana + regulation of the senses is the formula for yoga / GET THE HELL OF THE ALTAR!
SB 3.26.17-18
563: Multiplex Maya - We’re Jumping From One Theater to the Next
the wise don’t delight in material pleasures / the enjoyment ceiling gets lower with age / the materialist seeks external pleasure, the yogi seeks pleasure within / death comes to the devotee like a cat to a kitten / time ends our film of life & moves us to the next theater / false ego is the darkness in the theater / how we respond to the film determines our next movie (life) / zoom out to see the multiplex Maya & broader reality
SB 3.26.15-16
562: Q & A - Volume 79
how can one work and still not be attached to the fruits of labor? / how does falling in love with Krishna before falling in love help us? / Brahman, the universal form, Vishnu & Krishna - who should we meditate on? / can you recommend any books that are written in a simplified form to help me understand bhakti-yoga? / how to understand Arjuna’s unique marriages in the Mahabharata?
561: Spiritual Balance is Both Active & Reflective
material hype vs spiritual hope / as a city has department heads our senses have devas in charge / there’s no room for arrogance when you accept the Vedic paradigm / there’s purusha and then there is Purushotama / we can be both active & reflective / how to remember the 24 material elements / the elements are the batter & time is the mixing element / time is alien to our true nature
SB 3.26.9-15
560: Karma & Are We Responsible for Our Own Suffering?
who is responsible for my suffering? / does karma necessitate callousness to the suffering of others? / great personalities accept voluntary suffering to relieve the sufferings of others / the kidnapped kings accepted radical responsibility / there are no passes on forgiveness, even in a dungeon / getting past superficial spirituality requires radical responsibility / Brahma’s verse about radical responsibility / #ideservemuchworse / respond to the karma of others with compassion - respond to our own karma with radical responsibility
559: God is Calling Us to Dance
every tree has a back story / God is calling us to dance / Divine love is the most powerful influence in the universe / the power month is magical & may lead to Krishn-addiction / meditate on Krishna’s baby cheeks / what more can I describe than this?
www.sanskritsense.com
558: In What Sense are We Not "The Doer”?
sambhanda jnana - God, the self & nature, & how they are related / God transcends material nature / because His awareness pervades all of nature, it is His / we live peacefully when we accept our quota and no more / don’t fight over virtual mangos / although we do nothing, we are responsible for our own happiness & distress / the shift in consciousness from the material to Krishna / recognizing that everything is created by our well wishing friend
557: The Matrix is Real! (& We Need a Morpheus to get out!)
prayers for the devotees of Bangladesh / spiritual knowledge counters religious hatred / The Matrix is real & we need a Morpheus to get out! / Raghu observes his emotions through Covid recovery / the need for patience / transcend the matrix & become an instrument of compassion / our desires bind us in the Matrix / “guru” red flags
SB 3.26.1-2
556: The Dharma Code - Interview with Author Simon Haas
Life as a young man in the ashrams of Vrindavan, India / the 3 laws Laws of Perception / the ancient teachings for kings and queens / the 4 principles of the Dharma Code - Truth, Purity, Non-violence, and Discipline / how do we actually practically apply the Dharma Code in our everyday life? / dharma protects one who protects dharma
555: Q & A Volume 78
how does martial arts nestle with the Bhakti Yogi's path? / how to respond to people who, due to emotional scars, are averse to understanding God as a person? / what is the best way to show appreciation to bhakti-yogis? / does Krishna choose sides? / is it bad to chant in my head during meetings?
554: This Body is Just a Rental
the real enemies are within / a sun-ray of love for Krsna / bhakti causes the heart to be softened by various tastes / the eternal propensity for love in all living entities is always searching for a place to reside / might as well face it you’re addicted to God / to the degree we take shelter of Krishna our fear dissipates / choose fear or choose Bhakti
SB 3.25.38-44
553: How Bhakti Works
Bhagavatam cuts through the social fluff / 5 potent practices of Bhakti - nama, dhama, Bhagavatam, deities, devotees / Kaustubha’s favorite temples / how Bhakti works / false ideas impressed within our minds are the cause of our losing touch with our true nature & seeking happiness externally / the transformative practices of Bhakti-yoga are designed to purify the mind through contact with powerful sources of spiritual energy / you’ve gotta throw away the magical stone to receive something higher
SB 3.25.36-37
552: Bhakti Dissolves the Programing in the Mind
beautiful destitution / turn your prison into a temple / beginning the journey of awakening / Bhakti dissolves the false programing in the mind /the 4 objects of human pursuit / the 5th object of human pursuit / liberation is just the neutral position on the way to love / finding meditative focus in a temple
SB 3.25.33-34
551: Visiting the Holy Place in the Mind
avoiding the material glue traps / step back & think about how we are situated in the body & the universe / approaching like a fool / the evidence that we need help is our suffering / our senses are being monitored / the Vedic teachings are the guidebook to how to use the equipment of the body / visiting the holy place in the mind
SB 3.25.31-32
550: One Need Not Kill Their Tender Emotions
Bhagavatam is a support through all situations / the naval is the magic spot / Krishna can eat with his eyes / bhakti makes the pursuit of knowledge effective / yoga is an eternal practice / in bhakti, one need not kill their tender emotions / service should never be impeded due to external considerations (sex, gender, race, etc.)
SB 3.25.27-30
549: Q & A - Volume 77
How many Bhakti lineages are there, where do they stem from & what are the differences between them? / What is the difference between Bhakti for Vishnu & Bhakti for Krishna? / Are we supposed to always think about other people's comfort and forget about our own? / Isn’t it wrong for God to lie, cheat or steal?
548: The Path is Hidden in the Heart of Great Souls
the most instructive question in approaching a texts is not “what does it say?” but, “what am I looking for?” / what is the path? it’s hidden in the heart an unadulterated, self-realized person / aligning one’s heart with the heart of a pure devotee / what do I need to let go of to open myself to truth? / welcome the breakdowns that lead to the breakthroughs / hearing Krishna’s pastimes makes yoga easy / Kunti’s prayer and Arjuna’s material exhaustion
547: How to Approach a Sadhu
devotional treasures within the heart / approach a sadhu without guile or duplicity /there’s hypocrisy on the Eastern paths too / the psychological effect of bowing / deep inquiry is informed by a recognition of our necessity & the absence of awareness of how to fulfill it / Maya’s remedy for insincerity is suffering / in the right context and association, stories & pastimes transform / the progression from faith, associating with pure devotees, execution of the regulative principles of devotion, giving up of what has no value, being fixed, taste, attachment, affection, pure love / different things grow in different ways
SB 3.25.23-25
546: Broadening Our Affection to the Wider Family
evolution of inquiry precedes evolution of being / the basic dimension of the material world is death / sadhus are both beacon & burden for the conventional psyche / renounce what dilutes your attachment to God / spiritual wisdom leads to fearlessness / bhakti broadens affection to the wider family / absorption in divinity leads to forgetting material miseries / have faith in Krishna’s eagerness to overlook our shortcomings / give up suffering & follow your bliss / prison in Vrndavan is better than ‘freedom’ in maya!
SB 3.25.22-23
545: What Does it Take to Be a Sadhu?
going deeper into the practices we repeat / little Karuna knows her Gita shlokas! / the peace formula / growing through the challenges / the story of Ajamil - Krishna is so kind / paka vs sucka / we recognize a sadhu by their character, not the externals / don’t return the hate / practicing tolerance can make the entire day a yoga practice / once I get resentful, I’m off my spiritual path / we come in a lineage of mercy / every reaction is either a manifestation of love or a cry for love / decorating ourselves with the ornaments of a sadhu
SB 3.25.21
544: Spiritual Attachment Cures Material Attachment
these stories not only educate - they satisfy the soul / the mind is the pivot / Vyasadeva’s despondency / Vyasadeva clarifies all the Vedic teachings through Srimad Bhagavatam / all the other yoga paths find complete auspiciousness through Bhakti / understand devotion through “spirituality” not “religion” / attachment, when applied to sadhus, opens the door of liberation / the devotional yoga of old Indian ladies / Krishna has a heart!
SB 3.25.18-20
543: With Material Happiness Comes Material Distress
lesson 1 - material happiness does not come without material distress – this is the law of the material world / lesson 2 - when we let go of false identification of the body as “I” & bodily possessions as “mine,” - we transcend material happiness and distress / we’re conditioned to believe that happiness is external / the soul is like God (transcendental to material existence & self-effulgent) & different from God (infinitesimal, not temporarily fragmented)
SB 3.25.12-17
542: Youth of Today Interview
Raghunath & Kaustubha speak with Porcell & Sammy Siegler from Youth of Today to discuss the juncture of Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge, Vegetarianism & Krishna Bhakti.
541: Q & A Volume 76
Do you guys have any advice to lonesome devotees, in distant places? / How can I appropriately stand up for my beliefs and be a voice for those experiencing injustice while coming from a place of loving service and compassion? / What are the rules for visiting a temple? / Can you please explain what makes a certain (spiritual) path a sect (or cult) and why Krishna Consciousness isn't one?
540: Materially Pessimistic & Spiritually Optimistic
we’re so easily bewildered - we need to keep good association / material exhaustion & total disgust creates a fertile ground for spiritual knowledge & sprouts the seed of devotion in the heart / maya covers you with blankets and slaps you around / the banyan tree metaphor / Purusha & Prakriti / the 1% suffer too / no such thing as healthy corn chips after 10 PM / we are all watching the same crap
SB 3.25.1-11
539: Jewels are Found Deep Within an Undisturbed Mind
crisis can lead to our spiritual growth / can I grow from my humiliation, or do I dig my heels in? / look very carefully at your endeavors for material enjoyment to see where it causes pain to others / compassion for every living being is a platform for self realization / if you go deep, you won’t be rocked by the waves on the surface / the jewel of Krishna Prema can be found in the deep and calm waters of an undisturbed mind
SB 3.24.44-47
538: Defining “Spirituality”
what people think of as spirituality - crystals, dream catchers, burning sage / spirituality from the sacred texts - recognizing and respecting the soul & Supersoul within every living being and becoming free of fear & lamentation / spirituality is the awareness that we're all in the network of God’s energy / yoga means focus - sadhana is the practice, sadhya is the goal / the principles of spiritual practice are simple but the application involves nuance / practices of fasting & silence / solitude creates an opportunity to connect to God within / clear the mind so it can focus on service to Krishna / Bhakti is about what we hold as sacred in the heart & mind
SB 3.24.40-44
537: Pass Through Our Jungles Without Fear
Bhakti is kid friendly / think of Krishna in your heart as you pass through your jungle & your lamentations & fears will recede / we’re entangled in unnecessary material desires / Srila Prabhupada’s contribution / focus your happiness internally & you will find Krishna in your heart /worry is a poor investment of time / fear of a personal God / attachments & fears cloud our judgment / doubt your mental loops & turbo scenarios / how explicit does Krishna have to be for us to get the message?
SB 3.24.34-39
536: Sense Pleasure is Just a Mental Concoction
soochi vs moochi / all this sense pleasure is just a mental concoction / Raghu’s movie analogy / how the mind gets programmed / shrimp are the cockroaches of the sea / meditation is on light at the least & form at the most / defining time / we get owned by the gunas / seek the blessings of the sages and move forward
SB 3.24.28-34
535: The Questions We Need to Ask Ourselves - An Interview with Vaisesika Dasa
1. What’s my purpose? / 2. How can I be of service? / 3. What is the lesson? / 4. Where am I investing my attention right now?
Email to contact TeamISV@gmail.com https://www.bhadracampaign.com https://vaisesikadasa.com/en/home/
534: Q & A - Volume 75
How do you know when it is time to take on a guru and begin the initiation process? / As you become more detached from the things of this world, is it wrong to be callous towards those who don’t get it yet? / How to understand dementia through the teachings of yoga? / What are some ways that I can recognize and appreciate the loving relationships that I already have in life and how can I earn the love of others on a Bhakti path?
533: Don’t Get Stuck in Scranton
embrace opportunity in adversity / we create our own suffering - stop blaming / emotional & rational thought / taking radical responsibility for our own misdeeds / staying away materialist mantras (why me? who do you think you are? its not fair) / let go of the material and grab hold of the spiritual / Divine love completes all of the paths of yoga / internal renunciation develops effortlessly in bhakti / don't get stuck in Scranton
SB 3.24.26-28
532: Our Nature is to Love
make time to share our hearts with Bhakti yogis / contemplate our misidentification with the body / when the external self moves in harmony with the internal self / our nature is to love / train the mind to operate in harmony with the self / knowledge has to be applied / like a pen’s purpose is to write, the soul’s purpose is to love / we’re in a divinity centered universe not a me centered universe / arranged marriage Tuesday for the A-list sages
SB 3.24.18-25
531: Matter & Spirit are Knotted by False Ego
great souls make any place great / Kardama’s yoga instructions - sensory control, dharmic observances, austerities & gifts of charity / external rituals have internal effect / matter & spirit are knotted by false ego / truck stripes won’t destroy your spiritual life / spiritual knowledge vanquishes the knot in the heart / Bhakti brings detachment without even trying for it / don't FedEx your kids / we own nothing / be like the bank teller— put it in the vault for Krishna / joy in Bhakti is effortless
SB 3.24.1-17
530: Simplicity Facilitates Meditation
simplicity facilitates meditation / our needs (for food, clothing & shelter) get hijacked by our wants / Bhakti-yoga grants fearlessness / material existence is always fearful and full of anxiety / everyone is deeply longing for a (re)connection with God/ sharing Bhakti with your kids is the ultimate parent win / everything we do influences everyone around us
SB 3.23.28-57
529: Who are Your Lepers and How are you Kissing Them?
practical humility and how to let things go from St. Francis / if you’re going through hell, you should understand its because you’re sincere / recurring honeymoons with Krishna / don’t underestimate the power of Maya, or the speed of evolution from hearing the Bhagavatam daily / by serving the devotee, you serve Krishna / zoom out don't focus on the fault / we don't want what everyone wants
SB 3.23.1-27
528: As Flies Are to Us, We Are to Others
Bhakti is intergalactic / surround yourself with good practices and good community and you can be in it and not of it / you don’t have to give up sense enjoyment, just regulate it / work toward self realization daily to approach death fearlessly / with Bhakti, you’re never bored / real yogis never waste time / as flies are to us, we are to others / a little something from St. Clare of Assisi
SB 3.22.34-39
527: Q & A Volume 74
Should I speak with an abusive father who is nearing death? / Why must God have a gender & why must it be male?
526: You Die & People ask “What's for Lunch?”
simple living is joyful / we’re leaving a legacy of leftover crap / Stop eating bars- cook with love / transcending the material miseries / Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the antiseptic of the material world / you die & people ask “whats for lunch?” / Srimad Bhagavatam is eternal, nothing on Netflix compares / partying every day at the Radha Govinda Temple in Jaipur!
SB 3.22.22-33
525: Servant of the Servant - Appreciating Srila Prabhupada
born into devotion / the master’s instruction to bring Bhakti to the west / the treacherous sea journey / setting up on New York’s skid row / blowing up in the Summer of Love / fulfilling the vision that was separated only by time / writing all the books / Allen Ginsberg’s appreciation / George Harrison’s appreciation / Thomas Merton’s appreciation / reaching everyone, from the scholars to the street kids
524: Let Krishna Shine Within the Heart
Cintamani - a guru among the prostitutes / how much time, energy & resources are we giving to Maya? / the power of Krishna’s flute / Krishna outsources all the work so He can engage full time in adventures of love / let Krishna shine within the heart / how is Krishna the only enjoyer & the only source of enjoyment? / we’re leaving scars all over the place / greed for the poisonous meat of sense objects
523: Q & A – Volume 73
how can we explain to children, without traumatizing them, about why we should not hurt animals or any living beings? / how to better understand why we have to endure lasting pain in life? / is it appropriate to pursue a material goal while on the path of bhakti? / how do we choose who to help when we can't help everyone?
522: An Interview with Madhuri Pura Das
envy / growing up Vedic / spiritual life - if it's not fun, you're doing it wrong / austerity brings clarity / if it isn't extraordinary, you aren't really there
more info at https://madhu.life
521: Snuggle a Monk Today
we’re unlearning the material world / everyone has a role to play / you can’t buy off a brahmana / the wise are meant to temper the strong / training the brahminical mind / snuggle a monk today / good karma isn’t necessarily good / the smile of the devotee / thoughts of God are the natural default of the mind
SB 3.22.1-21
520: D8KRSNA1ST
D8KRSNA1ST / where’s my next step going Krishna? / the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium / karma, jnana & bhakti / economic development vs service as a paradigm of success / the mutual respect between the ruler & the yogi / train our teachers, leaders and business owners in ethics & dharma / control the senses, and some hearing & then Krishna steps in
SB 3.21.48-56
519: Two Bottles of Yoga Glow Please!
they never sink under misfortunes whose understandings are guided by the the sacred texts / the morning rituals of the yogi / happiness in goodness & happiness in passion / the real yoga glow doesn’t come cheap / the real yoga certificate / Raghu’s sex education / the sadhu on the bus / when, through controlling the senses, the mind becomes reprogramed to be harmonious with the nature of the self, we call that yoga
SB 3.21.45-47
518: Q & A Volume 72
what is the role of humor in Bhakti? / how to understand & speak to people about karma? / how to respond when the atmosphere I live in is fueling my addictions? / who is your favorite Mahabharata character and why? / is a true yogi someone who hears the voice of God within, and if so, how do I get there myself amidst the cacophony of everyday life?
517: Fix the Mind on Vishnu & Feel Compassion for the Haters
Ishvara Pranidhana - completely surrendering to God / for one who gives everything there is no frustration / the relationship between self realization, seeing everything in Good & God in everything, and compassion for all living beings / be the bee (not the fly) / even the jerks are pure spirit souls, have compassion / Shiva fixes his mind on Vishnu and feels compassion for the haters / Raghu likes rap / let Krishna be the attractive one (it’s too exhausting for us)
SB 3.21.22-44
516: Enjoyment or Enlightenment? What’s the Universe Designed For?
spiritual fandom / why do we love this swing festival so much? / our senses are dragging us around with the hope to enjoy / the tremendous velocity of the wheel of time / if Kaustubha created a virtual reality for Raghu he would program it with time & karma, so that he would come back out / Vishnu expands & withdraws his energies like a spider and its web / enjoyment or enlightenment? what’s the universe designed for?
SB 3.21.17-21
515: As Misery Comes Without Endeavor, So Does Happiness
Mara’s leap of faith / we live in a world of hype / expectations make us suffer repeatedly / you’re at the Coliseum, now what?! / every moment of the day, we get a fork in the road & can choose Krishna / Krishna is the root of everything / as Divine consciousness rises within us the externals become less significant / we’re being dragged around like a bull with a ring in its nose / fearlessness through seeing God in everyone
SB 3.21.13-16
514: God is in Everyone & Everyone is in God
death doulas / saris are long / advice from sage Narada - waste no time with indecisive debate – put aside material happiness, distress, desire & false gain – cultivate nonviolence, truthfulness, cleanliness, compassion & faith – constantly worship the Krishna with all of your heart / by nature the heart is full of love / the vision of the yogi – God is in everyone & everyone is in God /Bhagavad-gita is not a convo between Arjuna & a candle
SB 3.21.7-12
513: This Podcast is Not Sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts
the yogi Kardama Muni lived how long? / Kaustubha’s trip to the waterfall / this podcast is NOT sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts / Prabhupada’s disbelief at what Americans are willing to buy into / turn your entire day into yoga / is love an illusion? / love is intrinsic to the soul & is awakened through Bhakti-yoga / all the yoga paths are meant to go to the same place - but Bhakti goes there directly
SB 3.21.5-7
512: An Interview with Amarendra Dasa
advancement in yoga is tapping into the frequency of God in the heart / GiGo principle - good in, good out, garbage in, garbage out / reduce the noise to hear the whisper within / God is our internal engineer dropping pebbles on our helmet as reversals in life / Srimad Bhagavatam teaches us to make lemonade of the lemons and offer it to God
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChkQ7Q6cEBQenwKugPjOVjA
511: Q & A Volume 71
How can material things mean nothing when Krishna's energy is in all material things down to the atom? / If the material world means nothing and is an illusion, why wouldn't we just stay in the spiritual realm from the beginning? / Why is chanting talked about as 'the only way' in this age? / Am I worthy of owning the Bhagavatam without being a full time Bhakti-yogi? / Karmically, how responsible am I for these people who are under my care as a business owner? / How to respond to someone who tells you that you aren’t putting into practice ‘everything you read in your books’ during a disagreement/argument?
510: You Need a Peaceful Lifestyle for a Peaceful Mind
we all need a spiritual mission / we’re born to contribute / reprograming the mind through shloka memorization / drop your phone and hold the mind steady / you need a peaceful lifestyle for a peaceful mind / self knowledge frees one from body negativity & anxiety / smash your mirrors / phones are sickly addictive… turn it off! / climbing the 8 limbs of yoga
SB 3.21.4
509: We’re All Lost in the Supermarket
if I have an enemy, I have a problem / accepting illusion as truth in the material world / higher beings, lower being, snakes, angels, mystics, sages, demigods, demons, ghosts, fiends, sages & the father of mankind / the problem with counteracting bad karma - you don’t get to the root of the problem / it was The Clash Raghu, The Clash, (not the Jam) / the Srimad Bhagavatam family tree
SB 3.20.1-21.3
508: Reframing All of Life’s Challenges
continuous practice reframes all of life's challenges / 2 ways to see the world - it’s meant for me to enjoy - it’s meant for me to learn from / Kaustubha met a wild boar! / our bodies are unreal / what about stillness Raghu? / doubt your doubts / even alpha-male elephants need to cry for help sometimes / 5 potent practices
SB 3.19.20-38
507: Q & A Volume 70
What to do when you catch your 15 year old smoking Marijuana in the house? / Is there a place for women renunciants in the Bhakti tradition? / Do the Bhagavatam or other Vedic scripture provide any direct insight on parenting or the development of the child in the first weeks and months?
506: ZOOM THE HELL OUT!
happy birthday Mara! / create ripple effects of love / zoom the hell out - its over in a moment / worry is a lousy investment / you can love your enemies when you zoom the hell out / God is to us as the root is to the tree, or as the stomach is to all the limbs of the body / Raghu’s Christian outreach method / when it comes to personalization - make that circle big / Vishnu’s battle with Hiranyaksha
SB 3.18.1-3.19.18
505: How to Stay Steady in a Sawed Off Shotgun of Hate
1. don’t let hate make you hate / 2. don’t let revenge, resentment or spite enter your heart / 3. step back and zoom out - its just a tiny moment in time / 4. we’ve got karma to burn / Bhagavatam works! / the words of the shaman / Krishna always saves us / we’ll all be severely tested so that we can break the cycle of birth & death / by Krishna’s grace we can pass over all life’s obstacles / building up to the big fight - Hiraṇyākṣa vs Vishnu!
SB 3.17.1-31
504: Listening to Bhagavatam Just Makes My Day Better
checking in with the 3rd generation / listening to the Bhagavatam just makes my day better / I may have been a chicken in my last life / the appeal of Bhagavatam at all stages of life / Krishna’s forgetfulness is part of his perfection / Krishna gets lost in play to taste love / when you displease great souls, you lose your beauty & luster / Krishna, looking like a puppet made of butter, gets lost in playing as Krishna getting lost in play (It’s a Fibonacci Spiral!)
SB 3.16.27-37
503: Vishnu Steals Your Victim Card
Bhakti helps you deal with the pain of material existence / uproot & let go of the hurt / don’t be petty back / Kaustubha’s dentist chair prayers / Vishnu steals your victim card / taking radical responsibility / Guna, Purusha, Yuga, Shakyavesa & Lila Avataras
SB 3.16.24-26
502: Interview with Chaturatma Das - The 6 Goswamis of Vrindavan
from the gangsters of Chicago to the Goswamis of Vrindavan / the renunciation of Raghunath dasa Goswami / family responsibility as exemplified by Gopal Bhatta Goswami / the loving dealings of Sanantana Goswami / madhukari - collecting one’s meals like the bee / the vast contribution of Rupa Goswami / Jiva Goswami’s humility /the tomb of esoteric books / Srila Prabhupada presented the teachings of the Goswami’s in a way that even we can understand and apply / the confrontational debate consciousness bans us from entering the meditation of Vrindavan / Jahnava Devi - the female saint and head of the bhakti community / Gangamata Goswamini - the princess turned saint
https://chaturatmadasa.com
501: Q & A – Volume 69
can you recommend any strategies for me to use to help bring my mind to higher things and away from these carnal thoughts? / why are we given a number of rounds to chant, rather than a length of time? / beating ourselves up can lead to unnecessary amounts of guilt and shame, but so-called self-acceptance can lead to remaining attached to things that are holding us back - how can we continue making progress in bhakti without being overly hard on ourselves? / how does Bhakti, although highly specialized, avoid the pitfalls of other forms of specialization & points of view that are prevalent today?
500: 500!
Celebrate Episode 500 with us as we hear testimonials from Wisdom of the Sages listeners about how the podcast, bhakti & Srimad Bhagavatam have transformed their lives.
499: Dharma is Hidden in the Hearts of the Great Souls
reading wise things won’t make us wise- we need to apply it / Vishnu is exceedingly attached to his devotees / 3 principles of spiritual culture - cleanliness, austerity and mercy / our nonsense got us here, we need wise people to lead us out / the need to honor the speakers of truth / live simply to be happy / frogs are dying / what’s the news - everybody is burning / dharma is hidden in the hearts of the great souls
SB 3.16.19-23
498: Knowing the Mind of the Master
Sherri’s kirtan adventure / to be aloof from public opinion / Vishnu asks a favor / being bound by love / knowing the mind of the master / getting beyond religious superficiality / the most confidential knowledge is when God reveals His heart / the 4 Kumara’s try to make sense out of Vishnu’s love / Sanatana dharma - there is an eternal standard for what is good / Kaustubha’s satanic friend
SB 3.16.12-18
497: How We Treat the Vulnerable is How We Treat God
the importance of routine / even people of the lowest behavior are purified by their interest in hearing about Vishnu / interest in Vishnu obliges Vishnu personally / Vishnu is glorious because he honors the Brahmanas / good fortune is always with Vishnu because he serves such devotees / Vishnu is more pleased by service to devotees than by ritual offered to him directly / ritual becomes void if you can’t treat others with respect & love / how we treat the vulnerable is how we treat God
3.16.6-11
496: Social Justice is Woven Into Bhakti-Yoga Culture
when there’s no ego the heart dances / Sherri’s kirtan adventure / there’s more happiness in serving than in being served / nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded / a brahmana is known by their qualities, not by their birth / God takes radical responsibility and apologizes / Vishnu is sacred because He serves his devotees / how social justice is woven into bhakti culture / how ideas of cultural appropriation can be misapplied to yoga culture
SB 3.16.1-7
495: Q & A – Volume 68
How does the bhakti community view the LGBT community? / Does hearing Raghunath and Kaustubha on a podcast recommending “chant the maha mantra” count as receiving the mantra from guru & does it make a difference if I haven’t been personally directed by a teacher to set aside time each day to chant? / In this modern age of internet association, how can someone develop a real relationship with a teacher & how do you actually ask the teacher to be your guru? / Is Krishna present in full, in all things?
494: Our Egos Get In the Way of Everything
kirtan at the Bhakti Center / our egos get in the way of everything / Krishna is like the sun, and I'm a stinky t-shirt / 3 approaches – karma, jnana & bhakti / engaging the mind, words and body / the devotee is fearless - heaven & hell are the same to them - externals don’t matter / Krishna is my inner engineer
SB 3.15.49-50
493: The Knot In the Heart
eagerness is everything / rapture / Dhruva / spiritual form /The Absolute Truth can be understood in three features — impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and Bhagavān / the personal feature is the last word in understanding the Absolute Truth / untie the knot in the heart / becoming materially exhausted / nothing in the material world will satisfy your heart / its what can I give, not what can I get
SB 3.15.46-48
492: We’re On the Home Stretch to Eternity!
the Bhakti-yogi is like salt / the Bhagavatam perspective shift / #BhaktiGoesNiceWithAge / even the 1% is dying / Bhakti is superior to mukti - example 1. Sukadeva, example 2. the four Kumaras / the supreme dharma is Bhakti / Paramatma in the heart of everyone & in every atom / as our consciousness spreads though our body, Paramatma’s consciousness spreads through the entire universe / as we have a right of proprietorship over our bodies, Paramatma is the proprietor of the universe
SB 3.15.44-45
491: There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute
the mad elephant offense / smiling Lord Vishnu melts the heart / so called pleasure is just a cessation of pain / have faith that happiness lies in service / #dontbeasuckerbeaserver / the Bhakti-yogis don’t try for liberation, but liberation herself stands with folded hands waiting to serve them / everyone has a backstory / the fact that the atmaramas take pleasure in the form of Krishna is proof that His form is spiritual
SB 3.15.39-43
490: The Illusion of Duality
our attractions & aversions are randomly programed into our minds / the illusion of duality / Raghunath’s exercise / happiness is an inside job / purification through the fire of knowledge / see the Divine orchestration in everything / we accept the curse, but may we not forget Vishnu / we aren’t asking for peace, we are stepping in the fire / high level meditation on the form of Vishnu / the appearance of Lord Vishnu / seeing God in the skunk
SB 3.15.34-38
489: Interview with Tukaram Das – The Catharsis of Gratitude
we’re either grateful or entitled / gratitude leads to spiritual awakening / the myth of the more choices the better / regulation gives rise to beauty / finding value in the tough times / parampara - from one to another / being endowed with billions of years of tradition / life is a game of frogger / people have shown me kindness that was otherworldly / the catharsis of gratitude
488: Q & A – Volume 67
Can departed family members send us signals, and how can their souls stay with us and simultaneously take on a new body? / How can Bhakti help me to manage expectations of others and how can I manage expectations of others on me? / In the sacred texts we hear about how humiliation can stimulate spiritual growth, but also how Krishna uses fear of humiliation as an encouragement for Arjuna’s growth. How would you connect the two? / Do you have any suggestions for ashrams in India to visit or stay at?
487: Our Inner Discord
taking radical responsibility / Srimad Bhagavatam every day! / when the mind is out of harmony with the soul, we experience discord - anxiety, fear, boredom, depression, etc./ train the body to dance with the soul / as you become more spiritual you become aware of discordance within / religion = allegiance to a church; spirituality = developing the qualities of God / harmony of the body & mind with the true self is yoga / a positive spin on subordination
SB 3.15.32-33
486: The Verse We Wear Around our Necks
relinquish the burden of resentment / squash it quick! - be quick to apologize and quick to forgive / the pain derived from humbling oneself is less than the pain derived from offending someone / the qualification and disqualification for freedom from anxiety / Vaikuntha Man / the verse we wear around our necks / Krishna is sending us people for our evolution / superficial peace crumbles when it’s challenged / the boy sages approach the gates of the spiritual world / anger is the younger brother of desire / the anger of the liberated person is different
SB 3.15.26-31
485: You Can’t Step Into Reality with a Hard Heart
sound is transformative / “the darkest region of ignorance” like those football hooligans / to change your life wipe out Blame & criticism / how we open the gate to fear, anxiety & depression / the rare opportunity of earthly human life provides just enough pleasure & pain for one to decide to transcend / you can’t step into reality with a hard heart / 5 steps to getting blown up in a spiritual land mine
SB 3.15.23-25
484: Bringing the Principles of the Spiritual World Into the Material World
Madhava’s Rock Band is saving Raghunath from the Brahma Complex / the Brahma Complex = don’t you know who I am – who do you think you are? / you don’t punk Krishna, Krishna punks you / we get bitter or we get better / seeing the inner child of the football hooligan / their desires are fulfilled by rendering transcendental loving service / the residents of Vaikuṇṭha have a better standard of pleasure / bringing the principles of the spiritual world into the material world = spiritual activism
SB 3.15.20-22
483: The World is a Reflection
Ouch! Wisdom of the Sages gets rejected by Madhava’s Rock Band (we love them anyway) / Diti puts a pause on her pregnancy (we’re beyond uniformitarianism over here) / we can fight the law - but the law always wins / the first description of the spiritual world / the metaphor of the upside-down banyan tree / illusion follows desire / the metaphor of the reflection in the window / it’s not that dogs & vegan doughnuts don’t exist - it’s just that we are trying to enjoy their reflections
SB 3.15.1-19
482: How We Devalue Scripture / How We Devalue Science – Interview with Chaitanya Charan Das
rational, ethical & metaphysical challenges to the sacred texts / 3 levels of thought - literal, rational, transcendental / burden carriers vs essence seekers /the folly of uniformitarianism / 3 challenges to miracles / just because something happens routinely doesn't make it any less extraordinary / the mathematical complexity of digestion / rationality is a call for open-mindedness / sci-fi - why is attraction to the supernatural so natural? / what we call reality depends on the scale of our perception / celestial perspective vs human perspective / how we devalue scripture & how we devalue science / humility facilitates open-mindedness
481: Q&A – Volume 66
How can I share wisdom with people going through a death in the family? / How do I stop lying to myself? / What does it mean that Krishna is the most renounced? / Do you or the bhakti lineages find any use in vipassana style meditation?
480: How to Set Off a Ripple of Divine Energy
Paramatma speaks when we have no separate desires / how to set off a ripple effect of divine energy / uniformitarianism: the assumption that the same laws that we witness apply everywhere in the universe / our desires compromise our objectivity / applicational spirituality / faithful & faithless Cro-Mags / letting go of the separate agenda / cultivating freedom from animosity / when Krishna is satisfied, the entire universe is satisfied
SB 3.14.47-51
479: The Process of Getting Unscrewed
the poetry of Candi Das / the poetry of Rupa Goswami / cultivating humility, tolerance & respect / Kasyapa bows to his fate / inauspicousness follows the abandonment of dharma / bad news & good news for Diti / the saints emulate Prahlad by practicing freedom from animosity / like fire in different shapes of wood - we are all pure underneath / serving with knowledge & detachment is yoga / advanced yogi = seeing stones & gold as the same, more advanced yogi = seeing “friends” & “enemies” as thee same / the process of getting unscrewed
SB 3.14.30-46
478: Hear, Reflect, Repeat, Realize
align with faith or with fear / the dark parts of Bhagavatam prepare us for the dark periods in life / hear, reflect, repeat, realize / Kasyapa’s practices have given rise to a sensitivity or awareness of subtle influences / every-thing becomes an offering of love - our body, words, mind, time, energy, wealth, food, sex / If you’re out after 10, watch out / everything becomes pure and auspicious when its connected to Krishna / Krishna preserves what we have & carries what we lack
SB 3.14.19-29
https://www.supersoulyoga.com/yin
477: My Lust, My Jealousy, My Desire for Prestige
material miseries are superfluous to the soul / Bhagavatam spreads light in the dark age / Bhagavatam uproots misery / we mistake lack of self-control for freedom / self-control brings auspiciousness / Bhagavatam stands the test of time / I will either control my senses or be controlled by my senses / There’s the pain of discipline or the pain of regret / Diti’s 3 reasons for abandoning dharma - my lust, my jealousy, my desire for prestige / the folly of tossing out the Ikea manual
SB 3.14.1-18
476: Q&A Volume 65
what is your favorite Aindra Prahbu tracks & what are some of your favorite kirtans to listen to? / is Krishna the abusive lover who punishes over and over & demands that we keep giving more and more? / how to behave in the presence of people who act as if they are some kind of God? / How can I see the spiritual energy & is that even important for me to see?
475: Train the Mind to See the Soul, Not the Externals
Isabel’s 1st kirtan / 1st we appreciate the devotees, then we see the faults, then the faults become insignificant / verses from Bilvamangala / drop the quick fixes and turn to Bhagavatam / our lulls in bhakti aren’t bhakti’s fault / a little Gita everyday will change your life / the Earth is our mother / we’ve got no respect / a little ritual to cultivate the right consciousness / hearing with the right attitude pleases God in the heart / Krishna gets personally involved with anyone trying to surrender / 4 paths to realize God in the heart / train the mind to see the soul, not the externals
SB 3.13.40-50
474: Chant, Seeing Every Living Being as Your Friend
in this age our minds are always disturbed / replace the sounds that don’t serve us / the earth laughed, “just see how these kings, who are actually playthings in the hands of death, are desiring to conquer me” / we’re not possessors - as soon as we get it, peace comes / sacrifice is giving back with love / the ultimate end of all sacrifice is to attain bhakti / the Kaustubha-gita - chant, seeing every living being as your friend / dorking around for God
SB 3.13.34-39
473: Whatever We Think Deeply About is Our Meditation Practice
Bhakta Louie is one big heart / a charging boar can wipe out your ego trip real quick / God manifests in different categories of incarnations / you can’t have joy or intelligence without sense control / the sages of the higher planets have a high grade of meditation - we’ve got reality television & porn / whatever we think deeply about is our meditation practice & it shapes our minds / ritual is designed by sages to reshape our dented mind / yoga is the harmony between our mind and ourself
SB 3.13.27-34
472: The Desire to Play Originates in Krishna
confidential servitors are sometimes perplexed but never discouraged / Srila Prabhupada’s clout / finding your own way to connect / we all need a get together / let go of resentments / the Purusha Avatars take care of business - the Lila Avatars have fun / the desire to play originates in God / Brahma’s nose isn’t like our’s - Vishnu appears from his breath / nature is providing clues about what we are doing here / human paradigm, that's asinine / with a broad mind I'm sure we'll find different realities
SB 3.13.14-27
471: Sitting Alone - Sitting with God
corrupted by our skeevy desires / sitting alone - sitting with God /brahmacārīs sacrifice the senses in the fire of mental control, regulated householders sacrifice the objects of the senses in the fire of the senses / Manu & Satarupa sacrifice the objects of the senses in the fire of the senses / the essence of leadership is protection of the people / the nature of the guru/disciple relationship / one who doesn’t satisfy Vishnu neglects their own interests, for He is the Ultimate Self / senses
470: Interview with H.D. Goswami / Ultimately Spirituality is About Devotion
Srimad Bhagavatam is the heart of bhakti-yoga / Bhagavatam is uncompromising / Vyasadeva's vision in samadhi / Bhagavatam reasons it’s way to spirituality / the pathology of materialism / equality only exists metaphysically / Sanskrit in the Bhagavatam / Vedic parallels / ultimately spirituality is about devotion / Shankara’s forced interrelation / the Gita’s personalism / how far did Vedic culture travel? / a new novel “Justin Davis”
https://hdgoswami.com
469: Q&A – Volume 63
how do we find a guru? / could you please elaborate on how to properly prostrate when meeting elevated souls such as Swamis and could you please shed some light on taking Darshan for me? / if you work for something "bad", but you create "good" impacts out of it, what are the karma implications? / “Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, "I AM THAT" approach, how does that sit with Bhakti...?”
468: That’s a Miracle!!!
Bhakta Justin’s bottle cap miracle / Mara’s Mumbai miracle / Raghu’s apartment miracle / Vijaya’s 5 in 1 proof of God miracle / Andrea’s Krishna painting revelation miracle / Liam’s mantra miracle / Chakri’s ghee lamp miracle / the Joe Rogan Wisdom of the Sages miracle / Laura Marco’s double hurricane miracle / Joe Cantamessa’s freedom miracle / Anonymous’ prostitute pub double miracle / Raghu’s temptation miracle / Vin’s Radharamana miracle / Kateri’s Willie Nelson miracle
467: Service is Joy
lose yourself & find yourself in service / dasya bhava - the mood of service / service is joy / the stories we tell shape our attitudes / serve wholeheartedly / to not accept that there are others more qualified, wise, respectable is insane / Mara embodies dasya bhava / the flavor of dasya rasa is sweet / dasya bhava is a thread that runs through all the flavors of love / we’ve cheapened everything in this world / we each have a unique path
SB 3.13.6-11
466: Every Body is a Temple
Raghu drops the ball on the parent talk / until we understand that we are not the machine we remain a slave to the machine / use the pain to go deeper / advancing in yoga starts with seeing God in everyone / every body is a temple / root out the hate in the heart
SB 3.13.1-7
465: Act as if You’re in Control, but Know that You’re Not
find the friend within / act as if you’re in control, but deeply understand you aren’t in control / knowledge & detachment transform work into yoga / especially at the forks in the road, take shelter of Bhagavatam & sages / A.J.’s coming out / our minute independence can be engaged in disconnection or reconnection / Bhaghavatam asks us to expand our minds / where religion goes wrong is when it’s used to judge others rather than improving oneself
SB 3.12.49-57
464: We’re in Desperate Need of True Brahmins
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist” Pablo Picasso / a person who is materially detached and knows happiness comes from within can speak the truth / every social order has a particular psychology to purify / it’s how much you make, not how much you give that counts / solving the caste system problem - it’s your qualities and behavior, not your birth / Vedic culture was designed to create impressions in the mind that allow one to learn, relate, communicate toward self realization / We’re in desperate need of true brahmins
SB 3.12.34-47
463: What is a Guru? / An Interview with Kripamoya Das
guru means heavy / guru in the mind, guru in the heart, guru externally / the logic of the half chicken / the weakness of mantra without tapas / the reprehensible delusions of guruship / guru is a transparent via medium / a happy fathers day message
462: Q&A – Volume 62
what is the Bhakti-yoga perspective on depression, trauma and managing through continuous difficulties in life? / could you share some practical tools for replacing the negative mantras in my mind when I struggle with criticizing and tolerating other people? / is good relative or universal, is forgiveness always good, and can hate be healthy?
461: Cultivating Self Realization
after years of meditation Brahma provides the manual for life in the material world / Vedic culture cultivates self realization / the upaveda sciences / how Bhakta Justin outgrew drag culture / the goal is Krishna Prema - how much of the culture we adopt is according to the individual
460: In Bhakti the Future is Always Bright!
when the lulls come, take the next step / break-up advice - resentment, anger, fear or revenge - like Rama leaving Ayodhya / embrace the humiliation / we know too much / through our respect & love for our teacher comes the empowerment to carry out their instructions / in Bhakti the future is always bright / the lessons keep coming til you learn them / creating sage minds / expect to get challenged because you are loved / we want freedom not structure - but at what cost?
SB 3.12.34-38
459: Let the False Self Die
Bhakta Justin doesn’t need psychedelics / practicing bhakti is like living in a music video / the koshas / letting go of prestige / humiliation can be a breakthrough / the asuric mentality -I AM THE CONTROLLER - I AM THE ENJOYER / giving up everything by force / before the body dies let the false self die / letting the false self die through ritual
SB 3.12.33
458: Our Embarrassing Failure to Imitate Krishna’s Rasa Dance
it’s a good time to wake up / we swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter / accepting radical responsibility / Brahma’s humiliation / Vedic literature teaches like a king, like a friend & like a lover / once you think you’re above Maya, you’re in Maya! / draw a line in the sand with porn / we’re all just a click away from big maya / what we mean by a healthy fear of maya / our embarrassing failure to imitate Krishna’s Rasa Dance / porn & its connection to misogyny / Raghu’s teenage realizations on lust
SB 3.12.27-32
457: The Creation of Dharma & Adharma
gratitude is the symbol of one’s spiritual advancement / the fuse is lit! / the material world is gonna get kooky / Bhakti Louie’s gratitude / religion can lead to arrogance / Daksha’s arrogance / truth is food for the soul / give up desires that are destructive to spiritual values / bhakti gets you through tough times / through bhakti one immediately acquires knowledge & detachment / notice your curmudgeonliness / accept your suffering & stay connected / we don’t need the “spiritual” trappings
SB 3.12.23-26
456: Q&A – Volume 61
why did God make creatures that hurt us, like mosquitoes and snakes? / what is it ok to pray to Krishna for? / how to understand the eternal Vedic teachings to the manifold questions related to homosexuality, transgender, gender and sex, equal rights, and how does morality relate to diverse sexual and gender identity issues? / do you have to live it to give it?
455: When You Get a Little Proud You Lose Your Head
may Lord Jagannatha be the object of my vision / anger quotes from Emerson, Ingersoll, Plato, Twain, Thomas A Kempis, Marcus Aurelius & Horace / Srimad-Bhagavatam family tree / all Indians can trace back the family linage? / Sati’s spontaneous human combustion / a joke from the Bhagavatam
SB 3.12.12-22
http://www.harekrsna.de/jagannathastakam-e.htm http://vedadev.ru/images/SB%20Family%20Tree03.jpg
454: I Squirm Too
it's what you do with your stuff that counts / don’t lose your spiritual credit in the slot machine of offenses / arrogance makes us suffer / can I be spiritual and still eat meat / lust is the beginning of misogyny / I squirm too / whatever happens to me, I take no offense / nobody can hurt you, unless you allow them / the devotee is in the heart of Krishna & He knows nothing but them
453: Frustrated Desire Turns to Anger
Ben & Esther's Vegetarian Jewish Deli / Krishna has a crazy recipe for all of us / contemplation of the objects of the senses leads to attachment, desire, anger, delusion, bewilderment of memory, loss of intelligence & fall down into the material pool / maya is knocking / the birth of Shiva / anger by nature is destructive / if I realize that the world doesn’t revolve around me, it’s much easier to control anger / Durvasa Muni’s anger
SB 3.12.7-11
452: Acharyas are Being Born!
welcome to the world Kian Arjuna Murphy / Raghu learned everything from Davy and Goliath / Narayana-parayana / we have debts to our forefathers / the Jain girl sannyasi / water the root and your debt to the leaf is paid / Brahma checks his anger / let’s hurry up & have some more babies!
SB 3.12.5-6
451: Q&A – Volume 60
is the point to of shavasana to completely clear your mind and not think of anything? / at the moment of death, what exactly migrates to the next body & when we say that each soul is separate and distinct, is each soul otherwise identical, or does each one have its own characteristics or, for lack of a better word, personality? / can you please help with book recommendations? / how does a devotee deal with the burnout of life & still continue to execute their sacred duties with the right mindset?
450: The Glue Trap of Material Existence
busy doing nothing / Raghu ran a surf school in Costa Rica!?! / Brahma’s job dissatisfaction / why the executioner wears a mask / glue trap of material existence / the remedy for job dissatisfaction / Brahma creates the 4 Kumaras / 4 principles of knowledge: sāṅkhya, yoga, vairāgya & tapas / the 4 bhakti lineages / fun at the Bankebihari Temple / Tatiyastan
SB 3.12.3-4
449: 5 Ways We Buy Into the Illusion
who is Tulasi Devi? / Bhakti-yogis don’t renounce things, they purify them / materialism breeds anxiety & suffering / Indra - the top level materialist, Brahma top level intelligence / zoom in & zoom out / only pure devotion delivers happiness / 5 types of ignorance - the sense of death, anger upon frustration, the sense of false ownership, illusory bodily conception, forgetfulness of one’s real identity / knowledge breeds detachment / give the gift of knowledge
tulasimala.com IG: silver_tulasi_mala IG: simha_mc
448: Brahma’s Entire Life is One Breath of Vishnu
repetition is the mother of mastery / I am 100% responsible for creating my experience / perspective from the Handmaid’s Tale / living with both perspectives - zoomed in & zoomed out / you need perspective to map out your destination / Brahma’s entire life is one breath for Vishnu / time can control only those who are body conscious / everything is gonna change - that’s a given / who’s the controller behind the veil? Sweet baby Krishna!
SB 3.11.36-42
447: Our Minds Should be Blown on a Regular Basis!
we don’t need to rearrange our personality / Mara needs an attitude adjustment / on a cosmic scale we have a very short life span / on a cosmic scale the ups & downs of our lives are very insignificant / it’s all macro-micro! / our minds should be blown on a regular basis! / the residents of the higher planets don’t need acid / yoga is eternal
SB 3.11.16-35
446: Q&A – Volume 59
what is a Bhakti Yogi's relationship with morality? / does a Bhakti yoga path suggest indifference towards political issues or can it coincide with an interest in political causes and speaking up against systemic inequities? / as much as I want to practically denounce the material world, don't we need some material things? / do one's rounds become easier after they take shelter of a guru? and how do I repay the enormous debt to my spiritual master & all the influential devotees in my life? / is it ok to be gay for Krishna?
445: Contemplating Time & Space
the optimists creed / don’t bring bad habits into sacred circles / get out of your own head by serving others / life is short, what do I want to contribute? / time & space are correlative terms / measuring time from 8/13,500ths of a second up to the 100 year lifespan / just a moment of time with a sadhu can give all perfection / the sun diminishes our duration of life in order to release us from the illusion of material attachment
SB 3.11.1-15
444: Zooming Out for the Troubled Mind
“this yoga really works” - spiritual knowledge counters body dysmorphia / material detachment fosters spiritual attachment / zooming out for the troubled mind / I’m tiny, but ... / real humility is our reality / spiritual knowledge is the panacea for all the negative loops / does Raghu have to do everything around here? / geocentric & heliocentric models of the universe / purify the consciousness first - then make decisions / Buddhist sand mandalas
SB 3.11.1
443: Detachment Through Deconstruction
animal agriculture is destroying the planet / the Bhagavatam map shows us - YOU ARE HERE! / detachment through deconstruction / contemplating cycles of destruction / now is the time for inquiry into spirit! / puncturing the romance / Raghu would have dinner with a siddha
SB 3.10.18-30
442: Raghu Tells of the Lion Avatar Story
not all yogis are good / everyone has a back story / hurt people hurt people / earth is a ghetto / when you ain’t got nothin you’ve got nothin to lose / wisdom doesn’t mean collecting a lot of stuff / the internet is a great place to see hate / where’s God?! / don’t shame them, don’t hate them, don’t cancel them…pray for them / there’s a benevolent force behind everything
441: Bob Dylan’s Birthday & the Creation of the Universe
you ain’t got nothin / striking for the gentle, striking for the kind, striking for the guardians & protectors of the mind / 3 types of destruction / 6 types of primary creation / 4 types of secondary creation / getting the blueprint of the universe
SB 3.10.1-17
440: Q&A – Volume 58
How to deal with deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy? / I live in a foreign country and don’t have any close relationships here. Should I use this discomforting situation to grow despite the lack of support from the community or is it important to find a supportive community? / I'm an empath and I can't help but absorb and be overwhelmed with sadness. What can I turn to for comfort? / How do I continue to serve and have compassion for someone when they don’t seem to be trying to heal? / I am a working mother of two kids and it seems that there aren't enough hours to fit in my spiritual practices. How do you do it?
439: Accept Your Fate & Love with All Your Heart
our community floats us / we’ve been sold a false identity / accept your fate & love with all your heart / Brahma is like us with a better gig / no more complaining / mosquitos don’t bump into each other / zooming out / material qualification don’t qualify us / lack of material qualifications don’t disqualify us / the lightbulb telling the generator why do we all have to connect with you?
SB 3.9.36-42
438: Gunabusters!
meditation on the name, form, qualities & pastimes of Krishna are the ultimate gunabusters / Bhagavad-gita 14.26 - how to transcend the gunas / how ashtanga-yoga clears the false programing in the mind / insulation not isolation / bhuddhi-yoga and refining our discernment for who we allow to influence us
SB 3.9.34 & 35
437: Transcendental Loving Service
I’m fake! / shedding our skin / Raghunath’s mental appreciation list / appreciating Yamuna Devi /service is love, not an imposition / no one is the master in the material world / you’ve gotta serve somebody / happiness comes through service
SB 3.9.33
436: Desiring Breakthrough Spiritual Vision
don’t focus on the bad, just add the good / the beginning of the breakthrough is the desire for the breakthrough / zoom out for freedom from depression & anxiety / changing the body can be easy / Jivan Mukta liberated in this body by serving with body, words & mind /in bhakti the means & the end are the same
SB 3.9.33
435: We Choose Illusion All the Time
either we control our senses, or our senses control us / we choose illusion all the time / connection through bhakti leads to the vision of Krishna in everything & everything in Krishna / how is Krishna in everything? / how is everything in Krishna? / adorable Krishna lies all the time / seeing the equality in all living entities like fire in wood / nonviolent communication
SB 3.9.31 & 32 / SB 10.8.41
434: I Use Astrology, It Doesn't Use Me - An Interview with Astrologer Drew Lawrence
is astrology fortune telling? / the human element in astrological readings / capitalizing on our strengths & challenges / Kaustubha's sannyasa yoga & exalted moon! / Raghu has moksha yoga! / past, present & future karma / what Raghu, Madonna & Michael Jackson have in common / marriage considerations / gemology & crown jewels / we need all the help we can get
Find more at www.drewlawrence.com
433: Q&A – Volume 57
Why doesn't God listen to the prayers of so many, and allow good people to suffer & die? / How to avoid obsessing about the evil & corruption in the world? / Who came first Krishna or Vishnu? / If God’s mercy is causeless, how can there be a formula to get it?
432: Austerity + Knowledge = Inner Direction
Raghu arrives in Cali / Vishnu’s remedy for anxiety & depression / austerity + knowledge = inner direction / the combination of effort & grace / the effort to serve with love results in the grace of inner direction / brainy vs intelligent / what tapas looks like (Bhagavad-gita 17.14-17) what vidya looks like (Bhagavad-gita 15.7-11)
SB 3.9.30
431: Coming to Terms with Our Smallness
Texas memories / sage levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 / the first & most intelligent person struggles with anxiety & depression / Vishnu’s deep, thoughtful words dispel illusion / the existential struggle with our smallness / 3 levels of work - survival, fulfillment, that with which we’ve been entrusted / ambidextrous Arjuna / the healthy result of work is self realization / our value is not in our accomplishments - it’s in who & what we are - the accomplishment is in realizing it
SB 3.9.27-29
430: Tune Into Radio Vishnu in the Heart
the aim of argument should not be victory, but progress / 4 Steps for arguing intelligently / connection through high quality vibration / Vishnu’s eyes / spiritual direction cures dejection / we're missing the big “WHY” / bogus gut feelings / penance, prayers & mental concentration reveal God in the heart / to the degree of the intensity of our desire for truth, Paramatma will reveal truth in the heart / what it means to be a friend
SB 3.9.24-26
429: The 1st Prayer in the Universe
for those who love, time is not / “it’s my life” not / those arrogant music store people / those arrogant bike messengers / we have to be able to laugh at ourselves / the 1st prayer in the universe / bewildered by false ego, we think “I am the doer” / the impressions of the soul filter through the medium of the physical body in proportion to the purity of the mind / our value isn’t in our accomplishments - it’s in who and what we are. the accomplishment is in realizing it / relinquishing the credit
SB 3.9.19-24
428: Love is the Spiritual Foundation of Reality – An Interview with Jaya Jagannath Das
evolution of inquiry precedes evolution of being / Bhagavatam’s got head & heart / love is the spiritual foundation of reality / love lacking completion / sour grapes of impersonalism / Sukadeva’s teenage otherworldliness / the essence of the Bhagavatam / the synthesizing principle of the Bhagavatam / sin means missing the mark
Follow Jaya Jagannath at Bodhaka Arise: the Honest Man's podcast, and on IG at urban_sage_deliberates
427: Q&A – Volume 56
What is meant by the term “Krishna’s mercy” and how does it manifest in your lives? / Bhagavad-gita states that the soul is changeless in one verse, and that the soul can be degraded in another. How to understand this apparent contradiction? / I’m a mother of two young children, I’m isolated from other Bhakti-yogis, and I have a history of unsteadiness in my practice - please help! / Is Krishna’s form concrete or abstract? / could you please share some tips for how to cut the tama-guna (lower, darker mode of existence) out of my life?
426: The Illusion of “Friends & Enemies”
metamorphosis / the Gita started flowing out of my mouth / Vishnu is the root of the universe / Vishnu is the force of time / the boy sage speaks truth to power / chewing the chewed / the consciousness of “friends & enemies” counteracts yoga
SB 3.9.17-18
425: Religion vs Spirituality - Don’t Miss the Point
Bhakti Recovery Group is saving lives / making an offering of all you do / where did you hear that story? / religion vs spirituality - don’t miss the point / purifying our spiritual intention / maturing knowledge into wisdom / Jim Carrey uvāca / the world is like a reflection - both real and illusory
SB 3.9.13-16
424: The Beautiful Character of Pankajanghri Das
the beautiful character of Pankajanghri das / living for others is the rule of nature / the gravity of the passing of a great soul creates a space for growth in those that knew or even heard of them / Krishna is not pleased by pompous worship / the sweet love of the wives of the priests / the arrogance of the priests / “to hell with our rituals & erudite learning” / meditation through drama / a life well lived
SB 3.9.12
423: How to Carry God in the Heart
we can carry God in the heart / hearing sacred texts as a path of yoga / it happens in a “short time” / hearing can rid the mind of lust, anger and hankering, “like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water” / then you get hooked / God becomes pliable to the love of a devotee / esoteric bhakti involves cultivating a certain type of love, following in the footsteps of the great devotees / progressing from faith to love / casual devotion & pseudo devotion won’t cut it
SB 3.9.11
422: Q&A Volume 55
Often I know what my ideal choices are in life, yet for some reason I am impelled to the contrary. How can we stay motivated despite our sometimes blatantly stupid decisions? / My worst qualities come out when I am in a committed relationship. Why, with the one person I am trying to build a life with, do my worst qualities come out? / If our bodies are truly meant for service, why does it seem that they are designed for material enjoyment? / Anxiety & fear of loneliness can be debilitating - how does a yogi deal with it?
421: Life is Like a Movie & We’re Lookin at the Screen
killing 3 billion animals everyday is killing the health of our collective psyche / looking towards our own actions as the cause of our unhappiness / life is like a movie / the rules of Sanskrit drama / the movie is unreal, but the emotions are real / Paramananda’s lives through a horror film / established thus one never departs from the truth…in such a position, one is never shaken / in one sense our suffering is comical
SB 3.9.9
420: My Body is Sacred & It’s Purpose is Service
Raghunath was spoon-fed bhakti / when the disciple is ready the guru appears / pulling back the bowstring is the hard part / Raghu & Kaustubha always end up on the cutting room floor / the body is a vehicle for service / the old God-shaped hole analogy / lasting happiness comes through service / the pressure on women regarding their bodies has reached a bizarre level / I don’t care if you see me as a 1 or a 10 - my body is sacred & it’s purpose is service / it’s fun when Kaustubha goes off track
SB 3.9.7-9
419: Giving Up Attachment, Fear & Anger
Gaura Vani sings The Moods of Kirtan / Bhagavatam highlights the problems with disconnected life / embarrassed on an existential level / anxiety related with protecting wealth, body, etc. / we don’t need to give any thing up, we just need to adjust our attitude / what can we create compared with Brahma - and still we become proud / that sage of steady mind is free of attachment, fear and anger / freedom from attachment, fear & anger facilitates divine love
SB 3.9.6
418: Upgrading the Thoughts that Nest in our Minds
letting thoughts nest in our minds / the thought is the first domino (Bhagavad-Gita 2.62-63) / Brahma’s build-up to his prayers / form can be spiritual / spiritual means unbound by time / the form of Vishnu is auspicious to meditate on / calming the mind is not the end - it’s the means to focus on spiritual content / spiritual content = name, form, qualities & pastimes of Krishna
SB 3.9.1-5
417: We’ve All Cried an Ocean of Tears
mutual love is the major law of our existence / the vision of Vishnu in the heart of Brahma / Vishnu’s smile vanquishes distress / the competition between the Lord & His devotees / the worship of the Radharamana temple / the soul exists for God to feel his own blissful nature through the soul’s love / we’ve all cried an ocean of tears / Krishna is happy, just waiting for us to reconnect / Arjuna’s illusion dispelled
SB 3.8.27
416: Questions & Answers – Volume 54
if there was one single verse that you would recommend to commit to memory, what would it be? / what does it mean to be a vanaprastha (retired person) in the modern context? / what should I do about the envy within me? / why don’t yogis taste food while they are cooking it, or eat garlic, onions or mushrooms? / I’m finding Bhagavad-gita to be difficult to grasp, is this normal or should I just keep reading and going over it until something clicks?
415: Searching Without vs Searching Within
what is normal? / Brahma searches for his source externally & fails / Brahma searches internally & succeeds / realizations at the burning ghat / the qualification to understand life’s greatest mysteries involves the quality of one’s attitudes & character / observational bias – “the drunkard’s search principle” or the “streetlight effect” / no one can understand Kṛṣṇa by the blunt material senses / love is the equipment / when the fog clears you see what’s been there all along
SB 3.8.16-22
414: Finding Clarity in an Age of Confusion – The Creative Sanga Interviews with Kaustubha Das Part 3
Arjuna’s confusion / antah sukha (inner happiness) / samadarshina (equal vision) / samatvam (even-mindedness) / the sage of steady mind / freedom from attachment fear & anger / maturing knowledge into wisdom through reflection on what we’ve heard from the yoga texts / media & politics are clouding our minds / distilling the consciousness
413: Raghu Checks in from Muktinath!
Raghu’s spiritual morning makes no material sense / Kaustubha’s special day / the story of Gajendra the elephant / we need to be situated in our element to fight / the value of memorizing verses / the story of Vibhishana & Rama’s forgiveness / the story of Jatayu - even failure is success / give your life & trust
412: Fear of a Higher Power – The Creative Sanga Interviews with Kaustubha Das Part 2
the higher power via tattva / the higher power via rasa / shuddering at the thought of eternal service / Krishna is naturally controlled by love / Krishna wants to be seen as the servant of Arjuna / yoga-sutra’s recommendation to give ones life to “the controller” / the love of the Gopis defeats Krishna / a young lover’s mind is the highest yoga / Krishna makes yoga easy for the one with love
411: Awareness of a Higher Power – The Creative Sanga Interviews with Kaustubha Das Part 1
how can awareness of a higher power be useful for us? / “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” / the bird & the higher power / the child & the higher power / recognizing karma & time as the influences of the Higher Power / Bhagavad-gita Ch. 13 - an exposition on the Higher Power
410: Questions and Answers - Volume 53
how can someone be tolerant, still come across with a strong voice? / gossip, negativity & intrigues have been exhausting me & making me do and say things that I regret afterwards - what to do? / is it an offense to touch someone's feet? / if yogis aspire to see things equally, why make any quality judgements at all? / how to endure disappointing behavior from those who are supposed to be setting good examples?
409: An Interview with Vira - Former Bhakti Center Director
born into a bhakti community / finding bhakti on one’s own / learning the offering of Ayurveda / learning from a bhakti-yoga master / leading by caring for each individual person / the constant need for clear communication / what comes next
www.thesisterscience.com
408: The Universe Unfolds from Vishnu’s Lotus
it actually is all good / the celestial Ganges river as a universal highway / the season, or cycles of the universe / the universe unfolds from Vishnu’s lotus / if a woman can create a human in her abdomen, is it really so impossible for Vishnu to create the universal Lotus from His? / cultivating spiritual vision - seeing equality on the spiritual level
SB 3.8.3-15
407: Questions & Answers – Volume 52
Does God have to be a person? / What are some good practices for spiritual contemplation while walking in public? / I want to follow traditional fasts as part of the yoga culture but I work construction which is very physically demanding - what to do? / How do you trust “spiritual people” after you’ve been hurt, lied to, tricked, used, and manipulated by someone you looked up to?
406: These Books Aren’t Just for Philosophizing - They’re Life Instructions!
devoting exclusive time for spiritual practice / a focused commitment to change / first life clue - the death of Raghunath’s cat / spiritual knowledge grants immunity to material miseries / these books aren’t just for philosophizing - they’re life instructions! / seeing the museum piece with devotional eyes / the book Bhagavatam & the person Bhagavat / our entangled lives & the solution in one verse & commentary
SB 3.7.39 - 3.8.2
405: The Blind Men & The Elephant
the blind men & the elephant / Hinduism & Buddhism in Nepal / Krishna’s beauty is absolute / puncturing the romance of the material world / human life is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth / Brahma Vishnu & Siva / dharma disconnected from prema (divine love) is useless / God doesn’t want us to be Ned Flanders / the material world bubble is gonna pop
404: Be Detached & Serve with Love
live from Kathmandu! / self-realization not sense gratification / burning is learning / the potato chip shloka / spiritual addiction is healthy / all there is within the universe for satisfying one's senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled / be detached & serve with love / training the mind to be always thinking of doing good for others / the more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied / diverting the mind to the Vedic literature
BG 17.16
403: How Yogis Control their Words
secret thoughts come out in our words & actions / austerity of speech means speaking words that are – truthful, pleasing, beneficial, not agitating to others, & regularly reciting Vedic literature / validation hounds / no junk food no junk speech / being a kind friend of every living entity
BG 17.15 & 12.14 & 15
402: Questions & Answers – Volume 51
What exactly is a guru? / How should one correctly go about self criticism and introspection? How can I be honest with myself without evoking self hate? Moreover, once I identify my shortcomings how do I turn them from being a hindrance to a means for spiritual growth? / Is there a custom or even a ritual/prayer to be performed before starting with the Maha Mantra? / How can I stay true to my spiritual path when my family members aren’t practicing along with me?
401: Austerity of the Body & Yoga for Dented Cans
the gunas for children / if our capacity for austerity is meager, serve mahatmas / a human has to consider how they eat, sacrifice, perform austerity, give charity / once you take a picture of it, it’s not yoga / austerity of the body - respecting great souls, cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, nonviolence / it all boils down to kindness & simplicity
SB 3.7.20 & BG 17.14
400: Slaying My Doubts – Slaying My Ego
our value isn’t based on the body / our disturbances have no other basis than the movement of the external energy / the fool is happy & one with transcendental intelligence is happy / when it’s bad it’s good & when it’s good it’s bad / service is the way out / Krishna is called Madhusudana because he slays our doubts and slays the false ego
SB 3.7.15-19
399: Self-realization not Sense Gratification
our miseries are due to a misconception of self-identity / the counterintuitive key - human life is not meant for sense gratification, it is meant for self-realization / we’re chasing a mirage that draws us deeper & deeper into the desert / controlling our senses means freedom / Bhagavad-gītā (2.59) - the higher taste / consciousness is active by nature
SB 3.7.12-14
398: The Whole Problem – We Misidentify the Self with the Mind
Welcome back Mara! / a pandit is born / Raghu’s son transcends misery through the wisdom of the Gita / if the soul is unchangeable, and if God is always in our heart, then why do our activities result in misfortune and misery? Or, how do we lose touch with our spiritual nature? / analogy 1 - seeing your own head cut off - the sense of loss is illusory / analogy 2 - the quivering reflection of the moon - the self is steady, the reflection of the self in the mind is unsteady / the 4 paths of yoga
SB 3.7.10-11
397: Questions & Answers – Volume 50
How do you go deal with direct hate against you for no apparent reason? / I’m struggling with depression and my bhakti practices can't seem to shake it. Is there something I'm missing? / How does goodness (sattva guna) have a grip on us? / Are the spiritual teaching I read about before coming to Bhakti relevant? Is there any “one true path” for spiritual guidance or do they all contain nuggets of wisdom that correlate? / How can I become more aloof to public opinion?
396: This Book Keeps Answering All Our Questions!
miracles are everywhere / the cobbler & the brahmin / Bhagavatam is the magic 8 ball - always answering our questions / our disposition can either reveal or repeal knowledge / Raghu’s relationship with geese / is my toothache God’s lila (divine play)? / if God is situated in our hearts, then why do our activities result in misfortune and misery?
395: What Must the Aliens Think of Us?
2 monks - “you’ve been carrying her in your mind all day" / Raghunath’s country klatch / miracles are everywhere / lawless Krishna of Mathura is also the universal juggler / the miracle of the banyan tree / the miracle of the whistler thorn / the miracle of the neem tree / everything we need literally grows on trees! / humans always screw it up!
394: If the Body is a Temple - How to Keep it Sacred?
Bhakta Louie practicing seeing God everywhere / find your service / engaging the speech & the ear / the body is a temple - how to keep it sacred / offer the senses to the master of the senses / engaging the body, words & mind / the chataka, which will drink only rain water / the chakora bird, which subsists of the moonbeams / simply by hearing the writings of the great sages one becomes perfectly self-realized
SB 3.6.35-37
393: Who Am I & Why Am I Here?
we all get tested / the senses & corresponding devas (equipment for our avatars) / the 3 planetary systems (3 levels of the video game) / the varnas (categories of the avataras we can choose from in the video game) / each varna has it’s strengths and weaknesses / false mastership is the basic disease of the conditioned soul / who am I? the servant of the servant
392: We’ve All Been Man, Woman, Plant, Animal, Saint, Sinner
save the flower for Krishna / we’ve got to recognize what’s truly valuable / the same consciousness in different bodies / we’ve all been man, woman, plant, animal, saint, sinner / the ten airs that move our body / we become one with the supreme consciousness though dovetailing our desires with the supreme
SB 3.6.1-7
391: Interview with Ravinol Chambers - Director of the Film Road to Vrindavan
Raghunath & Kaustubha speak with filmmaker Ravinol Chambers about women’s roles and education in India and the need to reexamine the application of tradition.
www.roadtovrindavan.com
390: Questions & Answers – Volume 49
does it matter if I pray for God to let [my husband] get strong again if it’s already decided? / how do you detach from being seen according to your race? / what is the point of rebirth, and aren’t we already part of God from the beginning? / when does that tolerance become a hindrance to our spiritual or material growth? / how can we lovingly and sincerely offer anything to Krishna when we are out and about and only going to offer it so that we can immediately eat it?
389: Kill the Fake Self with Humor
Homer Simpson’s awkward moral inventory / kill the fake self with humor / Krishna isn’t Judge Judy / Kaustubha watched transcendental knowledge prevail in Episode 6 of Surviving Death / why Raghu & Kaustubha are not demigods / even Indra becomes a fool / Raghu’s ego shredded by a monkey / things get ghastly when they’re disconnected / watering the root serves every leaf / to “water the root” only makes a difference in the world when we get beyond the superficial & become a friend to everyone
SB 3.5.48-51
388: What’s Beyond Stereotypical Spirituality?
count your blessings / anxiety is born from our love of the temporary / the seers of the truth say if it’s temporary it’s unreal / we need to reprioritize / the stereotypical idea of spirituality / the grandma vs the renunciate / Arjuna’s 2 fundamental questions - 1. should I engage with the world or walk away? 2. should I conceive of God as an energy or as a person?
SB 3.5.46-47
387: To Renounce the World or to Engage With It?
Bhakti Recovery with Jiva / bewilderment through material objects is the first level of illusion - denial of the personal form is the second / the goals of yoga (a peaceful mind, no more material desires, love for every living being, etc) are not beyond us if we can engage with detachment & devotion / Arjuna's admitted inability to practice a yoga of renunciation / yoga of devotional service is sukham (easy, happy)
SB 3.5.45
386: God is Everywhere – Keep Staring Until You See It
Baader–Meinhof frequency illusion / crippling activities / offenders or aparadhis / who can’t reconnect? / autostereograms - keep staring until you see it / family attachment isn’t evil, but it’s limiting / can we be with loved ones after death? / 1st, 2nd & 3rd class intelligence / the preliminary stage of spiritual insight means looking for God everywhere & in everyone / betraying the voice in the heart / seeing through the eyes of knowledge
SB 3.5.44
385: Freedom From the Meat Suit Miseries
Surviving Death & the need to talk about consciousness / Thomas Merton on defending the imaginary self / the creation of the meat suits / Kaustubha meets Lou Ferrigno / the Devas have the best meat suits, but they’re humble / taking shelter of Vishnu grants freedom from the meat suit miseries / crossing over the miseries by grace
SB 3.5.38-43
384: We’re Here to Get Our Ego Dismantled
Bhagavatam cuts through the material romance / bioluminescence and the 4 animal propensities / as the material enjoyment sets spiritual happiness rises / the production of the fake-God suits / the gods come together to pray / the advantages of cooperative spiritual practice (sankirtan) / we’re here to get our ego dismantled
SB 3.5.27-38
383: Life Lessons From Lord Shiva
Vishnu & Shiva - like milk & yogurt / great souls voluntary accept suffering to help others / religious pretension blinds one / false ego makes us intolerant to the happiness of others (sick in the head) / offering respect to God in the heart of everyone / the pretentious see the faults in others - the spiritual see whatever little good there is, and magnify it / mean-minded people are already dead (no need to campaign against them)
382: Life Outside the Prison of Materialistic Thought
Road to Vrindavan - examining the importance of education for girls in India & the insight needed for tradition be applied in ways that uplift rather than oppress / normalization of prison existence / avatars, jivas & Krishna the Fountainhead / the Purusha Avataras / Mother Nature can’t produce life on her own / waking up in prison / we are foreign to matter / whole Vedic process is to remind us of our life outside the prison
https://slofilmfest.org/events/road-to-vrindavan/
https://www.roadtovrindavan.com
SB 3.5.26
381: Seeing God in the Heart - Seeing God Everywhere
it’s sick in the head that we want others to be miserable / vulnerability opens the door to deeper revelation / Kaustubha busts out the scientific journals / awakening experiences as described in the Gita / Krishna defines the highest yogi / one who sees the Supersoul everywhere, in every living being, does not degrade themself / paramatma realization as the cure to social ills / the goggles of knowledge / yoga of the Supreme Person
380: How Consciousness Pervades the Body & the Universe
wisdom means seeing the macro & the micro (and the mini-micro) / Vishnu’s awareness is spread everywhere / consciousness is produced by our brains? / mismatches between consciousness & brain activity / consciousness is fundamental & irreducible / “new” “alternative” views about consciousness have been around forever / the brain doesn’t produce consciousness, it acts as a receiver / “awakening experiences” of the oneness all over the Bhagavad-gita & Srimad Bhagavatam / knowledge of consciousness is the raising tide that lifts all boats
SB 3.5.25
379: Interview with Porcell & Ray – Lessons From the Road Vol.2
punk & monk worlds colliding / ajnata sukriti / no happiness in material success / in a Berlin bathroom, Jonny Rotten asks Paramananda a secret question / the illusion of fame / Steve Jones is lost like the rest of us / straight edge = what you don’t do – bhakti = what you do / given some rope to do our thing in Philly / recharging in Vrindavan
378: Questions & Answers – Volume 48
what does Raghunath admire in Kaustubha & vice versa? / how does one truly know & how to know that I haven’t just deluded myself? / can I incorporate my hip hop beat-making skillz in bhakti? / is it possible to hear too much? / how do I know I’m not just believing this out of fear?
377: We Feel Incomplete Until We Reconnect with the Complete
the world mirrors your heart / the great teacher Sri Ramanuja / our existence flows from from God's perfection & fullness that demand communication / we are complete / this world is complete - and if we don’t get that then our understanding is incomplete / wisdom is to see the completeness / complaining means we don’t get it / we feel incomplete until we reconnect with the complete
376: Dance with Krishna or Dance with Illusion
not accepting another’s hostility / the old man, the boy & the donkey / is God lonely for us? / when the universes shakes us it’s so that we can wake up and enjoy / dance with Krishna or dance with illusion / Rasa dance is the culmination of all the yoga teachings
SB 3.5.23-24
375: Interview with Vrinda Sheth – Author of The Sita’s Fire Trilogy
pros & cons of being raised in an ashram / the trepidation of retelling the Ramayana / Ramayana - why did it have to end that way? / rediscovering the character of Rama / through shoka comes shloka / challenges of parenting / cutting some slack for Mantara (the hunchback) / Sita’s special powers
www.sitasfire.com
374: Questions & Answers – Volume 47
what can you tell those of us that physically, mentally and emotionally suffer on a daily basis to help us keep going day after day, or sometimes minute after minute? / how to deal with cruel-hearted criticism? / what’s the difference between self indulgent whining vs identifying and examining an emotion so that it can be purified? / is the concept of the retribution of God inconsistent with bhakti philosophy?
373: How Wisdom Manifested in the Character of the Sage Vidura
Yamaraja is cursed to become Vidura / kids are free from karma thanks to Mandavya Muni / speaking truth to power (& allowing power to save face) / tolerating insults / making the best of bad situations / forgiving / what is wisdom? from Bhagavad-gita / not looking for happiness through externals / a peaceful mind through life’s miseries / not complaining / controlled senses
SB 3.4.15-22 (& BG 2.55-58)
372: Nityananda Doesn’t Consider Our Disqualifications
Krishna = sweetness / Sri Chaitanya is Krishna when he is most compassionate / Balaram (Nityananda) is the embodiment of the mood of service - & thus the original guru / one’s disqualifications aren’t considered / joking chanting / killing the demoniac within / we connect with God through serving His people
371: Rippin' Bad Karma Out at the Roots
a warm home in the heart / you spoke my language…and it worked / singing in the streets / happiness through contributing / what is pitiable by the pitied / the law of karma is coded into the virtual reality of the universe / the cycle of karma / manifest & unmanifest karma / the negative disposition of karma / ripping bad karma out at the roots
IG: hannibalstore SB 3.5.14
370: Breaking the Bonds that Hold Us Back
don’t think of monkeys / wide love - breaking the limitations of family affection / seeing the same sacred life in all living beings - namaste / breaking the bonds of the expectations of family and friends to follow a calling in the heart / Krishna-katha makes one indifferent to mundane subjects / Krishna-katha vanquishes miseries without delay / the sincere reader of Bhagavad-gita vs the mundane wrangler
SB 3.5.11-13
369: Simple Joys are Holy
when I chant the mantra I feel no fear / Lord Vishnu lies down on His own heart spread in the form of the sky / Kaustubha’s teenage barstool philosophizing / we’re all just fighting for resources / brahmins can’t be purchased / simplicity & kindness is the way of the yogi / Brother Sun Sister Moon / Radhanath Swami talks St. Francis stories with Mike D
SB 3.5.5-10
368: Surrender & the Language of Love
what you meditate on - that you become / surrender & the language of love / young Raghu questions an old person / why we shudder at the thought of service / subordinate to truth / fine-tuning ourselves to the Divine / God revealed from within / the terms karma, jnana & yoga in context - juxtaposed with bhakti / For those whose minds are attached to the impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome
SB 3.5.3-4
367: Spiritual Knowledge Transmission - What are the Qualifications?
3 types of happiness from Bhagavad-gita / qualifications for transmission of spiritual knowledge - the potent speaker and the fertile hearer / Vidura was gentle & content / God will send you sacred relationships - keep them sacred / yoga is a culture of descending knowledge / Shanti mantras - let there be no animosity amongst us / a healthy dose of material pessimism / we don’t need to endeavor for material happiness / Kaustubha witnesses crushed dreams for happiness at Yankee Stadium
SB 3.4.32-3.5.2
366: Applying Spiritual Principles in Counseling & Therapy - Interview with Dhanya Rico
can I chant my mental health issues away? / do we really want to be normal? / self care as regulating the nervous system / overstimulation / trying to convert our spouses / my lifestyle determines my death style / when is it ok to quit a marriage? / understanding boundaries
Contact Dhanya at dhanyac@gmail.com
365: Questions & Answers – Volume 46
how to navigate the different types of relationships with God? / what does it mean to surrender to God? / can the great teachers of the past hear our prayers?
E-mail questions to wisdomofthesages108@gmail.com
364: Snipping the Strings of our Puppeteers
am I a puddle or a pond? / the spiritual separation paradox - like dry ice / the double perception of simultaneous separation and meeting / the order of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical / knowing about the modes of nature is helpful, whether you believe in God or not / the yogi is the only one that’s free / snipping the strings of our puppeteers / our worldly struggles are the exact recipe for our rectification - we just need to realize it
SB 3.4.27-31 (& BG 14.21-26)
363: Crossing the Line in Spiritual Relationships
Momma Cappo’s attitude of gratitude / Uddhava gets ready to depart to the Himalayas / maryādā-vyatikrama - crossing the line of etiquette / the following of etiquette can serve as a yogic practice that not only demonstrates, but also cultivates a deeper awareness or sensitivity towards the hearts of others / one should not be eager to become a spiritual master cheaply for the sake of profit & fame / how to see fallen gurus / kindness towards juniors and respect towards seniors serves as the conduit for the flow of transcendental knowledge
SB 3.4.16-26
362: Cultivating the Greed for Pure Devotion
Adrian Eagle putting out positive soul / cultivating a burning desire for pure bhakti - leaving behind the minutiae / fanning the spark / Raghu’s dream of Vrindavan - you just have to want it / sitting in New York but being in Vrindavan / the blessing of kind souls who share their desire / the greed for pure devotion / dharma, artha, kama, moksha / 3 reasons why materialism always fails / prema pumartho mahan / no amount of wealth, romance or followers can fill our God-shaped hole / back to our friend Francois de La Rochefoucauld
361: Refining Our Desires
that disgusting liquid beauty story / based on beauty, love soon dies / Raghu’s experimentations in meditation on the non-cartoon Krishna / Maitreya enters the scene / depersonalization precedes abuse / man proposes God disposes / super consciousness vs partial consciousness / “Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.” / refining our desires vs curbing our desires / our material desire is but a spark of Krishna’s splendor
SB 3.4.1-11
360: On Prostitutes, Thieves & Bhakti-yoga
writing people off / mind your own business / Jara the hunter returns to the spiritual world / even to date there are many prostitutes in great cities of India who are sincere devotees of the Lord / tricks of chance / why are we so judgmental? / the dangers of chardhama yatra / a heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others / Krishna is a thief! / this is what I am
359: Interview with Gaura Vani – Expressing Our Internal Practice Externally
vigilance to deepen spiritual life / the love that can transform any circumstance / seeing my karma as my responsibility and yours with compassion / the ease of the master / being at ease in the stretch zone / money & art / shifting during COVID / the highest dharma / racism & our shared responsibility / expressing our internal practice externally
358: Questions & Answers – Volume 45
how to make sense of stories that appear to makes God’s grace random / how do you train yourself to not get offended? / I want to contribute service to the world but circumstances are making it difficult - does good character count as contribution? / how do you enter your day in the mood of service and maintain that, keeping coming back to the place of trusting that what you're doing is beneficial to the bigger picture and that it's not going to ultimately drain you at the end of the day?
357: Never Diss the A-list Sages
fly like an eagle & don’t kill skunks - how a yogi handles annoying people / serve those you envy / by hearing and chanting Krishna’s glories, conditioned souls born in the future would cross beyond the darkness of ignorance / the sages share a risqué analogy / never diss the a-list sages / it was “turned into” an iron club Raghu / 3 principles of civilization: protecting cows, maintaining the brahminical culture, becoming a pure devotee / gotta curb the tendency to be judgmental - Jara the hunter was a great soul
356: Why Should I Worry?
why should I worry? / WWE wrestling is a warped reflection of Krsna killing Kamsa / every Bollywood movie is a warped reflection of Krishna rescuing Rukmini / you can be a sassy yogi / platypuses are unreal / Gandhari's mystic powers can’t thwart Krishna’s plan / Krishna cheats for the higher principle of love / Duryodhana’s childishness / feed the inner Yudhisthira - starve the inner Duryodhana
SB 3.3.1-13
355: The Desire for Love - Does a Yogi Eliminate it or Purify it?
King of Hearts walks on the show / Krishna’s pastimes facilitate the exchange of devotional love / is the desire for love something alien to my true self that needs to be identified and eliminated - or part of my nature, that has become warped through contact with something foreign to it, and simply needs to be purified? / love transformed into lust / material means selfish - spiritual means selfless / fraternal love, parental love, romantic love in the spiritual context
Follow Bob on IG @thebeardedbhakta SB 3.2.30-34
354: Krishna Stories - Kitsch or Sublime Theology?
happy birthday Kaustubha / definition of kitsch / key for understanding the stories of Krishna’s pastimes - it’s all about facilitating the exchange of devotional love / Krishna & his mother’s love / the 6 Goswamis of Vrindavan / Kaustubha’s flower plucking - miracle or devotional internal clock / these cowherd boys were great ṛṣis and yogīs in their previous births
SB 3.2.24-29
353: Questions & Answers – Volume 44
please explain the Shelter song “Message of the Bhagavat” / what is the highest being one can reincarnate as, and what kind of life should one lead in order to gain the privilege? / is it cultural appropriation for a westerner to wear Indian clothes? / some orthodox teachers of bhakti make me feel discouraged - is there room for me?
352: Magnify the Good in Others - Minimize the Flaws
Krishna worships Draupadi / Krishna becomes Arjuna’s driver / all the details are in the comic books / wisdom & old age go well together / Krishna begs forgiveness of his parents / Krishna acts like a subject of Ugrasena / Krishna tolerates 100 insults and then liberates Sishupal / Krishna grants the highest liberation to the shapeshifter - sharp sword in a soft sheath - namely Putana / Pundarik Vidyaniddhi - you can’t judge a book by its cover
SB 3.2.16-23
351: Krishna - the God of Love
Shyamasundari and the Syama Ashrama / how to understand the yoga traditions worship of form / 3 features of the Divine / Krishna’s unexcelled beauty / the gods are watching us at every moment / why are we afraid of a personal God? / Krishna - the God of love
SB 3.2.7-15
350: The Heart is a Garden - the Heart is a Temple
Raghu’s spiritual bucket list / the baby that fell in the donation box / the orphanage at the Chowpatty temple / 9 stages of bhakti / anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments / 4 types of anarthas / 5 kleshas (causes of suffering) / even good karma can be bad / corrupted files in the mind / the heart is a garden - the heart is a temple
349: Body in the Material World / Mind in the Spiritual World
feed your focus - starve your distractions / Kaustubha’s Krishna miracle / Uddhava displays sattvika-bhavas - involuntary expressions arising directly from the spiritually surcharged consciousness / shadow attachment / living with the body in the material world & the mind in the spiritual world / cultivating the seed of bhakti / who we associate with makes all the difference
SB 3.2.1-6
348: Interview with Jahnavi Harrison / Taking Devotional Art into the 21st Century
writing devotional sounds / meeting Willow Smith / The need for Western devotional music / Rise - a progression toward the promise of one’s true nature / a record born through the COVID crisis / recording in Conway Studios / introversion as a musician / Patreon - a new model for supporting the devotional arts / GOVINDA! - drops on Friday
Support Jahnavi at www.patreon.com/jahnavimusic
347: We Either Grow or We Repeat
Sri T. Krishnamacharya - the father of modern yoga / 3 levels of asana according to one’s faith / surviving death / why worship the demigods? / either grow or repeat / Krishna’s lila - taking the divine adventures of love to a town near you / a more essential understanding of what it means to be in the presence of God / spiritual community can transform any place into a holy place
SB 3.1.44-45
346: Spirituality Both Playful & Didactic
we must end this uncivil war / profoundly do we understand the spiritual nature that unites us all? / Krishna’s lila is both playful & didactic / true objectivity requires expanding the mind / when did God get cut out of meditation? / Vedic teachings is the Alice’s Restaurant of spirituality / why do we do asana? - 3 levels of faith / Bhakti is a yoga path that makes up for our weakness through attraction to its beauty
SB 3.1.44
345: The Illusion of False Pride
kirtan is the outlet - Sri Govinda’s story about losing his child / Mother Earth can’t carry the burden of prideful leaders / dealing with all of our shortcomings in one fell swoop / Raghu’s Radha Kunda parikrama - an exercise in humility / 3 types of false pride - wealth, education & followers / the simple formula for happiness - offer everything (body, words, mind, wealth, education, followers, etc.)
SB 3.1.43
344: Why are We Screaming at Each Other?
why do we shout in anger? / consuming anger vs anger evoked / Kaustubha gets schooled by a junior monk about anger / the winds of the material energy create friction that brings out our ugly side / when did newscasters start screaming at each other? / being informed vs being consumed by the news / Vidura meets Uddhava / the divine & demoniac qualities listed in Bhagavad-gita / Vidura’s fearlessness
SB 3.1.20-42
343: Questions & Answers - Volume 43
why is gambling so bad? / what can one do if childhood trauma is disrupting their present day relationships? / does it matter if my motive to do the right thing is based merely on bodily concerns? / did I ask to be here? / why did Buddha reject the Vedas?
342: How Repetition Helps the Yogi
too much concern for external appearance brings inattention to the soul’s inner function / keep the morning sacred / the value in being alone / applying the principles of fasting and vows of silence / shedding old costumes / how vows work / repetition is the mother of mastery / scary morning walks around Vrindavan / the machines of the body and mind have taken control / weakening the power of the body and mind through repetition
SB 3.1.19
341: Society Suckers
plan on getting hurt - it’s the material world after all / the pure places - where there is nothing for the materialist / what is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage / Vidura’s conduct on pilgrimage - purely motivated & exclusive, independent - no compromises, always sanctified, lying on the ground & dressing like a mendicant
SB 3.1.17-19
340: Let it Go Let it Go
Vidura speaks truth to power / the banishment of Vidura / leaving his bow at the door, Vidura embrace a new dharma / Vidura's response to insult - both emotional & rational / if you see 3 jerks a day - you might be the jerk / let go of resentment & forgive / enemies become our meditation
SB 3.1.10-16
339: A Yogi Has To Be Straight Forward & Honest
Raghu wakes up to the exorcist / 3 ways the blind king failed / our taste for spiritual content is tied to our lifestyle / a yogi has to be straight forward & honest / turn your moral microscope on yourself / Gandhari’s words of wisdom / seeing through a spiritual lens / Kunti’s message to the Pandavas
SB 3.1.9
338: A Heart Devoid of the Propensity to Criticize
happy birthday Raghunath! / deflect the credit - give appreciation / we are made of the mercy of other people / the king, the snake & the dead brahmin / the most advanced yogi has a heart completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others / the 12 mahajanas - “great persons” / Vidura & the blind king / we should feel that we have no enemies / cliffhanger - why is gambling so bad?
SB 2.10.48 - 3.1.8
337: Questions & Answers – Volume 42
how can one prepare their mind for entering an ashrama as a monk? / can you please speak on the feeling of intimidation? / at what age does karma kick in - are children held responsible? / as a new Bhakti practitioner how do I navigate a potential partnership with someone who doesn’t share all of the same values?
336: Recap Part 6 (1st & 2nd Cantos)
335: Recap Part 5 (1st & 2nd Cantos)
American instability vs spiritual stability / we are consuming junk food yet we’re surprised when the symptoms of disease appear / seeing adharma as dharma under the spell of illusion / material pessimism & spiritual optimism / we’re tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal / seeing God in nature, in the heart & as a person / the enlightened person should endeavor only for the minimum necessities of life / bhakti- life is wasted if we don’t take to it
334: Recap Part 4 (1st & 2nd Cantos)
Ayurveda Mama with Dhyana Masla / raising undented cans / teenage mystics startin trouble / we all have a debt / we’re all going to die / Raghu, Kaustubha & Mara’s previous lives / the appearance of Sukadeva Goswami / everyone is meditating, everyone is worshiping / 1st Canto cliffhanger - what should we hear, chant, remember & worship?
https://www.thesisterscience.com/ayurveda-mama-book
333: Recap Part 3 (1st & 2nd Cantos)
breaking bad habits / whatever you meditate on you get / watering the root is nonsectarian / small increments of faith / taking out the trash in our thoughts / cow dung stories / love & respect for the cow & the bull
332: Karma-Yoga – An Interview with Professor Matthew Dasti
what is Nyaya? / coming to Bhakti / studying philosophy can foster faith / influences in Indian & Greek philosophy / the mailman sadhu - truth is truth / 3 components to Karma-yoga / the Bhagavad-gita’s 4 reasons to act / raising a family as a Karma-yogi
Matthew R. Dasti is Professor of Philosophy at Bridgewater State University
331: Questions & Answers – Volume 41
is there a such thing as “a healthy dose of illusion”? / I can’t deal very well with Christmas time – how do I change the lenses I’m using to see it? / why do we choose to do things that are unhealthy for us? / would you please discuss the concept of expectations from a wide vantage point? / what is the difference between idolatry and deity worship?
330: Recap Part 2 (1st & 2nd Cantos)
upgrading in 2021 / everyone is struggling / Kunti’s prayers / Bhisma’s instructions / samadhi / festive culture as yoga / Vidura comes back and the blind king “quits home” /taking sanyasa / to voluntarily accept what nature will ultimately force us to accept involuntarily
329: 2020 Recap Part 1
Srimad Bhagavatam - lifeline for 2020 / 2020 taught us that we suffer together when we don’t see all life and the earth as sacred / you get what you look for / the news / thanks to all the listeners / WotS in 2021 / questions by the sages / 3 manifestations of God / Krishna is the fountainhead / Vyasa’s dissatisfaction / Narada’s instructions to compose Srimad Bhagavatam / Narada’s past life / Arjuna’s dilemma / Kunti’s prayers
328: The Hands of Time
we crave eternality / why we should clean our apartments / creation, maintenance & destruction / time is meant for our education / there has to be a shift / time is Krishna / Shelter “Hands of Time” lyrics / cooking coconuts / saintly Vidura / God is using people and situations to take me to higher places / “I’m spiritual. Now screw you!!!”
SB 2.10.41-51
327: Understanding Karma Should Make Us Kinder
some of the glories of Srimad Bhagavatam / it’s not sectarian, it’s just describing different levels of knowledge / become happier by becoming a better person / happiness comes through a sattvic life / how to answer questions about karma / a long list of ancient aliens
SB 2.10.33-41
326: Our Bodies are Fake-God Suits
why does Raghunath want to go to the Grand Canyon? / the 3 Purusha Avatars - Mahavishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu, Ksirodakshayi Vishnu / the soul, the devas, the body, and the supreme shelter which they all depend on / lamp is powerhouse as the soul is to God / the creation of senses, and sense objects in the virtual realm / our bodies are fake-God suits / climbing levels in the video game are preventing us from finding real happiness within
SB 2.10.3-31
325: Kirtan Integrity - An Interview with Rama Raya Das
Aindra’s desire to touch people’s hearts / 24 hour kirtan / utilizing material things for a spiritual purpose / incarnation through sound / the passing away of Aindra / there is nowhere I would rather be than right here right now / 3 types of Brijabasis / dying in Vrindavan / Aindra’s kirtan skills / kirtan integrity / advice for kirtan leaders
324: Questions & Answers – Volume 40
if you had only 30 days to live, what scripture would you want to hear? from whom would you want to hear from? where would you want to be? what would you give up? is there something you would want to tell the world? / how to work out sexual issues in a relationship where only one partner is practicing bhakti? / which is most important, grace or effort? / which books should I focus on for learning the basics of bhakti? / what is the difference between imitating & following?
323: 2020 Christmas Special (the Real Christmas)
the greatest commandment - to love God & your neighbor / caring for others is more important than empty ritual / “you are not far from the kingdom of God” / though our bodies are dying our spirits are being renewed every day / we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen / the “sins” to be condemned - pride, hypocrisy, favoritism & slander / consider your troubles as an opportunity for great joy / don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you? / nothing done in bhakti is ever useless / a prayer that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace
322: Srimad Bhagavatam – A Life Manual for Finding Freedom
321: Pride Correlates with Illusion / Humility Correlates with Truth
Raghunath likes parameters / the formula - strict with oneself - lenient with others / there are no self-made men / Salieri’s sin of envy was greater than Mozart’s sin of hedonism / pride correlates with illusion / humility correlates with truth / God will break our pride / Bhagavatam prepares us for both success & failure / the 4 sampradayas
SB 2.9.37-46
320: Chaitanya Charan Interview – The Addictive Mind
the earnestness of the dented cans / technology vs spirituality / we are products, not prisoners, of our past / the auto-prompt conditioning in the mind / increasing & decreasing free will / self-improvement between the surging urges / the power of affirmative resolutions / addiction is like a snowball / we are possessors of programmable machines / spiritual actors / guilt, self-loathing & loneliness on the spiritual path
https://www.thespiritualscientist.com http://bhakticenter.org/yoga-of-writing/
319: Questions & Answers – Volume 39
how to stay focused, minimize anxiety, and trust in God's plan while going through tragedy? / is is cultural appropriation for a westerner to practice bhakti-yoga? / how does one be happy in this material life while embodying a spiritual life? / how to adjust when God feels distant? / is it good for my spiritual practice to go to the forest for years alone?
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
318: What’s So Special About Humans?
the personal feature of the absolute / a few thoughts on advaita vedanta / Prabhupada saved our butts / what’s so special about humans? / using our higher capacity in lower directions / eating, sleeping, mating & defending / our advancement of knowledge is being misused / placing the ladder against the right wall
SB 2.9.36
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
317: The Spiritual World Televised in the Heart of the Yogi
offer what you love to do / Bhagavatam shares knowledge of both the Greatness & Sweetness of God / God is within & without / conceptual tools for meditating n the greatness of God 1. the universal form, 2. theistic sankhya, 3. Vedic cosmology / the thin glove of material beauty / eyes anointed with the salve of love / the spiritual world televised in the heart of the yogi
www.souldancewithchampaka.com SB 2.9.35
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
316: Illusory Perception vs Illusory Conception
intent over skill / cultural train wrecks / #protectthecreeper / illusion lies in disconnection from God / illusory perception vs illusory conception / Ravana’s misconception / bhakti puts a positive spin on the material energy / the proverbial rope & snake / the magic wand talk
SB 2.9.34
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
315: We Are Both One With & Different From God
the power of a living example / find great souls & keep their company / sambandha, abhidheya & prayojana / mean God presentations / Achintya-bhedabheda-tattva – we are both one with & different from God / Abrahamic religions stress the difference, eastern spiritual paths often stress the oneness / envy of our source / Kirtan misconceptions / the cause of all causes
SB 2.9.34
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
314: An Interview with Michael Cremo Ancient Aliens & Forbidden Archeology
how long have humans existed? / why is certain archaeology forbidden? / shifting paradigms / the California gold digs / bigfoot, yetis & vanaras / flat Earth? / aliens and vimanas
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
313: Questions & Answers - Volume 38
how can I be in partnership to a Bhakti yogi while my life is more secular? Is such a partnership even possible? Will I stand in her way? / Any suggestions for better reading, especially comprehending and retaining it? / Do you think it's possible that psychedelics had any influence on Vedic teachings? Could it be possible that there is a correlation between religious teachings spreading the message of LOVE, and the similar experience that one has under a psychedelic? / I have been forcing myself to chant. Will there be a time when one looks forward to chanting or it's like this lifelong?
Please help us improve by filling out a short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XNF7DJC
312: 5 Potent Practices of Bhakti
my octopus teacher / like us, Krishna reveals Himself to those who love Him / Arjuna could understand Bhagavad-gita because he was Krishna’s devotee & friend / viddhi-bhakti / 5 especially potent practices of Bhakti--nama, dhama / Bhagavatam, deity & devotees / making our mind & heart a holy place / giving up hope in material happiness / the right conceptions, the right sentiments, the right lifestyle
SB 2.9.31-32
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311: Devotion is the Attitude of Reality
Srimad Bhagavatam gives light in these times of darkness / a crack in samsara / the brahminical qualities / the Indian extended family / Indian food / Prabhupada’s purports always lead to the conclusion / the deepest mysteries of yoga are understood only through Bhakti / devotion is the attitude of reality / accepting the chastisement / devotion is rahasyam (confidential)
SB 2.9.31
310: Pride Ruins Our Connection to Dharma
what’s so special about Sanskrit? / our propensity to becoming proud over anything is pitiful / the perfect analogy of the spider & it’s web / by nature we are instruments / temporary dharma & eternal dharma / the first prayer in the universe - in carrying out my dharma, may I not develop pride / pride ruins our connection to dharma
Check out more from Nityananda at www.sanskritsense.com
SB 2.9.26-30
309: Building a Firewall for the Mind
the witness in the heart / desires have been planted in our minds / Indra takes birth as a hog / the “hoochie” outfit / cigar aficionados / what if we stopped identifying our desires as our own and saw them as viruses hacked into the computer of our minds? / building a firewall for the mind / no one can banish desires altogether because desiring is the living symptom / the perfection of desire / building a firewall for the mind /sattvic homework
SB 2.9.25
308: The Test of the Guru
keep it desperate / when that spiritual instruction is all you have / yoga is refining one's choices / the test of the guru / the character of the guru / austerity is Krishna is the spiritual energy / losing the superiority complex / pride in asana is pitiful / material detachment arises automatically out of spiritual attachment / renunciation without devotion can manifest as a hardening of the heart
SB 2.9.22-24
307: Questions & Answers - Volume 37
what is your advice for a young man starting out on the Bhakti path? / what does daily spiritual practice look like for each of you today? how has that changed/evolved/grown over the last few decades? how have you dealt with those times when you have been compelled to leave either your particular spiritual path, or spirituality altogether? / what is the difference between evaluating, discerning, discriminating (in the positive sense) and fault-finding? / what practical methods can you suggest for realization of when and how we are encouraging I and Mine consciousness?
306: Mysticism Boiled Down to What’s Important
Bhaktivedanta Hospital / when your senses own you there’s no free will / we find meaning through service / the pseudo mystics / Prabhupada boiled down the whole Eastern Mysticism in a way that we could understand what was important / zooming out to see Brahman, Paramatma & Bhagavavan / it’s not austerity, learning, renunciation, etc. - but when our motive is pure we may become impregnated with insight
SB 2.9.14-21
305: Brahma’s Vision of the Spiritual World
can I just choose a mantra? / Brahma’s vision of the spiritual world / to understand spirituality one will have to expand the range of possibilities in the mind / just because it’s spiritual doesn’t mean that there is no form or variety / one should not carry the ideas of imperfection from this world to the transcendental world / spiritual bodies don’t have a soul, they are one big soul / we are made of God’s spiritual energy & all of our spiritual attributes manifest when we reconnect
SB 2.9.11-13 (Brahma Samhita 5.32)
304: Experiencing Timelessness
Brahma, born into darkness, disconnected from his source & confused about his mission, reconnects through initiation into mantra / mundane austerity vs spiritual austerity / hankering & lamenting / exactly how is this world an illusion? / experiencing timelessness though bhakti / fearlessness by becoming a Vaikuntha man (person) / the formula for Vaikuntha - we are all centered around the root of all existence
SB 2.9.6-10
303: Yoga is All About Distilling Our Motive
wake up from the dream / Brahma - in the dark both literally & figuratively / representing the lineage / how to distill one’s motive? / two factors in spiritual progress - our endeavor & grace / the cats and the monkeys / karmic motive (worldly enjoyment) - jnanic motive (escaping from worldly suffering) - bhakti motive (pure devotion) / it’s not sectarian - karma, jnana & bhakti are found throughout the world’s spiritual traditions
SB 2.9.4-8
302: Interview with Tukaram Das / Commitment is the Grease
progressive resentment vs destructive resentment / managing resentment / what is good? / the will for the other to grow / commitment is the grease
301: Questions & Answers – Volume 36
how do you set healthy boundaries, or know if it’s pushing your limits when it come to serving others? / how does one become fearless? / how do you balance being an householder and a devotee? / How does one go about constructively managing grief and sorrow, and learn to grow from them after one has already intellectually accepted yoga principles? / who is Jesus? / please explain to me in detail about the subtle body, mind, consciousness and paramatma in dual perspective and how to understand the various manifestations of Lord Vishnu?
300: Waking Up From Misconceptions of “I” & “Mine”
this perspective changes everything / the knowledge lights up everything - like the sun / when the lights go on in the movie theater we wake up to reality / truth is the balm / enjoyment on the transcendental level / we go through many bodies even in this one life / the karmī thinks of this world as “mine,” and the jñānī thinks “I am” everything
SB 2.9.2 - 3
299: Identifying with the Body is Like Living in a Dream
the service mindset is the key to happiness / be careful what you label yourself as / remembrance, knowledge & forgetfulness are provided by God in the heart / confirmation bias / Vyasadeva’s meditation / remember Y2K? / the comedy of a phony king / imitating Krishna’s cool / reconnecting / the child’s desire for the moon
SB 2.9.1
298: Interview with Keli Lalita (aka Kate 108)
finding spirituality as a young teen / nirodhana through kirtan / hardcore as trying for bhakti / being a double dropout / wanting a guru as a child / meeting Edwin Bryant / 108 - “Art Nerd” Krishnacore band / room to be myself in the band
297: Questions & Answers – Volume 35
I deal with a chronic debilitating illness - how can I adjust my mindset to continue progressing spiritually? / as a single father who has just gone through a separation, how do i support two children, while being a good example to them? / how to face homophobic statements in a spiritual community? / what was the most peaceful day of your life? / if Krishna is the creator of everything, why does his energy manifest in negative ways? / please explain about offering food
296: Yoga Teachers & Yoga Students
faith / life is just a series of questions & answers / respect for teachers / mental speculation / you teach what you know & don’t fake it / yoga epistemology - sense perception, inference, and hearing / training for the service attitude
SB 2.8.25-29
295: Adjusting the Attitude
how knowledge is received / in a sattvic (lucid) mind it is natural for the right questions to arise/ questions - with the right attitude - asked of the right person - constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding / the posture of the hearer counts too / bad attitudes for learning / the relationship with the guru / what’s the value of etiquette / shanti mantras / knowing the entire universe in Krishna’s mouth
SB 2.8.7-24
294: He Lives Forever by his Divine Instructions
hearing & feeling it / ET phone home / expect obstacles on the path / connecting to the root / Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the West / Downtown Swami living uptown / I am never alone / such difficulties are very gladly suffered by the devotees / he lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him
SB 2.8.6
293: Fungicide for the Mind & Heart
yoga is about where you place your mind / hearing Bhagavatam regularly & sincerely has a quick effect / Bhagavatam is the sound incarnation of Krishna / Krishna sits in the heart and acts as a powerful fungicide / positive & negative sound / mantra>breath>asana / seeing God in ones own heart / the goggles of love
SB 2.8.1 - 6
292: Questions & Answers – Volume 34
if bhakti yoga is the end result of yogic systems, why bother with asana practice? / I want to love all beings, but how can I deal with catcallers? / how to share Bhakti with a suicidal relative? / what does it mean to be humble - what does it mean to have self esteem - & how can you remain humble while maintaining your own self esteem? / is it possible to be initiated in Bhakti while also accepting Christ as Lord?
291: Don’t Be a Creep
apologies for our inappropriateness / the path is easy - if we can avoid offending others / we’ve been raised snarky / gotta get sick of it all / why is Krishna killing everything? / serious students are interested in both internal & external energies / what is a fanatic? / what is Niyamagraha? / what is a sahajiya / ending on a creepy note
SB 2.7.49-53
290: Bhakti is the Culmination of the Yoga Paths
wasted years become a wealth of experience when viewed through the lens of Bhakti / Bhakti-yogis need other methods like Indra needs to dig a well / Bhakti makes everything auspicious / Bhakti delivers knowledge and detachment without extra effort / knowing God within everything or within the heart vs knowing God in the temple / nothing is higher than love / Bhakti is both the means & the end / is it sectarian to see one path as superior? / Bhakti is the fruit of all endeavor
SB 2.7.47-48
289: There's No Material Disqualification for Spiritual Growth
woman? no problem. mountaineer? no problem. Siberian? no problem. / we are spirits in the material world / surrendering oneself is in one’s own hand / even though imperfectly composed Srimad Bhagavatam brings about a revolution / antiquated language / we are concerned with the techniques and not with the language / Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan / Bhagavan is the summum bonum
SB 2.7.46 - 47
www.bhavawellness.com
288: Interview with Leela Vilasini - Spiritual Reality is the Ultimate Psychedelic Experience
Mama was the first guru / Leela goes to Vrindavan / the natural affection found in Vrindavan / Bhakti isn’t an austerity / Brahma visits Vrindavan / you can’t by a ticket to Vrindavan / the spiritual reality is the ultimate psychedelic experience / Krishna's pastimes are playful / the desire to go to another world / the golden age has begun / the story of Radha’s lake
287: Questions & Answers – Volume 33
how do we maintain spiritual practices and disciplines with integrity, yet not become rigid and spiritually prideful? / to teach or not to teach ?/ what about all the religions out there? / how to see everyone as equal & is it ethical to kill sharks for a vaccine? / is there a particular form of Bhakti seated meditation? / could you give me some useful tips about daily routine for someone with little time to spare?
286: As Many People as Many Paths?
regular practice makes the difference / you can’t take good advice when you’re in illusion / I’ve made some crazy choices - but from this moment on I am yours / favorites from the Srimad Bhagavatam family tree / as many people as many paths? / one can know God proportionately with the advance of one’s surrender / nothing compares to the sweetness of Bhakti / different spiritual processes are different degrees of success on the same path
SB 2.7.43 - 45 (& BG 4.11)
285: The Metric for Deeper Understanding
the subtle thread that ties everything together / surrender / that dead body will be me / the metric for deeper understanding is our connection with divinity & how we treat people / reaching the top of a ladder that is leaning against the wrong wall / pick up the phone
https://www.panditdasa.com/books
SB 2.7.39-42
284: Election Day Special
higher and lower planets / shifting sands of time / a 1 in 26.2 million Krishna miracle / the Brahminical qualities / in Kali-yuga everyone is low born (dented cans) / leading with character / the role of the spiritual leaders / the role of the political administrators / the role of the business people / Raghu's teachers' lounge trauma / Bhaktivedanta Hospital as a microcosm of a spiritual society / our position in life is unstable / passing though unstable times with a spiritual foundation / let’s change what we can
SB 2.7.38 & BG 18.42
283: Could Yogis See the Past & Future?
Yuga cycles / Buddha’s mission to teach nonviolence / giving up meat / is it possible to see the past and future? / Einstein - “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” / is there a 4th dimension? / are there multiple universes? / Kaustubha says skeptics should marinate - Raghu says “why not!”
SB 2.7.33 - 37
282: Interview with Sacinandana Swami - Simple Steps for Observing Kartika
dealing with illness / taking the role of the observer / when Raghu met the Swami / offering even just a little lamp / contacting Vrindavan in the mind / the attitude of a pilgrim / how not to be a pilgrim / the deities of Bhakti want you to excel / simple steps for observing Kartika / the spiritual train never leaves one behind
Daily 5-Minute podcast Kartik Inspirations can be found at www.facebook.com/sacinandana.swami. Learn more and check out books at http://www.sacinandanaswami.com
281: Questions and Answers - Volume 32
is it wrong to say that there is no true love in this world? / I’m struggling with following a yogic lifestyle - can you advise me? / is sense enjoyment bad - is it just a question of moderation? / are the Devas aware of their own mortality? / why did Krishna never return to his loved ones? / can we have bhakti for anyone and everything or is bhakti only directed to the Absolute truth Krsna?
280: Spiritual PMA (& it’s All Bhagavatam Poppa Tony!)
how to approach a holy place / dhamas & tirthas / walking holy places / sound transforms space / sound is the key to a spiritual home / spiritual sound loops / kirtan changes everything / yogis consumes differently / mantra trumps the negative mind loops / spiritual PMA / who should live & who should die / it’a all Bhagavatam Poppa Tony!
279: A Key for Understanding the Krishna Stories
bhakti philosophy - it’s simple, but there is a lot behind it / just admit it, we are all dependent / Dr. Frog / the Lila of the lifting of Govardhana Hill / the steeped arrogance of materialism / Indra - the most successful materialist / pleasure from ego brings pain / the purpose of sacrifice / the key to understanding the Krishna stories - it’s all about creating the setting for deepening the exchange of rasa (varieties of divine love)
SB 2.7.32
278: How to Saturate Material Life with Spiritual Potency
decoding the layers of meaning in the sacred spaces / finding meaning without giving everything up / another miracle / samadhi / by places Krishna in the center material life becomes saturated with spiritual potency / Kaustubha’s mafia story / longing for kirtan can be as good as kirtan itself / motive is everything - when you risk for service you are protected, when you risk out of selfishness you enter a world of anxiety / attempt is anxiety / Kartik is coming
SB 2.7.31-32
277: The Layers of Meaning in Krishna’s Pastimes
the shape-shifter demon / fake gurus / can a Bhakti-yogi appear like Liberace? / a noble person accepts the good qualities of a person of doubtful character / no hate allowed for yogis / when you get to the very source of all existence - it is the most beautiful, most kind, most merciful / Raghu’s embarrassing story / beautiful desperation / the layers of meaning in Krishna’s pastimes
SB 2.7.27 - 30
276: Esoteric & Exoteric Faith
when it’s ok to reject the guru / uncontrolled senses can never be satisfied / swan avatar / ayurveda avatar / taking down bad leaders avatar / Lord Rama! / esoteric & exoteric faith / both learning & character are important in a teacher / Vishnu-tattva & jiva-tattva
SB 2.7.17 - 26
275: Interview with Edwin Bryant / Yoga of Patanjali & Yoga of the Bhagavatam
childhood India fascination / yoga grows out of the Upanishads / asana - 1% of the yoga sutras, prepares the body to sit for meditation / recognizing that life is frustrating is the 1st sign of wisdom / 2 kinds of yoga / Patanjali in the morning - Gita 9-5 / become conscious of Bhagavan / japa / the special place of the Bhagavatam / Beauty of power / 10th Canto of the Bhagavatam is transrational / contemplation of death is not depressing / think of Krishna all day!
Learn more at www.edwinbryant.org
274: Questions and Answers - Volume 31
there are so many books that are to be read, where to start? / what other projects have you thought about? / monism & dualism, can you speak about this? / how to introduce a friend with cancer to bhakti? / mercy vs justice - can you share some clarity on the subject? / how can I deepen my practice during this crazy time that is COVID?
273: We Become What We Hear & Repeat
when leaders don’t take good advice / the Brahminical qualities / Raghu's Jada-yogi friend / the purpose of yoga, under any heading, is to control the mind & senses and prepare one for self-realization / we become what we hear & repeat - our current social need for hearing the stories of the Bhagavatam / Krishna incarnates for our instruction, for His own adventure, and to captivate our minds / the devotee crocodile of Kerala / being in our element
SB 2.7.9 - 16
272: Yoga Instructions of the Sage Narada
captivated by spiritual pastimes or by creepy pastimes / remain satisfied under any condition / 3 ways to interact with 3 types of people / 5 ways to recognize a senior / Raghu and his prepubescent seniors / going to a holy place / pranayama as a means to fixing the mind on Vishnu / worshiping God in the heart through mantra / the deity is an access point / meditation on the pastimes of the avatars / 4 types of people approach Krishna / Dhruva’s desires are transformed though bhakti
SB 2.7.8
271: Avatars
Krisangi of adventure - turning a curse into a blessing / Krishna of adventure - appearing in far-out ways for the sake of His own adventure, maintenance of the material world, and to captivate our minds / 5 varieties of devotional relationships / Raghu receives messages from false avatars / sincerity is the key / 6 types of avatars
SB 2.7.1-6
Find more of Krisangi's books at www.absolutetruthpress.com and www.timeaftertimebook.com
270: Resisting the Clickbait
the transcendental Q-tip / resisting the clickbait of mundane sound / the one part of the body to focus on for a deeper yoga practice - the ear / mantra > pranayama > asana / if we don’t consciously swim against the tide we go downstream fast / the iPhone - a little box of “foul matter” / yoga sutras on how practice becomes firmly rooted
SB 2.6.46
269: Getting to the Root of it All
we are only seeing what we see / a universal line-up of characters / getting to the root of it all / the opulences of the absolute / Raghu aces the 10th Chapter game / ant colonies and intuition / know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of Krishna’s splendor
SB 2.6.43-45 (& BG Chapter 10)
268: Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your Freedom
owls are dangerous / our desires get in the way of our making sense of the universe / pure soul theory - we’re not born sinful / the spiritual metaphor of Dogface208's viral video / Bhagavad-gita 18.63 - deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do / the attraction of Krishna’s detachment / romance - micro & macro / the metaphor of the musk deer / Bhagavatam drops the pin in the material GPS
SB 2.6.42
267: Our Desires Get in the Way
don’t waste your time / our desires get in the way of making sense of the universe / you need a peaceful mind to perceive truth / peace comes from selflessness / misconceptions of “there is no Mara” - “we are all Mara” / no mantras, no gurus, no chanting...no yoga / Srimad Bhagavatam is the spotless Purana / to those who are attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, “no samadhi for you!” / Bhagavad-gita 2.44
SB 2.6.39-41
266: The Qualification for Perceiving Truth is Devotion
go right for the essence / if you’re broken, you’re qualified / Instagram’s measure of success / establishing cosmic order / creating with the mind - the iPhone is a looking glass / empirically, I can see that people wrongly limit their idea of what is possible / all-auspiciousness / Raghu’s experiments in nature / qualifications to hear & know / spirituality isn’t joining a club, it’s a practice of gradually, step by step advancement / qualifications for perception beyond the senses is devotion / we’re making ourselves vessels for truth
SB 2.6.29-38
265: Making Life Sacred
two paths - red pill - knowledge, blue pill - ignorance / ignorance of the principle of sacrifice results in clash & frustration / sacrifice means to make something sacred by reconnecting it / Bhagavad-gita shows how to make one’s entire life a sacrifice / ritual is designed to bring the mind back to reality / it’s all God’s anyway / we find peace though sacrificing for Krishna, the dearest friend / one way or another we sacrifice / divorce from source is the disconnection / recreate & offer
SB 2.6.21-28
264: Interview with Indradyumna Swami / I’ve Been Taught to See the Soul
everyone has their spiritual awakening / the hardest lessons are the ones best learned / the light of knowledge / the planting of the seed of bhakti / why become a monk? / the proof is in the higher taste / take risks! / how faith increases / my home is the world, the people of the world are my family / I’ve been taught to see the soul / raising saints / so much hard endeavor in the material world / every word of Bhagavatam is an inspiration / chanting is the main process / I am the servant of a glorious master
263: Questions & Answers – Volume 30
is there a certain way a yogi should act around non-yogis? / do I have a dharmic responsibility to vote? / where is the line between free will, my endeavor, and what God has planned? / what is life for the monks who don't greatly achieve? / how to present important spiritual values (such as humility and not criticizing) in a way that the possible negative material manifestations of them found in our society don't turn people away from them / how to handle family who are inimical to our path
262: Ya Got Your Red Pill & Your Blue Pill
The Purusha Shukta describes the totality of creation as 1/4 illusion & 3/4 spiritual reality / our choice the red pill or the blue pill / the fine print on the material blue pill - “users may experience death, fear and old age” / some gastrointestinal advice from Raghu / materialism is the blue pill - jnana is the red / bhakti synthesizes everything - you can maintain your material life while still moving from illusion to reality
SB 2.6.17 - 20
261: Matter is Generated out of Spirit (Purusha Shukta Confirmed)
the mantras of the Vedas are echoed & expanded on in Srimad Bhagavatam / what do we pray for? / virtual reality is generated out of reality / the universe didn’t appear by chance, it is designed to facilitate our desires / we are given the virtual equipment (senses & sense objects) to experiment with separate enjoyment / Bhakti Yoga means we reconnect the senses to their original source
SB 2.6.1-16
260: Pleasure of the Ego Always Leads to Pain
our depression, anger, etc. are not us, they are equipment not functioning well / pleasure of the ego always leads to pain / Sankhya - counting the material elements and knowing that I am something else / sattvic happiness turns from poison into nectar, rajasic happiness turns from nectar into poison / monk life strips away everything you’ve got / our little bit of freedom / sattvic living loosens the noose of the material energy / Vishnu is the soul of the universe
SB 2.5.32 - 42
259: Making the Micro-Macro Connections
wisdom means making the micro - macro connections / universal creation is like baking bread / adding the elements of time, karma, and individual nature to the dough / the world is moving for our purification / Groundhog Day / our life is one thin page / Lord Vishnu on 3 levels / the ingredient of false ego facilitates the illusion we desire / earth, water, fire, air & ether / the 11 senses / for every “thou shalt not” we should have a good reason
SB 2.5.21-31
258: Raghu & Mara’s Experimentations in Sense Control
Raghu’s tamari almond binge & subsequent 90’s girl band binge / there’s either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret / behind the world we perceive is a director we don’t perceive / studying the psychic effects of thinking, feeling and willing / God is never covered - we are / the bird and the hole in the wall / the false premise that everything real can be perceived empirically / ultimately, everything is revealed through love
SB 2.5.17-20
257: An Interview with Visakha Dasi-- A Photojournalist’s Journey to Bhakti
a hollowness inside myself / India - an atmosphere of faith / inspiration from the widows of Vrindavan / getting past the immaturity of early followers / understanding Srila Prabhupada’s intention / quaint, gleeful Vrindavan / the realization that I’m meant to serve with love / the journey from immature to mature spirituality
Check out her book, Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love, and her film Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All
256: Questions & Answers - Volume 29
who is your favorite character from Mahabharata & why? / how do Kaustubha and Raghu practice japa? / how to not become discouraged when our progress seems slow? / how to find community when isolated in a lonely part of the world? / how does one become initiated in a bhakti lineage? / how can we start letting go of these habits like pornography and masturbation?
255: Illusory Conceptions of I & Mine
illusory I & Mine conceptions of the self in the center / Brahma’s clarification - everything is seen in relation to Narayana / to say “there is no Absolute Truth” is an absolute statement / with no spiritual foundation there is no basis for ethics / Kaustubha’s Satanic friend / the understanding that consciousness in non-material leads to recognizing that all life is sacred / yoga & tapas are meant for connecting to Narayana / the beautiful verses of the Bhagavad-gita
SB 2.5.14-16
254: The Cause of All Causes
levels 1,2 & 3 of the Bhagavatam / where is the school that studies the nature of the soul? / I’m not God - my significance comes from my contribution / we are made up of mercy / if Brahma is God why does he perform austerities? / sampradaya - lineage / a good question is as important as a good answer / “gurus” who let their followers think they are God / I meditate on Vasudeva / the illusion of I & mine
SB 2.5.1 - 13
253: Permeated & Vitalized by Spiritual Sound
respects to Vyasadeva who compiled the Vedic teachings / one becomes enlivened through spiritual sound / drawing from the works of the previous teachers / exoteric and esoteric understandings / Krishna pastimes are transcendental, and so we meditate on them / Rasalila>10th Canto>Srimad Bhagavatam>Vedic literature / the words of the gopis at the Rasalila is the pinnacle of all the yoga teachings / the gopis are empowered in all the arts because they are pure / Vyāsadeva compiled the Vedic literatures to revive our lost memory
SB 2.4.24 - 25
252: The GPS is Inside Us
spiritual knowledge is a lamp lit from within / the lamp requires the right attitude & the right process / gimme a straight answer! / service attitude / the GPS is inside of us / spiritual knowledge is handed down in a chain - otherwise it’s fruitless / the teacher has to be firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth - the student has to come carrying wood / nothing grows beautiful without the spiritual touch / God is the soul of the universe / Sukadeva’s prayer
SB 2.4.21 - 23
251: The Intelligence that Comes From Within
purifying the mind before speaking / receiving the spiritual download / intelligence engaged in enjoying prison life vs intelligence engaged in becoming free / 'I live to be corrected' / Krishna from within the heart gives intelligence / the manas and the buddhi / Raghu’s mindset on Joe Rogan / Kumbakarna forgets everything / Keshava Kasmiri and the Goddess Sarwaswati
SB 2.4.19 - 20
250: 3 Keys to a Deeper Spiritual Practice - An Interview w/ Vaisesika Dasa
our attention is our one greatest asset / the human body is a lab for experimentation / impressions we allow in our minds become the mold of our future / develop a service mindset / the attitude “I live to be corrected” is pivotal / application - make incremental improvements- mini habits / the wedge / Bhagavatam understands us
www.vaisesikadasa.com www.fanthespark.org
249: Questions & Answers – Volume 28
how to understand & respond when discontent, bitterness, envy & resentfulness arise / what does spiritual maturity look like? / I’m isolated and my spiritual life is sliding downhill - what to do? / why does the soul need to keep reincarnating to find what it already is? / do you have tips for someone with ADHD? / how to pluck the weeds that grow alongside the bhakti creeper? / how can I get past feelings of resentment after heartbreak?
248: Cultural Appropriation & Yoga - It’s Not About Our Birth
elevation through reconnection / the complete whole is within everyone / Krishna is the attractor / no matter how dented our can is, remembering Krishna elevates us / reconnection liberates us from distress / reconnection purifies our bad karma / reconnection frees us of attachment to good karma / our good qualities only have value when we reconnect / cultural appropriation and who it applies to - bhakti purifies anyone who reconnects / Radhanath Swami & the King of Puri / Kaustubha gets 86ed from the temple / it not about our birth, it’s about our character
SB 2.4.12 - 18
247: To Connect or Disconnect? That is the Question.
bhakti satisfies the simple & complex / there’s our faith & there’s what our faith is based on / Vedic culture never broke / essentially, we have one big choice - to disconnect and live in service to the mind & senses or to connect and live in service to the root of all existence / is our body really ours? / the 4 defects of the conditioned soul / backing up what we say / the beautiful freedom of the connected soul
SB 2.4.11
246: The Culture of Respect Facilitates Truth Perception
Dillinger Escape Plan’s Liam Wilson - why a lot of musicians get into bhakti / the culture of respect facilitates truth perception / where one is at determines how much they can hear / we’ve got a culture of disrespect / the mood for learning / to one person it’s a statue - to another it’s Lord Vishnu / guru is the therapist - mantra is the medicine / Krishna creates, maintains & withdraws his energy back into himself like a spider
SB 2.4.5 - 10
245: What You Gain When You Let Go
the yogi & the mouse fable / dovetailing material energy with the spiritual / the value of destitution / letting go of anxiety / letting go of possessiveness, not responsibility / a verse about connecting to the root / a verse about freedom from the need for validation / a verse about offering oneself completely to the supreme friend / 2 striking verses about unconditional love
SB 2.3.25 - 2.4.4
244: How the Power of Mantra is Transmitted
Makeover Monday / Raghu dreams of Krishna / rules facilitate freedom / the change in heart / the balance between not changing the teachings, and explaining them in our own words / a mantra must be received in the lineage in order to be effective – the rational and transrational understanding / 10 important considerations in the meditation on the maha mantra
SB 2.3.24
243: Interview with Brahmatirtha Das – To Understand Consciousness We Need to Raise Our Consciousness
Peace Corps in India / meeting Prabhupada and inquiring / shifting from an observer to a practitioner / the secret - who we reveal our minds and listen to - who we trust / details vs principles / the Bhaktivedanta Institute - studying science & Vedanta / in order to really understand consciousness, we need to raise our consciousness
242: Questions & Answers – Volume 27
how should we view spiritual teachers who don't offer the "full picture" of the yoga tradition – is it unjust to dismiss them without respect? / how can we combat the mindset of low self worth? / if reincarnation exists then where is the urgency - would a Vedantin say to Hitler “Don't worry about this life, you’ll get to try again next time around"? / if our identity is illusionary what gets reincarnated? / why does man forget his relationship with God? / how can I better understand the overlap of our spiritual qualities with their material analogues?
241: Penetrating the Heart's Steel Frame
shape shifting lizard / keep the great souls close / more miracles / you gotta follow / becoming an educated consumer spiritually - don’t get conned by a seedy used car salesman / 1. Happiness through loving service is our true nature. 2. False ideas impressed within our minds are the cause of our losing touch with our true nature and seeking happiness externally. 3. The transformative practices of Bhakti-yoga are designed to purify the mind through contact with powerful sources of spiritual energy. 4. The steady flow of the transformative energy requires the right conceptions, the right sentiments and the right lifestyle / important Considerations in the Meditation on the Maha Mantra - translated
SB 2.3.24
240: Ya Can’t Bypass Humans on the Path to God
Krishna miracles / purushottam month / ya can’t bypass humans on the path to God / God is the property of the devotee / heart to heart transferral / psychic surgery / lack of appreciation of others is the death knell of spiritual growth / the servant of the servant of the servant / happiness comes through service / Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the tenderhearted feminine energy of God
SB 2.3.23
239: Perfect Wisdom from the Mentally Disabled - The Jada Bharata Story
the soul is there - walk on with Jamuna Jaya / don’t bring your bad habits into sacred circles / you can’t bypass humans on the road to love of God / you can’t get bhakti through austerity, worshiping the devas, renunciation, being dutiful, or Vedic chanting - you only get it from someone who has got it / letting go / Bharata’s obsession with the tender little fawn / Bharata’s birth as a deer / Bharata’s birth as Jada Bharata / you never know who you are talking to - treat everyone with dignity / the six enemies lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy
SB 2.3.23 (& SB 5.11.4)
238: Don’t Go Wide, Go Deep!
snakes & frogs / don’t croak / is wearing jewelry problematic? / to have freedom you have to regulate the senses / how temples can infuse the mundane mind with spiritual inspiration / pilgrimage vs wanderlust / earn with integrity - spend with compassion / don’t go wide - go deep / the need to be guided on pilgrimage
SB 2.3.20 - 22
237: Wake Up Humans!
relishing Mahabharata / the chicken of death / the rare opportunity of human birth / we gotta dance / polished animal life - eating, sleeping, mating & defending / dogs, hogs, camels & asses / who do we celebrate - and is it based on their technique or their character? / we go begging for a master like dogs / if we’ll eat anything we’re not a yogi
SB 2.3.17 - 19
236: The Prophet Style Interview with Raghunath Cappo - Q & A's on the Human Condition
on music / on friendship / on being a good man / on children / on pain / on teaching / on religion / on prayer / on death / on marriage / on the Bhagavad-Gita
235: Questions & Answers – Volume 26
why does it feel like that bad guys always win (when does the karma kick in)? / how to practice meditation the right way? / how to understand attachment & detachment when it comes to one’s family? / please advise me about chanting mantras in relation to bhakti? / is my intense longing a healthy spiritual desire ?
234: How Did We Get Stuck in this Virtual Reality?
the levels of conversation in the Bhagavatam / the eagerness to hear spiritual talks / Bhagavatam is mind medicine in candy / dreams with the dream / Raghunath’s androgynous avatar / we’re meant to tire of the material world / spiritual experience is the gateway drug to God / we got stuck in the virtual realty because we desired to play the role of God / bhakti is like the mafia - once you’re in you can’t get out / once we realize this is a virtual reality we are free
SB 2.3.13 - 17
233: The 4 Nutshell Verses of Bhagavad-Gita
truth can be a big pill to swallow / ya can’t just say stuff / when our rust is removed we will be attracted like a magnet / the 4 nutshell verses of the Bhagavad-gita / keeping on track / kaivalya / the liberated soul loses interest in worldly affairs / the liberated person can spiritualize world affairs
SB 2.3.12 (& BG 10.8 - 11)
232: 6 Characteristics of Pure Devotion
Krishna’s got a special plan for you / devotion is attained by the association of devotees / ratiḥ (attraction) / acalo bhāvo (unflinching spontaneous attraction / pure bhakti has 6 characteristics / the inauspiciousness of leaving the association of the Bhakti-yogis / progressing through 3 stages - unaware of the faults of devotees, engrossed in the faults of devotees, less concerned about the faults of devotees / the all attractive is attracted to the one who has pure devotion
SB 2.3.10 - 11
bijaartisans.org
231: We All Have to Throw Something in the Ganges
we are the children, the devas are the house servants, Krishna is the parent / Raghu shares a little Socrates / impregnated desires vs those from within / ya can’t reach Bombay with a ticket for Baroda / pure devotional service means without any tinge of material desires / bhakti is for Krishna / the show of bhakti vs true love / we all have to throw something in the Ganges / Krishna fulfilled Raghu’s desire but gave him the tools / “serve God not be God”
SB 2.3.1 - 10
230: Keep Life Simple & Hear the Right Stuff
shifting the hearing process / Lord Brahma’s triple scrutinization concludes that attraction (rati) to Krishna is the perfection of dharma) / regularly hearing Vedic literature is fundamental to bhakti-yoga / focus on the similarities rather than the differences / nature has provided everything we need - so keep it simple / pursuing artificial needs for comforts is like a whack-a-mole / Parjanya Maharaja’s Patel Motel / Raghu’s inspiration verse
SB 2.2.36 & 37
229: Interview with Eddie Stern – Eastern & Western Mindsets in Yoga
lawless NY and the Broome St. Temple / differences of yoga in India & in the west / Kaustubha does yoga like an Indian / sense of devotion vs self improvement / contrasting Eastern & Western mindsets / self-care via the Upanishads / seeing the mother, father teacher & guest as God / every object has it’s nature / thoughts on cultural appropriation / kriya yoga / the kleshas / identity beyond survival function
https://eddiestern.com
228: Questions & Answers – Volume 25
what is your favorite bhajan or hymn? / what is the purpose of living in an ashram or temple? / how can we tell if we are on the right spiritual path or just hiding from the real work we need to do? / can ashtanga yoga be combined with bhakti? / can we offer food that we don’t prepare ourselves as part of bhakti ritual? / what advice would you give to someone who wants to maintain and develop this faith that God is kind but struggles when seeing the suffering people go through? / how to deal with vague, fluffy “spiritualists”? / what is the relation between Vishnu and Krishna?
227: The Souls that Illuminate the Body by Consciousness
baby sea turtles prompted from within / instinct as the Divine whisper / yoga’s 3 means of knowledge - pratyakṣa (perception), anumāna (inference), Śabda (hearing or testimony) / dealing with dogma / applying perception and inference to what we’ve heard / as the sun illuminates the universe, the soul illuminates the body by consciousness / beyond the paramatma is the divine person / beyond hearing is grace / the Upanishads’ 2 birds in the tree / 2 world views - either the world has meaning or it doesn’t
SB 2.2.35 (& BG 13.34-35 & 10.42)
226: Layers that Distort the Internal Voice
one who has conquered the mind reaches the internal guide / layers of conditioning distort internal guidance / the yogi is promoted from within and confirms it from without / guru, sadhu & sastra / practical samadhi / you can’t make consciousness in a laboratory / the false premise that everything can be explained empirically / how are the little turtles prompted to run? / Our freedom consists in orienting our desire from illusion toward truth / the last snare of illusion
SB 2.2.35 (& BG 6.7 & 18.58)
225: In Defense of Reality
Mara’s story / Brahma - the universal engineer / intelligent design / in defense of reality / we are here to evolve / we are all tied to a time bomb / perceiving God within through reasoning / the seer & the seen / the act of & objects of perception have been supplied to us / that we are dissatisfied with matter indicates that we are spirit / the religious belief that consciousness develops out of matter
SB 2.2.34 - 35
224: I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
bhoga - tyaga / cultivate the growth of the seed of bhakti in the heart / when we realize that everyone is pure underneath, there is no room for hate / pure love of God is eternally in the heart / I Can’t Get No Satisfaction / peace comes with freedom for the separate desires / the discipline succession / jnana-yoga and ashtanga-yoga find completion in bhakti - bhakti-yoga is independent / practicing bhakti is like a child learning to walk
SB 2.2.31-33
223: Nurturing the Seed of Bhakti in the Heart
revisiting perfect yoga alignment / no other life in the universe? - give me a break! / you don’t need to be smarter / how the yogi exits the body and exits the universe - micro & macro / bhakti-yoga is the viable path to the spiritual realm in the current age / the seed of bhakti in the heart / watering the seed by hearing & chanting / building a protective fence by being respectful / pulling out the weeds / Haridasa Thakur - the namacharya / Haridasa’s bliss in chanting
SB 2.2.18 - 30
222: An Interview with Krsnanandini – Wisdom Churned Through a Lifetime of Bhakti
on friendship / on marriage / on being a good man / on prayer / on listening / on religion / on when to separate / on how to face death / on mental illness / on forgiveness / on teaching / on money / on love
http://krsnanandini.com
221: Questions & Answers – Volume 24
how to raise children in a scary world? / how to be a good yogi mother under difficult circumstances? / are there practical steps to take for one who’s faith and spiritual practices suffer during bouts of depression? / why does it seem like the heart is so much quieter than the mind? / how to preserve spiritual progress made during COVID as we step back into our normal routines? / how to get my heart and mind back on track to serve others when my heart is aching from all the hate in the world? / are there Vedic teachings we can use to reboot the modern business leaders mindset?
220: Perfect Yoga Alignment (Senses / Mind / Intelligence / Atma / Paramatma)
sthiraṁ sukhaṁ āsanam - the purpose of yoga asana / the bhakta doesn’t need to worry about the perfect time or place to die / freedom though controlling the senses / Goswami vs godasa / perfect yoga alignment (senses - mind - intelligence - atma - paramatma) / the junk food poison of praise & prestige / the bitter health food of wisdom & humility / rooting out the turbo scenarios in the mind
SB 2.2.15-18
219: Paramatma - the Internal Guide & Friend
Bhakta Louie (old school New York hardcore) / real modern day yogis / keeping it simple / meditation on the personal form of Vishnu / Vishnu in the heart is smiling and happy / the material bizarro world / the overseer, permitter, supreme enjoyer, paramatma / consciousness spreads through the body via the blood / by knowing God in the heart & His presence everywhere & in everyone, one sees the truth and does not degrade himself by the mind / connect with that happy form in the heart and be happy too
SB 2.2.6 - 14 (& BG 13.23-29)
218: Shortening the Turbo Scenarios in the Mind
yoga is an eternal practice / karma, Jnana, bhakti/ the universe moves in cycles / having more can bring more anxiety / bhoga-tyaga / in this world, time separates the form from it’s name / all that is left of this family life is a list of names / everyone is our brother / keep life simple so you can find God in the heart / fearlessness through connection to God in the heart / Raghu’s night japa / shortening the turbo scenarios in the mind
SB 2.2.1 - 2.2.6
217: Interview with Radhanath Swami / Radha - The Divine Feminine Energy
everyone is searching for love / all love has it’s origin in Radha & Krishna’s love / Radha is the compassionate, forgiving energy of God / why the Brijbasi’s say Jai Radhe! / Krishna wants to be controlled by love / Radha in the Maha Mantra / the people of Varsana / Radha - the total fulfillment of ultimate grace / being in Varsana is a state of mind / Radha’s pastimes are confidential because we tend to take things cheaply / Rasa-lila / the story of Radha’s appearance / you can only see God through love in the heart / be grateful today
216: Interview w/ Shyamasundar Das - Look Around & You Will See Magic Everywhere
The summer of love / the abundance of post war America / Howl / expecting magic to happen / spirituality without laughter is not the real thing / I was a drug dealer too / meet the Beatles / planting the seed of Bhakti behind the iron curtain / simultaneous oneness & difference / look around & you will see magic everywhere / George's love of Prabhupada / the new Bhakti Renaissance
chasingrhinos.com
215: Questions & Answers – Volume 23
if you had the opportunity to ask Srila Prabhuapda one question what would it be? / why do puja - why not? / Does Krishna accept service, even if it is not completely pure? / is it proper for a modern Sadhu to take up the practice of jogging? / do I need to forgive - even an abuser? / how is it possible for God's energy to be impersonal?
214: Hate & Anxiety are Cured by Seeing the Divine in Everything
the dirt in the mind - our animosity towards other living beings / lust is a killer of love / the 3 modes of nature & how they condition us / life is a chance to learn lessons - not just to have fun / connecting everything with it’s personal divine source / all the planets and luminaries have a person behind them / hate & anxiety are cured by seeing the divine in everything
SB 2.1.20 - 39
213: Settle the Mind to Find the Self
settle the mind to find the self / seeing the universe as the form of God / desire can not be killed / meditation on OM - a way of changing the habit of the mind / what makes on mentally deranged? / Raghu’s broken samadhi / temples - spiritual centers of meditation on the transcendental limbs of the body of Viṣṇu / rajas & tamas destroy meditation
SB 2.1.16 - 20
212: It’s the Quality of Life That Matters, Not the Quantity
good luck yogi / the path to perfection is kirtan / it’s the quality of life that matters, not the quantity / earth advantages / the agitated mind can’t realize God in the heart / hankering for the future, lamenting the past / no snooze movement / yoga success stories / the identity is not lost at the end of this present body, which is nothing but an outward dress only
SB 2.1.11 - 15 (& 9.9.43 - 49)
See more at goodluckyogi.com
211: It’s Not Intellectual - It’s in the Attitude
what to hear, what to chant, what to remember / all the paths of yoga culminate in remembrance of God at the end of life / the topmost transcendentalists are attracted to bhakti / the fearless path / the pure devotee's finishing touch / it’s not received exactly intellectually, but by submissive inquiries and a service attitude
SB 2.1.5 - 2.1.10 (& 11.2.35)
210: I’m a Transcendentalist & I Approve of this Subject Matter
fasting from the audio junk food / overview of the 1st canto / preview of the 2nd canto / samsiddhim - what is the path of perfection - what should one hear, chant, remember, worship - and what should one not do? / I’m a transcendentalist & I approve of this subject matter / 2 types of householders - transcendental & envious / none of this is mine
SB 2.1.1 - 2.1.4
209: Questions & Answers – Volume 22
how to respond when your manhood is challenged? / is it possible to live a life of spiritual purity in the age of Kali? / is choosing not to engage or really educate myself in the world's negativity ok? / as yogis we try not to see faults in others, but what if that fault is part of a consistent pattern that has negative impacts on other people or a community? / I’m trying to follow the teachings of Krsna, but why do I find myself so attracted to Shiva? / do I need to be tougher in the workplace?/ what to do if you disagree with a spiritual teacher's thoughts or ideas?
208: The Transcendent Yogi Arrives to Speak the Highest Truth
Shyamali’s message / the duration of life is immaterial / bhakti is fun for children / death is like a cat - perceived differently by the mouse and the kitten / karma, jnana & bhakti - three levels of approach in all spiritual traditions / Sukadeva Goswami appears - disinterested in externals & satisfied in himself / know how much one can share / the completion of the first canto!
SB 1.19.23 - 1.19.40
207: How to Talk Like a Yogi
purifying desire, rather than killing desire / friendly relations with all living beings / being always a force of goodness / the sages words are sweet to hear, full of meaning & perfectly true / if a spiritual teacher has deep realization, then they can control the urge to speak, the mind’s demands, anger, and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals / the yogi’s austerity in terms of body, words & mind / austerity of speech means speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, not agitating to others, & regularly reciting Vedic literature / flipping it - if someone tries to engage me in gossip, then what is wrong with me, for them to think I would be interested?
SB 1.19.16 - 1.19.22 (and BG 17.14 - 17.16)
206: Appreciating Srila Prabhupada
in the age of Kali, dharma will be found in Srimad Bhagavatam / receiving the order to bring Bhakti to the West / a lifetime in preparation / translating the first canto in Vrindavana & boarding a cargo ship to New York / “if you want, make me dance” / years of deep meditation, writing and prayer / seeing God in the heart of every being, including the scorpion
205: Interview with Radhanath Swami - In Vrindavan God’s Greatness Harmonizes with God's Sweetness
50 years ago the journey home begins / a gentle loving confirmation / in Vrindavan God’s greatness harmonizes with His sweetness like two rivers merging / the feminine aspect of God becomes the crescendo of his spiritual search / not trying to enjoy Krishna, letting Him enjoy you / Krishna’s “birth” - the original lockdown / Krsna appears in the mind & heart / it all leads to “may all beings be happy” / diversity in oneness / the greatest bliss is to connect with Krishna / when Kaustubha met Radhanath Swami / Krishna’s beauty is an expression of his love / little Krishna reveals his heart - “I don’t know what a stranger is” / Krishna tastes & shares the fruits of love / Prabhupada shares the fruits / Krishna is present in His names / in every situation look for the opportunity to be happy with Krishna
204: Our Respects to the Devoted Syamali Dasi
the auspicious passing away of Syamali Dasi / “you radiated joy and contentment, and it was impossible to feel down or unmotivated around you” / doing small things with great love / the great sages come at the time of death / bowing the head / the transcendentalist knows that this beautiful material world is nothing but a shadowy reflection of the reality / renouncing the idea that I am superior to others / we’ve had millions of fathers / “accept me as completely surrendered” / fearlessly facing death / to have friendly relations with all living beings
SB 1.19.7 - 1.19.16
An Interview with Gauranga Das - The Principles Behind the Training of the Chowpatty Temple Monks
the suicide of a friend sparks a spiritual journey / becoming servant of the servant / the early days of the Chowpatty Temple / spiritual principle in community building - music, storytelling, ritual, pilgrimage, serving each other / real renunciation is to simply ask “how can I serve” / Renouncing the idea that I am better than others / cooperation of monks & families in spiritual communities / all our talents are wasted if we don’t understand the value of service / a leader must not be afraid to dream
202: Questions & Answers – Volume 21
what can we do “in the moment” to control emotions & “get a grip”? / what are practical ways to give back to your teachers on the regular - can giving also be considered just being better than who you were the day before? / what advice would you give to someone who is a few steps down this spiritual path, but in a relationship with someone who is not? / how does the absolute nature of God reconcile with the relative nature of language—the flawed medium through which we hear spiritual truth? / how do we know when the best action is to bear the insult or to stand up and say something?
201: Selfless Love is the Highest Dharma
The most bountiful branches bend low / gorgeous dead ends / Pariksit accepts the curse as a blessing and prepares to die / is it sectarian to recognize different levels of practice? / the sages ask Suta to share the essence of yoga teaches that give complete satisfaction to the soul / Suta shares that Bhakti is the highest dharma / Bhagavad-Gita’s instruction to abandon all dharma but the highest
SB 1.19.4 - 1.19.7 (& S.B 1.2.6)
200: 4 Life Lessons from the Curse of the Sage's Son
wise people can see curses as blessings / wise people recognize that even good people sometimes act out of character, and are inclined overlook another’s faults / wise people acknowledge their own misbehavior and feel a purifying sense of repentance / wise people are inclined to acknowledge their own offense towards another & disinclined to accept another’s offense towards themself / dvija-deva-gobhyaḥ - the care for the culture of wisdom, God consciousness and the cows
SB 1.19.1 - 1.19.3
199: Banning Quarrel & Hypocrisy from the Mind & Heart
be like a swan / when arrogance & false prestige replace humility / banning the influence of quarrel & hypocrisy from the mind & heart / upstart incarnations / Bhakti-yogis are never inclined to avenge themselves / the mantra that grants perfection - to show respect to all and demand it from none
SB 1.18.31 - 1.18.50
198: The Yoga Culture Turns the Microscope on Oneself
as birds fly in the sky as far as their capacity, the devoted describe Krishna as far as their realization allows / hunting was allowed for a few, but always discouraged / life’s difficulties can be seen as favorable / sometimes good people act out of character - the influence of the age of quarrel makes us see only the bad / the yoga culture turns the microscope on oneself / repentance comes in the mind of a good soul as soon as they do something wrong
SB 1.18.23 - 31
197: The Yogi’s Freedom
wisdom of the Bhagavatam is what is dear to the Bhakti-yogis / hearing Bhagavatam elevates one beyond any unfortunate background / it’s the qualities that make the teacher, not the birth / yogis are self controlled - not controlled by the body or mind / real freedom is freedom from the control of the body and mind / from darkness lead me to the light / by bhakti-yoga one automatically achieves the pleasure of devotion, perception of God, and detachment from material things
SB 1.18.17 - 1.18.22 (and 7.5.30, 11.2.42)
196: Interview with MC YOGI / Yogis Simplify
yogis simplify / coming together in nature / the power of the fortune cookie / graffiti writing vandal days / 3 jewels that inspired change - Siddhartha, Bodhisattva Vow & his father's yoga practice / how one’s presence can be more influential than one’s words / take off your shoes & enter the temple / fame is an illusion - the remedy is marriage, family & menial service
195: Questions & Answers – Volume 20
I thought the spiritual path was meant to be walked alone - what is the spiritual purpose of marriage / what does the bhakti-yoga tradition say about repentance? / how to live a simple, brahminical life in a modern, capitalistic world / are big city life and spirituality compatible? / if we live in the city, how can we be more in tune with the earth?
194: The Quintessential Transcendent Yogi - Śukadeva
the theological depth of the swing festival / the sages feel the effect of hearing Bhagavatam / the sages glorify the association of Bhakti-yogis / the sages outline the qualification of the speaker (learned & purely motivated) & the hearer (eager) / Sukadeva, the quintessential transcendent yogi, walks onto the scene naked /Sukadeva & all varieties of ātmārāmas, are attracted to hearing Bhagavatam because it is transcendental
SB 1.18.16 (and SB 1.7.1 - 1.7.10)
193: Form, Personality & Love – in Truth & Reflected
the controversy - in the end, does the supreme truth include form, qualities, personality, relationships, etc. or all they all illusion / the person is the source of the divine light / isn’t form, by definition, limiting? / what is the opposite of being $1 million in debt? / 3rd class religion turns people off / Sukadeva Goswami’s transformation from impersonalism to personalism / the love & service of the material world is a mere reflection of the truth
SB 1.18.16 and SB 3.9.33
192: Once You’ve Tasted Bhakti it Never Lets You Go
once you’ve tasted bhakti it never lets you go / nothing can compare to the value of the right association / find fault in others or deal with our issues - which path will we take out of the dark night of the soul / bhakti-yoga is like gardening - it works, but the conditions have to be right / speakers' qualification - Bhagavan is their life / hearers' qualification - eagerness to receive the message / two types of Vedantins - impersonalists & personalists
SB 1.18.12 - 1.18.16
191: Spiritual Knowledge vs Academic Knowledge
would you like to know when you are going to die? / Sukadeva, the son of Vyasa / the value of being submissive / spiritual knowledge is handed down from a seer to one with a humble disposition / the sages feel the nourishment of hearing Bhagavatam / religious ritual is at best a stepping stone to true spirituality (bhakti) / the simple wives of the Brahmanas surpass their learned husbands in spiritual knowledge
SB 1.18.3 - 1.18.12
190: Accepting Curses as Blessings
snake-birds and flying foxes / nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa - those surrendered to God - are fearless / Citraketu accepts the curse of Goddess Parvati / material world resembles the waves of a constantly flowing river / real happiness comes through service / our conceptions of happiness & distress are just programing in the mind / Krishna is the soul of the soul of all living beings / Bhakti-yogis are always peaceful & equal to everyone
SB 1.18.1 - SB 1.18.2
189: Raghunath Interviews Kaustubha - Trying to Walk a Path of Service
how Raghu & Kaustubha met / Tompkins Square Park - a hub of both Hardcore and Bhakti scenes / Kaustubha learns Bhakti from street kids / appreciation for Prabhupada’s books / a street fight changes his course / meeting his guru and committing / going back into the world from being a monk / love & appreciation for his wife Gitapriya / Kaustubha’s history of the Bhakti Center / trying to make a contribution
188: Questions & Answers – Volume 19
responding to a mid-life crisis / is the understanding that the material energy is real but temporary really important? / is the pony tail required for a shaved head? / through eating meat, are we just doing our part to liberate the soul and send it along its path to its next body? / is there any formal training that someone can go through once they've already reached a householders life? / could you please elaborate on Dharma in today's context?
187: Blaming, Complaining & Criticizing
in one sense, the perp & the accuser are on the same level / seeing the divine working through both the benefactor & the mischief-monger / 3 ugly brothers - blaming, complaining, criticizing / all the saints were persecuted / Kaustubha has nice feet / Kali personified seems to be living in Vegas / leaders need to steer clear of the symptoms of Kali
SB 1.17.22 - 1.17.45
186: The Causes of Suffering II – Planets, Gods, God, Karma, the Self, Nature
truth is subtle and nuanced / the causes of suffering - superficial & unseen / different philosophers emphasize a number of causes - daivam (the planets/gods/God), karma (the laws of action), ātma (the self), svabhāvam (material nature) / paramātmā (God in the heart) grants knowledge, remembrance & forgetfulness / a yogi acts dharmically, without being overly anxious for rewards / everyone is engaged in His service / the complainer is equal to the perp
SB 1.17.19 - 1.17.22
185: The Causes of Suffering - Both Superficial & Unseen
Mayapuris have a new single for Walk-on Wednesday / the prime duty of government is to subdue the sufferings of those who suffer / the 6 classical schools of Indian philosophy / an all encompassing understanding of truth must be both practical and deep / searching out the direct cause & the indirect causes of suffering / going beyond the superficial causes opens the door to transformative thought / bypassing blaming, complaining & criticizing
SB 1.17.10 - 1.17.20
www.mayapuris.com
184: Caste System & Cows - Making Sense of the Vedic Tradition
Krishna multiplies and adapts to reciprocate with everyone's love / the Earth feels separation from Krishna / what it means to be twice born / in the age of Kali a system of service to others (Varnashrama-dharma) gets warped into a system of oppression (the caste system) / meat-based, industrialized model of existence vs one of cooperation between humans & animals / meat-based industry has led us to climate change, ecological destruction & a culture of violence / cow & bull protection provides all of societies' needs in a pure & simple way
SB 1.16.34 - 1.17.9
183: Yoga-māyā – the Energy of Union
dharma brings genuine happiness / spiritual life for today - not just the afterlife / make every place a holy place with spiritual sound / man-made planning doesn’t enhance the beauty & opulence of the world - reconnecting it to it’s source does / the marks on Krishna’s feet / the 4 nutshell verses of Srimad Bhagavatam / yoga-māyā, the energy of union vs mahā-māyā, energy seen as detached from it’s source / dovetailing everything in relationship with God
SB 1.16.24 - 1.16.33
182: Interview with Mike D. and Eddie Stern / Vrindavan, Bhakti & the Broome St. Temple
memories of the New York Hardcore scene / Raghu & Mike’s special moment on stage / Beastie Boys see Raghu’s Tai chi practice? / finding the hard to find - Broome Street Temple / Mike finds yoga with Eddie / Mike’s first trip to Vrindavan / Eddie’s first trip to Vrindavan / Shyam Das - bhakti scholar / Mike’s bhakti practice / beautiful times at the Broome St. Temple / Mike doesn’t remember the special moment :-)
181: Questions & Answers – Volume 18
shouldn’t there be a more efficient method for spiritual advancement than suffering? / how to avoid getting overwhelmed with the harsh realities of this material world? / when to be passive & when to be active / how do you stop comparing yourself to others and bring yourself to the present moment ? / I’m getting lost in the stories and characters - is there a recommended order for what books to read / how to fall in love with Krishna? / who are the mayavadis?
180: Spiritual Context for Religious Rules
for lifetimes we’ve been programmed by Illusion / more from Vamanadeva on being satisfied simply / the 4 legs of Dharma - austerity, purity, compassion & truthfulness / initiation into a Bhakti lineage / vows of vegetarianism, continence, sobriety & honesty / yoga teachings provide spiritual context for religious rules / liberation is the last snare of illusion / Bhagavatam puts liberation in perspective by comparing them with both material anxiety & divine love
SB 1.16.21 - 1.16.23
179: Parallels Between Native American & Yoga Wisdom Cultures
why is the Earth suffering? / because dharma is barely standing on one leg? / because she’s being exploited?/ the unspeakable cruelty of factory farming / recognizing higher beings behind nature / Black Elk speaks - the great spirit within & without - peace first within & then without / Sitting Bull speaks - if America was twice as big, it would still not be enough / Sri Vamandeva speaks - for uncontrolled senses, there is never enough / spiritual context for “religious” restraint
SB 1.16.20
178: Lacking a Wisdom Culture, America has Lost It’s Morale
with “mystic eyes” Maharaja Pariksit witnesses the conversation between Dharma & the Earth / simple principle: when dharma and the Earth are respected people live happily / the qualities of brahminical culture - even-mindedness, self-control, simple living, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness / lacking a wisdom culture, America has lost it’s morale
SB 1.16.17 - 1.16.19
177: God Bends According to the Love of the Devotee
our disconnect has us pleading for validation / dharma personified as an injured bull speaks to the Earth personified as a suffering cow / Kali appears, the personification of corrupt leadership / Maharaja Pariksit sees the dialog with mystical vision / out of love, the devotee bends to the will of God and God bends to the will of the devotee / the supreme brahman is crawling in Nanda Maharaja’s courtyard like a helpless child
SB 1.16.1 - 1.16.16
176: Wisdom Relieves the Burning Heart
positive meditation with a devotional attitude / fixing the intelligence on transcendence / flying your own airplane / higher than worshiping Shiva's instructions to Parvati on the highest worship / smarana (remembrance of or meditation on) wisdom brings relief to the burning heart
SB 1.15.47 - 1.15.51
175: Expressing Prayer Through Movement / Interview with Komala Kumari
the origins of Bharatanatyam Dance / Bharata Muni & the Natya Shastras / bha = bhava (feelings, emotions), ra = raga (melody, framework for musical notes), ta = tala (rhythm) / rigidity vs feeling / beginning dance at the age of 3 / the handing down of sacred tradition from teacher to student / leading the audience to bhava / expressing prayer through movement / method acting in the context of India’s classic texts of Bhakti / Srimad Bhagavatam is alive - it is Krishna
174: Ego Shedding
total disregard for the external world / ego shedding / meditating on God within the heart / chanting for God in the heart / all yoga practices are aimed at facilitating meditation on the Supreme / ignorance sets up the karma cycle - seed desire - action - unmanifest reaction - manifest reaction - disposition to act again - seed desire - etc. / Bhakti burns The whole cycle of karma
SB 1.15.43 - 1.15.46
173: I Wish I Was a Little Bit Taller, I Wish I Was a Baller…
empowered by the tradition / not in the game anymore / dawn of freedom (mukti) / Yuddhisthira reverses the sequence of material attachment / we allow our minds to be tortured by identifying with the body / adjusting the material conditioning vs transcending material conditioning / realizing oneself as pure spirit / relating with others on the spiritual level / the jīvan-mukta stage, liberated even in the material world / one who only thinks himself Brahman is an impersonalist & one who acts like Brahman is the pure devotee
SB 1.15.41 - 1.15.42
172: Collecting Spiritual Assets
bhakti is handed down from one yogi to the next / meditation on what we will be remembered for at our funeral / collecting spiritual assets / hearing in the disciplic succession is the right medicine for the conditioned soul / a community based on spirit / study like you will live forever - practice sadhana like you will die tomorrow / bhajan or deeper spiritual connection is reached when we let go of our material designations
SB 1.15.39 - 1.15.40
171: Mantra Addiction / Interview with Gaura Mani Devi
growing up in Bhakti / her moment of surrender / Aindra Das Prabhu / bhakti is handed down heart to heart / mantra addiction / keep the morning sacred / bhakti Partridge Family / Ludhiana Ratha Yatra / chanting brings happiness / chanting is a superior high / feeling the presence of God through chanting / Mahamantra is meditation on uniting Radha & Krishna
170: Questions & Answers – Volume 17
how does a newly spiritual person deal with criticism, estrangement, and lack of understanding in their close relationships? / what words or strategies are best for explaining one's spiritual practices to those who will find them difficult to accept? / how to apply the principles of yoga wisdom to help a sex worker and her family? / any words of wisdom a woman newly divorced and raising children without help? / the announcement of the passing away of HH Bhakti Charu Swami
169: What Will We Think of at the Moment of Death?
a yogic perspective of “sin” – forgetfulness of your true Nature / whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail Bg 8.6 / the mind is a computer - the current thought is what’s on the screen - bhakti-yoga is the practice of editing every file in relation to God / we get what we get - and then there is also mercy / Ajamila calls for Narayana / Krishna’s compassionate nature
SB 1.15.29
168: 2 Levels of Dharma - Relative & Absolute
morning digital detox / treasuring a prescribed number of rounds of japa / meditating on truth & friendship with God pacifies the mind / eternal dharma & temporary dharma / living on two levels - Vyāvahārika (Relevant to the immediate material dealings) & Pāramārthika (Relevant to the highest spiritual truth) / mental hygiene / transcending the gunas / guru is the real magician
SB 1.15.28 - 1.15.35
167: Bhagavad-gita is the Essence of Yoga Wisdom
walk-on with Keli-Kanana Das / finding solace through truth / Bhagavad-gita is the essence of Vedic wisdom / 5 subjects of the Bhagavad-gita /jagat, jiva & Jagadisha / time and karma are the agents of transformation in the material world - time is involuntary but karma can be influenced by our decisions / the thin line of practicing yoga within society / 4 paths of yoga / the yoga which embraces our social roles is easier & quicker / using a thorn to remove a thorn / we are one with & different from God
SB 1.15.27
166: Kindness & Simplicity are the Foundation of the Yogi’s Lifestyle
keep the mornings sacred / respect for the great souls / arrogance is destructive / karma rewards behavior consistent with our true nature & punishes behavior inconsistent with it / survival of the kindest / how to become dear to God / the peace formula / saranagati
SB 1.15.22 - 1.15.26
165: Influenced by False Ego We Think “I Am the Doer”
we’re all acting entitled / how little free will we have when we are in illusion / freedom from the slavery of the mind and senses / everything is provided for us / under the influence of false ego we think “I am the doer” / the gods & goddesses are like the butlers / the Bhaktivedantas reveal the complete picture
SB 1.15.20 - 1.15.21
164: How You Live Will Determine How You Die
facing death gets your attention / I can learn a lesson from anybody / 5 stages of grieving / catching another’s enthusiasm / our spiritual practice is our prayer for mercy / gratitude / how you live will determine how you die / bring the holy name to the forefront of our consciousness
163: Questions & Answers – Volume 16
do our relationships continue after the death of the body? / after the temporary happiness of the material world no longer appeals where does one find joy? / how does one just give up SEX!!! / isn’t it hard to find a guru? / what are the qualifications of a Vasinava or devotee? / how to pray?
162: Spiritual Friendship Over Formal Religion
seeing everyone as a pure spiritual soul / the 10 names of Arjuna / Arjuna & Krishna pass through all obstacles together / Krishna relishes reproaches of friends, parents or fiancees more than the Vedic hymns offered to Him by great learned scholars and religionists / the highest gift has been offered to the most needy people by Sri Caitanya’s grace
SB 1.15.14 - 1.15.19
161: The Anxiety That Follows When We Abandon Dharma
Bhakta Ed’s experiences with the deprogrammers / Arjuna comes out of exile / Duryodhana’s bad decisions come back to haunt him in the form of anxiety as Arjuna approaches / “Fire burns silently and silently does the sun shine.” / Arjuna sends respect to his elders in the form of arrows at their feet
160: The Loss of Material Power is a Call to Rediscover Spiritual Power
Draupadi turns to Krishna / when God is satisfied we all feel satisfied / have I been following a false formula? / the comedy of our material endeavors / the loss of material power is a calling to rediscover our spiritual power / walking around with a boot / cliffhanger
SB 1.15.11 - 1.15.14
159: 4 Ways a Yogi Relates with People
Draupadi’s complete surrender / insulting a great soul ruins everything / how a yogi relates to people - friendship toward the happy, compassion toward the distressed, joy toward the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non-virtuous / cleansing the heart with tenacity of things like faultfinding, desire for prestige, envy of other, desire for popularity / teaching by example
SB 1.15.10
158: Yogi Charu Interview / Authentic Yoga Perspectives
ashram life high in the Himalayas / yoga cleanses / the need to learn from a qualified teacher / environment / the nature of dreams / this world is just a long dream / a yogi’s view of racial tensions / love is a force / air, earth, sun, moon are all God's love / our planet is a spaceship / urban yoga requires deep respect for all varieties of people / bhakti practices are powerful forms of dharana (mind concentration) / Srimad Bhagavatam is the churned wisdom of the greatest yogis and sages
Find out more about Yogi Charu at www.omchandra.com.
157: Questions & Answers – Volume 15
how to puncture the material romance, and how to grieve? / how to navigate relationships with family, friends who have lived through the 60's and witnessed the dark side of The Hare Krishna movement? / swearing, are we born with a personality & should I change to a more reverent person or is this who I was born to be? / how do you know that Krishna is for real? / was there ever a time, or will there be a time when all creatures live in peace? / Is there always good in everyone and everything? / could you speak on the Vedic hierarchy of animals, animal consciousness, interspecies cooperation, symbiosis, etc?
156: The Alchemy of a Yogi is a Shift in Perspective
Bhakti makes the inauspicious auspicious / the secret to all of these stories is that their deepest meaning has to do with the love between God and the devotee / the killing of Jarasandha / civil warfare / Duryodhana is embarrassed / until we let go of our material attachments our lives will be a comedy / the alchemy of a yogi is a shift in perspective of their own suffering
SB 1.15.8 - 1.15.9
155: Krishna is the Soul of the Universe
this wisdom is timeless / spiritual lamentation deepens the feelings of divine love / this world is a reflection - it looks the same as the spiritual reality, but is the exact opposite / Krishna's greatest pleasure is to serve his devotees with love / Krishna is the soul of the universes / Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi / Arjuna, Krishna and the Khandava forest
SB 1.15.3 - 1.15.8
154: Why Are We Feeling Despondent?
tune into the messengers / spiritual life involves cultivating fearlessness / what are the causes of despondency? / material life is the disconnection from our best friend / the greatest pain for a Bhakti-yogi / we know too much to ever enjoy materially again / let our pain bring us back to Krishna / the mystery of how spiritual pain is the deepest bliss / our rightful claim to liberation
SB 1.14.37 - 1.15.3
153: Brahminical Qualities vs False Prestige
Śrī Balarāma is the mercy incarnation / Sri Caitanya made spirituality easy / Nityananda delivers the gangsters / just stop causing harm to others, be humble, grateful & chant / coercion vs attraction / truthfulness, equanimity, sense control, forbearance, simplicity, general knowledge, transcendental knowledge, firm faith / brahminical qualities vs false prestige / 3 manifestations of Lord Vishnu
SB 1.14.19 - 1.14.36
152: Bhakti Makes the Inauspicious Auspicious
Kaustubha’s manasa Rathayatra / sadhu sanga / bhakti makes the inauspicious auspicious / learn to love those who are not like you & who don’t like you / break down the walls / we are a moment away from being despicable / crusading for God within / let’s pass through this inauspicious time & make it auspicious
SB 1.14.1 - 1.14.18
151: Dravida Das Interview - The Power & Beauty of Sanskrit Devotional Poetry
chanting keeps you young / spiritual communism / glories of Sri Caitanya / sweet baby Krishna / Bhagavatam nectar / the song of Krishna’s flute / Govinda Virudavali / what’s so special about Sanskrit / the holy name of Sri Hari is surely all that be / Mahamantra explanation / Krishna cares / Dharma takes shelter in the Bhagavatam / what real society looks like / who is Radha? / servant of the servant
150: Questions & Answers – Volume 14
how to handle relatives with different (terrible) political views / how to keep my teaching sacred in a secular environment + does practicing bhakti-yoga mean I need to give up Jiu Jitsu? / I’m black and I want my sangha back / how to counsel friends during the time of mourning / I like the protests but not the violence /
149: What if Everyone Could See Our Minds & Spontaneous Human Combustion
our life can change in an instant / the power of setting an intention - sankalpa / refusing to let go / what if everyone could see our minds? / the yogis never feel alone - they feel God in the heart / Sati’s spontaneous human combustion / Dhritarastra’s spontaneous human combustion / Gandhari enters the fire / resentment blocks Dhritarastra’s advancement / letting go of criticism
SB 1.13.56 - 1.13.60
148: How the Gunas Condition Us
ok, lets’s give golfers a break :-) / Q: what do you have to give up for bhakti? A: suffering / asana & pranayama are for helping to transcending the gunas and bring the mind to God / satva guna is also a trap / goodness is illuminating - frees one from all malady & conditions one by a sense of happiness and knowledge - Bg. 14.6 / passion is all about desires & longings - conditions one to feel the need to work for a material result - Bg. 14.7 / Ignorance is the delusion of all embodied living entities -It conditions one by a sense of madness, laziness & sleep - Bg. 14.8 / the predicament of the soul / spontaneous human combustion
SB 1.13.54 - 1.13.55
147: The Current of Spiritual Energy - Within & Without
Jahnavi Harrison drops in to discuss “Surrender” / 2 mindsets - worldly & other-worldly / no need to lament on what’s beyond our circle of influence / the internal, external & marginal energies / we (the marginal) can become lost in the ephemeral external energy / the regular current of spiritual energy - within & without / we are one with God in quality, but still different / God can appear to you as a person or in the form of time / Dhritarasta begins his yoga practice / Yoga begins with controlling the tongue
SB 1.13.48 - 1.13.53
146: Time, Karma & the Gunas are the Software Installed in the Virtual Reality of This World
always seeing the good / we can’t control the world / time takes it all away / the rare opportunity of human life / “how will they exist without me” / time, karma & the gunas are the software installed in the virtual reality of this world
SB 1.13.33 - 1.13.47
145: Internal Renunciation
the God shaped hole / the emotional bank account / the need to be able to hear good advice / that which is unreal has no endurance - that which is real has no change / real detachment vs false detachment / you gotta have a good morning program
SB 1.13.29 - 1.13.32
144: Divya Alter Interview / Ayurveda - the Vedic Science for Health
discovering bhakti behind the iron curtain / translating Srimad Bhagavatam / the mystical goal of Ayurveda - discovering God in the heart / the 3 doshas / mysteries of the pulse / hospitality is even more important than food / masalas / lifestyle tips / Sanskrit poetry
143: Questions & Answers – Volume 13
do I need to dress in rags to be spiritual? / how to deal with losing my cool? / how does Bhakti as a movement respond to racism in a relevant, critical, active, & dynamic way? / can I care and do things that are helpful, without being overwhelmed by all the pain I’m seeing constantly? / can one have romance, sex, and the warmth of family life on the bhakti path?
142: Detachment vs Devotion
the value of never complaining / rise early / the relative difference between detachment & devotion / “family life” in it’s cultural context / Srimad Bhagavatam clarifies all the previous teachings on yoga / temptations of the heavenly planets / connecting to God within the heart
SB 1.13.27 - 1.13.28
141: All of Our Life Experience is Meant to Ripen us to Hear
Vidura’s presence makes Dhritarastra ripe to hear / Indian Culture / Sadhus don’t flatter / the world is magic when we are connected spiritually / we are that egg on a spoon / hours, days, months, years - exclusively devoted to spiritual life / retirement with wisdom / spiritual knowledge is like the mafia - once you are in you can’t get out
SB 1.13.23 - 1.13.26
140: Show Bottle Sadhus Just Flatter - Real Sadhus Cut
ekadashi is the mother of devotion / grow food, sacrifice, be happy, & go back home / Vidura’s tough love / the grim reaper is coming for the king / samadhi through the waves of life / show bottle sadhus just flatter - real sadhus cut / Raghu’s chastisement
SB 1.13.15 - 1.13.17
139: The Dire Need to Elevate Our Consciousness
a statement about racial inequality in the United States / no problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it / there is a dire need at hand to live as dedicated instruments of God’s love / the insurmountable force of time / the value of the rare human life and the need to make the most of each moment / learning from the tree / one day we’ll pack up our lives in a box / young Kaustubha watches a man die
SB 1.13.15 - 1.13.17
138: God is Like Electricity - A Yogi is Like a Lightbulb
Vidura’s compassion / omnipresence through diverse potencies / a guru cuts / giving up the ego is both painful and a relief / preparing for the change of body / Radha & Krishna enshrined in the heart / renunciation ≠ spiritual advancement / alien yogis / great souls are like surgeons
SB 1.13.10 - 1.13.14
137: Moby Interview - Where Spirituality Meets Activism
music is spiritual / doing the gritty work of the 12 steps / doing a fearless moral inventory / coming to terms with the ego / being a good listener / beautiful desperation / carrying forward the idealism of punk / hate born of frustration & fear / how much of my world view is informed by a screen? / be an activist in all that you do / the challenge of keeping hate out of our activism
www.moby.com
136: Questions & Answers – Volume 11
how to respond to inexperienced influences? / how do spiritual communities deal with racial injustice? / I’m new to this - what’s next? / how did Kaustubha become a monk? / to whom and how should I properly offer obeisances and what does that mean? / do you think God Is trying tell us something? / how to overcome the discomfort with the idea of a personal God? / how to build a personal relationship with God? / how does friendship give each other new light & inspiration? / if we are spirit, why do we have exclusive gatherings based on gender?
135: 12 Steps & Bhakti-yoga
12 steps and it’s parallels with bhakti / more background on the blind king Dritarashtra / in the material world we fight with each other - in the spiritual world we fight to serve one another / hospitality is conducive for bhakti / uncle Vidura comes home
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.1 - 1.13.10
134: Kirtan - the Dharma for Dented Cans
“horse rejuvenation ceremony” / what is sacrifice? / Kali Yuga - the age of dented cans / kirtan - the dharma for dented cans / hunting always causes problems / the story of Pandu / the story of Kunti / Dritarashtra was such an enabler / Vidura’s wake up call
133: How Childhood Impressions Shape the Mind of a Yogi
healthy addictions/ the impressions left in childhood / bhakti is kid friendly / Prabhupada’s childhood bhakti / Oh! Calcutta! / most yoga paths are a means to an end - in bhakti the means & the end are the same / 4 yoga paths are meant to lead to bhakti / is asana necessary for bhakti-yoga / bhakti harmonizes the mind with the self
132: Forgiveness is the Key to Bliss
how yogis respond to being wronged / Raghu’s mystic friend / forgiveness is the key to bliss / God is using this person to bring out my own greatness / death doesn’t care about your plans / Kaustubha gets what Joe Rogan missed / today is an OK day to die / the world can go on without Mara / just say it - “what I did was wrong”
131: There’s a Snakebird Coming After Us All
the qualities of a brahmana - Bhagavad-gita 18.42 / peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness / brahmana is not based on birth, it’s based on qualities / the futures glories of Maharaja Pariksit / material attachment & surrender go ill together / the story of Pariksit’s curse / transcending death through hearing Bhagavatam
130: Interview with Porcell & Ray (Paramananda & Raghunath of Youth of Today & Shelter)
the world of New York Hardcore Punk / a second wave of bhakti in the West / how Porcell & Ray were introduced to bhakti / Youth of Today brings straight edge and vegetarianism to the hardcore scene/ Ray leaves the band to become a monk / Mark blows away the anti-cult people / Porcell takes to Bhakti / Ray & Porcell reunite in Shelter / living as a monk & touring in a hardcore band
129: Questions & Answers – Volume 11
should I switch mantras? / how to navigate lust as a yogi in today's world? / does the soul die or does it become so purified that it transcends? / what does it mean to “give your life to your guru”? / what does the Bhagavad-Gita mean when it says that one should work in Krishna consciousness? / how to deal with spiritual friends that let us down / do we have any say on how we take our next birth? / how do I deal with the regret over lost years?
128: Spirituality - Seeing God Everywhere & in Everyone
meditating on the smile of God / the role of the rites of passage - samskaras / bhakti-yoga on 3 levels / difference between religion and spirituality / spirituality is when we see God everywhere and in everyone / the state of our democracy - administrators quarreling √ party selfishness √ exploitation of state resources √ corruption √ intrigue √ hypocrisy √ / we need spiritual revolution
127: Explaining Astrology, Karma & Predestiny
character & dharma / understanding astrology, karma & predestiny - our previous choices either expand or contract or liberate / crossing over the 3 modes - Bhagavad-gita 7.14 / for the reconnected yogi the karma winds down like an unplugged fan / when we reconnect all the karma becomes auspicious / sex with spiritual consciousness - calling elevated souls / the disposition for liberation Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.8
126: Our Limited Ability to Perceive the Unlimited
Srimad Bhagavatam gives perspective on all yoga literature / life in the womb / Krishna is in every atom in the universes, and every universe is in him / Krishna appears in the Deity form because we are incapable of perceiving Him everywhere / meditative absorption comes with wisdom / wisdom involves being steady minded through shifting externals and seeing God everywhere / we are qualitatively one with God & quantitatively different / realizing our eternality
125: Sacinandana Swami Interview - The Inner Life of a Yogi
how to embody joy / rewiring oneself / dead practice vs living practice / aligning body, mind & emotions / Western yoga’s need to go deeper / the sadhu in the storm / traveling the path of absorption / the mantra is imbued with spiritual potencies / Philosophy, People, Practice / the prayer of Vritrasura
124: The Process is Simple, but Only the Sincere Succeed
it’s not about joining a religion, it’s about self transformation / you have to walk into the lab / the sages bring it back to the original topic / transfer of spiritual knowledge through hearing / cheap imitations come in all traditions / ya can’t cheat the system / the process is simple, but only the sincere achieve the result / we are servants by nature / slaves to the senses / the hunger is for the spiritual atmosphere
123: Questions & Answers – Volume 10
how to balance motherhood with spiritual practice? / why are we fascinated with evil ? / any inspiration to help endure life’s trolls / how to trust in guru when trust has been broken / is having children selfish? / why did Krishna create illusion / is illusion only seen as negative
122: What Are We Falling in Love With?
tongue scraping & where culture should lead / there is a bhakti explosion brewing / we're over “stuff” and are looking for something more meaningful / understanding Prabhupada’s commentaries in context / yoga paths either forbid or regulate sexuality / sexual attraction is the primary motivator in materialistic life / sexual attachment expands to include children, home, society, nation and the need to acquire wealth / what are we falling in love with? / yogamaya - illusion which facilitates intimate divine love
121: Detachment Through Attachment to Spiritual Form
samadhi & being free of happiness & distress / birth as a fruit fly hearing Bhagavatam / japa advice - bathe in the mantra / Cupid & Kandarpa / Krishna’s senses can not be agitated but He is captivated by devotion / material enjoyment is like fake food / think it through / 1st 9 Cantos prepare our hearts for the 10th / Krishna is unaffected by matter & so are his devotees / yogamaya
120: We’re Like Moths
We’re like moths - our ability to understand through our senses or inference is limited / spiritual truth is not ascending, it’s descending / Nara-narayana Rishi’s oneness & difference / srivatsan on Krishna’s chest / Laxmi, wish fulfilling trees, stones & cows / Krishna’s beauty / broken connections result in a sad experience / perfect manifestations of internal energy
119: The Form of the Deity is an Access Point
knowledge matures into wisdom through reflection / practicing for the moment of death / birth, death old age & disease / Haridas Thakura & material blessings / the deity is an access point / Raghu & Kaustubha’s first temple experiences / imperialism & the aryan invasion theory / Krishna’s beauty never gets old / the law of satiation
118: Finding a Guru
brainwashing, youthful enthusiasm & magic / Krishna reciprocates according to how we approach / impersonal energy - in the heart - as a person / as master - friend - child - lover / do we practice our role in the spiritual realm / all the details are revealed through the mantra / finding a guru / guru is that through which spiritual knowledge descends / guru’s qualifications / we are not asked to give up our common sense
117: Feminine Energy on the Bhakti Path / Interview with Rukmini Walker
which face of the goddess do we want to see? / masculine & feminine energies / knowledge is foundational but the goal is Love / the gentle men of Srimad Bhagavatam / upending the pyramids of power / Srimad Bhagavatam uplifts the humble & simple – brings down the proud / the brahmins & their wives / the role of masculine energy / flowing around misogyny
Check out www.urbandevi.com
116: Questions & Answers – Volume 9
you have to give your heart over / dealing with anger / is playing video games tamasic / what does it mean to first establish yourself in yoga, then act - Bhagavad-gita 2:48 / the fine line between service & abuse / how to preach without coming off as a judgmental jerk
115: The Devotion of Prostitutes
we should die with hearts saturated with affection / the devotion of Dwaraka’s prostitutes / we may end up in compromising positions but it is our state of heart that matters / Cintamani - the prostitute guru / Govinda Damodara Madhava / the citta vritti nirodha of Vrindavan / Freudian slips / on the bhakti path the means and the end are the same
114: Story of the Lion Avatar
verses for the appearance of the Divine within and the destruction of the inner darkness / the story of the half-man half-lion avatar / Nrisimhadeva miracles / closing blessing
113: Shifting the Current of our Loving Offering
kali-yuga minds are always disturbed / hearing Bhagavatam as mental hygiene / perfection of human civilization is made possible by utilizing the gifts of nature / industry deteriorates the finer instincts of the human being / ugra-karma / civilization means caring for the earth & animals / the Mayapur elephant parade / shifting the current of our loving offering / a culture of love
112: Pronoia & the Mickey Mouse Outfit We All Wear
pronoia - eradicate the victim mentality / what exists internally manifests externally / commentaries by the previous masters / Brahma’s envy of the “dirty little cowherd boy” / getting centered around the whorl / what is the most painful thing? / value the association of devotees / the Mickey Mouse outfit we all wear
111: Visvambhar Sheth Interview - Develop a Relationship with the Mantra
kirtan & pilgrimage as a child / devotee dog / seeing Shelter as a kid / the intimate devotion of Vrindavan / so many ways of expressing devotion / kumbha Mela at 17 / music is an offering, meditation, joyful expression / advice for kirtan leaders - develop a relationship with the mantra / Divine power is the true protection
110: Questions & Answers – Volume 8
bhakti as meditation & as service / I move for the enjoyment of my source & I enjoy naturally as a result of the connection / asana is a condiment of yoga - the meal is the offering we make / meditation of the formless is always troublesome / pure bhakti demands pure intention (as opposed to activity) / clarifying yoga terminology / there is power in commitment / we’ve been waking up early
109: Bhakti Flows Between the Embankments of Union & Separation
Arne’s letter / remembrances of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama / Kripamoya Prabhu’s unforgettable kirtan / Krishna reels you back in / so many things are vying for our attention / Srila Gaura Govinda Swami / the embankment of union & the embankment of separation / transformation by spiritual contact/ Sita’s separation / Krishna is atmarama - self-satisfied
108: Whip it Good!
let go of what we can’t control / leave room for magic / Sanatana Goswami’s Bhagavatam glorification / Bhagavatam is the churned nectar / mad elephant offense / respect flows up - affection flows down / except for the uncontrolled, misguided mind, there is no enemy / the 6 enemies
107: How Spiritual Practices Restore our True Identity
the more we exploit nature and animals, the more we become entrapped by the reactions / spread the message from a place of love / don’t use it as a vehicle for our lower nature / rituals are designed to restore our original nature / the 5 primary rasa - flavors of love for God / Yoga is a practice which empowers one to overcome the obstacle of the mind for the purpose of the self experiencing its own true nature / take a vow not to criticize
106: The Power of the Holy Places
to be truly true it has to be true in all 3 phases of time /social justice has to be taken to the spiritual level / all life is sacred / Svarupa - our original form / we are not our outer Mickey Mouse outfit / yoga-pitha - where the spiritual and material worlds meet / panchanga bhakti - 5 most potent spiritual practices / the right people can reveal the spiritual nature of the holy places
105: Yoga Through Positive Engagement
makeover Monday / purifying the mind & senses / Vishvamitra muni loses control / artificial sense control vs spontaneous attraction / positive engagement for the senses / Hiranyakashipu’s yoga vs Prahlad’s / jnana yoga ends in surrendering to God in everything - bhakti-yoga begins there / a human goes beyond polished eating, sleeping, mating & defending
104: Interview with Radhanath Swami / Learning to grow Through the COVID Crisis
is there a universal message in the bhakti tradition? / is there a message to share about how to see this crisis / advice for maintaining mental well being & relationships through the crisis / a message for the essential health care providers / how to avoid dogmatic exclusivism in spiritual circles? / why is the Bhagavatam so powerfully transformational? / who is Nara-Narayana Rishi?
103: Questions & Answers – Volume 8
we need to have like minded devotees in our life / Bhagavatam refines our love / let go of expectations / Krishna’s mission is to enjoy divine love / breaking ties with a yogi / don’t try to understand the spiritual world through the material, understand the material through the spiritual / we receive a form suited to our consciousness / we forget the trauma of past lives / when we act on behalf of the higher power there is no reaction
102: We’re Trapped in a Virtual Reality!
all the -isms are the culmination of the illusion / Gita & Bhagavatam are the access point to reality / jnana-yoga = renounce the virtual world / bhakti-yoga = see the virtual world in connection to the programmer & connect with Him / the programmer wants us to wake up & enjoy with Him / miseries of this world are a way the programmer helps wake us up
101: Perspective Shift for Spiritual Focus
our habits become us / dedicating hours, days, months and years / the Purusha shuktam hymn of the Vedas / Brahma’s life is calculated to help us with perspective shift / minimizing fears and concerns through perspective shift / little fish & big fish / a bhakti-yogi is like a rooster, salt, a crane & you / wisdom though time perspective / nostalgia vs perspective shift / wisdom punctures the romance of past experience / perspective shift via psychedelics vs via Bhagavatam
100: Divine Love is the Synthesis
happiness through the senses followed by misery / Bhagavatam brings auspiciousness into life / rock bottom can be a blessing / musk deer tattoo / plastic vs natural ingredients / things just keep getting crummier / the earth kicks back / the Absolute Truth can have form and qualities / materialism is the thesis - renunciation is the antithesis - divine love is the synthesis / the simple talk of devoted ladies is beyond the hymn of the Vedas
99: How the Heart Melts
past bad decisions become valuable realizations through bhakti / when doubts set in, pull yourself back / think it through / in separation the love goes deeper into the core of the heart / on the spiritual platform love is not determined by physical proximity / Srimad Bhagavatam trains us to the stage of perfection / melting the heart / how to we know it’s real - because it still works
98: The Earth Kicks Back
locked down with the Bhagavatam / collective karma / leadership with ethics / consumer culture tells us we’ll be happy by getting things and we’re successful when we are consuming more / simple living - high thinking / those ridiculous leaf blowers / What have we done! / the earth kicks back / we’ve become sociopaths/ Vaishnava etiquette is for cultivating a disposition of respect and affection
97: Interview with Jahnavi Harrison
96: Questions & Answers - Volume 7
95: Working with Detachment is True Mysticism
chip away at illusion / progression of Vedic literature leads to divine love / shedding the exoskeleton / if I merge I can’t serve / hearing is most important / working with detachment is true mysticism / stereotypical yogi vs karma-yogi / karma-yoga - according to one’s nature, with detachment, as an offering / you gotta serve somebody / re-integrate
94: Like a Fish Out of Water (Materialism Can't Satisfy Us)
my external is draggin down my internal / the morality of Krishna & his girlfriends / there’s a driving force constantly saying upgrade your life / knowledge matures to wisdom through reflection / when we are free from attachment, fear & anger we can absorb the mind in meditation / it’s not about converting, it’s about remembering our identity / spiritual vision makes us happier / fish out of water / food for the soul / what’s the definition of good / jaundice analogy
93: The Glorious Meditation of the Girls of Vrindavan
seeing the working of the Divine Hand in hindsight / Bhishma’s perfect death scene / the motions and smiles of the Gopis / the progression of Vyasadeva’s spiritual literature up to the Rasa Dance / the glory of the Gopis’ love / mukti / aversion to service / 5 types of liberation / the “equal footing” of the Gopis
92: Ya Can’t Cheat the System (If You Want Samadhi)
the final moment / attaining our original form (sva-rupa) / mechanical mystic yoga vs spontaneous devotional yoga / Wilson in Cast Away - why do impersonalists fall from the divine light - they get lonely / getting your head dunked under water - material pleasure is just relief from suffering / should we pray for health / compassion for body, mind & soul / Raghu’s death plan / you can’t cheat the system
91: Divine Play
prayers for Hana / civilized warfare / Arjuna’s pure intelligence / Bhishma’s love for Bhagavad-gita / Bhishma’s melting heart / love is the highest principle / Krishna’s absorption in divine play / Krishna’s “enemies” / understanding that Lila is beyond mythology by understanding rasa
90: The Lover's Bite & the Esoteric Side of Bhakti
everything is trying to kill something - minimize it & make your life an offering / fear snowballs in the mind / in bhakti, it’s all good / the body is a gift - it’s not even ours / Krishna is all-attractive / the perfect beautiful vision of Bhishma / the lover's bite is welcome / the esoteric side of bhakti / love in the heart brings out service / Krishna makes it all good
89: You’ve Been Tricked! / Politics & Conspiracy Theories
letter from Vrajabhumi! / self sacrifice + sadhana is a good spiritual formula / as a people, we have lost our ability to think critically / getting lost in politics & conspiracy theories/ work now samadhi later / life’s purpose isn’t to find a comfortable or enjoyable situation / if our politics or theories are driving us to be bitter, harsh, or hateful, seeing others as enemies - then we’ve been tricked
88: Essential Frontline Caregiver & Bhakti-yogi / An Interview with Ghanashyam Das
getting deeply rooted / Ghanashyam’s journey to bhakti / becoming comfortable with what’s uncomfortable / greatest spiritual meditation is Krishna - greatest material meditation is death / death can tighten our focus / Krishna comes as his devoteee / NDE’s - seeing messengers of darkness & messengers of light / have faith in suffering / why is coronavirus happening - to ask the questions we haven’t asked before / seize the opportunity / how can this change me?
87: Questions & Answers – Volume 6
what I learned as a monk - find happiness with nothing / intention makes all the difference / ultimately only the devotee is peaceful / Radhanath Swami’s books - a good place to start / how I relate with others is important / God is in everyone's heart / no pride / see the good & magnify it / share what you have by example / doubt my doubts / contemplate again and again - there is no true or lasting security or happiness in anything material / cultivation of selflessness though family / what’s beyond the gunas?
86: Social Responsibility for Leaders & how it Becomes Yoga
Krishna comes to us at the time of death / the vision of Bhisma on his bed of arrows / questions about caste / taking a good look in the mirror - our society is broken economically, politically, ecologically, etc. / the modern day caste system is a warped version of varnashrama dharma / varnashrama dharma is about laying out clear responsibilities for societies leaders / carefully apply ancient wisdom in a modern context / dust off your gift and use it
85: Our Whole Life is a Test
Srimati’s lesson - we’re just being tested / our whole life is a test - how will we respond / Bhagavatam - it’s all special / who is Nara-Narayana Rsi / evolution by our own strength / give your heart to Krishna & he will take you by the hand / the wives of the Brahmanas / cultural appropriation / samadhi as action in steady God consciousness / shifting our desires
84: Tuning into Paramatma, Tuning Out the Noise
tribulations imposed upon the devotees constitute an exchange bhāva / medicating with food, sex, media, etc. / tuning into Paramatma, tuning out the noise / prayer for constant connection / letting it all go / love bomb the bombers
83: The Guru Within & The Guru Without
quiet the mind and listen / western yoga world is missing a strong tradition of guru recognition / am I hearing the inner guru or the mind & senses / guru qualifications / guru red flags / verses illustrating how a disciple follows a guru
82: A Guru Doesn’t Make it Up
is the world waking up? / becoming instruments of positive change in a shifting world / my own spiritual consciousness affects others / spiritual pioneers have left a map/ Vedic epistemology/ sense perception (pratyakshya), inference (anumana), hearing (shabda) / building faith gradually / the telephone game / a guru doesn’t make it up, they represent / the guru must be potent and the disciple must be fertile / the disposition for receiving spiritual knowledge
81: Questions & Answers – Volume 5
the I experiences the mind / the mind is a computer / checklist for dealing with depression & anxiety / is religion the opiate of the masses? / the depth & sophistication of the Vedic tradition / to be a recluse or an activist, and where do I fall on the long line in between / setting parameters guiding how we associate / insulate not isolate / the deeper we go into the essence of one spiritual tradition, the more we recognize the same essence in other traditions / guru & gurus
80: Jai Sri Ram!
Ram’s name is the bridge over samsara / forgiveness & compassion of Ram’s name / saguna & nirguna brahman / engagements for the day - bhajan, reading, fasting, puja / wake up in sattvic time and meditate / Manthara’s fear is like a virus / Raghu’s turbo scenarios / Rama’s equanimity / transformation of character though hearing Vedic lore / gratitude of the boatman / the loving sacrifice of Jatayu
79: Death, Skulls, Graveyards & Other Sources of Inspiration
words from Bhakta Louie / Raghunath walks in cemeteries / graveyards, burning ghats, Pompeii, catacombs - meditating on death / Raghunath collects skulls / time’s influence on everything material / no grudges, no complaining / you cover all your bases & accept time’s influence / Shelter - the Hands of Time lyrics / why wrap up my identity with stuff / the mother in-law teaches the daughter in-law through the daughter
78: Reclaiming our Inherent Purity
I have to change me - butterfly / hearing & chanting is the cocoon / joy comes from our contribution / reclaiming our inherent purity / spiritual form / God is everywhere, God is in me, God is the person behind it all / Horton Hears a Who / Krishna is God on Saturday / the story of Pandu / hone in on what our contribution is and stick to it no matter how the dogs bark / mentors & well-wishers
77: Training the Mind to See the Divine in Everyone
Monday makeover / a wave is coming - the gravity of a spiritualist / the 12 mahajanas / you can’t cram gardening / transformation through regular hearing / train ourselves to see the good & overlook the shortcomings / yoga etiquette / etiquette is the ornament of the bhakti yogi / the purpose behind every aspect of ritual or etiquette lies in how it effects our mind / the cat in the basket
76: Use the Dream to Wake Up from the Dream
apocalyptic New York & Krishna’s invitation to dance above it / responsible in this world & conscious of what’s beyond / Bhishma stories / finding the blessing in misfortune / 3 levels of wisdom / no complaining allowed / “untimely” deaths of spiritual people / use the dream to wake up from the dream / keep going 1 level deeper in our realization / bhakti dreams / Krishna’s joy in respecting an elder /
75: Kirtan & Temples (What They’re All About)
grihasta vs grihamedhi / making the home an ashram / kirtan is the sacrifice for this age / simple & connected make for a good kirtan leader / kirtan brings people together / Tolstoy’s definition of art / centuries of devotion invested in India’s temples / how temples should bring out the best in us / the sacrifice of japa / Bhagavad-gita’s austerity of speech truthful, pleasing, beneficial, not agitating - Bg. 17.15 / personal charisma vs spiritual substance / Krishna’s pastimes make you fall in love
74: My Body is Meant for the Service of Others
respect to “essential personnel” / there’s always a storm coming up / cows, brahmins & devotees / sarvatra sama darshina - seeing God everywhere / elephants! / living with animals & Gus living up to his potential / Yuddhisthira’s mindset / we’re not playing the victim anymore / self care vs self sacrifice /my body is meant for the service of others / rationalization is the intelligence serving the false ego / Duryodhana couldn't find anyone more qualified - Yuddhisthira couldn’t find anyone less qualified
73: Taking Questions from the Listeners – Volume 4
raghu for mayor / fall in love with Krishna / keep a standard for those you get close to / yoga culture is designed to influence the mind / the gods will be just fine / note if what we are consuming brings up our lower nature / religious practices mix of scriptural tenets with human interpretation & application / religion - take the good and improve it vs reject it / focus on spiritual purpose being happiness & meaning / does the power of mantra lie in pronunciation or in intention / karma’s complicated - make the best with what you’ve got
72: The Internal & External Lives of a Yogi
the gift of being a dented can / pointing the finger ourselves / the yogi is dealing with two worlds / loving without possessing / a sadhu is childlike / living internal & external at the same time / our inner orientation is I am the servant of God / we don’t destroy our desire, we purify it / serving to God and the devotee is identical / create a love triangle by bringing in the Paramatma / bhutta suddhi - purifying ourselves from material misidentification
71: Enough for Our Need, but Not for Our Greed
something is shaking us up - what’s the lesson / beachfront property - made of sand / Srila Prabhupada’s mission wasn’t religious conversion, it was sharing essential knowledge / natural gifts vs industrial enterprises / our diseases are commonly tied to the meat industry / ugra karma - horrible works / enough for our need but not for our greed / life's simple pleasures
70: The Strength of Knowing Our Weakness
Wisdom of the Sages in New York City Schools / coping with destitution / HELP ME! - we’re drowning / the ocean teaches us how small and dependent we are / a little virus is meant to wake us up / the strength of knowing our weakness / Krishna is the soul of the universe / bhakti is kid friendly / Krishna gives life & beauty to everything / nature provides us with plenty, but then we break nature's laws /
69: Life Comes from Life
lockdown in a holy place / life comes from life / wherever our mind goes is meditation / bhakti fundamentals - hearing leads to remembering / lesson 1. we’re made to serve / lesson 2. by serving the root of all existence we connect with every living being / happiness & meaning are found through giving - not taking / Krishna appears in different ways, according to the state of our heart
68: Livin’ Under Lockdown & Feeding the Good Dog
livin’ under lockdown / it can be hard to sit alone with the mind / regulate news consumption / lets come out the other side better people / media is our mind’s food / the separation between you & what you present as you / dharma / battling with the demon inside / good dog bad dog / priest vs cop - who more embodies the spiritual essence
67: Purifying our Spiritual Intention
bhakti’s not fear based / purifying our spiritual intention / gradations of prayer / Day by Day - Raghu’s into Godspell / the wild devotion of the Banke Bihari Temple / understanding Krishna’s fear / intimate love surpasses awe and veneration
66: Taking Questions from the Listeners – Volume 3
there’s no stability in the material world / “offensive chanting” / understanding the demigods in relation to Krishna / bhakti means love without material motive / anxiety + Bhagavatam wisdom is a great recipe for progress / money mantras / manasa puja - worship in the mind / make God your soulmate / you have incredible value so don’t sell yourself short /
65: Whatever it is, There’s Always a Person Behind it
learning discernment through the Bhagavatam / universe is the impersonal way of saying Krishna / yoga is for connecting with the “Higher Power” / love requires more than one / Krishna is the root / devotees own Krishna & Krishna owns them / fear of a person / the material world is a warped reflection / pure bhakti is free from the desire to exploit, or escape, the material world / whatever it is, there’s always a person behind it / the esoteric vs the exoteric
64: Sick of it All / Pt. 2 About Suffering
wisdom keeps us steady / at the point of boredom we start to grow / the problem of evil / good comes from suffering / we cause our own suffering / misapplying karma theory increases ignorance & suffering / properly applying karma theory fosters compassion / accepting suffering to relieve that of others is the highest worship / karma & reincarnation snaps everything into place / why me? / when we are sick of it all we can chant with feeling
63: Coronavirus - We're Meant to Grow From This
maybe we could use a day of rest / what I will and will not allow myself to worry about / avoiding the negative loop / control vs hysteria / another perspective from Sri Isopanisad - everything is perfect & complete (except perhaps our understanding) / Siddharta’s enlightenment - ॐ perfection / the good and the bad seen as one from a higher perspective / we will all be challenged to stand tall - to be raised
62: Suffering -- How a Yogi Understands It / Part 1
crucial times / seeing through the lens of love / seeing a benevolent hand behind everything / the privileged suffer too / The BIG VERSE - SB 1.8.25 - Kunti prays for more calamities / the duty of the sane person is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities / suffering in the dream world / when we know we are dreaming it changes the experience / we create our own suffering BG 13.21 / manifested and unmanifested karma / we can’t judge based on manifest karma / the rain and the seeds / Krishangi’s story of growth through suffering
61: The Person Beyond the Oneness
the power of the Beatles / illusions that create the space between us / the Person beyond the oneness / qualitatively we are one - quantitatively we’re not / relationships make life worth living / the soul is a person / George's shift / George’s love for Srila Prabhupada / karma is intricate / viewing karma from a different perspective / always coming from a place of compassion
60: Within You Without You
love will not be cancelled today / bhakti is contagious / it’s futile to worry about things beyond my control / within you without you / love isn’t a headlock - it’s our choice / It’s Krishna that is within and without you / Bhagavad-gita 6.29-30 / seeing divinity in people who aren’t acting divine - yoga off the mat looks like that / can we glimpse the truth before it's far too late when we pass away?
59: Taking Questions From the Listeners – Volume 2
what is forgiveness? / Prithu forgives Indra / we are off our spiritual path if we hold on to resentment / Buddhaghoṣa on holding onto anger / forgiveness means I let go of it all / to what degree should renunciation be part of my practice? / renunciation is a medicine applied differently to different people / establish your level of renunciation & adjust with time / the main thing is to make the main thing the main thing / is good karma good - is bad karma bad / good and bad karma have to do with how we enjoy the material world - Bhakti means going beyond that / a Bhakti-yogi sees the Lord’s benediction at every step / better not to get too caught up in astrology - but if it may help us serve we may use it / what is the goal of a Krishna devotee at the time of death? / ante narayana smriti - remember God at the end / release from the cycle of birth & death is good - connection with God through love is the finishing touch
58: Seeing the Supersoul in Everyone
judging people based on externals / the misuse of our gifts / where are they now? / Krishna’s opulences are hard to handle / the 1st prayer in the universe - may I not become proud / the universe humbles us / we are a spark of divinity / when the mind is conquered the Supersoul is already reached / seeing the Supersoul in everyone through hearing / this is a process of surrendering the ego
57: Love is the Highest Principle
memories of last night - Minna’s dreamy song, Kaustubha was the jerk / the value of festivals / spiritual communities sing, dance, tell stories & eat together / the guru tests the disciple before sharing knowledge / Bhagavad-gita 4.34 / humility is the fertile ground for the seed of transcendental knowledge / a culture of submissive hearing / prayer for protection / the sudarshan disc / Krishna’s morality in the Mahabharata - he is willing to lie, break the rules out of love / love is the highest principle
56: Yoga for the Dented Cans of This Age
special episode for Sri Caitanya’s appearance / it’s not about conversion, it’s about waking up / reasons for Sri Caitanya's descent / bhakti - practical & esoteric / kirtan is the yoga for this age / the bhakti explosion / krishna = sweetness, Caitanya = compassion / Caitanya gives bhakti freely to the dented cans - the highest to the lowest / the 8 instructions of Sri Caitanya - Shikshastakam / relative vs absolute / tolerance, humility & respect
55: Guru is a Principle Embodied by a Person
gripping vs. letting go / Uttara’s history / Mahabharata stories / what do you take shelter of when you feel stress? / transcendental knowledge is the balm to soothe stress / let go of fear & need to manipulate - find shelter in Gita & Bhagavatam / you come to a guru to serve, not to be served / gurus' presence is an inspiration for self reflection and improvement / vani - instruction vs vapu - personal presence / shiksha guru - instructor vs diksha - initiator / get formal training before becoming Picasso
54: The Cause of All Causes
inauspicious choices lead to a ripple effect of inauspicious results, 1 camp - the spiritual camp, bhagavad-gita helps us face life’s challenges with transcendental knowledge / we are totally dependent / Sri Brahma Samhita 5.1 - cause of all causes / 6 symptoms of surrender / Krishna is my protector / in the jaws of death, will we be the mouse or the kitten
53: We Protect What We Value
we all need loving critics / we protect what we value - brahmanas, cows, women, children, elders / a voluntary vow of poverty / we need to revive wisdom in society / a loving integration with humans & animals / does society need a collapse? / valuing the unique contributions of women / providing love, values and protection to children / garbhādhāna-saṁskāra - meditation prior to conception /the value of elders / early training, married life & spiritual retirement in yoga culture
52: Taking Questions From the Listeners / Volume I
is it ok to enjoy the material world? / different paths of yoga / jnana cultivates detachment / bhakti connects the world with God / are there different types of love? / the esoteric side of bhakti / the happiness of the abode of love is in the happiness of the object of love/ God exists to enjoy varieties of love - raso vai saha / Krishna accommodates all varieties of love / bronzing baby shoes / Bhagavad-gita & Buddhism / soulmates & money mantras / we don’t argue with the divine plan / pure bhakti
51: The Ornaments that Decorate a Saint
a yogi has no enemies / animosity clouds the mind with ignorance / bhakti yogis decorate themselves with the ornaments of tolerance, mercy, friendliness to all, having no enemies, peacefulness, & abidance to sacred texts / Andal, the mystic poet girl who decorated herself for the pleasure of Vishnu / 2 dharmas - temporary & eternal / Yuddhistira vs Bhima - we all have different natures that can be offered / refining our lower nature / tolerance & intolerance in bhakti / Raghu drives the swami / Kaustubha tries to give up anger
50: Yogis Soothe Suffering with the Balm of Truth
we’ve created so much hate / great people can differ in opinion / sage Kunti’s most courageous prayer - let the calamaties continue / preparation for meditation at the time of death / wherever we bring our mind is meditation and the results stay with us / bhakti yogis meditate on the name, form, qualities and pastimes of Krishna / rituals are designed to leave lasting impressions in the mind / the Ganges River flows through the universal body / the material world is programmed with the elements of time and karma, which bring suffering / we are not trying to avoid suffering by changing the circumstance, we are trying to restore the consciousness the allows us to transcend no matter the circumstances / consciousness of Krishna helps us pass over life's obstacles Bhagavad-gita 18.58 / great souls soothe suffering through sharing truth, not illusion
49: Let Our Aim be to Come to Truth
binge on the Bhagavatam / Chutes and Ladders is Vedic / leaders need wise counselors / resurrecting a spiritual class of people / Krishna changes his mind / our egos get wrapped up in our opinions / justice vs mercy - dharma can be challenging to determine / let our aim be to come to truth, not to conquer our opponent / wise and pure hearted people may disagree / respect the intention / Arjun finds a we to satisfy both sides
48: Dharma Means Doing What’s Right
yoga wisdom is not summer reading, we have to hear it and apply it daily / dharma means doing what’s right rather than trying to change the circumstances to our favor / learning Sanskrit prayers to aid meditation / Arjuna's red hot copper eyes - Krishna’s lotus eyes
47: Transcendental Knowledge Melts Away Fear
shaming doesn’t work / hearts don’t change through humiliation / seek first to understand / don’t leave Raghu a voicemail / everything is fear-based these days / take shelter of the decoder / Bhagavad-Gita 7.14 / no time to tinker anymore / first thing in the morning - fix my mind right / transcendental knowledge melts away fear / BNN Bhakti News Network / don’t let mundane sound into your morning
46: Kirtan Brings the World Together
kirtan is what the whole world needs / kirtan without ego / dancing without ego / we become what we consume / kirtan is the yoga for this age / Bhagavatam is an eternal conversation / yoga is eternal / the Earth is crying / the devas approach Lord Vishnu together / Krishna wants to serve / devotion is more important than scholarship
45: Fear of Spiritual Love
start with gratitude / yogis discern but don’t hate / the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing / kindness, simplicity, tolerance, love / Bhakta Louie hates hate / the atmarama verse / the opposite of being $1,000,000 in debt / liberation into the oneness is just the neutral stage / liberated souls are attracted to spiritual form, qualities, and relationships / Vishnu instructs Brahma about spiritual vision / our negative experience of service in this world create a fear of transcendental loving service
44: Our Body is an Airbnb
resurrecting our natural identity / Bhagavatam background - Suta, Sukadeva & King Pariksit / bhakti mitigates material miseries / cats & monkeys / Krishna’s energies - internal, external & marginal / we are like the beach, sometimes covered and sometimes uncovered / living in the moment / savant syndrome - underneath it all, nothing can touch the soul / true social justice requires equal vision - Bhagavad-gita 5.18 / Joan of Arc is Bhagavatam
43: Misidentification with the Mind & Body
sages hits #1 / Krishna takes everything away / Jesus didn’t even have a watch / thanks to the listeners! / just a matter of time before our world gets shaken / transcending good & bad / Drona - Arjuna’s guru / Vyasadeva’s ashram high in the Himalayas / Krishna, God, Higher Power, Divine Source - let’s not get caught up in the semantics / Vyasa’s meditation / the 3 gunas / sattva guna expands the space between stimulus & response / our fundamental problem - misidentification with the mind & body / analogy of the moon’s reflection on water
42: Karma and Free Will
choose your addictions carefully / loving every living being - beyond externals / what is the duty of one about to die (all of us) / perspective - our senses are so limited / karma & free will / free will expands & contracts according to the choices we make / bhakti releases one from past karma / yoga as an access point out of samsara / you get what you get & don’t be upset / Maya (illusion) keeps out the riffraff / religious language vs yogic language - sin = bad karma / Astrology as a form of metaphysical materialism / we think we’re free, even when we are completely controlled
41: Even-mindedness Through Shifting Externals is Called Yoga
Raghu makes bhakti history on Joe Rogan / speaking with genuine conviction can be as strong as a well developed argument / summary - what is Srimad Bhagavatam / we are here to grow / Narada’s meditation experience / even-mindedness through shifting externals is called yoga (Bhagavad-Gita 2.48) / fundamental misconception - happiness is found through external things / a peaceful mind is not the end goal - it is the platform for connecting with spiritual sound
40: Material Things are Like Shadows
what’s next God? / time is short - we gotta get focused / gravity / the material world gets boring / we’ve got too much love to give to just one person / the 50’s / bhakti accumulates / petty material things are like shadows / Narada’s character, instructions, meditation & results / the interconnectedness of trees / how do you know it’s a myth? / what do we build our faith on / it all can’t come from nothing
39: We’re Chasing Forms That Don’t Satisfy
Raghu’s in Cali / everything we have is a gift from someone / Narada’s perfection in meditation / the bhakti path - 9 steps from faith to divine love / be steady and do the basics / we’re chasing forms that don’t satisfy / flash melts / bhakti is a descending (not ascending) path
38: Guru Stuff vs Guru Fluff
it’s not about joining a club / focus on kindness & simplicity - drop the pettiness / you’ve been tricked to hate / simplicity means finding pleasure in the simple things / bhakti means transforming our desires - not our name or our clothes / this world is a jungle and we have to see God in the heart of all the creatures / Krishna appears in the heart of little Narada / Paramatma as the object of meditation / the value of initiation / there is a qualification to receive mantras - it’s not done by whim / guru stuff vs guru fluff / study Srimad Bhagavatam to understand what is a real guru / guru, sadhu & shastra / some final words from bhakti Louis
37: Life Isn't Happening to Me – It's Happening For Me
retraction: the Council of Nicea / gulab jamuns for increasing church attendance / we are made up of the mercy of other people’s love / spiritual form / sharing knowledge is the ultimate act of welfare / seeing all reversals as blessings / taking “Why is this happening to me!?” out of our rotation / Raghu’s Scottish divine messenger / wandering alone as a spiritual practice / warning: never chase female owls / sadhus see God in the hearts of the dangerous animals / we need to walk more / we can also just sit & hear
36: Radical Love
little tweaks / get rid of your enemies / hurt people hurt people / I wanna know what love is / based on beauty, love soon dies / the power of commitment / sense control can overcome depression / radical self-change / bhakti delivers knowledge as a concomitant factor / good intelligence - I may only be going 40mph, but it’s in the right direction / transcendental sound delivers knowledge, spiritual opulences & love / faith comes in increments / the sound in your world determines the sound in your mind
35: Make the Material World Spiritual
Raghu's first, weird temple experience /what is Deity worship all about? / controlling body, words & mind / how to wake up in the morning / Aindra Das’ intense devotion / “it’s not for me first” / duty is the first step in mastering the mind / St. Valentine / can dented cans become undented? / dedicating all our activities / tiny brains / putting oneself in the center leads to suffering / Krishna saves Raghu from choking on a lozenge / the secret to success / making the material world spiritual
34: Naked Man & the Box
who am I? why am I here? what is my offering? /Announcement! - We’re Launching an Online Community on Patreon for the Wisdom of the Sages Family / naked man & the box - shedding our programing / aghoris / Narada’s example of how to practice bhakti / regulating the senses & support groups / Bhagavad-gita 2.59 getting a higher taste / Krishna’s 3 energies - spiritual, material, and marginal / Public personas & hidden identities in ashrams / the material energy is not suitable food for the soul / taking shelter of the spiritual energy
33: I’m Not OK - You’re Not OK - That’s OK
reconciling Christianity & bhakti / fundamentalism of the ego - my way is better / saragrahi Vaishnava, one who understands the essence / only spirit is eternal - there is no kennel in the sky / Raghu's Netflix fall down / yesterday’s cliff hanger revealed - it's foot water! / the test for spiritual advancement - our desire to hear / we become what we call ourself / the lilas of Krishna attract the mind out of tamas and rajas / bhakti is dormant in the heart - hearing with the right attitude, from the right people, lets it flow / truth is the food for the soul / how I treat other people is the barometer of my spiritual life / infusing the water with mantra / there is an original me before the programing
32: Transform the Sound - Transform Your Life
the shape of the hole in my heart / it’s ok to die today / we don’t eradicate our lower self - we transform it / stealing prasadam is bona fide / this world is a reflection / Poe’s dream within a dream / if you want to engage me in gossip, then there must be something wrong with me / Stages of Spiritual Development – From Faith to Pure Divine Love – 1. sraddha: faith 2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees 3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service 4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments 5. nistha: steadiness 6. ruci: taste 7. asakti: attachment 8. bhava: love 9. prema: pure love for Krsna
31: "I Wanna be Like That!" (the Transcendentalist)
criticism – destructive & constructive / the 1st step in changing the world is changing oneself / pettiness can rob me of finding my inner happiness / honesty with oneself / bhakti etiquette / the detached can speak the truth / the true blessing is when we feel “I want to be like that” (the transcendentalist)
30: How to Ruin Your Material Life!
trade in your expectations for appreciations / the 8 instructions of Sri Chaitanya / what’s real punk rock / not caring about the opinions of the masses / Maya used to taste great :-( / material pleasure is just the cessation of pain / all the Vedic & yogic sciences are meant to lead to our divine source - Vishnu (Krishna)
29: Response/Ability in Spiritual Life
the power of karma / our endeavor is only one factor in any action / the bhakti path is direct - karma & are steps that one can get lost on / bhakti is successful even if you fail - materialism is a failure even if you succeed / monism vs. dualism / the responsibility of human life (and sea turtles save lives)
28: Bikini Pics ≠ Yoga Insight
fasting from mental junk food / changing our thoughts is real yoga / back in the states / refining our lens / bikini pics ≠ yoga insight / the false hope of the new India / Bhakti is all about becoming receptive to spiritual energy / Vyasadeva's yoga insight / Narada instructs Vyasadeva on the superiority of Bhakti over karma & jnana / apply yogic truths and feel free / a good teacher is qualified by their character
27: Attachments Warp Truth Perception
we are not the mind / material pleasure is a hope to enjoy created in the mind / mystic siddhis / mindfulness is a platform for approaching divine love / #connectthedots / spiritual regulations are designed to break the attachments that warp truth perception / the soul craves relationship by nature / we have the choice - to be a crow or a swan - lets stop consuming deep-fried twinkies
26: Knowing I'm Eternal Makes Everything Meaningful
transforming attachments rather than breaking attachments / discontent should move us towards truth / knowing I'm eternal makes everything meaningful / cat in the basket - how rituals lose meaning / good teachers are rooted in the sacred text - not just making it up
25: Spiritual Knowledge is the Only Solution
spiritual ecstasy of Jaipur mornings / singing & dancing is the goal of the yoga system / unity through connecting the universal source / Srimad Bhagavatam lifts the mind above hankering & lamentation / there’s no equality on the bodily platform / Mahabharata brought yoga wisdom to the masses / spiritual knowledge is the only solution to our material problems / treat everyone with dignity
24: Live From Jaipur!
legend of Jaipur deities / no lasting happiness in the higher or lower planets / only spirituality can satisfy the soul / dreams of playing with the Ghouls / giving up on fulfilling material desires / nobody cares! (About Mara’s knitting, or anyone from Pompeii)/ Vyasadeva’s vision of Kali Yuga / what have we done to / the Earth? / divisions of the Vedas / how one’s occupation can be purified
23: Speaking with Author Joshua Greene
Raghu meets his first Krishna guy who’s not a gang member (Yogeshvara / Joshua Green) / Yogeshvara meets & records with the Beatles / the relationships we yearn for in this world are a reflection of those in the spiritual world / Yogeshvara witnesses Srila Prabhupada translating Srimad Bhagavatam / in departing, the guru enters the hearts of his disciples / the ecstasy of spiritual pain
22: Spiritual Experience Isn't Cheap!
spiritual experience isn’t cheap - we need a lifetime plan / evolved people are the most humble / spiritual radar / Raghu chooses Bhakti over Shakti / a sage is recognized not by seeing, but by hearing / a guru is a postal peon / the qualities of a real sadhu / haters gonna hate / love is the way to change people’s hearts
21: Earth, Animals & Humanity
a brief history of Gaura’s mother, Rukmini Devi / the cooperation of earth, animals and humanity / we’ve made the earth a ghetto / you can’t force bhakti / kindness is practical / the sages ask about Sukadeva Goswami - the naked sadhu speaker of the Srimad Bhagavatam / the oneness, the divine light, is just one aspect of the Absolute Truth / the birth of Vyasadeva / ladies have a creep radar / Raghu’s meditation broken by monkey love / crazy wisdom is crazy / suppressing the senses vs engaging the senses
20: Raghunath's Dating Advice for Yogis
It’s all one – but it’s different too / our objective and subjective faith / Krishna comes as Chaitanya to understand the love of the Gopis / Hunuman’s incarnation in Chaitanya’s pastimes / spiritual knowledge descends - you don’t climb up to it / positive peer pressure in spiritual community / real friends share our values and lift us up / dating advice from Raghunath / Bhagavatam is not just a book, it’s a person / letting go of bad habits one step at a time / Don’t be a frog in the well - broaden your mind / Vyasadeva spoke Bhagavatam to Sukadeva who spoke it to Maharaja Pariksit - Suta Goswami overheard it and spoke it to the sages in the forest called Naimisarana / Bhagavatm is the cream or ripened fruit of all the Vedic literature / bogus Bhagavatam reciters / Mahabharata - the best story you will ever read! / parampara - chain of discipline succession / Srimad Bhagavatam is a brilliant as the sun /
19: Carrying Kirtan Tattva with Special Guest Gaura Vani
creating a framework for raising our kids with bhakti-yoga / offerings with both skill and devotion / carrying kirtan-tattva – delivering the Shakti in the holy names / ISKCON’s 2nd generation of kirtan leaders are crushing it! / if Raghu & Kaustubha wrestled who would win? - the power of the brahmin / devotion, not learning or even piety, is the qualification for understanding God / Bhakti isn’t sectarian - devotion is the qualification in all traditions / who cares what you know! / the material world as a refugee camp or a house of mirrors / devotional nicknames / Krishna’s joke with Rukmini / the contrast between material & spiritual vision / prayer to the Sacred Heart Bhakti in the Christian tradition / Krishna breaks His word for love
18: There's No Truth to the Programing in the Mind
yoga is not so much about moving beautifully, it’s about thinking beautifully / The mind is like a computer / the impulsive mind (manas) false ego (ahankara) and intellect (buddhi) / the nature of the self is sat (eternal) chit (fixed in truth) ananda (bliss) / break down the walls! (of labels that divide us) / I love you - eat a cricket! / have some cockroach scampi / there’s no truth to the programing in the mind / we totally identify with a body that we pass through for just a quick blip in time / asana is to get the systems in the body flowing smooth so that the mind can think better / work out the buddhi (reflective mind) by immersing it in sacred literature / blind faith collapses like a tree without roots / if this is Jeopardy I’m not choosing the Upanishads! / you can’t hear the yoga basics enough / yogis focus on kindness and simplicity, so they can absorb the mind / don’t read a sentence without understanding what you just read / the Lord within the heart is discovered not through learning, but through devotion / meditation on the pastimes of Krishna is the most convenient and palatable way to meditate on Brahman
17: Answering the Calling in the Heart
our Indian wedding / connection on the spiritual level / nihilism / in Bhakti-yoga we can be both a monk and an activist / the sacredness of all life / which came first (from the prajapatis) - the chicken or the egg? / sweet baby Krishna is the source of all the avatars / answering the calling in the heart / insights arise in a peaceful, even mind / Thoreau & Emerson appreciate the Bhagavad-gita / bathing our minds in the morning & evening / seeing God in nature / to see the ocean destroys bad karma / what are dreams?
16: It’s Not What You Got, It’s What You Do With What You Got!
Raghu's crash and how he reconnected with Radhanath Swami / further mystical stories from Raghu's life / It's all real! / Kaustaubha defeats mundane scholars with a Beatles analogy / in spiritual life it's not you got it's what you do with what you've got / the story of Jatayu from Ramayana/ the story of the squirrels from Ramayana
15: Churning the Heart with Radhanath Swami
Who is Radhanath Swami? / the process of yoga is to purity the heart - it’s not always easy - it takes determination and patience / as we churn our hearts, so many things will come out - don’t be afraid, attached or distracted / reversals open doors to great benedictions / the material nature brings out the conflict in us / the greatest spiritual progress comes when through the sincerity of our will, God is pleased / the greatest way to please the Lord is to accept suffering in order to bring others happiness - compassion is the ultimate service / we all need a compass to keep us focused on moving in the direction of divine love /Radhanath Swami shares the vision of the Govardhan Eco Village
14: The Battle of the Good & Bad Within Us
Samkhya philosophy - braking down the world’s material ingredients / the churning of the milk ocean / faith comes in small increments / the good in bad within us - which will win? / All that there is within the universe to satisfy one’s senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled / the glories of Mother Ganga / the comic book pundits / makara sankranti / our technology is making us dumber
13: Seeing Saints & Devas in Disguise in the Streets
Raghunath & Kaustubha takes questions in this episode / Is Kaustubha a prepper? / drawing essential elements from yoga culture and applying them in the circumstances we live in now / Bhakti renaissances through history / Can you reach pure Bhakti following Lord Jesus? / esoteric revelations for meditation in the Srimad Bhagavatam / the key to enter spirituality is deep humility / it’s not the uniform that makes one spiritual, but it may help / Bilvamangala, the saint who’s life was changed by the words of a prostitute / being born with bad karma can be a blessing / nothing is random in life - you get what you need to grow / we’re asked to have divine vision / seeing saints and devas in disguise in the streets / try to see every living being with a soft heart
12: Vishnu's Avatara's in the Material World
spiritual life means facing one’s own mortality / we don’t own nothin / cutting away false identities / if I start from the false premise that I am my body then all my ideas for happiness, groundedness, peace, fun and deep-rooted pleasure are actually all askew / we call each other prabhu (master) / angels, ouija boards, magic 8 balls, and Paramanda's exorcism / the yuga cycles are always turning / Krishna’s just having fun loving interludes - the purusha avatars and the guna avatars take care of business / the 4 kumaras, Narada, Nara Narayana Rishi, and is Vyasadeva still alive?
11: Spiritualists Seek the Essence - Not Religious Externals
purusha & prakriti / I’m a tiny speck but I have worth through dharma / the bad odor of religion / reading regularly chips away at our bad thinking / the arrogance of thinking there is nothing beyond us / seeing the divine though nature / creation stories - where do we place our faith / when we approach the Bhagavatam with a pure motive Krishna captures our heart / the Supersoul is giving advice within / heaven and hell on earth / Brahma is born from the navel of Vishnu and the Devas are empowered with universal responsibility / Krishna’s only concern is sweet loving adventures / an enlightened being is free of attachment, fear and anger / Srimad Bhagavatam is the commentary of the Vedanta Sutra by the author himself / and other topics with Raghunath & Kaustubha
10: The Yoga System is for Purifying Our Intention
as long as I’m complaining I’ll never be able to go within / what good is philosophy if it has no practical application? / tolerance is a key to meditation - big deal if you can do lotus / what is real surrender / #radicalresponsability / don’t go wide, go deep / don’t try to see God - but act in such a way where God will see you / Raghunath, why are you yelling at God? / the entire yoga system can be seen as a way of purifying our intention / yoga, the Vedas, knowledge, dharma, etc. are meant for realizing Vasudeva / and other discussions with Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das
9: Passion Sandwich & the 3 Gunas
My kids should change! / harmonizing the ego with the self through karma-yoga / different types of liberation / every object is radiating the influence of one of the three gunas (modes of nature) / passion sandwich - keeping the mornings and evenings sattvic / connect with Laxmi or Radha - #dontsacrificegoats and other topics with Raghunath Cappo and Kaustubha Das
8: Loosening the Knot in the Heart
The material world is fools gold / willingly limiting oneself / knowledge is born of sattva / Loosening the knot in the heart which forces us to identify with the body / bring the unsteady mind back under the control of the self / the richness of Indian-Vedic Culture / beauty is skin deep / what is Vishnu tattva / Vishnu is the soul of the universe
7: Scrubbing the Heart Through Bhakti Yoga
Discussion regarding curing abnormal tendencies towards Illusion through hearing truth, genuine radical responsibility, the real blessings on the yoga path, the Paramatama, the cleansing of the heart step by step thorough Bhakti Yoga beginning with faith and ending in Divine love, on the spiritual level the form is less important than the substance, getting connected to the electric charge of spiritual power, doing kirtan in public, and the value of serving great souls and other fun with Raghunath & Kaustubha.
6: Human Life is Meant For Inquiry Into the Absolute Truth
Raghunath & Kaustubha discuss the answer to the big question by the sages, "How can people find complete satisfaction of the self?" The answer is pure devotion. They also discuss that human life is meant for inquiry into the absolute truth, that knowledge and detachment come automatically with bhakti, that much of the yoga (asana) in the West, as well as America in general, could benefit from some sattva guna, the slippery slope into tamas, and recalibrating on Mondays.
5: Choose Your Addictions Carefully
Raghunath & Kaustubha discuss how the mind is going to get addicted to something - so choose the addictions that lead to getting grounded, connected, and liberated, through Bhakti Yoga. Plus the appearance of the young sage Sukadeva Goswami the six symptoms of the soul found in all life (humans, animals and plants), equality and difference in human beings, and how life is a series of questions and answers but certain questions can lead to atma suprasidati (complete satisfaction of the soul).
4: Expanding the Space Between Stimulus & Response Through Yoga
Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das discuss transcendental sound, true happiness as an internal experience, the material world as a warped reflection, expanding the space between stimulus and response through sattvic yoga lifestyle, and Raghu's fat head. (Covers Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.12-1.1.19)
3: Defining the Word "Yoga"
"Yoga is a practice which empowers one to overcome the obstacle of the mind, for the purpose of the self experiencing it's own true nature." The sages of the Srimad Bhagavatam place their questions to the learned and saintly Suta Goswami, including how the people of our difficult age can find atma suprasidati, complete satisfaction of the self. (covers Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.4-1.1.11)
2: Our Life is a Dream – Wake Up!
The ancient texts of yoga wisdom share that, in one sense, The world we live in is an illusion or like a dream. When we are having a bad or fearful dream, there is no point in trying to correct our situation within the dream. Rather the solution is to wake up! The wisdom of the sages of the Srimad Bhagavatam is the way to do it. (covers Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1-1.1.3)
The Sages Are In the Pages / Bhakti Yoga Wisdom
An introduction to the essential bhakti-yoga text Srimad Bhagavatam highlighting how to transform our lives through the hearing and contemplation of timeless yoga wisdom.
1: The Sages Are In the Pages
An introduction to the essential bhakti-yoga text Srimad Bhagavatam highlighting how to transform our lives through the hearing and contemplation of timeless yoga wisdom.
The Sages Are In the Pages / Bhakti Yoga Wisdom
An introduction to the essential bhakti-yoga text Srimad Bhagavatam highlighting how to transform our lives through the hearing and contemplation of timeless yoga wisdom.
The Sages Are In the Pages / Bhakti Yoga Wisdom
An introduction to the essential bhakti-yoga text Srimad Bhagavatam highlighting how to transform our lives through the hearing and contemplation of timeless yoga wisdom.
Happiness Through Externals is a Failed Strategy
Raghunath & Kaustubha discuss how true happiness is an internal experience, as the nature of the soul is spiritual happiness, and when we seek happiness through externals we enter into a disappointing competition for limited resources.
Yogis Stop Acting For Pleasure & Pain and Focus on What they're Meant to Contribute
Raghunath & Kaustubha discuss Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 24, and how our conception of attraction and repulsion exist entirely in the mind, and how yogis transcend the fluctuations of the mind.
Preview Recording #1 / Learning To Surf
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss Srimad Bhagavatam 4th Canto Chapter 25 and the need to learn to surf (adapt to the constantly changing waves of life).
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Podcasten Wisdom of the Sages är skapad av Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das. Podcastens innehåll och bilderna på den här sidan hämtas med hjälp av det offentliga podcastflödet (RSS).
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.