Wisdom of the Sages

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

"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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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"?

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

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 [email protected]

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

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

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

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 [email protected]

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?

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

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

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

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

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

on India / on pilgrimage / on mentors / on beauty / on food / on the body / on family / on love

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?

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

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/