Wisdom of the Sages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Raghunath & Kaustubha speak with Porcell & Sammy Siegler from Youth of Today to discuss the juncture of Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge, Vegetarianism & Krishna Bhakti.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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 [email protected] https://www.bhadracampaign.com https://vaisesikadasa.com/en/home/

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should I speak with an abusive father who is nearing death? / Why must God have a gender & why must it be male?

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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