Wisdom of the Sages

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

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

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?

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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)

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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)

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

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?

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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?

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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?

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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 :-)

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?