Wisdom of the Sages

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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