Wisdom of the Sages

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

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

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

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 /

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

"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

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

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"

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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 http://www.sacinandanaswami.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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