Wisdom of the Sages

kirtan & pilgrimage as a child / devotee dog / seeing Shelter as a kid / the intimate devotion of Vrindavan / so many ways of expressing devotion / kumbha Mela at 17 / music is an offering, meditation, joyful expression / advice for kirtan leaders - develop a relationship with the mantra / Divine power is the true protection

bhakti as meditation & as service / I move for the enjoyment of my source & I enjoy naturally as a result of the connection / asana is a condiment of yoga - the meal is the offering we make / meditation of the formless is always troublesome / pure bhakti demands pure intention (as opposed to activity) / clarifying yoga terminology / there is power in commitment / we've been waking up early

Arne's letter / remembrances of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama / Kripamoya Prabhu's unforgettable kirtan / Krishna reels you back in / so many things are vying for our attention / Srila Gaura Govinda Swami / the embankment of union & the embankment of separation / transformation by spiritual contact/ Sita's separation / Krishna is atmarama - self-satisfied

let go of what we can't control / leave room for magic / Sanatana Goswami's Bhagavatam glorification / Bhagavatam is the churned nectar / mad elephant offense / respect flows up - affection flows down / except for the uncontrolled, misguided mind, there is no enemy / the 6 enemies

the more we exploit nature and animals, the more we become entrapped by the reactions / spread the message from a place of love / don't use it as a vehicle for our lower nature / rituals are designed to restore our original nature / the 5 primary rasa - flavors of love for God / Yoga is a practice which empowers one to overcome the obstacle of the mind for the purpose of the self experiencing its own true nature / take a vow not to criticize

to be truly true it has to be true in all 3 phases of time /social justice has to be taken to the spiritual level / all life is sacred / Svarupa - our original form / we are not our outer Mickey Mouse outfit / yoga-pitha - where the spiritual and material worlds meet / panchanga bhakti - 5 most potent spiritual practices / the right people can reveal the spiritual nature of the holy places

makeover Monday / purifying the mind & senses / Vishvamitra muni loses control / artificial sense control vs spontaneous attraction / positive engagement for the senses / Hiranyakashipu's yoga vs Prahlad's / jnana yoga ends in surrendering to God in everything - bhakti-yoga begins there / a human goes beyond polished eating, sleeping, mating & defending

is there a universal message in the bhakti tradition? / is there a message to share about how to see this crisis / advice for maintaining mental well being & relationships through the crisis / a message for the essential health care providers / how to avoid dogmatic exclusivism in spiritual circles? / why is the Bhagavatam so powerfully transformational? / who is Nara-Narayana Rishi?

we need to have like minded devotees in our life / Bhagavatam refines our love / let go of expectations / Krishna's mission is to enjoy divine love / breaking ties with a yogi / don't try to understand the spiritual world through the material, understand the material through the spiritual / we receive a form suited to our consciousness / we forget the trauma of past lives / when we act on behalf of the higher power there is no reaction

all the -isms are the culmination of the illusion / Gita & Bhagavatam are the access point to reality / jnana-yoga = renounce the virtual world / bhakti-yoga = see the virtual world in connection to the programmer & connect with Him / the programmer wants us to wake up & enjoy with Him / miseries of this world are a way the programmer helps wake us up

our habits become us / dedicating hours, days, months and years / the Purusha shuktam hymn of the Vedas / Brahma's life is calculated to help us with perspective shift / minimizing fears and concerns through perspective shift / little fish & big fish / a bhakti-yogi is like a rooster, salt, a crane & you / wisdom though time perspective / nostalgia vs perspective shift / wisdom punctures the romance of past experience / perspective shift via psychedelics vs via Bhagavatam

happiness through the senses followed by misery / Bhagavatam brings auspiciousness into life / rock bottom can be a blessing / musk deer tattoo / plastic vs natural ingredients / things just keep getting crummier / the earth kicks back / the Absolute Truth can have form and qualities / materialism is the thesis - renunciation is the antithesis - divine love is the synthesis / the simple talk of devoted ladies is beyond the hymn of the Vedas

past bad decisions become valuable realizations through bhakti / when doubts set in, pull yourself back / think it through / in separation the love goes deeper into the core of the heart / on the spiritual platform love is not determined by physical proximity / Srimad Bhagavatam trains us to the stage of perfection / melting the heart / how to we know it's real - because it still works

locked down with the Bhagavatam / collective karma / leadership with ethics / consumer culture tells us we'll be happy by getting things and we're successful when we are consuming more / simple living - high thinking / those ridiculous leaf blowers / What have we done! / the earth kicks back / we've become sociopaths/ Vaishnava etiquette is for cultivating a disposition of respect and affection

chip away at illusion / progression of Vedic literature leads to divine love / shedding the exoskeleton / if I merge I can't serve / hearing is most important / working with detachment is true mysticism / stereotypical yogi vs karma-yogi / karma-yoga - according to one's nature, with detachment, as an offering / you gotta serve somebody / re-integrate

my external is draggin down my internal / the morality of Krishna & his girlfriends / there's a driving force constantly saying upgrade your life / knowledge matures to wisdom through reflection / when we are free from attachment, fear & anger we can absorb the mind in meditation / it's not about converting, it's about remembering our identity / spiritual vision makes us happier / fish out of water / food for the soul / what's the definition of good / jaundice analogy

seeing the working of the Divine Hand in hindsight / Bhishma's perfect death scene / the motions and smiles of the Gopis / the progression of Vyasadeva's spiritual literature up to the Rasa Dance / the glory of the Gopis' love / mukti / aversion to service / 5 types of liberation / the "equal footing" of the Gopis

the final moment / attaining our original form (sva-rupa) / mechanical mystic yoga vs spontaneous devotional yoga / Wilson in Cast Away - why do impersonalists fall from the divine light - they get lonely / getting your head dunked under water - material pleasure is just relief from suffering / should we pray for health / compassion for body, mind & soul / Raghu's death plan / you can't cheat the system

prayers for Hana / civilized warfare / Arjuna's pure intelligence / Bhishma's love for Bhagavad-gita / Bhishma's melting heart / love is the highest principle / Krishna's absorption in divine play / Krishna's "enemies" / understanding that Lila is beyond mythology by understanding rasa

everything is trying to kill something - minimize it & make your life an offering / fear snowballs in the mind / in bhakti, it's all good / the body is a gift - it's not even ours / Krishna is all-attractive / the perfect beautiful vision of Bhishma / the lover's bite is welcome / the esoteric side of bhakti / love in the heart brings out service / Krishna makes it all good

letter from Vrajabhumi! / self sacrifice + sadhana is a good spiritual formula / as a people, we have lost our ability to think critically / getting lost in politics & conspiracy theories/ work now samadhi later / life's purpose isn't to find a comfortable or enjoyable situation / if our politics or theories are driving us to be bitter, harsh, or hateful, seeing others as enemies - then we've been tricked

getting deeply rooted / Ghanashyam's journey to bhakti / becoming comfortable with what's uncomfortable / greatest spiritual meditation is Krishna - greatest material meditation is death / death can tighten our focus / Krishna comes as his devoteee / NDE's - seeing messengers of darkness & messengers of light / have faith in suffering / why is coronavirus happening - to ask the questions we haven't asked before / seize the opportunity / how can this change me?

what I learned as a monk - find happiness with nothing / intention makes all the difference / ultimately only the devotee is peaceful / Radhanath Swami's books - a good place to start / how I relate with others is important / God is in everyone's heart / no pride / see the good & magnify it / share what you have by example / doubt my doubts / contemplate again and again - there is no true or lasting security or happiness in anything material / cultivation of selflessness though family / what's beyond the gunas?

Krishna comes to us at the time of death / the vision of Bhisma on his bed of arrows / questions about caste / taking a good look in the mirror - our society is broken economically, politically, ecologically, etc. / the modern day caste system is a warped version of varnashrama dharma / varnashrama dharma is about laying out clear responsibilities for societies leaders / carefully apply ancient wisdom in a modern context / dust off your gift and use it

Srimati's lesson - we're just being tested / our whole life is a test - how will we respond / Bhagavatam - it's all special / who is Nara-Narayana Rsi / evolution by our own strength / give your heart to Krishna & he will take you by the hand / the wives of the Brahmanas / cultural appropriation / samadhi as action in steady God consciousness / shifting our desires

tribulations imposed upon the devotees constitute an exchange bhāva / medicating with food, sex, media, etc. / tuning into Paramatma, tuning out the noise / prayer for constant connection / letting it all go / love bomb the bombers

quiet the mind and listen / western yoga world is missing a strong tradition of guru recognition / am I hearing the inner guru or the mind & senses / guru qualifications / guru red flags / verses illustrating how a disciple follows a guru

is the world waking up? / becoming instruments of positive change in a shifting world / my own spiritual consciousness affects others / spiritual pioneers have left a map/ Vedic epistemology/ sense perception (pratyakshya), inference (anumana), hearing (shabda) / building faith gradually / the telephone game / a guru doesn't make it up, they represent / the guru must be potent and the disciple must be fertile / the disposition for receiving spiritual knowledge

the I experiences the mind / the mind is a computer / checklist for dealing with depression & anxiety / is religion the opiate of the masses? / the depth & sophistication of the Vedic tradition / to be a recluse or an activist, and where do I fall on the long line in between / setting parameters guiding how we associate / insulate not isolate / the deeper we go into the essence of one spiritual tradition, the more we recognize the same essence in other traditions / guru & gurus

Ram's name is the bridge over samsara / forgiveness & compassion of Ram's name / saguna & nirguna brahman / engagements for the day - bhajan, reading, fasting, puja / wake up in sattvic time and meditate / Manthara's fear is like a virus / Raghu's turbo scenarios / Rama's equanimity / transformation of character though hearing Vedic lore / gratitude of the boatman / the loving sacrifice of Jatayu

words from Bhakta Louie / Raghunath walks in cemeteries / graveyards, burning ghats, Pompeii, catacombs - meditating on death / Raghunath collects skulls / time's influence on everything material / no grudges, no complaining / you cover all your bases & accept time's influence / Shelter - the Hands of Time lyrics / why wrap up my identity with stuff / the mother in-law teaches the daughter in-law through the daughter

I have to change me - butterfly / hearing & chanting is the cocoon / joy comes from our contribution / reclaiming our inherent purity / spiritual form / God is everywhere, God is in me, God is the person behind it all / Horton Hears a Who / Krishna is God on Saturday / the story of Pandu / hone in on what our contribution is and stick to it no matter how the dogs bark / mentors & well-wishers

Monday makeover / a wave is coming - the gravity of a spiritualist / the 12 mahajanas / you can't cram gardening / transformation through regular hearing / train ourselves to see the good & overlook the shortcomings / yoga etiquette / etiquette is the ornament of the bhakti yogi / the purpose behind every aspect of ritual or etiquette lies in how it effects our mind / the cat in the basket

apocalyptic New York & Krishna's invitation to dance above it / responsible in this world & conscious of what's beyond / Bhishma stories / finding the blessing in misfortune / 3 levels of wisdom / no complaining allowed / "untimely" deaths of spiritual people / use the dream to wake up from the dream / keep going 1 level deeper in our realization / bhakti dreams / Krishna's joy in respecting an elder /

grihasta vs grihamedhi / making the home an ashram / kirtan is the sacrifice for this age / simple & connected make for a good kirtan leader / kirtan brings people together / Tolstoy's definition of art / centuries of devotion invested in India's temples / how temples should bring out the best in us / the sacrifice of japa / Bhagavad-gita's austerity of speech truthful, pleasing, beneficial, not agitating - Bg. 17.15 / personal charisma vs spiritual substance / Krishna's pastimes make you fall in love

respect to "essential personnel" / there's always a storm coming up / cows, brahmins & devotees / sarvatra sama darshina - seeing God everywhere / elephants! / living with animals & Gus living up to his potential / Yuddhisthira's mindset / we're not playing the victim anymore / self care vs self sacrifice /my body is meant for the service of others / rationalization is the intelligence serving the false ego / Duryodhana couldn't find anyone more qualified - Yuddhisthira couldn't find anyone less qualified

raghu for mayor / fall in love with Krishna / keep a standard for those you get close to / yoga culture is designed to influence the mind / the gods will be just fine / note if what we are consuming brings up our lower nature / religious practices mix of scriptural tenets with human interpretation & application / religion - take the good and improve it vs reject it / focus on spiritual purpose being happiness & meaning / does the power of mantra lie in pronunciation or in intention / karma's complicated - make the best with what you've got

the gift of being a dented can / pointing the finger ourselves / the yogi is dealing with two worlds / loving without possessing / a sadhu is childlike / living internal & external at the same time / our inner orientation is I am the servant of God / we don't destroy our desire, we purify it / serving to God and the devotee is identical / create a love triangle by bringing in the Paramatma / bhutta suddhi - purifying ourselves from material misidentification

something is shaking us up - what's the lesson / beachfront property - made of sand / Srila Prabhupada's mission wasn't religious conversion, it was sharing essential knowledge / natural gifts vs industrial enterprises / our diseases are commonly tied to the meat industry / ugra karma - horrible works / enough for our need but not for our greed / life's simple pleasures

Wisdom of the Sages in New York City Schools / coping with destitution / HELP ME! - we're drowning / the ocean teaches us how small and dependent we are / a little virus is meant to wake us up / the strength of knowing our weakness / Krishna is the soul of the universe / bhakti is kid friendly / Krishna gives life & beauty to everything / nature provides us with plenty, but then we break nature's laws /

lockdown in a holy place / life comes from life / wherever our mind goes is meditation / bhakti fundamentals - hearing leads to remembering / lesson 1. we're made to serve / lesson 2. by serving the root of all existence we connect with every living being / happiness & meaning are found through giving - not taking / Krishna appears in different ways, according to the state of our heart

livin' under lockdown / it can be hard to sit alone with the mind / regulate news consumption / lets come out the other side better people / media is our mind's food / the separation between you & what you present as you / dharma / battling with the demon inside / good dog bad dog / priest vs cop - who more embodies the spiritual essence

bhakti's not fear based / purifying our spiritual intention / gradations of prayer / Day by Day - Raghu's into Godspell / the wild devotion of the Banke Bihari Temple / understanding Krishna's fear / intimate love surpasses awe and veneration

there's no stability in the material world / "offensive chanting" / understanding the demigods in relation to Krishna / bhakti means love without material motive / anxiety + Bhagavatam wisdom is a great recipe for progress / money mantras / manasa puja - worship in the mind / make God your soulmate / you have incredible value so don't sell yourself short /

learning discernment through the Bhagavatam / universe is the impersonal way of saying Krishna / yoga is for connecting with the "Higher Power" / love requires more than one / Krishna is the root / devotees own Krishna & Krishna owns them / fear of a person / the material world is a warped reflection / pure bhakti is free from the desire to exploit, or escape, the material world / whatever it is, there's always a person behind it / the esoteric vs the exoteric

wisdom keeps us steady / at the point of boredom we start to grow / the problem of evil / good comes from suffering / we cause our own suffering / misapplying karma theory increases ignorance & suffering / properly applying karma theory fosters compassion / accepting suffering to relieve that of others is the highest worship / karma & reincarnation snaps everything into place / why me? / when we are sick of it all we can chant with feeling

maybe we could use a day of rest / what I will and will not allow myself to worry about / avoiding the negative loop / control vs hysteria / another perspective from Sri Isopanisad - everything is perfect & complete (except perhaps our understanding) / Siddharta's enlightenment - ॐ perfection / the good and the bad seen as one from a higher perspective / we will all be challenged to stand tall - to be raised

crucial times / seeing through the lens of love / seeing a benevolent hand behind everything / the privileged suffer too / The BIG VERSE - SB 1.8.25 - Kunti prays for more calamities / the duty of the sane person is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities / suffering in the dream world / when we know we are dreaming it changes the experience / we create our own suffering BG 13.21 / manifested and unmanifested karma / we can't judge based on manifest karma / the rain and the seeds / Krishangi's story of growth through suffering