Sound Bhakti

Here's an excerpt from the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, chapter four, in which Prabhupāda quotes from the Bhakti-sandarbha. This is the verdict of Jīva Gosvāmī in describing the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa: "Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one's having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness, one attracts the attention of Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore, if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in this age of Kali. This is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances, and austerities, because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore, whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rām

Every time we're able, even two minutes, to talk about Kṛṣṇa, to be together, to remember Him, it's like that gold that you're talking about that may come in the form of dust, but it adds up. And Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is also compared to a capitalist, and we are also following in His footsteps, so we want to have that sense of accumulation, but not materially obviously, spiritually. Link to entire talk:https://youtu.be/DTMlTw5ZG4Q ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For t

Now we find out what happens when one who is qualified by Brahma Bhutah. After all, we know from Gita (BG 18.54): 'brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām.' When one comes to this point of Self-Realization, one's no longer obligated to the senses in the way one was before. They're always demanding. Senses always feel entitled, "I demand that, and I deserve it! You give it to me now!" No more. There's no more obligation by the senses, and the incredible weight of the world comes off one's head that "I have no more debt in this world, no one to pay back because I have no more connection to the world." Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā, one becomes happy. Na śocati na kāṅkṣati—no more lamentation or hankering and one has no more envy of living beings, because samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu. Burning envy is a problem in this world, Icchā-dveṣa-samutthena. Mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām -from that position, one is at the threshold of the door of bhakti, and one can enter in easil

In this world, it's important to be informed about what's important. We need an intervention. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Sanātana Goswami, māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa.'" For that reason, Kṛṣṇa personally comes in the form of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, and he makes available very clear knowledge that is comprehensible to humans. Humans can pick up a piece of literature or hear from someone who's heard from others wisdom that's been passed down through an authorized line, and when they hear it, then they can transform and improve their lives. It's not automatic that people come out of illusion. "Māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ" (CC Madhya 20.122) — it's not automatic that somebody just comes out of illusion. There has to be an intercedence by someone who comes along and gives an indication that there's a better choice. In fact, the availability of lesser goals is the main hindrance for human beings. We have a plethora of paths that lead to results in our lives that are

In Vṛndāvan, the devotees depend exclusively on Kṛṣṇa and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam begins speaking about the holy name in the first chapter: āpannaḥ saṁsṛtiṁ ghorāṁ yan-nāma vivaśo gṛṇan tataḥ sadyo vimucyeta yad bibheti svayaṁ bhayam (SB 1.1.14) If anyone feels fear in their heart—and who doesn't, here in the material world?—bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād. Fear arises at every moment when we forget Kṛṣṇa, as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam says, "To be free from fear and achieve all safety, call out the name of the Lord." So now we're all together in this sanctified place—more mahamantras chanted here than any other hotel in Orlando, Florida. Let's banish all fear from our hearts once and for all. Are you ready? We're going to raise our arms in the air as high as we can in one second, and we're all going to say "Kṛṣṇa!" But really say it with a feeling of, "Kṛṣṇa, please give me shelter." Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī says in one of his commentaries that the pure devotees of The Lord always remember Kṛṣṇa's promise in the Bhagavad-Gī

In the tenth Canto of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, we find a verse left for all of us here today by Śukadeva Goswāmī. All of those who feel left behind, who feel hopeless in life, who are striving for the spiritual world, find that it's like reaching for the moon. He wrote: 'Jayanti jana-nivāso devakī-janma-vādo yadu-vara-pariṣat svair dorbhir asyann adharmam sthira-cara-vṛjina-ghnaḥ su-smita-śrī-mukhena vraja-pura-vanitānāṁ vardhayan kāma-devam (SB 10.90.48).' The verse starts with the word Jayati, which means victory, but it is written in the present tense because Śukadeva understood that people after Krishna's disappearance would feel separation from Him and wonder, "Why couldn't His pastimes have gone on even to the present day?" And here he's saying they are going on right now for us, right here in this room. 'Jayanti jana-nivāso devakī-janma-vādo' - He's the Lord who is jayanti jana-nivāsaḥ. He walks among us. He gives His association to all human beings, and for those who enter deeply within the sādhana giv

Actually, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the only thing that can completely satisfy the heart, and one of the reasons is—or the main reason is—that we’re part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. We have a very intimate relationship with Him. In one sense, we are Kṛṣṇa because we’re one of His limbs. On the other side, achintya bheda abheda: we have our own identity. It’s achintya, inconceivable. But if you consider how intimate we are, as Prabhupada explains, if you have a limb like a finger, what will you do to protect your finger? How will you take care of it? How important do you consider it to be? So, Kṛṣṇa considers every one of us to be important because we’re His limbs, we’re His parts and parcels—in one sense, on one side, non-different from Kṛṣṇa. And the feeling of separation from Him, dvitiya, thinking that I’m something separate from Him, is the cause of a completely different world. It’s a world in which there’s ignorance of the fact that we’re part of Krishna, we’re eternally His servants, and we enjoy in cooperation

The main way that we develop our character in this world, or any other is by our association. As Kṛṣṇa says in the Gītā: "kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu." Any situation you're in now, whatever way you've developed in your life, that is because of your association. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when teaching about devotional service to Sanātana Gosvāmī, starts with talking about the power of association. Whenever you can get an opportunity to associate with those that you feel are ideal, take the opportunity to hear from, to serve, and to observe. That's very powerful that when you find somebody who is so high minded that you're impressed with them, you're in good association. Somebody who's doing things better than you could imagine that you could. If you spend some time with such advanced devotees, then there is a way that you'll also start taking on their qualities. And if you can get advice from such gentle souls, you can reveal your mind to such persons and say, here's the specific thing. How

When we have service, we feel naturally satisfied. My tendency is, in material consciousness, to think, "Why aren't people serving me enough?" And that's why I'm dissatisfied. "Let's make a list: my such-and-such isn't serving me enough." Suggestions -Wife, husband, start there. Let's start at home. "The kids aren't serving me enough. Who else?" My contractor, whatever it may be. You can make a long list, and you say, "They're not serving me enough." You'll be in endless anxiety, because no one will ever serve you enough, and we'll never be able to serve them enough, either, on the materialistic level. But for ourselves, when we say, "How can I be of service?" and we go into service mind, rather than the false ego of "Why aren't people serving me enough?" then there's a sense of relief, natural relief. It's a very simple switch: from being the center or trying to find a place that's comfortable for me, to being a servant. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace V

The Bṛhat-bhāgavatāmṛta mentions that devotees don't look for peace. They're not looking for peace of mind; they're looking to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. In the endeavor to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, there are many complex situations, and there are many anxieties. And on record, a devotee asked Prabhupāda, "Devotees sometimes are in great anxiety." For instance he gave the example of distributing books, "they are in so much anxiety about it." And Prabhupāda said, "Tell them that that is spiritual anxiety." Then he gave the example of Yaśodā. And he said, "Yaśodā is always in anxiety. There's never a time when she's Oṁ śānti śānti śānti." She's constantly worried, "Will Kṛṣṇa get into something in Vraj? He's playing with the calves and the cows, and are they getting into trouble somewhere?" For instance, Kṛṣṇa goes and steals from people's houses, and then Yaśodā gets called about it, "Your son's stealing!" And then Kṛṣṇa has this impish look on his face, and so forth. So, constant anxiety for Kṛṣṇa. So, one takeaway from just the t

We've been given full permission to give our complete attention to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, talking about Kṛṣṇa, and worshiping Kṛṣṇa. And if somebody brings up another topic, you can say, 'I appreciate it very much. If it were any other lifetime, I would be happy to discuss it with you. However, in this lifetime, I no longer have time, because I have been given one business—and that is to chant about Kṛṣṇa, worship Kṛṣṇa, and spread the Holy Name to people all over the world. If it was any other lifetime, I would be happy to talk to you about it. But in this lifetime, I've dedicated myself to this project, and I don't have time. Like, you know, sometimes people say, "It was any other day," or "any other something." It's like, "It was any other lifetime, it was any other previous lifetime." I would have probably been happy to talk to you about this, but in this lifetime, I won't be able to, because I have one point of dedication: Tasmād ekena manasā Bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ Śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca Dhyeyaḥ pūjya

When Advaita Ācārya started his prayers to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he held open class and prayed that Lord Caitanya would come and help spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. So, however insignificant it may seem, the way one starts—one person—can change the whole world; one person with a sincere desire. And we feel it in you, Mahārāj, that wherever you go, you set this example of utter humility, at the same time complete seriousness, about this strategy to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. I remember years ago when we talked about New York, and it seemed to be a complicated situation, but I remember you'd always say, "But Prabhupāda started there. He wanted us to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in New York." And even in the most difficult situations, you've always adhered yourself to Śrīla Prabhupāda's desire. So all the initiates today are fortunate to be able to see you, to observe how you live and how you interact with others, and to be able to adhere themselves to your ins

Vaisesika Dasa discusses the importance of hearing and serving pure devotees as outlined in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16. He explained that devotees, free from vice, are bridges to higher spiritual realms. The conversation emphasized the significance of Vaishnava association, or sadhu sanga, for spiritual advancement. Vaisesika Dasa highlighted the stages of devotional service, from shraddha (faith) to bhava (prema), and the role of devotees in transforming asuras (non-devotees) through their association. Practical tips for managing friendships and developing a taste for reading Srimad Bhagavatam were also provided.

When all else fails, chant Harē Kṛṣṇa, and everything else will fail. There's no question about it; any of my plans that don't include chanting Harē Kṛṣṇa will fail. In fact, even the best-laid plans of the most intelligent people in the world always get reversed one way or the other in this world. So, we have to come to the position of submission to the will of the Supreme Lord, and the best way to express that is by chanting Harē Kṛṣṇa sincerely. In fact, just the idea of every day taking time just to say Kṛṣṇa's names over and over again, exclusively, is a form of submission. Say "your will, not my will," and then "you're in charge, not me." And Prabhupāda mentions, throughout his teachings, the ways in which by chanting Harē Kṛṣṇa, all the energies from all sides are synchronized. And so, there's a growing sense for those who chant Harē Kṛṣṇa that this is the only solution. In fact, oftentimes, Prabhupāda would answer devotees' inquiries about what to do about this or that. He'd say, "Well, just chant H

I was just in a redwood forest a couple of days ago. Wednesday, I was there, today is Friday. I was in Muir Woods. Looking with a friend of mine, we were looking at the trees, and you have to strain your neck to see upwards; they're so tall! Then we were looking at a seed of one of the redwood trees that is there, and it is minuscule. How does it all start? It starts from a seed. How much information is in that seed, enough to grow a huge tree? And all you have to add is light and water and a little air, some earth, and you've got a tree. This is given as a metaphor for the whole universe. The universe comes in seed form, then expands into all the forms that we see now. All that's needed is a little attention from the glance of the original source, and then everything else opens from a seed. So, in this way, there are many of the world's phenomena that are mentioned in the ancient wisdom literature, not the least of which is the Bhagavad Gītā, which talks about how to see everything in the world as part of th

I'm so deeply grateful to all of you for your one-pointed attention on devotional service. You're using your lives, starting with the most important part—the beginning—and getting established deeply in sādhana that will carry you through your whole life. All auspiciousness comes from chanting strictly every day, and all nonsense subsides from your life. Nonsense leads to great suffering, confusion, and so forth. So dry up the whole sea of nonsense that's there in your mind by the powerful winds of the holy name. Keep chanting throughout the day as much as possible and keep reading Prabhupāda's books. Follow the four regulative principles, because going off the guard rails, over the guard rails, means that you've got to climb back out again with injuries. So stay safe. Wear your safety belt. Don't go off the road. Hare Kṛṣṇa ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ -------------

This morning, I was reading a eulogy of my dear godbrother, Jayananda Ṭhākura, who is very dear to Śrīla Prabhupāda. And Śrīla Prabhupāda had written him a letter that I very much appreciated, regarding the chanting of the holy name, and it has a very straightforward purport. So I wanted to read it to you. And here's what he wrote: 1967 Prabhupāda wrote the following: 'Your service attitude for Kṛṣṇa and your sincere attempts at being advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness will work with you and make your life more and more glorious and a happy state. I have been very glad that you are appreciating by yourself the effects of sincere Kṛṣṇa consciousness. I have nothing new to instruct you. The same old instruction, namely, constant chanting and attentively hearing the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa is the only process for self-realization in this age. In San Francisco, while you were driving your car, and I was sitting by you, hearing Your transcendental vibration, this very sincere attempt has enriched your co

When the devotees first went to India, Prabhupāda was there, and he invited devotees to come over because he wanted to show what happened. You know, he went alone to America, and he comes back with all these Americans. In India, at the time, people were looking to Americans and go, like, 'How are we going to catch up to these guys? We want what they have.' And then Prabhupāda plays this trick on them, where he comes to America, he gets all these Westerners, and he comes back with a big airplane full of Westerners. 'Here you go. They want what you are supposed to want, which is pure love for God.' In Surat, devotees went there, and they were having kīrtana, and people came out of their houses, and they were grabbing the dust after the devotees walked there, so much so that there were holes in the road! And devotees were surprised and taken aback, and they asked Prabhupāda later, 'Why were they doing that?' And he said, 'Because you follow the four regulative principles and you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, anywhere you

Last year in Kārtika, one of our devotees, Kṛṣṇa-sakha, was on Govardhana parikramā, and just came around the hill. A boy who was begging started to follow him, and he followed him for several kilometers. And Kṛṣṇa-sakha said no, and the boy kept following, and they got to Rādhā-kuṇḍa. And then he kept following. They'd gone a quarter of the way around Govardhana Hill, and the boy kept following. And someone who saw that offered to give the boy something, but he said, 'No, I don't want anything from anybody else but him. I've already followed him this far,' and at some point, Kṛṣṇa-sakha realized that this is divine intervention. 'I don't know who this is. I should give him something.' And he looked in his pocket and he didn't have anything except for a very large bill. And good luck getting change anywhere in India! So, as if conducted by providence, he handed over the large bill to the small boy who now looks content enough to go on his way. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu comes to this world to give a dispensatio

We're not going out to collect money, really. We're going out for our own purification, first and foremost. It's a high sādhana to go out into the great unknown and present the Vedic literatures to people. And it's also something that they really appreciate too, because frankly, life is really boring in the material world. Same things happen all the time, and people are sick and tired of it, and they're waiting for devotees to come door to door. In fact, Prabhupāda wrote in his poem "Vṛndāvane Bhajan," before he came to America, "The people are sitting in their homes, and they're looking out the window down the road, and they're wondering, "When are Nitāi and Gaurāṅga going to come and save me?" Did you know that that's what they're doing in their houses? ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom lit