Podcasts about bhagavad

It's not the coat of many colors that mattered. It was the love her momma sewed into every stitch. Dolly Parton understood something the Bhagavad Gīta states plainly: offer me a leaf, a flower, a little water — but offered with love, that moves me. It's not the grandness of the offering. It's what's inside it. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore that truth alongside Akrūra in the home of Krishna — fed, honored, overwhelmed. "What is unattainable for one who has satisfied the Supreme?" And yet those who truly love Krishna want nothing. They are so full of love there is nothing more the heart can desire. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.38.40 - 10.39.7  ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

“Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.11)

Why does criticism hurt us so much?Often, it's because we want the opposite: honour, approval and validation.And the more we depend upon one, the more vulnerable we become to the other.Ancient yoga wisdom offers another possibility — humility.Not weakness.Not low self-esteem.Not allowing people to walk over you.Humility means becoming free from the anxiety of needing others to honour us.The Bhagavad-gītā teaches that genuine spiritual awakening changes our entire perspective. We begin to discover that we are not the body, not the mind, and not the constantly changing stories we tell ourselves about who we are.From that understanding comes a very different kind of strength: the ability to remain steady amid praise and criticism, pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour.This talk explores how humility, spiritual wisdom and daily meditation can help us gain mastery over the mind — and experience a deeper, more enduring happiness.Perhaps the greatest victory isn't conquering the world around us. It's no longer being controlled by it.Some verses that were quoted:What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage. - Bhagavad-gītā 2.69Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness and self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense gratification, absence of false ego, the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease; nonattachment to children, wife, home and the rest, and evenmindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events; …… Bhagavad-gītā 13.8-12Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others. The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge-who knows that he is not this body-anything, honor or dishonor, pertaining to this body is useless. One should not be hankering after this material deception. – ACBSP Purport Bhagavad-gītā 13.8-12For one who has conquered the mind, the Supreme Soul is already reached, for he has attained tranquility. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same. Bhagavad-gītā 6.7Chapters 00:00:00 Spiritual vs. Material Consciousness: Opposites ‎ 00:05:08 The Problem with Self-Love and Positive Self-Talk ‎ 00:07:55 Qualities of a Transcendentalist ‎ 00:14:39 Understanding True Humility ‎ 00:23:39 Humility as a Spiritual Superpower: A Nuanced View ‎ 00:33:20 Controlling the Mind and Achieving Equanimity ‎ 00:43:57 The Lifeline Analogy and the Call to Practice ‎

Mariano Rivera — the greatest closer in baseball history — was willing to teach his rivals exactly how to throw his most devastating pitch. He knew that, regardless of their strength or skill, unblessed they were blessed by God to throw they wouldn't be able to. The Stoics understood it. They called it "amor fati" — love of fate. There are things within our control and things outside our control. The wise person focuses entirely on what's within their control and releases entirely what's outside. In this episode Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how doing one's best and then accepting one's fate is favorable for Bhakti, alongside the Bhagavad-gīta's five factors of action and the Mahabharata's story of Drona, who taught the military arts to the student who he knew was fated to kill him. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.36.9-40 ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

Mariano Rivera — the greatest closer in baseball history — was willing to teach his rivals exactly how to throw his most devastating pitch. He knew that, regardless of their strength or skill, unblessed they were blessed by God to throw they wouldn't be able to. The Stoics understood it. They called it "amor fati" — love of fate. There are things within our control and things outside our control. The wise person focuses entirely on what's within their control and releases entirely what's outside. In this episode Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how doing one's best and then accepting one's fate is favorable for Bhakti, alongside the Bhagavad-gīta's five factors of action and the Mahabharata's story of Drona, who taught the military arts to the student who he knew was fated to kill him. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.36.9-40 ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

Frequently, there is a misconception that the distribution of Kṛṣṇa consciousness—for instance, distributing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—and the idea of cultivating spontaneous devotional service, entering into higher levels of devotional service, is a separate thing. So, one of the premises that I'm presenting here is that Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in distribution mode, and therefore the rasa is distribution. Anarpita-carīṁ cirāt—it hasn't been distributed. Samarpayitum—now it's being distributed. And this is the mode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: is to give to everybody. That's the overflow of what's coming from Vṛndāvana, and that's being made available to everyone in the world to bring them back to life. That's why Caitanya Mahāprabhu responded. Out of all the verses in the Gopī-gītā, he said, "Bhūri-dā janāḥ" again and again. He said, "These are the most magnanimous souls." Kṛṣṇa says it in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.68): ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ Paramaṁ guhyaṁ—one who's giving this secret. He says, for somebody who is distributing this, there is nobody better. What's more, who can give stronger language than this! You're guaranteed of success, coming back to Me by the distribution—that's Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mode, and it's also Kṛṣṇa's mood in the Bhagavad-gītā. By participating in the distribution, you're entering into the rasa of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which is to overflood the world. We're sitting here in Los Angeles because some engineers, headed by a guy named Mulholland, stole a bunch of water from us up in Northern California. They made a plan that said, "This place down here—there's a lot of extra land, but it's desertous, and who is ever going to live here?" So, they created an aqueduct, and they brought water to the valley and made it fertile. Caitanya Mahāprabhu's main purpose is giving access to everybody, making sure that everyone has an opportunity to take to this to the highest degree. And then, when we participate, we are also expanding those aqueducts that take it out to the rest of the world. (37:00) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #rathyatra #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

“Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.12)

“Ishvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakriti (nature), eternal time and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature and time are eternal.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

“Two persons, one in Krishna consciousness and the other in material consciousness, working on the same level, may appear to be working on the same platform, but there is a wide gulf of difference in their respective positions. The person in material consciousness is convinced by false ego that he is the doer of everything. He does not know that the mechanism of the body is produced by material nature, which works under the supervision of the Supreme Lord. The materialistic person has no knowledge that ultimately he is under the control of Krishna. The person in false ego takes all credit for doing everything independently, and that is the symptom of his nescience.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27 Purport)

Question: How can be our chanting such that it is exclusively in relationship with Krishna rather than a monotonous activity? Answer: You hear about Kṛṣṇa from the Bhāgavatam; read Kṛṣṇa book. Also, have a bhajana. Have a variety of activities you put together, you have to thicken your bhajana. It doesn't mean that you have to stop everything you are doing, because we can't. But you should try to thicken it a little bit every day, or every week, or every month, or every year—including, chanting a chapter of Bhagavad-gītā a day. How therapeutic that is, and how relational it is to Kṛṣṇa! You'll feel that He's directly talking to you, and you'll also experience what you are talking about with the inner work being realized in all your activities. You can do that plus one chapter of Bhāgavatam every day, and also have your pages. You should have something where you say, "Okay, I'll join you in a minute, because I haven't finished my pages." So you should have a quota of pages that you finish every day, whether it's 1 or it's 50 or whatever. But have that. Also make plans to visit Kṛṣṇa at the temple. See Kṛṣṇa. Appreciate what He is wearing. Bring Him a gift. Ring the bell. And then, if you can, organize your life so that you can visit the dhāma periodically. When you go to Vṛndāvana, you walk around Govardhana Hill and visit the various temples. You start to see, "Oh, there's Kṛṣṇa's home." You go see Nandagrāma, and the villages of the aṣṭa-sakhīs and things like that. So you make this composite in your life, mix it together, and keep it really solid. Follow the footsteps of the great ācāryas and stay steady. Saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ—even if it's not voluminous, if it's consistent and you have a nice variety in there, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal Himself. (09:31) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #japajolt #makejapagreatagain #mantrameditation #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

People get into a moral dilemma about owning things. In fact, there are many economic systems that talk about who owns what. Some say the state owns everything. Then there are very enthusiastic capitalistic systems that say, "No, each person." I don't want to try to truncate the meaning of capitalism, but in general, it belongs to the people. You own your own private property, and so forth. These conceptions run into problems: who owns what, under what circumstances. In fact, it becomes quite litigious. I'll tell you a story I heard this morning. Prabhupāda was speaking about this concept that God owns everything, and then he told a story about some thieves. They went into town at night, and they robbed a few places, and they took all the loot. They went to the edge of town, and they gathered in a circle with all the stuff they stole, and then one of them proclaimed, "Let's divide it equitably and morally." So, there is a cognitive dissonance that people have. When we start thinking about who owns what in the world, there is a bit of a conundrum because whatever we think we own will be unceremoniously taken away from us at a certain point, and other people may put a claim on it also, or a percentage of it, and it gets really complicated. Just as a side, Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā—and there are other utterances that are very helpful in this way—if you want to be happy for the rest of your life (that's the beginning of a song, but I'll finish in a different way), you should consider that everything already belongs to God. Don't make a claim over it. You can take care of it, but don't think that it belongs to you. This is something Kṛṣṇa mentions in the Bhagavad-gītā when he says: "brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ." Which means that you should renounce the idea that "this belongs to me." You can use it, but don't think "this is mine to keep." Use it in the right way, and then he says you won't be affected by it. And another place this is mentioned is in the... (13:52) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

We have enough intelligence as humans to speak, and that's way above what primates can do; and if we use that speech to pronounce the supreme combination of syllables, that's enough to become liberated. You don't have to pay $100,000 a year tuition for four years at Reed College to figure it all out. You can figure it out by reading the Bhagavad-gītā, and if you take advantage of it from whatever situation of life you are in—even if you're illiterate—if you pronounce those syllables and do it so intentionally, understanding that it's connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then this is what all the śāstras are pointing to, and it's the prime teaching of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Just by that process, one attains perfection of life. So we can concentrate on that. Humans get free speech, as in it's thrown in for free when you are born. You don't have to figure it out so much. Just happens. Then, if you use your God-given intelligence to understand, there's this supreme combination of syllables—which is what we subscribe to, that theory—and you learn to perfect it by chanting it with your heart as a means to reciprocate with the Supreme, then you'll attain perfection of life. It's that simple. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #makejapagreatagain #mantrameditation #chantharekrishnaandbehappy #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā(8.16),"ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna." You don't want to stay here because it doesn't matter where you are in the material world—high, low, middle—it's all bad categorically. You can just assume that. But if you can change your consciousness, this is a very important part according to our International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, then, Kṛṣṇa says in the beginning of the eighth chapter that you can point yourself towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Or when you leave this body, be ready to completely leave the categorically inconvenient material world and go back home, back to Godhead. In the ninth chapter, He says (BG 9.25): yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ | bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām || Which basically means: You have free will. Use it. Chop, chop, little jīva. Let's go. Get out of here. The place is condemned. Just get out. Go, back to Godhead. And then, very specifically, He says: "anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram." That if at the end (anta-kāle) you remember Me, then you'll directly come to Me. And then He says (BG 8.6): yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram | taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ || If you get entangled in some other kind of consciousness, that's where you're going to end up. So He's not a religious fanatic. Kṛṣṇa is just telling: Here is how it works. Here is where you are. Here's the context. Now, use it. Figure it out for yourself. And similarly, the people walking around London—I was observing them as we were driving in here. They're walking all at the same pace. This is morning pace on a weekday. You've got to kind of be a little stern, and you've got to kind of walk fast, because you've got to get in there and do your job. It's a prison sentence. When we're able to give people information: yathaidhāṁsi samiddho 'gnir bhasma-sāt kurute 'rjuna jñānāgniḥ sarva-karmāṇi bhasma-sāt kurute tathā || (BG 4.37) You give somebody this fire of knowledge, and they are able to burn to ashes all of their karma. Karma means what's driving people to walk to work and go to certain realms of the material world. They are pushed into it. It's like, "Get in there, buddy. You have to stay there." But you can liberate them by giving them an opportunity to understand the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to come in contact with devotees, and then we win. Yay! Back home, back to Godhead. (excerpt from the talk) Verse for discussion: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/2/8/15/ ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant

Can you really love yourself? Or is the whole idea built on a misunderstanding of who you are?Self-love has become one of the defining ideas of modern culture—but what if it can never deliver what it promises? Drawing on the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gītā and ancient yoga philosophy, Acharya das explores why lasting happiness, freedom from loneliness, and genuine love begin not with the mind, but with discovering your true spiritual identity. He argues that the widespread embrace of self-love is fundamentally flawed because it rests on a misidentification of the self — confusing the eternal spiritual being with the temporary body and mind.The ancient Vedic verses quoted in this talk.O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness. Bhagavad-gītā 13.34Just as fire, which burns and illuminates, is different from firewood, which is to be burned to give illumination, similarly the seer within the body, the self-enlightened spirit soul, is different from the material body, which is to be illuminated by consciousness. Thus the spirit soul and the body possess different characteristics and are separate things. - Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.10.8 One who is enlightened in self-realization, although living within the material body, sees himself as transcendental to the body, just as one who has arisen from a dream gives up identification with the dream body. A foolish person, however, although not identical with his material body but transcendental to it, thinks himself to be situated in the body, just as one who is dreaming sees himself as situated in an imaginary body. - Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.11.8 A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. - Bhagavad-gītā 6.5Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Motivation for Discussing Self-Love ‎ 00:01:22 Historical Context and Modern Development of Self-Love ‎ 00:05:12 The Fundamental Question: Who or What is the Self? ‎ 00:07:45 The Yogic Understanding of Self and Spiritual Identity ‎ 00:09:36 The Root Cause of Suffering According to Yogic Teaching ‎ 00:11:19 Materialism vs. Spiritual Understanding ‎ 00:14:44 Scriptural Evidence: Consciousness Illuminates the Body ‎ 00:17:40 The Universal Nature of Consciousness in All Life Forms ‎ 00:21:59 The Dream Analogy and False Identification ‎ 00:25:26 The Problem with Self-Love: Who Loves Whom? ‎ 00:27:10 The Mind as Separate from the True Self ‎ 00:29:00 Self-Sabotage and the Confusion of Identity ‎ 00:31:46 Positive and Negative Self-Talk: Two Sides of the Same Coin ‎ 00:34:43 The Yogic Approach: Immunity to Praise and Criticism ‎ 00:40:22 The Mind as Friend or Enemy ‎ 00:42:21 The Faculty of Intelligence (Buddhi) ‎ 00:44:14 Practical Advice for Emotional Regulation ‎ 00:47:28 The Definition and Nature of Love ‎ 00:50:22 The Spiritual Perspective on Love and Relationship ‎ 00:53:35 The Historical Shift in Psychology's View of Self-Love 00:56:08 The Spiritual Foundation of Worth and Value ‎ 00:58:06 The Natural Desires of the Soul ‎ 01:00:32 Critique of "Greatest Love of All" and Conclusion

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

Mindfulness can be helpful, but ultimately the mind seeks some positive engagement. According to the Vedic process, which is what we follow, there are various categories of philosophy under a sage named Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva. We follow the Vedic process, which can be understood in the summary study of all the Vedas, called the Bhagavad-gītā. Therein is a hint of the best way to engage the mind, which is in relationship—not emptying the mind, or not just stilling the mind, but engaging the mind in a relationship. We may note that throughout human and even animal society, living beings have a vested interest in relationships. You can notice butterflies, even after they are born, consorting with one another. Birds are famous for building a little love nest; they work together, the male and female bird, to pick up straw and build a nest. Humans, you can see, going to and from Home Depot doing something similar. But the point there is not to build something, but to have a place where one can be in relationship. So, in the process of bhakti-yoga—or I could say, the great teacher of bhakti-yoga, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu laid out the tenets of bhakti-yoga that we follow even today. He pointed out that the Bhagavad-gītā and the other explanations of the Vedas, the consolidation or the essentialization of the Vedas in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, point us towards the highest form of engagement of the mind, which is called devotional service. It's underlying principle is that we all have a loving propensity. When the mind is absorbed in the idea of service out of love, then it's completely satisfied. All other states leave us wanting, and those other states are not stable; they may shift from one point to another. There is a word that comes from Latin: "enthralment." "En" means "in," and "thrall" means "to be imprisoned." When we say we are enthralled by something, we are utterly captured by it. In the positive sense of that imprisonment, there's a way in which the mind can be captured. Another word that expresses a similar concept is "rapture," which means to be fully absorbed in a topic. Well, the Bhagavad-gītā and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam point out that we are most interested in love and loving relationships. Therefore, in the essentialization of the process of bhakti-yoga, there is a system by which we can express that loving emotion that we have and connect with the object of love that is unlimitedly satisfying. (03:10) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality

If you are a human being and you read the Bhagavad-gītā, then you're doing the right thing. If you are a human being and you don't read the Bhagavad-gītā, then you're missing the greatest opportunity, because there's nothing better than the Bhagavad-gītā, and not many people read it. They just say they read it, or they keep it in their house and say, “We believe in the Bhagavad-gītā.” But the trick is to actually read it. I was on a Zoom call earlier with a bunch of kids, and we have this system where, whenever we have our call, we always read a chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā together—Sanskrit and English—and then we discuss some of the purports, and the effect is amazing every time you read it. When I was in London, because we were zipping around here, there, and everywhere, every time we would jump in the car, I'd pull out my phone and open my Bhagavad-gītā app, and I started reading chapters. And so I had a minimum of three chapters a day of hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, and nobody told me to stop. Because people could have got annoyed in the cars, like, “Here he goes again,” but nobody said that because it's so interesting to hear the Bhagavad-gītā. I remember when I first got a Bhagavad-gītā when I was a kid; it was just translations, and I couldn't wait to get home from school and read the Bhagavad-gītā again. And I know from that very beginning of reading the Bhagavad-gītā that it fortifies you. Now we have Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Last year, as an international society ISKCON, we sold over 5 million Bhagavad-gītās. But I can tell you what Prabhupāda would say, because he said it to us in San Francisco in 1973 when our temple president introduced us. Prabhupāda said, “These guys sold this many books.” You know what Prabhupāda said? “You must also read my books.” He said, “I've not written these just for selling." We have to read the Bhagavad-gītā. We have to be up on the Bhagavad-gītā. When your mind's tricking you, it means you're not reading enough Bhagavad-gītā. That is what it means. If you read at least a chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā a day—or at least a verse, anyway—then you won't get tricked. You won't get fooled again. The old boss, same as the new boss; it just comes in over and over again—same old trick of Māyā. But you can't get tricked if you read the Bhagavad-gītā. In fact, you can tell people that out on the street: “You won't get fooled again if you take this Bhagavad-gītā and read it every day.” So that's the solution to everything. Where's your Bhagavad-gītā? Do you know where it is right now? (one of the ladies in the audience takes out Bhagavad-gītā from her purse) In your purse? Show it. Show the Bhagavad-gītā. Look at her tilaka—she's not bewildered, she's not tricked by Māyā. She gets up, puts her tilaka on, because she has a Bhagavad-gītā. If you carry a Bhagavad-gītā with you wherever you go and you read it every day, you'll never get tricked by Māyā. That's how to trick Māyā back. Prabhupāda said, “You should defeat death before death defeats you.” So it's a race for time. We don't have much time. You have to really lean into the Bhagavad-gītā. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025

“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.” (Sanjaya, Bhagavad-gita, 18.76)

Join us on The Free Radical Podcast for a reflective and deeply human conversation with artist, author, Vaishnava scholar, and astrologer Vraja Kishor. Having joined ISKCON in 1990, Vraja Kishor pursued formal studies at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education and spent several years immersed in devotional life and study. His path has also taken unexpected turns—most notably through his time with the Krishna punk band 108, where he helped integrate devotional themes into alternative music culture. Alongside his spiritual and artistic work, he has built a diverse professional background spanning software development and language teaching, before dedicating himself fully to Vedic astrology. He is also a translator of key Vaishnava texts, including work on the Bhagavad-gita, four cantos of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and ongoing translation of the fifth canto as well as the Yoga Sutras. In this episode, we explore themes drawn from his memoir Train Wrecks and Transcendence—including the arc of spiritual life, relationships, early enthusiasm and later grounding, and the challenge of integrating depth with simplicity. The conversation moves through questions of responsibility, devotion, friendship, family, and the evolving relationship between rigidity and maturity on the spiritual path—arriving at a vision of wholeness that finds the profound within the ordinary. Tune in for a thoughtful and open exchange that traces a life lived at the intersection of devotion, creativity, and lived experience.

“It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.25)

Why do we get angry, even when we're trying to live a spiritual life? In this roundtable conversation, Radhika, Nama and Stine explore the nature of anger through the lens of Bhakti, discussing its deeper causes, the role of therapy alongside spiritual practice, and how self-awareness can transform our reactions. Drawing from the Bhagavad-gītā, personal experiences, and the story of Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and Durvāsā Muni, they reflect on how humility, compassion, and steady practice help us respond rather than react.02:35 – Can anger have a place in Bhakti?07:17 – Personal experiences with anger, therapy & healing10:49 – Prayer, compassion and practical ways to respond to anger39:44 – How the Bhagavad-gītā explains the root of anger43:56 – Is anger viewed differently for men and women?59:13 – Final reflections & key takeawayWant to connect further?Instagram: www.instagram.com/radhika_dasa/Facebook: www.facebook.com/radhikadasmusicYouTube: www.youtube.com/c/RadhikaDasWebsite: www.radhikadas.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/radhikadasLinktree: linktr.ee/radhika_dasa

Everything begins with hearing and chanting. When devotees take to the practice and make vows, there is a feeling of exhilaration because we have unlimited potential. There may be times at which we feel waylaid by our own mind, senses, or other occupational obligations, and therefore it's helpful to come back to remember what the horse is and what the cart is, and always put the horse before the cart. For instance, there are ways of fading away from good chanting, there are ways of fading away from reading and hearing Prabhupāda's books because there are pressing matters in life, and they can then take precedence over time. And then we may put off our chanting, or we may put off hearing from the Śāstras for the sake of attending to some urgent matter. We might do it one day, and then two days, and then it becomes a habit, and then we wonder, "Why am I not feeling ecstasy?" and "What happened to my relationship with Kṛṣṇa?" and it could come to, "Why am I doing this anyway?" So, as a reminder, we have this saying: "Don't put the cart before the horse," because we should discriminate on a moment-to-moment basis and a day-to-day basis to remember what's most important. A practice which is most highly recommended is to study the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Bhagavad-gītā—all of these literatures that Prabhupāda left behind for us—in the association of devotees. And as Prabhupāda said, you should discuss them thoroughly, threadbare. If you have an old coat that you are attached to and you've worn it so many times, you might notice it becomes threadbare, meaning you'll start to see indentations where you have worn it, and maybe some of the parts wear out, and you put a little patch there—an old tweed jacket, sort of the professorial look of an old worn jacket. Prabhupāda wanted us to discuss what is in the literatures he left behind, share realizations, and to go on hearing regularly. When we feel our sense of enthusiasm flagging, then the remedy is to increase what is most important, and that's hearing and chanting. Someone might say, "Well, I don't have time for all that," but it's not time; it's taste. But how do you get the taste? You have to...(0:07:45) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

I've noticed a phenomenon in the reading of the Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, of which I've marked a couple of verses that I want to read to you to make my point. I found that in the first reading that I ever heard of Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, which was with a group of godbrothers and godsisters, there's a section in which Gopa-kumāra goes back home, back to Godhead. We are interested that when he reaches Goloka Vṛndāvana, it looks the same as Gokula Vraja. We are interested to hear of the characteristics of the people there—that they are in ecstasy. It's in the afternoon, or late afternoon. Kṛṣṇa had gone to the forest to tend cows, and he comes back, and upon his return, there's a clamor in Vṛndāvana. People had been practically comatose during his absence, but then there are signs—there is a cloud coming from the dust of the hooves of the calves, and Kṛṣṇa, returning from the forest and all the residents of Vṛndāvana have come alive, and they're waiting, awaiting Kṛṣṇa coming back into the village. When he comes into the clearing and he sees Gopa-kumāra there, Kṛṣṇa runs forward and he embraces Gopa-kumāra, and Kṛṣṇa faints out of ecstasy for seeing his devotee. This is the revelation from this section of the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta. I will read a couple of verses before the one I want to point out to you. This is Gopa-kumāra noticing Kṛṣṇa's beauty. But even that isn't the point. We know Kṛṣṇa is beautiful; we know Goloka Vṛndāvana is made of cintāmaṇi stone, but that's not what evokes the ecstasy, he says: "His lotus eyes beamed with a merciful glance, and the varied assets of beauty decorated him in a singular way. The fingers of his lotus hand busily pushed back the locks of his hair, which flew about, adorned with the dust raised by the cows"—see, he's just come into the vision of Gopa-kumāra for the first time, seeing him in Goloka—"His tender, divine lotus feet touched the surface of the earth just to grant her the gift of supreme splendor. Playfully dancing as they moved, they attracted everyone's heart with their great eagerness to walk quickly with large steps. The effulgence of his cloud-colored body, shining with the full sweetness of youth, lit up all corners of the sky. His beauty, which captured the hearts of the ever-dear devotees of Vraja, was an ocean abounding with countless excellences. He leaped forward and came close to me, compelled by the affection of his helpless devotee. I fainted in love at seeing him. He caught hold of me by the neck, and suddenly he too fell to the ground." And here's Sanātana Gosvāmī's commentary on that verse. It's short: "Gopa-kumāra was already aware, at least theoretically, that Kṛṣṇa is very affectionate to his helpless devotees, but now he learned that Kṛṣṇa had affection specifically for him. Merely seeing Kṛṣṇa was enough to utterly enchant Gopa-kumāra, but this new discovery pushed him toward the limit of ecstasy." So my point here is: what every soul is looking for is recognition. We find even in modern psychology there are those who point out in raising a child, the child doesn't cry because he wants to survive; the child cries because he wants his mother to come and recognize him. And this is a theme we could take from Bhagavad-gītā. (0:14:07) https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/17/104/ ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/

“O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is My opinion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.3)

“Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad­-gita, 18.63)

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.15)

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.8)

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

In a powerful and thought-provoking talk delivered in Sydney, Australia, Acharya das explores the dramatic transformation of human consciousness in the modern age and asks a confronting question: Why, despite unprecedented technological advancement and material comfort, are so many people experiencing anxiety, emptiness, and hopelessness? Drawing on alarming statistics surrounding depression, mental health crises, and the growing despair among younger generations, he presents a compelling analysis of a society that has become increasingly disconnected from inner peace and spiritual purpose.Acharya das examines the profound psychological impact of modern technology, social media, and smartphone culture, revealing how people are not only consumers in the digital economy — but have themselves become the product. He explains how algorithms, data collection, and constant stimulation shape human behavior, fuel dissatisfaction, and intensify mental disturbance. He further critiques the institutionalization of greed and envy within modern economic systems, arguing that many societies actively cultivate endless consumption and comparison as drivers of economic growth, often at great cost to human wellbeing.Contrasting this modern condition with the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gītā, Acharya das offers a deeply hopeful alternative vision of life. He explains the yogic understanding that true peace does not arise from endlessly pursuing material desires, but from awakening spiritual consciousness and recognizing our deeper identity beyond the temporary body and restless mind. Using profound spiritual insights and practical guidance, he concludes by presenting meditation and mantra chanting as transformative daily practices capable of restoring clarity, balance, and genuine inner peace.This illuminating presentation challenges conventional assumptions about happiness and progress while offering practical spiritual wisdom for anyone seeking meaning, resilience, and lasting peace in an increasingly restless world.Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Unprecedented Transformation of Human Consciousness ‎ 00:03:58 The Smartphone Revolution and Loss of Human Connection ‎ 00:06:15 The Economic Value of Peace and Generational Despair ‎ 00:10:25 Misconceptions About Peace as a Commodity ‎ 00:14:19 The Surveillance and Exploitation of Smartphone Users ‎ 00:18:52 The Scale of Digital Advertising and Tech Company Revenue ‎ 00:20:56 The Rise of Self-Centeredness and the Selfie Culture ‎ 00:26:31 Historical Analysis: The Century of Self-Centeredness ‎ 00:30:34 The Origins of Consumer Culture and Propaganda ‎ 00:35:28 The Deliberate Shift from Needs to Desires Culture ‎ 00:39:21 Economic Theory Promoting Envy and Greed ‎ 00:41:40 Economic Critique and the Seeds of Destruction ‎ 00:43:44 The Promise of Happiness Through Consumption ‎ 00:46:58 The Influencer Economy and Children's Aspirations ‎ 00:48:45 Ancient Yogic Wisdom: The Alternative Perspective ‎ 00:52:52 The Necessity of Transcendental Connection ‎ 00:54:38 The Fundamental Spiritual Principle‎ 00:57:07 The Illusion of Physical Identity ‎ 00:58:58 The Reality of Mortality and Spiritual Identity ‎ 01:00:39 Spiritual Nutrition and Meditation Practice ‎ 01:03:19 Conclusion: The Path to Genuine Peace

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.10)

This talk is the fifth installment in a wellness series that takes a distinctly yogic approach to understanding life's challenges and spiritual development.Acharya das discusses the concept of "false shelter" (durashraya in Sanskrit) - the tendency to place unlimited trust in things that cannot provide genuine protection or happiness. He uses examples ranging from relationships and material possessions to modern technology and social media to illustrate how people become victims of their own poor choices rather than external circumstances. He stresses the importance of taking personal responsibility for life decisions and developing consequential thinking.Acharya das concludes with an emphasis on the importance of cultivating atma-tattva (knowledge of the soul/self) and the necessity of reconnecting with the Supreme Soul as the only genuine source of shelter and protection. He advocates for regular chanting meditation as a transformative practice that can lead to self-realization and God-realization, describing it as an immersive experience rather than a mental activity. Quotes used in the talk:For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy. Bhagavad-gītā 6.6For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion. Bhagavad-gītā 6.36When a man in the material world takes more interest in the materialistic way of life than in spiritual/God consciousness, he is considered to be in a diseased condition. The normal condition is to remain an eternal servant of the Lord. This healthy condition is lost when the living entity forgets God due to being attracted by the external features of Krsna's maya energy. This world of maya is called durasraya, which means “false or bad shelter.” One who puts his faith in durasraya becomes a candidate for hoping against hope. In the material world everyone is trying to become happy, and although their material attempts are baffled in every way, due to their nescience [ignorance] they cannot understand their mistakes. People try to rectify one mistake by making another mistake. This is the way of the struggle for existence in the material world. If one in this condition is advised to take to [cultivating] God consciousness and be happy, he does not accept such instructions. – Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaPersons devoid of ātma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 2.1.4“One who is not connected with the Supreme Soul can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?” – Bhagavad-gītā 2.66Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Yogic Wellness Philosophy ‎ 00:02:14 The Threefold Miseries and Realistic Expectations ‎ 00:04:35 Historical Foundation: Sanatana Goswami's Questions ‎ 00:13:32 Personal Responsibility in Relationships and Life Choices ‎ 00:19:24 The Search for Shelter and Modern Emptiness ‎ 00:26:07 Consequential Thinking and Rat Trap Happiness ‎ 00:29:17 Mind Control and Spiritual Practice ‎ 00:32:51 Modern Manipulation and Technology Addiction ‎ 00:37:34 False Shelter and Spiritual Guidance ‎ 00:42:00 Durashraya: The Nature of False Shelter ‎ 00:47:38 Fallible Soldiers and Spiritual Truth ‎ 00:50:00 True Shelter and Spiritual Connection ‎ 00:54:08 Chanting Meditation as Transformative Practice

Attention is where everything begins. It's our asset. May I go out on a limb and say it's our main asset? Or even further to the tip of the limb: it's our only asset. We get to choose where to place our attention. Attention management is what determines the direction of our life. In fact, a student of mine made me a beautiful sign for my birthday, and I have it hanging outside my office here on the wall. It says, "Where attention goes, energy flows." It's something I come back to again and again as a great reminder every time I walk in my room: where attention goes, energy flows. So that's why we say here, attention is where everything begins. In the Bhagavad-gītā, there is a beautiful verse in which Kṛṣṇa says, "yānti..."—you can go certain places. How do you do it? You place your attention there, and we're free to move about the universe. There are destinations beyond the universe. Can you go there? Yes. How do you do it? You move your attention in that direction. How do you know about it? Well, there are channels through which information comes about other universes, other planets. In fact, the first book my teacher wrote before he came to America is called Easy Journey to Other Planets. That caught my attention. I was in high school, and I thought, "That's a good idea. I would like to take an easy journey to another planet." It's not fantastical; it's reality. We move here, there, and everywhere because of our attention. So, this is a practice. Listening with rapt attention. As homework, if I may be so bold: try noticing how you attend to a subject matter. Notice. For instance, every night my wife and I get together to read. We read out loud and listen to one another reading. I find it a very bonding kind of practice and edifying, especially at the end of the day. I notice that there are different modes I can listen in as she's reading. I can drift off to other subjects, and then I'll have to go back and say, "What did you just read? Can you read that again?" Or, I can lean in. (0:12:28) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly, the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home. (BG 13.26,purport) And, of course, in the purport, Prabhupāda is referring to Lord Brahmā, who in the Tenth Canto, 14th Chapter, says: jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir ye prāyaśo 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyām This verse was spoken by Lord Brahmā, who is an intellectual. In fact he studied the Vedas three times. How many here have studied all the Vedas three times, or the Bhagavad-gītā, for that matter? So, he had studied them three times. He is smart enough to take on the duties of recreating the material world when it comes into being. Of course, he is a devotee. He met Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. We know the pastime of how Kṛṣṇa had bewildered him—the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā. He was bewildered by the mystic power of Kṛṣṇa. When Brahmā had stolen away the calves and cowherd friends, Kṛṣṇa re-manifested them exactly as they were before. So, there were two sets: one that Brahmā had stolen, and the ones that were now marching around town. After seeing that all of them were emanations from Kṛṣṇa, and realizing that this little cowherd boy, who was eating with His left hand, was not to be trifled with—that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead—he offered these prayers. Near the beginning of his prayers, jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva, says: "Give up trying to understand God by your own power." And sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir says: "Submissively hear in the association of devotees about Kṛṣṇa." From that, one will come to this superior form of devotional service, which means that Kṛṣṇa is conquered by your love and submission. Ajita jito —the Ajita (the unconquerable) becomes jita (conquered); it means He is conquered by love. So, how can one come to that position? Not by erudite scholarship, but by humbly and submissively hearing from those who have knowledge, as Prabhupāda points out here, and being submissive in one's service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, there is such a thing as submissive hearing. There is also an argumentative state of mind. Of course it doesn't mean that we can't discuss the siddhānta thoroughly, threadbare. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------

This talk is from an event sponsored by the Hindu Council of Australia in cooperation with the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga.The question was whether there is a distinction between Dharma and Sanatana Dharma? Acharya das explained that while Dharma has conventional definitions including customary religious observance, prescribed conduct, duty, religion, and good works, it has a deeper meaning as an intrinsic characteristic that makes something what it is - something that cannot be removed without changing the fundamental nature of that thing. He provided examples of heat and light being the dharma of fire, sweetness being the dharma of sugar, and liquidity being the dharma of water.Sanatana as meaning eternal, perpetual, permanent, everlasting, and primeval, distinguishing Sanatana Dharma from conventional religion by explaining that it deals with the eternal nature of the living being or spirit soul (atma). Acharya das distinguished Sanatana Dharma as dealing with the eternal nature of the living being or soul (atma), referencing Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's teachings that Sanatana Dharma refers to activities that cannot be changed and represents the eternal function of living entities in relationship with the Supreme Lord. The lecturer addressed the apparent contradiction in the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna instructs Arjuna to abandon all varieties of dharma and surrender unto Him, explaining that this refers to abandoning temporary religious duties to embrace one's eternal spiritual nature. Acharya das proposed that true self-realization requires understanding the three aspects of the self/soul: one's essence (being Brahman while maintaining distinction from Paramatma), one's position (equal to all living beings but subservient to the Supreme Being), and one's natural function (to love and to serve.) He concluded that bhakti - rendering eternal loving service to the Lord - is the natural function of the living being and the true definition of Sanatana Dharma. Quotes used in the talk:Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. - Bhagavad-gītā 18.66Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens. - Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.107 By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one dissolves his entanglement in material activities. After this, one becomes very attracted to Krishna, and thus dormant love for Krishna is awakened. - Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.109 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Dharma vs Sanatana Dharma ‎ 00:05:50 Deeper Understanding of Dharma ‎ ‎00:06:28 Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Teachings on Sanatana Dharma 00:08:31 The Bhagavad Gita's Apparent Contradiction ‎ 00:12:17 Arjuna's Dilemma and Krishna's First Instruction ‎ 00:15:35 The Nature of the Eternal Soul ‎ 00:17:48 Varieties of Dharma in the Bhagavad Gita ‎ 00:22:06 The Temporary Nature of Vanashram Dharma ‎ 00:25:31 Self-Realization and the Three Essential Questions ‎ 00:29:46 The Position and Relationship of the Soul ‎ 00:31:09 The Natural Function and Characteristics of the Soul ‎ 00:35:10 Service as the Soul's Natural Expression ‎ 00:38:27 Bhakti as Sanatana Dharma‎ 00:41:10 The Awakening of Dormant Love ‎ 00:43:22 Free Will and Universal Brotherhood ‎ 00:46:04 Conclusion and the Power of Chanting

I gave you this example the other day of a visceral experience I had because a member of our congregation—a mother, had lost her child who was six years old. He had suffered a heart attack and was not revivable. She came to take counsel and solace. She brought with her a little bag that had some money in it; it came from her child's piggy bank. He had been saving that money to do something for Kṛṣṇa, and she had brought it to us and handed it over and said, "Please, would you engage this for the benefit of my departed son, who was six years old? This is all he had, as far as money goes." When my wife and I took that into our possession, we considered it sacred. There was no conception that we would stop on the way home and buy a snow cone with it. The idea of enjoying the material world is equally as odious to a person who has understood reality—that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa (bhoktāraṃ yajña-tapasāṃ). It's all meant to be engaged in His service. At the end of that third chapter of the Gītā, Arjuna asks, "How to overcome lust?" Kṛṣṇa ends the chapter by saying: evam buddhi-paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānam ātmanā jahi śatruṃ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṃ durāsadam He says that you should fortify your intelligence. With your intelligence because he said there is a hierarchy: the senses are above the objects, the mind is above the senses, the intelligence is above the mind. So, how do you do that? The way you purify your intellect so you don't do stupid things is by reading the Bhagavad-gītā; that's what it's there for. Everyone ignores the Bhagavad-gītā, and they say, "Give me some rasa-tattva." Nothing against rasa-tattva ; we keep it above our heads, way up there. But the Bhagavad-gītā is where we live, and Kṛṣṇa answers all questions categorically. And then, if you want the nuance of the categories, then you read the whole Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Caitanya-caritāmṛta about 108 times—the whole, each one of them—and then you are dissuaded from touching anything in this material world unless you have the intention of offering it to Kṛṣṇa. kurvan nirantaraṁ karma loko 'yam anuvartate tenaiva karmaṇā dhyāyan māṁ parāṁ bhaktim icchati (BS 5.61) This is the whole idea Kṛṣṇa mentions in the five ślokas at the end of the Brahma-saṃhitā. This is the answer to your question Kṛṣṇa gives to Brahmā at the end of the Brahma-saṃhitā. He said everyone has to work; all living entities are engaged in work, can't stop it. Therefore, he said everything you do, you should do with the spirit of devotion to offer to Kṛṣṇa. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------

The concept of Avatāra is definitely prevalent in this verse and in this section, because Kapila is making His avatāra. If we think of it in terms of holes, the avatāra is the one who enters into the holes that we can't get out of. Otherwise, what's the use? Avatāra has the implication of one who's outside the hole and comes in just to deliver us, because we can't get out ourselves. That's why, when people realize they're in a hole and that they can't get out, and then they realize the presence of the Avatāra—they meet devotees, or they read Bhagavad-gītā—they have a conversion experience and tears come to their eyes. Because they think, "Someone's come to save me, even though I'm stuck in this hole, someone has come to take me out." So, Kapila's mission is to enter. He enters into the semen of Kardama, comes out from the womb of Devahūti, specifically to speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness—to save not only Devahūti but the whole world. Now, what is our mission? You think about it: the people are all in some hole. If you interview people anywhere, you'll find that they're stuck in some hole. Otherwise, why is there the saying, "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging"? Practically everybody's in a hole somewhere, and it's very difficult to come out. Therefore, our mission is to represent the avatāra. Who's the avatāra in Kali-yuga? For 20 points, it's the holy name, right? Nāmāvatāra, comes as the holy name, and our mission then is to bring the holy name and put it in various holes. Where can you think of various holes that we can put the holy name? The ear holes come up right away, right? Because that's a hole—two holes, in fact. And Prabhupāda mentions in one of his purports that although they appear very small, inside there's a lot of space; there's a lot that can go in there. If the holy name, for instance, enters the ear, then it can transform the heart of the soul, smash any of the unwanted desires within the heart, and so forth. Another hole I thought of was doors, because Prabhupāda specifically says in a couple places in his purports that it's the mission of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to go door to door. Has anybody ever gone door to door to distribute books? Anybody here gone trick-or-treating and gone door to door? According to Vijay Prabhu, who knows these things, he says 90 times. Now, what happens when you knock on somebody's door? You open up and see which hole they fell into, or fell through the doors is the hole; but inside there is saṁsṛtiṁ ghorāṁ, a miserable life! It's a revelation, knocking on people's doors. You knock-knock, open up, there's a bunch of birds flying around inside, or there's a stench, or maybe in the mode of goodness, still there's a sense of doom, because "I'm stuck in here." Gṛham andha-kūpaṁ —Prahlāda Mahārāja says it's a hole that's hard to get out of. So, imagine if you take a transcendental literature—nāmāny anantasya yaśo 'ṅkitāni yat—it's written kīrtana, and you put it in the hole. Knock-knock-knock, door opens, throw it in, boom!! It's satisfying. Because people are in the hole, they can't get out, they can't even pay the mortgage. You got to go... ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025

I like limes better than lemons. I don't think there's any more beautiful fruit on the planet—just the color of it! Don't get me started. Imagine when you open a lime. Do you ever think about what a seed is inside? A lime seed falls out. If you wrap that in a wet cloth and keep it with some aluminum foil around the wet cloth for a week in a warm enough place—then when you open it up, you'll find roots coming out. Then, if you get a little cup with some soil in it, and you put the roots in the cup, and cut a plastic bottle in half, and then put it on top so it stays warm (it's incubating), then it'll grow little leaves. Then you could take it and put it in a bigger pot or in the ground, and soon you'll have a tree, and the tree will have more limes. Did you ever think about this? That's a miracle. From one little seed, you get another lime tree that will give you thousands, tens of thousands of more seeds. What to speak of the fruits? So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu liked to use the gardening metaphor. He talks about how spiritual practice is gardening—that we should become gardeners. Here's how the metaphor works: he talks about how our heart can become a fertile place for the planting of a seed called the bhakti seed. He said you get that from somebody who has love for Kṛṣṇa in their heart. Have you ever noticed how, when you associate with someone, you pick up their qualities? My friend Satyadeva used to have a nickname called "Butter Dev" because he likes butter so much. I traveled with him in Japan for some time, and everywhere we went, he ate butter. I mean, not just butter, but he ate a lot of butter! I hardly ever eat butter—except for after I came home and I asked my wife for some butter. She said, "What's going on here?" It's palpable that when we associate with others, we develop their qualities. Something Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (13.22): puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu He says whatever good or bad you have in your heart, you got that from another person who had it in their heart; you picked it up from them. So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, describing how the little seed of bhakti comes to us, said that if you meet somebody who has pure devotion for Kṛṣṇa in his or her heart, then you may notice that desire for Kṛṣṇa awakens in your heart. I'm going to tell about an interview that one of our devotees Jāhnavī was part of. I think she went to get her Grammy Award. (0:22:04) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------

Willpower is fundamentally the wrong tool for inner transformation. French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil argued that attention — not discipline or force of will — is the true engine of inner change. Raghunath and Kaustubha bring this insight into conversation with the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, whose loving meditation on Kṛṣṇa accomplished what no effort of will could. The Bhagavad-gītā's method of inner transformation is simple: turn your attention toward Kṛṣṇa. And the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam promises that faithfully hearing about the Gopīs' love for Him is itself enough to conquer material lust, the deepest disease of the heart. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29.9-11 ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

I was just thinking about when Prabhu and I first were getting to know each other—before we were even engaged, and obviously before we were married. Just the things that we had to learn about each other. One of the things that sticks in my mind is we lived in LA at the time, and we used to go down to the marina to take walks. He's a foot taller than me—or more than a foot taller than me—and he has got quite a leg span. So, I had to take quicker steps, and I noticed that he also changed his gait so that we could walk together comfortably. I think that's a little bit of what marriage is about: you are individuals, you do things differently, you may see things differently, you may communicate differently, but learning how to bring those things together is part of what makes a really successful marriage relationship. (Excerpt from the talk by HG Nirākulā Dāsī) The other thing that is foundational is the sound vibration. Because every environment, every realm, is defined by the sound vibration therein. Everybody has a soundtrack in his or her environment—or, together, you have a soundtrack. You can determine what your consciousness will be depending on that soundtrack. It is almost, seemingly, too obvious to state, but whatever you consume on a regular basis—whatever you're taking in through your eyes, through your ears—is what's going to be there within your heart. That's the science of the three modes of material nature: how the universe works, and how our consciousness is formed. So, considering any peaks and valleys, it can always be evened out, or we can always rise above those various changes in our lives by readjusting the sound. It's good to know because everyone goes through various challenges, and one of the main teachings in the Bhagavad-gītā that Kṛṣṇa gives is how to remain equipoised while we are facing challenges. It's the reveal of our true character—how we act under duress. Nobody can act civilly under duress unless they have purified their consciousness and that happens especially by purifying the transcendental sound vibration. That's why I like to say: if all else fails—and it will—chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. If you keep the that vibration going and make it ubiquitous in your lives, then you will always stay transcendental above the changes, or aloof enough from the changes to be methodical but dispassionate when you go through anything in your lives. It's just the nature of the world that there are various challenges, and one of the great opportunities to grow together is learning how to face those challenges together. You have to have a strategy ahead of time. Those who assume that there will be no challenges will be disappointed; but those who prepare for challenges will meet them, and those who meet them with the right means to adjust to them, grow in their relationships. (Excerpt from the talk by HG Vaisesika Dasa) Occasion: Wedding reception of Swaraj and Maya ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/

Humans have the highest potential to develop their consciousness, and that depends on their situation within the three modes of nature. That's what this verse is talking about, It says: kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. Yoni-janmasu means that we end up in various environments because of the way in which we have cultivated our consciousness. And that cultivation of consciousness is indicated by the words kāraṇaṁ, guṇa, and saṅgha—these three words are key in this verse. Saṅga means association. Whatever we connect with, whomever we spend time with, who we study, who we listen to, we become like. And that will determine the nature of our consciousness. The nature of our consciousness is important because the world that we live in responds to us. It's a responsive universe. Every aspect of this world is responsive; however we interact with it, it in kind interacts with us. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa is giving us the key here to developing our consciousness to the highest degree. In the practice of Bhakti-yoga, we emphasize association. So, there are various kinds of association. One is association with other people—that's a key point—because we take on the qualities and the ways of thinking of those we associate with, especially those that we pay close attention to and we give our hearts to. We will, as if by osmosis (as is popular to say), take on their qualities. Therefore, one of the first teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu—who is showing how to practically apply the Bhagavad-gītā—was to deliberately associate with those who were in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because as we heard from the purport, this is the pinnacle of consciousness. One can develop this in this lifetime through association. We take on the qualities of whoever we associate with. (12:47) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that when you control the tongue, then all the other senses become controlled after that. Then, by that practice of chanting Hare Krishna, you will come to a point where it tastes good and you don't want to stop, and then automatically—systemically—you'll feel satisfied. All the senses become satisfied when you please Krishna by chanting with your tongue: jihvā ādau—first thing, the tongue. And toleration. We do various kinds of duties, and we also do austerities, and in those things you have to learn the art of toleration. Krishna mentions that in the Bhagavad-gītā in many different places, but it serves us well. I'll tell you how to do it. It's called "Tender Loving Neglect." So, there's a way in which there are urges that come up, agitations. You don't say, "No, get out of here, never ever come back!" You just say, "Yeah, I know you're there. I'll get to you later. For now, I'm not going to do anything." As Haridāsa Ṭhākura did—when a prostitute came, he didn't say, "Scram!" He said, "I'll be with you in a minute, I've got to finish my rounds." We know how to put things off. If you've ever had an important paper to write, and then you kept doing everything else—you washed your whole room, you figured out a formula for creating more efficient gasoline, whatever you might do to avoid writing the paper—that's procrastination. Do the same thing when there are sense urges: neglect them. TLN instead of TLC. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #japajolt #makejapagreatagain #chantharekrishnaandbehapy #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma. There, he looked for Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, but no one could tell him where it was, as it had been lost in antiquity. While he was wandering in a field, he came upon some cows and a very small pond. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went there; he felt that Kṛṣṇa-prema had been instilled in that place thousands of years ago, the pastimes of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa at the very same place. To the surprise of everyone in the area, he began to take a bath in that tiny pond and declared it to be the original place of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu invited his most elevated disciples to come to Śrī Vṛndāvana and reveal all the original forests where Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa performed their pastimes. People all over the world now, because of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, have an opportunity to enter directly into Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma; because by worshiping the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa naturally awakens within the heart. And now, in every city of the world, every time zone is covered. At any time, there is Maṅgala-ārati going on somewhere. Somebody is chanting japa, somebody is taking prasādam, someone is reading the Bhāgavatam, someone is chanting a chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, someone is worshiping the Deity, someone is performing Guru-pūjā, someone is going on saṅkīrtana, and someone is beating Māyāpur. As they are doing so, you can hear them if you listen very carefully. If you listen closely, you can hear a vibration covering the whole planet—"Gaura Kṛpā Hole He!" 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 the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualmusic #soulfulmusic #gauranitai #kirtan #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

If someone comes to us with an offer, saying, "I will take care of all your affairs"—for instance, I have an app, and this app will take care of all your other apps, and that includes accounting and all your emails—something like Notion, where you just put it all in one place and then you don't have to worry about it, only much better. Yes, this person will take care of your financial situation. If you're lacking somewhere, that person will make up for it and pay all your debts. You might then ask, "Well, how much is it going to cost per month or per year to pay for this app you're offering me?" You might also think there's a learning curve to figure out how to work this app that's going to solve all my problems. You might also think, "Maybe you're taking my information and selling it to somebody else," or you may think, "What happens when the app becomes obsolete and then all my information is out there?" You may have many doubts, but if one suspends one's disbelief at the very beginning of reading the Bhagavad-gītā, to accept that there is a Supreme Person who controls everything, who is within everyone's heart, and who is our well-wisher. In that suspended disbelief—the idea that there could be such a person—we accept that He is offering us an opportunity that if we give Him all our information and "take the app," He'll take care of everything. And then, at the end: mā śucaḥ—"Don't worry, I'll deal with it." Such an offer we might consider. If we consider that, taking advantage of such an offer is all that's necessary for a successful life. Because there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead. He's within our hearts. We established that last week (if you were here for the class) beyond a shadow of a doubt. If we had a jury, we would have gotten a verdict of "Yes, there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead within everyone's heart." If we understand the definition of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—that He's benevolent and He's all-powerful—and then we take heed of the offer that He gives, "Just surrender unto Me," then what could be the problem? There would be no problem. That's why Kṛṣṇa says, "mā śucaḥ." To encourage us, and anyone who is practicing on the path trying to connect to Kṛṣṇa, in verse BG 6.40, Kṛṣṇa very sweetly says to Arjuna: 'durgatiṁ tāta gacchati'. I say "sweetly" because the word tāta means "Oh, my dear one," or "Oh, my son." He is saying it in a very tender way with an open heart: "Don't worry. If you're trying, if you're sincere, and you try on this path, then you'll never be overcome by evil." Pārtha naiveha nāmutra—in this world or in the next world, vināśas tasya vidyate—you'll never be vanquished. Na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścit—because if you're the kalyāṇa-kṛt, if you're doing the right thing—which only means you're sincerely trying to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, even if you're not completely successful, durgatiṁ tāta gacchati—you'll never have an inauspicious destination, anywhere: this world, next world. The conclusion is that if we're sincere, it's infallible. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/

You'll notice that the last six verses of the 12th chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā tell us the result of practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness in any of its forms. As Kṛṣṇa mentions, the person becomes straightforward and truthful. There are different ways to interact with people. Somebody who is Kṛṣṇa conscious will be able to sort out situations without resorting to false ego. It's the hardest thing that we, all of us do—interpersonal dealings. I'll just see if you all agree with me on this. Every service is easy, really; it's just straightforward. You just follow the system: 1, 2, 3, 4, and you're there. But along—between one and two—there are some interpersonal dealing that becomes troublesome. It's like, "No, no, I was there first!." "And that's my pot holder over there, by the way—I brought that from home." Whatever it is, there's always something to deal with in there. But a devotee whose heart has become freed from envy—nindati śūnyam hṛdam īpsota-saṅga-labdhya—he doesn't have to give in to the false ego at every stage, and therefore is able to progress in management from one step to another, because he or she is able to accommodate others, to find workarounds, and do things. Of course, there's different styles of management, but the main point is: whatever the motive is in the heart of the person who is administering whatever form of guidance there is, if that is pure intention, then it comes out well. Actually watch Prabhupāda's way of dealing with all kinds of problems and interpersonal dealings. He was expert, dakṣa. It's one of the qualities of a pure devotee; dakṣa is that person is expert in dealing with all kinds of situations, the hardest of which is interpersonal kind of things that took place. I mean, people made all kinds of outrageous claims and had difficulties, and they just brought them all to Prabhupāda and left them at his door. "Only our group is bona fide." That's mantra has been going on since the universe started. Look at Śiva and the Dakṣa fight. It's like, you they had gangs going—gang violence at that time. So that's been going. That's the nature of the material world. So when we become pure in heart, that is, we see that "My only interest is serving Kṛṣṇa." If I have another interest, anyeṣām bhāvanām, it means that's going to manifest in my interpersonal dealings with people, and it's going to become troublesome because I'm holding something else in. We can all see this for ourselves. If we have a pure motive in what we're doing, then the ways in which we're able to maneuver in the material world become unlimited. But once we say, "I, me, my; I, me, my; I, me, my; I, me, my"—the mantra of the material world—if you listen carefully: "I, me, my; I, me, my; I, me, my." Even somebody can (gestures playing mṛdaṅga), "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! Everybody look at me!" That's different from somebody who's chanting with, "I just want to please You, Kṛṣṇa, by this mantra." And so it all comes from that point: anyeṣām bhāvanām. All forms of difficulty come from misidentification and thinking that there's something separate from my interest of serving Kṛṣṇa. Verse for discussion: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/11/13/31/ ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025

A person who is sincere and tries on the path of devotional service is never without knowledge. Kṛṣṇa gives knowledge. In fact, we hear in the Bhāgavatam (Sb 1.2.7): vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam That is: by the process of devotional service, one gains knowledge and gains detachment. And where does that come from? Kṛṣṇa, as the Supersoul, is within the heart. Dadāmi buddhi-yogam taṁ—He gives intelligence. He is giving us the opportunity to come closer to Him. Prabhupāda mentions in his purport to Bhagavad-gītā 10.10 that a person who is sincerely engaged in devotional service can never be without knowledge. Even if a person isn't very adept at the practice of devotional service, by his or her sincere endeavor, Kṛṣṇa will give everything necessary. These encouraging verses come in volleys. We find also in the ninth chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā: ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham Ananyāś means that without any other consideration, if you give your heart to Kṛṣṇa and say, "Kṛṣṇa, even though I'm busy, my main purpose is to be with You, to serve You." To such a person who is worshiping (paryupāsate), for those who are constantly engaged (nityābhiyuktānāṁ), He says, "I will fortify you (yoga-kṣemaṁ). I'll give you whatever you need. I'll provide the circumstances, the association, whatever is necessary." Vahāmy—He says, "I'll do it personally." This is a very special aspect of this verse that our ācāryas mention. When Kṛṣṇa says yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham, vahāmy means that He is there personally. It is not an impersonal force. It's not "the universe gave you a Volkswagen." Well, which part of the universe gave you a Volkswagen? Trace it back. Was it the clouds, the stars, a comet somewhere? No, there is a person behind it. That is what "Cosmos" means. Cosmos means somebody designed it; it's not random, it's not chaos. There is an intelligence behind it, but we have direct access to Kṛṣṇa, who gives us intelligence. And for those who are interested in Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa extends Himself. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

"Just be calm. When things are going well, be calm. Don't think you're on top of the world. Everybody is dispensable." The Bhagavad-gita calls it samathvam. Robert De Niro calls it being chill. Evenness of mind, steady in both the highs and the lows. Fame, wealth, prestige — they come and they go. And when that truth settles not just as a concept but as a genuine inner recognition, something shifts. Detachment arises — not as resignation, not as indifference, but as the fertile ground in which deeper contemplation and bhakti-yoga can take root. In this episode Raghunath and Kaustubha explore that teaching alongside the Srimad Bhagavatam, where the cowherd men of Vrindavan — hearing that Varuna himself worshiped their little boy — begin to wonder: will he bestow his transcendental abode upon us? Srimad Bhagavatam 10.28.8-11 Find Nityananda Chandra's course here: https://www.sanskritverses.com/wots ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

In our lives, the phenomenon is there that when we don't have a clear idea, a clear goal, then we tend to tip over. Somebody will come along with an idea; we'll run off in one, or another direction. What's more, there's this feeling of urgency for all kinds of things—they all fall in the same category. You just have one little bowl, and you throw everything in there, and the marking on the side of the bowl says 'Urgent.' Every little thing can wake you up in the middle of the night saying, 'Urgent!' You forgot to write an email to such-and-such, and you think, "Well, they must hate me by now," and that becomes a burning cinder in your mind. We have to deal with the issue of balance in our life by becoming introspective and also working on our clarity of purpose, vision, and goals. This is a great time of year for it because we're in the first quarter. That means we've got three quarters left; that's exciting! I took this phrase from Seven Habits: 'Start with the end in mind.' What do you want it to do? Where do you want whatever you're doing to end up? What will it look like when you get there? Once you have that in mind, then set your goals. It's an antidote to the sense of disturbance. If we don't have a clear idea, then whatever comes up will be very disturbing. But you may notice that if you're intensely focused on doing something or going somewhere, even if there are disturbances, you might barely even notice them. There's an example given about this in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, great literature on Bhakti Yoga. There was once an arrow maker who was sitting in his shop. He would hone the tips of the arrows and then use some special instruments to make sure they were perfectly straight. He was famous for his arrows; people used to purchase from him all the time because they were so perfectly balanced. One day, while he was in his shop, the King came through the city and passed by the arrow maker's shop. When a King goes by, there is fanfare: there were dancers, jugglers, flame-swallowers, music, bands. He went by in a palanquin carried by ornately dressed bearers; there were elephants—what a tumult! It took an hour to pass. Soon afterwards, the son of the arrow maker came running through the shop and said, "Did you see the King? Did you see the King?" The arrow maker said, "What King?" The son said, "He just passed by, right in front of your own shop!" He said, "I was unaware." Why was he unaware? Because he had one single-minded purpose, which was sharpening his arrows and doing his work. Therefore, he wasn't concerned—or wasn't even aware—that the King had passed through the town. So this is what's called in the Bhagavad-gītā 'The one-pointed attention': vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ. The intelligence is fixed, going in one direction to achieve the ultimate goal. Bhakti Yoga shows us how, if we're clear about the ultimate goal of life—what we are trying to get out of life, ultimately. I'm not talking just about some financial thing or a health goal we are working on—but why are we here in the first place? What does the end look like? Is there a purpose at the end for us to be focused on? If we have that in mind, we don't even note the disturbances that come to us when we're absorbed in the ultimate purpose of life. (0:28:18) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025