Podcasts about caitanya

In today's sanga, Śrīla Dhanurdhara Swami shares his realizations from his studies and travels.

It's mentioned in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta by Kavirāj Goswāmī that the mode in which Chaitanya Mahāprabhu conducted himself at Kūramkṣetra was the same as he did everywhere. In a village near here, he met a very well-to-do person named Kūrma. He was a Brāhmana and a gṛhasta. He was also the leader of his community. When he saw Srī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, as you might expect, Mahāprabhu was so attractive, Kūrma said to Lord Chaitanya that, "I will just go with you. Please, let me travel with you." Chaitanya Mahāprabhu didn't stay long in one place—sometimes just one day. Chaitanya Mahāprabhu replied to Kūrma, "Never speak like this again." This is the instruction that Chaitanya Mahāprabhu gave to Kūrma that Kavirāj Goswāmī says was consistent everywhere he went. He gave several instructions to Kūrma. One is, he said, "You should stay here and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." This was the primary reason that Chaitanya Mahāprabhu traveled everywhere: to teach everyone the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra together. He said, "Stay in your home and stay in your village, and organize people so they can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." The second instruction he gave him was, "You should teach this to other people." He said, "If you do these two things, there's no reason to leave home." Prabhupāda, in his purport to this instruction, explained that if somebody is engaged in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, hearing from Srīmad Bhāgavatam, and teaching others, that person will be protected from Māyā, and one is enveloped by the spiritual energy—so much so that Chaitanya Mahā[prabhu didn't recommend that Kūrma leave home. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #globalyouthretreat #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 3 Text 37 yady api sva-prakāśo 'sāv atītendriya-vṛttikaḥ tat-kāruṇya-prabhāveṇa paraṁ sākṣāt samīkṣyate TRANSLATION That self-manifest Lord is beyond the scope of the senses, but one can see Him directly by the power of His mercy. There is no other way.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when he lived in Vṛndāvana, would walk from Akrūra Ghāṭa every morning and sit down at Imlitalā tree and he would chant japa from early morning into the late morning. Similarly, when Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to South India, he made special arrangements for his japa. It says here, from our reading last night: "Since your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and counting the holy names, how will you be able to carry the water pot and external garments?" That's Nityānanda Prabhu trying to induce Caitanya Mahāprabhu to take somebody with him. Why? So he could have his hands free and chant Japa. From this verse (Cc Madhya 7.37), it is clear that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting the holy names a fixed number of times daily. The Gosvāmīs used to follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura also followed this principle. Considering the Gosvāmīs—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī—Śrīnivāsa Ācārya confirms: saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ. In addition to other duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the system of chanting the holy name of the Lord a fixed number of times. As confirmed in this verse, Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to count on his fingers; while one hand was engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number of rounds. This is corroborated in the Caitanya-candrāmṛta and also in Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's Stava-mālā, which is quoted. Prabhupāda says: "Therefore, devotees in the line of Caitanya Mahāprabhu must chant at least 16 rounds daily. And this is the number prescribed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily chanted 300,000 names; 16 rounds is about 28,000 names. There is no need to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura or the Gosvāmīs, but chanting the holy name a fixed number of times daily is essential for every devotee." So, this is the foundational principle of the practice of devotional service, and we get constant confirmation of how important it is. https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/7/37/ ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 #globalyouthretreat #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

So, not only do we get to walk around and see the various forms of the Lord and relish the places where Caitanya Mahāprabhu walked, but also we can participate in the same activity that he emphasized when he went to South India—which is teaching people how to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Back then, Caitanya Mahāprabhu had found a couple of books in South India. Does anybody remember which books he found? He found Brahma-saṁhitā, fifth chapter. What was the other one? Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. And he had them copied. He got the original manuscripts, and he had them copied. It was a little more difficult to get stuff copied back then because scribes had to do them by hand; but we have this best of modern technology, such that we mass-produce these books and we're able to distribute them here, there, and everywhere—wherever we go. So, we'll be doing that, and we can expect Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's special blessings from doing that. After all, that's what he did. Going back to Prabhupāda's article in the back of the Back to Godhead magazine, we're following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Our battle cry for this Yātrā is—what does it say back there? 'Nobody is better than Lord Caitanya.' You can't find anybody better than Lord Caitanya. He's the best of the best. He's Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa combined. He's the deity of the Paramahaṁsas. Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributes love for himself—love for Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. So, there's nobody better than Lord Caitanya. Ask Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī; he'll tell you the same thing. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 3 Text 22 sva-kāryāt pūrva-pūrvasmāt kāraṇaṁ cottarottaram pūjya-pūjaka-bhoga-śrī- mahattvenādhikādhikam TRANSLATION Each covering was the subtle cause of the one before it, and had a greater object of worship, a greater worshiper, and greater sense gratification, opulence, and importance.

Recorded 6th September 2024visit: http://beautyofreallove.com/visit: https://sadhumaharaja.net/audio: https://tinyurl.com/BeautyOfRealLove#raganugabhakti #bhaktiyoga #radha

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 3 Text 11 pūrvaṁ ye bahu-kālena samprāptāḥ kramaśo 'dhunā sarve nimeṣataḥ krāntā yugapan manaseva te TRANSLATION The planets I had earlier attained one by one, over a long period of time, I now crossed in the blink of an eye, as if by the power of my mind alone.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 3 Text 9 pāñca-bhautikatātītaṁ sva-dehaṁ kalayan raveḥ nirbhidya maṇḍalaṁ gacchann ūrdhvaṁ lokān vyalokayam TRANSLATION I then saw my body change into a form transcendental to the five material elements. And as I traveled upward, breaking through the sphere of the sun, I saw all the planetary systems.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 234 śrī-bhagavān uvāca nija-priya-tamāṁ yāhi māthurīṁ tāṁ vraja-kṣitim tat-tan-mat-parama-krīḍā- sthaly-āvali-vibhūṣitām TRANSLATION The blessed Lord said: Go to Mathurā, to your dearest pasturing grounds, to the land adorned with many places of My varied supreme pastimes.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 231 śrī-gopa-kumāra uvāca teṣām etair vacobhir me bhaktir vṛddhiṁ gatā prabhau vicāraś caiṣa hṛdaye 'jani māthura-bhūsura TRANSLATION Śrī Gopa-kumāra said: O Mathurā brāhmaṇa, these words of the scriptures greatly strengthened my devotion for the Supreme Lord, and this thought was born in my heart:

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Texts 223-224 bhavāṁs tu yadi mokṣasya tucchatvānubhavena hi viśuddha-bhagavad-bhakti- niṣṭhā-sampattim icchati tadā nijaṁ mahā-mantraṁ tam eva bhajatāṁ param atrāpīdaṁ mahā-gūḍhaṁ śṛṇotu hṛdayaṅ-gamam TRANSLATION If you have indeed realized the pettiness of liberation and want to attain the treasure of firm faith in pure devotional service to the Lord, then simply worship your transcendental mantra. And please hear this great secret, which is pleasing to the heart:

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 218 sadaika-rūpo 'pi sa viṣṇur ātmanas tathā sva-bhakter janayaty anu-kṣaṇam vicitra-mādhurya-śataṁ navaṁ navaṁ tayā sva-śaktyetara-durvitarkyayā TRANSLATION Although Lord Viṣṇu is always one and unchanging, at every moment He brings forth hundreds of newer and newer varieties of transcendental charm, both in Himself and in His devotional service. He does this by His personal energy, inconceivable to everyone else.

(1) doyāl nitāi caitanya' bole' nāc re āmār man nāc re āmār man, nāc re āmāra man (2) (emon, doyāl to nāi he, mār kheye prema dey) (ore) aparādha dūre jābe, pābe prema-dhan (o nāme aparādha-vicāra to nāi he) (takhon) kṛṣṇa-nāme ruci ha'be, ghucibe bandhan (3) (kṛṣṇa-nāme anurāg to ha'be he) (takhon) anāyāse saphal ha'be jīvera jīvan (kṛṣṇa-rati vinā jīvan to miche he) (ese) bṛndābane rādhā-śyāmer pa'be daraśan (gaura-kṛpā ha'le he) TRANSLATION 1) Chanting the holy name “Doyal Nitai Caitanya!” – O my mind, please dance! O my mind, please dance! O my mind, please dance! 2) Oh! Such a merciful personality as Nityananda Prabhu is not to be found anywhere! He suffers a beating from Jagai and Madhai and still gives them the love of God! Oh! When your offenses are being vanquished, you will obtain the treasure of love of God! But in these names of Caitanya and Nitai there is no consideration of offenses! Once you have a taste for the holy name of Krsna, bondage to this world will come to an end. 3) Oh! When there is attachment to the holy name of Krsna, the life of a living being very easily becomes successful! Oh! Without affection for Krsna, life is simply useless! At the end of life, you will obtain the beautiful vision of Radha and Syama in Vrndavana – but only when the mercy of Lord Gaura is first received! Oh! 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 217 sadaika-rūpaṁ bahu-rūpam adbhutaṁ vimukti-saukhyāt pratiyogi tat sukham harer mahā-bhakti-vilāsa-mādhurī- bharātmakaṁ tarkyam atad-vidāṁ na hi TRANSLATION That extraordinary happiness is always one, yet it assumes many features. It stands in contrast to the happiness of impersonal liberation. Devotional happiness is made of the intense sweetness of sporting pastimes in the highest devotional service to the Lord. Persons unfamiliar with this pleasure cannot even imagine what it is like.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 215 paraṁ samādhau sukham ekam asphuṭaṁ vṛtter abhāvān manaso na cātatam vṛttau sphurad vastu tad eva bhāsate 'dhikaṁ yathaiva sphaṭikācale mahaḥ TRANSLATION The happiness felt in impersonal samādhi is plain, isolated, vague, and limited because in that samādhi the functions of the mind have ceased. But when the object of meditation appears in the active mind, that object is more vividly manifest, like sunlight reflected on a crystal mountain.

We started our reading in Govardhan Hill with a theme led by a specific verse (SB 11.3.31): smarantaḥ smārayantaś ca mitho 'ghaugha-haraṁ harim bhaktyā sañjātayā bhaktyā bibhraty utpulakāṁ tanum The last line says that you'll experience transcendental symptoms in your body. Tanum means the body, and that means when we interact with the world, we experience various changes in our bodies, like heart palpitations, we can worry about things; we can become affected. And we can also become affected by the power of transcendental experiences and interactions. It's one of the noticeable points made in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. In fact, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu experienced extreme changes in His body because of His ecstasy and love of Kṛṣṇa, in reaction to chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa and so forth. So, bibhraty utpulakāṁ tanum means your hair will stand on end; you'll feel ecstasy in your body. But why? I'm going backward in the verse, which says bhaktyā sañjātayā bhaktyā. This means that one kind of bhakti, which is official bhakti, means that you don't really have more than an intellectual understanding of it; your hair isn't standing on end, and you don't feel ecstasy. But as you continue it, then you'll change from that official kind of bhakti into the real life of bhakti. Just like when children grow up, they start to understand a lot of things they didn't understand before and they couldn't have; they didn't have the capacity. So, in the beginning, we don't have the capacity, but bhaktyā sañjātayā bhaktyā—from one kind of bhakti, another kind of bhakti emerges. It awakens naturally. Now you getting interested in the first two lines? Like how do we get there right? It's good going backward! So then, the verse says mitho 'ghaugha-haraṁ harim. How do you become purified? Well, when I'm in a pure state, I have all these discordant vibrations going on in my citta, in my consciousness, and it's really hard to get them out. They're really banging around in there, and they're impelling me to do things that are even against my own self-interest—even my intelligence will say, "Why are you doing this?" And the response is, "I don't know, I can't stop myself." This is the phenomenon of being entrapped in material life, being a conditioned soul. But the verse is saying that what is causing us to be in such discord with our self-interest is an accumulation of these vibrations, the vibrations in the material world. And those all get cleaned up! It says mitho 'ghaugha-haraṁ harim. Agha-ogha—try saying that. Yeah, if you say it a few times, people think you are Tarzan or something! Agha-ogha is the horrible accumulation of the worst kinds of poisonous vibrations that you can ever imagine. It's awful, and it's what causes us to suffer, and all that gets cleaned up. How? Aha, we come to the first line. It says smarantaḥ smārayantaś ca mitho. Mitho means by meeting together in a group like this, or smaller (you can have two people, if you want), and smarantaḥ smārayantaś ca—remembering Kṛṣṇa and causing other people to remember Kṛṣṇa. Then, by that meeting, all of the unwanted things get destroyed within the heart. Somebody asked, "Why?" Our ācāryas say, "Because it pleases Kṛṣṇa when He sees the devotees come together to remember and cause others to remember." And then, by that process, one advances from official bhakti to real bhakti. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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/ ---------------------

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 209 avāntara-phalaṁ bhakter eva mokṣādi yady api tathāpi nātmārāmatvaṁ grāhyaṁ prema-virodhi yat TRANSLATION Even though liberation and its effects are natural by-products of devotional service, devotees do not regard satisfaction in the self as worth taking, for it obstructs pure love of God.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. (Cc Adi 1.2) https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/1/ https://versecircle.com/?s=851 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/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark #mantrameditation #chanting #makejapagreatagain #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #mantra #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 207 muktāś cāsya tayā śaktyā sac-cid-ānanda-dehitām prāpitās te bhajante taṁ tādṛśaiḥ karaṇair harim TRANSLATION The Lord's personal energy grants those liberated souls spiritual bodies of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. And with the spiritual senses thus acquired, those souls worship Lord Hari.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 193 tat sukhaṁ vardhate 'bhīkṣṇam anantaṁ paramaṁ mahat na tu brahma-sukhaṁ muktau vardhate sīmavad yataḥ TRANSLATION That happiness increases endlessly. It is limitless and supremely great. In contrast, the happiness of Brahman found in liberation never increases, because it is limited.

2025 Kārtika Vrata at Govardhan Hill, we, together, over the last 21 days, have completed our vṛata of reading the Madhya Līlā of the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. We pray that all the benedictions of the transcendental sound vibration may enter into the hearts of all of us, so we can take them out and give them to the people in the world who are suffering from spiritual starvation. May they feast upon the transcendental holy name and the transcendental literature given to us by our disciplic succession through His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda. Thank you for considering our request. A sense of deep gratitude to everybody for coming here to observe this vrat (or vrata), and a prayer that we can all be back together soon, doing it again without much delay at all. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Cc Madhya 223-283 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/25/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ One should understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa from the six Gosvāmīs in the paramparā system. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is following as strictly as possible in the footsteps of the Gosvāmīs. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, ei chaya gosāñi yāṅra, mui tāṅra dāsa: “I am the servant of the six Gosvāmīs.” The philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Whoever wants to understand the difficult subject matter of kṛṣṇa-kathā should accept the disciplic succession. If one is somehow or other able to understand Kṛṣṇa, his life is successful. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so 'rjuna. A perfect devotee is able to understand Kṛṣṇa through the disciplic succession, and his entrance into the kingdom of God is thereby certainly opened. When one understands Kṛṣṇa, there is no difficulty in transferring oneself to the spiritual kingdom. (Cc Madhya 25.271,purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 193 tat sukhaṁ vardhate 'bhīkṣṇam anantaṁ paramaṁ mahat na tu brahma-sukhaṁ muktau vardhate sīmavad yataḥ TRANSLATION That happiness increases endlessly. It is limitless and supremely great. In contrast, the happiness of Brahman found in liberation never increases, because it is limited.

The other thing that Asita Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja said that I've been thinking about a lot lately, is some of the devotees who say Śrīla Prabhupāda only gave us the ABCs. It hurts my heart. I was here for three weeks. We read the Madhya-līlā, of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. And if anyone has read that, or read the purports that Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote, they could never, ever say such an offensive thing. Prabhupāda gave us everything, and it's up to us to purify our hearts so that we can understand it. When you read the pastimes in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja speaks about it, "according to the level of the devotees who participated in the pastimes, they could understand or they could see." So Prabhupāda said, and I believe that, and I now believe it even more firmly: 'I have given you everything. Everything is in my books,' if we have faith in that, and we read Śrīla Prabhupāda's books, and we read them together. That was the other nice thing about being here. During those readings, we discuss, we ask questions, we unpack, and it's so helpful for for me, as you know, as as an individual, pretty dull-headed, to hear the realizations and the questions that the others bring up. It's absolutely wonderful! If you have facility in your communities to start reading groups, if you don't already have them, I fully support that, because it really helps us to come close to Prabhupāda, to understand Śrīla Prabhupāda, what he has done for us by taking the time. He didn't sleep much, he traveled the world, and still he gave us these purports, translated these books, managed a movement—a fledgling movement of teenagers and twenty-something-year-olds who had come with no Vedic training, no training at all, pretty much, you know, as we heard about the apple or the date. We didn't, we didn't have the basic training. But everything I have, everything I am, it's Śrīla Prabhupāda's mercy. And I know that many, or all of you feel the same way. My whole life, Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me. So I'm grateful. I have so much gratitude, and I'm working to have even more gratitude, because it's unfathomable what Śrīla Prabhupāda has given me. When I was young.. (1:40) (excerpt from the offering) ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

These are the potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and so we are part of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission. We're very fortunate to be His representatives. If you cultivate knowledge of who Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is by hearing again and again the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kavirāja Goswami says, if you hear it and you don't understand it, then hear it again, and again and again till you understand. And the effect is that we enter into that Līlā ourselves, and when we understand Kṛṣṇa by His grace, by hearing about Him, we become blissful, and we also become effectual in presenting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to others. Why is He so important? Because it's very difficult to approach Kṛṣṇa, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, but He comes as a devotee, and He makes Himself available, so that if anybody worships Him, tīrthāspadaṁ śiva-viriñci-nutaṁ śaraṇyam bhṛtyārti-haṁ praṇata-pāla bhavābdhi-potaṁ (SB 11.5.33) His lotus feet are the sum total of all the holy places. And if one serves Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and how does one do that? Join the saṅkīrtana movement, which is like an ocean. Then one comes out on the shore of the pastimes of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 169 śrī-bhakti-śāstrāṇy ūcuḥ labdha-brahmādhikāredaṁ mahā-gopyaṁ nidher api bhavat-sad-guṇa-sandohair ākhyāmo mukharī-kṛtāḥ TRANSLATION The devotional scriptures said: O dear one who have achieved the post of Brahmā, this topic is more secret than a rare treasure. But we shall explain it to you because your abundant good qualities inspire us to speak freely.

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 166 tato mahā-purāṇānāṁ mahopaniṣadāṁ tathā mādhya-sthyād āgamānāṁ tu jayo jāto mama priyaḥ TRANSLATION Then the major Purāṇas and Upaniṣads became arbitrators, and so victory went to the Āgamas. That pleased me very much.

Cc Madhya 21.1-149 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/21/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives the following summary of the twenty-first chapter. In this chapter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fully describes Kṛṣṇaloka, the spiritual sky, the Causal Ocean and the material world, which consists of innumerable universes. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes Lord Brahmā's interview with Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā and the Lord's curbing the pride of Brahmā. There is also a description of one of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes with Brahmā. In this chapter the author of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta has presented some nice poems about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's superexcellent beauty. Throughout the rest of the chapter, our intimate relationship (sambandha) with Kṛṣṇa is described. (Chapter description) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 20.393-406 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Whoever hears or recites these descriptions of the expansions of Kṛṣṇa's body is certainly a very fortunate man. Although this is very difficult to understand, one can nonetheless acquire some knowledge about the different features of Kṛṣṇa's body. (Cc Madhya 20.405) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta Part 2 Chapter 2 Text 146 ittham ahnāṁ katipaye prayāte prātar ekadā kautukād brahmaṇā spṛṣṭaḥ pheṇa-puñjo 'suro 'bhavat TRANSLATION After I had spent some days in this way, early one morning, out of curiosity, Brahmā touched a mass of foam, and it turned into a demon.

Cc Madhya 20.336-390 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Sanātana Gosvāmī wanted to confirm the fact that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa for this age. According to the śāstra, in Kali-yuga the Lord would assume a golden or yellow color and would distribute love of Kṛṣṇa and the saṅkīrtana movement. In accordance with the śāstra and saintly persons, these characteristics were vividly displayed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and it was therefore clear that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. He was confirmed by the śāstras, and His characteristics were accepted by saintly people. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not escape Sanātana Gosvāmī's argument, He remained silent on this point and thereby indirectly accepted Sanātana's statement. By this we can clearly understand that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the direct incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. (Cc Madhya 20.365,purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 20.274-335 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ In the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa says, 'Whatever nature you have, you should engage that as a meditation on Kṛṣṇa and to work for Kṛṣṇa.' And the more you're able to—as Prabhupāda the other day used the word—dovetail, your propensity for Kṛṣṇa's service, then the less affected you will be by the modes of material nature from your work. Because it's proven in the Fifth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, where Kṛṣṇa says (BG 5.18): brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā That when you are doing your work, whatever nature you have, but sangam˙ tyaktvaˉkaroti yaḥ-- you divorce yourself from, you don't have a saṅga with the result; you are offering it to the Supreme as you're doing it. Lipyate means to get some of the pollen that gets smeared; it means to be smeared by the material nature—like how to walk through without getting smeared? lipyate na sa papena --what do you get smeared with? Pāpa. But you don't get that if internally you develop the idea that whatever I'm using my body for, just like Lord Brahmā in the mode of passion was using his body to create the universe. He said, if you transfer internally your desires, that you're doing it for Kṛṣṇa—sangam˙ tyaktvaˉkaroti yaḥ- all the work is for Kṛṣṇa, then 'lipyate na sa papena,' you don't get that after-effect. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 20.189-273 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ If Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta is giving a class, it's a no brainer. You want to stay and listen and yeah, and that's the more mature response. If you have the choice to go here, there, and everywhere, or be there for the hearing and chanting with your spiritual master, it's a more mature thing to stay and just hear and chant. But you know, it's hard because there are so many devotional activities: śravaṇa, kīrtana, Viṣṇu-smaraṇam, pāda-sevanam, arcanaṁ, vandanaṁ, dasyam, sakhyam... it's hard to fit them all in and keep up with everything. Don't you find that? There are so many choices and so many places to be, so many festivals to go. I didn't go to the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Kṛṣṇa Balarāma temple. They were like "where were you? How come you didn't come?" I was like, "Well, I was in another place at that time that I had to be also." How can you be everywhere at the same time? So we have this conundrum that Kṛṣṇa has given us so much option for bliss that we can barely take it all in. Even if you try for billions of lifetimes, you'll never be able to keep up. Even if you just tried to visit all the temples in India, you wouldn't make it in a hundred lifetimes, not in a thousand lifetimes—even the ones in Vṛndāvana practically, what to speak of all over India. The whole place is a big tīrtha. It's called Puṇya-bhūmi. But now the whole world is like that, too, because you can go anywhere. I went to Scotland and drove way out there in the country. What is that? Karuṇā Bhavan. I had never been there before. It was ten years ago, we drove up there, and I walked in, all jet-lagged, and I looked in the temple, and Gaura Nitāi were there. The first Gaura Nitāi I ever met in San Francisco! Same Deities somehow traveled across the ocean and went to Karuṇā Bhavan. It was a multi-deity trade or something, I don't know. I was like, "What are you doing here?" They were like, "What are you doing here?" So it never ends. I mean, that's why devotional service is bliss, because the variety, combinations, and permutations of hearing, chanting and seeing Deities, never come to the end of it. (excerpt from the discussion) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 20.124-191 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Even if one has taste, it may be difficult to find an environment in which we are uninterrupted. So it's by design that we come all the way out here and sequester ourselves so that we can get, I like: Ekachakra Prāṇa said, "we get into flow. You can do so much when you're in the flow. And that's what yajñas are like: you arrange it just so that there are no interruptions whatsoever, so you can go deeply within the chanting of sixteen rounds, or the reading and things like that. This morning at the ICC meeting, Guru Prasād Swāmi gave a talk. And during his talk, he was just trying to rally all the leaders that were there. He said in rare occasions only he would look at his phone in the morning. But the general rule is he doesn't turn on his phone until after the morning program. He was urging devotees to get into deep flow and absorption in the sādhanā. (excerpt from discussion) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Cc Madhya 20.57-123 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/20/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ A sinful person goes to a holy place of pilgrimage to be purified. In a holy place, there are many saintly people and temples of Lord Viṣṇu; however, the holy place becomes infected with the sins of many visitors. When an advanced devotee goes to a holy place, he counteracts all the sins of the pilgrims. Therefore Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira addressed Vidura in this way. Since an advanced devotee carries Lord Viṣṇu within his heart, he is a moving temple and a moving Viṣṇu. An advanced devotee does not need to go to holy places, for wherever he stays is a holy place. In this connection, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura states, tīrtha-yātrā pariśrama, kevala manera bhrama: visiting holy places is simply another type of bewilderment. Since an advanced devotee does not need to go to a holy place, why does he go? The answer is that he goes simply to purify the place. (Cc Madhya 20.57 purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Cc Madhya 19 202-257 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/ ------------------------------------------------------------ “When one thinks of Kṛṣṇa constantly, love for Him manifests within the heart. Even though one may be ignorant, one can reach the far shore of the ocean of transcendental love by Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy.” (Cc Madhya 19.236) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

When distributing books and asking donations for something other than that related to the book, one may become nauseous after some time, because there's no challenge to that, and it's also kind of off-point. We are not begging for money. We don't need their money. And I, I personally feel that it's best to be ultra-straightforward with people, and when you are, then you have more potency. I like to tell people, 'We don't need the money. It's for you to give. It's your penance. It's your tapasya to give something so you can read the book; otherwise, you won't be able to understand it.' That's so stark, and sort of the last thing they expected. Because with beggars, they're always trying to make up some excuse why it's a good idea and why we really need the money. And then they're in the power position to give or not give. But when you tell them, 'I don't need your money. This is for you to donate so you can get the sukriti in order to understand the book. Otherwise, you won't be able to understand it.' I like that better. Years ago, I heard about this devotee in Russia who gave everyone complete free will. He would tell people, 'You know, you can give for the book or not give for the book, and I'm still going to give it to you.' And he really meant it. He didn't do it as a technique, and then he gave them freedom to do it, so they're using their free will to give or not give, not trying to trick him, or say, 'Oh, it's for starving babies or something like that.' Who are you won't give for a baby? When he gave them free will like that, he said it was amazing how much spiritual power he experienced. He said, 'Some people didn't give, but then other people gave way more.' And then I started doing it myself, it's a much more exhilarating experience. (excerpt from the discussion) ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 19.165-200 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ The criterion is that a devotee must know what Kṛṣṇa wants him to do. This understanding can be achieved through the medium of a spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī advises, ādau gurv-āśrayam. One who is serious in wanting to render pure devotional service to the Lord must take shelter of a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession from Kṛṣṇa. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ. Without accepting a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, one cannot find out the real purpose of devotional service. Therefore one has to accept the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and agree to be directed by him. The first business of a pure devotee is to satisfy his spiritual master, whose only business is to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And if one can satisfy the spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa is automatically satisfied — yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. This is the success of devotional service. (Cc Madhya 19.167, purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 19.17-117 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ This is the main stimulus for advancing devotional service: like-minded association with devotees who are more advanced than oneself. And being able to detect that requires one's very deep realization. Because if we don't have a realization, we just take for granted when we're in exalted association. "Yeah, I could do that." Like people, sometimes they watch the Olympics on their television. The guy sets the world record for the pole vault, and the guy sitting there on the couch tells his wife, "Yeah, I could do that. I used to do that when I was in high school." No appreciation for somebody who's more advanced! And humility means being able to detect the more advanced devotees, people who are more advanced than oneself. And of course, in deep, deep humility, one sees that one can learn from everybody. It's one of the benefits of preaching, going out into the world and seeing how the modes work, and also through the mouths of apparently just ordinary people controlled by the modes of material nature, one gets direction from Kṛṣṇa—how to refine oneself. And one could hear that voice. (excerpt from the discussion) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

CC Madhya 19.118-154 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ I had long conversations with Rādhikā Ramaṇa Prabhu when we stayed with him the year Sādhu Saṅga was in Utah. Rādhikā was saying it's the glory of a person, and it makes them more glorified when those after them first of all choose to write about the materials following that luminary. He gave the example of Shakespeare. How many thesis papers have there been in the humanities department about any of Shakespeare's works or his life in general? Millions. And did that eclipse Shakespeare's writings? No. On the contrary, it's a light shining on them saying, "Wow, so many people were writing about him and, you know, taking points from his writings that he must be like the super guy," and he is in literary history. So his point was, after every ācārya, there are always thousands of commentaries. We only see a few of them, but there are thousands of writings about any luminary, any of the mahātmās who have written, and so forth, and it glorifies them, because, of course, that person made a stir, they hit a nerve. They actually had something potent to say, and therefore there's a lot more to say about it and a lot more to churn within what they said. Therefore his opinion was and is, that it's the glory of Prabhupāda that more people write about what he said and what he brought to bear—the whole canon of Vedic literatures—and how we can bring it into the modern light so that people can take advantage of it. That shows Prabhupāda's potency. And case in point was the Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta, because Joseph T. O'Connell, who at the time was the preeminent expert on Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism in the academic world, if you read his foreword to the book, he says that very thing: that nobody in the world up to this point, after hundreds of years, has been able to do what Gopīparāṇadhana Prabhu has done, which is to effectively translate what Sanātana Gosvāmī wrote as prose, as commentary, he wrote in Sanskrit, and nobody had been able to take it and put it into a natural flow of language that people could read and understand. And He said it's perfectly done. He said, "This points to the greatness of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda, that he could attract and then train disciples who could do that." What to speak of how the devotees headed by Hṛdayānanda Mahārāja were able to finish the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Cantos of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which sometimes people say, "Oh, you don't read those. They're not Prabhupāda's books." But my opinion is, they're as much Prabhupāda's books as before that, because who trained them to talk like that and have a perfect grasp of the siddhānta and to be able to present it in the same mood that comes through the disciplic succession? It shines a light on the greatness of Prabhupāda that somebody was able to be there and continue that, as Prabhupāda asked them to do. (excerpt from the discussion) 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/ ------------------------------------------------------------

Cc Madhya 19.151-164 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Māyā is so strong, too. If people get bad association, they become sentimental and they stop. They can develop all kinds of anarthas, some of which are: "Well, devotional service is antiquated, and there are other more modern ways, although they're the same old thing, rehashed. It's all been done in previous millenniums." This is just people trying to find ways to explore their spirituality aside from following the four regulatory principles and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then, after being beaten by Māyā severely, people often come back and realize that they had something very valuable. It's not a great idea, however, to go away for such a long period of time, because one can really lose one's momentum and the opportunity of putting together at least one full lifetime, from pillar to post, where one takes advantage of the process. Which is the best idea. (excerpt from the discussion) ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings nareadings #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

Cc Madhya 18.128-229 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/18/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ I was once on an airplane ride from San Francisco to Hawaii, en route to India — it was a stopover along the way. And they had a talent show on the plane. They asked if anybody had a talent — if so, they could come up and, you know, do their thing. A few people volunteered and went up there. There was a comedian, then a breakdancer, and someone did a magic trick. I was a brahmacārī. I got up and chanted the Brahma-saṁhitā on the plane — and I won.They gave me two tickets to the Botanical Gardens in Hawaii. So yes... it always pays to learn verses. (excerpt from the discussion) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 19.1-16 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started for Vṛndāvana through the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa, Rūpa Gosvāmī left home and sent news to Sanātana that he was leaving with his younger brother (Anupama Mallika) to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī finally reached Prayāga and met with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for ten successive days. During this time, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa extended an invitation to the Lord with great respect. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī to Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. After this, a brāhmaṇa scholar named Raghupati Upādhyāya arrived and discussed Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the Lord. Kavirāja Gosvāmī then extensively describes the living condition of Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana at Vṛndāvana. During the ten days at Prayāga, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was instructed by the Lord, who gave him the basic principles of the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. The Lord then sent Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī to Vṛndāvana. The Lord Himself returned to Vārāṇasī and stayed at the home of Candraśekhara. (excerpt from Chapter discussion) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 18.1-66 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/18/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following information about Govinda-kuṇḍa. There is a village named Āniyora on Govardhana Hill, a little distance from the village of Paiṭha. Govinda-kuṇḍa is situated near here, and there are two temples to Govinda and Baladeva there. According to some, Queen Padmāvatī excavated this lake. In the Bhakti-ratnākara (Fifth Wave), the following statement is found: ei śrī-govinda-kuṇḍa-mahimā aneka ethā indra kaila govindera abhiṣeka “Govinda-kuṇḍa is exalted for its many spiritual activities. It was here that Indra, defeated by Lord Govinda, offered prayers to Him and bathed Him.” In the book Stavāvalī (Vraja-vilāsa-stava 74) the following verse is found: nīcaiḥ prauḍha-bhayāt svayaṁ sura-patiḥ pādau vidhṛtyeha yaiḥ  svar-gaṅgā-salilaiś cakāra surabhi-dvārābhiṣekotsavam govindasya navaṁ gavām adhipatā rājye sphuṭaṁ kautukāt  tair yat prādurabhūt sadā sphuratu tad govinda-kuṇḍaṁ dṛśoḥ “With humility caused by great fear, Indra took hold of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and, in the company of a surabhi cow, performed His coronation festival by bathing Him with the waters of the heavenly Ganges River. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa's kingship over the cows became splendidly manifest. I pray that Govinda-kuṇḍa, the lake created by that ceremonial bath, may eternally appear before my eyes.” Also, in the Mathurā-khaṇḍa it is stated: yatrābhiṣikto bhagavān maghonā yadu-vairiṇā govinda-kuṇḍaṁ taj-jātaṁ snāna-mātreṇa mokṣa-dam “Simply by bathing in Govinda-kuṇḍa, one is awarded liberation. This lake was produced when Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa was bathed by Lord Indra.” (Cc Madhya 18.37, purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Cc Madhya 18.67-127 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/18/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ I just heard Prabhupāda saying this morning about what it means to be a Rūpānuga. And he said that Rūpānugas back everything up with śāstra. That means, when you back things up with śāstra, you are staying accountable. If we don't give the correlating śāstra, we go off road or speculate. Prabhupāda was very clear about it, and he set an example for this constantly. When he would give darśans, he had this phrase, "Find out that verse." Prabhupāda knew where the verse was, he even knew the verse, but he would tell his assistant to find out that verse, and they would scramble to find it, open the book, and find the verse, and then say it, because Prabhupāda was demonstrative about the fact that whatever statement he was making, he was following śāstra. And it can be that somebody will give a talk, and then they don't refer to it, and it leaves one hanging a little bit. So, on the positive side, Prabhupāda set the example, and he wanted us to be śāstra-sunipuṇa, which means to see the interconnectedness of all the śāstras, and be able to refer to śāstra whenever we bring up spiritual points. And he gave this example: He said, 'When you go to court as a lawyer, you have to be able to back up your legal theory from the law books. So, if you go in and you just say, 'I think this guy is guilty,' and the judge says, 'Why?' ' And you say "I don't know, I just feel like that,' then you don't have any case. You have to be able to show evidence and also show legal theory from the books.' Prabhupāda said, 'We should know these books, the canon that we've been given, the way a lawyer knows his books. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Who's Rupa Goswami? We're known as Rūpānugas, followers of Rūpa Goswāmī. In the spiritual world. He has an intimate connection with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as a mañjarī. He's known as Rūpa Mañjarī, but here in this world, he shows very practically how we can perform the nine items of devotional service and water the seed of devotion, just as Lord Caitanya had taught, and we can have success in this life. To achieve that end, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is his spiritual master and preceptor, taught him all about how to worship the Deity. And you'll find in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that Lord Caitanya gives instruction to Sanātana Goswāmī exactly how to establish a Deity, how to worship the Deity. He asked Sanātana Goswāmī, who is the brother of Rūpa Goswāmī, to write the entire chapter on Deity worship, and who teaches it? Kṛṣṇa. He tells about the different forms of the Deity you can worship. There are Deities from metal, wood, stone, jewels, paint, and in your mind. You can make a deity out of earth, and so forth. And then he tells the exact process, and that process has been passed down also through great sages like Nārada. Because of Nārada, we have the Nārada Pañcarātra, and we have the Pāñcarātrikī vidhi, which is the rules and regulations of how to worship Kṛṣṇa in the Deity form. So this was part of the process of bhakti-yoga, to worship the Deity, and Rūpa Goswāmī worshiped Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda according to the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And here in Jaipur, they still follow that system. So it's part of our Gauḍīya family tradition to come here and see Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda and remember Rūpa Goswāmī. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #kartikimmersionretreat #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

Cc Madhya 15.277-302 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/15/ I walk into a temple, sometimes I look around and I'll think, like, why are they doing it like this? Why are they doing like that? Why are they offering flowers with no scent? or whatever thing I can find. And I remember Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi. You know, the last story in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, who's a paramahaṁsa, he goes to Odana Ṣaṣṭhī, where the Lord gets new clothes. So the pujārīs had put new clothes on Him, but they're still starched, which means they were off the shelf. They just took them off the shelf and offered them to the Lord directly. And he was watching, and he became disgusted, "How dare these pujārīs dress the Lord with the starched garments that are off the shelf!" That night, Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi had a dream that Lord Balarāma and Lord Jagannātha came to him, and they said, "How dare you criticize our pujārīs?" And in the dream, they started slapping his face back and forth. The next day, his face was swollen from being smacked. I remember that sometimes when I think, "Didn't they get the memo? It doesn't go there; it goes here." And I think, like, "Hey, these guys have a million times more devotion than you do. Don't try to second-guess who they are." But the reason I ask also is because if you're in a position to find fault, like if you're a temple president, you're free to find fault with—of course, you have to administer your advice systematically in such a way it doesn't disturb people's minds—but it's your duty to walk around and say, "How come there's a crack there?" Like Śivarāma Mahārāja, if you see him in Hungary, he walks around with a white glove, and he'll sweep his hand across a door top or whatever, and say, "Hey, clean this!" So you have to find fault in those cases, but you have to just fine-pick your battles. Like what you said in the beginning, it was one of the Gauḍīya ācāryas had once said. This is in recent times. He said, when asked by an outsider, "What is your religion?" He said, "My religion is to find fault with myself, find my own faults, and to rectify them." So that's a project. (excerpt from the discussion) ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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

Cc Madhya 14.1-18 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/14/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ I think it's in contention for the best purport. We should have every year the 'Best Purport Awards.' This is what I'm going to enter. (HG Vaisesika Dasa) Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī wants to point out that nothing could compare to the Lord's mercy toward Mahārāja Pratāparudra; therefore he uses the word dekha (“just see”) and caitanyera kṛpā-mahābala (“how powerful is the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu”). This is also confirmed by Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī: yat-kāruṇya-kaṭākṣa-vaibhava-vatām (Caitanya-candrāmṛta 5). Even a little of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy serves as a great asset for spiritual advancement. Therefore the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must be spread through the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When Rūpa Gosvāmī experienced the mercy and magnanimity of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he said: namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya- nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other avatāra, even Kṛṣṇa Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given — pure love of Kṛṣṇa.” Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura has also sung, parama karuṇa, pahuṅ dui jana, nitāi-gauracandra: “The two brothers Nitāi and Gaura are so kind that no one can compare to Them.” Similarly, Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung: vrajendra-nandana yei, śacī-suta haila sei, balarāma ha-ila nitāi, dīna-hīna yata chila, hari-nāme uddhārila, tā'ra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi “Just to deliver all the sinful persons of this age by propagating the chanting of the holy name, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma have advented as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu. Jagāi and Mādhāi are evidence of Their success.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's special mission is the deliverance of all fallen souls in Kali-yuga. Devotees of Kṛṣṇa must persistently seek the favor and mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to become fit to return home, back to Godhead. (Excerpt from Cc Madhya 14.16,purport) https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/14/16/ ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #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

Cc Madhya 124-243 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/11/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ At the present moment we see that some of the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are tending to leave their preaching activities in order to sit in a solitary place. This is not a very good sign. It is a fact that Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has condemned this process for neophytes. He has even stated in a song, pratiṣṭhāra tare, nirjanera ghare, tava hari-nāma kevala kaitava: “Sitting in a solitary place intending to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is considered a cheating process.” This practice is not possible for neophytes at all. The neophyte devotee must act and work very laboriously under the direction of the spiritual master, and he must thus preach the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Only after maturing in devotion can he sit down in a solitary place to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself did. Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to teach us a lesson He traveled all over India continuously for six years and only then retired at Jagannātha Purī. Even at Jagannātha Purī the Lord chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in great meetings at the Jagannātha temple. The point is that one should not try to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura at the beginning of one's transcendental life. One must first become very mature in devotion and thus receive the approval of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Only at such a time may one actually sit down peacefully in a solitary place to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and remember the lotus feet of the Lord. The senses are very strong, and if a neophyte devotee imitates Haridāsa Ṭhākura, his enemies (kāma, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and mātsarya) will disturb and fatigue him. Instead of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the neophyte will simply sleep soundly. (Cc Madhya 11.176 purport) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #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