Sound Bhakti

Deities are known for their intimate connection with their devotees, and the secret in life was given by one of my godbrothers, who used to live in Govardhan. He lived and passed in Govardhana. His name is Gopīparāṇdhana Prabhu. He had stayed where we were, right next to where we were this morning for breakfast. He lived just down the road from there, in a little house with his wife and child and...

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...

Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (SB 10.2.37) https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/2/37/ -------------------...

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...

The means for making advancement towards the spiritual world are mentioned in the 10th Canto of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (SB 10.2.30): tvayy ambujākṣākhila-sattva-dhāmni samādhināveśita-cetasaike tvat-pāda-potena mahat-kṛtena kurvanti govatsa-padaṁ bhavābdhim Say the demigods, meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa, praying to Him within the womb that one should have one-pointed attention on Kṛṣṇa (samādhināveśita...

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions. (SB 11.5.32) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vai...

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā In this age, Kali-yuga, one cannot execute any process of self-realization or perfection of life other than kīrtana. Kīrtana is essential in this age. To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ -----------------------------------------...

We have come here to this most sacred place. We may or may not be able to appreciate it. We all have an appreciating capacity, and it can expand unlimitedly. So that's why we're doing this and we can pray for an ever-expanding, appreciating capacity for Kṛṣṇa Katha because that's something you can do, whether you are here, whether you are in London or the United States or on an airplane. You can g...

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 o...

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 material...

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 g...

Jīva Goswāmī says that this verse, "Sarva-dharmān parityajya," is the solace of all devotees, and they think about it again and again: "How Kṛṣṇa, by speaking this verse to Arjuna, saved the whole world!" If you ever fear, feel left out, frustrated, abused, confused, or angry with your lot in life, consider this verse. And consider Draupadi putting our hands high in the air and saying, "He Govinda...

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 reac...

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 peop...

When we come to see Kṛṣṇa and He glances on us and we see His beautiful form, then we are looking at the ultimate object of meditation. If we drive through Jaipur, we'll see many signboards, and everyone's trying to catch our attention to look at something. Maybe there's Coca-Cola, and they have a picture of some attractive-looking person drinking sugar water. They are not going to look so good in...

There are various levels of chanting, and two of them can be identified as attentive chanting and inattentive chanting. So, attentive chanting means that I'm very much aware that I'm chanting. I'm also hearing the syllables, aware of the name, the quality of it; there's some engagement of my mind. And inattentive chanting means it's like idling a car—the car is idling, and then you're doing someth...

O Lord Damodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly effulgent rope which binds Your belly. I then offer my obeisances to Your belly, which is the abode of the entire universe. I humbly bow down to Your most beloved Srimati Radharani, and I offer all obeisances to You, the Supreme Lord, who displays unlimited pastimes. (Translation,verse 8) ---------------------------------------...

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,...

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 Balade...

Cc Madhya 17.186-234 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/17/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “ ‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious prin...

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of GodhTo 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://t...

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....

Cc Madhya 17.128-185 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/17/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Expectation is the mother of disappointment. If we can be appreciative of what we have in every moment, instead of being expectant of one thing or another.. Right now, we can appreciate everything. It's possible to appreciate everything, veritably. We live in...

Cc Madhya 15.40-127 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/17/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Tapan Miśra was a scholar. He read too many books, and he got confused. And then he met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was traveling in East Bengal, and he asked him, "What should I do?" He had had a dream that he would meet an effulgent pers...

Cc Madhya 17.1-39 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/17/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Prayer is a kind of declaration of one’s determination, and we don't even know how determined we are until we start praying, to hear ourselves. Rādhikā Ramaṇa Prabhu gave this masterful class In New Vrindāban that was about prayer. I mean, what class has he has ever given tha...