Category Archives: Blogs

Hare Kṛṣṇa, “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, ‘Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all living entities?’” Srila Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief duty of every living entity is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha and Kṛṣṇa.” (Cc. Madhya 8.252) There are many forms of meditation, and many different goals toContinue reading “SB 10.35.12-17: Cultivating Methods of Meditating on Kṛṣṇa”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, This lesson resonates deeply with my heart, for it mirrors my own experience of helplessness and apparent misfortune. The gopis said that ..”even inanimate objects like the rivers and lakes of Vṛndāvana also become stunned when Kṛṣṇa passes with peacock feathers on His head and His body smeared with the minerals of Vṛndāvana.Continue reading “SB 10.35.6-11 – The Forest Residents of Vṛndāvana”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, The best (and may be the only way) to associate with Kṛṣṇa when He is not present is through any (or all) of the nine different kinds of devotional service through feelings of separation. We can learn this from the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. “The gopīs of Vṛndāvana were so attached to Kṛṣṇa thatContinue reading “SB 10.35.1-5 – Association with Kṛṣṇa when He is Not Present”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, A careful study of this pastime highlights several instructive lessons for our spiritual lives. Śaṅkhacūḍa was so puffed up over his material opulence that he falsely thought that (a) the valuable jewel belonged to him, and (b) the young girls of Vraja are meant for his enjoyment. Exactly how a material conditioned person thinks!Continue reading “SB 10.34.20-32: Balarāma Gives Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Jewel to Śrī Rādha”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, It is well known in our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya that offending a sādhu is one of the greatest obstacles on the path of bhakti. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu repeatedly emphasized the importance of avoiding offenses at the lotus feet of devotees. Such offenses are compared to a mad elephant (hāti-mātā), which can destroy anContinue reading “SB 10.34.12-19: Offending Sadhus (Devotees)”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, I feel deeply grateful to once again be in the association of like-minded and advanced devotees, resuming our collective study of Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books. Especially inspiring is the opportunity to study the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the magnum opus and ultimate literary contribution of the Vaisnava tradition, together. It is especially auspicious to hear aboutContinue reading “SB 10.34.1-11: Śivarātri Worship”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, My first thought while approaching this forum post was: what is the connection between the previous post and this one on Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā? Upon reflection, I believe the connection lies here. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Commentary on BRS 303 states that, “Those who have a desire to taste the sweetness of Rādhā and KṛṣṇaContinue reading “Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā 5.1-5: Different Locations in Goloka According to Rasa”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Brs. 1.2.297-298: The elements of kāmānuga will be described: That rāgānuga-sādhana-bhakti which is filled with longing and which follows after the kāma-rūpa-rāgātmika-bhakti of the siddha-bhaktas, is called kāmānuga-bhakti. There are two types: sambhogecchā-mayī and tad-tad-bhāvecchātmā. Brs. 299: Sambhogecchā-mayī-bhakti is characterized by enjoying conjugally with Kṛṣṇa. Tad-bhāvecchātmika-bhakti is characterized by desiring the sweet moodContinue reading “Nectar of Devotion Chapter 16, Texts 297-303: Sambhogecchā-mayī-bhakti compared to Tad-bhāvecchātmika-bhakti”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, This is the lesson I had been eagerly looking forward to. We have heard about and studied rāgānugā-bhakti for quite some time, yet the practical guidance on how to actually practice it has often felt missing. This lesson beautifully fills that need. We know from Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī definition that rāgānugā-bhakti is spontaneous attraction forContinue reading “How to Practice Rāgānuga-bhakti”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, What a deep and beautiful topic — truly an enigma that humbles even the most sincere devotees! To better understand the various layers of rāgānugā-sādhana-bhakti, I have used AI to create a simple chart illustrating the key concepts from today’s lesson. In order to properly understand rāgānugā-sādhana-bhakti, it is essential to first dissectContinue reading “Rāgānugā-Sādhana-bhakti”