30/04/23 p.m. – How Can We Unite and Serve the Lord? (English) – Spain | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
tvdegurudev
Yoga means union with the Lord, and bhakti-yoga teaches us how to serve the Lord.
Maya punishes us because we have forgotten to serve Krsna.
If we serve Krsna, Maya will stop punishing us.
A baddha-jiva has no sukriti, so he has no faith in sadhu, guru and Vaishnava.
The conditioned soul is always absorbed in four things: eating, sleeping, mating and defending itself. Verse: āhāra-nidra-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām dharmo hi teṣām adhiko viśeṣo dharmeṇa hīnaḥ paśubhiḥ samānaḥ
There is only one difference between animals and human beings: human beings can ask themselves about spiritual life, “Who am I?”, and animals cannot.
Man doesn’t know where he goes after death.
Atma-buddhi (Self-realisation is the best realisation).
How to serve the Lord? Especially in Kali-yuga it is chanting the holy names.
Sadhu-sanga and nama-sankirtana (chanting the holy names in the company of sadhus).
Karmis, yogis, jnanis cannot meet God directly.
Always be in the company of sadhus, gurus and Vaishnavas.
Give up bad association (example of the rotten potato that spoils all others). Verse: asat-saṅga-tyāga We must reject the association of non-devotees.
Even a moment’s association with a sadhu can give all perfection. Verse: ‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ – sarva-śāstre kaya lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
Always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
Follow the instructions of the sadhu.
Narada Rishi’s lila when meeting Mrigari hunter doing cruelty to animals.
Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. -The sadhu can change the life of one who surrenders and follows his instructions.
Example of Srila Svami Maharaja coming to the West (hippies became happy).
Follow the four principles and chant Hare Krishna.
We should learn Vaishnava sadachara (good Vaishnava behaviour).
If you practise bhakti, compassion will come automatically.
Maya is powerful and running after you, so chant the holy names and be happy, that’s the process!
Don’t run after the dry desert full of sand and heat (maya).
Listen to the sweet lilas of the Lord and you will be liberated from this material world. Verse: tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ kavibhir īḍitaṁ kalmaṣāpaham śravaṇa-maṅgalaṁ śrīmad ātataṁ bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ
Only the butcher does not want to hear the lilas of the Lord, because he has a very hard heart.
Lila of Krsna with Mother Yashoda.
Damodarastakam song: namāmīśvaraṁ sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaṁ lasat-kuṇḍalaṁ gokule bhrājamanam -Mother Yashoda ran after Krsna for two reasons: because she had to punish Him (when He broke the butter pot and fed it to the crows and monkeys), and because He was her only son.
Just listen to these sweet kathas and you will be free from all anarthas and sinful activities.
If you don’t listen to Hari-katha, Maya-devi will punish you even more!
