21/08/23 morning – Encounter and Separation Nourish Devotion (English) – Hong Kong | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

- Krsna’s journey from Dvaraka to Kuruksetra and His meeting with the gopis.
- Divine love is based on encounter and separation.
- Yogamaya arranges the meeting and separation.
- Only very fortunate souls meet Guru and Krsna.
- Verse: brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 19.151).
- Sri Guru engages the conditioned souls in the service of Krsna.
- Hearing harikatha and chanting the holy names is what nourishes devotion.
- By listening to harikatha, our heart is purified of anarthas, and thus, we confirm who our Adorable Deity is.
- Verse: srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah (Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.17).
- About the process from sraddha to prema.
- Story of Haridasa Thakura known as Nama Acarya.
- The holy names (harinama), are superior to Sri Hari himself.
- How to feel separation from Krsna if we never met Him?
- The mantra builds the relationship with Krsna.
- The reasons for the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Without Mahaprabhu’s mercy we cannot know Krsna.