11/01/24 evening – Bhakti-yoga (English) – Mexico city, Mexico | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
- Yoga means union: the difference between the jiva (soul) and Bhagavan (Supreme Lord).
- The soul is an integral part of the Lord. All souls are servants of the Lord.
- Sloka: jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya — kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’
kṛṣṇera ‘taṭasthā-śakti’ ‘bhedābheda-prakāśa’ (CC Madhya-lila 20.108-109).
- We are not the body, the body is not our true identity. We are trapped in the cycle of birth and death, always changing bodies.
- Everyone is going to die but nobody thinks they are going to die.
- Harikatha is the food of the soul, harikatha makes the soul strong and healthy, awakened and immortal.
- Story of Indra and Virocana’s visit to Brahma.
- Only one who has faith in the instructions of the Guru and the sastras is qualified to practise Suddha-Bhakti.
- Sloka: vāco vegaṁ manasaḥ krodha-vegaṁ
jihvā-vegam udaropastha-vegam (Upadesamrta 1).
- Arjuna asks Krsna how to control the mind. Answer: vairagya (detachment) and abhyas (practice).
- Realise who you are!
- Sloka: ke āmi’, ‘kene āmāya jāre tāpa-traya’
ihā nāhi jāni — ‘kemane hita haya’ (CC Madhya-lila 20.102).
- Acquiring knowledge is not enough for spiritual development. It is necessary to practise, serve Guru and Krsna.
- Sloka: tṛṇād api su-nīcena
taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā māna-dena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (Sri Siksastakam 3).
- Chant the Holy Names, do not criticise anyone and everything will manifest in your heart.
- See only your own faults.
