28 Jan 2024 evening – The Process of Sadhu-sanga (English) – Eugene, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

  • God gave us the language to speak harikatha.
  • Jata-ruci-sadhaka (practitioner with a taste for spiritual practice) and ajata-ruci-sadhaka (practitioner with no taste for spiritual practice).
  • Whoever attains ruci awakens bhava for Sri Krsna.
  • To practise spiritual life we ​​need to have sraddha (firm faith) in the Guru and the Sastras.
  • Bhakti-lata-bija is the process of approaching Sri Krsna.
  • Guru grants bhakti-lata-bija, the desire to serve, Krsna-seva-vasana.
  • Conditioned souls have the tendency to serve Maya.
  • Verse: brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīvaguru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja (CC Madhya-lila 19.151).
  • The process of becoming a servant of Srimati Radhika, Radha-dasya.
  • Sri Krsna is in our hearts as Paramatma to inspire us.
  • Sambhanda-jnana: knowledge about the relationship with Sri Krsna.
  • We learn how to serve Sri Krsna, from Srimati Radhika.
  • Verse: ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahādāvāgni (Siksastakam, verse 1).
  • Story about the fire sacrifice that Pariksit Maharaja’s son made after his father was bitten by the snake and abandoned the body.
  • Mantras are powerful, they contain many powers within them.
  • Sravanam and kirtana (listening and chanting) are like the water that nourishes the seed of bhakti and acintya-sakti is the potency.
  • The gopal-mantra is the raja-mantra: the king of mantras.
  • Without sadhu-sanga, Bhakti Devi will not manifest in our hearts.
  • Verse: bhakta-pada-dhūli āra bhakta-pada-jala (CC Antya-lila 16.60).
  • Follow the feet of the spiritual master, accept his remnants and his mood.