10 Jun 2024 evening – The Stages of the Creeper of Devotion (English) | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
- Verse: ‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya … (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila 22.54).
- Sadhu sanga means listening to Harikatha and putting it into practice.
- Verse: śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ … (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.17).
- Grantha bhagavata and bhakta bhagavata.
- Verse: tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ … (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.31.9).
- The three types of miseries of the material world, adhyatmika, adhidhaivika and adhibhautika, end by listening to Harikatha.
- Harikatha must be heard directly from the sadhu’s mouth.
- Verse: brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva … (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila 19.151).
- The seed of service to Krsna and the desire to serve Him (krsna-seva-vasana) are bestowed by the Guru.
- Verse: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23 and 24).
- The steps of the growth of the bhakti vine.
- Verse: guru-śuśrūṣayā bhaktyā … (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.30 and 31).
- Verse: ananyāś cintayanto māṁ … (Bhagavad Gita 9.22).
- Guru-vakya-visvasa (faith in the Guru’s instructions) must be cultivated every day.
- Everyone should read Bhagavad Gita daily.
- Guru’s maximum instruction is the chanting of the Holy Names.
