18 Jan 2025 morning walk – Questions and Answers (English) | Sao Paulo, Brazil | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

00:00:00 – Krishna says: “As the wind blows, so it is difficult to control the mind.” All our senses are drawn towards sense objects; our mind is tied to sense enjoyment. Therefore, Arjuna asks: “How to control the mind? Through practice and detachment.”
0:04:37 – Read three books: Shikshashtaka, Manah-shiksha, Upadeshamrita. One must read these books daily; past impressions disturb the mind.
0:06:55 – Question: How to chant the holy names? Listen to Hari-katha, read the granthis (scriptures).
0:07:38 – Question: How to associate with sadhu during Harinam? When you read the granthis, you are associating with the author. Smaranam, kirtanam, listening — then bhakti will come.
0:09:45 – Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur says: We perform anga-bhakti (devotional practices). We cannot physically be with the sadhu, so we must read the granthis, and that is association. There is bhakta-bhagavata and grantha-bhagavata.
0:10:33 – There are three kinds of mridanga: the mridanga (instrument), Brihad (books), and jivat (the living sadhu, the Vaishnava). Sadhu-sanga is such: if you associate with sadhus and listen to Hari-katha, then all your sins in the heart will be destroyed.
0:14:20 – Question: Sometimes during spiritual practice, confidence comes, and sometimes it doesn’t. How to understand if it’s the mind or Krishna? First, one must learn to control the mind, fully surrender: “I do not know dharma or adharma. All that I have done, Krishna inspired.” Pray to Krishna; He will arrange everything.
0:22:09 – When Draupadi began praying to Krishna, Krishna did not protect her. But when she surrendered, Krishna manifested in the form of the sari. Raising two hands signifies surrender.
0:23:40 – Question: Goura Govinda Gosvami Maharaj said that Dvaraka-lila, Madhura-lila are Krishna’s dream. How to understand this? Krishna has three kinds of dhama. The Lord shows us lilas; this is described in Lalita-madhava. How Krishna experiences separation is described in Brihad Bhagavatamrita. Viraha-lila: without separation, there is no meeting; Jiva Gosvamipada describes this. It is like a coin with two sides having the same value.
0:36:30 – The lilas of Mahaprabhu. Shachi Mata offered Mahaprabhu’s favorite foods at the altar when Mahaprabhu was in Jagannatha Puri. When Shachi Mata remembered Nimai, the plates were empty.
0:38:40 – Translation into Portuguese.
0:44:07 – Vrindavan is the place where Krishna’s pastimes take place.

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