New Zealand 2023

23 Oct 2023 morning – Commentary on Sri Bhajana-Rahasya (Hindi) – Christchurch, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

The internal symptoms of bhava and rati. The example of Paraksit Maharaja. Sri Bhajana-Rahasya: the meaning of jata and ajata-rati-sadhaka, their external and internal symptoms. The meaning of nisanta-bhajana. Symptoms of those who practice devotional service, bhakti. Verse: tasmin mahan-mukharitā madhubhic-caritra (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.29.39-40). The symptoms of raganuga-bhaki and vaidhi-bhakti. The process from sraddha to prema. The difference between vidhi-marga and raga-marga. Story of...

22 Oct 2023 evening – What is Your Purpose? (English) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

PART 1 Before practicing sadhana, discover your purpose. Dharma, artha, kama and moksa are not our goals. We need guru-krpa. The guru makes us realize prema, Sri Radha and Sri Krsna. The importance of guru-seva and sadhu-sanga. Description of vapu-seva and vani-seva. Stories about the relationship between master and disciple. Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura made a pramana-mantra glorifying Srila Rupa Gosvami. The harikatha of the trustworthy guru is sabdha-brahma (transcendental sound) and...

22 Oct 2023 midday – Sadhu-sanga and Nama-sankirtana to Develop Spiritual Life (English) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Sukadeva Gosvami gave harikatha for seven days and seven nights. In Kali-yuga the body is weak and always gets sick, but we can chant the holy names. Qualities of sadhu-sanga and nama-sankirtana. Singing alone is more difficult because Yamaraja’s four daughters automatically come. Pure devotees do not want the four forms of liberation, they want Radha-krsna-prema. Story of the disciple who, at the master’s request, goes out to collect donations but only at the house of Vaisnavas...

21 Oct 2023 evening – Krsna Is Where There Is Krsna-katha (English) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

The Lord gives us the members of the body so that we can serve Him. Ambarisa Maharaja served Bhagavan with all his members. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: “Serve the Lord, serve the Vaisnavas and chant the holy names.” Lila of the queens of Dvaraka questioning Rohini Devi about why Krsna weeps for the gopis. The vrajavasis are ragatmika-jana: eternal associates of Krsna. The definition of love and lust, and how they are completely different. The lila when Krsna plays His flute and the gopis run...

21 Oct 2023 midday – How to Destroy the Root of Karma (English) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Dhrtarastra’s question to Vyasadeva at the advent of the battle of Kuruksetra. It all depends on karma, therefore, everyone collects reactions from actions done in past lives. True happiness is having Bhagavan’s darsan. No one can understand the deep roots of karma. The example of the mango tree and the fruits that ripen. The story of the curse that the bird pronounced on Dhrtarastra in a previous life. Verse: yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi (Bhagavad-gītā 9.27). The example of bamboo when...

21 Oct 2023 morning – The Importance of Sravana and Kirtana (Hindi) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

PART 1 About krsna-seva-vasana (the desire to serve Krsna). Sravana and kirtana (listening and chanting) is the cultivation of the seed of the vine of devotion, bhakti-lata-bija. Goloka Vrndavana is like a flower, and Vrndavana consists of the center of it. The different moods and the most prominent of them, madhurya. The five different types of sakhis, including manjari-bhava. The devotee should listen to harikatha, in sadhu-sanga, according to his bhava (mood). Offenses are like a mad...

21 Oct 2023 morning – The Importance of Sravana and Kirtana (English translation) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

About krsna-seva-vasana (the desire to serve Krsna). Sravana and kirtana (listening and chanting) is the cultivation of the seed of the vine of devotion, bhakti-lata-bija. Goloka Vrndavana is like a flower, and Vrndavana consists of the center of it. The different moods and the most prominent of them, madhurya. The five different types of sakhis, including manjari-bhava. The devotee should listen to harikatha, in sadhu-sanga, according to his bhava (mood). Offenses are like a mad elephant that...

20 Oct 2023 evening – Sadhu-sanga and Nama Sankirtana are Very Powerful (English) – Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Human life is very rare, there is no guarantee that we will get a human body again; sadhu-sanga is our only hope. Association with the sadhu, and listening to harikatha, are the only process to conquer Maya, in this Kali-yuga. Our aim is how to serve Guru and Krsna. How to chant the holy names? Forsaking all offences. Sadhu-sanga and nama-sankirtana are very powerful. By chanting the holy names with the sadhu, potency will come. There is only one God. He has many names. The holy names are the...