Discourses Translated into English 2024
24 Sep 2024 midday – Sadhu-sanga (English translation) | Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Three of the one hundred and eleven characteristics of sadhus are mentioned and described in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. The need to study the sastras. Duhshasana and Duryodhana are demons who tried to kill Bhima. The battle of Kuruksetra and the conclusions about the living entities and the potency of the Lord. Draupadi: manifestation of Laksmi Devi in Dvapara-yuga. Yudhisthira Maharaja and his understanding of the Lord’s desires. “A leaf from a tree will fall...
24 Sept 2024 morning – Radhe Krsna’s Nisanta-lila (English translation) | Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami in Govinda-lilamrta describes the Lila of Krsna’s awakening. The sakis think about the softness and delicacy of Radhe and Krsna and how to make the bed soft for a comfortable and deep sleep. Description of the beauty and lightness of the Divine Couple’s bed, compared to the foam formed on the surface of milk, as soon as the milk is milked from the cow. Vrinda Devi instructs the birds, the parrots Suka and Sari, to awaken the couple. Manju Bhashini...
23 Sep 2024 midday – The Best Benefit of Human Life is Hari Bhajana (English translation) | Auckland, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
We should practise bhajana all the time because we do not know when we will depart from this world. Our devotion should be one-pointed towards Bhagavan Sri Krsna, and we should see the demigods as devotees of the Lord, thus giving them due respect. Verse: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja… (Bhagavad Gita 18.66) Shiva, Brahma, all the demigods chant the names of the Lord. Verse: īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ… (Brahma Samhita). Song: Bhaja Hu Re Mana. Everyone...
19 Sep 2024 evening – Preach and Engage Others (English translation) | Brisbane, Australia | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
When the Lord bestows His mercy, the jiva is able to enter His abode. On the importance of Caitanya Caritamrta. All who practice bhakti do so only because they have received the Lord’s mercy. Tulasi Dasa’s Ramayana says the same thing. More important than the Lord’s mercy is the Lord’s mercy: harau ruṣṭe gurus trātā gurau ruṣṭe na kaścana… (Hari Bhakti-vilasa 4.360). Preach and call devotees to hear harikatha. – One who is busy in saving only himself is selfish...
19 Sep 2024 afternoon – Chant the Holy Names with Faith (English translation) | Brisbane, Australia | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Do not eat garlic and onions, they are like meat. Katha has to touch the heart, otherwise you will forget. The boy who does not speak harikatha does not benefit anyone. Klesaghni and subhada. Reaction of karma: story of a company manager and the customer who slaps him. Manabhasa is when one chants the Holy Names without sins but does not yet have a relationship with God. Sudha-nama is when one chants the Holy Names without sins in the heart and relates to God. Song: Kabe Habe Bolo...
19 Sep 2024 morning – Srimati Radhika’s Astonishing Qualities (English translation) | Brisbane, Australia | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Krsna does not understand what kind of prema Radha has in Her heart. Krsna stands where the pure devotees are speaking harikatha about the lilas of Vrndavana. Everyone goes crazy seeing the form of Krsna of Vrndavana. Four expansions of Krsna: Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. Even Vasudeva (Dvarakadish Krsna) is astonished by the beauty of Krsna of Vrndavana: dhira-lalita-nayaka. About Dvarakadish Krsna (Vasudeva) with Madhumangala in Nava Vrndavana. Samsara means “that which is...
18 Sep 2024 evening – From Attachment to Freedom (English translation) | Brisbane, Australia | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
An unfortunate day from a material and transcendental point of view. Maya does not hold us, it creates the illusion that it does. Tulasi dasa gives the example of a monkey holding a potato in a jar and a bird holding a wheel. Shloka: daivī hyeṣhā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā… (BG 7.14). Shloka: ‘śraddhā’-śabde – viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścay… (CC Madhya 22.62). The spiritual steps up to prema: shraddha, sadhu-sanga, bhajana-kriya, anartha-nivritti, nishtha, ruchi, asakti...