Without passing the tilaka, one cannot obtain the fruits of the diksa mantras. Mispronunciation is not a problem for the path of bhakti. If you practise bhakti, even if you waver in following the rules, you will get fruits. Verse: nehābhikrama-nāśo ‘sti pratyavāyo na vidyate (Bhagavad-gita, 2.40). To practise karma-marga and jnani-marga it is necessary to follow specific sequences; but bhakti-marga is simpler. Story of Indra’s enemy who chanted a mantra to kill him, but got the...
Wales 2023
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023, anarthas: unwanted things (obstacles in devotional service; impurities of the heart), mantra: gopala-mantra, mantra: Kama-gayatri, Vedavyasa, Vyasadeva
11 Sep 2023 morning – The Deep Meaning of the Mahamantra and Diksha Mantras (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Verse: kṛṣṇa-mantra haite habe saṁsāra-mocana (Caitanya-caritamrta, Ādi lila, 7.73). When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, the advaita-vadis criticised Him for dancing and singing in various places. Mahaprabhu received the gopala-mantra from his guru, this mantra gives detachment from sense gratification (he is mantra-raja, the king of mantras). Srimati Radhika taught the kama-gayatri mantra to Visvanatha Cakravartipada. To learn more about this mantra, read Mantrartha Dipika. Sriman...
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023
11 Sep 2023 morning – Q&A. Sri Baladeva Prabhu Tattva and Guru Tattva (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
The reason for Krsna’s manifestation as Baladeva Prabhu is no different from Krsna.
Expansions of Baladeva Prabhu.
Guru-pada-padma is an expansion of Baladeva Prabhu and, Nityananda prabhu, is Nityananda prakasa-vigraha, is Krsna-seva-murta-vigraha.
In rasa-tattva, Guru is an expansion of Srimati Radhika.
Prayer to Sri Guru, in its manjari form: rādhā-sammukha-saṁsaktiṁ sakhī-saṅga-nivāsinīm / tvām ahaṁ satataṁ vande mādhavāśraya-vigraham.
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023, bhakti: sadhana-bhakti, devotees: types, guru: guru-bhakti, guru: guru-nishtha
10 Sep 2023 evening – Ambarisa Maharaja and Vritrasura (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Jiva Gosvami explains the lilas of Ambarisa Maharaja and Vritrasura: Sandarbha-tattva. Sanatana Gosvamipada explained about five types of devotees. Sri Krsna asks Uddhava to go to Vrndavana to pacify the hearts of His parents and the gopis. Uddhava performs pranamas and asks for the dust of the gopis’ lotus feet. Sadhya means objective, and sadhana means practice. Guru-nistha and guru-bhakti are the backbone of our sadhana-bhakti. Music: Sri Guru Carana Padma, by Srila Narottama Dasa...
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023
10 Sep 2023 morning – Sambandha Jnana and Prema Tattva (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
The qualities of: Sri Krsna, Ramachandra, Sri Visnu, Siva, the demigods and the jivas. The differences in relationships with the Lord in: Vrndavana, Ayodhya, Vaikuntha and Dvaraka. The Lord has unlimited (ananta) qualities and different forms according to the mood of His devotees towards Him (rasa-vicara). There are three aspects of God: Brahma, Paramatma and Bhagavam. Bhakti begins in dasya-rasa, serving the master satisfactorily (kinkaram). All of Srimati Radhika’s moods are to satisfy...
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023, rasa: rasa-siddhanta
09 Sep 2023 evening – The Sweetness of Bhagavat-katha (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Bhagavat-katha is very sweet! The true meaning of being a butcher. Krsna-katha is the true food of the soul. Who is happy in this material world? The sweet words the gopis use to speak to Krsna. Beautiful lila of Radha and Krsna in Radha-kunda. The stages that come after the condensation of prema. The two kinds of maan: with reason and without reason. Krsna makes the lilas with the help of Yogamaya. The narrow paths of Vraja and the lila of the black serpent that frightens Radha. Song: Jaya...
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023, guru: siksa-guru, mantra: gopala-mantra
09 Sep 2023 morning – The Mercy of Understanding God (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
A question from a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada to Srila BV Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. Love and affection can manifest on hearing about the glories of an uttama-maha-bhagavata, even without having met him physically. The devotee understands everything according to his guru’s mood. About the book: My Siksa-guru and Priya-bandhu. You can understand God only when you receive His mercy. Song: Gurudeva Krpa Bindu Diya, by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The Guru’s...
2023, Discourses in English 2023, Wales 2023, United Kingdom 2023, anger: krodha (one of the enemies of spiritual life; cause of material bondage)
08 Sep 2023 evening – Vrajavasi’s love for Srimati Radhika (English) – Wales, United Kingdom | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
In Varsana, everyone thinks of Srimati Radhika as their daughter. In Nandagaon, everyone thinks of Krishna as their son. The story of a businessman with three sons and three daughters-in-law. Vrajavasis always wear many bangles on their arms. Vrajavasis always sing the song “Choti Si Kisori Mere Angana Men Dole Re”. Srimati Radhika shows mana (anger) towards the businessman. The Vrajavasis say “Radhe Radhe! In Vrndavana even the branches of the trees chant the names of Srimati...