Whangarei 2025
17 Sep 2025 midday – Stay at Radharani’s Places (English) | Whangarei, New Zealand
This place is as beautiful as Vrindavana. Concentrate your mind on krishna-lila. Verse: rādhā karāvacita pallava-vallarī ke… (Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi, 14). Let my mind be in places completely dominated by Srimati Radhika. Sri Radha, wearing a crown, is in Surya-kunda, meeting Krishna. The description of Radha-kunda includes the ashta-sakhis kundas, the Svananda-sukhada kunja and a bridge. Set your goal and do your bhajana-sadhana only after you have done so. We should observe three principles to...
17 Sep 2025 morning walk – The Nine Questions of the Gopis to Krishna (English) | Whangarei, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
The gopis asked Krishna what lust was. The gopis also asked Krishna why He had caused them so much pain by disappearing. The gopis wanted to hear about the different types of prema from Krishna. These types of people never return your love or friendship: atmarama: self-satisfied (Shukadeva Gosvami); aptakama: whose all desires are fulfilled (Janaka Maharaja); guru-drohi/aparadhi: akritajna, ungrateful. Hetu-prema is love with a cause (examples: birds love the forest for its fruits, a woman...
16 Sep 2025 evening – The Nature of the Soul (English) | Whangarei, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
– On the difficulties of hearing Harikatha and chanting the Holy Names. – The sabdha-brahma, a transcendental vibration, which enters through the ears and travels to the heart, eliminating anarthas (imperfections). – Quote from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada on the difficulty of hearing Harikatha. – Story of the king who went to the market and saw three dolls with vast differences in price. – The difference between hearing and listening to Harikatha...
16 Sep 2025 midday – Self-Realization, the Best Realization (English) | Whangarei, New Zealand | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Gurudeva, for the first time in the city of Whangarei, speaks of the beauty of the place. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s declaration: “One day My names will be preached and chanted throughout the world.” Nama-sankirtana is about the dharma of Kali-yuga. Karma, knowledge, and austerities are not enough to attain the Lord. Regarding nama-sankirtana, it is best to chant the Holy Names in association with sadhus. Without association with a sadhu, Maya Devi will interfere in the...