Bhakti-tattva

10 May 2026 morning – The Power of the Pure Holy Name (English) – Igualada, Spain | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Difference between atmarama and aptakama: atmarama is the one who is renounced and satisfied within (Shukadeva Gosvami) and aptakama is the one who lives in a family but is renounced (Janaka Maharaja). When we offer everything to Krishna, we become free from all sins. The symptom of brahma-jnana is having no attachment to anything, and the heart never melts. If brahma-jnanis obtain sadhu-sanga (association with the saint), their hearts will be transformed. Everything transforms when we obtain...

01 May 2026 evening – Atma-nivedanam (English translation) – Zoetermeer, Netherlands | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Regarding Sri Guru’s request to offer what is least valuable when receiving diksha initiation, our body. First surrender, and then bhakti will spring forth in your heart. As long as we do not completely surrender at Sri Guru’s lotus feet, Bhagavan will not accept us. Nothing remains with you after death, only the Holy Names you chanted during life. In this life I must dedicate myself to bhagavad-bhajana and nothing else. Mahaprabhu said that we will cleanse the mirror of our hearts...

01 May 2026 evening – Atma-nivedanam (Hindi) – Zoetermeer, Netherlands | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Regarding Sri Guru’s request to offer what is least valuable when receiving diksha initiation, our body. First surrender, and then bhakti will spring forth in your heart. As long as we do not completely surrender at Sri Guru’s lotus feet, Bhagavan will not accept us. Nothing remains with you after death, only the Holy Names you chanted during life. In this life I must dedicate myself to bhagavad-bhajana and nothing else. Mahaprabhu said that we will cleanse the mirror of our hearts...

28 Apr 2026 evening – Spiritual Development (English) – Dresden, Germany | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

– Explanation of the difference between development in spiritual life and material life. – On the fruits of karma that come automatically. – On the need to take refuge at the lotus feet of Bhakti Devi for spiritual development. – Explanation of Krishna’s instruction to Arjuna to offer all the fruits of his actions to Him. – How to perform suddha-bhakti, pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord. – Sloka: anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy...

26 Apr 2026 evening – The Glories of Sadhu-sanga (English) – Dresden, Germany

– Without association with Guru, we cannot discern what is good from what is bad. – On the materialist perspective. – By associating with a holy person and listening to their Harikatha, we can change our lives. – This human life is very rare, because only after passing through eight million four hundred thousand species of life do we acquire a body capable of properly associating with a holy person. – Through association with the sadhu, we can answer the three...

23 Apr 2026 midday – The Beauty of Service to Krishna Svayam Bhagavan (English) – Siedelsbrunn, Germany | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

Sattvika-vikara refers to the eight symptoms of ecstatic love for God that manifest in the body of a devotee: stamba (paralysis); svada (sweating); romanca (shivering); svara-bhanga (voice alteration); kampa (tremor); vaivarna (paleness); asru (tears); pralaya (fainting). Residents of Vrndavana possess spontaneous love for Krishna because they are nitya-parikaras, eternal companions. Ragatmikas are those who serve under the guidance of the nitya-parikaras. ⁠Jiva-tattva and parikara-tattva...

22 Apr 2026 evening – Krishna-katha feeds the souls (English) – Siedelsbrunn, Germany

– Time is very precious. – Dehatma-buddhi (bodily conception) is the root cause of our problems. – Verse: satam prasangan mama virya-samvido…(SB 3.25.25). – The 7th Gosvami Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura fulfilled all the desires of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. – Verse: dadāti pratigṛhṇāti guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati…(Upadeshamrita 4). – Do not ask material questions of a sadhu. You create your own problems and must solve them yourself. – Ask spiritual questions...

21 Apr 2026 morning – Sadhana-bhakti (English) – Paris, France | Srila BV Vana Maharaja

On advancing in spiritual practice depending on knowledge of slokas (verses). Indication of the Sri Slokamrtam-Bindu, a book containing the main verses we should learn. On the three stages of bhakti: sadhana, bhava, and prema. The first stage of bhakti, sraddha, means faith in the Guru and the Scriptures. The glories of the gopala-mantra, the king of all mantras. A pastime where munis and rsis meet Lord Ramachandra after chanting the gopala-mantra for over ten thousand years. Lord Ramacandra...