– The glories of listening to Harikatha. – Verse: śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ (SB 1.2.17). – Verse: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam (SB 7.5.23). – Verse: satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ (SB 3.25.25). – Verse: tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ kavibhir īḍitaṁ kalmaṣāpaham (SB 10.31.9). – Verse: na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ (BG 15.6). – Verse: mamottamaśloka-janeṣu...
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.31.9
18 Feb 2025 evening – Self-realization is the Best Realization (English) | Punta Arenas, Chile | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Gurudeva reminds us of the rarity of the human body and that we must understand that the human body is the only one capable of rendering devotional service to the Lord. Explanation of why God created man in His image and likeness. What characteristic differentiates men, conditioned souls, from other animals. Upon reaching the abode of the Lord, a place of bliss, everyone will be very happy. The material world is incomplete, but in the transcendental world happiness is unlimited, it is an...
05 Feb 2025 midday – Raseshvari Srimati Radhika: Vasanta Rasa Dance (English) | Praia do Presidio, Brazil | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Yesterday was Advaita Saptami. An Advaita Acharya is a pure devotee. That’s why Krishna heard his call. Verse: tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ… (SB 10.31.9). Verse: āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām… (Shikshashtaka 8). The gopis gave up all the rules and regulations of society. And yet Srimati Radhika’s love for Krishna is incomparable. No one can explain it. Madanakya-mahabhava is Srimati Radhika’s prerogative. Ananya-mamata. Samanjasya-rati, sadharani-rati, samartha-rati. Out...
05 Dec 2024 midday – The Power of Harikatha Spoken by a Pure Devotee – Harikatha Online for Chinese Devotees (English) | Skype, Netherlands | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Srila Gurudeva speaks sweet words to the Chinese devotees. Krsna is wonderful and merciful and arranges for the devotees to meet Gurudeva. One must nourish the soul, not just the body. Harikatha nourishes the soul. If we do not hear Harikatha, material desires enter the heart. Prahlada Maharaja said: śrī-prahrāda uvāca śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ… (SB 7.5.23-24). Hearing Harikatha brings great strength to our body, mind and soul. Rasa-lila-katha is a powerful medicine. Harikatha removes all...
06 Sept 2024 evening – Surrender and Sadhu-sanga (English) | Hong Kong, China | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Srila Gurudeva is grateful for the sincere words of the devotees. What you feel in your spiritual life comes from the causeless mercy of Guru and Krsna. Just as a blue lotus flower blooms with the rays of the moon, when the sadhaka receives the mercy of the Guru and the Vaisnavas, the lotus that is his heart blooms. The sadhaka who surrenders to Guru and Krsna on the platform of sandhini (existence), samvit (knowledge) and hladhini (bliss) will appear. All the scriptures extol sadhu-sanga...