Living Bhakti: Recent Episodes
Mahatma Das
A collection of classes given by Mahatma Das, a bhakti practitioner for over 50 years, and a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada. He presents the wisdom of bhakti yoga in a practical way, as to provide insight and applicable tools for one's own life and practice of spiritual living.
Prabhupada saw us as we could become, in our potential as pure devotees, not as fallen conditioned souls. He treated us as pure devotees and we fit into the shoes, so to speak.
If someone is always chanting but also criticizes devotees, it means that they are chanting nama-aparadha.
Boundless happiness is accompanied by detachment, it is not accompanied by sense gratification.
If you saw the beauty of Krishna then nothing in this world would register in your mind as happiness.
Krishna's desire is always to save the fallen souls. But when you add Radharan's compassion to it, then it becomes unprecedented mercy. And the worst thing that we could do is to take it for granted.
What is the difference between humility and low self-esteem?
Humility is power, but low self-esteem is a weakness that may sometimes manifest in the form of arrogance or false power.
Srila Prabhupada never wanted us to become sexist, he wanted us to respect everyone and not use the shastra to push our own agendas.
If we renounce too much too fast, it may not work. Renunciation should be natural and gradual.
Srila Prabhupada said that Krishna Consciousness is simple for the simple and complicated for the complicated.
The maha-mantra is an invitation into the eternal pastimes of Krishna. And kirtan is the faster e=and easiest way to become Krishna Conscious.
Taking birth in Krishna Lila and Yogamaya's role in enhancing the love between Krishna and his devotees.
- When you are in the proper mood of prayer and connect with the meaning of the maha-mantra, then you will not find that japa is not boring.
- You can pray to RKisna to help you chant from your heart and not chant like a robot.
I don't exist for my own pleasure, I exist only for Krishna's pleasure.
Through all our endeavors to be happy, we're really just searching for love.
Krishna consciousness has to be relevant throughout our lives. When busy with other things in life, we shouldn't allow ourselves to go too far from Krishna Consciousness otherwise it may become hard to come back.
Low self-esteem is in and of itself not a problem, but it becomes a problem if it becomes severe.
Sufferin may help you take up spiritualality but may not be the best impetus for developing pure devotional service.
Kirtan lead by Mahatma prabhu on Day 2 of Radhadesh Mellows 2021 from Alachua, Florida.
To think that the whole world has to be the way that I relate to "My Prabhupada" is not going to spread Krishna Consciousness. We all relate to Prabhupada differently; what works for one may not work for another.
This is a recording form "The Late Morning Program with Namarasa" Podcast from March 6, 2021
Understanding the discussion between Ramananda Raya and Lord Chaitanya on the aim of life.
Krishna appears in the holy name when a devotee is chanting in the mood of service. When we don't experience the full potency of the holy name, then we can lose faith in the power of the holy name.
Sometimes it is very difficult to appreciate a person who we disagree with, but we still have to learn how to respect them.
Respecting devotees means appreciating their devotional qualities although we may disagree with them in different areas.
Similarities and differences between Krishna lila on this planet and in the spiritual world.
How to get yourself to do a service or sadhana that you have to do but are not inspired to do it?
Most devotees think: I have sadhana and I have my life. But our life is a different kind of sadhana. Sadhana is like the gym and our life is like the arena boxing ring where we are going to apply what we practiced.
First and Second initiation ceremony of devotees from Mauritius by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on February 20, 2021 from Alachua, Florida.
Zoom initiation ceremony of Harivilasa Dasa and Madhurya Lila Devi Dasi by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on February 20, 2021 from Alachua, Florida.
To facilitate the gopis' desire to be with Krishna, Yogamaya created doubles of the gopis to stay with their husbands.
How yogamaya illusions even devotees to create relishable lilas; Lord Gaurachandra's mischievous pastimes with Saci mata.
- We cannot fight fire with fire. We fight the fire of conflicts and injustices with the water of empathy, humility, forgiveness etc. Merely punishing people won't help, we have to take to prevent the problem in the future.
- Srila Prabhupada said that Lord Nityananda's mercy is unlimited.
- When we hate someone, we hate some part of ourselves as well/
- In any kind of conflict or difference, there has to be a certain level of respect even if the person has done something very bad.
We sometimes have faith in our lack of faith, in our handicaps, and in our inability. Often we don't put out enough faith in Krishna for him to reciprocate.
If we please an advanced devotee, then we can become very Krishna Conscious very quickly, even in spite of our resistance. But if we offend an advanced devotee, then even if we are very advanced it could destroy our bhakti.
What are you united around? What are you trying to achieve? How is your attitude either helping or hindering your goal?
We cannot be Krishna conscious alone, we have to do it in a community. You become who you are by your association and the environment around you.
For a lot of devotees, they know too much about the Absolute Truth and hence can't enjoy maya, but they are not relishing Krishna Consciousness as well!
We may not be pure devotees yet, so we are still affected by our conditioning, but we are doing devotional service to please Srila Prabhupada.
Somehow or other we should be eager for Krishna. When we come in contact with Krishna then we become purified.
You make vows to empower you to do things. It is meant to protect you, if you commit to the vow. Avoid situations that could cause you to compromise your commitment to your vow.
Pornography is the easiest drug that one can get addicted to nowadays. sexual sobriety can be related to technological sobriety. having a close buddy who one can be accountable t can be of great help in controlling the addiction.
Criticism doesn't always mean that we don't love the person we are criticizing. For example, we can say we love a tiger, but we don't have to embrace it. We may say that the tiger is dangerous, but that does not mean we do not love it. If we can train the tiger so it doesn't bite us, then we don't have to say it's dangerous. But as long as it can bite us we have to say it's dangerous, and it doesn't represent how we feel about the tiger.
It is Important that we relish Krishna's pastimes even though we may not always be able to understand them.
How do you define success? If you are continually not able to reach that point then may be you have to redefine success more in terms of sincerity and effort, and less in terms of goals.
Sometimes things bother us and we don't know how to deal with them so we suppress our emotions. Also, sometimes we have feelings that are not very Krishna Conscious and so we suppress them. But when we hide our feelings, then we cannot confront them and work on them.
The process of giving up sense gratification is more difficult when we haven't replaced it with more taste in Krishna Consciousness. It is especially difficult when we give up too much too fast.
How can one evaluate their own level of bhakti, and understand how to do their best from their present level? How do they avoid going overboard with their efforts and burn out, but also don't stay idle and lazy?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said that we don't enjoy prasadam, but the prasadam enjoys us. Similarly, when we take darshan of the Deity, we do it in the mood that Krishna is the Enjoyer and we are the enjoyed, so we are coming in front of Him to be enjoyed. The deity is not an object of enjoyment for your eyes.
In this class, we discuss how to apply the lessons from Bhagavad-Gita (chapters1-6) practically in our lives.
Sometimes you are analyzing something and you are completely in your head, and sometimes you are feeling something and you are not in you head at all.
Our head makes decisions but our heart guides us so that our decisions are compassionate, kind, and service-oriented. Sometimes we make decisions just to get a job done, without consulting our heart, and we might hurt people in the process.
A devotee, influenced by Radha Kunda babajis, told Prabhupada that one cannot get love of God unless one chants 64 rounds a day. Prabhupada said you cannot force Krishna to give you love. But of course, you can qualify yourself for it.
"I am meant to e enjoyed by Krishna. I don't exist independently. I do not exist for my own enjoyment."
How long before we realize it, accept it, and embrace it?
How do you actually live an honest life?
It is important to be introspective in spiritual life. It means self-honesty.
This is an interview with Achyt Gopal Das, for the podcasts "Agents of Change"
Srila Prabhupada did not like Mayavadis because Mayavada Philosphy is antagonistic to bhakti.
How the Municari Gopis became purified in Bhauma Vrindavan.
If you have a sincere and intense desire, then Yoga-maya could fast track your bhakti.
Mayavada and impersonalist philosophy are two slightly different things. Impersonalists know that Krishna is the Supreme PERSON, but they a=prefer to merge into his impersonal brahmajyoti. But mayavada philosophy is a denial of Krishna's personal eternal form.
What is a real attachment - family, job, position, pride, etc.?
What attachments are good for our spiritual life?
Sense gratification, gross or subtle, and how to give it up?
Why is the whole culture important to embrace?
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu, for ISKCON Oslo
With the help of Yoga-maya, Krishna makes sure that his associates don't understand that he is god. When Trinavarta, the whirlwind demon came to kill Krishna, but Kirhsna killed him insted, Krishna engaged Yoga-maya to not let Mother Yasoda discover that he is god.
Sometimes we may thing, "Why can't I be Krishna conscious without having to get up early and do other austerities?" It's like the mentality of a criminal! We want to steal Krishna consciousness but we don't want to pay for it.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a lion guru who defeated the caste goswamis to establish Lord Caitanya's mission
Balance means you don't get good at something at the cost of getting bad at something else. And when difficulties happen, it's a good time to realize, "I'm not God."
We should always appreciate all the realizations we get as Krishna's girfts. We tend to forget our realizations, but if we apply them in our life then they won't be lost.
Some transcendentalists, even after renouncing the material world, still try to imitate Krishna instead of surrendering to Him.
Srila Prabhupada said that our worst day in Krishna consciousness is still better than our best day in the material world.
Srila Prabhupada said to think that no diversity is impersonalism, to have diversity is normal. We should appreciate diversity (as long as it does not contradict siddhanta) because it helps create balance. We should respect everyon. Respect means that others have a right to think differently than us.
Become established foundationally in your relationship with Prabhupada and that will give you the strongest foundation in Krishna Consiousness.
What to do with the past, present, and future? How not to be affected by the past, and be happy in the present, and not hanker of things for the future.
There has to be a sufficient degree of ignorance to be engaged in material activities and be happy in it. If we have knowledge, then we won't really enjoy materially. Devotional service is transcendental, but your consciousness may not be so.
- Being able to accept influence from our partner is acting in the mode of goodness. Studies show that partners, especially husbands, who are willing to accept influence from their wives are masters of their relationship.
- For us, balance means putting sufficient time into our sadhana. Once we compromise our sadhana, that's when we get out of balance.
The Lord is open to being seen by devotees. but non-devotees cannot see him. When Krishna came to this world, not everyone could see him.
Amazing stories about Prabhupada, such as when a devotee made buckwheat halava for him.
What to do if we get wrong instructions about grihastha asrama?
How to forgive others and not hold grudges?
What is the difference between Vedic psychology and modern psychology?
We are controlled by Yoga maya or Maha maya, depending on our consciousness and activities. Krishna conscious activities look beautiful under the yoga-maya potency, and they seem boring when wea re under the maha maya potency.
Spiritual life means its not just you but you and God working together. No matter how difficult your life gets, you always have internal guidance by the Supersoul.
We are controlled by Krishna's energy both in the material world, and the spiritual world.
Prabhupada said that service is our dharma, because it is the nature of the pure spiritual soul. If we are always just serving ourselves, then we will feel some emptiness. In Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 8, Krishna says: Love me, but if you can't love me, then do the practice of bhakti. If you can't do bhakti then do karma yoga. And if you can't even do karma yoga, then find someone and serve them. Service breaks our self-centered attitude.
When you evolve spiritually, you can feel the suffering of other people, even when they don't see their own suffering. Compassion comes as a by-product of not wanting other people to suffer. And care is a manifestation of compassion.
Having anarthas is normal. don't be discouraged or depressed by your faults. Devotional service implies facing all our demons.
When you've conquered your mind and senses. that is, your lower self, that's considered your highest victory.
In relationships, respect is a very important aspect and it manifests when you are more interested in serving others than being served by them.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu and HG Jahnava Devi Dasi, on December 12, 2020.
Married life is complicated, but if we need it then we have to learn to how to have a good married life and advance spiritually.
Yogamaya creates whatever illusion that is required to attract devotees to krishna, and it also creates illusion to bewilder and keep non-devotees away from Krishna.
This class was given by HG Mahatma das on December 11, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
Interestingly, religious people have been found to be less compassionate than non-religious people. Self-righteousness in religious or spiritual people is a big turn-off for those who are looking for spirituality.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on December 9, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
- When we are discouraged then Maya convinces us to stop our spiritual life. Service to Prabhupada and our spiritual master is the most cherished thing we have, so we cannot allow ourselves to become discouraged.
- Prabhupada said that when one becomes fixed up in devotional service then one does not allow anyone else or any condition at all to discourage them.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on December 7, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
If our goal is clear, then we will naturally be sincere. If we lose sight of the goal, then there's nothing to be sincere about.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on December 9, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
Feeling guilty for not doing our best is okay as long as that guilt helps us to improve and not become discouraged.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on November 28, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
We follow rituals in devotional service to serve Krishna the way He wants to be served, not the way we want to serve.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on December 4, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
There are many stories that show that Prabhupada encouraged everyone to be Krishna conscious, irrespective of their race and gender.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on November 30, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
The ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, wheter you feel like it or not - that means you have mastered yourself, and you can control yourself.
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu on November 28, 2020.
Class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.9
"Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vasudeva."
This class was given on November 26, 2020, for devotees in South Africa.
Everyone is advancing at their own pace. We cannot always help devotees introspect, but if they are sincere then Krishna helps them look at their problem areas..
This class was given by HG Mahatma Das on November 27th, 2020.
Are you really serious about your japa? How to motivate yourself to make japa a priority?
Imagine what your life would be like if the holy name was not in your life.
Grihastha life, or anything, if not used for Krishna, is like a dark well, meaning it leads to repeated life and death.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on November 26, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
- Your environment can be more powerful that your will power. Use your will power to create an environment that will sustain your will power.
- Also, we tend to create an environment that reflects our consciousness, and then that environment reflects back that consciousness. This works well if you are in a good consciousness but works against you if you are in bad consciousness.
- Getting up early is one of the best things we can do for our spiritual lives. One way to do this is to become attached to waking up early in the morning.
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu on November 23, 2020.
We have an eternal identity existing within Krishna lila that's waitng for us, but due to our conditioning, or life in this material world seems so real.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on November 22, 2020 for ISKCON Birmingham.
Prabhupada said that a pure devotee sees Krishna everywhere because everything reminds him of Krishna.
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu on November 23, 2020.
- Chanting means you have to shift your consciousness.
- IF I'm not paying attention to the holy name when chanting, it means we are ignoring Krishna.
- What is the environment that I can create that I can be totally absorbed in japa.
- Connect with the meaning of the maha-mantra
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu on November 22, 2020.
- Radha Kunda is considered to be the topmost place for bhajan surcharged with paramount bhavas revealed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- The pastimes of Rada and Krishna are so sacred and pure. They are not easy to understand because our lust disqualifies us from understanding them.
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu for the Alachua temple Sunday Feast program on November 8, 2020.
What really prompted Narada Muni to curse Nalakuvera and Managriva? It's because of their pride. Pride is like poison for our spiritual life. Krishna curbs the pride of a devotee.
This class was given by HG Mahatma prabhu, on November 21, 2020 for a Virtual Kartik Retreat.
Know the heart of your guru, and you become closer to your spiritual master by serving his mission.
Who gave us the Bhagavatam? Who gave us the books of Rupa Goswami? Who gave us the Dhamas? Who gave us the Krishna Balaram mandir and the Mayapur temple? Who gave us our sadhana, who gave us the deities? Who gave us prasadam? We are forever indebted to Srila Prabhupada for giving us all of these.
- Prabhupada liked devotees to be steady in their service.
- When things are difficult, some devotees tend to take more shelter of sense gratification rather than their sadhana.
- We cannot renounce beyond our ability to be steady.
- The Supersoul works through the interface of our intelligence.
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that some people, in the name of spiritual life, actually don't want spiritual life and actually want to e cheated. Bogus gurus are necessary for those who don't want a real guru; they are looking for a guru but want their spiritual life to be cheap.
- Sometimes devotees who had a guru who later deviated from pure devotional service are told that they chose such a guru because they were not sincere. But when devotees come to ISKCON, they get the shelter of Srila Prabhupada, so how can we say they were not sincere if they are still in the sanga of Prabhupada and his followers?
- Generally, it is not our job to evaluate who is sincere of insincere.
The chaitya guru directs us from within. He not only instructs from within but he also arranges through the hearts of others to fulfill our spiritual needs.
For a man to remain celibate would be easier if they respect women, not only as devotees but also for the other qualities they have.
Developing an attitude of respect is important in developing Krishna Consciousness.
If we take some of Prabhupada's instructions literally without considering Prabhupa's own feelings and the context of application, then we could misunderstand them.
The more we are absorbed in Krishna consciousness, the less our weaknesses will bother us. Every time we're engaging in Krishna Consciousness, we're not acting as a body but as a spirit soul.
In order to let the Supersoul help us solve our problems, we need to acknowledge our problems first. Then, when we discuss our problems with other devotees or journal them then we start to see how Krishna is giving us the intelligence to deal with our problems.
When a devotee does or says something bad, remind yourself of their sincerity. Prabhupada said that the most important qualification of a devotee is their sincerity.
If we are happy in Krishna Consciousness in our sadhana and service, then mays will not allure us.
We can do something Krishna Conscious externally but not be in Krishna consciousness. Thus we can turn Krishna consciousness into maya.
This is a talk given by Mahatma Prabhu, and his wife Jahnava Dasi sharing their memories of HIs Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj.
We can be in maya consciousness even when practicing Krishna consciousness. Don't mayanize Krishna!
Define for yourself what it means to respect everyone and then see if you are really respecting everyone, which would mean you are not criticizing or condemning others. How can we learn to respect everyone if we're always putting others down?
How do we dabble with maya so it is no longer maya?
We are not strong enough to fight maya on our own. So when we're in Krishna Consciousness and our door is open to Krishna, not maya, then we're okay. Buta as soon as we slacken, the door to maya opens and when she comes, we can't defend ourselves.
Thsi class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on October 7, 2020.
It is hard to define what it really means to be an ISKCON devotee or a member of ISKCON.
If you were maya and your job was to keep you in maya, what would you do? in other words, what's your weakest link?
Are we willing to compromise unity for siddhanta? We have to detach ourselves enough to be able to listen to the other side of an argument.
HOw do you know what is maya and with is not maya? You can know by looking at the consequences.
The issue whether women should be allowed to give diksa or not is teaching us to be unified even when we disagree with other devotees. Also it brings up the issue of representing the needs of the minorities as well.
Life happens! We have to be able to deal with life in a way that we're steady in our Krishna Consciousness.
Developing Vaishnava qualities is difficult, but Prabhupada wants us to develop Vaisnava qualities.
Maya gives us all the necessities for our existence, but when we start to exploit the material nature then she appears as Durga Devi and gives us tribulations in the form of wars, pestilence, etc.
Interview with HG Mahatma Das for the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team's celebration of Srila Prabhupada arriving in the west.
"We invite you all to honor the glorious day of Srila Prabhupada setting his foot in the Western world after a 38 day treacherous journey on a cargo ship purely out of compassion. We will be enlightened by Mahatma Das, one of Srila Prabhupada's illustrious disciple and follower on how we could strengthen our bond with Srila Prabhupada and expand our gratitude each day."
If you have a material desire then transcend, detach, or purify it, but don't surrender to it.
“Everything in old age is geared for renunciation” Class Given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on September 9th, live on Facebook.
The separation that Mahaprabhu experienced is a byproduct of love of God. The separation we feel in our immature stage is a byproduct of not having love for God.
The Supreme Brahman doesn't enjoy anything material. IF we cannot understand Krishna, then how can we understand how enjoys? How can we understand Radharani?
Krishna doesn't like proud devotees. No matter how successful you are, don't ever think you are entitled to become proud.
The Gopi's have no desire for personal gratification, yet by pleasing Krishna, they enjoy more than Krishna.
Morning class given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on August 31 of 2020
Lecture given by HG Mahatma Prabhu, streamed live on Facebook on the appearance day of Srimati Radharani.
Zoom meeting/discussion on the Importance of self-esteem in family life - meeting with Audarya Dhama prabhu and Mahatma Das (with Russian translation) 8.6.20
Lecture on Brahma's prayers to Krishna, and Mahatma prabhu's famous musical rendition of these prayers.
When difficulties come, don't think what they're doing to you, but what they are doing for you.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu live on facebook on July 21st.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu over zoom for Sadhvi Sanga group on July 20th.
- Ananda is the sustance of the spiritual world; misery is the substance of the material world.
- There is still some pain even in sattva, but there is no pain in ananda.
- In the spiritual world, you don't need misery to appreciate the bliss.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on July 20, 2020.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu live on Facebook on the morning of July 17th.
• Srila Prabhupada explained the spiritual world as having all varieties of the material world, less botheration.
• He also defined austerity as voluntary suffering for the sake of spiritual advancement.
• Krishna mixes up the right amount of medicine, that is, the right amount of suffering for us to push us enough to get out of this material world.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on July 15 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
16 rounds and 4 regulative principles - that's your ticket back to Godhead! Do this daily and keep your ticket validated. Morning Class given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on July 14th. Discussion on returning to the spiritual world!
Sunday "feast" Class for ISKCON Denver given over zoom, discussing mental health in regards to the lives of practicing devotees.
We tend to have several material attachments, but if anyone is giving their life to Krishna, in that sense, they do not have material attachments because they are not identifying with the body. But on the topic of death and the spiritual world, and particularly, going back to Godhead!
• We depend on our guru but we should be careful to avoid unhealthy dependency or co-dependency that may handicap our bhakti when the guru leaves.
• Krishna creates difficulties so we depend on him more.
• When our mind says, "I am bad" or "I should leave Krishna because He didn't take care of me" then we should say maya is saying these things because then we articulate reality and that will have a different effect on us.
This class was given by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu on July 10, 2020 from Alachua, Florida.
Online class, given over zoom for Sadhvi Sanga: Online Vaisnavi Seminars.
This class was given on July 9th, 2020
When the spiritual master leaves their body, what should we do, what should we think?
This class as given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on July 9th, 2020
It is natural to be attached to anyone who brings you closer to Krishna. Devotees sometimes give too much importance to the diksa guru and minimize the importance of siksa gurus, even the ones they ha a very good relationship with, until they found their diksa guru.
This class was given by HG Mahatma Prabhu on July 8, 2020, live on Facebook.
Online seminar given over zoom on the 7th of July by HG Mahatma Das, translation in Spanish
Understanding the Heart of Bhakti Charu Swami
• For Bhakti Charu Maharaj, taking care of ISKCON was like taking care of Srila Prabhupada’s body. For him it was non-different.
• His behavior was very refined and he was a real gentleman.
• He said: If you love Prabhupada, you will work to make ISKCON better.
Reading about questions asked to Prabhupada about the nature of the spiritual world. Subscribe for more!
Continuing reading about the nature of the spiritual world. Chanting, Clothing, ISKCON Gaura Lila, and more. Subscribe for frequent classes!
Misuse of independence, the position of Jesus, and other topics. Reading from a compilation of questions asked to Prabhupada regarding the spiritual world.
Even in the presence of Krishna you can choose maya and even in the presence of maya you can choose Krishna.
An hour of kirtan and Krishna Conscious songs by Mahatma Prabhu. This was streamed live on June 28th, 2020
When sharing Krishna Consciousness, we need to be sensitive not to offend other people. Nevertheless we may sometimes also have to push because that's what a person needs. We need to find the right balance between being sensitive but not too sensitive .
Our lust camouflages our ability to see Krishna lila. To the degree we are free of lust, be begin to enter into the understanding of the lilas. Thus, as we become pure, we are rewarded with the understanding of real love.
Perfection Is Not Perfection, Love Is Perfection!
Sometimes people have to take two steps back to go two steps forward. We should help devotees advance in devotional service at their own pace instead of pushing them to the extent that they feel discouraged rather than encouraged.
We explore racism in our hearts: why it exists, how to recognize it and what to do about it.
Racism is a blatant contradiction to the vedic statement, aham brahmasmi, "I am spirit", and a manifestation of a lack of compassion. Compassion identifies and feels the pain of those who are mistreated/poorly represented. A compassionate person also becomes a voice for those people. Yet racism is found even in ISKCON because of the racial prejudices members brought with them to the movement. But new prejudices may be born after joining ISKCON due to misunderstanding scripture or reading sastra with personal agendas. Any racism that exists in our organization portrays a huge spiritual paradox that not only hurts our members/potential members, but entirely misrepresents the heart of Prabhupada. We need to recognize it, overcome it, and call it out when we see.
Srila Prabhupada said that unless one is fortunate they cannot go back to Godhead. In this Krishna consciousness movement, we are trying to make everyone happy, fortunate and intelligent.
Daily Class, given by HG Mahatma Prabhu streamed live on Facebook
The spiritual world is inconceivable for us in our conditioned state. It is transcendental and unlimited, unlike anything we have experienced in the material world.
Daily Classes streamed on Facebook by Mahatma Prabhu
Facebook morning class, given on June 10th. Continuing in two documents: What Prabhupada has said about the spiritual world, and questions asked to Prabhupada about the spiritual world.
Continuing in the compilation of questions asked to Prabhupada about the nature of the spiritual sky.
Srila Prabhupada said: Life cannot be prolonged by heart transplant. You cannot increase the duration of life. One can perhaps give some relief to disease, that is another thing, but the duration of life is destined.
Going deeper and deeper into the pastime of Jaya and Vijaya that has been discussed in the last few classes.
Continuing in the pastime of Jaya and Vijaya being cursed by the Four Kumaras. Here we read Srila Jiva Goswami's commentary on this section of the Bhagavatam. We look into vaishnava aparadha, and what we can take away from this story and how to apply it in our lives.
Diving deeper into the pastime of Jaya and Vijaya being cursed by the Four Kumaras. What does the seventh gate represent? How does this pastime apply to us? Find out here.
Skipping a little ahead in class order. This is the first of the classes given in regard to the natrue of the spiritual world. Just like with the classes on death, Mahatma Prabhu goes through a document he has compiled statements in the sriptures, as well as quotations from Prabhupada on the nature of the spiritual world.
Studying a compilation of all the things Prabhupada has said on the topic "at the time of death"
Desires to remain in this world, desires to go to the spiritual world, and vaishnava humility are discussed in this class.
Beginning in reading a compiled list of notes on all of Prabhupada's statements regarding the time of death.
This class is the second part of the discussion on Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.6.
"You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die."
Once again diving into the topic of death and how we can prepare for life's final exam.
This is the second class given by Mahatma Prabhu on the topic of death.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.37
"You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die."
With this text, we look into the duty of someone about to die, aswell as things that Prabhupada has said about this subject matter.
This is the first part of a series of classes, where the topic of death is explored and discussed. With Coronavirus spreading, and many experiencing difficulty, this topic is closer to the forefront of everyone's minds, but often isn't talked about. Especially from a spiritual perspective. This series will provide insight into this deep topic.