"Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge." - William Shakespeare / "Earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice."- William Shakespeare / Sage Vyasadeva sets out to crack our faith in ritualistic religious atonement / Karma? Warm, Jnana? Warmer, Bhakti? Red Hot! / turning to God once with sincere surrender trumps everything / just one of the wandering senses can drag you down a slippery slope / It's not so much the prostitute that brought his bad karma, it's what he did to o...
Aug 10, 2023•52 min•Ep. 1114
austerity, celibacy, even-mindedness, charity, renunciation, truthfulness, cleanliness, and regulative principles - all don't quite get to the root of material desire / Bhakti uproots the weeds of karma / the desire to enjoy this world (karma) and even the desire to become free of the sufferings of this world (jnana) are both "all about me" / Vyasa recommends Bhakti as a path free from fear - even while running with eyes closed / if your heart hasn't softened, you haven't understood what life is...
Aug 09, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1113
we all need stability, guidance, and a contribution for growth in our spiritual life / the periodic shaving of karmic stubble / atonement vs. at-one-ment / Bhagavatam highlights the conflict between mixed devotional service and pure devotional service / religion is interested in salvation, spirituality is interested in transformation / Bhakti can burn the seeds of bad karma / "Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man." - Thomas Paine / the disciple passes the first test SB 6.1.1-12
Aug 08, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1112
our habits are like seeds - they grow / Bhagavatam's 16,000 verses has 28 about hell (and they are shared in order to frame a message of spiritual optimism) / the bad karma that results in seeing hell mostly has to do with acts of cruelty / hell is reasonable / if you are in a position of power….don't misuse it / what if we treated sex as if it were truly sacred? SB 5.26.1-40
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1111
My wife and I spend our free time getting high and watching TV. I want to spend time with her but also want to break these habits. What to do? / Why is the Bhagavad-gita, in particular, studied on its own, among some many sections of Mahabharata? / Krishna and Arjuna grew up together so why would Krishna's cosmic form startle Arjuna? If you have questions, e-mail them to us at wisdomofthesages108@gmail.com
Aug 05, 2023•57 min•Ep. 1110
through even insignificant observable objects - we get truths about what lies beyond the observable / contemplating what's beyond is purifying and nourishing / external virtue extends from internal life / spirituality is the key to overcoming injustice / seeing others as their fullest potential / our bodies were designed to enjoy and suffer - but there's a silken twine of spiritual joy that runs through them / to conquer our minds and give pleasure to our hearts, Krishna appears in different inc...
Aug 04, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1109
the universe (Paramatma) is eavesdropping on your every desire / materialists chase desires – yogis modify desires / popular model of success = the ability to satisfy desires – yogic model of success = the ability to modify desires / a twofold strategy for dealing with desire 1. Jnanic - Reflection on the illusory nature of matter 2. Bhakti - hearing and remembering the descriptions Krishna / For those who hear about and meditate upon Krishna, He… enters the cores of their hearts, vanquishes cor...
Aug 03, 2023•59 min•Ep. 1108
we've been traveling the universe, from the top of the bubble to the bottom / devotees meditate upon on the presiding deity of false ego to / be purified of the false conception of I and mine / this universe is like a tiny mustard seed / all sensations originally exist in the spiritual body / how to approach sacred topics with the right attitude SB 5.25.1-5 https://www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com/recovery-retreats https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/events...
Aug 02, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1107
don't take the fun out of Bhakti / You don't own your kids. Or anything else. / God shifts our life's circumstances to make these truths come to life / In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things,- there is no samadhi / is it bad karma, or is it a blessing? / Bali zooms out / there is nothing of this material world that will satisfy me deeply SB 5.24.22-25
Aug 01, 2023•57 min•Ep. 1106
Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / Krishna's guided meditation – how to contemplate his sustaining presence in everything / Krishna pervades the heart of everyone / even to forget Him, we need Krishna's help / beyond the condiitioned and liberated souls there is the Supreme Soul who enters the world and maintains it / knowing Krishna as the ultimate person, and engaging in His loving service is the most confidential secret of the Vedic literature
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Ep. 1105
Raghunath and Kautstubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / this world is a reflection of a tree that we get entangled in / one must cut down the tree with the weapon of detachment - and then surrender to the original person - the source / the keys to transcendence / a summary of existence in illusion / those with the eye of knowledge can see what's happening / contemplations for seeing Krishna's presence in everything
Jul 30, 2023•57 min•Ep. 1104
Does the soul really have feelings or are feelings the product of the mind-ego? / What's a good morning ritual for starting a Bhakti-yoga practice? / Do the thoughts at the the moment of death really determine the next birth, and if so, isn't that kind of Random
Jul 30, 2023•58 min•Ep. 1103
"At some point the entire population of the earth is gonna have to look back at the essence of spirituality." — Sinead O'Connor / Krishna and His name are non different / spiritual practice begins with refining perspective and culminates in refined perception / the vast, timeless Vedic texts have earned my faith / kindness and simplicity are the basic yogic principles / negative sound in the head can arrest our evolution / see your experiences as tailored for your evolution / happiness doesn't c...
Jul 28, 2023•49 min•Ep. 1102
life as an exploration of living the truth / have I become comfortable projecting a lie? / living the truth, moment to moment / discarding our temporary identities / our default identity is pure spirit / 3 levels of purity in mantra meditation / the spread of Bhakti beyond the Sanskrit language into the local vernaculars / the rise of the "lowborn" Bhakti exemplars / the power of even a glimpse of the pure mantra SB 5.24.20
Jul 27, 2023•59 min•Ep. 1101
"All that there is within the universe to satisfy the senses, cannot satisfy one whose senses are uncontrolled." - Sri Vamanadeva / always look for the deeper essence / the Bhagavatam shows us dharmic reversals again and again, even the demons can be glorified more than the devas - if they have devotion Follow Shyamesvari on Instagram @mridangawallii SB 5.24.1-20
Jul 26, 2023•59 min•Ep. 1100
"Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts." - Soren Kierkegaard / freedom requires a concerted, disciplined effort to direct our thoughts / the thoughts of a pure Bhakti-yogi radiate into the minds of those around them / meditate on Vishnu 3x a day / bathe to refresh your mind 3x a day / don't meditate on murder before bed / Vishnu meditation 3 times a day disintegrates the bad karma programing in the mind SB 5.23.8-9
Jul 25, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1099
"This house, this car, this plane, this furniture, this bank account, so much reputation and fame, none of them are of any use to me." - Kyrzayda Rodriguez / we're not here to just enjoy ourselves / death as the final exam and we've gotta prepare for it / Bhagavatam is Vyasa's way of clarifying everything / the devas are like tax collectors / your body is a universe SB 5.20.5-33
Jul 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 1098
Who is supreme - Vishnu, Rama, or Krishna? / Can conditioned people have unconditional love? / How can care-givers grow through their challenges? / How to find and recognize good guidance when you come to the forks in the road?
Jul 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1097
If we can't remember our past life, how does it help us grow? / Is the instruction to give up bad association a bit harsh? / What is OM all about?
Jul 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 1096
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion." ― Isaac Newton / sense perception and inference are valid ways of knowledge, but that can't answer the big questions / science isn't determined by consensus - politics is / life is not meant for sense gratification / the desire to hear grows in the heart of one who serves / Krishna purifies the mind & heart of the hearer / the result of Bhakti is happiness - and then positive scientific knowl...
Jul 21, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1095
Bhagavatam holds us steady through life's ups and downs / we choose our actions and Vishnu sends the karma / it's ok if we can't figure everything out / there's a subtle layer imbued with false ego surrounding the universe / you can live on the sun with a fire body / Surya is the representative of Vishnu / we're moths born in a bag of cashews SB 5.20.5
Jul 20, 2023•53 min•Ep. 1094
normalize Vedic wisdom / a short life on earth is better than billions of years in the heavens / making the best use of this earth portal / intelligent people not take no interest in places where ,the river of Krishna's pastimes don't flow / Krishna will purify our desires / the subtle is the solid SB 5.19.23-31
Jul 19, 2023•58 min•Ep. 1093
"and so begins their journey of awakening" - Henri Bergson / choosing knowledge over the veils of ignorance / the first day of Purushottama month / keep the practices alive and mindful / proclivities are previous life practices / devotees can activate the devotion within us / Earth is the portal to freedom SB 5.19.19-21
Jul 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 1092
"We're all going to die, all of us, what a circus! That alone should make us love each other but it doesn't. We are terrorized and flattened by trivialities, we are eaten up by nothing." ― Charles Bukowski / we are like moths / we become purified by remembering the holy rivers / we take birth according to our karma SB 5.19.16-19
Jul 17, 2023•53 min•Ep. 1091
Do you have advice for people entering marriage? / Should I give up the practice of Bhakti out of frustration? / Why do you think Krsna doesn't allow us to see Him? / With leaders growing older, how can the Krishna movement keep itself relevant to the current youth?
Jul 16, 2023•59 min•Ep. 1090
As a Bhakti-yogi, can I acknowledge my feelings and still take no offense? / How to view the premature loss of a child through the lens of Bhakti?
Jul 15, 2023•53 min•Ep. 1089
"Awareness needs constant refreshing." Rick Rubin / approaching the state of constant openness to receiving / our practices create space for awareness / Patanjali's definition of practice / skeleton keys to the secret chambers of awareness / a good attitude goes a long way in Bhakti / respect to the seniors, kindness to juniors / accepting even the unfair criticism / humility as a way of opening up to learning lessons at every moment
Jul 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 1088
The value of simplicity is to open our minds for Krishna's inspiration / Untangle the knots of revenge and anger, and control the senses to create space for Krishna / Prepare and sincerely endeavor for connection to Krishna / The joy of life is not your family or your motorcycle / Get off the superficial level and get on the self transformational level and become fearless / We don't care if you wear a robe or get a Krishna tattoo- understand nothing is ours / Be cynical about the body or you'll ...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 1087
The mind is the slayer of the real / Pleasure and pain are mental experiences / Ignorance of self is the field that kleshas and attachments grow from / Identity with the body is the genesis of illusion / Yoga practice requires surrender to God or it cultivates the ego SB 5.19.13-14
Jul 12, 2023•52 min•Ep. 1086
Raghunath talks with famed Sanskrit scholar Pradyumna Prabhu about Madame Blavatsky and other mystics, the early days in Calcutta, and the parallels among Baha'i, theosophy and bhakti yoga, and more.
Jul 11, 2023•59 min•Ep. 1085
