Bhagavad Gita Series

TEN OFFENES TO HOLY NAME (SPECIAL SESSION ) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra is the most effective way of Self-Realization in this age of Kali but there are ten offences against the holy name that one should avoid while chanting. Every devotee of Sri Krishna must take note of these offences and carefully avoid them in order to make progress.Let us understand:What are the 10 Offences?How to avoid them?How to Chant effectively?Importance of Offence less Chanting.

ACTIONS OF INTELLIGENT MAN (SB 7.9.23-24) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Intelligence refers to the power to analyze things in their proper perspective, and knowledge refers to understanding what is spirit and what is matter. Mind is the instrument for feeling different material experiences, but intelligence is deliberative and can change everything for the better. The intelligent person, therefore, can attain salvation from the illusion of material existence by proper use of intelligence. An intelligent person can detect the awkward position of material existence and thus begin to inquire as to what he is, why he is subjected to different kinds of miseries, and how to get rid of all miseries, and thus, by good association, an advanced intelligent person can turn towards the better life of self-realization.Let us understand some of the activities of Intelligent person.

THE WHEEL OF TIME (SB 7.9.22) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

In this material world, We are being crushed by the wheel of time with sixteen spokes. At the same time, we are thinking that we are very happy. This is called māyā. This is māyā's grace, that in any condition of life, the suffering is very, very acute, but the living entity who is suffering, he thinks, "I am enjoying." This is called māyā. Illusory energy of the Lord keeps everyone always busy. A person works very very hard hoping against hope that he will be happy here some day.In order to become happy he indulges in sense gratification and 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.Let us understand how to save ourselves from the spoke of this wheel.

DEITY WHO WAS A WITNESS-STORY OF SAKSHI GOPAL JI | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

We cannot see spirit, and God is the Supreme Spirit. Actually, He is everything—spirit and matter—but we cannot see Him in His spiritual identity. Therefore, to show kindness toward living entitles, He appears out of His unbounded mercy in the form of a wooden or stone Deity so that we can see Him."Atheists say Deity is simply a stone but they don't know that this so-called stone can talk, walk, laugh, exchange emotions and perform wonders. For a stone hearted person Deity will always remain like a stone but for a devotee Deity can walk out of the altar.Let us understand one such lila where a Deity walked for 100 days to save his devotee's promise.

TAKING INSPIRTAION FROM THE LORD (SB 7.9.20) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul within the core of everyone's heart, gives inspirations for action according to one's mentality. All of these mentalities are merely facilities given by Krishna to the person acting. Bhagavad-gitā therefore says, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: [Bg. 15.15] everyone works according to the inspiration given by the Supersoul. Because everyone has a different goal of life, everyone acts differently, as guided by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.Let us understand how to take inspiration from the Lord inside the heart.

THE ULTIMATE SHELTER (SB 7.9.19) | HG SHREESHA GOVIND DAS

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gitā (9.31), kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: "O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes." Therefore, unless one is protected by the mercy of the Lord, no remedial measure can act effectively. One should consequently depend fully on the causeless mercy of the Lord. Although as a matter of routine duty one must of course accept other remedial measures, no one can protect one who is neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this material world, everyone is trying to counteract the onslaught of material nature, but everyone is ultimately fully controlled by material nature.

LESSONS FROM RAMAYANA (SPECIAL SESSION ) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Lord Ramchandra is called as Maryada Purushottam. His behaviour was ideal on all the respects. Let us understand some of the teachings from Ramayana and also hear some of the glories of Lord Ramchandra.

THE FOUR SAMPRADAYS (SB 7.9.18) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

In the Padma Purāṇa it is said, sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ. There are four sampradāyas, or disciplic successions, which are authorized for delivering transcendental knowledge . If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona fide sampradāyas; otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life.All of the four original sampradāyas are still scrupulously engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord up to date, and they all declare that Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mukunda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no other personality is equal to Him or greater than Him.Let us understand:What are these four sampradāyas ?What are their common teachings ?Who are the prominent Acharaya of these sampradāyas ?

OUT OF THE FRYIG PAN INTO THE FIRE (SB 7.9.17) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Every year the world spends more money on crime prevention and control. Yet despite these efforts, crime rates are soaring. Big think-tankers of the world are giving various 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to mitigate the miseries of the world, but the fact is that these solutions are something like 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.The entire world is under the illusion that people will be happy by advancing in materialistic measures to counteract the miseries of conditional life, but this attempt will never be successful.Let us hear solution from Prahalad Maharaj.

ANXIETY OF THE LORD (SB 7.9.16) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

The Lord is described in the Vedānta-sūtra (1.1.12) as ānanda-mayo ’bhyāsāt. He is by nature the reservoir of all pleasures, full of bliss and satisfied within Himself. He is not dependent on anyone else for His happiness. There is no moroseness, no unhappiness for the Lord. Anyone who comes in touch with Lord also ultimately attains this same nature. But there is one reason because of which Lord is also having anxiety, and knowingly or unknowingly, all of us are cause of this anxiety.Let us understand in this session.

PRINCIPLE OF AUSTERITY (SB 7.9.15) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

If one wants to advance in spiritual life and actually experience the nectar of devotional service, he should clearly understand the principle of Austerity. In executing penance, one must be determined to return home, back to Godhead, and must decide to undergo all types of tribulations for that end. Even for material prosperity, name and fame, one has to undergo severe types of penance, otherwise no one can become an important figure in this material world. Why, then, are there severe types of penance for the perfection of devotional service? 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.Let us understand this.

ENVY : CAUSE & REMEDY (SB 7.9.13-14) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

In the material world there is keen competition between animal and animal, man and man, community and community, nation and nation. But the devotees of the Lord rise above such competitions. They do not compete with the materialist because they are on the path back to Godhead, where life is eternal and blissful. In the material world, everyone is envious of everyone else, and therefore there is competition. But the transcendental devotees of the Lord are not only free from material envy, but are well-wishers to everyone, and they strive to establish a competition less society with God in the center.Let us understand:What is Envy?What is it's cause?What is the remedy?

VICTORY IN NAWADEEP (SPECIAL SESSION) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has performed innumerable wonderful pastimes. He has unlimited devotees, and His pastimes are also unlimited. Let us hear and understand one such pastime of the Lord from which we will understand:1. Reason behind so many religions2. Power of Sankirtana Movement3. Misinterpretation of Vedas

THREE WAYS OF PERFECTION (SB 7.9.11-12) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (7.3):𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘔𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩.It is not easy to attain perfection in spiritual life. One among thousands may become prefect. In Vaiṣṇava philosophy there are three ways for perfection. Anyone trying to become a prefect devotee must know these three ways. An aspiring devotee should follow the rules and regulations of Bhakti Yoga under the guidance of an expert spiritual master. By following sincerely like this, he can get the mercy of spiritual master and thus make his life successful.Let us understand these "THREE WAYS OF PERFECTION".

POSITION OF A DEVOTEE (SB 7.9.9-10) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

No kind of material qualification is the means for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Any material quality or possession like wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity, education, sensory expertise, luster etc. is ultimately given by Lord only. Lord is not after all these. He is simply after sincere devotional service.A devotee may not possess any of the above qualities but still holds a very unique position.So much so that even an animal who is a devotee can satisfy Lord but not a learned non-devotee Brahmana. Let us understand this in our upcoming session "Position Of A Devotee".

MERCY OF MAHAPRABU (SB 7.9. 13) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations, and they have made this process of self-realization very joyful. There are many incarnations, like Lord Rama and even Krishna, who taught Bhagavad-gita, which requires knowledge and understanding. But Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda introduced a process that is simply joyful, simply chant and dance.It is the assurance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore one must chant with firm faith and conviction. On the occasion of the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu let us discuss "MERCY OF MAHAPRABHU". 

THE ONE QUALITY (SB 7.9.9) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

The spirit soul, as part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has all the good qualities of the Lord. When the spirit soul is contaminated by the material modes of nature, one is considered good or bad with reference to the material qualities. But when one is transcendental to all material qualities, all the good qualities come out. A pure devotee is supposed to possess 26 qualities. All 26 qualities are important but out of them, one is most important. Unless a person has this quality, it is very difficult to understand the essence of spiritual life.  Let us understand:Which is this quality?How to possess it?What are the symptoms?In our this session "The One Quality".

TOUCH OF THE LORD (SB 7.9.1-7) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

"𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘶, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴."One attains yogic perfection when he is freed from all material diversions and his mind is fixed upon the lotus feet of the Lord. This is called samādhi or trance. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained that stage beyond the senses. Because he was engaged in service, he felt transcendentally situated, and naturally his mind and attention became saturated in transcendence. Although a small child Prahlāda Mahārāja will be offering most exalted prayers to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.Let us hear more about "The Touch Of The Lord" in this session.

IMPORTANCE OF OFFERING PRAYERS (SB 7.8.49-56) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

Srila Prabhupada writes𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘒ṛṣṇ𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘒ṛṣṇ𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘒ṛṣṇ𝘢, 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘤𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺.Let us understand the "Importance of Offering Prayers" in our upcoming session.

THE DILEMMA OF WORSHIP (SB 7.8.41-48) | HG SREESHA GOVIND DAS

One of the most important aspect of spirituality is worshipping the Lord. After understanding the importance of worshipping one may ask "Whom should I worship ?". Especially in India where we have 330 million Gods. It is not easy to get correct understanding. Some people say that you can worship any one of them, some have the opinion that only Krishna should be worshipped, yet others say that no need to worship anyone, you are yourself God!. People may have different opinions and understanding but as far as scriptures are concerned it is clear to whom we should worship to get the ultimate benefit.Let us end this "Dilemma" in our upcoming session of 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀,.