All the vices, which are so hard to give up by one’s own endeavours can easily be conquered by serving a guru. In this way, a practicing devotee can attain perfection and thus become blessed and fulfilled. tat prasādo hi sva sva nānā pratīkāra dustyajānārtha hānau parama bhagavat prasāda siddhau ca mūlam (Bhakti Sandarbhaḥ - … Continue reading The power of Śrī Guru-bhakti

When the mind attains union with Śrī Bhagavān’s names, qualities, pastimes and so on, that is called smaraṇa. Meditating on Śrī Hari is by nature the very life of all sādhana. Still, in practicing the smaraṇa limb of bhakti, concentration of the mind is the absolute necessity. If the mind is not pure, concentration is … Continue reading About meditation (smaraṇa)

The Lord appears by His independent will as Kṛṣṇa in the Yadu-dynasty and as Rāma in the Raghu dynasty. So too does He appear in the external and internal senses of His devotee. Like the Lord, His self-manifesting internal potency Bhakti-devī is eternal and by her own independent sweet will, she appears to the internal … Continue reading Bhakti manifests Herself by Her own sweet will

When we are FULLY immersed in maya sakti, we feel no difference from our material body and we are not aware of our soul. This is the power of maya-sakti. When we are FULLY immersed in svarupa sakti, we feel no difference from our siddha deha. In fact, we then ARE that spiritual body of … Continue reading Immersion required by default

The process of bhakti is of an DESCENDING nature. In Madhurya Kadambini, we can read that only BHAKTI causes BHAKTI. It flows down from the heart of those who have it into our hearts like a celestial river. Therefore, we have the concept of a guru pranali (succession of gurus). Our heart is a fertile … Continue reading Eternal love descends into our hearts (nitya-siddha krishna-prema)

Śrīmatī Rūpa Mañjarī has accomplished the meeting of Rādhikā and Śyāmasundara in a solitary cave of Govardhana Hill, and she secretly looks through a hole in that cave to witness Their sweet love-pastimes. Rādhā and Śyāma are both intoxicated by Each other's presence. How expertly are They playing Their pastimes! At the end of these … Continue reading Oneness in loving feelings (bhāva-tādātmya)

guru-mukha-padma-bākya,        hṛdi kari mahāśakya, āra nā kariha mane āśā | śrī-guru-caraṇe rati,        ei se uttama-gati, ye prasāde pūre sarba āśā || 4 || The words from Śrī Guru’s lotus mouth have great power. Take them into your heart and rely upon nothing else. Attachment to his lotus feet is the best way to achieve success. … Continue reading From your lotus mouth to our hearts