Wisdom of the Sages

wisdom keeps us steady / at the point of boredom we start to grow / the problem of evil / good comes from suffering / we cause our own suffering / misapplying karma theory increases ignorance & suffering / properly applying karma theory fosters compassion / accepting suffering to relieve that of others is the highest worship / karma & reincarnation snaps everything into place / why me? / when we are sick of it all we can chant with feeling

maybe we could use a day of rest / what I will and will not allow myself to worry about / avoiding the negative loop / control vs hysteria / another perspective from Sri Isopanisad - everything is perfect & complete (except perhaps our understanding) / Siddharta's enlightenment - ॐ perfection / the good and the bad seen as one from a higher perspective / we will all be challenged to stand tall - to be raised

crucial times / seeing through the lens of love / seeing a benevolent hand behind everything / the privileged suffer too / The BIG VERSE - SB 1.8.25 - Kunti prays for more calamities / the duty of the sane person is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities / suffering in the dream world / when we know we are dreaming it changes the experience / we create our own suffering BG 13.21 / manifested and unmanifested karma / we can't judge based on manifest karma / the rain and the seeds / Krishangi's story of growth through suffering

the power of the Beatles / illusions that create the space between us / the Person beyond the oneness / qualitatively we are one - quantitatively we're not / relationships make life worth living / the soul is a person / George's shift / George's love for Srila Prabhupada / karma is intricate / viewing karma from a different perspective / always coming from a place of compassion

love will not be cancelled today / bhakti is contagious / it's futile to worry about things beyond my control / within you without you / love isn't a headlock - it's our choice / It's Krishna that is within and without you / Bhagavad-gita 6.29-30 / seeing divinity in people who aren't acting divine - yoga off the mat looks like that / can we glimpse the truth before it's far too late when we pass away?

what is forgiveness? / Prithu forgives Indra / we are off our spiritual path if we hold on to resentment / Buddhaghoṣa on holding onto anger / forgiveness means I let go of it all / to what degree should renunciation be part of my practice? / renunciation is a medicine applied differently to different people / establish your level of renunciation & adjust with time / the main thing is to make the main thing the main thing / is good karma good - is bad karma bad / good and bad karma have to do with how we enjoy the material world - Bhakti means going beyond that / a Bhakti-yogi sees the Lord's benediction at every step / better not to get too caught up in astrology - but if it may help us serve we may use it / what is the goal of a Krishna devotee at the time of death? / ante narayana smriti - remember God at the end / release from the cycle of birth & death is good - connection with God through love is the finishing touch

judging people based on externals / the misuse of our gifts / where are they now? / Krishna's opulences are hard to handle / the 1st prayer in the universe - may I not become proud / the universe humbles us / we are a spark of divinity / when the mind is conquered the Supersoul is already reached / seeing the Supersoul in everyone through hearing / this is a process of surrendering the ego

memories of last night - Minna's dreamy song, Kaustubha was the jerk / the value of festivals / spiritual communities sing, dance, tell stories & eat together / the guru tests the disciple before sharing knowledge / Bhagavad-gita 4.34 / humility is the fertile ground for the seed of transcendental knowledge / a culture of submissive hearing / prayer for protection / the sudarshan disc / Krishna's morality in the Mahabharata - he is willing to lie, break the rules out of love / love is the highest principle

special episode for Sri Caitanya's appearance / it's not about conversion, it's about waking up / reasons for Sri Caitanya's descent / bhakti - practical & esoteric / kirtan is the yoga for this age / the bhakti explosion / krishna = sweetness, Caitanya = compassion / Caitanya gives bhakti freely to the dented cans - the highest to the lowest / the 8 instructions of Sri Caitanya - Shikshastakam / relative vs absolute / tolerance, humility & respect

gripping vs. letting go / Uttara's history / Mahabharata stories / what do you take shelter of when you feel stress? / transcendental knowledge is the balm to soothe stress / let go of fear & need to manipulate - find shelter in Gita & Bhagavatam / you come to a guru to serve, not to be served / gurus' presence is an inspiration for self reflection and improvement / vani - instruction vs vapu - personal presence / shiksha guru - instructor vs diksha - initiator / get formal training before becoming Picasso