Tag: Srimad Bhagavatam

Krishna’s Love: Attachment vs Affection in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.8

Insights from Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.8, Dhruva Maharaja’s Life, and the Journey from Artha to Paramartha

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It is important to understand love of this world and Krishna’s love. Love what we get in this world may be real but it cannot fully satsify us, only Krishna’s love can completely satisfy us. This is beautifully expalined in Srimad Bhagavatam.

A central theme in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.8 is that a devotee should be “na nirviṇṇo nāti-saktaḥ”—neither too detached nor too attached. This verse appears in the section where Krishna explains how bhakti is superior to mere jñāna and vairāgya.

“If somehow or other by good fortune one develops faith in hearing and chanting My glories, such a person, being neither disgusted with nor very much attached to material life, should achieve perfection through the path of loving devotion to Me.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.8

Everything attractive in this world ultimately comes from Krishna. Whatever beauty, strength, intelligence, fame, wealth, or opulence we see is a reflection of Krishna’s opulence. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 10.41: “Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.”

We may call these attractions artha. They are like drops of water, while Krishna is the ocean. All drops come from the ocean, but not all drops take us back to the ocean. In this world we are attracted to many things, but we need to ask: Is this drop taking me toward Krishna or away from Krishna? If it takes me toward Krishna, it is anukūla (favourable). If it takes me away from Krishna, it is pratikūla (unfavourable).

Unless we become pure, we may not immediately become attracted to Krishna directly. In bhakti, different people are attracted by different aspects. Some are attracted to kirtan, some to philosophical presentations, some to deity worship, and almost everyone is attracted to prasadam. The ocean may seem far away, but the drops are close to us. Therefore, we should learn how to use the drops to reach the ocean.

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Devotion: The Education and Elevation of Emotion

Many people think devotion is emotion. Those who think devotion is merely emotion often create commotion. Devotion is actually the education and elevation of emotion. At present our emotions flow in many different directions. Without education and elevation, our feelings can lead to failings.

A child may want to eat chocolates all day. If parents simply satisfy every emotional desire of the child, they will ruin the child’s health. Therefore, we should not simply be carried away by emotions. This principle applies in both material and spiritual life.

This universe can be called a “University of Adversity.” We are meant to learn from our experiences. One of the lessons we learn is how to apply the principle of not being too attached and not being too adverse, as taught in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.8.

Krishna does not ask us to become emotionless. Rather, He teaches us how to refine our emotions and direct them toward Him. Bhakti is not the rejection of emotion; it is the purification of emotion.

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Dhruva Maharaja and the Power of a Drop of Love

The story of Dhruva Maharaja illustrates this principle beautifully.

In my own childhood, I contracted polio. Once a relative sympathetically remarked how unfortunate it was. My mother replied, “Whatever he lacks physically, God will provide intellectually.” Her love and care shaped my life. She never considered me a burden.

Later, when I came to Krishna consciousness and heard statements that all love in this world is maya, I found it difficult to relate to them. Had I not received a deeper understanding, my spiritual journey could have become difficult.

I received that understanding through Dhruva’s story. While reading Dhruva’s pastime, one statement by his mother struck me deeply. She told him that Lord Vishnu could offer him more love than many mothers combined.

At that moment I realized that Dhruva’s mother’s love was not false. It was real. But it was a drop, whereas Vishnu’s love is an ocean.

In this world, we are so hungry for love that even a drop can transform a person’s life. For example, if someone is contemplating suicide, a few kind words may be enough to save that person’s life. Such love is not false.

If Dhruva had not loved and trusted his mother, he would never have accepted her instruction to go to the forest in search of Vishnu. Although his father neglected him, his mother’s love was genuine. It was a drop that led him toward the ocean.

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Only Krishna’s Love Is Complete

Love has two aspects: taking care and letting go. We should do whatever we can to care for others. At the same time, we should not think that we are the ocean. Whether we are receiving love or giving love, we should understand that we are all drops connected to the ocean of Krishna’s love.

When we become too attached, we mistake the drop for the ocean. That is why Krishna advises us to avoid both extremes: na nirviṇṇo nāti-saktaḥ.

The love found in this world is not false, but it cannot completely satisfy the heart. Sometimes, especially when we are new to bhakti, we develop unrealistic expectations and swing to extremes.

For example, some devotees quote Citraketu Maharaja’s pastime and conclude that one should not be attached to parents because the soul has had many fathers and mothers in many lifetimes. However, we should remember the context. The soul spoke those words after leaving the body and being temporarily brought back by Narada Muni.

Contrast this with Krishna’s own behavior. After killing Kamsa, Krishna met Vasudeva and Devaki and told them that because of Him they had suffered greatly, and He desired to serve them. Clearly, Krishna did not teach neglect of relationships.

The point is that we must move from artha to paramārtha. If a drop points us toward the ocean, we value it. If it takes us away from the ocean, we let it go.

Even when Dhruva Maharaja was returning to Godhead, he remembered his mother. Thus, neither extreme is correct. To see only the ocean and reject every drop is an error. To see only the drop and forget the ocean is also an error.

We should not be attached, but we should have affection.

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Attachment, Affection, and the Complexity of Relationships

We need to understand that attachment and affection are not the same. Attachment binds and blinds. Dhritarashtra’s attachment to Duryodhana prevented him from doing what was right. He could not say no to his son even when he knew that Duryodhana was acting wrongly.

Many people think education means making complicated things simple. That is certainly one aspect of education. However, education also means revealing complexity in what appears simple. Human relationships are one such area.

Abandonment of responsibility is not spirituality. Krishna teaches in the Bhagavad Gita that not all renunciation is true renunciation.

The opposite of attachment is not necessarily detachment.

In the mode of passion, attachment often turns into aversion. Aversion is a strong negative reaction. Even though we dislike someone or something, our mind remains absorbed in it.

In the mode of ignorance, attachment often turns into apathy. Apathy is emotional numbness. It is extremely dangerous because it destroys concern, responsibility, and compassion.

Apathy is not detachment. Apathy often arises from frustration, whereas detachment arises from spiritual understanding.

Frustration is like starving. The desire to eat is there, but the ability is absent.

Renunciation is like fasting. The ability to eat is present, but the desire is willingly restrained for a higher purpose.

Therefore, frustration should never be mistaken for renunciation.

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Commitment with Detachment

The sattvic alternative is commitment with detachment.

Commitment means understanding that we are souls playing particular roles in Krishna’s arrangement. If we are playing a role, we should play it responsibly. A parent should act as a responsible parent. A teacher should act as a responsible teacher. A leader should act as a responsible leader.

At the same time, commitment does not mean clinging. A parent cares for a five-year-old differently than for a twenty-five-year-old. Wisdom lies in knowing when to step in and when to step back.

Vidura demonstrated this principle perfectly. He sincerely tried to guide Dhritarashtra. When Dhritarashtra repeatedly rejected his guidance, Vidura stepped away from that role. He remained committed to doing his duty but detached from controlling the outcome.

Thus, commitment means doing our part, while detachment means not becoming obsessed with the results.

The same principle applies in spiritual life. We should be grateful to everyone who has helped us move closer to Krishna. However, if a particular association is no longer helping us advance spiritually, we must thoughtfully evaluate that association.

What to hold and what to let go is a decision each of us must make. No one can make that decision for us. We cannot outsource our responsibility. Spiritual training is meant to help us become responsible decision-makers.

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Protective Love Versus Possessive Love

His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaja often says that even if we cannot get along with someone, we should at least avoid spoiling the relationship.

This brings us to another important distinction: protective versus possessive love.

Protective love focuses on a person’s well-being. Through association, encouragement, inspiration, education, and guidance, we try to help that person move closer to Krishna.

Possessive love focuses on control. It makes us feel threatened by others. It often expresses itself through guilt-inducing statements such as, “I have done so much for you.”

Protective love helps others reach the ocean.

Possessive love wants to keep them attached to the drop.

We should never think that we are the only drop capable of taking someone to the ocean.

Similarly, there is a difference between gratitude and indebtedness.

Gratitude is positive and natural. It arises from appreciation.

Indebtedness feels burdensome. Duryodhana exploited Karna’s sense of indebtedness and used it to bind him.

Therefore, we should be grateful to every drop that has helped us move toward Krishna, but we should not become trapped by unhealthy indebtedness.

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Becoming a Drop That Leads Others to Krishna

Ultimately, the goal of life is neither to reject all drops nor to mistake any drop for the ocean.

The goal is to appreciate every drop that directs us toward Krishna and to become such a drop for others.

We move from artha to paramārtha, from temporary attractions to the supreme purpose of life. We learn that love is not maya. Love is real. But the love we experience in this world is a drop, whereas Krishna’s love is the ocean.

Devotion is not merely emotion; it is the education and elevation of emotion.

Attachment can degrade into aversion or apathy. The higher alternative is commitment with detachment.

We should be protective, not possessive; grateful, not burdened by indebtedness.

Inspiration can come from many people, but our role models should be chosen carefully. The scriptures contain extraordinary examples, and while drawing inspiration from them, we should seek proper guidance in applying those teachings to our own lives.

In this way, we learn to love Krishna—the ocean from whom all drops arise and to whom all drops ultimately belong.

Note: Above article is based on Srimad Bhagavatam Class given by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 21st June 2026.

Read Series of articles on Uddhava Gita:

• Overview of Uddhava Gita
• Uddhava Gita: Learning from Life Through the 24 Gurus
  
  

Our Forgotten Relationship with Krishna

Although we are part and parcel of Krishna, but still we suffer because we have forgotten our relationship with Krishna.

Supreme Lord Krishna has three energies – internal, marginal & external.  The Lord’s abode like Goloka Vrindavan or Vaikuntha planets and the ever-liberated devotees living there are part of his internal energy.  

This material world is his external energy. And we the living entities are his marginal energy.  Krishna has given us, the finite souls, the free will to choose to live with him in his spiritual kingdom or to live away from him in this material world.

When we decide to live separately from him in this world, we get overpowered by his material energy.  Although, the living entities and the material energy both are potencies of the Lord, but the Lord has gifted the material nature the power to overpower those jivas who do not want to be with him.

But the material nature cannot overpower the Lord because he is the Supreme. The Lord is the potent and both, the living entities and the material energy, are his potencies.

Jivas are like God but not God

Since we, the living entities are part and parcel of the Lord, so we have qualities like the Lord but quantitatively we are infinitesimal to the Lord. What Lord can do, we too can do but in small proportion. For example, the Supreme Lord Krishna can create oceans, we can also dig wells or create small reservoirs to store water.  The Lord creates huge planets which seamlessly float in the space, we create small planes which fly in the sky.

Lord gives us this material body which has the capability to give birth to another material body. The human intelligence too creates a robot, but the robot cannot give birth to another robot, neither it is conscious like us.

If we look around, we find each of the living beings have unique idsentity – their faces are different, they sound differently, they think and act differently. But robots are all the same – they look the same, they work as they are programmed. Living beings have feelings but not the machines.

As his potency, we can do things like him but in a small way.  Lord can be compared to an ocean, and we are like a drop of the ocean. He is like the sun; we are like the rays of the sun.  As we are minuscule, so we easily get influenced by the material energy which is also called his illusory energy. Illusory because this world makes us believe that we can be happy here forever without the Lord.

Curing our enjoying mentality

Now to live in this material world, we are given material bodies.  Confined within the material body, we, the spirit souls, gradually start misidentifying ourselves with this material body and with this material world. Pains and pleasures to the material body start affecting us. We forget that this material body is just an outer covering and we are aloof to it.

As we carry desires to enjoy, we are given different bodies.  Sometimes we get a human body and sometimes an animal body.  Just as in our present body we have father, mother, brother and sister similarly in our previous lives we had such relationships.

Srimad Bhagavatam tells the story of King Citraketu and his wife Kṛtadyuti who were in great distress as they lost their young son. Sage Narada by his spiritual potency made the departed soul re-enter the dead body of the boy. When the sage told him that the king and the queen are his father and mother, then the boy was confused. He asked, “In which body they were my father and mother because I had many such bodies. I was sometime born in a human species, sometimes in animal species, sometimes in heavenly abode and sometimes in lower planetary system.”

So, as a soul, we are on a never-ending journey in this world. But wherever we go miseries and death accompanies us.  We came to this world thinking we can enjoy here without Krishna and even more than Krishna. But the opposite happens here.  One of the reasons why the Lord allows us to come here is to make us understand that we can never be happy without him. The Lord mercifully wants to cure us from the enjoying mentality.  

Suffering due to misidentification with this material body

Whatever punishment or sufferings we are subjected to is to remind us that this place is not fit for us. Just like in a prison the prisoner cannot expect to live peacefully and happily, similarly in this prison of material existence peace and bliss is a phantasmagoria.

But as a soul, we are pleasure seekers but imprisoned in a material body we remain unhappy.  As a soul we always remain pure.  Just like the reflection of the moon on a river appear to quiver as the water in the river flows but in reality, the moon is still in the sky.

Similarly, the souls remain permanently pure and free from all contamination but in this material world it looks like it gets affected by material qualities like illusion, lamentation, distress and so on.

The suffering is only due to misidentification with this material body and material world. We must give up this misidentification. We should also be convinced that this material body and material world is not a safe place for us.  

Even Krishna wants to educate us about this. Although we choose to turn away from him, but he never leaves us. This is why he appears in this world time to time to remind us about our original home which is full of joy.

He gifts us scriptures to uproot our ignorance. The holy books help us understand who we are, why we are suffering and how we can free ourselves from all sufferings. 

Krishna underlines the importance of transcendental knowledge to Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.11.4, “O most intelligent Uddhava, the living entity, called jīva, is part and parcel of Me, but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial. By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.”

Reviving our forgotten relationship with Krishna

The most important knowledge is to know that we belong to Krishna, and our suffering is only because we are choosing to live separately from Krishna.  And being away from him for such a long time, we have forgotten our relationship with Krishna.

Once this understanding that we belong to Krishna percolates in our heart, our miseries will start dissipating.  

Jīva kṛṣṇa-dāsa, e viśvāsa, karle ta’ āra duḥkha nāi: “Please therefore accept yourself as the servant of Kṛṣṇa. Then you will be freed from all miseries.” Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.8 Purport

For our own good we should revive our forgotten relationship with Krishna. Right now, we are helplessly overpowered by Krishna’s material energy. But Krishna, who is the master of the material energy, can easily free us from the material bondage.  

Not just that, he can even take us back to his kingdom where he enjoys with his intimate devotees.   

But the all-capable Krishna will not do so unless we want him to do so because he never interferes with our free will.  The choice is always with us – to be with him or not to be with him.

Srimad Bhagavatam at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – May 2026

Below are important points from morning Srimad Bhagavatam class at Iskcon Newtown Temple, Kolkata given in May 2026.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Mukund Lila Prabhu on 1st May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.22
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• If one performs Vedic sacrifices and fruitive rituals without any mistake or contamination, one will achieve a heavenly situation in the next life.
• But even this result, which is only achieved by perfect performance of fruitive rituals, will be vanquished by time.
• Any material situation, from the worst to the best, is imperfect.
• Thus, one should strive only for pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Important Points from Class

• Srila Prabhupada explains that when fruitive goal is the focus then one transports himself into a tottering plane where there is every chance of gliding down from the direction of the Vedas.
• Vedic sacrifices are royal road but there can be accidents on royal roads too.
• Fruitive activities are injected into the heart as slow poison.
• For e.g. if one’s goal is to get daily bread, then one get it easily by going to a shop rathe than going to a temple or performing meditation.
• Fruitive mentality is dangerous and risky.
• Person infected with fruitive mentality keeps on doing the same thing again and again – punar api marnam, purn api jananam.
• In Australia I saw, people marry at 22-23 and divorce by 27-28. I thought it is nice that they free themselves from ghastly experiences of material life at an early age.
• But then I found that they again marry at 32-33. And the chain continues. Once I saw a marriage ceremony was going on beach and I thought that what the grandfather & grandmother are doing on the stage but then I found that they are the bride & the groom.
• In BG 2.55 Krishna explains that all material desires arise from mental concoction. Mental concoction is illusion. Something arising from illusion will lead to only one result i.e. illusion.
• Something coming from reality leads to 3 results– reinstate one to further reality, one may mistake to some other reality, one may go into illusion.
• If one is not properly guided, then reality may lead to illusion. For e.g. Krishna Consciousness is joyful but people get fried out. How is it possible? This happens when we do not take proper guidance.
• From illusion there is not much option. An illusioned person may go into more suffering and will forever continue to suffer.
• Reality is specific, illusion is infinite. For e.g. to become proud is very easy.  One can be proud that he gave 10 BG to temple 10 years back. One can be proud of one’s humility.
• sthita-prajñaḥ stage is when a person is done with illusion. At this stage steadiness comes.
• Sage Narada says, “What is present in this 14 planetary system is not worth endeavoring.”
• Dukha (sufferings) comes without wanting and it keeps us haunting. Similarly, material happiness too will come to us on its own.
• What modern day technology has given us? It has accelerated death, disease and old age. Automobile causes death. Pollution causes disease. Today young people are getting old.
• Accelerating suffering with the endeavor to remove suffering.
• For e.g. when we start using mobile, then our consciousness goes into it. Mobile is a trap; it’s like a black hole. Anything that goes into black hole is lost forever.
• Srila Prabhupada never compromised on his sadhana, on his preaching. Prahlada Maharaja never compromised. As a sadhaka, we should also not comprise. All our time and energy should be used for cultivating Krishna Consciousness.
• Illusion to reality happens by the causeless mercy of pure devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Radharaman Prabhu on 2^nd May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.23 – 29
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Until his pious results are used up, the performer of sacrifice enjoys life in the heavenly planets.
• When the pious results are exhausted, however, he falls down from the pleasure gardens of heaven, being moved against his desire by the force of eternal time.

Important Points from Class

• In the beginning knowledge and renunciation helps to develop foundation.
• But important point is desire, sincerity for devotional service. Sincerity is more important than knowledge and austerity.
• We may have some sincerity, but our sincerity is mixed with other desires.
• Vallav Bhat or Valabhavacharya was a great scholar, but he started thinking that his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam is better than Sridhar Swami. This displeased Lord Chaitanya.
• Spiritual master’s heart is as soft as rose petals and also hard as a thunderbolt.
• Bhakti Vinod Thakura says, devotees are introspective and non-devotees are speculative.
• When Vallabh Bhatt got into introspective mood, he understood his fault, he then has transformation of heart.
• Vallabh Bhatt was scholarly, had done lots of preaching but Lord Chaitanya only wanted humility from him.
• Spiritual master is there for us to relieve us from the great burden of false ego.
• Srila Prabhupada would chastise HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja and Maharaja never complained. In fact Maharaja would say to Prabhupada that if you do not chastise me then who will correct me.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prem Gopal Prabhu on 4^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.31
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• The material senses create material activities, either pious or sinful, and the modes of nature set the material senses into motion.

Important Points from the Class

• One does not get addicted to liquor in a day.
• Many people do not drink liquor because they like drinking; they drink because they do not have anything better to do.
• We may not get all the answers, but by chanting constantly, we will get revelation.
• Activities that enhance our goodness are very few in this world. Most things in this world are in passion and ignorance.
• This is why one may be a devotee but still practice bhakti in ignorance or passion.
• The first quality required for bhakti is humility.
• Most devotees begin practicing devotional life because they got the association of a devotee.
• To change society, internal transformation is required. This is why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started Harinam.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu on 5^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.32
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• According to the karma-mīmāṁsā philosophers, there is no transcendental living entity who is the background of all existence.

Important Points form the class

• In Catur Sloki Bhagavatam, Krishna says that before creation I existed, in middle I exist and at the end I will exist – SB 2.9.33
• Nothing is of value without connection to supreme Lord – SB 2.9.34
• Krishna says to Brahma, always search me.
• Biggest loss is when we forget Krishna even for a moment. If we do so, then we are in maya.
• One should try to see Lord everywhere and in everything.
• Anyone who sees this world separate from Krishna is in maya. Earth, water, fire, air, ether are Krishna’s energy.
• For e.g. Srila Prabhupada explains that if you see my spectacles, you will remember me.
• Material energy, spiritual energy everything comes from Krishna. We should see everything in relation to Krishna. If we do so we will be saved from maya.
• This land, this earth does not belong to us.
• It belongs to Krishna – aham sarvasya prabavo. One who understands this worships, Krishna.
• Krishna is the essence of everything, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “I am strength of the strong, intelligence of the intelligent.” He says, “I am the taste of water, light of sun and moon.”
• Krishna is the best dancer, fighter, philosopher. He can satisfy us completely.
• Krishna is the best cheater. If we try to cheat Krishna, we get cheated.
• In Krishna book, George Harrison, is writing, “Everyone is looking for Krishna, some know it and some do not know about it.”
• It is advertised by LIC – Jivan ke sath bhi, jivan ke bad bhi. But who can be there after death? Only, Krishna can be there, no one else.
• There is an ad which say, “Complete man.” But can one be complete by wearing Raymond dress. Definitely not.
• HH Loknath Swami Maharaja attended cross maidan program of Srila Prabhupada and became a devotee.
• George Harrison after meeting Prabhupada, wrote songs related to Krishna.
• Yugaetma nimisena – feeling deep separation. George Harrison has written..
• People have false pride. But we devotee should have real pride, we should be proud that we are connected to guru parampara.
• Real luxury is to have trustworthy friends and proper shelter which is possible in Krishna Consciousness.
• People want happy and eternal life; this is possible only in the kingdom of God.
• Kingdom of God is that place where there is always hearing and chanting the names of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Rajgopinath Prabhu on 8^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.34
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Class

• Once some devotees had gone to Prabhupada asking him if he would like to write an article for Back to Godhead magazine. Prabhupada asked, “Are you writing the same what you hear from me?” Devotees said, “Yes.”  Prabhupada said, “Then my writing and your writing is same.”
• Mayavadis says Brahman is satya, truth, and the world is illusion. If we do not understand that this creation is non – different from the Lord, then we will become Mayavadi.
• Or else we will be come under Abrahamic religion like Islam and Christian. They say that this world and the Lord is completely different.
• Once Narada Muni asked Brahma about the creator, sustainer, destroyer of the Universe.
• Narada said, “I think that you only know the truth. But then I see you meditating, so want to know what the source of your knowledge is. Is there anyone controlling you or are you independent?
• Brahma then tells to Narada that Krishna is above me and he is the real creator, sustainer and destroyer.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu on 11^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.1
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Due to the influence of the material modes of nature, which are under My control, the living entity is sometimes designated as conditioned and sometimes as liberated.
• The living entity imagines a false connection with the three modes of nature and accepts the material body as the self.
• The living entity therefore suffers the consequences of his own imagination, just as one suffers the illusory activities of a dream.

Important Points from Class

• Because we identify with this body, we are conditioned.
• Material body is dead; spirit soul is aloof.
• Who is suffering? Who is feeling happiness and distress? It is our false identification.
• Liberation is when we keep ourselves aloof from the body.
• Spiritual activities are bliss producing but because of our conditioned life we consider it pain producing.
• Since we have been in this material world for millions of lives, we think not engaging in spiritual activities is bliss giving.
• HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja says that free time means danger. Because material modes are very strong, it will drag us down especially during free time.
• Krishna says that we can transcend the modes of nature by engaging in Krishna Conscious activities.
• “One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” Bhagavad Gita 14.26
• When the living entities give up this false identification that I am this body but thinks himself as spirit soul then
• Once while travelling on a train, I saw everyone had same 2 hours. I was reading Bhagavatam, but someone was watching cricket match, someone was sleeping, someone was busy watching reels and so on.  We have to decide how to utilize our time.
• We can free ourselves from entanglement when we absorb ourselves in hearing, reading and chanting.
• When Nityananada Prabhu came to Bengal, they forgot hunger and thirst because they had so much absorption in holy name.
• Vakreswar Pandit continuously danced for 72 hours in sankirtan.
• When a devotee Parmeswar Thakura was dancing joyfully, then some threw dead fox on sankirtan party. Parmeswar Thakura glanced at the fox and the fox came to life. Fox too began dancing and ran away from the place. Parmeswar Thakura is an associate of Nityananda Prabhu.
• Spirit soul is never conditioned. Because of false identification, spirit soul gets conditioned.
• During festivals devotees get absorbed in service and forgets to take prasad, still do not feel any misery.
• Madhavendra Puri would take little milk in the entire day but was happily serving the devotee.
• Material activities and inconveniences will not disturb us if we are absorbed in Krishna Consciousness.
• HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaj once said, “I am not feeling happy with this material body but I am feeling bliss in Krishna Conscious activity.”
• One time Maharaj had not taken prasad, when devotees requested him to first take prasada and then give class then Maharaja said, “No class no prasad.”
• We cannot imitate pure devotees.
• But by genuinely practicing Krishna Conscious activities we will immediately feel we free from pain.
• Lord never comes under the modes. He is the controller of the modes – mayadaksena prakriti. We should never think that when Lord comes to this world, he is under the influence of the modes.
• Sometime to bewilder the atheistic people, who want to say that the Lord has material body, it looks like lord is under the influence of material modes, like Lord Krishna being shot by the hunter.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that we should not be lazy in reading scriptures.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Maharasa Prabhu on 12^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.2
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Just as a dream is merely a creation of one’s intelligence but has no actual substance, similarly, material lamentation, illusion, happiness, distress and the acceptance of the material body under the influence of māyā are all creations of My illusory energy.
• In other words, material existence has no essential reality.
• Although material objects are subject to transformation and thus have no permanent existence, the material energy is real because it comes from the supreme reality, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
• It is only our false acceptance of the material body as the factual self and our foolish dream that the material world is meant for our pleasure that have no real existence.
• They are merely mental concoctions.

Important Points from Class

• A person in dream may become millionaire but what is its use.
• Yoga sutra of Patanjali, says, there are 3 types of suffering –
• 1^st is parinamvad, changing. Everything transforms in this world. Like relationship transforms.
• 2^nd suffering is tapa which means everything ultimately is exhausted. Old age takes away our ability for enjoyment. Rockefeller contracted a disease. He had difficulty in passing urine. When someone asked him, “How he is feeling?” He said, “I am feeling horrible.” Similarly, situation is of Dhritrashta, SB 1.13.22
• 3^rd suffering is samskara – everything we try to enjoy gives an impression in the mind, so normal life becomes miserable. Eg. Pururva.
• Once after HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja’s class, a person said to Maharaja, “After hearing your class, I am feeling miserable and hopeless.
• Maharaj said, “In Krishna Consciousness there is so much hope.”
• When we meet a person more qualified than us then we should offer service. When we are happy, we want to do something. Vaisnava naturally thinks that everyone is more qualified than him. Generally, in this world natural tendency is to become envious. So, if we serve than envy eventually goes away.
• Envy is painfully acknowledging that someone is more qualified than me.
• Correction should be done with compassion.
• What it means to be servant of servant by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja? Servant of servant means genuinely being well-wisher of everyone. It also means to be respectful & encouraging to everyone.
• We should appreciate devotees’ contribution even if it is small.
• We should have friendship with those who are equally qualified.
• Human beings are social.
• Psychologists say, need to be understood by others is as important as taking breath.
• When Dhruva expressed his vengeance then Narada did not first correct him but first, he heard him then offered solution.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nila Kamala Prabhu on 13^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.3
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Uddhava, both knowledge and ignorance, being products of māyā, are expansions of My potency.

Important Points from Class

• Prabhupada, in one lecture, says, “The Krishna Consciousness movement is to bring the nitya-baddha to the nitya-siddha stage.”
• To understand Krishna, we have to know maya.
• How to become free from maya is explained in CC Madhya 20.120.
• No one is naturally attracted to Krishna-katha, but by serving the spiritual master and Vaishnavas, one gets mercy and can begin to develop a taste for hearing Krishna-katha.
• The ears are now blocked with anarthas, so Krishna-katha is not entering our hearts. But when we surrender to Vaishnavas, our anarthas start going away, and our ears begin to open.
• We should cultivate the mood to hear Srimad Bhagavatam.
• By surrendering to pure devotees, one develops a taste for hearing Krishna-katha.
• Our daily schedule should include 6 hours of sadhana, 6 hours of service, and 6 hours of rest. Sadhana should be performed in the morning.
• 99.9% of people are karma-adhikaris, i.e., karmis. Karmis are in passion and ignorance. Their minds are not peaceful, and they cannot sit continuously even for an hour.
• The mind should be engaged in the service of Krishna by chanting Krishna’s name.
• When we chant daily for 2 hours, we should observe how much we think of Krishna.
• With body, mind, and words, we should serve with dedication.
• Deity worship helps engage all the senses in the service of Krishna.
• Madan Mohan Malaviya had a question, and he approached Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, who told him to do some service. After doing service, he got the answer to his question.
• By service, one gets realization.
• Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura told one sannyasi disciple to hear Krishna-katha from Gaur Das, who was a gardener.
• The sannyasi was thinking, “I am so learned; what can a gardener teach me?” Gaur Das was also thinking the same.
• But surprisingly, Gaur Das started speaking Krishna-katha eloquently, which surprised both him and the sannyasi.
• Mercy comes through service.
• A Krishna conscious person does not become tired of work but wants to work more and more.
• When one develops a taste for service, one does not become tired of serving.
• Sense gratification means excessive identification with the material body.
• Dham is also a consciousness.
• The mind tells us, “I will be happy here and there.” The only solution is service to Krishna and the devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada on 14^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 5.5.3
• Chapter Name: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons
• Lecture Link: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/730909sbsto/

Important Points from Prabhupada’s lecture

• What is the use of keeping big, big paraphernalia? Bahvārambhe laghu kriyā. Ārambha, arrangement is very big, but work is no. No work. What is the use of keeping useless machine? So that is going on. In the material world, everything is bahvārambhe laghu kriyā. 
• So here it is suggested that in this human form of life, you have got two choices = either you again go to hell, or you go back to home, back to Godhead. 
• By evolutionary process you come to the human form of life after going through 8,000,000 forms of lower-grade life. Then you come to this human form of life, when your consciousness is developed. You are not exactly like animals. The animal propensities are there, but it is decent. Because you have got good, advanced consciousness. 
• How this developed consciousness should be utilized, that education is lacking. 
• In Paris, there are clubs, very, very big men, politician, businessmen, they go to nightclub. They pay fifty dollars for entering club, and they spend hundreds of dollars for wine and women.
• Therefore, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is needed—to give these rascals the chance of associating with devotees.
• The material condition of life, as soon as you get a certain type of body, your pains and pleasure already fixed up within the body routine work. You cannot make any change. 
• So according to the body, everyone’s happiness and distress is already fixed up. You cannot change it. That is called fate. That is called fate. But you can change your fate if you take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is possible. 
•  Finish your business of Kṛṣṇa consciousness perfectly, whatever little duration of life you have got. That is stated here = nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma yad indriya-prītaya āpṛṇoti na sādhu manye [SB 5.5.4].
• Because we have got this miserable condition of life, this body… This is due to our past action. Now if you create again the same action, then you’ll have to accept another body. Then your this miserable condition of life will continue. Will continue. Just finish it.
• Otherwise, you’ll have to accept this material body if you have got any desire to enjoy in this material world.
• Therefore anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam. Except becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, except this desire, no more other desires.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nimai Anand Prabhu on 15^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.4
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• The living entities are part and parcel of Krishna but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial.
• By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.

Important Points from Class

• Everyone wants some sense of belongingness. We need some identification.
• It is important to think who we are because all our activities are based on our understanding of who we are.
• We can’t live without any identity at any moment.
• World pushes us to different identities – I am his son, I am his father, I am a girl or a boy, I am employee, I belong to this place or this nation.
• Corresponding to identity there is belongingness to something. Even a renunciate may identity that I am residing in Himalaya or I am a sage.
• The problem is that belongingness is temporary, and the biggest problem is that we know it is temporary. And because of this we are always in fear.
• When intelligence is hooked to temporary things, one always remains in anxiety.
• Even a jnani, comes to know, I am a Brahman, aham brahmasmi, but for him there is no belongingness and so he cannot act even after having that understanding.
• In this verse Krishna is saying, “Living entities are part and parcel of Me.”
• Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke..that all living entities are mine.
• Jīva Kṛṣṇa dāsa, ei viśvāsa, korle to āra duḥkha nāi
• But unfortunately, we have so many faiths. And so, Krishna says in this verse, “because of ignorance living entities are suffering.”
• But there is hope. Bhakti Vinod Thakura says this covering is not endless.
• It is important for preacher to bring hope in people’s life. Material life is full of hopelessness.
• Once a person was going in bus, had many problems, he was planning to commit suicide.
• People do not commit suicide because of failure but because of relationship issues with others – wife, children, mother, father or friends. So, we should give hope that even if no one is there Krishna and Krishna’s devotees are always there.
• In the bus, devotees were distributing Bhagavad Gita, that person purchased Gita. In the book, he saw a statement, “We all have eternal relationship with Krishna.” So, he thought let me read the book. And by reading the book, he came to Krishna Consciousness and was thus saved from committing suicide.
• Preaching means to help people understand that we have eternal relationship with Krishna.
• Śrīla Vyāsadeva saw the supreme Lord along with his external energy. “Thus, he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service [bhakti-yoga] without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control.”  SB 1.7.4 https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/7/4/
• We are struggling with maya but maya is under the control of Krishna. For example, mayadevi, could not tempt Haridas Thakura. Haridas Thakura gave her Krishna nama.
• By hearing about Krishna, we develop relationships with Krishna and by serving Krishna we develop attachment for Krishna.
• We develop attachment for Krishna by serving and hearing from spiritual master.
• In SB 1.2.16 it is said, “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.”
• In CC Madhya 14.18, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The greatest achievement for a devotee is to become a servant of the servants of the Lord.”
• We need to follow the instructions of spiritual master.
• Once HH Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj was very sick, his disciples were serving him physically but since they had to serve for long hours, it was becoming difficult for them. Maharaja then told them, “Serving the instructions of spiritual master is easy than serving him physically.” Maharaja wanted to teach this important lesson to his disciples.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Anand Vardhan Prabhu on 18^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.7
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Class

• Two birds on the same tree, one who is busy eating the fruits is jivatma and one seeing is paramatma.
• Paramatma waits when the jivatma will turn towards him.
• If we do service based on pride, then we will not get the complete benefit for doing that service.
• Those who have not indulged in drug will not have inclination for taking drugs. But those who indulged into it have strong inclination for drugs.
• If someone thinks that I am senior, then understand that this is dangerous sign.
• If we have humility, we will think whatever I am doing is by the mercy of guru, devotees and Krishna.
• Service comes by the mercy of Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prem Swarupa Prabhu on 19^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.8
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• One who is enlightened in self-realization, although living within the material body, sees himself as transcendental to the body, just as one who has arisen from a dream gives up identification with the dream body.
• A foolish person, however, although not identical with his material body but transcendental to it, thinks himself to be situated in the body, just as one who is dreaming sees himself as situated in an imaginary body.

Important Points from Class

• Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings a beautiful song, “emona durmati, saṁsāra bhitore, poḍiyā āchinu āmi.”  It means, “A wicked mind brought me into this world, O Lord, but one of Your pure and elevated devotees has come to bring me out.”
• Bhakti Vinod Thakura says that this material world is a dream.
• Srila Prabhupada says that the moment the living entities desire to enjoy, māyā casts her spell.
• The whole material world is the dream of Mahā-Viṣṇu.
• Great devotees enter the dream to awaken those who are dreaming.
• Living entities have many desires, and those desires affect both the gross body and the subtle body.
• Prāṇa-vāyu also goes with the soul when a person dies.
• All the senses function because of prāṇa-vāyu. Prāṇa-vāyu helps us move physically and even move our eyelids.
• Maraṇa-jvara refers to a condition in which a person has a temperature of 107 degrees.
• Prācīnabarhi is in the lineage of Dhruva Mahārāja.
• People think that if they leave, things will not go properly. Therefore, even in old age, people do not want to give up their position as controller.
• Kapila Deva says that the ultimate weapon that binds the jīva to this world is sexual attraction. If one can free oneself from this attraction, then one becomes jīvan-mukta.
• Like Nārada Muni, we should preach and then move to another place.
• For a devotee, there is no impediment from high fever or old age. An example is Srila Prabhupada, who had great enthusiasm even at an advanced age.
• SP says that if you want to know what you were in your previous life and what you will be in your next life, you can understand it by minutely observing your karmendriyas and jñānendriyas.
• By the end of life, our citta should be attached to guru and Krishna.
• The result of a lifetime of successful Krishna consciousness is to feel separation from guru and Krishna.
• If there is no attachment, then there will be no feeling of separation.
• Dreams are also reflections of our mental condition.
• Pure devotees are conscious that this world is a dream, and they are able to help awaken the souls affected by it.
• Absorption in this world is irresistible.
• Waking up means to be constantly Krishna conscious. Therefore, SP says, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.” The mind has to hear the holy name; for the mind to hear, the ears must hear; and for the ears to hear, the tongue must chant properly. If we come into constant contact with Krishna, then our problems are solved.
• Once, a Prime Minister went to a mental asylum. There were many compartments, and one compartment was completely isolated. The PM went to that isolated compartment. One person was there, and he said, “I am the Prime Minister. Today is my birthday, and I have declared a holiday, but still people are working here.” So, the only solution was to make him understand that he was not the Prime Minister.
• Misidentification creates intense suffering.
• Preaching means to awaken people.
• I am a soul within the body, influenced by the mind and intelligence. Therefore, I have to use the body and mind for spiritual benefit. As long as I remain dependent on the body and mind, I will continue to suffer.
• We have to perform sādhana-bhakti and cultivate Krishna bhakti.
• Whether the experience is good or bad, we should use it to associate with Krishna.
• Circumstances and situations are not in our control.
• Arjuna says that it is difficult to control the mind.
• We should use our mind in the service of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu on 22^nd May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.10
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• An unintelligent person situated within the body created by his previous fruitive activities thinks, “I am the performer of action.”
• Srīla Madhvācārya states that just as a king punishes a rebellious subject, the Supreme Lord punishes the sinful living entity by forcing him to transmigrate from one body to another in the network of the illusory energy.

Important Points from Class

• We left Krishna and came to this material world thinking that we could independently accomplish something here.
• One thing is reality and another is imagination. Much of what we learn in schools and colleges is based on temporary material imagination.
• To fulfill their dreams, many Indians go abroad, yet end up doing menial jobs such as cleaning toilets.
• Once, a devotee had a severe stomachache and was taken to the hospital. After treating him, the doctor asked, “Did Krishna save you, or did I save you?” The devotee replied, “A few days ago, a patient died in your hospital. Why were you unable to save him?” The doctor answered, “Because his time had come.” The devotee then said, “Similarly, my time has not yet come, therefore you were able to treat me. You are only an instrument.”
• Until Krishna sanctions something, we cannot do anything independently.
• Suppose there is no power supply. Even if we switch on the fan or bulb, will it work?
• Krishna is the ultimate source. Whatever we are able to do is possible only by His mercy.
• Prahlada Maharaja told Hiranyakashipu that the strength both of them possessed came from the same supreme source.
• The body does not function according to our own likes and dislikes. We are simply residing within the body, just as a passenger sits inside a car.
• Therefore, we should not become proud or egoistic.
• We desire something, and then the Lord sanctions it. The Lord resides within the heart as Paramatma. He directs material nature, and material nature then acts to fulfill the desires of the living entities.
• We suffer because of our own desires.
• If we place ourselves in an environment dominated by passion, we develop passionate qualities such as greed. In an environment of ignorance, ignorant desires develop. In the mode of goodness, good desires develop. Therefore, we must be careful about the association we keep.
• We often say that material nature is responsible, but first we desire, and then material nature acts accordingly.
• The first principle is to understand that we are not the actual doers; the Lord is the doer. At the same time, we must take responsibility for our wrong actions because we desired them.
• Due to pride, people lose many valuable things even in this world.
• Once in Puri, a wealthy devotee from South India came with the prideful thought that he would donate so much money to Lord Jagannath that it could never all be used in the Lord’s service. He instructed the pujaris to fully engage his wealth in seva. The pujaris thought that regardless of how many bhoga preparations they made, the money would still remain unused. The head pujari fasted and prayed. That night, Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to ask the wealthy man to prepare pan using a special lime made from the rare pearl-like substance found on the forehead of an elephant during a particular condition. Only those elephants who had followed celibacy, could have pearl on their forehead. When the rich merchant heard this, he was shocked because it was practically impossible to find such an elephant. Realizing his pride, he begged forgiveness from Lord Jagannath.
• We should always live with humility in this world.
• The moment the mentality of being the doer enters our heart, our falldown begins.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class @ Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – October 2025

Below important points are from Srimad Bhagavatam Class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata in October 2025 which are being given by different devotees.

Durga Puja Camp 2025 Class by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu – 1^st October 2025

As part of Durga Puja Camp 2025, HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu gave Class on 1st October too.

There were three sessions:

• 1st session was from 8:15 am – 9:45 am: Prabhuji spoke on “Dharma – The Empowerer of Free Will”
• 2nd session was from 11:30 am – 2 pm: Prabhuji spoke on “Dharma – The Empowerer of Free Will”
• 3^rd session was from 5 pm onwards. Prabhuji spoke on “Bhakti – The Ultimate Karma Transformer.”

1^st Session: Dharma – The Empowerer of Free Will (8:15 am – 9:45 am)

Important Points from the Class

1. Karma – Action Matters
2. Dharma – Our responsibility
3. Choices happen under certain conditions and conditionings
4. Daiva determines conditions and conditionings.
5. Consciousness comes from soul, soul never changes. But consciousness gets contaminated.
6. We are not body, but we live through our body.
7. We need mind to function as much as we need body to function.
8. Mind is transmitter and also transformer. When inputs come to mind, sometimes mind directly transmits it and sometimes also transforms it.
9. Impression in the mind helps us to maximize or minimize the impact of information.
10. Sanskrit word for conditioning is samskara.
11. We have some scars from previous life.
12. Mind is real just like body is real. Just as body gets injured, similarly mind can get injured too.
13. If there is any injury in body, then small stimulus can lead to huge reactions.
14. Similarly, when there is mental wound, then small stimulus can lead to huge reactions.
15. Mind may have trauma.
16. Mind has impressions – positive and negative. Impressions will impel us to act in certain way.
17. Mental wound is real and brings real limitation.
18. Emotions are associated with Jnanendriyas (ears, skin, eyes, tongue, and nose). We perceive emotions through our senses.
19. Desires are associated with karmendriya (organs of action, hands, legs etc). When we desire something, we want to do something physically.
20. For emotions and desires, mind is the key.
21. If someone is feeling cold and we say don’t feel cold then it is not going to work.
22. With respect to emotions, it needs to be comforted. For eg, if a child is once trapped in lift and later when he is in lift then he will be emotionally disturbed, so he needs to be comforted. Krishna does not say Arjuna to control his mind when Abhimanyu was killed.
23. With respect to desires, it has to be controlled.
24. Mind -> Emotion -> information (emotion is information).   
25. Body -> sensation -> information. (sensation is also information).  
26. Information needs to be acknowledged, similar emotions.
27. Will power cannot completely change physical reality similarly will power cannot completely change mind – sometimes we need to control the mind and sometimes we need to comfort the mind.
28. For example, a handicapped person having polio cannot win a high jump.
29. We have a mind, we have to live with the mind, but we do not have to live for the mind.
30. We work with our mind, so we cannot go against the mind.
31. How to know our instinct or vritti – “Note consciously what we notice automatically”
32. There are Impressions from past – Instinct (vritti) is considered positive, impulses (vasanas) are considered negative like kama, krodha, lobha.
33. Instincts eg – kshatriya or Brahminical mentality.
34. Instinct has to be channeled but vasanas have to be curbed and cured.
35. Body is like kshetra or field. In a particular field, particular seeds can grow not all seeds.
36. Similarly, we all have different nature and abilities, so we have to identify it and work in that direction.
37. Also, in field both seeds and weed can grow. We should find seeds which can grow properly. And also find weeds that are growing and need to be curbed.
38. Mind has particular strength and weaknesses.

2^nd Session: Dharma – The Empowerer of Free Will (11:30 am – 2 pm)

Important Points from the Class

1. Impressions are formed by our previous actions. Mind is like programmed device. It is also programmable.
2. Programmed means certain impressions which are fixed. We have certain programming in our mind which is difficult to change, like our basic nature.
3. Programmable means certain impressions which can be changed, or new impressions can be created.
4. Instincts/vritti are positive and should be developed. For example, an aspiring writer should read and write more.
5. Impulses/vasanas are negative and should be given up. For example, lust, anger, and greed should be given up.  
6. Key for reprograming the mind is practice (abhyas) & vairagya.
7. Do what is constructive with persistence (abhyas) and what is harmful avoid it (vairagya). This way impressions can be developed.
8. Psychology says, “We can’t do a don’t.”  For example, if we are asked to not think of a pink monkey then we will keep thinking about a pink monkey.
9. For instinct (vrtti) we need bonds. If someone has to learn martial art, they have to find the association.
10. For impulses (vasanas) we need boundaries.
11. For everyone bonds and boundaries are required – this is universally true.
12. But which bond to form now and which boundary to create will vary from person to person.  
13. We should take responsibility for our own transformation.
14. We have to choose our battles as per time, place and circumstances.
15. By our choices we choose particular modes – goodness, passion, ignorance.
16. If we put ourselves in tamsic env. we will behave accordingly.
17. If we put ourselves in sattvic env. we will behave in that way.
18. If we do our job, then do it properly and then spirituality can be an addition. For eg. When George Harrison asked people to chant Hare Krishna in the concert, then people were upset. Prabhupada asked him to handle the situation intelligently.
19. Narada says to Yudhisthir to balance – dharma, artha, kama.
20. Being in mode of goodness means being responsible.
21. Krishna empowered Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita.
22. Talent + commitment leads to achievement.

CELEBRATING OTHERS SUCCESS_ Part 3 | His Grace Radheshyam Prabhu | Durga Puja Camp 2025

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Radheshyam Prabhu on 3^rd October 2025

• Verse Number: SB 8.8.38
• Chapter Name: The Churning of the Milk Ocean

Important points from the Class

1. Demons think of enjoying their own senses
2. Devotees want to satisfy the senses of the Lord. They won’t act independently.
3. Pure devotees are puppets in the hands of the Lord.
4. Demigods want to surrender, and they have material desires too.
5. Know how to convey displeasure that the cooperation among the devotees and Srila Prabhupada’s mission is not hampered.
6. End goal is pleasing Srila Prabhupada by our conduct.
7. Lord said demigods to give up anger during churning of ocean.
8. We should tolerate with our wisdom. For eg. Srila Prabhupada tolerated in the house of Gopal and Sally Agarwal when there was meat in the fridge. Once they were having party, eating, drinking and Srila Prabhupada in a corner was reading and doing japa.
9. Give up desire to prolong your material existence. Father with 10 daughters got his daughter married and once his son in laws were not ready to leave. One of the son in law, Dhananjaya, was not leaving at any cost. So brother in law beat him with stick and he then ran away.
10. Similarly, Mayadevi is creating so much trouble for us – rain, famine, heat, cold, disease etc. But still living entities are not ready to leave this world and go to the spiritual world.
11. Adjustment for spiritual life is glorified.
12. One man would lose temper frequently. He once slapped his wife in anger and the wife left. He then realized that I lost temper and now I have to do everything like cooking on my own.
13. While doing project, some poison will come out. Poison is faults, criticism, we may think I am doing good but still I am being criticized.
14. In one temple, one senior lady was fixed to arrange for service. But she was strong lady. One lady left the service and told his spiritual master that the in charge was arrogant. Spiritual master said she is just an agent, tolerate her nature and by doing service you are getting purified, and Srila Prabhupada is happy, and I am happy. Never quit service.
15. Even if a dissatisfied person goes to Indraloka, he will not be satisfied.
16. When gold is put in fire, it shines. When heavy rain pours on mountain, mountain gets cleansed. Any difficulty in service is meant to purify us.
17. Lord said to demigods during churning ocean – What I give you is for your good. If I do not give anything then also you should be fine. If I give to demons then don’t be angry or greedy. Never be lusty.
18. In the beginning, when they lifted Mandara mountain, both demigods and demons got injured, Lord cured them and on Garuda took them to the ocean.
19. Demons were upset that were getting tail of Vasuki, the serpent, and demigods the mouth of the snake.
20. We have desire to impress others and want to be in limelight.
21. Although demigods were mixed devotees but were submissive to the Lord. So, they agreed to go to the tail side of Vasuki.
22. When churning began, Vasuki felt vomiting sensation and poison came out of his mouth towards the demon.
23. Some instructions you get from hearing lectures from senior devotees, some feedback we get when we personally meet them.
24. Rahūgaṇa as pious soul was going to hear Srimad Bhagavatamin at Kapila ashram but on the way he became proud. But he had association of Jada Bharat and got corrected.
25. Spiritual life is difficult, but material life is more difficult.
26. If we lose association of devotees, we lose enthusiasm.
27. We should have following qualities – not losing temper, tolerating, not being greedy and lusty, not quitting the project, being obedient to the Supreme Lord and those guiding us.
28. Brahmacharis have  got distracted by women, youths by porn, some grihastas in name of taking care of house get distracted.
29. God knows best, be convinced about this. God gives what we can handle. Krishna gives us things which we can handle.
30. In anartha-Nivrtti stage poison comes out. We think so many anarthas are coming out.
31. Before coming to Krishna Consciousness, we keep doing sinful things comfortably. But when we become purer, we become sensitive to sinful activities.
32. We cannot be the enjoyer, only Krishna is the enjoyer. Some in Krishna Consciousness, even sannyasis fell down when they tried to become enjoyer.
33. In Symantaka jewel pastime, 4 people were killed.
34. Lord took Kaustaba jewel and Lord gave halahal to Lord Shiva to make him glorious.
35. Krishna does everything for our good.
36. Shiva handling halahal is like our spiritual master holding our halahal of anarthas.
37. Demigods had full faith in Lord.
38. Unnecessary quarrels should be avoided.
39. Vishnu changed his form into beautiful form of Mohini Murti.
40. She was looking with sidelong glances to men. Women look pocket of men, their money, influence and power. Man’s attraction for women is towards the form of women. Refer – Power of visual – YouTube video, scientific study.
41. Each demon thought that Mohini Murti was looking towards them.
42. In this world if we are attracted to the tenderness of women then we will not get Krishna prem.
43. Demons were cheated by lust. Lust is like iron shackles, because of which one cannot do anything great.
44. Do we want to grow in our devotional life or want to be envious of others.
45. We should think about our own progress.
46. Competition is good, if it is healthy. If we see some devotee quoting verses, then we should learn from him how to memorize verses.
47. One should know that the other person is not enemy but fellow devotee.
48. Healthy competition takes place when you remain friends even while competing.
49. Healthy competition – It brings out the best in you to perform better & It creates strong bond between the members.
50. In spiritual world there can be more than one best.
51. We should have “Vaikuntha thinking” and mindset as given in Srimad Bhagavatam.
52. Krishna is more attracted to our mood of service and gratitude than magnitude.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nimai Anand Prabhu on 7^th October 2025

• Verse Number: ŚB 11.6.14
• Chapter Name: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

Important Points from the Class

1. Today is Sarad Purnima and also beginning of Kartik month.
2. Krishna is all loving Supreme Controller.
3. Even Brahma and other demigods are completely under the control of Krishna.
4. Just like ox is controlled by a rope tied to its nose, similarly Krishna controls us through time factor.
5. In one day of Brahma, 14 times cabinets change – Demigods like Indra, Chandra, Varuna etc. changes.
6. Brahma was stopped at the door in Dwarka and then Krishna asked the doorkeeper to ask which Brahma.
7. When Krishna comes devotees become fearless, whereas demons are fearful because they have attachment for material desires.
8. All Krishna wants from us is that we also love him.
9. Supreme Controller chooses to be controlled by the rope of love of mother Yashoda.
10. Srila Prabhupada says that “just if one is a devotee, it does not mean that he can control Krishna.”
11. Love means “not to give up love for Krishna.”
12. Once Yashoda says to Krishna that you are monkey and Krishna said that ok I will go to live in forest and then Yashoda became afraid.
13. Everyone cannot bind Krishna. Once one gopi tried to bind Krishna but could not bind, so she asked Krishna how to bind you. Krishna said that you stand here, and I will show you how to do it. And Krishna started binding her by showing her how to bind.
14. Mother Yashoda’s position is much higher than Shiva, Brahma and even Lakshmi.
15. Principle of Raslila is that Krishna is willing to dance as per the desire of his devotees. And devotees have only desire and that is to please Krishna. Best way to describe Raslila is – sarva dharmyaa parityaja..
16. Love means sacrifice. Krishna sees that gopis is sacrificing everything but do not expect anything from Krishna.
17. Krishna is always conquered by love of Srimati Radharani, so this month is of Srimati Radharani.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Srila Prabhupada on 11^th October 2025

• Verse: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.2, Dec. 14, 1974, Bombay
• Chapter Name: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
• Link: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/741214sbbom/

1. Consciousness is the symptom of life, and that develops one after another.
2. This human life is after many, many evolutionary process.
3. Preya means to fulfill immediate necessities of life, śreya means the goal of life.
4. Nigama-kalpa-taru [SB 1.1.3]. Nigama means Vedic knowledge, and kalpa-taru means the tree from where you can get anything you desire.
5. In the spiritual world, the houses are made of touchstone, cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu, cintāmaṇi, the touchstone.
6. Jñānam, real knowledge, is to understand that I am spiritual being, I am not this material body, and I belong to the spiritual world.
7. Spiritual world means full consciousness of the existence of God, and material world means full forgetfulness of God. 
8. We are suffering on account of being on the material platform.
9. If you keep yourself always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then even if you possess this material body, you will be in the spiritual world.
10. For one who is fully absorbed in Krishna Consciousness, his material gross and subtle body get dissolved.
11. When I become free from all attachment of this material world, that is called hṛdaya-granthi-bhedanam.
12. Real ātma-darśana, real liberation, real consciousness is separation from this material attachment—voluntarily, forcefully, or by knowledge, that is required.

Cause of Fear & Attaining freedom from fear|Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaja at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata|S.B. 11.2.37

On 27^th March 2025, HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj visited Iskcon Newtown Kolkata and spoke ealborately on “root cause of fear” and how to free ourselves from all fear. Maharaj was speaking on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37 verse.  Let us see what Maharaj said about the “cause of fear” and the solution he talked about.

Below article is based on HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj’s class.

bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād
īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ
bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā

“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37

This verse is quoted quite often by Srila Prabhupada especially the first line. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, spoke on the first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam daily for 30 days and explained it in different ways. His talk was generally 2 hours long.

Fear at every step

The subject of today’s verse revolves around fear, the cause of fear, and attaining freedom from fear.

We learn from this verse that fear is intrinsic characteristic of material living. Suffering is intrinsic to material existence – duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam, Bhagavad Gita 8.15. Everything in this world is miserable and temporary.

There is a good example, I used to give. While living in England, I would see some birds, black birds. They would be sitting on the grass looking inside the hole for little worms. And at the same time, they would be moving their head here and there thinking some living beings like cat can come and catch them.

Fear is typical characteristic of material condition.

“Abhay” means without fear. Its possible to be without fear.

“bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re”

It is by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Nanda Nandana. Krishna is fearless. In this world there is fear at every step – padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām.

At every step in this world there is danger. We may not feel but you may slip and fall down suddenly, bomb could drop at any moment, or you could be attacked while you are walking down on the streets.

Its common in America to be attacked. In America they prefer daytime to attack and in United Kingdom they attack in the night. I had this experience in youth when some people jumped up and started beating me. The world is full of fear.

Why there is fear? Because in this world everyone is turning away from Krishna.

Desire frustrates us

In this material world everyone is born with a desire to enjoy separately from Krishna. And this itself is envy, nastiness. We are envious of Krishna, so we are envious of everyone.

In the course of fulfilling our desire, we become competitive and when our desires are not fulfilled, we become frustrated. We cannot enjoy independent from Krishna. In liberated stage one is friendly. But in the conditioned state it is opposite.

Here, we have opposite way of thinking. Instead of thinking good of others, we think bad. Instead of having good will towards others, we have bad feelings towards others.

But in the liberated state we desire benefit of others.

Taking pleasure in giving pain

Krishna is the dominator, Krishna is the Supreme Controller, all others are servants. Krishna is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ, Bhagavad Gita 5.29. He is the best well-wisher of all. Srila Prabhupada once explained su-hridya means heart and soul friend. Krishna is friend of all living beings. In material world we have the nature of dominating others. Then we have person like Hiranyakasipu who takes pleasure in giving pain to others. Although for social intercourse, we greet others – we say “Hello” or “Hi” – but everyone is envious. That was seen in nazi Germany.

In western Europe and also in Russia nazi factor looms large. Normal German people would round up Jews and torture them and kill them. There were many such instances. We may think we are not doing anything like this but by the power of bad association, we may become like that.

How one becomes so cruel? An experiment in a school

In 1970, there was one experiment done in a school in USA. The teacher was teaching how cruel nazis were. How they were taking pleasure in torturing Jews and killing them. They were doing all sorts of biological experiments upon Jews. At the end of the class students asked how can ordinary people become like that and get involved in such crimes?  So, the teacher started a psychological experiment.

Next day when he came to the class, he said that in the class we should have discipline. You should follow me what I say to follow. And in 5 days he made them his fanatical follower.  Then the teacher said that this is not just confined to the classroom but it’s a nationwide movement. I will show you a video to prove this. He also gave the option that those who want to leave the class, they can leave but they have to suffer in the exam, they may fail too. Some students left the class, but many remained. And then the teacher showed the video of Hitler.

And Hitler was speaking emphatically. In fact, Hitler was a great motivational speaker. And after watching the video of Hitler the students understood that they are also going into that mood i.e. the mood of Hitler.

In fact, it is difficult to become good but easy to become bad especially in Kaliyuga.

Another cause for fear

We inflict harm on others. Be careful of nice people! They are nice but they are eating meat. They do not think that animals were slaughtered for them to have protein boost. One gets huge karmic reaction for killing animals. In India today lakhs of chickens are killed daily because most people like to eat flesh.

There is another reason why there is fear because at the back of the mind we know we will get reaction for bad things we are doing, and we cannot escape.

Srila Prabhupada says that people in India are generally afraid of meat eating and illicit sex.

People do not know laws of God, so they invent their own laws.

Solution for all our problems is in..

One of the purposes of Krishna Consciousness movement is to make people fearful of doing wrong things. By doing wrong they cause suffering to others and invite themselves tremendous suffering. Such people are fools and rascals.

Foolish because one does not know laws of God and rascal because they think they can get away with it.

India has best culture. But Indians are most foolish because they are following degraded western culture.

We should promote reading of books like Srimad Bhagavatam and ask people to follow it. Preach what is there in the book and not anything else.

In Bangladesh, one person, asked a teacher, “Should we follow you or whatever is there in the book.?” It’s so bad. Those who have understood the essence of sastra will act accordingly and will teach according to the sastra.

People like nice gurus because they say what we like to hear. Such gurus are popular. But sadhus should tell you that you are in a dangerous situation. Now you have got this human body, so you have an opportunity to go back to godhead.

People are committing so many sins daily that they will have to suffer for many lifetimes. People do not know this so Vyasadeva compiled Srimad Bhagavatam. By devotional service to God, we can become free from all the anarthas. People do not know, so Vyasdeva gave Srimad Bhagavatam. Speak on this, let people know the truth.

Solution to all problems (including fear) is in Srimad Bhagavatam.

At the end of the class, Maharaj said, “Your Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga is very beautiful.”

Determined devotion saves us from all disgraceful situations

2 crore thirsty humans!