I want to share a very personal journey - a realization that transformed not just my own spiritual practice, but my entire approach to guiding others on this sacred path. Years ago, I would faithfully attend maṅgal-ārati at 5:00 a.m. in the temple and then sit with the devotees to chant japa for two hours.…

Moving beyond Surface Devotion to asking authentic questions "The beginning of knowledge is ‘athato brahma jignasa’ - now let us inquire about the Absolute Truth." - Vedanta Sutra (1.1.1) This morning, I listened to a lecture by Srila Prabhupada given on September 18, 1975, in Vrindavan, on the sixth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. His words…

Why Scriptural Study Protects Both Our Family and Our Devotion “It is better to engage in one's own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another's occupation and perform it perfectly. Duties prescribed according to one's nature are never affected by sinful reactions.” – Bhagavad Gita (18.47) Not long ago,…

The Art of Begging – how humility, sincerity and devotion open the heart of Krishna “O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.”…

The Eyes of Love: Srimati Radharani’s Vision of Krishna The perfection of the eyes is to see Krishna, and the perfection of love is to long for Him. “The eyes which do not look at the symbolic representations of the Personality of Godhead [His forms, name, quality, etc.] are like those printed on the plumes…

The Unfathomable Chastity of Srimati Radharani Entering the mysteries of Krishna’s pastimes through surrender and humility “Chastity is the fullness of fidelity — an undivided heart offered entirely to one beloved.” The Limits of Our Senses To understand Srimati Radharani’s pastimes with Krishna, we must first acknowledge that our blunt material senses are not the…

“The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it is more difficult than controlling the wind.” – Bhagavad-gītā 6.34 Struggle is natural in japa. The mind resists, wanders, and protests. But if our chanting is only a battle with the mind, it can leave us drained and even vulnerable to…

Approaching the Divine Mystery of Parakiya-Rasa: A Gaudiya Vaishnava Perspective In the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, one of the most revered and yet most misunderstood aspects of devotion is the worship of Radha and Krishna in Parakiya-rasa — the transcendental mood where Radha and Krishna meet as lovers, not bound by the institution of marriage. While this may…

Balancing Philosophy and Devotion in Understanding Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī “If we want to know Kṛṣṇa, we must approach Rādhārāṇī, for She alone fully knows Him. And if we want to serve Kṛṣṇa, we must beg for Her mercy.” Introduction: Head and Heart in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness There are two inseparable aspects of Kṛṣṇa consciousness: philosophy (tattva), which…

The Triumph of Śrī Rādhā in Jaipur How Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Defended the Heart of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism When truth is challenged, the Lord Himself empowers His devotee to defend it." The Challenge in Jaipur In the early 18th century, the royal city of Jaipur became the stage for one of the most important debates in Gauḍīya…

Expect More Pain, Not Less—If You’re Doing It Right “Just as a blazing fire burns wood to ashes, the fire of knowledge burns all reactions of material misdeeds to ashes.” — Bhagavad-gītā 4.37 A concerned father complained that his son was lazy and disinterested in life. His proof? The boy did no work at home.…