How can you attain Krsna consciousness it in one second? “It is simply a matter of surrender. It is like a creeper; as soon as you sow the seed, it begins to grow. The watering of the seed is hearing, and gradually the creeper fructifies. It begins as soon as you accept it.”
By austerity only can one even approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is within the heart of every living entity and at the same time beyond the reach of all senses.
One has only to learn of devotional service in the approved manner, no one has to change his position of worldly life. The process of submissive hearing will help one in every way. That will inject the powerful medicine for curing one’s material diseases.
We should not let the darkness of ignorance, symptomized by the mad search for sense gratification, dominate our lives. Rather, under the guidance of spiritual intelligence, we should search out the light of Absolute Truth. This is the only purpose of human life.
One important step in the process of becoming God conscious is to make your home God’s home. Instead of going to visit Him only once a week, invite Him into your home through the process of a home altar.
“There’s nothing better than having been chanting and dancing, or just sitting and talking philosophy, and then suddenly the devotees bring out the prasadam. It’s a blessing from Krsna, and it’s spiritually important.”
Roll the bead back and forth between your thumb and middle finger and chant Hare Krsna. Say each syllable of each word as clearly as you can. Concentrate your attention on the sound of each word of the mantra.
Spiritual initiation means the actual beginning of spiritual life—real life—and so the spiritual name awarded at that time is the real name of the pupil from that moment onward.
There are many ways you can practice bhakti-yoga but the basic rule behind every practice is simply this: Always remember Krsna and never forget Him. All the other rules and regulations are servants of this one principle.
I’ve become less concerned with gaining wealth, honor, and position for myself. My task now is to use what I’ve achieved for Krsna’s service and to work toward perfecting my spiritual life.
You’ve been speaking at some length about the notion of the guru. According to your tradition, what is the role of the disciple? How does he deal with the guru?
You should become a devotee of Krsna is that devotion to Krsna is your original nature. You and I—all of us—are eternal servants of God. But you have temporarily forgotten this.
First, set up an altar in your home at some convenient place. The altar is a place where you can perform meditation, offer devotion to the Lord, and receive the Lord’s love.
As I began to spend more time with the brahmacaris, I noticed they seemed to be always joyful, beyond the ups and downs that had plagued my spiritual quest.