Bhakti Collective

Bhakti Collective

  • “The Yoga of Kirtan” Excerpt: Bhakti Charu Swami Interview

    An excerpt from Steven Rosen’s new book The Yoga of Kirtan – Conversations on the Sacred Art of Chanting. Steven Rosen: In our remaining time, can you talk a little more about kirtan? I know this is actually the center of your current practice and also the main theme of your recent temple, opened in…

  • Creation, Karma, and Intelligent Design in Nyaya and Vedanta

    The phrase “intelligent design” gets a lot of currency these days, from both its champions and foes. Its proponents contend that the organized structure found within the universe indicates an intelligent cause whereas its opponents claim that undirected natural processes are enough. I have heard some people claim that the notion of intelligent design is…

  • An Expression of Conviction in Bhakti

    From the Vaishnava Saint Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Give up the shackles of matter slowly. Cultivate your spirit inwardly. Give up prejudices which you have acquired from the so-called rational thinkers who deny the existence of spirit. Be humble in yourself and learn to respect those who work towards spiritual attainments. Do these with your heart, mind…

  • On Santosha and Satisfying Uncontrolled Senses

    “The entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one’s senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.19.21 ) The above words of wisdom were spoken by Vamanadeva, the fifth of the Dasavatara (Vishnu’s ten incarnations), to Maharaja Bali. It’s one of my favorite verses regarding santosha…

  • Japa Thoughts I

    Japa takes concentration. A moment of inattention and the mind jumps from the mantra to mundane thought. We even sometimes become lost in one of the deep groves of attachment (samskaras) embedded in our consciousness, sliding on the path of those impressions until good sense drags us back to the holy name.

  • Munchies for the Mind II

    So They Say: Prayer I throw myself down in my chamber, and I call in, and invite God, and his Angels thither, and when they are there, I neglect God and his Angels, for the noise of a fly, for the rattling of a coach, for the whining of a door. John Donne (1572-1631)

  • Oh, My Master’s Lotus Feet Are Bittersweet

    Following the lunar calendar, the day after Sri Krishna Janmastami marks the celebration of the birth of Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami (September 1, 1896–November 14, 1977), the Vaishnava monk, global proponent of Krishna bhakti and founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. To honor the day I’ll share a poem penned for the occasion in…

  • Sri Krishna Janmastami

    Best wishes to everyone on Sri Krishna Janmastami! For the occasion I thought I would offer something nice to meditate on in the form of the above painting, by Murlidhara das, and the lyrics to a beautiful song by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura about the desire for Krishna to appear in ones heart. Both the original…

  • The Nature of the Self: A Gaudiya Vaisnava Understanding

    ESSAY: In his paper The Nature of the Self: A Gaudiya Vaisnava Understanding Ravindra-svarupa dasa provides an introductory presentation on the nature of the self according to the followers of Sri Chaitanya.

  • The Unexpected Call

    Ring! Ring! Ring! It’s already the second time this morning. The first time you ignored it—it’s far too early for phone calls. Normal people, you have learned, phone after 10:00 in the morning and before 10:00 at night. A little nervous you ask, “Who is there, please?” A long silence—a timid silence, almost as if…

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