The Seed of Devotional Service

Developing Discipline

This is a class by HG Amarendra Das Prabhu ji on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 3 Text 23, given on 26th December 2023 on a zoom call organized by Bhakti Sanga Japa Conference. In this lecture, Prabhu ji wonderfully extracts the essence of performing austerities for spiritual advancement and gives practical advices to help us cultivate the same spirit in our daily sadhana.

The Wake Up Call

This is a class given by HH Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami on Saturday 4th November 2023 at the Bhaktivedanta Manor. Topic: This class is based on the Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya Lila, Verses 9.301-305. These verses revolve around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu going to the bank of the Kṛṣṇa-veṇvā River, which is believed to be where Ṭhākura Bilvamaṅgala resided. The brāhmaṇa community residing on the banks on this river were pure devotees and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard the book composed by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, from them. Maharaj then goes on to give a synopsis on the life history of Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura and how he ended up compiling the sacred text, Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. He also briefly touches on the importance of mind and sense control. About the speaker: HH S.B. Keshava Swami is a spiritual author, community mentor, dynamic teacher and worldwide traveler. In 2002, after graduating from UCL (University College London) with a BSc in Information Management, he adopted full-time monastic life to expand his knowledge, deepen his spirituality, and share these timeless principles with the wider society. For over twenty years, Keshava Swami was a resident monk at ISKCON UK's headquarters, Bhaktivedanta Manor. There he pioneered the School of Bhakti (www.schoolofbhakti.com), led the monastic training programme and drove forward national outreach projects. He has designed numerous courses on Vedic theology, lifestyle management, and spiritual self-development, and also authored ten books which bring the ancient wisdom into the modern context.

Are you allowing yourself to be cheated?

This is a class on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 25 verses 56-62 about the life of King Puranjana by H.G. Rukmini Devi. Date of class: Saturday, Oct 28th, 2023, 10am EST About the speaker: Her Grace Rukmini Mata is a sweet, dynamic and powerful personality and senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada. She is an artist, expert at creating beauty in all she touches, is a well of wisdom and is very conversant in the knowledge of Krishna Bhakti. She has served in many capacities over the years as a pujari, preacher and spiritual activist and writes, teaches, and leads workshops and retreats internationally. Founder of the Urban Devi collective, based out of the Bhakti Center in New York City, where she is a member of the board of directors, she inspires many. She is also a member of Sabha – a thirty person international committee that advises the GBC of ISKCON. Currently resident in the Washington D.C. area, she and her husband Anuttama Prabhu pioneer in interfaith, leading a Vaisnava Christian Dialogue and a Vaisnava Muslim Dialogue each year. She is the mother and grandmother of of an illustrious devotee family, with our Gauravani as her beloved son. We look forward to hearing from her. Organized by: IFAST DC

The Seed of Devotional Service

Lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja on Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila Verses 19.151 and 19.152 (Sri Rupa Siksa) CC 19.151 brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja CC 19.152 mālī hañā kare sei bīja āropaṇa śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye secana

The Power of Association

Lecture by HG Amarendra Dasa Prabhu about the impact of association in our lives. Quoting Upadeshamrita (The Nectar of Instruction by Srila Rupa Goswami), He beautifully explains what types of association we should keep and which ones we should avoid as well as how each type influences our bhakti and spiritual journey.