Seminars
-
Baldersdale Retreat 2018 - Loving Relationships Amongst Devotees
Janananda, Bhakti Caitanya and Dayananda Swami’s facilitate a retreat in the valley of Baldersdale, in the north of England, a beautiful countryside venue. They explore and present the topic of “cultivating loving relationships amongst devotees” to the devotee participants.
-
Brahma Samhita
“The Brahma-samhita is a very important scripture. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu acquired the Fifth Chapter from the Adi-kesava temple. In that Fifth Chapter, the philosophical conclusion of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva (simultaneous oneness and difference) is presented. The chapter also presents methods of devotional service, the eighteen-syllable Vedic hymn, discourses on the soul, the Supersoul and fruitive activity, an explanation of Kama-gayatri, kama-bija and the original Maha-Visnu, and a detailed description of the spiritual world, specifically Goloka Vrndavana. The Brahma-samhita also explains the demigod Ganesa, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the origin of the Gayatri mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position and abode, the living entities, the highest goal, the goddess Durga, the meaning of austerity, the five gross elements, love of Godhead, impersonal Brahman, the initiation of Lord Brahma, and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord. The steps of devotional service are also explained. The mind, yoga-nidra, the goddess of fortune, devotional service in spontaneous ecstasy, incarnations beginning with Lord Ramacandra, Deities, the conditioned soul and its duties, the truth about Lord Visnu, prayers, Vedic hymns, Lord Siva, the Vedic literature, personalism and impersonalism, good behavior, and many other subjects are also discussed. There is also a description of the sun and the universal form of the Lord. All these subjects are conclusively explained in a nutshell in the Brahma-samhita.†– Srila Prabhupada
-
Brahma Samhita(Mayapur Institute February 2019)
“Brahma Samhita is the gist of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the Bhagavad gita as well as in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Krishna is accepted as Supreme Lord & everything about him is nicely described there, similarly in the Brahma-Samhita everything about Krishna is perfectly described. In the very beginning of the book, Krishna is accepted as the Supreme Lord existing eternally in his transcendental form and is the cause of all causes. One who reads Brahma Samhita very carefully & scrutinizingly can understand everything of Krishna without any fault. I recommend, therefore that all my students read Brahma Samhita very carefully — especially because it was translated personally by my spiritual master Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Pradyumna — Calcutta 17 October, 1967
-
Brhad Bhagavatamrta
“Sri Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu, the teacher of the science of devotional service, wrote several books, of which the Brhad-bhagavatamrta is very famous; anyone who wants to know about the subject matter of devotees, devotional service and Krsna must read this book. ” – Srila Prabhupada
-
Concise Overview of Srimad Bhagavatam
Bhakti Caitanya Swami presents a concise overview of the most important of all Vedic literatures, Srimad Bhagavatam. He begins by explaining why this literature is topmost and then goes on to cover the most significant incidents of each of the twelve cantos.
“This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.” SB 1.3.43
-
Contaminations Within the Heart
Based on the pastime from Caitanya Caritamrta, cleansing of the Gundicha temple, this short seminar explores the subject of anarthas, unwanted harmful contaminations within our hearts.
-
Humility
Exploring the quality of humility in devotional service.
-
Krishna Balarama Retreat 2015, UK
“The specific mention of the word bhagavan in this text indicates that Balarama and Krsna are original forms of the Lord. This will be further explained later. Lord Krsna is not an incarnation of the purusha, as we learned from the beginning of this chapter. He is directly the original Personality of Godhead, and Balarama is the first plenary manifestation of the Lord. From Baladeva the first phalanx of plenary expansions, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha and Pradyumna, expands. Lord Sri Krsna is Vasudeva, and Baladeva is Sankarsana.” Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.23 purport
-
Lord Krishna In Vrindavan and the Joy of Devotion
Exploring Lord Krishna’s nature and activities in His topmost abode of Vrindavan.
-
Madhurya Kadambini
Madhurya Kadambini, written by Srila Vishvanath Cakravarti Thakur, is a scientific analysis of the various stages of advancement in bhakti yoga, beginning with faith in the process of Krishna consciousness moving all the way up to pure love of God, love for Lord Krishna. Each stage is described with it’s particular characteristics. By understanding the different stages and characteristics of Krishna consciousness the follower can nicely understand his/her level of progress and the path to be followed to reach higher levels of Krishna consciousness.
-
Nectar of Devotion Overview
Shrila Prabhupada’s “the nectar of devotion” is a summary study of Shrila Rupa Goswami’s bhakti rasamrita sindhu, covering the entire process of bhakti yoga in complete detail.
-
Pastimes and Glories of Srila Sanatana Goswami(with Russian Translation)
Srila Sanatana Gosvami is the ideal spiritual master, for he delivers one the shelter of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on the field of Vrndavana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can get an adequate opportunity to stay in Vrndavana and derive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami.
Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 1.47 Purport
-
Pastimes With Srila Prabhupada(with Russian translation)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami shares his personal experiences with Srila Prabhupada as well some transcendentally tasteful experiences of other disciples.
-
Sri Isopanisad
Sri Isopanishad is one of the first books Srila Prabhupada published in the course of establishing the Hare Krishna movement in the Western world. Its eighteen mantras—Vedic hymns—are meant to focus the mind in meditation on the Supreme Person, Krishna.
Sri Isopanishad’s mantras direct our attention toward how the Supreme Person is the complete whole of existence, and that all manifestations emanating from Him—including our bodies and the world we inhabit—are also complete in and of themselves. The Isa—”supreme controller”—for whom Isopanishad is named, is described as both far away and near, walking and not walking, and both within and outside of everything.
In the book’s Introduction—adapted from a lecture Srila Prabhupada gave in London in 1968—he explains how the Vedas’ teachings are perfect; Vedic sound is not of this world, not created by man, and thus not subject to human frailty and imperfection. Isopanishad is one of the principal Upanishads in Vedic literature that present the ultimate philosophical conclusions of all scripture.
Srila Prabhupada composed Sri Isopanishad with the same scholarly standards as his Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad-Bhagavatam, providing the original Sanskrit verse, its English transliteration, word-for-word Sanskrit-English equivalents, translations and purports. In his words, “This makes the book very authentic and scholarly and makes the meaning self-evident.”
-
Sri Panca Tattva
Who are the Panca Tattva? What is their purpose? This seminar provides answers to these questions and illuminates why these five persons are especially significant for this day and age.
-
Tattva Sandarbha
JÄ«va GosvÄmÄ« has got six sandarbhas, theses: Bhagavat-sandarbha, Kṛṣṇa-sandarbha, Tattva-sandarbha, PrÄ«ti-sandarbha, like that. So these books are… I don’t think it is published in English. So these sandarbhas are so philosophically discussed that throughout the whole world, there is not a single philosopher who can defy these JÄ«va GosvÄmÄ«’s six sandarbhas. Our this Gauá¸Ä«ya-sampradÄya…
We belong to Gauá¸Ä«ya-sampradÄya—Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu, from the disciplic succession of Caitanya MahÄprabhu. We have got immense literature to understand God. One who wants to understand God through philosophy, science, argument, logic, so to supply them material, we have got immense literature, Vedic literature.
Excerpt from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada on ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam 1.1.1, August 6, 1971, London -
Ten Offences Against the Holy Name
In order to be able to chant the names of the Lord purely, with love, ones chanting has to be on the pure platform, shuddha naam. Offences to the holy names are what holds us back from this experience. What the these offences and how to avoid them? Bhakti Caitanya Swami gives a brief overview of these offences and remedies for them in this short three part seminar.
-
The Demons in Krishna's Vrindavan Lila
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his book Caitanya Siksamrta has explained how the demons Lord Krishna killed in Vrindavan represent the main obstacles facing the aspiring devotee. If, by the Lord’s grace, these demons can be killed in the various ways they may manifest themselves in our lives, then our progress in devotional service is guaranteed. That is the theme of this course. A course manual is also provided to assist you in going deep into the subject matter.
-
The Essence of Bhagavad Gita
Covering the middle six chapters of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita as it is, this seminar gives insight into Lord Krishna’s purpose of speaking Bhagavad Gita, to establish that devotional service to Himself, with love ,is the best of all spiritual processes.
-
The Heart of Vaisnava Relationships(With Russian Translation)
The art of dealing and relating among Lord Krishna’s devotees is an essential foundational element in bhakti yoga. This seminar illuminates important principles on the topic and gives practical lessons for helping us develop successful Krishna conscious relationships.
-
The Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
The Six Goswamis were a group of scholarly and ascetic devotees of Krishna who lived and wrote in India during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century. They were the leading disciples of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
-
The Ten Offenses Against the Holy Name
“Simply chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without offenses vanquishes all sinful activities. Thus pure devotional service, which is the cause of love of Godhead, becomes manifest.” Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 8.26
“I am so pleased to note that you are chanting nicely and that Krishna is encouraging you in so many ways. This is the actual position that if we are sincerely chanting our rounds, following the prescribed regulative principles, and AVOIDING THE TEN OFFENSES, then very quickly Krishna sees our efforts and He gives all encouragement to such sincere soul. Then with this taste of Krishna Consciousness, we become more and more attracted, so more and more Krishna gives encouragement, and then more and more we increase in our desire to serve Krishna in pure Krishna Consciousness.” Srila Prabhupada letter to Krsna devi, New Vrindavan, June 15th 1969