Govardhana Retreat Part 2
Dhanurdhara Swami November 20th, 2009
This is the second part of my lecture notes from the VIHE Govardhana Retreat this year.
November 20, 2009
Sri Govardhana
Lecture 2: The Mystical Keys for Entering the Presence of the Divine Couple by Srila Sacinandana Swami *
“How to love Krishna? It starts with giving attention. It is called mindfulness.”
“Our mind gets colored by our thoughts. Our thoughts should thus be of the quality of ultimate benefit (sreyas). Instead we think constantly of a thousand small things that are only immediate needs (preyas). The method of developing a mind of ultimate thoughts is to hear and meditate on the Lord's associates – for their thoughts are focused on the highest considerations.”
“In spiritual life, first comes engagement of the body and then comes the mind. It is not that first comes the body and then nothing. We must thus become mindful in all our endeavors. Therefore, before all service for Krishna, such as cooking for example, we should first make a serious sankalpa (vow): ‘This activity is for Krishna!’ Don't do it mindlessly!”
“What is the sound of your heart? Is it speculation, material desires, or the words of a sadhu? Our heart will be tuned to what we aspire for. If we thus listen to the words of a sadhu, our hearts will become affected by his longing. Carefully and with feeling we should thus resonate with the prayers of great sadhus and allow their words to uplift and tune our hearts.”
“One who has great wealth, but doesn't use it, is called a miser. His deep psychological problem is a lack of affection for anyone. So if we have no affection for Krishna, how will we give our consciousness to Him?”
* These are my personal notes, written in my own words and perhaps understood through my limited frame of reference and not the exact quotations of Sacinandana Swami.
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