Topic: Sadhana-tattva

One cannot get bhāva-bhakti or prema-bhakti by mere sādhana (practice). What you get is pure devotion. You can become a pure devotee by sādhana bhakti. But many times it is confused that pure devotion and prema (love) are synonymous. Before you get love of Kṛṣṇa, you have to be pure. You have to become a pure devotee.

Pure devotional service requires that we offer our body, mind and ātma (soul) for the Lord to use however he wishes or needs. This necessitates being unattached to our service and whether or not it is successful. Our duty is to execute the service faithfully with full enthusiasm and consideration while not being attached to the results nor desiring to receive anything in return.

Only by recognizing the eternal, unchanging self within—and turning toward the Supreme—can one find peace as the body fades. True intelligence lies in detaching from the illusion and anchoring oneself in what is real, lasting, and divine. And yet, despite the clarity of this truth, so many remain bound to the illusion—grasping for permanence in what was never meant to last.

Knowing that the Lord naturally guards His surrendered devotee, Prahlāda saw no need to petition for safety. True devotion rests on complete faith: the genuine devotee understands that Kṛṣṇa’s protection is already assured by surrender, not by repeated requests born of fear.

True wealth lies not in material possessions but in spiritual love and devotion to Krishna. By engaging in bhakti-yoga, we transcend fleeting desires and cultivate an eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, recognizing that service to Him is the ultimate purpose and the source of lasting happiness and fulfillment.

Some devotees think that the strict discipline of the orthodox Vaishnava tradition is not meant for this modern permissive society — surely times have changed and we need to embrace a more liberal attitude. But it is just this desire for liberality, permissiveness which has run amok with the rampant expansion of Kali-yuga.

To surrender to Kṛṣṇa directly, to surrender to the Holy Name, that is very difficult, almost impossible and not very pleasing to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa has no necessity of that. However, there is a necessity to serve a Vaiṣṇava, to serve the representatives, Kṛṣṇa’s intimate devotees. That is an indispensable part of surrender.

Through Mahāprabhu one can understand everything — what we are, who we are, where we come from, and what is the purpose of our existence? All fulfillment of the soul can be achieved at the Lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is the bold proclamation of His devotees.

Śrīla Prabhupāda has written that, “Satisfaction of the self realized spiritual master is the secret of success in spiritual life.” In essence, this refers to service that is known to be what the spiritual master desires, wherever and whenever it is performed.

The good preceptor although he appears to belong to this world is not really of this world. No one who belongs to this world can deliver us from worldliness. The good preceptor is a denizen of the spiritual world who has been enabled by the will of God to appear in this world in order to enable us to realise the spiritual existence.

Progress means to leave the former position, and go forward. But only the one who is hopeful of a bright future, should leave the former position and advance. Those of doubtful mentality, suspicious mentality, it is better for them to stick to the former position, which is their already consolidated foundation, and to take a stand there.

Not to minimise the rāsa-līla of Kṛṣṇa, but one should not jump over all that Kṛṣṇa has said, and all that Kṛṣṇa has done, and arrive at the most esoteric part of Kṛṣṇa's līla. If one does this, then one will face problems and even possible destruction.