Nectar of Instruction Thematic Lecture #11 - The Transcendental Teachings of HH Bhaktividyā Pūrṇa Svāmī

This course is part of Sastra-Caksus, Year 2 and consists of 25 lectures, available on:

Given in Bhaktivedanta Academy, Sridham Mayapur November-December 2011

The following are lecture notes briefly delineating its contents

Sambandha means understanding the relationship; abhideya means acting in that relationship.
Full knowledge of the relationship, process and goal is sambandha-jnana.

Western 'culture' is like a refrigerator without food. Among Westerners, French are the best at presenting themselves culturally in their unculturedness.
Abhideya is whatever the scripture specifies as one's prime duty.
Madana-mohana Deity and Mataji cooking sweet rice for Him.
Raganuga will never leave the technique, even though it may not use the standard details.
The devotion of Vrajavasis is Ragatmika bhakti, but those following them have Raganuga bhakti.
We never become great devotee, we are always following and assisting the Vrajavasis.
Bhava=Raganuga
The new devotee has no doubts, seeing the comparison between material life and Krishna consciousness, but after some time in Krishna consciousness the difficulties involved in devotion seem to be very great, because we forget, while actually they are not. Then we get doubts.
That we can find doubts is a symptom of intelligence, but finding it is not necessarily intelligent.
God has made exceptions because there is a principle above it.
Doubt is much easier to remove than misgiving. Doubts are within intelligence, but in misgivings mind is involved.

NISCHAYA-CONFIDENCE

One should be confident of Krishna's protection.
The only advantage of long life is more time to cultivate Krishna consciousness. Otherwise, it is just a long time in an unfortunate situation.

DHAIRYA-PATIENCE, RESTRAINT

Those who possess dhairya are called dhira. Men become restless due to lack of dhairya.
One should not talk too much during Brahma-muhurta, even it is important topics.
The duty of a sober person is to tolerate the urge of the mind.
Regulation of the mind is for the purpose of connecting it to Krishna, but sometimes we are so absorbed in regulating the mind that we forget that connection.
We cannot be joyful in devotional service, if we are trying to find our joy somewhere else.
Our devotional service may be favorable, but we may not be thinking of Krishna. It gives benefit, but there is more benefit if we think of Krishna.
Anger cannot be overcome by intelligence alone.
Anger means that love for Krishna is misapplied.
One who can control speech, mind and anger, is called Dhira.
To control tongue, one should eat what is easily available. One should cook and offer to Krishna foods in the mode of goodness.
Eating less means eating less than overeating.
The urges are always there, but in Kali-yuga people are not able to control them.
For karmis the whole basis of life is sex, but for devotee grihasthas it is not the basis.
Sadhana does not automatically mean devotion.