Venugopal Acharya's Blog, page 6

WHAT is a Home State (the Heart Space?) – Part-1

 “For the self there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”

–         Bhagavad Gita (2.20)

As I looked down at my fully drenched body, I realized with disgust that the latrine water had found its way onto me, mixing with the rainwater and leaving me feeling desperate to get out. I was at a friend’s place in a low-lying ...

Living in the Heart Space – Part 2

Just as we have a physical home in the material world, we also have a home in our inner world. When our heart beats with healthy emotions and a sense of ‘all’s well’, we can experience inner peace even amidst external chaos. This safe space of our heart is our real home in our internal world.

In my upcoming book, ‘The Heart Space’, I delve into the practices and values that help develop a strong and vibrant heart, one that beats with joy and gratitude throughout the day.

This book aims to ...

Living in the Heart Space – Part 1

“That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.”

– Bhagavad Gita (15.6)

Imagine being forced to enter a deadly, lonely forest all alone. The eerie and foreboding darkness sends shivers down your spine as wolves howl incessantly and the occasional roar of a lion pierces the silence. If given the choice, you would likely run away from this jungle and seek the safety of your home.

In a similar ...

Six steps to experience Krishna (God) in our daily life? – Part 5

“When a devotee drinks water or any other liquid, he immediately remembers Krishna. For a devotee there is no difficulty in awakening Krishna consciousness twenty- four hours a day.” – Srila Prabhupada (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya lila, 8.274)

Returning to Krishna helps us find shelter. When we confess our failures or report our success and genuinely seek to serve and reconnect with Him, He loves us back unconditionally. This happy experience of connecting with Krishna reinvigorates a spir...

Six steps to experience Krishna (God) in our daily life? – Part 4

“Recollection, absorption, meditation, constant remembrance and trance are the five items of progressive krsna-smarana. At first remembrance of Krishna may be interrupted at intervals, but later remembrance proceeds uninterrupted.” – Srila Prabhupada (Nectar of Instruction, Verse 8)

This step helps us view God as a person, a sentient being who listens and waits for us. He is pleased to reciprocate our devotion. To experience His reciprocation, I need to communicate with Him as a person and pr...

Six steps to experience Krishna (God) in our daily life? – Part 3

“Simply our prayer should be, My dear Krishna, please remind me to always chant Your Holy Name, please do not put me into forgetfulness. You are sitting within me as Supersoul, so you can put me into forgetfulness or into remembering You. So please do not put me into forgetfulness. Please always remind me to chant, even You send me into the hell, it doesn’t matter, just so long as I can always chant Hare Krishna.”

– Srila Prabhupada (letter to Devananda, November 23, 1968)

A rookie sold...

Six steps to experience Krishna (God) in our daily life? – Part 2

“Don’t feel yourself to be alone because Krishna is always with you. Krishna is always with every living entity as supersoul, and to His devotees especially He talks and gives instructions how to attain the perfectional stage of meeting Him. So don’t feel alone. Always chant whenever possible, read our books, and there will be no great difficulty.” – Srila Prabhupada (letter, April 3, 1969)

Do I fundamentally trust God?

From belief to Trust

When you jump out of a plane, your parachute s...

Six steps to experience Krishna (God) in our daily life? – Part 1

“We are persons and Krishna is a person, and our relationship with Krishna He leaves open as a voluntary agreement. That voluntary attitude – Yes, Krishna, I shall gladly cooperate whatever you say – that ready willingness to obey is only possible if there is love. Forcing will not make me agree. But if there is love, oh, I shall gladly do it. That is Bhakti that is Krishna consciousness.”

–         Srila Prabhupada (letter to Rupa Vilasa, Hyderabad, 18th November’ 1972)

To maintain a mean...

Are you single or in a relationship with God? – Part 4

“Our only business is to love God, not to ask God for our necessities.”

 – Srila Prabhupada

If we live in quadrant 3, Krishna will guide us to quadrant 4.

If we predominantly live in quadrant 1 or 2, we’d find Bhakti Yoga practises hackneyed. Our spiritual life would be dull and unexciting. Or worse, we may derive pleasure in fault-finding and gossip; we’d deprive ourselves of a deep, meaningful connection with Krishna.

The best example of a quadrant 4 scenario is Draupadi. When she ...

Are you single or in a relationship with God? – Part 3

“Because we are Krishna’s children, we have a very intimate relationship with Krishna and since we have given Him up and we have forgotten Him, therefore we are suffering.”

– Srila Prabhupada (December 11, 1974, Bombay, lecture on Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.25.43)

As you manage your busy schedules and fulfil your various responsibilities, you also remember Krishna. You offer your heart to the Lord and continue to put in more determined efforts. You are active and find happiness in your spiritual...