Venugopal Acharya's Blog, page 9
February 19, 2023
Practical benefits and techniques of Journaling – Part 4
“One whose happiness is within, who is active within, who rejoices within and is illumined within, is actually the perfect mystic. He is liberated in the Supreme, and ultimately he attains the Supreme.” – Bhagavad Gita (5.24)
While journaling, one day you may get scared and discover your fears and insecurities. Probably you tried to avoid them all these years.
Journaling cleanses the heart and makes you come face to face with it. Remember denial is the worst kind of lie because that’s the ...
February 14, 2023
Practical benefits and techniques of Journaling – Part 3
“Anyone who is steady in his determination for the advanced stage of spiritual realization and can equally tolerate the onslaughts of distress and happiness is certainly a person eligible for liberation.” (Srila Prabhupada, purport to Bhagavad Gita 2.15)
‘I am not comfortable writing’
As kids some of us had teachers who forced us to write essays and we hated writing exams. And you may even assume you are not a writer and have no plan to author a novel or a non-fiction best-selling book. So...
February 12, 2023
Practical benefits and techniques of Journaling – Part 2
“Without being self-controlled, without being disciplined and without being fully obedient, no one can become successful in following the instructions of the spiritual master and without doing so, no one is able to go back to godhead.”
– Srila Prabhupada (Shrimad Bhagavatam purport, 1.5.24)
Journaling improves Self-Awareness
Right now are you aware of the room you are sitting in? As you read this article, where are you and can you describe the place, the sounds you hear, and the sights ...
February 7, 2023
Practical benefits and techniques of Journaling – Part 1
My inspiration to write regular journals is the following quote of Srila Prabhupada:
“Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization. What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have realized about Krishna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization……
“Sravanam, kirtanam, writing or offering prayers, glories, ...
February 4, 2023
Connecting with God – SLOWLY – Part 3
“Real yoga practise entails meeting the Lord in the heart and then following His dictation.”
– Srila Prabhupada (Purport, Bhagavad Gita 6.6)
The logic is simple: When you stretch your body and perform herculean physical exercises, you also relax your muscles and rest your body sufficiently. This ensures you get the six pack you seek. And you don’t burn out. Similarly, when you exert your mind throughout the day, you are brain tired. You need to relax your mind with breathing, praying or jo...
January 31, 2023
Connecting with God – SLOWLY – Part 2
“I see all people rushing full speed into Your mouths, as moths dash to destruction in a blazing fire.”
– Bhagavad Gita (11.29)
My close shave and the subsequent epiphany taught me a sacred lesson.
‘Slow’ gives spiritual insight
If I hadn’t slowed down, I’d have likely carried the fearful experience with me for the rest of the day. Or if I would have busied with some activity and forgotten the dreadful episode, I’d have missed going deeper into my inner self. Instead, fortunately, I ...
January 28, 2023
Connecting with God – SLOWLY – Part 1
“By the slow process of devotional service, under the guidance of the bonafide spiritual master, one can attain the highest stage, being freed from all material attachment, from the fearfulness… from the frustrations… Then one can ultimately attain to the abode of the Supreme Lord.”
– Srila Prabhupada (Purport, Bhagavad Gita 4.10)
The sword of death hung over my head, and I saw him as an emissary of Mr Time.
The biker’s one hand scrolled on his smart phone while his other held the moto...
January 26, 2023
Why do you chant Hare Krishna? – A case study – Part 3
“If you simply chant Hare Krishna, you will be directly associating with the Supreme Lord. You will be directly associating.”
– Srila Prabhupada (lecture on Bhagavad Gita, New York, May 25, 1966)
One day I was chanting intensely in the temple hall – shaking my head vigorously and vibrating my body. It was more of a theatrical performance than chanting with feeling or devotion. Intermittently, my eyes caught a senior congregation leader who chanted quietly at a distance, and he seemed pique...
