We have to keep good association. And if we don’t have it, we pray for it. In that way we keep association with the Lord in the heart. Pray to the Lord within the heart to get the sanga that we need so that we don’t fall away from the path. Make this desire for devotional service our only desire. That is bhakti. Bhakti is the cultivation of desire.
July 16, 2005, Irkutsk
This type of tolerance is required: He finds shelter in the Holy Name and doesn’t blame others for his suffering. He thinks, “If I am suffering, it is due my own past misdeeds. This person is simply helping me to become more dependent upon the Lord.” That is the attitude of a devotee.
July 15, 2001, Lithuanian festival
To be a fool before the spiritual master means that we have to accept whatever answer the spiritual master gives to our question.
July 14, 1997, Moscow
This is the first stage: We have to make an endeavor out of obedience. When Krishna sees us making an endeavor out of obedience, then by the mercy of the Lord and His devotees, Krishna can bestow love upon us.
July 13, 2003, Vitebsk
The Holy Name of the Lord is everything, because as we know it is not different from Krisna.
July 12, 2005, Ekaterinburg
If somebody gives you something very valuable, then you put it in a prominent place and you use it. If you use it all the time, then you will be able to appreciate its value. If you never use it, then how is it valuable? You just put it locked up in some place and leave it behind. If it’s valuable, you put it in a prominent place and use it all the time. So if somebody gives you an instruction that helps you to remember Krishna, lock it up in your heart. Then you will get spiritual strength.
July 10, 2005, St. Petersburg
That is how to capture the Lord’s attention—to be constantly filled with thoughts of the Lord and to be constantly dependent upon the Lord for everything. Then one becomes very dear to Krishna and becomes very valuable to Krishna.
July 9, 1993, Moscow
If one tries to do something on the spontaneous platform but actually doesn’t have spontaneous love for the Lord, the Lord will never accept it, because on the spontaneous platform there is no reverence towards the Lord. On the spontaneous platform one may even act in a way that is contrary to scriptural injunctions. So if someone acts contrary to scriptural injunctions but he or she is not on the spontaneous platform of love of Godhead, then that is an offense to the Lord.
July 8, 2000, Riga
That is the difference between the devotee and the non-devotee. The devotee has awakened his faith. Without faith there is no question of practicing bhakti-yoga.
July 7, 2004, Lipetsk
We must act for Krishna’s pleasure. By cultivating a desire to please guru and Krishna internally, all of our external activities will in due course of time fall into the right place. It is not easy, but if we can learn how to take help from the Lord within—who knows everything He needs to know about us—He will give us more strength to stay on the right course.
July 6, 2006, Letter