How can we be concerned but not disturbed – is it simply by faith?
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How can we become intense in our chanting?
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To master the mind, become conscious of your consciousness
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[Evening program at Richmond, USA]
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Focus on the Bhagavatam’s universal purpose beyond its specific details – invest one’s emotions in Krishna, not the world
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chicago, USA]

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Does courtesy japa help us attain Krishna after death?
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How can we know that we are progressing spiritually?
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Transcription :

Transcriber: Sharan Shetty

Edited by: Keshavgopal Das

Question: How can we know that we are progressing spiritually?

Answer: Bhagavad-gita 02.16 states, nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah. The material is characterised by change and the spiritual is characterised by constancy. The material keeps changing but the spiritual never changes. When we are in material consciousness, we will be shaken by the changes in this world. To the extent we become spiritual, we will not be disturbed by the changes.

This world is like an ocean where there will always be waves. A person in an ocean will continuously be going up and down due to the waves. However, if the person gets into a boat which is anchored, then the shaking will be much less. Similarly, in this material world, there will always be changes causing anxiety, but when we become spiritual and connect with the unchanging reality God, then it is like sitting in a boat that is anchored. We connect with God through yoga, especially bhakti yoga, and it is like anchoring ourselves to a higher reality. When we do this, the shaking will reduce even further.

The more spiritual we become, the calmer we will be. We will be concerned but not disturbed. It does not mean that we will become uncaring or irresponsible. We have to function in the world and need to respond appropriately to the changes. When there will be changes in our life, we will work to rectify the situation but won’t be personally threatened by the change. The level of anxiety, stress, agitation going down is first marker of our progress in spiritual life.

Also, it is important to note that anxiety and craving are two sides of the same coin. To the extent we become spiritual, our craving for material things will go down. In material consciousness, self-worth is determined by what we possess. When our craving for material enjoyment goes down this indicates spiritual progress. This is second marker of spiritual advancement.
On a positive side, when we progress spiritually, we will start experiencing inner joy and peace. This is the third marker of our spiritual progress.

The more we advance; spiritual consciousness will become more and more our home territory. We do not always remain at home. Sometimes we also go out for work but then come back home after some time. Similarly, when we are in spiritual consciousness, it does not mean that we do not carry out our material responsibilities. Just like we come back home after completing our work, we come back to the spiritual consciousness after completing our material responsibilities.

In this way, by the decrease of anxiety, the decrease of craving and increase of joy and happiness in the spiritual realm, we can understand that we are progressing spiritually.

End of transcription.

Trancription in Hindi

प्रश्न: हम कैसे समझ सकते हैं कि हम आध्यात्मिक रूप से प्रगति कर रहे हैं?

उत्तर: आध्यात्मिक जीवन में प्रगति का पहला सूचक है जीवन से चिंता, तनाव और उत्तेजना का कम होना। भगवद्गीता […]

When past karma blocks our bhakti, what can we do?
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How do I choose my spiritual master?
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Amidst problems, should we just let Krishna solve them or should we work to solve them?
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While making choices, how can we take Krishna’s shelter?
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If karma, daiva and kala lead to phala, what is Krishna’s role?
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If parents have two children – one bright, one dull – is it the parents’ karma or the childrens’ karma?
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When our sadhana oscillates because of material ups and downs, what can we do?
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Overcome anxiety by focusing on state of thoughts, not state of things
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[Evening program at ISKCON, Chicago, USA]
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Self-control Strategies – Contemporary analysis of Nectar of Instruction Text 1
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[Brahmachari class at ISKCON, Chicago, USA]

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Is destiny determined by past karma alone or by present karma too?
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When is our friends’ influence helpful and when unhelpful?
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Why did Krishna save Parikshit, but not Abhimanyu?
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Should we learn from problems or move away from them?
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Is our intelligence destined – does it determine when we take to spiritual life?
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Is our marital partner destined?
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If destiny evens out in the long run, then does it really matter?
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Devotional practices calm our mind, but only briefly – what to do?
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Does our past impede our bhakti – how can we overcome those impediments?
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Why was Vyasadeva dissatisfied even after writing Vedic literature that glorify Krishna?
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Do we need to always feel existential dissatisfaction to practice bhakti intensely?
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How can we be emotionally connected with Krishna without becoming sentimental?
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With what purpose should we read Srila Prabhupada’s books?
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How can we make a plan that is effective even if Krishna’s plan turns out to be different?
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How can we say no to the things we like?
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Don’t hear the mind’s story – hear Krishna’s story
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[Evening program at ISKCON, Naperville, USA]
Podcast

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Let incidental dissatisfaction trigger existential dissatisfaction
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[Brahmachari class at ISKCON, Chicago, USA]
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PURE acronym – 4 attitudes for progressing in spiritual life
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Ypsilanti, USA]

Podcast

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God loves me – is this just a psychological feeling or a spiritual reality?
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Podcast

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Do relationships interfere with our inner growth?
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All loving relationships in this world are temporary – what does that mean?
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How do we know which desires are healthy and which unhealthy?
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Should we pray to God for things or just be content with what we have?
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How can we persist in our resolutions?
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When we face much worldly anxiety, how can we practice spirituality?
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