Bhakti Tirtha Swami
We should ask the following three basic questions of any system we encounter.
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If I am perfect at this practice, what can I expect to achieve?” Once you have heard the answer to this question, you may decide that you do not care to proceed any further, or you may find that the goal is exactly what you have always wanted.
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What are the means for attaining the goal? The answer to this question enables you to decide whether you are willing to pay the price to get there.
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Who has already reached the goal and how do they live their lives? We should carefully scrutinize those who have supposedly reached the goal to discover their true situation in life.
If we feel aligned with the answers to all three questions, then we can “go for it.” If we do not, then we should look somewhere else.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Reflect on these tools as a daily meditation and make the choice to shift your consciousness:
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Treat everyone you encounter as if the success of your spiritual life depends upon the quality of your interactions with them.
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Reflect upon the person you love the most, and aspire to treat everyone with that same quality of love.
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View all conflicts as your own fault first.
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Realize that the people in your present environment might very well be the people with whom you will live out your life, and who will be with you at the time of death.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Life is full of meaning and opportunities for growth. When we are mindful of the beauty and accomplishments of the past, even when the present or future is not exactly what we would like it to be, we will not be disturbed. We will still be excited about the past and appreciative for the present. In this way, the future will be even more auspicious because we create our futures by how we have dealt with the past and how we are dealing with the present.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
A devotee feels the happiness of others as well as their distress. They are to be selfless and compassionate. A devotee is sad that he is not serving better and sad due to the distress of another. In this way, devotees do not envy because they feel happiness when others are happy. There is no question of envy. Since they lack this ego, they do not think, “I deserve this benediction. I should have this material position. I am much better than that person.” This mindset of self-centeredness will draw envy.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
The greatest terrorist that we have to fear is the terrorist in our own hearts, minds, and behaviors. This is a call for our institutions and leaders around the world to act as examples of what we expect to see in the world.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Follow the regulative principles and chanting regularly – these two duties are essential for advancement in Krishna Consciousness and if they are made the center of our activities, then Krishna will begin to answer all questions from within as to how to become further advanced in His loving devotional service.
Letter to: Linda — Los Angeles 19 February, 1970
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
You cannot love others if you do not sufficiently love yourself, because it is impossible to give or share what you do not possess. Often, leadership is difficult because of personality problems or because of attachments to nationalism, racism or tribalism. To address such issues successfully, you can learn to radiate a strong love that comes first from loving yourself by acknowledging the divinity that resides within you.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
God controls the material as well as the spiritual, which means that everything directly or indirectly happens through the sanction of the Lord. If we can just accept that our circumstances are meant to benefit us, we will be able to connect with the loving aspect of the Lord and learn to grow from a seemingly negative situation.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Humility is the quality of a spiritualist. All good leadership is spiritual, even though materialists may not realize that. This is because good leaders try to bring out the best in people. It doesn’t matter what the organization or coalition, bringing out the best in others means celebrating their spiritual nature. Spiritual leaders address the ultimate point of human life—progress on the spiritual path, and teach their followers to reinstate themselves in devotional service to God.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Spiritual life is based on love, which means service to one another through deep involvement and intensive interaction. Such service includes judgment and evaluation. Being judgmental in this situation indicates that we care enough to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. If we refuse to be judgmental, we are being irresponsible and uncaring.
