Simple Living, High Thinking

Sharing Krishna Consciousness through the Bhagavad Gita

Simple Living, High Thinking #59: Discovering Our True Nature and Acting Accordingly 01/10/2022

Simple Living, High Thinking #58: What is Authentic Religion? 01/04/2022

Simple Living, High Thinking #57: How to Cultivate Transcendental Qualities 12/27/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #56: How is a Spiritual Existence Better than a Materialistic Existence? 10/25/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #55: The 3 Gunas - Material Nature and Ultimate Happiness 10/04/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #54: How did the pure soul become contaminated? 08/23/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #53: Humility - The Path to Understanding Spirit and Matter 08/02/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #52: How to Be Spiritual 07/19/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #51: Who Are the Ones Most Connected to Krishna? 07/05/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #50: How to Age and Die Peacefully 06/07/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #49: Seeing Krishna through Intellectual Fortitude and Divine Revelation 05/24/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #48: How to See God in the World - A Response to Atheism 05/10/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #47: The Four Summary Verses of the Bhagavad Gita 04/26/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #46: The Powerful Mystery of Renunciation 04/12/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #45: Sin, Sincerity, and Forgiveness 03/29/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #44: The Origin of Consciousness and the Purpose of Free Will 03/08/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #43: Panentheism, Accessibility to Krishna, and the Perfection of Religion 02/15/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #42: Attaining God through the Power of Love 02/08/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #41: Time, Humility, and How to Attain Krishna 02/01/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #40: God, the World, Us and the Relationships Between Them 01/18/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #39: Taking Shelter of Krishna 01/11/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #38: Is God a Person or an Energy? 01/04/2021

Simple Living, High Thinking #37: Stolen Intelligence, Demi-gods and Our Ultimate Well-Wisher 12/21/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #36: How Do We Know God is All-Good? 12/14/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #36: How Do We Know God is All-Good? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 7, Texts 14-19 Intro - Ch 7 begins a new major section of the Gita, expanding more on theology. Krishna is going to explain everything to Arjuna regarding higher knowledge. 10:28 - What is God's personality like? If you accept that God exists, then what is the nature of God? Is God all-good? If God is all-good, then why is there suffering in the world? Setting the scene for the paradox to be unpacked. 13:36 - The repercussions of growing up with a dystheistic version of God, based on the idea that "God" is going to condemn you to Hell forever, even for a thought crime (i.e. thinking the wrong thing). What would you accept as proof that God is all-good? Looking at our society, we can get a good idea of what virtues and values make a society thrive. 16:17 - If everything comes from God, how do we explain anger, hatred and lust? 19:40 - A thought experiment to explain how emotions can be used for good reasons. 27:24 - Ch 7, Text 13: Krishna is reviewing the modes of material nature (Goodness, Passion, Ignorance). Our existence being enmeshed in these modes keeps us from knowing God completely. A deeper dive into what these three modes entail. 42:32 - Ch 7, Text 14: The modes are difficult to transcend, but Krishna assures us that we can easily cross beyond them through surrender. The idea of surrender is very powerful in our ability to navigate this world. In Western society, the idea of "surrender" is looked down upon. However, whether we like it or not, we are always surrendered to something (e.g. addictions, money, our mind). Our task is to find a worthwhile thing to surrender to. 53:42 - Krishna is all-powerful (Omnipotent), all-good (Omnibenevolent), and all-knowing (Omniscient). He makes himself available to help us cross over these modes of material nature when we surrender to him. 56:18 - The next question might be: The modes are difficult to overcome, but Krishna will help us if we surrender, then why doesn't everyone do it? Ch 7, Text 15-16 elaborates on four types of people who seek God. Krishna succinctly describes every type of person who ever seeks God, and narrows it down to these four categories. 1:06:27 - Ch 7, Text 17: Of the four types who surrender to God, those engaged in full knowledge and devotional service are very dear to Krishna. 1:10:40 - Ch 7, Text 18: "All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own self. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he is sure to attain Me, the highest and most perfect goal." 1:13:41 - Ch 7, Text 19: Repeated births and deaths are taking place, from the lower planets to the higher planets. How many times do we want to keep cycling up and down through the planets? Rather, wouldn't we want to end this cycle and love Krishna eternally? Tukaram Prabhu's 12/11/2020 Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/397790874671142 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/17182862

Simple Living, High Thinking #35: Panentheism and a Philosophy of Grace 12/07/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #35: Panentheism and a Philosophy of Grace Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 7, Texts 1-13 Time stamps and topics: Intro: Chapter 7 kicks off the second (of three) major sections of the Gita. Krishna spent the first six chapters focused on the soul, doing your duty, and how we should act in the world. In the 7th chapter, Krishna starts to bring the focus on him as the Supersoul. It is the beginning of theism and the importance of cultivating knowledge. Krishna will be focusing on who God is. 8:54 - The special nature of the first 13 texts of Chapter 7. Krishna packs an entire theology in these opening texts. 14:51 - Ch 7, Text 1: The idea that we can know God in full, free from doubt. This tradition never avoids doubt and tough questions - it is not about blind faith. God would never create us with logic and reason if he didn't want us to use logic and reason to understand him. Any good philosophy should be able to address all doubts and questions when it comes to understanding its core tenets. 16:25 - Ch 7, Text 2: The explanation of "phenomenal and numinous." Krishna gives knowledge and realized knowledge to those who seek to know him, through his grace. Grace is the only way we can begin to understand and grow to love Krishna. 19:35 - Krishna is about to disclose information about himself in these texts. He tells us that, once we know Him there is no other type of knowledge for us to strive for. 22:27 - Ch 7, Text 3: This knowledge is extremely hard to know, after which there is nothing else to know. Krishna is giving us this precious rare knowledge through his grace and all we need to do is be open to this grace. 24:20 - Ch 7, Text 4: Another example of Sankhya (a way of dividing and categorizing the world). In Ch 2, Krishna contrasted the difference between body and soul. Now Krishna is going a step further, dividing matter into earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and false ego. These constitute Krishna's material energies. 26:30 - In the Western world, some prominent philosophers describe the mind as being beyond matter and non-material. However, Krishna is including mind as part of matter and his material energies. The mind, intelligence and false ego would be considered subtle matter. 28:30 - Expanding on Text 3: This truth and this path is very difficult, and few people make it. Out of the few people who stick to the path, even fewer know Krishna. This shows when you desire something that matters, it's not cheap. According to Devamrita Swami, "Life is an opportunity for us to build habits." Because we're spirit souls, spirituality is the most important thing for us. It's ridiculous for us to think that we'll become successful at it with little effort. It's never too late (or too early) to start on this path. 33:34 - What is the easiest way to differentiate between the mind, intelligence and false ego? How do we spot them and separate them, so as not to get so enmeshed in them? What are the functions of each? 40:04 - How the order of the elements listed in Text 4 is significant. 45:06 - Ch 7, Text 5: The superior energy to the inferior material energies. Krishna is expanding on the Sankhya philosophy by giving hierarchical importance to these energies. The distinction between the false ego and the true ego. 50:01 - In Western culture, the idea of being a servant is generally looked down upon. In reality, we are all a servant of something. A servant to our job, social media, new endeavors, etc. It is beneficial for one to surrender to a teacher or professional who has expertise in their field. We do not need to reinvent the wheel, and it shortens the amount of time it takes us to get to their point. 52:37 - Krishna is starting to fill in the puzzle pieces. He is now referring to another superior energy and how it fits into the big picture. Everything is connected to God, and Krishna keeps giving us more information on how everything fits together. Some religious sects are quick to divorce the world from God or view the world as wholly evil. However, Krishna makes a point of emphasizing how everything is connected to him. By being able to connect everything to Krishna, we can find our way back to God. 56:07 - Ch 7, Text 6: Ontology is the study of what exists. In Text 4, Krishna talked about earth, air, fire, etc, which are examples of what exists in this world. 58:14 - Cosmology is the science of the origin of the universe. Modern science is dominated by the Big Bang Theory. In Text 6, Krishna describes himself as the origin and the dissolution of the universe. 1:00:34 - Ch 7, Text 12: The definitions of Pantheism and Panentheism. In this text, Krishna clarifies that he is both immanent and transcendent (i.e. Panentheistic). Tukaram Prabhu's 12/04/2020 Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/1505857176291323 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/17090129

Simple Living, High Thinking #34: Suitable Practice to Control the Mind 11/30/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #34: Suitable Practice to Control the Mind Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 6, Text 4-47 Time stamps and topics: 2:16 - Chapter six is part of the first major section (out of three) of the Bhagavad Gita. The first six chapters deal with the concept of the self and what it means to do our duty. Krishna encourages us to do our duty, to be in this world, but to detach from the results of our actions. In this chapter, titled Dhyāna-yoga, Krishna talks about one particular path of meditation one might take. 10:17 - Krishna's description of meditation here was not referring to merely meditating 1-2 hours a day. The practice Krishna was describing was a full-time endeavor. Arjuna's severe reaction to this lifestyle also indicates that Krishna was suggesting more than just a small daily meditation practice. 16:46 - Ch 6, Texts 6: The function of the mind from a Vedic perspective. How the mind can become your best friend. 22:29 - Ch 6, Text 7: The difference between the soul and the Supersoul. 26:09 - Controlling the mind is not easy, whether it is through dhyāna-yoga or bhakti-yoga. The definition of a swami (e.g. Radhanath Swami) is one who has controlled the mind. The main thing that stands between us and God is our mind. Being able to control the mind means living in equanimity, where we are not on an emotional roller coaster in life. The ultimate reward of controlling our minds is being able to experience an intimate relationship with a loving God. 31:14 - Ch 6, Text 10-17: Krishna speaks to the importance of our lifestyle and how it contributes to controlling the mind. Choosing to abstain from alcohol or casual sex is not for the purpose of punishing oneself, but rather to set yourself up for success in spiritual pursuits. There is a science behind lifestyle choices and how it contributes to a loving relationship with an all-good God. 34:59 - Ch 6, Texts 20-23: Where do we get our enjoyment from? We can get enjoyment from things that degrade us or things that uplift us. We develop a dependence upon things that degrade us. The same hormones and good feelings our brain emits during addiction can also be experienced through spiritual experiences and higher pursuits. Any pleasures associated with this world have a beginning and an end. But with transcendental happiness, our pleasures are boundless and eternal. 42:32 - By experiencing love of Krishna, we will think that there is no greater gain. This is boundless transcendental happiness. This is true freedom from all miseries. If you're focused on something greater, you will be less encumbered by the distresses around you. 44:47 - Ch 6, Text 30: "For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me." Krishna will never fail us. He is always there waiting for us. We are the X-factor, deciding whether or not we want to know Krishna. 48:22 - Ch 6, Text 33-34: Arjuna's strong reaction to this type of yoga (i.e. full-time meditation through dhyāna-yoga). Arjuna feels like this is not practical or possible. 49:27 - Ch 6, Text 35: Krishna's response to Arjuna's strong reaction. Krishna is now motivating us--yes, it's difficult, but it is also possible by suitable practice. This implies that you can practice in a suitable way or a way that is not suitable. This is where association with sincere spiritualists is very important. 51:49 - What is considered "suitable practice?" There are so many ways spiritualists say you can control the mind. Should I spend all my time opening my third eye? Should I spend all of my meditation emptying my mind or focusing on the tip of my nose? How do we know what is a bonafide suitable practice? Is the end result to manifest a better job, house, or relationship (i.e. material pursuits masquerading as spirituality) or are we focused on an intimate relationship with God? 55:57 - Summary of Ch 6, Texts 36-44: Arjuna, having heard Krishna's response to Arjuna's objection, then expresses two doubts: 1) What if I try this for a number of years and then give up? Or 2) What if I dedicate my life to this but don't attain the highest goal of transcending this world (i.e. going to heaven)? Tukaram Prabhu's 11/27/2020 Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/385075266146574 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/16993439

Simple Living, High Thinking #33: The Path to Controlling the Mind 11/16/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #33: The Path to Controlling the Mind Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 6, Text 2-3 Time stamps and topics: Intro - The theme of Ch 6 - Dhyāna-yoga 11:25 - Texts 2-3 12:01 - Krishna has been explaining renunciation from many points of view. True renunciation is a state of mind, giving up the results of your activities to Krishna. You should not renounce your duties, but renounce the desire to enjoy the fruits of your duties. 16:21 - What Prabhupada says about renunciation. What does it mean to know our "constitutional position?" 20:04 - What are examples of sense gratification of the mind? What is outside of the things we pursue in the world? Does this mean I'm no longer supposed to listen to good music, desire good food, watch beautiful sunsets? To strive to please the senses will never be deeply fulfilling because we were ultimately spiritual beings. 25:07 - The soul is always active; it is always going to act for something. To know our constitutional position is to know that our actions as a soul should be meant for Krishna's pleasure, not for the body's sense gratification. 28:43 - Giving up something 'lower' is only possible if you've experienced something 'higher'. That is, you can only give up 'lower' desires if you replace it with a 'higher' taste. The enjoyment that comes from pleasing Krishna is to satisfy the soul's desires. The path to developing a higher taste involves getting into the lab and trying it, so to speak. 30:44 - The different paths to developing a higher taste. A small percentage of people have this natural desire to know and love God. Most people choose a spiritual path after a tremendous amount of suffering. 35:16 - Dhyāna-yoga's main objective is to control the mind. The mind keeps us from understanding our constitutional position as a soul. Our mind is constantly drawing us to material pleasures which are directed at the body. This keeps us in a cycle of material delusions. Krishna says, "For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best friend." 41:41 - It seems unrealistic to be able to control the mind and focus it on Krishna 24/7. The bhakti-yogi cultivates his/her inner love for God. Little by little, our thoughts become more and more consumed by what it is that pleases Krishna. Meditating, hearing the pasttimes of Krishna, and associating with others engaged in bhakti-yoga is the process of eventually controlling the mind and cultivating our focus on God. The constitutional position of the soul is to be active. To empty the mind (i.e. via meditational practices to not think about anything) is not practical or realistic. Rather, we should utilize the nature of the mind to constantly focus on Krishna. Tukaram Prabhu's 11/13/2020 Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/394585348394681 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/16823399

Simple Living, High Thinking #32: Our Simplest Duty 11/09/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #32: Our Simplest Duty Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 6, Text 1 Time stamps and topics: Intro - The theme of Chapter 5 6:15 - Arjuna is representing us, repeatedly asking questions of Krishna and having a hard time understanding Krishna's teachings. Arjuna is on a battlefield, about to engage in a war that will kill family members who are on the other side. We see how Krishna is patient with Arjuna, as both a teacher and a best friend. 11:30 - How we can expand our spiritual knowledge through Krishna's grace. When we first start out, our cup is tiny and can only absorb so much information at a time. As we continue to study, Krishna gives us intelligence to understand his teachings in a nuanced way. 20:15 - Unpacking Ch 6, Text 1. Explaining the concept of "he who lights no fire" and the history of the fire sacrifice. 28:07 - Being careful with anger, and moderating extreme emotional reactions. Focusing on a better understanding of the senses in order to regulate them. Those who can balance the senses achieve a sense of peace. Where is my emotional state when navigating current events and our experiences in this world? To what extent are we misidentifying our happiness with external factors we have no control over? 30:54 - Srila Prabhupada's perspective is that this whole process is to help us remember who we are and who Krishna is. If we truly understand this and can put this into practice, then we can be more peaceful. According to Prabhupada, when you're in Krishna consciousness, you're doing what you were meant to do. You can give the world what you were meant to give. 33:58 - Srila Prabhupada's purport for this text. A further explanation of these teachings outlining our simplest duty. Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/16734116

Simple Living, High Thinking #31: The Sweetness of an All-Good God 11/02/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #31: The Sweetness of an All-Good God Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 5, Text 29 Time stamps and topics: Intro: The theme of Chapter 5 7:37 - Text 29, the last text of Ch 5. Krishna has shifted the focus of knowledge to himself and knowing him. Krishna now becomes the object of knowledge. 10:02 - How is it that knowing Krishna will give me peace? 13:27 - The repercussions of acting as if we are the lords of material nature - dominating the planet's resources, killing animals for food, and exploiting the environment for the purpose of pleasing our material senses. We are setting ourselves up for so many miseries by perpetuating competition for resources, fighting for what we want, and creating an us vs them mentality. 11:47 - By recognizing that Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, we can detach from competing with others and striving for our own material pleasures. 20:22 - What are the implications of Krishna being the ultimate enjoyer? What is really 'mine' in this world? How this philosophy reframes our biggest fears and insecurities in life. Are we focused on "my religion is better than your religion" or are we focused on a personal loving relationship with an all-good God? 26:52 - How does our enjoyment differ from Krishna's enjoyment? 29:59 - The importance of a personal deity - a deity with an individual consciousness versus a generic "energy" in the sky. It is impossible for us to have a personal loving relationship with a chemical or an energy. If we think of "the universe" sending us love or wanting the best for us, we are describing an individual consciousness with personal preferences (i.e. God). In order for love to exist, there needs to be a lover and a beloved. God gave us free will so that we could choose to love him. By not forcing our hand, he allows us to genuinely fall in love with him of our own accord, to create the most intimate loving relationship possible. 32:27 - How does one even approach the "Supreme Lord of all planets?" How is it possible to form an intimate loving relationship with an all-powerful omniscient God? 35:17 - Krishna is our ultimate well-wisher, having equal vision of all living entities. Krishna does not discriminate against 'lower' and 'higher' forms of life but sees us all with equal vision. At the soul level, we are all pure. 42:51 - How do you have an intimate loving relationship with an all-powerful God? Krishna, as our very best friend. 46:07 - The story of Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu, and Krishna's form as Narasimha. Tukaram Prabhu's 10/30/2020 Bhagavad Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/663602427662325 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/16652918

Simple Living, High Thinking #30: Maintaining Equanimity in the Face of Dualities 10/26/2020

Simple Living, High Thinking #30: Maintaining Equanimity in the Face of Dualities Subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Bhagavad Gita, Ch 5, Texts 18-29 Time stamps and topics: 2:14 - The setting of the Bhagavad Gita and a summary of chapters 1-4. 19:54 - The theme of duality and the different ways we perceive things as 'good' or 'bad'. Krishna is laying out a strategy to be equipoised to handle the dualities of the world - to tolerate them without being so disturbed. The purpose of this is to allow knowledge to be seeded. 16:34 - Handling life's biggest duality of birth and death. 18:44 - We should not allow our happiness to depend on outside factors. Living in sameness and equanimity. 23:44 - Is unlimited happiness really attainable? Our nature as a spiritual being is to be happy and have true knowledge. This knowledge gives clarity as to who we really are as a soul, not a body. 29:35 - God is all good, all powerful, and all knowledgeable. If God is all good, then there is no 'bad'. If the nature of spirit is to be good, intelligent, and wise, then happiness will reign supreme; we can ultimately be happy. Unlimited happiness is found within in our spiritual existence. If we are focusing on dualities, then we are pulled to things which are external and material. 35:09 - The worst of your sufferings eventually comes to an end - it's just a matter of time. Conversely, all good things also come to an end. We learn to find equanimity through it all. 36:42 - We don't have to die in order to attain spiritual transcendence. There's a saying, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die." Who wouldn't want to go to a better place? But am I ready to let things go.. my family, children, house, job, car, my body itself? Krishna here is solving this dilemma. Krishna is telling us that we can achieve this unlimited happiness by embracing this knowledge. Checking these forces of anger, desire, greed, hate, and tolerating these urges - thus conquering these earthly dualities. You can be happy right now. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 42:58 - The importance of regulating the senses through lifestyle choices (e.g. not drinking, having casual sex, etc.) Dualities change as you progress through spiritual life. In the beginning, it may be regulating addictive behaviors. Then it may move to regulating emotional behaviors. Eventually, it may move to pride and ego in our spiritual accomplishments. 45:46 - The only duality that is important -- Everything that takes us closer to Krishna, and everything that takes us away from Krishna. Tukaram Prabhu's 10/23/2020 Bhagavad Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/806358560096944 Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleliving108 Instagram: https://instagram.com/simpleliving108 Website: http://simplelivinghighthinking.net To get your own copy of the Bhagavad Gita, or any of Srila Prabhupad's books, please visit: https://lagunatemplebooks.org/. All donations go toward the cost of the books and supporting the temple. Thank you! /episode/index/show/simplelivinghighthinking/id/16545080

Simple Living, High Thinking

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