1677: Softening the Heart: Bhakti Yoga & the Power of Emotion

When we try to “fix” life, sometimes it only breaks further. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha examine how our material solutions—cars, technology, medicine—can backfire when they stem from the impulse to control, not harmonize. Through the lens of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.44, Tagore’s warning, and a margarine ad that tried to fool Mother Nature, this discussion reveals how true wisdom isn’t about domination—it’s about surrender, humility, and learning to live in harmony. What you’ll take away: * Why control breeds chaos and how we get stuck in whack-a-mole fixes * The folly of “doing better than nature” — margarine vs. butter * Newton’s insight: explanation is not origin * The meaning of sattva (contentment) vs. rajas (complication) * How Viṣṇu’s all-pervading nature humbles our intellect * Observing the small (even just chickens) to glimpse the cosmos * Practical suggestions for aligning with nature instead of conquering it 🔔 Subscribe now for daily spiritual insights and stay tuned for more explorations on Bhakti, wisdom, and the art of living. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.44 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

The Answer Is Always Love: Understanding Krishna’s Ways / Q&A Vol. 286 Bhakti doesn’t grow on demand—it unfolds like nature itself: slowly, wisely, beautifully. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the sacred rhythm of spiritual growth through enthusiasm, determination, and patience—the gardener’s trinity of devotion. Along the way, they share how wisdom means learning how things grow, and how every confusing or paradoxical Krishna pastime ultimately resolves with one universal key: love. Key Highlights * The bhakti formula: enthusiasm, determination, and patience—the secret to spiritual maturity * Wisdom in waiting: why growth takes time and why rushing ruins devotion * When Krishna’s actions confuse you—remember, the answer is always love * Change hearts through joy, not judgment—why inner happiness preaches louder than words And yes—this one ends with a blind maple syrup taste test. Sweet lessons in every sense. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************  

You Can’t Hurry Love: How Bhakti Matures It’s easy to look spiritual — chant loud, dress the part, quote Sanskrit — but bhakti gets real when one starts perceiving divinity everywhere, in everyone. In this live Wisdom of the Sages retreat Q&A, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how beginner bhakti matures into genuine love — the kind that sees God in every heart and responds with compassion. Episode Highlights: * “Ego is the glass in the soup of our joy” — why even a small shard ruins the whole pot * You can’t hurry love: why bhakti grows slow, like a vine * From neophyte to mature devotee — learning to see Krishna in everyone * Preaching without pretense: why sharing joy beats proving philosophy * The charity trap — what King Nṛga’s story teaches about giving wisely ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

Ever wonder if that “inner voice” you hear during prayer is God in your heart—or just your mind doing impressions again? In this live Q&A from Super Soul Farm, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into two powerful questions: 1️⃣ How to discern whether inspiration comes from the Supersoul (Paramātmā) or from the restless mind and ego. 2️⃣ What truly distinguishes Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras from Bhakti Yoga—the difference between liberation (kaivalya) and divine love (prema). Through stories, laughter, and verses from the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they map out how to pray for clear guidance, wait with faith, and let Krishna recalibrate your inner GPS. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

She boarded a flight to India to learn how to die—and found the wisdom to live. Laurel’s journey—from childhood loss and addiction to a stage-4 cancer diagnosis—collides with Bhakti-yoga, kīrtan, and the Bhagavad-gītā at the Govardhan Ecovillage, reframing suffering through devotion and community. With Raghunath and Kaustubha, this episode traces the shift from victimhood to spiritual agency: simple practices, steady philosophy, and a flower-festival moment that changes everything. Key Highlights * “I came to die, but I learned to live.” * Raghu bans pity (but allows chapati—not Chowpatty). * Dog therapy for the soul: Who rescued who? * The sliding-tables cruise ship: how to find steadiness when life tilts. * Kīrtan at 5 a.m., a highway near-miss, and the taste of grace. * From validation-seeking to service and sādhana. * “Maintenance meds” vs. maintenance of the heart. * How the Bhāgavatam reframes impermanence and the “why me?” loop. Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan, Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Govardhan Ecovillage, Radhanath Swami, Spiritual Transformation, Addiction Recovery, Cancer Journey, Yoga Philosophy, Wisdom of the Sages Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative path of Bhakti. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 ********************************************************************* Join 2025 Kartik Algorithm here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOUR66ik34T49YWn4y9QsU

What happens when the Stoic emperor of self-control meets the divine cowherd of boundless love? From Brahmā’s cosmic prank to the gopīs’ fearless devotion, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the art of giving without keeping score—through Stoic insight, Bhakti wisdom, and the moonlit mystery of Kartik’s full moon. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.40–43 #BhaktiYoga #MarcusAurelius #SrimadBhagavatam #Stoicism #WisdomOfTheSages ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 ********************************************************************* Join 2025 Kartik Algorithm here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOUR66ik34T49YWn4y9QsU

It took 40, then 25, then 30 miles before the mind finally stopped screaming and started praying. Fresh off a solo bike ride through the Adirondacks, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into practical bhakti: how movement can quiet the mental “algorithm,” how to use Kārtika (Damodara Month) to turn up your practice x1000, and why the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s Brahma-vimohana lila (Brahma Mohan Leela)—when Kṛṣṇa becomes every cowherd boy and calf—reveals more than wonder; it maps how God and God’s energies actually work. Key Highlights * “Metaphysical Amazon Prime”: stop praying for two-day shipping; start praying “What do You want from me today?” * Kārtika math: one round = a thousand (devotion multiplies—calories don’t). * Japa that sticks: sit, walk, or pedal—just get past the first “many miles” of mental noise. * Phone in another room = mind in the same room as God. * Acintya-bhedābheda for real life: one energy, different functions—like electricity that can cool your fridge and heat your toast. If you’re ready to trade doom-scrolling for mantra-rolling, this episode gives you a simple plan: pick a vow for Kārtika, leave the phone outside the temple of your morning, and let the mind settle mile by mile until prayer gets loud. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.36–40 🌟 Subscribe for daily Bhakti wisdom and join thousands leveling up during Kārtika. 🎧 Listen now and share with a friend who needs a “many-miles” reset. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 ********************************************************************* Join 2025 Kartik Algorithm here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOUR66ik34T49YWn4y9QsU

The Bhagavad-gītā is more than philosophy—it’s full of feeling. Arjuna’s grief and Krishna’s compassion remind us that yoga is not about suppressing emotions but purifying and deepening them. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Krishna’s pastime of becoming every cowherd boy and calf in Vṛndāvana, where ordinary love becomes unlimited when connected to the Divine. The lesson: to experience the emotions of bhakti, we must keep our hearts soft and respectful toward all beings. Also: Raghunath clears his head on a bike ride, Mara has her “Govardhan Hill moment,” and magnets and rust somehow find their way into yoga philosophy. 🌟 Subscribe and join thousands worldwide on the path of Bhakti. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.27-35 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

Everybody’s Looking for Krishna (Even If They Don’t Know It): George Harrison’s Bhakti Perspective George Harrison once wrote, “Everybody is looking for Kṛṣṇa. Some don’t realize that they are, but they are.” In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how this simple insight lines up perfectly with the teachings of the Bhakti tradition. Why is it that every craving—for love, beauty, peace, security, adventure—always points us back to Krishna? Why is there really no turning away from Him? Drawing from the stories of the Bhāgavatam and the wisdom of the sages, this conversation explores how the heart’s longings are never wasted—they’re all leading us toward the source of everything. 🌟 Subscribe and join thousands worldwide on the path of Bhakti. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.20-27 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************

The Upaniṣads say the Divine is hidden like fire in wood, cream in milk, oil in sesame seed—revealed only through truth and discipline. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how yoga and the Gītā echo this same teaching: God is everywhere, but without discipline you only pick up static. With truth and practice, the channel clears. Or as our Friend, Matthew Perry, once put it: “God is everywhere—you just have to clear your channel, or you’ll miss it.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.15-19 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************