Wherever we are, whether it's Goloka or here, we're still eternal servants of the Lord. So in the beginning stages, we understand by hearing sambandha-jñāna that we're not Kṛṣṇa, that we're actually His servants, then that's a beginning position to chant from. The antithesis of that is mentioned by Bhaktivinoda Thākura and by Haridās Thākura in the Harināma Cintāmaṇi. That idea which contaminates the chanting is Māyāvāda, which is the idea that "I am God." "I'm just chanting. I'm temporarily inconvenienced by being in the material world, but I'll realize my godship again by chanting, and I'll merge." Sorry, everybody, but this is the antithesis of sambandha-jñāna, which means a relationship. I have a relationship. How can you have a relationship if you're one and the same? So it starts with understanding that I'm an eternal servant. I'm not the master.

Later on, one's relationship with Krishna will be realized by the mercy of the holy name. We can't artificially know our relationship with Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana. There are some people who have a premature way of offering this to others and saying that, "This is your relationship; now meditate on it." But in our line, we first meditate on the holy name and the fact that we're eternal servants, and the Holy Name reveals to us gradually what our relationship is. That comes to be known to us by Kṛṣṇa's arrangement. This you can substantiate this by reading the last song in the Saranāgati by Bhaktivinoda Thākura, in which he describes how the holy name comes to him, takes him by the hand, and introduces him to Kṛṣṇa and his relationship with Kṛṣṇa in the spiritual world.

(excerpt from the talk)

------------------------------------------------------------

To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/

------------------------------------------------------------

Add to your wisdom literature collection:

https://iskconsv.com/book-store/

https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/

https://thefourquestionsbook.com/

------------------------------------------------------------

Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/

Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868

For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark

For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark

------------------------------------------------------------

#vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose #makejapagreatagain #chantharekrishnaandbehappy #mantrameditation #mantra