2023.06.02 - Krishna conciousness is a spiritual science (Tbilisi) - Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Krishna consciousness is universal, it is not sectarian. It has nothing to do with where I was born and what my background was. It’s a very powerful spiritual science. God’s name is not different from God Himself. Meditation can only be successful if our mind is fully concentrated on the object of meditation. In Kali-yuga our mind is very disturbed, so it is very difficult for us to meditate. But if we chant with music, the sound of kirtan is so high that all other thoughts temporarily become silenced. Chanting of the Holy name is Kali-yuga dharma. Intelligence is part of our being that defines our way in life. "Bhagavad-Gita" appeals to our intelligence, it does not want to simply move us emotionally and leave us without support of intelligence. Spirituality is not an easy journey because we are already programmed in many ways by the environment we live in. But spirituality answers many of our unanswered questions and solves many of our unsolved problems. The materialistic paradigm makes people selfish, isolated and ultimately unhappy. The materialistic picture of life works to a certain extent, but it is just an appearance, it does not go deeper. Spirituality has to be a science, otherwise it will become a sectarian religion. If it is just blind faith, otherwise you will go to hell, then this is the wrong approach. When the Vedic scriptures talk about religion, they talk about dharma or the expression of our inner nature. This inner nature is the same, no matter where you are born. If you follow your dharma, you will feel very stable and protected. Vedic tradition is a unique spiritual science, it is experiential.