BT Swami House DC

Durban, South Africa, 1997

Croatia, 2003

“There are many people embarking on the spiritual journey who very nicely engage in all the rituals and external trappings of the religion but who lack sufficient knowledge. Most importantly, such people often lack deep realizations. When someone serves mechanically, it might look like the genuine activity but it is not. As a matter of fact, the proper activity performed with proper knowledge will give us a greater chance to receive the benefits. However, if a person wants to receive the highest benefits from proper activities, he or she must even go beyond the platform of jnana or knowledge and must connect with vijnana or realization. Proper spiritual activities are based on behavior, which involves the hands; intellectual understanding that involves the head; and deep emotional, loving realizations that involve the heart. Many spiritual practices will involve the hands and some will involve the head but few involve the heart.” ( Bhakti Tirtha Swami)