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A Long Overdue Update and Looking Ahead to the Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Retreat

It has been a long, long time since I’ve written here on Vine of Devotion, and I finally got a chance, so I wanted to share a little life update and my plans for the near future. For many months, I kept telling myself, “I just need to focus

Caturmāsya Begins—Planning Out Our Śikṣāṣṭaka Program

Caturmāsya begins tomorrow—or, if you’re among those who start on Śayana Ekādaśī, then it’s already underway. Personally, I’ve found that unless I’m following a vrata with others, I struggle to keep it going. Since I’m kind of on my own this year, I’m

How to Approach the Teachings of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura—and Announcing a Retreat in His Home

Some days on the Vaiṣṇava calendar are so special and powerful that they feel a little overwhelming—we’re left wondering, How do I even begin to truly honor them? Today is one such day: the disappearance day of Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita and his non-different form, Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee (Part Four)

Today, on the auspicious disappearance day of Śrīdhara Paṇḍita, we conclude our series, “Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee.” The series began in Part One with the sweet quarrels between the Lord and Śrīdhara. It continued in Part Two with the heart-melting pastime where Mahāprabhu revealed His divine

On Memorizing Ślokas (Part 3): Making Yourself *Want* to Learn

For most of my life, at least since I was a young teen, I’ve wanted to be someone who journals daily, exercises, memorizes verses, studies śāstra, and on and on. But what I’d end up doing were all the things related to these habits, without spending much time

Praṇāma-mantra for Śrī Gaṅgā-devī

Today is the auspicious appearance day of both Śrīmatī Gaṅgāmātā Gosvāminī and Śrī Gaṅgā-devī. In honor of this sacred occasion, I’m sharing with you a beautiful praṇāma-mantra for Śrī Gaṅgā-devī in Navadvīpa, which you'll find at the bottom of the page.

Avoiding the Perils of Vaiṣṇava-nindā — Part One (Teachings from Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata)

Jaya Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura ki jaya! Today I’m beginning a series that I plan to periodically translate and share, centered on the dangers of criticizing Vaiṣṇavas (vaiṣṇava-nindā) as it appears in Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata. During last year’s daily online readings of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, this subject of vaiṣṇava-aparādha kept

👨‍🔬 Why I’m Focusing on Experiments Instead of Habits

Tomorrow is Akṣaya Tṛtīyā, one of the most auspicious days in the calendar for starting something new. It’s said that whatever is begun on this day will not diminish (kṣaya), making it the perfect time to step into something fresh. If you’ve been following me for a while,

Bhaktivinoda-gīti-dhārā Returns — Beginning with Śikṣāṣṭaka

I’m delighted to announce that, by the mercy of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and our guru-varga, we’ll be restarting the Bhaktivinoda-gīti-dhārā program on Śrīla Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s appearance day—the same auspicious day it was inaugurated last year! 📚 What We’ll Study Together We will start off this program

Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee (Part Three)

Today, on the auspicious disappearance day of Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura—the Vyāsadeva of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes—I'm honored to share the third installment in this series of excerpts from his Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata. These passages illuminate the extraordinary glories of Śrī Śrīdhara Paṇḍita and Mahāprabhu&

Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee (Part Two)

(Read Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee (Part One) here.) ✨In the home of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita in Navadvīpa, Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu entered an extraordinary state of divine ecstasy known as the sāta-prahariyā bhāva, the twenty-one-hour ecstacy. No longer concealing His divinity, He ascended the throne of Viṣṇu and

Mahāprabhu's Love for the Unseen Devotee (Part One)

To most of the inhabitants of Navadvīpa at that time, Kholā-vecā Śrīdhara was no one special or noteworthy—just another poor, forgettable banana-leaf vendor (kholā-vecā). He didn't even own his own banana trees; he would buy different parts of the trees—the stem, flowers, bananas, and leaves—and

Vṛndāvana Manifests as Navadvīpa

Haribol! We’re in the middle of Navadvīpa parikramā, and I unexpectedly got locked out of my place until very late at night. So, I’ll be skipping the usual Ekādaśī Eve post this time. For now, here are some beautiful verses from Navadvīpa-dhāma-māhātmya: The Distinction Between Navadvīpa and Vraja

The Focused Hour: How to Get Absorbed Like the Arrow-Maker 🏹

Whoa, this Ekādaśī really snuck up on me! With Navadvīpa parikramā around the corner, things are blissfully busy! So at this moment especially, I need to use my time more carefully than ever. Therefore, instead of trying to think of something too deep and meaningful to discuss in today'