The Mind of the Buddha, The Mind of the Gopī
5/14/202655 min
Buddhism and Bhaktivedanta share a lot of common ground. Both embrace the same radical insight — that the mind is the architect of our experience, and that what we feed it determines the life we live. But in this episode Raghunath and Kaustubha explore where Bhakti takes it one step further. Buddhism negates the names and forms of matter, freeing the mind from attachment, pointing toward liberation. Bhakti provides the positive side. Not just improved wellbeing. Not just liberation. The prema prayojana — the full awakening of divine love. The Srimad Bhagavatam shows us what that looks like through the gopis – always...
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First 90 secondsKaustubha Das· Host0:00
Buddha starts here, right? Or at least the collection of his text starts with this, with this idea that, um, what you bring into your mind expands. What, what... And therefore it's so important. And, and, you know, this is something that, you know, we live in a world now where a lot of books on mindfulness become popular, and that's a good thing.
Raghunath· Host0:19
Hmm.
Kaustubha Das· Host0:20
Uh, but generally they're being presented as ways to kind of, like, I don't know, reach a state of, like, improved wellbeing. You know, I'm more balanced.
Raghunath· Host0:28
Sure.
Kaustubha Das· Host0:29
Um- Important ... the, it, which is good. That's good. Um- It's a necessity ... although I think from the Dhammapada's, it, its, its purpose was a, a higher purpose than that, which was, like, you can achieve liberation, right? You can, you can become free of your int- Not just reach a m- an improved state of bondage, um, but achieve a state of freedom.
Raghunath· Host0:56
Hmm.
Kaustubha Das· Host0:56
And where it goes in, in Bhakti is still further. In other words, we're all concerned. It's, it's, it's, it's coming up to the human level where you become concerned about your mind and, and where it's going and what you're putting into it, and what it's creating more of in your life. If you, if you haven't gotten there- Hmm ... you're wasting your potential as a human being. And you're, and you'll suffer because of it, you know?
Raghunath· Host1:20
Write that down, Kustuba speaks.
Kaustubha Das· Host1:22
Okay.
Raghunath· Host1:22
You're wasting your, what's that, potential as a human being.
Kaustubha Das· Host1:26
As a human being.
Raghunath· Host1:26
And you suffer because of it. And you'll suffer [laughs] You sound like a preacher, Raghunath. You've been listening to me, Raghunath.