Krishna Das answers questions about handling desire on the spiritual path, dealing with fear-based behavioral patterns, and dismantling the ‘house of me’ we each build.
Desire On the Spiritual Path
What was the biggest obstacle for Krishna Das after his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, left his body? Is there any room for doubt in faith? How do we handle desire on the spiritual path? Krishna Das answers questions from an audience of retreat participants.
“We’re human beings, we have to breathe, we have to eat, and we have to do a few other things. Doing those things, in a good way, doesn’t need to be hurtful to the spiritual path.” – Krishna Das
Joseph Goldstein explores desire and its end on Insight Hour Ep. 82
Dealing with Fear (13:58)
Krishna Das answers questions about chanting, willfulness, and how we can deal with fear-based behavioral patterns. He talks about how fear can be like a self-fulfilling prophecy, and tells stories about Neem Karoli Baba and his devotee, Dada Mukerjee.
“Fear is a tough thing, because it just renews itself all the time.” – Krishna Das
The House of Me (38:25)
Krishna Das fields questions about his visit to San Quentin Prison, Neem Karoli Baba’s connection to Jesus Christ, and why we should, or perhaps shouldn’t, listen to what Krishna Das says. He talks about how the practice of chanting can help dismantle the ‘house of me’ that each of us builds.
“The silence is not the absence of noise. The silence is the presence of real love, of pure awareness of being, that’s always here, but we don’t recognize it. By chanting, we’re invoking that place.” – Krishna Das