Lessons today from the local Hare Krishna Temple in my city.

The Nectar of Instruction by Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Eleven Lessons in the Ancient Science of Bhakti Yoga.

Five centuries ago and half a globe from here, Srila Rupa Goswami, the great spiritual genius of medieval India, wrote this concise handbook of essential spiritual teachings. How do you practice bhakti-yoga, and where is the ideal place to do it? What is the purpose of life, and how do you achieve it? This priceless work provides answers.

The text, originally written in Sanskrit, has been translated and commented by Rupa Goswami's foremost modern successor, Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

The nectar of instruction is the key to enlightenment for all seekers on the path to spiritual perfection.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

https://prabhupadabooks.com/noi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupa_Goswami

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness

Sri Rupa Gosvami was the leader of all the Gosvamis, and to guide our activities he gave us this Upadesamrta (The Nectar of Instruction) to follow. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left behind Him the eight verses known as Siksastaka, Rupa Gosvami gave us The Nectar of Instruction so that we may become pure Vaisnavas.

Who was ever ready to extricate dharma that had become sunk owing to the evil effects of Kaliyuga.

— Pikira grant of Pallava Simhavarman, line 10 (3rd plate, front)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Yuga

Bhakti yoga helps to protect us against the evil effects of the current age of Kali Yuga.

By performance of yajña, the conditioned souls gradually become Kṛṣṇa conscious and become godly in all respects. In the Age of Kali, the saṅkīrtana-yajña (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age. Saṅkīrtana-yajña and Kṛṣṇa consciousness go well together. Lord Kṛṣṇa in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) as follows, with special reference to the saṅkīrtana-yajña:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

“In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña.” Other yajñas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this Age of Kali, but the saṅkīrtana-yajña is easy and sublime for all purposes, as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā also (9.14).

Source : https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/3/10/

Hinduism often symbolically represents morality (dharma) as an Indian bull. In the Satya Yuga, the first stage of development, the bull has four legs, which is reduced by one in each age that follows. By the age of Kali, morality is reduced to only a quarter of that of the golden age, so that the bull of Dharma has only one leg.

"In all spiritual affairs, one’s first duty is to control his mind and senses. Unless one controls his mind and senses, one cannot make any advancement in spiritual life. Everyone within this material world is engrossed in the modes of passion and ignorance. One must promote himself to the platform of goodness, sattva-guṇa, by following the instructions of Rūpa Gosvāmī, and then everything concerning how to make further progress will be revealed.

Advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness depends on the attitude of the follower. A follower of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should become a perfect gosvāmī. Vaiṣṇavas are generally known as gosvāmīs. In Vṛndāvana, this is the title by which the director of each temple is known. One who wants to become a perfect devotee of Kṛṣṇa must become a gosvāmī. Go means “the senses,” and svāmī means “the master.” Unless one controls his senses and mind, one cannot become a gosvāmī. To achieve the highest success in life by becoming a gosvāmī and then a pure devotee of the Lord, one must follow the instructions known as Upadeśāmṛta, which have been given by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given many other books, such as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava, but Upadeśāmṛta constitutes the first instructions for neophyte devotees. One should follow these instructions very strictly. Then it will be easier to make one’s life successful. Hare Kṛṣṇa."

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

I am not a Goswami yet, but I am learning from them. These holy people (sadhu's) are my guides. I thank them. Feel free to join me in study

Kristo(f) Gabriel