From the Editor's Desk

In today’s fast-paced world, various types of events can disturb our inner peace and divert us from our spiritual path. For example, personal losses, professional instability, relationship challenges, and the barrage of misinformation on social media. Amidst such turmoil, it becomes crucial not only to stay grounded on the spiritual path but also to protect our spiritual assets and connection with the Divine.

Just like we safeguard our physical assets, we must also guard our spiritual wealth, which is far more precious and foundational to true well-being. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Shree Swami Mukundananda ji, this month we explore the concept of spiritual assets, how they could be destroyed, and ways to protect these treasures.

Vedic Wisdom & Application

Challenge of the Month: Protecting Our Spiritual Assets

Reflection Questions

  • What are Spiritual Assets?
  • What Conditions Can Destroy Our Spiritual Assets?
  • How Can We Protect Our Spiritual Assets?

The true test of our spiritual beliefs and faith often lies not in how passionately we profess them, but in how consistently we abide by them, especially amid conditions that cause inner strife. 

What are Spiritual Assets?

Spiritual assets refer to virtues that lead to the purity of the heart and mind. We cultivate these assets throughout our lives. Unlike material possessions, which we leave behind when the body perishes, spiritual assets are the only permanent treasures that accompany us into the next life. This purity is achieved through our actions, thoughts, and the way we respond to life's challenges.

Spiritual Assets are Virtues that Lead to the Purity of the Heart and Mind

Spiritual assets form the foundation for leading a life that aligns with our higher values and contribute significantly to our spiritual growth. These virtues include but are not limited to:

  1. Faith (Shraddha): It allows us to trust in a higher power and the spiritual journey itself, providing strength during tumultuous times.
  2. Devotion (Bhakti): It fosters a deep connection to the Divine and our spiritual faith, providing us with a force to be grounded in a commitment for our (the soul’s) elevation.
  3. Detachment (Vairagya): It helps us to let go of material attachments and the ego, allowing us to focus on what truly matters in life – our relationship with God/Guru.
  4. Humility (Deenata): It encourages us to recognize our limitations, give up the pride of doership and value others, promoting a sense of community and service.
  5. Purity of Intention (Shuddhata): It enables us to perceive ourselves as servants of God. When our intentions are pure, we experience inner joy, as our soul communicates this fulfillment to us.
  6. Surrender (Sharanagati): It aligns our will with the will of God, allows us to develop a personal relationship with Him, and follow the Guru's teachings and instructions with faith and dedication.
  7. Discipline in Practice (Sadhana): It is the effort that we make to cleanse the heart through pure and sublime thoughts. Disciplined practice of sadhana will allow us (souls) to increase attachment to God and detachment from worldly pleasures.
  8. Wisdom (Vijnana): It is the knowledge gained through direct experiential realization when one engages in sustained spiritual practice. It is the most critical of all spiritual assets due to its protective power.  

Together, these qualities enable us to purify the heart and make it eligible to receive divine grace. Therefore, they are invaluable but can be vulnerable to destruction and neglect if we do not actively prioritize our inner growth over external achievements.

What Conditions Can Destroy Our Spiritual Assets?

Several conditions can destroy our spiritual assets if not well-guarded. Given that we may not be able to control external conditions, it is best to focus on and understand the internal conditions that tend to cause turmoil. Some of the most common ones include:

  1. Bad Beliefs: Holding onto negative beliefs can impair our spiritual growth. For instance, if one believes that success is solely due to manipulation rather than merit, it can lead to a lack of motivation and spiritual stagnation. For example, Karna believed that it was his duty to stand by Duryodhan as an expression of his loyalty and gratitude, even if it meant supporting him in his wrongdoings. Thus, Karna chose unwavering loyalty instead of righteousness.
Bad Beliefs Inspired Karna to choose the Evil Duryodhan over the Righteous Shree Krishna
  1. Material Attachments: Becoming overly attached to family, possessions, or status can drag the mind away from spiritual focus. This attachment often leads to expectations and disappointments, causing mental anguish and diverting attention from God. For example, King Bharat, the son of Rishabhdev, ruled with wisdom and righteousness. He renounced his kingdom for spiritual pursuits. However, his attachment to a fawn whom he rescued resulted in detachment from God. He began to focus more on the deer's well-being than on his own sadhana, forgetting his previous vows and devotion, and even his own self. He was reborn as a deer in his next life.
  2. Internal Adversaries: Emotions such as lust, anger, and greed are significant obstacles because they disturb the mind, destroy discrimination, and hijack spiritual focus. They make it difficult for people to maintain a peaceful and pure heart. Even a moment of uncontrolled anger can undo years of progress. As Shree Krishna told Arjun:

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भव: ||
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् || 37||

shri bhagavan uvacha
kama esha krodha esha rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahashano maha-papma viddhyenam iha vairinam

The Supreme Lord said: It is lust alone, which is born of contact with the mode of passion, and later transformed into anger. Know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world (Bhagavad Gita 3.37).

  1. Pride in One's Spiritual Advancement: Pride in one’s bhakti or devotion, scriptural knowledge, or seva or service, inflates the ego, which distances one from God. For example, Ravan, the king of Lanka, performed intense penance to please Lord Shiv, but his arrogance nullified his spiritual merit.
  2. Offenses toward Saints and Devotees: Criticizing, belittling, or disrespecting true devotees of God (i.e., Saints) can severely hinder one’s spiritual progress. The Padma Puran notes such an offense as one of the prime reasons for spiritual downfall. For example, Durvasa Muni once offended King Ambarish, Lord Vishnu’s ardent devotee. God released His Sudarshan Chakra to slay Durvasa, until he begged Ambrish for forgiveness.
Sudarshan Chakra chased Rishi Durvasa for Punishing Ambrish, Lord Vishnu’s Devotee
  1. Ignorance and Indolence: Lack of spiritual knowledge and an indolent attitude towards spiritual practices or sadhana can prevent one from realizing their true potential and purpose in life. Without disciplined sadhana, even sincere seekers become spiritually dry.
  2. Complacency and Overconfidence: To believe that one has advanced spiritually is the surest sign that one has not. The spiritual journey is ongoing, and complacency stalls growth. Even advanced yogis can fall if they let their guard down. For example, Rishi Saubhari had been meditating underwater for years, but observing a couple of fish mating, inflamed his desire to enjoy worldly life, leading to spiritual downfall and entanglement in family life.
  3. Bad Association or Kusang: Association with materially minded people weakens conviction, introduces doubts, and derails sadhana. Even a sincere sadhak may fall prey to bad habits or ideologies through wrong company. For example, Ajamil, who was well-versed in the knowledge of the scriptures, was negatively influenced by one moment of kusang, resulting in a life filled with sin until divine intervention took place and helped him to return to Satsang.
  4. Doubt in Scriptures or Guru: The moment we question the authority of the sacred scriptures or lose faith in the Guru’s Vaani, the spiritual foundation shakes. Doubt is the biggest enemy of faith and progress. Shree Krishna told Arjun that for a person filled with doubt, there is no happiness either in this world or in the next one.

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति |
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मन: || 40||

ajnash chashraddadhanash cha sanshayatma vinashyati
nayam loko ’sti na paro na sukham sanshayatmanah

But persons who possess neither faith nor knowledge, and who are of a doubting nature, suffer a downfall. For the skeptical souls, there is no happiness either in this world or the next (Bhagavad Gita 4.40)

Recognizing and addressing these factors is crucial for protecting our spiritual assets and achieving a higher state of consciousness. As Swamiji says, our spiritual assets are like a tender sapling; they need water (i.e., sadhana), protection (i.e., vigilance), and sunlight (i.e., divine grace) to grow.

Protect Your Bhakti: Be Aware of Internal States that Destroy and Nurture Spiritual Assets

Remember that spiritual decline often happens subtly, not in a dramatic fall, but through slow neglect, ego inflation, or misplaced beliefs. The enemy of devotion is not always outside. It is mostly subtle, within the subconscious mind.

How Can We Protect Our Spiritual Assets?

Protecting our spiritual assets means recognizing the risks and becoming aware of the conditions that destroy them. Therefore, constant contemplation of divine knowledge, satsang with like-minded people, and finding refuge in the Guru’s shelter are essential to protect our inner treasure. We have summarized ways to protect these assets below:

  1. Find a Guru and Engage in Spiritual Practices:

    1. Seek the guidance of a true Guru and learn divine knowledge to understand the true purpose of life. 

    2. Cultivate faith in the spiritual journey and the Guru who imparts divine knowledge. 

    3. View challenges in life as opportunities for growth and a blessing from God. 

    4. When feeling triggered by anger, jealousy, or pride, pause, observe, and recognize these emotions as signs of areas that need purification. 

  2. Cultivate Attachment to God:

    1. Make time for spiritual practices like chanting, Roop Dhyan meditation, and satsang to purify the mind and dissolve impurities.

    2. Practice selfless service for the pleasure of God/Guru, not oneself.

  3. Detach from Worldly Attachments:

    1. Consider the transient nature of wealth, status, and physical comfort to weaken attachments and increase focus on spiritual fulfillment. 

    2. Be mindful of sources of kusang that can negatively impact the mind. 

    3. Understand that our identity is the soul, not the body. 

    4. Do a Roop Dhyan of yourself as a soul whose goal is to serve God/Guru.

  4. Living with Humbleness and Gratitude:

    1. Humbleness is a key to spiritual treasure, allowing us to connect with God/Guru more deeply. Make this a conscious daily spiritual practice.

    2. Cultivate gratitude by acknowledging the blessings in life and the grace of God. 

    3. Do Roop Dhyan on expressing gratitude to God/Guru for their endless graces.

Finally, remember the promise of Shree Krishna Himself in this famous verse:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||

ananyash chintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate
tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshemam vahamyaham

There are those who always think of Me and engage in exclusive devotion to Me. To them, whose minds are always absorbed in Me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess (Bhagavad Gita 9.22).

As Swamiji beautifully explained, “When we offer ourselves exclusively to Him, māmekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja, God bestows His complete grace and takes full responsibility, by preserving what we have and providing what we lack.”

Tools for Your Personal Growth

To what extent do you effectively protect your spiritual assets? Use this self-assessment tool to know and determine whether you are in the safe or vulnerable zone. A downloadable tracking sheet is available for you to use.

JKYog's Self-Assessment Tool to Protect Your Spiritual Assets
JKYog's Self-Assessment Tool to Protect Your Spiritual Assets.pdf
311 KB
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If you need to speak with anyone about this topic or your practice, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Please also give us some time to respond. Thank you.

Gems of Wisdom from Swamiji

Here are a few YouTube video titles with related links and books where Swamiji has described concepts and tools to protect your spiritual assets.

Shree Krishna’s Way to Train Your Mind and Achieve Any Goal Faster

Hold Your Breath! Check out Upcoming Events

We are very excited to share two dynamite events with you!   

We are nearly halfway through 2025! What better time to recalibrate our journey towards a healthier body, mind, and spirit? We are thrilled to share two major upcoming events you will not want to miss!

JKYog’s Dallas Yoga Fest 2025

As the world prepares to celebrate International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2025, JKYog and Radha Krishna Temple proudly present the Dallas Yoga Fest – a grand celebration of Yoga and Holistic Health.

Now in its 11th year, Dallas Yoga Fest has become a vibrant platform that brings together yoga teachers, health experts, medical practitioners, and wellness enthusiasts under one roof. Do not miss this unforgettable opportunity to take charge of your health and wellbeing—completely free!

With over 35 free sessions of yoga, meditation, pranayama, health talks, chanting, and sound healing, the festival has something for everyone. Each session is led by an expert in the field and offers unique knowledge or methods of practice that participants of all levels can benefit from. Highlights include:

  • Opening Ceremony with Swami Mukundananda
  • Keynote Address by Swamiji: Yoga for Harmonizing Your Body, Mind, and Soul with the Universe
  • Book Launch of Swamiji’s latest release – Ishavasya Upanishad
  • Yoga SVYASA: The Role of Yoga Managing Diabetes & Improving Heart Health – June 22nd at 1:45 PM
  • Special Talk by Dr. Harsha Panchakarma on Ayurveda, Panchakarma & Yoga
  • Health Fair: Blood drive, CPR training, screenings & free consultations
  • Sound Healing Concert
  • 108 Surya Namaskar Session
  • Healthy Cooking Contest

JKYog’s Spiritual Retreat and Family Camp 2025

JKYog's Spiritual Retreat and Family Camp is a rare opportunity to spend 7 transformative days immersed in devotion, reflection, and joyful learning, all under Swamiji’s loving guidance, at the most exquisitely beautiful Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas.

This mid-year spiritual retreat helps families to recharge, reconnect, and realign their inner compass. Please register if you have not already done it.

What to Expect:

  • Daily kirtans, guided meditations, and enlightening discourses by Swamiji
  • Bal-Mukund classes for kids
  • Personality development sessions for youth
  • Fun interactive activities, picnics, and cultural celebrations

Do not miss this soul-enriching experience for the whole family. Register today and make memories that last a lifetime!

JKYog Transforming Communities

Here, we share evidence of amazing activities and news about the programs and initiatives of JKYog and its various U.S. centers. This month, we share the value of divine knowledge expounded in Swamiji’s published books.

Swamiji’s Books

Swamiji's books appeal to both spiritual and worldly seekers because they offer profound insights into spiritual growth and self-transformation, while being deeply rooted in Vedic wisdom. He is known for his exceptional ability to clarify complex concepts, dispel misconceptions, and make spirituality relevant to everyday life. 

Swami Mukundananda ji's Books: A Treasure Trove of Inspirational Wisdom

Here are some ways in which Swamiji’s books transform the lives of millions of readers. Each written word represents divine Vaani, which enables reflection and inspiration to better oneself to purify the etheric heart.

  • Conceptual Clarity: Swamiji's writing style is known for its clarity and ability to simplify complex spiritual concepts, making them understandable for a wide audience – from scholars to household managers and students. The use of relatable examples appeals to novice and experienced spiritual aspirants.
  • Practical Application: His teachings emphasize the practical application of spiritual principles in daily life, offering guidance on how to navigate challenges and find meaning in everyday experiences. 
  • Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions: Swamiji is known for his exceptional ability to challenge unsubstantiated misconceptions about spiritual paths and traditions, offering an accurate interpretation with scriptural evidence. This style permeates even in His books.
  • Emphasizing the Path of Devotion: The goal of all Saints is to bring people closer to God. Just as in His divine discourses, Swamiji’s books also highlight the importance of foundational scriptural knowledge, its role in establishing faith and devotion, and how these lead to inner transformation necessary for spiritual growth. 
  • Relevance to Modern Life: Swamiji connects ancient wisdom with contemporary concerns, demonstrating how spiritual principles can be applied to address modern challenges and improve one's quality of life. 
  • Inspiration and Encouragement: His books are filled with stories and insights from great saints and spiritual figures, offering inspiration and encouragement to readers on their own spiritual journeys.

Find the joys of enhancing your spiritual journey through one or all of Swamiji’s books! They are keepers!

JKYog’s Bhagavad Gita Krishna Bhakti App

Are you attending the Life Transformation Program (LTP) in your city with Swami Mukundananda? Make sure to download the Bhagavad Gita Krishna Bhakti App for all LTP resources in a single place!

  • Check in easily for the program through the app
  • Access Kirtan Lyrics and other resources
  • Enjoy glimpses of LTP events and morning walk Q&A with Swamiji even before you see them on social media
  • Stay connected with Swamiji even after LTP with the Ask Swamiji AI Chatbot – ask your burning spiritual questions and receive answers based on authentic Vedic philosophy!

This is more than an app, it is a spiritual lifeline for your soul! Download it today and stay inspired in Bhakti: JKYog.org/app.