Determination in Sadhana | HG Vaisesika Dasa | Talk With Pandava Sena, UK | 20 June 2026

My mother used to tell me, "Never underestimate the power of 'I’ll show them.'" So many personalities who have succeeded in life have, have at one point or another, been considered losers—and they thought, "I’ll show them," and they put their full attention into improving themselves in one area or another. Michael Jordan, for instance, was cut from his high school basketball team. So, the third way in which—and I am just talking about having a strong decision at the beginning of your activity—you can solidify it is to give up what we call "mistaken unchangeability." Another way of saying it is: 'assume it can be done.' Because oftentimes, people feel, "Other people can do something, but I can’t." One has to give that up. In other words, you have to banish that feeling from your mind or heart—that other people can be successful but I can't. As it is mentioned in the Vedānta-sūtra by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the Śāstras tell us that we should improve ourselves and we should reach the highest perfection of life. He says, therefore, we should assume that we can do it, because the Śāstras are speaking to all of us, and it would be illogical to think we cannot do it if the Śāstras say we can. Sometimes people might think, for instance, that it is not possible for me to become a pure devotee; "It’s not possible for me to chant 16 rounds; it’s not possible for me to read the Bhāgavatam all the way through." There may be many worthy services to do, but we think, "I can’t do that." That, you have to put aside. "I can’t write a book." What else might you think you cannot do? (0:03:11, excerpt from the talk) Determination and Its Importance – 0:00:09 Choose Deliberate Practice Over Luck – 0:10:11–0:16:04 Numerical Strength and Association (Tools for Deliberate Practice) –0:16:04 Avoiding Distractions and Entering Focus – starts around 0:20:19 Balancing Strengths, Sadhana, and Life Circumstances – Q&A segment 0:25:26–0:31:49 Practical Examples of Daily Reading & Emotional Fuel for Commitment – 0:31:49–0:34:56 Narrowing Choices and Strengthening Liberating Bonds – 0:34:56–0:41:57 Writing Your Personal Constitution and Setting Priorities – 0:37:19–0:41:57 Use Determination in Service: Global Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Distribution – starts around 0:41:57–0:46:13 Attitude, Youth, and Using This Life for Krishna – 0:46:13–0:48:38 Gratitude, Gifts, and Closing Prayers – 0:48:38 ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------