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Be healthy, happy and holy -­­­­­ sleep by 10 P.M

Be healthy, happy and holy -­­­­­ sleep by 10 P.M

10,665 Views / EMail This Post / Print This Post / Home » Be healthy, happy and holy -­­­­­ sleep by 10 P.M

By HH Mahanidhi Swami

This short essay based on scientific research, is presented to help aspiring Krsna devotees recognise the need to take rest early each night (latest by 10 p. m.) and to rise by 4 a. m. each morning in order to chant the Hare Krsna Mahamantra and attain the perfection of human life.

Special thanks goes to Kirti Mataji for I-net researching the topic of sleep and providing the printed scientific reports and conclusions which form the basis of this article. After conducting hundreds of experiments on sleep and health, the world's leading scientists have discovered that to keep optimum health, one should sleep early and rise before sunrise. The best hours of sleep for your body are between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m. going to bed at 11 p. m., 12 p. m. or 1 p. m. is extremely harmful to human health, and is a direct cause of many modern "killer diseases" such as heart disease and cancer.

Nature acts and moves according to precise rhythm cycles influenced by the rotation of the earth, sun and moon. Daily the sun rises and sets, the seasons come and go, the moon waxes and wanes, and the ocean tides rise and fall. The function of sleeping and wakefulness is part of this natural rhythm. In Nature, one finds that the animals and plants are awake and asleep in tune with these rhythms. human beings also have natural rhythms.

Our human bodies, like Mother Nature, function according to natural cycles, body rhythms commonly called the internal body clock or the biological clock. Disruptions of the natural functions of our biological clock due to improper habits and incorrect sleeping patterns cause many different diseases. When our bodies are out of balance and not functioning in harmony with nature, nothing seems to feel right. This is because hormones, chemicals and neurotransmitters that determine our energy levels, vitality, and how we feel, sleep and eat are out of sync. In other words, we are imbalanced and out of tune with our biological clock and going against the natural harmony established by mother nature. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, as seen in Indian villages fifty years ago, people would go to bed shortly after sunset, as most animals do and which Nature intended for humans as well. The best hours of sleep for your body are the hours of 10 p. m. – 6 a. m.

These hours and what your body is naturally programmed to do during these hours (see chart below), are governed by the movements of the sun and the 24-hour natural rhythm cycle of your internal body clock – both of which are beyond your control. During these times (10 p. m. –6 a. m.), human body is designed to be at a state of rest, repair, detoxification (elimination of waste products and poisons) and rejuvenation. Our bodies are produced by Mother Nature. If we act foolishly and go against the natural order and design of our body, we will pay the price by getting various diseases and problems. For example, if your body is overtaxed digesting a heavy late meal or you are up late (after 10 p. m.) working, playing, watching TV or computer, your vital body energy is focused there and not available for rest and rejuvenation. The biological clock and your internal organs The main internal organs of your body work according to a "Time Schedule". Knowing how your body works can help you regulate your schedule in order to attain the optimum level of health and well-being.

9.00 p. m. – 11.00 p. m. : At this time, your body eliminates toxic chemicals from the immune system (lymph nodes).**It is best to be sound asleep by 9 p. m. or 10 p. m. for your body to properly execute this important function.
11.00 p. m. – 1.00 a. m. : This is the time your liver eliminates poisons and rejuvenates itself.**It is best to be sound asleep by 9 p. m. or 10 p. m. for your body to properly execute this important function. 12.00 midnight – 4.00 a. m. : this is the time your bone marrow produces blood.**
1.00 a. m. – 3.00 a. m. : This is the time your gall bladder eliminates toxins and rejuvenates itself.**
3.00 a. m. – 5.00 a. m. : This is the time your lungs eliminate toxins and rejuvenate themselves.**
5.00 a. m. – 7.00 a. m. : This is the time your colon eliminates poisons and rejuvenates itself. This is the proper time to empty your bowel.**
7.00 a. m. – 9.00 a. m. : This is the time that vitamins, minerals, proteins and nutrients are absorbed in your small intestines. You should definitely eat breakfast at this time.** Global scientists have concluded that everybody should go to bed early (falling asleep by 10 p. m.) to obtain Quality Sleep, which will ensure proper physical regeneration. When you co-operate with your internal biological clock and allow Nature to take her course, you will feel refreshed, joyful and energized when you wake up (by 4 a. m., of course!). Going to bed before 10 p. m. is essential to keep the human body in tune with Nature and to remain healthy, happy and holy. material scientists have concluded that the average human being needs 8 hours of sleep per day, which is best obtained by sleeping between 10 p. m. – 6 a. m. when you follow the spiritual path, however, by eating sattvik vegetarian Krsna prasada, your body becomes sanctified. And by chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra and engaging in Krsna's devotion, your mind becomes purified, pacified and relaxed. Although, most people require 8 hours daily sleep, Krsna devotees usually only need
6 hours daily rest to maintain ideal health because their spiritual practices produce tremendous physical and mental peace, purity and internal harmony.

Besides, all sincere devotees want to follow the teachings of the scriptures and saints like his Divine grace Srila Prabhupada, who said, "In this Krsna conscious movement, we request everyone to rise early in the morning by Four A. M." (NOI Pg. 34). Someone may think the Srila Prabhupada phrase, "Krsna conscious movement" refers only to ISKCON temples and the devotees living therein, and it does not apply to anyone living outside the temples in their own homes or apartments. This is incorrect! Actually, Srila Prabhupada is saying that "Everyone should rise by 4 a. m."

In other words, if you are conscious, alive and serious about moving towards Krsna and attaining pure love of God then you are, regardless of where you live, in the Krsna conscious movement. Aspiring practitioners of Krsna consciousness and initiated devotees should remember that rising by 4 a. m. and chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra between 4 a. m. and 7 a. m. is an absolute requirement. Everyone must follow this golden rule to be mentally happy and progress nicely in spiritual life. It is a fact – early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise. of course, to rise by 4 a. m or before, you must sleep early. Practice makes perfect.

You have to try sincerely to change your schedule and work towards this goal of taking rest at 10 p. m. and rising at 4 a. m. We hope this short essay will help the devotees understand the extreme importance of sleeping and rising early in order to realize the full potential of this rare and valuable form of human life. Our heartfelt desire is that each and everyone of you will live long healthy life full of Krsna conscious happiness, and attain the ultimate perfection of Radha Govinda's eternal loving service in the groves of Vrndavana.

Scientific tips for good rest

1. Cave – Like darkness: The bedroom should be pitch-black, so you can't even see your hand in front of your face, which means no bright lights, clock lights or any light coming in from the windows. why? When we sleep in total darkness, the human brain produces a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is an important antioxidant which protects our DNA structure and prevents cancer. Tests prove that even a small amount of light hitting the skin almost immediately shuts off the production of melatonin. Therefore, scientists say, never turn on the light should you need to get up from sleep and go to the toilet. And as everyone knows, black (Syama) is beautiful!
2. Daily go outside and get natural sunlight: This helps regulate your biological clock and increases the production of melatonin, which promotes well-balanced sleeping patterns.
3. Daily exercise: At least thirty minutes a day will help improve the quality of your sleep.
4. Avoid bright lights: One should avoid keeping bright lights on inside the house before going to bed. At this time, bright light hitting the eye disrupts the bio-rhythm of the pineal gland and shuts off your melatonin production.
5. Hot shower before bed: This relaxes the body and helps you fall asleep quickly.
6. Sleep as early as possible: You should be in bed and asleep by 10 p. m.
7. Wear Socks to Bed.
8. the bedroom should be free from electromagnetic field: Do not keep a TV, computer or any other electronic item in your bedroom because they create strong electromagnetic field which disrupts the quality of your sleep.
9. Fresh Air: Open the window at least a crack to get fresh air to circulate while sleeping.
10. Avoid fluids: Do not drink any fluids two hours before sleep.
11. Sleep Regulation: Get up and go to sleep at the same time everyday. If you are up late one night, still rise at your usual time and nap later in the day.
12. Daytime Nap: If one needs to take a nap in the day, it should not be longer than one hour for optimal rejuvenation, rest and repair. If you nap longer, it will disrupt the night-time sleep quality.
13. Avoid Noise: Because it disrupts sleep.
14. Hot Water Bottle: To relieve tension and anxiety, place a hot water bottle between the navel and the bottom of your ribcage.
15. Head Massage: To relax before sleeping.
16. Foot Rub: Rub ghee or sesame oil on the bottom of your feet and promote restful sleep.
17. Read Sastras: Everyone knows that reading Srimad Bhagavatam or chanting Hare Krsna is a guaranteed method of instant sleep!!


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

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Words of Wisdom - Chanakya Pandit

Chapter 11

9. He who for one year eats his meals silently (inwardly meditating upon the Lord's prasadam); attains to the heavenly planets for a thousand crore of years. ( Note: one crore equals ten million)

10. The student (brahmacari) should completely renounce the following eight things -- his lust, anger, greed, desire for sweets, sense of decorating the body, excessive curiosity, excessive sleep, and excessive endeavour for bodily maintenance.

12. He alone is a true brahmana (dvija or "twice-born") who is satisfied with one meal a day, who has the six samskaras (or acts of purification such as garbhadhana, etc.) performed for him, and who cohabits with his wife only once in a month on an auspicious day after her menses.

13. The brahmana who is engrossed in worldly affairs, brings up cows and is engaged in trade is really called a vaishya.

16. The brahmana who destroys a pond, a well, a tank, a garden and a temple is called amleccha.

17. The brahmana who steals the property of the Deities and the spiritual preceptor, who cohabits with another's wife, and who maintains himself by eating anything and everything s called a chandala.

18. The meritorious should give away in charity all that they have in excess of their needs. By charity only Karna, Bali and King Vikramaditya survive even today. Just see the plight of the honeybees beating their legs in despair upon the earth. They are saying to themselves, "Alas! We neither enjoyed our stored-up honey nor gave it in charity, and now someone has taken it from us in an instant."


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

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The enemies conquering the city(the subtle and gross body where the resident-soul lives) by their strategic positions.

There are six thieves within us who are always putting us in difficult situation by their demands. Actual victory for the self is not something that is gained by waging war among our 
neighboring house holders or other countries but to overcome the forces of these thieves within and conquer them who are located at their strategic positions in mind, senses and intelligence 
just like the warriors position themselves to attack the enemies.

Oh Vaishnava,ocean of mercy,Teach me to control the six
passions,rectify my six faults,give me six positive qualities,offer me
the six kinds of holy association

The six passions are of
1.words
2.mind
3.anger
4.tongue
5.stomach
6.genitals

The six positive qualities are
1.Enthusiasm in practicing Devotional Service
2.Firm faith in Devotional processes
3.A strong desire to attain Prema-Bhakti
4.A favourable Service attitude
5.Avoidance of non-devotees-asat sanga tyaga
6.Appreciation of the company of devotees-sat sanga

The six faults are
1.Overeating
2.Attachment2material things
3.Inability to follow the regulative principles
4.Sense gratification
5.Useless idle talk
6.Impure habits.

The six methods of association are
1.To go to the assembly of devotees
2.To invite devotees to one's home
3.To discuss and hear Devotional topics-sharing secrets
4.To take the maha-prasadam of devotees
5.To offer maha-prasadam to devotees
6.Accepting and receiving gifts among devotees

-Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura in Oye Vaishnava Thakura,Stanza#2,Saranagati

--
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Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

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The legs which do not move to the holy places [where the Lord is remembered] are considered to be like tree trunks.

The eyes which do not look at the symbolic representations of the Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu [His forms, name, quality, etc.] are like those printed on the plumes of the peacock, and the legs which do not move to the holy places [where the Lord is remembered] are considered to be like tree trunks.

 Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.3.22


The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord's pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the tulasī leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.



Yours
Dinesh

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Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain

 Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 6.20-23

yatroparamate cittaḿ

niruddhaḿ yoga-sevayā

yatra caivātmanātmānaḿ

paśyann ātmani tuṣyati

sukham ātyantikaḿ yat tad

buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam

vetti yatra na caivāyaḿ

sthitaś calati tattvataḥ

yaḿ labdhvā cāparaḿ lābhaḿ

manyate nādhikaḿ tataḥ

yasmin sthito na duḥkhena

guruṇāpi vicālyate

taḿ vidyād duḥkha-saḿyoga-

viyogaḿ yoga-saḿjñitam

SYNONYMS

yatra — in that state of affairs where; uparamate — cease (because one feels transcendental happiness); cittam — mental activities; niruddham — being restrained from matter; yoga-sevayā — by performance ofyogayatra — in which; ca — also; eva — certainly; ātmanā — by the pure mind; ātmānam — the self; paśyan — realizing the position of; ātmani — in the self; tuṣyati — one becomes satisfied; sukham — happiness;ātyantikam — supreme; yat — which; tat — that; buddhi — by intelligence; grāhyam — accessible; atīndriyam — transcendental; vetti — one knows; yatra — wherein; na — never; ca — also; eva — certainly; ayam— hesthitaḥ — situated; calati — moves; tattvataḥ — from the truth; yam — that which; labdhvā — by attainment; ca — also; aparam — any other; lābham — gain; manyate — considers; na — never; adhikam —moretataḥ — than that; yasmin — in which; sthitaḥ — being situated; na — never; duḥkhena — by miseries; guruṇā api — even though very difficult; vicālyate — becomes shaken; tam — that; vidyāt — you must know; duḥkha-saḿyoga — of the miseries of material contact; viyogam — extermination; yoga-saḿjñitam — called trance in yoga.

TRANSLATION

In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.

PURPORT

By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts. This is the primary characteristic of the yoga principle. And after this, one becomes situated in trance, or samādhi, which means that the yogī realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence, without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself. Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patañjali system. Some unauthorized commentators try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation, but they do not understand the real purpose of the Patañjali system of yoga. There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patañjali system, but the monists do not accept this transcendental pleasure, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness. The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the nondualist, but in this verse transcendental pleasure — realized through transcendental senses — is accepted. And this is corroborated by Patañjali Muni, the famous exponent of the yoga system. The great sage declares in his Yoga-sūtras (3.34): puruṣārtha-śūnyānāḿ guṇānāḿ pratiprasavaḥ kaivalyaḿ svarūpa-pratiṣṭhā  citi-śaktir iti.

This citi-śakti, or internal potency, is transcendental. Puruṣārtha means material religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme. This "oneness with the Supreme" is called kaivalyam by the monist. But according to Patañjali, this kaivalyam is an internal, or transcendental, potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position. In the words of Lord Caitanya, this state of affairs is called ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], or clearance of the impure mirror of the mind. This "clearance" is actually liberation, or bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam. The theory of nirvāṇa — also preliminary — corresponds with this principle. In the Bhāgavatam (2.10.6) this is called svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ. The Bhagavad-gītā also confirms this situation in this verse.

After nirvāṇa, or material cessation, there is the manifestation of spiritual activities, or devotional service to the Lord, known as Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In the words of the Bhāgavatamsvarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ: this is the "real life of the living entity." Māyā, or illusion, is the condition of spiritual life contaminated by material infection. Liberation from this material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity. Patañjali also accepts this by his words kaivalyaḿ svarūpa-pratiṣṭhā  citi-śaktir iti. This citi-śakti, or transcendental pleasure, is real life. This is confirmed in the Vedānta-sūtra (1.1.12) as ānanda-mayo 'bhyāsāt. This natural transcendental pleasure is the ultimate goal of yoga and is easily achieved by execution of devotional service, or bhakti-yogaBhakti-yoga will be vividly described in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā.

In the yoga system, as described in this chapter, there are two kinds of samādhi, called samprajñāta-samādhi and asamprajñāta-samādhi. When one becomes situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches, he is said to have achieved samprajñāta-samādhi. In the asamprajñāta-samādhi there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses. When the yogī is once situated in that transcendental position, he is never shaken from it. Unless the yogī is able to reach this position, he is unsuccessful. Today's so-called yogapractice, which involves various sense pleasures, is contradictory. A yogī indulging in sex and intoxication is a mockery. Even those yogīs who are attracted by the siddhis (perfections) in the process of yoga are not perfectly situated. If yogīs are attracted by the by-products of yoga, then they cannot attain the stage of perfection, as is stated in this verse. Persons, therefore, indulging in the make-show practice of gymnastic feats or siddhis should know that the aim of yoga is lost in that way.

The best practice of yoga in this age is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is not baffling. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is so happy in his occupation that he does not aspire after any other happiness. There are many impediments, especially in this age of hypocrisy, to practicing haṭha-yogadhyāna-yoga and jñāna-yoga, but there is no such problem in executing karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga.

As long as the material body exists, one has to meet the demands of the body, namely eating, sleeping, defending and mating. But a person who is in pure bhakti-yoga, or in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, does not arouse the senses while meeting the demands of the body. Rather, he accepts the bare necessities of life, making the best use of a bad bargain, and enjoys transcendental happiness in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He is callous toward incidental occurrences — such as accidents, disease, scarcity and even the death of a most dear relative — but he is always alert to execute his duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or bhakti-yoga. Accidents never deviate him from his duty. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.14), āgamāpāyino 'nityās tāḿs titikṣasva bhārata. He endures all such incidental occurrences because he knows that they come and go and do not affect his duties. In this way he achieves the highest perfection in yoga practice.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness


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Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Glories to Srimad Bhagavatam!

Song Name: Sarva Sastrabdhi Piyusa

Official Name: Obeisance 107 Verses 412 to 416

Author: Sanatana Goswami

Book Name: Krsna Lila Stava

Language: Sanskrit

 

LYRICS:

(1)

sarva-śāstrābdhi-pīyūṣa sarva-vedaika-sat-phala

sarva-siddhānta-ratnāḍhya sarva-lokaika-dṛk-prada

 

(2)

sarva-bhāgavata-prāṇa śrīmad-bhāgavata-prabho

kali-dhvāntoditāditya śrī-kṛṣṇa-parivartita

 

(3)

paramānanda-pāṭhāya prema-varṣy-akṣarāya te

sarvadā sarva-sevyāya śrī-kṛṣṇāya namo'stu me

 

(4)

mad-eka-bandho mat-sańgin mad-guro man-mahā-dhana

man-nistāraka mad-bhāgya mad-ānanda namo'stu te

 

(5)

asādhu-sādhutā-dāyin atinīcocca-tākara

 na muñca kadācin māḿ premṇā hṛt-kaṇṭhayoḥ sphura

 

TRANSLATION

1-2) O Srimad-Bhagavatam, O nectar churned form the ocean of all the Vedic scriptures, O most prominent transcendental fruit of all the Vedas, O you who are enriched with the jewels of all spiritual philosophical conclusions, O you who grant spiritual vision to all the people of the world; O life-breath of the Vaisnava devotees, O Lord, You are the sun which has arisen to dispel the darkness of the Kali yuga. You are actually Krsna Who has returned (among us).

 

3) Srimad-Bhagavatam, I offer respectful obeisances unto You. By reading you one attains transcendental bliss, for Your syllables rain pure love of God upon the reader. You are always to be served by everyone, for you are an incarnation of Krsna.

 

4) O Srimad-Bhagavatam, O my only friend, O my companion, O my teacher, O my great wealth, O my deliverer, O my good fortune, O my bliss, I offer respectful obeisances unto you.

 

5) O Srimad-Bhagavatam, O giver of saintliness to the unsaintly, O uplifter of the very fallen, please do not ever leave me. Please become manifested upon my heart and my throat, accompanied by pure love of Krsna.

 


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Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Serve either Krishna or Maya

The conditioned souls being the marginal potency of the Supreme Lod always have a choice to make as to whether one has to serve Krishna
or serve the inferiior energy which is mind, senses, body and the material elements. Even though one is thinking that he is enjoying the material senses,
 actually he(the soul is only experiencing and witnessing) but the soul is accountable for his attachment or engaging the senses with sense objects and has to
either experience pain or pleasure.

Even after instructing the whole Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, Krishna finally says that I have told whatever you have to know, now it is your decision to act upon your 
will. Arjuna wisely changed his will to the will of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Initially he wanted to act according to his whims of the mind. But later He understood 
the reality and made appropriate choice. So we always have this free will and we can choose to serve our mind, senses and body or serve the Supreme will of the Lord.
Even if there is a slight neglect when in human form of life, we have to suffer for aeons in the cycle of repeated birth and death in various species of life. The best example is 
the story of Jada Bharata who renounced the whole kingdom and family but finally got attached to a deer and forgot his real position and relation to the Supreme Lord and forgot 
his duty to act according to the will of the Lord. But Jada Bharata has already performed devotional service prior to his getting attached to the deer and that has saved him from 
his conditional attachment to the deer. In our case we have nt done anything so we have to be careful in executing the duties according to the will of the Lord and with His protection 
we can make steady progress.

Quote Starts:

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 5.8-9

naiva kiñcit karomīti

yukto manyeta tattva-vit

paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann

aśnan gacchan svapan śvasan

pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann

unmiṣan nimiṣann api

indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu

vartanta iti dhārayan

SYNONYMS

na — never; eva — certainly; kiñcit — anything; karomi — I doiti — thus; yuktaḥ — engaged in the divine consciousness; manyeta — thinks; tattva-vit — one who knows the truth; paśyan — seeing; śṛṇvan — hearing; spṛśan — touching; jighran — smelling; aśnan — eating; gacchan — going; svapan — dreaming; śvasan — breathing; pralapan — talking; visṛjan — giving up; gṛhṇan — accepting; unmiṣan — opening; nimiṣan — closing; api — in spite of; indriyāṇi — the senses;indriya-artheṣu — in sense gratification; vartante — let them be so engaged; iti — thus; dhārayan — considering.

TRANSLATION


A person in the divine consciousness, although engaged in seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving about, sleeping and breathing, always knows within himself that he actually does nothing at all. Because while speaking, evacuating, receiving, or opening or closing his eyes, he always knows that only the material senses are engaged with their objects and that he is aloof from them.

PURPORT

A person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is pure in his existence, and consequently he has nothing to do with any work which depends upon five immediate and remote causes: the doer, the work, the situation, the endeavor and fortune. This is because he is engaged in the loving transcendental service of Kṛṣṇa. Although he appears to be acting with his body and senses, he is always conscious of his actual position, which is spiritual engagement. In material consciousness, the senses are engaged in sense gratification, but in Kṛṣṇa consciousness the senses are engaged in the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa's senses. Therefore, the Kṛṣṇaconscious person is always free, even though he appears to be engaged in affairs of the senses. Activities such as seeing and hearing are actions of the senses meant for receiving knowledge, whereas moving, speaking, evacuating, etc., are actions of the senses meant for work. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is never affected by the actions of the senses. He cannot perform any act except in the service of the Lord because he knows that he is the eternal servitor of the Lord.


Buy Online Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Quote ends
--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Chanting in between words

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by hina on 12/8/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

We hear about some of the acaryas and what amazing personalities there were. For years, we heard about Srila Prabhupada's god-brother, Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. He was the only disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura who was given 'babaji' by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Well, the babajis are really meant to get involved in bhajan while the sannyasis preach. When you are preaching you don't always have time for bhajan; that is a fact!

But the babajis they withdraw from preaching and get absorbed in bhajan. Somehow or other, I never met Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. But then this time (while in India), somehow I got a tape, a recording of a conversation between Prabhupada and Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. And it was very interesting because on this tape, there was a conversation going on and Akincana Krsna Das Babaji was just constantly chanting Hare Krsna and in between he would speak words. He would say something like:

'Well, they want to… Krsna Krsna… to go to such and such place… Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.'

He was chanting in between words, at all times, just putting in the maha-mantra constantly. It was impressive and he was very impressive. I had heard before that he was always chanting but then, on the tape you could hear how he was always chanting, even in between speaking.

That day, it was easier to chant kartik rounds… by just hearing someone like that who is so absorbed in chanting, then immediately my chanting also became surcharged with energy!


 
 

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From moment to moment

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by hina on 11/30/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

Spiritual life is interesting because we are meant to surrender and come to a point where we commit for a lifetime. But how can we commit for a lifetime when we don't know what a lifetime is going to do to us? A lifetime comes with endless surprises! How can we see over a lifetime? So, how can one think: 'I'm going to give my life, is it realistic?'

Yes, we think we are going to give our life and then we can only deal with it from moment to moment. So, this moment is for Krsna, 'All right got this one in.'

The next moment is also for Krsna and each time again, we have to choose for Krsna. Of course, sometimes we choose a little more for Krsna and at other times a little less. Sometimes, we choose for Krsna whole-heartedly with enthusiasm and at other times we choose for Krsna routinely, with a half-hearted attempt. But even with a half-hearted attempt, at least we choose for Krsna. Of course with a half-hearted attempt, it is like opening the window on a cold-stormy-rainy Cape Town day – you're going to get some water inside, that's for sure.

So, a half-hearted attempt is a bit like that, you're going to get wet anyway and then later on, we have to mop it all up. Hare Krsna, Krsna, Krsna… Struggle, struggle again, until everything gets a little dry and then we get more inspired. So like this, it is not free of struggle but that mercy is very much there and around us and entering into our life more and more, and the relationship with that mercy is deepening  with time. And even if we cannot do everything, it does not matter, the mercy just enters into our life!


 
 

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Remembering Krsna – part 1

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by hina on 11/29/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

I have very little capacity when it comes to sādhana-bhakti or devotional service in practice. My capacity is not very great.

That is of course not uncommon because after all:

'prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya
kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ
mandāḥ sumanda-matayo
manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ,' (SB 1.1.10)

It says that in the age of Kali, everyone's capacity is very small and everyone is always disturbed. So I'm trying not to be. I'm trying to absorb myself in thoughts of Krsna and in remembering that Krsna is the Supreme Lord. I'm trying to remember that the material world is not really important. I'm trying to remember that whatever happens here is very secondary. So, all the so-called ups and downs in life, I'm trying to remember that they are actually very insignificant. The real thing is the spiritual world and whatever goes on in my relationship with Krsna is what I'm trying to remember. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, sometimes I'm remembering with great relish and great inspiration. Sometimes I'm remembering while the waves of material existence are tossing me around, I'm still remembering but also feeling the intensity of the waves of the material life, and in this way, I'm remembering Krsna at different points in time.


 
 

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On blindly following tradition

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by Ragalekha on 12/7/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 September 2012, Pretoria, South Africa, Initiation lecture)

There is a story which I like to tell. It is about a marriage ceremony and during the marriage ceremony everything was arranged perfectly. You know how people get into their marriages. It was this big thing and everything was there at the last minute. And then… suddenly… believe it or not… a black cat (appeared)… oh my God… black of all colours… a black cat… bad luck… inauspicious! So, what to do?

It was at the very last minute. So, the lady who was actually supervising the whole arrangement, the mother of the bride, she just grabbed an empty basket which was used for flowers and put it on top of that cat. And the cat was under basket for the whole ceremony and didn't meow once! Everything went fine. It was a great ceremony.

Thirty years later, it was the brides turn to arrange for the marriage of her own daughter. She made all the arrangements and everything, and then the last inspection… and then, oh my God… we forgot one thing… WE NEED A BLACK CAT! Then they quickly brought a black cat and put it under a basket. Since that time, in every ritual there is a black cat!

 

About the picture: After Kadamba Kanana Swami told this story in Melbourne, the devotees "followed the tradition" at a wedding that took place there. However, they could not find a fully black cat!

 


 
 

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