Sita Ram

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In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion

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"There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we should honor and keep pictures in that spirit.

If we throw pictures this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world.

In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion."

(Srila Prabhupada letter, September 4, 1972)

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Never associate with an attractive woman(vice-versa also holds true)

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Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.31.39

sańgaḿ na kuryāt pramadāsu jātuyogasya pāraḿ param ārurukṣuḥmat-sevayā pratilabdhātma-lābhovadanti yā niraya-dvāram asya

SYNONYMS

sańgam — association; na — not; kuryāt — one should make; pramadāsu — with women; jātu — ever; yogasya — of yoga; pāram — culmination; param — topmost; ārurukṣuḥ — one who aspires to reach; mat-sevayā — by rendering service unto Me; pratilabdha — obtained; ātma-lābhaḥ — self-realization; vadanti — they say; yāḥ — which women; niraya — to hell; dvāram — the gateway; asya — of the advancing devotee.

TRANSLATION

One who aspires to reach the culmination of yoga and has realized his self by rendering service unto Me should never associate with an attractive woman, for such a woman is declared in the scripture to be the gateway to hell for the advancing devotee.

PURPORT by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The culmination of yoga is full Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is affirmed in Bhagavad-gītā: a person who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa in devotion is the topmost of all yogīs. And in the Second Chapter of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is also stated that when one becomes freed from material contamination by rendering devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can at that time understand the science of God.

Here the word pratilabdhātma-lābhaḥ occurs. Ātmā means "self," and lābha means "gain." Generally, conditioned souls have lost their ātmā, or self, but those who are transcendentalists have realized the self. It is directed that such a self-realized soul who aspires to the topmost platform of yogic perfection should not associate with young women. In the modern age, however, there are so many rascals who recommend that while one has genitals he should enjoy women as much as he likes, and at the same time he can become a yogī.

In no standard yoga system is the association of women accepted. It is clearly stated here that the association of women is the gateway to hellish life. The association of woman is very much restricted in the Vedic civilization. Out of the four social divisions, the brahmacārī, vānaprastha and the sannyāsī — three orders — are strictly prohibited from the association of women; only the gṛhasthas, or householders, are given license to have an intimate relationship with a woman, and that relationship is also restricted for begetting nice children. If, however, one wants to stick to continued existence in the material world, he may indulge in unrestricted female association.

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Easy gender change, illusion, liberation!

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Doodle

Easy Gender Change, Illusion, Liberation!

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.31.41

yāḿ manyate patiḿ mohān
man-māyām ṛṣabhāyatīm
strītvaḿ strī-sańgataḥ prāpto
vittāpatya-gṛha-pradam

SYNONYMS

yām — which; manyate — she thinks; patim — her husband; mohāt — due to illusion; mat-māyām — My māyā; ṛṣabha — in the form of a man; āyatīm — coming; strītvam — the state of being a woman; strī-sańgataḥ — from attachment to a woman; prāptaḥ — obtained; vitta — wealth; apatya — progeny; gṛha — house; pradam — bestowing.

TRANSLATION

A living entity who, as a result of attachment to a woman in his previous life, has been endowed with the form of a woman, foolishly looks upon māyā in the form of a man, her husband, as the bestower of wealth, progeny, house and other material assets.

PURPORT by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

From this verse it appears that a woman is also supposed to have been a man in his (her) previous life, and due to his attachment to his wife, he now has the body of a woman. Bhagavad-gītā confirms this; a man gets his next life's birth according to what he thinks of at the time of death. If someone is too attached to his wife, naturally he thinks of his wife at the time of death, and in his next life he takes the body of a woman. Similarly, if a woman thinks of her husband at the time of death, naturally she gets the body of a man in the next life. In the Hindu scriptures, therefore, woman's chastity and devotion to man is greatly emphasized. A woman's attachment to her husband may elevate her to the body of a man in her next life, but a man's attachment to a woman will degrade him, and in his next life he will get the body of a woman.

We should always remember, as it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā, that both the gross and subtle material bodies are dresses; they are the shirt and coat of the living entity. To be either a woman or a man only involves one's bodily dress. The soul in nature is actually the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Every living entity, being classified as energy, is supposed to be originally a woman, or one who is enjoyed. In the body of a man there is a greater opportunity to get out of the material clutches; there is less opportunity in the body of a woman.

In this verse it is indicated that the body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life. A woman is generally fond of household prosperity, ornaments, furniture and dresses. She is satisfied when the husband supplies all these things sufficiently. The relationship between man and woman is very complicated, but the substance is that one who aspires to ascend to the transcendental stage of spiritual realization should be very careful in accepting the association of a woman. In the stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, such restriction of association may be slackened because if a man's and woman's attachment is not to each other but to Kṛṣṇa, then both of them are equally eligible to get out of the material entanglement and reach the abode of Kṛṣṇa. As it is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, anyone who seriously takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness — whether in the lowest species of life or a woman or of the less intelligent classes, such as the mercantile or laborer class — will go back home, back to Godhead, and reach the abode of Kṛṣṇa. A man should not be attached to a woman, nor should a woman be attached to a man. Both man and woman should be attached to the service of the Lord. Then there is the possibility of liberation from material entanglement for both of them.

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[granthraj] Lord is the Only Shelter

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Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is a beautiful prayer by Queen Uttara when Ashwathama shoots the Brahmastra weapon to kill the the baby in her womb.

uttarovaaca
paahi paahi mahaa-yogin / deva-deva jagat-pate
naanyam tvad abhayam pashye / yatra mrtyuh parasparam
Uttara said: "O Lord of Lords, Lord of the universe! You are the greatest of mystics. Please protect me, for there is no one else who can save me from the clutches of death in this world of duality." Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.9.

In the above pastime we see how Lord at once took up His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Him. In his wonderful purport to verse 1.8.13 His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada explains - "Ashwathama released the weapon just to finish all the male members of Pandu's family; therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it could penetrate even the most protected place and would never miss the target. Knowing all this, Lord Sri Krishna at once took up His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Krishna. In the Bhagavad-Gita the Lord has clearly promised that His devotees are never to be vanquished. And He behaves according to the quality or degree of the devotional service rendered by the devotees."

We have heard many pastimes wherein the Lord personally comes and helps immediately as soon as His devotees call. He immediately came to help King Gajendra, Draupadi, Kunti Maharani, Uttara, the Gopis, etc. The quality of all the devotees in the above pastimes is that all of them cried to the Lord and believed only Him to be the sole protector. They completely surrendered to the Lord 100%. So as and how we surrender unto Him, the all merciful Lord reciprocates according to the level of surrender. Lord loves all of us and He would definitely help us if we call Him devotionally. He is our only savior.

Following is one more instance which occured few hundred years ago in the life of a great devotee called Poonthanam. He was ardent devotee of Lord Guruvaayurappan (Lord Krishna). He led his life of 90 odd years reading the Bhagavatam and singing the Lord's glories in simple Malayalam, just to please the Lord. He used to walk about 100 kilometers to take darshan of Guruvaayurappan every month. The route to the temple was very dense and it was very unsafe to walk through that way even in the day light. Once on his way, in the forest he was attacked by some robbers. He gave them everything he had the money and his ring, still they were at him. They were after the small packet he was clinging to. It was his whole treasure the Bhagavatam book, which he did not want to part with. When Poonthanam said it was only a book, the thieves were not convinced. He closed his eyes and cried out for Lord's help. That lonely place was filled with the roars of the robbers and the loud Narayana chanting of Poonthanam.

Hearing the noise a man came on the horse and fought with those dacoits and got the money and the ring back for Poonthanam. He introduced himself as the minister of the Zamorin Raja who happened to be passing by. Poonthanam was very happy; he thanked the young man and offered him his ring as a gift. The minister accepted the gift and guided him up to the temple and disappeared. The same night, the head priest of the Guruvayur temple had a dream wherein he was told, "You will find a ring on the Deity. Give it to Poonthanam, who will come tomorrow." Quite miraculously, next morning when the head priest went to the temple to do the puja he saw a ring on Deity's finger. Poonthanam was promptly there at Guruvayur temple for darshan. Head priest came out from the Deity's room and gave Poonthanam the ring and told him what happened. Poonthanam was flabbergasted to see that the ring was his own, which he had presented to minister, the day before. He then realised that indeed it was his beloved Lord Guruvayurappan Himself, who came personally in the guise of a minister to rescue him.

Just like how Uddhava prays in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.9 'pashyaami naanyac charanam tavaanghri/ dvandvaatapatraad amrtaabhivarshaat', "I do not see any possible shelter other than Your two lotus feet, which are just like a refreshing umbrella that pours down showers of delicious nectar", we need to firmly trust that the Lord is the only shelter unconditionally.

Yashodanandana Balagopal ki jai, Srila Prabhupada ki jai, Srila Gurudeva ki jai.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sharadha Devi Dasi,
Bangalore.

--

Yours Servant

Dr. Satish Chander Gosain

--

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Sankhya and modes in Devotional Service

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>>> Lord Kapiladeva instructs His mother Devahuti in the following excerpts from the Srimad-Bhagavatam (the great sage Maitreya is originally narrating these events):

Devahūti inquired: My dear Lord, You have already very scientifically described the symptoms of the total material nature and the characteristics of the spirit according to the Sāńkhya system of philosophy. Now I shall request You to explain the path of devotional service, which is the ultimate end of all philosophical systems.Lord Kapila, the Personality of Godhead, replied: O noble lady, there are multifarious paths of devotional service in terms of the different qualities of the executor.Devotional service executed by a person who is envious, proud, violent and angry, and who is a separatist, is considered to be in the mode of darkness.The worship of Deities in the temple by a separatist, with a motive for material enjoyment, fame and opulence, is devotion in the mode of passion.When a devotee worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offers the results of his activities in order to free himself from the inebrieties of fruitive activities, his devotion is in the mode of goodness.The devotee should regularly see My statues in the temple, touch My lotus feet and offer worshipable paraphernalia and prayer. He should see in the spirit of renunciation, from the mode of goodness, and see every living entity as spiritual.

The pure devotee should execute devotional service by giving the greatest respect to the spiritual master and the ācāryas. He should be compassionate to the poor and make friendship with persons who are his equals, but all his activities should be executed under regulation and with control of the senses.

A devotee should always try to hear about spiritual matters and should always utilize his time in chanting the holy name of the Lord. His behavior should always be straightforward and simple, and although he is not envious but friendly to everyone, he should avoid the company of persons who are not spiritually advanced.Living entities are superior to inanimate objects, O blessed mother, and among them, living entities who display life symptoms are better. Animals with developed consciousness are better than them, and better still are those who have developed sense perception.

Among the living entities who have developed sense perception, those who have developed the sense of taste are better than those who have developed only the sense of touch. Better than them are those who have developed the sense of smell, and better still are those who have developed the sense of hearing.

Better than those living entities who can perceive sound are those who can distinguish between one form and another. Better than them are those who have developed upper and lower sets of teeth, and better still are those who have many legs. Better than them are the quadrupeds, and better still are the human beings.Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as brāhmaṇas, are best. Among the brāhmaṇas, one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the brāhmaṇas who have studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.

Better than the brāhmaṇa who knows the purpose of the Vedas is he who can dissipate all doubts, and better than him is one who strictly follows the brahminical principles. Better than him is one who is liberated from all material contamination, and better than him is a pure devotee, who executes devotional service without expectation of reward."Therefore I do not find a greater person than he who has no interest outside of Mine and who therefore engages and dedicates all his activities and all his life — everything — unto Me without cessation."--Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto, Chapter 29 (summarized)--

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Murmur of the heart

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My kitchen

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Sri Radha and Krishna kanniayya

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What is Knowledge and Ignorance , Part [BG.18.15]

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.18.15]

TEXT 22:
yat tu kritsna-vad ekasmin
karye saktam ahaitukam
atattvartha-vad alpam ca
tat tamasam udahritam

TRANSLATION:
And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.

PURPORT:
The "knowledge" of the common man is always in the mode of darkness or ignorance because every living entity in conditional life is born into the mode of ignorance. One who does not develop knowledge through the authorities or scriptural injunctions has knowledge that is limited to the body. He is not concerned about acting in terms of the directions of scripture. For him God is money, and knowledge means the satisfaction of bodily demands. Such knowledge has no connection with the Absolute Truth. It is more or less like the knowledge of the ordinary animals: the knowledge of eating, sleeping, defending and mating. Such knowledge is described here as the product of the mode of darkness. In other words, knowledge concerning the spirit soul beyond this body is called knowledge in the mode of goodness, knowledge producing many theories and doctrines by dint of mundane logic and mental speculation is the product of the mode of passion, and knowledge concerned only with keeping the body comfortable is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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For Your service I dare to commit countless offenses but for my sake I fear even thoughts of offending You- Govinda(Lord Caitanya's personal assistant)

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By Padyavali Devi Dasi
May 8

There was a very ecstatic kirtan with the Lord and His associates: the seven groups began chanting and beating their drums in seven directions,

and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began dancing in the center in great ecstatic love. People all around Him floated in the water of His tears.
Raising His two arms, the Lord said, "Chant! Chant!" Floating in transcendental bliss, the people responded by chanting... the holy name of Hari.
The Lord fell to the ground unconscious, not even breathing. Then suddenly He stood up, making a loud sound.

His transcendental bliss increased at every moment. Therefore even by mid-afternoon the dancing had not ended.
The ocean of transcendental bliss overflowed, and everyone present forgot his body, mind and home.
Then Lord Nityānanda found a way to end the kīrtana. He gradually stopped all the chanters.
Thus only one group continued chanting with Svarūpa Dāmodara, and they chanted very softly.
When there was no longer a tumultuous sound, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to external consciousness. Then Nityānanda Prabhu informed Him of the

fatigue of the chanters and dancers.

Understanding the fatigue of the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped the congregational chanting. Then He bathed in the sea, accompanied by them all.Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took prasādam with all of them and then asked them to return to their dwellings and take rest.Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhīrā, and Govinda came there to massage His legs.It was a steady, long-standing rule that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would come to massage His legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room, and therefore he made the following request.
Govinda said, "Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room."However, the Lord replied, "I don't have the strength to move My body."
Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied, "I cannot move My body."Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs."But the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind."

Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over His body and in this way entered the room by crossing over the Lord.
Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away.
As Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke.

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry. "Why have you been sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked.
"Why didn't you go to take your meal after I fell asleep?" the Lord asked.Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go."
The Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your lunch in the same way?"

Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell."I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self." Thinking in this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry.
It was Govinda's practice to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day, however, seeing the Lord's weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body.
There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of crossing over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense.

--CC Antya-lila 10.66-99--

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

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Krishna is the supreme goal of life

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Thought-a-Week

In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.

--Suta Gosvami

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.28.29

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