via GLORIOUS KRISHNA by Jyoti & Vidya on 2/11/12

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.20

prasangam ajaram pasam
atmanah kavayo viduh
sa eva sadhusu krto
moksa-dvaram apavrtam

Translation: Every learned man knows very well that attachment for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation.
Here it is clearly stated that attachment for one thing is the cause of bondage in conditioned life, and the same attachment, when applied to something else, opens the door of liberation. Attachment cannot be killed; it has simply to be transferred. Attachment for material things is called material consciousness, and attachment for Kṛṣṇa or His devotee is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Consciousness, therefore, is the platform of attachment. It is clearly stated here that when we simply purify the consciousness from material consciousness to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we attain liberation. Despite the statement that one should give up attachment, desirelessness is not possible for a living entity. A living entity, by constitution, has the propensity to be attached to something. We see that if someone has no object of attachment, if he has no children, then he transfers his attachment to cats and dogs. This indicates that the propensity for attachment cannot be stopped; it must be utilized for the best purpose. Our attachment for material things perpetuates our conditional state, but the same attachment, when transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotee, is the source of liberation.

Here it is recommended that attachment should be transferred to the self-realized devotees, the sādhus. And who is a sādhu? A sādhu is not just an ordinary man with a saffron robe or long beard. A sādhu is described in Bhagavad-gītā as one who unflinchingly engages in devotional service. Even though one is found not to be following the strict rules and regulations of devotional service, if one simply has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, he is understood to be a sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30]. A sādhu is a strict follower of devotional service. It is recommended here that if one at all wants to realize Brahman, or spiritual perfection, his attachment should be transferred to the sādhu, or devotee. Lord Caitanya also confirmed this. Lava matra sadhu sangasarva-siddhi haya: [Cc. Madhya 22.54] simply by a moment's association with a sādhu, one can attain perfection.

Mahātmā is a synonym of sādhu. It is said that service to a mahātmā, or elevated devotee of the Lord, is dvāram āhur vimukteḥ, the royal road of liberation. Rendering service to the materialists has the opposite effect. If anyone offers service to a gross materialist, or a person engaged only in sense enjoyment, then by association with such a person the door to hell is opened. The same principle is confirmed here. Attachment to a devotee is attachment to the service of the Lord because if one associates with a sādhu, the result will be that the sādhu will teach him how to become a devotee, a worshiper and a sincere servitor of the Lord. These are the gifts of a sādhu. If we want to associate with a sādhu, we cannot expect him to give us instructions on how to improve our material condition, but he will give us instructions on how to cut the knot of the contamination of material attraction and how to elevate ourselves in devotional service. That is the result of associating with a sādhu. Kapila Muni first of all instructs that the path of liberation begins with such association.

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via GLORIOUS KRISHNA by Jyoti & Vidya on 2/13/12

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

via GLORIOUS KRISHNA by Jyoti & Vidya on 2/13/12

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

via GLORIOUS KRISHNA by Jyoti & Vidya on 2/15/12

In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna tells to Arjuna that there are three gates leading to hell - " Lust, Anger & Greed." The hell not only refers to suffering on hellish planets after quitting the present body, but it also means our present condition of life will become a misery. The cycle of our misery begins from simple contemplation on the objects of the senses through which we develop attachment for them and then develops lust. Unfulilled lust grows into Anger and the chain continues to finally making us rotate in 8,400,000 species of life.

However, if we analyze our daily life we can find that at every moment we find a provoking situation which will develop into anger finally. I can recall hearing about an incident which happened a few years ago, in which there was a small tiff between a motorbike driver and a pick-up driver. In that anger, the pick-up driver got very furious on the motorbike driver and in a second of anger, he turned his wheel and hit the motorbike. Within seconds, the man on the motorbike was dead and the pick-up driver was punished with imprisonment, ofcourse because he had used his vehicle to kill a person. However, the footnote would be that one moment of anger can ruin a person's life. The motorbike person lost his life, and the pick-up driver was imprisoned and his three children and wife were left to suffer the consequences.

So what is the solution?

Tams titksasva Bharata. Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita advises Arjuna to tolerate all dualities of happiness and distress that arise from sense perception as it is all like the appearance and disappearance of summer and winter seasons and is temporary. All things must pass. It means to practice forbearance, tolerance and restraint in face of provoking situations. Learning to tolerate when someone provokes us. This is a sign of advancement in spiritual life when we step back in provoking situations and forgive. Philosophical understanding that we are not this body and whatever we are getting, good and bad, is coming to us by our karma helps us to be tolerant. Srila Prabhupada commented to one devotee, 'Do not hate the instrument of your karma.'

When we understand that we really have no connection with this body, we can then remain unaffected like a lotus being unaffected although remaining in water. But when we attach ourselves to the happenings, we can sink deep into the whirlpool of false ego and get bound up completely and cannot see our real self. For example; if we do a big project and the person presenting our project to people, passes us by and does not mention our name, we get impatient and disturbed. This is a sign of the false-ego which is holding us. Our false ego says that 'I want my name on it. It is all my hard-work.' Such a mentality can never take us back to our real goal which is connecting with the Supreme Lord as think ourself as the 'doer'. Lord Krishna hints to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita that when one reaches a level, where we are not feeding our false ego, we can perceive the Supersoul. When we live on a level where all our activities are done not to impress ourself, our family, our society, our country but done to impress Krishna, then we can advance.

When we acknowledge that we are servants of Krishna and He owns everything (Bhoktaram yajna tapasam) then we can actually attain peace. When He owns everything, He even owns our problems. Someone might say, if Krishna owns our problems then why do we suffer? The reply is because we identfy with this body and are attached to our false ego of I and Mine.  We suffer when we allow the mind and senses to rule us. We have to therefore learn to practice forbearance and detachment and this comes by hearing from the Dhira (Sober Persons realized in knowledge). The only sober persons are the ones who are realized in knowledge - the pure devotees of Krishna.

As confimred by Lord Krishna - Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyante; Vasudeva sarvam iti sa-mahatma su durlabhah: After many births and deaths, he who is actually 'realized in knowledge' knowing Vasudeva to be the all in all, surrenders unto Me. Such a great soul is very rare.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Astrology can help you become more successful in life, but if you fail to approach this science with the right mood, or if you seek advice from unqualified astrologers, your involvement with astrology can make your life truly miserable.

Learn about the dangers of dabbling in astrology without grasping its real meaning and purpose.