Ads

Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna

Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna
Gopis performing Devotional Service to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna

Vrindavan Meditations

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 1/8/12

"My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But your servant, Narada Muni, kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental postion. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I ever leave his service?" [ SB. 11.3.21 ]

 


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

My New Year's Resolution

Polish Festival to India......I wish to participate in this cosmic event!!!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 12/31/11

My New Year's resolution is to increase my service to my spiritual master 10-fold. So in the early hours of January 1st, I am off to Jaipur to ask the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, the beloved deities of Srila Rupa Goswami, to bring my Polish Festival Tour to India in 2012; lock,stock and barrel. When the pious people of this land see a professional, first-class and devotional display of their own culture by western devotees, surely it will melt their hearts and enshrine Krsna consciousness even more in this land of dharma. Srila Prabhupada wanted this, and there was never a better time. Please devotees, you also give your blessings! 

 

May my service to you increase unlimitedly throughout the year and forever more ...


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Thought-a-Week

Thought-a-Week
 

Actual speech is that which describes the qualities of the Lord, real hands are those that work for Him, a true mind is that which always remembers Him dwelling within everything moving and nonmoving and actual ears are those that listen to sanctifying topics about Him. 

 
--King Pariksit

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.80.3 


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

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Awakening that original hope!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/10/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30th Dec 2011, Munich, Germany) Lecture: Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi 9-48

Devotional service captures the heart. It awakens a long dormant hope. In our hearts there is always this dormant hope for happiness. Maybe once when we were children we thought, yes, we will find it, but we didn't. Then we became adult, and as adults we come through this point life when we realise:

"Well, you cannot always get what you want, and you have to settle for the reality and so on."

So we settle for compromise. But this fruit of love of God, or fruit of devotional service awakens that original hope! That actually it may be possible after all to be fully satisfied. It awakens the very natural desire in us!


Rating: 7.0/7 (1 vote cast)


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Anchoring our vows

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Yadurani on 12/28/11

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, Dec 2011, Cape Town, SA) We have to build a very solid spiritual life. Vows don't stand by themselves. Just like a pole put in the sand doesn't stand very firm unless it is anchored in a strong foundation. Either you have to anchor it with a big concrete block on the ground or you have to put lines on four sides to sort of anchor it otherwise with time it will fall over. So we find that the vows in spiritual life also need to be anchored; they need support lines and a foundation then the forces of material nature will not knock over these vows. So the interesting part is that what was sort of relatively easy in the beginning… In the beginning you follow these vows on the strength of determination and it works. Then as time goes on, you actually realise that you have to do more than you were doing before to maintain these vows. When we are advancing we think we have to do less, but no, we actually have to do more to maintain these vows with time. That's the interesting part and one has to put more and more into place.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

The power of bhakti

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Yadurani on 12/28/11

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, Dec 2011, Cape Town, SA) Karma can never overcome bhakti. There is no question that karma, at any point, can overcome bhakti. Bhakti is always more powerful than karma and no matter what can happen, bhakti can rise above.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Venus and Mars again

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Ragalekha on 12/29/11

Kadamba Kanana Swami
(22 December 2011, Cape Town, South Africa)

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.3-4

Affection and relationships should be there in our life. But of course, they shouldn't lead to illicit sex. That is the bottom line. As you know, accidents do happen. That is the nature of the senses and the mind, that where there is attachment to such sense gratification, somehow or other, when men and women come together… you just don't know how it happened! Somehow or other, it happened… and everybody could see it coming and could understand it's going to happen if you go on like this… because that natural attraction is there.

Srimad Bhagavatam has the butter and fire analogy where men are butter and women are fire. And when the butter comes near the fire, it melts… it always melts! Bramacharis are basically trying to keep the butter in the fridge so that it doesn't melt quickly so they have a whole fridge system there within their saffron cloth and bramachari practises.

Ladies in spiritual life are covering the fire. That's why they cover their heads and wear sarees which cover the body more than modern clothing. So they are trying to cover the fire.

We are not trying to blame anybody, like throw the blame on the women that they are mayadevis. The poor men are the victims and those women are nothing but trouble makers. That is a somewhat biased and wrong understanding of what the Vedic literatures are saying. However, the illusory power of the female body is very strong undoubtedly. They have this power of attraction more than males. Although males may be attractive still the male body is not as charming as the female body.

In spiritual life, we recognise that the beauty of a female body has a danger connected to it. A danger to entangle spirit souls, both men and women. The women themselves are also falling victim to their own beauty… it gives a certain power and it's kind of addictive and difficult to stop it. So devotees realise this and therefore keep a certain amount of reservation.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Looking for recognition

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Yadurani on 1/1/12

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 29 December 2011, Munich, Germany) As long as one has a desire for recognition that means we want to be glorified and then we cannot glorify Krsna. Then we cannot chant for very long; we chant for a short time and then we are waiting to finish these rounds. But the less we are looking for recognition for ourselves, the more we can chant and the more we can glorify Krsna. That's why in the third verse of the siksastakam, these two points are connected: one must be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree and one must be ready to offer all respects to others. Then one can chant the holy name constantly, kirtaniyah sada harih. So this is a great enemy in spiritual life- recognition. Somehow or other we have to break the false pride in our material attributes.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

A conclusion on marriage

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Ragalekha on 1/3/12

Kadamba Kanana Swami

(Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.1, 20 December 2011, Cape Town, South Africa)

Question:

In the purport (SB 7.14.1), Prabhupada first explained the bramachari, vanaprasta and sannyasa ashrams and then at last he said, grhasta ashram for those who are so attached to sex life. So it sounds like the only reason to go to grhasta ashram is lust. Is that what it is?

Answer:

Well, generally speaking it is. But sometimes, even self-realised souls came to the grhasta ahram to fulfil a purpose of the Lord, that also happens. Srinivasa Archarya, for example, had two wives but he was fully self-realised; he was seeing the spiritual world. That was an arrangement of the Supreme Lord. But for most of us, well you know…

The thing is this, you are perfectly happy all by yourself and then suddenly some sex desire begins to arise and then one comes to desire to have a relationship with someone. But some people may say that's not all there is to it, there is also companionship. Alright, I agree with that – companionship is important. We cannot just be alone in this world, we need to have other people but I think marriage, and I say that after 24 years of having tried it, that marriage is an unnatural arrangement!

I'll explain why. I think that to give someone else so much right to just infringe on your privacy is too much. See, if you are not married to someone, you can nicely and politely say: Thank you very much. I need a little time for myself.

But you can't say that to your wife… I mean, you can say it but my God, see what's coming next!

You never spend any time with me… you have no interest in me whatsoever… you completely cold and uninterested… always pre-occupied with other things!

And you are thinking: I just want to finish my rounds.

So it doesn't allow you this privacy that you naturally need. It's very intense. So it's an unnatural arrangement, this infringement on privacy. As far as companionship is concerned, I think there is a need for that but I wouldn't recommend marriage as the solution for that.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Letting go!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/13/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30th Dec 2011, Munich, Germany) Lecture: Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi 9-48

There is a story about a beggar. Once this beggar who was somewhere in India, was hungry and decided to go to the temple, because there are always pilgrims and someone might give him something to eat. But he felt extremely weak and hungry that day! So when he was in the temple, he started leaning against a pillar. At one point he just wrapped his arms around this pillar, and was hanging onto it. One man who came in, saw the beggar and thought:

"It looks like this beggar is in a very bad way!"

So he said to the beggar:

"I have something for you!"

In his bag he had some puffed rice. The beggar who was holding onto the column, said:

"Just put it in my hands."

So he had puffed rice in his hands. So how was he going to eat it? He can't get it from around the column, and to drop it on the ground will only make it dirty. He couldn't eat it because he was holding onto the pillar with his arms.

So in a same way if we hold on to so many material things (and have that pillar in our arms) then how can we relish the taste of bhakti? We cannot get to it. So if we let go of the pillar, then very quickly…..so we have to let go!


Rating: 5.0/7 (1 vote cast)


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

It’s in your face!

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/8/12


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2nd Jan 2012, Simhachalan, Germany) Caitanya-caritāmṛta talk

The material side of our life is not at all supporting and that is very difficult. Ajamila was a qualified brahmana who due to seeing an inappropriate situation – a low class man and a low class woman engaged in illicit activity, and it captures his mind and pulled him down! And Prabhupada is talking about this topic in a lecture that:

"If Ajamila who was very qualified…and he fell down, then what is our chance in this age?"

It is a fact that we are living in a time where it's a crazy world, and there are lots of people who are very degraded and doing all kinds of crazy things and we see it all the time! It's in your face…constantly! Everyday there are so many pictures and so many things we see about illicit activities!


Rating: 7.0/7 (1 vote cast)

 
  
 



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


Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Sound Advice in Difficult Times

Sound Advice in Difficult Times

by Sacinandana Swami on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:57pm

"Oh, this is too unsettling I just can't stand the pressure anymore." S/He stood in the room and tried to calm down the mind. But it was in vain! Sounds familiar?!

We often become overwhelmed by difficult or disturbing situations and feel that our life is getting out of hand.

 At that time, don't despair.

 In a lecture in India Shrila Prabhupada gave the remedy: Just pause for some time – sit down and chant. Soon the agitation will settle.

 Please try it and see how you will soon see clearly.

 Here is the quote:

 "Something has dropped in the water, in the river. You cannot see the things dropped within the water by agitating the water. Just stand still for some time. As soon as the water is settled up, you'll see the things as they are. So as soon as our enthusiasm is agitated, it is better to sit down in any temple suitable and chant Hare Krishna. There is no question of being disappointed. After all, we commit so many mistakes. That is human nature. To err is human. That is not fault. But try to rectify with cool head." (lecture on The Nectar of Devotion - Calcutta, January 27, 1973)

All the best in applying this sound advice!

Yours in seva,

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


Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

A man attains Brahman when he stops to see the different identities due to different material bodies BG#13.33

Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.13.33]
 
 
TEXT 31:
 
yada bhuta-prithag-bhavam
eka-stham anupasyati
tata eva ca vistaram
brahma sampadyate tada
 
 
 
TRANSLATION:
 
When a sensible man ceases to see different identities due to different material bodies and he sees how beings are expanded everywhere, he attains to the Brahman conception.
 
 
 
PURPORT:
 
When one can see that the various bodies of living entities arise due to the different desires of the individual soul and do not actually belong to the soul itself, one actually sees. In the material conception of life, we find someone a demigod, someone a human being, a dog, a cat, etc. This is material vision, not actual vision. This material differentiation is due to a material conception of life. After the destruction of the material body, the spirit soul is one. The spirit soul, due to contact with material nature, gets different types of bodies. When one can see this, he attains spiritual vision; thus being freed from differentiations like man, animal, big, low, etc., one becomes purified in his consciousness and able to develop Krishna consciousness in his spiritual identity. How he then sees things will be explained in the next verse. 
 
Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 
--
Yours
Dinesh
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

[srilaprabhupadanectar] Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Statues in Ratha Yatra

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:12 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [srilaprabhupadanectar] Remembering Srila Prabhupada -
Statues in Ratha Yatra
To: rememberingsrilaprabhupada@yahoogroups.com

Statues in Ratha Yatra

The Sunday Press, under the head "A Day for Cymbals and Chants" gave a
favourable description of the previous day's parade. As devotees read
Prabhupada the article, he recalled the beautiful statue of Lord
Caitanya carved for the parade. Everything about it, he said, was
perfect.

"Who has made?" he inquired, and the devotees informed him that it was
Dhaumya dasa.

"This boy is very good." he said, and asked someone to bring Dhaumya
to his room.

The carving of the statue had proven a great technical challenge for
Dhaumya, and he had done much research before attempting the job. His
final method had been an ingenious one. He decided to carve the form
in separate pieces out of blocks of polyurethane foam. Each section
was subsequently painted with a special epoxy resin and cold
electroplated to form a beautiful metallic coating. Then the features
were painted and long hair, dhoti, shawl and garlands were added.
Finally, the pieces were joined together with pins and brass hooks.

As Dhaumya entered the room, Prabhupada congratulated him. "This is
very good. We should make more like this." Prabhupada complimented
Dhaumya on the perfect proportions of the Deity. The arms were the
correct length, his face was moon-like in proportions, and his chest
and legs were just right.

"You have done very well", he said, and again requested Dhaumya to
carve similar statues for use in Ratha-yatra parades all over the
world.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Disclaimer:
This is not a spam. If you want to be out of this distribution list.
Please send a mail to krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com with the word
"UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line
If you want to introduce anyone else in reading Srila Prabhupada
Nectars, please send their eMail addresses to
krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com
Contact Information:
All mails regarding queries, suggestions, comments should be sent to
krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com
Please Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare
Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy

__._,_.___
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic
Messages in this topic (1)
Recent Activity:
New Members 5
Visit Your Group
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on
- Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

[image: ]
[image: Yahoo! Groups]
Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use
.
[image]
__,_._,___


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

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Miseries are for Sobering Us


GLORIOUS KRISHNA


Working for Satisfaction of the Lord

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 06:58 AM PST

Bhagavad Gita 3.9

yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra
loko yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham-karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah-samacarah

TRANSLATION
Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
PURPORT
Since one has to work even for the simple maintenance of the body, the prescribed duties for a particular social position and quality are so made that that purpose can be fulfilled. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, or sacrificial performances. All sacrificial performances also are meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. The Vedas enjoin: yajño vai viṣṇuḥ. In other words, the same purpose is served whether one performs prescribed yajñas or directly serves Lord Visnu. Krishna consciousness is therefore performance of yajña as it is prescribed in this verse.

Therefore one has to work for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu. Any other work done in this material world will be a cause of bondage, for both good and evil work have their reactions, and any reaction binds the performer. Therefore, one has to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to satisfy Kṛṣṇa (or Viṣṇu); and while performing such activities one is in a liberated stage. This is the great art of doing work, and in the beginning this process requires very expert guidance. One should therefore act very diligently, under the expert guidance of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, or under the direct instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself (under whom Arjuna had the opportunity to work). Nothing should be performed for sense gratification, but everything should be done for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This practice will not only save one from the reaction of work, but also gradually elevate one to transcendental loving service of the Lord, which alone can raise one to the kingdom of God.

Krishna will personally reveal Himself

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:31 AM PST


Compiled and Sent by: Namrata Keswani

Why our Japa goes through a Ritualistic Phase?

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:12 AM PST

"One reason why our japa goes through a ritualistic phase is the deep rooted tendency in our hearts of wanting to be in control of things. This is merely a reflection of our propensity to be the enjoyer, the root cause of suffering in this material world."

HH Radhanatha Swami


"I like to hear the truth, that our destination depends on our sadhana and bhajana. It makes me think that my remedial practice of japa is right. It is the way to go to the topmost stage because I first have to attend to the crucial deficiencies in my foundation. Greed for the name will lead to other spiritual greed."

Begging For The Nectar Of The Holy Name
HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Miseries are for Sobering Us

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:33 AM PST


Without we seeking miseries and calamities, they come. Do we ever endeavor for misery to come; yet it comes. Lovers who fall in love but after marriage fail in their relationship. The relationship itself becomes a torture and they think that the only vent is divorce. Sometimes, marriages work and then they want children. Once children are born then they see the other face of misery. India is in a total mess after the independence. The tendency in this world is that something has to thoroughly shake us up for us to really take shelter of the Lord.


Whatever we hope for, we will not get it. That is the Law of Nature. And today's age is not the age of science. It is not the age of technology. It is not the age of globalization. One of the eastern scriptures state that today's age is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy. So when things are against the tide, then it is time that with the help of our good intelligence we turn to GOD from within our hearts. When happiness is there, we tend to forget the Lord since we are immersed in that happiness. That is one reason why happiness is never a constant thing in our life. If it was so then we would never want to know the Lord who is our all-loving, all-merciful, all-compassionate supreme Father.

So when there are reversals in life, it is meant for sobering us. The more we have friction with life, the more we will become humble and in that humble mood, we will be able to turn to GOD. Which loving Father would like to see his children away from him? Similarly, the Supreme Father is also very pained to see His children away from Him. In order that His children come back to Him, He devises plan. And His plans work. If that plan is acquiesced, and if we turn to GOD with gratitude, then we have properly risen after our fall, which sure is going to happen in many points in time.

 - HH Radhanath Swami

If One Chants Regularly

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:27 AM PST


"If one chants japa regularly to please the Supreme Lord, then the Supreme Lord, being pleased, will increase one's spiritual advancement and give one the eternal liberation."

Hari Bhakti Vilasa

Serving Krishna with Sincerity & without Deviation

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:25 AM PST

This is an humble attempt to transcribe the wonderful class which our beloved spiritual master, H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj took on Srimad Bhagavad Gita at Sharjah in June 1996. We watched this video on Maharaj's Vyasa puja day at Abudhabi and relished the full nectar of Maharaj's class. Watching the special open-hearted laughter of Maharaj throughout the class, we realized that it is very difficult to laugh like Maharaj. Unless we have a pure heart, we cannot laugh whole-heartedly. We don't know how to laugh and the benefits of the same. There are special yoga classes going on to teach people how to laugh. Even in photo studio, photographer has to remind us to smile artificially. But Maharaj's class brought a natural smile in all our faces. Though we are incapable of transcribing his mood or capture fully the essence of his nectarean instructions mentioned in his class, we shall make an humble effort to share some of the points with all of you.


In Bhagavad Gita verse 14.26 Lord Krishna states
maam ca yo 'vyabhicaarena / bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunaan samatityaitaan / brahma-bhuyaaya kalpate
"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."

1. Unmotivated devotional service takes us out of modesvyabhichaar means illegal relation or prostitution. Lord does not like this. He likes avyabhichaar bhakti. Those who serve without deviation, develop detachment and knowledge. As long as we are not interested in putting others into difficulty, then we are attached to Krishna. But as soon as we concoct, the modes of material nature attacks us. Then we create so much misery around us. Bhakti should go on ahaituki, without any motive and this will takes us out of the modes of material nature. Because avyabhichaar bhakti is absent, Krishna leaves us and three modes of material nature attacks us. As soon as we perform ahaituki bhakti, we slip out of three modes of material nature. In any angle of life, devotional service is the best service. In this world everybody is worrying. So we should go to Krishna conscious person. We should write down our doubts and when Krishna conscious person comes, clear it. Conversation gives us practical experience. Even Srila Prabhupada used to clear the doubts of devotees through conversations. Srila Prabhupada explained in his purport that one should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of nature; instead of putting our consciousness into such activities, we may transfer our consciousness to Krishna conscious activities. Krishna conscious activities are known as bhakti-yoga, always acting for Krishna. One who surrenders unto Krishna, at once surmounts the influence of the modes of material nature. To be in Krishna consciousness or in devotional service means to acquire the quality of Krishna. We must be eager to serve Lord Krishna. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.11.26, Vrtrasura prays to Supreme Lord.

ajaata-pakshaa iva maataram khagaah
stanyam yathaa vatsataraah kshudh-aartaah
priyam priyeva vyushitam vishannaa
mano 'ravindaaksha didrkshate tvaam
"O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You."

ajaata paksha - newly born bird waits anxiously for mother bird to feed. Same way we are waiting anxiously for Krishna.

2. Ahankaar takes us away from Krishna: We should not be afraid of any difficulty. Everybody have their own difficulties. To get rid of this, the best way is to go to Krisha councious person only and make submissive inquiry. Krishna cannot tolerate arrogance. Ahankaar is never tolerated by Lord and in this context Maharaj narrated a story. Once Satyabhama, Garuda and Sudarshana cakra got ahankaar due to their prominent position. Lord decided to crush their pride and He sent Garuda to Himalayas to bring Hanumanji to Dwaraka. At the same time Lord said to Satyabhama, "One of the dearmost devotee of Lord Rama is coming to see Me. I will become Lord Rama for him but you don't try to become Sitaji. Instead you send Rukhminidevi here." But Satyabhama did not like this and insisted that she would only become Sitaji. The Lord told her, "It's your wish." Then Lord instructed Sudarshana cakra not to allow anybody to enter into the palace. When Garuda reached Himalayas he saw Hanumanji chanting Lord Ram's names. Garuda said, "I have come to take you to Dwaraka as desired by the Lord." Hanumanji said, "OK. You proceed I will come." Garuda said, "No. I will take you now with me." Hanumanji humbly requested Garuda, "You please proceed and I will reach there before you. Otherwise also you cannot carry me." Garuda said, "I am carrying Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are nothing. I can carry even your father also." Hanumanji got angry. He caught hold of tail of Garuda and threw him into the ocean. Garuda landed straight in the ocean near Dwaraka and went deep down to bottom of the ocean. And by the time he came up, he saw Hanumanji already standing in front of the Lord. When Hanumanji reached Dwaraka, there Sudarshana cakra was standing at the gate and did not allow him to enter into the palace. Hanumanji humbly said, "I am always living with the Lord. So please let me in." When Sudarshana cakra did not get convinced and refused entry, Hanumanji caught him and put him into his mouth and entered into the palace. When Hanumanji saw Satyabhama standing next to the Lord, he asked Him, "My Lord, who is this maid servant?" Satyabhama felt very ashamed. Hanumanji did not recognise that she was one of the queen of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because she artificially tried to become Sitaji. Later Lord asked Hanumanji, "What is in your mouth?" Immediately Hanumanji said, "This creature was obstructing my path so I took him into the mouth." Saying so he took Sudarshan cakra out. Thus Lord crushed the pride of all three.

We know that all of us have four defects - imperfect senses, committing mistakes, illusion and cheating propensity. But if we are with Krishna, then there is no chance of making these mistakes. Bhagavatam is Krishna. Even running reading of Srimad Bhagavatam benefits. So please read Bhagavatam daily. If we bow down before Deity our ahankaar will be vanished and we can understand our goal of existence. To improve our devotional service we must have transcendental association and then material world will not touch us. Hanumaji pleased Lord Rama just by verse 5.19.7 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

na janma nunam mahato na saubhagam
na vaan na buddhir naakrtis tosha hetuh
tair yad visrshtaan api no vanaukasash
cakaara sakhye bata lakshmanaagrajah
"One cannot establish a friendship with the Supreme Lord Ramacandra on the basis of material qualities such as one's birth in an aristocratic family, one's personal beauty, one's eloquence, one's sharp intelligence or one's superior race or nation. None of these qualifications is actually a prerequisite for friendship with Lord Sri Ramacandra. Otherwise how is it possible that although we uncivilized inhabitants of the forest have not taken noble births, although we have no physical beauty and although we cannot speak like gentlemen, Lord Ramacandra has nevertheless accepted us as friends?"

Only sincerity is required for devotional service. We are bound to die. Therefore we should always meditate on janma, mrtyu, jaraa, vyaadhi and turn our mind towards Krishna.

We sincerely pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev to bestow his causeless mercy upon us, so that we can understand and practise above instructions for the pleasure of Lord Krishna.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Tushta Krishna Das and Suniti Devi Dasi
Sharjah.

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


Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Negative thoughts are dangerous!

There were 2children@the top of 2 different trees. Suddenly a cyclone
hit&one parent told to tightly catch hold of the tree to child1&the
other Parent told child2 to not fall down.
The mind of child2 rather than thinking about holding the tree
tightly,thought about not falling down. For this the child2's mind has
to first think about falling down&then add a 'not' to it. And so
child2 fell down from the tree whereas child1 was at the top safely.
This is like when we tell someone not to think of a white elephant,the
mind first tries to think of such a thing,even though it doesnt exist.
Therefore it's better to avoid people who are always talking negative
things to us. In our case, it will be like instead of saying 'No Maya'
'No Maya' we can say 'Yes Krishna' 'Yes Krishna' because if we simply
thinking only No Maya we are sure to get into Maya because she's
alluring us every moment to think that we can enjoy here in this
material world.

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

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

The living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world-BG#13.23

 
Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.13.23]
  
 
TEXT 21:
 
karya-karana-kartritve
hetuh prakritir ucyate
purushah sukha-duhkhanam
bhoktritve hetur ucyate
 
 
TRANSLATION:
 
Nature is said to be the cause of all material causes and effects, whereas the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world.
 
 
 
PURPORT:
 
The different manifestations of body and senses among the living entities are due to material nature. There are 8,400,000 different species of life, and these varieties are creations of the material nature. They arise from the different sensual pleasures of the living entity, who thus desires to live in this body or that. When he is put into different bodies, he enjoys different kinds of happiness and distress. His material happiness and distress are due to his body, and not to himself as he is. In his original state there is no doubt of enjoyment; therefore that is his real state. Because of the desire to lord it over material nature, he is in the material world. In the spiritual world there is no such thing. The spiritual world is pure, but in the material world everyone is struggling hard to acquire different kinds of pleasures for the body. It might be more clear to state that this body is the effect of the senses. The senses are instruments for gratifying desire. Now, the sum total—body and instrument senses—are offered by material nature, and as will be clear in the next verse, the living entity is blessed or damned with circumstances according to his past desire and activity. According to one's desires and activities, material nature places one in various residential quarters. The being himself is the cause of his attaining such residential quarters and his attendant enjoyment or suffering. Once placed in some particular kind of body, he comes under the control of nature because the body, being matter, acts according to the laws of nature. At that time, the living entity has no power to change that law. Suppose an entity is put into the body of a dog. As soon as he is put into the body of a dog, he must act like a dog. He cannot act otherwise. And if the living entity is put into the body of a hog, then he is forced to eat stool and act like a hog. Similarly, if the living entity is put into the body of a demigod, he must act according to his body. This is the law of nature. But in all circumstances, the Supersoul is with the individual soul. That is explained in the Vedas (Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.1) as follows: dva suparna sayuja sakhayah. The Supreme Lord is so kind upon the living entity that He always accompanies the individual soul and in all circumstances is present as the Supersoul, or Paramatma. 
 
 
Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
  
--
Yours
Dinesh
 

Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

When was Bhagavatam written by Vyasadeva?

From Bhagavata Mahatmya, Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda:
Saunaka asked, "O Suta Gosvami, when did Sukadeva recite the Bhagavatam to Pariksita, Gokarna to Dhundhukari, and the Kumaras to Narada Muni?"
Suta Gosvami replied, "About thirty years after Lord Krsna's departure to His abode, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra, Sukadeva recited Bhagavatam to Pariksit. Two hundred years later in the month of Asadha, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight Gokarna recited Bhagavatam to Dhundhukari. Thirty years later, in the month of Karttika on the ninth day of the bright fortnight, the Kumaras recited it to Narada Muni."
SUMMARY
3150 BC: Battle of Kuruksetra
February 18, 3102 BC (around): Krsna's disappearance, beginning of Kali Yuga (Thus Krsna was present for around 125+48 = 173 years)
30 years after i.e 3072 BC: Sukadeva Goswami speaks Bhadra Navami Bhagavatam to Maharaj Pariksit
200 years later i.e. 2872 BC: Gokarna recited Bhagavatam to Dhundhukari on Asadha Navami
30 years later i.e. 2842 BC: Kumaras recited to Narada Muni on Karttika Navami
Around 2000 BC: Suta Goswami recited to the sages at Naimisaranya (long after the battle of Kuruksetra)
1000 BC: Compiling of Mahabharata
500 BC: Compiling of Ramayana
900 AD: Vyasadeva completed writing the 12 Canto of the Bhagavatam
The first and the the last three dates have been picked up from the Introduction of Sri Krsna-samhita by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He gives the date of the writing of the Srimad Bhagavatam as being around 900 AD in the opinion of modern scholars and goes on to give very foolproof evidences regarding this which the modern scholars give. Though Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself put a lot of effort into writing this Intro., he leaves it upto the reader to accept it or not.
And he writes while trying to figure out a date of compiling of the Bhagavatam as per the modern scholars:
"Now we will consider the modern scholars view on the date of the appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam, the jewel of all scriptures. Not understanding our statements, third-grade people may lose all faith and consider it a recent work. Therefore they should read this section..."

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


Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Divine Marriage and Divorce

By HH.Radhanath Swami

When I was about eight years old my parents were considering divorce. I remember my mother putting mascara on in front of a mirror and I was sitting on her bed watching her. I thought it was a very strange thing, women putting on mascara, so I was watching. And my mother said to me very seriously, "everyone likes your father and everyone likes me, but we no longer like each other, so we are going to separate". I cried, it was very painful, just the thought of it. Some hours later my father came home from work and I knew my mother was going to discuss this with him. He went in the bedroom and they closed the door. I was so disturbed that I secretly put my ear against the door to hear what they were saying.

My mother told my father how much I had been crying, and I heard them both say that for the rest of their lives they would stay together because this is what was best for the children. They never separated. As the years passed, I can honestly say, I never saw any two people that loved each other so much. Their love was very deep. It wasn't about romance, because romance, you know it comes and goes. It wasn't just about personality, or having complimentary views on things. It was about heart to heart, sensible responsibility to each other for a higher principle. Because they chose to go through those difficulties together for the higher principle of their love for their children, I feel God awarded them with deep affection and love for each other.

Beside the higher principle of children is the principle of God, the principle of our vows before the Lord to help each other to become pure, to become enlightened within our lives. That higher principle is why traditionally, marriages of all different cultures involve taking vows in a spiritual place - so that the union is consecrated as a partnership in the service of the Divine. What is a diamond? A diamond is the queen of all jewels. But a diamond is nothing but a piece of coal that's been under pressure for millions of years. Gold, the king of metals, is purified when it is put in fire. This is mother nature speaking to us. This is wisdom - that by faithfully passing through the good times and the bad times - the easy times and the hard with each other, and for each other, for this higher value - then marriage has the potential to make us spiritually perfect. It will do that if we just understand the yoga of marriage.

From a spiritual perspective one should feel that their partner is something more than just my husband or my wife. A husband should feel towards his wife that this is the daughter of God - this is God's deeply beloved daughter that has been entrusted in my care. How you treat her is how God will receive you. How you speak to her, how you act toward her, how you protect her are all important. Protection is said to be on three levels - physical, emotional and spiritual. To give that protection, to be forgiving to each other and to honor your spouse as God's property, God's gift, is how you will make spiritual progress. And a wife should feel that her partner is not just her husband but he is God's beloved child entrusted in her care to protect, to be faithful to, and to encourage. If you see each other in this light, marriage really is yoga. Your relationship will be yoga in essence and you will make great spiritual progress.

Feelings of affection may come and go but the foundation of a healthy relationship is respect. Respect for each other and care for each other. Through respect and care affection can grow into deep love on the level of the soul. Physically we care for each other by providing the basic necessities of life. Depending on the particular nature of your occupation and relationship one must provide housing, clothing, health care and other physical needs. But emotional care is very essential. Lack of emotional care can really send a marriage off track. Everyone needs appreciation and everyone needs encouragement. So many ladies come to me and say "my husband just doesn't care about me - he doesn't like anything I do". When I go to the husband, I ask "do you care about her?" And he will say "yes, of course". I'll ask, "do you like what she does"? "Yes I love what she does". "Do ever tell her"? And he will say, "why should I tell her, she should know". Communication is so important. Sometimes in a marriage we communicate with everybody except the person we are living with. Communication - honest communication where we really do express our appreciation for each other, express our affection for each other, and express it in such a way that we encourage each other is very critical for a healthy relationship.

Marriage shouldn't be just something that we are tolerating somehow or other because we took vows. It should be something very dynamic, very flowing and very real. It should be and very connected to the Divine, so that the struggles are not just depressing - the struggles are spiritual challenges that we have to meet together and every time we overcome those challenges we come to a higher spiritual platform. By following marriage in this way it becomes a path of perfection.


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


Share/Bookmark

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati