Without darkness one cannot appreciate brightness

I guess this statement "but that tone has to dig" is like this "but that one has to dig"

Digging in the Minds of the Scriptures!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/29/10

There was a picture of Pulinda lady who came to Krsna and who was coming door to door selling some fruits. And Krsna as a child when he heard that she was selling some fruit, came out of the house and he brought some grains in his hand to exchange for the fruits. But because he was very small, he dropped all the grains on the floor! They all fell through his hands and everywhere. So in the end he had nothing left, but she didn't mind. She just simply piled him up with fruits! It was so nice. Then when she looked in her basket - the basket was filled with jewels!

So, it is Krsna's magic basket! It is the magic basket of that Pulinda woman that is filled with jewels by Krsna. So this evening we are speaking about the jewels of Krsna.

In Caitanya Caritamrita it is stated that one should dig in the minds of the scriptures to collect the jewels from there. So it is interesting that jewels are available, but that tone has to dig, and cannot expect the jewels to plop out of the sky.

"Oh what's that?"

I think that most of us have grown beyond the level of dreaming like that. We know that if you want something, than you have to work for it, you have to make a sacrifice. Digging in the minds of the scriptures, means a sacrifice. Isn't it? That's a fact. So sacrifice is there. In spiritual life we have to make an endeavour.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 11th December 2010)

Digging in the Minds of the Scriptures!

I guess this statement "but that tone has to dig" is like this "but that one has to dig"

Digging in the Minds of the Scriptures!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/29/10

There was a picture of Pulinda lady who came to Krsna and who was coming door to door selling some fruits. And Krsna as a child when he heard that she was selling some fruit, came out of the house and he brought some grains in his hand to exchange for the fruits. But because he was very small, he dropped all the grains on the floor! They all fell through his hands and everywhere. So in the end he had nothing left, but she didn't mind. She just simply piled him up with fruits! It was so nice. Then when she looked in her basket - the basket was filled with jewels!

So, it is Krsna's magic basket! It is the magic basket of that Pulinda woman that is filled with jewels by Krsna. So this evening we are speaking about the jewels of Krsna.

In Caitanya Caritamrita it is stated that one should dig in the minds of the scriptures to collect the jewels from there. So it is interesting that jewels are available, but that tone has to dig, and cannot expect the jewels to plop out of the sky.

"Oh what's that?"

I think that most of us have grown beyond the level of dreaming like that. We know that if you want something, than you have to work for it, you have to make a sacrifice. Digging in the minds of the scriptures, means a sacrifice. Isn't it? That's a fact. So sacrifice is there. In spiritual life we have to make an endeavour.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 11th December 2010)

Digging in the Minds of the Scriptures!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Your friends at Krishna.com" <krishnadotcom@krishna.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:32:08 -0500
Subject: Thought-a-Week
To: dineshkrishna108@gmail.com

If you are having trouble viewing this message, please go to
http://community.icontact.com/p/krishna/newsletters/krishnacom/posts/thought-a-week7

Thought-a-Week

By the mercy of the Lord even a layman can compose prayers of the highest
spiritual perfection. Such spiritual perfection is not limited by material
qualifications but is developed by dint of one's sincere endeavor to render
transcendental service. Voluntary endeavor is the only qualification for
spiritual perfection.

--His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.38, Purport

Check out books like The Perfection of Yoga or The Path of Perfection to read
about bhakti-yoga; the process by which we can easily purify the mind through
transcendental service, no matter what our seeming material qualifications may
be. http://store.krishna.com/Search.bok?

All materials (c) copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
Please read Krishna.com's Terms & Conditions.
http://www.krishna.com/terms-and-conditions

Please email us at contact@krishna.com, or visit Krishna.com for more on
Krishna consciousness and bhakti yoga. Hare Krishna!

This message was sent by: Krishna.com, P.O. Box 430, Alachua, FL 32616

To update/change your profile click here:
http://app.icontact.com/icp/mmail-mprofile.pl?r=1028843197&l=28006&s=EO5V&m=4427102&c=28014

Forward this message:
http://app.icontact.com/icp/core/message/forward?m=4427102&s=1028843197&c=EO5V&cid=28014

Comment on this message in the iContact Community:
http://community.icontact.com/p/krishna/newsletters/krishnacom/posts/thought-a-week7#commentform

Receive our messages as an RSS feed:
http://community.icontact.com/p/krishna/newsletters/krishnacom/rss.xml?r=1028843197&l=28006&s=EO5V&m=4427102&c=28014

--
Yours
Dinesh

Thought-a-Week

2day v deny things beyond our experience(is ltd)&v declare it doesnt
exist.Scientist being unable2c life in other planets declare no life
exists there.But frm authorized VedicScriptures,v find dat soul exists
everywhere.V cant live in Water,it doesnt mean no life exists in
Water.VedicScience is Perfect!

--
Yours
Dinesh

So-called worldly science is not perfect!

Firmly Fixed in that Faith

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/28/10

The fear of death is always emerging again and again, but a devotee must gradually rise above! I remember here in Mumbai we had over here our Sridhara Maharaja who became ill. His liver became defected and his health was going down. He stayed in Mira Road near the Bhaktivedanta Hospital for treatment.

I recall that I came to visit Maharaja and at the door of his apartment there was a schedule, which said;

"Morning: Mangal Aarti, then Japa, then Bhagavatam….then a little break…then bhajans. At 12.00 more Srimad Bhagavatam followed by Kirtan"

The whole day there was schedule of hearing and chanting. I came in and said;

"Maharaja you have a pretty nice schedule posted on the door"

He said;

"Yah, otherwise people will just talk about my liver all day, and they'll ask how my liver is and I will have to tell them how it is – that my liver is not so good. What can be said ".

So in this way Maharaja was using his time in hearing and chanting – and by that hearing and chanting he became more and more absorbed in being fearless! So much so that at the time when finally his health was really breaking down, he was in Mayapur and there was fluid in his belly - Maharaja only had a little bit of a belly, but there was fluid and it was getting blown up to huge proportions. Maharaja was lying on the bed and someone came and touched the belly. Maharaja was lying there with his eyes closed, and then he opened his eyes and said;

"It's a boy!" (laughter)

Who can joke on his deathbed? About his own condition? One who is transcendental. One who is not identifying with his material body. Then one morning he told his servant;

"Okay, I'm going to give up my body today".

He never made a thing about it and he said it earlier in the morning, and around 10 o'clock he left this world totally peaceful, totally nisthitā, totally unaffected, because he knew that Krsna is the well wisher of his devotees. He had no doubt about it. He was firmly fixed in that faith;
" Krsna is my well wisher, Krsna is my shelter, there is no other shelter"




(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 12th December 2010)

Firmly Fixed in that Faith

The Amazing Nature of Krsna

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/28/10

Dancing in ecstasy is natural but it has to be learnt. Glorifying Krsna is also natural because Krsna's qualities are so wonderful that is not at all difficult to describe – the amazing nature of Krsna! That is very simple.

One can look in all directions and find something wonderful about Krsna. For example let us go to Srimad Bhagavatum and in the beginning of the Bhagavatum we get some little portion of the Mahabharat. We get the situation where Aśvatthāmā has decided to kill the very last – the last of the Pandava. So that they will become extinct by killing Maharaja Pariksit in the womb as is planned. For the purpose thus he has unleashed the ultimate weapon a brahmastra. So this weapon is coming with great speed towards the womb, but Uttarā who is running towards Krsna for protection! And Krsna is personally protecting the embryo in the womb - Maharaja Pariksit.

Later we see how Maharaja Pariksit then for an entire lifetime is simply searching for that personality, that he saw when he was within the womb.
He had the darshan within the womb of the Supreme Lord – even before his birth. After that Maharaja Pariksit was no longer interested in any other person. Therefore, his name became Pariksit – the one who is doing a pariksha – a test from whoever he met;
" Is this the one I met Pariksit?"

"No"

"Is this the one?"

"No"

"Is that the one?"

"No"

"That one?"

"No…no..no..no!"

Like that Maharaja Pariksit was not interested in mundane life. He simply had no interest, although he was the emperor of the world, he had no interest in mundane life. So how merciful was Krsna? That he appeared in the womb to give darshan to Maharaja Pariksit.


"Why did he do that?"

We can think of different reasons. One is that Maharaja Pariksit must have been a very special soul who already in the last life must have been a devotee. Otherwise why would the Lord appear in this life - one can argue.

But, one might also consider other reasons. Another reason would be that his father's and grandfathers – they were extraordinary personalities. His grandfathers – he had five, they had pleased the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, when one's grandfather has pleased the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then all auspiciousness will come upon us. That is Krsna's kindness, because Krsna recognises relationships. Krsna knows very well that the grandson is dear to the grandfather, so therefore when the grandfather is his devotee than naturally he will shower that grandchild with his blessing!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 11th December 2010)

The Amazing Nature of Krsna

TWO KINDS OF PRODUCTION

via Gita Coaching by akrura@gmail.com on 12/27/10

There are two kinds of production: material production and spiritual production.

Arthadam. Artha means factual profit. So there are two kinds of profit.

Those who are materialists, they calculate profit by dollars, and those who are spiritualists, they calculate profit: "How much I have advanced today in spiritual or Krsna consciousness?" Both of them are profits.

So either make this profit or that profit, but don't waste your time. That is the proposal. But the best profit is, for human form of life, to advance in Krsna consciousness.

- Srila Prabhupada

TWO KINDS OF PRODUCTION

The Transcendental State Of Consciousness

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/27/10

In my life many times I have been in extreme circumstances – many times. We were driving in the car between Mayapur and Calcutta. I told the driver, "Aasthe, Aasthe" which means slow, " Deerae, Deerae". I told him because he had the tendency to speed up in the villages. I don't know but some drivers do that, whenever there are people they try to drive faster (laughter). I don't know what it is but they do that. So he was one of those and so I told him to slow down in the villages.

But suddenly, a cyclist who was also not slowing down, and had gotten in the middle of the road and right in front of our car and, 'Bang!' we hit him and then our car flew off the road – and it rolled! In the next moment I was flying! I didn't know that I could fly, but I could! (laughter). I was flying and then I had a landing on the grass - which I guess was good – on the part that we usually sit on (laughter). I was not sitting for a long time! You can understand that, that was definitely a situation and what do we do at such moments?

I was lying at the side of the road, and the people who were Bengalis were angry. Someone in their village had been injured, but still alive, and they thought that I was responsible. So there was a whole angry crowd that were around me. I learned Bengali on the spot on that day! (laughter). I didn't speak Bengali but I learnt it right there and then and managed to say to them;

"Did you get the driver?"

They said; "Driver?...driver?"

"Did you get him? He must be getting away"

So all the men said, "Yes lets go, and get the driver!"

So that was good. So we get in very difficult situations, and of course we have to do something practical at the time of death! But we also have to remember Krsna! Ultimately we take shelter of Krsna! I was there and I realised;

"Krsna I'm in big trouble…Krsna I mean I cannot runaway now…Krsna I depend on you and whatever you want, but it's up to you".

Then I became peaceful, and could accept; "Alright whatever Krsna desires"
That is transcendence. Transcendence is not that we pray on our knees;

"Oh Lord, oh Lord! Please save me! Please save me Lord !" – No that is not transcendence.

Transcendence is; "My Lord I'm placing myself in your hands. You know what is best, and I'm leaving it up to you. I mean the situation got out of control – not just a little bit, but totally. Now there is nothing I can do anymore. Now all I can do is leave it up to you." This is the transcendental state of consciousness, where one stops trying to be the controller!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 12th December 2010)

The Transcendental State Of Consciousness

Our Only Security Is Krsna

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/27/10

We have so many false shelter; "My family…my family gives me protection".

Bhagavatam says:

"ātma-sainyesv asatsv api" - Fallible soldiers – what kind of protection can they give us?

"My money will protect me".

Then you get an economical crisis and suddenly your bank has gone bankrupt and your money is gone! Or it has no more value. What security is there in this world? No security – we never know. Simply our only security is Krsna! And if we keep that in mind – only then – only one who is fully remembering that;

"That my only security is Krsna".

Such a person is peaceful. Only such a person is peaceful. As simple as that, then we can be free from anxiety – then we realise that actually I have no real relationship with this temporary world or anything from this temporary world – my only real relationship is with Krsna.

The only thing that matters in this life is what I've done for my eternal position, and everything I am doing for the temporary is not important. Everything for the temporary is…you have to eat something, you have to sit somewhere, you have to sleep, we have to do these things – but they are not important. Not important whether we sleep in a golden bed or whether we sleep somewhere else – sleeping is sleeping.

So the main thing is to do something for our eternal spiritual benefits – to render some devotional service for Krsna, then we will surely attain perfection in life!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 12th December 2010)

Our Only Security Is Krsna

A Lock Will Not Do

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 12/25/10

At this stage of spiritual life where we are still in between Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu - we are not always inspired - there are plenty of days that we are struggling.
So we need some nectar. It's very important that we have some nectar. It is not all about determination:
'I shall do it!!! I shall never do it again!!! I'm giving up sex life!!! At least all illicit sex, and in between I just bite a piece of wood!!!'
That is not going to work.
Srila Prabhupad spoke about a yogi who was walking naked and who had put a lock on his genitals and the Prabhupad asked the intelligent question:
'They may put the lock, but the question is:
'who has the key?!?''
Yes, very intelligent. A lock will not do, - what will the piece of wood will do?

We need nectar in Krsna Consciousness.

Transcribed By Yamuna Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Fruska Goranga camp 2010)

A Lock Will Not Do

Blood, Sweat, Tears and Ecstasy!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 12/18/10

If one really wants to do something for Krishna, it's not easy.
It's not easy at all to push on this Krishna consciousness movement in this world - not easy, it's heavy!
"Takes gallons of blood"
Blood, sweat, heh-heh... Tears!

But, it also becomes ecstatic.


Transcribed by Bhakta Frederick
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2008 Stockholm)

Blood, Sweat, Tears and Ecstasy!

What are we doing about it?

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 12/20/10

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Delhi 2010)

"that is the situation, degradation is setting in very fast - very fast, rapidly, culture is being lost…
So it is coming to that very quickly - everything is getting lost:
Bollwood is growing and so on!
ISKCON is also growing but if ISKCON is not an active preaching movement then Mayavada will win the race."



I was reading some statistics about India the other day and in these statistics it said that now thirty one percent of people are vegetarian, but six percent of them eat eggs - so that brings it down even more – and then there are also the ones that eat onion and garlic out of those that are vegetarian - so pure vegetarians are even less.
So that was quite a low figure actually if you think about it for a country like India, and it is all going very fast.
When I came to India, forty years ago, that time there were separate canteens on the railway platform: vegetarian and non-veg, separate kitchens but now…well!
We see on the plane very few are taking the vegetarian diet. Yesterday on the flight to Delhi, the vegetarian meals were left over - we didn't take those either:
They were walking around:
" we have plenty left of the vegetarian"
So that is the situation, degradation is setting in very fast - very fast, rapidly, culture is being lost…
So it is coming to that very quickly - everything is getting lost:
Bollwood is growing and so on!
ISKCON is also growing but if ISKCON is not an active preaching movement then Mayavada will win the race. They are also catching on…they are on television yes,
videos yes,
they are on the internet,
they are everywhere
and where are we?
We eat a lot of prasadam and then rest! Then we wake up and start the cycle again, we eat and a little more rest…
We are falling behind, Impersonalism is presiding everywhere.
Every devotee: It doesn't matter whether you are wearing kurta, dhoti or if you are a plain clothed devotee - the same thing, the same duty, whether shaved or lots of hair – that doesn't matter, the essence is what are we doing about it:
'SAMSARA DAVA… ' This world is afflicted by the blazing forest fire, suffering of karma, jnana, sense gratification and impersonalism.
What are we doing about it - to tell people to stop their sinful activity?
To expose the mayavada's foolishness, what are we doing about it?
That is the question – that is the big question we should ask our self:
"What am I doing?"

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Delhi 2010)

What are we doing about it?

We Must Take Shelter!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 12/21/10

When weakness occurs – be brave. Respond by being brave. Respond by ignoring that weakness. Respond with strength. Sometimes I say it's a weak devotee who will be there everyday in the Mungal Aarti. So it's a weak devotee – strong devotee whether he is in Mungal Aarti everyday or not doesn't really matter – he's strong! But the weak devotee, he must be there everyday.

It's the weak devotee that takes shelter. So we must learn to take shelter. We have no strength! We are full of fear – we are weak, but we must take shelter of the process that gives strength. The more fear we have, we take shelter of chanting Hare Krishna. We take shelter of the scriptures. We take shelter - that's what will give us strength, and in that way we will rise above that weakness – than we will not stay in the impediment!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 12th December 2010)

We Must Take Shelter!

When I was thinking to myself that I undergo so much hardships to
commute to office&do the sadhana. It appeared to me that I suffer so
much since I am conscious of only my individual self. But Krsna who is
conscious of Everything, taught me a lesson that there are people
whose lives are much more horrible than mine.
1 day, I started to office by a cab(arranged for 1 day). As I was
talking to the cab driver, I learnt that he sleeps very little in a
day some 3 or 4hrs that too broken and in the cab parked alongside
road.
As the talks went on,the driver explained abt his Story which was
touching my heart and inspiring.
He was a school boy 15yrs ago who used to be top scorer. But becoz his
father died&had very little funds for education, he ended up landing
in Chennai city with only 10Rs with an idea to earn&support the
family&give his Sister in marriage.
He was telling,how difficult life has been since the time he started
working. He walks so
Long without money for bus fare on the roads of the city. Finds a
driver job, drives for tourists&finally gives his Sister in
marriage&then gradually recovers from debts. Of late he bought a
cab&is getting better.
My Chanting time over by now after these talks in the cab.
The Most important trait I observed in him was vairagya(determination)
which is essential for a vaishnava. I then thought what best i can do
to him. Advised him2take a Bhagavad Gita. Found in my own eyes how
4kinds of people come to Krishna.He is distressed but sukrutino-pious
person whereas a Duskritino will never turn to God even if he is in
distress.
And finally,he agreed2get one BG tho he doesnt find time to read&I was
so happy abt it.

--
Yours
Dinesh

Lesson by Antaryami-The all knower/supremely conscious

No matter how Hard v try2keep d body in good condition,it
fails1day4sure.If this body is provided by God only4enjoyment,why is
it so miserable&troublesome? D very presence of pain gives an idea
that something is incompatible.Yes v r bound by d limits of body as
long as v want2exploit d material nature :(

--
Yours
Dinesh

Pain shows incompatibility of our self with this body

Thinking d body as self is d main defect of d modern world,becoz body
is only a covering of d RealSelf,Soul-d minute particle,d real
conscious entity who is ServantOfGod.If v polish d bird cage&dont feed
d bird within d cage,d bird will die.This is wat v r doing in our
present soul-killing civilization!

--
Yours
Dinesh

Modern Civilization is Soul Killing Civilization!

Microsoft Office Compatibility pack-Worth having if you have MS office 2003 and looking to open office 2007 files