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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

Sign of a Devotee


So, what is the symptom of a devotee? How do you recognize a devotee?  Do we recognize a devotee by his birth? By his material condition? By  his material situation? No, the sign of a devotee is through his  surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It doesn't matter  from whatever category, whatever background one comes. Like candalo'pi dvija-shrestho hari- bhakti-parayanah. One maybe a candala but hari bhakti parayanah, when he becomes a devotee of Hari, Krishna, then he is dvija shrestha, he is superior, he is greater than a brahmana.

Here also we are seeing that so many devotees, as I just mentioned  like they are born in a demoniac family. By birth they are demons,  Prahlada Maharaja, Bali Maharaja, but why they have been recognized as great devotees, exemplary devotees? Because of their devotion to the  Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, it has been pointed out that vaishnavera nahi jati kuladi vicara. There is no consideration  for jati, kula. Jati means caste and creed of a Vaishnava. Vaishnava can appear in any family.

What to speak of human beings, even an animal can become a devotee of Krishna. A wonderful example is Hanumana. In the community of monkeys
there is Hanumana and there are so many other monkeys who are great  devotees. The bird can be a devotee. Example is Garuda, example is Jatayu, example is Sampati. They are birds, but they are great devotees of the Lord.

So the Vedic Karma Kanda section may have consideration for caste and creed but when it comes to devotional service there is no such  consideration. Because the devotional service is the activity of the soul, soul's activity. Now, the soul can, any soul at any place can  become a devotee. But what is the criteria for becoming a devotee?When can one become a devotee, or when does one get the opportunity to become a devotee? That is the most important consideration. One can become a devotee only by coming in contact with a devotee. Without the  contact of a devotee it is not possible to become a devotee. That is
why the devotional consideration is not of birth or any other criteria.

Yes, to be a brahmana generally one has to be born in a brahmanas  family, generally. But that also is not sufficient. One may be born in a brahmana family but he has to practice as a brahmana. He has to  become qualified. In our scriptures we find there are many…brahmanas, they actually were demons. Like Ravana, he is born of an exalted
brahmana father, Vishrava. Hiranyakasipu, Hiranyaksa [born of] Kashyapa, son of Brahma. So, by birth they may be very exalted, but their activity is making them into demons. Whereas the devotion can be practiced by…but to receive, how can one become a devotee? The answer is only by coming in contact with a devotee. That is why it is important that the devotees go out and preach. Preach means provide the opportunity to others to become a devotee.

(H.H Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj)
 
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Teach me,Oye Vaishnava Thakura!

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

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

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

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

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

--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com
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Relationship of Varnashrama to Bhakti Yoga

Urmila Edith Best The relationship of varṇāśrama to bhakti-yoga

Bhagavad-gītā Chapter 12

In order of preference:

1) Fixed mind and intelligence on Kṛṣṇa

If one can't do that, then:

2) Following sadhana (practice) yoga to develop a desire

If one can't do that, then:

3) Do some work for Kṛṣṇa and assist His devotees

If one can't do that, then:

4) Give in charity

If one can't do that, then:

5) Cultivate knowledge of one's spiritual identity

If one can't do that, then:

6) Meditate on oneself as being one with the Supreme

If one can't do that, then:

7) Follow the rules of varṇāśrama

Relevant quotes:

Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt. 12.8

My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me. 12.9

From the purport: To practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga one should, under the guidance of an expert spiritual master, follow certain principles: one should rise early in the morning, take bath, enter the temple and offer prayers and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, then collect flowers to offer to the Deity, cook foodstuffs to offer to the Deity, take prasādam, and so on. There are various rules and regulations which one should follow. And one should constantly hear Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from pure devotees. This practice can help anyone rise to the level of love of God, and then he is sure of his progress into the spiritual kingdom of God. This practice of bhakti-yoga, under the rules and regulations, with the direction of a spiritual master, will surely bring one to the stage of love of God.

If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage. 12.10

From the purport: If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Kṛṣṇa consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.

If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated. 12.11

From the purport: by the practice of giving up the fruits of one's activities one is sure to purify his mind gradually, and in that purified stage of mind one becomes able to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Of course, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not dependent on any other experience, because Kṛṣṇa consciousness itself can purify one's mind, but if there are impediments to accepting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one may try to give up the results of his actions. In that respect, social service, community service, national service, sacrifice for one's country, etc., may be accepted

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind. 12.12

From the purport: As mentioned in the previous verses, there are two kinds of devotional service: the way of regulative principles and the way of full attachment in love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For those who are actually not able to follow the principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness it is better to cultivate knowledge, because by knowledge one can be able to understand his real position. Gradually knowledge will develop to the point of meditation. By meditation one can be able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by a gradual process.  In the cultivation of knowledge there are processes which make one understand that one himself is the Supreme, and that sort of meditation is preferred if one is unable to engage in devotional service. If one is not able to meditate in such a way, then there are prescribed duties, as enjoined in the Vedic literature, for the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras, which we shall find in the last chapter of Bhagavad-gītā. But in all cases, one should give up the result or fruits of labor; this means to employ the result of karma for some good cause.Wall Photos


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


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Bhakti>Yoga>Dharma

1. Earth will yield its products when all good qualities manifest in
people especially in the leader.
2. A qualified leader is one who has the qualities recommended in
scriptures. A real king should have both rajo and sathva guna inorder
to fight and also be detached and have compassion to living entities.
3. When we please the Supreme Lord automatically the devathas and
earth are also pleased. Dharma also pleases the lord, so he tells when
dharma is destroyed he comes here.
4. Higher than dharma is jnana and higher than jnana is yoga and
higher than yoga is bhakti.
5. It is not necessary that one has to do all sacrifices , if one
simply performs bhakti one can please the lord.
6. One's advancement in bhakti is the sign of pleasing the lord.
-HH.Bhanu Swami Maharaj(SB#5.15.10)
Source#SB notes from Priyadarshini Mataji

--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com
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Being a devotee of the Lord is the most successful thing

1. Avataras are expansions of the Lord and they show some other
qualities of the Lord.
2. Certain jivas are given power by the Lord.devathas-demigods,
sages,manus are all posts, where new set of the above come and replace
the old.
3. Kings rule over the citizens and all is arranged by the Supreme
Lord and the Kings allow them to enjoy but also regulate them.
4. Thus simultaneously satisfying the jiva and also offering them a
stage so that they can get out.
5. Kings were ruling very nicely, they were able to maintain all
principles , did all sacrifices, beyond that one should be a devotee
of Lord Krishna and that is the most successful thing.
-HH.Bhanu Swami Maharaj(SB#5.15.1)
Source#SB notes from Priyadarshini Mataji

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