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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

NOT ONLY FROM A MONKEY

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via GITA COACHING by Akrura on 10/30/11

Everyone is in ignorance because the evolution is coming from the lower species of life, and in Western countries the Darwin's theory of evolution is very prominent, and they believe that man is coming from monkey. Of course, the Vedic sastra also says the birth of human being are from three sources: one from the cow, the other from the lion, and the other from the monkey. The "monkey" word is there. Those who are coming in the sattva-guna, modes of goodness, their last birth is as cow. And those who are coming through the rajo-guna, their last birth is lion. And those who are coming through the tamo-guna, their last birth is monkey.

Srila Prabhupada, Lecture: Bhagavad-gita 9.3 -- Melbourne, April 21, 1976

 
 

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INATTENTION WHILE CHANTING

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via GITA COACHING by Akrura on 11/7/11

Super important instructions by Bhaktivinoda Thakura:


Harinama Cintamani – Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Chapter 12 - Inattention While Chanting

jaya jaya mahaprabhu jaya bhakta-gana
yanhara prasade kari nama-sankirtana

Haridasa spoke, "To Sanatana Gosvami in Puri and to Gopala Bhattawhen You travelled to South India, You taught the importance of performingone's chanting without inattention. Inattention is counted as one of theaparadhas. Even if one successfully overcomes all the other offenses inchanting, and one is chanting continuously, love of God may not come. Oneshould know that the reason for this is that one is committing the offenseknown as pramada, or inattention. This offense will block progress to prema.

"Pramada may mean madness, but here the meaning is inattention orcarelessness. It is from this offense that all other offenses spring. The wisemen recognize three types of inattention: indifference or no attention,laziness, and distraction (attraction to other objects).

"By good fortune, after getting faith, a jiva will take up the name.By chanting regularly, counting on a Tulasi mala carefully, he will developattraction for the name. However, until that attraction has actually developed,one must be very careful about how one chants. Naturally, the common man,having attachment to material things, will be attracted to these things evenwhile chanting. Though chanting japa daily, if his taste is elsewhere, he willshow indifference to the name. 

His heart will not be absorbed in chanting thename but in some material object. How can that benefit him? He may chant 64rounds counting strictly on his japa beads, but in his heart he has notreceived one drop of the taste of the name. This indifference or apathy towardsthe name is one type of inattention. In the heart of a materialist it isunavoidable.

"If indifference or lack of attraction for the name is present, oneshould take association of Vaisnavas who are properly chanting in some placesheltered from the material influence. By chanting in that situation, hisabsorption in material things will be reduced; being inspired by the conduct ofthe Vaisnavas, he will give up that fault. Gradually the heart will getattraction for the name and will be anxious for the nectar of the name. 

Theadvanced devotees have recommended that one live in a place where Krsna had Hispastimes, near Tulasi, in the company of Vaisnavas and gradually increase theperiod of chanting. Quickly the taste for material objects will go. Anotherremedy is to carefully chant in a room by oneself with the door locked, orconcentrate on the name by covering the eyes, ears and nose with a cloth or thelike to prevent stimuli from the exterior. Carefully chanting in this way, anattraction or taste for the name will develop and indifference will besuppressed.

"If one chants with a sluggish mind, or after chanting a little, onehas to stop before finishing his round, it is called laziness. From this, one'staste for the name cannot develop. The remedy for this is to take associationof Vaisnavas who do not waste time in material activity, but constantly chantand remember the holy name, being absorbed only in the name. One should followin their footsteps. 

When one sees how the true Vaisnava or sadhu does not wastetime in useless pursuits, he will develop a taste to do likewise. In his mindhe will think, "very good." By this, enthusiasm will come to the lazymind and he will overcome the offense of laziness or inertia. One will becomedetermined to increase his chanting everyday. By this eagerness in his roundsand by the mercy of the devotees, the offense of inertia will quickly go away.

"One should be careful to eliminate the third type of inattention --distraction. From distraction all types of inattention are born. This faultresides in attraction for women (or men, in the case of women) and wealth,attraction for material success or victory, desire for position, and thecheating propensity. If one has attraction in any of these categories, one willnaturally be inattentive to the holy name. One should be careful to eliminatethese fixations by following the proper Vaisnava behavior. 

On ekadasis andappearance days one should stop thinking of eating and all day and night chantin the association of devotees. In this way one will joyfully engage indevotional activities, listening to scriptures of the Lord in association withthe Lord's servants, in the Lord's dhama. Gradually the bhakti portion of one'smind will increase and the mind will rejoice in hearing topics about Krsna. Thehigher taste will come and the lower taste will go. 

Upon hearing songs aboutKrsna from the mouths of the pure devotees, one's mind and ears will taste thereal nectar. In this way the desire for low material objects will disappear andthe heart will be constantly fixed and attracted to singing the name. Byavoiding the offense of distraction, one will be able to indulge in the nectarof name.

"One should thus never be inattentive to complete one's prescribednumber of daily rounds. This should be noted day by day. When chanting theseprescribed rounds, one should avoid the different types of inattentiveness.Giving up the desire to increase the number of rounds for show, one shouldattempt to first concentrate nicely on what one can manage. 

Therefore, thedevotee starts by chanting with full concentration in a peaceful place for ashort time. He will always be praying to the Lord that he will chant clear,attentive rounds with the mind fixed on Krsna; for on one's own one cannotaccomplish anything. Krsna's grace is necessary to cross the ocean of materialexistence. Being anxious in heart, one should beg for mercy, and because Krsnais merciful, He will help. Whoever does not try for that mercy is veryunfortunate."

That person who has attained the ornament of the touchstone of the holyname still aspires for the two feet of Haridasa Thakura.

 
 

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PAY ATTENTION

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via GITA COACHING by Akrura on 11/7/11

The path of spiritual life is stated in the Vedas to be like the edge of a sharpened razor. A little inattentiveness may at once create havoc and bloodshed, but one who is a completely surrendered soul, always seeking protection from the Lord in the discharge of his entrusted duties, has no fear of falling into material contamination.

Not only must one come to the stage of pure Krsna consciousness, but one must also be very careful. Any inattentiveness or carelessness may cause falldown.

Inattentive hearing is offensive.

Because of association with the modes of material nature for a very long time, even liberated souls sometimes become captivated by the illusory energy due to inattentiveness in the transcendental position.

If one does not take shelter of Acyuta and Baladeva, then the senses, acting as the horses, and the intelligence, acting as the driver, both being prone to material contamination, inattentively bring the body, which acts as the chariot, to the path of sense gratification. When one is thus attracted again by the rogues of visaya -- eating, sleeping and mating -- the horses and chariot driver are thrown into the blinding dark well of material existence, and one is again put into a dangerous and extremely fearful situation of repeated birth and death.

- From Prabhupada's books

 
 

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A Letter To My Spiritual Master

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 11/8/11

My dear Srila Prabhupada,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your feet.

 

Our two-month festival tour in Brazil is winding down. I have tried my best

to serve you here in this far-off land. In December 1973, you said in a

lecture in Los Angeles that Ravana's brother, Kumbakarna, was king of the

area we presently call Brazil. What piety could one hope to find in a land

ruled by such a demon? However, defying expectation, we found the Brazilian

people to be pious, warm, friendly, and extremely interested in Krsna

consciousness.

 

It has been such a joy to preach here. Our tour has not been without its

challenges, though: sickness, fatigue, late-night festivals every other

day, and constant travelling, including many flights and overnight bus

rides. But we do it for you, Srila Prabhupada, because it is what you want

and we are your servants. On the eve of our departure we place at your lotus

feet just some of the results of our service to you here:

 

1. Eight national television shows which were viewed by millions of people.

To get on even one national television show is a dream for most

organizations. We were on eight! We presented the culture of Krsna

consciousness in a professional way that was appreciated by everyone.

Several times people walked up to me on the street and said, "Hey! I saw

you guys on TV. Great show!"

 

2. Twenty full-page articles in as many major newspapers. Each article

featured explanations of our philosophy and beautiful photos of the devotee

performers, and each offered a glowing description of our Magic Show of

India.

 

3. Thirteen radio interviews. Hundreds of thousands of people heard the

holy names and our sublime philosophy on these morning radio shows while

driving to work.

 

4. Our festivals themselves which are the very essence of our preaching.

What can I say? I am still amazed that without exception we received a

standing ovation at every festival. Over the past two months literally thousands of

people rose to their feet to honor what is nothing other than a

presentation of the same Krsna consciousness you brought to the west.

Though they did not know it, they rose to their feet to honor you. And many of

them left the festivals with your precious books. 

 

Srila Prabhupada I think I can safely say that we saturated this country

with the culture of Krsna consciousness. I pray that my service here on the

preaching field has pleased you and that, as a result, you will allow me to

enter my next destination, the sacred abode of Vraja where I hope to spend

some time nurturing my devotional creeper. I also pray the local devotees

of Brazil will continue to cultivate the seeds of devotion that we have

planted in the hearts of so many, many people during the last two months. 

 

My dearest Lord and Master, please give your unlimited blessings to all the wonderful tour devotes who made this great preaching adventure a success. 

 

Your servant,

Indradyumna Swami

 

 


 
 

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Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

 
  
‎"Bhismadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which
were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the
all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes,
being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by
descending on the material world, although from Him only the material world
is created."
 
 
 
Because Bhīṣmadeva was a statesman, the head of the Kuru dynasty, a great
general and a leader of kṣatriyas, his mind was strewn over so many
subjects, and his thinking, feeling and willing were engaged in different
matters.Now, in order to achieve pure devotional service, he wanted to
invest all powers of thinking, feeling and willing entirely in the Supreme
Being, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
 
He is described herein as the leader of the devotees and all-powerful. Pure
devotees of the Lord have no desire other than the service of the Lord, and
therefore they are called sātvata. The Lord is the chief amongst such
sātvatas.
 
Bhīṣmadeva, therefore, had no other desires. Unless one is purified from all
sorts of material desires, the Lord does not become one's leader. Desires
cannot be wiped out, but they have only to be purified...
 
For the ordinary man who wants to lord it over material nature, the Lord not
only sanctions and becomes a witness of activities, but He never gives the
nondevotee instructions for going back to Godhead. That is the difference in
dealings by the Lord with different living beings, both the devotee and the
nondevotee.
He is leader of all the living beings, as the king of the state rules both
the prisoners and the free citizens. But His dealings are different in terms
of devotee and nondevotee.
 
Nondevotees never care to take any instruction from the Lord, and therefore
the Lord is silent in their case, although He witnesses all their activities
and awards them the necessary results, good or bad. The devotees are above
this material goodness and badness. They are progressive on the path of
transcendence, and therefore they have no desire for anything material.
 
SB.1.9.32
 

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