Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

Why do damage to our destiny? part 1

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Cape Town, SA, 23rd Dec 2011) Lecture – SB 7.14.4

Any standards below the four regulative principles is the standard of when one is suffering. Of course, there is a spiritual life without the four regulative principles, but understanding that one is suffering and therefore, one will do some damage in that condition of life. So one will actually do damage to his destiny.

So why do damage to our destiny? We can have everything, but we should not damage our destiny. If we just let the immediate circumstances damage our destiny, then we are in maya….we are in illusion – it is foolish, but it is a big thing, to act so intelligent (I am saying intelligence) because in this consideration, we are looking at the ideal, and the balance between, what is realistic…..but within the safe boundaries of what is a favourable destiny – that's when our four regulative principles begin, and without it:

'dharmeṇa hīnaḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ,' (Hitopadeśa)

Without the four regulative principles, one is an animal! That is basically the situation. There is a difference between human beings and animals. The animals can do anything and there is no responsibility – there's no karma…………….We are not happy to see cats doing various activities but they have no karma. They get away with it, but we cannot get away with anything, and that is the situation. So we are not animals, but when we act like animals, then we are not in the same boat as the animals.

Yes, it is interesting how karma differs between different living entities. Different laws for different entities and human beings….and different law for the demigods, and like that different licences are given to living beings in different positions. So within the human form of life (whether we like it or not) there is that responsibility for our activities, and that cannot be avoided!

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to kksblog.com using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

Why do damage to our destiny? part 2

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Cape Town, SA, 23rd Dec 2011) Lecture – SB 7.14.4

Therefore, with our intelligence, we have to see all these factors. In the 11th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said that there was a sannyasi who used to be a miser in his material life, and as a result his whole family hated him! But he was always lording it over everyone, because he had the money. They had to stay there to get some money, but they never got what they wanted and they suffered. When he became old and weak, then they didn't care for him anymore.

In the end he took sannyas, and got so many reactions from his karma, and people were just harassed him. It is said, that people would steal his danda. They would joke and laugh at him, while he was chanting. At one point, someone had passed urine upon him, while he was sitting there chanting! It was getting pretty rough, undoubtedly. And then it says in the Bhagavatam:

'That one should keep himself safe, on spiritual platform, even if beaten, insulted, spat upon or urinated upon. One should make arrangements to keep himself safe on spiritual platform!'

That is the bottom line……………………First of all just hang in there, since what is the point of conquering the world when you cannot even gain control over your life – when your own life is totally out of your hands. You preach, and preach and preach, but what will you preach? Life is a mess? At least we should be safe on the spiritual platform, and like that one must be careful. It's just like when you get out of the water, and there is a rock going into the sea…any you try to climb out on that rock, but the first few metres of the rock in the sea is all slippery, because of the changing tides, various algae, all kind of things are growing on it, and it's all wet and so on – well that is the slippery part. So one must be sure – you cannot think:

'Okay I am now in the water but still on the slippery rock.'

We need to get higher and above that level! Another example, is that if we are pulled out of the water and put onto the ship, but then we are still on a slippery deck! If we stay there, then the waves will come. When you are out there on the ship, then the waves are coming, and you can see how they crash at the beach and how hard they hit the rocks! If you are on the boat and they slam on the deck, and there is a little bit of a wind, and when they come and it is like:

'Bang!'

And they wash all the deck, as if it's a beach. So to stand on the slippery deck is risky, even if there is railings everywhere to hold onto! If it's bad weather, then you cannot go onto the deck and, if you go there then you have a lifeline – you're on the line………Therefore we should get off the slippery deck. We should be nicely situated inside. Inside – meaning a spiritual life that contains good elements of support!

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to kksblog.com using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites