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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

Practical answers for practical questions - 7

Question: How can we distinguish between bhakti-lata creeper and the false creepers in the heart since they can seem similar?

Srila Gurumaharaj:  The bhakti-lata creeper and the other false creepers are called upasakas or weeds and the weeds are inspired by such things like love, profit, position, worship, respect, violence, harsh dealings, diplomatic dealings, political dealings, attachment for breaking the principles... Some are quite obvious and some are very subtle.

If someone is doing dev. service and is motivated only by getting respect, then they will become unmotivated and they have to analyze. So somebody is more sincere about their motives then they take out those weeds out of the heart. Actually I am not serving because I want to get respect. I am just doing this to please Guru and Krsna. I know when I was building mayapur, it was very intense. Srila Prabhupada had us working from 6 in the morning till midnight every day. Double shifts. At one point I thought I was going to crack. Then I was just thinking that I would never do this for money or any other reason. I am just doing this because I really want to please Srila  Prabhupada and the previous acaryas who want to see my effort in all this. And then, somehow when I thought like that I could just feel like as if Bhaktivinoda Thakur was smiling at me. Suddenly things seem to feel a lot better. It is important that we realign our thoughts. How we pull the weeds is that when we let some other motives or some other things creep in, then it becomes burdensome to do devotional service when it is not aligned with other creepers. If we are properly doing things for right Krsna conscious reason, then it is always blissful to do devotional service. 

HH Jayapataka Swami Gurumaharaj
Questions & Answers  from Wincom(pamho)

chant
Hare Krsna  Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
 
--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Farm communities or warm communities?

The idea of having farm communities is to get rid of the mad rat race of work, work, work until death and get sufficient time to perform devotional service and preach the message of Godhead to the suffering humanity.

But there's also an increasing number of fanaticism among those who venture into the farm projects that those who cannot work in the farms are unfit for performing devotional service or also there's widespread notion of completely rejecting them by opposing views. 

Varnashrama maniac. What is varnashrama dharma? To regulate the modes of nature or to engage the people in the occupational duties according to their tendencies or their acquired modes of nature but keeping Lord Vishnu as the centre of all activities. One should not forget that there's conditioning even in the mode of goodness. Now there's an increasing number of devotees who are conditioned by many factors like I don't use any chemicals, only use organic foods, herbal oil, everything I use is sooo good and natural. All those who use the modern world products are in maya. I am so much in goodness that I can perform devotion so nicely. This is conditioning.

It is not proper to disvalue the devotees who are making their living by other means by other than farm communities. The end result is end of the day is to get food, clothing and shelter. SP mentions in SB that the modes of passion and ignorance are also auspicious if you see at a higher level. Just like the government has educational department in a state, it also has criminal laws department. Both are equally important for the execution of the state. If there's no mode of ignorance, we can't sleep at night time. If there's no passion we can't do our work rather be simply saying I am in goodness I cannot work. Arjuna while fighting needed so much passion to kill the enemies. Not by simply smiling and being in goodness he can do his work. So much passion is required to kill the enemies. In other words, passion also can be easily engaged in the Lord's service without any harm.

Working in farm is also not direct devotional service, it is of course in the mode of goodness unlike the workers in the office doing paper or mind wo

So there's no big reason to be too much puffed up for being in the farm communities. 

Quote Starts ---


BG 3.6: Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

BG 3.7: On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.

BG 3.8: Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one's physical body without work.

BG 3.9: 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


IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (12.8-12) Lord Krsna gives a series of merciful prescriptions for the benefit of people in different circumstances.

The first direction Krsna gives is this: "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, with-out a doubt." (Bg. 12.8) This instruction is meant for someone already advanced on the path of bhakti-yoga, someone who has attained the stage of spontaneous attraction to serving Krsna (raganuga).

For someone who has not yet developed spontaneity, the Lord recommends vaidhi-bhakti, or devotional service in practice: "My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me with-out deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me." (Bg. 12.9). By following this advice, one will become purified and rise to the stage of love of God.

For a person unprepared or unable to practice such principles of bhakti-yoga, Lord Krsna advocates karma-yoga, the sacrifice of one's work: "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." (Bg. 12.10) In the purport to that verse, Srila Prabhupada suggests that we be "sympathetic to the propagation of Krsna consciousness." He writes,

There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Krsna consciousness, and they require help. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization, and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor, and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Krsna. The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krsna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krsna 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 Krsna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krsna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love of God, whereupon one becomes perfect.

-Quote Ends

Take away is one should not think that by being in farm communities one is directly engaged in devotional service, nor the workers in office should think so because both are working but offering the results to the Lord. Definitely there's some purification for the performer. Direct devotional service to the Lord by preaching and selling the books is at a higher level, no doubt about that. Until one gets to that point of dedicating whole of their lives to the Lord, one should practice other means gradually step by step to progress in the path of perfection which is to revive our dormant and spontaneous love for God.

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


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Today's special - pongal and plantain sabji


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Be careful, it's highly contagious ;-)

Our dealings with the materialistic minded people should be as limited as possible.

Because we absorb our consciousness on things around us like a gemstone that absorbs light from outside and stores within.

We automatically start imitating things around us even without our knowledge, thats the nature of the mind. When a person is diseased 

with a highly contagious disease, that person is usually quarantined to prevent the spreading of the disease to those around.


Similarly the pure devotees of the Lord do not take bliss in the association of materially motivated people. 

The pure devotees of the Lord keep themselves aloof from the association of materialists just like, we stay away from the diseased. 


This Sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya is also very contagious but in a good sense. 

The association of the followers of Lord Caitanya brings all auspiciousness and it doesn't stop with 

one person, the person who got it has to spread, otherwise he can't relish the nectar he is provided

with. 


In this regard we have two types of devotees. Gostanandi (serves the Lord via Preaching the Glories 

of the Lord where ever he goes or where ever the Lord sends him)and Bhajanandi(Bhajanandi serves the Lords abode/dham,

 meditates on the Lord within). Gostanandi is already a Bhajanandi. Most of the devotees in the movement of 

Lord Caitanya are Gostanandis. 


If Srila Prabhupada didn't come to America, I will not be here to write this article, rather would have been

lost elsewhere in easing out the contact of sense objects with the senses predominantly. 


A supporting article, Quotes start here..

" Preaching is the Essence

                His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada

Lord Caitanya wants His followers to preach all over the world:

"Dear Lord, Your personal associates, devotees, wander all over the world to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?"

There are two kinds of devotees.One is called gosthy –anandi and the other bhajanandi. The word bhajanandi refers to the devotee who dos not move but remains in one place. Such a devotee is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. He chants the Mahamantra staught by many acaryas and sometimes goes out for preaching work.

The gosthy-anandi is one  who desires to increase the number of devotees all over the world. He travels all over the world just to purify the world and the people residing in it.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advised: prithvi ache yata nagaradi gram / sarvatra pracara haibemora nama. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wanted His followers to move all over the world and preach in every town and village.

In the Chaitanya – sampradaya those who strictly follow the the principles of Lord Chaitanya must travel all over the world to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya, which is the same as preaching the words of Krsna- Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. The more the devotees preach the principles of Krsna katha, the more the people throughout the world will benefit.

Devotees like the great sage Narada who travel all over to preach are called gosti-anandi.Narada Muni is always wandering throughout the universe just to create different types of devotees. Narada even made a hunter a devotee. He also made Dhruve Maharja and Prahlada devotees. Actually all devotees are indebted to the great sage Narada, for he has wandered both in heaven and in hell. A devotee of the Lord is not even afraid of hell. He goes to preach the glories of the Lord everywhere-even in hell- because there is no distinction between heaven and hell for a devotee.

                                           Narayana –parah sarve

                                           Na kutascana bibhyati

                                           Svargapavarga-narakesv

                                           Ap tulyartha- darsinah

"A pure devotee of Narayana is never afraid of going anywhere and everywhere . For him heaven and hell are one and the same." (Bhag. 6.17.28) Such devotees , wandering all over the world, deliver those ho are actually afraid of this material existence.

Bhag. 4.30.37"


Quote ends

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


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Hundreds and thousands of desires, like nooses around my neck, constantly give me misery and trouble

Song Name: Anadi Karama Phale

Official Name: Sri Siksastakam Song 5

Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Book Name: Gitavali

Language: Bengali

 

LYRICS

(1)

anādikarama-phale,  poḍibhavārnava-jale,

toribāre  dekhi upāy

e-viṣaya-halāhale,  divā-niśi hiyā jwale,

mana kabhu sukha nāhi pāy

 

(2)

āśā-pāśa-śata-śata,  kleśa deya avirata,

pravṛtti-ūrmira tāhe khelā

kāma-krodha-ādi choy,  bāṭapāḍe deya bhoy,

avasāna hoilo āsibelā

 

(3)

jñāna-karma—ṭhaga dui,  more pratārīya loi,

avaśeṣe phele sindhu-jale

e heno samayebandhu,  tumi kṛṣṇa kṛpā-sindhu,

kṛpā koritolo more bale

 

(4)

patita-kińkore dhori',  pāda-padma-dhuli kori',

deho bhaktivinode āśroy

āmi tava nitya-dās,  bhuliyā māyāra pāś,

baddha ho'ye āchi doyāmoy

 

TRANSLATION

1) I have fallen into the ocean of material existence as a result of my selfish activities, which are without beginning, and I see no means of deliverance from this great ocean of nescience. Day and night my heart burns from the poison of these worldly activities, and on account of this my mind never finds any satisfaction or happiness.

 

2) Hundreds and thousands of desires, like nooses around my neck, constantly give me misery and trouble. In that great ocean of nescience play the waves of materialistic tendency. In this world there are many thieves and rogues, of whom six are prominent; lust, anger, greed, illusion, and madness. They are causing me great fear, and in this way my life is coming to an end.

 

3) The two highway robbers, mental speculation and fruitive activity, have cheated me and misled me, and finally they are throwing me into the ocean of misery. At such a time as this, my dear Krsna, You are the only friend, and You are the ocean of mercy and compassion. I have no strength to get out of this ocean of nescience, so I pray to Your lotus feet that You will be kind and by Your strength uplift me from this ocean of suffering.

 

4) Accept this fallen servant and fix me as a particle of dust on Your lotus feet. Kindly give me shelter to this Bhaktivinoda. O most merciful Lord, actually I am Your eternal servant, but having forgotten this I have become bound up in the network of maya.



Yours
Dinesh

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