Miseries are for Sobering Us

Posted by dinesh

GLORIOUS KRISHNA

Working for Satisfaction of the Lord
Krishna will personally reveal Himself
Why our Japa goes through a Ritualistic Phase?
Miseries are for Sobering Us
If One Chants Regularly
Serving Krishna with Sincerity & without Deviation

Working for Satisfaction of the Lord

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 06:58 AM PST

Bhagavad Gita 3.9

yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra

loko yam karma-bandhanah

tad-artham-karma kaunteya

mukta-sangah-samacarah

TRANSLATION

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.

PURPORT

Since one has to work even for the simple maintenance of the body, the prescribed duties for a particular social position and quality are so made that that purpose can be fulfilled. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, or sacrificial performances. All sacrificial performances also are meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. The Vedas enjoin: yajño vai viṣṇuḥ. In other words, the same purpose is served whether one performs prescribed yajñas or directly serves Lord Visnu. Krishna consciousness is therefore performance of yajña as it is prescribed in this verse.

Therefore one has to work for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu. Any other work done in this material world will be a cause of bondage, for both good and evil work have their reactions, and any reaction binds the performer. Therefore, one has to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to satisfy Kṛṣṇa (or Viṣṇu); and while performing such activities one is in a liberated stage. This is the great art of doing work, and in the beginning this process requires very expert guidance. One should therefore act very diligently, under the expert guidance of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, or under the direct instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself (under whom Arjuna had the opportunity to work). Nothing should be performed for sense gratification, but everything should be done for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This practice will not only save one from the reaction of work, but also gradually elevate one to transcendental loving service of the Lord, which alone can raise one to the kingdom of God.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Krishna will personally reveal Himself

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:31 AM PST

Compiled and Sent by: Namrata Keswani

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Why our Japa goes through a Ritualistic Phase?

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:12 AM PST

"One reason why our japa goes through a ritualistic phase is the deep rooted tendency in our hearts of wanting to be in control of things. This is merely a reflection of our propensity to be the enjoyer, the root cause of suffering in this material world."

HH Radhanatha Swami

"I like to hear the truth, that our destination depends on our sadhana and bhajana. It makes me think that my remedial practice of japa is right. It is the way to go to the topmost stage because I first have to attend to the crucial deficiencies in my foundation. Greed for the name will lead to other spiritual greed."

Begging For The Nectar Of The Holy Name
HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Miseries are for Sobering Us

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:33 AM PST

Without we seeking miseries and calamities, they come. Do we ever endeavor for misery to come; yet it comes. Lovers who fall in love but after marriage fail in their relationship. The relationship itself becomes a torture and they think that the only vent is divorce. Sometimes, marriages work and then they want children. Once children are born then they see the other face of misery. India is in a total mess after the independence. The tendency in this world is that something has to thoroughly shake us up for us to really take shelter of the Lord.

Whatever we hope for, we will not get it. That is the Law of Nature. And today's age is not the age of science. It is not the age of technology. It is not the age of globalization. One of the eastern scriptures state that today's age is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy. So when things are against the tide, then it is time that with the help of our good intelligence we turn to GOD from within our hearts. When happiness is there, we tend to forget the Lord since we are immersed in that happiness. That is one reason why happiness is never a constant thing in our life. If it was so then we would never want to know the Lord who is our all-loving, all-merciful, all-compassionate supreme Father.

So when there are reversals in life, it is meant for sobering us. The more we have friction with life, the more we will become humble and in that humble mood, we will be able to turn to GOD. Which loving Father would like to see his children away from him? Similarly, the Supreme Father is also very pained to see His children away from Him. In order that His children come back to Him, He devises plan. And His plans work. If that plan is acquiesced, and if we turn to GOD with gratitude, then we have properly risen after our fall, which sure is going to happen in many points in time.

- HH Radhanath Swami

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

If One Chants Regularly

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:27 AM PST

"If one chants japa regularly to please the Supreme Lord, then the Supreme Lord, being pleased, will increase one's spiritual advancement and give one the eternal liberation."

Hari Bhakti Vilasa

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Serving Krishna with Sincerity & without Deviation

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:25 AM PST

This is an humble attempt to transcribe the wonderful class which our beloved spiritual master, H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj took on Srimad Bhagavad Gita at Sharjah in June 1996. We watched this video on Maharaj's Vyasa puja day at Abudhabi and relished the full nectar of Maharaj's class. Watching the special open-hearted laughter of Maharaj throughout the class, we realized that it is very difficult to laugh like Maharaj. Unless we have a pure heart, we cannot laugh whole-heartedly. We don't know how to laugh and the benefits of the same. There are special yoga classes going on to teach people how to laugh. Even in photo studio, photographer has to remind us to smile artificially. But Maharaj's class brought a natural smile in all our faces. Though we are incapable of transcribing his mood or capture fully the essence of his nectarean instructions mentioned in his class, we shall make an humble effort to share some of the points with all of you.

In Bhagavad Gita verse 14.26 Lord Krishna states

maam ca yo 'vyabhicaarena / bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunaan samatityaitaan / brahma-bhuyaaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."

1. Unmotivated devotional service takes us out of modes: vyabhichaar means illegal relation or prostitution. Lord does not like this. He likes avyabhichaar bhakti. Those who serve without deviation, develop detachment and knowledge. As long as we are not interested in putting others into difficulty, then we are attached to Krishna. But as soon as we concoct, the modes of material nature attacks us. Then we create so much misery around us. Bhakti should go on ahaituki, without any motive and this will takes us out of the modes of material nature. Because avyabhichaar bhakti is absent, Krishna leaves us and three modes of material nature attacks us. As soon as we perform ahaituki bhakti, we slip out of three modes of material nature. In any angle of life, devotional service is the best service. In this world everybody is worrying. So we should go to Krishna conscious person. We should write down our doubts and when Krishna conscious person comes, clear it. Conversation gives us practical experience. Even Srila Prabhupada used to clear the doubts of devotees through conversations. Srila Prabhupada explained in his purport that one should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of nature; instead of putting our consciousness into such activities, we may transfer our consciousness to Krishna conscious activities. Krishna conscious activities are known as bhakti-yoga, always acting for Krishna. One who surrenders unto Krishna, at once surmounts the influence of the modes of material nature. To be in Krishna consciousness or in devotional service means to acquire the quality of Krishna. We must be eager to serve Lord Krishna. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.11.26, Vrtrasura prays to Supreme Lord.

ajaata-pakshaa iva maataram khagaah
stanyam yathaa vatsataraah kshudh-aartaah
priyam priyeva vyushitam vishannaa
mano 'ravindaaksha didrkshate tvaam

"O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You."

ajaata paksha - newly born bird waits anxiously for mother bird to feed. Same way we are waiting anxiously for Krishna.

2. Ahankaar takes us away from Krishna: We should not be afraid of any difficulty. Everybody have their own difficulties. To get rid of this, the best way is to go to Krisha councious person only and make submissive inquiry. Krishna cannot tolerate arrogance. Ahankaar is never tolerated by Lord and in this context Maharaj narrated a story. Once Satyabhama, Garuda and Sudarshana cakra got ahankaar due to their prominent position. Lord decided to crush their pride and He sent Garuda to Himalayas to bring Hanumanji to Dwaraka. At the same time Lord said to Satyabhama, "One of the dearmost devotee of Lord Rama is coming to see Me. I will become Lord Rama for him but you don't try to become Sitaji. Instead you send Rukhminidevi here." But Satyabhama did not like this and insisted that she would only become Sitaji. The Lord told her, "It's your wish." Then Lord instructed Sudarshana cakra not to allow anybody to enter into the palace. When Garuda reached Himalayas he saw Hanumanji chanting Lord Ram's names. Garuda said, "I have come to take you to Dwaraka as desired by the Lord." Hanumanji said, "OK. You proceed I will come." Garuda said, "No. I will take you now with me." Hanumanji humbly requested Garuda, "You please proceed and I will reach there before you. Otherwise also you cannot carry me." Garuda said, "I am carrying Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are nothing. I can carry even your father also." Hanumanji got angry. He caught hold of tail of Garuda and threw him into the ocean. Garuda landed straight in the ocean near Dwaraka and went deep down to bottom of the ocean. And by the time he came up, he saw Hanumanji already standing in front of the Lord. When Hanumanji reached Dwaraka, there Sudarshana cakra was standing at the gate and did not allow him to enter into the palace. Hanumanji humbly said, "I am always living with the Lord. So please let me in." When Sudarshana cakra did not get convinced and refused entry, Hanumanji caught him and put him into his mouth and entered into the palace. When Hanumanji saw Satyabhama standing next to the Lord, he asked Him, "My Lord, who is this maid servant?" Satyabhama felt very ashamed. Hanumanji did not recognise that she was one of the queen of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because she artificially tried to become Sitaji. Later Lord asked Hanumanji, "What is in your mouth?" Immediately Hanumanji said, "This creature was obstructing my path so I took him into the mouth." Saying so he took Sudarshan cakra out. Thus Lord crushed the pride of all three.

We know that all of us have four defects - imperfect senses, committing mistakes, illusion and cheating propensity. But if we are with Krishna, then there is no chance of making these mistakes. Bhagavatam is Krishna. Even running reading of Srimad Bhagavatam benefits. So please read Bhagavatam daily. If we bow down before Deity our ahankaar will be vanished and we can understand our goal of existence. To improve our devotional service we must have transcendental association and then material world will not touch us. Hanumaji pleased Lord Rama just by verse 5.19.7 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

na janma nunam mahato na saubhagam
na vaan na buddhir naakrtis tosha hetuh
tair yad visrshtaan api no vanaukasash
cakaara sakhye bata lakshmanaagrajah

"One cannot establish a friendship with the Supreme Lord Ramacandra on the basis of material qualities such as one's birth in an aristocratic family, one's personal beauty, one's eloquence, one's sharp intelligence or one's superior race or nation. None of these qualifications is actually a prerequisite for friendship with Lord Sri Ramacandra. Otherwise how is it possible that although we uncivilized inhabitants of the forest have not taken noble births, although we have no physical beauty and although we cannot speak like gentlemen, Lord Ramacandra has nevertheless accepted us as friends?"

Only sincerity is required for devotional service. We are bound to die. Therefore we should always meditate on janma, mrtyu, jaraa, vyaadhi and turn our mind towards Krishna.

We sincerely pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev to bestow his causeless mercy upon us, so that we can understand and practise above instructions for the pleasure of Lord Krishna.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Tushta Krishna Das and Suniti Devi Dasi
Sharjah.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

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

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Negative thoughts are dangerous!

Posted by dinesh

There were 2children@the top of 2 different trees. Suddenly a cyclone
hit&one parent told to tightly catch hold of the tree to child1&the
other Parent told child2 to not fall down.
The mind of child2 rather than thinking about holding the tree
tightly,thought about not falling down. For this the child2's mind has
to first think about falling down&then add a 'not' to it. And so
child2 fell down from the tree whereas child1 was at the top safely.
This is like when we tell someone not to think of a white elephant,the
mind first tries to think of such a thing,even though it doesnt exist.
Therefore it's better to avoid people who are always talking negative
things to us. In our case, it will be like instead of saying 'No Maya'
'No Maya' we can say 'Yes Krishna' 'Yes Krishna' because if we simply
thinking only No Maya we are sure to get into Maya because she's
alluring us every moment to think that we can enjoy here in this
material world.

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

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The living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world-BG#13.23

Posted by dinesh

Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.13.23]

TEXT 21:

karya-karana-kartritve

hetuh prakritir ucyate

purushah sukha-duhkhanam

bhoktritve hetur ucyate

TRANSLATION:

Nature is said to be the cause of all material causes and effects, whereas the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world.

PURPORT:

The different manifestations of body and senses among the living entities are due to material nature. There are 8,400,000 different species of life, and these varieties are creations of the material nature. They arise from the different sensual pleasures of the living entity, who thus desires to live in this body or that. When he is put into different bodies, he enjoys different kinds of happiness and distress. His material happiness and distress are due to his body, and not to himself as he is. In his original state there is no doubt of enjoyment; therefore that is his real state. Because of the desire to lord it over material nature, he is in the material world. In the spiritual world there is no such thing. The spiritual world is pure, but in the material world everyone is struggling hard to acquire different kinds of pleasures for the body. It might be more clear to state that this body is the effect of the senses. The senses are instruments for gratifying desire. Now, the sum total—body and instrument senses—are offered by material nature, and as will be clear in the next verse, the living entity is blessed or damned with circumstances according to his past desire and activity. According to one's desires and activities, material nature places one in various residential quarters. The being himself is the cause of his attaining such residential quarters and his attendant enjoyment or suffering. Once placed in some particular kind of body, he comes under the control of nature because the body, being matter, acts according to the laws of nature. At that time, the living entity has no power to change that law. Suppose an entity is put into the body of a dog. As soon as he is put into the body of a dog, he must act like a dog. He cannot act otherwise. And if the living entity is put into the body of a hog, then he is forced to eat stool and act like a hog. Similarly, if the living entity is put into the body of a demigod, he must act according to his body. This is the law of nature. But in all circumstances, the Supersoul is with the individual soul. That is explained in the Vedas (Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.1) as follows: dva suparna sayuja sakhayah. The Supreme Lord is so kind upon the living entity that He always accompanies the individual soul and in all circumstances is present as the Supersoul, or Paramatma.

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Yours

Dinesh

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

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When was Bhagavatam written by Vyasadeva?

Posted by dinesh

From Bhagavata Mahatmya, Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda:

Saunaka asked, "O Suta Gosvami, when did Sukadeva recite the Bhagavatam to Pariksita, Gokarna to Dhundhukari, and the Kumaras to Narada Muni?"

Suta Gosvami replied, "About thirty years after Lord Krsna's departure to His abode, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra, Sukadeva recited Bhagavatam to Pariksit. Two hundred years later in the month of Asadha, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight Gokarna recited Bhagavatam to Dhundhukari. Thirty years later, in the month of Karttika on the ninth day of the bright fortnight, the Kumaras recited it to Narada Muni."

SUMMARY

3150 BC: Battle of Kuruksetra

February 18, 3102 BC (around): Krsna's disappearance, beginning of Kali Yuga (Thus Krsna was present for around 125+48 = 173 years)

30 years after i.e 3072 BC: Sukadeva Goswami speaks Bhadra Navami Bhagavatam to Maharaj Pariksit

200 years later i.e. 2872 BC: Gokarna recited Bhagavatam to Dhundhukari on Asadha Navami

30 years later i.e. 2842 BC: Kumaras recited to Narada Muni on Karttika Navami

Around 2000 BC: Suta Goswami recited to the sages at Naimisaranya (long after the battle of Kuruksetra)

1000 BC: Compiling of Mahabharata

500 BC: Compiling of Ramayana

900 AD: Vyasadeva completed writing the 12 Canto of the Bhagavatam

The first and the the last three dates have been picked up from the Introduction of Sri Krsna-samhita by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He gives the date of the writing of the Srimad Bhagavatam as being around 900 AD in the opinion of modern scholars and goes on to give very foolproof evidences regarding this which the modern scholars give. Though Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself put a lot of effort into writing this Intro., he leaves it upto the reader to accept it or not.

And he writes while trying to figure out a date of compiling of the Bhagavatam as per the modern scholars:

"Now we will consider the modern scholars view on the date of the appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam, the jewel of all scriptures. Not understanding our statements, third-grade people may lose all faith and consider it a recent work. Therefore they should read this section..."

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

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Divine Marriage and Divorce

Posted by dinesh

By HH.Radhanath Swami

When I was about eight years old my parents were considering divorce. I remember my mother putting mascara on in front of a mirror and I was sitting on her bed watching her. I thought it was a very strange thing, women putting on mascara, so I was watching. And my mother said to me very seriously, "everyone likes your father and everyone likes me, but we no longer like each other, so we are going to separate". I cried, it was very painful, just the thought of it. Some hours later my father came home from work and I knew my mother was going to discuss this with him. He went in the bedroom and they closed the door. I was so disturbed that I secretly put my ear against the door to hear what they were saying.

My mother told my father how much I had been crying, and I heard them both say that for the rest of their lives they would stay together because this is what was best for the children. They never separated. As the years passed, I can honestly say, I never saw any two people that loved each other so much. Their love was very deep. It wasn't about romance, because romance, you know it comes and goes. It wasn't just about personality, or having complimentary views on things. It was about heart to heart, sensible responsibility to each other for a higher principle. Because they chose to go through those difficulties together for the higher principle of their love for their children, I feel God awarded them with deep affection and love for each other.

Beside the higher principle of children is the principle of God, the principle of our vows before the Lord to help each other to become pure, to become enlightened within our lives. That higher principle is why traditionally, marriages of all different cultures involve taking vows in a spiritual place - so that the union is consecrated as a partnership in the service of the Divine. What is a diamond? A diamond is the queen of all jewels. But a diamond is nothing but a piece of coal that's been under pressure for millions of years. Gold, the king of metals, is purified when it is put in fire. This is mother nature speaking to us. This is wisdom - that by faithfully passing through the good times and the bad times - the easy times and the hard with each other, and for each other, for this higher value - then marriage has the potential to make us spiritually perfect. It will do that if we just understand the yoga of marriage.

From a spiritual perspective one should feel that their partner is something more than just my husband or my wife. A husband should feel towards his wife that this is the daughter of God - this is God's deeply beloved daughter that has been entrusted in my care. How you treat her is how God will receive you. How you speak to her, how you act toward her, how you protect her are all important. Protection is said to be on three levels - physical, emotional and spiritual. To give that protection, to be forgiving to each other and to honor your spouse as God's property, God's gift, is how you will make spiritual progress. And a wife should feel that her partner is not just her husband but he is God's beloved child entrusted in her care to protect, to be faithful to, and to encourage. If you see each other in this light, marriage really is yoga. Your relationship will be yoga in essence and you will make great spiritual progress.

Feelings of affection may come and go but the foundation of a healthy relationship is respect. Respect for each other and care for each other. Through respect and care affection can grow into deep love on the level of the soul. Physically we care for each other by providing the basic necessities of life. Depending on the particular nature of your occupation and relationship one must provide housing, clothing, health care and other physical needs. But emotional care is very essential. Lack of emotional care can really send a marriage off track. Everyone needs appreciation and everyone needs encouragement. So many ladies come to me and say "my husband just doesn't care about me - he doesn't like anything I do". When I go to the husband, I ask "do you care about her?" And he will say "yes, of course". I'll ask, "do you like what she does"? "Yes I love what she does". "Do ever tell her"? And he will say, "why should I tell her, she should know". Communication is so important. Sometimes in a marriage we communicate with everybody except the person we are living with. Communication - honest communication where we really do express our appreciation for each other, express our affection for each other, and express it in such a way that we encourage each other is very critical for a healthy relationship.

Marriage shouldn't be just something that we are tolerating somehow or other because we took vows. It should be something very dynamic, very flowing and very real. It should be and very connected to the Divine, so that the struggles are not just depressing - the struggles are spiritual challenges that we have to meet together and every time we overcome those challenges we come to a higher spiritual platform. By following marriage in this way it becomes a path of perfection.

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

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New year or Old year?

Posted by dinesh

Every year we are looking for long-lasting new new ways of enjoying the senses. But whichever way it's done,it brings only misery and make the self even more frustrated because of the limits&temporary nature of the pleasure.With the false hope of enjoying more&more,we get drowned into the material ocean deeper and deeper until we realize we are lost into it. Every year seems to be new,But we are the same old person who lost one valuable year in human life. Every new year shows we add one old year to our age.

There are Friends who send me messages saying 366 days of happiness,which is never going to happen in this world as long as we are exploiting the resources of material nature for our sense pleasure. There are means to derive happiness within rather than seeking elsewhere in the resources of the worldly objects.

By making our intelligence&mind fixed in Krishna consciousness,we get the strength to deal with the senses who are bad masters driving us mad with the chariot of body,Perception of evil of birth,death,old age,disease is real knowledge & to get out of the cycle of birth and death within this life should be the resolution for every new year of our every old year.

Every year we add new new ways of enjoying the senses but in the end our desire to enjoy the fruitive activities get vanquished at death.The impressions in the mind get even more stronger and make the senses drive us mad&prepare us to enter the doors of hell even within this world.

One must elevate oneself in mind by performing the prescribed duties and not degrade. For an unbridled horse puts his Passenger in a precarious state so does the uncontrolled mind which puts the next destination of the soul in dangerous condition.

Also the happiness and distress we experience is only because of the sense perception and mental concoction. Being desirous of sense enjoyment and opulent life, foolish and ignorant men say that there's nothing more than this. They think that lust&sex life is the cause of all creation & the only means of enjoyment.

As long as we dont change our consciousness it's going to be the same old year.Because we will be doing the same old eating,sleeping.mating,defending which we have been doing from time immemorial in a variety of bodies with variety of senses that are centered about the mind. New year or old year is in our hands.New-Krishna consciousness,Old-animal consciousness.

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

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Krishna Likes Butter!

Posted by dinesh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdaW4DnGx-Q

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Makhan Chor Murari - Part 2

Posted by dinesh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCKHTA0-tp0

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Makhan Chor Murari - Part 1

Posted by dinesh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceuy8PhNRGs

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We are watched every moment, the universe is highly personal-many personalities running/monitoring the show.

Posted by dinesh

We are watched every moment. How do we act in the public when we are
watched by many people around? We think many many times before even
uttering a word. We meticulously act in front of the public. Atleast
some cultured decent men think what to do and what not do in the
public,let alone the uncultured two legged animals.

But we tend to forget that we are watched every moment by the Supreme
Lord within and without&there are many times where we are in illusion
thinking that we are acting independently&we can do whatever we like
whimsically. Those that are acting according to the instructions of
the Spiritual Master are saved while others who are on their own are
through a free ride,where they experience horror sometimes(actually
many times :)),a feeling of pleasure other times which last a few
moments.

This Universe is highly personal. There are many many thousands of
personalities designated to carry out the order of the Supreme Lord to
keep everything in place in the Universe. These
agents are called devatas or the celestial beings who help in carrying
out the instructions of the Supreme Lord to create,maintain&destroy
the material Universe.

We are responsible for our good&bad actions. We are only accountable
for our actions,no one else. The situation,the place we live,the
helpers for us in the particular situation,the birth,the
siblings,Everything is provided to us by calculating our desires,our
past actions but only to the extent we deserve. So our situation is to
be accepted without complaining too much of the destiny,because it's
only something we created and what we deserve. If we desire,we have
the choice to change it to whatever we like to do but within the scope
of destiny. We have little control over the karmic
Reactions resulting from our past actions. If there's good karma from
the past we feel so happy&think that it is because of my own good
work,while in nightmares,we see the bad karma to be something fallen
on us from the sky. Actually we are the ones who did such bad actions
as well.

Atleast when we are acting in Krishna consciousness(akarma-actions for
which there are no reactions that binds us one2material world) now,we
dont create further karma to enjoy(minimal here) or suffer(predominant
here)

The Supreme Lord facilitates the conditioned souls with necessary
things that give them an illusion for them to see themselves as
God&enjoyer of all that pervades.

Lord Sri Krishna says, For My devotees who are always thinking of
Me,who sees Me in everything&everything in Me,I am never lost nor will
they ever be lost to Me-BG

So Krsna gives us the choice to Love Him&get to Him in His own abode
or rebel against Him in an illusory way in this material
world&suffer.Choice is exclusively ours.I've seen many people saying
if I were to be so devoted,then that time will come when God
desires.Why not apply the same thing for eating also?

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

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Vaisnava Ettiquette - Part 1

Posted by dinesh

Vaisnava Ettiquette - Part 1

1. Preaching accompanied with Vaishnava etiquette: We have to push forward this movement, and we may get caught up in the activities of pushing, and forget about Vaishnava etiquette. However, there is an exchange between Srila Sanatana Goswami and Haridas Thakura in which Srila Sanatana Goswami praises Haridas: (Cc Antya 4.102-3)
apane acara keha na kare pracara pracara karena keha na karena acara
"Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krishna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly."
acara pracara namera karaha dui karya tumi sarva guru tumi jagatera arya
"You simultaneously perform both activities in relation to the Holy Name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the most advanced devotee in the world."

2. Basics must always be stressed: The basic activities are listed by Srila Rupa Goswami in Nectar of Instruction (see BCS's transcript). "Practicing Vaishnava etiquette means always acting in the mode of goodness, which is a stepping-stone to the transcendental plane. The mode of goodness is conducive to self-realization, whereas ignorance and passion are not. Therefore, how one applies the principles of Vaishnava etiquette reflects whether a devotee is Krishna conscious or not: i.e., is he humble? Conscientious? Well-mannered? Disciplined? cultured? Sensitive? Someone who is actually a devotee will be known by how much he displays the good qualities."

3. One major component in Vaishnava etiquette, humility: One of the main parts of Vaishnava etiquette is humility. It is considered so important that Lord Krishna lists it as the first part of knowledge in Bhagavad-Gita (amanitvam). Some quotes from Srila Prabhupada: To Patita Uddharan (12/12/74) "So we all have to cooperate amongst ourselves, otherwise what will people think if we ourselves fight with one another? A devotee is always ideal in behavior." SP Letter to Gargamuni 2/5/69 "Your humble repentance is just like a Vaishnava student, so I thank you very much for this humbleness. Lord Chaitanya taught us to be humbler that the grass on the street and more tolerant that the tree. So these symptoms are Vaishnava symptoms." *** SP Letter to Dindayal 2/2/70 "Krishna is so very merciful to those who are very humble in their attitude engaged in service of the Lord. Lord Chaitanya advised, therefore, one should be humbler than the straw and more tolerant than the tree and thus be seriously engaged in glorifying the Lord. This world is very awful. Anyone is ready to create some disturbance; especially they are very much apt to disturb Krishna Consciousness persons because that is the way of demoniac life. So, in order to protect us from all dangerous elements, we have to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra regularly being humbler than the straw and more tolerant than the tree. Then Krishna, Who is Dina-Dayal, will bestow His Mercy upon us." *** SP Letter to 8/18/70 Upendra "You are good for everything but your attitude to remain good for nothing is very nice. A Vaishnava is always humble and meek, and he is never puffed-up, even he has got the highest qualities of demigods."

4. Vaishnava Behavior is Inspiring for Everyone
SP Letter to Janardan (1/21/68) Humbleness is appreciated
SP Letter to Shivananda (9/14/68) "This Krishna consciousness movement through music, philosophy, spiritual culture, and personal behavior culminating in ideal character of the devotees. All these heavenly contributions combined together will certainly bring about a major change in the life of Western people."
SP Letter to Batu Gopal (2/1/75)
"You are right. We must all become ideal in character and then people will become very impressed with such purity. A devotee is faultless — he has no flaws."

- HH Bhakti Charu Swami (Vaisnava Etiquette Seminar)

Courtesy : http://gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com/2011/12/vaisnava-ettiquette-part-1.html
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Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

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The Iron Age of Addiction, Knowledge - Sankhya, Bhakti Yoga

Posted by dinesh

In this iron age,people are also iron hearted. One's ability to make the most of sense enjoyment is considered advanced civilization now. Truth is looked down upon,but Word jugglery which covers the truth is appreciated.Religious principles are considered obselete&only meant for old timers. What a pity? No one knows what is good for their own self. All have become mad men addicted to the abominable Habits of nasty lust,greed,pride,envy,anger,madness. These habits have

brought only self-destruction and destruction to those around all the time in the past,present and in future as well. This is an age of addiction. We are getting addicted to unwanted things even without our knowledge.

The same activities dancing,singing,sporting which when performed in clubs would otherwise bind us in the cycle of birth&death would liberate us when performed in front of Krishna in His temple for His pleasure. What's the difficulty? The result is twofold.We revive our lost Love for God. Other thing is We get released from the clutches of material energy simultaneously without even endeavoring for it separately.

The senses are like venomous serpents which need a better engagement like a snake charmer charming the snakes. The charm of the bluish boy standing on the banks of the river Yamuna alone can keep the senses intoxicated&free from the poison of the iron age.

It's actually the same material elements transformed into poison because of the enviousness of snake. The same material elements transformed to different ones by the consciousness of the living entity. Food is converted to blood in the process of digestion, the body of a man automatically converts his blood to semen by his thinking of a woman, a mother her blood to milk to feed the baby. All this is acintya-inconceivable. The nails, hair that are growing are also inconceivable to us.

In the actual sense,we are simply observers and only choice makers with what is provided to us by nature. Even the evacuation which is our normal day to day activity is controlled by a demigod.

" Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment"- BG # 3.5

(Purport to BG#13.3 begins)

"One who studies the subject matter of the field of activity and the knower of the field very minutely, in terms of this Bhagavad-gītā, can attain to knowledge.

The Lord says, "I am the knower of the field of activities in every individual body." The individual may be the knower of his own body, but he is not in knowledge of other bodies. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present as the Supersoul in all bodies, knows everything about all bodies. He knows all the different bodies of all the various species of life. A citizen may know everything about his patch of land, but the king knows not only his palace but all the properties possessed by the individual citizens. Similarly, one may be the proprietor of the body individually, but the Supreme Lord is the proprietor of all bodies. The king is the original proprietor of the kingdom, and the citizen is the secondary proprietor. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is the supreme proprietor of all bodies.

The body consists of the senses. The Supreme Lord is Hṛṣīkeśa, Which means "the controller of the senses." He is the original controller of the senses, just as the king is the original controller of all the activities of the state; the citizens are secondary controllers. The Lord says, "I am also the knower." This means that He is the superknower; the individual soul knows only his particular body. In the Vedic literature, it is stated as follows:

kṣetrāṇi hi śarīrāṇi

bījaḿ cāpi śubhāśubhe

tāni vetti sa yogātmā

tataḥ kṣetra-jña ucyate

This body is called the kṣetra, and within it dwells the owner of the body and the Supreme Lord, who knows both the body and the owner of the body. Therefore He is called the knower of all fields. The distinction between the field of activities, the knower of activities, and the supreme knower of activities is described as follows. Perfect knowledge of the constitution of the body, the constitution of the individual soul, and the constitution of the Supersoul is known in terms of Vedic literature as jñāna. That is the opinion of Kṛṣṇa. To understand both the soul and the Supersoul as one yet distinct is knowledge. One who does not understand the field of activity and the knower of activity is not in perfect knowledge. One has to understand the position of prakṛti (nature), puruṣa (the enjoyer of nature) and īśvara (the knower who dominates or controls nature and the individual soul). One should not confuse the three in their different capacities. One should not confuse the painter, the painting and the easel. This material world, which is the field of activities, is nature, and the enjoyer of nature is the living entity, and above them both is the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the Vedic language (in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 1.12), bhoktā bhogyaḿ preritāraḿ ca matvā/ sarvaḿ proktaḿ tri vidham-brahmam etat. There are three Brahman conceptions: prakṛti is Brahman as the field of activities, and the jīva (individual soul) is also Brahman and is trying to control material nature, and the controller of both of them is also Brahman, but He is the factual controller" (Purport to BG#13.3 ends)

Only a pure devotee of Krishna can completely understand this knowledge which differentiates the material elements-jadam from the Spirit-cetanam,conscious entity,which is to be knowable.

This is why Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that the Sankhya philosophy is already contained in Bhakti Yoga and only the less intelligent class of men make a distinction between Sankhya-yoga and Bhakti-yoga.

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

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One who sees the activities performed by the body to be that of material nature & who sees self does nothing, actually sees BG#13.30

Posted by dinesh

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 13.30

prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi

kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ

yaḥ paśyati tathātmānam

akartāraḿ sa paśyati

SYNONYMS

prakṛtyā — by material nature; eva — certainly; ca — also; karmāṇi — activities; kriyamāṇāni — being performed; sarvaśaḥ — in all respects; yaḥ — anyone who; paśyati — sees;tathā — also; ātmānam — himself; akartāram — the nondoer; saḥ — he; paśyati — sees perfectly.

TRANSLATION

One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.

PURPORT

This body is made by material nature under the direction of the Supersoul, and whatever activities are going on in respect to one's body are not his doing. Whatever one is supposed to do, either for happiness or for distress, one is forced to do because of the bodily constitution. The self, however, is outside all these bodily activities. This body is given according to one's past desires. To fulfill desires, one is given the body, with which he acts accordingly. Practically speaking, the body is a machine, designed by the Supreme Lord, to fulfill desires. Because of desires, one is put into difficult circumstances to suffer or to enjoy. This transcendental vision of the living entity, when developed, makes one separate from bodily activities. One who has such a vision is an actual seer.

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

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Chant Hare Krishna in any situation! Holy names are our only shelter!

Posted by dinesh

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ranjani Gopika <shyamkrishna108@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:42:52 +0530
Subject:
To: dinesh mahesh <dineshkrishna108@gmail.com>

The medicine to stop death is chant Hare Krishna
Golden moon Gaura chander has come,tells all the jivas to wake up wake up
chant Hare Krishna.
How long you will sleep on the lap of the witch called maya.Caitanya
Mahaprabhu said i came just to pick you up.
Except myself who is your friend.I brought you the medicine for treating
maya.Which destroys maya.Completely wipes out maya.
Its called Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.Take it Take it very
submissively.Bhakti vinod thakur says that he falls at the feet of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.He himself begging for the mercy,give me the holy name.Anyway
the conclusion is chant Hare Krishna.Dont be afraid of anything.Even if you
are afraid chant Hare Krishna.Actually there is onething devotee should
have fear,maya.Dont think i have conquered over maya.Now i am free from
maya.As soon as someone thinks like that means that they are already
captured by maya.Always chant Hare Krishna.Whether we are in a materially
happy situation or materially distress situation chant Hare Krishna.If you
get lots of money chant Hare Krishna.If you dont have any money chant Hare
Krishna.If you have more money and you lose it then what should you do
chant Hare Krishna.If you are very healthy jump up and down in kirtan
chanting Hare Krishna.If you are not healthy well you can atleast raise
your hands and chant Hare Krishna shaking your fingers.There is no loss you
wont lose anything.Full gain.All these advertisers advertise if you invest
in these policy you gain more.All cheaters,rascals.They all advertising
that you get benefit,but they are simply taking your money.This is the only
guaranteed program where no one will cheat you and you will get full
benefit.Sometimes people complaint even i came to ISKCON someone mistreated
me.May be.Anyway chant Hare Krishna.Someone may be mistreated you,after all
its kali yuga and we are all products of kali yuga.We cant expect everyone
chanting Hare Krishna to change over night from being a raakshasah to being
a pure devotee.But you have the opportunity to chant Hare Krishna.Wherever
you go whatever you do in this world someone is going to mistreat you.But
not everyone is going to ask you to chant Hare Krishna.So what is the
conclusion of this lecture chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and distribute Srila
Prabhupadas books and read Srila Prabhupadas books and follow what is in
Srila Prabhupadas books.Hare Krishna. ---- From the Lecture
given byHis Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami

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

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The miracles of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

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Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

The miracles of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

via kksblog.com by hina on 12/26/11

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta Part 4

We see that the divinity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is established. It comes up many times that He clearly is the Supreme Lord, and that there are many miracles that are related to this, because it is expected that whenever you deal with the Supreme Lord, then there are miracles. Some miracles that appeared are…..before His birth mother Śacīdevī saw celestial beings. In his childhood, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very small, in the house they could hear a child who was running around with ankle bells on, but no one was running around. There were footprints in the house, so they thought it was from the śālagrāma-śilā, but then they saw the marks of the footprints of Visnu and the same marks were on Nimai's feet, but he was too small to run. So how was it possible?

On Ekadasi, there was a great offering being made in the house of Hiraṇya and Jagadīśa, and it was a huge feast that was being cooked. Nimai was feeling very sick that day, and He said that the only thing that could cure Him was some of that prasad, but how did He know that they were having such an offering in that house? Nobody knew, but somehow or other He knew, and far away in the house of Hiraṇya and Jagadīśa there was this special prasad…and that was mystical!

I've often told the story of Nimai Pundit eating the brahmana's offering. He was a extremely learned – super human learning! Later as a preacher He went into the Jharikhanda forest and made the tigers and deers chant Hare Krishna…. and embrace each other. The tigers and deers were kissing each other, which was quite a miracle. He cured Vasudeva the leper from the disease. He also cured Sanatana's sores.

About one million years ago Lord Ramacandra was showing Sugrivah how very powerful he was, and that He was able to defeat Bali. Therefore, Lord Ramacandra took an arrow and shot it right through seven tall trees. Those trees were there, and when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India, He embraced those trees. As He embraced them, they disappeared one after another. So it has been said that they went to the spiritual world!

He pushed Lord Jagannatha's chariot with His head, when the chariot did not want to move. The king picked big wrestlers, but they could not move the chariot. Then he got the elephants to pull the chariot, but still the chariot would not move, but when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the back of the chariot and pushed lightly with His head, then it started to roll down the road, and the ropes were lying in peoples' hands and they were not pulling at all! And the chariot was just moving on its own. So these are just some of the miracles. My point is that the main miracle that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is showing is His outstanding symptoms of love of God and that is the real topic of the Caitanya-caritamrta!

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Krsna is the master. He may like you, He may not like you

Posted by dinesh

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Vrindavan Meditations

via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 12/26/11

"You cannot ask Krsna, 'Please come here. I'll see You,' just like you ask your dog or your servant. Krsna is nobody's servant. Krsna is the master. He may like you, He may not like you."

[ Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.26, Vrndavan, November13, 1976 ]

Please like me Lord!

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Qualities found in Great Devotees - GLORIOUS KRISHNA

Posted by dinesh

GLORIOUS KRISHNA

Qualities found in Great Devotees

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:38 PM PST

1.Anyone who has made the Srimad Bhagavatam better or more valuable than his own life, those ideal personalities are considered to be mahabhagavata devotees.
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/33 from Skanda Purana)

2. Any devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, after hearing the harsh and dry words from another devotee, tolerates them and pays obeisances to sucha devotee, they are certainly said to be real Vaisnavas.
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/35 from Linga Purana)

3. Anybody, after hearing My transcendental glories becomes jubilant and situates himself in goodness and becomes devoted to that speaker of Krsna'sglories and serves him, such a person is known as abhagavatottama, or highclass devotee.
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/40 from Brhan Naradiya Purana)

4. Anyone whose heart becomes jolly just by hearing the transcendental holy names of Lord Hari with a pleased mind and just by hearing these holy names,his hairs stand on end, he is considered a bhagavata (best devotee).
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/44 from Brhan Naradiya Purana)

5. Engaged constantly in chanting about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filledwith thoughts of My pastimes and activities.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.33)

6. Any person who does not get disturbed by lusty desires and who is always
rigidly attached to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, heis said to be a Visnu devotee.
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/46 from Visnu Purana - Yamaraja instructs his messengers)

7. Any person who remains attached to Lord Hari within his mind, even if many obstacles come on his path and he does not deviate from his service, it can becertainly understood that he is a devotee of the Supreme Lord.
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/67 from Skanda Purana)
-Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives his Digdarsani-tika commentary on this verse,
Anybody who is really attached to the transcendental subjects of Krsna,he becomes very purified and becomes free from all kinds of personal sense gratification, etc. Any person who wants to hear the transcendental message ofthe Supreme Lord and who wants to chant them with a loud voice and who feels this message is very rarely achieved, one who is attached to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna and one who wants his mind to be tied at His lotus feet, all of these personalities are to be known as Visnu bhaktas or devotees of the Supreme Lord. The sign of a clean devotee is that the devotee's mind is not disturbed. One who is engaged in pure devotional service does not become disturbed in any condition. He sees friends and enemies equally. He naturally develops a desire to not usurp somebody else's property. Everything that he needs is provided by the Supreme Lord, therefore it is said that one whose mind is not disturbed, he is said to be a properly minded person. Thus, he is said to be a Visnu devotee. He does everything. He does his own occupational duty without depending on others. Whatever is possible, he depends on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

8. Any person whose etiquette is best and proper, who lives according to the scriptures, who is very merciful to all living entities, who is pure and whose actions are offered to the Supreme Lord, are said to be Bhagavata devotees(very advanced devotees).
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 10/12 from Skanda Purana)

O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment.
(Bhagavatam 3.25.24 - Lord Kapila to Mother Devahuti)

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Soothing Rays of Krishna's Lotus Feet

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:20 PM PST

BHAGAVATA URU VIKRAMANGHRI SAKHA
NAKHA MANI CANDRIKAYA NIRASTA TAPE
HRDI KATHAM UPASIDATAM PUNAH SA
BHAVATI CANDRA IVA UDITE 'RKA TAPAH

When the moon shines in the sky, at that time, there is no heat available from the sun. Similarly, if somebody's heart is shined by the soothing rays of the diamond of the toenail of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, how can the burning sensation of material desires arise against in him?

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 10/54 from SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 11.2.54)

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Krishna is never approached directly!

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:15 PM PST

mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika (Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.19.21):
The worship of my devotees is higher than even My own worship.

Sri Ramanujacarya has stated:
The worship of Vaisnavas is greater than the worship of the Supreme Lord. Insulting a Vaisnava is more offensive than insulting Lord Visnu. The water that has washed the feet of a devotee is more pure than the water that has washed the feet of Gauranga-Krsna. There is no higher achievement than to worship a Vaisnava. There is nothing more offensive than being envious of a Vaisnava, which results in one's utter ruination. One should always converse with maha-bhagavata Vaisnavas, and one should never see the lowest of mankind who criticizesVaisnavas. One should never reside with a duplicitous person who is attached to sense gratification and decorated with the signs of a Vaisnava

Adi Purana:ye me bhakta-janah partha
na me bhaktas ca te janah
mad-bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas
te me bhakta-tama matah
`Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees and worshipers of My devotees are factually My devotees.'

Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila 11.31:
adhananam sarvesam
visnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi
tadiyanam samarcanam
`Lord Siva to Parvati: My dear Devi, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Visnu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Visnu is the rendering of worshipful service to the Vaisnavas, who are devoted to Lord Visnu.'

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sudama
Yes, Krishna is never approached directly. Krishna is approached through His bona fide servitors. He says that, "Carrying out the order of My pure devotee is greater than carrying out that directly given by Me." In this connection, I may inform you that you try your best to serve Krishna under the direction of your Spiritual Master and Krishna will surely help you in all respects.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Forgetting God

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 09:54 AM PST

Vamanadev: What of the Gurus who claim to be God?
Prabhupada: What if I say I am president Nixon? Would you accept me? Just tell me why not?
Vamanadev: You don't have the characteristics.
Prabhupada: That means you are not insane. (Prabhupada says approvingly). But If I say I am God and you accept me, can you begin to imagine such insantity? One man claims He is God and another man accepts him to be God.

Carlos(A guest): Are we all not one?
Prabhupada: That is a different thing. Are you one with President Nixon?
Carlos: Yes. He's a human being.
Prabhupada: That he may be. As human beings you have so much in common, but still you cannot say that you are president Nixon. In so many qualities, we are one with God but we aren't God. Those who do not how great God is, try to claim His greatness. This is insanity.
Carlos: Yes
Prabhupada: Insanity means forgetting God. Forgetting God means material consciousness, maya. When a man is insane, his condition is considered abnormal. Maya is abnormal departure from our original Krishna Consciousness. In maya, we falsely think we are independant. But really, who's independant?
Kirtananda: No more than proprietorship.
Prabhupada: So these are all false claims. The only real problem is, 'How can I best serve Krishna?' and Krishna is so kind that He says, Just chant Hare Krishna. That's all.

Srila Prabhupada Conversations from Hare Krishna Explosion :: 1968

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Who is Krishna?

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 09:53 AM PST

Columbus Reporter: Are you buddhist?

Prabhupada: Buddhist and Mayavadi philosophies externally deny the existence of God. One says there is no God and other says God is formless or impersonal, but we Vaisnava devotees are personal. We serve the person Krishna and by this we are eternal gainers. Service, as you know, it is not a very pleasant thing in this world, but service to Krishna is different. If you render Him service, you'll be satisfied, Krishna will be satisfied, everyone will be satisfied.

Reporter: Who is this Krishna?

Prabhupada: By Krishna, we refer to God, Bhagavan, The Supreme Person. This Bhagavad Gita is most important. You should read it carefully. We dont have to speculate or read hundreds of books. If we understand just this one book, we understand everything. Give up your mental specualtion. The laws of material nature are kicking us at every moment and we are not the ultimate Supreme Person. So just try to hear about the Supreme from the right source.

Hare Krishna Explosion Ch16: Krishna the flower bearing spring

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

First Requirement is Sincerity

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 09:55 AM PST

Srila Prabhupada: Because you are sincere, Krishna is giving you all facilities. The first requirement is sincerity to become the Lord's servant. We don't have to go far. Once qualified, we can talk to the Lord from within. The Lord is beyond our sensual perception, but He can reveal Himself to us. If you are a true lover of Godhead, you can see God everywhere, in your heart and also on the outside. But the Lord reveals Himself only through the bhakti-yoga process.

Hare Krishna Explosion Ch16: Krishna - the flower bearing spring

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Yamuna Devi Dasi & Srila Prabhupada - Vani and Vapuh Seva

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 09:58 AM PST

By HH Giriraj Swami

In 1971 Srila Prabhupada went to Allahabad for the Ardha-kumbha-mela, and Yamuna-devi and I were in the party that accompanied him. Srila Prabhupada spoke on the story of Ajamila and the holy name, from the Sixth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Only the first two cantos had been translated and published, so Prabhupada read from his Sanskrit Bhagavatam with commentaries, sometimes translating from Sridhara Svami's and occasionally from Jiva Gosvami's. While there, I heard that Srila Prabhupada had said that he was speaking for Yamuna. And in April 2007, when Yamuna visited me in Santa Barbara, I asked her about it, and she told me something that etched an indelible impression on my heart.

As she explained, she had always thought that she had as much right as anyone to walk or sit close to Srila Prabhupada. And generally when he spoke, she would sit right in front of the vyasasana. But in Allahabad one of the sannyasis explained to her that in India the women sat apart and that she should too. So the next morning she did not sit in her usual place at Srila Prabhupada's feet.

Later that morning, Srila Prabhupada noticed her passing by his tent, and he called, "Yamuna, come in here." She entered and offered her obeisances, and before she got up he said, "So, you don't want to hear anymore?" Yamuna burst into tears; Prabhupada—hearing from him—was her life. "Where were you this morning?" he asked. Yamuna told him exactly what had happened. Prabhupada was silent.
That, as she told me, was a turning point in her life. She realized that she would not always have Prabhupada's company. Until then, she had not been able to conceive of ever being separated from him. In 1967 Prabhupada had had a stroke, and the devotees had chanted all night, and Prabhupada had recuperated. The devotees were so dependent on him for everything, it was inconceivable to them that he would not be with them. But, she told me, every disciple must come to a personal realization that there will be a time when the spiritual master will not be present. And for her that moment came in Allahabad, after her talks with the sannyasi and then with Srila Prabhupada.

Sitting in Prabhupada's tent, she asked him, "How much time did you actually spend with your guru maharaja?" "Very few occasions—maybe five or six," he said. "But they were very intimate. We used to walk and talk so many things." Then he said, "Those who think that association with the spiritual master is physical, they are no better than a mosquito sitting on the lap of a king. And what is the business of a mosquito? Simply to suck blood. So many of my godbrothers, they were big, big sannyasis, and they thought like that, and they simply sucked blood."

Yamuna took Prabhupada's words as confirmation. From that point on, she understood that she needed to explore her relationship with him and service to him in separation. She began to consider the question of vani (words, instructions) and vapuh (physical presence), and she got more and more insight into it. As she told me, it is something "unlimitedly deep and profound. You can hear the terms on the surface, but it's something else again to actually be in Prabhupada's presence"—to be in his presence as much in separation as when you were in his physical association. "So that was a turning point for me, to realize that Prabhupada was going to leave this planet: 'He is an old man, and he is going to leave, and I have to prepare.' " She understood that from that moment she had to start mentally preparing.

"So that is that story of hearing," she continued. "Prabhupada said, 'I am speaking because you want to hear so much. I am speaking as much because you want to hear so much.' So he knew that hunger. I never expressed that to him, but he knew."As Yamuna often said, Srila Prabhupada was completely aware of every disciple in every way, both their internal consciousness and the external manifestations of their service.
Vani and vapuh became a major theme in Yamuna-devi's life—how to maintain one's connection with Srila Prabhupada through vani to the same degree and with the same intensity as in his presence—his close physical presence. She was convinced that it was possible, and she arranged her life in such a way as to always receive his guidance and mercy—to always be in his association.

At about 6:30 in the morning on December 20, Yamuna's constant companion and spiritual confidante, Dinatarini dasi, found that she had left. Her hand was in her bead bag, and a slight smile was on her face. She looked completely at peace—even blissful. She had not been afraid of death. She had been confident that she would again be with Prabhupada, or somehow engaged in serving his mission. Such is the destination that awaits anyone who gives his or her life fully to serving Srila Prabhupada.

Yamuna-devi was a beautiful person—a divine servant of Srila Prabhupada, his mission, and his Lords. She exemplified nama-ruci (taste for the holy name), jiva-daya (mercy for the living entities), and vaisnava-seva (service to the devotees). She was a mentor, guide, and friend to many, including me. We will miss her personal presence. Still, we shall try to serve her in separation by upholding the ideals.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Faith in Krishna Consciousness

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 03:54 AM PST

Bhagavad Gita 9.3

asraddadhanah purusah
dharmasyasya parantapa
aprapya mam nivartante
mrtyu-samsara vartmani

TRANSLATION
Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

PURPORT
The faithless cannot accomplish this process of devotional service; that is the purport of this verse. Faith is created by association with devotees. Unfortunate people, even after hearing all the evidence of Vedic literature from great personalities, still have no faith in God. They are hesitant and cannot stay fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus faith is a most important factor for progress in Krishna consciousness. In the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said that faith is the complete conviction that simply by serving the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, one can achieve all perfection. That is called real faith. As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.14

yatha taror mula nisecanena
trpyanti tat-skhanda bhujopasakah
pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam
tathaiva sarvarhanam acyute ja

"By giving water to the root of a tree one satisfies its branches, twigs and leaves, and by supplying food to the stomach one satisfies all the senses of the body. Similarly, by engaging in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord one automatically satisfies all the demigods and all other living entities." Therefore, after reading Bhagavad-gītā one should promptly come to the conclusion of Bhagavad-gītā: one should give up all other engagements and adopt the service of the Supreme Lord, Krsna.

Now, the development of that faith is the process of Krsna consciousness. There are three divisions of Krsna conscious men. In the third class are those who have no faith. Even if they are officially engaged in devotional service, they cannot achieve the highest perfectional stage. Most probably they will slip, after some time. They may become engaged, but because they haven't complete conviction and faith, it is very difficult for them to continue in Krsna consciousness. We have practical experience in discharging our missionary activity that some people come and apply themselves to Krsna consciousness with some hidden motive, and as soon as they are economically a little well situated they give up this process and take to their old ways again. It is only by faith that one can advance in Krsna consciousness. As far as the development of faith is concerned, one who is well versed in the literatures of devotional service and has attained the stage of firm faith is called a first-class person in Krsna consciousness. And in the second class are those who are not very advanced in understanding the devotional scriptures but who automatically have firm faith that Krsna-bhakti, or service to Krsna, is the best course and so in good faith have taken it up. Thus they are superior to the third class, who have neither perfect knowledge of the scriptures nor good faith but by association and simplicity are trying to follow. The third-class person in Krsna consciousness may fall down, but when one is in the second class he does not fall down, and for the first-class person in Krsna consciousness there is no chance of falling down. One in the first class will surely make progress and achieve the result at the end. As far as the third-class person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is concerned, although he has faith in the conviction that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is very good, he has not yet gained adequate knowledge of Kṛṣnạ through the scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā.

Those who have no faith even after hearing about Kṛṣṇa and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy, find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional service. For them there is very little hope of gaining perfection. Thus faith is very important in the discharge of devotional service.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

Two Classes of Beings

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 03:39 AM PST

dvav imau purusau loke
ksaras caksara eva ca
ksarah sarvani bhutani
kuto-stah 'ksara ucyate

Bhagavad Gita 15.16:

There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every living entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every living entity is called infallible.

PURPORT by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

As already explained, the Lord in His incarnation as Vyāsadeva compiled the Vedānta-sūtra. Here the Lord is giving, in summary, the contents of the Vedānta-sūtra. He says that the living entities, who are innumerable, can be divided into two classes — the fallible and the infallible. The living entities are eternally separated parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When they are in contact with the material world they are called jīva-bhūta, and the Sanskrit words given here, kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni, mean that they are fallible. Those who are in oneness with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, are called infallible. Oneness does not mean that they have no individuality, but that there is no disunity. They are all agreeable to the purpose of the creation. Of course, in the spiritual world there is no such thing as creation, but since the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as stated in the Vedānta-sūtra, is the source of all emanations, that conception is explained.

According to the statement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, there are two classes of living entities. The Vedas give evidence of this, so there is no doubt about it. The living entities who are struggling in this world with the mind and five senses have their material bodies, which are changing. As long as a living entity is conditioned, his body changes due to contact with matter; matter is changing, so the living entity appears to be changing. But in the spiritual world the body is not made of matter; therefore there is no change. In the material world the living entity undergoes six changes — birth, growth, duration, reproduction, then dwindling and vanishing. These are the changes of the material body. But in the spiritual world the body does not change; there is no old age, there is no birth, there is no death. There all exists in oneness. Kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni: any living entity who has come in contact with matter, beginning from the first created being, Brahmā, down to a small ant, is changing its body; therefore they are all fallible. In the spiritual world, however, they are always liberated in oneness.

Blog: www.gloriouskrishna.blogspot.com

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

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in the form of time He devours also [BG.13.19]

Posted by dinesh

Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.13.19]

TEXT 17:

avibhaktam ca bhuteshu

vibhaktam iva ca sthitam

bhuta-bhartri ca taj jneyam

grasishnu prabhavishnu ca

TRANSLATION:

Although the Supersoul appears to be divided among all beings, He is never divided. He is situated as one. Although He is the maintainer of every living entity, it is to be understood that He devours and develops all.

PURPORT:

The Lord is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. Does this mean that He has become divided? No. Actually, He is one. The example is given of the sun: The sun, at the meridian, is situated in its place. But if one goes for five thousand miles in all directions and asks, "Where is the sun?" everyone will say that it is shining on his head. In the Vedic literature this example is given to show that although He is undivided, He is situated as if divided. Also it is said in Vedic literature that one Vishnu is present everywhere by His omnipotence, just as the sun appears in many places to many persons. And the Supreme Lord, although the maintainer of every living entity, devours everything at the time of annihilation. This was confirmed in the Eleventh Chapter when the Lord said that He had come to devour all the warriors assembled at Kurukshetra. He also mentioned that in the form of time He devours also. He is the annihilator, the killer of all. When there is creation, He develops all from their original state, and at the time of annihilation He devours them. The Vedic hymns confirm the fact that He is the origin of all living entities and the rest of all. After creation, everything rests in His omnipotence, and after annihilation everything again returns to rest in Him. These are the confirmations of Vedic hymns. Yato va imani bhutani jayante yena jatani jivanti yat prayanty abhisam-visanti tad brahma tad vijijnasasva (Taittiriya Upanishad 3.1).

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Yours

Dinesh

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

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