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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

Association of Devotees - Precious Gift of God




GLORIOUS KRISHNA


Why did Lord Kapiladeva Come?

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:04 AM PST

Why did Lord Kapiladeva come ?


He came to give transcendental knowledge to the misguided conditioned souls. The living entities lost the
understanding of Krishna. There was no way the people could actually understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead because they became very, they became very philosophically inclined, very mental, intellectually.

So Kapiladeva came and through this intellectual endeavor He made them understand God. You are saying God, you don't, you are not interested in God because you cannot see Him, okay come, I'll prove that God is there. So, that's what Kapila did through Sankhya philosophy. If you want to, philosophy means, trying to understand things with your mental ability, intellectual ability. Philosophy means, philosophy is the process of
understanding things with your own ability, with your own perception, with your own intellect. Therefore, they come up with different ideas, because different people have different perceptions. But Kapiladeva came through that process, through that process of assimilating knowledge, come to the conclusion that the Lord is there.

And what is the conclusion, okay analyze the entire material creation the entire material world has been analyzed. The other day we discussed, how many of you remember ? With how many elements the material, how many considerations, the entire material creation has been analyzed ?

Devotees: twenty four
HH BCS : So tell me how, what are those twenty four ?

Devotee. Earth, water, fire, air, ether, then five senses, then sense objects.
HH BCS : How many ?
Devotee?. Fifteen
HH BCS : No, sense objects is how many ?
Devotee…. five
HH BCS : Okay, fifteen, okay, then ? Five working senses! How many ?
Devotee: five
HH BCS : Okay, fifteen ? Okay, then ? Five working senses, how many ? Twenty, okay, then ?
Devotee : Then, mind, intelligence, false ego.
HH BCS :  Twenty three
Devotee : Twenty three
HH BCS :  And then ?
Devotee…. Mahattatva
HH BCS : Twenty four, entire material nature has been analyzed.

But where were you ? (laughs) That's what Kapila, that is, the point is, He is raising, okay the whole material nature has been analyzed, but the material, this is being experienced by whom ? By the individual. So where is the individual ? Could He find the individual in the material nature ? No.

So, where is he found ? Beyond material nature. So, individual, therefore is non material. So, we see that how they transcended the material nature and came to the spiritual platform. Then, we all are individuals. So, do we have an origin ? So who is the origin of all individuals? Krishna. So, twenty six. So, Krishna is established. Ok, so that is the real sankhya. So, in this way, Kapiladeva made even the atheistic people recognize the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the mode of goodness, people tend can become too much involved in, in austerities and pious, piety for their personal elevation. So that is also another mistake. Like, forgetting Krishna they are trying to enjoy themselves, elevating to the heavenly planets. When you read the scriptures, you see specially Ramayan, you see all these sages were performing such severe austerities just to become elevated to the heavenly planets. Hardly anyone was actually pursuing devotional service. So,that means they were in mode of goodness but they were not involved in devotional service so Kapiladeva came and gave them the process of devotional service.

- HH Bhakti Charu Swami SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 3, CHAPTER 33, ACTIVITIES OF KAPILA, TEXT 5 :: October 2011

Pretty Pink Vrindavan Darshan - 18.01.2012

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 06:45 AM PST

Association of Devotees - Precious Gift of God

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:09 AM PST

The association of devotees is the most precious gift of God in all of creation. When Krsna wants to bestow His most intimate mercy, He allows us to associate with His most sincere devotees. Srila Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami, the author of Sri Caitanya Charitamritam has prayed that on this path of bhakti I am a cripple and I am tripping and falling but the stick in the form of the mercy of the vaisnavas is keeping me able to continue walking forward on the path of devotion. Srila Prabhupada has said that anyone who thinks that they can be Krsna conscious without the association with sincere devotees is insane. Each and every devotee who is honestly struggling to follow the path of the previous acaryas is such a rare jewel in this world and to the degree that we are able to appreciate the earnest efforts of these rare jewels; to that degree we will become dear to Krsna. And to the degree we try to see the faults of others or the negative side of a person who is struggling to be Krsna conscious; to that degree we will be neglected by Krsna.
-H.H. Radhanath Swami

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami in his Manah Siksa (Instructions to the Mind) compares duplicitous and wicked activities such as fault finding to the urine of an ass. Only a great fool would think that by taking bath in the urine of an ass he can become purified, if someone is foolish enough to bath in the urine of an ass he will only become more contaminated. In same way sometimes in the course of our Krishna conscious we indulge in such lower propensities as faultfinding and criticizing and although one may justify them in so many ways and actually believe that by doing so he is cleansing his consciousness and making spiritual advancement, factually such a person is only sinking lower and lower into material consciousness. And he says that rather than indulging in such deceitful behavior which is compared to the urine of an ass one should dive into the glistening nectar-ocean of pure love for Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna).

In the next verse Srila Raghunath Goswami instructs us that the root cause is, pratisthasa, the desire for name and fame or as Srila Prabhupada would say desires for profit, adoration, and distinction. His advice is that one constantly serve one's guru who is very dear to the Lord and with a voice choked with emotion cry out to Lord Giridhari, in order to be free from such wickedness and attain the pristine treasure of pure love of God.

Who is an Atheist?

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:04 AM PST

"If you are not an optimist you are an atheist." B.R. Sridhar Swami


A person who actually has faith in God must be be optimistic because within every situation he can see the hand of God working to bring him closer to God. And to not see reality in this way, to see things negatively is a form of atheism, or lack of faith in God. As devotees of God we should be optimistic in every circumstance, even in what is normally considered the worst circumstance, the destruction of the physical body, a devotee can be completely optimistic, even while facing illness and eventual death.

Sometimes people criticize devotees for being pessimistic. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that part of knowledge is to see the evils of birth, death, old age, and disease. But that does not mean that devotees should be depressed or morose. A devotee is joyful, and despite the fact that he sees the reality of this world and how everyone is bound to suffer and eventually die, nevertheless he "is disposed to take a favorable view of events." Because rather than seeing the world as a hostile place full of danger he sees Krishna everywhere, in all situations, and in every situation he sees the loving merciful hand of the Lord.

First Principle is Enthusiasm

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:57 AM PST


"In the path of Krsna consciousness the first principle is enthusiasm. If you lack enthusiasm then other things will not happen. And you can keep enthusiastic if you follow the rules and regulation and chant regularly Hare Krsna mantra. Otherwise that enthusiasm also will dry. So six things are required for advancing Krsna consciousness. The first thing is enthusiasm. Utsahan dhairyat. And patience. And niscayad, with conviction, firm conviction. Utsahan dhairyat niscayad tat-tat-karma-pravartanat. Following the rules and regulation, chalked out plans. And sato vrtteh, dealing very straightforward. No diplomacy, no politics, no duplicity. That will not help. Sato vrtteh. Vrtteh, his profession should be very straightforward. No underhand dealings. Sato vrtteh and sadhu-sanga, and in the association of devotees.

Six things. Enthusiasm, patience, firm conviction, following the rules and regulations, dealing straightforward, no duplicity, and in association of devotees. If you can keep these six principles always in front then your progress in Krsna consciousness is sure. There is no doubt about it. So as far as possible I've tried to train you and you are doing nice. I'm satisfied. So keep the standard and go on. March forward and Krsna will bless you."

- Srila Prabhupada Letters :: LA,2.august 1970

Take Shelter of Chaitanya and Nityananda

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:52 AM PST



Srila Prabhupada was travelling from Mexico to Miami in 1975, and He landed at the Atlanta Temple. When Srila Prabhupada arrived at the temple, He said that He was very glad to see the devotees. He knows that the devotees were having issues but the issue is not on the basis of material existence. The issue is that I am struggling to be a devotee which is good because Krishna Consciousness is sweet but it is a sweet struggle nevertheless. Srila Prabhupada used to say if you are struggling in Krishna Consciousness it's fine, but if you are struggling in material life that is not good. In one lecture Srila Prabhupada said, to be pure is not difficult but to be impure is very difficult. Similarly, if we struggle in material life we are going nowhere, but if we struggle in spiritual life we are going somewhere.


So Srila Prabhupada was hearing there were difficulties and in His first words He said, 'I am glad to see you and your temple is the best.' Hearing this, all devotees went in ecstacy and immediately Prabhupada took away all their anxieties. 'These two Lords Nityananda and Chaitanya, Srila Prabhupada says, They are very kind. Krishna demands surrender but Nityananda and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu say, come as you are. So take shelter of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and be happy.'

- As told in a lecture by HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Maharaj

Simply Chanting and Dancing gives Perfection

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:31 AM PST


Locana dasa declares that the two Lords, Nitai-Gauracandra Lord Nitai and Lord Caitanyaare very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that prosecuting their way of self-realization is simply joyful, for they introduced chanting and dancing. There are many incarnations, like Lord Rama and even Krishna, who taught Bhagavad-gita, which requires knowledge and understanding. But Lord Caitanya introduced a process which is simply joyful simply chant and dance.

Therefore Locana Das requests everyone: "My dear brother, I request that you just worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with firm conviction and faith." Don't think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal. It will. It is the assurance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore one must chant with firm faith and conviction.

But what is the process? If one wants to be Krishna conscious by this process, one has to give up his engagement in sense gratification. That is the only restriction. If one gives up sense gratification, it is sure that he will reach the desired goal. One simply has to chant "Hari Hari!" without any motive of sense gratification.

Locana das says, "My dear brother, you just try and examine this. Within the three worlds there is no one like Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda, because Their merciful qualities are so great that They make even birds and beasts cry, what to speak of human beings."

 
Actually, when Lord Caitanya passed through the forest known as Jharikhanda, the tigers, elephants, snakes, deer, and all other animals joined Him in chanting Hare Krishna. It is so nice that anyone can join. Even the animals can join, what to speak of human beings. Of course, it is not possible for ordinary men to induce animals to chant, but if Caitanya Mahaprabhu could inspire animals to chant, at least we can encourage human beings to adopt this path of Hare Krishna mantra chanting. It is so nice that even the most stonehearted man will be melted. It is so nice that even stone will melt.

But Locana dasa Thakura regrets that he is entrapped by sense gratification. He addresses himself, "My dear mind, you are entrapped in this sense gratification process, and you have no attraction for chanting Hare Krishna. Since you have no attraction for the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, what can I say? I can simply think of my misfortune. Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, is punishing me by not allowing me to be attracted by this movement."

- Srila Prabhupada's explanation of the beautiful bhajana by Locana Dasa Thakur
'Parama Karuna Pahu Dui Jana'
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Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Just as the sky doesnt mix with anything, the soul is also separate from the body in any condition of life - BG#13.35

 
Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.13.35]
 
 
TEXT 33:
 
yatha sarva-gatam saukshmyad
akasam nopalipyate
sarvatravasthito dehe
tathatma nopalipyate
 
 
 
TRANSLATION:
 
The sky, due to its subtle nature, does not mix with anything, although it is all-pervading. Similarly, the soul situated in Brahman vision does not mix with the body, though situated in that body.
 
 
 
PURPORT:
 
The air enters into water, mud, stool and whatever else is there; still it does not mix with anything. Similarly, the living entity, even though situated in varieties of bodies, is aloof from them due to his subtle nature. Therefore it is impossible to see with the material eyes how the living entity is in contact with this body and how he is out of it after the destruction of the body. No one in science can ascertain this. 
 
 
Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 
 
 
--
Yours
Dinesh
 

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Sins of Body Mind and Speech

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Dr Satish Gosain (Sri Krishna Hari Das)" <sri.krishna.hari@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:47:25 +0530
Subject: Fwd: [ISKCON_jivatattva] Sins of Body Mind and Speech
To:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jiva Tattva <iskcon_jivatattva@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Subject: [ISKCON_jivatattva] Sins of Body Mind and Speech
To: "ISKCON_jivatattva@yahoogroups.com" <ISKCON_jivatattva@yahoogroups.com>


**


"Srila Prabhupad Ki Jai"

Happy KC Birthday to our dear devotee member!!!
Happy Spiritual journey to One and All!!!

Topic of Study
Why do I want to be Good
Diseased Life Vs Healthy life
*
*
*Diseased Life*
According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, mano-vak-kaya-dandam, or
strict control of the mind, speech and bodily activities, means
manasa-vacika-kayika-vikarma-rahityam; that is, one should rigidly abandon
all sinful activities with his mind, speech and body.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 11.3.26

Note:

The three sins of: Body

1. *killing,*
2. *stealing, and*
3. *having sex with another's wife*

are called kayika, or those caused by the body
*
The three sins of : Mind

1. coveting other's wealth,
2. being devoid of compassion for all living entities, and
3. thinking "let my activities bear fruit"

are called manasika, or those caused by the mind.
*
*The four sins of: Speech*

1. *useless talk,*
2. *arrogance,*
3. *cruelty, and*
4. *telling lies*

are called vacika, or those caused by the speech

For more information please long on to our blogs

http://srilaprabhupadavaniseva.wordpress.com/

http://srilaprabhupadavapuseva.wordpress.com/

http://srilaacbhaktivedantathakuraprabhupada.wordpress.com/

"Gaura Bhakta Vrida Ki Jai"

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Yours Servant

Sri Krishna Hari Das
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Vrindavan Meditations: "My Real Desire Is To Become Your Devotee!"

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 1/17/12

"Krsna will give you the chance,"   'All right, if you have got still desire for material enjoyment, do it.'

 

"I want to become a king."  'All right, become a king.'

 

"I want to become a dog."  'All right, become a dog.'

 

He gives you both opportunity. And we are doing that. We're doing that. We are rotating throughout the whole universe in different types of bodies just to fulfill our damned desires."

 

[  Srila Prabhupada lecture, Nairobi on 11.1.75 ]

 


 
 

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Preaching is super easy!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/17/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta part 6

If one wants to distribute Krishna Consciousness then it is not propaganda. The communists were into propaganda. I lived here in Bengal and saw communist books in the bookstores, which were all over Bengal for propaganda. You can see that there was communism in Bengal, which is all a propaganda machine. But Krishna Consciousness can never be a propaganda machine. We must be the embodiedment of the books!

If we are the only movement that distribute books – yes then those books will make them into devotees…..but we will drop on the way beside ourselves, then we ourselves will become the casualty. That is not the idea, since we have to do it ourselves, because we have to live it! And that of course, is very important. It is not that we have to live it by being strict followers. Although, we should be strict followers, but that is not what we are talking about. We have to taste it!

Srila Prabhupada once said that:

"Preaching is very easy. Just show people how happy you are!"

It's easy isn't it? It's super easy!


Rating: 0.0/7 (0 votes cast)


 
 

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We all fly our own plane

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Yadurani on 12/30/11

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 28 Dec 2011, Pretoria, SA) One can think about a 100 problems in life which make it very difficult for us to practice this Krsna consciousness. Everyone can write down 100 special difficulties- 'why I have an extra problem in being a devotee…'- like health, relationships with other people (family relationships, marriage relationships, work relationships- where there's a whole field of problems! So in all these areas we can list our problems- then the government problems…it doesn't end! And all these are giving us good reasons why it's extra difficult for us to be a devotee and everyone feels like that. Everyone feels that, 'it's especially difficult for me. It is easier for others but my circumstance is that it's especially difficult for me.' Everyone feels that. It is funny but we always feel that we are the one who somehow or other has it more difficult for us. But that's not a fact. Everyone has the mercy and should think, 'what will I do with it?' We all fly our own plane and we all have this individual responsibility to take advantage of this mercy.


 
 

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Our suffering

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/4/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Dec 2011, Sasolburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)

When we are taking up a spiritual path, then we also have a tendency to suffer. Spiritual people also go through so many things, but their aim is not to contribute towards that suffering, and not to cause suffering to any other living beings. Those are their objectives.

As I have explained earlier, that in this world, we are all experiencing some degrees of suffering, because the fundamental nature of life also has suffering within it – ageing, disease, death…just to name a few fundamental things, which have nothing to do with externally created things.

Nature also has a lot of cruelty intent. In the animal kingdom one animal attacks another and so on and they are not free from suffering. So suffering is there in this world. Spirituality means that we are not aiming to add to this suffering, because isn't a word like 'salvation' found in all religious traditions? To relieve people from the suffering, is the objective and we are not going to contribute towards suffering. Then we say, that whatever suffering we are going through, then that is through previous choices and activities. So it is said that the living being came to this world in the first place, because he turned away from God!


 
 

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Freedom from what?

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by hina on 1/5/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Dec 2011, Sasolburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)


In religious tradition we find many values that are restricting interactions between men and women. Or restricting foodstuffs, consummation of alcohol, drugs – all of these things are governed by religious tradition. But there is logic to it, because there are also problems with these things. This is what we see, that when these things are becoming very prominent, then it gets into a huge mess! I mean if one's own son becomes severely addicted to drugs, then you cannot even have him in your house anymore, since he will steal everything that is there. That is what will happen and everyone knows that it gets like that. What to speak of all the violence and other things that are relating to something more socially accepted, such as alcohol!

So many spiritual traditions in the world are either forbidding or restricting these things, because they obviously bring problems in life! So there are regulative principles. The Vedic scriptures – the Bhagavad-Gita (which is one of the Vedic scriptures) is saying that it is introducing the regulative principles of freedom. All these regulations that are there, are not actually meant to suffocate people. A lot of people from all over the world have turned away from religion because they were tired from all these narrow suffocating ideas, and they just want to be natural:

'I just want to be natural!'

That tendency is there in the modern world…it's everywhere. It doesn't matter whether it is in Bombay…New York… Johannesburg…Paris or London, since it's all the same thing. The churches, temples and other religious buildings are empty due to people wanting to be free and natural. That is fine, but the Bhagavad-Gita is saying that these restrictions are the regulative principles of freedom. Freedom from what? Doesn't look very free at all! Not allowed to do anything. Not allowed to drink or smoke…………….. With so many restrictions, how can we call that the regulative principles of freedom? Yes they are called the regulative principles of freedom, because they set us free from suffering – that is the essence of it!


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A Movement For The Most Fallen!

there's a chance even for me then ;-)

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via kksblog.com by Anisha on 1/11/12

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 29 December 2011, Munich, Germany)

We should know that Lord Caitanya's movement is not to reclaim those who are in pure goodness.  It is not the movement to reclaim those who are fully self-realized and never under the influence of the 3 modes of material nature, who are never ever attracted to enjoying the senses.
No, the movement of Lord Caitanya is particularly to reclaim those who are most fallen!


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Engaging all of our senses!

 
 

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via kksblog.com by hina on 1/16/12

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta part 6

Bhakti or devotional service means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord. Sanatana Goswami wrote a book called, 'Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta', which describes how Gopa Kumara is searching for the topmost abode. At one point Gopa Kumara had gone into the higher regions of this universe. He went to Tapaloka, which is just before the Brahmaloka. So it is the planet – the one before the last. That planet was filled with all yogis who are just focusing on the Lord within their mind. So Gopa Kumara was there and everyone said:

"Let's just meditate on the Lord within the mind."

But Gopa Kumara said:

"No, I want to see him!"

"But seeing is only the process of the senses which send signals to the mind. So seeing really happens in the mind! Therefore what it is really all about is the meditation, it is not the seeing, it is the meditation. So you should just meditate."

So that was their point, but Gopa Kumara said no, because he wasn't satisfied. What he wanted was: With all his senses to drink in the Lord. He wanted to see the form of the Lord; to think of the Lord; to smell the Lord; to hear the Lord; touch the Lord. He wanted to engage all of his senses in perceiving the Lord – that is bhakti!

So it sounds logical when one hears the arguments – yes it's all meditation, because everything leads to meditation, but then that is defeated. Gopa Kumara said:

"No!"

To engage all the senses in the service of the Lord and experience all of the senses – and that is higher. And you get descriptions about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saying:

"All my five senses are like a wild horse running to Krishna simultaneously, and each one of them is competing with the other for prominence!"

So it is very confusing, the sound….the smell and the sight are all competing with each other. So it is very interesting how love of God is about engaging all the senses. So even in practise we are already meant to engage all of our senses in the service of the Lord, and therefore a flower, water and flame – and all these senses are all engaged in the service of the Lord. And in the perfect stage each one of these senses becomes totally awoken!


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Dubai Versus Vraja

 
 

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via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 1/14/12

I have found Dubai to be a very opulent city, reminiscent of Svargaloka. But it doesn't come close to the beauty and grandeur of Vrindavan according to Srila Bilvamangala Thakur!

 

"My dear Lord, what can I say about the opulence of Your Vrndavana? Simply the ornaments on the legs of the damsels of Vrndavana are more than cintamani, and their dresses are as good as the heavenly parijata flowers. And the cows exactly resemble the surabhi cows in the transcendental abode. Therefore Your opulence is just like an ocean that no one can measure."

 

[ From Krsna-karnamrta by Srila Bilvamangala Thakura ]

 

 

Dubai at night.


 
 

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Vrindavan Meditations

 
 

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via Indradyumna Swami's Facebook Notes by Indradyumna Swami on 1/8/12

"My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But your servant, Narada Muni, kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental postion. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I ever leave his service?" [ SB. 11.3.21 ]

 


 
 

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