Who is a Vaishnava? -Part2

Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 7.4.33) Lecture by HH Radhanath Swami On Who Is A Vaishnava given in Mumbai in the year 2008.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08eUbk-TcpE

Audio File of the complete lecture with all three parts is linked here

You can read the transcript and get the link to the part 1 lecture here:
Who is a Vaishnava- Part 1(Prahlada Maharaja's Qualities)
Completely free from Unnatural pride
Even a beggar who has nothing is proud. The mind will think of something to be proud of. You are laying on the side of sewage ditch with others and a rat comes up you will say the rat is like me better than you-- your mind will think of something to be proud of. But here you find somebody who is wealthy- what happens when you are wealthy- so much power from your wealth- so many people ask favors and depended on you because of your wealth. Very learned very adept mind- to find solutions quickly to be able to cite different books, equations , aristocracy, beauty- Prahlada was very beautiful  so charming he attracted everyone because of his beauty. But he had no unnatural pride- If you put yourself in the center then you have to be proud of these things but if you put Krishna in the center you can never be proud.Krishna says in Gita whatever opulence you see in this world is only a spark of my splendor. Punar mushtika bhava- Krishna can make you a lion Krishna can make you a mouse. Nothing to be proud of . God is great and SB tells us how great is God. 
Overcome envy towards Vaishnavas
dhyayate visaya pumsam
dhyayate visaya pumsam
 Greed is a type of lust for money, envy is lust to hurt somebody, pride is lust for prestige and distinction, Anger is a lust for vengeance. Lust and then the flame is getting better- the warning signals are getting stronger we have to do something about it. But if we keep feeding it then lust becomes frustrated it gets converted anger. Anger is stirring in our heart. Are we going to do something about it- subdue it or divert that energy in a positive spiritual way - if not anger bewilders the memory- that means all the 100 and 100s of SB classes where we learned all the nice things and all the times we read the scriptures and all the prayers we offered, bewildered memory means means its not there at that time.
 When memory is bewildered intelligence is lost- we do things we know we are not supposed to do, but in that moment our intelligence just cannot discriminate and then we again fall down again in the material pool.
What is the solution?
 Most of all connect ourselves back to Krishna fill our minds with His Holy Names.Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.....it takes great determination." Unlike the other asuras he was never envious of vaishnavas"-
 So when the envy comes into our heart toward another vaishnava then we should not feed it, yes yes, and the mind contemplating more and more faults of that Vaishnava or do something, rather we should check it, we should understand this envy in my heart is an asura a demon- am I going to allow this asura to conquer me, to take me away from Krishna or am I going to fight this asura of envy. How do we do that? By really trying to appreciate that vaishnava, by philosophically understanding that if Krishna is empowering this Vaishnava if I am envious of him I am envious of Krishna, who am I to dictate to Krishna who he should empower and who he should not. We should feel Krishna is pleased , Krishna is conquered by one who feels joy in the success of others. Krishna is repelled , disgusted by one who is envious of the success of others. So whatever is there in our heart let us act according to what we should be doing , let us speak what we should speak- that will show our sincerity of not being an asura. Sorry about that .
He was not agitated when he was in danger"
"He considered everything material to be useless"
when I was on the airplane i saw news.-- throughout the ages India has been infamous for poverty- considered as a dirty poverty stricken place. Of the billionaires in the world- top ten- there are billionaires in the top ten from india than other places. America had two billionaires , India had 4. america was in the second place.That means India had twice as many billionaires than any other country in the world and most of them within Bombay.
So all these billionaires - PM is saying everything material is useless- bec they will lose it either in this life or next. All those millions can do nothing for the soul for anyone- but if you really understand what is useful our relationship with God and our devotion to God that is the only useful thing with permanence only thing that is real, then yukta vairagya- then we can use all those things in a useful way- millions of dollars- right purpose with proper consciousness then the thing itself is very useful. everything material or spiritual in this world is spiritual as RG explains. om purnam adah... how can darkness come out of the sun- only when you turn away from the sun there is darkness everything is Krishna's energy and if you looking toward Krishna and using Krishna's energy for Krishna's pleasure then everything is spiritual. But when we use things looking in the darkness of the shadow then it is material.
So for Pm everything material is useless  That means anything separated from Krishna is useless. Therefore he could use the whole kingdom and all the resources in useful ways in the service of God and what is the greatest service to God- to bring the souls closer to God- that is the mission of god. 
In the SB 3rd Canto it is described that the whole purpose of material existence to facilitate conditioned souls to go BTG.Thats the reason of creation. And all the suffering, heaven, hells, dualities, three modes is all just facilities- somehow or otehr it is whta condn souls need to go through to make the wise choice of going BTG.



He was completely free from this unnatural pride that might have risen from the good qualities he had- riches, beauty, aristocracy, high education and so on. This is a very very divine quality- you have everything but you are not proud. 


And although Prahlada was born in a family of asuras, he was not an asura- he was a great devotee.
Here is a very key sentence that may cause us to tremble. "Unlike the other asuras"- very strong language- these are the words of SP, SG, SG Narada Muni- so I feel bold enough to speak it."He was never envious of a vaishnava" What does that mean? Very powerful statement. Do you understand what that means? What are you if you are envious of a Vaishnava? Say it loud. I am hearing you say sura, please emphasize the first syllable. Acc to SB if you are envious of vaishnavas you are asura. How many f you have some envy towards another vaishnava in your heart. You maybe a vaishnava- everyone raised there hands that means they are asura- so if I am envious of them I am not and asura because they are not vaishnava- this is the way the mind justifies things. It is an asura quality. That envy is an asura quality- if this anartha esp the anartha of envy, lust, pride greed, illusion are also like sparks- if we are not very careful to monitor them to control them to subdue them- that takes effort- if you do not do that- that will grow.

 dhyayate visaya - in the beginning we contemplate the objects of the senses , we may contemplate envy, greed, or pride any of these things. From such contemplation attachment develops. From attachment if we don't curb it, if we don't monitor that spark it becomes a flame- it becomes lust- lust means a craving- we could just identify this at the physical level but on a subtle level all these things are lust.



 tani sarvani.... the solution is we must restrain our sense but simultaneously we must fix our consciousness on Krishna. We cannot just restrain our senses, can't just say no no no- we must say no but we must divert our attn to Krishna, keep ourselves busy in KC. Idle mind is a devil's workshop. When Maya attacks in this way in the very beginning at the time of contemplation and is it grows we should just start reading from Srila Prabhupada books start doing some active service to occupy our mind and senses.



Because he had faith in Krishna.

This is very interesting.Because he was 5 yr old but later he became king- kings have to deal with many materialistic things, he was ruling his whole race. He had a crown- Brahma put crown on Him- he had throne palaces and everything else. How can you be running a kingdonm when you think everything material is useless. Bec he was seeing useless from the perspective of what is of real value- there is only one thing of value- bhakti- neha bhrikaman sosti- any devotional service you render will never be lost. Anything else you earn will be lost- the more you earn the more you will suffer when it is lost.

There was another survey of the 25 dirtiest cities in the world- Bombay was number 7, how many of you think Bombay is cleaner than Delhi- Delhi was number 24. Calcutta is dirtier than Bombay? Your pride is finished- Calcutta was thoroughly examined it is not even on the list and Bombay is number 7 we are far filthier than Calcutta- what that has to do with class - I will try to figure out a connection but it was an interesting connection.




He was always controlled his senses and life airs and being of steady intelligence he subdued all lusty desires.

We must first of all have steady intelligence- comes by hearing regularly- sravana- first process of bhakti- hearing Hari katha- not hearing newspapers - we may get some info to use in Krishna's service but we should enjoy them- we should take inspiration in hearing about Krishna - hearing about bhakti- by hearing regularly our intelligence is steady- but with that steady intelligence determination is reqd to practice it no matter what- even when confronted by temptation danger threat, we should be determined- to be steady in our intelligence to make the right choices.

Recently in Mayapur, our God Brother Anutama a Pr defined the meaning of responsibility- Srila Prabhupada said we make advancement in Kc according to how we accept responsibility- so this is a very important word- how can you accept something if you do not know what it means. How many of us really know what responsibility means. He gave a very nice explanation - two words- Ability and response- so whatever comes in our life whether it is temptations from within or without -c confrontations from within or without how we respond is what will either elevate us or degrade us- our ability to respond in every possible situation in Krishna Consciousness - is how we make progress-. The choice that we make in every provocative situation in our life. Often times in lecture of marriage- we say don't worry about love because you don't know what love is- especially between a man and woman that is the most bewildering defn of love- bec it is based on physical features, personality traits, maybe theoretical astro compatibility  it maybe about attraction not love- but attraction is very much emotional and physical- what happens to that- how long does it last- few hours, few days, few years, but then familiarity breeds contempt and soon the attractions gone. The thrill of our reln that thrill is gone, forever. I start feeling some thrill is coming from somebody else now. Marriage is about Responsibility-love, affection, attraction may or may not be there, don't worry about it- what is going to keep people together and keep people happy together- is responsibility- our ability to respond to each other, to situations , to everything i a away that is pleasing to Krishna. Living in Brahmacari life- amazing thing is I see as much love between brahamcaris much more than husband wife not in terms of physical ,sexual, amorous but in terms of real responsibility- we have responsibility to each other.

Steady intelligence- determination- determination hear means in this sense really means responsibility - to be able to respond properly in every situation.

Srila Prabhupada in his purport , .... , a person is not qualified or disqualified by birth- it is a matter of how one takes these responsibilities to live by divine characteristics."From this verse we discover that a man is not qualified or disqualified simply by birth. Prahlāda Mahārāja was an asura by birth, yet he possessed all the qualities of a perfect brāhmaṇa (brahmaṇyaḥ śīla-sampannaḥ). Anyone can become a fully qualified brāhmaṇa under the direction of a spiritual master. Prahlāda Mahārāja provided a vivid example of how to think of the spiritual master and accept his directions calmly."

This is the key that opens the door to the Spiritual world- All of these virtues and divine qualities of PM are all built on the foundation of his accepting the directions of his SM.If we study the DNA and genes , coming from the semen of Hiranyakasipu - is a very dangerous situation and all the demigods- are greater scientists than anyone on the earth- they know how DNA, genes and how you adopt different qualities from the mother and the father- Like father like son, chip off the old block.

They are dealing with Hiranyakasipu and here comes another one- when he was away- like espionage they stole his wife- kept her in a prison of their control with the sole aim to murder the child when it was born. Narada Muni came and aid this child will be a great maha bhagavata- they trusted him- He preached to the mother and the embryos- PM in thw womb surrendered his life to the teachings of Narada Muni and gave all credit to him He was preaching to his father...............he said the best knowledge you have learned in school- "One who considers the body to be the self..... give up all your ignorance, you are in a dark deep well" Who are you to tell me that? "Give it all up and go to vrindavan" where did he learn this. When he was preaching to his friends - they asked him where did you learn. "He said everything I learned is from my Guru Maharaja 

Narsimha Dev came only for the pleasure of PM, liberated his father- PM asked with folded palms- I am an asura, born in the lowest, but due to the mercy of narada Muni, my Guru- that is my only qualification. SO PM under all circumstances, responsible- he responded to blasphemy- temptation of being king of universe, dangers of thrown in ocean, pits of snakes, fire- anyone if we see a little snake we run away- he was thrown into a pit of venous snakes- how did he respond by taking shelter of the direction of the spiritual master- he had that determination.

PM provided a vivid example of how to think of a spiritual master and accept his direction calmly. Srila Prabhupada had such great faith in this principle otherwise how could he go to the western world- there were no Brahmanas in the western world- he had complete faith that if one truly accepts the instructions of the Spiritual master on is a vaishnava greater than a brahamana- that is the main thing BSST - he was not allowed in the temples of vrindavan - he was ridiculed, blasphemed- because he was  giving brahminical initiation to those who were of lower caste- why did BSST and SP endure so much persecution because ofr that- because it is the truth. CM and AC gave the most exalted posn to HT. NDT was kayastha but was giving initiations to Brahamana s. The heart of a vaishnava is something very deep. Today is the disappearance day of Jagannath Das ?Babaji - he appeared in mid or late 1700s and in Bangladesh.

After he became a babaji he would spend half the year in Vrindavana and half in navadwipa- He lived at Surya Kund. Many beautoifu stories.We dont have so  much time- I will share a couple stories that will illustrate the principles of the verse that we read today. He lived over a 147 years.

BVT in trip to Vrindavan first met him and accpeted him as the Guru of his life. Even declared him to be the commander in chief of all the Vaishnava community. When JDB was in Bengal Amalgar- BVT visited him there and deepened the quality of the their association- BVT invited him to come to Navadwipa.

He was licing in Kuliya area- He was very old- servant named Bihrai- who was very strng- He would JDB on a bastket on his shoulder. Biharilala arranged for s simple but nice guest house to stay in- JDB said he would not stay in a guesthouse but was licing under a treee- BVT built him a bhajan kutir under the tree- some other wealthy people built some other little huts closeby for his disciples oteher babajis to live- JDB would love to go with BVT from village to village chanting the Holy Names- he did that the whole day- japa kirtana and serving the vaishnavas - that was his life and Soul.

One time in his hut he was doing madhukari- one street sweeper obviously sudra class  gave some roti so JDB and he very gratefully accepted it and ate it- Otehr Vaishnavas criticized it - what kind of vaishnava- he is taking food from a low class- they challenged him- why have you done this- grains cooked by street sweeper. JDB responded very boldly- " He said there is no higher purifictaion than the dust of Nava dwiapa Dhama- every grain of dust is more valuable that all teh wealth in Brahma's creaytion- we read in all the scriptures how purifying it is to roll eat and put the dust on their head. Street sweepers - all the time covered by dust of nava dwipa adhama - covering their bodies 24 hrs a day and are performing such menial service to Nava dvipa dhama therefore I have taken their rotis for my purification.

Protect Yourself by chanting Holy Names

05-022-Protect Yourself by Chanting Holy Name (Mumbai)-SB_5_6_4-dt_05_03_20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs5A_PMEzyQ

nityaṁ dadāti kāmasya cchidraṁ tam anu ye ’rayaḥ
yoginaḥ kṛta-maitrasya patyur jāyeva puṁścalī

An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogī gives his mind a chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger and greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogī.

These words by Srila Sukadeva Goswami are of primary significance for those on the path of yoga.The actual meaning of yoga is to control the mind and what is the perfection of yoga man mana bhava mad bhakto- to always think of Krishna . Of all scriptures, rules regulations and teachings are meant to serve the primary essence which is to always Remember Krishna and never forget rishna. This remembering is the function of the mind. ant kae ca mamaeva , yam yam vap smaran bhavan- what we remember at the time of death is what we will attain. If we remember Krishna at the time of death that is what we will attain. Therefore in the Vedic civilization from the beginning of life one is taught how to train the mind.

The min is flickering

Because  the mind by nature is very flickering , very easily disturbed. The mind wants to wander into the realm of dictations of the senses. That is the very conditioned nature of the conditioned soul. How to curb that tendency and direct the mind in such a way that it will elevate us rather than degrade us. Human society there is unlimited influence to degrade our minds, to drag our thinking process towards egoistic selfish sense gratification. Therefore the mind must be trained to say no to those dictations and as a positive alternative to fix itself on those words, activities which bring about purification. The mind is to be controlled through the intelligence. Intelligence has a very important function- it is the function of giving the mind the proper information to make the right choice. what life really is from the time of birth to the time of death is a series of momentary choices and according the the choices we make we will either be elevated or degraded. every choice we make at every moment will either karmically bind us to passion or ignorance or bring us closer to God. This is what training the mind is about- moment after moment after moment the intelligence guiding the mind to make the right choice. When the mind contemplates the objects of the senses lust develop.s This is the system of how material nature works in a human being. It is infallible, no exceptions. This is how it works. When one contemplates the objects of the senses this contemplation is the function of the mind. It is not something you can see, it is not something anyone knows about. Contemplation  Worshipping the Deity on the altar everything thinking you are a wonderful pujari, but your mind can be in a permit room. Really where are you. You are where your consciousness is. Contemplation is very subtle, nobody knows what you are contemplating,- very hidden , very private- contemplation of the mind.

According to what we contemplate will define the direction of the rest of our lives. While contemplating the object of the senses lust develops.what is lust , it is a subtle energy  lust isn't the object of the senses, it is not the act- it is the disposition of the mind, When lust enters and takes control of the mind then we act accordingly. Arjuna asks Krishna - why is an intelligent person forced to act immorally. Good person dragged to engage in sinful activity. Krishna very boldly replies - kama ese krodha ese- he doesn't explain in a flowery way- he says it is lust only the deadly sinful enemy which later transforms to wrath. Three gates lead to hell- lust, anger and greed. These gates only lead in one direction to hell. When contemplation of the objects of the senses in the mind then lust develops . We strive to satisfy

 our lust on gross platform our subtle platform when it is frustrated it transforms into anger or wrath develops. What is anger- anger is not the act- acts is acts of anger. Anger is a disposition within the mind. You cannot see anger - you can see the manifestation  Contemplation, Lust, anger are very invisible things that are only within ones own mind, Only when you give way to these things can other people see them. You maybe raging with anger but you may not show it. When you surrender to it it is perceived outside to yourself. That is what happens. We surrender our minds in contemplating the objects of the senses, then we surrender to lust and when that lust is frustrated automatically that lust transforms to wrath- anger. Krishna continues that due to anger we become bewildered in memory. That means our intelligence - we forget- what is to be done and what is not to be done- we forget what is going to be the consequence if I engage in this type of activity. SP explains here and it is a very common thing in this world- when a wife is exploited by another man- sometimes the other man kills the husband and sometimes the husband kills the other man. It is the most common reason for murder in this world. Even years ago- I knew of someone whose wife was exploited by another man he went and shot that other man with a gun and he only got three years in prison. He didn't deny it- there was no question he did it. and he only got a few years in prison. because the jury understood that this man went insane- psychologically he was a fit person. But because that type of violation to one's lust frustration to one;s lusty propensities is so powerful they understood he is not really a bad person. He just gave in to anger. Hare Krishna.

So this is the power of anger- to lose our memory of what we have been taught and what is the reaction and from such loss of our memory intelligence is lost. That is the end . We lose the power to discriminate we are totally controlled by our lower nature and we fall down to the material pool. From the very beginning we must curb this deadly sinful enemy and how to do that. yato yato niscala ati manas cancalam. Wherever the mind focuses with our intelligence we have to bring it back to the right contemplation and right activity.

Bring the mind 

BG  declares just like a boat on a water is swept away by the strong wind- even one of the senses the mind focuses on can carry away the intelligence of a man. Krishna explains what is intelligence tani sarvani samyamya - one who restrains the senses and fixes the consciousness on me is known as  a man of steady intelligence. To restrain the senses is one of the most difficult things that a person can possible do. People can run for President for on of the powerful nations of the world- raising economic standard, conquer other countries, political parties. But the person cannot restrain senses. Usually these things don not come out. Prev days it will come out after the person died. Couple generations ago, media had some ethics " we shouldn't disgrace him, he is doing good work" even of they knew they would never say. Now we know about it in the histories. 

But today as Kali Yuga progresses, just the mentality of fly is becoming very prominent esp in media.The rest doesn't really involve the public it is his own karma. But today one may do many incredible things but on incorrect thing then the fly of the media...............You can conquer entire nations all oppositions but very difficult to restrain the senses. There is only one way to restrain the sense that can have any continuity by fixing the mind on Krishna.rasavarjam raso pyasa 

Human life is meant for austerity

It is is very difficult to fix the mind unless we have the higher taste. Human life is meant for austerity- means even if it causes trouble  great pain, even of there is no higher taste- we will do the right thing and gradually the higher taste awakens. Being a neophyte devotee is a difficult situation, because to try to give up mental and physical SG is very very arduous  if we are not experiencing a higher taste it is very difficult. A neophyte does not always get the higher taste sometimes we get the hints of the higher taste which can keep us going for our entire life.Sometimes even the hints aren't there. Its like you are in a desert. Maya is presenting fresh poisonous cool water. She is convincing you it is nutritious nectar-Krishna says in BG what tastes like nectar in the beginning is poison in the end and vv. This is actually intelligence to know that what tastes like nectar in the beginning is poison in the end. How many enjoy drinking poison? Poison does not always taste good, by the mercy of Radha Gopinah and the vaishnavas we can get some taste of really nectar. Whether we are tasting the sweet ecstacy of Holy Name we chant with full attention. Whether we are tasting the sweet nectar of the Sb are not we read and hear SB. Whether we can see the three fold bending form we still come and offer our obeisances before the deity.

An idle mind is a devils workshop.In the Bible , before Jesus began his mission of preaching- he was tested in the wilderness by satan- who was giving him so many offerings gross and then he offered him prestige, fame power. He offered him to be the king of the entire world. Jesus "Said get out from here. I never want to see your face". The temptations- Maya will present so many temptations. Therefore to overcome them with sustainability we have to fill our mind and senses with purifying spiritual activities whether it feels good or not, it tastes good or not- it is very important we are busy. Because if our lifestyle is idle then our mind unless we are very strong in our realization our mind becomes very affected. SP was preaching to people who controlling the kind was ever even a thought they considered in their lives. Western Civilization very much is about in its modern context of enjoyment the more you become a slave of your mind and senses- eat drink smoke have sex animalistic. If you go to the colleges in the west- SG is the life of an animal people become offended - we want to e animals. They actually want to be animals. For them it is liberation to be an animal- some may say in a more sophisticated way but that is what it means. Therefore we should keep very busy. Unless we are on a very advanced platform of KC, the mind is an unchaste wife. The senses and their objects there are so many paramours  when the mind focuses on enjoying the sense objects then we should understand that the mind is unchaste wife enjoying others. This is the evaluation of SG Krishna is speaking through him to enlighten the world. One who is a yogi, wants to make spiritual progress- what is the result- this is very strong/. Pls be very careful when you listen to this its too strong - When the mind is allowed to associate with the paramours of the senses and their objects, the mind gives facility to the enemies of lust, anger and greed, they will doubtlessly kill the yogi- for sure- its not if or maybe its for sure doubtlessly the yogi will be killed if we allow the unchaste mind to associate with the paramours of lust, anger and greed three gates that lead to hell. What does it mean kills the yogi?- it means that he is no longer yogi- that consciousness of being a yogi is dead- it kills your spiritual consciousness. Bhakti Yoga is the most sublime process of yoga because only in Bhakti yoga the Lord gives such wonderful ways to immerse the mind and senses in wonderful thoughts and spiritual activities.

The Higher Taste

I remember taking years ago taking a Zen Buddhist meditation course. learning to meditate between the crack between the wall and the floor- wasn't very exciting. Another teacher - on meditating the experience of the third eye- imagination, on a flame or a leaf get everything else out of your mind just that. So some people do that it is very difficult  Meditate on something impersonal- Krishna tells in Gits- that this process to meditate on something impersonal is very difficult for personalities- it is really against our nature to meditate on nothing. But in KC Krishna has personally descended into this world to give us such immensely wonderful vibrant alternatives to mediate on. Beautiful forms of the duties dressed differently everyday. So many festivals with different decorations on the altar. Devotees are finding great satisfaction..........some difficult situations no food- eating horse food, no toothpaste, hardly any sets of clothes, what id they have, but when the curtains opened- every devotee knew every detail of the outfit of the deity because there was not anything to meditate on. They knew the details of the outfit, the name of the outfit. I can still remember those outfits. When the curtains would open people would faint to see the Deities and talk about it all day and so many wonderful philosophy , people who are philosophically inclined KC is the greatest SG. SP paraphrases all the great philosophers of our Sampradaya esp JIva goswami - when you read his book tattva sandarbha the thing that will strike you, I already know all these things but he presents in such a simple and palatable way that a common devotee knows all these things even if he is not a philosophers.

Engagement for everyone
 So if you like to indulge your mind in philosophy how deep and how profoundly you can speak on the philosophy of acintya bhada abheda tattva for the rest of your lives. Krishna pastimes- stealing butter, afraid of his mother, Dwarka lila, Mathura Lila, Some devotees ksatriya by nature their lives are all about Narsimha Deva. One devotee he does puja for hours for - he decorates Narsimha Deva. Radha Gopinath we give kadamba, flowers, peacocks, flutes. He decorates Narsimha Deva with swords, axes, bows and arrows, diamond studded chakras to cut of demons heads and ruby studded knives. Every type of weapon you could imagine- and just to dovetail contemporary things I have seen him give narsimha deva machine guns and karate weapons nam chuks. Narsimha deva has ten arms - every arm has a fresh weapon. Krishna has performed such incredible lila and unbelievable services to render. Preaching is one of the occupying service- you really have to engross your mind- just repeat the message of God- it consumes so much of your consciousness and attention that Sense Gratification doesn't exist. there is not time. SP would send people on book distribution you are convincing somebody to do something they do not want to do- praying to Supersoul in their heart to give you the inspiration- its like samadhi, why? - if we understand the nature of the kind and we understand the results and reactions of not proper controlling the mind- then we will take shelter of the process of devotional service,We will be enthusiastic internally and externally and of all ways of completely subduing the mind the most powerful is nama kirtan. - the Holy Name in every situation we could call out Krishna's name whether we are responding to the call of nature.

.... or whether in a taxi, train, wherever we may be laying in bed- we cannot do so many things- we can necessarily worship the deities, preach but somehow or other fill the mind with harinam.

 If we allow our mind to associate with the paramour of lust they will doubtlessly kill our propensities. The enemies are attacking- are we going to surrender to our enemies they are not coming to protect us but to kill us but in that state take shelter of the Holy Name. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna..... and as we become more and more conditioned in training the mind to just always be turning to Krishna and his name then we are liberated, because ultimately if we are sincere who is within in name, bhagavatam deity - Krishna will protect us. To always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna is the ultimate goal of our lives. trnad api sunicena- without practicing this verse it is impossible to qualitatively chant the Holy Names . Krishna reciprocates with the quality of our chanting. Lets put this verse on the string of the Holy Names and chant the holy Name.s

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Be Fixed in your Aim BG 8-27

BG 8.27: Although the devotees know these two paths, O Arjuna, they are never bewildered. Therefore be always fixed in devotion.

Lecture:

1990-087 Be Fixed In Your Aim BG 08-27 - Radhanath Swami Mumbai 1990-10-06 IDesireTree

During the time the pandavas were training under teh great Dronacarya - they were being taught in very very tremendous discipline how to properly perform their duties as ksatriyas.

Some people ask when I am going to school- it appears that I am not doing any service for the Lord- I am just studying studying and these books do not say anything about Krishna- only engineering, business, commerce or human anatomy , diseases. Recelntly one of our devotees was studying some medical book and I happened to look intot he medical booth- could not understand more than three words on that page- very technical medical terms, pictures of horrible diseases. She asked me how am I supposed to think about Krishna when I am supposed to study 8-10 hrs a day. Sometimes we may think "I am wasting my time" But if it is the desire of Guru and Krishna then you must know that in the end whatever you learn will be used in service to the Lord. This is the preparation- which itself is devotional service- it is service to the Lord if your consciousness is  that in the end is whatsver I learn in the end it will be offered to Krishna.

Therefore if you are in this consciousness while you are engaging in your studies you are engaging in DS. It is not so much what you do but your consiouness the spirit in whic you do it.

The pandavas were learning how to organize armies, combat, ride on the chariot- but because it was their service to be Ksatriyas their traning was an activity f bhakti.

In any training there is test- nobody likes to be tested but it is nbecessary- but the purpose of the test is you are forced to digest, assimilate what you have been learning. You can sit in class all day long and pretend that you are learning.At the time of the test you are forced to show how much you have absorbed the subject matter.

In Kc Krsna tests us first through the sadhus, gurus they give us so much theroretical knowledge what will inspire us to absorb this knowledge. Many persons can quote so many slokas but they do not have any realization of Krishna. You cannot attAIN kc by scholarship, by any amount of memorzation of the sastra. you can only attain KC in the spirit of utter humility by applying these teachings to your life and assimilating them.

Thefore Krishna puts us in testing conditions from time to time just so that we are forced to understand the urgency.

It is an emergency situation that I must poracicae KC from the bottom of my heart now.

One devotee, back in early 70's very sincere. Ktug of war- Krsna is all attractive and pulling your mind this way- but Maya is very strong presenting herself very attractively and pulling you this side.Krsna is pulling you away from the illusory energy and The illusory energy is pulling you away from Krishna.You are the marginal eneregy in between forced all the time to make one choice or another- every moment you have that choice and you must make that surrendered choice at every moment that Will I surrender to the illusion of the senses and their objects or will I surrender to the SPG . So this devotee- we should not criticize someone if they are weak- we should sympathize with them.So this devotee had ocome to Maya- he would never criticzie devotees he was always respectful in that sense- he always accepted that this was the highest philosophy and the highest path. This is really what he wants to do- but he was too weak- could not get up to perform his morning sadhana could not chant acc to vow to SM and not following the 4 regulative principles and he gradually drifted away- His heart was always thinking that what I really wanted is Krishna Consicousness. Once he was talking to one devotee- who asked him "when are you going to become serious?" He began to cry said I cannot do it, I think the only think that will make me serious is if I get cancer As you know Krsna is in your heart seeing everything you do-, tasting everything you eat, hearing everything you say, witnessing every thought through our senses Krsna is fully cognizant. So he gave Krsna the info what would make him serious- not that He needed it.

One year later he came down with a terrible case of cancer. It was a sudden, abrupt, intense attack on his body that as soon as it mainfested the doctors, specialists said- if you 6 weeks you will be lucky to live, but we can try these chemotherapy and all these methods- tried natual methods but nothing was working.

He realized this was hopeless and he was about to die. He moved to new vrindavan and was chanting and crying out to Krsna all day long. He was praying to Krsna "thank you very much, this is just what I need. Who knows if I would have gone on for 100 years living a nice life the way I have die of old age  I do not where I would have gone, if I would have diesd all of sudden in an auto accident I dont where I would have gone. You have given this little time to me, I must make this my life's goial and take this very urgently, whatever I have heard years ago- I must apply sincerely and realize it" He was practically an instant paramhamsa and was inspiring all the devotees.

Thanking God with such gratiutude" Now I am serious., thank you for giving me this gift, now I don not care for anythign but you Lotus feet. He eneded up living up 6 months- but he lived those 6 months in such way that there was this whole assembly was that when he was eaving his body there were many devotees chanting .,
His only regert was "That I could have done so much more for my SM in my life. No otehr regrets"

And one devotee he was trying to make him comfortable physically. He said why are you making me comfortablke with all these things. if you want to make me comfortable then have kirtan with me. That is the only thing that will comfort mys oul.

This is a test, final exam. Before the final exam of death- a good teacher will give you many pre- exams to inspire you to become serious to make LKrsn athe object of your life.

Drona decided to test the pandavas- how much they were learning.
---------story of seeing only the eye ball of the world.---------

In spiritual life if we actually want to achieve the goal- we have to one pointed focus on Krsna- dovetail all of our activities in His loving service. This is what BG teaches- yat karosi- All that you do, eat, offer and give away should be done as a n offering to Me.

padam padam yat vipadam... the great souls do not make any goal around the temporary - Their only goal is the Lotuss feet of Mukunda- bec they know in this material world there is danger at every step and we are investing our valuable energy and we do not know whether there will ne any return- infact in the end we will lose everything.

If you were to counsel someone- this stock you have to put huge amount of money then at the end you will get nothing- will you put your money into it- when 99% f the world is buying that stock.., Canakya pandit said- that if a man loses a crore still has a chance of getting it back but if he loses one moment then he cannot get it- every moment of life is more valuable that the entire creation- that which has the costly value our time in human life- we are investing in the stocks of the world where you are convinced you are losing everything- everything you invest in this world is gone forever.

If you try to consider this matter realistically this world is crazy bec we are so much blinded by illusion- we are guaranteed our investments will all be,losyt.

Therefore Krsna says nehabhrikamana sosti- that in spiritual life there is no loss- whatever you invest will be in the process of appreciation it is growing even if you die . Therefore this is the one pointed vision of one who is seriuous about solving the problems of thes world- fixed purpose- vyasayatmika. Those who are on this path Krsna said they are resolute in this purpose others are many branched..........


Maya is presenting an alternatve to Krsna 24 hours a day.
aham sarva prabhava- the wise worship me with all their hearts- but Maya is alywas trying to take our hearts somewhere at every moment. Those who are not on the path o yoga are simply imprisoned by the illusion that I am the enjoyed- slaves of Maya- their mind senses are being dragged from one goal of life to the next- from one aspiration to another.

Those who are too much attached to material anjoyment and opulence of this world the resolute determination to DS does not take place.

tani sarvani samyam ya...Krsna says that one who restrains your senses- means to be willing to say no when Maya presents an alternative- but how long can you say no to everything- saying no to everything has no pleaure- is just avoiding pain it does not have pleasure.But we are anandamayo bhyasat- pleasure seeking by nature we cannot go on saying all day and all night we have to say Yes to something and find pleasure in that- say Yes to Krsna therefore Krishna says one who restrains his senses and  fixes hois mind on Me he is a man of steady intelligence.

Yama and niyama- accept things favorable to KC and reject things unfavorable. SO Kc is two things no to Maya and Yes to Krishna.The only way we can constantly say no to Maya is when our minds and senses are saying Yes to Krishna That must be our goal and priorty in life.

In Bible Jesus Christ was also saying like this. All acaryas talk about this one pointed fixed goal in life w/o that you cannot attain KC>

Bible- road to kingdom of GOd is very narro- road to ulliusuon os very wide- He also saiud "Be ye hot or cold, but if you are lukewarm I will spit you out" Guru speaking on behalf of God.

Hearing this someone maybe thinking Oh God this is very difficult, I have a wife and a family.I have to fix my mind on Krsna and negelect them That is not what Krsna is saying. Krnsa is explaing to Arjuna

Karamany evya - Right to and must do your duty- it is sinful to give up your duty but the goal of your duty must be to offer teh fruits to Me. that means your duty must be seva for Me. Bhakti- whatvser we do is an act of devotion to the Lotus feet of Radha Govinda- that is our goal- hope to attain in what we say- , do or think. Enrich our Kc and life with deeper realizations of love of God.

The propaganda of this world is tearing is away from the goal we need counter propaganda- the temple of the world which is meant for this against the influence of Kali.