Ravīndra Svarūpa Dāsa
nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe
Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,
Please accept my most fallen obeisances at your lotus feet, which tirelessly traversed this world,
shedding the mercy of Lord Gauräìga at your every step among the condemned internees of this prison
camp.
A number of years ago I undertook an especially sustained effort to x my attention on the holy
name during japa. Whenever my mind wandered, I brought it back, again, and again, and again . . . This
wrestling match with the mind kept on for many, many rounds, day after day. It seemed not to become
easier. At last I noticed that my mind was veering away from the mahä-mantra not out of an attraction to
some object of interest but rather from an avoidance of a strange, entirely mental sensation of discomfort
or distress, which would disperse upon a slacking of concentration.
Why would the mahä-mantra cause distress? I puzzled over this for some days. I’d never heard of
such a thing. I feared something was profoundly wrong with me. I feared I might be a demon. In any
case, what should I do?
I decided that I would simply put up with it; I would keep my attention focused on the holy name
and just endure the distress. And see what would happen.
The distress did not go away, and I persisted in the face of it. Finally, after a week or two, something
happened. Without warning, the pressure of the distress abruptly soared, and an overpowering grief
poured unceasingly from some newly unstopped valve in my heart, as water gushes from an opened
re hydrant.
It was as if this grief had been always somehow contained, under pressure, inside me, and now it
was stunningly released to my consciousness. And while I had been unable to discover the source of my
mental discomfort, I knew at once the cause of my grief: I had turned away from Kåñëa; I had broken away from Him, abandoned Him, and had departed for this material world.
Of course, I had believed this teaching for a long time. But that was theoretical. Now I underwent
the reality. As the grief of the heart owed on and on, there came along with it a revelation in all fullness
of the enormity of my crime.
It was unforgivable. For now I understood completely that Kåñëa was perfect and awless and gracious 42
Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā 2011
in every respect. He was utterly wonderful, through and through. Here, in this world, if a pair of friends,
relatives, or colleagues experience a ruptured relationship, a mediator or counselor enlisted to aid in
repairing the breach will inevitably announce that there are faults on both sides. In this case, however,
in the case of my alienation from Kåñëa, it was starkly evident that the fault was all on my side. Kåñëa
was full of goodness, grace, and charm. There was no fault in Him. The break was all my doing, and I
had to gaze on it without any relieving blurring, acknowledge the full hideousness, the nastiness—the
sheer spitefulness—of my deed.
For the rst time I understood the impulse toward suicide. I was wretched beyond all measure. I saw
no relief, and I was completely isolated in my suffering. Our movement’s vaunted slogan was “Chant and
be happy!” No one ever said, “Chant and be miserable.” I thought, therefore, I was an anomalous case;
if I shared what I was going through with another devotee, he would surely tell me what I already knew:
I was different. I was a demon.
Yet quickly relief came. Grief remained and engendered joy.
It occurred to me that I felt such grief only because I was chanting Kåñëa’s name. Light dawned: if
so, then although I had turned away from Kåñëa, he had not turned away from me. I had already been
granted a sense of the wonderfulness of Kåñëa, and that sense also disclosed my own contrasting vileness
to me, and now I saw even more of Kåñëa’s perfection: however monstrous I had been in rejecting him,
he did not reject me. I saw nothing worthy in myself. Kåñëa cared for me nevertheless. I couldn’t see
why, but He did. That is simply the way He is.
I felt gratitude as great as my grief. And then the full range of Kåñëa’s care became clear to me. For
how was I able to chant the mahä-mantra? Kåñëa had sent you, Çréla Prabhupäda, to bring it to me. I recollected all the difculties and trouble you underwent to come to America. I recalled your preparations
in starting the English-language Back to Godhead in India (in 1944—the year of my birth!), in the long
and solitary undertaking of translating and printing Çrémad-Bhägavatam, in your arriving in America in
your seventh decade, without money, without good health, without institutional support: your one asset
your commitment to the mission of causeless mercy, to the order of your Guru Mahäräja. I thought of all
the ceaseless effort, your gifts to the unworthy. And I saw you as the embodiment of Kåñëa’s care. You
are proof. And so my gratitude grew and grew.
I should note that I received, years later, an explanation of my rst great emotional experience of the
holy name. I was studying the nal chapter of your Caitanya-caritämåta, in which Lord Caitanya recites
the Çikñäñöaka verses to Rämänanda Räya and Svarüpa Dämodara. He recites each one in Sanskrit and
then explicates them in Bengali; Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja also names the various emotions Mahäprabhu
underwent as He recited each verse. The second verse—which describes anartha-nivåtti, or the stage of
chanting while clearing up offenses—presents a stark juxtaposition between acknowledgement of the
Lord’s mercy (tava kåpä) and the speaker’s sense of his own misfortune (mama durdaiva). Kåñëadäsa
Kaviräja writes that when Lord Caitanya recited this verse, He felt two emotions: lamentation (viñäda)
and humility (dainya). When I saw the word “lamentation” my heart jumped. I thought, “It’s bona de!”
And so I understood that my own grief was not anomalous after all.
It is clear that you have given us everything, Çréla Prabhupäda, and spared no effort. Once you told
a reporter in Hong Kong:
They have forgotten Kåñëa, they have forgotten God, and I am trying to make them Kåñëa conscious.
It is a very difcult job. I have to shed my blood three tons before I make one convinced in Kåñëa
consciousness. That is my experience. I have to talk with them, especially these Europeans and
Americans.
Please bless us that we may do for others what you have done for us.
Aspiring to be your most unworthy servant,
Ravéndra Svarüpa Däsa
Showing posts with label Holy Name. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Name. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Protect Yourself by chanting Holy Names
nityaṁ dadāti kāmasya cchidraṁ tam anu ye ’rayaḥ
yoginaḥ kṛta-maitrasya patyur jāyeva puṁścalī
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.
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.
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
I
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Kunti's dependence on the Holy Name
 | 1995-009 Kunti's Dependence On Holy Name SB 01-08-38 - Radhanath Swami Mumbai 1995-01-07 |
Queen
Kunti who is the mother of the Pandavas is well aware of the power and
glory of her five sons. Arjuna was the greatest archer, even Siva was
defeated by him. He was the intimate friend of Sr Krishna.Bhima was the
most powerful person of the entire world. With one stroke of his club
how he could annihilate 100s of the most powerful elephants. Queen Kunti saw with her own eyes as he pulverized even the most powerful Rakshahs . Sahadeva and Nakula were glorious maharathis in combat. Yudhishthira was the personification of dharma- because of his unexcelled piety he could never be conquered. By their birthright they were meant to rule the entire world. Here we find that after the great victory of the Pandavas they were installed as kings in the great palace of Hastinapur. Every king in the world was surrenederd at the feet of Yudhisthira. Yet , queen Kunti upon seeing that Lord Krishna was about to leave them - she offered these prayers. |
She is praying here:
SB 1.8.38: As the name and fame of a particular body is finished with the disappearance of the living spirit, similarly if You do not look upon us, all our fame and activities, along with the Pāṇḍavas and Yadus, will end at once.
Queen Kunti is recognizing that even the most powerful wealthy,successful, famous, of all personalities- her own sons were completely dependent on Krishna's mercy for their very existence.
Krishna is the life and the soul of all devotees lives., infact Krishna is the life and soul of everyone- devotees recognize and appreciate that fact. And those who are not devotees cannot appreciate this fact.
nitya nityanam cetas.... we are all dependent on ?Krishna- He is the intelligence of the intelligent, he is the strength of the strong, the power of the powerful, He is the ability in man, everything is being enacted in this creation on the basis if Krishna's energy. Without Krishna's help we are blind, deaf dumb, our heart cannot beat even once, our lungs cannot breathe for s second, all the basic functions of survival are being enacted by Krishna's energy- the existence of the rains, the earth,sun and our body is completely dependent on the will of Krishna. So devotees are always anxious to remember Krishna with a grateful heart at every moment.
When she had nothing, everything was taken away- she was chanting the names of Krishna and when she had everything the world at her feet she was always chanting the names of Krishna. Queen Kunti has been worshipped and her prayers have been studied by the greatest saints and rsis- although her prayers are a simple offering a mother- she was not a scholar, tapasvi, yogi- she was a mother but the simplicity of her prayers embodied the essence of all knowledge. The conclusion of all the Vedas- because they were in pursuance of always remembering Krishna.
Queen Kunti is remembering Krishna in so many wonderful ways- How Krishna the Supreme AT appeared in the beautiful land of Vrindavan and enacted wonderful pastimes to attract everyone's hearts.
srnvanti gayanti... SP would love to quote this prayer of QKunti:
To continually to chant, hear and repeat and take pleasure in other's doing so are most dear to Krishna.Krishna reveals His Lotus Feet only to such souls. By one glimpse of those Lotus feet, we neevr have to face the repetition of birth and deatch again. So Lord Sri CM has come to this owlrd to teach us how to continually chant, hear and repeat the glories of the Lord and take pleasures in otehrs doing so. Harinaam Sankirtana and Krishna Katha is the means by which we can achieve the Lotus feet of Krishna. SP the great descedent of Sri CM's mercy taiught by his example how the devotee takes greatest pleasure in others chanting and hearing. Kc is a movement of selfless compassion- movement of greatest welfare and charity- it is a movement where everyone can take part in this wonderful opportunity in giving Krishna to others. This is our pleasure in life. We see it is very very difficult to give up the objects of the senses. The senses are very strong- even a man of great discrimination is victimized by the senses. Only when we experience a higher pleasure can we give up the temporary pleasure of the senses. The greatest pleasure is to see others progressing in recieving the mercy of Krishna. As long as we are aspiring to help others in becoming Krishna we never become stagnant in this path. If we are selfishly concerned with our own Spiritual progress- often times we become tired and frustrated in spiritual activitie. Sometimes devotees have this difficulty.
If we are apsiring to take pleasure in seeing otehr's progressing then ur enthusiaism for Ks will always increase. If you feed a hungry man you solve his problem for a day. If you give a sick man medication you solve his problm for sometime. But if you enthuse a person to hear and chant the glories of the Lord you put the person on the ath where there is no more suffering and no more birth and eeatch.
these elephants, deers, tigers snakes, where not very advaned in understanding the scriptures- but they sincerely and innocently took the names of Krishna. IF we have good brain that can scrutinizingly analyse difference matter and spirit and the higher rasas then we must study the Vaishnava scripture. Unless we are philosophically convinced then material nature is so powerful that she will take our conviction away from the faith in the holy Names.
Just today, I was speaking to my Godbrother of a devotee who is convinced about KS but because he heard from philosphers who were offensive to Krishna- then he gave up the path of bhakti and became a materialist. It is very important that we hear from the proper sources to gain faith in harinaam sankirtan that comes by associating twith sincere devotees of the Lord. But if we do not have such a capacity then Krishna is availble by simply being attached to the devoteesand the Holy names. SB explains that whatver attachment you have now- transfer it to sadhus- if someone is really attached to associting with devotees that person will go BTG very soon.
SP, for children would give cookies and by doing like this the children would become attached to Him. Because what would they understand in Sb class but they understood cookies and that SP was giving cookies. and then they became attached to SP- because SP was so nice and by giving them that attachment he gave them KC. To become attached to a devotee means we are become attached to Krishna. If we are attached to devotees that means we will try to please them and to please devotees means to please Krishna.Only way we can really please the devotees is by chanting the names of Krishna.
CC is the most advanced work of philosophy on the earth planet. SP translated the entire work in 18 volumes. In one very illustrious purport he explained that all the philosophy and propaganda in this world is to induce people to sincerely and attentively chant the Holy Names of Krishna. Because Krishna is non-different than His name.ceto darapana -- Name of Krishna has the potency to cleanse the most dirtiest most sinful of all hearts- It is the foremost process of devotion to hear and chant the names and glories of the Lord. So Queen Kunti she is so much praying to Krishna that without you my Lord what is our kingdom, what is our fame, our wealth- without You it is like a dead corpse no life no meaning no pleasure for us. You my Lord are my life and our soul, and our meaning and pleasure to life is utterly dependent to Your presence. So we should all aspire to develop this quality of consiousness- that nothing has any value without Krishna. this world is a burden if it is dicsonnected from Krishna and everything of this world is most wonderful when it is connected to Krishna. Krishna is so kindly appeared within His name- let us make the hearing and chanting of the names and glories of Krishna be our life and soul- let every aspect of our life revolve around the hearing cand the chanting of Krishna';s name in the company of His devotees.
This whole world is becoming a place where people are become attached to more and more objects of the senses. Let us attached ourselves more and more to Krishna's devotees. Krishna's glories and to Krishna's Holy Names.
we are so happy to be hear again in Matunga Railway colony. In english Language when a person is always thinking in terms of accomplishing one thing he is called to have a one trackj mind- we all want to have one track minds- Krishna and the pleasure of Krishna.
Many of you working in the railway helping to make life comfortable for people traveling from one place to another- devotee are also thinking like this, we want to put the whole world on track to that place the abode of Krishna. We want to create such a wonderful atmosphere that people love to stay on this train going back home BTG. By having nice prasad nice relns, nice pravachans, nice kirtans that no one ever leaves this train going BTG. This is the pleasure of our lives. Thank you very much.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
When we share our joy of devotion with each other the greatest blessings come.
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/05_-_ISKCON_Chowpatty/09_-_2012/01_-_Jan_2012/12-01-08_SB_10-05-17_-_Get_Happiness_To_Give_Happiness_-_Radhanath_Swami_ISKCON_Chowpatty.mp4
When we share our joy of devotion with each other the greatest blessings come.
SG is giving the description of Rohini. In this world whoever we are there is always the light and dark parts of life. If we expecting everything to go our way- we can never be happy- there is tragedy, crises , failures for whoever we are.
Adhyatmika, Adhi daivika, Adhidevika
own mind- distress, anxiety, diseases
The real source of ll suffering when the soul identifies with the temporary body and things of this body.
Bible says to live in this world but not of this world.
SP's heart grieved to see his own brothers and sisters - thinking all there is to life is the uncertainties of this world. Wake up understand who you are , what is your relationship- understand that happiness cannot ever be touched by any situation of this world. This balance of compassion on a human level for whatever type of suffering people have and the connection to the eternal infinite divine source of life the soul- we can celebrate the beauty and the fortune of Krishna and the opportunity that everyone in the world has for that- at the same time feeling the suffering of others and wanting to help them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Rohini apparently transgressed etiquette by dressing beautifully. We must understand that the purpose of rules, regulations, etiquette is to please God- means to please the Lord's devotees and be compassionate to all living beings.
One time a Sanyasi a Swami came to the temple for Maharaj ws a pujari. Young new devotees were very excited- they bowed them in the room- he got angry this is an offense - do not bow to anyone in the temple of Krishna except Krishna.
Purpose of rules is to transform our character - they should make us humble and respectful
if those same methods make us hard hearted eositic nd judgemental - we have missed the purpose What please Krishna.
rohini was pleasing Krishna immensely- she was dressed very beautifully against the expected social custom- but Nanda and Yashoda had given it to her with love and joy and by accepting it she would give them joy.- She is the mother of Balarama the original Guru and all Gurus- she was serving everyone- despite the miseries of material life that she was experiencing her heart was permeated with happiness as there was something beautiful to celebrate- Krishna's mercy.
If we are miserable and despondent what we can do for anyone0- I am miserable because you are miserable let us suffer together- this love we suffer together birth after birth.
Life is more than that - if we there is darkness in the world there is one thing that can give light in darkness which is light- when Devotees actually find inner joy. inner peace , inner love of Krishna of the beauty of the soul- and see that potential in others then even in the greatest suffering, with compassion we are happy - its not that people are suffering and we go dancing and say too bad we are happy- that is not how it is- you feel for them and you want to give them the joy that is beyond the circumstances and pain and joy of the world
SP how can we repay you?
Just accept what I have given you and give it to others- when we accept what he has given to us it is a meaningful life which is beyond the suffering of the world. The more we give the joy we have recd then it increases - the joy is watering the root- when we learn to love Krishna then we learn to love every living being.
Rath yatra- Krishna is manifesting the mood of in giving we receive.
Rath Yatra Vrindavan vasis are meditating on bringing Krishna back to Vrindavan home where there is the deepest intimate love.Pull ropes to bring Krishna to Vrindavan - the result- if you are bringing Krishna to vrindavan where are you going - to Vrindavan back home back to godhead- automatically we go back to vrindavan when we bring Krishna back without any motivation we got BTG. If we please Krsna then ultimately we become pleased.
This bhakti or DS to Me, it will give blissful eternal life to anybody who simply accepts it. Doesn't matter male, female, red, white, yellow, high sates low caste no caste, literate, illiterate,rich or poor, we simply serve with devotion seva, and Krishna is pleased with the quality of our service, by love and devotion, Krishna reveals the treasure within ourselves of eternal blissful life. Rohini was celebrating by serving the guests with great joy - we feel for them from a platform of actually being a soln to the problem by connecting to the eternal joy of Krishna's love- by spreading this bhakti and chanting the Holy Name
When sometimes, is really suffering, loss of loved one- people try to help the person to forget the misery but in Bhakti param drstva nivartate- we want to help people to Xcend the misery to recognize and feel the misery that is there but simultaneously to xcend it- if we dont feel it we become callous and hard hearted towards it esp towards other people, but when we feel it from a xcendent [perspective by giving people infinite hope of who we are what we have and what we could give.
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He forgot to pull up the anchor- our motivation to be the proprietor, the enjoyer and the controller it is our selfish desires, we have to have the intent to pull them up - we have to have the tapasya the austerity in resisting these tendencies within us- then our sadhana will actually give us really good progress towards the destination- CM- the bhakti lata beeja is like a little seed - sadhana is like the watering of the seed the water makes the seed grow but weeds also grow- we have to be very attentive- able to identify the weeds and pull them out- if we do not then the same water will also water the weeds and the weeds are going to smother and choke the seed of devotion if we do not pull them out- selfishness, egoism, fault finding are all weeds- we have to keep watering with hearing and chanting if we do not pull out the weeds we become more hardhearted and mean instead of compassionate and that happens to often and that is actually what sincerity means - SP- would tell just take this KC sincerely without ulterior motives with actually striving to live with the right motivations.
Human life is meant for tapasya and accept favorable and reject unfavorable- chanting is most favorable - ten offenses stifle the effect of chanting the HN when we are critical egoistic- therefore as we are performing our sadhana we have have to under stand the spirit that Lor CM emphasized gopi bhartur pada kamalayor --- strive to be a humble servant- if we are not humble, gentle, compassionate not pulling up the weeds that will choke those qualities then we are materialistic like any other religionist- if we are not tasting bhakti then we will seek out the taste of fault finding and sens gratification and we lose our taste for sadhana as we are not doing it properly. In SB simply by practicing DS all good qualities come- but we cant separate striving to live by the proper character of a vaishnava that is what DS is also. BSSt wrote if we dont have this humble service attitude we can chant birth after brth and never find love of God, because we allow these weeds to grow and grow and let that anchor us deeper into the body - so yes the first and foremost is the chanting of Gods name, reading SB, serving Vaishnavas, worshipping the Deity and going on pilgrimage- but if we do not do it in the proper char and make offenses ultimately only one this that can liberate us and tht is Krishna's grace- we follow the re principles to get the grace of Krishna. Krishna doesnt give grace bec of the rituals we perform he gives it because of the intent and sincerity with which we perform our sadhana- if we dont have sincerity we associate with those who do and try to cultivate- however senior we may be safe way to practice is to think i am a brand new devotee- else we think i know i am senior and we become complacent - if we perform our sadhana with humility nothing can stop us.
When we share our joy of devotion with each other the greatest blessings come.
SG is giving the description of Rohini. In this world whoever we are there is always the light and dark parts of life. If we expecting everything to go our way- we can never be happy- there is tragedy, crises , failures for whoever we are.
Adhyatmika, Adhi daivika, Adhidevika
own mind- distress, anxiety, diseases
The real source of ll suffering when the soul identifies with the temporary body and things of this body.
Bible says to live in this world but not of this world.
SP's heart grieved to see his own brothers and sisters - thinking all there is to life is the uncertainties of this world. Wake up understand who you are , what is your relationship- understand that happiness cannot ever be touched by any situation of this world. This balance of compassion on a human level for whatever type of suffering people have and the connection to the eternal infinite divine source of life the soul- we can celebrate the beauty and the fortune of Krishna and the opportunity that everyone in the world has for that- at the same time feeling the suffering of others and wanting to help them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Rohini apparently transgressed etiquette by dressing beautifully. We must understand that the purpose of rules, regulations, etiquette is to please God- means to please the Lord's devotees and be compassionate to all living beings.
One time a Sanyasi a Swami came to the temple for Maharaj ws a pujari. Young new devotees were very excited- they bowed them in the room- he got angry this is an offense - do not bow to anyone in the temple of Krishna except Krishna.
Purpose of rules is to transform our character - they should make us humble and respectful
if those same methods make us hard hearted eositic nd judgemental - we have missed the purpose What please Krishna.
rohini was pleasing Krishna immensely- she was dressed very beautifully against the expected social custom- but Nanda and Yashoda had given it to her with love and joy and by accepting it she would give them joy.- She is the mother of Balarama the original Guru and all Gurus- she was serving everyone- despite the miseries of material life that she was experiencing her heart was permeated with happiness as there was something beautiful to celebrate- Krishna's mercy.
If we are miserable and despondent what we can do for anyone0- I am miserable because you are miserable let us suffer together- this love we suffer together birth after birth.
Life is more than that - if we there is darkness in the world there is one thing that can give light in darkness which is light- when Devotees actually find inner joy. inner peace , inner love of Krishna of the beauty of the soul- and see that potential in others then even in the greatest suffering, with compassion we are happy - its not that people are suffering and we go dancing and say too bad we are happy- that is not how it is- you feel for them and you want to give them the joy that is beyond the circumstances and pain and joy of the world
SP how can we repay you?
Just accept what I have given you and give it to others- when we accept what he has given to us it is a meaningful life which is beyond the suffering of the world. The more we give the joy we have recd then it increases - the joy is watering the root- when we learn to love Krishna then we learn to love every living being.
Rath yatra- Krishna is manifesting the mood of in giving we receive.
Rath Yatra Vrindavan vasis are meditating on bringing Krishna back to Vrindavan home where there is the deepest intimate love.Pull ropes to bring Krishna to Vrindavan - the result- if you are bringing Krishna to vrindavan where are you going - to Vrindavan back home back to godhead- automatically we go back to vrindavan when we bring Krishna back without any motivation we got BTG. If we please Krsna then ultimately we become pleased.
This bhakti or DS to Me, it will give blissful eternal life to anybody who simply accepts it. Doesn't matter male, female, red, white, yellow, high sates low caste no caste, literate, illiterate,rich or poor, we simply serve with devotion seva, and Krishna is pleased with the quality of our service, by love and devotion, Krishna reveals the treasure within ourselves of eternal blissful life. Rohini was celebrating by serving the guests with great joy - we feel for them from a platform of actually being a soln to the problem by connecting to the eternal joy of Krishna's love- by spreading this bhakti and chanting the Holy Name
When sometimes, is really suffering, loss of loved one- people try to help the person to forget the misery but in Bhakti param drstva nivartate- we want to help people to Xcend the misery to recognize and feel the misery that is there but simultaneously to xcend it- if we dont feel it we become callous and hard hearted towards it esp towards other people, but when we feel it from a xcendent [perspective by giving people infinite hope of who we are what we have and what we could give.
...............................................
........................................................
He forgot to pull up the anchor- our motivation to be the proprietor, the enjoyer and the controller it is our selfish desires, we have to have the intent to pull them up - we have to have the tapasya the austerity in resisting these tendencies within us- then our sadhana will actually give us really good progress towards the destination- CM- the bhakti lata beeja is like a little seed - sadhana is like the watering of the seed the water makes the seed grow but weeds also grow- we have to be very attentive- able to identify the weeds and pull them out- if we do not then the same water will also water the weeds and the weeds are going to smother and choke the seed of devotion if we do not pull them out- selfishness, egoism, fault finding are all weeds- we have to keep watering with hearing and chanting if we do not pull out the weeds we become more hardhearted and mean instead of compassionate and that happens to often and that is actually what sincerity means - SP- would tell just take this KC sincerely without ulterior motives with actually striving to live with the right motivations.
Human life is meant for tapasya and accept favorable and reject unfavorable- chanting is most favorable - ten offenses stifle the effect of chanting the HN when we are critical egoistic- therefore as we are performing our sadhana we have have to under stand the spirit that Lor CM emphasized gopi bhartur pada kamalayor --- strive to be a humble servant- if we are not humble, gentle, compassionate not pulling up the weeds that will choke those qualities then we are materialistic like any other religionist- if we are not tasting bhakti then we will seek out the taste of fault finding and sens gratification and we lose our taste for sadhana as we are not doing it properly. In SB simply by practicing DS all good qualities come- but we cant separate striving to live by the proper character of a vaishnava that is what DS is also. BSSt wrote if we dont have this humble service attitude we can chant birth after brth and never find love of God, because we allow these weeds to grow and grow and let that anchor us deeper into the body - so yes the first and foremost is the chanting of Gods name, reading SB, serving Vaishnavas, worshipping the Deity and going on pilgrimage- but if we do not do it in the proper char and make offenses ultimately only one this that can liberate us and tht is Krishna's grace- we follow the re principles to get the grace of Krishna. Krishna doesnt give grace bec of the rituals we perform he gives it because of the intent and sincerity with which we perform our sadhana- if we dont have sincerity we associate with those who do and try to cultivate- however senior we may be safe way to practice is to think i am a brand new devotee- else we think i know i am senior and we become complacent - if we perform our sadhana with humility nothing can stop us.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
When there are pressing situations around us, how can we take shelter of the Lord's Name and become peaceful and happy?
Just like when a little child wants to walk, first the child has to learn to crawl.Do you remember when you had to learn to crawl? Very difficult, you were just laying there and then you start crawling. Then you see everyone around you walking, you want to be like them and you try to walk. Your father and mother you are holding there finger. You fall down. Every time you try to walk you keep falling down. But through the process of practice you develop the strength and the wisdom to walk. And now, how many of you think about walking when you are walking. Its absolutely natural. But to come to that spontaneous natural state of walking it actually took a lot of failed attempts but you didn't give up. So similarly we chant the Holy Names, we try to live a spiritual devotional life and it maybe difficult at times. But if we just keep trying sincerely and try to associate with people, read books that give us strength and wisdom, then gradually we develop realization and wisdom. Then spiritual life is just like walking, it becomes natural to us.
The reason a child is able to learn to walk is because the ability is inherent within the child. If the ability was not inherent in the child to be able to walk it would have never been able to walk.But through practice we develop our inherent abilities and that is the spiritual life is too. To become peaceful and happy and to take shelter of the Holy Name is inherent within the soul, but it takes practice. Along with that Rupa Goswami said two qualities are very important -perseverance and patience. We must be enthused to persevere but at the same time it may take some time. We must persevere with patience.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
The reason a child is able to learn to walk is because the ability is inherent within the child. If the ability was not inherent in the child to be able to walk it would have never been able to walk.But through practice we develop our inherent abilities and that is the spiritual life is too. To become peaceful and happy and to take shelter of the Holy Name is inherent within the soul, but it takes practice. Along with that Rupa Goswami said two qualities are very important -perseverance and patience. We must be enthused to persevere but at the same time it may take some time. We must persevere with patience.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
There is power in Silence, they say "Silence speaks volumes".Please explain the potent power of silence.
How would you like if I answered your question by being silent? [Laughs].
We may be silent with our mouth, but whats happening in our mind. Its not very silent. Sit in silent meditation and what happens in your mind? So many voices, so many things. Real silence is when the mind is quiet. Now, scriptures describe it in different ways. One is material silence. When we are chanting God's name, when we are speaking about God, when we are speaking for the benefit of others that is also silence. Because we are not speaking things that bind us to material existence, we are not gossiping, we are not fault finding, we are not talking just about political matters. Silence means no material vibration. Spiritual vibration is material silence.
Now sometimes, [this is an example] if a small child is in school and they just keep talking,and they keep screaming and they keep yelling and keep disrupting the class, what does the teacher do? Says "Sit in the corner, don't say anything and don't do anything." I know because that happened to me once. I was very shy, I hardly talked, but one class the teacher was real joking person and I was talking and then she said "Sit in the corner , don't say anything". So that's better.
Is it better to be silent in the corner of the room than to be disrupting the whole class? But is that the perfection to remain in the corner of the room silent. The perfection is to participate in the class in a constructive way.It is better to do nothing than be destructive. But better than doing nothing is to be constructive. Another example is if you are really sick you are told to fast , don't eat anything.
Its better to fast than to make yourself sicker. But when you are healthy the best thing is to eat healthily. So similarly the scriptures talk about silence -not to speak things that agitate our minds and agitate other people's minds. But the perfection of silence is to be absorbed in the remembrance of God and the easiest, most powerful way of being absorbed in the remembrance of God which creates complete material silence is to chant his Holy Name.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
We may be silent with our mouth, but whats happening in our mind. Its not very silent. Sit in silent meditation and what happens in your mind? So many voices, so many things. Real silence is when the mind is quiet. Now, scriptures describe it in different ways. One is material silence. When we are chanting God's name, when we are speaking about God, when we are speaking for the benefit of others that is also silence. Because we are not speaking things that bind us to material existence, we are not gossiping, we are not fault finding, we are not talking just about political matters. Silence means no material vibration. Spiritual vibration is material silence.
Now sometimes, [this is an example] if a small child is in school and they just keep talking,and they keep screaming and they keep yelling and keep disrupting the class, what does the teacher do? Says "Sit in the corner, don't say anything and don't do anything." I know because that happened to me once. I was very shy, I hardly talked, but one class the teacher was real joking person and I was talking and then she said "Sit in the corner , don't say anything". So that's better.
Is it better to be silent in the corner of the room than to be disrupting the whole class? But is that the perfection to remain in the corner of the room silent. The perfection is to participate in the class in a constructive way.It is better to do nothing than be destructive. But better than doing nothing is to be constructive. Another example is if you are really sick you are told to fast , don't eat anything.
Its better to fast than to make yourself sicker. But when you are healthy the best thing is to eat healthily. So similarly the scriptures talk about silence -not to speak things that agitate our minds and agitate other people's minds. But the perfection of silence is to be absorbed in the remembrance of God and the easiest, most powerful way of being absorbed in the remembrance of God which creates complete material silence is to chant his Holy Name.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
What happens to those who chant without understanding the Holy Name?
The Holy Name is like fire. If a little baby who does not know anything about fire touches fire what happens?If the chief fire marshal of Mumbai touches fire, what happens? Same thing, they both get burned, because fire burns.
So even if a person does not know anything about they Holy Name, if they hear the Holy Name and if they chant the Holy Name, there will be a powerful spiritual effect.
Srila Prabhupada our Gurudev tells a story about his Gurudev who was giving a lecture at a particular place and two newspapers publiched articles.One was praising the devotees and the other was seriously criticizing the devotees. When Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur read both artciles he said, "This one is much better" and it was the one that was criticizing the devotees. The devotees asked, "How is this better?". He said ,"The first one is praising but it only says the name of Krishna only once.This one is criticizing has the name of Krishna so many times. So whoever reads it is hearing the name of Krishna." When you read, reading is sound vibration. It is the written word, you read it, but in your mind its a sound. They are hearing Krishna's name so many times , how much they will feel connected and purified.
But as we make some spiritual progress then at that point our attitude, our character, our sincerity -Krishna reciprocates with that. The Holy Name is always pure, but our attitude accesses the grace of the Holy Name very much so.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
So even if a person does not know anything about they Holy Name, if they hear the Holy Name and if they chant the Holy Name, there will be a powerful spiritual effect.
Srila Prabhupada our Gurudev tells a story about his Gurudev who was giving a lecture at a particular place and two newspapers publiched articles.One was praising the devotees and the other was seriously criticizing the devotees. When Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur read both artciles he said, "This one is much better" and it was the one that was criticizing the devotees. The devotees asked, "How is this better?". He said ,"The first one is praising but it only says the name of Krishna only once.This one is criticizing has the name of Krishna so many times. So whoever reads it is hearing the name of Krishna." When you read, reading is sound vibration. It is the written word, you read it, but in your mind its a sound. They are hearing Krishna's name so many times , how much they will feel connected and purified.
But as we make some spiritual progress then at that point our attitude, our character, our sincerity -Krishna reciprocates with that. The Holy Name is always pure, but our attitude accesses the grace of the Holy Name very much so.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
How can one increase one's faith in the Holy Name and the whole process of Bhakti Yoga?
Best way is to associate with people who have that faith and to perform those activities and cultivate those thoughts that increase our faith and to avoid those vibrations that distract our mind from that goal. We are living in a society that has so many distractions. But those distractions can acually help us IF we are spiritually strong. When you resist a distraction you become stronger spritually, when you give in you become weaker.
So Bombay is a wonderful place to become strong. That means if we have nice association and in the free time where we have a choice of what to do , if we cultivate spiritual strength then that will empower us when we go out into the world to keep our mind fixed on what is virtuous on what is truth and what will help me to awaken love of God and every test we pass we are being filled with grace and are becoming strong. So tests are good.
How many of you enjoy your exams in school? Please raise your hand. How many do not necessarily enjoy your exam in school? How many of you dont enjoy it and still take your exams in school? Those exams are necessary because when you know that exams are coming you have to prepare yourself. So in this world you know the exams are coming everyday and knowing that actually helps us to take more seriously preparing ourselves through our spiritual practices, through our association and through our goodness, by accessing God's grace.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
So Bombay is a wonderful place to become strong. That means if we have nice association and in the free time where we have a choice of what to do , if we cultivate spiritual strength then that will empower us when we go out into the world to keep our mind fixed on what is virtuous on what is truth and what will help me to awaken love of God and every test we pass we are being filled with grace and are becoming strong. So tests are good.
How many of you enjoy your exams in school? Please raise your hand. How many do not necessarily enjoy your exam in school? How many of you dont enjoy it and still take your exams in school? Those exams are necessary because when you know that exams are coming you have to prepare yourself. So in this world you know the exams are coming everyday and knowing that actually helps us to take more seriously preparing ourselves through our spiritual practices, through our association and through our goodness, by accessing God's grace.
Lecture: Chetana-Power of Sound Vibration
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