Sharad Purnima Festival : What is Rasa Dance? By HH Radhanath Swami

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqDuTMAHhlA&list=UUUZTWReIbBYqOFL9TyKFblg

How to receive grace?
Only the full moon shines on the blue lotus then it opens - then it manifests the most intoxicating sweet fragrance that fills the atmosphere. Our hearts are like the blue lotus - tightly shut.No matter how many donations you give, how many fasts you do, you sleep on the floor, sleep in the cave,, how many rounds you chant, no matter how many times you offer puja, how many mantras you memorize - it will remain tightly shut. When Sri Radha's grace shines upon us like the rays of the full moon it naturally opens , it blossoms and when our heart blossoms with prema with ecstatic love- we are anandam buddhi vardhanam- that happiness we feel spread everywhere to everyone . That is grace. samsiddhir hari tosanam. When Krsna is pleased with us, then Sri Radha manifests that grace from within and without. Through the grace the Lotus of our heart blossoms. Ultimately we are chanting according to the instructions of SP and the great acaryas- studying SB , worshiping the Deities and we are doing so much seva service, because this is the treasure the gift, that God has given us and when we do it sincerely, honestly, attentively and earnestly and take it very seriously  then they will be pleased upon us. Then that grace- trnad api sunicena..... we just chant Holy Name with this spirit - humility,tolerance, eagerness to respect others and a service attitude based on that spirit- and sri radha's grace will be with us.

Rasa Lila
So the Rasa Lila is described.Krsna had desire to exchange love and satisfy the desires of His most blessed, intimate devotees- The gopis- Bank of river Yamuna is river of liquid prema- yamuna devi- is an intimate eternal associate of Krsna from Goloka descends to assist in His pastimes with the devotees.
The love of Krsna's heart manifested into His breath and as He blew or played His flute , that breath came to the flute - that flute is an eternal expansion of Himself- a loving servant that facilitate the love between him and His devotees
When Krsna blew into the flute - the love in His heart manifested as the sweetest music that this creation has ever heard. It was not the kind of music we listen to with our ears- it was Krsna's ecstatic love for the souls of the Gopis. The special feature of this love that manifests in the form of music- as it entered into each Gopis ears and their hearts - it uniquely, personally manifested itself especially for that Gopi. There were no two Gopis who heard the same song. Krsna in their hearts in the form of this sweet song was present, calling them to be with Him.

43:52 Each one of them knew that the way they left they may never be welcome to come back again but if that is what it means to please Krsna let it be. As they were moving to the forest, their hearts were beating with inconceivable anticipation to serve Krsna and when they came to bamsi vat on the Yamuna bank to meet Krsna He smiled upon them. That smile was everything. Krsna could manifest His love through a glance,smile, song of the flute and the love He was manifesting through that smile - it was like a tsunami of ecstasy that was drowning the Gopis.

46:38
Srila Prabhupada said in spiritual life there is perfect, more perfect and most perfect and there are unlimited degrees of most perfect.

51:00
When we offer our love to Krsna it naturally extends to every living being including our loved ones. At the deepest level , so Krsna accepted defeat from the gopis and they began to dance. Our great acaryas tell us that this is a pure spiritual relationship- not a tinge of material desire attachment or lust. Its the deepest love of the soul. Suka G, Sri CM. Ramanaujacarya. RG, RDG, the greatest renunciate in the history of the world have proclaimed that the purest love of the Gopis is the highest renunciation of this world. We would never hear Suka G or Sri CM or RG, RDG they never talk about affairs between men and women - they are constantly thinking about love of the Gopis for Krsna Because it is transcendent to this world and that is why we cannot understand this Gopis love for Krsna unless we are touched by the grace of Sri Radha. It takes a very humble heart, a lifetime of seva and deep selfless humble chanting of the Holy Names to be able to actually connect with this. Krsna's love is so perfect, every Gopi and there were many many gopis were thinking Krsna is only with me.

Of all the beautiful qualified Gopis that are here- acc to Sri CC and the scriptures- the gopis everything about them is for the pleasure for Krsna- incredible beauty- not because they are born with karma of good beauty - everything about they cooked, looked, sang an expression of their love for Krsna-because they loved Krsna so purely, deeply, selflessly they were so beautiful. The scriptures tell us even the most beautiful ladies of this earth planet, their beauty is insignificant compared to the beauty of those in the heavenly planets.

Compared to the ladies of vaikuntha - they are infinitely more beautiful than the ladies in the heavenly planet- more than that queens of dwarka- more than them whose beauty is insignificant compared to the gopis of vrindavan- inconceivable, unimaginable its all an expansion of their love their heart. Each gopi knows how beautiful , qualified every other Gopi is . And they are thinking Krsna is only with Me, smiling with Me, left everyone, every Gopi is thinking like that- reality is - everyone of them was right- it was true Krsna was intimately only with them, while He was with everyone else. Krsna wanted to teach all of us several lessons.

Lessons 58:06
 The gopis they actually had no pride in their hearts.They were completely transcendentally liberated  -but there was a type of spiritual pride that they had and Krsna wanted to teach us a Lesson. Howveer elevated you are- exalted in our spiritual relaizatioon- if we become proud and think I am better than others then Krsna withdraws Himself from us- it does not please Him. Srila Prabhupada explains what is the consciousness of a Maha Bhagavata - a really self realized liberated lover of God. A Mahabhagvata is thinking - I am liuberated, advanced and love Krsna and you do not. A Maha Bhagavata is thinking (acc to a Mahabhagavata) it takes one to know one - everyone is serving Krsna better than me. Thats why for a MahaBhagavata to be in this world and be a preacher and everything they have to adjust their consciousness, because their natural thinking is like this. The question is are we doing all the things we are doing as an adjustment or are we thinking everyone loves Krsna better than me and everyone loves Krsna better than me. That is total humility- the gopis are on that stage - but by the power of Krsna's love they began to think that Krsna wants to teach us - we should never think we are better than others. If we have been given a special gift- we can think I have recd a very special gift  , good fortune that others may not have been given. That does not make me better than them but it makes me more fortunate than them and I must share that good fortune with them because I am their servant.Thats the way a devotee si supposed to eb to every living being- servant of the servant.

So Krsna left the Gopis and all the gopis another reason is He wanted to increase the love for the Gopis - they were in the highest stage of spiritual happiness when they were dancing with Krsna but it intensified so many times more when he disappeared - now they were totally absorbed in yearning for Krsna what a samadhi stage they were in - chanting Krsna's name, imitating His pastimes- asking the moon,deers, insects,trees and the flowers - did you see Nanda nandana - which way did Shyam Sundar Go? Where is Gopinath? They were not thinking of anything else and they were together performing Krsna's pastimes- the only way they could survive was by being totally absorbing Him. They were feeling his presence so deeply in remembering His smile, All of His glance, His words, His pastimes with His gopa friends, parents, killing of demons, pastimes with them- remembering all this and exploding with love- Where is Krsna- I want to see Him, I want to serve Him, I want to pelasee Him, that was their lvoe and ultimately they realized that Krsna left them all for SMt Radharani, of all the devotees the Vrajbasis have the sweetest love- gopis, sakhis, Sria Radha.
And the Gopis with such deep appreciation they glorified Sri Radha that Her love and worship is above and beyond everything else- we left everything for Krsna and He left us for Radha- they were following the footsteps of Sri Radha and Gopinath. Then they came to a place where sri Radharani was sitting and crying for Krsna bec even she was thinking Krsna left everyone for Me, so Krsna left even Her. That is one way of understanding but highest way of understanding is this-Krsna wanted to show the world- the ultimate supreme revelation of love is the love of Radha for Krsna....the AT is one but it manifests as two R and K to exchange the Supreme Love- and to manifest lvoe- the lvoe between Them expands into the hearts of all living beings- Their love for each other is the  focus, the center of all material and spiritual existences.

So now they are all so deeply- in their separation with Krsna they were totally united with one heart to please Krsna- such sympathy , affection and love for each other in their search for Krsna. They were searching in the dark recesses of the forest of Vrindavan. Ultimately they came to the bank of the Yamuna - and when the love for each other and combine love for Krsna in separation their sympathy for each other , the condn they were in in separation from Krsna - they all held hands and loudly performed kirtan of Krsna's Holy Names.They chanted together with all their hearts- Harinaam Sankirtana. Krsna appeared. This is the gift of Sri CM - param vijayate sri Krsna Sankirtanam- The greatest benediction on all creation is the chanting fo the Holy Names, golokeara prema dhana harinaam sankirtan- this kirtan of Krsna's names is descending from Goloka.

Sri CM is Krsna with the love of Sri Radha. Teaching us how we can again be in the presence of Krsna and He is giving us Sankirtana coming from CM- this process is bringing us right into the culmination of the Rasa Lila with the Gopis are together chanting Krsna's names to invoke Krsna's presence- thats what was happening at Srivas Anagan when Sri CM and His associates were chanting. We read in the CC and Sri CB- the kirtans at Srivas angan were non diff than Rasa Lila in Vridnavan . United chanting Krsna's name together- no more powerful means of invoking our love of Krsna and awakening our understanding of Krsna's love and feeling His love at every moment. Krsna manifested to the Gopis - He told the Gopis- even in an entire lifetime of Brahma- I cannot repay you for your love for me. these are simple Gopis- leave their little houses, come to the forest and dance with Krsna, externally it did not seem like they did much, they did not build temples, they did not do years of austerities in caves, they just loved Krsna and wanted to please Him in such a simple way and Krsna is so grateful- from His heart He is speaking- I am the Proprietor of everything in spiritual and material worlds- with everything I have and all the powers I have, I have no way to repay you for your love for Me.He is speaking to each and every one of them.

Krsna is so moved, He is conquered by the love of His devotees- that is the nature of His love- by His own sweet will He is conquered by the love of His devotees- so He requests the Gopis to just eb happy with the love you have in itself because that has more value- Your love for me has more value than everything I have - just be happy with that love and in their love they feel Krsna's love- this is Rasa Lila and they danced in the night- People like dance, romance, Devotees understand the real dance and romance is to give our hearts to Krsna- without selfishness, without egosim, with seva, service. We show our love for Krsna by how we cooperate with each other even if it is difficult. Kali Yuga is difficult but with the challenge comes the opportunity to love- if we are not willing to take the challenge we are not qualified for that love.It is difficult to cooperate- husbands and wives but to come to a higher platform- for Krsna's pleasure we will cooperate and I will respect you and I will be good to you even though....God Brothers , God Sisters, God Cousins cooperation, respect, amanina mana dena these are challenges and we have many challenges in this world- of weather, other people, health - how to keep thinking of Krsna, keep feeling grateful, how to keep trying to please Him and be united in doing so. The greater challenge- the greater advancement we make when we actually resolve it on the Higher principle of how to please Krsna.That is the path of Bhakti. Krsna danced with the gopis and he wanted to fulfill their desires and they wanted to fulfill His desires- so Krsna orchestrated in such a way they danced all night long. But Krsna extended that night to an entire night of Brahma - long time, beyond any conception of material history- billions of years. They danced all night long and part of their dance- went into yamuna river- played among the Lotus flowers- decorated each other with flowers, the gopis made a nice bed of flowers for Radha Krsna to rest- Vrindavan- land of love and tonight as we are speaking in the aprakata Lila- eternal lila of Vrindavan, Sri Radha and Gopis are performing Their Rasa Lila on banks of Yamuna and here in Chowpatty beach, 7 KM Munshi Marg- Mumbai 400007 in this temple Sri Sri RG have manifested in Their eternal original all merciful forms- They are performing their Rasa Lila- Krsna is playing His flute and according to our lvoe we can hear it- How many of you cna hear it - so we should be very humbled, crying together- this is how we should be chanting the HNs tonight- as we chant we should be one heart crying out Radharani , Hari and Krsna's names for Their pleasure-offering our hearts, bodies, minds and lives for Their pleasure through our chanting.

And crying Krsna if it pleases You steal my heart, so I can hear your flute, steal everyone's heart so everyone can hear your flute- let the whole world hear your flute , feel your love. why do we yearn to go to Vrindavan bec that is where we can do a service to RG that is most pleasing to Them and by SP mercy he is giving us the chance to do that right here- this is vrindavan. Thank you very much.

Pure Devotion - the only doorway to enter Srimad Bhagavatam - Part 1

Pure Devotion Only Doorway To Enter Srimad Bhagavatam - Part 1

SB 10.33.38: After an entire night of Brahmā had passed, Lord Kṛṣṇa advised the gopīs to return to their homes. Although they did not wish to do so, the Lord’s beloved consorts complied with His command.

Lecture Points:

dharma projitah kaitavo- that this cream of all vedic literatures does not take into consideration any goal except the supreme goal.  Pariksit Maharaj was to die in 7 days- emergency- no gradual religious education- wanted to go to the heart- what is the essence of all religions, what is the duty of a person about to die. answer given - sa vai pumsam -pleasure for the  satisfact ion of mind, senses is temporary. sa vai pumsam -pleasure for the satisfaction of the Supreme samsiddhir hari tosanam. The culmination of the SB is the tenth canto.

Prev cantos of Sb science of creation - inconcievable power and potency the Supreme. Culmination of the tenth canto is these 5 chapters.

Gopis simple, innocent and pure.They were already way beyond all the yoga processes. They just wanted to serve the supreme object of their affection In their total humility they did not think themselves superior to the others. This kind of mentality is due to some sort of starvation  the heart - here we have this need, I am better than others, its unquenchable, because however much we get there is always a competition that we have to somehow or other overcome birth after birth this insecurity to somehow attain a superior position and then against the odds of time and duality somehow keep this position- it is all like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Our wealth our power, fame so called superior position. Drop of water cannot reamin- one little wind, the lotus leaf cannot keep the drop of water , against the power of the Lotus leaf the wind will come- water slips off and there is not even a trace that it ever existed. Thats the nature of these things- yet we see within this huge population everyone is trying to get that drop and trying to cling to that drop.

athato brahma jignasa this human life is very special very rare- opportunity to realize the eternal treasure of Krsna prem- the highest most inclusive liberation. But Maya is so strong - This illusory energy induces a human being that jivatma may have passed through 8.4 mn species of life. PL do not take this lightly - in each of these births we had bodies that we were attached to just as we attached to now. We had mothers, fathers , sisters, friends, looking for protection and pleasure. The animals , birds, suffer and cling to happiness just like we do. Death is traumatic. Yesterday I took airplane from Patna to Delhi. In the airplane- I was seated in the front- 100s of mosquitos flew inside the airplane- near the friend. Literally when you go in the airplane there was swarms of mosquitoes- people complaining- paid extra to sit in the front..........

For most people devotees are supposed to be different. But when we swap and kill the mosquito it is a lot of trauma because he is trying to enjoy with the body- that mosquito loves his life- tiny brain senses are so tiny and small. Us compared to the mosquito what are the senses of the demigods- compared to them our brain and senses are like mosquitoes. That mosquito is going through a major crisis an trauma of death-the concept of para dukha dukhi- makes us compassionate to all jivas but it also helps us appreciate the opportunity we have in our human life. Everything is so fleeting and flickering . we have gone through birth, old age, disease and death - probably way more than 8.4mn times. The same type of experience that you will have of death in this life- if you are not self realized- thats what it takes to come to this human form. We have the opportunity to understand our eternal nature, our eternal goal- all of our dharmas, all of our duties, religions, relns are meant to harmonize with and facilitate this ultimate goal of life. That's what Bhakti yoga is - path by which everything is harmonized with pleasing Krsna, loving Krsna, liberate any us from the ego and its attachments.

 Gopis only desire was to please Krsna- did the Katyayani vrat- just recently- where they performed simple austerities to worship Katyayan o gte Krsna as their husband, very young- they did not want Krsna in the same way as someone wants a Bollywood star as their husband. Krsna is supremely beautiful attractive in every way- so that they could exclusively without any distraction or diversionby anyone or anything else serve and please Him . It was not for them but for Krsna- Krsna performed the incredible pastime of taking the clothin of the Gopi and returning it to them and promising them that he will fulfill this desire. Sarat Purnima- orchestrated the whole of vrindavan to accommodate the deepest loving exchanges. This is what Vrindavan is in the spiritual realm. Vrinda devi is the supervisor of the various fulfillment of Krsna and Radha's desire. Thru orchestrating with the cows, bird trees and yogamaya devi purnamasi,  Balarama expands as Vraja Bhumi.They are all making everything a perfect setting for loving exchanges. How the mood rose- we get some conception of how utiul it is when mood rises. In Vrindavan this is all the internal potency of the Lord- it is not of this world- that moon rise Sri Radha thru her potency of vrinda devi, purnamasi and yogamaya She is making the most beautiful possible environment for Krsna's pleasure. When Krsna plays His flute- vamsi vat- calls all gopis to come to Him- they put every other consideration aside to give pleasure to Krsna - this is love. They risksed everything- physical and emotional security and safety ,being ridiculed and condemned by society, risked -being homeless dwellers of the forest without any consideration- because that was all inconsequential- the only thing imp was - how we give pleasure to Krsna, that is love.

We get a sense of that from a father or mother's love for their child in this world. When that spirit of selfless, unconditional love is purified and magnified unlimitedly then we get a hint of what that spirit of love for Krsna maybe. Krsna reciprocates with this love unlimitedly. when they came to be with Krsna- He tested them and then they danced. Suka G who is a great renunciate Sanyasi- what was his renunciation - so liberated from any desires of material enjoyment- he was content to remain in the womb of his mother- how content is that- why should i go anywhere else- aham brahmasi, Brahman realized- pure realized brahmawadi- why go out into the world- why do anything- this is where I am its good enough- 12 years he stayed there- mothers only you can understand what that situation that is - us men say theoretically "Oh that's a long time- 12 years." Ultimately Krsna and Vyasadeva had to induce him to come out by giving an experience of something higher than brahman realization- higher than moksha is prema- or according to the acaryas- the ultimate realization of moksha is prema. 

Prema means the awakening of ecstatic love. when we suffer, we want peace- but heart yearns for something more than peace- to feel Krsna's infinite love and to lov Krsna infinitely is the innermost nature of the soul. So Krsnaetnd Gopis- the rasa lila is the dynamic spiritual expression of that love for each other. In certain realms of the spiritual world- just existence is the bliss of peace. In vaikuntha realm - the love of the heart, of the soul- because there is no material body and no material ego in the spiritual realm - there is only pure Atma and the pure Paramatma- the supreme- pure Rasa- that loving reln is expressed in infinite varieties of ways. 

Krsna danced with the gopis. At the End of the discussion of Rasa Dance- Sukadeva Goswami , this great sanyasi- who considers this the highest perfection of spiritual perfection - he is giving us todays verse just to show us what he just explained is so Xcendent to anything of this world. This dance lasted an entire of Brahma- night for mosquito is the lifetime of the mosquito- 100 years for us is very different for a mosquito. some insects live a few days- they go through the same cycle we go in a 100 years in a few days. Brahma's one night is 4.32 billion years..... Part 2 continued

From HH Radhanath Swami lecture

One of the most transforming realizations that I had in my life was a discovery- all of our desires, aspirations and all the frustrations we undergo due to not fulfilling those desires- hey all originate each of our hearts- in that love is true fulfillment- I spent sometime with mother Teresa in Calcutta- she said - the greatest problem in this world is hunger- not hunger of the stomach- hunger of the heart- the wealthiest people in the world are frustrated- there is only one thing that can fulfill the hunger of the heart-momentary satisfaction to the mind and the enses only  to love and to be loved can give satisfaction to the heart - unfortunately our minds are so distracted trying to find that same experience in so many other alternatives- to love and to be loved is the most fundamental need for all human beings- it is the only true pleasure that can satisfy us- According to all the great scriptures- the origin of that love that need for love is the love between the atma- that when you put water in the root of the tree- the root noursihes the branches the twigs the leaves the flowers- Krishna tells in the gita-I am the source of all material and spiritual worlds everything emanates from Him.

When we learn the art of placing the water of our love in the root of existence - the Lord- then that love naturally reaches every living being- Mamivamso jiva loke- wherever there is life it is a part of God- factually you cannot love God and dislike anyone- that is the real test. In the bible Jesus said in First testament- love God with your heart , mind and soul and a natural by product of that is you love your neighbor as you love yourself- see everyone with equal vision- see the spiritual essence- If my mother has a disease - I may hate the disease but I love my mother. The atma is perfect, but when it is covered by avidya or ignorance then all sorts of symptoms come- dissatisfaction, envy, arrogance and all other things. Yoga is to equip us with the realization so that we can see beyond the disease- to understand our sister or brother- our connection with everyone. BVT explained when we connect with the love of God which is within our heart- it naturally manifests within this world in the form of compassion- selfless compassion - is this not the greatest need in this world- things of this world are neutral their value is in the consciousness in which we use it. Knife in the hands of a theif- slash throat to take what they have - a surgeon with a knife will save a surgeon's life. everyone within this creation has it potential spiritual value- if we simply learn how to use it with devotion love. Nitya siddha cita prema sadhana kabu nay- wake up sleeping soul- you are sleeping in the lap of Maya- you do not know your true potential.

When we awaken that love- not only do we find that real oasis of pleasure then we can be empowered to share it with everyone else.

In order to fill our hearts with meaning and value- we have to empty it from egoistic pursuits. Gita says tani sarvanai samyayaya.... you cant empty in a sustainable way unless we fill our hearts/minds with something better. And we cannot fill it with something better as long we keep cluttering it with inferior thoughts and words and actions. ...param drstva nivartate... in a sustainable way- we can overcome our material habits- by experiencing something higher deeper and greater. Thats whya yoga helps- if done with sincerity- tams thaiva bhajmyaham - what we are looking for will be revealed to us- in order to get the maximum benefit we have to be sar grahi we have to seek the essence- who am I, what do I really want to become un insrument of the sweet, all pervading love of the Supreme Lord- that is the highest aspiration.

On the banks of the river Ganga- under a Banyan tree 5000 years ago- sukatal- where the great SB was spoken. Pariksit was the emperor cursed to die in 7 days in the prime of his youth, all citizens loved him, he had a wonderful family he took shelter at the ganga devi- all sages of the whole planet gathered.

Among all the 100 sages and rishis they chose a 16 yr old boy so qualified- king asked him 3 questions primarily - just tell me the very essence of all the scriptures- ? what is the primary duty of every human being in all places and circumstances? What is the true duty of a person who is about to Die?

Time is precious- utlize every moment we have - nourish the real need of the heart-.

Sukadeva G tells a story in 10th canto about little Krishna about 2 years old."one who understands Krishna is bhagavn descends in this world and he is the possesor of all potencies even when he is a tiny baby and just to reciprocate with affection of vrajwasis- he appears like a helpless little child." A lady come out of the forest- no education - no caste- very simple lady living in the forest. she had a basket of fruits- nobody was interested in buying. Little baby Krishna- enthusiastic, just learned to work- he knows everything but just to attract our heart he is learning how to walk- he runs with grains in his hand- to barter- all the grains were falling from his hand and then only two pieces of grains left in his hand. she was so charmed by the sweetness of his smile- she wanted to please him.- she did not know who He was- she filled His arms with fruits- if you want come back I will give you more- He ran home carrying the fruits. Mothe asked where did you get these fruits- he said I purchased this. She said you cannot trust everyone- Meanwhile the lady turned around and her fruit basket was filled with precious jewels overflooded- she did not notice it- she wanted ot get more fruits from her hut to get more fruits to please Krishna- when she came back the basket was filled with the most priceless jewels- in her enthusiasm to please the Lord- she dumped the jewels and filled it with fruits- gave it to him and He was very happy.

Her basket of the the heart was filled with the purushartha shiromani - prem- love for teh God and for all living beings patram pushpam- simple bec she offered a few fruits with devotions- Gopal said lets distribute these fruits- giving to friends and neighbors- however many dhe gave out there was not end to those fruits- anyone who ate it they were completely satisfied - this is the reciprocation of bhakti- devotee wants to share the prema of the Lord with the world and the Lord wants to share the fruits of the devotees wlove with the world

The Magic of Love

From the lecture : "The Magic of Love" by HH Radhanath Swami

"Our real strength is in the willingness to care for and support others. We are caretakers of divine property. Wisdom is to understand the simple universal principle that in giving we receive . By getting things we make a living and by giving we make a life. the spiritual evolution of a society can be understood when people love people and use thungs. But all too often in today's world it is is the opposite. People use people. I discovered something that really transformed my life. A simple ageless truth. All of our desires, with their longings, gratifications and frustrations stem from a  single origin , forgetfulness of a love that is inherent within our own hearts and in that love there is truth. In 1971 I learned this lesson from a very unlikely and unforgettable teacher. I was just coming out of my teenage years, I decided to walk higher into the Himalayan mountains. Suddenly I came upon seeing something horrifying. There were people that were homeless, starving, some naked,some  in rags, their limbs were mingled and deformed. I had stumbled into a leprosy colony. When they saw me, a foreigner they thought I had some money.20 of them made a circle around me so tight, I couldn't move.

They were screaming bakshish bakshish-" Give me Charity". Part of me was thinking why are they doing this to a stranger?"-  And another part of me was thinking they are so destitute and so completely forgotten by society they have a right to do whatever they want.It was about 20 minutes they harassed me, finally when they realized I had nothing to give, they let me go. When I walked a few steps only I saw to my side a short distance away an old leper women, she was laying in rags, her nose was melted into a hole of decaying flesh. Our eyes met. she looked at me with a sad smile. She understood my anguish . At that moment she conveyed to me wordlessly the tender love of a mother. Her look conveyed to me that she wanted nothing from me, but she understood how devastated I was  with the shocking encounter with her people. She held out her fingerless hand to bless me, moved by her motherly affection , I approached her and fell on my knees with her hand on my head and she said " May God bless you my child". I looked at her, her face was lit up with joy, she was beautiful. I felt that God had sent me to her so that she could do what any mother however rich, poor, healthy or sick has a right to do- to bless a child. I wept.

Later that day I was sitting on the bank of the Ganges.I was thinking that poor leper woman who had such an appalling disease like the river beneath the surface there was so much more. It seemed to em that all she really wanted is to love and be loved. She wasn't cursing God for her misfortune, rather she was giving God's blessings to one another with great joy. This made me contemplate , how easy it is for us to focus on our differences. What this leper woman taught me, if we look deeply within our own selves, within others we will find that beyond the differences , nationality, gender, appearance, race, health and disease there is something essential we all have in common., The souls inherent capacity to love.

In every heart there is Good dog and bad dog- represents the tendency to be mean , to be selfish. Good dog- is our divine nature. Sometimes bad dog howls so loud that its reverberating in our minds. We hardly hear the sound of the good dog, calling out for our attention. Which of these dogs will prevail, the one we chose to feed moment by moment by the choices we make.

My beloved teacher, Srila Prabhupada was once asked by a reporter- you are a swami, can you show me magic. He quoted a verse that Lord Krsna has said in the BG- the real magic of life is the wisdom of our own divinity. When we understand beyond the ever changing body and mind, the living force has the inherent capacity to love. When we access that love in ourselves then we can see our harmony with God with nature and with each other. The real magic of our lives is transformation- arrogance into humility, greed into generosity, hate into love, sorrow into joy. It is said ,that you can understand how rich you are by counting how many things you have that money cannot buy.

Inner fulfillment, to love, to be loved, that unconditional love which is inherent within all of us , is the greatest power in the universe- it is power that has such force to motivate us to accomplish things that we can accomplish things wonderful for ourselves, our families, our communities. Whether we are politicians, scientists, businessmen, agriculturist or a little swami that capcity is within all of us and when we harmonize that principle within our lives we can be empowered by grace to make extraordinary changes in everything we do.

Loneliness: We are longing to Feel God's Love

Longing for Love of God – Radhanath Swami

People are starving for God’s love.  They are lonely. But they have created a whole system to run away and hide their minds with all kinds of material, relative, superficial and useless activities.  Why is television so popular?  Not because the programs are so good, but because the people are so bored, they cannot tolerate their thoughts.  They do not want to face them. Therefore, they have to find some source of forgetting them.
In the old days, people used to do athletics, sports and all kinds of other social events.  Today, they take a sleeping pill and just snore off forgetting everything. And if that does not work, they drink some alcohol or take some intoxication to enhance the effect.  They work so hard to create the devices to forget the loneliness within their own hearts.
Learn to love God.  Love of God is what our soul is hankering for.  It is the only thing that will make us feel the joy in our life.  Nothing else will work. The soul is part of God; it longs to unite with God. Nothing else can replace that relationship.  How to build that relationship? Associate with saintly people.  Chant the holy name. Hear from the holy books. Worship the Lord with faith and devotion, and work to forget the loneliness.
By Radhanath Swami

Overcoming Loneliness: Develop eagerness to Love God

Eagerness to love GOD by Radhanath Swami

October 5, 2011 By SM Team 49 Comments

One of the ISKCON saints by the name H H Bhakti Tirth Swami (a dear friend of Radhanath Swami) cites a story which explains how much we should be eager to love GOD in order to achieve that treasure. It is about a guru and a disciple. Some of you might have heard it but it is worth reading it to imbibe it in our life. Srila Prabhupada says repetition is sometimes necessary to make us understand a philosophical point in this dark age of Kali. So that i can imbibe it in my life, i am posting it here.
A disciple earnestly tried to follow all the necessary requirements of a good disciple, but somehow or other, he did not seem to develop any realization. From time to time, he would intensely inquire from his guru and complain about his situation. He wanted to know when he would be able to attain self-realization and how he would reach this goal. However, the spiritual master did not seem to acknowledge his bewilderment. He practically did not even respond.
One day, the disciple and the guru took a walk by the river. The spiritual master walked the disciple into the river and then with full force he suddenly pushed the disciple’s head into the water, practically drowning the boy. The disciple must have felt completely shocked and disturbed, especially since the guru is supposed to be the major source of solace and love for the disciple. However, his guru suddenly submerged his head in water in a seemingly strange attempt to drown him. As the disciple’s life air gradually decreased, he only thought of ways to pull his head above the surface of the water for a breath of air.
Just before the disciple gave up the body, the spiritual master finally released his head from under the water. In a very grave but caring tone, the guru explained, “When I held your head under the water, you solely thought of ways to obtain air. Your entire consciousness focused only on this one purpose and every aspect of your dwindling existence strove for survival or liberation. When you develop this same kind of pinpointed intensity for the development of love of God, irrespective of other distractions, only then will you attain self-realization. When you have such intense desperation and desire for God’s love and mercy, then you will reach this ultimate goal.”
Radhanath Swami,  another ISKCON saint in the same line continues that everyone is actually looking for love. And love can be only sustained when the object of our love is all-encompassing, all-beautiful, all-compassionate, and all-loving. And there happens to be only one person like that. The Supreme Personality of GodHead. Everyone is craving for some meaning in their life. But people take shelter of television, theaters, clubs and the like just to forget the miseries of life. They neither have the courage to face them nor to fight them. There were nice recreational activities in the olden days but nowadays people pop up sleeping pills or take to alcohol or drugs just so that they can pass their times. All this to remove their loneliness from their hearts. But failure always accompany such people. Failure to overcome their loneliness.

Radhanath Swami explains says that the only way out is to love GOD. If we were to give our beloved a rose and he/she did not respond properly (say due to some circumstances) we will feel depressed but GOD is not like that. He can understand every feeling of ours and that too of everyone simultaneously and He responds accordingly. Who could be a better lover who reciprocates at every step? We are essentially part and parcel of GOD. We need to love GOD. Or we are like the fish out of the water.  The soul wants to be with GOD. As of now our relationship is dormant. How to revive it?  Radhanath Swami suggests that we should associate with saintly people who have love for GOD. Chant the holy names of the Lord. Hear realized souls speaking from holy books. This way we will be eager to love GOD as much as we want air inside water.

What is responsibility?

Excerpt from the lecture:
1997-052 What Is Responsibility SB-02 08 21 Mumbai - 13-03-97 IDesireTree
Actual love, is the natural energy of the soul expressing itself unconditionally for the pleasure and happiness of the Lord and the Lord's devotees. That is love. Human life is meant to realize that love. sa vai pumsam... to love Lord Krishna unconditionally and serve him accordingly is the Supreme occupation for all humanity and it is only that type of unmotivated uninterrupted service to the Lord can we find true satisfaction.
That is the responsibility and purpose of life
Material people try to find more and more for themselves but ultimately what is the result- SP explained how terrible that Maya cheats such souls at the last phase of their lives. Napoleon was the greatest conqueror , world was trembling before him. He and his armies were marching terrorizing everyone. when he was dying he had lost everything, mouth was dry with the thirst and he was saying " Please give me some water". such a powerful man, entered the Vatican ordered him to make him the King of France. So powerful, but last days he had nothing, he did not have water and they gave him a cup- he drank it- it was the urine of the horse- frustrated suffering and died, that is material existence.

Hitler world was trembling before him . all the big countries were coming together to discuss what to do about him. At the end of life - he was hiding under the hole in the ground like a rat and committed suicide he lost everything

these are the greatest most powerful egoistic persons.


KC - to learn what is real happiness, not to control nations but your own mind and senses. Hiranyakaspiu was miserable bec he could not conquer mind and senses.

How to conquer the mind and senses? Krishna says by serving Him with constant practice and detachment Krishna Himself  By His mercy if he sees we are sincere and humble in your attempt to serve under the direction of his authorized devotee- Krishna himself will help you control the mind and senses. He is Hrishikesh- master of the mind and senses. He lifted the Govardhan Hill effortlessly to protect His devotees. Similarly He can lift us from the onslaughts of our material desires these unwanted anarthas pollutions of lust, envy, pride and illusion- agents of Maya that are conquering everyone individually and collectively on a mass scale internationally.The forces that induce such lower tendencies that induce such raging fire - but Krishna is all powerful. at Davanala JKund when there was fire around all His devotees, simply in one moment he swallowed the Fire. How to please Krishna- CM has given the instruction worship Krishna and chant the holy Names.
kaunteya pratijanihi - Krishna will always protect His devotee. SP is speaking so intimately not only the profound highest truths abut also his direct realizations. This material existence is like an ocean and we are like a little boat in the ocean and we are completely dependent on the mercy of the ocean. If there is a storm, fog, wind, cloud, there is every possibility of being drowned no one can control the whims of the oceans however materially equipped. this material existence is filled with unlimited waves in the form of temptations obstacles, waves of success failure, wave of good health and disease, of honor and dishonor. The dualities keep us under tight control.

In this ocean we are always aspiring for what we do not have and lamenting for what we lose. No peace. How tpo cross over this ocean? We are actually in a very helpless dependent condition. We may be doing very nice in our spiritual life.

If you are not chanting 16 rounds, at any moment you will fall victim to Maya. SP put great emphasis.
4 reg principles, keep association of devotees, hear SB and BG. When SP was on Jaladuta - he had direct experience of being in a tiny oat in the middle of the ocean- very difficult situation. Middle of Atlantic Ocean when a storm comes what do you do- you cannot decide lets stop here for sometime, or lets go home- nowhere to turn to- all there is is something darkness and waves, winds, you cannot see where you are who you are. what is your condition, you are helpless and hopeless. In that condition SP had two heart attacks, sea sickness