Diversity a necessity for growth- Part 2

There is not only our own egos that create conflict, but there is all kinds of egos around us that can incite division. sometimes brother's wives do not like the husband's brother and they can easily get affected. People have very very sectarian egoistic views and they very much influence the way we think. Not only do we have the mind that is affected by the bad dog of egoism, lust, anger, envy, greed and illusion , but there are so many factors around us inciting us and creating divisions.

For Bharat it was his own mother- but she wanted Ram to be in the forest and Bharat to be the king.Everyone was trying to convince Rama to go back but his love for his brother was so deep that nothing could budge him. Higher principle.
Bharat at every single kingdom was ruling the kingdom from his little straw hut- sometimes just drinking cow urine as he did not want to enjoy what was meant for Rama, he did it all as an expression of Ram to serve and maintained Ayodhya in the most wonderful way for the pleasure of Rama.

Finding Real happiness
A little later in the story- Ravana- he was just thinking about me- did not know anything about love.Anything wrong he wanted to do he could justify it through scripture. He wanted Sita Rama's wife to enjoy for Himself. He stole Sita away. His entire city was made of solid gold.Still was not enough for Him- he was the wealthiest man on earth.He had so many ladies to enjoy- but he wanted Sita. SB tells this about Hiranyakasipu- he had conquered the entire universe but he could not find a moment of real happiness   because he had not been able to control his own mind and senses. The more you have the more you need. If you are not finding happiness within yourself you cannot find it anywhere.No matter what you have , what you cna achieve, what you can do. Love is about finding the wealth within ourselves and using our abilities to express that love. When we don't find that within, we are trying to fill that vacuum with stuff from outside- power, money, fame, incredible skills. All that stuff can't go beyond that sharp pointed dot on that infinite line. It can hardly be sustainable within that dot on that infinite line. Sita could have been the princess above all others but all she wanted was Rama. Hanumana was a brahmacari all he wanted was to serve. The dynamics of Hanuman's consciousness - lets try to analyze it very briefly- give every drop of his energy just to bring Sita back to Rama. As a Brahmacari he did not have any possessions- his only aspiration was to see Rama and Sita happy together- that is seva- unconditional love. That love wasn't just sitting peacefully in a shanti stage.- jumped across the ocean..

For a devotee who has discovered that transcendental love within herself and himself  , honor and dishonor really does not make much difference. It only really affects us- when our level of satisfaction or fulfilment is on such a superficial shallow level.Just like in a river, if you are on the surface of the river all the waves,  the rains and winds affect you, but if you are deep in the current of the river you do not even notice the rains or the winds.So we are only affected by the transformations in this world because we are so shallow in our realizations of life, who we are, who is God and what is real happiness. It doesn't matter how much knowledge we have in our brains,money, skills, power, followers- none of that bring us any deeper. You can have or not have it, but Hanuman was satisfied within. He stood fearlessly in front of Ravana and told him-  Ravana you are a coward.

This is how love transcends the dualities of nature- pleasure, pain, honor, dishonor(example of Hanuman's tail being lighted and him still being very happy)

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Ravana started the fire with enmity to another- that fire came to burn his own wealth. When we try to hurt others- when we have envy, enmity, hate towards another. Then like the tail of Hanuman the fire of that negative quality of going to burn us from within and karmically it is going to burn us from without. Very good message. He started the fire himself that will destroy his kingdom. That is the nature of envy.

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Real Wealth
He went to meet Ram in the cave in Kishikindha ksetra. Rama came out of the cave to meet Hanuman- he told the whole story Sita's message to Him and the extra services he did. Greatest treasure is the treasure of love and that love is expressed through service. Rama said I have nothing to give you as a reward ... all I have is my embrace , woith deep satisfaction and infinite transcendental love Rama embraced Hanuman- that was the only thing that Hanuman could want..


If you want to know how rich you are- find out how many things you have that money cannot buy. The things that money can buy is not wealth. Real wealth is the inner treasure- things that money cannot buy. Love, Grace when we have those things then we have true wealth. Then we can billionaires or monks living within a cave. Doesnt matter that wealth is there within the hearts of all of us. Then whatever position we are in - we can use it.

Eventually there was a great battle  as hanuman predicted Ravana and his entire dynasty was destroyed and his brother Vibhisihna was made the king- Rama , hanuman and Vibhishana did not want it- but Rama wanted vibhishana to do it as a service to him.

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Diversity necessity for growth - Part 1

From the lecture:

2013-04-28 Various - Sunday Feast Lecture - Radhanath Swami ISKCON Chicago

Love by seeing the unity in the diversity
Diversity creates beauty. When we do not understand the inherent unity then there is egoism , envy, fear , hatred, war, terrorism, marital disasters, disasters between brothers and sisters. Living in a house a husband, wife or in a temple ashrama- we all have different natures. The ego wants everyone to be like me, the way I think is how they should think, and they think , that the way they think is the way I should think, then there is conflict. Harmonizing means to honor and respect the differences we have for the higher principles which is - the material nature is very difficult to overcome but when we take shelter of the Lord we can cross beyond it- that means taking shelter of the Higher principles. Ralph Waldo emerson wrote- " Diveristy is creating so much division on every level of humanity. And in so many cases it creates situations that leave us in ruins. The reason is we have become disconnected from our own self.Thats where it begins.

 The concept of Yoga is to reunite. On a broader level to reunite everyone as brothers and sisters.

mamivamso jiva loke -In Bhakti we understand every living being is a part of God, is Krsna in a little infinitesimal part. But Krishna is the original source and when we learn to love the original source then we learn to love the original source we see Krishna in every part- even if that part maybe covered by all sorts of egoism still within that part there is Krishna. See that spiritual essence in others unless we realize how we are a part of Krishna. Bhakti is the path of realizing that through love. Our reln with Krsna is jivera swarupa hoye- eternal servant of the Lord. What does servant mean- service is the highest possible realization- nitya siddha - prem divine love unconditional love for Krishna is dormant within the heart of everyone. We have simply forgotten- when that love is awakened then its is expressed through trying to please Krishna- in this world when we love somebody we want to please them give them happiness. Mother does so many sacrifices to give happiness to the child... when we realize the glory of seva, unconditional service as an expression of our love and also by the means we awaken that love , then we naturally extend that same realization for every living being for every living being is a part of Krishna. BVT wrote that anyone can say they love God- in every religion there are certain sectors that say they have the monopoly over God. The test that one has love for God- is we have genuine compassion for all living beings-you cannot have love without that  else its a mental conception not a reality. so when we have this love its the thread the harmonizes all the apparent dualities of the world- happiness distress, honor dishonor-


Apparent conflicts are actually gifts
 If we see this little lifetime is a single little pencil dot on a long line drawn by the pencil.Try to imagine like this, there is a pencil line that goes to infinity and its a really sharp pointed pencil and you put one dot on it- that is what our lifetime is. If we see reality from that perspective, just that one little dot- but why is this happening, how- we become confused about this situation- why? The fact is it is just one dot on an infinite line- but we see it as all in all and see it according to the immediate experience we are having. But we see success and failure opens special doors to self improvement on one level and to self realization on  a higher level.

If you just always succeeded life would be very boring- even if you dont like to fail, it enhances the quality of life. Only pleasure we will stop appreciating the pleasure. In SW you dont need that because there is ananda.

When we see from this perspective- then all the dualities even then variations and diversities in our relationships- when two people do not get along because they have their issues and it is very hard to forgive each other. To keep the relationship together not just on a cease fire level but on a reln of affection and respect- we have to focus on something higher. When these apparent conflicts come - they are teachings us you cannot survive unless you grow and the fact is unless these situations come we will remain complacent and never grow.Most of us are complacent in our chanting reading- nobody liked the fact we could die in a few minutes but on the flight with the emergency I was not complacent.

Crises between people, in our worldly situation are actually gifts teaching us or inviting us into a higher realm-. SP said show your love for me by how you cooperate. But there are so many reasons why we don't cooperate. Problem for me- No every devotee was not  born in Chicago- everyone else has weird conceptions. People from Europe Africa- have different upbringing, conditions how are we going to cooperate. At the same time- any temple situation only so many posts that can be filled- people want same posts, same facilities- how do we deal with that. SP said you can show your love by how you can cooperate.The dynamics of potential conflicts due to all these difference are an opportunity and believe it or not they are a necessity to spiritually grow.

Diversity creates an urgency to go deeper
Unless it is right in our face, then we are not going to take seriously what we have to do to make it work- the only way we can make it work and every single person has to take this responsibility. The way we make it work is not by changing everyone else but it has to begin by changing ourselves and unless we change ourself, we cant productively expect to change anyone else. St Francis instructed his followers, you should always preach and when necessary we should say something.That means Our character, our example is actually going to make the change., Unless our words or based on the foundation of our character they may impress people's minds but they will not change their hearts.What comes from the heart can actually touch another heart.

These diversities actually create an urgency to go deeper, to go higher in our sadhana in our values, in our character and ultimately to really take shelter. As we see in this verse- daivi hyesha gunamayi- we cannot do it ourselves- the diversities  the dualities, so much conflict are beyon our ability to transcend- but when we are put in those situations we realize that we have to genuinesly truly take shelter. When we take shelter through the proper motivations proper guidance- we invite grace that brings us into a realm of consciosuness that is beyond the dualities where all the diverities can be expoerienced as gifts from God- All the doveristies are actually there to bring our love for Krishna, love for each other and love for everyone else to a higher conception.

Wanting service and not position
Ram navami- the appearance of Ram- one little part from Ramayana - a heart breaking experience.

If Rama becomes the Prince regent , then Kausalya will become the favorite queen becase she is Rama's mother and if Kaikeyi's is neglected then where am I- I become nothing, I become irrelevant. So she had fear. Manthra was so insecure because of her deformity she as always suspicious and always afraid , the power of her envy convinced Kaikeyi to create a whole scheme where Rama would be exiled to the forest for 14 years and Bharat would be the king..........Lord Rama was demonstrating ideal relationships- relns with father, mothers brothers, animals, demons- showing the highest integrity- Neither Rama, Bharat wanted the position  There was a long debate- arguing like anything- but it is an argument of love- each was the total well wisher of the other. Rama said Bharat should be king and bharat said Rama should be.

Ultimately Rama said- this is how you can please me- You go back and become king..........

Who is a Vaishnava? - 7.4.33

SB 7.4 - Hiranyakaspiu terrorizes the universe. Text 33
WQualities of :Prahalada Maharaja are being summarized- we may read vols of philosophy memorize many teachings and veen have the powert o speak in such a way that people are mesmerized  In these few verses of SB it is clear, what is expected of us.- What are teh characteristics that we must sincerely strive to live by in our lives.As sri CM has spoken- one cannot really understand Krishna or how to love Krishna even by studying scriptures.

Lecture Link:

08-025 'Who Is A Vaisnava-1' Lecture by HH Radhanath Swami

Self worth and Self care- Modern
Giving the person the comfort that i am important valuable- sense of self sowrth. In kali yuga so many situations can be depressive to a persons mind. There is a whole movement for self -care- self value- but when that is only on the material plane it could make you feel better temporarily , inflate your false ego and give u an illusory sense of false value.

Giving people real self worth and self care- Real philanthropy
Bur Prahlada, PS are not just trying to pump our false ego- they are giving us the knowledge of who we really are-what we really are. What are real value is? and if we understand your value acc to their perspective you cannot think - I have real value and you dont. Moderm systems could bring that i am feeling self care an self value and I am better than you. But here we understand who we really are and that everybody is like that- we understand everybody;s essence is of immense value .

Krishna is like the sun and the jiva is compared to little sparks or rays oif the sun - from the perspective of the sun what is the significance of the spark- cannot illuminate very much. The farther the spark is away from the fire the less t grows and teh less value it has . When that spark comees closer to the feet of Radharani who is the source of all devotion then that spark grows brighter . When it is very close very close to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath then tit can generate light that can illuminate light o illuminate the entire world and universe- that little spark.

In actually trying to give a person their real sense of value we convince them that you are spirit soul and part and parcel of Krishna- there is love in your heart and there is unlimited joy in your heart. Theoretically that can make a person feel "That's nice" but real inner fulfillment has to go beyond the theoretical. bec situations in life can bewilder us from our theoretical understanding of things. But if we convince people of this concept of truth and bring them closer and closer to the feet of sri sri radha goipinath - then their real senses of the infinitesimal soul starts glowing brighter and brighter . Its divine qualities and virtues become more and more manifest. In the spiritual world we find that although there are unlimited jivatmas (rats alone in the city of mumbai are countless, what to speak of humans, microbes, bacteria, mosquitoes) Could human intelligence veer even create a number that could estimate the number of jivatmas in the cosmic manifestation. This is just a prison- small percentage of society. How many are there in the spiritual world- Goloka Vrindavan , svetadvipa, dwarka mathura, unlimited vaikunthas planets have more jivas than the cosmic manifestation.

Each living entity their heart is so close to Krishna due to love- Krishna can make everyone feel, that I love only you- my full love, affection , attraction is just for you. That doesn't give a you a superior complex over others- if you see Him loving others more you are not envious- Why? Because the soul is totally satisfied by Krishna's love for me. Therefore the more satisfied they are seeing Krishna loving someones else they are thrilled. The closer the soul comes to Krishna the real value of the soul is brought out. A real father who is trying to help the poor is not only giivng them some physical symptomatic relief- but is gving the knowledge of who they really are and brining them closer to Krishna. Therfoer Lord CM has given this instruction - bharat bhumi - we should all perfomr the highest welfare work for human society - and what is that highest welfare work - is to bring osuls closer to Krishna.

Our physical welfare work and emotional welfare work is connected to the needs of the soul.Give them food they will be hungry again give them prasad they will be hungry again- but by giving them orasad you have brought them closer to Krishna.

Heal a person's physical sickness but them in an environment where their souls are being awakened opractically burnt out soul spark is laying in the dark in the sand with no light in it- but if you can bring them closer to the Lotus feet of Radha Krishna then that type of philaphthropy is paroupkar.

Krishna has descended in His name in all of His fulness and all of His opulence - therefore the greatest charity we can oiffer to one another with real care and love is to bring peopl closer to Krishna by inducing them to take shelter of the HN. We cna be close to Krsihna in every sitaution and allow the soul in our heat to blaze with all the good qualities and the Holy Name is a method by which we can be close to Krishna in every situation at all times. Radha and Krishna are their names. This was Prahlad aMaharaja - even if he was a 5yr old boy he cared for the poor in heart and wealth like a father.

Bible Jesus said- Blessed our the poor in heart- what he is speaking is about those who have humble hearts - those who realize that nothing is mine everything is the property of God- the more we realize that the more we come closer to God.

Attachment and Relationships in Spiritual life
To His equals - attached like a sympathetic brother- not just a friend- we should have friendships in this spirit- attachment to them like a sympathetic brother- means deep down to the core of your heart you really care about them. His problems, is my problems, his suffering is my suffering, his joy is my joy.As a brotehr no matter what.Developing attachment on that level.

Developing attachment on that level. Mayawadis' are
against any kind of attachment and sometimes devotees also- bec we read about vairagya we get this idea we should detached from everything and everyone. From Vaishnava societies we get this idea we get that he is attached to his equals but not attached to exploiting the, . for his sense gratification- he is attached because he knows them as his brothers and sisters Krishna's children and he is attached to serving them with love- that is how we should try to cultivate attachments with all of our peers- attachment - serving out of love. RG 6 loving exchanges.

Natural PRide and Unnatural pride
To be attached to those exchanges with everyone is very good- symptom of a Mahajana and he considered his teachers, siksa gurus, SM's - Prabhupada said he treated his older godbrothers ans good as the SPG.How was he able to do this? completely free from unnatural pride- why unnatural- bec in spiritual life there is pride but it is natural pride- based on the truth. To be proud of Krishna is natural pride, proud of vaishnavas of the good things they do because they know they are being empowered by Krishna is natural pride. If you are proud of Krishna-will you not spontaaneously proud of something Krishna does through someone else- When we glorify Krishna we are shoing our pride oin Krishna- this is my God- our God. When we read about SP our hearts should swell with pride - not in oursleevs byut in Ps- When we see someone serving nicely we should be filled with pride- how they are empowered by Krishna < SP and the paramapara is natural pride. But false pride is when we put ourselves in the center- Natural pride in Krishna, Giuru and vaiushnavas beautifies us, trasncened all envy and disputes. Unnatural pride creates disunity, envy, destroys our humility- natural pride increases our humility- pride is with Krishna and others in teh center it makes us beautiful but when pride is with us in the center it makes us egotisitical.

Be Fixed in your Aim BG 8-27

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

Lecture:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Humbling Ourselves

1994-006 Humbling Ourselves SB 01-02-19 - Radhanath Swami Mumbai 1994-01-13 IDesireTree

SB 1.2.19

tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ
 kāma-lobhādayaś ca ye
ceta etair anāviddhaṁ
 sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati

As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.

Lecture Transcript(with mistakes and words missed. Pls forgive me)

Krishna explains there is no other means to completely free the heart of contamination other than Bhakti or DS. Some people aspire for mukti, but acc to the highest realms of  Xcendental understanding that desire is considered a contamination - the desire to be free of all material miseries existence is considered to be a selfish propisition it is not the true quality of the soul.

Our Natural Position
sa vai pumsam ... The supreme occupation - the natural eternal position is to selflessly serve the SL with no motivation BVT. prayed - My Lord , I am your servant You can do anything You like- You can kill me or protect me- I have no preference I am only meant for Your pleasure. bhavatad bhakti tvayi. devotees do not seek their own satisfaction 0- they only seek service- do not want wealth women- even freedom from suffering only Your loving service birth after birth ... aslisya va padam pinastu mam.My Lord I am coming to surrender at Your Lotus feet and now You can do whatveevr You like to do with Me. If you like- you can embrace me, trample upon me or you can make me broken hearted by not being present before me You have any right to any thing You like bec I am Your servant unconditionally- this alone is the pure quality of the soul and this is the aspiration of every devotee- simply to be engaged in the loving service of the Lord.

To be more humble than a blade of grass .....
When Sri CM came to this world- He esp came to establish the Supreme Position of loving devotion , the path of Bhakti over any other religious concept. When He was living in Navadvipa Dhama each night He would have kirtans in Srivas Pandit's house the sight of His dancing was the most beautiful manifestation that was ever present in this cosmic manifestation.but only the pure in heart and truly humble were allowed. One time a faultless austere honest brahmacari so much desire to receive the mercy of the Lord. He would live in the forest and throughout His life He would only drink little milk and eat nothing else- He was absolutely celibate- performing such tapasya very difficult to endure. So CM He would personally close the doors of Srivas's house so that no one would come in unless they were completely surrendered to the path of Bhakti. This brahmacari would request Srivas everyday- everyone was so blissfully engaged in the loving service of the Lord.by loudly chanting HKHKKKHHHRHRRRHH.

Srivas explained that the Lord was strict but this brahmacari would humbly beg him- Srivas explained that the Lord was disturbed by anyone who was not pure in his devotion- he said I can let you in but you have to hide so the Lord cannot see you. The kirtan began and CM began to dance along with His associates. CM stopped the kirtan- He said I am not able to experience the ecstacy of Krishna's love- there must be someone who is not pure in devotion. Srivas explained that a brahmacari very austere, great renunciate- I have hidden him- CM began to chastise this man- - Do You think you can attain Krishna by drinking milkk that any amount of renunciation has any value to Krishna- that you are a Brahmin attracts Krishna in any way- Hanuman was monkey, Gajendera was an elephant- an animal with pure desire can attain mercy of the Lord- You are not fit. As the Brahmacari was walking out he was thinking- The Lord is so merciful- He is purifying me of all my wretched material desires- He is so kind- I am so fortunate that for a few moments I was able to see His dancing and chanting- in utter humility he left the house. CM could understand his mentality- even after severly chastised and insulted by the Lord he gratefully accepted as true for His purification . so the Lord called him back in . He fell at the feet of CM and CM placed His Lotus Feet at the top of the brahmacari's head. because You have learned the principle of humility and devotion beyond renunciation knowledge and everything else in this world I grant You the love of God- All devotees became jubilant and call the holy Names of the Lord. This humble state of mind- by which we aspire only for service must be the goal of our lives- nothing else. CM prayed trnad api sunicena ..... To be more humble than a blade of grass even more humble than the straw in the street , more tolerant than a tree- ready to offer all respect to others and to expect none in return. Simply to bear insult is the beginning of humility but real humility is something positive, not neutral, not negative. When a devotee endures tribulation or insult that he should be grateful -that is humility. That Krishna  You are so kind That you are giving me this loving purification- this is what it means to be more humble than a blade of grass- when you step in a blade of grass it does not complain, it does not claim any position- it is in the lowest position. And when you spit on it or when you step on it or do what so many people do on it- the blade of grass is in a neutral condition- it simply accepts it, it does not complain - What does it mean to be more humble than a blade of grass it means to positively be grateful and thank Krishna for His mercy- Krishna You are so wonderful- You are doing this just to help me become a devotee- just to purify me of the multitudes of wretched sins in my heart- 

Krishna You can do whatever You like with me
When we offer some prayer to Krishna some prayer for success in our DS and we fail and everything goes wrong- Do we thank Krishna? Yes Krishna I am so unqualified and undeserving and You are helping me realize this by making my life a failure- the ruination that has come upon me is just to expose my fastidious nonsense state of heart- You are so kind Krishna Do whatever you like- that is real humility and that is what is required to chant the holy Names in quality- we should not complain we should not be particular we should be surrendered. 

A conditional devotee is particular we expect something for what we do- a sober and serious devote simply expects service- what the result maybe is whatever Krishna feels is best- a devotee has no position to protect because a servant has no position at all- the master has a position therefore the master can do whatever He likes with us and we are willing to gratefully accept. 

The Supreme Lord He is so kind- that He will test us again and again and when these tests come that He is giving the opportunity to develop the most important virtues in spiritual life- when we fail the test, when we complain we blame someone else and we think Krishna this is not fair- we try to defend our position our egos what we have done is lost the opportunity that Krishna has given us- to imbibe the most precious quality of humility- 

Service attitude- worship the Vaishnavas
How learned we maybe what position - even in a spiritual society we may have is irrelevant to Krishna- na ham vipra....CM was in the highest position- brahmin by birth grandson of nelambar chakravrthy and also a sannyasi- socially to be worshiped by all other classes acc to vedic tradition if one does not bow down to a sanyasi when he sees one he is supposed to fast for the whole day. CM was not expecting honor , distinction or service from others- it is a great danger to have some spiritual position to expect some service from others then you are fallen - you are simply meant to engage people in Krishna's service and by that engagement you become the servant- by engaging someone in Krishna's service you become that persons's servant . CM wherever He went He induced people to chant the Holy names of Krishna- in this way He was rendering the most valuable precious service to humanity. In this way he explained  gopi bhartur .... das anu das. I claim no position except that I am aspiring to be a servant of the servant of Krishna who is the Lord of the gopis. But sometimes we want to criticize and judge others bec our expectations from them are not fulfilled immd our service attitude is spoiled. Infact Sri CM wanted to demonstrate that one who gives up this service attitude to criticize a vaishnava devotee of the Lord- His spiritual progress is stopped- He illustrated this through His own mother
(story of how Saci Devi feels that Advaita Acraya is responsible for both of her sons going away from her and becoming renunciates and how she offends him, but CM does not give her mercy until she takes the dust of Advaita Acarya's Lotus Feet and places her head on his Lotus Feet).

CM was very pleased- "Because today you with honest and sincere humility have worshiped the Lotus feet of this great Vaishnava Advaita, now you are being given Krishna Prema " all devotees became very happy and began to cry out Haribol.

Humble and Sincere Devotion the currency

So in this verse from SB we find it is this humble and sincere devotion that is the be all and end all of the lives of those who are truly seeking shelter of the Lotus Feet of Krishna. Thinking that this is some formality or some ritual or some external action- the Lord does not see what you do but how you do. In India people without any motivation in mind want to touch the Deities feet or sadhus feet- there is no value to that unless i it is genuinely done in the mood of service and humility then that act can completely purify our entire existence - it is not a ritual- taking the dust from the feet of a great vaishnava devotees of the Lord means sub ordinating yourself to be the servant of that soul- I am willing to do whatever you ask me- I am your servant I have no position in this world other than to be the servant  of ther servant of such a great soul- if you take the servant of the feet in that consciousness then that dust will purify your mind and heart and that dust will be the most precious priceless gift that will award love of Krishna into your life. Don't think that dust from the feet of Krishna or His devotee is so cheap. It is the consciousness which purchases the true quality of that substance. NDT has prayed that the dust from the feet of the Goswamis is my food- the only food that truly nourishes my life- what is our life- it doesnt mean this physical body- the life of a devotee is his desire to serve- whatever desire we have to serve- the extent to which we have that we have life . From a spiritual point of view whatever selfish desires, desires for enjoyment we have it is like death. CM explains that it is in this state of consciousness with this aspiration of always being the servant of the Lotus Feet of the great souls that we can actually chant the Holy Names of the Lord .



Giving - the price of love for Krishna We should not expect anything for ourselves but we should always be anxious to give ourselves.
(story of CM when he was a young student how we throws his book on sanskrit grammar and logic - just because his young friend had also written it and he did not want him to be disheartened )My friend is feeling bad that this book will be worthless because of the book I have written. He threw His book in the river ganges in front of His friend.Why? CM did not care for any other principle than pleasing or serving His devotees- He wanted His devotees to be famous , He wnated His devotee to find pleasure and He was willing to sacrifice all of the work that He had done if that would satisfy His devotee. This is the principle of Humility we should aspire for . CM estd these principles to teach us- they are not just beautiful stories to enjoy but they are lessons to be learned- we want to be enjoyed by the Lord and His devotees. To the degree you want to enjoy you will suffer especially if you are a little sincere, If you approach Krishna and says Krishna I want to surrender to You- then you made a big mistake if you want to enjoy the material world- At the point you say to Krishna "I am Yours" at that point there is no turning back- Krishna has accepted you. And if you change your mind and say Krishna maybe I am yours but this is mine and this is also mine and everything else I can find should also be mine.
I want good health, nice respect from others, adoration from others, power , influence and so many things.What do you think Krishna will do- He will make you miserable. A devotee suffers to the degree he has attachment to enjoy material world., There is no more miserable species on earth than a devotee who is trying to forget Krishna and enjoy material life. They pull fish in nets and they are flapping in pain, beggars on the street are suffering so terribly but not as badly as a devotee who is trying to enjoy material life. That is Krishna;s mercy. "You have given Me Your life, now You want to take it back. my mercy is yasyaham anugrihami.... tad dhanam sanaya"You will be frustrated- but that frustration is glorious because it is bringing us back to our constitutional position. But why should we suffer like this.

CM has taught by this beautiful eg of throwing His only book into the Ganges- that we are simply meant for the enjoyment and service of the devotees and we will pay any cost to please the devotees-= w will accept any sacrifice, endure any hardship or tribulation, give up what is most dear to our live s to please the devotees- What do we get in return - we should we expect one thing in return - more service. After enduring such hardship for the pleasure of Krishna and His devotees we should expect only one thing- the opportunity to give more and more and more for the rest of eternity that is Krishna Consciousness - that is love that is the price of Krishna.

Bhaktya mam abhijanati ...... it is only  by this type of unalloyed devotion that Krishna can be understood as He is- that is the payment- Krishna will not accept any counterfeit payment of any other sort.

How can we practice this high ideal given our condition?
 But it is so frustrating because in our hearts this so far way- there is so many lusty desires, envy, too much pride- we expect so much- how can we ever approach- but Krishna's grace is very powerful as explained in this verse - that simply by rendering Ds , by simply aspiring with this goal in mind with enthusiasm and patience, simply serving the Lord and His devotees, chanting His Holy Names, praying for this humility Krishna by His causeless grace reveals this most precious treasure from withim. So let us always aspire- pout aside our own conditioned desires to associate with Krishna's devotes, to serve them and to chant the Holy names Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.....
This is actually all what CM taught us nitya siddha.... udoya- the love of God is within the heart of all living being, just associate with His devotees, make the order if Guru your life  and chant the HN's that is all that is reqd then love of God will awaken in your heart. That brahmacari he underwent so many severe austerities - his whole life he was celibate and fasting - but until he was grateful and humble to receive the chastisement of the Lord he was not given entrance into Love of God. Saci Mata although she was the mother of SPG until she humbled herself with great sincerity and she took the dust of the feet of the vaishnavas on her head she was not given love of God.,So let us aspire for this and let us unite on this principle of being  servant of the servant and blissfully chanting His HNs.

Questions

How can we find out what offenses we have committed? 
When Madhai became a devotee, he fell at the feet of Nityananda Prabu and begged His forgiveness, but was still feeling too much pain in his heart- he approached NP on another occasion and said that You have forgiven me,but I have committed offenses to countless living entities- I dont know who they are- How can I beg forgiveness from them and be forgiven by them. NP told him that you have to please Krishna and the way you cna do this - with your hand you take the humbl position of building built a ghat at the Ganges and everyone who comes you bow down at his Lotus Feet andtake the dust from his feet and with a sincere heart beg that please forgive me for any offenses I have knowingly or unknowingly committedagainst you..And Madhai did like this.

We in this age of Kali we are prone to commit offenses. First of all we must be extremely aware and careful that we must not commit any other offenses, offenses that we have knowingly committed we must beg for forgiveness sincerely and serve that devotee we have offended. And for those we do not know we may have done we should be a humble encouraging servant of all Vaishnavas - this will please Krishna and chant the HNS- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.....

We know from BG that realized devotee does not hanker or lament, but in order to become sorry for a mistake there is some lamentation?
Devotees are hakering for service , Gopis are hankering for Krishna and when he left they were lamenting so much. Krishna says brahma bhuta prasannatma.... when you reach that state where you do not hanker or lament for any material thing then you can enter bhakti- when you have stopped hankering and lamenting for your material desires- we should not hanker or lament for any personal SG, but we should lament any offense against Vaishnava and always hanker for any service to any Vaishnava.

Should we lament that we have wasted time or not been sincer enough?
We have just sung the song by NDT... " manusya janama bhaya radha krishna na bhajiya....""Xlation" - My life Oh Lord Hari I have simply spoiled- not served my Lord, no love for You, purposefully drunk poision- this is how the greatest acaryas have prayed to teh Lord- they are lamenting that they have not given their complete hearts to Krishna.

this is how the acaryas pray. HDT thought he was so wrteched, so sinful but still the Lord hari allowed him to chant- bvecause he was thinking like this he could chant so purely- devotees should lament and hanker always in this way.


je anilo preme dhana acarya thakur.... always hankering for the association of devotees- Ramamnda Raya when he was asked by CM about suffering he said to be without the association of devotees is the only suffering- tonight we have so many devotees are we grateful to Krishna for that.

To be in the association of devotees- to chant the HNs,to dance, hear Krishna Katha is the most precious gift in the world- the most intimate expression of Krishna's love that He has given to us- so we should hanker for these opportunities - if we have to stay at home hen there is a nice satsang we should weep cry that we are missing it.

So let us celebrate this great occasion by giving our humble obeisances to Nathji Prabhu, Maithili Priya Mataji ...for making these wonderful arrangements so. that we could all come together  to chant the Holy Names of Krishna.