Monday, October 6, 2014

Although Seeing Jarasandha could not fathom Krsna - HH Radhanath Swami

17 times consecutively Jarasandha got massive armies and Krsna delivered them all. Now one may ask why didn't  he have the intelligence- he has been defeated 17 times and every time he has been insulted- OK  you go now- we do not need you here. Because that is the nature of envy- when you have envy you loose your intelligence- logic, rational and philosophical conceptions, they vanish. WE learn to justify anything. These 6  anarthas- lust, anger, arrogance, envy, greed. They put us in such an illusion that we lose our intelligence. dhyayato visaya pumsam- When we fall prey to these anarthas our intelligence is lost. We lose the memory of what really is for my well being and what isn't. Sometimes we see when people are intoxicated , they do things they do that they never do when they are intoxicated. They lose their sense of judgement. Things like anger, lust, envy, they are like an intoxication. , like a cloud. So he wasn't seeing that Krsna is better than me. He an Balarama singlehandedly have annihilated my army 17 times. He was convinced that he was going to defeat Krsna. It was just his karma- some technicality why he was losing and he was thinking he was right and Krsna was bad- Kamsa was a nice person and Krsna unfairly defeated him. He was rationalizing Kamsa being good and Krsna being evil. These anarthas like envy they cloud, so that you cannot see anything rationally, and so often people in world history we find that when they get this power and this arrogance and they are infatuated by it and when they fall prey to things like anger and envy then they think they can get away with anything and can cause massive damage to the entire planet. The worst evil that has been done ti this world by dictator jarasandha are always rationalized and justified for the good. Hitler - he  was convinced he was cleansing the earth. How could he not see it, the screams, the torture, the death- his heart was so hardened by that arrogance and envy.

After 17 times Jarasandha gathered the 18th army, to attack the enemy. Meanwhile Kalyavana was born for the purpose of fighting the yadus, had supernatural abilities to fight.......

Around 37:56
Mucukunda- nice king, no problems in his kingdom. Demigods attacked by asuras could not withstand their strength. They approached Mucukunda for help- he was sucha selfless person- knowing them to be Krsna's devotees- he fought to protect the devas for a long long time- asuras could not defeat the devas as long as he was protecting them. Eventually Kartikeya was born of Parvati and Siva . Thus the devas had their own general and they told him we do not require your service anymore and we want to offer any benediction you like. The devas were extremeley grateful
Mucukunda understood what he was doing- the sacrifice he made. The devas told him because you have been fighting in our abodes, you have been in our time zone and you have been fighting so long and in our time zone you could live so long- but you should know that in the time that you have fought all your queens, all your children, all your ministers and everything you had its all gone, by the power of our time- everything that was dear to you have all died- generations after generations have died. Now he has done his service and it was not that he could go home to his family, nothig existed that he had and no one. So that was his willingness to protect Krsna's devotees the devas- they said bec you have made such a sacrifice we would like to give you a benediction. wE can give you anything in this world the only thing we cannot give you is liberation- bcause only Vishnu can give liberation.

So Mucukunda - he had good realization of the nature of this material world- everything that was dear to him was lost- but he did not sleep for years and years and years- that was his devotion and sacrifice- he put his heart into it- defending the devas without sleeping - guarding defending- if he went to sleep something could go wrong.This is how meticulous he was in his service- now that he did not have to do it anymore , it was all catching up to him.. When you are really in the passion of getting something done- you do not realize what is happening to your body- now that his service was finished he was really feeling tired in his body- he had not slept in ages.

He told the demigods that if you want to give me any benediction just give me the benediction that I can go to asleep and if anyone tries to wake me up they will burn to ashes.

 Why will anyone want a benediction like that?
For a couple reasons. One, he really wanted to sleep - in this world there is always someone who wants to wake you up. He wanted to make sure that of anyting happened with Kartikeya Indra would come to him and say Mucukunda we need you again- but now there is now way Indra would bother him again- they would be burned to ashes- he was assuring himself of good sleep.

But ultimately, he was truly a devotee of the Lord , Krsna in his heart had a purpose to serve through him. This is Krsna's lila- he hasked for this incredible benediction because Krsna wanted him in the SB teaching us great lessons. So Krsna knew His beloved devotee Mucukunda was sleeping and He wanted to wake Him up. He wanted to honor the demigods benediction. Wanted to wake him up because he was His dear devotee.

Kalyavana- Mucukunda. How to get rid of someone like Kalyavana?
....
Mucukunda is asking beautiful prayers to Krsna telling Krsna who he is and what his past is- beautiful prayers- because in these prayers- Mucukunda is describing the nature of the world because now Krsna is offering him any benediction and Krsna can offer him every type of liberation. Mucukunda is already seeing the power of time- everything that was near and dear to him was washed away by the waves of time. The greatest kings, sitting on enormous elephants best of weapons, mystic powers, - just a matter of time, the power of kala that the person will be eaten by worms- great body will be a pile of ashes. Nothings lasts . The illusion is that things are going to last for a long time- in the estimation of eternal time this little flash of a lifetime is insignificant- even in satya yuga where lifetimes was a 100k years last for a long time , even that is such a small life, Lord Brahma 311 trillion years - life is a little flash- what to speak of us in kali tyuga at most we can live a 100 years. SP wanted us to be healthy so that we can utlize this body for DS and he wanted us to be happy doing it. But the balance
of finding and giving that happiness of living in this world for Krsna's service must always be balanced with the focus on what is beyond this tiny little lifetime. Bec the human birth is especially meant to invest in our eternal future. Mucukunda is expressing the value of this human life- its the time we can awaken the eternal soul- a time where we can reconnect with the true self, beyond birth and death, But unfortunately the world of maya is so powerful and complicated that even while having this human form of life we become so entangled. Even people fall in the illuison that they are very learned and powerful they are constantly being conquered by their mind and senses. Janasya Moho aham mameti - this body , those people in reln to this body are my family and those things in relation to this body are mine. and living in this conception moment after moment human life will lose opportunity after opportunity and inevitable death will come. what have we gained. Human life really begins when we seriously make the commitment tot he path of self realization. Sp a poem he wrote in VRidnavan- he is looking at the great personalities of history who made a mark in this world- what to sepak of everybody else. In his history how many people have  a made a mark in this world. In some of the books, most prominent people and after a while they are forgotten. The most there is a , is a list of names , Nothing is left of the greatest conquerors, philosophers and prophets of this world, whether you become a multi billionaire or whether you become world famous still all that is left is a name- there is not even connection with your soul to all the things you left behind anymore. So mucukunda , Krsna's offering Him any benediction - this is his meditation - whats the use and we find that the only blessing He asks Krsna is to serve Him, let me completely take shelter of you and let me engage in your loving service.



Friday, September 26, 2014

Seeing potential in everyone - HH Radhanath Swami



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39dlVUSaUSw

Krsna sees the beauty in every living entity
10.44.04

Chapter entitled the killing of Kamsa.
In the bg Krna teaches u ye yatha mama... according to how we approach Him Krsna reveals Himself accordingly. For one who see Me everywhere and everything in Me ... never lost....
Krsna expands through His energies in everything that exists.

One who is forgetful of Krsna , naturally thinks in term of janasya moham aham mameti... I am this body and all things related to the body are mine. the nature of the soul is ananda- looking for that bliss- existence means connecting with that happiness which is our nature.#

Spiritual love
Spiritual realm ever increasing never ending happiness in Krsna- who is all attractive whose love i infinite and who reveals His love according to our willingness to receive it. When we forget that, we try to find it through material energy because we are identifying with it. when we identify ourselves as eternal servants of krsna- which is our eternal constitutional position then we seek giving Krsna happiness bec that the nature of love.  ahaituki apratihata- spiritual love is not motivated by any type of selfishness or egoism and it cannot be interrupted by any situation- love is to give ourselves totally for the pleasure of the beloved- samsiddhir hari tosanam. Perfection of all of our duties is to whatever extent it pleases Krsna - that is the psychology of  bhakti-there are many psychologies within this world- the psychology of bhakti is  deep profound scientific at the same time its basis is very -- atah pumbhir dvija sresthas varnasrama vibhagasaha- actual goal purpose success of whatever we do and whoever we are in whatever species or position we may be in is krsna is pleased. This consciousness is love. And as the sb explains when you water the root of the tree- janamady asya yatah then naturally that water goes to every part of the tree. When our loving propensity is directed toward Krsna then naturally we will actually perceive that loving propensity is directed towards to Krsna then naturally we will actually perceive the opportunity to please krsna  in everything everywhere and in everyone.

What does "One who sees my everywhere and everything in Me, that person is never lost to Me" mean?
When Krsna tells one who see me in everywhere and everything that person is never lost to Me. In bhakti what is it that we are seeing - if we try to see Krsna's three fold bending form playing His flute in a piece of plastic we may not see it, we may imagine but what are we really seeing, we see Krsna
by seeing the opportunity to please Him through our opportunity to serve and love in everything and in every situation.
Mamaivamso ... every living being is a part of Krsna. aham bija pratapita. Everyone is Krsna's children. Sri Radha is the mother of everyone and Sri Krsna is the father.And everyone is a little part of Krsna.And even material energy inanimate objects it is all Krsna's energy- I am the source of all material and spiritual worlds. Prakriti is the nergy of Krsna.Therefore we see anything- car or a piece of wood- it is Krns'as property and it must be utilized for Krsna's pleasure.

No situation can prevent us from thinking "How can I please Krsna?"
Practical and Doable to see Krsna everywhere- by seeing how can I please Krsna in everything and in every situation .There maybe Tragedies- celebrations- they will come like the winter and summer seasons inevitably- Bhakti is not waiting for the perfect Material situation to come before us- sometimes Maya traps us that way- the perfect material situation when things are going the way I perceive it to be favorable then I can really do something wonderful for Krsna- then I can really flourish in my bhakti.

When people are acting in ways that don't break my heart and cause me anxiety, when situations around me are favorable to actually get something done, accomplishing, when my body and mind are cooperating with what I want to do. That type of devotional service is conditional- and as we recited from SB Bhakti is unconditional. Whether our mind is what it is , whether our body is tired or distressed,whether people are praising us or causing us so much anxiety- whether its a nice AC hall or burning hot in the heat of the indian summer, whatever we make progress by whatever the situation may be how can I please Krsna. There is no situation that can prevent us to think like that- "How Can I please Krsna?" That is the path of perfection. how favorable circumstances are have nothing to do with our spiritual life- how we see the favorable opportunity and potential in every situation is the path toward prema bhakti or love for Krsna. We may have shortcomings- we may be old thinking why did not I learn music when I was young learn to study to read scriptures with deep analysis..... Take another birth and you have to do it all over again. The problem is when you are young you do not think that way, then old say same thing....

Living by what is pleasing to Krsna
It doesn't matter- whatever we are- right now is a perfect situation to surrender- Krsna I am Yours. When Lord Rama spoke to Sugriva, Hanuman, Angada about Vibhisana- anyone who wants surrenders his heart- Krsna or Rama from this day I am yours with sincerity- for that person , I vow before all of you-I become the property of that person, I will always protect that person- even if Ravana who made so many crazy mistakes - even if he came and said "My Lord ,I am yours" I would accept Him. This is our hope. Dina hina ... jagai madhai- if we chant the Holy Name with this sincerity and this spirit- even if we have done all the things Jagai and Madhai have done, if we are willing to just give it up and take it up- "from this day , Krsna I am yours"- that doesn't mean just saying it- it means living it.

When Rama is saying "My devotees or When anyone says My Lord I am yours?" it means that I am living according to what pleases You .. sarva dharama parityaja.... Krsna tells that if one surrenders in this spirit- I shall deliver from all reactions of all sins from the past and deliver you.

When Krsna really wants to bless us - He gives us the opportunity to serve.The washerman missed the chance
 Krsna gives Himself to the devotee who gives Himself this is the universal principle - it was especially demonstrated in Krsna's entering Mathura. Everyone was seeing Krsna according to their nature and everyone was surrendering to Krsna according to their nature. We have discussed last week the washerman- he had done 1000s of 1000s lifetimes of austerity , tapasya for the purpose of seeing God.
And in reciprocation now the supreme original God of all Gods came right to his shop. Can you imagine? People go on pilgrimage so many places here- the SPG is coming right to your shop. He is a washerman he as all this cloth- Krsna says give to Me some cloth. this is what love means- when Krsna wants to show His mercy  He gives us service. BSST would say do not try to see Krsna but try to serve Krsna in such a way that Krsna wants to see you.

When Krsna really wants to bless us , He gives us the opportunity to serve- because in that service we actually learn how to love Krsna. We learn thru so many histories, People see Krsna but they do not have love. Hiranyaksha saw Varaha deva, hiranyakasipu saw Narsimhadeva , Ravana saw Rama, Ravana had Sita- pleasure potency of the Lord living with him- but he was making no progress whatsoever, he was making apradha- because he had no desire to serve , to please. He was seeing the Lord as an object for him- when we come before the Deity we see the Deity as an object for me- the Holy Name is an object for meto relish. Vaishnavas are objects for me to somehow or other to get something from. Then we miss the real opportunity . Seva is the spirit behind everything in Bhakti. trnad api sunicena taror iva sahishnuna amanina maan dena kirtaniya sada harih.This spirit of service and humility when we come before Krsna- Krsna I have come to offer you my love my service ,what can I do for you? When we have this service spirit and we chant the Holy Name Krsna really responds in His Name - because we want to love Him and please Him whether we taste or not taste- the only reason why we want to taste the sweetness of the Holy Name because Krsna is pleased. It is not for our taste - the more we taste Krsna the more there is love and the more Krsna is pleased. The Gopis dressed nicely not so that they could look nice for themselves , but they dressed because it pleased Krsna- they only wanted to be happy bec they knew their happiness made Krsna happy- otherwise they did not care for their happiness. This is Bhakti. samsiddhir hari tosanam- when we please Krsna , Krsna steals the hearts- when we give to Krsna - Krsna gives Himself to us. mat cita mat gata pranah- when we take shelter of Krsna together, and share Krsna by discussing Him with one another and making plans to serve Him together united this gives maximum pleasure to Krsna . This is sankirtana. When we sit and chant it is very nice- Haridas Thakur used to chant 300k names of Krsna everyday, 192 rounds. But during the Rath Yatra in Puri and during Kirtans in Srivas Angan and other places- what a great joy when he was together with all the devotees- together with one heart , with one mind - so many different types of people- kings,clay cup makers, all castes all divisions of society were there in Puri- but one heart when they came together, because their purpose was what will give pleasure to Krishna, Jagannatha and they chanted Hare Krsna....

Difference between a neophyte devotee and a devotee making progress
So the washer-man the ultimate blessing - the opportunity to serve and real service is not what I want- it is what Krsna wants. This is the difference between a neophyte devotee and a devotee who is making progress. A devotee making progress says Krsna a what pleases You, its not about me , its about what pleases You- of course we dovetail our propensities but ultimately how does it make you happy Krsna . That is a question at every moment of life we can be reciprocating with Krsna through asking.

The washerman, Krsna came right to his door- this is what you do,you have cloth, give Me this cloth- it is the same beautiful Krsna that everybody else the greatest lovers of the Lord are seeing. He was angry bec of his association with Kamsa, but instead of pleasing Krsna he started saying terrible things to Krsna.So he missed the chance. Sudama gave everything and Krsna gave everything.

Krsna and Kubja
27:00 As Krsna walked He came across a hunchbacked woman, her name was Kubja and Krsna saw her , she was bent down, libs were deformed due to her hunchback- she was quite unsightly. she had a nice face, but the rest of her body was in a diseased condition from an orthopedic perspective.
She was carrying the most fine fragrances and oils. It was so nice that Krsna actually smelt it and was attracted and He came up to Her and Krsna revealed His own love to her, through His smile , through His charm, His glance , His form. And while everybody in Mathura considered her very ugly, Krsna said "Oh beautiful lady what is this you are carrying". She explained that she was a servant of Kamsa and she introduced herself by the name Trivakraa- bent in 3 places not like tribhanga- Krsna's bends are very beautiful but Trivakra means hunchback bends.
Kamsa liked nothing about Trivakra except that she made the best oils and he faciliated her by giving her the opportunity./ Understand that there was a big ceremony coming up. Krsna , Balarama were invited to the wrestling arena. Kamsa had a big stadium created for this purpose. His ministers, queens , generals and the most distinguished people as well as the common people of Mathura were all going to be present there. Highlight festival he was conducting, Obviously he wanted to be his best. She made very very special mixtures of fragrant oils and cups for Kamsa on that day and he was expecting them from her. He weas a violent cruel dictator, if you did not do wnhat you want- he ends your life immediately. everyone knows if I do not please Kamsa my life will be ended. So Kubja knew the sociology of Kamsa's mathura. So here she was on her to Kamsa's palace to give him these oils and pulps for his pleasure. And Krsna said give the best of these oils to me and my brother. Kubja was so happy, she said that these oils are only meant for you and your friends. The two of you are so beautiful, you have captured my hearts that these oils are your property, for your pleasure I will give you everything that you want. this is the nature of her love. Very similar to the Gopis. When Krsna played his flute on the Vamsi Vata tree on the bank of the yamuna He was calling hem for His pleasure. They did not consider the consequences to themselves they only thought what would be please Krsna. They knew that they could be rejected by society, by family, by everyone, but it pleases Krsna so those things were not even something to consider in their minds.

Sri CM , the greatest of all renunciates, explained the personified ultimate essence of all renunciation is the Gopis. Many of them had husbands, inlaws, babies and everything else. linving in Home. But their spirit of selfless love is the highest aspiration even for the greatest of Yogis and the Brahmanas wives, they also , they were simple gopis- they were the wives of very powerful austere Brahmanas Gurus of society, when Krsna send His friends- give me some food- they went to the forest to offer their bhoga to Krsna.

This is not some secret in the forest- its on the public streets of Mathuyra- people are watching- they are seeing Kubja the ugly hunchback maid servant of Kamsa, when he is in the palace expecting the fragrant oils she is going to give them not just to anybody but to Kamsa's worst enemy. Kamsa sent Akrura to bring Krsna and Balarama for the specific exclusive purpose of killing them- Kamsa hated Krsna - he was thinkign day and night with so much negativity- from a logical perspective it is a serious insult. Very valuable property , king is waiting for it but you give it all away to his worst enemy.
Trivakra understood all this , she knew what was going on, but like the Gopis and like the Brahmanas wives, it wasn't about her- it was Samsidhhir hari Tosanam- you are Hari, you stole my heart, yout stole everything about my life, everything is yours. Thus the only pleasure of her life , was that Krsna just accepts it. So Kubja gave Krsna and Balarama a qty of Kamsa's fragrances- she gave it all away and Krsna was so jhappy- putting on their bodies. and how it smelt so nice- Krsna wanted everyone to see that Kubja gave the pils that belonged to Kamsa- He did it in a way because they were different colors, natural, organic and even Kamsa would not stoop so low to chemicals.

Krsna 's complexion is dark like a monsoon cloud. He took the different ointments that were yellow in clor- so it really could be seen  the contrast of yellow and blue so that everyone could see, Kubja gave Kamsa's oils and it is on Krsna.

Just to make things even more exciting Balarama whose complexion is white like the full moon - he took dark blue pulps and fragrances. The contrast was really extraordinary. He looked like a full moon with many many spots.
41:11

49:42
People like kamsa and jarasandha- the earth was being ex.ploited. As Kamsa was doing that to the earth planet- personifying the earth planet she was a hunchback being exploited by Kamsa and the quality of the earth which is its special significance I am the fragrance, of fragrances I am the earth.
Quality of earth is fragrance. So here is mother earth in a very very exploited condition bent down and disfigured - giving the very essence of the best of what she has - her fragrances.

So Krsna being the Supreme Environmentalist- who doesnt like to see motehr earth being exploited and also bhoktarama ... exploited on so many life- by calling the resources of motehr earth- everything that she provides is an offering to Krsna and an opp for all her children to take and offer her offering to Krsna. but when  exploit, hurt each other, hate, envy, compete in egoistic wayswe have wars with each other, we fight, - that cripples the heart of mothEr earth- its painful. So Krsna was so pleased because she gave the best she had fearlessly- He looked at Balarama and His friends, made them laugh and smiled and looked at Kubja and did something wonderful. He placed His toes on her toes. With His feet covering her toes, then He took one finger from each of His hands and placed them under her chin and with a lovely smile, He very gracefulLy just pulled up and miraculously her back became completely straight. All her limbs were exquisite and she became absolutely, indescribably, incredibly beautiful.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orDL2WlL8cI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQieUqAK8wE
From Krsna TV servial)

 By Krsna's will He awakened within her heart- Madhurya Rasa- conjugal love similar to that of the Gopids. she wanted to give her heart,her life, body, mind , words and everything to Krsna. She was totally in love with Krsna and He was totally in love with her.........
53:57
Now from another perspective, even though Kubja was very crooked and was in a very very unfortunate pitiful condition physically, Krsna saw the potential in her. Krsna did not see her as a hunchback- he saw the potential in her- he actually gave her the realization of her potential.
She was very humble. Obviously people did not liek to look her, ridiculed her, looked at her with disdain- even Kamsa did not like anything about her except the oils- he would compliment the opils but never say anythign good about her. She was in a very lamentable situation. Krsna saw her potential and because He saw her potential he manfiested it before her- actually KRsna sees the potential and beauty in every living being, that is our hope.

Emotionally, mentally, physically we all have our crookedness
Nityananda Pr saw the potential in Jagai and Madhai. Hanuman saw the potential in Ravana. Ofcourse Ravana was not very cooperative. This is Krsna vision. He descends in this world where there is so much crookedness , but He sees the spiritual potential in everyone. When Srila Prabhupada came to New York, we read in some of the Lilamrita and some of his lectures- these people that were coming were like kubjas very crooked. Taking all sorts of intoxication, illicit relationships, they were not seekers of the truth. Many of them were in a pitiful condition very crooked, SP said and they never took baths.

They were not kubja with nice fragrances.....
He was seeing the potential in everyone and SP on behalf of Krsna - He did not say I will do this- I am your representative, through me I will make these people happy.
Through satsang, through hari katha seva, japa, hari kirtan- Krsna through SP was straightening this up making us beautiful- SP would say now they are bright faced. State of heart- so this is what a vaishnava is that we see the potential in each other , anybody could look at Kubja and say look at that UGLY hunchback with deformed limbs- but the false ego makes it seem that we are really heroic, really learned, advanced because I have the power to condemn other people's faults, to criticize. That's how material energy works, she gives us a certain satisfaction and a certain prestige - prajalpa at its worst- unnecessary talkin - talk whimsically frivolously, the worst is when we talk about the faults of others because it gives me some morbid sense of value- that I can judge another's faults- that gives me an esteemed position- that gives me some superior role. this tendency is very strong-

Rupa Goswami says that the nature of a true devotee is the propensity to find faults with others no longer exists in the heart.So a Vaishnava , a true bhakta is one who sees the potential even when there is the hunchback and the deformation. Unless great souls see the potential in us- we have no capacity and hope to actually be straightened up and restored.
What was our qfn to get such a treasure house. SP said- you had no qfn, I made the qfn.

what was kubja's qfn - Krsna saw her potential and Krsna approached her and gave her the opportunity to serve. SDP saw the potential in us and gave us the op to serve- whatever our hunchbacks- he saw we were perfect devotees in our core and he straightened us up.
This is how we are supposed to deal with each other
In a community of devotees  is yes, there are people with faults, with shortcomings and people that step on each other's heads sometimes, so what- at the time of death its not going to mean anything to us.

When we are on our death bed- 20 years ago we will think you did something, I am going to get you. What is that? nothing.- We make things so significant , when they are so insignificant compared to what the real opportunity is. So this is what a community of devotees- our values- we are all trying to straighten each other up-its not that we sentimentally let people go on with their unfavorable activities.But we see the potential in each other, we are all trying help each other to let Krsna through our Gurus lift us up and make us natural again. So we can see everyone is like kubja with such a potential - to be a beautiful lover of Krsna - this has to brought out and restored. Krsna with His two lotus hands and Lotus feet the way he pulled her up - He is giving us the same opportunity- param vijayate- to become restored to our beautiful natural perfect loving condition- through the chanting of the Hoyl Name...... Hare Krsna ....as soon as she was straightened ecstatic conjugal love came in her hearts. When we are straightened- ecstatic intimate love- prema bhakti awakens in our hearts.


Realizations:

  1. Every opportunity in life think about how to please Krsna- that is seeing Krsna everywhere
  2. Serve Krsna - wherever you are, whoever you are- its not about service/advancement is possible only in certain types of favorable situations
  3. Krsna I am Yours - what does it mean for me to be able to say that. What is blocking me from that?
    1. Kubja gave to Krsna fearlessly
    2. Kubja was in a very exploited condition- but she still gave the very essence of herself (as mother earth it was her fragrance), the best she had
      1. When I feel exploited by anybody- am I able to serve Krsna , give Him my best or is my mind preoccupied with all the disturbances and the anger I have towards people.
  4. See potential in everyone- I am crooked mentally, emotionally and physically.But some devotees have encouraged me and helped me to gradually overcome my crookedness. This way I must be encouraging to others also.













Friday, June 20, 2014

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

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Patience is needed to do the internal work



2013-02-04 Seminar Day 01-Patiently pursuing the goal controlling the urge to speak - Niranjana Swami ISKCON Chowpatty

I am going to speak this evening from essays written by Srila BVT on vereses from Upadesamrita and these are 12 essays given in sri bhaktyaloka on the two verses which describe the 6 activites that are favorable and 6 activitires that are unfavorable for DS. Today we will to talk about daya or patience- we are going to put together based on this essay and another essay BVT has written in the same book - and speak about the topic of patience which is very relevant for practitioners of Bhakti Yoga, especially since these essays are especially to those who are engaged in sadhana and who are aspiring to achieve the goal of their sadhana which BVt also explains in the essay - what that goal is? In order to achieve that goal one has to be very patient.Patience is a virtue and Rupa Goswami gives it as something that is essential if one wants to advance on Bhakti. Modern times we want things very quickly , often times devotees in execution of their sadhana being impatient - BVt explains that sometimes they abandon their sadhana because they are not patient. He presents it in a very profound way ................................

As we said the chapter is called daya or patience..

One confusing word here is "those who are patient cannot do any work" - We should remember who he is addressing. Regular people might be impatient but they will do what they need to do to get to work- he is speaking about internal work- those who are impatient it is very difficult to do the internal work that is required to achieve the goal which he delineates- ahead-He summaraizes at the end what this goal is






Don't solve problems, transcend them

From the lecture:
1994-126 Don't Solve Problems - Transcend Them Lecture Mumbai - Radhanath Swami 1994-09-02 IDesireTree

When are efforts appear to be successful then we become attached and dependent on those material endeavors and facilities- and that attachment to that facility is a greeater bondage than what that facility was meant to relieve you from. 
This is the law of nature- dukhalayam ashasvatam.

Therefore Prahalada Maharaj has said - if you want to be happy in this world you have to stop trying to be happy in this world. In other words- if you want toa void suffering in this world you have to stop making material arrangements in this world to stop suffering, because those arrangements are really the cause of your suffering. 

The ahankar is the cause of endless suffering. Bec we think we are the doer of our acivities but they are carried out by nature. We are trying to solve problems of our life- but if we solve the problems on the basis of thinking that I am the doer. e.g Medicine is trying to get cures for diseases - but the diseases are getting worse........
It is not that the technology is bad- it is the ahankar that is bad. Science has made how much leaps and bounds. Through computers what man can do is unbelievable. Yet there is more durg addiction, alcoholism,crime, wars, water pollution, air pollution, heart pollution. Despite so much advancement in civilization and all our efforts are meant to solve these very problems and we have very excellent trained politicians in the united nations and every capital building. Yet every country is suffering wars, sectarianism, hatred. Why? Without understanding what Krishna is teaching in the BG- all of our efforts to solve the problems only increase the problems of the world.

There is nothing worn with science- technology, higher education- but as long as these endeavors to solve the miseries of material life-through these processes are under the misconception that I am the doer- as long as we are trying to solve the problems on the level of material attachment and material misconception that I am this body and everything in reln to this body is mine- we only make things worse. 

Therefore Krishna gives this simple solution- daivi hyeshi.... This material nature is difficult and impossible to overcome, but one who surenders s to Me can easily cross beyond it. And what does it mean to surrender to Krishna.- man mana bhava mad bhakto... that always think of me, become my devotee, worship me and offer homage unto me and in this was you will come to me without fail- it is said in SB- fear personified is fearful of Krishna. CC says that Krishna is like the sun and all the darkness of illusion that is the cause of so much suffering, strife and disharmony - in the presece of son darkness cannot exist. When we remember Krishna with love, with devotion, with sincere attention then all the miseries of material existnce cease to exist. Bec the miseries of material existence are illusory. Because Krishna says that the soul cannot be killed, cannot be cut by any weapon or made wet by rain. It is transcendental, when we realize our eternal identity as jivatma then all the material miseries cease to exist. Then para dukha dukhi- we see the misery in others and want to help them- give them reliefTo give a straving man food it gives him reliefe but to give him the food of Xcendental knowedlge and harinaam you can mitigate his hunger for bliss for knoweldge and joy for etrnity. We approve giving temporary relief but CM has the medicine that will cue the very source of all disease and end all suffering and that is the Holy Name of Krishna and if we take this medicine regularly acc to th prescription of the doctor who comes in the form og Gurudev, Sashtra and sadhus-they are giving us the proper prescription of how to take the chanting og the Holy Name it must be taken regularly everyday. Within our movement we chant 16 malas- but it must also be done with great attention, concentration and feeling- what is the feeling- Krishna your HN is my only shelter. BVT has prayed- I have seen and considered everything in all the 14 worlds and my conclusion is only the name of God can save me. Due to the false ego we are under the ullusion that we can save ourselves- through our money, influence, high education. But so many people have everything but their lives are a mess - time is consuming their lives and they are doing nothing about it. And their near and dear ones- go against them, are diesseased , they die- but we cannot do anything to control it. The more we think we can control in this world- the more we are controlled by Maya. whoever we are rish, poor, educated or poor- we understand that I simply live in harmonyby Gods will, purify my heart and become a Good servant of God then by Gods grace all the problems of existence are solver- that doesnt mean you will not grow old, disease and die- you cannot solve the pblm on the level of the pblm but you Xcend that. If you associate with lotus feet of Krishna then are consciousness becomes lotus like- it becomes pure- Om apvaitra pavitra va. Even if He walks on this world where everyone is suffering material existence - He is aloof , Xcendental and above it- if we fix our consciousness and focus on it we can be of this world but not of this world.

Chant the Holy Name iwith feeling- Krishna Your Holy Name is truly my shelter in life- we must chant th eHN in the mood of seeking shelter if teh HN.