Doing it for Krsna

Before we carry out any service we should always meditate on sweet Krsna and say, 'My dear Lord, I am doing this just for You!' (with a BIG heart and BIG smile)

Feed your spiritual side by making the Lord your sense objects; the Lords Name and the Lords form. Do this with a feeling of affectionate respect and offer your activitiy before you do it to Krsna and you will see your spiritual strengths will increase like anything!

(Source: H.H. Sacinandana Swami- IPS Retreat
Simhachalam, Jandelsbrunn, Germany, Aug 2005)

The original exposure....

A classic Prabhupada analogy: You take camera, and you take a photo of something. But you forget to advance the film. You repeatedly take photos and you keep forgetting to advance the film. Gradually the photographic film becomes black and you have multiple exposures.

Similarly, we have been in this material world for such a long time, having taken so many births, that we have forgotten what is the original exposure.

We recall how Lord Caitanya told Sanatana, that the original exposure is jivera swarupa hoy nitya krsna dasa, or that the living entities are Krsna's eternal servants. But, we have all forgotten about that. We therefore we think we are something material - we think we are gujaratis, we think we are punjabis, we think we are men, we think that we are women. We think so many different things, but we forget that the original exposure is that we are Krsna's servants and residents of the spiritual world.

But if we continue chanting Hare Krsna everyday, trying to chant as much as we can, and trying to chant as nicely as we can. Nicely has to be there also, becasue there is a science to chanting. The acaryas explain how there are ten mistakes that we should avoid when chanting. Then one day when our chanting becomes very pure, we will become irrestibly attracted to join Krsna.

(Source: H.H. Bhakti Brngha Govinda Swami, IPS Retreat
Stockholm, Sweden - July 2002)

Krsna.... the real valentine

Srila Prabhupada lila...

Once a disciple was standing next to Srila Prabhupada at check-in at Amsterdam airport. As a beautiful girl walked past, the disciple found himself following her with his gaze. After a few moments, he realised what he did and looked away in embarrassment. As he looked down, he saw that Srila Prabhupada, who had seen the whole episode, was intently looking at him with wide eyes. The disciple was further embarrassed.

Srila Prabhupada said, "Beautiful, isn't she?"

The disciple did not know how to respond and could only manage to nod his head.

Srila Prabhupada lovingly concluded, "If you think the creation is beautiful, then imagine how beautiful the creator is?"

(Source: H.G. Gauranga prabhu - House Program @ Mehul's
East London, 16/02/2006)

Something we can all relate to...

Devotees can pray to the Lord: “My Lord, I know that young girls have natural affection for young boys, and that young boys have natural affection for young girls. I am praying at Your lotus feet that my mind may become attracted unto You in the same spontaneous way.”

This is a material example, but the devotee is praying that he may develop a similar spontaneous attachment for the Supreme Lord, free from any desire for profit and without any other cause. This natural attraction for the Lord is the perfectional stage of self-realization.

(Source: Srila Prabhupada - Nector of Devotion,
Chapter 9, from Padma Purana)

So whats missing? (i.e. just covered, not lost)

The basic principle of the living condition is that we have a general propensity to love someone. No one can live without loving someone else. This propensity is present in every living being. But there is no information where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy. That missing point is Krsna, and The Nectar of Devotion teaches us how to stimulate our original love for Krsna and how to be situated in that position where we can enjoy our blissful life.

(Source: Srila Prabhupada - Nector of Devotion, Preface)

Where is the love? (i.e. how to find it?)

Srila Prabhupada stressed the use of the mind and the heart in our chanting:
1. Mind (thinking of the meaning) – Srila Prabhupada said that while chanting we should think “O my Lord, O energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service!"
2. Heart (proper mood) – He said “The chanting is exactly like genuine crying by the child for his mother.”

(Source: H.H. Dhanurdhara Swami - Online Journal)

Dynamics of pleasing Krishna and His devotee

I was thinking about how our ultimate aim is to please Krishna. But Krishna is only pleased when we please His devotees. And then His devotees are only pleased when we try to please Krishna. But as already mentioned, we can only please Krishna by pleasing His devotees...and it goes on and on like that. It made me realise how we cannot separate pleasing the devotee from pleasing Krishna - they go hand in hand.

(Nimesh Mistry)

Control speech, remember the Lord and chant

If the sense of speech, which sets all the external and internal senses in motion, is brought under constant control, then the mind becomes stable and can properly engage in transcendental remembrance of the Lord. Remembrance thus develops as the fruit of chanting.

(Source: Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta 2.3.150
Associates of Lord Visnu)

Remembering Lord removes all sins

All of one's sins, whether accumulated by words, actions, or the mind, can be removed only by remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna.

(Source: Brahma-vaivarta Purana
Quoted in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa 3.55)

What is fulfillment? To please, serve and be selfless

Lord Caitanya's instruction to Vasudev, the leper, when he asked how to be free of pride: Chant My holy names, be a kind friend to others and give them Krishna consciousness. If you follow this principle, pride will never enter into your heart.

If our purpose is to please, to serve, if our purpose is striving to become selfless in our service, the joy of Bhakti is experienced to the degree we are selfless in our efforts. To the degree we have false ego and selfish motivations in what we do; that activity cannot bring fulfillment to the heart because fulfillment comes from the reciprocation of Krishna being pleased within. That is fulfillment.

(Source: H.H. Radhanath Swami)

How to render devotional service?

Devotional service should not be rendered in a proud way. We should not think that rendering service is to show how nice we are, how good we are, how devoted we are. Rendering service in a proper state of mind means to always take a position of being menial and insignificant. We may not have this consciousness of menial significance frame of mind, but we should aspire for that in our service and we should aspire for that when we hear the glories of the Lord. And we should aspire for that when we chant the holy name of the Lord. Das das das dasanu das.

When we aspire in all our devotional practices for this most glorious position of das dasanu das, then Krishna will take our prayers seriously and then by His Grace, He will remove ahankara, the false ego. Until He removes it, we will all be imprisoned by it. You do not have the power to remove it. But by your humble menial service to the Lord you will attract His Divine Mercy. He removes it. And for Him, nothing is impossible.

(Source: H.H. Radhanath Swami)

We only really change when confronted

Most people don't really change that much. Most people change when they are boxed into situations when they have to change.

(Source: Srila Bhakti Tirtha Swami
"Words of Wisdom from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura"
Gita Nagari 05/02/2004)

Why am I suffering?

Whenever we experience any suffering or any negativity, we should understand that it is a result of our previous actions. Even if we do not believe it, we should start with the assumption that we asked for the reaction through our actions some time in the past - and do not try and avoid confronting your actions by assuming it was millions of lives ago - assume that the action was in this life, because most of the time it is.

Pray to Krishna "please show me what I have done to others to deserve this suffering, and please guide me so that I may learn the lesson you are teaching me".

(Source: H.G. Urmila Mataji - QnA session, IPS Retreat
Simhachalam, Jandelsbrunn, Germany, Aug 2005)

How to become a pure devotee

We should begin our day by fixing our consciousness in Krishna, by chanting His name, by studying His scriptures, by keeping all our senses very purely immersed in His loving service, by performing some Puja.

Let our day begin with this and this alone. Nothing else should be our priority. Nothing else should be our duty in the morning except our Sadhana, our purification.

When we associate with saintly persons, naturally the quality of our devotion grows. When we associate with Krishna, through His devotees, through His name, through His prasad, through His Deity, through His books, through His word, through that association, naturally, pure devotion awakens from within our heart. So this is the process how to become a pure devotee.

(Source: H.H. Radhanath Swami)

Devotee means a change of heart

We can externally behave like a devotee, very very easily! But the change of heart into a real devotee, is very difficult.

(Source: H.H. Sacinandana Swami
www.saranagati.net)

Worship Visnu by respecting others

To worship Sri Visnu on one hand, and be ignorant about Sri Visnu being the Supersoul in everyone’s heart on the other, is like touching a brahmana’s feet for a blessings with one hand, and then beating him on the head with the other.

(Source: Caitanya Bhagavata
Madhya Kandha, Chapter 5)

Never Forget Krishna

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

Time went by...

The little boy grew up, and he no longer played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree with a sad look on his face.

"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."

"Sorry, I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell them so you will have money."

The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy didn't come back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited.

"Come and play with me," the tree said.

"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family.

We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"

"Sorry, I don't have a house, but you can chop off my branches to build your house."

So the boy cut all the branches off the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy didn't come back afterward. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?"

"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy."

So the boy cut the tree truck to make a boat. He went sailing and didn't come back for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he had been gone for
so many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for
you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said.

"I don't have teeth to bite," the boy replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."

"I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with sadness.

"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years," the boy replied.

"Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest.

Come sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......

******************

This is the story of everyone.

The tree is our Krishna. As we get more entangled in material life we leave Him. We only come to Him when we need something or when we are in trouble.

No matter what, Krishna will always be there.

It may seem as if the way the boy treats the "tree" in the story is cruel, but many of us take God for granted in the same way.

Never forget how important it is to pray in your life.

"True until proven False" in Science and Religion

Students in schools throughout the world must pass examinations on theories that scientists themselves admit are unproven. Why? The answer is that a theory is accepted not on the grounds of its certitude, but on the grounds that nobody has yet disproved it.

"The best anyone can say of a theory is that it has not been disproved." (Ferguson, page 26) This principle forms the basis of modern scientific knowledge.

This same principle, ironically, is considered a fallacy in classical philosophy: *argumentum ad ignorantium*, the fallacy of argument from ignorance. An argument that says something is true because nobody has proved it false, or that something is false because nobody has proved it true, is held to be invalid according to this rule of fallacy.

(Source: Substance and Shadow
Introduction, References)

Glories of Tulasi Devi

1. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional service.
2. All parts of Tulasi are spiritual, especially Her shade (akin to being embraced by your mother and feeling protected).
3. If one with devotion applies Tulasi paste to their Lord Krishna deity, they will always live close to Krishna.
4. If one puts the mud from the base of the the Tulasi tree on their body (on your forehead) before worshipping their deity, they get the result of one hundred days worship each day.
5. One who sees or goes near a house or garden with a Tulasi plant in it, gets rid of all their sinful reactions- including the sin of killing a brahmana.
6. She is krishna-jivani (life of Krishna), therefore wherever She is, Krishna will always be there.
7. A house with Tulasi present never falls on bad times i.e. a person will become more tolerant to material calamities that occur and becomes purer than all holy places.
8. In Kali-yaga if one remembers, worships, keeps, plants or performs kirtana in front of Her, they burn all sinful reactions and return to Krishna's abode.
9. If one smells the fragrance of Tulasi they become purified. However one should not try and enjoy this smell as it is only for Krishna.
10. Lord Krishna and all the demigods are present wherever Tulasi mud is found.
11. By offering Tulasi to Krishna one attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity and sacrifice.
12. If one puts offered Tulasi leaves in their mouth or on their head, they attain Krishna's abode.
13. The worship of Tulasi rescues ancestors from the cycle of brith and death.
14. Remembering or telling the glories of Tulasi one will never take brith again.
15. One can use Tulasi again and again as she never loses Her purity.
16. The shade from a Tulasi tree removes the pain of being.
17. Yamaraj and his servants will not go near a house where Tulasi is worshipped, even if a Manjari is kept in the mouth of a sinful person at the time of death, the Yamaduttas will not come near.
18. Tulasi Maharani should be looked aftered very well, give Her the best pot and the best light. If you are willing to spend lots of money on your own wife why not spend it on Krishna's. If you give Her a lot She will in turn give you Krishna.
19. She is the nurse of the universe, always giving shelter to anyone.
20. She goes through so much, so much austerirty just to encourage people to become devotees of the Lord, so why cant we do the same.
21. One should offer Krishna new leaves as He likes to decorate Himslef with them.
22. Offering a single Manjari is the same as offering all varities of fruits and flowers (Padma Purana).
23. All the deimgods reside within Tulasi, therefore by worshipping Her, all demigods are also worshipped.
24. Before taking the food offering away from Krishna it should be offered to Tulasi Maharani, to the cowherd boys, gopi's, the Brajvasi's and all Krishna's consorts.
25. Finally...Doesnt matter how many offerings of food are made, if do not add Tulasi when offering them, Krishna will not accept it!

This should encourage one to better appreciate Tulasi Maharani, because in a plant form, She is often neglected. Had She had come as Vrinda Devi we would treat Her very differently.

(Source: H.H. Bhakti Visvambhara Madhava Swami
Tulasi Devi Seminar, Jan 2006, Soho St)

Grass always looks greener on the other side

Often we feel that other people have it easier then us. Srila Prabhuapda writes in this respect:

"We should follow the path of devotional service and not be dissatisfied with the happiness and distress. In conclusion we should be satisfied in whatever position we have been put by the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (SB 5.1.15)

Everything is in the hands of the Supreme Lord and we are His servants. As devotees, He is arranging all our different situations, which are meant to purify us and bring us closer towards His lotus feet.

Some examples of short-term pain for long-tem gain:

• an expert physician who dispenses a vaccination by injection.
• a thoughtful well-wishing father who sends his young son to school (to learn how to read and write) even though the son wants to just play all day.
  

So the Supreme Lord also arranges things in such a way that we become purified. Sometimes these arrangements appear troublesome at that time. However, in hindshight we see that Krishna is preparing and strengthening us for this and our next lives. Ultimately, it's all for our purification and it's Krishna's love and kindness upon us.

(excerpts and inspiration taken from a letter
written by H.H. Partha Sarathi Swami)

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and GOD,
It was never between you and them anyway.

(Source: Mother Terasa)

Preaching or Studying?

It's about having a long term vision. If we study hard and get a qualification, you can add a few letters to the end of your name. But more than this, it gives you the opportunity to preach to a particular type of person.

In Chowpatty, there are 70 brahmacharis who all have degrees in engineering or PhDs etc. The advantage is they are able to present Krishna Consciousness in a special way, especially amongst academic circles.

So finish your studies, maybe work for a year and then you can decide what is the right course for you - brahmachari or working. In any case, you will get the opportunity to preach to people in the long term from a position of authority. In the meantime concentrate on your studies and tell people about Krishna whenever you get the opportunity.

(Source: H.G. Sanatana Goswami prabhu
14th Nov 2005, Soho St)

We have to dive deeper

A Pure Devotee is more merciful than Krishna and can give us a back-door key to the spiritual world. The appearance of Srila Prabhupada is predicted in scripture and his experiences are a contemporary example of surrender and sacrifice.

'God helps those that help themselves' - we must first sincerely endevour and only then will Krishna reveal His divine plan.

Prabhupada is still here and ready to reciprocate with us all. One should always pray for his mercy because he has Krishna and is willing to give Krishna to anyone sincerely following the process.

Krishna Consciousness is a dynamic, ecstatic and multidimensional process. We are only scratching the surface of something so deeply sublime.

(Source: H.G. Bhuta Bhavana prabhu
PS Diwali Program 2005, at Chirag's House)

Lessons from parenting

A parent is pleased when a child begins to crawl, but when that child grows up he must learn to walk if he wants to continue to please his parents.'
- 16 rounds and 4 regs is a minimum (crawling) and after a few years in Krishna consciousness we must be willing to do a lot more for Srila Prabhupada's mission if we really want to please our father, Krishna. No point waiting for everyone else...we must take on the responsibilty ourself!

We must first accept that we are sick...only then will we sincerely take the medicine and try to get better:
- even a child can understands that medicine makes them feel better, although it may not taste very good!

(Source: H.G. Navina Krsna prabhu
PS Diwali Program 2005, at Chirag's House)

The Glories of Offering a lamp during Kartik

Text 99
In the Skanda Purana it is said: "When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink."

Text 100
It is further said: "Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during pleasing to Lord Kesava. O King of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world."

Text 101
"By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse.

Text 102
O Tiger of sages, for a person who thus offers a lamp burning with ghee or sesame oil, what is the use of performing an asvasmedha-yajia?

Text 103
"Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Karttika.

Text 104
"A person who during the month of Karttika offers a lamp to Lord Kesava has already performed all yajnas and bathing in all holy rivers.

Text 107
"The ancestors say: When someone in our family pleases Lord Kesava by offering to Him a lamp during the month of Karttika, then, by the mercy of the Lord who holds the Sudarsana-cakra in His Hand, we will all attain liberation."

Text 108
It is further said: "By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 111

"A person who offers a lamp during the month of Karttika attains a result that cannot be obtained with even a hundred yajnas or a hundred pilgrimages.

Text 112
"Even a person addicted to all sins and averse to all pious deeds who somehow offers a lamp during Karttika becomes purified. Of this there is no doubt."

Text 113
"O Narada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Kesava during Karttika."

Text 114
"A person who offers a lamp to Lord Krsna during Karttika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering."

Text 120
"As fire is present in all wood and may be extracted by friction, so piety is always present in the offering of a lamp during the month of Karttika. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 121

It is further said: "O King of brahmanas, when someone offers Him a lamp on the full-moon day of the month of Karttika, Lord Krishna, finding that He does not have sufficient money to repay that gift, gives Himself in exchange for that lamp.

Text 124
In the Padma Purana it is said: "One who offers a steady lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Karttika enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari's splendid spiritual world.

Qualities of Srimati Radharani

Srimati Radharani has twenty-five transcendental qualities, by which She can even control Krsna:

1. She is sweetness personified
2. She is a fresh young girl
3. Her eyes are always moving
4. She is always brightly smiling
5. She possesses all auspicious marks on her body
6. She can agitate Krishna by the flavor of Her person
7. She is expert in the art of singing
8. She can speak very nicely and sweetly
9. She is expert in presenting feminine attractions
10. She is modest and gentle
11. She is always very merciful
12. She is transcendentally cunning
13. She knows how to dress nicely
14. She is always shy
15. She is always respectful
16. She is always patient
17. She is very grave
18. She is enjoyed by Krishna
19. She is situated on the highest devotional platform
20. She is the abode of love of the residents of Gokula
21. She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees
22. She is always affectionate to superiors and inferiors
23. She is always obliged by the dealings of Her associates
24. She is the greatest amongst Krishna's girlfriends
25. She always keeps Krishna under Her control

(Source: Teachings of Lord Caitanya
Chapter 14)

Selfless love & compassion

When one's service to another soul is uninterrupted & unmotivated, it is actual love. We are part of a disciplic succession of selfless love & compassion.

(Source: H.H. Radhanatha Swami
Manor, 01/09/05)

Greatness estimated by Tolerance

A person's greatness can be estimated by his ability to tolerate provoking situations.

(Source: H.H. Radhanath Swami)

Srila Prabhupada's sense of humour

Brahmacari: Srila Prabhupada, I always want to sit by your holy lotus feet!

Srila Prabhupada: That will be very difficult because I am always moving.

(October 1972, Vrindavan, India
Radha Damodara Temple)

Children and Adults: only difference is size of toys

This morning, while walking in Merit Park, downtown Oakland, we passed a small zoo with a large sign in front of it. It read: Children's Fairyland.

Prabhupada read aloud "Children's Fairyland." Then pointing to the skyscrapers he added, "Adult's fairyland".

(Source: Srila Prabhupada
Excerpt from letter dated 7th October 1972)

Our 4 Wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the third wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his second wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's first wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the third wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the second wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives:

a. The fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

b. Our third wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

c. The second wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

d. The first wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we are on our deathbed to lament.

(Source: H.H. Radhanath Swami)

Glorification of Srimad-Bhagavatam

O nectar from the ocean of all scriptures, singular fruit of all the Vedas, rich mine of the precious gems of all conclusive truths, You are the only giver of sight to all the worlds.

O life air of all the Supreme Lord's devotees, O master, Srimad-Bhagavatam! You are the sun risen in the darkness of Kali. You are the exact image of Sri Krsna.

I bow down to You, supremely blissful to read. Your every syllable pours down a flood of prema. You can always be served by everyone. You are Sri Krsna Himself.

My only friend, my constant companion, my spiritual master, my great wealth! My savior, my good fortune, my source of ecstasy, I bow down to You.

O bestower of saintliness to the unsaintly, O exalter of the most fallen, please never leave me. Always appear in my heart and my voice with pure love.

(Source: Krsna-lila-stava [Obeisance 108]
by Srila Sanatana Gosvami,
translation by Gopiparanadhana Dasa Adhikari)

Krishna Consciousness is like a diamond

Krishna Consciousness is like a diamond - it is so precious and valuable. But we are like children, who not knowing its value, play with it and eat it - take it so very casually.

(Source: H.G. Bhuta Bhavana prabhu)

Living in the present

Forget the past that sleeps,
and never the future dream at all,
but act in times that are with thee,
and progress thee shall call.

(Source: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

Difficulties help devotee to remember Lord

"When the devotees are put into difficulty, they have an opportunity to recollect the Lord with rapt attention."

Often we may wonder what to do when things get really tough - but we should try to see that Krsna is providing yet another wonderful opportunity to exclusively remember Him at these times.

(SB 1.15.11 - Purport)

Vaisnava etiquette

• Etiquette means external manners and conduct.
• Etiquette helps us become free from our original envy and desire to be enjoyers and controllers.
• A faultless etiquette increases ones fame, wealth, longevity, and destroys everything inauspicious.
• Proper Vaisnava etiquette purifies the heart and consciousness.
• Etiquette is the ornament of the Vaisnava.
• Practicing etiquette is action in the mode of goodness.
• A devotee’s advancement can be seen by how humble he is, how well he behaves, and how disciplined and cultivated he is.

Worry

Worry is a choice and is often a way to avoid change.

Worry is a poor substitute for proper loving action.

Worry is a way to rehearse dreadful outcomes.

(Bhakti Tirtha Swami, Spiritual Warrior IV, Conquering the Enemies of the Mind)

Character evaluation of Karna

Karna was basically an evil person. Even though he was abandoned at birth, he was brought up in a very loving and nurturing family, and so the generally accepted fact of a "dysfunctional childhood" really does not hold true.

Karna was consistently envious of the Pandavas, especially Arjuna. He lied to get training from Parasurama and later tried to humiliate Arjuna at his graduation ceremony. In addition there was his misconduct with Draupadi and his refusal to accept Krishna's instructions. On more than one occasion Karna ran away from the battlefield leaving his friends and army exposed. In the Mahabharata war, he refused to fight along side Bhisma because he did not want to share the glory. His charity etc. was the result of vows he had taken to enhance his own material position.

Though he had excellent parentage, namely Kunti and Surya, because he was conceived out of lust, fear and anger, his character was thus shaped. Apparently after summoning the Sun god, Kunti became fearful of the consequences, but also very much attracted to the Sun god (who was angry at being summoned trivially). During the time of pregnancy he was concealed, thus there were no purificatory rites (samskaras) performed - thus shaping Karna's character.

Most importantly, we can see through his association with Duryodhana (who was obviously evil), Karna's character became debased.

(H.H. Hridyananda Goswami, quoted by H.H. Romapada Swami's Inquiries Into the Absolute, Digest 49)

Unwillingness

• Our weaknesses are not due to our own incompetencies.
• Our weaknesses are due to our unwillingness to take the strength of Guru and Krishna.
• Srila Prabhupada explained, along with the instruction comes the power to follow it.
  
  

(H.H. Radhanath Swami)

The typical person

Isn't it strange how £10 seems like such a large amount when you donate it to temple, but such a small amountwhen you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at temple, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficultand boring it is to read one chapter of the Gita, but how easy it is to read 100 pages ofa popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in temple?

Isn't it strange how we need toknow about an event for temple 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Ramayana?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Think about it.....

Transformational reading

Acquiring philosophical knowledge is a burden unless it brings about a tranformation of the heart i.e. transformational reading.

In this connection Srila Prabhupada said, "We should be as 'soft as a rose' and 'hard as a thunderbolt' and this will only be evident if we have deep internal spiritual strength, irrespective of how convincing our shallow external act is.

There is an intrinsic link between knowledge and purification, or the point when we have realised the knowledge through practical application.

Philosophical understanding comes about to the degree we have purified our heart (or consciousness) and not only by our material intelligence (or our ability to analyse the limited information available to us).

Our goal for 2006: Spiritual life is not just about how much more information we acquire, but rather how we as individuals can change and grow to be better servants of Krsna.

(Bhuta Bhavana prabhu - 21st Dec 2005 - House Program @ Dravit's in East London)

Dealing with Boredom in Study/Work

In performing our duties (studies/work) we are often feel bored, this is because:

a) we are seeing the material world for what it is i.e. it is just boring, once we see around the hype.

b) it is the nature of performing activities in the the mode of goodness i.e. bitter at first, sweet later.

In addition, we should also consider that:

1) if we enjoy things without Krsna now, then know that we will be equally miserable tomorrow.

2) only when we do things in regulated fashion can we see things as they are i.e. reality check, else we continue to buy into the illusion and it seems very exciting.

(H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami - PS Retreat to Sweden - Summer 2002)

With love and trust, push ahead

Our Society is like one big family and our relationships should be based on
love and trust. We must give up the fighting spirit and use our intelligence
to push ahead.

(Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Upendra - Aug. 6, 1970)

How to see Krsna quickly

"While located in the mayic world man must live peacefully with the object of cultivating the spirit. In his society he must lead a pure life, avoid sins and do as much good as he can to his brother man. He must be himself humble bearing difficulties of life with heroism, must not brag of any goodness or grandeur he has and must treat everyone with the respect due to him. Marriage with a view to peaceful and virtuous life and with a view to procreate servants of the lord is a good institution for a vaisnava.

Spiritual cultivation is the main object of life. Do everything that helps it and abstain from doing anything which thwarts the cultivation of the spirit. Have a strong faith that Krishna alone protects you and none else. Admit him as your only guardian. Do everything which you know Krishna wishes you to do and never think that you do a thing independent of the holy wish of Krishna. Do all that you do with humility.

Always remember that you are a sojourner in this world and you must be prepared for your own home. Do your duties and cultivate bhakti as a means to obtain the great end of life, krishna-priti. Employ your body, mind and spirit in the service of the deity. In all your actions, worship the great lord. Do these with your heart, mind and strength in the company of spiritual people alone, and you will see Krishna in no time."

(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, 1896)

Enthusiasm

Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it.

(Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th Century American author and poet)

Truth

All truth passes through three stages.

First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

(Arthur Schopenhauer)

Distractions in relationships

Study of the Srimad-Bhagavatam allows us to understand how to relate to each other as servants of Krishna. Else, we simply get distracted by envy, jealousy, pride, anger, etc.

It provides positive examples from all the varnas and all the asramas so that we learn to develop those qualities e.g. how to be a good son or daughter, mother or father, friend or partner and ultimately how to relate these relationships to Krishna.

(Source: H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami
Srimad Bhagavatam Overview, Bhaktivedanta Manor, July 2005)

Leadership

1. Unknown - Direction is more important than speed. We are so busy looking at our speedometers that we forget the milestone.
2. Albert Schweitzer - Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.
3. Jim Rohn - Leadership is the challenge to be more than average.
4. Nelson Mandela - Theres nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
5. John C Maxwell - A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.
6. Samuel Smiles - Man cannot aspire if he looked down, if he rise, he must look up.
7. Henry Kissinger - Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.
8. Jim Stovall - You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their success, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.

A lack of Vaisnava care and community

In the history of the Hare Krishna Movement it is very, very rare that someone leaves the society because he finds a higher philosophy: there is no higher philosophy. Srila Prabhupada gave us the topmost, most complete philosophy and the most perfect and pure process to follow. Why then people leave this movement? Mostly because they feel not cared for by the Vaisnava society. They feel treated impersonally. They feel that their material and emotional needs are not being fulfilled and they discontinue the spiritual practices.

When devotees become dissatisfied, some of them leave the society to go into the world just to try to get a lot of money. Others go for some New Age so-called religious ideas, where people said: “You are very nice. You are very nice.” And the devotee thinks, “At least they say that I am nice.” Others go to some other branch of Vaisnavism because they feel: “At least these people will care about me.”

But if the devotees were properly cared for in the Hare Krishna Movement, practically no one would ever want to leave. And that is why Srila Prabhupada said that the second half of his mission was to establish the varnasrama-dharma society, to care for devotees throughout their entire lives, so that they can be happy in Krishna consciousness, serving according to their propensity.

(Extract of Lecture on Spiritual Counsellor System by H.H. Radhanath Maharaj)

A mango tree in Vrindavana

nrtyan vayu-vighurnitaih sva-vitapair gayann alinam rutair
muncann asru maranda-bindubhir alam romanca-vanankuraih
makando 'pi mukunda murcchati tava smrtya nu vrndavane
bruhi prana-samana cetasi katham namapi nayati te

This mango tree in Vrindavana is now overwhelmed by remembering You. It dances, moving it's branches in the breeze. It sings in the form of these humming bees. It sheds tears in the form of these many drops of honey. It's hairs stand erect in ecstasy in the form of these new sprouts. O Mukunda, as dear to me as my own life, why is this tree so filled with love for You? Who am I, so hard-hearted that even Your name will not enter my heart?

(Sri Isvara Puri, quoted by Srila Rupa Goswami, Padyavali, Text 62)

Rememberance comes from chanting

If the sense of speech, which sets all the external and internal senses in motion, is brought under constant control, then the mind becomes stable and can properly engage in transcendental rememberance of the Lord. Rememberance thus develops as the fruit of chanting.

(Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta 2.3.150 - Associates of Lord Vishnu)

Duty according to Sri Krsna

A person in the:

- Mode of ignorance gives up duty due to laziness.
- Mode of passion gives up duty when it becomes troublesome.
- Mode of goodness carries out his duty regardless, in order to become free from material bondage.
- Mode of transcendence has no duty, but spontaneously serves Krishna and all living entities as part and parcel of Krishna.

(Based on the Condensed Bhagavad-gita from Back to Godhead Magazine)

Waves of providence...

One day you are on top, one day you are down. It is not on the basis of your free choice, it is just simply on a question of your karma, question of your providence, question of the transient conditional of the three modes of material nature. So why we think that is a great accomplishment to achieve anything in a world where anything can be taken away any moment, anything can be rehearsed at any second. Therefore Srimad Bhagvatam says that unless we are progressing in the path of Krishna developing a taste for hearing and chanting His glories then we are wasting our time.

(H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj)

True surrender means enthusiasm and patience

But if we are simply patient and we are not enthusiastic then we are simply lazy. Spiritual life is not for lazy persons. In India, people, the laziest people; think that this is the best occupation, to become a sadhu. All you have to do is lay around in the temples all day, beg for some chapattis, let people touch your feet and say "God's blessings are on you' and that's all you do. We have seen many such persons.

But actually spiritual life is defined in the Gita, Krishna is impelling Arjuna, not to be lazy, but give all of his energy to fight for the sake of Krishna. And this is a real saintly person. He is willing to give all of his life's energies, exhaust everything he has, for the betterment of mankind in the service of God. That is a saint. Not someone who lays, and sleeps and eats some chapattis.

So we have to be patient, but at the same time we have to work very hard with great enthusiasm in the service of the Lord. And if we are very enthusiastic and patience, which is based on faith in the word of God, faith in the mercy of God then the combination of those two is surrender.

(H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj)

Krsna wants the sweetnes of humility...

Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Sanatana Goswami it is humility alone that pleases Krsna. Krsna does not care how much money you give Him, Krsna does not care how many beautiful offerings you give Him, Krsna does not care how artistically you dress Him, He does not care how profoundly you can speak His philosophy, He does not care how many delicious preparation you can make for Him in your kitchen, He cares for the humility with which it is being offered because it is this humility that gives flavor and pleasure to the service we are rendering.

(H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj)

Perseverance

* The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the promptings of a brave, determined spirit.

(Mark Twain)

* Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer. You have only to persevere to save yourselves.

(Winston Churchill)

* Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort even the difficult may become easy.

(Bill Blackman)

Its raining, its pouring...

The living entities suffer, being burnt by the scorching effect of material desires.

Krsna, however, is like a beautiful, dark cloud that showers down cool, refreshing rains of mercy on the spiritual aspirant.

Source and inspiration: H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami & H.H. Romapada Swami

Householders should maintain and make spiritual inquiries from renunciants

Even the poorest of the householders keep at least ten cows, each delivering twelve to twenty quarts of milk, and therefore no one hesitates to spare a few pounds of milk for the mendicants. It is the duty of householders to maintain the saints and sages, like the children.

The householders also should be intelligent enough to get some transcendental information from visiting sages. The householder should not foolishly ask a saint to deliver what is available in the market. That should be the reciprocal relation between the saints and the householders.

(SB 1.19.39 - Purport)

Milk, the miracle food of life

Saints and sages in the renounced order of life go to the houses of the householders at the time they milk the cows, early in the morning, and ask some quantity of milk for subsistence. A pound of milk fresh from the milk bag of a cow is sufficient to feed an adult with all vitamin values, and therefore saints and sages live only on milk.

(SB 1.19.39 - Purport)

Spiritual master is not decoration for householder

Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt.

(SB 1.19.37 - Purport)

Lord sends bonafide guru for sincere souls

The Lord is seated in the heart of all living beings, and thus he knows very well the movements of all individual persons. As soon as the Lord finds that a particular soul is very eager to go back to Godhead, the Lord at once sends His bona fide representative. The sincere devotee is thus assured by the Lord of going back to Godhead. The conclusion is that to get the assistance and help of a bona fide spiritual master means to receive the direct help of the Lord Himself.

(SB 1.19.36 - Purport)

Lord gives special protection to devotee's family

A pure and exclusive devotee of the Lord serves his family interest more dexterously than others, who are attached to illusory family affairs. Generally people are attached to family matters, and the whole economic impetus of human society is moving under the influence of family affection. Such deluded persons have no information that one can render better service to the family by becoming a devotee of the Lord. The Lord gives special protection to the family members and descendants of a devotee, even though such members are themselves nondevotees!

(SB 1.19.35 - Purport)

Holyname against Ghosts & Demons

It is said that a ghost cannot remain as soon as the holy name of the Lord is chanted. The great saints and devotees of the Lord are in the list of His paraphernalia, and thus as soon as a saintly devotee is present, the ghostly sins are at once vanquished. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures. One is recommended, therefore, to associate only with saintly devotees so that worldly demons and ghosts cannot exert their sinister influence.

(SB 1.19.34 - Purport)

Sinful persons infect the holy dhams - great saints purify it

The importance of holy places of pilgrimage is due to the presence of great sages and saints. It is said that sinful persons go to the holy places and leave their sins there to accumulate. But the presence of the great saints disinfects the accumulated sins, and thus the holy places continue to remain sanctified by the grace of the devotees and saints present there.

(SB 1.19.33 - Purport)

Only see guru if you need answers on problems of life

There is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master unless one is in need of solving the problems of life. One who does not know how to put questions before the spiritual master has no business seeing him.

(SB 1.19.31 - Purport)

Pride in reality, not vanity

Maharaja Pariksit also could understand that the great sages who assembled there were all kind to his forefathers, the Pandavas, because of their devotional service to the Lord. He therefore felt grateful to the sages for being present there at the last stage of his life, and he felt that it was all due to the greatness of his late forefathers or grandfathers. He felt proud, therefore, that he happened to be the descendant of such great devotees. Such pride for the devotees of the Lord is certainly not equal to the puffed-up sense of vanity for material prosperity. The first is reality, whereas the other is false and vain.

(SB 1.19.13 - Purport)

Confirm decisions with authorities

Any decision, however important, should be confirmed by some authority. That makes the matter perfect.

(SB 1.19.12 - Purport)

Offering obeisances to be excused of offences

The system of bowing the head to the ground to show respect to superiors is an excellent etiquette which obliges the honored guest deep into the heart. Even the first-grade offender is excused simply by this process.

Generally at the last stage of one's life this humble method is adopted by every sensible man in order to be excused before departure. In this way Maharaja Pariksit implored everyone's good will for going back home, back to Godhead.

(SB 1.19.11 - Purport)

Yamuna and Ganga / Krsna and Rama

According to the Varaha Purana, as quoted by Srila Jiva Gosvami, there is no difference between the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna, but when the water of the Ganges is sanctified one hundred times, it is called the Yamuna. Similarly, it is said in the scriptures that one thousand names of Visnu are equal to one name of Rama, and three names of Lord Rama are equal to one name of Krsna.

(SB 1.19.6 - Purport)

We elect the government, so we cannot complain

A degraded civilization of sense gratification and economic development is the by-product of a godless or kingless government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The people should not, therefore, begrudge the poor administrations they themselves elect.

(SB 1.18.45 - Purport)

Do not blame the system - it works

The whole scientific system of the orders of society [Varnasrama] in this age has assumed the form of a vitiated caste system, which is now being uprooted by another class of men similarly influenced by the age of Kali. One should see to the root cause of vitiation and not try to condemn the system as it is, without knowledge of its scientific value.

(SB 1.18.37 - Purport)

How to receive guests

The reception law enjoins that a poor man, who has nothing to offer his guest, should be good enough to offer a straw mat for sitting, a glass of water for drinking and some sweet words. Therefore, to receive a guest, either friend or foe, there is no expense. It is only a question of good manners.

(SB 1.18.28 - Purport)

Yoga Processes Explanation

The transcendental position is attained by three processes, namely the process of jnana, or theoretical knowledge of transcendence, the process of yoga, or factual realization of trance by manipulation of the physiological and psychological functions of the body, and the most approved process of bhakti-yoga, or the engagement of senses in the devotional service of the Lord. In the Bhagavad-gita also we have the information of the gradual development of perception from matter to a living entity. Our material mind and body develop from the living entity, the soul, and being influenced by the three qualities of matter, we forget our real identity. The jnana process theoretically speculates about the reality of the soul. But bhakti-yoga factually engages the spirit soul in activities. The perception of matter is transcended to still subtler states of the senses. The senses are transcended to the subtler mind, and then to breathing activities and gradually to intelligence. Beyond the intelligence, the living soul is realized by the mechanical activities of the yoga system, or practice of meditation restraining the senses, regulating the breathing system and applying intelligence to rise to the transcendental position. This trance stops all material activities of the body.

(SB 1.18.26 - Purport)

Describe Lord according to your realisation

As the birds fly in the sky as far as their capacity allows, so do the learned devotees describe the Lord as far as their realization allows.

(SB 1.18.23 - Verse)