Servant of the Servant

Thy Will be Done

2012-05-25T14:11:00.001-05:00

Why is there fear, anxiety, depression? These are negative emotions we cultivate to deal with the things, people and circumstances of this world. When our ability to control and enjoy is under threat, when the things we love, the people we love, the circumstances we control, when all of it get out of control or actually uncontrollable, we react with fear, anxiety, depression, anger, self pity etc. This is because fundamentally we are taught, trained and brain washed by our parents, the educational system, the media from early childhood that we have full control and ability to manipulate things to achieve success in our area of interest. We are trained to be the ultimate masters and controllers of our life. Therefore when things go out of control beyond our calculations we do not know how to deal with such a change. The Bhagavad Gita, however, teaches the opposite. We are never in control but instead merely cooperators. Please allow me to belabor a little more.

In India especially, I have seen people think they can foresee future and prevent bad things from happening. They will go to astrologers (spend lot of money by the way) and somehow find faults in my astrological chart. Then they will diligently go to the temple (appropriate demigods) to perform necessary rituals to ward off evil. They think if somehow I can spend some more money and satisfy that particular deity, then my son, family and ultimately myself will be in peace and harmony. This strategy is employed right from when the child is born, the child goes to school, then after college for job, then for marriage, then for a grandchild, then for house, then for health...like this the list never ends. The attitude that we can solve our problems by ritualistic atonement and that we can indirectly control our lives is a big big illusion.

In the West people do not necessarily go to demigods but they also do the same by obsessing over science and technology. Fifty years back a child can sit in a car without child car seats and now science suggests that children are at risk of danger without child car seats. It is illegal to drive without it. Science can predict future problems and thus find myriads of solutions if anything would go wrong. The mentality, however, is the same both in the East and West. Somehow by using astrology or modern science I can control my assets, family, and friends and live happily ever after. This mentality, unfortunately, is being bred from the day the child is born.

God or Krishna is teaching us totally the opposite. He says this material world is full of miseries (no reprieve). This material world is so miserable and that everything is simply fleeting with time that it is not possible to be happy in this world. He says that the fundamental nature of misery and temporariness cannot be overcome by any material method or strategy. The only way one can be happy, He says, is if we simply surrender to Him (Krishna). Another glaring truth from the Bhagavad Gita is that Krishna says "I am the Supreme controller" and "Supreme enjoyer" and that everything belongs to "Me (Krishna)". So our ideology that we can control and create our own life is an illusion. Then apparently how is it that we feel we do control and create? After all I cannot become a doctor or engineer or anything if I do not desire, work and spend time on it. How many times have we seen people waste their lives because they are high school dropouts...so surely I am the controller of my own destiny?

Krishna says that the individual living being is strictly controlled by higher powers. He is controlled by his own actions (karma) of the past. He is controlled by time, and ultimately he is controlled directly by the Supersoul Krishna. So merely one's desire and free will on its own does not ensure material fruits, it has to be in harmony with Krishna's plan. In that sense the individual living entity is simply a "cooperator" and not the "ultimate" doer of an action. Therefore it is in our best interest to cooperate and surrender to the will of the Lord and not imagine that the individual has unlimited free will. If that is the case every cricketer should have become like Sachin Tendulkar or every physicist should have attained fame such as Einstein or every politician should have become a Prime minister or President. Why is everyone not destined to reach the highest in their field despite the desire, effort and energy? That is because the individual living being is not the full controller but merely a cooperator. He has very small independence to perform action. He is very much bound within the laws of nature. Everything is purely controlled and ordained by the Supremely Independent will of God.

When we actively cooperate with the will of the Lord and even if something goes wrong we will not react with negative emotions as explained in the beginning but rather we will seek peace in Krishna’s plan. Ultimately when our time on this planet comes to an end we will leave in peace humbly awaiting our next destination.

Hare Krishna

Modern science - is it progressing or setting us up for stone age?

2012-05-23T16:30:00.001-05:00

Picture above: A rainbow runner fish caught in the Pacific with a gut full of plastic particles. "Our consumption does have a life after our use that we have to take responsibility for," Eriksen says.

In the Upanishads and the Vedas, it is mentioned that human beings are fallible. They make mistakes and their sensory perception is limited. Therefore man made knowledge (modern science) is limited and flawed even. This is the fundamental reason that modern science cannot be accepted as absolute. As followers of Krishna, we accept Krishna's words as perfect because Krishna is infallible. He does not make any mistake at any time and His sensory perception is unlimited. Therefore if Krishna says something and that may sound totally out of whack to us, still we have to accept it as truth.

Below is an example of how human beings with their fallibility think they are advancing but instead putting every other organism in jeopardy. This has to be taken seriously. The bare fact is that human beings cannot create knowledge that is perfect and complete and at some where along the line will cause more harm than good. So the pertinent question is - are we progressing or regressing?

Below is an example of how plastic was invented to create an affordable solution for mass consumption & easy use but apparently the inventor and manufacturer did not think through this fully. They did not think of how plastic can ruin nature in the long run. If plastic is going to destroy ecosystems, would you call that invention technological advancement or regression? By the way is there one product in the market today that is plastic free? Almost all modern day products have plastic in it.

In my opinion, most of modern day industrial products in some form or the other are harmful to nature either in the creation phase or disposal phase. A few I can think of are automobiles, air conditioning, paper, printers, computer technology, factory farming etc. Can you imagine modern life without one of the said products. Foolish scientists and manufacturers greedy for money do not think of the long term effects of their inventions

Below is an eye opening article about a research on the failure of plastic disposal. If we do not do something about this, we may find ecosystems absolutely ruined. Fauna and flora that had been developing for centuries will be ruined by plastic that was invented some 150 years ago.

If a man made invention of 150 years old can destroy nature's creation of more than million years, then are we truly making scientific progress? How short sighted is our scientific community?

Please click the link below for the full article.

A marine expedition of environmentalists has confirmed the bad news it feared -- the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" extends even further than previously known. - Full article

Hare Krishna

God's real mercy

2012-05-23T11:36:00.001-05:00

Generally when we obtain something good we feel special especially if it is something we want. This is true when we approach God. People who believe in God approach Him for material gain and when that gain is fulfilled they feel God has blessed them and that He is taking care of them. Like this they profess loyalty to God. So generally people think that obtaining material opulence means God is showing His mercy on them and that they are special in the eyes of God.

Real mercy as described by our spiritual preceptors is when God intervenes in our life in such a way that He removes all our unwanted desires and unwanted habits that is a hindrance to our service to Him. He removes our "ahankar" or materialistic ego so that we will not be attached to the fruits of our labor. Because it is this attachment to the fruits is causing us to be bound in this world and be born again and again. Therefore to free us from this greater pain of birth and death, God, to show His real mercy, actually gives us small material pains so that we give up our material ego and consequently give up our attachments to our fruits. This renunciation of fruits actually will pave way for unalloyed devotion towards God. As long as we are attached to our material ego and fruits of our work (gross or subtle) we will have the tendency to enjoy the fruit and be the controller of the fruit which in the big picture will destroy the desire to fully surrender to the Supreme Absolute Truth.

Therefore real mercy is when God helps to cut this hard knot of attachment to the fruit of labor and fully engage our energy in serving Krishna, anything other than this is not mercy but a bane.

Hare Krishna

Krishna against Kamsa - A preview

2012-05-22T13:42:00.002-05:00

One way street

2012-05-16T16:03:00.001-05:00

Krishna consciousness is like running a marathon race. It is a long race so you have to pace yourself. In a marathon the runner does not sprint at the start or middle but rather the sprint occurs towards the finish of the race. Similarly in Krishna consciousness we have to start and gradually progress one step at a time. It might be slow but surely has to be steady. One thing is for sure if you want to finish the race successfully there is no question of stepping backwards. It is better to practice Krishna consciousness gradually and progress in one direction than going back and forth. We have to determine our mind that Krishna Consciousness is a one way street to Goloka. Once you are on it - no returning back. This should be our conviction.

Hare Krishna

Facts that are not so fun

2012-05-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

The United States of America is a materially opulent country. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says that material consciousness promotes base qualities such as lust, anger, pride, arrogance, greed, conceit, harshness etc. Because of such base qualities people can cause harm to others and to oneself. It also is an indication that economic development does not lead to a happy ending. Unless one has saintly qualities such as simplicity, truthfulness, freedom from anger, compassion to all beings, humility, forgiveness etc one cannot impart benefit to oneself and the society. Such qualities can be cultivated only if an individual is genuinely God conscious and is a humble caretaker of the creation of God.

Below are some statistics that show how material opulence can lead to social and moral degradation what to speak of spiritual. Any genuine and thoughtful person should take note. If a person sincerely inquires about Krishna consciousness, then such social and moral problems can be checked, in fact averted. There is no other way! Chant Hare Krishna!

The United States has the highest rate of illegal drug use in the entire world.
The United States has the highest divorce rate in the world by a very wide margin.
The United States has the highest child abuse death rate on the entire globe.
The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate on the entire globe.
According to one study, one out of every four teen girls in the United States has at least one sexually transmitted disease.
Every single day, more than 3,000 American babies are killed by abortion that is more than million abortions per year. One study found that 86 percent of all abortions are done for the sake of convenience.
The average American family purchases 200 pounds of meat per family member each year.
Large numbers of cows that are killed for hamburger meat in America stand ankle-deep in their own manure all day long.
Of all the major industrialized nations, America is the most obese (36% of Americans are considered obese).
The United States produces more pornography than any other nation has in the history of the world. One survey found that an astounding 30 percent of all Internet traffic now goes to pornography websites.
The average American watches 28 hours of television every week.
U.S. corporations sell more fast food and more soda than anyone else in the world by a very wide margin. The average American drinks more than 600 sodas every single year. That is by far the most in the world.
Consumer debt in America has increased by a staggering 1700% since 1971. There is more credit card debt in America than anywhere else in the world.
There is more mortgage debt in America than anywhere else in the world.
There is more student loan debt in America than anywhere else in the world.
Americans take more prescription drugs than anyone else on the planet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (a Federal Organization), the percentage of Americans that say that they have taken a prescription drug within the last month has risen to almost 50 percent.
Research has found that more than 20 percent of all American adults are taking at least one drug for “psychiatric” or “behavioral” disorders.
The percentage of women taking antidepressants in America is higher than in any other country in the world.
According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 36 million Americans have abused prescription drugs at some point in their lives.

Source

Hare Krishna

Jai Jai Radha Ramana Haribol!

2012-05-07T16:48:00.000-05:00

Hare Krishna

Namaste Narasimhaya

2012-05-04T16:20:00.002-05:00

Happy Narasimha Chaturdasi!

Hare Krishna

How devotees should control envious thoughts?

2012-05-02T09:51:00.000-05:00

Q.Consciousness of a devotee and external behavior, is it related or independent? (This question is related to how a Vaishnava should behave in the mode of goodness so people in general are attracted by those qualities)

A. They are related. According to your consciousness, according to your thoughts and desires that is what will provoke words and actions. Therefore we have to go right to the root of the problem which is our material desires and material attachments and the Holy Name and devotional service goes right to the root of that problem and purifies our heart.

But in the meanwhile while this purification is taking place, on the external level we must be very careful to tolerate any inclination towards offensive activities. If we simultaneously perform the austerity of restraining our mind and senses and at the same time continue with the process of devotional service of chanting and hearing the Holy names and glories of the Lord, very quickly we become purified. If we do not contemplate and keep our mind endeavoring to be fixed on Krishna if we allow our mind to unrestrictedly contemplate the objects of the senses in envious and selfish thoughts then It is just a matter of time until those thoughts force us into offensive words and behavior. Therefore when these thoughts come into our mind we must restrain from giving into them and we must struggle and strain to replace them with holy thoughts. This is tapasya. This is real austerity.

Q&A with H.H.Radhanath Swami

Young America

2012-05-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

The United States is a developed country in comparison to other countries of the world. The US sets the pace with which people of other countries emulate. This is true in science, culture, and lifestyle. I guess some people would question this assumption especially with the economic downturn. However, by and large US is still the leader in many fields and people of the world look up to it.

However, culturally there are many things that needs to be addressed. People of the West and especially US, girls and boys mingle very easily and freely. Unlike say India where it is still a stigma to mingle freely at least in smaller towns. The bigger metro cities of India are following the Western culture in terms of male-female intimacy.

In the Vedic literatures, sex is defined as the singular act that binds the living being within the cycle of birth and death and in that sense can be considered the number one enemy when it comes to ultimate freedom. Although sex is very enchanting and stimulating in the beginning, actually, great seers of truth have concluded that it has the opposite effect - it is supremely binding and burdensome to the free spirit soul. With that as the criterion if we estimate cultures of the world, Western culture, especially the US, is designed to allow young adults to freely mingle to the point of physical intimacy. This sort of culture happens right when a boy or girl hits puberty.

Children in schools in the US due to peer pressure are forced into thinking sex is the coolest thing and therefore a must. Otherwise the young student is seen as an outcast. This I have heard anecdotally from my local friend. So parents who are raising young children, please beware of this open sexual relatonships children have at a very young age. This situation can be more difficult for parents who come from other more conservative cultures (like India for example) who are raising children in the US. Unfortunately, the US Government and parents promote early mingling and emphasize safer sex as opposed to no sex. Abstinence is a thing of the past and is considered less intelligent now days.

From a spiritual perspective, such mingling of male and female at a very young age leads to social, moral and ethical devaluation. Below are facts taken from a National Survey on teens and sexual behavior.

Fully 42% of young people age 12-19 agree with the statement: “It doesn’t matter whether you use birth control or not, when it is your time to get pregnant, it will happen.”
Even though most teens age 12-19 (86%) say they have all the information they need to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, 66% say they know “little or nothing” about male condoms and how to use them (including 36% of those age 15-19).
55% of sexually experienced young people age 15-19 (including 67% of teen girls 15-19) say they wish they had waited longer before having sex.
77% of teens age 12-19 who have seen MTV’s popular 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom programs say the shows “help teens better understand the challenges of pregnancy and parenting.”
74% of adults wish teens were getting more information about both abstinence and contraception rather than either/or.
Similarly, 65% of adults think federally funded programs designed to prevent teen pregnancy should emphasize messages encouraging teens to postpone sex and providing them with information about contraception.

source: National Campaign

If we study the answers deeply, we will ultimately find that none are trying to achieve abstinence from sex but rather preventing unwanted pregnancy. It is implied that sex at a young age is fine as long as it is safe. Such an environment prevails due to the lack of knowledge on the impact of sex on one's overall consciousness. It also has to do with the lack of spiritual and God centric values.

Currently sex is purely individualistic and whimsical. This erosion of values and knowledge has been going for many years and these results are simply a reflection of that erosion. It will only get worse especially if there is no awareness of the values of spiritual life. These young adults will become future leaders of society with their own families. What they believe and do now will set the stage for future generations.

The only way parents can prevent whimsical sex among young adults is to teach them core spiritual values. Children will adopt these values only if parents themselves do it! Unfortunately, parents especially residing in the US do not show much interest in a spiritual way of life thus paving way for children to act whimsically.

In conclusion, I would like to say Krishna consciousness teaches adults and young adults on proper values to life. By adopting such spiritual values the individual, family and society are benefited. Therefore Krishna consciousness is not a sectarian religious movement but rather a movement inspired to help people improve their quality of life and find lasting solutions.

Hare Krishna

Hey Gopinath!

2012-04-30T15:41:00.001-05:00

O Gopinath!

2012-04-29T22:20:00.002-05:00

O Gopinatha, Lord of the gopis, please hear my request. I am a wicked materialist, always addicted to worldly desires, and no good qualities do I possess.

O Gopinatha, You are my only hope, and therefore I have taken shelter at Your lotus feet. I am now Your eternal servant.

O Gopinatha, how will You purify me? I do not know what devotion is, and my materialistic mind is absorbed in fruitive work. I have fallen into this dark and perilous worldly existence.

O Gopinatha, everything here is Your illusory energy. I have no strength or transcendental knowledge, and this body of mine is not independent and free from the control of material nature.

O Gopinatha, this sinner, who is weeping and weeping, begs for an eternal place at Your divine feet. Please give him Your mercy.

O Gopinatha, You are able to do anything, and therefore You have the power to deliver all sinners. Who is there that is more of a sinner than myself?

O Gopinatha, You are the ocean of mercy. Having come into this phenomenal world, You expand Your divine pastimes for the sake of the fallen souls.

O Gopinatha, I am so sinful that although all the demons attained Your lotus feet, Bhaktivinoda has remained in worldly existence.

- Srila Bhakivinoda Thakura

Am I this body? Check out the video!

2012-04-29T19:07:00.000-05:00

Few Good Men

2012-04-23T09:32:00.002-05:00

I was sitting in my couch and peering through the glass door of my balcony. The setting sun was shining through and it started to rain. It was a pretty sight, one of gifts from God. I was reminded how beautiful is the creation of God and that any man made beauty is considered puny and trivial before it. As I was witnessing the light of the sun piercing through the droplets of rain I realized that rain gives life to the otherwise inert earth. When rain falls all living beings come to life just as a man starving from food enriches his senses the minute he eats sumptuous food.

Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 3.14) that living beings subsist on food grains and food grains are produced by rains and in turn the rains are produced by the performance of sacrifice that arise from prescribed duties of mankind. A far cry description given by modern science about rain fall.

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

I was thinking that despite the degraded conditions of this age of kali with people barely performing their duties and performing sacrifices, how is it possible that these rains that I was witnessing through my glass door be falling very so pleasantly and in fact falling at all? If rains are produced by sacrifice of work, then surely these rains must be falling because there are few good men who are still performing sacrifices for the benefit of mankind at large even today in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy. These rains are credited to those few good men.

Just like when a city protracts taxes from the citizens and even if only few rightful citizens pay taxes, the benefit of those taxes are distributed to all and not just to the few. Similarly because of the few good men performing sacrifices and paying taxes to the cosmic Government, the rains are falling at the right times and benefiting all people alike (sinful and pious). However, it is predicted that these few good men performing Yajna (sacrifices) will diminish and the world soon will be populated fully by rogues and thieves. In that unholy state there will be irreversible damages caused by Mother Nature. In fact we see the wrath of Mother Nature even now.

The sacrifice that these few good men are performing is the sacrifice of glorifying the Holy Names of God. The recommended sacrifice for this age is chanting the Names of God. There is no other method. Just as a rightful citizen pays taxes for the services received, similarly a conscientious person with an ounce of dignity should repay the services received by Mother Nature and services inadvertently received through other living beings. While it is not possible to repay each and every individual separately, the recommended process is to go to the source and pay our dues just as we pay the taxes to the Revenue Department and the money gets distributed from there. That source, great saints reveal, is Krishna. One such saint is Narada Muni. Below is what He has to say;

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāḿ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā

As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality - Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.14

Therefore following the expert Muni Narada, we too should pay our dues (sacrifice) by pouring water to the root – Supreme Being Krishna. The recommended process of sacrifice is also given. It is to chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Doing so one benefits oneself and the community at large and because we will be performing dharma properly due to chanting, we will be blessed abundantly by Mother Nature. This is a fact, not sentiment!

Of course modern science will give its impersonal description to rain fall, however from the Bhagavad Gita we learn that Mother Nature is controlled by various beings of higher power not visible to mundane vision and this chanting automatically satisfies them. Being satisfied they will sent forth rain in a proper manner just as I witnessed it through my glass door.

Chant Hare Krishna and benefit the world.

Hare Krishna

Reading Prabhupada books

2012-04-22T10:49:00.001-05:00

I have been practicing Krishna consciousness for 14 years and in those years I have had so many doubts and questions about ISKCON, its leaders and questions on my own self. Sometimes it was bewildering, confusing and outright frustrating.

In all such situations where my faith was shaking due to my internal doubts and anxieties, I was apprehensive to approach a senior Vaishnava. Most of the times there simply was no association. Instead of hoping for the best, I resolved myself to read Prabhupada books. I spend some time reading. I found that the more I read and the more I am consistent with reading I see my doubts get cleared and my faith deeper.

As an aspiring devotee, I realized that reading Prabhupada books every day is the most powerful sadhana one can do. Because it gives direct contact with Krishna through the words of Prabhupada, it is very powerful and is like the rising sun dissipating darkness. Prabhupada words can cut through the dense forest of ignorance or maya that is within my heart and go directly to the root of my ego. There simply is no escaping it. Anyone who is honest has to accept its ramifications and embrace its philosophy. The more I embraced the more I could see the change within my heart.

A devotee who is serious about following Krishna consciousness should read Prabhupada books consistently for at least 10 or 15 mins daily in a focused and concentrated manner and not as matter of ritual.

Hare Krishna

When should we lament?

2012-04-21T14:31:00.001-05:00

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna that one should not lament.

aśocyān anvaśocas tvaḿ
prajñā-vādāḿś ca bhāṣase
gatāsūn agatāsūḿś ca
nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead. - BG 2.11

But yet when we study the lives of close associates of Krishna, they cried during loss. For example Draupadi was lamenting when her young children were slain by Ashwathama. Similarly Arjuna lamented when Abhimanyu died in the battle. Despite hearing the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna showed grief towards the death of his son. However this type of lamentation is different from the lamentation of mundane people.

If we look at the words spoken above by Krishna to Arjuna, Krishna says that Arjuna is apparently speaking like a learned man when he is not. Up until that point, Arjuna was lamenting that he will not fight his relatives, friends, families and teachers. He was lamenting that such a war with family is only a cause of future suffering. There will be no good from such a battle. Better I retire than fight was Arjuna's proposal. To that, Krishna mildly rebukes Arjuna saying a true learned and wise man does not lament neither for the living nor for the dead. Then Krishna goes on to sing the most famous song sung in the history of creation Bhagavad Gita.

We should understand that Krishna's reply about mourning was in relation to the body. Arjuna was arguing against war not from the standpoint of "spiritual dharma" but from a material idea of bodily relations. After all our family, friends and relatives are true as long as we hold this body, but once we leave this body or die, our relationship that stems from this body also dies. So Krishna chastises Arjuna that you are speaking like a learned man when you are simply grieving for a dead body which eventually will fade away with time. Therefore Krishna says one should not lament for the deteriorating and dead body. The body given to us is simply a combination of blood, bone, tissue, urine, bile, and stool. So when the body ceases to function, are we really lamenting for the loss of blood, bone, tissue and stool?

If we deeply think about it, the answer is no. We are actually lamenting for the person who was within the body. Unfortunately modern science teaches us that we fundamentally are made of cells, DNA and RNA, then if that is the case why lament? We can find DNA and RNA still in a dead body? So surely there is something more that keeps the body "alive" and at death that something stops to be "alive". That something Krishna calls soul or jivatma. We should lament for the soul and not the body.

Great devotees such as Draupadi and Arjuna lamented not for the body but for the soul that departed that they no more will be able to seek the departed soul's association. When we speak of association we speak of godly association. When we associate with a devotee, we come closer to God Krishna and when that same devotee departs, we lament that we no more will be able to associate with that soul.

In fact great devotees such as Srila Prabhupada and Narada Muni lament more for the souls while living more so than death. Why? Because only when living is there an opportunity for the soul to come out of ignorance and dedicate one's consciousness to God Krishna. After death there is no such opportunity. So great devotees such as Sage Narada lament when people are alive more so than death because they see the materialistic people are wasting their precious opportunity as human beings to become enlightened, instead they wallow in the ignorance of material gratification in the name of nationality, family, career, philanthropy etc

In conclusion, we should also follow in the footsteps of great souls (mahajana yena gatha sapantha). We should also lament for the living but not for the body but to benefit the soul's journey back to the spiritual Kingdom. If we truly love someone, then we should give them the topmost benefit - A benefit that never fades away with time. That benefit is to pave the way for souls to go back to the Kingdom of God where there is no death and no suffering. This is the greatest welfare and goodwill one can give for the living.

Hare Krishna

Determined - we must be!

2012-04-20T15:54:00.002-05:00

We must be determined. Prabhupada said determination is what differentiates a man from an animal. We must make a vow of determination. Dhrdhavrata. satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah namasyantas ca mam bhaktya nitya-yukta upasate- BG 9.14. Krishna explains who is qualified for spiritual life? A person who is always chanting my Holy Names and in endeavoring with great determination.

We have the power to be determined if we just take it. Krishna will give us the strength if we just want it. The character of a human being is based on how much he is willing to suffer and make sacrifices and show his determination even in the face of difficulty. That is the character that makes a human being something. Something great! So we must hear. Otherwise we will not know what to be determined for or how. So we must hear regularly. We should be hearing Bhagavatam everyday. Either coming to temple or reading at home, we should hear Bhagavatam everyday. We should be chanting the Holy Names in a fixed number everyday. Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah. And on the basis of what we hear and the strength of the Holy Name we must endeavor with great determination.

Spiritual life has no effect for a lazy person. If we are not endeavoring to give up our bad qualities that’s laziness. Krishna says we must overcome this lethargy and we must endeavor. Endeavor means I will do it whether I will feel like it or not, endeavor means also I will not do it no matter what. We know what is right. We can’t simply wait when will I become so purified that I will not do these things. This is nonsense philosophy. No! In order to get purified I have to give it up now at all costs. I have to accept it now at all costs. Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah – always chant the Holy Name and endeavor with determination and what we do at the time of initiation – take vows – I will chant the Holy Names regularly and I will follow these principles and in order to follow these principles we have to endeavor with determination and these principles are only the beginning.

When we hear the Bhagavatam everyday we understand what all the principles we must follow the basic principles. We must endeavor with determination. If we are not willing to do that we are not worthy of realization. There is no question of just trying. There is no determination in just trying, oh I will try! Determination means I will do it no matter what! With God’s grace and Guru’s grace it will be done but I will be determined. Nothing will stop me. Come hell or high water it will be done. Better that I die than give up my determined vow. This is what it takes to make advancement in spiritual life. We have to have this substance.

Materialistic people do it for money or for victory. How much more a devotee should do it for Krishna? How much determination we have in our business, how many reversals we just fight at all costs. For spiritual life to overcome these bad qualities…I will try, I tried my best! Trying your best means I will die before I give into maya. Haridas Takur said you cut my body into millions of pieces and every part will be chanting the Holy Names Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Nothing will stop my preaching of Krishna consciousness he (Haridas Takur) said. Nothing! No power on earth! This must be our determination and this is the price – drdhvrta – firm vow of determination in our lives. After Bhagavad Gita when Krishna told Arjuna to fight he did not say I will try, I will try my best, He said I will do it whether I win or lose I am going to do it. I am going to fight for you. That is what is required.

H.H.Radhanath Swami

Empirical evidence to establish truth?

2012-04-18T15:59:00.002-05:00

The need for empirical evidence and physical artifacts to establish truth– this is the standard in today’s world. There is no need to study the character of the researcher and there is no need to put faith in such a researcher for the truth. Character analysis and informed faith is not part of modern science. Henceforth the stories in the Bhagavatam and the Puranas are considered a myth.

Krishna, a seven year old boy, lifted the Govardhan Hill which is roughly 15 mile in diameter. A rational mind seeking empirical evidence will think this is impossible. The obvious and easy conclusion, therefore is, the story must be a myth. There are other “mythological” stories such as Krishna and Balarama jumping down from an 80 mile high mountain. First of all is there even a mountain that high? The tallest mountain peak today is the Mt Everest and is roughly 6miles high…80 miles, impossible? Even if such a tall mountain existed, how is it possible for one to jump and then survive? No doubt…it is a myth. There is another story where Krishna (one person) expanded 16,108 times and married 16,108 wives and had 16,108 huge palaces with lakes, avenues and causeways and all this in a small island off the coast of modern day Gujarat called Dwaraka. Logically and spatially it is impossible to fit all the palaces, lakes, and gardens as per the description in the Bhagavatam within a small island called Dwaraka, it must be a myth! Like this the Bhagavat Purana and other Puranas are filled with tales that are seen as mythology by modern day scholars and Indologists.

The reason it is considered a myth is because there is no physical evidence to back the stories and besides, the stories are beyond human rationale and capabilities. Therefore the Puranas and the Vedas are primarily educational and theoretical. There may be some cultural satisfaction. The fact is we are limited by our own mind and empirical science. Rather than trying to open our minds and accept a reality beyond our experience, we relegate such Puranic knowledge to antiquity with little practical value.

Just as the quality of a product is rated based on its brand value similarly the value of scholarly literature is dependent on the scholar (the author). The author in discussion is a saint by name VedaVyas. He wrote the entire Vedas and Puranas for our benefit. If we scrutinizingly analyze the character of such saints, we have to conclude that they are not mundane beings seeking pleasures of this world. Why then would they write fictional stories wasting our time? They live simply for the benefit of others. Therefore we have to conclude that these books were written for our ultimate material and spiritual benefit. In that mood of respect towards Vyas muni, one should accept the words of the Vedas and Puranas with faith and reverence and as fact (not myth).

If we simply go beyond our empirical three-dimensional mind we can begin to understand such literature with immense spiritual value. To think outside the box, I would start off by asking - why is empirical evidence and physical artifact considered the only method to establish truth?

Hare Krishna

Autobiography of Srila Prabhupada

2012-04-18T13:33:00.003-05:00

Below are Prabhupada’s own words about his life in short. This was before he left for the US and the formation of ISKCON.

I was born 1st September 1896 in Calcutta as the third son of my father Late Gaura Mohon Dev and mother late Rajani Devi in the family of one of very respectable Gold merchant aristocracy of Calcutta. I was educated in the Scottish Churches College (B.A. 1920) and Netaji Subhas Candra was my college mate. I left education influenced by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 and joined for some time in the national liberation and other social service movements. I was secretary of the Social Union movement of which Late Mr. J. Choudhury Bar-at-law was the president. In this movement there was a great stir for intercaste marriage in favor of Patel's (Vithalbhai) bill.

I was married during my student life in 1918 with Radharani Devi and she is in Calcutta with her sons and daughters five children and a few grand children also. After my education I was appointed (1921) as the Asst. Manager of Dr. Bose's Laboratory Ltd of Calcutta and then engaged myself in my personal business in the chemical line. I was a research student in chemical and medicinal composition and for the first time in India, I introduced Gadine preparation in the medical profession.

I met my spiritual master Late Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami in 1922 and he desired me to preach in the foreign countries the spiritual movement started by Lord Caitanya for enlightenment of all materialistic men all over the world. He gradually turned my mind from matter to spirit and I was accepted as his disciple in 1933 after full association of ten years. He left this world in 1936 and insisted to explain the mission in English. I started my paper Back to Godhead in 1944 and left home for good entirely to execute the order of my spiritual master in 1954. Since then my H.Q. is at Vrindaban and devote in literary work.

By Srila Prabhupada written on April 18 1961

Our business is to carry out the order, not to look for success

2012-04-16T08:30:00.001-05:00

I feel in ISKCON today devotees are more and more looking for success to be recognized by their peers and management. This has been some experience of mine. Below is a nice piece by Prabhupada on the mood of how to carry out business.

Prabhupada described how this idea could be imbibed by a preacher. "We shall try to do our duty to our spiritual master. And even if we are not successful, it does not matter. Krsna will recognize that we are laboring hard for Him. Then it will be noted down by Him. Whether one man is converted or not converted, that is not our business. Rather, our business is to be recognized by Krsna. You have to do your duty. Go and preach. Just like when I came to your country, I never expected any success because I knew as soon as I will say 'no illicit sex, no meat eating', they will reject me immediately." The devotees huddled close as Prabhupada's voice took on a soft, humble tone. "So I was not hopeful at all. But it was your kindness that you accepted me. But I never expected that 'these people will accept'. I never expected. My spiritual master was publishing one paper, Nadiya Prakash. It was worth one or two paisa. And if a brahmacari sold even a few copies he was very glad. The collection was not even four annas, still he was so glad and he would appreciate, 'Oh, you have distributed so much'. Still, our business is to carry out the order, not to look for success."

- Srila Prabhupada
From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu

Q & A with H.H.Radhanath Swami

2012-04-13T09:14:00.001-05:00

This Q & A with Radhanath Swami took place in 1993. It is an intimate talk with few of his close disciples. I found it very nice as it reveals the mind of Maharaj. Normally he does not talk about himself but he answers many questions related to him and his mood of preaching etc. Anyone interested to know more about maharaj can hear this short conversation. Hare Krishna

Chennai ISKCON Temple

2012-04-12T14:13:00.001-05:00

I got introduced to Krishna Consciousness in Chennai, India and used to visit the temple regularly. At that time Chennai ISKCON was located in the bustling shopping center of Chennai called T-Nagar. Now, they have moved to a more spacious and scenic place near the beach of Bay of Bengal.

They are at the entrance of completing a landmark Temple Project - ISKCON CHENNAI. It has taken them 9 long years to come this far, with little more help they will accomplish this glorious task for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

I dedicate this post to the Chennai devotees, and H.H.Bhanu Swami Maharaj for making this a success. Below is a link I urge the readers of this post to donate approximately $65 to complete the project.

Please see link for more details - Link

Hare Krishna

other religions

2012-04-11T13:33:00.002-05:00

Regarding religion, not only at present, but also in the past, all of them are described as pseudo-religions. The Bhagavat (Purana) has condemned such pseudo-religion in the second verse of the first chapter, first canto. Under the spell of material energy, man is forgetful of his eternal relationship with God. They create some religion to derive some material benefit as they create political organization for mutual undisturbed sense gratification. So religion is also a part of that concept of life. As such, in most of the religions you will find some instruction on morality and goodness, and God consciousness is superfluous. So except Krsna Consciousness or Bhagavata Dharma or religion of the Bhagavata, any other system of religion is only pretension, that is the fact. It is not therefore surprising that your impression of the meeting of the Jews and Christians, where you had opportunity to speak, was that they were lacking so much in God-consciousness. So far we are concerned, our principle is to live with God as actual fact, and not to make God a supplying agent.

Srila Prabhupada, April 11 1970
Letter to Subala

Holier than thou

2012-04-10T11:05:00.001-05:00

Sometimes there can be a misunderstanding especially when I am speaking philosophy from the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam. The audience can misinterpret me to be of exalted position. This can create a gap/alienation between me and the audience.

Therefore to show them that I am just an ordinary person with desires I take the effort to share the difficulties and problems I encountered in the past and am encountering in the present and how I am striving to the future in the practice of Bhakti to Krishna. I think this is important because people can relate to me more and will be more open to questions and deliberations. I have to do this intentionally because there is a false tendency in me to appear as “holier than thou” which truly is not the case.

Having said all this we should not compromise the instructions based on personal abilities or inabilities. We should still convey the philosophy as it is without addition or deletion but we can make it personal by sharing our personal journey in a mood of humility.

Hare Krishna

Vedic description of the world

2012-04-04T09:05:00.000-05:00

The position of the Moon
Prabhupada said, the modern astronomers' proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. Actually, he said, the moon was far, far away and could not be approached by a so-called "moon expedition". As evidence, Prabhupada cited the chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week -- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Sunday referred to the Sun, Monday to the moon -- and so on. This, he said, corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version.

The origin of Greek and Roman Empires
Maharaja Yudhisthira ruled over 5,000 years ago. His grandson was Pariksit, and his son was Janamejaya. Janamejaya's son was Maharaja Yayati. Yayati banished his two sons to the European quarters. They started the Greek and Roman Empires. Later, they deviated from the pure Vedic culture. This is the history." Amogha enquired whether the Greek civilisation kept any connection with Vedic culture. "Oh, yes," Prabhupada said. "They were worshipping demigods from the Vedas.

The numbering system
Srila Prabhupada explained, everything originally came from the Vedic culture. He gave the example of the Arabic system of counting. Indian astrology was taken up by the Arabians. The 'one, two, three, four, five, six, up to nine, then zero' -- these figures were taken from India.

Gold transported from Brazil to Lanka
Two million years previously, Ravana's brother Mahiravana lived in South America and had built a tunnel through the Earth from Brazil to Ceylon. (Mahi, Prabhupada pointed out, meant "Earth".) Ceylon at the time was called Lanka, and every building there was covered in gold -- thus the name svarna lanka, "golden Lanka". Prabhupada described how all the gold was transported through the tunnel from Brazil. "And," he said, "these Mexicans, South Americans, they resemble almost exactly Indian body." Contrary to modern theory, he said, the world at that time was fully populated. Paramahamsa, intrigued by Prabhupada's descriptions, wondered how they were able to build such fantastic temples and palaces. Prabhupada explained. Vedic civilisation was spread all over -- it was very prosperous, and so much advanced. Demons and giants were engaged for construction. They were very good artists. Such stories are in the Mahabharata also.

How the Temple of Lord Jagannath was built?
Prabhupada detailed how structures such as Lord Jagannatha's temple in Puri had been built. Sand is stacked, just like this." Prabhupada pointed at the sand dunes bordering the beach. "The temple is being manufactured, and it is surrounded with sand, thrown all sides. When it is finished, the sand is taken away.

Serpent Kaliya in Fiji islands
Amogha recounted a popular story he had heard from a devotee returning from Fiji. The local people described how Kaliya, the giant serpent described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, is still living, residing in a big lake on top of a mountain there. Prabhupada verified the story. "Yes," he confirmed. "He was driven away from Vrndavana."

Hare Krishna