GOD SAYS “TO THOSE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY DEVOTED AND WORSHIP ME WITH LOVE, I GIVE THE UNDERSTANDING BY WHICH THEY CAN COME TO ME”,18th July

Bhagvat  best charity is where everything is sacrificed for the sake of God. God says “To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me”. Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by God

TRANSLATION

O best of the brahmanas, certainly the great demoniac kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which they continue to exist. In other words, one should try to achieve a good reputation instead of anything else.

PURPORT

In this regard, Chanakya Pandita (Chanakya-shloka 34) also says, ayusham kshana eko 'pi na labhya svarna-kothibhim. 

THE DURATION OF ONE'S LIFE IS EXTREMELY SHORT, BUT IF IN THAT SHORT LIFETIME ONE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT ENHANCES HIS GOOD REPUTATION, THAT MAY CONTINUE TO EXIST FOR MANY MILLIONS OF YEARS. 

BALI MAHARAJA THEREFORE DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER'S INSTRUCTION THAT HE DENY HIS PROMISE TO VAMANADEVA; INSTEAD, HE DECIDED TO GIVE THE LAND ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE AND BE EVERLASTINGLY CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE TWELVE MAHAJANAS (balir vaiyasakir vayam).

TRANSLATION

O BEST OF THE BRAHMANAS, MANY MEN HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BEING UNAFRAID OF FIGHTING, BUT RARELY HAS ONE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO GIVE HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH FAITHFULLY TO A SAINTLY PERSON WHO CREATES HOLY PLACES.

PURPORT

Many kshatriyas have laid down their lives on the battlefield for their nations, but hardly a person can be found who has given up all his property and his accumulated wealth in charity to a person worthy of the gift. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (17.20):

"THAT GIFT WHICH IS GIVEN OUT OF DUTY, AT THE PROPER TIME AND PLACE, TO A WORTHY PERSON, AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF RETURN IS CONSIDERED TO BE CHARITY IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS." 

Thus charity given in the proper place is called sattvika. 

And above this charity in goodness is transcendental charity, in which everything is sacrificed for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Vamanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had come to Bali Maharaja for alms. How could one get such an opportunity to give charity? Therefore, Bali Maharaja decided without hesitation to give the Lord whatever He wanted. One may get various opportunities to lay down his life on the battlefield, but such an opportunity as this is hardly ever obtained.

TRANSLATION

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Shukracharya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Maharaja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master's instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.

PURPORT

The difference between the behavior of Bali Maharaja and that of his spiritual master, Shukracharya, was that Bali Maharaja had already developed love of Godhead, whereas Shukracharya, being merely a priest of routine rituals, had not. Thus Shukracharya was never inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to develop in devotional service. As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (10.10):

"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."

Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaishnavas are never concerned with ritualistic smarta-brahmanas. Shrila Sanatana Gosvami has therefore compiled Hari-bhakti-vilasa to guide the Vaishnavas, who never follow the smarta-vidhi. 

Although the Supreme Lord is situated in the core of everyone's heart, unless one is a Vaishnava, unless one is engaged in devotional service, one does not get sound advice by which to return home, back to Godhead. Such instructions are meant only for devotees. Therefore in this verse the word daiva-prahitam, "being inspired by the Supreme Lord," is important. 

Shukracharya should have encouraged Bali Maharaja to give everything to Lord Vishnu. This would have been a sign of love for the Supreme Lord. But he did not do so. On the contrary, he wanted to punish his devoted disciple by cursing him.

DO NOT RELINQUISH THE WORLD NOR HOLD IT - SIMPLY BECOME AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORLD #Blog0064

Do not relinquish the world nor hold it - simply become aware of the nature of the world

किसी के लिए जीवन रंगमंच जैसा है

For some, life is a theatre.

किसी के लिए जीवन बड़ा सुखद है

For some, life is a bed of roses.

किसी के लिए जीवन बड़ा दुखद है

For some, life is troublesome.

वास्तव में जीवन युद्ध जैसा है आपको पल-पल लड़ना पड़ता है

Actually life is a war & you have to fight each moment.

And people who find a comfort zone in this material world, they are living in an illusion & illusion is the first of all pleasures.

सुख भ्रम से शुरू होता है, भूल से आगे बढ़ता है और भय में जाकर समाप्त होता है

Illusion (भ्रम) appears like a pleasure (सुख) to start with, and because the foundation was illusion, whatever we build up on that is in actuality a mistake (भूल) which therefore ends up in fear.

संसार का सुख भ्रम है, संसार के सुख को जितना पकड़ना चाहेंगे उतना आपसे वह दूर होता जाएगा

All worldly pleasures are an illusion; the more you try to grab them, farther they move away, very much like a mirage in desert.

संसार के किसी व्यक्ति के पीछे दोड़िए, वह आपकी भावना का दुरुपयोग करने लगेगा

If you try to follow a person too closely, he’d try to wring an advantage out of it.

और यदि छोड़ दीजिए, तो आपका बैरी हो जाएगा

And if you try to leave him, he would become inimical

दोनों ही युक्तियां नहीं है

Therefore neither following up a person too closely nor leaving him is the solution.

इसलिए जीवन जीने के लिए आप अति के छोर पर जीवन नहीं जी सकते हैं

In life you cannot live at extremes. 

संतुलन की आवश्यकता है, जागने की आवश्यकता है, सावधान होने की आवश्यकता है

In life you need a balance, you need to be awakened / aware, you need to be cautious

बार-बार श्री कृष्ण अर्जुन को जगाने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं कि अर्जुन जाग जाए

In Gita, Krishna is trying to awaken up Arjuna repeatedly

तराजू के दो पलड़े, कोई इधर रहे कोई उधर, यह तो बालक भी खेल सकता है

Child can play with a balance without worrying to keep both parts in balance

पर तराजू को संतुलन में लाने के लिए दोनों पलड़ो पर एक भार रखने की आवश्यकता होती है, वह किसी योग्य व्यक्ति का कार्य है, यह बच्चे का खेल नहीं है

But to make both the parts equal in balance needs a skillful person and it is not a child's play.

उसी तरह से संसार को पकड़ लिया जाए यह भी विचार हीनता है,  और संसार को छोड़ दिया जाए यह भी विचार हीनता है

Likewise, you cannot be at the extreme ends: neither relinquish the world nor hold the world tightly

हां केवल जाग लिया जाए, यही पर्याप्त है

To become aware of the nature of the world would suffice -  that everything here is temporary like a dream (you can neither hold a dream nor avoid dreams), that both the pleasures & sorrows would follow each other one after the other like two sides of the same coin -  not to get too much excited in pleasure and not to get sorrowful in sorrow & devote all thoughts & actions to the Creator of the Creation. 

DO NOT RELINQUISH THE WORLD, JUST BE AWARE THAT THIS WORLD IS A DREAM

रहिए इसी संसार में, 

केवल जान लीजिए 

जैसे स्वप्न को पकड़ा भी नहीं जा सकता 

स्वपन को छोड़ा भी नहीं जा सकता 

स्वप्न से जागा जा सकता है संसार भी बिल्कुल वैसा ही है 

धन छोड़ने की आवश्यकता नहीं है 

धन असत्य है 

यह जान लेना पर्याप्त है 

इसका उपयोग किया जा सकता है 

यह जान लेना पर्याप्त है 

उसे छोड़कर भाग जाने की कोई आवश्यकता नहीं है 

You can just be aware 

You need to awaken yourself 

गीता में कृष्णा भी अर्जुन को यही उपदेश दे रहे हैं कि 

"जाग जा, भाग मत" 

तू युद्ध से भाग रहा है 

यह ठीक नहीं है 

कोई राजा अगर त्यागी बन जाए तो उसमें राजा की वृत्ति (tendency) नहीं जाती वह त्यागीओं में भी राजा बन के रहना चाहता है 

कुछ व्यक्ति अपने आपको दूसरे नंबर पर नहीं देख सकते 

उनको स्वर्ग में नौकर बन के रहने की बजाय 

नर्क का राजा बन के रहना उचित लगता है 

अधिकतम समय हम सत्य कर्म भी केवल अपनी अहम की प्रतिष्ठा के लिए करते हैं, 

Mostly, we do pious deeds also just wanting to message our ego

BHAGVAT SINCE OUR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS DO NOT LAST BUT WILL SOMEHOW OR OTHER BE TAKEN AWAY, AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN OUR POSSESSION IT IS BETTER TO USE THEM FOR CHARITY TO A NOBLE CAUSE,17th July

Bhagvat Since our money and possessions do not last but will somehow or other be taken away, as long as they are in our possession it is better to use them for charity to a noble cause.

TRANSLATION

There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, "I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar."

PURPORT

On the surface of the earth there are many great mountains and oceans that are very heavy, and mother earth has no difficulty carrying them.

But she feels very much overburdened when she carries even one person who is a liar.

It is said that in Kali-yuga lying is a common affair: mayaiva vyavaharike (Bhag. 12.2.3).

Even in the most common dealings, people are accustomed to speaking so many lies.

No one is free from the sinful reactions of speaking lies.

Under the circumstances, one can just imagine how this has overburdened the earth, and indeed the entire universe.

TRANSLATION

Dadhichi, Shibi and many other great personalities were willing to sacrifice even their lives for the benefit of the people in general. This is the evidence of history. So why not give up this insignificant land? What is the serious consideration against it?

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja was prepared to give everything to Lord Vishnu, and Shukracharya, being a professional priest, might have been anxiously waiting, doubting whether there had been any such instance in history in which one had given everything in charity. 

Bali Maharaja, however, cited the tangible examples of Maharaja Shibi and Maharaja Dadhichi, who had given up their lives for the benefit of the general public. Certainly one has attachment for everything material, especially one's land, but land and other possessions are forcibly taken away at the time of death, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (mrtyum sarva-harash caham). 

The Lord personally appeared to Bali Maharaja to take away everything he had, and thus he was so fortunate that he could see the Lord face to face. Nondevotees, however, cannot see the Lord face to face; to such persons the Lord appears as death and takes away all their possessions by force. 

Under the circumstances, why should we not part with our possessions and deliver them to Lord Vishnu for His satisfaction? Shri Chanakya Pandita says in this regard, san-nimitte varam tyago vinashe niyate sati (Canakya-shloka 36). Since our money and possessions do not last but will somehow or other be taken away, as long as they are in our possession it is better to use them for charity to a noble cause. Therefore Bali Maharaja defied the order of his so-called spiritual master.

OUR MIND IS RESTLESS BECAUSE IT IS IN NEED OF PURE LOVE WHICH IS POSSIBLE ONLY FROM LORD #Blog0063

OUR MIND IS RESTLESS BECAUSE IT IS IN NEED OF PURE LOVE WHICH IS POSSIBLE ONLY FROM LORD

जिसका पेट भरा हो वह भोजन की तरफ देखता भी नहीं 

यह जो यहां से वहां से पा लेना, छीन लेना, झपट लेना 

यह सब वृत्तियां (tendencies) है यह सब क्यों है, क्योंकि मन भूखा है, 

अभाव मन का सतत (constantly) प्रयास करवा रहा है      

लेकिन एक अंधा व्यक्ति जिसे पथ ना सूझता हो      

वह बेचारा क्या करे      

वह लाठी के सहारे यहां वहां पग धरता है

कभी ठोकर खाता है कभी गिर पड़ता है      

कभी कांटे पर भी पैर पड़ता है कभी फूल पर भी पैर पड़ता है      

और बिल्कुल जीव की ऐसी ही दशा है      

मन के नेत्र बंद हैं      

कभी जीवन में थोड़ी प्रसन्नता आती है      

मानो फूल पर पैर पड़ गया और      

कभी कष्ट आया मानो कांटे पर पैर पड़ गया 

और इसी सुख और दुख के झूले में झूलता जीवन समाप्त हो गया

Our mind is restless because it is in need of pure love. Pure love is when there is no demand from other side for anything. And this is possible only with Lord, our Creator.

In absence of pure love, our mind flickers all the time & being thus deprived, it tries to snatch this or that under the illusion (माया) feeling that this or that might make it happy & contented but it can never happen from anything in this world even if you "करलो दुनिया मुठ्ठी में" 

And in this pull & push of anxieties, tensions & useless labours, all life comes to an end & we are continuously trapped in worldly birth death cycle, old age, misery & disease.

Bhagvat :THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HIGHLY ELEVATED DEVOTEES, CALLED SADHANA-SIDDHA AND KRPA-SIDDHA,16th July

Bhagvat :THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HIGHLY ELEVATED DEVOTEES, CALLED SADHANA-SIDDHA AND KRPA-SIDDHA

TRANSLATION

Bali Maharaja said: As you have already stated, the principle of religion that does not hinder one's economic development, sense gratification, fame and means of livelihood is the real occupational duty of the householder. I also think that this religious principle is correct.

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja's grave answer to his guru Shukracharya is meaningful. Shukracharya stressed that one's material means of livelihood and one's material reputation, sense gratification and economic development must continue properly. To see to this is the first duty of a man who is a householder, especially one who is interested in material affairs. 

If a religious principle does not affect one's material condition, it is to be accepted. At the present time, in this age of Kali, this idea is extremely prominent. No one is prepared to accept any religious principle if it hampers material prosperity. Shukracharya, being a person of this material world, did not know the principles of a devotee. 

A DEVOTEE IS DETERMINED TO SERVE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD TO HIS FULL SATISFACTION. ANYTHING THAT HAMPERS SUCH DETERMINATION SHOULD CERTAINLY BE REJECTED. THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF BHAKTI. Anukülyasya sankalpam pratikülyasya varjanam (Cc. Madhya 22.100). 

To perform devotional service, one must accept only that which is favorable and reject that which is unfavorable. Bali Maharaja had the opportunity to contribute everything he possessed to the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, but Shukracharya was putting forward a material argument to hamper this process of devotional service. 

Under the circumstances, Bali Maharaja decided that such hindrances should certainly be avoided. In other words, he decided immediately to reject the advice of Shukracharya and go on with his duty. Thus he gave all his possessions to Lord Vamanadeva.

TRANSLATION

I am the grandson of Maharaja Prahlada. How can I withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brahmana?

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja had already been blessed by his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja. Therefore, he was a pure devotee, although born in a family of demons. 

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HIGHLY ELEVATED DEVOTEES, CALLED SADHANA-SIDDHA AND KRPA-SIDDHA. SADHANA-SIDDHA REFERS TO ONE WHO HAS BECOME A DEVOTEE BY REGULAR EXECUTION OF THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED IN THE SHASTRAS, AS ORDERED AND DIRECTED BY THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. 

IF ONE REGULARLY EXECUTES SUCH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, HE WILL CERTAINLY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN DUE COURSE OF TIME. BUT THERE ARE OTHER DEVOTEES, WHO MAY NOT HAVE UNDERGONE ALL THE REQUIRED DETAILS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE BUT WHO, BY THE SPECIAL MERCY OF GURU AND KRSHNA—THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD—HAVE IMMEDIATELY ATTAINED THE PERFECTION OF PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. 

Examples of such devotees are the yajna-patnis, Maharaja Bali and Shukadeva Gosvami. The yajna-patnis were the wives of ordinary brahmanas engaged in fruitive activities. 

Although the brahmanas were very learned and advanced in Vedic knowledge, they could not achieve the mercy of Krshna-Balarama, whereas their wives achieved complete perfection in devotional service, despite their being women. 

Similarly, Vairochani, Bali Maharaja, received the mercy of Prahlada Maharaja, and by Prahlada Maharaja's mercy he also received the mercy of Lord Vishnu, who appeared before him as a brahmachari beggar. Thus Bali Maharaja became a krpa-siddha because of the special mercy of both guru and Krshna. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu confirms this favor: guru-krshna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija (Cc. Madhya 19.151). 

Bali Maharaja, by the grace of Prahlada Maharaja, got the seed of devotional service, and when that seed developed, he achieved the ultimate fruit of that service, namely love of Godhead (prema pum-artho mahan), immediately upon the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva. 

Bali Maharaja regularly maintained devotion for the Lord, and because he was purified, the Lord appeared before him. Because of unalloyed love for the Lord, he then immediately decided, "I shall give this little dwarf brahmana whatever He asks from me." This is a sign of love. Thus Bali Maharaja is understood to be one who received the highest perfection of devotional service by special mercy.