Monday, September 4, 2023

Live With Shree Krishna Every Moment – Work, Life, Stress… How to Remember God? | Swami Mukundananda

Live With Shree Krishna Every Moment – Work, Life, Stress… How to Remember God? | Swami Mukundananda

Ishavasya Upanishad Episode 16 Explained

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws

Main Text

*Main Points*


1. The Danger of Forgetfulness: Maya’s Grip Awaits
2. Only Constant Remembrance Protects from Temptations
3. Two Domains: Divine and Material—Balancing Both
4. Unshakable, Childlike Faith as the Foundation
5. Story of the Boy and the Umbrella: Faith in Action
6. Faith in Names, Forms, Pastimes—Accepting the Material World with Tact
7. Saints Practice Karma Yog: Immersed in God, Unaffected by Insults
8. Service for a Cause: True Spirituality Is Indifferent to Praise or Blame
9. Lessons in Generosity and Detachment from Other Cultures
10. Facing the World: Tact, Politeness, and Speaking Truth Kindly
11. Train the Mind: Karma Yog Links Work and Devotion
12. Religion Means to Relink—Keep God in Mind Every Moment
13. The Attachment Analogy: Mother to Child, Cow to Calf
14. Hanuman’s Secret: Calamity Is Only When God Is Forgotten
15. Bring God Everywhere—Temple to Daily Life
16. Practice the Presence: Story of the Monk and Daily Remembrance
17. Progress in Sadhana Is Gradual—Like Building a Bridge
18. Self-Check: Emotional Growth as the Barometer of Spiritual Success
19. Feedback Comes from Within—Monitor Your Anger, Reactions, Mood
20. Love God, Handle the World—This Is True Karma Yoga

Full Text

1

0:00

The moment you forget your lord,

0:04

the world of maya is there to engulf

0:07

you. And the generals of maya are kaam,

0:11

krodh, lobh, anger, greed, desire, they

0:16

are all there to push you. If you want

0:19

to save yourself, don't forget your lord

0:23

for even a moment.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=0

 

2

0:23

 

So how will you do

0:26

that?

0:50

There are 2 Areas of Life: Divine vs Material

1:00

The divine area

1:03

and the material area. How to Develop Unshakable Faith in God.

In the divine

1:07

area,

1:09

keep growing your love. Keep growing

1:12

your faith.

1:14

Make it a childlike faith.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=23

 

3

1:18

Once there was a five-year drought in a

1:22

village.

1:24

So the villagers decided that the

1:26

Thakurani was 15 kilometers away, if we go and

1:31

beseech her, all of us,

1:34

she will definitely reciprocate and

1:36

cause the rain to come.

1:40

All the villagers gathered and started

1:42

going. One little boy brought an

1:46

umbrella along. Parents, the others

1:49

said, "Why are you bringing the umbrella

1:51

along?"

1:53

He said because we are going to pray for

1:55

the rain. So if we pray, will the

1:58

Thakurani not reciprocate? He had his

2:01

childlike faith.

2:04

And on the way back the rain started. He

2:06

was the only one carrying the umbrella.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=78

 

4

2:10

So in the spiritual realm what we need

2:13

is that faith in the names of God, in the

2:18

forms of God, in the pastimes of God, in

2:23

His virtues

2:25

in his Abode, in the guru,

2:30

childlike faith and in the world you

2:34

need tact, you need to accept the world

2:39

for what it is.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=130

 

5

2:39

 

How Saints Truly Practice Karma Yog

2:41

Saints also come in this world and the

2:45

world is unable to disturb them.

2:48

One saint had taken up a charitable

2:52

cause. Now for the sake of the cause, he

2:56

needed money.

2:59

Kabir ji says,

3:05

"Let me die, but never ask anybody for

3:09

my own sake."

3:18

But asking for a spiritual cause, I will

3:22

never feel embarrassed.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=159

6

3:25

I greatly appreciate the culture in

3:28

Christians of America

3:32

where children take great pride

3:36

in gathering for a cause.

3:39

They are encouraged.

3:41

In fact, this thing we need to learn

3:46

from the Christian culture. Anybody who

3:49

associates with any church without

3:52

asking they take out 10%.

3:55

The nature of giving

3:58

and that matter we Hindus are way way

4:03

behind.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=205

7

4:06

One person in North Carolina, his seva,

4:11

what he used to do, he would gather

4:15

funds

4:17

and send them to India for charitable

4:20

causes. So he would just go around

4:23

asking, asking, asking. Now this was the

4:26

year 2011. You know, since then the

4:30

value of the dollar has reduced to half.

4:32

So he met me and said, swami ji, the average

4:35

American gives $5,000 charity in a year.

4:41

So I said how much does the average

4:44

Indian give? He said the average Indian

4:47

gives $250 a year. So nevertheless this

4:51

saint he went asking and when he asked

4:57

somebody that person spat on him.

5:01

The saint said, "Thank you. That was for

5:04

me. And what about for the poor children, do you

5:06

have anything?

5:09

This is spirituality, that nothing is

5:13

able to disturb him.

5:16

He has got his mind in God and he's

5:21

going about doing his works.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=246

8

5:21

How to Live in the World and Still Love God.

So how do

5:25

you do your works? You need tact.

5:29

Learn tact from Voltaire.

5:33

Although Voltaire was a gross materialist,

5:37

he was one of the Renaissance

5:41

writers, artists of France.

5:45

So at a time in the 18th century when

5:48

France and England were right at the top

5:52

of the world and they were great arch

5:55

enemies. Voltaire went to

5:59

London and seeing this guy, he was the

6:03

most famous French man of his time.

6:09

The Britishers were so annoyed, the

6:12

English men. They said, "We need to

6:15

punish him." He was hearing them all

6:18

discussing that we need to punish you.

6:21

We need to punish you.

6:23

He said, "Englishmen, is it not

6:26

sufficient punishment that I am not an

6:29

English man but I am a French man?" They

6:33

said, "Yeah, you have already been

6:34

punished. You're a French man."

6:38

He defused the situation by his tact.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=321

9

6:42

Learn to tactfully deal with the world.

6:46

You are a man of the world. Learn the

6:49

ways of the world and handle the world

6:53

without any attachment.

6:56

So speak palatably.

7:07

Speak the truth but speak the truth

7:10

palatably.

7:12

Don't speak the truth that is

7:14

unpalatable and hurtful to others. You

7:18

don't call the blind man अंधा but you call

7:22

the blind man Surdas.

7:25

You call the blind man pragya-chakshu.

7:29

It then becomes an honor. That is why

7:32

the English language has changed from

7:34

the days we were in school. Now from

7:37

being handicapped, people are called

7:41

differently-abled.

7:44

What a beautiful word.

7:46

7:48

So people who are intelligent,

7:53

they know how to speak words that

7:57

please,

7:58

words that are effective, words that are

8:02

progressive, words that are

8:04

enlightening.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=402

10

8:04

 

Train Your Mind to Remember Krishna Always

8:06

That is what this mantra is telling us

8:09

that handle the world and at the same

8:13

time “sambhuti”,

8:17

keep your love for God

8:20

and keep your love for God alone.

8:26

This is karma yog. Actually the word

8:30

religion from Latin it comes re+legion

8:35

means re-link, reconnect with God. We have

8:39

got disconnected with God, to establish that

8:42

connection is religion and that is what

8:45

is karma yoga. Yoga means union

8:50

and that union will come with the mind.

8:53

So when you keep your mind in God,

8:57

you are now practicing religion,

9:01

you are now a yogi with the mind in God

9:05

and doing your worldly works.

9:09

So the verse is saying that keep your

9:12

mind in God for each moment. If

9:17

the mind comes away from God, it'll go

9:20

to the world.

9:22

So keep the attachment in God

9:28

just like a mother.

9:31

She may be working all day long but the

9:35

attachment is in the little one. I hope

9:38

my child is not crying. I hope my child

9:41

is okay.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=484

11

9:41

 

Kabir ji said take inspiration

9:45

from the cow. If you think you are

9:48

attached to your children, the cow is

9:51

many times more attached.

9:55

So the cow when it's taken to graze, it

9:58

leaves its little calf but keeps on

10:01

thinking of it. Cow’s “chitt” is in the calf.

10:05

And even while grazing, the thoughts,

10:08

whatever level of thoughts a cow can

10:10

have, emotions are there.

10:14

Sometimes they grow so deep that the

10:18

grass falls off from its mouth and then

10:22

while it is returning

10:24

the cow coming close to the cow shed the

10:30

gow shala, it breaks into a run and

10:33

starts mooing to meet its little one.

10:37

So the mind's attachment remains in the

10:40

calf and it is going about its works.

10:46

So Saint Kabir says

11:00

cow never forgets its child. You should never

11:04

forget your Lord.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=581

12

11:07

The moment you forget your Lord,

11:11

the world of Maya is there to engulf

11:14

you. And the generals of Maya

11:18

are kaam, kordh, lobh, anger, greed,

11:24

desire,

11:26

they are all there to push you. If you

11:30

want to save yourself, yoke your mind to

11:34

God.

11:35

That is why Hanuman ji says

11:45

there is only one calamity & that is

11:49

when you forget God. That is why Narad ji in his

11:53

Bhakti Darshan says don't forget your lord for even

11:58

a moment.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=667

13

12:01

So how will you do that?

12:04

The practice of karm yog. When you come to the temple, charge up your spiritual

12:12

batteries and your consciousness.

12:15

And when you walk out of the temple,

12:18

take your Lord along with you. He is

12:21

with me. He is my witness.

12:25

He is my protector. He is enjoyer of the

12:29

fruits of my actions.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=721

14

12:29

 

Practicing the Presence of God Daily

12:33

So keep God with you wherever you go,

12:37

whatever you do.

12:39

This is the practice of the presence of

12:43

God.

12:45

There was one monk in England in the

12:49

12th century called Lawrence.

12:52

He was a monk in a little monastery.

12:57

He used to maintain a diary and he

13:00

passed away. When he passed away, the

13:02

diary fell in the hands of people. They

13:05

read it and they said, "Oh my god,

13:08

words of such wisdom."

13:11

He was later recognized.

13:14

His remains were taken out from there

13:17

and put in the most important place in

13:19

England.

13:22

And the book was published, practice of

13:25

the presence of God.

13:27

He says out there exactly the same

13:29

thing. He says, "If I was a preacher,

13:33

I would preach nothing but the practice

13:37

of the presence of God."

13:39

So when you practice the presence of

13:42

God,

13:43

you are practicing to yoke your mind in

13:47

God and using your tact your intellect,

13:54

your social finesse.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=749

15

14:03

Now the goal is to have your mind

14:07

constantly in God.

14:11

As we discussed, it should not come off

14:14

off even for a moment. But reaching

14:18

there will be a journey.

14:22

People practice it for a little while

14:25

and when they forget God, they say, "Oh

14:27

my god, this is so difficult."

14:30

So I tried and I was not able to do it.

14:33

My mind came away. So remember progress

14:37

will always be one little delta at a

14:41

time.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=843

16

14:41

 

A very interesting tale is of the

14:45

connection between the US and Canada. In

14:49

the 19th century, animosity was rampant

14:53

between the two great neighbors.

14:56

It was decided to bring the countries

14:59

and their peoples together. We must

15:02

build a bridge over the Niagara.

15:06

So a place was chosen. But the problem

15:10

was that the water speed was so rapid

15:16

and the turbulence of the river it was

15:18

an impossible engineering feat. So

15:22

finally

15:24

one engineer called Theodore Hewlett in

15:29

the year 1846

15:32

he hit upon an idea.

15:35

He said let us throw a rope across.

15:40

But how do you throw a rope across such

15:43

a huge river?

15:45

So he organized a kite flying

15:48

competition from both sides.

15:52

and said, "Whoever can drop their kite

15:54

on the other side will win."

15:58

Finally,

16:00

after a few months, Homan Walsh from the

16:04

Canadian side, he managed to drop his

16:07

kite on the American side.

16:10

And then what they did was they started

16:12

pulling the thread and to it they tied a

16:16

heavier thread. And to that they tied a

16:19

heavier thread. To that they tied a tiny

16:22

rope and then a bigger rope. And finally

16:26

they had a half inch diameter rope

16:29

across. And the announcement was made.

16:32

Today we have connected America and

16:36

Canada with a half inch cord. So slowly

16:41

they made it bigger and bigger and

16:44

finally the bridge was constructed which

16:48

exists till today. This progress

16:51

happened slowly.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=881

17

16:51

 

The Way to Measure Your Spiritual Progress.

So remember you will

16:55

also progress in your sadhana slowly but

17:00

a sadhak

17:02

should keep this awareness.

17:05

Am I progressing?

17:08

Am I growing in my tolerance, in my

17:11

wisdom, in my emotional stability?

17:16

How am I doing as a sadhak?

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=1011

18

17:19

Look at this smart kid, high school kid.

17:23

He wanted a summer assignment.

17:27

So he went to the paid phone at the mall

17:33

and he rang up a number and said, "Sir,

17:38

you had a vacancy for an office boy.

17:42

Is it still available? Can I apply for

17:44

it?"

17:47

The person on the other side said that

17:50

we employed a boy one week ago. So very

17:54

sorry. There is no vacancy now. He

17:58

said sir it's possible the boy is not

18:01

doing well and the job may fall again.

18:04

How is the boy doing?

18:07

So the voice came that the boy is doing

18:10

absolutely fine and we still have no

18:13

vacancies. He put the phone down and he

18:16

said yippee.

18:19

The shopkeeper said, "Look, your job is

18:23

taken by someone and that person is

18:25

doing well. So why are you celebrating?"

18:28

He said, "I am the boy who's been

18:30

engaged.

18:32

I was just checking how are they

18:34

thinking I'm doing."

18:38

So the feedback loop now in this case it

18:41

is your own feedback, your own self

18:46

Awareness.

https://youtu.be/xUY1ZXZXkws&t=1039

19

18:47

The effort you are putting in you don't

18:50

need to go and ask Gurudev please tell me

18:53

now where have I reached ?

18:56

You judge for yourself, has your anger

18:59

Reduced ?

19:00

are you feeling less hurt nowadays ?

19:04

are you having less mood swings ?

19:07

If all these things are happening, it

19:10

means that you are progressing.

19:13

The अंतह करण (the mind) is getting cleansed.

19:16

So what a beautiful verse this is. Love

19:19

God and handle the world. This is the

19:22

karm yoga

19:24

That Gita teaches, that Sri Kripalu ji maharaj taught us.


Standby link (in case youtube link does not work): Live With Shree Krishna Every Moment – Work, Life, Stress… How to Remember God Swami Mukundananda.mp4

Friday, September 1, 2023

Shree Krishna Knows What’s Best for You – 6 Keys to Get Closer to God | Swami Mukundananda

Shree Krishna Knows What’s Best for You – 6 Keys to Get Closer to God | Swami Mukundananda 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY Main Points: 00:00 Introduction  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=0 02:01 Align your wish to the Will of God  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=121 03:36 Don't Desire Against the Will of God  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=216 08:11 Have Faith in God's Protection  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=491 11:29 Feel Gratitude to God  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=689 15:16 Give up your sense of proprietorship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=916 18:55 Give up the Pride of Having Surrendered to God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1135 Full Text: 1 (00:00) God says, as long as you are not surrendered to me, the law of karma applies. But when you do surrender, my grace will intervene. That grace will burn up your sins of endless lifetimes. They will all be burned and gotten rid of. Surrender is not an external act. It's not that by putting on a certain tilak you're surrendered, or going to a certain holy place you are surrendered, or saying a certain mantra you are surrendered. Surrender is a state of our consciousness and it has different aspects, facets to it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=0 2 (01:24) This leads to the question, what is surrender? Six points need to be fulfilled for surrender. So let's take a look at what these important points are. The first one, anukulyasya sankalpah. What does that mean? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=84 3 (02:12) To align your wish with the wish of your sharanya, whom you are surrendering to? God and Guru. To desire in accordance with the desire of God. Why? Because surrender means to accept you are the servant of God. So the job of the servant is to fulfill the wish of the master. Whatever He wants, that is what I want. Such was the expression of the saints. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=132 4 (02:54) Mirabai says, if Shri Krishna wishes to make me laugh, I will laugh. If He wishes to make me cry, I will cry. If He wishes to ignore me, who are you? I don't know you. So be it. If He wishes to shower His love and accept me, so be it. But mere to “Giridhar Gopal, doosra na koi, jaake sir mor mukut mero pati sohi”. This is the expression of surrender.  If we say, oh God, why did you do this to me? Then the surrender breaks. Surrender means whatever the Lord wants.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=174 5 (03:35) The second point. Pratikulyasya varjanam Don't desire against the desire of God. It is the same thing as the first one. If you desire according to His desire, you will not desire against His desire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=215 6 (03:57) But just to confirm it, it has been reversed and negated. As they say, double negative. So first they said desire according to His desire. Now “prati kul yasya varjanam”. Don't desire against the desire of God. So how do you know what God wants? When you meet Him , you can ask Him . But before you meet Him , you have to gather the wisdom to understand what He wants through the knowledge of the scriptures and the knowledge you receive from the Guru. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=237 7 (04:35) So does God want us to be irresponsible? Does God want us to be a derelict? Does God want us to be wasteful in our senses, etc., to chase unnecessary pleasures? He doesn't, so don't do it. Very simple, don't want what God doesn't want. But the problem arises when God gives us a little suffering. When He gives us happiness, nobody complains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=275 8 (05:10) Why did I get happiness? Why did my investment in the marketplace go up? Nobody asks this question. But when a little bit of unhappiness comes, immediately we complain, Why did God do this to me? Now the moment that thought comes, it becomes a pratikul sankalp, desiring against the will of God. God says, you do your bit, you do your best and you leave the results to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=310 9 (05:46) So to accept the results, this is surrender. There is a verse in the Bhagavatam, very powerful verse, it states that God's property will become your inheritance. The father's property becomes your daya-bhak ("inheritance" or "rightful heir."),if you can fulfill these three conditions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=346 10 (06:29) So remember these three conditions now. Write them in golden letters in your spiritual diary. Keep waiting for His grace patiently. Don't complain, I have been waiting for so long, He's forgotten all about me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=389 11 (06:49) No, delay is not from His side, delay is from our side तेरे करम करम मींस कृपा so one devotee says , “तेरे करम में कमी नहीं तू करीम है, कसूर मेरा है, झूठा उम्मीदवार हूं मैं”, we have not prepared ourselves for it, that is why is the delay. So keep on waiting patiently, whatever happiness or distress comes your way, just bear with it peacefully without complaining. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=409 12 (07:31) Whatever consequences of your karmas you get, bear with them without complaining. And with your mind, with your words, with your body, keep offering your devotion to the Lord. If you can fulfill this, then bhakti becomes your birthright, your inheritance. So this is the second point then, Pratikul varjanam, don't desire against the desire of God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=451 13 (08:10) The third one, to always feel that He is protecting me and so I have got nothing to fear. Why should a little child in the parent's hands feel fear? The child knows. I have seen so many times fathers holding their children on top of the head and the child is laughing, ha ha ha ha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=490 14 (08:43) Because the child knows that my father is protecting me. So this is a game that is going on. Likewise, we are in the hands of our eternal father. What is the need to fear, we should have this faith that He is taking care of me? There was once a naval captain who after marriage went with his wife on her first sea voyage and on the high seas the ship got caught in a storm. It was tossing with the waves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=523 15 (09:23) There was complete pandemonium in the boat. Everybody was panicking. But this captain was calm and peaceful. That impressed his newlywed wife who said, my dear husband, this ship is tossing like this. People are all scared to death. You are not scared. I don't see any tinge of fear in you. The captain took out the sword from its sheath and he placed the blade on his wife's head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=563 16 (10:08) He said, my dear wife, the naked blade is on your head. Are you scared? She said, of course not. Why not? You know, the sword is in your hand and you are my well-wisher. Why should I be scared? The husband said, likewise, this ship, I have faith, is in God's hands. And God is my well-wisher. Why should I be scared? Whatever He does, it will be for my well-being. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=608 17 (10:46) Even if He kills me, it will be just to give me a better birth. Why should I worry? So the sign of surrender is that worry disappears. To worry means to that extent we are not yet surrendered. And to be surrendered means to be free of worry. “Jahi vidhi rakhe Ram, tahi vidhi rahiye”. This faith in God's protection is the third point in surrender. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=646 18 (11:27) And then is the fourth point. And what is that? To always feel gratitude for all the little graces that you receive. One is the final grace which will result in liberation from Maya and God-realization. That will be the final step. But on the way we receive so many little graces, to feel grateful, the earth that He has created for us, the air that we breathe, now we take it for granted, I breathe air so what? But you ask the COVID patients whose SpO2 count went down to 85 and below, how difficult https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=687 19 (12:20) they were gasping for mere oxygen. Now that entity without which we cannot survive five minutes, God has placed it in free fund all around us. At least feel gratitude that this is a blessing of God. We are breathing oxygen created by Him and we are not paying any taxes. So one father worked hard for his child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=740 20 (12:56) Tell the child, be grateful to your father, he cut his stomach to feed you. The child says, why should I feel grateful? My father was doing his duty. His father did for him, he's doing for me. That would be considered ingratitude, ungratefulness. So to appreciate the blessings is gratefulness. Now we say that is prasad, blessing.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=776 21 (13:27) Another name for it is prasad. Say it's all the prasad of God. You offer food and then you receive it as prasad. But in my opinion, even if you don't offer it, it is still prasad because without God's grace you could never have got it. How did the food get created? It was God's technology that enabled the creation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=807 22 (13:56) One lady, she cooked a meal and she brought it for me. So I said, Deviji, who made this sabzi? She said, Swamiji, I made it. I said, did you make the potatoes or did you make the cabbage? She said, no, no. My husband got them from the market. I only cleaned them and cooked them. So who made them? It was mud that transformed into edibles for us humans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=836 23 (14:26) Now that technology, does anybody else in the world have it? You take a lump of mud and go to Stanford and MIT and any of the Ivy League colleges and tell them, sir, I am interested in setting up a factory. One side we will put mud and the other side we'll get the chosen fruit or vegetable. All the Nobel Prize winners in the world will admit defeat. Impossible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=866 24 (14:54) So ultimately it's God's technology at work that enables us to get food. It is all His grace that enables us to get food, it is all His grace. To appreciate the blessings and feel gratitude is the fourth point in surrender.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=894 25 (15:14) And the fifth point is to keep this sentiment that all I have belongs to the Lord. It is not mine, it is His. Give up the sense of proprietorship because we came empty handed in the world and we will leave our hands empty behind and go, where is the question of taking anything with us? So this concept that this is mine, that is mine is our misconception. The whole world belongs to the Lord. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=914 26 (15:59) One of the most charitable people in Indian history who was famous for it was Raja Raghu. He was the ancestor of Lord Ram. Lord Ram's father was Dashrath of the solar dynasty. And Dashrath's father was Aj. And Aj's father was Raghu. So Raghukul name comes after Raghu. Raghu once did Vishwajit Yajna. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=959 27 (16:33) This Vishwajit Yajna has a rule. Whatever you have, you have to give it all in charity. Nothing must remain. So Raghu thought, look, like the clouds gather water from the earth, not for themselves, but to shower it as rain back on the earth. Likewise as king, I gathered taxes, not for myself, but for the sake of my public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=993 28 (17:12) So he did the Vishwajit Yajna and he gave it all away. Now he donned the dress of a beggar and with a mud bowl he went out to beg his first meal after the yajna. He went and sat down under a tree. And out there some of his citizens were sitting, they didn't recognize the king has come. And they were talking, you know, our Raja Raghu, nobody is like him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1032 29 (17:44) He's the most charitable person in history, etc. They were praising him profusely. And those words entered Raghu's ears. He said, hey, what are you all saying? They said, we are praising our king. There's nobody like him. He has given all his possessions in charity. So Raghu said, don't you dare say that again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1064 30 (18:12) They said, who are you? He said, Raghu has not given anything, I know. They said, you are criticizing our dear king who is dearer to us than our life. We will beat you up. Raghu said, go and ask your King. When he came into this world, did he have anything? All that is in this world, he has acquired and the whole world belongs to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1092 31 (18:40 ) So everything that he has belongs to God, this sense of proprietorship , to give it up, is the fifth point of surrender.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1120 32 18:53 : And the 6th point of surrender is to surrender the pride of having surrendered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1133 33 (19:04 ) To do the good deed and also forsake the pride of it. To think if I was able to do it, it was God's grace. See, you put in your best efforts. The results will always require your effort and God's grace. But the spirit of devotion is to attribute it all to God's grace. My efforts in this age of Kali, where was the question of getting this intellect of engaging in devotion? If I did come on this path, it was God's blessings that arranged, that connived for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1144 34 (19:52 ) So to free yourself from any tinge of pride, you can never settle accounts with God. No matter what you do, the blessings you receive are always His causeless mercy. So when you surrender, also surrender the pride and attribute any success to divine grace. These six points will help us attract His grace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1192 35 (20:29) So like I said, two things are necessary. You put in your effort and divine grace.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDj2LxwD8cY&t=1229 Standby link (in case youtube link does not work): Shree Krishna Knows What’s Best for You – 6 Keys to Get Closer to God Swami Mukundananda.mp4

Monday, August 21, 2023

Janmashtami's Most Life-Changing Story – NEVER Worry, Krishna Is in Control by Swami Mukundanand

Janmashtami's Most Life-Changing Story – NEVER Worry, Krishna Is in Control by Swami Mukundanand


https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY 

Full Text: 1  All the scriptures ask us to surrender to God. Why should we surrender and what does it mean? Surrender happens when we repose all our trust and faith in the grace of God. When we realize no matter how much wealth we may possess, it cannot always protect us.  In fact, Lakshmi is Chanchal, here today, gone tomorrow. Our health can also fail us. Our reliable friends and relatives could turn against us in future. Our high posts could be snatched away from us. Then we realize our real protector through thick and thin is the supreme divine personality and him alone.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=1  2  During the Mahabharat on the last and 18th day of the battle, Sri Krishna said to Arjun, "Today at the end, you get off the chariot first and stand a distance away." Arjun did not understand the reason behind Shri Krishna's instruction but obeyed blindly.  When he stood apart, Shri Krishna then stepped off the chariot and immediately it crumbled and then exploded. Arjun asked Sri Krishna what happened. He said your chariot could not have withstood the divine weapons of Karan and Drona, Bhishma etc. I was holding it in place by my power. And that is why when I left it crumbled.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=80  3  So when we realize that my crutches are fallible and choose to develop complete and absolute faith, my real ashray or protector is God. Narad ji expresses that as “anya ashray tyaga” and that brings about the spirit of surrender. What comes in the way of surrender is this big enemy inside, the ego which informs us God may be great but I am also something.   https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=142  4  Consider the example of Barbarik. He was the son of Ghatotkach who was the son of Bhim and Hidimba. So Barbarik was the grandson of Bhimsen. When the battle of Mahabharat was about to begin, Barbarik was also approaching to participate.  Shri Krishna realized this warrior is so powerful he has in his capacity the ability to overturn the outcome of the battle. So he met Barbarik on the way and said where are you going? Barbarik said to participate in the forthcoming battle.  Shri Krishna asked him, "What are your abilities? Give me a demonstration." Barbarik in his quiver used to have three arrows. He said, "These three arrows is all my arsenal. The first marks out whatever I wish to kill. The second marks out what I wish not to kill. And the third completes the task. Shri Krishna said, "Show me."  Barbarik released them. Now the arrow first one went and marked all the leaves of the nearby tree. Shri Krishna had put one leaf under his foot as a test. The arrow started hovering over Shri Krishna's foot and then Sri Krishna realized his power. He released the leaf. The second arrow came back without touching any and the third arrow pierced all the leaves and fell at the feet of Shri Krishna.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=187  5  Sri Krishna was impressed by Barbarik's prowess and asked him on which side are you going to fight. Barbarik said I received the instruction from my mother to always take the side of the weaker army.  In this case the Pandavas have only seven Akshohini divisions while the Kauravas have 11. Sri Krishna said suppose you fight from the side of the Pandavas you will then kill everybody in the Kaurav army but Bhishma will remain unscathed because he has the “swetcha mrityu varadan” ,i.e., death only when he wishes.  In that case the Kaurav army will then later become the weaker one and you will side it and start killing the Pandavas. This is very dangerous. He then said to Barbarik will you offer me a gift. Barbarik said Shyam Sundar whatever you ask. Shri Krishna said give me your head. Barbarik said without question but you also offer me something. Sri Krishna said what?  He said I wish to have the opportunity to observe your glory manifest in the forth coming Mahabharat war. Shri Krishna said so be it. Barbarik took a sword chopped his head off and offered it to Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna took his head and placed it in the sky so that Barbarik could observe the entire battle.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=316  6  After 18 days when the Pandavas finally Won, once a discussion began on whose contribution was the maximum in the Pandav victory. There were different claims. Sri Krishna said, "We have a judge up in the skies." So he brought Barbarik's head down and asked him the same question. Barbarik's response was classic.  He said, "Sri Krishna, although I found a lot of people fighting in the war, I could see very clearly it was your divine disc, the Sudarshan Chakra moving around all over the battlefield and effecting the results.  Oh, I could see only your glory manifest everywhere in this war. The Pandavas then questioned Sri Krishna. Why did he ask for such a terrible gift the head of their grandson Barbarik.  Sri Krishna then revealed that in his past life Barbarik was a yaksh and at a time when the evil forces had increased tremendously the devatas had approached Vishnu for protection.  Vishnu had said he would soon descend on the earth as an avatar and annihilate the miscreants. However, the Yaksh with pride had said, "There is no need. I can do this myself. I am so powerful."  The arrogance of the Yaksh had incensed Brahma who then cursed him that when Vishnu descends before annihilating the miscreants, he will first of all kill you. Sri Krishna said I had to fulfill the words of Brahma. What is the learning from here?   https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=434  7  The mistake of the Yaksh was his arrogance that prevented him from accepting the greatness of God. And later on when he came again as Barbarik, his glory lay in his complete and absolute alignment of his will with the will of God.  That is the prime symptom of surrender. Unite your will with the will of God. When we surrender, we accept that all we have belongs to him. We give up the sense of proprietorship and desire to use our possessions for the happiness of God.  Then the sava behav develops. By doing sava, we put our learning into practice. It helps us realize that devotion is to be done for the happiness of God.  Through service, we grow in the spirit of surrender and selflessness. Sava also prepares us for the divine service of God in His nithya leela, his divine Abode. Seva is thus the very life of devotion, surrender and spirituality. In fact, it is the original nature of the soul.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=569  8  The Chaitanya Charitamrta states. “The eternal constitutional position of the soul is by nature the servant of God”. So to progress in surrender, learn to use your possessions in a manner that pleases God.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=679  9   Take inspiration from this little girl who had accompanied her mother to the mall. And while they were checking out, the girl saw an artificial pearls necklace. Its shine and splendor attracted the little child and she begged her mommy to have it. The price tag on it was 250 rupees. The mother said, "My child, you will have to purchase it with your money."  So the girl went home, checked her piggy bank, did a little chore at home for which she earned a little bit from her mother, requested her grandmother for a little more, and finally put together the price to purchase the necklace. When she got it, she felt she was on top of the world. Papa returned and she proudly showed her possession to her father.  The next day while papa was putting her daughter to bed, it was his habit to tell her a lullaby story. At the end of it, he said, "Beti, do you love me?" "Yes, Baba. Are you sure you love me?" "Yes, papa.  Will you give me something if I ask for it?" Definitely, Papa. In that case, give me your pearl necklace. Oh, no. Papa, ask for anything else. The teddy bear, the toy train. Don't ask for this necklace. It's all right, Beti. You don't love me. And he went off.  The next night he came. His daughter was sitting cross-legged on her bed with tears in her eyes. And she said, "Papa, I've got something to give you." He put his hand forth. She placed the necklace in it.  The father pocketed it and from his other pocket, he took out a real pearl necklace worth 25,000 rupees and placed it on her. The papa had no intention to impoverish his daughter, but he needed her to learn to surrender before he could enrich her with gifts.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=708  10  Likewise, our eternal father is full of divine knowledge, divine love and divine bliss and wishes to enrich us with these divine presents. But He needs to know whether we are surrendered.  And we will have to express that by learning to sacrifice and serve him with what we possess.  https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=864