All your doubts keep getting cleared successively in the process of Bhakti, the added advantage is that it is “cumulative” even after death #Blog0030

All your doubts keep getting cleared successively in the process of Bhakti, the added advantage is that it is “cumulative” even after death , i.e., in next birth, if at all, you start from the level you finished in previous birth – unlike our worldly achievements where you have to start from all over again from scratch 

Gita Shloka 6.42

Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.

Gita Shloka 6.43

On taking such a birth, he revives the divine consciousness of his previous life, and he again tries to make further progress in order to achieve complete success, O son of Kuru.

Gita Shloka 6.44:

By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles – even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures.

Gita Shloka 7.28:

Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination.

Srimad Bhagvat 4.29.62

In the next birth, one acquires remembrance from the Supersoul and begins to execute the plans begun in the previous life.

Srimad Bhagvat 8.6.12

One ordinarily does not begin to practice bhakti-yoga unless he has practiced it in previous births

Srimad Bhagvat 7.10.18

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlāda, O most pure, O great saintly person, your father has been purified, along with twenty-one forefathers in your family. Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified.

Thus when a Vaiṣṇava takes birth in a family, by the grace of the Lord he purifies not only that family but also the families of his previous births.

ज्यों ज्यों आप भक्ति रूपी सीढ़ी के ऊपर चड़ते हैं 

सवाल कम होते जाते हैं 

आखिरी पायदान पर सब प्रश्न शून्य हो जाते हैं 

एक ही उत्तर साक्षात्कार होता है : “तुम” (हे कृष्ण) 

100 बातें, 1000 विचार, 1,00,000 सवाल 

जवाब केवल एक : “तुम” (हे कृष्ण)  

     

इसलिए 1000  सवाल जवाब के चस्कों में मत पड़िए / उलझिए 

सीधे सीधे सत्संग करिए और भक्ति मार्ग का आनंद लीजिए (हमें भगवान (or in other words भगवत प्रेम) इस जनम में मिले न मिलें, ग़म नहीं, मगर भक्ति मार्ग ही इतना आनंददाई और सुखदाई है 

कि जो न ले वो जनम ही हारा 

"जब शमा भुजने लगती है, तो महफिल में रंग आता है,       

जीवन ख़त्म होता है ,तो जीने का ढंग आता है”         

“कहत सुनत दशा हृदय नहीं आवे” 

you cannot appreciate the feeling of bliss of devotion only by casual reading or casual listening  or by mere questions & answers – you have to have sincerity of purpose for your invaluable human life  & seriously dive deep into the core - to utilise the precious moments of our lives    

कवि गोपाल नीरज कहते हैं :

अब के सावन मेरे साथ फिर वही बात हुई  

मेरा घर छोड़ के सारे शहर में बरसात हुई

मैं कहता रहा लोग सुनते रहे (मैं कवि हूं)

यह होता रहा, वह होता रहा

(खूब तालियां पिटती रही मेरी कविता पर 

खूब बड़े-बड़े पुरस्कार मिलते रहे मुझे 

बड़े मरम (deep meaning) की बात कहता है कवि

ना हुआ तो बस यह ना हुआ

जिंदगी भर मेरी खुद से ना कोई बात हुई

आत्म संपर्क नहीं बना कभी स्वयं से 

कभी बात नहीं कर पाए आप अपने आप से

The poet kept on singing his well composed poems & got several clappings & accolades from all over the world but the bottom line is that HE COULD NEVER GET THE TIME OR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO HIMSELF.

THAT IS THE SIMILAR TRAGEDY FOR MOST OF US THAT WE DO NOT GET LUCKY ENOUGH TO SIT QUIETLY & TRY TO PEEP DEEP INTO OURSELVES & TALK TO OUR GOD (OUR BFF - BEST FRIEND FOREVER) WHO, SITTING IN HEARTS OF EACH OF US, WAITS PATIENTLY ALL THE LIFE & ACROSS COUNTLESS LIVES FOR US TO TURN OUR FACE TOWARDS HIM & LISTEN TO HIS VOICE & LOVE HIM SO THAT WE CAN GET ETERNAL BLISS & REST IN HIS ABODE BREAKING THIS WORLDLY BIRTH DEATH CYCLE OF OLD AGE & DISEASE.

IMAGINE HIS KINDNESS HOW PATIENTLY HE WAITS FOR US TO TURN TO HIM – HE DOES NOT FORCE US ALTHOUGH TO HIS DEVOTEES HE IS MOST ATTENTIVE & QUICKLY GUIDES THEM AWAY FROM THIS TEMPORARY WORLD.  

 

Gita shloka 4.42, THE DOUBTS OUT OF IGNORANCE SHOULD BE SLASHED BY THE WEAPON OF KNOWLEDGE, 22nd Aug

Gita shloka 4.42, THE DOUBTS OUT OF IGNORANCE SHOULD BE SLASHED BY THE WEAPON OF KNOWLEDGE. SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING OF ONE'S OWN SELF (OR ONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION), AND THE TRUTH REGARDING THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. ONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE REAL NATURE OF THE LORD AS THE ETERNAL, BLISSFUL, ALL-KNOWING PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, IS CERTAINLY FOOL NUMBER ONE.

TRANSLATION

Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight.

PURPORT

The yoga system instructed in this chapter is called sanatana-yoga, or eternal activities performed by the living entity.

 This yoga has two divisions of sacrificial actions: one is called sacrifice of one's material possessions, and the other is called knowledge of self, which is pure spiritual activity.

 If sacrifice of one's material possessions is not dovetailed for spiritual realization, then such sacrifice becomes material.

 But one who performs such sacrifices with a spiritual objective, or in devotional service, makes a perfect sacrifice.

 When we come to spiritual activities, we find that these are also divided into two: namely, understanding of one's own self (or one's constitutional position), and the truth regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 One who follows the path of the Gita as it is can very easily understand these two important divisions of spiritual knowledge.

 For him there is no difficulty in obtaining perfect knowledge of the self as part and parcel of the Lord.

 And such understanding is beneficial for such a person who easily understands the transcendental activities of the Lord.

 In the beginning of this chapter, the transcendental activities of the Lord were discussed by the Supreme Lord Himself.

 One who does not understand the instructions of the Gita is faithless, and is to be considered to be misusing the fragmental independence awarded to him by the Lord.

 In spite of such instructions, one who does not understand the real nature of the Lord as the eternal, blissful, all-knowing Personality of Godhead, is certainly fool number one.

 Ignorance can be removed by gradual acceptance of the principles of Krsna consciousness.

 Krsna consciousness is awakened by different types of sacrifices to the demigods, sacrifice to Brahman, sacrifice in celibacy, in household life, in controlling the senses, in practicing mystic yoga, in penance, in foregoing material possessions, in studying the Vedas, and in partaking of the social institution called varnasrama-dharma.

 All of these are known as sacrifice, and all of them are based on regulated action.

 But within all these activities, the important factor is self-realization.

 One who seeks that objective is the real student of Bhagavad-gita, but one who doubts the authority of Krsna falls back.

 One is therefore advised to study Bhagavad-gita, or any other scripture, under a bona fide spiritual master, with service and surrender.

 A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-gita  have come down to the earthly kingdom.

 One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate others from the actual path.

 The Lord is definitely the supreme person, and His activities are transcendental.

 One who understands this is a liberated person from the very beginning of his study of the Gita.

Gita shloka 4.41:- ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE FRUITS OF HIS ACTION, WHOSE DOUBTS ARE DESTROYED BY TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE, AND WHO IS SITUATED FIRMLY IN THE SELF, IS NOT BOUND BY WORKS, 21st Aug

Gita shloka 4.41:- ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE FRUITS OF HIS ACTION, WHOSE DOUBTS ARE DESTROYED BY TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE, AND WHO IS SITUATED FIRMLY IN THE SELF, IS NOT BOUND BY WORKS

TRANSLATION

Therefore, one who has renounced the fruits of his action, whose doubts are destroyed by transcendental knowledge, and who is situated firmly in the self, is not bound by works, O conqueror of riches.

PURPORT

One who follows the instruction of the Gita, as it is imparted by the Lord, the Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental knowledge.

He, as a part and parcel of the Lord, in full Krsna consciousness, is already established in self-knowledge.

As such, he is undoubtedly above bondage to action.

Gita shloka 4.40:- PERSONS WHO ARE ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS HAVE NO FAITH IN, OR KNOWLEDGE OF, THE STANDARD REVEALED SCRIPTURES. FOR THE DOUBTING SOUL THERE IS HAPPINESS NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR IN THE NEXT, 20th Aug

Gita shloka 4.40:- PERSONS WHO ARE ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS HAVE NO FAITH IN, OR KNOWLEDGE OF, THE STANDARD REVEALED SCRIPTURES. FOR THE DOUBTING SOUL THERE IS HAPPINESS NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR IN THE NEXT

TRANSLATION

But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

PURPORT

Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the Bhagavad-gita is the best.

Persons who are almost like animals have no faith in, or knowledge of, the standard revealed scriptures; and some, even though they have knowledge of, or can cite passages from, the revealed scriptures, have actually no faith in these words.

And even though others may have faith in scriptures like Bhagavad-gita, they do not believe in or worship the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

Such persons cannot have any standing in Krsna consciousness.

They fall down.

Out of all the above mentioned persons, those who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress at all.

Men without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in the next.

For them there is no happiness whatsoever.

One should therefore follow the principles of revealed scriptures with faith and thereby be raised to the platform of knowledge.

Only this knowledge will help one become promoted to the transcendental platform of spiritual understanding.

In other words, doubtful persons have no status whatsoever in spiritual emancipation.

One should therefore follow in the footsteps of great acharyas who are in the disciplic succession and thereby attain success.

Gita shloka 4.39:- A PERSON WHO IS FAITHFUL TO KRSNA AND WHO CONTROLS THE SENSES CAN EASILY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT DELAY, 19th Aug

Gita shloka 4.39:- A PERSON WHO IS FAITHFUL TO KRSNA AND WHO CONTROLS THE SENSES CAN EASILY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT DELAY

TRANSLATION

A faithful man who is absorbed in transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.

PURPORT

Such knowledge in Krsna consciousness can be achieved by a faithful person who believes firmly in Krsna.

One is called a faithful man who thinks that, simply by acting in Krsna consciousness, he can attain the highest perfection.

This faith is attained by the discharge of devotional service, and by chanting "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare," which cleanses one's heart of all material dirt.

Over and above this, one should control the senses.

A person who is faithful to Krsna and who controls the senses can easily attain perfection in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness without delay.