Saturday, October 31, 2020

Bhagvat ONE ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE CAN VERY EASILY BE LIBERATED FROM THE DREAM OF MATERIALISTIC LIFE, 15th June

Srimad Bhagvatam


TRANSLATION
A GRHASTHA MUST ASSOCIATE AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH SAINTLY PERSONS, AND WITH GREAT RESPECT HE MUST HEAR THE NECTAR OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPREME LORD AND HIS INCARNATIONS AS THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DESCRIBED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM AND OTHER PURANAS. THUS ONE SHOULD GRADUALLY BECOME DETACHED FROM AFFECTION FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, EXACTLY LIKE A MAN AWAKENING FROM A DREAM.

PURPORT
THE KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO GIVE GRHASTHAS ALL OVER THE WORLD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM AND BHAGAVAD-GITA SPECIFICALLY.

THE PROCESS, AS DESCRIBED IN MANY WAYS, IS ONE OF HEARING AND CHANTING (srnvatam sva-katham krshnam punya-sravana-kirtanam). EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE GRHASTHAS, WHO ARE MÜDHA-DHI, IGNORANT ABOUT THE GOAL OF LIFE, SHOULD BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR ABOUT KRSHNA. SIMPLY BY HEARING, BY ATTENDING LECTURES IN THE DIFFERENT CENTERS OF THE KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, WHERE TOPICS OF KRSHNA FROM BHAGAVAD-GITA AND SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM ARE DISCUSSED, THEY WILL BE PURIFIED OF THEIR SINFUL INCLINATION FOR CONSTANT INDULGENCE IN ILLICIT SEX, MEAT-EATING, INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING, WHICH HAVE ALL BECOME PROMINENT IN MODERN DAYS.

THUS THEY CAN BE RAISED TO THE STATUS OF LIGHT. PUNYA-SRAVANA-KIRTANAM. SIMPLY BY JOINING THE KIRTANA—HARE KRSHNA, HARE KRSHNA, KRSHNA KRSHNA, HARE HARE/ HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE—AND BY HEARING ABOUT KRSHNA FROM BHAGAVAD-GITA, ONE MUST BE PURIFIED, ESPECIALLY IF HE ALSO TAKES PRASADA.This is all going on in the Krshna consciousness movement.

ANOTHER SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION HERE IS SRNVAN BHAGAVATO 'BHIKSHNAM AVATARA-KATHAMRTAM. IT IS NOT THAT BECAUSE ONE HAS ONCE FINISHED BHAGAVAD-GITA HE SHOULD NOT HEAR IT AGAIN. THE WORD ABHIKSHNAM IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE SHOULD HEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THERE IS NO QUESTION OF STOPPING: EVEN IF ONE HAS READ THESE TOPICS MANY TIMES, HE SHOULD GO ON READING AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE BHAGAVAT-KATHA, THE WORDS SPOKEN BY KRSHNA AND SPOKEN BY KRSHNA'S DEVOTEES ABOUT KRSHNA, ARE AMRTAM, NECTAR. THE MORE ONE DRINKS THIS AMRTAM, THE MORE HE ADVANCES IN HIS ETERNAL LIFE.

THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE IS MEANT FOR LIBERATION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF KALI-YUGA, EVERY DAY THE GRHASTHAS ARE WORKING HARD LIKE ASSES. EARLY IN THE MORNING THEY RISE AND TRAVEL EVEN A HUNDRED MILES AWAY TO EARN BREAD.

ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES, I HAVE SEEN THAT PEOPLE AWAKEN AT FIVE O'CLOCK TO GO TO OFFICES AND FACTORIES TO EARN THEIR LIVELIHOOD. PEOPLE IN CALCUTTA AND BOMBAY ALSO DO THIS EVERY DAY. THEY WORK VERY HARD IN THE OFFICE OR FACTORY, AND AGAIN THEY SPEND THREE OR FOUR HOURS IN TRANSPORTATION RETURNING HOME. THEN THEY RETIRE AT TEN O'CLOCK AND AGAIN RISE EARLY IN THE MORNING TO GO TO THEIR OFFICES AND FACTORIES.

THIS KIND OF HARD LABOR IS DESCRIBED IN THE SASTRAS AS THE LIFE OF PIGS AND STOOL-EATERS.
Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kashtan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye:

"OF ALL LIVING ENTITIES WHO HAVE ACCEPTED MATERIAL BODIES IN THIS WORLD, ONE WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED THIS HUMAN FORM SHOULD NOT WORK HARD DAY AND NIGHT SIMPLY FOR SENSE GRATIFICATION, WHICH IS AVAILABLE EVEN FOR DOGS AND HOGS THAT EAT STOOL." (Bhag. 5.5.1)

ONE MUST FIND SOME TIME FOR HEARING SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM AND BHAGAVAD-GITA. THIS IS VEDIC CULTURE. ONE SHOULD WORK EIGHT HOURS AT THE MOST TO EARN HIS LIVELIHOOD, AND EITHER IN THE AFTERNOON OR IN THE EVENING A HOUSEHOLDER SHOULD ASSOCIATE WITH DEVOTEES TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCARNATIONS OF KRSHNA AND HIS ACTIVITIES AND THUS BE GRADUALLY LIBERATED FROM THE CLUTCHES OF MAYA.

HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FINDING TIME TO HEAR ABOUT KRSHNA, THE HOUSEHOLDERS, AFTER WORKING HARD IN OFFICES AND FACTORIES, FIND TIME TO GO TO A RESTAURANT OR A CLUB WHERE INSTEAD OF HEARING ABOUT KRSHNA AND HIS ACTIVITIES THEY ARE VERY MUCH PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF DEMONS AND NONDEVOTEES AND TO ENJOY SEX, WINE, WOMEN AND MEAT AND IN THIS WAY WASTE THEIR TIME. THIS IS NOT GRHASTHA LIFE, BUT DEMONIAC LIFE.

THE KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, HOWEVER, WITH ITS CENTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, GIVES SUCH FALLEN AND CONDEMNED PERSONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT KRSHNA.

IN A DREAM WE FORM A SOCIETY OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, AND WHEN WE AWAKEN WE SEE THAT IT HAS CEASED TO EXIST. SIMILARLY, ONE'S GROSS SOCIETY, FAMILY AND LOVE ARE ALSO A DREAM, AND THIS DREAM WILL BE OVER AS SOON AS ONE DIES. THEREFORE, WHETHER ONE IS DREAMING IN A SUBTLE WAY OR A GROSS WAY, THESE DREAMS ARE ALL FALSE AND TEMPORARY.

ONE'S REAL BUSINESS IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE IS SOUL
(aham brahmasmi) AND THAT HIS ACTIVITIES SHOULD THEREFORE BE DIFFERENT. THEN ONE CAN BE HAPPY.

"ONE WHO IS TRANSCENDENTALLY SITUATED AT ONCE REALIZES THE SUPREME BRAHMAN AND BECOMES FULLY JOYFUL. HE NEVER LAMENTS NOR DESIRES TO HAVE ANYTHING; HE IS EQUALLY DISPOSED TOWARD ALL LIVING ENTITIES. IN THAT STATE HE ATTAINS PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE UNTO ME."
(BG. 18.54) ONE WHO IS ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE CAN VERY EASILY BE LIBERATED FROM THE DREAM OF MATERIALISTIC LIFE.


Friday, October 30, 2020

IS GOD EASILY AVAILABLE? YES #Blog0039


Is God easily available? Yes


Arjun asked Krishna

"हे माधव, क्यों इतना कठिन है आपको पाना?

God replied "अर्जुन, मुझे पाना कठिन नहीं है, मुझे चाहना कठिन है.

जीव मुझे इसलिए नहीं पाता, क्योंकि वो मुझे चाहता ही नहीं ,वो मुझसे कुछ चाहता है मगर मुझे नहीं चाहता

जो व्यक्ति मुझे चाह लेता है, मैं उसके लिए सुलभ हो जाता हूँ"


"दुनिया पर विश्वास हो तो वो भी अंध है 

भगवान पर अंध विश्वास भी हो तो निश्चित सफल है" 


“IF YOU TRUST ANYONE IN THE WORLD, IT IS A BLIND FAITH ONLY

 

BUT IF YOU BLINDLY TRUST LORD, IT WOULD LEAD YOU TO AN ASSURED & ETERNAL BLISSFUL REST”

 

कहते हैं कि भक्ति करना किसी दुर्बल व्यक्ति का कार्य है

सरासर गलत है

 

जो व्यक्ति केवल so called “अंध विश्वास” पर, भगवान को बिना देखे, परखे, पहचाने, समझे, भूजे अपना पूरा जीवन दांव पर लगा दे

 

& he “surrenders” himself completely to Lord as suggested by Lord Himself in Gita, वो तो एक दुर्बल नहीं, एक सूरमा (very exceptionally brave) & अत्यंत भाग्यशाली (extremely fortunate) व्यक्ति का कार्य है भाई

as Lord Himself says :

 

बहुनाम जनमानम अंते, ज्ञानवान मम प्रपद्यंते” 

Gita Shloka 7.19 < click to read

Video 1 < click to Listen

Video 2 < click to Listen

AFTER MANY, MANY BIRTHS, ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY ADVANCED IN INTELLIGENCE SURRENDERS UNTO THE SUPREME LORD.         

WITHOUT THE SURRENDERING PROCESS, ONE CANNOT ACHIEVE LIBERATION.

Gita shloka 7.19 also implies that we take God as everything:

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव
त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव
त्वमेव विद्या च द्रविणं त्वमेव
त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देवदेवं

त्वमेव = You only (are), माता =my mother, पिता = my father, बन्धु = my brother, सखा = my friend, विद्या = my knowledge (ज्ञान), द्रविणं = my wealth, सर्वम् = my everything, देवदेवं = Highest of all devas

meaning of this shloka < click to read


Lord again says: "मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते, मायामेतां तरन्ति ते"

Gita Shloka 7.14 < click to read

video 3 < click to listen

क्योंकि यह अलौकिक (divine leela/maya) अर्थात् अति अद्भुत त्रिगुणमयी (comprising three modes of nature) 

"मेरी माया बड़ी  दुस्तरम (difficult to cross) है; परंतु जो पुरुष केवल मुझको ही निरन्तर भजते हैं, वे इस माया को पार कर जाते हैं अर्थात् संसार से तर जाते हैं "


"ONE WHO SURRENDERS (प्रपद्यन्ते) TO ME (मामेव), (HE- ते) SURELY CROSSES (तरन्ति) THIS OCEAN OF MY MAYA (मायामेतां)”

For attaining Lord, you do not have to do anything... 

संसार को पाने के लिए तो कितनी मेहनत है भगवान को पाने के लिए कुछ नहीं करना

(listen to Kripalu ji maharaj) 

video 4 < click to listen


यदि आप यह realise कर लें कि भगवान हमेशा आपके साथ हैं आपके अंदर बैठे हैं, साकार हैं ,i.e., He has a Personal Form - तो हो गई भगवत प्राप्ति और कुछ करना नहीं है

video 5 < click to listen


a devotee has said:

"दिल के आईने में है तस्वीर-ए-यार बस जरा गर्दन झुकाई देख ली" अब तो ऐसा हो कि इस हृदय मंदिर में आप विराजमान हो जाएं

जब चाहे तब आपको देख लें 

video 6 < click to listen

LET US SHOW OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO HIM BY TAKING FIRST STEP TOWARDS HIM - WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO REPAY OUR DEBT TO HIM AS EVERYTHING IN THE CREATION (INCLUDING WE ALL) IS HIS PROPERTY ONLY - SO THAT HE TAKES ALL THE NEXT STEPS TOWARDS US.             

LORD IS EXTREMELY KIND & PATIENT – HE SIMPLY WAITS & WAITS FOR A BEING TO TAKE 1ST STEP TOWARDS HIM & THEN HE DOES THE REST.

BUT HOW UNFORTUNATE WE TURN OUT TO BE BY NOT EVEN TAKING ONE STEP TOWARDS HIM.  


Another important point is that Krishna and His spoken words in Gita are you "non different" ,i.e., if you read Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam, you are directly associating with God.

video 7 < click to listen 


SO, GOD IS EASILY AVAILABLE - IT STARTS SIMPLY WITH DESIRING HIM & CONSEQUENTLY SURRENDER TO HIM. 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

DO NOT WASTE ENERGY TO EITHER HOLD ONTO OR RUN AWAY FROM THE WORLD ,i.e., BE DETACHED - बिना राग (attachment) या द्वेष (hatred) के - BE IN THE WORLD & OFFER ALL YOUR DUTIES LOVINGLY AS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO LORD #Blog0038

DO NOT WASTE ENERGY TO EITHER HOLD ONTO   OR   RUN AWAY FROM THE WORLD ,i.e., BE DETACHED - बिना राग (attachment) या द्वेष (hatred) के - BE MERELY AS A WITNESS - BE IN THE WORLD & OFFER ALL YOUR DUTIES LOVINGLY AS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO LORD

जीवन आनंद है, जीवन विरोध नहीं है  

(life is to be lived the way it is designed to - as per the Art of Living, i.e., तन धन चाहे संसार में लगाएं मगर मन को प्रभु में लगाएं - then there is no duality, no tension, no anxiety, only happiness 

             

त्याग कभी देह के धरातल पर नहीं घटता, मन के धरातल पर घटता है      

(sacrifice always happens at the level of mind (मन), NOT AT THE BODY LEVEL  


संसार को मत छोड़िये, भगवान को पकड़िये        

जो अनावश्यक होगा, अपने आप छूट जायेगा, और जो आवश्यक होगा रह जाएगा        

मगर ध्यान रहे कि अनुशासन हो, उतशृंखलता नहीं          

स्वतंत्रता में आनंद है, उतशृंखलता में नहीं                           


अनुशासन =discipline, 

उतशृंखलता = मनमानी  / indisciplined agitatated mind 


DO NOT TRY TO TO WASTE ENERGY TO EITHER HOLD ONTO  OR   RUN AWAY FROM THE WORLD, i.e., BE DETACHED - बिना राग (attachment) या द्वेष (hatred) के - INSTEAD HOLD ON TO LORD ,i.e., FOCUS ALL YOUR ENERGY & LOVE ONLY ON ONE GOD (GOD IS ONLY ONE), WHATEVER IS UNNECESSARY WILL AUTOMATICALLY DROP BY ITSELF


Detailed description of renouncement < Click to read

video 1 < click to listen आप अपनी शक्ति संसार को छोड़ने में मत लगाइए प्रभु को पकड़ने में लगाइए

video 2 < click to listen 

video 3 < click to listen < video 2 & 3:  there is automatic detachment from world after love develops in Lord

video 4  < click to listen - God only ordered Dhruv & Prahlad to remain in the world


video 5 < click to listen  मत सोचिए कि संसार एक ओर है और भजन दूसरी ओर है, एक कर दीजिए दोनों को यानि अपने प्रत्येक कर्म को ही भक्ति बना लीजिए - फिर आपकी हर क्रिया भक्ति बन जाएगी - THIS IS THE REAL ART OF LIVING


video 6 < click to listen, Narad ji says renounce, restrict from your "mind" of these external crutches (wealth,home,family, relations etc.) & attainments and external supports (but be in the world) & take shelter of Lord


Gita Shloka 5.2 : Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, mere renunciation of fruitive activities does not actually purify the heart of a conditioned soul. As long as the heart is not purified, one has to work on the fruitive platform. But action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness automatically helps one escape the result of fruitive action so that one need not descend to the material platform. Therefore action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is always superior to renunciation, which always entails a risk of falling. Renunciation without Kṛṣṇa consciousness is incomplete

(so, do not waste energy to either hold onto or run away from the world but develop loving devotional service of the Lord)


Srimad Bhagvat 1.12.28Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the right knowledge of one’s own self, and by hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one can get free from material attachment and enter into the kingdom of fearlessness. This material world is fearfulness. Its prisoners are always fearful as within a prison house. 

In the prison house no one can violate the jail rules and regulations, and violating the rules means another term for extension of prison life. 

Similarly, we in this material existence are always fearful. This fearfulness is called anxiety. Everyone in the material life, in all species and varieties of life, is full of anxieties, either by breaking or without breaking the laws of nature. Liberation, or mukti, means getting relief from these constant anxieties. This is possible only when the anxiety is changed to the devotional service of the Lord. 

(so, do not waste energy to either hold onto or run away from the world but develop loving devotional service of the Lord)

Srimad Bhagvat 5.14.44 : He could renounce everything because he was so attracted to the beauty, opulence, reputation, knowledge, strength and renunciation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that one can give up all desirable things for His sake. Indeed, even liberation is considered insignificant for those whose minds are attracted to the loving service of the Lord.

(so, do not waste energy to either hold onto or run away from the world but develop loving devotional service of the Lord)


Srimad Bhagvat 9.9.12Mother Ganges is worshiped by the water of the Ganges: a devotee takes a little water from the Ganges and offers it back to the Ganges. When the devotee takes the water, mother Ganges does not lose anything, and when the water is offered back, mother Ganges does not increase, but in this way the worshiper of the Ganges is benefited. Similarly, a devotee of the Lord offers the Lord patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam — a leaf, flower, fruit or water — in great devotion, but everything, including the leaf, flower, fruit and water, belongs to the Lord, and therefore there is nothing to renounce or to accept. One must simply take advantage of the bhakti process because by following this process one does not lose anything but one gains the favor of the Supreme Person. 

(so, do not waste energy to either hold onto or run away from the world but develop loving devotional service of the Lord)


In the Bhagavad-gitä (18.66) Lord Krsna advises Arjuna to give up all processes of self-realization and surrender unto Him only. 

Knowledge of the self, knowledge of the localized Supersoul, knowledge of executing the work prescribed for the four divisions of human society, knowledge of renunciation, knowledge of detachment, knowledge of controlling the senses and the mind, knowledge of meditation, and knowledge of how to acquire material power by mystic perfection—all these are different kinds of "shelters" leading to various degrees of spiritual perfection. 


But the Lord's last instruction in the Bhagavad-gitä is that one should give up all these different shelters and simply take to His loving devotional service, and this surrender to the Lord will save one from all kinds of sinful reaction. In other words, direct attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and engagement in His transcendental service are the topmost perfections of spiritual life.

above 2 paras quoted, click this  








Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Bhagvat WHEN THE FORGETFUL BIRD UNDERSTANDs THE SUPREME FRIEND HE TAKES SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THAT SUPREME BIRD,14th June

Srimad Bhagvatam


TRANSLATION
A LEARNED, THOUGHTFUL PERSON MUST REALIZE THAT MATERIAL EXISTENCE IS ILLUSION. THIS IS POSSIBLE ONLY BY SELF-REALIZATION. A SELF-REALIZED PERSON, WHO HAS ACTUALLY SEEN THE TRUTH, SHOULD RETIRE FROM ALL MATERIAL ACTIVITIES, BEING SITUATED IN SELF-REALIZATION.

PURPORT
BY AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION OF THE BODY, ONE CAN SURELY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SOUL IS DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE BODY'S MATERIAL CONSTITUENTS, SUCH AS EARTH, WATER, FIRE AND AIR.

THUS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BODY AND SOUL CAN BE REALIZED BY A PERSON WHO IS THOUGHTFUL (MANISHI OR MUNI), AND AFTER THIS REALIZATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT SOUL ONE CAN VERY EASILY UNDERSTAND THE SUPREME SPIRIT SOUL.

IF ONE THUS REALIZES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL IS SUBORDINATE TO THE SUPREME SPIRIT SOUL, HE ACHIEVES SELF-REALIZATION.

AS EXPLAINED IN THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER OF BHAGAVAD-GITA, THERE ARE TWO SOULS WITHIN THE BODY.

THE BODY IS CALLED KSHETRA, AND THERE ARE TWO KSHETRA JNAS, OR OCCUPANTS OF THE BODY, NAMELY THE SUPERSOUL (PARAMATMA) AND THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL.

THE SUPERSOUL AND THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL ARE LIKE TWO BIRDS SITTING ON THE SAME TREE (THE MATERIAL BODY).

ONE BIRD, THE INDIVIDUAL, FORGETFUL BIRD, IS EATING THE FRUIT OF THE TREE, NOT CARING FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE OTHER BIRD, WHICH IS ONLY A WITNESS TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FIRST BIRD, WHO IS HIS FRIEND.

WHEN THE FORGETFUL BIRD COMES TO UNDERSTAND THE SUPREME FRIEND WHO IS ALWAYS WITH HIM AND TRYING TO GIVE HIM GUIDANCE IN DIFFERENT BODIES, HE TAKES SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THAT SUPREME BIRD.

As explained in the yoga process, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginam.

WHEN ONE ACTUALLY BECOMES A PERFECT YOGI, BY MEDITATION HE CAN SEE THE SUPREME FRIEND AND SURRENDER UNTO HIM.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF BHAKTI-YOGA, OR ACTUAL LIFE IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS.



Tuesday, October 27, 2020

PRIDE OF BEING ETERNAL SERVANT OF LORD #Blog0037

Pride of being eternal servant of Lord


"अस अभिमान जाइ जनि भोरे। मैं सेवक रघुपति पति मोरे॥

सुनि मुनि बचन राम मन भाए। बहुरि हरषि मुनिबर उर लाए "


भावार्थ: ऐसा अभिमान भूलकर भी न छूटे कि मैं सेवक हूँ और रघुनाथ मेरे स्वामी हैं। मुनि के वचन सुनकर राम मन में बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। तब उन्होंने हर्षित होकर श्रेष्ठ मुनि को हृदय से लगा लिया


Such pride should be there : "Pride of being eternal servant of Lord"