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Best use of bad bargain !
We live in the material world and are always under the influence of things going around us and get distracted by the latest advancement of science and the comforts it brings with it. But still we are not happy. The anxieties level are going high and are so are the medical bills. The 4 major problems of material existence, birth, disease, old age and death are eye opener and for time immemorial have been talked and warned about in revealed scriptures like vedata sutra, Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam. Even in purport of Shloka 11 it states that, “The whole point here is that even Hiranyakasipu, the most powerful of materialistic could not become deathless by various plans. What, then can be accomplished by tiny Hiranyakasipus of today, whose plans are thwarted from moment to moment?”
Formula of Learning= Experiences + Education
Best Use of Bad Bargain- From Apara dharma to para dharma
Finally, Kaitava Dharma- one pointed devotional service to the lord.
So the first comes Learning. Our experiences in this material world, our failed endeavours,our broken hearts and bones, and many more such kind of conditioning keep us sober. But still the charms of material world keeps us afloat searching for the most flashed up hope of having happily ever after. Hence making our all experiences go in vein. But Srila Prabhupada Process add education from scriptures to our experiences so that the learning stay engraved deep inside us.
I quote, “The miseries of material world serve to indirect remind us of incompatibility with dead matter. Intelligent living entities generally take note of these reminders and engage themselves in culture of vidya, transcendental knowledge.”
Again from the purport, “ Sense enjoyment is diseased material condition must be restricted as far as possible. Unrestricted sense enjoyment in this bodily condition is path of ignorance and death. The activities of the material senses are perverted reflection of activities of original, spiritual senses. In his diseased condition, the spirit soul engages in material activities under material covering. Real sense enjoyment is possible only when disease of materialism is removed. In our pure spiritual form, free from all material contaminations, real enjoyment of senses is possible. A patient must regain his health before he can truly enjoy sense pleasure again. Thus the aim of human life should not be to enjoy perverted sense enjoyment but to cure the material disease. Aggravation of the material disease is no sign of knowledge but a sign of avidya, ignorance.”
So when this learning comes that this world is dukhalaya ashashvatam, the never ending well of miseries from our experiences, the faith in scriptures increases and we can strictly chalk out the path to follow in our life. So the scriptural knowledge give us the vision and goal of life and the material knowledge give us the sources to walk that way.
Example- Same was seen in the life of Srila Prabhupada Western disciple, who lived their life whimsically making their own rules and regulations. The hippies, as they were called, had only one motto in life, sense gratification and for this they had perverted ways to do so. Whether it was smoking weeds, having drugs and roofies, unrestricted sex, etc, they surpassed all moral restrains. But still after being so rebellious they felt unhappy and still had feelings like something missing in their lives. They were not satisfied. The iron was hot and receptive and it is than when the Scriptural Knowledge imparted to them by Srila Prabhupada made them see the missing link. And Lo and behold, there lives were completely transformed. They were scientist, artists and some were having their regular jobs too, but after being convinced of the process of Krsna Consciousness, they used all their material knowledge in raising their consciousness towards spirituality to find ultimate bliss. They conducted various pandal programmes for Srila Prabhupada, like bombay panadal program, using their American skills. So without giving up their material knowledge, they used it to advertise Krsna consciousness at every nook and corner of the world. This is yukta vairagya principle taught by Srila Prabhupada. Hence bringing a perfect balance between the material knowledge and spiritual knowledge.
Quoting again, “Sri Ishopanishada instructs us not to make one sided attempt to win the struggle of existence.” Therefore there is a tug of war going between the so called shiny material knowledge of advanced scientific discoveries and vedic knowledge which says, “to become happy in life and attain permanent blissful life after leaving this material body, one must study sacred literature and obtain transcendental knowledge, by which one goes back to Godhead.” {purport of isho mantra 11}
So to sought such confusion the saints like Srila Prabhupada gave a spiritual process, which when followed can bring the dynamic balance between the 2 sides of coin and can help us to progress further. According to Srila Prabhupada as stated in purport of mantra 11, “This doesn't mean that all activities for maintenance of body should be stopped. The culture of spiritual knowledge necessitates the help of body and mind, therefore maintenance of the body and mind is required if we are to reach our goal. The normal temperature should be maintained at 98.6 degrees, and the great sages and saints of India have attempted to do this by a balanced program of spiritual and material knowledge.”
The balance created by this process gradually take us to the ultimate goal of human life that is going back to Godhead. It works in following 3 pointed ways.
Second pointer is Best Use of bad bargain. We know from the fact that body have it's limitation in enjoying the material world. The duration, intensity, variety and extent we can enjoy our senses are far far limited than the duration, intensity, variety and extent in which they can cause us trouble and pain. For example, if the tongue can relish various food items and give us pleasure but at same time if the tongue accidentality comes between the sharp tooth while eating, not only the pleasure of most palatable dish will vanish away but it will cause the pain in far greater intensity and severity as compared to pleasure it was giving. Hence proved the body is a bad bargain.
So if we misuse this body just being obsessed with sense gratification than it will lead to worst use of bag bargain. And we lose the only chance that this human body provides to get out of circle of birth and death. This is misuse of human intelligence for diseased sense gratification. Hence Srila Prabhupada have given us the system which we can understand the higher purpose of life but still maintaining ourselves materially, the Apara Dharma. The regulated way of living, Dharma, artha, kama and moksha. By this one not only focus on the process of sense gratification in the form of artha and kama but also make us think about the final liberation, that is moksha. This is the gradual process to raise one's consciousness from the sense gratification to para dharma, towards liberation, love of godhead.
So by practising aparadharma one can navigate his journey through material world. And by practising para dharma one attains eternity and make his life successful by returning back to godhead.
Even the purport states it, “ Human activities diseased by a tendency towards sense gratification have been regulated in the vedas under principles of salvation. The system employs religion, economic development, sense gratification and salvation, but at present moment people have no interest in religion or salvation. They have only one aim in life- sense gratification- and in order to achieve this end they make plans for economic development. Misguided men think that religion should be maintained because it contributes to economic development, which is required for sense gratification. Thus in order to grantee further sense gratification after death, in heaven, there is some system of religious observance. But this is not the purpose of religion. The path of religion is actually meant for self realization and economic development is required just to maintain the body in a sound, healthy condition. A man should lead a healthy life with sound mind just to realize vidya, true knowledge, which is the aim of human life. This life is not meant for working like an ass or for culturing avidya for sense gratification.”
Example- Living in this material world in the cut throat competition, requires lots of survival measures. For me, setting up my private practice as a Homoeopathic doctor too required the same. So it's been 12 years I have been practising and gave a lot of time to my practice, which meant sitting extra time in clinic and opening the clinic on public holidays. I thought I was committed to my work and my patients took advantage of it by waltzing in on their own sweet will, not appreciating the meaning of the appointment time. Last year lockdown, when the shutters were forcibly shut, I utilized my time reading Srimad Bhagvatam. My much fancied book and have been in my to- do list from years now. And than as an Indra's thunder bolt, it hit me, what was I actually missing up in my life. The way I was living was completely a mess according to the spiritual standards expected from human form of life as explained by Srila Prabhupada in his purports. Post this enlightenment, I took the conscious decision to rescheduled my clinic timings and started taking off from my work. This gives me a perfect dynamic balance between my work life and my reading prabhupada books and my decision to take up the course of Bhakti shastri. Moreover, as an icing on the cake, my patients too have started appreciating the literal meaning of the word appointment means. Therefore as my personal experience, Srila Prabhupada system really works. It not only brought in me job satisfaction but also the much needed bliss, which I think every soul longs for. It's still a long way to go but so far, as the doctor's lingo, prognosis seems good.
Now, finally coming to the ultimate goal of human life, The kaitava Dharma. Anything short of pure devotional services can neither satisfy Krsna nor the soul. Therefore the process given by Sirla Prabhupada gradually raises one to the Kaitava Dharma, bringing forward the glories of Bhakti. Karma abuse senses for material purpose. It comes natural to us but it's binding. Jnana rejects senses for either material or spiritual purpose. It's not binding but very laborious and unnatural for us. Where as it's only Bhakti which uses material senses for spiritual purpose. It's natural and liberating.
Srila Prabhupada says, “ The path of vidya is most perfectly presented in Srimad Bhagvatam, which directs a human being to utilize his life to inquire about Absolute truth. The absolute truth is realized step by step as Brahman, parmatma and finally Bhagvan, the personality of Godhead. Therefore all classes of man are encouraged to learn art of devotional services to the lord. “
He further states that, “The culture of vidya is summerized in Srimad Bhagvatam 1.2.14 as
tasmad ekena manasa, bhagvan satvatam patih
srotavyah kirtitavyas ca, dhyeyah pujyas ca nityada
Therefore, with one pointed attention one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the personality of godhead, who is the protector of devotees.
Unless religion, economic development and sense gratification aim towards the attainment of devotional service to the lord, they are simply different form of nescience, as isho indicate in this mantra.”
example- To finally reach this kaitava dharma, Srila Prabhupada stressed on re-establishing the Varna- ashram and because of it many congregational devotees living as grasthas were able to tap their spiritual potential even while keeping their jobs and social commitments. The Gurukul system of education set up in Mayapur and Vrindavaan are again examples of using apara dharma, slowly and gradually progressing to the Kaitav Dharam. Students in these gurukul are exposed to both material and spiritual knowledge and are taught the ultimate goal of life. They are taught to be dhira and than they can rightly chose for them the path of their life.
Even the projects like govardhan eco village that encourage farm community with the basic idea of simple living and high thinking is also an outstanding vision of Srila Prabhupada to train people gradually progressing towards the love of godhead. It gives an opportunity to people to give away their material conditioning and come for simple life in their varnprastha ashrama. Such social arrangements are conducive for spiritual advancement where para dharma could be practised.
Hence we can see the process given by Srila Prabhupada bring such a harmonious balance between the material and spiritual knowledge.
Ekatvam! real oneness
According to me verse 7 ishoupanishada, can help me enhance my Krsna consciousness because it has change my perspective about the concept of 'ekatvam'. It gave me an understanding of rising from the mistaken oneness to real oneness.
Verses 7- One who always see all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with supreme lord, becomes a true knower of things. What , then can be illusion or anxiety for him.
Complete Realization of ekatvam
My understanding-
The example given in the purport is of the drop and the ocean. The quantity of salt present in the drop is never comparable to quantity of salt present in complete ocean, but the salt present in drop is qualitatively equal in chemical composition to all the salt present in ocean.
Similarly, there are 2 aspects to ekatveam, that is oneness in quality with absolute truth and second being the subordination in quality with absolute truth. Though considering that oneness in quality with absolute truth bring detachment from worldly things but at same time it is breeding ground for pride to flourish, which can ruin the devotion. This is the common blunder by impersonalist school. But the other aspect, subordination in the quantity of absolute truth brings humility and this path of devotion. Caitany caritamrita states that jivera swaroop haye nityare Krsna das. Once we cultivate this humility than detachment follows and hence this being the safe path to save our bhakti.
Even in shistashtakam by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, have first talked about trinadepe sunuchaine... in verse 3, that is cultivating the mood of humility first than in verse 4, he talks about detachment, na dhanam na janam na sundaram.... Progressively following these verses make us reach towards kirtanaye sada hari, the ahitukey bhakti.
So, first comes humility which attach us to Krsna and gives us higher taste than detachment becomes easy.
Application for my Krsna consciousness-
The pandava nirjal ekadashi is very difficult for me to follow and I always struggle staying without water. And since my husband kept it swiftly, it made me feel bit envious of him. So gone Pandava ekadashi, I benched it nirjala but the day went in sleeping and just distracting myself in useless things. So for the hack of doing it, I did it and for subsequent days basked in the glories of my achievement, wasting valuable time which I could have utilize cultivating my Krsna consciousness. Now, with this new found wisdom I plan to keep ekadashi on fruits and water and use that time reading scriptures, chanting more rounds of japa and avoiding distraction in form of gossips or useless you tube videos. By connecting to krsna will serve my purpose of keeping ekadashi more than my show off austerity to stay without water. Maybe in near future, I could get that higher taste of Krsna consciousness that detachment comes automatically. But at the moment I have understood to focus more on reading and chanting.
Ekatvam- Between the energy and energetic there is sense of oneness
My understanding-
According to the purport of this verse it states with the example , although from analytical point of view heat and light are different from fire, but there is no meaning to word fire without heat and light. In synthesis, therefore heat, light and fire are same.
The further elaboration to this example is given by Jiva Goswami, who points towards diversities in this apparent oneness from the example of sun. Sun have the fiery radiance around it's orb and that it have rays coming out of it and than there is reflection of sun in river. Although everything depend upon the sun but the gradation of heat and light emitting from them is different. The orb would be very hoy and fierce as compared to the rays emitting from sun and the reflection though carrying the heat of the sun would have least energy of all. Replacing the sun God as Krsna, the fiery orb as the svarup shakti or antaranga shakti or internal potency, rays for tathasta shalti, marginal potency or we jeevas and the reflection by bhairanga shakti or external potency or material energy, we get the understanding that although everything depend on Krsna but still there is gradation of the energies. Internal potency can bring us closer to krsna and the external potency can take us away from krsna and as being the marginal potency, the jeeva shakti, we have a choice to make. Although apparently everything is dependent on Krsna.
Application for my Krsna consciousness
People argue that every spiritual path in form of different religious beliefs would take you to same goal, as everything has been created by god and would lead to him. With this new understanding of Ekatvam, I feel there may be various roads by which one can reach the top of mountain and there maybe apparent oneness that all these roads leading to the mountain but still they are not all same, some one would be short cut, some would be long one, some would have lots of obstacles while taking it and some would be more conducive than others for journey and some may never reach the top and end abruptly. Thinking of this oneness and everything created by lord, I used to be distracted by my friends practising meditation , yoga, art of living courses and used to indulge in them and getting astray from my KC path, thinking I am following a spiritual path whatever I take. But with this new found gradation of energies and having the understanding that only by taking the shelter of internal energy represented by our Gurus and acharyas, can quickly take me to my destination rather than wasting time on hit and trial methods of other paths under the impression of so called oneness. Therefore I have made an habit of listening to lectures of my Guru maharaj HH Jayapataka Swami maharaj everyday without fail. So that I remain focus towards my goal. As Srila Prabhupada used to say everyone is dancing in rasa dance, someone dance directly [under shelter of internal potency], some dances indirectly {under the shelter of material energy} but everyone is dancing.
Ekatvam- See full picture of oneness
My understanding-
The complete picture of oneness is not only seeing unity in diversity but also seeing diversity in unity. The first step of spiritual realization is that beyond this diversities in this world like brahman, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra, seeing unity, that everyone is spiritual spark, panditah sam darshana... But at same time in this spiritual unity there is variety of individual soul who have a unique and individual relationship with Krsna. The ekatvam is that all these spiritual soul love krsna and take delight in krsna but in their own individual unique way.
For example in canto 10 of srimad bhagvatam in chapter 31, gopi geet, depicts intense love of gopis for Krsna. It is sung by gopis when Krsna disappear from rasa dance. Although the gopis have intense longing for Krsna and in these prayers they intend to call him back , which shows their unity. But at the same time the entire chapter is like symphony of prayers sung by different gopis according to their individual mood, some prayers were sung by Lalita, some by Vishakha , some by Indulekha, showing the diversity in their unity. Therefore meaning that Ekatvam is not just bareness of oneness but fertile land of reciprocation.
Application for my Krsna Consciousness
I used to feel that the kirtanyas are very dear to Lord as they can make lord happy with their sweet melodies , therefore I used to belittle myself for not having singing qualities. But with this understanding I know every service done with loving devotion, how menial it may be, is accepted by Lord. As a self taken service of preaching my patients to go vegetarian some way or the other, whether scaring them because of their disease, quoting from scriptures or scientific journals, I used to think it to be negligible service in front of those magnanimous kitanayas. But now with this new found conviction that it's my unique way to plough a sattvik ground in my patients as being the doctor, I have gained confidence to preach them about hari naam mantra meditation too. To some like minded people I gifted beads to chant and Bhagvad Gita to read. And when I get positive reviews and how their life is changing for good, it gives me more conviction, confidence and content in my Krsna Consciousness.
Ekatvam- Dynamic relationship of meeting not merging together.
My understanding-
The river ocean metaphor is wrongly decoded by impersonalist that as river ultimately merges in ocean similarly we living sparks are like river that will finally merge in absolute truth. But the real ekatvam about this metaphore is explained by devotees like Queen Kunti prayers, who in SB 1.8.42 says that let my consciousness flows towards the lord as Ganges flow towards the ocean. That in reality, is not merging but a dynamic meeting that take place between the devotee and the lord. According to Srila Vishvanath Chakarvarty Thakur, when river flows towards the ocean, nothing holds the river back as there may be obstacles in the path of river but still river makes his way towards the ocean. And at same time river hold nothing back as it surrender all it water to the ocean. Similarly when devotees consciousness flows towards Krsna than nothing can hold the devotee back and devotees hold nothing back.
The dynamic of Ekatvam is that when two people love each other intensely, they may be two individual but one in heart. And even if they are staying away, there is constant meeting of Heart. Same was case of yagnic Brahmin wives who when asked by Krsna to go back to their Brahmin husbands argued that once river have left mountains how it can go back to the mountains. Krsna explained them, that we have become one in hearts and he would always stay with them.
Application for my krsna consciousness
So this understanding cures my anxieties of frequent of having no physical devotee association and going to the temple because of frequent lockdown situation post covid 19 pandemic. Thinking that I have lost devotee association, my krsna consciouness will dip and taking virtual association not as potent as the physical one, I was quiet troubled in my mind. But now that since nothing can keep devotee away from krsna as nothing can stop river, therefore the way I utilized this lock down period of constant remembrance of Krsna by attending virtual lectures , virtual festvals like rath yatra, janmasthtami, Radha ashtami, etc and starting this Bhakti shastri course counts. And with this enlightment about Ekatvam I am also learning the concept of Manas seva too that can really help my krsna consciousness. In bhagvad gita 5.17 states, when a devotee offer everything to the lord than he swiftly goes back to godhead. Therefore understanding that devotees hold nothing back from the lord, like river hold nothing back from ocean, so I am utilizing this period of lockdown by serving my home deities by cooking lavishly for the, growing my own flowers in my garden and reading srimad bhagvatam to them. Some how other trying to show my sincerity and commitment to the instructions of my Guru maharaj and krsna. Surely and certainly but gradually it will enhance my consciousness towards Krsna.
Anupasyate ekatvam- Seeing oneness with jnana chakshu
My understanding
Srila Prabhupada says that seeing Ekatvam is not difficult to see as when the light is off everything may seem same in darkness. But when the lights are turned on than only we can distinguish things and see how we can spiritulize them, learning the concept of yukta vairagya. We can't whitewash every material thing to be spiritual just in the name of applying the concept of ekatvam. We have to see with the knowledge of scriptures as well as follow the previous acharyas to have this understanding. For example only satvik food can be used to serve krsna and be prasadam, even though food is material. At same time poison is also material but can't be used for prasadam. At same time we can't reject all material things too. Many impersonalist philosopher rejects money as to be materialistic but Srila Prabhupada saw money as Laxmi and hence used Laxmi in service of Narayan. Srila Prabhupada demonstrated how to have spiritual vision.
The ABC of spiriual life is to distinguish based on knowledge that this material, this is spiritual. Like having the understanding that I am not material body but spiritual soul and hence shouldn't be caught in this material world. But at same as we advance we have to develop the spiritual vision to discriminate what material can be used in service of lord and can be spiritualize. Like Srila Prabhupada used modern technology for service of Lord in form of Dictaphone. Seeing everything spiritual means seeing everything with spiritual Vision. And because of this spiritual Vision Srila Prabhupada saw Americans as forgetful suffering souls pulled by modes of passion and ignorance and covered by strong coverings of maya. He saw the potential in them that one day they can also become the devotee and serve Krsna. He saw the spiritual spark in them and guided them in best possible way for each of them to somehow connect to krsna.
Application for my krsna consciousness
Sometimes when you are frustrated due to work pressure, you think of quitting your job and that's what I was thinking to do too. But now I can understand that how I can use my profession as private practitioner in service of krsna by preaching my patients as it was advised by my Guru Maharaj, HH Srila Jayapataka Swami, that apart from being the doctor of body , be a doctor of soul too. So instead of seeing my patients as physically diseased I can also try diagnosing their bhav rog, disease of material existence by knowledge of scripture and help them some way to come closer to the supreme doctor Krsna by preaching them about Krsna consciousness in my unique way of giving them medical perspective on verses of bhagvad gita. Sitting in the chair of doctor, maybe few listen to me seriously and paves their way back, back to godhead. It will not only help me to fulfil the instruction of my Guru maharaj but also give me an opportunity to share his burden of preaching forgetful soul. It will keep me connected to my guru maharaj and via him to krsna too.
Spiritual maths, 1+1=1, 1-1=1, just solve this!
This material world is complete. It may apparently appear that inequality exist in this world. As the invocation mantra of isho-upanishad says, the personality of godhead is perfect, all emanations from him , such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because he is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanates from him, he remains the complete balance.
All form of incompleteness is experienced due to incomplete knowledge of complete whole. If in this human form of life of full consciousness the living entity doesn't realize his completeness in relation to complete whole , he loses his chance to realize his completeness and is again put into evolutionary cycle of law of material nature.
The argument is that there is so much wrong happening in this world than how is it is complete.
Well, two thing s have to be consider here is that:
1. We have to see the design with it's purpose. We need to understand that the purpose of this material world. The human form of life is a complete manifestation of consciousness of the living being and it is obtained after evolving through 84 lakhs species of life in the cycle of birth and death. And therefore all facilities are given to small complete units that is human beings to enable them to realize the complete whole and if human being doesn't realize the completeness in relation to complete whole, he loses the chance and is put in evolutionary cycle by the laws of material nature. For example we can't type book on cell phone and become frustrated when the purpose of mobile phone is for communication and just as added advantage is sending short messages, not typing an entire book.
2. Looking at how this world function automatically, evidence of design is absolutely undeniable in this world. Automatically doesn't mean that there is no designer or creator, it means that there is no direct intervention of creator. The complete whole , the personality of godhead, has immense potencies, all of which are complete as he is. Thus this phenomenal world is also complete in itself. The 24 elements of which material universe is a temporary manifestation are arranged to produce everything necessary for maintenance and subsistence of this universe. No other unit in the universe need make an extraneous effort to try to maintain the universe. The universe functions on its own time scale which is fixed by the energy of the complete whole and when that scheduled is completed this temporary manifestation will annihilated. Example human body produces CO2, which is utilized by plants as raw material and as waste product plants produce O2, which is utilized by humans. So this is perfect and complete design.
When we see this perfect design in accordance with its purpose we see it's completeness. Because we don't know that there is complete arrangement in nature for our maintenance, we make effort to utilize the resources of nature to create so called complete life of self enjoyment which is illusion. And since we can't enjoy the life of senses without being dovetailed with complete whole , this misleading life of self enjoyment make us frustrated and we keep pointing out faults in the design. For example the hand of the body is a complete unit as long as it is attached to complete body. When the hand is severed from the body, it may appear like a hand but it actually has none of the potencies of hand. Similarly in BG 15.7 says that living being is part and parcel of complete whole and if they are severed from complete whole, the illusory representation of completeness can't fully satisfy them.
Analogies- we can have better understanding of this point by considering the analogies of jail and hospital. That both have facilities for sustenance but at same time arrangement for sufferings. But that doesn't mean there is fault in design. As jail is there for the purpose for punishing and reforming prisoners at the same time it provides for their needs too. Similarly hospitals are places where patients are suffering from diseases and at same time there are doctors and nurses to take care of them and cure them of their diseases.
Scriptures explain that this material world is jail for those souls who have rebelled against god and want to enjoy separately from complete whole. And it is hospital for those souls who have realized their mistake and want to rectify and heal their wrong mentality. So when we see design in accordance with the purpose than we will understand , how this material world is perfectly complete. And if we see design separate from the purpose than we will never understand how design is perfect. So when we seek for the complete realization of the absolute truth that is sat, cit and ananda than we realize the most completeness in ourselves and the material world.
Scriptures are the real charming prince on the horse back, come to recue us!
10 important points from NOI which can solve the current social issues the country is facing for Prime Minister of India.
Increasing Depression and Suicide cases- We see that that people have developed zero immunity towards stress. They break easily and the mind get agitated to such an extent that the only solution they find is ending their life. The reason behind the suicide is unbridled senses that agitates the mind every second, and if things don't go according to their way, the frustration builds up and so the stress. Eventually it turns into depression and the easiest way out of it seem as taking away once life. From text 1 from NOI, we know that , mansah vegam, how important it is to control urges of the mind. We can't stop thinking as the nature of mind is to remain active. But we can give it safe avenue of activity by absorbing mind in Krsna Consciousness like studying scriptures, singing and dancing in sankirtans and serving Krsna. These activities will increase our resilience towards stress, depression and suicide and instead breaking due to stress, we will break through the stress.
Rape cases and assaults- Sexual offences are the biggest evil being faced by the country today. There numbers are increasing. According to Text 1 Of NOI, jivah vegam udro prasthan vegam. If one is taught to control the urges of their genitals by strictly training them in varna- ashrama system , that sex be allowed only in grastha ashrama, than such kind of training can help eradicating such an evil from the society. Moreover we see that these three tongue, belly and genitals are situated in the straight line as far as body is concerned and bodily demands begin with tongue. If we are able to restrain the demands of tongue to sattvik food and Krsna's prasadam than the urges of belly and genitals will automatically be controlled.
Increased number Obesity and life style disorders- I am a doctor and come across these case day in and day out. The fact is that now these cases have started to increase at alarming levels that soon India will become the Diabetic capital of the world. Now these are due to a very unhealthy life style being followed by people today, these night out parties, odd timings of their jobs {night shift in MNC} and binge eating, etc. So from Text 2 of NOI we understand atyahara prayasa ca, when we develop tendency to accumulate more and more of material things like clothes, accessories, so called luxurious life style we have to over endeavour for it. This makes us workaholic, and we skip over the right time to sleep and eat paving our way to these life style disorder. The only way out is simple living and high thinking. We need a dynamic balance for it. And the only way we can set our priorities right is by finding relaxation in something higher than so called insatiable material desires. Krsna Consciousness provides that higher taste. Krsna Consciousness inculcates in us the benefits of simple living and vegetarian diet {Srila Prabhupada used to say some land for cultivation and cows milk is enough for a civilization. Even Mahtma Gandhi used to also say that nature provides everything for one's need but not for one's greed}, attitude of selfless service, hence countering the excessive accumulation and over endeavour principle , moreover it relaxes our mind from all the anxieties which come with this over endeavour. Hence it is the high time to get back to the basics.
Wrong Information circulated on Social network- Social networks have become an easy tool in today's world to verbalize our mental chatter. The indiscriminate opinion we have about anything or everything, spreading rumours and participating in gossips everything is being served easily on the platter by social networking. This not only leads to frictions between the people and misrepresentation of data too take place sometimes turning out to be harmful. Like in these corona times, the information without checking it's validity, is so much shared on the whatsapp and other such networks inculcating fear and terror in mind of general populace. Moreover it side lines what ever steps government is taking to fight Corona. From text 2 NOI, we understand that prajalpa, to gossip indiscriminately is injurious. Bhismdaev guides us about good speech, it should be about the glorification of the lord, should be pleasing and truthful. Hence the only way we can curb the tendency of Prajalpa is by replacing it with the standards of Bhismdev, talking Krsna katha. It give us the safe avenue to use our power of speech.
Lack of Time Management in Students- We see that students today are always short of time to complete their work and studies and are super busy. This is because they get distracted by various things that modern civilization offer like Television, mobiles, e-games like PUBG, etc. Due to this the scores in their examinations get effected. From NOI text 3, we learn about living a regulative life style, tat tat karma pravartate. In earlier times Indian education was based on gurukul system, where from an early age the student life was very regulated. Seeing the need of time, the system should be re-invested on. And institution like ISKCON provides such regulative life style for students, where they are taught to wake up early in morning followed by a well planned day of learning and spirituality. These institutes even conduct seminars and training programmes to guide in how to inculcate good habits of time management. Hence collaborating with them can really improve the Indian education system as well as improve students over all progress.
Drug abuse- The teenagers are most susceptible to drug abuse and is very important matter for the Government to dealt with since it destroys the future of the country. As it is said, 'you are define by your company', hence we can understand that young generation fall prey to wrong company of drug peddlers and ruin their life. From NOI text 4, we can understand that sangat tyagat, satto vritti, how important is to keep a good company and give away the bad company. Hence it is advised for teenagers to have good association like association of devotees who lives a regulated life. They can learn self control and how to fight away the distractions and sense and mind control as it is also said in Bhagvad gita, sangat sanjayate kamah, one's desires and ambitions develop according to company one keeps.
Grief Management - Years 2020 and 2021 have brought in it the pandemic which have effected all countries and many have lost their near and dear ones, some have lost their jobs and due to lock-down the businesses have gone down. The clouds of grief have forecasted the sky and it have become unmanageable for people to counter it. The only way one can set free by accepting knowledge about this material world by open mind. From NOI text 4 we are given guhyam akyati pracchati principle. Hence when we approach a spiritual councillor or Guru they enlighten us about the nature of this material world that is dukhalya ashashvatam, never ending place of misery. They guide us right ways of living in this world, that is under shelter of the lotus feet of lord. Like sukdev goswami guided Parakshit maharaj who was destine to die in seven days, like we see in prayers of Kunti devi, that how pandavs suffered their entire life and how they were protected by Krsna every time. We can learn how to develop such relationship with Krsna to combat our grief. More and more we hear about it, more and more one will be able to manage his grief. Hence it becomes mediatory to have spiritual councillors for such Grief management programme.
Food Crisis During Covid Lock-down- During lock-down, apart from the disease, people also got effected economically. Poor people, daily wagers and low socio-economic strata didn't have adequate funds to feed themselves. The anxieties about survival and of hunger were alarmingly high. From text 4 of NOI, Bhunkte bhojyate principle, we learn to feed Krsna's prasadam to everyone, that not only is nutritious for the body but also for the mind. ISKCON, not only feeded Krsna's prasadam to many to counter food crisis but with that also helped them to overcome their anxieties. Hence such feeding programmes to be promoted for the overall mental and Physical health of people.
Racial Discrimination and Riots- India is country of diverse culture and different religion. And sometimes we find that there is no acceptance of other people culture and practices leading to friction between them and tense situations like riots which lead to lot of destruction and deaths. The only way to counter is creating a society God centric, when we develop vertical relationship with God and understand that everyone too have a vertical relationship with god than our horizontal relationship with them will be stable. Like NOI text 5, krsneti yasta giri tam.... tell us anyone related to Krsna should be respected, even if he just chants the name of krsna once. When we build such God-centric society we will have tolerance and patience for all religious diversities and practice. In real sense we will achieve unity in diversity and it's living example can be seen in ISKCON society how people of different religion and countries dances and prays under one roof. They have a common thread that connects them that is Krsna consciousness.
Road Rage- If we talk about statistics many people become victim to road rage and lose their life. People have no patience and they have strong sense of belongingness of material things that even a minor scratch on the car can inflame them into torrents of anger and lead to abusive behaviour and most of the times violence. NOI text 7, syat krsna nama caritadi sitapy avidya, states that the reason for this is that we are in avidya/ ignorance, hence unaware of our true identity hence we stay in ahankar/ false ego, understanding this material body and things belonging to as our whole and sole identity. Therefore lose our cool at every drop of hat, as we consider all this things permanent and forever belonging to us only. It is said we are in state of jaundice and the only way it can be cured is by chanting the holy name and gradually this disease will be destroyed at the root. We see that how spiritual inclined people who are chanting regularly hari naam on the beads develop patience, tolerance, forbearance. They easily forgive and have their anger under control. So if we train everyone as a rule to chant the name of god than such road rage cases will definitely decrease and end up being negligible.
Importance of Radha Kunda for Gaudiya Vaishnavas
Importance of Radha Kunda for Gaudiya Vaishnavas
Anyone who wants to progress seriously in his Krsna consciousness, it become quintessential for him to take shelter of Radha Kunda. The spiritual world is three fourth of the creation of the supreme personality of godhead, but still there is a hierarchy in the spiritual world too. It is same in tattva but in Rasa there is a hierarchy and in it Radha Kunda holds the top most position leaving behind Govardhana Hill which krsna lifted with his lotus hand, the exalted twelve forests of vrindavaan, mathura puri and vaikuntha respectively. The super excellent Radha Kunda stands supreme for it is over flooded with ambrosial nectarine prema of the lord.
Radha Kunda situated at the foot hills of Govardhana is a place where the advance devotees prefer to reside as this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between radha rani and Krsna, the rati vilasas.
Radha Kunda is so exalted because it belongs to srimati Radha Rani who is the most beloved gopi of Sri Krsna. It so happened, after the killing of demon Aristasur, which came in the form a bull, the gopis started to tease Krsna that since he had killed a bull, he has inculcate lot of sins. And now, he need to get purified by bathing in all holy rivers. Krsna evoke the deities of all holy river and with them syama kunda was made. Krsna took the bath there and counter tease gopis that since they have sided with a demon, now all sins have accumulated in their accounts. The gopis also tried to make their kunda by digging with their bangles and started to fill it with yamuna water. It was on persuasion of deities of all holy river that Radha rani allowed them to fill her Kunda. And since than Radha kunda is represented as the liquefied love of Radha Rani for Krsna. Radha Kunda is so pure that it is very rarely attained by even the great personalities like Narada and Sanaka, what to speak of ordinary devotees who are engaged in Vaidhi bhakti.
Even it is stated in Caitanya Caritamrita, madhya lila, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the holy dham of Vrindavaan he searched for Radha kunda. But he couldn't find. Finally he found paddy fields which he could recognise as exact spot of Radha Kunda and took bath in the water there. Later that pond was excavated by the devotees of Caitanya Mahaprabu, headed first by six Goswamis of Vrindavaan such as Rupa Goswami and Raghunath Das Goswami. So when the Caitany Mahaprabhu himself stressed upon the importance of Radha Kunda, who came to freely distrubute freely the love of Godhead than how can any Gaudiya Vaishnav ignore his instructions. Hence the spiritual importance and divine nature of Radha Kunda can't be realised by any other Vaishnava sampradayas who are not the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Because it was so much stressed upon by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Goswami recommended that if one can't permanently stay on the banks of Radha Kunda, he must take bath in it as many times as possible as Radha Kund is so potent that it can bestow pure love of Krsna in wake of gopis with just one bath. Hence those Gaudiya Vaishnavas who are eager to return home to transcendental realm of Krsna, Goloka Vrindavaan by attaining their spiritual bodies {siddha- dhea} in wake of the lady friends {sakhis} and confidential serving maids {manjaris} of srimati Radha Rani should take shelter of Radha Kunda. Hence, the conclusion for all Gaudiya Vaishnavas is that one should give up all material conceptions and bath regularly at Radha Kunda under the guidance of Radha Rani and her assistant gopis.
Srila Prabhupada attitude towards bathing and residing at Radha Kunda.
According to to Srila Prabhupada, one should give up all material conceptions and bath regularly in Radha Kunda under the shelter Sri Radha and her assistant gopis, as mentioned in the purport of text 11 of Upadeshamrita. Prabhupada not only highlighted the potency of radha kunda but also the exclusivity of it's availability, which is not easily attained by great personalities like Narda and Sanata.
But when Prabhupäda was present, he heard that some devotees were behaving frivolously in Radha Kunda. He became angry and forbade them to bathe there. Since Radha Kunda is so exalted for gaudiya vaisnavas that even Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed upon it. If such an exalted place is taken cheaply than this is an offens. And instead of spiritually uplifting, it can lead to a fall down of devotee.
Hence Srila Prabhupada forbade devotees to take bath in Radha kunda. Sirla Prabhupäda gave permission according to time, place and circumstance and withdrew it likewise. The injunction, however, to bathe in Radha Kunda is set down in scripture in a permanent form, including Prabhupäda's purport. We can understand Prabhupäda's anger had to do with the neophyte attitude of enjoying spirit, offensive to Srimati Radha rani and not to the spiritual principle of bathing in Radha Kunda. The conclusion is that we should adopt the serious, mature, reverential mood desired by the äcäryas and take bath there for our eternal, spiritual benefit.
In room conversation on August 16, 1976, Prabhupada again stressed upon the point that how one should behave at Radha Kunda;
1. One should have thoroughly controlled all his vegas according to upadeshamrita text 1, vaco vegam, mansa krodha vegam.... and when he becomes dhira, Like in Bhagvad gita 2.13 dhiras tatra na muhyati..., a sober person remain unchanged, that's one'e qualification to live at Radha Kunda. Not like that he live there with three dozens of seva dasis. Prabhupada explained it with an example that how his Guru Maharaj wanted to print Govinda-lilamrita and he seek permission from Bhaktivinoda Thakur, who said that if he was so eager to publish than he should publish only one copy of it. He strictly forbid him to print for distribution. So first one have understand Krsna properly and than Krsna Lilas not jump in rasa lila immediately. Similarly Prabhupada stressed upon that first one should be Dhira rather than jumping like monkeys in Radha Kunda.
2. Another thing pointed out By srila Prabhupada is that one should inculcate the right behaviour by following the footsteps of the acharyas who have resided at Radha Kunda and learn how to deal with Radha Kunda. Like Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé showed how to live in Radha Kunda. Saìkhyä-pürvaka-näma-gäna-natibhiù kälävasäné-kåtau. He was circumambulating Radha Kunda, falling down. Not only he counted holy names, but offered obeisances so many hundred times. So much vairägya he showed. He can take bath in the Radha Kunda. One have to follow like Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé than he can bathe in Radha Kunda.
3. One should not act independently when he have a guru. Therefore one need to take permission from his Guru to bathe in Radha Kunda. As we sing everyday Guru-mukha-padma-väkya cittete kariyä aikya ära nä kariha mane äçä , hence it becomes mandatory to taken order from Guru Mahäräja.
Hence the conclusion is that Prabhupada wanted everyone to stay at Radha Kunda and bathe there daily because it constituted the highest perfection of devotional service but at same time he didn't want Radha Kund to be taken cheaply. Instead of bathing there he stressed more on to inculcate the service attitude towards Radha Kunda and by service one will eventually realise the divinity and glories of Radha Kunda.
Chant, Chant and Chant!
Lalita is very much intrested in worshipping deities and not so much intrested in chanting. So here are few points that I prepared to pursue her to regulate her sadhana.
From durashrey to Eternal shelter and finally Higher Taste - For life times after life times we were under the leadership of false shelter wealth, power, body, athiestic influence na mam duskrtino mudha... {BG7.15} and because of this our soul has become forgetful of Krsna. We try experiencing happiness in all these material things but have failed to do so. But still after recieving this universal defeat, it doesn't dampen our intermediate hope that we will win and will one day have our happily ever after. We underutilize our intelligence and misuse our energies for the lost cause. To break this pattren we need to focus our energy on spiritual advancement to find our eternal shelter. And to do so, there is the process of Krsna Consciousness which can make us permenently happy. Hence we need to use our intelligence to get the higher taste and give up the lower taste. The only way possible to break out of old habits of multiple lifetimes is by following the process of Krsna Consciousness which is sincere chanting of the holy names.
Poison in the beginning and nectar in the end- It may appear that the endevour for serious chanting is a difficult task. It may seem tedious and non intresting initially but if we sustain through it, we may eventually reach the nectar of the holy name. It is also confirmed in Bhagvad Gita 18.37, that in beginning it may be just like poison but at the end it is just nectar. Since we are used to instant pleasures of material activities, spiritual activities look so tedious but again Bhagvad Gita 18.38 confirms that even though material process seems gratifying initially but soon and surely will have poisonous effects.
Desire of senses to desire of Soul- Material happiness is temporary and false. You see around that how people say that they don't have pleasure because objects they have for enjoyment are not good enough. Even if they have best of the objects they can't feel satisfied. Reason being, one, capacity to enjoy is limited and second, since material energy is temporary, hence it's charms are also temporary. Hence we are always in state of hankering. Also confirmed in Bhagvad Gita 5.22. Therefore it is clear we should seek for spiritual happiness. As soul is eternal, so the happiness it gets serving the lord will also be eternal, {Bhagvad Gita 6.28}. So the process to get that supreme happiness is to get connected with Krsna which is only possible by chanting the holy name. This connection that we establish with Krsna via chanting is not a physical touch but at the level of consciousness which is only possible when we are attentive during chanting. As we contact Krsna Via chanting, he gives us more and more taste for chanting and we become constantly happy.
Chanting is not just a material activity- Though tongue and ears are involved, but chanting is not just a verbal or aural activity. It awakens the Soul, who is living in dreamy state of pseudo reality, the play of this material world. Chanting involves the heart, the residing place of soul. When the heart piteously calls out for Krsna, the contact with Krsna is established and soul awakens to it's true identity of being Krsna's servent. Jivera swaroop haye krsnera nitya das. Further greater the contact with Krsna, greater happiness experienced by soul.
From disease to health- We have to understand that our present state in this material world is of diseased. In our this diseased state we keep hankering for material enjoyment. Even if we get things which we hanker for, it doesn't live up to our expectation of enjoyment and even if does than it's temporary. So it appers to be lost cause, a reuined project. Hence we need to find an alternative for it. And that alternative is spiritual happiness which is so exclusive that it is available only to us, the human species. Moreover it's alway increasing as we contact more and more with Krsna, more happy we feel. It is not dependent on external material things of this world. All we need to do is chant the Holy name of lord with our tongue and listen to it. When we feel this nectar of Holy name has reduced the burning of material distress we share it with others too and bring auspiciousness in their life too. But when a person have Jaundice, he finds sugar candy which is naturally sweet as bitter. Similarly in our this materially diseased state {avidya- ignorance} has perverted our ability to relish the transcedental nature of holy name. Despite this disease , if one with great care and attention chant the holy name, his disease will be destroyed and he will be relieved of all misconception {ceto darpan marjanam} and his tongue enables to taste sweetness of holy name.
With Conviction and Comittment- Like when we are diseased, we go to Doctor for the treatment and when we are convinced that this doctor has rightly diagnoised me and now if I take his treatment I will get back to health. Similarly now we know that we have material disease {avidya and ahankara- false ego} and we go to Guru for the treatment of it and we are convinced that following Guru's instruction of chanting prescibed number of sixteen rounds of holy name on my beads will Cure me. But only conviction alone can't bring cure, we need to have steadiness in following the treatment per say. By this comittment only we can have transformation of heart and with this practice of chanting the holy name we become perfect.
Result- Stage of Bhava- When by chanting of the holy name one is cured of his avidya and his mind and conciousness are cleaned up, he not only relieved from the fire of material existence but he reaches the pure stage and is immediately liberated. This is called bhav-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. There is preliminary awakening of dormant love of godhead, which is called Bhava. At such time one can understand who supreme personality of godhead is and what maya is. Although maya be present but it can't disturb the devotee once he attains bhava stage because devotee can see the real position of maya. As confirmed in Caitanya caritamrita madhya 22.31, Krsna surya sama, maya haya andhakar....., krsna is compared to sunshine and maya is compared to darkness. Whenever there sunshine, there can't be darkness.