A year gone by....

So, going by the Gregorian calender, we are finishing a year today and starting a new one tomorrow. People are busy getting ready for all night parties to bring in the "new year". People also make resolutions for the new year and never keep them !

Looking from the vedic perspective, it isn't much. Each day gone by is basically one day closer to the end of our existence in the present body, that's all. Its nothing to get excited about. In the never stopping cycle of time, what significance can a year have ! Supreme Lord Krishna is the only master of Kala or eternal time. The present age, Kali yuga itself is 432,000 years and the catur-yuga cycle is 4,320,000 years ! One day of Brahma, the secondary creator, is 1000 yuga cycles long ! Brahma lives for 100 years based on the 1000 yuga cycle a day calculation. So, time is relative . What seems a long time for us is just normal for Lord Brahma. And this Brahma's lifetime is but a blink of the eye for the Supreme Lord !

So, new year or old year, let us resolve to chant better and become better devotees. We don't want another "new" material body, do we ?

Unlimited !!!

We all know that Krishna has unlimited potencies. And, we jivas, what do we posses in unlimited quantity ? We have unlimited wants. So, we have unlimited wants and the Lord has unlimited potencies, so it makes sense to surrender to Him, so that He can remove the unlimited wants and give us unlimited bliss instead !!! What to you think ?

akaamah sarva-kaamo vaa
moksha-kaama udaara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusham param

"Whether one is without desire [the condition of the devotees], or is desirous of all fruitive results, or is after liberation, one should with all efforts try to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead for complete perfection, culminating in Krishna Consciousness." [Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.10]

The festival season...

Its the festival season the world over. Its also the season for buy, buy, and buy more !!! The festival season has become an excuse for the consumer to indulge in his favorite pastime of buying things, not always necessary for him, but somehow made to feel that he cannot do without. Of course, we can blame the marketing industry for 'educating' us about what we need and why we cannot live without them. At the end of the day, its us who make the decision.

Once the season goes past as it always does, we realize that the things we did during the holiday season does not remain with us, the happiness was fleeting at best. More often than not, there will be some incident, something that came in the way of that fleeting feeling even. The fact remains that no amount of buying can make us happy.

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In this holiday season ISKCON does something wonderful. Its the Prabhupada book marathon season ! Devotees around the world engage in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books during this month with extra enthusiasm. As the holiday season is a time for people to "buy", the book distributors give them an opportunity to buy and gift something of enduring value - like a Bhagavad Gita. Anybody purchasing such a literature will receive the gift of their lifetime ! Its wonderful for both the distributor and the buyer.

Srila Prabhupada transcendental book marathon ki jai !!!

The right verse for 07/07/07

On 7/7/07, on my way to work, I had a brush with destiny, so to say. I was driving to the office and was passing through a narrow, crowded street. A vehicle was parallel-parked literally on the middle of the already narrow passage and I had to maneuver my car around it to go ahead. There was a man standing by this vehicle, also on the middle of the road. I passed the man and the vehicle and heard a sound - glass breaking. I braked immediately and noticed that my side view mirror is gone. I assumed that I had brushed the vehicle parked on the road. I picked up my broken mirror and walked towards the other vehicle, only to find the man standing there, his hand bleeding. His hand had hit the mirror and the glass had cut his hand. I immediately apologised to him and offered to take him to the hospital. By this time, a small crowd built up around us immediately and within seconds, a police patrol vehicle came. There were making their regular rounds, I guess. The policemen came out, questioned me, questioned the other gentleman and was speaking on their radio. Within a couple of minutes, a second police car came and the first police car left. By then, I had to make a phone call as I was to attend a meeting.By now, it was obvious to me that I will not make it. When I started speaking on the phone, the police guy got upset and told me to get inside the squad car and sit there. By then, the ambulance also came. They checked the man and took him with them. In the meantime, a third police car came. Apparently, this was the car from the investigation department. I went through the whole thing again, giving my statement and explaining exactly what happened. They told me to follow them in my car to the department which I dutifully did. In there, the police man (he was very nice and cordial by the way) told me that they will have to make me wait there till they get the clearance from the hospital that the man is alright. It took almost 3 hours of waiting and I was finally allowed to go. All the while, from the time I heard the thud, till the time I got home, I was silently chanting and not very perturbed. Even though, at first I was shocked and high strung, within a few minutes, I was thanking Guru and Krishna for saving me and that other man from something potentially far more dangerous. After I went home, I explained to my wife all what happened and she also told me that the Lord had saved us from some grave danger by just showing only a hint of it. In the evening, I opened the folio, went to the bookmark where I had left off reading Srimad Bhagavatam and came across this verse !!!! Read on..... ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ The following verse is spoken by Vamanadeva to King Bali. yadrcchayopapannena santusto vartate sukham näsantustas tribhir lokair ajitätmopasäditaih TRANSLATION One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds. PURPORT If happiness is the ultimate goal of life, one must be satisfied with the position in which he is placed by providence. This instruction is also given by Prahläda Mahäräja: sukham aindriyakam daityä deha-yogena dehinäm sarvatra labhyate daiväd yathä duhkham ayatnatah "My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one's past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress." (SB 7.6.3) This philosophy is perfect in regard to obtaining happiness. Real happiness is described in Bhagavad-gitä (6.21): sukham ätyantikam yat tad buddhi-grähyam atindriyam vetti yatra na caiväyam sthitas calati tattvatah "In the spiritually joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth." One has to perceive happiness by the super-senses. The super-senses are not the senses of the material elements. Every one of us is a spiritual being (aham brahmäsmi), and every one of us is an individual person. Our senses are now covered by material elements, and because of ignorance we consider the material senses that cover us to be our real senses. The real senses, however, are within the material covering. Dehino'smin yathä dehe: [Bg. 2.13] within the covering of the material elements are the spiritual senses. Sarvopädhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam: [Cc. Madhya 19.170] when the spiritual senses are uncovered, by these senses we can be happy. Satisfaction of the spiritual senses is thus described: hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. When the senses are engaged in devotional service to Hrsikesa, then the senses are completely satisfied. Without this superior knowledge of sense gratification, one may try to satisfy his material senses, but happiness will never be possible. One may increase his ambition for sense gratification and even achieve what he desires for the gratification of his senses, but because this is on the material platform, he will never achieve satisfaction and contentment. According to brahminical culture, one should be content with whatever he obtains without special endeavor and should cultivate spiritual consciousness. Then he will be happy. The purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement is to spread this understanding. People who do not have scientific spiritual knowledge mistakenly think that the members of the Krsna consciousness movement are escapists trying to avoid material activities. In fact, however, we are engaged in real activities for obtaining the ultimate happiness in life. If one is not trained to satisfy the spiritual senses and continues in material sense gratification, he will never obtain happiness that is eternal and blissful. Srimad-Bhägavatam (5.5.1) therefore recommends: tapo divyam putrakä yena sattvam suddhyed yasmäd brahma-saukhyam tv anantam One must practice austerity so that his existential position will be purified and he will achieve unlimited blissful life. SB 8.19.25

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Absolutely spot on for me ! What do you think ??

Advanced in devotional service

People in general, who are under the influence of avidya-sakti, or maya, have neither knowledge nor devotion. But when a person who is a little advanced and is therefore called a jnani advances even more, he is in the category of a jnana-misra-bhakta, or a devotee whose love is mixed with empiric knowledge. When he is still further advanced, he can realize that the Absolute Truth is a person with multi-energies. An advanced devotee can understand the Lord and His creative energy. As soon as one accepts the creative energy of the Absolute Truth, the six opulences of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are also understood. Devotees who are still further advanced, in full knowledge, can understand the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. Only on that platform can one fully enjoy transcendental bliss. An example is given in this connection by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura of a person proceeding towards a destination. As he approaches, he sees the destination from a distant place, just as we see a city from a distance. At that time he simply understands that the city is situated at a distance. When, however, he comes still nearer, he sees the domes and flags. But as soon as he enters the city, he sees various paths, gardens, lakes, and marketplaces with shops, and persons buying. He sees varieties of cinema houses, and he sees dancing and jubilation. When a person actually enters the city and personally sees the activities of the city, he becomes satisfied. (SB 4.9.16 PURPORT)

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It is interesting to note how Srila Prabhupada speaks about the "little advanced" person as a "jnani". Therefore, we can safely conclude that this knowledge platform is definitely not the highest or the best. In the same sentence, Prabhupada also speaks about "jnana-misra-bhakti". Even this stage is far from the pure stage of love of Godhead. Only an advanced devotee can understand the Lord - Prabhupada says. So, we find that advanced devotees are very merciful. They have understood Krishna. So, they try to give us that understanding. No wonder, Srila Prabhupada so frequently remarked, "what is the difficulty ?" . For somebody who has understood Krishna, it is frustrating that others cannot understand the simple truth which is also the supreme truth !!! The truth that Krishna is "sarvaysa prabhuh". Krishna is "sarva-karana-karanam". Krishna is our eternal loving father - "suhrdam sarva bhutanam" - as we advance in bhakti, we will be able to comprehend these things better. Right now our comprehension is at a next to nothing level. Its a long journey ahead, but we have the Lord's Holy Names for keeping us company. What more is needed ? The opportunity to serve the Lord's holy name is the only thing required and all the rest will be automatically fulfilled. That is why someone like nama-acharya Haridas Thakur - very very devotionally advanced, was literally living on the holy name.

In conclusion, advanced devotees are wonderful people, because they are advanced. We can take inspiration from them and become more serious in our own devotional lives. Krishna is giving mercy equally to everyone, it just depends on the receiver how he uses it. Just like the rain is falling everywhere equally, but the rock doesn't produce anything whereas the soil produces vegetation. Lets not be rock-hearted and refuse to become devotees, lets be receptive to the mercy, accept it gratefully and exploit it to advance in devotional life... Hare Krishna !!!

Mercy of Guru and Gauranga !!!

Prabhupada: So if you don’t follow the spiritual master, then how you can get his mercy? Mercy is always there, but if you don’t take it, then what spiritual master or his father will do? You have to take it. That is seriousness. Therefore Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura said that “The order of my spiritual master is my life. I do not know whether I get liberation or not. That is not my business. My business is to carry out the order of my spiritual master.” Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura said. (Ratha yatra lecture, July 1, 1971)

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"Prabhu, I need mercy", is something we often say and hear in our lives. Everyone needs mercy, without which we cannot progress in our spiritual lives. So, even a little bit of mercy from a kind vaisnava could make a very big difference in our lives. If our lives have changed at least to this extent today, its because of the mercy of some vaisnava. Someone was merciful enough to take us to a program !!! That, I feel, is the essence of spreading this Krishna Consciousness movement. Now that we have received the mercy, we know what its like to be blissful. Whether we are really blissful - thats another discussion altogether. But in ISKCON, we are taught and shown the way - how to become blissful. The process in itself is very simple and straightforward. We just have to practice it correctly and we can become totally blissful. Of that, there is no doubt.

Coming back to mercy - we have received it, so now its our turn to ensure that others receive it also. This is the way to spread Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement. If we are convinced of the nectarian mellows of Krishna Consciousness, then we should share it with others, because good things get better when its shared. So, lets share it !!!

The mercy of Guru and Krishna is flowing incessantly. It comes to us through the Guru - meaning Guru Parampara. So, if we act in a way that will please our spiritual master, Krishna gets pleased automatically and we receive the grace of the Lord. Its actually that simple !!! If only we would learn to do the simple things perfectly....

My thoughts on leadership - Part II

A good leader is is a good motivator. A leader can lead effectively if the followers are well motivated to achieve the set task. A good leader can identify a person's talent and encourage him to excel in that. This motivates the individual to be the best he can. In Krishna Consciousness, this principle is of paramount importance. Krishna doesn't compare one devotee with another, He is seeing whether you are being the best you can. Its always the sincerity that shines bright. Srila Prabhupada said "purity is the force." If the leader is pure, he can motivate others to become pure as well. It brings enthusiasm to others to aspire to atttain higher levels of purity and dedication. Most of the management theories are based on principles from sastras. They are just selling the points from sastras and making tons of money !!!

A good leader is one who identifies others who can lead. This is also important for a leader to do. No one is permanent in their position of leadership or any other position in the material world. So, traininig is necessary. A good leader can identify persons who show good leadership skills and train them to become leaders in the future. Srila Prabhupada also carefully trained and instructed his intimate disciples how to carry on the mission of Mahaprabhu. He always said that his time was short. That showed his renunciation, he was always aware of the temporal nature of things in the material creation. But that didn't stop him from endeavouring to do his best as a leader during the period of his manifest pastimes on earth. Since we are impermanent in this world, a leader who realises it and has the best intrests of the organization at heart, will train others so that everything runs smoothly just as always or even better.

My thoughts on leadership...

Leadership can be complicated and simple at the same time !!! How is this possible ? Ask any leader and he will tell you. In a leadership position, you are constantly watched by the followers and sometimes that can make things very complicated for the leader but at the same time for a scupulous leader, it can be very simple.

A leader must be able to carry his followers along the path forward. For this, there is a simple and straightforward way. He must be exemplary in his actions. Look at His Divine Grave A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is extraordinary personality, but a closer look will reveal exemplary leadership qualities. The ability to unite people from all backgrounds and cultures and "build a house where the whole world could live" is no mean feat. There is no doubt that the underlying principle of Krishna Consciousness is the unifying factor. But it required a leader, an acharya in this case, to unite the whole world. An acharya is one who teaches by example. A great leader is also one who leads by example.

A good leader also has vision. When I say, I mean long-term vision. He must be able to see the bigger picture. Like Srila Prabhupada said "I always think big, I can only think that way." When we say think big, it means we are thinking of growth. Today, we are, say, 100 people. A good leader is one who thinks about the needs of a 1000 people already !!! Any manager can manage the existing 100, but it takes someone with vision to see the needs of a 1000 people when only 100 are present today. The leader's vision therefore dictates his mission as well. His mission will closely follow his vision. Therefore, mission without vision is just plain day-to-day management. A leader must think of the future while managing the present through delegation.

These are some of the thoughts for today. More later......

"Ambition-less"

jader pratishta, sukarer vistha,

jano na ki taha 'mayar vaibhava'

kanaka kamini, divasa yamini,

bhaviya ki kaja, anitya se saba

(Verse 2, Vaisnava Ke by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur)

TRANSLATION
(by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
My dear mind, why are you so proud of being a Vaisnava? Your solitary worship and chanting of the holy name of the Lord are based on a desire for cheap popularity, and therefore your chanting of the holy name is only a pretension. Such an ambition for a cheap reputation can be compared to the stool of a hog, because such popularity is another extension of the influence of maya.*

My dear mind, while making a show of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in a solitary place, you are simply meditating day and night about enjoying beautiful women and accumulating more wealth. What spiritual value does your solitary chanting have? On the pretext of performing solitary worship you are actually entangled in temporary material activities!

(second part of the verse translated by HH Jayapataka Swami)

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Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad was a "simha-guru". He was known for his strong preaching style. This verse is an example of how strong an Acharya can get. Note the use of words ' stool of a hog', considering the fact that the hog itself is a very unclean animal and stool of a hog represents a very very pitiable condition indeed.

In this connection, Srila Prabhupada's words are notable. Once in America, Srila Prabhupada was meeting the parents of a devotee. The father commented on the devotees' general lack of ambition. So, Srila Prabhupada said, "devotees do not have any ambition." One of his disciples considered this as a negative thing and tried to interject by saying, "it means devotees have no material ambitions." Srila Prabhupada immediately corrected him saying, "no, no, devotee has no ambition, either material or otherwise. He considers himself a lowly servant, thats all."

So, lets make the prayer to Lord Krishna to make us "ambition-less"

Control in Varnasrama dharma system

The members of the four divisions of human life, namely the brahmacari, the grhastha, the vanaprastha and the sannyasi, are all meant to become perfect yogis or transcendentalists. Since human life is not meant for our enjoying sense gratification like the animals, the four orders of human life are so arranged that one may become perfect in spiritual life. The brahmacaris, or students under the care of a bona fide spiritual master, control the mind by abstaining from sense gratification. A brahmacari hears only words concerning Krsna consciousness; hearing is the basic principle for understanding, and therefore the pure brahmacari engages fully in harer namanukirtanam—chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord. He restrains himself from the vibrations of material sounds, and his hearing is engaged in the transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. Similarly, the householders, who have some license for sense gratification, perform such acts with great restraint. Sex life, intoxication and meat-eating are general tendencies of human society, but a regulated householder does not indulge in unrestricted sex life and other sense gratification. Marriage on the principles of religious life is therefore current in all civilized human society because that is the way for restricted sex life. This restricted, unattached sex life is also a kind of yajna because the restricted householder sacrifices his general tendency toward sense gratification for higher, transcendental life. (BG 4.26 Purport)

About the mind and the senses.......

As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence. (Bhagavad Gita 2.67)

Srila Prabhupada says in the purport : "Unless all of the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, even one of them engaged in sense gratification can deviate the devotee from the path of transcendental advancement. As mentioned in the life of Maharaja Ambarisa, all of the senses must be engaged in Krsna consciousness, for that is the correct technique for controlling the mind. "

From the study guide by Bhurijana Prabhu : A mind surrendered to the urges of the senses carries away a man’s discrimination. His intelligence will thus be stolen by the unfavorable winds of his uncontrolled senses. The senses, however, once subdued, create favorable breezes.

Avoid the gravest danger........

Dusta mana ! tumi kiser vaisnava ?

Pratishtar tare, nirjaner ghare,

tava 'hari-nama' kevala kaitava

My dear mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you? Simply for false prestige and a material reputation you sit in a solitary place and pretend to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but this is all cheating.

"The method of controlling the mind is given in the Bhagavad-gita. This has been very systematically explained by the spiritual masters following Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The mind must be engaged in unmotivated and uninterrupted devotional service to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind should be absorbed in constantly meditating upon and serving the Lord's lotus-feet. Devotional service is the only real means to effectively control the mind.However, even experienced persons engaged in devotional service are sometimes misled by the subtle illusions seated in the mind. Therefore, Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura has kindly explained how one aspiring to advance along the path of Krsna consciousness should control his mind, and avoid the various traps of illusion that the untrained mind may fall into.The spirit soul guides the mind through the intelligence. The intelligence in turn is guided by the instructions of the spiritual master. Thus the intelligence can properly train the mind for making steady progress in Krsna consciousness. The mind must be made aware of the strict standards of pure devotional service. Once trained, the mind will not accept less than pure devotional service.The bhakti-yogé aspiring to advance in Krsna consciousness must always survey his mind to insure that it is not straying to some dangerous place off the Krsna conscious path. This constant care is essential as spiritual life is as sharp as a razor's edge. Even a slight deviation due to carelessness can place us in the gravest danger."

From "Vaisnava Ke"

A Bengali Poem by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupäda

with Verse Translation and Extensive Quotes from

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedänta Swami Prabhupäda

Founder-Äcärya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Verse Translation and Commentary by His Holiness Jayapatäka Swami

Yoga at the Speed of Light

Yoga at the Speed of Light
By Linda Johnsen
Courtesy & copyright Yoga International

It is amazing how much Western science has taught us. Today, for example, kids in grammar school learn that the sun is 93 million miles from the earth and that the speed of light is 186,000 miles per hours. Yoga may teach us about our Higher Self, but it can't supply this kind of information about physics or astronomy.Or can it?

Professor Subhash Kak of Louisiana State University recently called my attention to a remarkable statement by Sayana, a fourteenth century Indian scholar. In his commentary on a hymn in the Rig Veda, the oldest and perhaps most mystical text ever composed in India, Sayana has this to say: "With deep respect, I bow to the sun, who travels 2,202 yojanas in half a nimesha."A yojana is about nine American miles; a nimesha is 16/75 of a second.Mathematically challenged readers, get out your calculators!

2,202 yojanas x 9 miles x 75 - 8 nimeshas = 185,794 m.p.s.

Basically, Sayana is saying that sunlight travels at 186,000 miles per second! How could a Vedic scholar who died in 1387 A.D. have known the correct figure for the speed of light? If this was just a wild guess it's the most amazing coincidence in the history of science!

Gajendra's prayers

" Since an animal such as I has surrendered unto You, who are supremely liberated, certainly You will release me from this dangerous position. Indeed, being extremely merciful, You incessantly try to deliver me. By your partial feature as Paramätmä, You are situated in the hearts of all embodied beings. You are celebrated as direct transcendental knowledge, and You are unlimited. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 3, Verse 17 - Gajendra's prayers of surrender)

...then your Guru Maharaja will be glorified."

You can eulogize your Guru Maharaja, but you have to learn it and face the public and be strong to defend yourself. That is success, not by praising your Guru Maharaja. You'll praise your Guru Maharaja. That is not very difficult. But be victorious to the opposing elements. Then you'll praise your Guru Maharaja best. At home you can praise your Guru Maharaja, and Guru Maharaja be satisfied, 'Oh, my disciples are praising me.' That is good, respectful. That is the qualification. But you have to fight. Then your Guru Maharaja will be glorified." (Srila Prabhupada to Harikesa)

from " A Transcendental Diary Vol. 1" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu

"If You Just Read this One Book"

Entering Srila Prabhupäda's quarters was always an enlightening experience. Sometimes Srila Prabhupäda sat and read his books. Whenever he read, it seemed as if someone else had written his books because he didn't read with the mind of an author looking for editing mistakes or grammatical errors. He read them with the relish of a pure devotee reading the pastimes of the Supreme Lord to whom he was completely attached.One day, I went into Srila Prabhupäda’s room to perform my duties. He was reading Bhagavad-Gitä As It Is. After offering my obeisances, he looked at me and said, "If you just read this one book and understand, you will become Krsna Conscious in this very life."

A few months later when I went into his room, he was reading Nectar of Devotion. He looked at me and said, "This book is so nice. Just by reading this one book you can become Krsna Conscious." Srila Prabhupäda taught us by his example. He did everything that he asked of us. He requested us to read his books, so he read them, too.

From "Srila Prabhupada Uvaca" by HG Srutakirti Prabhu