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What is essential anyway?By Niscala Dasi There are many things which we aspire for and even worship, which have no intrinsic value. They have value inasmuch as they are attached to values, and thus can serve perverted or promoting aims. What is essential anyway?What is essential anyway? By Niscala Dasi There are many things which we aspire for and even worship, which have no intrinsic value. They have value inasmuch as they are attached to values, and thus can serve perverted or promoting aims. Thus, though they have no value, they have a use. These things which we attach value to, are actually tools for values to be attached to. For example, a knife is neither good nor evil, but can be used for good or evil. It has a use, but no value. What is it that we worship as human beings that is essentially without value, but is merely a tool? Intelligence is in this category, as is its effect- knowledge. Wealth, also. Fame. Beauty, definitely. Strength, physical and psychological. All these desirable things have been used to further human happiness and evolution, or to retard it. And yet, though they are essentially valueless, we strive for these things and worship people that have them, whom we call “celebrities”. Am I going too far when I say that we worship them? In the temples of India, people line up to get a glimpse of the Lord in His deity form-similarly people will line up to get a glimpse of their favorite celebrity. In the scriptures of India, God Who is known as Bhagavan, is defined as one who possesses unlimited wealth, strength, fame, knowledge, beauty and renunciation- the qualities of a celebrity exactly (maybe without the renunciation bit, though they do seem to change partners often…) So what people are mad after, are the qualities of God, yet the qualities themselves are neither good nor evil- they are neutral. They can be used for good or for evil. Does it not make more sense to strive not for that which is neutral, merely a tool, but for the values themselves which can turn the tool into something of value? What is the use of a nutcracker when all one has to crack is stones? Only attached to an edible nut, does the nutcracker have value, indeed it is foolish to try to design a nutcracker if there are no nut trees! Similarly, it is foolish to try to acquire knowledge, wealth or fame, unless one has a good reason to acquire them. When added to such values as kindness, empathy, forgiveness, tolerance, the respect for all life, and love, in short when attached to the striving towards the well-being and evolution of all things, these tools have value. That is what the sastra refers to as the mode of goodness or sattva guna- those values that end in happiness. When attached to self-centered values, the striving toward happiness at the cost of others, such as the desire for power, prestige and influence, these values give a temporary sense of happiness only, which quickly dissipates in the loneliness of self-centeredness. That is what the sastra refers to as the mode of passion, rajo-guna. When attached to evil propensities, the striving towards the destruction of self and society, these tools are extremely dangerous- they are the values of the lowest mode, tamas, which ends only in misery and madness. Hitler thus misused his fame. Openheimer, his intelligence. President Bush, his wealth. Many a psychopath has misused physical and/or psychological strengths. Women- and men- can misuse beauty to destroy themselves in the market of prostitution. We have a tendency, despite all that, to worship not values, but tools, and we strive our whole lives to acquire them. This is the foolishness of a society obsessed with nutcrackers without access to nuts, or to keyboard and mouse designs, who have no interest in getting a CPU, or to wires and electrical tape, who have no interest in getting an electricity supply. We are not mad, but our obsession goes beyond reason- it is an obsession of the heart for God- for we are craving His qualities exactly. To this natural obsession, God gives wise counsel- add to it the values that ensure our own good- and thus pervading every revealed word of God, the message to develop kindness, empathy, forgiveness, etc, is echoed… When we began to divorce religion from education, we lost what was essential to the survival of the human race. The mad race for tools was then on, without any guidance as to how best to use them, for the guide books for our survival were reduced to quaint myths in the minds of men. In ancient Vedic times, only to those who had developed the values conducive to happiness and growth- the sattvic qualities- was higher education an option. Now it is a legal necessity- for all- and also a legal necessity that no revealed word of God be taught, in the name of secularism. Now we have come to the utter insanity of creating nutcrackers en masse, while all nut trees and books on how to grow them, are banished. The revealed word of God describes certain values- or things to be attained which are inherently valuable. Yet these revelations themselves can be used as tools and manipulated according to the whim of the believer. When religion is separated from its essential values, it becomes a tool- a thing of vice in the hands of a vicious person, a thing of virtue in hands of the virtuous. This, we have seen in the course of history. Religion’s Essence But it may be asked that if religion is nothing but essential values, then how can it be separated from the same? How can goodness become neutral, or to put it another way, how can an active principle embodying goodness, become a passive principle of neutrality, and thus be used for destructive purposes? This happens when something is separated from its essence. Returning to our example, a nut is essentially a food, which is life giving, but it can be stuffed into the trachea and inhibit breathing, causing death. Food and the values of religion are life-giving, but separated from their function, they lose value and are reduced to tools, passive utilities for an active principle which may be antagonistic. Thus so much viciousness has come about from religion -which is supposed to embody values that are good for all of God’s creation. Therefore, in the Bhagavad gita, even religion is described as within the categories of goodness (sattva), passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas) (Bg 17th chapter) . Everything is influenced by these modes of nature to elevate, stagnate or deteriorate the human condition, but Krishna declares throughout all these changes the modes alone are active- everything else is in a passive tool-like state (Bg 14.19, 14.22-25) Is Religion essential, anyway? Then it may be asked “if religion is not essentially valuable, if it is no more than a passive tool, then why have it at all? Why not just separate out its essence, the values therein, and throw out the rest? Is not a person who is kind, generous, open and loving, a religious person, anyway?” Indeed, in the sastra, the platform of God consciousness is called suddha sattva- all these principles in their pure state. When a person is good only for the sake of being good, kind only for the sake of being kind, etc that is purity of principle, or the principle of goodness in a fully activated condition. The problem is- where is such a perfect person to be found? We all have the tendency to less than fully embody the values we strive towards- thus we see, so often, youthful idealism later on frustrated by the defeat and hopelessness of realizing one’s limits. The usual response of the individual is to then return to mediocrity and be happy to blend with the crowd… by his middle age, the striving is over, or replaced with endeavour that is separate from idealistic perfection…most people striving for tools of neutrality, such as wealth… How did this happen, this tragic accident on the royal road to perfection? The mistake is very subtle….If one sees oneself as the source of the values of love and empathy, for example…if one is being loving and caring because one identifies oneself as a loving and caring person, one will always be disappointed by one’s limits. Furthermore, that limit is even more limited, because the values are being used by the ego to boost up one’s sense of worth, they are being used as tools, though on a very subtle level. On the other hand, if one sees the Lord as their source, and oneself as a mere conduit, one is humbled to be touched thus by the Lord, and whatever one can do, is proof of His mercy. One feels not oneself to be loving and caring, but that the love and care of the Lord is so overwhelming that it can flow through any channel, however limited it may be…in this way one naturally avoids using religion as a tool- rather one is a tool for the active principle of religion to flow through. Thus, the gita recommends values be suffused with devotion that is without expectation of reward from God or man. For example, trying to be tolerant for the sake of being tolerant, means that one does so only because one values that value, and wants to mould one’s life around it. One does not want to use it for a tool, for recognition or whatever, but essentialize it, internalize it, and live it. Doing so, brings one into the light of God, as He Himself declares in the Bhagavad gita that one who internalizes such attributes is very dear to Him. (Bg 12.13-20) This process is naturally joyful, because the Lord in one’s heart Who witnesses everything, all one’s innermost thoughts, actions and motivations, is pleased by that striving, and, like a lover, will ignore any of its faults. This helps the devotee overcome the hopelessness of his limits, and thus there is reassurance and delight from within, which ensures that he will not fall from the process. Of the Lord, for the Lord… So in terms of tools, religion must not be separated from its function which is to please the Lord. In its lowest form, in the mode of ignorance, religion is used to destroy people- physically through jihads and crusades, or psychologically through guilt-tripping, damning and judging (Bg. 17.19). In its stagnating form, the mode of passion, it is used to augment one’s ego- one wants to be perceived as a great and holy person, and thus be admired by all (Bg 17.18). In its purest form, it is used to help people evolve- and this is when religion’s values are internalized, lived, not used as a tool of manipulation or falsity of ego (Bg 17.17) Religion is then very close to fulfilling its purpose, and to a certain extent it does so, for being used in this way, it is very pleasing to the Lord. But when it is consciously used to serve the Lord, knowing the Lord to be the source of all goodness, empathy, kindness, equality of vision etc- when thus kept, in its pure form, only for the pure purpose of pleasing the Lord, Who dwells in all hearts as the witness, it has become stripped of all that covers it and regains its very essence. On the theory of evolution - Science and ReligionBy Dr. J. Chakrabarty, The concept of evolution of species, generally attributed to Charles Darwin, actually had its origin thousands of years ago in ancient India, and formed the basis of the illuminating philosophy of the Vedas. Sri Ksetra Parikrama 09 - Days 1,2 and 3By Bhaktisiddhanta Swami The 1st day of the Sri Ksetra Parikrama has been completed. Over 6000 devotees from all over India have joined in this annual event, the culmination of kartika vratas to recieve the mercy of Lord Jaganatha and His devotees. Sri Ksetra Parikrama 09 - Days 1,2 and 398 Views / EMail This Post / Print This Post / Home » Sri Ksetra Parikrama 09 - Days 1,2 and 3
By Bhaktisiddhanta Swami (Mayapur - IN) Dear Respected Vaisnavas, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The 1st day of the Sri Ksetra Parikrama has been completed. Over 6000 devotees from all over India have joined in this annual event, the culmination of kartika vratas to recieve the mercy of Lord Jaganatha and His devotees. Visiting seniors were Naveyogendra Swami, Kavicandra Swami, Bhakti Purusottama Swami, Gauranga Prema Swami, Gaura Narayana Swami, Bhaktisiddhanta Swami, Dinabandu and Devakinandana Prabhu’s. A maha Harinama sankirtan procession went to the Bali sahi, temple South gate of the Jaganatha temple, then to the West gate, then onward to Markendeya sarorava, where Markendeya presently resides, worshipping one of the five Siva’s who protect Puri dhama. Then a return was made to the Grand road, which Lord Jagannatha travels on annually, the same path where Sri Caitanya Himself danced during the Rathayatra pastimes. At Jagannatha Vallabha gardens, where Lord Caitanya bestowed His mercy on King Prataparudra, a pandal was placed and added plastic tarps were spontaneously pulled over the jungle vegetation to facilitate more sitting room for the pilgrims, discussion and drama followed, along with prasadam. Translation was done in Orrissan, Bengali, Hindi and English. Then the party went past the front gate to the Jagannath temple to Narendra Sarorava, or Chandan Sarorava; Here chandan yatra begins every year and this is where Mahaprabhu would sent garlands to the visiting devotees from Bengal, especially Lord Nityananda and Advaita Acarya and the Rathayatra kirtan would always begin at this very spot. Later further pandal programs followed with discussion and evening cultural programs. Tomorrow we will go to Tota Gopinatha, the Gambira, and Sweta Ganga. All glories to Sri Jagannatha! All glories to Sri Ksetra Dhama! Your servants on yatra —————– Dear Respected Vaisnavas. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! On day two of the Sri Ksetra Puri Parikrama, the yatra went to Tota Gopinatha temple and a stage was set up at the Purusottam Math(cataka parvat). Here the speakers like HH Naveyogendra Swami and HH Gauranga Prema Swami spoke on the significance of this place. They described the glories of Gadhadhara Pandit, his intimate relation with this deity, especially as an expansion of Sri Radha, his ksetra sannyasa, and loving argument with Sri Caitnaya. This deity from of the Lord is so merciful to reciprocate with His dear devotee, that to cater to the needs of his elder sevak, sat down in order to make the pujas easier. It is said that when Mahaprabhu left this world, that he entered the crack in the knee of this Lord. A wonderful drama followed with kirtan as Gadadhara offered bhoga, and Nityananda, the avadhut, and Lord Caitanya came to honor the feast. The prasadam was then distributed to the crowd on leaf plates from the surrounding trees. Then the procession went to Siddhabakula, where Lord Caitanya would chant along with Haridas Thakur. The siddhabakula tree had many decorative prayer offerings tied to the tree. It is here that Lord Caitanya after brushing his teeth with a twig placed it into the ground and then it manifested as giant bakula tree. Later the king cut the tree for to carve the Jagannath deities, when he returned the following day to finish the work the tree had changed its branches into mangled forms making the tree no longer suitable to be carved for deities. Then Sweta Ganga, where Ganga Mata Goswami, a great devotee of Jaganatha lived in her pujas. This place is non different to the Ganga. Behind is the residence of Sarvabauma Battacarya, the Vedantist logician, who brought Mahaprabhu after his swoon in the Jaganatha Mandir to this house and whose lofty scholarship was replaced by ‘bhakti’ by the grace of the Lord. The afternoon highlight was the Gambira with its high ceiling, ancient floor and bold Orissan architecture and here of course is where Sri Krsna Caitanya stayed in the 18 years of never leaving Puri. Many smaller groups of the yatris would come by with their kirtan offerings and to relish the needed intimacy of this place. So many lilas happened here where Mahaprabhu would have intimate talks with his confidantes and exhibit symptoms of mahabhava, scraping his head against the inner walls or just mysteriously disappearing to be found later unconscious outside the Jagannatha temple gates. Tomorrow is the Sri Ksetra Parikrama. The Vaisnava acaryas declare that parikrama done on this tithi around Purusottama Ksetra, is equal to all the merits of all the vratas of caturmasya and Kartikka. Lokanatha Swami, who is supposed to arrive tomorrow said last year that ” This is the mercy of Lord Jagannatha, that the one week parikrama in Mayapur and the one month parikrama in Braja is equal to this 19 kilometer done on this day”.(advertisement you all for next year) your servants on Yatra Sri Ksetra Parikrama ki jaya! ———————– Dear Respected Vaisnavas Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada Today was the Sri Ksetra parikrama, a total of 19 kilometers. Lokanatha Swami, Bhakti Purusottama Swami, Gauranga Prema Swami, Bhakti Marga Swami, Dinabandu and Devakinandan came for the sankalpa at 7 am. Musical accompaniment resounded under light clouds and sun with pounding surf in the background. Two horses and camels, local mascots of the beach arena, led the procession. Kirtan resounded throughout the course with 2 sets of mobile speakers which were brought by ricksha throughout the waving pathway in the spiritual land of Puri, majestic forest and jungle, small temples, and home dwellings with the dhamavasi residents chanting “Jaya Jagannatha, Jaya Jagannatha”. Periodically one could see the Jagannatha temple and the chakra at the top which is seen as non different from the deity form. The final leg of the parikrama was on the ocean, a unique work out of breaking waves, approaching water, and wet soft sand. Certainly this Purusottama Ksetra, the abode of Lord Jagannatha has a special uniqueness combining a variety of visual delights, a must visit to appreciate the variety between the three dhamas. Even with so many devotees, by the mercy of Lord, there was no real congestion, please join us next year. Sri Ksetra Parikrama Ki Jaya Sri Purusottama Dhama Ki Jaya Your servants on Yatra Holy cow, what's Chrissie's beef?Damian Whitworth: The Pretenders' lead singer is back on the milk run, explaining why dairy cattle should be at the centre of all our lives Devotee’s Nature’s IQ named Finalist in 2009 Book AwardsDharmasetu das: USABookNews. com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL "BEST BOOKS" 2009 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2009. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Devotee’s Nature’s IQ named Finalist in 2009 Book AwardsDevotee's Nature's IQ named Finalist in 2009 Book Awards
Nature’s IQ : Award-Winning Finalist Badger, CA – USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2009 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2009. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Torchlight Publishing’s Nature’s IQ - Extraordinary Animal Behaviors that Defy Evolutionwas chosen as one of the two Finalists in the Science category. Nature’s IQ confronts us with many wonders of nature that Darwinists fail to explain in any strictly scientific fashion. Using 200 breathtaking color photos that rival the work of seasoned photographers from National Geographic and Discovery, Nature’s IQ cites over 100 behavioral phenomena from the animal kingdom that are unexplainable by evolution. The authors of Nature’s IQ, Isvara Krishna das and Bhagavata Priya das, reveal a pivotal flaw in Darwin’s theory: Scientists conclude that the principal source of variety in living organisms resides in their genes. Change in physical form and behavior is thus rooted in the genes. Genetic But to this day, scientists are unable to specify the exact series of genetic changes necessary to produce the marvelously complex organic structures and behavior. Complex behaviors involve many steps, linked in specific sequences. Without all the parts of the behavior being present in proper sequence, the behavior could not be executed. One can thus say that biological form and biological behavior can be irreducibly complex. This means these behaviors could not have arisen in the step by step fashion that evolution requires. Nature’s IQ invites you to investigate an alternative explanation and the possibility that a supernatural intelligence has applied its own infinite genius to create living beings and the world around us. ### For more information go to www.naturesiq.com, www.torchlight.com and the November/December issue of Back to Godhead magazine More Recent Articles |
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