Pensamiento-del-dia
Sankarshana Das Adhikari
An Appeal for Your Help
On the order of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Sankarshan Prabhu has dedicated his life for the most urgent work of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. The more that Krishna consciousness spreads, the more that the suffering, scarcity, and hate on this planet will be replaced with bliss, abundance and love. This is a golden opportunity for us to do the highest good for all living beings and receive the special blessings of the Lord. Therefore we should, as much as possible, sacrifice our time, energy, and resources to assist Sankarshan Prabhu in his most important work. If you would like to help out to any extent, little or big, kindly inform Sankarshan Prabhu of your desire.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
from Tartu, Estonia
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Today's Thought:
Heading to Tartu to Give the Highest Happiness
Today after three super ecstatic days of sharing the secrets of the ultimate self-realization science here in Tallinn, Estonia we are heading out to Tartu, Estonia's second largest city, where I will be giving a widely advertised lecture entitled "Simple Living and High Thinking" at the public library. One of the things I love the most about Krishna consciousness is that it gives me the opportunity to do the highest good for so many people. The more that people can become trained up in this science, the more that they will become peaceful and happy. There is truly no greater satisfaction than giving the highest happiness to so many people. Indeed the entire world can be transformed into a paradise by the wide scale introduction of the Krishna consciousness science.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Churning the Ocean of Nectar
Tallinn, Estonia--28 March 2010
Question: Self Development vs. Self Realization
Before becoming Krishna conscious I attended a self-development course where you learn to connect with your inner self and reveal your unique powers such as being a psychic in order to help other people. At that time it was called Silva Ultra Mind ESP. They teach us these powers to change our bad karma into good karma and to change our negative perspective upon our past, present and future to a positive one. But also to change the life of others in a positive direction. It's mostly focused upon helping others. All this happens through silent meditation where you connect with your inner self and ask for guidance.
They say that when you connect with your inner self you can travel within any planet, universe or galaxy as you like, but only if it is for the benefit of others. They don't believe in God but believe that their powers are given by a higher intelligence. The thing is that they are really good people, and what they teach actually works! They have helped many, many people with depression, to stop using drugs etc.
When I met them again I wanted to share Krishna with them, trying to tell about self-realization, which is transcendental to self-development. But they challenged by saying it's all the same, all for a greater good. I got bewildered. But I know there's nothing higher than loving and serving Krishna. So I ask you to clarify a few things for me.
What's the true difference between self-development and self-realization? Is there a difference? Is self-development in their perspective transcendental? Why is self-realization better than self-development? Is this kind of self-realization a sort of impersonalism without belief in God?
I believe that many find special powers and love (void) to be the highest platform of spirituality. But how can we tell people about the most perfect kind of love which is to love and serve Lord Krishna? How can I tell about Him so that others will understand?
I.K.
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Answer: Without Knowing the Self How Can One Develop It?
We have never seen something impersonal that possesses intelligence. For example, do we have any experience of an intelligent rock? So their idea that there is higher intelligence without a higher level being to possess it is fallacious. Since the philosophical foundation of their system is fallacious we seriously doubt how much permanent value we can gain from their so-called self development system.
There are many counselors and therapists who can advise someone how to have a more cheerful outlook on life and how to become free from drugs. But practically no one is teaching how to become liberated from the cycle of birth and death. This is what distinguishes the genuine self-realization system from the many so-called self development systems that are popularly being marketed to the general population nowadays. It is foolish to spend one's energy on temporary relief when one can get permanent relief instead by becoming perfect in self-realization.
Unless one realizes the actual identity of the self as the eternal spirit-soul servant of God he cannot realize or develop the self. One may develop ones mind, body, or financial status. But without knowledge of the actual self there is no actual self realization or self development and no permanent relief from the miseries of material existence.
Love is not void. Have you ever tried to love a void? Real love exists between two persons. And the supreme love is experienced in a loving relationship with the Supreme Person.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Tallinn, Estonia
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Today's Thought:
Take Control of Your Life
There are certain things we have no control over such as birth, death, old age, and disease. But there are other things that we have complete control over such as where we place our consciousness at every minute. There is no sense being frustrated over things we cannot control. These things we must simply learn how to tolerate. But in regards to those things that we do have control over, if we take complete mastery over them under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master, we will attain the platform of unlimited happiness, pure Krishna bhakti.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Explaining the Supreme Science
of Reconnecting with the Origin of Existence
Tallinn, Estonia--28 March 2010
Question: Sinful and Pure Chanters
I am very happy that you have given me the meaning of pure devotional service. Thank you very much.
I want to know about the verse in which Lord Krishna says that He will destroy all our sins if we completely surrender to Him and chant His name. There may be two persons. One person keeps on remembering Krishna's name but also sins intentionally. Will that person be liberated by Lord Krishna? And the second is he who does not do any sin intentionally and chants Krishna's name. What is the difference between these two persons?
Ruchika
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Answer: Pure Chanting is Required
Krishna says that He delivers those who fully surrender to Him. He does not say that He delivers those who commit sins on the strength of chanting Hare Krishna. Those who sin intentionally and chant for trying to be relieved from the reactions to their sins are the greatest offenders against the holy name and will not be delivered.
Of those who do not sin intentionally there are two categories. One category is those who chant but unintentionally sin due to past bad habits. Krishna says that one who unintentionally sins but again seriously resumes chanting and serving is to be considered saintly. The other category is the chanter who is completely free from all sin. He is the best of the devotees and will surely be swiftly delivered by the Lord.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Tallinn, Estonia
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Today's Thought:
Proper Understanding of Religion
Philosopher Sam Harris says that we should ditch religion, that we should abandon it. The problem with these atheists and even many theists is that they do not understand the real meaning of religion. They do not understand religion as the science of reconnecting oneself with the source of one's existence. Whether we are theists or atheists we all come from the same origin. Just as a light bulb has no value when it is not connected with the electrical powerhouse, our situation becomes problematic both individually and collectively when we are not connected in a harmonious relationship with our origin. When religion is properly understood in this way as reconnecting with our origin everyone will naturally agree to practice religion because religion simply boils down to being your original, natural self. After all, who would want to be in a discombobulated state of consciousness when they can instead be in a blissful, loving, enlightened state of perfect harmony with the source of all existence and with all of existence?
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
After a Cold, Dark, Icy Cruise Across the Gulf of Finland..
(view from ship window of ice in the water)
An Ecstatic Warm Arrival--27 March 2010
Tallinn, Estonia
Question: Does Buddhism Contradict Krishna Consciousness?
Are there contradictions between the teachings of Buddhism and the teachings in Krishna Consciousness? If yes, why?
Sunil
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Answer: Only Superficially
Although Lord Buddha, as was predicted in the Srimad Bhagavatam long before his advent, was an incarnation of Lord Krishna, he taught a philosophy that was opposed to the teachings of Lord Krishna. Because the people of his day were using a misinterpretation of the Vedic literatures to justify cow slaughter, Lord Buddha denied the Vedas and the existence of God altogether and taught the principles of karma and non-violence teaching the people to follow him instead of the Vedas. This was a temporary teaching for the purpose of freeing the people from the heinous sin of cow killing so that later on they could be brought back to the full and proper understanding of Lord Krishna's teachings. So although there is a difference between the teachings of Lord Krishna and Lord Buddha, the ultimate purpose of both of them is the same, to bring the conditioned soul to complete surrender at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Brussels, Belgium
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Today's Thought:
On the Road to Eastern Europe
27 March 2010--After a few wonderful days in which I shared the amazing science of Krishna bhakti in Belgium at Radhadesh giving some Srimad Bhagavatam classes and a six session course on uttama bhakti, pure devotional service, we are now heading today via Brussels and Helsinki to the Baltic region of eastern Europe. One of the the amazing things about this transcendental science is that it has the potency to transport those who present it, hear it, or read about it with devotion into the transcendental existence far beyond the realm of time and space. To what degree one factually experiences this is dependent on one's degree of devotion. Therefore it behooves the devotee to always strive for the topmost degree of devotion in all of his thoughts, words, and deeds in all times, places, and circumstances.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: When Did Krishna Walk on the Earth?
I wonder when did Krishna walk on the earth. Because one can say based on the guru parampara you shared with us that He must have walked on the earth some 2000 years ago (33 gurus x 60 years life span).
Ankush
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Answer: 5,000 Years Ago
Krishna was present on this planet 5,000 years ago. You don't need to calculate our disciplic succession with each guru having a 60 years life span because some of the gurus such as Vedavyasa have life spans of hundreds and even thousands of years. In this way our guru parampara or disciplic succession easily spans many thousands of years.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Radhadesh, Belgium
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Today's Thought:
Serving Guru's Order
The life and soul of the disciple is to faithfully obey the orders that he has received from his spiritual master. Sometimes I am criticized that I am accepting disciples. But what can I do? My spiritual master instructed that I should be doing this. So who should I put my faith in: my spiritual master or those who tell me that I should not obey my spiritual master? The answer to this question is given as follows in the Vedic wisdom:
yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
"Only unto those great souls who simultaneously have unflinching faith in both the Lord
and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed."
--Svetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23
yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
"Only unto those great souls who simultaneously have unflinching faith in both the Lord
and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed."
--Svetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23
So the answer is clear. I must obey my spiritual master, not those who tell me to disobey my spiritual master.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Why So Many Temples?
My question is very simple. If God is everywhere, why do we have so many temples?
Maitreya
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Answer: To Celebrate God's Omnipresence
Since God is everywhere there should be temples everywhere celebrating his omnipresence. Some philosophers say that it is wrong to worship God in the temple since He is everywhere. But if He is everywhere, He is also present in the temple. So how can they deny His presence in the temple? This does not make any sense.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Radhadesh, Belgium
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Today's Thought:
Illuminate the Entire Universe
We may have a first class lamp. But if it is unplugged, it will not be able to function properly. When, however, it is plugged in it will function very nicely and provide nice illumination for an entire room. Now at the present moment in this material existence we have full facility for the peace and prosperity of every single living being throughout the entire universe. Why then are we besieged by an ever-increasing plethora of perplexities? The answer is simple. We are not plugged with the power house, the ultimate source of all energies, the Absolute Truth. The process of pure devotional is the authorized system given in the Bhagavad-gita by the Supreme Absolute Truth Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. If we can plug in, the entire universe will become illuminated with spiritual bliss and all living beings will live in perfect peace an prosperity.
When will the politicians wake up and take notice of these simple truths, that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we are his eternal servants?
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
ISKCON Radhadesh, Belgium
Question: Who Continues the Disciplic Succession?
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Good preaching your doing. You were always doing like this ever since I remember years ago in Austin, Texas. There is one thing I noticed, and I would like to discuss this point. You leave the disciplic succession a bit nebulous and it appears you consider all the disciples to continue the parampara. This is not true and not even logical. Can you explain more clearly who you mean exactly who continues the disciplic line and then I will share my understanding.
Thanks, Hare Krishna,
Gaurahari das
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Answer: Disciples Who Are Strictly Following
It is very nice to hear from a well-wisher such as your good self. Thank you very much for your sincere appreciation of my humble attempt to serve the orders of our most beloved Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Regarding your confusion about why I listed Srila Prabhupada's disciples as the next in the line of disciplic succession after him, I did this because Srila Prabhupada explicitly stated at an arrival lecture in Los Angeles, that we, his disciples, are the next in the line of disciplic succession after him. This statement of course is qualified by his other statements limiting becoming guru to those of his disciples who are strictly following him and who are mature in Krishna consciousness.
So this means that while Srila Prabhupada's disciples are the next in the line of succession after him, it is not necessarily that all of them are. Their becoming gurus depends on their individual strictness and maturity. But of course, it could be all, if all them strictly follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions. This would be ideal.
At the present moment of those who are strictly following Srila Prabhupada there are about 80 of his disciples who have chosen to accept disciples. As I have do not have a list that I can be sure is 100% accurate I have described position 33 in the disciplic succession generally as "Disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON are a branch on the Caitanya tree. And just as a branch on a tree can have many, many sub-branches, the Srila Prabhupada/ISKCON branch of the Caitanya tree can have many, many sub-branches for expanding unlimitedly the disciplic succession coming from Lord Caitanya.
I sincerely hope this has cleared up any confusion. Feel free to write to inquire from me further if you require more clarification.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Radhadesh, Belgium
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Today's Thought:
The Ultimate Nectar
There is no doubt about it. Not only is pure devotional service the ultimate nectar. It is also the only nectar. These word may seem exaggerated or fanatical. But for someone who has actually fully tasted the ultimate nectar of pure devotional service they are a scientific reality. If you want to verify the truth or untruth of what I am saying, there is only way to do that. You have to experience first hand what is pure devotional service. And then you will know for sure. I am teaching a two day mini-course on pure devotional service here in Radhadesh. You are welcome to tune into our live stream at the link below.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Special Announcement
Live Video Broadcast of Uttama Bhakti Course
An In Depth Study of Pure Devotional Service
Taught in Radhadesh, Belgium
by Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Class Schedule:
Thursday 25 March
10:30 am to 12:00 noon
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Friday 26 March
10:30 am to 12:00 noon
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bhaktivedanta-college
Live Video Broadcast of Uttama Bhakti Course
An In Depth Study of Pure Devotional Service
Taught in Radhadesh, Belgium
by Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Class Schedule:
Thursday 25 March
10:30 am to 12:00 noon
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Friday 26 March
10:30 am to 12:00 noon
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bhaktivedanta-college
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Confused by Two Views
Dear Maharaja,
Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I refer to yesterday's question in "Thought for the Day" in which you answered by giving a list of our disciplic succession beginning with Krishna right down to the disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recently I visited a big temple on a hill here in Bangalore, India which claims to be part of your ISKCON movement. The brahmacaris there were giving me a totally different view on the Guru Parampara system. They were saying the Guru Parampara, the line of disciplic succession, has stopped with Srila Prabhupada. I, being a neophyte, have gotten totally confused with two conflicting views within ISKCON. Can you please clear my doubts?
Your servant,
Sridhar
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Answer: No Confusion with Srila Prabhupada
Regarding this most important point of disciplic succession, there are not two differing views within ISKCON because Srila Prabhupada has clearly given us the proper understanding. The temple you visited is not a part of ISKCON, although they falsely claim themselves to be. What they told you, that Srila Prabhupada does not want his disciples to carry on the disciplic succession after his disappearance, is not true. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly instructed his disciples regarding their duty to carry on the disciplic succession. For example in Los Angeles on 18 May 1972 in an arrival lecture Srila Prabhupada stated:
"So we have got this message from Krishna, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, from the six Goswamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura. And we are trying our bit also to distribute this knowledge. Now, tenth, eleventh, twelfth. My Guru Maharaja is tenth from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I am eleventh, you are the twelfth. So distribute this knowledge."
Srila Prabhupada never states anywhere in his writings that he will be the last spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession. Indeed he clearly states in his purport to the Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.43 as follows:
"One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master."
If something is clearly and repeatedly stated by Srila Prabhupada there should be no confusion. But due to the influence of the age of Kali when great acharyas depart from this world we see that often times confusion arises because of peoples' material motives. Therefore Srila Prabhupada has cautioned us as follows in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.48:
"The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him. The acharya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acharya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master."
So kindly do not be confused by those who are confused. If you will directly read and carefully follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, you will be completely free of confusion and you will become qualified to see God face to face, eye to eye.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Radhadesh, Belguim
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Today's Thought:
Conquering Depression
There is no reason to be depressed or to psychologically punish ourselves for our faults. Such depression is simply another way of diverting our attention away from God and placing it on ourselves. Spiritual life is a positive redirection of the consciousness towards the Supreme Person, Krishna or God. Depression, which is directed towards ourselves instead of God, is therefore material, not spiritual.
So how does one who has trapped in a depression syndrome escape? The simple solution is to remember that simply by calling the names of the Lord with love one becomes freed from more sins that he is capable of committing in millions of lifetimes. Instead of being concerned with one's own happiness and distress, one should think instead of pleasing the Supreme Person by all one's thoughts, words, and deeds in all times, places, and circumstances. As soon we take our attention away from our own happiness and distress by being concerned instead of always being pleasing to the Lord, we will see that our depression has vanished and that we are swimming constantly in an ocean of transcendental bliss.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Gurus' Names in Our Disciplic Succession
I would like to know the names of the spiritual masters in our guru parampara, our line of disciplic succession.
Selvi
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Answer: Here's the List
Our guru parampara or line of disciplic succession begins with Krishna Himself and is as follows:
1. Krishna
2. Brahma
3. Narada
4. Vyasa
5. Madhva
6. Padmanabha
7. Nrihari
8. Madhava
9. Aksobhya
10. Jaya Tirtha
11. Jnanasindhu
12. Dayanidhi
13. Vidyanidhi
14. Rajendra
15. Jayadharma
16. Purusottama
17. Brahmanya Tirtha
18. Vyasa Tirtha
19. Laksmipati
20. Madhavendra Puri
21. Isvara Puri, (Nityananda, Advaita)
22. Lord Caitanya
23. Rupa, (Svarupa, Sanatana)
24. Raghunatha, Jiva
25. Krishna dasa
26. Narottama das
27. Visvanatha
28. (Baladeva) Jagannatha
29. Bhaktivinoda Thakur
30. Gaurakisora das Babaji
31. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur
32. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
33. Disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that we must approach a spiritual master to be enlightened in the science of God. Therefore if we are at all serious about realizing God we must accept a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession beginning with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from London, England
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Today's Thought:
The Supreme Fun
The supreme fun is to realize who you are and revolutionize the universe. This ultimate happiness is what has been bestowed us by the combined mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. I cannot think of any other life that is more worth living. Everywhere we go we should always be planting the seeds of spiritual revolution on behalf of the great predecessor acharyas. In this way we will always be swimming in the unlimitedly nectarean ocean of their mercy. Once we fully taste this nectar of bhakti bliss, no taste of this material world can ever attract us again.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Planting the Seeds of Spiritual Revolution
London, England--21 March 2010
Question: Worship and Pure Devotional Service
Thank you for the answer to my previous query. I want to know what is the difference between worship and pure devotional service.
Ruchika
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Answer: Worship is One of the Items
There are nine ways to render pure devotional service to the Lord:
1. Hearing about the Lord
2. Chanting the glories of the Lord
3. Remembering the Lord
4. Serving the Lord
5. Worshiping the Lord
6. Praying to the Lord
7. Obeying the Lord
8. Maintaining friendship with the Lord
9. Surrendering everything to the Lord
So as you can see, worshiping is one of the nine different ways to render pure devotional service to the Lord. If we can perfect any one of the nine items, our spiritual lives will be successful. In this age, the first two items, hearing and chanting, are the most essential.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from London, England
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Today's Thought:
Trying to Revolutionize the Planet
I cannot think of any more wonderful and fulfilling life than trying to completely revolutionize this planet under the guidance and blessings of the most empowered Vaisnava acharya in history, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. If he were physically here with us today, he would certainly be spearheading this greatest paradigm shift attempt in the history of the Kali yuga. In his absence what can we do? We have to carry on undaunted in our attempt to see that every person on this planet is blessed with the supreme, eternal happiness of Krishna consciousness by faithfully following the many instructions that Srila Prabhupada has so mercifully given to us.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Srila Prabhupada Mercifully Instructs His Disciples
Question: Are Martial Arts Krishna Conscious?
Gurudeva,
Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and you for your wonderful glorious work around the world!
I was thinking about my involvement in martial arts and how much I enjoy it. Then I began to think about the implications of what I am doing. While I am not a violent person, I do enjoy the sparring and the physical fitness aspect of Kung Fu. However, if I am working toward my black belt, is this just a materialistic desire of mine? In martial arts we are taught self defense, but is this in accordance to what Krishna would want? I have these questions and do not know if I should continue with my training or not.
Thank you so much for any response you can give at your convenience.
Christopher
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Answer: Yes, If They Are Used For Krishna.
If you are inspired in martial arts, there is no harm. Vedic culture includes not only brahmanas, the qualified spiritual teachers. It also includes saintly martial experts who protect the brahmanas and the other innocent citizens from the attacks and harassment of the demoniac. Since we are in this material world, the demoniac will always be there. Therefore Krishna conscious ksatriyas or saintly martial experts are always required. I am therefore requesting you to become very expert in martial arts so that in the future, if necessary, you may use your talents to protect devotees from harm.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Back to the Mundane West
Today we will be on an airplane heading from the holy land of India to London, where an enjoyable evening after a grueling day in the office means standing on the street chatting and drinking liquor outside of a pub. What a far cry from ecstatic kirtan in the holy land! Chasing after temporary minimization of suffering by dulling our brains with alcohol is not a very effective way of becoming happy. Instead of losing by boozing it is better to relish the supreme unlimited intoxication of Lord Sri Krishna's holy names. There are no harmful side effects. It does not cost anything and instead of causing people to become like wild animals it elevates one's consciousness to the highest platform of saintliness. Try to get that out of a bottle!
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
London Entertainment
Question: Can Real Love Exist in this World?
Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I have one question. Real love means to try to please another person even if I have to go through so many uncomfortable situations to my body or mind. We also learn that Krishna is the unique receptacle of love. So can there exist real love between two ordinary persons in this material world if they both have the real understanding of love?
Your servant,
Bhakta Ignacio.
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Answer: If Krishna is the Center
Real love can exist between two persons in this world only if they make Krishna or God the center of that love. If we don't make God the center, this means that on some level we will still consider ourselves to be the center of the relationship. This means that we will engage in the loving relationship on the basis of what we can get out of the other person rather than what we can give to the other person by helping them to reconnect with Krishna. The other person will have also the same tendency to value the relationship on the basis of what they can get out of us. It is because of this underlying self-centeredness that love relationships in this world are difficult and often end in bitter divorce and sometimes even in ghastly murder scenes. The simple solution is to put Krishna or God in the center of our loving relationships. In this way all of these relationships will become perfect and this material world will be transformed into the spiritual world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Last Day in Vrindavan
This is our last day in Vrindavana on this trip. The last day in Vrindavan is invariably bitter-sweet. While on the one hand it is the sweetest nectar to be here in Lord Sri Krishna's most holy transcendental abode, to be on the verge of leaving it always adds a pinch of melancholy to the sweetness. This is the site of innumerable pastimes of the Supreme Lord and his pure devotees. Simply by coming here in a mood of pure devotion one gets an immediate connection with all of these amazing pastimes. It was here 500 years ago that the six Goswamis of Vrindavan discovered the lost sites of Krishna's pastimes and compiled a huge quantity of transcendental literatures to guide the conditioned souls of this material world how to go back to home, back to Godhead. The six Goswamis are Rupa Goswami, Santana Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Ragunatha dasa Goswami, Ragunatha Bhatta Goswami, and Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Now on our last day here, we are especially begging these six Goswamis to bless us that we can always carry the loving devotional mood of Vrindavan with us within our hearts wherever we may wander in this material world for the purpose of expanding the glorious Krishna conscious movement to every town, village, home, and heart.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
Question: Caution When Hearing Hare Krishna
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Respected Sir, I am really grateful to you because you provide an excellent means wherein a very advanced Srila Prabhupada disciple is so approachable through cyber space for so many neophyte devotees like me. You connect us to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna! Thank you so much!
The question that I am asking arose when I heard Srila Prabhupada's Hare Krishna mahamantra purport audio. Srila Prabhupada said that the mahamantra should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee for immediate effect and that hearing from lips of a non devotees should be avoided just as milk touched by lips of a serpent causes poisonous effects.
When finding a pure devotee is so difficult and rare in the Kali yuga, what should we do? Should we be cautious while listening to audios of the Hare Krishna mantra and taking part in kirtans? I mean a person may be singing kirtan ecstatically, but he may not be a pure devotee. So will listening to the mahamantra from him will leave poisonous effects on me?
Your insignificant servant,
Devesh
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Answer: Hear from those on the Pure Bhakti Path
In ISKCON we have all received the Hare Krishna mahamantra from the lips of Krishna's pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada. A Hare Krishna kirtan that is chanted by any of us who are sincerely trying to please Srila Prabhupada by our chanting is beneficial to be heard. Whether we have heard Hare Krishna directly from his lips, as most of his disciples have, or have only heard it from his recordings, as is the case with most of his grand disciples, the potency is the same. So any kirtan which is being sung according to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada is invested with his divine potency and will thus have an uplifting effect on all those who hear it.
The kirtans to be avoided are those that are sung by non-devotees such as the Mayavadis who chant Hare Krishna with a desire to merge into the impersonal Brahman or kirtans sung by those who are chanting for material gain. Even though such kirtans have the holy names present, because such kirtans are tinged by the poisons of impersonalism and sense gratification, they have a poisonous effect, just as milk that has been touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
One Pure Devotee Can Deliver the Entire Universe
A pure devotee of Krishna is empowered by Krishna to act in inconceivably amazing ways. This is why one pure devotee can deliver the entire world from ignorance and suffering. By his influence those who associate with him and follow his instructions will become pure devotees and they can in turn inspire others to become pure devotees, who can in turn inspire others to become pure devotees, etc, etc. In this way simply by the influence of one pure devotee of Krishna the entire universe can be delivered.
We had the good fortune to associate with one such pure devotee, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who ordered us to become pure devotees. So now we are trying to be pure devotees and inspire others to be pure devotees who can inspire others to be pure devotees, etc. In this way, the entire world can quickly be inundated in an ocean of Krishna bhakti by the influence of one pure devotee.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
This Pure Devotee Can Deliver the Entire World!
Question: Where Does Desire Come From?
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Could you kindly clarify one very basic question:
In the conditioned state, does desire originate from the mind or from the soul?
Hare Krishna,
Your menial servant,
Baskar
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Answer: It Originates in the Pure Soul
Desire originates in the pure soul, but it becomes perverted with lust, anger, greed, madness, illusion, and envy when it is manifested through a materialistic mind. It is something like pure white light being transformed into colored light when in shines through colored glass. And that same desire, when offered in the service of Lord Krishna, regains its original pure nature.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Always Keep a Cool Head
This material world is full of so many varieties of uncertainties. As soon as we feel that everything is okay, another calamity befalls us. We arrived in India on 7 March minus our lost luggage, but it was all recovered within several days. Now as we prepare to go to Europe, where I will be teaching a mini-course on pure devotional service at Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, we find out that our flights to Brussels have been canceled due to a strike by the airline employees. Now after a half day's endeavor, we have finally managed to book an alterative means of getting to Europe in time to teach the course. Such upheavals are par for the course in this material existence. Therefore the intelligent thing to do is to be always expecting them and stay in cool-headed Krishna consciousness by always depending on Krishna in all circumstances.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Ecstatic Mangala Arati at Prabhupada's Samadhi
4:10 am--9 March 2010--Vrindavan, India
Question: Mentally Reciting the Name of Allah
May I ask your high reverence a question please?
I am a Sufi follower (just a beginner). My practice consists of mentally and loudly reciting as well as visualizing (with full concentration) the name of God, Allah, as much as I can do it day and night.
I have studied hypnosis and self hypnosis, so now I can easily enter into different kind of trances lighter or deeper, shorter or longer. How can I benefit from these trances to transcend my body and thoughts? For example by reciting mentally the name of God in deep trances or what? Please guide me. Thank you very much. Indeed I am so grateful to you.
Murati
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Answer: Audible Chanting is Much Better
I am very happy to hear that you are reciting the name of Allah because reciting God's names is the universal religion which will deliver the sincere chanters back to the spiritual world. It cuts through all designations such as Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew, etc.
You mention that you are mentally reciting the name of God. But kindly note in this connection that the scriptures recommend that in this age we should audibly chant the names of God. While silently meditating on God's name is certainly beneficial, it is nothing compared to the benefit of audibly chanting and hearing the names of God. We derive the greatest benefit by audibly pronouncing the names of God because this brings us into direct association with God Himself. So my best advice to you is that you should chant the name of Allah audibly on your lips as much as possible every day, especially in the early morning hours before sunrise.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
The Essence of Existence
There is nothing more glorious than bhakti or devotional service because it is only through bhakti that we can purchase Krishna. One may be surprised to hear that God can be purchased. But Srila Prabhupada explains that by developing pure love for Krishna He becomes our personal property. Therefore there is nothing more important than going deeper and deeper into the mood of bhakti or devotion each and every day. Here in Vrindavan the entire atmosphere is permeated with bhakti. Therefore this is an ideal place to cultivate this supreme essence of existence. And we can carry this same Vrindavan mood with us wherever we are throughout the world by always putting Krishna in the center of all of our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Reconnecting with the Essence of Existence
Vrindavana, India--11 March 2010
Question: If Suffering is Karmic, Why Relieve It?
Today I want to ask a question which often disturbs me. Often I have heard from my elders that we should feed hungry people, we should help poor people and also those who are in need of help. We should not feel good when others are suffering or at least should not laugh. Also, many people say that we should see Krishna in every poor and helpless person and should serve them.
On the other hand, Krishna says that everyone reaps what he has sown. I mean, if someone has hurt someone to some extent, he will be hurt to the same extent in his next life. Our fruits are results of our past actions. This means that whatever is happening to any poor person or any helpless person or even us for that matter is perfect and right. We are suffering or people are suffering because they deserve to suffer. Then why should we lessen their suffering, if they deserve it? Why should we become obstacle in path of God?
I feel very bad if I hear cases of rape or child abuse. But according to Krishna this is the right thing happening to victims because they deserve this only. So should I feel bad or should I be happy.
Chetna
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Answer: Free Both from Karma and Suffering
Your elders, although well-intentioned, do not understand that the root cause of all suffering is that we are not living in a state of harmony with the laws of nature or the laws of God. In other words, when we violate these laws we suffer all kinds of reverse conditions such as poverty and disease. So it is not that simply by feeding and giving medicine to the poor that we can put an end to their suffering. Of course, we can give temporary relief in this way. But even that temporary relief will not free the people from the miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease. These four-fold sufferings are inevitable for anyone who is stuck in the cycle of birth and death, no matter how much medicine and food we may give them. Therefore the only full relief we can give to free the people from suffering is to teach them how to live in complete harmony with the laws of nature and the laws of God so that they can become permanently liberated from the cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease.
Krishna is not a poor beggar in the street. He is Laxminatha, the Lord of all riches. So He cannot become a poor man. Our suffering does not mean that Krishna has become poor. Rather our suffering comes from our having lost our connection with Krishna.
Even though everyone is suffering or enjoying according to his karma, a devotee cannot tolerate to see the people of this world ignorantly and unnecessarily suffering. Therefore he fully dedicates himself to reviving the dormant Krishna consciousness of the human society to relieve them permanently from all of their suffering.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:
Tasting the Nectar of Vrindavana
Vrindavana is a wonderful place to dive deep into the unlimited ocean of Krishna bhakti. This is the place where Lord Sri Krishna displayed His most intimate pastimes 5,000 years ago. Just by being here in this holiest of all places, one can become greatly inspired in one's spiritual life. Every square inch of this land is sacred. It is blessed unlimitedly by inconceivable pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna and His pure devotees. Therefore one gains benefit and can relish the sweetest nectar by visiting this most holy land or even by remembering it, no matter where one may be in this material world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
At Madan Mohan Temple
Vrindavana, India--11 March 2010
Question: What Motivates You to Carry the Torch of Knowledge?
After your practicing Krishna consciousness for 39 years what now motivates you to carry the transcendental torchlight of knowledge for your Gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada?
N.K.
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Answer: The Mercy of Srila Prabhupada
I personally have no good qualifications. My only qualification is that somehow or other I was most fortunate to get the unlimited mercy of Krishna's pure devotee, which very deeply touched and transformed my heart. I was blessed with an unlimited ocean of knowledge and bliss, and at the same time I could see all around me a world that is becoming more and more miserable all the time. I joined this movement motivated by a desire to purely serve the will of God and to bring about a spiritual revolution on this planet. And it is these two desires that have kept me active in ISKCON for the last 39 years and will keep me active in ISKCON for the rest of my life. Srila Prabhupada has indeed blessed us with the key to personal and global perfection. Now all we have to do is take that key in our hands and unlock the door.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Enlightened Souls Always Manifest Good Will Towards All
What does one gain by maintaining a spirit of ill will towards anyone? Nothing at all. Therefore the pure devotee always manifests well-wishes towards all living beings. Ill will is born out of an artificial sense of superiority based on the conditioned soul's false idea that he is the center of the universe. If such an illusioned soul feels that someone is a threat to his so-called superiority, he tries to defend his artificial position by manifesting ill will towards that person. Therefore we can conclude that ill will is simply born out of ignorance. Those who are enlightened with transcendental knowledge always manifest good will towards all, even those who have ill will towards them. Such enlightened souls are very, very dear to the Lord.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Blissful Meeting with Disciples
Vrindavana-13 March 2010
Question: How to Find an Enlightened Guru?
Dear Swamiji,
I am really in need of your precious advice. For the last ten years I have been looking for an enlightened guru. In this regard I have met many monks, but I have found most of them fake. I want to live a spiritual life and want to know the Absolute Truth, but I have failed to meet a real guru. Kindly help me out and tell me the address of a real enlightened guru. I will very much obliged.
Thank you.
Shaminder
Patiala, India
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Answer: You've Already Found One
I understand your frustration of encountering so many fake gurus because I was also disappointed in the same way when I was seeking a guru who could bless me with genuine spiritual enlightenment. By Krishna's grace after four-and-a-half years of difficult struggle, I finally found such a bona fide spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness). He enlightened me with perfect spiritual knowledge and saved me from the vicious cycle of birth and death. If you will read his translation of the Bhagavad-gita known as Bhagavad -gita As It Is, you will find great joy and solace.
Before hE left this world in 1977 he carefully trained me and his other disciples how to become gurus so that in his physical absence we could carry on with his mission of enlightening the human society. So there is no need for you to be frustrated anymore in your search for an enlightened spiritual master because you have already found one. You may consult with me and the other devotees of ISKCON regarding how to become free from all material miseries. There are many ISKCON temples throughout India. Is there one in your area?
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Guru is the Revealer of the Dhama
One cannot simply purchase an airline ticket to Delhi and hire a cab to Vrindavan for entering into Sri Vrindavana Dhama because one can only enter in the Lord's holy dhama by the mercy of the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore when we want to visit the Lord's most holy Sri Vrindavana Dhama we should always beg our spiritual master for his blessings that we can truly enter into the holy dhama. Otherwise, without the mercy of Sri Guru, we will only experience the shadow of Vrindavan.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Holy Land of Vrindavana
Question: How to Attain Moksha?
I would like to know what are the stages/steps for attaining moksha in your Krishna consciousness society. I am very interested to know in detail since I am very, very much attracted to your ISKCON philosophy. I want theoretical explanation fully. Please kindly provide suitable reference so that I am convinced.
Manjunath,
Bangalore
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Answer: Surrender to Krishna Under Guru's Guidance
There is no such thing as the Krishna conscious society system for attaining moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, it is not that there is an ISKCON way of liberation. The way of liberation has been around long before ISKCON was formed in 1966. The beauty of ISKCON is that it is purely teaching the eternal process of liberation as described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad- gita. So try to understand the way of liberation as taught in the Bhagavad-gita. It all boils down to one basic principle: Fully surrender yourself to following the orders of Krishna under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. If you will carefully study the Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, you will get all convincing arguments and practical guidelines how to solidly situate yourself on the path of moksha or liberation. And while you are carefully reading it, kindly inquire both from me and the devotees at your local ISKCON center for getting a complete understanding of the meaning and practical application of each and every verse. Simply by your properly understanding and following the Bhagavad-gita as it is you will be solidly situated in moksha or liberation.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
I Thought I Was God Until...
I thought I was God until I realized that I am dog. In other words, in this material world each of us has the tendency to think, "I am the center of the universe. Everything revolves around me." Again and again we fail to realize that we are tiny insignificant specks in the vast creation of the Lord. It is often thought that the formula for happiness is to inflate one's pride to the greatest possible extent. But nothing could be further from the truth. The real formula for happiness is engage oneself as the humble servant of the Supreme Lord. In this way the insignificant fragmental part of parcel of the Supreme Lord becomes supremely significant in the eyes of the Supreme Lord. This is why Krishna says:
sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ
sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api
"The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart,
and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee.
My devotees do not know anything else but Me,
and I do not know anyone else but them."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68
sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api
"The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart,
and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee.
My devotees do not know anything else but Me,
and I do not know anyone else but them."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Teaching Pure Bhakti in Vrindavan
10 March 2010
Question: Why Don't Godheads Challenge the Demons?
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your regular mails. I would like to know why is it those who are fully Krishna conscious people do not come into social life. Why aren't they contesting against the existing leaders who are destroying the creation?
I see most of these "godheads" living to themselves confined to their group. Why is that when someone totally surrenders and believes in Krishna they do not have the courage to challenge the demons?
I live in India and I see that most of these "godheads" are living on their own with large number of devotees pouring in donations. At some stage they are almost like big businessmen. They even get into the association with dirty politicians who are in power.
Most of these "godheads" advise us not to have ego while they have the biggest egos on the earth. As long as you trust them blindly and don't ask question they are fine. I still have many more questions with no answers, but for the moment let me stop here.
Thanks for your patience.
Kumaran
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Answer: They are Birds of the Same Feather
The "godheads" you are describing are the pseudo gurus. They are not the persons who are fully Krishna conscious. They are not at all surrendered to Krishna. The fact is that they are just the opposite. They are fully surrendered instead to the material energy. They cannot challenge the demons because they are birds of the same feather.
Those who are fully Krishna conscious absorb themselves purely in following the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and like Arjuna they fight very vehemently against the atrocities being committed every day by the so-called leaders of the world society.
The so-called "godheads" that you refer to are the greatest enemies of the human society. My spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes them as follows:
"The ignorant pseudo religionists and the manufacturers of so-called incarnations who directly violate the Vedic injunctions are liable to enter into the darkest region of the universe because they mislead those who follow them. These impersonalists generally pose themselves as incarnations of God to foolish persons who have no knowledge of Vedic wisdom. If such foolish men have any knowledge at all, it is more dangerous in their hands than ignorance itself."
A bona fide spiritual master will never present himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or tolerate his followers presenting him as such. Those who do so are committing the greatest act of terrorism upon the human society. It is only due to a lack of Krishna conscious government that they are going unpunished for their heinous crimes against humanity. The bona fide spiritual master simply presents himself as the humble servant of God and teaches his disciples how to also be humble servants of God.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Beg Krishna for Pure Bhakti
Religion nowadays is accepted as a system of taking God as one's order- supplier, that I approach God to fulfill my material desires. Of course, it is God undoubtedly who is supplying us all of our material necessities. But this does not mean that we have to petition Him for this purpose. Does a child have to beg his parents every day to feed him? No, of course not. Because the parents love the child they will naturally feed him. No begging is required. What will satisfy the parents greatly is if the child will inquire from them, "How can I serve you?". So this is how we should approach our supreme father. We should simply beg Him for pure bhakti, pure devotional service. This will give Him immense pleasure. And the more we please Him, the more we will be pleased.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Teaching Pure Bhakti in Vrindavan
10 March 2010
Question: If We're Not the Body, Why Does It Feel Pain?
I was asked a question by a friend that if we are not the body and if we are within the body, then why is that we feel pain when we are pricked or pinched? In that case, we react as if we are the body. I was stuck and could not give the appropriate reply.
Please guide me.
Tushar
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Answer: Pain is an Indicator, Like a Gasoline Gauge
When I am driving a car and it runs very low on gasoline, the indicator on the dash board informs me of this so that I can find a gas station as soon as possible to fill up the gas tank. In the same way the body gives pain as a signal so that I can take the necessary steps to protect it from that which is harmful to its well being. To be conscious of these indicators and to take appropriate steps does not make me my body any more than responding to a low gasoline indicator makes me my car.
Of course, when my gasoline gauge tells me I am out of gas, if I think that I am out gas, I am in illusion because my car is out of gasoline, not me. And in a similar way when my hand gets cut, if I think that I am cut, I am also in illusion because my hand is cut. It is not that I am cut.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Diving Deep into the Eternal Identity
In this material world the conditioned soul is very much distracted from his original all-knowing, all-blissful nature as Krishna's eternal servant because he is carried away by the so-called taste of material sense gratification. This artificial taste is encouraged and exploited by the materialistic propaganda mongers who make a handsome profit by misguiding the people in general promoting cigarettes, liquor, prostitution, meat eating, etc. The foolish sense enjoyer tries to become happy by squeezing as much pleasure as possible out of these things, but because there is no factual pleasure in sense gratification, the poor soul is ultimately left in a state of frustration and bewilderment. If, however, he will reconnect with his original transcendental nature diving deep into his eternal identity as the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will taste a pleasure that is unlimitedly sublime and will go on increasing forever.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: How Can We Make a Spiritual Revolution?
Hare Krishna,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sankarshan Das Adhikari. Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances. I pray you are in good health.
With the number of natural disasters happening, it reminds me more and more of how much Sri Krishna is in charge. Further, it amplifies your plea to dedicate our lives fully in spreading this mission.
However, it seems mankind is mapping out solidly its own destruction. I strongly resent engineers digging up the earth, because they are interfering with Krishna's creation. This digging up of the earth for gold, diamonds, oil, platinum, aluminum, steel etc, is creating imbalances and therefore, I can imagine, the severe earthquakes. Also the testing of bombs in the ocean, is all harming to Krishna's creation. However, these big engineers and scientists will not stop, and it is more nauseating to think that they get the biggest salaries for causing this harm. Please advise what does our scripture say about this.
What can we do to make a complete revolution in the midst of a world that is being destroyed?
We are in a whirlpool which is drowning the majority of persons and they do not realize it. Worst of all is that the destruction of many is left in the hands of a few blinded leaders.
Please advise alternative methods of sustenance as the economic system now is money and there is very little that we can do without money these days, unfortunately. But, this money in one way or another, is so karmic, because it is linked to the earth's destruction. The engineer is destroying the earth. The accountant is reporting figures on how nicely the earth is being destroyed. Other management is managing nicely the destruction of this planet, Sri Krishna's energy. And they have no understanding of what they are doing because all they can see is the dollars flashing in front of their eyes. So even myself to maintain my family and getting so much of karma.
Looking forward to your ever insightful scriptural thoughts.
Hare Krishna
Veren
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Answer: Become Krishna Conscious and Spread It
Krishna has very nicely described 5,000 years ago the sort of leaders that the earth is plagued by at the present moment:
etam drstim avastabhya
nastatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra- karmanah
ksayaya jagato 'hitah
"Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world."
--Bhagavad-gita 16.9
nastatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra- karmanah
ksayaya jagato 'hitah
"Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world."
--Bhagavad-gita 16.9
I appreciate very much the depth of your compassion and your vision. If we had more people like you on this planet, we could inspire the people to demand Krishna conscious leaders instead of the present slate of dogs, hogs, and asses who are barking, grunting, and heehawing their way into office. Therefore I am requesting that you kindly as far as possible dedicate your life, money, intelligence, and words to assist us in making a spiritual revolution on this planet. The revolution begins when we transform ourselves into pure devotees of Krishna by engaging all of our thoughts, words, and deeds in all times, places, and circumstances in His loving service. In this way, if we set an ideal example ourselves and then boldly proclaim the teachings of Krishna to everyone that we meet, we can successfully revolutionize this planet one person at a time.
The earth has enough bounty to provide everyone with a comfortable, happy, and prosperous existence. Simply we have to put God back in the center of our lives and demand leaders who do the same.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
When Turmoil Hits
What to do when turmoil hits? Even though we do not like turmoil, as long as we are in this material existence by the laws of this material nature we will be hit by turmoil again and again. How we deal with turmoil will either make us or break us on the pathway of spiritual enlightenment. Therefore it behooves us to learn how to deal with turmoil in the proper Krishna conscious manner.
The first thing to remember is that everything is going on under the superintendence of Krishna. This means that we have absolutely nothing to fear except forgetfulness of Krishna and that if even in the midst of the greatest turmoil we can always remember Krishna we will never be defeated in any circumstance. This is guaranteed as follows in the Bhagavad-gita:
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama
"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion."
--Bhagavad-gita 18.78
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama
"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion."
--Bhagavad-gita 18.78
Of course, in the short run victory may not always be apparent, just like it is sometimes said that one may lose a battle but win the war. So we always have to keep a long range vision of what is ultimately beneficial for our deliverance from this material existence, not for our enjoyment of this temporary place. By keeping this long range vision we will always be able to perceive the loving mercy of Lord Sri Krishna blessing us at every step, and thus we can always remain peaceful and happy even in the midst of the greatest turmoil.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Free Will and Karma
How to make out what is karma and what is free will? When some sudden good or bad happens people say that it is because of karma and that Krishna is the cause of each and every thing in a person's life. You say that there is free will and that we have to use it wisely to know Krishna. So where then does this free will exist? How to differentiate and know whether something is caused by free will or karma?
Sasi
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Answer: Use Free Will to Free Yourself from Karma
Everything we do in this material existence is being conducted by the law of karma. But still we are responsible for what we do under karma's influence because when we chose to give up the service of Krishna we voluntarily placed ourselves under the influence of karma. It is something like when a person joins a terrorist network. Even though all of his actions are dictated to him by higher authorities within the terrorist organization, he is still held responsible for all of his criminal actions because it was by his own free will that he joined the terrorist organization. The good news is that there is a way out of this karma cakra or wheel of karma. Just as by misuse of our free will we are being helplessly tossed in the waves of karmic reaction, by the proper utilization of our free will we can be immediately delivered from the clutches of karma. All we have to do is take the power of free will, which is fully in our grip at this very instant, and utilize it to surrender ourselves unto Lord Sri Krishna, the very source of our existence. This act of surrender is not at all unnatural. It is simply a matter of reconnecting ourselves with our actual eternal, all blissful, all knowing natures.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:
Lesson on the Dualities
8 March 2010--Today we landed in Delhi, India. Krishna blessed us immediately with a wonderful lesson in the dualities of material existence. First He gave us the pleasantry of breezing through customs within a scant five minutes. This is quite good because it can easily take from 30 minutes to an hour depending on where you are in the queue. One naturally feels happy when things are going nicely like this.
But when we got to luggage claim, fate did a complete flip flop on us. We had to wait until everybody else had claimed their luggage for ours to arrive. And then it still did not arrive. It was lost, and even after the lost luggage help desk ran a tracer on it, it still could not be found. So we had to depart for Vrindavan in clothes we had worn non-stop for two days and two nights without any information of where in the world our luggage could be and without any change of clothes also.
In this regard Lord Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad- gita:
na prahṛṣyet priyaṁ prāpya
nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam
sthira-buddhir asammūḍho
brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ
"A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant
nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant,
who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered,
and who knows the science of God,
is already situated in transcendence."
--Bhagavad-gita 5.20
nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam
sthira-buddhir asammūḍho
brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ
"A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant
nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant,
who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered,
and who knows the science of God,
is already situated in transcendence."
--Bhagavad-gita 5.20
This lesson in the dualities was Krishna's special kindness upon us to help us approach His holy dhama in a mood of renunciation, for in spite of all our misconceptions to the contrary, there is only one possession that we can truly and permanently lay claim to, Lord Sri Krishna's lotus feet.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: How to Perceive Radha Krishna Lila?
How can we perceive Radha and Krishna's eternal, ever-fresh pastimes?
Roma Vohra
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Answer: Anoint Your Eyes with Love
The simple formula for always seeing Sri Sri Radha and Krishna's eternal, ever-fresh pastimes is given by Lord Brahma as follows:
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti- vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
"I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee
whose eyes are anointed with the ointment of love.
He is seen in His eternal form of Syamasundara,
situated within the heart of the devotee."
--Brahma-samhita 5.38
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
"I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee
whose eyes are anointed with the ointment of love.
He is seen in His eternal form of Syamasundara,
situated within the heart of the devotee."
--Brahma-samhita 5.38
There are no re-runs in Krishna's pastimes. Every single pastime is new, unique, and simply wonderful.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Brussels Airport, Belgium
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Today's Thought: Back to Vrindavana Dhama
Today we will be returning to Sri Vrindavan Dhama, the Lord's transcendental abode. This is Krishna's extreme kindness upon us that He makes Himself so easily accessible in Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Srila Prabhupada has wonderfully described Sri Vrindavana Dhama in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila, Text 104 as follows:
"When we consider impartially all the unlimited pastimes of the Lord, we find that His pastimes as a human being on this planet -- wherein He sports as a cowherd boy with a flute in His hands and appears youthful and fresh like a ballet dancer -- are pastimes and features that are never subjected to material laws and inebrieties. The wonderful beauty of Krishna is presented in the supreme planet, Gokula (Goloka Vrindavana). Inferior to that is His representation in the spiritual sky, and inferior to that is His representation in the external energy (Devi-dhama). A mere drop of Krishna's sweetness can drown these three worlds -- Goloka Vrindavana, Hari-dhama (Vaikunthaloka) and Devi-dhama (the material world). Everywhere, Krishna's beauty merges everyone in the ecstasy of transcendental bliss. Actually the activities of yogamaya are absent in the spiritual sky and the Vaikuntha planets. She simply works in the supreme planet, Goloka Vrindavana, and she works to manifest the activities of Krishna when He descends to the material universe to please His innumerable devotees within the material world. Thus a replica of the Goloka Vrindavana planet and the pastimes there is manifested on this planet on a specific tract of land -- Bhauma Vrindavana, the Vrindavana-dhama on this planet."
The first thing I will do upon arriving in that most holy abode will be to place myself flat on the ground like a stick in humble obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna and to this most sacred of all places in the universe.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Since Krishna is Overall, Why Compare Him Others?
Dear Guru Maharaja,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to Srila Guru Maharaja.
Sri Krishna is a Bhagavan, Adi Purusha and above all. This we understand and know by the scriptures and by the authorized representatives.
When we say, "Supreme Personality Of Godhead" we are comparing Krishna with something/somebody. Since Lord Krishna is overall, why we are comparing Him with others?
Tushar Raval
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Answer: Krishna is Both Overall and Over All
"Supreme Personality of Godhead" is the English translation of the Sanskrit word "Bhagavan." It means who possesses all opulences in full, more than anyone else. Therefore to compare Krishna with all else is not incorrect. In this regard Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita:
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
"O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me.
Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread."
--Bhagavad-gita 7.7
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
"O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me.
Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread."
--Bhagavad-gita 7.7
Krishna is not only "overall", or the sum total of everything. He is also "over all" or superior to everyone and everything else. This is the mysterious nature of God. He is simultaneously everything or overall and at the same time over all or beyond everything as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Chicago O'Hare Airport, USA
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Today's Thought:
See God Face to Face & Save the Planet from Disgrace
I never cease to be amazed by this transcendental science of Krishna consciousness, which enables one to directly experience God at every moment. I am flying now from Austin to Chicago. It's 10:15 am on the 6th of March 2010. I have at least a good hour of quality writing time ahead of me before we land. When I booted up my computer a few minutes ago I was blessed on my desktop screen with the sublime darshan of Sri Sri Radha Govinda as you see them pictured above. They have been my all merciful companions ever since I first discovered them at a store in downtown Denver in 1968. After landing and changing planes in Chicago it will be onwards to Sri Vrindavan Dhama in India after another change of planes in Europe. I can't think of any life more sublime and enlivening than this. Although all around me I see a world that is unnecessarily drowning in an ocean of misery, I am blessed with the desire and the means to change it, hoping to succeed in doing so before inevitable death removes me from the scene. This is the order my Godbrothers and I received from our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that we must deliver the world. Now it is up to Krishna whether we will be successful or not. All we can do is pray for His mercy and try our level best. To watch the events of my life in Krishna's service unfold is the sweetest nectar. I savor like anything this attempt to see God face to face and to save this planet from disgrace.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: How to Choose a Guru?
How to overcome sleep and laziness? And how can we choose a guru?
D.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: See Who is Saving You
Sleep and laziness are overcome by love. When you truly love someone you will be inspired to serve them 24 hours a day and will sleep as little as possible finding sleep, although necessary, to be a botheration. That ultimate someone to love is Krishna because He will always perfectly reciprocate your love with His love like nobody else can.
Guru means that person sent to you by Krishna who is saving you from the cycle of birth and death. So there is no question of choosing a guru. You simply have to see who is that person who is saving you and fully surrender to him accepting his order as your very life and soul.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
On the Blissful Road Again
This morning we are heading out on our Spring 2010 around-the-world lecture tour. It is always an ecstatic feeling to be heading out for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world because this Krishna consciousness movement is the prime necessity of the suffering humanity. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss and enables everyone to experience the taste for which they have been hankering for millions of lifetimes. Since the more you give bliss, the more you get bliss, there is truly nothing more enlivening, uplifting, and joyful than pushing forward the tidal wave of Krishna bhakti all over the world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: How to be Protected from Maya?
How can we protect ourselves from Maya devi's influence?
Thank you,
Vishal
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Answer: Full Surrender to Guru and Krishna
The way to be protected from the Lord's illusory energy, known as Maya devi, is to become fully sold out to guru and Krishna. Maya devi is Krishna's pure devotee, and her job is to test your sincerity for serving Krishna. Once she sees your complete dedication to guru and Krishna she will cease to bother you.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
Prepare Yourself for Death
If we advise the people in general to prepare themselves for death, they will complain to us that we are being too negative and morbid. They would prefer to live in the illusion that death will never come so that they can go on blissfully gratifying their senses. This is like a rabbit who when being chased by a predator simply sits still and closes his eyes thinking that in this way the problem of the attacking predator will go away. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. It is better that he is fully aware of the whereabouts of that predator so that he can take sufficient steps to protect himself. And so it is better that we are always aware that death can come at any moment. In this way we can be fully prepared and instead of squeezing out some cheap thrills of temporary sense gratification, we can relish the unlimited bliss of Krishna conscious at every minute undaunted by any and all material circumstances. So Krishna consciousness is not morbid or pessimistic at all. It the most realistic, positive, and optimistic of all philosophies. Indeed as confirmed by Lord Sri Krishna Himself, it is the king of knowledge.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: The Definition of Free Will
Hare Krishna!
Thanks for giving details regarding karma. I would be interested to know how free will is defined. If one knows that, it will be easier to refrain from sense gratification. The Supersoul or Paramatma is living in every creature and is a witness of all activities. I am of the opinion that Paramatma instructs every individual to do duties and shows the way. Can I say that when my heart says not to do something I should just refrain from doing it, otherwise this will lead to karma? So it is a must to know how free will is defined? Eating is a sharira or bodily dharma or duty. Working is also a dharma. I am not clear as to how far God has given freedom, as we are all conditioned souls.
Ramanujam
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Answer: Ability to Choose Between Alternative Possibilities
Free will means the ability to choose between alternative possibilities. God has given us the ability to choose between a life of devotion or a life of sense gratification. While I may have my opinion and you may have your opinion, this is not the way of knowledge. Rather it is through scripture and self-realized souls that we understand things as they are. Lord Sri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that He provides both remembrance and forgetfulness to the living entity. Srila Prabhupada has explained in this regard that if the living entity desires sense gratification, the Supersoul guides him to how get it, and that if he wants liberation from this material existence, the Supersoul will bring him in contact with a bona fide spiritual master. So the type of direction we get from the Supersoul within is according to how we use our free will. We can be guided how to rob a bank, or we can be guided how to find a bona spiritual master.
Eating and working are material duties related with the body, and they entangle us more in karma cakra. But when we transcendentalize these duties by only eating Krishna prasadam, vegetarian foods offered to Lord Krishna with love and devotion, and by offering the results of our work in the Lord's service, these duties become spiritual activities, which liberate us from material existence. It is up to our free will whether we try to enjoy the results of our activities or offer these results for Krishna's enjoyment. How free will is utilized by us will determine whether we remain in this material existence or return to the spiritual world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
How to Attain the Ultimate Samadhi
Being always ecstatic in Krishna consciousness boils down to one simple principle: Always remember and never forget Krishna. Of course, due to material conditioning this is easier said than done. But if we diligently endeavor to always follow this principle and sincerely beg for Lord Krishna's help, we will find that it becomes amazingly easy. When we attain this stage of 24 hours ecstatic trance of Krishna consciousness, known as samadhi, we will feel that we have gained something more valuable than anything else than can be obtained in all of existence. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Sri Krishna describes this perfectional stage as follows:
"In the stage of perfection called trance, or samadhi, one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact."
--Bhagavad-gita 6.20-23
--Bhagavad-gita 6.20-23
So now this should be the sole purpose of our existence, to be fully absorbed in in the ultimate samadhi, Krishna consciousness, 24 hours a day.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: What is the Origin of Karma?
What is the origin of karma? What kind of actions lead to bad karma? The reason behind asking this question is that there are huge a number of people including myself who don't know the origin of karma. If the origin of karma is clear, one can refrain from the various activities which lead to bad karma. Can you give me scriptural references regarding the origin of karma, the cause of suffering?
Ramanujam
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Answer: Misuse of Our Free Will
Our entanglement in karma cakra, the wheel of action and reaction, is due to misuse of our independence. This is described as follows in the Prema-vivarta:
kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha haiyā bhoga-vāñchā kare
nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
"As soon as one becomes inimical to Krishna and desires sense gratification
he is immediately struck down by the illusory energy of the Lord."
nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
"As soon as one becomes inimical to Krishna and desires sense gratification
he is immediately struck down by the illusory energy of the Lord."
And also in this regard Krishna mentions in the Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 7, Text 27:
icchā-dveṣa-samutthena
dvandva-mohena bhārata
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ
sarge yānti parantapa
"O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe,
all living entities are born into delusion,
bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate."
dvandva-mohena bhārata
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ
sarge yānti parantapa
"O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe,
all living entities are born into delusion,
bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate."
So we were originally situated as Krishna's devotees in the spiritual sky. We were not prisoners of His abode. Rather we were endowed with free will and were thus enabled to serve Krishna out of love, rather than out of force. However, free will means there is a potential for its misuse. And when that free will is misused we become envious of Krishna and hate Him for being the Supreme Enjoyer. It is due to this hate that we begin our entanglement in karma cakra. It is only when we revive our long lost love of Krishna by the mercy of Krishna's pure devotee that we can be delivered from our entrapment in karma and regain our original position of eternal bliss and knowledge in the spiritual sky.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
Dancing in the Rain of Mercy
If one is actually awakened in love of God, he will naturally be joyful 24 hours daily. Indeed his existence will be an ecstatic celebration, which even death cannot disturb. Even though a devotee certainly regrets his previous sinful activities, this regret does not plunge him into moroseness. Rather he utilizes his memories of previous sinful activities to protect himself from ever making the mistake of engaging in such nonsense again, and within his heart he is always dancing in ecstasy in the rain of Lord Sri Krishna's causeless, inconceivable mercy.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Plea: The Temples Need Your Help!
Gurudeva:
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Yesterday I visited the Atlanta ISKCON Temple. I have also visited a few other ISKCON temples in India earlier and many other Krishna temples around the world. They all need great improvement.
For the welfare of many devotees around the world, if you can cut your travel expenses and spend some of these travel expenses on many of these temples, they will have better facility. Thus many devotees now and many more years to come will understand the importance of teaching Krishna consciousness like the way you do. And the heritage of these temples will be saved.
In this internet era, it's possible for each of your student and devotees to get connected to you personally as well mass chanting and preaching based on the each devotee's desire.
This is my thought and just sharing with you. If wrong, please apologies.
Your servant
Kumar
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Answer: Help by Doing Your Duty
I agree with you that the temples need help and I thank you very much for your concern. The help that the temples have requested of me as a spiritual master is that I should come there as often as possible and as long as possible for inspiring the local devotees to advance in their Krishna consciousness and in their participation in the local temple's activities. So, my duty is traveling and preaching. And the help that is requested of you as a local devotee is to support your local temple as much as possible with your time, money, intelligence, and words. This is your duty.
Krishna states that we should do our own duty even if imperfectly performed rather than accepting someone else's duty even if perfectly performed. Therefore it is better that I stick to my duty and that you should stick to your duty.
Of course, this is not simply a matter of philosophy. It is practical also. If by going to a temple and preaching I can inspire many local devotees to increase their support of the temple, this will be far more beneficial than my not going there and simply sending some emails. And besides that, many of the persons who hear my lectures and become inspired to increase their support of the temple are not enrolled in my e-course. So all things considered it is better that I continue traveling and preaching as I am doing because this is the way that I can give the best service to the temples.
Thank you very much for your concern. The world needs more people like you who want that Krishna's temple should be in first class condition. So kindly apply your energy now to make your local temple a grand success. In this way you will set the ideal example for devotees all over the world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
World Revolution in Our Bead Bags
One who becomes perfect in chanting the holy names of the Lord will attract the entire world to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. This is confirmed by Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 7, Verse 83 as follows:
"A sincere student aurally receives the holy name from the spiritual master, and after being initiated he follows the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. When the holy name is properly served in this way, automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads; in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name. When one is completely fit to chant the holy name in this way, he is eligible to make disciples all over the world, and he actually becomes jagad-guru. Then the entire world, under his influence, begins to chant the holy names of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra."
What a wonderful inspiration for us to perfect our chanting! Who wouldn't want to be able to save the world from its present chaotic condition? This means that we have the makings of a world-wide spiritual revolution right here in our bead bags. All we have to do now is perfect our chanting. This should be our life's goal.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: What About the Extinct Species?
Hare Krishna,
In the Puranas, it is said that there are 8,400,000 species. I would like to know whether anything has been said in Srimad Bhagavatam about the extinction of some species. We know very well that a few species are not existing now.
Ramanujam
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Answer: No Species is Extinct
Just because we do not see certain species does not mean that they are extinct. Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, has stated, "Nothing is extinct." This means that somewhere within the universe each of the 8,400,000 species is continuing without interruption. We have been transmigrating through these 8,400,000 species again and again since time immemorial. So now we should take this human form of life most seriously and dedicate it fully for going back to home, back to Godhead.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:
Sharing the Sweetest of All Nectars
Now we are getting ready to head out in a few days on another around-the-world lecture tour. With life here at Bhaktivedanta Ashram so sweet, peaceful, and sublime sometimes I wonder why we should venture out of here and put ourselves through so many hectic situations. After all via the internet I can stay in contact with my students worldwide whether we remain here or whether we travel. So why bother traveling?
But there is no doubt a very special sweetness tasted by actually being at a particular location, giving a lecture there, answering questions, and meeting personally with my students. I taste that sweetness and my students also express their desire that I should come to their country. So regarding this traveling all over the world, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and we are off again in a few days to relish the sweetest nectar of sharing this sweetest of all nectars all over the world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: All Souls Ultimately Go Back to Krishna?
Gurudeva:
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I look forward to reading your daily thoughts on the Krishna conscious philosophy. You are indeed doing a wonderful service using the internet in such an ingenious way.
I am much attracted to Krishna consciousness since it is such a positive philosophy, as opposed to the the hell, fire and damnation approach of Christian fundamentalism. By that I mean you either live a good life and go to heaven or live a bad life and suffer eternal damnation in hell. Doesn't seem like a very merciful or forgiving God at all.
The concept of eternal existence of all beings is truly mind boggling. To think that we have always existed and will continue to exist forever is incredible.
That Lord Krishna is an all powerful, all knowing God and that He created us to exchange loving exchanges with Him is also amazing.
But I have one question. I think I heard once that ultimately all beings go back to Lord Krishna in the spiritual world, although it may take some millions and billions of lifetimes to "burn off" their karma to do so. Is this correct?
I look forward to your answer.
Sincerely,
Chris Herrick
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Answer: Everyone is Destined to Reach the Supreme Lord.
You are right. A God who only gives you one chance to succeed and if you fail sends you to hell forever is not merciful. Such a "God" could not be the supreme God, but would instead be a conditioned soul of this world.
It is a fact that all souls do ultimately go back to Krishna. This is confirmed by Srila Prabhupada in his book, The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, in chapter 4 where he states:
"Every living entity is destined to reach the Supreme Lord."
This is another example of how the Krishna conscious understanding of reality is so first class. It really makes the best sense.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Conceptos Hinduistas (2919)SK
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Aa-Ag · Ah-Am · Ana-Anc · And-Anu · Ap-Ar · As-Ax · Ay-Az · Baa-Baq · Bar-Baz · Be-Bhak · Bhal-Bhy · Bo-Bu · Bra · Brh-Bry · Bu-Bz · Caa-Caq · Car-Cay · Ce-Cha · Che-Chi · Cho-Chu · Ci-Cn · Co-Cy · Daa-Dan · Dar-Day · De · Dha-Dny · Do-Dy · Ea-Eo · Ep-Ez · Faa-Fy · Gaa-Gaq · Gar-Gaz · Ge-Gn · Go · Gra-Gy · Haa-Haq · Har-Haz · He-Hindk · Hindu-Histo · Ho-Hy · Ia-Iq · Ir-Is · It-Iy · Jaa-Jaq · Jar-Jay · Je-Jn · Jo-Jy · Kaa-Kaq · Kar-Kaz · Ke-Kh · Ko · Kr · Ku - Kz · Laa-Laq · Lar-Lay · Le-Ln · Lo-Ly · Maa-Mag · Mah · Mai-Maj · Mak-Maq · Mar-Maz · Mb-Mn · Mo-Mz · Naa-Naq · Nar-Naz · Nb-Nn · No-Nz · Oa-Oz · Paa-Paq · Par-Paz · Pe-Ph · Po-Py · Raa-Raq · Rar-Raz · Re-Rn · Ro-Ry · Saa-Sam · San-Sar · Sas-Sg · Sha-Shy · Sia-Sil · Sim-Sn · So - Sq · Sr - St · Su-Sz · Taa-Taq · Tar-Tay · Te-Tn · To-Ty · Ua-Uq · Ur-Us · Vaa-Vaq · Var-Vaz · Ve · Vi-Vn · Vo-Vy · Waa-Wi · Wo-Wy · Yaa-Yav · Ye-Yiy · Yo-Yu · Zaa-Zy
Aa-Ag · Ah-Am · Ana-Anc · And-Anu · Ap-Ar · As-Ax · Ay-Az · Baa-Baq · Bar-Baz · Be-Bhak · Bhal-Bhy · Bo-Bu · Bra · Brh-Bry · Bu-Bz · Caa-Caq · Car-Cay · Ce-Cha · Che-Chi · Cho-Chu · Ci-Cn · Co-Cy · Daa-Dan · Dar-Day · De · Dha-Dny · Do-Dy · Ea-Eo · Ep-Ez · Faa-Fy · Gaa-Gaq · Gar-Gaz · Ge-Gn · Go · Gra-Gy · Haa-Haq · Har-Haz · He-Hindk · Hindu-Histo · Ho-Hy · Ia-Iq · Ir-Is · It-Iy · Jaa-Jaq · Jar-Jay · Je-Jn · Jo-Jy · Kaa-Kaq · Kar-Kaz · Ke-Kh · Ko · Kr · Ku - Kz · Laa-Laq · Lar-Lay · Le-Ln · Lo-Ly · Maa-Mag · Mah · Mai-Maj · Mak-Maq · Mar-Maz · Mb-Mn · Mo-Mz · Naa-Naq · Nar-Naz · Nb-Nn · No-Nz · Oa-Oz · Paa-Paq · Par-Paz · Pe-Ph · Po-Py · Raa-Raq · Rar-Raz · Re-Rn · Ro-Ry · Saa-Sam · San-Sar · Sas-Sg · Sha-Shy · Sia-Sil · Sim-Sn · So - Sq · Sr - St · Su-Sz · Taa-Taq · Tar-Tay · Te-Tn · To-Ty · Ua-Uq · Ur-Us · Vaa-Vaq · Var-Vaz · Ve · Vi-Vn · Vo-Vy · Waa-Wi · Wo-Wy · Yaa-Yav · Ye-Yiy · Yo-Yu · Zaa-Zy
GENERAL
JUDAISMO | Ärî Garga-Samhita | Oraciones Selectas al Señor Supremo | Devotees Vaishnavas | Dandavat pranams - All glories to Srila Prabhupada | Hari Katha | Santos Católicos | El Antiguo Egipto I | Archivo Cervantes | Sivananda Yoga | Neale Donald Walsch | SWAMIS | ENCICLOPEDIA - INDICE | DEVOTOS FACEBOOK | EGIPTO - USUARIOS de FLICKR y PICASAWEB | AYUDA en INFORMÁTICA | BIOGRAFIAS | BUDDHISMO | CINEMANÍA | DANDAVAT PRANAMS | DANDAVATS | HEBREO - JUDAISMO | HINDUISMO | KABALEH - CABALA | MAESTROS ESPIRITUALES | MEDICINA NATURAL | Mis Escritos | MITOS Y LEYENDAS - MITOLOGÍAS | Religión | TEXTOS BÍBLICOS | Textos Sagrados Antiguos
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