Do I have to give up my occupation to serve Krishna?

Krishna-Balaram-and-Cowherd-Boys-return-with-the-cows

Krishna does not suggest anything impractical

So Krishna is not advising Arjuna to simply remember Him and give up his occupation. No. Krishna never suggests anything impractical. In this material world, in order to maintain the body, one has to work.

Human society is divided into four divisions of social order: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra. The brahmana class, or intelligent class, is working in one way, the ksatriya class or administrative class is working in another way and the mercantile class and laborers are all tending to their specific duties.

In human society, whether one is a laborer, merchant, warrior, administrator or farmer, or even if one belongs to the highest class and is a literary man, a scientist or a theologian, he has to work in order to maintain his existence.

Krishna advises Arjuna not to give up his occupation

Krishna, therefore tells Arjuna that he need not give up his occupation, but while he is engaged in his occupation, he should remember Krishna. If he doesn’t practice remembering Krishna when he is struggling for existence, then it will not be possible for him to remember Krishna at the time of death.

Lord Caitanya also advises this. He says that one should practice remembering the Lord by chanting the names of the Lord always. The names of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent. So Lord Krishna’s instruction to Arjuna to “remember Me” and Lord Caitanya’s injunction to always “chant the names of Lord Krishna” are the same instruction. There is no difference, because Krishna and Krishna’s name are nondifferent.

Remembering Krishna while working

Therefore we have to practice remembering Krishna always, twenty-four hours a day, by chanting His names and moulding our life’s activities in such a way that we can remember Him always.

How is this possible? The acharyas give the following example. If a married woman is attached to another man, or if a man has an attachment for a women other than his wife, then the attachment is to be considered very strong. One with such an attachment is always thinking of the loved one. The wife who is thinking of her lover is always thinking of meeting him, even while she is carrying out her household chores. In fact she carries out her household work even more carefully so her husband will not suspect her attachment.

In the same way as the married woman who is attached to another man is remembering her lover constantly but she is still carrying out her duties in her husband’s house, we should constantly remember the supreme lover, Sri Krishna, and at the same time perform our material duties very nicely.

A strong sense of love is required here. If we have a strong sense of love for the Supreme Lord then we can discharge our duty and at the same time remember Him. But we have to develop that sense of love for Krishna.

Arjuna, for instance, was always thinking of Krishna; he was the constant companion of Krishna, and at the same time he was a warrior. Krishna did not advise Arjuna to go to the forest and meditate. When Lord Krishna explained the meditational yoga system to Arjuna he says that the practice of this system is not possible for him.

“Arjuna said, O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impracticle and unendurable to me. For the mind is restless and unsteady.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.33)

The best yogi

However, Krishna replies to Arjuna, encouraging him:

“Of all yogis, he who abides in Me with great faith, worshipping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimatily united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.47)

So one who is always thinking of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, is the greatest yogi, the supermost jnani and the greatest devotee at the same time.

Krishna goes on to tell Arjuna that, as a ksatriya, he can not give up fighting, but that if he fights remembering Krishna, then he will be able to remember Krishna at the time of  death. However to do this one must be completely surrendered to Krishna in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

We actually work with our mind and intelligence, not with our body.  So if our intelligence and mind is always engaged in the thoughts of the Supreme Lord, Krishna then naturally the senses are also engaged in His service.

Superficially it may appear that the activities of our senses remain the same performing devotional service to our activities in sense gratification, however the consciousness is changed. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how we can absorb our minds and intelligence in the thought of Krishna. Such absorbtion will enable one to transfer himself to the kingdom of the Lord. If the mind is engaged in Krishna’s service, then the senses are automatically engaged in His service. This is the art, and this is also the secret of Bhagavad Gita: total absorbtion in the thought of Sri Krishna.

Try to advance spiritually

Modern man has struggled very hard to reach the moon, but he has not tried very hard to elevate himself spiritually. If one has fifty years of life ahead of him, he should engage that brief time in cultivating this practice of remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The easiest way

The easiest way to remember Krishna is hearing Bhagavad Gita from the realized person, this will turn one’s thoughts to the Supreme Being. This will lead toremembering the Supreme Lord, and will enable one, upon leaving the body, to attain a spiritual body which is just fit for association with Krishna in the spiritual world. Krishna says:

“By practising this remembering, without being deviated, thinking ever of the Supreme Godhead, one is sure to achieve the planet of the Divine, the Supreme Personality, O son of Kunti.” (Bhagavad Gita 8.8)
This is not a very difficult process. However, one must learn it from an experienced person, from one who is already in the practice. The mind is always flying to this and that, but one must always practice concentrating the mind on the form of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna or on the sound of His name.
Controlling the restless mind

The mind is naturally restless, going hither and thither, but it can rest in the sound vibration of Krishna. One must thus meditate onthe Supreme Person; and thus attain Him. The ways and the means for ultimate realization, ultimate attainment, are stated in the Bhagavad Gita, and the doors of this knowledge are open for everyone. No one is barred out. Everyone can approach Krishna by thinking of Him, for hearing and thinking of Him is possible for everyone.

Even human beings in the lower statuses of life can attain the Supreme. One does not need highly developed intelligence. The point is that anyone who accepts the principle of bhakti-yoga and accepts the Supreme Lord as the summum bonum of life, as the highest target, the ultimate goal, can approach the Lord in the spiritual sky. If one adopts the principles enunciated in Bhagavad Gita, he can make his life perfect and make a perfect solution to all the problems of life which arise out of the transient nature of material existence. This is the sum and substance of the entire Bhagavad Gita.
Conclusion

In conclusion, Bhagavad Gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully. It is capable of saving one from all fear.

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Bg. 2.40) If one reads Bhagavad Gita sincerely and seriously, then all of the reactions of his past misdeeds will not react upon him. In the last portion of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna proclaims:

“Give up all varieties of religiousness, and just surrender unto Me; and in return I shall protect you from all sinful reactions. Therefore, you have nothing to fear.” (Bg. 18.66) Thus the Lord takes all responsibility for one who surrenders unto Him, and He indemnifies all the reactions of sin.We are very busy… Reading Gita is enough…

One cleanses himself daily by taking a bath in water, but one who takes his bath only once in the sacred Ganges water of the Bhagavad Gita cleanses away all the dirt of material life. Because Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad Gita. In the present age, mankind is so absorbed with mundane activities that it is not possible to read all of the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhagavad Gita — More important than the Ganges river

It is said that one who drinks the water of the Ganges certainly gets salvation, but what to speak of one who drinks the waters of Bhagavad Gita? Gita is the very nectar of the Mahabharata spoken by Visnu Himself, for Lord Krishna is the original Visnu. It is nectar emanating from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to be emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord. Of course there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but in our position we can appreciate that the Bhagavad Gita is even more important than the Ganges.

The Bhagavad Gita is just like a cow, and Lord Krishna, who is a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. The milk is the essence of the Vedas, and Arjuna is just like a calf. The wise men, the great sages and pure devotees, are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad Gita.
One Scripture, One God, One Religion

In this present day, man is very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So let there be one common scripture for the whole world--Bhagavad Gita. And let there be one God only for the whole world-Sri Krishna. And one mantra only-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And let there be one work only–the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. The next one will be called “The importance of the Disciplic Succession.”
First exam is coming!

Following that we will be having a little exam on “Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita“. So please read the newsletters carefully and if you have not read any of them please go back and read. I think you will enjoy the “exam,” I hope you will look forward to it and try your best to get the highest marks!

Author: Madhudvisa dasa

How I Discovered Krishna

Krishna & Arjuna

I live in the USA in Pennsylvania. It is a nice place and the people are also nice but they are not very open-minded. I will tell you about how I discovered Krishna.

Hello again.

I live in the USA in Pennsylvania. It is a nice place and the people are also nice but they are not very open-minded. I will tell you about how I discovered Krishna.

I was raised as a Catholic but there were many questions that remained unanswered and seemed contradictory.
Because of this I became a sort of atheist for many years. I believed in a higher power, but I could not accept the ‘God’ that my friends went to church an hour on Sunday for. When I held these beliefs, I was certain that nothing could change my mind, now that I was atheist I would never believe in God again.

However I was wrong. One day last month I was looking around the bookshelves when I came across a small book: The Bhagavad-Gita. This was a translation by Shri Purohit Swami. It was given as a Christmas gift to my Mother from an Indian friend of hers named Rahim. I did not know anything about the Bhagavad-Gita other than what I learned in my history class when we lightly brushed over it. I figured I would enjoy a read in verse, so I picked it up and read the first chapter.

This turned into the second, and then to the third. I was  so enthralled by what I was reading. It all made perfect sense. I finished the book over the first day and was completely awestruck with the idea of Krishna Consciousness. I realized that my belief in God had been completely restored. Srila Prabhupada says: “Certainly. You may be atheist or theist. The chanting is so powerful, the atheist will be theist. If you are atheist, you can try it. Yes?”

While I did not discover Krishna through chanting, I was changed nonetheless. The word was that powerful. I am trying to increase my knowledge in Krishna Consciousness every day. Reading Prabhupada’s Purports on the Bhagavad-Gita is very helpful and I am very glad that they are on the internet for all to see.

http://PrabhupadaBooks.com

I hope you enjoyed my story. Hare Krishna!

Dan

Seeing The Supreme Lord

Once, Sri Madhavendra Puri traveled to Vrndavana, the holy place where Lord Krishna spent His childhood. There he came upon the hill known as Govardhana. This hill was very important to Krishna and the cowherd boys because it provided such nice grass for their cows.

When Madhavendra Puri saw Govardhana hill it reminded him of Krishna and His pastimes and he became almost mad in his ecstasy of love of Godhead, and he did not know whether it was day or night. Sometimes he stood up, and sometimes he fell on the ground. He could not discriminate whether he was in a proper place or not.

After walking around the hill, Madhavendra Puri went to Govinda-kunda and took his bath. He then sat beneath a tree to take his evening rest. While he was sitting beneath the tree an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk. He placed it before Madhavendra Puri and smilingly addressed him as follows: “Please drink the milk I have brought. Why don’t you beg some food to eat? What kind of meditation are you undergoing?” When he saw the beauty of that boy Madhavendra Puri became very satisfied. Hearing His sweet words, he forgot all hunger and thirst. Madhavendra Puri said: “Who are You? Where do You reside? And how did You know that I was fasting?” The boy replied, “Sir, I am a cowherd boy, and I reside in this village. In My village no one fasts. In this village a person can beg food from others and thus eat. Some people drink only milk, but if a person does not ask anyone for food I supply him all his eatables. The women who come here to take water saw you, and they supplied Me with this milk and sent Me to you.” The boy continued: “I must go very soon to milk the cows, but I shall return and take back this milk pot from you.” Saying this the boy left the place. Indeed, He suddenly could be seen no more, and Madhavendra Puri’s heart was filled with wonder.

After drinking the milk, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and put it aside. He looked toward the path, but the boy never returned. Madhavendra Puri could not sleep. He sat and chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and at the end of the night he dozed a little, and his external activities stopped. In a dream he saw the very same boy. The boy came before him and, holding his hand, took him to a bush in the jungle. The boy showed Madhavendra Puri the bush and said: “I reside in this bush, and because of this I suffer very much from severe cold, rain showers, winds and scorching heat. Please bring the people of the village and get them to take me out of this bush. Then have them situate me nicely on the top of the hill. Please construct a temple on the top of the hill,” the boy continued, “and install Me in that temple. After this wash Me with large quantities of cold water so that My body may be cleansed.

For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, ‘When will Madhavendra Puri come here to serve Me?’ I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered. My name is Gopala. I am the lifter of Govardhana Hill. I was installed by Vajra and here I am the authority. When the Mohammedans attacked, the priest who was serving Me hid Me in this bush in the jungle. Then he ran away out of fear of the attack. Since the priest went away I have been staying in this bush. It is very good that you have come here. Now just remove Me with care.” After saying this the boy disappeared. Then Madhavendra Puri woke up and began to consider his dream. He began to lament: “I saw Lord Krishna directly but I could not recognise Him!” Thus he fell down on the ground in ecstatic love. Madhavendra Puri cried for some time but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopala thus he became tranquil.

After taking his morning bath Madhavendra Puri entered the village and assembled all the people. Then he said: “The proprietor of this village, Govardhana-dhari, is lying in the bushes. Let us go there and rescue Him from that place. The bushes are very dense and we will not be able to enter the jungle. Therefore take choppers and spades to clear the way.

After hearing this all the people accompanied Madhavendra Puri with great pleasure. According to his directions they cut down bushes, cleared a path and entered the jungle. When they saw the Deity covered with dirt and grass they were all struck with wonder and pleasure. After they cleansed the body of the Deity some of them said: “The Deity is very heavy. No one person can move Him.” Therefore some of the stronger men assembled there to carry Him to the top of the hill.

A big stone was made into a throne and the Deity was installed upon it. Another big stone was placed behind the Deity for support. All the brahmana priests of the village gathered together with nine waterpots and water from Govinda-kunda lake was brought there and filtered. When the Deity was being installed nine hundred pots of water were brought from Govinda-kunda. There were musical sounds of bugles and drums and the singing of women.

During the festival at the installation ceremony some people sang and some danced. All the milk, yogurt and clarified butter in the village was brought to the festival. Various foods and sweets as well as other kinds of presentations were brought there. I am unable to describe all these. The villagers brought a large quantity of tulasi leaves, flowers and various kinds of garments. Then Sri Madhavendra Puri personally began the abihiseka [bathing ceremony]. After all inauspicious things were driven away by the chanting of the mantra the Deity’s bathing ceremony started. First the Deity was massaged with a large quantity of oil so that His body became very glossy. After the body of the Deity was cleansed He was dressed very nicely with new garments. Then sandalwood pulp, tulasi garlands and other fragrant flower garlands were placed upon the body of the Deity. After the bathing ceremony was finished incense and lamps were burned and all kinds of food offered before the Deity. These foods included yogurt, milk and as many sweets as were received. The Deity was first offered many varieties of food, then scented drinking water in new pots and then water for washing the mouth. Finally pan mixed with a variety of spices was offered. After the last offering boga-aratrika was performed. Finally everyone offered various prayers and then obeisances, falling flat before the Deity in full surrender.

As soon as the people of the village had understood that the Deity was going to be installed they had brought their entire stock of rice, dhal and wheat flower. They brought such large quantities that the entire surface of the top of the hill was filled. The potters of the village brought all kinds of cooking pots and in the morning the cooking began. Ten brahmans cooked the food grains and five brahmans cooked both dry and liquid vegetables. The vegetable preparations were made from various kinds of spinach and roots and fruits collected from the forest. Someone had made bada and badi by mashing dhal. In this way all the brahmanas prepared all kinds of food. Five to seven men prepared a huge quantity of chappatis [flat bread] which were sufficiently covered with ghee [clarified butter], as were all the vegetables, rice and dhal.

All the cooked rice was stacked on palasa leaves which were on new cloths spread over the ground. Around the stack of cooked rice were stacks of chappatis and all the vegetables and liquid vegetable preparations were placed in different pots and put around them. Pots of yogurt, milk, buttermilk and sikharini, sweet rice, cream and solid cream were placed alongside the vegetables. In this way the Annakuta ceremony was performed and Madhavendra Puri Gosvami personally offered everything to Gopala. Many water pots were filled with scented water for drinking and Lord Sri Gopala, who had been hungry for many days, ate everything offered to Him. Although Sri Gopala ate everything offered, still, by the touch of His transcendental hand, everything remained as before. How Gopala ate everything while the food remained the same was transcendentally perceived by Madhavendra Puri Gosvami; nothing remains a secret to the devotees of the Lord.

The wonderful festival and installation of Sri Gopalaji was arranged in one day. Certainly all this was accomplished by the potency of Gopala. No one but a devotee can understand this.

Madhavendra Puri offered water to Gopala for washing His mouth and he gave Him betel nuts to chew. Then, while arati was performed, all the people chanted, “Jaya, jaya!” [All glories to Gopala]. To arrange for the Lord’s rest Sri Madhavendra Puri brought a new cot and over this he spread a new bedspread and thus made the bed ready. A temporary temple was constructed by covering the bed all around with a straw mattress. Thus there was a bed and a straw mattress to cover it. After the Lord was laid down to rest on the bed Madhavendra Puri gathered all the brahmanas who had prepared the prasada and said to them: “Now feed everyone sumptuously from the children up to the old-aged!” All the people gathered there sat down to honour the prasada, and by and by they took food. All the brahmans and their wives were fed first. Not only did the people of Govardhana Village take prasada, but also those who came from other villages. They also saw the Deity of Gopala and were offered prasada to eat.

Seeing the influence of Madhavendra Puri all the people gathered there were struck with wonder. They saw the Annakuta ceremony, which had been performed during the time of Krishna, was now taking place again by the mercy of Sri Madhavendra Puri.

All the brahmanas present on that occasion were initiated by Madhavendra Puri as Vaisnavas and he engaged them in different types of service.

When it was advertised throughout the country that Lord Gopala had appeared atop Govardhana Hill all the people from neighbouring villages came to see the Deity. One village after another was pleased to beg Madhavendra Puri to allot them one day to perform the Annakuta ceremony. Thus day after day the Annakuta ceremony was performed for some time.

The ideal place to execute Krishna consciousness is Vrajabhumi, or Vrndavana, where people are naturally inclined to love Krishna and Krishna is naturally inclined to love them. Throngs of people came from different villages to see the Deity of Gopala and they took maha-prasada sumptuously. When they saw the superexcellent form of Lord Gopala all their lamentation and unhappiness disappeared. All the villagers in the neighbouring Vrajabhumi [Vrndavana] became aware of the appearance of Gopala, and all the people from these villages came to see Him. Day after day they performed the Annakuta ceremony. In this way not only the neighbouring villages but all the other provinces came to know of Gopala’s appearance.

Thus people came from all over bringing a variety of presentations. The people of Mathura, who are very big capitalists, also brought various presentations and offered them before the Deity in devotional service. Thus countless presentations of gold, silver, garments, scented articles and eatables arrived. The store of Gopala increased daily. One very rich ksatriya of the royal order constructed a temple, someone made cooking utensils and someone constructed boundary walls. Each and every family residing in the land of Vrajabhumi contributed one cow. In this way thousands of cows became the property of Gopala. Eventually two brahmanas in the renounced order arrived from Bengal and Madhavendra Puri, who liked them very much, kept them in Vrndavana and gave them all comforts. These two were then initiated by Madhavendra Puri and he entrusted them with the daily service of the Lord. This service was performed continuously and the worship of the Deity became very gorgeous. Thus Madhavendra Puri was very pleased.

This is the way to install the Deity, construct the temple and increase the property of the temple. Everyone should be enthusiastic to contribute to the construction of the temple for the Deity, and everyone should also contribute food for the distribution of prasada. The devotees should preach the gospel of devotional service and thus engage the people in practical service to the Deity. Wealthy people can also be attracted to take part in these activities. In this way everyone will become spiritually inclined, and the entire society will be converted to Krishna consciousness. The desire to satisfy the material senses will automatically diminish and the senses will become so purified that they will be able to engage in bhakti [devotional service to the Lord] Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. By serving the Lord one’s senses are gradually purified. The engagement of one’s purified senses in the service of Lord Hrsikesa is called bhakti. When the dormant propensity for bhakti is awakened one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. Bhaktya mam abijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. (Bg. 18.55) This is the process of giving humanity the chance to awaken Krishna consciousness. Thus people can perfect their lives in all respects.

One who hears this narration with faith and devotion attains the treasure of love of Godhead at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

(from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila, Forth Chapter)

Krishna Responds to Everyone According to their Desires

Krishna Protects to everyone 

“All of them–As they surrender unto Me–I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha [Arjuna].” (Bhagavad-gita 4.11)

Krishna is responding to everyone, devotee or non-devotee. He is revealing Himself or not revealing Himself according to the desire of the individual person. In another place in the Gita Krishna says: “I am within everyone’s heart and I am giving remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” So one may ask why would Krishna give anyone the ability to forget Him? He states here clearly that He gives remembrance and knowledge — but He also gives forgetfulness. Krishna helps the devotees by giving them rememberance and knowledge so they can worship and serve Him–because that is what the devotees want, they want to remember Krishna, so Krishna helps them. But the demons do not want to remember Krishna. They want to become the supreme lord themselves, they want others to serve them, they want to be the master–they do not want to surrender to Krishna, they do not want to even know that there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead above them. So it is Krishna’s mercy to the demons that from within their hearts He gives them the ability to forget Him.

In reality everyone is searching for Krishna in the different aspects of His manifestations. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is fully realized by His pure devotees but everyone is realizing different aspects of Krishna according to their desires and their surrender to Krishna. The jnanis or the philosophers partially realize Krishna in the form of His impersonal brahmajyoti effulgence that is spread everywhere in an all-pervasive way, the yogis or meditators realize the paramatma or supersoul feature of Krishna within their hearts. In this way Krishna is the object of everyone’s realization and He reveals Himself according to one’s desire to have Him.

In the transcendental world also Krishna reciprocates with His pure devotees just as the devotee wants Him. One devotee may want Krishna as his supreme master, another as his personal friend, another as his son and still another as his lover. Krishna responds to all the devotees equally, according to their different intensities of love for Him. In the material world also the same reciprocations of feelings are there, and they are equally exchanged by the Lord with the different types of worshipers.

The pure devotees both here in the material world and in the spiritual world associate with Krishna in person and are able to render personal service to Him and in this way they derive transcendental bliss from His loving service. Also Krishna helps the impersonalists who desire to commit spiritual suicide by annihilating the individual existence of the living entity — Krishna helps them by absorbing them into His effulgence. Because the impersonalists do not agree to accept the eternal, blissful Personality of Godhead they can not enjoy the bliss of personal service to the Lord, having extinguished their individuality. So Krishna is rewarding the impersonalists in the way they want to be rewarded, by absorbing them into His impersonal effulgence and He is rewarding the devotees also by manifesting Himself before them in the way they want to see Him.

Krishna directly states that for the non-devotees — because they do not want to see Him — He does not manifest Himself before them:

“I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.” (Bg. 7.25)

This whole material world is created by Krishna for us, the rebellious living entities who want to try to enjoy separately from Him. In reality there is no enjoyment separate from Krishna because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead the sole enjoyer and we are His servants. We are constitutionally servants. We have no alternative, we must render service. The devotees enjoyment comes from seeing Krishna happy. So when Krishna is happy because of his service the devotee enjoys.

The materialists, also, can not avoid this service. Even if you look at the greatest and most powerful men on the planet — they all have to render service. If you take the President of the United States — a very big post — still he has to serve the country. He is elected because he promises to serve the country and if he does not serve the people will demand that he be removed from the post of president.

Every one of us is serving. Some are serving their family and to get money they have to serve the boss and serve the customers. Even if one is alone he is still serving his senses.  In every field of life this service is the most prominent thing for everyone. Many have heard the term ‘sanatana-dharma‘ but very few realize what this is. Sanatana means ‘eternal’ and dharma means ‘occupation’ so sanatana dharma means the eternal occupation of the living entity. People tend to think that this sanatana-dharma is religion but that is not a very good understanding of the word because religion can change. One day I can be a Christian then I can change to be a Hindu so this ‘Christian’ or ‘Hindu’ can not be sanatana-dhrama because it can not be changed.

The dharma of an object is that thing which can not be separated from the object. The thing that can not be changed, the eternal characteristic of that object. For example if we speak of sugar it must be sweet. Sweetness is the dharma of sugar. If it is not sweet it is not sugar. The dharma of water is to be wet, the dharma of salt is to be salty… So what is our dharma? What is the characteristic that we have that can not be changed and without it we have no meaning? Actually that characteristic is service. We have no meaning without service. There is no way we can escape from service. Even to simply maintain the body we have to work, we have to render service. So our dharma is service and there are so many different types of service that we can be occupied with. But what is sanatana-dharma, our eternal occupation? That is service to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead so that is our eternal occupation, serving Krishna, and really there is nothing else but service to Krishna.

However Krishna has given us all a limited amount of independence. Our relationship with Krishna is based on love and love can not be forced. So if we are to love Krishna in a voluntary way then there has to be some other option for the rebellious living entities who decide not to love Krishna. That is this material world and because Krishna reciprocates with all the living entities in the way they want to see Him then it is His great mercy for the demons who have rebelled against Him the He creates this material world as a place where the demons can forget Krishna and try to be happy separately from serving Krishna. Actually there is no question of us ever being separate from Krishna but to create this illusion for the demons who want it Krishna has created maha-maya. It is only by the power of maya that the demons are bewildered into thinking that they can be happy separately from Krishna, it is only by the spell of maya that they think they can turn this material world into a happy place where they can live forever.

So the summary is Krishna reveals Himself to the living entities in the way they want to see Him. So for a devotee Krishna appears as Krishna in a relationship like son, friend of lover and for the demon Krishna appears as maya and by the illusions generated by maya the demon can believe that Krishna does not exist.

Therefore Krishna is revealing Himself to everyone in the way they want to see Him or if someone does not want to see Him Krishna is hiding Himself from them.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Sri Krsna Janmasthami 2013 — at Varsana Jardines Ecológicos.: Colombia

Beautiful celebration with Guru Maharaja in Varsana Jardines Ecologicos celebrating the birth of Sri Krsna, the appearance day of Srila Prabhupada, and Ratha Yatra

Their Lordships Sri Sri Gauranga Radha Vrajesvara

Beautiful couples in festival

Guru Maharaja in Varsana Jardines Ecologicos celebrating the birth of Sri Krsna

Protected cows

Guru Maharaja in Varsana Jardines Ecologicos celebrating the birth of Sri Krsna - Aarti 

Hare krishna song

Guru Maharaja seeing the progress of the construction of the trulys — at Varsana Jardines Ecológicos.

Raising Krishna Conscious Kids

Raising Krishna Conscious Kids

What a challenge, huh? Raising Krishna Conscious children has tested many. From observation of many devotee parents raising kids, I have come to see that being too extreme does not work if you want to raise balanced, Krishna Conscious children.

There is a famous saying, about tuning a musical instrument. It goes something like this: “If the string is not tight enough, it will not play. If you tighten it too much, it will snap.”

This can be analogous to many things in life, including raising children.

One nice way to raise children with Krishna, in a way they will appreciate, is to read Krishna Conscious story books with them, or even watch Krishna Conscious movies with them.


Krishna Conscious Videos

There are many Krishna Conscious videos suitable for kids. Some of these movies are actually really nice to watch, even for adults.

Little Krishna

One nice set of DVDs is the Little Krishna DVDs. It is a high-budget production made by Big Animation / Reliance, in connection with devotees at ISKCON Bangalore. It is a very well-done animation, with loveable characters (of course!). From the mischievous Krishna stealing butter with  his friends and the monkeys, to epic battle scenes with Krishna delivering justice to demons in self-defense, there are many cool scenes from the sweet to the awesome, from the fun to the funny, from the tear-jerking to the breathtaking.

Animated Ramayana – Warrior Prince

The Animated Ramayana is a classic. Many second generation devotees recall watching this movie many times, over and over again, as they grew up.

It is a $12 million dollar project. The animation style is a fusion style, consisting of 3 different schools of animation: Manga from Japan, Disney from the USA and Ravi Varma from India. The Warrior Prince is directed and conceived by Japanese master filmmaker Yugo Sako.

It is a pretty action packed movie, with many battle scenes.

Krishna Conscious Books for Children

There are many Krishna Conscious Story Books for children available. Here’s a couple for example:


Damodara – Glorified for Stealing Butter

This 31-page story book for children has lots of pictures and big text. It is the story of Damodara. Krishna’s is named Damodara for his pastimes of stealing butter and being caught by Mother Yasoda, who tied Krishna up with a rope around his belly. This is a beautiful story that shows the love between mother and son, and Krishna and his devotees.

Dhruva – the Star Devotee

This is the story of Dhruva. Dhruva is a prime example of a Vaishnava. From hearing about him, one can learn much about what it means to be a devotee of Krishna or Vishnu.

These are just some examples of fun ways to introduce your child to Krishna. Reading these stories and watching the videos can be an endearing experience.

Combination of Male & Female through Marriage

Krishna Plays on His Flute in the Forrest of Vrindavan and the Gopis are Attracted

In whole world there is combination of male and female, either… Any society, human society, or bird society or dog society or animal society. Why this male and female? Why? Female is the energy, energy of the male. Why a man takes, marries a woman and takes responsibility…? Of course, in your country they marry as a matter of joke, immediately divorce after week or after seven days. But marriage means to take full responsibility of a woman. That is real marriage, Vedic marriage.

Room Conversation
–
October 20, 1968, Seattle

Prabhupada: …the whole atmosphere, you should come and disturb. You are making… You cannot understand? And the whole attention is diverted to you. So hara, hara is the form of the word… Hare is the form of the word hara when address, when She is addressed. And Krsna, when He’s addressed, the form does not change. This is grammatical rule. So Hare Krsna means, “Oh, the energy of Krsna, or energy of the Lord,” and Krsna, “the Lord.” So Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna means I am praying not only to the Lord, but to the energy also. This is natural.

Just like a man and woman. In whole world there is combination of male and female, either… Any society, human society, or bird society or dog society or animal society. Why this male and female? Why? Female is the energy, energy of the male. Why a man takes, marries a woman and takes responsibility…? Of course, in your country they marry as a matter of joke, immediately divorce after week or after seven days. But marriage means to take full responsibility of a woman. That is real marriage, Vedic marriage.

We, when I get married our boys and girls, the boy takes this vow that “I take responsibility of your maintenance throughout your whole life,” and the girl promises that “I desire to serve you throughout my whole life.” So the woman, the female, is the energy. When a man comes at home, he sees that everything is nicely decorated, my wife is well-dressed and foodstuff is nicely prepared, he becomes encouraged. He can work more nicely. Therefore woman is the energy. The woman gives the energy and he can work. Wherefrom this idea came?

The idea came because it is originally here, janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Everything is coming from the Supreme; otherwise where do you get this idea? Sarvam khalv idam brahma. Without being in the origin? Bijo ‘ham sarva-bhutanam, Krsna says that “I am the root of everything.” So if this energy, male and female combination, is a necessity, so wherefrom this necessity came into existence unless it is there in the origin?

Therefore it is to be understood that the Absolute has energy. He has got different energies. By His energies He is acting, and that is confirmed in the Vedic sutra, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. The Supreme Absolute Truth has multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, multi-energies. And svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca, and by His energies he’s working in such a nice way that it appears that it is being automatically done. Just like this tape recorder is working. How it is working? The electric energy is there. By the electric energy the machine is so nicely working that when it is replayed exactly I am speaking.

So energy is working. I am speaking, my speaking energy is acting, electric energy is helping. This machine energy is accepting and a nice thing is coming. Similarly, the whole cosmic manifestation is the manifestation of the energies. The rascals, they do not understand. And when it is stated that everything is Brahman, that is to be understood that everything is working under the energy of the Supreme Brahman. That is real meaning. But this is simultaneously one and different. When this tape recorder will play, it will play exactly I am speaking to you. There will be no difference of voice.

If somebody hears from other room, he’ll understand that Swamiji’s speaking, but still, that speaking is
different from me. Because my energy is working there. Similarly, there are two kinds of energies. Just like when I am speaking, this is my real energy, and when this tape recorder will speak, that is also my energy, but that is separated energy. Similarly, this material manifestation is separated energy, and there is direct energy. The direct… This material energy, separated energy, is the reflection of the direct energy. Just like when this tape recorder will be replayed it is the reflection of my original speech. Similarly, this material manifestation is a reflection of the original energy, internal energy. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that perverted reflection. urdhva-mulam adhah-sakham [Bg. 15.1], perverted, a tree. This cosmic manifestation is compared just like a tree with root upwards. That means perverted. Have you seen a tree upwards, root?

Jahnava: I’ve heard an analogy to that before.

Prabhupada: Yes. So this material world is perverted reflection of the original energy. So this “Hare” means we are directly approaching the original energy of the Supreme Lord. “Please accept me, under You. Now I am under reflection. I am trying to get substance from the reflection.” Suppose a tree is reflected by the bank of a river, the exact. So if somebody dives into the river and tries to take fruit from that tree, it will not be possible because that is reflection. One has to go to the real tree. So we are hankering after life, we are hankering after pleasure, but we are seeking pleasure in the reflection, maya.

Therefore we are frustrated, confused. Therefore this prayer is to the original energy. Without energy, without energy the Lord is not without energy. Radha-Krsna, Laksmi-Narayana, Sita-Rama. So God is always with energy. Without energy, he is incomplete. Sun without sunshine is incomplete. Is it possible? Can one think of sun without sunshine? Similarly, the Mayavada theory that the absolute is without energy, there is no energy, absolute is… They have misunderstood. The energy is not different from the energetic. Just like sunshine is not different from the sun, neither the sunshine has got any existence without the sun, nor the sun can exist without sunshine.

They are so intimately related. Similarly, the Lord and the energies are so intimately related, they cannot be separated, but they are not one. This is the whole philosophy. So we are praying to the original energy, Hare Krsna. Because energy and the energetic, Radha-Krsna. Radha-Krsna, They are not separate, but it is pleasure. When They are separated, Radha and Krsna, that is energetic, that is giving impetus. Just like the man and the woman, they come from the same source, but one body is energetic to the other. Man is energy to the woman. Woman is the energy to the man. Why the creation is not one kind of? Why there is fair sex? They’re coming from the same womb of the mother. Why not one, boy only? Why girl? Why nature has provided like that? Let simply boys come. No. It is required.

But the whole thing is perverted reflection. Here the man, woman, the energy… It is simply… But by this, one can understand the reality. Just like the shadow, the five fingers. One person who is not misled, he can understand that the original palm has five fingers, although he cannot see it. From the shadow. Similarly, from this energy, work of the energy in this material perverted reflection, one can understand that there is a reality.

In the reality, in the abode of Krsna, the same things are there, the same trees are there, the same things are there, but they are original, personal energy. And here, they are simply imitation or perverted reflection. Not imitation. The exact word is perverted reflection. The same example. Just like a tree on the bank of a river is reflected obverted, the root upwards and the branches downwards. So this world is like that, and that is described in the Fifteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. So one has to learn all these things. Everything is there. (end)





Source: krishna.org

Why is Krishna Coloured Blue?

One of the theories is that Vishnu, because of his association with water, is depicted blue; therefore all his incarnations, including Krishna, are shown as such. In Hinduism, persons who have depth of character and the capacity to fight evil are depicted as blue skinned. Another theory refers to Vishnu implanting two hairs, one black and the other whites in Devaki’s womb (which miraculously got transferred to Rohini’s) and as a result, from the black hair Krishna took birth, with a dark skin, and from the white hair his brother, Balarama.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

While other forms of the Lord descended with various paraphernalia to deal with the demoniac and irreligious influences of the time, Lord Sri Caitanya was equipped with the most powerful weapon against irreligion, the Maha Mantra. The chanting of the holy name of Lord Sri Krishna is the sublime and recommended process in this age for the deliverance of all souls from the clutches of maya (illusion) and irreligion.

INTRODUCTION

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 4:7 “Whenever and wherever there is a

decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.” In past ages Lord Krishna has appeared in various forms. Over 5000 years ago He appeared as Himself in His original form as Bhagavan, Sri Krishna. In this present age of Kali Yuga, He appears in His most merciful form as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While other forms of the Lord descended with various paraphernalia to deal with the demoniac and irreligious influences of the time, Lord Sri Caitanya was equipped with the most powerful weapon against irreligion, the Maha Mantra. The chanting of the holy name of Lord Sri Krishna is the sublime and recommended process in this age for the deliverance of all souls from the clutches of maya (illusion) and irreligion

Lord Caitanya is Lord Krishna’s devotional form and is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.29 “In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna”, (chanting the Maha Mantra). Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krishna’s most merciful form who comes under the guise of a devotee. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was setting the perfect example of the “pure devotee of God”, yet, He is God Himself! He is the devotional form of Lord Sri Krishna. The purpose of Lord Caitanya’s appearance was to spread the sankirtan movement of chanting the holy names of the Lord to every town and village worldwide as the main means of God realization for this present age of Kali Yuga. He encouraged His followers to write books on Vaishnava sastra and to defeat the present infection of mayavadi impersonalism that is present everywhere and establish within the hearts of all, the practice of bhakti (love and devotion) to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.

Whenever the Lord descends to earth to fulfill a particular mission, He is accompanied by an entourage of His most exalted devotees who descend with Him from the spiritual realm. They appear as parents, friends, relatives, etc. and they are His liberated sincere devotees who have come to facilitate in the advancement of His mission. God does not need help in any way, but just as His pure devotees relish His association, so too does Lord Krishna relish in the association of His pure devotees. Lord Caitanya’s teachings are the same as Lord Krishna’s teachings in Bhagavad Gita. They are one and the same, but Lord Caitanya’s life is a practical example for all to follow. I stress the word “follow” since it may be the incentive of some to try to imitate Lord Sri Caitanya. That is not endorsed, or even possible. God cannot be imitated, but His teachings can be followed and applied to cleanse the heart and advance in a spiritual and Godly life. Lord Caitanya is God Himself showing the way of how we can apply the message of Lord Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita to make our lives perfect and complete.

            CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S APPEARANCE

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur, India during an eclipsed moon on the evening of February 18th, 1486. Caitanya’s father was Jagannath Misra, a poor Brahman and his mother was Sachi Devi. The people of the area were engaged in bathing in the holy Bhagirathi, as was customary during such occassions. With loud bursts of Haribol! Lord Sri Caitanya makes His appearance into this age known as Kali Yuga

Lord Caitanya’s appearance was foretold in sastra (scripture) and the manifestation of His greatness was unfolding. Caitanya was a beautiful child with a golden complexion. The ladies of Mayapur would come to see Him with presents and they would call Him “Gaurahari” because of the golden color of His complexion. Like golden sunshine He was radiant. His mother referred to Him as “Nimai” because He was born near a Nim tree. People from all around the area would come to visit Him every day.

He entered school in His fifth year and easily learned to speak Bengali in a very brief time. Whenever the baby aitanya would cry continuously the neighbor women and His mother would yell Haribol! At this sound He would immediatly stop. There were always echos of “Haribol” within His home. Once a Brahmin came to His house and was a guest for a short time. The Brahmin cooked some rice and during the Brahmins offering prayers with meditation on Lord Sri Krishna, the small Caitanya ate his rice. The Brahmin in turn, cooked more rice and while offering prayers and meditating on Lord Krishna, the boy ate the Brahmin’s rice again. While everyone in the house was asleep the Brahmin cooked rice for the third time and this time Caitanya showed His form as Lord Sri Krishna and blessed the Brahmin guest. The Brahmin realizing that this boy was Lord Sri Krishna in another form, became lost in extreme joy and ecstasy. His joy was extreme due to the appearance of the Supreme Object of his worship, Lord Sri Krishna Himself.

Once Caitanya was stolen by thieves who were out to plunder jewels and the boy Caitanya was lured with sweet treats. Caitanya exercised His powers as illusory energy and the thieves were made to go back towards His own house. The thieves thought they were going the other way, but Caitanya had tricked them. Leaving the boy at His own doorstep, with fear of being caught, they ran. At the age of eight years old, He was instructed by Gangadas Pandit and within two years He had become well prepared with a knowledge of Sanskrit grammar. His father Jagannath Misra was a pandit himself and young Caitanya would study His father’s books. After Caitanya had reached His tenth year, His brother had accepted the order of sannyasa and had left home. Not long after that incident His father left this world and just as young Caitanya had consoled His mother when His brother had left to take sannyasa, so too did He console her after His father’s departure.

During His teens, He was considered an expert scholar and His expertise in Sanskrit and Nyaya philosophy was intimidating to the other pandits who would avoid confronting Him in discussions. Caitanya would preach the principles of Vaishnava Tradition and He was expert in debunking the speculative and impersonal philosophies of some pandits. At the age of 16 Caitanya travelled to Gaya with a following of His students and it was there that He took spiritual initiation from Iswara Puri. Iswara was a Vaishnava sannyasi and his guru was Madhavendra Puri. After His initiation He became an even more dedicated preacher of the Vaishnava tradition and He was absorbed in the name and service to Lord Sri Krishna.

His mission was to spread the glories of the holy names of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and thus spiritualize mankind with the chanting of these holy names. The Vaishnava devotional creed of bhakti represents love and devotion to God, Lord Krishna, on a personal level. Sri Caitanya was expert in defeating so called scholars promoting an impersonal concept of the absolute without regard to sastric revelation. The assertation of the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead was formost and the presentation of Krishna as chanted in kirtan (congregational chanting of Hare Krishna) was a prime benediction that Caitanya was bestowing upon all humanity at large.

At the house of Srivasa Pandit He would sing, dance, and chant the names of Lord Krishna and express religious inspiration to all. Many sincere followers were in attendance at these gatherings. Nityananda Prabhu had at this time completed a tour of India and joined Caitanya and a host of other Vaishnava acharyas in the goal of spiritualizing mankind with the highest transmission of the Vaishnava devotional creed. Caitanya instructed His close associates Nityananda and Haridas Thakur by saying “Go friends, go through the streets of the towns, meet every man at his door and ask him to sing the name of Hari (Krishna) with a holy life and you then come and report to Me every evening the result of your preaching.” On that order the two would go out and with the blessings of Sri Caitanya many were converted to bhakti (love and devotion) to God. Even the two sinful characters of Jagai and Madhai were inspired to give up their wrong ways and change their hearts. Soon sankirtan parties (large groups chanting God’s name) flooded the streets to chant the names of Krishna.

All were surprised with the great power of Sri Caitanya. Envious smarta Brahmins became jealous of Nimai Pandit’s (Caitanya) success and complained to the Kazi. The Kazi was a non-Hindu political enforcer at that time. The Kazi went to Srivasa Pandit’s house and broke a mridanga drum (drum used for loud congregational chanting). The Kazi also ordered that unless Caitanya cease the public display of amassing crowds to chant the name of God (Krishna), he would be forced to apply Mohammedan law against Him and His followers. When word of this threat reached Caitanya, He ordered the towns people to appear in the evening, each carrying a torch. They did this and He organized them into 14 groups. They all marched, led by Nimai (Caitanya) to the house of the Kazi. At the Kazi’s house Caitanya engaged in a long conversation with the Kazi. He spoke of the Vaishnava tradition and communicated into the heart of the Kazi His Vaishnava influence by touching his body. The Kazi broke into tears and admitted that he had felt a great spiritual presence and was deeply influenced by Caitanya’s message. The Kazi experienced a higher ecstasy that cleared all doubts and gave him a religious conviction like never before. The Kazi joined Caitanya’s samkirtan party and he too took part in the mass congregational chanting spreading in India. The great spiritual power of the Supreme Lord astonished all as hundreds upon hundreds were converted and joined under the banner of Vaishnava love of God. The names of Lord Krishna echoed in the streets.

In His 24th year, Caitanya took the vow of sannyasa and upon renouncing material ties, He embraced a greater wealth of the world of Lord Krishna and a life exemplified as a perfect devotee of God. He radiated love for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. After His taking of the vows of sannyasa, He traveled to Santipur to the house of Advaitacharya. Advaita invited many friends and admirers of Caitanya and even brought Saci Devi to see her son. As a sannyasi, Sri Krishna Caitanya wore only an outer covering. His head was shaved and he carried a danda and a kamandalu. Upon seeing His mother Caitanya fell at her feet and exclaimed “Mother! this body is yours and I must obey your orders. Permit me to go to Vrindavan for My spiritual attainments.” After a consultation with Advaita and others present, she asked Him to reside in Jagannatha Puri, so that she could obtain information from Him from time to time. This He agreed to.

After taking sannyasa He became known to many as “Krishna Caitanya”. On His way to Jagannath Puri He passed the Bhubaneswar temple and upon His arrival in Puri He saw Lord Jagannath in the temple there. A very renouned pandit of that time was Sarvabhauma. Saravabhauma was known as the most educated scholar of Vedanta in the school of Sankaracharya at that time. Gopinath Misra introduced Caitanya to Sarvabhauma. Sarvabhauma was informed that this was no ordinary pandit. After a hot discussion with Gopinath, Sarvabhauma requested Caitanya to hear his recitation of the Vedanta Sutras. This Caitanya listened to with great patience and silence for seven days. At the end of the recitation, Sarvabhauma said “Caitanya! I think You do not understand the Vedanta, as You do not say anything after hearing my recitation and explanation.” Caitanya replied that He understood the sutras very well, but could not make out what Sankaracharya had meant. Sarvabhauma was astonished and asked Caitanya to explain. Caitanya in turn explained the sutras perfectly without regard to the pantheistic commentary of Sankaracharya. With keen understanding and a vision for the truth, harmony, and beauty of what Caitanya had explained, Sarvabhauma was humbled. Sarvabhauma admitted that he had never heard such a clear manner of commentary on the Vedanta Sutras. He made known that the commentaries of Sankaracharya were not the natural and profound commentaries that Sri Caitanya had given. Another thing that was clear to Sarvabhauma was that to not submit himself to be a follower and devotee of Sri Krishna Caitanya would be the greatest mistake. He did just that and became one of the greatest Vaishnava devotees of the Lord at that time.

All of Orisa praised Sri Krishna Caitanya and his glories were spreading, just as He was spreading the glories of Lord Sri Krishna through the congregational chanting of His Holy Name “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. Caitanya travelled to southern India along with Krishnadas Brahmin. In Kurmaksetra He peformed a miracle by curing a leper named Vasudev. He had conversations with many and many were converted to the great mission of love of God and they became devotees of Lord Krishna and supporters of Sri Krishna Caitanya in the advancment of His mission. Everywhere the names of Sri Krishna were chanted with ecstatic joy. He performed another miracle by touching the seven trees that Ramachandra , the son of Dasarath, had shot arrows through and by His touch the trees disappeared. He stayed four months at the home of Venkata Bhatta and the whole family was delivered from Ramanuja Vaishnavaism into Krishna bhakti. The boy in that family, named Gopal, later became one of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan under the leadership of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He had many discussions and even many Mayavadis surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Wherever He travelled His mercy was an endless ocean for all and He displayed miracles everywhere to the amazement of all. His deep love and devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna and His perfect example of pure Vaishnava bhakti (love and devotion) was contagious. On a trip with Balabhadra around India, Caitanya was passing by the jungle, enroute to Puri. Balabhadra reported that Sri Caitanya had shown a great many miracles during this trip, such as making tigers and elephants dance after hearing the name of Krishna. Just as an iron rod is made hot by association with fire, so too is love for the Supreme Lord made possible by the proper contact and association with Vaishnava devotees. Rupa Goswami was trained in spirituality by Caitanya and was given directions to write theological books on the subject of pure bhakti and prema, devotional service, and love of Godhead. Rupa Goswami’s second mission was to revive the places where the Lord Krishna Himself had at the end of Dvapara Yuga ( the previous age) exhibited His lilas, or Pastimes that were for the benefit of the all.

Throughout His life Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya preached the principles of pure love of God to the masses. He would many times perform a miracle to attract pandits, sannyasis, and the inquisitive to Him. He would fall at the lotus feet of the Deity of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in ecstacy and weep with love and devotion. By His association, He could touch the hearts of those around Him and make them weep for His mercy to help their spiritual advancement. Lord Sri Caitanya is Lord Krishna and Radharani combined in the form of the “Golden Avatar”. Sri Caitanya preached pure bhakti (love and devotion) for God. He instilled into the heart great spiritual love for Krishna and inspired many to give up sectarian connections. God is not sectarian, nor is His word, or followers. The platform of pure bhakti (love and devotion to the Lord) is above sectarian and other material “isms” and labels. Sri Caitanya defied caste distinction and unified everyone in spiritual brotherhood and love of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent the last 18 years of His appearance in this world in Puri at the home of Kasi Misra. His disappearance in the 48th year was at the time of sankirtan (congregational chanting of God’s names) in the temple of Tota Gopinath. He was surrounded by Vaishnavas with the purest character, learning and firm spiritual love for Sri Krishna. All who came in contact with Him knew Him as the all-beautiful God appearing in this world for the benefit of all mankind. Humility was personified in Him. The six Goswamis of Vrindavan are His eternal servitors who preached love on His behalf. He never lacked proper instruction for those who approached Him and would always chastise those who deviated from a holy life. He is still the way and light for those in this age of Kali Yuga who wish to make their lives perfect and bask in the light of love of God. In Lord Sri Caitanya’s “Sikshastaka” verse 1, Caitanya says: “Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtan which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediciton for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious”. (This ends my summary of the life and precepts of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabh)

                         KRISHNADAS KAVIRAJ

Krishnadas Kaviraj was a great writer who has given many details on Sri Caitanya’s life and teachings. Much of the information he gathered originated from the six Goswamis of Vrindavan themselves. Jiva Goswami also left a valuable work on the precepts of Sri Caitanya, called, Sad-sandarbha. The multivolume presentation of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita is an emense biography of Sri Caitanya. A. C. Bhaktivedanta’s translation is recommended for all interested in advancing in both knowledge and love of God. While my efforts were made here to convey some understanding of Lord Caitanya, it is but a particle summary of those precepts. It is clear that the vast appearance and teachings of Sri Caitanya go beyond anything that I can transmit. I therefore urge a more complete study of Sri Krishna Caitanya to fully reap the nectarian fruit of spiritual consciousness that He radiates. I pay obeisances and express great gratitude to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is by his mercy that the mercy of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya is so available to all, around the world outside of India. Srila Prabhupada’s translations of Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Bhagavad Gita, Sri Isopanisad, Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhaktamrita Sindu (Nectar of Devotion), and other great Vaishnava scriptures has saved so many from the darkness of maya and impersonalism throughout the world. I can not recommend enough that everyone who is interested in the subject of spiritual life, read his books and apply them in their own life daily. He is teaching purely the message of Lord Krishna and the benefit of hearing and acting on Lord Krishna’s instructions is an endless ocean of mercy for all souls.

                                        CREDITS

Those interested in deeper study of Lord Sri Caitanya’s life are urged to refer to “The Teachings of Lord Caitanya” printed by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. This book is recommended as well as “Sri Caitanya Caritamrita”, which is a multivolume account of the precepts and pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya, as described by the great Gaudiya Vaishnava saint Krishnadas Kaviraja and translated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In this connection, I quote Krishnadas Kaviraja as saying “By the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu a dumb man can recite perfect poetry, a lame man can cross over mountains, and a blind man can see the stars.” In presenting this particle account of the unlimited greatness of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I can attest to His mercy and guidance in my life, and the mercy of His pure devotee, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Haribol!

Written by Dharmaksetra das

A God of Love? A God of Goodness?

From the Bilbe, Jesus is the Son of God. So we know that Jesus is from the God and goodness. If God is a God of goodness, a God of love why does he let people suffer so much? Thanks guys. — Haonan

Many people, it seems, think there could be not be a God because this world is so messed up. I saw hundreds of postings on the internet after the bomb in the states that killed some children in a kindergarten. They were saying, “If there is God, how could He have done this?”

This reaction is a result of the relatively new Christian idea of an “all-loving God”. They say an “all-loving God” wouldn’t have Hell, He knows we are not perfect so He won’t punish us for our sins… But this is nonsense. It is not what Christians believed thirty or forty years ago either.

God is a loving God, but love means He cares about us so if we stray from the path of spiritual life a loving God will arrange to correct us, to get us back on the right path.

All the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of what this world is for. We don’t belong here. We have come here to try to be happy independently from God. We want to be the controller, we want to be god. To fulfill our independent desires God has created this world, but it’s created in such a way that we can enjoy here but all our enjoyment will end in frustration. This material world is actually created as a place of frustration. If it was all “peaches and cream” we would never contemplate leaving this place…

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (8.16):

          abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino ‘rjuna

          mam upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains my abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.”

So this is a place of misery! [And every time I say this people jump up and down... but what can I do? It is a miserable place!]

There is a little “pleasure” here and there is certainly beauty here but it is not permanent. That is the source of the misery and frustration. We, the spirit souls, are eternal living beings but currently we are covered by these material bodies. When we accept our material bodies as ourselves and work on the bodily platform we are working for temporary things. Even if we achieve these temporary things [and some temporary happiness] in time we will loose them again and become distressed.

So happiness and distress is coming and going like the waves of the ocean, but a self realized soul is not attached to happiness nor is he disturbed by distress. He knows both are temporary manifestations caused by his past activities [karma] in this life and previous lives and that he can’t do anything about it. His allotted happiness will come and so will his allotted distress.

Nobody works hard for distress, but distress still comes, so even if we don’t work for it our allotted happiness will also automatically come to us. We can’t change it by working very hard. It’s caused by our activities in the past, we can’t change our activities in the past…

Some people, due to their good karma, do enjoy “happy” lives here while others, due to their bad karma, suffer like anything. THIS IS NOT GOD’s PARTIALITY. It is the result of OUR actions in the past. God doesn’t kill children in a bomb. Those children did something in their previous lives so as a reaction they had to be killed in the bomb blast. It’s a result of their own activities…

A devotee takes distress as Krishna’s mercy and as an impetus to take spiritual life more seriously.

When Krishna was personally on this planet [5,000 years ago in India] due to the intrigues of the Kuruvas the Pandavas [Krishna's friends and devotees] were put into great difficulty. They were forced out of the kingdom which was rightfully theirs, they had to live in the forest for twelve years and they faced so many difficulties. There is a very beautiful section in the first canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam entitled “The Prayers of Queen Kunti”. Kunti was the mother of the Pandavas and she has given so many nice prayers:

“My dear Krishna, Your Lordship has protected us from a poisoned cake, from a great fire, from cannibals, from the vicious assembly, from sufferings during our exile in the forest, and from the battle where great generals fought. And now You have saved us from the weapon of Asvatthama.

“I wish that these calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.

“My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.

“My obeisances are unto You, who are the property of the materially impoverished. You have nothing to do with the actions and reactions of the material modes of nature. You are self-satisfied, and therefore You are the most gentle and are master of the monists.

“My Lord, I consider Your Lordship to be eternal time, the supreme controller, without beginning and end, the all-pervasive one. In distributing Your mercy You are equal to everyone. The dissensions between living beings are due to social intercourse.”

(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.24-28)

So God is not responsible for our suffering, we caused it ourselves. In times of difficulty a devotee takes shelter of Krishna, he turns to Krishna, but in times of material prosperity and happiness there is a chance he may forget Krishna. So Queen Kunti is praying, “Let the calamities come again… for then there will be no chance we will forget You.”

''

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita 2.14:

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah

agamapayino ‘nityas tams titiksasva bharata

“O son of Kunti [Arjuna], the non-permanent appearance of happiness and distress and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.”

Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.