Happy New Year 2019

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2019. A devotee always tries to see everything through the vision of Krishna's teachings. Below is Srila Prabhupada's vision of the new year;

So far as we are concerned, our new year is every day because Krishna belongs to the nitya lila. Nitya lila means that all of His Pastimes are going on in either of the so many universes. It is just like the rising of the sun. In your country the sun is supposed to rise at 6:30 at the present moment, but at any time you can inquire in some part of the world and there it is the same 6:30 and sunrise. While you are in this meridian, in another country it may be 6:30 AM, and the sun is rising.
- Srila Prabhupada, 1969

If also cultivate a vision that every day is like a new year by meditating on the nitya lila of Krishna, our life certainly will be fresh and new every day thus giving us joy!

I started writing this blog 11 years ago and now this is my 1000th post. I extend the readers of this blog my gratitude.

Hare Krishna.

Framework for ascertaining non-sectarian dharma

Steps to understand that the process of Bhagavad dharma is non-sectarian.

For example, let us say I am sick. Below are the steps I would take;

1. I have fever, headache and body-ache
2. I will go to the doctor 
3. Take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor
4. No fever, headache or body-ache (healthy)

The above is a real world example every one of us have experienced. It is the same for a muslim, christian, hindu or atheist. 

The above steps can be categorized as follows;

1. Problem
2. Method or process
3. Solution
4. Problem solved

Using this four-step framework, we can apply this to Bhagavad dharma;

1. Problem - Human's false identification with the body and mind (experiences duality/birth&death or samsara)
2. Method/process - logical deduction, instructions of the sages, and vedic literature
3. Solution - Surrender to Lord Sri Krishna who is seated within the heart
4. Problem solved - No false identification with body and mind, hence does not experience duality/birth&death or samsara.

Now, people in general (majority) do not even accept they have the problem of mis-identification. However, we simply have to be sober and introspect our own self to ascertain that it is a problem. There is ample evidence from scientists also suggesting the same (if we have the will to research, we will find evidence). Through some personal effort, certainly we can ascertain the problem. 

The method or process requires faith. This faith is not blind. When we see self-realized sages who are not attached to their body and mind, we want that. We want a state where we are not attached to enjoyment or renunciation (duality) like the sages. We can gather that evidence by simply studying the sages. If a sage is not interested in the duality of  enjoyment or renunciation, then we can conclude he or she is not attached to the body and mind. We approach them like we go to the doctor and inquire from them as to how they reached that stage. According to great sages like Ramanuja and Madhwa, we learn that by taking shelter of Krishna and surrendering unto Him we will also reach that state of existence non-duality (advaitam).

We practice with due diligence and realize the truth for our self.

Anyone regardless of their political, economical, and religious biases, if they take to this process, they will realize the truth and this is the essence of non-sectarianism. Anybody regardless of background will get the same results. 

Hare Krishna

How to have a peaceful mind?

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna many times talks about the equanimity of the mind. He says we have to treat success/failure, honor/dishonor, pain/pleasure equally and such equanimity of mind is called yoga or mind control or mindfulness. 

To do this, 

1. We have to learn to tolerate both good and bad. If we become too happy then naturally we will also not react well when things go wrong.
2. We also have to refrain from interpreting incidents in our life as gain or loss. When we qualify something or someone as favorable (gain) or unfavorable (loss), then invariably we will fall in the trap of duality of happiness or sadness. 
3. We have to spend time understanding that my life, my family, my job and my assets is a result of something more than just me or my efforts. No doubt, because of our hard work, we reach a certain socio-economic status but it is incorrect to think that I am the sole reason for my success or failure. There are other moving parts that we do not control and those parts either assist or desist our progress. So having a broader vision for life is necessary to understand our own progress.
4. We have to be grateful not as a matter of political correctness but genuinely from the heart understanding truly the assistance we received. In this way, we must be grateful to mother nature as she is providing our needs, great sages who have given us spiritual wisdom,other beings such as animals who help us with our needs,family and friends,other humans who participate in our life,and parents/grand-parents/fore-fathers without whom we cannot be where we are. We have to acknowledge and be anxious to return the favor we receive.
5. Finally, like it or not, this creation exists due to a super intelligent being whom many call God or universe etc. Whatever superlative we want to use, we have to accept there is a grand design in this universe and without that we cannot do anything. To the ultimate designer, with a pinch of affection and love, we doff our hat!

By having an all-encompassing thought process (aka mature) about life with all its variety, we will only be centered and not skewed one way or other. This centeredness or equanimity is essential for having a peaceful mind. 

Hare Krishna

How I got my first Bhagavad Gita

It was late spring of 1998 and i was traveling south in the state of Tamilnadu with my parents on a road trip. A road trip inspired by the journey of the four great nayanmars. They were called the 'naalvar' or 'the four'. These great saints lived more than thousand years ago in south India and traveled extensively in Tamilnadu state spreading the glories of Lord Siva. Their songs and poetry are still sung today in devotional forums.

I am writing this as a way to recollect my memory and appreciate the moment I received the sacred book Bhagavad Gita. Unfortunately, I do not remember the details but I will recollect in brief what I remember. My father rented a car and we started our trip south from Chennai. I was having an illness and despite the illness, i have to say looking back, the spiritual journey visiting Lord Siva temples prevented my illness from getting worse. The illness was rather serious and I was hoping it wouldn't get any worse. By Siva's mercy I did not get any more issues than I had.

Our itinerary went something like this, we would drive to a famous temple in a city. Book a hotel room, stay for the night. Wake up in the morning, visit the temples in that city and in the vicinity before noon. Then check out from the hotel and head to the next destination. Like this, we were in one Siva temple called 1000 linga temple (cannot remember where). I entered the temple and the priest welcomed us and performed the pooja. He was very confident in that anyone who sees the 1000 lingas will immediately be cleared of any bad karma of the past. Being the cynic that i was, i internally scoffed the idea. I finished my perfunctory prayers and headed off to the next temple.

There, I took darshan of the Lord and was returning to the car when my father stopped at a rather insignificant shopkeeper who was sitting on the floor with some books from different authors. My father perused the different titles and pointed to a red colored hard bound book entitled "Bhagavad Gita As it is". My first thought was one of curiosity - why is he buying this book? He murmured "for his library". If my memory serves me right, the rather poor shopkeeper had just one Bhagavad Gita. My father handed me the book and off we went to the car.

Sitting in the back seat, I opened the book expecting some "ananda" name to popup because that was my only exposure to spirituality - some chinmayananda or vivekananda type personality. Instead, I stammered through the name "P..r..a...b..h...u...p...a..d..a" and thought his name is so hard to pronounce and that I have never heard of such a spiritual name. Like this I thought who is this man? Thankfully, I did not criticize him. However I was intrigued by the paintings. I turned the pages admiring the different colors and pictures. The book was made of high quality glossy paper as it was the centennial edition. After flipping through few pictures, I closed the book and distinctly remember saying to myself "I will never touch this book again" and put the book in the back of the car.

Of course, Krishna had other plans. On this auspicious day of Gita Jayanti, I want to thank Lord Siva for allowing me to come to His 1000 linga temple and help me remove my previous karmas upon where I got some merit to touch the great and sacred book Bhagavad Gita! I should also thank the shopkeeper for having the book. I want to thank my dad (despite our theological differences) for buying Krishna's book and thus unknowingly becoming an instrument in my journey to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

My entry into Krishna consciousness in this life began by studying this centennial edition of the Bhagavad Gita few months later, after my father bought the book somewhere in an ancient Siva temple in south Tamilnadu.

Hare Krishna

God of Abrahamic faith?

In the Bible (old and new testament) and Koran, we find that God volunteers to talk to man. The stories begin with God talking to Abraham in the old testament and an angel talking on behalf of God to Mohammed in the Koran. There are similar stories connected to Moses as well. In all of this, God takes the first step or at least that is the impression we get reading the Abrahamic scriptures.

In the Srimad Bhagavata purana, we find the opposite. For God to appear, the great devotees of the Lord undergo severe austerities. Devotees like Dhruva, Kardama muni, Prahlada,Prshni & Sutapa etc undergo tapasya (austerity) to see Krishna face to face. We all know the caliber and quality of such exalted souls. They were in full control of their body and mind, were peaceful and completely focused in the service of the Lord for many many years.

If it takes such austere practices and conditions to see the Lord, then how come Abraham or Moses or Mohammed had contact with the Lord without tapasya? We do not have information that they practiced severe austerities. In fact we learn that they were just regular householders. Krishna Himself proclaims in the Gita (BG 7.3) that even amongst perfected beings, rarely one can know Him. Certainly, I do not think Abarham or Moses or Mohammed were perfected beings at the time they were contacted by God.

Considering all of these points, it is difficult to comprehend for me that Krishna is the God mentioned in the Abrahamic faith that He would have contacted the patriarchs of the Abrahamic faith. So if the God of the Abrahamic faith is not Krishna, then perhaps it may be some demigod giving instructions to elevate the consciousness of the people outside Bharata khanda?

Hare Krishna

State of today's religion

The common and prevalent understanding is that religion is the cause of wars, bigotry and sectarianism. Therefore religion is not discussed in a public forum. Actually, people in general think God and religion is primitive especially in view of modern science. But this sort of awareness amongst people exist because religious leaders and their followers have made religion on the physical and mundane platform without any knowledge of the identity of God. What we see today as religion is simply another form of materialism. Real religion is something else. Below are some thoughts by Srila Prabhupada on this point. 

Real religion should be taken. Simply because religion has not been properly executed by the so-called priests, that does not mean religion should be rejected. If my eye is giving me some kind of trouble on account of a cataract, that doesn’t mean my eye should be plucked out. The cataract should be removed. So that is the idea of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement – to remove the cataract from people’s religious vision. Generally, modern so-called religious leaders have no conception of God, and yet they are preaching religion. What good is that religion? People are simply being misled. Real religion means God’s order: dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. If your religion has no conception of God, where is the question of religion? Still, without any conception of God, they are professing some religion. How long will it go on artificially? It will deteriorate. That ignorance about God has resulted in the present condition.

Real religion is the source of true happiness and as humans we have the ability to understand God who is all-pervading, within and without. We should not waste this opportunity of human existence!

Hare Krishna

Lessons from the pastime of Mohini Murti

Lord Siva got bewildered by the female form of Lord Vishnu. Some lessons from this pastime;

• Great sages and rishis worship Lord Siva as their master. Thus although they are great sages and saintly persons, they should not think themselves free, but should remain extremely cautious about beautiful women. No one should think himself liberated in the presence of a beautiful woman.
• If one can remain a brahmacārī, he saves himself so much trouble in material existence.
• Although Lord Śiva is never defeated by anyone, when defeated by Lord Viṣṇu he felt proud that he had such an exalted and powerful master.
• Because of his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee is never agitated, even in the greatest trials. This pridelessness is possible only for the first-class devotees, of whom Lord Śambhu is one.

Hare Krishna

Words of encouragement

Today is HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja's birthday so I would like to copy his words to his disciples in Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, something for all of us to meditate upon.

Hare Krishna

To the Worshipable Devotees of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Brahmacari Ashram and Congregation, 
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am very grateful to receive the very kind letters, which many of you have sent to me. Thank you very much. I have been traveling quite extensively. At present I am at Purandara Misra Prabhu's home near Viareggio in Italy. Last night we had a program on a high mountain in a dense forest of olive trees. We were gathered amidst large ancient rocks and beautiful caves. I was very much remembering Gahvarvan in Vrajadham. In that natural, austere atmosphere everyone was very pleased to worship Sri Radha Vrajasundara by hearing Their glories and chanting Their Sacred names. 

I cannot properly express to you the major impact that all of you are having on thousands of peoples lives all over the world. It is certainly difficult to believe how Srila Prabhupada is allowing you to be so very instrumental in inspiring faith and hope in devotees hearts. I beg of you, be very careful to protect the sacred service, which you are being blessed with. Please remain humble and united under all circumstances. Kali will present every possible reason for you to disagree and feel enmity for each other. We must take shelter of the higher principle of bhakti. The root cause of all of our problems is that we want to be the enjoyer. We must humbly surrender to the precious jewel that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has blessed us with. The divine consciousness of being the sincere servant of the servant of the servant. 

While performing japa, bhajan and kirtan strive to be enthusiastic and attentive. Carefully guard against the ten offences. They are like highway robbers always waiting to plunder you of all the fruits of your devotional service. Seek shelter of the Holy Names from the core of your hearts. Desperately beg for humility, honesty and a deep desire for pure bhakti. Continuously, allow the nectarean Ganga of the Holy Name to wash away all sins and water the seed of Divine Love. May your sincere chanting of the Maha Mantra attract the most precious mercy of Sri Radharani. Hari Katha will nourish your heart with the unlimited mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga. Each day bathe your consciousness in Srila Prabhupada’s books and our Vaisnava Sastras. Earnestly pray for genuine eagerness to hear and chant the divine messages of our Worshipable Parampara. Absorb your consciousness for Krishna's pleasure in everything you do at every moment of your lives. Be enthusiastic to perform each and every service you are given with sincere gratitude. 

Complaining is the pastime of the mind immersed in petty selfishness. Meditate upon the humility of our beloved Acaryas. Although they are eternally immersed in the sweetest rasas of Vrindaban’s Lila, they consider themselves lower than the worm in stool, paying their heartfelt dandavats to every devotee, feeling themselves to be the most fallen, praying with the heart of an insignificant beggar. Without sincerely striving to imbibe this sacred mood of humility, our knowledge will remain theoretical and will expect to be worshipped while seated on the ornamented throne of the material intelligence. 

Please, never forget the infinite causeless mercy that Srila Prabhupada has bestowed upon you. He is your eternal well wisher. His mercy is all that we are made of. As the preeminent Guru of your life, Srila Prabhupada is eager to shower His Divine Grace upon you. Always remain faithful to his Divine Mission. Never lend your ears to those who try to delude you by the propaganda that they possess the key to something higher. Dance and chant together in great joy. Study together. Preach together. Honor prasadam together. Worship the mood of being a servant and see all others as your master. Honor all vaisnavas and vaisnavis with great care and from the heart. 

In a hundred year old building in Chowpatty, Bombay, Srila Prabhupada is miraculously revealing the transcendental abode of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath. Please, remain united, faithful, humble and pure. Throughout the world; many are depending upon you. With whatever insignificant sincerity I have, I place my lowly head at your holy feet and beg you to take these words as your life and soul. I pray that Sri Sri Radha Gopinath may forever bless you with Their causeless mercy. I hope this letter meets you in the best of health. 

Your servant, 
Radhanath Swami

Story of stuff

We should be a good steward of the resources of this world. Srila Prabhupada was adamant in not wasting anything as he saw everything as Krishna's energy. This video can inspire us to reduce waste and live a more natural life.

Hare Krishna

Srila Prabhupada and Narada Muni

Story 1 
One night an extraordinary thing happened. Prabhupada led the first kirtan and then gave a lecture. I sat on the floor just to his right with the harmonium, and after the lecture, I began leading the second Hare Krishna kirtan. All of a sudden, Srila Prabhupada’s voice cut through the auditorium with the potency of Lord Nrisimha, right in the middle of my chanting. I had never heard Prabhupada do that, nor had I heard the words he chanted. ‘Narada Muni bhajaya vina radhika ramana namne,’ he sang. And then again he repeated it. I looked up, and he looked down at me, signaling me to carry on. So I continued chanting Hare Krishna, and he continued singing his prayer to Narada Muni into his microphone. I closed my eyes and carried on, not knowing what was happening. Then he started leading with me. We could all understand that something inexplicable but amazing was happening. Everyone was literally jumping off the ground, leaping in the air; even little baby Saraswati was two feet off the ground, and the audience was leaping into the air. We jumped off the stage and all of us began running around the perimeter of the auditorium with the audience. It was one of those Krishna magic moments. Just amazing! The next morning I asked what had happened the previous night. “Didn’t you see?” Srila Prabhupada said. “Narada Muni came to our kirtan.” “No, I didn’t see him,” I answered. “Yes, Narada Muni came.” - Yamuna devi dasi – London 1969

Story 2 
During an ecstatic kirtan in Los Angeles temple Srila Prabhupada was laughing. Afterwards a devotee asked why he had been laughing and Prabhupada said, “I was laughing to see Narada Muni.” The devotee said, “Narada Muni?” “Yes, Narada Muni was there.” What was Narada Muni doing?” Prabhupada said, “He was laughing.” The devotee said, “Why was he laughing?” “He was laughing when he saw the mlecchas and chandalas dancing and chanting Hare Krishna.” - Dinadayadri devi dasi

Story 3 
In the Berkeley temple in Prabhupada’s room where he was staying, some reporters came and some important folks and they were asking questions. That was the period of time where the interviewer asked Prabhupada, “What will happen when you leave? When you leave, what will happen to this movement?” And that’s at the time where Prabhupada said that “My books will never die, they will live on for ten thousand years.” But also during that darshan, it was exquisite because there was this practical interchange of how interviews go and all of a sudden Prabhupada looked up over everyone’s head into the corner, the exact corner of the room, and he said, “There’s Narada Muni.” So Prabhupada saw Narada Muni during that time in that room. - Dhanishta devi dasi

Story 4 
In London, at Bury Place, Prabhupada told devotees to put a small asana on the altar for Narada Muni because he was attending the kirtanas.

Story 5 
In America Prabhupada held a sparsely attended program but said that sage Narada was present.

Narada Muni also foretold extraordinary worldwide preaching. In the Padma Purana, Bhagavata Mahatmyam (2.5-7), he says: “O Bhakti Devi, there is no age like Kali because you will be established in every house and in every heart. Hear my vow. If I do not preach your message, subdue all other religions and make devotional festivals predominant, then I shall not be considered the servant of Lord Hari. In Kali-yuga those people who follow you, even if they are sinful, will attain Lord Krishna’s abode without fear."

Unlike anyone else Srila Prabhupada fulfilled Narada Muni’s prediction by following Lord Caitanya’s instruction: prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama: In every town and village of the world. My name will be heard. {Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126) 

Srila Prabhupada lives forever in his books and worships Lord Caitanya by teaching everyone to always chant “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”

Hare Krishna

Guru Nishta

Guru nishta is a principle that is important for one to advance in Krishna consciousness. Without the blessings of the spiritual master, progress towards Krishna is practically nill. In the Hari Bhakti Vilas (not sure where) i think there is some language on how to select a spiritual master. I believe there is some room for sentiment when it comes to getting diksha from a specific guru. However, sentiment goes only so far. If we truly want to serve guru, then we must serve per principle and not sentiment. Because in daily life, there will be struggles internal and external. There will be doubts and temptations on the position of guru thrown at us by media, people, family and material opulence. If we simply serve based on sentiment, such service can be volatile (up and down).

We should not trust our mind because as the mind vacillates so does our  emotions and sentiments. Therefore, our service, convictions, and emotions should be rooted in principle that stems from the pages of Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita. Our vision of the spiritual master and his instructions should be seen through shastra and not our sentiments. When we strictly approach the person Bhagavad through the shastra Bhagavad, no amount of external forces can shake our faith in guru. Sentimental faith on guru is like house on sand, will crumble eventually!

Hare Krishna

How to control the mind?

Krishna after the war and before His departure from this mortal world instructs Uddhava in what is famously called now as Uddhava Gita. One can read this conversation in the pages of the Bhagavata Purana. Right in the beginning, Krishna says something important which i thought requires serious contemplation.

Krishna says that the world we perceive through our mind, eyes, ears etc is simply an imagination. He says this because the value and meaning we apply to the things of this world as good (guna) or evil (dosha) is derived from our subjective mind. The mind and senses are temporary and subject to change and hence our values and meanings we apply to things also change. In that sense, the same things and people we know, we may like one day and may not like another day or vice versa. In that sense, our values of good or bad is all in the mind.

From here, Krishna says the concept of mind control arises. He says to Uddhava, because everything is changing and our perception is changing with it, Krishna says withdraw the mind and focus within the self and see the self as part of the Super-self which is Krishna. In other words, mind control means to withdraw the mind from the outside people/world (as it is all subjective anyways) and focus ultimately on Krishna.

Basically, mind control is a two step process (1) withdraw from the outside world (2) focus or meditate on Krishna. When we constantly practice withdrawal and meditation on Krishna, in time we will be able to perceive our true self (separate from body and mind) and thus attain peace and happiness. This sounds too theoretical but never hurts to try it out.

SB-11.7-7-9

Hare Krishna

struggle for existence

Our existence is filled with struggles. It is because nature is designed in such a way that we are dependent on other beings for sustenance. Dependence requires cooperation and where there is no cooperation, there will be struggle. Struggle to align body and mind with health and well-being. Struggle to work as a community and prosper economically and socially. Struggle to ensure I am happy and everyone is happy in this world. As hard as we may try, unfortunately, mankind has never made everyone happy at all times. Therefore, we can say struggle for existence is a constant in this world.

As practitioners of bhakti, struggle takes a different meaning. It is not so much meant to conquer nature, and people and man-made systems to make ends meet but rather a struggle to tolerate the ever changing mind and try to fix the mind unto the Lotus Feet of Krishna. While it is necessary to do the needful in terms of satisfying the demands of the mind and body, however, it is more necessary to practice indifference to the movements of the mind and practice taking shelter of Krishna. This practice of seeking shelter will help us tame the turbulent mind and the more we humble our self to Krishna, the easier it will be to tame the mind or in other words be indifferent to the mind.

Struggling to take shelter of Krishna is the permanent solution that puts a full-stop to all struggles for material existence!

Hare Krishna

Nine stages of Bhakti

The nine steps are as follows;

1. Shraddha - preliminary faith (not strong) 
2. Sadhu Sanga (associating with like minded and advanced devotees) 
3. Bhajana Kriya (performing devotional service based on rules and regulations) 
4. Anartha Nivrti (gradually freeing one's self from unwanted propensities) 
5. Nishta (faith becomes stronger) 
6. Ruci (cultivate a taste as result) 
7. Asakti (cultivate attachment to Krishna and His form, pastimes and Holy Name) 
8. Bhava (spontaneous attachment and preliminary stages of love) 
9.  Prema (unalloyed love for Krishna) 

This is a deep subject that can be justified by senior realized devotees and/or by studying Nectar of Devotion. Below is my 2 cents. Krishna Consciousness is a science albeit a science of non-matter. Normally, science is attributed to matter that which can be tested and verified. So if science equals testing and verification, then these steps exactly show us that anyone regardless of background when they take up to Krishna Bhakti will personally experience the nine symptoms above. That is the test and our verification. The beginning is faith (shraddha) and it is not strong faith. This faith is secondary mostly, dependent on guru, sadhu and shastra. This faith is sentimental and or theoretical. The journey has to begin from here. In the Western Judeo-Christian religions, all they have is Step 1. They believe in God and thats it. But as you can see, our acharyas have given a systematized exposition on this subject clearly stating its predictable symptoms. For the initial faith to go from theory to reality requires practical application which is the rest of the eight steps.

Without sadhus and blessings of sadhus (again this is an esoteric idea since blessings is not testable or sensual however it works) it is difficult almost to nil that our chance to progress in spiritual life. If they bless, we have to accept the blessings. The way we accept their blessings is through seva or bhajana kriya. This submissiveness of accepting the blessings of sadhus and shastra is the beginning of our real spiritual life (punctuated in our life as initiation or diksha). Diksha is not a ritualistic ceremony. To the degree we accept the blessings in the form of service, to that degree we will experience the remaining steps. Sadhus here not only refers to one's spiritual master but also a new devotee walking into the temple. Although we associate with elevated souls but by pleasing devotees of all caliber Krishna is pleased. But if we just focus on pleasing guru and not pleasing other vaishnavas then our understanding of bhakti is incomplete as we fail to see the relationship with Krishna and the new devotee.

As a result of pleasing Krishna, there is a sense of fulfillment (much like a hungry man who had a full meal) and this fulfillment provides us a sense of inner security and peace of mind that Krishna will protect. As a result, the soul will not hover anymore or desire to hover on the mode of passion and ignorance. The soul will voluntarily journey to satva guna or mode of goodness by giving up unwanted material lifestyle (anartha nivrti) and become more benevolent, compassionate and charity minded to all beings. The desire now to be submissive to guru, sadhu and shastra will become more intense and focused (nisha).

The rest of the journey is pretty much like auto-pilot mode because once the soul gets a higher taste (ruchi) and feels relief from the pangs of material miseries, the soul will journey closer and closer to Krishna (asakti). It is like if we are feeling cold, and journey towards heat we will not stop once we feel the initial waves of heat. Similarly, spiritual world and spiritual life is the anti-thesis of materialism which means relief from material miseries. Once we taste spiritual peace and happiness, the soul will not stop. Having said that we should still have determination to stay on the path since we are in this material creation and at any moment calamity can befall. Thinking like this, the soul is not proud of his security and position but rather humble always praying to Krishna for shelter and protection with a desire to seek His association (bhava).

This utter dependence on Krishna and literally crying for His mercy is the real sign that we are on the path and close to the destiny of Krishna prema which is step nine of the bhakti sequence.

Hare Krishna

Lessons from Narada's travel to the North

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, first canto, chapter six, Narada Muni describes his own journey to spiritual emancipation. What do we learn? Below are few of my thoughts;

1. From the death of the mother of Narada, we learn that the Lord is the Supreme controller and we the insignificant jivas are but like puppets under a puppet master. All activities good and bad that happen in my life happens by the will and sanction of Krishna.
2. Because Narada as a boy served the great Bhakti-vedantas, when he was alone wandering he had the know-how to approach that which is invisible. In other words, his association with the Lord actually was possible because the Bhakti-vedantas taught Narada how to approach the Transcendent Lord. If not for them, he would be lost and not be realized himself. Therefore, without the mercy of a pure devotee, Krishna will not manifest.
3. Krishna is all independent and not subjected to anyone's thoughts or prayers yet He reveals Himself to Narada thus confirming the idea that He is the eternal well-wisher of all Beings.
4. Krishna is non-material thus He is approachable ONLY if we become non-material or spiritual. That is why Narada muni was advised by Krishna that He cannot be seen by anyone who has material desires. If we want to serve Krishna, we have to become pure of material dualities of gain and loss.
5. Nama-Sankirtan is the essence of Vedanta and Narada after losing sight of Krishna decided to chant the Holy Names of the Lord constantly with no material attachments. We also have to follow in his footsteps. 
6. Patience is a virtue. From the first contact of Krishna to becoming His eternal associate took more than 4.3 trillion years for Narada so we also have to become patient and wait for the mercy of the Lord (we should not feel entitled).
7. After a long wait, Narada successfully became Narada. Krishna does not abandon His bhakta therefore Krishna as Bhakta-vatsal always protects His devotees and delivers the devotee to Himself. We should have this confidence that at the end of it all - Krishna never disappoints!

Hare Krishna

Contradictions in modern Christianity

"You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. - John 14.28

"The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. - Mark 12.29

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. - John 5.30

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ - John 20.17

Modern Christianity
Jesus is God - contradicts John 14.28
God exists as a trinity (in three) - contradicts Mark 12.29
Jesus is All Powerful - contradicts John 5.30
Jesus is the only son of God. - contradicts John 20.17

I think it is important to know that Jesus spoke according to time and circumstance. To think that Jesus and Krishna are one and the same is ignorance and also offensive. The verses spoken by Jesus clearly indicate his position in relation to his father. I am sure there may be other verses claiming Jesus's position but certainly these verses are clear as day and cannot be ignored or unnecessarily interpreted.

Hare Krishna

why Krishna and not others?

Another day, someone asked why Krishna and why not Jesus?

We all have opinions. That makes us who we are. Between different opinions, an expert's opinion is given weight. Between experts, the expert with extensive knowledge and experience is given weight. Like this we can deduce logically that commonly, when opinions are sought, the person with the most knowledge and experience weighs out others' opinions. If we also know the amount of mistakes one commits then that can still filter out opinions. Above all this, if we know the person really cares about me and my well-being then that opinion still stands high.

So anyone's opinion who has a combination of all three (extent of knowledge,lack of error and well-being) to a high degree can be accepted. In that regard, Krishna is faultless (perfect), all-knowing (omniscient) and friend of all beings. Above that, He is also the person who owns everything in this cosmos. Therefore, we accept Krishna's opinion versus another say like Jesus or someone else.

Therefore, O Lord, feeling weary of material life and tormented by its distresses, I now surrender unto You because You are the perfect master. You are the unlimited, all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose spiritual abode in Vaikuṇṭha is free from all disturbances. In fact, You are known as Nārāyaṇa, the true friend of all living beings. - Uddhava to Krishna - SB 11.7.18

Hare Krishna

why the Bible and Koran fall short

Someone asked me a question when I was distributing books the difference between Bhagavad Gita and the Bible and why the Gita is any different. It was sort of a challenging question. I thought about the question more and below are some of my points. This logic can also extend to the Koran.

The Bible and Koran although existing for the past 2000 and 1500 years respectively, have not been recognized as authoritative scriptures by the great acharyas like Sri Ramanuja and Madhwa. In fact, none of the saintly teachers give lot of credence to the Bible and Koran. A few of them have commented on some of its value, however, it is not accepted as a spiritual authority.

Bible and Koran was spoken for a different audience at a specific time and place. Following are, in my opinion, shortcomings that to me invalidate it as a scripture.

1. God is anonymous - If a book is meant to be the word of God, then the least the reader should be aware of is the identity of God? In fact, even the name of God is not properly revealed. There are suggestions, certainly, but the name, form, and pastimes of God is anonymous. 
2. The early reciters are anonymous - The Bible and Koran was transferred from one generation to next mainly through oral tradition. The stories were told and re-told to this day. However, we do not have documentation of the identity and qualification of the story tellers. In the Bhagavad Gita, the speaker is very clear and later on, through the chain of disciplic succession from Maha muni Vyasa, the speakers are clear and their qualifications known. The same cannot be said of the Bible or Koram.  
3. The authors are anonymous - The Bible and Koran were heard and written by scholars of unknown origin. The old testament, however, especially the first five books called the Torah were written by Moses and the later books were written by some known people. However, as for the New Testament, the stories in the Gospel, the authors are under question. Luke, Mark, Mathew and John are said to be the disciples of Jesus but this is not universally accepted by all. Anyways, the issue of authorship of the Gospels is a deeper subject and is beyond my knowledge but the bottom line is that the identity and qualification of the authors of the Gospels is not revealed. The there are letters by St. Paul but these are not direct words of God. Similarly, the Koran originally was written by members in the audience Prophet Mohammed was speaking but as for their identity, it is not known.

So with God, the reciters and authors being anonymous, it is difficult to consider these books in par with books like Bhagavad Gita and or Srimad Bhagavatam. Approximately 60% of the world population read either the Bible and or Koran and we respect the book and the people who consider it sacred. But in my opinion and under stringent scrutiny, the Bible and Koran are books on ethics and human morality but cannot be taken as a book about the form, nature and pastimes of God!

Hare Krishna

homogenous vs heterogenous cosmology

In modern physical cosmology, the notion that the spatial distribution of matter in the universe on a large scale is fairly homogenous and isotropic. It means that the properties of the universe is the same for all observers in space regardless of where data is collected. This idea is called cosmological principle and forms the fundamental aphorism of modern science.

Homogeneity indicates that the same evidence is observed if we collect data from any part of the universe. Isotropy indicates that the same evidence is observed if we collect data from any direction in the universe implying the laws of physics are the same throughout the universe. Although cosmologists use observational data as verification for this theory still we only observe what we observe from earth and cannot verify non-earthly observations. So to generalize at the universal scale purely and primarily on earthly calculations is a bit presumptuous and even dogmatic.

Non-earthly observations are given in vedic literature about the structure and design of the universe. It does not match modern observations or calculations or theories. Beyond the earth, according to vedi ccosmology, are variety of environments (not just gaseous or solid states) with different types of flora, fauna and living beings. There are planes of existence, planets and star systems that have life all over it. There is also non-globular structures in our universe (more like flat planes). In our current understanding of cosmology, space equals spherical geometry (or close to spherical), however, we get information from vedic cosmology, that there are non-spherical environments. All this indicates that the universe is certainly not homogenous and isotropic. Modern cosmology provides a lifeless picture of the universe and vedic cosmology gives a universe full of variety of species and life forms.

I will end with a quote from a famous philosopher of science Karl Popper on his attitude towards modern cosmology;

I once was an enthusiastic admirer of (Friedmann’s) Big Bang. I am now a disgusted opponent. As to the “steady state” theory, it is insufficiently developed, and Ryle’s criticism insufficiently discussed. And the “cosmological principles” were, I fear, dogmas that should not have been proposed. - Karl Popper

Please visit www.vediccosmology.com

Hare Krishna

Please chant - there is certainly no loss!

Chanting

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

daily will eliminate fear, anxiety, depression,sadness,despondency,anger,and hopelessness. Instead, chanting will give mental strength, spiritual strength,freedom from anxiety,hope,equal-mindedness,positive feeling and above all inner peace and joy.

The only condition is to chant with sincerity of heart and take the effort to hear the sound clearly and distinctly in a mood of dependence on Krishna (not independence)!

Please chant!

Hare Krishna

Giving credit to the idea of 'yadraccha'

Frustration is something we all have experienced. The opposite of that we can say is peacefulness or tolerance. Peace and tolerance are topics discussed by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. In the mundane world, peace is sought somewhere outside and tolerance is seen as a sign of weakness. However, in my opinion, frustration is a result of lack of tolerance and lack of mental peace which comes from a sort of entitlement of results (provided we put the work).

But in the Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, there is an indication that beyond our work and desire, there is a third cause which is destiny. Destiny or time seems ambiguous in lay perspective. The fact is the jiva or soul according to the Vedic understanding is not independent as modern society leads us to think. We are dependent on nature and God. Only God is independent but as for us we are not. We are bound by our previous actions which chalks our future destiny. Therefore, when things do not go our way, instead of getting frustrated we should step back and appreciate the bigger picture. The reverse is also true, if things do go our way, instead of punching the fist in the air, we step back and appreciate the bigger picture.

The best way to counter frustration is to be happy or content with whatever comes of its own accord by performing one's duty with due diligence. We will not be frustrated if we understand that time and destiny dictates our activities and that we are instruments of them. We should perform our duties with this thinking in mind.

Krishna says to Arjuna;

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo
dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ
samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca
kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.- BG 4.22

Vamandev tells Bali Maharaj;

yadṛcchayopapannena
santuṣṭo vartate sukham
nāsantuṣṭas tribhir lokair
ajitātmopasāditaiḥ

One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds. - SB 8.19.24

In both verses, the word 'yadrccha' is used meaning some thing which is beyond our control. Something that comes accidentally or without much endeavor or by destiny or randomly etc. However, we want to interpret that word, 'yadraccha' indicates that there is something more beyond my control and we are not fully independent.

When we take shelter of this knowledge or idea of 'yadraccha', we will always be happy or content in any circumstance of life.

Hare Krishna

My motivation

The process of Krishna bhakti is a struggle, I will not lie to you. But then so is everything else in life. What is the difference you ask? The difference is in Krishna bhakti, there is no failure where as material endeavors despite the struggle, there is chance of failure. In Krishna bhakti, there  is no failure, only success and victory! That gives me motivation to continue my struggle!

Hare Krishna

A true social reformer will speak the truth

Social reformers, politicians and welfare workers etc talk about eradicating social ills but they do so comparing to the woes of today. But we have never reached that absolute utopian state, why? Because we live in a world of duality. This is an axiomatic truth -  a self-evident one. But we do not accept it and we cannot accept it because if we accept a world with duality, then we have to accept always there will be good and there will be bad. There will be richness but also there will be poverty. There will be security but also there will be crime. As a politician or any social reformer, this sort of 50-50 condition is unacceptable and hence for all their life, they struggle in the name of upliftment and service to man to change human condition.

As long as man exists and time exists, we will have two sides to a coin since this is a relative world we live in. This desire for an absolute good world, however, is an indication of something deeper. Therefore, a true social reformer will speak the truth. He will point to man the futility of a relative world and that true absolute freedom from social ills is possible only in an absolute setting and not in a relative setting and that absolute setting is the Spiritual world or Vaikunta!

Hare Krishna

We can lie

We can lie under the following conditions;

1. Flattering a woman 
2. Passing Jokes
3. In Marriage ceremony
4. Earning livelihood
5. One's life is in danger
6. Protecting cows and brahminical culture
7. Protecting a person from an enemy

SB 8.19.43, spoken by Sukaracharya

Hare Krishna

Bhakti is not easy to obtain

Krishna will easily give bhuki (material opulence), mukti (liberation) or siddhi (mystic perfections) since it does not directly deal with Him. However, bhakti is personal and hence confidential and bhakti (by bhakti we mean pure bhakti and not mixed) attracts Krishna. Because bhakti is directly connected with Krishna and that Krishna is easily purchased by pure bhakti, to attain pure bhakti is not so easy as attaining mukti, or siddhi or bhukti.

However, by the mercy of a pure devotee, bhakti is attainable hence this path in line from Lord Chaitanya is the most unique and special since no other path or dharma or religion awards pure devotion. It is by the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and His direct followers we have access to bhakti which otherwise is a close and shut case (not accessible).

Srila Prabhupada says in Chapter 1 Nectar of Devotion  "Devotional service can in fact be attained only through the mercy of a pure devotee. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.151) it is said, "By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa one can achieve the platform of devotional service. There is no other way."

Hare Krishna

Trimurti Tattva

Two words are very significant in this verse: trayāṇām indicates “three,” namely Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu; bhidām means “different.” They are three, and therefore they are separate, but at the same time they are one. This is the philosophy of simultaneous oneness and difference, which is called acintya-bhedābheda-tattva. The example given in the Brahma-saṁhitā is that milk and yogurt are simultaneously one and different; both are milk, but the yogurt has become changed. In order to achieve real peace, one should see everything and every living entity, including Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, as nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one is independent. Every one of us is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This accounts for unity in diversity. There are diverse manifestations, but, at the same time, they are one in Viṣṇu. Everything is an expansion of Viṣṇu’s energy.

- SB 4.7.54, purport by Srila Prabhupada

There is no better alternative!

There are times when spiritual practice feels like a routine and feels like we are neither in the material nor in the spiritual. At times of plateau, it is important to realize that our process of spiritual practice is coming down through the ages through great yoga masters and it takes patience and perseverance to sustain a steady practice. We should also have an objective and unbiased understanding of the material reality we live in. Though material life on the surface always looks glossy, we have to look past the veneer and appreciate the true meaning of materialism. Honestly, there is nothing worthy to mention. Therefore, we may feel less enthused by the routine of spiritual practice but still if we continue with faith on the great yoga masters and the insightful instructions of the scriptures, certainly, one day we will experience a higher taste. I do not think there is any better alternative!

Hare Krishna

Vedic Cosmos - An Intelligent Design

Vedic Cosmos- An Intelligent Design is a documentary that needs to be made. It is an art in-itself, can come to life through your help. Please see the trailer, visit the website and give for the making of this documentary! Please spread the word!

Thank you very much!—Danavir Goswami

Dedicated to: His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder Acharya International Society For Krishna Consciousness)

Website - www.vediccosmology.com

Hare Krishna

Purushottama - The Supreme Person

I have copied verses from the Bhagavad Gita that categorically claim Krishna as the Supreme Perso. Any doubt that may arise in the mind's of people as to what the Bhagavad Gita represents, these verses should quell that doubt.

In my knowledge, there is absolutely no scripture (west or east) existing in this world that can counter these emphatic statements of Krishna. Yet, people says there is no God or searching after God or Krishna is a Hindu God. No where Krishna (you will see in these verses) that Krishna says He is for the Indians or Hindus. He categorically claims His supreme dominion of all that be.

Unless one is biased or dull or stubborn, he or she cannot deny that Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.

The following verses are spoken by Krishna;

Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form. – 4.6

The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries. – 5.29

A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere. – 6.29

The yogi who knows that I (Krishna) and the Supersoul within all creatures are one worships Me and remains always in Me in all circumstances. – 6.31

Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution. O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man. I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. - 7.6-10

O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows. – 7.26

Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death. – 7.30

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation. As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me. – 9.4-6

The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end. – 9.8

This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be. – 9.10-11

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed. O Arjuna, I control heat, the rain and the drought. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both being and nonbeing are in Me. – 9.17-19

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts. – 10.8

I am the Self, O Gudakesa, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings. – 10.20

Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna.– 10.32

Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being-moving or unmoving-that can exist without Me. – 10.39

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe. – 10.42

The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. – 11.32

It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. – 14.4

And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness, and which is immortal, imperishable and eternal. – 14.27

The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. – 15.7

The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me. I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables. I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff. I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I am to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. – 15.12-14

Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person. Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata – 15.18-19

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.- 18.61

The following verses are spoken by Arjuna;

You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. 10-12-13

Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own potencies, O origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, O Supreme Person, Lord of the universe! – 10.15

O great one, who stands above even Brahma, You are the original master. Why should they not offer their homage up to You, O limitless one? O refuge of the universe, You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation. – 11.37

You are the original Personality, the Godhead. You are the only sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You know everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You! You are air, fire, water, and You are the moon! You are the supreme controller and the grandfather. Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again! Obeisances from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless, might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything! - 11.37-40

You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, the worshipable chief, the spiritual master. No one is equal to You, nor can anyone be one with You. Within the three worlds, You are immeasurable. You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshiped by every living being. Thus I fall down to offer You my respects and ask Your mercy.– 11.43-44

After reading this, with a focused mind and heart filled with gratitude, let us do what Krishna asks from us;

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. – 18.66

Hare Krishna

Passage of the soul

Hare Krishna

Seek Krishna - The Person

A friend is one who is related to another person for the cause of having a personal relationship regardless of the social and economic status of the friend. If a person is rich and famous, typically his friends and family also become famous on account of their relationship with the celebrity. So a celebrity is always connected to his or her opulence. Nevertheless, a true friend will associate with a celebrity not for his opulence but for his personal relationship. In the adult world, unfortunately, such friendships are rare because we only seek alliances if there is some level of social, economic, political or religious benefit. We live in a benefit-driven world, no doubt (true even amongst close family members)!

Duryodhana will be proud of this world since he was very much like that. Krishna is most richest and famous person in the entire cosmos. Not only that, He is also very attractive, powerful, strong etc. So who would not want alliance with Krishna. Duryodhana actively sought Krishna’s alliance for His riches and power. When Duryodhana went to see Krishna before the grand war, he asked Krishna’s favor for His power. Duryodhana asked for Krishna’s Narayani Sena so he can use them in the war. Duryodhana like modern man was a numbers person. He thought “what can one Krishna do? If I get His grand army, I can win the war”.

On the other side, Arjuna was a true friend. He did not care for Krishna’s majesty or opulence or power or how much he can benefit from Krishna. Rather, Arjuna’s only request was to be by-the-side of Krishna, that’s all. Arjuna only sought Krishna’s personal relationship without all His opulence. Arjuna was not benefit driven.

Today, we go to God for only one reason – to seek some benefit in the form of physical or mental or emotional support or even spiritual emancipation. We do not go to God just to express our friendship and love to Him. It is always purpose or benefit driven. When we approach God with no purpose but to only share our feelings of love or friendship, then we will realize God!

Great souls like Arjuna or Narada etc have shared their heart with God sans His opulence and have realized that Supreme Divine Being to be Sri Krishna.

Seek Krishna the Person and not His riches!

Hare Krishna

Balance is the force

All said and done, we need this material life to spring-board us to the spiritual world. Even though we are pure spirit (devoid of matter) still we have been here since time immemorial, hence we are as good as matter. Therefore, we have to use this matter (not relinquishing it) in such a manner that we become liberated from it and launch our self into the spiritual realm. It requires intelligence, practice, guidance and above all a deep willingness to enter the spiritual world.

To balance matter and spirit is the force!

Hare Krishna

this is happening all around us...

Sometimes I think we are too cloistered from the real world like a world inside another world. We have our gadgets, car, home, insurance, etc. We get information sanitized by vested interests. Our education system is rigged towards science. So like this, the real world which is operating on its’ own terms is not visible or at best tainted to our understanding.

As I was taking a break and casually looking out through the window, I saw a small tiny bird mercilessly following an insect and slowly devouring it. Yet the insect is trying to get away. At that point, if you think about it, a soul just left an insect body to take another one. This all happened in one or two seconds tops. So yes death and birth is happening ubiquitously and yet we are not in-tune to see this part of reality. But somehow when a human or when a person we know dies, we suddenly feel the surge of loss or feel how this world is temporary etc.

Factually speaking, it is happening every second all around us. Unfortunately, we are just too preoccupied with our own thoughts about success and failure and joy and fear. This reminds me of a verse from the Bhagavatam;

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step. 

- SB 10.14.58

Certainly, the insect took its dangerous step and perished. I pray that when my dangerous step arrives, that I am able to focus my internal mind at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Murari!

Hare Krishna

Seeking Benefit

We all seek some sort of benefit or favor. There are two distinct ways.

One way is solely by using our physical strength, mental acumen. intelligence quotient, money, resources, relationships and networks. In this, there is no trace of Krishna.

The other way is primarily taking instructions from Krishna (through shastra and guru) and accordingly use our strength and intelligence.

I think both are mutually exclusive. It is a matter of choice and depending on the way, our benefits are substantive or marginal.

Hare Krishna.

Mental strength – how to?

We can be mentally strong in this world only if we are neutral (not hating or liking) to the idea of enterprise, success and opulence from this world. Instead, we work hard but happy with whatever Krishna provides because of our work.

This is the only way for mental toughness – to work hard and be detached (vairagya) while simultaneously content with Krishna's provision proportionate to our work.

Hare Krishna

Prabhupada was a master who never stopped learning

Srila Prabhupada was a deeply compassionate soul where he put his life to spread the message of Krishna. He did that till the very end without stopping or slowing down. He still woke up in the dead of night to translate Srimad Bhagavatam as a service to his guru even when he was in his last days on earth. But such determination and durability in preaching is possible only if we know when to be fast and furious and when to slow down. When to pat the person in the back and give a moral instruction on material grounds and when to give a deep philosophical exposé. It requires intelligence with compassion.

At times, Prabhupada did not speak to his guests but letting his tape recorder speak instead. Sometimes, he just played the harmonium and sang bhajan and in that way preached and sometimes he was fast and furious like the lion going for its kill. Srila Prabhupada was a master of preaching who never stopped learning from his disciples and the environment around him. Otherwise, how else can we explain the impact an old Calcutta man had on the hearts' of misguided youth of America. We have to learn from him, take lessons from the memories given by his disciples and try to humbly follow.

But one thing is for sure, if Prabhupada showed anything, he showed us blind following or blind talking about Krishna will not change the heart of the person listening. He used his intelligence and presented Krishna philosophically, critically, musically, jovially, silently, cynically etc fitting the person, time and circumstance. He did whatever it took to bring the person into the fold!

To do this, requires for us to understand our own capacity (strengths and weaknesses) and depending on our capacity, we assess the environment around us and accordingly present. This takes time because we will make many mistakes, not being hard on our self or feeling discouraged, we should continue to learn from our mistakes and other's as well and gradually cultivate the art of being a good judge of time, person and circumstance. When we are in-tune with our self and surrounding, we will have the confidence to navigate the turf. Having said all this, it is our duty to be a devotee of integrity, practice what we preach and not compromise on the principles of bhakti as given in the Bhagavad Gita. When we are aligned internally and externally, always practicing the art of shelter to Krishna, our effort to present Krishna will never go in vain!

Hare Krishna

What happens when someone genuinely seeks God?

One who seeks God genuinely...

has to seek out a bona fide spiritual master and, under him, learn what Krsna consciousness is. The spiritual master can drive away all nescience, as the sun drives away darkness. Even though a person may be in full knowledge that he is not this body but is transcendental to the body, he still may not be able to discriminate between the soul and the Supersoul. However, he can know everything well if he cares to take shelter of the perfect, bona fide Krsna conscious spiritual master. One can know God and one's relationship with God only when one actually meets a representative of God. 
- Purport by Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad Gita 5.16

Once the genuine seeker understands his or her relationship with God from a bonafide guru, the seeker will engage in Bhakti/seva to Krishna or God. As as result of bhakti or seva to Krishna, the following will happen;


For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Prtha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.
- Bhagavad Gita 12.6-7

The story of Dhruva Maharaj illustrates these two points nicely!

Hare Krishna

Anyone qualified can realize the Supreme Truth - what is the qualification?

In my last post I alluded little bit to other religions and scriptures. I also spoke about Bhagavata Puranam. The reason Bhagavata puranam and the Vedic scriptures are considered supreme than other paths or religions is because it was once (not anymore) taught by pure Brahmana devotees of the Lord whose only business was self-control and glorification of the Lord.

The Supreme Lord who is otherwise inconceivable becomes conceivable to these great Vaishnava brahmanas. So with realization, these great brahaman devotees establish truth and ethical and moral principles for common man to follow. The following qualities characterize a brahmana and only to such elevated souls Krishna reveals Himself from within their hearts thus bridging the gap between the visible and invisible.

Brahmanas are always situated in the sattva guna. They possess qualities of;

1. śama - equal mindedness or mind control
2. dama - sense control or restraint
3. satya - truthfulness
4. anugraha - mercy
5. tapasya - penance
6. titikṣā - tolerance
7. anubhava - personally realize the Lord 

Therefore, this is not a sectarian ideology. Anyone trained in these qualities can realize the supreme truth and is considered a brahmana. It is not an entitlement or birthright. 

The Vedas are My eternal transcendental sound incarnation. Therefore the Vedas are śabda-brahma. In this world, the brāhmaṇas thoroughly study all the Vedas, and because they assimilate the Vedic conclusions, they are also to be considered the Vedas personified. The brāhmaṇas are situated in the supreme transcendental mode of nature — sattva-guṇa. Because of this, they are fixed in mind control [śama], sense control [dama], and truthfulness [satya]. They describe the Vedas in their original sense, and out of mercy [anugraha] they preach the purpose of the Vedas to all conditioned souls. They practice penance [tapasya] and tolerance [titikṣā], and they realize the position of the living entity and the Supreme Lord [anubhava]. These are the eight qualifications of the brāhmaṇas. Therefore among all living entities, no one is superior to the brāhmaṇas. - SB 5.5.24

Hare Krishna

The untainted classical literature

In the Old Testament, there is the tale of Moses meeting God and God speaks through the burning bush etc. There are other stories of God speaking to Abraham or Jesus meeting God on a hill etc. However, neither the Bible nor the Koran describes the God of Abraham. We are only left with our own imagination.

In the middle ages, great painters especially Michelangelo paints God as an old man with a white beard implying God is ravaged by time yet God by definition cannot possibly be under time but above it. The same is true for Moses or Jesus or Mohammed. There is no description of how they look. When we are left with a faceless God, we are bound to speculate and invariably our speculation will result in an impersonal entity because it is impossible to imagine a God who has form and yet omnipotent. Whatever form we may think of, it will look human and thus not omnipotent. Besides it does not help if the first and second commandments of the Abrahamic religions denounces worshiping form or image. As a result of all of this, the Abrahamic tradition of religion is very human centric (anthropocentric) putting human survival and values above all with salvation as the pinnacle of human existence. They go one step more and argue that only their way is the way heralding the modern age of struggle of religious superiority.

The battle for religious superiority and bigotry has seen many wars in the crusades, internal schisms, and institutional abuse. Therefore, we have to question all this and ask if this is worth it? Unless there is a tangible and verifiable description of God and His pastimes, it is not possible to not fight on the grounds of moral self-righteousness. The ego is that powerful. Hence right in the beginning the Srimad Bhagavatam sets the standard -anyone with a trace of envy cannot and will not appreciate this great literature for this book is for the purest of souls.

In it we find such descriptive explanations about God, the concept of Godhead, His devotees, and ultimately salvation for the human spirit - pure love. Certainly no book east or west can compare to the supreme descriptions in the Bhagavatam. It is like the shining sun in the sky, any doubt about the position of God, His creation and the purpose of life that may arise in our heart at once can be quelled in the pages of the Bhagavatam. If one truly desires freedom from all suffering, one has to give up all material religions and take up to the study of the amalam puranam (the untainted classical literature).

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate
dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa
purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ

This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.

- SB 1.3.43

Hare Krishna

Being negative doesn't help anyone

A snake penetrated into a carpentry workshop.  As it slipped, it passed over a saw and got slightly wounded. Suddenly, it turned and bit the saw, and biting the saw, the snake seriously got wounded in its mouth!

Then not understanding what was happening and thinking that the saw was attacking "him," it decided to roll around the saw to suffocate it with all its body by squeezing it with all its strength, but it ended up being killed by the saw!

Similarly our snake-like mind where has a tendency to find-fault with others and hurt them. But actually, like the snake we get hurt. Sometimes it is better to ignore situations, ignore people, ignore their behavior, and their words. Sometimes it is better not to react so as not to suffer consequences that can sometimes be deadly or harmful.

The food we eat, has to be digested and then thrown out of body in 24 hours, else we will fall ill.

The water we drink, gets in our body and is thrown out in 4 hours, else we will fall ill.

The air we breathe, has to be thrown out in 1 minute, else we will die.

Negative emotions like hatred, anger, jealousy, insecurity, we hold in our body for days, months and years. If these negative emotions are not thrown out regularly it comes out as psycho-somatic diseases.

The best way to remove these negative emotions is to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra regularly.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare|
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare||

Hare Krishna

Love for God's sake

Many times Srila Prabhupada says that in this world love is but lust. Below are a few examples;

Lust is only the perverted reflection of the love of God which is natural for every living entity. But if one is educated in Krishna consciousness from the very beginning, that natural love of God cannot deteriorate into lust. - BG 3.41 Purport

If we become attached to this narration, we will experience the bliss of spiritual love and thus reject the perverted reflection of that love, which is called lust. - SB 10.33.39

This material life is simply based on lust; we want to enjoy this world, and we love this material world because we want to gratify our senses. This lust is a perverted reflection of our love of God. - On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 5

Here we love -- a man loves a woman, or a woman loves a man -- but there is frustration. After some time they are divorced, because their love is a perverted reflection. There is no real love in this world. It is simply lust. - Journey of Self-Discovery, Ch. 4

On the surface, it sounds like we should not love anyone since it is lust anyways and that we should just try to love Krishna or if we see two people who say they are in love we discredit or discourage them or the idea of love in this world. We can, as devotees, also become cold and without feelings towards one another in the name of love vs lust and justify our cold-hardheartedness towards others' with these verses. If we do this then we are doing a disservice to Srila Prabhupada.

We hear so much about love and compassion and sometimes we can get into a frame of mental rigidity in the name of following guru and shastra and miss the point. So let us examine these verses little carefully.

Certainly, love in this world is lust if not properly applied. Love becomes lust 'primarily' if we love someone to satisfy me (my senses only). The key word is 'primarily'. However, if we love someone in such a way that it 'primarily' pleases Krishna and then that pleasing of Krishna pleases me, then that is not lust but a path towards pure love. In other words, to the degree we love someone to primarily please Krishna versus pleasing myself, then that love becomes pure.

Bhakti yoga or Krishna consciousness is actually all about loving God and loving all living beings so to say love in this world aka lust is predominant is correct but the solution is not "not to love" but purify our love from loving for my sake to loving others' for Krishna's sake.

When we see everyone as part and parcel of Krishna, and in that mood we love someone and serve that someone, then such love and service centered around Krishna will actually nourish us internally and help us traverse the path towards God quicker.

Hare Krishna

this body is but a bio-chemical machine

We always hear how the body is like a car and the soul its driver. In fact,there is a verse in the Gita that reflects this idea

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy. – BG 18.61

I was reading a book on medical resuscitation and how they bring the dead back to life. The book, in one part, talks about the human body. Below is the excerpt;

The human body is an incredibly complex machine composed of different components, each with a specific role that enables this machine to function. Like all machines, the body needs fuel to produce energy, which it uses to sustain its biological activities, also known as metabolism. This fuel comes in the form of the foods we eat, but the food alone does not sustain us. Once consumed, these raw products must be burned and converted into energy. This combustion process requires a constant supply of oxygen, the same an engine needs a mixture of oxygen and fuel to combust. The fuel in the engine is supplied through a gas tank while the oxygen is injected through vents and in both cases, when they meet, combustion takes place. This creates the energy that enables the other components, such as the wheels, power steering, and lights, to function, but the combustion process also produces waste products. In a car, the waste products are pushed out the through the exhaust system; in the body the gastrointestinal track functions like the gas tank, taking in food that comes from the stomach, while oxygen is supplied through the lungs acting as massive vents. This entire process in both the car and our body is stimulated by the intake of oxygen. Thus, like a car,if our activity revs up as we run, we need far higher levels of oxygen in order to burn more fuel and keeps the cells and organs working .- By Dr. Sam Parnia, M.D. from the book Erasing Death, page 37-38

The author (lead of the AWARE study) categorically explains how the body is but a machine. The next natural question is - who drives the machine (the body), we get the answer in the Bhagavad Gita –the soul.

Hare Krishna

This is a simple method

Krishna Consciousness is a simple method. All you have to do is bow down before Krishna with faith and say, ‘My Lord Krishna, I was forgetful of You for so long, for so many lives. Now I have come to my consciousness; please accept me.’ That’s all. If one simply learns this technique and sincerely surrenders himself to the Lord, his path is immediately open.

- Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 7

Hare Krishna

Evolution

Evolution of living beings from low to high;

1. Dull matter like stone
2. Aquatics
3. Plants
4. Insects
5. Birds
6. Animals
7. Human Beings
8. Ghosts (ghosts are higher not because of higher consciousness but because they are powerful in that they are not limited by a gross body)
9. Gandharvas
10. Siddhas
11. Kinnaras
12. Asuras
13. Gods (administrative authorities of this universe)
14. Indra (King of all Gods)
15. Direct Sons of Brahma like King Daksha
16. Lord Siva (since He was born from Brahma in this universe)
17. Lord Brahma
18. Supreme Being Narayana
19. Devotee Brahmanas (since the Supreme Being Narayana is inclined to the Brahmanas)

SB 5.5.21-22

Instant connections

“In physics class I learned how sound waves propagate into our ear. It was mind-blowing. Those waves create emotions that make us happy, that get us pumped up”

This is a quote from a student from a polytechnic college in the US doing research on helping endangered species using sound. His comment about sound creating emotions may sound correct to the untrained ear but actually sound in itself does not create emotions. If that were so, a dead body also has ears and if you play music to a dead man, he will not express any emotions. So why is that sound only creates emotions in a living person?

The soul seated inside the body is the actual sentient receiver of the sound (not the ear). The soul gives life to the body. This soul influenced heavily by the modes of nature (there are three - goodness, passion, ignorance) uses the mind and body to satisfy its desires. Because of the soul's willingness to be influenced by material nature, the soul desires things connected to this world otherwise typically the soul's desires' are non-material.

The sound enters the ears and the signals are processed by the brain. The influenced soul activates the device called mind which is like the software. The mind reacts to the sound either favorably or unfavorably and sends the signals back to the hardware - the brain. The soul is the user (beneficiary) of the software and hardware.

The brain, influenced by the mind, releases chemicals according to the signals from the mind resulting in a positive or negative sensual feeling. Finally, these feelings are expressed as emotions through the face and or other gestures. All of this happens instantly as if there is no gap in time between the time you hear the music to the time you emote.

All of this mechanistic process is even possible because the Supersoul (Krishna) activates the tiny soul (just as the soul activates the body) to interact with material nature (three modes) , mind and body. As a result, the soul can continue its illusion of enjoyment in this world perpetually in different bodies!

The three modes, mind and and body is provided by Krishna to the soul and the soul is an amsa or a tiny separated expansion of Krishna. The soul is so tiny that on its own the soul cannot do anything so the Supersoul has to assist the soul to enjoy. What type of mind and body the soul gets and its interaction with the modes depends on the karma of the soul. Like this, Krishna forever in time continuously churns out different bodies and scenarios for the soul to enjoy!

Nothing is accidental or whimsical. Krishna is so perfect and precise that this material nature is a seamless process. Pretty deep if you ask me!

Hare Krishna

guru sadhu and shastra cannot be monopolized

Couple of posts earlier, I wrote about guru, sadhu and shastra as the springboard to understand Ashokshaja - the One who is inconceivable. This system of guru, sadhu and shastra is not institutionalized or monopoly of one religion or sect. For example, ISKCON follows guru, sadhu and shastra and it seems like guru, sadhu and shastra is part of an institution called ISKCON but ISKCON was setup to spread the word of Krishna and create opportunities for devotees to come together to interact with Krishna but certainly it was not set up to monopolize or institutionalize the concept of guru, sadhu and shastra.

Any person who is sincerely seeking the truth, must accept the authority of guru, sadhu and shastra regardless of institutional set up and proceed in the selfless service of Adhokshaja. The Lord is impartial and equal to all beings and no one claim ownership or special favor save and except beings who love Him for because when we express selfless love towards Adhokshaja (another name for Krishna), then He reciprocates in-kind!

Hare Krishna

Enthusiasm for Krishna

When somethings give pleasure to our mind and senses we become excited or in other words enthusiastic about that something. For example, if a particular food tastes (tongue) good in a particular restaurant then we are enthusiastic to go to the restaurant. If by watching (eyes) a movie, i am happy, then that excites me. So like this in this world, things that excite us is that which gives pleasure to the mind and senses. However, enthusiasm to know, hear and serve Krishna cannot be defined in the same manner.

Enthusiasm for Krishna may not always be pleasurable to the mind and senses. So we cannot use the same mindset towards enthusiasm when it comes to Krishna. When Srila Rupa Goswami talks about utsahan (enthusiasm) as a key ingredient to progress in Krishna Consciousness, we cannot use our worldly enthusiasm as a compass to assess our progress because the worldly enthusiasm is sensual.

Enthusiasm in Krishna is different in that it is based on our long-term well-being (shreyas) especially when we are in the beginning stages of bhakti. We become excited in Krishna or enthusiastic to serve Krishna thinking this will help me transcend the miseries of this world and so we act like it is an investment. This may sound mercantile in the beginning but such attitude is helpful to live a pious and humble life. Such piety and humility then will till the field of our heart favorably so the seed of bhakti grows. Then as the seed becomes a plant, enthusiasm to serve Krishna becomes a matter of increasing our loving exchanges with Krishna. .

So yes the definition of enthusiasm on the worldly platform and Krishna are not the same and spiritual enthusiasm begins for ensuring our long-term well-being and when we cross that stage enthusiasm from our heart will be to increase our love for Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

Work hard and be free from stress

Householders engage with family and job and this can lead to stress and even depression. Bhagavad Gita recommends working in such way that we do not get consumed by our work but at the same time work hard.

Krishna speaks;

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. Perform your duty equipoised, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga. If a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.

Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. 

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions. The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all activities to Me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled.

Surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.

Ref. BG 2.47-48, 3.9, 4.22, 5.12, 3.30

Hare Krishna

Faith of a different kind

Faith means to believe as we do not have a direct experience of the subject in question.  Faith is the beginning of Krishna Consciousness philosophy because we do not have direct experience or perception of Krishna.  Therefore, we put faith in scripture (shastra) revealed by great saints and great saints (sadhu). This is the process.

It is unlike other religions or processes because in other religions/paths, faith means direct faith upon God. God from our material position is not accessible, henceforth, such direct faith upon God will be at best sentimental for the entire life of the believer. Such sentimental faith is not a good idea since it will succumb to material temptations and will be without deeper realizations. Such sentimentalist will invariably live a material life with a dogmatic belief of a God or supernatural being. Such faith is dogma and not recommended.

Therefore, the process of putting faith in the intermediary/pure via medium is more objective and experiential and deepens our realizations. So although we are in the business of faith like other paths and religions,  still our faith is based on direct perception (not sentimental) of the pure via medium (Guru, Sadhu and Shastra) and using them as a springboard we try to experience the Transcendent Lord. When we have a direct experience, at the juncture faith becomes a fact!

Hare Krishna

Humility implies perfect submission

In my previous post I spoke about the broad principal of preaching that somehow or other one should try to connect a soul to Krishna, all other considerations or rules are secondary. Sometimes, we may speak bluntly or sometimes we flatter.  Taken from an excerpt from HH Satsvarupa Goswami's book 'With Srila Prabhupada 1966-69; Srila Prabhupada writes that We can induce someone to take to Krsna consciousness, and that may sometimes include flattering that person's false ego.

Once OBL Kapoor (godbrother of Prabhupada) was interviewed and he recalled his memory of Prabhupada when Prabhupada was still a householder. Prabhupada said 'I know the method to spread the movement in English speaking countries' and he continued by reciting - trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna, amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari.

So while Rupa Goswami's instruction of somehow or other one must induce one to Krishna, the method according to Prabhupada is to take a humble position just as Lord Nityananda did in His earthly lila. Below is an excerpt from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Takur that capture this idea;

A chanter of Hari-kirtana is necessarily the uncompromising enemy of worldliness and hypocrisy. It is his constant function to dispel all misconceptions by preaching the truth in its most unambiguous form, without any consideration of person, place, or time. The form to be adopted is that which is least likely to be misunderstood. It is his bounden duty to clearly and frankly oppose any person who tries to deceive and harm himself and others by misrepresenting the truth, whether due to malice or genuine misunderstanding. 

This will be possible if the chanter of kirtana is always prepared to submit to being trodden upon by thoughtless people, if such discomfort will enable him to benefit his persecutors by chanting of the truth in the most unambiguous manner. 

If he is unwilling or afraid of considerations of self-respect or personal discomfort to chant kirtana under all circumstances, he is unfit to be a preacher of the absolute truth. 

Humility implies perfect submission to the truth and no sympathy for untruth. Those who entertain any partiality for untruth are unfit to chant Hari-kirtana. Any clinging to untruth is opposed to the principle of humility born of absolute submission to the truth.

-Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur “Harmonist 26.249-50 (Apr 1929)”

Hare Krishna

somehow or other

I am not very advanced in terms of preaching but I have seen many others preach successfully. Of course, my main inspiration as always is His Divine Grace. If I have to take one fundamental value of preaching from Srila Prabhupada, it is this;

yena tena prakarena manah krsna nivesayet
sarve vidhi-nisedha syur etayor eva kinkarah

An acarya should devise a means by which people may somehow or other come to Krsna consciousness. All rules and regulations are subordinate to this principle.- BRS.1.2.4

To me, this is the founding principal upon which Prabhupada built his preaching ideas. To me this is the broadest definition (somehow or other inspire others to Krishna). Because it is so broad, no one idea or method can be delineated as gold standard. According to time and circumstances, this principal can be applied differently (albeit within the legal laws of the land).

I recall one conversation Srila Prabhupada had with his disciples in a car on his way to New Vrindavan farm where he said that he did not impose any rules in the beginning when people used to visit his storefront temple. Prabhupada then quoted the verse above and said that somehow or other he wanted the people who visited to take to Krishna. He said rules he introduced later once they had some attachment to him. I cannot recall the source but I think this is in one of Hari Sauri prabhu’s dairies.

In fact, in a lecture in December 1966 in New York (pretty much the beginning of ISKCON), Srila Prabhupada himself confirms the statement above. You can read the lecture transcript here.

This is my 2 cents on the technique to preach and I try this whenever I get chance!

Hare Krishna.