Lecture:
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Disciple_and_Devotee--Ideal_Qualities/2003-021_Qualification_for_spiritual_Advancement_SB_Class_Mumbai_-_29-03-03_IDesireTree.mp3
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.24
Translation
A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great ācāryas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regulative principles without material desire and, while following the regulative principles, should not blaspheme others. A devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the duality of opposing elements. He should learn to tolerate them.
Purport
Another important point mentioned in this connection is anindayā — we should not criticize others' methods of religion. There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature. Those operating in the modes of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness. In Bhagavad-gītā everything has been divided into three qualitative divisions; therefore religious systems are similarly categorized. When people are mostly under the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality. A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they can come to the platform of religion in goodness. Simply by criticizing them, a devotee's mind will be agitated. Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.
Another feature of the devotee is nirīhayā, simple living. Nirīhā means "gentle," "meek" or "simple." A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. He should accept only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service. He should not eat or sleep more than is required. Simply eating for living, and not living for eating, and sleeping only six to seven hours a day are principles to be followed by devotees. As long as the body is there it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence. We cannot avoid them. Sometimes we receive letters from neophyte devotees questioning why they have fallen sick, although pursuing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant (dvandva-titikṣayā). This is the world of duality. One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness can continue without impediment from any material opposition. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa therefore advises in Bhagavad-gītā (2.14), tāḿs titikṣasva bhārata: "My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances. Be fixed in your Kṛṣṇa conscious activities."
Prthu Mahraj meeting with four Kumaras. In this one sloka the qualifications required for a candidate make progressive spiritual advancement are described. In the sector of this purport there is emphasis on the essential needs to control the senses. Do not criticize others and to live a humble simple life by which one can tolerate the dualities of material nature.
The senses are addicted to the pleasures which comes from the contact of the objects of senses. This conditioning is from time that cannot be possibly traced back. The desire for sense gratification is so very deeply rooted in the heart. In this world if a person is addicted to anything for a long duration of time very very difficult to extract ones activities from that effect.
If a person has been smoking or drinking alcohol for 30 to 40 years, It has become such a interpart of our life, really people look for shelter in these things. We become habituated to take shelter in our bad habits.
We have all seen someone addicted to cigrattes, that habit due to conditioning creates such cravings that mentally as well as physiologically that every part is longing from seperation for that experiance of that poisoning nicotin smoke coming to their lungs they become so disturbed, so agitated that literally seeking shelter to the cigarette. We are habituated to that conditioning so we get some relief to that addiction.
Actually every type of sense gratification is at same nature people become addicted to sex life. Idea of sex life from scriptures is apparently pleasure but actually it is not why people needed so much, it is not pleasure, it is because they are addicted to it, without it there is so much pain. So much anguish so much agitation and people take shelter of the so called pleasure because it relieves then of the suffering of being without it because material addiction, material conditioning. Every type of sense gratification is a source of shelter to the conditional soul to relieve him or her from the boredem agitations of the world.
The impersonalists they try to annihilae all of these desires. But it is very difficult since time immorial for milloons and millions of birth we have perpetuated this chronic addiction and now we want to just give it up. Some people are addicted to sense gratification in mode of passion or ignorance. From the mode of goodness we can give it up altogether. For those who are in mode of ignorance and passion they should learn what is sense gratificaion in mode of goodness. But everyone is addicte.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Effects of anger
Lecture:
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Anarthas/02_-_Anger/1997_Effects_of_Anger_SB-02-07-07_Mumbai_-_1997-01-05_IDesireTree.mp3
How Brahma himself gave birth to Dharma from his own breast. Dharma was married to the 13 daughters of Daksha. One of the queens name is Muraki and from the womb of her came the advent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead of Nara Narayana Rishi.
Then they performed great austerities on the holy land of Badrikashramam in the high feets of Himalayas. The austerities they were performing were to severe infact the Lord was displaying his own oppulance of renunciation. It cannot possibly immitated by any mortal for infinite testimonial of jiva. Indhra became very fearful. Materialistic people are always thinking that everyone thinks like themselves. The world is the mirror of one's own mind. Where ever we look we see our own consciousness. He was thinking I am attached to the beautiful swarkaloka and I have performed such tapasya to attain it so therefore anyone performing tapasya their aim must be to take my post.
So Kamadev created a whole atmosphere was so inducive to the material enjoyment all of his strength and powers were being aimed at Nara Narayan Rishis. So people became very much afraid. Lord was so kindly benevolently smiled at Kama dev and all of his associated and told them do not fear, you are my honored and welcomed guests to have come to sanctify my ashram so please accept my gifts from me of my hospitality. when they saw there is no pride and when there is no price there can be no anger.
They were astounded and they bowed down seeking the compassion of the Lord and began to praise him, that we the demigods we put so many obstacles in front of peoples especially the Lord's devotees but those who are protecte by you O'Lord can easily cross the ocean of all obstacles before them.
Those who do not surrener to you will be easily be consumed and drowned by this ocean and somehow or other if by the power of the mystic austerities, they can cross the whole ocean of material attraction, they beocme proud by doing so and when they become proud, they easily become angry and the little puddle which is the size of the foot print of the path which represents anger these persons are mustics and not devoted to you after crossing the whole ocean of material tempations they drowned in the foot print of little path in the form of wrath and anger and loose all of their austerities.
But you are the Lord you are completely Absolute transcedental personality and those who take the shelter of you acheived your special mercy. So Nara Narayanan just to show who is Godhead from his body emanated beautiful, heavenly females that made all the cupids female pale, and ugly in comparison.
The demigods after seeing not only seeing all their senses were completely infactuated, bewildered and conquered by the sight of these beautiful ladies. But Nara Narayan rishis have no attraction for any of them.
Srila Prabupada explains in the purport that the confectioner who is making sweet meats everyone else is attracted to sweet and he is not attracted.
So the Lord who manifests he is perfect an satisfied by himself. He told the demigods to take one of the beautiful ladies and take them with you as my present.
So they chose Urvasi and she was brought back to Indhra loka, Kamadev explained to Indhra about what happened. Indhra was frightened a rakand ashamed but very happy to see urvasi and she became the crown jewel of all the pleasurable heavenly pastimes.
Infact without herthe heavenly abode appeared to be without any excitement, so this is the glory of Nara Narayan rishis. Here Sukadeva Goswami explained how unprecedented is the Supreme power of Godhead in the form of renunciation that he is comparing him to the greatest stalwarts. In this universe there is no greatest stalwarts in tapasya then Lord Shiva. When he was making a comparison, Lord Shiva and Sati had already burned themselves to ashes in the yagya of the Daksha and she took birth again as the daughter of himanan the presiding murti of the Himalayas and her name is Parvati or himavati. From her earliest youth she was naturally attracted to lord Shiva and she was performing tapasya to get lord shiva as her husband. Meanwhile lord Shiva was sitting in his yoga samadhi meditating on the Supreme Lord Krishna's pastimes within his own heard and hje was so completely immersed in the meditation, but that time a great demon named Taraka he was conquering all the world.
The demigods has no power to extend his anger so they understood after consulting with higher authorities that the only person who would be competent to kill this demon is the son of Lord Shiva but at that time there is no son. So Indhra again to protect his abode he sent Kamadev to Shiva because no one else can get him out of his Samadhi. Kamadev created all around the most attractive and impulsive atmosphere towards temptation.
Lord Shiva was totally unmoved. Kamadev has bow and arrow, and he took and shot at the heart of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was disturbed and looked for him in all directions.
He found kamadev and Shiva out of wrath being disturbed his third eye opened from that eye came a fire that burned cupid to ashes. Meanwhile Kamadev's consort Rati was very much sad, to see her husband in a pile of ashes, so she prayed to Lord Shiva to give her husband Lord Shiva is ashotosh, he is easily pleased and living beings. He told Rati he will become the son of Lord Krishna and there you will be reunited.
Meanwhile a demon Sambara had very powerful mystic power and great wealth and he was told the son of Krishna and Rukmini will kill him. So meanwhile Lord Krishna recently leve Vrindavan with Uncle Akrura and had gone to Matura, he satisfied Vasudev and devaki and also satisfied and promised that he will destroy all the demons in the world. He decided to move to Dwarka since so many demons were attacking Matura. He married Rukmini. They had a son named Pradyumna. He is the incarnation of Kamadev. The demon Sambara kmow that Pradyumna will kill him.
Sambara disguised himself as beautiful lady and kidnapped pradyumna and threw the baby into the ocean. Rukmini was very sad their hearts are broken, the first child who is the beauty and charm had been taken away. Days and days went by searching everywhere. Obviously they taught he would be killed. If Krishna wants to protect you nothing can harm you, if Krishna has to harm you nothing can protect you.
But the little child living in that ocean was swallowed by a big fish and not a blade of grass moved without the sanction of the Lord. He was orchestrating every movement such as it is favorable for oppurtunity for all of us to make spiritual advancement and we must recognize that in good or bad times, honor or dishonor pleasure or pain, we should know that Krishna is putting us in such situation to help us surrender to him.
This case how many are fishes are in the ocean, billions and billions are there. This particular fish which caught Pradyumna, and he was living in the belly of the fish comfortably by the mercy of the Lord. A fisherman caught the fish. Fisherman went to the palace of Sambara selling fish. Fisherman went to palace of Sambara selling fish. So Sambara ate fish since he is a Rakshasa. So Sambara was happy to get that fish and the cook was about to prepare, he cut open the fish and the beautiful baby was there.
Rati Kamadev's consort, she took the position of assistant cook in the kitchen of Sambara, she only cooked rice and dhal. When the baby was taken out, just at that time Narada Muni appeared. He explained to Rati, and told her about the previous life about Kamadev and Rati. She became caring for the baby and bathed him, cared for him and waiting for the moment to grow up.
Very quickly the child started growing and growing mystically very beautifully. In a matter of days she asked glancing upon him and started indicating that they should enjoy and Pradyumna got bewildered by looking at all this.
He said you are my mother how can you do this. But actually I am not you mother, I am your consort, she explained everything to him. So she said you should kill this Sambara and go back to Mother Rukmini and Father Krishna. But Rukmini the day you have gone she is weeping and crying by the loss of the son. So Mayavathi she instructed Pradyumna about how to fight Sambara the wife became the Guru which is very common to these days. So Pradyumna went before Sambara and started insulting him.
His choice words were so pierceful to the heart. He created such anger is Sambara's mind and Pradyumna said, I challenge you to fight. They began to fight and Sambara understood that he was the son of Krishna, Sambara went upto the sky, he was trained by Maya he has Mahamaya powers. But Mayavati trained up Pradyumna in Maha viji powers which is more powerful which is coming from God.
Maha Maya powers are coming from illusory energy. As they were fighting Sambara was throwing everytype or weapon which was easily destroyed by Pradyumna. When nothing left Pradyumna took a sword and cut off Sambara.Then Mayavati said she will transfer both of them airways to Dwaraka. They immediately flew to Dwaraka. Mayavati landed her mystical airship right in the palace of Krishna and Rukmini so many beautiful ladies seeing his beautiful form they thought he is Krishna they were embarrassed then they found that he did not have certain features he is not Krishna.
Rukmini saw this child and know that she must be her child. There was wonderful festival of celeberation for the return of Pradyumna.
Through this wonderful story we understand Lord Shiva who conquered lust was still subjected to wrath. But Nara Narayan rishi not only he conquered lust when the cupid came to do the same thing to him Nara Narayan rishi was completely composed and respectful and actually adorned gifts to people. This is the nature of Supreme personality of God head.
We have heard how Lord Shiva himself is very happy and proud to be devoted by Mohini murti just to show how Krishna is better than me. I am his servant. Wrath is one of the great enemy that must be controlled somehow or the other.
Bhagavad Gita 3.37
sri-bhagavan uvaca
kama esa krodha esa
rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahasano maha-papma
viddhy enam iha vairinam
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world.
Lust is the great sinful enemy when it is unfullfilled it creates wrath. When there is a wrath there is an offense and when there is offense they fall down into material existance lower and lower.
To control anger is very difficult and they are all interconnected. Gita says there are three gates which leads to hell. Lust, anger and greed. Any sane man should give them up because they lead to the degradation of the soul. Krishna explains the whole cycle about how one falls into the material life.
First is attraction between the object of the senses and senses. From that attraction come attachment and lust (kama), longing and craving to enjoy something. Whatever we enjoy we naturally become attached. That is the nature of the sould which is to find unlimited enjoyment in being enjoyed by Krishna and therefore one becomes unlimitedly attached to Krishna and that that is perfection of life.
Lord Kapila dev had said the path of perfection is to transfer your attachment from material enjoyment and becoming attached to Sadhus who are the advanced devotees of the Lor. Because they always bring the conciousness to the Lotus feet of the Lord. Through that process you become attached to Krishna and then you become detached from everything in this world then you dont have any more birth and death.
In material existance one becomes attached and that attachment is frustrating and we become angry. We become overwhelmed by that angry sensation. Srila Prabupada says when your chest becomes hot. Breathing become quiver, eyes become red, and your memory/intelligence becomes bewildered. You could no longer think like a same person. You are not thinking systematically.
If I say something now that will do in future we should always be calculating like that. When there is anger we become an animal, become ceased by the moment and react like fire then speak harshly, a terrible act. People when intoxicated they become angry easily. Lusty frustration anger like Ravana, Jagai and Madai. When memory is bewildered -> Intelligence is lost -> Speak and act which will degrade yourself.
Anger is your worst enemy.
Lust and anger are consorts of one another. If you do not curb the lust in the begining it will inevitably bring anger. Story of Vishwamithra Muni did a great tapasya without eating or sleeping for years performing meditation in between fire and ice for years at a time, undisturbed he did not move a limb of his body.
Indhra thought he wants his abode, through Kamadev he send Menaka. Vishwamithra muni got disturbed with little clinging on the bangles. Maya means it is not enjoyable but appears beautiful. In this world thre are two principles that is always bewildereing our mind.
1. Attraction
2. Aversion
BG 18.54
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāńkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiḿ labhate parām
Translation:
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Hankering and lamenting; attraction and aversion are the two sides of the coin. Either one will cripple your spiritual progress. We cannot become devoted if we are attached to material energy. If we are averse they we cannot become devoted to Krishna. Because aversed devotees are fanatic. When Mahraj was new to the movement some brahmacharis say woman are Maya dont look at them we hate them and now everyone them have wife and children. So aversion means that they are attached/attracted and somehow trying to counteract that in an immature way by being averse. But actual elevation means to become indifferent not attractive/not aversed. A certain type of respectful aversion for Maya must be there.
Too much aversion is simply other side of attraction. Therefore in Krishna Consciousness we want to fix our consciousness of Krishna we must be free from aversion and attraction to material energy. Rupa Goswami says a person in this type of consciousness is the highest form of self realisation. Srila Prabupada treated both of these as indifferent. He was aversed to the principle of sense gratification and attached to the principle of sense gratification and attached to the principle of surrender and devotion. By his compassion an mercy the people who was considered as untouchables become powerful vaishnavas. In Chaitanya caritamrta Ramananda Roy was not attracted and not aversed.
How Nara Narayana rishi was such power over the illusory energy and free from any pride and completely satisfied.
BG 18.66
Maya cannot touch a devotee who is surrendered to Krishna
BG 18.65
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
TRANSLATION
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
The obstacles impediments comes through Maya, cupids, devatas are to increase the devotion and fasten our way to our destination if we simply remain fixed in devotional service. Always remain in association of devotees and always remain strict in following the regulative principles chanting 16 rounds reading his books and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam always fix in the mood of humble servant, Maya cannot touch those devotees.
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Anarthas/02_-_Anger/1997_Effects_of_Anger_SB-02-07-07_Mumbai_-_1997-01-05_IDesireTree.mp3
How Brahma himself gave birth to Dharma from his own breast. Dharma was married to the 13 daughters of Daksha. One of the queens name is Muraki and from the womb of her came the advent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead of Nara Narayana Rishi.
Then they performed great austerities on the holy land of Badrikashramam in the high feets of Himalayas. The austerities they were performing were to severe infact the Lord was displaying his own oppulance of renunciation. It cannot possibly immitated by any mortal for infinite testimonial of jiva. Indhra became very fearful. Materialistic people are always thinking that everyone thinks like themselves. The world is the mirror of one's own mind. Where ever we look we see our own consciousness. He was thinking I am attached to the beautiful swarkaloka and I have performed such tapasya to attain it so therefore anyone performing tapasya their aim must be to take my post.
So Kamadev created a whole atmosphere was so inducive to the material enjoyment all of his strength and powers were being aimed at Nara Narayan Rishis. So people became very much afraid. Lord was so kindly benevolently smiled at Kama dev and all of his associated and told them do not fear, you are my honored and welcomed guests to have come to sanctify my ashram so please accept my gifts from me of my hospitality. when they saw there is no pride and when there is no price there can be no anger.
They were astounded and they bowed down seeking the compassion of the Lord and began to praise him, that we the demigods we put so many obstacles in front of peoples especially the Lord's devotees but those who are protecte by you O'Lord can easily cross the ocean of all obstacles before them.
Those who do not surrener to you will be easily be consumed and drowned by this ocean and somehow or other if by the power of the mystic austerities, they can cross the whole ocean of material attraction, they beocme proud by doing so and when they become proud, they easily become angry and the little puddle which is the size of the foot print of the path which represents anger these persons are mustics and not devoted to you after crossing the whole ocean of material tempations they drowned in the foot print of little path in the form of wrath and anger and loose all of their austerities.
But you are the Lord you are completely Absolute transcedental personality and those who take the shelter of you acheived your special mercy. So Nara Narayanan just to show who is Godhead from his body emanated beautiful, heavenly females that made all the cupids female pale, and ugly in comparison.
The demigods after seeing not only seeing all their senses were completely infactuated, bewildered and conquered by the sight of these beautiful ladies. But Nara Narayan rishis have no attraction for any of them.
Srila Prabupada explains in the purport that the confectioner who is making sweet meats everyone else is attracted to sweet and he is not attracted.
So the Lord who manifests he is perfect an satisfied by himself. He told the demigods to take one of the beautiful ladies and take them with you as my present.
So they chose Urvasi and she was brought back to Indhra loka, Kamadev explained to Indhra about what happened. Indhra was frightened a rakand ashamed but very happy to see urvasi and she became the crown jewel of all the pleasurable heavenly pastimes.
Infact without herthe heavenly abode appeared to be without any excitement, so this is the glory of Nara Narayan rishis. Here Sukadeva Goswami explained how unprecedented is the Supreme power of Godhead in the form of renunciation that he is comparing him to the greatest stalwarts. In this universe there is no greatest stalwarts in tapasya then Lord Shiva. When he was making a comparison, Lord Shiva and Sati had already burned themselves to ashes in the yagya of the Daksha and she took birth again as the daughter of himanan the presiding murti of the Himalayas and her name is Parvati or himavati. From her earliest youth she was naturally attracted to lord Shiva and she was performing tapasya to get lord shiva as her husband. Meanwhile lord Shiva was sitting in his yoga samadhi meditating on the Supreme Lord Krishna's pastimes within his own heard and hje was so completely immersed in the meditation, but that time a great demon named Taraka he was conquering all the world.
The demigods has no power to extend his anger so they understood after consulting with higher authorities that the only person who would be competent to kill this demon is the son of Lord Shiva but at that time there is no son. So Indhra again to protect his abode he sent Kamadev to Shiva because no one else can get him out of his Samadhi. Kamadev created all around the most attractive and impulsive atmosphere towards temptation.
Lord Shiva was totally unmoved. Kamadev has bow and arrow, and he took and shot at the heart of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was disturbed and looked for him in all directions.
He found kamadev and Shiva out of wrath being disturbed his third eye opened from that eye came a fire that burned cupid to ashes. Meanwhile Kamadev's consort Rati was very much sad, to see her husband in a pile of ashes, so she prayed to Lord Shiva to give her husband Lord Shiva is ashotosh, he is easily pleased and living beings. He told Rati he will become the son of Lord Krishna and there you will be reunited.
Meanwhile a demon Sambara had very powerful mystic power and great wealth and he was told the son of Krishna and Rukmini will kill him. So meanwhile Lord Krishna recently leve Vrindavan with Uncle Akrura and had gone to Matura, he satisfied Vasudev and devaki and also satisfied and promised that he will destroy all the demons in the world. He decided to move to Dwarka since so many demons were attacking Matura. He married Rukmini. They had a son named Pradyumna. He is the incarnation of Kamadev. The demon Sambara kmow that Pradyumna will kill him.
Sambara disguised himself as beautiful lady and kidnapped pradyumna and threw the baby into the ocean. Rukmini was very sad their hearts are broken, the first child who is the beauty and charm had been taken away. Days and days went by searching everywhere. Obviously they taught he would be killed. If Krishna wants to protect you nothing can harm you, if Krishna has to harm you nothing can protect you.
But the little child living in that ocean was swallowed by a big fish and not a blade of grass moved without the sanction of the Lord. He was orchestrating every movement such as it is favorable for oppurtunity for all of us to make spiritual advancement and we must recognize that in good or bad times, honor or dishonor pleasure or pain, we should know that Krishna is putting us in such situation to help us surrender to him.
This case how many are fishes are in the ocean, billions and billions are there. This particular fish which caught Pradyumna, and he was living in the belly of the fish comfortably by the mercy of the Lord. A fisherman caught the fish. Fisherman went to the palace of Sambara selling fish. Fisherman went to palace of Sambara selling fish. So Sambara ate fish since he is a Rakshasa. So Sambara was happy to get that fish and the cook was about to prepare, he cut open the fish and the beautiful baby was there.
Rati Kamadev's consort, she took the position of assistant cook in the kitchen of Sambara, she only cooked rice and dhal. When the baby was taken out, just at that time Narada Muni appeared. He explained to Rati, and told her about the previous life about Kamadev and Rati. She became caring for the baby and bathed him, cared for him and waiting for the moment to grow up.
Very quickly the child started growing and growing mystically very beautifully. In a matter of days she asked glancing upon him and started indicating that they should enjoy and Pradyumna got bewildered by looking at all this.
He said you are my mother how can you do this. But actually I am not you mother, I am your consort, she explained everything to him. So she said you should kill this Sambara and go back to Mother Rukmini and Father Krishna. But Rukmini the day you have gone she is weeping and crying by the loss of the son. So Mayavathi she instructed Pradyumna about how to fight Sambara the wife became the Guru which is very common to these days. So Pradyumna went before Sambara and started insulting him.
His choice words were so pierceful to the heart. He created such anger is Sambara's mind and Pradyumna said, I challenge you to fight. They began to fight and Sambara understood that he was the son of Krishna, Sambara went upto the sky, he was trained by Maya he has Mahamaya powers. But Mayavati trained up Pradyumna in Maha viji powers which is more powerful which is coming from God.
Maha Maya powers are coming from illusory energy. As they were fighting Sambara was throwing everytype or weapon which was easily destroyed by Pradyumna. When nothing left Pradyumna took a sword and cut off Sambara.Then Mayavati said she will transfer both of them airways to Dwaraka. They immediately flew to Dwaraka. Mayavati landed her mystical airship right in the palace of Krishna and Rukmini so many beautiful ladies seeing his beautiful form they thought he is Krishna they were embarrassed then they found that he did not have certain features he is not Krishna.
Rukmini saw this child and know that she must be her child. There was wonderful festival of celeberation for the return of Pradyumna.
Through this wonderful story we understand Lord Shiva who conquered lust was still subjected to wrath. But Nara Narayan rishi not only he conquered lust when the cupid came to do the same thing to him Nara Narayan rishi was completely composed and respectful and actually adorned gifts to people. This is the nature of Supreme personality of God head.
We have heard how Lord Shiva himself is very happy and proud to be devoted by Mohini murti just to show how Krishna is better than me. I am his servant. Wrath is one of the great enemy that must be controlled somehow or the other.
Bhagavad Gita 3.37
sri-bhagavan uvaca
kama esa krodha esa
rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahasano maha-papma
viddhy enam iha vairinam
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world.
Lust is the great sinful enemy when it is unfullfilled it creates wrath. When there is a wrath there is an offense and when there is offense they fall down into material existance lower and lower.
To control anger is very difficult and they are all interconnected. Gita says there are three gates which leads to hell. Lust, anger and greed. Any sane man should give them up because they lead to the degradation of the soul. Krishna explains the whole cycle about how one falls into the material life.
First is attraction between the object of the senses and senses. From that attraction come attachment and lust (kama), longing and craving to enjoy something. Whatever we enjoy we naturally become attached. That is the nature of the sould which is to find unlimited enjoyment in being enjoyed by Krishna and therefore one becomes unlimitedly attached to Krishna and that that is perfection of life.
Lord Kapila dev had said the path of perfection is to transfer your attachment from material enjoyment and becoming attached to Sadhus who are the advanced devotees of the Lor. Because they always bring the conciousness to the Lotus feet of the Lord. Through that process you become attached to Krishna and then you become detached from everything in this world then you dont have any more birth and death.
In material existance one becomes attached and that attachment is frustrating and we become angry. We become overwhelmed by that angry sensation. Srila Prabupada says when your chest becomes hot. Breathing become quiver, eyes become red, and your memory/intelligence becomes bewildered. You could no longer think like a same person. You are not thinking systematically.
If I say something now that will do in future we should always be calculating like that. When there is anger we become an animal, become ceased by the moment and react like fire then speak harshly, a terrible act. People when intoxicated they become angry easily. Lusty frustration anger like Ravana, Jagai and Madai. When memory is bewildered -> Intelligence is lost -> Speak and act which will degrade yourself.
Anger is your worst enemy.
Lust and anger are consorts of one another. If you do not curb the lust in the begining it will inevitably bring anger. Story of Vishwamithra Muni did a great tapasya without eating or sleeping for years performing meditation in between fire and ice for years at a time, undisturbed he did not move a limb of his body.
Indhra thought he wants his abode, through Kamadev he send Menaka. Vishwamithra muni got disturbed with little clinging on the bangles. Maya means it is not enjoyable but appears beautiful. In this world thre are two principles that is always bewildereing our mind.
1. Attraction
2. Aversion
BG 18.54
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāńkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiḿ labhate parām
Translation:
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Hankering and lamenting; attraction and aversion are the two sides of the coin. Either one will cripple your spiritual progress. We cannot become devoted if we are attached to material energy. If we are averse they we cannot become devoted to Krishna. Because aversed devotees are fanatic. When Mahraj was new to the movement some brahmacharis say woman are Maya dont look at them we hate them and now everyone them have wife and children. So aversion means that they are attached/attracted and somehow trying to counteract that in an immature way by being averse. But actual elevation means to become indifferent not attractive/not aversed. A certain type of respectful aversion for Maya must be there.
Too much aversion is simply other side of attraction. Therefore in Krishna Consciousness we want to fix our consciousness of Krishna we must be free from aversion and attraction to material energy. Rupa Goswami says a person in this type of consciousness is the highest form of self realisation. Srila Prabupada treated both of these as indifferent. He was aversed to the principle of sense gratification and attached to the principle of sense gratification and attached to the principle of surrender and devotion. By his compassion an mercy the people who was considered as untouchables become powerful vaishnavas. In Chaitanya caritamrta Ramananda Roy was not attracted and not aversed.
How Nara Narayana rishi was such power over the illusory energy and free from any pride and completely satisfied.
BG 18.66
Maya cannot touch a devotee who is surrendered to Krishna
BG 18.65
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
TRANSLATION
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
The obstacles impediments comes through Maya, cupids, devatas are to increase the devotion and fasten our way to our destination if we simply remain fixed in devotional service. Always remain in association of devotees and always remain strict in following the regulative principles chanting 16 rounds reading his books and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam always fix in the mood of humble servant, Maya cannot touch those devotees.
Serve with humility and gratitude
Lecture:
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Gratitude/05.Serve_with_Humility_and_Gratitude-Concluding_lecture_IDesireTree.mp3
To come together in a holy place to hear, chant, pray and worship the Lord is not an ordinary thing. It is only after millions and millions of birth one gets contact with a Vaishnava. When that association is the seed of bakti that awakens the heart. There is no greater priority of our life than nourishing and protecting that seesd of bakti. Everything else will perish and everything else is an Illusion.
When the great Vaishnava Kuresh was asked for his vision to be restored, he did not want to see anything in this material world. It is all distraction, his only interest was to see the Supreme Lord, beautiful form and form of his spiritual master Sri Ramanuja charya.
In this world, life is about endless distraction, endless oppurtunities to forget our relationship wiht God. The world is created for this purpose. However Lord Brahma as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, in the process it is essentially only suffering. Krishna says the pleasures of this world is the source of pain.
Maya promises happiness in such a way that breeds egotism, greed, lust, anger, pride and illusion. The vast majority of the population in the age of Kali are like the puppets to the three modes of nature. It is only possible to overcome the repetition of birth and death by receiving the mercy of Krishna through the Vaishnava.
Srimad Bhagavatam says the entire ocean of material creation is reduced small to one who surrenders to the Lord.
Who is really a Vaishnava?
One who considers hell and heaven to be the same. Vaishnava does not concern enjoying and suffering. His concern in any situation of life is immersed in ones consciousness, words, actions to the service of the Lord.
Story of Lord Sunder Bahu- He invited the followers of Ramanuja charya to come and eat his Maha prasad. The followers were enthusiastic and grateful to come. But Sundera Bahu noted that the disciples of Mahapurna did not attend. He asked them, they said you have called the followers of Ramanujacharya they are grand disciples of Maha purna and did not consier appropriate. The Lord Sundera Bahu explained to them that Ramanujacharya is not an ordinary devotee.
Although he is formally disciple of Mahapurna, Mahapurna himself worships Ramanujacharya . Once Mahapurna paid prostrated obeisances to Ramanujacharya and Ramanujacharya accepted it. The devotees were confused. How can a guru offer obeisances to the disciple Sripad Ramanujacharya. With humility revealed his heart. He said I may be the humble servant of Mahapurna who is the beloved of Yamunacharya, the guru of our life but he sees me as the representative of his guru. From his heard it pleases him to pay his dandavats to me. I accepted his obeisances simply for his pleasure as his servant.
Tulasi devi is the eternal servant of the Lord. Her eternal longing is to find her leaves at the lotus feed of the Lord. However we see in some or many temples of Narayan finds great pleasure in putting Tulasi on his head. Tulasi is very willing to be on Lords head if it pleases the Lord.
The formalities of Vaishnava etiquette are very very important to follow as a devotee.
What we learn from this story is what is the essence that everything the devotee does. It is our only duty or aspiration is to please the Lord. The purpose of all the rituals and the mantras, the purpose of everything in a spiritual or religious system is simple to please Krishna.
What please Krishna the most is pleasing the devotees. Etiquette is about pleasing the heard of the vaishnavas. If following strictly if we offend vaishnavas and we offend the heart of the devotee then we have undermined the whole purpose of what we are trying to do. The essence of all vaishnava ettiquette is humility. Humility is not the stereotype way of acting and speaking. Real humility is the spirit that arises from the intention of our heart to support ourselves to please Krishna and please devotees.
To be a compassionate of Krishna's mercy to the people of this world. Lord Chaitanya offered us his beautiful prayer
Trinad api...
If we want to chant the holy name which actually pleased Guru and Krishna that we must adopt in that spirit, feeling oneself as humble as the blade of grass. Having the tolerance, forgiveness more than the tree, eager to offer all respects to others and expect none in return sometimes when you dont want respect you get respect and it will be poison to our false ego, when it comes, we must immediately pass on to someone else otherwise it will cause spiritual death. However if you offer it to Guru and Vaishnavas of Krishna there is no danger.
Rishab hill ist he place where Lord Chaitanya met Paramanda puri who is his Guru's god brother. Lord Chaitanya honored and worshipped Paramanda puri. Paramanda puri honored Lord Chaitanya as the supreme personality of god head. But yet Lord Chaitanya offered his obeisances to Paramanda puri. He accepted his obeisances, he lifted Lord Chaitanya embraced him and blessed him.
Sandipani Muni knew Krishna is the Lord same Vishwamitra Muni knew Ramachandra is the Lord. They accepting Lord massaging the feet and Lord is doing minimal chores for them because it pleases them. Sometimes our Srila Prabupada would ask devotees to give class in his presence. Srila Prabupada said it will please me.
According to scripture to speak Siddantha in the presence of a Vaishnava is an offense. But neglecting the order of spiritual master is a bigger offense. So the devotee took class. He was not able to connect sentances and grammer. Everyone thought that was the worst class. Srila Prabupada said that was the wonderful class since he was trying to please the guru. It is not the matter of how skilled we are it is the matter of how sincere we are.
Lord Chaitanya at Rhysab hill visited da Paramanda Puri begged and asked him to stay with him in Jagannath Puri. Paramanada Puri said he will come to Puri just to please Lord Chaitanya. It is the parallel example we saw with Mahapurna and Sripad Ramanujacharya. Srirangam, Tripati, Sudara Bahu temple are the three most important temples of Sri Sampradaya.
It is said long ago Yamaraj was cursed and he came to perform tapasya and that form of the Lord appeared to be his worshipable diety. Sundera bahu said let the earthy devotee worship diety. Sundera bahu said let the earthy devotee worship me throughout the say and you can come every night at midnight to do the Puja. He is the worshippable diety of Yamaraj. If we worship this diety Yamaraj will lock the door of hellish planet and meet us in Vaikunta.
Sundar Bahu is also known as Sunderraj he is very special he holds 5 weapons- Conchell, chakra, club, swords/knives, bow and arrow. After Kuresh was blinded by Kulathunga first. He came to Sunder Bahu's temple. By Kulothunga orer the followers of Ramanujacharya were not allowed in Ranganath's temple one of the guards would let him in because of good qualities he possessed. Kuresh told the guard that whatever good qualities he has is by the mercy of guru therefore I will not come into the temple if you dont accept me as the disciple of Ramunajacharya. He came ot Sundera Bahu and worshipped him for 14 years.
He prayed to Sunderabahu that nobody else prayed for, he prayed to leave the diety. He worshipped the diety bue prayed please reunite me with my Guru Mahraj in Sri Rangam where he wants to live. This temple was constructed by Viswakarma at Satya yuga by a brahmins order. This was worshipped by Prthu Mahraj, Ambarish Mahraj and later by Vallaba Dev. Couple more pastimes of Sundarabahu temple where Kanyadhan of Meenakshi getting married to Lord Shiva. In the presence of Lord Krishna as her elder brother.
Ramanuja charya offering sweet rice (payasam) on behalf of Aandal since she could not visit that temple and later Aandal accepting Ramanujacharya as her elder brother.
Whatever experiance we have received we must be grateful. Grateful for Lordship, grateful for the pleasures and pains and grateful to each other and Srila Prabupada who is made it all possible.
Grateful heart is the heart where the seed of bakti grow. An ungrateful heart is like dry, unfertile soil. Even the best seed will struggle and practically die in that place. As it is said there is no sin greater than ingratitude.
The greatest help is those who support and help our Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabupada was grateful to his neophyte devotee because they were helping his Guru Mahraj and he was eternally grateful.
How we should see each other if Prabupada was grateful to everybody if Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami is taking the dust of brand new devotee and what is our position with each other.
We are not coming to yatra to satisfy our own selfish ambitions. We are coming to become purified to please guru and Krishna to serve and more people more intimate yatras are not vacations to enjoy. They are experiances to internalize Krishna Consciousness. Standing in line in heat, body is aching and hungry is a good oppurtunity to pray to the diety. What ever situation comes upon us it is arranged by the Lord to go into deeper prayer deeper submission and deeper surrender.
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_ISKCON_Swamis/ISKCON_Swamis_-_R_to_Y/His_Holiness_Radhanath_Swami/Lectures/01_-_Theme_wise/Gratitude/05.Serve_with_Humility_and_Gratitude-Concluding_lecture_IDesireTree.mp3
To come together in a holy place to hear, chant, pray and worship the Lord is not an ordinary thing. It is only after millions and millions of birth one gets contact with a Vaishnava. When that association is the seed of bakti that awakens the heart. There is no greater priority of our life than nourishing and protecting that seesd of bakti. Everything else will perish and everything else is an Illusion.
When the great Vaishnava Kuresh was asked for his vision to be restored, he did not want to see anything in this material world. It is all distraction, his only interest was to see the Supreme Lord, beautiful form and form of his spiritual master Sri Ramanuja charya.
In this world, life is about endless distraction, endless oppurtunities to forget our relationship wiht God. The world is created for this purpose. However Lord Brahma as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, in the process it is essentially only suffering. Krishna says the pleasures of this world is the source of pain.
Maya promises happiness in such a way that breeds egotism, greed, lust, anger, pride and illusion. The vast majority of the population in the age of Kali are like the puppets to the three modes of nature. It is only possible to overcome the repetition of birth and death by receiving the mercy of Krishna through the Vaishnava.
Srimad Bhagavatam says the entire ocean of material creation is reduced small to one who surrenders to the Lord.
Who is really a Vaishnava?
One who considers hell and heaven to be the same. Vaishnava does not concern enjoying and suffering. His concern in any situation of life is immersed in ones consciousness, words, actions to the service of the Lord.
Story of Lord Sunder Bahu- He invited the followers of Ramanuja charya to come and eat his Maha prasad. The followers were enthusiastic and grateful to come. But Sundera Bahu noted that the disciples of Mahapurna did not attend. He asked them, they said you have called the followers of Ramanujacharya they are grand disciples of Maha purna and did not consier appropriate. The Lord Sundera Bahu explained to them that Ramanujacharya is not an ordinary devotee.
Although he is formally disciple of Mahapurna, Mahapurna himself worships Ramanujacharya . Once Mahapurna paid prostrated obeisances to Ramanujacharya and Ramanujacharya accepted it. The devotees were confused. How can a guru offer obeisances to the disciple Sripad Ramanujacharya. With humility revealed his heart. He said I may be the humble servant of Mahapurna who is the beloved of Yamunacharya, the guru of our life but he sees me as the representative of his guru. From his heard it pleases him to pay his dandavats to me. I accepted his obeisances simply for his pleasure as his servant.
Tulasi devi is the eternal servant of the Lord. Her eternal longing is to find her leaves at the lotus feed of the Lord. However we see in some or many temples of Narayan finds great pleasure in putting Tulasi on his head. Tulasi is very willing to be on Lords head if it pleases the Lord.
The formalities of Vaishnava etiquette are very very important to follow as a devotee.
What we learn from this story is what is the essence that everything the devotee does. It is our only duty or aspiration is to please the Lord. The purpose of all the rituals and the mantras, the purpose of everything in a spiritual or religious system is simple to please Krishna.
What please Krishna the most is pleasing the devotees. Etiquette is about pleasing the heard of the vaishnavas. If following strictly if we offend vaishnavas and we offend the heart of the devotee then we have undermined the whole purpose of what we are trying to do. The essence of all vaishnava ettiquette is humility. Humility is not the stereotype way of acting and speaking. Real humility is the spirit that arises from the intention of our heart to support ourselves to please Krishna and please devotees.
To be a compassionate of Krishna's mercy to the people of this world. Lord Chaitanya offered us his beautiful prayer
Trinad api...
If we want to chant the holy name which actually pleased Guru and Krishna that we must adopt in that spirit, feeling oneself as humble as the blade of grass. Having the tolerance, forgiveness more than the tree, eager to offer all respects to others and expect none in return sometimes when you dont want respect you get respect and it will be poison to our false ego, when it comes, we must immediately pass on to someone else otherwise it will cause spiritual death. However if you offer it to Guru and Vaishnavas of Krishna there is no danger.
Rishab hill ist he place where Lord Chaitanya met Paramanda puri who is his Guru's god brother. Lord Chaitanya honored and worshipped Paramanda puri. Paramanda puri honored Lord Chaitanya as the supreme personality of god head. But yet Lord Chaitanya offered his obeisances to Paramanda puri. He accepted his obeisances, he lifted Lord Chaitanya embraced him and blessed him.
Sandipani Muni knew Krishna is the Lord same Vishwamitra Muni knew Ramachandra is the Lord. They accepting Lord massaging the feet and Lord is doing minimal chores for them because it pleases them. Sometimes our Srila Prabupada would ask devotees to give class in his presence. Srila Prabupada said it will please me.
According to scripture to speak Siddantha in the presence of a Vaishnava is an offense. But neglecting the order of spiritual master is a bigger offense. So the devotee took class. He was not able to connect sentances and grammer. Everyone thought that was the worst class. Srila Prabupada said that was the wonderful class since he was trying to please the guru. It is not the matter of how skilled we are it is the matter of how sincere we are.
Lord Chaitanya at Rhysab hill visited da Paramanda Puri begged and asked him to stay with him in Jagannath Puri. Paramanada Puri said he will come to Puri just to please Lord Chaitanya. It is the parallel example we saw with Mahapurna and Sripad Ramanujacharya. Srirangam, Tripati, Sudara Bahu temple are the three most important temples of Sri Sampradaya.
It is said long ago Yamaraj was cursed and he came to perform tapasya and that form of the Lord appeared to be his worshipable diety. Sundera bahu said let the earthy devotee worship diety. Sundera bahu said let the earthy devotee worship me throughout the say and you can come every night at midnight to do the Puja. He is the worshippable diety of Yamaraj. If we worship this diety Yamaraj will lock the door of hellish planet and meet us in Vaikunta.
Sundar Bahu is also known as Sunderraj he is very special he holds 5 weapons- Conchell, chakra, club, swords/knives, bow and arrow. After Kuresh was blinded by Kulathunga first. He came to Sunder Bahu's temple. By Kulothunga orer the followers of Ramanujacharya were not allowed in Ranganath's temple one of the guards would let him in because of good qualities he possessed. Kuresh told the guard that whatever good qualities he has is by the mercy of guru therefore I will not come into the temple if you dont accept me as the disciple of Ramunajacharya. He came ot Sundera Bahu and worshipped him for 14 years.
He prayed to Sunderabahu that nobody else prayed for, he prayed to leave the diety. He worshipped the diety bue prayed please reunite me with my Guru Mahraj in Sri Rangam where he wants to live. This temple was constructed by Viswakarma at Satya yuga by a brahmins order. This was worshipped by Prthu Mahraj, Ambarish Mahraj and later by Vallaba Dev. Couple more pastimes of Sundarabahu temple where Kanyadhan of Meenakshi getting married to Lord Shiva. In the presence of Lord Krishna as her elder brother.
Ramanuja charya offering sweet rice (payasam) on behalf of Aandal since she could not visit that temple and later Aandal accepting Ramanujacharya as her elder brother.
Whatever experiance we have received we must be grateful. Grateful for Lordship, grateful for the pleasures and pains and grateful to each other and Srila Prabupada who is made it all possible.
Grateful heart is the heart where the seed of bakti grow. An ungrateful heart is like dry, unfertile soil. Even the best seed will struggle and practically die in that place. As it is said there is no sin greater than ingratitude.
The greatest help is those who support and help our Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabupada was grateful to his neophyte devotee because they were helping his Guru Mahraj and he was eternally grateful.
How we should see each other if Prabupada was grateful to everybody if Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami is taking the dust of brand new devotee and what is our position with each other.
We are not coming to yatra to satisfy our own selfish ambitions. We are coming to become purified to please guru and Krishna to serve and more people more intimate yatras are not vacations to enjoy. They are experiances to internalize Krishna Consciousness. Standing in line in heat, body is aching and hungry is a good oppurtunity to pray to the diety. What ever situation comes upon us it is arranged by the Lord to go into deeper prayer deeper submission and deeper surrender.
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