Saarthi's topics - tribe.net

Glory to Krsna

shyam — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:38:22 GMT

Om namo bhagavate Vasudevaya
Janmady asya yato nvayad itarastas carthesv abhijnah svarat
tene brahma hrda ya adi- kavaye muhyanti yat surayah
tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri sargo mrsa
dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi.

" O my lord Shri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all-prevading personality of Godhead, i offer my respectfull obeisances unto you. I mediate upon the supreme lord Sri Krsna, because he is the absoulte truth,the primeval cause of all the causes of creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and he is independent because there is no other cause beyond him. It is He the one who imparted the vedic knowlegde unto the heart of Brahmaji, the original living being. By even him the great sages and demigods are put under illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen in water. Only because of Him do the material universes temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature appear to be factual although they are unreal. I therefore mediate upon Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which forever is free from the illusory representations of material world. I mediate upon Him, for He is the absoulte Truth"

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Festival for the Eyes 2008

Ekendra — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:17:35 GMT

Would you like to participate in creating a beautiful experience? This Gaura Purnima ISKCON News is putting together a 'Festival for the Eyes' that you're invited to help us put together.

On Gaura Purnima Day 2008 we're going to unveil a multimedia presentation featuring Gaura-Nitai deities worshiped in devotees' homes around the world.

We've set a goal to compile 108 photos so if you'd like to give our current readership of more than 3,500 weekly visitors a glimpse of the Gaura-Nitai deities who live in your home then dress them gorgeously, get the lighting just right and snap us a digital photo. (Try to avoid using a flash please.)

When you submit your entry you'll need to include the following details:

- What's your name? (Please make sure you spell this exactly how you'd like it to be presented.)

- Where do you live? (Include the name of the city and country.)

Send just one photo as an attachment to: editor AT iskconnews.com

Please try to keep the size of the file under 1 Megabyte. The best image resolution for our purposes is 800px by 600px.

Alternatively you could upload to a photo hosting site such as www.flickr.com and send us a link.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday the 18th of March 2008.

Only the first 108 photos will be presented so send them in today!

For more details please visit here: http://news.iskcon.com/node/931

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Yoga

shyam — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:23:37 GMT

ārurukṣor muner yogaḿ
karma kāraṇam ucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate

Translation.
For one who is a nephoyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and one who is alreay elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

Purport.
The process of linking of oneself with the supreme is called Yoga. It may be compared to a ladder for attaining the topmost spiritual realization. This ladder begins from the loweset material condition and rises up to the perfect self-realization in pure spiritual life. According to various elevations, different parts of the ladder are known by different names. But all in all, the complete ladder is called yoga and may be divided into three parts, namely jnana-yoga, dhanya-yoga and bhakti-yoga. The begining of the ladder is called Yogaruruksu, the highest rung is called the Yogarudha.

Concerning the eightfold yoga system, attempts in the begining to enter into meditation through regulative principles of life and practice of different sitting postures (Which are more or less body exercises). When one is accomplished in the practice of meditation, he ceases all disturbing mental activities.

A krsna conscoius person, however is situated from the begining in the platform of meditation, because he always thinks of Krsna. And being constantly engaged in the in the service of Krsna, he has considered to ceased all material activities.

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Simultaneuosly Sannyasi and Yogi

shyam — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:42:05 GMT

yaḿ sannyāsam iti prāhur
yogaḿ taḿ viddhi pāṇḍava
na hy asannyasta-sańkalpo
yogī bhavati kaścana

Translation:
What is called renunication, you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the supreme, O son of Pandu, for one can never become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.

Pupport:
Real Sanyasa-yoga or bhakti means that one should know his constitutional position as the living entity and act accordingly. The living entity has no seperate independent identity. He is the marginal energy of the supreme. When he is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned and when he is in krsna conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in real or natural state of life. Therefore when one is in complete knowledge, one ceases all kinds of material sense gratificatory activities. This is practiced by Yogis who restrain their senses from all kinds of material attachment. But a person in Krsna conciousness has no opportunity to engage his services in anything which is not for the purpose of Krsna. Therefore a Krsna conciousness person is simulantaneously a sannyasi or a yogi. The purpose of knowledge and restraining senses ,as prescribed in the jnana and yoga process is automatically served in Krsna conciousness. If one is unable to give up the activities of the selfish nature, then jnana and yoga are of no avail. The real aim is for the living entity to give up all the selfish satisfaction and be prepared to satisfy the lord. A Krsna conscious person has no sort of desire for self-enjoyment. He is always engaged in the satisfaction of the supreme. One who has no information of the supreme therefore must be engaged in self-satisfaction, because, no one can stand on the platform of inactivity. All purposes are perfectly served by the practice of Krsna Consciousness.

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Being in Real Conscious!

shyam — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:46:11 GMT

bhoktāraḿ yajña-tapasāḿ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaḿ sarva-bhūtānāḿ
jñātvā māḿ śāntim ṛcchati

Translation

A person in full conscious of me, knowing me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all the sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all the planets and demi gods, and the benefactor and well wisher of all living beings, attains peace from pangs of material miseries.

Pupport:

The conditioned souls within clutches of illusory energy are all anxious to attain peace in the material world. But they donot know the formula for peace, which is explained in this part of Bhagavat-Gita. The great peace formula is simply these: Lord Krsna is the beneficary in human activities. Men should offer everything to the transcedental service of the Lord.Because he is the proprietor of all the planets and demigods thereon. No one is greater than He. He is greater than the greatest of demi gods, Lord siva and Brahma. Under the spell of illusion, living entities are trying to be the lords of all that they survey, but they are dominated by the material energy of the Lord. Lord is the master of all material nature, and the conditioned souls are under stringent rules of material nature. Unless one understands these bare facts, it is not possible to achieve peace in these world either individualy or collectively. This is the sense of krsna consciousness: Lord Krsna is the supreme predominator, and all living entities including the demigods are his subordinates. One can attain perfect peace only in complete krsna consciousness.

Fifth Chapter is a practical explanations of krsna consciousness, general known as karma-yoga. The question of mental speculation as to how karma yoga can give liberation is answered herewith. To work in Krsna consciousness is to work with the complete knowlegde of the lord as the predominator. Such knowlegde is not different from transcedental knowlegde. Direct Krsna consciousness is Bhakti-Yoga, and Jnana-Yoga is the path leading to Bhakti-Yoga. Krsna consciousness means to work with the full knwolegde of the supreme Absoulte, the prefection of such consciousness is the full knowlegde of Krsna or the Supreme personality of Godhead. A pure soul is an eternal servant of God as His fragmental part and parcel. He comes in contact with illusion, due to lord it over maya, and that is the cause of his many sufferings. As long as he is in contact with matter, he has to work in terms of material necessities. Krsna consciousness however brings one into spiritual life even while when one is in the jurisdication of matter. The lord is not partial towards anyone. Everything depends on ones practial performance of the duties in krsna consciousness, which helps one to control the senses in every respect and conquer the forces of desire and anger. And one who understands fast in Krsna consciousness, controlling the above mentioned passions remains soley in the transcedental stage or Brahama-nirvana. The eightfold yoga system is automatically followed in krsna consciousness because the ultimate purpose is served. There is the gradual process of elevation in the process of Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyaharna, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. But these only preface perfection by devotional service, which alone can award peace to human being. It is the highest perfection of life.

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Beyond all Dualities

shyam — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:20:07 GMT

Bhagavat-Gita As it Is BG: 5:25

labhante brahma-nirvāṇam
ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇa-kalmaṣāḥ
chinna-dvaidhā yatātmānaḥ
sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ

Translation:
Those who are beyond dualties that arise from doubts,whose minds are engaged within,who are always busy working for the welfare of all living beings and who are free from sins receive liberation in liberation.

Pupport:

Only a person fully in krsna Consciousness can be said to engaged in the welfare work for all living entities.When actually a person is in the knowledge that krsna is the fountainhead of everything, and then when he acts in that spirit then he acts for everyone.The suffering of humanity are due to the forgetfulness of krsna,as the supreme enjoyer,as the supreme properitor and the supreme friend. Therefore to act to revieve this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work. One can be engaged in such first class work without being liberated in supreme. A krsna consciousness person has no doubt about the supremacy of Krsna.He has no doubt because he is completely free from all sins. This is the state of divine love.

A person engaged only to the ministering to the physical welfare of the human society cannot factually help anyone. Temporary relief of external body and mind is not satisfactory. The real cause of diffculty of one's diffculties in the hard struggle for life maybe found as one's forgetfulness of his relationship with Supreme Lord. When a man is fully conscious of his relationship with krsna, he is actually a liberated soul, although he maybe in the material tabernacle.

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BG 5:23--Forces Of Desire and Anger

shyam — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:16:54 GMT

Bhagavat-Gita 5:23

Text 23
śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuḿ
prāk śarīra-vimokṣaṇāt
kāma-krodhodbhavaḿ vegam
sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ

Translation:
Before giving up these present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of material senses and check the forces of desire and anger, he is well situated and happy in this world.

Pupport:
If one wants to make steady progress on the path of self-realization, he must try to control the forces of material senses. There are forces of talk, forces of anger, forces of mind, forces of the stomach, forces of the gentials, and the forces of the tongue. One who is able to control the forces of all these material senses, and the mind is called a gosvamis or svami. Such gosvamis live a strict controlled lives, forgo altogather the forces of the senses. Material Senses when unsatiated, generate anger, and thus the mind, eyes and the chest become agitated. Therefore, one must practise to control them before one gives up these material body. One who can do this is understood to be self -realized and is thus happy in the state of self realization. It is the duty of the transcedentalist to try strenuously to control desire and anger.

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BG 5:24

shyam — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 06:52:47 GMT

chapter 5.24

yo 'ntaḥ-sukho 'ntar-ārāmas
tathāntar-jyotir eva yaḥ
sa yogī brahma-nirvāṇaḿ
brahma-bhūto 'dhigacchati

Translation:
One whose happiness is within, who is active and rejoices from within, who is amid is inward is actually a perfect mystic. He is liberated in supreme and ultimately, he attains the supreme.

Pupport:
Unless one is able to relish happiness from within, how can one retire from external engagements meant for deriving a superficial happiness? A liberated person experiences happiness from factual experience. He can, therefore sit silently at any place and enjoy the activities of life from within. Such a liberated person no longer desires external material happiness. This state is called Brahma Bhuta, attaining one which is assured of going back to Godhead, back to home.

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Chapter 17. The Divisions of Faith

mike-ace — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:34:02 GMT

Chapter 17. The Divisions of Faith
TEXT 1

arjuna uvaca
ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya
yajante sraddhayanvitah
tesam nistha tu ka krsna
sattvam aho rajas tamah

SYNONYMS

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; ye--those; sastra-vidhim--the regulations of scripture; utsrjya--giving up; yajante--worship; sraddhaya--full faith; anvitah--possessed of; tesam--of them; nistha--faith; tu--but; ka--what is that; krsna--O Krsna; sattvam--in goodness; aho--said; rajah--in passion; tamah--in ignorance.
TRANSLATION

Arjuna said, O Krsna, what is the situation of one who does not follow the principles of scripture but who worships according to his own imagination? Is he in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?
PURPORT

In the Fourth Chapter, thirty-ninth verse, it is said that a person faithful to a particular type of worship gradually becomes elevated to the stage of knowledge and attains the highest perfectional stage of peace and prosperity. In the Sixteenth Chapter, it is concluded that one who does not follow the principles laid down in the scriptures is called an asura, demon, and one who follows the scriptural injunctions faithfully is called a deva, or demigod. Now, if one, with faith, follows some rules which are not mentioned in the scriptural injunctions, what is his position? This doubt of Arjuna's is to be cleared by Krsna. Are those who create some sort of God by selecting a human being and placing their faith in him worshiping in goodness, passion or ignorance? Do such persons attain the perfectional stage of life? Is it possible for them to be situated in real knowledge and elevate themselves to the highest perfectional stage? Do those who do not follow the rules and regulations of the scriptures but who have faith in something and worship gods and demigods and men attain success in their effort? Arjuna is putting these questions to Krsna.

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Working in Devotion:: Pure Soul: BG 5.7

shyam — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:39:49 GMT

yoga-yukto viśuddhātmā
vijitātmā jitendriyaḥ
sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtātmā
kurvann api na lipyate

Translation:
One Who works in devotion, who is a pure soul and who controls in mind and senses is dear to everyone and everyone is dear to him. Though always working such a man is never entangled.

Purport:

One who is on the path of liberation by Krsna consciousness is very dear to every living being, and every living being is dear to him. This is due to Krsna consciousness. Such a person cannot think of any living entity as being seperate from Krsna, just as leaves and branches of a tree are not seperate from the tree. He knows very well that by pouring water on the root of the tree, water will be transported to all the leaves and the branches, or by supplying food to the stomach, the energy is automatically distrubuted throughout the body. Because one who works in Krsna consicousness is a servant to all, he is very dear to everyone. And because everyone is satisfied by his work, his is pure in consciousness. Because he is pure in consciousness, his mind is completely controlled. And because his mind is controlled his senses are also controlled. Because his mind is always fixed in Krsna, there is no chance of his being deviated from Krsna. Nor is there a chance that he will engage his senses in matters other than the service of the Lord. He does not like to hear anything except topics relating to Krsna; He does not like to eat anything which is not offered to Krsna, and he does not wish to go anywhere if Krsna is not involved. Therefore his senses are controlled. A man of controlled senses cannot be offensive to anyone. One may ask, " Why was Arjuna(in battle) offensive to others? Wasnt he in Krsna consciousness?" Arjuna was only superfically offensive because all the assembled persons on the battleflied would continue to live individually, as the soul cannot be slain. So, spiritually no one was killed on the battleflied of Kurukstera. Only their dresses were changed by the order of Krsna, who was personally present. Therefore Arjuna, while fighting on the battleflied of Kurukstera, was not fighting at all; he was simply carrying out the order of Krsna in full Krsna consciousness. Such a person is never entangled in the reactions of the work.

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Bhagavad Gita Chap 5 Verse 3 : Free from all dualities

shyam — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:17:26 GMT

Bhagavad - Gita As it is chapter 5 Verse 3:

jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī
yo na dveṣṭi na kāńkṣati
nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho
sukhaḿ bandhāt pramucyate

Purport:

One who neither hates nor desires the fruits of his activities is known to be always renonuced. Such a person free from all dualities, easily overcomes all the material bondage and is completely liberated, O mighty Armed Arjuna.

One who is fully in Krsna conciousness is always a renouncer because he feels neither hatred nor desire for the fruits of his actions. Such a renouncer, dedicated to the transcedental loving service of the lord, is fully qualified in knowlegde because he knows his constitutional position in his relationship with Krsna. He knows fully well that Krsna is whole and he is part and parcel of Krsna. Such knowlegde is perfect because it is qualitatively and quantitatively correct. The concept of oness with Krsna is incorrect because the part cannot be equal to the whole. Knowlegde that one is one in quality but different in quantity is correct transcedental knowlegde leading one to became full in himself, having nothing to aspire to or lament over. There is no duality in his mind because whatever he does, he does for Krsna. Being freed from the platform of dualities, he is liberated - even in his mind

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Vegetarianism!

shyam — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:54:48 GMT

Actually we do not make distinctions between carnivores and vegetarians for grass has life just as cow and lamb. A guideline however should be that which is given in Isopanisad:

ISAVASYAM IDAM SARVAM
YAT KINCA JAGAT YAM JAGAT
TENA TYAKTENA BHUNJITHA
MA GRDHAH KASYA SVID DHANAM

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.”

According to vedic life and all vedic scriptures, a man should live on fruits and vegetables, for his teeth are made in such a way that these things can be very easily eaten and digested. Although it is nature’s law that one has to live by eating other living entities (jivo jivasya jivanam), one must use discretion. Fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice, grains and milk are made for human beings. Milk, for example, is an animal product, the blood of the animal transformed, but the cow delivers more milk than it is needed by the calf because it is meant for human beings. Man should simply take the milk and let the cows life, and thus following nature’s law, man will be happy. Tena tyaktena bhujitha: one should take whatever god allots to him and thus lives comfortably.

(AC Swami Prabhupada ……………..Matchless gift:::pg58-59)

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Charity For Krsna - Does he need it ?

shyam — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:12:21 GMT

Samo ham sarva-bhutesu
Na me devesyo sti na priya
Ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
Mayi te tesu capy aham

(BG 9.29 )

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service to me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.”

Krsna is no want of money for he is the original proprietor of everything(Isavasyam idam sarvam). But he still asks us for charity. For example Krsna in the form of Vamana, a dwarf brahmana went to beg from king bali. Even though he is sarva-loka-mahesvaram, the proprietor of all the planets, he nonetheless says, “please give in charity to me.” Why? It is for our own interest , for the sooner we return Krsna’s money to Krsna, the better situated we will be. Off course this may not be very pleasant to hear, but actually we are all thieves, for we have stolen God’s property. If one who has something is not god conscious, is to be understood that he has stolen God’s property. That is the nature of material life.

(A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada……..Krsna Consciousness.. The Matchless Gift)

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The Color Blue

Parvati — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:55:05 GMT

Krsna said, "of all colors, I am the color blue........" (the best color)

Krsna has attractive blue eyes that see into my soul!

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Chapter 9. The Most Confidential Knowledge

mike-ace — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 10:21:47 GMT

Chapter 9. The Most Confidential Knowledge

TEXT 1

sri-bhagavan uvaca
idam tu te guhyatamam
pravaksyamy anasuyave
jnanam vijnana-sahitam
yaj jnatva moksyase 'subhat

SYNONYMS

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; idam--this; tu--but; te--unto you; guhya-tamam--the most confidential; pravaksyami--I am speaking; anasuyave--to the nonenvious; jnanam--knowledge; vijnana--realized knowledge; sahitam--with; yat--which; jnatva--knowing; moksyase--be released; asubhat--from this miserable material existence.
TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.
PURPORT

As a devotee hears more and more about the Supreme Lord, he becomes enlightened. This hearing process is recommended in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: "The messages of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are full of potencies, and these potencies can be realized if topics regarding the Supreme Godhead are discussed amongst devotees. This cannot be achieved by the association of mental speculators or academic scholars, for it is realized knowledge."
The devotees are constantly engaged in the Supreme Lord's service. The Lord understands the mentality and sincerity of a particular living entity who is engaged in Krsna consciousness and gives him the intelligence to understand the science of Krsna in the association of the devotees. Discussion of Krsna is very potent, and if a fortunate person has such association and tries to assimilate the knowledge, then he will surely make advancement toward spiritual realization. Lord Krsna, in order to encourage Arjuna to higher and higher elevation in His potent service, describes in this Ninth Chapter matters more confidential than any He has already disclosed.
The very beginning of Bhagavad-gita, the First Chapter, is more or less an introduction to the rest of the book; and in the Second and Third chapters, the spiritual knowledge described is called confidential. Topics discussed in the Seventh and Eighth chapters are specifically related to devotional service, and because they bring enlightenment in Krsna consciousness, they are called more confidential. But the matters which are described in the Ninth Chapter deal with unalloyed, pure devotion. Therefore this is called the most confidential. One who is situated in the most confidential knowledge of Krsna is naturally transcendental; he therefore has no material pangs, although he is in the material world. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is said that although one who has a sincere desire to render loving service to the Supreme Lord is situated in the conditional state of material existence, he is to be considered liberated. Similarly, we shall find in the Bhagavad-gita, Tenth Chapter, that anyone who is engaged in that way is a liberated person.
Now this first verse has specific significance. Knowledge (idam jnanam) refers to pure devotional service, which consists of nine different activities: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, obeying, maintaining friendship and surrendering everything. By the practice of these nine elements of devotional service one is elevated to spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness. At the time when one's heart is cleared of the material contamination, one can understand this science of Krsna. Simply to understand that a living entity is not material is not sufficient. That may be the beginning of spiritual realization but one should recognize the difference between activities of the body and spiritual activities by which one understands that he is not the body.
In the Seventh Chapter we have already discussed the opulent potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His different energies, the inferior and superior natures, and all this material manifestation. Now in Chapters Nine and Ten the glories of the Lord will be delineated.
The Sanskrit word anasuyave in this verse is also very significant. Generally the commentators, even if they are highly scholarly, are all envious of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even the most erudite scholars write on Bhagavad-gita very inaccurately. Because they are envious of Krsna, their commentaries are useless. The commentaries given by devotees of the Lord are bona fide. No one can explain Bhagavad-gita, or give perfect knowledge of Krsna if he is envious. One who criticizes the character of Krsna without knowing Him is a fool. So such commentaries should be very carefully avoided. For one who understands that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the pure and transcendental Personality, these chapters will be very beneficial

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Gaura-vani pracarine

cintamani — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:49:13 GMT

What is the meaning of gaura-vani pracarine? Gaura-vani especially refers to that which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke with His own mouth. He taught everything to Srila Rupa Gosvami in Prayaga. He told him, "This bhakti-rasa is more endless, boundless, and depthless then an ocean. I'm giving you only one drop, and this one drop will drown the whole world. It is so powerful." He taught him santa-rasa, dasya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa, madhurya-rasa, and everything in relation to bhakti-rasa.

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the mighty wind

cintamani — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:24:18 GMT

yatha--as much as; akasa-sthitah--situated in space; nityam--always;
vayuh--wind; sarvatra-gah--blowing everywhere; mahan--great; tatha--
similarly; sarvani--everything; bhutani--created beings; mat-sthani--
situated in Me; iti--thus; upadharaya--try to understand.

As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space,
know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me.

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Om

cintamani — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:25:23 GMT

TEXT 13
om ity ekaksaram brahma
vyaharan mam anusmaran
yah prayati tyajan deham
sa yati paramam gatim

SYNONYMS
om--the combination of letters om (omkara); iti--thus; eka-aksaram--
supreme, indestructible; brahma--absolute; vyaharan--vibrating; mam--Me
(Krsna); anusmaran--remembering; yah--anyone; prayati--leaves; tyajan--
quitting; deham--this body; sah--he; yati--achieves; paramam--supreme;
gatim--destination.

TRANSLATION
After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred
syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly
reach the spiritual planets.

PURPORT
It is clearly stated here that om, Brahman, and Lord Krsna are not
different. The impersonal sound of Krsna is om, but the sound Hare
Krsna contains om. It is clearly recommended in this age that if one
quits his body at the end of this life chanting the maha-mantra, Hare
Krsna, he will reach the spiritual planets. Similarly, those who are
devotees of Krsna enter the Krsna planet or Goloka Vrndavana, whereas
the impersonalists remain in the brahmajyoti. The personalists also
enter many innumerable planets in the spiritual sky known as
Vaikunthas.

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taste of water

Parvati — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:03:09 GMT

O son of Kunti [Arjuna], 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.

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flag marked with Hanuman

George — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:48:45 GMT

O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his
chariot, bearing the flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and
prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O
King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa [Krsna] these words:

Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two
armies so that I may see who is present here, who is desirous of
fighting, and with whom I must contend in this great battle attempt.

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Gita: Chap 8 Text 5: Rembering Krsna

shyam — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 19:47:16 GMT

Chapter Eight
Text 5

anta-kale ca mam eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yati nasty atra samsayah

And whoever, at the time of death, quits this body, remembering me alone, at once attains my nature. Of this there is no doubt.

In this verse the importance of Krsna consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits this body in Krsna consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental abode of the supreme lord. The word smaran(“remembering”) is important. Remembrance of Krsna is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Krsna consciousness in devotional service. To remember Krsna one should chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, incessantly, following in the footsteps of lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than a tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully remembering Krsna and so will attain the supreme goal.

(A.C. Swami Prabhupada: BHAGAVAD-GITA: As It Is)

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Krsna - Source of all material Energy

shyam — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:26:50 GMT

The science of god analyzes the constitutional position of the God and his diverse energies. Material nature is called praktri, or energy of the Lord in his different purusa incarnations (expansions) as described in the Satvata-Tantra.

Visnos tu trini rupani
Purusakhyany atho viduh
Ekam tu mahatah srastr
dvitiyam tv anda-samsthitam
trtiyam sarva-bhuta-stham
tani jnatva vimucyate

“For material creation, Lord Krsna’s plenary expansion assumes three Visnus. The first one, Maha Visnu creates the total material energy, known as the maha tattva. The second Garbhodakasayi Visnu, enters into all universes to create diversities into each of them. The third Ksirodakasayi Visnu, is diffused as the all pervading supersoul in all the universes and is known as the Paramatma, who is present even within the atoms. Anyone who knows these three Visnus can be liberated from the material entanglement.”
This material world is a temporary manifestation of one of the energies of the Lord. All the activities of the material world are directed by these three Visnu expansions of the Lord Krsna. These purusas are called incarnations. Generally one who does not know the science of God(Krsna) assumes that this material world is for enjoyment of the living entities and that the living entities are the causes(purusas), controllers and enjoyers of the material energy. According to bhagavad gita this atheistic conclusion is false. In verse four chapter seven, it is stated that krsna is the original cause of the material manifestation. Srimad-Bhagavatam also confirms this. The ingredients of the material manifestation are separated energies of the Lord. Even the brahmajyoti, which is the ultimate goal of the impersonalists, is a spiritual energy manifested in the spiritual sky. There are no spiritual diversities in the brahmajyoti as there are in the vaikunthalokas, and the impersonalist accepts this brahmajyoti as the ultimate eternal goal. The paramatma manifestation is also a temporary all-pervasive aspect of the Ksirodakasayi Visnu. The paramatma feature is not eternal in the spiritual world. Therefore the factual Absolute Truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna. He is the complete energetic person, and he possesses different separated energies and internal energies.

In the material energy, the principal manifestations are eight (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Ether, Mind, Intelligence and False Ego). Out of these the first five manifestations, namely earth, water, fire air, and sky, are called the five gigantic creations or the gross creations, within which the five sense objects are included. They are the manifestations of physical sound, touch, form, taste and smell. Material science comprises these ten items and nothing more. But the other three items, namely mind, intelligence and false ego are neglected by the materialists. Philosophers who deal with mental activities are also not perfect in knowledge because they do not know the ultimate source, Krsna. The false ego –“I am” and “It is ,mine” which constitute the basic principle of material existence –includes ten sense organs for material creation, called the mahat tattva. Therefore from the eight separated energies of the Lord are manifest the twenty four elements of the material world, which are the subject matter of Sankhya atheistic philosophy; they are originally offshoots from the Krsna’s energies and are separated from Him, but the atheistic Sankhya philosophers with a poor fund of knowledge do not know Krsna as the cause of all causes. The subject matter for discussion in the Sankhya philosophy is only the manifestation of the external energy of Krsna, as it is described in the Bhagavad-Gita.

(A.C. Swami Prabhupada: Bhagavad-Gita: As it is: Chapter 7 Text 4)

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What does Lord Krishna preach to Arjuna and Mankind?

mike-ace — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:52:19 GMT

What does Lord Krishna preach to Arjuna and Mankind?

In a clear way, Lord Krishna describes:

The science of self-realization.
The exact process by which a human being can establish their eternal relationship with God.
The purpose and goal of human existence.
The eternal principles which are essential for spiritual life.
Material nature.
Life on higher and lower planets.
How to attain life on higher planets
How to be free from the cycle of birth, death and re-birth, Moksha.
"That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by me to you because you are my devotee as well as my friend and can therefore understand the transcendental mystery of this science." Lord Krishna to Arjuna (Bg. 4.3)

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We: Fragmental parst of Krsna !

shyam — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:46:38 GMT

Mamaivamso jiva loke
Jiva-bhutah sanatanah
Manah sasthanindriyani
Prakrti-sthani karsati

“The living entities in this conditional world are My fragmental parts, and they are eternal. But due to the conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with their six senses, which include the mind.”(BG. 15.7)

Thus all the living entities are part and parcel of Krsna. By Krsna it should be remembered that we are speaking of god, Krsna, denoting all attractive supreme personality of godhead. As a fragment of gold is qualitatively the same as a gold reservoir, so minute particles of Krsna’s body are qualitatively as good as Krsna. The chemical composition of god’s body and the eternal spiritual body of the living entity is the same-spiritual. Thus originally , in our uncontaminated body condition, we possessed a form as good as God’s, but just as the rain falls to the ground, so we come in contact with this material world, which is manipulated by the external material energy of Krsna.

(A.C Swami Prabhupada: Krsna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift)

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Isvarah Paramah Krsna:- the supreme controller is krsna

shyam — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:40:34 GMT

Isvarah Paramah Krsna:- the supreme controller is krsna

There is no one in the creation who can claim that he is not controlled. Everyone, regardless of how important or powerful, has a controller over his head. Krsna however has no controller: therefore he is GOD. The all pervading, supreme personality of godhead.

(A.C Swami Prabhupada: Krsna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift)

jai sri krsna

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Paramatma

Parvati — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:45:43 GMT

ascarya-vat pasyati kascid enam
ascarya-vad vadati tathaiva canyah
ascarya-vac cainam anyah srnoti
srutvapy enam veda na caiva kascit

Some look at the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and
some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about
him, cannot understand him at all.

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Bhagavad Gita 10.4-5

mike-ace — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 21:26:29 GMT

Text 4-5

buddhir jnanam asammohah
ksama satyam damah samah
sukham duhkham bhavo ’bhavo
bhayam cabhayam eva ca

ahimsa samata tustis
tapo danam yaso ’yasah
bhavanti bhava bhutanam
matta eva prithag-vidhah

Translation

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy—all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada

The different qualities of living entities, be they good or bad, are all created by Krishna, and they are described here.

Intelligence refers to the power to analyze things in their proper perspective, and knowledge refers to understanding what is spirit and what is matter. Ordinary knowledge obtained by a university education pertains only to matter, and it is not accepted here as knowledge. Knowledge means knowing the distinction between spirit and matter. In modern education there is no knowledge about spirit; they are simply taking care of the material elements and bodily needs. Therefore academic knowledge is not complete.

Asammoha, freedom from doubt and delusion, can be achieved when one is not hesitant and when he understands the transcendental philosophy. Slowly but surely he becomes free from bewilderment. Nothing should be accepted blindly; everything should be accepted with care and with caution. Ksama, tolerance and forgiveness, should be practiced; one should be tolerant and excuse the minor offenses of others. Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented as they are, for the benefit of others. Facts should not be misrepresented. According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in a straightforward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth.

Control of the senses means that the senses should not be used for unnecessary personal enjoyment. There is no prohibition against meeting the proper needs of the senses, but unnecessary sense enjoyment is detrimental for spiritual advancement. Therefore the senses should be restrained from unnecessary use. Similarly, one should restrain the mind from unnecessary thoughts; that is called sama. One should not spend one’s time pondering over earning money. That is a misuse of the thinking power.

The mind should be used to understand the prime necessity of human beings, and that should be presented authoritatively. The power of thought should be developed in association with persons who are authorities in the scriptures, saintly persons and spiritual masters and those whose thinking is highly developed. Sukham, pleasure or happiness, should always be in that which is favorable for the cultivation of the spiritual knowledge of Krishna consciousness. And similarly, that which is painful or which causes distress is that which is unfavorable for the cultivation of Krishna consciousness. Anything favorable for the development of Krishna consciousness should be accepted, and anything unfavorable should be rejected.

Bhava, birth, should be understood to refer to the body. As far as the soul is concerned, there is neither birth nor death; that we have discussed in the beginning of Bhagavad-gita. Birth and death apply to one’s embodiment in the material world. Fear is due to worrying about the future. A person in Krishna consciousness has no fear because by his activities he is sure to go back to the spiritual sky, back home, back to Godhead. Therefore his future is very bright. Others, however, do not know what their future holds; they have no knowledge of what the next life holds. So they are therefore in constant anxiety. If we want to get free from anxiety, then the best course is to understand Krishna and be situated always in Krishna consciousness. In that way we will be free from all fear. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37) it is stated, bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat: fear is caused by our absorption in the illusory energy. But those who are free from the illusory energy, those who are confident that they are not the material body, that they are spiritual parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who are therefore engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Godhead, have nothing to fear. Their future is very bright. This fear is a condition of persons who are not in Krishna consciousness. Abhayam, fearlessness, is possible only for one in Krishna consciousness.

Ahimsa, nonviolence, means that one should not do anything which will put others into misery or confusion. Material activities that are promised by so many politicians, sociologists, philanthropists, etc., do not produce very good results because the politicians and philanthropists have no transcendental vision; they do not know what is actually beneficial for human society.

Ahimsa means that people should be trained in such a way that the full utilization of the human body can be achieved. The human body is meant for spiritual realization, so any movement or any commissions which do not further that end commit violence on the human body. That which furthers the future spiritual happiness of the people in general is called nonviolence.

Samata, equanimity, refers to freedom from attachment and aversion. To be very much attached or to be very much detached is not the best. This material world should be accepted without attachment or aversion. That which is favorable for prosecuting Krishna consciousness should be accepted; that which is unfavorable should be rejected. That is called samata, equanimity. A person in Krishna consciousness has nothing to reject and nothing to accept save in terms of its usefulness in the prosecution of Krishna consciousness.

Tushti, satisfaction, means that one should not be eager to gather more and more material goods by unnecessary activity. One should be satisfied with whatever is obtained by the grace of the Supreme Lord; that is called satisfaction. Tapas means austerity or penance. There are many rules and regulations in the Vedas which apply here, like rising early in the morning and taking a bath. Sometimes it is very troublesome to rise early in the morning, but whatever voluntary trouble one may suffer in this way is called penance. Similarly, there are prescriptions for fasting on certain days of the month.

One may not be inclined to practice such fasting, but because of his determination to make advancement in the science of Krishna consciousness, he should accept such bodily troubles when they are recommended. However, one should not fast unnecessarily or against Vedic injunctions. One should not fast for some political purpose; that is described in Bhagavad-gita as fasting in ignorance, and anything done in ignorance or passion does not lead to spiritual advancement. Everything done in the mode of goodness does advance one, however, and fasting done in terms of the Vedic injunctions enriches one in spiritual knowledge.

As far as charity is concerned, one should give fifty percent of his earnings to some good cause. And what is a good cause? It is that which is conducted in terms of Krishna consciousness. That is not only a good cause, but the best cause. Because Krishna is good, His cause is also good. Thus charity should be given to a person who is engaged in Krishna consciousness. According to Vedic literature, it is enjoined that charity should be given to the brahmanas. This practice is still followed, although not very nicely in terms of the Vedic injunction. But still the injunction is that charity should be given to the brahmanas. Why? Because they are engaged in higher cultivation of spiritual knowledge. A brahmana is supposed to devote his whole life to understanding Brahman. Brahma janatiti brahmanah: one who knows Brahman is called a brahmana. Thus charity is offered to the brahmanas because they are always engaged in higher spiritual service and have no time to earn their livelihood.

In the Vedic literature, charity is also to be awarded to one in the renounced order of life, the sannyasi. The sannyasis beg from door to door, not for money but for missionary purposes. The system is that they go from door to door to awaken the householders from the slumber of ignorance. Because the householders are engaged in family affairs and have forgotten their actual purpose in life—awakening their Krishna consciousness—it is the business of the sannyasis to go as beggars to the householders and encourage them to be Krishna conscious. As it is said in the Vedas, one should awake and achieve what is due him in this human form of life. This knowledge and method is distributed by the sannyasis; hence charity is to be given to the renouncer of life, to the brahmanas, and similar good causes, not to any whimsical cause.

Yasas, fame, should be according to Lord Caitanya, who said that a man is famous when he is known as a great devotee. That is real fame. If one has become a great man in Krishna consciousness and it is known, then he is truly famous. One who does not have such fame is infamous.

All these qualities are manifest throughout the universe in human society and in the society of the demigods. There are many forms of humanity on other planets, and these qualities are there. Now, for one who wants to advance in Krishna consciousness, Krishna creates all these qualities, but the person develops them himself from within. One who engages in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord develops all the good qualities, as arranged by the Supreme Lord.

Of whatever we find, good or bad, the origin is Krishna. Nothing can manifest itself in this material world which is not in Krishna. That is knowledge; although we know that things are differently situated, we should realize that everything flows from Krishna.

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Krsna Incarnations - first five

shyam — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:54:52 GMT

Incarnations of the supreme personality of Godhead- Krsna

1)~Kumaras~

First of all in the beginning of the creation, there were four unmarried sons of Brahma, the kumaras: who were situated in the vow of celibacy and underwent severe austerities for realization of the absolute truth. To teach us the process of Brahma realization the kumaras underwent a severe type of disciplinary action as bachelors, but before they underwent this action, they became qualified Brahman. This show us that one must first acquire this qualifications, not simply by birth but also by quality and then undergo Brahman realization.

2) ~Sukara~ (Boar)

The supreme form of the lord enjoyer of all sacrifices then accepted the form of the boar and lifted the earth from the neither regions of the universe.

3) ~Devrsi Narad~

In the millennium of the rsis, the personality of godhead accepted the third empowered form, that of Devrsi Narad. Narad a great sage among demigods, collected portions of Vedas that dealt with devotional service and which inspired non fruitful activities.

4) ~Nar Narayan~

In the fourth incarnation, the lord became Nara and Narayana, the twins sons of the wife of king dharma. Thus he took severe and exemplary penances to control senses.

5) ~Lord Kapildeva~

The fifth incarnation, lord kapildeva, is the foremost among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of creative elements and metaphysics to Asuri Brahmana. For in the course of time, this knowledge has been lost.

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The perfection of mantras

makhanchor — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 05:25:42 GMT

Srila Prabhupada in one poem described as the perfection of mantras one statement by Arjuna "karisye vacanam tava"

arjuna uvāca

naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā

tvat-prasādān mayācyuta

sthito 'smi gata-sandehaḥ

kariṣye vacanaḿ tava

Arjuna said: My dear Kṛṣṇa, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.

http://vedabase.net/bg/18/73/

The karisye vacanam tava part means "I am now prepared to act according to your instructions".

This is the perfect mantra, if when we say it we really mean it.

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make krsna your saarthi today!

shyam — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:10:15 GMT

O pure souls of this miserable world, make krsna your saarthi ,today and let him guide your chariot out of this dark materialistic world of repeated birth, disease and death

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Various Incarnation of Krsna

shyam — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:42:01 GMT

In Shrimad Bhagavatam, First Canto Chapter Three

~The Creation~

There are given 22 Incarnations of the lord, in fact it various forms and manifests of the lord are unlimited and uncountable but these are more famous.

1) Kumaras Incarnation
2) Sukara Incarnation
3) Narada Incarnation
4) Nara-Narayana Incarnation
5) Kapila Incarnation
6) Dattreya Incarnation
7) Yajna Incarnation
8) Rsabha Incarnation
9) Prthu Incarnation
10) Matsya Incarnation
11) Kurma Incarnation
12) Dhavantri Incarnation
13) Mohini Incarnation
14) Nrsimbha Incarnation
15) Vamana Incarnation\
16) Bhgrupati Parasurma Incarnation
17) Vyasadeva Incarnation
18) Rama Incarnation
19) Balarama Incarnation
20) ~Krsna Incarnation~
21) Buddha Incarnation
22) Kalki Incarnation

each of these incarnations in more detail in my next posting!

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the essence of the universal form stressed !

shyam — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:44:01 GMT

in chapter eleven , swami prabhupada explains, the showing of the universal form of the supreme lord. He explains that in future many might claim to be god or the supreme personalty of godhead, and all of this claimers will have to match the universal form of krsna, that lit up the all the universes with its blazing light emerging from the universal form of the lord it was as if thousands of sun emerged in the sky....

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Gita by A.C BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada

shyam — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:36:24 GMT

The Gita that i am reading is by prabhupada...it contains excellent translations from Hindi to English and its explanations are as it happened on the battle flied, hence the title of the book bhagavat gita as it is

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Glory the supreme personality of godhead!

shyam — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:27:16 GMT

he krsna karuna sindho
din bandho jagate pate
gopes gopika kant
radha kant namo' sute

o my dear krsna, you are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. you are the master of the gopi's and the lover of radharani .i offer my respectful obeisances unto you

tapta kancana gaurangi
radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi
pranamami hari priye

i offer my respects to radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is queen of vrndavan, you are the daugther of king Vrsabhanu, and you are very dear to the lord.

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