The whole purpose of the Krishna Conscious movement is to mold our lives in such a way that we can always remember Krishna and work for Him. I being a very fallen soul and because of my sinful activities and bad habits, am unable to completely extinguish the enjoying spirit.
Over the years the service has expanded to include an arati after Prabhupadas lunch offering, and everyday a fresh flower garland for his picture in the bedroom. In 1970, in the absence of Srila Prabhupada, his disciples in the Los Angeles temple continued offering a garland to a picture of Prabhupada.
Parikshit Maharaj knew that we would definitely enter hellish conditions for the sinful actions that we commit. What we sow - so do we reap. We suffer/enjoy the reactions of whatever bad/good deeds we do. Whether we do it knowingly or unknowingly, we are sure to suffer for the sins we commit.
In ancient days, the principle of varnashrama dharma, as defined by Vedas was followed and so people were able to lead a regulated life - first 25 years for brahmacharya ashram, next 25 for grahastha ashram, next 25 for vanaprastha and then remaining years for sannyasa ashram.
The Personality of Godhead is omnipresent by His diverse potencies everywhere, just as the power of electricity is distributed everywhere within space. Similarly, the Lord's omnipresence is perceived and manifested by His unalloyed devotees like Vidura, just as electricity is manifested in an electric bulb.
One should leave all types of fruitive activity. Instead of trying to enjoy the fruits of one's work for oneself, one should offer the results to Lord Sri Krsna. 'karma-bandhanah and mukta-sangah' are the key words in this verse.
Manigreva and Nalakuvera (sons of Kuveras) were cursed by Narada Muni to become trees as they were indulging in sinful activities and had no control over their senses.
The above is the true path to peace. First our hearts and minds needs to be peaceful, then our surroundings would also be peaceful. As long as the desire for sense gratification is not subdued, there can be no peace within the heart, nor anywhere on earth, nor can there be good will among nations.
It is interesting to note that Dhruva Maharaj being experienced in performing yoga in secluded place strongly suggest that pure Vaishnava association is most wanted because only in such association
when the verses are chanted lovingly understanding that they are the transcendental sound representations of the Lord, then our classes can be considered successful and there is no necessity of too much intellectual analysis which goes over the head.
In the above verse , it is told that Narada Muni instructed the nectarean Srimad Bhagavatam to Srila Vyasadeva. Srila Vyasadeva, the literary incarnation of Godhead, wrote the Vedas, Vedanta-sutra, Puranas, etc.
Austerities or penances of any kind needs to be done as per scriptural injunctions and with Krishna as center. Fasting will help us to realise our incapabilities and would help us remember the supremacy of the all powerful Lord.
If we properly understand that we are not the body, although we may suffer, we will not feel the suffering as acutely. For instance, if one thinks, "This is my car," and is very attached to it, he suffers more when it is wrecked than a person who thinks, "It can be repaired, or I can leave it." It is a question of mental absorption.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
In the above verse, all the qualities of a pure devotee are being described by the Lord. The Lord explains that His devotee with such good qualities are naturally very dear to Him. Furthermore, all these qualifications enable him to fix his mind and intelligence entirely on the Supreme Lord.
With the advancement of technology, we find that now there are so many sources of information, books and commentaries available on spiritual subjects. If we go on reading them we are sure to be confused and deluded by them, as not all of them are authentic.
Familiarity breeds contempt. So at times there is a danger that we may become neglectful in our duties - both spiritual as well as material, when we keep doing it for a long time.
One of the common (mis)understanding among devotees is that the number of devotees is so less in comparison to the huge population engrossed in maya. How can we be able to turn them towards Krsna consciousness ?
Through the life of Dharmaraj Yudhisthira, son of religion personified, Lord has shown us the impact of following religious principles. When he was ruling his kingdom with the help of Lord Krishna, the opulence of his kingdom surpassed the opulence of the kingdom of heaven.
It is really the amazing act of Paramatma that Kalacakra prabhu wrote about this verse. A few weeks back when we met, he told about this verse and this sunday I was reading this verse and word-word equivalents.
Srila Prabhupada explains that one has to abide by Superior dictation. When one's mind is fixed on the Superior Nature, he has no alternative but to follow the dictation of the Supreme. The mind must admit some superior dictation and follow it.
Srila Prabhupada could have given a direct meaning as 'mercy'. But he is giving a more specific and deeper meaning here. The English word 'mercy' is so commonly used that we speak many times without the real feeling.
Spiritual strength has a great influence on one's physical strength. When we are spiritually strong, the troubles which occur either to our body or mind will not matter and the spirit soul would remain blissful under all circumstances.
If you become conscious of me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by my grace. If however you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing me, you will be lost.
All the above symptoms of the avatars can be easily remembered with the beautiful acronym "TULASI". The word "Tulasi" means "matchless". The activities of the Lord are also matchless.
For a mother, taking care of her children is devotional service". Bringing up the children is the prescribed duty of a mother. When she does it with care, without negligence, and performs it in a devotional mood she would be able to give the gift of bhakti to her children too.
The thrid activity mentioned in the above verse is "prajalpa" - (Idle talk). One of our daily activities is to converse with others. We spend so much of our energy in this act. But if we carefully introspect, atleast 50% of what we spoke would have been idle-talk.
Everyone of us tend to perform devotional service with the expectation that by doing even a little bit of devotional service we deserve to be taken back to spiritual world. We can see that even material benefits in this world, is not earned without hard endeavour.