Memories recall and flash my past. Some time back, I remember playing and enjoying school days, and now my son is doing the same act, we hardly realize how fast time is playing its game. Its just like a dream.
Reading this sloka over and over I was so happy and thought, that it is truly said that every sloka of S.B. and B.G. are so powerful that if someone understands them and follows it seriously, he will surely attain the perfection of life.
Usually Bhagavad Gita is considered as a respectable book or at the most a sacred scripture. It is actually a literary manifestation of the Supreme God. However only advanced devotees can perceive it.
In spiritual life it is very important, that we do not postpone service that needs to be done immediately. What we postponefor tomorrow needs to be done today and what could be done today should be done immediately because the snake of time is swallowing us very slowly and quickly (intelligently and imperceptibly).
Uncertainties are the only certain things in our life. But it is important to know how to deal with them. There is a saying that courageous person dies only once. But a coward dies many times before his death. Such is our position when we start worrying about uncertainties in life.
We learn from scriptures that our real identity is that we're eternal servants of the Supreme God. Srila Prabhupada states in the introduction to Bhagavad Gita commentary that 'Everyone is serving. A serves B. B serves C.and so on. Serving is natural propensity for us"
Everyone in this material world, without exception, is searching for happiness. But the living entity is always tormented by the threefold miseries and when he is unable to counteract them, he naturally becomes very morose because he wants to enjoy material facilities without interruption.
A very important quality to learn from life of Bali Maharaj is his fixed determination in serving Supreme Lord. What to speak of losing all our possessions, even if there are slight disturbances in our normal routine of life, mind becomes so disturbed.
The Puranas explain that the 6 sons were killed by Kamsa were Vasus who were cursed to take birth in the planet earth. They prayed to the Lord for redemption and the Lord consoled them that they'll take birth and get killed immediately to resume their position in the heavenly planets.
Miseries are common to all people in this world. Sometimes these miseries bewilder our mind and intelligence to such an extent that we don't know what decision to take or how to react under such circumstances. Remedy to these miseries is also common to all types of people
The important point here is to "know other's pain". Secondly, a strong unflinching conviction that "Krishna will provide if He wants". These are the two important ingredients in our service to Krishna.
We want to lead a comfortable life. Nowadays the level of comfortness we prefer has increased so much when compared to the life of our ancestors - so much so we become too dependent on these artificially created comforts. Even if we are deprived of those comforts for a single day, we feel so miserable.
If one takes to Krishna consciousness, in the beginning there will be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion. Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krishna consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krishna, she does not allow anyone the freedom to disturb Krishna.
Today I came across a nice transcendental pastime of Srila Prabhupad with 3 year old devotee called Saraswati who was daughter of one of his disciples. They were at a railway station waiting to board the train. In the platform there was a Indian wearing European suit and tie and smoking cigarette.
Prayers for taking revenge on others or longing for material possessions are stumbling blocks to those who want to progress in spiritual path. We gain nothing by taking revenge against others. Nor can we remain happy with any amount of material possession in this world.
Today is the auspicious day of Ganesh Caturti and its celebrated by all with pomp. But unfortunately most of them do not know the significance of Lord Ganesh and celebrate this day either with material motivation or for some fun
By the mercy of the Supreme Lord and blessings of Maharaj, we went on a spiritual tour with a group of devotees to 9 Vishnu temples in South India famously known as 'Nava Thirupathi'. These temples have been glorified by great devotees called 'Alwars'
The degradation of Kali yuga is evident in everything that is happening around us today. The society at large is devoid of any sense of respect for God. Everywhere we see godlessness is rampant. The important reason for this is because the government itself is atheistic
Maharaj said that, if we voluntarily don't submit to Supreme authority, then He will come to us in the form of Nrsimhadev. Our minds are not steady. Few moments we believe in Krishna and then we start doubting His existence. This oscillating mind is like Hiranyakashipu.
In devotional service, especially during Srimad Bhagavatham or Bhagavad Gita class the listener's focus is only for few minutes and most of the times the mind wanders here and there. This is basically because the listener or speaker are not focused on the chief object of service - Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Thus the Lord's janma (Birth) and His karma (activities) are both divyam (divine or transcendental) and hence are thoroughly purifying for the conditioned souls. Our janma or birth is conditioned by the laws of material nature but we are left with the choice and opportunity to make our activities divine.
We are always trying to achieve happiness and rid ourselves of the cause of distress by trying so many material adjustments, and during that process we think that performing devotional service is a big burden and a waste of time which could be utilized for making the material adjustments.
In one of his lectures Maharaj was explaining - "Difficult situations are bound to come. Sometimes you might have to suffer for days, weeks or months. You might wonder - What is Krishna doing to me. But we should always remember that Krishna is having the ultimate control and He knows what is good for us."
There is a nice story in Mahabhabrata in this regard. During the Kurukshetra war, on the ending days of the war, Karna and Arjuna encountered each other in a fierce and tough fight since both of them were exceptional archers.
There are times when things seem very difficult - whether it is our day to day duties or our sadhana. We struggle hard to keep our material side intact - going to office, maintaining the family, keeping our economic position stable, keeping our surroundings in order..., everything seems like an uphill task.
Inspite of meeting his spiritual master, very less number of times, he always meditated on the instructions given by his guru and never gave up his devotional service under any circumstance.
Every year we celebrate Janmashtami and remember and recite the Lord's pastimes and His transcendental holy names and it is a day we look forward to with great eagerness for the celebration. But many times we make the mistake of equating the Supreme Lord to human beings and celebrate His appearance day just like any other mortal's birthday.
"If you want to stay in Krishna Consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Shastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don't take this movement as something cheap."
One of the bad habit that is present in most of us is 'procrastination'. In Bhagavat-gita Krishna refers to such persons as 'deergha-sutri' - anything which can be done in an hour they drag on for years. I have to openly admit that I too am an expert in procrastinating.
This verse and purport are crystal clear, I can only add a little bit of my personal experience in the Hare Krishna movement. In the beginning years of the Hare Krishna movement, everything was either black or white. You either be a full-time devotee within the temple or you are as good as in maya.