One of the most common and most powerful punch I have always received from my spiritual master is "Please do not complicate your devotional service. Please keep it simple." It is really a common sense statement both from the material and spiritual point of view.
Now, almost all of us have seen the eternal picture of Krishna and Arjuna riding on the chariot - Krishna, the driver and Arjuna, the warrior. If we see what Krishna holds in one of His hands, it is the reins (the analogy of mind) and the place where He sits is the driver's seat (the analogy of intelligence).
We search for happiness during the period of entire life. We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a baby then another.Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and that all will be well when they are older.
Bhagavad Gita is spoken by Supreme Lord, and so it is all perfect. Gita provides the best solution for any kind of problems. We would have experienced practically that when we are facing difficult situations, and are not sure about what we should do, Lord answers through His words in Bhagavad Gita.
Once, long ago, there lived a group of three robbers in a big town. All the three were experts in one field or another. One was good at breaking locks open, one was good at forgery and one was good with his knife. Once, they robbed a house and escaped with a huge booty.
Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are the horses. The self is thus the enjoyer or sufferer in the association of the mind and senses. Intelligence is suppose to direct the mind, but the mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overcomes.
One day there was a vast assembly of people. Lord Krishna was present along with Duryodhana and Yudhishthira. When everyone was seated, the Lord turned to Duryodhana and said, "You are such a great King, Duryodhana; you have such great intelligence.
In verses 2.64-66 Krishna explains that one can obtain His complete mercy and become fully satisfied by fixing one's consciousness on Him. This is achieved by following sadhana-bhakti, or regulative principles of freedom. However if one forgets Krishna there can be no happiness.
Actually in this verse Lord is giving protection to His devotee Bramha. Brahmaji prays to Lord 'pahi mam' - "Please protect me from these sinful demons who were created by me under Your order. They are infuriated by an appetite for sex and have come to attack me."
Here is a story: Once a donkey wanted to imitate of being a tiger and it painted itself with stripes and went to the forest. All the animals in the forest were afraid of the donkey and it was very much pleased and happy.
As I was going through Prabhupada lilamrita so much nectar is coming up as for example the moon landing issue. Now, I am sure that Srila Prabhupada was the only person at that time that strongly disbelieved in NASA moon landing.
In the Bhagavad-gita verses 2.62 and 2.63 the Lord describes how the soul gradually degrades by contacting the material nature. In verse 2.63 He describes the progressed stages of degradation.
Here the qualities of a person who is eligible to gack to the abode of Vishnu are described. One important quality is "sarva bhuta anuranjana" which means "giving satisfaction to all living entities". Actually different living entities have different desires and it is not possible for a person to satisfy all living entities.
Krsna is the adi, or beginning, of the devas of this material world Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. Therefore He is described here as "bhagavate brhate" - the possessor of unlimited opulence.
It is assumed that even if a person acquires some spiritually uplifting knowledge, circumstantially he is prone to forget it. Not only children but also elderly persons should be very careful to protect their sense of Krishna consciousness and avoid unfavorable circumstances so that they may not forget their prime duty.
Mails in granthraj are fully controlled by Gurudev's mercy and Krishna. I have personally experienced the wonders of this forum. The wonderful realisations which all of you had shared had been an answer to so many day-to-day problems in life.
Every living entity in the material world is under the influence of the three modes of material nature. We embodied living entities in the material world, influenced by the three modes and covered by our impure desires, are forced to act what do not want to do.
Devotional service should be performed purely for pleasure of Lord. While we are engaged in serving the Lord, we should not be conscious of what others would say or comment when they look at us engaged in Lord's service.
Gaur Kishore das babaji seldom preached but was very direct when he did. Once a pious and generous vaishnava king wanted Gaura Kishor babaji to come and live in his palace. He sent a messenger to invite him. Gaura Kishor babaji was moved by the King's invitation but sent back this message:
When the living entity accepts contact with maya, the material energy of the Lord, his sense of pure love for the Lord becomes transformed. Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport of Bg. verse 3.37:
Srila Prabhupada starts the purport with our most famous and frequently asked question: "If the living entity has to act as the superintendent of the activities of the bodily combination, then how can he be indifferent to the activities of the body?"
The great sage Maitreya gives the final answer to all the questions of Vidura - devotional service to the Lord is the ultimate means to mitigate all the miserable conditions of material existence.
Srila Prabhupada in his purport instructs us to offer with an attitude of love. Lord is present right within our hearts. So He very well knows the mood with which we are performing the service.
In Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna lists the eighteen items of knowledge and declares that anything besides the 18 items is ignorance. The first item of knowledge mentioned therein is humility (amaanitvam).
Krishna states in 7th chapter of the Gita that four kinds of pious persons render devotional service unto Him. Krishna states that all these people are magnanimous. However He states that a jnani who is in firm knowledge of the Absolute Truth is the best and he is very dear to Him.
As example of a top-most yogi Srila Prabhupada describes the life of King Ambarisa. The principle in his yoga practice was toengage his mind and all of his senses in service of the Supreme Lord.
So after the finding the root cause we have to seek the remedy for this misuse of independence and the remedy is also available from expert physician in the Form of the Book Srimad Bhagavatham where the Human soul further prays sincerely to the Lord.
The significant words are "samsara hetu uparamas ca yatra" which means the "cause of the material existence is ceased". When we try to solve a problem we should find the root cause and destroy it.
Our Lord has blessed each one of us with so many different talents. As long as we remember that we are not of any worth and whatever talents or abilities we possess is only Krishna's grace, then we are safe.