Servant of a tyrannical ritual

The following article clearly describes a prerequisite in comprehension required for advancing in Spiritual life. Spiritual life means understanding the transcendental nature of the soul, our relationship with Krsna and obviously realizing the Personality of Godhead Himself. Human life is meant specifically for self realization and not for tickling the senses and falsely flattering one's false ego.

By refraining from animal slaughter and it's consumption, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex one is sure to make rapid spiritual progress. -AJD

Real Freedom
by Thomas Merton

"It should be accepted as a most elementary human and moral truth that no man can live a fully sane and decent life unless he is able to say 'no' on occasion to his natural bodily appetites. No man who simply eats and drinks whenever he feels like eating and drinking, who smokes whenever he feels the urge to light a cigarette, who gratifies his curiosity and sensuality whenever they are stimulated, can consider himself a free person. He has renounced his spiritual freedom and become the servant of bodily impulse. Therefore his mind and his will are not fully his own. They are under the power of his conditioning, his appetites.

And through the medium of his appetites, they are under the control of those who gratify his appetites. Just because he can buy one brand of whisky rather than another, this man deludes himself that he is making a choice; but the fact is that he is a devout servant of a tyrannical ritual. He must reverently buy the bottle, take it home, unwrap it, pour it out for his friends, watch TV, feel good, talk his silly uninhibited head off, get angry, shout, fight and go to bed in disgust with himself and the world. This becomes a kind of religious compulsion without which he cannot convince himself that he is really alive, really fulfilling his personality. Such a person is not merely sinning but is simply making an ass of himself, deluding himself that he is real when his compulsions have reduced him to a shadow of a genuine person."

The Great Mantra

Krsna consciousness is a great mystery for many people. Some have spent a life searching and researching, analyzing every word of the Vedas, looking under every rock, tolerating the ups and downs-heat and cold- food-no food like the yogis and they still don't have a clue of the reality that is Krsna. Some have described it as love of God others have defined it as God Consciousness, Divine Love and of course the dull headed Atheist refer to it as Sentiment or Fanaticism. In any event it is stated in the Sri Isopanisad that one may travel at the speed of mind for hundreds and thousands of years and still not get a glimpse of the absolute reality.

When one gives up the egotistic idea that he can capture Krsna by his own intellectual effort or sensual discipline and admit from the core of his heart that Krsna is one's true benefactor and fully depend on him, by agreeing to be humble and serve the Divine Nama, Krsna being the most merciful will lovingly reveal himself to the devoted soul by the sound vibration produced from his representative (The Genuine Spiritual Master) .

Some have addressed Krsna as Allah, Jehovah, God and so on, all of which are based on local custom and language. The Name Krsna however when fully realized is understood to contain all the transcendental qualities that his other names attempt to describe.

Sabda brahma is present in the lord's holy name when heard from the lips of his pure devotees. Lord Caitanya has said that the supreme lord has invested all his transcendental potency's in the Maha Mantra, the Great Mantra of Deliverance. - AJD

Sabda-brahma

It is said, that Brahma was created in the * Maha-kalpa as the incarnation of spiritual sound.

One who interprets the divine sound, or sabda-brahma, by his imperfect sense perception cannot be a real spiritual guru, because, in the absence of proper disciplinary training under the bona fide acarya, the interpreter is sure to differ from Vyasadeva (as the Mayavadis do). Srila Vyasadeva is the prime authority of Vedic revelation, and therefore such an irrelevant interpreter cannot be accepted as the guru, or acarya, howsoever equipped he may be with all the acquirement's of material knowledge.

As it is said in the Padma Purana:

“Unless you are initiated by a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession, the mantra that you might have received is without any effect.”

On the other hand, one who has received the transcendental knowledge by aural reception from the bona fide preceptor in the disciplic chain, and who has sincere regard for the real acarya, must be enlightened with the revealed knowledge of the Vedas. This knowledge is permanently sealed to the cognitive approach of the empiricists.

As it is said in the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23):

“Only unto those great souls who simultaneously have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”

Vedic evidence is called sabda-brahma. There are many things which are beyond the perception of our imperfect senses, yet the authoritative evidence of sound vibration is perfect. The Vedas are known as sabda-brahma because evidence taken from the Vedas constitutes the ultimate understanding. This is because sabda-brahma, or the Vedas, represents the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, the real essence of sabda-brahma is the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra.

* Maha-Kalpa: There are three different types of creation, called maha-kalpa, vikalpa and kalpa. In the maha-kalpa the Lord assumes the first purusa incarnation as Karanodakasayi Visnu with all the potencies of the mahat-tattva and the sixteen principles of creative matter and instruments. The creative instruments are eleven, the ingredients are five, and all of them are products of mahat, or materialistic ego. These creations by the Lord in His feature of Karanodakasayi Visnu are called maha-kalpa. The creation of Brahma and dispersion of the material ingredients are called vikalpa, and the creation by Brahma in each day of his life is called kalpa. Therefore each day of Brahma is called a kalpa, and there are thirty kalpas in terms of Brahma's days. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (8.17)

A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami

Bhakta George

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation

November 26, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interposition's of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third of October,
in the year of our Lord 1789.

(signed) G. Washington

Clones

Dear Sir\Madam:

I will be happy to address you as my Prabhu when you display the qualities of a Prabhu. When you are able to see the soul in all bodies and refrain from bodily identification and the desire for self respect. When you can engage all your energies for the purpose of satisfying Sri Krsna in a spotless and pure fashion. When you are willing to be truthful and straightforward even if it hurts. Please place the spiritual interest of the innocent as your main concern, protect them by guiding them toward a genuine spiritual master. By taking a stand and exposing the rascals that have usurped our Divine Master’s Institution and watered down his teachings. At that time you will then be a true leader and not just a pawn in the hands of narrow minded , self interested, clones.

Pop your head out of the box, look around and see what is happening to Srila Prabhupads legacy.

Remember the love and compassion that Srila Prabhupad showed you ? Take a stand and by doing so you will deserve to be called Prabhu. Stand up for the truth. If you take the banner of Srila Prabhupad in your hands Mahaprabhu will do the rest. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth.

Burn into Ashes

There are two verses in the Canakya Sloka as to how a family or an institution can be glorified or burned into ashes by one person.

Canakya Pandit says:

1. "If there is one tree in the forest producing nice aromatic flower, that one tree can glorify the whole forest by the fragrance of its flower".

Similarly,

2. "If there is one tree in whose cavity there is a little fire, that one tree can burn into ashes the whole forest".

So this simile is applicable anywhere. In a family if there is one good boy, he can glorify the whole family and similarly if there is one bad boy he can disgrace his entire family and destroy them. Similarly in this institution if there is a bad disciple he can burn the whole institution into ashes.

25 August, 1970
A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami

Note: We can all learn from the words of Canakya knowing that this applies even today in our families, temples, communities, countries, nations and throughout out the entire world. Citizens of the world should know what is a good citizen and educate those that don't know good from bad. Karmic reactions wait for know one -AJD

What is the use of education?

Education is a method by which we can realise the Truth. There are many truths, History, Geography as is Mathematics. The content of truth is greatest in Mathematics. In others, there is an element of imagination. In Geography, we come across names like Asia, Africa, Madras, Ohio, etc. These names were given by humans. By imagination, we have given names "plateau" "valley", etc. By a process of gradual elimination of all that is imaginary, when we arrive at truth, that Truth is bound to be God. To think of Him with real devotion is the fruit of real education.

What is the use of education? Its first use is to develop humility (vinaya). In days past, the disciple who went to a guru was called "vineyan" meaning a person of humility which is the hall-mark of Instruction he received from his guru, the fruit of education. Education without humility is no education. Education is the same today as it was before, but methods have changed. The medicine is the same but if the diet has changed, the medicine becomes poison.

Unfortunately education has today become merely the means of livelihood. and false prestige . For true education, the student should go to a guru, remain humble and follow his advice.

Real education should help us realize that God is in fact a true reality. Real knowledge will fill our being with good qualities, through which one can realise the Truth, that is Krsna. Therefore, the goal of knowledge is understanding the Ultimate Truth. The first fruit of education must be humility and self control. Total surrender to the Lord is a means of learning our insignificance and the transcendent grace of the Lord.

If we engage an inquiry into the Atman (soul), at the end of it, it will be clear that Krsna is in our heart as the Supersoul. When that stage is reached all samskaras will gradually fall away. But, until then, we must engage in sadhana bhakti directing all our activities toward pleasing Guru and Krsna.

Those who are leaders of a group, society, or state should not neglect to established devotional customs and practices. For themselves they may not be in need of such ceremonies, for instance, their advancement in spirituality may not require them. But if they begin to neglect them, people for whom the rituals are really helpful, will also start neglecting them. This would be setting a bad example. In the words of the Bhagavad Gita, the wise should not unsettle the minds of those who are ignorant, and are attached to action: on the contrary, he should encourage them to perform what they should perform, by himself setting the example well and with diligence. It is the duty of leaders and those that are at the top to lead the people from where they are, and not to refrain from participation in devotional practice.

a fair-complexioned girl

Sri Nikunjavidya

Lalita: Where is that enchanter Krishna?
Vrinda: In the temple of Gauri.
Lalita: What is He doing?
Vrinda: He is absorbed in Nikunjavidya.

The Three Girls: Friend, who is Nikunjavidya.?

Vrinda: (Laughing out loud) Aha! The ignorance of these girls! They don't even know about the very famous Nikunjavidya.!

The Three Girls: (Embarrassed) Friend, tell us. We really don't know.

Vrinda: O chaste girls, what cowherd girl in Gokula does not know my sister, the goddess of Bhandiravana forest?

Lalita: O Vrinda, please give us now advise that will make this calamity have a happy ending.

Vrinda: Friends, Nikunjavidya is a treasure-chest where the jewels of Krishna's most hidden secrets are kept. Let us go to her.

(They all walk toward the temple of Gauri).

Radhika: Vrinda, this is the temple of Gauri. Please enter, and, with a signal bring Nikunjavidya. outside.

Vrinda: (Raising her neck and looking, she says to herself:) In the doorway I see Krishna disguised as a fair-complexioned girl. (Openly) O friends, he is here alone, making an earring from a peacock feather.

The Three Girls: O liar, stop! Stop! Krishna's peacock Tandavika is in the courtyard.

Vrinda: O uncivilized girls, go and see for yourselves. What is the use of speculating?

Lalita: Clearly the peacock was overcome by sleepiness and did not notice when peacock-feather crowned Krishna left.

Radhika: Let us enter the temple and ask Nikunjavidya.

(Everyone enters)

(Radhika's mother in-law Jatila enters the stage)

Jatila: Padma affectionately told me: "O noble Jatila, you are very fortunate. Like Govardhana-gopa, your son will soon become the master of millions of cows, for today I saw Radha worshipping goddess Gauri at Gauri-tirtha". Now I shall go there and give blessing to Her. (Walking, she sees the doe Rangini in the courtyard. She happily says:) Well done, Padma! Well done! You do not speak lies. (Looking again, she becomes unhappy) Alas! Alas! Why is Krishna's peacock Tandavika now perched on the head of Gauri's lion? I shall go back and bring my son. (She exits running).

Radhika: (Aside) O friends, look at the extraordinary beauty of Gauri.

The two Gopi-friends: Oh! True! True! It is right that she is so beautiful for Krishna has placed both love and trust in her.

Radhika: Even though I have never seen her before I am still very eager to speak with her. (She becomes shy).

A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Sister Vrinda, is it not that Radha does recognize Me? Still, I have seen Her thousands of times.

Vrinda: (Aside) Amazing! This is truly the voice of a woman.
Radhika: Vrinda, I do not know why My heart feels such intense love for Nikunjavidya.

Vrinda: Friend, I know why. It is not surprising She has loved you for a long time.

Radhika: (Joyfully approaching) O Nikunjavidya, where is your Nikunjanagara (Lover who meets you in these forest groves?)

A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Friend, what person knows him?

Lalita: Friend Nikunjavidya, please don't joke like this. We are your friends.

A Voice From Behind the Scenes: O girl whose eyes are like autumn lotus flowers, without understanding the actual truth, how will You attain the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is like gold created by heating mercury in the fire.

Vrinda: (Aside) The smile on Nikunjavidya.'s cheek declares that she will be your messenger. O Radha, now You should soften her by anointing her with the excellent oil of Your love.

Radhika: O Nikunjavidya, why are you not bound to me as Vrinda is, with the bonds of love?

A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Making Your feet lotus flowers, Your thighs your plantain trees, Your arms lotus stems, Your face the moon, and understanding that these soft things cannot stand without a hard pillar to support them, the creator Brahma made Your heart a thunderbolt.

Radhika: Vrinda, look! Nikunjavidya. is affectionately smiling upon me. I shall go and meet her. (She exits).

Vrinda: O Nikunjavidya, O beloved of the beautiful girls of Gokula, Your heart is very hard. Even though this girl is your affectionate friend, still you do not please Her with an embrace.


Visakha: Radha is now talking with Nikunjavidya with the trust of love. Radha is extending the creepers of Her arms to embrace her.

A Voice From Behind the Scenes: O goddess of Bhandiravan, look! The time for going to Gokula is now approaching. Please bestow your mercy on us so we may meet Krishna in the arena of pastimes and enjoy with Him there.

Lalita: Vrinda, your sister is now embracing Radhika and kissing Her.

Visakha: (Anxious) I can see that your Nikunjavidya. is shameless. She is very eager to assume the role of a male, because she is now scratching Radha's breasts with her fingernails.

Vrinda: (With a smile) Friend, don't become angry. This is simply the pastime of great love.

(Entering and trembling).

Radhika: (Knitting Her eyebrows) Vrinda! Good! A good trick you have played on us!
Vrinda: (laughing) Friend, I don't understand. What do you mean?

The Two Gopi-friends: (With a smile) Vrinda, now you can understand what a charming girl Nikunjavidya. is.

(Jatila enters with her son Abhimanyu).

Jatila: Child Abhimanyu, look! In this courtyard are both Radha's pet doe Rangini and Krishna's peacock Tandavika.

Abhimanyu: Mother, you speak the truth. I saw Balarama enter Gokula village accompanied by the cows and cowherd boys, but without Krishna.

Jatila: Child, this overflowing stream of sweet fragrance announces the presence of that illicit couple.

Abhimanyu: Mother, today I shall no longer follow Paurnamasi's instructions. Now I shall take Radhika to Mathura City.

Jatila: Son, fortunately the temple has only one door. Let us stay by the door and eavesdrop on the conversation.

(They both do that).

(Krishna Enters)

Krishna: (With a smile:-) Radha, please do not request something that is so difficult to grant.

Radhika: (With a playful smile) O goddess, have mercy! Have mercy!

Abhimanyu: (Entering the temple) Aha! Outlaw! I have caught You red-handed!

Krishna: (Aside) Alas! Recognizing Abhimanyu from the sound of his voice, My beloved has become terrified and at once fainted, falling like a stick to the ground.

Jatila: (Struck with wonder, she points with her finger) O child, who is this fair-complexioned girl that illuminates this temple with her extraordinary beauty?

Abhimanyu: (Reflecting) Mother, Radha said "O goddess, have mercy! Have mercy!" and then She at once bowed down, falling like a stick to the ground. Clearly this girl is the goddess Gauri, the splendidly beautiful queen of Lord Siva, who has now appeared here.

Krishna: (He joyfully says to Himself) This disguise of a fair-complexioned girl has been very helpful to Me.

The Two gopi-friends: (With happiness) O best of the cowherd men, on your request we worshipped the goddess Gauri, and now the goddess herself has emerged from her statue.

Abhimanyu: Visakha, what difficult-to-attain object was Radha praying for at the feet of the goddess?

This is an excerpt from the play known as Vidagdha-Madhava
wriiten by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Seven, Gauri-tirtha-vihara, Pastimes at Gauri-tirtha

May cows stay in front of me;

may cows stay behind me;
may cows stay on both sides of me.

May I always reside in the midst of cows.

Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252