Work versus Devotion and Worship of the Lord - A Dilemma

Wonderful queries from you …
1. I feel I should have the Lord in my heart all the time.
2. Work is a hurdle to spiritual progress
3. Focus in work and quest for excellence makes me feel guilty as they snatch me away from The Lord!

I suggest few subtle changes to the above query to become quest …

1. Am I at Lord's feet as I am and as I should be? … as opposed to objectifying The Omniscient as if one could cage THAT within one's heart. The dilemma is the mixture of one's nature and aspirations in the wrong combinations and wrong proportions. Either be a monkey that holds on to its mother completely on its own or be a cat that let the mother hold it completely. The notion "I should have the Lord in my heart all the time" shows a serious self-contradiction to me. On one hand you claim THAT to be The Lord while aspiring 'to have' Him within your heart on the other hand. Either you 'have' Him completely or let Him 'have' you completely. I am not sure about the former ... but, the later will surely work. So, ask yourself whether you are at His lotus feet always as you are and as you ought to be. If not, why? ... Interrogate yourself.

2. Am I at Lord's feet as I am and as I should be? … as opposed to objectifying The Omniscient as if one could cage THAT within one's heart. The dilemma is the mixture of one's nature and aspirations in the wrong combinations and wrong proportions. Either be a monkey that holds on to its mother completely on its own or be a cat that let the mother hold it completely. The notion "I should have the Lord in my heart all the time" shows a serious self-contradiction to me. On one hand you claim THAT to be The Lord while aspiring 'to have' Him within your heart on the other hand. Either you 'have' Him completely or let Him 'have' you completely. I am not sure about the former ... but, the later will surely work. So, ask yourself whether you are at His lotus feet always as you are and as you ought to be. If not, why? ... Interrogate yourself.

3. Focus and quest for excellence in anything is not a hurdle, but a virtue. KrishNa says, "Yogah karamsu koushalam". But the problem why that is becoming a bottleneck here is something else. Remember that KrishNa said "yogah karmasu koushalam" and not "yogo vyaktishu koushalam"! Often, we do want to herald the "excellence" projected on ourselves, not on the work we are involved with! The true skill (Koushalam) is to realize the excellence in The Action as such that brings out such brilliant colors to the life as is and as ever rather than desperately attempting to herald one's individual excellence and achievement in life. Obviously, when the excellence is projected on the wrong side (the ego), it is certainly the biggest hurdle to attain His Lotus Feet.

The action is collective from individual point of view - many individuals or objects particpate to fill-in the action. No objects that participate in the action cannot claim ownership on the action individually as well as collectively. Once we identify the excellence with the action rather than the specific parties involved, can we see anything but The Action anywhere?! Can we see anything but THAT in which The Action is merged eternally??! ! Therefore, the only possible excellence is to merge in this eternal merger as we are. Again, the question of relevance here is, why am I unable to let myself merge in the ever-existing unison all around as well as within? Why am I refusing to see the excellence that everything TRULY IS?? Why am I holding on to my fragmented existence to remain the only hurdle to my own spirit in all respects???

Beyond the Stereotypes

Our mental disease is that we are habituated to a stereotypical way of viewing reality. Instead of boldly embracing the ever-fresh, unlimitedly exciting present in a sweet loving relationship with the Supreme Person, the source of our existence, out of a false sense of security we hover in the so-called comfort zone of seeing everything through the colored lenses of our past experience refusing to cast off our foolishly cherished prejudices. In this conditioned state of consciousness we stubbornly hold on to past grudges never allowing ourselves the freedom of fully forgiving the past transgressions of others. We proudly feel that we were wronged, when in fact we were simply being justly punished for our own past transgressions. So what is the solution for this karmic quagmire? We must arise now from the ashes of our own foolishness putting our full faith in Krishna and the spiritual master. In this way we will experience within our hearts at every moment the wonderful dawning of the ultimate spiritual enlightenment, Krishna consciousness, and all of our past sufferings we will seen simply as a bad dream from which we were so kindly awakened by the all-merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead and His most confidential servitor, the bona fide spiritual master.

Unfailingly Dedicated in All Circumstances

The key to conquering over the modes of material nature and being solidly situated on the transcendental platform of Bhagavan realization, pure Krishna consciousness, is to always be engaged 24 hours daily in all places and circumstances in devotional service. In other words, we can easily attain the topmost perfection simply by always being vigilant without deviation that we are thinking, speaking, and acting in a way that is pleasing to Krishna. In this way if we remain unfailingly dedicated in all circumstances, we will quickly be elevated to the topmost platform of spiritual perfection and thus be blessed with always relishing the sweetest transcendental bliss, which far exceeds the happiness of the demigods in the heavenly planets. The key for quickly attaining this is to not ever give in to the desire of the senses for the cheap, quick thrills of material sense gratification. We must keep always the senses under control by constantly absorbing them engaged in Krishna's service. In this way we will taste millions of time more happiness than the fleeting so-called pleasure of the senses.

Does the Supreme have any wish/desire?

The Supreme who is complete by definition will have no desire or wish.
Desire or wish arises from incomopleteness. If there is completeness, there is no scope for a wish or desire to arise for seeking completeness. The Supreme has every thing in Him and never feels inadequate. Without any inadequacy, the Supreme has no need to wish or desire.
The Supreme who is complete has everything: He contains everything in the Creation and is in existence in each and everything in the Creation. All wishes and desires of everything/ everyone are contained in Him and He exists in all wishes and desires possible in all creatures. So the Supreme does not need any desire or wish of his own.
That His Creation functions the way it has been doing and will continue fully satisfies him.
With nothing remaining to be satisfied, the Supreme has no scope for any wish or desire of His own. Any thing / any one even a little less than Supreme and less than Complete can only have a wish or desire.
To put it differently, all that happens in this creation is nothing but his wish and desire getting fulfilled.

The Lord's Feelings Toward Someone Who Chants His Name

Srila Prabhupada told us that the chanting means to address the Lord. We talk to Him by calling His name.

But we may wonder, How does the Lord feel about those who chant? Does He notice them?

Yes. Krsna notices chanters even if they don't notice Him - and He thinks of them. As Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakura said, "When someone chants the Lord's name, the Lord's mind dwells on him. Krishna thinks, 'This person belongs to Me. I will always protect him!' "

Srila Sridhara Swami explains in this connection: "When the Lord heard that Ajamila was chanting His name, He thought about Ajamila deeply and then ordered the Visnudutas to bring him to Him. How much more, then, will the Lord remember a person who chants His Name with a service attitude?"

Let us not try to see the Lord.
Let Him see us.
And let us not try to hear His voice in the beginning.
Let Him hear us first.
Then one day the morning will dawn
when we hear him say:
"You are Mine."

Is Law of Karma Applicable for All or only Hindus?

Laws of Karma applies to anybody who thinks he/she is body-mind based organism regardless of beliefs, religions etc. A body has pain, or develops cancer or any such illness, does it have any problem? Physical body doesn't have complexes at all, whatever happens is according to cosmic laws, birth, growth, maturity, deterioration, illness, death!
Mind has all complexes! When body has pain, it thinks it has pain. Mind thinks it is separate from all beings and therefore, mind attaches to some it likes and some it doesn't like, so it avoids them. This is the only reason it suffers. This is what is Laws of Karma, really, meaning one lets mind rule life over which it doesn't have any control, so it suffers! Nothing fancy, it itself is ruled by conditioning of society, culture etc called environment in which it grows!
Such behaviors are among all mankind! Obviously everyone suffers or has pleasures, though, reasons may be different depending on their being raised in different cultures. This is Laws of Karma! It is the way one reacts rather than acts! Thus, it is Universal in nature, has nothing to do with Hindu or not, but everything to do with ignorance! Laws of Karma is explanation to our being ignorance! Of what? of not knowing who we are!
Just remove this ignorance and one is Free from Karma meaning pleasures and pains irrespective of birth and death of body. Laws are applicable even then to body, but suffering is removed. Scripture calls this as burning away of karmas!
Nothing else need to be changed!


The Law of Karma is applicable not only to Hindus but to all human beings ! It applies not only to all humans but to all creatures ! It applies not only to all creatures but also to Demi Gods say The Sun, Fire, Moon, Air etc ! In fact the first receipient of the knowledge of Karma Yoga was the Sun !!

What is this world comprising of? If you get deep ...you will find nothing EXCEPT .."Doing" and "Happenning" ! Deeds and Results thereof. It is contractual obligations that bind a human in this world (BG 15:2) ! Why only human...to all creatures !! World is nothing except "Lenia-Denia" (giving..receiving. ..giving) ! World therefore has at many places in Scriptures referred as " Karma Bhoomi" ! Rightly so, because you can't remain without doing Karmas even for a fraction of a second. There is a chain of action-reaction going on. Even Akarmas are in the form of Karmas only.

Q Is one doomed to be trapped in his Karma and cannot undo and find penance in this life time?

Ans: No ! Human life is not meant for getting doomed at all! Human life means an opportunity ...very rare opportunity of ...breaking the CHAINS of action/reaction. Here you can do AKARMAS also which do not produce any bondage. A human has also capacity to remain EQUANIMOUS and thus un-impacted by the CHAINS of Karmas ..the Bondage of Karmas !

Q If one convert to another religion from Hindu, can he do away with all this Karmic backlash?

Ans: Such a Q does not arise once earlier Qs are answered and understood.

Then who is the doer?

All actions take place because of modes of nature.
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita,
" Prakrteh kriyamanani,
Gunaih karmani sarvasah,
Ahankara vimudhatma,
Kartaham iti manyate. "
( Gitaji 3, 27)
Which means,
'When all the actions take place because of modes of nature, a foolish person because of false ego thinks he( or she) is actually doing those actions. '
The modes of nature are Sattva (goodness), rajo(passion) , tamo( ignorance).
The supersoul( paramatma) gives certain freedom to soul ( jivatma) to decide for himself or herself. The supersoul is the witness for every action, thought, and word.
A person situated in Krishna consciousness, clearly sees that gross ( subtle body) is created from material nature, under the direction of Supreme Personality of Godhead and hence bodily activities as well as mental activities should be engaged in His service.
Actions continue to take place even when we think we are not doing any.
The best course is to do actions for the welfare of others and in the name of the Lord.

The Supreme Lord cannot be known through our intellectual efforts

The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna cannot be known through our intellectual efforts. Unless He gives us the power of knowing Him, we cannot know Him. It is His mercy. If He is not at all merciful to us, we won't be able, by our strenuous exertions, to approach Him. The thing is that we have to approach Him and He has to give us the facility of approaching Him. He is the Autocrat - He is the Despot - He has the fullest freedom. We cannot, by our flimsy little way of thinking and by any of our attempts, reach Him in any way.

So, craving is the only need in us by which we can surmount all the difficulties, the barriers and the impediments of these phenomena. The objective references of the reciprocated entities of our senses, will never disclose Him unless He is so lenient to show us that latitude as to be approachable by us. This is the only method by which we can approach the Absolute. It will be a tremendous task for us to have an access to Him through our intellectualism and labor and our senses confined to finite things. So we should show our aptitude for craving His mercy. This is bhakti. Bhakti represents devotion - transcendental devotion. Transcendental devotion need not be covered by our thoughts, fruitive attempts or desire for salvation.

If we mix up bhakti with worldly ideas - finitudinal ideas - it will not lead us to the Absolute. Our ideas are wrong, they are quite inadequate for the purpose of leading us to the Absolute. Unless the Absolute condescends to be seen or worshiped by us, it would be quite useless to make efforts to approach Him. At the same time, we need not be diffident to approach Him - to try to have an access to Him. We must not think that He is within our reach and expect that our prayer will be attended to by Him.

So, there are two cardinal points which we should examine. First of all He is Absolute. He should have a willing attitude to meet us and at the same time we should also have some sort of hankering for Him, leaving aside all sorts of troublesome agents which we call our associates - leaving these aside we are to approach Him. If we want to zoomorphise, phytomorphise, or neuterise Godhead, if we try to find any masculine or feminine feature in Godhead, if the neuter aspect of Godhead is welcomed, we would be simply missing the opportunity of having an access to Him - we would be simply led astray. Godhead is not necessarily neuter, masculine or feminine as we see here with our defective and temporal senses. We should simply submit to Him:

"sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah"

Sri Krishna is singing this for Arjuna's purpose. He says He will give warranty of saving everyone of us if he or she submits to Him alone and none will have to run any risk of their own - all risks will lie in Him. He declares He will give us salvation. He is full - all sorts of inadequacies can be fulfilled by His true wishes. We can get rid of all our troubles if we simply submit to Him.

As He should descend to meet us, so we should also be unalloyed and quite set free from all sorts of wrong associations we have imbibed during our social life, otherwise, carrying all these references of this mundane world, we cannot have access to the transcendental region. We should not persist in our wrong ideas - in prayers such as `give us this day our daily bread'. We cannot have a morsel of bread unless He desires to give it to us. We need not waste our time that way. These prayers are not required for approaching Him. We are quite ignorant of what is to be asked from Him. We do not know what will be for our good. We should only crave for His mercy. This is the only attitude we should have.

Sri Krishna is the greatest attractor. We should want to be attracted by Him. The thing is if we have diffidence to be attracted by Him, if we try to avoid or evade His conference of mercy on us, we should be simply entangling ourselves with the measuring temperament. Now we are very busy to measure with our senses all the finitudinal objects of this universe. This is empiric education. This sort of empiric education is offered to us to impede our course towards the transcendental region. So we should be very careful not to be deluded by the influence of the measuring tendency - we should be very careful not to be degraded by this. We should not accept the policy of retaliation - for by doing so we should be simply engaging ourselves for that purpose only.

We should be always careful not to be meddling with external ideas and thoughts. If we engage ourselves with all these things in order to have some enjoyment of our senses, we should surely be misguided by alluring friends of the phenomena. The finiteness of these things is quite inadequate for our purpose. We require the full thing - the Absolute. We should simply part with the wrong ideas and thoughts which we have incorporated with us. The phenomenon should be deleted - should be abandoned - during the course of our journey to the transcendental plane. The Absolute is He Who does not require a finite object or a finite place. He has infinite, eternal knowledge. He has got eternal expansion. He is full of bliss. We are always hankering after bliss - but bliss can never be had here. So meddling with the undesirable objects of the phenomena, we cannot expect to reach that destination. So the only course is bhakti. We should not attempt karma, jnana, rationalism, agnosticism, good action, charity and all such rubbish. They are the impediments of our approach to the Object. The Object should be the Absolute.

What is God's Work and How can we perform & accomplish it ?

Radhe Krishna!
Once we accept the fact that whatever work we do including our own domestic duties as an offering to the Lord, everything becomes God's work. At the same time, a person who does adharmic activities (like what extremists do), and offers everything to God, can we say that God will accept that offering? The Lord stands for dharma, and any adharmic activity cannot be attributed to Him. "KENAPI DEVENA HRUDI STITENA, YADHA NIYUKTHOSMI THADHA KAROMI". This is not applicable to Adharmic actions of extremists or "Atatayins". Duryodhana says in Pandava gita "Janami dharmam, nahi me pravritthih, Janami adharmam, nahi me nivruttih; Kenapi Devena Hridi stitena yadha niyukthosmi thadha karomi." Is this acceptable?

So one has to draw a line between what is acceptable to Dharma and what is not acceptable to Adharma. We can say, what is acceptable to Dharma can be termed as "God's work.

Sometimes it may happen than one's "Swadharma" itself could be adharmic in character and not acceptable to the Lord!

Work versus Devotion and Worship of the Lord - A Dilemma

A spiritual aspirant should be determined to do only God's work, not his own work. Therefore he should accept that his house, his work and he himself belong to God. With this feeling, he will be doing God's work, with God's power, to please God. This firm determination will develop a strong bonding (a feeling of mine-ness) with God and in-turn spontaneous and constant rememberance of Him.
Constant Rememberance of God - How?
God in the Gita says to Arjuna -

"Tasmat sarveshu kaaleshu maamanusmara yudhya che." (Gita 8:7)

Therefore Arjuna, remember Me at all times and fight. Here fight stands for doing one's duty. We can remember God at all times but we can't fight at all times. Arjuna's duty was to fight, just like we have to perform our daily duties. Domestic duties can't be performed at all times. The spiritual aspirant have three options before them -

1) To do the work while remembering God,
2) To remember God while doing the work, and
3) To do the work considering it as God's work.

In the first option, remembrance of God is primary, while the work is secondary.
In the second option the work is primary, while remembrance of God is secondary.
In the third option there is undivided devotion for God.

Generally people forget God while working. There are two reasons for it. The important reason is one's negligence. The second reason is lack of attachment (feeling of mine-ness) with God. If there is attachment for anyone, he is reminded spontaneously of that one.
People have attachment to their domestic affairs, not to God. They are therefore likely to forget God. As long as we accept and see the house, the work, and Self as our own, we are likely to forget God.
Therefore we should be determined that we have to do only God's work, not our own work. What is the use of work which makes one forget God?
Therefore a spiritual aspirant should accept that his house, his work and he himself belong to God. They are not his own. He should feel that he is doing God's work, with His power in order to please Him. this firm determination will develop a strong bonding (a feeling of mine-ness) with God and in-turn spontaneous and constant remembrance of Him.

Ram Ram

How to Always Be Absolutely Ecstatic

Nobody truly desires to be miserable. But yet most people are foolishly acting on a regular daily basis in ways that guarantee to keep them miserable. It doesn't have to be like this because there is a solution. There is a way that anybody and everybody no matter what situation they may be in can always be absolutely ecstatic. That way is called the science of self-realization. Just as there varying stages in the science of mathematics, there are also varying stages in the science of self-realization. In the lower stages one becomes partially liberated from all miseries. And when one reaches the perfectional stage, he becomes perfectly, absolutely ecstatic in all circumstances. That perfectional stage is known as Bhagavan realization or Krishna consciousness. It is not necessary to progress through the lower stages known as Brahman realization and Paramatma realization and then gradually come to the highest stage. Just as when one wants to go to an upper floor in a tall building one can either takes the stairs or the elevator, in the self-realization science one can proceed gradually to the perfectional platform over many lifetimes, or he can immediately come to the topmost platform simply by fully surrendering himself to Lord Krishna. Those who are thus willing to dive fully into the self-realization process become absolutely ecstatic in all times, places, and circumstances.

Then who is the doer?

Since the Self is not a doer, it is flawless, and untainted by anything, why has Lord Krishna given so much importance and dedicated chapters of the Gita to that which is born of prakriti (nature), such as Gunas - Rajas, Tamas, Sattva, eight limbs of yoga, purification of thoughts, actions etc.

Ans: Because Self has not accepted flawlessness/ untaintedness in himself and therefore inspite of being complete; being part of God, is experiencing flaws, is entangled ,and is sufferring.. .sufferring. ... And sufferring.

God knows Jeeva has misutilised its Power of Belief. Hence, He gives a full chapter only on belief in Gita.He knows what are the pitfalls on Jeeva's way now. Jeeva is very independent. God has provided freedom to Jeeva. God can not withdraw that freedom. One who assumes- I am doer ONLY must assume I am not doer- "Naivam Kinchit karomiti yukto MANYET"-BG 5:8 - Yogi "accepts"- I do not do any thing. But Jeeva is independent. ... SWANTRAH KARTA- The doer is always independent. God can only impart now His Grace/ Kripaa/Compassion/ Truth/ Comfort through Scriptures and send Saints and Sages like Ved Vyas, Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaj, Param Shraddheya Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj, etc.... so that Jeeva wakes up...does not worry...does not remain sorrowful... runs and comes in His loving arms.

Hence God on one hand states in Gita as to what truly a human is. What is true nature of Jeeva. He says- You are my child. You have no part of Prakruti in you. On the other hand, He knows that Jeeva is entangled. False has become Truth for Jeeva because of wrong acceptance/belief/ shraddha ! False has become part of Jeeva's experience. Hence God recognises the ACTUAL STATUS of Entangled/Sufferrin g Jeeva and teaches the Jeeva from that state of entanglement.

The Compassionate God keeps saying to Jeeva: Do not worry, Do not worry....Ma Suchah..Ma Suchah. He begins Gita addressing Jeeva's WORRY and ends Gita by saying DO NOT WORRY - Ma Suchah.

Accordingly - dozens of methodologies have been prescribed by God for Liberation of Jeeva from the chains of false assumption/wrong acceptance. Swamiji has elaborated upon many such methodologies. THE KARAN NIRAPEKSHA SADHANS explained for the benefit of humanity at large by Swamiji - require only KSHIPRAM TIME ( one-third of a second) to realise Paramatma. Jeeva can always choose any one based on his present state. In fact, God has to take into account present state of Jeeva and accordingly provide wisdom to him. Gita is "avataar". Lord Krishna was "avataar". Lord Krishna has to first lower Himself to the level of human, presume the same state in which the human is ACTUALLY (not theoritically) and then impart him the way forward from that state.

Pupose of Human birth

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

What is the purpose of human birth? To earn, to eat, to undergo misery everyday and finally to die? Instead of earning and suffering, can we not die now? The purpose of birth is to avoid re-birth. Except man, all animals grow horizontally. Only man grows vertically. Instead of growing horizontally, it is Bhagavan's will that he should grow vertically in order to look up. Bhagavan has given to animals devices for self-protection ; to man alone He has given intelligence. By doing nothing, we avoid re-birth; By giving up attachment, we avoid sins.

Bhagavan Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad Gita (10.7-10 ) :

• " He who knows in truth My opulence and yogic power , has firm bhakti in Me. There is no doubt about this.
• I am the source of both mundane and spiritual worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this well, worship Me with great joy in their hearts.
• Those whose minds are fixed on Me and whose lives are surrendered to Me, derive great satisfaction from enlightening one another about my greatness and speaking about Me .
• Those whose minds are devoted to Me worship Me with great joy. I Myself give to them the yoga of wisdom, by which they can come to Me ".

Please chant :

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

and be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

Shun Herd Mentality and Realize Yourself.

Nowadays it is considered very egalitarian to think that no matter which pathway one takes it will lead to the same goal. Try to going to an airport to see if you can make this philosophy practical by taking any airplane and reaching the same destination. While such notions of doing anything and getting the same result may be the embodiment of political correctness, it should be noted in this connection that fools rush in where angels fear to tread. In other words our philosophy of life should not be based on herd mentality. An intelligent person can understand that if the herd were correct, the world would not be in such a disastrous condition as the present moment. Therefore instead of giving in to herd mentality he bravely embarks on his own personal journey of self-discovery to gain perfect realization of who he is and what is the meaning and purpose of his existence.

What happens at the time of Death of the gross body? Vedic description.

At the time of death of the gross body, cells merge with the earth, spirit merges with the divine Nature (Prakrti), the soul being immortal remains alive, and hence consciousness remains. Based on degree of truth, quality of Karma (good or bad deeds), acquired in the present and previous births as individual's running ledger account, it gets manifested again on the birth of another gross body. This process of birth and rebirth continues until, the soul achieves perfection, is released from the three modes of Prakrti and moves beyond three gunas of transparency, activity and passivity. It is the stage of salvation, liberation i.e. Vedic Moksha.

Rig Veda 1-164-20, 10-9-20, 10-8-43 and 44 describe three divine substances, Parmatma (Supreme Soul), Atma (human soul) and the divine Nature. On the "Death" of human beings, spirit goes back to Prakrti and merges with the Nature as part of the vast storehouse of energy. The soul does not go back to Parmatma who is the Supreme Soul as it gets affected with subtle atoms and particles of human good and bad deeds, thoughts and desires.

Vedic metaphysics is emphatic that owing to the prevalence of the spirit of God in all human beings, any distinction of class superiority or inferiority is negation of religion and ethics.
Soul is dynamic but not moving when manifested, but moves faster than all material things when not manifested. It traverses billions of miles when it goes to devas (beings of light as forces of divine Nature) viz. Suriya (Sun), Chandrama (Moon), Indra, , Mitra, Varun, Yama etc., during the 12 days journey after the death of gross body for purification, knowledge, luster, noble and divine traits, which it lost during the stage of manifestation in the body. (Yajur Veda 39-6). But the effects of Karma remain intact. It becomes fierce, calm, terrible, fearless, ignorant, enlightened, passionate or ascetic dependent on the past deeds, desires and thoughts (Y.V.39-
7). In the womb it becomes lovely through various virtuous deeds, chastise able through ignoble deeds, supreme through divine knowledge, noble through spiritual force and protector of all bodily organs and the pericardium enclosing the heart. It is for this reason that most of the scriptures mention the soul dwelling in the heart of all individuals. Apart from Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita, Adi Grantha Gaund M-5 and Katha Upanishad 1-2-20 to 22 also mention the soul residing in the heart.

After its 12 days journey, it is well equipped with Vedic knowledge, a-priori principles and cosmic laws of social and moral order (Rta). Thus on the birth of a child, the knowledge of four Vedas is made available through the manifested soul which is part of the inner world.

Thus consciousness is the real cause of transmigration of soul from one body to another. Brihadarnyaka Upanishad 4-3-34 and 4-4-4 explains the rebirth as a man passes from dream to wakefulness, so does from this life to next life. At old age or during the stage of degeneration even during young age, the self separates from the limbs like ripe mango, fig or banayan fruit separates itself from the trunk. The same way the self hastens to his new abode based on past karma and begins a new life in a new body. The "self" i.e. atma departs through eye, or gate of the skull or some other apertures of the body. The deeds of the entire life and the impressions those deeds created to the manifested soul before leaving the body follows the individual in the next birth.

Even those souls which have achieved Moksha and have become one with God also take birth after centuries to guide the harassed humanity. Some time they take birth through divine potency like Lord Krishna or Lord Rama and most often as human beings with normal birth like
Buddha, Mahavira, Socrates, Sankracharya and many others.

From the above description, it is apparent that true followers of Vedic guidelines observe Prayer Meetings of the departed souls on the 13th day of the death as the departed soul completes its journey for purification on the 12th day.

Jeevathuma is Sukshumamam

It is energy that comes into form (human, animal, ant, plant etc) depending on Karmas. This Jeevathuma (call it sprit/ sukshuma/ soul) joins with Paramathuma when there is no credit of puniyas or papas. Human can send his/her soul through Susunba Nerve right through spinal cord on to top of skull where there it can open and go to GOD. This is done only by Yogi after several births of practice Bagavan says in Geetha.
Electricity cannot be seen but can be known or used with help of material. So is everything on earth. The body is instrument packed with 6 types of DNA based on astrological factors again this based on one` s karmas. Body Pancha boothas (5 elements) covered by Pancha gosas (5 Layers of auras) and within or near to heart there is a vacuum space where this soul remains witness for all that the body, mind and intellect does. Actions of body (karmendriyam) Mind
(thoughts) are called Manasha Karma. All the Karmas are recorded by 5 sheets of Gosas. When soul leaves the body due to decay 6th stage (Bagavan says 6 stages of transformations all living things undergo), the soul goes to SUN along with 5 gosas and from there the path of soul decided. The soul comes to earth through rain drop, gets into any eatable, the body (known as annamaiya) which eats and sperms develop. These sperms are injected into female body where the soul starts developing form. Once the mind on 5th month in womb starts working, the soul has capacity to know all that happened in past birth. The infant in womb soaked in chemical substance, smelling very bad odor, thinks that it made mistake wasting previous birth amidst pomp and show, wealth and fame etc. Unable to remain in one position, due to pricks, keeps turning. The sufferings of a child in womb is worst than living on earth. The child in womb
surely does feel that once it is out of womb, it will do only tapas, bakthi and remain aloof from world. But on touching atmosphere everything erased due to the karmas it had. Example: Jada Bharatha story of 3 births.
DEAR SADAKS our scriptures had clearly said which month the baby develops form, when nail, when hair, when eyes etc. Each organ has it` s own devatha. Based on ones karma the child is born or dies in womb or gets suitable parents, countary/place, brothers sisters, poor/rich etc, with destined span of life. A person gets sickness first at aura level. The sickness penetrates through aura and enters body mostly at Kethu Raasi. One can take static from sick persons
and they will be Kethu rasi. Again all sickess or accidents or sufferings effects little or nothing in case of Bagavan Bakthas.
Persons Praying demi Gods, Bagavan says in Geetha Mooda. There is places where these are said in Geetha. But Bagavan Sri Vishnu took birth as Kapila and gave full text of human life and death in Sri Math Bagavath as KAPILA GEETHA. Further full information is in
GARBOPANASHID.
Cycle of birth and death continues as long as one has desires on this earth. People, who contemplated that there is some thing much more extremely valuable, left behind everything in search of truth. Example: Buddha left kingdom, riches and happy family. Purandaradoss (said to be incarnation of Naradha) known as Nava Koti (9 Crores) narayana just left behind everything at one stroke went to Panderpur.
Sadaks- That does not mean we go away into forest. We can be Baktha concentrating on Sri Krishna having in mind that everyone and everything is Asat.
Who ever we may be. Once the soul departs the body is disposed off with in 24 hours

Value of Vaishnava Association

Story from the Purana...

Once the great sage Narada was intrigued by a doubt. He was sure that Lord Vishnu would clear it for him. He proceeded to the Ocean of Milk and found his Lord reclining on the giant hooded serpent-bed Shankarshana, His beautiful consort, Lakshmi devi beside Him.

Sage Narada made his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him.
"Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?"
Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, "I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?"
With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.
"Go over there and ask your question of that worm. I'm sure you'll get your answer."

Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.
Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had happened.
Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, "Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question of that calf."
Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier.
"Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of `go-hatya'!"
Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died!
Sage Narada was horrified. Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.
"Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!"
Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him.
"And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven't even got the answer to my question?!" sage Narada complained.
Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for him.
"You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer."
"No, my Lord! Please don't ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance."
But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do? Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth.
Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.
Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, "What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?'
The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak.

"O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.
You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.
Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!"

And this is the value of Vaishnava Association. We develop in all ways; spiritual as well as material.

There is Only Vasudeva - Why the Resistance ? Why not Accept the Truth?

Remember this at all times, because it is the main principle of the Gita -Vasudev Sarvam (All is God). If you do not believe in the other, then there is no "All", there is only Vasudeva (Paramatma). The All is everything, including our body, mind, intellect, ego and the World. The All is everything that is not your Self. The All remains till such time as we give it importance, and we believe that it exists. As soon as we realise that the Allhas no existence of its own and it should have no importance, the All merges into Vasudeva (God). The sarvam becomes Vasudev. Then there is only Vasudev (God). There is nothing else, there was nothing else, there will be nothing else, there can be nothing else.

Accept this once and for all - there is only Vasudeva (God). Remain ever established in Vasudeva (Paramatma). It is because you have given existence to "asat" (unreal) and thus given it importance that you perceive "All". Giving existence and importance to the other (asat) i.e. everthing else besides Vasudeva, is the main flaw. It simply IS and that is "Existence". It has only been believed that it is not realized, but it is already realized. "Nasato Vidhyate Bhavo, Nabhavo Vidhyate Satah" (Gita 2:16). There is only Vasudeva (Only God).

There is true and there is false. What is false is false because of the true. The false gets its existence only because of the existence of the truth. Without the truth the false has no power whatsoever. It cannot even exist. We say that 'All is God' only till such time as we give the All an existence and importance. Otherwise, it is just God that exists in everything. God is already there. We do not have to do anything to attain Him. The mistake that we have made is that we have given the All importance and given it existence due to our ignorance of the truth. Therefore the All exists in our mind in opposition to the IS (God). God IS, and is always there, and is everattained. No matter however hard we try, we cannot attain what does not exist - i.e. the All. As soon as a person realises this, his work is over. You attain and understand that God is All and All is God.

You have to do nothing for your Self. You should do all you can for the world without wanting anything in return. In Karma Yog, there is nothing to do for the Self, everything is to be done for the world. Even though you are doing, you should never think that you are the doer. You are a mere tool in His Hands. If you startthinking that you are the doer, you will get attached to the fruits of your action and start enjoying the result of your actions - which will bind you to this world and give you tensions and worries. Doing for others with a selfless motive is Karma Yog. This can unite the whole world - all religions (Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jews,Parsis, etc.). This is ever attained in any religions. "Bade bhaagya Manushya Janam pawaa" It has nothing to do with the body. It is all about discrimination (vivek). "Hai so sunder hai sadaa, nahin so sunder naahi... hai so dikhe naahi". We are seeing what is not, and not what IS. One is a knower and the other is to be known. Give things of nature, back to nature. We have the ability to know. The intellect to know what is right and what is wrong is only given to humans. Human beings have the ability to know this, that we are ever established in "Is-ness". It is not about simply learned knowledge, it is realizing this. Not like learning a language, it is divine knowledge, true knowledge. "Sa sarvavit bhajati maam, sarva bhaaveneh bhaavitah... ...Iti guhyatam shaastra" One who realizes this, has nothing remaining to be done, to beknown, and to be attained. "The one who realizes this, worships and is devoted to Me." That One who realizes this, never forgets Me, and I never forget Him, says Bhagwaan. "Yo maam pachyati sarvatra, sarvamcha mai pachyati" Bhagwaan is an amazing player. In all is Paramatma (God), and All are in Paramatma (God). Realize this in solitude.

Bhagwaan IS. Everything is Bhagwaan. We see the world with our eyes. Everything is happening as part of His divine play, as He is a player. "Ban gaye Aap akele sab kuch, naam dharaa sansaar" "You alone became everything, and that everything we call the World, this Body, Mind, Intellect, Ego". So we will naturally see only the world and I, and not the power or truth behind it. In fact, we are all situated in the IS (Parmatma, Vasudeva)), which is always there and will always remain. The IS (Vasudeva) is in ALL and the ALL is in the IS. The One is in everything and the Everything is in the One.

Narayana Narayana Narayana
Ram Ram

Importance of Temple Worship

The divine medicine of Bhagavan Sri Krishna's Grace to wipe out our sorrows is to develop unshakable faith in Bhagavan and tolerance is the medicine of Grace to wipe out our sorrows. Krishna-Bhakti alone can give us the capacity to put up with sorrows. Vedic Temples are the agencies for developing that Bhakti. Hence, the need for temples at all places. All offerings to His deities in the temples are tokens of our gratitude to Bhagavan Krishna .

He alone is a Vaishnava Acharya, who, after clearly understanding the conclusive teachings of the Vedis Sastras, makes the people of the world gain their welfare by making them stick to the path shown in the Sastras and also himself does everything according to Sastras and remains in that experience .

Many acts relating to Sri Krishna , like building Krishna 's temples, digging tanks are performed. While executing them, there would be many difficulties. There would come also several kinds of dishonour . Not minding any of these, they would complete their tasks with mental one-pointedness removing impurities from their minds and letting the mind wander. By straightening their mind, they acquire mind control and at the end, they realise the Reality that is to be known. Digging tanks, building temples and such other acts are called *poorttam* . The performance of sacrifices, etc., is known as *ishtam* . Combining these two, we have the word *Ishtapoortam* .

Bhagavan Sri Krishna says about Temple-worship in Uddhava Gita (27.49-54) :

• By worshiping Me through the various methods prescribed in the Vedas and tantras, one will gain from Me his desired perfection in both this life and the next.
• The Bhakta should more fully establish My Deity by solidly constructing a temple, along with beautiful gardens. These gardens should be set aside to provide flowers for the regular daily worship, special Deity processions and holiday observances.
• One who offers My Deity gifts of land, markets, cities and villages so that the regular daily worship and special festivals of the Deity may go on continually will achieve opulence equal to My own.
• By installing My Deity one becomes king of the entire earth, by building a temple for Me one becomes ruler of the three worlds, by worshiping and serving the Deity one goes to the planet of Lord Brahma, and by performing all three of these activities one achieves a transcendental form like My own.
• But one who simply engages in devotional service with no consideration of fruitive results attains Me. Thus whoever worships Me according to the process I have described will ultimately attain pure devotional service unto Me.
• Anyone who steals the property of the Devas or the brahmanas, whether originally given to them by himself or someone else, must live as a worm in stool for one hundred million years.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !!

How to escape from Sins

We know many faults we commit, even if others do not know them. Sometimes we realise we are doing so many evil things and repent bitterly and feel why we should be born . Our duty is to pray to our Ishta-deva Sri Krishna -"I have committed so many faults. Will You not, 0 Bhagavan , give me the will power not do like that in future and will you not purify my mind?"

We must note down in a diary every night before we go to bed the faults committed by us and pray to Bhagavan Sri Krishna to give us courage and intelligence not to do so. This should be propagated widely.

Bhagavan Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad Gita ( 9.30 ) : "Even if the worst sinner worships Me with true bhakti, he should be considered as virtuous . because he has rightly decided his duty (i.e , He is positive in his belief that there is nothing like devoted worship of Me)".

Please chant :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

and be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!

I describe the best of all fast days, Amalakii EkAdasi

King MAndhAtA once said to Vasishtha Muni, "O great sage, kindly be merciful to me and tell me of a holy fast that will benefit me eternally."

Vasishtha Muni replied. "O king, kindly listen as . He who faithfully observes a fast on this EkAdasii obtains enormous wealth, gets free of the effects of all kinds of sins, and attains liberation. Fasting on this EkAdasii is more purifying than donating one thousand cows in charity to a pure brAhmana. So please hear me attentively as I tell you the story of a hunter who, though daily engaged in killing innocent animals for his living, achieved liberation by observing a fast on Amalakii EkAdasii following the prescribed rules and regulations of worship.

"There was once a kingdom named VaidishA, where all the brAhmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras were equally endowed with Vedic knowledge, great bodily strength, and fine intelligence. Oh lion among kings, the whole kingdom was full of Vedic sounds, not a single person was atheistic, and no one sinned. The ruler of this kingdom was King PAshabinduka, a member of the dynasty of Soma, the moon. He was also known as Chitraratha and was very religious and truthful. It is said that King Chitraratha had the strength of ten thousand elephants and that he was very wealthy and knew the six branches of Vedic wisdom perfectly.

"During the reign of Maharaja Chitraratha, not a single person in his kingdom attempted to practice another's dharma (duty) so perfectly engaged in their own dharmas were all the brAhmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras. Neither miser nor pauper was to be seen throughout the land, not was there ever a drought or flood. Indeed, the kingdom was free of disease, and everyone enjoyed good health. The people rendered loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, as did the king, who also rendered special service to Lord Shiva. Moreover, twice a month everyone fasted on EkAdasii.

"In this way, O best of kings, the citizens of VaidishA lived many long years in great happiness and prosperity. Giving up all varieties of materialistic religion, they completely dedicated themselves to the loving service of the Supreme Lord, Hari.

"Once, in the month of Phalguna (February - March), the holy fast of Amalakii EkAdasii arrived, conjoined with DvAdasi. King Chitraratha realised that this particular fast would bestow especially great benefit, and thus he and all the citizens of VaidishA observed this sacred EkAdasii very strictly, carefully following all the rules and regulations.

"After bathing in the river, the king and all his subjects went to the temple of Lord Vishnu, where an Amalakii tree grew. First the king and his leading sages offered the tree a pot filled with water, as well as a fine canopy, shoes, gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires, and aromatic incense. Then they worshiped Lord ParashurAma with these prayers: 'Oh Lord ParashurAma, Oh son of RenukA, Oh all-pleasing one, Oh liberator of the worlds, kindly come beneath this holy Amalakii tree and accept our humble obeisances.'

Then they prayed to the Amalakii tree: 'Oh Amalakii, Oh offspring of Lord BrahmA, you can destroy all kinds of sinful reactions. Please accept our respectful obeisances and these bumble gifts. O Amalakii, you are actually the form of Brahman, and you were once worshiped by Lord RAmachandra Himself. Whoever circumambulates you is therefore immediately freed of all his sins.'

"After offering these excellent prayers, King Chitraratha and his subjects remained awake throughout the night, praying and worshiping according to the regulations governing a sacred EkAdasii fast. It was during this auspicious time of fasting and prayer that a very irreligious man approached the assembly, a man who maintained himself and his family by killing animals. Burdened with both fatigue and sin, the hunter saw the king and the citizens of VaidishA observing Amalakii EkAdasii by performing an all-night vigil, fasting, and worshiping Lord Vishnu in the beautiful forest setting, which was brilliantly illuminated by many lamps. The hunter hid nearby, wondering what this extraordinary sight before him was.

'What is going on here?' he thought. What he saw in that lovely forest beneath the holy Amalakii tree was the Deity of Lord DAmodara being worshiped upon the Asana of a waterpot, and what he heard were devotees singing sacred songs describing Lord Krishna's transcendental forms and pastimes. Despite himself, that staunchly irreligious killer of innocent birds and animals spent the entire night in great amazement as he watched the EkAdasii celebration and listened to the glorification of the Lord.

"Soon after sunrise, the king and his royal retinue - including the court sages and all the citizens - completed their observance of EkAdasii and returned to the city of VaidishA. The hunter then returned to his hut and happily ate his meal. In due time the hunter died, but the merit he had gained by fasting on Amalakii Ekadasii and hearing the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as well as by being forced to stay awake all night, made him eligible to be reborn as a great king endowed with may chariots, elephants, horses, and soldiers. His name was VasUratha, the son of King VidUratha, and he ruled over the kingdom of Jayanti.

"King VasUratha was strong and fearless, as effulgent as the Sun, and as handsome as the Moon. In strength he was like Sri Vishnu, and in forgiveness like the Earth itself. Very charitable and every truthful, King VasUratha always rendered loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu. He therefore became very well versed in Vedic knowledge. Always active in the affairs of state, he enjoyed taking excellent care of his subjects, as though they were his own children. He disliked pride in anyone and would smash it when he saw it. He performed many kinds of sacrifices, and he always made certain that the needy in his kingdom received enough charity.

"One day, while hunting in the jungle, King VasUratha strayed from the footpath and lost his way. Wandering for some time and eventually growing weary, he paused beneath a tree and, using his arms as a pillow, fell asleep. As he slept, some barbarian tribesmen came upon him and, remembering their longstanding enmity toward the king, began discussing among themselves various ways to kill him. 'It is because he killed our fathers, mothers, brothers-in- law, grandsons, nephews, and uncles that we are forced to aimlessly wander like so many madmen in the forest.' So saying, they prepared to kill King VasUratha with various weapons, including spears, swords, arrows, and mystic ropes.

"But none of these deadly weapons could even touch the sleeping king, and soon the uncivilised, dog-eating tribesmen grew frightened. Their fear sapped their strength, and before long they lost what little intelligence they had and became almost unconscious with bewilderment and weakness. Suddenly a beautiful woman appeared from the king's body, startling the aborigines. Decorated with many ornaments, emitting a wonderful fragrance, wearing an excellent garland around her neck, her eyebrows drawn in a mood of fierce anger, and her fiery red eyes ablaze, she looked like death personified. With her blazing chakra discus she quickly killed all the tribal hunters, who had tried to slay the sleeping king.

"Just then the king awoke, and seeing all the dead tribesmen lying around him, he was astonished. He wondered, 'These are all great enemies of mine! Who has slain them so violently? Who is my great benefactor?'

"At that very moment he heard a voice from the sky: 'You ask who helped you. Well, who is that person who alone can help anyone is distress? He is none other than Sri Keshava, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He who saves all who take shelter of Him without any selfish motive.'

"Upon hearing these words, King VasUratha became over-whelmed with love for the Personality of Godhead Sri Keshava (Krishna). He returned to his capital city and ruled there like a second lord Indra (king of the heavenly regions), without any obstacles at all.

"Therefore, Oh King Mandhata," the venerable Vasishtha Muni concluded, "...anyone who observes this holy Amalakii EkAdasii will undoubtedly attain the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, so great is the religious merit earned from the observance of this most sacred fast day."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Phalguna-sukla Ekadasi, or Amalaki Ekadasi, from the Brahmanda Purana.

Gita Chapter 3-42 & 43

Gita Chapter 3-42 & 43

indriyani paraanyaahur, indriyebhyah param manah |

manasastu paraa buddhiryo buddheh paratastu sah || (Gita 3-42)

Evam buddheh param buddhvaa samstabhyaatmaanama atmana |

Jahi satrum mahaabaaho kaamaroopam duraasadam || (Gita 3-43)

"It is said that the senses are superior to the gross body, greater (higher, more powerful, illuminating, pervasive and subtler) than the senses is the mind; greater than the mind is the intellect, but greater than the intellect is desire. Thus, knowing that desire is beyond intellect, subduing the self by one's self, destroy this, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the tough enemy in the form of desire, which is hard to conquer."

Comment:

Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space, mind, intellect and ego - these eight constitute the Apara Prikriti (lower nature, Gita: 7-4). `Kama' resides in the inert portion of the ego, beyond the intellect. It means that the desire resides in the lower nature only and not in the Para Prakriti (Higher Nature). Due to imposition of ego on the consciousness, the Jivatma (embodied soul) believes it to be its own. As long as there is union of Jada & Chetan (inert matter & the consciousness) , until then the knowledge of Jada & Chetana as separate entities is not realized. As long as the imposition remains, there is Kama (desires). When the imposition of Jada on Chetan is removed then the Kama gets converted into love for God. With the presence of Kama, the attraction is towards the world while love takes the devotee towards God.

Iti srimad bhagavadgitasupanis atsu brahavidyayam

yogasastre sri krisnarjuna samvade Karma Yoga nama Tritiyo `ddhyayah ||

In the Upnishad of the Bhagavad Gita, the Knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme, the Science of Yoga and the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, this is the third discourse designated: `THE YOGA OF ACTION'.

From "Gita Prabodhani" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------

Chapter 3, Verse 43 is as follows;

Evam = thus

BuddheH = than the intellect

Param = more subtle / greater / superior

Buddhvaa = having known through the instrument of the Intellect

Samstabhya = having restrained / having made steady

Aatmaanam = the self

Aatmanaa = by the Self

Jahi = slay / kill / smite

Shatrum = the enemy

Mahaabaaho = O mighty armed!

Kaamarupam = in the form of desire / craving

Duraasadam = hard to conquer

English translation: -

O mighty armed (Arjuna), thus knowing Him (the Atman) as superior to the Intellect, restraining the self by the Self; kill the enemy in the form of desire, which is difficult to conquer.

Comment:

Whenever a human desire is centred on the Physical body, the Sensory organs, the Mind and the Intellect; the `Jeevaatmaa' i.e. individualized embodied self is fostered with a sense of `SukhaH' i.e. happiness. But please note that every such kind of happiness is sooner or later bound to reappear as a `DukhaH' i.e. misery. It is a packaged deal. One cannot expect only happiness or only misery. Therefore you have to accept it as a `fait accompli' i.e. something that has already happened and very unlikely to be reversed. One has to treat it as a done deal.

However, if you are not satisfied with this pre-ordained done deal, then the only alternative left to you is `Vairaagya' i.e. renunciation of both `SukhaH' and `DukhaH' i.e. convert that desire for involvement in worldly affairs and resultant sensual, emotional and intellectual pleasures coupled with material acquisitions into `Ananya Bhakti' i.e. a dedicated and unswerving devotion for the `Paramatmaa' i.e. the Supreme Being.

No wonder that the last phrase in every Sat-Sang / discourse is "Om Shree RaamaH KrishnaH ArpaNastu" i.e. in the end all this is dedicated to the Avatars of All-mighty Lord VishNu namely Lord Raama and Lord Krishna.

"No sooner is a thief detected than he takes to his heels. When you know the nature of `Maayaa', it flees from you." ………….. Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa

Whenever a base desire vanishes, the little embodied self dwindles away, the Real Self emerges and after removal of clouds of `A-Dnyaana' i.e. ignorance; human life shines with the glory of the Aatman and infinitude bliss becomes patent.

Lord Krishna's practical approach consists of two components as follows;

1. Remove the `AavaraNa' i.e. the invisible cover on the Intellect, which exists in the form of ignorance of the knowledge of the Self, the Aatman. The spiritual ignorance is the genesis of relentless desires. You will realise that in your deluded state, each Saadhaka is nothing more than a little ego that is limited, bound, finite and ever-sobbing for being trapped in the self perceived miserable and disconsolate state.

2. Reduce the `Vikalpa' i.e. mental agitations of the wavering Mind, which reduce the sharp focus of the Intellect. This is possible by restraining the embodied self by the Self.

You have to have a progressive judicious mix of rotations of these two pedals of the wheel of progress in your life. Without self control, any attempt to acquire knowledge will remain futile. On the other hand, if you force self-restraint without acquiring knowledge, you will continue to be suppressed, oppressed, repressed and depressed human being just like a ticking time bomb that will eventually explode and annihilate you.

The conventional and traditional wisdom states that knowledge is supreme and each logical conclusion brings in the highest good for the mankind. But this is limited to seeking solutions and happiness in the external environment.

The famous German philosopher Schopenhauer has said, "Materialism is the subject of philosophy for those who forget to take proper account of their inner-selves and therefore it is the philosophy of the extroverts for the extroverts." Thus, the acquisition of knowledge of the subtlest of the subtle i.e. the Brahman is possible only upon self-introspection, which in turn helps you to increase practice of self-restraint; while practice of self-restraint enhances your capacity to acquire spiritual wisdom. Please refer verses 5 to 12 in Chapter 13 as excellent representation of this fundamental concept by Lord Krishna.

In `Dnyaaneshwaree' Santa Dnyaaneshwara has given a beautiful simile as follows;

"Just as the mirage melts, when the Sun is set,

Only when they (desires) melt, the Brahman is felt,

And within your heart only Peace will dwell."

In conclusion, Lord Krishna expounds the necessity for the performance of work without any selfish attachment to results, with a view to securing the welfare of the entire world; with the realisation that agency belongs to the three modes of Prakruti. Lord Krishna's advice to Arjuna is "Control your restless Ego by the light of the Eternal Spiritual Self. One who knows that becomes truly independent and asks guidance from no other external power except his / her Inner Luminous Source of light, the Aatman."

The Ten Offenses in Chanting the Holy Names

1. To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to the propagation of the holy names of the Lord.
2. To consider the names of the demigods like lord Shiva or lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Vishnu.
3. To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.
5. To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna as imagination.
6. To give mundane interpretation of the holy name of the Lord.
7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy names of the Lord.
8. To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious, ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda) .
9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name.
10. To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also offensive to be inattentive while chanting.

Anyone who claims to be a Vaishnava must carefully guard against these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success, Krishna Prema!

Following the teachings of Gita

Following the teachings of Gita, we can explain the Gunas of a Brahmin Varna and the necessary qualifications needed to become a priest and also the lifestyle they need to follow.
With that restriction, we may need to open up the opportunity with equal rights.
However one may need to decide how many will take it and how many will accept that.
A short 6 months quick course for priests is not going to work, but a full term study will wok.
They need: i. "STUDY" the basic principles of Hindu Dharma and study of village customs;
then: ii. "STHUTHI" - learning basic prayers and recitations; Sanskrit lessons
then: iii. "SMRUTHI" the reading of Puranas, prayer manthras, Bhagavath Githa etc
then: iV: " SRUTHI" the stody of Vedas and Agamas and advanced study of Temple procedures.
If anyone is willing to go through all these for 4 to 8 years - then why not a Sudhra by birth.
When all the Brahmin Priests are sending their sons to IT, Engineering and Law college, we have very few willing to serve the Hindu Cause. When a Brahmin can do business as a Vaisya why not a Sudra do the Pooja.

Bhagavad Gita is not just for Hindus only, it is for the entire Mankind

Bhagavad Gita is not just for Hindus only, it is for the entire Mankind. Whether we believe it or not, laws of karma apply to every one. When we touch something hot or cold, our hands feel it irrespective of our faith.
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita,

" Man mana bhava mad bhakto,
Mad yaji mam namaskuru,
Mam evaisyati satyam te,
Pratijane priyo si me. "
( Gitaji, 18, 65)
Which means,
' Always think of Me, be My devotee, worship and offer your obeisances unto Me. Then you come to me certainly. I promise this to you because your are My friend. '

The way to reach His Abode, is through devotional service, with complete surrender unto His Lotus Feet.

In Gita Mahatmyam from Varaha Purana, Lord Vishnu assures the Goddess Earth, Bhudevi,
" Gita artham dhyayate nityam,
Krutva karmani bhurishah
Jivan muktassa vijnayo,
Dehante paramam padam. "
Which means,
' Who ever recites the meaning of Gitaji constantly, eventhough he or she is into karmic actions, gets liberation and reaches Me in the end. '
If we want to move beyond these karmas, there is only one way. That is devotional service.
Let us chant the Holy Names and advance spiritually.
Thank You
Hare Krishna.
Prasad.A. Iragavarapu, M.D

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The Law of Karma is universal and applies to all regardless of religion of course as does the law of Gravity which I understand is also mentioned in the Rig Veda - the ancient Rishis postulated laws which are beyond any religion and therefore they are SANATAN or eternal. The Veda or its metaphysical part is called eternal not out of some dogmatic injunction but through a robust enquiry in the Upanishads.

Jesus also tried to teach the Israelites the law of Karma through his parable, 'you reap what you sow'.
anil bhanot

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Dear sadaks,
Question 1)Is Law of Karma, applies only for Hindus or every souls on earth and the universe, immaterial of what religious path one belongs to? Ans: Law of Karma applies to each and every living thing, to all living in 13 other worlds, and to all that is seen in universe like stars, planets Etc.

Question 2) Is one doomed to be trapped in his Karma and cannot undo and find penance in this life time? Ans: Anybody can undue Karmic effect within 7 hours or 7 days like the king who heard Geetha from Sant Asta Vakra or like King Parikshid who heard Srimath Bagavath from Sant Sukhbhram', like the thief who was also crucified on the side of Christ got his Karmas washed away in minutes by faith, and so many.

Question 3) If one convert to another religion from Hindu, can he do away with all this Karmic backlash? Ans: Conversion to another religion (Religion by itself is only school of thought- Not way to liberate) is itself shows NO basic faith in religion born. Such conversion normally leads to several birth before liberation.

There is but One law.

The Law is One ... The One without the second its author

The One without the second Himself is the Law.

Himself is the self in all, remaining but One

The Self as well as the not-self in the self

The self in narinder is subject to the Immutability of the Law.

Narinder is what he is in accordance with the dictate of the Law......... ..

Far, or near. How far - or how near - .Only the Law knows ...........

The Law it is that chooses to invoke in narinderness, when it pleases the Law

The desire to die to narinderness.

And,

The time to go , one day, someday, does come !

The time to wind up arrives,time to go beyond the Law ....

Gathering all the strength of all the merits earned in a myriad lives,

nariness invokes the Law to Forgive the doings in Time.

Prays for Grace.

And with One stroke, kills the past.

No past, no future, aha !

The Present ?

The Present ? ¦..Dictate of the Law in answer to narinder's supplications !

Winding up , Time no more is .... Time dies ............

If the Law is what it is and so it is ...........Immutabl e it is, yes .....

all will be what will be.

Only the law is itself, the Doing and the Reaping

Nariness must let go all. Such is the Law.

The Law itself has placed in the proximity of nariness, beings, which it itself is.

Yet gives the Beings freedom to live the life of paradox, of their own choice and freewill.

Nariness may love, but interfere he must not. ....

Such be the Law ........ if beyond the Law, one wants to rise ...........

Single-mindedly must nari-ness walk the path of surrender..

Alone must narinder walk the Path

the path called Kaivalaya, Alone-ness

The Law itself is the strength and one pointedness that to surrender leads.

Is the Light....... .. Is the Law.

AUM