Bhakti Yoga Meditations

Sunday 14 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

Guru is the Revealer of the Dhama

One cannot simply purchase an airline ticket to Delhi and hire a cab to Vrindavan for entering into Sri Vrindavana Dhama because one can only enter in the Lord's holy dhama by the mercy of the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore when we want to visit the Lord's most holy Sri Vrindavana Dhama we should always beg our spiritual master for his blessings that we can truly enter into the holy dhama. Otherwise, without the mercy of Sri Guru, we will only experience the shadow of Vrindavan.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

The Holy Land of Vrindavana

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Attain Moksha?

I would like to know what are the stages/steps for attaining moksha in your Krishna consciousness society. I am very interested to know in detail since I am very, very much attracted to your ISKCON philosophy. I want theoretical explanation fully. Please kindly provide suitable reference so that I am convinced.

Manjunath,

Bangalore

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Answer: Surrender to Krishna Under Guru's Guidance

There is no such thing as the Krishna conscious society system for attaining moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, it is not that there is an ISKCON way of liberation. The way of liberation has been around long before ISKCON was formed in 1966. The beauty of ISKCON is that it is purely teaching the eternal process of liberation as described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. So try to understand the way of liberation as taught in the Bhagavad-gita. It all boils down to one basic principle: Fully surrender yourself to following the orders of Krishna under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. If you will carefully study the Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, you will get all convincing arguments and practical guidelines how to solidly situate yourself on the path of moksha or liberation. And while you are carefully reading it, kindly inquire both from me and the devotees at your local ISKCON center for getting a complete understanding of the meaning and practical application of each and every verse. Simply by your properly understanding and following the Bhagavad-gita as it is you will be solidly situated in moksha or liberation.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 13 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

I Thought I Was God Until...

I thought I was God until I realized that I am dog. In other words, in this material world each of us has the tendency to think, "I am the center of the universe. Everything revolves around me." Again and again we fail to realize that we are tiny insignificant specks in the vast creation of the Lord. It is often thought that the formula for happiness is to inflate one's pride to the greatest possible extent. But nothing could be further from the truth. The real formula for happiness is engage oneself as the humble servant of the Supreme Lord. In this way the insignificant fragmental part of parcel of the Supreme Lord becomes supremely significant in the eyes of the Supreme Lord. This is why Krishna says:

sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ
sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api

"The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart,
and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee.
My devotees do not know anything else but Me,
and I do not know anyone else but them."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Teaching Pure Bhakti in Vrindavan
10 March 2010

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Don't Godheads Challenge the Demons?

Dear Sir,

I thank you for your regular mails. I would like to know why is it those who are fully Krishna conscious people do not come into social life. Why aren't they contesting against the existing leaders who are destroying the creation?

I see most of these "godheads" living to themselves confined to their group. Why is that when someone totally surrenders and believes in Krishna they do not have the courage to challenge the demons?

I live in India and I see that most of these "godheads" are living on their own with large number of devotees pouring in donations. At some stage they are almost like big businessmen. They even get into the association with dirty politicians who are in power.

Most of these "godheads" advise us not to have ego while they have the biggest egos on the earth. As long as you trust them blindly and don't ask question they are fine. I still have many more questions with no answers, but for the moment let me stop here.

Thanks for your patience.

Kumaran

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Answer: They are Birds of the Same Feather

The "godheads" you are describing are the pseudo gurus. They are not the persons who are fully Krishna conscious. They are not at all surrendered to Krishna. The fact is that they are just the opposite. They are fully surrendered instead to the material energy. They cannot challenge the demons because they are birds of the same feather.

Those who are fully Krishna conscious absorb themselves purely in following the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and like Arjuna they fight very vehemently against the atrocities being committed every day by the so-called leaders of the world society.

The so-called "godheads" that you refer to are the greatest enemies of the human society. My spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes them as follows:

"The ignorant pseudo religionists and the manufacturers of so-called incarnations who directly violate the Vedic injunctions are liable to enter into the darkest region of the universe because they mislead those who follow them. These impersonalists generally pose themselves as incarnations of God to foolish persons who have no knowledge of Vedic wisdom. If such foolish men have any knowledge at all, it is more dangerous in their hands than ignorance itself."

A bona fide spiritual master will never present himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or tolerate his followers presenting him as such. Those who do so are committing the greatest act of terrorism upon the human society. It is only due to a lack of Krishna conscious government that they are going unpunished for their heinous crimes against humanity. The bona fide spiritual master simply presents himself as the humble servant of God and teaches his disciples how to also be humble servants of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 12 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

Beg Krishna for Pure Bhakti

Religion nowadays is accepted as a system of taking God as one's order-supplier, that I approach God to fulfill my material desires. Of course, it is God undoubtedly who is supplying us all of our material necessities. But this does not mean that we have to petition Him for this purpose. Does a child have to beg his parents every day to feed him? No, of course not. Because the parents love the child they will naturally feed him. No begging is required. What will satisfy the parents greatly is if the child will inquire from them, "How can I serve you?". So this is how we should approach our supreme father. We should simply beg Him for pure bhakti, pure devotional service. This will give Him immense pleasure. And the more we please Him, the more we will be pleased.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Teaching Pure Bhakti in Vrindavan
10 March 2010

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: If We're Not the Body, Why Does It Feel Pain?

I was asked a question by a friend that if we are not the body and if we are within the body, then why is that we feel pain when we are pricked or pinched? In that case, we react as if we are the body. I was stuck and could not give the appropriate reply.

Please guide me.

Tushar

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Answer: Pain is an Indicator, Like a Gasoline Gauge

When I am driving a car and it runs very low on gasoline, the indicator on the dash board informs me of this so that I can find a gas station as soon as possible to fill up the gas tank. In the same way the body gives pain as a signal so that I can take the necessary steps to protect it from that which is harmful to its well being. To be conscious of these indicators and to take appropriate steps does not make me my body any more than responding to a low gasoline indicator makes me my car.

Of course, when my gasoline gauge tells me I am out of gas, if I think that I am out gas, I am in illusion because my car is out of gasoline, not me. And in a similar way when my hand gets cut, if I think that I am cut, I am also in illusion because my hand is cut. It is not that I am cut.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 11 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

Diving Deep into the Eternal Identity

In this material world the conditioned soul is very much distracted from his original all-knowing, all-blissful nature as Krishna's eternal servant because he is carried away by the so-called taste of material sense gratification. This artificial taste is encouraged and exploited by the materialistic propaganda mongers who make a handsome profit by misguiding the people in general promoting cigarettes, liquor, prostitution, meat eating, etc. The foolish sense enjoyer tries to become happy by squeezing as much pleasure as possible out of these things, but because there is no factual pleasure in sense gratification, the poor soul is ultimately left in a state of frustration and bewilderment. If, however, he will reconnect with his original transcendental nature diving deep into his eternal identity as the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will taste a pleasure that is unlimitedly sublime and will go on increasing forever.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How Can We Make a Spiritual Revolution?

Hare Krishna,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sankarshan Das Adhikari. Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances. I pray you are in good health.

With the number of natural disasters happening, it reminds me more and more of how much Sri Krishna is in charge. Further, it amplifies your plea to dedicate our lives fully in spreading this mission.

However, it seems mankind is mapping out solidly its own destruction. I strongly resent engineers digging up the earth, because they are interfering with Krishna's creation. This digging up of the earth for gold, diamonds, oil, platinum, aluminum, steel etc, is creating imbalances and therefore, I can imagine, the severe earthquakes. Also the testing of bombs in the ocean, is all harming to Krishna's creation. However, these big engineers and scientists will not stop, and it is more nauseating to think that they get the biggest salaries for causing this harm. Please advise what does our scripture say about this.

What can we do to make a complete revolution in the midst of a world that is being destroyed?

We are in a whirlpool which is drowning the majority of persons and they do not realize it. Worst of all is that the destruction of many is left in the hands of a few blinded leaders.

Please advise alternative methods of sustenance as the economic system now is money and there is very little that we can do without money these days, unfortunately. But, this money in one way or another, is so karmic, because it is linked to the earth's destruction. The engineer is destroying the earth. The accountant is reporting figures on how nicely the earth is being destroyed. Other management is managing nicely the destruction of this planet, Sri Krishna's energy. And they have no understanding of what they are doing because all they can see is the dollars flashing in front of their eyes. So even myself to maintain my family and getting so much of karma.

Looking forward to your ever insightful scriptural thoughts.

Hare Krishna

Veren

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Answer: Become Krishna Conscious and Spread It

Krishna has very nicely described 5,000 years ago the sort of leaders that the earth is plagued by at the present moment:

etam drstim avastabhya
nastatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra-karmanah
ksayaya jagato 'hitah

"Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world."
--Bhagavad-gita 16.9

I appreciate very much the depth of your compassion and your vision. If we had more people like you on this planet, we could inspire the people to demand Krishna conscious leaders instead of the present slate of dogs, hogs, and asses who are barking, grunting, and heehawing their way into office. Therefore I am requesting that you kindly as far as possible dedicate your life, money, intelligence, and words to assist us in making a spiritual revolution on this planet. The revolution begins when we transform ourselves into pure devotees of Krishna by engaging all of our thoughts, words, and deeds in all times, places, and circumstances in His loving service. In this way, if we set an ideal example ourselves and then boldly proclaim the teachings of Krishna to everyone that we meet, we can successfully revolutionize this planet one person at a time.

The earth has enough bounty to provide everyone with a comfortable, happy, and prosperous existence. Simply we have to put God back in the center of our lives and demand leaders who do the same.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 10 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

When Turmoil Hits

What to do when turmoil hits? Even though we do not like turmoil, as long as we are in this material existence by the laws of this material nature we will be hit by turmoil again and again. How we deal with turmoil will either make us or break us on the pathway of spiritual enlightenment. Therefore it behooves us to learn how to deal with turmoil in the proper Krishna conscious manner.

The first thing to remember is that everything is going on under the superintendence of Krishna. This means that we have absolutely nothing to fear except forgetfulness of Krishna and that if even in the midst of the greatest turmoil we can always remember Krishna we will never be defeated in any circumstance. This is guaranteed as follows in the Bhagavad-gita:

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama

"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion."
--Bhagavad-gita 18.78

Of course, in the short run victory may not always be apparent, just like it is sometimes said that one may lose a battle but win the war. So we always have to keep a long range vision of what is ultimately beneficial for our deliverance from this material existence, not for our enjoyment of this temporary place. By keeping this long range vision we will always be able to perceive the loving mercy of Lord Sri Krishna blessing us at every step, and thus we can always remain peaceful and happy even in the midst of the greatest turmoil.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Free Will and Karma

How to make out what is karma and what is free will? When some sudden good or bad happens people say that it is because of karma and that Krishna is the cause of each and every thing in a person's life. You say that there is free will and that we have to use it wisely to know Krishna. So where then does this free will exist? How to differentiate and know whether something is caused by free will or karma?

Sasi

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Answer: Use Free Will to Free Yourself from Karma

Everything we do in this material existence is being conducted by the law of karma. But still we are responsible for what we do under karma's influence because when we chose to give up the service of Krishna we voluntarily placed ourselves under the influence of karma. It is something like when a person joins a terrorist network. Even though all of his actions are dictated to him by higher authorities within the terrorist organization, he is still held responsible for all of his criminal actions because it was by his own free will that he joined the terrorist organization. The good news is that there is a way out of this karma cakra or wheel of karma. Just as by misuse of our free will we are being helplessly tossed in the waves of karmic reaction, by the proper utilization of our free will we can be immediately delivered from the clutches of karma. All we have to do is take the power of free will, which is fully in our grip at this very instant, and utilize it to surrender ourselves unto Lord Sri Krishna, the very source of our existence. This act of surrender is not at all unnatural. It is simply a matter of reconnecting ourselves with our actual eternal, all blissful, all knowing natures.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 9 March 2010

from Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India
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Today's Thought:

Lesson on the Dualities

8 March 2010--Today we landed in Delhi, India. Krishna blessed us immediately with a wonderful lesson in the dualities of material existence. First He gave us the pleasantry of breezing through customs within a scant five minutes. This is quite good because it can easily take from 30 minutes to an hour depending on where you are in the queue. One naturally feels happy when things are going nicely like this.

But when we got to luggage claim, fate did a complete flip flop on us. We had to wait until everybody else had claimed their luggage for ours to arrive. And then it still did not arrive. It was lost, and even after the lost luggage help desk ran a tracer on it, it still could not be found. So we had to depart for Vrindavan in clothes we had worn non-stop for two days and two nights without any information of where in the world our luggage could be and without any change of clothes also.

In this regard Lord Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita:

na prahṛṣyet priyaṁ prāpya
nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam
sthira-buddhir asammūḍho
brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ

"A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant
nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant,
who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered,
and who knows the science of God,
is already situated in transcendence."
--Bhagavad-gita 5.20

This lesson in the dualities was Krishna's special kindness upon us to help us approach His holy dhama in a mood of renunciation, for in spite of all our misconceptions to the contrary, there is only one possession that we can truly and permanently lay claim to, Lord Sri Krishna's lotus feet.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Perceive Radha Krishna Lila?

How can we perceive Radha and Krishna's eternal, ever-fresh pastimes?

Roma Vohra

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Answer: Anoint Your Eyes with Love

The simple formula for always seeing Sri Sri Radha and Krishna's eternal, ever-fresh pastimes is given by Lord Brahma as follows:

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

"I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee
whose eyes are anointed with the ointment of love.
He is seen in His eternal form of Syamasundara,
situated within the heart of the devotee."
--Brahma-samhita 5.38

There are no re-runs in Krishna's pastimes. Every single pastime is new, unique, and simply wonderful.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 8 March 2010

from Brussels Airport, Belgium
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Today's Thought: Back to Vrindavana Dhama

Today we will be returning to Sri Vrindavan Dhama, the Lord's transcendental abode. This is Krishna's extreme kindness upon us that He makes Himself so easily accessible in Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Srila Prabhupada has wonderfully described Sri Vrindavana Dhama in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila, Text 104 as follows:

"When we consider impartially all the unlimited pastimes of the Lord, we find that His pastimes as a human being on this planet -- wherein He sports as a cowherd boy with a flute in His hands and appears youthful and fresh like a ballet dancer -- are pastimes and features that are never subjected to material laws and inebrieties. The wonderful beauty of Krishna is presented in the supreme planet, Gokula (Goloka Vrindavana). Inferior to that is His representation in the spiritual sky, and inferior to that is His representation in the external energy (Devi-dhama). A mere drop of Krishna's sweetness can drown these three worlds -- Goloka Vrindavana, Hari-dhama (Vaikunthaloka) and Devi-dhama (the material world). Everywhere, Krishna's beauty merges everyone in the ecstasy of transcendental bliss. Actually the activities of yogamaya are absent in the spiritual sky and the Vaikuntha planets. She simply works in the supreme planet, Goloka Vrindavana, and she works to manifest the activities of Krishna when He descends to the material universe to please His innumerable devotees within the material world. Thus a replica of the Goloka Vrindavana planet and the pastimes there is manifested on this planet on a specific tract of land -- Bhauma Vrindavana, the Vrindavana-dhama on this planet."

The first thing I will do upon arriving in that most holy abode will be to place myself flat on the ground like a stick in humble obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna and to this most sacred of all places in the universe.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Since Krishna is Overall, Why Compare Him Others?

Dear Guru Maharaja,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to Srila Guru Maharaja.

Sri Krishna is a Bhagavan, Adi Purusha and above all. This we understand and know by the scriptures and by the authorized representatives.

When we say, "Supreme Personality Of Godhead" we are comparing Krishna with something/somebody. Since Lord Krishna is overall, why we are comparing Him with others?

Tushar Raval

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Answer: Krishna is Both Overall and Over All

"Supreme Personality of Godhead" is the English translation of the Sanskrit word "Bhagavan." It means who possesses all opulences in full, more than anyone else. Therefore to compare Krishna with all else is not incorrect. In this regard Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita:

mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva

"O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me.
Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread."
--Bhagavad-gita 7.7

Krishna is not only "overall", or the sum total of everything. He is also "over all" or superior to everyone and everything else. This is the mysterious nature of God. He is simultaneously everything or overall and at the same time over all or beyond everything as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 7 March 2010

from Chicago O'Hare Airport, USA
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Today's Thought:

See God Face to Face & Save the Planet from Disgrace

I never cease to be amazed by this transcendental science of Krishna consciousness, which enables one to directly experience God at every moment. I am flying now from Austin to Chicago. It's 10:15 am on the 6th of March 2010. I have at least a good hour of quality writing time ahead of me before we land. When I booted up my computer a few minutes ago I was blessed on my desktop screen with the sublime darshan of Sri Sri Radha Govinda as you see them pictured above. They have been my all merciful companions ever since I first discovered them at a store in downtown Denver in 1968. After landing and changing planes in Chicago it will be onwards to Sri Vrindavan Dhama in India after another change of planes in Europe. I can't think of any life more sublime and enlivening than this. Although all around me I see a world that is unnecessarily drowning in an ocean of misery, I am blessed with the desire and the means to change it, hoping to succeed in doing so before inevitable death removes me from the scene. This is the order my Godbrothers and I received from our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that we must deliver the world. Now it is up to Krishna whether we will be successful or not. All we can do is pray for His mercy and try our level best. To watch the events of my life in Krishna's service unfold is the sweetest nectar. I savor like anything this attempt to see God face to face and to save this planet from disgrace.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Choose a Guru?

How to overcome sleep and laziness? And how can we choose a guru?

D.S.
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Answer: See Who is Saving You

Sleep and laziness are overcome by love. When you truly love someone you will be inspired to serve them 24 hours a day and will sleep as little as possible finding sleep, although necessary, to be a botheration. That ultimate someone to love is Krishna because He will always perfectly reciprocate your love with His love like nobody else can.

Guru means that person sent to you by Krishna who is saving you from the cycle of birth and death. So there is no question of choosing a guru. You simply have to see who is that person who is saving you and fully surrender to him accepting his order as your very life and soul.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 6 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

On the Blissful Road Again

This morning we are heading out on our Spring 2010 around-the-world lecture tour. It is always an ecstatic feeling to be heading out for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world because this Krishna consciousness movement is the prime necessity of the suffering humanity. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss and enables everyone to experience the taste for which they have been hankering for millions of lifetimes. Since the more you give bliss, the more you get bliss, there is truly nothing more enlivening, uplifting, and joyful than pushing forward the tidal wave of Krishna bhakti all over the world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to be Protected from Maya?

How can we protect ourselves from Maya devi's influence?

Thank you,

Vishal

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Answer: Full Surrender to Guru and Krishna

The way to be protected from the Lord's illusory energy, known as Maya devi, is to become fully sold out to guru and Krishna. Maya devi is Krishna's pure devotee, and her job is to test your sincerity for serving Krishna. Once she sees your complete dedication to guru and Krishna she will cease to bother you.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 5 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Prepare Yourself for Death

If we advise the people in general to prepare themselves for death, they will complain to us that we are being too negative and morbid. They would prefer to live in the illusion that death will never come so that they can go on blissfully gratifying their senses. This is like a rabbit who when being chased by a predator simply sits still and closes his eyes thinking that in this way the problem of the attacking predator will go away. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. It is better that he is fully aware of the whereabouts of that predator so that he can take sufficient steps to protect himself. And so it is better that we are always aware that death can come at any moment. In this way we can be fully prepared and instead of squeezing out some cheap thrills of temporary sense gratification, we can relish the unlimited bliss of Krishna conscious at every minute undaunted by any and all material circumstances. So Krishna consciousness is not morbid or pessimistic at all. It the most realistic, positive, and optimistic of all philosophies. Indeed as confirmed by Lord Sri Krishna Himself, it is the king of knowledge.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: The Definition of Free Will

Hare Krishna!

Thanks for giving details regarding karma. I would be interested to know how free will is defined. If one knows that, it will be easier to refrain from sense gratification. The Supersoul or Paramatma is living in every creature and is a witness of all activities. I am of the opinion that Paramatma instructs every individual to do duties and shows the way. Can I say that when my heart says not to do something I should just refrain from doing it, otherwise this will lead to karma? So it is a must to know how free will is defined? Eating is a sharira or bodily dharma or duty. Working is also a dharma. I am not clear as to how far God has given freedom, as we are all conditioned souls.

Ramanujam

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Answer: Ability to Choose Between Alternative Possibilities

Free will means the ability to choose between alternative possibilities. God has given us the ability to choose between a life of devotion or a life of sense gratification. While I may have my opinion and you may have your opinion, this is not the way of knowledge. Rather it is through scripture and self-realized souls that we understand things as they are. Lord Sri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that He provides both remembrance and forgetfulness to the living entity. Srila Prabhupada has explained in this regard that if the living entity desires sense gratification, the Supersoul guides him to how get it, and that if he wants liberation from this material existence, the Supersoul will bring him in contact with a bona fide spiritual master. So the type of direction we get from the Supersoul within is according to how we use our free will. We can be guided how to rob a bank, or we can be guided how to find a bona spiritual master.

Eating and working are material duties related with the body, and they entangle us more in karma cakra. But when we transcendentalize these duties by only eating Krishna prasadam, vegetarian foods offered to Lord Krishna with love and devotion, and by offering the results of our work in the Lord's service, these duties become spiritual activities, which liberate us from material existence. It is up to our free will whether we try to enjoy the results of our activities or offer these results for Krishna's enjoyment. How free will is utilized by us will determine whether we remain in this material existence or return to the spiritual world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 4 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

How to Attain the Ultimate Samadhi

Being always ecstatic in Krishna consciousness boils down to one simple principle: Always remember and never forget Krishna. Of course, due to material conditioning this is easier said than done. But if we diligently endeavor to always follow this principle and sincerely beg for Lord Krishna's help, we will find that it becomes amazingly easy. When we attain this stage of 24 hours ecstatic trance of Krishna consciousness, known as samadhi, we will feel that we have gained something more valuable than anything else than can be obtained in all of existence. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Sri Krishna describes this perfectional stage as follows:

"In the stage of perfection called trance, or samadhi, one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact."
--Bhagavad-gita 6.20-23

So now this should be the sole purpose of our existence, to be fully absorbed in in the ultimate samadhi, Krishna consciousness, 24 hours a day.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: What is the Origin of Karma?

What is the origin of karma? What kind of actions lead to bad karma? The reason behind asking this question is that there are huge a number of people including myself who don't know the origin of karma. If the origin of karma is clear, one can refrain from the various activities which lead to bad karma. Can you give me scriptural references regarding the origin of karma, the cause of suffering?

Ramanujam

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Answer: Misuse of Our Free Will

Our entanglement in karma cakra, the wheel of action and reaction, is due to misuse of our independence. This is described as follows in the Prema-vivarta:

kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha haiyā bhoga-vāñchā kare
nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare

"As soon as one becomes inimical to Krishna and desires sense gratification
he is immediately struck down by the illusory energy of the Lord."

And also in this regard Krishna mentions in the Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 7, Text 27:

icchā-dveṣa-samutthena
dvandva-mohena bhārata
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ
sarge yānti parantapa

"O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe,
all living entities are born into delusion,
bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate."

So we were originally situated as Krishna's devotees in the spiritual sky. We were not prisoners of His abode. Rather we were endowed with free will and were thus enabled to serve Krishna out of love, rather than out of force. However, free will means there is a potential for its misuse. And when that free will is misused we become envious of Krishna and hate Him for being the Supreme Enjoyer. It is due to this hate that we begin our entanglement in karma cakra. It is only when we revive our long lost love of Krishna by the mercy of Krishna's pure devotee that we can be delivered from our entrapment in karma and regain our original position of eternal bliss and knowledge in the spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 3 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Dancing in the Rain of Mercy

If one is actually awakened in love of God, he will naturally be joyful 24 hours daily. Indeed his existence will be an ecstatic celebration, which even death cannot disturb. Even though a devotee certainly regrets his previous sinful activities, this regret does not plunge him into moroseness. Rather he utilizes his memories of previous sinful activities to protect himself from ever making the mistake of engaging in such nonsense again, and within his heart he is always dancing in ecstasy in the rain of Lord Sri Krishna's causeless, inconceivable mercy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Plea: The Temples Need Your Help!

Gurudeva:

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Yesterday I visited the Atlanta ISKCON Temple. I have also visited a few other ISKCON temples in India earlier and many other Krishna temples around the world. They all need great improvement.

For the welfare of many devotees around the world, if you can cut your travel expenses and spend some of these travel expenses on many of these temples, they will have better facility. Thus many devotees now and many more years to come will understand the importance of teaching Krishna consciousness like the way you do. And the heritage of these temples will be saved.

In this internet era, it's possible for each of your student and devotees to get connected to you personally as well mass chanting and preaching based on the each devotee's desire.

This is my thought and just sharing with you. If wrong, please apologies.

Your servant
Kumar

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Answer: Help by Doing Your Duty

I agree with you that the temples need help and I thank you very much for your concern. The help that the temples have requested of me as a spiritual master is that I should come there as often as possible and as long as possible for inspiring the local devotees to advance in their Krishna consciousness and in their participation in the local temple's activities. So, my duty is traveling and preaching. And the help that is requested of you as a local devotee is to support your local temple as much as possible with your time, money, intelligence, and words. This is your duty.

Krishna states that we should do our own duty even if imperfectly performed rather than accepting someone else's duty even if perfectly performed. Therefore it is better that I stick to my duty and that you should stick to your duty.

Of course, this is not simply a matter of philosophy. It is practical also. If by going to a temple and preaching I can inspire many local devotees to increase their support of the temple, this will be far more beneficial than my not going there and simply sending some emails. And besides that, many of the persons who hear my lectures and become inspired to increase their support of the temple are not enrolled in my e-course. So all things considered it is better that I continue traveling and preaching as I am doing because this is the way that I can give the best service to the temples.

Thank you very much for your concern. The world needs more people like you who want that Krishna's temple should be in first class condition. So kindly apply your energy now to make your local temple a grand success. In this way you will set the ideal example for devotees all over the world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 2 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

World Revolution in Our Bead Bags

One who becomes perfect in chanting the holy names of the Lord will attract the entire world to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. This is confirmed by Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 7, Verse 83 as follows:

"A sincere student aurally receives the holy name from the spiritual master, and after being initiated he follows the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. When the holy name is properly served in this way, automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads; in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name. When one is completely fit to chant the holy name in this way, he is eligible to make disciples all over the world, and he actually becomes jagad-guru. Then the entire world, under his influence, begins to chant the holy names of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra."

What a wonderful inspiration for us to perfect our chanting! Who wouldn't want to be able to save the world from its present chaotic condition? This means that we have the makings of a world-wide spiritual revolution right here in our bead bags. All we have to do now is perfect our chanting. This should be our life's goal.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: What About the Extinct Species?

Hare Krishna,

In the Puranas, it is said that there are 8,400,000 species. I would like to know whether anything has been said in Srimad Bhagavatam about the extinction of some species. We know very well that a few species are not existing now.

Ramanujam

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Answer: No Species is Extinct

Just because we do not see certain species does not mean that they are extinct. Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, has stated, "Nothing is extinct." This means that somewhere within the universe each of the 8,400,000 species is continuing without interruption. We have been transmigrating through these 8,400,000 species again and again since time immemorial. So now we should take this human form of life most seriously and dedicate it fully for going back to home, back to Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 1 March 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Sharing the Sweetest of All Nectars

Now we are getting ready to head out in a few days on another around-the-world lecture tour. With life here at Bhaktivedanta Ashram so sweet, peaceful, and sublime sometimes I wonder why we should venture out of here and put ourselves through so many hectic situations. After all via the internet I can stay in contact with my students worldwide whether we remain here or whether we travel. So why bother traveling?

But there is no doubt a very special sweetness tasted by actually being at a particular location, giving a lecture there, answering questions, and meeting personally with my students. I taste that sweetness and my students also express their desire that I should come to their country. So regarding this traveling all over the world, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and we are off again in a few days to relish the sweetest nectar of sharing this sweetest of all nectars all over the world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: All Souls Ultimately Go Back to Krishna?

Gurudeva:

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I look forward to reading your daily thoughts on the Krishna conscious philosophy. You are indeed doing a wonderful service using the internet in such an ingenious way.

I am much attracted to Krishna consciousness since it is such a positive philosophy, as opposed to the the hell, fire and damnation approach of Christian fundamentalism. By that I mean you either live a good life and go to heaven or live a bad life and suffer eternal damnation in hell. Doesn't seem like a very merciful or forgiving God at all.

The concept of eternal existence of all beings is truly mind boggling. To think that we have always existed and will continue to exist forever is incredible.

That Lord Krishna is an all powerful, all knowing God and that He created us to exchange loving exchanges with Him is also amazing.

But I have one question. I think I heard once that ultimately all beings go back to Lord Krishna in the spiritual world, although it may take some millions and billions of lifetimes to "burn off" their karma to do so. Is this correct?

I look forward to your answer.

Sincerely,

Chris Herrick

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Answer: Everyone is Destined to Reach the Supreme Lord.

You are right. A God who only gives you one chance to succeed and if you fail sends you to hell forever is not merciful. Such a "God" could not be the supreme God, but would instead be a conditioned soul of this world.

It is a fact that all souls do ultimately go back to Krishna. This is confirmed by Srila Prabhupada in his book, The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, in chapter 4 where he states:

"Every living entity is destined to reach the Supreme Lord."

This is another example of how the Krishna conscious understanding of reality is so first class. It really makes the best sense.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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