How to Always Be Absolutely Ecstatic

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.

 

Hare Krishna

 

You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!

Join ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Volunteer
    This is really true. The question then is, did the Jagad Guru, Srila Prabhupada, give us some way to actually take the elevator rather than the stairs? Is there a particular technique that is more effective than any other? How can we immediately come to the topmost platform?

    There is a way. Srila Prabhupada showed us how it was possible. It's simple and sublime and it is the best example of how the goal and the means to the goal can be the same. The best way to surrender fully to Lord Krishna and dive completely into the self-realization process to become absolutely ecstatic at all times, in all places and circumstances is to chant the Holy Name. Srila Prabhupada asked us to go out in public and chant the Holy Name every day. Before Srila Prabhupada went into samaddhi in 1977 we followed this instruction and had spectacular success. If we look around the world right now we see that the temples that do the most Nagar Sankirtana and Harinama Sankirtan are, nearly without exception, also the temples having the greatest success. Almost twenty years ago I asked His Holiness Lokanatha Maharaja where the most Harinama was going on. He was too humble to immediately say anything about the remarkable results that were developing in India due to his Padyatra program but he said that in Prague in the Czech Republic, because they went out three or four days a week for three or four hours a day, they were having nice results with a wonderful bakery business and many new devotees joining all the time. We also hear that in London because they go out three or four hours every day but Sunday, they are having nice experiences. My wife and I go out every day here in Gujarat and as a result we are seeing many unexpected and delightful miracles happening in our life together here. Every day becomes an amazing adventure. It's the goal and the means to the goal at the same time. It's a test of faith, a demonstration of faith and a way to build faith all at the same time. In a faithless world our willingness to follow this particular instruction brings all kinds of satisfaction and joy. Hare Krishna! There really is no other way.

    harer nāma harer nāma
    harer nāmaiva kevalam
    kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
    nāsty eva gatir anyathā

    [Adi 17.21]

    “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one advances perfectly in spiritual life. This is the best process for success in life. In other ages, the chanting of the holy name is equally powerful, but especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is most powerful. Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet: simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, one is liberated and returns home, back to Godhead. Therefore, even if one is able to perform other processes of devotional service, one must adopt the chanting of the holy name as the principal method of advancing in spiritual life. Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ: [SB 11.5.32] those who are very sharp in their intelligence should adopt this process of chanting the holy names of the Lord. One should not, however, manufacture different types of chanting. One should adhere seriously to the chanting of the holy name as recommended in the scriptures: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
This reply was deleted.