How to know our Best effort level?

Hare Krishna dear devoteesЁЯЩП, please accept my humble obeisences.ЁЯЩЗЁЯП╝тАНтЩВя╕П

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, Gauranga and his followers.

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I was listening to a clip of Param Pujya Radhanath Maharaj's lecture and Maharaj said that we should try our best to please Krishna. Now my question is how can I know my best? because in my case i don't know what is my level of effort which is best??

I often go to the extreme in my efforts, fast, etc., but even then if I go to the extreme, either (1) I feel like I haven't and don't touch my level of best effort or ( 2) Yes, now I have done something for Krsna (if I have done some extreme sadhana or activity) but, later I have to face many problems. have to face.

Let me explain you with a case -

Earlier I used to observe Nirjala fast on every Ekadashi and my condition used to get very bad, I used to feel like faint, my strength used to run out and exhausted but still I used to observe Nirjala fast for the whole day and every subsequent Ekadashi too, but On one Ekadashi I could not bear my thirst and I drank water. And later a devotee told me not to do so, so I started the Ekadashi fast on water or fruits.

So here, when I used to fast (nirjala) on Ekadashi, I kept myself in my room for almost the whole day, chanting 25 to 30 rounds, listening to lectures etc and the next day I used to feel, "Yes now I have have done something for Krishna." But my health also use to get bad.

So here I came to know that Nirjala is my extreme and fasting on water is my best level but in other things like sadhna, in deity warship, in understanding scriptures. Chanting etc. how to know my best level in these?

Please note- I do not have any physical association of devotees as there are no ISKCON temples near my city, the nearest one is 125 to 130 km away from my home.

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In Hindi

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Hare Krishna Dear DevoteesЁЯЩП, Please Accept my Humble obeisances.ЁЯЩЗЁЯП╝тАНтЩВя╕П

All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Gauranga and their followers.


рдореИрдВ рдкрд░рдо рдкреВрдЬреНрдп рд░рд╛рдзрд╛рдирд╛рде рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬ рдХреЗ Lecture рдХреА рдПрдХ clip рд╕реБрди рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛ рдФрд░ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬ рдиреЗ рдХрд╣рд╛ рдХрд┐ рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдХреГрд╖реНрдг рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░рд╕рдиреНрди рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рд╢реНрд░реЗрд╖реНрда рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдПред рдореЗрд░рд╛ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд▓ рдпрд╣ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рдореИрдВ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рд╢реНрд░реЗрд╖реНрда рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕ рдХреИрд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рди рд╕рдХрддрд╛ рд╣реВрдВ? рдХреНрдпреЛрдВрдХрд┐ рдореЗрд░реЗ рдорд╛рдорд▓реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдкрддрд╛ рдХрд┐ рдореЗрд░реЗ рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕ рдХрд╛ рд╕реНрддрд░ рдХреНрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬреЛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рд╢реНрд░реЗрд╖реНрда рд╣реИ ??

рдореИрдВ рдЕрдХреНрд╕рд░ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕, рдЙрдкрд╡рд╛рд╕ рдЖрджрд┐ рдореЗрдВ рдЪрд░рдо рдкрд░ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдВ, рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдлрд┐рд░ рднреА рдЕрдЧрд░ рдореИрдВ рдЪрд░рдо рдкрд░ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рднреА рд╣реВрдВ, рддреЛ рднреА рдпрд╛ рддреЛ (1) рдореБрдЭреЗ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдмреЗрд╣рддрд░ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╕рд░реНрд╡реЛрддреНрддрдо рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕ рдХреЗ рд╕реНрддрд░ рдХреЛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдЫреБрдЖ рд╣реВрдВ рдпрд╛ (2) рд╣рд╛рдВ, рдЕрдм рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдХреБрдЫ рдХреГрд╖реНрдг рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХреБрдЫ рдХрд░ рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИ (рдпрджрд┐ рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдХреБрдЫ рдЕрддреНрдпрдзрд┐рдХ рд╕рд╛рдзрдирд╛ рдпрд╛ seva рдХреА рд╣реИ, рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди, рдмрд╛рдж рдореЗрдВ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдХрдИ рд╕рдорд╕реНрдпрд╛рдУрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╛рдордирд╛ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдкрдбрд╝рддрд╛ рд╣реИред

рдореИрдВ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдПрдХ case рд╕реЗ рд╕рдордЭрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ -

рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдореИрдВ рд╣рд░ рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рдХреЛ рдирд┐рд░реНрдЬрд▓рд╛ рдХрд╛ рд╡реНрд░рдд рд░рдЦрддрд╛ рдерд╛ рдФрд░ рдореЗрд░рд╛ рд╣рд╛рд▓рдд рдмрд╣реБрдд рдЦрд░рд╛рдм рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рдерд╛, рдмреЗрд╣реЛрд╢ рдЬреИрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧрддрд╛ рдерд╛, рдореЗрд░реА рддрд╛рдХрдд рдЦрддреНрдо рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддреА рдереА рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдлрд┐рд░ рднреА рдореИрдВ рдкреВрд░реЗ рджрд┐рди рдирд┐рд░реНрдЬрд▓рд╛ рдХрд╛ рд╡реНрд░рдд рд░рдЦрддрд╛ рдерд╛ рдФрд░ рд╣рд░ рдЖрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рдХреЛ рднреА, рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдПрдХ рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рдХреЛ рдореИрдВ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдкреНрдпрд╛рд╕ рдмрд░реНрджрд╛рд╢реНрдд рдирд╣реАрдВ рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрд╛ рдФрд░ рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдкреА рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ред рдФрд░ рдмрд╛рдж рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рднрдХреНрдд рдиреЗ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдРрд╕рд╛ рди рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд╣рд╛ (рдирд┐рд░реНрдЬрд▓рд╛ рд╡реНрд░рдд рдордд рд░рдЦреЛ), рдЗрд╕рд▓рд┐рдП рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдпрд╛ рдлрд▓реЛрдВ рдкрд░ рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рдХрд╛ рд╡реНрд░рдд рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ред

рддреЛ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ, рдЬрдм рдореИрдВ рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рдХрд╛ рд╡реНрд░рдд (рдирд┐рд░реНрдЬрд▓рд╛) рд░рдЦрддрд╛ рдерд╛, рдореИрдВ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдкреВрд░реЗ рджрд┐рди рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдХрдорд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЦреБрдж рдХреЛ рд░рдЦрддрд╛ рдерд╛, 25 to 30 рдорд╛рд▓рд╛ рдЬрдк рдХрд░рддрд╛ рдерд╛, Lectures рд╕реБрдирддрд╛ рдерд╛ рдЖрджрд┐ рдФрд░ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рджрд┐рди рдореБрдЭреЗ рд▓рдЧрддрд╛ рдерд╛, "рд╣рд╛рдБ рдЕрдм рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдХреГрд╖реНрдгрд╛ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХреБрдЫ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИред" рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдореЗрд░рд╛ рд╣рд╛рд▓рдд рднреА рдмрд╣реБрдд рдЦрд░рд╛рдм рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рдерд╛ (рдПрдХрд╛рджрд╢реА рд░рдЦрддреЗ рд╡рдХреНрдд рдФрд░ рдкрд╛рд░рди рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рднреА )ред

рддреЛ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рддреЛ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдкрддрд╛ рдЪрд▓ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдХреА рдирд┐рд░реНрдЬрд▓рд╛ рдореЗрд░рд╛ extreme рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЬрд▓ рдкрд░ рд╡реНрд░рдд рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдореЗрд░рд╛ рдмреЗрд╕реНрдЯ рд▓реЗрд╡рд▓ рд╣реИ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдмрд╛рдХреА рдХреЗ рдЪреАреЫреЛ рдореЗрдВ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рд╕рд╛рдзрдирд╛, deity worship рдореЗрдВ, Scriptures рдХреЛ рд╕рдордЭрдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрджрд┐ рдЗрд╕рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рдмреЗрд╕реНрдЯ рд▓реЗрд╡рд▓ рдХреИрд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ??

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Please Note -

Please note- I do not have any physical association of devotees as there are no ISKCON temples near my city, the nearest one is 125 to 130 km away from my home.

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Replies

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    Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,

    It is so nice to see such good devotees who are willing to go to extremes also trying to please Lord.┬а

    I wish Krishna replies for this one. Because krishna is the judge He alone knows how much bhakti is just sufficient to please Him. How can we gauge Bhakti and prem?

    Is there any limit for bhakti and prem?

    One story:-

    One time this Narad Muni ji started to feel pride that I am greatest devotee of Lord. I utter Lord's name 24/7 but┬а I don't know whether Lord acknowledges this fact or not.┬а I must confirm and went to vaikunta loka and┬а asked.. Lord Sri hari pls. tell me who is the greatest devotee of yours. Expecting that Lord would chose him he started to feel pride about it.┬а Lord understood already that Narada has got some pride in his devotion .. Okay Lord said.. do you see the farmer there working in the fields there? said Lord. he is my greatest devotee"┬а

    But Lord... He is just a farmer. Lord said why don't we visit his house. They visited the farmer's house disguised as brahminas. The farmer was just tying his cow there to a front pole it was evening and his wife was making food and calling from inside to come and have food. children are hungry. Just than two brahminas came in. Farmer asked where from you are coming. Pls.take a seat. you seem tired do you want something to eat.┬а Yes, we are travellers and are totally tired said Lord in the disguise of brahmina. The Lord asked yes we need to take some rest tonight at ur place. If you can provide some food for us both as we are very very hungry said Lord.┬а Than the Farmer said Hey govinda, gopala pls. come in accept my home as your own house and take shelter I will see that you are fed sumptously and went in and said to his wife to prepare food for the guests. Wife have used up all the rice to make food for the family and there was nothing left in the basket to make. containers where empty. She said okay take my portion of food and give them. I can adjust for today. farmer happily went and offered that part of food. But Lord said I am still hungry.. Now the farmer said, okay wife let me give away my portion of food also. But still Lord said I want more.. now the children's plates were also being taken to be offered to the guests..

    Children said.. father. but we are both very hunger. spare us those meals. Farmer said no no my child guests swayam Narayana Himself. We shouldn't displease them. Its okay ask ur mother to give you the starch of the rice which she collected for the cow . And you both have it. Just then Lord said I am still not satisfied can you get something more something to drink??

    Okay prabhu as you say let me get you some starch kanji which is left out and he offered that too and made arrangement for the guests to sleep. he and his children and wife had nothing to eat that night and in the morning. Lord was woken up by the sweet singing of the farmer ...Sriman narayana narayana hari hari .. bhajman narayana narayana hari hari.. now.. the Lord looked at Narada and said that is why i said he is my greatest devotee. yesterday night he and his family were totally deprived of all food but still the farmer is praising ME. He indeed is my best devotee Narada, said Lord.

    Narad said.. Oh Lord how many times I have done ekadashi and I didn't eat for you sake? don't you see. I also suffered hunger pangs for your sake prabhu said Narada. Sri Hari smiled and said Narada , wait and you will see why I said so. Now Narad goes to the farmer. and asked how many times you take the name of Lord everyday?

    Farmer said Prabhu, I am hardworking farmer if I dont work I cannot feed my family I have to work but whenever I got time. I chant and usually when I go to work I chant before I go to work, then after coming from home before retiring to bed I chant the name of Lord, sometimes while working also. But why do you ask said the farmer. Narada smiles and goes back to Lord and reports and says.. See Lord you are simply making him a great devotee. But he only chants 3-4 times at max. and I chant 24/7 365 days. But you still don't acknowledge my bhakti said Narada.

    Narada said Lord and smiles okay okay,┬а I want to give you a task now. Do one thing for me. Oh sure why not Lord. Pls. order said Narada. Okay take this thaali ( flat plate ) and pour oil upto the brim and walk around the 3 worlds and come back to me in Vaikunta without dropping one drop of liquid also. That is the condition.

    Narad said sure sure I am on ur task and takes the plate and pour oil to the brim and walks around the 3 worlds cautiously without dropping a drop of oil.. continously focussing on the plate and cautiously moving slowly reached the Vaikunta and said Lord finally I am back I did as per your instructions and see I won. I don't drop even one drop out also. Now atleast say Lord that I am your greatest devotee.

    Now the Lord smiles and said Narada.. I am pleased with your devotion but still my greatest devotee is that farmer. Narad now got a bit jealousy and asked how? he chants only few times. Lord said.. okay how many times did you chant while you were performing the task which I gave you just now. Narad now was in a fix. Said Lord I was cautiously watching the plate so that I wont drop the liquid and forgot to chant !!! said Narad muni.

    Oh Narad muni that is what I wanted to tell you. The farmer who worked whole day toiled in the sun atleast chanted 3-4 times my name with Love. But you were given a task and you couldn't even remember my name one time also? That proves that the Farmer is my greatest devotee.

    Narad fell at Lord's feet accepted that he was taken back by pride and accepted that Oh Lord I understand that those who take your name even when they are facing toughest challenges in life with love are your greatest devotees. I on the other hand have no family to feed, no tension and I am brahmachari and my chanting 24/7 isn't that just enough or great.

    Hmm... Lord spoke-- Narada pls. get up. I just wanted to show you that you were under the influence of-- pride that you are doing something great for MY sake but I always acknowledge your devotion. I just showed you that Love for ME overrides all regulations and all rituals. I am under the control of MY humblest devotee.┬а Yes, Prabhu it is my mistake that I felt I did more chanting than anybody. This pride was checked by you. Thank You My Lord.┬а

    Pls. note that the simple test that you have Pleased ME is when you lose┬а this pride and become humble more and more.

    There is nothing called greatest devotee. All who are devoted to ME are dear to ME. There is no greatest or less great. You cannot achieve ME with Pride.┬а

    There is no limit for love and bhakti. Keep doing and forgeting. The records are kept by Lord. We shouldn't keep the record of the love or bhakti shown.

    It is just like a mother tells. >. I spend 5 lakh rupess for raising you now you should love me back and show your gratitude son. Mother's love is selfless. She never counts how much love she showered. so also a Bhakta should never see hissab kitaab of the time spent on chanting or devotional activity or something else done for the pleasure of Lord. You must do it selflessly!!!!┬а

    Love is selfless. The moment selfishness comes into the picture it is no longer called love it is called business. give and take.┬а " I " do this " I' did that for the sake of Lord.. This "i" is the big culprit. Whatever you are albe to do is only because LORD is merciful and letting you do it.┬а If Lord doesn't allow you cannot even take Lord's name one time also.

    So be grateful to Lord thank Him for it.

    Hare Krishna.

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    • Thank u so much Mata ji for answeringЁЯЩПЁЯЩП, You always give broad and detailed answer for clearing many devotees queries.ЁЯЩПЁЯЩЗЁЯП╝тАНтЩВя╕П

      Hare Krishna┬а

  • Honestly I would not stress that much over "your best".┬а When you study and try your best on a test... is it your best? Like absolute 100% best?┬а

    Chant your rounds, think of Krishna. Offer your food to Krishna, cook for his pleasure. Do some service. Study the vedas.┬а But stressing over 'best' is just unneeded stress. It will end up being a distraction to your sadhana.┬а ISKCON is not an extreme sport. It is not a fanatical religion. Develop love of Krishna and everything else will work out.┬а

    • Thank u Prabhu jiЁЯЩПЁЯЩЗЁЯП╝тАНтЩВя╕П for kindly answeringЁЯЩП

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