Hare Krishna Prabhuji, all glories to Srila Prabhupadaji, my question is that I am associated with Krishna consciousness for around 7 months, during my initial stages I dont use to face any problem in chanting and worship, but now a days I dont know I am not able to give my 100% concentration, I dont know it is happening and always gets disturb by materialistic thoughts and sinful things, please prabhuji kindly help me to overcome from this problem.
You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!
1) Avoid the 10 offenses. Remedy for the offenses committed (ref. Harinama cintamani pdf search it)
2) Follow the first instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu (which leads to the other 7). Perform nagar Sankirtana.
3) We are in a reciprocal loving relationship with Krishna. When we put an effort He responds. However, sometimes, Krishna does NOT reciprocate. Krishna is explaining to gopis why he sometimes does not reciprocate our love.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.32.21
naham tu sakhyo bhajato 'pi jantun
bhajamy amisham anuvritti-vrittaye
yathadhano labdha-dhane vinashte tac-cintayanyan nibhrito na veda
na—do not; aham—I; tu—on the other hand; sakhyah—O friends; bhajatah—worshiping; api—even; jantun—with living beings; bhajami—reciprocate; amisham—their; anuvritti—propensity (for pure love); vrittaye—in order to impel; yatha—just as; adhanah—a poor man; labdha—having obtained; dhane—wealth; vinashte—and it being lost; tat—of that; cintaya—with anxious thought; anyat—anything else; nibhritah—filled; na veda—does not know.
The reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion. They then become like a poor man who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and who thus becomes so anxious about it that he can think of nothing else. (20)
Hare Krishna dear Devotees, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
yes, how pitiful our condition is. that thing which His Grace Jagadatma Prabhu wrote is correct by my own example.
and yes, as Ram Kumar Prabhu told Maya Devi gives to us exams that we have to pass. and the rules which we have to do given by HG Jay Krishnan Prabhu in order to bring back the same taste for the Holy Names.
In His lecture HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja told that when we feel the taste of the Holy Names while chanting is very pleasing and very easy. And we enjoy. But for Krishna our only enjoying is not enough. He wants us as quickly as possible to become perfect. We have so many bad qualities, material desires and we have to purify our hearts.
From our side is needed ENDEAVOR. In the beginning Krishna may give to us a taste priceless as we do it with tiny children. we say to them sweet words, smile but when they become little bit older and stronger we become more stricter with them.
It is difficult. But any difficulty given by Krishna is just to make us strong. as like a bird in the egg.
One scientist made an opening saying that the bird in the egg is formed fully even before the time, more earlier so why not open the egg earlier and bring out the bird. He did so. but the bird grew up, but had one problem. He could not fly. why?
in the process of breaking the egg walls bird trains the muscles of his wings and becomes able to fly.
So lets break this egg wall by our own endeavor so that we could fly high!!!
Your servant,
My humble Obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
Thanks to all the exalted devotes for putting their thoughts.
I would like to put forth some insights on this as given by some very nice devotees known to me.
The material world is a manifestation of Lord Krishna’s external energy. And control of this material world is handed over to Durga. Durg in Hindi/Sanskrit means Fort and Durga controls this fort. This material world is compared to a prison house or Fort. We are all prisoners in this prison.
When we take up the process of Krishna Consciousness (like Chanting, Reading our Scriptures etc.), we are trying to get out of this prison house and desire to serve Lord Krishna.
In a prison house, before a culprit is released, the government (or govt’s representative like the Prison Warden or Jailor) makes sure that he has become a good man now and he won’t be a threat to the society when released. Similarly, when we try to get out of this material world, Durga imposes severe conditions on us and tries to test us to see whether we are really eligible to enter the spiritual world or not. She is acting under the direct order of Lord Krishna and thus serving HIM.
This test comes to us in the form of lack in concentration, disinterest, perverted and sinful thoughts etc. During these times we should try to control our mind and senses. When we realize that we are losing our concentration, we should try to bring back our attention to Krishna again.
As Arjuna stated in Srimad Bhagawad Gita (Bg 6.34): “The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.”
Lord Krishna replied thus (Bg 6.35): “O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.”
So we have to keep on practicing, absorbed in thoughts of Krishna all the time and concentrate on the transcendental sound vibration of Krishna while chanting. We should not be disheartened. We cannot fight Durga or Maya on our own. The only thing we can do is surrender to our beloved Krishna and plead him to give us his service.
Senior Devotees, please correct me if I have written anything incorrect here.
Dear devotee Hare Krsna. When we first come to KC we are very simple hearted and think all the devotees are great souls.
But due to bad association we start to find fault and loose our simplicity.
The result is we commit offenses to the devotees and experience the gradual decrease of our initial enthusiasm for devotional service which leads to increased material desires etc.
Neophyte devotees are naturally ignorant of many offenses and needs to be trained under the guidance of the bonafide spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada has given us 'The Nectar of Devotion' by Rupa Goswami to help us understand the process.
Hare Krsna
His divine grace, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given explanations on the difficulties of becoming advanced as a devotee and the principles that should be followed in several books, especially the Bhagavad Gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam and also through Mahabarat and Ramayan.
From the Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canto:
"One cannot enter into the kingdom of God unless one is perfectly cleared of all sins. The material sins are products of our desires to lord it over material nature. It is very difficult to get rid of such desires. Women and wealth are very difficult problems for the devotee making progress on the path back to Godhead. Many stalwarts in the
devotional line fell victim to these allurements and thus retreated from the path of liberation. But when one is helped by the Lord Himself, the whole process becomes as easy as anything by the divine grace of the Lord.
To become restless in the contact of women and wealth is not an astonishment, because every living being is associated with such things from remote time, practically immemorial, and it takes time to recover
from this foreign nature. But if one is engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord, gradually he realizes his real position. By the grace of God such a devotee gets sufficient strength to defend himself from the state
of disturbances, and gradually all disturbing elements are eliminated from his mind."
"There are three classes of devotees, namely first, second, and third class. The third-class devotees, or the
neophytes, who have no knowledge and are not detached from material association, but who are simply attracted by the preliminary process of worshiping the Deity in the temple, are called material devotees.
Material devotees are more attached to material benefit than transcendental profit. Therefore, one has to make definite progress from the position of material devotional service to the second-class devotional position. In the second-class position, the devotee can see four principles in the devotional line, namely the Personality of
Godhead, His devotees, the ignorant and the envious. One has to raise himself at least to the stage of a second-class devotee and thus become eligible to know the Absolute Truth."
The principles that should be followed to progress are given below in the Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canto:
"The state which wants to eradicate corruption by majority may introduce the principles of religion in the following manner: 1. Two compulsory fasting days in a month, if not more (austerity). Even from the economic point of view, such two fasting days in a month in the state will save tons of food, and the system will also act very favorably on the general health of the citizens. 2. There must be compulsory marriage of young boys and girls attaining twenty-four years of age and sixteen years of age respectively. There is no harm in coeducation in the schools and colleges, provided the boys and girls are duly married, and in case there is any intimate connection between a male and female student, they should be married properly without illicit relation. The divorce act is encouraging prostitution, and this should be abolished. 3. The citizens of the state must give in charity up to fifty percent of their income for the purpose of creating a spiritual atmosphere in the state or in human society, both individually and collectively. They should preach the principles of Bhagavatam by (a) karma-yoga, or doing everything for the satisfaction of the Lord, (b) regular hearing of the Srimad-Bhagavatam from authorized persons or realized souls, (c) chanting of the glories of the Lord congregationally at home or at places of worship, (d) rendering all kinds of service to bhagavatas engaged in preaching Srimad-Bhagavatam and (e) residing in a place where the atmosphere is saturated with God consciousness. If the state is regulated by the above process, naturally there will be God consciousness everywhere.
Gambling of all description, even speculative business enterprise, is considered to be degrading, and when gambling is encouraged in the state, there is a complete disappearance of truthfulness. Allowing young boys and girls to remain unmarried more than the above-mentioned ages and licensing animal slaughterhouses of all description should be at once prohibited. The flesh-eaters may be allowed to take flesh as mentioned in the scriptures, and not otherwise. Intoxication of all description--even smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or the drinking of tea--must be prohibited."
P.S: Hope the above helps to answer some questions, but if you have more questions, please reply.
Patience is very important and association as well.It is very important to associate with devotees and to avoid association with non-devotees, especially those who can directly or indirectly lead to sinful activities.
Replies
2) Follow the first instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu (which leads to the other 7). Perform nagar Sankirtana.
3) We are in a reciprocal loving relationship with Krishna. When we put an effort He responds. However, sometimes, Krishna does NOT reciprocate. Krishna is explaining to gopis why he sometimes does not reciprocate our love.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.32.21
naham tu sakhyo bhajato 'pi jantun
bhajamy amisham anuvritti-vrittaye
yathadhano labdha-dhane vinashte tac-cintayanyan nibhrito na veda
na—do not; aham—I; tu—on the other hand; sakhyah—O friends; bhajatah—worshiping; api—even; jantun—with living beings; bhajami—reciprocate; amisham—their; anuvritti—propensity (for pure love); vrittaye—in order to impel; yatha—just as; adhanah—a poor man; labdha—having obtained; dhane—wealth; vinashte—and it being lost; tat—of that; cintaya—with anxious thought; anyat—anything else; nibhritah—filled; na veda—does not know.
The reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion. They then become like a poor man who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and who thus becomes so anxious about it that he can think of nothing else. (20)
yes, how pitiful our condition is. that thing which His Grace Jagadatma Prabhu wrote is correct by my own example.
and yes, as Ram Kumar Prabhu told Maya Devi gives to us exams that we have to pass. and the rules which we have to do given by HG Jay Krishnan Prabhu in order to bring back the same taste for the Holy Names.
In His lecture HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja told that when we feel the taste of the Holy Names while chanting is very pleasing and very easy. And we enjoy. But for Krishna our only enjoying is not enough. He wants us as quickly as possible to become perfect. We have so many bad qualities, material desires and we have to purify our hearts.
From our side is needed ENDEAVOR. In the beginning Krishna may give to us a taste priceless as we do it with tiny children. we say to them sweet words, smile but when they become little bit older and stronger we become more stricter with them.
It is difficult. But any difficulty given by Krishna is just to make us strong. as like a bird in the egg.
One scientist made an opening saying that the bird in the egg is formed fully even before the time, more earlier so why not open the egg earlier and bring out the bird. He did so. but the bird grew up, but had one problem. He could not fly. why?
in the process of breaking the egg walls bird trains the muscles of his wings and becomes able to fly.
So lets break this egg wall by our own endeavor so that we could fly high!!!
Your servant,
Hare Krishna Ankit Prabhu,
My humble Obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
Thanks to all the exalted devotes for putting their thoughts.
I would like to put forth some insights on this as given by some very nice devotees known to me.
The material world is a manifestation of Lord Krishna’s external energy. And control of this material world is handed over to Durga. Durg in Hindi/Sanskrit means Fort and Durga controls this fort. This material world is compared to a prison house or Fort. We are all prisoners in this prison.
When we take up the process of Krishna Consciousness (like Chanting, Reading our Scriptures etc.), we are trying to get out of this prison house and desire to serve Lord Krishna.
In a prison house, before a culprit is released, the government (or govt’s representative like the Prison Warden or Jailor) makes sure that he has become a good man now and he won’t be a threat to the society when released. Similarly, when we try to get out of this material world, Durga imposes severe conditions on us and tries to test us to see whether we are really eligible to enter the spiritual world or not. She is acting under the direct order of Lord Krishna and thus serving HIM.
This test comes to us in the form of lack in concentration, disinterest, perverted and sinful thoughts etc. During these times we should try to control our mind and senses. When we realize that we are losing our concentration, we should try to bring back our attention to Krishna again.
As Arjuna stated in Srimad Bhagawad Gita (Bg 6.34): “The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.”
Lord Krishna replied thus (Bg 6.35): “O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.”
So we have to keep on practicing, absorbed in thoughts of Krishna all the time and concentrate on the transcendental sound vibration of Krishna while chanting. We should not be disheartened. We cannot fight Durga or Maya on our own. The only thing we can do is surrender to our beloved Krishna and plead him to give us his service.
Senior Devotees, please correct me if I have written anything incorrect here.
RadheKrishna!!
Your Servant,
Ram
But due to bad association we start to find fault and loose our simplicity.
The result is we commit offenses to the devotees and experience the gradual decrease of our initial enthusiasm for devotional service which leads to increased material desires etc.
Neophyte devotees are naturally ignorant of many offenses and needs to be trained under the guidance of the bonafide spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada has given us 'The Nectar of Devotion' by Rupa Goswami to help us understand the process.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna,
His divine grace, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given explanations on the difficulties of becoming advanced as a devotee and the principles that should be followed in several books, especially the Bhagavad Gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam and also through Mahabarat and Ramayan.
From the Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canto:
"One cannot enter into the kingdom of God unless one is perfectly cleared of all sins. The material sins are products of our desires to lord it over material nature. It is very difficult to get rid of such desires. Women and wealth are very difficult problems for the devotee making progress on the path back to Godhead. Many stalwarts in the
devotional line fell victim to these allurements and thus retreated from the path of liberation. But when one is helped by the Lord Himself, the whole process becomes as easy as anything by the divine grace of the Lord.
To become restless in the contact of women and wealth is not an astonishment, because every living being is associated with such things from remote time, practically immemorial, and it takes time to recover
from this foreign nature. But if one is engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord, gradually he realizes his real position. By the grace of God such a devotee gets sufficient strength to defend himself from the state
of disturbances, and gradually all disturbing elements are eliminated from his mind."
"There are three classes of devotees, namely first, second, and third class. The third-class devotees, or the
neophytes, who have no knowledge and are not detached from material association, but who are simply attracted by the preliminary process of worshiping the Deity in the temple, are called material devotees.
Material devotees are more attached to material benefit than transcendental profit. Therefore, one has to make definite progress from the position of material devotional service to the second-class devotional position. In the second-class position, the devotee can see four principles in the devotional line, namely the Personality of
Godhead, His devotees, the ignorant and the envious. One has to raise himself at least to the stage of a second-class devotee and thus become eligible to know the Absolute Truth."
The principles that should be followed to progress are given below in the Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canto:
"The state which wants to eradicate corruption by majority may introduce the principles of religion
in the following manner:
1. Two compulsory fasting days in a month, if not more (austerity). Even from the economic point of view, such two fasting days in a month in the state will save tons of food, and the system will also act very
favorably on the general health of the citizens.
2. There must be compulsory marriage of young boys and girls attaining twenty-four years of age and sixteen years of age respectively. There is no harm in coeducation in the schools and colleges, provided the boys and girls are duly married, and in case there is any intimate connection between a male and female student, they should be married properly without illicit relation. The divorce act is encouraging prostitution, and this should be abolished.
3. The citizens of the state must give in charity up to fifty percent of their income for the purpose of creating a spiritual atmosphere in the state or in human society, both individually and collectively. They should preach the principles of Bhagavatam by (a) karma-yoga, or doing everything for the satisfaction of the Lord, (b) regular hearing of the Srimad-Bhagavatam from authorized persons or realized souls, (c) chanting of the glories of the Lord congregationally at home or at places of worship, (d) rendering all kinds of service to bhagavatas engaged in
preaching Srimad-Bhagavatam and (e) residing in a place where the atmosphere is saturated with God consciousness. If the state is regulated by the above process, naturally there will be God consciousness
everywhere.
Gambling of all description, even speculative business enterprise, is considered to be degrading, and when gambling is encouraged in the state, there is a complete disappearance of truthfulness. Allowing young boys and girls to remain unmarried more than the above-mentioned ages and licensing animal slaughterhouses of all description should be at once prohibited. The flesh-eaters may be allowed to take flesh as mentioned in the scriptures, and not otherwise. Intoxication of all description--even smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or the drinking of tea--must be
prohibited."
P.S: Hope the above helps to answer some questions, but if you have more questions, please reply.
Patience is very important and association as well.It is very important to associate with devotees and to avoid association with non-devotees, especially those who can directly or indirectly lead to sinful activities.
Hari Bol,