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Any sacrifice performed for some material benefit, with pride, for material welfare, O chief of the Bharatas-know that that is in the mode of passion.

Any sacrifice performed without the direction of scriptural injunction, without any Vedic hymns, without any priestly remuneration (prasadam distribution), and without faith, must be considered in the mode of darkness.

5 Places that kali resides are Binding activities – Anything done in mode of passion and ignorance will bind us.

• Meat eating,
• Illicit sex,
• Intoxication and
• Gambling
• Gold/Aisvarya/Lakshmi

Not engaging Gold/Aisvarya(lakshmi) in the service of Krsna and wanting to enjoy her independent of Krsna as Ravan wanted to do with Sita, that is it enjoy Her though She belonged only to Rama.

Wealth/Money will destroy us if not engaged in the service of the Lord as Aisvarya/lakshmi when one possesses that person ends up in indulging with sinful thoughts that leads to sinful activities. We desire subtly first before we could indulge grossly.

Therefore Srila Prabhupada trained us to practice Yukta Vairagya. everything to be engaed in Krsna’s service.

Yajna/Sacrifice

Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bharatas, you should know to be in the mode of passion

Dana/Charity

But charity performed with the expectation of some re- turn, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Tapa/Austerity

Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.

Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Kriya/Activity

1. Hrdya Durbalyam – Weakness of heart-

The four types of weakness are:

1) Attachment to objects not related to Krishna –

2) Deceitfulness or fault-finding – Kutinati/Duplicity/Crooked Behavior/Treachery/Criticism

3) Enviousness - Matsarya

4) Desire for fame - Pratistha

2. Visamaya -Aparadha – all kinds of offenses

The four types of offenses are:

1) Offenses to the holy name – Nama Apraradha

2) Offenses to the Deity – Seva Aparadha

3) Offenses to the devotees – Vaisnava Aparadha

4) Offenses to other living entities – Jiva Himsa/Tattva

Brahman

3. Asat-trsna – material desires

The four types of material desires are:

1) Desire for material objects – Prakritim Visayan Isana

2) Desire for heavenly comforts – Svarga Isana

3) Desire for mystic powers – Riddhi, Siddhi, Navanidhi

Isana

4) Desire for liberation – Moksha Isana

4. Tattva-vibhrama - illusion about spiritual knowledge

The four types of illusion are:

1) Illusion about one’s own identity

2) Illusion about the Supreme Lord

3) Illusion about the processes of sadhana and prema-bhakti

4) Illusion regarding subjects unfavorable to Krishna consciousness

The creeper of devotion can never grow as long as one cannot give up these anarthas.

Atyaharah prayasah – over endeavoring by not working in the mood of self sufficiency Kama krodha Lobha Mada Matsarya 

• Binding Speeches
• Fault-finding – Prajalpa/Kutinati/Criticism Prajalpa, or whimsical conversations
• Unnecessary talking
• Talking of mundane subject matter
• Vain controversy may also include gossip and rumor
• Nonsense talking which has no connection with Krsna consciousness
• Speech that gives pain, anxiety, that hurts a Jiva (Even is tree is curse endlessly it gets dried, what to speak of Humans)
• Liberating Activities and Speeches – Anything done in the mode of goodness will liberate us
• Liberating Activities are – (In our previous topic we did speak of yajna dana tapa and kriya and kriya being yajna dana and tapa). We will add more points in other words summarise it give it in this quarter.

Yajna/Sacrifice

Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.

Dan/Charity

Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

Tapa /Austerity (threefold-austerity of the body, austerity of the tongue, and austerity of the mind)

In the Seventeenth Chapter of the Gita Lord Krishna says that austerity is basically threefold-austerity of the body, austerity of the tongue, and austerity of the mind.

“This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by persons not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.”

Three kinds of austerities in the mode of goodness (Body, Mind & Speech)

Austerity of Body

Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.

Austerity of Mind

Satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control, and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.

To concentrate the mind, one must observe a life of celibacy and not fall down. One must undergo the austerity of voluntarily giving up sense enjoyment. One must then control the mind and senses, give charity, be truthful, clean and nonviolent, follow the regulative principles and regularly chant the holy name of the Lord. Thus a sober and faithful person who knows the religious principles is temporarily purified of all sins performed with his body, words and mind. These sins are like the dried leaves of creepers beneath a bamboo tree, which may be burned by fire although their roots remain to grow again at the first opportunity.

Austerity of Speech

Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

When one is bound by affection for one’s wife, one is attached to sexual desires that are very difficult to overcome. Therefore, according to Vedic civilization, one must voluntarily leave his so-called home and go to the forest. Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. Human life is meant for such tapasya, or austerity. By the austerity of voluntarily stopping sex life at home and going to the forest to engage in spiritual activities in the association of devotees, one achieves the actual purpose of human life.

Speaking for a higher cause and remaining silent for a higher cause

Kriya should be (Yajna, Dana & Tapa)

From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with ‘om,’ to attain the Supreme.

Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word ‘tat.’ The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word ‘sat.’ The performer of such sacrifice is also called ‘sat,’ as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Prtha.

Chanting of the Holy Name (Yuga Dharma – Sankirtan Yajna, Giving the Holy name, Prasadam, Krsna… to all and that is the tapasya that we need to perform)

Note:

We may practice the ‘austerity of the body’ by forcing our body to rise early and go to the full Morning Program every day.

‘Austerity of the mind’ may be done by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books every day to learn the art of caring and leading others, and being a good example; also thinking always of doing good to others and how to help them start or develop their spiritual life.

‘Austerity of speech may be practiced by making sure that we speak uplifting and wise words, based on sastra and emanating love, patience and care. One has to genuinely want to help others, otherwise they will feel it when we speak to them. “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.”

Daily conscious practice of these austerities will give us leadership strength in many challenges that we encounter. And above all, attentive chanting of 16 rounds every day (no ‘preaching excuses’) is the most important purificatory and empowering austerity. These austerities are purifying for the intelligence and so one can serve with the help of spiritual intelligence.

Action: Remember from time to time that ‘Austerity is the wealth of the brahmanas.’ And try to apply it intentionally.

Dharma of the Gross Body

• Eating
• Sleeping
• Mating
• Defending
• Dharma of the Subtle Body

Dharma of the Mind

• Thinking
• Feeling
• Willing
• Accepting
• Rejecting

Dharma of the Intelligence

Discrimination Doubt Ascertaining the nature of objects 
Dharma of False Ego

• I, Me & Mine