evidence - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T11:36:43Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/evidence14 Krishna Conscious Affirmations with Evidencehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/14-krishna-conscious-affirmations-with-evidence2023-02-23T07:30:00.000Z2023-02-23T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9680754661,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9680754661?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">How could your life change if you choose to think this way?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">1. My human life is sacred and I am responsible to honor it in that way.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.” -SB 11.20.17</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">2. Lust can never be satisfied, but my heart is meant to be satisfied.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“‘O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.’ -Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 22.16</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">3. Although temporarily covered, I am eternally a pure devotee of Krishna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. -Bg 15.7</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">4. I can become pure in mind and body because I am already pure in spirit.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Those with the vision of eternity can see that the soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature. Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.” -Bg 13.32, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">My senses are engaged with the world, but I am aloof.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“One who is in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, O mighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and sense gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.” -Bg 3.28, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In this verse, Krishna says quotes what a knower of the truth thinks, saying, “guna gunesu vartanta iti”, which means that he thinks, “My senses are engaged with the sense objects.” -Bg 3.28, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">5. Temptations come, temptations go.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” -Bg 2.14, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">6. There’s nothing new in maya, and there’s nothing old in Krishna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.” -SB 2.9.34</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">7. Krishna is my best friend forever and unconditionally.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.” -Bg 18.65-66, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">8. Krishna is my everything.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” -Bg 7.19, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">9. Krishna is in my heart, so my heart is a place of pilgrimage.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Shrila Prabhupada: “Therefore every one of you should become pure devotee, first-class devotee. First-class devotee is that… In this age it has been made very easy. Simply keep yourself cleansed, not to indulge in the four principles, prohibition, and chant Hare Krsna, then you will be all first-class devotees. And wherever you will go, you will be able to purify there. Wherever you go. Wherever you speak, wherever you’ll sit. So keep this spiritual strength intact. Tirthi-bhutah. Tirthi-kurvanti tirthani sva antah-sthena. The Hare Krsna mantra chanting means keeping Krsna always within your heart. This is not… It is not expensive at all. You haven’t got to make a very exalted throne for Krsna. You can imagine that “In my heart I have placed now a very diamond throne, and Krsna is sitting.” That is accepted. It is… Actually it becomes. Even within the mind you think that “I have kept one diamond throne, very costly throne, because Krsna is coming. He will sit down here,” that is not false. That is a fact. So you create such situation within your heart. “Now Krsna has seated. Let me wash His feet with the Ganges water, Yamuna water. Now I change His dress to a first-class costly garments. Then I decorate with ornaments. Then I give Him for eating.” You can simply think of this. This is meditation. Svantah-sthena gadabhrta. It is so nice thing. Anywhere you can sit down and think that Krsna is sitting in your heart and you are receiving in so nice way. They are not false. They are also fact. It is so easy.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So here is the… If you simply carry Krsna within your heart always in a very devotional service, exalted devotional service, and chant Hare Krsna and think of Krsna, wherever you will go, you will purify the whole place. Svantah-sthena gadabhrta. It is fact. It is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Try to remain in your position as devotee, and as far as possible teach these rascals who are simply attracted by the glaring material stones and woods, and let them have some knowledge and do benefit to your countrymen, to your society, to your family.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you very much.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada. [end]”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">-Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.10 – June 1, 1974, Geneva</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">10. My strength is Krishna and belongs to Him. My desire is Krishna and belongs to Him.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna].” -Bg 7.11, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">11. Krishna says that I am eternal, indestructible, inexhaustible, immeasurable, perpetual, unborn, unmoving, amazing, immutable, inconceivable, ancient, unharmable, and all-reaching.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Evidence available in Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 2.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">12. I can achieve anything in Krishna’s service because His service is unlimited and His servants are unlimited, too.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Krishna is unlimited, His service is unlimited, and the energy of His servants is unlimited.”-Shrila Prabhupada, Letter to: Tamala Krsna – Hawaii 18 March, 1969</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Nothing is unobtainable for devotees who have satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead.“ -Prahlada Maharaja, SB 7.6.25</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">13. It is possible for me to become fully Krishna conscious in one second.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The saintly King Khatvanga, after being informed that the duration of his life would be only a moment more, at once freed himself from all material activities and took shelter of the supreme safety, the Personality of Godhead.” -SB 2.1.13</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">14. The holy name is the reciprocal form of unconditional eternal love.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahma, for You appear in two features – externally as the acarya and internally as the Supersoul – to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.” -SB 11.29.6</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Supersoul is present in everyone’s heart, but when one accepts a reciprocal relationship with the Lord, then the Lord sends His representative, the spiritual master, who initiated the disciple with the Holy Name. The Holy Name is therefore the reciprocal form of unconditional eternal love.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=69340">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=69340</a></p></div>Evidence for the Existence of God by Syamananda Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/evidence-for-the-existence-of-god-by-syamananda-dasa2021-12-17T11:00:00.000Z2021-12-17T11:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515091756,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515091756,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515091756?profile=original" width="500" /></a></p>
<p><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></p>
<p><em>In believing our senses, how far do we go?</em></p>
<p>“Not enough evidence, God! Not enough evidence!”</p>
<p>The atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell was once asked what he would say if he found himself standing before God on judgment day and God asked him, “Why didn’t you believe in Me?” Russell replied, “I would say ‘Not enough evidence, God! Not enough evidence!’”</p>
<p>When philosophers or scientists complain about lack of evidence, they mean empirical evidence or evidence that can be interpreted by their senses. They would like to subject God to various tests exactly as they put their objects on a slide under a microscope. The Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev had remarked that their space hero Yuri Gagarin had been in outer space and did not see any God there.</p>
<p>The inference is very clear. God has to subject Himself to the tests of science or else He risks being found guilty of not providing enough evidence about His existence. However, as we begin to explore what “science” means and what science cannot do, things become clearer.</p>
<p>Here are two statements from a body of scientists– the first defines the scope of science and the second its limitations.</p>
<p>“Science presumes that the things and events in the universe occur in consistent patterns that are comprehensible through careful, systematic study. Scientists believe that through the use of the intellect, and with the aid of instruments that extend the senses, people can discover patterns in all of nature.”*</p>
<p>Pretty clear, isn’t it? Science today is built on the foundation of a ‘presumption’ – and a very simple one too. Events in our universe occur in a series of consistent patterns. And with the use of human intellect (aided by instruments manufactured by it) all of nature’s secrets could be discovered.</p>
<p>Alright, what about events beyond the scope of nature’s patterns?</p>
<p>They candidly admit that science cannot provide complete answers to all questions. Secondly they state, “There are many matters that cannot usefully be examined in a scientific way. There are, for instance, beliefs that by their very nature cannot be proved or disproved (such as the existence of supernatural powers and beings, or the true purposes of life).”*</p>
<p>If God, by definition, is a supernatural being then how can science even begin to gather evidence to test His existence? The very word evidence brings with it a baggage of terms like proof, facts, data, demonstration, verification etc. No wonder that scientists today feel utterly frustrated in their attempts to decode the secrets of God. At this juncture it would be worthwhile to listen to the advice of Nobel-prize-winning physicist, Erwin Schrodinger, who said, “Western thought needs a blood transfusion from Eastern wisdom in order to save it from moral anemia.”</p>
<p>How exactly does Eastern wisdom, or more specifically, Vedic literature deal with the issue of lack of evidence? The Vedas state that there are three main types of evidences:</p>
<p>1. Direct perception</p>
<p>2. Logic or intelligent guesswork</p>
<p>3.Hearing from bona fide authorities</p>
<p>Of the above three modern science mostly depends upon direct perception and guesswork. This lopsided dependence makes it very difficult to make any kind of headway in understanding God. The reasons are simple. Direct perception depends on five knowledge-gathering senses – eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin; and five working senses – voice, legs, hands, anus and genitals. These ten senses combined with the mind and intellect are the only tools available for the scientist. Thus a scientist has to painstakingly gather evidence and then evaluate it. But the main problem with the senses is that they are imperfect and the mind is subject to illusion, commits mistakes due to that illusion, and ultimately cheats by pretending to know when we really are in ignorance. Additionally, every so called expert on philosophical matters tends to arrive at a diametrically opposite conclusion on fundamental issues. In fact, the Vedas warn that among mundane wranglers one cannot be successful unless one disagrees with others.</p>
<p>Hearing from the right authorities</p>
<p>This is an all-important philosophical point. In order to receive information about God, who is beyond that range of the imperfect senses and mind we have to hear submissively from authorities. Atheists and agnostics may try to argue that such hearing is dogmatic but truth be told, all learning requires one to hear from authority. As forVedas,the authority is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, and the student hears from the direct representatives of Lord Krishna coming in disciplic succession.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada summarized the process in one discourse, “Of all forms of learning, the first class perception is to receive knowledge from direct authorities. According to Vedic literature, hearing from authority is perfect knowledge. Direct sensory perception is imperfect. For example, if a motorman sees a car, he knows what it is, but if a child sees it, he can’t know. Simply by use of the senses, we can’t know anything certainly. The child is not an expert, as the motorman is. In medicine, if you wish to be a doctor, you must study with a doctor. So, if in material things authority is necessary, how can we learn of God on our own? The Vedic recommendation is that, if you wish to have transcendental knowledge, you must go to a spiritual master.”</p>
<p>But whom shall I accept for my spiritual master? There are two qualifications to look for: first, he must be one who has heard perfectly from his master. And, secondly he lives fully in that knowledge which he has received.Bhagavad-gita is the science of God. In other scriptures, there is a concept of God. But, take this example: We can see that the flower is red, and the leaf is green. But a botanist will give you far more perfect and subtle knowledge.</p>
<p>Scientists today are searching for evidence but are not looking for it. You can see a particular event but if you are not exactly trained in the science of investigation you may never find it. Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, understood this well. In one of his adventures Holmes and a police inspector are both investigating the death of a man. His critically wounded wife was found lying next to his dead body. This is how Doyle describes the event: “The study proved to be a small chamber, lined on three sides with books, and with a writing-table facing an ordinary window, which looked out upon the garden. Our first attention was given to the body of the unfortunate squire, whose huge frame lay stretched across the room. His disordered dress showed that he had been hastily aroused from sleep.</p>
<p>“The bullet had been fired at him from the front, and had remained in his body, after penetrating the heart. His death had certainly been instantaneous and painless. There was no powder marking either upon his dressing gown or on his hands. According to the country surgeon, the lady had stains upon her face, but none upon her hand.”</p>
<p>“The absence of the latter means nothing, though its presence may mean everything,” said Holmes. “Unless the powder from a badly fitting cartridge happens to spurt backward, one may fire many shots without leaving a sign. I would suggest that Mr. Cubitt’s body may now be removed. I suppose, Doctor, you have not recovered the bullet that wounded the lady?”</p>
<p>“A serious operation will be necessary before that can be done. But there are still four cartridges in the revolver. Two have been fired and two wounds inflicted, so that each bullet can be accounted for.”</p>
<p>“So it would seem,” said Holmes. “Perhaps you can account also for the bullet which has so obviously struck the edge of the window?”</p>
<p>He had turned suddenly, and his long, thin finger was pointing to a hole which had been drilled right through the lower window-sash, about an inch above the bottom.</p>
<p>“By George!” cried the inspector. “How ever did you see that?”</p>
<p>“Because I looked for it.” (From Arthur Conan Doyle’s <em>The Adventure of the Dancing Men</em>). </p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=26859">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=26859</a></p></div>