spiritual - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-29T04:51:22Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/spiritualIs forgiveness practical? By Chaitanya Charan dashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/is-forgiveness-practical-by-chaitanya-charan-das-12024-03-28T08:30:00.000Z2024-03-28T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515198961,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515198961,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515198961?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Question: Spiritual wisdom-traditions often glorify forgiveness as a virtue, but isn’t it impractical and foolish to forgive someone who repeatedly hurts us?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Answer:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1.jpg" alt="1.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>When someone hurts us, forgiving that person is our best response. But often our indignant emotions make us overlook the subtle but vital line that differentiates forgiving a person from trusting a person: forgiveness is for the past; trust is for the future. We are urged to immediately forgive, but not immediately trust, the wrongdoer. Let’s explore this difference.</p>
<p>Whatever wrongs a person has done in the past can’t be changed; as long as we resent the past, we stay stuck in it. Consequently, our thoughts, words, actions and even lives may become resentment-driven, causing us to either clam up or blow up. When we clam up, we drive our anger deep within, thereby unnecessarily inflicting ugly scars on our psyches that may distort our personality. When we blow up, we drive our anger outward not just to the wrongdoer, but to whoever crosses our way at the time of blowing up, thereby creating an undesirable public image of being irritable. Thus both the resentment-driven responses – clamming up or blowing up – are unproductive, nay counter-productive.</p>
<p>Therefore, the best response is that which frees us from resentment – and forgiveness alone can do that. When we forgive a person, we accept the ground reality that the other person being a fallible human is imperfect – as are we. We too may err tomorrow and be in need of forgiveness. In fact, the logic of karma suggests that we may have hurt someone in the past, just as someone has hurt us now. We then see the wrongdoer not as the cause, but as the vehicle, of our suffering, which originated in our own past insensitivity. Underscoring this philosophically informed vision, Srila Prabhupada would recommend that we eschew becoming angry with “the instruments of our karma.” Even if our indignant feelings make the logic of karma difficult to digest, still forgiveness retains its potential to free us from resentment.</p>
<p>So, we needn’t make our forgiveness conditional to the other person’s seeking it, but we should certainly make our trust conditional to that person’s earning it by sustained improved behavior. Conveying our forgiveness helps that person avoid the pitfall of self-justification, and holding back our trust avoids the pitfall of that person remaining oblivious to the past wrongdoing. Forgiving a person certainly doesn’t mean that we let the other person continue the hurting behavior; that would be masochism and there’s nothing laudable or spiritual about masochism. At the same time, it needs to be stressed that there’s nothing intrinsically laudable or spiritual about cultivating and actualizing revenge fantasies. So, we need to find that balanced course of action which allows both us and the other person to grow spiritually. This balance can be better grasped through historical and practical examples.</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>A good scriptural example of offering forgiveness-but-not-trust comes in the tenth canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam in the dealings of king Vasudeva, the father of Lord Krishna, with the demoniac tyrant Kamsa. When due to an unexpected turn of events, the tyrant had an apparent change of heart and sought forgiveness from Vasudeva for the past atrocities. Vasudeva promptly forgave Kamsa, but didn’t naively trust him and divulge Krishna’s whereabouts; in fact, Vasudeva cautiously and tactfully did all that was possible for him to keep Krishna’s whereabouts hidden from Kamsa. It soon became evident that Kamsa’s change of heart had been only momentary; he relapsed into his past malevolence by re-imprisoning Vasudeva and by repeatedly sending deadly demons to kill Krishna. Thereupon Lord Krishna, taking cognizance of the demonstrated incorrigibility of Kamsa and the need to protect the innocent from his viciousness, chose the necessary punitive measure of freeing Kamsa’s soul from the vengeful mentality inherent in his material body, thereby enabling the thus-purified soul to progress on the onward spiritual journey. In this incident, we see that when Kamsa did not use the forgiveness graciously offered to him to mend his ways and re-earn the lost trust, then eventually he was administered the required purificatory punishment commensurate to his misdeeds.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Another example of giving forgiveness-without-trust, wherein the wrongdoer reformed himself, comes in the Mahabharata in the dealings of Vidura with his elder brother and the reigning monarch, Dhritarashtra. The saintly Vidura, who is also the speaker of the celebrated Vidura-niti (the moral codes of Vidura), repeatedly counseled the blind monarch, Dhritarashtra to choose morality over nepotism. Unfortunately, the kind, due to his attachment to his son, Duryodhana, continued tacitly sanctioning the latter’s nefarious schemes to harm the Pandavas, who were the rightful heirs to the throne. At one time after the Pandavas had been dispossessed and exiled in a rigged gambling match, Vidura’s beneficial but unpalatable pronouncements about the vicious nature of Duryodhana and its dire consequences became intolerable to the attached Dhritarashtra, who censured and banished his well-wishing younger brother. However, the king soon came back to his senses and sent his secretary, Sanjaya, to seek forgiveness from Vidura and to call him back. Vidura returned and forgave Dhritarashtra, but didn’t trust him; by withholding his trust, he was able to keep track of further recurrences of nepotism. But by not withholding his forgiveness, he was able to maintain a congenial relationship with Dhritarashtra, thereby eventually helping the king see the futility and folly of his attachment and to finally take up the path to wisdom and enlightenment.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Returning to our contemporary scenario, if the hurting behavior continues, we may need to create a safe, healthy distance between the person and the facility or the power or the position used to perpetrate the hurting behavior, so as to provide that person the room necessary to reform. If a spouse becomes overly dominant, we may have to do the needful to prevent abuse, but if we refuse to forgive our partner, who thereby feels branded as an abuser, we may soon find ourselves at the receiving end of a spate of counter-brandings, thereby taking the relationship on a doomed downward spiral.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If a child repeatedly neglects studies due to being infatuated with video games, we may have to restrict access to those games, but we needn’t restrict access to our love. A child who feels unloved, un-forgiven and labeled as irresponsible may get mentally caught up in trying to justify the video games, maybe as an ‘aid to learning’, instead of focusing on actual learning through studies. But a child who feels reassured of the parents’ love and forgiveness, and inspired by the opportunity to re-earn their trust by studying wholeheartedly, may secure good marks, get a taste for studies and thereby naturally give up the video-game infatuation.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>On the spiritual path, if a practitioner misappropriates a resource meant for outreach for one’s personal benefit, we may have to withhold that resource till the errant tendency is reformed, but we needn’t withhold our forgiveness, for that forgiveness may well be the impetus necessary to inspire the desired reformation.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>To summarize, forgiveness involves our cultivating virtue independent of the other person, whereas trust is our reciprocation conditional to that person’s cultivating virtue. By carefully understanding the difference between the two, we can transform unfortunate episodes in our relationships into spiritual growth opportunities at least for ourselves – and possibly even for the other person.</p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=12404">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=12404</a></p></div>Physical deprivation versus spiritual absorption by Chaitanya Charan Dashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/physical-deprivation-versus-spiritual-absorption2024-03-15T10:30:00.000Z2024-03-15T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/dvoZ47e.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/dvoZ47e.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="dvoZ47e.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">If we don’t sleep at the right time, we will sleep at the wrong time (Based on Gita 06.16)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When practicing spiritual life, we may equate spiritual advancement with denying our bodily needs such as sleep. We may deprive ourselves of sleep to demonstrate our spiritual advancement.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">However, spiritual advancement centers not on physical deprivation, but on spiritual absorption. To grow spiritually, we need to become conscious of our own spiritual identity and of the supreme spiri…tual reality, Krishna. The more we become lovingly absorbed in Krishna, the more we advance spiritually.</p>
<div>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We can cultivate divine absorption by practicing bhakti-yoga. For such yoga practice, our body is a vital tool. It’s like a vehicle; if it isn’t fuelled, it can’t function. Food and sleep are basic needs of the body. If we don’t sleep adequately, we won’t be able to think clearly or act properly – and we won’t be able to practice yoga. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (06.17) states that even forest-dwelling yogis who have renounced the world need to be regulated in their sleeping. If we deprive ourselves of sleep, we will find ourselves sleeping at the wrong time, for example when we are studying scripture or chanting holy names – or, dangerously, when we are driving. If we sleep inadequately, our mind will go crazy. If we sleep excessively, our mind will become lazy. Either way, our mind won’t be receptive to yoga practice.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Still, don’t we need to restrict bodily gratification? Yes, but gratifying the body is different from caring for it. Gratifying the body is like getting so obsessed with the car that we forget about driving to our destination. When we are balanced, we don’t pander to the body so much that we forget our spiritual purpose; but we keep it fit to pursue our spiritual purpose.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To conclude, don’t deprive the body – and don’t let the body deprive the soul.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Verse 06.16 – “There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Think it over:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">What happens to us physically if we don’t sleep at the right time?<br /> What happens to us mentally if we sleep inadequately or excessively?<br /> What is the difference between gratifying the body and caring for the body?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85009">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85009</a></p>
</div></div>Spiritual Narcissism by Jeremy Carishttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-narcissism2024-03-06T09:30:00.000Z2024-03-06T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515208259,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515208259,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515208259?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="260" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Although narcissism is a broad subject, it is marked by an exaggerated self-importance and perceived superiority, abnormal levels of selfishness and entitlement, and extreme self-centeredness. Generally speaking, a narcissist is a person who thinks too highly of themselves and continuously feeds on the egotistic admiration from others, typically rooted in unresolved and exaggerated feelings of inferiority and shame. As a result, they often manipulate and exploit others to fuel their delusions and fend off the ever-looming threat of severe depression. People who pathologically display these characteristics may be diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Narcissism Is Everywhere</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Today, in the business and political world, narcissistic behavior is often celebrated, encouraged, and even taught to some degree. In fact, it can be argued that narcissistic behavior even contributes to their success (as they define it). But it is not only limited to the business and political world. Narcissism affects every area of culture because it affects people. Therefore, it affects churches, ministries, and families as well. Narcissism is not a church issue—it is a human issue.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Disclaimers</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Diagnosing Narcissistic Personality Disorder is definitely beyond my expertise and the scope of this blog, but I wish I would have been able to at least identify the signs of it many years ago as a leader in the Church. It is my personal conviction that most narcissists probably need inner healing, psychological counseling, and someone to walk with them and provide personal accountability to help them overcome it. Unfortunately, the very nature of narcissism opposes the likelihood that they will seek the help they need.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I also want to be clear that my intent is not to inspire a “witch hunt.” Rather, I have found that the more I understood the roots, behavior, and effects of narcissism, the more compassion I have for those whose lives are deeply affected by it on all sides. So in sharing this, I hope to help equip you to face narcissism with some understanding and with compassion for those involved—especially within the Church.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Identifying Narcissism & Narcissistic Traits</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There are many excellent resources available with lists of some of the most common traits and helpful pointers to identify narcissism. Inspired by those lists, I have compiled my own list of situational narcissistic traits, in the way that I have personally observed them within the Church.</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Narcissists approach social interaction from a very intellectual place. They don’t really care how you feel unless it directly affects their life, such as your ability to meet their needs. At the same time, they have an overly heightened sensitivity to any type of emotion or behavior which they perceive to be a personal insult or an indication of assault on their superiority. The bottom line is that if it doesn’t affect them, it usually doesn’t matter enough for them to care.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Since they have difficulty empathizing with others, they often minimize or trivialize the emotions, opinions, and ideas of others. They don’t want to talk about you, they want to talk about themselves, their plans, their accomplishments… unless they are trying to learn how to manipulate and exploit you for their service or ego.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They have difficulty maintaining meaningful relationships with anyone who is not family (since family is unavoidable). Even with extended family, they have to be the one ultimately in charge.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Social situations are typically well planned and may feel disingenuous because they almost always have some specific end goal in mind. Otherwise, they socialize to become or feel important, to establish or enforce their power, control, and superiority, or to fuel their ego and vanity.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Narcissists typically have no time for anyone who does not offer them anything, is not vulnerable to flattery, and does not seem to care about their narcissistic requirements. But they make time to flatter people who they perceive to be important, useful to them, or who show signs of reverence or admiration toward them. Flattery seems to be a common tool of either a happy, or possibly a desperate, narcissist.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They don’t know how to think or behave properly on their own because their deep and unresolved shame and insecurities have been such a prominent factor in their life, so they mirror the ideas and behavior of those whom they believe to be an authority. They become masters at copying others. Therefore, their behavior, beliefs, and ideals change whenever they begin to admire different authorities.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They are never wrong in the moment and they never truly apologize. They will say, “I’m sorry you feel that way,” but they will never tell you they are sorry for their actions. They will only admit guilt long after the case. Saying that they recognized their error and corrected it long after the fact allows them to seem mature at a later date.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They have no problem exaggerating or distorting facts and past events to support their agenda or to manipulate others. This involves a lot of blame-shifting, which results in accusations against others and labeling people in an attempt to marginalize anyone who opposes them or makes them feel belittled. They always want a final admission of guilt from someone; in part, so they can make it clear that they are not the one to blame (which would be a perceived blow to their superiority).</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They are subtly divisive and may even set people against one another overtly and deliberately. This is especially true when they have to interact with both a husband and wife and they perceive that one of them admires them but the other does not. They don’t respect the boundaries of marriage or other relationships; they only care about maintaining the fulfillment of their narcissistic demands.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They are highly driven to “win” at everything since a loss triggers their deep feelings of inferiority. Therefore, they are very harsh on themselves when it come to their own performance. They will not relent until they feel it is clear that they have “won.” They are very sore losers and are likely to cheat or change the rules if necessary to come out or remain on top.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Narcissists love confrontation, so much so that what others may view as an argument, they see as a joyful opportunity because it gives them reason to relentlessly engage someone until that person concedes. They are either then the winner, or if they have highly developed abilities of persuasion (as many do ultimately develop), then they twist things until they receive repentance, admiration, or even flattery, fueling their ego. Arguments become a means of narcissistic satisfaction.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Narcissists are jealous and deeply resentful of the success of others around them since it makes them feel that their superiority is being challenged. They may even view the success of others around them as a betrayal if their ego is not reaffirmed quickly.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Narcissists in positions of leadership:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Typically, they have a “king” or “queen” mentality and carry a strong sense of entitlement, requiring others to serve them in ways that they would never serve themselves. They cannot stand to work for or serve others—they must be the one in control. They may have tolerated working for or serving others in order to “climb the ladder” of power, but once they have done so, they are not about to do anything they view as menial, common, or “ladder climbing” again. Instead, they will always find a way to get others to do those things for them.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They do not recognize boundaries with those close around them because, as is typical with any narcissist, they seem to believe that others exist for their service. They want “yes men” who will do what they expect and never confront them, try to balance them out, or do things their own way. Opposing their wishes, plans, or demands may trigger what has become known as narcissistic rage, which is not only real anger, but it is also a power play to regain perceived control.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Since they act as if others exist to serve them, they have no problem delegating work. Yet because they have a delusion of their own superiority, they feel that they need to micro-manage everything they delegate. They do not allow leaders under them the freedom to actually lead. Instead, they expect leaders under them to micro-manage others in turn, to take the blame for any failures, but to pass on any success to their accounts.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">Narcissistic leaders are only willing to take blame indirectly when they recognize that it reinforces their position of superiority. In other words, they may say, “I’m ultimately the one responsible for the blame since I’m the leader,” because it makes them seem like they are taking the high road of accountability. But like any narcissist, they will not admit personal guilt in the moment.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">They create high stress working and living environments marked by an atmosphere of relentless anxiety, fear of failure, and emotional fatigue. This results in an ongoing turnover of people close around them or on the staff they employ, which they typically attempt to diminish through guilt and blame-shifting.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Spiritual Narcissism</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Now that I’ve painted a fairly clear picture of what narcissism often looks like, let me illustrate what I mean by the term “spiritual narcissism.” Spiritual narcissism is simply the flavor that narcissism takes on when it is blended with spirituality. In truth, narcissism is diametrically opposed to the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom, as well as any religion that practices piety, humility, love, and service. That is why I believe that spiritual narcissism deserves a category of its own.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I can only speculate how spiritual narcissism plays out in other religions (or in business or politics for that matter), but I have, unfortunately, seen it up close and personal within the church world. In fact, I’ve developed a keen sensitivity to it. I would hope that I don’t have to qualify this statement with the fact that I love the Church, my life’s calling is to the Church, and the vast majority of believers in the Church, including leaders, do not fall within this category. Yet it is a reality because the Church involves real people in all stages of growth and maturity. I’m particularly focused on spiritual narcissism because I’ve seen the spiritual and emotional abuse it causes in churches, ministries, and Christian communities.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">The Narcissistic Minister</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">It should be an oxymoron, but by far, the worst situation is when the lead minister is a narcissist. They carry the hallmark traits typical of narcissism, except that they are constantly promoting or reinforcing their own superior spirituality and greater maturity as well. It’s not so much about winning as much as it is about being the best and brightest in the room. Obviously, they never say it outright because they know intellectually that real spiritual maturity necessitates humility. In turn, they become masters at promoting themselves while wearing a mask of humility.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">They talk a lot but listen very little. To be more precise, they only listen for what they want to hear or to find perceived weaknesses which they can pounce upon and take advantage of. They may present it to you as problem solving, counseling, or even love, while it is usually for the purpose of reinforcing their dominance and your dependence upon them, for promoting some deeper agenda, or to solicit your admiration and praise for “caring enough to confront you.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To balance this reality, let me state clearly that any sincere pastor will care enough to confront you, will counsel you, and will help you with the issues in your life. They will be truly humble, yet strong and secure. If you are not familiar enough with them on a personal level, you may not be able to tell the difference from the outside looking in. It’s the motivation that makes the actions right or wrong. Be careful not to make assumptions about anyone’s inner motivations and mistakenly turn against a leader who actually is legitimate.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">Narcissistic Church Culture</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When the lead minister is a narcissist, there is a definite culture or atmosphere established in their church or ministry that reproduces narcissistic behaviors within the body. As Jesus said, you will know a tree by it’s fruits (Mat 7:16). For instance, one thing you will always find is a prevalent attitude of elitism. You will also often find a deep sense of competition juxtaposed against leaders who are hesitant to make decisions. Leaders serving under a narcissistic leader quickly learn that they can never be good enough, can never make the right decisions, and are always going to be corrected in some way because the narcissistic leader is always working to reinforce their position and superiority.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Remember though, that narcissism is a human condition, not a Church condition. Therefore, sometimes it is present in a church even if the leader is not narcissistic. For instance, some people model a mild form of spiritual narcissism by carrying an air of spiritual superiority about themselves at their work or with their family. They may even act this way in the church because they believe they stand out as special among the rest of the church. People like this often feel the need to compete with others, especially to look superior, happier, and better off.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">The Rogue Narcissist</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Another version of spiritual narcissism at work in churches is more damaging. A rogue narcissist is what I would call a person who is not in a position of leadership in a church but believes they are entitled to be. They fully display the traits of a narcissist. They believe that by revealing their deep spirituality and knowledge, it is only reasonable that people will receive them as an authority in their individual lives and, hopefully, that church leaders will eventually come to them for advice, counsel, and ask them to be part of the leadership. These are all delusions, of course, because although they do often succeed to “catch a few fish,” they most often get booted out by the church leadership.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">They are always talking about what they know, debating with anyone who will engage them, talking about their constant dreams and visions, or telling someone else what to do. Simultaneously, they will caution others who share their testimonies of spiritual experiences or wisdom from God because it triggers their insecurities. They view it as a challenge, and therefore, they also often oppose others with a strong leadership gift or real maturity. The exception to that is when they believe they may be able to eventually influence them, control them, or use them to become part of the “in crowd.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The rogue narcissist will knowingly manipulate anyone who allows it, although they will never admit to it. Their intent is to make people feel dependent upon them as a spiritual leader, which in their mind is ultimately for the greater good. They try to train people to question their ability to get things right without their superior help, creating unhealthy spiritual codependent relationships. They will be sure to go out of their way to be there for people who are at a low point because they know they can likely exploit the situation for their agenda.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Again, let me balance this with the truth that sincere friends do go out of their way to be there for you, encourage you, help you through the hard times, and so on. But their motivation isn’t for control, power, or to fuel their own ego. Be careful not to flippantly assume you know what a person’s motivations may be.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The rogue narcissist constantly stirs up drama and situations between people in the body, but they especially love to engage church leadership and rob them of time and attention. One way or another they become a topic of conversation at every church leadership meeting as long as they are attending. And they will take as much attention as they can get as long as they can get it. Remember, a narcissist never relents—they don’t quit until they win. And in a sick way, they eventually require either a position of power, effective control, and constant admiration, or the “left foot of fellowship,” as some people used to call it.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Getting kicked out of churches becomes a normal and expected part of the cycle they endure. They think to themselves, “Of course established leaders are going to remove me since they must feel threatened by my presence.” They’ll twist the truth to make themselves a humble victim and suddenly it becomes a win for them in their book. Then, they move on to another church and repeat the same cycle.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">What To Do</span></h2>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I don’t have a profound statement to summarize how to deal with spiritual narcissism or the people who display it’s traits. Historically, I’ve followed the principle behind, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” although I don’t consider them enemies by any means. I’ve tried to buffer others whom I was responsible for from the damage and abuse as much as possible. But at the time, I didn’t understand narcissism and I simply didn’t know what else to do.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Today, I can only tell you what I would do now about spiritual narcissism. Serving from a position of leadership, I would be far less likely to tolerate it for long. I would love the person but be firm and straightforward with them privately about my concerns as I observe trademark indicators of narcissism.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">If I was serving in a pastoral capacity, I would help them walk out of it if they would humble themselves, although I do not recommend that most people put themselves into such a situation. You would need to be strong and secure in your self, very perceptive and discerning about others, unmotivated by flattery, and willing to shut it down and walk away if it becomes clear that they are taking the opportunity as a tactic to drain your time, energy, and resolve.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">For situations where you believe a church leader or someone of direct spiritual authority in your life is narcissistic, first, don’t jump to conclusions. Anyone who has a leadership gift on their life may come across as very strong and sure of themselves, and with good reason to be. You don’t want to create situations where there are none. But, if you observe clear and consistent indications that they are narcissistic, pray for them… and then make sure you are not allowing them to maintain any type of direct personal control over your life, your time, your free will, or your money.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">If they make you feel that you cannot survive without them or that you will be cursed if you remove yourself from under their authority, that’s a really bad sign. If the idea of questioning them or telling them, “no,” causes you to feel deep anxiety and fear of backlash, that is a bad sign. If you’ve confronted them about your concerns in the past and you’ve walked away thanking them for the disciplinary confrontation that resulted, that’s a strong sign indicating they may be high level manipulators. If that is the case, you will not likely overcome their control unless you learn to recognize the way they think and continually confront them. As a result, they will make you seem to appear to be what I described as a rogue narcissist and kick you out of their church. If you are dealing with a leader bearing traits such as these, you will never be able to separate cordially or without damage of some sort—you will have to just walk away.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://www.carisministries.com/2016/10/31/spiritual-narcissism/">https://www.carisministries.com/2016/10/31/spiritual-narcissism/</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85418">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85418</a></p></div>Time and Again by Mathuresha Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/time-and-again-12024-02-07T07:30:00.000Z2024-02-07T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><center>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><em><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Being God, Krishna has no work to do and simply enjoys in His original abode, while His expansions and energies, such as time, take care of the material creation.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As working men and women we typically leave home in the early morning and spend eight or nine hours on the job. Life at work sustains life at home. Official dealings at work contrast with family intimacies at home. However diffuse and overlapping the boundaries between the two, our work persons differ from our home persons.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Krishna, the supreme person, has no work to do. He is always home in His own abode, an expansive, eternal, and endlessly varied estate beyond the material world known as Goloka Vrindavana. Krishna fills His home life as we fill ours, with His loving friends and favorite belongings. Our own proclivity for home life derives from His original personality, because as minute individual souls we come from Him and from His transcendental abode. Since Krishna is partial to cows and to the Tulasi tree, His pristine abode has a wealth of both. Goloka means “abode of cows,” and Vrindavana means “forest of Tulasi” (Vrinda being another name for Tulasi). The forests, rivers, streams, hills, mountains, fields, and village dwellings of Goloka Vrindavana are an eternal setting for the blissful recreations of Lord Krishna and His confidential devotees.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">With no work to do, Krishna is under no obligation to create our temporary material world. He does so out of kindness to provide material estates for those of us who prefer to live independent of Him, or to have the illusion of doing so. Krishna entrusts the work of creation to His expansion Lord Maha-Vishnu, who is Krishna’s original “work person.” Unlike our own work persons, Maha-Vishnu, while an expansion of Krishna’s personality, is also an individual with distinct initiative and identity. He works on His own, leaving Krishna, the original home person, unbothered. This ability of Krishna’s to expand without leaving home, entrusting work to His individual expansions without so much as a thought to the stereotypical functions of God-as-puppeteer, is a unique and essential feature of the Supreme Being.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">While Lord Krishna enjoys the informality of intimate dealings at home with devotees who are in the mood of family and friends, in the office of creator Lord Maha-Vishnu attracts worshipers who prefer a God primarily endowed with grand, omnipotent, awe-inspiring features. Maha-Vishnu’s caliber is inconceivable. To illustrate, the Bhagavad-gita and other texts say that not only are we not alone in the universe, but the universe itself is not alone. Past the enormously distant shell of our own universe are an uncountable number of others. These innumerable universes, in a form described variously as seeds and golden eggs, float from the pores of the skin of Maha-Vishnu as He lies sleeping on the Causal Ocean, a body of transcendental water that separates the spiritual and material realms. Maha-Vishnu breathes out, and the universes come into being for trillions of years. He breathes in and absorbs all the universes and their inhabitants back into His body until His next exhalation in the cycling of creation.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Work for Lord Krishna, or for Maha-Vishnu, is therefore not a matter of great effort. He does it in His sleep. And like all His other activities, His work is a voluntary, sportive pastime to please and accommodate His devotees. Maha-Vishnu’s transcendental creative slumber is said to parody our own unconsciousness under the spell of matter. Here we are forgetful of Krishna, Maha-Vishnu, the spiritual world, and of our own eternal individual natures. The technical term for Lord Maha-Vishnu’s sleeping is yoga-nidra, a term Vaishnavas also employ to denote the coating of intellectual, scientific, and quasi-spiritual knowledge that, in perpetuation of our forgetfulness, directs our waking activities.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Lying on the Causal Ocean, Lord Maha-Vishnu wakes to cast a radiant glance at material nature, which is the shadow of the spiritual nature, represented by His own consort the goddess Rama Devi. While Lord Vishnu is always in the direct company of Rama Devi, He contacts material nature only by His glance. Since Rama Devi consorts with Maha-Vishnu both as His beloved partner and as His power of knowledge, the implication is that both knowledge in the material nature and the material nature itself have a shadowy quality. The material nature is not false, however. It is real. But its fleeting, cyclic reality should, like the shadows in Plato’s cave, leave us to wonder at the substance, vitality, freedom and variety of the original, spiritual nature.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Glance of Time</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The words used for Maha-Vishnu’s glancing are tyakta kalam, indicating that His effulgent glance and time (kala) are one and the same. The radiant time glance carries us minute eternal individual souls into the womb of the shadow material nature, where we acquire temporary bodies according to our activities in the previous creation, the previous breath of Maha-Vishnu. The universes, too, having risen from the pores of Maha-Vishnu’s skin in seed form, enter (in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati words) the “unlimited accommodating chamber” of material nature, where they enlarge to house the embodied souls.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Being ever-present, without beginning or end, time monitors and records everything. Time brings with it to the current creation the results of our activities and desires in previous creations, so that we are daily awakened and impelled by time and time-borne circumstances to deal with our past desires and activities. Like a tape-recorded voice, time represents the will of Krishna and Maha-Vishnu while appearing to be separate from Them.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">According to the Brahma-samhita, even Maha-Vishnu’s glance does not directly touch material nature. There are intermediaries. The first is Rama Devi herself, who “carries the function of His glance” to her shadow nature. (Brahma-samhita 5.7) And at the point where this transported, effulgent time-glance touches the material nature, a reflected halo appears that is known as Sambhu, or Lord Siva. It is Sambhu who impregnates material nature by direct contact. Lord Siva is thus identified with time, its destructive aspect in particular, and is sometimes known as Kala. His consort, the material nature, is often portrayed as the dark destructive goddess Kali. As Maha-Vishnu’s glance and Lord Siva are both identified with time, all three are practically identical. Srila Prabhupada therefore states at various points, without contradiction, that Maha-Vishnu touches material nature only with His glance, only with His time energy, and only in the form of Lord Siva. Lord Siva is, in short, Lord Maha-Vishnu in contact with material nature.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Lord Vishnu acts through Lord Siva in the creation of the material world,” Srila Prabhupada writes. “When Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that he is the seed-giving father of all living entities (aham bija-pradah pita), this refers to actions performed by Lord Vishnu through Lord Siva.… When material activities are to be performed, Lord Vishnu performs them through Lord Siva. When Lord Vishnu is untouched by the external energy He is Lord Vishnu, but when He is in touch with the external energy, He appears in His feature as Lord Siva.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.7.22)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Lord Brahma’s Creations</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Having set the creation in motion by impregnating material nature with the time-bound souls, Lord Maha-Vishnu and Lord Siva expand to individually reside in each universe. Lord Brahma, who is born from a golden lotus flower growing from Lord Vishnu’s navel, joins them. Lord Brahma is first-born of the time-bound souls in every universe. Like the rest of us and unlike Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, though very powerful, is here in the universe, as a result of his past activities, or karma, in pursuit of enjoyment apart from Krishna. Elaborating on the imagery of the lotus, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati states that not only Lord Brahma but every living being has a place on the “superior plane” of this lotus and has a connection to God through its golden form, which represents pure knowledge.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Sitting in meditation atop the lotus, Lord Brahma, impelled by impressions from his previous life, as are all of us, turns his mind to creating the planetary systems, the species of life, and other features of the universal layout. In this way the rest of us individual souls are provided bodies in species that match the mentality we developed in our past lives. During one lifetime of Brahma we rotate in the cycle of birth and death, acquiring and giving up bodies according to the consciousness produced from our chosen activities. Figures given in the Bhagavad-gita show that Lord Brahma’s day, or his twenty-four hours, is equal to approximately eight and one half billion solar years. One hundred years of such days is Brahma’s lifetime, which in turn is equal to one breath, one exhalation and inhalation, of Lord Maha-Vishnu.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">While empowering Lord Brahma to create and Lord Siva to destroy, Lord Vishnu Himself takes charge of maintaining each universe. All activities in the material nature fall into these three broad categories of creation, maintenance, and annihilation under the administration of these three deities. We create our dwellings, families, institutions, nations, and civilizations, maintain them and destroy them, and watch as they are destroyed. Outside of human influence as well, all material bodies, plants and animals, as well as natural bodies like mountains and planets and universes, have their creation, their duration or maintenance, and their ultimate demise under the supervision of the triumvirate headed by Lord Vishnu.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As the contact point with material nature, Lord Siva is initially an instrument of creation. Sambhu means parent or progenitor. The accounts of universal history contained in the Puranas also have him assisting Lord Vishnu in maintenance by diverting or battling villainous elements in the universal population. But Lord Siva is best known as the destroyer. He is said to perform the tandava nritya, a wild, gesticulating dance, crushing not only the universes themselves, but everything within them, great and small. Everything material disappears in due course, trampled by the unrelenting dance of time. Within each universe Lord Siva is known as Rudra, and his wife as Rudrani, names indicating that these two cry loudly, and that, with their violent, destructive natures they cause all of us to cry as well. Rudra also denotes reddish blue, said to be the color of anger. In the form of Lord Maha-Vishnu’s glance, time envelops and directs the entirety of the material manifestation, including creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Time’s overall material effect, however, is destruction, implemented by Lord Siva and his Rudra expansions.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Time in the Spiritual Nature</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Creation, maintenance, and destruction in the course of time are not features of the spiritual nature. The Upanishads say that before the creation there was no Brahma and no Siva, no sun, stars, or sky. There was only Vishnu, His expansions, and the pure souls who have no desire for a life separate from Him. With only Vishnu, and no Siva or Brahma, there is only maintenance, with no creation or destruction. Time exists in the spiritual nature without its destructive side, and without the type of creative side that is merely destruction’s necessary counterpart. And yet the spiritual nature is said to be full of activity, more so than its material reflection. Lord Vishnu and His devotee servants expand spiritually there to enrich, vary, and perpetually increase the pastimes of blissful loving devotion.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">While all this still takes place under the watchful eye of time, in the spiritual nature time only maintains, by the sole influence of Lord Vishnu, or in other words everything there exists eternally. Our experience of the three-fold and ultimately destructive nature of time is only the material experience. The Brahma-samhita refers to spiritual time as a “concentrated all-time presence” and as “transcendental ever-existing time.” It also describes Krishna’s abode Goloka as a place “where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As working men and women the process of breaking away from the tearful conditions of material nature and material time begins with using both our work life and our home life as a means to meditate upon and worship the Supreme Person. The Upanishads state that spiritually inclined persons, from Lord Brahma on down to human society, always look to the supreme abode of Vishnu with all their hearts and minds: om tad vishno paramam padam sada pasyanti yat suryayah. From this perspective there is no question of inactivity because we act ceaselessly, whether in the material or spiritual natures. In pursuance of our ideals, whatever they may be, we are constantly busy. Our entrance into the material nature came about by a desire for the illusion of independence from the Supreme, and the entire nearly immeasurable material creation appeared to satisfy that desire. Redirecting both desire and activity towards Vishnu and Krishna can bring about changes at least equally immeasurable. The practices of bhakti-yoga detailed in the Bhagavad-gita, Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, and other books center on hearing about and describing the attributes and glories of the Supreme Person and of the spiritual nature. These methods, even approached with theoretical caution, can turn both our work persons and our home persons back into pure, transcendental, spiritual individuals by awakening us from our slumbering condition in material nature.</p>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85857">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85857</a></div></div>ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir and Cultural Centre, South Bengaluruhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/iskcon-sri-sri-radha-vinoda-mandir-and-cultural-centre-south-beng2023-10-12T15:53:30.000Z2023-10-12T15:53:30.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12254246293,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" alt="12254246293?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>New ISKCON Temple Opens in Bengaluru, to serve as a Spiritual & Cultural Centre</strong></p>
<p>ISKCON has brought great joy to the devotees of Sri Krishna by executing the inauguration ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Temple & Cultural Centre (ICC) which also houses the shrines of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev & Srimati Subhadra Mai, Sri Sri Gaura Sundara Nityananda Natavara at Kumaraswamy Layout, Bangalore. A separate altar has been dedicated for Srila Prabhupada, where his murti is installed.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Sri Sri Radha Vinoda</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Sri Sri Jagannath Baladeva & Srimati Subhadra Mai</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Sri Sri Gaura Sundara Nityananda Natavara</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>ISKCON Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada</strong></p>
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<p>A large hall is designed for devotees to comfortably have the darshan of their Lordships. The campus also provides spiritual and cultural education for children, youth, and families. There’s also a Multipurpose Cultural Hall that is dedicated for Lectures, Kirtans, Festivals, Conventions, & other functions.</p>
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<p><strong>The Divine Temple Opening Ceremony:</strong></p>
<div>The temple was inaugurated in a grand ceremony on October 1st, 2023, by Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Honorable Governor of Karnataka & Sri Tejasvi Surya, the Honorable Member of Parliament & National President of BJP Yuva Morcha.</div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Left to right: HG Narahari Chaitanya Das – Temple President ICC, Honourable Governor Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Honourable Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya cutting the ribbon inaugurating the new temple of ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir</em></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><em>From left: ICC TP HG Narahari Chaitanya Das, Indian MP Sri Tejasvi Surya & Honourable Governor Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot </em></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Governor Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot & Indian MP Sri Tejasvi Surya greeting ISKCON GBC & Guru HH Jayapataka Swami </em></div>
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<div>The auspicious opening ceremony was presided over by the ISKCON GBC & Guru HH Jayapataka Swami, GBC HH Bhanu Swami, Zonal Supervisor HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami, HH Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami, HG Narahari Chaitanya Das – ICC Temple President, HG Varada Krishna Das, & other senior devotees.</div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Dignitaries on the Dias- Left to right (audience perspective): HG Varada Krishna Das ( Temple President – ISKCON HBR Layout), HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami (Zonal Supervisor & ISKCON Coimbatore Temple President), Honourable Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya, Honourable Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, HG Narahari Chaitanya Das (Temple President - ISKCON South Bengaluru), HH Jayapataka Swami (GBC), HH Bhanu Swami (GBC), HH Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami (Chairman – ISKCON BMV, Regional Secretary for UP, India)</em></div>
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<div><strong>Sequence of events: -</strong></div>
<div>- Introduction and garlanding the guests on the dais.<br /> - Invocation by the Girls forum of ISKCON South Bengaluru<br /> - Address by HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami<br /> - Address by the Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya<br /> - Address by HH Jayapataka Swami<br /> - Address by the Honourable Governor of Karnataka Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot<br /> - Vote of thanks by Srinidhi Govind Das<br /> <br /> The event started and ended with the Indian National Anthem.</div>
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<p><br /> <strong>Invocation- </strong>An invocation prayer was sung by the youth girls of the temple. The prayers sung were verses 1 and 30 from the fifth chapter of the Brahma Samhita, Verses 3 and 6 of Sri Shikshashtakam, and verse 5 from Sri Jagannathashtakam.<br /> <br /> <strong>Indian Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya</strong> addressed the august audience of devotees and public by paying respects to all assembled dignitaries and went on to congratulate everyone for the inauguration of the temple. He spoke about the rich culture of South India, especially Bengaluru. Bengaluru is a city which is decorated with multiple temples, and this temple, he said was an important addition to the spiritual capital. He then appreciated ISKCON for being the true pioneers of globalization and the spirit of unity amid differences in nationality, gender, race, religion, and political ideology. ISKCON’s role in offering food and shelter to people in times of need was highlighted by him quoting the movement’s involvement in ensuring safety of Indian students, among others, stranded in Ukraine in early 2022. He ended by speaking about the importance of temples in achieving a peaceful mind in the anxiety ridden world we live in, and about the universality of Sanatana dharma.</p>
<p><strong>HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj </strong>addressed by chanting the pranam mantras of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He thanked the Governor and the MP for gracing the occasion of the temple inauguration. In continuation with the MP Sri Tejasvi Surya’s point of the universality of Sanatana Dharma, He said that He was raised in a family of devout Christians. He continued by talking about how the idea of inclusivity is important in ISKCON. He said that Bengaluru is a very important city in India and that He envisions it to be the spiritual capital of India. He ended by requesting for the government’s cooperation for spreading Harinam all across Bengaluru and giving His special blessings- “Krishna Matir Astu” to the Governor and the MP.</p>
<p><strong>The Honourable Governor Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot</strong> started his address by appreciating HDG Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for making His Spiritual Master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada’s order to preach the message of Sanatana dharma all around the world His life’s mission. He then recognized the dedication of HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj for taking Sannyasa at the young age of 21 and completely dedicating His life to follow in the footsteps of His Spiritual Master. He spoke about how ISKCON is vital to maintain the pillars of society - Education and Community Development. He emphasized that the worldwide reach of ISKCON helped bring meaning to the commonly quoted Sanskrit phrase Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. The Governor ended his address by congratulating the participants on the opening of the new temple and encouraged them to further preach the gospel of Sanatana Dharma to ensure universal peace and brotherhood – "sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ"</p>
<p>The Vedic temple opening ceremony started on 27th Sept and continued to 1st October 2023. The Vedic rituals of deity installation were led by the Deity Ministry headed by Sheetalanga Das & Seva Atula Das along with other priests on the 27th, 28th and 29th of September 2023. It is estimated that 2000-3000 devotees from all over Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and nearby places participated in the temple inaugural festival. There were book tables with publications of ISKCON BBT, HH Bhanu Swami & HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami and stalls having devotional paraphernalia for the devotees & visitors. Over 12,000 plates of prasadam were distributed throughout the day among the devotees attending the festival</p>
<p>The community & congregation of the temple devotees had the association of:<br /> HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj – GBC & Guru,<br /> HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj – GBC,<br /> HH Sukadeva Swami Maharaj – President ISKCON Nellore,<br /> HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami Maharaj – SIDC Chairman,<br /> HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj – President ISKCON Belgaum,<br /> HH Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami Maharaj – Chairman ISKCON BMV,<br /> HG Revati Raman Das – GBC Chairman,<br /> HG Samba Das – President ISKCON Vishakhapatnam,<br /> HG Shankadhari Das – General Secretary ISKCON Bureau,<br /> HG Pundarikaksha Govinda Das – ISKCON Global Duty Officer, <br /> HG Sumitra Krishna Das – President ISKCON Chennai,<br /> HG Varada Krishna Das – President ISKCON SNGM Bangalore, among other ISKCON devotee Leaders.</p>
<p>The temple witnessed the Maha Sammelana by the presence of multiple Sannyasis and senior devotees. Ecstatic kirtans were sung throughout the day by melodious singers. On the evening of the 30th, there were cultural activities by the children of ICC Congregation.<br /> The Prana Prathishta of the deities had been conducted strictly as per the agama shastras by senior and learned priests HG Sheetalanga Das & HG Seva Atula Das from ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry. The Vedic ceremonies that started on 28th September & continued till the end of the month. Hence, the temple was to be fully open to the public from 1st October.</p>
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<p><strong>ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir & Cultural Centre</strong></p>
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<p>The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir & Cultural Centre will serve the needs of the people of South Bengaluru and its surroundings by providing devotional opportunities for them to showcase their devotional talents and by launching courses on shastra & scriptural learnings, cultural modules, & other programs to the public. ISKCON ICC will also promote social progress through teaching spiritual solutions to the myriad of problems that are faced by the society today including war, poverty, environmental degradation, racial and sectarian strife.</p>
<p>The Temple Complex will also house a Vedic library with the purpose of providing free and easy access to the teachings of Krishna consciousness, as presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The library will contain a vast collection of books, articles, audio and video recordings, and other resources on a wide range of topics that will help people learn about and experience Krishna consciousness, or to the ones who are simply looking for a place to find spiritual inspiration.</p>
<p>The previous shelter of the divine siblings Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva & Srimati Subhadra Mai will become a Convention Hall for promoting cultural activities.</p>
<p>The temple is currently planning to expand its preaching activities over a 5 km radius.</p>
<p>The inauguration of the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir & Cultural Centre in South Bengaluru is a significant milestone for the propagation of the Krishna Consciousness Movement in India & around the globe. ICC will serve as a place for devotees to worship, learn, and grow in their spiritual practice. It will also be a place for the public to learn about the Krishna Conscious philosophy and culture which will be open to anyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or any other factor.</p>
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<div>For more photos please click this link: <a href="http://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXCfy" target="_blank">flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXCfy</a><br /> Temple directions: <a href="http://maps.app.goo.gl/cqgmMAeYPK4NMtXMA" target="_blank">maps.app.goo.gl/cqgmMAeYPK4NMtXMA</a></div>
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<div><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12254254878,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="12254254878?profile=RESIZE_584x" /> </div></div>New ISKCON Temple Opens in Bengaluru to Serve as a Spiritual & Cultural Centrehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/new-iskcon-temple-opens-in-bengaluru-to-serve-as-a-spiritual-cult2023-10-12T14:26:31.000Z2023-10-12T14:26:31.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12254144067,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="12254144067?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Kaliarupa Jagannath Dasa </strong></p>
<p><em>Dignitaries on the Dais- Left to right (audience perspective): HG Varada Krishna Das ( Temple President – ISKCON HBR Layout), HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami (Zonal Supervisor & ISKCON Coimbatore Temple President), Honourable Member of Parliament Sri Tejasvi Surya, Honourable Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, HG Narahari Chaitanya Das (Temple President – ISKCON South Bengaluru), HH Jayapataka Swami (GBC), HH Bhanu Swami (GBC), HH Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami (Chairman – ISKCON BMV, Regional Secretary for UP, India).</em></p>
<p>ISKCON held the inauguration ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Temple & Cultural Centre (ICC) in Bengaluru on October 1st, 2023. The auspicious opening was presided over by GBC HH Jayapataka Swami, GBC HH Bhanu Swami, Zonal Supervisor HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami, HH Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami, HG Narahari Chaitanya Das – ICC Temple President, HG Varada Krishna Das, and other senior devotees. Dignitaries in attendance included Sri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Honorable Governor of Karnataka & Sri Tejasvi Surya, the Honorable Member of Parliament & National President of BJP Yuva Morcha.</p>
<p>The ICC houses the shrines of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev & Srimati Subhadra Mai, Sri Sri Gaura Sundara Nityananda Natavara at Kumaraswamy Layout, Bangalore. A separate altar has been dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, where his murti is installed. A large hall was designed for devotees to comfortably have the darshan of their Lordships. The campus also provides spiritual and cultural education for children, youth, and families. A Multipurpose Cultural Hall is also dedicated for lectures, kirtans, festivals, conventions, and other functions.</p>
<p>The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Mandir & Cultural Centre will serve the needs of the people of South Bengaluru and its surroundings by providing devotional opportunities for them to showcase their devotional talents and by launching courses on shastra and scriptural learnings, cultural modules, & other programs to the public. It will also promote social progress by teaching spiritual solutions to society’s myriad of problems, including war, poverty, environmental degradation, and racial and sectarian strife.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/new-iskcon-temple-opens-in-bengaluru-to-serve-as-a-spiritual-cultural-centre/">https://iskconnews.org/new-iskcon-temple-opens-in-bengaluru-to-serve-as-a-spiritual-cultural-centre/</a></p></div>Differentiating material and spiritual attachments By Radhanath Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/differentiating-material-and-spiritual-attachments-by-radhanath-s2023-08-01T12:30:00.000Z2023-08-01T12:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515261818,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515261818?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p>“When we love those who love the Lord, the Lord reveals his love to us. Krishna sends his loving devotees to this world, so that we can transfer our attachment.”- Radhanath Swami</p>
<p>Shivananda Sen, he was taking all the 200-300 devotees from Bengal to Puri. They were walking so many days. And a little dog just started following. And that dog… he wasn’t a kind of pedigree, beautiful kind of dog. He was just the kind of dogs that you find in the streets of India. He followed. He followed. And Shivananda Sen just saw with such compassion – “If this spirit soul in this dog, if he sees Lord Chaitanya, how much he will benefit! I must serve him nicely.”<br /> So, the dog became dear to Shivananda Sen. The dog didn’t do any seva. All he did is just follow, and whatever else dogs do. And when Shivananda Sen was delayed and he had to give dog a special meal. So, he made some special rice, only for the dog. But while he was gone, they forgot to give him that special rice.<br /> So, he came back, “Where is dog?”<br /> “We don’t know”<br /> “Did you feed him his special rice?”<br /> They said, “We forgot”.<br /> Shivananda Sen was looking everywhere, couldn’t find him. When he finally came with all the party to Puri, he went to see Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Shivananda Sen was alone. He went to the Gambira and he saw two people all alone, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the dog. How did he get there? It’s a mystery! It was just the two of them. Lord Chaitanya had some green coconut pulp.<br /> And he said to the dog, “Chant Krishna! Krishna!”<br /> And the dog chanted, “Krishna! Krishna!”<br /> Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took a bite of the green coconut pulp, and took it out of his mouth, and threw it at the dog. And the dog jumped up and had it.<br /> Then Mahaprabhu said, “Chant Krishna! Krishna!”<br /> The dog went, “Krishna! Krishna! ”<br /> It kept doing like that. They were having a pastime together.<br /> Shivananda Sen, it describes, he bowed down to the lotus-like paws of the dog. That was how he honored that dog. And we read in the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, the next day dog was nowhere to be found. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sent him to Goloka Vrindavan, the spiritual world. What was his qualification? This dog, he wasn’t doing any intense sadhana. He wasn’t doing any puja. He was attached to a devotee.</p>
<p>“And the devotee was not materially attached to the dog. This is the fine line we have to be very careful. He was attached to the atma of that dog.” – Radhanath Swami</p>
<p>So, one may say, “If he was attached to the atma, then why was he feeding the body of the dog? Why was he so concerned with proper meals, proper transportation? He had to pay for him to go on boats.” Because the body is the medium by which we could serve the atma. But what is the intent? A mother and father have to care for their children, have to care for the physical [health] of their children. But is the motivation to liberate their souls? “By serving this person’s body I can actually somehow or other give Krishna to their soul.” And if that’s what will really do, then the body is the medium. Yes, Shivananda Sen was very concerned with the body of the dog. But his purpose was to bring him to Lord Chaitanya, so he could get that mercy. And somehow or other, because of that kindness, the dog became attached to him.</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85017">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85017</a><u></u></p></div>Spiritual Fasting By Yamuna Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-fasting-by-yamuna-devi-dasi2023-07-24T09:30:00.000Z2023-07-24T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515182660,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515182660,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515182660?profile=original" width="500" /></a></p>
<p><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></p>
<p>With spiritual fasting, you may not make headlines,</p>
<p>but you’ll make headway on the path back to Godhead.</p>
<p>What do Mahatma Gandhi, Dick Gregory, Jane Fonda, Norman Mailer, Bolivian dissidents, British suffragettes, and Irish revolutionaries have in common? Well, for one thing, at one time or another and for one reason or another, they’ve all fasted. Materially their fasting was somewhat successful, whether it was undertaken to free India from British domination, turn public opinion against the Vietnam War, lose weight, win amnesty for political prisoners, get the right to vote, or what have you.</p>
<p>But how about spiritually? It’s not that merely by starving we’re sure to make spiritual progress. A lot depends on our purpose. Fasting for some political purpose my help us reach some political goal. But the Vedic teachings direct us beyond such goals. Fasting, say the Vedic scriptures, is meant to help us control the mind and senses so we can advance in spiritual realization; it’s not for any other purpose. This may sound like a hard-nosed, shortsighted viewpoint, but before we make a hard-nosed, shortsighted judgment, let’s take a closer look.</p>
<p>Say I’m overweight and want to whittle away some extra pounds. (In Western countries, losing weight is the most common reason people fast.) And say I summon my utmost determination and fast to shed those extra pounds. Still, I don’t solve the problem that made me overweight to begin with: poor eating habits. So I’m much like the proverbial elephant who bathes thoroughly in a river and then emerges only to roll on the muddy riverbank. What is the use of such a bath? Or, as Judith Dobrzynski says in the last sentences of her book Fasting, a Way to Well-Being: “It is always better to eat a well-balanced, moderate diet and to practice good living habits to ensure good health. There are no shortcuts to that goal.”</p>
<p>The material goals achieved by fasting are like everything else material: temporary and limited. India is free of British rule, but it is not free of daily economic, political, and social crises, nor of drought, floods, poverty, and all the ills that accompany industrialization. The Vietnam War is over, but other wars are flaring up regularly. Similarly, you may regain your health by fasting, but for how long? Disease is an inevitable part of material life.</p>
<p>But a transcendentalist’s fast is entirely different: his goals are neither temporary nor limited. He doesn’t begin his fast with a press conference to alert the public, nor does he step on the scales daily to see his pound-down progress. He doesn’t even long for the day when he can once again enjoy apple pie a la mode without remorse or guilt. In fact, the most advanced transcendentalists fast inadvertently they actually forget to eat!</p>
<p>For such advanced souls, this forgetfulness is the result not of severe self-abnegation but of spontaneous pure love of God. For instance, Uddhava, a great scholar and a devotee of Lord Krsna, is described like this in the Vedic classic Srimad-Bhagavatam: “He was one who even in his childhood, at the age of five years, was so absorbed in the service of Lord Krsna that when he was called by his mother for breakfast, he did not wish to have it.” Similarly, Lord Caitanya’s foremost disciples, the six Gosvamis, were so absorbed in devotional service and remembrance of the Lord that they also neglected eating.</p>
<p>We can understand this preoccupation to a small degree. Sometimes we get so caught up in a novel or TV show that even when someone calls us it doesn’t register; it “goes in one ear and out the other.” But we can’t imitate the ecstasy of Krsna’s great devotees whose attention is so absorbed in the Supreme Lord that they forget to eat.</p>
<p>For those of us who are not on this exalted platform of spontaneous devotion to the Lord, the scriptures mention specific observances that will help us come to this platform. As far as fasting goes, we fast on the appearance days of the Lord and His empowered representatives, and on Ekadasi. (Ekadasi is the eleventh day after each full moon and the eleventh day after each new moon.) On these days we try to concentrate our attention and energy on transcendental activities hearing about and discussing Krsna consciousness and to minimize our bodily demands. In other words, the goal is spiritual advancement, self-realization.</p>
<p>There are different ways to observe Ekadasi. You may fast the entire day; you may eat only fruit; you may eat only fruit, milk, milk products, and root vegetables (such as potatoes, beets, white radishes, and peanuts) that are very simply spiced. But most commonly, devotees observe Ekadasi by abstaining from all grains and beans. In other words, they avoid rice, wheat, corn, string beans, peas, dals (soups made from dried beans), and spices that have been mixed with flour, like asafetida.</p>
<p>Although Ekadasi is not difficult to follow, the results, materially and spiritually, are most beneficial. For one thing, this kind of fasting is good for your health, and it saves food too. (If Ekadasi were generally observed, tons of food could be saved for people who really need it.) Besides that, this simple austerity helps us become religious. The Brahma-vaivarta Purana, one of the oldest scriptures known to man, states, “One who observes Ekadasi is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life.” On the other hand, even if you’re a world-famous politician or a top-ranking comedian, if you sacrifice eating simply for material reasons your sacrifices are denigrated by Lord Krsna: “Sacrifices performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent. They are useless both in this life and the next” (Bg. 17.28).</p>
<p>Here are a few simple Ekadasi recipes you can try for Krsna’s pleasure. To find out when the next Ekadasi is, look on page 31.</p>
<p>(Recipes by Yamuna-devi dasi)</p>
<p>Creamy Cashew-Nut Chutney</p>
<p>(Kaju Chatni)</p>
<p>This mild-tasting, velvety-smooth chutney has an outstanding flavor and is an excellent raw-food dip for fresh vegetables. Mixed with a little yogurt, it makes an excellent salad dressing.</p>
<p>Preparation time: 5 minutes<br /> Yield: About ¾ cup</p>
<p>1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, minced<br /> 1 cup raw split or broken cashew nuts<br /> ¼ cup lemon juice<br /> 1 teaspoon salt<br /> 2 to 3 teaspoons fresh ginger root, peeled and minced fine<br /> ½ to 2 teaspoons hot green chilies, seeded and minced fine<br /> ¼ to 1/3 cup water</p>
<p>1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Stop the motor, scrape the mixture down toward the blade, cover, and blend another 15 seconds. If necessary, add a little more water to insure a smooth puree.</p>
<p>2. Transfer the chutney to a small bowl and offer to Krsna immediately. Covered, the chutney will keep in a refrigerator for up to 2 days. Since the chutney will thicken when it sits, before serving add a little water until it returns to its original creamy, moist consistency.</p>
<p>Water-Chestnut-Flour or Banana-Flour Halava</p>
<p>(Singara Halava)</p>
<p>This halava is a fluffy, sweet pudding with a texture akin to that of mashed potatoes. Prepared without grains, it is a quite popular dessert served on Ekadasi fasting days.</p>
<p>Preparation time: 20 minutes<br /> Yield: 4 or 5 servings</p>
<p>¾ to 1 cup milk<br /> ½to 2/3 cup sugar or honey<br /> ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder<br /> 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg powder<br /> ½ cup ghee (clarified butter)<br /> 1 cup banana flour or water-chestnut flour, sifted<br /> 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or almonds<br /> 2 tablespoons chopped raisins</p>
<p>1. Combine the milk and sweetener in a blender, cover, and blend for 1 ½ minutes. Remove and add the powdered spices.</p>
<p>2. Heat the ghee in a 2-quart saucepan over a medium flame, sprinkle in the sifted flour, and slowly stir-fry for about 8 minutes or until the flour is lightly browned.</p>
<p>3. While stirring the flour-and-ghee mixture with one hand, slowly pour in the sweetened milk, and then cook until the liquid is fully absorbed and the halava’s texture is light and fluffy.</p>
<p>4. Dish the halava into individual serving bowls or one large serving bowl and garnish with the chopped nuts and raisins. Offer to Krsna hot.</p>
<p>Quick-and-Easy Sauteed Potatoes</p>
<p>(Sukhe Alo)</p>
<p>This is perhaps the most classic of all Ekadasi potato preparations.</p>
<p>Preparation time: 25 minutes<br /> Servings: 4</p>
<p>½ teaspoon black pepper, ground coarse<br /> ½ tablespoon dry-roasted cumin seeds, crushed coarse<br /> ½ teaspoon chat masala, if available (try an Indian grocery)<br /> ½ cup plain yogurt<br /> 1 ½ pounds fresh potatoes suitable for boiling<br /> 3 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil<br /> 1 teaspoon salt</p>
<p>1. Peel the potatoes, cut them into 1-inch cubes, steam until tender, and cool.</p>
<p>2. Combine the black pepper, cumin seeds, chat masala, and yogurt in a 1-quart mixing bowl.</p>
<p>3. Drop in the chunks of potato and gently toss and roll them in the seasoned yogurt. Set aside and marinate for 15 minutes.</p>
<p>4. Heat the ghee or vegetable oil in a heavy 10-inch frying pan over a medium to medium-high flame until a haze forms over the surface. Add the potatoes and salt, and then stir-fry until the potatoes form a golden crust. Offer to Krsna hot.</p>
<p>Deep-Fried Mashed-Vegetable Croquettes</p>
<p>(Kacha Kela Bada)</p>
<p>Preparation time: 25 minutes<br /> Yield: 12 balls</p>
<p>1/3 pound fresh potatoes suitable for boiling<br /> 1/3 pound ripe bananas<br /> 1/3 pound colocasia root (try a specialty store)<br /> 1 ¼ teaspoon salt<br /> 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground coarse<br /> I to 3 teaspoons hot green chilies. minced fine<br /> 1 tablespoon lemon juice<br /> ½ cup banana flour or water-chestnut flour<br /> 2 ½ to 3 cups ghee, vegetable oil, or nut oil</p>
<p>1. Wash the potatoes, peel, cut into 1-inch cubes, and steam until tender. Do the same with the bananas and colocasia root.</p>
<p>2. Mash together or puree chunks of potato, banana, and colocasia root. Then place in a bowl and knead in the salt, pepper, chilies, and lemon juice. Now knead in the flour until the dough is smooth.</p>
<p>3. Divide the dough into 12 smooth, round balls. Heat the ghee or oil in a deep frying vessel until the temperature reaches 350 F (use a frying thermometer). Slip in 6 balls at a time and fry, gently turning, until they are evenly cooked to a deep-reddish color. Remove with a slotted spoon and fry the remaining balls. Offer to Krsna piping hot.</p>
<p>Source:<a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27375">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27375</a></p></div>What is the role of the Kirtan leader, spiritually? By Bada Haridashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/what-is-the-role-of-the-kirtan-leader-spiritually-by-bada-haridas2023-06-30T10:30:00.000Z2023-06-30T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515194384,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515194384?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" /></p>
<p>Q.<br /> Dear Bada Haridas,<br /> I led my first kirtan yesterday evening! I was wondering what is the role of the kirtan leader? I know that practically speaking they are playing an instrument and singing the mantra for the group to repeat, but what is their job spiritually?</p>
<p>I felt a little bit nervous to take on the task at first and was wondering if you could share some of your wisdom in that regard. Hare Krishna!</p>
<p>A.<br /> Glad to hear you are leading kirtan. Thank you for asking such a nice question and for taking it so seriously. (Serious doesn’t mean it’s not blissful!)</p>
<p>We could speak about kirtan for a long time. There’s way more to it than it may seem. Briefly, the kirtan leader’s role is to help people connect with Krishna and you can’t do that if you’re not connected. So really the focus is internal. Try to be present in the moment, hearing attentively, sincerely calling out, asking for service and purification, singing for Krishna’s pleasure, thinking of the Lord, and begging for mercy. Chanting is all about re-establishing our relationship with the Lord.</p>
<p>As the kirtan leader it is best to be in the mood of serving the devotees. When Krishna is pleased, as Supersoul within their hearts, He pleases them, and that’s how we serve them. It’s not a show, or a performance.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada wrote, “The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract a crowd. If Krishna hears nicely then He will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such a place.” Letter to Subala, November 12, 1967.</p>
<p>Another important thing to remember is that a good kirtan happens by the mercy of the Holy Name alone. We can’t “make it happen.” We can sincerely call out (like a child crying for it’s mother) but it’s up to Him if He will appear or remain hidden. We have to try our best to serve, but we’re completely dependent on His mercy. So kirtan is a dynamic process of experiencing Krishna’s reciprocation in different ways. It’s never the same twice. It’s a discovery process.</p>
<p>Still, the more we actually love Krishna, the more He will want to come to us during kirtan.</p>
<p>One practical point: Try to sing melodies that are fairly easy for people to repeat. At the same time, try to make it musically pleasing and appropriate for the crowd and the circumstance.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Thank you again. All the best. Hare Krsna!</p>
<p>Your servant,<br /> Bada Haridas</p>
<p>—-<br /> Part Two<br /> When Krishna hides</p>
<p>Q.<br /> You were saying we can call out to the Lord and sometimes He can make Himself known, whereas at other times He may remain hidden. What were some experiences you have had in situations like these?</p>
<p>A.<br /> Krishna is present in His Name. He is there when we are chanting. Sometimes when we chant, by His mercy, we really feel His presence. We know He is there and the kirtan becomes very wonderful. I experience this in different ways, never quite the same. The Lord in His deity form, Srila Prabhupada, or other spiritual personalities, appear in the mind. Sometimes spiritual feelings arise.</p>
<p>Although Krishna is always there, sometimes we don’t feel His presence. He keeps Himself hidden, and I feel like a stone and the chanting seems empty. Krishna does this so that we will examine our heart and, with greater humility and sincerity, call out to Him. It’s not automatic or mechanical bliss, there is a reciprocation going on. Somehow, we need to chant and hear. But that is our time to be with Krishna and we need to be aware of what is happening in our relationship with the Lord.</p>
<p>If this seems like too much work sometimes, you can always go back to the basic instruction of chanting and hearing, and bringing the mind back to being present with each mantra. This is the basic instruction Srila Prabhupada gives and we don’t have to over think this. Chant with the tongue and hear with the ears. But it is natural that, as the mind settles down and you become absorbed in chanting, devotional feelings come.</p>
<p>Your servant,<br /> Bada Haridas</p>
<p>Source:<a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=47847">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=47847</a></p></div>Two Energies Choices By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/two-energies-choices-by-satsvarupa-dasa-goswami2023-06-21T09:30:00.000Z2023-06-21T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515113699,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515113699?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p><em><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></em><br /> <br /> Which way does one go in moments of despair?</p>
<p>LORD KRSNA HAS TWO ENERGIES, material and spiritual, but they can be used interchangeably if one knows how. Just as the same electricity can be used to heat or cool a building, so Krsna’s energies can be used for different purposes according to the living entity’s desire.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that the living entity can control Krsna’s energies, only that he can use them. When a conditioned soul wishes to exploit the material nature, he contacts the material energy. When he no longer wishes to dominate or enjoy the material energy and instead uses it in Krsna’s service, he contacts the spiritual energy. The living entity is called the “marginal potency” of God-he can go either way. The Bhagavad-gita (9.13) states: “Being marginal potency, as soon as the living entity is freed from the control of material nature he is put under the guidance of the spiritual nature.” There are only two choices.</p>
<p>In the Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada speaks of penance and repentance as our means to begin the switch from material to spiritual. If we regret our association with the material energy, we will no longer feel dependent upon its dualities and we will turn to Krsna. Repentance burns away our sins and pushes us toward surrender.</p>
<p>Lord Krsna states, “The material energy is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14) Srila Prabhupada adds, “Krsna, being the Lord of the illusory energy, can order His insurmountable energy to release the conditioned soul.”</p>
<p>Repentance is followed by penance or austerity. We begin our austerity by trying to stop exploiting material resources as if we own them. That means we have to learn tolerance, because the material energy rarely acts for our comfort. Numberless little things in life irritate us. The more attached we are to physical ease, the more troublesome these things become. Therefore, we have to tolerate.</p>
<p>Those who tolerate are neither culprits who cause pain to other living entities to ensure their own comfort nor helpless victims living only for relief nor fools trying to enjoy. Our senses become subdued and our hearts purified.</p>
<p>Repentance and penance are nothing more than attitude. An episode in t he Bhagavatam shows how our attitude determines whether we live in the spiritual or the material energy. When Vidura tried to convince Dhrtarastra to return the throne to the Pandavas, its rightful heirs, Dhrtarastra threw Vidura out of the palace, which had been his home. So Vidura decided to go on pilgrimage. Because of his love for Krsna, he accepted his new situation as the Lord’s will. Srila Prabhupada states that in this instance the Lord’s material energy acted as the internal , spiritual energy. Although Vidura could see that he had been mistreated, he also saw Krsna’s blessing. Suddenly he was free of political entanglement and could seek out pure Krsna consciousness in a life of renunciation and devotion.</p>
<p>When we stop blaming others for the pain they seem to cause us, and understand our role in causing our own karma, and when we see our powerlessness against the material energy, we will become more dependent on Krsna. Then the material energy will become spiritual in our hands. Instead of dragging us further into material life, our happiness and distress will elevate us in Krsna consciousness. Rather than causing us pain, our predicaments and perplexities will provide us another chance to meditate on Krsna. And that will make us happy.</p>
<p>Of course, the atheists consider this mad, irresponsible. You should not tolerate your suffering but strive to overcome it. But is it possible? No matter how hard we work to get ahead in life, we never seem to become happy. That’s because everything we do must be done at the expense of others, who are seeking gratification at our expense. If we manage to climb to the top of the pile, then Providence slaps us-a family member dies, the fortune dwindles, the spouse is unfaithful, we contract a debilitating disease, and in the end we die. To pursue such a blind path is the ultimate in irresponsibility.</p>
<p>The Bhagavatam (1.3.34) states: “If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with selfrealization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.” We are the marginal potency of God. We can go either way. We can go either way. We can respond to whatever life deals us by glorifying God, or we can make that other choice.</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=28875">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=28875</a></p></div>Whom to Worship? By Gauranga Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/whom-to-worship-by-gauranga-dasa-12023-06-21T08:30:00.000Z2023-06-21T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515271771,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515271771?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" /></strong></p>
<p><em><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></em></p>
<p><em>We all worship someone all of us but the question is…</em></p>
<p>One of the principles of worship is at traction. When you are reverentially attracted to someone, you have the desire to establish a relationship with that person, and when the relationship is established then you want to perform some worship. Therefore the most important principle is attraction. So the question is what makes a person attractive?</p>
<p>In a spiritual discourse if we announce beforehand that there will be a lecture by Bill Gates on ten easy ways to make money, the turnout will be huge. Why? What is the difference between Bill Gates and a spiritual speaker? Both have two legs, two hands, and a body like all of us. The difference is that he has a certain energy that attracts us towards him, and what is that energy? Money the energy of wealth. That is why a magazine publisher will put his picture on the cover page and not pick any of us. That magazine will sell because Bill Gates’ energy of wealth makes him attractive.</p>
<p>We take people seriously and are willing to worship them for the wealth which they own and possess, but please note that wealth came into their lives at a certain point and that wealth will go away from them at a certain point. And they do not control all the wealth of the entire creation; they are controlling only one insignificant aspect it for a short period of time. Even for that they become worshipable.</p>
<p><strong>Worshipping gods of this world</strong></p>
<p>All of you have heard about Amitabh Bachchan. Have you heard about Lord Nityananda? Maybe not. I had never heard of Gaura-Nitai before coming to ISKCON. When Amitabh Bachchan’s movies would be released, people would go mad. Everyone would want to go and attend the first-day-first-show, and whole families would go and visit a cinema-theater like they visit a holy place. In South India the equivalent is Rajnikant. When he comes on screen, people break coconuts, take arati plates and even offer aratiin the cinema halls.</p>
<p>What makes these people attractive is that they are famous and beautiful, so they attract worship. In fact in Bengal there is a whole temple dedicated to Amitabh Bachchan, and he is an object of worship.</p>
<p>If a cricket star like Sachin Tendulkar walks into a temple, all eyes will be on him. You may be a devotee, you may be chanting Hare Krishna, but believe it or not, you won’t look at Deities as intently as you would look at him. That is the naked truth. Our hearts have been stolen away by the worshipable deities of this world made of flesh and bones.</p>
<p>Now what makes us attracted towards Sachin is our awareness of the game of cricket. If the audience were Americans, they may not even know that he is a champion. I don’t know anything about baseball so I don’t know who is the champion or the worshipable person in that game. Therefore what is important is knowledge. It is knowledge that makes us know who is who. If the whole audience is a bunch of cannibals and you keep the biggest sportstar and the biggest filmstar before them, it will not make any difference. All they might see is who is healthier and who will be tastier that will be their object of vision.</p>
<p>Therefore, what makes someone attractive is the energy he possesses. So here we have the Supreme Lord Krishna, and Krishna possesses unlimited energies, but we do not feel attracted towards Him because we are not aware of the energies which He possesses, and therefore we think He is just ordinary. For example, we may see someone sitting next to us and feel that he is an ordinary person unless someone introduces him to us.</p>
<p><strong>A Supreme Lord who is bewilderingly simple</strong></p>
<p>When you see Krishna you will see a bluish-colored boy carrying a flute. Brahmaji describes, “O my dear Lord when I saw You I got bewildered because I thought You were ordinary.” (<em>Bhag</em>. 10.14.1)</p>
<p><em><strong>naumidya te ’bhra-vapuse tadid-ambaraya</strong></em><br /><em><strong> gunjavatamsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhaya</strong></em><br /><em><strong> vanya-sraje kavala-vetra-visana-venu-</strong></em><br /><em><strong> laksma-sriye mrdu-pade pasupangajaya</strong></em></p>
<p>“O Krishna! When someone looks at You they just see Your beautiful clothes.” Krishna wears a yellow-colored cloth just a simple dhoti. Anyone can wear a dhoti, so what is the big deal? Gunjavatamsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhaya “and there is nice gunja-mala,” and paripiccha “and on top of Your head there is a peacock feather.” How much does a peacock feather cost? Even the peacock discards it, but Krishna puts it on His head. Vanya-sraje Krishna is wearing a garland of flowers. You will never see Krishna in Vrindavana wearing opulent golden jewellery. If you go to Tirupati Balaji the Janmastami dress costs eight crores. Everyday the crown of Balaji has diamonds which cost 1 crore so when you look at that you know He must be someone important, But if you look at Krishna in Vrindavana, He just appears so simple, just wearing a forest flower garland. kavala-vetra-visana-venu and what is He eating? If you want to understand who is who then you will also see what kind of a diet he has. If someone eats in a five star hotel everyday you understand that this person is not ordinary. But what is Krishna carrying in His hand? Kavala: curd rice. Even amongst prasada, curd rice is the simplest. Since Krishna is eating that someone may think He is just ordinary. Vetra-visana-venu: He is carrying a stick for taking care of His cows. He is carrying as musical instrument, flute a bamboo flute, not even a metal flute. A bamboo flute is so readily available; just take a piece of bamboo and make some holes. There are so many costly musical instruments like trumpets, keyboards, electric guitars, but a flute is so simple. Anyone can purchase one. So by seeing this, Brahmaji is saying “My dear Lord I got bewildered thinking that You are just an ordinary boy.”</p>
<p>So Krishna appears to be an ordinary person and we do not feel He is the Supreme worshipable Lord because we are not aware of His energies, whereas we are more attracted to powerful important attractive personalities in this world like rich, beautiful, famous men, and we feel that we should worship them. That is because of awareness and knowledge about them.</p>
<p><strong>Yearn to learn about God</strong></p>
<p>Just imagine a cricket match is taking place in some corner of the world and there is no TV, no radio, no newspaper, no coverage, no one would come to know about it. We have become attracted to the personalities of this world like cricket stars, sport stars, film stars, because their activities are broadcasted through the media. When we hear the knowledge about these personalities attraction gradually comes, and then that attraction leads to a desire to develop a relationship with them, then we follow a process to actually establish that relationship. It all begins by hearing. Therefore if I have to develop a relationship with Krishna, with God, then I must hear about Him. That is the power of sound. Sound carries potency and through sound we become attracted. If someone tells us how important the person sitting next to us is, our entire way of looking at him changes. So unless we are given a proper introduction to God, how will we understand? That we may not care for God is a different question, but the reason we don’t care is because we don’t know His energies and His power but we can know about His energies and power by hearing about Him.</p>
<p>I may think that I do not believe in God. I worship personalities whom I am attracted to, therefore, I worship sport stars, movie stars, political leaders, and so many other people. That feeling which originally in traditional Vedic culture we would have for God. But because of the influence and bombardment of the media we have been totally brainwashed and therefore we have sold our heart to powerful people in this world and we believe in worshipping them. So none of us can claim, “I don’t worship”. I do worship. But I worship depending on how I feel attracted to powerful personalities.</p>
<p>If tomorrow something happens and from a super-hit star someone becomes a super-flop do you still worship him? Are there eternal devotees of such people? If someone is very rich and suddenly overnight he becomes a pauper, will people still worship him? No. Fortunes fluctuate. The most beautiful people turn old and ugly. They die in their old age and no one even comes for their funeral. Rich people lose their wealth overnight and then who cares for them? Only when we come to know that someone is rich, powerful, beautiful, wealthy, we feel like worshiping him. And if we know that Krishna has all these six opulences: strength, fame, knowledge, wealth, beauty, renunciation, and then we feel like worshipping Krishna. When we get to know the glories of Krishna after hearing about them, then the desire to worship Krishna develops.</p>
<p>Traditionally in the Vedic culture the system was to come together and hear about God, Krishna, and then worship Him. Now in homes this culture of hearing from Gita andBhagavatam has been replaced, and the television now takes prominence in the home rather than the Deities. People are constantly seeing and hearing about mundane personalities on TV, so those personalities become worshipable deities, and God takes a back seat.</p>
<p><strong>Why only Krishna?</strong></p>
<p>Typically in Indian homes of Hindu families you see a whole bunch of gods on the altar. All are same, they say.</p>
<p>A small boy plays cricket in his gully, and Sachin Tendulkar also plays. Is there any difference between them or not? There is a big difference, but how will I know the difference? If I don’t know anything about cricket then everything appears the same. I don’t see any difference between Sachin and the boy who is playing on the street, both carry a bat. Therefore many times people say, “Why are you only worshipping Krishna? There are so many gods, so many demigods, they are all one. You should worship them all equally.” But it is not like that.</p>
<p>If you take group photo of Microsoft employees with Bill Gates and show it to a villager in India, and ask who is who, what will he say? “Everyone is the same, everyone is okay.” He cannot detect the difference, because he doesn’t have any information. Similarly if you take pictures of so many gods and put Krishna in the middle and say they are all same, is that correct? No, there is a difference. And who knows the difference? Only one who has some idea about that field. To get spiritual knowledge you have to get into this field, and take the time and effort to understand deeply. We cannot afford to have a layman’s attitude in spirituality and still hope to understand all the answers clearly.</p>
<p>So many times we say seeing is believing, but hearing is also believing, because based on what we hear we actually begin the process. Before you reach the destination you hear about it and then start. We have so many personalities but who is the most worshipable personality can only be understood if you come in contact with the Bhagavad-gita and then the difference is understood.</p>
<p><strong>Four Ways to Perfection</strong></p>
<p>We have discussed the basis of worshipping Krishna and now we will discuss the A-B-C-D principles to achieve progress in our devotion.</p>
<p><strong>A for association: </strong>In the material world association is simply for the purpose of getting our own things done. Even if people come together in a partnership, there is a secret selfish personal agenda, which is not spoken about, but everyone knows about it.</p>
<p>But when you keep Krishna in the centre then there are no material motives and no one tries to cheat each other. We just try to help each other share and understand and realize God. Then that association is very powerful.</p>
<p>What is the chance that a worm can come in contact with Krishna? There is no chance. But if that worm takes shelter of a nice flower and then the gardener plucks the flower and the pujari makes the garland of those flowers and offers it to Lord Krishna then the worm, because of having taken shelter of that flower gets to be on the body of the Lord. Similarly we may be wormlike and insignificant and full of so many bad qualities, but if we take the right shelter of association of flower like devotees then we have a chance of a lifetime to come directly in touch with Krishna and serve Krishna.</p>
<p><strong>B for books: </strong>You have found so many people worshipable in this world mainly by reading books and news articles about them. So if you read books about God you will certainly find Him worshipable. He is the original worshipable personality, but we don’t find Him attractive because we have not read about Him sufficiently. So read theBhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam and understand how Krishna is worshipable. Srila Prabhupada has given so many books which are simple to read and easy to understand and if you simply read these books you will change.</p>
<p><strong>C is for chanting: </strong>Harinama, chanting the name of God, is the most effective process for self realization in this age of Kali. Lord Caitanya Himself came to distribute this freely, therefore, it is known as sankirtana-yajna. God is like a gold mine and chanting the holy name is like gold ornaments. Ornament is something you can use, so similarly God can enter your life in a very practical and user friendly way through His holy name. Chant Hare Krishna every day and see the difference. Take out some time and invest in chanting, and you will see how your heart transforms.</p>
<p><strong>D for diet:</strong> You have to eat something, so whatever you eat you offer first to Krishna and then in return you have prasada. When you have prasada your whole consciousness transforms. You may have Deities or Their photos at home, so whatever is cooked at home you offer it to Them. Then you can have Krishna’s wonderful mercy. The proof of the pudding is in eating! Krishna-prasada has powerful transformational effects, and you will see a complete revolution in the consciousness of every member in your home simply within one month of starting this process. It’s a challenge! If it doesn’t work, stop it, but try it for one month and see.</p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27020">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27020</a></p></div>Material and Spiritual – What’s the balance? By Yamuna Sundari devi dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/material-and-spiritual-what-s-the-balance-by-yamuna-sundari-devi-2023-05-19T08:30:00.000Z2023-05-19T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515262158,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515262158?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p>It’s a general concern of devotees which we hear in many of the classes, forums and seminars on what can be the real key to balance one’s material and spiritual lives.</p>
<p>There is a very interesting statement made by famous French priest and philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience but we are spiritual beings having a human (material) experience.” It’s true that because of our past conditionings, desires and lifetimes of karma, we are having a particular body. It’s not easy being in the material world where there are challenges faced at all levels. We feel now life is perfect but then again another challenge by Maya is brought to our doorsteps. It’s like a cricket match where-in we feel we have hit a four, but the opponent at the final moment takes our wicket – and we are OUT!</p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9975506486,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9975506486?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="320" /></p>
<p>Let’s briefly discuss a few of the prominent challenges we face:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Physical challenges: </strong>The material body is vulnerable at every stage. As Prahalad Maharaja quotes Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. There can be accidents, diseases, physical disorders, harm by other living entities or unforeseen natural calamities. All this practically damages our routine functioning and also hampers our regular devotional services.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Mental and Emotional challenges: </strong>With advancement of Kali-yuga, there is also advancement in the mentality of desiring instant sense gratification. We need quick fulfillment of our desires and nourishment of the needs of the false ego like greed, pride, fame and lust. Failure of such an outcome leads to criticizing, fault-finding, enmity, anger, frustration, delusion, depression at different degrees and suicides. When we bring such deep rooted weeds of anarthas with us into our Krishna consciousness, it creates blunders in our sadhana and relationships with devotees and family members. We make offenses and become complacent in our dealings with them.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Social and financial challenges:</strong> We want to follow what the whole world is doing so that we are considered a worthy part of the society. As HH Devamrita Swami quotes brilliantly, “the motto of the world today is work, buy, consume and die.” So due to pressure from peers, family, friends and society, we are being pulled relentlessly into these oceanic waves of Maya. Even though, as practicing devotees we internally deride such desires, but the pressures of the society keep us bound. Sometimes due to that, our sadhana and services are neglected.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>So, what’s the way out? What’s the medicine for all of us here in dukhalayam ashasvatam – the temporary place of miseries?</p>
<p>Well, the answer to that is simple – to take the medicine of chanting the Holy Name, to hear about the Lord’s activities in association of devotees and to render service to the spiritual master and devotees in a most humble mood of a servant of a servant. <strong>Yes, it’s that simple.</strong></p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada, however, states that Krishna consciousness is simple for the simple and complicated for the complicated. Now what does being simple mean? Simple means to have complete faith that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simple means to have faith in the words of the Acharyas and follow their instructions as a servant in a humble state of mind. This faith on the teachings and words of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada will then become our shield against all of Maya’s weapons to shaken our devotional service.</p>
<p>We read in the childhood pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that once Nimai delivered a small baby puppy dog who had accepted His shelter and grace. By mere touch of the lotus-like hands of Nimai, the puppy dog experienced great ecstasies and began to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra swaying his arms in the air and in this way, the little puppy was delivered and went back to Godhead. Now we can wonder what that little puppy had in him to attract the Lord of Lords? Well, the puppy dog only had a submissive attitude and a simple heart to accept the shelter of Nimai. That is the qualification required to have access to Lord’s inconceivable mercy.</p>
<p>All our spiritual practices like chanting, hearing, association of devotees, preaching etc. is to internally bring our consciousness to a level where all our activities become spiritualized. We might be just taking care of our home, taking care of children, going for a job or doing school/university studies – it is all done by keeping Krishna in the center. For instance, if somebody is doing a job, he/she can see it as a service to Krishna – that with all the money I earn, I will maintain my home which is a temple of the Lord, I will maintain my family who are all parts and parcels of Krishna. By serving them, I am pleasing Krishna and that mood actually spiritualizes our activities. With that money, we can buy foodstuffs used for preparing offerings to the home deities, buy paraphernalia for worship of deities. The rest of the money can be used or given for the propagation of Krishna conscious activities. In this way, even doing a material job for Krishna’s pleasure can give us deep fulfillment and happiness.</p>
<p>Therefore, we need to try and try until we succeed in finding the right balance. Meanwhile, we need to water our bhakti-lata bija with the right amounts of hearing, chanting, avoiding offenses to Vaishnavas and Holy Name and rendering devotional services in a humble and tolerant mood. That is the guaranteed way for perfection.</p>
<p>Below is an excerpt from a very inspiring talk given by HH Bhaktividya Purna Swami titled ‘Progressing in spiritual life’ at Brisbane in 2011, which perfectly concludes this topic:</p>
<p>“The idea of progressing in Krishna Consciousness means you’re going to progress by the quality of your sadhana, your chanting, and your association with devotee – that’s going to be your major principle. But aside from that, another element is what it is that we’re doing because of our conditioned nature. For instance, it’s due to our conditioned nature that we wear the particular clothes that we do, live where we do, eat what we do, spend our money how we spend our money, or even use the toilet how we think you should use the toilet. And why is it called material? Because you don’t see the Krishna connection to it – that’s all. It’s that simple. So the point is something is material because you don’t see Krishna, and then it becomes spiritual because you do. So you live in two worlds at once, which must be a great distress. You have to tear yourself between what you think is real life and your spiritual application. But that’s only because you’re in the illusion that whatever you’re doing is real because you feel you need to do it, not because it’s connected to Krishna. And this is an illusion because that’s not true – it’s that simple. So if you want to progress, it means that whatever you’re doing now – it doesn’t matter what it is – you have to see Krishna in it. That’s the only definition of Maya: that which you think that functions without Krishna. “My car runs because I put petrol in it and I started the engine and I paid my road tax, that’s why it works”. No, it works because of Krishna’s potency. If you can see that – then you’re in Krishna Consciousness. “</p>
<div><strong>Source:</strong> <span style="color:#1155cc;"><u><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17154">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17154</a></u></span></div></div>4 Ways to Stay By Ananda Vrindavaneshwari Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/4-ways-to-stay-by-ananda-vrindavaneshwari-devi-dasi2023-04-11T08:30:00.000Z2023-04-11T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515191133,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515191133?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="350" /></p>
<p>Recently I was in New York attending an initiation ceremony. As I watched the new devotees, young and old, take their vows, I reflected on my own beginnings.</p>
<p>Over 35 years ago I sat before the fire and took the same vows. I am grateful to still be practicing. Later that day I heard a talk which shared 4 reasons why devotees sometimes give up the process of Krishna consciousness, the one they once started so enthusiastically. Turning them into positives, here are 4 things, if we do them well, that can bring us success in our spiritual endeavor, which is to awaken love for Krishna and live to in congruence with that wholesome truth.</p>
<p>1) Humility – the heart of a spiritual practice is humility, accepting the fact that we can’t succeed alone, we need help. As the years go by we gain knowledge and spiritual insights and feel our relationship with Krishna deepening and sweetening. This is a good thing. It means the process, the practice, is working. However, we may also grow the weeds of pride, making us feel like the big cheese in the spiritual community. We should watch out for those thoughts and throw them out the window. We are as big as our gratitude to, and utter acknowledgement of the role, of our spiritual teachers and fellow devotees in our spiritual journey. Anything other than that will trip us up and cause us to struggle.</p>
<p>2) Offenses – when we hurt, disrespect, or in any way short change other devotees of the Lord, we are offending. It can be by speech, by action, or by inaction. In any number of ways, offending brings clouds of discontent to our life. If we are feeling discouraged, or have little taste for our daily chanting, we can often trace it back to offending others. We may compound that by blaming everyone else but ourselves. Press the pause button. Slow down. Go for a walk alone or talk to a trusted spiritual advisor. Recognise the grip offensive or negative attitudes may have over your way of living in the world and change it. Small offences can build up over time so be careful to treat everyone with affection and care. After all, they too are trying their best to serve the Lord.</p>
<p>3) Sanga – sanga means association, a gathering of those interested in spiritual subject matters. Make sure you have time in your week to be together with devotees to hear and chant about Krishna, to serve together or to have meaningful conversations. When we have good friendships with other devotees it not only makes the good times better, but we have support and love when we are facing difficulty. Who we ‘hang out with’ shapes who we become. Find good Krishna devotee association and make time in your life to be with them. It is one of the most essential aspects of a successful spiritual practice.</p>
<p>4) Knowing the Path – this last one is perhaps the one we might neglect the most. Life, and also spiritual life, is full of ups and downs. When times get rough we might think – “Krishna, what’s going on? I’m serving you and why are things not going my way?” When we expect difficulty, and expect to be challenged as part of the growing process, the purifying process, we are ready for it when it comes along. Oh, there you are – now what am I to learn from this? What I am to change or grow into?</p>
<p>When we make a commitment to the practice of Bhakti Yoga, to following strong principles and compassionate teachings, we make a commitment to make ourselves better. Such a practice has the potential to bring us extraordinary results, beyond even our wildest imagination. Don’t sell yourself short. Dive into the deep end, swim with courage, and honor the wisdom of those who have gone before us. If we do, we’ll make it to the end in one piece (and more).</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=47092">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=47092</a></p></div>Spiritual Amnesia By Satyaraja Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-amnesia-by-satyaraja-dasa-22023-03-31T07:30:00.000Z2023-03-31T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515277153,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515277153,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515277153?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" /></a></p>
<p>Remembering Not to Forget: But if its amnesia you want, Krishna will give it to you</p>
<p>It’s funny how if you give Krishna, God, an inch, he gives you a mile. I remember in my earliest days as a devotee, I had left the movement for some time. I was home, watching TV with my family. All of a sudden, right on the screen there was an ad for the television station with a photo of New York City streets. There he was, my Godbrother Bhaktivinoda, with a close-up of the Channel Two logo below his chin. I had forgotten Krishna for a few weeks, but, compliments of his devotee, he forced himself back into my mind.</p>
<p>An avid comics collector, I was thrilled when that most popular of the Norse gods Thor allowed Vishnu (one of Krishna’s primary manifestations) a guest appearance in several issues. Krishna just didn’t want me to forget him.</p>
<p>Then I started reading the classics. Herman Melville depicted the great whale Moby Dick as a powerful force of nature, impossible to comprehend by ordinary means. Believe it or not, he attributes to the whale not only great antiquity, but also divinity. One of the most striking and poignant ways in which he does so — are you ready for this? — is by describing the whale as a manifestation (avatara) of Vishnu known as Matsya. This is an incarnation of Krishna, of course, mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam, and in other Vedic texts as well. Matsya is elaborated upon in the fifty-fifth chapter of Moby Dick.</p>
<p>I also found Vishnu in The Moonstone, by Collins, where the Lord is again mentioned by name, as he appears to three Brahmins in a dream. And also in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, where Vishnu is described as God. Everywhere I looked — well, almost everywhere — there was Krishna, a reminder that spiritual life is what I really wanted.</p>
<p>The point is this: If you make the slightest endeavor to remember Krishna, he’ll put you in a situation where it is in fact difficult to forget him.</p>
<p>We are easily covered over by the illusory energy, known as maya. In that state, we forget our real self-interest, which is service to Krishna, and we suffer in the material world. Still, our natural desire for self preservation — since we sense that, as eternal souls, our “birthright” is an ongoing life of bliss and knowledge — leads us to seek shelter in temporary solutions, which only brings us into further misery. The strength of the material energy is such that vigilant protection of our devotion must be maintained by practice, which includes praying, daily chanting of God’s names, worship services — all of which are meant to invoke remembrance of Krishna, or God.</p>
<p>The idea is to absorb one’s senses in Krishna — to see his form, to taste food and to smell incense that is offered to him, to read about his pastimes and, mostly, to hear the chanting of his names. This creates a sort of “wrap-around awareness” that engulfs you in the spiritual world. And by being so engulfed, you remember what you have long forgotten.</p>
<p>Prabhupada often compared it to being cured of amnesia. In the conventional treatment of the disease, one is given a daily regimen of gradual exposure to his or her former life. Hopefully, through a sustained effort, the patient gradually remembers and becomes cured. This is called anamnesis — the reversal of amnesia. Similarly, through a daily regimen, known as sadhana, one becomes relieved of their spiritual forgetfulness and gradually remembers their life in the spiritual world with Krishna.</p>
<p>The amazing thing, though, is that Krishna often helps us get there in spite of ourselves. As Prabhupada says, “If you take one step toward Krishna, he’ll take a thousand toward you.” I’ve seen that in my own life, and while I’m hardly cured of my spiritual amnesia, I do see hopeful signs for the future, and I remember the numerous ways in which Krishna helped me.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1194">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1194</a></p></div>Management: Material or Spiritual? by Bhurijana dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/management-material-or-spiritual2023-02-28T06:30:00.000Z2023-02-28T06:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515198933,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="2515198933?profile=original" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Management to facilitate preaching is spiritual, not material.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Everywhere, in the office, there is some immediate boss. So you have to please him. That is service. Suppose in office, in a department there is office superintendent. And if you do in your own way, “Yes, I’m doing my business,” and the office superintendent is not pleased, do you think that kind of service is nice? No. Similarly, everywhere we have got immediate boss. So we must work. That is systematic. If everyone manufactures, invents his own way of life, then there must be chaos.<br /> SUDAMA: Yeah, that’s true.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Now we are world organization. There is spiritual side, and there is material side also. That is not material side. That is also spiritual side, systematic management. Otherwise how it will be done? <br /> Conversations, Vol. 6, Los Angeles, December 5, 1973</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Management is a sign of intelligence. Srila Prabhupada even proved the existence of God through arguments based upon the intelligent management of the universe.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Demigod means almost God. They have got all godly qualities, and they are controllers of the atmospheric affairs. Some of them are controlling rainy season, some of them are controlling heat. As you have got controller here, some departmental director of this department, director of that department, similarly why don’t you think that this cosmic manifestation, there is a great brain behind it and there are different directors and there is management? People do not accept it. Nature. What do you mean by nature? Such nice things, such wonderful things are going on automatically, without any control? You see?<br /> Journalist: Well, I know that’s a question that, of course, one asks oneself all the time, I guess. It’s part of man’s quest to find himself and . . .<br /> Srila Prabhupada: But they should have common sense that you are trying to float one sputnik, so many scientific brains are working. And millions of wonderful sputniks which are called planets, they are floating in the air, there isn’t brain behind it? What is this? Is that very good reasoning?<br /> Journalist: I don’t know. I must ponder that.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: You should know it. How can it be? There must be a very big brain behind this. They are working. <br /> Conversations, Vol. 1, Los Angeles, December 30, 1968</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To manage anything smoothly requires intelligence. Effective teachers apply their intelligence to maximize the actual time they spend teaching. Here are six basic managerial principles that should help.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle One: Cultivate the Mode of Goodness <br /> Cultivate the mode of goodness within yourself, your classroom atmosphere, and your students. Teaching thrives on maintaining steadiness and regularity. These qualities are born of an atmosphere of goodness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">sattvat sanjayate jnanam<br /> rajaso lobha eva ca<br /> pramada-mohau tamaso<br /> bhavato ’jnanam eva ca</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness, and illusion.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Purport: Since the present civilization is not very congenial to the living entity, Krsna consciousness is recommended. Through Krsna consciousness, society will develop the mode of goodness. When the mode of goodness is developed, people will see things as they are. Because people have no education in actual knowledge, they become irresponsible. To stop this irresponsibility, education for developing the mode of goodness of the people in general must be there. When they are actually educated in the mode of goodness, they will become sober, in full knowledge of things as they are. Then people will become happy.<br /> Bg. 14.17<br /> A key element of goodness is cleanliness. It is no wonder that Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Your country, America, will become very degraded. They will appreciate our revolutionary cleanliness. Our revolutionary medicine will be experimented on these children, and it will be seen to be the cure.” (Letter to Satsvarupa dasa, February 28, 1972)<br /> Because cleanliness and goodness are the cure, teachers should be vigilant about protecting their students from slovenliness, passion, and ignorance.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">jaya-kale tu sattvasya<br /> devarsin rajaso ’suran<br /> tamaso yaksa-raksamsi<br /> tat-kalanuguno ’bhajat</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When the quality of goodness is prominent, the sages and demigods flourish with the help of that quality, with which they are infused and surcharged by the Supreme Lord. Similarly, when the mode of passion is prominent the demons flourish, and when ignorance is prominent the Yaksas and Raksasas flourish. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone’s heart, fostering the reactions of sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna. <br /> Bh€g. 7.1.8</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Basically, goodness is required because it makes us receptive to Krsna consciousness. <br /> YOGESVARA: Is there some, any qualities, in the sense that some people have more receptivity towards the divine than other people?<br /> Srila Prabhupada: That I explained, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Those who are in sattva-guna, they can understand easily. Those who are in rajo-guna, they have got difficulty. And those who are in tamo-guna, they cannot.<br /> Madame Devi: (French)<br /> YOGESVARA: Is this degree of covering, whether they are in goodness, in passion or in ignorance, is that a question of their physical body? Is it a question of their hormones or chemical state? Is it a chemical state that some people are more covered than others by the modes of nature?<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Covered means with some dirty things. That’s all. <br /> Conversations, Vol. 10, Paris, June 15, 1974</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">For a further explanation of the relationship between Krsna consciousness and the mode of goodness, please refer to chapter 5, “Teaching and Disciplining in the Modes of Material Nature,” and the essay “Elevation to Goodness” in the appendix.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle Two: Preach Strongly, Yet Be Sensitive<br /> Srila Prabhupada once said that preaching brought management to one’s fingertips. When teachers effectively preach, students cooperate and cause few problems. And the students should preach as well. “It is especially nice to hear,” Srila Prabhupada wrote, “that the boys are becoming first-class preachers. That is essential. Without preaching, our institution becomes all rubbish.” (Letter to Dayananda dasa, April 11, 1974)<br /> The preaching, to be effective, should be realized and strong. Prabhupada’s preaching example was to the point.<br /> MAKHANALAL: There was that one notable, so-called incarnation. He supposedly lost all his potency. <br /> Srila Prabhupada: : Eh?<br /> MAKHANALAL: He said he gave away all his potency. <br /> Srila Prabhupada: He’s a rascal. What potency he has got?<br /> Dr. Patel: Who?<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Any rascal who has called himself incarnation of God. There are so many rascals.<br /> MAKHANALAL: Wasn’t that Ramakrishna who said he gave away everything; he had nothing more except . . . <br /> Srila Prabhupada: What Ramakrishna? Don’t talk of these nonsense. Simply they have misled. That’s all.<br /> Dr. Patel: Simply you bhaja Krsna and don’t think anything else. And you get all your intelligence there.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Therefore Krsna has said, mam ekam. “Don’t go to these foolish rascals.” Mam ekam. You’ll be misled. Because they are misleaders, rascals.<br /> Dr. Patel: You are so very hard.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: I must be hard.<br /> Dr. Patel: Hard, harsh, and hard and harsh. <br /> Srila Prabhupada: The whole world is spoiled by these Mayavadis. Therefore I am very much hard. <br /> Dr. Patel: I don’t say hard. Hard and harsh. <br /> Srila Prabhupada: No, we must be harder and harder.<br /> Dr. Patel: Hard and harsh! Doesn’t matter . . . <br /> Srila Prabhupada: I don’t make any compromise with these rascals. No words. No, no. I never made that. Even if I don’t get any disciples, I’ll be satisfied. But I can’t make any compromise like these rascals. I cannot make. Ekah candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. If I can create one moon, that is sufficient. I don’t want many stars. That was my Guru Maharaja’s principle and that is my principle. What is the use of having a number of fools and rascals? If one man understands rightly, he can deliver the whole world. <br /> Conversations, Vol. 7, Bombay, March 23, 1974</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Although at times as hard as iron, Srila Prabhupada was also discriminating. Our preaching, especially to our students, should be individually prescribed and not fanatical.<br /> YOGESVARA: You didn’t find it necessary to enter into any kind of discussion with this French professor just now. There was no real discussion of philosophy. I was wondering why that didn’t happen.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: He did not raise any question. And he is simply translator. He has no philosophy. I asked him, “Which philosophy you are . . . ?” “So I make comparative study.” I think he did not like to enter into philosophical . . . Is it not? <br /> Devotee: Most of these gentlemen who come here, when they see you and begin talking with you, like you said, they show their ignorance when they begin to speak. So they prefer not to speak. They always make some excuse that they have an appointment because they know that if they speak, they will be in real trouble.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Tavac ca sobhate murkho yavat kincin na bhasate: “A foolish man is very nice as long as he does not speak. As soon as he will speak, his foolishness will be captured.” So therefore, sometimes they do not like to talk. Remain as a nice man, (Laughs.) without being discovered. <br /> Conversations, Vol. 10, Paris, June 14, 1974</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle Three: Keep Strong Krsna Conscious Relationships<br /> Make management easier by keeping strong Krsna conscious relationships with your students.<br /> Brahmacari means living under direction of guru. Guror hitam. How can he be simply thinking of benefitting the spiritual master? Unless that position comes, nobody can serve guru. It is not an artificial thing. The brahmacari, the disciple, must have genuine love for the guru, then he can be under control. Otherwise why one should be under the control of another person? Therefore it is said, €caran d€savat. Servant, not only servant, but menial servant. Less than domestic servant. So a disciple is expected to live in gurukula, at the shelter of the guru, as menial servant gurau sudrdha-sauhrdah. This can be possible when one is really thickly related to the guru. Otherwise, ordinary relationship will not do. One who has actually the convictionyasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadoone who is convinced that if I please my guru then Krsna will be pleased. This is called suhrdah, full faithyasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi. And if I displease my guru, then I have no place. In this way. Guru cannot be false guru. False guru has no such thing. If guru is genuine and disciple is genuine, both of them are benefited and they go back to home, back to Godhead. <br /> Lectures, Bombay, April 12 and 14, 1976</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Know your students. Call the students by their names. Write down the names of the students in your class and see which ones you can’t remember or which ones you think of last. Note what qualities those students have. Deal with each student personally, either with a question, a comment, or a few words connected with the day’s occurrences, each day or during each lesson or section of the day. Be personally interested in each student. Informally speaking with students at different times of the day develops relationships. <br /> However, etiquette should always be observed in the dealings between a teacher and his students. Otherwise, a teacher’s “friendly” relationships will turn to familiarity, which breeds contempt. <br /> Guest: The Hare Krsna movement has started in the United States. Why did it start in the United States rather than India?<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Because the United States, they are our best customer. A businessman goes to a place . . . Just like you come here. Why you have come here? Wherever there is best possibility of doing your business, there you must go. I went to the United States because these people are not poverty-stricken. And our Indian people, they have been trained to think that they are poverty-stricken. Actually, they are not poverty-stricken, but the leaders have educated them that, “You are all poverty-stricken.” This is India’s position. So far I knew that it would not be successful in India. The government would not help. The public is educated in a different way. They are after technology. So, “familiarity breeds contempt.” They say, “What is this Hare Krsna movement: It is known to us since a long time. What effect it will have?” <br /> Conversations, Vol. 3, Hong Kong, April 18, 1972</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just as Srila Prabhupada circled the world many times to add enthusiasm, instruction, and strength to his temples, circulate amongst your students. Know what and how they are doing. Know their strengths. Commend them for work well done. Know their difficulties. Offer help and advice to inattentive students. Document their troubles and achievements. <br /> Maintain a positive atmosphere. Avoid nagging, sarcasm, and frequent negative comments — tension between the teacher and his students cannot fail to exist within an atmosphere where these constantly go on. Sincerely praise whenever possible. Think of plenty of exact words that can be used instead of “good” and “nice” (delightful, imaginative, superb, great, remarkable, original, fascinating). Remember that chastisements are most effective within a basically positive atmosphere. Keep your word. Fulfill your promises. Don’t bluff. Remember: problem students need more positive reinforcement. <br /> Interact with the students. When lecturing, look at specific students in succession, each for a few seconds, in different parts of the room. This gives the teacher a feel for how the entire group is doing. Speak loud enough for students to easily hear. Use questions, not to catch the inattentive, but to check whether the material is being understood. If wrong answers are returned, the teacher should understand that he may have to re-explain in a simpler way or use examples. Using questions in this way will tend to keep the atmosphere positive.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle Four: Start and End All Activities Carefully <br /> A careful start . . . <br /> Be there first, before the students arrive. Make sure the surroundings are neat and tidy. Make sure student seating or student order is pre-organized. At first, this can be done in an arbitrary way, and later, after you have established yourself in control, student placement and order can be rearranged.<br /> Be prepared. Know in advance what you will do. Have all materials and their distribution already organized. <br /> Start on time. This immediately establishes the teacher’s authority. The students naturally feel respectful, knowing the teacher is on top of his service.<br /> . . . An effective ending<br /> Plan in advance how the activity will end, how the dismissal will take place, and how a smooth transfer to the next activity will occur. <br /> First, go over it mentally in detail and write it out. Then, practice and master it. <br /> Plan ahead. Leave sufficient time for the orderly and efficient collection of materials and for the dismissal, thus allowing an effective summary to occur. <br /> Plan the end of the activity. Consider first what was the goal of the activity. Then sum it up. Don’t let one activity merge into the next. If possible, at least mentally prepare the students for their next activity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle Five: Make Sure Your Procedures are Efficient <br /> Know your objectives. Frequently check your results against your goals. Change or adjust procedures if necessary.<br /> Use variety. Consider student interest, curiosity, and motivation. Keep in mind your students’ attention span: two short activities may be better than one long activity. Alternate preferred activities with boring ones, familiar activities with new ones, quiet individual work with group work. But don’t let variety become confusion.<br /> Vary pace. Although the general tendency towards briskness in activities appears desirable — the ability to vary pace, and to know when to teach less and allow more time for practice — is also important. Short periods of practice followed by rest or by a different activity seem most effective.<br /> When engaging your students, make sure each student knows what he should be doing and when he should be doing it. Just knowing without a doubt what one should be doing by having heard precise instructions removes, for most students, the temptation to misbehave. <br /> Make sure you have your students’ attention before you give instructions. Also make sure that your students are actually capable of carrying out your instructions. <br /> King Pariksit said: O great sage, never before has it been heard anywhere that an order from Yamaraja has been baffled. Therefore I think that people will have doubts about this that no one but you can eradicate. Since this is my firm conviction, kindly explain the reasons for these events.<br /> Srila Sukadeva Goswami replied: “My dear King, when the order carriers of Yamaraja were baffled and defeated by the order carriers of Visnu, they approached their master, the controller of Saˆyaman-pur and master of sinful persons, to tell him of this incident.” <br /> The Yamadutas said: “Our dear Lord, how many controllers or rulers are there in this material world? How many causes are responsible for manifesting the various results of activities performed under the three modes of material nature?”<br /> Purport: Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that the Yamadutas, the order carriers of Yamaraja, were so disappointed that they asked their master, almost in great anger, whether there were many masters other than him. Furthermore, because the Yamadutas had been defeated and their master could not protect them, they were inclined to say that there was no need to serve such a master. If the servant cannot carry out the orders of his master without being defeated, what is the use of serving such a master? <br /> Bh€g. 6.3.2-4</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Consider your instructions before expecting students to follow them. As the Yamadutas became confused because they were incapable of carrying out the orders of their master, students who find themselves unable to carry out the orders of their teacher may similarly become confused or even angry. <br /> Also take care to make sure your instructions do not contradict those of another teacher or authority.<br /> If in this universe there are many rulers and justices who disagree about punishment and reward, their contradictory actions will neutralize each other, and no one will be punished or rewarded. Otherwise, if their contradictory acts fail to neutralize each other, everyone will have to be both punished and rewarded.<br /> Purport: Because the Yamadutas had been unsuccessful in carrying out the order of Yamar€ja, they doubted whether Yamaraja actually had the power to punish the sinful. Although they had gone to arrest Ajamila, following Yamaraja’s order, they found themselves unsuccessful because of the order of some higher authority. Therefore they were unsure of whether there were many authorities or only one. If there were many authorities who gave different judgments, which could be contradictory, a person might be wrongly punished or wrongly rewarded. According to our experience in the material world, a person punished in one court may appeal to another. Thus the same man may be either punished or rewarded according to different judgments. However, in the law of nature or the court of the Supreme Personality of Godhead there cannot be such contradictory judgments. The judges and their judgments must be perfect and free from contradictions. <br /> Bh€g. 6.3.5</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Principle Six: Handle Basic Disruptions Without Losing Momentum<br /> Following effective management procedures, like the above principles, will help eliminate most disruptions to teaching. But as happiness comes of its own accord, so does trouble. Minor disruptions are irritating. Even giving attention to them causes interruptions. <br /> Minor misbehavior is difficult to deal with because the offender can easily hide behind innocence: “I didn’t do it on purpose.” And because it is often difficult to recognize the culprit, suitable responses are difficult to find. Be tolerant and careful. Don’t overreact, treating minor disturbances as a threat or challenge to your authority. If wrongly handled, these disruptions can develop from minor irritations to major confrontations. <br /> Even when a teacher is quite certain that misbehavior is intentional or provocative, he should be wary of too strong an immediate response. Dramatic punishments are especially counterproductive as nothing is kept in reserve for more serious cases. Even simulated anger is troublesome. Rather, a teacher should look for a series of responses which are cool, calm, and carefully calculated.<br /> Here are some technical-sounding names for simple techniques that help teachers effectively handle these “surface” problems:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Planned ignoring<br /> Ignore simple affronts meant to cause disruption. Students often stop misbehaving when they do not get the attention they seek.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Interference<br /> Inhibit behavior with eye contact or disapproving facial expressions to inform the student that the source of disturbance has been spotted and that the disturbance is not pleasing.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Quick conference<br /> Peacefully call the student up to your desk and quietly whisper in his ear that he please stop the activity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Proximity control<br /> Stop restlessness by moving to the troubled area. An on the spot “quick conference” can also help.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Interest boosting<br /> Display interest in the student’s activity with a specific comment, such as during japa, “How’s your listening been the past few beads?” instead of, “How’s your chanting today?” You can also correct the student’s work, bring him closer to you, or praise his work. The idea is to refocus the student’s attention and remotivate him. Sometimes distractions result from the student’s inability to cope with required work.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Hurdle help<br /> See how the student is doing. If he is having a problem with his work, help him push beyond the difficulty.<br /> If the above techniques fail, try these:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Humor<br /> Diffuse a tense situation with a joke, showing that you don’t take it seriously or that you can see the funny side of it.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Affection<br /> Search for an appropriate reason and sincerely give praise or show some affection, like a wink, a pat on the back, or a friendly smile.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Personal appeal quick conference<br /> Call the student up, take him aside, and gently request that he desist from the behavior. Tell the student that you can’t allow him to continue acting in this way. Tell him the reasonsothers cannot hear the story, you cannot concentrate, it is making it impossible for you to teach, and so on. Then ask, “Do you think this is an unfair request? If you want to run around, you’ll have time later. But you can’t run now.” Try to avoid the threat, but as a last effort, it can be used. “Look, if you continue, I’m going to have no other choice but to give you a detention.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Simply following the above points will stop most casual offenders, although it will not stop a student “saboteur.” The teacher, however, should initially assume that basic disruptions and minor transgressions are motivated either by desire for attention, by boredom, or by inadequacy. If this is so, when the teacher gives attention to the task, not to the behavior, conflict is avoided. Concentrating on what the student is doing, rather than why he is doing it, can often defuse a potentially tense situation. <br /> Even if the transgression is caused by a student’s personal animosity, all but the most determined seekers of confrontation will be diverted by the above simple manoeuvres. If a confrontation seems to be looming, avoid itsomehow or another.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Remember . . .<br /> Remember that a student always engaged in Krsna conscious activities will have less tendency towards mischievous activities.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Just like, somebody, a child. A child is active, but his frivolous activities, or mischievous, have to stop when he’s active in taking education. You see. The same child, his energy for becoming active is transferred for taking education. He’s no more acting mischievously, breaking this, doing this, doing that. The activity is there. Now that is purified. Similarly, spiritual life means the spiritual activity, that is purified activities. These boys, they have given up drinking, meat-eating. That does not mean they stop eating. They’re eating better things. Therefore they have given up the nonsense eating. So that is spiritual life. Spiritual life means purified activity.<br /> SYAMASUNDARA: Rationally, I was thought to be intelligent. I went to college, got so many degrees, but I could not in the least control my senses and control my mind, even though I tried. I studied philosophy so hard. But, by simply chanting Hare Krsna and coming to the platform of service for God, all my activities became dovetailed in one direction so that the other things were automatically brought under control as a result.<br /> Srila Prabhupada: Param drstva nivartate. The exact word is there that if one gets good engagement, he can give up bad engagement. But he cannot make it inactive. That is not possible because the soul is active. It is living. How he can make it inactive? That is not possible. Nirvana means stop nonsense, but take to spiritual life. That is next: athato brahma-jijnasa. Nirvana does not mean to stop activities; to stop nonsense activities. Come to the real activity. <br /> Conversations, Vol. 3, London, September 4, 1971</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31261">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31261</a></p></div>Spiritual Lessons From Flying By Suvarna Radhika Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-lessons-from-flying-by-by-suvarna-radhika-devi-dasi2023-02-27T07:30:00.000Z2023-02-27T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515098888,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515098888?profile=original" width="450" /></p>
<p><br /> I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. My flight was circling over Delhi, waiting for permission to land. My thoughts flashed through the entire process of flying from purchasing the ticket till reaching my destination. Some facet of Krishna consciousness seemed present at every step.</p>
<p>Ticket Reservation</p>
<p>We are careful when we do this checking all the available flights and then choosing the most convenient one. We make reservations days in advance so we get the best rates. After booking the ticket, we double-check all the details: the flight number, the date and time of departure, the destination, etc.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t we exercise the same kind of caution on our spiritual journey? There are many teachers and many paths we can follow. We need to ask, do all roads lead to the same goal? Well, do all flights take you to the same city? No, all flights go to different destinations, and similarly different spiritual paths lead you to different goals. Should we select a spiritual path because it is convenient or easy to practice? Do we take a flight to some other destination just because it’s cheaper than where we actually want to go? Before selecting a spiritual path we need to carefully study its scriptures and observe the lives of its successful practitioners. But even more than that, we must actually know the right goal, for without a proper destination, the entire process of flying becomes useless. The ultimate goal of the human form of life is to love Krishna, and the process is bhakti, rendering devotional service to Him.</p>
<p>Let us compare the different stages of a flight journey to different situations in life.</p>
<p>The Check-in Process</p>
<p>Everyone at this point is alert, especially the airport staff. The baggage scanning, the identity checks, the full-body scan every individual must endure this to prevent a terrorist hijacking that could cause harm to the passengers and likely divert the flight and take it to some unknown destination. Like a terrorist, the binding illusory energy, Maya, will always try to divert us from our goal to become Krishna conscious. She will present constant stream of images to the mind material objects meant to attract us in the shape of forms, sounds, tastes, smells, and tactile experiences each of which will promise us enjoyment. But these temporary enjoyments simply distract us from Krishna. So like the airport staff, we too must remain alert while we are checking in for our spiritual flight, constantly scanning the images filling our minds and rejecting all harmful ones. It helps when practicing this kind of vigilance to avoid television, the internet, mundane music, and prohibited food, because these things increase our base qualities like lust, greed, anger, pride, envy, and the tendency to be illusioned. Instead, we should receive images that remind us of Krishna pastimes, divine message, glories, and mercy. To strengthen our will power it is important to chant His holy names attentively, regularly read and hear the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, and to follow prescribed spiritual disciplines. These practices build a secure fortress around the mind so the terrorist of illusion cannot penetrate.</p>
<p>The Waiting Room</p>
<p>After check-in we wait, sometimes for hours. Flights are often delayed (at least that seems true of the ones I take). The airline staff works hard to ensure that flights run smoothly, but fog, bad weather, air traffic congestion, and the delay of other incoming flights cause delays. This reminds me of life. We try so hard to make things run smoothly, but they are rarely the way we want them to be. There are always factors beyond our control. God makes the world like this to remind us, “You are not the controller; I am.” Our tendency to control material nature eventually makes us unhappy. We must learn to surrender to the Supreme Controller, Krishna, and gratefully accept the situations He puts us in. In every situation we should simply try our best to continue our services and keep moving closer to Him.</p>
<p>On the Plane</p>
<p>We fasten our seat belts, and the plane takes off. Most passengers then fall asleep. Consider this: We are in a small, enclosed space about 35,000 feet above sea level, moving at hundreds of kilometers per hour with no gear to pull if anything goes wrong. And millions of things can go wrong, right? A technical snag in any of the devices keeping that heavy machine afloat could result in our certain death. Yet there we are peacefully sleeping! We shouldn’t have put ourselves in such a dangerous situation in the first place! But since we have, why doesn’t it worry us? Because we have faith in the pilot, in the crew, and in the maintenance staff. We have total faith in the efficiency of the airline. We firmly believe that this flight will not explode in midair and the pilot will take us to our destination. So we sleep, secure in our faith. But did we speak to these people before boarding the flight? Did we interview the pilot or check his credentials? Did we interrogate any of the flight maintenance staff? How can we trust them? Are we foolish? Is our faith blind? No. We have faith in the whole flight process. We know that thousands of planes fly around the world daily and that the number of accidents is miniscule. The entire airline industry follows a set of strict protocols, and every single flight that takes off and lands proves that the process works.</p>
<p>In the same way, we need to put faith in the process of Krishna consciousness. We haven’t seen or spoken to Krishna, nor have we personally met the person who wrote the scriptures. But we must believe in them because we have been assured the process works. Krishna consciousness has transformed the lives of countless people, helping so many to overcome their conditioning, give up their bad habits, and lead pure, loving lives. And this is not a one-off thing, a recent development. It is a timeless process, affecting people the world over. Anyone who gives up sinful habits and starts chanting Hare Krishna proves by his example that the process works. Faith in Krishna and the scriptures is not blind. It is only as blind as the faith we put in the airline staff. All we need to do is focus on deepening our faith and practicing the process. Our spiritual flight is bound to land.</p>
<p>The Passage of Time</p>
<p>There is one more aspect of spirituality that matches taking a flight. There we are on the plane, looking out the window, watching the fluffy white clouds float by. The flight attendants are charming, and give us what we want with a smile. To pass the time we read or nap or chat with our neighbor. Then the attendant announces, “Kindly prepare for landing.” Then we wonder, “Oh, two hours has already passed? I didn’t even notice!”</p>
<p>Time is ticking and death fast approaching an inevitable, unstoppable force. We cannot afford to be complacent. We cannot be distracted by the false sense of happiness we sometimes feel. We must take up spiritual practice seriously and urgently so we can remember Krishna at the time of death. Otherwise we will find ourselves lying on our deathbed, looking back at yet another fruitless life, where we have achieved only temporary material successes and failures. We may think, “Sixty years have passed and I didn’t even notice!”</p>
<p>My flight finally landed. We were rolling down the runway. People were stretching and unbuckling their seatbelts. Then the flight attendant announced, “Do not unfasten your seat belts until the plane comes to a complete stop.” My thoughts flashed back to that fatal Dubai-Mangalore flight that crashed after the plane had landed. Just when everybody thought they had arrived safely and were planning their ongoing journey, “KaBoom!” The end.</p>
<p>Spiritual life is also like that. We cannot afford to be complacent ever. We have to practice till our last breath. If we think, “This much is enough,” it is our foolishness. Keep striving, never forgetting the goal of life.</p>
<p>I got down from the plane and collected my bag. As I walked out of the airport I offered a silent prayer to Krishna: “Thank you for these realizations, O Lord. Help me to apply them in my life so my spiritual plane will some day one day land at Your lotus feet.”</p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27808">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27808</a></p></div>Back To Godhead, or Back To Serve? by Kesava Krsna Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/back-to-godhead-or-back-to-serve-by-kesava-krsna-dasa2023-01-07T08:30:00.000Z2023-01-07T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515192542,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515192542?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p>If a devotee were to ask, “Please bless me so that I’ll never take birth again in this horrible material world,” would this be asking for some kind of liberation? Hundreds of times, Srila Prabhupada encouraged us to “Go Back home, back to Godhead.” Would it be a form of boldness or naiveté to desire to come back to this world and serve by preaching?</p>
<p>That would depend on our level of perception and spiritual progress. There were times when some disciples indicated to Srila Prabhupada that they would perhaps like to take birth again and help with preaching Krishna consciousness. Even then Srila Prabhupada would variously say, “Don’t try to come back…simply go back to Godhead.”</p>
<p>If going back to Godhead is what we must seek, then does this fare somewhat less to an ideal expressed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, as paraphrased by Srila Prabhupada: Nitya-dasa prati tuwa adhikara: “You have got every right to do whatever You think right in relation with Your servant. I am Your eternal servant.” Janmaobi moe iccha jadi tor: “If you so desire” — because a devotee goes back to Home, goes back to Godhead – therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura proposes, “If You like that I shall again take birth, it doesn’t matter.”</p>
<p>Bhakta—grhe jani janma hau mor: “The only request is that if I have to take my birth, please kindly give me the chance of taking my birth in a devotee’s house.” Kita—janma hau jatha tuwa das: “I don’t mind if I am born as an insect, but I must be in the house of a devotee.” Bahir mukha brahma-janme nahi as: “I do not like non—devotee life.</p>
<p>Noticing that Srila Bhaktivinoda said, “…IF I have to take my birth…” in a mood of allowing Krishna to do whatever He wants, does this appear more surrender’ful than our ‘conditional’ Back to Godhead wish, as encouraged by Srila Prabhupada? We can look at this in different ways, and the way Srila Prabhupada emphasised it so much points in the right direction.</p>
<p>Here is one of many examples: “And after passing 5,000 years, we find so many difficulties, and the more we grow in this Kali-yuga, the days will be more and more difficult. So best thing is that you finish your Krishna consciousness business and go back to home, back to Godhead. That will save you. Otherwise, if we come back again, the difficulties, the difficult days are ahead. We have to suffer more and more.” (SB 1.8.32 – Los Angeles, April 24, 1973)</p>
<p>A daunting prospect of rebirth in Kali-yuga is discouraged. Srila Prabhupada also knew that most of us are rules and regulation types and will struggle mightily to ascend the path of devotion. For these reasons it would be an extraordinarily rare event to actually go back to Godhead, and the extraordinary is made clear and simple for us by him – and many devotees are going back to Godhead.</p>
<p>An interesting question can be raised at this point: Srila Prabhupada sometimes said that many of his disciples were sent by Krishna, or by his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta to come and help him spread Krishna consciousness all over the world – from where did they come?</p>
<p>To have the desire to go back to Godhead, or not to ever take birth again in this world, is the correct thing for those of us who are unsure of our eternal position in Godhead. If we haven’t yet realised our spiritual identity, then better we pray to go back to Godhead where we might discover something wonderful. This is the greatest fortune.</p>
<p>Then there are those rare souls who are certain and assured of themselves spiritually. This certainty enables someone like Srila Bhaktivinoda to know that wherever he is in the material world, he is already in Godhead. “If one has a strong desire to serve the Lord, even if he accepts a material body, there is no cause of anxiety, since a devotee, even in a material body, is a liberated soul.” (SB 9.13.9 purport)</p>
<p>On this level, going back to Godhead or not, being in heaven or hell, are inconsequential so long as service or devotion is rendered in the company of devotees. “Even if I am born as a Lord Brahma. I want to remain with the devotees.” Bhukti-mukti—sprha vihina je bhakta: “I want such devotee who doesn’t care for material happiness or spiritual liberation.” Labhaite tako sanga anurakta: “ I simply desire to be associated with such pure devotees.”</p>
<p>And while serving with devotees an assured soul knows, “When he gives up his body, he goes directly to become an associate of the Lord and serve Him, although he does the same thing even in a material body in the material world.” (SB 9.13.9 purport)</p>
<p>If we try to express our desires to take birth again in this world without having the certainty and assurance of eternal spiritual grounding, we could be moving ahead of ourselves. This is why Srila Prabhupada encouraged a more realistic prospect of desiring to go back to Godhead. Besides, having a genuine realised desire to go wherever Krishna wants us to go, stems from relishing real taste for chanting Hare Krishna.</p>
<p>When Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu says in the forth verse of Sri Sikastakam, “I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth,” He is – “By saying “life after life” (janmani janmani), the Lord referred not to an ordinary birth but a birth in which to remember the lotus feet of the Lord. Such a body is desirable.” (SB 9.13.9 purport)</p>
<p>According to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s analysis in his writings like Sri Bhajana Rahasyam and others, this Siksastakam verse equates with having deep taste or Ruchi. In other words, someone possessed of this quality of spiritual progress can have more realisation when and if, the desire for rebirth arises, and is expressed with proper understanding.</p>
<p>It could be that one wants to go back to Godhead because – (SB 9.13.9 purport) “…whereas a nondevotee, having no engagement in the service of the Lord, is very much afraid of accepting a material body or giving up his present one,” could reflect some of the uncertainty. This uncertainty is due to not knowing one’s eternal relationship with Krishna, or even retaining or practicing impersonal concepts in the realm of personal service to the Lord and His devotees.</p>
<p>“Mahārāja Nimi continued: Māyāvādīs generally want freedom from accepting a material body because they fear having to give it up again. But devotees whose intelligence is always filled with the service of the Lord are unafraid. Indeed, they take advantage of the body to render transcendental loving service.” (SB 9.13.9)</p>
<p>To seek relief from material suffering and from bodily inconveniences in order to go back to Godhead, can be a selfish motive. Then again, we are encouraged to use this selfishness for a higher purpose. The fact that we somehow came here at – Anadi – time for some selfish reason, and now wanting some selfish relief, is well worth our effort in going back to Godhead.</p>
<p>At least having returned back to Godhead there will be some capacity to serve the Lord. And in that service one may want to come back down to the material world to help bring back other suffering souls – from an already liberated position. With an assured Godhead situation as this, who would not want to go back home, back to Godhead to render eternal loving service, either here, there or anywhere?</p>
<p>Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS.</p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85794">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85794</a></p></div>I think I have acquired a spiritual guru… by Aurigahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/i-think-i-have-acquired-a-spiritual-guru-12022-12-06T09:30:00.000Z2022-12-06T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><h1 class="page-title" style="text-align:center;">I think I have acquired a spiritual guru…</h1>
<center><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xY5EqZ-bMqo/VaDkIPqjkXI/AAAAAAAAQ9A/7Vd9tIOdh30/s0/2015-07-11_11-38-38.jpg" alt="" /></center>
<p> </p>
<p>Actually, I think it might be more accurate to say that he has acquired me.</p>
<p>I’m a scientist (astrophysicist to be precise) and I’ve been agnostic for as long as I can remember, so I’ve always struggled with the idea of God and the purpose of religion. But a few months ago, I had a spiritual experience, and since then, I’ve been on a quest to understand the being known as God. To learn more, I’ve studied and participated in various religious systems, and for the past month I’ve been exploring the group commonly known as Hare Krishnas.</p>
<p>This weekend, I participated in a festival organised by the local bhakti-yoga community (bhakti-yoga or Krishna Consciousness is the lifestyle practised by the Hare Krishnas). On the Friday, I attended a lecture. I’ve been attending lectures with the Hare Krishnas every week for a few weeks now, and I often enjoy their talks and find them insightful. As usual, the lecture started with some chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. It’s a very simple mantra, but I find it incredibly uplifting; the bhakti-yogis tell me the words themselves are powerful: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The chanting normally ends with the arrival of the speaker, and Friday’s speaker was an oldish (just over sixty maybe) monk-looking guy in the standard orange robes.</p>
<p>The title of the speaker’s talk was “Too busy to be happy,” and he ran a very informal session, with plenty of audience participation, much to the discomfort of some of the audience members! He began by asking several members of the audience (who were mostly students) what they were aiming for in life. Their answers consisted of the common material goals, such as a good job with lots of money, a nice house, nice car, nice partner. Next, the speaker asked, “Will these material things make you happy?” Apparently not. It’s the emotional high, which comes with achieving these things, that we actually crave, and this high is inevitably short lived. The affable orator then explained the central idea to bhakti-yoga: we are not our bodies; we are in fact the spirit soul (or atma in Sanskrit). The idea is that the soul lives inside the body, and since it is distinct from the material body, material things inevitably cannot satisfy it. Hence, material things are not what we should seek to attain true happiness.</p>
<p>I kept my mouth shut through most of the talk and the questions at the end, because my questions tend to generate time-consuming discussion, and I figured everyone else in the room deserved to have the time to get their questions answered first without having to endure all that. So after most of the students had left, I stuck around for further discussion and took the opportunity to be a generally cheeky pain with my questioning. Fortunately, the speaker was very good humoured and carried an unconventionally serene manner, so we had a nice chat.opportunity to be a generally cheeky pain with my questioning. Fortunately, the speaker was very good humoured and carried an unconventionally serene manner, so we had a nice chat.</p>
<p>The next day I was at the Hare Krishna temple for the festival and who should be hosting a Q&A session but my new friend. I’d done my homework; I’d read the bits in the books that describe the basis for the arguments he was making; if he was going to talk about how futile and limited the pursuit of science is, then I was going to be prepared. Whilst not allowing myself to hog the discussion, I did my best to challenge his assertions and rout out the logic behind his arguments, to see how firm a foundation they were based upon.</p>
<p>The speaker brought up a point about all the bad stuff that happens in the world and how people want to love, care, and help fix the world’s problems. This guy said that generally people are unqualified to help. He gave an example, “Suppose you are ill and need surgery to get better, and I offer to do the surgery. You would say to me, “No thanks, you’re not qualified to do that, you’re not a surgeon.” The debate meandered until the speaker made the point, “If you care so much, go and get someone who is qualified to do the surgery.” He then shared the insights provided in the Krishna texts and explained how people need to read them to progress spiritually and to be able to express their love in a productive way. Since this guy is pretty senior in bhakti-yoga, my question after that was, “So how are you going to enact this world-saving plan?” To which he answered, “I think I’ll start with you.”</p>
<p>Oh my! For my petulance and cheek I had been singled out for saving.</p>
<p>[Aside: Later on Saturday, when the same erudite Vedic master gave the lecture, a temple leader introduced him as “His Holiness.” Apparently there are less than a hundred men of his station in the world. It’s like I was being cheeky to the pope. Well, maybe not quite the pope.]</p>
<p>Finally, on Sunday I got my chance for a one-to-one chat. The topics got a bit lengthy, ranging from the ideal spiritual path in bhakti-yoga to the limitations of a materialistic-based scientific study of the universe. A person like me has much to understand about religious structures. Historical events have made me see no need for them. Besides, I think it is possible to be spiritual and have a relationship with God without using a religion or man-made structure to do it. On the other hand, we have a human need to know that what we are doing is “right” or correct. If you act just on your own intuition, then you will interpret events based on the idea of God that you have in your head; by acting without guidance it is very easy to doubt your own thought process or, conversely, to end up feeling spiritually alone or even deluded.</p>
<p>Bhakti-yoga claims not to be a religion but, rather, a spiritual science. It’s not science in the way that physical science works, but it does have a very reasonable method. The practice emphasises exploring the ideas yourself and experimenting in the “spiritual laboratory” (genuine wisdom from my guru there). The founding leader of the Krishna Consciousness movement said, “Religion without a rational basis is just sentiment.” They are very much into combining science and religion and always recommend that you test the ideas you are presented with before accepting them. After all, the guru addressed the “whys” and “what fors” in my discussion, and when I told him I still needed to examine several other religions before I could think about accepting one, he responded, “By all means, I’ll be interested to see what you find.”</p>
<p>I’m optimistic about my new collaboration in spiritual science.</p>
<p>—–<br /> About the Author Auriga<br /> Former life-long agnostic, Auriga, Ph.D., is an astrophysicist seeking spiritual answers after a brush with the divine. Perpetually grappling with the inconsistencies between science and spirituality, Auriga’s eventual, hopefully not too lofty aim is to find understanding and reconciliation between the two.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.enoughmagazine.org/the-guru-and-the-geek/">http://www.enoughmagazine.org/the-guru-and-the-geek/</a></p></div>“Encourage them more and more.” by Visakha Devi Dashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/encourage-them-more-and-more2022-11-11T10:30:00.000Z2022-11-11T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515272390,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515272390,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515272390?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Be personal. Honor each individual for who he or she is. This principle was repeatedly exemplified by Srila Prabhupada throughout his time with us. As he saw how everyone is spiritually equal and should have an equal opportunity to participate in his movement according to his or her qualifications and propensities, so can we. As he encouraged everyone, so can we. In the world today, there’s a dire need for this cutting-edge, spiritual vision, a vision that’s resonant with Krishna’s teachings, that’s attractive, and that’s natural. Implementing it would be an enormous contribution to the world, a contribution that could set the example of how to see past externals and evoke each person’s genius. Srila Prabhupada was an expert encourager. He sometimes insisted that Yamuna lead kirtan, Himavati speak, Kausalya recite the Isopanisad. As he wrote to Satsvarupa Dasa in a letter, “Encourage them more and more.” One who’s encouraged can move mountains. <br /> Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuntha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability. (SB. 7.5.12, purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=69693">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=69693</a></p></div>Windows to the Spiritual World By Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/windows-to-the-spiritual-world2022-11-11T09:30:00.000Z2022-11-11T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515250682,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515250682?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">The other day I was remembering Srila Prabhupada’s statement of how paintings of Krsna are like windows to the spiritual world; it means that through these paintings, we are looking into the ‘real world’, and when we are looking out of this window (of the building), we are simply looking at a picture. So Krsna consciousness must begin with that understanding, that the spiritual world is the real world. It is there where we find our nourishment because after all, in the material world, we will never be emotionally nourished. There will always be something lacking as this is the nature of the material world. It is usually when we talk to people behind closed doors where people reveal their heart and usually what comes out is that they are not feeling fulfilled, “I’m not happy with my life!”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">It was recently in the news that some Russian lady who supposedly turned 119 years old said, “I have never had a happy day in my life!” Now, that is a bit depressing, isn’t it? I mean I don’t think this life is that bad (laughter). Everyone should at least remember some happy days, with the exception of that lady clearly (laughter). What to do? But the point of this is that we will never find fulfilment in this material world. Can we have everything that we have ever wanted here? Who has that?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So therefore, we always feel a little undernourished in this material world. Real nourishment comes in our relationship with Krsna and that is where we have to find it. Now, it is easy to say, “But Krsna is so far away. I need something here and now to nourish me.” Well, Krsna is far away but only if we put him far away. We should make an attempt to bring Krsna closer to us. So we must begin with our Krsna consciousness. By understanding that we have to invest in cultivating our relationship with Krsna, we bring him closer to us! That is what we are doing when we are having our morning sadhana – our regular reading, chanting and so on. We are coming closer to Krsna. In the Ādi Purāṇa, it is stated that when we chant the holy name, we are extremely close to Krsna. So this is what we are actually experiencing. It may take a little while to experience it in that way, but at least we can begin to reflect on it right now!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=62962">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=62962</a></p></div>The Cat in the Basket by Vaisesika Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-cat-in-the-basket-by-vaisesika-dasa2022-06-23T12:38:01.000Z2022-06-23T12:38:01.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10590372301,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="10590372301?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>A cleric was once training his students how to perform a wedding. During the cleric’s tutorial, a frisky cat who lived on the church premises repeatedly interrupted the proceedings by meowing and playing with the ceremonial items. To pacify the cat, the cleric asked one of his students to bring it a bowl of milk. After plying the rambunctious cat with milk, the cleric, a cat lover himself, stroked the cat until it became drowsy and fell asleep. Having accomplished his goal, he put the sleeping cat in a small basket in the corner of the room so that it might not disturb his teachings. Meanwhile, as the priest’s students took notes regarding the details of the ceremony, they also wrote down the process for putting a frisky cat to sleep.</p>
<p>A few years later, when the head priest was out of town one day, the students were working as a team to perform their first solo wedding. As they were about to commence the ceremony, however, one of the students, referring to his notes, cried out, “Wait! Stop! We cannot start the ceremony without a cat in a basket!” Some of the students fetched a cat, gave it some milk, lulled it to sleep, and gently placed it in a basket in a corner of the room. After this, the rest of the wedding proceeded, the students following the notes they had taken when learning the process from their teacher. And from that day forward and to this very day, the students in the cleric’s lineage require a cat asleep in a basket to properly execute all weddings.</p>
<p>The story points to people’s tendency to follow blindly, without seeking to understand why rituals exist or why theories are accepted as truth. Do you have any cat-in-the-basket aspects in your life? If so, ask, “What’s their purpose?” and “What’s my purpose?” to see if you want to keep them.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://vaisesikadasa.com/en/the-cat-in-the-basket/?fbclid=IwAR2lUsyYQpaQ59veVxQ5TtQ0uNW7jqUR4SvV03a95XcGTeJsWM7K8TKh5iE">https://vaisesikadasa.com/en/the-cat-in-the-basket/?fbclid=IwAR2lUsyYQpaQ59veVxQ5TtQ0uNW7jqUR4SvV03a95XcGTeJsWM7K8TKh5iE</a></p></div>The Heart of the Gita by Ananda Vrndavanesvari Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-heart-of-the-gita-12022-06-21T09:30:00.000Z2022-06-21T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ML9uNpzXgHQ/V9-xltTd7UI/AAAAAAAAe7Q/tOXIc55blcE/s0/2016-09-19_11-36-12.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" alt="2016-09-19_11-36-12.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just as a very good sweet will have something hidden inside of it, or a company will have the inner group of key people, the Gita has a core made up of four verses. These are called the Catur Sloki (catur = four, and sloki = verses), and they summarize the entire Gita.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The eighteen chapters of the Gita are themselves divided into 3 parts. The middle six chapters focus on bhakti and are “protected” on either side by teachings on karma-yoga (the first six chapters) and jnana yoga (the focus of the last six chapters). It’s considered that the Bhakti chapters are the heart of the Gita and the catur-sloki are located in that heart.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the catur-sloki you find the essence of the teachings of the 700 verses of the Gita. They establish the scope of the Lord’s opulence (verse 8), the result of truly knowing those opulences (verse 8), how pure devotees worship Him (verse 9), and how He reciprocates with their devotion (verses 10 and 11).</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Here they are:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify;">10.8 I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their heart.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">10.9 The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">10.10 To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.</li>
<li style="text-align:justify;">10.11 To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We see in these verses the loving exchanges between the Lord and us, which is the highest point of self-realization. We are trying to love Him and He is loving us by lighting up our heart in reciprocation. It’s love at the beginning, middle and end – just deeper and deeper feelings and expressions of that love.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">These four verses are easy to learn and are a daily spiritual tonic to recite. One person I know has a clever way to learn verses. He sticks the verse on a door he uses a lot, and every time he goes out he recites the verse. He said he learns verses in no time by that method.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">You can learn both the Sanskrit and English, or either one. Find the verses here at <a href="http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg" target="_blank">vedabase.com</a>. These are great verses to have in your head. They can lead you to the heart of it all.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31506">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31506</a></p></div>The Krsna Conscious Vision of Spiritual Equality by Jayadvaita Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-krsna-conscious-vision-of-spiritual-equality-by-jayadvaita-sw2022-02-18T16:18:12.000Z2022-02-18T16:18:12.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10119941888,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="325" alt="10119941888?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>An enlightened person sees with equal vision a learned scholar,<br /> a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater.</strong></p>
<p>Attempts to establish equality among all people are naive and superficial unless supported by spiritual understanding. Materially, we are not equal. Some people are geniuses; others are fools. Materially, the rule is not unity but diversity. Ours is a world of diverse bodies, diverse faces.</p>
<p>And it is in terms of these diversities that we think of our selves. We think, "I am a man" or "I am a woman." "I am black" or "I am white." "I am tall" or "I am short." "I am an American" or "I am a Russian." We think in terms of temporary designations, temporary roles.</p>
<p>Within the limits of our categories, we strive for unity. Americans United. Women United. Workers United. And those who are broadminded seek to go beyond the small and petty and reach out to a greater oneness, the oneness of all humanity.</p>
<p>Yet even this human oneness is limited. It is but a larger "in" group, from which other living beings animals and plants, for example are excluded.</p>
<p>In Krsna consciousness, however, one sees all living beings equally because one sees who they really are. Krsna consciousness begins on the spiritual platform, with the understanding that I am not the body but the consciousness within the body. The external body is not the real self the true self is the spark of consciousness within the body. It is that conscious spark that illuminates one's entire body with life. Indeed, life is consciousness; the body is but the house in which consciousness dwells for some time; it is a temporary garment for the eternally conscious self.</p>
<p>Spiritual realization, therefore, begins with awakening from one's bodily false ego to one's real identity as the spiritual soul within the body. This spiritual insight gives one the enlightened vision with which to see other living beings in their true identities also.</p>
<p>The enlightened person no longer sees other beings in terms of their temporary, material coverings. He no longer thinks in superficial stereotypes and designations. Rather, he sees everyone to be a spiritual spark of consciousness, in quality one with himself.</p>
<p>Consciousness is the same everywhere. It always has the same qualities the qualities of perception, of understanding, of desire regardless of the body in which it appears. A Russian may think or feel himself different from an American, but the essential nature of their thoughts and feelings is the same. As light is of one quality although it appears different when it shines through glass of varied colors, consciousness is the same in all living beings, although it manifests itself differently because of the varied bodies in which it dwells. This consciousness within the body is the real self.</p>
<p>A Krsna conscious person. therefore, gives more importance to the self within and less to the outward body. So although he recognizes material variety, he understands the unity behind it.</p>
<p>According to Bhagavad-gita the basic book of knowledge for Krsna consciousness, a self-realized person sees all living beings equally. In India, the highest men among the social classes are the brahmanas, or those whose intellect is sharp and refined, whereas the lowest of men are those whose habits are unclean and who live by eating dogs. But although not blind to the outward differences between the brahmana and the dog-eater, a Krsna conscious person sees that both are essentially the same, because each of them is a spiritual soul, an embodied spark of consciousness.</p>
<p>The Krsna conscious person sees with this spiritual vision not only other human beings but also the lower species of life. In India, cows are loved and respected as the most valuable animals, whereas dogs are thought low and nasty. In the West, our sentiments are nearly the opposite; while raising cows for slaughter. we value dogs as our companions and lavish our affections upon them. A Krsna conscious person, however, sees no difference between a cow and a dog and an elephant or any other creature, because he sees each of them as a tiny embodied spiritual soul. Again, the bodies differ, yet the spark of consciousness in each body is the same.</p>
<p>A Krsna conscious person, therefore, has a perfect vision of material diversity and spiritual unity at the same time. He is not foolish and impractical, awkwardly straining to see all creatures as one in all respects. He recognizes diversity. We embrace our fellow human beings, but we don't embrace a tiger. Why? Because we know the differences between the tiger and the man. Our human friends shake hands with us; a tiger greets us with its jaws. Nonetheless, spiritually we see that the man and the tiger are one, because an equally spiritual soul resides within them both.</p>
<p>Yet although the Krsna consciousness person sees beyond the material body, he even sees beyond the soul within. For the Krsna conscious person is ultimately conscious of Krsna, the supreme reservoir of all consciousness. He sees Krsna to be present within the heart of every living being. Within each body resides an individual spark of consciousness, an individual living entity but that consciousness dwells in one body, and only one body, at any one time. Thus I am conscious of the pains and pleasures of my body but not of yours, whereas you are conscious of yours but not mine. Krsna, however, lives simultaneously in the hearts of all living beings. He is present within the heart of the intellectual and the dog-eater, the elephant, the cow, and the dog. It is from Krsna that each living being ultimately draws his life, and because of Him that one remembers or forgets. It is He who guides each living being toward spiritual perfection or away from it, according to what each of us desires. He is therefore the ultimate fountainhead of all life, all consciousness, and all spiritual and material energy. He is the source of everything, the ultimate truth.</p>
<p>The Krsna conscious person sees Krsna within all living beings, and all living beings within Krsna. Therefore his vision is clear, perfect, and universal.</p>
<p>This spiritual vision is not abstract or theoretical. As one advances in realization, one's vision becomes purified, and this spiritual vision becomes a natural part of his life. A businessman, because of his financial consciousness, sees money everywhere. A man intent upon sexual fulfillment sees everywhere some opportunity for sex. These are crude examples, but similarly a Krsna conscious person, one whose consciousness is focused upon Krsna, becomes eligible to see Krsna everywhere. And because he sees Krsna everywhere, he sees within Krsna the true equality of all living beings.</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.backtogodhead.in/the-krsna-conscious-vision-of-spiritual-equality-by-jayadvaita-swami/">https://www.backtogodhead.in/the-krsna-conscious-vision-of-spiritual-equality-by-jayadvaita-swami/</a></p></div>Spiritual Funk Rock Band Supersoul Releases New EP “Rukmini’s Ecstasy”https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-funk-rock-band-supersoul-releases-new-ep-rukmini-s-ecst2021-10-12T12:16:14.000Z2021-10-12T12:16:14.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9669119500,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9669119500?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>By Madhava Smullen<br /><br /></strong></div>
<div>
<p>It’s not always easy to find rock music that tackles spiritual themes, much less Krishna conscious ones. But Australian alternative funk rock band Supersoul does just that, wrapping deep philosophical concepts in funky rhythm sections, soaring harmonies and ripping guitar solos.</p>
<p>Hailing from ISKCON New Govardhana in Murwillumbah, the band consists of four devotees, all family men – singer and guitarist Deva Gaura Hari Das, bass guitarist Laksmivan Das, rhythm guitarist Svetadvip Das, and drummer Yadunandana Das. Starting out in 2016 as “Transcendance,” they released a four-song EP in 2017, changing their name to Supersoul later that year. </p>
<p>Their first EP as Supersoul, entitled “He Can Dance,” was released in September 2020, while follow-up “Rukmini’s Ecstasy” has arrived almost exactly a year later, on September 15th 2021. The cover art, used with permission, features renowned ISKCON artist Puskara Dasa’s painting of Rukmini Devi, Lord Krishna’s eternal consort and Queen in Dwarka.</p>
<p>Inspiration for the EP and its title song came from reading the scriptures. Deva Gaura Hari was struck by the pastime, recounted in Locana Dasa Thakura’s book Chaitanya Mangala, where Rukmini tells Krishna that He can’t understand how devastated in spiritual separation His devotees are when He is away from them. “Only Radharani understands this ecstacy,” Rukmini says. The book then goes on to explain how Krishna appears as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to experience the love of His devotees, and particular Radharani, in separation from Him.</p>
<p>“When we started jamming on this mellow song together, I found myself singing about this pastime,” Deva Gaura Hari says. “Its melancholy mood seemed to suit the song.”</p>
<p>“She was welcoming her Lord / But down her cheeks her tears they flowed,” the song begins. “She said only Radha knows how our hearts break when you go / Rukmini’s ecstasy / He could see / He thought I’ve got to know this love / The sweetest thing in existence / I’ll come to earth with golden dress / To taste her mood / her sentiment.”</p>
<p>“We all loved the song, and so we agreed to call the EP Rukmini’s Ecstasy,” Deva Gaura Hari says.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-funk-rock-band-supersoul-releases-new-ep-rukminis-ecstasy,8028/">https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-funk-rock-band-supersoul-releases-new-ep-rukminis-ecstasy,8028/</a></p>
</div></div>Sensitivity in presenting spiritual topicshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sensitivity-in-presenting-spiritual-topics2021-07-30T06:30:00.000Z2021-07-30T06:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px;color:#535353;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;text-align:center;"><img style="border:0px none;vertical-align:middle;z-index:999;position:relative;margin:10px;height:275px;width:700px;" src="https://i.imgur.com/sSupsp7.jpeg" alt="" /><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi_COOqpA2s" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></span><br /> </p>
<p>We use speech every day in our life. But seldom do we realize it’s power. It leaves a profound impact on others, our mind and consciousness.</p>
<p>Words create worlds. Since language affects reality, there is an irretrievable nature to the words which leave our lips.</p>
<p>Numerous scriptural injunctions are available on the Yama and Niyama of speech.</p>
<p>In the Nectar of Instruction, Srila Rupa Goswami’s first instruction to all practitioners of bhakti-yoga is — vāco vegam — one should control one’s speech.</p>
<p>In the Bhagavad-gītā (17.15), Lord Krishna says that austerity of speech consists of speaking words that are satyam – truthful, priyam – pleasing, hitam – beneficial, and anudvega-karam – not agitating to others.</p>
<p>The Manu Samhita says:</p>
<p>Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat.</p>
<p>Na bruyat satyam apriyam.</p>
<p>Priyam cha nanrutham bruyat.</p>
<p>Esha dharmah sanatanah.</p>
<p>This means, ‘Speak the truth that is pleasant. Never speak the truth that is unpleasant. And, never speak the untruth even if it’s pleasant.’</p>
<p>Hence austerity of speech refers to finding the right balance between stating the truth while being non violent in communication. The three Sanskrit words which summarize truthfulness in speech are hitam (beneficial), mitam(measured) and priyam</p>
<p>This podcast analyses:</p>
<p>The prominent role of speech in our life</p>
<p>The principles governing the speech in mode of goodness</p>
<p>The practical application of the rules with examples from our scriptures</p>
<p>At the end of the talk we are aware of:</p>
<p>When to speak and when to remain silent<br /> What to speak and what not to speak<br /> Who to speak to and who not to speak to<br /> How to speak and how not to speak.<br /> His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj is an exemplar of perfect speech. The principles of non violent communication are entrenched within his entire being. He is measured, peaceful, deep and speaks with a soothing cadence. Aptly, whatever Maharaj says is not just eminently touching, but resonates with the listener.<br /> And who could be a better host/ facilitator than the erudite and scholarly Chaitanya Charan Prabhu! With his extensive knowledge of scriptures along with modern science and exceptional communication skills, Prabhu is the glue that holds the podcast together. He asks very thought-provoking and engaging questions, whilst making valuable contributions to the discussion.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87643">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87643</a></p></div>Spiritual Television: Is the World Ready for a True Spiritual Networkhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-television-is-the-world-ready-for-a-true-spiritual-netw2021-06-16T10:30:00.000Z2021-06-16T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G9JD2E2XK9c/VdgZIyGeiFI/AAAAAAAASl8/92df18ifM0A/s0/2015-08-22_08-39-18.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" alt="2015-08-22_08-39-18.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p><strong>By Yogesvara dasa</strong></p>
<p align="left"><strong>Introduction<br /> </strong> A Native American storyteller named Ron Evans tells a tale that warms the heart of all who agonise over the effects of contemporary media. Ron visited Africa some years ago and was present the day electric lines were installed for the first time in a tiny village. Along with wiring came a gift from the local government: the village’s first television. Ron describes how the entire village sat mesmerised for three days watching every programme. Then as if on cue, rose, turned off the set, and went about their business. Curious as to their motives, Ron approached the village chief and asked, ‘Why did you stop watching the television?’ The chief smiled and replied, ‘We don’t need the television. We have our storyteller.’ Delighted but not completely satisfied by the reply, Ron commented, ‘The television knows many stories, too.’ The chief bowed his head thoughtfully, then looked up with a smile and said, ‘Oh, no doubt the television knows many stories. But our storyteller knows us!’</p>
<p align="left">As a practising Vaishnava wary of the media’s influence on consciousness, I am encouraged by the innocent villagers’ preference for their storyteller over pre-recorded programming. But there is a twist in this cautionary tale: I have never met Ron Evans. I heard his story on TV. As troubling as it may be, television can serve to enlighten, and we who hope for a more enlightened world must acknowledge its influence and power.</p>
<p align="left">By now each hut in Ron’s village probably boasts a TV with remote control and satellite access to dozens, if not hundreds of channels, for the electronic age has arrived, and nothing will stop its penetration into every home in the world. Remote peoples, many of them on the list of endangered species, feast on a daily fare of <em>Beverly Hills 90210, Dallas</em> reruns, and assorted game shows where contestants vie for goods that some of these viewers have never even seen. What effect this exposure will have on the traditional values and social structures of isolated cultures is yet to be seen. What can be noted, however, is the spiritual decay it wreaks on more mainstream societies. Can this influence be corrected? Does spirituality have a place in broadcast? Can ephemeral frames of film, or pixels on a flat screen, communicate spiritual truths -or are the two realms mutually exclusive?</p>
<p align="left">In this article I will argue that a spiritual television network can put this form of communication to use by educating people about the non-fanatical side of religious thought, through believable characters, humour and the kind of programming that television watchers expect. This is not to suggest, however, that technology can solve our problems. Recently, a woman told me that her daughter was seeing a psychiatrist on-line to improve, of all things, her interpersonal relationships. That type of blind faith in technology is disconcerting, as are cybergurus who point to the Net and claim it is the fulfilment of French philosopher Teilhard de Chardin’s prediction of a new stage in human evolution.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#1">1</a> More impressive to me are groups like the Amish who take a selective approach to technology and pay little heed to the television screen. Scriptures provide them with whatever information they need, and community events provide their entertainment. From the perspective of the Amish, television merely reflects the fraud and violence of the outside world. Why invite that into the living room?</p>
<p align="left">Most of the world, however, does not take such a renounced position. For ninety-three percent of all people on the planet, television is a part of daily life. This fact must concern those of us committed to proactive spiritual and religious thought. Interfaith dialogue will remain incomplete until it deals effectively with this single-most pervasive medium.</p>
<p align="left">A distinction should be made between religion and spirituality. For the purpose of this article, religion will be taken to mean beliefs characteristic of a particular people: a social and ritual structure that serves to identify that people and distinguish them from other peoples. Spirituality, in the context of this article, means ideas, truths and practices that transcend any one human grouping: wisdom, stories and truths which are found in a variety of religious cultures and which serve to unite peoples, whatever their particular religious persuasion or denomination.</p>
<p align="left">In this article, I will look at evidence that suggests the time is ripe for a television network based on the stories, teachings and practices of the world’s spiritual cultures. I will examine how television has become the common language of humanity, but now faces a crisis of content; I will then go on to outline the ways spirituality was partnered with technology in the past, and consider how such a partnership could help resolve the crisis television is facing today. Finally, I will explain why I believe a well-run spiritual network is tricky but achievable, and then briefly examine what such a network might look like.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Television: The common language of humanity</strong></p>
<p><em>Bonding via satellite<br /> </em> The latest James Bond movie, always a good indicator of the direction our world is taking, features a diabolical Rupert Murdoch-like character who delivers such gems of dialogue as ‘There’s no news like bad news’ and ‘Let the mayhem begin!’ He manipulates broadcast signals by pitting nation against nation, in order to feed his global network with tomorrow’s headlines today, thus beating out the competition. Here is the anti-Christ as media mogul, with satellites as the new tools for controlling people’s souls. ‘The best God ever managed’, he laughs, ‘was a Sermon on the Mount!’</p>
<p align="left">Things may never reach this apocalyptic level: life is much better scripted. It is true, however, that television will soon reach nearly every person on earth by satellite, primarily because people would prefer a TV to running water, and the cost of a dish has dropped dramatically. The first satellite, a French prototype named Spot 1, went into orbit in 1986. Picking up the signal required huge electronic dishes that cost millions of dollars. Today, twelve short years later, a pizza-sized home dish costs under $100 and can pick up hundreds of channels. Recently, a Los Angeles cable television executive showed me the top end of home entertainment: an enormous dish in his backyard that receives signals from eleven satellites circling the globe. I sat stunned as he clicked through more than 1,000 channels from his lounge chair. It was a television addict’s dream and a thinking person’s nightmare.</p>
<p align="left">The rate at which this proliferation has occurred is breathtaking. In the past two years, one company alone, INTELSAT, has launched twenty-seven communications satellites in geosynchronous space, meaning they are out far enough in space to withstand gravity and stay at about 22,000 miles up in one spot over the Earth’s surface. To broadcast over such distance, however, requires a very strong signal. For a satellite to hear the weaker signal of a local cable station, it needs to be in low-earth orbit-and that is the next frontier in electronic technology.</p>
<p align="left">In 1997, Iridium LLC, a Washington D.C. based company, began sending up a constellation of sixty-six satellites orbiting about 480 miles up, enough of them that at least one will always be overhead picking up and passing on weak-signal transmissions to and from any spot on Earth. This year, OrbComm of Dulles, Virginia, will put into orbit its planned constellation of twenty-eight satellites, and Globalstar LP will begin launching a satellite constellation of forty-eight to support mobile-telephone service. Teledesic Corp, employed by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, has set a goal for its fibre-optic quality telecommunications to be available anywhere in the world. This will be achieved with a constellation of 288 satellites, which they aim to launch between the years 2000 and 2002.</p>
<p align="left">Further, digital technology now makes it possible for one analogue channel to be compressed into as many as twelve digital channels, and that translates into thousands of channels available anywhere in the world. Just where this maelstrom of media will lead is a matter of conjecture, but soon anyone with even a basic digital television will have instantaneous, interactive access to those thousands of channels. Consider that even today from Lome, Togo, for example, with the right television set you can tune into a USA home shopping network and if you see something you want, use your American Express card to buy it on-screen. Even though credit approval involves a 46,000 mile journey over telephones and computers, the whole transaction can be completed in about five seconds.</p>
<p align="left">Technology has accelerated growth in many fields-communications, science, medicine and biology-at such dizzying rates that the sophistication of our tools has far outstripped our moral and ethical ability to handle them properly. The dilemma is particularly pronounced in broadcast, however, by virtue of its omnipresence. While only forty-three percent of American households have computers, for example, ninety-seven percent have televisions. More than sixty-eight million American homes have a cable television service, and that means revenues for programmers who can command the attention of the viewer.</p>
<p align="left">As the viewership of a programme increases, it becomes more valuable in terms of bringing in advertising revenue. Broadcasters are consequently desperate for programmes that will attract and hold the attention of large numbers of viewers. Spiritual programmes might be able to achieve this, but as very little has ever been done with the concept, there is little evidence to support its commercial viability. The majority of programmers choose the more predictable audience winners such as sex, violence, profane language, adult situations, gossip, crude humour and anything else that elevates mediocrity. In children’s television, such disturbing images risk permanent damage on impressionable minds and hearts.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Television: A crisis of content</strong></p>
<p><em>Children’s television<br /> </em> To attract children’s viewership to their programmes, many producers use two formulas. One is ‘I’ve-got-an-attitude’ programmes, epitomised by Nickelodeon’s line-up of mindless game shows and ill-mannered animated characters. The other is a range of programmes flaunting vulgar and explicit sex, foul language and crude behaviour. To a large extent the tactics are working: children watch it and think they love it. That in turn creates high ratings, which generate more money from advertisers.</p>
<p align="left">Vulgarity is most evident in programmes such as <em>South Park</em>, the most popular programme on American cable television. This show features four dirty-talking children who poison Granddad, promote a boxing match between Jesus and Satan, and converse with a talking pile of stool called ‘Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo.’ The next most popular programme on cable television in America is professional wrestling, which boasts as many children as adult viewers. The most popular new programme among American teenagers is a series called <em>Dawson’s Creek</em>. In this programme a high-school boy, who plays the leading character in <em>Dawson’s Creek </em>has a sexual affair with his English teacher. Another boy, a football player, is mocked by some girls for being impotent. <em>TheJerry Springer Show</em>, a daytime talk show that also targets teenagers, features guests who reveal their sexual betrayals and then beat each other up. Springer is now challenging <em>Oprah,</em> a popular but less sensationalist talk show, for first ranking in daytime television. Adding to the pile of electronic junk food is Howard Stern, a radio talk-show host known as the king of ‘shock-jocks,’ who recently announced he would begin a television version of his controversial radio show. The statistics describe the situation succinctly:</p>
<ol type="i">
<li>Children and adolescents spend more time watching television than any other activity other than sleeping.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#2">2</a></li>
<li>Annually, an American youngster watching television will be exposed to 12,000 acts of violence,<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#3">3</a>14,000 sexual references,<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#4">4</a> and nearly 20,000 commercials.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#5">5</a></li>
<li>By the time an American child graduates from high school, he or she will have watched 15,000 hours of television compared with only 11,000 hours spent in the classroom.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#6">6</a></li>
<li>Despite network claims to the contrary, more than 1,000 studies and reviews now attest to the fact that heavy exposure to television violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and anti-social behaviour, particularly in males.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#7">7</a></li>
</ol>
<p align="left">Robert Lichter, director of the Centre for Media and Public Affairs in Washington D.C., told The New York Times recently, ‘I’d say there’s been a quantum leap downward this year in terms of adolescent, vulgar language and attempts to treat sexuality in shocking terms. People used to complain that television was aimed at the mind of a twelve-year-old. Now it seems aimed at the hormones of a fourteen-year-old.’</p>
<p align="left">Attempts are underway to get stations to adopt voluntary codes of conduct, to restrict vulgar programming without fear of losing their competitive edge, but the effort is meeting with an unexpected enemy-indifference. Many parents think their children are discriminating enough not to be influenced by television. Others worry about censorship: ‘Popular culture is so ubiquitous it’s almost impossible to combat’, Lichter remarked. ‘It’s like the weather, everyone complains about it but no one does anything. Perhaps in frustration over their inability to do anything, some parents claim that they watch with their children and then talk about it. Lost in such weak reasoning is the fact that children are effected by seeing vulgarity glamourised on the screen.</p>
<p align="left">The vacillating is enough to keep huge amounts of harmful children’s programmes on the air, and notwithstanding the few channels such as Public Television or the BBC that continue to search for quality, paranoia over religion has limited the offerings. ‘Quality’ in the eyes of programme makers encompasses literature, ‘real-life’ issues and developmentally appropriate content- but not spirit.</p>
<p><em>Lack of content for adults<br /> </em> Children are not the only ones to suffer from the lack of good television programmes. Contrary to earlier predictions, the proliferation of channels has not increased the quality of what is seen by grown-ups either. In his book <em>Life After Television</em>, futurist George Gilder forecasts a golden era of artistic expression, to be ushered in by the telecommunications explosion: ‘A new age of individualism is coming, and it will bring an eruption of culture unprecedented in human history.’<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#8">8</a> Certainly, the balance has shifted somewhat in favour of the artist or content-provider. Twenty-five years ago, there were only three US networks: today, there are hundreds of channels, hundreds of places to take an idea. That means however, advertising revenue has been divided over a greater number of channels, and that, in turn, means networks have less money to spend on programmes. Television is churning out hundreds of hours of derivative, uninspired, shallow programmes each week. The market is flooded with too many grade-C films and too many programmes pandering to the same prurient interests – in other words, lots of really bad TV.</p>
<p align="left">The antidote for many broadcasters has come to be known as ‘branded programming’: The Fishing Channel, The Food Channel, The Golf Channel, The Gardening Channel, each catering to the specific interests of a community of viewers who, programmers hope, will stay tuned and help boost ratings and revenues. No channel yet, however, caters to the interests of viewers seeking true spiritual content, and there is some evidence that such a channel would be well received.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>Spirit and media</strong></p>
<p>I became a producer in 1982 when I returned to the USA after living in Krishna temples for twelve years and discovered the world was raising viewers, not readers. I wanted to use film and television to bring children together with the experience of literature. The move away from literature and toward electronic media was underlined by Paul LeClerc, president of the New York Public Library who raised an interesting question: he wondered if it would be possible today for a written work to have the cultural effect that Goethe’s Faust had in Europe in the early nineteenth century. If not, he reflected,</p>
<p>then what we’ve seen is a huge shift in the relationship between consumption and cultural output. In our day, with so much information coming through the line, and with the constant necessity to shift between the trivial and the important it’s hard to imagine a single text having that kind of impact. In the late twentieth century, we are a society that values output, speed, and productivity, whereas art [and, one might argue, spiritual introspection] requires time, reflection, tranquility, and space-all commodities that are in limited supply these days.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#9">9</a></p>
<p>From this perspective, there would seem little hope for cooperation between spirit and media. Some evidence, however, suggests that the two have been mutually supportive in the past and might be configured to be so even more in the years ahead.</p>
<p><em>A trend in the past<br /> </em> It is significant that the <em>Bhagavad-gita</em> begins with a spiritual transmission. Blind King Dhritarastra and his secretary Sanjaya sit miles from the battlefield of Kuruksetra. As events unfold, they are revealed to Sanjaya from within his heart, and he then reports them to the king. The most important scripture in all of Vedic culture as far as Vaishnavas are concerned is, in effect, the transcript of a live transmission!</p>
<p>Is science not religion’s sworn enemy? Is television not somehow fundamentally anti-religious? According to David Noble author of <em>The Religion of Technology: The Divinity of Man and the Spirit of Invention</em>,<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#10">10</a> the answer is clearly no. ‘The technological enterprise’, he argues, ‘has always been an essentially religious endeavour.’ Noble traces the religious view of technology back to the early Middle Ages, when innovation became associated with God’s will and monasteries became centres of invention as well as worship. The mechanical arts were not religion’s enemy but its instruments, helping to bring about a return to pre-Edenic paradise. Giordano Bruno, who stood at the brink of modern science, considered them to be a spur to spiritual evolution: ‘Always, from day to day, by force of necessity, from the depths of the human mind rose new and wonderful inventions. By this means, separating themselves more and more from their animal natures they climbed nearer the Divine Being.’ <a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#11">11</a></p>
<p>It is almost impossible to separate the religious impulse from early science. Newton wrote commentaries on scripture. The English scientist Robert Boyle wrote a treatise: <em>Some Physico-Theological Considerations About the Possibility of the Resurrection</em>. Charles Babbage-widely known as the father of the modern computer-believed that advances in the ‘mechanical arts’ provide ‘some of the strongest arguments in favour of religion.’ The first telegraph message was a biblical quotation: ‘What hath God wrought’, while the machine’s inventor, Samuel F.B. Morse, was a generous donor to religious organisations. Oppenheimer quoted the <em>Bhagavad-gita</em> on seeing the first atomic explosion. And Freemasonry, with its combination of religious ritual and devotion to craft, has produced some of the most prominent pioneers of science, particularly in the field of transportation.</p>
<p>Vaishnavas would argue it is not mastery over technology but over the senses, that elevates us closer to God. Vaishnava history, however, boasts its own tradition of technological innovators. In the nineteenth century, Bhaktivinoda Thakura introduced use of the printing press to disseminate the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His son Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, grandfather of the Krishna Consciousness movement, sent sannyasi disciples (devotees of the renounced order) out preaching in automobiles, much to the shock and dismay of the traditionalists who undoubtedly thought, ‘There goes the brahmanhood.’</p>
<p>His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, expanded the acceptance of technology to its ultimate level: everything can be used in service to God, he taught, expanding Vaishnava saint Rupa Goswami’s definition of renunciation as <em>yukta-vairagya,</em> or freedom from the mentality of proprietorship. Vaishnavism views all creation as essentially spiritual energy (<em>brahman</em>), covered in this world by varying degrees of forgetfulness. Spirit covered by forgetfulness is called matter. Matter dovetailed in service to the Absolute regains its lost spiritual qualities. The art of yoga, in Vaishnava terms, is the art of spiritualising everything through engagement in devotional service (<em>bhakti</em>), and that would include television. If we look to the Vedic scriptures, at least, there is no impediment to a spiritual television network. But will people watch?</p>
<p><em>A trend in the present<br /> </em> It has become a clichè that people are spiritually hungry: bored by visionaries with exclusive handles on the truth, frustrated by traditional religion’s obfuscation, and hopeful of a fusion between religion and science. The hunger does not always increase attendance in churches and temples, but there is evidence that the public would support richer spiritual content on television, which reflects growing belief in God and the existence of miracles. A 1997 poll conducted in the USA reported seventy-one percent of respondents as saying they never doubt the existence of God.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#12">12</a> In 1987, the figure was sixty percent. The poll also found that sixty-one percent of Americans believe miracles come from the power of God- an increase of fourteen percentage points from 1987.</p>
<p>Some programmers are beginning to take note and cautiously respond with programmes such as<em>Touched by an Angel</em>. For the most part, however, television executives have not the slightest idea of what ‘spiritual’ means, let alone how to make it into good television. The Media Research Centre (MRC), a Christian media watchdog group, has for the past several years, conducted studies of prime time entertainment, charting television’s treatment of religion. No ultimate conclusions can be drawn from these studies; the data suggests, however, that religion on television is portrayed more favourably, more often, and to greater viewer satisfaction than in years gone by.</p>
<p>In its December 1997 report, the MRC observed a near four-fold increase in the total incidences of religious content in prime time American television programmes. MRC analysts studied virtually all 1996 prime time entertainment programmes on the six major networks (about 1 800 hours) and discovered that the ratio of positive to negative portrayals of religion was about two-to-one, a large improvement over the 1995 survey margin. The MRC concluded its report with a recommendation that networks try to duplicate the success of <em>Touched by an Angel</em>, which ranks among the highest-rated programmes on TV, by airing other faith-friendly programmes that show the importance of religion to everyday Americans. ‘Whether it’s a child praying before bedtime or a family attending a service’, the report says, ‘religion is an indispensable part of life for tens of millions, and prime time’s fully recognising this would be most welcome.’</p>
<p>This well-intending but naïve report fails to recognise that showing a child praying before bedtime is a lovely image, but it is a patch on a broken arm. We are facing a crisis of faith and morality. What people fear most in media is being misled, and every time an evangelist such as Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Baker is exposed for not practising what he preaches it feeds that fear, and ratings for religious programmes drop a few more points. Religion has an image problem. Media is both the cause and the potential cure; but it will take skilled producers and engaging programmes, not pretty nativity scenes, for television to inspire viewers spiritually. Pat Robertson did not know how to achieve that and ended up selling his Family Channel to Fox, where it is now in the hands of the enlightened beings who brought us Power Rangers and Beetle Borgs.</p>
<p>It is worth noting that in their thirst for spiritually satisfying programmes, seekers have abandoned television and turned to the Internet. ‘The Net encompasses many strange things, but those who use it often and understand it well know it has a rich and haunting mystical side’, writes Jon Katz, media critic for <em>Wired Magazine</em>. He goes on to say:</p>
<p>Along with pornographers and teenagers, it attracts deeply religious people of countless denominations engaged in extraordinary searches into their own and others’ souls. Ascetics, heretics, and true-believers searching for God (or his or her equivalent) flourish in zines, religious and mystical conferences, and on bulletin boards . . .The business of sending and receiving messages has always been a core notion of mysticism and spirituality. Countless millions believe, or want to believe, that there are larger forces at work in the universe. And they want to chat with them.<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#13">13</a></p>
<p>Those millions of Internet users might return to watching television if they heard someone had started a truly spiritual television network.</p>
<p><strong>Spiritual television</strong><strong>–</strong><strong>tricky but achievable</strong></p>
<p><em>The tricky parts<br /> </em> When we speak of spiritual television, we need to draw a distinction between commercial fluff (miracle cures, near-death experiences, close-encounters with the Almighty) and carefully-crafted, compelling programmes that respect scriptural wisdom and convey the tenets of authentic religious traditions. The Global Network in the UK and The Millennium Television Network based out of Hawaii and Santa Monica, both still in formative stages, seek to achieve a kinder, gentler television that would provide entertainment along with exposure for issues such as human rights, and the contributions of indigenous peoples. This is ‘earth-friendly’ and a step in the right direction, but different from a spiritual network seeking to communicate scriptural truths in viewer-friendly form.</p>
<p>Truly spiritual television is possibly a twenty-first or twenty-second century concept being forced into existence now by the ‘autocatalytic’ nature of technology. When we design a faster computer, it lets us create an ever-faster one, each innovation hastening the next, creating an ever-increasing rate of change. In the race to keep up, quality of content is lost. Quantity is what matters, the ability to churn out enough television to fill the gaping maw of thousands of channels broadcasting twenty-four hours every day. And that is a concern that must be addressed-how can we serve the religious experience with a television network that will not fall prey to the commercial lures and artistic temptations of Hollywood? This is no small dilemma. No doubt, programmes can be created that would be both good scripture and good viewing because the technology and the creative talent are both available. What is doubtful, however, is our own moral stamina to resist the temptations of ego that are the constant travelling companions of entertainment. Several people in my experience, who started out well intending and spiritually aware, fell victim to the allures, posturings and rhetoric of the Hollywood establishment. Somewhere along the way, they suffered a loss of vision, and their original ambition of bringing spirit to television and film became just plain ambition. The religious experience must never be stylised or allowed to become fodder to satisfy a craving for entertainment. History and literature have already been victimised by that craving, and precautions are needed to avoid a similar experience with bringing scripture to screen.</p>
<p><em>The bastardisation of History</em><br /> Hollywood has blurred the line between history and historical fiction. Steven Spielberg is a master storyteller, yet his recent film <em>Amistad,</em> to use one recent case-in-point, has mistakenly been viewed as history. An <em>Amistad</em> learning kit is being distributed to high school and college teachers, encouraging them to use the film in classrooms. The study guide erases the distinction between fact and fiction, urging students, for example, to study the film’s composite character Theodore Joadson, rather than the real African-Americans on whom he is based.</p>
<p>The troubling assumption by the film’s producers is that a subject does not exist until Hollywood discovers it. <em>Amistad</em> is an interesting historical film, but not in the way its producers intended. Like other history-based films, <em>Amistad</em> tells us more about the time in which it was produced than the events that it tries to portray. <em>Birth of a Nation</em> revealed more about the racial prejudices of 1916 than about the Civil War; Oliver Stone’s <em>JFK</em> reflected more of post-Watergate anti-government sensibilities than verifiable conspiracy. <em>Gandhi</em> was more about Richard Attenborough’s feeling for India than about the way independence actually came to that nation. In <em>Amistad,</em> white Abolitionists are portrayed as self-righteous and hypocritical, reflecting contemporary cynicism about broad social movements when, in fact, the Abolitionists were largely responsible for winning freedom for those aboard the <em>Amistad.</em></p>
<p>For better or worse, those who make historical and biographical films are fast becoming the most influential chroniclers of the past. In part, this is because exposure to run-away technology has created a generation of viewers rather than readers-people prefer their history on-screen more than on the printed page. Filmmakers and television programmers are the successors to the widely-read historians of yesterday, like Francis Parkman and William H. Prescott. This would not be so troublesome if more of them attempted to be respectful of historical truth.</p>
<p><em>The bastardisation of literature<br /> </em> A glance at the movie section of any newspaper tells us something else about media today. We have as much a penchant for filmed versions of literature as we do for filmed versions of history: <em>The Wings of the Dove</em>, from Henry James’s 1902 novel; <em>Swept From the Sea</em>, from Joseph Conrad; <em>Great Expectations</em>, by Charles Dickens and almost any film by the Disney animation studios. There has yet to be a film greater than the literary work on which it was based. Perhaps that is because movies are the tribute illiteracy pays to literacy: filmed classics allow people to experience the forgotten delights of great literature without going to the trouble of actually reading a book.</p>
<p>Will spirit and the search for the self fall victim to the same formulaic reworking that has plagued history and literature? I believe that the problematic nature of spiritual representation in media does not arise from the temptation to make its reality aesthetically pleasing, as artistic expression has played an important role in the spiritual experience throughout history. Rather, the risk comes from the all too independent nature of the aesthetic process. For television, the Internet or any form of media to carry spiritual potency, content must be supervised by a council of qualified spiritual leaders. If such a council were to work in tandem with a community of like-minded programmers, directors, writers and producers, then it might be possible to achieve what history and viewers, nauseated by the overabundance of broadcast pabulum, have begun to demand: a place on television where they can receive an accurate representation of the spiritual experience in an engaging form.</p>
<p><em>The achievable parts<br /> </em> Entertainment today is an industry run by the <em>Star Wars</em> generation. While they are not yet Jedi warriors, many talented artists and directors share a sense that the world is more mysterious than their predecessors believed. <em>Star Wars</em> itself, which established a new mythos for the post-war generation, has at various times been described as a metaphor for the tenets of Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. ‘The message of <em>Star Wars</em> is religious. [It tells us] God isn’t dead, He’s there if you want him to be. . .The major theme in <em>Star Wars</em>, as in every Lucas film, is the acceptance of personal responsibility, of the fact that you can’t run away from your fate.’<a href="http://content.iskcon.org/icj/6_1/6_1televisionfoot.html#14">14</a> This is in scriptural terms, <em>dharma</em> or righteous duty-one of many scripturally accurate ideas gaining favour in film and television.</p>
<p>The signs are everywhere that the public is ready for a true spiritual network, from <em>Star Wars</em> to<em>Touched by an Angel,</em> to the abundance of Buddhist films to emerge in the past two years; from the growing disgruntlement over fundamentalism to the surge in populist spiritual movements. There is a thread connecting publics of all persuasions- the desire for an alternative to both Western materialism and religious fundamentalism. Somebody in television is going to wake up and say, ‘Hey, that sounds like a channel to me.’</p>
<p>Spiritual television is achievable not because statistics say so, but because it feels right, and that instinct is as important as any supporting data in this industry. There is no science to show business: no rules, no formulas, no simple equations for success. Behind nearly every media success there is a combination of intuition, relationships, drive and <em>karma</em> (the result of past actions). The odds are that same formula is the best justification for launching a spiritual television network. ‘Hollywood knows it’s not a business,’ says Barry Sonnenfeld, director of <em>The Adams Family</em> and <em>Men in Black</em> in a recent <em>Los Angeles Times</em> interview. ‘That’s why people in Hollywood desperately want research and tracking charts, so they can feel there is some structure and predictability. It allows the people who run Hollywood to pretend it’s a business. But what it’s really about is guessing and instinct. It’s all in the ether.’ What is palpably in the ether at the moment is a spiritual open-mindedness among young audiences. Young viewers are more sophisticated and more fickle. There is no pulling the wool over the eyes of teenage television viewers -their visual instincts are lightning-quick, sharpened by years of video games and channel surfing. ‘They’re much more visually astute’, Sonnenfeld says, ‘It’s changed the way we cut a movie because they get information so much faster having grown up on MTV and commercials. They’re used to getting stories and absorbing them in thirty seconds.’ A spiritual television network can be built because the timing is right; spiritually-attuned people are in the business and know how to make it look good; the public wants it; technology is finally available that permits unearthly visions to be depicted cost-effectively, and because of the abundance of quasi-spiritual mediocrity, the scene has been set for a quality channel to garner wide viewership.</p>
<p><em>Twenty-four Hour Network verses a ‘Nested’ Channel<br /> </em> To launch a full-time network is an expensive proposition, requiring probably $50 million to create enough original and licensed programming to fill a twenty-four hour schedule seven days a week for the first year; build a Master Control Room to handle the shuttling of programme tapes and output the signal, and rent pace on a satellite that will bring the signal to anyone with a dish.</p>
<p>A more economical way to launch a new network would be to ‘nest’ it inside an existing network for three or four hours each day. This would only require perhaps $5 million. The audience would be limited to whoever was watching during those hours. As no one will want to rent their prime time hours, the viewers of a ‘nested’ network would likely be either stay-at-homes (noon to 4pm) or insomniacs (after midnight). This would limit severely the amount of material that the channel could air (we certainly would not be able to use the full contents of the schedule that is outlined above) and this option would not enable us to meet our objective to provide an alternative type of viewing for a more spiritually aware lifestyle at all times of the day. Our wonderful Spiritual Network would be an after-thought on The Fishing Channel.</p>
<p>If five sponsors put up $10 million, the full-time network could be built. So, let us anticipate that five well-endowed churches were to join together and finance a twenty-four hour network. Here is what we might see.</p>
<p><strong>A spiritual television network: A sample</strong></p>
<p>What is it that spiritual television has to offer viewers? Not fellowship or association, which requires the conscious effort of going to a meeting ground for the purpose of prayer, discourse and God-centred activity. However, a spiritually centred television network could offer positive messages, viewer comfort and it could help nurture a new community.</p>
<ol type="a">
<li><em>Positive messages</em>. In an industry fuelled by violence, negative role models and other negative messages, The Spiritual Network would provide good news and practical tools for solving material problems with spiritual answers, addressing the issues of today with the insights of spiritual wisdom.</li>
<li><em>Viewer comfort</em>. The channel would carry the seal of approval from various denominations assuring that programmes are safe, non-sexist, free of racial or religious stereotypes, and reinforcing positive values and authentic spiritual practices.</li>
<li><em>A new community</em>. A truly spiritual, ecumenical network would reflect the culture of democracy. It would demonstrate the ability to walk outside the conventional mechanisms of consumer society-sensationalist talk shows, exploitative movies-and develop a different, more satisfying vehicle for informing people. A big part of spiritual television will be its ability to present the experiences of people in the shared enterprise of self-awareness.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>The Spiritual Network: Programme Schedule</em></p>
<p><em>4am – 6.30am: Morning services<br /> </em> Each of the sponsoring churches would have a half-hour slot for morning services. This would serve the needs of specific communities, and we could anticipate that viewers would ‘visit’ other services as well, contributing to a healthy ecumenism among congregations that otherwise have little interaction.</p>
<p><em>6am – 11am: Pre-school programming<br /> </em> No children’s network currently on-air focuses on the power of storytelling. Even those programmes that purport to be literature-based (PBS’s <em>Wishbones,</em> HBO’s <em>Tales for Every Child</em>) rarely delve into traditional tales of spiritual cultures. The attention spans of pre-schoolers are best suited to brief, magazine format programming, and The Spiritual Network’s unique contribution would be a morning line-up of short segments based on the characters and spiritual stories of the world’s diverse peoples.</p>
<p><em>11am – 3pm: Daytime programming <br /> </em> Aimed primarily at women and older people who stay at home, the daytime slot would offer profiles of people famous and unknown who have effectively integrated spiritual practices into their lives. Women have their own experiences, and The Spiritual Network would honour their unique spiritual journeys with ‘Voices of Women,’ a forum for women committed to God consciousness. Also in the daytime slot we could have cooking programmes that demonstrate how to make food a part of life’s spiritual experience; non-exploitative talk shows focusing on the challenges and ways of integrating spiritual life in the material world; travel programmes to places of pilgrimage health programmes offering practical insights into well-being as the result of a spiritually balanced worldview.</p>
<p><em>3pm – 5.30pm: After-school programming <br /> </em> Teen hosts would introduce younger viewers to award winning animated and live-action films, approved by an evaluating organisation for content and the age of the viewership. Each of the sponsoring churches would have a day of programmes, or a joint committee could determine the week’s line-up from the many outstanding films, supportive of spiritual concepts, available for license world-wide that have never had a place to call home on television.</p>
<p><em>5.30 – 9pm: Family programming <br /> </em> Every evening, the network would offer viewers a variety of family fare such as <em>Storyteller,</em> featuring distinguished storytellers in concert and interview; feature films with follow-up discussions by representatives of the sponsoring churches, and even game shows configured to the brand of The Spiritual Network. Programmes such as <em>Journeyman,</em> a dramatic series could also be shown, with characters that use spiritual wisdom instead of violence to resolve conflict.</p>
<p><em>9pm- Midnight: Evening programming <br /> </em> Adult viewers would have a wide range of programmes in evening hours, from biography-style documentaries to performances of dance and music, to celebrity readings of great literary works (both fictional and scriptural), to news analysis, to sitcoms and situational dramas-good viewing with a spiritual underpinning.</p>
<p><em>Midnight – 4am: Late night <br /> </em> For insomniacs the network would offer spoken-word recordings featuring noted artists reading great works, complemented by gentle video graphics. No need to watch-the images of purling streams, mountain pastures, or dawn over the Himalayas would be incidental to the listening experience. This is what radio used to be, an all-night friend.</p>
<p><em>Weekend programming <br /> </em> Weekends would feature reruns of the week’s best programmes, plus talk shows, classes, sermons, lectures, ‘World Beat’ (a music and dance programme for teens showcasing unusual East-West fusions and interviews with featured artists) and local community access.</p>
<p><em>Financial Support<br /> </em> How would such a network be supported? A large portion of the funding could come from big business. At some point in the not-too-distant future, manufacturers and industry will recognise that their customers, the people who keep them in business, want more than a faster, sexier car: they want quality of life. If big business is to survive the next millennium, it will have to demonstrate its appreciation for a higher quality of living-environmentally conscious practices, diversity, women and children’s rights-in other words, the by-products of spiritual vision. Sponsoring The Spiritual Network would be an excellent way for businesses to demonstrate that vision to their customers. As the more enlightened companies grow (those involved with recycled goods and alternative energy sources, for example) they, too, will have discretionary cash and would likely support a television network that reflects their values.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>This article avoided dealing with some of the most difficult issues surrounding the notion of a spiritual television network. How, for example, would such an ambitious venture be governed? How ecumenical would it be? Who would determine which denominations should be represented? Would this be primarily for English-speaking countries? What would keep it from becoming a battleground of ideologies? The challenge will be to create an editorial board whose point-of-view serves a wide audience. The attempt here was not to answer these complex questions but rather to suggest that the time has come to ask them.</p>
<p>The pastoral life of Vrindavan (the place of Lord Krishna’s passtimes that is sacred to the Vaishnavas), where the most sophisticated article of technology is a churning pot, beckons from beyond the electronic corner into which we have painted ourselves. But the inner vision of that simpler, more sublime eternal realm comes only after the lessons are learned, the senses calmed, and our dormant love of God reawakened. Until then, our <em>darshan</em> or vision of truth, might just arrive via satellite.<br /><br /><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19246">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19246</a></p></div>Reaching Our Fullest Potential with Krishna Consciousnesshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/reaching-our-fullest-potential-with-krishna-consciousness2021-05-28T10:00:00.000Z2021-05-28T10:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_yPWSirawLo/VlWCBlriI8I/AAAAAAAAW18/jv0XTYNZJkE/s0/2015-11-25_10-40-11.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" alt="2015-11-25_10-40-11.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Sri Nandanandana dasa </strong>(Stephen Knapp)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">These days fewer people are interested in taking up anything that they cannot immediately apply to their lives. The common question is: “What is this going to do for me?” Or “What am I going to get out of this?” So if we cannot relate the purpose of Vedic culture or its spirituality to people today, especially to the youth, then it is not likely they will take an interest. Yet, everyone is interested in gaining more out of life, or reaching their higher potential, which, actually, has been the purpose of the Vedic system from time immemorial. Yet we have either forgotten that, or have failed to present that purpose properly. So this is one angle we can use to impress the importance of Vedic culture or Krishna consciousness and its spiritual philosophy to people today.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Everyone should want to reach their highest potential. But to do this we also need to focus on our spiritual potential, which is actually a way to become much more refined, developed and useful than merely focusing on our material possibilities, or only developing marketable skills for earning a big paycheck. <br /> The Sri Isha Upanishad, Mantra 11, explains: “Only one who can learn the process of nescience (or material knowledge) and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessing of immortality.”<br /> So to start with one angle in reaching our highest potential, the point here is that through the advancement of material knowledge we do not solve the problem of our reincarnation or being completely free from repeated birth and death through numerous situations in this material world. We have no idea how many lives we have lived, nor how many more we will go through unless we add the study and application of spiritual knowledge to our lives. What is the point of this human existence if all we do is find better ways to eat, sleep, have sex, produce children, and advance our economic development and living condition? And then we simply repeat this pattern life after life? For what? Animals work in the same way, and often times with fewer problems. So what is the difference?<br /> The way to solve all of the problems of life and to perfect this existence is the prime opportunity of human life, which is to become advanced in spiritual knowledge as well as in our material occupation. One without the other is incomplete. This is the only way we can reach our highest potential and not merely work at attaining success in a temporary material profession. <br /> Spiritual knowledge, Krishna consciousness, is also the means to attain real happiness, especially through realizing our true identity, and thus become fulfilled by our real mission in life. It is also the means to attain a permanent blissful life after we leave this body. If we forget our true identity as a spiritual being, we will think that this body and this life, and everything connected with it, is the all in all. We will think that the happiness of this mind, body and senses is the complete goal of everything we are meant to do here in this world. But this is like being caught in a dream, attached to clinging to a hologram, a false conception of life. No one is truly happy in such a fleeting situation since the happiness therein is always being interrupted by different forms of suffering, or stress, anxiety, worry, concern, and of course disease, old age and death. No one wants that because that is not our real nature, it is not our real identity, but it is forced on us from the beginning of simply having a material body. The human body is a wondrous machine, a means to accomplish the goal of life, but it is still a machine that we are situated inside. It is not who we really are, like a driver in a car. We may have a fabulous and beautiful car that we are proud of, or an old clunker we are ashamed to be seen in, but in either case we are only the driver. We are not the car itself. So we must realize who and what we are and regain our spiritual identity beyond the body we have, and also realize our connection with the Supreme. <br /> Real happiness is possible to experience when we rise above the limitations of our material condition and misidentification as a temporary material being. The modern trend of material civilization is to increase our material pleasures, which has brought about the false aim of life and the goal to acquire more money, more facilities, more consumerism, more manipulation of nature, etc. Whatever it takes. This has also brought about more problems in politics, economics, international relations and intrigue, lack of cooperation, and increases in corruption, pollution, the constant threat of war, terrorism, new diseases, a decrease in natural foods, and so on. And people call this progress? Is this any way to live? Is this the trend into the future?<br /> Therefore, it is best to use this body and mind to live simply with an honest career and then cultivate spiritual knowledge and help others do the same.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">1. Everyone wants to find joy and happiness. For what other reason are you working or studying? We are working to acquire money, security, a better future for ourselves or our family, or to make improvements in our occupation. Yet, we need to clearly understand that spirituality, Krishna consciousness, is the key to real happiness. And by that I mean the happiness that reaches the soul, and not that which merely occupies the ever-changing demands of our mind and senses. It is through spiritualizing our lives that we can change our attitude to joy, and not look at things with the humdrum attitude of “Another day, another dollar” or something similar. This is not unusual because we often see that without spirituality life becomes empty and without real purpose or any deep meaning. By adding Krishna consciousness to our lives, it often improves our attitude and is reflected in every other area of our life, including job performance, relations with others, family cooperation, our flexibility, the way we handle problems or inconveniences, and the way we may even inspire others to do the same. <br /> 2. Spiritualizing our lives means to spiritualize our consciousness. It is through such spiritual awareness that we can recognize the transcendental essence of all beings. We are all spiritual in nature, but this remains invisible to us as long as we do not uplift the vibratory level of our consciousness. So if we want respect, and if we feel that people need to increase their appreciation and love for each other, this can easily be accomplished by recognizing the similarity we have with one another on the spiritual level. It is through Krishna consciousness that can most easily change the selfish interest we have toward ourselves and our clan to a broad or universal love. <br /> Most problems between people or countries or ethnic groups reflect the lack of love, compassion and understanding we have for each other, which is the essence of the Krishna conscious principles we need to be follow. <br /> 3. Krishna consciousness also offers an uplifting view of life. Once we are truly spiritualizing our lives, whatever troubles we have begin to appear as if they are only an interesting play of energy in which we are temporarily involved. We can see that such difficulties are not actually part of our real identity. They are only going on around us and we take them seriously only to the degree that we feel they are affecting us and our bodily or mental happiness. In other words, they affect us to the degree in which we are in the illusion.<br /> Krishna consciousness gives us the courage and lightheartedness to face the difficult situations in life, or the drama around us, and to realize we are different from such externals. By this I mean that we can perceive that we are spiritual beings that are interacting on the temporary material platform. Therein whatever joy or sorrow we experience comes and goes like the winter and summer seasons. It is temporary and that is all we can expect from it because that is all it can offer. But without spiritual understanding, we take these temporary ups and downs and the pursuit for material happiness very seriously. So if we want more than this, or something deeper, we need to reach our real identity through the spiritual path. <br /> 4. Krishna consciousness teaches us the art of living, but also the art of dying. This is the means by which we recognize the temporary nature of life and that we must always be prepared for death and for attaining the best position in our next existence. It is considered that without such preparation our life is not complete and we have not used it properly, regardless of whatever else we may accomplish. <br /> 5. Krishna consciousness means that you see the big picture. And what is the big picture? It is that this life is but a moment on our great path toward self-realization. That great path encompasses many lifetimes. Each one is like a flash of lightning in the span of eternity. So our progress through the big picture evolves around and depends on our spiritual development. That is all we carry with us from one life to the next. Whatever material assets we attain in this life ripens in this one existence only, whereas spiritual progress is viewed over many, many lifetimes. Whatever spiritual benefits we are experiencing now may have been developed many lifetimes ago. Similarly, our spiritual practice today may provide us with benefits in this life as well as many lifetimes that may follow.<br /> The big picture is that all you have ever been through, including so many lives before this one, has brought you to this very moment. You are the son or daughter of the past, the product of all your experiences and actions. But you are also the father of your future, starting from this particular point in time. It is up to you to decide what to do and where you will take yourself from this point onward. Your possibilities are endless, and spiritual development only increases the possibilities that you have. <br /> 6. Genuine spirituality also means that we accept responsibility for ourselves, what we do, how we affect others and our environment, and how we have the power to change our situation. So if we want to improve such things, then we can find that the basis of Krishna consciousness and genuine spirituality is also the foundation for the improvement of everything in this world, starting with our own sphere of influence, however big or small that may be. However, we need to emphasize that such spirituality is above the conventional form of most religions. Real Krishna consciousness means those spiritual principles that can be applied directly to the soul or real identity of the living being regardless of the temporary material condition or status in which he or she is presently found.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">GLOBAL BENEFITS</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just as there are individual benefits to the practice of Krishna consciousness in one’s life, naturally there are also blessings that will manifest on a global level. <br /> First of all we have to understand that lust is public enemy number one. Most of the crimes that are committed in the world stems from individual or collective lust. We see around us that many advertising campaigns are based on invoking the desire to acquire something. This desire is based on satisfying the mind and senses for one’s own selfish happiness, and this pleasure is called lust. And we must look within ourselves to see how much lust is there and how to be free of it. <br /> If it is allowed to grow, this lust can develop into a covetousness over land, possessions and power. If we want something, we may work for it honestly, or we may make schemes involving corrupt activities to acquire it. If this sort of lust increases amongst people, the whole planet becomes chaotic. And when the rulers of the planet exhibit such tendencies, then there is no chance for peace in the world, as we can plainly see. Therefore, the collective practice of Krishna consciousness can help rid the world of such lust and its various damaging effects. <br /> We must also understand that the two prime factors that keep the world from being united is the presumption of racial superiority and the desire to conquer and convert. These are the antithesis of Dharmic or Krishna consciousness principles. But how many religious paths do we see that incorporate the idea of conquering regions of the world through religious conversions, or that even rejoice in the number of converts they have established? This is not the way of true spirituality. <br /> So it is time for a new breed of humanity, a new species of human beings. This doesn’t mean a new genetic code. It means the appearance of a new level of consciousness, a new level of awareness in which the principle of Krishna consciousness is a natural part of life and a natural part of our respect toward each other. And the freedom to pick one’s own level of spiritual development that one needs in this lifetime. This is the world of Krishna consciousness . <br /> Krishna consciousness is full of possibilities. It is open for the individual to develop as he or she needs to. It allows for a person to start at whatever level is best for him or her, and set the goal of one’s spiritual development that they find most suitable. Krishna consciousness does not involve teaching a dogma that must be adhered to in order to be “saved,” or suffer the threat of going to hell and eternal damnation if you don’t fit the mold. That is too limited for the Universal Spiritual Truths found in Krishna consciousness. We have to keep in mind the “big picture,” as previously mentioned. This means that spiritual progress is usually made over many lifetimes, as described in the Bhagavad-gita, and that this one life is only a small portion of the path we are on. <br /> We also have to be a clear channel through which the unconditional love from Lord Krishna flows through us toward everyone else. To do that we also have to recognize the Divine in all species of life. That can be done only through the serious application of spiritual principles. <br /> The point is that the more spiritual you become, the more you can perceive what is spiritual, and the more the spiritual strata becomes a reality to enter or experience rather than a mystery to solve. Plus, the more you spiritualize your consciousness, the less confused you will be about what is your true identity and, thus, the true purpose of life. It is an automatic process that the more spiritual you are, the more clear is everything else. If society could increase in the number of people who are evolving in this way, naturally the whole world will improve accordingly.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">HOW DO WE DO THIS</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So how do we manage our time to include the necessary spiritual practice? Spiritual practice means two things, the sadhana and the study. The sadhana itself can mean your meditation, your chanting of japa such as the Hare Krishna mantra, reciting your prayers, or doing your puja or worship. The value of this is often underestimated. What it does is incorporate the spiritual vibration into your consciousness. It raises the frequency level in which you perceive and operate. The next part is to do the study, reading the spiritual books to educate yourself in the tradition and your understanding of spiritual knowledge and of the importance of your Krishna conscious practice. Such books may include the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc.<br /> So as we do this on a daily basis, we will naturally carry that spiritual consciousness with us wherever we go. For example, you may have a special room where you do your spiritual activities, and if you are burning incense, you might carry the scent with you in your clothes. Then wherever you go and whenever you smell the aroma, it makes you think of the atmosphere in your special room. When that happens you may feel the same uplifting mood that you felt when doing your spiritual practice in your room. So we have to learn how to carry that special atmosphere in our consciousness throughout the day. That becomes the nature of Krishna consciousness that you carry wherever you go. <br /> So if you are convinced as to why we should spiritualize our lives, then we have to make Krishna consciousness as one of the main foundations of our life. It must be viewed as a corner stone upon which we build everything else. So it must be one of the main ingredients in our daily schedule. <br /> You have a life with only so much time, which means you must be careful with how you spend it. An example is that your life can be represented by a glass of water. The glass can only hold so much, and once it is filled, that is it. You can’t put any more into it. So how will you fill it? If you have an assortment of stones, sand and water, what will you begin to put into it first? If you fill it with small stuff, then you will not have any room for the big things, the important items. So first you put in the rocks, or those things which are the most important. These may include school, work, family, but also your spiritual practice. These are four stones. So put those in the glass before you put in anything else. Then in between the stones will fit the sand, the small stuff. And even in between the sand will fit the water, the smaller and less important things. But first always include and make time for the important items, the rocks or foundation of your life, and your spiritual practice, Krishna consciousness, must be one of them. <br /> So you should set aside a couple hours or more in your daily schedule to do your spiritual practice. If you take an hour, for example, then you can divide it into a half-hour for your sadhana or meditation, and another half-hour for your study. Then as you develop, increase that. Spiritual life is like a train that runs on two tracks, and your sadhana and study together provide the necessary tracks for smooth progress for that train to keep on a rolling. The early morning is always the best time to do this. But some time in the evening also may be suitable for you. However, whatever time you choose, it is necessary to continue with it. Like a daily shower, you can’t stay clean unless you do it everyday. Similarly, you can’t stay spiritually purified or uplifted and enthused unless you are steady at it in your daily schedule. <br /> Furthermore, you may never know when you will need your Krishna consciousness. You may need it when dealing with others, settling disputes, carrying out your family duties, and so on. But most importantly, you will never know when you will meet with the final test when you die. That certainly separates those who are prepared from those who are not. I had a friend who spent all of his time on his college studies. Then with only six months left to go before qualifying for his Ph.D., he died in a car crash. Of course, it was completely unexpected. So you never know when death may strike. So the point is that you continue to make your plans for this life and take care of your responsibilities, but also make time for your spiritual development, which prepares you for everything else, this life and beyond. <br /> The final point to remember is that any path of accomplishment requires self-sacrifice, no matter whether you are attempting to acquire material benefits or spiritual advancement. We are always looking to develop our future, no matter whether it is with a better job, a nicer home, or financial security for our family, or other things. But if you can reach that strata where there is no more sacrifice, no more war, no more difficulties, but instead find universal love and understanding and cooperation, don’t you think that is a sacrifice worth doing? Don’t you think that is an endeavor worthy of attempting? Don’t you think the knowledge of this is worth spreading to let the whole world know of it or how to reach it?<br /> There is no reason why we cannot bring an increasing amount of the spiritual atmosphere to this earth planet. We can indeed change things here and bring improvements in so many ways. But we need to start with ourselves first, and that depends on our spiritual practice and the Krishna conscious principles we incorporate into our own lives, which can bring about deep and personal spiritual realizations and insights. From there it can spread through our sphere of influence, however big or small that may be. We all want peace and cooperation, but you will never get that as long as we see and operate according to our differences, which will always be there on the material platform. So we must rise above that to a higher level of reality, the higher dimension. And this dimension is all around us. All we have to do is train our mind and consciousness to be able to tune into it so that it opens up to us. Then through our continued spiritual development, our Krishna consciousness, we can enter into it. That is the ultimate advantage of spiritualizing our lives and making time for it. And to do that most effectively is why the process of yoga has been provided and described by the great rishis and Vedic literature.<br /> Plus, the easiest yoga to perform, especially in this age of Kali-yuga, is bhakti-yoga, the yoga of devotional love aimed at the Supreme Lord. This also includes the Yuga Dharma, which means the most effective path for this age, which is the chanting of the Lord’s holy names as found in the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. This is what should be studied, practiced and shared to provide the most practical level of spirituality for everyone. Then our higher potential in life can be attained and our superior purpose can be accomplished.</p>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21882">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21882</a></div></div>Two Energies Choices By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/two-energies-choices-by-satsvarupa-dasa-goswami-12020-09-15T12:20:00.000Z2020-09-15T12:20:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515190458,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515190458,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515190458?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300" /></a></p>
<p>From Back to Godhead</p>
<p>Which way does one go in moments of despair?</p>
<p>LORD KRSNA HAS TWO ENERGIES, material and spiritual, but they can be used interchangeably if one knows how. Just as the same electricity can be used to heat or cool a building, so Krsna’s energies can be used for different purposes according to the living entity’s desire.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that the living entity can control Krsna’s energies, only that he can use them. When a conditioned soul wishes to exploit the material nature, he contacts the material energy. When he no longer wishes to dominate or enjoy the material energy and instead uses it in Krsna’s service, he contacts the spiritual energy. The living entity is called the “marginal potency” of God-he can go either way. The Bhagavad-gita (9.13) states: “Being marginal potency, as soon as the living entity is freed from the control of material nature he is put under the guidance of the spiritual nature.” There are only two choices.</p>
<p>In the Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada speaks of penance and repentance as our means to begin the switch from material to spiritual. If we regret our association with the material energy, we will no longer feel dependent upon its dualities and we will turn to Krsna. Repentance burns away our sins and pushes us toward surrender.</p>
<p>Lord Krsna states, “The material energy is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14) Srila Prabhupada adds, “Krsna, being the Lord of the illusory energy, can order His insurmountable energy to release the conditioned soul.”</p>
<p>Repentance is followed by penance or austerity. We begin our austerity by trying to stop exploiting material resources as if we own them. That means we have to learn tolerance, because the material energy rarely acts for our comfort. Numberless little things in life irritate us. The more attached we are to physical ease, the more troublesome these things become. Therefore, we have to tolerate.</p>
<p>Those who tolerate are neither culprits who cause pain to other living entities to ensure their own comfort nor helpless victims living only for relief nor fools trying to enjoy. Our senses become subdued and our hearts purified.</p>
<p>Repentance and penance are nothing more than attitude. An episode in t he Bhagavatam shows how our attitude determines whether we live in the spiritual or the material energy. When Vidura tried to convince Dhrtarastra to return the throne to the Pandavas, its rightful heirs, Dhrtarastra threw Vidura out of the palace, which had been his home. So Vidura decided to go on pilgrimage. Because of his love for Krsna, he accepted his new situation as the Lord’s will. Srila Prabhupada states that in this instance the Lord’s material energy acted as the internal , spiritual energy. Although Vidura could see that he had been mistreated, he also saw Krsna’s blessing. Suddenly he was free of political entanglement and could seek out pure Krsna consciousness in a life of renunciation and devotion.</p>
<p>When we stop blaming others for the pain they seem to cause us, and understand our role in causing our own karma, and when we see our powerlessness against the material energy, we will become more dependent on Krsna. Then the material energy will become spiritual in our hands. Instead of dragging us further into material life, our happiness and distress will elevate us in Krsna consciousness. Rather than causing us pain, our predicaments and perplexities will provide us another chance to meditate on Krsna. And that will make us happy.</p>
<p>Of course, the atheists consider this mad, irresponsible. You should not tolerate your suffering but strive to overcome it. But is it possible? No matter how hard we work to get ahead in life, we never seem to become happy. That’s because everything we do must be done at the expense of others, who are seeking gratification at our expense. If we manage to climb to the top of the pile, then Providence slaps us-a family member dies, the fortune dwindles, the spouse is unfaithful, we contract a debilitating disease, and in the end we die. To pursue such a blind path is the ultimate in irresponsibility.</p>
<p>The Bhagavatam (1.3.34) states: “If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with selfrealization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.” We are the marginal potency of God. We can go either way. We can go either way. We can respond to whatever life deals us by glorifying God, or we can make that other choice.</p></div>The purpose #1 of ISKCON: How to propagate spiritual knowledge throughout the whole world?https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-purpose-1-of-iskcon-how-to-propagate-spiritual-knowledge-thro2020-07-12T11:06:54.000Z2020-07-12T11:06:54.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/aBpAFCp.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/aBpAFCp.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" alt="aBpAFCp.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="300" /></a></p>
<p>Let us hear from HH Bhakti Vijnana Goswami as he reaffirms the purpose#1 of ISKCON (To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world)<br /> About Bhakti Vijnana Goswami.</p>
<p>Bhakti Vijnana Goswami was born in Tashkent, former Soviet Union. He took to spiritual life in 1980, during a difficult time during the communist era in the former Soviet Union, when the National Security forces were harassing any type of spiritual practitioner. Despite these obstacles, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami – a scientist, a Moscow State University graduate and postgraduate student at Institute of Molecular Biology – decided to experiment with the Hare Krishna mantra. To his great happiness, it moved him profoundly. He is a disciple of Radhanath Swami and resides primarily in Moscow, Russia, working tirelessly towards the building of a monumental temple there. He travels widely throughout Russia sharing Krishna Consciousness.<br /> Since 1997 Bhakti Vijnana Goswami has acted as a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission and since 2005 has served as one of the initiating gurus of ISKCON. His zonal responsibilities include Georgia (CIS) and Israel. He serves as co-zonal secretary for Eastern and Western Siberia, Northwest CIS, Ural Region, Moscow, Southern, Central Region, CIS, Golden Ring, Armenia, Far East and also co-GBC for North and South Korea.<br /> On July 1, 2010 the Council for Public Awards of the Russian Federation awarded Bhakti Vijnana Goswami a medal “for professional and business reputation” third degree, “for his contribution in strengthening Russian-Indian friendly relations, and for his contribution to the popularization of the spiritual-cultural literary heritage of India.”</p>
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