surrender - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T09:12:42Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/surrenderUrgency of Surrender to Krishna by Radhanath Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/urgency-of-surrender-to-krishna2024-03-27T07:30:00.000Z2024-03-27T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rWeaOQ41eTs/Vd67gHndZqI/AAAAAAAAS30/aVXVZoAJqk8/s0/2015-08-27_09-25-42.jpg" alt="" width="539" height="776" /></p>
<p><img src="http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/36_filtcdered.jpg" alt="" align="left" />Excerpt from a lecture by <strong>HH Radhanath Swami</strong></p>
<p>“Srila Prabhupada stressed the urgency to surrender to Krishna. Every line of his books, every sentence of his tapes, you would hear him urgently, just pleading with you and me, to take Krishna Consciousness seriously. Death, tragedy can come at any moment. And the greatest tragedy is that our faith is stolen away by maya and her various representatives which can come in many forms. There is no comfortable position when we are secure in material existence.</p>
<p>We are like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Our life is compared to that. Our position in society, our health, our family members, our friends, everything in this world that exists is like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. It is going to fall and we don’t know when. It often happens at the least expected moment.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada used the example of the goats that are on the way to the slaughter house. The slaughter house person is very expert at pacifying the goats so that they very happily and peacefully go to the chopping block by providing nice grass. The line of goats, they are just eating grass and they are enjoying and the closer they get, the grass gets nicer and nicer. The goats in front of them are getting their heads cut off, but they don’t see that. They just see the grass. Srila Prabhupada said, “That is how maya is orchestrating the entire material existence. Don’t be a foolish goat just trying to be happy and enjoy the comforts of this world, the comforts of family life or a nice little floor in the bramhachari ashram”.</p>
<p>We should know that any facility to enjoy in this material world is maya’s trick to somehow or other distract away from the urgent need to be Krishna conscious. Listen carefully to Srila Prabhupada’s voice when you listen to his lectures. There is always that deep sense of trying to give us the feeling of urgency. It has to be done now! We have to take shelter of Krishna! We have to surrender to Krishna! We have to give up our petty disagreements and work together because the world is being condemned by the direction of modern society. ”</p>
<p>“Srila Prabhupada’s miracle was, that he gave everybody the chance to become Krishna conscious. And those who heard his voice and somehow or other connected to that urgency within him, they became empowered. They were lazy hippies sleeping on the streets, never worked a day in their life, then by contact with Srila Prabhupada,they were out distributing books 15 hours day! Outside in the blizzard winters of the New York city! And the only reason why they came home is for mangala arati and to chant their rounds. They did this for years! In the American cities and airports where practically no one is favourable, they risked their lives, sometimes getting beaten up, blasphemed, but they were so enthusiastic!</p>
<p>How did Srila Prabhupada transform these people ? Because he gave them that sense of the urgency to surrender to Krishna. If we are convinced of the urgency to take Srila Prabhupada’s message to heart today, Srila Prabhupada will empower us to do incredible things.”</p>
<p>“I remember, when I was pujari, I was very happy doing deity worship day and night, year after year, but I would always read Srila Prabhupada’s books, hear his tapes, hear about how Srila Prabhupada is so eager for us to preach. So I was praying to the deities, “I am very grateful to worship You. But my Guru Maharaj keeps talking about preaching. Ultimately I want to please him. I don’t know what preaching is. But I want to please him. So whatever You think is best.”</p>
<p>And sometimes later I was given an order, “We need more devotees in the temple. Go out and preach.” I never asked. And who was I? From New Vrindavan. I smelt like a cow because I would milk cows. I had one dhoti that had holes in it and an old blanket from the World war II army that had holes in it. I was told to preach. Very little education. I went to one semester of a Junior College. And here I was in Universities speaking to Ph.D candidates, Professors, and they would be sitting in rapt attention, challenging and being defeated. And I was thinking, “What’s happening? Who is doing it? I am a fool. I don’t know much.” But if we somehow or other feel that urgency, Srila Prabhupada could do everything through any of us.”</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1460">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1460</a></p></div>Path of Surrender By BB Govinda Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/path-of-surrender2024-03-04T08:30:00.000Z2024-03-04T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/iSe1fc6.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/iSe1fc6.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="iSe1fc6.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada says that Narada is a great personality and he was so pleased by the devotional attitude of Dhruva, that he could have just given him everything. He could have given Dhruva exactly what he wanted. Why didn’t he do it? [a devotee replies that it was because he wanted Dhruva to surrender to Krishna]. Yes, essentially that’s correct. He wanted him to follow the correct path, he wanted him to engage in devotional service.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">You see, and this helps us to develop our perspective about our practice and our application of devotional service. Sometimes things may not go according to our design, sometimes we may experience some problems on the path of devotional service, sometimes a situation may arise where we don’t receive the honor and respect that we so much hankering for. Sometimes it may feel like the whole universe is collapsing upon us. And the person may think: “Why doesn’t the spiritual master just snap his fingers and make everything correct?” Or you start praying. You start praying to Krishna, you start praying to great devotees: “Why don’t you change this situation?”But basically they want to see us follow the proper path of surrender to the Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">A path of surrender means attentive chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. Path of surrender means attentive study of scriptures. Path of surrender means describing the glories of Krishna to other people. Path of surrender means to live in cooperation with the vaisnavas. Because all of these different activities will help to change the consciousness, change our attitude.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Attitude, or consciousness, is such an important thing. As long as I’m thinking that I am an independent controller, we will have some difficulties. When we are remembering that we are surrendered servants of the Lord, then Krishna will bless. And we will go on feeling relish in our service, until Krishna sees within your heart : “Oh, there’s another thing we have to work with!” And then boom, we find ourselves in another difficult situation. But then Krishna, He will just wait: “Are they going to realize the right thing to do or not?”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Here it says “Narada couldn’t have at once given Dhruva whatever he wanted”. But it’s not the duty of the spiritual master. His duty is to engage the disciple in the proper process of devotional service. Clean himself internally and externally, to think of the Lord and to pray to the Lord. And then to preach the glories of the Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada says, that Krishna was just standing before Arjuna on that chariot. Krishna could have just gone “psshhew” and everybody could have disappeared from the battlefield of the Kurukshetra. He didn’t do like that. He said “Fight. Undergo this trouble. Always think of Me and fight.” And Arjuna did it. And therefore he received Krishna’s mercy.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So it’s the same thing for us. Tasmad, what does it mean? “Therefore”. Sarveshu kaleshu, what does that mean? “All the time”. Sarva means “all, Kala is “time”. Tasmad sarveshu kaleshu, therefore all the time. Mam anu smara, means “remember me very deeply”. Yujya means “fight”. That’s Krishna’s supreme instruction for us. Because we all have different things to do, but regardless of what we do have to do, the principle is to remember Him. And then fight.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Therefore Narada asked Dhruva to undergo the disciple of devotional service in order to achieve the desired result. And thus we need to undergo the discipline of devotional service to achieve the desired success. Don’t think doing anything material will give you the desired success in Krishna’s devotional service. You won’t attain Krishna by material things. You attain Krishna by spiritual performance of devotional service.</p>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=62559">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=62559</a></div></div>Surrender By Kavicandra Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/surrender-by-kavicandra-swami2023-12-25T07:30:00.000Z2023-12-25T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515096077,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515096077?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p>We often get questions about surrender, like “how can we surrender”. Recently I was reading one old BTG, 2001, and found a nice practical statement from Srila Prabhupada. If we search “surrender” on the vedabase we find 7445 hits, so we know it is an important topic. And we all know the conclusion of the Bhagavad Gita:</p>
<p>sarva-dharman parityajya<br /> mam ekam saranam vraja<br /> aham tvam sarva-papebhyo<br /> moksayisyami mä suca</p>
<p><strong>TRANSLATION</strong></p>
<p>Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.</p>
<p>BG 18.66</p>
<p>Here is simple guidline from Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>” Another name for Krsna is Ajita. No one can conquer Krsna, but Krsna can be conquered by His devotee.</p>
<p>One should be submissive and say, “Krsna, I am very poor. I have no means to understand You. Please be merciful upon me. Please allow me to understand You and surrender.”<br /> This is wanted. Krsna is very merciful, and when He sees that someone has surrendered, He will help from within.</p>
<p>>>> Ref. VedaBase => TLK Vs 30</p>
<p>Just before that he refers to the following verse from the SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM:</p>
<p>nane prayasam udapasya namanta eva<br /> jivanti san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam<br /> sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir<br /> ye prayaso ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyam</p>
<p><strong>TRANSLATION</strong></p>
<p>Those who, even while remaining situated in their established social positions, throw away the process of speculative knowledge and with their body, words and mind offer all respects to descriptions of Your personality and activities, dedicating their lives to these narrations, which are vibrated by You personally and by Your pure devotees, certainly conquer Your Lordship, although You are otherwise unconquerable by anyone within the three worlds.</p>
<p><strong>PURPORT</strong></p>
<p>Here the word udapasya clearly indicates that one should not even slightly endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by the process of mental speculation, for it invariably carries one to an imperfect, impersonal understanding of God. The word jivanti indicates that a devotee who always hears about Lord Krsna will go back home, back to Godhead, even if he can do nothing except maintain his existence and hear topics concerning the Lord.</p>
<p>Srila Sanatana Gosvami has explained the words tanu-van-manobhih (“by the body, words and mind”) in three ways. In reference to devotees, through their body, words and mind they are able to conquer Lord Krsna. Thus becoming perfect in Krsna consciousness, they can touch His lotus feet with their hands, call Him to come with their words, and attain His direct audience within their mind simply by thinking about Him.</p>
<p>In the case of nondevotees, the words tanu-van-manobhih refer to the word ajita, “unconquered,” and indicate that those not engaged in the loving service of Lord Krsna cannot conquer the Absolute Truth by their bodily strength, verbal expertise or mental power. Despite all their endeavors, the ultimate truth remains beyond their reach.</p>
<p>In reference to the word jitah, “conquered,” the words tanu-van-manobhih indicate that the pure devotees of Lord Krsna conquer His body, words and mind. Lord Krsna’s body is conquered because He always remains by the side of His pure devotees; Lord Krsna’s words are conquered because He always chants the glories of His devotees; and Lord Krsna’s mind is conquered because He always thinks about His loving devotees.</p>
<p>Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained the words tanu-van-manobhih in regard to the word namantah, “offering obeisances.” He explains that the devotees can take full advantage of the transcendental topics of the Lord by offering all respects to those topics with their body, words and mind. One should engage his body by touching the ground with his hands and head while offering obeisances to the topics of the Lord; one should engage his words by praising transcendental literatures such as Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as the devotees who are preaching such literatures; and one should engage his mind by feeling great reverence and pleasure while hearing the transcendental topics of the Lord. In this way, a sincere devotee who has acquired even a small amount of transcendental knowledge about Lord Krsna can conquer Him and thus go back home, back to Godhead, for eternal life at the Lord’s side.</p>
<p>SB 10.14.4 </p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1007">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1007</a></p></div>The Process of Surrender By Narasimha Swami Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-process-of-surrender-by-narasimha-swami-dasa2023-10-13T07:30:00.000Z2023-10-13T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515095992,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515095992,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515095992?profile=original" width="500" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>From Back to Godhead</strong></p>
<p>By Narasimha Swami Dasa</p>
<p>Lord Krishna’s main message in the Bhagavad-gita is clear: He wants us to fully surrender to Him. The most vital part of the Bhagavad-gita deals with the advice Lord Sri Krishna gives to Arjuna on the surrendering process. One of the dictionary meanings of surrender is “to give (something) up voluntarily to another.” Lord Krishna’s simple words of advice on surrendering are easy to understand. So why do most people, including those of us practicing Krishna consciousness, not fully surrender to the Lord? We are practicing spiritual life in the material world, a prison created by the Lord to reform us and to help us surrender to Him. Krishna is very keen to get us back home, back to Godhead. But are we so keen? In Chapter 7, Text 14, Krishna says,</p>
<p>daivi hy esa guna-mayi<br /> mama maya duratyaya<br /> mam eva ye prapadyante<br /> mayam etam taranti te</p>
<p>“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” Krishna has elaborated on the three modes of material nature goodness, passion, and ignorance in Chapter 14. When we are in contact with the material energy and become victims of these three modes, we are called “conditioned.” These modes bind us. Most people do not even know this. Hence they cannot understand what surrender really means. Krishna calls such persons grossly foolish.</p>
<p>Why do even the most educated scholars and leaders not surrender to Krishna? Because they are bewildered by atheism in many forms. They are not sukrtina˙, the pious souls Krishna refers to in Chapter 7, Text 16:</p>
<p>catur-vidha bhajante mam<br /> janah sukrtino ’rjuna<br /> arto jijnasur artharthi<br /> jnani ca bharatarsabha</p>
<p>“O best among the Bharatas, four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Methe distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.”</p>
<p>Atheists do not seek refuge in God. But Krishna classifies four types of persons who take refuge for some benefits in return for their devotion to Him. He recognizes all these people as pious and deserving candidates for surrendering to Him. They are God conscious but are more interested in meeting their personal material goals than in readily surrendering to Krishna.</p>
<p>In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11) Srila Rupa Gosvami distinguishes devotees who seek Krishna without expecting any benefits in return, terming them pure devotees:</p>
<p>anyabhilasita-sunyam<br /> jnana-karmady-anavrtam<br /> anukulyena Krishnanu-<br /> silanam bhaktir uttama</p>
<p>“One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.”</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada compares mixed and pure devotees: “When these four kinds of persons [mentioned above] come to the Supreme Lord for devotional service and are completely purified by the association of pure devotees, they also become pure devotees.”</p>
<p>Even when people come to Krishna with ulterior motives, they can become pure devotees if they continue to pursue Krishna consciousness and cultivate the association of devotees.</p>
<p>When I visited the Srinivasa Temple in Malibu, near Los Angeles, an Indian businessman had come to the temple with plenty of fruits and flowers.</p>
<p>Handing these to the priest before the arati, he told him, “Please pray that my new business venture becomes successful.”</p>
<p>The priest, a pious Sri Vaishnava devotee, replied, “How can we ask for that? What to give or not to give is dependent entirely on Krishna. So we must leave it to Him instead of asking.”</p>
<p>Pure devotional service means to understand the Absolute Truth and become free from all material desires.</p>
<p>Krishna says in Chapter 7, Text 19,</p>
<p>bahunam janmanam ante<br /> jnanavan mam prapadyate<br /> vasudevah sarvam iti<br /> sa mahatma su-durlabhah</p>
<p>“After many births and deaths, he who is in actual knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.”</p>
<p>A Message for Everyone</p>
<p>Though seemingly addressed to Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita is a message to all to surrender to Krishna. Krishna gives full importance to the minute independence we have inherited from Him as His parts. He opens up all possible paths one can take to come to Him directly or indirectly. At the same time, He ultimately gives His opinion on the best method to reach Him: the surrendering process.</p>
<p>Krishna explains the surrendering process in Chapter 15, Text 5:</p>
<p>nirmana-moha jita-sanga-dosa<br /> adhyatma-nitya vinivrtta-kamah<br /> dvandvair vimuktah sukha-duhkha samjnair<br /> gacchanty amudhah padam avyayam tat</p>
<p>“Those who are free from false prestige, illusion, and false association, who understand the eternal, who are done with material lust, who are freed from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who, unbewildered, know how to surrender unto the Supreme Person attain to that eternal kingdom.”</p>
<p>Krishna lays down the conditions under which one can surrender to Him and go back home, back to Godhead. Pride, lust, unfavorable association, material conditioning, and the dualities of happiness and suffering are all impediments to the surrendering process. The practitioner of devotional service must practice with care in order to gradually abandon the unfavorable characteristics listed by Krishna. The surrendering process starts with self-appraisal. That is the beginning of renunciation both internally and externally.</p>
<p>Preparing the devotee Arjuna for total surrender, Krishna elaborates on the surrendering process in Chapter 18, Text 65:</p>
<p>man-mana bhava mad-bhakto<br /> mad-yaji mam namaskuru<br /> mam evaisyasi satyam te<br /> pratijane priyo ’si me</p>
<p>“Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My dear friend.” Here Krishna summarizes the process of surrender required of us to become His pure devotee. He gives the method to make Him the center of one’s life.</p>
<p>In Chapter 18, Text 66, Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to completely surrender to Him:</p>
<p>sarva-dharman parityajya<br /> mam ekam saranam vraja<br /> aham tvam sarva-papebhyo<br /> moksayisyami ma sucah</p>
<p>“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” This advice is Krishna’s summary conclusion on Bhagavad-gita after He has explained karmayoga, jnana-yoga, dhyana-yoga, and various processes of meditation, sense and mind control, and so on. This is the key text to show the Lord’s protection of devotees and the process of surrender. Mam ekam: the emphasis is surrender only to Him. <br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27234">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=27234</a></p></div>When will you surrender to Lord Krishna? by Srila Prabhupadahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/when-will-you-surrender-to-lord-krishna-by-srila-prabhupada2022-11-11T15:06:18.000Z2022-11-11T15:06:18.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10879945698,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="10879945698?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>Many people say “By your mercy, I will surrender” or “Give me your blessings so that I will surrender” or “When Krishna wants”. Srila Prabhupada says these are spoken under “FALSE PRETENSE”–These are just “PLEA’S” Not to Surrender.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada: Surrender is willing. If you don’t like to surrender who can make you obliged to surrender? Surrender is voluntary. “Yes I surrender.” Determination, “Yes I surrender.” Who can make you obliged to surrender? Nobody can make. Even Krsna can not work. This is a false pretense, “Please be merciful upon me so that I may surrender.” But if you do not surrender, what my mercy do? You know that incident? A man has fallen in the well, he is crying, “Please get me up, get me up.” Another man drops a rope, “Please catch it.” I’ll take it. Oh. Then if he says, “Be merciful so that I can catch.” “When you’ll be merciful I’ll be able to catch.” Is that argument? You catch. Then he’ll help you to get it out. And if you don’t catch, how he will help you? What is the use of speaking, “Be merciful, be merciful”? He is already merciful, giving you the rope. Why don’t you take it? So these are all false pleadings. If you want to surrender you can surrender yourself. If you don’t want to surrender then there will, so many. “Please, Sir be merciful so that I can surrender unto you.” Surrender is in your hands. If you like you can. If you don’t like, don’t surrender. There is no question of being merciful. Mercy is already there. Krpa, the mercy is already there. Krsna is coming, Krsna is sending His representative. Krsna is giving you advice in the Bhagavad-gita. If you don’t take advantage of it then who, who can deliver you? Krsna is personally coming. Krsna is sending you His representative, Krsna has left Bhagavad-gita, then what else you want? But if you are determined not to surrender how Krsna, and sastra and guru can help you? Nobody can help you. Then you are hopeless. That is up to you, to surrender or not to surrender. And because they do not surrender they are suffering. Willful negligence. If you become willful neglect, full, negligent then who can help you? Nobody can help you. Nobody can help you. Neither Krsna nor sastra nor guru. Instead of willful negligence, there must be willful cooperation, then it will be successful. These are all plea’s, so that will not do.<br /> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.7.25–29 – March 20, 1971, Bombay</p>
<p>Prabhupada: “One can understand Me only through bhakti.” So that is first-class religion, bhakti. So if you have got bhakti, then you will realize God daily, every moment. That is real understanding. So whether we have developed that Krsna consciousness or not, that is the test. But how can I say? It is up to you. That is up to you.<br /> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation – September 1, 1973, London<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86030">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86030</a></p></div>Half-baked surrender by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/half-baked-surrender-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2021-09-30T07:30:00.000Z2021-09-30T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9105956899,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9105956899,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9105956899?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></a>Somehow, we are struggling to surrender in this movement. And in the end, for our half-baked surrender which was there anyway, we get glorified for it. Who can say that they have surrendered out of pure love for Krsna? I was a pujari for three months and I fell asleep during the pujas. I kept nodding off. I was not a very good pujari at all. I was doing it mechanically, it was completely clear to me. I had no feeling there. I was just waving the lamp and falling asleep during an aarti.</p>
<p>However, the power of all these activities is so great that not only are we getting purified from all the karmic contamination by devotional service, anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje (Srimad Bhagavatam,1.7.6), but more than that we are attracting Krsna because devotional service is sri Krsna akarsini. Right now, Krsna is in the most merciful form and therefore it now attracts special mercy of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p>So let us ensure that we never leave ISKCON. That is what Srila Prabhupada said because we have here the most concentrated mercy of Lord Caitanya. Some went to other institutions, yes mercy is also there. They can also go back to Godhead, but here it is directly Prabhupada’s mercy that is a special benefit. So let us stay close to Srila Prabhupada because then we can also meet with a blessed death at the end of our life. Krsna will be there in the form of His Holy Name and when we have some material desire, then there is still Prabhupada’s mercy along with us. So in this way, we are most fortunate in this movement. Tamal Krsna Maharaj used to say this to me, “You are so fortunate, you don’t realise how fortunate you are.” I used to think, “Yes, well I know I got the mercy of staying in Vrndavana!” But okay, now I have to admit that Tamal Krsna Maharaj was right.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2021/06/half-baked-surrender/">https://www.kksblog.com/2021/06/half-baked-surrender/</a></p></div>Prayers For Surrender To Let Go Of The Unhelpful And Accept Our Contributionhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/prayers-for-surrender-to-let-go-of-the-unhelpful-and-accept-our2021-02-11T11:45:00.000Z2021-02-11T11:45:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8542964875,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="8542964875?profile=RESIZE_584x" />By Karnamrita das</strong></p>
<p>PRAYERS FOR SURRENDER TO LET GO OF THE UNHELPFUL AND ACCEPT OUR CONTRIBUTION: I may die today. I may not be able to finish this piece of writing. I have an incurable condition which I was blessed to remember from my cancer diagnosis. I am a soul encased in a body that by identifying with gives me the view that I must suffer disease, old age, death, and rebirth. I have an ego that feels threatened by non-existence and sees others as competitors for what appear to be scarce resources, and so I create friends and enemies. I think I have to watch my back at all times in fear and look out for “No. 1” or for me, those who support me, and what is “mine.”.</p>
<p>I believe I am defined by what mind tells me, what I see, and by the conditions around me: I consider that my identity is my work, my station in life, my story, my family, my nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, sport’s team, favorite sitcom, or my past or present circumstances. I act as if the world should be centered around me, thinking that the world and other persons, places, or things are for my personal enjoyment. I tend to argue for my limitations and staying the same rather than work toward fulfilling my potential with faith that I can and must change to avoid stagnation.</p>
<p>The above is what is called material bodily conditioning, and what I, and all us of are up against, when we take up the banner of the soul to spiritually awaken by realizing our true nature for the glory of God. Fortunately, I have been blessed to understand that there must be some purpose about my current bodily/mental condition which in my late teenage past became intolerable, the basis of an existential crisis that led me on my spiritual quest. I again returned to find bhakti, the holy name, my comrades in spirit, and my teachers.</p>
<p>Thus, due to some unimaginable good fortune, I dedicated my life, sincerely though naively, to understand my spiritual purpose and fulfilling it through my personal mission. With this idea, I began my spiritual journey. On that journey, I have traveled through many valleys, tropical islands, deserts, or with great joy, difficulties, detours, frustrations, disappointments, starts and stops, recommitments, longings for what I thought I lost, and then, repeatedly being redirected forward on the path of light and true virtuous life.</p>
<p>I have to continually remind myself of the urgency of this quest, albeit with a sense of humor, and reevaluate my progress toward the transcendent goal. Doing this, I have to make course corrections to keep on the path with enthusiasm and joy. I see my life circumstances and whatever conditions or people I encounter as purposeful, meant to teach, and help me grow as a person and spiritual practitioner.</p>
<p>I cannot use my spiritual quest as an excuse for not living as a human being and understanding both my life lessons and the gifts I am meant to share with both humility in my dependence on God, and confidence in his grace and help. Nor can I use my physical necessities as an excuse for not continuing my spiritual aspirations and practices. Balance is always in order until that time when our spiritual calling takes over our life and becomes our only necessity. When we love Krishna, or God, we will know what to do!</p>
<p>In our initial enthusiasm for the spiritual quest we may imitate this stage of full surrender. While that does have value for the short term to give us some spiritual footing, we gradually come to realize just how high such a stage this is, requiring considerable spiritual standing and passing through many lower stages of growth and tests. That way out is through!</p>
<p>It is never too late to be what you might have been! Thus, in the last stage of my life, or perhaps with my last breath, I reaffirm with whatever humility I have, that I am a keeper of the flame of bhakti (as all devotees are meant to be) to whatever degree I am blessed. I have to do whatever is required to keep that flame burning brightly—my challenge is to not be distracted by complacency or comfort. I am also called to pass that torch of spiritual illumination to others and teach whatever I know. If I don’t, I will dry up, and just fade away ingloriously.</p>
<p>To this end I pray for all I am worth to realize my highest potential for the good of all, and encourage you do that same. Be a possibility thinker. Change your focus by affirming your highest good. Spiritual faith attracts the mercy to know that prayer with the holy name carries us and can move our personal mountains or apparent obstacles. With God (for us, Krishna) all things are possible!</p>
<p>Live and pray. Breathe, aspire, pray, and become. Share and serve. Give and love. Offer everything (Gita 9-27). Surround yourself with the holy names, inspiring association, and what encourages you. Let us encourage one another to stay the course of a lifetime of devotional aspirations and service!<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=76205">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=76205</a></p></div>Surrender to Krishna conscious principleshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/surrender-to-krishna-conscious-principles2020-06-13T11:55:00.000Z2020-06-13T11:55:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3798095359,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="3798095359?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300" /></p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada letter to Rayarama, Oct. 22, 1971<br /> My Dear Rayarama,<br /> Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11th October 1971 and have noted the contents. I welcome you for your coming back to our society and you are feeling very nicely the association of devotees.<br /> Srila Rupa Goswami has described that devotional service can be advanced by six processes. Perhaps you know them. They are as follows: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following the regulative principles, being honest in one’s profession, and in the association of devotees.<br /> So this Krishna consciousness society is especially meant for giving people the opportunity to associate with devotees. Devotees means who are following the regulative principles. One cannot be independent and at the same time become a devotee because all devotional activities are based on surrender.<br /> So in the association of devotees we learn this important item—how to surrender, but if we keep our independence and try to become devotees, that is not possible.<br /> You write to say that you cannot feel any taste for temple life or Deity worship. This means you are keeping the same temperament you entertained before leaving our society. Our process is to accept both the lines of bhagavata marga and pancaratriki marga.<br /> Perhaps you might have seen the picture of the Gaudiya mission. On one side there is the bhagavata book and on the other side a picture of Laksmi Narayana for Deity worship. You cannot make any progress in devotional service unless simultaneously you follow both the lines.<br /> Just as the tracks of a railroad line; both must be there. Similarly temple worship is essential for purifying us from the material contamination and without being purified we cannot glorify the Lord.<br /> As it is stated in Bhagavad-gita that the Lord is completely pure and we cannot approach Krishna without being purified. So as you say that you do not feel very much encouraged in Deity worship and temple life, I see that your disease is still continuing. Under the circumstances simple academic career will not help you.<br /> If you want to live with us you must accept temple life, namely cleanly shaven head, observing the regulative principles, decorating the body with tilak, etc. You know all these things.<br /> So far your editorial work is concerned, I welcome your good service but if you do not follow temple life and Deity worship, it will set a bad example. When I was there in N.Y. last time I saw that the tendency was there in the press members not to follow the principles. So I said better to stop the press.<br /> Since then Advaita and the others are attending temple worship. Similarly you must also do the same and chant at least 16 rounds, etc.<br /> I am so glad to learn that you are eager to preach but we should know it that we cannot preach without being solid in our standing as devotee. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that “apani acari prabhu jivare sikhaya.”<br /> This means that Lord Caitanya wanted that one should preach by behaving himself exactly what he preaches.<br /> So our Krsna consciousness movement, preaching, depends on personal behavior. If you want to preach the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ on the principles of Bhagavad-gita you will find so many differences. Those who are following Jesus Christ, let them follow strictly to the principles of the Bible.<br /> “Thou shalt not kill” is now being misinterpreted by Christian priests. Now they say “Thou shall not murder.” This means trying to save themselves from the crime of animal killing. So you cannot teach such unscrupled followers the message of Bhagavad-gita. If you want to preach Bible you can tell them why there will be misinterpretation.<br /> In N.Y. there is a big press that prints “Watchtower.” They are forcefully criticizing Christian behavior. I read that one Christian priest allowed a marriage between two men—homosex. So these things are going on. So your proposal for preaching the gospel on the basis of Bhagavad-gita will not be successful. If you want to do that I cannot check you but I cannot allow you to do such things from within our society. You have to understand our philosophy perfectly, follow the regulative principles, and then in fact you can edit our books and papers.<br /> When I shall go to Mayapura then upon hearing from you of my proposal as mentioned above, I shall arrange for your coming to India. First of all you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to surrender to our principles, but if you keep your independence either in Mayapura or N.Y., your position is the same.<br /> To associate with me you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not help me or you.<br /> Hoping this will meet you in good health.<br /> Your ever well-wisher,<br /> A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=67839">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=67839</a></p></div>When will you surrender to Lord Krishna?https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/when-will-you-surrender-to-lord-krishna2020-05-29T11:09:00.000Z2020-05-29T11:09:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}5447520693,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="5447520693?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>Many people say “By your mercy, I will surrender” or “Give me your blessings so that I will surrender” or “When Krishna wants”. Srila Prabhupada says these are spoken under “FALSE PRETENSE”–These are just “PLEA’S” Not to Surrender.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada: Surrender is willing. If you don’t like to surrender who can make you obliged to surrender? Surrender is voluntary. “Yes I surrender.” Determination, “Yes I surrender.” Who can make you obliged to surrender? Nobody can make. Even Krsna can not work. This is a false pretense, “Please be merciful upon me so that I may surrender.” But if you do not surrender, what my mercy do? You know that incident? A man has fallen in the well, he is crying, “Please get me up, get me up.” Another man drops a rope, “Please catch it.” I’ll take it. Oh. Then if he says, “Be merciful so that I can catch.” “When you’ll be merciful I’ll be able to catch.” Is that argument? You catch. Then he’ll help you to get it out. And if you don’t catch, how he will help you? What is the use of speaking, “Be merciful, be merciful”? He is already merciful, giving you the rope. Why don’t you take it? So these are all false pleadings. If you want to surrender you can surrender yourself. If you don’t want to surrender then there will, so many. “Please, Sir be merciful so that I can surrender unto you.” Surrender is in your hands. If you like you can. If you don’t like, don’t surrender. There is no question of being merciful. Mercy is already there. Krpa, the mercy is already there. Krsna is coming, Krsna is sending His representative. Krsna is giving you advice in the Bhagavad-gita. If you don’t take advantage of it then who, who can deliver you? Krsna is personally coming. Krsna is sending you His representative, Krsna has left Bhagavad-gita, then what else you want? But if you are determined not to surrender how Krsna, and sastra and guru can help you? Nobody can help you. Then you are hopeless. That is up to you, to surrender or not to surrender. And because they do not surrender they are suffering. Willful negligence. If you become willful neglect, full, negligent then who can help you? Nobody can help you. Nobody can help you. Neither Krsna nor sastra nor guru. Instead of willful negligence, there must be willful cooperation, then it will be successful. These are all plea’s, so that will not do.<br /> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.7.25–29 – March 20, 1971, Bombay</p>
<p>Prabhupada: “One can understand Me only through bhakti.” So that is first-class religion, bhakti. So if you have got bhakti, then you will realize God daily, every moment. That is real understanding. So whether we have developed that Krsna consciousness or not, that is the test. But how can I say? It is up to you. That is up to you.<br /> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation – September 1, 1973, London<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86030">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86030</a></p></div>A resolution to surrender now! by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/a-resolution-to-surrender-now-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2020-01-04T10:44:22.000Z2020-01-04T10:44:22.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3801045437,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="3801045437?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p>We have to bring some goodness in our life and we have to invest in the mornings. Rise early and have a strong morning program. Chant good japa. Read more in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Get absorbed and that will drive out this mode of passion and mode of ignorance, which are still sometimes weighing us down and making it hard for us to follow the rules and regulations of Krsna consciousness. This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagavatam: tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.19). In this way, as loving devotional service is fixed in the heart, the influences of the modes of passion and ignorance will disappear and we will be able to follow Krsna consciousness.</p>
<p>But this is also a matter of decision. We can make this decision right now. We can decide that we will follow the four regulative principles now and not allow ourselves to go outside of them anymore. This is our choice. The time is now! Surrender now! Right now! Not tomorrow, “I will be a pure devotee from tomorrow”. No, try to be a pure devotee right now! If we try now to be a pure devotee, we will be pure. And we will become more pure day by day. So surrender now, that is all!</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2020/01/a-resolution-to-surrender-now/">https://www.kksblog.com/2020/01/a-resolution-to-surrender-now/</a></p></div>