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Radha Vallabh Bhakti Vriksha

Kunjesa Krsna Das' Notes

Session 1 - 10 July 2021

Aim is to get together and glorifying God and meditate in His Holy names.

Gita is also known as Gitopanashida - it is one of the Upanishad as.

Why is Arjuna not considered as part of the "Brahma Madhava Gaudya" disciplic succession?

How did Vyasa know about Bhagavad Gita which was spoken in the battlefield.

Week 3 - 24 July 2021

The intensity with which we do devotion is important - the more sincere the devotion, the more guidance / control of senses by Krishna Himself.

A civilised person is one who follows samskara - rules and regulations defined by the Vedas. When becoming civilised, you become religious.

Our heart is layered with lifetimes of dirt and sinful actions, which takes multiple lifetimes again to clean out and it can happen only by chanting Mahamantra.

What is the meaning of the word Govinda?
Govinda is the enjoyer and object of all pleasures for cows and the sense. Go = cows / sense, Vinda = giver of pleasure.

In the view of a materialist, how God should act?
We think God is our order supplier - we keep asking for things from God by chanting slokas, or lighting lamps, or doing small things for Him, as if He wants anything from us, apart from Bhakti.

Why did Arjuna address Krishna as Govinda?
Arjuna knows Krishna understands him and his emotional state of confusion. That's why he requests Krishna to take him to the middle of battlefield and also expects Krishna to understand him and satisfy his senses.

What is the proper way of satisfying one's senses?
Driver, Master and AC analogy. 13 senses - jnanendriya (eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue) and mind, Intelligence & ego
Sky - See
Air - Touch
Fire - Feel
Prithvi - Smell
Ether - Sound

Mind is controlling all the senses for material satisfaction, while soul is being tormented. Soul is satisfied only by serving Lord. And that's the proper way - engage all the senses in serving the Lord and Lord in turn will satisfy our senses. We need to utilise our mind in service of Lord.

9 types of Lord services - Sravanam, Krishnam, Vishnu Smaranam, Pada Sevanam, Archanam, Dasya, Atma Nivedam,

If we satisfy our personal sense

What does Srila Prabhupada mention as "typical calculation of material life"?
Arjuna, even though being very intellectual,  was thinking materially and wanted to share the spoils of the battle after winning with his relatives, whom he would have to kill in the war. He wanted to share the opulence of Victory with others. We all are inclined to show-off and make others jealous of our material achievements by sharing the same.
Viscious circle of unlimited desires fueled by the lust - "dil maange more" is the "typical calculation of material life" - how I can one-up others. Ego, jealous, desire, greed, illusion, material resentment - all these negative thoughts and comparison trouble everyone who is focused on material life.
Sense satisfaction is the main aim of life for most people.

When does a devotee of Lord accept or reject wealth or opulence?
If the wealth or opulence is in service of Lord, then we can accept it. We can get all the wealth that we deserve, rather than what we desire, since we are surrendered to Krishna.
Not accept anything in this material world, but only Bhakti - in spiritual world or transcendental wealth.
Material wealth is not what we want, but spiritual wealth / transcendental knowledge.
Internal and external voices speak to you when wealth is on offer to guide you through. External is the spiritual master, who will guide us whether to accept or not and direct how to utilize this opulence. Internal is Parmatma, who is sitting next to our soul and directs us to do things. Being a neophyte, we are unlikely to understand Parmatma's instructions. Hence we should rely on our spiritual master for guidance and instructions.
Once we remove the layers from our gross body and allow our soul to be connected directly to Krishna by being a sincere devotee, Krishna Himself will guide us what to do.
If the material opulence is distracting us from the path of spiritual progression, then it's not worth it.

How does a devotee of Krishna react when someone causes trouble to him?
If someone is doing wrong to a devotee, we should not react because Krishna is in everyone's heart. A devotee will not retaliate, just like Ambarish Maharaj did not react to Durvasa. Prahald Maharaj did not get angry at his father Hiranyakashyapu, even though his father was hurting him a lot. Lord Krishna's first duty is to protect his devotees and then to defend them. "Paritrayana Sadhuna, Vinashayacha Dushkrita". Jagay and Madhay from Chaitanya Charitamrita. Devotees should be more merciful than the Lord.

How will you pray/approach the Lord now, after understanding the purport of the word Govinda.

31st July

SSR - Namamrita - Kirtana

We have really short lived, not smart, easily disturbed and distracted. We cannot meditate like the yogis of Satya-yuga. Hari Nama Sankirtana is the only deliverance.

Discovery
1.  What  is  the  source  of  perplexity  (or  confusion  because  of  complexity)?

2.  What  is  the  advice  of  Vedic  scriptures  to  solve  the  perplexities  of  life?
Follow the guidance and advice of a spiritual master who is a bona fide Brahmana in the disciplic succession.
Gururbrahma, gururvishnu. Guru devo Namah Namah.
Guru Saakshat Param Brahmam, Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

3.  Who is  a  Brahmana  or  an  intelligent  person?
Brahmana or an intelligent person who is self-realised his constitutional position and can solve all the problems of life, but is focused more on solving the biggest problem of life - breaking the cycle of Birth and Death. Brahmana is one who is not living like any other animal - eating, sleeping, mating - but focused on Him.
Adi-yatmika - Internal problems
Adi-bhautika - problems caused by others
Adi-dhaivika - problems caused by Gods

Understanding
1.  What  is  compared  to  forest  fire  in  this  purport?  How  the  forest  fire  analogy  explains  the scenario?
Padam padam vipadam -

2.  The  principle  of  maintaining  a  family  is  not  wrong.  But  why  is  Arjuna’s  attachment  to  his  family members  and  desire  to  save  them  is  mentioned  here  as  miserly?  Is  there  any  higher  duty  than  to maintain  one’s  family?
A miser doesn't want to spend what he has - Arjuna is averse to spend his family and relatives for his duties and higher goal - of serving Krishna and executing his orders. He doesn't want to kill and shying away from dispensing his duties by thinking about going away to become a saint. This is the miserly weakness.
Higher duty than to maintain one's family is to carry out your duties as prescribed by Krishna - to serve Him.
Grih-astha - focused on Lord
Grih-medhi - focused on everyone in the family

3.  Bhakti  is  a  science.  Just  like  an  English  scholar  cannot  comment  on  a  science  subject,  similarly  a Sanskrit  scholar  cannot  comment  on  Vedic  scriptures  without  understanding  the  science  behind  it.  Here Srila  Prabhupada  is  talking  about  foolish  mundane  scholars.  What  is  the  understanding  of  these  scholars and  how is  it  wrong?
Scholars are not learning about the science of Bhakti directly from the disciplic succession or being a devotee/Bhakt themselves. Hence their understanding is flawed and based on their personal interpretations of Bhagavad Gita or any other vedic scriptures.
They believe that there is no Absolute Truth - no Super Soul. They believe Krishna has a material body, with a soul.
Mundane scholars are categorized into 2 -

3 references for countering - Sadhu, Guru and Shashtras.

How to refute Mayawadi scholars -

  1. Lump of gold and ring - weights and forms are different. Same way we are parts and parcel of Krishna with different amounts of His qualities and opulences. We are all covered in Maya and guru can help us uncover these qualities by wiping off all the Maya. We all have the Godly qualities - but in very infinitesimal quantity.
  2. Bhagavad Gita says the soul cannot be cut, burnt, moistened or blown away (2.23). But if we are getting merged into the Brahmana on death, then this verse would be wrong. We all have individual identities - souls - which is being Lord's dasa.
  3. Lord has Himself said clearly in Bhagavad Gita that I am the Supreme controller.
  4. Krishna's body and form is explained very clearly in Vedic Scriptures like Brahma-Samhita and Bhagavatam. Brahma Himself clarifies that Krishna is not impersonal and describes His qualities.
  5. He is "bhaga-wan" - possessor of all the 6 opulences

Application
1.  Have you  faced/facing  any  perplexities  in  life?  How  will  you  solve  them  by  understanding  the principles  of  devotion?

7th August

Discovery
1. What really is the aim of life? 
Real aim of life is to find our constitutional position - that of being a servant to Krishna. And break the cycle of Birth and Death.

  1. How does Krsna consciousness help us achieve this goal.

Krishna consciousness helps us to prevent spiritual death. Krishna consciousness focuses on watering the root of the plant, thereby allowing us to realise and solve all our problems.
Krishna consciousness helps us re-establish our connection with Krishna.

Understanding
1.     What is wrong with our materialistic society?
We are chasing happiness which is temporary, by satisfying our materialistic needs. But we are not focused on satisfying our spiritual needs, which can give us happiness which is more permanent.
We are identifying with our body and everything around is in connection to our body. We are chasing sense gratification and misuse scriptures for personal gain (no non-veg days).

  1. What does the Vedic civilization say about the perfection of life?
    According to the Vedic civilization, the perfection of life is in realizing our relationship with Krishna. We are all parts and parcel of the whole, who need to serve the whole.
    We need to be physically fit to be able to serve the lord effectively and without any distruction/disturbance.
    The perfection of life is if we are able to remember the lord when we are dying.

  2. How can we perfectly  serve  and  satisfy  everyone  in  this  world?  Why  is  it  not  possible  to  do  so  in any other way? Illustrate with an example/s.

  3. Why is it necessary to learn about God?

Application
1. Share about what you are looking for in life.

14th August, 2021

Week 2 of Bhakti Vriksha

Discovery

  1. Mention some inequalities in life among different people in their enjoyment and suffering.

Poor vs rich
Gains vs loss
All based on Karma

Understanding

  1. Why do even pious people suffer sometimes?
    - Effects of Karma - impious activities done in the past life or current life.
    - Krishna is testing them
    - We are mostly in the mode of passion or ignorance
    Example - Grains in the granary - we are happy with what's coming right now, but we don't know what's coming up next. We keep adding good grains (pious activities / devotion) and  bad grains (impious or sinful activities).

  2. Explain why each person is responsible for his Karma.
    - Man desires, God sanctions and Prakriti provides. Hence a man's desire defines his actions, even though sanctioned by Krishna.
    - Our association also influences our desires.
    - Based on the mode of material nature the man is in, his activities will result in Karma.
    - Any actions done in service of Lord is A-karma (no reaction) , but any action done for personal sense gratification is Vikarma (sinful reactions) , while any action done as per the scriptures, but not necessarily in the service of Lord is Sukarma.
    - A man's previous sanskara also governs his actions in the current life.
    - Karma is essentially actions and reactions.

  3. How can we overcome our suffering and bad Karma?
    - By practicing Krishna Consciousness - chanting Hari Naam and doing everything in the service of Lord by practicing Akarma.
    - Devotee association will allow us to reduce the desires for sense gratification
    - By breaking the cycle of Birth and Death and go back to Goloka Vrindavan. Start with self realization - we are servants of God and spend this life only for serving Krishna.
    - Believe in Krishna and surrender to Krishna and He will take care of us. He will give us the strength to overcome the suffering and face effects of bad Karma.
    - BG 2.50 - engage in devotional service

  4. What are the advantages of taking up Krishna Consciousness?
    - Frees us from fear of everything, especially death, temporary pains
    - Gives us strength to face any temporary setbacks    / tough times in the current life, knowing that everything is temporary, and not permanent
    - Helps us rise above the material affectations for everyone in life - family, relatives, friends.
    - We stop worrying about anything and everything in life and rely on Krishna to take care of us, once we surrender to Krishna.
    - We are purified
    - We understand Krishna and our relationship with Him
    - Helps us break the cycle of Birth and Death
    - Help us get closer to Krishna
    - On a practical, individual level, we question every activity if Krishna would like it or not. This would guide us always in the right direction.
    - Spiritual credits sustain over lives (BG 2.40)
    - At least our next life is not lower than the current human life

Application

  1. Have you believed in re-incarnation so far? Why or why not?
  2. Do you want to change your Karma? Do you think Krishna consciousness will help you achieve that? Why do you think so?

22nd August, 2021

BG 7.3

Discovery:
1. What is the difference between a living body and a dead body?
A living body has the spirit soul, while a dead body doesn't. The spirit soul is the "life" in any body and when the spirit soul leaves a body, it is left "dead". Dead body is like discarded clothes, while a living body is worn clothes.
When consciousness enters into the dull matter/body, it becomes alive.

Understanding:

  1. Explain  with  an example, how we can understand that we keep changing our bodies, but we are the eternal soul.
    Body keeps changing as one goes from childhood to youth to old age and then dies - but the eternal soul inside remains the same. It's only the gross body which is changing, the subtle body moves on to the next body when the soul transmigrates to new body. Various examples of reincarnation prove this that the soul is eternal, but the body is not.

  2. Explain how the soul transmigrates from one body to the next at death?
    The soul needs the body to progress in spiritual path. It can sustain and maintain the spiritual position while in between bodies, but it cannot add or reduce the spiritual credits.
    If you are a true devotee, you'll not suffer in between the lives.
    The soul needs spiritual strength for 13 days after leaving the body, as it waits for the next body. In each day, based on the pind (Vishnu prasadam) offered, the soul will form individual parts of the body. If pind is not offered, the soul gets beaten up in yamaloka.
    On the 13th day the soul starts the journey towards the yamaloka, and it takes nearly 365 days to reach. Every month on the same day, you should offer food offered to Vishnu as prasad to the souls, to help them for the next one month of the journey.
    After reaching, the soul has to wait until the judgement is passed. Once the judgement is passed, the soul is conditioned for the next body. For example, if a human has led an abominable life, and is becoming a hog in the next life, it will be taught how to live like a hog.
    In the 7th month of pregnancy, the soul gets the consciousness and suffers a lot as it starts under the material modes of nature.

  3. Why do we get different types of bodies?
    Based on our Karma and what we are thinking at the last minute of our life (condition of mind), defines the type of body we get in the next life. Cockroach in a palace analogy.
    Train stations and coach based on the Karma analogy.

  4. When can we stop changing our bodies?
    When we break the cycle of Birth and death, follow Krishna Consciousness, and go to Goloka Brindavan. Ensuring we remember Krishna at the last minute of our life, will allow us to attain Moksha. This requires complete dedication and practice 24x7 by surrendering to Krishna. 9 practices of Bhakti - Sravanm, Kirtanam, Vishnu Smaranam, Paad Sevanam, ....
    Preachers of Krishna are very dear to Him, because they are devoting their time only for His glory. They are being His representatives and spreading His message and knowledge. Without them, Krishna  will have to come down to spread the knowledge Himself. Since they are doing His job and taking His responsibility, He will shower his choicest blessings and attention on such devotees who are preachers.
    Devotee has to become selfless and compassionate to others. Focus on delivering others.
    If a soul attains Krishna, past 7 and 14 future generations will also attain Krishna.

Application:
1. Do you feel relieved to know that you are an eternal soul? Share your impressions.
Relieved more to know that my spiritual credits are eternal too along with all the Karma. If not in this life, in a future life, I will finally end up in the lotus feet of Krishna.
BG 2.13 - A person who knows he is eternal soul is called Dheera.

11th September, 2021

Discovery
1.What does the Hare Krishna mantra do to our consciousness?
Hare Krishna mantra helps revive our transcendental consciousness, which is covered by maya. And overcome 6 Anarthas in our hearts. It removes all the dirt accumulated in our soul.

2.Why is our consciousness adulterated now? What do we think wrongly in this consciousness?
Association with material energy since the time memorial has adulterated our consciousness, which is tuned to Krishna naturally.
I am the lord of all I survey - that's the misconception that we have today. We think we are the master of material nature.
Life is not all happiness or just between 2 problems - that's our misconception.
Mood of passion and ignorance are polluting the mind, and lust for material possessions and experiences is what drives most of us nowadays, but not spiritual progression.

Understanding
1.What happens when we try to exploit material energy?
We become a slave and get more entangled in material energy when we try to exploit it.
Lust is unending list of desires.

2.How can we stop this great struggle over material energy?
By being Krishna Conscious, and chanting mahamantra like a baby crying for mother.
Remembering that we are spiritual beings with human experience, rather than human beings with spiritual experience.

3.Explain the meaning of the mahamantra.
Hare is addressing the energy of the Lord - Radha, while Krishna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself.
We are invoking the energy of the Lord to deliver us from this material energy and deliver us by chanting the mahamantra.
32 syllables and 64 words
We are in the separation mode currently as our inferior marginal energy is not in direct contact with the Supreme energy.
We cannot approach Supreme Lord directly, and hence we are requesting and calling out to Radha-rani, to help us approach Supreme Lord by surrendering to Her.
We should strive for offense-less chanting as we are doing offensive chanting all the time.

4.What makes the living entity happy? Why does the mahamantra make one happy?
Living entity becomes happy by -

Analogy of a lost kid in a fair. The kid will not be happy with anything until he is united with his parents. That's our situation - we will not be happy at all until we re-unite with our Eternal Father.

By chanting the mahamantra, we are removing all the dirt accumulated on our spirit soul from millennia and allows us to connect directly with the Supreme energy.

When a person chants mahamantra which includes 16 names and 32 syllables of Lord, He feels happy and dances on the tongue of the person chanting it. Imagine the bliss when you have Lord dancing on your lips / tongue.

Krishna is the loving father who is ready to take us back in, if we seek His forgiveness.

BG 7.4 and 7.5
Para-prakriti - spiritual energy (superior) - jivha (living entities)
Apara-prakriti - material energy (inferior) - material/gross body - 8 - 5 senses + mind, intelligence, ego

Jivha is utilising the material energy for progressing on the path of Bhakti. And that's the correct position and utilization of material energy by the Jivha.

By chanting mahamantra, our marginal superior energy connects to Lord's superior energy and hence we get happiness. But when the inferior energy tries to connect with supreme energy, it will be incompatible.

5.Why is it important for us to chant this mahamantra?
It's the Dharma of the Kali-yuga.

Application
Share your realization of how you feel when you chant the Mahamantra during the kirtan or japa.

17th September, 2021

Discovery:
1.What is real religion?
Real religion is knowing God and how to love Him, unconditionally, without expecting anything in return.
Prabhupada says that Krishna Consciousness is divine cult, and Krishna is the Supreme God.
By faith, you can be a Christian or Muslim or Parsi, but your religion has to be unconditional love for God, and that too Krishna.

2.Who is a true spiritual master?
A true spiritual master helps us understand who is God, know what is God and helps us how to learn God.
Apart from this there are certain qualities of Spiritual Master -

Understanding:
1.In what different ways are people cheated from following real religion?

Different ways people interpret real religion and deviate from the absolute truth -

"Kaitavya Dharma" = cheating religion / man-made Dharma (Prabhupada)

2.What is Krishna Consciousness teaching you?
Krishna Consciousness teaches knowing, understanding and loving Krishna. Moving the focus from "self" as centre of the world to "Krishna". It teaches us how to utilise the material energy and our marginal energy towards satisfying the supreme energy of Krishna. Material energy has to be exploited only for serving Krishna and not for any other purpose.
Krishna Consciousness is teaching us how to love Krishna unconditionally, despite the material conditions around you especially if they are unfavourable.

3.Describe who a karmi,jnani, yogi and bhakta is?
Karmi -
People who are focused on material gains.

Jnani -
People focused on solving problems of life by spending time in learning things and strive to become God or immortal.

Yogi -
Focused on attaining mystical powers for self.

Bhakta -
Pure love and devotion for God. They are not trying to gain anything for self, but only want to serve other devotees / Krishna.

4.Why is the bhakti or devotional process the best of all?
Bhakti is focusing on attaining and reclaiming our spiritual position of being a servant to the Lord. Bhaktya mam abhijanati - "only by the process of Bhakti, you can understand Krishna" (BG 18.15). And only if you understand Krishna, you can Love Him.
In the Yoga Ladder, Bhakti is like an elevator, which takes you to directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, while in all the other processes, the focus is on personal material gain.

Application:
Share your realization on what you want from following religion and why you want it.

24th September, 2021

Discovery

  1. What is the purpose of Krishna Consciousness movement?
    Krishna Consciousness movement is for purification of our consciousness which is contaminated over multiple lifetimes by material entanglement.
    In Kaliyuga, jivhas are blinded by Maya, which is Krishna's energy.

  2. What happens to our bodies on death?
    Our bodies become dust, ashes or stool - depending on the mode of disposal of bodies per the religion. The body, which is made of 5 elements, is destroyed on death and eventually goes back into mixing with these elements. The body is a temporary house for the soul for the spirit soul's upliftment. The subtle body, the consciousness (intelligence, mind, ego), moves onto the next body.
    This doesn't mean we do not care of our body. We should take care of it, because without the body, the spiritual soul cannot continue on the path of Bhakti and suffers.

  3. What happens to our soul on death?
    Based on the past life's acts, the soul will get a new body. Depending upon our consciousness all through the life combined with what we are thinking at the time of the death, defines the kind of body we get in the next life.
    The subtle body, the consciousness (intelligence, mind, ego), will carry the spirit soul onto the next body.

Understanding

  1. Why is it important to purify our consciousness? Explain with examples mentioned.
    We need to clear the dirt on the mirror of our soul, so that it can reflect the spiritual energy of Krishna.
    We need to train our consciousness all through our lives to follow the yogic principles, so that in the next life we attain a body that will eventually help us to get closer to our ultimate goal - going back to Godhead.
    When we purify our consciousness, we can really understand and see Krishna in the form of Parmatma well. Parmatma accompanies the soul, and by purifying our consciousness, we can hear the instructions from Parmatma, which will allow us to progress in the path of Bhakti and eventually reach the ultimate goal.

  2. What are the benefits of going back to the spiritual world to Krishna?
    Eternal blissful life, divine life, limitless service of Krishna, wonderful devotee association, full of knowledge and freedom from the circle of birth and death - these are the benefits of going back to the spiritual world to Krishna.
    We can achieve full Sachidanand Vigraha, which is what our spirit soul is.
    BG 15.16 and 15.17

  3. Why is it very important to associate with the devotees in Krishna Consciousness?
    We are likely to gain the same consciousness as the people surrounding us. "A man is known by the company he keeps."
    Bhakti is very delicate like a flower. It has to be surrounded and protected by a ring of devotee plants, which will keep Mayadevi in the form of goat away from affecting our Bhakti.
    Our progress on the path of Bhakti is faster will be faster with devotee association. With the mercy of senior devotees, we will get elevated.

  4. How does the Krishna Consciousness movement easily elevate everyone, even if they are without any previous qualifications?
    Bhakti Yoga is the easiest yoga system, which implements an elevator, thanks to our spiritual master, devotees associated and Krishna's mercy, which will take us to Godhead.
    If you surrender completely to Krishna, He will elevate you. Our spiritual growth and credits are passed on to the next lifetime, but not material. KC helps us engage  in the service of the Lord, to implement Bhakti Yoga.
    KC helps you gain the purity and intensity required for Bhakti Yoga.

Application
Do you enjoy coming regularly for the program? Share the obstacles if any that you face in attending sat-sanga regularly.

2nd October, 2021

Discovery
1.Mention 2 ways in which we can obtain knowledge.
A. Shruti-Praman - based on what's heard and passed on by authoritative sources from spiritual master
B. Pratyaksha-Praman -  based on personal experiments and seeing

2. How have the Vedas come down to us?
Krishna gave to Sun-God. And then He came again to teach Krishna.
Learn our parampara on Page 33 of BG.

3. Who should we hear the Vedas from?
Spiritual master, who falls under the parampara / disciplic succession. Also someone who is "dhira", one who's senses are not agitated by material perplexities. We should not hear from other scholars, who are basing their knowledge on personal experiences and experiments.

Understanding
1. With an example, explain why we cannot understand God, on our own.
We need His mercy and guidance of a spiritual master, who is in the parampara, and hence is an authoritative source. It's a transcendental knowledge which only a pure devotee of Krishna can understand and explain, especially considering we are all conditional souls with imperfect senses.
2. Which literatures give us real knowledge about God? Why are these literatures perfect?
Vedas, which mean real knowledge, are the source of real knowledge of God. Vedas are basically knowledge received directly from Krishna and not experimental or opinionated knowledge.
Brahma got the knowledge directly from Krishna, passed on to Narada, who passed onto Vyasadev, who authored Vedas - the 108 Upanishads.

3. Who can really understand the Bhagavad-gita? Why?
BG 7.3 only a true devotee of Krishna can really understand Bhagavad Gita.
BG13. 19 "mad bhakta etad vijnaya"
Believing in Krishna and surrendering to Krishna you can understand Bhagavad Gita.

4. Why should we be selective in whom we hear the Bhagavad Gita from?
So-called scholars, who are not true devotees of Krishna or in His disciplic succession, have derived knowledge using their imperfect senses. They are trying to share their personal opinions of Bhagavad Gita as the true knowledge, instead of sharing what Krishna really meant to convey in Gita. Bhagavad Gita should be explained as is, not interpret it. Believe only in Shruti-Praman.

Application
1. Have you found a path, which will take you to God? Share your realizations.

9th October, 2021

Discovery:
1. Where does Lord Krsna reside? How does He manage the material world?

Understanding:
1. Mention some reasons why Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Brahma Samhita
Bhagavatam
Padma Purana
Vishnua Purana
Bhagavad Gita

2. How can we be free of all anxieties if we surrender to Krsna? Illustrate with an example.

3. How can we practically express our surrender to Krsna?
4. Who looks after those who do not surrender to Krsna? How are they treated?

Application:
1. Share your experience of a time when you were in great anxiety. How did you react then? Do you think you should have reacted differently in that situation? Why?

30th October, 2021

Discovery

  1. How are God's laws different from man-made laws? Explain with reference to the punishment given for taking any life.

We do not kill our relatives, friends or acquaintances. God's laws apply equally and same to everyone. Also they always remain the same - whatever the condition, time or place. While man-made laws are relative to condition, time and place.
Manu-samhita is the Dharma-shashtra, explaining the laws that govern the life. If you cannot Create anything, you can destory/kill it. Manu-samhita says "Life for a life" as a punishment for killing anyone. If you kill someone, you will have to live a similar life in future.
Patram, pushpam, toyam, falam... (BG 9.26) - whatever you offer to me with love, I'll gladly accept and honour.

Understanding

  1. Why are God's laws different?
    God's laws are perfect, while man-made laws are imperfect. Killing anyone is a sin according to God, however unintelligent or sinful that living entity is. God is the Creator, Maintainer and Destroyer of this world. Hence, God's laws are perfect, just and fair, and that's how they are different as they remain the same - irrespective of condition, time, body form or place. Man-made laws are more for benefit of men primarily.
    Humans have 4 imperfections - imperfect senses, tendency to commit mistakes, illusioned (maya) and cheating propensity. Hence any laws created by them will be imperfect. While God is perfect.

  2. Explain the dimensions of the spirit soul. When can we being to understand the presence of the soul in everyone?
    Dimension of the spirit soul, as given in scriptures  is as "kesagra" - one ten thousandth the portion of the tip of a hair (BG ). Even the most powerful microscope cannot visualise the soul. But by advancing in Krishna consciousness and gaining eternal knowledge of one's constitutional position, one gets the special vision to understand the presence of the soul in everyone (BG5.18) - Pandita sama darsinah.

  3. What are the reasons for us to be vegetarian?
    a) Tena tyaktena bhunjitha - One should accept only what is set aside as his quota, and not accept or try to grab any other things.
    b) Man's teeth are meant to be vegetarian.
    c) Nature's law is to live by eating other living entities (jivo jivasya jivanam), one must use discretion. There is a lot of violence committed while cooking meat, making it a tamasik food.
    d) Krishna Himself said in BG 9.26 what can be offered to Him - fuits, flowers, vegetables. And we should only consume the prasadam of what is offered to Krishna, which has His remnants. By consuming prasadam offered to Krishna, all the sins consumed during the process of food preparation are nullified.
    e) Mercy in a person is destroyed when we eat meat. We are creating a graveyard in ourselves by meat-eating, which prevents one from becoming devotional. If the food is not helping us in advancing on the spiritual path, we should not consume it. Meat-eating primarily increases mode of ignorance and/or passion, but vegetarian food primarily increases mode of goodness, except for some tamasik food.

Application
Discuss why people like to eat meat. What arguments or reasons will you provide for them to become vegetarian?
Tasty ---> healthy (naturopathy, ayurveda - all alternative treatments based on scriptures advise health benefits of being a vegetarian)
Proteins (myth) ---> not required so much. lot of options.

6th November, 2021

Discovery:
1. Mention the headings or topics on which Srila Prabhupada disagrees with Darwin.

Understanding:
1. Why is it wrong to assume that man has descended from the monkey?
Monkeys are still existing - that's the clear proof that man has not descended from the monkey.
A soul gets a human life only after a lot of austerities over multiple lifetimes and has a higher intelligence, while a monkey lacks such intelligence. Hence it proves that a man has not evolved from a monkey. Monkey is always in mode of ignorance (tama-guna), while man can be in any of the 3 modes. Evolution has happened but on a spiritual level where a soul moves away from mode of ignorance to mode of goodness and takes birth as a human being.  
Manu was borne from Brahma and all men have evolved from Manu.
According to Padma-Purana, all 84 lakh species have been in existence since the day one. Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.73

2. What is Darwin’s explanation of the origin of life? Explain his “survival of the fittest” theory from the passage.
Darwin said that life was created out of matter / chemicals. "Survival of the fittest" means natural selection of species to survive based on the physical characteristics and features.

3. What is Srila Prabhupada’s answers to these propositions?

4. How do scientists explain away their inability to create life from matter?
They know how to develop amino-acids necessary to create life, but they are missing a link to generate. They will do it in future.

5. Why does Srila Prabhupada not accept these explanations?
Creation of everything is by Krishna. There is nothing like future, when it's already done in the past. Analogy - giving you a future-dated cheque for money that you don't have or may not even have in future. 
We are all parts and parcels of Krishna. He is the seed-giving father and we cannot create a part of God.
A scientist is working on developing something because Krishna wants him to work on it. The scientist wishes for something, while Krishna approves. And he cannot develop a single grain without His approvals or permission. Maya-aparahita-gnana - real knowledge is trumped by illusion.

6. Why is Srila Prabhupada unimpressed by the scientists making test tube babies?
Test tube is nothing but a place to just combine living entities. Since you are starting with living entites, you are not really creating life. And eventually you need a womb to allow the combination of living entities, so it's not really creating life at all. A scientist cannot create the gross body or the subtle body at all. They are just creating an environment / conditions conducive to creation of life, but cannot guarantee creation of life.
SB 3.31.1 - The soul takes shelter in the part of sperm during the transference, resulting in creation of life.

7. What is Srila Prabhupada’s opinion on Nobel prizes?
Sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih-samstutath-purusah-pasuh - Srimad Bhagavatam. Those who praise scientitits for discoveries in this material world are nothing but animals themselves.

8. Why do you think Srila Prabhupada is severely criticizing the scientists? What harm have their theories done to humankind?
The theories have misguided many innocent people. They have shared improper information and diverted people from the real knowledge, the Absolute Truth. They are not helping people undertand the importance of life. They have focused on material gains, while ignoring the spiritual knowledge and growth.

Application:
1. Are you convinced about the scientists’ limitations? Why or why not?
Scientists are creating new theories - either based on what's in Shashtra or contradicting it. But what they are focusing on material knowledge, and not focusing on the real knowledge.

13th November, 2021

Discovery

  1. Who is an acharya? Name the fout Acharyas mentioned as well as the period to which they belonged.
    An acharya is a teacher of the Vedic knowledge. He lives by the Vedic scriptures and also teaches the shashtras.
    There are 4 acharayas -
    a. Shankaracharya - Advaita
    b. Ramanujacharya - Visistadvaita
    c. Madhvacharya - Achintya Beda Beda
    d. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - Achintya Beda Beda Tattva

  2. Name the literary contributons of each of these Acharyas

    a. Shankaracharya - Viveka-Chintamani and Sariraka-bhasya
    b. Ramanujacharya - Vedanta Sangraha (on the Vedas), Sri Bhasya (on Vedanta sutra), and Bhagavad-gita Bhasya (on the Bhagavad Gita)
    c. Madhvacharya - Purnaprajna-bhasya
    d. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - Shikshastakam

Understanding

  1. How is Shankara's philosophy different from the others? Why did he expound such a philosophy?
    Shankaracharya's philosophy (Advaitha) expounds that there's no duality of supreme and inferior soul. We all are Absolute Truth ourselves. This was propagated when Buddhism was at it's peak and no one was following Vedic scriptures. There was lot of killing being done in the name of Vedas and sacrifice.
    Adi-Shankaracharya established the Sanatan-dharma and got people to at least start believing in Vedas. It is a bridge between theism and atheism - belief in Vedas / Supreme God and lack of this belief. "Namo narayana". "Brahma satyam, jagat mithya". Everything else is illusion, and there's only one truth - one self. 
    Jiva, jagat and jagadish - all 3 are same and one.

  2. How did Ramanujacharya modify Shankara's theory?
    Parabrahman and jiva are 2 different entities, but they together consitute Absolute Truth. He expounded Visistadvaita - special duality of existence or qualified non-dualism. Visista = qualified. Advaita = oneness. "Brahma satyam, jagat satyam". Every ISKCON is different in individuality, but at the end of the day they are still an ISKCON - so they are one and the same.
    Jiva, jagat and jagadish - all 3 are same and one, but they have individual identities too. Only when you become liberated, you change from jiva to jagadish.

  3. What point did Madhava emphasize with regard to Bhagavan and the jiva?
    Bhagavan and the jiva are 2 different entities and they cannot become one, especially when the jiva is liberated. This is called Advaita-vada or Suddha-dvaita. Material world (jagat) is inferior energy of the Lord, jiva is superior energy of the Lord and is also dependant on the Lord.
    All 3 are individually different - jagat, jiva and jagadish.

  4. How did Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu synthesize both Ramanjucharya's and Madhva's conclusions?
    "Achinta Beda Abeda Tattva" - there are 64 qualities of Krishna and the jiva has the same qualities, but the quantity of these qualities is less in jiva.
    Till Madhvacharya, all bhakti is in "Dasa" rasa, while with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, "Madhurya" rasa was introduced since He was Krishna in Radha's potency.
    We are just a droplet from the same ocean. We are the bindu (droplet), while He is the Sindhu (ocean). Quality is same - "sachidananda vigraha", but the quantity of that quality is different - jiva is infinitesmly smaller in comparison to the Lord.
    All 3 are individually different - jagat, jiva and jagadish - but only in quantity, quality-wise they are one and the same. Quantity of Lord is inconceivable (achintya). The extent of oneness in quality is also not easily perceivable with our imperfect senses.

Application

  1. Which of these philosophies appeals to you most? Why?

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy appeals most to me because it recommends a very simple philosophy of just chanting Mahamantra and being in servitude of Lord.

20th November, 2021

Discovery:
1. How can we know the Supreme Truth through the tongue?
The tongue is meant to eat and to speak. Also by controlling the tongue, we can control all the sense. By devoting our tongue to eating prasadam and chanting & preaching Holy name, we can know the Supreme Truth.
Chanting is the medicine and Prasadam is the diet to cure us of the material entanglements and in a conditioned state.

Understanding:
1. Why are people in the material world anxious? How do they try to get rid of their misery? Why don’t those things work for them?
We are in a falled and conditioned state where our mind craves for personal enjoyment. We keep engaging into various activities that will lead to personal sense gratification hoping that we will gain relief. We lament for losing what we have, hanker for what we don't have and keep worrying about others have. We are in the vicious cycle of chasing after different things. In spiritual world, you are hankering for only one thing - Krishna and his devotion. Just like forest fire, anxiety starts by itself and you don't know the source of the fire/anxiety, while it's completely consuming you.
People think intoxication will solve their problems and miseries. Or engage into any other activity for personal sense gratification expecting happiness. But it's only temporary. And it will not result in permanent bliss and happiness.

2. What is the process of becoming happy?
If you want to be happy in this material world, take to Krishna consciousness. Start with controlling your tongue by eating prasadam only and chanting maha mantra. Become submissive to Spiritual master who is in disciplic succession and serve him, as he is Lord's representative.

3. Who should we be submissive to? Why should we be submissive?
Spiritual Master who is in disciplic succession, after verifying their aachaar and prachaar. We need to be submissive to drive away the ego, arrogance and envy. We will be more receptive to knowledge and mercy from Spiritual Master. Only when you surrender completely, we will have faith. If you do not surrender, you'll doubt whatever is being said to you. 
We cannot understand with our imperfect and blunt senses. And hence, we need to submit to the authoritative sources, serve them and then question them to help us understand the Absolute Truth.

4. How should we apply the principles of Krsna consciousness in our daily lives?
We should understand from the authoritative sources who are in the disciplic succession. By following 4 regulative principles and the 9 step process of devotional service. Engaging all the senses in Krishna consciousness. Have only prasadam and avoid any vegetarian food which cannot be offered to Krishna. Continuously chant, if not on beads.  Before any activity, think whether Krishna would like it or not. And offer everything that you do in the service of Krishna.

5. What will be the result of application of these principles in our lives? How will this make us happy?
When we apply these principles, we will be purified and all our anarthas will start getting cleared off. This will eventually result in attaining bliss in serving Him. Our anxieties will reduce as we will not be connected to the fruits of our activities. We will be free from sinful activities and their reactions. We will progress in the path of Bhakti.

Application:
1. Share with everyone what different spiritual activities you are engaged in and what you are experiencing by performing them.

4th December, 2021

Haridasa Thakur is also called "Namacharya". He was born in a muslim family. He came to this world to help us learn and understand how to serve Krishna. He used to chant 192 rounds a day and will not have prasadam until he has finished his rounds for the day. He would sit outside the temple and say he will not enter the temple as he is not eligible to enter the temple. His aim was to help us understand how to intensely chant.

Discovery:
1. What five factors determine the success of our activities?
Place (body), doer (karta / soul), tools/sense (kaaranam - instruments), endeavour (cheshta / activities / thoughts) and sanction of the Supreme Lord (daivam). BG 18.14

2. Out of these five factors which is the most important factor? Why?
Sanction of the Supreme Lord is the most important factor. BG 9.10 - this material nature, is one of my energies, and fulfils any desires of living entity. All the other 4 factors are temporary, including soul which is marginal energy of Lord, while Lord's sanction is transcendental and supreme.

"Jeevera swarupa haya, Krishnera nitya das." Until the lord sanctions, jiva, as an eternal servant, cannot enjoy anything.

Eight mystic perfections (Siddhis) - levels of attaining mystic / magical powers.

Understanding:
1. Explain the independence enjoyed by the jiva.
The jiva has the independence to choose between 1) acting under the influence of material nature (Maya), which is guided by Lord's external energy or 2) focus on the transcendental consciousness, the suddha-sattva state, which is guided by Lord's internal energy.

BG 7.14 - Mam maya duratayya - everything is His maya, which is His external energy. Maya is a devotee of Krishna too. And she wants to filter out devotees, by testing them often, and ensuring only pure devotees progress towards Krishna.

Lord is Swarat - full independence, while we being a part and parcel of Lord, have minute independence.

2. Why does a pure soul hanker to be a servant of Krishna? How can one attain to this state?
Because that's the soul's eternal constitutional position - of being a servant. If we don't serve Lord's internal energy, we'll end up serving His material energies.

3. What happens to one’s karma when one becomes a servant of Krishna?
BG 18.66 - Sarva-dharman paritajyam, maam ekam... All the Punya / Paap (Vikarma) becomes zero when one attains pure devotional state, and one gains Akarma.

Application:
1. Share your experiences of how you feel when you engage in devotional service to the Lord or His pure devotees.

29th January, 2022

Discovery

  1. Why do people worship the demigods or devatas normally?
    People worship demigods for material benefits that are temporary. They are engaged in fruitive activities and seek only fruits of material nature. They do not have the knowledge of the Absolute Truth - that there is only one God and all demigods are just parts and parcel of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We just follow our parents and elders blindly from childhood and worship demigods.
    Analogy
    a. Kid with fever wants an ice cream. When parents deny, he can approach a shopkeeper with money and get the icecream.
    b. A person wants cigarette. Father will not allow, but shopkeeper will sell.
    Sreya - long-term benefit - eternal father, who cares for us and thinks about future before giving any benediction.
    Preya - short-term benefit - demigod or any human, who will grant benedictions without considering the ultimate gain.

  2. What is the general misconception about the position of the demigods?
    The misconceptions are -
    a. Demigods are different forms of Lord. In reality, they are just parts and parcel of Krishna, but not equal to Krishna. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
    b. Demigods have their individual powers, which are unique to them. It's Krishna who has granted all the benedictions and unique powers to the demigods. Any request of benedictions from demigods are granted essentially because Krishna has empowered demigods to grant those benedictions.
    c. Demigods are transcendental. They are jiva-tattva and part of this material world, not transcendental. Only Krishna is transcendental.
    d. Demigods are Eternal. In fact, demigods, including Brahma, are annihilated at the time of Pralay
    Demigods do not care about purifying you or liberating you. They will just help you improve your current condition in this material world. Though if you desire for Krishna, they will help you to go on that path.

  3. Who is God? What is the relationship of the demigods with Him?
    God is Krishna. Demigods are empowered by and entrusted with responsibilities by Krishna. God has 64 qualities, while demigods are not even close. According to Rupa Goswami, Brahma has 78%, Shiva has 84%, Vishnu has 60.

Understanding

  1. Mention some of the scriptural evidences to show the supremacy of Krishna.
    Bhagavad-Gita - 5.29, 10.2,  10.8, 7.7 (topmost reference), 4.1, 4.12
    Srimad Bhagavatam - 8.12.4, 4.3.23, 10.14.1, 1.3.28, 2.9.33 
    Brahma Samhita - 5.40, 5.1
    Padma Purana - Lord Shiva's answers to Parvati
    Katha Upanishad - Nityo nityanam
    Prahlad Maharaj used to chant "Om Namoh Vasudevaya" in Treta-yuga, when Vasudev came only in Dvapar-yuga.

  2. Why is it foolish to worship anyone other than Krishna?
    Krishna said in 9.23 that worshipping demigods is worshipping Him, but it's done wrong. And in all our previous lives we have been doing the same thing again and again - eating, sleeping, mating and defending, while worshipping demigods. It's time to break that cycle of foolishness as it has not really helped us at all. The only way to achieve the Absolute Truth is by worshipping Krishna only.  We are just chewing the chew continuously - Punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām (SB 7.5.30).
    We should worship only "Krishna", while demigods should be respected.

  3. What are the benefits of being Krishna conscious?
    - We'll be purified and go back home to Godhead, while demigods cannot give liberation.
    - No need to ask, just surrender and serve
    - Permanent solution in Krishna conscious vs temporary relief
    - Krishna will take of everything, as against seeking specific benedictions from demigods
    - Lose anxiety, fear and all material hankering
    Krishna consciousness will give the knowledge to understand and realise our constitutional position to achieve vairagya - complete and pure devotion to Krishna.

Application
Have you been attached to the worship of different demigods? Discuss how we can respect them while accepting the principles of Krishna consciousness.

5th February, 2022

Discovery
List some of the daily activites which Krishna is asking us to do as an offering to Him?

In short, while any and all activities, keep Krishna in the center and do it as an offering to Him.

BG 4.13 -
Krishna has prescribed duties for all 4 varnas - Brahmana (Goodness), Kshatriya (Passion), Vaishya (Passion and Ignorance) and Shudra (Ignorance). People from each varna should be helping those below them to elevate and achieve a higher varna, while executing their prescribed duties.

Understanding

  1. Is it possible to think of Krishna throughout the day? How can we do that?
    BG sloka of Arjuna - chanchalam...
    Sikshashtakam - 3rd verse - being tolerant like a tree and lower than the straw in the street, continue chanting despite all the impediments. Constant and incessant chanting.
    Engaging all the senses in service of Krishna all the time.
    Praying and strong desire for Krishna.
    Drinking water - pray to Krishna that He is the essence of this water.

  2. How can we start to become the greatest yogi?

    a. Think of taking care of your soul and not body. Do everything for spiritual upliftment and growth.
       b. The sentiment or attitude should be that we are not offering anything to Krishna that we own.
       c. Devotee association
       Follow the 9 steps of Bhakti-yoga -

  3. sraddha: faith
    2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees
    3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service
    4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments
    5. nistha: steadiness
    6. ruci: taste
    7. asakti: attachment
    8. bhava: love
    9. prema: pure love for Krsna
    BG 6.47 - of all the yogis, Bhakti-yogi is Krishna's favourite, as he is in the highest perfection of yoga.

12th February, 2022

World is full of 3 type of people -

  1. Karmis - interested only in materal enjoyment and sense gratification.
  2. Vimuktas - Karmis who have shown some inclination towards the path of devotion and started walking on it.
  3. Mumuksus - Pure devotees

Naam Aparadha - they do not understand the glories of the name and have started chanting without knowing the 10 offences and committing them.
Naambhasa  - they know and understand the 10 offences and request mercy of Krishna for committing these offences.
Suddha-Naam - devotee is in pure chanting mode. Mahajans. Narada is an example. Their intention behind chanting is not for material gains, but only for love of God. They are always trying to connect whatever they are doing to service of Lord.

Discovery

  1. Name the 3 modes of material nature. Mention which types of persons have which type of mode predominantly

Goodness (Sato-guna), Passion (Rajo-guna) and Ignorance (Tamo-guna)

Chapter 14 explains the qualities of people in each of these 3 modes.

Understanding

  1. Why are these bodily designations unimportant? What do they make us forget?
    They are temporary.

  2. What is the understanding of the absolute truth of a person situated in the mode of goodness?
    A person in the mode of goodness will do a lot of pious activities, but they are still material in nature, and hence s/he will go to higher planets in the material worlds, but not back to Godhead. His activities are not transcendental in nature. Hence, his knowledge is restricted to impersonal Brahman, and no understanding of the Absolute Truth of Bhagvan. Story of cobbler and pandit.
    They are likely to compare and analyse the information. Their knowledge is limited to material nature and conditions them.  They are still bound to the material nature with the knowledge. They are speculating about the Absolute Truth still, without understanding via devotional service.
    Mode of goodness is a stepping stone to the next state of becoming a "suddha tattva" - servitor or Krishna. Often those in mode of goodness end up becoming a jnani or yogi, and has the potential to become a Bhakt. They can understand Absolute Truth partially, and often develop ego about it - they are better than others because of this partial knowledge. Their happiness is material, temporary and fake in nature.
    Their service is towards others in this material world, and not for Krishna. That's their biggest mistake.

  3. Why is important to be Krishna conscious?
    We need to add devotion to mode of goodness and move to "suddha tattva" - becoming the servitor of God. Mercifulness, truthfulness and cleanliness - principles will only help us go to higher planets in material nature. And once our spiritual credits are consumed, we will come back to this world.
    If you have faith in Krishna and conviction in your belief in Him, you will be able to transcend this material world. Only by engaging oneself 24 hours in Krishna service / rememberance, we can aim to become truly Krishna conscious.

Application

  1. Discuss the different modes that affect you during the course of the day. How do you feel when you are under their influence? When do you feel joyful in Krishna consciousness?

Application
Discuss some of the obstacles you face in thinking of Krishna throughout the day. How do you think you can overcome them?

26th February, 2022

Discovery

  1. What is the purpose of following rules and regulations given in the Vedas?
    The purpose of following rules and regulations given in the Vedas is to stay sane and achieve the highest goal of understanding Krishna. Because if we do not, we are likely to degrade and fall.

  2. What is the danger we face if we do not follow them?
    We will degrade ourselves, become insane and be stuck in this cycle of birth and death. We will be stuck in sense gratification and material entanglements. And of course, there will not be any chance of understanding the Absolute Truth.

  3. Why should we accept the rules and regulations only from Shashtra?
    We are conditioned souls with 4 defects - imperfect senses, propensity to cheat, certainty of committing mistakes and certainty of being illusioned. Shastras are narrated by Krishna to Brahma and from there they have passed down in the Parampara.

  4. When is a person acting whimsically?
    A person is acting whimsically when they are violating the rules and regulations in the Shashtra. They know what they are supposed to do, but they still do not do so and often act completely opposite. Acting on a whim means doing something based on impulse primarily - which is just following personal desire and lust. Following only those rules and regulations that are favourable or comfortable, and ignoring ones that might cause discomfort.

  5. What are the two classifications of spiritualists?
    Impersonalists and Personalists - those who believe in the personal form of Lord and the ones who do not. They are still following scriptures, but impersonalists engage in mental speculation and whimsical devotion.

Understanding

  1. What is the highest perfectional stage one can achieve in spiritual life?
    Following rules and regulations defined by Vedas, eating remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krishna, knowing the Absolute Truth and following devotional service to understand Krishna eventually - which is the highest perfectional stage one can achieve in spiritual life.

  2. How did Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu say we could reach this state very easily?
    Chanting Mahamantra, eating remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krishna, following devotional service.

  3. Why do people fall down in their proper understanding of the Absolute Truth?
    People fall down because they forget their constitutional position of being servitor. They assume they are the enjoyers. And aversion to follow rules and regulations defined in the Shastras, we fall down to modes of passion and ignorance. BG 7.27
    Identifying with the material body and not focusing on the spiritual body. Getting bewildered by the tri-klesha - adi-atamik, adi-bhautik and adi-daivik, and the dualities of life - desire and hate. With knowledge, develop detachment. We are care-takers, and not owners.
    Anarthas are the reasion why a person keeps getting pulled back and unable to develop proper understanding of the Absolute Truth.
    Anartha Nivritti and Asakti are required for achieving proper understanding.

  4. How do people behave in the modes of passion and ignorance?
    Those in the modes of passion and ignorance deride the scriptures, deride the holy man, and deride the proper understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They disobey the instructions of the spiritual master, and they do not care for the regulations of the scriptures. In spite of hearing the glories of devotional service, they are not attracted. Thus they manufacture their own way of elevation. These are some of the defects of human society which lead to the demoniac status of life.
    Everyone has demoniac qualities, but only if are dedicated to the process of Anartha Nivritti, you will be able to overcome those qualities.

  5. Why do we undergo miseries in material life?
    Desires and actions for sense gratification and material achievements. Being stuck in the mode of passion and/or ignorance. We are taking shelther of Maya, and not Krishna.

Application
Discuss any one rule that you are following Krishna consciousness and how it has helped you to elevate your consciousness.

5th March, 2022

Discovery
Name the different types of sacrifices people perform in order to elevate themselves. Mention the Sanskrit names of these sacrifices as well.

Understanding

Application
Are you convinced that spreading Krishna consciousness is the best welfare work? Why or why not?

12th March, 2022

Discovery

Firstly, believe in the personal form of the God and then fully engaged in the service of the Lord. To achieve this, we have to get free from the three stages of the material concept of life, by taking complete shelter of the Lord, being guided by the bona fide spiritual master, and following the disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

Get free from fear, anger and attachment and then take shelter of God.

Understanding

In a personal form, Lord is also likely to go through janma, mrityu, jara, vyadhi. And that is not acceptable. He is something beyond this form and hence not personal. They also feel that if Lord is personal, after death, they will have to take birth again in this personal form. And hence they will have to go through all the pain again. It is easier for them to believe in that God is impersonal and after death they will just merge into it, and gain happiness / peace.

People are angry about any form of spiritual life because they have heard multiple different conflicting concepts of spiritual identity. And they are too involved in material life and sense gratification to understand the important of spiritual advancement. They feel spirituality is limiting and their freedom to enjoy will be curtailed. They want to do things that's within their comfort zone. Anything that feels uncomfortable or challenging the knowledge and notions acquired over multiple lifetimes  makes people angry.

To get free from these three stages of the material concept of life, one has to take complete shelter of the Lord, guided by the bona fide spiritual master, and follow the disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life. Ultimately reach the last stage of devotional life - bhava or prema - which is transcendental love of Godhead.

The Nine Stages of Bhakti Yoga
1. sraddha: faith
2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees
3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service
4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments
5. nistha: steadiness
6. ruci: taste
7. asakti: attachment
8. bhava: 99% love - developing the feeling
9. prema: pure love for Krsna (madhurya-rasa - Radha / Gopi / Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) - being in love

Bhava is 99% devotion and 1% material, while Prema Bhava is 100% pure love. Symptoms of Prema Bhava -

Analogy - raw/green mango is like Bhava, while a ripe mango is like Prema Bhava.

Application
Are you convinced that God or Krishna is a person and that attaining love of Krishna is the highest perfection of life? Share your realizations on what you look forward to by advancing in Krishna consciousness.

19th March, 2022

Discovery

Jeevere swaroop hoye, Krishnere nitya-das.

Understanding

Application

16th April, 2022

Discovery

3 stages of manifestation (creation of material world) - Pradhana (unmanifested material nature) --> Maha-tattva --> Prakriti

Pradhana / Shakti / Durga is glanced upon by Krishna, which (glance) is called Shambhu, impregnating Shakti (Pradhan) to get it ready to birth living entities. Hence Shambhu and Durga are considered our parents in the material world.

Shambhu, Sadashiva (lives in spiritual world) and Rudra are 3 different forms of Shiva. And most commonly worship Lord Rudra, assuming him same as Shiva.

Understanding

Application