From Brazil .
My dear devotees .
Receive all my affection today .
I want to share a few words with you about the importance of spiritual assessment.
I am very happy because the Lord let me go back to Brazil . I first came to this country 38 years ago, also on a flight from Caracas to Sao Paulo. The same destination, the same trip. Thirty eight years ago I came to Brazil, a world completely unknown to me. Of course, the world of the divine plans of Krishna are always very difficult to understand. Until yesterday I did not know that Krishna also worked with TAM airlines and that cancellations are done without authorization and in secret :)
The day when I arrived at Caracas airport to travel to Brazil I was looking for the TAM airline to embark, but it was nowhere to be seen, nobody knew anything and I was worried, thinking, "how is it possible, I have a flight? " And after 2 hours of research I found out that my flight had been canceled two months ago, without any warning. Well, then I thought : What am I doing here? I was worried and did not have the slightest idea what was going on, I knew that Brazil had an organized program at the Aclimacao park. I thought, "What am I going to do now? " But it was dark at the airport in Caracas. I was even a little angry because they had not confirmed the flight. You're always looking for a culprit, you never think that it is you who is at fault, rather one thinks that you are innocent and the others are bad. Anyways I accepted and thought, " Krishna, it is what You want" then, after two hours I was told I could travel the next day.
At some point I thought they were going to cancel everything and I had to stay in Caracas, but eventually it resulted in just another day in the city. I did not know, but the next day there was a meeting of more than 100,000 people who were making a statement to protect Mother Nature. I had forgotten about this, but since we were there we participate in the event and in fact it was a very important meeting. Practically the most important day of the existence of our movement in Venezuela, which ended with a meeting between the President of the country, the Cabinet Ministers of the Government and the devotees. If I had known that this would happen, I would have canceled the previous flight myself, but Krishna did. Krishna does everything, He even worries about irregularities. I was told that we were invited to participate in this event, but I did not know that the government and the independent groups would also be present. It was a very important meeting.
The next day I was suppose to travel and so I returned to the airport and everything was normal again, TAM existed. I wanted to share this because it was totally a plan of Krishna. From the beginning to the end. Flight canceled alongside a disappeared airline to public relations with the Government of Venezuela. Only God knows how he will use us. Venezuela is the first government that openly declared it self as an environmentalist country, therefore our responsibility to that is done by the Spoon Revolution and the World Conscious Pact.
Many things happened that day, a rally with 100,000 people, 5 hours of very auspicious harinaza. We were very well received by all of them, they could not believe what we were doing. Everyone carried signs of protest, but nobody had music, just us. That is the gift of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who always makes things better. Behind us was a large group of 500 people with slogans, they at one point got tired and came to me and said, " You go, you sing and all of us will also sing" So we did a kirtan with 500 voices. It was great, it was the first time I sang, but they did very well. That is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
When we make a fair comparison of the things that the world offers, we realize that the overall situation is always the same: aggression, violence and sadness.
Working in the mail: sad,
Working in the military: sad,
Working in Government: sad,
Working in trade selling things to the capitalists: very sad
Working in a factory making shoes: very sad.
So honestly, most people are unhappy with their work, but they have no choice. They have to do that to eat ... but the result of all this is that the world remains sad, no dancing, no singing, no smiles. In the Quran God says he who make others smile goes to Heaven. Do you understand?
It is an interesting topic because almost no one is smiling because no one has a reason to smile. When they get home they only fight with their wife or husband. No smile. When they see their children they do not smile. It's really very sad. But thankfully, the other side is Krishna Consciousness, where devotees rise early for mangal arati to dance and sing. Early in the morning they take a bath, come into contact with water who is Krishna Himself, a luxury. They cleanse themselves from their dream, fantastic. Then they put clean clothes, another luxury .
Devotees wear clean clothes every day, that's a real treat. Think of the farmers, for example, they never have clean clothes, they have to use the same clothes forever. Then the devotees sacredly decorate their body with tilaka. A devotee has time to consecrate his body. Another luxury. "Om Kesavaya namah Om Narayanaya namah ..." So, every step you are remembering how God is protecting your body, that is beauty! Another luxury.
So mangal arati begins and the devotee receives the darshan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is not just a luxury. That's the greatest causeless mercy. At 5 am, every day, you can have an audience with God Himself!
Normally it is not very easy to get an audience with the governor of the city . No one is going to say " I'll see him tomorrow " ... you may never get to see him that way. However, when one goes to mangal arati one receives mercy daily... I do not understand very well as there are people who prefer to avoid it. Perhaps their mind is a little sick, or there is a lack of faith. Well they are missing the opportunity of having personal audience with God. Sure, it happens that when you have something every day you no longer find it very special ... but that does not mean it ceases to be wonderful. I had to wait almost a year to receive the darshan of Gandharvika Giridhari. Long time! And you have it every day.
Morning darshan is a tremendous luxury, what a mercy ! And what do the devotees to be thankful for such darshan of the Lord? They offer all the elements of His own creation. The pujari offers all these energies with love, with love, with affection and with care for my Lord. Krishna gives you, you give it to Krishna ... And so, again and again, Krishna gives you, you give it to Krishna. You offer to the Lord and then the Lord gives His remnants. One gets the fire, the water touches our heads ... everything is mercy.
In Krishna Consciousness everything amazing. Being a monk is a great mercy. It is also a mercy to be a real grhasta of Krishna, a grhasta raising her children is something very special and auspicious. Being a monk living in the temple, a brahmacari, a vishnupriya is a unique opportunity. You have to understand the essence to capture the spiritual beauty that signifies all this.
It's amazing that we can live in the monastery of God. The temple of God where one can get up early, where you can devote your body, which can have the darshan of the Lord, which can be in the kirtan and chanting with the devotees and which can then glorify all Vaishnavas, the holy places and listen to scripture, amazing. That is the meditation of devotees who offer their hearts at the feet of the pure Vaishnava . That's the life of the devotees, to remember Krishna .
Krishna Consciousness is a process of essence. Maybe in a way things are done differently in some places, but the essence is always the same: try to please Krishna and His devotees. One has to have the flexibility to understand the different ways in which Krishna is manifested in the life of the devotee. Krishna's things are special, and they are not necessarily the way we want them to be.
I pray that each of you can deepen your spiritual life and appreciate all that has been given to you and that you can feel a strong commitment in service to Srila Prabhupada.
This is the message I wanted to share today.
Jay Srila Prabhupada!
Your always wisher,
B. A. Swami Paramadvaiti
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta reality. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta reality. Mostrar todas las entradas
The temple should run like a symphony. 3/11/13 From India.
Today's message comes straight from my heart and I want to share it with you all. It's a personal opinion which I will try to explain in a poetic way .
What I want to convey today is related to the expertise of the orchestra conductor. One way or another, all things in life should be conducted in a way that it all ends up being harmonious. Now I will explain something in reference to our own preaching activities .
The sheet music is written and should be read as that defined score, but they still need an orchestra conductor, a leader who put his own style and can take the full orchestra to a harmonious result . A preacher, for example, should always speak in a way that encourages people to delve into the meaning of what they are saying.
An Inbound Yoga teacher , for example, should lead students in such a way that excites them to maintain themselves according to their own qualities and make them stay connected with Paramatma . In other words, the conductor must guide people to an intense joy for what they are doing . When you conduct something it must be done in a very harmonious and satisfying manner.
If we apply this same concept in the temple istagostis we will see that the president is able to allow each member of the ashram to feel as a valuable part of the orchestra. The temple should be ran like a symphony : the kitchen should be tuned, the reception should be tuned, volunteers must be tuned, the online promotion department must be tuned, etc. . The directing of a temple is like that of conducting a symphony. Sometimes even in the orchestra the conductor makes different members perform a "solo". A skilled leader will always bring others to their best potential. That also applies within music, dance, architecture, engineering, in all aspects. The ability to combine and harmonize the different elements and personalities is an art. Leading a spiritual community requires art, collection , preaching , music, sitting together to share, study, cooking, etc. . There are many elements to consider. The same applies to grhasta families.
We should never do things based on fear, on the contrary, we must increase the spiritual growth of each of the members of the community. A good leader is always ready to share with others . I myself consider a leader to also be one who is also trying to learn how to become a good one, so I think that communication is one of the most important things to keep alive. The failure of a leader is his limited capacity in communication, for example, now I have to communicate with all those who will remain in India for six months, I must communicate a plan to each of them and tell them what area in they will develop in.
Here in Vrinda Kunja we are committed to doing aratik nightly in Brahma Kunda, it is our responsibility and as the leader of the temple in giving others their delegated responsibilities so that everything is taken care of the way it should be and for that you need to be clear in what has to be done.
Our spiritual master , Srila Prabhupada was an excellent leader who managed to do amazing things in a few years. He is the perfect example of a leader. I insist that the main theme for a good leader is communication and for that we must be practical and have everything neatly annotated on lists with tasks to delegate to others. Do not rely on our short memory. My job as a leader is to transfer the responsibility of each department to the different leaders of those departments and who will get things done, and the symphony can get moving .
When you're a leader and your actions influence others you must be very careful with them and never discourage anyone. The leader's performance should be organized so that everyone is encouraged to participate and that everything flows smoothly. Everything must be in place and function properly. For each activity there is a science that is behind it defining how it should be done, and the number one rule is that no one should ever be unhappy. That's the tip of Krishna Consciousness .
Are you going to pass or shall we do that here?
Now, to be a good leader one should also stand out being transparent. A good leader should be honest, loving and trustworthy to be able to lead a spiritual symphony .
To become a good leader you have to be very aware of all the things you have to do to qualify yourself as such : become an expert in all areas and then lead others in the symphony. We have to take responsibility, without liability nothing will manifest. If we accept in becoming leaders we must know what that means so we can become efficient managers and implement our service. And if we make mistakes, we must be humble enough to apologize for them.
To become a good leader one should also be a good crier,someone who cries for mercy, a beggar of love. In other words, conducting the symphony of a spiritual family is a big task and one can not do any nonsense, it is not something you're going to be able to give up tomorrow, it is for life ... and never let anyone fall, never let anyone feel bad. And if you ever let someone down humbly beg for forgiveness. But never become a scoundrel who is unmoved by anything.
Responsibility and accountability at every level of life in which you are a leader, in a temple, in the family, at the Academy of yoga, in preaching, vegetarian programs ... in any area in which you develop, always taking on more responsibility and serving others, without thinking that it is yourself who gets things done.
Each of us has a symphony to lead.
A leader has the lives of others in their care, so they have to be very responsible and if not a very experienced leader, then you should lead slowly and with great care. A leader must consider many aspects when leading. Also, we must take into account many details to become good leader.
Your always well-wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti .
What I want to convey today is related to the expertise of the orchestra conductor. One way or another, all things in life should be conducted in a way that it all ends up being harmonious. Now I will explain something in reference to our own preaching activities .
The sheet music is written and should be read as that defined score, but they still need an orchestra conductor, a leader who put his own style and can take the full orchestra to a harmonious result . A preacher, for example, should always speak in a way that encourages people to delve into the meaning of what they are saying.
An Inbound Yoga teacher , for example, should lead students in such a way that excites them to maintain themselves according to their own qualities and make them stay connected with Paramatma . In other words, the conductor must guide people to an intense joy for what they are doing . When you conduct something it must be done in a very harmonious and satisfying manner.
If we apply this same concept in the temple istagostis we will see that the president is able to allow each member of the ashram to feel as a valuable part of the orchestra. The temple should be ran like a symphony : the kitchen should be tuned, the reception should be tuned, volunteers must be tuned, the online promotion department must be tuned, etc. . The directing of a temple is like that of conducting a symphony. Sometimes even in the orchestra the conductor makes different members perform a "solo". A skilled leader will always bring others to their best potential. That also applies within music, dance, architecture, engineering, in all aspects. The ability to combine and harmonize the different elements and personalities is an art. Leading a spiritual community requires art, collection , preaching , music, sitting together to share, study, cooking, etc. . There are many elements to consider. The same applies to grhasta families.
We should never do things based on fear, on the contrary, we must increase the spiritual growth of each of the members of the community. A good leader is always ready to share with others . I myself consider a leader to also be one who is also trying to learn how to become a good one, so I think that communication is one of the most important things to keep alive. The failure of a leader is his limited capacity in communication, for example, now I have to communicate with all those who will remain in India for six months, I must communicate a plan to each of them and tell them what area in they will develop in.
Here in Vrinda Kunja we are committed to doing aratik nightly in Brahma Kunda, it is our responsibility and as the leader of the temple in giving others their delegated responsibilities so that everything is taken care of the way it should be and for that you need to be clear in what has to be done.
Our spiritual master , Srila Prabhupada was an excellent leader who managed to do amazing things in a few years. He is the perfect example of a leader. I insist that the main theme for a good leader is communication and for that we must be practical and have everything neatly annotated on lists with tasks to delegate to others. Do not rely on our short memory. My job as a leader is to transfer the responsibility of each department to the different leaders of those departments and who will get things done, and the symphony can get moving .
When you're a leader and your actions influence others you must be very careful with them and never discourage anyone. The leader's performance should be organized so that everyone is encouraged to participate and that everything flows smoothly. Everything must be in place and function properly. For each activity there is a science that is behind it defining how it should be done, and the number one rule is that no one should ever be unhappy. That's the tip of Krishna Consciousness .
Are you going to pass or shall we do that here?
Now, to be a good leader one should also stand out being transparent. A good leader should be honest, loving and trustworthy to be able to lead a spiritual symphony .
To become a good leader you have to be very aware of all the things you have to do to qualify yourself as such : become an expert in all areas and then lead others in the symphony. We have to take responsibility, without liability nothing will manifest. If we accept in becoming leaders we must know what that means so we can become efficient managers and implement our service. And if we make mistakes, we must be humble enough to apologize for them.
To become a good leader one should also be a good crier,someone who cries for mercy, a beggar of love. In other words, conducting the symphony of a spiritual family is a big task and one can not do any nonsense, it is not something you're going to be able to give up tomorrow, it is for life ... and never let anyone fall, never let anyone feel bad. And if you ever let someone down humbly beg for forgiveness. But never become a scoundrel who is unmoved by anything.
Responsibility and accountability at every level of life in which you are a leader, in a temple, in the family, at the Academy of yoga, in preaching, vegetarian programs ... in any area in which you develop, always taking on more responsibility and serving others, without thinking that it is yourself who gets things done.
Each of us has a symphony to lead.
A leader has the lives of others in their care, so they have to be very responsible and if not a very experienced leader, then you should lead slowly and with great care. A leader must consider many aspects when leading. Also, we must take into account many details to become good leader.
Your always well-wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti .
The importance of Bhakti Yoga. From Mexico 08/18/13
Conference.
My dear devotees
Accept my love from Mexico
Today I want to talk about the importance of Bhakti Yoga above any
process.
For a person who is just approaching these transcendental concepts,
the science of astrology can help you greatly, for it seeks to decipher the
karma of the people, confirming that there is reincarnation and that every
action we take has an effect.
The level of detail that can be achieved with astrology is
impressive, one can know up to the last point of life. So astrology,
cosmology,seeks to interpret mathematically each tone that moves in the
universe. It may seem as an exaggeration, but in quantum physics one is led to
the same absolute conclusion of the cosmos, so scientists can not deny that all
that they monitor and analyze of situations have an origin that goes far beyond
this small birth we have. Everything has a reason and influence. If you are
Mexican or Guatemalan, if you're rich or poor. All this has a reason and
influence.
In the way that karma works in this world is very difficult to
understand, but the fact that it works and the understanding of the natural law
of karma gives us faith in the Infinite. If this knowledge is not enough for
someone to develop faith in the Infinite, then that person does not deserve
such faith. That vision of faith is not cheap. It is the spiritual vision
which can help one understand the mysticism of existence. If we want to
root it from a materialistic point of view, we can focus from the quantum
physics aspect, from cosmological analysis and it becomes very interesting that
rational science and mysticism meet and are able to give explanations to each
other. It is a paradigm that has emerged in recent times and has not yet been
acknowledged openly. Why?:
-Because the materialists have a hard time admitting to mistake
and change, it means recognizing that they have been wrong and that is not
allowed by their false ego which covers everything. We do not want to accept
that we were wrong or that materialistic teachings are wrong. Materialism wants
to ensure happiness, but it only sells illusion. However it is so simple to
check one's very experience to the extent that one becomes spiritualized since
life becomes happier, but materialistic life materializes suffering only.
The Ashram life of Bhakti Yoga is wonderful. It is an
example of spiritualization and happiness. It is very beautiful, full of
discipline and smiles because people feel happy. It is an unparalleled
happiness which is obtained only by the infinite mercy that allows us to
recognize our true identity. This happiness to recognize our true identity can
be illustrated as follows: Imagine that you are very, very poor, have no money,
no possessions but a small lottery to live off of. So crying is there, having
nothing to eat, and one day you start to dig in the ground and find a wonderful
treasure filled with gold and precious stones ... immediately you are overcome
with joy, no more need or suffering from hunger, and you want to dance out of
so much joy. Of course, the joy of knowing our true identity is much deeper,
but it's like finding a wonderful treasure. The treasure that you have been
looking for all your life.
The Vaishnavas who follow the process of bhakti-yoga come to the
Ashrams to come together in their practice of sadhana-bhakti and are very
happy. They discover that the gift they have received is more valuable than all
the gold and precious stones in the world. That knowing their spiritual
identity is the real treasure, which goes beyond any material treasure. Well,
material treasures really do not exist since there are only illusions. Why?
-Because if you have a material treasure you have two permanent
problems: you're always in anxiety over the fear of losing your wealth
and there is always very envious people around you. That is not happiness. It's
just happiness in illusion and in reality it is suffering.
Our eternal nature is the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is the
intrinsic nature of the soul, but because of the material conditioning, we
forget it and look in the wrong places.
Some think that they will find happiness in material possessions.
Others become intoxicated to "get happy", but again, they only engage
in more and more suffering ... becoming increasingly despondent, becoming
addicted to substances that take away the memory, will, and only cause
depression. Alcohol and drugs are the main causes of depression, not happiness.
Illicit sex does not give happiness. People are guided by the gratification of
the senses, they become enthusiastic to satisfy them so they work in order to
indulge themselves. They base their human relations in the gratification they
can obtain from others and thus this gives rise to their minds so that they do
everything they can think of. But what can you expect from a lustful mind?
Nothing good comes of it.
Someone has a girlfriend who appreciates and rewards her to the
extent that she allows you to do everything you want. And worse, you are proud
of your girlfriend and the gratification that comes. But sex is not a permanent
happiness it is only temporary pleasure and then comes the account of that
pleasure. The girlfriend who has been gratifying you now really wants marriage
and then want to control the man and not only him, but also his economy. So
then they want a credit card, buy them "stuff", etc.., Etc.., Etc..
A lustful mind is not happy, rather they only receive a greater
nature of exploitation and seek it at a higher luxury. The alleged "sex
brings happiness" at the end leaves you without economic freedom. It is a
real fraud. The opposite of illicit sex is spiritual family. That means that,
despite a couple having material bodies, all they do is run to the center, to
God, and together they work to raise a family which is offered to God. A
spiritual family has protected children which are led to happiness by their
parents like real gurus. That's very nice, that's happiness.
I can give more examples of false happiness of materialism:
-The capitalist mafia industries have organized everything so well
in order to exploit the poor in the best way. So the rich with anonymous
consortia do not have to pay taxes, while the poor are exploited to pay. But
that does not give happiness. The world of betrayal and exploitation can not
give happiness. It's just a temporary illusion. That is the material world ...
The prison of the material world. But you can get out of here
following trusting people and you becoming a trust worthy person as well.
What God gives is linked to happiness, it belongs to all and for all and
confidence emerges naturally from it. But when it is something material it will
only deliver suffering, and generates betrayal and distrust. The material world
can not give happiness, it is a hell, there is nothing further from happiness
than material illusion. Fortunately there are spiritual sanctuaries within the
material world. Places where we can become trusted people working for a common
good. Sites where we work together for maintenance and of which everyone can
take part in, without exception, a house with the door open to all who wish to
serve and strive for the welfare of all souls.
In the Ashram there is no illicit enrichment, all that is there in
the temple belongs to everyone and to Krsna. If you are devoted then you become
responsible for taking care of things and if you are not a devotee of Krsna,
then you will become one, for we are here to make devotees. Devotees do not
seek illicit enrichment, like Pariksit prabhu who has been here in Mexico with me for 20 years and never sought
illicit enrichment, he came from Costa Rica
A few days ago in Bolivia Bolivia
Devotees give everything of what they get, because they know that
we are all children of God and that the last owner of all is God Himself. And
rather the child should behave in such a manner that he or she honors and
satisfies their father. True happiness is God's side, you want to be happy you
must go to God. Lord Krsna says very clearly that from the highest planet in
the material world to the lowest there is only misery. But with God there is
never misery, there is only happiness and love. The devotees, servants of God
provide links to eternity. Real links. The spiritual world to which the soul belongs
to is beyond karmic constellations. If you want to get to that spiritual
world you have to start acting like if you're a member of that world.
Devotion to God, bhakti-yoga is the process in which one
subscribes to the transcendental cosmic amnesty to the absolute mercy. The
material world causes such a tremendous addiction to illusion that it is almost
impossible to get out of it, only those who take refuge in God can escape this
world of organized fraud. Man must honor their special gift of life and develop
spiritual discernment, the knowledge of the true spiritual identity which we
have lost conscious awareness of due to contact with the material world. So our
spiritual side is anesthetized, but we must work to revive that dormant state.
Karmic life has no happiness, it's just mathematical logic: everything you do
you will receive it back, period.
Everything that happens is because it has to happen, because there
is a reason behind it. So there is nothing to fear, the negative that has come
is there because it is part of the law of action and reaction. But the
important thing is to that we do not live only for the astrological details of
our past, no. The important thing is the goal, the goal that we are walking
towards. That is essential and our goal is to awaken our true spiritual
identity, back to our origin. That is the lesson that my dear Srila Prabhupada
gave us in detail.
And today, this morning we have only reviewed the abc's of that
divine transcendental teaching. That's my message for today, I thank each of
you for joining me for another day and the nice service that you all do in the
family of Srila Prabhupada.
I leave you with my love from Mexico
The land
of Radha Madhava
Jay Srila Prabhupada!
Your always well wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.
Why Do We Suffer? 8/11/13 From Germany
My dear devotees and friends.
Many times in life we meditate deeply and for a long time about the purpose of life. We strive according to what others expect of us: our parents have a concept about us, family and children have different concepts and expectations, the government and society is also another.
The world of consumption and competition for material achievements wants to convince us that the purpose of our life is to become a materialistic winner. Thus, whenever there are obstacles that exist for this gain we feel discouraged and frustrated or worse, we get jealous when someone has had a knack for getting things ... or they've already accomplished it just for the fact of being born in a wealthy family, while you, with limited wages know not how to satisfy every desire you have. Worse still is the position of the person with money, that despite having everything materially, still feels dissatisfied, without finding something in life worthwhile. This reaches such an extent that we realize that many of the people who commit suicide are people who materially speaking had everything they needed and more, while the simple and poor people do not have these tendencies, they have to worry about working to feed themselves.
We have to understand that material goods are only reexaminations of life. They are not the essence of life, but rather they come to test us. The purpose of life is to make positive and beautiful work that enriches existence. Works that are based on love and affection for all living entities and directed as an offering to God as the ultimate center of all. Works that are beautiful, positive, supported by our words and thoughts.
The purpose of life is to become an agent of solution of the problems we face today. Always tolerating those who may not be able to change . Only through the mercy of God can we acquire the proper discernment to distinguish between good and evil, and gain the enthusiasm and courage to move forward in spite of the evidence that comes to test us.
Determination is very important. The decision to become an agent of change is that everyone around you will benefit from their own efforts and achievements. All of us have received the wonderful opportunity to have a human body where we can be creative and positive. Just as we are wonderful beings we should be doing wonderful things. We always try to act positively within our means. Act in such a way that you are trying to make people those who surround you in your life happy. But, please, this happiness must be related to the real purpose of life, with growth and spiritual realization. It is not material happiness. For life is a gift and human life is an even more special gift. This life was given to us for the Greater Good. Many people can take life. But only the Supreme Benefactor can take it away.
The Lord is always present and close to us, always watching and is always manifested in different ways, but we can not see it. One of these ways is through the Universal Mother, Mother Nature, Mother Earth, the Cosmic Mother, this beautiful mother who wants to see his sons successful in doing wonderful and positive things. Mother Nature is satisfied when she sees her children develop positively in relation to their surroundings, while the Original Father expects those same sons and daughters to return to their eternal home. It has been established by all the great sages of different traditions.
Our stay in this temporary world may expire at any time and when finished, we have to take that bag we've been accumulating over a lifetime (the reactions of our actions) and with it define which is our next destination. The issue is that if your bag is full of things that accumulate undesirable reactions to negative actions, we will certainly go into deplorable states. This is not a threat or an attempt to instill fear but a realistic view of life. And we need that vision to become realistic people to be able to put into practice this wisdom. As a student who does not devote time to learning and study of what he is in the process of learning, it is impossible to pass to the next level ... if we do not put enough effort in positive living according to the ancient wisdom, we can not move forward on the spiritual path.
When Holy Scripture speaks of the lower levels to which our negative actions can take us to, it is a profound wake-up call to take action on the matter and become serious practitioners. God will never ask for something that we will not be able to do, because God is the supreme Well-wisher. And it is the inner voice, the inner teacher, who will guide us towards that which is positive and wonderful, away from all the negative that only leads to lower levels of life. But we must give importance to that inner voice above the voice of the mind, the voice of material desires, the voice of the false ego, because they are always in conflict with the voice of the teacher within.
The inner voice brings us the enthusiasm to make things beautiful and well done, while the mind always wants to take us to enjoy at all costs, even at the expense of exploiting others, telling us not to care about the consequences of our actions. But not so ... I said before: Every action always brings an equal and opposite reaction. That is Universal Law. So, we got what we sow: As you sow you reap. Your actions are planting your next state. So What if I have done evil deeds or I have deviated from the purpose of life? The answer is:
-Take shelter in mercy. It is the transcendental department of mercy that can save us if we are convinced of wanting to change. We need to beg the cosmic divinity for mercy and we must be deeply repentant of our wrong actions. Only the penitent has option to enter the department of mercy. The repentant person even has a chance to compensate all those who they have made suffer because of their own wrongful actions. To those who can not compensate for their wrongdoing have already left this world, such as the thousands of animals that have been killed just for our personal consumption and selfishness but we can reclaim them by becoming activists protecting animals and nature. An advocate of animal habitats, rivers and mountains that are all sacred. Someone who ceases to be a consumer of everything that causes oppression of the Holy Mother.
How much unconscious exploitation humans have committed against their peers, against nature and animals. Ignorant human beings do not realize that all these offenses against the Holy Mother Nature is self-condemnation and the reason for their unhappiness. That illusion operator disconnects us from the purpose of life. One rather must become the change they want to see.
Many things must be changed and adapted to become a positive agent. We must begin to cultivate the garden of the heart. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Spiritual life is not so cheap, it is not a simple conformism that only seeks the "relaxation" aspect of life and then one can enter "other worlds" that only keep us from reality, while outside everything is a total mess and we are unable to take any part in the matter, but rather become part of the problem, then we are still exploiting others and the environment without reason. Spiritual life is not about escape, but about service, to care for others. Dedication is essential for the welfare of all beings.
Jay Srila Prabhupada
Your always well wisher,
Srila BA Paramadvaiti
Many times in life we meditate deeply and for a long time about the purpose of life. We strive according to what others expect of us: our parents have a concept about us, family and children have different concepts and expectations, the government and society is also another.
The world of consumption and competition for material achievements wants to convince us that the purpose of our life is to become a materialistic winner. Thus, whenever there are obstacles that exist for this gain we feel discouraged and frustrated or worse, we get jealous when someone has had a knack for getting things ... or they've already accomplished it just for the fact of being born in a wealthy family, while you, with limited wages know not how to satisfy every desire you have. Worse still is the position of the person with money, that despite having everything materially, still feels dissatisfied, without finding something in life worthwhile. This reaches such an extent that we realize that many of the people who commit suicide are people who materially speaking had everything they needed and more, while the simple and poor people do not have these tendencies, they have to worry about working to feed themselves.
We have to understand that material goods are only reexaminations of life. They are not the essence of life, but rather they come to test us. The purpose of life is to make positive and beautiful work that enriches existence. Works that are based on love and affection for all living entities and directed as an offering to God as the ultimate center of all. Works that are beautiful, positive, supported by our words and thoughts.
The purpose of life is to become an agent of solution of the problems we face today. Always tolerating those who may not be able to change . Only through the mercy of God can we acquire the proper discernment to distinguish between good and evil, and gain the enthusiasm and courage to move forward in spite of the evidence that comes to test us.
Determination is very important. The decision to become an agent of change is that everyone around you will benefit from their own efforts and achievements. All of us have received the wonderful opportunity to have a human body where we can be creative and positive. Just as we are wonderful beings we should be doing wonderful things. We always try to act positively within our means. Act in such a way that you are trying to make people those who surround you in your life happy. But, please, this happiness must be related to the real purpose of life, with growth and spiritual realization. It is not material happiness. For life is a gift and human life is an even more special gift. This life was given to us for the Greater Good. Many people can take life. But only the Supreme Benefactor can take it away.
The Lord is always present and close to us, always watching and is always manifested in different ways, but we can not see it. One of these ways is through the Universal Mother, Mother Nature, Mother Earth, the Cosmic Mother, this beautiful mother who wants to see his sons successful in doing wonderful and positive things. Mother Nature is satisfied when she sees her children develop positively in relation to their surroundings, while the Original Father expects those same sons and daughters to return to their eternal home. It has been established by all the great sages of different traditions.
Our stay in this temporary world may expire at any time and when finished, we have to take that bag we've been accumulating over a lifetime (the reactions of our actions) and with it define which is our next destination. The issue is that if your bag is full of things that accumulate undesirable reactions to negative actions, we will certainly go into deplorable states. This is not a threat or an attempt to instill fear but a realistic view of life. And we need that vision to become realistic people to be able to put into practice this wisdom. As a student who does not devote time to learning and study of what he is in the process of learning, it is impossible to pass to the next level ... if we do not put enough effort in positive living according to the ancient wisdom, we can not move forward on the spiritual path.
When Holy Scripture speaks of the lower levels to which our negative actions can take us to, it is a profound wake-up call to take action on the matter and become serious practitioners. God will never ask for something that we will not be able to do, because God is the supreme Well-wisher. And it is the inner voice, the inner teacher, who will guide us towards that which is positive and wonderful, away from all the negative that only leads to lower levels of life. But we must give importance to that inner voice above the voice of the mind, the voice of material desires, the voice of the false ego, because they are always in conflict with the voice of the teacher within.
The inner voice brings us the enthusiasm to make things beautiful and well done, while the mind always wants to take us to enjoy at all costs, even at the expense of exploiting others, telling us not to care about the consequences of our actions. But not so ... I said before: Every action always brings an equal and opposite reaction. That is Universal Law. So, we got what we sow: As you sow you reap. Your actions are planting your next state. So What if I have done evil deeds or I have deviated from the purpose of life? The answer is:
-Take shelter in mercy. It is the transcendental department of mercy that can save us if we are convinced of wanting to change. We need to beg the cosmic divinity for mercy and we must be deeply repentant of our wrong actions. Only the penitent has option to enter the department of mercy. The repentant person even has a chance to compensate all those who they have made suffer because of their own wrongful actions. To those who can not compensate for their wrongdoing have already left this world, such as the thousands of animals that have been killed just for our personal consumption and selfishness but we can reclaim them by becoming activists protecting animals and nature. An advocate of animal habitats, rivers and mountains that are all sacred. Someone who ceases to be a consumer of everything that causes oppression of the Holy Mother.
How much unconscious exploitation humans have committed against their peers, against nature and animals. Ignorant human beings do not realize that all these offenses against the Holy Mother Nature is self-condemnation and the reason for their unhappiness. That illusion operator disconnects us from the purpose of life. One rather must become the change they want to see.
Many things must be changed and adapted to become a positive agent. We must begin to cultivate the garden of the heart. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Spiritual life is not so cheap, it is not a simple conformism that only seeks the "relaxation" aspect of life and then one can enter "other worlds" that only keep us from reality, while outside everything is a total mess and we are unable to take any part in the matter, but rather become part of the problem, then we are still exploiting others and the environment without reason. Spiritual life is not about escape, but about service, to care for others. Dedication is essential for the welfare of all beings.
Jay Srila Prabhupada
Your always well wisher,
Srila BA Paramadvaiti
Making our life useful so that service becomes a reality 4/7/13 From Spain
Dear devotees
Receive all my love today ...
Today I want to talk about the reality of life. In our practical life we experience how the sankirtan movement takes effect, as the chanting of the Holy Names is a reality in itself ... and the presence of each of you today in this chat is a reality. You are all part of this reality. The special service that each of you perform so beautifully is a reality and going to another level, we sing a bhajan today remembering Narada Muni singing the glories of Sri Radha and Krishna and all those around such as Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, are also a reality ... of course it is a reality that we fail to perceive completely, but still, those are very elevated entities, jivas are also living their reality.
We are all jivas living a reality. Nothing is impossible, any of you can become a Brahma or Shiva in one of your lives ... Anything can happen. But the essence behind it all is to know what we are really doing in the reality of our own lives. And to link others in serving Krishna and the devotees is another reality, an artful reality :) So call us beggars of love, because we want to beg people to make Krishna Consciousness the reality of their own lives . I really love this and I love working with people who are really convinced of what they are doing or have deep feelings for the service they do. Unlike large enterprises, which have thousands of workers who do what they have to do because they get paid for it, but none of them dance with joy in their daily reality, because they only remain there for money ...
Devotees live a different reality apart from any other.A most beautiful reality. Happiness and devotion of the devotees can not be bought even with the highest bid ... We are not looking to get paid for what we do, the devotees are paid much higher ... They are in the business of mercy. And the payment they receive is even more mercy, because mercy is manifested only when there is a sincere desire for it. And as Narada Muni is dancing in ecstasy while singing the glories of Radha Raman, the creator of the world, Brahmaji also joins this dance and the destroyer of the world, Sri Shiva, also joins this ecstatic dance ... Ananta Sesa even joins this wonderful dance.
So we too can be part of this dance, because if we are connected to Krishna life completely becomes a dance of ecstasy. Without Krishna life has no ecstasy. Without spiritual idealism or service rendered, there is no real taste in life. So our life has to become the reality of intense dedication that will make us feel great pleasure and ecstasy. How to identify this ecstasy? For it is a pleasure to be here with all of you, to know with the heart, each of these wonderful people, and serving Krishna together, with you ... the ecstasy to make a magazine offering to Srila Bahktisiddhanta Sarasvati with the help of Damodarastaka dd.
Ecstasy to make and maintain Web pages for Krishna, as do members of our offices in different countries. So selflessness and full devotion in service should become the reality of our every day.
Appreciate our brothers and sisters, making them feel part of the family of Srila Prabhupada and serve alongside them, must become our reality. Caring for our Ishtadev offerings, protecting them, the organic quality and the conscious use of them and products free of animal abuse, it must become a reality. Protecting Mother Earth which is a manifestation of the Mother Supreme, reality must be active in each of us. We must prepare our lives so that, in one way or another, it becomes a tool that allows others to adhere more attachment for Krishna. That is the greatest gift we can give. That is the reality we must share with others. So, today we pray to Narada Muni, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Ananta Sesa who have faith in the holy name of the Lord to inspire our own existence.
Remember that we are in a position of constant danger that can make us forget the holy name of Krishna, as there is a natural tendency (due to illusion) to feel no attraction for him. And if we set aside chanting the holy names of Krsna our lives become miserable once again. Some might say "my life is miserable even in Krishna Consciousness." Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur wrote about it and said that sometimes it appears that life with the devotees becomes something unbearable, but the material life is even worse. Sometimes it seems as if to live with the same people in the same place would be unbearable and you want to have your own space ... But what do you do? It's these experiences that we have to go through to learn to be tolerant.Either way, apparently that which is intolerable in any detail of our spiritual life is actual nectar compared to materialistic life. In life, sometimes you may feel you cannot stand someone in particular for some half stupid reason, but that person is with you all the time, you eat and live in the same place ... There is nothing to do but endure.
Life is full of half stupid situations that disturb our happiness and our devotional practice. However so many seemingly unbearable situations that are there to help us advance spiritually. And if you have a strong position, remember it is just a service that should be offered to the feet of Srila Prabhupada, because anyone can become a temple president under any circumstances. Services are all very difficult, but no one is indispensable ... anyone can do it and become qualified. I ask you all of you who live in temple a question: Do you feel that like is worse now that what you experienced before? Someone can risk saying, what is the worst that I have lived? Or Is it indeed much better than many of the things that have happened before? In actuality, nothing is so terrible. Rather we have to concentrate and meditate on the essence of this chat:
In making our life useful so that service becomes a reality in our life.
When I was a brahmacari and I first traveled to India I did not have any outstanding service to attend to during that time of parikrama, it was a full month, during Kartik, of just parikrama and I was beginning to become desperate not having fixed services. So after parikrama ended, I quickly returned to my service area and I felt so useful. Well, being in a place and not having much to do is not a fufilling life. We can not be lazy. Laziness is boring and it is the opposite of becoming responsible. We do not want to be the cause of the problem, rather we want to contribute to the solution of a problem and often times one can not give a complete solution, but at least we try not to be part of the problem in one way or another.
With these words I leave the chat today.
I deeply appreciate all of you who, week after week, still connect through this window to receive the message that keeps us encouraged in serving Srila Prabhupada. We pray for the protection of Sri Nrsimha Dev on our path to the service of the lotus feet of Sri Radha-Krishna and the Vaishnavas.
Sri Harinam sankirtan yagna, ki jay
All glories to the assembled devotees.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Your always well wisher,
Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti
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