Philosophy has little or no meaning without proper character

Prabhupada was speaking about how there is no culture in the west as long as there is slaughtering and eating of innocent animals, Hare Krishna and this professor, she came or just PhD she was writing her thesis on how great guru’s of the west have influenced western culture, so she was asking Prabhupada, how do you think you have influenced the western culture, Prabhupada said what culture, there is no culture, where is your culture and he would not give up this idea about animal slaughtering, so finally she said swamiji I have a philosophical question for you and Prabhupada answered like a thunder bolt he said philosophy has little or no meaning without proper character.

If we want to have a society that will actually be happy united and transformed the suffering ignorant people of the world we must build our society on the foundation of proper character, that’s what vaishnavism is about, character to be trinad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari, Chaitanya Charitamrita says take this verse and put it on the string of the holy name and wear it always, humility like the grass, tolerance like the tree, offering all respects to others and expecting no respect for oneself then you could chant the name of the lord constantly, in the Siksastakam it is the progression, unless we take very seriously striving to follow these principle of trinad api sunicena and being respectful and accepting for ourselves we cannot enter into the higher stages of giving up material attachments, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye mama janmani jamanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi, then next verse I do not want wealth, I do not want beautiful women, I do not want fame and followers, I don’t even want to be great educator, I only want your devotional service birth after birth, Ainandana tanuja kinkara, to be the dust of the feet of Krsna, to actually feel ecstasy when we are chanting Krsna’s name, it cannot be done until we pass through this gate way of humility, tolerance, respect and no false prestige, this is substance if we don’t live by these principles then all our devotional service is superficial, its external , its licking the bottle of the honey and not really going inside properly , we must have proper character, when Srila Prabhupada was asked by American reporter how do I know who is your devotees?, he said they are perfect ladies and gentlemen that means good conduct.

(Radhanath Swami Lecture)

http://www.radhanathmaharaj.net/content/philosophy-without-good-charcter-has-no-meaning-radhanath-swami

Desire the worthy, not the trendy

The Bhagavad-gita (14.12) states that those predominated by passion are constantly inundated by desires to try out something new.

Our capacity to desire is our most powerful resource, second only to our capacity to access Krishna’s grace. Our desires shape our life’s direction and destination; our past desires have molded us into what we presently are and our present desires will mold us into what we will be in future.

Unfortunately, despite the defining role that desires play in our life, we often imprudently squander their power. We frequently let our desires be determined by trendiness rather than worthiness; we desire that which is praised in the current social mirror rather than  that which is prized in the eternal spiritual barometer. Consequently, we end up desiring and sweating for petty trinkets and titillations that are entirely unworthy of our spiritual sanctity and even our human dignity. This colossal waste of desires cumulates into a tragic waste of an entire lifetime, when death forces us to leave behind all that we have desired and achieved.

Gita wisdom rescues us from getting buried in the trendiness trap by raising our eyes to that which is truly worthy: our eternal loving relationship with Krishna. When we direct and focus our immense power of desire on loving and serving Krishna, then our desires become the cause of not repeated disappointment, but perennial fulfillment.

(Spiritual Scientist: Planet ISKCON by Chaitanya Charan das)

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2012/02/desires-are-powerful-let%e2%80%99s-not-waste-them/

Arrogance Of Authority

A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas , and talked with an old rancher.

He told the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs.”

The rancher said, “Okay , but don’t go in that field over there…..”, as he pointed out the location.

The DEA officer verbally exploded saying, ” Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me !”

Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.

“See this badge?! This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish…. On any land !!

No questions asked or answers given!! Have I made myself clear……do you understand ?!!”

The rancher nodded politely, apologized, and went about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officer running for his life, being chased by the rancher’s big Santa Gertrudis bull……

With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he’d sure enough get gored before he reached safety. The officer was clearly terrified.

The rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs…..

“Your badge, show him your BADGE…….. ! !”

Mood of the perfect householder in Krishna Conciousness

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has written a very nice song in which he teaches the perfect mood for householders:

‘āmāra’ bolite prabhu! āre kichu nāi
tumi-i āmāra mātra pitā-bandhu-bhāi

“O Lord, nothing further remains that may be called ‘mine.’ Father, friend, brother-You alone are all these to me.”

bandhu, dārā, suta, sutā-tava dāsī dās
sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayās

“My friends, wife, sons and daughters are now Your servants and maidservants. Whatever care I take for them is only as they are related to You.”

dhana, jana, gṛha, dāra ‘tomāra’ boliyā
rakhā kori āmi mātro sevaka hoiyā

“Declaring that my wealth, family members, home, and wife are truly Yours, I continue as a mere servant to dutifully protect them.”

tomāra kāryera tore uparjibo dhan
tomāra saṁsāre-vyaya koribo vahan

“For the purpose of Your service I will earn money and bear the expense of maintaining Your household.”

bhālo-manda nāhi jāni sevā mātro kori
tomāra saṁsāre āmi viṣaya-praharī

“I know nothing of what is good or bad; I simply render my service. I am but a watchman set to guard the properties of Your household.”

tomāra icchāya mora indriya-cālanā
śravana, darśana, ghrāna, bhojana-vāsanā

“I exercise my senses only according to Your direction, and thus I desire to hear, see, smell, and taste.”

nija-sukha lāgi’ kichu nāhi kori ār
bhakativinoda bole, tava sukha-sār

“I no longer do anything for my own pleasure. Bhaktivinode says, ‘Your pleasure is the essence of everything.’”

God has a purpose behind every problem

“Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God’s growth process for you.” (from Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren)

TRUE FACT:

When a silversmith refines silver, he holds it in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest so that all impurities can be burned away. This is what God does with us when He is refining us through problems and suffering. The silversmith has to keep his eye on the silver the entire time it is in the fire. If the silver is left a moment too long in the flames it can be destroyed. The silversmith knows that the silver is fully refined when he can see his own image reflecting in the silver.
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that you are in God’s hand and He has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

BHAGAVAN SRI KRISHNA IN MY WALLET

A small but touching story with a deep message.

A ticket collector in a train found an old worn out wallet in a compartment full of many people. He looked inside to find the name of its owner. There was no clue. All that there was in it, was some money and a picture of Bhagwan Sri Krishna. He held it up and asked, ‘Who does this wallet belong to?’

An old man said, ‘That’s my wallet, please give it to me.’ The ticket collector said, ‘You’ll have to prove that it is yours. Only then I can hand it over to you.’ The old man smiled a toothless smile and said. ‘It has a picture of Sri Krishna in it.’ The ticket collector said, ‘That is no proof; anyone can have a picture of Sri Krishna in his wallet. What is special about that? Why is your picture not there in it?’

The old man took a deep breath and said, ‘Let me tell you why my picture is not there in it. My father gave this wallet to me when I was in school. I used to get a small sum as pocket money then. I had kept a picture of my parents in it.

When I was a teenager I was greatly enamoured by my good looks. I removed my parent’s picture and put in, one of my own. I loved to see my own face and my thick black hair. Some years later, I got married. My wife was very beautiful and I loved her a lot. I replaced my own picture in this wallet with a picture of her. I spent hours gazing at her pretty face.

When my first child was born, my life started a new chapter. I shortened my working hours, to play with my baby. I went late to work and returned home early too. Obviously, my baby’s picture occupied the prized position in my wallet.’

The old man’s eyes brimmed with tears as he went on.. ‘My parents passed away many years ago. Last year my wife too left her mortal
coil. My son, my only son is too busy with his family. He has no time to look after me. All that I had ever held close to my heart is far,
far away from my reach now.

Now I have put this picture of Bhagwan Sri Krishna in my wallet. It is only now that I have realized that He is the eternal companion. He will never leave me. Alas! If only I had realized this before. If only I had loved the Lord Krishna all these years, with the same intensity as I loved my family, I would not have been so lonely today!’

The collector quietly gave the wallet to the old man. When the train stopped at the next station, the ticket collector went to the book stall at the platform and asked the salesman, ‘Please give me a small picture of Sri Krishna ? I need one to put in my wallet!’

The Question we need to ask is where is Bhagavan Sri Krishna in our lives today?
Think of it because it could make a difference to your life today and in the days to come.

Sri Krishna Song Lyrics (1/6)

निराकार ब्रह्म से न होते संतुष्ट कई, चाहते है देखना समीप अपने इष्ट को |

मूर्तियों में मूर्तिमान होके रहू विद्यमान, देता हु समाधान भक्त चित्त अतिशिष्ट को |

लाठी जो टेक टेक चलते पग एक एक, वे भी पहुच जाते है अपने निर्विष्ट को |

निराकार ध्याय या ध्याय साकार रूप, दोनों प्राप्त करते परम पद विशिष्ट को, दोनों प्राप्त करते है अपने अपने इष्ट को |

मात पिता सुत बन्धु सखा कह जोड़े लोग अनेको नाते |

बालक जान झुलाते पलना ठाकुर जानके भोग लगते |

गोकुल में गोलोक के वासी, गोपियाँ बन मेरे पीछे आते |

पार्थ सारथि बन जाता मैं, नेह के नाते निभाते निभाते |

जो मुझको जिस भाव से ध्याते वो मुझको उस रूप में पाते |

प्रेम ही भक्ति है प्रेम ही पूजा, पूर्ण समर्पण मुझको भाये |

प्रेम डगरिया चलके राही मेरी नगरिया तक  आ जाए |

प्रेम मेरे संग करने वाला, मुझ तक पहुचे मुझीमे समाये |

पूजा की विधि जाने न जाने, सेवा में निधि लाये न लाये |

आवाहन के विसर्जन के कोई मंत्र सुनाये या न सुनाये |

प्रेम ही भक्ति है प्रेम ही पूजा पूर्ण समर्पण मुझको भाये |

रूप है अनेक भले जन्म है अनेक मेरे, मुझसे मिलने में अंतर इससे न आये रे |

जो जैसा है भाव लिए भजता है पार्थ मुझे, बदले में वही भाव मुझसे भी पाए रे |

पूजा आराधना करे जो जिस रूप में, वो मेरा दर्शन उसी रूप में पाए रे |

नदियों का नीर जैसे सिन्धु में समाये ऐसे मेरा भक्त अंततः मुझ ही में समाये रे |

Always Remain Connected to Krishna!

Live like a Guest!

A monk stood in front of a mansion at midnight, and started shouting, “Is anybody there?”

The security guards rushed out and asked him as to why he was shouting. The monk told them that he wanted to spend the night in the guesthouse. The guards told him that it was not a guesthouse, but the palace of the King. But he refused to accept.

While all this commotion was going on, the King came down. When he heard what the monk had to say, he asked him the reason as to why he felt that his palace is a guesthouse. The monk asked the King, “Who was staying here before you?” The King said it was his father. The monk then asked him, “Who was staying here before him?” the King replied that it was his grandfather. The monk further asked him, “Was it your great grandfather before your grandfather?” When the King nodded in the affirmative, the monk explained, “Whoever was residing here lived his life believing himself to be the owner, when in fact he had been only a guest here. The palace in which you are living today is going to be occupied by somebody else after your death. If that be the case, if this is not a guest house, then what is it?”

When you too live this life believing yourself to be a guest, the words of the monk would prove very beneficial and you will be free from attachment with worldly things. Do make use of everything, but never let any of the things use you. Do use your mind, but let not the mind use you. Without attachment, mind can be your best friend, with attachment it can be your worst enemy. Hence, live like a guest in this world and be thankful for the hospitality provided to you.

HK

Lessons from a Mongoose — Transforming crisis to an opportunity is true wisdom

Spiritual Story by Radhanath Swami

In Kandahar, the people greeted me warmly. One man in particular, Hariz, took a special interest in me. Tall and well groomed, he was an educated man who had acquired wealth and respect in the trading business. After guiding me on a tour of Kandahar, he invited me into his spacious house.
One night while we sat on his roof-top terrace engaged in a philosophical discussion, he calmly said, “Mr.Richard, please excuse me for a brief moment, I have an obligation to attend to.“ Suddenly, he jumped up from his chair, cocked his head to the moon and began to howl like a wolf.
What was going on?
Had this distinguished gentleman gone mad?
He grabbed a long rope with a loop at the end, raced to the edge of his rooftop and hurled it down to the road. What in the world was he doing?
With rapt attention, he slowly reeled the rope in. To my amazement, he had fished up a wriggling rodent the size and shape of a ferret. I watched in wonder. This was a mongoose, which, it turned out, wandered the town by day, and each evening, responded to Hariz’s howl, by crawling into the loop of the rope.

As my friend and I resumed speaking, I felt the mongoose scaling up my back with his sharp pointed claws. He crawled under my long hair until he reached my head. There, he burrowed himself in my thick locks, making his nest, and went to sleep. Feeling his warm body deeply breathing on my head, I experienced a culture shock.
I looked at my host for help. “What do I do now?”
My friend laughed. “Mr.Richard, he found a good nest in your hair.”

My neck felt as if it were breaking from its weight. “Please take him off.”
Hariz become serious. Under the starlit night, he sipped his tea and narrowed his eyes, warning me,“There Is an ancient truth: Never wake a sleeping mongoose. The mongoose is a ferocious killer when angered. In battle, a mongoose will slay the cobra, the deadliest of serpents and symbol of death.” Hariz sipped his tea and leaned back, “If you suddenly wake him up, he may tear your head to shreds. Mr.Richard, do not even move slightly until he leaves on his own.”

Hours passed as I sat motionless, fearing for my life. That dark sleepless night in Kandahar never seemed to end. My neck throbbed with pain, but I was too terrified to move. The mongoose on my head was like a time bomb that could explode any second. I tried to console myself. Ravenous insects started biting into my scalp, obliterating these noble thoughts.
Why was this happening to me?

Feeling my vulnerability, I strained to control my emotions. Then contemplating, I tried to make sense of it all. I realized that our free will could convert a curse into a blessing or a blessing into a curse. Yes, ludicrous as it was, this mongoose may have been sent to teach me the sacred virtue of patience and forbearance. To bear difficulty and turn to God was a priceless blessing. To transform a crisis into an opportunity was true wisdom.

The rest of the night was spent in an unusual state of gratitude. Little did I know what the mongoose taught me about crisis would give me strength in the hard times that awaited me. By the time the sun finally rose, my uninvited guest had enjoyed a good six hours of sound sleep. He awoke, crawled down my back, and jumped to the floor. He then did something that moved my heart…
The mongoose stared at me with an innocent affection as if thanking me for my hospitality. Turning from me, he crawled into the loop of the rope where Hariz, who had just awakened, lowered him down to the street for another day.

HK