Essence Of Bhagavad-gita Class At Um

The Science Of SELF REALISATION A 6 Session Course on Essence of Vedas (Bhagavad Gita)

The Bhagavadgita is the main source-book on yoga and a concise summary of India's Vedic wisdom.

At the last moment before entering battle, the great warrior Arjuna begins to wonder about the real meaning of his life. Why should he fight against his friends and relatives? Why does he exist? Where is he going after death?

In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna, Arjuna's friend and spiritual master, brings His disciple from perplexity to spiritual enlightenment. In the course of doing so, Krishna concisely but definitively explains transcendental knowledge; karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, and bhakti-yoga; knowledge of the Absolute; devotional service; the three modes of material nature; the divine and demoniac natures; and much more…

Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the largestselling, most widely used edition of the Gita in the world.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction to Bhagavad Gita 2. The Science of Soul 3. Who is God? Why Different Gods, D 4. Material Nature, Time and Karma 5. Different forms of Yoga & The Topm 6. Practical Application of Bhagavad G

Session 1 Introduction to Bhagavad Gita

Humans Vs. Animals Different animals and birds have different abilities Eating, sleeping, mating and defending is common to animals and humans Human can inquire about cause of suffering and destination of life Animals act by instinct; Humans are endowed with free will

Quote ahara nidra bhaya maithunam ca samanyam etad pasubhir naranam dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso dharmena hina pasubhir samanam “The activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending are common in animals and human beings. The human beings are considered superior only when they inquire about the Absolute Truth, otherwise they are considered as good as animals.” MAHABHARAT

Why am I suffering? What is the actual destination of life?

3 Ways of Gaining Knowledge 1. Pratyaksa Praman: Empirical sensual perception We cannot obtain knowledge about the Absolute Truth through material senses because:a) Senses are imperfect b) Senses put us into illusion c) We commit mistakes d) Cheating propensity

2. Anuman Praman: Theories based on Evidence or process of inference or hypothesizing on the knowledge acquired by direct perception 3. Sabda praman: Hearing from a bonafide authority – knowledge obtained through this process is free from the four human defects

THE INFALLIBLE VEDIC WISDOM • Vedic scriptures are called as ‘Apaurusheya’ – they have no human author. • Vedas are directly word of God revealed at the time of Creation

Example of a manual • When we buy a motor cycle, we get an instruction manual explaining how to use it • Similarly, at the time of creation, God gives us the Vedic scriptures for direction on how to behave in this world

Examples • Vedas long ago revealed that the earth is round and it has 7 continents which information was not known to most of Europe even 500 years ago • Plants have life is asserted by the Vedas and is proved now to be true • Vedas present accurate predictions of great personalities who will appear in future with great detail and accuracy

2 Systems of Knowledge 1. Inductive / Ascending Method:Not accepting any authority and trying to find out truth by one’s own endeavor or speculation 2. Deductive / Descending Method:Knowing things by hearing. Not experimental knowledge.

Example of finding one’s mother • If we want to know who our father is, we have to accept our mother’s authority. If we want to test and find out ourselves, even one’s lifetime may not be sufficient.

• Similarly if we want to know something beyond our experience, beyond our experimental knowledge, beyond the activities of the senses, then we have to accept Vedas which is considered to be like a mother

Importance of Bhagavad Gita Amongst the Vedic Literatures

Bhagavad Gita A transcendental literature The summum-bonum of all Vedic literatures Can free one from all the miseries and anxieties of life, if one follows the instructions as they are For Kali yuga people who are short lived, Bhagavad Gita gives the guidance about the way of perfecting one’s life

Quote Maline mocanam pumsam jala-snanam dine dine sakrd gitamrta-snanam samsara-mala-nasanam “One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad Gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.” [Gita Mahatmya 3]

Quote Sarvopanisado gavo dogdha gopala-nandanah partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta dugdham gitamrtam mahat “This Gitopanisad, Bhagavad Gita, the essence of all the Upanisads, is just like a cow, and Lord Krsna, who is famous as a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf, and learned scholars and pure devotees are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad Gita” [Gita Mahatmya 6]

Quote ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam eko devo devaki-putra eva eko mantras tasya namani yani karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

“Let there be one scripture only, one common scripture for the whole world – Bhagavad Gita. Let there be one God for the whole world– Sri Krsna, son of Devaki. Let there be only one mantra, one hymn– the chanting of His name: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Let there be only one work– the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” [Gita Mahatmya 7]

Requirements for Understanding Bhagavad Gita

One should understand the following points before beginning to learn Bhagavad Gita 1. Bhagavad Gita is a real historical dialogue between Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Arjuna. Kuruksetra and all characters like Arjuna, Bhima and others are all real. One should not twist this truth and bring out some allegorical meaning.

2. Bhagavad Gita should be read and understood as it is coming in disciplic succession. Only this can change the hearts of people and free them from sinful activities and purify their lives 3. Krishna is the goal of Bhagavad Gita. Many editions of Bhagavad Gita have brushed aside Krsna and Arjuna and carry self-motivated interpretations.

4. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is not an ordinary or even an extra-ordinary man. Bhagavad Gita should be heard in the spirit of devotion like Arjuna.

5. Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Absolute person and it is the Absolute knowledge. It is valid all the time and never out-dated. It is not like the relative knowledge that the Scientists with imperfect senses provide. The same knowledge in Bhagavad Gita was spoken 120 million years ago also by Krsna.

6. Bhagavad Gita is a Scientific Presentation of Philosophy and true Religion. The knowledge given in Bhagavad Gita is verifiable. This is confirmed in Bhagavad Gita 9.2 ‘Pratyaksavagamam dharmyam’ by Krsna.

7. Word of Lord is as good as the Lord. One should receive this knowledge in a very respectful mood with the desire to perfect one’s life. Although the Lord is not present personally before us, his instructions are as good as the Lord.

8. There is a significance why Bhagavad Gita is spoken on a battle field. Life is a struggle just like a battle. Bhagavad Gita is for those who want to tackle the battle of life and to deliver us from the ignorance.

From Whom Should I hear Bhagavad Gita? Tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistham “In order to learn the transcendental science, one must submissively approach a bonafide spiritual master, who is coming in disciplic succession and is fixed in the Absolute Truth” [Mundaka Upanisad 1.2.12]

Why do I need a Guru? Why should I not think for myself, Why should there be one particular authority? Why should I not accept only those things that I feel is right/good and reject the rest?

• By accepting the advice and medicines from a qualified physician, we are accepting the Doctor’s authority. • As soon as we ride in a bus we are allowing ourselves to be controlled by the bus-driver • An Electrical Engineering student accepts the authority of B.L.Theraja.

• From Newspapers we understand that such and such events took place in India and America. We do not know if really those incidents took place but we accept the authority of Newspapers. • A child accepts his mother as authority and comes to know of everyone– his father, brother, etc., only through her

These are some of the Everyday Examples where we believe authorities in order to get knowledge

The senses cannot give us perfect knowledge of even this material world, then what to speak of things beyond matter i.e., spiritual subjects? No one should dare speculate about spiritual subjects, it is beyond our mind and senses.

We accept teacher in every walk of life. Why not accept the authority of a teacher in spiritual life?

Even when the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna descended to this world, he has set an example by accepting Sandipani Muni as His Guru. Even Lord Ramacandra accepted Vasistha Muni as His Guru to set an example. So even the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the source of all wisdom accepts a guru to emphasize the need of accepting a guru.

Disciplic Succession – The Guru Parampara / Sampradaya

“evam parampara-praptam’ : “This Supreme science (bhakti yoga, knowledge through devotional service) was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession.” [B.G. 4.2]

The chain of masters in which a particular guru hears and speaks the truth is called his SAMPRADAYA.

For instance, in the Brahma Sampradaya, Vedic knowledge descends from Brahma. Brahma gave this knowledge to Narada. Narada delivered to Vyasa and so on without break and even today continued by the disciples of Srila Prabhupada.

PADMA PURANA Sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah atah kalau bhavisyanti chatvarah sampradayinah “If one is not connected with a bonafide disciplic succession namely – SRI, BRAHMA, RUDRA, KUMARA sampradayas – whatever mantras he chants will not bring the desired result.”

sri-brahma-rudra-sanaka vaisnava ksiti pavana chatvaras te kalau bhavya hy utkale purusottama “Originally the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna delivered the message of Vedas to SRI (Lakshmiji), BRAHMA, RUDRA (Siva), KUMARA (Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanatkumar, Sananda).”

Ramanujam-srihi-svichakre madhvacaryam-chaturmuhash sri vishnuswamino-rudro nimbadityam chatuksanaha “This message in Kali yuga (present age) was carried on by Ramanujacarya (SRI SAMPRADAYA), Madhvacarya (BRAHMA SAMPRADAYA), Vishnuswami (Rudra Sampradaya) and Nimbarka swami (Kumara Sampradaya).”

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE GURU

Fake or Professional Gurus… • Charge fees for secret mantras giving false promises • Allow their students to disregard all the Vedic regulative austerities • Maintain that the purpose of yoga is material well being and not as a means of connecting one to God • Defy the Vedas by saying ‘I am God, You are God, Everyone is God’ and so on.

A bonafide Spiritual Master He has heard the Absolute Truth in a disciplic succession coming from Krsna Himself He has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions He should teach by personal example His senses must be controlled, must be truthful, interested in the welfare of all living beings

3 Point Check  There is also a check-and-balance system called guru-sadhu-sastra.  The teachings of guru must correspond with the teachings of Sadhu (the previous spiritual masters in the disciplic succession) which in turn, must all correspond with the direct meanings of Sastra (the scripture).  This is the proof of perfect knowledge.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE DISCIPLE

A Disciple must … • Sincerely inquire about the Topmost Longterm Goal of life which is spiritual welfare • Submissively inquire with an open mind • Have service attitude • Be a devotee of the Supreme Lord • Have faith in the Spiritual Master • Obedient to carry out the instructions of his Guru

Bhagavad Gita deals with 5 basic truths 1) Isvara – the Supreme Controller, God 2) Jiva – the living entity, a subordinate controller controlled by God 3) Material nature constituted of three qualities: sattva, rajas, tamas 4) Eternal time – an energy of Krsna 5) Karma – activities performed by a combination of 3 modes and under the control and purview of eternal time

The knowledge of Bhagavad Gita can be categorized into 3 headings: 1) Sambandha – Who is God? Who am I? What is the relationship between me and God? 2) Abhideya – process for reviving that relationship 3) Prayojana – the mature result, attainment of love of God

Session 3 Session 2

The Science of Soul back

What is Soul? • The spark of life force that activates every body • The soul is compared to a driver and the body to a vehicle • The soul makes the body appear alive and when the soul leaves the body we say the person is ‘dead’

Scientific Proof of the soul’s existence

Common Sense • When a person dies we say “He has passed away”. • Who has passed away? The body of the person is still there. • The fact is that the source of life, the soul has passed away from the body.

Intuitive Understanding We know that the real self, the ‘I’ is distinct from the body, mind and intelligence. We speak of ‘my eyes’, ‘my hands’ etc., This means these things belong to somebody, an owner.

Consciousness It is the symptom of the soul. Just like the sun spreads heat and light all around, the soul spreads consciousness all around the body, from the tip of the toes and fingers to the top of the head. It is what distinguishes a dead body from a living one It gives the proof of the soul

Near Death Experience (NDE) • Examples of findings show that the mind is independent of the material body and brain. • Out-of-body experiences shows that the person is able to observe and relate to things that are happening to his body from a perspective outside the body

Past life memories • Rigorous, unbiased researches have been carried out on past lie memories. • By thorough investigation of the details of the things described by the person, like the place and people they were associated in their last life, we get evidences of the conscious self that travels from one physical body to the next

Although the above empirical evidences confirm a conscious self present in the body, still speculative approach has its own limitations. If one has to wait for Science to provide complete understanding of the nature of the soul, and its qualities, one may probably have to wait a million years.

We can get clear information about what is life and what is death from the scriptures directly without any mental speculation.

Quote avinasi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam vinasam avyayasyasya na kascit kartum arhati “That which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one can destroy the imperishable soul.” [B.G.2.17]

Quote bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano budhir eva ca ahankara itiyam me bhinna prakrtir astadha “Earth, water, fire, ether, air, mind, intelligence and false ego are My eight separate inferior energies” [B.G.7.4] The gross body is made up of the above mentioned 5 elements and it is called as ‘Sthula sarira’.

The mind, intelligence and false ego constitute the Subtle Body. It is also called as ‘Sukshma sarira’. True ego is to understand that ‘I am spirit soul, eternal servant of Krsna’. False ego is to think in illusion that ‘I am this body’.

A conditioned soul is trapped in the Gross and Subtle bodies. One who is free from these coverings attains the spiritual world and is called a ‘Liberated Soul’.

Srila Prabhupada is such a liberated soul.

Quote Apareyam itas tv anyam Prakrtim viddhi me param Jiva bhutam maha baho Yayedam dharyate jagat

“Besides this inferior nature, there is a superior energy of Mine, that are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.” [B.G.7.5]

Both inferior energy (matter) and superior energy (spirit soul) are subordinate to the Supreme Lord.

Knowledge of the Soul The soul is Indestructible The soul is an individual (B.G.2.12, B.G.15.7) Soul has form:- sac-cid-ananda form Spirit gives form to matter which is asat-acit-nirananda

Soul is eternal (B.G. 2.20) Spirit and Matter is an incompatible combination Soul is situated in the region of the heart Soul changes bodies The size of the soul is 1/10,000 part of the tip of the hair

Am I God? The Bhagavad Gita clearly states that you are not God. Bhagavad Gita also unambiguously declares you can never become God even after liberation.

Quote Dvav imam purusam loke Ksaras caksaras eva ca Ksarah sarvani bhutani Kutastho ksara ucyate “There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every entity is fallible and in the spiritual world every entity is called infallible” [B.G.15.16]

Quote

uttamah purusastv anyah Paramatmety udahrtah Yo loka trayam avisya Bibharty avyaya isvarah “Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Lord Himself, who has entered into these worlds and is maintaining them” [B.G.15.17]

Paramatma – Friend of Jivatma • Paramatma is the expansion of the Supreme Lord who accompanies the individual soul (Jivatma) who comes into this material world in order to take him to different bodies and to take care of him and escort him. He is situated within the heart of every living entity and within every atom.

The Paramatma

Quote Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan Atmasya jantor nihito guhayam Tam akratuh pasyati vita-soko Dhatuh prasadan mahimanam atmanah “Both the Supersoul and the atomic soul are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being and only one who has become free from all material desires as well as lamentations can be by the grace of the Lord, understand the glories of Soul.” [Katha 1.2.20]

Samane vrkse puruso nimagno ‘nisaya socati muhyamanah Justam yada pasyaty anyam isam asya Mahimanam iti vita-sokah “Although the two birds (the Supersoul and the atomic soul are compared to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree) are in the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord – at once the suffering bird becomes free from all anxieties” Svetasvatara Upanisad

Differences between Krsna and the living entity with respect to Consciousness

Krsna is Infinite but Living entity is Infinitesimal. ‘nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam yo vidhadhati kaman’ – The Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains the innumerable living entities and gives them all the facility for enjoyment according to different work.

Living entities are one with the Supreme Lord only in quality not in quantity. This is called ‘acintya-bheda-abheda tattva’ meaning ‘simultaneous oneness and difference’. This is the philosophy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 The living entity is knower of his body, but Krsna is knower of all the bodies. Krsna says, “I am also the knower, but I am not the individual owner of the body. I am the super-knower. I am present in every body as the Paramatma, or Supersoul.” [B.G. 13.2-3, B.G.15.15] The body is called ‘ksetra’ and the knower of the body is called ‘ksetrajna’. Krsna knows what is going on in everyone’s body.

The living entity is the proprietor of his body, but Krsna is the proprietor of all the bodies. Krsna is the primary owner of the body and the soul stays in this body for a period of time according to it’s ability of paying price (Karma). So the soul is the secondary proprietor in every body.

The Supreme Lord knows both the body and the owner of the body.

 Living entity can be put to forgetfulness, but Krsna can never be put to forgetfulness. Krsna says to Arjuna, ‘Many, many births both you and I have passed, I can remember all of them, but you cannot.”[B.G.4.5] A liberated person like Arjuna is also not equal to Lord. Brahma Samhita describes the Lord as infallible (acyuta), which means that He never forgets Himself.

Living entity has only direct awareness, but Krsna has both direct and indirect awareness. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Krsna is described as ‘svarat’, ‘Supremely independent’. He does not depend on anything for power and knowledge. He controls everything through the medium of His energies. His potency is automatic and spontaneous.

We, the living entities are eternally a loving servitor of the Supreme Lord, and God is eternally our loving master.

Krsna, the father of all living entities.

Session 3 Session 3 Who Is God? Why Different Gods, Different Scriptures? back

Message of God Presented According to the Level of Audience to Digest

Undiluted pure message for the spiritually advanced. Suitably modified message for the morally and spiritually degraded.

Elementary School Maths

5-3=2

High School Maths

3 - 5 = -2

College Maths, Ph.D. Maths

Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus etc.,

All are Mathematics; Still the level of knowledge is different.

Islam & Christianity – Taught According to Time-Place-Circumstance “ Do not have sex with your mother and sister” - 16th Surah of The Koran “Thou Shall Not Kill” – Ten Commandments, Bible Bhagavad Gita spoken to Arjuna – Best human being when Indian Civilisation was at it’s best Srimad Bhagavatam spoken to Ascetics dedicated to performing sacrifices for the welfare of humanity

Different Religions, Same Message Essence of all the major religious scriptures:1. God is one and love of god 2. Obedience to the laws of god 3. Service to god 4. Return to the kingdom of god

1. Sin no more 2. Glory of the holy names 3. Sacrifice and renunciation of material pleasure 4. Approach a spiritual master

Examples Meat Eating Allowed for Muslims except Pig and Dog For Christians it is allowed everyday except Friday In Sanatana Dharma, meat eating is prohibited (One of the pillars of sinful life)

Example Sex Life Islam permits to marry 4 wives at a time In Bible St. Paul says it is better to marry than to burn with passion Srimad Bhagavatam says we must give up sex life completely except for procreation of God conscious children

How does one explain these differences? Although all empowered messengers of God have the same message they restrict their teachings to what their audience can digest.

Lord Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita, ‘jnanam te ‘ham sa-vijnanam idam vaksyamy asesatah Yaj jnatva neha bhuyo ‘nyaj jnatavyam avasisyate’ “I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge both phenomenal and nomenal, by knowing which there shall remain nothing further to be known.” [BG 7.2]

All religions - Same message 1. ‘Love Thy God with all thy soul and all thy might’ (Bible) 2. Islam means ‘complete surender’ 3. ‘sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja’ (Bhagavad Gita) Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender to Me’ 4. Glorification of Holy Name – 99 names of Allah, 1000 names of Visnu, ‘Hallowed by Thy Name’ (Bible)

Authorised religions like Christianity, Islam are like pocket dictionaries (where there is partial revelation of Truth according to the level of audience) Scriptures of Sanatana dharma is like Chambers Dictionary (Where there is complete knowledge)

Words like come, go…..are in all dictionaries. Similarly subjects on mode of goodness like ‘do not steal’, ‘Love everyone’, ‘forgive your enemy’, ‘always do good to others’ are in all religious scriptures

Words like ‘cataclysm’, ‘corroborate’ etc., found only in bigger dictionaries. Similarly…

subjects on mode of PURE goodness, like ‘surrendering to the will of God out of unmotivated uninterrupted love’, ‘thinking and serving God 24 hours a day’, ‘renouncing all worldly pleasures and having a desire to serve God birth after birth even without desire for liberation’ found only in most advanced scriptures of Sanatana Dharma (for eg in SB)

Sanatana dharma • • • • •

Hinduism Islam – 1300 years Bible – 2000 years Buddhism – 2500 years Bhagavad Gita – re-spoken to Arjuna 5000 years before • Sanatana dharma coming down from time immemorial

Sanatana dharma – assortment of religions • The Matsya purana says that there are 18 puranas. 6 puranas written for: • People in mode of goodness • People in mode of Passion • People in mode of Ignorance

Mode of goodness puranas recommend the worship of Lord Hari – Lord Krishna

Mode of Passion puranas recommend and glorify worship of Brahma and other Demigods

Puranas for mode of ignorance people recommend worship of Lord Siva and Durga

My dear goat, in this life I sacrifice you to Goddess Kali, In the next life you may do the same to me(!)

If some kind of regulation is not there for people in tamo guna, they would anyway do sinful activities every day.

Scriptures for Kali yuga?

Kali Santarana Upanishad Bhagavad Gita Srimad Bhagavatam

Kali Santarana Upanishad  One of the 108 Upanishads  The Upanishad to cross over the ocean of Kali yuga

 The Hare Krishna maha mantra, mentioned in this Upanishad to attain SELFREALISATION

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita is spoken by Lord Krsna at the conclusion of Dvapara Yuga not only for Arjuna but also the people of the ensuing Kali Yuga

Srimad Bhagavatam Spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami (and repeated by Suta Gosvami) essentially for the people of Kali Yuga to find relief from the miseries of this age and attain love of God

God: Called by Different Names • ALMIGHTY: There is no one mightier than God • OMNIPOTENT: God is all potent • JEHOVAH: ‘The Almighty • ALLAH: The Greatest • KRISHNA: The All-Attractive • RAMA: The Supreme Enjoyer

Definition of God • ‘janmady asya yatah’ ‘From whom everything emanates’ [S.B.1.1.1] • Parasara Muni, the father of Vyasa Dev defines God / ‘Bhagavan’

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has:

(1)all Riches (2) all Strength (3) all Fame (4) all Beauty (5) all Knowledge (6) all Renunciation

Anyone possessing all the opulence in full is naturally ‘ALL ATTRACTIVE’ Krsna means ‘all attractive’ in Sanskrit ALL RICH

ALL STRONG

ALL FAMOUS

ALL BEAUTIFUL

ALL KNOWLEDGE

ALL RENUNCIATION

WHO IS GOD? IN BIBLE: JESUS - SON OF GOD IN KORAN: MOHAMMED MESSENGER OF GOD IN BHAGAVAD GITA: KRISHNA -THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD

IS GOD PERSONAL OR IMPERSONAL?

LIGHT / BRAHMA JYOTI

Brahmajyoti is the effulgence from the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Jnanis realize this Brahman aspect of God.

Those who realize the BRAHMAN feature of the Absolute Truth is compared to students interested in studying the SUNSHINE or energy of the sun

Students study the sun disc through it’s reflection in the MIRROR

/ The knowledge of

the PARAMATMA feature of the Lord

Yogi meditating on the Paramatma

Students who can enter into the sun PLANET is compared to those who realize the PERSONAL feature of the Absolute Truth

BRAHMA SAMHITA Isvarah parama Krishna Saccid ananda vigraha Anadir adir govindah Sarva karana karanam “Krishna (God) is the supreme controller. He has a form of eternity, knowledge and bliss. He is the prime cause of all causes.”

Srila Prabhupada used the words ‘SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD’ meaning there is form and personality instead of saying just ‘GOD’.

Evidences for Krishna’s Supremacy

Krishna says in B.G. 10.8. that He is the source of all spiritual and material worlds and that everything emanates from Him.

KRISHNA: SOURCE OF ALL QUALITIES

“Intelligence Knowledge Freedom from doubt and delusion … Forgiveness Truthfulness Self-control Calmness Pleasure Pain Birth Death Fear

Fearlessness Nonviolence Equanimity Satisfaction Austerity Charity Fame Infamy … are created by Me alone” B.G. 10.4-5

Krishna: Father of all beings

Krishna, father of all living entities. “aham bija pradah pita”

sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah tasam brahma mahad yonir aham bija-pradah pita TRANSLATION “It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.”

Krishna: Fountainhead of all Avatars

There is mention of every AVATAR of God in the scriptures before He appears. Lord Krishna is mentioned in RIG VEDA. Krishna is mentioned in CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD as DEVAKI NANDAN KRISHNA.

BUDDHA is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam before He appeared. The Caitanya Upanishad portion of the Atharva Veda foretells the appearance of Lord Caitanya.

Krishna: Source of all Demigods

KRISHNA & VISHNU S.B.1.3.28. ‘ETE CAMSA KALA PUMSAH…’ SLOKA IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LEARN BY-HEART TO KNOW THAT KRSNA IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYONE.

Traffic police at work and at home

“O Arjuna, there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.”

Krishna: The Supreme Knower

PAST SAMATITANI PRESENT VARTAMANANI

FUTURE

BHAVISHYANI

BG. 7.26

“Sarvam etad rtam manye”

“I accept everything

You say to be true”

Speciality of Krishna’s Appearance and Activities

BG.4.9 Janma Karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna

Krishna knows past, present and future

Krishna and His body are Not Different Krishna appears in the world in His original eternal form, with two hands, holding a flute. He appears exactly in His eternal body, uncontaminated and untouched by this material world.

Avatara The word ‘Avatara’ means ‘one who descends from the Spiritual Sky’

Purusa Avatars Krishna first incarnates as the 3 Purusa incarnations: (i) Maha Visnu or Karanodakasayi Visnu (ii)Garbodhakasayi Visnu, and (iii)Ksirodhakasayi Visnu

Vishnu Tattva • Krishna, Vishnu, Kurmavatar, Matsyavatar etc., • Krishna and all Vishnu expansions are like many candles equally luminous; • But Krishna is the original candle • ‘krsnastu bhagavan svayam’ (S.B. 1.3.28)

Sambu Tattva • Lord Siva, a specific expansion of Krsna to control tamo guna • Just as milk is transformed into curd, similarly Siva is an expansion of Krsna

• No jiva can become Siva • Siva is the greatest devotee of Krsna • ‘vaishnavanam yatha shambhu’ (S.B)

Jiva Tattva • Brahma, Indra, Vayu etc., and all living entities • ‘All gods are equal’ is a wrong philosophy; there is only one God

Brahma, Indra are posts as much as Prime minister of India is a post. They are empowered administrators of the universe; They have been appointed and empowered by Krsna.

Demigods are empowered to offer material benedictions

• Less intelligent persons approach demigods for material facilities • An intelligent person surrenders to Krsna, the source of all demigods

How does a devotee deal with the demigods? • He understands that the demigods are empowered servants of Krsna who are given a particular service to do • He is not offensive towards demigods

A devotee sees the demigods as part and parcel of Krsna and offers them respect.

Krishna

Demigods

1. Supremely conscious

1. Individually conscious

2. Always God

2. Posted temporarily

3. Can give liberation

3. Cannot give liberation to their worshippers

4. Supremely Independent 5. Possesses spiritual body

4. Dependent on Krsna

6. Beyond the influence of 3 modes

6. Under 3 modes

5. Possess material body

Session 2 Material Nature, Time and Karma back

Everyone is full of anxieties because of the material existence.

Why am I suffering? Where do I go after this life?

KRISHNA ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS AND RELIEVED ARJUNA FROM ALL MISERIES

• Who are we? We are spirit souls. Originally we were in the spiritual world. We had a spiritual body made of sat-cit-ananda (ETERNITY KNOWLEDGE AND BLISS)

When we desire to enjoy the material world, we get a material body which is made of 5 Gross Elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether; 3 Subtle Elements – Mind, Intelligence, False Ego.

The spirit soul first accepts a body that is human in form but gradually degrades to animal, plant and aquatic forms.

Process by which a soul transmigrates from one body to another is known as Reincarnation.

Reincarnation Life does not begin at birth nor end with death Widely accepted by philosophers and scientists Accepted by various religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Sanatana Dharma

Scientific Proof For Reincarnation

Science can never actually “prove” anything Research work done in this field brings decisive proof of Reincarnation Truthful memories of previous lives A real case History

Relevance of Reincarnation in our life

When Reincarnation is accepted to be true then it implies we are not these bodies; we are spirit souls.

What can the soul carry with him?

1.Pious Activities 2.Sinful Activities 3.Devotional Service (Bhakti)

Scapegoats Example

Similarly in this material world, we get small amount of sense enjoyment, but one fine day, we are chucked out of the body.

Our life is a waste of time and hard work if we do not try to understand the meaning of life by asking questions like…

“What is Reincarnation? Why does it happen? Who or What is Reincarnated? How long you have to wait between births? Does it happen to all of us, or only a few?”

Sure way to understand a machine is to learn about it from the person who built it.

Similarly, the direct way to understand the machinery of the universe—including the subtle machinery of reincarnation—is to learn about it from the person behind it.

One must enthusiastically learn the truth from scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from a bonafide spiritual master coming in an unbroken chain of disciplic succession.

6 Changes of Body 1. Birth 2. Growth 3. Maintenance 4. Production of By-Products 5. Dwindling 6. Death / Destruction

We cannot even stop these changes by scientific advancement, where is the question of stopping death???

A moon appears to be absent on a no moon day, then the moon goes on waxing…then full moon day comes. Is the moon changing? No. It is because of our relative position we call it as ‘full moon’ or ‘no moon’.

Similarly, we identify ourselves to the changing body. Sometimes childhood, boyhood, youth, old age, death, sometimes plant’s body, sometimes animal’s body.

We are identifying ourselves with all these different phases of material existence, but actually we are unchangeable souls.

Material Body – Changing Dress for the Soul Body only changes; the soul is eternal As a person puts on new garments giving up old and useless ones, similarly the soul accepts new material bodies giving up old and useless ones.

The External body is just a like a coat for the soul

Spiritual Evolution Originally Spiritual Being Due to desire for material enjoyment, soul comes down Accepts Human body Falls into lower forms of life due to degraded activities – into plants, animals and aquatic forms

Quote Brahma-Vaivarta purana says: “One attains the human form of life after transmigrating through 8,400,000 species of life by the process of gradual evolution. That human form of life is spoiled for those conceited fools who do not take shelter of the lotus feel of Govinda[Krishna].”

Quote Padma Purana says…there are,

9,00,000 species of aquatic life

2,000,000 species of Plants and Trees

1,100,000

species of insects

1,000,000 species of bird life

3,000,000 species of beasts

400,000 species of human life

The meaning of “species” used by biologists applies to the gross physical appearance of the body. The Vedic meaning is based on the level of consciousness of the living being.

Biologists say that all human beings belong to one species, whereas the Vedic literatures list 400,000 human species according to consciousness of the living entities.

In the lower of levels of consciousness, a living entity, although in a human body, behaves just like an animal.

In a higher level, his consciousness may be slightly evolved and he may be selfish for his family.

In a still higher level, he is concerned about his, community, state, country, becomes an philonthropist, social worker.

After many lifetimes one starts to enquire about God.

The living entity develops several conceptions about God in many, many lifetimes until he comes to Krishna.

The varieties of life forms are products of combinations and permutations of the 3 modes of nature – goodness, passion and Ignorance.

The life forms are just like temporary houses of different shapes, sizes, in which the living being, temporarily resides. The price for obtaining a specific form is KARMA.

The forms governed by the 3 modes, puts a constraint on the qualities and activities of living being’s consciousness.

Although all animals are in the mode of ignorance, they are influenced by the modes of goodness and passion in varying degrees.

Cow is very simple, mild in behaviour, influenced by mode of goodness to some extent.

The ferocious nature of Lion reveals it’s passionate consciousness.

Camels are almost completely in the mode of ignorance.

3 Modes of Material Nature 1. Sattva Guna (Mode of Goodness) 2. Rajo Guna (Mode of Passion) 3. Tamo Guna (Mode of Ignorance) Guna means “Rope”.

Rope is made by twisting fiber in a threefold process. Similarly, the 3 modes of nature are “twisted together” innumerable times. In this way, the material energy binds us more and more.

This bondage is known as “PAVARGA” • Pa – Parisrama = hard struggle of existence • Pha – Phena = Foam from mouth coming due to heavy hard work for sense gratification

Hard Work at day and Worn Out at night

• Ba – Bandha = bondage • Bha – Bhaya = Fear • Ma – Mrtyu = Death

Through Krishna consciousness one attains ‘apavarga’, where there is no hard struggle for existence, no material bondage, fear or death.

Characteristics of one in Goodness, Passion and Ignorance

Mode of Goodness Wiser than others Leads life according to scriptures Not so much affected by material miseries

Sense of advancement in material knowledge Sense of happiness More or less free from sinful reactions

The representative type is a brahmana. Examples are the scientist, philosopher and poet.

They become bound by the pleasant sort of life and to the goodness of material nature. Although their life may seem pleasant, they are still in the bodily concept of life which is illusion.

A Goodness person thinks that he is Dr. so and so, an American (some national), a middle-aged man, a husband, a father, a reasonable, welleducated gentleman. These designations are all material; they concern only the body and mind.

He has not yet realized that he is neither his body nor his mind; he is a spirit soul, an eternal servant of Krsna. Since he misidentifies with his body, he must come under the influence of the laws of nature governing that body.

Mode of Passion Characterized by attraction between man and woman. Develops hankering for material enjoyment. Wants honor, prestige, name, fame, good status

Works very hard Spending for good causes like building hospitals, giving charity They make a show of being religious, but it is more or less a social affair, since in fact they disregard the guidelines of scriptures

Today more or less the whole world is in the mode of passion. The Vedic society is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

Man – Woman Attraction

Attracted to External Beauty

He wants to enjoy sense gratification and he runs behind things that helps him gratify his senses.

In order to fulfill all his desires, he works very hard 24 hours a day.

Mode of Ignorance • One cannot understand what is what • The person in MOI is very lazy and unclean • He has no interest in spiritual life

• He is very inactive and dull • Sleeps atleast 10 to 12 hours a day • Always appears to be dejected

• He is addicted to intoxicants and sleeping • Whatever he does is good neither for him nor for anyone • Always procrastinates things

Distilled Mode of Ignorance!!!

Addicted to Sleep

Quote Trai-gunya-visaya veda Nistrai-gunyo bhavarjuna Nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho Niryoga-ksema atmavan “The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the 3 modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these 3 modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.” [B.G. 2.45]

What makes us act in a particular way? We generally think that we are in control of our actions and that we are making our own decisions But Krsna, the Supreme Authority declares that this is not the case.

Quote Prakrteh kriyamanani Gunaih karmani sarvasah Ahankara-vimudhatma Kartaham iti manyate “The spirit soul bewildered by the influences of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the 3 modes of material nature.” [B.G. 3.27]

People are acting as PUPPETS of the forces of nature

3 modes bind us to the material world • There are 14 planetary systems, we are in the 7th one known as ‘Bhu loka’; • above this Bhuvaloka, svaloka, mahar loka, jana loka, tapa loka, satya loka; • Below atala, vitala, sutala, talatala, mahatala, rasatala, patala.

Pious beings are elevated to higher planets and impious beings are cast down into lower planets.

Quote Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha Madhye tisthanti rajasah Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha Adho gacchanti tamasah “Those in the MOG gradually go upward to the higher planets; Those in the MOP live on the earthly planets; and those in the abominable MOI go down to the hellish worlds.” [B.G. 14.18]

Jail Example

Devatas in mode of A class jail:goodness have long Swimming pool, life and no sweat but newspaper, no they have to die freedom

B class jail:Living beings in Prisoners who mode of passion have to work hard C class jail:- kept in strong confinement

In mode of ignorance like trees, animals

“All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.”

B.G. 3.5

Our real life is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. Under the illusion of goodness, however, we look for this reality in mundane learning and a feeling of material satisfaction.

In passion, we seek it in sex and possessions; and in Ignorance, we seek it in sleep and intoxication. Thus our pure spiritual nature is perverted by impure desires, born of the modes of nature.

Krsna is ‘svarat’, completely independent He can do whatever He likes.

Since living entities are tiny parts of God, we also have His quality of Independence—but only in a minute quantity, proportionate to our size.

According to our material desires, our body acts either in goodness, passion, ignorance or some combination. These desires spring from our bodily concept of life. The ways we try to fulfill these desires are also material.

THE LAW OF KARMA: THE INFALLIBLE JUSTICE

MECHANISM OF REINCARNATION

The soul resides within two types of material bodies– the gross body and the subtle body. These bodies develop and function only because of the presence of the self within them.

Gross Body The gross body is made up of earth (solids), water (liquids), fire (jataragni), air (gases) and ether (space and sound). Gross body is called as ‘Sthula sarira’.

Subtle Body • It is made up of mind, intelligence and false ego. • It is called as ‘Sukshma sarira’. • Mind is store house of previous experiences, unfulfilled desires and thoughts • Intelligence is the decision maker • False ego is to think in illusion that, ‘I am this body’.

Subtle body and Gross body are coverings on the soul. Such a soul entrapped in these coverings is called a CONDITIONED SOUL. One who becomes free from these coverings and attains the spiritual consciousness is called a LIBERATED SOUL.

When the gross body is worn out and uninhabitable, the soul and the subtle body leave it. This is what we commonly call “death”.

The subtle body contains the record of all the living entity’s thoughts, activities and desires, and it is these that determine the soul’s next gross body.

By the laws of karma, and under the direction of Paramatma, the living entity reincarnates in a body just suitable to the mentality – a change we commonly call “birth”.

Just like air carries fragrance of a rose, the subtle body very subtly carries the soul to another gross body at the time of death.

According to the condition of the mind at the time of death, the minute spirit soul enters into the womb of a particular mother through the semen of a father, and then…

The soul develops the body given by the mother.

The soul can travel with the subtle body under any circumstances. OBE (outof-body experiences), NDE (near-death experiences), Hypnotic regression into past lives, yogis’ siddhis are therefore possible.

Bodies are Tailor-made’ to satisfy soul’s desires

A tailor measures and stitches a perfect suit for us

Krsna is capable of fulfilling every living entity’s desires. There are 8.4 million species for us to choose.

Within Srimad Bhagavatam is the potential basis of great scientific research work, for it explains how subtle forms are generated from the ethereal element, how the tangible elements, namely air, fire, water and earth are manifested from the subtle form.

Mental activities, or psychological activities of thinking, feeling and willing are also activities on the platform of ethereal existence.

Mental existence transforms into tangible form as soon as there is an opportunity. So, the soul being carried by the subtle body, occupies a womb depending on the unfulfilled desires stored in the subtle body.

Do you like to sleep a lot? You can have a polar bear’s body and can sleep for 6 months in a Year without being ridiculed by your friends or scolded by your parents!

Do you like to eat flesh and drink blood? Nature says: ‘Come on! Take this body of a tiger or lion!’

Do you like to be in water always and keep swimming? (Some swimmers are mad. They want to swim from Palk Straight to English Canal!)

Nature says: ‘Come on! Take the body of a fish and swim to your heart’s content!’

Do you want to always

fly in aeroplanes, glides etc.,? Nature says” ‘Take the body of a bird ! No accidents,no hijacking!’

Some people don’t want to wear proper clothes in their body. They want to expose major part of their body and draw the attention of opposite sex.

Nature says: ‘Take the body of a Tree, and stand naked to your heart’s content in all seasons like summer, winter etc.’

The living entity has a particular form called as ‘Svaroopa’, which is his eternal form in the spiritual world. That does not change when the living entity moves from one body to another body.

Definition of Karma The function and activity of the living entity within the framework of his free will and under the influence of the 3 modes of material nature over a span of time.

Every action has an appropriate reaction If someone is very charitable, in his next birth he may be very wealthy. If someone performs abortion, he or she will suffer the same fate in the next life.

Good Karma & Bad Karma There exist so many disparities in the society… some are poor while some are rich etc., Some ask, ‘why is God so unfair?” This lifetime is not the beginning of our existence.

2 children are born on the same day. One is born with a silver spoon, bright, healthy, wealthy, attractive with a future full of promise. The second child is born to a mother, a good lady, who was abandoned while pregnant.

Just as a person selects an automobile based on personal driving needs and purchasing power, material nature responding to our desires and actions arranges our body.

If one performs action according to the laws of God as given in the scriptures, then it is called Karma (or Good Karma) If one wastes this human form of life which is meant for self realisation by engaging solely in the animalistic activities then it is Bad Karma (Vikarma)

Ignorance of Law is no Excuse • Once a boy was waiting for electric train in Bombay and all trains were full; But by mistake, without knowledge he got into first class which was less crowded but very soon caught by ticket checker and fined.

Similarly Vedas are there; authorised spiritual teachers are there; knowledge is there. These are meant for humans, not for cats or dogs. If one does not show interest in God and remains in ignorance he has to be punished.

Those who are in the knowledge of how transmigration takes place, understand that: Due to karma, a king may become a beggar in this life or next….

Either you take the body of king or you take the body of a dog, the body is miserable. It does not mean that when there is disease, only the dog's body suffers, not the king's body. Everyone has to suffer.

Quote A-brahma-bhuvanal lokah Punar avartino ‘rjuna Mam upetya tu kaunteya Punar janma na vidyate “From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.” [B.G. 8.16]

If a man steals something and has changed dress, he cannot escape punishment. The police will catch him and punish him.

Similarly we may have performed some bad activity in the past and now have changed our dress (body), but we have to reap the bad result. That is why sometimes good people appear to suffer.

With a broader vision of universal justice, we can see how each individual soul is alone responsible for his own karma.

The laws of reincarnation operate impartially to award each living being the destiny he has earned by his previous actions.

God is an all-compassionate being Human form is very rare and MEANT ONLY FOR SELFREALISATION. One cannot misuse it. Animals don’t get karma. So if we want to be just animalistic, we will be given an animal’s body.

What is Collective Karma? Everyone of us have to bear the reaction for our individual actions in future But why sometimes a whole family, society or country suffers?

 Bosnia, Vietnam or Africa etc., suffer due to collective bad karma. Sometimes people who have previously committed heinous acts like cow-killing or abortion are all pooled up together in one airplane and they are all finished by plane crash.

Eternal Damnation in Hell after one sinful life? Does everything rests on our performance in this one lifetime only?

God is all-merciful. He gives us innumerable opportunities to develop our inherent spiritual qualities through many lives until we return to our original home in the spiritual world where there is no reincarnation.

Miseries of Material Existence Even if one is elevated to heavenly planets due to one’s good karma he has to undergo the cycle of birth, old age, disease and death.

A company may give some money and 20 days to its employee to enjoy in some tourist resort. Going to heavenly planets is like that.

But after the leave is over, the man has to come back to job and work hard again. Similarly when the ‘punya’ is over, ‘ksine punye martya lokam visanti’ one falls back into the same earth to again continue birth and death. What is the use of such temporary elevation to heaven?

Birth is so painful, the Vedas say, that the process eradicates any past-life memories one may have retained. The soul is so habituated to living in the body that he must be forced out by the laws of nature at the moment of death.

Even the tiniest insects will display the most amazing abilities and techniques for avoiding death when their lives are threatened. But as death is inevitable for all living beings, so are the fear and pain associated with it.

How to act without Entanglement? One must do A-KARMA which means aligning one’s activities to Krsna’s desires.

Example There are two students, one a devotee; other a materialistic fruitive worker. The devotee student is studying for Krsna. The fruitive worker student will make multiple future plans and get more and more entangled in the modes of mat. Nature.

A soldier in the army may kill 100’s of people in the opposite army and get highest reward for it but after his retirement, if he kills some one due to some enmity, he will be given death sentence.

The soldier in the first case acted on Government’s account (by their order) and in the second case on his own behalf. Similarly we must perform actions on Lord’s account and not on our own account.

Ideal example of Arjuna and Duryodhana Arjuna fought for the pleasure of Krsna and is glorified even today; Duryodhana fought for his own personal motives and he became infamous.

Arjuna knew that everything is moving and acting under the supreme will of Krsna and that he is only an instrument/ puppet in Krsna’s hands, to be used in the way Krsna wanted to use him. This is the way of acting without entanglement.

Similarly we should work according to Krsna’s interest as follows: Yudhistir was asked to tell a lie that Ashwattama died Vibheesan left his demoniac brother Ravana and joined Lord Rama

Although these activities may apparently appear to be contrary to moral principles we should understand that they are on a transcendental plane. Krsna is the father of religion.

In a dark room a candle may certainly be good. Mundane moral principles are like that. But when sun rises in the sky what is the stand of an insignificant candle? That sun is like the will of Lord Krsna.

Quote Karmano hy api boddhavyam Boddhavyam ca vikarmanah Akarmanas ca boddhavyam Gahana karmano gatih “The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.” [B.G. 4.17]

Krsna is our mother, father, relative, friend, be all and end all. He knows what is best for every living entity. He acts in a way to bring good to every living entity. Lord is never immoral. HE IS ALL GOOD.

(eg) mother slaps or embraces a child – but she truly loves it. Similarly Krsna may kill demons and favor devotees but it is all for everyone’s good. So Lord’s activities are supramundane and a devotee should just cooperate with the Lord.

Greatest Welfare Work  Feeding the poor, doing charity, opening hospitals are only secondary to genuinely taking care of the soul through spiritual education and practices.

Parrot and the golden cage

The care taker of the parrot spent all her time in taking care of the cage rather than feeding the parrot; the parrot eventually died.

Similarly in this age people are outright body conscious. They totally neglect feeding spiritual food to the soul. Real welfare work is realizing and practicing one’s own spiritual duty and teaching the same to others.

Once a millionaire went for swimming and was being carried by the current. A well-built young man came over there; went into the water and recovered the coat of the rich man rather than saving the man thinking that he will get lot of money by selling the golden coat!

People in the shore chastised him, “You fool! If you had saved the rich man, he would have given you millions of dollars prize!” The moral of this story: we go on increasing the comforts of the body which is no better than a shirt and neglect our soul.

“How do you expect people to understand God before filling up their belly?”

“Yes, certainly we will provide prasad which is all good…for the satisfaction of the belly as well as the spirit soul!”

“God has provided for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”

People are put into problems because they have ignored the authority of the Supreme Lord and are engaging themselves in sinful activities.

Until people give up their tendency to lead a sinful life, any solution in the form of food, clothing, shelter, job, money, comfort is not going to bring peace in their lives.

I may provide food to a person today, but tomorrow he is going to be hungry again. I may provide a job to a beggar today, but tomorrow he may not be satisfied with crores of money turnover!

Contentment, Satisfaction, Happiness come only to those whose purpose of life is to please the Supreme Lord.

There is a nice story to illustrate that only a person who gives God consciousness is the only greatest well wisher.

Once a multimillionaire lost his small child in a big festival. The child

was roaming in the streets like a pauper and came across 4 people in the street.

MEDICINES

First one gave the child some food to eat. The second gave some dress to wear. The third gave some medicines for it’s wounds.

The fourth man saw that the child is the son of millionaire. He felt great compassion upon seeing the present plight of the child and took the child back to his father.

The father’s joy knew no bounds. He embraced the child and soaked him in an ocean of love. He gave child everything – 64 varieties of food to choose….etc.,

The child became very happy after reunion with his father. The fourth man who took the child back to his father is compared to a pure devotee who delivers the living entity from the material world and takes him back to the supreme abode of Krsna.

Krsna is our eternal wellwisher and father. Once you go back to Krsna, then all your needs will be fulfilled.

Quote Samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu Na me dvesyo ‘sti na priyah Ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya Mayi te tesu sapy aham “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto ME in devotion is a friend, is in ME, and I am also a friend to him.” [B. G. 9.29]

ART OF DYING IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

Time and Tide wait for none Lord Krsna exhibited His Universal form to Arjuna. The form was so fierce and fearful. Arjuna asked Krsna the mission of the form. Krsna replied that This form is Time; Time is Destruction; all manifestations are to be destroyed by the desire of the Supreme Lord. This is the law of nature.

A conditioned soul lives in a body for a fixed time and it is recommended in the scriptures that within that small measurement of time one has to perfect his Krsna consciousness and thus gain release from the influence of the time factor.

“mrityu sarva haras caham” – I will take away everything at the time of death – B.G. 10.34. Foolish people without realizing the temporary nature of their materialistic pursuits, waste their valuable time.

Death comes without Announcement

Example Once a lady had not paid the rent for her house. One fine morning, the policemen came and silently broke open the house, chucked her out while she was still sleeping and before she could realize, she along with her belongings were out of the house. This is how death comes to us.

One fine day we are going to be chucked out of this body for which we are spending all time! It is not pessimism as some people think. It is a harsh reality! Who can deny this?

The foolish materialists say that they do not want to surrender to God, because they want to ‘enjoy’. But when they are put into trouble they go for habits such as smoking, boozing, drugs and sex indulgence to temporarily forget the reality.

But devotees have different kind of enjoyment. They enjoy everything through Krsna.

They relish tasty Krsna prasad. They dance gracefully for the pleasure of the Dieties of Radha-Krsna. They get mental peace as well as Intellectual satisfaction through chanting and reading of transcendental literatures.

When all economic development and advancement are utilized to advance in Krishna consciousness, a new phase of progressive life arises.

Death of a Devotee and a Demon • For Devotees Death comes as Krsna • For Demons Krsna comes as Death • Example of a cat carrying it’s kitten and a mouse; mouse is feeling the jaws of death but kittens are comfortable and safe.

At the time of death the devotees are transferred to the spiritual realm, Vaikuntha, whereas the ordinary sinful man is dragged down to the hellish regions by the Yamdhutas, the Constables of Yamaraja.

Life is Preparation, Death is Final Examination

Quote Anta-kale ca mam eva Smaran muktva kalevaram Yah prayati sa mad-bhavam Yati nasty atra samsayah “And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature, Of this there is no doubt” [B.G. 8.5]

Quote Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam Tyajaty ante kalevaram Tam tam evaiti kaunteya Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah “Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail” [B.G.8.6]

Quote Tasmat sarvesu kalesu Mam anusmara yudhya ca Mayy arpita-mano-buddhir Mam evaisyasy asamsayah “You should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.”

All paths do not lead to the same goal It is important to know the Siddhantha or ‘conclusion’ about the ultimate destination of the living entity to be achieved. If I take a ticket to Calcutta I cannot expect the train to take me to Chennai.

Unless one has aspired to love and serve Krsna while being in this body, he cannot expect to go to the Supreme abode to join the Lord in His eternal pastimes.

If someone imagines God to have no form or attribute and desires to merge into brahman, he will have to go to brahma jyoti.

Life is a Preparation period for training our body and mind to love and serve Krsna. Gradually, we will be cleansed of all misgivings (like lust, pride, envy, anger and illusion) and develop a spontaneous love for serving Krsna.

Quote Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena Cetasa nanya-gamina Paramam purusam divyam Yati parthanucintayan “He who meditates on Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he, O Partha, is sure to reach ME.” [B.G. 8.8]

One’s thoughts during the course of one’s life accumulate to influence one’s thoughts at the moment of death. So the way we lead our present life is going to decide our next life.

ALWAYS THINK OF KRISHNA! NEVER FORGET KRISHNA!! (Padma Purana) Example: Gopis

A person who has led a materialistic life throughout cannot think of Krsna even if he endeavors to, at the time of his death. How can a student who has not prepared anything for his exam get a distinction?

By seeing our sincerity in serving Him, Krsna gives His remembrance at the time of our death. This is His special mercy. Otherwise, death is a very agonizing experience involving intense pain and it is impossible to think of anything.

So one should tolerate all the impediments in spiritual life and continue to chant, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, so that at the end of one’s life one can have the full benefit of Krsna consciousness

Knowledge that one is not the material body, but a spirit soul, is not sufficient for liberation. One must ACT on the platform of spirit soul. This is called Bhakti (Devotional Service) which includes...

Practical techniques for becoming free from Karma and Reincarnation

The first principle of devotional service is that one should regularly chant a fixed number of rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra.

2. One should regularly study the Vedic literatures especially Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam to develop a thorough understanding of the nature of the self, the laws of karma, the process of reincarnation and the means for self-realization.

One should eat only spiritualized vegetarian foods. One should avoid meat, fish, eggs, intoxicants. One should not engage in illicit sex.

One can offer the fruits of one’s work to God. Work has to be done as a sacrifice for Lord Visnu. Otherwise work causes bondage.

By following these simple techniques , anyone can become free from the effects of karma. Conversely, if one does not follow them, one is sure to become entangled in the actions and reactions of material life.

Session 5 • Different forms of Yoga and the Topmost Yoga system back

What is Yoga? • ‘Yoga’ in sanskrit means Union. • It refers to the union, in love, between the individual consciousness and the Supreme consciousness, the soul and the Supersoul, i.e., the soul and God.

Yoga: What it is not • Mere physical exercise for shaping the body, good health and long life • Emaciating renunciate in meditation

Man with some extra ordinary powers

Varieties of Yoga 1.Karma Yoga 2.Jnana Yoga 3.Dhyana Yoga

4.Bhakti Yoga

Karma yoga The process whereby one performs his work for God without the selfish desire for personal gain.

Jnana Yoga The process of elevation to spiritual consciousness through the cultivation of philosophical knowledge.

Astanga yoga or Dhyana Yoga A mechanical meditative practice meant to control the mind and senses and focus one’s concentration on the Supreme.

Bhakti yoga • The yoga of selfless, ecstatic, devotional love of God, Krsna, as Krsna Himself confirms: “Of all yogis, he who always abides in Me, with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all” [B.G. 6.47]

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Law Breakers (The Hard Working Materialists) • No Belief in God, rebirth or karma; they say, “this world came by chance” • This world is all in all; there is nothing beyond • Sense Gratification is their goal [BG 16.11-12] • Sophisticated animals conditioned to the bodily concept of life

• Trying to find out better ways of Eating, sleeping, mating and defending • No discrimination between pious and sinful activities • Tirelessly endeavour for little sense gratification • “Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demoniac and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.” [B.G. 9.12]

Karma Kandis – Fruitive Workers following Scriptural Injunctions Those who want to follow scriptures, besides having regulated sense gratification are called ‘Karma Kandis’ Any thought, word, deed not connected to the Supreme Lord is SIN. So they are not ‘sinful’. Instead of involving in improper ways of sense gratification and inviting severe wrath of Yama raja,…

Regulate sense gratification by following scriptures; worshipping the respective demigods This way attain gradual detachment from sense gratification Meant for gradual upliftment, but

they are not end in themselves

Less intelligent people think that the purpose of Vedas is to elevate one to the heavenly planets

Trai-gunya-visaya veda nistrai-gunyo bhavrjuna nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-ksema atmavan “The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the 3 modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these 3 modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.

Real religious principles are ‘nistraigunya’, above the 3 modes of nature, or transcendental.

Liberation from Material Bondage

• This world is a place of misery as certified by Lord Krsna Himself. • One must work for freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Temporary Stop-gap Solutions • Advancement in Science and Technology aims at reducing the miseries of man and providing comfort. • For example, a fan is used to reduce the miseries of sweating; a motor cycle is used to avoid the miseries of pedaling a cycle. • If possible it wants to put an end to all miseries of man

• But these advancements

only provides temporary solutions to man’s problems • We will see these problems once again come to the surface in some other form

Once a man got a boil. A doctor gave him some ointment to apply on it. But after sometime he got a similar boil in another part of his body and again went to the same doctor who advised him to apply the medicine whenever the boil comes…

The poor man thought, “Every time I get the boil, it lasts for a week and I have enormous pain. Is there no way to put an end to this problem altogether?

He went to another doctor who could understand the root-cause of the problemimpurity in the blood. He treated the patient’s blood and the patient was permanently cured.

People do not know the root cause of the problem – misidentification of oneself to matter.

Yaya sammohito jiva atmanam tri-gunatmakam paro ‘pi manuti ‘nartham tat-krtam cabhipadyate “Due to the external energy, the living entity,although transcendental to the 3 modes of nature, thinks himself as a material product and undergoes material miseries.”

The real problems of life are:

Birth Old age Disease Death

Birth • Very painful • For months, the fetus lies in a bow like position bitten by hungry worms in the abdomen of the mother and eating it’s own stool, hair, urine mixed with food and jolted by sudden movements

Old Age No one wants to grow old due to so much suffering due to it These days old people are forced to go to old age homes and don’t get any love Mental problem; body does not cooperate

Disease One disease goes and next one comes – Cancer, AIDS, etc., We may cure one disease for sometime, but we cannot disease per se pain incurred through diseases is a common experiences of anyone and needs no explanation

Death Garuda Purana says that death is extremely painful and one experiences a pain equivalent to 40,000 scorpion bites. One has to be forced out of the body

“In the moment of death, one’s eyes bulge due to pressure of air from within, and his glands become congested with mucus. He has difficulty in breathing, and there is a rattling sound within the throat … He dies most pathetically.” [S.B. 3.30.16-18]

So it is very important to have the perception of the evil of birth, old age, disease and death. So unless one is utterly convinced that material life is utterly miserable, one cannot take to spiritual life.

3-fold miseries of material nature In prison, food, water, clothing and shelter are given but under punishment; The rebellious living entities are put into the prison house of the material world with all facilities such as air, water etc., under the punishment of the 3-fold miseries of material nature

Sanatana Goswami submitted to Lord Caitanya on behalf of us that people respect him as a great scholar but he does not know who he is and why is he suffering.

3-fold miseries

Adhyatmika Adhibhautika Adhidaivika

Adhyatmika • Refers to the miseries caused by mind and body • Sometimes the living entity suffers bodily and sometimes he is distressed mentally • We experience this even in the womb of the mother

Adhibhautika Refers to miseries caused by other living entities Even some small insect can make us miserable and give us pain

Adhidaivika Miseries are natural disasters that originate with the demigods of higher planets. For instance, severe cold, hot weather, thunderbolt, earthquakes, tornados, droughts etc.,

Durga • This material world is called ‘Durga’ which means fort.

Trident The Trident of Durga represents the 3-fold miseries. Durga pierces the hearts of the living entities with this trident, in order to remind them that they are presently staying in an artificial place, which is not their original home. The miseries should give us an impetus to take to spiritual life seriously.

Mayadevi /Durgadevi also is a pure devotee of Krsna and her service is to screen the living entities and hand over the pure devotees back to the spiritual world.

Both the spiritual master and Mayadevi are working for the same goal – to reclaim the conditioned souls and take them back to Godhead. The difference is that the spiritual master gives you knowledge and instruction to progress in Krsna consciousness, Mayadevi gives you slap/kick to remind you what you are doing is not correct.

Sukadeva Gosvami & Maharaja Pariksit

The yogis are those who understand the temporary nature of this material world, understand the role of Maya and work for liberation from material bondage to return to eternal life.

Those who care only for satisfying their senses and not care for the laws of God, whether such an uncontrolled person is cultured or uncultured, educated or uneducated, weak or strong, his actions are always bestial. The can never benefit anyone.

The law abiding beings are classified into:

Karmis  Sakama Niskama

Jnanis Bhaktas

The Sakama-Karmis or Fruitive workers want to enjoy the results of their labour and The Niskama-Karmis renounce the fruits of action.

The ladder of Yogic Process Bhakti Yoga – Loving devotional service to Krsna Astanga Yoga – Meditation on the Supersoul in the heart Jnana Yoga – Impersonalist, Knowledge and Austerity Karma Yoga – Renunciation of fruits of one’s labour

When a person is firmly situated at one stage, he then has to give up attachment and adherence to the practice of that stage in order to elevate himself to the next higher stage.

Karma Yoga

If You Do Fruitive Activity… The fruitive acts gives fruits which when experienced will create new activities and a set of results…this go on without an end like a mammoth tree sprouting endless branches and twigs.

By performing fruitive work in just one life time, one gets entangled in the cycle of Karma and as a result the soul enters the 8.4 million species and suffer the 3-fold miseries.

If You Renounce Action…  Trying to give up all activities is no solution  Smrtis tell us that we inevitably commit 5 kinds of sins.

Sins committed by:1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Scratching Rubbing Starting a fire Pouring water from a pot Cleaning one’s house

“Perform your prescribed duties for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.” [B.G. 3.8]

How to be active without Material Entanglement? To perform all activities only as a sacrifice for the satisfaction of Lord Visnu is true freedom from the results of activities. ‘Naiskarmya’ – Activities performed without expectation of any sense gratification.

1. ‘Mayi sarvani karmani sanyasya’ 2. ‘Adhyatma cetasa’ – Aware of the constitutional position 3. ‘Nirasi’ – Work without desire for fruit 4. ‘Nirmama’ – Give up proprietorship and Controllership 5. ‘Vigata jvara’ – Work without Laziness [B.G. 3.30-31]

Jnana Yoga

Transcendentalists 2 classes 1) Personalist The devotee who engages himself with all energy in the service of the Supreme Lord. 2) Impersonalist Engages in meditating the impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested.

Types of Worship 1) Saguna Worship of Supreme in the form within the temple possessing attributes represented by material qualities 2) Nirguna Worship of Supreme not possessing attributes

Arca-vigraha The arca-vigraha is not material. It is same as the spiritual form of the Lord. Because we cannot see the spiritual form of the Lord with our material eyes, the form is represented by material qualities such as stone, wood or oil paint etc.,

Troublesome path of Jnana-yogis • • • • •

The jnana-yogis have to: Understand the unmanifested rep. of the Supreme thru Vedic literatures Learn the language Understand the non-perceptual feelings Analyse the differences between matter and spirit by neti-neti process Perform lot of mental speculation and realize the Supreme

“For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the supreme, advancement is very troublesome.” [B.G. 12.5]

A Krsna conscious person engages in devotional service. Accepts the guidance of the bonafide spiritual master. Offers regulated obeisances unto the Deity.

Hears the glories of the Lord. Eats the remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord. Thus he realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead very easily.

Jnana Yogi gets promoted to Bhaktiyoga through Association of a Devotee.

Keshava Kashmiri meeting Lord Caitanya

Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah “After many births and deaths, he who is acting in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” [B.G. 7.19]

Dhyana Yoga or Astanga Yoga Astanga yoga is the eight fold procedure called Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi. Pratyahara is the process of driving out the sense objects and then keep the vision of the eyes between the two eyebrows and concentrate on the tip of the nose with half closed eyelids.

The breathing movement is restrained within the nostrils by neutralizing the up-moving and down-moving air within the body. By controlling the senses, refraining from external sense objects, one prepares for liberation. This Astanga Yoga is the prelude to Dhyana Yoga

Astanga Yoga

For a beginner in the Astanga Yoga, the bodily exercises that assist meditation are considered material activities. When he is accomplished in that practice, he ceases these activities, which are called the means.

The 8-fold Mystic perfections 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Anima Lagima Mahima Prapti Isita Prakamya Vasita Kamavasayita

Anima-siddhi  Refers to the power by which one can become so small that he can enter into a stone.  Modern day subways and tunnels also enable us to enter into stone!

Laghima Siddhi There is development of the power to become so light that one can float in the air or on water. For instance, a mystic yogi can enter into the sun planet simply by using the rays of sunshine. The modern scientists are flying in the air, they are floating on the surface of the water!

Mahima Siddhi Capacity to become heavier than the mountain or any other heavy thing.

Prapti Siddhi Acquisition A yogi can touch the moon with his finger He can extend his hand anywhere and take whatever he likes, say a fruit from a distant garden.

Isita Siddhi By this yogasiddhi one can create and destroy an entire planet simply at will.

Vasita Siddhi By this perfection, one can bring anyone under his control. This is a kind of hypnotism which is almost irresistible. Even little perfection in this can empower one to control the people’ mind in spite of their speaking all nonsense; They sometimes exploit those who want to get cheated and take their money and go away.

Prakamya Siddhi By this power one can achieve anything he likes For example, one can make water enter into his eye and then again come out from within the eye Simply by his will he can perform such wonderful activities

Kamavasayita Siddhi The highest perfection of Mystic power  This is a magic by which one can do the impossible simply by his will

He can contradict nature and create wonderful effects beyond the scope of nature unlike Prakamya which only allows one to do things within the scope of nature

There is no difference between mystic perfection and materialistic perfection.

Foolish people are enamored by the glimmer of modern materialistic advancement and think that they are better off being busy with material comforts – maintaining a nice apartment, family and sex life. They do not know that they can be kicked out of their material situation at any moment.

A German Scholar once said that the so-called yoga perfections already (can be) achieved by modern scientists and so he was not concerned with them. He intelligently went to India to learn how he could understand his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord by means of bhakti-yoga, devotional service.

After attaining one or two of the above perfections, many mystic yogis fall into the trap of mental oscillation. In such a state, the yogi fails to attain the highest perfection, namely, pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

A Krsna conscious person has no such fear of falling down, for his attention is already fixed in the transcendental service of Krsna.

For the devotee, the mystic perfections seem insignificant due to the ever-increasing freshness of his object of attention, Krsna.

Rules of Regulations in Astanga Yoga 1. Select a very secluded and sacred place (8-fold meditation cannot be performed in a fashionable city). 2. One should practice strict celibacy and abstain from sex completely 3. One should not eat too much or sleep too much

A Yogi should discipline his mental activities by regulating eating, sleeping, recreation and work Completely devoid of material desires the yogi should focus the mind on the Supersoul Like a lamp in a windless place does not waver, the yogi whose mind is controlled should remain always steady in his meditation on Krsna - SAMADHI

Lamp In a windless night

Yogi’s meditation

Limitation of Astanga Yoga Even 5000 years ago, when circumstances in the world were different, this yoga system was not practicable Arjuna who belonged to the royal family, a great warrior, an intimate friend of Krsna, said, “My dear Krsna, it is not possible to follow this process of yoga for the mind is restless and unsteady.”

It is not possible for an ordinary man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice yoga in this Age of Kali. Life is short and there is bitter struggle for life This system is generally impossible in Kali yuga. Those who are imitating this yoga system in different modern societies are certainly wasting their time.

Bhakti Yoga  Connecting oneself with Krsna and reviving our relationship as His eternal associate.  Includes 3 items: (1) The Servitor (2) The Served (3) The Service

Krsna is the served, living entity is the servitor and there are 9 processes of devotional service to the Lord and a candidate can choose to adopt any one, two or three or all however he likes.

All services rendered to Krsna are absolute.

Nine-fold path of Devotional Service 1. Sravanam – Hearing – King Pariksit 2. Kirtanam – Recitation – Sukadeva Goswami 3. Smaranam – Remembering – Prahlad Maharaja 4. Arcanam – Worshipping – King Prthu

5. Vandanam – Offering Prayers – Akrura 6. Pada Sevanam – Serving – Lakshmiji 7. Dasyam – Carrying out orders – Hanuman 8. Sakhyam – Making friends with the Lord – Arjuna 9. Atma Nivedanam – Surrendering Everything – Emperor Bali King Ambarish adopted all the above 9 items and he attain perfect success.

‘Step-By-Step Gradual Development Process and Direct Process to attain Pure Devotional Service’

In the 12th Chapter, BG entitled, “Devotional Service” verses 8 to 12, Krsna is offering various opportunities for conditioned living entities to return back to Him depending on their ability to surrender.

“Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.” [B.G. 12.8]

A devotee… Chants Hare Krsna and fixes his mind constantly on the lotus feet of Krsna Offers Krsna food and directly accepts the eatables, and becomes Krsnaized by eating the remnants Performs all activities connected only to Krsna Thus a devotee always lives in Krsna.

“My dear Arjuna, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.” [B.G. 12.9]

Love of Krsna • The constitutional position of living entity is : ‘Jivera svaroopa haya Krsnera nitya dasa’ ‘living entity is an eternal servant of Krsna’. • This love is dormant within the heart just like a fiery coal is covered by the contamination of ashes. It has to be revived just like red hot coal is revived by blowing off the ashes.

Under the direction of an expert spiritual master, one should follow certain principles:one should rise early in the morning Take bath, enter the temple Offer Prayers and chant Hare Krsna

Hear Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam from pure devotees Cook foodstuffs, offer to the Deity, take prasadam and so on…

“If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.” [B.G. 12.10]

Those who cannot directly take up regulated devotional service, can help the propagation of Krsna consciousness by offering land, capital, in the publication of Krsna conscious books etc.,

Offering money for building temples, publishing Krsna conscious books etc.,

“If however you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.” [B.G.12.11]

When one is not even interested, or due to social, familial, religious considerations not able to directly involve in the activities of Krsna consciousness, and gives charity to some social institution like hospitals, he gives up the hard-earned results of his activities.

Opening Hospitals, Doing charity, Planting trees…

“If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind” [B.G.12.12]

The direct method is devotional service in Krsna consciousness. The other method is the step by step method involving renouncing the fruits of one’s activities, cultivating knowledge, meditation and so on.

As far as Bhagavad Gita is concerned, the direct method is stressed. Everyone is advised to take to the direct method and surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.

Bhakti Yoga: The Culmination of all Yoga Systems

Tapasvibhyo ‘dhiko yogi jnanibhyo ‘pi mato ‘dhikah karmibhyas’ cadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjuna “A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi”. [B.G.6.46]

Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah “And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within Himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me – he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.” [B.G.6.47]

STEP 4: Bhakti Yoga Astanga Yoga + Loving Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord, Krsna STEP 3: Astanga Yoga/ Dhyana Yoga Renouncing fruits + knowledge + Control of mind and senses by 8-fold path + Meditation on Paramatma in the heart

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Staircase and lift example

Qualities of a Pure Devotee 1. Never disturbed in any circumstances. Not envious of anyone. Does not act as his enemy’s enemy – He suffers than protesting 2. Always calm, quiet, patient, despite any distressful circumstances; Accepts all difficulties as Lord’s mercy upon Him

3. Always kind to everyone, even to his enemy. He does not attach much importance to pains and pleasures pertaining to his body because he knows perfectly well that he is not his body 4. No false ego 5. Tolerant, satisfied with whatever comes by Lord’s mercy; does not endeavor much to achieve something, therefore he is always joyful

6. Perfect mystic because he is perfectly fixed in the instructions received from the spiritual master 7. Senses are controlled – he is determined. 8. Fully conscious that Krsna is the Supreme Lord, so no one can disturb him.

Destination of Different Yogis After Death

Dhyana Yogi  At the end of one’s life, a Dhyana yogi, fixes his mind on the Visnu Murti within the heart, vibrates the syllable ‘Om’ and quits his body after deciding where he should go.  He may enter into Goloka Vrndavan and attain his svaroopa as Trees, Grass etc., in Santa rasa – Neutral Relationship  If he is not a personalist, he may enter into the Brahma jyoti and exist just as atoms exist within the sunshine

Jnana Yogi  They attain Brahma jyoti  Since there is no variety in the Brahma Jyoti, the Jnana yogi or the impersonalist falls back to the material world because he has neglected to serve the Supreme Lord with love and devotion  They will want to have sense pleasure again. This is the risk they take.

Bhakti Yogi Krsna’s planet is described in Brahma Samhita (5.29): cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhramasevyamanam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor, who is tending the surabhi cows that fulfill all desires, who is surrounded by millions of purpose (wish-fulfilling) trees and abodes built with spiritual gems, and who is always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune”.

A Bhakti yogi at the time of death enter into Krsna loka, Krsna’s planet, and enjoy in the association of Krsna, the reservoir of all pleasure.

Because we are conscious of Krsna, we are already living with Krsna. Krsna becomes easily available to a bhakti yogi. ‘Tasyaham sulabhah partha’. – “I become very cheap for them!”.

Rareness of a Pure Devotee of Krsna Brahmanda brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva Guru Krsna prasade paya bhakti lata bija

“After transmigrating from one species to another from time immemorial, a rare living entity gets the seed of bhakti lata from Guru and Krsna. Such a soul is very rare.”

CHART TO ILLUSTRATE THE RARITY OF A PURE DEVOTEE

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SESSION 6 PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF BHAGAVAD GITA IN OUR DAILY LIFE back

Why Practice Krsna consciousness? • We are not this body; we are spirit souls • Each soul has an eternal, dynamic relationship with Krsna • Our actual life is in the spiritual world with Krsna

• There are variegated services like singing, dancing, playing etc., with Krsna

• This world is the prison house for those inimical towards Krsna who suffer repeated births and deaths • Those who are intelligent take up Devotional Service to revive their dormant Krsna consciousness and go back to Krsna • KC is taught by Krsna Himself as Lord Caitanya in Kali yuga through Sankirtana movement

Krsna consciousness is not a dull, dry and ritualistic religion Krsna consciousness means

chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstacy, feasting Krsna prasadam, associating with saintly devotees, serving Krsna in His Diety form, appreciating the beauty of the Dieites, understanding profound philosophy, hearing about Krsna and preaching His glories.

Krsna consciousness • It is tried, tested and proven method to achieve the perfection of life • Devotees develop all good qualities through this - kind, tolerant, humble, selfcontrolled, peaceful and pleasing to all.

Deity Worship • Deity is the beautiful form of the Lord either in the temple or at our home, which enables us to see Him and serve Him • Arca Vigraha is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord • Arca Vigraha is a Deity of Krsna which is installed according to the sastric standards by a pure devotee of the Lord

What form of Deity is to be worshipped?

• Brahma Samhita verses 30 and 31 mention the form of the Lord to be worshipped by us

Venum kvanantam aravindadalayataksam Barhavatamsam asitambhuda-sundarangam Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham Govindam adi purisam tamaham bajami “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing the flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock’s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids” [BS 30]

Alola-cadraka-lasad-vanamalya-vamsi ratnangadam pranaya-keli-kala-vilasam shyamam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakasam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jewelled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest.” [BS 31]

Difference between Deity and Idol worship

IDOL WORSHIP

DEITY WORSHIP

JUST A PIECE OF STONE THE SUPREME LORD IS OR WOOD WHICH IS PRESENT IN THE DEITY GIVEN SOME SHAPE UNAUTHORISED BY SCIPTURES

AUTHORISED BY SCRIPTURES

PRODUCES NO EFFECT ON THE WORSHIPPER

ONE WHO SERVES THE DEITY, ADVANCES SPIRITUALLY

POSTBOX EXAMPLE • If we post our mails in authorized mail boxes, the post will reach the destination otherwise not.

Similarly, Krishna has an authorized representation in the Deity form, which is called ARCA VIGRAHA.

Mayavadis • Followers of Mayavada or Impersonalism • According to them, Krsna and Devotional service to Him are products of maya (illusion) • They think that God is formless • For them, everything is “one” and the goal of spiritual life is to become “one with God”

Vaisnava Acaryas, especially Sripad Ramanujacarya, Sripad Madhvacarya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu oppose Mayavada which has created havoc in the spiritual lives of the people.

God is a person and all other living beings are His servants eternally. We should not try to become God but simply accept our subordination and surrender to Him.

Mayavadis are offenders of Deity Mayavadis also worship some idol thinking that the ‘impersonal’ God can reciprocate through a form but all their worship are only for reaching and merging into Brahmajyoti which according to them is the ultimate.

Association of Mayavadis should be given up. Mayavadis worship God trying to usurp His position although it can never happen. Such association will only disturb us from our Devotional Service.

God is present everywhere. He is present in everyone’s heart. Why should one restrict himself to temple worship? What is the need of going to temple? I can worship Him within my heart.

“If God is everywhere, is He not in the temple or in the Deity?”

The Deity in the temple is an easy way of approaching Krsna, and express our love for Him, through nine processes of devotional service and by that receive more and more mercy of the Lord in advancing in spiritual life.

Prasadam Prasadam is the food offered to Lord Krsna The devotees of Krsna vow that they would never eat anything that is not offered to Krsna first Externally appears like any other food but the difference is the purification that comes about when one consumes prasadam regularly.

Offering foodstuffs with love and devotion • Krsna is a person; We should offer through the medium of love Patram pushpam phalam toyam Yo me bhaktya prayacchati Tad aham bhakty-upahrtam Asnami prayatatmanah “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it” [B.G. 9.26]

Krsna consciousness is very easy and universal. Even the poorest of the poor, without any kind of qualification can offer a leaf or a little water to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it.

Krsna does not need anything; He is the source of everything • Just like a father happily accepts anything that a child offers to him with love, Krsna becomes pleased with our love. Krsna provides us everything, and still He accepts our offering when we offer Him with love.

Those who do not offer food as a sacrifice, they are verily eating only sin

Yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih bhunjate te tv agham papa ye pacanty atma-karanat “The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin” [B.G.3.13]

How does Krsna eat our offering? • Krsna and His body are non-different. • In the spiritual sphere there is no such difference between the body and soul like in the material world • Krsna’s senses are transcendental and each sense can perform the function of any other • Krsna’s hearing the devotee’s loving words is wholly identical with His eating and actually tasting.

Krsna glances upon the material world and impregnates the material world with living entities

Bhoga: A medium to carry our love to Krsna Prasadam: A medium to deliver Krsna’s mercy to you

Sravanam  Hearing of the holy name

 Krsna katha – 2 types: 1. Words spoken by Krsna – Bhagavad Gita – (KrsnaUpadesa) 2. Words spoken about Krsna – Srimad Bhagavatam

Mac-citta mad gata-prana bodhayantah parasparam kathayantas’ ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca “The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service and they desire great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me”

One should regularly hear about Krsna in the association of devotees from pure devotees coming in unbroken chain of disciplic succession and not from nondevotees who are professional reciters of Scriptures. One should give up the endeavor to understand Krsna by speculative methods One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord

Hearing about Krsna is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the mind of all misgivings like lust, pride, anger, greed, envy and illusion. The more one hears about Krsna, the more one becomes enlightened and detached from everything that draws the mind away from Krsna.

Disease – Misidentification of oneself with the body Expert Treatment – Hearing of transcendental activities of Krsna Appropriate Diet – Eating the foodstuff offered to Krsna

Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-’bhiramat ka uttamas’loka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pas’u-ghnat “Descriptions of the Lord spoken by those who are free of material desires are the right meidcine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death, and they delight the ear and the mind. Therefore who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing his own self?” [S.B. 10.1.4]

Emperor Pariksit attained highest perfection by Sravanam

Kirtanam Chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord In Kali-yuga chanting of Hare Krsna maha mantra is recommended Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Scriptural Evidences for chanting Holy names

Krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad hari-kirtanat “The self realisation which was achieved in the Satya millennium by meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices, and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krsna, can be achieved in the age of Kali simply by chanting the Holy names, Hare Krsna” [S.B.12.3.52]

Life Duration in Different Ages 1.Satya Yuga – 1,00,000 years 2.Treta yuga – 10,000 years 3.Dvapara yuga – 1000 years 4.Kali yuga – 100 years

Dhyayan krte yajan yajnais tretayam dvapare ‘rcayan yad apnoti tad apnoti kalau sankirtya kesavam “In this age there is no use in mediation, sacrifice and temple worship. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna, Hare Krsna – one can achieve perfect selfrealisation.” [Visnu-Purana]

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare iti sodas’akam namnam kali kalmasa-nasanam natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drs’yate

“The 16 words – Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare – are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative but the chanting of these 16 words”. [Kali santarana Upanisad]

Kaler dosa-nidhe rajan asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet “My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age; simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”

Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” [ Brhan naradiya Purana]

Modern Man Always disturbed Misguided Lazy Quarrelsome Have short lives Unlucky Chanting is the easy and sure method of self realisation in this age

Chanting • Very simple and sublime • Can be done at any time, any where, by anyone • If done in a very humble mood, considering oneself lower than a blade of grass, being more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, ready to offer all respects to others, one can become very peaceful and happy

Tasmat sarvesu kalesu mam anusmara yudhya ca mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mam evaisyasy asams’ayah “Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” [B.G. 8.7]

Example Father in office always thinking of his sick child at home out of his natural affection

If any one says he has absolutely no time to devote for hearing and chanting, ‘sravanam, kirtanam’, he/she should consider how he uses his time and live in a different way!

The case against Meateating 1. Meat is not an essential diet for humans 2. Meat is an unnatural and unsuitable diet for humans 3. Meat eating actually has harmful effects on various aspects of human life including lot of bad karma due to slaughtering innocent animals

Effect of meat eating on the mind 1) Meat is the food in mode of passion and ignorance which means it increases lust and violence 2) Qualities of compassion, mercy, love etc., are destroyed 3) Widespread violence in the world like wars, terrorism, murder, rape, vandalism etc., are mainly due to slaughtering of animals for eating

Vegetarians kill too! • Fruits, nuts, milk etc., need no killing • Even if killing of plants required, the pain involved is considerably less than when an animal is slaughtered because plants nervous system is less developed • One living entity is food for another • Our food is vegetarian food

Human anatomical considerations 1. 2. 3. 4.

Have no claws Perspire through millions of pores on skin No sharp pointed front teeth Well developed salivary glands (needed to predigest grains, fruits) 5. Stomach acid 20 times less than meat eaters 6. Intestinal track 4 times longer than meat eaters

Health considerations Numerous Potential Hazardous Chemicals, preservatives, toxins are present in meat and meat products leading to Heart disease and other diseases.

Nutritional Considerations • Meat is not the only source of protein. Dairy products, grains, beans, nuts are all concentrated sources of protein • Excess protein are stored as nitrogenous wastes in the kidneys and burden them • A proper vegetarian diet gives all the nutrients that the human body requires

Higher Principle Food we eat must just not be vegetarian but also must be offered to the Supreme Lord. This protects us from any kind of karmic reactions.