Choice Is Not An Option - Part 2

But why is independence a problem? After all its something that everyone look for.

Having understood a fair deal on our relationship with God, let’s explore this concept of independence. But before that, can we think aloud and see what we mean as independence and is it something which is really possible? At least going by general parlance, independence can be associated with a sense of feeling where everything is under one’s control where one can dictate terms and be in a position according to his own whims and fancies.  I am sure this definition of independence would have raised a few eyebrows and made one ponder as to where we are heading. We are heading to understand if this is really possible and whether we really are in such a position.

But before that we need to understand the nature of our surroundings. The world we have occupied is a place of duality where both happiness and distress coexist. The Lord himself confirms this in the Bhagavad Gita terming this world as “dukhalayam asasvatam” – meaning a place of misery and that which is temporary. As we have come to see and as confirmed by the authorities there are four things in this material world which are there to exist – birth, death, old age and disease. These four things cannot be stopped and is experienced even up to the highest planet in this material world which is Brahmaloka. And even if one happens to be the richest of the richest he cannot stop this. Besides these four things there are other natural disturbances like flood, famines, earthquakes etc which are beyond anybody’s control. Despite the advancement in science and technology these things still cannot be checked.

So now it’s time to question ourselves. Can we actually remain independent given the nature of our environment and the place which we occupy? The obvious answer should be no, because it is clear that we do not have control over our surroundings and as such the question of independence never exists.    

But one may argue that there is a limited independence which exists. This argument is valid and it is a fact that we are naturally independent. The Lord is all independent and we being a part and parcel of the Lord also have that natural independence. But currently we are unable to utilize it fully because we have misused that independence. The misuse of independence happens when we attempt to be independent to the source of our independence itself. In other words we want to enjoy being separated from God and not wanting him to be with us. It is just like a son or daughter who in the name of independence intents to act according to his or her whims without adhering to the instructions of the parents. In the beginning it may be nice, but the end result can be devastating. So the solution lies in using that limited independence which we currently enjoy to dovetail our activities to the service of the Lord. That will reinstate us in our true feeling of independence. But am I not forcing myself to undertake something which I don’t enjoy? The point is that unlike serving a master in this material world out of need or necessity the pleasure in serving the lord is immense. This is because the Lord is by nature full of eternal, bliss and knowledge and we being his parts and parcels also have that quality.

We conclude this part by clearly voicing that Independence is not a problem, in fact it is a boon but one needs to properly understand and not misuse it.

Part3

But at the end of Part 2, are we sounding impractical or are we getting too theoretical? So Let’s explore the practical means to achieve what we discussed in the upcoming Part 3.

--- by Krsna Caitanya Das

Choice is not an option - (Part 1)

All over the world people today have come to understand life with the simple theory of “Life is short, make merry and enjoy”. Though it seems simple, it opens up several dangers which we shall unravel through the course of this discussion. The quest for any theory in life is to be happy and make the most of what is available for our own personal sense gratification. This in short is the cause of our disturbances. It seems strange isn’t it! But it’s a hard reality which we have got to accept. Let’s accept it with some basis though but before that let us understand what this word ‘choice’ is. 

I happened to meet a gentleman from a respected family in India and was pleased to explain the philosophy of God consciousness to him. He patiently listened through and then started his part of the story. Finally he landed up at a point saying – what is wrong in suffering? I am ok with it. Well now here ends the conversation. When we have made a choice to suffer nobody can save us. It sounds foolish isn’t it…that I am ok to suffer but this is a reality in today’s world. We are so much engrossed in temporary sense enjoyment that we don’t bother even to suffer or at least say that we don’t bother. Hold on…let me not get any further. Let’s come to the basis.

Have we ever thought of questioning something very basic like this: Why am I born? Why is there disease, death and old age? Why am I not in control of my surroundings and the way I look at things? Why is something subtly forced on me?

The answer to these million dollar questions are not available in today’s modern books of history or geography but in our very own ancient Vedic wisdom.

To answer them we need to explore a series of points and understand its linkage. The Bhagavad Gita – meaning song of the Lord spoken some 5,000 years ago methodically explains and clarifies this linkage.

To begin with, we need to understand that we are this spirit soul and not this body or at least we are not this body and we are something distinct from it. The distinction between a dead body and a living body is sufficient evidence to help us understand this fact.

Now having known that fact, we get information that this spirit soul which is the source of the consciousness in the body is a part and parcel of the lord. Being a part and parcel of the Lord means in essence that the spirit soul has all the qualities that are available in God just like a part and parcel of gold also possesses the qualities of gold. So are we God? No, because though qualitatively we are one with God we cannot match it quantitatively just like though a part of gold is also gold it cannot match the quantity in a gold mine. By this we come to understand the concept of a superior and a subordinate. Well the trouble game starts when this subordinate x wants to be on his own and ignore superior Y. It’s like a child who is part of the family but does not want to accept the family and be on his own. This is the sum and substance of our trouble in material existence. We living entities being parts and parcels of God want to enjoy independent of the Lord and have therefore been imprisoned in this material world to enjoy or suffer the reactions of our past deeds. So the solution is simple. If we want to be truly or eternally happy we should attempt to reinstate that relationship just like though the particle of gold might glitter independently, but when it is part of a gold ring it is very much appreciated. This is the secret of peace and happiness.

Srila Prabhupada wrote that when a diamond is set in a gold ring, it looks very nice. The gold is glorified and at the same time, the diamond is also glorified. The Lord and the living entity eternally glitter, and when a living entity becomes inclined to the service of the Supreme Lord he looks like gold. The Lord is the diamond, and so this combination is very nice.

More on Part 2

But why is independence a problem? After all it’s something that everyone look for.

Having understood a fair deal on our relationship with God, let’s explore this concept of independence. But before that, can we think aloud and see what we mean as independence and is it something which is really possible? At least going my general parlance, independence can be associated with a sense of feeling where everything is under one’s control where one can dictate terms and be in a position according to his own whims and fancies.  I am sure this definition of independence would have raised a few eyebrows and made one ponder as to where we are heading. We are heading to understand if this is really possible and whether we really are independent in the first place.

Hare Krsna!!

Krsna Caitanya Das

 

 

 

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Bhaktin Syamala

Hare Krsna!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!                                                                

Srila Prabhupada, you have been teaching Krsna consiousness in the whole world for the past 42 years, to many fortunate souls. But in the whole process i cannot understand one thing; that how I, being the most sinful and fallen soul have been awarded your mercy. I offer my most humble obeisances unto you.

After my birth i was taught some dos and don'ts by my parents for some phase of life. After that i didn't have guidance to know what is right and what is wrong. In the process i comitted so many mistakes and sins unknowingly. But you being "Aadhama Janara Bandhu", made me aware of my sins and introduced me to the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada, you are "Karuna Sindhu", ocean of mercy. But I am so ignorant that I am not able to utilise your potential to the fullest. Please be kind to me and let me stick to your lotus feet and serve you under any circumstance, to cross over the blazing fire of material existance and to reach the Abode of The Lord. Please forgive my offences and make me eligible to get shelter at your lotus feet.

Awaiting your mercy,

Syamala

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Bhaktin Kanchana Snigdha

Hare Krsna!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Srila Prabhupada, you are my master,
my guide, and my saviour.
You are the friend, the father,
and the world's greatest preacher.

You preached to the world
to be equiposed in happiness and distress;
By opening my eyes from the darkness of ignorance,
you taught me to be free from tension and stress.

O my Ever Well-Wisher,
I offer my respectful obeisances
unto you again and again,
and wish that i can stay
at your lotus feet in loss or in gain.

Your humble servant
Snigdha.

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Vrndavana Das

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

We are really grateful for your appearance because otherwise we would be ignorant of the sweet taste of spiritual transcendence. Thank you for awakening us to Krishna consciousness.

It seems that I have not fully realized the importance of spiritual practice. Please pull me away from these dreams of material pleasures and achievements.

I beseech you to provide me with strength, conviction and blessings so that I can fulfill my promises to you.

Forgive me for my mistakes and give me the intelligence to learn from them.

Hare Krishna!!

Your insignificant servant,
Vrndavana Das

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Bhakta Prakash Namasivayam

My dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.

You are the real sun for the whole world, awakening the souls from darkness. Your service to human kind is unaccountable. There are many leaders in the world calling themselves as "social saviors" and many rascals calling themselves as "Krishna" or "God". All those idiots don't know the basic fact that we are not the body but soul. Also, those people are wasting their time and spoiling their followers’ life by cheating the people. But, you are the real leader, our respectful, loving spiritual master. You are not an ordinary human being. You need not have taken birth in the world. We all know that you came down to the earth planet from the spiritual world, Vaikuntha, in order to take the fallen souls back to Godhead.

You are awakening the whole world from darkness within a short span of time. Some countries blabber that "sun never sets in their country". But, the truth is that "SUN NEVER SETS IN ISKCON". Wow! How many Krishna Conscious temples you have created in the whole world within a short span of time and how many souls were saved by you!! I am not able to imagine the number of books you have written and translated within such a short span of time. All those are everlasting assets to the whole world. Your books really help awakening the fallen souls.

Here is one such fallen soul trying to write about you. I am not even qualified to write about you. I am so fallen. But, with your kind mercy, you allowed me to write about you. I thank you so much for showering your boundless mercy upon me. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 18.66, "Leave all sort of philosophies and surrender yourself to me". It is so simple. Just accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and surrender ourselves to him. There should not be any difficulties in that. If we do that, there won’t be any difficulties or sorrows in our life. We can also go back to Godhead. How simple process it is indeed! But, I am so fallen that even after accepting Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I am not able to surrender myself to Him. I am so worried about that. At least, I am fortunate that I am in a correct place and having a perfect guru, it is you, my master Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you! You are always with me through your books and preaching. Please shower your mercy on me. Even a single drop of your mercy can save me from this world and take me back to Godhead.

So, I plead at your lotus feat to help surrender myself to you and Krishna. Help me to love Radha-Krishna. Help me to follow the four regulative principles. Help me to always follow your precept.

Hare Krishna!!

Trying to be your servant,
Bhakta Prakash

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Mahaprabhu Das

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

You have gone through so much trouble just to establish this Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world. You have shown us that we have to also try hard by flapping those wings of ours and follow the rules and regulations and not just space out.

It is by your mercy that we are all sitting here today at Sri Krishna Mandir celebrating your transcendental appearance day. It is said in the Sri Sri Gurv-Astaka, "Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado yasya prasadan na gati kuto 'pi". By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement.

So here in this tiny island of Singapore, the struggle to make or rather build a temple is like an uphill task. Just give us a drop of your mercy Srila Prabhupada, to make this possible here in this country. Hoping you will hear this offering from your most fallen disciple.

Most fallen,
Mahaprabhu Das