Krishna-bhakti is a very joyful process

Krishna-bhakti is a very joyful process . It gives immense satisfaction to the practicing Bhakta . He is happy to be on the right track and what he does ( Nama-japam and service for Sri Krishna) is ETERNALLY beneficial to himself his dear ones and all others.

The purpose of human life is to serve Sri Krishna the embodiment of Supreme God . Only Sri Krishna is *Poorna* ( 100% complete God) . All other Gods are *Amsavathars* ( Partial manifestations) . Only Gita and Bhagavatham are the true authoritative Scriptural texts containing the actual  essence of the Vedas. Other Puranic texts are not so accurate as they contain fiction as well .

A Bhakta who daily chants Hare Krishna Mahamantra and recites Gita or Bhagavatham,  enjoys blissful self-satisfaction . These texts are literary manifestations of Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself . It's  very sound vibration purifies the chanter's heart as well as the environment. If this world is a Computer, the Vedas are it's Software. When the Vedas is corrupted  , the world suffers . The present sufferings all around is due to undermining of the Vedas .  

Although the non-vedic Abrahamic religions preach high ideals, what they practice is totally different. Their  cultural violence such as their intolerance towards the sacred Vedas,  is what destriys the peaceful  existence of world .

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

You cannot stop crime by law

You cannot stop crime by law

The difference between a pious man and a criminal is that one is pure in heart and the other is dirty. This dirt is like a disease in the form of uncontrollable lust and greed in the heart of the criminal. When the people become purified of these dirty things, crime will disappear. The simplest process of purification is to assemble in congregation and chant the holy names of God. This is called sankirtana and is the basis of our Krishna consciousness movement. So, if you want to stop crime, then you must gather as many people as possible for mass sankirtana. This congregational chanting of the holy name of God will dissipate all the dirty things in everyone's heart. Then there will be no more crime. But the education in the science of God is lacking. Without religious principles what is the difference between a dog and a man? If you bring a dozen dogs and put them together in a room, will it be possible to keep them peaceful? Similarly, if human society is filled with men whose mentality is on the level of dogs, how can you expect peace? The only way to permanently change the criminal habit is to change the heart of the criminal. Many thieves are arrested numerous times and put into jail. Although they know that if they commit theft they will go to jail, still they are forced to steal, because of their unclean hearts. Therefore without cleansing the heart of the criminal, you cannot stop crime simply by more stringent law enforcement. The thief and the murderer already know the law, yet they still commit violent crimes, due to their unclean hearts. So our process is to cleanse the heart. Then all the troubles of this material world will be solved.

Ref: Chapter 6, Science of Self Realization authored by Srila Prabhupada (Founder - Acharya, ISKCON)

Krishna The greatest scientist

Krishna The greatest scientist

How is Krishna the greatest scientist? Because He knows everything. Science means to know the thing correctly. A scientist is one who knows a subject matter thoroughly. Krishna knows everything. If I say that heat is the energy of Krishna, you cannot deny it, because it is not your energy. In your body there is some certain amount of heat. Similarly, heat is someone's energy. And who is that person? That is Krishna. Krishna says, "Yes, it is My energy. This earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego—they are My eight separated energies." So my knowledge is perfect. Because I take the version of the greatest scientist, I am the greatest scientist. I may be a fool personally, but because I take knowledge from the greatest scientist, I am the greatest scientist. Just like a child. Actually the child inquires from the father, "Father, what is this?" Father smiles at child, "This is called bell. If you push your hand in this." Then you get the perfect knowledge. He tries it. Oh, it is coming. The knowledge is there. This is what we call science. Science means to know the thing correctly, and by practical experiment to understand the things correctly. Jnanam means theoretical knowledge, and vijnanam means practical application of the knowledge. Whatever knowledge the father gives him, that is perfect. Father says, "My dear child, this is called 'table.' The child does not know what is table, but he understands from his father and says, "This is table." So when the child says it is table, it is perfect. He may be imperfect, but because he is repeating the perfect knowledge of his father, he is perfect. Similarly, if you get instruction from the perfect, then your knowledge is perfect.

Benefit of katha-satsang

There is a story. There was a group of robbers. Of them, the oldest one used to tell everyone that "brother, do not go where there is "katha-satsang" (association of holy men and sharing of divine tales of the Lord) taking place, or else your work will stop. If you are going somewhere and on the way if "katha" is taking place, then simply close your ears. Do not listen at all." Such was the training that was imparted to the robbers. One day a robber was going somewhere when on the way a lecture of a holy person was going on. That was the only road leading to where he was headed. While passing by, he shut his ears tight. While walking suddenly, a thorn pierced his foot. With one hand he removed the thorn, and once again began to walk. While removing the thorn, he heard a sentence from the satsang that deities (devatas) do not have a shadow.

One day the robbers raided the king's treasure. The king's soldiers went in search of the thieves. The robbers used to pray to the divine mother. One of the secret agents of the king, disguised himself as a divine mother, stood in place of the deity of the divine mother. When the robbers reached the temple, the divine mother said to the robbers. You have stolen so much treasure but you have not offered anything to me! I will destroy all of you. By hearing this all the robbers became scared and began to ask for forgiveness. They all said we will surely pray. Now they lit the lamp and the incense, and began to do "aarti". The robber who had heard the one sentence during the katha that deities do not have a shadow , he said that this one is not a divine mother (devi). There is no shadow of a divine mother, but this one has a shadow! Instantly on hearing this, the robbers got hold of the secret agent who was disguised as a divine mother and unveiled his true identity. They said, you are the thief, not us? We have not stolen anything. The secret agent fled from there. Even on listening to one sentence of satsang, there can be a change.

One does not know when the last breath will be.

 The glories of Divine Name recitation (japa) that can be understood by actually doing japa, is not understood by reading, saying or hearing about it. The glories of a satisfying meal are by actually eating, are not understood by talking about meals. Laddoos (sweets) look good, but any amount of talking about it, will not be the same as actually eating it.

This world is ever changing is our visible and evidential experience. That too you do not believe? What to do? See your body and mine, how much it has changed? And it is continuing to change. Someone who had seen me in childhood and sees me now, they cannot even recognize. This world is only changing constantly, every moment. It is only an accumulation of changes. Those changes itself is called life. There is not a moment that is not changing – this is the point.

You are comfortably sitting free of concern! It is a surprising thing! There is no certaintly of even in a single moment. One does not know when the last breath will be. There is no certainty that the breath that is leaving this body, will return again. There is no trust or confidence what so ever. There is no guarantee. It will not remain. It cannot remain. It is going away. It is only a delusion that we think we are living. It is completely false, death is taking place every moment. Every moment the dying is happening. You think it is secure. There is no attention given in this direction. We talk about it, we hear about it, but there is no awareness in this direction. You consider yourself to be stable, it is a surprising thing.

By lying, cheating, dishonesty, deceit, being unscrupulous, you have accumulated wealth. For sense enjoyments you have committed so many sins, done so much injustice, have committed so many atrocities.

God has said in the Gita -


"Bhogaishvarya prasaktaanaam tayaapahchetasaam
Vyavasaayaatmika buddhih samaadhau ne vidhiyate." (Gita 2:44)

One who is attracted to enjoyment of pleasures and hoarding, that one cannot even have a firm resolve to realize God. He will be far from God Realization, but worst yet, the firm determination that I want to realize only God, I want to only gain salvation - he will be unable to firmly resolve towards this aim. Simply speaking, as long there is desire within, as long as there is attraction and importance given to worldly things and enjoyments, till that time, however much you hear these talks, you will be unable to resolve towards God. When the objective, the goal itself is not firm, then how will God Realization be possible?

From summary of discourse in hindi . by Swami Ramsukhdasji

you become Krishna conscious then you get permanent life.

We are not proprietor of this body. We are occupier. Just like a rented house: the proprietor and the tenant are different. So I am the spirit soul. I am not proprietor; I am simply occupier. The proprietor is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is giving me a particular apartment according to my capacity of paying rent. According to our karma or work, we get a body, either as a king's son, a cobbler's son, a dog's son, a cat's son, a tree's son or a plant's son. If you are in a rented apartment, you are given the license to occupy the room. So mistake is that we do not know the owner, and we are improperly using our occupation. The direction is there, the director is sitting there. He's always helping you. But the disease is that we are claiming to be owner and want to act according to our whims, and that is material condition. Krishna said "Don't think we did not exist in the past. We are existing at present, and we shall continue to exist in the future." Exactly like that "I existed in one apartment, now I am existing in one apartment, and I shall exist in another apartment." I am spirit soul. I am simply changing different apartments. Because I am eternal, there is a life, where I haven't got to change apartment. I get permanent residence. That is spiritual life. So long you are in material existence you have to change different types of body. But if you become fit for spiritual existence, you get rid or get out of this entanglement of changing bodies. This is Krishna consciousness movement. We are teaching our people that "you become Krishna conscious then you get permanent life."

Ref: Srila Prabhupada's Lecture, June 18, 1974, Germany.

The Supreme God is infinite; everything about Him is infinite

Human birth is best due to endowment of the special quality of power of discrimination between good and bad and eternal and non-eternal. Physical bodies are in the grip of numerous births and deaths, and are subject to many other drawbacks. This renders the physical body to being non-eternal. If this physical body is non-eternal then the body’s sense organs must also be non-eternal and whatever is perceived by non-eternal sense organs must also be non-eternal. Therefore, if there should be any eternal entity, it must exist beyond the comprehension of human material non-eternal sense organs.
    In the Mahabharata, Arjuna was blessed with divine eyes, so that he may witness the vishwarupa of Krishna, a dazzling sight. Thousands were present at Kurukshetra when Krishna revealed His Virat form, yet Arjuna was the only one to see Him like that. Why?
    The Supreme God is infinite; everything about Him is infinite. He has created countless species to a plan. If one accepts that human beings can determine their own cause by means of material senses, mind or intellect, then that will be a mentally or intellectually concocted thing. That will not be Reality. If Reality is in fact Reality, then He must always exist. What is the Truth? Why do we wish to be eternal? Why are we eager to learn and to experience bliss? We are a part of the Supreme – so we are like the Supreme in some respects. He is Sacchidananda and so are we. Sat in Sanskrit means eternal life, chit is eternal knowledge and ananda is eternal bliss. Soul is sacchidananda. We were given this limited body to know our true identity. Our duty is not to hanker after temporary bliss, but to have eternal bliss. We have to find ways to realise our true identity to become servants of Sacchidananda. Since we are part of the Supreme Lord, it is our primary task to serve Him or to act in a way that pleases Him. Once we realise Him, we will also realise other eternal truths, and know that not only He, but His Associates, too, do not take birth, but descend.

Renounce Wealth To Enjoy It

Renounce Wealth To Enjoy It

    The Ishavasya Upanishad says your ego will disappear if you cease to call anything yours. “Everything in the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. Accept only those things that are necessary…”
    Don't entertain a desire for anybody's wealth. Why? When nothing can be mine, then neither can anything be yours. Be aware, because the sutra, “Don't covet; don't desire another's riches,” has been greatly misinterpreted.
    Most commentators have explained it thus: “It is a sin to desire another's wealth, so don't entertain such a desire." But the first part of the sutra says that wealth belongs to nobody; it is existence's. "When it is not mine, how can it be yours?"
    Its true meaning is this – do not wish for another's wealth because the wealth which is not mine is also not yours. So desire has no grounds on which to stand.
    No expert of ethics can get at the real meaning of this sutra. It is subtle and deep. The moralist is anxious to see that no one steals another's property; no one should consider as his own what belongs to another. But his emphasis on another's property is just the converse side of his emphasis on what is his own. Remember, the person who says, "This is yours," is not free from the notion, "This is mine," because these two are different sides of the same coin. As long as the feeling persists, "The building is mine," its counterpart, "The building is yours," will continue.
    So don't wish for another's property, because it belongs to no one. I don't mean simply that it is sinful to seize another's property with a view to making it your own. It is a sin in the first place to consider it either his or yours. It is a sin to look upon it as anybody's or to pretend ownership is anyone's but existence's. If you can comprehend this interpretation, then and only then will you be able to grasp the deep and subtle meaning of the Ishavasya.
    Otherwise the apparent meaning of these sutras is that each should securely possess his own property and, to protect his own interests, should propagate on all sides that no one should wish for another's property.
    So stealing and extorting is useless, meaningless and irrelevant. There is no skill or art in it. It is as good as labour lost. It is trying to draw a line on water.
    Enjoy wealth by renouncing it. It is said that if you renounce a thing, you can enjoy it. The statement is very antithetical to our belief. They alone become real masters who refuse to be masters. Everything falls into the hands of those who have no desire to hold onto things.
People have misinterpreted these sutras. "Enjoy through renunciation" has come to mean that if you give in charity, you will be rewarded with heaven. But pay attention: the sutra says, "He who renounces, receives." It does not say, "He who gives up with a view to getting, will receive." In fact, he who gives up with a view to getting does not give up, because he is just working out how to get the reward.
    This sutra makes a straight, simple statement that he who renounces, enjoys. It does not say, "Give up if you desire to enjoy." It announces that if you can give up, then you can enjoy; but if you are nursing the idea of enjoyment, you can never renounce.
courtesy: Osho International Foundation,

How pitiable it is to give trouble to others

It is said in the Ramacharitramanas - "There is no duty like the welfare of others and there is no evilness like giving trouble to others."

"Par hit saris dharma nahi bhaayi. Par peeda sam nahi adhamaayi." (VII.40.1)

How pitiable it is to give trouble to others and to disturb their freedom by devoting your time to such useless activity as smoking and drinking alcohol! Is this precious time to be wasted in useless pursuits such as playing cards etc.?
No, if one had spent the time in studies, service and doing good to others, that would have been the right use of their time. But instead precious time is wasted for no reason.

By devoting time properly, one can attain God. To a devotee of God, God declares - "I am a servant of my devotees and they are the jewels on my crown."

"Mein hu bhagatan ko daas, bhagata nere mukutamani."

Thus people who devote their time to devotion become the jewels of His crown.

This human birth has been given to us for God Realization. There is a way to successfully live this life. If we adopt the techniques for living in this world God realization will come very quickly and easily. For doing any work, there is a certain know how. If we work according to that know how, the work will be successfully completed. Similarly to live in this world, also there is certain know how. So we must understand that know how. If we put to use that knowledge than very easily we will be able to live in this world and get beyond this worldly existence.


From book "Art of Living" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

Everyone is a thief

Everyone is a thief

Alexander the Great arrested one thief, and was going to punish him. The thief pleaded, "Sir, you are punishing me, but what is the difference between you and me? I am a small thief, you are a great thief. You are occupying other's kingdom by force; you have no right. Because you are strong, you are conquering country after country. I am also doing the same thing. So what is the difference?" Alexander considered, "Yes, I am nothing but a big thief. I am no better than you." Actually everyone is thief for we have stolen God's property. We may be very honest but we are taking Krishna's money for our sense gratification, and advertising as very moral. We don't accept the real proprietor, and think, "I am the proprietor." That is the fault. We construct a building, but from where do we get the stone, wood and earth? We cannot artificially produce, they are God's. We simply give our labor. We work with our hands; they are not our hands but God's, for when the power to use the hand is withdrawn by God, it becomes useless. Krishna is not in want of money, for He is the original proprietor of everything. But still He asks us for charity for our interest. The sooner we return Krishna's money to Krishna, the better situated we will be. For instance, if one earns a great deal of money but tries to avoid paying income tax, the government considers him to be a criminal. He cannot say, "I have earned this money. Why shall I pay tax to the government?" No, he must pay or risk punishment. Similarly, in the higher sense everything we have is Krishna's or God's, and it must be utilized in accordance with His desires.

How to attain , Harmony with Sri Krishna ?

A person's heart is like a tree . Two birds are sitting on that tree .  One Bird enjoys the fruits of that tree whereas the other Bird just witnesses everything .  The first Bird is *Jeevatma* ( soul) . And the second bird is *Paramatma* or Supersoul ( Sri Krishna) . 

How could  a Person's *Jeevatma* attain blissful harmony with *Paramatma* ? .  It is by Bhakti ,  By surrendering to the divine personal form of Sri Krishna and chanting Bhagavan's favorite *Hare Krishna Mahamantra* , a Bhakta can attain perfect harmony with Bhagavan . 

By seeking *SharanAgathi*  in Sri Krishna, a Bhakta registers himself for Bhagavan's grace . The constant Chanting of * Hare Krishna Mahamantra* removes the dirt in his heart thereby revealing the divine form of Sri Krishna . 

In reality , we all are nothing . We are just instruments in the hands of Bhagavan who uses us for various purposes .  It is our freewill that decides whether to become *Daivic* ( Godly) by obeying Sri Krishna's instructions ( Vedas summarized in Gita)  or to become *Asuric* ( demonic) by opposing Him . 

Please chant  :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

and be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

God created the human being and settled him in paradise

According to religious tradition, God created the human being and settled him in paradise. But after some time, man committed a grave error and was sent down to earth.
    In the beginning, God wanted to settle the whole of the human race in paradise, but after we sinned, God changed His plan. Thereafter, only selected individuals would be allowed to enter paradise. According to this story of creation, we lost our initial advantage and since then only the second best has been available to us. This story shows us the right direction for our lives.
    The human being is an idealistic creature by birth. Everyone tries to find his ideal goal, one that is the very best for him. But it is a fact that no one succeeds in doing so. If this is the case, what should we do? The only course open for all men and women is to accept the second best as the only available choice. This is the only way to have a tension-free life in this world.
    If you are not ready to accept the second best and you would prefer to keep straining for the ideal, the result could well turn out to be disastrous. For example, a certain lady, who was working in a multinational company, failed to get promoted for some reason. She fell into a state of deep frustration and ultimately committed suicide. There are many such cases of people failing to find what they think is optimal, and then they become deeply depressed.
    This kind of depression is due perhaps to a lack of awareness of the law of nature. If the lady in question, for instance, had been aware that according to the law of nature, only the second best was attainable for her and that she (or others like her) had already achieved that, the realisation would have given her contentment and a tension-free life. This principle applies not only to individuals but also to nations.
    The best formula of life is: Try, try by all means to achieve the very best, but when you feel that you can only get the second best then accept it gracefully. Because if you remain in denial, and try to achieve the acme of perfection, that will only land you in a worse predicament.
    The same applies to nations. This is a competitive world and this could be a formidable obstacle to everyone getting the very best in life. In such a situation, the only safe option is to accept the second best. When you try to have the very best, then you are compelled to engage in continuous confrontation. The only risk-free option is to accept the second best. So be a realist. If you try to get the very best, it means your approach is unrealistic, but if you accept the second best, it means that you have opted for a realistic approach. And in this world of competition only a realistic approach can save you from disaster.
In short, the very best might be unachievable, while the second best is always within your reach. It is a fact that everyone is an idealist by birth, but you have to rein in your idealism and be content with the second best. As a matter of practicality, there is no other option for you in this world. This is the story of our lives: We tend to lose whatever is second best on account of just one reason, and that is, our futile pursuit of the very best.

Hari Katha is better than both the nectar of heaven and the nectar of liberation

Hari Katha is better than both the nectar of heaven and the nectar of liberation. My Lord, the transcendental bliss derived from meditating upon Your lotus feet or hearing about Your glories from pure devotees is so unlimited that it is far beyond the stage of Brahmaananda. SB 4.9.10.

The nectar of Your (of Lord Krishna) topics destroys (kalmasa apaharanam) the effects of all stages of sin (aprarabdha, kuta, bija and prarabdha (sinful reactions from which one is suffering at present). The nectar of Svarga does not destroy sins, but rather it increases lusty desire, which is a cause for sin. Even the nectar of liberation does not destroy Prarabdha-karma, though it destroys aprarabdha, kuta and bija. The nectar of hearing about You is most auspicious (Sravana Mangalam) because just by hearing one becomes attracted to You and attains the ultimate goal of life. This is not so with the nectar of Svarga or moksha.

The nectar of Your topics, being constantly broadcast (aatatam) by Your devotees, Those who glorify You in Kirtana (grananti) are bestowing the greatest treasure. Though one may give that person everything he owns, he can never repay him.


- Gopis speaking to Lord Krishna, in the Gopis songs of separation (Gopi gita), Page No.347 of the book entitled Saaraartha Darshini (Commentary by Srila Visvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur, on the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam).

A feeling of my very own (apnapan) with God

If you do a job, you will get wages according to your abilities. But if you go home to your mother, will she give you food according to your capabilities? She will give you food whether you work or don't work. In this manner, it is not that by "bhajan" (adoration and worship) a relationship is developed with Bhagwaan, and by not doing "bhajan" there will not be a relationship. If you accept that "mine-ness" , a feeling of my very own (apnapan) with God, that He Naath! I am your child only, then God will think, that however he is, he is mine very own child only, and God will have to take care of you. Therefore, "I am yours only, and only You are mine," this is a very straight-forward path.

The one desiring service will become unhappy. But one who serves remains ever happy, ever joyful. God says that this "jeev" is a part of me alone, but it attracts the body, senses, mind, intellect, that are established in Nature (Prakriti), and assumes them to be his own (Gita 15/7)! O' what business are you getting involved in? Look where you are from, and where you are getting entangled in ! Serve the world. Give happiness to others with your body, mind, wealth, intellect, abilities, rights, etc., but do not consider them to be your own. This feeling of my very own will not last. They are ours only for serving. All the things in this world that we assume to be our own, they alone bind us, and make us dependent. It is a false notion that this entire family is mine, this wealth is mine, but as such they are not! you have accepted them as yours. You have become dependent and subordinate to them. Neither will these stay with you, nor will you stay with them. Therefore with great enthusiasm and eagerness serve them, then the world will also be happy, and God too will be happy. You too remain happy and rejoice at all times. When there is no one available to serve, then the one desiring service will become unhappy. But one who serves remains ever happy, ever joyful.

Changed of "Mine-ness" with God

Changed of "Mine-ness" with God

There was a great loving devotee of God. Day and night, he was immersed in adoration and worship of God. Someone made a long hat for him. Wearing that in a very joyful spirit, he was chanting the Lord's name. He was so deeply immersed in love of God that God Himself came and sat next to him and said – you have worn a very tall hat today! This hat belongs to me, it does not belong to any other. God said – are you being arrogant! He said, I have not begged for it, it is mine. God asked – do you know me? Yes! I know you very well.
God said can you sell this hat? The man said - do you have anything to give me in return, as you are asking to buy from me? You only have the three world, what else do you have to give? God said - So arrogant!!! The man replied, Will it be on loan or what? God said - I will tell the world, you are not a devotee, and the world will stop believing in you. He said, you may most certainly do so, and I too will tell everyone that God is nothing. Your fame has been only due to us, or else who would know about you? Eventually, God accepted His defeat!

We are to only consider God as our very own. We are to serve God, but we are not to take anything from even God. The love that is there in a mother's heart, that much love is not there in the child. Similarly there is immeasurable love in God's heart. He cannot curb his love, his affection, his fondness, and he accepts defeat! "Aur sab so gaye jeet bhagatse haaryo." What an extraordinary point this is! Similarly, become God's. Our relationship is only to serve others. We are not to accept them as our own.

Your daughter changed her sense of "I-ness"as she now accepts herself as the wife of another household. Do you not have even that much capability as your daughter? You were not upset with your daughter when she changed her "I-ness", then the world too will not be upset with you if you change your sense of I-ness to I am God's, as it is the Truth. Meerabai said - "Mere toh Giridhar Gopal, doosero na koyi." No one else is mine, besides Giridhar Gopal and I belong to no one else.

Bhagwaan se Apnapan

Bhagwaan se Apnapan

You cannot benefit as much from charity, virtuous deeds and obliging others; than you can benefit from taking refuge in the Lord. We have an unbreakable-indestructible relationship with Paramatma. This relationship can never be broken. This relationship has been forgotten by the "jeev" (embodied soul), but it is not forgotten by God. Therefore it is the responsibility of the "jeev" to walk the path towards God. However we are, from God's side He is already showering His grace on us. God is the caretaker of everyone. He is engaged in the process of punishing the sinful and purifying all.

Lord says - "Sanmukh hoi jeev mohi jabhi; Janam koti agh naasahin tab hi || " (Manas, Sunder. 44/2)

From our side we do not consider God as ours, but from God's side He considers us always as His own. He not only accepts us, he also knows it. A child calls his mother his own, but occasionally when she does not listen to him, he becomes stubborn and says- I will not be your child. Maa laughs and says - I know you are mine. The child thinks that the mother needs him, and the mother is gratified by him, therefore he says - I will not be your child, I will not come in your lap. But by not being a child, who will be at a loss? What loss will the mother face? The mother has been living without the child for years, but the child's sustenance will be difficult without the mother. The child is on the other hand doing the mother a favor. Similarly we too can do God a favor.

The embodied soul "Jeev" has distanced himself from God, therefore the responsibility lies on the "jeev" (being) now to turn towards God. The moment he turns towards God, his raft will cross the ocean easily. Therefore let us take refuge of the Lord's Lotus Feet, and change our sense of "I-ness" - "I am God's" Just like sisters and mothers change their sense of I-ness, that I am no longer of this house, I belong to where my hand has been given in marriage.

From "Saadhan, Sudha,Sindhu " in by SwamiRamsukhdasji

What Is God’s Work?

What Is God’s Work?

Once a proud but benevolent king sent for his prime minister and said, “All of us have some definite work or assignment to perform. A king rules, a soldier fights, a trader trades, a teacher teaches and a preacher preaches, though as individuals they do other things also. Then what is the primary function of the Creator? Can you answer my question?”
The minister was puzzled. No one knew, and no book ever explained what God’s work was. After some thought, he said, “I, too, have often wondered about this like you. But my duty here is to advise and assist you on worldly affairs. This involves spiritual matters and the right person to answer you is our bishop.”
When the king repeated his question to the bishop, the bishop asked for a week’s time to reply. At the end of the week, the bishop was sitting under a tree on the outskirts of the town, thinking whether to face the king’s wrath the next morning, or to run away from the kingdom.
A shepherd boy who was passing by enquired about the cause for his worry. The bishop brushed him aside, saying he was deeply worried about a spiritual matter. The boy was quite insistent, and so the bishop related his trouble, without any hope of solution or solace from the boy.
“My dear master,” said the boy, “is that all that worries you so much? Please go in peace to the king. Tell him that the shepherd boy knows the answer.”
The surprised bishop begged the boy to give him the answer, but the boy preferred to meet the king in person. So the bishop went home, and the next morning he was at the court when the king eagerly asked for a reply.
“My dear king!” said the bishop, “i need not have taken so much time or trouble to give you a reply. However, i would request you to call for my shepherd boy who will give you a satisfactory answer.”
The surprised king immediately sent for the boy, who promptly presented himself before the king. His appearance was repulsive to everyone, but the court awaited his words with interest.
“You, shepherd boy,” said the king, “do you know the answer to my question which even learned scholars are not aware of ?”
The boy paused for a while and said, “My dear sir, before i answer your query, may i request that proper protocol is observed. You are a student, as far as this question is concerned, since you want to learn. I am a master as i am to give you the knowledge. Normally the master occupies a higher seat than the student.” After some hesitation the king slowly came down from his throne and let the boy sit on it. So eager was he to know the answer!
But the boy, after ascending the throne, was calmly enjoying the new-found dignity and did not speak for a while. Impatient, the king shouted at the boy, “You fellow! Where is my answer? What is God’s work?” The boy calmly replied, “Here’s the answer, to push down the haughty and to push up the humble – that is God’s work!”
This is one of the 1,50,000 stories found in the ancient puranas, which have relevance even in modern times

Such a compassionate and merciful God, will he not take care of us?

If we want spiritual progress then we must have faith that God has come to our aid,  He is helping us, and will definitely continue to do so.   At present also He is supporting us and in the future too wherever there is a need, there He will most certainly and without doubt come to our aid.  This is because naturally He is eternally compassionate.  Just as He protects His devotees,  in the very same manner he protects and nourishes all other beings as well.  Those men who live their lives not in accordance to God,  them too He gives food, water, air etc.  Those evil men who live completely opposite to the Lord's principles, who entirely oppose the scriptures,  they criticize God, them too God provides the necessities for living.   God provides the necessities for living even to snakes, lions, and all insects and little creatures as well.   Such a compassionate and merciful God,  will he not take care of us?   

Ayamuttamoyamadhamo jaatyaa roopena sampadaa vayasaa |

Shlaadhyoshlaadhyo veth na vetti bhagavaannugrahaavasare ||

Antahsvabhaavoktaa tatontraatma mahaamedh |

Khadirashvaampak iva vaa pravarsham kim vichaarayati  ||  (Prabodhsudhaakar 252/253)

"While gracing someone God does not think whether the person is superior or inferior in terms of a particular race, form, wealthy, age? Whether he is praise- worthy or contemptible? This indweller within, in His vastness (like a huge cloud) understands our inner sentiments.  Does a cloud while pouring the rains, think whether this is an acacia catechu plant or a sweet fragrant flowering plant (champa)?"

Therefore we must have faith in God that whatever may be our needs, God will provide.   Now through Gita, Ramayan and other scriptures, through satsang (spiritual associations) whatever points we are getting, those too we are receiving only due to His grace. 

In essence that foremost grace is of the Lord only,  but it appears to be coming from various other mediums,  just as it appears that we are getting water from a tap.  But on deeper thinking, the water comes into the tap from a pipe,  and it comes from a tank into the pipe, and it comes from a river or a well into the tank,  and from the rains the  rivers get their water,  and the water in the ocean is born of fire (evaporation), and fire comes from air, and air is born of space and space is the energy, the power that manifests from God.  The point is that the essence of everything is God.  By which this entire creation has manifested.   

Whatever we are receiving, it is all coming from God alone.  He is not seeing towards our capabilities before giving,  rather without any cause or motive in a disinterested spirit with His grace He is giving us.  Just as mother while providing for her child does not see towards his capabilities,  strength, intellect, knowledge,  qualities, etc,  rather being a mother she takes care of him.  Similarly God is the mother and father of everyone.  It is not that He will grace us due to some cause.  He naturally is out of sentiments of good-heartedness and friendship,  graces us and provides for us.  Every person should have faith in such a God's grace.   The more that one has trust in God,  that much His grace will be fructified, it will be experienced,  by which you will attain peace,  you will be free of worries and free of fear. 

    

From "Bhagwaan aur Unki Bhakti" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

Positive thinking guards the body against disease

Positive thinking guards the body against disease

 Spirituality and optimistic thinking have a definite bearing on our health and on our body’s healing faculties. Being positive strengthens the immune system, changes our metabolic and endocrinal system and fights diseases. Prevention is better than cure no one can dispute that and spirituality and positive thinking guards the body against disease. What is Spirituality? Spirituality is a firm belief in God and in qualities such as positive thinking, love and compassion. A spiritual person can detach himself from the environment and focus on God or the Universal Consciousness. Spirituality can be defined as an inner path that enables a person to discover the essence of their being, or the deepest values and meanings by which people live. Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayers and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual’s inner life. When this is developed, people appear to have better physical, mental and social health. A spiritual person has lower anxiety levels or psychological problems too. He is also more optimistic, hopeful, happy and social. A believer in God and spirituality always thinks positively. Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita that whatever happens is for the best and one should accept that what happened and will happen too is for the best. Such thinking is suffused with positive energy, so important for self-healing. Good health doesn’t mean just absence of disease, but also implies complete physical, mental and social well-being. From negative to positive Positive thinking is an attitude that anticipates success and favourable outcomes in all situations. The thought process begins in your brain and the brain starts changing negative thoughts to positive. Research has also proven that spiritual thoughts and positive thinking helps people fight chronic diseases. Lord Krishna in the Gita focuses on actions without desire of results. Positive thinking people say that so long as they do their job well and with 100% commitment, the result will automatically be good. Such an attitude saves one from depression and stress, which, in turn, causes a host of problems for the body.

The Lord sees the intentions and motivations of a person

Many people say that  -  "When you repeat the Divine Name of the Lord then is your mind  remaining engaged or not? They say - if the mind is not engaged then you have no gains in this.  The people who say such things are naïve.    They are making a mistake.  They do not really know;  because they have never quite recited the Name of the Lord and seen for themselves.   Has such a thing ever been possible that first the mind should be engaged and then we will do "japa"  (divine name repetition)?   Or will it ever be possible?   Is there such likelihood?  It is not possible that first the mind will be engaged and then we will do "Ram Ram" i.e. repeat the divine name of the Lord.   The mind will become engaged while repeating the Lord's name,  by His grace. "Hari se laagaa raho bhai,  teri bigadi baat ban jaayi Ramjise laagaa raho bhai."  Therefore one must take refuge of the Divine Name.  Initially start with "Ram Ram"  with the mouth and tongue, and do not be concerned about the mind.   "Do not be concerned"  - this does not means that don't engage the mind.  It means that whether our mind gets engaged or not,  do not be fearful that our Japa is not taking place.   It is not so!  Japa is definitely happening,  simply keep continuing.   We have heard - 

 

"Mala to karamein phire,  jeebh phire mukh maahim | 

Manavaan to chahun disi phire,  yeh to sumiran naahin ||

 

Where is it written that worship and devotion of the Lord will not happen?   It is written "sumiran naahi".  If the mind continues to dwell in worldly matters, then how can "sumiran" prayer of the Lord be taking ?   Yes!   Prayer and remembrance of the Lord takes place through the mind,  but where does it say that "this is not japa"?    Japa has taken place.   If repetition of the Lord's name is taking place merely by the tongue and mouth, then "japa"  has taken place. 

 

A saint was saying that establish a relationship with Paramatma in whatever and whichever way.  Whether it be through knowledge or through the mind-intellect. Then what to speak of that!!!  And if not, then simply by the mouth and tongue – simply by calling out the Lord's name "Ram"  establish a relationship, then all will be alright.   "anicchayaa hi sansprushtho dahatyeva hi paavakah"  -  If you touch the fire even without the mind realizing, then too it will inevitably burn, similarly,  any which way, you must take the name of the Lord- 

Bhai kubhaaya anakh aalasahun | 

Naam japat mangal disi dasahun ||  (Manas,  Bala.   28/1) 

 

One must not take the wrong meaning of this that we can take the name of the Lord with even bad sentiments and we do not even need to engage the mind in the Lord.  Make the effort to absorb the mind in the Lord,  remain careful and alert,  connect the mind with the Lord,  think of the Lord,  but if it does not happen, then do not fear at all.   What I am trying to say is that do not think that if the mind was unable to engage in the Lord then our Japa has been useless and a waste.  If the mind does not engage right now,  do not be concerned;  because when your intent and direction is to engage the mind, then surely it will be engaged. 

One thing is that we do not engage the mind and another is that the mind does not get engaged.    There is a big difference between these two states.   In outwardly appearance it seems to be the same, because in both these states the mind is not engaged.   While the situation is the same; but though being the same, there is a big difference.  He who does not even try to engage the mind,  his intent and aim is also not to engage the mind.   He has no thoughts of engaging the mind.   The other person wants to engage the mind in the Lord,  but the mind does not do so.  The Lord sees to the inner feelings of everyone's heart –

 

Rahati na prabhu chit chuk kiye ki

Karata surati saya baar hiyeki ||  (Manas,  Bala.  29/5) 

 

Lord sees what is in his heart, that he wants to engage the mind but the mind is not engaging.   Then O'  King!  there will be great merit to this.  There will be much affect and influence on the Lord.  The Lord sees the intentions and motivations of a person.  We must make an effort to engage the mind, but if it does not happen then do not be afraid, and continue to take the Divine Name of the Lord.  

Ram !  Ram !! Ram  !!! 

From "Manas mein Naam Vandana" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji