Necessity of Spiritual Heroism

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

Like the evil Ravana of Srimad Ramayana, the so called "popular" heroes and heroines of today's movies have a fatal flaw.

Srimad Ramayana is the ancient Vedic saga of action, romance, wisdom, and adventure ; a saga that has inspired a quarter of the world's population for millennia; a saga that depicts a past when beings of celestial might—both divine and demoniac—interacted on our terrestrial realm; a saga of the struggle between good and the evil; a saga in which Bhagavan Maha-Vishnu descends and teaches virtue, righteousness, and spirituality by His sterling personal example.

Despite Srimad Ramayana's historical antiquity, its basic storyline is similar to that of a typical movie : It features a hero, a heroine, and a villain lusting for the heroine ; and it tells of an exciting confrontation between the hero and the villain, culminating in the death of the villain and the reunion of the hero and the heroine. But there is one vital difference between the Ramayana and a modern movie: In a movie, the hero, the heroine, and the villain are all actually villains.

Why? Many people think of a villain as someone who enjoys by exploiting and harming others. Though not wrong, this conception of evil is incomplete and naïve, as it ignores a fundamental reality : our supremely responsible and loving father, Bhagavan Narayana. Many of us never got the spiritual education needed to understand that it is Bhagavan who selflessly provides us our daily food. It is true that we have to work hard to earn our living, but our effort is secondary. It's like the hard work of birds searching for grains: Without Bhagavan providing the grains through nature, their search, no matter how painstaking, would be fruitless. Similarly without Bhagavan's designing the miraculous mechanism of photosynthesis, which transforms "mud into mangoes" (a feat far beyond the best scientist and the latest computer), we would never have any food, no matter how much we labored. All our other necessities—heat, light, air, water, health—are similarly fulfilled, primarily by divine arrangement, secondarily by human endeavor.

Unfortunately our media, culture, and education preoccupy us with so many materialistic allurements that we become blinded to the fact of our dependence on Bhagavan and obligation to Him. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, just as a healthy fear of a loving father is necessary for a naughty, restless child to become disciplined and responsible. And love of God is the culmination of wisdom, just as gratitude and love for a benevolent father shows the maturity of a grown-up child.

Sadly, however, our society fosters neither love nor fear of Bhagavan , but glamorizes godless, selfish materialism instead. Consequently nowadays many people are extremely selfish in their relationship with God. They don't give even a few moments to the person who has given them their entire life. In a family, if a son doesn't care for his father, who is his link with his brothers, soon he will stop caring for them too. In fact, he may even become malevolent toward them because they become his competitors for inheritance. Similarly, selfishness toward God is the origin of all evil. We have all sown that evil seed in our own hearts and are now force-feeding each other its bitter fruits—terrorism, corruption, crime, exploitation— all born from fighting with each other for the world's resources, God's inheritance for us.

Divine Heroes

Srimad Ramayana gives us a glimpse of heroism and villainy, of selfless love and selfish lust. Lord Sri Rama and His consort, Sita-devi , are the eternal hero and heroine. Hanuman, the godly hero, personifies the tendency to selflessly assist the Lord in His divine love, whereas Ravana, the godless villain, personifies the tendency to selfishly grab the Lord's property for his own lust. The godly hero aspires to enjoy with God, whereas the godless villain wants to enjoy like God.

On the other hand, in a typical movie all the main characters—the hero, the heroine, and the villain—have the same evil mentality of wanting to enjoy without caring for God. In the hero and heroine, the guise of romance masks that mindset, whereas the villain expresses it without reservation. But they are all Ravanas, the difference being merely in the shades of gray.

Our selfish attempts to be imitation heroes and heroines, whether in the movies or in real life, are intrinsically evil, and they fuel and fan all the greater evils we dread. Ultimately our evil boomerangs on us, for it perpetuates the illusion of our bodily misidentification, and our body subjects us to the tortures of old age, disease, death, and rebirth—again and again and again.

Of course we do not have to choke our natural urge for specialness . Like Hanuman we can all be heroes too—in service to the supreme hero. Unfortunately our corrupted society portrays the Ravana tendency as heroic and the Hanuman propensity as obsolete.

A Lesson of Hope

Srimad Ramayana reveals that Ravana, despite his extraordinary prosperity, was never satisfied but always lusty and greedy for more. Isn't that the condition of our modern civilization? All the might and wealth of Ravana could neither bring him happiness nor save him from eventual destruction. The ultimate defeat of Ravana reminds us of the destiny that awaits our society if it continues in its godless selfishness.

Still, the fall of Ravana is not just a doomsday warning ; it is also a harbinger of hope and joy because it teaches us that the Lord is competent to destroy the evil within and without . The same Lord Rama who destroyed Ravana millennia ago has reappeared as His holy name to destroy the Ravana within people's hearts. The holy name offers us real happiness, not by imitating Bhagavan, but by loving Bhagavan, not by becoming an imitator hero, but by becoming a servitor hero.

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 !!!

Which is the Best Spiritual Path ?

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

Though there are many spiritual paths, there are mainly three, Bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion), Karma yoga (yoga of action) and Jnana yoga (yoga of knowledge). The purpose of all yogas is control of the mind, which means thoughts. Whatever may be the path, attainment of the goal is possible only if the `vasanas' (habits) are attenuated.

All paths lead to the same goal, and all paths incorporate devotion or love as essential to the practice.

All yogas aim at `samatva bhav ` (attitude of equality). What is known as yoga is `samatva'. Whatever may be the path, that state ( equality) should be attained. Any spiritual path, whichever it may be, involves renunciation. Without practising renunciation, the desired benefit will not be obtained. Whatever the path is, `sadhana' should be performed and should be known through experience.

The field that is the mind should be irrigated with the water of bhakti , so that the seed of knowledge can be sown. Then we can harvest the crop of liberation.

Which Path Should I Follow?

Which path to follow depends on the spiritual disposition one has inherited from the previous birth. This birth is a continuation of the previous one. Whatever path you follow, the mind should flow spontaneously towards it. Love is necessary. To connect with your *Ishata-deva* is the best way to find your path.

You cannot simply adopt any path that you feel like. Each one will have a path, which they followed in the previous birth. Only if that path is followed will one progress in one's practice.

Different people's experiences cannot be the same . They can only happen according to each individual's unique spiritual constitution, the path he follows, the amount of effort he or she puts forth, and the `samskaras' he or she has inherited from previous lives. What you experience now is not a beginning ; it is a continuation of the past. Also, you must remember that the Guru gives only what is needed, and that whatever he gives is for your own good.

Which is the Best Path for a Common man ?

Whether it is in the East or in the West, one's spiritual path can only be indicated according to one's inherited spiritual disposition and mental constitution. One path cannot be announced in a public address as the one and only path for all . The advice given is particular to the individual . Each person is a patient with a different disease. Some people are in the beginning stages of a disease while others are in the middle stages . In addition, we find people with chronic diseases and still others who are half-cured . Therefore, the treatment for each person cannot be the same. The medicine will be different and the dosage will vary. But generally speaking, the path of devotion is the easiest and least complicated. While anybody can love, not all can do pranayama (breath control) or hatha yoga (yogic postures). Only certain people endowed with a certain mental and physical constitution can do these. But love has no prerequisites. Whoever has a heart can love, and everyone has a heart. To love is an innate tendency in human beings.

Bhakti-yoga (the yoga of devotion) , is the best path for common man . Of course, this is a general statement. Now a days, people even from early childhood, are intellectual and take an intellectual approach to everything. It is the product of their `modern' education. They are fed with all kinds of factual information about the empirical world, and the emphasis is on science and technology. So their analytical minds are well developed, but their hearts are dry. In most cases, the hearts of modern educated people remain underdeveloped and imperfect . The head is big, but the heart is shrivelled up and dry.

The path of bhakti teaches love. First, you develop one-pointed love towards your Ishta-deva . When that love becomes the centre of your life and as the devotional practices become more and more intense, your vision changes. You come to understand that Bhagavan dwells in all beings, including you. As this experience becomes stronger and stronger, the love in you also grows until, at last, you become That . The love within you expands and embraces the entire universe with all its beings. You become the personification of love. This love removes all dryness from you. This love is the best cure for all emotional blocks and for all negative feelings. Therefore, Bhakti-yoga is the best for common spiritual seekers.

Which is Superior , Bhakti or Karma Yoga?

We can't really say that bhakti yoga and karma yoga differ from each other, because a true karma yogi is a real devotee, and a true devotee is a real karma yogi . Every action isn't necessarily karma yoga. Only those actions performed selflessly, as an offering to Bhagavan, can be called karma yoga . Neither does doing four circumambulations, raising your arms, and offering salutations to the deity qualify as bhakti. Our minds should dwell on Bhagavan, and our every action should be a form of worship. We should see our beloved deity in everyone, and offer them our love and service. We should surrender to Bhagavan with all our heart . Only then we can say we have bhakti. A true karma yogi keeps his mind on Bhagavan while engaged in each action . We should have the attitude that everything is Bhagavan. Then it is bhakti. On the other hand, if we think about other things while we are doing puja (ritual worship), then the puja cannot be considered bhakti yoga, because it is just an external action and not real worship. But even if our job is cleaning lavatories, if we chant the mantra while working, with the attitude that it is Bhagavan's work, then it is both bhakti yoga and karma yoga.

Why so much importance of the path of devotion?

There are many reasons why we should consider the path of devotion the most suitable path for most people . First of all, it gives much contentment to the practitioner. A contented person will have enthusiasm and vigour . Such a person will be very optimistic and endowed with an adventurous mind . Their attitude is that life and everything that happens in life is a gift, and this gives them immense patience and strength . Unlike those who pursue other paths, such a one does not believe that happiness is a right to which he or she is entitled . As far as they are concerned, there are no rights, there are only gifts . This attitude helps them to accept everything as a gift, both good and bad, and also instils them with courage and faith. Such a person will have a loving and compassionate heart, a childlike innocence and a pleasing nature. Not wanting to injure anyone or hurt anybody's feelings, he or she cannot harm anyone. They will also have the power to renounce comforts and pleasures for the happiness and peace of others. He or she will experience the same problems in life as everyone else, but he will have the mental ability and balance to remain calm and quiet when adversity arises. He or she practices acceptance, for such a one's attitude is that life and everything that happens in life is a gift, not a right.

The path of devotion is the best and the easiest since most people are predominately emotional in nature. Not only that, bhakti marga (path of devotion) has no complications like the other paths. There are no harmful techniques or complications involved in love. Simply love Bhagavan. Love is not aggressive; it is a constant flow.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana is intellectual knowledge while vijnana is transcending the intellect, negating even that as untrue, and affirming pure experience alone as the Supreme Truth.

It is hard to become established in jnana without devotion. With gravel alone we cannot build anything ; we need to add cement as well, and make concrete. We cannot build the steps leading to Bhagavan without adding the binding quality of love.

Are the different names and forms of Bhagavan real ?

The names and forms are needed for people like us with the kind of mental calibre that exists today. It will help our spiritual growth. Therefore, whether it is meditation on the Supreme with attributes or the Supreme without attributes, the goal is to attain perfect God realization . Give up all such doubts about gods and goddesses and do your sadhana by fixing your mind on your Ishta-deva .

The Supreme God ( Parabrahman) is nameless, formless and attributeless. To provide easy access to the Bhaktas, Parabrahman has manifested as Sri Krishna .

The sweet and blissful feeling that one gains from singing the glories of Sri Krishna is an incomparable and inexpressible experience. It happens due to Bhagavan's mercy to His bhaktas .

All the names and forms mentioned in the Vedic scriptures , whatever they are, are originated from Bhagavan . But this is not the case for one who has not reached the state of perfection. He or she may say that all names and forms are unreal and that Brahman alone is true and real. However, if they have not experienced perfection, it is meaningless to go around declaring the unreality of forms.

Everything is Brahman, that is right . But have you realised That ? It is like a blind person saying that there is light everywhere. Why do you talk unnecessarily about some thing that you have no idea about at all ? You constantly experience the world and its objects, but you talk about something which you have never experienced.

When we worship Sri Rama or Sri Krishna, we adore the eternal Vedic ideals which manifest through Them . If they were mere individuals, nobody would have worshipped Them. When they are worshipped, a true seeker is not adoring a limited individual but the same all-pervading cosmic intelligence which you believe is the only Truth.

There is Rama and Krishna

Everyone ultimately reaches the same place, but you need an upadhi (focusing factor) for doing sadhana. How can you say there is no Rama or Krishna? Even if you don't see Guruvayoor on a map of India , can you say there is no place called Guruvayoor ? Your sense of Advaita is just limited to your words. It is not possible to bring it into your experience without devotion.

Obey Bhagavan's instructions wholeheartedly

The Supreme God ( Parabrahman) is not easily accessible in a formless entity . But His *Poornavatara* ( complete manifestation) Sri Krishna is readily accessible to the Bhakta . Gita and Bhagavatam are Bhagavan Krishna's literary forms which He mercifully gifted to Bhaktas . By surrendering to Bhagavan and constantly chanting His names, a devotee can easily attain HIM .

Please chant :

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

Questions and Answers in Spiritual Life !!!

What is the secret of success ?

This is the way to advance in spiritual science. One must accept the words of a Guru, to clear the path for spiritual advancement. This is the secret of success. However, one's guide must be a Guru who is actually an unalloyed devotee strictly following the instructions of the previous Acharya without deviation. Whatever the Guru says must be accepted by the disciple. Only then is success certain. This is Vedic system. (Caitanya Carithaamritha, Madhya Leela, 10.17)

How does a pure devotee see tribulations in life ?
A pure devotee of the Lord accepts tribulations as favors from the Lord. Since the Lord is absolute, there is no mundane difference between the two. (Between tribulations and favours). ….(Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.17)


What is the glory of devotional service ?

God is great, but devotional service is greater than God because it attracts Him. People who are not in devotional service can never understand what great value there is in rendering service to the Lord. ( Swami Prabhupda Page No.32 in the book Bhakti).

How rare is the devotional service ?

In the preliminary phase of spiritual life there are different kinds of austerities, penances, and similar processes for attaining self-realization. However, even if an executor of these processes is without any material desire, he still cannot achieve devotional service. And aspiring by oneself alone to achieve devotional service is also not very hopeful, because Krishna does not agree to award devotional service to merely anyone. Krishna can easily offer a person material happiness or even liberation, but He does not agree very easily to award a person engagement in His devotional service. Devotional service can in fact be attained only through the mercy of a pure devotee. ( Swami Prabhupda Page No.26 in the book Bhakti).

How can we enter into devotional service ?

Devotional service is dependent on the mercy of Krishna and His devotees. Unless we surrender to the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to come to the platform of pure devotional service. By his own efforts a bee cannot taste the honey within a bottle. The bottle must be opened by a superior. If the bee simply licks the outside of the bottle, thinking "Now I am tasting honey," then he is in illusion. Similarly, no one can enter into devotional service unless the door is opened by a devotee. . ( Swami Prabhupda Page No.27 in the book Bhakti).

Why should we glorify the devotees before Krishna ?

Radha-Krishna. Radha¢s name is first. Why ? Nobody can be better devotee than Radharani. As soon as Radha¢s name is there, Krishna is more pleased. That is the way. If we glorify the devotees, the character of the devotees, before the Lord, He is more pleased than to glorify Himself, He directly. ( Swami Prabhupda in his satsang on 24^th March, 1969).

Can our fate be changed ?

Fate can be changed by Krishna Consciousness. Krishna says, " I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed. When you surrender to Krishna , He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. Surrender to Krishna ; then your fate is changed. ( Swami Prabhupda in his satsang on 28^th November, 1975).

What is the attitude of a pure devotee ?

A pure devotee always thinks himself as not-devotee. If one thinks he is big devotee, that is not good -- thinking that he is first degree. We should not be puffed up. A devotee avoids it -- remaining always in the second degree. Krishna has given everyone something extraordinary, and to serve Krishna with one¢s extraordinary talent means successful life. . ( Swami Prabhupda in his letter to Sukadeva, 17^th March, 1973.)

How a Vaishnava should be ?

When a touchstone touches iron, it turns the iron to gold. Parvata Muni called Narada Muni a touchstone because by his touch the hunter, who was the lowest among men, became an elevated and perfect Vaisnava. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that the position of a Vaisnava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is, that is, by seeing how many Vaisnavas he has made during his life. A Vaisnava should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaisnavism by his preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. (Chaitanya Charithaamrutha, Madhya Leela, 24.277).

Please Chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
And make your life sublime !!!

Why Most People Miss Spiritual Bliss?

The Bhagavad-gita (15.11) states, “The transcendentalists who strive to situate themselves on the spiritual platform can see the soul clearly. But others who are not spiritually situated cannot see the soul, even if they try, because their consciousness is misdirected.”
Let’s understand the blinding effect of misdirected vision with an example. If somebody stares at the back side of a canvas, he will never be able to appreciate the painting, no matter how long he scrutinizes it. Nor will he understand why connoisseurs of art are delighting over the painting; indeed he will call them crazy. Suppose the art connoisseurs are in minority; how will they communicate the beauty of the painting to the unsympathetic majority?
Like the art connoisseurs in our hypothetical example, the spiritual connoisseurs– the devotees who delight in remembering their beloved Lord, Sri Krishna – are considered strange, even crazy, by others. The joy they derive in singing the praises of their Lord – often in public kirtans – is, for the onlookers, interesting but incomprehensible. Even scholars who do doctorates in religion fail to experience, despite their years of scrutinizing study, a drop of the ocean of joy that the devotees experience in a few moments of devotional-musical festivity.
Why this difference?
This mystery of the simultaneous accessibility and inaccessibility of the spiritual realm is unraveled in the above Gita verse. For those situated on the material platform, pursuing worldly pleasures and possessions, their infatuation with matter blinds them to spiritual reality. Even if they study spiritual literature, their minds being filled with dreams and schemes for materialistic enjoyment, they are unable to see anything higher. Their endeavors to understand spirituality are in vain like the attempts of a blind man to see by squinting and straining his eyes.
But the blind man can see, if he follows the doctor’s process. Similarly aspiring spiritualist can experience spiritual bliss by redirecting their consciousness from matter to spirit. This redirection entails:

1. Avoiding materially entangling activities:
Four activities that especially entangle our minds in matter, as mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam, are gambling, intoxication, meat-eating and illicit sex. By eschewing these activities, we will find our consciousness becoming clearer and sharper to perceive spiritual truths.

2. Maximizing spiritually absorbing activities:
Mantra meditation – especially attentive, devotional contemplation on the sound of the mantras comprised of the names of God like the Hare Krishna mahamantra – connects us practically and joyfully with God, the reservoir of all spiritual bliss.
By regularly following this process, we can, figuratively speaking, turn our vision from the back of the canvas to the front.