Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 07 Chapter 15 Purports - Instructions for Civilized Human Beings
Pages in category "Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 07 Chapter 15 Purports - Instructions for Civilized Human Beings"
The following 422 pages are in this category, out of 422 total.
A
- A brahmacari must live under the care of the guru: brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam - SB 7.12.1
- A brahmana may be extremely fortunate in having achieved brahma jnana, but the Pandavas were so exalted that the Parabrahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was living in their house like an ordinary human being
- A cheater brahmacari should immediately be rejected as unimportant. Such persons should be shown compassion, and if one has sufficient strength one should teach them to stop them from following the wrong path in life
- A devotee can immediately become a perfect yogi because he practices keeping Krsna constantly within the core of his heart. This is another way to practice yoga easily
- A devotee is always satisfied because he feels the presence of the Supersoul within his heart and thinks of Him twenty-four hours a day. That is real satisfaction
- A devotee is never driven by the dictations of the tongue and genitals, and thus he is never victimized by the laws of material nature
- A forest is certainly a transformation of the earth, but one tree does not depend on another tree; if one is cut down, this does not mean that the others are cut down. Therefore, the forest is neither a combination nor a transformation of the trees
- A Krsna conscious person can understand that performing yajna according to the karma-kanda system is a useless waste of time and that merely giving up the karma-kanda and accepting the process of speculation is also unfruitful
- A life of karma-kanda or jnana-kanda is like a poison pot, and one who takes to such a life is doomed. In the karma-kanda system, one is destined to accept birth and death again and again
- A person in meditation achieves the perfection of yoga practice when he can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A pure devotee, without embarrassing himself by trying for elevation in so many ways, stays in the safest position as a servant of Krsna, and thus his life is eternally safe without a doubt
- A real philosopher must be convinced that light is not possible at all without a background of sunlight
- A sannyasi is one who has clearly understood, through advancement in knowledge, that Brahman - he, the person himself - is the soul, not the body
- A sannyasi must specifically remove himself from the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals, which disturb one as long as one is not fully aware that the body is separate from the soul
- A sannyasi, one who has understood the self, should be engaged in elevating the self and associating with the Superself. Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for elevating the living being for promotion back home, back to Godhead
- A significant word here (in SB 7.15.45) is acyuta-balah. The spiritual master is certainly very merciful to his disciples, and consequently by satisfying him a devotee gets strength from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A true brahmana is always satisfied. Even if he has nothing to eat, he can drink a little water and be satisfied. This is only a matter of practice. Unfortunately, however, no one is educated in how to be satisfied in self-realization
- A Vaisnava is in a higher position than a jnani, and therefore Advaita Acarya selected Haridasa Thakura to be the person to accept His charity
- Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna: (BG 8.16) aside from the moon, even if one goes to Brahmaloka, one must return
- Acaryam mam vijaniyat (SB 11.17.27). One should consider the acarya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Acaryavan puruso veda: one who is guided by the bona fide spiritual master knows everything as stated in the Vedas, which set forth the standard of infallible knowledge
- According to the sastras, a brahmana, or a cultured person in Krsna consciousness, will not enter anyone's service to maintain body and soul together, and especially not for satisfaction of the senses
- Acintya-bhedabheda explains how the Lord can present Himself everywhere and anywhere in a form of His energy to accept service from the devotee
- Advaita Gosvami, after performing the sraddha ceremony for his father, offered charity to Haridasa Thakura, although it was known to everyone that Haridasa Thakura was born in a Mohammedan family, not a brahmana family
- After hearing the conversation between Narada and Yudhisthira (in SB 7.15), if one still has any doubts about Krsna's being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should immediately give them up
- After instructing Yudhisthira Maharaja, Narada Muni prays for the Lord's blessings that He be pleased with everyone and that everyone become perfect in God consciousness and return home, back to Godhead
- After one's enjoyment due to pious activities is finished, one must return to this planet in rainfall and first take birth as a plant or creeper, which is eaten by various animals, including human beings, and turned to semen
- All respect should be given to him (pure devotee), and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am
- All the acaryas in South India, especially Sri Ramanujacarya, constructed many big temples, and in North India all the Gosvamis of Vrndavana constructed large temples. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also constructed large centers
- All the centers of our Krsna consciousness movement have Deity worship programs very nicely going on in which food is offered to the Deity and distributed to the first-class brahmanas and Vaisnavas and even to the people in general
- All the members of our Krsna consciousness movement, whether they be grhasthas or sannyasis, should try to spread the Krsna consciousness movement with determination, and Krsna will supply all necessities
- Although one may be promoted to a higher planetary system such as Candraloka, one must again come down (ksine punye martya-lokam visanti) - BG 9.21
- Although the purpose of life is to become spiritually rich, unfortunate men, misguided as they are, are always engaged in trying to become materially rich. Such material engagements, however, do not help one in the actual fulfillment of the human mission
- Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead may become the so-called enemy of the living being, this is His chivalrous pleasure
- Among the higher classes - brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya - there is no chance for men to mingle with women freely, but in the sudra community such mingling is open
- An elephant bathes in a lake quite thoroughly, but as soon as it comes on the shore it takes some dust from the ground and strews it over its body. Thus there is no meaning to the elephant's bath
- Animal sacrifice in the name of religion is current practically all over the world in every religion
- Another offense was that he (Narada Muni) considered ordinary songs, like cinema songs and other such songs, to be equal to sankirtana. For this offense he was punished with becoming a sudra
- Anukulyena krsnanusilanam (CC Madhya 19.167). Bhakti consists of serving Krsna and His devotees very favorably
- Any country where people indulge in unnecessary killing of animals will have to suffer from wars and pestilence imposed by material nature
- Any religious principles opposed to the principle of surrendering to the lotus feet of the SPG, Krsna, are to be considered religious principles of irregularity or cheating, and one who is actually interested in religion must give them up
- Anyabhilasita-sunyam (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11). If one has no desire other than to serve Krsna and His devotee, then his life is successful. This is explained by Narada Muni (in SB 7.15.73) through this practical example from his own life
- Anyone who takes part in this movement, regardless of what he is, can gain the topmost result achieved by a perfect sannyasi, namely brahma jnana (spiritual knowledge). Even more important, he can advance in devotional service
- Anyone, whether a grhastha or a sannyasi, can keep small Deities of God and thus worship Them by offering food prepared in ghee & then offering the sanctified prasada to the forefathers, demigods & other living entities as a matter of routine daily work
- Anyone, whether a grhastha or a sannyasi, can keep small Deities of the Lord suitably packed or, if possible, installed, and thus worship the Deities of Radha-Krsna, Sita-Rama, Laksmi-Narayana, Lord Jagannatha or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- Anything opposed to this religious system of progressive Krsna consciousness is called vidharma, para-dharma, upadharma or chala-dharma. Misinterpretation of Bhagavad-gita is chala-dharma
- Arjuna, as a result of piercing the adhara-mina, or the fish within the cakra, achieved the valuable gain of Draupadi
- As far as kirtana is concerned, the sastras say, sravanam kirtanam visnoh: (SB 7.5.23) one should chant the glories of the Supreme Lord and the holy name of the Supreme Lord. This is clearly stated
- As it is said, aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah: (SB 10.2.32) if one neglects to serve the lotus feet of Krsna, one cannot become free from the material clutches simply by knowledge
- As it is said, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate: (CC Madhya 13.65, purport) the Lord has multi-energies, which are expressed in different ways
- As long as one has a human body, one should fully use it to obtain the highest perfection of life, namely going back home, back to Godhead
- As recommended in Bhagavad-gita, acaryopasanam: one must approach the acarya for real knowledge
- As soon as one is freed from inclinations toward pious and impious activities, he becomes a perfect candidate for returning home, back to Godhead
- As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one must get in touch with a bona fide spiritual master coming in the parampara of Krsna consciousness, for by his mercy and instructions one is able to get strength from Krsna
- As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.11): Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan
- As the soul transmigrates, one who has taken birth must give up the present body, and then he must certainly accept another body. This should be no cause for lamentation
- As we have already mentioned, Srila Advaita Acarya, during the generally observed ceremony to offer oblations to the forefathers, invited only Haridasa Thakura
- Asamsayam samagram. Without any doubt and without any defect, one should understand Krsna to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus surrender at His lotus feet
- At the present day, however, not only are animals killed in the name of sacrifice, but the killing of animals has increased enormously because of the increasing number of slaughterhouses
B
- Balarama is Nityananda. Vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei, balarama ha-ila nitai. This bala - Balarama - comes with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, & both of Them are so merciful that in this age of Kali one may very easily take shelter of Their lotus feet
- Because of his (Narada Muni's) association with devotees, he became more fortunate than he was in Gandharvaloka. Even though cursed by the prajapatis to become a sudra, in his next life he became the son of Lord Brahma
- Because there is no cultural education in this age of Kali, everyone is spiritually untrained, and everyone is therefore to be considered sudra. When all the people become sudras, certainly they are very bad
- Becoming Krsna conscious is the topmost stage in understanding of religious principles. One who reaches this stage performs the arcana process in devotional service
- BG (10.10): "To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." Krsna does not become the direct spiritual master unless one is fully trained by His representative spiritual master
- BG 7.1: "Now, hear, O son of Prtha (Arjuna), how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt." Lord Krsna Himself teaches how one can understand Him perfectly well, without a doubt
- Bhagavad-gita, which constitutes the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is presented by the spiritual master as it is, without deviation. Therefore the Absolute Truth is present in the spiritual master
- Bhagavan Sri Krsna can remember incidents from millions of years ago. Similarly, His pure devotee like Narada Muni can also remember incidents from a past life millions and millions of years ago
- Both the soul and the Supersoul are transcendental to the material world. This is to be understood in the human form of life, especially when one takes sannyasa
- Brahmanism (brahmanya) consists of the knowledge of Brahman. But actually the body of a brahmana is not Brahman. Similarly, the body is neither rich nor poor
- BS 5.1, "Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes." This is the perfection of knowledge
- By Krsna's grace, the Pandavas conquered in the Battle of Kuruksetra and were saved from many dangers posed not only by kings but sometimes even by the demigods. Thus they are a practical example of how to live in security & safety by the grace of Krsna
- By practice, one should avoid eating in such a way that other living entities will be disturbed and suffer
- By practicing yoga one must come to the platform of meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- By staunch faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one not only controls the senses but also realizes the Supreme Lord
- By various practices, one may come to the point of controlling the senses, but simply controlling the senses does not bring one to a substantial conclusion
- By worshiping stone or wood we get no result, but when the stone and wood are represented in the Lord's original form, by worshiping the Deity we get the desired result. This is supported by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda
C
E
- Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gita the Lord says, urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah: (BG 14.18) if one becomes a very good person - in other words, if one is in the mode of goodness - he may be elevated to the higher planetary systems
- Especially if a sannyasi not only maintains the body by ordinary means but does everything to maintain the body, including even eating meat and other abominable things, he must be a lampatah, a greedy person simply engaged in sense gratification
- Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is very difficult to find a suitable place according to the recommendations of Bhagavad-gita. The Hare Krsna maha-mantra, however, may be chanted at any place and any time, and this will bring results very quickly
- Especially in this Kali-yuga, material advancement means degradation and attraction to many unwanted necessities that create a low mentality
- Even if not born in a brahmana family, a devotee, because of his devotion to the Lord, is above all kinds of brahmanas, whether they be karma-kandis or jnana-kandis
- Even if one attains the stage of brahma-padam, merging in Brahman, without bhakti he is prone to fall down. One must be very careful in regard to the danger of falling down again into material bondage
- Even if one goes to the higher planetary systems (yanti deva-vrata devan (BG 9.25)), one's place there is not secure; one must return to martya-loka
- Even if one is born in a family of dog-eaters, he can become My devotee and be very dear to Me, in spite of having taken birth in such a family. Therefore, offerings should be given to My devotee, and whatever My devotee has offered Me should be accepted
- Even if one is materially inclined, one may take to the shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama, or Gaura and Nitai, so that he will very soon be purified of all material desires - ksipram bhavati dharmatma sasvac chantim nigacchati
- Even if one is not born in a brahmana family but has brahminical qualifications, he must be considered a brahmana. By strictly following this system, one can be happy without extra endeavor
- Even in human life, while observing the principles of varna and asrama-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa - one must ultimately accept sannyasa, the renounced order
- Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in DS
- Even while chanting the Hare Krsna mantra one may observe regulative principles. Thus while sitting and chanting one may keep his body straight, and this will help one in the chanting process; otherwise one may feel sleepy
- Everyone is related to the Supreme Lord, but one should not mistakenly think that because one is related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he has become the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana
- Everyone is trying to reach the goal of complete happiness materially; because people do not know what complete happiness is, they are materially diverted toward different interests
- Everyone must act according to his position and try to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that will make one's life successful. This was instructed in Naimisaranya - in SB 1.2.13
- Everyone should act according to his occupational duties just to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then everyone will be happy
- Everyone should follow the example of the Pandavas, who showed how to be saved by the grace of Krsna
- Everyone should strictly follow the principles of varna and asrama as given in the sastra
- Everything but the principle of religion recommended by Krsna-sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66) - should be given up as irreligion
F
- Following the bodily concept of life, such sannyasis (who do not know the meaning of Narayana) make various programs to serve the body. They conduct farcical missions consisting of so-called religious activities meant to mislead all of human society
- Following the pravrtti-marga, the living entity who desires to be promoted to the higher planetary systems performs sacrifices regularly, & how he goes up & comes down again is described here in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.15.50-51), as well as in Bhagavad-gita
- For a bewildered person in the materialistic way of life, the body, the mind and the senses, which are engaged in sense gratification, are the cause of bondage to repeated birth, death, old age and disease
- For an ordinary man in the bodily concept of life, the practice of yoga may be helpful, but one who immediately takes to devotional service can immediately become a perfect yogi without difficulty
- For conquering the agitation of the mind one is recommended to take leave of his family and live alone, maintaining body and soul together by begging alms and eating only as much as needed to keep himself alive
- For liberation, one should accept the direction of authorized devotees who can actually endow one with perfect knowledge
- For one who cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the practice of yoga is recommended
- For one who is advanced in spiritual knowledge, the same body, senses and mind are the cause of liberation. This is confirmed in the Katha Upanisad - 1.3.3-4,9
- For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement
- For those who are not very advanced, the practice of yoga is recommended in order to stop the mind from being agitated by material desires, but if one fixes his mind on the lotus feet of Krsna, his mind naturally becomes peaceful very soon
- From Bhagavad-gita we understand that there is another prakrti, or nature, which is real. This is explained by the Lord Himself in the Eighth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita - 8.19-21
- From the description of the beauty of Narada Muni when he was one of the denizens of Gandharvaloka (in SB 7.15.70), it appears that everyone on that planet is extremely beautiful and pleasing and always decorated with flowers and sandalwood
G
- Generally the chanting of om is recommended because in the beginning one cannot understand the Personality of Godhead
- Generally, once elevated to the transcendental platform of brahma-sukha, transcendental bliss, one never comes down. But if one does not engage in devotional service, there is a chance of his returning to the material platform
H
- Haridasa Thakura was not interested in the activities of jnana-kanda or karma-kanda.
- Here (in SB 7.15.57) the Vedic aphorism sarvam khalv idam brahma is explained. It is also explained in the catuh-sloki Bhagavatam 2.9.33-34-35-36. Aham evasam evagre
- Here (in SB 7.15.75) is a statement exalting a Vaisnava
- His (Narada Muni's) first offense was that he went to join the sankirtana party in the company of lusty women
- How much of a hindrance are hostility, greed, illusion, lamentation and too much attachment to material enjoyment
- However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activity or mental speculation
- Human culture does not begin unless one takes to the principles of varnasrama-dharma. Although grhastha life is a concession for the enjoyment of sex, one cannot enjoy sex without following the rules and regulations of householder life
- Human life is simply meant for developing Krsna consciousness
I
- If a brahmacari does not live under the care of the guru, if a vanaprastha engages in ordinary activities, or if a sannyasi is greedy and eats meat, eggs and all kinds of nonsense for the satisfaction of his tongue, he is a cheater
- If material existence is temporary or false, this does not mean that the spiritual world, although similar, is also false. That one's material body is false or temporary does not mean that the body of the Supreme Lord is also false or temporary
- If one accepts sannyasa at an immature stage, there is every possibility of his being attracted by women and lusty desires and thus again becoming a so-called grhastha or a victim of women
- If one becomes very rich through his professional activities, through trade or through agriculture, this does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. To be spiritually advanced is different from being materially rich
- If one can understand Krsna as the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor of everything, and the supreme friend of everyone, one is established in peace and is free from material agitation
- If one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant
- If one does not care to listen to His (Krsna's) instructions, the result will be that one will never go back to Godhead, but will continue life in this miserable condition of repeated birth and death in material existence
- If one does not enter the devotional service of the Lord but artificially considers himself Brahman or Narayana, not perfectly understanding that the soul and body are different, one certainly falls down. Such a person again gives importance to the body
- If one has no connection with Nitai, Balarama, then even though one is a very learned scholar or jnani or has taken birth in a very respectable family, these assets will not help him
- If one is a pure devotee acting under the directions of the guru, one easily gets the mercy of the Supreme Lord and thus becomes immediately situated on the transcendental platform
- If one is determined not to be envious of anyone, he can naturally conquer anger. Similarly, one can give up the desire to accumulate wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in one's possession
- If one is determined not to have sex, he can automatically conquer lusty desires. The example given is that even if one is hungry, if on a particular day he is determined to observe fasting, he can naturally conquer the disturbances of hunger and thirst
- If one is fortunate enough to transcend all this so-called goodness and badness and come to the platform of devotional service by the mercy of Krsna and the guru, his life becomes successful
- If one is infected by rajo-guna and tamo-guna, he may remain in this world or go down to the animal kingdom. But all of these situations are hindrances on the path of spiritual salvation
- If one is very greedy to enhance his Krsna consciousness, this is a great boon. Tatra laulyam ekalam mulam. This is the best path available
- If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always anxious about keeping it properly. Thus if one discusses the disadvantages of accumulating wealth, he can naturally give up business without difficulty
- If one practices devotional service by always keeping Krsna within the core of his heart (man-manah), he immediately becomes a first-class yogi. Furthermore, keeping Krsna within the mind is not a difficult task for the devotee
- If one seriously desires to return home, back to Godhead, one must therefore become strong enough by pleasing the spiritual master, for thus one gets the weapon with which to conquer the enemy, and one also gets the grace of Krsna
- If one takes directions from the experienced spiritual master one can go back home, back to Godhead; otherwise, one may return to the cycle of birth and death
- If one wants to go to the darkest regions of material existence, one may continue to associate with persons who are attached to women (yositam sangi-sangam). The word yosit means "woman." Persons who are too materialistic are attached to women
- If one's son has died, one may certainly be affected by lamentation and illusion and cry for the dead son, but one may overcome lamentation and illusion by considering the verses of Bhagavad-gita
- If someone considers the Supreme Personality - Krsna or Lord Ramacandra - to be an ordinary human being, this does not mean that the Lord becomes an ordinary human being
- If the body of a poor man were daridra-narayana, this would mean that the body of a rich man, on the contrary, must be dhani-narayana
- If the family members of the spiritual master, who is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being, this does not mean that he becomes an ordinary human being
- If the spiritual master is favorably inclined, one naturally receives the mercy of the Supreme Lord, and by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one immediately becomes transcendental, conquering all the influences of sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna
- If Visnu is not worshiped, the followers of the varnasrama institution manufacture some concocted God
- If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krsna by taking to KC & keeping always in touch with Him by chanting Hare Krsna , we need not take much trouble in arranging to return to the spiritual world. By the mercy of Mahaprabhu, this is very easy
- If we simply regard the lotus feet of Krsna as our ultimate shelter, we shall be saved from all these waves of maya, which are variously exhibited as mental and sensual activities and the agitation of rejection and acceptance
- If whatever we do, whatever we eat, whatever we think and whatever we plan is for the advancement of the Krsna consciousness movement, this is oneness
- If with the arrow of chanting the holy name of the Lord one pierces Lord Visnu's lotus feet, by dint of performing this heroic activity of devotional service one receives the benefit of returning home, back to Godhead
- In accordance with the evidence given in the sastra and the example set by Advaita Acarya, we give prasada to devotees regardless of whether they come from India, Europe or America
- In all Vedic literatures, the sound vibration omkara is the beginning. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 3.37) it is stated that lust, anger and greed are the causes of the conditioned soul's bondage in this material world. Kama esa krodha esa rajo-guna-samudbhavah
- In Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said that one who worships the demigods has lost his intelligence
- In brahma-sukha one is no longer attracted by lusty desires. Indeed, when one is no longer disturbed, especially by lusty desires for sexual indulgence, he is fit to become a sannyasi. Otherwise, one should not accept the sannyasa order
- In chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra there are no particular injunctions regarding one's sitting place
- In conditioned life the consciousness in the body is the cause of bondage, but the same consciousness, when transformed into Krsna consciousness, becomes the cause for one's returning home, back to Godhead
- In general warfare one must take help from his chariot and horses in order to conquer his enemy, and after conquering his enemies he may give up the chariot and its paraphernalia
- In human society, a brahmana is the most respected person. A brahmana is one who can understand Brahman, the impersonal Brahman, but hardly ever can one understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described by Arjuna in BG as param brahma
- In Kali-yuga there is a scarcity of food almost every year, and thus philanthropists spend lavishly to feed the poor. For this they invent the term daridra-narayana-seva. This is prohibited
- In material existence there are many regulative principles and formalities
- In our Krsna consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the sannyasis and brahmacaris keep strictly aloof from the association of women so that there will be no chance of their falling down again as victims of lusty desires
- In pure devotional service there is not even a pinch of jnana or karma. Consequently, when Vaisnavas distribute charity, they do not need to find a brahmana performing the activities of jnana-kanda or karma-kanda
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam, however, such fashionable ideas (creating a new type of dharma) are called vidharma because they go against one's own religious system
- In the conditioned state, we are bewildered in our understanding, but in the perfect stage of liberation we can understand that Krsna is the cause of everything
- In the material world there are always dangers at every step (padam padam yad vipadam na tesam (SB 10.14.58)). Nonetheless, if one takes shelter of Krsna without hesitation and keeps under the shelter of Krsna, he can easily cross the ocean of nescience
- In the material world, even if one is a philanthropist, a nationalist and a good man according to materialistic estimations, these conceptions of life form a hindrance to spiritual advancement
- In the Sixth Canto of SB, in connection with Ajamila's deliverance, Yamaraja says, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: real religion is that which is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as real law is that which is given by the government
- In this material world, so-called goodness and badness are the same because they consist of the three modes of material nature. One must transcend this material nature. Even the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies consist of the three modes of material nature
- In this present age of Kali, when people are mandah sumanda-matayah - very bad because of a sudra mentality - such free mingling (with women without restriction) is prominent
- In this regard (BG 9.10), Srila Madhvacarya gives this note: durghatatvad arthatvena paramesvarenaiva kalpitam. The background of everything is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva
- In this regard, it may be mentioned that brahmanas in Vrndavana who are karma-kandis and jnana-kandis sometimes decline to accept invitations to our temple because our temple is known as the angareji temple, or Anglican temple
- In this verse (SB 7.15.2) the words anantyam icchata refer to persons who desire to achieve liberation from material bondage and merge into the existence of the Lord
- In this verse (SB 7.15.52), it is explained that one who has perfect brahminical knowledge rejects the process of elevation to higher planets and accepts nivrtti-marga; in other words, he prepares himself to go back home, back to Godhead
- In this world of duality, family life is the cause that spoils one's spiritual life or meditation. Specifically understanding this fact, one should accept the order of sannyasa without hesitation
- Indeed, they (asuras, nondevotees) do not distinguish between pious and impious activity. Bhakti, of course, does not depend on pious or impious activity
- Indians spend especially lavishly on three occasions - at the birth of a child, at marriage and while observing the sraddha ceremony
- It does not matter what one's position is; if one aims at reaching Krsna by performing his occupational duty under the direction of the spiritual master, his life is successful
- It doesn't matter whether a devotee comes from a brahmana family or non-brahmana family; if he is fully devoted to Krsna, he is a sadhu
- It doesn't matter whether a person is born as a sudra, a woman or a vaisya; if he associates with devotees repeatedly or always (sadhu-sangena), he can be elevated to the highest perfection. Narada Muni is explaining this in relation to his own life
- It has now become fashionable for any rascal or fool to be elected God, and there are many missionaries who have concocted their own gods, giving up their relationship with the real God
- It is natural that when someone belonging to one's family circle is understood to be very great, one becomes ecstatic in love, thinking, "Oh, such a great personality is our relative!"
- It is not that only sannyasis, vanaprasthas and brahmacaris can reach Krsna. A grhastha, a householder, can also reach Krsna, provided he becomes a pure devotee without material desires. An example of this is cited in the next verse - SB 7.15.68
- It is recommended that everyone distribute prasada, considering every living being a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Even in feeding the poor, one should distribute prasada. In Kali-yuga there is a scarcity of food almost every year
- It is recommended that one honor the spiritual master as being on an equal status with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastraih. This is enjoined in every scripture
- It is said, traigunya-visaya vedah: "The Vedas deal mainly with the three modes of material nature." The Vedas, especially three Vedas, namely Sama, Yajur and Rk, vividly describe this process of ascending to the higher planets and returning
- It is the conclusion of the sastra that instead of feeding many jnana-kandi or karma-kandi brahmanas, it is better to feed a pure Vaisnava, regardless of where he comes from
- It may be remarked in this connection (ksine punye martya-lokam visanti (BG 9.21)) that even the modern so-called scientists who are going to the moon are not able to stay there, but are returning to their laboratories
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- Jesus started the religious system of Christianity, adhering to the Old Testament commandment Thou shalt not kill
- Just by treating the root cause of an ailment, one can conquer all bodily pains and sufferings. Similarly, if one is devoted and faithful to the spiritual master, he can conquer the influence of sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna very easily
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- Kirtana means glorifying the Supreme Lord, not any demigod. Sometimes people invent kali-kirtana or siva-kirtana, and even big sannyasis in the Mayavada school say that one may chant any name and still get the same result
- Krsna accepts service from anyone. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.32): "O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth - women, vaisyas (merchants), as well as sudras (workers) - can approach the supreme destination"
- Krsna advises Arjuna, traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna: one has to transcend these three modes of material nature, and then one will be released from the cycle of birth and death
- Krsna can become the director and spiritual master of anyone who is serious about getting the mercy of Krsna. The Lord sends the spiritual master to train a devotee, and when the devotee is advanced, the Lord acts as the spiritual master within his heart
- Krsna helps as the guru, or spiritual master, from within & without. From without He helps the devotee as His representative, and from within He talks personally with the pure devotee & gives him instructions by which he may return home, back to Godhead
- Krsna instructs in Bhagavad-gita (BG 18.66): Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear
- Krsna personally advises: Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world - BG 9.3
- Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.27): O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me
- Krsna should be the target; everyone should try to reach Krsna, from any position of life
- Krsna stresses in Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.9): One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna
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- Learned authorities in devotional life consequently advise that one not endeavor to increase the number of temples and mathas. Such activities can be undertaken only by devotees experienced in propagating the Krsna consciousness movement
- Lord Jesus Christ, when twelve years old, was shocked to see the Jews sacrificing birds and animals in the synagogues and that he therefore rejected the Jewish system of religion
- Lord Krsna is not properly understood even by such exalted personalities as Lord Siva & Lord Brahma, what to speak of ordinary men, but by His causeless mercy He bestows the benediction of devotion upon His devotees, who can thus understand Him as He is
- Lord Krsna says, dhiras tatra na muhyati: (BG 2.13) one who is dhira, or sober, who is learned in philosophy and established in knowledge, cannot be unhappy over the transmigration of the soul
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- Maharaja Yudhisthira thought that because he was a grhastha there was no hope of his being liberated, and therefore he asked Narada Muni how he could get out of material entanglement
- Making a show of religion without Krsna consciousness may make one popular in the estimation of unintelligent men, but factually such a materialistic display of spiritual advancement does not help one at all; it will not prevent one from missing the goal
- Many other sannyasis stress the importance of the social position of the body as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra. Such sannyasis are considered the greatest rascals
- Material engagements lead one to be attracted to many unnecessary necessities, which are accompanied by the risk that one may be born in a degraded condition
- Materialistic activities are regulated by the institution of varnasrama-dharma. Without varnasrama-dharma, materialistic activities constitute animal life
- Mayavada philosophy is extremely dangerous, especially for a devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has therefore strictly forbidden us to associate with Mayavadi philosophers
- Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa: if one associates with the Mayavada philosophy, his devotional life is doomed.
- Millions and millions of years ago, when Narada Muni was a Gandharva, he neglected the order to glorify the Lord, and being mad in the association of women, he began to chant otherwise. Thus he was cursed to become a sudra
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- Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah (SB 7.5.31). The living entity tries to be happy within this material world, not understanding the target of his life
- Narada Muni encouraged Maharaja Yudhisthira by saying, "You are already on the safe side because you, along with your entire family, have become a pure devotee of Krsna"
- Narada Muni has prohibited unnecessarily gorgeous arrangements to feed relatives or brahmanas during the sraddha ceremony. Those who are materially opulent spend lavishly during this ceremony
- Narada Muni, citing a practical example from his own life, established that by associating with devotees and chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, any man in any condition of life can achieve the highest perfection without a doubt
- Nirvana means the cessation of all material desires. Sometimes desirelessness is understood to imply an end to the workings of the mind, but this is not possible
- No one can manufacture actual law at home, nor can one manufacture actual religion. Elsewhere it is said, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje: (SB 1.2.6) the real religious system is that which leads one to become a devotee of the Lord
- Not only the Pandavas but everyone who sincerely accepts the instructions of Krsna can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is
- Nothing real is in this material world, but reality is in the spiritual world. The Lord's form and His abode - Goloka Vrndavana in the Vaikuntha planets - are eternal realities
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- Of course, everyone in this material world is interested in maintaining the body for sense gratification, but by cultivating knowledge one should gradually understand that the body is not the self
- One can avoid sufferings from the body and mind by practicing mystic hatha-yoga
- One can give up the desire to accumulate wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in one's possession. If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always anxious about keeping it properly
- One can understand how Krsna's material and spiritual energies are working and how He is present everywhere although everything is not Him
- One cannot attain the goal of life without the mercy of Balarama. Sri Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says, when one receives the mercy of Balarama, Nityananda, one can attain the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna very easily
- One cannot avoid the sufferings inflicted by providence, and therefore when suffering comes one should fully absorb oneself in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra
- One cannot give up thinking of women, for thinking in this way is natural; even while walking on the street, one will see so many women. However, if one is determined not to live with a woman, even while seeing a woman he will not become lusty
- One has experience of a snake in reality, and therefore he knows that although the representation of the rope as a snake is false or illusory, there is a snake in reality
- One has to give up all the nonduality of philosophical life in the material world and come to the actual life of reality in the spiritual world in order to attain perfection
- One is recommended to take leave of his family and live alone, maintaining body and soul together by begging alms and eating only as much as needed to keep himself alive. Without such a process, one cannot conquer lusty desires
- One may argue by saying that since the spiritual master's relatives and the men of his neighborhood consider him an ordinary human being, what is the fault on the part of the disciple who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being?
- One may argue that one may achieve the ultimate goal of life - realization of the Supersoul - by practicing the yoga system and ritualistic performances according to the Vedic principles, even without staunch devotion to the spiritual master
- One may rise to the platform of brahma-sukha, transcendental bliss, but even from that platform one may fall down to the material platform if he does not engage himself in devotional service
- One must be very bold so that he can conquer these enemies of Krsna consciousness. Not caring for the good and bad of this material world, one must boldly propagate Krsna consciousness
- One must forget these designations (Indian, American, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and so on) and use this consciousness only for the service of Krsna. Therefore if one takes advantage of the Krsna consciousness movement, his life is certainly successful
- One must use all these facilities to cross over the ocean of nescience - human form of body as a boat, the spiritual master as the captain, the instruction of Krsna as a favorable breeze
- One need not try to earn a livelihood to maintain body & soul together. This is illustrated by the example of the great python, which lies in one place, never going here & there to earn a livelihood to maintain itself, & yet is maintained by Lord
- One should accept the sword of knowledge from Krsna and be strong with the mercy of Balarama. We are therefore worshiping Krsna-Balarama in Vrndavana
- One should be extremely careful to avoid these various types of cheating systems (vidharma, para-dharma, upadharma or chala-dharma) of religion
- One should distribute sumptuous prasada, considering everyone a part of the Supreme Lord, but one should not juggle words to make a poor man Narayana
- One should focus upon the destination for progress, which is to become Krsna conscious. This is the aim and end of all varnas and asramas
- One should invite a first-class brahmana or Vaisnava - a realized soul - and feed him while observing the sraddha ceremony to offer oblations to one's forefathers
- One should not be attached to being a good man or a bad man in this material world
- One should not be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual advancement
- One should not desire to do anything else, even to earn his livelihood. There are many, many examples of this attitude. Madhavendra Puri, for instance, would never go to anyone to ask for food
- One should simply endeavor to increase his Krsna consciousness. One should not desire to do anything else, even to earn his livelihood
- One should simply follow the instructions of Krsna and surrender unto Him. To do this, of course, one needs very good intelligence, which may be awakened after many, many births through good association with devotees & the practice of Krsna consciousness
- One should take lessons from these Vedic literatures (Vedanta-sutra, the Upanisads, Bhagavad-gita, Mahabharata and the Ramayana) and learn how to practice nivrtti-marga. Then one's life will be perfect
- One who has this understanding (the person himself - is the soul, not the body) may take sannyasa, for he is situated in the "aham brahmasmi" position
- One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed toward every living entity. In this situation, he begins transcendental activities
- One who takes to devotional service, even with some material motive, is considered pious, and because he has come to Krsna, he will gradually come to the stage of bhakti. Then, like Dhruva, he will refuse to accept any material benediction from the Lord
- One's consciousness is the cause of material bondage, but if this consciousness is purified by bhakti-yoga, one can then understand the falsity of his upadhi, his designations as Indian, American, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and so on
- Only by the renounced order can one be situated in brahma-sukha, or transcendental bliss
- Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord & the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed
- Ordinary persons do not do this (surrender at Krsna's feet), even after hearing all the Vedas, but if one is fortunate, although it may be even after many, many births, he comes to this conclusion (bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate) - BG 7.19
- Our Krsna consciousness movement is intended to teach how everyone can live peacefully in this material world and at the end of life return home, back to Godhead
- Our Krsna consciousness movement is training devotees to give up the pravrtti-marga and accept the nivrtti-marga in order to return home, back to Godhead
- Our speculative theories that atma, the living force, is a combination of matter, that matter is a transformation of the soul, or that the body is part of the soul are all insubstantial
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- People are generally very much interested in karma-kanda ritualistic ceremonies for elevation to the higher planetary systems
- People do not know that because of killing innocent animals they themselves will have to suffer severe reactions from material nature
- Performance of sacrifice brings complete satisfaction
- Placing himself as an ordinary householder, Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from Narada Muni how a grha-mudha-dhi, a person who is entangled in household life and who thus continues to remain a fool, can be delivered
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- Samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh. To the devotee, this great ocean of nescience becomes like a puddle of water in the hoofprint of a cow
- Sankirtana means chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The Hare Krsna movement is not a new movement as people sometimes mistakenly think
- Sannyasa means accepting a life of begging, which makes one automatically very humble and meek and free from lusty desires
- Sannyasis who do not know the meaning of Narayana, those who regard the body as Brahman or as Narayana, are described here (in SB 7.15.37) as asattamah, the most abominable rascals
- Sastras prohibit the excessive expenditures involved in inviting many brahmanas and relatives, especially during the sraddha ceremony
- Seeking such elevation (back home, back to Godhead) is one's duty in the human form of life. Unless one performs this duty, why should one maintain the body?
- Significant in this verse (SB 7.15.45) are the words jnanasim acyuta-balah. Jnanasim, the sword of knowledge, is given by Krsna, and when one serves the guru and Krsna in order to hold the sword of Krsna's instructions, Balarama gives one strength
- Simply by cultivating knowledge as the impersonalists do, one cannot get out of the clutches of maya. One must attain the platform of bhakti
- Simply by raising one's staunch faith in Krsna and His instructions, one can understand reality without a doubt - asamsayam samagram mam
- Simply by rendering service to the spiritual master, one crosses the ocean of nescience and returns home, back to Godhead. Thus he gradually sees the Supreme Lord face to face and enjoys life in association with the Lord
- Simply getting the weapon of jñāna is insufficient. One must sharpen the weapon by serving the spiritual master and adhering to his instructions. Then the candidate will get the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Since all the Lord's energies are simultaneously existing, one must understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But although He is everything, He is not present in everything
- Since I suffer when pinched or killed by others, I should not attempt to pinch or kill any other living entity
- Since people are contaminated by the lower qualities, they will lead their next lives either as animals or in other degraded forms of life
- Since the spiritual master is the captain (to guide the boat in plying across the ocean of nescience), one must serve the spiritual master very sincerely so that by his mercy one will be able to get the mercy of the Supreme Lord
- Slaughtering animals, either for religion or for food, is most abominable and is condemned herein (SB 7.15.10). Unless one is merciless, one cannot sacrifice animals, either in the name of religion or for food
- So-called scientists try to prove that there is no God and that everything is happening because of the laws of nature, but this is imperfect knowledge because nothing can work unless directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Sometimes, because of our bad luck, this movement is stopped, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His servants again start the movement for the benefit of the entire world or, indeed, the entire universe
- Speculative knowledge cannot give us reality as it is, but will continue to be nefariously imperfect
- Sravanam kirtanam visnoh: one should chant about and glorify Lord Visnu, not any demigod. Unfortunately, there are foolish persons who invent some process of kirtana on the basis of a demigod's name. This is an offense
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija: (CC Madhya 19.151) one must first please the spiritual master, and then one automatically pleases Krsna and gets the strength with which to cross the ocean of nescience
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung in his Gitavali: miche mayara vase, yaccha bhese', khaccha habudubu, bhai. "My dear mind, under the influence of maya you are being carried away by the waves of rejection and acceptance. Simply take shelter of Krsna"
- Srila Narada Muni is giving a practical example from his past life. Formerly, during the previous lifetime of Lord Brahma, Narada Muni was one of the denizens of Gandharvaloka
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has commented that because the words "bow" and "arrow" are used in this verse (SB 7.15.42), one might argue that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity have become enemies
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has suggested how one can conquer lusty desires for sense gratification
- Such a person (a so-called grhastha or a victim of women) is most shameless, and he is called vantasi, or one who eats that which he has already vomited. He certainly leads a condemned life
- Such a person, who no longer laments or hankers to maintain his body and who can accept all living entities as spirit souls, can then enter the devotional service of the Lord
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- Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: (MU 1.2.12) one must approach the acarya, for then one will receive perfect knowledge. When guided by the spiritual master, one attains the ultimate goal of life
- Temple construction is not bad, provided proper care is taken for the propagation of Krsna consciousness. Even if such endeavors are considered greedy, the greed is to satisfy Krsna, and therefore these are spiritual activities
- Ten kinds of life air always flow within the material body. They are called prana, apana, samana, vyana, udana, naga, kurma, krkala, devadatta and dhananjaya. They are compared here (in SB 7.15.42) to the spokes of the chariot's wheels
- The actual aim of life is to go back to Godhead, but there are many hindrances created by the three modes of material nature - sometimes by a combination of rajo-guna & tamo-guna, the modes of passion and ignorance, and sometimes by the mode of goodness
- The actual interest of all living entities - indeed, the goal of life - is to return home, back to Godhead. This is the interest of one's own self, one's wife, one's children, one's disciples and one's friends, relatives, countrymen and all humanity
- The advice of experienced transcendentalists is that the body be fully engaged for achieving the ultimate goal of life - svartha-gatim
- The asuras, nondevotees, cannot distinguish between pravrtti and nivrtti. Whatever they like they do. Such persons think themselves independent of the strong material nature, and therefore they are irresponsible and do not care to act piously
- The best explanation is given by Krsna Himself: "By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them." (BG 9.4) Everything is an expansion of Krsna's energy
- The body is important as long as it has consciousness. Without consciousness, the body is merely a lump of matter. Therefore, to return home, back to Godhead, one must change his consciousness from material consciousness to Krsna consciousness
- The body is just like a chariot or car in which one may go anywhere. One may drive well, or else one may drive whimsically, in which case it is quite possible that he may have an accident and fall into a ditch
- The chanting of omkara is recommended because in the beginning of transcendental realization, instead of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one may chant omkara - pranava
- The day of Brahma is described in Bhagavad-gita (BG 8.17): By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day. And such also is the duration of his night
- The difference between chanting omkara and chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is that the Hare Krsna mantra may be chanted without consideration of the place or the sitting arrangements recommended in Bhagavad-gita
- The energies are existing, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead also exists simultaneously; because everything is His energy, He is simultaneously one with everything and different from everything
- The example of Lord Krsna's being the Supreme Personality of Godhead is appropriate in regard to understanding the spiritual master
- The Hare Krsna mantra may be chanted by anyone, without consideration of the place or how one sits. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has openly declared, niyamitah smarane na kalah
- The Hare Krsna movement is present in every millennium of Lord Brahma's life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary systems, including Brahmaloka and Candraloka, not to speak of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka
- The human body may be used in two ways - for going to the darkest regions of ignorance or for going forward, back home, back to Godhead
- The impersonalist philosophy, vivarta-vada, generally cites the acceptance of a rope to be a snake as an example of this fact. According to this example, the varieties within our vision are false, just as a rope seen to be a snake is false
- The impersonalists try to prove that the varieties in the vision of the empiric philosopher are false
- The injunction niyamitah smarane na kalah includes desa, kala and patra - place, time and the individual. Therefore anyone may chant the Hare Krsna mantra, without consideration of the time and place
- The jugglery of words used by the Mayavadi philosopher to prove that this material world is false may amaze inexperienced children, but a man with full knowledge knows perfectly well that there cannot be any existence without Krsna
- The Krsna consciousness movement can give directions for management by which everyone can partake in Krsna conscious activities and reach the ultimate goal, which is known as svartha-gatim
- The Krsna consciousness movement is teaching people how to come to the stage of dedicating everything to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The Krsna consciousness movement is trying to bring everyone to the highest interest. The process may be differently named, but if the aim is one, people should follow it to achieve the ultimate goal in life
- The life air is the energy for all of a living being's activities, which are sometimes religious and sometimes irreligious. Thus religion and irreligion are said to be the upper and lower portions of the chariot's wheels
- The living entity has senses, and if the senses stopped working, the living entity would no longer be a living entity; he would be exactly like stone or wood. This is not possible. Because he is living, he is nitya and cetana - eternally sentient
- The living entity must get strength from Nitai-Gaura, or Krsna-Balarama. Without the mercy of Nitai-Gaura, there is no way to come out of this dark well of ignorance
- The Lord fought with Bhisma, and when Bhisma pierced the Lord's body on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, this was a kind of humor or relationship, of which there are twelve
- The Lord must be worshiped in His original form as Krsna. He can also present Himself in any one of His various expanded energies
- The Lord says, "It is not necessary that one become very expert in Vedic knowledge before he can become My bhakta, or devotee
- The Lord says: Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me
- The Lord's representative spiritual master should not be considered an ordinary human being. The representative spiritual master never gives any false knowledge to his disciple, but only perfect knowledge. Thus he is the representative of Krsna
- The material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is temporary or false, but the spiritual world is an eternal reality
- The members of the Krsna consciousness movement engage daily in transcendental activities - Deity worship, offering food to the Deity and distributing food to the first-class brahmanas and Vaisnavas and even to the people in general
- The mind is always agitated by acceptance and rejection, which are compared to mental waves that are constantly tossing. The living entity is floating in the waves of material existence because of his forgetfulness
- The mind is the determination to reach the destination, the senses are the horses, and the sense objects are also included in that activity. Thus one can reach the destination, Visnu, who is paramam padam, the supreme goal of life
- The objective of life is to stop completely the miseries of birth and death and to return home, back to Godhead
- The only insurance is to come to the stage of bhakti, from which one is sure not to fall. Then one is free from the activities of the material world
- The original system is that a brahmana should actually become a brahmana; he should not only take birth in a brahmana family, but must also be qualified
- The perfection of knowledge is certainly to become transcendentally situated (brahma-bhuta) - SB 4.30.20
- The process of ajagara-vrtti, the means of livelihood of a python, is very much appreciated in this regard. Even though one may be very poor, he should simply try to advance in Krsna consciousness and not endeavor to earn his livelihood
- The real aim of life is to mitigate distress, and one can do this very easily by following the principles of sastra
- The real interest or goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead. To enable one to fulfill this purpose, there are so many Vedic literatures, including Vedanta-sutra, the Upanisads, Bhagavad-gita, Mahabharata and the Ramayana
- The real religious system is described by the Supreme Personality of Godhead: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66). The real religious system is that of surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord
- The reflection of the sun from a mirror is nothing but light within darkness. Thus although it is not exactly sunlight, without the sunlight the reflection would be impossible
- The representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the message throughout the world. Therefore, on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The sankirtana movement is important, for regardless of whether one is a sudra, vaisya, mleccha, yavana or whatever, if one associates with a pure devotee, follows his instructions and serves the pure devotee, his life is successful. This is bhakti
- The sankirtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore not a new movement
- The sastras recommend: O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krsna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare
- The soul is the occupant of the chariot of the body, of which the driver is the intelligence
- The spiritual master is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one who is very serious about spiritual advancement must regard the spiritual master in this way. Even a slight deviation from this understanding can create disaster
- The spiritual master is called sevaka-bhagavan, the servitor Personality of Godhead, and Krsna is called sevya-bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is to be worshiped
- The spiritual master is the worshiper God, whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the worshipable God. This is the difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The spiritual master should never be considered an ordinary man. One should strictly adhere to the instructions of the spiritual master, for if he is pleased, certainly the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased
- The spiritual world is real, and the material world is similar to it. I.e., in the desert we sometimes find a mirage, but although the water in a mirage is false, this does not mean that there is no water in reality; water exists, but not in the desert
- The Supreme Lord existed in the beginning, He exists after the creation and maintains everything, and after destruction everything merges in Him, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.7 prakrtim yanti mamikam). Thus the Supreme Lord is actually everything
- The Supreme Lord says: 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
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives real knowledge to the entire world, and the spiritual master, as the representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the message throughout the world
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.32): "O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me (Krsna), though they be of lower birth - women, vaisyas (merchants), as well as sudras (workers) - can approach the supreme destination
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, personally gives instructions on how one can return home, back to Godhead
- The three words bhavadvaita, kriyadvaita and dravyadvaita are explained in the following verses - SB 7.15.63-65
- The ultimate goal of life is Visnu, Krsna. Therefore, either by Vedic regulative principles or by materialistic activities, if one tries to reach the destination of Krsna, that is the perfection of life
- The ultimate goal of yoga is to come in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless this point is achieved, one's so-called yoga practice is simply labor without any benefit
- The Vaisnavas say that although the idea that the rope is a snake is false, the snake is not false
- The varieties of this world would be impossible unless there were a real prototype in the spiritual world. The Mayavadi philosopher cannot understand this
- The word bhuri-bhagah indicates that the Pandavas were in a still higher position than brahmacaris and brahmanas. In the following verses (of SB 7.15.75), Narada Muni repeatedly glorifies the position of the Pandavas
- The word dharmavit, meaning "one who knows the actual purpose of religion," is very significant
- The word maha-kalpe is described by Srila Madhvacarya as atita-brahma-kalpe. Brahma dies at the end of a life of many millions of years
- The word tattvatah, meaning "in reality," is very important. Tato mam tattvato jnatva. Unless one understands Krsna in truth by the mercy of the spiritual master, one is not free to give up his material body
- Then (after giving up his bodily conception of life) he takes the arrow of his purified life, and with the help of the bow - the transcendental chanting of pranava, or the Hare Krsna mantra - he throws himself toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- There are many sannyasis in India who stress the importance of the body. Some of them give special importance to the body of the poor man, accepting him as daridra-narayana, as if Narayana had a material body
- There are two processes by which to get free from material bondage. One involves jnana-kanda and karma-kanda, and the other involves upasana-kanda
- There are two things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doso guna-rasi-nasi. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good qualifications are lost
- There is no difference between chanting for Krsna consciousness and working for Krsna consciousness. On the transcendental platform, they are one. But we must be guided by the spiritual master about this oneness; we should not manufacture our own oneness
- There is no difference between the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and omkara because both of them are sound representations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. pranavah sarva-vedesu
- These sannyasis (who do not know the meaning of Narayana) have been described herein (SB 7.15.37) as apatrapah and asattamah - shameless and fallen from spiritual life
- They (Caitanya and Nityananda) come especially to deliver the fallen souls of this age. papi tapi yata chila, hari-name uddharila. Their weapon is sankirtana, hari-nama
- They (sudras) manufacture their own way of life, with the result that they gradually become unfortunate (manda-bhagyah), and furthermore they are always disturbed by various circumstances
- They are shameless because they have not yet understood the difference between the body and the soul and instead have accepted the body of a brahmana to be a brahmana
- This (nivrtti-marga) is a little difficult to understand, but it is very easy if one takes to Krsna consciousness seriously and tries to understand Krsna
- This (SB 7.15.50) is explained in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.21): When those who follow the pravrtti-marga have enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness
- This (SB 7.15.74) is a confirmation of the Krsna consciousness movement
- This (that without the protection of Gaura-Nitai one cannot get out of the dark well of ignorance in material existence) is indicated here (in SB 7.15.46) by the word nocet, which means that one will always remain in the dark well of material existence
- This (to know the transcendental nature of Krsna's appearance and activities) is the highest perfection of life, and the human body is meant for this purpose
- This human form of body is a most valuable boat, and the spiritual master is the captain, guru-karnadharam, to guide the boat in plying across the ocean of nescience. The instruction of Krsna is a favorable breeze
- This instruction (of SB 7.15.66) is given for men in all statuses of life. Generally society is divided into brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, brahmacaris, vanaprasthas, sannyasis and grhasthas
- This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.30): Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated
- This material world is a dark well of ignorance. The fallen soul in this dark well must take shelter of the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitai, for thus he can easily emerge from material existence
- This objective of everyone's interest is Visnu, but because people do not know this (na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum (SB 7.5.31)), they are making various plans by which to fulfill so many concocted interests in life
- This philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda, inconceivable oneness and difference, is the perfect philosophy enunciated by the Vaisnavas. Everything is an emanation from Krsna, but it is not that everything must therefore be worshiped
- This semen is injected into the female body, and thus the living entity takes birth. Those who return to earth in this way take birth especially in higher families like those of brahmanas
- This type of religious system, which misguides its poor followers, is strictly forbidden. Such pretentious religions should be stopped altogether
- This world, which is full of varieties, is not false; it is a reflection of the reality in the Vaikuntha world, the spiritual world
- Those interested in materialistic activities remain in the cycle of birth and death. Pravrtti-marga, or the inclination to stay in the material world to enjoy varieties of sense gratification, has been explained in the previous verse - SB 7.15.50-51
- Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; & those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds
- Those who act piously have a better chance to become devotees. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.16), catur-vidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino 'rjuna: O Arjuna, four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me
- Those who are not brahmanas but atheists do not know what is pravrtti-marga or nivrtti-marga; they simply want to obtain pleasure at any cost
- Thus (after getting in touch with a bona fide spiritual master) one engages in devotional service and attains the ultimate goal of life, the lotus feet of Visnu
- To be a playboy in this life is unfortunate because too much attraction to women will lead one to fall into the association of sudras, who can easily take advantage of mingling with women without restriction
- To create a new type of dharma has become fashionable in this age. So-called svamis and yogis support that one may follow any type of religious system, according to one's own choice, because all systems are ultimately the same
- To go back to Godhead, the path is mahat-seva, to accept the self-realized spiritual master. Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh - SB 5.5.2
- To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kusa grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should neither be too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place
- To progress toward the target of Visnu, which is our real self-interest, one must become very powerful in conquering these various hindrances or enemies
U
- Unfortunately, as will be explained, he (Narada Muni) fell from his exalted position in Gandharvaloka, where the inhabitants are extremely beautiful and expert in singing, to become a sudra
- Unfortunately, people are thinking of different interests, and blind leaders are misleading them
- Unless one has attained the stage of devotional service and the mercy of the spiritual master and Krsna, there is a possibility that one may fall down and again accept a material body
- Unless one is fully convinced of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has the tendency to become an impersonalist yogi searching for the Supreme Lord within the core of his heart
- Upabarhana was Narada Muni's name previously. Upabarhana was specifically expert in decorating himself to attract the attention of women, and thus he became a playboy, as described in the next verse - SB 7.15.71
V
- Vaisnavas never want to merge into the existence of the Supreme; rather, they want to be everlastingly servants of the Lord to render loving service unto Him
- Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah (BG 7.19). This can be understood by a mahatma who is perfect in knowledge. Such a mahatma is rarely seen
W
- We find that even an illiterate person who has lost all intelligence is elected God, and although he has a temple, it has meat-eating sannyasis, and many polluted activities go on there
- We must conquer the enemies of Krsna consciousness with the strength received from Balarama
- When he (the living entity) is purified he gives up his bodily conception of life and his false identity as belonging to a certain community, a certain nation, a certain society, a certain family and so on
- When Krsna directly says something and some rascal interprets it to mean something different, this is chala-dharma - a religious system of cheating - or sabda-bhit, a jugglery of words
- When Krsna, who was already known to the Pandavas, was further described by Narada Muni to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, naturally the Pandavas were amazed, thinking, "The SPG is with us as our cousin!" Certainly their ecstasy was extraordinary
- When one awakens his spiritual knowledge, he becomes uninterested in such elevation and engages himself fully in jnana-yajna to find the objective of life
- When one cultivates knowledge for this purpose, he is considered to be on a higher platform than one who is engaged in karma-yajna, or fruitive activities
- When strong lusty desires for sense gratification are unfulfilled, one becomes angry. This anger can be satisfied when one chastises his enemy
- When the conditioned soul tries to reach the Lord by hurling an arrow at Him, the Lord takes pleasure, and the living entity gains the profit of going back home, back to Godhead
- When the living entity decides to go back home, back to Godhead, his target is Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the conditioned state of life, one does not understand that the goal of life is the Supreme Lord
- When there is an increase in lobha, or greed, which is the greatest enemy caused by rajo-guna, the mode of passion, how can one advance in Krsna consciousness?
- When this practice of yoga is perfect, one sees the Supersoul, the Paramatma feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the core of one's heart
- When we raise our unmixed faith to the lotus feet of Krsna, everything is revealed. Krsna says in BG 7.1: "Now hear, O son of Prtha, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt"
- When we worship the Deity of the Lord in the temple, the Deity appears to be stone or wood. Now, because the Supreme Lord does not have a material body, He is not stone or wood, yet stone and wood are not different from Him
- Whether one goes to the moon by modern mechanical arrangements or by performing pious activities, one must return to earth. That is clearly stated in this verse (SB 7.15.50-51) and explained in Bhagavad-gita - BG 9.25
- Why should one approach a person who is blind with wealth? Rather, one should depend on Krsna, and He will give everything
- With jnana-kanda one falls down again to this material world. Only worship of the Supreme Person offers one the safety of going back home, back to Godhead
- Without the protection of Gaura-Nitai - Krsna and Balarama - one cannot get out of the dark well of ignorance in material existence
- Without Their (Gaura-Nitai's) strength, simply attempting to get out of the clutches of matter by speculative knowledge will be insufficient
Y
- Yam prapya na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: but if one goes back home, back to Godhead, he need not return to this material world
- Yogis and jnanis practice in many ways to conquer the senses, but the bhakta immediately attains the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the spiritual master