Sunday, June 30, 2013

ONENESS OF ETERNAL LIFE


Ashok Kumar: Tukaram, a great Marathi Bhakta poet puts it so beautifully "You are the listener, You are speaker, You are the very symbol of knowledge; You are the doer of everything: Tuka so feels You and Me are not separate, so whom to pay my salutations!" You have aptly said "The dualities of this life are transcended in the oneness of eternal life". So lovely! So enchanting! 

Meena Devi Dasi: Hearing from devotees like Tukaram is my only hope. The spirit of pure love of God is fully manifest in them. Thank you. 

     My understanding is simultaneous oneness and difference. Without variety in the oneness where is the enjoyment? Pleasure means there is the enjoyer and the enjoyed but in the spiritual world there is no duality. In the temporary material world there is duality; hot and cold, up and down, good and bad, birth and death, win and lose, and so on. But in the spiritual world there is no duality and still there is variegatedness. In the spiritual world 1+1=1 and 1-1=1. Inconceivable. The Sanksrit term is Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva*. Krishna and His energies are simultaneously one and different.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achintya_Bheda_Abheda
        Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains... Sri Sanatana Gosvami asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Who am I?" In answer, the Lord replied, "You are a pure living entity. You are neither the gross material body nor the subtle body composed of mind and intelligence. Actually you are a spirit soul, eternally part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, Krishna. Therefore you are His eternal servant. You belong to Krishna's marginal potency. There are two worlds -- the spiritual world and the material world -- and you are situated between the material and spiritual potencies. You have a relationship with both the material and the spiritual world; therefore you are called the marginal potency. You are related with Krishna as one and simultaneously different. Because you are spirit soul, you are one in quality with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because you are a very minute particle of spirit soul, you are different from the Supreme Soul. Therefore your position is simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Soul. The examples given are those of the sun itself and the small particles of sunshine and of a blazing fire and the small particles of fire." 
http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/20/108-109/en1





APPROACHING THE DIVINE


Ron Krumpos: Approaching the divine is often said to be similar to ascending a mountain or to descending into an ocean. In divine unity, there is no up or down, no metaphorical mountain or ocean, there simply 'is.' The dualities of this life are transcended in the oneness of eternal life.

Meena Devi Dasi: Yes the idea of climbing is not a very good one. It implies that on my own efforts I am reaching a spiritual goal. When in fact the exact opposite mentality is needed to actually make progress in spiritual life. Rather than "my endeavor" it is "surrender." I am not the owner of anything. I am completely dependent on the Supreme and the more I surrender to that dependence the stronger I actually become spiritually. Not that I lose my individuality, that I always have, but rather I am connected with my source, indeed the source of everyone and everything. Not that anyone is ever not connected, but the quality of the connection may vary. For the highest pleasure, we want the purest quality connection. This is the bhakti connection. Love and devotion...

SPIRITUAL LADDER?


Pushpa Chaturvedi: Pleasures change as we go up the spiritual ladder. Only those who have truly attained the higher level know the sweetest taste.

Meena Devi Dasi: Rather than a ladder that we climb to reach something which is ascending, the mercy actually comes down to us and is descending. It is not by our own endeavor, prowess, intelligence, ability, etc, and very often the Lord demonstrates this by empowering someone totally unqualified with the highest bhakti. 

The highest truth is realized as a loving relationship with God free from any desire for one's own personal fame, wealth, following etc.... Although very often those things come automatically anyway. So we do not get this relationship by some display of our own "prowess," that does not impress or attract the Lord... He is the greatest everything. What we can impress with our small show? Even Lord Brahma has conceded his inability to impress the Lord appearing like a little glow worm in the presence of the sun. But the Lord is captivated by our sincere desire to love Him. He enjoys loving relationship.
 

IT IS A MATTER OF TASTE

     Advancement in spiritual life is a matter of taste. What we find pleasurable.
     In the temporary material world we try to taste through temporary senses. It is always frustrating because of the temporary nature. We always desire what we don't have and are fearful we will lose whatever it is we might have, So the pleasure has a good deal of frustration that accompanies it. 
     The higher taste that will allow us to desire the higher taste and abandon the lower taste is given by those who are already enjoying on that higher platform. They hand it down like a precious ripe mango from the top of the tree and they may also record their ecstasy in the scriptures. There are those fortunate few who can extract the sweet taste just by reading their words.
   
     But mostly we will need to associate with someone in person in the here and now who is able to extract the sweet essence. And by that association revive our ability to recognize and relish the pure sweetness of love of God.

RUB THE DUST FROM YOUR EYES AND FACE




Hear the sound of the whip cracking
Driving His horses onward.

Smell the mixture of sweat and straining animals,
rub the dust from your eyes and face.

The myriad of armies are assembled
to fight...irreconcilable differences.

See Arjuna there in the center,
His body limp and head hung down?

His friend Krishna holds the reins
and turns to him to speak.

Krishna, who is God Himself, 
has appeared as a human being.

Inconceivable but true,
He can do anything.

Does He not appear in the temple
as the Deity in order to accept offerings?

Does He not appear in the sacred mantras...
OM, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama?

Does He not appear as a human
to engage in loving pastimes with devotees?

He appears as the Deities 
but is not made of wood, marble, or brass...

He appears as the sacred mantras 
but their sound is not like the cinema or radio sounds.

He appears as human being but He is not born
does not get sick, does not get old and does not die.

Not everyone recognizes the transcendental nature of His form as the Deity in the temple.

Not everyone hears Him in the sacred mantras.

Not everyone perceives Him to be God when He appears in the human form.

In all His appearances He can be known only by Pure Devotional Service,
Service that is free from any desire other than to please the Lord.

Then the veil of material exterior energy is removed.
He is conquered by such Pure Devotion and reveals Himself to His devotee. 





Saturday, June 29, 2013

IS IT ALL JUST DRIVEL?


Is it all just drivel?
Is it all just snivel?

Whiny and weak?
Unable to speak?

Wimpy and cowering?
Life now overpowering?

Turned into sissies?
Fearful shy missies?

Are we all now zero?
Where is the hero?

Where has boldness gone?
Where has prowess gone?
Where has bravery gone?
Where has clever gone?
Where has ability gone?
Where has power gone?
Where has strength gone?
Where has intelligence gone?

Where is Krishna?
Oh, My God, where are You?

Friday, June 28, 2013

PLEASE ANSWER US

Anenu is Hebrew for "please answer us."
(recorded in the 1930's)

SIKSASTAKA

VERSE 2

              nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
                  tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
              etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
                  durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgah


TRANSLATION
     O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.

     Friday night. The observance of the Jewish Sabbath begins at Sundown. Friday night and all day Saturday are to be spent in prayer and meditation on God. I go to the senior retirement village where my father lives to observe the Sabbath with him and the small circle of people who attend the ceremony... seniors ranging in age from 85 to 95. 
     After the short service and few songs I set up my laptop and show videos to enliven us in the mood of devotion. As in the verse above, "You have hundreds and millions of names...There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names." When we grasp the essence of love of God we are able to relish it wherever we find it, not being bound by this culture or that time and circumstance. 
     Tonight was especially sweet. One video in particular was so stirring that I could not keep from tears. The cantor sings with so much devotion and so beautifully. Seeing my emotions the other people also began to show some emotions and there were others with tears. We could all experience the wonderful spirit of love and devotion for the Lord that was coming from the sincere singing of the cantor. 
    One of the woman commented how it was good to cry for God...good for the soul. One of the men agreed that the more we listen to the devotional songs and prayers the more we experience something wonderful. 
     There is an ocean of ecstasy and we can access it. Lord Chaitanya has made it easy for us, more easy than it has ever been before, hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord with love and devotion especially together. As Lord Jesus has instructed... Whenever two or more are gathered together in My Name, I appear. The love and devotion is the essential ingredient. That ingredient is supplied by the Lord's arrangement through His devotee. Such a devotee will show symptoms of love of God. Their love for God can be seen. 
   

Thursday, June 27, 2013

AN OCEAN OF BLISS



     AN OCEAN OF BLISS

     Sankirtan of Lord Chaitanya means chanting and dancing. Going out to chant and dance for glorification of the Lord in public is the recommended process of devotional service for this time we live in. It becomes more and more blissful the more we do it. I was practicing at home in this video. We just have to get over feeling embarrassed.  It's like going swimming, at first the water might seem a little cold. But once we are in for a little while it's fine. Blissful,and great fun.

      Dancing for the Lord is so blissful. I was out yesterday in front of the supermarket, chanting something like this. it was incredible. I've gone there before but mostly stood still and chanted. But with the dancing it's a whole new level of ecstasy. The people like it. They smile. And seems like they almost want to join in. One young man stopped and told me how this lifted his spirit. He became so happy to hear Hare Krishna and to see the dancing. The chanting and dancing were effortless. Like floating in a current that was already there, all I had to do was get in. The people were also being pulled in. I can see how Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement will inundate the world, everyone will be pulled in, as is said...some will swim, some will drown, some will float... It is the taste we are looking for. Like Prabhupada told us, chant and dance and take prasadam... Prasadam is the mercy of the Lord and it comes in many forms, not just vegetables and grains, etc... Like Jesus said, Man does not live by bread alone. Prasadam can be the remnants of offerings of praise and glorification of great devotees. Chant, dance and relish the remnants of offerings of the great devotees. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

INNERMOST CORE OF THE HEART



CHAITANYA CHARITAMRTA

ADI LILA CHAPTER 3

TEXT 4

     May that Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.     

DISCUSSION

MahaviryaI have a question. This verse has always aroused this question in me. Actually this is a verse from Rupa Goswami's Vidagda Madhava. Why is he saying, "May that Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart?" Why not just say in your heart? Why in the innermost core?

GaurahariSo what do you think?

Mahavirya: It's really a question I'm still answering. I have my own understanding of it. But it probably means something deeper. My understanding is that like, you know, the watering a tree example. To water the leaves, to nourish the leaves and the fruits and the tree and all this, you have to water the roots. Then the whole tree gets fed like that.

But there's no harm also in putting a bit of water on the leaves also. You can spray the leaves to remove the dust and all this. So it's kind of okay also to do that. To trim it and all this, but you nourish it really by pouring water on the roots. So our heart is the abode of love. Loving the Lord also means loving the devotees and loving all His parts and parcels.

But if this love becomes more important than the love for the Lord, I'm not talking about the devotees, but in general, because of bodily identification. If we become too concentrated or attached to spraying the leaves and neglect watering the roots that will not be good for the tree.

So Rupa Goswami is saying…in the innermost chamber of your heart, means it's very, very deep and that's like the root because He is the root of existence. Prabhupada says, by Sankhya yoga you discover the root of the cosmic manifestation which is Krishna and then you water it by bhakti. So like that. Our relationship with God is the most essential root that needs to be watered. But there's also room for this extended love that comes automatically for all living entities. But the Lord has to be in the innermost chamber.

Just like Marysachi, you're going to work and you need to show some attention and you need to show some compassion and there's nothing wrong with that, but if Lord Chaitanya is not, how do I say here, transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart and you lose this connection then you'll be in dualities in the process of doing that, sometimes happy sometimes sad and you become overwhelmed at one point. So it may not show when you're working, and this and that but internally it is something you never lose…his bhakti inside and you’re always very eager to comeback in the association where this tree can be nourished. That’s my limited understanding of this.

MarysachiI'd like to share what I understand about it. I've been known to say my heart's confused. I think that’s probably the outermost. Because I think we use our heart with other people. We use our outer heart and it gets used a lot. And so we've got to have something tucked away real far in there in the innermost area. You mentioned about my work and Lord Chaitanya, I don’t think it’s my work where I lose my connection with lord Chaitanya. I just think it has to do with something my soul has to go through. I don't think it's easy to get Lord Chaitanya.

MahaviryaWell, I could have cited myself as an example and not chose you, but it's the same thing with me. I have to be considerate with persons when I’m interacting out there but if Lord Chaitanya is established, is transcendentally situated in the innermost core of our heart we may not be like "preaching" as such, we may not be giving a Bhagavatam class but because this is going on people feel it. There's something with this person...I don’t know what it is...They see the fruits of that on the tree. He's very calm, he's listening.

There was a book by Dale Carnegie it's called, How to Win Friends...something like that…very popular book. Actually he said, I wrote this book because I've been looking for it for forty years and never found it, so I wrote it… (laughter)… He says in there, genuinely listen and care for people and you’re sure to succeed in life because you'll have no competition… (laughter)… and this is so true. Of course it's like a mundane aspect of that, but it's very true.

But if you have Lord Chaitanya transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart then you're genuinely listening to people and caring for people because you're connecting through this root in your heart with their roots in their heart that is only sleeping there and when you see in this vision even though you’re not giving a straight Bhagavatam class and the philosophy…what you should what you should not do… because this love is there then their love will be awakened.

GaurahariLord Chaitanya, in my realization, He's situated in the innermost core of the heart, but we're not going that deep usually. Not able to. Like peeling an onion, the Lord is in the center, the innermost core of the heart. When a devotee gives a blessing, May the Lord be situated... He's already situated there, He's just has to arise…make it known to the living entity. And that comes in the association of devotees…taking shelter of the shade of their Lotus Feet….hearing glorification of Lord Chaitanya from them or chanting the verses out loud like this or meditating on them. All this gets us closer to that awakening. The Lord is there. He's just needs to be awakened. In this process He awakens with His devotees.



SERVANT OF A SERVANT


Nice realization while chanting the mantra.
"Hare" addresses the devotional energy of the Lord, O Hare, please engage me in the service of the Lord, Krishna - Hare Krishna.
The next part of the mantra also addresses the devotional energy of the Lord, O Hare, please engage me in the service of the servant of the Lord, Balarama, or Rama - Hare Rama
The Lord appears as His own servant in the mood of an older protective brother, Balarama or Rama. 
This two-fold plea is the perfect prayer. Please engage me in Your service, O Lord and how do I do that? By serving the servant of the Lord.

Monday, June 24, 2013

DEVOTION IS THE THING TO PRAY FOR



Meena: In this section here, where we're discussing about approaching the devotee because you want Krishna. I was just thinking about that. Like myself...I don't really want Krishna. (laughing) Sorry about that, but...

Gaurahari: Oh my God. (laughing)

Mahavirya: Who's this atheist? This is big dust coming out now. (laughing)

Meena: What I see in the devotee that attracts me isn’t actually Krishna. It's love for Krishna. That's what I see in the devotee and that's what I want. I see they have love for Krishna and I want love for Krishna so that's what attracts me to the devotee. That's what they have that I want.

Mahavirya: Okay, I see now. She's a spy from Radharani's camp. She's not in Krishna's camp. She's in Radharani's camp. What’s she doing here?

Gaurahari, Mahavirya: (laughing)

Gaurahari: Actually, you know, that's interesting you say that because that's like the pastimes in Dvarka where Vasudeva and Devaki in their previous life... they spent twenty thousand celestial years to get Krishna as their son. They got that…Krishna as their son. But Yasoda and Nanda were also doing austerities to get this prema bhakti, this devotion. They wanted that. So what was the result? The result was Devaki and Vasudeva got Krishna as their son but Krishna went to give prema bhakti to Nanda...over there (Vrndavana) and have pastimes with them on the level of this prema bhakti because they wanted that. They didn't ask for Krishna as their son. They wanted this prema...this devotion. So you've got the right mood. (laughing) You're right on target...for the highest.

Mahavirya: So actually, it’s a kind of liberation. It's one of the four kinds of liberation that devotees may sometimes accept. One of them is to be close to the Lord, in association with the Lord, be on the same planet, have the same features. These are different kinds of liberations. But the devotee won't accept this if it hampers his devotional service…this bhakti.

Gaurahari: You know, I just got this lightning flash. If you get the devotion...Krishna's attracted by Radharani…He's even attracted by Radharani. He's attracted to devotion. So if I pray for Krishna then I may get Krishna but without devotion can I realize Krishna? No.

It's like that washerman in Mathura, when Krishna goes and Lord Chaitanya said in the pastime revealing more about that, this washerman who was adverse to Him. Krishna asked him will you do a little service? And the washer man had no love for Him. Well, I see You Krishna. You're blue and all these things but he was against Him. He didn’t have any love for Krishna. He had no devotion. He did austerities for a long time, his whole life to get association with Krishna but he obviously didn’t have a bonafide guru or serve one properly who had devotion for Krishna.

Mahavirya: Yah, he had bad association, Kamsa.

Gaurahari: Yah, and he had bad association with Kamsa. A devotee who has devotion will not serve a Kamsa. Devotion protects us. Love of God protects us, it nurtures us, it draws us to Krishna so that we can understand and realize His glories. Devotion is the thing to pray for.



MIRROR OF THE HEART


SRI CHAITANYA CHARITAMRTA
CHAPTER 12
TEXT 1
     Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and cleansed the Guṇḍicā temple with His devotees and associates. In this way He made the temple as cool and bright as His own heart, and thus He made the place befitting for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to sit. CHAITANYA CHARITAMRTA MADYA LILA CHAPETR 12 TEXT 1
DISCUSSION
Mahavirya: That's the ultimate understanding of the verse...our heart belongs to the Lord. anandamayo 'bhyasat, Vedanta sutra* means that all the living entities...they are manifest and produced to enhance the happiness of the Lord. The Lord produces unlimited quantities of living entities to enhance His enjoyment so our hearts are like a mirror. We go in there and cleanse the mirror with the Lord and the devotees and when the mirror is really cleansed then the Lord can see His own reflection on this and He becomes very happy…because Krishna is very narcissistic. There's nothing but Him actually in the ultimate sense. Everything is an expansion of the Lord, either an energy of the Lord or a personal expansion. It's meant for the enjoyment of the Lord. So we give our heart, cleanse our heart then Krishna can reflect His image there.
Gaurahari: The main thing is that we can see it. It's just like, the Lord can see everything. Christians sometimes say, "Do you know God loves you?" Well yes, I know intellectually, but do I love God? Do I have that realization? Do I have the realization that I'm sharing the same heart with God? This is what the cleansing is about…so that we can realize these things. The Lord's very happy when we start to realize our true position.
Mahavirya: The Lord can see everything except his own reflection your heart…if you don't want it. See, that's the free will He gave us. Otherwise love cannot exist. So we can either keep our heart for ourselves or… try to share it with me, myself and I, expanded ego. But that doesn't satisfy, of course. It doesn’t satisfy the Lord either. Even devotees are still in this mentality…like eating unspiced kitchery and to offer that to the Lord is not very pleasing. But when this pure devotion rises and the mirror is cleansed and you pray for the Lord and you bath the Lord with your tears and like that and the heart becomes very pure then Krishna can see. Oh, there are no more modes of material nature for you. So let me enjoy this nice image of myself in your heart.


*"In Vedanta-sutra it is stated, anandamayo 'bhyasat: God is anandamaya, full of bliss and pleasure. Since we are part and parcel of God, we also possess these same qualities. So the goal of our yoga process is to join with the supreme anandamaya, Sri Krsna, to join His dance party. Then we will be actually happy."  PATH OF PERFECTION CHAPTER 1

Thursday, June 20, 2013

UDDHAVA TO SHRI KRISHNA


UDDHAVA TO SHRI KRISHNA


                              tam tvakhilatma-dayiteshvaram ashritanam
                                 sarvartha-dam sva-krita-vid vishrijeta ko n
                              ko va bhajet kim api vismritaye ’nu bhutyai
                                 kim va bhaven na tava pada-rajo-jusham nah

tam—that; tva—You; akhila—of all; atma—the Supreme Soul; dayita—the most dear; ishvaram—and the supreme controller; ashritanam—of those who take shelter of You; sarva-artha—of all perfections; dam—the bestower; sva-krita—the benefit you have given; vit—who knows; vishrijeta—can reject; kah—who; nu—indeed; kah—who; va—or; bhajet—can accept; kim api—anything; vismritaye—for forgetfulness; anu—consequently; bhutyai—for sense gratification; kim—what; va—or; bhavet—is; na—not; tava—Your; pada—of the lotus feet; rajah—the dust; jusham—for those who are serving; nah—ourselves.
     
     Who, then, could dare reject You, the very Soul, the most dear object of worship, and the Supreme Lord of all - You who give all possible perfections to the devotees who take shelter of You? Who could be so ungrateful, knowing the benefits You bestow? Who would reject You and accept something for the sake of material enjoyment, which simply leads to forgetfulness of You? And what lack is there for us who are engaged in the service of the dust of Your lotus feet? 

     These words are not spoken by an ordinary human being. Where do we hear such words? This is scripture. Recorded for the benefit of everyone. The verses are best read out loud. This verse is saturated with devotional ecstasy. It is our great good fortune to be able to listen in on Uddhava's conversation with Sri Krishna. For by hearing the words from the mouths of pure devotees like Uddhava we become purified.
     
     

     

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

SRAVANAM...HEARING


     In my studies I have learned of the nine processes of devotional service, the first process and it is first because it is most significant is sravanam...hearing. 

The nine processes of devotional service are: 

(1) śravaṇa ("listening" to the scriptural stories of Kṛṣṇa and his companions)
(2) kīrtana ("praising," usually refers to ecstatic group singing
(3) smaraṇa ("remembering" or fixing the mind on Viṣṇu)
(4) pāda-sevana(rendering service)
(5) arcana (worshiping an image)
(6) vandana (paying homage)
(7) dāsya (servitude)
(8) sākhya (friendship)
(9) ātma-nivedana(complete surrender of the self).
SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CANTO 7 CHAPTER 5 VERSES 23-24 (LINK)


     I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is SyamasundaraKrishna Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.
BRAHMA SAMHITA 5:38 (LINK)

     The same principle of seeing with devotion can be applied to hearing with devotion. The swan, if there is a mixture of milk and water, has the ability to extract the drops of milk from the water. Hearing with devotion is like that. The milk can be compared to the nectar of love and devotion for the Lord. By hearing that is purified by devotion I can extract the essence of love of God in whatever I hear, even if the source may be contaminated, like the swan that can take the milk from the water. 

     This is the result of sravanam (listening to the scriptural stories of Kṛṣṇa and his companions). Devotion is awakened and nourished by such hearing especially in the association of devotees.


     For chanting, reading and discussion of Sri Krishna Chaitanya lila and the great value of the confidential path of raganuga bhakti please visit:


TIME...PLACE...AND CIRCUMSTANCE

     God sends His representatives to help us along. They give instructions according to time place and circumstance. We do best when we follow the most recent incarnation because that will be the most relevant. Five hundred years ago the Lord incarnated as Sri Krishna Chaitanya in Bengal. He appeared in the mood of His own devotee, Srimate Radharani to demonstrate what He is looking for in a devotee.  
     To hear from His most recent representative and those who are representing the representative is best because that will be the most relevant according to time place and circumstance.Hearing His pastimes and teachings has helped me immensely. I don't have to figure it all out myself, which I see now I could never do anyway, since how could I know the desire of the Lord without Him telling me. 
     I can read the mind of God?

Chanting, reading discussion Chaitanya lila, illuminating the path of raganuga bhakti..

OUTREACH PROGRAM DHARMASALA, INDIA (LINK)

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

LOWER THAN THE STRAW IN THE STREET



tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā harih

TRANSLATION
     One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

     This is difficult to do in any circumstance. But especially difficult when I feel slighted or offended by someone I respect and consider a teacher, guardian or guide. This is because in order to maintain the relationship of respect and remain in a state of mind that allows me to remain in their shelter I cannot go into a defensive mode. I must remain open. Whether the offense is actual or not. 
     In the case of my spiritual guide the person may have some rough edges, but I know they are far, far more advanced on the spiritual path than I am. Those rough edges may jab and sting at times. Maybe the person becomes exhilarated from a very active day and shows some false pride. In that condition they belittle me. But it is only a fleeting thing. It is not their regular state. If I lash out in self defense more damage than good is done. If indeed the person is our teacher let them teach us tolerance, in this instance not by showing tolerance themselves, which they regularly do show, but by me learning to tolerate by tolerating them.
     The Christian use of the word forgive is similar to the use of the word tolerance here. But I like tolerance better because forgive implies I have made the judgement they have done something wrong. So the element of judgement puts me in the elevated position  of judging. I may not be qualified for that elevated position. A little trick of the false ego sneaking in there. Whereas tolerance simply implies something is a little comfortable.
     The so-called offense may not actually be an offense. It may be perceived as an offense only in my mind. I have some idea of myself that has not been validated by the other person. So I am looking for validation, acceptance, approval yada, yada, yada. But this is going to be there somewhat in a teacher disciple relationship. 
     In either case, real offense or imagined, the winning strategy is given in this verse. It is not just a one on one battle of the egos going on in a spiritual relationship. There is something else going on much more exciting and blissful. The Lord is present in the spirit of love and devotion. That's the prize. And He very clearly states here what pleases Him. Tolerance....

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Monday, June 17, 2013

WHAT IS MEANT BY CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE?


DEFINITION OF CONFIDENTIAL

1
: marked by intimacy or willingness to confide <a confidentialtone>
2
: privatesecret <confidential information>
3
: entrusted with confidences <a confidential clerk>
4
: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could be prejudicial to the national interest — compare secrettop secret
     The Lord has many servants. Uncountable servants. He is unlimited in all ways...His Form, His qualities, His energies, His pastimes, His devotees, His saints and sages... Not all of His servants are confidential servants. Some are entrusted with managerial affairs while some are given the confidential service of manifesting or displaying in their own person the qualities and symptoms of love of God.
     Is it any wonder that such saintly persons are not recognized by most people who are very much concerned about managerial functions. The confidential servants and their valuable service is best performed under a protective cloak of privacy and secrecy. Such secrecy is not purposely made by the servant as if they were trying to hide something. Oh no, on the contrary, they are very often shouting from the hilltops.The secrecy is there because of a covering or veil or a kind of illusion that makes one thing look like something else or only allows the material externals to be visible while the energetic form remains hidden. 
     Love is like that. Those servants of God who are given the service of spreading love of God are given the most confidential service. Those fortunate souls who see, hear from, serve and make friends with such confidential devotees also enter into the confidentiality. For them the veil of secrecy, the protective illusory covering is removed.
     Love of God is not cheap. The price is intense eagerness. We must be willing to beg, borrow and even steal love of God. 
     "For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
     There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear."

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