Humans and Earth, Guna and karma

Universe consists of 8,400,000 species of plants, animals and humans.

• There are 900,000 species living in the water.
• There are also 2,000,000 non-moving living entities (sthavara)
  such as trees and plants.
• There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles.
• There are 1,000,000 species of birds.
• As far as quadrupeds are concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties.
• There are 400,000 human species. (Padma Purana)

I became an animal subjected to the gunas and my free will was replaced by the instincts. Gradually I will be elevated to the uncivilized human level. This may take me longer time if I am killed in the animal body by ignorant humans.
"While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained." (SB 8.22.25)

"After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Krsna consciousness is possible only for a human being." (SB 11.9.29)

HUMANS

Humans in general can be roughly categorized into six general types according to their social, cultural and spiritual advancement (Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Vaishnava-siddhanta-mala, ch.7):

1) Uncivilized tribes like the Pulindas (aborigines) and the Sabaras (mountain people), etc. "Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." (SB 2.4.18) 2) Civilized races with developed materialistic knowledge and science, as well as an emphasis on industrialized production; they do not know what is proper moral conduct, nor do they have actual faith in God; these are the characteristics of the mlecchas (meat-eating races), etc. "My dear Thakura Haridasa, in this age of Kali most people are bereft of Vedic culture, and therefore they are called yavanas. They are concerned only with killing cows and brahminical culture. In this way they all engage in sinful acts. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 3.50) 3) Those who have no personal God but are very fond of the natural beauty of the material world, like the Buddhists, etc. "Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist." (SB 1.3.24) "The scriptures of the Buddhist cult are chiefly based on argument and logic, and they contain nine chief principles. Because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu defeated them in their argument, they could not establish their cult." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 9.49) 4) Those whose ethics are endowed with a philosophy and faith of an imaginary God, like the karma-vadis (worshipers of various demigods, etc., who do good with the hope of being elevated to higher planets. This is called imaginary because they believe various demigods to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.). "Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures." (BG 7.20) "Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet." (BG 7.23) 5) Those worshipers who accept the true Lord of Creation, but do not perform devotional service unto Him. "Persons who want to advance in superior religion are advised to give up all envy of other living entities, whether in relationship to the body, words or mind. There is no religion superior to this." (SB 7.15.8) 6) Those who are fond of the nirvisesa-vada (doctrine of ultimate impersonal oneness), like the jnana-vadis (those who practice the path of intellectually-wrangled spiritual knowledge). "Mayavada philosophy is disguised buddhism. My dear Devi, I [Shiva], in the form of brahmana, will teach it in Kali-yuga." (Padma Purana, Uttara khanda, 25.7) "O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from this position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet." (SB 10.2.32) GUNA AND KARMA After being born among the uncivilized humans I will be elevated among the civilized races. My further progress will depend on my guna and karma. Related: Guna table Three gunas GUNA "Material nature consists of three modes - goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes." (BG 14.5) Sattva - "O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge." (BG 14.6) Rajas - "The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive actions." (BG 14.7) Tamas - "O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul." (BG 14.8) KARMA Bhakti - "In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna [congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord]." (SB 11.5.32) "Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyasa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless." (SB 4.31.12) Jnana - "Neither religious activities endowed with honesty and mercy nor knowledge obtained with great penance can completely purify one's consciousness if they are bereft of loving service to Me." (SB 11.14.22) "The seven great sages [Marici, Vasistha, Atri and so on] reside on planets beneath Dhruvaloka. Well aware of the influence of the water of the Ganges, to this day they keep Ganges water on the tufts of hair on their heads. They have concluded that this is the ultimate wealth, the perfection of all austerities, and the best means of prosecuting transcendental life. Having obtained uninterrupted devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they neglect all other beneficial processes like religion, economic development, sense gratification and even merging into the Supreme. Just as jnanis think that merging into the existence of the Lord is the highest truth, these seven exalted personalities accept devotional service as the perfection of life." (SB 5.17.3) Yoga - "In this way, being purified by ritualistic sacrifices, the heart of Maharaja Bharata was completely uncontaminated. His devotional service unto Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, increased day after day. Lord Krsna, the son of Vasudeva, is the original Personality of Godhead manifest as the Supersoul [Paramatma] as well as the impersonal Brahman. Yogis meditate upon the localized Paramatma situated in the heart, jnanis worship the impersonal Brahman as the Supreme Absolute Truth, and devotees worship Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental body is described in the sastras. His body is decorated with the Srivatsa, the Kaustubha jewel and a flower garland, and His hands hold a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. Devotees like Narada always think of Him within their hearts." (SB 5.7.7) Karma - "Karmis are always anxious to accumulate wealth for their sense gratification, but for that purpose they must work very hard. Yet even though they work hard, the results are not satisfying. Indeed, sometimes their work results only in frustration. But devotees who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Lord can achieve substantial results without working very hard. These results exceed the devotee's expectations." (SB 8.5.47) Vikarma - "Suta Gosvami said: Maharaja Pariksit, thus being petitioned by the personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed." (SB 1.17.38) "If a human being is engaged in sinful, irreligious activities, either because of bad association or because of his failure to control his senses, then such a person will certainly develop a personality full of material desires. He thus becomes miserly toward others, greedy and always anxious to exploit the bodies of women. When the mind is so polluted one becomes violent and aggressive and without the authority of Vedic injunctions slaughters innocent animals for sense gratification. Worshiping ghosts and spirits, the bewildered person falls fully into the grip of unauthorized activities and thus goes to hell, where he receives a material body infected by the darkest modes of nature. In such a degraded body, he unfortunately continues to perform inauspicious activities that greatly increase his future unhappiness, and therefore he again accepts a similar material body. What possible happiness can there be for one who engages in activities inevitably terminating in death?" (SB 1.10.27-29) For those who are on the level of Vedic life, dharma sastras (scriptures on dharma) provide definition of the proper behavior leading to elevation. Any deviation from it is called vikarma (negative, degrading karma). Let me examine motivations directing my life and choose my further destination:   sattva rajas tamas Vikarma   Bhurloka (worse human birth) hells animal ghost Karma Svarga Bila-svarga, Bhurloka Jnana Brahman, Sunya Bhurloka (better human birth) Yoga Muniloka, Hari-dhama Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka Bhakti Hari-dhama Svarga, Mahesa-dhama The process of elevation on the path back home, back to Godhead, is different in different yugas (cosmic ages) as each yuga has its specific yuga-dharma based on bhakti. Satya-yuga Treta-yuga Dvapara-yuga Kali-yuga SB 2.2.15-31 describes the path from the point of view of yoga (Satya-yuga-dharma), SB 7.15.54-55 from the point of view of yajna (Treta-yuga-dharma), BG 8.23-27 from the point of view of upasana (Dvapara-yuga-dharma) and Brhad Bhagavatamrta, part 2, from the point of view of harinama-sankirtana (Kali-yuga-dharma, the process for the current age). Dharma - "The Yamadutas replied: That which is prescribed in the Vedas constitutes dharma, the religious principles, and the opposite of that is irreligion. The Vedas are directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, and are self-born. This we have heard from Yamaraja." (SB 6.1.40) "The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self." (SB 1.2.6)

Results of our karma

“If everything happens as a result of our karma, why do we speak of fate and lord and why should we surrender to God? why god tests only the devotees more?”


Only the karma is otherwise called fate. In other words, your fate is written based on your karma. SO, both can not be separated.

Entrusting the results to krishna means that, you can just do your works, without expecting the results and accepting whatever results Krishna gives you. The results must be decided by krishna. However, Krishna says in Gita that ONE SHOULD NEVER SKIP HIS DUTY; He must do his duties, otherwise he can not even maintain his body. If you skip your duties, you will incur the karma of skipping your duties. So, Krishna advised us to do the duties and allow Krishna to decide what, how and when to give fruits to you.

Why failures and pains come in our life? For example, if a person had stopped the marriages of 10 girls in his previous birth, the marriage of his daughter will be stopped 10 times by others in this birth. So, if he expects instant results, it will not be given immediately. But, if he tries without expectation, his daughter will get a good husband in his 11th attempt.

In case he skips trying to seek groom for his daughter frustrated with repeated failure, she will never get married. So, better do your duty instead of skipping it. You will get the fruit atleast on a later date. If you skip duty believing that everything is by fate, you will never get what you needed.

Next, problems come when you become a devotee of Lord and start chanting. True. Until you clean your house, all the dust are silent. But, when you start cleaning the dusts the dusts starts to spread throughout the room. Similarly, when you chant Hare krishna and involve seriously in devotional practices, all the material dusts come out of your heart and thus you are stage by stage purified. So, you feel that problems are more when you involve in devotion. It is nothing wrong. Only when such problems come, your heart will be cleansed. So, feel happy that your devotional practices cleanse you. Don’t worry.

Lord never gives problems to his devotees without reasons. By giving problems to devotees, He makes His devotees get purified from past karma earlier and hence come to Him earlier.

So, if you face more problems, be happy that Lord is fastening your going back to Him. If you escape from such problems, you will have to take birth again to face them.

So, all for good. Believe that and be relieved.

Krishnas form

Yoga for modern age

The breathing exercise of the yoga system that is generally practiced is just the beginning of the system. Meditation on the Supersoul is just a step forward. Achievement of wonderful material success is also only a step forward. But to attain direct contact with the Supersoul and to take dictation from Him is the highest perfectional stage.

The breathing exercises and meditational practices of yoga are very difficult in this age. They were difficult even five thousand years ago, or else Arjuna would not have rejected the proposal of Krishna. This age of Kali is called a fallen age. At the present moment, people in general are short-living and very slow in understanding self-realization, or spiritual life. They are mostly unfortunate, and as such, if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization, he is misguided by so many frauds.

In the present age, however, if you want success in practical yoga, take to the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna  Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and feel for yourself how you are making progress. Lord Chaitanya practically demonstrated Krishna consciousness yoga simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, as they are mentioned in the Vedanta, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many important Puranas.It is very easy and practical for this age, especially for those who are serious about success in yoga. No other process can be successful in this age.

Ref : Chapter 5a, Science of Self Realization authored by Srila Prabhupada

scriptures about 4 yugas

References from different scriptures for the 4 yuga timings:

Srimad Bhagavatam

http://vedabase.net/sb/3/11/en

In this page, click on verses 18 to 20 for reading.

Bhagavd Gita
The verses we read today 8.17 and 8.18

Other shastras

The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva, 231.29-32) continues: "The learned say that these 12,000 celestial years form what is called a cycle. A thousand such cycles form a single day of Brahma. The same is the duration of Brahma’s night. With the beginning of Brahma’s day the universal entities come into being. During the period of universal dissolution the Creator [Brahma] sleeps in Yoga-meditation. When the period of sleep expires, He awakes. What is Brahma’s day covers a thousand such cycles. His night also covers a thousand similar cycles. They who know this are said to know the day and the night. On the expiry of His night, Brahma, waking up, modifies the indestructible intelligence by causing it to be overlaid with ignorance. He then causes Consciousness to spring up, whence it originates Mind which is at one with the Manifest." [This creative process is described in detail in my book How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It.]

In calculating the duration of the different yugas, there are a few differences between the Puranas, otherwise their descriptions are all the same. The Brahmanda Purana (1.2.29.31-34) specifically states that Krita or Satya-yuga is 1,440,000 human years in length, Treta-yuga is 1,080,000 years, Dvapara-yuga is 720,000 years, and Kali-yuga is 360,000 years in length. The Linga Purana (4.24-35) also agrees with this except for Treta-yuga, which it says is 1,800,000 years in length. These figures are correct when we leave out the conjoining Sandhya [at the beginning of each yuga] and the Sandhyansa [ending of each yuga] periods. 

 

When explaining the various measurements of time, the Vishnu Purana (Book One, Chapter Three) and the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.11.19), along with the Bhagavad-gita (8.17), the Vayu Purana (Chapter 57), and Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva, 2.86-107), and others, such as the Mahabharata as quoted above, also all agree on the measurements of the durations of the yugas. This shows that these time measurements are corroborated throughout the Vedic texts, and if anyone has a different theory about the Vedic time frame, then they are going outside the Vedic descriptions.

We will describe this in more simplified terms as follows: 

 

In the explanations of the measurements of time found therein, one cycle of the four yugas together is 12,000 years of the demigods, called divine years. Each of these years is composed of 360 days, and each of their days is equal to one human year. So Krita-yuga is 4000 divine years in length, Treta-yuga is 3000 divine years in length, Dvapara-yuga is 2000 divine years in length, and Kali-yuga is 1000 divine years long, each one a quarter less than Krita or Satya-yuga, with the addition of the conjoining portions of the Sandhya and Sandhyansa. 

 

In this way, each yuga is preceded by a period called a Sandhya, which is as many hundred years in length as there are thousands of years in that particular yuga. Each yuga is also followed by a period of time known as a Sandhyansa, which is also as many hundreds of years in length as there are thousands of years in the yuga. In between these periods of time is the actual yuga. Therefore, we have:

 

Krita-yuga = 4000 divine years, Sandhya = 400 divine years, Sandhyansa = 400 divine years. Total = 4800 divine years x 360 days = 1,728,000 human years.

Treta-yuga = 3000 divine years, Sandhya = 300 divine years, Sandhyansa = 300 divine years. Total = 3600 divine years x 360 days = 1,296,000 human years.

Dvapara-yuga = 2000 divine years, Sandhya = 200 divine years, Sandhyansa = 200 divine years. Total = 2400 divine years x 360 days = 864,000 human years.

Kali-yuga = 1000 divine years, Sandhya = 100 divine years, Sandhyansa = 100 divine years. Total = 1200 divine years x 360 days = 432,000 human years. 

 

This equals 4,320,000 human years, or 12,000 divine years, in one cycle of the four yugas together, and 1000 cycles of these yugas equals a Chaturyuga at 12,000,000 divine years and 4,320,000,000 human years in one day of Brahma. It is also explained that Kali-yuga began with the disappearance of Lord Krishna from the planet. This has been calculated to be 3102 BCE. Since Kali-yuga is described as being 432,000 earth years in length, with 5,000 years and more already passed, then the age of Kali-yuga has approximately 326,000 more years to go.

To be more clear about this, these calculations are further confirmed in the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana which relates the same figures in the following way: 

 

"Now I will tell you about the counting of time. As the days rise and end, similarly all the four yugas also come and end. A single divine day and night of Manu compares with the completed year of the humans. Those well-versed in the signs of time, ordain that after the passing of the three hundred and sixty yugas of the humans, a divine yuga of the gods is made. Seventy-one divine years [of the gods] comprise a manvantara. An age of Indra is equivalent to one manvantara. Thus, after the existence of twenty-eight Indras, there is one day and night of Brahma. Thus, after the lapse of one hundred and eight years, the life of Brahma comes to an end." (Brahma-Vaivarta Purana, Prakriti Khanda, 7.72-75)

The same time frame is calculated with a different description in the Kalki Purana (19.12-14) as follows:

 

"Twelve thousand years of the demigods is the duration of the four yugas on earth. The duration of Satya-yuga is four thousand celestial years, Treta-yuga is three thousand celestial years, Dvapara-yuga is two thousand celestial years, and Kali-yuga is one thousand celestial years. The transitional periods of the four yugas are four hundred, three hundred, two hundred, and one hundred celestial years respectively. In this way, the total comes to twelve thousand celestial years. The duration of the reign of each Manu is seventy-one cycles of the four yugas. Fourteen Manus reign during one day of Brahma. This is also the duration of Brahma’s night [which is as long as his day]."

To understand this in greater detail and to also show the consistency of these calculations throughout the Vedic literature, we can use the additional example. Here Suta Gosvami explains to the sages during the huge gathering at the forest of Naimisaranya 5000 years ago, all of the divisions of time and how the lengths of the yugas are formulated, as related in the Vayu Purana. 

 

"In the context of the description of the earth, etc., I have already said about the four yugas. Now I shall recount them in detail. (Listen and) understand them. Calculating everything and mentioning in detail, I shall narrate in full the six aspects of yugas, namely yugabheda (difference in yugas), yugadharma (the particular characteristics of each yuga), yugasandhi (the junction of yugas), yugamsha (the parts of yugas), and yugasandhana (the joints of the yugas). The human year can be understood (calculated) by means of valid working knowledge. Calculating on the basis of that year [in the human time frame], I shall explain the four yugas. The time taken to utter a short syllable is equal to a Nimesha. Nimesha, Kashtha, Kala, and Muhurta are the units of time. Fifteen Nimeshas constitute a Kashtha, thirty Kashthas make one Kala, and thirty Kalas make one Muhurta. Thirty Muhurtas make one full day and night. The sun demarcates the human as well as the divine days and nights. The day is intended for activity and the night is meant for sleep. A (human) month constitutes the day and night of the Pitris [the departed ancestors, now included as part of the celestials]. Its division is thus: The dark half is the day for them and the bright half is their night for sleep [as calculated by the waning and waxing of the moon]." (Vayu Purana 57.2-9)

"Therefore, thirty human months make one month of the Pitris [the celestial ancestors]. On the basis of the human calculation, three hundred and sixty months constitute a year of the Pitris. A hundred human years constitute three years and four months of the Pitris. A human year in accordance with the human calculation is one day and one night of the Devas [the higher demigods]. This is the conclusion in this scripture." (Vayu Purana 57.10-12)

"So, the divine day and night together [of the Devas] make a human year. A further classification is that the Uttarayana period (northern transit of the sun) is the day and the Dakshinayana period (southern transit of the sun) is the night (of the Devas). Thirty of the days and nights of the gods, or thirty human years make one divine month (of the gods). One hundred human years make three divine months and three divine days. Thus is the divine reckoning for divisions of time." (Vayu Purana 57.13-15)

"Three hundred and sixty years according to human calculation constitute one divine year. Three thousand and thirty years according to human calculation constitute one year of the Seven Sages (Saptarishis) or the (astrological constellation of) the Great Bear. Nine thousand and ninety human years make one Kraunchan year. Thirty-six thousand human years should be known as one hundred divine years. Thus is the calculation of the divine unit of time. Persons well versed in calculation say that three hundred and sixty thousand (360,000) years reckoned on the basis of human time units constitute a thousand divine years [of the Devas]. It is thus that the sages sang about the divine calculation. They have formulated the reckoning of the yugas and their duration on the basis of this divine calculation." (Vayu Purana 57.16-21)

Now with all of this calculating we reach the point where it is used to establish the durations of the four yugas as followed:

"Wise people know that there are four yugas in Bharata Varsha [the area of India and sometimes considered planet earth in general]. The first one is Krita, followed by Treta, Dvapara, and Kali-yuga. One should reckon these yugas in this order. They say that the Krita-yuga consists of four thousand years. The Sandhya (transition period) consists of as many hundreds of years (400 divine years). The Sandhyamsha (part of the junction with the next yuga) is equal to the Sandhya period. In the Sandhyas and Sandhyamshas of the other yugas there is a gradual reduction of a thousand [years of the yuga] and hundred years [in the Sandhya and Sandhyamsha transitions]. [This means that] Treta-yuga contains three thousand years, and its Sandhya and Sandhyamsha [junctions with the preceding and following yugas] consist of three hundred years each. The wise say that Dvapara-yuga contains two thousand [celestial] years, and the Sandhya consists of two hundred years and the Sandhyamsha is equal to the Sandhya [two hundred years]. The learned say that Kali-yuga consists of a thousand years, and its Sandhya is of a hundred years and the Sandhyamsha is the same. This period of twelve thousand (divine) years is known as a Maha-yuga. The four yugas together are Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali." (Vayu Purana 57.22-28)

"In this world the calculation of years is based on the human level. Now I shall mention the duration of Krita-yuga in accordance with that type of [human] calculation. The duration [of Krita-yuga] is one million, four hundred and forty thousand [human] years. As for Kali-yuga, it is one fourth of that. Thus the specific duration of time of the four yugas excluding the Sandhyas and Sandhyamshas is declared. Including the Sandhyas and Sandhyamshas the duration of the four yugas put together is four million three hundred and twenty thousand [4,320,000] human years." (Vayu Purana 57.29-32)

Thus, we have provided the different ways of explaining the units of time to calculate the length of the yugas according to the references in the Vedic texts. I hope this has provided enough information and evidence to clarify and conclude what is sometimes a confusing issue, and that the same figures and conclusions are arrived at in various texts.

 

Reference: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/timings_of_the_four_yugas.htm

 

Thanks to preethi mataji for sending  sources.... 

TODAYS THOUGHT....

Yes... If someone cheats you or hurts you, you need not add new karma by retaliating back. His added karma will bring him experiences that will make him realize his past mistakes.

Forgiving is the duty of man. Teaching lessons is the responsibility of Lord. He will perfectly do it through His karma network.

So, forgive others and smile at them.

Let them feel ashamed later for his actions.

Krishna or Christ - The Name Is the Same

Krishna or Christ - The Name Is the Same

During a morning walk near ISKCON's center in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and several of his disciples were joined by Father Emmanuel Jungclaussen, a Benedictine monk from Niederalteich Monastery. Noticing that Srila Prabhupada was carrying meditation beads similar to the Catholic rosary, Father Emmanuel explained that he also chanted a constant prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful unto us." The following conversation ensued:

Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the word Christ?

Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "the anointed one."

Srila Prabhupada: Christos is the Greek version of the word Krishna.

Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting.

Srila Prabhupada: When an Indian person calls on Krishna, he often says, "Krsta." Krsta is a Sanskrit word meaning "attraction." So when we address God as "Christ," "Krsta," or "Krishna," we indicate the same all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Jesus said, "Our Father, who art in heaven, sanctified be Thy name," that name of God was Krsta or Krishna. Do you agree?

Father Emmanuel: I think Jesus, as the Son of God, has revealed to us the actual name of God: Christ. We can call God "Father," but if we want to address Him by His actual name, we have to say "Christ."

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. "Christ" is another way of saying Krsta, and "Krsta" is another way of pronouncing Krishna, the name of God. Jesus said that one should glorify the name of God, but yesterday I heard one theologian say that God has no name -- that we can call him only "Father." A son may call his father "Father," but the father also has a specific name. Similarly, God is the general name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose specific name is Krishna. Therefore whether you call God "Christ," "Krsta," or "Krishna," ultimately you are addressing the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Father Emmanuel: Yes, if we speak of God's actual name, then we must say, "Christos." In our religion, we have the Trinity: the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe we can know the name of God only by revelation from the Son of God. Jesus Christ revealed the name of the father, and therefore we take the name Christ as the revealed name of God.

Srila Prabhupada: Actually, it doesn't matter -- Krishna or Christ -- the name is the same. The main point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God in this age. The easiest way is to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Rama and Krishna are names of God, and Hare is the energy of God. So when we chant the maha-mantra, we address God together with His energy. This energy is of two kinds, the spiritual and the material. At present we are in the clutches of the material energy. Therefore we pray to Krishna that He may kindly deliver us from the service of the material energy and accept us into the service of the spiritual energy. That is our whole philosophy. Hare Krishna means, "O energy of God, O God (Krishna), please engage me in Your service." It is our nature to render service. Somehow or other we have come to the service of material things, but when this service is transformed into the service of the spiritual energy, then our life is perfect. To practice bhakti-yoga [loving service to God] means to become free from designations like Hindu, Muslim, Christian, this or that, and simply to serve God. We have created Christian, Hindu, and Mohammedan religions, but when we come to a religion without designations, in which we don't think we are Hindus or Christians or Mohammedans, then we can speak of pure religion, or bhakti.


Happy christmazz guyzz....

Every Home a Temple

Despite wide exposure to the Krsna consciousness movement, which historians and religious writers like Thomas J. Hopkins have called an ancient "social system" and a "cultural tradition," people often think that to become a member of this Society requires extreme renunciation and disinterest in the world. People tend to stay away from Krsna consciousness because of apprehension about the position of women, marriage, and family life. Many times I have been timidly asked, "Can you get married in Krsna consciousness?" when, in fact, these days you might find yourself looking over your garden wall to see a Krsna conscious couple playing with their children.

This raises more questions: If Hare Krsna devotees do get married and begin living alongside more "normal" members of society, do the devotees stop their fervent life of prayer and preaching? Is the serious practice of Krsna consciousness meant for just a few Hare Krsna devotees privileged (or condemned, as some think) to live in a few temples? And is it to be expected that most others will visit the temple in between watching TV, playing golf, or going to parties? How important is Krsna consciousness in the daily affairs of the ordinary family?

According to the Vedic literature, the age in which we are living is known as Kali-yuga, or the age of quarrel, a time of tension, disagreement, and stress. The Srimad-Bhagavatam, written five thousand years ago, predicts for Kali-yuga an atmosphere of spiritual ineptitude and consequent social decay. Things will gradually deteriorate with time, but already personal relationships are becoming fraught with difficulties. Fulfilling the dream of a happy home poses a challenge not easily met. "Burdens of love" are burdensome. Rarely do homes foster openness, good communication, respect, obedience, loyalty, and joy. Even persons who are competent outside the home find the simplest domestic problems insurmountable.

The solution to these problems lies in knowing the underlying cause of family strife: lack of a clear understanding of the goal of human life.

"But there is no goal," a mother of two once insisted to me. "There is no meaning to life."

"No meaning at all?" I queried.

"Well, the only meaning in my life is my children."

"But if your life is meaningless, how can your children make it any more meaningful?"

Of course, in daily life we do find meanings and goals to occupy and motivate us. When we awaken each morning we are flooded with considerations of wife. husband, lover, children, job, money, career, housework, or simply breakfast.

Because we are embodied souls, we tend to think of our own or others' bodily affairs as our first and foremost duty. But the Vedas say, "No. There is a much greater goal! Human life is meant for self-realization. If you occupy your days and nights with thoughts of your body and things related to it, you will waste an invaluable opportunity. And the subsequent anxiety, strain, and agitation will cause your loving relationships to disintegrate. Only the suffering will remain."

The Vedas suggest that efforts to help others that are based on the body will only aggravate the problems, and the Vedas therefore strongly recommend renunciation. Not just for a few monks either for everyone.

"Wait a moment! What if everybody renounced the world and became a Hare Krsna? How would things go on?"

"Things would not go on." Srila Prabhupada used to retort, "at least not as you might think they should."

Yet Srila Prabhupada did not teach that everyone should move into a temple, but simply that we should renounce our tendency for selfish and vicious activities and begin practicing spiritual life at home, or wherever we may be.

"But how can renunciation help with our family problems? As I see it, there's not enough attachment bonding the husband to the wife and children."

Yes! Not enough spiritual attachment. As much as we are attached to selfish sensual pleasures, we will remain selfish in our relationships. Selfish sensuality will prevent me from being able to appreciate my partner as a person distinct from a machine to gratify my senses, and will tend to destroy our relationship, because my partner's body is limited and my desires are unlimited. Sooner or later. I will be driven by those desires to seek out another partner with a different body and the promise of fresh pleasure.

The remedy is to awaken my spiritual understanding that a person is actually a soul, who can never be satisfied by any amount of sensual pleasure, and who needs to awaken a loving relationship with the supreme soul. As it is said, a family that prays together stays together. The more materially detached we become, the more we will be able to properly care for others.

Watering the root of a tree nourishes the entire tree. Similarly, when the members of the family seek out the source of everything God and try to please Him, they will find their relationships nourished with peace, unity, and joy.

In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter 7), there is a description of Lord Caitanya's method of preaching while He traveled as asannyasi (itinerant monk) in South India. He influenced the people to chant the holy names and converted them to Vaisnavism, the worship and service of the Supreme Lord, Krsna.

In one village a Vedic brahmana (priest) named Kurma invited Lord Caitanya to his home and begged. "My dear Lord, kindly show me favor; let me go with You. I can no longer tolerate the waves of misery caused by materialistic life."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Don't speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Krsna always."

Srila Prabhupada comments,

It is not advisable in this age of Kali to leave one's family suddenly, for people are not trained as proper brahmacaris(celibate students] and grhasthas (spiritually-minded householders). Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised the brahmana not to be too eager to give up family life. It would be better to remain with his family and try to become purified by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If this principle is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyasa. In the next verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised everyone to become an ideal householder by offenselessly chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and teaching the same principle to everyone he meets.

The next verse states. "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."

This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna , Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If one is literate and can read Bhagavad-gita As It Is andSrimad-Bhagavatam, that is so much the better. These works are now available in an English translation and are done very authoritatively to appeal to all classes of men. Instead of living engrossed in material activities, people throughout the world should take advantage of this movement and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra at home with their families. One should also refrain from sinful activities illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication.

Krsna in the Center

To begin one's path to perfection at home, one must simply recognize that God is the owner of the home. Thinking "my wife," "my husband," "my children," "my job, money, and career," or even "my breakfast" is a mistake.

When Srila Prabhupada introduced the Krsna consciousness movement in New York City in 1966, many young people came forward to move into the single ISKCON temple. Yet even then Srila Prabhupada was speaking about practicing Krsna consciousness at home:

According to the Vedic system, a householder works for the satisfaction of God by establishing the Deity, or form of the Supreme Lord. either as a picture or a statue. In India there are many families still (including myself when I was a family man) who install the Deity of Radha and Krsna in a room called "God's room." As a daily duty the family members rise early in the morning, open the door of God's room, offer the Lord some prayers and songs, and cleanse the room before beginning their daily affairs of taking breakfast and going to work.
The point is that the proprietor of the house is the Supreme Lord, and all the family members are His workers or servants. When a man goes to his office or other place of work to earn the money necessary for running the household affairs, he may think. "Money is required lest God's service be stopped." So even when earning money a householder can be God conscious and situated in yoga, by working out of duty without attachment.

And when he goes to the market, he can think. "Oh, this is a very nice thing; it can be offered to Lord Krsna." Just as you may lovingly bring some fruits or flowers to a friend's house, you can think of bringing things for God. Our life should be so formed that in every activity there is such God consciousness.
When the husband brings home the cooking ingredients and gives them to his wife, she thinks. "I am cooking this for Lord Krsna," and she keeps the kitchen extra clean because it's for Krsna's service. As she cooks she does not try to enjoy the preparation by tasting or even smelling it The children are also trained not to think of eating anything unless it has been first offered to Krsna. Of course, after the meal is cooked and offered, everyone may eat as much as he likes.
Working and cooking will always go on anyway, but by learning the simple technique of doing things for the pleasure of the Lord, one's God consciousness will develop very nicely. And as one progresses in this mode of thinking, one can learn how to eat and sleep in order to keep one's body fit for the service of the Lord.
A person may wonder if this is not the bodily platform of life. But no, it's the spiritual platform because one sees that the body belongs to Lord Krsna. If we can understand this small technique and act upon it we will be liberated and attain spiritual perfection.

Thus, with a little guidance we can easily add Krsna consciousness to our lives. We can begin serving Krsna as the Deity in small ways, and later, should we choose, we can gradually introduce more features to our worship we can offer incense and flowers, sing, play instruments, and dance. Everyone in the family can participate. It's great fun to worship Krsna together, sing His glories, and hear about Him. And it's a potent reminder of life's ultimate goal. If we do this regularly, as the first business of our day, we will find that the influence of Kali-yuga stays outside our walls, and everything inside becomes most agreeable. Try it and see!

Friends

The sankirtana movement is a social movement Association with devotees is essential for our devotional service to Krsna to properly develop and mature. We should therefore invite devotees to our homes. When one of Srila Prabhupada's disciples got married, he asked for some special instruction. Prabhupada told him, "Whenever you take prasadam, have guests." Inviting devotee guests helps Krsna consciousness stay alive in the domestic world. The whole family can be busy preparing for their reception and entertainment. It's a Vedic tradition that a householder invite guests for the main meal of the day. If perchance no guests come. he may go into the street and call out "If anyone is hungry, please come and dine with us!"

If we extend ourselves to others like this, we won't be disturbed by the "I, me, mine" syndrome of today's nuclear families, which tends to obliterate happy relationships and destroy the potential for spiritual perfection.

I once saw a couple of Chinese illustrations of heaven and hell. In heaven many people were sitting around, each with a bowl of rice and chopsticks, and they were happily feeding each other. In hell they just fed themselves.

Festivals

The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement follow a calendar that's full of festival days. Especially on major holy days, the home can be a flurry of activity, with everyone taking part in some way. Cleaning, cooking, decorating, preparing relevant Krsna conscious pastimes or games with the children the atmosphere can become surcharged with spiritual energy. One can either invite friends or go to their house. Everyone will be touched by a happy mood of cooperation. After all, who doesn't like festivals with good music, food, dance, song, dramas, stories, recitals, games, and loving friends to share it all?

By inviting guests for festivals, we will find our hearts becoming soft and large out of a giving spirit and our relationships with our family members and friends will become smooth and pleasing. When we understand more clearly how our homes with their cars, babies, and gardens actually belong to Lord Krsna, and how we are really guests in His house, we will feel a joyous, festive mood of Krsna consciousness every moment of every day. Thus the fulfillment of Lord Caitanya's prediction that the chanting of the holy names will be heard in every town and village will bloom like a white lotus flower in our homes and in our hearts.

There are many other ways we can place Krsna in the center of our lives and so live together in the absolute pleasure of remembrance of Him. If you like, you can get more information on these topics by visiting or writing to any Hare Krsna temple.

Today before you complain about…

Today before you think of saying an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Today before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Today before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Today before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

Today before you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

Today before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us are without sin.

Some CRAZY thoughtzzz...

        As long as a man is in the full vigor of life, he forgets the naked truth of death, which he has to meet. Thus a foolish man makes no relevant inquiry about the real problems of life. Everyone thinks that he will never die, although he sees evidence of death before his eyes at every second. Here is the distinction between animalism and humanity. An animal like a goat has no sense of its impending death. Although its brother goat is being slaughtered, the goat, being allured by the green grass offered to it, will stand peacefully waiting to be slaughtered next. On the other hand, if a human being sees his fellow man being killed by an enemy, he either fights to save his brother or leaves, if possible, to save his own life. That is the difference between a man and a goat.

      An intelligent man knows that death is born along with his own birth. He knows that he is dying at every second and that the final touch will be given as soon as his term of life is finished. He therefore prepares himself for the next life or for liberation from the disease of repeated birth and death.

       A foolish man, however, does not know that this human form of life is obtained after a series of births and deaths imposed in the past by the laws of nature. He does not know that a living entity is an eternal being, who has no birth and death. Birth, death, old age, and disease are external impositions on a living entity and are due to his contact with material nature and to his forgetfulness of his eternal, godly nature and qualitative oneness with the Absolute Whole.

       Human life provides the opportunity to know this eternal fact, or truth. Thus the very beginning of the Vedanta-sutra advises that because we have this valuable form of human life, it is our duty-now-to inquire, What is Brahman, the Absolute Truth?

Antioxidants and Free radicals

Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage -- the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. The scientific community has begun to unveil some of the mysteries surrounding this topic, and the media has begun whetting our thirst for knowledge. Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance and/or recovery from exercise. The purpose of this article is to serve as a beginners guide to what antioxidants are and to briefly review their role in exercise and general health. What follows is only the tip of the iceberg in this dynamic and interesting subject.

It's the radicals, man

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required for proper function of one of the body's antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet.
Vitamin E : d-alpha tocopherol. A fat soluble vitamin present in nuts, seeds, vegetable and fish oils, whole grains (esp. wheat germ), fortified cereals, and apricots. Current recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 15 IU per day for men and 12 IU per day for women.
Vitamin C : Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries. The RDA is 60 mg per day. Intake above 2000 mg may be associated with adverse side effects in some individuals.
Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) and is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato, cantaloupe, peaches, and grains. Because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by the body there is no set requirement. Instead the RDA is expressed as retinol equivalents (RE), to clarify the relationship. (NOTE: Vitamin A has no antioxidant properties and can be quite toxic when taken in excess.)

Preventing cancer and heart disease -- do antioxidants help?

Epidemiologic observations show lower cancer rates in people whose diets are rich in fruits and vegetables. This has lead to the theory that these diets contain substances, possibly antioxidants, which protect against the development of cancer. There is currently intense scientific investigation into this topic. Thus far, none of the large, well designed studies have shown that dietary supplementation with extra antioxidants reduces the risk of developing cancer. In fact one study demonstrated an increased risk of lung cancer in male smokers who took antioxidants vs. male smoker who did not supplement. Whether this effect was from the antioxidants is unknown but it does raise the issue that antioxidants may be harmful under certain conditions.
Antioxidants are also thought to have a role in slowing the aging process and preventing heart disease and strokes, but the data is still inconclusive. Therefore from a public health perspective it is premature to make recommendations regarding antioxidant supplements and disease prevention. New data from ongoing studies will be available in the next few years and will shed more light on this constantly evolving area. Perhaps the best advice, which comes from several authorities in cancer prevention, is to eat 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day.

Exercise and oxidative damage

Endurance exercise can increase oxygen utilization from 10 to 20 times over the resting state. This greatly increases the generation of free radicals, prompting concern about enhanced damage to muscles and other tissues. The question that arises is, how effectively can athletes defend against the increased free radicals resulting from exercise? Do athletes need to take extra antioxidants?
Because it is not possible to directly measure free radicals in the body, scientists have approached this question by measuring the by-products that result from free radical reactions. If the generation of free radicals exceeds the antioxidant defenses then one would expect to see more of these by-products. These measurements have been performed in athletes under a variety of conditions.
Several interesting concepts have emerged from these types of experimental studies. Regular physical exercise enhances the antioxidant defense system and protects against exercise induced free radical damage. This is an important finding because it shows how smart the body is about adapting to the demands of exercise. These changes occur slowly over time and appear to parallel other adaptations to exercise.
On the other hand, intense exercise in untrained individuals overwhelms defenses resulting in increased free radical damage. Thus, the "weekend warrior" who is predominantly sedentary during the week but engages in vigorous bouts of exercise during the weekend may be doing more harm than good. To this end there are many factors which may determine whether exercise induced free radical damage occurs, including degree of conditioning of the athlete, intensity of exercise, and diet.

Can antioxidant supplements prevent exercise induced damage or enhance recovery from exercise?

Although it is well known that vitamin deficiencies can create difficulties in training and recovery, the role of antioxidant supplementation in a well nourished athlete is controversial. The experimental studies are often conflicting and conclusions are difficult to reach. Nevertheless, most of the data suggest that increased intake of vitamin E is protective against exercise induced oxidative damage. It is hypothesized that vitamin E is also involved in the recovery process following exercise. Currently, the amount of vitamin E needed to produce these effects is unknown. The diet may supply enough vitamin E in most athletes, but some may require supplementation. There is no firm data to support the use of increased amounts of the other antioxidants.

Performance

In general, antioxidant supplements have not been shown to be useful as performance enhancers. The one exception to this is vitamin E which has been shown to be useful in athletes exercising at high altitudes. A placebo controlled study done on mountaineers demonstrated less free radical damage and decline in anaerobic threshold in those athletes supplemented with vitamin E. Although difficult to generalize, this finding suggests that supplementation with vitamin E might be beneficial in those triathletes who are adapting to higher elevations.

How much is enough?

Although there is little doubt that antioxidants are a necessary component for good health, no one knows if supplements should be taken and, if so, how much. Antioxidants supplements were once thought to be harmless but increasingly we are becoming aware of interactions and potential toxicity. It is interesting to note that, in the normal concentrations found in the body, vitamin C and beta-carotene are antioxidants; but at higher concentrations they are pro-oxidants and, thus, harmful. Also, very little is known about the long term consequences of megadoses of antioxidants. The body's finely tuned mechanisms are carefully balanced to withstand a variety of insults. Taking chemicals without a complete understanding of all of their effects may disrupt this balance.

Recommendations

• Follow a balanced training program that emphasizes regular exercise and eat 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day. This will ensure that you are developing your inherent antioxidant systems and that your diet is providing the necessary components.
• Weekend warriors should strongly consider a more balanced approach to exercise. Failing that, consider supplementation.
• For extremely demanding races (such as an ultradistance event), or when adapting to high altitude, consider taking a vitamin E supplement (100 to 200 IU, approximately 10 times the RDA) per day for several weeks up to and following the race.
• Look for upcoming FDA recommendations, but be wary of advertising and media hype.
• Do not oversupplement.

Mr. Mandela's Speech at Hare Krishna Event Remembered

By: ISKCON News Staff ISKCON News on Dec. 6, 2013

Photo Credits: ffl.org

Mr. Mandela stated to the The Mercury newspaper after the event that this was “the happiest day” of his life.

Below is the text of a speech given by President Nelson Mandela  at a gathering of 50,000 school children on April 23rd 1997 who were invited by Hare Krishna Food for Life to a public picnic in Durban Kings Park Soccer stadium called the “Festival for the Children of the Rainbow Nation” with President Mandela as its Guest of Honour:

"National Director of Hare Krishna Food for Life;
Sponsors of the Food for Life Festival;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Children,
I am delighted to be here today. It always gives me great pleasure to be surrounded by the beautiful children of our land. Whenever I am with energetic young people such as yourselves I feel like a recharged battery; confident that our country can look forward to great things. You are the future of this country - you are the people who will lead us into the next century.
It is the job of today`s leaders to make sure that by the time your turn comes to lead our country, it will be an enjoyable task to perform.
The programme of our government is like building a big house for all South Africans. It must be well-built with strong foundations. It must be big enough to shelter the whole family; and all who live in it must be in comfort and have their basic needs met.
Many of you are too young to remember much about the old house of apartheid. It was built on very shaky foundations. It barred doors and divided us into a few who lived well and the rest who were held back, and then it kept us apart from each other. Your parents` generation had to fight apartheid, get rid of it and then lay the foundation for a free and secure society.
It is only three years since South Africa achieved democracy. But in that time the foundations for a better life have been laid. Now it is up to each one of us help build on those foundations.
One of the most important building blocks is our concern for our children. That is why children have special protection in our new constitution, the most important law of our land. That is why one of the first things the government did was to make sure that young children under the age of six could get free health care in the clinics and hospitals of our country. That is why we have school feeding schemes, to make sure children do not go hungry at school. That is why we are making sure that all South Africa`s children can get the best education the country can afford. And that is why we are doing our best to prevent the abuse of children.
Another important building block fur new democracy is the love and goodwill we show to each other. That is the spirit of Masakhane, of building one another together it is also the spirit of today`s festival organised by Hare Krishna Food for Life.
I take this opportunity to extend our warmest thanks on behalf of all of us here today for the kindness and dedication that you have shown by bringing us all together. Your goal of a hunger-free South Africa is one that is shared by the government and the ANC. It is central to the reconstruction and development of our country. Already more than four million people - school children and other people - have been reached by our nutrition programmes. Your efforts are making a practical contribution to this most urgent task.
Together with the sponsors, you have helped us send a message to the world that the children of South Africa are free and that South Africa cares for its children that apartheid did was to divide our children, and prevent them from living, studying and playing together. Today we can see how much we all missed. Today we can see that our children are leading in the building of the new South Africa.
You should never forget that most of your parents did not have the rights that you enjoy; and that they struggled  hard and sacrificed much so that you could enjoy them. We must all work even harder to protect them. By studying hard at school and acquiring skills so that you can become productive members of society you will also protect our new democracy and make South Africa a better place to live.
When I look at the joy on your faces I know that we have a bright future. Let us all work together to ensure that our country grows into a happy family, free from the divisions and the poverty of the past.
Let me end by assuring each and every one of you that we love you. You are our nation`s most precious treasure and the hope of our Rainbow Nation.
I thank you.”

How Work Can Be Worship

The following conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in June 1974 during an early-morning walk in Geneva.

 

Devotee: What does Krsna mean when He says in the Bhagavad-gita that we should be desireless?

Srila Prabhupada: He means that we should desire only to serve Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu [Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna Himself in the role of His own devotee, appeared five hundred years ago in Bengal, India, to teach love of God through the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra.] said, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye: "I don't want wealth. I don't want followers. I don't want beautiful women." Then what does He want? "I want to serve Krsna." It is not that He says, "I don't want this, I don't want that. Let Me become zero." No.

Devotee: The nondevotee also says he knows what he wants, but he says, "I can accomplish the same good results without Krsna."

Srila Prabhupada: Then he is a fool, because he does not know what "good results" really are. Today he is struggling very hard for one "good result," but tomorrow he'll desire something else, because he must undergo a change of body when he dies. Sometimes he's taking the body of a dog and desiring one "good result," and sometimes he's taking the body of a demigod and desiring another "good result." Bhramatam upary adhah: he's wandering up and down the universe, just like . . . what is that?

Devotee: A ferris wheel.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Sometimes he is rising to an elevated position, and then again he must come down and take the body of a dog or hog. This is going on.

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Cc. Madhya 19.151]

"After wandering up and down the universe for many lifetimes, one who is very fortunate comes to devotional life by the mercy of the spiritual master and Krsna."

Devotee: Well, the nondevotee will say, "We are also doing good service. You are distributing food, and we are also distributing food. You are opening schools, and we are also opening schools."

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, but we are opening schools that teach Krsna consciousness, while your schools are teaching illusion. The problem is that the rascals cannot understand the difference between bhakti [devotional service] and karma [material activity]. Bhakti looks like karma, but it's not karma. In bhakti we also work, but for Krsna's sake. That is the difference.

For example, Arjuna fought in the Battle of Kuruksetra, but because he fought for Krsna he is accepted as a great devotee. Krsna told him, bhakto 'si me . . . priyo 'si me: "Arjuna, you are My dear devotee." What did Arjuna do? He fought, that's all. But he fought for Krsna. That is the secret. He did not change his fighting capacity as a warrior, but he changed his mentality. At first he was thinking, "Why shall I kill my kinsmen? Let me leave the battlefield and go to the forest and become a mendicant." But Krsna wanted him to fight, so at last he surrendered and did it as a service for Krsna. Not for his own sense gratification, but for Krsna's sense gratification.

Devotee: So sense gratification is there even in devotional service?

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. A karmi works for his own sense gratification, and a bhakta works for Krsna's sense gratification. That is the difference between a nondevotee and a devotee. Sense gratification is there in either case, but when you work for your personal sense gratification it is karma, and when you work for Krsna's sense gratification it is bhakti. Bhakti and karma look similar, but the quality is different.

Another example is the behavior of the gopis [Krsna's cowherd girlfriends]. Krsna was a beautiful boy and the gopis were attracted to Him. They wanted Him as their lover, and they went out from their homes in the middle of the night to dance with Him. So it appears that they acted sinfully but they did not, because the center was Krsna. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita: "There is no better mode of worshiping Krsna than that practiced by the gopis."

But the rascals think, "Oh, this is very good. Krsna danced in the middle of the night with other men's wives, so let us also gather some girls and dance, and we will also enjoy like Krsna. "This is a gross misunderstanding of Krsna's pastimes with thegopis. To prevent this misunderstanding, Srila Vyasadeva [the author of the Srimad-Bhagavatam] has devoted nine cantos of the Bhagavatam to describing Krsna's position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then he gives a description of Krsna's behavior with the gopis. But the rascals jump immediately to the Tenth Canto, to Krsna's dealings with the gopis. In this way they become sahajiyas [imitators of Krsna].

Devotee: Will such persons experience a change of heart, since they're somehow or other associating with Krsna?

Srila Prabhupada: No. Kamsa also associated with Krsna but as an enemy. That is not bhakti. Bhakti must be anukulyena krsnanusilanam: favorable devotional service. One should not imitate Krsna or try to kill Him. That is also Krsna consciousness, but it is not favorable and therefore it is not bhakti. Still, the enemies of Krsna get salvation, because they have somehow or other thought of Krsna. They get impersonal liberation, but they are not allowed to enter into the pastimes of Krsna in the spiritual world. That benediction is reserved for those who practice pure loving devotion to Krsna.

Watering the Root

Actually our position is that we are always rendering service to someone, either to our family, country, or society. If we have no one to serve, sometimes we keep a pet cat or dog and render service to it. All these factors prove that we are constitutionally meant to render service, yet in spite of serving to the best of our ability, we are not satisfied. Nor is the person to whom we are rendering that service satisfied. On the material platform, everyone is frustrated.

The reason for this is that the service being rendered is not properly directed. For example, if we want to render service to a tree, we must water the root. If we pour water on the leaves, branches and twigs, there is little benefit. Similarly if the Supreme Personality of Godhead is served, all other parts and parcels will be automatically satisfied. Consequently all welfare activities as well as service to society, family, and nation are realized by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

It is the duty of every human being to understand his constitutional position with God and to act accordingly. If this is possible, then our lives become successful. Sometimes, however, we feel challenging and say, "There is no God," or "I am God," or even, "I don't care for God." But in actuality this challenging spirit will not save us. God is there, and we can see Him at every moment. If we refuse to see God in our life, then He will be present before us as cruel death. If we do not choose to see Him in one feature, we will see Him in another. There are different features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is the original root of the entire cosmic manifestation. In one sense, it is not possible for us to escape Him.

Mistakes are unavoidable part of life

Some mistakes are big. An air-traffic controller’s mistake or one wrong move by a surgeon can be deadly.

A vast majority of the mistakes we make, however, are not life or death. It’s true that even small mistakes can cause inconvenience, conflict, or extra work – and, can be expensive.

While no one enjoys making mistakes, there is something very freeing about learning to accept them – really accept them – as an unavoidable part of life. When we do, we can forgive ourselves, thus erasing all the stress that usually results from cursing ourselves.

So the suggestion is simple. Forgive yourself; you’re human

Are there 33 crore gods or only “ONE GOD”

          Some scholars masquerading as spiritualists opine that in Hinduism there are 33 crore gods and one can chose anyone and worship as per their liking. It’s just like a quack telling a diseased person to choose any medicine as per his taste and it will cure his disease. In the present age many such spiritual quacks swarm the world misguiding the people.

The various gods which are mentioned in the Vedic literatures are in fact demigods who have been given certain responsibilities by the Supreme Lord. For e.g. the Sun- god, the Moon – god, Indra, Vayu, Agni etc have specific duties to carry out but they aren’t the supreme controller. And who is that Supreme Lord or bhagavan has been very logically explained by Parasara Muni, father of Vedavyas. He explains that the Supreme Lord has 6 attributes in totality (completeness) – He is (i) very beautiful, (ii) very powerful, (iii) very intelligent, (iv) very famous, (v) proprietor of everything and (vi) and very detached. No one can claim to possess all these qualities fully. Further description of that Supreme Lord has been given by Brahma in Brahma – Samhita - "There are many personalities possessing the qualities of Bhagavan, but Krishna is the supreme because none can excel Him. He is the Supreme Person, and His body is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. He is the primeval Lord Govinda and the cause of all causes." (Brahma-Samhita 5.1). Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28 further explains "All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself." In the Govardhan pastime it was proved that Indra although the king of the heaven have certain jurisdiction and power but he gets his power from the Supreme God, Krishna, and he cannot work independently on his own.

So let us not get obfuscated by hearing about 33 crore gods. Vedic books and genuine Vedic scholars have established unequivocally that there is only one Supreme God and he is Krishna.