#beauty #krishna 

Life Lessons from Sunjwan Camp Attack

In a tragic incident on 10 February 2018, at predawn, Jaish-e-Mohammed fidayeens attacked an Indian army camp in Sunjuwan, Jammu city. 6 Indian soldiers lost their precious life guarding the base and all 4 militants were neutralised in the operation followed by the attack. There are few life lessons based on Bhagavad Gita which could be learned in this connection.

Importance of alert sentry

In this attack, At first militants were trying to sneak through the rear end of the camp where security where security was less. They had brief exchange of fire with sentry (soldier stationed to control access to a place) and later they entered family quarters.

As per Bhagavad Gita our senses are points of entry to all kind of information. And we are supposed to guard these sentry points with our intelligence. If any of the senses is not properly guarded, the input of wrong information & further such desires almost inevitable.

Unprotected mind is easy hideout

Our impure mind is like unprotected hideout which could be easily occupied by unscrupulous lusty desires & impressions as in this case the terrorist used the hideout of residential buildings where guards were taking rest with their families and security was less. Purified mind is always guarded by strong intelligence so that only legitimate occupants of right desires would be allowed to stay in.

Special forces have to be deployed to fight the battle

After fidayeen had take shelter at family quarters at camp and had started the assault, special forces were deployed and in next 24  hours all terrorists were gunned down. We can learn from this that once base desires & thoughts have occupied our mind, we have to take help of saintly association and scriptural injunctions to identify futility of those desires and thoughts nullify their influence by eliminating them altogether.  When the bodies of the terrorists were recovered it was found that they had used combat uniforms like army to enter the camp. Same way our lower desires sometimes take garb of those of useful or non harmful  ones and with the help of higher intelligence their identity has to be ascertained.

 The root of the problem is misidentification.

As few people are in Kashmir are not identifying  with republic of India and have been facilitating terrorists being sympathetic to them. But because this, actually they are planning to miss the benefits what a Indian state could offer to them.

Same way when we forget our identification as Souls, we facilitate our base desires thinking they may help us to enjoy. But in this process we loose out on unlimited spiritual bliss which can come with identifying and acting as per our spiritual identity as servants of God & using our senses in service to God, like seeing His form, eating His remnants and hearing about Him, chanting His names.

The Maya Analytica

 
The Scandal

Recently Cambridge Analytica(CA) firm has come to limelight . It used personal information of millions of people, collected without their consent from facebook for their psychological analysis for politically influencing their choices.

Choice which subjugates
 
Social media platforms like facebook, twitter, instagram etc. offer opportunity for people to have their virtual identity in the digital world. When people choose to be on these platforms, they get under the norms of those platforms.
It reminded me of ‘Maya’- an illusory potency of God as described in the Vedic literature. That potency is used to govern the affairs of this material world -which is temporary and separate from the eternal and ever blissful spiritual world – the abode of God.  The living beings that choose to live independent lives from God are given under norms of Maya to forget about their eternal nature and assume a temporary identity in this world.

A nudge that titillates

The Facebook and Google store every bit of information of a user on their platform, even the lines deleted while typing. They use the information for binding the person to their platform by offering him personalized content of his interest.  This information is also used for nudging the individual with personalized ads which earn huge profit for social media giants.
CA exploited Facebook to harvest millions of people’s profiles. And built models to exploit what they knew about them and target their inner demons. It built a powerful software program to predict and influence choices at the ballot box to elect Mr. Trump by targeted facebook advertising.

As per Spiritual understanding the material energy (Maya) binds a living being to this world by offering him various facilities of enjoyment as per the interest of the person. Material energy also constantly nudges or sometimes even exhorts a person to make choices under its influence based on his earlier choices. So although one thinks one is utilizing his freedom, in actuality, he has been constantly nudged to make choices which appear to be his own fully.



Wisdom that liberates
After the fallout of Cambridge Analytica row #deletefacebook went viral. But the data shows, this campaign has not been very successful because people have been much attached to use this platform. So they are continuing even at the fear of jeopardising their freedom.  The suggestion would be to at least sagaciously use the platform to be least affected, by choosing various security options wisely.
The living beings also get attached to the material energy at the cost of losing their freedom at her will. Very few people can make prudent choice of leaving grip of it. What needed is a wisdom & lifestyle, which makes one immune to her negative influences while staying in this world. Then one can experience liberation from her clutches.


 

नयनसुख

सुन्दर मयूरपंख सरपे ,
नीले  , हरे  कपड़ो की पगड़ी इनमे लाल फूल है सजाए
ब्रजराज है आप,
आपकी ताजगी करोडो फूलों को हराए 

नील रंग की अंगूठी
बादलों को सताए ,
कानोंमें मकर कुंडल आगे पीछे लहराए
कलाईयों  में हार और ओंठो पे मंद मुस्कान
भटकते हुए मन के लिए जाल बिछाए 

करुणा याचना

मृगनयन समान है राधे, आपकी ऑखे ,
चमकती मुस्कान ,
मन में जपत है सदा कृष्ण का नाम
ह्रदय ममता से सराभोर ,
हमें ले चले कृष्ण की ओर

मैं सोच पाऊं आपके बारेमे हरबार ,
निहारु आपकी करुणामयी छवि वारंवार
आपके सेवकोंके निरन्तर सेवा मैं लगु सरकार,
यही  याचना मांगत है ये भिकारी इसबार 

Your Holiness (Vyaspuja Offering to HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj)

In search of Guru
You left your high degree and home
Trod Himalayan surface,
As a seeker of Absolute, Alone.
Later you visited ISKCON and read NOD,
It put end to all your trace.
found shelter of His Divine Grace,
Your Holiness.

In first meeting in Allahabad
with His Divine Grace,
His emphatic order to translate
The Srimad Bhagavat to Bengali
You did embrace.
Who else could do,
Your Holiness

In only one year,
You took Harinam Diksha, Brahmana Thread
and Sanyas vows,
In last days of Srila Prabhupada,
you served as servant devout.
Spiritual Progress,
At rapid pace.
Bless us all,
Your Holiness.

Srila Prabhupada as Founder Acharya
& preeminent shiksha guru has been established.
GBC as an ultimate managing authority,
Thou emphasized.
Never leave ISKCON.
You ever address
Srila Prabhupad’s loyal follower.
Your Holiness.
  

To introduce Srila Prabhupad in modern era,
You directed ‘Abhaycharan’.
To immerse vaishnavas ecstacies
You sing melodious kirtans.
At Beautiful temple in Ujjains
RadhaMadanMohanji bestow their Grace.
These all your gifts,
 Your Holiness

Message of Lord Chaitanya
Taken from Bengal to far West.
Though walked and led so many path of          devotion,
Through all obstacles and tests.
Keeping Srila Prabhupada in forefront
Entire ISKCON society Harnessed
We worship thy feet,
Your Holiness.

Golden Jubily of Historic Voyage

James cook, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus Francisco Pizarro are names of few famous sailors who marked their names in the history of the world for undertaking life risking sailing expeditions in the exploration of world. Although the initial impulse behind these expeditions were trade and capitalism, it further lead to rise of colonial empires, transfer of animals, foods, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases  around the world. In 20th century many wars were fought and countless people sacrificed their lives for breaking free of bonds brought by colonization and achieve independence.  What started with an adventurous endeavor had to end with bloody affair since it was based on personal greed.

On 13th August 1965 also, one person started his sail across oceans on a mission. He neither had manpower to sail along, nor artillery to fight a war, with only a bag full books and door of all uncertainties left ajar. He was an old man with only 40 rupees in his hand, without any personal motivation, he travelled on his Gurus command.  Sea sickness, nausea and heart attacks could not shake his determination, for he only begged to be a doll in the hands of God, instrument of His compassion.  He got down the ship on Boston harbor, alone in the world of unknown faces and culture. He started his mission, sitting under a tree in park, singing the names of Lord, intoxicated hippies danced, it ignited their love of God spark. Soon spark became fire, hoards of devotees traveling across the world, singing and dancing dressed in Vaishnava attire. Temples, farms, gurukulas, rathyatras everything for pleasure of supreme personality, prediction of glorification of names of God in every town and village soon became reality. Prasadam and books being distributed to dissipate hunger and ignorance, gospel of Lord Chaitanya was taught teaching humility and tolerance. 

He was Srila Prabhupada, the most prominent emissary of Indian spiritual culture across the world. This 13th August marks 50th anniversary of historic event of his boarding Jaladuata ship at Kolkata for spreading spiritual culture of India across western world. He said “I have made a home in which whole world can stay”. And what started with his adventurous endeavor now also continues in the form ISKCON since it is based on principle of pure love of God. We offer our sincere most tribute to Srila Prabhupada for this historic voyage he took 50 years ago on this day, to enable ultimate voyage back home, back to Godhead possible of limitless conditioned souls.

Dealing with Guilt

I lost my bag during rathyatra. It contained some important keys. The feeling of being irresponsible and neglectful caught up my mind. While coming back in van, enthusiastic kirtan was going on but the mistake committed earlier made me cold and indifferent to the chanting. My mind started searching for instances where I had acted wrongly and this whole incident brought up so much guilt and pushed my mind towards pessimism. The thoughts of being so incompetent in terms of integrity and maturity after years of practice were eating me up. I wanted to celebrate my sadness for feeling sufficient guilt so I was denying myself to relish the sweet mellows of Kirtan.
Many times it happens that our mistakes cause us so much guilt that they tend to distract us from spiritual practices and the joy of spiritual life appears mismatch to the personal mood at such times.


Can spiritual happiness cause disturbance in ones reformation program? 
 
I was contemplating how should one tackle the situation? Krishna inspired me some insights for my questions which I have posted below

Gratitude enables rectification

The spiritualist finds himself happy for the opportunity to be connected with God, but he same times feels complete dissatisfaction for not being able to reciprocate with mercy bestowed upon him.
The guilt of being incompetent to reciprocate coupled with grateful attitude for whatever fortune granted upon him pushes him towards correction than giving up the process. For Bhaktiyogi even guilt fuels the feelings of more gratitude since he feels himself completely unqualified for fortune he is receiving although being plagued with so many faults. The burden of gratitude makes person think "Oh I must rectify myself, I am so fortunate that I have been a given chance, I must reciprocate"

The spiritual life is meant for pleasure of Krishna

The bhaktiyoga by definition is selfless service of Krishna uninterruptedly. So when devotee feels sad about the mistakes, he does not allows his sadness spill over pleasure of Krishna. By engaging attentively in limbs of devotional service for the pleasure of  the Lord and prayers of purification in the mood of repentance, one finds stability and it helps to come out of  guilt and get purified of the wrong tendencies.  
Self Centric Guilt Produces Only Pessimism but no Solution

It is nature of mind to enjoy emotions pleasure and pain both in equal proportions. So the guilt feelings without corrective measure only result in more guilt and more mistakes in turn. It does not help person to come out of this vicious cycle. One finds himself lonely sulking inside and searching out external reasons for the misfortune to come upon himself. But when guilt is used not to pamper mind for enjoying negative emotions but drag mind towards positive solutions for purification, it helps in long term. 
 We find example of

The Creeper of Devotion

With good fortune, one receives causeless grace, 

When unknowingly a service to vaishnava takes place,

By such cumulated good deeds one qualifies to receive Bhakti lata seed,

It's knowledge of devotional service implanted in the heart indeed.

One should water that seed with transcendental sound,

And safeguard it with fences of association all around.

The creeper of bhakti is slow to grow,

Being choked by weeds of material desires — one's eternal foe!

With discrimination, Faith, service and association cut down these weeds,

Cheating, mundane adoration, profiteering and pride shouldn’t be allowed to breed.

As the creeper of devotion grows beyond the limits of material coverings,

It reaches the realm of Goloka Vrindavana — the world of joys, without sufferings!

At the desire tree of Krishna’s lotus feet it finds its ultimate shelter,

Expanding profusely it produces fruits of love of Godhead, full of nectar.

One should taste these ripened fruits and distribute the bhakti-latä seeds,

To help humans overcome Maya’s deeds!

Mystic की पाठशाला worldview

The Vedic-view is to see this world as ‘Mystic की पाठशाला’ – i.e. to see the mastery and majesty of Lord’s creation, to see His hand in it, understand His purpose and make this life successful. The results of this world view are enlisted below.

•     One feels joy seeing the majesty and mastery of creation of God. Many people want to see miracles and they make huge rush to magical performance shows. But by careful observation, one can realize everything in this world as a magical creation of God. Simply because of our familiarity of seeing it every day, and our attitude of taking everything as granted we don’t realize it. In the Bible, following passage appears

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”

– Job 12:7-9.

Simply watching a bird, one can be perfectly God-conscious. There is no machine of modern times as advanced in flying in terms of size, navigational abilities and intelligence, as the birds. Even the scientists are amazed by the migration of birds!

“Birds can track the sun, the moon and the stars, using their apparent movement as a compass. Birds also use other senses. They can detect weak magnetic fields with tiny magnetite crystals in their heads. They follow faint odors as does a salmon returning to its birth river from the ocean. They can see polarized light and use barometric pressure. Along with memory and genetic urges to head in a certain direction, birds use a combination of these senses to cross continents and oceans.”

– Steve Tomasko, “Mystery of Bird Migration: How They Get Here from There”.

In Science Café, Columns (April 4, 2000), the new paper co-written by quantum physicist Simon Benjamin of Oxford University and the National University of Singapore describes the way the bird’s eye works as ‘really amazing’ and better than their attempt to recreate the process in the lab. ‘The bird, however it works, whatever it’s got in there, it’s somehow doing better than our specially designed, very beautiful molecule,’ he said. ‘That’s just staggering.’

When we carefully ponder who has given these abilities and intelligence to a tiny bird, one can easily understand that it is none but all merciful God. When we see in everything around us with such vision then we are able to connect everything with God and see his magic in every creation. Then, even watching a small bird also can give us immense pleasure of entertainment by making us understand the magic of God along with great spiritual enlightenment.

•      One understands the purpose of creation. After watching the artistry and majesty of creation of the Lord, one naturally appreciates His supreme hand and ultimately wants to know the purpose of His creation. Then one actually turns to revealed scriptures as per one’s own tradition and tries to understand and live by the prescribed guidelines. This makes life not just the journey from doing this chore to other, but sincere living in symphony with nature and God. Such life is called as ‘Karmayoga’ and it frees one from chains of good or bad reaction.
•       One honors one’s own right to live as well as that of others. Sri Ishopanishad describes that God is perfect and complete and everything in His creation is also perfect and complete. He is the supreme proprietor and it urges one to abide by the arrangement of God for each living entity and accept only things necessary for ones living and not to encroach on the necessities of others. When one realizes the supreme propriety and controllership of God,one becomes grateful for the gifts received from God and does not try to work very hard to increase his possessions for artificial internal security and exterior pomp. In such gratitude, one actually honors life of his own self and that of others and tries to make meaningful utilization of it.
•         One understands the merciful nature of the God and develops love for Him. For
  
  disobedient living entities, who desire to stay away from God to try to lord over, God has orchestrated this elaborate creation of material world and has provided abundant facilities to fulfill their desires. Even people denying existence of God are given benefit of all this arrangement. When one actually understands this fact, he becomes convinced of the merciful nature of God. He realizes that he could reap much more benefit, if he actually lives by the God-given system and obeys the laws by God. He develops attitude of love for God and expresses it by glorifying Him, using his possessions for His service and living a life of devotion for Him.

By being a student in the पाठशालाof the supreme mystic and passing the tests and reversals of life with attitude of gratitude, one graduates from this world of suffering and getsplaced into the loving entourage of Lord in the spiritual world.

मस्ती की पाठशाला (Masti ki Pathshala) worldview

Few years ago, the Bollywood song ‘मस्ती की पाठशाला’ topped the music charts. The song expressed the youth’s desire to freely and unrestrictedly explore the world and people in pursuit of pleasure and rapport, thereby echoing the predominant mentality of the current generation. It was an overnight hit! Even nowwith similar mentality– more and more people are increasingly spending time on social networking sites, WhatsApp-like messengers, city meetup groups, etc. This shows that people are searching after ever expanding elations through unrestricted search for relations through sharing their joys and sorrows. Media moguls and business tycoons have their catalogues full with offerings to cater to this pursuit of every individual – more and more freedom!  Pharmaceutical industries offers freedom through improved health and ability to enjoy pleasure, media firms offer freedom from boredom, IT companies offers the same through lesser manual overheads and better comforts by enabling the people to accomplish a lot right from their desk, etc. But we still find larger and larger segment of the population hooked to addictive use of internet, mobiles, drugs, sex, etc. People are physically debilitated, mentally exhausted, and are compulsively succumbing to their lower impulses resulting in insecure society – 'lose control' as expressed in that song. They even want freedom from all kinds of religious hangover, guilt feelings and inter-personal responsibilities or sense of duties. They are even ready to chuck overboard any conception of God, whom ultimately one is responsible to, according to codes of religion.

This type of ‘मस्ती की पाठशाला’ world-view is described in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 16, verse 8:

asatyamapratisthamte
jagadahuranisvaram
aparaspara-sambhutam
kimanyatkama-haitukam

They say that this world is unreal,
that there is no foundation
and that there is no God in control.
It is produced of sex desire, and has no cause other than lust.

The results of this worldview are as follows.

•         Lack of dutiful attitude towards God, nature and other living beings.Since a God-less worldview doesn’t recognize any ultimate controller and accepts “chance” as the primary cause of events, it presents a separatist, independent and disintegrated image of the world, when it comes to deriving happiness. This is observed when everyone thinks in terms of his own personal sense enjoyment. From such a perspective, one gets blinded to the sufferings of other living entities in the course of fulfilling one’s personal desires. One even forgets all sorts of duties towards God, nature and other living beings of past, present and future generations – thereby spoiling the resources received from previous generations, and risking the quality of life of present and future generations.
•        Irresponsible lifestyle with self-destructive habits.The reductionism philosophy states that a complex system is nothing but the sum of its parts and that an account of it can be reduced to accounts of individual constituents. Equating and limiting life to just bundle of chemicals is a reductionist’s view of life. As per this philosophy, even the very goal of life becomes reduced to become obscure into oblivion. With such limited understanding of life, one loses respect for one’s own life as well as that of others. One also develops ‘I don’t care’ attitude about his actions and consequences of his actions since he thinks that everything happens by chance. Consequently, one lives an irresponsible life and cultivates various self-destructive habits for ephemeral sensory and imaginary pleasures of this world.
•          Frustration, depression and boredom. By following the above-mentioned lifestyle, one soon realizes that the blazing fire of desires instead of being subsided, multiplies in magnitude, till it consumes complete satisfaction of the self. One then becomes frustrated in his attempts and depressed in his life. After repeated attempts of squeezing the happiness by bringing senses in touch with sense objects, one becomes irksome and spiritually dullard.

In such a way, by being student of ‘mastikipathshala’ philosophy one repeatedly fails the tests of life and loses chance to be happy in this life and next. 

Committing Myself (Vyaspuja offering to HH Radhanath swami Maharaj)

Dear Srila Gurudeva 

Radhanath Swami Maharaj,

I feel myself completely unqualified for the mercy you shown on me by accepting me and connecting me to the glorious brahma madhwa gaudiya sampradaya. I and my devotion are utterly insignificant compared to devotion of all the stalwarts in our parampara and I am immensely humbled but grateful and fortunate to be given chance to be part of this parampara.

I commit myself to represent you properly as an insignificant attempt to repay what you have given to me.

I beg your empowerment to accomplish this task which is so difficult for my unruly and unholy mind.

Recently I read whatever is against the vedas is a sin in an ordinary sense and in pursuance of pure devotional service whatever obstructs it is a sin. I am attached to many things or sinful activities (by above definition) which are obstructions in the path of pure devotional service.

I beg to suffer reaction for the sinful activities I would do as a proper treatment for my rectification.

I pray to remember my faults and mistake while happily accepting the reactions and sufferings. I pray and beg to get determination to at least then purify my heart and overcome those attachments.

Recently I heard your class and after hearing you, I decided not to give justifications for anything.

Even externally following this principle has made me introspective to work upon myself than to just pass on the responsibility to others. I beg your mercy to even able to internally apply this principle to the deepest core of my heart.

I thank you for your wonderful discussions on Srimad Bhagavatam. You seem to relish every bit of it. And in your chanting and your kirtans you seem to completely push yourself.

I beg you drop of your love for Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.

Please let me humble servant of servant of your servant,

Yours insignificant servant,

Toshan Nimai Das.

Monkey Renunciation

Monkeys live on trees in jungles and they don’t have fixed habitat. They remain naked surviving to bone chilling or scorching heat seasons and eat only leaves and fruits. These seem to be qualifications of great sage who has forsaken the world for spiritual elevation. But monkeys fight badly for finding mating partner and they have relationship with multiple of them.

Monkey renunciation term is used for the people who focus on external facade of renunciation without cultivating their hearts to be free from malice, lust and envy. When testing time comes, these people fall victim to temptations like hollowed out tree falling on slight wind force. A qualified renunciate is one who is engaged in the service of the Lord, only for His pleasure, all the time without any personal motives, may that person be a householder seeming to be engaged in worldly duties or monk in a monastery. External manifestation of renunciation is just a part of it for those who are already in renounced order of life to remind oneself of duties of this order and others for taking advantage of these people.

Off-course nothing is impossible for Lord, by the grace of the Lord even a monkey can be renounced. Lord showed this with an example of Hanuman. The most honored devotee of the Lord in the form of monkey. He was not only a renounced celibate but his sole pleasure was in the pleasure of the Lord. By blessings of Hanuman and following his footsteps even we can come out of our monkey renunciation tendencies and develop a real substance.

Following your footsteps

Dear Radheshyam Prabhuji,

Dandavat pranam!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

I am greatly privileged to wish you on your appearance day.  Recently I read one passage from Srila BhaktiSiddhant Saraswati Thakur in folio vedabase. It greatly reminded me about your role in my life.

“We always need ideal examples. If we don’t associate with Vaishnavas who are fixed at the spiritual master’s lotus feet, attached to chanting the holy name, and fixed in the Lord’s service, we cannot ourselves become fixed at guru’s feet. We cannot learn to consider the spiritual master our well-wisher. We cannot understand that the spiritual master is as good as God. We cannot develop the tendency to serve the spiritual master. If genuine devotees who are fixed at the guru’s feet teach us neither how to serve the spiritual master nor how to behave when we are with him, then even after receiving a bona fide spiritual master we may lose him. We would be losing a coveted jewel if we were bereft of his service.”

-SBSST, Amrita Vani.

Your deep faith and surrender to Gurudeva is our basis for service to him. Maharaj seems quite distant to us. We can hear him but what mood to approach him in our remembrance, understand his message and practically serve him, these things are difficult to understand. But the way you are serving Gurudeva and representing him for us to your best ability is very inspiring and educative to us. As SBSST says if we would not have example like you, we would lose the valuable jewel of receiving such a great personality as our spiritual master and serve him properly. Your selfless service to Gurudeva, is most inspiring thing for me, I see in you.

I find your lectures very nourishing specifically you give in brahmachari camps. Also the japa talks you give in the morning have great philosophical depth. I have started hearing them and I plan to hear them very regularly. After hearing HG Krishnasmaran Pr we were stressed to hear from one person regularly and emulate the example and instructions. I am assured your classes and example is sufficient for me for advancement in this lifetime. But sometimes I am afraid whether in future whether we would be sufficiently close to you to get personal guidance from you in finer aspects of pure devotional service.

Recently I got initiated, earlier HG Premharinam Prabhu and now HG Revatipati Prabhu are very kind to guide my fickle self to properly render devotional service.  Maharaj has given me name Toshan Nimai Das and the word ‘Toshan’ since has become part of my identity, it is more easier than earlier as I was praying to remind myself whether I am doing things for ‘Hari Toshanam’ or not. I sincerely plead to you to please bless me to be able to remember and do things for the pleasure of Nimai or Lord Krishna. Anartha, aparadhas, sometimes doubts cover me but with the help of your association and blessings, if I properly apply, I am sure I can overcome these.

I pray to Krishna to bless you with very good health and bless us with your continued inspiring association.

Slumdog Millionaire

Do you remember  the movie Slumdog Millionaire which won academy award for best picture. It pictured story of Jamal, his prodigious journey from poor slumboy to a millionaire. I am feeling same kind of feelings of being unworthy recipient of causeless mercy on receiving intiation by HH Radhanath Swami in spiritual line of glorious Brahma Madhwa Gaudiya Sampradaya. 

Thinking of great Acharyas or personalities who have taught principles of spiritual life by their personal example has always humbled me. Where is their level of devotion, finest of character, absolute loyalty and obedience, extreme humility, staunch faith, blissful service attitude and tremendous advancement of the spiritual path and where am I, absolute spiritual pauper being very poor example in everything mentioned above. Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, Narottamdas Thakur, Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur, Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur, Srila Prabhupada and my own spiritual master HH Radhanath Swami, these all personalities have been and are part of this glorious sampradaya. They have set such an example of what a Vaishanava should be, that just by thinking about them makes me literally feel unqualified to be connected to their line.

Through the process of diksa or initiation, predecessor acharyas effectively accept us as their representatives. Especially for initiated devotees, our character and actions reflect in a good way or a bad way upon them. This makes one feel load of heavy responsibilities of being a proper example on one’s shoulders.

I have been offered the spiritual name as Toshan Nimai Das. Servant of Lord Chiatanya who pleases everybody by his extraordinary beauty, qualities, sweetness, service and devotion, Nimai is another name of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for he took birth under Nim tree). Spiritual name is offered to remind and identify oneself and others of being humble servant of God always.

As this unworthy slumdog has been offered with priceless treasure of being connected to God in intimate chain of spiritual successors, I seek your blessings upon me to be a faithful follower and worthy example of teachings of predecessors. I remain eternally indebted in gratitude for this extraordinary magnanimous offering of enormous fortune.

Dive deep into ocean

Last few months we saw an air of election permeating every nuke and corner of India. Vibrations of political leaders bragging about their postdated bravados and blurting about notoriety of opponents had filled the ether around. The gung-ho servile followers impressed with charisma of such leaders hailed their words and activities. Such high tides of phenomenal mass attention as general election this time, regularly occur in connection with sports, films and social activities. The social media sites, news channels, newspapers and blather going around the corner of house just add to the current of these waves. As the one wave falls off another wave appears to be rising, allowing people surf on it for some time. But such waves do not seem to give fulfillment and satisfaction as much as  the thirsty surfers can not quench their thirst with waters of ocean. There seems to be more and more rise in anxiety, frustration and confusion in world scenario with increasing availability of information, what a great contradiction.

We can resolve this contradiction hearing the sublime words of instructions mentioned in scriptures, meant to give the suffering humanity hope and redemption. The scriptures explain that the cause of suffering of humanity is, it’s misidentification with conglomeration of flesh, bones, skin etc in the form of this body, thinking to be one's own self. The fog of misidentification is densed without shining knowledge about our spiritual nature to be eternal cognitive blissful selves and our relationship with God. Any other type of knowledge which conceals or undermines this fact strengthens our misidentification. When such misidentification becomes from individual to communal, the resultant chaos is obvious which is reflected in terms of enmity between individuals to nations, pretension, cheating, corruption etc.

This fog can be dispelled and chaos can be rectified when we expose ourselves to sunlike God, hear His eternal truthful words given in the scriptures and start acting in the light of that knowledge by keeping those instructions as basis of all our actions. Such actions based on our real eternal nature are known as devotional service.The most amazing thing is one’s even social, political and recreational activities could also be counted amongst devotional service when they are conforming to the instructions of the Lord.  They bring forth oceanic inner joy and satisfaction as reciprocation from Lord, the nectarine natural by- product of devotion. We can ride upon and jump into this ocean of nectar of devotion, ever fulfilled.

No Barriers For Love!

Real love knows no barriers since it’s a matter of heart. The real love is not constrained to a specific person or sect or community neither it constrains lover with any boundaries. After digging out dirt of selfish pursuit’s stream of such love flows endlessly and the creeper of such love germinates from the fertile field of heart and it spreads without any ambits encompassing every possible space and bearing fruits which surpass the taste of the nectar and these fruits infuses anybody who taste them, with similar capacity to love.

I am sure you would be wondering what type of love is this. And what are these fruits? How does one get it? The great scriptures describe seed of such amazing fruit bearing creeper as Bhakti Lata Bija. This seed is sown in the heart of a person who has already well cultivated this creeper. And the fruit of this tree is called as Bhakti. Bhakti is art of pleasing God and science of elevation to spiritual sky by keeping our thoughts,words and actions favorably disposed for the cause of Supreme. Bhakti or devotion to supreme has capacity to satisfy our all desires to love and to be loved.

Srila Prabhupada says the process of Bhakti is sublime and easy. It is sublime, since it directly puts one in contact with transcendence. Moreover, it is easy, since any neophyte can practice it in any given time, place and circumstance. In Bhakti, the spirit or bhava is more important than the thing we do. The process of bhakti is nonsectarian, since it incorporates identifying ourselves in relationship with Supreme divine truth and acting on the plane of that identification by taking guidelines from the revealed scriptures of any bonafide faith in the world. The term ‘bhakti’ can only be used for the relationship between the living entities and the supreme truth; since that relationship is unaffected by the destroying factor of time unlike any other relationship of this world. Bhakti not only allows, but also encourages relationship in this world, based on the platform of that original relationship with supreme. The more selfless attitude we have in these actions, more is the level of purity of our Bhakti. And more the level of purity of Bhakti, more contentment we find in our hearts. Scriptures state such pure bhakti has capacity to satisfy our ever-increasing desire to love and experience the bliss of being loved by someone.

In Bhakti, “why’s” are more important than “what’s”. However great a thing we may do, if it is driven to satisfy our ego then it is not Bhakti. However, simple and small a thing we may do, if it is done for sheer pleasure of the supreme Lord, then it is Bhakti.

One may be a business magnet, or sport star in limelight, or a supermodel on ramp. In the process of bhakti, there are no barriers. (check out such examples from below site with so many articles and link containing my own in specific :))

http://www.leadershipandspirituality.com/articles/radhanath-swami-providing-the-real-qualities-a-leader-should-have/9-leading-mainstream-personalities-with-a-spiritual-base

One may be a dedicated monk living in monastery and taking the serious responsibility of enlightening others and offering one’s body mind words as a token of gratitude for what he is receiving from past sages in his tradition, and his beloved Lord. (find out how such life is possible on below link)

http://www.celibatemonk.com/monks-diary/spiritual-safeguards

Eat Pray Love [And Perfect]

Those who read the sojourn of Elizabeth gilbert, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ (The New York Times Best Seller list for 187 weeks) but could not actually translate to their lives, those who saw Julia Roberts starring ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, but fumbled somewhere in the sequence, please pay attention. While I am designing this in dim moonlight of of night, The moon of Lord Chaitanya too has already appeared on the horizon to help us solve our dilemma. I was busy designing this poster. We are commemorating the appearance of Sri Chaitanya, and this is the poster for this event.

Scriptures presents, the root cause of our problems is our separation from God. And solution to all the problems is to reconnect with him, technically called -Yoga.

The process of Yoga is made all the more simple by Lord Chaitanya, it constitutes something which any normal person will love to do.

   

The great vaishnava poet Lochan das Thakur has described Lord Chaitanya as Keval Anandkand (simply Joyful), and the process given by him to reconnect with God is also simply Joyful. The process is, eat sanctified delectable food, sing melodious mahamantra and try to love the divine couple by rendering practical service unto them, the success is assured. By chanting, dancing and feasting we get mercy of Sri Gauranga and Sri Nityananda. And by their mercy we can attain love of God- which is perfection of Yoga practice.

Then why wait, let’s celebrate, if you are fortunate enough to be present in Pune, don’t miss this event!!!

Celebrating Women's Day

My very dear mother Srimati Radharani,

As my writing journey is gaining momentum, I find myself pondering over fuel of topics to drive my imaginations and refer the maps of the scriptures to serve my reader passengers.

As I was contemplating on my next topic yesterday, it suddenly struck me to write on the women’s day and no wonder, I decided that You will be the highlight of my article, since You are the prime of all forms of feminine nature, emblem of all wonderful feminine qualities to please the supreme masculine form of Sri Krishna. People talk of woman empowerment, feminism, etc., but they don’t know that here is the feminine form unto whom even the supreme absolute truth, Krishna, bows down. As I was thinking, I didn’t exactly know the date of the woman’s day, so I left that topic to consider later. When today morning I was standing in the meeting room with all my colleagues, one of my colleague, Ijaj, was chatting with his friends on his smartphone. When I peeked a little, I saw him pinging – “Happy Woman’s Day‘ – to his friend. It clicked me that You want me to write this article today itself! So here I am immediately at Your service.

I remember my very first day and class I attended with devotees, when I was invited to morning program at the student centre near my college. The speaker started singing Mangalacharan prayers and he arrived at the sloka,

tapta-kanchana-gaurangi    radhe vrindavaneshvari

vrishabhanu-sute devi    pranamami hari-priye

I stumbled at the word ‘Haripriya’, who is Radharani who is soooo dear to Hari among all his devotees and other living entities. I asked questioned the speaker at the end of his talk, “Can you please tell me about Radharani?” The topic of the class was “Ascending From fear to love” and my question was quite irrelevant to the topic and it was totally unexpected from the newcomer coming for first time to go into topic of Krishna and his esoteric devotees. So the speaker (Krishna Kishore Prabhu  :-)) told me that he was unqualified to speak. Others were mildly giggling. I couldn’t actually understand why he answered like that. You were kind of complete mystery for me. But now I understand my disqualification.

Then Your festival of appearance came and devotees would sweetly sing the Radhikashtakam prayers. I was determined to get Your mercy, to know and please you. I learnt it by heart. It was the first devotional song I memorized. In our apartment, there was Your picture in Your form as the deity of ISKCON Vrindavan, with the mahamantra printed on it. That form was so sweet; I would chant most of my rounds meditating on it. And I cherished the desire to at least one day in my life, to dress and worship Your this beautiful form in Vrindavan.

In youthful age surrounding temptations are very strong. But I thought in my heart that here are You, most qualified[Sad kaladi pandita], possessor of all virtuous qualities [Sad Gunali Mandita], compassionate[Karuna Bharite] and beautiful and this is only feminine form in my life I want to live for and serve primarily . I was protected, please protect me throughout my life. I heard Radhanath Swami in his class. One boy asked him a question “It’s said ‘Behind all successful males there is a female’. Then who is the female behind all the brahmacharis and you?” Maharaj’s impromptu reply was ‘Srimati Radharani’. You are behind all of us to nourish our devotional service.

Now after spending some time in Bhakti, I have taken things to be granted and I sometimes slip from the level of purity which is expected from me, I pray at Your lotus feet to please protect me from the pitfalls and let Your loving devotional service be the only goal of my life. 

Oh Dear mother, Varshabhanavi devi,

Most Celebrated female of divine glory.

At your lotus feet I am,

Offering my petty life story.

With little borrowed devotion,

Connection to your kins is my only qualification.

Seeing your pure devotees,

makes me understand a little about purification,

But deep in my heart still there is a commotion.

Within lurking desires of enjoyment and tiny devotion

Laying in doubts and apprehension,

Passing days in anxiety and desperation.

In forgetfulness you, O’ mother,

I am like a lonely fawn, lost in forest

Suffering and bewildered,

In remembrance of relation with you.

In shade of your shelter,

Our eternal mother,

Life is much smoother.

Please grant me your remembrance always and allow me to render service purely at your lotus feet throughout my life. May I be able to please you one day!

krsna taba punya habe bhai

e-punya koribe jabe radharani khusi habe

dhruva ati boli toma tai

“I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from Sri Kriṣhṇa only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.” [Bhagavan Krishner Pada, Prayer unto the lotus feet of Krishna, 13. sept. 1965,Srila Prabhupad]

Your tiny little servant,

Tushar.