It behoves everyone to think about the cause of all causes , Richard Feynman says it fun to think of the causes of a cause . One should do so by applying rationale and logic as much as possible ,but remember our senses and minds and intellects have limitations . Nevertheless, we can use them in sensible and objective ways . For instance in the distance you see smoke in a mountain , one cannot necessarily conclude there is fire , because the fire may have been extinguished by water just recently , or it might be vapour from a mountain cave . How will you know ? By hearing from a credible source who has insight and knowledge and has seen if there is fire still burning.
Thus, pure sound will indicate truth , more so than impressions of the sences, or previous experiences we have had or even previous ancestors who have recorded and realised by experiences , although some truths can be gathered in those ways , but not all truth .
The Vedas say seek Sabdha Brahman pure sounds coming from pure persons who have by discerning and understanding the Vedas and who live by the Vedas can vibrate and realise truth. Once one thing is known, everything is known, which applies to realising Divinity. http://www.thevedicspectator.com
This question can be asked of everyone and actually as well , all living beings .
The fact is that everyone has a relationship with God and relates to Him in one form or another . Even if that means hating on Him or denial of His existence .
Like the artistic colours pure white and pure black when mixed create many shades of grey , similarly when meeting and greeting people we can ask , what is your Tattva ? What is your rasa ? Everyone is one shade of grey , pure white or pure black is very, very rare .
The government has a relationship with you , you must comply with its rules and it sets compliance and governing conditions for members of the state. Some citizens are in prison some work the government systems to their advantage.
Throughout the fourteen planetary systems within our universe, 8,400,000 species of life , 400,000 of which are human like, are working God’s systems.
As you sow, so shall you reap , or in Vedic circles, karmic synchronicities have been imposed.
Krishna, in His Bhagavad Gita, says, Why not give up this self-indulgence? and simply come and love Me and My family , I will wipe out all your previous obligations of Karma , then you can arrive and relate in My abodes , once have arrived you will never return to birth , death , old age or disease, no more miserable conditions of the body , mind or misery other beings inflict due to karma.
The ultimate Tattva or truth the Vedas says is to know and love God . What is the difficulty ? We are trying to know so many things and love so many people. The disappointments of failure in the depths of love or the rewards in pure knowledge hound the minds of everyone.
Krishna says, “Give up minor affairs ” and “shoot for the Rhino. ” … of course, not literally.
The Bhagavad Gita makes all these points clear, and the Srimad Bhagavatam greatly elaborates on them
An absolute truth remains a truth at all times. It relates to all things , in all places and to all conscious beings at all times , and in every circumstance . It also interelates with countless and unlimited relative truths . Absolute truth can never change. Its position is eternally a fact .
Of course in todays social media society , it becomes more and more difficult to find any objective truths , and everyone is being bombarded with subjective and relative opinions , often presented as being objective facts to the various gullible members of the public , or such supposed truths are broadcast by various media webb sites .
The BBC are also dishonest in this regard , and when John Simpson , their foreign affairs editor, proudly says the BBC never spin anything , or they promote their TV broadcasting as Varified live , that very statement is spin . What’s good for the goose? May not be so good for the gander .
Truth is infinite and unlimited, and the limited may know something of the unlimited by the unlimited mercy of the unlimited on the limited , thus, the absolute truth can be accessible to any one of its unlimited portions .
Krishna says if you want to know the truth , one must approach a bone fide spiritual master , who has insight into absolute truths . The Vedic cultures have always recognised the trancendental spiritual teachers , whose lives are dedicated to Divinity and the absolute truth. They are those persons who are able to speak purely and directly from the Scripture but who have realized knowledge by the grace of the absolute , its they who can give us access and insights to various aspects of the absolute and without duplicity based on relative selfish interests .
Political truths and philosophical variable truths may be another matter and can be regarded as relative truths . If they are actually truths and expounded by those who live in the mode of goodness and are truthfulness, they will ring true to the truthful.
Those who want to be cheated will always find cheaters .
A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada would say this world is for the cheaters and the cheated .
Ultimately, if one takes shelter of absolute truth, one is going to instinctively know when truth is before us . Divinity within the heart directly inspires the truthful, and the truth can always be corroborated by other saints as well as the theological texts passed down from any of the four sampradayas and their disciplic successions .
Tattva , Rasa , means knowledge and love . Are our relationships in decline, or are they relationships in positive developments ? There is a true science of relationships, and we can try to measure up to examine the criteria needed to understand how and if we are progressing with our material and, ultimately, spiritual lives . In one sense, love and knowledge can’t be measured, but in another formal sense, it can .
Srila Rupa Goswami, under the tutelage of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has very nicely defined this science of relationships in his writings .
Srila Ramananda Raya had taken these trancendental concepts of relationships to the highest of high in his conversations with Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu , and AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has indeed bestowed upon humanity the greatest of benedictions by translating these teachings and brought them into all the world languages with the help of his students.
Many other renowned Vaisnava scholars are also bringing this treasure of relationships to the attention of the world.
Love ultimately is an action word. What can I do for you in love? How can I please you , and it culminates in the highest of circles with a competition of love between living beings.
Such is the supremely pure and selfless nature of Sri Sri Radha Krishna , who are forever astounded by the quality of love and attraction that each give each other , friends and maidservants of Radha Krishna are relishing this competition of love just as much in their own ways .
This paints a picture of the spiritual worlds , a reflection of these dealings can be found in this world at times , however mostly we see the stark contrast and complete opposite of it , we see lust , anger , greed envy and wicked violence towards each other . We are all most unfortunate, but with the good fortune of having access to freedoms and expressions of progressive love , when we associate with God’s pure representatives, everything is clear .
We should all find the origins of love and be developing a service and love for Radha Krishna and not be in the relationships of decline or fast deterioration that takes us to the animal kingdom.
When it comes to understanding spiritual love or Rasa , it is always built on the foundations of Tattva or knowledge of Divinity in details , without which devotional life crumbles.
Aprarabdha , recent karma and prarabdha karma , those that are connected to deeper states of consciousness are all removed ..by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement.
The very deepest states of a mind and its working stem from deep impressions and attitudes from long, long ago , from previous lives, and they are not easily given up , a material mind can be a minefield of unpredictability. Recently accumulated impressions and actions called aprarabdha karma fluctuate more regularly in the conditioned consciousness but are also intertwined with deeper long-lasting impressions caused by events good or bad in many earlier previous lives .
These deeper states of the mind are called Prarabdha karmas . As before said they are either connected to some previous spiritual searchings or a deeper cultural searchings or they can be troublesome reactions and attachments connected to self-centred ignorance that we previously developed , i.e., previous negativity we have inflicted on others .
The Gaudia Vaisnava movement under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His leading followers Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Ragganatha das Goswami have uniquely given remedies to remove both types of Karma in all its subtle makeup that inevitably would lead to either gross attachments to the material world or the striving for impersonal liberation or mystic powers. Mahaprabhu has immediately granted the Suddha Satva pure Krishna consciousness state that cleanses the heart of all the dust and dirt of countless lives .Thus, one can become quickly free from all types of karma as well as all types of speculations or desire for mystic powers , caused by previous deep-seated independence from God .
By engaging positively in Bhakti Yoga everything of the aprarabdha karma is quickly removed , those recently produced karmic synchronicities. And by engaging in much deeper meditation and Bhajan , Chanting the Holy names and crucially studying and reading the books of the Rasika acaryas , along with their descriptions of Radha Krishna Nitya Lila , that throughly removes all the much deeper previous karmic impressions .
The regular Hindu followers do not understand these prarabdha and aprarabdha aspects of karmic reactions that Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu movement is eradicating . This is the full glory of Mahaprabhu’s teachings and the unique benediction offered . The potency and magnanimity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is His special mercy , which is causeless and is offered to one and all . Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains very extensively in his books all these points.
Our Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas reveal through their writings and through their exemplary lives a life of service to Srimati Radharani and Lord Krishna, the secret of all secrets . The confidentiality of a spiritual realm.
This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.
Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has revealed an ultimate pinnacle of Bhakti in love , He reveals something of the pranaya the oneness of love between Radharani and Krishna. He is teaching us all through His teachings to the Goswami’s of Vrndavana , a process of how to receive the special benedictions granted in kali yuga and in revelations experience the ever new and fresh playfulness of Goloka Vrndavana.
Actually, Krishna is the most merciful of persons who likes to see the good in everything . He even awarded the position as a mother to a demon witch who came to murder him she offered her breastmilk to Him in His infant pastimes , and her breast was smeared with poison . Krishna mercifully took the mothering aspect of the deed and appreciated her “motherly ways “
Likewise , to understand anything of Radha Krishna Nitya lila, we must have the mercy of Radha Krishna and Their devotees , only then, we might begin to understand. Spiritual life is a decending process, and it’s handed down by grace .
Srimati Radharani and Her associates are experiencing the ever new , ever enthusiastic and ever increasing love for Krishna, because they have not a tinge of selfish desires , they only want Krishna’s happiness.
If we make calculations for our own benefit we can never experience the enthusiasm of love , even in this material world this reflection of truth is present.
Everything present in this world can be taken as a great learning process. And we must pray to understand Radha Krishna and Their exalted and super excellences, which are exhibited in Goloka Vrndavana, which is high above the material plane of self-centred and motivated action . We must seek those who know of this plane and hear from them , enquire from them, and absorb ourselves in the litratures of the Gaudia Vaisnava param para.
Spiritual …..Material……a land of love or a land of lust .
Spiritual life means soul to soul , ever new , relationships , absent are , atoms , elements, compounds , self centred lust , anger , greed ,envy madness in all its forms and illusions in all their forms . The movements of time causing the material gross and suble energy to break do not operate in the higher spiritual realms, where varigatedness, beauty , bliss and artistry is fully exhibited . Love and unlimited attractions play out beyond matter , which gives a flickering selfish experience of the reality of existence. The spiritual emotions and their reactions on the spiritual senses are deliniated by Srila Rupa and Ragganatha Goswami , and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited them throughout His life . The fundermental nature of spontaneous love is depicted in the Srimad Bhagavatam ,the nature of the soul , or pure consciousness in association with God is shown. The supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani astounds Krishna with the unlimited depths and attractions She feels for Him , this is a mystery even for God Himself. Krishna is waiting for us to turn our attraction exclusively to Him , in that sense, love is extreme.
Material life means a temporary competition based on anger , greed and envy , either of possessions , of speculative exploitative minds or proud intellects. A sham of friendship and service with only dressed up concerns and compassions , that is localised as family , friends , commmunity country and nations . There is really no deep or profound service or love, and it’s based around so-called family and friends that can and will change at any time . Thus, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita ” I am your only friend,” What does He mean ? You should know ..
It is the intrinsic nature of the living beings to feel love and effection. The most cultured feel it for every living being , the less so a family or friend. No question of evolution. Consciousness evolves and devolves according to how one acts . Theological cultures understand the best of the lovers of consciousness is Divinity Himself
Fundermental service is inherently within us all .
Life is made as such that rendering service is a fundermental and underlying principle , indirectly or directly practically all beings are serving somebody , or unknowingly playing a part in the harmonious and interconnected activities of nature . Thd 60s songwriter Bob Dylan saw that, among other things, and wrote his song ‘ everyone has to serve someone ‘. Of course, pure loving services rendered to someone who deserves it and who can properly reciprocate can not be compared to a crooked motivated politician who claims he is serving the people . In spiritual and philosophical terms, better be a servant in a superior realm that a master in an inferior one
It’s a universal law , according to the Vedas that if anybody takes a service from someone , and this applies throughout the whole of the material universes , or if they use somebody in any particular way a debt is owed , you can’t get something for nothing.
Ultimately, all kinds of debts are building up in our Karmic systems, which are carried with us and remain with us throughout our universal journey of fruitive work . For those that don’t properly reciprocate a service rendered , debts build up and need paying back . That is technically called karma, and the karmic synchronicities of life play out in the unpredictability of our lives , of long forgotten debts , like twigs floating in a fast flowing river debts and debtors are brought together then parted , never to meet again .
The ultimate service rendered to everyone is by Divinity Himself , as the supersoul or Holy Ghost , in everyone’s heart He facilitates the individual being , giving them remberance and forgetfulness and reminding them life after life of what they once desired as well as encouraging everyone to aquire the real wisdom and knowledge .He is always showing in many ways how best to escape the plane of the karmic self-centred word , with the temporary lives of material debtors . The greatest service is to show everyone what their best interests are and how that can be achieved , God is always rendering that service, and so are His pure representatives . He remains in the hearts of all beings whilst they wonder all over the universe in different situations looking for happiness and patiently waits for everyone to see sense and return back home back to Godhead
Ultimately , because by His own example of how He renders the greatest of all services , never forgetting any of the living beings ,we should reciprocate with Him and hear from Him of how we might reciprocate with Love , and render some services bringing happiness to Him along with His associates. The greatest of all service is rendered by the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani and the Gopies and Manjaris , her confidants, they are residents of Vrndavana.
This is carefully described by Sukadeva Goswami in the 10th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam and elaborated upon in the commentaries of the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas in their writings .
Child bearing means the pain of childbirth , but the pain and difficulties bring the sweetness of a loving child ..
The Vraja Gopies of Vrndavana create a festival of happiness in the heart of Krishna, who displays His unlimited pastimes . He exhibits these pastimes to demonstrate the wonderful qualities of ever increasing love and attraction in the highest of spiritual realms , that of pure spontaneous unmotivated spiritual love , a competition of love . Perverted reflections and hints of pure love are seen here in this earthly plane , but we should learn of its origins and the selfless beauty of Krishna’s spiritual planes along with the science and nature of spiritual senses . Krishna attracts His devotees and those pious souls who have properly cultivated higher consciousness and practice high culture by His activities , the all attractive Krishna becomes especially attractive to such persons.
The trancendental method Krishna employs when wishing to attract the Vraja Gopies is to send personified messages through His flute music . Music takes on much greater dimensions in the super subjective plane of a varigated spiritual world. Having heard the call of the personified Cupid , a call that enters the depths of the Gopies hearts , they abandoned their sobriety, fear , shyness, and any sense of discrimination, and immediately answered the call .
Complete sacrifice is required in the ultimate plane of love , and nothing short of that will suffice.
The Catholic order of the bride’s of Christ , or Nuns living in convents , or monks living in monasteries, perhaps could understand.
Krishna is our greatest friend , master , lover, and relative . The sound of His flute is calling everyone to service . God is calling us all He is always enthusiastic and all inclusive , and His Vraja Gopi friends all dance and play music at the dead of night in a artistic festival beyond comprehension , with the sixty four excellences of trancendance on display , a trancendental festival that lasted millions of years , the time dimensions are adjusted by Krishna , from our 12 hours to the 12 hours of Lord Bramha, lasting 4.5 billion years . As Einstein said, time is relative, its also interchangeable, it seems .
Currently the flute sound has been transformed into the Nama Sankirtana , the chanting of Gods names , this chanting is calling us all to the service of Mahaprabhu and through Him the service of the residents of Vraja headed by Vrsabhanu Nandini Srimati Radharani . Anyone hearing or vibrating God’s names can transport themselves to the spiritual world.
Srila Prabhupada, wonderful Godbrother and great friend of Prabhupada once gave that comparison , H.H. Srila Sridhar Swami , he is a brilliant scholar and deep thinker .
On arrival ,to the dancing ground, having responded to the call to come to the forests of Vraja , Krishna tested the Gopies love and determination by externally appearing to ask them to return to their family lives and duties , He appeared to reject their services.
Srila Kavi karnapura in his Ananda Vrndavana Campa indicates to us all that Krishna sometimes appears very harsh . It’s very difficult to overcome all difficulties of a body and mind to properly develop unalloyed devotion toward Him . This harshness and the external difficulties experienced by us are the workings of His external energies , they are like the outside of the coconut . Krishna is very very sweet by nature ,and any difficulties we maybe experiencing are gradually cracking the shell of our conditioned nature , and they serve a purpose in helping us aquire hearts of sweetness , like the inside of the coconut . Dedication and devotion towards His eternal service need cultivating, and that means at times difficulties, but in difficulties by determination, we can aquire the characteristics of pure devotees that are impeccable, to say the least . Through the service of such residents of Vrndavana , the pure devotees , who Krishna dearly loves , we get the good fortune of assisting as they serve the emaculate senses of Dhira Lalita Krishna, or His devotees in Mathura or Dwarka ..
So, austerities and hardships cause pain in many ways even in material life , but in Krishna consciousness, it opens up a spiritual heart and brings the sweetest of all hearts .
It’s natural to be suspicious of things and the motivation of people , that is a good use of intelligence. As suspicion subside, still doubt remains , so further applications of intelligence is needed , enquiring and further understanding are most essential .
As those doubts clear, further understanding of knowledge and its practical applications develop , the beginnings of faith . Faith begins to increase , faith of the beginner, faith of the intermediate, and faith of the advanced spiritualist takes place by services and enquiries and progressive intelligent submission.
At no stage is intelligence given up , nor do we give up referring to Sri Guru in his forms as Siksa or Diksa , or the established Sadhu’s , current and past and always always the Sastra . Scriptures in the form of the Sruti and Smrit can never be ignored and must always be a reference point as checks and balance is never given up .
Faith carries one a long long way , and ultimately to unreserved faith , without any reservation , in matters of Bhava and Prema
ŚB 1.2.20
एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्भक्तियोगत: । भगवत्तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ २० ॥
Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.