Krishna consciousness means giving up our subjective narratives of many kinds that plague us and drag our consciousness into ever entangleing situations. It also means objectively seeing things in scientific terms based on a reality that the material energies are clearly presenting before everybody , these are specifically delineated within theological texts of many kinds throughout all the great religious cultures . To a degree as well , they have been expressed over many centuries by our greatest philosophers and thinkers .
What is the difficulty?
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Unlimited mercy , and mercy above justice
By the unlimited mercy of the unlimited, the limited can begin to know something of the unlimited, AC BhaktivedantaSwami writes in his Bhagavatam purport.
We can also add the unlimited conditioning imposed on the limited by the unlimited becomes limited and eventually ceases , by the all important principle of mercy above justice.
Mercy above justice is a sign of humanity and is practised by truly civilised countries and cultures and obviously by Divinity Himself . The pastimes of Krishna and Indra are one obvious example amongst many others . Indra lost his composure and became intoxicated with pride , and attempted to destroy Vrndavana with incessant rain .
The unbalanced passionate and judicially naive , who have no real sense of advanced culture and who are not familiar as properly trained lawyers and judges are , will have obvious unbalanced and insensitive ways of understanding the purpose of justice or how it’s applications should be carefully considered . The Internet is full of ” judges and juries ” who consider themselves as good as any barristers . They greatly encourage themselves to give a public portrayal of superior morals and ethics. Such persons often condemn others with other opinions who may be interested in applying judicial matters the ways this Harvard Prof recommends.
“Nationally recognized as an author and expert on criminal justice, Natapoff said that the law is often about choices. She urged the graduating students to think hard about the choices they make. “You can do justice with law; you can also do injustice. There is nothing inherently moral or good about law or about being a lawyer. Some laws are good, and some are terrible. Some lawyers lift up and save people, and some lawyers crush them. The point is that it’s up to you, and it is your choice.”
“Honest people, mistakenly believing in the justice of their cause, are led to support injustices
I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”When we speak of justice, one requires a cool , wise ,detached, and experienced head well versed in literature. Thus, in the great cultures throughout history, the intelligentsia always were given a seat to supervise and administer judicial matters.
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Guru
Gu means darkness
Ru mean light
Guru comes in many form .
Generally, Krishna is the first Guru , the guru of the inner heart . In Bhagavad Gita Krishna says He is directing the wonderings of all beings , giving them remembrance and forgetfulness , but He also brings us enlightenment.
He can , if he you so desire , lead you to the many different types of Siksa Gurus , one of which can become your formal Diksa guru , he alone may be capable to guide you fully or for further advancement on the path of spiritual life , other predominant Siksa Gurus may come into one’s life .
After prolonged association in all humility and service and through especially chanting the Names of God , the many litratures of the param para Gurus will attract the heart ,this is called Sastra sanga , so Sadhu sanga and Sastra sanga are essential. The chanting of the holy names of the Lord and the revelations and lila descriptions are synonymous and are of the same absolute spiritual nature , realized by one who is extremely humble and who holds no offences in the heart .
The Gaudia Vaisnava traditions and historical records are important to understand, new fangled methods of self realisation or speculations can hold up our progressive path .
Everything is contained in the works of our asteemed acaryas, there are many of them , Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja has taken the teachings of the different acaryas and presented all their teachings and history.
Specifically from four recognised Vedic param paras .Madhva Acarya, Ramanuja Acarya , Visnu Swami ,and Nimbarkacarya
From purified monism to simultaneously one and difference.
But still further , the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu , the inconceivable one and differences of the Manjari bhava , the pranaya, oneness of love , described by Srila Ragganatha das Goswami. .http://www.thevedicspectator.com
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In former times , the Vedas tell us that Jnana or academic studies of varying kinds have always been carried out in every society. The vedas also tell us four classes of persons exist in broad terms , and those who are inclined to various studies, the Vipras and Brahminical have always been in existence so as to give all important insights and direction to different groups that make up society as a whole. This is how God’s intelligence is channelled into the world. Intelligensia has not evolved as the speculative Darwinians assume. Those multi disciplined studies carried out in societies worldwide were based not only on the physical world but also a metaphysical one .
A strong drive for materialism in all its colours causes suppression of natural metaphysical curiosities, and the consciousness and its workings and real needs becomes overwhelmingly absorbed in atoms , elements compounds in its presented shapes and colours . Consciousness and the metaphysical are left very much on the back burner .
So , in current times, society is in degradation mode , although it might appear its advancing.
Such is the bewildering energy of Divinity.
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Important ecclesiastical directions , decisions, and considerations of all kinds can and should only be made by those who are well practised in Krishna consciousness. This applies in every theologically based culture Those who are Sastra Yukta, who understand very well the broad aspects of Sastra and how they are to be applied in varying circumstances , and who also have a long and proven history of steady service to the Gaudia Vaisnava param para, or their particular theologies . Important crucial decisions and directions of spiritual and ecclesiastical management can never be carried out by those who, although practising Bhakti to a degree , are still predominantly affected by Karma and jnana , those who see things with material spectacles. This means they lack a mature understanding of applications of sastra and are prone to material emotions and sentiments that lead to introducing mundane or political considerations into any spiritual calculations . Devotees of particular faiths who are still affected by karma and jnana have poor understanding of application and have the tendency to introduce their own interpretations, usually based on mundane considerations, and generally have a problem accepting spiritual authorities. Their considerations may appear morally calculated , as was the case of Proffesor Suthers when he met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, but because pure Bhakti is not present attachments and aspects of mundane calculations both gross and subtle affect their calculations and decisions. Thus, pure ecclesiastical management by those free from karma and jnana and with a predominance of Bhakti is essential , AC Bhaktivedanta Swami set up a GBC governing body for that purpose , and expected his most mature devotees to participate in some form . In that way , Bhakti prevails along with sastric vision with mature interpretations along with the fitting spiritual visions . Mature Vaisnava’s are free from the contamination of profit adoration in their direction making, and their calculation are based on the spirit of our acaryas, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and pleasing to Lord Krishna..
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Can Spirtual senses be compared to material senses.?
Can you compare acrylic diamonds made of plastic to the highest quality cut Diamonds ?
Can one moment be compared to eternity ?
Can ever new and increasing enthusiasm be compared to decay and boredom.?Caitanya Caritamrita CC Madhya 17.136.
Atah Sri Krishna namadi
Na bhavan grahyam indriyaih
Sevonmukhe hi jivadau
Svayam eva sphuraty adahMaterial senses cannot understand Krishna, they are limited to the material plane., but when one practices Krishna consciousness one begins to revive one’s original spiritual senses , these original pure senses , including the mind and intelligence can see God in everything and everything in God , such a person is never lost to God and God is never lost to them .
Such spiritual awakening carries the soul further in his original spiritual senses , even when still in a physical body , to the spiritual realms , Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur descibes this condition as a spiritually mentally conceived spiritual body .
These activities are described in the Srimad Bhagavatam along with the Smriti Sastras of Srila Rupa and Ragganath Goswami’s .
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Satisfying the emaculate senses of Krishna..
Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja would say our duty is to satisfy the emaculate senses of Krishna.
Krishna is the supreme enjoyer and the jiva , the living entitles are the enjoyed , but as Srila Sridhar Swami often said better be a slave in heaven than a master of hell .
Actually, of course, in spiritual life, Krishna is not some kind of slave driver , rather, He wants to share His blissful nature with everyone , we should not be envious of His extraordinary presence and the fact that He is all attractive , but assist him volunteering ourselves eternally .
This is not a business arrangement , Krishna can do as He likes , He may or may not accept us , but if we approach the residents of Vrndavana and learn to please Him under their tutelage we have a good chance to be accepted , ultimately the Supreme Goddess of fortune Srimati Radharani is the Queen of Vrndavana and either directly or indirectly every thing is assisting in Her activities to please Krishna.
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyateOur senses are on loan , their real purposes are only realised in pure devotion, Srila Rupa Goswami says in His Ujjvala Nilamani , one’s sthayi Bhava , one’s original attraction to Krishna , are motivated by spiritual sound , touch , form , taste , and fragrances of all that goes on in the Spiritual realms.
Everything begins with sound , spiritual sound , of Chanting the Names of God .
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Neither karma or expert performance of it , as in perfect Varna Ashram activities, or developments of strong accademic jnana are the essential ingredients for Bhakti Bliss and realised knowledge of Divinity , rather those qualities automatically accompany the Bhakti process and a heart if melted . Karma alone and its benefits without Bhakti brings great pride and a strong academic approach to Bhakti through the jnana process minus the bhakti makes one hard hearted .Bhakti is bliss and is independent and causeless , although it’s situated in the heart of the devotee .
The principle of Bhakti as given by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu is first Bhakti is installed in the heart by association by one who has it in his or her heart , then the tendency for Karma and jnana that would ordinarily delay the development of devotion are superceded by this Bhakti and gradually purified . Krishna being kind immediately accepts our Bhakti, even though initially full of faults, these superficial faults are overlooked as much as parents adore the broken and imperfect speech of a young child .
In this way also the principle of being forgiving of others as we are of forgiving ourselves can be incorporated .The Krishna of Gaudia Vaisnavism who is situated in Vraja cannot be understood outside of Gaudia Vaisnavism, specifically Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu , and at the same time the Gaudia Vaisnava understands Krishna in Mathura, in Dwarka , in Vaikuntha and all the ” functional ” forms who facilitate the conditioned souls or those liberated in the spiritual light of Brahman.
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Anger eradicated
In the sacred Srimad Bhagavatam there are many occasions where conflicts come about for one reason or another , Druva Maharaja , when revenging the death of his brother comes to mind , or the followers of Lord Siva revenging the death of his wife Sati is another . But another lesson is taught that anger and killing do no good for anyone’s real interests, even if it feels just . Thus frequently, we see the leading lights of the Bhagavatam issuing good council to both of the conflicted parties . Some times inevitably wars and conflicts arise , generally, its origins are driven by ill motives . Correcting ill motives and addressing matters so anger can be eradicated from any calculations , both for the sake of enemy and friends is the real business of the intelligentsia . This lesson and many others are found within the pages of the Srimad Bhagavatam , particularly useful lessons in todays world where political leaders unfortunately stoke up hatred of other nations , such leadership should be rejected. ..
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When Krishna came to this world 5000 years ago , He was accompanied by His associates, those who are eternally present with Him during His eternally manifest blissful Vrndavana pastimes . An unfolding takes place even within this material realm of the sweetness of those spiritual relationships , and the spiritual dimension decends .
Some of those particular personalities are Nitya siddha devotees ( eternally liberated ) and some well developed Sadhana siddha devotees . ( aspiring for liberation) As such, some of the gopies were stopped from joining the Rasa dance by their relatives, this was because of their needing very slight and further purification , although they were extremely advanced Sadhana siddha devotees .(well practiced).
When Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu came 500 years ago He is also accompanied by both types of devotees , eternally liberated and learning to be so . This Sankirtana lila instigated by Mahāprabhu is still taking place today .Those Sadhana siddha devotees are increasing day by day , and each of them are gradually developing an understanding of Tattva as well as developing pure Bhakti in love , along with understandings of spiritual Rasa in all their forms .
Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur says our actions dedicated to Krishna and our knowledge of Krishna are like the two sides of a trancendental sandwich , with love or pure Bhakti at its centre .
Bhakti or love is essential , and gaining knowledge or by doing work alone won’t necessarily command love to appear. It’s independent of karma and jnana, ( knowledge aquiring) , it is bestowed and is causelessly bestowed by the representatives of Bhakti Devi or the Supreme Goddess of Fortune.
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