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Unlike the Darwinians who consider consciousness as chance events of neurons firing in the brain originating from a primordial slime , the Vedas take an analytical look at consciousness within matter and clearly demonstrate consciousness being different from the gross and subtle influences that matter imposes upon it . The Vedas shows the path of freedom from the shackles of material existence and all its accompanying misery , birth , death , old age , disease, misery arising from the mind , other living beings or nature itself.
Bohr , Schrödinger , Feynman , Teller, and Einstein also as physicists examined consciouseness within the responsive universe,one can say the Copenhagen agreement suggests that. Unlike the gross biologists , the physicists look at life’s fundermentals in entirely different ways .
The Vedic terms for states of consciousness are ….ana maya, pranna maya , jnana maya , vijnana maya, and ananda maya .
In English terms, these can be compared to a flower throughout its life , first covered consciousness, then shrunken consciousness, then budding consciousness, then blossoming consciousness, then fully blooming consciousness.
The animals and other various creatures are categorised , they are considered to have covered consciousness, anu maya , and the unthinking human who is living like a sophisticated animal without any philosophical position is in shrunken consciousness , pranna maya . The human who considers life and its purpose correctly in terms of having a philosophical outlook are considered to be in budding consciousness , jnana maya . The human who has realised to. some degree of the glory of consciousness in connections to Divinity is in blossoming consciousness , vijnana maya . Finally, the human who has established a relationship in love with God is in fully blossoming consciousness. Ananda maya .
So literally, the science of consciousness and self realisation has been summarised, and each of these categories is given a thorough analysis, and progressive and systematic steps are given by various Vedic thinkers and teachers . Those steps are recommended according to specific stages of life , to suit . This enables and empowers everyone in their consciousness , thus step by step guidance . One should seek an expert who is in Ananda maya consciousness to help , or any person who is further progressed than ourselves will help by association.
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Listening to the lecture at Conway Hall in London in the 1970s , given by Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the Introduction to Sri Isopanisad .
Prabhupada emphasis in parts is the absolute importance of Varna Ashram . He also brings to our attention the importance of establishing the Vedas and its truths , both relative and absolute .The Sankirtana movement that Prabhupada has introduced has core and peripheral aspects, Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared for that purpose.
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami says we are not Hindu but members of the Varna Ashram.
The real key to Varna Ashram of course is establishing the spiritual intelligensia who naturally are looked up to as advisors .The administrative class need this input , who filter the directions down through valuable governance and compliance systems to one and all . Progressive social and spiritual mobility in systematic ways for mankind within their alloted environments are fully contained within the Vedas .
Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada , Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur were well acquainted with all the truths of the Vedas and desired to seriously introduce these within society’s worldwide. It will incorporate approaches to all the political , social , economic , and scientific matters as well as cultural aspects, including art . Who is not fascinated by the depths of India , including its fashions , arts and music , such cultures can be infused into already existing cultures , which are in reality , and in many cases originating from the Vedas , there are many forgotten histories , and history writers are very often bias and employed by rascal leaders .Ultimately, if we are serious about assisting these acaryas, we need to set up think tanks to study different aspects of the Vedas and see how they can be applied to time place and circumstances. All good governance systems incorporate think tanks and long-term planning…
Such think tanks may take years to come to balanced findings . we are serious to assist our acaryas we need to set up think tanks to study different aspects of the Vedas and see how they can be applied to time place and circumstances.Ultimately as Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Swami would say following the words of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, its a question of adjustment . The conversation with Ramananda Raya with Mahaprabhu shows everything has its place , but that we should not be stagnant and attached , we must progress beyond Varna Ashram .
This is confirmed by the six Goswamis of Vrndavana.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus, they are honoured all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
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Offerings to the forefathers.
For years, I have been walking through Bushey church , and one can not help but notice a particularly well maintained grave , surrounded by flowers and other paraphernalia . It always strikes me the 52 year old mother , whose grave it is , is still receiving love and good wishes from her family.
The Vedas recommends offering sacrifices to the Demigods on behalf of relatives who have left this world , for appeasing the Demigods and pleading on behalf of relatives will bring good or better fortune to the departed .
It’s highly beneficial in life to have friends, family, and genuine well wishers of all kinds . However, the greatest well wisher the Vedas says are the pure devotees of God . By their good wishes and auspicious directions , all inauspiciousness is removed from one’s turbulent life , and karma is eradicated . By the supreme good fortune offered by them , and by serving and enquiring from them , these greatest of well wishers can , because of their intimate and pleasing services to Divinity , persuade God to accept us , and bestow upon us causeless mercy . Thus, by the pure devotees’ grace, we can be placed in the spiritual realms. http://www.thevedicspectator.com
Dec 6, 2024
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When Arjuna was on the battlefield of Kuruksetra , a war that was fought on many fronts , Sadaputa prabhu , one of the original members of the Bhaktivedanta institute , mentioned there were millions of soldiers within a limited area , so it appeared to be a kind of universal war involving many demigods and demons from other regions . Anyhow , the beginnings of the Bhagavad Gita tell how Arjuna initially was not prepared to fight. The early parts of the Bhagavad Gita explore his arguments , so one can carefully read of why he did not want to fight and for seemingly good reasons , and importantly one can read how Krishna instructed Arjuna on all of his concerns.
Arjuna became bewildered because he had to, and rightly so , consider every type of moral and ethical behaviour as well as Dharma , as a good warrior does , a good soldier is not a cold ruthless killer . Certainly, soldiers are absolutely forbidden to kill women and children or any citizens , that is condemned by universal laws and reactions will be had long into the futures. Legitimate warfare is a tricky business to contemplate and enact, and many considerations should be made . Arjuna turned to Krishna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and submitted himself to Him because Arjuna was confused. He asked Krishna what he should do in the circumstances and what would be the right course of action for him . Arjuna , importantly, and obviously had initial faith that Krishna would give him good advice .Authorities must have a proven source of knowledge. The sentiments and mental energies of an individual are no authority.
At the point where Arjuna turned to Krishna and submitted himself in honesty and with humility, Krishna took up the position as Arjuna’s spiritual Guru . He thus chastised Arjuna calling him Mudha , a fool , for thinking he was speaking learned words in his giving the reasons why he had not been prepared to fight . Krishna began to point out Arjuna’s lack of real knowledge both materially , in his Dharmic considerations , and spiritually in terms of what the consciousness is , ie an eternal energy completely seperate from matter in all its forms . Krishna related to Arjuna what the ultimate duty is for mankind and what the ultimate morality is taking both spiritual and material duties into consideration. Spiritual consciousness and its balanced development are always a priority for everyone. Arjuna was only initially calculating things that were to satisfy his own limited interests. The Bhagavad Gita is an essential read for all persons. It is the practical life manual and suits all people in all walks of life. Nothing is absent. Everyone is differently situated materially and spiritually, but the Bhagavad Gita situates everyone.
The important point here is that Arjuna initially turns to Krishna with faith and is prepared to hear from Krishna .Everyone has faith in something, but Krishna has been confirming throughout universal history in all the Vedas as the original cause of all cause of both the material and spiritual dimensions. We must know the authentic teachers and reject those who speculate or accept others who speculate .
After hearing from Krishna, Arjuna’s doubts were cleared , and all his misconceptions vanished . Bhagavad Gita makes everything clear to everyone. Arjuna intelligently surrendered WITHOUT RESERVATIONS , and he spoke as follows
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.
This full surrender without reservations is required when it comes to taking Sri Guru , who is the true representative of Krishna’s, and who comes in many forms , both as Diksa and Siksa gurus . Sadhu Sastra and Guru are the three balanced principles., one checks the other .Whether Diksa or Sisksa , and in particular the highest sense of Siksa , of the higher Madhyama or Uttama , should not be doubted , bug what he says the whold param para must say .He can be questioned, but we must be prepared to accept his answers , as Arjuna accepted Krishna’s answers.
It might take time to understand Sri Guru, but we must be patient , and Krishna will help us . A bone fide Guru as Krishna was to Arjuna , explains everything logically with reference to authority , such a Uttama Guru or high Madhyama can be and should be surrender to without reservation.
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In the third Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada refers to how TV signals are transmitted through the air ,and these days light carries information,
So the example of subtle ethereal energies being transformed, Prabhupada makes the comment that this ethereal mind making future destinations are a great subject for futuristic science, the following is one such initial attemptThe Vedas indicate a direct correlation between ones thoughts, which generally imply actions of all kinds with the electromagnetic energies of the brain . So thoughts on the ethereal plane are given a form of kinds in the form of brain waves .
“The human brain generates and interacts with electromagnetic waves, which are also known as brainwaves, that reflect brain activity and can be measured through techniques like EEG. These waves, ranging in frequency, are associated with different states of consciousness and cognitive functions.”
The observer effect in Quantum physics studies are still little understood , but the many possibilities can be interpreted to mean the responsive universe ie. action reaction . Both the electromagnetic energies of the brain and the many possibilities of the atomic realms collide , a future requires facilities that mean atoms , elements, compounds , etc . The atomic energies also have electromagnetic properties .The Vedas indicates the consciousness , means the way ones brainwaves are functioning , and such waves travel out into the universe at the speed of light connecting to a future , the next body is being prepared . Dark matter and dark energy are thought by some to be an ethereal storekeeper, bringing and arranging karmic synchronicities of a future . Thus, space time is linked , as Albert Einstein suspected , space time continuum . A past , present, and future are all reactionary with each other . The Vedas indicates most definitely we are creating our future bodies . However, nothing is set in stone , at any time the effects of a past , a present and a future can be mitigated one way or another and changed , past influences subside or a future is drastically changed . The Vedas have the methods .
This is the Vedic science of consciouseness on the local level , but consciousness is able to transport itself leaving behind the material reactionary planes , and can find itself within the unlimited planes of Divinity. Our Param Gatim , ultimate goal , should be to exchange consciouseness directly with Divinity and the Supreme Goddess of fortune.When it comes to understanding any topic, we should seek first-class teachers who have insights and realisation
In Vedic circles, there is discrimination between learning and insights.
Richard Feynman said you can have any number of PHD.’s and still be a complete idiot.
Albert Einstein said if you can not explain a concept in simple language in a short space of time, you don’t understand the topic .
The Vedas give knowledge understanding as …..first class second class or third class .
Termed as Kanistha , Madhyama, and Uttama .
For instance, a beginner ( or Kanisthas ) of evolutionary hypothesis studies will be convinced that the evolutionary hypothesis is fact based science.
The more advanced of the students is doubtful he is like a Madhyama .
And the greatest of evolutionary scientists know it’s not fact based at all, and everything about it is up for grabs .
Thus, in Vedic Cultures, the top most persons in any given field are needed to guide and give balanced and insightful realised options . A realisation of particular topics as opposed to mere text book knowledge . Unfortunately, the textbook evolutionary hypothesis is quite often written by kanisthas . Beginners of science or religion who read science or theological books often misrepresent or give misapplied explanations in unthinking and fanatical ways .
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“Sambandha, Abhidheya, and Prayojana”
One could say Sambandha means understanding who we are , our origins, our purposes, our potential.
This is the science of consciouseness, its cause , its origins , its perfected state , its artificial states , how it comes to be in artificial or perfected states . Who is ultimately responsible for such states , who is creating facilities as well as governance and rules of compliance that govern artificial or perfected states . The aforesaid and a lot more are what’s meant as essential Sambandha knowledge, which Srila Jiva Goswami delineates in his Tattva Sandarbha.
Sambandha means to establish a relationship, you can’t have a relationship without knowing something of the persons you’re having a relationship with .
So, in essence, Srila Jiva Goswami is giving the literal science of consciousness, along with its source and the purposeful interactions that can be had with the source.
When those sorts of knowledge are clear , then one can act in a relationship properly with respect and humility, and after acting, love can be further and further developed. Actually, love is an action word , and in the highest realms of consciousness, actions of love go one way only ,to exclusively give selfless pleasure without any personal considerations for one’s own benefit.
The mother and child relationship is a glimmer of this selfless love .
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Within the unlimited are the unlimited limited
Within the inconceivable power of the Sun , are practically uncountable photons, particles of light, incidentally, light is not made of atoms, everything else in our material universe is .
According to the Vedas, the Sun is a devolved energy from the original spiritual light that the Vedas refer to as the brahman effulgence . Mahavisnu possesses multifarious energies, spiritual light being one of them . Atomic and electro magnetic capacity is drawn from the original source of the Bramajyoti . Scientifically speaking , light can not be destroyed , but can be obsorbed , if not obsorbed the light particals will it carry on existing, within universal time , thus the hint of the eternal spiritual light is given .
The Vedas often give analogies to explain various philosophical points , eg., the Sun can be compared to God , and the particles of light of the sun are compared to countless conscious living beings , who have the same qualities of God in their pure existence , but not the same quantity of powers or attraction . Within the unlimited Divinity are the unlimited “limited’s .” Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has revealed to the world the truth of the simultaneously and inconceivably oneness and difference . Individual living beings are expanded from Divinity . The unlimited expands Himself into the unlimited limited , and thus , in spiritual math , one plus one equals one , one minus one equals one . Srila Jiva Goswami , in his Tattva Sandarbha, says that Divinity has made the impossible possible.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us this understanding of the inconceivable and simultaneous one and difference between Himself and His part and parcels . This is the explanation of the origins of all particles of consciousness, or souls . The eternals come from the eternal, and there is no limit to the eternal’s . In that way, it’s understood that there has never been a time when we or God did not exist. Some souls are manifestly active , and some dormant , ready to be expanded.
It is concluded by great Vaisnava philosophically minded thinkers that an over emphasise of the oneness, or an over emphasise of the difference, are both unsound philosophical positions . The truths about God and the souls or particles of consciousness are revealed by Mahāprabhu and explained perfectly by Srila Jiva Goswami in his Tattva Sandarbha drawing such truth from the Srimad Bhagavatam the natural commentary of the Vedanta Sutras.
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ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi
na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau
svayam eva sphuraty adaḥTranslation
“ ‘Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṇa really is.’
When Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu displays His ultimate lessons in Jagganath Puri , exhibiting the inner workings of the mind and senses of Srimati Radharani , its noted in Caitanya Caritamrita that each of his senses were like five wild horses each independently desperate to hear Krishna , see Krishna , taste Krishna , touch Krishna , smell Krishna , other example in the Srimad Bhagavatam are recorded, that those with purified senses are mad for Krishna and ever enthusiastic to satisfy His emaculate spiritual senses.
When Srimati Radharani hears Krishna’s flute, she becomes like a raging river , she is known by the name of Suratarangani Radhe . Nothing can get in Her way , and the forest paths of Vrndavana open up as She runs to the trysting grounds to meet Her lover .
In material consciousness, we have some enthusiasm to selfishly satisfy our limited senses and think that that will satisfy our soul , how foolish we are .
The original spiritual senses are directly connected to the soul and thus the ecstatic emotions of the soul are only experienced in Krishna consciousness and Sri Guru who has spiritual senses can direct us , giving instructions for the uncovering process , and the real spirit senses can be enacted in services to Krishna.
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Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur has clearly described who Sri Guru is .
He is not of this realm, and accordingly, he may, for preaching purposes, have one foot in the material world and one in the spiritual planes.
The materially motivated disciple may attempt to bring his Guru to the material plane by making material calculations as to why Sri Guru says and acts in ways that may go against the grain of modern materialistically accepted norms , after reading the current new age hypocrisyof , ” let’s all me nice to each other,” but at the same time, practice cancel culture , the mundane disciple may give up on trancendental consciousness and loose faith in something truly sublime , ultimately such a person places more faith in material sentiments.
Current times bring many fake narratives, and the net and mainstream media are awash .With so much new age thinking and super liberalism permeating the airwaves giving subjective opinions as to what is good or what is bad , the prospective spiritual searcher may not understand Sri Guru and his position beyond the dualism of good and bad . Sri Guru is a direct representation of Divinity Himself and thus trancendental to material calculations. He represents the all good Supreme trancendental autocrat , as such, by following his strict path along with discipline, we begin to leave the dualities of material life far behind us , those that are based on our own sensual or mental space , and we can begin to enter transcendence , making the real trancendental couple the objects of our attention.
On the battlefield of Kuruksetra, Arjuna initially had so many material considerations why he should not fight , Krishna dismissed them all .
The real messages of the Rasika bhakta are capable of penatrating the heart of the sincere . It’s never dependent on perfect management strategies or any mundane considerations . In communicating their all-important messages , Divinity Himself appears in trancendental sound, such a trancendental sound enters the heart of the disciple.
Some persons who are expert at managment theory and its application and who are perceived as “nice ” externally with perfect dealings and social customs , but who within their hearts have no depths or taste for real krishna consciousness can never help us , rather they can hinder us with material calculations. Whilst the Rasika bhakta can easily be misunderstood by his external behaviour , the verse is there in sastras that to understand the mind of the pure devotee is not easy , Similarly, occasionally his external behavior and speaking .
Sometimes, Srila Prabhupada brought his disciples to tears with his trancendental anger , externally, it could appear unreasonable. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja would smash his fists on the table and become red with anger . On one occasion, he told that a particular disciple could never directly come in touch with him ever again and could get his association indirectly and only through his some of his leading disciples . Many examples can be given of what might appear apparently as unreasonable and ” unvaisnava ” like behaviour of pure devotees throughout the history of Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas.
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