DOCSLIB.ORG

Attaining Humility by Glorifying the Lord Hare Krishna Prabhujis And

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Attaining Humility by Glorifying the Lord Hare Krishna Prabhujis And Attaining Humility by Glorifying the Lord Date: 2005-06-09 Author: L. Harikumar Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev. It is really the amazing act of Paramatma that Kalacakra prabhu wrote about this verse. A few weeks back when we met, he told about this verse and this sunday I was reading this verse and word-word equivalents. Actually this verse lists 40 qualities and this was one of the favourite verses of Sri Madhvacharya. In the purport Srila Prabhupada makes a powerful point, "Even if it were possible to count the atoms after smashing the earth into powder, still it would not be possible to estimate the unfathomable transcendental qualities of the Lord.". I got the doubt, "Why only 40 are mentioned here and many other important qualities such as being the Supreme person, being all-pervasive, being the Lord of Vaikuntha etc are not mentioned ?". In the next few sentences Srila Prabhupada clarifies, "The above statement (verses) of the qualities of the Lord is just to estimate His qualities as far as a human being is able to see Him.". Any common human being even without devotional attitude and scriptural knowledge can perceive these qualities and in this way the Lord attracts them also. And the chief import of all the vedas is to glorify the qualities of God. Sri Madhvacharya quotes a verse from Mahopanishad which states this point. sarvottamaṁ sarvadoṣavyapetam guṇ̣airaśeṣaiḥ pūrṇamanyam samastāt vailakṣaṇyājñāpayitum pravṛttāḥ sarve vedā mukhyato naiva cānyat All the Vedas aim at revealing Narayana who is all-surpassing, free from all evil, infinite in all attributes and different from all else by reason of His uniqueness. This they do in their direct signification and they teach nothing else. By glorifying and remembering the qualities of God, we realise the defects in ourselves and become humble. When we become humble we start seeing the good qualities in others which paves the way to salvation. In this connection, there is an interesting story from the life of a great acharya named Parasara bhattar, who comes in the line of Ramanujacharya. He wrote a book called "Bhagavad guna Darpana"(A mirror showing the Lords' qualities) which is a commentary on Vishnu sahasranama. In that he beautifully explained the Lord's qualities in an unparalleled manner. There was person in Srirangam who used to criticize Sri Bhattar from morning to evening with abusive words. His disciples were very wild at this person but Bhattar forbade them from reacting. There was a big festival in Bhattar's place and he invited that person, fed him with prasadam and gave him lot of gifts. His disciples were surprised and asked him, "Why are you rewarding a person who is a great offender?". Bhattar replied, "My spiritual master gave me two instructions 1. Glorify the transcendental qualities of the Lord everyday 2. Speak about your defects everyday. The Lord has infinite qualities and speaking them keeps me busy everyday. So I don't have time to speak about my faults. But this person is doing that job for me. So he's helping me in following my Guru's instruction. That's why I reward him". Thus Bhattar's life is a practical proof that one can attain this level of humility and tolerance by glorifying the Lord's qualities by speaking them, writing them and explaining them to others. Your servant, L.Harikumar Chennai..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Srila Prabhupada
    About Srila Prabhupada His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the founder Acharya of ISKCON. He travelled to New York in 1965 at the age of 69, to spread the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupada visited Chennai in 1972 and 1975 and began the Chennai chapter of ISKCON. He specifically told his disciples to build a “gorgeous temple” in Chennai. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple. At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine. Recognizing Srila Prabhupada’s philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society honored him in 1947 with the title “Bhaktivedanta.” In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, and four years later he adopted the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing. Srila Prabhupada traveled to the holy city of Vrndavana, where he lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple of Radha- Damodara.
    [Show full text]
  • Dharma As a Consequentialism the Threat of Hridayananda Das Goswami’S Consequentialist Moral Philosophy to ISKCON’S Spiritual Identity
    Dharma as a Consequentialism The threat of Hridayananda das Goswami’s consequentialist moral philosophy to ISKCON’s spiritual identity. Krishna-kirti das 3/24/2014 This paper shows that Hridayananda Das Goswami’s recent statements that question the validity of certain narrations in authorized Vedic scriptures, and which have been accepted by Srila Prabhupada and other acharyas, arise from a moral philosophy called consequentialism. In a 2005 paper titled “Vaisnava Moral Theology and Homosexuality,” Maharaja explains his conception consequentialist moral reasoning in detail. His application of it results in a total repudiation of Srila Prabhupada’s authority, a repudiation of several acharyas in ISKCON’s parampara, and an increase in the numbers of devotees whose Krishna consciousness depends on the repudiation of these acharyas’ authority. A non- consequentialist defense of Śrīla Prabhupāda is presented along with recommendations for resolving the existential threat Maharaja’s moral reasoning poses to the spiritual well-being of ISKCON’s members, the integrity of ISKCON itself, and the authenticity of Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual legacy. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Dharma as a Consequentialism ..................................................................................................................... 1 Maharaja’s application of consequentialism to Krishna Consciousness .....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Most Intelligent Persons Would Go for Gauranga,All That You Have to Do Is
    Most intelligent persons would go for Gauranga Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Venue: Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir Date: 7 March 2016 So that’s the verse, Eleventh Canto, Chapter 5, Text 32. Are you familiar, if you have looked at the board? Yeah! Sounds familiar? Not new! But ever ever new also at the same time! Never be-comes old! So here we are in land of Gauranga, Gauranga! (Devotees respond: Gauranga!) Sri Krishna Cai-tanya Mahaprabhu ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!) And also we have gathered here amongst other reasons, gathered here for Kirtan Mela ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!) Yes, you have come here for Kirtan Mela! Some of you have just come for the Kirtan Mela.. So I thought of selecting a verse that talks of Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as of course talks about the kirtana, sankirtana- yajna, that we are engaged in here. So quickly as time is running. krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah ( SB 11.5.32) Translation and Purport by disciples of His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prab-hupada ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!) “In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.” “This same verse is quoted by Krsnadasa Kaviraja in the Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, Chapter Three, verse 52”. And I was reminded that Laghu Bhagavatamrta of Rupa Goswami, he also quotes this verse in the very beginning of Laghu Bhagavatamrta, Rupa Goswami does, its part of his mangalacarana, same verse.
    [Show full text]
  • Vishnu Sahasra Nama
    Visnu-sahasra-nama Thousand Names of Lord Visnu (from Mahabharata, original translation and purports b y Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana) translated into English by Sriman Kusakratha das (ACBSP) Maëagläcaraëam (by Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa) Text 1 ananta kalyäëa-guëaika-väridhir vibhu-cid-änanda-ghano bhajat-priyaù kåñëas tri-çaktir bahu-mürtir éçvaro viçvaika-hetuù sa karotu naù çubham May Lord Kåñëa, the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in many forms, is the original creator of the universe, the master of the three potencies, full of transcendental knowledge and bliss, very dear to the devotees, and an ocean of unlimited auspicious qualities, grant auspiciousness to us. Text 2 vyäsaà satyavaté-sutaà muni-guruà näräyaëaà saàstumo vaiçampäyanam ucyatähvaya-sudhämodaà prapadyämahe gaìgeyaà sura-mardana-priyatamaà sarvärtha-saàvid-varaà sat-sabhyän api tat-kathä-rasa-jhuço bhüyo nanaskurmahe Let us glorify Çréla Vyäsadeva, the spiritual master of the great sages, the literary incarnation of Lord Näräyaëa and the son of Satyavaté. Let us surrender to Vaiçampäyana Muni, the speaker of the Mahäbhärata who became jubilant by drinking the nectar of Lord Viñëu's thousand names. Let us bow down before Kåñëa's friend Bhéñma, the best of the wise and the son of Gaìgä-devé, and let us also bown down before the saintly devotees who relish the narrations of Lord Viñëu's glories. Text 3 nityaà nivasatu hådaye caitanyätmä murärir naù niravadyo nirvåtimaë gajapatir anukampayä yasya May Lord Muräri, who has personally appeared as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, eternally reside within our hearts. He has mercifully purified, engladdened and liberated His devotees, such as Gajendra and Mahäräja Pratäparudra.
    [Show full text]
  • @ 1975: GBC RESOLUTIONS, March 1975
    @ 1975: GBC RESOLUTIONS, March 1975 http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/GBCresol... @ 1975: GBC RESOLUTIONS, March 1975 1) Jayatirtha presented a definition of GBC, which was accepted as follows: Resolved: The GBC (Governing Body Commissioned) has been established by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to represent Him in carrying out the responsibility of managing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which He is the Founder-Acarya and supreme authority. The GBC accepts as its life and soul His divine instructions and recognizes that it is completely dependent on His mercy in all respects. The GBC has no other function or purpose other than to execute the instructions so kindly given by His Divine Grace and preserve and spread his Teachings to the world in their pure form. It is understood that the GBC, as a collective body of 14-members has been authorized by His Divine Grace to make necessary arrangements for carrying out these responsibilities of management. These arrangements may include delegating authority, managing resources, setting objectives, making plans, calling for reports, evaluating results, training others, maintaining spiritual standards and defining sphere of influence of the various GBC members as well as other devotees. The members of the GBC do not have any inherent authority but rather derive their authority from the Governing Body Commission itself and ultimately from His Divine Grace. Their authority may be over a particular geographic area or over a particular function. Whichever area of responsibility be given to the various members their primary responsibility is to the society as a whole.
    [Show full text]
  • Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja
    SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI GOSWAMI MAHARAJA INTRODUCTION FOR THE BOOK ON BHAKTISIDDHANTA Sarasvati THAKURA During the late '70's and '80's, preaching duties in Bengal now and then broughtme in contact with direct disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and also with disciples of his disciples. From them I heard stories and teachings of Sarasvati Thakura. Hearing little bits here and there, my heart filled with wonder, and also pride on being connected with such a powerful transcendental personality. My eagerness to hear more increased. From my very beginning days in Krsna consciousness I--and surely all others in ISKCON also--was attracted by the personality of Saraswati Thakura. I would often look up at the big painting of him on the wall of our Bury Place (London) temple. It was as if his serious gaze came down directly from Goloka Vrindavana. He was known as "singha-guru"--a spiritual master as fearsome to non-devotees as a lion. Who would not be impressed on hearing of his austerity, learning, strictness, and above all his unflinching devotion to the lotus feet of Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri-Sri Radha-Krsna, and his uncompromising, determined preaching of Their glories? Our own glorious spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, was another transcendental "superman." Srila Prabhupada was utterly surrendered at the lotus feet of his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and always considered himself a humble servant of his spiritual master. Those of unbiased mind understand both to be empowered acaryas, saktyavesa-avataras. By his unbreakable bond of devotion to Srila Saraswati Thakura, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has, by initiating us, linked us also eternally to his spiritual master.
    [Show full text]
  • Initiation Policy 2 0Ct2013.Pdf
    ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Initiation Procedures & Standards Policy ISKCON Founder Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Contents Initiation Procedures .............................................................................................. 6 Stage One - Friends, Group, Mentee Group and Mentor ..................... 6 Friends ............................................................................................................................ 6 Group ............................................................................................................................... 7 Mentee Group ............................................................................................................... 7 Mentor ............................................................................................................................. 8 Stage Two – The Guru and Disciple Course .......................................... 10 Stage Three – The Testing Period as an Aspiring Disciple ............. 11 Stage Four – Acting in the Relationship ................................................. 14 Stage Five – Recommendation ................................................................... 15 Stage Six – Initiation and Life–Long Support ....................................... 17 Initiation ....................................................................................................................... 17 Life-long Support .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • DEFEAT of RITVIK-VADA (Abridged)
    DEFEAT OF RITVIK-VADA (Abridged) A detailed analysis and rebuttal of the Ritvik-vada manifesto, 'The Final Order' His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by Rocana dasa August 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 TECHNICAL NOTES .................................................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................................ 7 THE FINAL ORDER ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Modifications a) and b) .............................................................................................................. 10 EARLY 1977 INITIATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 11 JULY 7th CONVERSATION ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
    AA lifelife inin serviceservice toto GodGod andand humanityhumanity HisHis DivineDivine GraceGrace A.C.A.C. BhaktivedantaBhaktivedanta SwamiSwami PrabhupadaPrabhupada Long,Long, longlong ago,ago, atat thethe dawndawn ofof time,time, thethe LordLord createdcreated thethe materialmaterial universesuniverses withwith allall thethe planetsplanets andand livingliving beings.beings. Those who rebel against the Lord and His spiritual laws, must enter the material realm in various material bodies. The obedient inhabitants of the spiritual world happily continue their loving relationship with Krishna. The Vedas – the words of God The humans and other intelligent beings received spiritual wisdom in form of the Vedic literatures. Spoken by Krishna Himself, the Vedic wisdom had been passed by aural reception from generation to generation of topmost saints and great ascetics... ...until it was written down by Srila Vyasadeva, who was empowered by Krishna, more than 5,000 years ago. In order to preserve the timeless Vedic wisdom for eternity, Lord Krishna created a chain of spiritual masters who have passed it to our hands. Out of them, one outstanding for his spiritual acumen, compassion, knowledge and determination was predicted thousands of years ago. In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Lord Krishna describes that after 5,000 years of Kali-yuga have passed, a great sage and worshiper of Krishna's holy names will appear and spread the chanting of Krishna's names (in the form of the Hare Krishna mantra), not only in India but throughout the world. Later, in the 1800's, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great devotee, predicted in his magazine Sajjana-toshani: "Soon there will be a time when chanting of Krishna's name will be heard in England, France, Russia, Germany and America." In answer to these prayers and predictions, in the year of 1896, there appeared Abhay Charan De, later known as His Divine Grace A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Parampara Institution in Gaudiya Vaisnavism
    The Parampara Institution In Gaudiya Vaisnavism –Jagadananda Das – Great philosophers could not reach the end of your glories, oh Lord, even if they should think on them with increasing joy for æonchars. For, in the form of the intelligence within and the teacher without, you destroy all inauspiciousness and reveal the way to attain you.(1) Contents: • ISKCON after the death of Bhaktivedanta • Schismatic tendencies in post-Prabhupada ISKCON • The first ISKCON heresy: rtvikvada or the doctrine of the monitor guru • The origins of the siksa-sampradaya idea • The Gaudiya Math after Bhaktisiddhanta's death • History of the parampara • Initiation in the Bhakti-sandarbha • Conclusions • Notes • Chart I: The guru-parampara of the Gaudiya Math • Chart II: The guru-pranali of Lalitaprasada Thakura Introduction One of the primary areas of concern in scholarly work surrounding new religious movements in the last decade has been that of succession. Since most new religions are centred about charismatic religious leaders, the death of a founder presents his or her followers with a crisis which is crucial for the survival of the sect he or she has created. In the context of those religions which have South Asian origin, the charismastic leader is given particular emphasis as the guru, who is often, as David Miller says, ... at the centre of sacredness. Sacred texts and the worship of deities are secondary matters compared with the centrality of the guru whose interpretations of the texts are often looked upon as more sacred than the texts themselves.(2) In the Indian tradition, great importance is placed on the personal search for a guru; it is the divine mission of a seeker to encounter a knower of the truth.(3) Each individual guru is an institution in himself, whether he establishes one temple or monastery or many, and is obliged at the time of his death to seek some kind of continuity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Jaladuta Diary
    ___ The Jaladuta Diary............................................................................................................1 Preface.......................................................................................................................2 Introduction...............................................................................................................4 APRIL........................................................................................................................7 MAY........................................................................................................................11 JUNE.......................................................................................................................15 JULY.......................................................................................................................16 AUGUST.................................................................................................................20 The Journey......................................................................................................................22 SEPTEMBER..........................................................................................................27 Srila Prabhupada arrives at Boston Harbor, America.................................................31 NOVEMBER...........................................................................................................33 Prayers Written by Srila Prabhupada aboard the Jaladuta........................................35
    [Show full text]
  • Krsna Book” by His Divine Grace A.C
    “Krsna Book” by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The summary pastimes of Lord Krishna from the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavat Purana). COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This is an evaluation copy of the printed version of this book, and is NOT FOR RESALE. This evaluation copy is intended for personal non-commercial use only, under the “fair use” guidelines established by international copyright laws. You may use this electronic file to evaluate the printed version of this book, for your own private use, or for short excerpts used in academic works, research, student papers, presentations, and the like. You can distribute this evaluation copy to others over the Internet, so long as you keep this copyright information intact. You may not reproduce more than ten percent (10%) of this book in any media without the express written permission from the copyright holders. Reference any excerpts in the following way: “Excerpted from “Krsna Book” by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, courtesy of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, www.Krishna.com .” This book and electronic file is Copyright 1971-2003 Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, 3764 Watseka Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA. All rights reserved. For any questions, comments, correspondence, or to evaluate dozens of other books in this collection, visit the website of the publishers, www.Krishna.com . Preface nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotramano 'bhiramat ka uttama-sloka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pasughnat (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.4) In these Western countries, when someone sees the cover of a book like Krsna, he immediately asks, "Who is Krsna? Who is the girl with Krsna?" etc.
    [Show full text]