A Newsletter from His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

May 2010 A Newsletter from His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

is the cause of all sufferings of the living being, otherwise 1 I Am Now Happy the living being is eternal; he is never born, nor does he ever by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada die. Foolish persons forget this problem. They do not know at all how to solve the problems of life, but become engrossed 2 Dealing with Anger in temporary family affairs not knowing that eternal time is by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami passing away imperceptibly and that their measured duration of life is diminishing every second, without any solution to the big 3 The Importance of Association problem, namely repetition of birth and death, disease and old by His Grace Karnamrita dasa age. This is called illusion.

4 Devotee Spotlight: Her Grace Indrani devi dasi But such illusion cannot work on one who is awake in

the devotional service of the Lord. Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja and his brothers the Pāṇḍavas were all engaged in the service of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and they had very little attraction for the I Am Now Happy illusory happiness of this material world. As we have discussed by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada previously, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was fixed in the service of the Lord Mukunda (the Lord, who can award salvation), and “I am now happy; I have everything therefore he had no attraction even for such comforts of life in order; my bank balance is quite as are available in the kingdom of heaven, because even the enough; I can now give my children happiness obtained on the planet Brahmaloka is also temporary enough estate; I am now successful; and illusory. Because the living being is eternal, he can be happy the poor beggar sannyāsīs depend on only in the eternal abode of the kingdom of God (paravyoma), God, but they come to beg from me; from which no one returns to this region of repeated birth and therefore I am more than the Supreme death, disease and old age. God.” These are some of the thoughts -Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.17 which engross the insanely attached householder who is blind to the passing of eternal time. Our duration of life is measured, and no one is able to enhance it even by a second against the scheduled time ordained by the supreme will. Such valuable time, especially for the human being, should be cautiously spent because even a second passed away imperceptibly cannot be replaced, even in exchange for thousands of golden coins amassed by hard labor. Every second of human life is meant for making an ultimate solution to the problems of life, i.e. repetition of birth and death and revolving in the cycle of 8,400,000 different species of life. The material body, which is subject to birth and death, diseases and old age, Sukadeva Gosvami Instructing King Pariksit 1 8 next Dealing with Anger activities, becomes excessively angry, such a person will lose by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami some of these spiritual credits. One of the greatest dangers at this point for the practicing spiritualist involves the false ego and such a person must remain vigilant to keep the false ego in

check. In this way, he or she will progress nicely in using their Question: Sometimes a spiritualist hands, head, and heart uniformly and consistently in the service may be very strict in the execution of of the Supreme Lord for the genuine benefit of humanity. Such their spiritual practices but still act very a person who is conscious of his or her behavior and who is harshly towards the rest of the world. In constantly opening up the heart will easily finds ways to relieve spite of all their devotional rituals and him or herself from the predicament of negative emotions. prayers, they still seem to harbor anger within their hearts. How can one on the Question: You described a lack of forgiveness as one of the spiritual path maintain anger since it symptoms of anger. When someone hurts us, it can lead to directly opposes the purpose and goal feelings of anger and an inability to forgive. Forgiveness seems of pursuing love of God? And how does easier to apply if the other person changes their behavior and a person in this predicament find relief from such negative possibly acknowledges their hurtful behavior. However, such a emotions? change may not happen immediately so how do we relinquish anger and forgive a person who may even continue to repeatedly B.T.Swami: There are many people embarking on the spiritual hurt us in the present without feelings of remorse? journey who very nicely engage in all the rituals and external trappings of the religion but who lack sufficient knowledge. B.T.Swami: Forgiveness does not mean that we turn ourselves Most importantly, such people often lack deep realizations. into a punching bag so that others can continuously throw blows When someone serves mechanically, it might look like the at us, nor does it mean that we become a doormat for others to genuine activity but it is not. As a matter of fact, the proper walk over and wipe their feet. People should certainly remove activity performed with proper knowledge will give us a greater themselves from a position in which they function as the target chance to receive the benefits. However, if a person wants to of another’s attacks. receive the highest benefits from proper activities, he or she must even go beyond the platform of jnana or knowledge Forgiveness does not mean the following: and must connect with vijnana or realization. Proper spiritual activities are based on behavior, which involves the hands; • We feel that the person or people who hurt us should be intellectual understanding that involves the head; and deep allowed to continue. emotional, loving realizations that involve the heart. Many • We feel that what they have done was not really so bad after spiritual practices will involve the hands and some will involve all. the head but few involve the heart. • We suggest that we were actually wrong instead of the other When a person undergoes austerities, he or she will person. normally gain strength and power, but if the heart is not opening, • We have forgotten the wrong. such strength and power will be misunderstood and also abused. • We are totally free of the pain. If the person does not develop deeper realizations, it is only a • We are ready to act as if nothing has happened. matter of time before this misuse of power occurs. This explains • We are ready to associate fully with the person. how a neophyte spiritualist can very nicely engage in executing spiritual practices but still act very harshly. The mechanical Forgiveness does mean the following: activity as well as the possession of knowledge will surely help, but such activities will not fully transform one’s personality. • We are not going to allow the person who hurt us to con¬tinue Austerities, sacrifices, and penance fall into the hurting us by constantly holding onto them or their actions. The different modes of material nature, which the Bhagavad-gita more we hold onto the anger associated with the event, the more describes as the mode of ignorance, the mode of passion, and we allow the person to repeatedly assault us. the mode of goodness. Religious practices under the mode of • We no longer want to keep living in the past. ignorance will actually degrade the individual as well as the • We are ready to live in the present by making healthy choices environment. Religious activities in the mode of passion can that are not clouded by past negative influences. be very insensitive to the needs and well-being of other people, • We are ready to be loving always, not only when someone else and religious activities performed in the mode of goodness will acts favorably. benefit everyone but will still fail to connect very profoundly with the heart which is the door to the soul. Transcendental In other words, forgiveness is something we mainly do for activities actually function as the key to open up the door of ourselves so that we can personally free ourselves from various the heart so that one can nourish the soul. When the spiritualist, stagnations because because such stagnations can affect us who has acquired all kinds of credits from previous spiritual 2 8 next physically, psychologically as well as spiritually. If another for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit person chooses to be continuously obnoxious, we do not want soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self to allow their nonsense to impose itself upon us in any way. realized devotees, opens the door of liberation.” [spoken We want to be fully free to act in the spirit of love in spite by Lord Kapila to Shrimati Devahuti, SB 3.25.20] of the environment or the person’s actions. The spirit of love entails knowing what is actually best for us as well as knowing “Dust from the lotus feet of pure devotees is conducive what is best for the other person’s spiritual well-being. When to devotional service, while service to the Vaishnavas we hold unhealthy anger, it normally means that we want to retaliate or we want to see the person hurt. Consequently, we is itself the supreme perfection and the root of the must ask ourselves, “How much harm or pain must the person tender creeper of divine love.” [Sharangati prayer: experience before we can release them from our psyche?” Shuddha bhakata 1, by Thakur Bhaktivinode] Their feelings of remorse or lack of remorse should not really dictate or impose upon our own life. Lord Shiva told goddess Durga, “My dear Devi, although the Vedas mention worship of demigods, the The Importance of Association worship of Lord Vishnu is topmost and is ultimately by His Grace Karnamrita dasa (ACBSP) recommended. However, above the worship of Lord Vishnu is the rendering of service to Vaishnavas, It is said that, “A person is known who are related to Lord Vishnu.” [Padma Purana] by the company they keep”. That is true in any sphere, and certainly our “The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that even by spiritual life can sink or swim by a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can the company we keep—or we could attain all success”. [Lord Chaitanya to Sanantana say with what we imbibe from our Gosvami in Chaitanya Charitamrita Madyam 22.54] company. Associating with others really means taking up their habits So last week we had the opportunity to associate and adopting their mentality. The heart is like a crystal with an advanced devotee visiting here and we followed him that reflects whatever color it comes into contact with. around the area to attend as many programs as possible. We We want to use this principle to our advantage. felt uplifted and purified. We may have worn ourselves out If we keep good devotee association as much as possible a bit with all the traveling and late hours as both my wife (really appreciating it), practice strong sadhana (hearing and I came down with whatever flu was also in the area. and chanting about Krishna), and thus remembering As we have caught this bug, we want to “catch the bug” Krishna throughout the day, then even working in the world of Krishna consciousness, and become thoroughly infected!!! with ordinary people will not be an impediment to our When we are “infected” with Krishna consciousness, bhakti (devotion to Krishna). This is an art which requires then we will have no more attraction for materialism. practice and prayer. Associating with saintly persons is Sometimes Prabhupada used this “infected” one of the principle ways we make spiritual advancement. analogy, and sometimes he gave the opposite analogy, There are hundreds of references confirming this that by Krishna consciousness we are protected from the that we may ponder. After all Krishna consciousness infection of materialism, which is the real disease of the is called, “Vaishnavism” where we worship the pure soul. Whatever analogy that is used, the point is that by devotees of Krishna, who for us are Krishna manifest in associating with advanced devotees we become influenced the world. They are one, yet different from Krishna, and by their consciousness, and begin to become like them. it takes a lot of study to appreciate how this is possible. This is one of the many secrets of success for making advancement in spiritual life: Find advanced devotees Here are a few verses to provide food for thought: who inspire you. Hear from him or her, and see how they live. Ask them questions, and learn their devotional “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who success habits and realizations. Help them in their service. are completely freed from all vice, great service Of course to want to do this, you have is done. By such service, one gains affinity for to have some understanding of the value of hearing the messages of Vasudeva.” [SB 1.2.16] Krishna consciousness and those who are living it. The Vedic scriptures translated by Shrila Prabhupada, his “Every learned man knows very well that attachment disciples, and the previous acharyas are meant to help bring 8 3 next this about. Temples are meant to show how devotees practice he supported me by bringing his laundry downstairs for me to these principles, and Krishna.com is also meant to give you wash, and he would bring the flower vases for me to change the resources for appreciating the value of devotional service or water. He installed an intercom in order to give me instructions Krishna consciousness. And we bloggers are trying to share from his room upstairs. our realizations, and what we think might be of interest and At the present, based on my health—somewhat poor— help to you on your progressive spiritual journey. and my age of almost 84 years, my current service is hearing, Karnamrita dasa is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who chanting, and remembering Krsna as much as possible. I am lives in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina. Please visit his blog enthused very much by these but also by staying in touch with to read more of his writings: http://connect.krishna.com/ devotees, especially my godfamily members. That was one of blog/1220 the instructions given to me by my spiritual master. He said, “Stay in touch with the devotees by the internet.” One could say I am following those instructions as I am reading Maharaja’s Devotee Spotlight: Indrani devi dasi books on a weekly Tele-Conference Spiritual Warriorship class and also on a weekly online class. How did you join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness? How do you maintain an internal connection with your spiritual master? I met devotees and later joined The Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology Before my spiritual master left his body, he told us that he would in Washington DC, in 1990. IFAST, as it be with us more when out of his body then when he was in his is known, was under the directorship of body. I took those words very seriously. I am also endeavoring H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami. The meeting occurred after I was to follow instructions he gave in answering a question about handed a flyer announcing a meeting at Howard University. what we should do when he leaves us physically. He said: write The word “spiritual” in the flyer captured my attention because to him often, talk to his photograph, and constantly think that I was seeking a spiritual life for a long time and I was getting he is watching what we do and think. As I endeavor to really desperate to know God. following these, I really feel his presence. In fact my phrase to devotees is “he is an ever present presence”. In the early days How did you meet your spiritual master? after his passing I would weep when I wanted his help with something and couldn’t call him or send an e-mail but then I I met H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami at his lectures at Howard would talk to his picture, telling him my concerns and knowing University in Washington DC. Each lecture seemed to touch he knew already. At some point I would be inspired to call the something within me that made me feel I was hearing what I person, go to a particular book and—situation cleared! needed to hear at that stage of my life. Did I mention that I was sixty-four years old at the time? Yet when I heard him, I saw How have you been able to apply the instructions of your a handsome young man but I felt that an old soul like a father spiritual master to your own life? was speaking to me. And I wanted to hear more. Just practicing daily what he taught when we were with him. I What types of services have enthused you the most in your listen to lectures and am reminded of how caring for each other spiritual life? is so important in our community experience. This is the good fortune and mercy of Krsna in my life: from the time I met him After my initiation in 1991, I was very busy and enthused with in 1990, he was always available in a caring way, and he taught devotional services. Cleaning the kitchen, caring for the plants by example. and flowers for the Deities, and wherever I could offer to serve. After second initiation, I was allowed to dress the Deities and How do you see Krishna manifesting His mercy in your life? cook and again serve wherever I could. I remember saying Is there a personal event where this has been evident? with great joy, “This spiritual life is so exciting!” Then my body began to breakdown. I was devastated. I remember going There was a very personal event when I saw Krsna manifesting to my spiritual master in tears saying I couldn’t do service as in my life. My elder daughter had recurring cancer and, as she before—I really felt I was useless. He gave me solace by telling neared leaving her body, I could feel Krsna supporting me as I me it is not the physical activity but what was in my heart. Then packed to go and stay with her until the end. It is hard to 4 8 next describe, but through the entire process until she passed I felt If serious doubts have arisen during the course of your His presence through the Holy Name and consequently chanted spiritual life, how have you been able to combat them? constantly. At her passing, there was my godsister chanting, we put tulasi leaf in her mouth, Ganga water, Vrindavan dust, I don’t recall any serious doubts but when even a hint of doubt and tulasi neck beads at her throat. She left peacefully sleeping. seems to be there, I try to find a senior devotee that I trust That for me was Krsna manifesting His sweetest mercy. to discuss, and I focus on chanting and asking for Guru and Krishna’s help. Can you describe a time when you faced a significant obstacle in your spiritual life and you overcame the obstacle? How? How does your association with devotees help maintain your own spiritual life/sadhana? Just the deterioration of this body was the most significant obstacle in my earlier spiritual life. When I could no longer dress It helps me focus on being humble, compassionate and more the Deities, cook for Them, or go to the temple or programs, I loving. was really devastated. But I was encouraged by Maharaja. He would talk to me on the phone, give me service I could do on What do you see as the most significant obstacle facing the the computer or telephone. One time he came to the emergency expansion of the Hare Krishna movement? How do you feel room at the hospital when I was there due to carbon monoxide that devotees can tackle this obstacle? in my daughter’s house. Maharaja was so personal one just wanted to keep trying to serve him and Krsna, which made me What I see is that we are forgetting to be really personable with determined to keep moving this body the best that I could and each other and caring for each other. Most of the time it seems also chant more intensely. we have forgotten what the ultimate goals of the Hare Krsna movement are—chanting the Holy Name that leads to Love of What are the most important aspects of your personal God. Srila Prabhupada gave his life to get this message across sadhana that help you remain steady in devotional service? to us and also gave us the teachings to accomplish it. We need to study, take the teachings very seriously, teach it to our children, First, I do constant internal searching for obstacles. Then, imbibe the teachings, and apply them in our lives in a practical hearing and reading about Krsna. Chanting His Holy Name. way. Guru and Krsna will then remove all obstacles. Associating with devotees as often as possible. Indrani devi dasi is a disciple of H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami. She gives lectures via the internet on Krishna.com. She lives in Alachua, Florida.

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Hari-Nama Press gratefully acknowledges the BBT for the use of verses, purports and photos from Srila Prabhupada’s books. All such material are © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.