tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1453236052958810032024-03-19T00:43:01.651-07:00Matsya Avatar das adhikariDisciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness - Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-3712182725250318652016-02-08T03:12:00.000-08:002016-02-08T03:12:21.000-08:00Winning the Shadow – Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ag0f3qJtkXOPsQAyIgTwHbDydymecDALrcxpm0jl_1zEMuIznPjxm7MT2eYJe2AOSw0tlC62FfVSiijDO55EN9XfzDc72lgMW0X0xpqeiPko72IbXhuQAu3r8bZv1GHg5Fyh4Q094uE/s1600/ayurveda-fiore-di-loto.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ag0f3qJtkXOPsQAyIgTwHbDydymecDALrcxpm0jl_1zEMuIznPjxm7MT2eYJe2AOSw0tlC62FfVSiijDO55EN9XfzDc72lgMW0X0xpqeiPko72IbXhuQAu3r8bZv1GHg5Fyh4Q094uE/s400/ayurveda-fiore-di-loto.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Valuing people's
talents."<br />It seems perfectly useless to deny and remove the
Freudian envy, as it will go on working within the psychic structure
and thus reinforced, it would do even worse.<br />On a practical level
it can be purified and transformed by learning to value the talents
of others, inspiring people to offer their talents in Krishna
consciousness. This propensity will draw us nearer to the qualities
of the eternal inhabitants of Vaikuntha so we'll become
extremely beneficial to all the living creatures, ourselves included.
In this way people can get closer to the Lord beginning to taste
this new spiritual relation but how can it become true if they do not
even know who is Krishna? Let us help them to put their talents to
His service. For example, if someone cooks well, we can suggest a
menu and offer the meal to Krishna: "Please, Lord Krishna,
accept this food and bless the person who has prepared it."<br />Although
in a first stage such service is indirect as accomplished without
awareness, still the person will get a great benefit that will gradually increase in the process of serving. Once the
meaning of service is intimately understood, the
attraction to serve will be empowered with the taste and thus
the person reaches further important step of awareness, up to a higher level
when the service is offered not only as an act of one's own will and
pleasure, but also consistently and without egoistic motivations. Yet
if the person commits offenses, almost always because of residual
envy, there is still a risk to crash down to the lower states of
consciousness even from this level thus descending to the darker
regions of mind. In such a state these people appear like shooting
stars that, having made a light path in the sky, become obscured.
Even in this case we should not forget the infinite mercy of divine
forgiveness, that comes promptly to our rescue when, once repented,
we start over following our path towards perfection.</span></span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-16783403294548764052015-09-15T02:09:00.001-07:002015-09-15T02:14:16.664-07:00Winning the Shadow - Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">I would
like to offer the following reflection, divided into some topics.<br />"
Spiritual Cosmology".<br />In the spiritual world, </span><span lang="en"><i>Paravyoma</i></span><span lang="en">,
all living beings are perfect.<br />The highest heaven coincides with
the abode of Vishnu, </span><span lang="en"><i>Vishnu paramam padam</i></span><span lang="en">,
which manifests the highest perfection.<br />Gradually
descending from the highest spiritual dimension, we can reach the
boundary of the Vaikuntha planets, the abode of the creatures without
conditionings. Their desires are perfect, as long as they continue to
desire in a pure way. The perfection of desire coincides with the
freedom to desire. At the same time, it is just the free will that
favors the potential risk of falling from that dimension, but an
attempt to explain this phenomenon with the rational mind will bear
no fruit, because the mind is the instrument of </span><span lang="en"><i>prakriti</i></span><span lang="en">
that can not contemplate or grasp the spiritual dimension
</span><span lang="en"><i>(purusha).</i></span><span lang="en"><br />Descending
to the lower heavenly planets, one can find the </span><span lang="en"><i>Siddha
Loka</i></span><span lang="en">, where the living creatures are
endowed with special </span><span lang="en"><i>siddhis</i></span><span lang="en">
or perfect capacities. The inhabitants of these planets are perfectly
intelligent beings: beautiful, strong, gifted with special talents;
each one vibrates with a characteristic virtue, as if it were a ray
[of the sun] of Vishnu.<br />From the lowest heavenly planets, the
living beings can easily fall to the median planets like the earth,
Bhumidevi, where the human beings temporarily stay. Conversely there
are people from the median planets like the Earth are to be
reborn on the heavenly planets, lower or higher, but yet
they can not be defined as freed </span><span lang="en"><i>Jivas </i></span><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">as
these living beings </span></span><span lang="en">still have residues
of the material attachments and are still identified with the
contents of their psyche. Finding themselves in such a condition, they
can not reach the dimension </span><span lang="en"><i>sat-cit-ananda-vigraha</i></span><span lang="en">
of </span><span lang="en"><i>Vaikuntha</i></span><span lang="en">.<br />"Envy:
a major cause of the fall."<br />The overview that I have offered
is to introduce a fundamental concept: it is envy that most oppresses
and plunges the consciousness into the lower states of being. Even in
the biblical tradition and in the three derivative traditions of
monotheism of the Middle East, Lucifer, the brightest angel, falls
from his position out of envy towards God. As Krishna states in
Bhagavad-gita, among the five categories of </span><span lang="en"><i>anartha,
</i></span><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">envy</span></span><span lang="en">
is the most dangerous. Dante in The Divine Comedy identifies lust,
anger and greed (which envy is an immediate derivative) as the three
doors that bring to hell. One must never indulge, never cross the
threshold of these three gates of hell, even when the entry appears
gold, large, inviting and studded with diamonds.<br />What mostly
prevents a conditioned psyche from getting back on the upper heavenly
planets? We'll find the answer to this question in the second
part of the article.</span></span></span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-33627381417487328212015-09-10T03:25:00.000-07:002015-09-10T03:25:00.545-07:00Union<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The genuine spiritual realization, which is to be found on a much higher level than that of religiousness, is the experience of a fulfilled soul, of a sage, of an enlightened person who, precisely for being wise, sees the creation, the creatures and the Creator simultaneously and as an integrated unity. For this reason the service he offers to the Creator works automatically also for the well-being of the creatures and of the creation as a whole.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The philosophical concept of ahimsa, non-violence, obviously is not to be limited to human beings, as the respect for life includes all living entities and the creation itself.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The research for spiritual realization, for the highest self, focal point of the personality, corresponds to the discovery of God and to a loving relationship with Him.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When we are placed out of our centre, not only we vanish as an identity, but even God disappears, and it is only when we find again God that we find again ourselves, inconceivably two and One at the same time.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Matsyavatara das</span></span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-80347091564584724862015-09-09T05:59:00.000-07:002015-09-09T05:59:24.294-07:00Tribute to Shrila Prabhupada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Dear Shrila Prabhupada, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to your Divine Grace!</span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Namo om vishnu padaya krishna preshtaya bhu-tale </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Shrimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin iti namine </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Om ajnana timirandhasya </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">jnananjana shalakaya </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">cakshur unmilitan yena </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">tasmai shri gurave namah </em><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">With a touch of bitterness mixed with so much joy I write to celebrate the holy day of your Vyasapuja, your holy and salvific appearance in this world. This world otherwise horrible host of incarnations marked by joy and pain that obsessively would end each time with the tragedy of death, harbinger of the next rebirth in the infinite cycle of samsara. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You came and you have given us the opportunity and the means to redeem ourselves, save ourselves and fall in love with God.</em><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Glory and infinite gratitude to You for bringing the divine light of hope and faith in the darkness of our existence! </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">My mother, Anandavrindavana Devi Dasi, a fervent devotee of yours, your admirer and servant, recently left her old and exhausted body, and her physical presence has disappeared from the sight of our eyes, thus exiting at the same time from our relationships, and this has left a large void, yet filled by an infinite and poignant feeling of Love at a distance. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I’m telling You this, not to sadden You, but to offer my experience of how this event made me realize, once again, the infinite luck we received to have known You, immediately welcomed You into our heart, and later served You, by shaping my life, both of my parents life and the life of my whole biological and spiritual family in accordance with Your divine teachings. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">The writing of this letter implies every year - at least once a year- a honest and deep look into the mirror of our consciousness</em><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">, and every time, it is for me both arduous and highly beneficial because, by seeing the good and the bad in me allows me to adhere strongly to the first one and even more decisively take distance from the second one. So I offer You the conclusions I have drawn from this immersion by seeking what unites me to You.</span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">When I think of whom, in the course of this incarnation has had the greatest influence on the human and spiritual forming of my character, no doubt it's You. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">When I think of whom, who over the last forty years I have turned to, every time I found myself faced with crucial choices, no doubt it's You. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">When I think of whom my heart bestows the utmost gratitude on, no doubt it's You. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You are the source of my inspiration. You are my model of active and contemplative Bhakti.</em><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You are the one whom I dedicate my every initiative to, because I know that the success of my offer to God depends on obtaining Your Divine Grace under the form of intercession.</span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You, with Your behavior, teaching and works, are the most divine thing that I could see in this life. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #62b5b7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You are to me more than a father and a mother, whom I love dearly, because I was born from You into Knowledge and Love.</em><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I honor You and give You all my gratitude for what I have accomplished. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I ask You for forgiveness for any lack in my behavior and the blessing of being able to serve You with ever increasing commitment, purity and spiritual strength. </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">With infinite gratitude and devoted affection I offer the remaining years of my life, waiting, when it will be, to come to You, by Krishna, among the blessed people! </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Your servant, </span><br style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Matsyavatara dasa</span></div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-48056162166431370312015-09-09T03:20:00.000-07:002015-09-09T03:20:58.939-07:00Ultimate goal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaj1G13_ibO2UjdtSUVljuQnJRRy6gLUvvVcA2AjD1cQ0DxY5ekRqtWOSQW7oE3S8Iy0G5rekw7YPX001xUH9wS3JIwMSfBajxg3ttK3kpQ9mZWEsthAAnt5Cr7qNv1e-rDHAUIZfFIs/s1600/scopo+ultimo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaj1G13_ibO2UjdtSUVljuQnJRRy6gLUvvVcA2AjD1cQ0DxY5ekRqtWOSQW7oE3S8Iy0G5rekw7YPX001xUH9wS3JIwMSfBajxg3ttK3kpQ9mZWEsthAAnt5Cr7qNv1e-rDHAUIZfFIs/s320/scopo+ultimo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We haven’t arrived in this world to build houses, to create organizations, to erect churches or temples and turn the earth into a garden; this is not the purpose of our existence.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are here to gain spiritual realization; everything else is just a means to this goal, everything else is to be used by us for the purpose of our development.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We have to act, because without acting we would starve, we would die from thirst or from sleep… but action is functional and what counts is the goal for which we act.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What elevates us on the platform of spiritual evolution and what shows us the Truth behind appearances, is the spirit with which we offer our action.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Matsyavatara das</span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-16693025217847858892015-09-09T02:56:00.000-07:002015-09-09T03:21:21.043-07:00Spiritual Vision<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<blockquote>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“<i>This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it”</i>. <span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 17.5636px; text-align: right;"><b>Bhagavad-gita VII.14</b></span></span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlM1WTy-8UB3gE-nHMxplTc7fiF4I8IrgxHE5ZKOS3MPFSqIWHed7q-2gefyVDTLkiiOBSu3KTIwXclURm0O7SRSR9CjzbO1sLj89STnn0SBe56N-m2Oeo_eKgjdpOVPIZdAnutg934M/s1600/11904110_932853026756097_4335086300720752835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlM1WTy-8UB3gE-nHMxplTc7fiF4I8IrgxHE5ZKOS3MPFSqIWHed7q-2gefyVDTLkiiOBSu3KTIwXclURm0O7SRSR9CjzbO1sLj89STnn0SBe56N-m2Oeo_eKgjdpOVPIZdAnutg934M/s320/11904110_932853026756097_4335086300720752835_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 17.5636px; text-align: left;">In the Bhagavata Purana the “ocean” of the material existence is described as something scaring, terrifying, in which the jivabhuta – the conditioned living entity – life after life is forced to experience birth (jati), old age (jara), disease (vyadhi) and death (mrityu).</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 17.5636px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Only by the mercy of Guru and Krishna this ocean of obstacles becomes like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All in all, there is no real dichotomy between nature and spirit, as both energies arise from the same supreme Consciousness, God, Who permeates the entire universe, exactly as the individual consciousness permeates the entire body of the living entity.</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Therefore in the world everything is tightly connected: the subject to the object, spirit to nature, the living entities to each other and each of them to the Supreme, the individual bodies to the cosmic body, the individual mind to the universal mind.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A deep comprehension of these thick connections and relationships between micro- and macrocosm is an essential requirement on the path of spiritual realization, which in the vaishnava-vedic tradition does absolutely not imply an escape from the world, but rather means the development of an organic and complete vision of the absolute Reality.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Matsyavatara das</div>
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</span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-90784174262969842462015-08-08T02:01:00.000-07:002015-08-08T02:01:00.269-07:00What is devotional service?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboWFUvQcUVifE8Z05kdeg8qpg4qp0a2UNFcM3SpPxBmeebkIThI-Lkadv4igNs3f7GJutQxvPcBAMP9dfnkr-ecuqdcdspEAy7RJRA7hv2dNE7-cGbjZJzJgWO3y5YTkADv9YVGTmxMw/s1600/Cos%25E2%2580%2599e%25CC%2580+il+servizio+devozionale%253F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboWFUvQcUVifE8Z05kdeg8qpg4qp0a2UNFcM3SpPxBmeebkIThI-Lkadv4igNs3f7GJutQxvPcBAMP9dfnkr-ecuqdcdspEAy7RJRA7hv2dNE7-cGbjZJzJgWO3y5YTkADv9YVGTmxMw/s400/Cos%25E2%2580%2599e%25CC%2580+il+servizio+devozionale%253F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Devotional
service, as it is referred to in the Bhaktivedanta tradition, is made
up by all those free and voluntary activities which the bhakta, or
person who dedicates his entire life to a spiritual quest, carries
out by offering them in a devotional attitude to God and to whom he
has chosen as his own spiritual guide, that means his Guru.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Such
activities are carried out, after an accurate aforethought choice, in
the terms and ways which he feels most suitable for himself, in order
to foster his ethical and spiritual development and to support
society with a contribution to the common well-being in a spirit of
selflessness and solidarity.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In
fact, devotional service is the most important tool which can
guarantee a permanent connection of the individual consciousness with
the cosmic consciousness: when consciousness is connected to God, it
goes beyond the dualism of good and evil, of excitement and
depression or of elation and dejection. In this way even the mind
gets firmly connected to God, and so the willpower is strengthened
and becomes determined.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bhagavad-Gita
II.50:</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“A
man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad
actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, which is the
art of all work”.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #10131a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Matsyavatara
das</span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-30239804260106229002015-08-05T01:42:00.001-07:002015-08-05T01:44:13.864-07:00Nourishing consciousness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLui6j0J3PuZWTNn9n8envg-DC2d2PcCWlzvTlg4752nii9lTVIr9VOH9ehHYS1ca-P59LMthaoQhmEXT_rlZjfFuMA3Q_vQvI5hlxOH8uJbjLLH5sLU84yZsosZ9Q4qBzoE4-fRl5lA/s1600/Nutrire+la+coscienza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLui6j0J3PuZWTNn9n8envg-DC2d2PcCWlzvTlg4752nii9lTVIr9VOH9ehHYS1ca-P59LMthaoQhmEXT_rlZjfFuMA3Q_vQvI5hlxOH8uJbjLLH5sLU84yZsosZ9Q4qBzoE4-fRl5lA/s320/Nutrire+la+coscienza.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;">Every morning the meditation on the <b>Mahamantra</b> offers us the possibility to discover important things, for example </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;">to achieve those intuitions which are rarely obtained during other moments of the day, because usually we are too busy in carrying out our worldly activities or mundane duties, which, of course, are also useful if we make them functional to our spiritual </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">development.<br />But those sweet and sharp, enlightening and inspiring intuitions we can obtain during the <b>Brahma Muhurta</b> hours through the meditation on God’s Holy Names are the essential life lymph of our consciousness.<br />Through the practice of <b>meditation</b>, when we engage in it rigorously and intensely, many veils are lifted, some dark sides of our inner depths are enlightened; we get profound perception and sudden insights of concepts and solutions which are not part of the logical or mental world, but, on the contrary, of the hi</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">gher dimension of inspired intuition. These intuitions arise, they become clear, and we become aware of these events happening inside us, as if they were facts that reveal themselves in our deepest part; we then have to be able to hand them down to the practical and relational situations we go through, that means in everything we do.<br />If life couldn’t be nourished with these intuitions and spiritual emotions, with these inner discoveries, with these intense and lively energies of change, it would be smothered by routine, just as something rolling up itself, and people would remain plastered, stuck in their conditionings. It’s these spiritual intuitions which give vitality and value to our life.<br />Matsyavatara das</span></span></div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-88687221296593008672014-09-13T02:36:00.001-07:002014-09-13T02:38:09.364-07:00The Turning Point<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp7o0HAm_59VcLzzft3o6WTUIvXchxDO8xBKcUnVWeS7OCqr7VHlGetf3rpKdR_T3MzfUPM8Jc7AUeZIidrILAgVzNDsCwlq8abHIt0Qtsw_ASh39EyJchmPguLy4ZfYKCQhwZ4jiD68/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp7o0HAm_59VcLzzft3o6WTUIvXchxDO8xBKcUnVWeS7OCqr7VHlGetf3rpKdR_T3MzfUPM8Jc7AUeZIidrILAgVzNDsCwlq8abHIt0Qtsw_ASh39EyJchmPguLy4ZfYKCQhwZ4jiD68/s1600/33.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">Thirty-eight
years ago, on 30 August 1976, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">for the first time </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en"><i></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en"> I met<i> Shrila
Prabhupada</i> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">in</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en"> a personal <i>darshana</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">... it was a turning point of my
life, a wonderful inner journey! <br />I was in an ashram in
Rishikesh, at the foot of the Himalayas, studying the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali. In Italy I had been a successful designer, the manager of six
companies. Upon returning from the trip I was supposed to get
married, but at the time, in that place, I was seriously thinking of
leaving everything and settle in India. That pseudo worldly success
made me feel like prison, as not only it was no longer a source of
satisfaction, but it became clear to me that it was the biggest
obstacle to achieving happiness that I have been aspiring. <br />The
recurring thought was to start a new life dedicating myself to the
search of God and my spiritual essence. When I
became aware of the voice of my soul I felt a strong appeal - it was an urgent need to revise my life, to think over
my motivations and purposes. I understood that it was a turning
point. <br />On that trip I was with a friend who has been always sick.
Feverish, he remained for most of the time in our ashrama right on
the banks of the Ganges. There was no furniture in the room, only two
mats on the floor, his huge suitcase, my smaller one, a small window
with a grate and a door with a latch. Each time we left the room,
through the grates of the window the monkeys came in; they were having a lot of
fun, especially with the bottles of medicines that the doctor had
given to my friend. <br />It was in that ashrama that I met a sadhu, the
person who has changed my life. Instead of attending the lectures on
Patanjali, we walked together on the banks of Mother Ganga. <br />One
day he said: “If you do not discover <i>Bhakti</i>, nothing will satisfy
you.” <i>Bhakti, Bhakti</i> ... I asked to explain the meaning of this
word.<br />"If I explain its meaning to you, you
won't understand me.”<br />This sadhu spoke English with difficulty,
but there was no need in too much words, it was a kind of telepathic communication.
<br />"<i>Bhakti</i> is difficult to explain, only your heart can define
it." And he began to chant this <i>mantra</i>: <br /><br /><i>Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna <br />Krishna Krishna Hare Hare <br />Hare Rama Hare Rama
<br />Rama Rama Hare Hare </i><br />We would spend hours chanting along
with this mantra, then we would immerse in the waters of Mother
Ganga: a rushing stream that takes away everything. <br />"You
have to meet <i>Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada</i>: he will make you know
Krishna. Go to Vrindavan to meet him." <br />Hearing that voice
deep inside me, without pondering too much, I left for Delhi along
with my sick friend. From Delhi we took a train to
Mathura and then in Mathura we took a cart for Vrindavan. Having
arrived to Vrindavan in two days, I began to look for <i>Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada</i>. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-89560725910964381722014-07-21T07:30:00.001-07:002014-07-21T07:47:52.697-07:00Spiritual Values to Win the Shadow.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">Many
people look for tangible and concrete things in life, but it is important to know that </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">the so-called "abstract values" are even more
substantial than those perceived through the senses – the
true values which we should refer to in our life, such as compassion,
freedom, happiness and Love. <br />The empiricists are prone to "measure
and touch" happiness, to grasp all the things in the world. Such attitude
is not an evil in itself, it becomes such when a man ignore his spiritual essence, sometimes even denying it completely. As far as, according to the positivist criterion,
happiness is not tangible, in its absence a person falls into
the dark malaise and depression. <br />Thus, lacking the feelings of
compassion, charity, devotion to God and affection towards all His
creatures, without solidarity with the creation, the experience of
love cannot be realized. As a result, one's life turns to be boring and
meaningless due to the lack of spiritual awareness. <br />Why do we make mistakes and suffer </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">so much</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">? <br />The reason is that we do not
cultivate spiritual values sufficiently. Slowly forgetting these real
values that substantiate the human life, one tries to
compensate such values by attachments to the worldly projects and
goods, as illusory as ephemeral. Thus, while creating one's false identity,
a man lives in a sort of a perpetual alienation. <br />In such a state of
alienation, oblivious of his spiritual nature and ultimate
destination, an individual lose the sense of life. Joy and
sorrow, health and disease, birth and death follow
each other as impermanent manifestations of existance. <br />Therefore a spiritual being, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">incarnated</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">in the material world</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en">despite an overwhelming aspiration for
eternity, wisdom and happiness, experiences a
considerable frustration, helplessness and fear because of an inability
to access the bliss of its
ontological nature, while struggling in the duality of the material world. <br />A wise man does not dream of becoming happy due to the impermanet things of this
world. In all the traditions, albeit with different words, it was
stated that "man cannot live on bread alone." <br />If we learn what to
desire and how to value our life, we will become happy enjoying every moment of it, in spite of any psychophysical limit. By the grace of God, living in
the prospect of immortality and love for God, a man can overcome
loneliness and suffering so to experience fulfillment and
spiritual satisfaction, always and everywhere.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-83808989184356119322014-05-21T07:40:00.001-07:002014-05-21T07:51:00.789-07:00True Freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“<i><span lang="en-US">A
sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands,
the flashes of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals
is really qualified to educate the disciples all over the world”</span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“<span lang="en-US">The
Nectar of Instruction”<i> (Upadeshamrita</i>) Verse 1</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">The
Vedic <i>Rishis</i> (the wise’ seers’ of the Vedas) were not only
mystic poets, they were experts of the deep knowledge of the mind;
these sages widely observed and experimented all the psychic functions of
the human being. The rishis could clearly see that the so-called
spontaneousness of the human being with the ordinary level of
consciousness is just a satisfaction of the conditionings, imposed by
one's mind; therefore, in an ultimate analysis, it is the exact
opposite of a free, healthy and spontaneous attitude. In order to
make free decisions without being affected by conditionings and
attachments, a person has to conquer the six urges mentioned above.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Only
then a progressive realization of the Self will take place, so that the individual will be able to reach the pure feeling of Love for God.
In order to overcome obstacles and to achieve high levels of
awareness, one should proceed with a harmonious transformation of
personality, along with well pondered choices. Such choices are the result
of wisely coordinated and constant efforts, so as to allow the passage
from human understanding of things to the spiritual awareness and
protection, until a complete development of the most elevated
qualities of the Soul.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">If
we learn to re-direct passionate egoistic feelings and emotions
towards spiritual goals, they will enhance a propensity to inner
evolution and will lead to a supreme bliss of <i>Bhakti</i> and Love in freedom.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-47071233538051024432014-04-24T07:33:00.002-07:002014-04-24T07:33:53.929-07:00How to build good relationships <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWKCU12UeVwy8xL2UCcHS2uGlPWHAeRhhNI8qE8xFo8cu0Sasbdm-ZhNhtQZuoWcTIacrf9SyvUcxcwMeE6yvxF_xcWj48Lg2Vih-kxa9EIdu_8XSWNIH2k0gXVmPauBlXPkxj_vGbDU/s1600/hand-butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWKCU12UeVwy8xL2UCcHS2uGlPWHAeRhhNI8qE8xFo8cu0Sasbdm-ZhNhtQZuoWcTIacrf9SyvUcxcwMeE6yvxF_xcWj48Lg2Vih-kxa9EIdu_8XSWNIH2k0gXVmPauBlXPkxj_vGbDU/s1600/hand-butterfly.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">PART II</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The loss of awareness of
our original essence results in a deep dissatisfaction and inner
deterioration. People do not behave in a bad manner because they just wish
so, rather because they are dissatisfied within.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>How can we help people
to feel satisfied?</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sensitiveness is not
enough to empathize with the others so knowledge and discipline are required.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about those people
who do not even show sensitiveness?</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We may learn to acquire,
develop, find sensitiveness, which in Latin is called <i>pietas</i>.
Sensitiveness can be found in <i>atman</i>, our spiritual matrix. We
cannot trust the mind because when external circumstances change, our
mental frame modifies consequently. For this reason we have to help
people to start an inner search, to rediscover their real self. In
this way, by developing such awareness, we can face the situations
that otherwise could have become our limits, according to the
changeable circumstances of life.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our relations should not
depend on external circumstances, we ought to learn to overcome them.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A great daily effort
within needs to be done if we want to achieve this target. By
conquering the inner enemies one after another, we lead ourselves to steadiness, tolerance, peacefulness. By practicing such
attitude we learn not to react automatically to events, provocations,
offences, abuses.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">A person needs to
modify one’s point of view. One may wear a heavy shield to protect
oneself, but it will not be strong enough because it is only by
switching and elevating our point of view that we reach a steady and
broad inner confidence</span><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We miss a great deal of
life which cannot be reproduced in the present span of time, if we carry on to identify
as real what real is not. By modifying our point of view, our
efforts, our dedication towards such an elevated mission will unveil
to us the meaning of living.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is not easy to
succeed because we were born with a superficial mental attitude, with
prejudices and tendencies acquired through behaviors we have brought back
from previous lives. Performance of actions are pressing from our
subconscious and lead us to repeat the same old mistakes. Therefore
we need great care and attention to avoid circumstances that may put
us at risk.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A person does not learn
by punishment, rather by improving through education on an ethical
and spiritual level, so that one may distinguish and filter
between experience and its interpretation and between experience and reaction to events.</span></span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-68478407555088684022014-03-11T04:46:00.000-07:002014-03-11T04:46:02.326-07:00How to Build Good Relationships <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every our action implies a feedback from others (as a rule, the response we get is very
much the same as our approach, whether it has just happened in the
present or it happened in the past), this is the meaning of
relationship. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A:B = C:D</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The relation between A and
B, affects the relation between C and D too. We are all connected in
the big game of life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is just through the relationships that we have the possibility to</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> express our divine nature</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, that is developing and experiencing our best original spiritual qualities. However we can experience a
lot of sufferance as well.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our inner well-being
greatly depends on the way we trust people in the relationships and the way others respond to us. A sensible, caring person usually realizes
within a short time, whether his or her words, actions and even thoughts has
a positive or destructive effect on the others.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>When a person suffers
and seeks relief, compassion and trust, turning to somebody who can
help, how can one find the cause of sufferance? Where do disbelief,
depression, pain or negative feelings come from, what is missing? The
deep cause is often rooted in the relationships.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything in the universe
is ruled by the divine laws and this order is based on a dialogue, as
Galileo’s quote recites: “Dialogue between Two Chief World
Systems". Dialogue re-establishes an order, and such order should
govern our relations too, so in any dialogue <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">the
first priority is to meet the needs of other person through attentive listening and sincere interest. </span></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The more virtuous
relations are, the higher is their quality and greater the standard
quality of listening and speech skills.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Sattva</i> is order,
virtue, harmony. It is the condition that most of all favors our
evolution. It is a conditioning state, it is not complete freedom, therefore
even <i>sattva guna</i> is to be transcended. </span><span lang="en-US"><i>The
conditioning that arises from sattva guna is the feeling of
attachment to a kind of freedom that is always anchored to a mundane
layer, in spite of a prevalent virtuous nature. Someone may think:
sattva guna is good enough for me, because I am satisfied with one
kind of pleasure and one kind of mundane virtues. However a person
cannot be satisfied with this vision because there are negative sides
and sorrows that cannot be avoid with sattva guna alone, unless one
ascends to a spiritual awareness. </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Among such sorrows, which cause a great deal of sufferance, is old age. Aging is a
heavy humiliation because the person is not able to take care of
one’s own basic personal needs, and sattva guna itself cannot free
us from such great pain. Sattva is the condition we can easily obtain
in our embodied life, although we ought to make another step
forward to approach transcendence, in order to reach the abode and
original nature of our spiritual eternal Self.</span></span></div>
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-83879174224404438062014-01-31T02:23:00.000-08:002014-01-31T02:33:01.678-08:00Remembering Shrila Prabhupada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US"> PART II</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Due to God's mercy, Shrila Prabhupada was able to undertake the
adventurous and difficult missions to satisfy the desire of his Guru
Maharaja. He knew how to deal with risks, dangers, loneliness,
sickness and temptations... Krishna blessed Shrila Prabhupada with
such a success that, while originally owning nothing, his movement
gradually reached a huge development, comparable to that of the
richest and most envied companies, but even so Shrila Prabhupada
remained always the person of the great inner qualities: no pride,
no arrogance, no material ambitions or futile interests. He was
exactly the same person when He went, with only 40 rupees in his
pocket, to America, always dedicated to love for Krishna and for all
creatures. Shrila Prabhupada had many talents, he was versatile, with
great skills, but He was first and foremost a pure Devotee of the
Lord.<br />He loved everyone, because in Shrila Prabhupada's opinion
everyone was a potential devotee. He had always the same mood and the
same tone of voice, sometimes He got vibrant, speaking with strong
words, sometimes He reprimanded, sometimes He praised, sometimes He
was moved, but His interest was always to improve the understanding
of the devotees, their health, the image of the Movement. We must
unmask the so fashionable artificial way to see an Acarya as detached
from everyone and everything. Prabhupada was very interested in the
success of the various services, he cared about everything working
and running the best way, thus satisfying Krishna and encouraging the
spiritual elevation of so many people.<br />Spiritual life does not
mean a cold, detached attitude towards the world, we cannot live
without relations, without affection, without empathy, without love.
We just have to be careful to those we direct these feelings to. We
should not </span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">prioritize</span></span><span lang="en-US">
what calls on the material level, but strive to fulfill our spiritual
desires that represent our true essence. Prabhupada had Krishna in
His heart and He was always thinking of what he could say or do to
bring people closer to God. Krishna had a special relationship with
Shrila Prabhupada who had a special relationship with Krishna: this
was visible in every activity He had undertaken</span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">,</span></span><span lang="en-US">
either in those particular moments when, for example, He took the
initiative to modify a service that maybe was stagnating, or when in
the last days of life in this world He was brought in front of the
Divinities on a palanquin because He was in a condition of extreme
physical weakness and He could no longer walk. In every circumstance
Shrila Prabhupada has proved to be a pure devotee of Krishna.<br />When
I read the Bhagavad-gita, chapter twelve, shloka 13 to 20, I see
Shrila Prabhupada. I have known many lovely devotees, but Prabhupada
is the model for me.<br />Prabhupada was always connected to Krishna
and helped everyone to offer their talents and</span> energies
to the service of the Lord.<br />The most beautiful part of Shrila
Prabhupada is his being so devoted!<br />He was good at many things: a
very good cook, a grammarian, a great preacher, a prominent
philosopher and scholar; He was expert in playing music and in
offering praise to the Lord, but His main feature was the pure and
ardent devotion to God and His constant commitment to the spiritual
education, in order to help others to become pure devotees of the
Lord. Great it was, and surely still is, the satisfaction of Shrila
Prabhupada to see people take seriously the path of Bhakti. And this
satisfaction is the source of strength to all those devotees who
carry Shrila Prabhupada in their heart.<br />Despite the apparent
departure the Acarya lives forever with us, if we live with Him. As
Satsvarupa Maharaja says in his book: "He lives forever ..."</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-23656037906924615162013-11-19T03:02:00.003-08:002013-11-19T03:02:58.047-08:00Remembering Shrila Prabhupada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG537-VK4518WSp_FC8zWoqALGSYG8OSBDHHYYHrIeOwzs8bX4Sq1B4cNpF_e9xWJGZ5OuIaUEScX5yYO3P4-k9f88G8kDbbaFgN4xoxqm_cYevQpzcFN2x_BpKclTqyEALusWpgufM60/s1600/1003458_10152029762336959_1832243319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG537-VK4518WSp_FC8zWoqALGSYG8OSBDHHYYHrIeOwzs8bX4Sq1B4cNpF_e9xWJGZ5OuIaUEScX5yYO3P4-k9f88G8kDbbaFgN4xoxqm_cYevQpzcFN2x_BpKclTqyEALusWpgufM60/s400/1003458_10152029762336959_1832243319_n.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">PART I</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In the sacred
occasion of the departure of Bhaktivedanta Swami Shrila Prabhupada, we pray Shri Krishna to empower us with strength so that we could carry in our hearts the example of His extraordinary life, character, deeds and works</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> forever</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. Those who were able to witness His life and teachings, had the greatest luck to testify the
changes in their lives and in the lives of so many
people.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">These transformations are the great events from which we
can draw an inexhaustible inspiration: Shrila Prabhupada gave us the
opportunity to live in the spiritual awareness. The path traced by Him is followed
by hundreds of thousands of people, and the most favored are those
who welcomed Him in the heart, dedicating their service to the
realization of His dream, that is make available the love of God to
as many people as possible regardless of race, creed, culture, social
position, politics or religion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">36 years ago Shrila Prabhupada
left His physical body and this material world to return to where He
came from, the spiritual universe. We pray Bhagavan Shri Krishna to
give us the purity to be able to celebrate His glories properly. By
celebrating His glories we become aware of his greatness, and
becoming aware of the greatness of a pure devotee of the Lord, we can
experience the greatness of God. In this way, practicing the nine
paths of <i>Bhakti</i>, we can realize our divine nature and become purified from the distortions of psychic structure and its conditionings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We take this special opportunity to increase our sincere
attachment to the lotus feet of Shrila Prabhupada, to humbly serve
His teachings and His way of life so as to bring us closer to Him and to
Shri Krishna through the nine paths of love mentioned before.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Shrila
Prabhupada allowed hundreds of thousands of people to transform their
lives by changing their vision, allowing them to get rid of the
identification with the material structure that covers their eternal Self. Shrila Prabhupada gave the possibility to understand the difference
between the spiritual Self, the body and the mind and
to realize the divine potential of each person regardless of age,
gender, social status and culture. The term <i>Acarya</i> means exemplary. Through His example and model of
life, Shrila Prabhupada made the teachings of the
<i>Shastras</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> feasible</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A person can take the Bhagavad-gita, read some sublime
passages and reflect: "How nice it would be to live like that,
but who is able to? I would not be capable of doing that for sure."
We need a model, an example, there must be someone who lives the
teachings of the Bhagavad-gita constantly, faithfully, coherently,
and joyfully. The sacred work becomes a person, and the highest aspirations become applicable in our lives. It is exactly what
happened to all of us. Why? Because Shrila Prabhupada experienced
Bhakti so intensely and joyfully, no matter what life presented to
Him in terms of ordeals, difficulties and obstacles to overcome. His
relying on Krishna at all times without ever becoming fatalistic
allowed this great <i>Acarya</i> to live in this world in pure spiritual
consciousness. Faith is not a fatalism, it is an evolutionary
creativity for searching the best solution for the existential
problems; if we direct our efforts towards the spiritual evolution
with commitment and faith, such solution will appear as <i>Paramatma</i> in
the heart, as well as through the expert guidance of the Spiritual Master in the outer
world.</span></div>
<br />
</div>
Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-84863849232989395872013-10-28T10:29:00.002-07:002013-10-28T10:29:45.143-07:00The Real Success.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxecV9yH1mgs_6W3yP84ClxkdzVgz2W7BuKc0JSSXv4YMo2SKZD7JCpaKgd5mltRxQqqQ2IIVknXDJDjwmVfilpiBRG9GY_XWpj8UfcZSaEa-yNdOXkItmMQ54uQnJw92VhvNbL0jclw/s1600/%25D0%25B1%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BE%25D1%2587%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BD%25D1%258F%25D1%258F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxecV9yH1mgs_6W3yP84ClxkdzVgz2W7BuKc0JSSXv4YMo2SKZD7JCpaKgd5mltRxQqqQ2IIVknXDJDjwmVfilpiBRG9GY_XWpj8UfcZSaEa-yNdOXkItmMQ54uQnJw92VhvNbL0jclw/s400/%25D0%25B1%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BE%25D1%2587%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BD%25D1%258F%25D1%258F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The experiences of accomplishment that one can reach in her or his lifespan, sometimes can be conflicting with the self-image, possibly being the one of an unconfident person, a weak individual, too reliant on someone else’s opinions. If this self-image will not change, the outer accomplishment will be followed by inner troubles and unsteadiness. This is because the new higher equilibrium is such only when it is achieved with harmony and stability. To avoid this kind of situation one should conceive and support a self-image corresponding to what one would like to be and should be. If one will shape her or his personality in depth, then this person will be psychologically ready when an accomplishment or a better position will be achieved. Conversely, some individuals are afraid of their own success because they have not built yet an objective and positive self-image.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Powerful desires move things and alter reality. A person becomes what she or he craves to be. Egoistical ambitions do not lead to real accomplishment: the apparent success sooner or later will turn into calamity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The immature management of resources and of desire's energy produces derangement and deep emotional troubles. Any waste and any improper use of the above is the cause of personal failure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Anything we have: objects, affections, talents, must be employed to reconnect ourselves to the deep divine matrix, the raison d'être and foundation of our existence. If we do not do this, as explained by Shrila Rupa Gosvami, one of the greatest Vedic Tradition Master, anything gets contaminated and turns into poison. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The perfection of existence (<i>yukta vairagya</i>) can be archived if we are closely connected to the <i>Istha Devata</i> and place all our resources to its service. Ambarisha Maharaja was the sovereign of the world, in spite of this he was not ruling it for his own egoistic enjoyment, but as a tool to serve God. In order to run suitably that function maturity and awareness were needed, because who has so much energy can do great good things, but, if one is not cautious and do not have uncontaminated motivation in the way this energy is used, can cause great damages and bring harm to himself and everybody nearby. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The most valuable resources, never to be neglected and never to be abused, are our fellow human beings, with their desires for advancement, their wishes for good, their projects, with their search for self-realization. We should not dare to waste even the smallest bit of their energy, we have to support instead their convergence, channeling, and sublimation toward elevated motivations of real good and real success. Sublimation will be possible if we encourage for taking a solid commitment for spiritual activities, with an active and energetic service offered with awareness and dedication to our spiritual Master and the <i>Istha Devata.</i> According to one of the most important and recurrent Shrila Prabhupada’s statements: "<i>Bhakti Yoga</i> is not just an idle meditation". Nor meditation means escaping from the world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Authentic meditation inspires and motivates actions in the world, and it is able to solve real problems, to disentangle knots that grew in the mind. Authentic meditation does not evade or remove practical problems: it resolves them. It is based on the consciousness of spiritual matrix of all things, and the understanding of the subtlest psychological phenomena: how minds get entangled or stuck, and how it is possible to jump-start them, reactivate them, and purify them.</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-43547746048560241202013-10-05T01:21:00.001-07:002013-10-05T01:21:50.290-07:00The Great Departure.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780o8PZAvAVc5B0ph5HN-HVel-nn9_fqKug9wf3vSPX5t78QhE_9T2SX3UC7DxETEVlmq8kJhjm7VovI3c7kooMtCVDv4KLjLfmkiTY0DpJ-KanqbgOJqVbSONu7zGRZaJCAN_he6ieI/s1600/omkr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780o8PZAvAVc5B0ph5HN-HVel-nn9_fqKug9wf3vSPX5t78QhE_9T2SX3UC7DxETEVlmq8kJhjm7VovI3c7kooMtCVDv4KLjLfmkiTY0DpJ-KanqbgOJqVbSONu7zGRZaJCAN_he6ieI/s400/omkr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dear devotees, please accept my obeisances;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">All glories to Shrila Prabhupada and Shri Shri Radha Govinda Deva.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jaya Shri Shri Nityananda Gauranga!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jaya Shri Jagannath, Shri Baladeva, Subhadra Maharani Shrimati!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I hope to find you in good health and spiritually inspired.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Some days ago my dear disciple - Omkrishna Mataji - left the body and this mortal world and headed for the supreme eternal abode of Shri Krishna.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The two sons, daughters in law and grandchildren attended to her all the time in high spiritual consciousness, lovingly and with devotion.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Besides being herself a sincere devotee, Omkrishna Mataji had the great blessing in this life to live in a family of special devotees, all of them very dear to me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">One of her sons was next to her at the very moment she passed away, and has accompanied and sustained her by chanting uninterruptedly the Holy Names.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My most fervent prayers go to this disciple so dear to me, who was always cheerful, playful and joyful, who was so moved every time we met, and I’m also asking you to pray for her too.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I pray she can soon play happily in the company of Lord Krishna and His eternal companions and friends.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">With deep emotion,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Matsyavatara dasa</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-77197001621999814962013-09-06T09:30:00.000-07:002013-09-06T09:30:04.606-07:00School of Life: How to Learn from Good and from Evil.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCJCMWbcIgU4MWbMkdpu4X_WM-WnY-gl8XIP3cfxix83V9v5zpfSUbkNuRWSKxxrEwWII1vib0WNK7zYkhK4elv0B5LRsgeyVehZdRJIaEUFVurSYmZiDJLeYu6WDsOqqwyZcTKXsnFM/s1600/0_687a5_cba49b69_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCJCMWbcIgU4MWbMkdpu4X_WM-WnY-gl8XIP3cfxix83V9v5zpfSUbkNuRWSKxxrEwWII1vib0WNK7zYkhK4elv0B5LRsgeyVehZdRJIaEUFVurSYmZiDJLeYu6WDsOqqwyZcTKXsnFM/s400/0_687a5_cba49b69_XL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">The
Sacred Texts tell us that without receiving mercy from the Spiritual
Master and from the Supreme God it's impossible to overcome </span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">for
good</span></span><span style="color: red;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span><span lang="en-US">the
egoistic attachment toward mundane things. In order to succeed, not
only we need to have received divine benevolence, we must have kept
it too.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In
which way we can receive mercy? Firstly by seeking it ardently,
and behaving consequently, by dedicating ourselves with diligence and
faith to spiritual practices and so awaken Love and Awareness.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And in
which way we can keep it? By offering it to others. Then and only
then, through constant and coherent efforts toward achieving <i>Bhakti</i>
in our lifespan, we will be increasingly able to discriminate reality
from illusion, the essence from appearance, the eternal from
ephemeral.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mice see the
cheese but not the trap. In the same way conditioned souls see the
promises of pleasure in this world's things, but hardly can
understand that this pleasure hides a trap. A mortal trap.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">How to
be detached from the world and its overwhelming beauties? How can we
resist when we see something appealing, pleasing, good smelling and
shining? We should think about it in connection to God. It is
difficult to deny this world; the more we deny it the more we are
attracted to it, </span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: transparent;">risking
to </span></span></span><span lang="en-US">become hypocrites who </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">refuse the world's attractions</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">outwardly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">while inwardly craving them (<i>Bhagavad-gita
III.6</i>). Therefore we should not refuse this material world's
beautiful things, but to use them to serve God with Love, correlating
them to our spiritual origin, and living them in the vision of eternity. Accordingly, in any circumstance of our life we can connect
to the Lord and to our deepest spirituality. Even bitter experiences,
the biting words we received, the mistakes we made, at the end can
turn into gifts, only if we can learn from the lessons they offer us.
Gratitude and appreciation can permeate everybody and everything
appear in this world, because we make use of every experience to get
closer to God.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This
gratitude can be felt and can be expressed both when we receive "good
things", and when we get "bad things", being
conscious that the light of the day cannot be appreciated without the
night's darkness.
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<span lang="en-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As you
would expect, it is necessary that we learn how to discriminate
between vice and virtue, between good and evil, so we can choose once
far all righteousness and be firm in sattva-guna, but also we must be
aware that Reality is beyond. It is that pure spiritual dimension in
which mundane good and evil are transcended, and they merge in the
"sommum bonum": the supreme goodness beyond duality. And
supreme goodness is unconditioned pure Love that change and purify
everything. Such dimension can be reached when any desire we have
becomes an offering to the Lord and all our perceptions are dedicated
to His service.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">By
living in this perspective we will find treasures around each corner,
hidden in any occurrence of our life. And we will walk toward death
full of gratitude because we understood that by practicing <i>Bhakti</i>
even death leads us to life.</span></span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-646046751266705772013-07-25T01:54:00.001-07:002013-07-25T02:05:52.384-07:00Pilgrimage: a Journey of Search and Discovery.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNGCSpcsMQ9VfIphjPEGcG4x0yVvPruoB-lVMAOtGD_wHhr4uFO84xCzMjUtmftAY5DwH-j6FbqQxl_ELppZc-svktlt43a0amWDTU1TimJq9vQxcI7JnydEYE_2_h6FYgsH-8pieQjo/s1600/SacredPlace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNGCSpcsMQ9VfIphjPEGcG4x0yVvPruoB-lVMAOtGD_wHhr4uFO84xCzMjUtmftAY5DwH-j6FbqQxl_ELppZc-svktlt43a0amWDTU1TimJq9vQxcI7JnydEYE_2_h6FYgsH-8pieQjo/s400/SacredPlace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Part II</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It is not by chance that Masters of Bhakti speak of an inseparable unity which is necessary for our evolution: <i>Bhagavata</i> sacred work and <i>Bhagavata</i> person, both of them are able to transfer the knowledge and<span style="color: red;"> </span>the<span style="color: red;"> </span>consciousness of the Divine, <i>Bhagavan.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">If our visit to a sacred place is made with these predispositions, it may become an experience of great meaning that allows us to get in touch with timeless memories that bring us in other elevated<span style="color: red;"> </span>dimensions of consciousness, and allow us to hear and accept the messages conveyed to mankind from another dimensions.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">At times life faces us with very difficult situations so that we have to be ready and able to make our pilgrimage even in a hospital's room after the announcement of a terrible medical report, in front of the lifeless body of a dear person, suffering a devastating moral pain because of the betrayal of the person we most loved; or in a prison's cell where we had been locked in spite of our innocence, destroyed by defamation. In these circumstances we need to start our journey even sooner, loading ourselves with inspiration and starting our inner journey to find a safe place, a shelter, an oasis in which to connect with our spiritual eternal self, which is unchangeable, together with God who is the giver of Knowledge, Love and Mercy. More than ever in these situations, in order to withstand<span style="color: red;"> </span>sufferance, we have to fight against time in order to reach the space in the centre of our heart, where, the <i>Upanishads</i> say, time and space ultimately do not exist. That dimension is pure Transcendence. It is the place where all our desires are fulfilled. But the human being, deviated by the unreal world of vanishing impressions, has<span style="color: red;"> </span>lost the route to find it,<span style="color: red;"> </span>because that dimension is invisible to the senses and to the physical eyes, the voice of that place speaks to the soul and the<span style="color: red;"> </span>ears are not meant to hear it. For this reason Krishna says to Arjuna in the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>: “In order to see me the way I am, I give you spiritual senses”. Why does Krishna offer to Arjuna such a great opportunity? Because Arjuna asked Him with a humble manner, because he desired it with intensity, because he wanted to get in touch with Krishna in his original and intimate divine nature.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Only with a burning desire to perceive a spiritual dimension and connect with God, a person may receive the divine strength to achieve it, to make the journey that from the realm of death will take us to immortality, from darkness to light, from sufferance to beatitude. A pilgrimage is that journey, it is rejoining.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How long does that journey last? <i>Patanjali</i> in the <i>Yoga-sutras</i> explains that the distance depends mainly on two factors: continuity and intensity of desire, and the required effort. In order to reach our target soon, we need to keep our course steady, with constant determination, and to increase the speed of motion by rising the intensity of the desire. <i>Dante</i> in the <i>Divine<span style="color: red;"> </span>Comedy</i> accomplishes that journey too. At one point he describes his emotion as <i>“feeling a pull from the sky while being still alive”.</i> Once we loosen our conditionings and get rid of bad habits, ascending is fast.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A pilgrimage is that ascension, it is an upward shift, it means heading toward holiness, and the spirit we hold while facing the journey is crucial. If we have the right attitude, that feeling of serenity we have been looking for, the one that we thought we would experiment only once we reached our destination - instead it arrives step by step during our pilgrimage: then we find it in the predetermined place we have chosen and elected as our home, the heart.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Life will become then, day after day, a wonderful journey of research and discovery.</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-49621280075663466042013-06-22T02:34:00.000-07:002013-06-22T02:34:13.432-07:00Pilgrimage: a Journey of Search and Discovery.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Part I</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A pilgrimage is a journey in search of the Divine inside and outside us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It does not take place within a physical space, rather it occurs in one's mind and<span style="color: red;"> </span>consciousness. Its most intimate purpose is a deep purification of the heart, of the intellect, of the memory, and of our being in its wholeness. If we live the Pilgrimage deeply and authentically, it may represent a turning point, a special experience, that, due to an extraordinary combination of elements, favouring the purification of consciousness, may allow us a sudden advancement, which possibly<span style="color: red;"> </span>we would<span style="color: red;"> </span>have not been able to achieve even through a number of previous lives.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">According to the Indovedic literature, the spiritual vitality of the pilgrimage location is related to the<span style="color: red;"> </span>daily renovation of its sanctity by the holy people living there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In the <i>Shrimad Bhagavatam </i>this concept is explained very clearly: they believe that holy people themselves are pilgrimage places. In the first canto of this wonderful masterpiece,<span style="color: red;"> </span> King Yudhisthira says to the great sage Vidura:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">“<i>Noble soul, the devotee who have the qualities of Your Divine Grace are themselves regarded as pilgrimage places. As you bring God in your heart wherever you go, the places you visit become holy places</i>” (I.13.10)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When we enter a sacred place, in Sanskrit called<span style="color: red;"> </span><i>tirtha</i>, we meet the Divine (<i>murti</i>) and awaken people, <i>sadhu</i>, and this way, if we incline ourselves properly, we can be pervaded by<span style="color: red;"> </span>a great spiritual power, the same energy that permeates those places, behaviours and gestures of ancient sacred value. This spiritual energy, which<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">,</span> in holy places, is brilliant and vibrating, can strengthen us in order to improve our personality and our changes in life, that,<span style="color: red;"> </span>otherwise, we would have never accomplished for lack of will and courage. Like a magnet that energy and spiritual strength attracts our deepest thoughts and feelings, our ideal aspirations, and brings us along a path of wonderful search for rediscovering ourselves, the origins of our life, and our highest realization.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">First of all the pilgrimage place is an instrument to acquire virtue and knowledge, not a “horizontal” knowledge, limited to the things of this world, but a “vertical” knowledge that rises up to the highest pinnacles of awareness. For this reason we consider a pilgrimage like a journey between the earth and the sky: from the earth it takes us to the sky and from the sky it brings us back to earth, transferring in our daily life the intuitions, the comprehensions, and the realizations that we have experienced, welcomed, and harboured during the Journey.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">All the efforts and inconveniences connected to travelling are part of the path of elevation. They should not to be seen as obstacles, rather they are extraordinary opportunities to overcome our limits, to dispose of illusions and attachments. When we travel, it is easier to understand that none of the things outside of us belong to us. Who can claim to own wealth? Can we have power over youth or health? For<span style="color: red;"> </span>how long? Those resources are given to us for a brief length of time and their quality and evolving utility depends on how we use them. Who can say<span style="color: red;"> </span>“I possess a body”? In truth, we are not even the owners of our body, and if we want to keep it forever, we would not be able to<span style="color: red;"> </span>do<span style="color: red;"> </span>it: it would be impossible. Sooner o later it will be taken away from us<span style="color: red;"> </span>regardless of our will. We do not own whatever is outside us, we can only take care of it temporarily. However the soul and its powers belong to us, and they are inalienable and immensely great: the knowledge of the truth, the joy of the self, the nature of eternity. The essence of life is to regain awareness of those intrinsic qualities we have lost, choked by the<span style="color: red;"> </span>conditionings, and the contaminations of our character. During the Journey each one of us has the rare opportunity to achieve the discovery of the soul’s treasures.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Furthermore the journey exhorts us for a continuous effort of discerning, to separate virtuosity from vice, reality from illusion, sacredness from profane, the inner world from the outside world, aimed to avoid the mistake of exchanging the pure from the impure and vice versa. Holy places are not meant to be seen with your own eyes, we need to predispose ourselves with an elevated consciousness and visit them with the company of people who live and search santity, otherwise we run the risk to limit our vision at the physical level, and to be confused by external appearances.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The sacred place is a state of mind, not a physical reality. It is the reality of the soul where there is genuine love, control over impulses, caring for each other, awareness of the presence of God. During our pilgrimage in sacred places we may come across holy scenes, moments of eternal sacredness, but also situations of degradation and low civilization, exactly like one person may harbour elevated expressions of geniality and kindness together with abysses of degradation. This is why it is fundamental to develop and keep a clear vision about brightness and darkness, without letting slip from memory what is holy just because we saw what is not holy, taking a distance from the degradation only because it is often placed next to what is sacred.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">For this reason, in order to feel the spirit of a holy place with this high sense of discernment, it is fundamental to be in company of people motivated like us, sharing the same purposes, and even better - with people who are already able to perceive the essence separated from what is redundant and superficial, via the teachings of the sacred scriptures.</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-83765888480261419252013-06-04T08:28:00.003-07:002013-06-05T01:06:57.896-07:00Why are we lonely?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The search of love usually starts with a feeling of loneliness, it is not just a problem of physical company, rather of awareness and inner power. Loneliness originates from a fragmented psychological image which as a consequence produces a kind of separation of a person from other people, from all the creatures, from the world and its Creator.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The solution of the problem of loneliness is not to be found in a partner, so as to compensate the fear of being alone, nor it can be found through the greedy possession of luxury items, nor through holidays as an “escape from reality”, nor by diving into a crowd of people, nor by burning out through a job that does not bring any satisfaction, nor by following religious principles in a conservative and passive sort of way. It will work instead, by starting to love people around us sincerely, without any selfish interest, with an attitude to expand even more the circle of love – never secluded to a single exclusive species – and in doing so gradually heal our feelings of loneliness, uncertainty and frustration.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The charming prince or the fairy with turquoise hair of the fairy tales, that will love and trust us, will unlikely appear unless we start to appreciate and love everybody else. After all love is not something that lands on us accidentally: we experience and grow it with the attitude and the behavior of our daily life. By learning to relate with the persons around us with love, and making this mind-set a life practice - since to feel affection is a potential capability of all living beings - by practising love this quality develops and becomes an effective ability to love.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Paradoxically enough, if nowadays couple relationships do not last it is because love is not considered as a priority any more, but other aims are being focused on: useful and comfortable means like gratification of senses, social and economical status. But love requires respect of the beloved as a spiritual essence, as a unique person; only in this way we may be able to help the others to realize their potential values, and find deep satisfaction by rediscovering and expressing the best version of themselves. For this reason love means knowing the other deeply.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Love and thus the solution of the problem of loneliness, is the ripe fruit of a conscious, active and dynamic effort towards reaching our deep self until we experience a real feeling of communion and reunion within diversity, by appreciating the peculiarities of each person, without falling in affectionate dependency or strong attachments. We can share something with the others only when we really possess it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Love relationship, when thoroughly experienced, reaches its height in the realization of our relationship with God, the unique source of the variety of human beings and all that exists, being the source of love itself.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Love is a universal and indispensable quid, an intrinsic modality of the being, that must be neither denied nor repressed, rather oriented and gradually elevated towards constructive evolutionary levels. Within love, the female and male features try to unite in order to find again the fulfilment and deep satisfaction in order to integrate themselves. By reaching maturity such integration may be conceived on the individual level as well.</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-8163818069178283532013-05-03T02:53:00.001-07:002013-06-04T08:31:19.726-07:00Shri Nityananda: The Everlasting Beatitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjfvppmGdKh0zJCUuRPkA1AGsHB9CY5XHIOUb7kHL9qw1gRAB4_ClPyamiKue15k9165FLS-Klu1tu6A2KzBY_OIUTuvZoxndiekaC_g66iKmA7tD95ykhuDnG_XSqJh3hW4BnjPEUV8/s1600/Dhananjaya-Pandit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjfvppmGdKh0zJCUuRPkA1AGsHB9CY5XHIOUb7kHL9qw1gRAB4_ClPyamiKue15k9165FLS-Klu1tu6A2KzBY_OIUTuvZoxndiekaC_g66iKmA7tD95ykhuDnG_XSqJh3hW4BnjPEUV8/s320/Dhananjaya-Pandit-2.jpg" width="208" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In order to understand Shri Nityananda Prabhu’s image in the <i>Gaudiya Vaishnava</i> tradition, we have to know the <i>Avatara</i> doctrine, which describes the way the Lord appears in this world in behalf of His spiritual energies. Shri Nityananda Prabhu is a manifestation of compassion, of mercy and of divine love. He is the supreme Person, God himself who stepped into history and made His appearance in this world in the second half of the sixteenth century, according to the Western calendar. Like in the Shrimad Bhagavatam literature, which narrates Shri Krishna-Balarama’s adventures, in the Caitanya Caritamrita and the Caitanya Bhagavata, respectively written by Krishnadas Kaviraja Gosvami and Vrindavana das Thakur, they narrate Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s and Shri Nityananda Prabhu’s divine adventures.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna himself, who is manifested with a special <i>rasa</i>, that of Shrimati Radharani. Shrimati Radharani’s love for Krishna is experienced and manifested in full by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who lives in Shrimati Radharani’s <i>rasa</i> and that ontologically represents the divine union between Radha and Krishna. Shrimati Radharani is endlessly and for ever in love with Krishna, the same as Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s love is everlasting and infinite.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Like Shri Krishna, whose brother and inseparable friend is Shri Balarama, Shri Caitanya has an inseparable friend too, whose name is Shri Nityananda. They are inseparable in the feelings of love that join them together. Shri Nityananda Prabhu would have shared Shri Caitanya Deva’s company all time long, however he had to fulfill his mission in behalf of His beloved associate: to travel from city to city in order to spread the holy name of the Lord. Therefore Nityananda, together with one of his best friends, Shrila Haridas Thakur, engaged himself completely in the diffusion of the sacred science, practising Harinama Kirtana and Harinama Sankirtana. In this way, by sharing this responsibility with other dear devotees, in this supreme mission that is the diffusion of love for God, Shri Nityananda Prabhu became one of the most dear Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s spiritual associates.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Like Balarama, enterprising, strong, outgoing, generous, always compassionate towards the devotees, whose manifestation was considered as one of the original spiritual Master, the same Shri Nityananda Prabhu preached the sacred science and spread his teachings to all the people of good will, in the practice of Bhakti. </span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-66757590491068561872013-02-26T01:34:00.000-08:002013-02-26T01:51:25.415-08:00How Can I Become a Peacemaker?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br />Every religious tradition, if authentically lived, conveys a universal vision because it teaches, even though in different fashions and manners, that nothing is separated from the rest, that each part is connected to the whole and that the whole is connected to each part. The term “<i>religion</i>” comes from the Latin "<i>religere</i>" which means ‘<i>gather, unite’</i>, the same as the word yoga derives from the Sanskrit root <i>yuj</i> having the same meaning: ‘<i>connect, unite’</i>. Without <i>Yoga</i>, without the reconnection between the individual consciousness to the cosmic Consciousness, peace cannot be sustained because we can realize it only when the person has acquired a deep awareness of the marvellous subtle network we are part of, when we perceive the common Source that all is connected to the whole and that our well-being implies the well-being of the others. Love for God is the highest warrant of peace because loving God means to love all living beings too, by considering the common origin and the indissoluble reunion with Him. One of the fundamental texts of Indovedic spirituality, <i>Bhagavad-gita </i>(V.29) explains that peace is reached by those who, through the recognition of God as the beneficiary of all sacrifices and of all austerities and the Supreme friend of all human beings, offer their service and their pure devotion to Him. The essence of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> is bhakti or love for God that includes love for the world and all the creatures, as expansions (and <i>Epiphany</i>) of the Absolute. In this tradition the value of <i>ahimsa</i> or “<i>non-violence</i>” is not intended solely in the respect of human beings, rather in the respect of all living creatures because compassion, solidarity and mercy cannot be and must not be reserved to a sole race or a biological specie. The path that leads to peace follows inevitably the way of consciousness, because its vision is not seen apart from a universal vision, indeed it is aware that there are indissoluble ties that unite mankind to wholeness. The progressive understanding of this union and a conduct coherent to it, contribute to the diffusion of the harmony among all creatures. This exercise of comprehension should be developed in the respect and appreciation of every authentic path, on the laic and religious levels, with the awareness that there are different modes and multiple ways to approach progressively the holy <i>Reality</i> that is the essence of all that exists, in all its infinite manifestations, that is revealed as the <i>Divine</i> as supreme source of life, superior principle of harmonization, unity and peace.</span></div>
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-59294943978577261962013-02-06T09:27:00.001-08:002013-02-26T01:49:36.571-08:00How Can I Become a Peacemaker?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Peace is the result of coordinated efforts and persevering attitude, but first of all it is the result of deep awareness of the concept of peace, in all its countless nuances and implications. The acquisition of this kind of awareness implies a broad-minded vision of all the dynamics implied that is in fact an indispensable way to start, in order to find in every circumstance the correct way of action, the one able to provide for a concrete development of peace at all levels (individual, familiar, social, political, economical).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Science and religious traditions of all times, agree by stating that there are universal laws which govern the universe (in Greek the word is <i>cosmos</i>, its meaning is either ‘<i>order’</i> or ‘<i>universe’</i>). Such laws rule and support the whole creation and every manifestation of life, from mankind to the microscopic insect, and are the expression of an order that the modern quantum physics defines as <i>“implicit order</i>”, which is beyond mere appearance; a veiled, subtle reality from which derives <i>“the explicit order”</i> visible through natural phenomena.<br />In the <i>Vedic Vaishnava</i> tradition, this order is found by the reunion of life and the world and is known with the word <i>dharma</i>, from the Sanskrit root <i>dhr</i> which means ‘<i>hold, support’</i>, or else with the noun <i>rtam,</i> defined as "<i>fixed or settled order, rule, divine law or truth</i>” which derives from the Sanskrit root <i>ṛ- </i>"to <i>move, rise, tend upwards</i>" that, in this case means <i>“regular flowing of things”</i>.<br />By being really interested to build a world of peace we intend to be interested with knowledge and harmonization of these universal laws, which the religious tradition of all times consider the expression of a superior <i>Intelligence, the cosmic Consciousness, God.</i> Peace means to synchronize one’s own inner dynamics with the cosmos’ dynamics; by learning to move in harmony with that universal order which already exists (there is no need to make it up), and whose infraction is the cause of unsteadiness, wounds, conflicts, within us and outside. Peace is not a need for a moral order, it is an indispensable factor for man whose life, in order to live in harmony, is tightly connected to the whole universe and all the creatures in it. Without such awareness, the value of peace becomes a meaningless concept designed to remain ambiguous and prompt to be jeopardized by those who persevere in other purposes. In the name of such kind of peace, all the crimes committed in the present and the past, testify it as true.</span><br />
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Anantadeva dasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901940821939124681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145323605295881003.post-51083038512716899092012-12-06T02:29:00.001-08:002013-02-08T01:12:50.668-08:00The Help Everyone Needs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The path of spiritual evolution is marked by different phases, breakthroughs, deviations and stagnations, falls, imprisonments and progressive liberations.<br />Even the man who has testified the important improvements on the path of spiritual realization and is sincere in his intention to evolve, is still bound to make mistakes and therefore is subject to karmic conseguences due to the remaining unsolved conditionings. <br />However it is at the time of crisis that a person needs our affection more than ever, needs our help through comprehension and forgiveness in order to try once again and overcome the limits, that had been structured in the numerous past lives.<br />As I have been observing for decades, the persons meet a lot of difficulties along the path of evolution, and it is rare that one proceeds steadily and coherently, rather everyone makes steps backwards and forwards according to one's peculiar characteristics: the individuals most advanced in the inner growth are those who make more steps forwards than backwards.<br />Through their walking towards spiritual love and perfection all these souls in the prakriti world need encouragement, most of all when they are in the process of rolling back. A sincere help received at the most crucial moments of life is the best call in order to carry on along the right path.</span><br />
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