Category:Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapter 11 - The Symptoms of a Sadhu
Pages in category "Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapter 11 - The Symptoms of a Sadhu"
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A
- A child is attached to playing in so many ways, but gradually his attachments should be transferred to reading and going to school to acquire an education. It is a question not of stopping attachment but of transferring it
- A child may have some attachment, but by the system of replacing attachment, his attachment is overturned. Similarly, our consciousness has somehow or other become contaminated. Now it has to be purified. Then KC will automatically arise and awaken
- A devotee also respects the demigods because he knows their position in relation to Krsna. In Brahma-samhita (5.44), the Goddess Durga is worshiped as the external energy, or potency, of Krsna
- A devotee even wishes to benefit cats and dogs by giving them prasada. Once, when devotees from Bengal were going to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a dog began to follow them, and the leader of the party, Sivananda Sena, was giving prasada to the dog
- A devotee offers respects to the demigods as the assistants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not as the supreme power
- A dog may eat out of a garbage can, and a human being may eat on a golden plate, but this does not mean that they are engaged in different activities. In either case, both the dog and the man are taking food into their bodies
- A dog may have sex in the street, and a human being may have sex in a very nice bed in a secluded place, but that does not change the activity
- A Krsna conscious person knows that he is neither Hindu nor Muslim but the eternal servant of Krsna. Because people are being educated to become more body conscious, their sufferings are increasing
- A policeman knows that he is not working independently but under government orders. This knowledge is required in order that the policeman, who has some power, will not think that he has become God
- A sadhu is kind not only to human beings but to cats, dogs, trees, plants and insects; he will hesitate even to kill one mosquito
- A sadhu simply takes pleasure in hearing about Krsna and talking about Him
- A sadhu simply teaches, "My dear human being, my dear friend, just surrender to Krsna." Enemies arise due to man's envious nature
- A sadhu, a Vaisnava, offers respects to everyone, and he is ready to give up relatives and everything else for Krsna's sake
- According to the Ayur-vedic system, the body is composed of three material elements: kapha-pitta-vayu. The more we are in the bodily conception, the more we suffer
- Actually everyone is attached to something. No one can say that he is free from attachment. The Mayavada and Buddhist philosophies tell us to become detached, but this in itself is not possible
- Actually, anyone who has a material body has to accept suffering. There are three types of suffering in the material world: adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika
- Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.4.15). This is the way to make spiritual advancement. One has to associate with a sadhu
- Adhyatmika refers to the body and mind. Today I have a headache or some pain in my back, or my mind is not very quiet. These are sufferings called adhyatmika
- Although a devotee may sometimes have to suffer, he tolerates the suffering. At the same time, he is very kind to conditioned souls and tries to elevate them to Krsna consciousness. This is one of the primary features of a devotee's life
- Although there are millions of demigods, God is one. It is not that there are a million Gods. Of course, God can expand in millions of forms, but that is different
- Another vivid example is Arjuna, who was a fighter. By fighting, he became a devotee. He did not become a devotee by chanting Hare Krsna but by fighting in the Battle of Kuruksetra
- Apart from Bhagavad-gita, which is spoken by Krsna, we can read these other books. In this way, one can learn the art of becoming a sadhu
- Arjuna did not fight without Krsna's order; therefore we must receive our orders also
- As soon as nature calls, we die and give up our post. Then we have to take the post of a dog, a cat, a demigod, a human being or whatever
- At that time (when we feel pleasure from hearing about Krsna and talking about Him), material suffering will not be felt at all. This is the practical effect of rendering devotional service, which Lord Kapila is pointing out to His mother
- At the present moment it is very difficult to avoid the company of asadhus, those who are not sadhus
- Attachment to the material modes brings about our bondage. If we want to be free from this bondage, we have to transfer our attachment to a sadhu
B
- Because a sadhu lives in this way (looks on all living beings as his brothers), he does not create enemies. If there are enemies, they become enemies out of their own character, not out of any provocation on the part of a sadhu
- Because he is more like an animal, a materialist suffers more. The devotee, on the other hand, takes Krsna's advice in Bhagavad-gita - 2.14
- Because of this (not giving up bad habits) they are suffering, yet many young boys and girls have given them up, and there is no suffering. This is due to Krsna consciousness
- Because we are under the spell of maya, we are thinking that our position is very secure. We are thinking, "Let us enjoy life," but what kind of enjoyment is this
C
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu has stated that He wants every village in the entire world to be a center for Krsna consciousness so that people can take advantage of sadhus and in turn become sadhus. This is the mission of this Krsna consciousness movement
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself actually threw some of His food to the dog, and in this way the dog attained Vaikuntha
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested that His devotees only talk about Krsna. If we simply talk about Krsna and hear about Him, the stage will come when we will no longer suffer. This is called anandamayo 'bhyasat in the Vedanta-sutra
- Canakya Pandita says that there are two envious animals - serpents and men. Although you may be faultless, either may kill you
E
- Envious people create many impediments to the Krsna consciousness movement, but we have to tolerate them. There is no alternative. One must be peaceful and depend on Krsna in all circumstances. These are the ornaments of a sadhu
- Even in ordinary life it is possible for the mind to be absorbed in such a way that even a surgical operation may not disturb a man
- Everyone is tolerant to a degree, but a sadhu's tolerance and an ordinary man's tolerance are different. This is because a sadhu knows that he is not the body. According to a Bengali Vaisnava song: deha-smrti nahi yara samsara-bandhana kahan tara
F
H
- Haridasa Thakura mildly replied, "My dear sir, there are many Hindus who have become Muhammadans. Suppose I have become a Hindu? What is wrong with this?" The Kazi became very angry and ordered Haridasa Thakura to be whipped in twenty-two bazaars
- Haridasa Thakura, a Muhammadan by birth, was a very great devotee and was always chanting Hare Krsna. That was his only fault
- He (a sadhu) does not simply think, "I shall just take care of my brother." He looks on all living beings as his brothers because Krsna says that He is the father of all living entities
- He (Krsna) lets us enjoy ourselves to the fullest extent because we have come to this material world to enjoy sense gratification. However, this is called maya, illusion. It is not really enjoyment, but simply struggle
- He (Krsna) plays as a cowherd boy in Vrndavana and as King of Dvaraka. There are many books about Krsna, krsna-katha, and this Krsna consciousness movement has already published many of them
- He (Lord Siva) added: tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarcanam. - And even better than the worship of Lord Visnu is the worship of a Vaisnava, a devotee
- He (sadhu) is also attached to no one but Krsna. Mayy ananyena bhavena. These are the external and internal symptoms of a devotee
- He does not fight out of his own will, because a Vaisnava's natural instinct is not to do harm to anyone. However, when a Vaisnava knows that Krsna wants a particular thing done, he does not care for his own considerations
- Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlada Maharaja, "My dear son Prahlada, how have you become so advanced in Krsna consciousness?" Although Hiranyakasipu was a demon, he was nonetheless inquisitive
- How is this (no longer obliged to anyone) possible? By almighty God's power. A man may be condemned to death, but if a president or a king excuses him, he is saved
- Human life is meant for yajna, sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Supreme Person. We may perfect our activities, but our success lies in satisfying Krsna by our talents
I
- If one gives up everything for Krsna's sake, maya can have no effect. The most excellent example of this is the gopis. They gave up everything - family, prestige and honor - just to follow Krsna
- If one simply tries to put an end to attachment, he will become mad. Something must be given in the place of attachment
- If one thinks, "This is my car," and is very attached to it, he suffers more when it is wrecked than a person who thinks, "It can be repaired, or I can leave it." It is a question of mental absorption
- If we acquire the qualities of a brahmana and work as a brahmana, we become a brahmana. If we act as a dog and do the work of a dog, we become a dog. Nor should one think that simply because one is born as a brahmana, one is automatically a brahmana
- If we find Krsna's association, we can easily give up our opulent positions - our family, business and everything. However, that requires sadhu-sanga (CC Madhya 22.83), association with a sadhu, a devotee
- If we perform some nonsensical action and think, "I am doing this for Krsna," that will not be accepted. The work must be verified by Krsna's acceptance or by the acceptance of Krsna's representative
- If we properly understand that we are not the body, although we may suffer, we will not feel the suffering as acutely
- If we reduce the bodily conception, suffering will also be reduced
- If we want to be quickly recognized by Krsna, we should become preachers. This is also the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not that one should remain in India; rather, one should travel all over the world to preach Krsna consciousness
- In any case, everyone has some particular type of duty, an occupation. If we perform our occupation in the worship of Krsna, our life will be perfect. This is also the instruction given in Srimad-Bhagavatam - 1.2.13
- In Calcutta during the 1947 Hindu-Muslim riots, there was more suffering because everyone was thinking, "I am a Hindu" or "I am a Muslim." But, if one is advanced in Krsna consciousness, he will not fight according to such conceptions
- In Kali-yuga, practically everyone is envious, but we have to tolerate this
- In summer we suffer, and in winter we suffer. In the summer, fire brings suffering, and in the winter the same fire is pleasing. Similarly, in the winter, water is suffering, but in the summer it is pleasing
- In the material world, people are always hoping for something. They hope against hope, yet their hopes will never be fulfilled
- In this Kali-yuga, the present age, the dangerous modes of rajo-guna and tamo-guna, passion and ignorance, are especially prominent. Practically everyone in this age is contaminated by lusty desire, greed and ignorance
- In this way (thinking suffering is due to past misdeed), a devotee is not greatly affected by suffering, and this is the difference between a devotee and a nondevotee
- Instead of thinking, "Unless I have a drink, I will go mad," one should think, "Unless I associate with a sadhu, I will go mad." When we can think in this way, we will become liberated
- It is generally said that not a blade of grass moves without God's sanction. Similarly, we cannot do anything without the supervision of a superior authority
- It is not a question of displaying some magical feats. The greatest magic is freedom from suffering, and this is the freedom of a devotee
- It is not that a brahmana is the same as a dog, but that the brahmana is a spirit soul, and the dog is also a spirit soul. We are conditioned according to our different bodies, which are given by superior forces
- It is not that anyone is accepted who comes along and says, "I am an incarnation of God." There are characteristics of God given in the sastras
- It is not that God has to take personal supervision of this - blade of grass
- It is not the philosophy of this Krsna consciousness movement to disengage people from their activities. One should engage in his occupation, but one should never forget Krsna
- It is said in the sastras that in this age of Kali, sattva-guna, the mode of goodness, is practically nonexistent
- It is the sadhu's business to teach this (divert one's thoughts to Krsna), and one can learn this in the association of a sadhu. Actually a sadhu will not teach anything else
- It is very difficult to find a sadhu for association. We have therefore started this Krsna consciousness movement to create an association of sadhus so that people may take advantage and become liberated. There is no other purpose for this society
- It was Prahlada Maharaja who said: "My Lord, I am not suffering, for I know the art of being happy." How is this? - Simply by hearing about You and chanting about You I am happy
K
- Krsna advised him to fight, but because Arjuna was a Vaisnava, in the beginning he was unwilling. A Vaisnava does not like to kill anything, but if Krsna orders him, he must fight
- Krsna advises us to always become Krsna conscious, and we should always think that we are acting for Krsna. Of course, we should work by the order of Krsna or His representative, not whimsically
- Krsna and all the sastras say that our only obligation is to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If we take to His service, we are no longer obliged to anyone. We are free
- Krsna consciousness is our original consciousness, but somehow or other it has become covered by material attachment
- Krsna states in Bhagavad-gita (6.47) that the first-class sadhu is one who is always thinking of Him. This process is not very difficult. We should always think of Krsna, but how is this possible
- Krsna's final instruction in Bhagavad-gita is to surrender everything to Him. We can sacrifice our life, wealth and intelligence, and this is called yajna. Everyone has some intelligence, and everyone uses his intelligence in one way or another
M
N
- No, God is not so cheap. God has multienergies, and one of these energies is Durga. It is not that she is all and all, for there are many millions of Durgas, just as there are many millions of Sivas and millions of universes
- Not only is a sadhu everyone's well-wisher, but he is not an enemy of anyone. He is also santa, peaceful. These are the preliminary characteristics of a sadhu
- Now the occupational duties have expanded, but it doesn't matter whether one is an engineer, a doctor or whatever. Simply try to serve Krsna by the results of work. That is bhakti
O
- Obviously we have to tolerate suffering. One of the characteristics of a sadhu is tolerance
- Of the two, Canakya pandita says that the envious man is more dangerous because a serpent can be subdued by chanting a mantra or by some herbs, but an envious man cannot be so subdued
- Often the sadhu's task is a thankless one, but he has to be tolerant
- On the television they are always advertising tranquilizers and pain killers, and in America and in other Western countries they are so advanced that there are dozens of tablets for various pains. Therefore there must be some suffering
- One famous Marquess told one of my Godbrothers, "Please make me a brahmana." My Godbrother said, - Yes, it is not a very difficult thing. Simply give up these bad habits - intoxication, illicit sex, meat-eating and gambling. Then you can become a brahmana
- One may ask, "After giving up material enjoyment, how can one live?" The Gosvamis lived by dipping into the ocean of the transcendental loving affairs between Krsna and the gopis. Since that was their asset, they could live very peacefully
- One Vaisnava householder asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu what the duty of a householder is, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately replied, asat-sanga-tyaga-ei vaisnava-acara: "Don't associate with nondevotees, but search out a sadhu." - CC Madhya 22.87
- One who does not know God as He is considers the demigods to be supreme. Such people are less intelligent. A devotee offers respects to the demigods, but he knows that the Supreme Lord is Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam - SB 1.3.28
- One's mind should always be absorbed in Krsna consciousness, in thinking of Krsna. It is Krsna's injunction, - Always think of Me
- Other people are always envious, but the sadhu is always thinking how to save others from the clutches of maya
- Our business is to become liberated from all this conditioning. How is this possible? Sa eva sadhusu krto moksa-dvaram apavrtam (SB 3.25.20). We have to turn our attachment from material things to a sadhu
P
- Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate... na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate: in the (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.8 (CC Madhya 13.65, purport)), it is stated that the Supreme Lord does not have to act personally. He has many agents to perform everything for Him
- People are always putting a sadhu into difficulties, but he does not give up his job, which is to spread Krsna consciousness so that others may become happy
- People are being baffled in so many ways because they cannot control their senses. Their only possibility of rescue is Krsna. Therefore in this verse it is said: mayy ananyena bhavena bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham
- People are thinking that advancement of civilization means improving eating, sleeping, mating and defending, but actually these activities have nothing to do with civilization. They simply tighten our bondage to material life
- People are thinking that by adjusting the material energy they will be happy, and everyone is trying this individually, collectively or nationally. In any case, it is not possible. People will ultimately be frustrated
- People are thinking, "I must first of all see to my own interest." That's all right, but what is that interest? That they do not know
- People are trying to become happy by adjusting the external energy, but they do not know that happiness cannot be achieved without approaching God
- Prahlada Maharaja replied, - My dear father, O best of the asuras, one can receive KC only from the instructions of a guru. One cannot attain it simply by speculating. Ordinary men do not know that their ultimate destination is to return to Visnu
- Prahlada Maharaja simply thought of Krsna. Because of this, he had to undergo a great deal of trouble given by his father
- Prahlada Maharaja, a five-year-old boy, had to undergo a great deal of suffering at the hands of his father, who was torturing him for being a devotee
- Presently I am claiming, "This is my hand." But what is this? The hand could be paralyzed immediately. This is conditioned life, and how can we improve it
- Presently so many "ism's" are being developed according to the bodily conception - nationalism, communism, socialism, communalism and so on
- Presently we are attached to material enjoyment, and Krsna even gives us a chance to gratify our senses
- Presently we are attached to money, women, nice houses, country, society, friends, family and so forth. This attachment is called arjanam pasu. The word pasu means - rope
- Presently we may be attached to material activity, but we should transfer that attachment to a sadhu. Then our lives will be successful
- Previously, great personalities in India used to go to the forest in order to meditate to stop the repetition of birth and death. That is the highest occupation for man, and actually every man is meant for that
S
- Sadhu-sanga (CC Madhya 22.83), association with a sadhu, is very essential in Krsna consciousness. People are suffering due to contamination by tamo-guna and rajo-guna
- Sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga-sarva-sastre kaya: this is the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All sastras advise us to associate with a sadhu. Even Canakya Pandita, the great politician, recommended: tyaja durjana-samsargam bhaja sadhu-samagamam
- Sanatana Gosvami was an important minister in the government of Hussain Shah, but he gave up everything to follow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He adopted the life of a mendicant and lived under a different tree every night
- Simply by hearing about Krsna and speaking about Him, we will be immediately relieved from the suffering of this material condition
- Some say that if the eye is diseased, it should be plucked out, but that is not treatment. Treatment is removing the disease. Somehow or other there is a cataract, and if the cataract is removed, one's eyesight will be revived
- Spiritual life begins with the association of a devotee, a sadhu. One cannot progress an inch without the mercy of a sadhu
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, "I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari or whatever. I am simply the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna." One need only learn this process in order to render the best service to humanity
- Sridhara Svami has also noted that birth is not everything. One has to acquire the qualities
T
- That is the highest perfection (giving up everything - family, prestige and honor), but that is not possible for ordinary living entities. We should, however, follow the Gosvamis in their determination to worship Krsna
- That realization (struggling life after life & no real enjoymen) requires knowledge, & that knowledge can be acquired by association with a sadhu. Freedom from this struggle with material existence is further explained by Lord Kapila in the next verse
- The boy (Prahlada Maharaja) was trampled by elephants, thrown from a mountain, placed in burning oil and thrown into a snake pit, yet he was silent during this whole ordeal
- The European and American youths in the KC movement have been accustomed to many bad habits since birth, but now they have given these up. Many people think that it is impossible to live without illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling
- The Fourteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita nicely explains how one can free oneself of contamination by the material modes. Now Kapiladeva advises, - Mother, if you want to get rid of the contamination of material nature, you should associate with a sadhu
- The Goddess Durga is so powerful that she can create, maintain and annihilate. However, she cannot act independent of Krsna. She is like a shadow of Krsna. A sadhu knows that prakrti, nature, is working under Krsna's direction
- The living entity and Krsna are both anandamaya, transcendentally blissful. On that platform, there is no possibility of material suffering
- The Marquess then said, "Impossible! This is our life." Actually we have seen that in Western countries older men cannot give up these habits - intoxication, illicit sex, meat-eating and gambling
- The Muslim Kazi called him (Haridasa Thakura) forth and said, - You are a Muhammadan, born in a great Muhammadan family, yet you are chanting this Hindu Hare Krsna mantra. What is this
- The question is how to give up material attachment and become attached to Krsna. The process is sadhu-sanga (CC Madhya 22.83), association with a sadhu
- The sadhu is suhrt; he is the well-wisher of everyone. This does not mean that he is a well-wisher for an Indian nationalist or whatever. No, he is a well-wisher even of cats and dogs
- The sadhu teaches one how to remain purely in sattva-guna by truthfulness, cleanliness, mind control, sense control, simplicity, tolerance, and full faith and knowledge. These are some of the characteristics of sattva-guna
- The water and the fire are the same, but sometimes they are pleasing, sometimes they are not. This is due to the touch of the skin
- The word guna also means "rope." We cannot free ourselves, for we are conditioned. We cannot move freely without the sanction of the supreme authority
- There are 8,400,000 life forms according to the Padma Purana, and the atma is the same in all of them. The sadhu can understand this
- There are characteristics mentioned in Bhagavad-gita by which one can tell to which caste one belongs
- There are many pastimes enacted by Krsna. He fights and kills demons, and He performs His pastimes with the gopis
- There are other forms of suffering called adhibhautika, which are sufferings imposed by other living entities
- There are sufferings called adhidaivika, over which we have no control whatsoever. These are caused by the demigods or acts of nature, and include famine, pestilence, flood, excessive heat or excessive cold, earthquakes, fire and so on
- There is no one in the world materially engaged who can boldly say, "I am not suffering." I challenge anyone to say this. Everyone in the material world is suffering in some way or another. If not, why are so many drugs being advertised
- These symptoms (relief from suffering of material condition) are visible when one no longer has material attachment. A sadhu does not think himself Hindu, Muslim, Christian, American, Indian or whatever. A sadhu simply thinks, - I am the servant of Krsna
- They (preachers) are actually fighting for Krsna's sake, and they are certainly more compassionate. Those sadhus who leave Vrndavana to go fight in the world, to spread Krsna consciousness, are superior sadhus
- They think the difference is that animals sleep in the street and human beings sleep in nice apartments. However, the sastras do not define civilization in this way. Whether one sleeps in the street or in an apartment, the activity is the same
- This (approaching Krsna through the sadhu) is confirmed by the Vaisnava acarya Narottama dasa Thakura: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba. We cannot directly approach Krsna; we have to go through the transparent via media, Krsna's representative
- This (ordered Haridasa Thakura to be whipped in twenty-two bazaars) essentially meant that he was to be beaten to death, but because he was such a great devotee he did not actually feel the pain
- This is the beginning of bhakti-yoga. If we conduct business and earn money, we should spend it for Krsna. This is a form of bhakti
- This is the business of a devotee - hearing and chanting about the Lord. This is sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam (SB 7.5.23). Now this sravanam kirtanam is taking place all over the world through the Krsna consciousness movement
- This process (Krsna Consciousness) is open to everyone. Everyone has heard of the Bhagavad-gita. We can attain perfection simply by following the instructions given in this book. It is not necessary to abandon our responsibilities
- Those who are after material concessions go to different demigods. They take something from Siva, Durga, Kali, Ganesa, Surya and whomever. However, it was the goddess Parvati who asked Lord Siva, - What is the best type of worship
- Those who are Krsna conscious, who are always thinking of Krsna within their minds and within their hearts, are not suffering as much because they know that whatever they might suffer is due to Krsna's desire. Therefore they welcome suffering
- Those who are preachers are superior to those who go to the Himalayas to meditate. It is good to go to the Himalayas to meditate for one's personal benefit, but those who undergo many difficulties in order to preach are superior
- To be cured of a disease, we may have to agree to undergo some surgical operation. Although the operation may be very painful, we have to tolerate it. This is called titiksavah
W
- We all have some "skin disease," which is the body, and therefore we are suffering. Because we have become such rascals, we are thinking, - I am this body
- We are now given a most exalted life form, that of a human being, but if we do not act accordingly, we have to take a lower body. This is karmana daiva-netrena - SB 3.31.1
- We are so controlled that we are not even free to blink our eyes. We may be moving our hands very freely, but at any moment they can be immediately paralyzed
- We are thinking that we are very happy within this material world, although in addition to these threefold miseries there is also birth, old age, disease and death. So where is our happiness
- We cannot simply give up everything. We will become mad if we try to give up everything without having staunch faith in Krsna
- We have described the symptoms of a sadhu, and we have stated that a sadhu should be accepted by his characteristics. It is not that we accept anyone who comes along and says, "I am a sadhu." The characteristics of a sadhu have to be present
- We have many attachments in this material world, but we cannot make these attachments void. We simply have to purify them
- We have many desires, but we have to divert these desires to Krsna's service. For instance, we may be very attached to making money; therefore Krsna says, - Yes, go ahead and conduct your business. There is no harm. Simply give Me the results
- We have to be karunikah - that is, we have to take compassion upon fallen souls by going from town to town to enlighten others in Krsna consciousness. This is a sadhu's duty
- We have to learn this purificatory process (gratifying Krsna's senses) from a sadhu. Inasmuch as we try to gratify our senses, we become attached to the material world
- We may render service to the sadhu or to Krsna. The sadhu is the representative of Krsna. He will never say, "Serve me," but will say, "Serve Krsna." Therefore we have to approach Krsna through the sadhu
- We may say, "I cannot find Krsna. How can I follow His order?" It is the role of the sadhu to impart Krsna's orders. Since Krsna's representative is the sadhu, Kapiladeva advises His mother to associate with sadhus
- We may think that at present we are Americans and are very happy, and that's all right. We may chalk out our plans for continued happiness, but nature will not allow us to stay indefinitely
- We should find a sadhu and associate with him. Then our path of liberation will be open. In the next verse, Lord Kapila further explains the activities of a sadhu
- We should therefore be very careful in this human form that our aim is to become devotees of Lord Krsna. That is the path of liberation
- We simply have to voluntarily undergo some penance in the beginning. It may be a little painful in the beginning to refrain from illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling, but one has to be tolerant
- We tell our disciples to stop eating meat, but how is this meat-eating stopped? In the place of meat, we are supplying kacauris, rasagulla and many other palatable things. In this way, detachment is possible
- We think of our business, our dog, our family, our lovable object and so many other things. We have to think of something; without thinking, we cannot remain. We simply have to divert our thoughts to Krsna
- Whatever body we may have, our position is temporary. We cannot remain in any position indefinitely
- When a devotee suffers, he thinks, - This is due to my past misdeeds. Actually I should be suffering a great deal, but due to Krsna's grace I am suffering just a little. After all, suffering and enjoyment are in the mind
- When Krsna was leaving, Queen Kunti said "It is better that we again suffer so that we can always remember You." Thus the devotee sometimes welcomes suffering as an opportunity to remember Krsna constantly
- When Krsna was leaving, Queen Kunti said, - My dear Krsna, when we were in a dangerous situation, You were always present as our friend and adviser. Now we are well situated with our kingdom, and now You are leaving for Dvaraka. This is not good
- When one realizes that he is simply struggling life after life, that there is actually no real enjoyment in the material world, one becomes a devotee of Krsna
- When they (devotees) had to cross a river, the boatman would not take the dog, but Sivananda Sena paid him more money and said, - Please take this dog. He is a Vaisnava, for he has joined our company. How can we leave him behind
- When we are bound with a rope, we are helpless, and now we are bound by the gunas, or the three modes of material nature
- When we associate with a devotee, the day will eventually come when we can give up everything and become liberated persons, fit to return home, back to Godhead
- When we feel pleasure from hearing about Krsna and talking about Him, we should know that we are making progress on the path of perfection
- Why attempt a process that will ultimately meet with frustration? It is therefore said: adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam - SB 7.5.30
Y
- Yamaraja offers the living entity a body according to his karma. Karmana daiva-netrena (SB 3.31.1). We have already discussed the point that bodies are awarded according to one's qualifications
- Years ago, when Stalin had to undergo a surgical operation, he refused the use of chloroform. If this is possible even in an ordinary materialistic life, what to speak of spiritual life