By Sacinandana Swami
Lesson 1: Regenerate regularly — physically, mentally and spiritually. Live in sattva.
Lesson 2: Discover and execute your unique mission and purpose. Live your dharma.
Lesson 3: Always remain connected with your deepest self, the soul. Live in the atma.
Lesson 4: Listen to your conscience and correct mistakes. Stay with the higher connection, guided by the Paramatma.
Lesson 5: Develop your love for God. Live in bhakti.
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
THE BEST HELP
When helping others, learn to not take on their problems on yourself, but help them take responsibility for their problems and goals.
The best way to help others is to help them help themselves.
Give a man a food, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to produce food, you feed him for a lifetime.
Change a perception of your role in people's lives from nanny to trainer.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Vedic Way – The Art of Spiritual Transformation
The Vedic Way is a school of life for the complete progression and elevation of the whole human being. It takes all of you into account as you begin your spiritual development – the physical, mental, emotional, and interpersonal parts of yourself that support the uplifting of spirit.
The Vedic Way is supra-denominational – relevant for everyone no matter what his or her religious or spiritual orientation – and teaches five steps to a spiritual lifestyle based on universal principles:
1. Satva - Living in Balance
Balance the factors that influence your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and create the foundation for a healthy spiritual life.
2. Dharma - Living Your Purpose
Find out what you are meant to be and do, and experience the universal force of dharma.
3. Atma - Living in the Self
Become aware of yourself as an eternal spiritual soul, and confront both your mortality and eternity.
4. Paramatma - Living with a Higher Connection
Connect with the Supersoul, and become fearless as you contact your intuition and guide.
5. Bhakti - Living in Love
Embark on the path of devotion in a mood of service, and feel the pleasure of spiritual relationship with God and all His creatures.
The dynamic lifestyle of the Vedic Way rejuvenates and then spiritualizes body, mind, and soul. Our curriculum draws on the most effective techniques from the Vedic laboratory: knowledge from the yoga tradition, information about health and well-being from Ayurveda, insights from spiritual psychology, instruction in the art of working with mantras and the vast wisdom of the bhakti tradition.
http://vedicway.org
The Vedic Way is supra-denominational – relevant for everyone no matter what his or her religious or spiritual orientation – and teaches five steps to a spiritual lifestyle based on universal principles:
1. Satva - Living in Balance
Balance the factors that influence your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and create the foundation for a healthy spiritual life.
2. Dharma - Living Your Purpose
Find out what you are meant to be and do, and experience the universal force of dharma.
3. Atma - Living in the Self
Become aware of yourself as an eternal spiritual soul, and confront both your mortality and eternity.
4. Paramatma - Living with a Higher Connection
Connect with the Supersoul, and become fearless as you contact your intuition and guide.
5. Bhakti - Living in Love
Embark on the path of devotion in a mood of service, and feel the pleasure of spiritual relationship with God and all His creatures.
The dynamic lifestyle of the Vedic Way rejuvenates and then spiritualizes body, mind, and soul. Our curriculum draws on the most effective techniques from the Vedic laboratory: knowledge from the yoga tradition, information about health and well-being from Ayurveda, insights from spiritual psychology, instruction in the art of working with mantras and the vast wisdom of the bhakti tradition.
http://vedicway.org
Monday, March 22, 2010
Lessons from a Tea Cup
By Sacinandana Swami
Once there was a young man, rather immature in his life, but
ready to learn. He had a strong liking for antiques and was
always eager to visit the different antiques stores during his
holidays in Europe. Over time he developed a strong interest in
antique pottery and especially in tea cups. He felt that they each
had a unique story to tell.
Once, in a dusky antiques store in Serbia, he spotted an
exceptional tea cup which clearly had Turkish influences. He
asked the bespectacled seller, “May I see that exceptionally
beautiful tea cup over there? It seems to come from Turkey.”
As the seller handed him the tea cup, the young man suddenly
heard the tea cup speak.
“You don’t understand,” it said, “I have not always been a tea
cup. There was a time when I had no idea what service meant. I
was just a dumb lump of red clay on the ground. Let me tell you
my story, you will learn from it.” The cup continued on, saying,
“I’ve lived for many, many thousands of years. I’ve witnessed
war and peace come and go. Entire civilizations rolled over me
as I sat there waiting...for what, I don’t know. Then one day my
master came. He took me to his home, rolled and pounded me
on a wooden table. Again and again, he poked his fingers into
me until finally I yelled out, ‘Don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But
he only smiled and gently said, ‘Not yet.’”
The tea cup became more and more alive as he spoke to the
shocked young man. “Then, whoommmm! I was suddenly on a
spinning wheel and was spun around repeatedly until I lost all
sense of direction. ‘Stop it! Can’t you see that I’m getting sick?
Take me off the spinning wheel!’ But my master only nodded in
understanding and quietly said, ‘Not yet.’ He continued to bend
me in and out of shape and then he...he placed me carefully into
an oven. I never felt such heat before. I yelled and knocked and
pounded at the door. ‘It is hotter than hell; I’m burning to ashes.
Please get me out of here before it is too late.’ I could see him
through a tiny hole but could only read his lips as he shook his
head from side to side and silently pronounced, ‘Not yet.’
When I thought I could not bear the heat any longer, the door
opened. He carefully took me out and put me on a shelf where
I began to cool. It felt so good to be left alone. But there was
more to come. After I had cooled down he carefully picked me
up, looked at me and brushed some dust away. Then, he
painted on colors and something transparent—the glaze. The
fumes were horrible! I thought I would gag! ‘Please! Have you no
mercy? Don’t you understand my misery? Please, please give
up on me! Please! Stop it!’ But he only shook his head and said,
‘Not yet, you are not yet ready.’
Unexpectedly, and very quickly, he put me back into the oven.
This time it was about twice or thrice as hot as the first time.
From the beginning I thought, ‘This is my death!’ I begged. I
pleaded. I threatened. I screamed. Finally, I cried without tears,
not even hot tears. I was convinced I would never make it. I was
ready to give up. Just then—as I was fainting, the door opened
and he took me out. Again, he placed me on the shelf where I
was left to cool. I waited...and waited...and waited. What was
going to be next?
About an hour later he came back and placed a mirror before me
and said, ‘Look at yourself!’ And I did. What I saw amazed me. It
is what you see now. ‘That’s not me!’ I said. ‘That cannot be me.
It is too beautiful.’
In a very compassionate voice he spoke. ‘This is what you are
meant to be.’ And then he explained, ‘I know it hurt you when I
rolled and kneaded you on the table. But if I had not gotten the
air out of you, you would have broken. I know you must have
lost all sense of orientation when I was spinning you. But without
the spinning wheel, you would never have come into this form.
I know the fumes of the colors and the glaze were intolerable
when I painted you all over. But if I had not done that, you would
not have had any color in your life and you wouldn’t have
hardened. And when I placed you in the second oven I knew that
this would be the most severe part. But without it, you would
have broken very easily when the realities of life would come.
Believe me; all I did was for your good. Now you are what I had
in mind when I first saw you on the ground. Now you are a
finished product.’” With this the tea cup stopped speaking—but
there was a tear of gratefulness coming from its beautiful rim.
The young man purchased the tea cup and used it only when
he offered something to God. He never forgot the lesson he
received from it. And whenever he was in a difficult situation and
felt like calling out ‘Stop it! Leave me alone!’ he remembered the
words of the teacup maker, “Not yet.” However, he also became
grateful, for he knew that everything that happened was
designed by the Lord to make him what he was meant to
become: A pleasing servant.
God knows what He is doing for each of us. He is the potter and
we are the clay. He will mold us and expose us to enough
pressures of just the right kind so that we become a perfect
piece to His liking: Ready to be of service.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
INVEST
Wise people constantly invest in their future.
How can you invest in your future?
Even a little service to Krsna goes to your spiritual bank account.
It accumulates and grows over time.
How can you invest in your future?
Even a little service to Krsna goes to your spiritual bank account.
It accumulates and grows over time.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Expecting the Lord's Mercy
In the Tenth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, verse 8, it is said, "My dear Lord, any person who is constantly awaiting Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him, and who goes on suffering the resultant actions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible to become liberated, for it has become his rightful claim."
This statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam should be the guide of all devotees. A devotee should not expect immediate relief from the reactions of his past misdeeds. No conditioned soul is free from such reactionary experiences, because material existence means continued suffering or enjoying of past activities. If one has finished his material activities then there is no more birth. This is possible only when one begins Krsna conscious activities, because such activities do not produce reaction. Therefore, as soon as one becomes perfect in Krsna conscious activities, he is not going to take birth again in this material world.
A devotee who is not perfectly freed from the resultant actions should therefore continue to act in Krsna consciousness seriously, even though there may be so many impediments. When such impediments arise he should simply think of Krsna and expect His mercy. That is the only solace. If the devotee passes his days in that spirit, it is certain that he is going to be promoted to the abode of the Lord. By such activities, he earns his claim to enter into the kingdom of God.
The exact word used in this verse is daya-bhak. Daya-bhak refers to a son's becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father. In a similar way, a pure devotee who is prepared to undergo all kinds of tribulations in executing Krsna conscious duties becomes lawfully qualified to enter into the transcendental abode.
- Nectar Of Devotion
This statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam should be the guide of all devotees. A devotee should not expect immediate relief from the reactions of his past misdeeds. No conditioned soul is free from such reactionary experiences, because material existence means continued suffering or enjoying of past activities. If one has finished his material activities then there is no more birth. This is possible only when one begins Krsna conscious activities, because such activities do not produce reaction. Therefore, as soon as one becomes perfect in Krsna conscious activities, he is not going to take birth again in this material world.
A devotee who is not perfectly freed from the resultant actions should therefore continue to act in Krsna consciousness seriously, even though there may be so many impediments. When such impediments arise he should simply think of Krsna and expect His mercy. That is the only solace. If the devotee passes his days in that spirit, it is certain that he is going to be promoted to the abode of the Lord. By such activities, he earns his claim to enter into the kingdom of God.
The exact word used in this verse is daya-bhak. Daya-bhak refers to a son's becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father. In a similar way, a pure devotee who is prepared to undergo all kinds of tribulations in executing Krsna conscious duties becomes lawfully qualified to enter into the transcendental abode.
- Nectar Of Devotion
Saturday, March 13, 2010
FOCUS
Focus on what you can do, not on what you cannot do.
Focus on the present and the future, not on the past.
Focus on what you want, not on what you don't want.
Focus on the present and the future, not on the past.
Focus on what you want, not on what you don't want.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
SELF WORTH
You are an eternal servant of Krsna, sat-cit-ananda - eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
You are dear to Krsna, otherwise why He would make so many arrangements so you may go back to Him.
He wants you to come back to Him at least 10 times more than you want it.
He has everything except your love, so He wants you back.
You belong to Him.
You are meant to please Him.
You are meant to be happy with Him.
So you have an amazing worth.
If you are dear and important to God, who is the Supreme Person and your very source, what more self-worth do you want?
You are dear to Krsna, otherwise why He would make so many arrangements so you may go back to Him.
He wants you to come back to Him at least 10 times more than you want it.
He has everything except your love, so He wants you back.
You belong to Him.
You are meant to please Him.
You are meant to be happy with Him.
So you have an amazing worth.
If you are dear and important to God, who is the Supreme Person and your very source, what more self-worth do you want?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
IT IS NOT
It is not other people
It is not the economy
It is not the weather
It is not my karma
It is not injustice
It is not loud noises
It is not air pollution
It is not bad water
It is not poisoned food
It is not insults
It is not criticism
It is not ungratefulness
It is not all these
It is my own selfishness
Tha gives me
The most pain
It is not the economy
It is not the weather
It is not my karma
It is not injustice
It is not loud noises
It is not air pollution
It is not bad water
It is not poisoned food
It is not insults
It is not criticism
It is not ungratefulness
It is not all these
It is my own selfishness
Tha gives me
The most pain
Friday, March 5, 2010
GITA COACHING
Coaching is a weekly or a fortnightly focused conversation (face-to-face or on the phone), that helps you clarify what you want, make an inspiring plan and take dynamic, intelligent action. It is focused on you and your needs, your goals, your dreams and your success. We have questions, you have answers.
"A Coach is your partner in achieving your personal goals, your champion during turnaround, your trainer in communication and life skills, your sounding board when making choices, your motivator when strong actions are called for, your unconditional support when you take a hit, your mentor in personal development, your co-designer when developing an extraordinary project, your beacon during stormy times, your wake-up call if you don't hear your own, and most importantly: your partner in living the life you know you're ready for, personally and professionally."
"A Coach is your partner in achieving your personal goals, your champion during turnaround, your trainer in communication and life skills, your sounding board when making choices, your motivator when strong actions are called for, your unconditional support when you take a hit, your mentor in personal development, your co-designer when developing an extraordinary project, your beacon during stormy times, your wake-up call if you don't hear your own, and most importantly: your partner in living the life you know you're ready for, personally and professionally."
GREATER THAN FEAR
"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
Also we can say that to succeed you should know that you need to fail often. If we know that we have to fail before we succeed, then perhaps the fear of failure can be removed, and we can actually look forward to failing because we will understand that every time we fail we are getting closer to our goal.
- Mahatma dasa, Alachua Florida
Also we can say that to succeed you should know that you need to fail often. If we know that we have to fail before we succeed, then perhaps the fear of failure can be removed, and we can actually look forward to failing because we will understand that every time we fail we are getting closer to our goal.
- Mahatma dasa, Alachua Florida
APPLY THE BHAGAVAD GITA WITH THE HELP OF A COACH
The Gita Coaching is a process of learning, renewal, application, and feedback that will help you develop the essential skills necessary to live the Bhagavad Gita. It is a step-by-step path for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, human dignity and spiritual intelligence. With a coach, you can actualize this spiritual, principle-centred approach for achieving your personal, spiritual and professional goals and solving all kinds of problems.
How Does A Coach Assist You?
- A Coach helps you to envision and clarify what and where you want to be
- A Coach holds you accountable to act on your highest priorities
- A Coach holds you responsible for taking action to create results
- A Coach helps you improve how you approach interaction with others and create a foundation of trust and mutual benefit
How Does Coaching Help You?
- Coaching helps you apply the process of deep understanding of other people to create interdependent and mutually beneficial relationships
- Coaching plugs you into the power of 1+1=3, helping you work with others to discover the best solution
- Coaching will help you release your potential by helping you make time for the things that renew and enliven you
Forming New Habits Takes Time
As your coach, I am committed to help you transform your life through the principles of the Bhagavad Gita. Coaching will help you become more effective by changing the way you approach yourself, your relationships, and your service.
This type of spiritual transformation requires more than a cosmetic change in techniques; it requires a change in habits - a process that takes time and accountability.
Coaching Lays A Comprehensive Foundation For Change
During the coaching process, we will work together to understand and develop spiritually-based habits of personal, interpersonal, professional and organizational effectiveness.
Long-Term Benefits Of Coaching
Gita Coaching is a learning and implementation process that will ensure that you are better able to internalize and practice the principles of the Bhagavad Gita.
Increased effectiveness in living the Bhagavad Gita will mean greater success in all facets of your life.
I will be your partner, invested in your success. I will help to support, guide and motivate you to apply the Bhagavad Gita principles to your life in a way that most probably you have not done before.
How Does A Coach Assist You?
- A Coach helps you to envision and clarify what and where you want to be
- A Coach holds you accountable to act on your highest priorities
- A Coach holds you responsible for taking action to create results
- A Coach helps you improve how you approach interaction with others and create a foundation of trust and mutual benefit
How Does Coaching Help You?
- Coaching helps you apply the process of deep understanding of other people to create interdependent and mutually beneficial relationships
- Coaching plugs you into the power of 1+1=3, helping you work with others to discover the best solution
- Coaching will help you release your potential by helping you make time for the things that renew and enliven you
Forming New Habits Takes Time
As your coach, I am committed to help you transform your life through the principles of the Bhagavad Gita. Coaching will help you become more effective by changing the way you approach yourself, your relationships, and your service.
This type of spiritual transformation requires more than a cosmetic change in techniques; it requires a change in habits - a process that takes time and accountability.
Coaching Lays A Comprehensive Foundation For Change
During the coaching process, we will work together to understand and develop spiritually-based habits of personal, interpersonal, professional and organizational effectiveness.
Long-Term Benefits Of Coaching
Gita Coaching is a learning and implementation process that will ensure that you are better able to internalize and practice the principles of the Bhagavad Gita.
Increased effectiveness in living the Bhagavad Gita will mean greater success in all facets of your life.
I will be your partner, invested in your success. I will help to support, guide and motivate you to apply the Bhagavad Gita principles to your life in a way that most probably you have not done before.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GITA COACHING SERVICES
Gita Coaching audio books, the Handbook, Power Point, and interviews:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/audio.htm
An introductory quiz:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/areyoureadyforcoaching.htm
Gita Coaching course outline and comments from the participants:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/coachingcourse.htm
Coachee/client success stories:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/successstories.htm
Gita Coaching blog with over 500 posts:
http://gitacoaching.blogspot.com
Personal Success Magazine article on Gita Coaching (pages 14 and 15)
http://www.theacademyclub.com/downloads/200710.pdf
Gita Coaching Mango Story
http://www.theacademyclub.com/details-article.asp?keywords=mango&firststart=&firstend=&pubselect=%25&Submit=Search&ID=402
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/audio.htm
An introductory quiz:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/areyoureadyforcoaching.htm
Gita Coaching course outline and comments from the participants:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/coachingcourse.htm
Coachee/client success stories:
http://vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/successstories.htm
Gita Coaching blog with over 500 posts:
http://gitacoaching.blogspot.com
Personal Success Magazine article on Gita Coaching (pages 14 and 15)
http://www.theacademyclub.com/downloads/200710.pdf
Gita Coaching Mango Story
http://www.theacademyclub.com/details-article.asp?keywords=mango&firststart=&firstend=&pubselect=%25&Submit=Search&ID=402
STIMULUS - RESPONSE
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.
16 ROUNDS
This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one wants to remember Krsna and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master's order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential.
Cc Madhya 22.113 Purport
Cc Madhya 22.113 Purport
EXAMINATION
Similarly, to be recognized by Krishna, as He says na ca tasman manusyesu
[Bg. 18.69], one has to pass examination, severe test of examination. All
the big, big devotees we see. Narada Muni, before becoming Narada Muni, he
had to pass through severe examination, test. That chance is there in the
human form of life, to pass the examination, test.
Srila Prabhupada
Morning Walk August 11, 1976, Tehran
[Bg. 18.69], one has to pass examination, severe test of examination. All
the big, big devotees we see. Narada Muni, before becoming Narada Muni, he
had to pass through severe examination, test. That chance is there in the
human form of life, to pass the examination, test.
Srila Prabhupada
Morning Walk August 11, 1976, Tehran
Conscience
We sometimes inquire from our conscience. Conscience says, "No, don't do this." But still we do it. Still we do... That is our avidya. Because we do not know, in ignorance, in spite of the Supreme Soul, Supersoul is forbidding, "Don't do this," still, we shall do it. That is called anumanta. We cannot do anything without the sanction of the Supersoul, but when we insist that "I must do it," then He says, "All right, you do it, but you'll suffer your sequence. My word is, Supersoul order is, that 'You give up all this nonsense. Simply surrender unto Me. I will give you all protection.' " But no, that he'll not do.
Bhagavad-gita 13.4 -- Bombay, September 27, 1973
Bhagavad-gita 13.4 -- Bombay, September 27, 1973
THE GITA COACHING MODEL
Goals
Instructions
Tests
Action
Goals
Choose an important area of your life you want to work on and write down goals you want to achieve in that area.
Instructions
Choose one goal you would like to work on right now and find spiritual instructions that will help you achieve it.
Tests
Write down what internal and external tests or obstacles you have to pass in order to achieve it.
Action
Write down a weekly action plan to start moving towards achieving your goal.en
Instructions
Tests
Action
Goals
Choose an important area of your life you want to work on and write down goals you want to achieve in that area.
Instructions
Choose one goal you would like to work on right now and find spiritual instructions that will help you achieve it.
Tests
Write down what internal and external tests or obstacles you have to pass in order to achieve it.
Action
Write down a weekly action plan to start moving towards achieving your goal.en
A SPIRITUAL GUIDE
A spiritual guide is your spiritual success partner who:
- Thinks of you, listens to you and speaks to you kindly in all circumstances
- Works alongside you with strong faith in you and your potential
- Assists you in making lasting positive changes in your life
- Supports you and encourages your spiritual and professional growth
- Never takes any disagreement with you very seriously
- Encourages your service, natural gifts and talents, so that you can use them
as a basis for your spiritual growth and material support
- Works with you and for you, not on you
- Keeps strictly confidential any information about you
- Believes in your inherent potential to be a pure devotee of the Lord.
- Thinks of you, listens to you and speaks to you kindly in all circumstances
- Works alongside you with strong faith in you and your potential
- Assists you in making lasting positive changes in your life
- Supports you and encourages your spiritual and professional growth
- Never takes any disagreement with you very seriously
- Encourages your service, natural gifts and talents, so that you can use them
as a basis for your spiritual growth and material support
- Works with you and for you, not on you
- Keeps strictly confidential any information about you
- Believes in your inherent potential to be a pure devotee of the Lord.
WHY PEOPLE SHOUT WHEN ANGRY?
A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger?
Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'
Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'
'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'
Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.
Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'
Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'
The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens?
They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
What can we learn from this?
When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else a day will come when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.
Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'
Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'
'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'
Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.
Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'
Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'
The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens?
They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
What can we learn from this?
When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else a day will come when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.
Jayananda Prabhu
Jayananda Prabhu wrote some notes in the front Jacket of his Krsna book and these very clearly show the benefits of taking to Krsna consciousness:
- As you begin to apply the book's clearly described principles to your life, you'll quickly experience a new realm of mental poise and experience an inner happiness even in the midst of the most trying circumstances.
- You'll worry less and enjoy more.
- Your power of concentration, memory, understanding and creativity will increase.
- You'll work more energetically, more confidently and efficiently, as well as relate better to people.
- And you'll succeed more easily at whatever you try doing.
- At night you'll fall asleep immediately, and in the morning you'll awaken thoroughly refreshed with even less hours' sleep than you normally need.
- Consequently you'll understand the real purpose of your life and your unique role in creation.
- As you begin to apply the book's clearly described principles to your life, you'll quickly experience a new realm of mental poise and experience an inner happiness even in the midst of the most trying circumstances.
- You'll worry less and enjoy more.
- Your power of concentration, memory, understanding and creativity will increase.
- You'll work more energetically, more confidently and efficiently, as well as relate better to people.
- And you'll succeed more easily at whatever you try doing.
- At night you'll fall asleep immediately, and in the morning you'll awaken thoroughly refreshed with even less hours' sleep than you normally need.
- Consequently you'll understand the real purpose of your life and your unique role in creation.
REFORMER
The world stands in no need of any reformer. The world has a very competent person for guiding it's minutest happenings. The person who finds that there is scope for reform of the world, himself stands in need of reform. The world goes on it's own perfect way. No person can deflect it but the breadth of a hair from the course chalked out for it by providence. When we perceive any change being actually affected in the course of events of this world by the agency of any particular individual, we also know very well that the agent possesses no real power at any stage. The agent finds himself driven forward by a force belonging to a different category from himself. The course of the world does not require to be changed by the activity of any person. What is necessary is to change our outlook to this very world. This was done for the contemporary generation by the mercy of Sri Caitanya. It could be only known to recipients of His mercy. The scriptures declare that it is only necessary to listen with an open mind to the name of Krsna from the lips of a bona fide devotee. As soon as Krsna enters the listening ear, He clears up the vision of the listener so that he no longer has any ambition of ever acting the part of a reformer of any other person, because he finds that nobody is left without the very highest guidance. It is therefore his own reform, by the grace of God, whose supreme necessity and nature he is increasingly able to realize, by the eternally continuing mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Sri Chaitanya in South India, Sajjana Toshani (Harmonist), May 1932, issue 11
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Sri Chaitanya in South India, Sajjana Toshani (Harmonist), May 1932, issue 11
Sharp Words
Those sadhus who speak sharp words to drive away the witch of the illusory energy are actually the only real devotees of Krsna and friends of the living entities. The conditioned living being experiences the distressful quarreling of his wife and close relatives and is rudely treated by them until death, yet he never desires to leave their association. On the other hand, he absorbs himself in trying to appease and serve them. But when a devotee of the Lord, who is always desirous of the living entity's ultimate welfare, chides him just once with instructions meant to drive away Maya, then that conditioned entity immediately makes plans to leave the saintly person for his entire life.
Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja
Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja
It's Not About You
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. The purpose of your life is greater than your own personal fulfillment, your career, or even your happiness. To know why you exist, you must first know the One who created you and the purposes for which you were created.
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point - ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You’ve probably tried that already. You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for. If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose.
- Rick Warren
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point - ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You’ve probably tried that already. You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for. If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose.
- Rick Warren
STARTING HIS OWN BUSINESS
The living entity's constitutional position is very minute, and he can be misled in his choice. He may choose to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A servant may desire to start his own business and imitate his master, and when he chooses to do so, he may leave the protection of his master. Sometimes he is a failure, and sometimes he is successful. Similarly, the living entity, part and parcel of Krsna, starts his own business to compete with the Lord. There are many competitors out to attain the Lord's position, but to become like the Lord is not at all possible. Thus there is a great struggle for existence with the material world as different parties try to imitate the Lord. Material bondage is caused by deviation from the service of the Lord and attempts to imitate Him.
SB 4.29.26-27 Purport
SB 4.29.26-27 Purport
NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS
The secondary rules are of three types: rules regarding self; rules regarding society; rules regarding the afterlife. Rules regarding the self are of two categories: those for the body and those for the mind. Those rules to keep a person's body properly nourished so that they can remain healthy are the bodily rules. Such things as regulated drinking, eating, sleeping, exercise, and for sickness, prescriptions for cure, are bodily rules.
If people do not follow these rules, they cannot pass through life smoothly. If they do not follow the mental rules, their power of realization, concentration, imagination, contemplation and judgment will be weak and will not properly function. There will be no advancement in arts and sciences, and moreover one will not be able to take the mind from material thoughts and direct it to thoughts of God. As a result, sinful thoughts and atheistic attitude will dominate the mind; finally a person will become no better than a beast. Therefore these bodily and mental rules are very necessary for success in human life.
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Siksamrta
If people do not follow these rules, they cannot pass through life smoothly. If they do not follow the mental rules, their power of realization, concentration, imagination, contemplation and judgment will be weak and will not properly function. There will be no advancement in arts and sciences, and moreover one will not be able to take the mind from material thoughts and direct it to thoughts of God. As a result, sinful thoughts and atheistic attitude will dominate the mind; finally a person will become no better than a beast. Therefore these bodily and mental rules are very necessary for success in human life.
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Siksamrta
A TIME WILL COME
In the beginning there may be some failures. That is quite natural. Just a child is trying to stand, he may fall down. But that does not mean he should give up the idea. Go on. A time will come come when he will be perfect. So we should not give up this business, to try to serve the Supreme. May be imperfect in the beginning, but stick to it, and a time will come when you'll be perfect, Krishna conscious.
- Srila Prabhupada
- Srila Prabhupada
STEADY IN HIS CONCLUSION
In the material conception of life we do not want what is unfavorable, but we want simply favorable. But the laws of nature, they are so cruel that they enforce upon us unfavorable things. But one who is transcendentally realized, he does not care for the unfavorable or the favorable. He knows that "When the time will come, either the favorable things will come or unfavorable things will come in the law of nature. Let me be engaged in my own business, Krsna consciousness. Yes." Sthira-buddhir asammudhah brahma-vid brahmani sthitah. Sthira-buddhih. He is steady. He is steady in his conclusion.
Bhagavad-gita 5.14-22 -- New York, August 28, 1966
Bhagavad-gita 5.14-22 -- New York, August 28, 1966
Japa Tips
1.Chant early in the morning, if possible 5 to 7 am
2.Chant along with Srila Prabhupada's japa tape
3.Chant with good chanters (when possible)
4.Record your chanting so you can hear whether you skip syllables
5.Read at least one inspiring text a day from Srila Prabhupada's books about chanting (like the compilation "The Nectar of the Holy Name")
6.After each 16 rounds, write down in your journal how many rounds you have actually heard
7.Chant all 16 round in one go (this is very powerful!)
8.Above all, pray to Lord Krsna and to namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura to improve your japa
9.Turn off the mobile phone
10.Don't turn on the laptop/PC
11.Don't get into conversations unless absolutely urgent
12.When mind wanders away, bring it back and focus on the sound
13.Chant feelingly, not mechanically
14.Share your realizations and quotes to the email list of japa improvers
15.Report daily to the email list of japa improvers
16.Use monthly Japa Excellence Table to keep track about quality and quantity.
“There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge. Even the words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe its magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to liberation, peace and eternal life. It's the pinnacle of devotion, the heart's joyous proclivity and attraction and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Lord. The holy name has appeared solely for the benefit of the living entities as their lord and master, their supreme worshipful object and their spiritual guide and mentor. Whoever continuously chants Lord Krishna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realize that the name is a direct manifestation of Krishna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga.”
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura
2.Chant along with Srila Prabhupada's japa tape
3.Chant with good chanters (when possible)
4.Record your chanting so you can hear whether you skip syllables
5.Read at least one inspiring text a day from Srila Prabhupada's books about chanting (like the compilation "The Nectar of the Holy Name")
6.After each 16 rounds, write down in your journal how many rounds you have actually heard
7.Chant all 16 round in one go (this is very powerful!)
8.Above all, pray to Lord Krsna and to namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura to improve your japa
9.Turn off the mobile phone
10.Don't turn on the laptop/PC
11.Don't get into conversations unless absolutely urgent
12.When mind wanders away, bring it back and focus on the sound
13.Chant feelingly, not mechanically
14.Share your realizations and quotes to the email list of japa improvers
15.Report daily to the email list of japa improvers
16.Use monthly Japa Excellence Table to keep track about quality and quantity.
“There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge. Even the words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe its magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to liberation, peace and eternal life. It's the pinnacle of devotion, the heart's joyous proclivity and attraction and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Lord. The holy name has appeared solely for the benefit of the living entities as their lord and master, their supreme worshipful object and their spiritual guide and mentor. Whoever continuously chants Lord Krishna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realize that the name is a direct manifestation of Krishna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga.”
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura
THE OBSTACLES
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
Shall We Make It
I sit here thinking
About my future
Trying to make
The best plan of all
Time passes quickly
Heart is still burning
Krsna is waiting
My final call
Shall we make it
In this lifetime
Succeed to attain
A pure heart and mind
Shal we qualify
To go back to Him
Stop imitating
Become genuine
Oh, Gopal
Oh, Gopal
You said You are
The ability in man
Please help me hear
Pure holy name
My own selfishness
Bothers me the most
Make me Your servant
Or I will be lost
Shall we make it
In this lifetime
Succeed to attain
A pure heart and mind
Shal we qualify
To go back to Him
Stop imitating
Become genuine
Oh, Gopal
Oh, Gopal
Music here:
http://www.vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/DandaMusic.htm
About my future
Trying to make
The best plan of all
Time passes quickly
Heart is still burning
Krsna is waiting
My final call
Shall we make it
In this lifetime
Succeed to attain
A pure heart and mind
Shal we qualify
To go back to Him
Stop imitating
Become genuine
Oh, Gopal
Oh, Gopal
You said You are
The ability in man
Please help me hear
Pure holy name
My own selfishness
Bothers me the most
Make me Your servant
Or I will be lost
Shall we make it
In this lifetime
Succeed to attain
A pure heart and mind
Shal we qualify
To go back to Him
Stop imitating
Become genuine
Oh, Gopal
Oh, Gopal
Music here:
http://www.vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching/DandaMusic.htm
ALWAYS CALM, QUIET AND PATIENT
Whenever a devotee is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord's mercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past misdeeds I should suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Therefore he is always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions.
- Prabhupada
- Prabhupada
NOTE ON THE WALL
I-Care
1. We listen to each other
2. Hands are for helping, not hurting
3. We use I-Care language
4. We care about each other's feelings
5. We are responsible for what we say and do
1. We listen to each other
2. Hands are for helping, not hurting
3. We use I-Care language
4. We care about each other's feelings
5. We are responsible for what we say and do
RESPONSIBILITY
"I am very glad that you are taking responsibility for Krishna's sake, this is advancement of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna is full in Himself. He can exert His energy to do anything wonderful, but still He presents Himself as unable to do so. Just like the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, He said all these men are already dead by my arrangement, none of them are going back home to live, the plan is already settled. And Arjuna was supposed to take responsibility and the credit of being victorious. Krishna is so kind, He does everything, but He gives the credit to His sincere devotee. So the more you take responsibility, Krishna is pleased on you. I am very glad you are feeling such responsibility and Krishna will bless you."
Srila Prabhupada letter to Aniruddha 9 April, 1968
Srila Prabhupada letter to Aniruddha 9 April, 1968
TASTE IS THE SEED
The conditional changes of the living entity are explained in the
Caitanya-caritamrta in the instructions given to Srila Rupa Gosvami by Lord
Sri Caitanya: "The living entities all over the universes are enjoying the
effects of the respective fruitive results of their own work, life after
life. Out of all of them, some may be influenced by the association of pure
devotees and thus get the chance to execute devotional service by attainment
of taste. This taste is the seed of devotional service, and one who is
fortunate enough to have received such a seed is advised to sow it in the
core of his heart. As one cultivates a seed by pouring water to fructify it,
the seed of devotional service sown in the heart of the devotee may be
cultured by pouring water in the form of hearing and chanting of the holy
name and pastimes of the Lord. The creeper of devotional service, so
nourished, gradually grows, and the devotee, acting as a gardener, goes on
pouring the water of constant hearing and chanting. The creeper of
devotional service gradually grows so high that it passes through the entire
material universe and enters into the spiritual sky, growing still higher
and higher until it reaches the planet Goloka Vrndavana. The
devotee-gardener is in touch with the abode of the Lord even from the
material plane by dint of performing devotional service to the Lord simply
by hearing and chanting. As a creeper takes shelter of another, stronger
tree, similarly the creeper of devotional service, nourished by the devotee,
takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and thus becomes fixed. When the
creeper is fixed, then the fruit of the creeper comes into existence, and
the gardener who nourished it is able to enjoy this fruit of love, and his
life becomes successful." SP
Caitanya-caritamrta in the instructions given to Srila Rupa Gosvami by Lord
Sri Caitanya: "The living entities all over the universes are enjoying the
effects of the respective fruitive results of their own work, life after
life. Out of all of them, some may be influenced by the association of pure
devotees and thus get the chance to execute devotional service by attainment
of taste. This taste is the seed of devotional service, and one who is
fortunate enough to have received such a seed is advised to sow it in the
core of his heart. As one cultivates a seed by pouring water to fructify it,
the seed of devotional service sown in the heart of the devotee may be
cultured by pouring water in the form of hearing and chanting of the holy
name and pastimes of the Lord. The creeper of devotional service, so
nourished, gradually grows, and the devotee, acting as a gardener, goes on
pouring the water of constant hearing and chanting. The creeper of
devotional service gradually grows so high that it passes through the entire
material universe and enters into the spiritual sky, growing still higher
and higher until it reaches the planet Goloka Vrndavana. The
devotee-gardener is in touch with the abode of the Lord even from the
material plane by dint of performing devotional service to the Lord simply
by hearing and chanting. As a creeper takes shelter of another, stronger
tree, similarly the creeper of devotional service, nourished by the devotee,
takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and thus becomes fixed. When the
creeper is fixed, then the fruit of the creeper comes into existence, and
the gardener who nourished it is able to enjoy this fruit of love, and his
life becomes successful." SP
SOMEONE
Imagine if there is someone to whom your life is so important that he or she:
- Prays for your success and protection every single day
- Listens to you for hours with a genuine interest
- Believes in your sincerity, talents and abilities
- Gives you as many material resources as he can
- Often thinks about how you can succeed in various areas
- Is always there for you as much as possible
- Will never reject you
- Is open to learn from your realizations and experience
- Is ready to do for you everything he can without expecting anything in return
- Sees you as a precious soul who is very dear to Krsna (God)
Would it be nice to have someone like this in your life?
Such people might be around you.
- Prays for your success and protection every single day
- Listens to you for hours with a genuine interest
- Believes in your sincerity, talents and abilities
- Gives you as many material resources as he can
- Often thinks about how you can succeed in various areas
- Is always there for you as much as possible
- Will never reject you
- Is open to learn from your realizations and experience
- Is ready to do for you everything he can without expecting anything in return
- Sees you as a precious soul who is very dear to Krsna (God)
Would it be nice to have someone like this in your life?
Such people might be around you.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
TEN POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Jump-start your every day with these questions:
1. What am I most grateful for in my life?
2. What am I happiest about in my life?
3. What am I most enthusiastic about in my life?
4. What I would like to focus most in my life?
5. Who and what am I most committed to in my life?
6. Who do I love? Who loves me?
7. What great ideas can help me succeed?
8. What are my best strengths, talents, skills and abilities?
9. What would my ideal life? What is my dream?
10. What's the best in me that I can offer to people I love and to the world?
1. What am I most grateful for in my life?
2. What am I happiest about in my life?
3. What am I most enthusiastic about in my life?
4. What I would like to focus most in my life?
5. Who and what am I most committed to in my life?
6. Who do I love? Who loves me?
7. What great ideas can help me succeed?
8. What are my best strengths, talents, skills and abilities?
9. What would my ideal life? What is my dream?
10. What's the best in me that I can offer to people I love and to the world?
10 SUCCESS TIPS
These ten tips will ensure success of your team. They are worth thousands of dollars. They refer to how you deal with your team.
1. Give personal and written thank-yous.
2. Make time to meet and listen to people.
3. Catch people doing something right.
4. Create an open environment.
5. Provide timely access to important information.
6. Involve everyone in decisions.
7. Reward high performers.
8. Allow everyone to have a sense of ownership.
9. Provide opportunities to grow and learn.
10. Celebrate successes
1. Give personal and written thank-yous.
2. Make time to meet and listen to people.
3. Catch people doing something right.
4. Create an open environment.
5. Provide timely access to important information.
6. Involve everyone in decisions.
7. Reward high performers.
8. Allow everyone to have a sense of ownership.
9. Provide opportunities to grow and learn.
10. Celebrate successes
FOUR WIVES
Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he knew that she could leave him at any time.
He also loved his second wife. She was his confidant and was always kind,considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.
The King's first wife was a very loyal partner and maintained him in every way. However, he did not appreciate her and neglected her.
One day, the King fell ill and was told he had only a short time to live. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."
Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I loved you the most, pampered you, did whatever you asked, and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way. It is simply not possible for me to go with you,” replied the fourth wife. And she walked away without another word.
Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.
The sad King then asked the third wife, "I loved you all my life and took good care of you. I was so attached to you. Now that I'm dying; will you follow me and keep me company?"
No, I can’t!" replied the third wife. "Someone else will love me and become attached to me just as you did.” His heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the second wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do to really help you,” she replied. "The best I can do is walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance! You were really the most important part of my life but I never recognized it."
In truth, we all have the four wives in our lives:
Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish it, it will leave us when we die.
Our third wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.
Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to our death. They can’t save us from death.
And our first wife is us, the soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth,power and pleasures of the world. However, the soul is the only thing that remains after all in this world in gone. Cultivate your spiritual life seriously, strengthen and cherish it now. Nothing else lasts.
He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he knew that she could leave him at any time.
He also loved his second wife. She was his confidant and was always kind,considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.
The King's first wife was a very loyal partner and maintained him in every way. However, he did not appreciate her and neglected her.
One day, the King fell ill and was told he had only a short time to live. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."
Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I loved you the most, pampered you, did whatever you asked, and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way. It is simply not possible for me to go with you,” replied the fourth wife. And she walked away without another word.
Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.
The sad King then asked the third wife, "I loved you all my life and took good care of you. I was so attached to you. Now that I'm dying; will you follow me and keep me company?"
No, I can’t!" replied the third wife. "Someone else will love me and become attached to me just as you did.” His heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the second wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do to really help you,” she replied. "The best I can do is walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance! You were really the most important part of my life but I never recognized it."
In truth, we all have the four wives in our lives:
Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish it, it will leave us when we die.
Our third wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.
Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to our death. They can’t save us from death.
And our first wife is us, the soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth,power and pleasures of the world. However, the soul is the only thing that remains after all in this world in gone. Cultivate your spiritual life seriously, strengthen and cherish it now. Nothing else lasts.
POWER OF QUESTIONS
Questions immediately change what we're focusing on and therefore how we feel.
Questions are the laser of human consciousness. They concentrate our focus and determine what we feel and do.
Questions have the power to affect our beliefs and thus what we consider possible or impossible.
Questions change the resources available to us.
Questions open up new worlds and give us access to resources we might not otherwise realize we have available.
What do you think? How can your job be improved?
At any moment, the questions that we ask ourselves can shape our perception of who we are, what we're capable of, and what we're willing to do to achieve our dreams.
Learning to consciously control the questions you ask will take you further to achieving your goals.
Often our resources are limited only by the questions we ask ourselves.
The only thing that limits your questions is your belief about what's possible.
Create a better question, and you'll get a better answer.
Our life experience is based on what we focus on, and questions change our focus.
Samples:
What's great about this problem?
What can I learn from this problem so that this never happens again?
How can I use this to my advantage?
What is my life really about?
What am I really committed to?
Why am I here?
Who am I?
Questions are the laser of human consciousness. They concentrate our focus and determine what we feel and do.
Questions have the power to affect our beliefs and thus what we consider possible or impossible.
Questions change the resources available to us.
Questions open up new worlds and give us access to resources we might not otherwise realize we have available.
What do you think? How can your job be improved?
At any moment, the questions that we ask ourselves can shape our perception of who we are, what we're capable of, and what we're willing to do to achieve our dreams.
Learning to consciously control the questions you ask will take you further to achieving your goals.
Often our resources are limited only by the questions we ask ourselves.
The only thing that limits your questions is your belief about what's possible.
Create a better question, and you'll get a better answer.
Our life experience is based on what we focus on, and questions change our focus.
Samples:
What's great about this problem?
What can I learn from this problem so that this never happens again?
How can I use this to my advantage?
What is my life really about?
What am I really committed to?
Why am I here?
Who am I?
FULLY ALIVE
By Sacinandana Swami
To "be alive" is much more then "living". Living could mean simply not to be
dead. In Germany there is a saying: "The epitaph of an average German may
read: he died with 20 and was buried at 80".
This means he lived for 60 years but was not alive.
To best express what I mean with "being alive" I would like to break down
the word in its five letters and give an explanation for each one: A - L - I - V - E
A : to be alive is to be aware.
Aware of what? Aware of yourself as an eternal servant of Krishna and aware of Sri Krishna. There is an eternal relationship - which we can turn to any minute provided we become aware of it. Awarness has also something to do with giving attention. Let´s start with becoming aware of Krsna in our immediate environment. The Lord is surrounding us in His creation, and in His arrangements which are made by His loving hands. He carries everything we need for our development. And he is there in His holy name, within the Deities and within the heart of His devotees.
How wonderful, how merciful - an exercise in awareness always is an exercise
in gratefulness.
L : To be alive is to be in love.
In love with what? With Krishna, His arrangements, His devotees and with all beings (appropriately). A word of caution: Real love is stopped by fear. The beautiful flower of love grows like a lotus flower in the pond of freedom. Let´s be aware and cautious about unnecessary fear in our life.
I : To be alive is to be intuitive.
Intuition is the voice of the Lord in the heart - Paramatma. To the devoted and receptive soul the indwelling Lord is constantly trying to give instructions, guidance and inspiration. Let's learn to ask and listen.
V : To be alive is to be victorious.
Victorious over what? Spiritual traditions teach us that there are two tendencies within us - the positive and the destructive. They fight like two dogs with each other. Ultimately that side will be victorious whom we give food. To be victorious is to resolve that inner conflict by inviting the Lord into all decisions.
E : To be alive is to be excited.
Excited by what? By recognizing Lord Krishna in everything. Learn to meet Him not only in the holy name and the sastras but in the exchanges, your life-situations and all and be excited about one word: SEVA or devotional service. It´s the key to the kingdom of God.
To be spiritually alive means to be aware, attentive, full of love, with an
often used intuition. To be alive means to be victorious and excited. To be
alive means to say yes to the spiritual adventure of growth in Krishna consciousness.
To "be alive" is much more then "living". Living could mean simply not to be
dead. In Germany there is a saying: "The epitaph of an average German may
read: he died with 20 and was buried at 80".
This means he lived for 60 years but was not alive.
To best express what I mean with "being alive" I would like to break down
the word in its five letters and give an explanation for each one: A - L - I - V - E
A : to be alive is to be aware.
Aware of what? Aware of yourself as an eternal servant of Krishna and aware of Sri Krishna. There is an eternal relationship - which we can turn to any minute provided we become aware of it. Awarness has also something to do with giving attention. Let´s start with becoming aware of Krsna in our immediate environment. The Lord is surrounding us in His creation, and in His arrangements which are made by His loving hands. He carries everything we need for our development. And he is there in His holy name, within the Deities and within the heart of His devotees.
How wonderful, how merciful - an exercise in awareness always is an exercise
in gratefulness.
L : To be alive is to be in love.
In love with what? With Krishna, His arrangements, His devotees and with all beings (appropriately). A word of caution: Real love is stopped by fear. The beautiful flower of love grows like a lotus flower in the pond of freedom. Let´s be aware and cautious about unnecessary fear in our life.
I : To be alive is to be intuitive.
Intuition is the voice of the Lord in the heart - Paramatma. To the devoted and receptive soul the indwelling Lord is constantly trying to give instructions, guidance and inspiration. Let's learn to ask and listen.
V : To be alive is to be victorious.
Victorious over what? Spiritual traditions teach us that there are two tendencies within us - the positive and the destructive. They fight like two dogs with each other. Ultimately that side will be victorious whom we give food. To be victorious is to resolve that inner conflict by inviting the Lord into all decisions.
E : To be alive is to be excited.
Excited by what? By recognizing Lord Krishna in everything. Learn to meet Him not only in the holy name and the sastras but in the exchanges, your life-situations and all and be excited about one word: SEVA or devotional service. It´s the key to the kingdom of God.
To be spiritually alive means to be aware, attentive, full of love, with an
often used intuition. To be alive means to be victorious and excited. To be
alive means to say yes to the spiritual adventure of growth in Krishna consciousness.
WHAT IS LOVE
Love does not mean that you come once a week to my house. Love means you come to my house every day, give me some present, and take something from me. Srila Rupa Gosvami describes the symptoms of love in his Upadesamrta [4];
dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati prcchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad-vidham priti-laksanam
If you love somebody, you must give him something, and you must accept something from him. You must disclose your mind to him, and he should disclose his mind to you. And you should give him some eatable, and whatever eatable thing he offers, you accept. These six kinds of exchange develop love.
But if you do not even know the person, then where is the question of love? Suppose you love some boy or some girl, then you will give some present, and he or she gives you some present -- that develops love. You give something to eat, and whatever he or she gives you to eat, you eat. You disclose your mind: "My dear such-and-such, I love you. This is my ambition." And he or she makes some disclosure. These are the exchanges of love.
But if there is no person-to-person meeting, where is the question of love? If I claim to love somebody, but I visit his house only once a week and ask,"Please give me such-and-such," where is the exchange of love? Love means there is some exchange. If you love somebody but you have not given anything to that person or taken anything from him, where is the love?
The conclusion is, religion means to love God, and that means you must know who God is. There is no alternative. You must know the person who is God. Then you can have loving exchanges with Him. That we are teaching. We are asking our disciples to rise early in the morning and offer mangala arati, then bhoga arati, to the Lord in His form as the Deity in the temple. Are we such fools and rascals that we are wasting time worshiping a "doll"? Sometimes people think like that. But that is not a fact. When you enter the temple, you know definitely, "Here is Krsna. He is God, and we must love Him like this." That is the superexcellence of this Krsna consciousness movement. We do everything definitely, on the positive platform.
- Srila Prabhupada, Civilization And Transcendence
dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati prcchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad-vidham priti-laksanam
If you love somebody, you must give him something, and you must accept something from him. You must disclose your mind to him, and he should disclose his mind to you. And you should give him some eatable, and whatever eatable thing he offers, you accept. These six kinds of exchange develop love.
But if you do not even know the person, then where is the question of love? Suppose you love some boy or some girl, then you will give some present, and he or she gives you some present -- that develops love. You give something to eat, and whatever he or she gives you to eat, you eat. You disclose your mind: "My dear such-and-such, I love you. This is my ambition." And he or she makes some disclosure. These are the exchanges of love.
But if there is no person-to-person meeting, where is the question of love? If I claim to love somebody, but I visit his house only once a week and ask,"Please give me such-and-such," where is the exchange of love? Love means there is some exchange. If you love somebody but you have not given anything to that person or taken anything from him, where is the love?
The conclusion is, religion means to love God, and that means you must know who God is. There is no alternative. You must know the person who is God. Then you can have loving exchanges with Him. That we are teaching. We are asking our disciples to rise early in the morning and offer mangala arati, then bhoga arati, to the Lord in His form as the Deity in the temple. Are we such fools and rascals that we are wasting time worshiping a "doll"? Sometimes people think like that. But that is not a fact. When you enter the temple, you know definitely, "Here is Krsna. He is God, and we must love Him like this." That is the superexcellence of this Krsna consciousness movement. We do everything definitely, on the positive platform.
- Srila Prabhupada, Civilization And Transcendence
Let The Maya Go
"Krishna and light, Maya and shadow. Light or shadow," Srila Prabhupada
says, "Krishna or Maya. It's your choice which side is up. It all depends on
your desire. So, let the may go."
"I've come to Vrindaban because I want Krishna," I say, "but I'm torn. It's
like two people sitting here: Hayagrivadas and Howard, Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde."
"So, let the maya go. Howard is born with this body and dies with this body.
Hayagrivadas is the eternal personality of the soul, the real you."
"I think at death he turns back into Dr. Jekyll," I say.
"That depends on your thoughts at death."
"Then I have to learn to think of Krishna."
"That's this bhakti-yoga process," says Prabhupada, "the science of the
soul, the science of God. Now, in the mornings, I'm lecturing on this Nectar
of Devotion. So you must come and listen and write down your realizations."
"My problem is the false ego won't stay dead," I say, "even though I want
him to. Why?"
"That's also Arjuna's question," Prabhupada says. "He asks Krishna, 'Why
does a man sin, as if forced to?' And what is Krihna's reply?"
"Kama," I say. "Lust"
"The eternal enemy of the world," Prabhupada says, "the enemy within.
Conquer him, and you're in Vaikuntha, you're in light. Surrender to him, and
you're in hell, in darkness. That means rebirth. This bhakti-yoga is
practical, scientific, proven," says Prabhupada. "If it doesn't work, then
you should examine yourself to see that you're following properly. Do you
think that you can try to cheat Krishna without His knowledge? Krishna knows
your innermost thoughts... Nothing is secret to Him. ..Krishna knows you
better than you know yourself. Krishna not only knows everything about this
life; He knows all your previous lives as well...You Americans are spoiled
children. Krishna consciousness is not an LSD pill you can purchase for five
dollars. No. Great sages undergo penances for many lifetimes to attain
Krishna. But now in Kali Yuga, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the
easiest method: chanting. It doesn't even matter what name of God you chant.
This is not a sectarian process. The Lord has millions of names, and His
transcendental potencies are in all of them."
excerpt from Vrindaban Days by Howard Wheeler (Hayagriva Swami)
says, "Krishna or Maya. It's your choice which side is up. It all depends on
your desire. So, let the may go."
"I've come to Vrindaban because I want Krishna," I say, "but I'm torn. It's
like two people sitting here: Hayagrivadas and Howard, Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde."
"So, let the maya go. Howard is born with this body and dies with this body.
Hayagrivadas is the eternal personality of the soul, the real you."
"I think at death he turns back into Dr. Jekyll," I say.
"That depends on your thoughts at death."
"Then I have to learn to think of Krishna."
"That's this bhakti-yoga process," says Prabhupada, "the science of the
soul, the science of God. Now, in the mornings, I'm lecturing on this Nectar
of Devotion. So you must come and listen and write down your realizations."
"My problem is the false ego won't stay dead," I say, "even though I want
him to. Why?"
"That's also Arjuna's question," Prabhupada says. "He asks Krishna, 'Why
does a man sin, as if forced to?' And what is Krihna's reply?"
"Kama," I say. "Lust"
"The eternal enemy of the world," Prabhupada says, "the enemy within.
Conquer him, and you're in Vaikuntha, you're in light. Surrender to him, and
you're in hell, in darkness. That means rebirth. This bhakti-yoga is
practical, scientific, proven," says Prabhupada. "If it doesn't work, then
you should examine yourself to see that you're following properly. Do you
think that you can try to cheat Krishna without His knowledge? Krishna knows
your innermost thoughts... Nothing is secret to Him. ..Krishna knows you
better than you know yourself. Krishna not only knows everything about this
life; He knows all your previous lives as well...You Americans are spoiled
children. Krishna consciousness is not an LSD pill you can purchase for five
dollars. No. Great sages undergo penances for many lifetimes to attain
Krishna. But now in Kali Yuga, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the
easiest method: chanting. It doesn't even matter what name of God you chant.
This is not a sectarian process. The Lord has millions of names, and His
transcendental potencies are in all of them."
excerpt from Vrindaban Days by Howard Wheeler (Hayagriva Swami)
The Trim Tab Factor
Expand Your Positive Influence
Regardless of whether you're the boss or not, you can influence your
organisation to do better in the future. In practical terms, this requires
that you take the initiative and act as a trim-tab for your organisation. A
trim-tab is a very small rudder on a boat or plane that turns the bigger
rudder, which then turns the entire ship. History is full of influential
people who exerted loads of influence even though they had no formal
authority. This is the spirit of what you need to do within your own
organisation.
In practical terms, being a trim-tab means:
o You strive for personal excellence - and encourage all those within your
circle of influence to do likewise.
o You always do what's right - rather than waiting for explicit permission
to be given. Instead of being assigned, you take personal responsibility and
use your initiative to solve any problems and move forward.
o You avoid complaining, criticising or being negative - and view these
actions as shallow attempts to shift the blame from your shoulders to
someone else.
o You empathise with your boss - and try to anticipate the pressures he or
she is operating under. Whenever you're given an assignment, you pause and
consider the "why" this matter is important. Then take the initiative and
provide more than was asked of you. This will make a big impression.
o You have to be constant - and encourage your peers to stick to sound
principles and good business practices rather than twisting and turning with
every social wind that blows.
As you do these things consistently well, your boss and others in formal
positions of power will have increasing trust in your ability to perform.
That, in turn, will lead to more opportunities for you to take the
initiative. Over time, you will be able to substantially build focus within
your organisation by creatively trim-tabbing your way through.
"We must become the change we seek in the world."
- Gandhi
The Trim-Tab Factor
Buckminster Fuller used to talk about the "trim-tab" factor. On the rudder
of a huge ship there is another minirudder called the trim-tab. By moving
the trim-tab ever so slightly, the rudder is slowly moved, which eventually
changes the whole direction of a huge ship.
In your own personal mission statement, see yourself as a trim-tab factor.
See yourself as a change catalyst. By making some changes in your part of
the ecosystem and believing that through a process of patience and diligence
you begin to have reverberations on other parts of that ecosystem, you will
become a person we call a "transition figure": one who stops the
transmission of tendencies from one generation to another. For instance,
you may see some tendencies in your children that you do not like, but these
tendencies are already in you. You may also see some of those same
tendencies in your parents or their parents.
Transition figures, those who are trim-tab factors inside a family, can stop
the transmission of undesirable tendencies if they will internally develop
their proactive, empathic, synergistic, and self-renewal muscles. They can
become an enormous source of influence in causing their small inner Circle
of Influence to get larger and larger.
Some might say it will take forever; however, it is amazing how rapidly such
transition figures, such change catalysts, such trim-tab factors, start to
influence an entire culture. Sometimes change occurs in a matter of a few
months, sometimes in a year or two, sometimes in just a few weeks. Try it
in you're your environment for 30 days. You will start to see the whole
ecosystem altering because of this positive energy source.
- Stephen Covey
Regardless of whether you're the boss or not, you can influence your
organisation to do better in the future. In practical terms, this requires
that you take the initiative and act as a trim-tab for your organisation. A
trim-tab is a very small rudder on a boat or plane that turns the bigger
rudder, which then turns the entire ship. History is full of influential
people who exerted loads of influence even though they had no formal
authority. This is the spirit of what you need to do within your own
organisation.
In practical terms, being a trim-tab means:
o You strive for personal excellence - and encourage all those within your
circle of influence to do likewise.
o You always do what's right - rather than waiting for explicit permission
to be given. Instead of being assigned, you take personal responsibility and
use your initiative to solve any problems and move forward.
o You avoid complaining, criticising or being negative - and view these
actions as shallow attempts to shift the blame from your shoulders to
someone else.
o You empathise with your boss - and try to anticipate the pressures he or
she is operating under. Whenever you're given an assignment, you pause and
consider the "why" this matter is important. Then take the initiative and
provide more than was asked of you. This will make a big impression.
o You have to be constant - and encourage your peers to stick to sound
principles and good business practices rather than twisting and turning with
every social wind that blows.
As you do these things consistently well, your boss and others in formal
positions of power will have increasing trust in your ability to perform.
That, in turn, will lead to more opportunities for you to take the
initiative. Over time, you will be able to substantially build focus within
your organisation by creatively trim-tabbing your way through.
"We must become the change we seek in the world."
- Gandhi
The Trim-Tab Factor
Buckminster Fuller used to talk about the "trim-tab" factor. On the rudder
of a huge ship there is another minirudder called the trim-tab. By moving
the trim-tab ever so slightly, the rudder is slowly moved, which eventually
changes the whole direction of a huge ship.
In your own personal mission statement, see yourself as a trim-tab factor.
See yourself as a change catalyst. By making some changes in your part of
the ecosystem and believing that through a process of patience and diligence
you begin to have reverberations on other parts of that ecosystem, you will
become a person we call a "transition figure": one who stops the
transmission of tendencies from one generation to another. For instance,
you may see some tendencies in your children that you do not like, but these
tendencies are already in you. You may also see some of those same
tendencies in your parents or their parents.
Transition figures, those who are trim-tab factors inside a family, can stop
the transmission of undesirable tendencies if they will internally develop
their proactive, empathic, synergistic, and self-renewal muscles. They can
become an enormous source of influence in causing their small inner Circle
of Influence to get larger and larger.
Some might say it will take forever; however, it is amazing how rapidly such
transition figures, such change catalysts, such trim-tab factors, start to
influence an entire culture. Sometimes change occurs in a matter of a few
months, sometimes in a year or two, sometimes in just a few weeks. Try it
in you're your environment for 30 days. You will start to see the whole
ecosystem altering because of this positive energy source.
- Stephen Covey
PRASADAM POWER
Male devotee: Srila Prabhupada, if someone takes prasadam even once, is it
true that they're guaranteed at least a human body in their next life?
Prabhupada: Yes. You go on simply eating, that's all. (laughter) And all of
my devotees, they have come to me simply by eating pras€da. You are also?
(laughter) So we give all facilities. If you cannot do anything, please come
and eat with us. All right, thank you very much. (end)
Bhagavad-gita 13.4
—
Miami, February 27, 1975
true that they're guaranteed at least a human body in their next life?
Prabhupada: Yes. You go on simply eating, that's all. (laughter) And all of
my devotees, they have come to me simply by eating pras€da. You are also?
(laughter) So we give all facilities. If you cannot do anything, please come
and eat with us. All right, thank you very much. (end)
Bhagavad-gita 13.4
—
Miami, February 27, 1975
DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY
Success is more likely if we work diligently on our goals every day.
1. Resolve today to pick up the pace in your life. Move faster from task to task. Walk quickly. Develop a higher tempo of activity.
2. Imagine you were going away tomorrow for a month and you had to get caught up on everything before you left. Work as hard and as fast as you do just before you leave for vacation.
3. Practice tight time planning. Imagine that you only had half the time available to get the job done and work with a sense of urgency all day long.
4. Continually ask for more responsibility, and when you get it, complete the task quickly and well. This one habit will continually open doors of opportunity for you.
1. Resolve today to pick up the pace in your life. Move faster from task to task. Walk quickly. Develop a higher tempo of activity.
2. Imagine you were going away tomorrow for a month and you had to get caught up on everything before you left. Work as hard and as fast as you do just before you leave for vacation.
3. Practice tight time planning. Imagine that you only had half the time available to get the job done and work with a sense of urgency all day long.
4. Continually ask for more responsibility, and when you get it, complete the task quickly and well. This one habit will continually open doors of opportunity for you.
ONE MOON
Because if I can turn one soul to this Krsna consciousness, he'll do tremendous work, because he'll be fire. You see? He can do tremendous work. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. One moon is complete to drive away the darkness of night, not millions of stars required. What these millions of stars can do? One moon is sufficient. So our propaganda is to create one moon. You see? But fortunately, by Krsna's grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. You see? Many moons. (chuckles) I was thinking of having only one moon, but Krsna... I am hopeful that there are many moons, and in future they'll be doing very nice.
Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969
Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969
WHEN THE MOON WILL RISE?
Prabhupada: Ninety-five percent may remain non-brahmana. But this 5 percent, if they are strongly brahminical, then others will follow. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah-sahasrasah. [Canakya Pandita: "If there is one moon, that is sufficient. What is the use of millions of stars?"] You have got millions of stars. Nobody cares for them. But people are looking after "When the moon will rise? When the moon will rise?" That one moon is sufficient than millions of stars. So this is the suggestion.
BECOME A SUN AND MOON
So try to preach this cult. But not that everyone will accept, but even a few percent, one percent of the whole population accept. Just like in the sky, there is one moon only and there are millions of stars. They're useless. What is the value of the millions of stars? But one moon, oh, dissipate the whole darkness of night. Similarly, at least those who have taken to Krsna consciousness, you become, each of you become a moon and enlighten the world. These so-called glow-worms, they'll not be able to do anything. That's a fact. Don't remain a glow-worm. Just become a sun and moon. Then you will..., people will be happy, you will be happy.
- Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.1 -- New York, November 29, 1973
- Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.1 -- New York, November 29, 1973
VOICE
To find our voice means to engage in service that genuinely taps our talents and fuels our enthusiasm. It means to do something significant with our life – to sense an unmet need among people and then to fully harness all our talents and enthusiasm to meet that need. To find our voice means to think big and shoot for the rhino rather than settling for false humility.
Once we’ve found our own voice, we can continue to increase our advancement by helping others to find their own unique voices as well.
To inspire others means to recognize, respect and create meaningful opportunities for others to express their voices. The word inspire is derived from the Latin inspirare which literally means to breath life into another. This is exactly what we do when we encourage and positively influence others to find their voices.
Once we’ve found our own voice, we can continue to increase our advancement by helping others to find their own unique voices as well.
To inspire others means to recognize, respect and create meaningful opportunities for others to express their voices. The word inspire is derived from the Latin inspirare which literally means to breath life into another. This is exactly what we do when we encourage and positively influence others to find their voices.
SPIRITUAL WISDOM
BY BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI
1. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed.
2. Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage.
3. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady.
4. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies.
5. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.
6. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns.
7. There is no peace or happiness in our worldly life. Circumstances create turmoil and annoyance.
8. Chant the maha mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly evils and pests.
9. Be indifferent to bazaar gossips, stick firmly to your cherished goals, no lack or impediments of the world will ever stand in your way.
10. Pay due respects to the extroverts of the world, but do not be appreciative of their manners and conduct. They are to be shaken off from your mind.
11. A devotee feels the presence of God everywhere, but one averse to the Lord denies His existence anywhere.
12. You cannot appreciate transcendental matters with the reasoning of the world. It is sheer nonsense to decry them with the measuring stick of your intellect.
13. To recite the name of Sri Krsna is bhakti.
14. Life is for the glorification of topics on Hari. If that is stopped, then what need is there to carry on life.
15. Physical illness with Hari-bhajana is preferred to physical fitness without Hari-bhajana.
16. Our span of life on earth is short. Our life will be crowned with success if the body wears out with constant discourses on Hari.
17. We are here on earth not to work as artisans for making big buildings with wood and stone but to work only as messengers for the teachings of Sri Caitanya Deva.
18. A sycophant (a person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer) is neither a guru or a preacher.
19. To transform the adverse desires of the jivas is the supreme duty of the most merciful. To rescue one person from the stronghold of Mahamaya is an act of superb benevolence, far superior to opening innumerable hospitals.
20. Unless we are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us.
21. Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others.
22. In this world of Maya, averse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations, only patience, humility and respect for others are our friends for Hari-bhajana.
23. The Lord, Gaurasundara, puts His devotees in various difficulties and associations to test their patience and strength of mind. Success depends on their good fortune.
24. When faults in others misguide and delude you – have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself.
25. I wish that every selfless, tender-hearted person of Gaudiya Math will be prepared to shed two hundred gallons of blood for the nourishment of the spiritual corpus of every individual of this world.
Akrura@pamho.net
1. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed.
2. Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage.
3. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady.
4. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies.
5. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.
6. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns.
7. There is no peace or happiness in our worldly life. Circumstances create turmoil and annoyance.
8. Chant the maha mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly evils and pests.
9. Be indifferent to bazaar gossips, stick firmly to your cherished goals, no lack or impediments of the world will ever stand in your way.
10. Pay due respects to the extroverts of the world, but do not be appreciative of their manners and conduct. They are to be shaken off from your mind.
11. A devotee feels the presence of God everywhere, but one averse to the Lord denies His existence anywhere.
12. You cannot appreciate transcendental matters with the reasoning of the world. It is sheer nonsense to decry them with the measuring stick of your intellect.
13. To recite the name of Sri Krsna is bhakti.
14. Life is for the glorification of topics on Hari. If that is stopped, then what need is there to carry on life.
15. Physical illness with Hari-bhajana is preferred to physical fitness without Hari-bhajana.
16. Our span of life on earth is short. Our life will be crowned with success if the body wears out with constant discourses on Hari.
17. We are here on earth not to work as artisans for making big buildings with wood and stone but to work only as messengers for the teachings of Sri Caitanya Deva.
18. A sycophant (a person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer) is neither a guru or a preacher.
19. To transform the adverse desires of the jivas is the supreme duty of the most merciful. To rescue one person from the stronghold of Mahamaya is an act of superb benevolence, far superior to opening innumerable hospitals.
20. Unless we are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us.
21. Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others.
22. In this world of Maya, averse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations, only patience, humility and respect for others are our friends for Hari-bhajana.
23. The Lord, Gaurasundara, puts His devotees in various difficulties and associations to test their patience and strength of mind. Success depends on their good fortune.
24. When faults in others misguide and delude you – have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself.
25. I wish that every selfless, tender-hearted person of Gaudiya Math will be prepared to shed two hundred gallons of blood for the nourishment of the spiritual corpus of every individual of this world.
Akrura@pamho.net
LEADERSHIP Q&A
1. Who is really a leader?
One who takes responsibility.
2. What is the crucial difference between a leader and a manager?
You lead people and manage things. Leadership is doing the right things. Management is doing things right.
3. Can someone be a good leader but not a good manager?
Yes.
4. Is leadership an inborn quality or can it be developed?
Leaders are both born and made.
5. What is the greatest challenge a leader faces?
His ego.
6. What is the worst fault a leader can have or the worst error he can make?
To Misuse his power.
7. Where does a leader derive his power from?
From his conscience. Ultimately, from God.
8. What are the three qualities an excellent leader has?
Character, competence and service attitude.
9. Which one is most essential and why?
Character, because he will serve based on principles (God's laws).
One who takes responsibility.
2. What is the crucial difference between a leader and a manager?
You lead people and manage things. Leadership is doing the right things. Management is doing things right.
3. Can someone be a good leader but not a good manager?
Yes.
4. Is leadership an inborn quality or can it be developed?
Leaders are both born and made.
5. What is the greatest challenge a leader faces?
His ego.
6. What is the worst fault a leader can have or the worst error he can make?
To Misuse his power.
7. Where does a leader derive his power from?
From his conscience. Ultimately, from God.
8. What are the three qualities an excellent leader has?
Character, competence and service attitude.
9. Which one is most essential and why?
Character, because he will serve based on principles (God's laws).
SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE
The successful execution of Krsna conscious activities requires both patience and confidence.
A newly married girl naturally expects offspring from her husband, but she cannot expect to have them immediately after marriage.
Of course, as soon as she is married she can attempt to get a child, but she must surrender to her husband, confident that her child will develop and be born in due time.
Similarly, in devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident.
The devotee thinks, avasya raksibe krsna: "Krsna will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service."
This is called confidence.
- Srila Prabhupada
A newly married girl naturally expects offspring from her husband, but she cannot expect to have them immediately after marriage.
Of course, as soon as she is married she can attempt to get a child, but she must surrender to her husband, confident that her child will develop and be born in due time.
Similarly, in devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident.
The devotee thinks, avasya raksibe krsna: "Krsna will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service."
This is called confidence.
- Srila Prabhupada
RUNAROUND DILLEMA
Because we don't know what is really important to us, everything seems important.
Because everything seems important, we have to do everything.
Other people, unfortunately, see us as doing everything, so they expect us to do everything.
Doing everything keeps us so busy that we don't have time to think what is really important to us.
- Anonymous
Because everything seems important, we have to do everything.
Other people, unfortunately, see us as doing everything, so they expect us to do everything.
Doing everything keeps us so busy that we don't have time to think what is really important to us.
- Anonymous
FOR OTHERS ALSO
To achieve the ultimate goal of sreyas, or good fortune, one should engage everything, including his life, wealth and words, not only for himself but for others also. However, unless one is interested in sreyas in his own life, he cannot preach of sreyas for the benefit of others.
...
The Bhagavatam says that it is the duty of an advanced human being to act in such a way as to facilitate human society's attainment of the ultimate goal of life.
- Srila Prabhupada
...
The Bhagavatam says that it is the duty of an advanced human being to act in such a way as to facilitate human society's attainment of the ultimate goal of life.
- Srila Prabhupada
ONE MOON IS SUFFICIENT
Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah.
If one disciple is enlivened with Krsna consciousness, he can work as the moon.
Otherwise so many foolish followers, what they'll do?
Just like stars.
Thousands and millions of stars, they cannot do anything.
One moon is sufficient.
Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah.
So this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not required that everyone will be follower.
That is not possible, because it is very difficult.
But still, if one follower, sincere follower is there, it will go on.
It will go on.
Nobody can stop it.
[The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, January 9, 1973]
If one disciple is enlivened with Krsna consciousness, he can work as the moon.
Otherwise so many foolish followers, what they'll do?
Just like stars.
Thousands and millions of stars, they cannot do anything.
One moon is sufficient.
Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah.
So this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not required that everyone will be follower.
That is not possible, because it is very difficult.
But still, if one follower, sincere follower is there, it will go on.
It will go on.
Nobody can stop it.
[The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, January 9, 1973]
EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT
The Krsna consciousness movement introduced by Lord Caitanya is extremely important because one who takes to it becomes eternal, being freed from birth, death and old age.
People do not recognize that the real distresses in life are the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease.
They are so foolish that they resign themselves to these four miseries, not knowing the transcendental remedy of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from all misery, but because they are enchanted by the illusory energy, people do not take this movement seriously.
Therefore those who are actually servants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must seriously distribute this movement all over the world to render the greatest benefit to human society.
Of course, animals and other lower species are not capable of understanding this movement, but if even a small number of human beings take it seriously, then by their chanting loudly, all living entities, including even trees, animals and other lower species, will be benefited.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired from Haridasa Thakura how he was to benefit living entities other than humans, Srila Haridasa Thakura replied that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is so potent that if it is chanted loudly, everyone will benefit, including the lower species of life.
- Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 9.39 Purport
People do not recognize that the real distresses in life are the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease.
They are so foolish that they resign themselves to these four miseries, not knowing the transcendental remedy of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from all misery, but because they are enchanted by the illusory energy, people do not take this movement seriously.
Therefore those who are actually servants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must seriously distribute this movement all over the world to render the greatest benefit to human society.
Of course, animals and other lower species are not capable of understanding this movement, but if even a small number of human beings take it seriously, then by their chanting loudly, all living entities, including even trees, animals and other lower species, will be benefited.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired from Haridasa Thakura how he was to benefit living entities other than humans, Srila Haridasa Thakura replied that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is so potent that if it is chanted loudly, everyone will benefit, including the lower species of life.
- Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 9.39 Purport
IF THERE IS ONE MOON
Why a few selected persons come here? Because it requires background of pious activities. Otherwise it is not possible. We do not expect that cent percent of people will become Krsna conscious. That is not possible. But if there is one ideal Krsna conscious person, he can do benefit to many thousands. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. If there is one moon in the sky, he can illuminate the whole universe, na ca tarah sahasrasah, not these twinkling stars. It is not possible.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976
AT LEAST TEN PERCENT
At least, ten percent of the population become Krsna consciousness -- there is guarantee, peace in the world. Because ekas candra...
We do not require many moons in the sky.
Only one moon is sufficient to drive away the darkness.
Varam eka guni putra na ca murkha-satair api.
Canakya Pandita says, "It is better to have a qualified son than to have hundreds of fools."
So the modern civilization is going on in that way, godless civilization.
If some percentage of the civilized human beings become Krsna conscious, that will bring forth peace.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966
We do not require many moons in the sky.
Only one moon is sufficient to drive away the darkness.
Varam eka guni putra na ca murkha-satair api.
Canakya Pandita says, "It is better to have a qualified son than to have hundreds of fools."
So the modern civilization is going on in that way, godless civilization.
If some percentage of the civilized human beings become Krsna conscious, that will bring forth peace.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966
HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL LIFE
The secondary rules are of three types: rules regarding self; rules regarding society; rules regarding the afterlife. Rules regarding the self are of two categories: those for the body and those for the mind. Those rules to keep a person's body properly nourished so that they can remain healthy are the bodily rules. Such things as regulated drinking, eating, sleeping, exercise, and for sickness, prescriptions for cure, are bodily rules.
If people do not follow these rules, they cannot pass through life smoothly. If they do not follow the mental rules, their power of realization, concentration, imagination, contemplation and judgment will be weak and will not properly function. There will be no advancement in arts and sciences, and moreover one will not be able to take the mind from material thoughts and direct it to thoughts of God. As a result, sinful thoughts and atheistic attitude will dominate the mind; finally a person will become no better than a beast. Therefore these bodily and mental rules are very necessary for success in human life.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Siksamrta
If people do not follow these rules, they cannot pass through life smoothly. If they do not follow the mental rules, their power of realization, concentration, imagination, contemplation and judgment will be weak and will not properly function. There will be no advancement in arts and sciences, and moreover one will not be able to take the mind from material thoughts and direct it to thoughts of God. As a result, sinful thoughts and atheistic attitude will dominate the mind; finally a person will become no better than a beast. Therefore these bodily and mental rules are very necessary for success in human life.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Siksamrta
COOL FRIENDS: SOUMYA
I would like to share with you a couple of incidents in my initial days of Krishna consciousness. Krishna's holy names are not different from Krishna. It has great power in strength ... sweet in taste. Everybody enjoys it if they attentively chant. It even attracts little kids to become Krishna conscious without parents' intervention.
I started practicing Krishna consciousness three years back. By the mercy of Radha Mohan Prabhu who was my colleague in the office, I came to know about Hare Krishna movement and Krishna consciousness.
Radha Mohan Prabhu brought beads for me from Vrindavan and I started my chanting at home. My daughter Soumya who was five years old at that time used to observe me chanting daily. Once she asked me that she wants to chant on beads. I discouraged her and told her that she is too young and she can't hold the beads properly. Also I tried to convince her that once she grows up she can start chanting.
The next day I observed that Soumya drew 108 boxes on the white paper and marking each box while chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. I was very surprised with her idea and strong desire to chant Maha Mantra. After completing her round of chanting I asked her how she got that idea. She replied, “Dad, you told me that since I am just five years old, I can't hold the beads properly. So I got this idea of drawing 108 boxes and marking each box while chanting. In this way I can count 108 times without holding beads. I think you have no objection now.”
I then realized the power and taste of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
I still remember, that day was Friday and we had a Bhagavad-gita class at Dinabandhu Prabhu's house. I told Dinabandhu Prabhu about Soumya's chanting and asked him whether it is ok to encourage kids to chant at this age. Dinabandhu Prabhu told me that we should encourage kids to chant if they have that desire and he gave beads with bead bag to Soumya. By the blessings of that great devotee, from that day my little daughter started chanting and practicing Krishna consciousness for the past three years.
This is really a wonderful experience in my life to realize that there is no age limit and everybody enjoys Hare Krishna Maha Mantra once they taste it.
Soumya’s Preaching
Soumya used to prepare gift cards in MS Word or Paint Brush with Krishna’s picture and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. When I made a printout of those cards at my office, she used give these cards as gifts to her friends. When I asked her why she is giving them, she said, “This is one way of preaching. My friends who are Muslims and Christians and don't know about Krishna will see Krishna's beautiful face and read the Maha Mantra written on the card at least once. It gives them some spiritual benefit.”
I was quite surprised by her answer. We never taught her to do like that. I think that is because of the mercy of great devotees and the Supreme Lord.
(Written by Radha Vinoda dasa, ISKCON Manchester, UK)
I started practicing Krishna consciousness three years back. By the mercy of Radha Mohan Prabhu who was my colleague in the office, I came to know about Hare Krishna movement and Krishna consciousness.
Radha Mohan Prabhu brought beads for me from Vrindavan and I started my chanting at home. My daughter Soumya who was five years old at that time used to observe me chanting daily. Once she asked me that she wants to chant on beads. I discouraged her and told her that she is too young and she can't hold the beads properly. Also I tried to convince her that once she grows up she can start chanting.
The next day I observed that Soumya drew 108 boxes on the white paper and marking each box while chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. I was very surprised with her idea and strong desire to chant Maha Mantra. After completing her round of chanting I asked her how she got that idea. She replied, “Dad, you told me that since I am just five years old, I can't hold the beads properly. So I got this idea of drawing 108 boxes and marking each box while chanting. In this way I can count 108 times without holding beads. I think you have no objection now.”
I then realized the power and taste of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
I still remember, that day was Friday and we had a Bhagavad-gita class at Dinabandhu Prabhu's house. I told Dinabandhu Prabhu about Soumya's chanting and asked him whether it is ok to encourage kids to chant at this age. Dinabandhu Prabhu told me that we should encourage kids to chant if they have that desire and he gave beads with bead bag to Soumya. By the blessings of that great devotee, from that day my little daughter started chanting and practicing Krishna consciousness for the past three years.
This is really a wonderful experience in my life to realize that there is no age limit and everybody enjoys Hare Krishna Maha Mantra once they taste it.
Soumya’s Preaching
Soumya used to prepare gift cards in MS Word or Paint Brush with Krishna’s picture and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. When I made a printout of those cards at my office, she used give these cards as gifts to her friends. When I asked her why she is giving them, she said, “This is one way of preaching. My friends who are Muslims and Christians and don't know about Krishna will see Krishna's beautiful face and read the Maha Mantra written on the card at least once. It gives them some spiritual benefit.”
I was quite surprised by her answer. We never taught her to do like that. I think that is because of the mercy of great devotees and the Supreme Lord.
(Written by Radha Vinoda dasa, ISKCON Manchester, UK)
I DON'T WANT MILLIONS
I want one student who follows my instruction. I don't want millions. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara-sahasrasah. If there is one moon in the sky, that is sufficient for illumination. There is no need of millions of stars. So my position is that I want to see that at least one disciple has become pure devotee. Of course, I have got many sincere and pure devotees. That is my good luck. But I would have been satisfied if I could find out one only. There is no need of so-called millions of stars.
Srila Prabhupada, Arrival Lecture -- San Francisco, July 15, 1975
Srila Prabhupada, Arrival Lecture -- San Francisco, July 15, 1975
ACRES OF DIAMONDS
An old African farmer became very excited one day upon hearing from a traveling merchant of men who had gone off into Africa, discovered diamond mines and become fabulously wealthy. He decided to sell off his farm, organize a caravan, and read into the vast interior of Africa to find diamonds so he could crown his life with fabulous wealth.
For many years, he searched the vast African continent for diamonds. Eventually, he ran out of money and was abandoned by everyone. Finally, alone, in a fit of despair, he threw himself into the ocean and drowned.
Meanwhile, back on the farm that he had sold, the new farmer was out watering a donkey one day in a stream that cut across the farm. He found a strange stone that threw off light in a remarkable way. He took it into the house and thought no more of it. Some months later the same merchant, traveling on business, stopped for the night at the farm. When he saw the stone, he grew very excited and asked if the old farmer had finally returned. No, he was told, the old farmer had never been seen again, but why was he so excited?
The merchant picked up the stone and said, "This is a diamond of great price and value." The new farmer was skeptical, but the merchant insisted that he show him where he had found the dia mond. They went out on the farm to where the farmer had been watering the donkey, and as they looked around, they found an other diamond, and another, and another. It turned out that the whole farm was covered with acres of diamonds. The old farmer had gone off into Africa seeking for diamonds without ever looking under his own feet.
The moral to this story was that the old farmer did not realize that diamonds do not look like diamonds in their rough form. They simply look like rocks to the uneducated eye. A diamond must be cut, faceted, polished and set before it looks like the kind of dia mond that you see in the jewelry stores.
Likewise, your acres of diamonds probably lie right under your own feet. But they are usually disguised as hard work. "Opportuni ties come dressed in work clothes."
Your acres of diamonds probably lie in your own talents, your interests, your education, your background and experience, your industry, your city, your contacts. Your acres of diamonds probably lie right under your own feet if you will take the time to recognize them and then go to work on them.
Remember the words I quoted earlier from Theodore Roose velt who said, "Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are." You don't need to move across the country or to make a major upheaval in your life. In most cases, what you are looking for is right at your fingertips. But it doesn't look like an opportunity on the surface. In many cases, your great opportunity will simply look like hard, hard work.
(From "Maximum Achievement" by Brian Tracy)
For many years, he searched the vast African continent for diamonds. Eventually, he ran out of money and was abandoned by everyone. Finally, alone, in a fit of despair, he threw himself into the ocean and drowned.
Meanwhile, back on the farm that he had sold, the new farmer was out watering a donkey one day in a stream that cut across the farm. He found a strange stone that threw off light in a remarkable way. He took it into the house and thought no more of it. Some months later the same merchant, traveling on business, stopped for the night at the farm. When he saw the stone, he grew very excited and asked if the old farmer had finally returned. No, he was told, the old farmer had never been seen again, but why was he so excited?
The merchant picked up the stone and said, "This is a diamond of great price and value." The new farmer was skeptical, but the merchant insisted that he show him where he had found the dia mond. They went out on the farm to where the farmer had been watering the donkey, and as they looked around, they found an other diamond, and another, and another. It turned out that the whole farm was covered with acres of diamonds. The old farmer had gone off into Africa seeking for diamonds without ever looking under his own feet.
The moral to this story was that the old farmer did not realize that diamonds do not look like diamonds in their rough form. They simply look like rocks to the uneducated eye. A diamond must be cut, faceted, polished and set before it looks like the kind of dia mond that you see in the jewelry stores.
Likewise, your acres of diamonds probably lie right under your own feet. But they are usually disguised as hard work. "Opportuni ties come dressed in work clothes."
Your acres of diamonds probably lie in your own talents, your interests, your education, your background and experience, your industry, your city, your contacts. Your acres of diamonds probably lie right under your own feet if you will take the time to recognize them and then go to work on them.
Remember the words I quoted earlier from Theodore Roose velt who said, "Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are." You don't need to move across the country or to make a major upheaval in your life. In most cases, what you are looking for is right at your fingertips. But it doesn't look like an opportunity on the surface. In many cases, your great opportunity will simply look like hard, hard work.
(From "Maximum Achievement" by Brian Tracy)
SELF
Sukadeva Gosvami told Maharaja Pariksit that every living entity is actually most attached to his own self. Outward paraphernalia such as home, family, friends, country, society, wealth, opulence and reputation are all only secondary in pleasing the living entity. They please only because they bring pleasure to the self. For this reason, one is self-centered and is attached to his body and self more than he is to relatives like wife, children and friends. If there is some immediate danger to one's own person, he first of all takes care of himself, then others. That is natural. That means he loves his own self more than anything else.
The next important object of affection, after his own self, is his material body. A person who has no information of the spirit soul is very much attached to his material body, so much so that even in old age he wants to preserve the body in so many artificial ways, thinking that his old and broken body can be saved. Everyone is working hard day and night just to give pleasure to his own self, under either the bodily or spiritual concept of life. We are attached to material possessions because they give pleasure to the senses or to the body. The attachment to the body is there only because the "I," the spirit soul, is within the body.
Similarly, when one is further advanced, he knows that the spirit soul is pleasing because it is part and parcel of Krsna. Ultimately, it is Krsna who is pleasing and all-attractive. He is the Supersoul of everything. And in order to give us this information, Krsna descends and tells us that the all-attractive center is He Himself. Without being an expansion of Krsna, nothing can be attractive.
Krsna Book 14: Prayers Offered by Lord Brahma to Lord Krsna
The next important object of affection, after his own self, is his material body. A person who has no information of the spirit soul is very much attached to his material body, so much so that even in old age he wants to preserve the body in so many artificial ways, thinking that his old and broken body can be saved. Everyone is working hard day and night just to give pleasure to his own self, under either the bodily or spiritual concept of life. We are attached to material possessions because they give pleasure to the senses or to the body. The attachment to the body is there only because the "I," the spirit soul, is within the body.
Similarly, when one is further advanced, he knows that the spirit soul is pleasing because it is part and parcel of Krsna. Ultimately, it is Krsna who is pleasing and all-attractive. He is the Supersoul of everything. And in order to give us this information, Krsna descends and tells us that the all-attractive center is He Himself. Without being an expansion of Krsna, nothing can be attractive.
Krsna Book 14: Prayers Offered by Lord Brahma to Lord Krsna
THAT IS THE TEST
If you accept bhagavad-bhakti-yoga, devotional service to the Lord, you shall be prasanna-manasa. You shall be always feeling jolly. If I am not jolly, if I am not prasanna-manasa, that means maya has attacked me. A bhagavad-bhakta shall never be aprasanna, not joyful. Always joyful. If he is actually in contact with Krsna, how he can become morose? No. If he is morose, if he is unhappy, that means maya has attacked him. This is the test. ...
Spiritual life means anandamaya. There is no displeasure. Always ananda. That is spiritual life. Spiritual life means ananda, and material life means anxiety. You can distinguish. If you are always put into anxiety, that is material life. And if you are always jolly, that is spiritual life. Anandamayo 'bhyasat.
Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.20 -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972
Spiritual life means anandamaya. There is no displeasure. Always ananda. That is spiritual life. Spiritual life means ananda, and material life means anxiety. You can distinguish. If you are always put into anxiety, that is material life. And if you are always jolly, that is spiritual life. Anandamayo 'bhyasat.
Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.20 -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972
SUCCESS
We have to purify our existence, and get out of this repetition of birth and death. That is success of life.
We are all parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. Therefore our business is to act in such a way that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied. That is success of life.
If you simply try to understand Krsna, the, His transcendental appearance, disappearance, activities, if you try to understand, then your life is success.
The highest perfection is that when you understand God and you are in love with God. That is success.
When there is pure chanting, that is success.
The successful life means to make our consciousness changed into Krsna consciousness.
If you somehow or other you can remember about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, about His activities, about His form, about His name, anything, form, name, quality, paraphernalia, anything, if you can remember, then that is success of your life.
The success is if we can remember Narayana at the end of life.
- Srila Prabhupada
We are all parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. Therefore our business is to act in such a way that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied. That is success of life.
If you simply try to understand Krsna, the, His transcendental appearance, disappearance, activities, if you try to understand, then your life is success.
The highest perfection is that when you understand God and you are in love with God. That is success.
When there is pure chanting, that is success.
The successful life means to make our consciousness changed into Krsna consciousness.
If you somehow or other you can remember about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, about His activities, about His form, about His name, anything, form, name, quality, paraphernalia, anything, if you can remember, then that is success of your life.
The success is if we can remember Narayana at the end of life.
- Srila Prabhupada
EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE
There are no coincidences. Because the universe is controlling higher agencies, each encounter has come to us for a particular reason. We are subject to a spiritual law similar to a law of physics: every action produces a corresponding reaction. Therefore, we can try to discover the lesson in every occurrence. The exercise is to turn negative events into positive ones and positive events into even better ones. If we learn from all events, then everything that happens can become a positive occurrence because we have become wiser.
Bhakti-tirtha Swami
Bhakti-tirtha Swami
QUEEN OF DENIAL
Have you ever known anyone who thought that if they ignored it, it would go away? I call people like that the Queen or King of Denial. Denying that something doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. Usually, it only makes it worst. The first step in solving an issue is to acknowledge that it is there.
The longer we ignore a situation the longer it will persist. Usually, the longer we ignore it, the worse it gets, until what started out as a small problem escalates into a major problem. I certainly have played the role of Queen of Denial from time to time. I actually can be very good at it. Unfortunately, reality has a way of catching up with me and it is never pretty. My lesson from this is that denying a problem doesn't exist, doesn't make it go away. It simply allows it to get worse. If we handle situations when they come up, we can avoid the problem that ignoring them creates.
A dear friend ignored the pains in her stomach for years. When she finally could no longer make the pain go away by drinking bottles of that chalky stuff, she went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with
stomach cancer and died several months later. Ignoring the signs of a problem will not make the problem go away. If life is giving you warning signals, don't ignore them. Listen to what they have to tell
you and handle whatever it is in the moment. It will save you in the end.
Coaching
Sometimes it may seem like it is easier to ignore a problem than to face it and take care of it, but it is always better to handle it than wait. Waiting only causes more fear and frustration to build up within
us. Denying something doesn't make it go away. By ignoring the situation, we are allowing it to grow and get worse. Facing the problem head on and dealing with it is best. That way we do not let it
become a crisis.
- Rachelle Disbennett Lee
http://365daysofcoaching.com
The longer we ignore a situation the longer it will persist. Usually, the longer we ignore it, the worse it gets, until what started out as a small problem escalates into a major problem. I certainly have played the role of Queen of Denial from time to time. I actually can be very good at it. Unfortunately, reality has a way of catching up with me and it is never pretty. My lesson from this is that denying a problem doesn't exist, doesn't make it go away. It simply allows it to get worse. If we handle situations when they come up, we can avoid the problem that ignoring them creates.
A dear friend ignored the pains in her stomach for years. When she finally could no longer make the pain go away by drinking bottles of that chalky stuff, she went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with
stomach cancer and died several months later. Ignoring the signs of a problem will not make the problem go away. If life is giving you warning signals, don't ignore them. Listen to what they have to tell
you and handle whatever it is in the moment. It will save you in the end.
Coaching
Sometimes it may seem like it is easier to ignore a problem than to face it and take care of it, but it is always better to handle it than wait. Waiting only causes more fear and frustration to build up within
us. Denying something doesn't make it go away. By ignoring the situation, we are allowing it to grow and get worse. Facing the problem head on and dealing with it is best. That way we do not let it
become a crisis.
- Rachelle Disbennett Lee
http://365daysofcoaching.com
IN HIS OWN WAY
Everyone has got some way he can contribute himself for serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, everyone. Now conduct your preaching in such a way that when anyone becomes attracted to get something from us he may be induced or allured into serving Krishna in his own way as he likes to do it, not being forced to do something else he may not like to do, that will discourage him and no intelligent men will come.
- Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Bhagavan, Ahmedabad 13 December, 1972
- Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Bhagavan, Ahmedabad 13 December, 1972
THE GOLDEN HEART
The heart of one who is highly elevated and grave is compared to gold. If one's heart is very soft and gentle, his heart is compared to a cotton swab. When there is an ecstatic sensation within the mind, the golden heart or grave heart is not agitated, but the soft heart immediately becomes agitated.
To offer another example, a grave, magnanimous heart is compared to a great city, and a soft heart to an insignificant cottage. There may be many lights, or even great elephants in the big city, but no one will take particular notice of them. But when such lights or elephants are seen near a small cottage, everyone can distinctly point them out.
A hard heart is compared to a lightning bolt, to gold and to shellac. The lightning bolt is very strong and never becomes soft. Similarly, the hearts of those who are engaged in severe austerities and penances do not become very easily softened. The golden heart becomes melted at high temperature, as in ecstatic love. And the shellac heart is very easily melted in slight temperature.
A soft heart is compared to honey, to butter and to nectar. And the condition of the mind is compared to sunshine. As honey and butter become melted even in slight sunshine, softhearted persons become easily melted. Nectar, however, is by its nature always liquid. And the hearts of those who are in pure ecstatic love with Krsna are by nature always liquified, just like nectar.
A pure devotee of Krsna is always specifically qualified with nectarean qualifications and sometimes with the qualifications of butter and honey. On the whole, the heart in any of the different conditions mentioned above can be melted under certain circumstances, just as a hard diamond is sometimes melted by a combination of certain chemicals. In the Dana-keli-kaumudi it is stated, "When love develops in the heart of a devotee, he cannot check the transformation of his sentiments. His heart is just like the ocean at the rising of the moon, when the ebb tide cannot be checked: immediately there must be movement of high waves." Although in its natural state the ocean is always grave and unfathomable, when the moon rises, nothing can check the ocean's agitation. Similarly, those who are pure devotees cannot on any account check the movement of their feelings within.
- Srila Prabhupada, Nectar Of Devotion
To offer another example, a grave, magnanimous heart is compared to a great city, and a soft heart to an insignificant cottage. There may be many lights, or even great elephants in the big city, but no one will take particular notice of them. But when such lights or elephants are seen near a small cottage, everyone can distinctly point them out.
A hard heart is compared to a lightning bolt, to gold and to shellac. The lightning bolt is very strong and never becomes soft. Similarly, the hearts of those who are engaged in severe austerities and penances do not become very easily softened. The golden heart becomes melted at high temperature, as in ecstatic love. And the shellac heart is very easily melted in slight temperature.
A soft heart is compared to honey, to butter and to nectar. And the condition of the mind is compared to sunshine. As honey and butter become melted even in slight sunshine, softhearted persons become easily melted. Nectar, however, is by its nature always liquid. And the hearts of those who are in pure ecstatic love with Krsna are by nature always liquified, just like nectar.
A pure devotee of Krsna is always specifically qualified with nectarean qualifications and sometimes with the qualifications of butter and honey. On the whole, the heart in any of the different conditions mentioned above can be melted under certain circumstances, just as a hard diamond is sometimes melted by a combination of certain chemicals. In the Dana-keli-kaumudi it is stated, "When love develops in the heart of a devotee, he cannot check the transformation of his sentiments. His heart is just like the ocean at the rising of the moon, when the ebb tide cannot be checked: immediately there must be movement of high waves." Although in its natural state the ocean is always grave and unfathomable, when the moon rises, nothing can check the ocean's agitation. Similarly, those who are pure devotees cannot on any account check the movement of their feelings within.
- Srila Prabhupada, Nectar Of Devotion
YOUR SITUATION TODAY
Imagine if you would have the understanding that your situation today is exactly what you need at this moment for your own personal growth and development and your spiritual advancement.
Every part of your life is exactly as it should be.
Everything you are facing or you are dealing with contains within it possibilities that you can to turn to your own advantage to achieve the kind of life you want.
Whatever it may be, you can use your current experience as a springboard, rather than sitting there and whishing the things will improve.
How?
You need ideas.
Great ideas and their application are key to your bright future.
Every part of your life is exactly as it should be.
Everything you are facing or you are dealing with contains within it possibilities that you can to turn to your own advantage to achieve the kind of life you want.
Whatever it may be, you can use your current experience as a springboard, rather than sitting there and whishing the things will improve.
How?
You need ideas.
Great ideas and their application are key to your bright future.
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
1. Organize and execute around your highest priorities
2. Ask yourself often during the day: What is the most valuable use of my time - right now.
3. Manage time based on relationships not tasks
2. Ask yourself often during the day: What is the most valuable use of my time - right now.
3. Manage time based on relationships not tasks
10 WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA
1. Develop a deep, driving desire to master the principles given in the Bhagavad Gita.
2. Read each chapter twice before going to the next one.
3. As you read, stop frequently to ask yourself how you can apply each instruction.
4. Write down instructions most relevan to you in your journal and read them every day.
5. Review the Bhagavad Gita each month.
6. Apply the Bhagavad Gita's principles at every opportunity. Use it as a working handbook to help you solve your daily problems.
7. Make a lively game out of your learning by offering some friend a dollar every time he catches you violating one of Bhagavad Gita's principles.
8. Check up each week on the progress you are making. Ask yourself what mistakes you have made, what improvement, and what lessons you have learned for the future.
9. Keep a journal showing how and when you have applied Bhagavad Gita's principles.
10. Teach the Bhagavad Gita as much as possible.
And take Gita Coaching in order to apply the Gita effectively in all areas.
2. Read each chapter twice before going to the next one.
3. As you read, stop frequently to ask yourself how you can apply each instruction.
4. Write down instructions most relevan to you in your journal and read them every day.
5. Review the Bhagavad Gita each month.
6. Apply the Bhagavad Gita's principles at every opportunity. Use it as a working handbook to help you solve your daily problems.
7. Make a lively game out of your learning by offering some friend a dollar every time he catches you violating one of Bhagavad Gita's principles.
8. Check up each week on the progress you are making. Ask yourself what mistakes you have made, what improvement, and what lessons you have learned for the future.
9. Keep a journal showing how and when you have applied Bhagavad Gita's principles.
10. Teach the Bhagavad Gita as much as possible.
And take Gita Coaching in order to apply the Gita effectively in all areas.
23 ways of how can you have a great relationship with your spouse
By Amarananda dasa
1- Listening to each other, it should be done in attentive way otherwise the other side will feel that you are just pretending for hearing but your mind is in somewhere else!!!!
2- Tolerating one’s faults, limits, lacks, and sudden changes in one’s mood. Tolerating comes from believe that everything will change and will be alright. Everything is temporary in this world.
3- Clarifying what is hard to be tolerated and if that happens then try to react in the sweetest way and try to manifest the best aspect of personality.
4- To have trips and vacation together.
5- Showing empathy and sympathy to each other at the time of need.
6- Cooking nice Prasadam together.
7- To have a loving exchange. (Sweat words, gifts and …)
8- Visiting families and friends some times.
9- Helping each other for progressing in spiritual life by encouraging and supporting each other to have qualitative Sadhana.
10- At the time of sickness, disturbances and so on, try to be with and take care.
11- Show love or at least respect to both sides family members.
12- Show respect to both sides friends.
13- Go biking, hiking, swimming and etc together.
14- Invite devotees, serve them, provide lovely environment for their pleasure.
15- Try to be strong in ups and downs.
16- Try to associate with Gurus, Sadhus and devotees as mush as possible.
17- Try to create an acceptable financial security that could cover the living’s costs and trips.
18- To have a vision of doing especial service that will be extremely pleasing for spiritual master and Sirla Prabhupada.
19- To translate spiritual books, articles and so on that those are useful and important for everyone’s progress.
20- To learn some musical instruments that can play together.
21- taking care of bodily health, appearance and cleanliness of each other.
22- When both sides are agreed, have a child!
23- Try to learn how to forgive each other and be merciful.
1- Listening to each other, it should be done in attentive way otherwise the other side will feel that you are just pretending for hearing but your mind is in somewhere else!!!!
2- Tolerating one’s faults, limits, lacks, and sudden changes in one’s mood. Tolerating comes from believe that everything will change and will be alright. Everything is temporary in this world.
3- Clarifying what is hard to be tolerated and if that happens then try to react in the sweetest way and try to manifest the best aspect of personality.
4- To have trips and vacation together.
5- Showing empathy and sympathy to each other at the time of need.
6- Cooking nice Prasadam together.
7- To have a loving exchange. (Sweat words, gifts and …)
8- Visiting families and friends some times.
9- Helping each other for progressing in spiritual life by encouraging and supporting each other to have qualitative Sadhana.
10- At the time of sickness, disturbances and so on, try to be with and take care.
11- Show love or at least respect to both sides family members.
12- Show respect to both sides friends.
13- Go biking, hiking, swimming and etc together.
14- Invite devotees, serve them, provide lovely environment for their pleasure.
15- Try to be strong in ups and downs.
16- Try to associate with Gurus, Sadhus and devotees as mush as possible.
17- Try to create an acceptable financial security that could cover the living’s costs and trips.
18- To have a vision of doing especial service that will be extremely pleasing for spiritual master and Sirla Prabhupada.
19- To translate spiritual books, articles and so on that those are useful and important for everyone’s progress.
20- To learn some musical instruments that can play together.
21- taking care of bodily health, appearance and cleanliness of each other.
22- When both sides are agreed, have a child!
23- Try to learn how to forgive each other and be merciful.
Krishna Consciousness Is All-auspicious
Srila Rupa Gosvami has given a definition of auspiciousness. He says that actual auspiciousness means welfare activities for all the people of the world. At the present moment groups of people are engaged in welfare activities in terms of society, community or nation. There is even an attempt in the form of the United Nations for world-help activity. But due to the shortcomings of limited national activities, such a general mass welfare program for the whole world is not practically possible. The Krishna consciousness movement, however, is so nice that it can render the highest benefit to the entire human race. Everyone can be attracted by this movement, and everyone can feel the result. Therefore, Rupa Gosvami and other learned scholars agree that a broad propaganda program for the Krishna consciousness movement of devotional service all over the world is the highest humanitarian welfare activity.
How the Krishna consciousness movement can attract the attention of the whole world and how each and every man can feel pleasure in this Krishna consciousness is stated in the Padma Purana as follows: "A person who is engaged in devotional service in full Krishna consciousness is to be understood to be doing the best service to the whole world and to be pleasing everyone in the world. In addition to human society, he is pleasing even the trees and animals, because they also become attracted by such a movement." A practical example of this was shown by Lord Caitanya when He was traveling through the forests of Jharikhanda in central India for spreading His sankirtana movement. The tigers, the elephants, the deer and all the other wild animals joined Him and were participating, in their own ways, by dancing and chanting Hare Krishna.
Furthermore, a person engaged in Krishna consciousness, acting in devotional service, can develop all the good qualities that are generally found in the demigods. It is said by Sukadeva Gosvami in the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eighteenth Chapter, verse 12, "My dear King, persons who have unflinching faith in Krishna and are without any duplicity can develop all the good qualities of the demigods. On account of a devotee's high grade of Krishna consciousness, even the demigods like to live with him, and therefore it can be understood that the qualities of the demigods have developed within his body."
On the other hand, a person who is not in Krishna consciousness has no good qualities. He may be highly educated from the academic point of view, but in the actual field of his activities he can be seen to be baser than the animals. Even though a person is highly educated academically, if he cannot go beyond the sphere of mental activities then he is sure to perform only material activities and thus remain impure. There are so many persons in the modern world who have been highly educated in the materialistic universities, but it is seen that they cannot take up the movement of Krishna consciousness and develop the high qualities of the demigods.
For example, a Krishna conscious boy, even if he is not very well educated by the university standard, can immediately give up all illicit sex life, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication, whereas those who are not in Krishna consciousness, although very highly educated, are often drunkards, meat-eaters, sexmongers and gamblers. These are practical proofs of how a Krishna conscious person becomes highly developed in good qualities, whereas a person who is not in Krishna consciousness cannot do so. We experience that even a young boy in Krishna consciousness is unattached to cinemas, nightclubs, naked dance shows, restaurants, liquor shops, etc. He becomes completely freed. He saves his valuable time from being extravagantly spent in the way of smoking, drinking, attending the theater and dancing.
One who is not in Krishna consciousness usually cannot sit silently even for half an hour. The yoga system teaches that if you become silent you will realize that you are God. This system may be all right for materialistic persons, but how long will they be able to keep themselves silent? Artificially, they may sit down for so-called meditation, but immediately after their yogic performance they will engage themselves again in such activities as illicit sex life, gambling, meat-eating and many other nonsensical things. But a Krishna conscious person gradually elevates himself without endeavoring for this so-called silent meditation. Simply because he is engaged in Krishna consciousness he automatically gives up all this nonsense and develops a high character. One develops the highest character by becoming a pure devotee of Krishna. The conclusion is that no one can truly have any good qualities if he is lacking Krishna consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada, Nectar Of Devotion
How the Krishna consciousness movement can attract the attention of the whole world and how each and every man can feel pleasure in this Krishna consciousness is stated in the Padma Purana as follows: "A person who is engaged in devotional service in full Krishna consciousness is to be understood to be doing the best service to the whole world and to be pleasing everyone in the world. In addition to human society, he is pleasing even the trees and animals, because they also become attracted by such a movement." A practical example of this was shown by Lord Caitanya when He was traveling through the forests of Jharikhanda in central India for spreading His sankirtana movement. The tigers, the elephants, the deer and all the other wild animals joined Him and were participating, in their own ways, by dancing and chanting Hare Krishna.
Furthermore, a person engaged in Krishna consciousness, acting in devotional service, can develop all the good qualities that are generally found in the demigods. It is said by Sukadeva Gosvami in the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eighteenth Chapter, verse 12, "My dear King, persons who have unflinching faith in Krishna and are without any duplicity can develop all the good qualities of the demigods. On account of a devotee's high grade of Krishna consciousness, even the demigods like to live with him, and therefore it can be understood that the qualities of the demigods have developed within his body."
On the other hand, a person who is not in Krishna consciousness has no good qualities. He may be highly educated from the academic point of view, but in the actual field of his activities he can be seen to be baser than the animals. Even though a person is highly educated academically, if he cannot go beyond the sphere of mental activities then he is sure to perform only material activities and thus remain impure. There are so many persons in the modern world who have been highly educated in the materialistic universities, but it is seen that they cannot take up the movement of Krishna consciousness and develop the high qualities of the demigods.
For example, a Krishna conscious boy, even if he is not very well educated by the university standard, can immediately give up all illicit sex life, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication, whereas those who are not in Krishna consciousness, although very highly educated, are often drunkards, meat-eaters, sexmongers and gamblers. These are practical proofs of how a Krishna conscious person becomes highly developed in good qualities, whereas a person who is not in Krishna consciousness cannot do so. We experience that even a young boy in Krishna consciousness is unattached to cinemas, nightclubs, naked dance shows, restaurants, liquor shops, etc. He becomes completely freed. He saves his valuable time from being extravagantly spent in the way of smoking, drinking, attending the theater and dancing.
One who is not in Krishna consciousness usually cannot sit silently even for half an hour. The yoga system teaches that if you become silent you will realize that you are God. This system may be all right for materialistic persons, but how long will they be able to keep themselves silent? Artificially, they may sit down for so-called meditation, but immediately after their yogic performance they will engage themselves again in such activities as illicit sex life, gambling, meat-eating and many other nonsensical things. But a Krishna conscious person gradually elevates himself without endeavoring for this so-called silent meditation. Simply because he is engaged in Krishna consciousness he automatically gives up all this nonsense and develops a high character. One develops the highest character by becoming a pure devotee of Krishna. The conclusion is that no one can truly have any good qualities if he is lacking Krishna consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada, Nectar Of Devotion
Is Life Coaching For You?
"Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
* I am ready to create more balance in my life.
* I am ready to improve my personal or business relationships.
* I am ready to make real and positive changes in my life.
* I am ready to find and live my life's purpose.
* I am ready and willing to overcome self-limiting beliefs and behavior.
* I am ready to create plans and take action to achieve my goals.
* I am ready to achieve a sense of fulfillment at work and in my life.
* I am ready for more fun and contibution in my life.
* I can benefit from someone who will help me to stay on track.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
* I am ready to create more balance in my life.
* I am ready to improve my personal or business relationships.
* I am ready to make real and positive changes in my life.
* I am ready to find and live my life's purpose.
* I am ready and willing to overcome self-limiting beliefs and behavior.
* I am ready to create plans and take action to achieve my goals.
* I am ready to achieve a sense of fulfillment at work and in my life.
* I am ready for more fun and contibution in my life.
* I can benefit from someone who will help me to stay on track.
WHY WE HAVE BAD LEADERSHIP?
In the modern setup of democratic states the citizens can have no cause for grievances, because the whole administration is conducted by the people themselves. If the people themselves are dishonest, the administrative machinery must be corrupt. Although a damned government of the people may be given a good or fancy name, if the people are not good they cannot have good government, regardless of which party governs the administration. Therefore good character in the consciousness of the mass of people is the first principle necessary for a good government and equal distribution of wealth.
- Prabhupada
- Prabhupada
GARBAGE TRUCK
Got this story today:
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ... Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a garbage-free day!
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ... Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a garbage-free day!
NEW PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR LIFE
Begin this process of by reflecting on parts of your life—past, present and future.
As an exercise in awareness, start by imagining that, before you were born, somewhere on the other side of the cosmos, you had evolved over many lifetimes to become a particular type of person with a particular set of qualities, interests, talents and abilities. It doesn't matter what you think about the idea of reincarnation. This exercise is just that: an exercise with a point that will become clear.
Continuing this line of thought, imagine that you deliberately chose your parents, that you chose the situation you were born into and brought up in. You did this because, at your stage of personal growth and evolution, there were specific lessons about yourself, about life and about other people that you had to learn, and which .You could learn in no other way.
Imagine also that the person you are today, especially the good qualities you've developed, evolved largely or partially as the result of the difficult experiences you had growing up and especially as the result of the problems you had with one or both of your parents.
Here is an important question: If you learned that you had deliberately chosen your parents and that the person you are today has come about as a direct result of your choice, how would this discovery change your attitude toward your parents and the experiences of your childhood? Would you be more positive and accepting of them? Would you see yourself and your past experiences in a different light? Would you become more philosophical and objective toward what might have appeared, up to now, to have been a difficult time of your life?
As you begin to think about this idea, about having deliberately chosen your parents, you begin to see possibilities that you had totally ignored up to now. Instead of seeing yourself as a passive agent or victim caught up in circumstances beyond your control, you begin to see yourself as an active participant in your own evolution.
Let's take this exercise a little further. Imagine that you are here on this earth to do something wonderful with your life, to become an exceptional person and to make an important contribution to your world. Imagine that this is all part of a great master plan that has been carefully designed with your best interests in mind, and that every event and circumstance of your life is an indispensable part of a big jigsaw puzzle, the outline of which you can only begin to see when you stand back and start to look at your life from a higher plane.
Assume, as a general rule, that whatever your current situation or difficulty, it is exactly what you require, right now, to teach you something you need to know before you can continue on your upward journey. With this perspective, you can see that every expe¬rience is a positive experience if you view it as an opportunity for growth and self-mastery.
Now, project backward, and with calmness, clarity and a positive mental attitude, think about how every previous experience and situation of your life might have been sent to you, at exactly the right time for you, to teach you something you needed to learn so that you could continue moving toward the wonderful life that awaits you.
Imagine that the events of your life could not have been other¬wise than they were, especially if you were operating on autopilot most of the time. As you stand back and appreciate the incredibly complex, interconnected events that have brought you to where you are in life right now, you will begin to develop the perspective of the philosopher, of the superior intellect. You begin to superimpose on your experience what is called a "sense of coherence," an attitude and a feeling that your life is part of something greater than yourself and that everything fits together and happens for a reason.
As you think of your life as a series of events and experiences that are conspiring toward your achieving some great goal or making some great contribution to mankind, you begin to develop a "sense of destiny," the hallmark of potential greatness as a human being.
- Brian Tracy
As an exercise in awareness, start by imagining that, before you were born, somewhere on the other side of the cosmos, you had evolved over many lifetimes to become a particular type of person with a particular set of qualities, interests, talents and abilities. It doesn't matter what you think about the idea of reincarnation. This exercise is just that: an exercise with a point that will become clear.
Continuing this line of thought, imagine that you deliberately chose your parents, that you chose the situation you were born into and brought up in. You did this because, at your stage of personal growth and evolution, there were specific lessons about yourself, about life and about other people that you had to learn, and which .You could learn in no other way.
Imagine also that the person you are today, especially the good qualities you've developed, evolved largely or partially as the result of the difficult experiences you had growing up and especially as the result of the problems you had with one or both of your parents.
Here is an important question: If you learned that you had deliberately chosen your parents and that the person you are today has come about as a direct result of your choice, how would this discovery change your attitude toward your parents and the experiences of your childhood? Would you be more positive and accepting of them? Would you see yourself and your past experiences in a different light? Would you become more philosophical and objective toward what might have appeared, up to now, to have been a difficult time of your life?
As you begin to think about this idea, about having deliberately chosen your parents, you begin to see possibilities that you had totally ignored up to now. Instead of seeing yourself as a passive agent or victim caught up in circumstances beyond your control, you begin to see yourself as an active participant in your own evolution.
Let's take this exercise a little further. Imagine that you are here on this earth to do something wonderful with your life, to become an exceptional person and to make an important contribution to your world. Imagine that this is all part of a great master plan that has been carefully designed with your best interests in mind, and that every event and circumstance of your life is an indispensable part of a big jigsaw puzzle, the outline of which you can only begin to see when you stand back and start to look at your life from a higher plane.
Assume, as a general rule, that whatever your current situation or difficulty, it is exactly what you require, right now, to teach you something you need to know before you can continue on your upward journey. With this perspective, you can see that every expe¬rience is a positive experience if you view it as an opportunity for growth and self-mastery.
Now, project backward, and with calmness, clarity and a positive mental attitude, think about how every previous experience and situation of your life might have been sent to you, at exactly the right time for you, to teach you something you needed to learn so that you could continue moving toward the wonderful life that awaits you.
Imagine that the events of your life could not have been other¬wise than they were, especially if you were operating on autopilot most of the time. As you stand back and appreciate the incredibly complex, interconnected events that have brought you to where you are in life right now, you will begin to develop the perspective of the philosopher, of the superior intellect. You begin to superimpose on your experience what is called a "sense of coherence," an attitude and a feeling that your life is part of something greater than yourself and that everything fits together and happens for a reason.
As you think of your life as a series of events and experiences that are conspiring toward your achieving some great goal or making some great contribution to mankind, you begin to develop a "sense of destiny," the hallmark of potential greatness as a human being.
- Brian Tracy
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