jayaisvara

You know, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has said that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada has told to beat the mind 100 times when waking up and going to sleep. What does this beating up refers to? I don't understand how to beat the mind up, how does one do that?

krsna, excuses are part of the minds weakness aren't they? Because everytime I read about the disciplines of Vaisnavas, its hard for me to believe how its possible. Yet, in my childhood, I was disciplined, and had all respects for God, then it went away due to material attachments which got strong, and now again to come back to my lost respect for God, it seems very hard. Indeed, the mind is the greatest enemy. It'll keep saying excuses and at the time of death, it'll just bail us. Foolish mind.

By: Charles G. Finney The following article deals with how dangerous pride is. I hope this helps someone out there. http://www.gospeltruth.net/1848OE/481220_heart_pride.htm

Thanks for posting it vijay, I can learn a lot from this

Is it possible for most neophytes to avoid aparadhas? I can't see how it is possible especially if they are new to Vaisnava way of life, which requires, in my view, very strict rules. So how is it possible to ever develop devotion to Vaisnavas, if you are still a neophyte and you are prone to committ offenses?

The mind is not factual, but its so strong that it convinces the intelligence that an idea or thought is real, is it not? Why is it that in the above post by krsna, Bhagavatam says "This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious." and Srila Prabhupada says that we should neglect the mind? If I assume that I get an undesirable thought that is opposed to bhakti, should I just neglect that thought and try to convince the intelligence its not factual? I tried this method and it works but fear set in me because I got fearful that if I continue this way, this is hypocritical such that my mind thinks one thing and I try to do something else. Then I started trying to forcefully control the mind, then fell into a pit of depression and confusion.

That is an amazing story!

Unfortunately, I couldn't read this letter beforehand. And now it makes a little sense, thanks for posting it krsna. You know when all the acarya's, they say one must have faith in order to advance a significant amount, how can one first of all gain faith from no faith? Don't you need a submissive spirit? But when pride overwhelms me, how will that submissive spirit come?

I couldn't understand what Srila B.S. Saraswati Thakur was trying to say. He speaks very technical so all I understood was that we must be able to speak truth regardless of time, place or circumstance. That I am still trying to do. It is not possible to simply try to kill my ego with my own ego. That is not possible. It also seems unworthy to lament. Yet, I spoke those words out of shear frustration at myself for having this ego deeply rooted. When praying to God, I am thinking as if He is an object that can be attained. I've been used to material life for so long, that I am used to thinking 'If I want it, I want it now'. So, with God, this can't be. My mind disturbs me so many times, that its so hard to focus on others instead of myself. As you can see from what I've already wrote so much "me", "my" and "I". I am trying to solve my problem and not caring a little of others. This is ego is it not? If I knew only how to ask God properly for help, instead of expecting Him to help me, like I am the subject and He is the object. Just like Sridhar Maharaja says, "God is the subject and we are the objects". Will introspection of myself help? Thank you guys for helping me. You don't have to but out of your goodness you are helping, thank you again.

Thank you very much Pankaja_Dasa /images/graemlins/smile.gif

krsna and Pankaja_Dasa, I shall recite these names daily. What about Nityanandha Prabhu's names?

There is no difference between the two, but Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga are more merciful. The panca tattva mantra is sung before the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra 3 times, is it not? Then, what shall i sing about Gauranga and Nityananda Prabhus?

In CC Adi 8.32, it is said: "It should be noted in this connection that the holy names of Lord Krsna and Gaurasundara are both identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not consider one name to be more potent than the other. Considering the position of the people of this age, however, the chanting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's name is more essential than the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation and His mercy is very easily achieved. Therefore one must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. By serving Gaura-Nityananda one is freed from the entanglements of material existence and thus becomes qualified to worship the Radha-Krsna Deity." I therefore beg to ask whether this means that chanting Hare Krsna Maha Mantra is not for neophytes who have little or no faith, whereareas chanting Sri Nityananda and Sri Gauranga's holy names will benefit one who is faithless so by their mercy, one can become qualified to chant the mahamantra, and thus develop faith?

I don't understand why this keeps logging off, I am sorry, but that was myself. Just to make sure, I will reply again: The chastisement received from Guru or God is like the most sharpest sword and the greatest medicine. It cuts the ego and you can feel the pain, but if in ignorance like myself, then foolish, idiotic rebellion spoils the whole thing, the whole medicine. Sri Krsna says in the Gita that krodha, anger, is the demoniac quality. I simply cannot understand why I must harbor these qualities. If I truly want to understand God, then I must prepare myself for the time of chastisement so that like a stupid fool who is the lowest of manking and deserves no respect from anyone, who is myself, will humbly accept the medicine and become cured from this disease. How can I not worry sir, when I can't accept my own idiotic foolishness?

As an asura, I am asking you devotees, how one can receive chastisement and become humble without getting angry?

Hare Krsna

Hare Krsna Pankaja_Dasa, you can find the Ramayana by Rsi Valmiki here: http://www.valmikiramayan.net/

Srila Prabhupada always use to tell this story about the blind men and the elephants, thanks gHari and krsna. Constantly chanting the holy name in the mind and trying to concentrate in it is the only way out it seems, is it not?

That is a great article krsna, thanks for posting it. The questions that arose while reading those articles is, yes we are not the minds. But how is it possible to ignore the mind when it does so much aparadhas? Won't these aparadhas severe our spiritual life like a mad elephant uprooting the creeper of devotion?

Sorry, I didn't recognize while I made this thread I was logged out. So, I beg to ask you devotees, what are some tricks of the mind?

is that, the mind says something, but Krsna doesn't want what the the mind says, but what He really wants is service to His devotees. So to convince the mind the actual goal is to serve the Vaisnavas and thus thereby serving Krsna is a big challenge. Somehow or another, the mind must be convinced that service to God is service to His devotees, uncondional and unmotivated, full surrender to their words. As Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur said, "Never trust the mind". So, to convince the mind is great great challenge.

It is said in the scriptures that as one advances, he feels that he has no taste for the holy name as Sri Chaitanya sings, or he feels he is not advancing. Therefore, of course I didn't understand this before, also I don't understand fully now, but since the scripture says it is, it is. It is of some high high platform.

That Krsna is pleased when the Vaisnavas and Guru are pleased. Please correct me if I am wrong

You are the most fortunate. You are so devoted, and since 1982! I agree with Vanamali, I will be also fortunate to have the dust of your lotus feet on my head one day if I become fortunate enough.

Yes, whenever I say Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, there is this something I cant figure out, but surely its a taste for the name. Sometimes its there, sometimes not. Also, Ram, Ram, Ram, is quite peaceful to say. But my attention span is so very short. You know, when I felt that mystical feeling, I remembered one of the Goswamin's statement, where He mentions that He wished He had thousands of mouths and ears to chant and hear. He is such an elevated devotee, how much nectar must there be? Unimaginable.