sumedh

Hare Krishna Please read the conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Bernard O 'Grady: http://www.angelfire.com/ego2/prabhupada/what_kc/best.htm Here Srila Prabhupada says that whatever you do, do for Krishna. ------ Srila Prabhupada: So when you compose music, compose music about God. That is your perfection. ------ If this is currently not possible at present then the following example has been provided in bhakti. Consider a married woman who has a lover (other than the husband, of course) whom she dearly loves. So she will do all her duties and behave with husband absolutely normally but as soon as she gets a chance she will be thinking of the lover and trying to meet him. So in the heart her only interest is the lover. Similiarly we have to cultivate this attitude of having only Krishna as our objective by chanting, assosiating with devotees, reading etc. as much as possible. Even though we may have no real love for God, for that truly comes later, the desire to have it should be strong, for how can something be obtained without desire. My suggestion would be to also read Updeshamtra (The Nectar of Instruction) by Srila Rupa Gosvami which is available in the books section of this site. Note that in the above example the relationship of lovers outside marraige is considered, which in its perverted form in the material world is actually only lust and in material world is considered to be most degraded; but in its original spiritual form has been considered the highest, with Krishna as the only Purusha (male) and all His energies as female. So our material conceptions cannot be applied at all in spiritual realm and devotees should not even attempt to. Another example of an expert dancer is given. When an expert dancer with pots on her head is dancing, she makes all kinds dancing poses but all her attention (implicitly) is on the pots on the head so that they do not fall. ---- So although Krishna clearly tells Arjuna about renouncing fruits of one's action, in the end He just tells Arjuna to surrender to Him completely -- which is offering everything to Krishna. This is only in my limited understanding and knowledge which is very meagre, so other devotees can share more with us all.

Hare Krishna Yes, the one shown on the site is the Tulasi devotees offer their repects to and offer to Krishna. Usually the Shri Tulasi shown in the picture is offered; do not know about Krishna Tulasi. What nuisance and offense can be there? Your devotion and enthusiasm are really remarkable and it gives pleasure to try and answer questions of such a devotee.

the previous post was mine, but i was logged out at the time. One thing is that i spelled marriage wrong twice -- apologies. I really beg to differ from the person who posted with the title of "what is marriage?". There is never a Union of two souls, neither spiritual union between two loves. The basis of all spiritual relationships is the relationship of a being with the Supreme Lord. All other relationships, however nice and real they appear (even one between mother and child) are temporary and not spiritual in nature. Serving Krishna by bringing up the child with proper education in Krishna consciousness is truly spiritual, but serving the child as a manifestation of Lord is in ignorance.

Personally i have no devotion but will share my views. If ill thoughts are propping up and one considers them to be unworthy, unwanted then how can these be considered as vaishnava aparadha? Fighting them mentally is of no use and only shifting our attention to Krishna is the way, so please be assured on this; rather these should act as catalysts to chant more in the state of mind as recommended by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Hare Krishna

This is a quite vivid story which we would like to believe. But i think we should be careful because in this age we cannot be sure of what is correct and what is not. One thing i found odd was Yama-dutas behaving like a band of hooligans throwing obscenities and enjoying in his pleasure etc. The scriptures say that the Yama-dutas being the servants of Yama know religion and its imports quite well, so such behaviour is not to be expected nor documented elsewhere -- unless Kali-yuga has taken a toll of them too!!!