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Posts posted by jiva34
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In "The Golden Volcano", Srila Sridhar Maharaj said:Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura once revealed the
importance of Kuruksetra in a unique way. The words of our guru
maharaja were mostly very revolutionary. When I was a beginner with
only two years or so in the Gaudiya Math, I was in charge of the
Kuruksetra temple. Once, I came to the Calcutta headquarters at the
hired house in Ulta Danga for the yearly preaching festival. After the
festival I was to return to Kuruksetra. Srila Prabhupada was thinking
of opening a "Theistic Exhibition" in Kuruksetra, showing with
dioramas how Krishna and His friends came there from Dvaraka, and
the gopis came there from Vrndavana.
It is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam that during the solar eclipse,
they came to bathe in Brahma-kunda, a sacred lake in Kuruksetra.
Srila Prabhupada wanted to show that pastime with a diorama, and so
the exhibition was arranged. He ordered handbills to be printed, and
twenty thousand circulated in the area, inviting people to come for the
exhibition.
Vrndavana-For Shallow Thinkers?
In this connection, he told us, "You all know that only the bogus,
hollow people and men of shallow thinking like Vrndavana." I was
very much perplexed to hear this. I had been told that Vrndavana is
the highest place of spiritual perfection. I had heard that one who has
not mastered his senses cannot enter Vrndavana. Only the liberated
souls can enter Vrndavana and have the opportunity of discussing
krsna-lila. Vrndavana is for the liberated souls. Those who are not
liberated from the demands of their senses may live in Navadwipa, but
the liberated souls may live in Vrndavana. Now Prabhupada was
saying tha the shallow thinkers appreciate Vrndavana, but a man of
real bhajana, real divine aspiration, will aspire to live in Kuruksetra.
Hearing this, I felt as if I had fallen from the top of a tree. "What is
this?" I thought. I am a very acute listener, so I was very keen to catch
the meaning of his words. The next thought he gave us was that
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, after visiting many different places of
pilgrimage, remarked, "I would like to spend the last days of my life
in Kuruksetra. I shall construct a cottage near Brahma-kunda and pass
the rest of my life there. Kuruksetra is the real place of bhajana."
Shrewd Merchants
Why? Service is more valuable according to the intensity of its
necessity. Shrewd merchants seek a market in wartime because in that
dangerous position, money is spent like water, without any care for its
value. They can earn more money if a war comes. In the same way,
when Srimati Radharani's necessity reaches its zenith, service to Her
becomes extremely valuable. According to its necessity, service is
valued. And in Kuruksetra, Srimati Radharani is in the highest
necessity because Krishna is so close, but Their Vrndavana lila is
impossible. in a football game, if the ball is just inches from the goal,
but again comes back, it is considered a great loss. In the same way,
after a long separation, Krishna is there in Kuruksetra, so the
hankering for union felt by His devotees must come to its greatest
point, but because He is in the role of a king, they cannot meet
intimately. The circumstances do not allow the Vrndavana lila to take
place. So at that time, Srimati Radharani needs the highest service
from Her group, the sakhis.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that in that situation, a drop of service will
draw the greatest amount of prema, divine love. In the pastimes of
Radha-Govinda, there are two aspects: sambhoga, divine union, and
vipralambha, divine separation. When Radha and Krishna are very
near to each other, but can't meet intimately, service at that time can
draw the greatest gain for the servitors. Therefore, Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura says, "I shall construct a hut on the banks of Brahma-kunda
in Kuruksetra and contemplate rendering service to the Divine Couple.
If I can achieve that standard where the prospect of service is so high,
then there is no possibility of returning to this mundane plane at any
time."
I have just registered for this forum after Googling for Kuruksetra and having your post pop up.
I have no idea when you posted this or if you are even still active on the forum. But I would be very interested to hear more from you.
Your post is profound.
Not only from the perspective of one's search for their own internal mood of intensity of love of God, but also in terms of the most intense platform of broadcasting the message of Godhead for the benefit of others.
Thank you.
jiva...
Free exchange
in World Review
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I see everyone as being at different levels of realization. Each individual having traversed their unique path to get where they are in terms of awareness and consciousness and each having much of value to share.
There is something wonderful that happens when there are heartfelt exchanges. Everyone is enriched and benefited. All that is required is a willingness to hear and speak. Or in this case read and post..
We can cover as wide a range of topics as we care to. There are no limits.
Since the entire planet is really Bharata varsa, greater India, geographically boundaries do not apply.
Let's see where this takes us...