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Published on October 23rd, 2023 | by Madhudvisa dasa
324Making the Best Use of a Bad Bargin
I can see from the comments we are getting here at www.
krishna.org that the vast majority of people are under the impression that somehow we can turn this world into a happy, peaceful place. They seem to be thinking this is the purpose of religion and spiritual life.
When people come to understand there is a God, and He is all-powerful, their natural tendency is to try and get God to help them solve their problems of life.
So many people write: "Will Krishna help me get a promotion at work," or "Will Krishna help me pass my exams." or "Will Krishna find me a nice wife…" It is endless. It seems that everyone wants Krishna to do something for them and they are asking me how they can get Krishna to do these things for them…
In one sense this is good. Of course Krishna is God and He can do anything, and it is the nature of someone who believes in God to turn to Him in times of need. This is also good. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16):
O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me–the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
So there are four types of good people who turn to Krishna or God and perform devotional service: one who is distressed, one who wants money, one who is inquisitive and the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute.
Krishna goes on to say that of these four types of people the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute is the best because his motivation is a genuine search for spiritual knowledge. Still Krishna says the other three types: the ones who are distressed, who want money and who are inquisitive; are all great souls, because when they have some need they turn to Krishna for it.
But these three types of people are not really rendering pure devotional service. When they need something they approach Krishna and ask him for it. But they are pious, they believe in Krishna but they want to use Krishna to satisfy their own desires in the material world.
There is a very nice story that illustrates these people. There was once an old lady who lived in the forest. Every day she would go out into the forest to collect a big bundle of wood to burn in her cottage for cooking and for keeping warm. So one day she had collected a very big bundle of nice dry wood and was carrying it on her back when suddenly it fell off he back, it was very heavy. So she called out "Oh God help me…" And God appeared in front of her and asked, "You called, what do you want?" So she asked God, "Can you please help me get this bundle of sticks on my back again…"
So you see this is not very intelligent. All the old lady could think about was getting the sticks back to her cottage so she could get the fire going and start the cooking… So when she got the chance to see God, instead of asking for something really valuable, all she could think of was "Please get this bundle of sticks on my back again…"
Of course this is not going to help her in the long run. She will get the sticks back to the cottage and light the fire and do the cooking and burn the sticks and will be out in the forest again the next day looking for more sticks. And that is the nature of this material world. Nothing is permanent here. But we are looking for a permanent situation.
And all these questions I am getting: "Will Krishna help me pass my exams, Will Krishna get me a promotion at work, Will Krishna find me a nice wife…" It is all the same as this old lady asking God to put the heavy bundle of sicks on her back again.
Practically everyone is "worshiping" God in this mood. The Christians are praying to God, "Give us our daily bread…" It is always "Give me this, give me that…"
However as devotees of Krishna our idea is completely different. We know things are going on in this material world as a result of our karma and are not very concerned about changing that. Whatever is meant to come will come, whatever position in the world we are meant to have that will be, we don't care for that. All a devotee cares about–in whatever position of life of situation he finds himself in–is how to serve Krishna, how to please Krishna.
A devotee never wants to take service from Krishna. He never wants to ask Krishna for anything. he wants to render service to Krishna. That is why Krishna consciousness is called "devotional service." Krishna consciousness means to engage our mind, our body, our senses; everything, in the service of Krishna. And if we can do that then we will become happy. Because our natural, eternal constitutional position is that we are servants of Krishna.
A devotee is not very concerned about anything else because he understands that these things are not under his control. Things are happening in our lives. People are coming into our life and people are leaving our life. Sometimes we are rich, sometimes we are poor. Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad. These things are coming and going like the waves in the ocean. Just like you can not stop the waves in the ocean and you can not stop the tides coming in and going out similarly in our lives these situations will be constantly changing. Happiness and distress, heat and cold, poverty or good fortune. It is going on according to the modes of material nature and according to our karma. It is fixed up and we have no control over it. There is no point trying to change it…
The best way is to simply accept things as they unfold and not be attached to any particular position and simply, "make the best use of a bad bargain." Having a material body is a bad bargain, but we can use this material body in the service of Krishna and that is making the best use of it.
I do not really know how to express this as what I am speaking here goes so much against all the modern education and brainwashing we have all been subjected to. But really we can not change our material situation very much. The mood of the devotee is to simply accept the material situation he finds himself in and engage himself in the service of Krishna.
I am trying to express that this material world is not our home, we do not belong here. We are spiritual living beings, all part and parcel of Krishna. We belong in the spiritual world, in the Kingdom of God, serving Krishna there. That is our home, that is where we can be eternally happy. We can not be happy here in this material world any more than a fish can be happy if you take it out of the water and provide it with all riches and comforts on the land. The fish is a creature of the water. He belongs in the water. There is no way he can be happy out of the water.
Similarly with us. We are spiritual living entities, we belong in the spiritual world, we can not be happy out of the spiritual world. Here in the material world we are exactly like the fish out of the water. We can't breathe here… Our nature as spirit souls is sat, cit, ananda. It means we are eternally young, we are full of knowledge and our nature is to be ever increasingly blissful. But here, in the material world, we are covered by and are identifying with this material body which is just the opposite. It is asat–getting old and dying; acit–full of ignorance and nirananda–full of distress. So like the fish out of water here in the material world we living entities are our of our natural environment and no matter how much money or how many beautiful women or how many followers we get there is no way we can be happy here. Just like there is no way the fish can be happy out of the water. The only way is you have to put the fish back in the water.
For us the only way is we have to get out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead. And to do that we have to stop asking Krishna for things and instead ask Him to engage us in His service. Instead of asking Krishna to do things for us we need to be learning from Srila Prabhupada how we can do things to please Krishna…
324 Responses to Making the Best Use of a Bad Bargin
Hare Krishna.
I feel blessed that your blessings and spiritual love and affection are spontaneously pouring on me by the Lord Krishna's Grace in the form of spiritually prosperous emails.
My questions are automatically being answered in each mail.
I respectfully have a question and with a submissive attitude, I really need to know something. I have a desire to set up some speakers and play the Hare Krishna chant that I heard on You-Tube and like a lot; and have Prabhupada's articles and books to distribute; and sometimes turn off the music and chant myself; and try to engage passerby's in responsive chanting; and under the influence of the "higher taste" interject the chanting with spoken little messages, like " in this age of quarrel, it is recommended to chant the holy names of God" then return to chanting and then interject another quote, like "Chant Hare Krishna and be Happy. I want to engage this kind of loving service to Krishna as a way of life in my upcoming retirement. Will Prabhupada be pleased?
I agree that pure devotional service to Krishna is very rare; more along the lines of being an ideal rather than something realized in this life; something to aspire towards. Chant and be Happy. At first, you may not be able to do 16 rounds per day – but chant as much as you can and read the Bagavad Gita and books by Sri Prabhupada. Learn to prepare Prasadam in your home. Dedicate everything to Krishna. Think of Krishna constantly. To me, knowledge of this way of life is a spectacular, precious gift. We could preach this message to those that have arrived at the heaven of Jesus Christ and set them upon the path back to Godhead; so great is this message.
Hare Krishna
We belong in the spiritual world, in the Kingdom of God, serving Krishna there. – please explain me more . I want to know more about Krishna Kingdom .
How nicely said < well done!
Thank you so much for everything! Hare Krishna …. want to get closer to this Krishna movement please help.
Hare krishna
My search for God is not for wealth health knowledge or something materialistic things…..
I'm searching God because I'm feeling lost….
I'm always feeling why God sends me down to this planet.
Whatever the main thing is now i am totally confused to whom should I make relationship is He Krishna or Is He Jesus or Is He one of my known Spiritual Master who teach meditation with some powerful yogic energy transmission called The Pranahuti.
Bible said only Jesus is lord and God and all are evils except Jesus….
I'm very much scared off this thing…..
Total confusion destruction is going inside my mind…..My soul need God and I know this but I'm helpless….
I have visited many prayer meetings I have seen many miracles there….
I have visited many meditation sessions
But I'm very much losted…..Plz it's a really very emergency a kind of spiritual emergency….
Plz help me…..Hare krishna
Human. nature is ask for more more more.After realisations only we could think about Krsna.Until then material desires only dominates.youngters like material enjoyment only.They get bored about God.what to do? they never lisen any advice.How could we change them?
Some children are innately interested in God..like I was from very young age 7 atleast.
Also my parents were spiritual people who listened to bhajans and lectures and took me to Bhajans and satsangs and temples. They also recieved saints at our home and served them.My brother also bought me A mar Chitra Katha magazines as a child. My mum bought me The Ramayan and I myself bought many spiritual books since then and absolutely learnt alot more about Krishna from books by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada The Founder Acharya of ISKCON.You be spiritual and involve yourselves as family in spiritual activities regularly including charitable causes , inviting senior devotees and swami to give talks regularly in your home ( indeed every house owner should do this)..your children will recieve immense incalculable benefit from these holy activities.
I must share that in life , my spiritual knowledge has been my greatest help ..no matter what I have been through.
So as a parent it is essential to expose children to these Spiritual teachings. HariBol! JAI!
how we can do things to please Krishna…
Yes we want to change this world as Krishna did ,he has his sudarshana chakra and what we have
14 June 2017
Hare Krishna.
Namaskarams.You enlightened comprehensively how to lead life with much detachment to the material world and engage mind in devotion to Lord Krishna without asking Him for any material favors and all He will take care of. It is true to some extent but not entirely as masses do not engage in spiritual mind sincerely and look to material wealth and need revolutionary Krishna consciousness. Such spirit must be promoted and bringabout spiritual wisdom for world peace and happiness basing on Jeevatma-Paramatma basic concept.
Hare Krishna
Respectable Shri Madhudvisa dasa,
This is a life changing article. The title itself says it all, and is nicely backed by striking examples and analogies. I am sharing this with the people I know, who would instantly benefit from this analysis.
There is only one point that I am a bit confused about. Per your article, our material world miseries are a direct result of our karma and we cannot change that. However, from what I've read in past is that Lord Krishna will impose destined miseries to the devotees at an alleviated fractional intensity. In other words, I so far thought that true devotees undergo the same number of miseries, but at a deeply discounted extent. Please enlighten us regarding this misconception. Thank you.
Best regards, and Hare Krishna.
Jigish Vaidya
Hare Krisna!
Well explained. I totally got this when I read the Bhagavad Gita first time. And it was very obvious that you simply stop "begging" for this or for that. Just rediscover your true position to serve Krishna and you will be taken care of automatically.
Hare Krishna, I am very much glad to read about Krishna daily. I had improved a lot and improving more day by day under Krishna consciousness. Hare Krishna..
will god help me in my exams?
Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Bhagavad Gita Is the most sublime scripture given to the humanity for guidance and betterment. Just reading and imbibing the message Gita is enough and there is no need to read other voluminous scriptures.
Bible says that you cannot serve two masters at the same time, which implies you cannot serve both God and personal interests in the world. Both are contradictory to each other. The materialistic world and service to the Spirit of God, are contrary to each other. It is for human beings to strike a balance between the two.Bhagavad gita also says that a devotee should live in solitary places with dislike for the society of men and women.
"Bhagawad gita says that devotees should stay at solitary places….with dislike to society of men and women". This version is not correct. One would stay in a society, pray Lord Krishna, to give him positive thinking about fellow human beings and help the needy for their survival, as there is Krishna in every living soul.
Hare Krishna.
Namaste Madhudvisa Ji. On Wednesday night my younger son who is honest a very good child ,never ever troubled or bad mouthed any one , very subtle and wise, was hijacked but unhurt …so how can I make use of this bad situation..he seems ok externally..better than us..I was happy that he was unhurt but after 2 days I am furious at this world for punishing him for no fault of his..so how can I console myself and control my anger towards that particular race who did this to my son..
Jai Sri Krshna Jai: I have a question although I have not yet read this newletter just sent. But one paragraph states that Lord Krshna will help. I am trying hard to become a Krshna devotee and doing my maha mantra. I have to find an apt by Sept 29th within a week or so. I have not found nothing and keep asking Lord Krshna to find something for me and/or guide me. Nothing has happened. Wht should I do. Can't wait as time is on my hands and I could living in my van. Please help and guide me fast. I love the news leters so much. thakns.
Hare Krshna. from Bhaktin Marcy
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Dasa
Please accept my humble obeisance's. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your latest instalment of divine knowledge. We are unwell and Krishna through his mercy has given us the prescription to get well. We must take the medicine though otherwise we will remain unwell.
At one of our journey of self discovery sessions we talked about "why things don't go to plan" and your latest instalment reminded me of that. I have my plans and God has his plans. It is wrong thinking when we expect God to use his power and our intelligence. This is not the way. We have to put our faith in Gods plan. Please keep your letters coming.
Haribol. -
22 Aug. 2015
Prabhu Hare Krishna.
Sir: Namaskarams. The following concluding para of your article or newsletter on how a devote should act in bad situations of life is very much illustrative.
"For us the only way is we have to get out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead. And to do that we have to stop asking Krishna for things and instead ask Him to engage us in His service. Instead of asking Krishna to do things for us we need to be learning from Srila Prabhuapda how we can do things to please Krishna"
God is there in every human-being. Human feeling of good or bad situation largely depends on one's Karma (conduct) and his self realization on his role as to how he acted practically in every day's life to handle each situation. God provided all answers on one's introspection in handling each situation and take steps to correct them to positive situations and lead the life. Then Lord Krishna will come to his help entirely based on his Karmas. This is true what Bhagawad Gita preaches. If we adopt this spiritual principle all human-beings will be happy including wealthy millionaires and focus themselves on their detachment of material world and follow spiritual path.
Hare Krishna
Hare krishna please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to srila prabhupada. i am a fallen sinfull soul who has a burning desire to serve krishna but my environment is not ryt at all. i live with my family who are unfavourable to most of the precesses of devotional service as they have a christianity view about krishna. i used to do my own cooking and offer to the lord until my family said im waisting electricity and food and they dont like the smell of ghee which is very dear to krishna they criticise, i cant peform arti. nw i stoppef cooking im only buying wat i eat and i feel terrible. i dont touch their anything. i feel terrible and depressed also about not being fully engaged in devotional service(perfoming arti every day, offering food to the lord, listening to kirtan, burning incense ect) i dont have a stable job prabhu if i did i wouldve got myself an apartment where i can fully serve the lord with my fiance. prabhu please clarify this for me, is it wrong to ask the lord something we want to use in his service? as for me is it wrong for me to ask the lord for a stable job so i can get a house which il be able to have his altar, free to perform arti, cook prasad, burn incense, blow conch, chant hare krishna ect. please reply prabhu. i know krishna knows my desire to serve him and that i must be patient but i cant stand not being engaged i want to perfom arti i want to burn incense and cook with ghee i want to be engaged fully. im loosing patience im feeling depressed in this situation cos im not advanced. am i wrong to ask the lord to give me facilities for devotional service? i know only serving the lord will satisfy me
Pujya Madhudvisa dasaji,
Hare Krishna,
I agree that we should not demand any material thing from Shri Krishna. I think If I ask material things from Shri Krishna then I am beggar.
If one has to demand then he can ask for Shree krishna's seva, smaran, sanidhya, darshan etc.Hare Krishna
Hare krishna characters of devotees of krishna is similar to the krishna when the devotee fully surrendered to lord..as you said we should not expect anything return from krishna..we work to please krishna we should serve the others by thinking they all belongs to my krishna by this way definatly we can escaped from the maya..thank you for sending this letter guruji..
Hare Krishna.
Even i want to engage myself in the service of krishna and
i am ready to serve.But what about my parents?
They expect totally different from me.
They expect me to earn a lot and fulfill their desires…What should i choose first
my parents desire to earn a lot or my dream, desire and heartily willingness to serve Krishna…?-
Hare krsna Ajaypal,
Please read Srimad Bhagavatam canto 6 ,Chapter 16
By the grace of Narada Muni ,the dead child was brought back to life and he instructed his socalled lamenting father and mother about the socalled familyrelations in this material world
by the mystic power of Narada Muni,the living entity reentered his dead body for a short time and spoke in reply to Narada Munis request.He said:According to the results of my fruitive activities,I,the living being,transmigrate from one body to another,sometimes going to the species of the demigods,sometimes
to the species of lower animals,sometimesamong the vegetables,and sometimes
to the human species.Therefore ,in which birth were these my father and mother?No one is actually my father and mother.How can i accept these two people as my parents?so please read the whole chapter and your question is answered
haribol mohini murti dasi
Hare Krishna,
I have one question troubling me and I am not able to find an answer to it. I am very sure that Krishna loves us all equally. But then why has he pushed us out in this material world? HE is complete in himself, he does not need anything, but then why he created this world?
Please guide me.
Thank you,my friend.Even if you don´t know me,I consider you as a friend of mine,because you took care of me,sending me nice letters to my email address…just to bring Krishna to my life.
I wish you a long healthy and happy life in this world,to be able to preach so sincerely to those who are waiting for Prabhupada in their hearts,even if they still don´t know him,but are looking for the truth.The only spiritual Truth posible in this material world.Sri Krishna is what we all need.Please,continue bringing love and happiness to our lives,dear devotee.Thank you for this website and for your fighting and efforts to maintain yourself clean from the corruption,in these sad days and years,without a real Iskcon, where we could meet each others to serve Rada and Krishna toguether,and practicing the Vaishnava association,in the middle of this desert.We are thirsty of this.Thank you for bringing us some spiritual water,Prabhu… I pray to the Only God Krishna to help
all the devotees,to be leaded by such souls like you,who always follow the footsteps of our dear Savoir Srila Prabhupada.I prefer to die right now,if I have to forget him for the rest of my life.I could not live without
thinking on serving him in my daily life.Thank you,for loving Prabhupada…I also love you and all the sincere devotees…HARIBOL -
we have good or bad as a result of Karma. why a innocent young person go die. Is it a result of his Karma or his parent's Karma. Is it the results of this life karma or past life karma ?
Why Prahlad need not Guru, God appear in pillar for Prahlad as Nar-singh incarnation.
If all people become Sanyasi who will produce thing to eat.? Can this world would be Heaven ?If we could not control sex completely, person can not be pure devotee. but sex control is almost impossible in life, A male bee die after sex once.
King Pandu could not control sex and die immediately. Many Rishi, Muni, gods could not control sex.
Dear Prabu
Hare Krihna I am very pleased to receive your mail on this subject This article is so well written it helps one to become a devotee of Krishna rather than making Him as an order supplier It is a fact that when we become His devotees He looks after our interests I am a peaceful man today because of my association with ISKONwith warm regards Raman Rao
Hare Krsna Prabhuji! I have got a query, though not related to the above post. I have read somewhere in Srila Prabhupada's books that if a person becomes a 100% pure devotee of LORD KRSNA, then the devotees family for 21 generations are liberated. My question is in case of a woman devotee who is married, does it refer to her father's family or to her husband's family? Plzzz do answer.
In the Bhagawat Gita I have started with Sankhya yoga the very begining. Whenever i am given a strong feedback from my boss I chant Na jayate mriyate was kadachit , nayabg ……Na hanyate hanyamane sharire. I am Atman. I think people of much higher spiritual power like Jesus Christ would be thinking some thing like this when he was crucified. Some people go confidently to the gullows knowing that yes ther is a life ahead. Krishna make me powerful to bare the hardships but make me humble so that some day if i reach a position of power I am humble to others. Hey krishna i give up meat so that i am not at least part of the pain suffered by fellow creatures but I have a long way to go. People call me a moron. May be i am one but i will be wour dasa like a watch dog at your door. I do understand i do not have the calibre to be Arjuna but I can try. As they say if u hitch ur wagon to the stars and u would reach somewhaere.
is there only 12 bhagavadgeetha cantos? i just haave a doubt because i read only 12 chapters and ia very cuious to read so if you can could you please send me that.yaa what you said is really true everyone asks god for something material just to satisfy themselves but i think like we have to be always devoted to lord krishna and work for the satisfaction of lord krishna .
A truly amazing article indeed. We should be the fourth kind of devotees, one searching for the Absolute's knowledge. Thank you for posting this.
Hare Krishna. -
Very nice article prabhuji. Such all srila Prabhupad says in this artical very powerful and useful our life.
In this article lord Krishna says there r four types of person who worship the god. My question is i m doing job in a small company. when i m visit other big company for official purpose, then i say to krishna, krishna when i m doing job such a big and nice company and at a nice position etc… but i m not demand to krishna please give me this job, this postiton and that.So i m which categorize from four types of pepole. and how to please to krsna in our regular life.
Hare Krishna Prabhuji.
BUT YOU CANN'T HAVE A RAINBOW WITOUT A LITTLE RAIN….very good strength build understandable explained story's , I am very happy and blessed, since I have subscribed. Thk u very much …Hare Krishna
Ursila & fam. -
Hare krisna prabhu,
It is very true. The moment i start thinking of krisna itself can felt a different feeling such as relax, no worries and so on which can't be explained. However prabhu all the happiness of my lord, i just keep to myself which i can share. When i try explain to family members about materialistics world and whatever the needs here not going to give permanent happiness, they are thinking i behaving very smart. Anyway it not matter as how difficult situation i know the lord more worried for us and always with us. Thank u very much for writing such good article. -
Hare Krishna ! Really good article. We ready this and get satisfied as what we should ask from God. But again and again as we face real life problems beyond our capacity we depend on Lord Krishna mercy to help him solve the same… This is inevitable untill our builtup is sufficient enough …
We are begging for material desire's fulfillment to Krishna, even if they are not good for us he fulfills them beacuse he cant see us sad but as the time passes the material things vanish. So there is no benifit in begging for material desires to Krishna, if we had to get them we will get them and if not then we'll not, its all upon our karmic reactions, so then lets devote ourselves and each & every karma of ours to Krishna then we will be freed from the cycle of birth and death, and will also get parmanent happiness.
Hare Krishna to all…
Hari bolo…!!!-
Hare Krishna Vanshika mataji!
Why you no longer post events on KrishnaConnect?
Thank you so much. I look forward to reading your words and find them very uplifting and relevant for my situation. HARIBOL.
Hare krishna madhudvisa dasa prabhuji, thankyou for taking resolution that you will send the newsletters regularly everyday i was eagerly waiting for the newsletter and now also i will be eager to gain more knowledge regularly. Hare krishna
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa ,
Thank you for the lovely and very informative article.
I have a question that I would like to ask.It is mentioned in the article that we can never be happy whilst being in this material world.
If the karma that we possess is contributing to a lot of stress, pain, anger and frustration in our lives will we not become happier people when we serve Krishna?Is it foolish to think that if we serve Krishna ask for happiness then we will become happier individuals and that our once bad karma we have can change to good karma hence leading to a bit of a happier life?
Much Love
Yoshan Nico Oree -
pranam guruji!!
I am a decilple of lord Krishna, I am not sure even i am or not.
I want to share my feelings and want to come out of this confusion
i do the daily puja of laddoo gopal, I chant His name most of time even when I am doing my regular house hold works and talking to someone, while watching TV. But all the time I don't realise that I am chanting His name.I feel there is something else inside me that is chanting His name coz I am busy doing my task.So, I want to know is it ok ????
Hare Krishna,
I am ok with all the above powerful words. But, I am not able to adjust when the question of not asking to Krishna for his help/blessings, if all of a sudden somebody's health problem occur which gives shocks to all concerned. On the other hand I totally agree with, we should not ask Krishna for all the good/luxury things in life, rather we should do our duty honestly.
Dear Sir,
a great day to you. its wonderful to know and understand that so much can be done positively to improve my life. thank you. Hare krishna
My Respected Sri Madhudvisa dasa
I do offer my sadar pranam unto your lotus feet.
I am nobody here (On earth Planet) to agree or disagree on any of the point or situation.
As it has already been told by Krishnh that everything is predestined, whatever had happened, happening and to be happened is fixed.
But we come to know when it's happened.
Every single event in all universes is a well laid plan of Krishnh.
Our birth, life, family, relatives, actions etc, etc…. have already been defined by him.
Krishnh never says NO. But ask him to do something is come to mind by his mercy/choice ONLY.
With Respect
NarendraKrishnh. -
Jai Shree Krsna,
Thank you for you lovely story which can awake once mind.
You have awaken me in nearest day i have actually started to say to krsna to give me a way whereas i never say because i know everything is happening is according to my krsna's wishes so i accept always happily. I really thank you for waking me from this material world…Jai Dwarikadhish………..
Hare Krishna prabhu ji,
Firstly thank you Madhudhvisa dasa ji and kalyani mata ji for understanding this query nicely and making me understand so well. i have understood what u said about karma, akarma & vikarma. I dont make any difference between rich or poor people. yes i also think that, if they dont have any knowledge about Krishna and they are entangled in their own action and reactions, both are poor and i have equal sympathy for both the categories. But i still have doubts, hope u understand this again guruji and will enlighten us.
the questions are :-
1) if i found someone lie on road, and is full of blood. he has gone though a very bad accident. nobody is there for help for him. what should i do? should i leave the person on road or think whatever is going to him is due to his karma and if i'll do his help…we both have to take rebirth again…or should i take him to hospital as at that very moment , even a second is very crucial. in this situation i cannot offer him prasad.
2) If a man is trying to rape a woman, which is very common now a days in Delhi. what should i do? should i call a police and save her, or i should think like whatever is going with her is due to her karma only. God will take care of them Himself.
3) There is a lil girl whose family engaged in ironing clothes. she is in fifth class. her family dont have much money so that they can give her tutions. she also goes door to door to deliver the clothes. what should i do now? should i leave the situation like this or should i help her by helping her in studies and after that offering prasadam.
4) there are lot of pigeons, crows and sparrows come daily at my home balconi to take the food. one day, a pigeon was not well. he tried to fly again and again but couldnt. he sat at there only for two days. what should i do now? should i wait to die him like this or i should take him to doctor and do chanting and kirtan at front of him, so that if he would die, at least he could take birth of a human & can understand the science of God.
at these critical situations, how can i think like this? after knowing the science of God, after knowing that we all are not bodies but souls and we all have eternal relationship with each other. how can i leave these situations guruji ? i learnt how to love people by loving and serving lord only. i feel sympathy for them.
pls tell me guruji, i am humbly asking you. how can i be so selfish? i also want that everybody should serve LORD, they should live for Lord and die for Lord. pls enlighten me.
chant Hare krishna and be happy.
Hari Bol
Hare Krsna MadhudvisaPrabhu
I think Gunjal was asking to help the disadvantaged AND AT SAME time in mood of Bhakti help them towards God – Krsna.
This surely is correct.
ie Offer practical help first to sustain the basic necessities of material life BUT AT SAME TIME in loving manner preach the most highest good – to reestablish the union with Krsna as the prime necessity of their lives.
Hare Krsna!
🙂 -
Hare Krishna prabhu ji,
Please accept my humble obeiances,
I do chanting, listen kirtans,read prabhupada books and also follow four regulative principles sincerely. By doing all these things, I have a very deep feeling to spread this happiness all around the world. I have experienced , people do not get inspired by just talking them logically, they need love and affection, and when they feel cared by us then they automatically come at this path. There are many people who are deprived of basic needs also,they are just fighting for daily bread..it is really very difficult for us to convince that lord will give you bread you just focus on devotion of God. If I help them materially,if I give some education to them so that it will easier for them to earn bread.if I give them clothes or if I give them money for some health problem..
Is it correct or not? If i help lord creation, not in the mode of ignorance but in the mode ofgoodness…is this ishwar ki sewa or not? Mother redress also a sevant of god-
Hare Krishna prabhu ji,
My last question was not completed due to some error,s I want to continue with it. I was saying mother Teresa was also servant to god and she devoted her life for leprosy pateints. she did ishwar ki sewa? If I would dovote my life in such mood at the same time involve in to bhakti, getting advance in bhakti..bcz this is my only motivation to live…i want to preach like this, by love , affection, care , fullfiling their needs n then taking them into the divine path of god…
…is this service of god? Ishwar ki creation ki sewa karna kya ishwar ki sewa hai?I m waiting for your reply guruji
Hari bol
Hare krishna. When you say one should serve the deities and pray to the deities, does you mean to pray knowing that the deity is really Krsna or praying and serving the deities as symbols of Krsna. If the deities are really Krsna then is Ksna really the picture I have? I have heard that Krsna is non different from the books, images and deities, but can you further explain what that means?
hare krishna,
will krishna forgive us if,by the force of material world we commit an error in our daily life even after surrendering to lord?will he forgive us if we repent and ask him for forgiveness? -
hare krishna,
it was really a wonderful article.i have a question?should we engage in a special service for lord krishna everyday or should we take every day-to-day actions,tasks and responsibilities of ours as service to krishna? please advice. -
thank you again for all these wonderful writings ys
My Dear Madhuvisa Maharaj, you will alway be Maharaj to me ,thank you very much for this writing ,it is very important to understand this for our advancement in bhakti yoga,devotion service to Guru and to Lord Sri Krishna,here in this material world it is about our independent will and what we want,on the other hand ,Srila Prabhupada,s teaching are saying that this independent will ,which has been given by Lord Sri Krishna himself,is to be given up,for the selfless desire to please Guru and Lord Sri Krishna,in other words, we are coming to the platform of surrendering to the supreme will of Lord Sri Krishna, this is most pleasing to the pure devotee,Srila Prabhupada,your servant RadhaMadhava dasa
Hare Krishna
wonderful story… liked it very much.. let this Bhagwat dharma spread everywhere and you are doing great service to Krishna…
Thank you Madhudvisa for adapted Srila Prabhupada Bhagavad Gita As it is 2.57, 2.58, 2.59 at your email. Taking in use.
I totally agree with you when you say
"For us the only way is we have to get out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead".
Gita ch 9, sloka 11 says "Desiring the perfection to enter into Brahman, one practices celibacy". The same message is there in sloka 15, valli 2, ch 1 of Kathopanishad. The entire Ashtavakra Gita advises one that one is not the body but the soul.
Adding up, it appears to me that it is wrong to beget children and leave them to live a life of wallowing in avidya, in ignorance of the true nature of reality or make the intelligent child (if you are lucky to have one) tread the
extremely hard path of practising Brahmacharyam and dhyan for spiritual enlightenment, meanwhile becoming unfit to be part of the modern society. May I please know what your take is in this matter. -
sometimes I am very much in doubt about the concept of creation of this world
1) We know that god created everything and we have a part of god in us(in the form of paramatma). Then why should god create all negative feelings like lust, greed, anger.
Why can't he engage people in doing hardwork and why can't he make people eat only satvik food.
As everything is created by him, good and bad is in his control, why should he create bad
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa Prabhu,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.
Thank you so much for this wonderful article. Today was the very day I needed to read this and Krsna became merciful to me through you! I cannot thank you enough. Happiness and distress are really so temporary, and sometimes, even when we know this, we still try to find eternal happiness in this mortal world. How can we find something permanent in a world that is itself non permanent? It is impossible.
Just today I was feeling very upset and hopeless about my life – both spiritually and materially – but after having read your article, I feel much better and brighter. It's always so nice to be reminded of our ABCs of Krsna consciousness which surely are the basics, but the most important for executing devotional service. Many times it is easy to forget the meaning of devotional service and enter the mood of "Krsna please serve me by making things easier for me – I just can't be bothered to deal with my own karma." It is so easy to forget that this is not pure bhakti.
Krsna explains so many things in the Bhagavad-gita, convincing Arjuna to just pick up his bow and arrow and to just fight. By the end, Krsna just says "mam ekam saranam" – just surrender unto Me. So many times we surrender in the "wrong" way and there can even be a tendency to get angry at Krsna if He doesn't do what we wanted Him to do. It's as if we expect Him to pay the price of our surrender.
This material world is purposefully made full of problems, just so that we can be reminded that we will never be permanently happy in a non permanent world, so that we will make our efforts to get out of here. Yet it is so easy to forget this and to think that we can try and solve our problems by asking Krsna to help us do it. When that happens, it makes me question whether we really are determined to go back to Godhead, i.e. are we really determined to get out of this world, knowing we can only be eternally happy serving Krsna back in our real home? Or are we still trying to push past the limits of this material world and endlessly try to be happy here knowing well (or even forgetting) that we can't?
Thank you once again, Prabhu, for this nice article. It was just what I needed today.
Your servant,
Bhaktin Roma -
Mil Gracias !!! Thak You So Much, for share this Beautiful and Enriching knowledge, enriches my mind, my heart and my soul.
I do appreciate all the e-mails you have send all ready for me, I do hope it remains this way, please Send Me More
My Best Regards
Concepcion !!! Chanting Hare Krishna for ever makes me so Happy !!! -
amazing words prabu people's are in reflection world and they think this is our home. from the starting movement of krsna consciousness i did what you sad in this article… But now am trying trying to become a devotee of devotee of krsna… this is best article to show material minds who are in this world.. there is no alternative what you said
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,
All glories to srila Prabhupada ji,
In Bhagavad Gita, it is writtern that "a krishna conscious person has no attachment for the result but acts on behalf of Krishna alone. He engages in all kinds of activities, but is completely non-attached."
how can i apply this in office ??? how can i do office work for krishna??? if i donate some part of my salary only in the mode of goodness as mentioned in Bhadavad Gita , is that means i am doing it for krishna??
Hari bol
Wonderful introductory article. I am a newcomer and an eager to properly learn all! Please keep them coming! Thank you so much!
hare krishna
your "Making the best use of a bad situation" this article was a complete spiritual understanding of the supreme personality sri krishna towards his devotees. I really liked this article. My question to you is that if we are spiritual entities from spiritual kingdom of godhead, then why are we sent to this material world?, why are we let to live out of water? why didn't krishna let us stay with him ??? -
hare krsna prabhu
i am enng students ,2nd year mech branch .i am daily chanting 5 rounds and reading bagvatgita .i am hvng more dreams(aim) , but know i am discouraged that i will not acheive sucess in life .and i am not able to concntrte on my studies.
.prabhu what to pls tell me. -
hare krishna prabhu, i m a newcomer in iskcon, and in very hort period i experienced a new feeling of happiness, and thank u very much for your letters, please continue…..
Dear brother
thanks for your great service and devotion and My quest for spirituality is growing day by day but I do have some query related lord Chaitanya mahaprabhu .therefore I request you to please start some things on electronic media to let us know about the saintly lord chaitanya -
please keep sending the newsletters we read them all
Hare Krishna Guru ji,
Please accept my humble obeisance,
Thanks for sending such a real newsletter. yes this is true that this material world is not our real home. krishna loka is our real home i.e kingdom of Lord Krishna.
but this is really very difficult to make people understand. i can understand them bcz there were days when i was also one of them who was not dare to think like this. these things were like fake for me. i was so stupid, i used to think how can this be possible that just by serving krishna i can reach to spiritual world. i thought that these people just want to raise the no. of krishna followers(bcz in this kala yuga, most of the people are trying to get more people in their religion and their faith).these kind of thoughts used to come my mind.actually,this material world is full of clutches which do not allow us to think in a way in which we should think.
actually this is not our mistake. our conditioning or training is being done like this since childhood. our society, school, parents tell every time to make good grades bcz this is how we can get a good salaried job and have a honorable position in society. if you are a engineer or doctor, your image in society(mainly in middle class) is very honorable & i also experience this daily. my father used to say that if you people dont study now, it will be very difficult for us to choose a suitable boy for you. so i also thought by getting good qualification and good salary,me and my parents will always be happy and my all problems will be solved. but in the mean time i got lust, anger, greed ,envy and pride, bcz in this competitive world these four things are very easy thing to adopt.
and finally i got a very honorable job with good salary in a very good company. i got everything, good image in society and money too. but in office i got a very bad boss, this made me again sad.now i have everything, money as well as good image but agin i m not happy. i didnt want to go office, it was very frustrating to go and come back daily. then i thought, for this day i did so hardwork and again i am not happy. when will the day come, when i feel happy. these kind of thoughts started coming in my mind. then one of my brother(in office) told me to read bhagwad gita. i read this sacred book and i got my all answers. i felt so light. it was like a blessing from supreme God.
and now i laugh, i was searching happiness in this material world which itself is a world of duality.yes guruji, you have given a very nice example of fish without water. our position is like this only. we cannot be happy here. and this we have to understand.
i think, these question "why we have come here" and " we have done everything still we are not happy"….if these types of question starts arising in every mind…it means this is the first step to come in god consciousness.
i wish all people would start realizing their eternal relationship with Lord Krishna. and when they start doing this, i guarantee they will not ask anything from Krishna , they will only serve to Lord Krishna. i can only pray to God, please shower your blessing and mercy to them as u showed on me and make them aware of this nectar. Thank you Lord krishna.
pls show me direction how can i help them if i could???
Thank you guru ji.
hare krishna -
Hare Krishna Guruji,
this article is full of spirit, thank u very much for this wonderful article.
I understand that "material things are coming and going like the waves in the ocean. Just like we can not stop the waves in the ocean and we can not stop the tides coming in and going out.
But I want to ask one thing inspite of knowing that good and bad things are part of life, why we are not able to manage, when something is going wrong with us? why a person gets hyper when things are not going according to their wish. What to do when someone is not behaving properly even though we are continously being good to them.How to avoid such situations…. -
Madhuvisa, please don't take offence at my posts. Most of the time to be honest you are asked very easy questions that can be answered from book. You may find some of my comments challenging but I am challenging I believe in good way.
I do enjoy reading your posts. Unfortunately the Hare Krishna movement is not what it was and some chief devotees actually left the movement. One chap I knew, who to me seemed sincere and dedicated, ended up working in a Garage! There are reasons for that and as devotee once pointed out, it is not because of Krishna, therefore we have to lay the blame at ourselves.
Hare Krsna Prabhu ji, PAMHO
At times, when I read your article or for that sake any article supported by ISKCON, or hear lectures given by Maharaj and Prabhu ji it seems very easy to convince myself about the temporary nature of this material world and futility of all our effort in trying to improve the situation here but when I really get into trouble and it really drains my all attention and in spite of making my best effort I am unable to short it out I turn towards God for help. That times I find myself in a position where material impediments are blocking the path of my spiritual journey. How to convince myself in those situations, how to carry out my spiritual duties without getting affected by these temporary hurdles and setbacks? Please help and give some practical discourse on these issues. -
Are Krishna.
krishna brothers, I thank the Lord for this communication with you.
My concern is:
As I can do the will of Krishna.
How to serve Krishna.
For years I have called the name of the Lord, now I'm reading about him and are helping me a lot of the writing I'm told the Gita.
Now I'm like Arjuna.
That krishna continue pouring heavy rain of blessings.
Cristina de Jesus. -
Dear Guruji,
Thank you so much for sending me those valueble messages,while i am going thro your mails i feel like Krishna directly speaking with me daily to take me to the correct path and to make me perfect.i want a small advice from you to start meditation, i am fed up of fighting with this meterial world and i want to set my mind on the god. to be free from all unwanted bonds in the mind and to control my sences, ill be really greatful to you if you could advise me to ged rid of this unnecessary pressure in my mind.
May the Krishna be with you forever.,,
Guruji, Hare Krishna,
Its wonderfull massage for us to change from material life to spritual life. Hare Krishna … .. ..
hare Krishna Prabhu ji.
please tell me who was Arjun in his previous brith. -
hare Krisha ( please accept my humble obeisances madhudvisa prabhu please keep sending more mail top me i have lorn a lot for the last new you send to me .) krishna consciousness is that pudding,and if one actually practices it seriously,one will see the powerful effect of it . thank you for sending these mails to me hat\re krishna navin sookraj
hare krishna
3 years ago ,i didnt know anything about krishna consciousness & absolute truth, i was heavily into making my career,studying e.t.c but slowly and slowy i heard an inner voice that this all was fake i should serve the god and so i decided that i would control my senses and i would serve the lord,
it was only after 2 years and that too by god's grace that i was able to abstain from most of sennsual pleasures,but then it became very difficult to do the devotional service,the things i used to do with great ease like studying for exams,performing in competetions they became tough it was like my senses were retaliating and it has became very very difficult for e.g if i chant hare krishna hare krishna..constantly some thing from inside tries to stop me ,what should i do ,should i continue the devotional service even to whatever happens or there is still a better path ,i also meditate and exercise regularly and i have also read bhagvad gita plz be my guru and guide me -
Please accept my humble obeisances Madhudvisa Prabhu. It's absolutely true. The real scientific knowledge is in "Srimad Bhagavatam", "Bhagavad Gita as it is" and all the books of Srila Prabhupada. One just have to read them seriously with a inquisitive mind & practically apply the instructions in ones life. Then gradually one will see the power of real Krishna consciousness science. Modern scientific knowledge is more or less based on blind faith and imperfect knowledge gathered from imperfect observation & senses. When I was in medical college, I used to passionately study the imperfect scientific knowledge in my medical books 18-20 hrs a day only to realize the limitations & flaws of modern day medicine. Only Srila Prabhupada books gave me the scientific answers that I was searching for. The proof of the pudding is in eating it. Krishna consciousness is that pudding, and if one actually practices it seriously, one will see the powerful effect of it in no time. Hare Krishna!
sir i just wanted to ask you that i am a boy 15 years old and i just want to know that am i right if i am just studying as hard as i can and just dont care for marks in the exams then am i rendering some sort of devotional service and making best out of bad.i never asked god for some material things. i am just keen to render some sort of devotional service . also i really like to study physics and maths[because i really find them interesting and even before reading bhagwad gita i had never studied to get marks but to get knowledge] and if i just study them seriously 24 hours and renounce results then will i make the best bargain from bad. also if i become a scientist in future and glorify lord by my work then will i again be rendering devotional service and making best of the worst? please my master tell me if i am right.
also, can you please tell me some other ways by which i can render devotionalservice
I worship Lord Krishna,
How can I worship and get to know him more? -
Hare Krishna,
Madhudvisa dasa
I have been unable to edit my comments. Whenever, I click to edit – I see these words "You Do Not Have Permission To Edit This Comment. Please clear out so I can edit my comments. Thanks.
Hare Krishna,
Sara -
Hare Krishna,
Madhudvisa dasa
Thank you for the clarification and information that you are giving us.
Who are the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TURST run by Sura Das. I received a mail and invitation to become a member. Is this part of Krishna.org or a different organization?Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna,
Yes, you should read the Gita with desire to understand it and try to apply it in your daily life.
Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has been presented without the slightest taint of adulteration or personal motivation since orginally given by God/Lord Krishna to the Sun God, aeons ago.
"Bhagavad Gita is universally renowned as the Jewel of India's spiritual wisdom spoken by Lord Krishna, The Suprme Personality of Godhead".
The chanting of Maha Mantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare – Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare should be done 16 rounds daily in order to help us understand the Gita. Lord Chaitanya's/Lord Krishna appearance half a century ago to engage us in chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
There is no book which compares to the Gita. Lord Krishn/God gave the Gita to help us to cleanse our sins and to go back to our orignal abode – To heaven with God.
Those who sincerely read the Gita and follow all the precepts are cleared from attachment and sinful reactions. If you read strictly all the articles, question and answers of Madhudvisa dasa, you will not have a problem in understang the Gita. My greatest help is coming from reading Swami Prabhupada's books and Madhudvisa dasa's articles/informations. whenever, you have time please go to Krishna.org and read the articles.
Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna,
Lord Krishna is complete. He is the SuperSoul, the cause of all causes, etc. He doesn't need anything from us. It is for our benefit that we do the 16 rounds of chanting daily to cleanse our sins. To understand Lord Krishna and our relation with Him, We have to read His book The Gita As It Is. Madhudvisa dasa has been advising us to do the Maha Mantra and follow the precepts if we want to be the devotee of Lord Krishna. To become the devotee of Lord Krishna is the highest gift from God. Without reading Swami Prabhupada's books (those books are mostly the word of Lord Krishna) and chanting the Maha Mantra, we may not able to understand who we is Lord Krishna and why we are here.
Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna Sara!
I am reading the book KRSNA written by Swami Prabhupada.
Is this a good book to start? It was given to my husband and I as a wedding gift.
It has been years. I could never read it before, but now I cant put it down.
I am so happy.
Hare Krishna,
Mahudvisa dasa,
Lord Krishna reincarnated many times for our cause.
His reincarnation as Parshuram, Gautauma, Christ? are aspects of Him. I believe, they are considered as demigods but not God as Lord Krishna/Rama and Caitanya. If there is an explanation from Swami Prabhupada on this issue, I would love to know.
Ekadasi – is the eleventh day that we have to fast from grains in order to increase devotion, according to Swami Prabhupada's books. Is Ekadasi is the eleventh day of each month. Please give explanation.
Thank you for your understanding.
Hare Krishna,
Sara -
Hare krishna
thanks for such article,how can i devote my self in the service of krishna.
pls help me.
hare krishna -
Hare Krishna! Madhudvisa Prabhu,
your articles sums up very nicely the instructions written in Srila Prabhupada's divine books. Please continue writing them. They are very helpful and authoritative.
your servant,
Aryan Krishna -
Hare Krishna , Nice article, yes,very true. actually surrender complete surrender is the only way… need to perform the journey from me to him.. otherwise after complete surrender also, at sm moments people become careful about material desires. It is best to Leave everything on krishna, he will see each and every matter, and lets get busy with krishna only. each duty lying on us, is nothing but the duties given by krishna, lets try to do our work, without considering result as per suggested in Bhagvad gita.
Why does God care
if we chant 16 rounds everyday. Is this chanting for our benefit or for Krisha? -
hare krishna,
sir, i do wanted to know about how can a person carry on his daily activities keeping lord krishna in mind ,i dnt understand the lover concept being given .Also , being a householder or a student how can one advance ahead in spirtual levels ,,i mean to say dnt we have to strive for higher goals,better living ,????pls do clear my doubts!! -
Dear Prabhu,
Thank you for your response regarding termination of my baby, which has Trisomy 13 gene defect (no left or right brain hemispheres have developed).
I went to the hospital again today and even though they are still asking me to consider termination (at 20wks), I decided that we are going to see it through until the end. I don't know what the future holds but as you said, it is for the Mother to nurture not murder dependent unborn child. It is for Krishna to decide what happens next and for me to learn whatever necessary lessons and work off some bad karma instead of acquiring more! If I had gone ahead with termination, I would always be looking over my shoulder wondering when that karma (that I was trying to avoid) PLUS the newly gained bad karma of termination, would come find me again.
I hope this may help someone else going through similar situation, it is not easy but material world is not meant to be…
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna, Prabhuji!
Your newsletters are pure nectar, they lighten my day. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, and your words. I've decided to translate and convey the message of every newsletter you send to devotees here.Your servant,
Hari bol!
Hare krishna…
I have some doubt,Can i chant hare krishna maha mantra when i wear sandels..i hope i will get reply from u soon…I like to read your newsletters daily..if it is possible can u send to me..prabhu.
I got it means my mind is now saying ur right…
Things happened, are happening and will happen in our life according to our Karma. There is no point in changing the way things happen. The only thing we can change is our attitude by accepting them with calmness as we know Krishna is with us in the storm as much as in the pleasant day. So never forget this eternal Supreme Friend by chanting His holy name and constantly keep yourself enagaged in social service, taking His creations as He Himself.
Hare Krsna Hiiravatii Mataji,
Beautiful!- what you have concisely stated.
I totally agree and request Krsna to help us all do just what you have stated, come what may.
Hari Bol!
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
Really refreshing to hear about making best use of bad situation.As you rightly put it "searching for knowledge of the Absolute" is the best type out of 4 types.Even though I strongly feel asking Krishna for pleasures is not right,it is asking King who owns everything about 1 coin of gold.But there is always a fight/fix which goes in mind & which is as follows.
Can one ask Krishna to keep situations which tend to digress mind away?Even though the fact is one has to reap the effects +ive/-ive of previous karmas but once they happen one gets busy in fixing those problems as one lives in the AS- IS world & has to take care of grehasth (family);that is where knowingly/unknowingly one looses his focus of mind which should be on the lotus feet of Krishna.
So I ask Krishna to help me not get in situations where I might knowingly/unknowingly loose the actual cause of loving him.Just wanted to share my mind,not sure how mean I am by doing this.
It would be great if you throw some light about this.
Lalit -
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa Dasa
Nice article ,thank you.
Just one observational point, a person may go through all catergories in his life:
"one who is distressed, one who wants money, one who is inquisitive and the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute".
Infact he most definately will fluctuate from one catergory to another in his life, but if he was genuinely interested in Spiritual advancement in the first place ,then his time will come when he will be considered to be in the best catergory – that of a seeker of knowledge of Absolute Truth and ofcourse will be one who practices the knowledge gained.
I make this point because the force of Maya and past life Karmic reactions will be acting on him.
Infact process of genuinely seeking knowledge & putting it into practice, propel one forwards to gain further knowledge and further refinement and perfection, loosening grip of Maya & reducing or nullifying Karmic reactions eventually.
It is a gradual process over many lifetimes to reach stage of the best category of devotee that turns to Krsna.
This is my understanding. Thank you once again for the article.
Hari Bol! -
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhuji,
I am very happy to be reading your mails. Though i still have some contamination in my heart but as i am progressing i am confident that Krishna will ultimately remove all the impurities in me. I am really inspired by your mails. Thank you.
Your lowly servant,
Garima -
Nice article. But how we can do things to please Krishna?
Hare Krishna,
Madhudvisa dasaKrishna 's devotees are little Krishna in themselves. Because with krishna's blessing, they are having eternal wisdom, humility, grace and honor to guide humans back to Godhead. With out Krishna's teaching, society will continue to live in the Maya's caste system. They will continue to be discriminated on their race, age, sex, income, looks, jobs, place you live, car you drive, clothes they wear, place they work, position they held, etc. there is no end to suffering.
People in the Material world live for power, money, position, recognition, honor, pride, control at the expense of others. Tyrant leaders stay in power by killing anyone who challenges them.
The biggest mishap of great religion is the lack of teaching in Reincarnation and teaching of Lord Krishna (Gita As It Is). Reincarnation is the greatest gift from Lord Krishna to humanity. Humans can come back to earth and learn God's way to cleanse their sins and have eternal salvation and ascension.
Because, we decide to nurture our pride/ego rather than have faith in Lord Krishna's teaching. We are here. However, being, Lord Krishna is mercyful, at present time, we are learning the Gita once again and take refuge in Lord Krishna's feet.
Hare Krishna and Be Happy,
Sara T
. -
May I ask… If we dont belong in the material world, then why are we here? Fish aren't born on land to spend their lives looking for water. Why should we be born in the material world if we are fully only spiritual beings? You may say that karma keeps us reincarnating into this world, but why would the first human beings have entered it in the first place, unless we belong here? Also, if Krishna is all powerful God, why does he need our service for anything? Why cant He do it Himself? Were humans just created for slavery? Why should Krishna care what we eat, how much we chant His name, what we wear? Isn't He beyond that? It sounds very egoic.
Thank you for taking the time to share these teachings. -
I loved this article. It helped put things into perspective for me today. It was one of those off days that could have easily turn into a pity party. Better to ask where I'm needed to serve rather than feel sorry for myself – such a waste of time.
Hare Krishna,
I was a non-believer earlier but after facing lot of failures in life I turned to Krishna so I was distressed who turned to Krishna than I prayed for success however now after a month or so I realized that I am wasting my energy over praying for useless materialistic world so now i daily pray to Krishna that I want to be in his service irrespective of success or failure. infact I am happy for failing as it was my failures due to which I turned to him.
so for some it may begin as where we desire materialist things but gradually we understand what exactly we want.
dear prabhu ji,
hare krishnai am new to ISKCON…but the krishna prayer,temples and everything of krishna have attracted me very much….as u said we should not engage in these material things….but whenever i go to temple automatically a list of demands come in my mind…how i can put myself away from these worthlesss things…….
Dear Prabhuji,
Hare KrshnaWhat a nice and inspiring article on "Making the Best use of bad situation".I have been associated with ISKCON for last 7-8 years but no one could explain Krishna Conciouseness and Service to the God without asking ,in such a beautiful manner as you have done.We are all human beings and keep trying & trying and truly Krishna helps only the true devotee.
With kindest Regards,
Your Servant
Raj -
thank you
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Excellent elucidation on what should be the state of mind of the devotee. The story aptly describes our current state. Due to ignorance we have conditioned ourselves to keep asking for favours from god. But reading Srila Prbahupada's books helped us to rectify the error in our thinking and praying process. Your reiteration of the same thoughts really helped as mind keeps fluctuating and even if it knows this is wrong it keeps seeking.
Today while chanting I tried to fix my mind to say "O Krsna please keep me engaged in your service" but in the middle of chant the mind wanders and in a mean way again thinks of problems that we confront in life and asks for favour then again I consciously apologise to god and again bring it back to serving mode. But this continuous conflict keeps goin thorughout chant. This is due to the fact that we have conditioned our mind to beg. Beg for favours, beg for happiness, beg for comfort etc
To eradicate this begging habit will take long time only Krsna can help.
Once again thanks a ton for ton for your inspiring write ups which only goes to prove that assocaition of like minded devotees is so essential in spritual progress. I only pray to Krsna to keep me in such association
Hare Krsna
Mrs.Sudha Mehta
pamho madhudvisa prabhu agtACBSP thank you very much for your sadhu sanga and newsletter it help a lot to keep connect with truth agtys pranam
I truly and sincerely accept that to be in amaterial body is abad situation and the best way to make use of is to do bhagwan"seva .It is our nature to keep on asking from lord krishna but one day with his mercy these desires gradually fades away and only we want from him is his seva.Then one is in a true stste of mind.HARIBOL AND PAMHO .EVERY TIME IREAD YOUR ARTICLE AND VERSES I FEEL IM PURIFIED.THANX
Pranam Madhuvisa Dasji
I am receiving your mails from very long time and I always receive the right mail at right time. Thank you so much. I agree that this a material world and all these relationships are there on earth only. In the end we will die and go in the feet of Lord Krishna. But still my mind troubles me a lot. I keep on remembering past and regret. Sometimes that regression turns into anger. I get angry very soon which I know and I don't like but I cannot control. Please help me.
Hare Krishna Prachi Sharma!
Anger is very common in human beings. We can say that no one is free from anger, it is just little or much.
The fact that you do not like anger and want to control anger is the first step in overcoming anger. From my little experience, anger can be under control.
Basically, when we get angry, we easily lose our wisdom, we are easily illussioned and misguided. People have different ways to deal with anger. They either express it freely with everyone around resulting in hurting, fighting with others or they can hurt themselves by depressing it. The first way is of course not favorable. The second way seems too much suffering.
The best way to deal with anger is to transcend it. How? First, by simply watching with curiosity what is going on within your body and mind when you get angry. Just watch with patience and curiosity, do not try to get rid of it. Then the anger will go away by itself. Second, remember Krishna, chant His holly name to transcend the negative thoughts. Chanting will surely purify your mind.
Thank you for speaking your mind.
Chant Hare Krishna, be happy and make others happy also!
My mother has just said me a real story of a boy who was Krishna conscious. Thus it goes " A boy was Krishna conscious. He had finished his 7 tests in engineering collage. He also passed the 8th test. The interviewers had come to provide them job. So they took all the interviews. The final was the behavior test. This boy's mother had said him to wear shoes and go to collage. But he refused to do so. Instead he wore slippers and went to the collage. There the interviewers saw this and rejected him from the job." Will this happen to me also. Due to this fact my mother is trying to remove me from Krishna consciousness. What should I do now? Even I am getting worried now. Please help me!
Hare Krishna!
Thanks for writing.I'm a doubt about this question: must i leave the job to serve Krishna and go to the temple? In which way during my work i can serve God? I work for me, for have money to live.
Hare Krishna prabhu.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.Your article is absolutely correct in addressing the problem that many of us see God as a merchant who only exists to fulfill our orders. We have forgotten our constitutional position as servants to the Lord. It is so evident that people only remember God when they need something or when things are bad. How many of us remember God when things are going well? How many of us thank God for his causeless mercy? As wyou noted things that happen to us are due to our karma and that whatever is going to happen will happen.
I remember a story I heard once from His Grace Sruitidharma prabhu (temple president of Bhaktivedanta manor in the UK) where a man prayed so intensely to God to win the lottery. After years he still didn't win so he asked God why he hasn't won. God replied: atleast buy a ticket first.
This just illustrates how sometimes some of us can just assume God will sort it out for me I don't need to do anything I can be ignorant.
Krishna is already so kind he fulfills our desires yet some of us just want to turn to him for more and more.
We should try and think how we can try to become the servant of the servant.
Thank you for the article prabhu.
Your aspiring servant,
Jenny -
I am very happy with how Lord Krishna is enhancing my life since I started chanting the Maha Mantra 16 rounds daily.
Questions are not important. Actions are the most important to receive fruits in our life.
Actions are Chanting of Maha Mantra daily 16 rounds with pure heart and reading the Gita and the 30 volumes of the veda. These actions will transform the world of maya into the world of bliss. We are very fortunate to have this web site and I thank Lord krishna for sending these people who are teaching us on Krishna consciousness. We have to get Krishna from our heart/inside with pure knowledge (Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration – The Nobel Eightfold Path). Educational videos are very helpful to understand Krishna, one should watch Ramayana, Mahabharata and Krishna by Indian version not made by others. Thanks. -
Can I chant 16 rounds in that duration of 4 am to 8am? My mother has instructed me to study from 6 am to 7 am now. Because I am in 9th now. This is another problem for me. Again I am in a fix. Please help me!
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
it is said that Lord Krishna is all attractive. But then why doesnt he attract all people of the world? If we look at a beautiful woman we get so much attracted but looking at the picture of Krishna doesnt attract so much? why is this? -
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa
While studying for my exams I find it difficult to chant hare krishna and concentrate on my study. In this way I will neither be able to concentrate on my
study nor on chanting. I am in a fix now! Please tell me what I should do! -
Pranam once again Madhudvisa dasa. I dont understand how knowing of the pastimes of krishna will create a tendency to misunderstand him?
Pranam Madhudvisa dasa, I have downloaded krishna chalisa and is listening to it everyday. It is making me krishna concious very faster day by day than Hare krishna maha mantra does. Why it is happening like that? Please tell me.
Dear Madhudvisa dasa,
Thank You for this knowledge. Currently i am in very bad financial situation. Yet, Krishna send your email at right time. i needed some depth and courage to go through the horrible financial loss. When i start thinking about spiritual world and how karma is the payback than it makes sense to me and i stop asking Krishna/god to fix my mistakes. Therefore, i currently do good karma which could/should let me in to better life in future and next life.
Thank You
thank you very much prabu. after reading this it make me realised that what must we ask Krishna and what not to.
In one sense this is good. Of course Krishna is God and He can do anything, and it is the nature of someone who believes in God to turn to Him in times of need. This is also good. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16):
O best among the Bhāratas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me–the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
So there are four types of good people who turn to Krishna or God and perform devotional service: one who is distressed, one who wants money, one who is inquisitive and the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute.
I want to thank Mrs Shashika Jailal for her wondeful comment. I loved it and I wrote it down so that i can read it every morning and keep loving God. Thank you.
Lord Krsna The Supreme Personality of GodHead, who is called Bhagavan the Absolute and Supreme cause of all causes. HE is The Father of all living entities. The most awesome excellent Loving Father,dad,& best friend you could ever Imagine. He has a special lesson plan for each and everyone of his children. To really know Him as he is, causes us to never want to sperated from his presence ever. The reason why is because nothing can compare to the Love , joy , and how special you are and really do matter, and when we realize things and the order of the universe as it is, we want to go with Krsna and help all living beings and help Vishnu (Krsna) Destroy the Evil Race of Demonic selfish evil murdering beings who dash babies against the rocks drink the blood as a sacrifice to Baal whom they call God. Sri Madhudvisa dasa its all good and because Kesava Govinda Krsna is the most excellent father the very essence of divine love, all of us his children reach the ulltimate goal and return evenually to KrsnaLoka. For who is like god ? No One Except Him who I know and have known from the beginning as Well as Arjuna knew Krsna and Nara,Narayana! Hare Krsna OM all my love your brother and fellow servant Glen
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
It's a blessing reading your words !
I'm for ever greatfull to you.Yours, in the service of Srila Prabhupada
your eternal servant
please help i recently read about the views on abortion me an my wife are twenty one years of age we just had a boy that has turned two months today an we have recently discovered she is pregnat again we are not very wealthy an i am the only one who works it feels like we have no choice but to get an abortion my wife is doing it regardless what i say an i feel sick about it even though i know we cant support it if we dont if krishna does not approve then were should i go
This message is really a eye opening. This tells exactly how a breakdown can be used as break through.
Thank you for sharing Wisdom with us.
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,dandavat pranam, all glories to Srila Prabhupad. Ur right Prabhu that there is no happiness in this material world & we should not hanker after the temporary satisfaction found here. As original Krishna conscious entities our only buisness in this world should be to serve Krishna. This is something which is expected from us by the Supreme Father. Hoping that u will continue to shower ur blessings on this fallen soul. Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna. I read this article in the morning and gave me a feeling of calmness. Thank you once again.
Hari Bol.
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I look forward to receiving your regular newsletters. I am positive that you have the blessings of all devotees that are logged onto this website.
My comment on this newsletter, is simply that, Krishna knows our needs. He knows what we donot have & will give us what we require, to live. Yes, we should not ask God , but trust that, he will provide for us. But, aside from our basic needs to live, what we should always ask Radha- Krishna, is for their blessings, in our spiritual endevour. I pray that Radha-Krishna, is present in my life & my family's. Our problems in life are put there, to bring us closer to Krishna. We should accept our problems in the same manner as we accept our happiness, as both should bring us closer to Krishna.
Pranam Madhuvisa Dasji
I am receiving your mails from very long time and I always receive the right mail at right time. Thank you so much. I agree that this a material world and all these relationships are there on earth only. In the end we will die and go in the feet of Lord Krishna. But still my mind troubles me a lot. I keep on remembering past and regret. Sometimes that regression turns into anger. I get angry very soon which I know and I don't like but I cannot control. Please help me.
rahe krishna
can you please explain how to perform pooja with proper upavas for janmashtami…i want to improve my level of pooja to krishna…please exlain all steps to be followed for the same…and how to do tulsi pooja..please do reply me…
radhe radhe -
Hare krishna,
The mail was excellent. I do realize that detachment from the world and attachment only to krishna is the way to happiness but it isn't easy to be detached. I would like to know if there a simple thing I can start doing to pleases krishna. I would love to do something that pleases God but I don't know what. Please help me. Thank you. -
Hare Krsna!
This article really is great. After all, no matter how we plan for ourselves, KRSNA already had plan for us. So we don't desire according to what we want but rather what KRSNA wants.
Thank you so much for sharing prabhu.
Hare Krishna,
Well various times i m facing problem because of lack of self confidence in me, after reading such quotes and following them help me to reiterate my mind.
thanks for sharing such a knowledga -
Dear Madhudvisa Dasa,
I have small query not exactly connected to this topic but still it relates to Krishna consciousness.
As per Bhaghvada Gita, soul is everlasting and takes birth in physical form on this earth depending on the Karma of previous birth. Also if the soul has met the qualifications of Krishna Consciousness, he meets the abode of almighty GOD. But as per Bible there are only two births, one physical on earth & other in eternity (heaven or hell based on his karma during his physical birth).
Can you please Clarify this to me?Thank you.
Hare Krishna. -
I love krishna asmy son
Accept my pranam. After a prolonged waiting after all there is a encouraging letter in my mail box from you. Once in one of HIS dialogue SRI AUROBINDO said bad situations come to us not for harassing us but it comes to guide us to prepare ourselves for a better life. But now the question is how we accept the situation & how can we convert the bad things into good for us and for the society. What is the requirement for this? The one and only answer for this is IDEAL CONCENTRIC LIFE & ACTIVE LOVE TOWARDS THE IDEAL. In a bad time a person needs the words of the person who loves him. It may be his mother, father, child, wife or any friends. No doubt from them one can have a momentary pleasure but may not be able to utilize the situation. But if someone has active love to his IDEAL/SADGURU, through which all the complex of life got adjusted for the sake of wellbeing and real education takes place there. Concentric attachment with the ideal is the source of all knowledge and knowledge is the source of all happiness. Being adjusted and doing good to others is the way to move ahead with success. Just we have to change the way we think. One of our Hindi film songs says there is lots of sorrow in this world ,mine is too less. REGARDS
Dear Madhudvisa,
thank you for the e-mail, i,d enjoyed it .
It is very insprialing , for this time of year. THANK YOU. -
Hare Krshna – Madhudvisa dasa,
Sri Vyasadeva taught his son (Sukadeva Gosvami) not only the religious principles and spiritual values but also taught him the yoga system by which one can attain the spiritual kingdom (SB First Canto-Part two pp 80). Please explain the yoga system or which book to use from the Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada. Thanks.
Sara Tzeggai -
Hare Krishna,
Excellent way to tell people to come out of this mundane world. But one thing I have realized is the day I have tried to detach from this world i have become more emotional towards others. Even when I read Bhagwat and do kirtan tears starts rolling in my eyes. Madhu ji please tell what is happening with me. All I want to be in the feets of Shri Krishna and want to do the bhajans infront of others but I cannot call his name properly without crying.
Waiting for your reply! -
Dear Madhudvisa Dasa,
Your article has really brought more light into my life. I believe that the problem of this world is because our education teaches us how to earn a living instead of teaching us how to live.
If your education teaches you how to earn a living, you become a slave to the body and a perpetual beggar who is always hungry for material things and therefore the daily prayer is to get daily bread; 'GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY BREAD" Meaning, "Give me all the material things the body needs to survive"
But,If your education teaches you how to live, you will realise your constitutional nature and realise that the essence of living is to serve God and render service to mankind and all your needs, not wants, will be provided to you by God.
Thank you for your inspiring message
Dr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah
Hare krishna Sir I read your newsletter & I liked it. It provides a great knowledge about the supreme personality Lord Krishna & spiritual science. I keeps faith in krishna & I am always happy. Your work is very good. I have Bhagvad Gita of shree prabhupada in gujarati & I am trying to read & grasp it.
Namasthe Madhuvisa das,
Your article was very beautiful and conveyed the meaning of sprituality.
Just wanted to know ways and methods to service lord krishna.
priyanka -
HK Gurudev,
it's really true that we require the material of enjoyment from Lord Krishna for our own sense gratification and if we will not practice then the real time will come we will not be able to remind for what we came here.
The explanation given above is very clear and its a reminder again of the schloka " Sai vai pumsan paro dharma, yado bhaktir adhokshaje…". Thank you for instructions given to fallan soul like me.
i am devotee of vishnu murthy. i had read this mail and i liked it very much. i wanted to improve more attachment on lord. can you please suggest me how to improve affection on lord.
Hare Krishna – Madhudvisa dasa,
Every one has a problem. However, if we are engaged in the service of Lord Krishna, our problems will be solved by the Lord's energy. I am experiencing it almost every day in my work. The chanting of Hare Krishna sixteen times daily is a bliss, that nurtures the body, the mind and the soul.
I am giving my obesience to Lord Krishna and all the selfless individuals who are teaching us on how to go back to our source. Thank you for the beautiful article that enhances the teaching of Lord Krishna. -
Krishnam vande jagadgurum.
Sri Madhudvisa Dasaji,
Namaskar. A good article. It points to the principle of non-attachment to worldly things and events. A difficult thing indeed. The point well said that we have to engage ourselves in what pleases Krishna. If this would have been elaborated, that would have completed the article.
Karthikeyan -
hare krishna prabhu.. Your news letter has clarified so many doubts. And the examples that you have used are really amazing. Thank you.
Dear Madhudvisa Dasa:
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Yes, making the best of a bad situation (or bargain). I am well acquainted with it, as are we all. I think about Krishna no matter what I am doing. Krishna is forever foremost in my mind, even when I behave and think like "it is all about me or mine" I know that really it is all about Krishna. I know we really are not supposed to be ultimately happy here and I know that life is variably happy and unhappy. I am trying to explain things to my soon-to-be 19-year-old grandson. He is going through certain stages we go through as teenagers. He knows how I feel about Krishna. I used to read Krishna Book when he was little. He knows about Hanuman. That is his nickname. On another note, I go to a library where there is a librarian from India named Mrs. Parthasarathi. Imagine! To me, this is direct communication from Krishna; that he is aware of all we do and he watches all of us. His communication can be so suttle. He is everywhere. He notices us and communicates with all of us. Madhudvisa, I am so grateful that I had a chance to communicate with you and your Krishna Store website a number of years ago. You have a valuable treasure of information to make us Krishna conscious, and I am so happy that Krishna became Srila Prabhupada and came here to teach Krishna consciousness to a world that had once again forgotten.
This is the first time i come here to comment the newsletter, but it is not the first time i comment the newsletter to others. Ever since i started receiving these beautiful and meaningful words, things have changed in my life. God does not give us what we want, but what is needed, and at one point in my life, all i needed was truthful words from God. And they came, through this crazy technology we are all used to nowadays. All i can think of is being grateful. It's amazing how an enlightened soul can make the best use of everything presented at every moment. Thank you for these inspirational words. Oh, and i have one point to clarify in the Christian's prayer. In Portuguese, it's said more likely "Our bread of each day, you give us today", which i understand more like becoming aware of what God give us everyday and more aware of the present moment which we can do whatever change that needs to be done for a better result in the material world. Thank you again for spreading the goodness of Srila Prabhuapda
Dear One-in-Krishna,
Your newsletter serves as a beacon of light. I also belong to the category of pious people seeking Krishna in times of distress. The amazing thing about this is my distress introduced me to Krishna. When my life hung by a thread and none could help ease my distress, I saw Krishna for what he was. The only truth. Everything else is so transient, which comes with death guaranteed. All the things that give me pleasure and pain are transient and undependable. I noticed or rather was given the grace to notice the fact that all through these days HE somehow stays just the same. All things are in him and he is in all things. There is not a single place where He is absent. All and everything is Krishna. Krishna Krishna Krishna. All others look different but in truth, Everything is Krishna in disguise. May He actually give us the ability to know this for a fact. May He give us this humble knowledge that He is our journey and destination. Hare Krishna. -
hare krishna Madhudvisa ,
as always the letetrs i read rom you are gives some peace to me .as you said we have no control in this material world but to accept if its good or bad whatever happens .
I lost my wife 1 1/2″ year ago still i,am under in that depression what could have happened to her because i do nt know the real cause . Still i,am searcing for the reason whihc cna staisfy me and accept it but nothing is happening . pls can you help in this regard -
This is a verry imp lesson that should be taught during our schooling time.Its relevance is very much in this world where all relatgionships are based on give and take and profit and loss only.
no way for somebody to make the whole world peaceful just because of the region and the climate or the environmental problem of each tribe eve in India some atrocities have been recorded so far and US recorded the worst in the whole world
thanks -
Dear Madhudvisa Das,
I have gone through your article. I am also inclined nowadays to read Bhagvat Gita almost daily . It attracts me, meaning it gives me inner feel of satisfaction. I feel that after getting this human soul and body god has already expressed his kindness to us. Now, it is we who are to use this body and soul to fulfil His desires-to spread love and kindness to all. It is not proper that we are always in the mode of asking something or other from God related to worldly materials things . These desires are endless and we are submerged in this pool of desires. God is ever ready to grace us and does good for us always and is showering this on us every passing moment but we tend to ignore it and measure His divine gifts in terms of what He has given us in terms of our material desires.,,
hare krisna,thanks alot for the valuable idea,i am a devotee of my lord krisna(jagannath)but due to this busy life and responsibilities i never give time to my prabhu,please give some solution
thankyou very much for the mail that you have sent to me. it's a great knowledge for me…^_^
i want to know how we can serve loard krishna
Deaf Madhudvisa dasa:
Thank you for your enlightening letters. I find Krsna Katha to be my life-force
keeping me going in times of turmoil (as I am going thru at this time).
A page from the Gita, A verse from Srimad Bhagvatam, or a purport ofromSri Caitanya Caritamrta keep me centered in the worst of storms.Thank you and
Thank You Blessed Srila Prabhupada -
I really loved this article espescially the part about Us being the fish out of the water but merely chanting Hare Krishna mantra is enough to please Krishna or we have to chant other strotas such as Vishnu Sahasranaam or other devotional texts to render devotional service to Lord Krishna????
Hare Krishna!
i want to discuss some personal problem. I want to get rid of this problem and be Krishna Consciousness. How can i do that ?
Please help
Hare Krsna, thankyou for your service. The subject matter really touched my heart as living in this material world is so difficult when trying to detach from the general populace who don't follow our 4 regulative principles. I find my main difficulty comes from my impatience in myself, as I want to help everyone in my family but how can I when we have long material history, full of my own faults (as well as theirs). I don't have a spiritual master yet, and find the temple isn't a place for talking about personal issues. Is there a kc devotee who I could email one-on-one, who I could get support from while I am going through difficult periods?
Jaya -
Hare Krishna!Thank you very much for this wonderful article I read just a few minutes ago after chanting the holy Names of God for about two hours. I think that if I hadn't met the devotees long time ago I would be dead now!Krishna consciousness is what makes me bear the weight of material life.I had been searching for the reason of my life for so long but whenever I thought I had found it, everything started going wrong again and again. There's noone in this world who can quench our thirst but God. I don't want anything at all. I used to pray to get something.I remember when I went to University…I was always asking God"Please help me with my exams" or when someone in my family was not very well I used to say"please give them health". Then I started thinking I was searching for LOVE, REAL LOVE and I understood that we often love just because we receive something back.We want the others to be the way we are, we often make them feel guilty if they are not always there ready to satisfy our requests and so on…so I was asking everyone"what do you think? does pure love exist?"the answer came when I met the devotees and they started telling me about Krishna.Yesterday I had a long conversation with my father who is now 82 and has been searching for God since he was very young. He doesn't want to surrender. He doesn't want to understand that his body is aching because it's getting older and older and that it's just a sort of a coat we are going to live on the bank of the river one day and that we don't know when eaxactly!God give us what we need, not more not less. we are not these bodies we are living in. We are souls, we are eternal and have got nothing to do with this world. Thank you very much! By chanting the Name of the Lord we'll be free! hare Krishna. You servant Lucia (Lalita d.d.)
Hare Krsna,
Thank you for this teaching. I stopped "asking" and started listening years ago. Though this changed in my spirituality, I never fully understood why I felt this way. I didn't start "listening" until after the first time I read Gita.
When I am sad, I rejoice in the karmic lessons and attempt to fully feel my sadness. When I am happy, I am thankful for the temporary distraction from the pain of this life and attempt to fully feel my happiness.
But most importantly, I try always to remember that all of this is just a passing moment… a passing opportunity to learn and to serve and to praise.
Thank you for clarifying my understanding with the words of God, for pointing out exactly where He told me to quit asking and start serving for the closest thing to true happiness here in this life and the steps toward returning to Him.
Hare Krsna!
Madhudvisa dasa,
Thank you for the inspiration and wisdom. I look forword to reading your letters in the year to come.
My question is: when somebody ( a employer) is stealing money of my services, and I asked this person, explaining why is belongs me and not to him, he refused to pay me. If I ask once more, probably I'll have no more phone calls to work (I'm a free lance), but if I miss to repeat my ask, I fell that this person is unrespectfull, unpolite and no honest.
What's the best to do? To renounce that money, to renounce the next works, or to renunce my complain ? What's a devotee, that needs to survive in this material world, plein of social rules, can do in this case?NINON.
To all souls who are connected to this website and to all others as well.
I have been following Krishna cons. from last 2 years now by the grace of Krishna himself who is sitting in everyone's heart and by the grace of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's books.
With my understanding no place is impious or bad in this whole cosmic manifestation because it is all made by Krishna himself and we as part and parcel of him should only reside there, where our eternal father lives; as mentioned by Prabhu Madhudvisa dasa as well which is Goloka vrindavana.And as Krishna said in B.G ( Goloka Eva Nivasethy Akhilatma Bhuta)please apologize me for incorrect words of Sanskrit as i am not carrying B.G at this moment; Anyways, now because we have fallen down here by our ignorance so with our devotional service we should make this earthly mother planet as Krishna's own personal abode by Sankirtan, chanting and enjoying his pastimes.
And by doing our so called worldly duties we should remember Krishna in our heart 24 hours 7 days a week and having said that not just remember Krishna but also his teachings through Prabhupada's literature which will make our mind body and soul pure and uncontaminated so finally at the time of leaving this body we will only remember our Krishna and finally he will come in his own Garuda plane and take us back to our home which is our own kingdom of God.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. -
Jay Shri Krishna
I have heard your preaching on U-Tube .I like god krishna and love Him but I have some doubts regarding the full meaning of 'Krishna'.Will You help me to tell me what is the actual meaning of the word 'Krishna'One thing more i want to like to be known by you why lord Krishna is in black while in other avatar he has fair complexion but in krishnaavatar he is in black complexion why? this question keeps disturbing me for a long time .I tried my best to get the answer of this question but all in vain .please solve my oproblem as I think that yoouare the only person who can quench my thirst of knowledge .
with best regards and Jay Shri krishna
Yours humble devotee
Moti Raj Sankhla -
Truly wonderful thoughts on the comments by Lord Krishn during the great epic war of Kurukshetra. Hare Krishn with all the best wishes ahead in your mission of spreading Krishn Consiousness.
HARE KRISHNA! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Excellent article again Prabhu!
Very glad that you are again writing! Inspiring are your articles as always and very encouraging they are to instil determination in us to try our best to somehow and anyhow keep spreading and broadcasting the message of Shri Krishna Chaitanya to anyone and everyone. Thank you very much. Your new year resolution shall help all of us to progress in Krishna Consciousness and will surely be pleasing to Dear Shri Krishna!
Hare Krishna!
It is a wonderful message given very clearly, simple and neat, so that it can reach the children and the youth who are the most important people who should know about life. Specially today's world is becomming worser and worser day by day, unless the children of the future dont understand the purpose of life, life in the future is going to be miserable.
Appreciate if more such messages with more information could be given, so that we can show it to our childern and slowly get them into Krishna conciousness.
Hare Krishna Prabhu!
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances,Your articles have refreshed my mind on the teachings of Sri Krsna. I chant mala everyday, though the number of rounds are not consistent these days. I do not get chance to go to satsang very often. Your article is a good way to keep in touch often wid vedas. Please continue to do so prabhu it's really encouraging.
Engage us in the service of lord krishna.
But tell me how to come out of issues with loved ones,so much of pain anxiety.Because of this we become very weak.We want to be in service of lord krishna.
Hare Krishna! -
Prabhuji exactly what u say is 100% true.But each human being feels he is come like a blank slate and we can write what he want feel and see.But forget the Lord has HIS way ofmaking one realize that soone orLater turn toGodhead. This is precisely SRILA PRAHUPAD lived and preached and ISKOCN is following.The TRUTH has been laid out now it is upto devotee to takethe necter and try not to materialize the process while trying to following the path.
Dear Madhudvisa dasa,
Hare Krishna. I liked ur article very much & will give my best try to follow most of it to get out of this material world.But I ve few doubts in my mind. I read Bhagavat Gita daily & in 3rd chapter Krishna emphasizes mainly on our Duty. Even Prabhupad stated in purport that, being in Krishna Conscious, does not mean leaving our duty & just chant the holy name. We must perform our prescribed duty & through Karma Yoga we can gradually enter to Gyana Yoga or Bhakti Yoga & attain perfection.
So I am concluding below things, by performing which I can maintain my livelihood, as well as progress in Spiritual Path, ultimately gets the liberation. (Kind of balancing between material & Spiritual aspects of life).
I will perform my prescribed duty with full dedication.
[In Profession life] : As I am a software engg. by profession, I will do my work (duty) at office with full concentration & dedication.
[In personal life] : I will chant my prescribed rounds, follow regulative principles, read BG & preach KC/distribute books, where ever I can to uplift the ignorant souls.Please let me know if a person does the above things with full dedication, can he be considered to be doing devotional service & can he attain liberation, back to Godhead, Back to Krishna…
Krishna may kill me, or He may protect me. He may make me destitute, or incredibly rich. In all circumstances, I remain constitutionally His part and parcel… Aham bramasmi, I am spirit soul. Sarvam Khalv Idam Brahma, all is part of Brahman. Jivera svarupa haya krishnera nitya das, The constitutional position of the living entity is as part and parcel of Krishna. Nityo nityanamam chetanas chetananam… We are minute eternal living entities and Krishna is the Supreme eternal living entity.
Janmadya yasya yatha… Krishna is the original source of all things…
Krishna is already giving us everything according to our work or karma what need is there to ask Krishna anything???
Aapko Dandvat pranam
Also dandvat pranam to all those who will read this.
It is nice to read this article. I agree with you that we waste our prayers for small material things, which are going to vanish one day, little realizing that we are lucky one`s to have this human life for serving Lord Krishna.
Prabhu ji, I even do not want to go to Goloka, our ultimate home, if Lord Krishna bestow on me Guru-Vaishnav-Thakur sewa & 24 hours continuous Harinam. Please tell me, if I am right or wrong?
Hare Krishna Ji
Seeker of Vaishnav`s charan dhuli,
Vaishnav`s Dasa-nu-dasRas Bihari Das
(Rajan Nanda)
Chandigarh. -
krishna tells that if we want to get something we should work for it
and in the end never think about the result and leave it to him. wiht out thinking about the result how can we work????
and what if we dont get what we want even after a lot of hard work? -
hare krsna prabhu.pamho end AGTSP
as always very inspiring newsletter,
by the way ur newsletter is the only 1 which does not end up in trashbin.
mohini -
I do believe in Krishna.But i have an question i love a girl and she also love me …….. But i am alwaz in this tention that i dont want to lost her………….. please hepl me spiritually…….. -
Nice Article Prabhu!!!
Hari Bol!!!! -
Dear Madhudvisa Prabhu,
A good article and perfectly timed too as to guide us when one's mind is clustered with various ideas regarding New Year resolutions.
Instead of asking Krshna to serve us by solving our individual problems, we should make a resolution to learn ways to serve him. This would require an attitudinal shift to serve rather be served.
Thanks for sharing it.
Shyamsundar -
dear Madhudvisa dasa,
as always, this letter comes to me at the perfect time. i have been completing things before the end of the year. i feel that this information has solidified and clearified my knowledge of what Krsna whats from me.i go fourth into the new year with greater vision. Thank you, j.
Hare krsna,
This is true that people just pray to Lord for sake of "Daily Bread" only and now the demands goes high.Srila prabhupad says that if we want to do business with krishna then Krishna is also very clever and he will make a relation as a businessmen with us only.If we are doing just a business than there is a lack of spirituality.Spirituality means to know Krishna and make a relation with him and serve him better.
This happened with the Mahabhagvata Dhruv maharaj he went to forest to ask a throne higher than his father but by the grace of his spiritual master sri Narad muni he came to know that Lord become pleased when he is served without any intention or desire and he followed his spiritual master and by the merciful lord he got the very highest throne in the world although after meeting the Supreme lord Hari he did not ask anything but the lord was so kind he gave everything without asking.
so i totally agree with Madhudvisa Dasa Prabhu that we should engage our self in the service of Lord without any desire.
Hare krsna
jai Gauranga -
Nice article,Engage us in the service of lord krishna.
But tell us how to be out of emotional issues when things are related to our loved ones,why so much anxiety,why such relations makes us weak for particular person,mind jus full of thoughts and negativity.Even these relations god has made.We want to be in service of lord krishna.
Hare Krishna! -
Namaskar Swami Madhuvisa!
I am also a servant of Krishna and very much inspired by the Krishna conscious movement. Whenever I feel frustrated, don't want to sing Kirtan but as soon as I remember "chant Krishna 24 hours", I regain the inspiration to do Kirtan for half an hour. Yes, chanting and hearing the name of the Lord is best way to purify ourselves, to invite Lord to take a seat in our heart and stay there with us forever, hopefully.
Regarding the 4 types of people approaching Krishna, I am of the distressed so Krishna come into my life as I badly need His help. This is very selfish in the beginning but from my point of view, Krishna accepts that. He will come only when we call Him. Only in unfavourable situations, do I treasure His grace.I wonder how the people interested in wealth can approach Krishna. Kindly explain to me please.
Regarding your topic of "Making good use out of bad situation", I agree with you that the only thing we can do is to accept it, to live with it, to surrender to Krishna and in such circumstances, the only thing we can ask from God is "My God, please give me more strength to endure this". When the rain is over, the sunlight will come. We just need to be patient during the storm. Do you think so?-
My dear Prabhu,
All glories to Srila Prabhupad all glories to Sri Krsna.
The whole is like CHEWING THE CHEWED.The conditioned souls do not know that all they search for can not be found from where they are looking.Krsna ,also known as Rama is the reservoir all happiness.Therefore by constantly chanting his holy name and engaging our existence in his service is the way to the pleasure all living beings are searching for.
If the strip of sugar cane is chewed already by a person or the sun,then any one chewing that same strip gets nothing.Wealth,inquisitiveness,and distress when achieved or eradicated does not bring one to surrender.Although its good having money,remedising situations and inquiring,but that is not how one get God.Knowledge however,enable one to get convince of krsna's position and our our position before Him.And so he searching for knowledge is the one Krsna avail Himself to and altimately get back home back to Godhead.
Hare Krsna.
Namasthe Madhuvida das,
Your article conveyed the essence of sprituality.
I feel that we will be made to help each other once we are into spirituality.As by giving only we receive.When we are in the mode of spirituality we all form a web.ONE person's wishes will be fulfilled by the OTHER,,,jai Jagannath -
what a nice article. You are right . We are like fish out of water and whenever i chant krishna all my despair vanishes. thanks a lot for the nice article.
i also support this, its very true, whenever i chant hare krishna i feel i m happy. i m trying to improve myself more in krishna conciousness, hare krishna
I recently "lived" making the best of a bad situation. I was taken in an ambulance, chanting "Hare Krishna" to the emergency room last week after heaving black liquid into the toilet. It looked like a murder had been committed it was so messy there. I stayed in the hospital for two nights and was diagnosed with esophageal ulcers. I must change my diet and lifestyle and deal with stress better. You don't know how USELESS MATERIAL LIFE IS until you are waiting for a nurse to clean your bottom after a mess is made. And this happens every hour. You really have an opportunity to think about things JUST LYING THERE. I chanted and Krishna was on my mind all of the time. It's up to me to make a difference in my life now. As George Harrison says in THIS IS LOVE, "SINCE OUR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OF OUR OWN CREATION, THEY ALSO CAN BE OVERCOME, WHEN WE USE THE POWER PROVIDED, FREE TO EVERYONE, THIS IS LOVE."
Reading this article again, it has a different meaning at this moment. George Harrison said, when I'm not with you, I'm like a fish on the sand… out of place and not with Krishna. He always spoke of the Gita in ways we didn't realize, but it was right there and so easy when we thought of it. In It don't come easy, George wrote with Ringo, I don't ask for much, I only want your trust. Didn't want much, didn't need much, –no material things, just Krishna's trust. not bad at all. What's beautiful about George is, just about any song he wrote is a stanza about the Bhagavad Gita.