Category Archives: Bhagavad Gita

Soul is always active

Bhagavad Gita, Soul

Please give some reference from the scriptures mentioning that the soul is always active.

Here is the shloka no. 3.5 from Bhagavad-Gita As it is with complete translation and purport by His Divine A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

na hi kascit ksanam api jatu tisthaty akarma-krt
karyate hy avasah karma sarvah prakrti-jair gunaih

TRANSLATION
Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.

PURPORT
It is not a question of embodied life, but it is the nature of the soul to be always active. Without the presence of the spirit soul, the material body cannot move. The body is only a dead vehicle to be worked by the spirit soul, which is always active and cannot stop even for a moment. As such, the spirit soul has to be engaged in the good work of Krishna consciousness, otherwise it will be engaged in occupations dictated by illusory energy. In contact with material energy, the spirit soul acquires material modes, and to purify the soul from such affinities it is necessary to engage in the prescribed duties enjoined in the sastras. But if the soul is engaged in his natural function of Krishna consciousness, whatever he is able to do is good for him.

Which way is correct – Jesus or Krishna?

Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, Religion, , ,

Can you explain me  which way is correct, Jesus or Krishna on the basis of spiritual proof by Bible as well as Bhagavad-gita?

The question is, as to which way is correct – Jesus or Krishna.

Firstly, it is necessary to examine the credentials of this question in the light of following references from Holy Bible and also Bhagavad-Gita.

Jesus is the son of God.

This statement is based upon the relationship between Jesus and The Supreme Lord.
(This is known as, ‘Sambandha’ in Vedic literature).

When Jesus says that he is the son of God he actually reveals what is the relationship between him and the Supreme Lord. In other words, Jesus explains about the, ‘Sambandha’ as described in Vedic literature. So there is no contradiction between words of Jesus and the contents of Vedic literature.

This can be further examined with following references –
a) Bible  (John 16.28)
‘I came forth from the father and have come into this world. Again I leave the world and go to the father.’

b) Bible (John 17.25)
‘O righteous Father! The world has not known you but I have known you. And these have known that you sent me’

c) Bible (John 17.26)
‘And I have declared to them your Name and will declare it that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them’

The above references from Bible make following things clear-

Reference (a) – John 16.28
Jesus affirms that there is a world which is eternal resting place and shelter of the living entities, who reside with the Supreme Lord there. And the Supreme Lord is the father of every living entity.

Reference (b) – John 17.25
Jesus affirms that he was sent by the Supreme Lord to this material world.

Reference (c)- John 17.26
Jesus instructs everyone about the glories of the Holy Name of the Lord so that everyone can attain love of the Supreme Lord.

In other words, Jesus lays stress upon
1) the relationship between living entity and the Lord.
2) existence of the eternal spiritual world which is the destination of every living entity.
3) attaining the love of Supreme Lord by chanting His Holy Name is the actual goal of life.

Now let us examine the above by referring to Bhagavad-Gita.
a) Bhagavad-Gita 14.4
Lord Krishna says, ‘sarva yonishu kaunteya …… aham beej-pradah pita’.
It is to be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I AM the seed giving FATHER.

(Thus Krishna affirms that He is the eternal father of all living entities.)

b) Bhagavad-Gita 8.15
Lord Krishna says, ‘After attaining Me, the great souls who are yogis in devotion never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.
(Thus Krishna declares that He and His abode is the actual eternal destination of every living entity.)

c) Bhagavad-Gita 9.34
Lord Krishna says, ‘Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me’.

(Thus Krishna instructs every living entity to remember Him.
And when we remember someone we always think of that person by that person’s name. As such Krishna instructs everyone to remember Him by chanting His Holy Names ‘.)

The above explanation reveals that Jesus is the spiritual master empowered by the Supreme Lord in order to guide and lead the living entities to approach the Supreme Lord.

And the Supreme Lord Krishna is the destination.

Thus there is no question as to who is right, whether Krishna or Jesus. It can be said that Jesus is the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord who has lent a helping hand to everyone who are willing to approach the Supreme Lord by chanting His Holy Names and engage in His devotional service.

But unfortunately as people do not study scriptures under proper guidance of authorized spiritual master, they find various scriptures (whether Bhagavad-Gita, Bible or other scriptures) and various religious sects as contradictory. This is very very unfortunate.

The purpose of all religious scriptures is the same, i.e. to guide the living entities toward the path of God consciousness and service of the Supreme Lord. But relevant scriptures contain only that much knowledge which is understandable by people depending upon their level of consciousness. Hence some of the scriptures and spiritual masters reveal only partial knowledge about God while some reveal more knowledge. But ultimately their goal is same, i.e. to make everyone God conscious.

Now it is for us to decide whether we want to properly understand the scriptures or we want to just waste our valuable time and life in finding insignificant conflicts and contradictions among them. Like the purpose of all schools is to impart education. But those students who don’t understand this and are not serious about studies, they fight over petty issues by raising irrational doubts.
I hope this answers your question.

Mind management

Bhagavad Gita, Mind, ,

How to do mind management according to Bhagavad Gita?

Thanks for asking this question.
The teachings of Bhagavad Gita are certainly very helpful to regulate the mind’s activities.
One needs to devote some time everyday by serving, reading about Lord Krishna’s glorious acts, chanting His Holy names (Hare Krishna Mahamantra).
This helps to perform other duties in a balanced way.
It is a matter of practice, which Lord Krishna recommends to Arjuna in BG 6.35
By constant practice and detachment, one can regulate the mind.
In this way one can do mind management.

Deity Worship in Bhagavad-gita

Bhagavad Gita, Deity Worship, ,

Please explain me if deity worship is authorized in Bhagavad-gita?

This question is to be considered by referring to certain concepts.  

Generally people do not accept anything unless they are given proof of the facts upon which they have to base their consideration. Of course it is a common sense that everyone wants to examine the facts and only when he is convinced about their authenticity he may accept them.
But when people demand proof they have their own concept of proof and evidence in their mind as per their logic. Most of the people demand proof in writing or many of them rely upon words of superiors and so on.

It is to be understood that the method of proving many things is not by direct reference but by our proper understanding of the concept of particular topic. For example, every liquid contains base of water. But do we find on any bottle of liquid, words or caption that ‘this liquid contains water base’. Of course not always. Then how can we understand this?
If one has properly studied chemistry he would undoubtedly accept this contention and would never demand any written caption on bottle of liquid as stated above.
Similarly people study Bhagavad-gita, but they don’t know how to take words of Krishna in appropriate manner. Because they may not study Bhagavad-gita under direction of spiritual master.

Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita (9.34) ‘Always think of Me, become My devotee, pay obeisances to Me, and surely you will come to me.’

Now when one desires to remember Lord Krishna, how can one know how Krishna looks like? How can one know how to pay obeisances to Krishna?

Now these things are not possible unless one is given an opportunity to know how Krishna looks like and what is the process of paying obeisances to Krishna. For example when we have never seen our forefathers, how can we know about how they looked like? Of course when we see their photo or image. And accordingly we can know about their personality and we can bow before them to pay them honor.

Similarly, as Lord is sat-cit-anand and His body is completely transcendental, it is not possible for us to know and see Him by our imperfect senses.

Therefore, in order to give us a facility to see Him Lord Himself has instructed in Srimad-Bhagavatam that He can be perceived in His icon or image form (shaili darumayi……).
This is the concept of Deity worship. So even though the actual reference of Deity worship is found in Srimad-Bhagavatam, it’s original concept is found in Bhagavad-gita (9.34).
Only what is required is a proper understanding of the verse under guidance of a spiritual master who is the representative of Krishna.

The purpose, need and scientific aspect of Deity worship can be explained by following example;

Why do we need a clock? What is scientific aspect of a telephone or television?

The answer is that all these things enable us to develop contact with those objects which are out of reach of our senses.

We need a clock because clock gives us an opportunity to understand what is the time (time factor) irrespective whether it is a watch clock or digital clock or any old-styled clock. Unless we use clock we have no chance to understand and develop connection with the time factor.

Similarly television and telephone enable us to develop contact with those objects and personalities which are beyond our jurisdiction.

Same is the concept of Deity worship. When Deity of Krishna is installed,  Krishna gives us an opportunity to reciprocate with Him through His Deity. Accordingly, we can systematically revive and develop our lost connection or relation with Him and pay obeisances to Him.

As such Krishna shows His mercy upon us by allowing us to see Him through His Deity form. This is the scientific aspect of Deity worship and its root is found in Bhagavad-gita (9.34) as already stated above.

Father and Lord

Bhagavad Gita, General, , , , , , ,

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is worshipable as a father is worshipable for his son. He is the spiritual master because He originally gave the Vedic instructions to Brahma and presently He is also instructing Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna; therefore He is the original spiritual master, and any bona fide spiritual master at the present moment must be a descendant in the line of disciplic succession stemming from Krishna. Without being a representative of Krishna, one cannot become a teacher or spiritual master of transcendental subject matter

Krishna’s devotees relate to Krishna in various relationships; one might treat Krishna as a son, or one might treat Krishna as a husband, as a friend, or as a master. Krishna and Arjuna are related in friendship. As the father tolerates, or the husband or a master tolerates, so Krishna tolerates

Body and body parts, Limbs and living entities

Bhagavad Gita, General, , , , , ,

What is this consciousness? This consciousness is “I am.” Then what am I? In contaminated consciousness “I am” means “I am the lord of all I survey. I am the enjoyer.” The world revolves because every living being thinks that he is the lord and creator of the material world. Material consciousness has two psychic divisions. One is that I am the creator, and the other is that I am the enjoyer. But actually the Supreme Lord is both the creator and the enjoyer, and the living entity, being part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, is neither the creator nor the enjoyer, but a cooperator. He is the created and the enjoyed. For instance, a part of a machine cooperates with the whole machine; a part of the body cooperates with the whole body. The hands, legs, eyes, and so on are all parts of the body, but they are not actually the enjoyers. The stomach is the enjoyer. The legs move, the hands supply food, the teeth chew, and all parts of the body are engaged in satisfying the stomach because the stomach is the principal factor that nourishes the body’s organization. Therefore everything is given to the stomach. One nourishes the tree by watering its root, and one nourishes the body by feeding the stomach, for if the body is to be kept in a healthy state, then the parts of the body must cooperate to feed the stomach. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is the enjoyer and the creator, and we, as subordinate living beings, are meant to cooperate to satisfy Him. This cooperation will actually help us, just as food taken by the stomach will help all other parts of the body. If the fingers of the hand think that they should take the food themselves instead of giving it to the stomach, then they will be frustrated. The central figure of creation and of enjoyment is the Supreme Lord, and the living entities are cooperators. By cooperation they enjoy. The relation is also like that of the master and the servant. If the master is fully satisfied, then the servant is satisfied. Similarly, the Supreme Lord should be satisfied, although the tendency to become the creator and the tendency to enjoy the material world are there also in the living entities because these tendencies are there in the Supreme Lord who has created the manifested cosmic world.

Krishna’s flute

Bhagavad Gita, Karma, Radharani

Q. I have to know that flute has taken dikhsha? how an when? Why gopis were angry on flute/ Why Radharani always talk to flute please be on side?

A.The answer to your question is found in Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (The Most Clever Krishna) by Srila Rupa Goswami. This is a drama written by him and in Act Five titled Radha-prasadana (Decorating Radha) there is a verse sung by Radhika. Text 17 says:

Radhika: (vamsim udghatya. sopalambham)

sad-vamshatas tava janih purushottamasya
panau sthitir muralike saralasi jatya
kasmat tvaya sakhi guror vishama grihita
gopangana-gana-vimohana-mantra-diksha  Continue reading Krishna’s flute →

8,400,000 forms of life

Bhagavad Gita, Reincarnation, Soul

Q. Do you believe in reincarnation?

A. Yes. The Bhagavad-gita, the principal scripture of the Hare Krishna movement, and the roots of understanding reincarnation, states “As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.”
The Vedas further explain that the soul in the material world transmigrates within a cycle of material birth and death through 8,400,000 forms of life. The human form, however, is the only birth which affords one, the chance for spiritual realization. Species lower than humans are not endowed with sufficient intelligence to understand the soul as different from the body. 

Soul Transmigration

Bhagavad Gita, Reincarnation, Soul

Q. What is reincarnation?

A. The Bhagavad-Gita states that life does not begin at birth nor end with death. It is eternal. The soul is constantly transmigrating from one body to another according to its desires and quality of activities (karma). The Vedas further explain that the soul in the material world moves through a cycle of 8,400,000 forms of life. The human form, however, is the only birth which affords one the chance for self-realization. Lower-than-human species are not endowed with sufficient intelligence to understand the self as different from the body.

Teachings of Gita

Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, Scriptures, Vaishnavism

Q. What are the teachings?

A. It is often assumed that the final goal of Indian spirituality is nirvana – the extinguishing of individual existence and the simultaneous absorption into an amorphous Absolute. Bhagavad-Gita reveals that this is only the preliminary stage of self-realization. Beyond this is the awakening of the soul’s eternal consciousness of Krishna, the personal form of the Absolute Truth.

In brief, the Gita explains as follows:

1. We are not our bodies, but eternal spirit souls (atma), parts and parcels of God (Krishna). Although we are essentially spiritual (brahman), we have temporarily forgotten our true identity.

2. Having lost touch with our original, pure consciousness we are trying to achieve permanent happiness within a temporary world. Our attempts produce karmic reactions which cause us to remain within this world for repeated lifetimes (samsara).

3. By sincerely learning and following a genuine spiritual science (dharma) under the guidance of a self-realized teacher, we can be free from anxiety and come to a state of pure, blissful enlightenment in this lifetime.

4. Krishna is eternal, all-knowing, omni-present, all-powerful and all-attractive. He is the seed-giving father of all living beings and He is the sustaining energy of the entire cosmic creation.

5. Our dormant relationship with Krishna can he reawakened by the practice of bhakti-yoga, the science of spiritualizing all human activities by dedicating them to the Supreme. This ancient yoga system gradually frees us from the entanglement of karma, and thereby the cycle of birth and death.