Fall In Love, Become the One in a Million

Very few souls take to the path of pure unmotivated loving devotional service to God. This is because the gross or subtle egoistic disposition of the typical soul of this world prevents him/her from whole heartedly serving someone whom he/she considers "someone else". The typical soul wants to serve himself or those closely related to him materially.

This false ego is the fundamental reason for souls being averse to God. Once one understands that God is actually his most intimate relation, the path of pure devotional service to Him opens up. This understanding is the defining characteristic of the true ego, or in other words, the soul's true identify and relationship.

Thus, it is not surprising that most people serve something other than God. They see things as related to themselves, rather than seeing themselves as related to God. So much so, that even other spiritual paths focus on one's own liberation from matter, than on reviving one's relationship with God. This is the extent to which the egoistic disposition denies the soul it's true glory of being a loving servant of God.

The heart yearns for love, and true love is not found in this world of limits. To escape this fact, other spiritualists seek to reach a state of oneness or nothingness wherein the yearning for love stops. This is akin to the desperate suicide attempt of a heart-broken lover, and is born out of ignorance of the complete nature of spiritual nature.

God is our eternal friend and the worthy object of the heart's yearning for eternal love. Break your internal ego barriers - grossest to the subtlest, and fall in love. Are you the one in a million?

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http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/7/3

Bg 7.3

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

Synonyms: 

manuṣyāṇām — of men; sahasreṣu — out of many thousands; kaścit — someone; yatati — endeavors; siddhaye — for perfection; yatatām — of those so endeavoring; api — indeed; siddhānām — of those who have achieved perfection; kaścit — someone; mām — Me; vetti — does know; tattvataḥ — in fact.

Translation: 

Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.

My View of the World

My view of Religion changed,

When I came across the thought,

That it is all about Love,

And merely Rituals it is not.

My view of Rituals changed,

When someone made a comment,

They enhance expression of Love,

And are themselves not the end.

My view of Love changed,

When I read this principle deep,

Love for God embraces all,

Without which it is incomplete.

My view of God changed,

When I introspected a lot,

The object of highest Love,

Cannot be impersonal at all.

My view of Myself changed,

When it finally did register,

I cannot think, love, or Live,

If all I am is matter.

My view of Life changed,

When I accepted I am a soul,

Found a new way of life,

With Spirituality as its goal.

My view of Spirituality changed,

When my Spiritual Master taught,

It's not passive negation,

But dynamic Love for God.

-- *~ -- *~ --

There is only one Religion

There is only one religion - to love God.

Different denominations like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, etc. and even denominations within these denominations present this one religion in different ways and to different degrees. Since people of this world are more or less selfishly (materially) inclined, every denomination presents its teachings considering the material conditioning of the people it is talking to. What's more, new denominations arise when new ways of materialism get mixed with existing denominations.

The fight among various denominations is always about these material differences. These fights are incited either by proponents who are lost to the fact that love of God is the true definition of religion, or by vested interests who want to leverage the differences to grab power.

Some denominations, being fed up by religious fighting, preach morality, good conduct, etc. without reference to God. Such denominations go under the name of religion, but they do not really represent the true definition of religion - to love God.

Everyone has the right to choose the denomination he or she wants to follow. One should carefully consider all denominations available and choose the one that most powerfully and practically teaches one to love God and to spiritualize all aspects of life. One should also encourage others to do such introspection. At the same time, one should be caring and kind to those who have not yet awakened to the highest spiritual aspect of life. Hopefully good examples of sincere spiritualists will inspire them to take to true religion.

It is important for the leaders of the society to follow the highest degree of religion personally while protecting and encouraging those who are on the lower (or more materialistic) levels of religion. Once the general public sees spiritually elevated and compassionate leaders, it will also get inclined to follow religion for its true purpose - to love God.

What Will You Do?

Dear All,

The question to ask oneself is "What will you do if it is proven beyond doubt that God exists?" The answer to this question will pretty much determine all your actions. A sane person will not have any hesitation in totally surrendering to the will of God once he is convinced beyond any doubts that God exists. However, only an insane person will rebel against God by not surrendering to God's will despite the fact that God exists.

Its very easy to understand this and it is very natural to surrender to God. Take this simple illustrative example. Suppose the President of India comes to your office. What will you do? Will you serve him? Or will you totally ignore him? A more realistic example... suppose you like a girl very much (and you are a boy ;-) ), then if she asks you to please do something for her. What will you do? I am sure you will make that task your highest priority :-) Anyways, these are just illustrative examples to bring forth the following point: that when there exists someone whom you respect a lot, or love a lot, its only natural to serve that person, either out of fear, or out of personal interest, or out of duty, or out of love.

So then, who but the insane will not serve God? Who is more respectable and lovable than Him? Thats why I asked this question first up "What will you do if it is proven beyond doubt that God exists?"

We find so many people who say "Ya Ya I believe in God!" And we all know that they wont serve God too much. Perhaps a ritualistic Arati in the mornings and evenings.. and some such thing. But the rest of the time they forget Him. They engage in all useless activities which in no way engage them in serving God. Have we all not seen such people? Again, this example is just to bring forth the point that even those who say that they believe in God, dont really do so.. Or if they really do, then they are insane to not totally surrender their will to the Will of God. If what I am saying is wrong, then why dont these people try to find out what the Will of God is? Why dont they try to understand the Bhagavad Gita? Or why dont they follow any devotional (or religious) principles strictly?

We must wake up people from this slumber of ignorance and insanity! Ask them, "What will you do if it is proven beyond doubt that God exists?" Will your life just go on as it has been for so many years? Or will it transform into a glorious life full of loving surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

An answer to this question will determine ones fate! A favourable answer will open the gates of eternal joy, but an unfavourable one will bury one deeper and deeper into the most abominable existence of material life.

As I keep saying so many places... the choice is ours!

Your servant in Krishna Consciousness,
Abhijit.

H H BhaktiVikas Swami Maharaj's Love for Prabhupada!

Hare Krishna!

Last Saturday, I attended a Srimad Bhagvatam class given by His Holiness BhaktiVikas Swami Maharaj! He is known for his straight talk.. without mincing any words. And I love that :-) However, what I am touched most by is his tremendous love for Srila Prabhupada. One can see that in his words in his books. And I consider myself very fortunate to have personally witnessed that love yesterday.

To the left of H H BhaktiVikas Swami Maharaj was sitting Prabhupada (deity) on his Vyasasana :-) And a cooler was fanning him. Seeing this, H H BhaktiVikas Maharaj recited a story of a God Brother of Srila Prabhupada who was a wonderful devotee and who also made a lot of devotees. He was telling how his disciple used to fan him all night! And then he said jokingly "Electric fans have ruined Guru Seva!" :-)

Then he went on further and asked us all, "Have you seen how when Prabhupada used to give lectures, the GBC members used to fan him from both sides?" And as a result of this, devotees started fanning Srila Prabhupada from both sides by a chamara and a peacock feather fan! And only then was H H BhaktiVikas Swami Maharaj satisfied... This for me was such a beautiful expression of the immense love that Maharaj has for Srila Prabhupada.

Let us pray to his lotus feet that we all also get that sort of love for His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant, Abhijit.