Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Have you ever wondered about our senses, like our mind, our eyes, our ears, our nose, the sense of touch, and what we are supposed to do with them?
We all have heard that you should just chant Hare Krsna mantra, but what do we do with
ourselves when we are "done" with our rounds? None of us is Hari das Thakur who can
chant endlessly,and effortlessly, so we have to do things with our bodies the rest of the time.
That question and its answers has always bothered me somewhat. How does one
remain with Krsna , under His Daivi prakrti, even while he or she is going about daily work? Especially if
that work is not some Deity worship, or reading sastra, or doing something
like Hari nama or book dist or just preaching to someone about Krsna?
For the majority of the devotees in this world, we have to work at some
job to maintain ourself and families. So how do we go about this work
and at the same time expect to make spiritual advancement?
These questions are answered below by our acaryas, namely Srila
Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Sri Narada Muni, Ambarish Maharaj and others.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
-------------------------
Here below, Srila Prabhupada right away smashes any conception any of us might have about
how wonderful we may be in this present body.
770111tt.ida
According to Vedic civilization, you are actually untouchable. Now we have come to touch
you; therefore wash you must first. You are untouchable. In Indian
civilization, dog is untouchable, and that is your best friend. So you
are not touchable. Therefore we have to wash you. And unless your
brain is washed, you cannot understand Krsna. So it is necessary. Is
that all right? Dog is your best friend. In India dog is untouchable.
So "Man is known by his company." If your best friend is dog, then
what you are? We can understand your position because you sleep with
dog, you eat with dog, your best friend is dog, so what you are? You
must be washed. It is a fact. Every woman, every man, has some dog.Jagadisa: Dog or cat.
Prabhupada: Mostly dog. So "Man is known by his company." Your
constant company is dog, so what you are? These are the way. Actually,
according to Vedic... Why they do not allow Europeans in the
Jagannatha temple? Because they are untouchable. According to Vedic
civilization, Europeans are untouchable. Muslims and..., untouchable.
Not only foreigners, even in their own country,[India] those who are not very
cleansed, they are untouchable.
According to Vedic civilization, you are actually untouchable. Now we have come to touch
you; therefore wash you must first. You are untouchable. In Indian
civilization, dog is untouchable, and that is your best friend. So you
are not touchable. Therefore we have to wash you. And unless your
brain is washed, you cannot understand Krsna. So it is necessary. Is
that all right? Dog is your best friend. In India dog is untouchable.
So "Man is known by his company." If your best friend is dog, then
what you are? We can understand your position because you sleep with
dog, you eat with dog, your best friend is dog, so what you are? You
must be washed. It is a fact. Every woman, every man, has some dog.Jagadisa: Dog or cat.
Prabhupada: Mostly dog. So "Man is known by his company." Your
constant company is dog, so what you are? These are the way. Actually,
according to Vedic... Why they do not allow Europeans in the
Jagannatha temple? Because they are untouchable. According to Vedic
civilization, Europeans are untouchable. Muslims and..., untouchable.
Not only foreigners, even in their own country,[India] those who are not very
cleansed, they are untouchable.
So who amongst us can say we are not born mlecchas, those of so many unclean
habits? If the birth smaskaras were not performed by our parents before conception, then we
are all "Kalau sudra sambhava"-born as sudras. And furthermore, who among us can say we have completely stopped all those previous unclean habits we were born with?
Antya 3.124 The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura
is further said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.1.40):
is further said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.1.40):
asamskrtah kriya-hina
rajasa tamasavrtah
prajas te bhaksayisyanti
mleccha rajanya-rupinah
rajasa tamasavrtah
prajas te bhaksayisyanti
mleccha rajanya-rupinah
"In the age of Kali, mlecchas, or lowborn people who have not
undergone the purifying process of samskara, who do not know how to
apply that process in actual life and who are covered by the modes of
passion and ignorance, will take the posts of administrators. They
will devour the citizens with their atheistic activities.
undergone the purifying process of samskara, who do not know how to
apply that process in actual life and who are covered by the modes of
passion and ignorance, will take the posts of administrators. They
will devour the citizens with their atheistic activities.
" A person who is not purified by the prescribed process of samskara is called
asamskrta, but if one remains kriya-hina even after being purified by
initiation--in other words, if one fails to actually apply the
principles of purity in his life--he remains an unpurified mleccha or
yavana.
asamskrta, but if one remains kriya-hina even after being purified by
initiation--in other words, if one fails to actually apply the
principles of purity in his life--he remains an unpurified mleccha or
yavana.
On the other hand, we find that Haridasa Thakura, although
born in a mleccha or yavana family, became Namacarya Haridasa Thakura
because he performed the nama-yajna a minimum of 300,000 times every
day."
born in a mleccha or yavana family, became Namacarya Haridasa Thakura
because he performed the nama-yajna a minimum of 300,000 times every
day."
We have previously written many articles about devotees keeping cats and dogs
in their "ashrams". To keep these demoniac and dirty species of animals within
our living spaces is a mleccha habit, and if one wants to be Krsna or God Conscious,
he or she must give it up.
Bg 16.20 P The Divine And Demoniac Natures
It is known that God is all-merciful, but here we find that God is
never merciful to the demoniac. It is clearly stated that the demoniac
people, life after life, are put into the wombs of similar demons,and, not achieving the mercy of the Supreme Lord, they go down and
down, so that at last they achieve bodies like those of cats, dogs and
hogs.
It is known that God is all-merciful, but here we find that God is
never merciful to the demoniac. It is clearly stated that the demoniac
people, life after life, are put into the wombs of similar demons,and, not achieving the mercy of the Supreme Lord, they go down and
down, so that at last they achieve bodies like those of cats, dogs and
hogs.
Another point Srila Prabhupada makes is that if we dont follow the obligations of
purity we promised at initiation, then we also are still-- asamskrtah kriya-hina,
which makes us- unclean mlecchas.
Antya 4.127 "The servants are always coming and going without interval. If I
touch them, I shall be ruined."
touch them, I shall be ruined."
PURPORT
Herein it is very clearly indicated that priests performing Deity
worship should be careful to keep themselves completely pure and not
be touched by outsiders. Sanatana Gosvami and Haridasa Thakura,
thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past
association with Mohammedans, did not enter the temple nor even travel
on the path in front of the temple gate. It is customary for the
priests of temples in India not even to touch outsiders nor enter the
Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in
temple worship.
worship should be careful to keep themselves completely pure and not
be touched by outsiders. Sanatana Gosvami and Haridasa Thakura,
thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past
association with Mohammedans, did not enter the temple nor even travel
on the path in front of the temple gate. It is customary for the
priests of temples in India not even to touch outsiders nor enter the
Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in
temple worship.
Antya 4.129-130 "My dear Sanatana, although you are the deliverer of the entire
universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified
by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and
protect the Vaisnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaisnava etiquette
is the ornament of a devotee.
universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified
by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and
protect the Vaisnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaisnava etiquette
is the ornament of a devotee.
The above verses were selected to build a framework for the following verses.
Namely, first define the condition, then give the solutions.
The main point we are trying to make is how to live our lives with our present senses so that these same senses do not drag us back into mleccha life or even ideally, another rebirth in the material world.
This would be optimal, but probably not realistic, so what to do in the meantime
while we are trying to become completely purified and qualified to personally
associate with God as His servant in our spiritual body.?
Sri Narada Muni gives us some clue as what has to be done:
atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevon mukhe hi jivadau svayam eva sphuraty adah
sevon mukhe hi jivadau svayam eva sphuraty adah
"No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form,
quality and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially contaminated
senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental
service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and
pastimes of the Lord revealed to him." (Padma Purana).
quality and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially contaminated
senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental
service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and
pastimes of the Lord revealed to him." (Padma Purana).
And Srila Prabhupada says...
Bg 5.29 P Karma-yoga--Action in Krsna Consciousness
Everything depends on one's practical performance of duties in an
effort to control the senses and conquer the influence of desire and
anger. And, attaining Krsna consciousness by controlling the
above-mentioned passions, one remains factually in the transcendental
stage, or brahma-nirvana.
Everything depends on one's practical performance of duties in an
effort to control the senses and conquer the influence of desire and
anger. And, attaining Krsna consciousness by controlling the
above-mentioned passions, one remains factually in the transcendental
stage, or brahma-nirvana.
So we have defined the problem-our senses which must be controlled by Krsna and
not Maya devi, otherwise we will be dragged down into mleccha life or better still upwards in
the life of one in the mode of goodness, typically the brahmana, which will still mean re-birth
again due to not all the senses being properly utilized for their owner- Sri Hrisikesh.
Now below we have taken a few words from Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhaktivinode Thakur where they so kindly and nicely explain what we should do with these material senses and how these
same senses can be made spiritualized thereby dissolving one's subtle body which
will negate re- birth again in the material world.
SB 3.25.33 Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living
entity without separate effort, just as fire in the stomach digests
all that we eat.
entity without separate effort, just as fire in the stomach digests
all that we eat.
Below we have a couple of paragraphs from Srila Bhaktivinods book called Sri Caitanya Siksamrta
where he explains for those who are motivated to follow this process of bhakti yoga, how
to engage ones senses in daily life.
Cultivation through chanting is extremely powerful. There are five types of chanting: recitation of scripture, recitation of the Lord's names and pastimes, recitation of verses, submissive offerings and japa. Recitation of the Lord's names and pastimes may be done by song, narration, lecture or class. Submissive offerings are of three types: prayer, admission of lowliness and longing. Japa refers to soft chanting of mantra.
Cultivation of bhakti by using the sense of smell is performed by smelling flowers, tulasi, sandalwood, incense, garlands, and camphor that have been offered to the Lord. Smelling those items that have not been offered to the Lord only increase material sense attachment, and therefore must be avoided.
Cultivation of sight is performed by seeing the Deity, the devotees, the holy places, the temple, dramatic performances and pictures depicting the Lord. The sense of sight focusing on material forms can throw a person into the well of material life and therefore seeing material forms must be avoided. Whatever a person sees in the world, they must relate it to the Lord.
The devotee should become detached from the sensation of touch related to external objects, and take joy at touching the form of the Lord. Satisfaction can be gained also by touching and embracing the devotees. The sense of touch is very powerful, leading to sins such as illicit sexual activities. The devotee must vow that under no circumstances to touch anyone except devotees. Touch does not refer to bodily contact as such, but to bodily contact that produces sense pleasure in the heart. This principle should be applied not only the sensation of touch, but to all the senses.
The devotee can use the tongue in tasting food offered to the Lord and taking the water used to wash the feet of the Lord. The devotee does not eat anything except prasadam from the Lord. By tasting material foods, material conviction gradually becomes stronger. Remnants of the Lord and of the devotee may be eaten—both nourish bhakti.
Moving the limbs refers to dancing, paying respects, rising in respect, following after the Deity or devotee, going to the temple, parikrama, serving guru and Vaisnava, worshipping the Lord, bathing in holy water, putting on Vaisnava markings and putting the Lord's name on the body. The Vaisnava should pay respects by lowering eight parts of the body. When seeing the Deity or the devotee approach, the devotee should rise to their feet. When the devotee or Deity moves, the devotee should follow behind. The devotee uses their legs to go to the temple, the holy places and other vaisnavas' houses.
Worship refers to offering items to the Deity. The devotee should bathe in the water of the Ganga and Yamuna, put on tilaka according to the directions of the guru, and decorate the body with the names of the Lord.
In this manner the devotee on the path of vaidhi bhakti must cultivate devotion to the Lord by engaging the body. As the conditioned souls are bound by a body and must perform some necessary activities of the body, they should do them in such a way that they do not become materially affected. By mixing all those activities with devotion to the Lord, they are able to cultivate their relationship with the Lord.
In this manner the devotee on the path of vaidhi bhakti must cultivate devotion to the Lord by engaging the body. As the conditioned souls are bound by a body and must perform some necessary activities of the body, they should do them in such a way that they do not become materially affected. By mixing all those activities with devotion to the Lord, they are able to cultivate their relationship with the Lord.
SB 9.4.18-20 Maharaja Ambarisa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the
lotus feet of Krsna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord,
his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the
words spoken by Krsna or about Krsna. He engaged his eyes in seeing
the Deity of Krsna, Krsna's temples and Krsna's places like Mathura
and Vrndavana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of
the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the
fragrance of tulasi offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in
tasting the Lord's prasada. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy
places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the
Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a
day. Indeed, Maharaja Ambarisa never desired anything for his own
sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service,
in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to
increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all
material desires.
lotus feet of Krsna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord,
his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the
words spoken by Krsna or about Krsna. He engaged his eyes in seeing
the Deity of Krsna, Krsna's temples and Krsna's places like Mathura
and Vrndavana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of
the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the
fragrance of tulasi offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in
tasting the Lord's prasada. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy
places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the
Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a
day. Indeed, Maharaja Ambarisa never desired anything for his own
sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service,
in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to
increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all
material desires.
PURPORT
In ▼Bhagavad-gita (7.1) the Lord recommends, mayy asakta-manah
partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This indicates that one must execute
devotional service under the guidance of a devotee or directly under
the guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not
possible, however, to train oneself without guidance from the
spiritual master. Therefore, according to the instructions of Srila
Rupa Gosvami, the first business of a devotee is to accept a bona fide
spiritual master who can train him to engage his various senses in
rendering transcendental service to the Lord. The Lord also says in
▼Bhagavad-gita (7.1), asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu.
In other words, if one wants to understand the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in completeness, one must follow the prescriptions given by
Krsna by following in the footsteps of Maharaja Ambarisa. It is said,
hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate: bhakti means to engage the
senses in the service of the master of the senses, Krsna, who is
called Hrsikesa or Acyuta.
devotional service under the guidance of a devotee or directly under
the guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not
possible, however, to train oneself without guidance from the
spiritual master. Therefore, according to the instructions of Srila
Rupa Gosvami, the first business of a devotee is to accept a bona fide
spiritual master who can train him to engage his various senses in
rendering transcendental service to the Lord. The Lord also says in
▼Bhagavad-gita (7.1), asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu.
In other words, if one wants to understand the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in completeness, one must follow the prescriptions given by
Krsna by following in the footsteps of Maharaja Ambarisa. It is said,
hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate: bhakti means to engage the
senses in the service of the master of the senses, Krsna, who is
called Hrsikesa or Acyuta.
Conclusion- Chant Hare Krsna and use all ones senses to serve the Lord
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