Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Let us cultivate spiritual emotions

Purushottam Nitai Das January 21, 2013
Dhritrashtra had lots of material emotions. He used to cry tears for it. He wished to remain the king of Hastinapur and also wanted his son Duryodhana to succeed him. He was so much possessed with his material emotions that he committed several and severe blunders. The end result for him was unfortunately very gruesome – he not only lost his kingdom but also his 100 sons were killed. We too are possessed with material emotions. Materially we want to achieve the best of this world – big house, fancy cars, latest gadgets and almost everything especially those which adorn our friends and relatives’ house. We are aware of the horrendous reality that none of these things will accompany us forever but still we are enamored by it. In fact people are ready to do anything to achieve name, fame and money. Lance Armstrong, a famous athlete recently admitted of taking drugs to enhance his performance to ensure all the accolades comes to him.

Historically and logically it is proven that material emotions plunder our life. So it is imperative for us to transform our material emotions into spiritual emotions. To develop spiritual emotion is so easy, so simple and so practical. We neither have to leave our jobs nor we have to spend lots of time and money. We just need to dovetail all our activities in the service of the Lord. Whatever actions we perform we can offer it to Krishna and while doing anything we can remember Krishna. And by doing this we will develop a desire for Krishna (Bhagavad – Gita 12.9). Once we develop desire for Krishna then we can effortlessly transform and transcend our material emotions. 

 

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In a deplorable state, he roamed in the streets of Mumbai

Purushottam Nitai Das January 17, 2013

He was roaming in the streets of Mumbai in a deplorable state. His body was covered with faeces and he was just donning a tattered t-shirt and nothing else. Jagdish Mali was once a renowned film photographer who is credited with immortalizing the famous Indian movie star, Rekha. During his hey days, several movie aspirants would make a beeline in front of his studio. But today he was all alone, in a decrepit state. Aghast by seeing his plight some of the people tried contacting his daughter. But sadly she too decided not to respond. (“Man who immortalised Rekha rescued from streets”, Times of India)

Our deep longing for material glory entangle us in this material world. Due to our intense desire for name, fame and money we develop strong lust and eagerness to achieve it. However, when we discover that our attempts for enjoyment are being thwarted or in spite of achieving it we do not feel any satisfaction then we develop great hatred and anger. This strengthens our illusion and we again run behind it just like a thirsty man runs towards a mirage in the desert. In this endeavor we completely forget our real spiritual identity thus forgetting God and His message. Due to our forgetfulness of God we lose our intelligence and thus we get further entrapped into illusion. Our life becomes miserable, without right intelligence we transform ourselves into a lump of flesh. Our pitiable situation although generates sympathy but it does not do any good to us. This is why in Bhagavad – Gita, Lord Krishna has warned us, “From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.” Bhagavad – Gita 2.63.

So in our life’s journey we should pause for a moment and ask ourselves, “Are we treading on the right path? Is the goal which we are pursuing will connect us to God and bring ultimate happiness or will it further entangle us in this material world?”

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Fearlessness is indeed possible!

Purushottam Nitai Das January 14, 2013
A thief may dress smartly but within his heart he is extremely fearful. He is always afraid of unseen danger and the chance of being caught. But a law abiding citizen lives a carefree life.

In this world misery afflicts those who mess up with the laws of nature. But those who live as per the injunctions of the revealed scriptures are always happy and hearty. The revealed scriptures such as Bhagavad – Gita, Srimad – Bhagavatam etc. should be our manual for life.  If we purchase any equipment then we get a manual with it which contains guidelines to operate the gadget. However instead of following the guidelines if we start using the machine whimsically then it is bound to give problems. Similarly if we go against the teachings of the scriptures and behave recklessly then we are bound to suffer. Those who understand this and prefer leading a spiritual life lead a very cheerful life.  But those who decry the scriptures often get bewildered by the material world. Uncertainty of the future makes him restive, frustration wanes his enthusiasm and he feels unloved and uncared.

Dealing alone with the material world is like an infant trying to swim across the ocean. Srila Prabhupada explains, bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat : fear is caused by our absorption in the illusory energy.  However if an expert boatman picks up the child and puts him in his boat then the child’s misery vanishes. Krishna, the expert boatmen has sent the boat for us in the form of the scriptures. We just need to take shelter of this boat. We can safely and fearlessly cross over through all trials and tribulations of material existence.

As Srila Prabhupada explains that Abhayam, fearlessness, is possible only in Krishna consciousness.

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How a girl was able to die peacefully

Purushottam Nitai Das January 12, 2013
A survey conducted by Sunday Times of India (March 6, 2011) threw up a surprise.  Contrary to the perception that young people in India are becoming disinclined towards spirituality the survey shows that younger people are more & more becoming interested in spirituality.

A person may be a billionaire, own palatial bungalows & fleet of cars, and may have all the comforts of this world but still he may feel hollow from within.

Suppose that we take a fish out of water & place it in a beautiful golden aquarium which has no water then will it make the fish happy?  Will the fish be satisfied & satiated just by being in a gold plated aquarium?  The answer is ‘NO’.  A fish can be happy only in water. 

Similarly irrespective of our material positions and possessions, we will feel deprived of inner fulfillment unless and until we re-connect ourselves to our true spiritual identity. We need to understand that we are not this body but we are souls presently in a human body. As a soul we are sac-cid-ananda i.e. eternal, blissful & full of knowledge. The nature of the soul is to be in constant association of the Lord.  So, when we endeavor to connect to the Lord we feel a sense of inner satisfaction & bliss from within. 

In an article published in the Reader’s Digest (‘Searching for the Divine’, Jan 2002) Prof Andrew a neurologist explains that at peak moments of prayer & meditation a person goes to a state of complete relaxation and deep satisfaction and experiences a higher reality.

The following story of a Polish girl illustrates how spirituality can help a person to tolerate a great pain.

The girl was 16 when she discovered that she has cancer & the cancer had already spread all over her body.  The girl was undergoing through tremendous physical pain but fortunately she had discovered a medicine which would help her to bear the unbearable pain.  She would find solace & comfort in singing the Hare Krishna kirtan (song).   Slowly her condition deteriorated further & it became impossible for her to even speak.  Then she requested her brother to sing the kirtan for her.  Her brother who was studying in a college used to phone her and sing the kirtan for her everyday from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. It continued for 2 months.  And one fateful night the girl left this world while her brother was singing the kirtan for her.  Her brother was not aware of this fact.  He came to know about her sister’s death only when his mother picked up the phone and informed him that his sister is no more.   Her death was peaceful. (Reference: travelingmonk.com, I-never-Cry, Volume 11, Chapter 10, Oct 11, 2010). 

The girl was able to withstand the tremendous physical pain because she was able to connect herself with the Supreme Lord which enabled her to experience a higher taste and a higher level of satisfaction which was beyond the body, mind & senses

Spirituality not only purifies our consciousness but also helps us to understand our real self.  So, we should re-spiritualize our lives & develop a harmonious relationship with the Lord then Krishna’s holy names become the soothing balm and His words of wisdom helps us to transcend any pain.

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Why did we abandon Him?

Purushottam Nitai Das January 8, 2013
Seeing Krishna entering Dwarka, the citizens immediately rushed towards Him. In absence of Krishna they were extremely fearful and were eagerly waiting for Him. There fear vanished when they saw Krishna. Out of love they brought several gifts for the Lord and the Lord happily accepted it.

In this world everyone lives in anxiety and in constant fear. The cause of fear is uncertainty. Material nature with which we are associating is very powerful & uncertain, we cannot confront it alone. We need shelter of Krishna to cross over.  But unfortunately we have disassociated ourselves from Krishna.

An orphan lies uncared and unprotected, so he wails pitiably. An orphan cannot be blamed for his precarious condition because he did not abandon his father but his father abandoned him. But how unfortunate we are that we have abandoned our father, Krishna, and have become orphan? Let us ponder over it and ask ourselves that why did we abandon Krishna? Why not re-spiritualize our life and return back to our original home, which we left out of foolishness?

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Controlling Mind Is So Easy!

Purushottam Nitai Das January 7, 2013
Controlling Mind is so easy
Controlling Mind is so easy

Mind always demand for more and more. No matter how much we satisfy it but like a mad elephant it keeps us tormenting. All the crimes which occur are due to the uncontrolled mind. Criminals too are aware about righteous and unrighteous activities. But their unbridled mind drag them towards the hellish path and thus they invite misery for themselves and afflict miseries on others too.

Great personalities throughout ages have accepted this harsh reality. Arjuna too admits it in Bhagavat – Gita – “For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.” Bhagavad – Gita 6.34

Mind can be controlled by intelligence but often mind overpowers the intelligence. However, there is a hope for us. Krishna concedes that controlling mind is difficult, but he also assures us that it is not impossible. Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: “O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.” Bhagavad – Gita 6.35

Practice

The most potent way of practicing mind control in this age is by chanting the holy names of the Lord like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Along with this we also need to hear more about the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, it will purify our consciousness and will nourish our intelligence.

Detachment

Krishna has prescribed vairagyai.e. detachment from material/worldly thoughts and engagement in spiritual activities. Some try to control the mind by trying to create a void in the mind or my emptying the unwanted thoughts. Such a process will not yield any substantial result.  

If we want to light a bulb in the house, then we first connect the plug to the main line. The main line draws power from the power grid and supplies light to us. Similarly, the moment we connect ourselves to Krishna, who is the source of all enlightenment, our intelligence gets nourished and strengthened. All the negative thoughts start vanishing and we get spiritual intelligence. And then by our intelligence we can effortlessly subdue the mind.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Chaitanya, is chanting “Hare Krishna,” the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method prescribed is sa vai manah Krishna – padaravindayoh one must engage one’s mind fully in Krishna.” Bhagavad Gita 6.34 Purport

Mind can be our best friend or can be our worst enemy.

If we want mind to be our best friend, we need to follow the footsteps of Arjuna who after hearing the message of Bhagavad – Gita decided to act as per Krishna’s advice. 

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Formula to be Happy in this New Year

Purushottam Nitai Das January 4, 2013
From Jan 1st onwards we start wishing people “Happy New Year” – sometimes with feelings and sometimes without feelings. But one thing is for sure that advertently or inadvertently we wish others to be happy.

Wishing to be happy is commendable but simply wishing and not endeavoring to achieve it will not bring any result. For example, if a student wants to be a class topper then he needs to work for it then only his dream would be accomplished. Simply wishful thinking will not bring success to him. Similarly if we want to be happy then we will have to work hard for it. But our endeavor should always be in the right direction. Being happy is our natural instinct. As a soul we are ananda-mayo bhyasat – pleasure seeking.

So to be happy we will have to diligently work for it by following the injunctions of the revealed scriptures. At the most important moment of his life Arjuna completely lost his composure and was in acute misery. Completely baffled he decided to seek guidance of his dear friend Krishna. Krishna’s wisdom words helped him to triumph his emotional turbulence thus transforming his life. He got spiritually enlivened and completely re-charged for the inner and the outer battle. In the war he successfully conquered the Kaurava’s mighty warriors and throughout his life he lived happily by living as per the instructions of Krishna.

This is why at the end of Bhagavad – Gita Arjuna says karisye vacanam tava – I will do whatever you say (B.G. 18.73). Krishna’s teachings transformed Arjuna completely. So if we are seriously thinking to make this New Year happy then we need to seek Krishna’s advice. And then we can be 100% sure that this New Year will be “Happy” for us.

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Conquer the “Fear of Future”

Purushottam Nitai Das January 3, 2013

When he climbed the 1st step he started thinking about the 100th step. When he reached the 2nd step he looked back and then looked up again worrying about the 100th step. At the 3rd step he started sweating, at the 4th panting and while climbing 6th he lost his balance and fell down. Throughout the ordeal his coach kept on encouraging him and warning him. He encouraged him to climb up and warned him not to worry about the 100th step. He kept shouting – Don’t look back or worry about the 100th step but only focus on your present step. But the mountaineer who had to climb 100 steps to reach the summit relied on his untrained senses and not on the words of wisdom of his coach.

We too rely too much on our untrained, unchaste and unreliable senses. Either we constantly lament about the past or fear about the future. Fear arises because we are ignorant about the future. None of us are aware as what is going to happen the next moment.

When we start practicing devotional life then also we start worrying about the future and lament about our past. We get remorseful about our past. And simultaneously we start worrying about our ability to continue practising devotional life in future. Apparent and non – apparent problems put us in deep anxiety. Instead of focussing on the present we often waste our time in fretting or fearing.

We need to take one step at a time. Instead of focussing on past or future we should focus only on our present. Krishna as the source of all intelligence assures us, “To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me”:- Bhagavad – Gita 10.10. When we successfully climb the 1st step we will get intelligence to climb the 2nd step and when we finish 2ndstep we will get intelligence to climb the 3rd step and in this way we can reach to the summit.

To make our future brighter let us make Krishna as our adviser. “Fear of Future” will no longer devour us. Fearlessly we will then march towards our supreme destination.

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Scientists’ astonishment

Purushottam Nitai Das January 2, 2013
Nature’s ecological balance is so perfect that the scientists get bewildered. Scientists often envision the idea of manufacturing symbiotic factories i.e. the factories which will support each other. For e.g. if there are two factories then the waste product of factory ‘A’ becomes the raw material for factory ‘B’ and the waste product of factory ‘B’ becomes the raw material for factory ‘A’. If this is achieved then it will revolutionize the world. The factory would generate almost 100% profit as there would be very minimal operating cost involved because raw materials would be readily available free of cost. However the dream has not yet materialized.

 Let us look to our beautiful nature.

We human beings inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Our waste is CO2 which becomes the raw material which sustains the plants & trees. Similarly their waste, oxygen, is the raw material which sustains us. Is it not a superb arrangement?  There is no waste product created by nature. A superb symbiotic arrangement maintains all.

Is this wondrous phenomenon happening automatically? It is absolutely impossible. There is an intelligent brain behind this absolute perfection. This is confirmed in Bhagavad – Gita (10.8) when Krishna says, “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me”.

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Happy Krishna Conscious 2013!

Purushottam Nitai Das December 31, 2012
Let us endeavour hard in year 2013 to make ours and others lives beautiful and meaningful. The best and the only possible way to accomplish this is by bringing Krishna in our life. Pandavas underwent through so many difficulties but still they always emerged victories because their lives were centered on Krishna.

So, this new year let us pledge for the following:

·         N: Never forgetting Krishna.

·         E: Enthusiastically serving Krishna.

·         W: Working for Krishna’s pleasure.
 

·         Y: Yearning for Krishna’s mercy.

·         E: Eagerly hearing Krishna’s sublime message through revealed Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad –     Gita.

·         A: Appreciating Krishna’s unfathomable love for us.

·         R: Always Remembering Krishna.

Let 2013, be the year when Krishna will occupy center stage in our life. Let us make him the cynosure of our eyes. We just need to open our hearts to Krishna and Krishna will immediately reciprocate with us. He assures us – yeyatha mam prapadyante (Bhagavad – gita 4.11). As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.

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