Planet ISKCON

A few weeks ago, Dhanurdhara Swami approached the GBC Executive Committee with the idea of possibly being reinstated as a member of ISKCON. The GBC EC has discussed the topic and issued a statement.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/16/2020

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes cow protection, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Founder-Acharya.

Participating Directors: Anuttama (partial attendance), Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara (chair), Ranaka, and Vraja

Participating Advisors: Chaitanya Mangala, Ishana, and Lalita Gopi

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

• Lalita Gopi (Temple Barn)
  • Currently milking nine cows who are giving 23 gal of milk daily: Surabhi, Sita, Vamsika, Jaya Radhe, Cintamani, Parijata, Subhadra, Gopikatyayani, and Sriya.
  • Gopikatyayani gave birth to a heifer named Vaisnavi on January 26th.
  • A total of six calves are in the barn: Narada, Dhruva, Prahlad, Yasoda,   Satyabhama, and Vaisnavi.
  • Anandavidya is making 30 lb of butter and 10 gal of yogurt weekly, he has also been keeping up with the cleaning and maintenance.
  • Soil samples have been taken from the pasture and have been sent to the WVU extension center in Morgantown (who have offered to help with pasture improvements)
  • Lalita attended an Amish farming conference, a department of agriculture dairy meeting, and a soil lecture from the WVU extension center.
  • Nila Govinda continues to help in the barn on weekends.
  • Due to the complications of managing nine cows in the goshala, Subhadra is being dried off so she can be rebred.
• Ray
  • Moved hay to Temple Barn and Nandagram on a weekly basis.
  • Scraped the Valley Barn pads daily and tractor-scraped the aisles weekly
  • Stocked feed aisles with hay.
  • Moved topsoil into high tunnel #1.
  • Delivered 400 lb of potatoes to the temple kitchen in January.
• Caitanya Bhagavat (Nandagram)
  • Daily general cow care and ensuring the safety of the Nandagram herd.
  • Monitored the herd numbers – four cows, 10 steers, and one bull
  • Planned and arranged for favorable social dynamics among the cows.
  • Cow health checks, arranged and facilitated veterinarian visits.
  • Oversaw and supplemented Nandagram’s winter hay stock.
  • Planned upcoming herd accommodations.
  • Facilitated, monitored, and cared for planned cow pregnancies.
  • General barn maintenance.
  • Planned and cared for aging cows.
  • Made preparations for winter weather.
• Suchandra
  • Teaching Garden
    • Removed the stinging nettle around the fence and sprayed with organic weed killer.
    • Trimmed trees and weeded behind back fence and inside garden for laying plastic
    • Trimmed back the rose bushes and butterfly bushes
  • Community Garden
    • Pulled and stacked tomato poles in shed.
    • Pulled some marigold and zinnia plants.
    • Clipped zip ties on front and side part of fence and pulled some of the metal poles.
    • Removed some of the cages from tomato plants.
• Analaksita (Vidya’s & Valley High Tunnels)
  • Was assisted by Joseph, Noah, and Daniel
  • A grow station was set up with a heat mat and new sprouts were started at Vidya’s. 
  • Weeded, cleaned, and harvested Vidya’s high tunnel.
  •  The carnations were pruned back to prepare for spring.
  • The greenhouse at Vidya’s was set up with insulation, heat mats with temperature control box, and a heater.
  • The new sprouts were transplanted and put into the greenhouse.
  • Plants at Vidya’s have been covered with cloth when temperatures get too cold.
  • Seeding blueprints were made for all high tunnels and have been initiated for Vidya’s outdoor garden and the Teaching Garden.
  • High tunnel #1 was broad forked on both sides to allow the dirt to air out.
  • Topsoil was delivered to high tunnel #1, the dirt was then spread and leveled.
  • High tunnel #2 was tilled and more rocks were removed before the topsoil is delivered and spread.
  • All of the butternut squash grown last year and all of the frozen tomato puree from last year was delivered to the temple kitchen.
  • The conference room at the Valley Barn was set up for the garden department.
  • Began breaking down the Community Garden and delivered supplies to high tunnels #1 and 2.
  • Plants in high tunnel #1 were sprayed with neem oil.
  • Laid chicken wire and plastic on ground around high tunnel #1 for critter control.
  • January 2020 deliveries to the temple kitchen from Vidya’s high tunnels and high tunnel #1:
    • Beet bunches – 18
    • Kale bunches – 46
    • Lettuce heads – 15
    • Daikon bunches – 34
    • Spinach bunches – 27
    • Butternut squash – 60 lb
    • Carrots bunches – 4
    • Potatoes – 400 lb
• Ranaka
  • Bahulaban Barn apartment project: Met with Ishana and Mervin Yoder (Amish contractor) to discuss the overall project. Will report discussion to subcommittee to present a recommendation to the board.
  • Met with Ram Associates, CPAs on January 30 and we are now in the process of reviewing the first draft of annual review.
  • With the birth of Vaisnavi on January 26, the herd count is now 67.

2. Internal Funding Request: $3.5K for Gifts for On-Site Meetings

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to offer a token of appreciation to the INV, VA, and ECO-V staff and volunteers.

RESOLVED: The Board approved up to $3,500 as a budget for the purchase of appreciation gifts.

3. Offering for Srila Prabhupada

Lalita Gopi is considering writing the offering for Srila Prabhupada’s vyasa puja book, in conjunction with Anandavidya. She will require a few days to decide.

4. FY19 Finalized Operating Budget Approval

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to review ECO-V’s income and expenses for the previous year.

RESOLVED: The Board approves a finalized operating budget of $300K for 2019.

5. FY20 Operating Budget Approval

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to set projections of ECO-V’s income and expenses for the upcoming year.

RESOLVED: The Board approves an operating budget of $365K for 2020

6. On-site Meetings Planning Update

Vrsni, Gaurasakti, Vrindavan, and Ishana have formed a subcommittee. Rebecca and Julia will be facilitating the discussions. The topics to be covered include:

·  Wrapping up topics from previous meetings

·  Identifying roles and responsibilities

·  Measuring the effectiveness of onsite joint board meetings

·  Service conflicts

·  Land and housing committee update

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01/12/2020

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes cow protection, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Founder-Acharya.

Participating Directors: Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara (chair), Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Chaitanya Mangala and Ishana

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

Ranaka reported on the previous month’s projects:

• Lalita Gopi (Temple Barn)
  • There are eight mothers giving milk; Sita, Sriya, Parijata, Cintamani, Vamsika, Jaya Radhe, Surabhi, and Subhadra.
  • There are five calves at the barn: Dhruva, Narada, Prahlad, Yasoda, and Satyabhama.
  • The cows are producing 21 gal of milk daily.
  • Anandavidya makes butter twice a week, approximately 30 lb in total. The temple kitchen does not use much yogurt this time of year so the extra milk is made into curd.
• Ray
  • Transported hay to Temple Barn and Nandagram on a weekly basis
  • Scraped the Valley Barn pads daily and tractor-scraped the aisles weekly
  • Stocked feed aisles with hay
  • Installed the side netting on high tunnel #2 at the Valley Barn, with assistance from Analaksita and Daniel
  • Delivered 300 lb of potatoes to the temple kitchen during December
  • Installed rebuilt injection pump on 5095M JD tractor
• Caitanya Bhagavat (Nandagram)
  • Daily general cow care for Nandagram herd.
  • Monitored the herd numbers – five cows, 10 steers, and one bull
  • Performed cow checks, and arranged and facilitated veterinarian visits
  • Regularly maintained the fence lines
• Suchandra (Community & Teaching Gardens)
  • Transferred tools from the Community Garden to the Valley Barn high tunnels.
  • Worked on breaking down the Community Garden so it can be cleared out.
  • Cleared the Teaching Garden
  • Ordered tomato seeds
• Analaksita (Vidya’s and Valley Barn’s High Tunnels)
  • Harvested and delivered lettuce, kale (smooth leaf and curly), daikon radishes, red radishes, beets, carrots, and spinach to the temple kitchen. 
  • Delivered 26 gal of organic tomato puree to the temple kitchen from last year’s harvest.
  • Made the seed order for all high tunnels and gardens. 
  • Cleared rocks from Valley Barn high tunnel #2.
  • Planned for increased ventilation for Valley Barn high tunnels.
  • Made planting plans for each garden and high tunnel. 
  • Cleared out the basement leading to the greenhouse at Vidya’s. Collected all planting and seeding trays, and organized them in the basement. 
  • Started cleaning the Teaching Garden. Did weed-eating, and cleared the fence line and pavilion to set up a picnic area. 
  • Vidya’s High Tunnel harvest totals for December 2019:
    • Carnations – 22
    • Beets bunches – 15
    • Kale bunches – 16
    • Lettuce heads – 9
    • Radish bunches – 14
    • Spinach bunches – 13

• Ranaka
  • Bahulaban Barn apartment project: The last 200’ of the 600’ leach field has been finished. Effluent pump needs installation. Also, we need to test the system and get completed paperwork from the state of West Virginia.
  • Worked with ECO-V subcommittee (Makara, Jamuna Jivani, Ishana, and Ranaka) on proposed layout of Bahulaban apartment project.
  • Worked on the end of fourth quarter and 2019 payroll reporting to IRS and West Viginia state tax department.
  • Prepared for audit with Ram Associates, CPAs scheduled for January 31st
  • With no births or deaths since the last report, the herd count remains at 66.

2. External Grant Request: $18K for Gopal’s Garden 2019-20 Academic Year

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to continue its support of a school in the New Vrindaban community. 

RESOLVED: The Board approves a grant of $18K for Gopal’s Garden 2019-20 school year.

3. Spring On-site Meetings

Ishana has volunteered for the joint board subcommittee to plan the weekend. The topics for the meetings will include housing, Krishna Ika’s proposal, ongoing community meetings, and ECO-V related topics/involvement. 

4. Lalita Gopi as Advisor

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to maintain a team of advisors.

RESOLVED: The Board appoints Lalita Gopi to the position as advisor for a one-year term. 

5. November On-site Meeting Review

The Board discussed a number of highlights from the weekend’s meetings:

• The focus of the weekend was on housing in New Vrindaban and Krsna Ika’s proposal for the Seven Temples project
• Much positive, forward-moving discussion was had on these topics
• The facilitators did a great job guiding the conversations
• Potential sites for a housing project were put forth by INV and ECO-V to the Land & Housing Committee. The committee was encouraged to bring a proposal for developing one of the sites to the boards. 
• The bamboo utensil gifts were appreciated by the attendees

What is the anti-coronavirus treatment the devotees in Mayapur applying?

Our initial response may be to push on with our service regardless of what the civil authorities are directing, but we encourage you to work within the guidelines given by governments and other authorities. As a result, there may need to be some practical adjustments to the worship standards and schedule according to time, place and circumstance. As explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.54, the deity of the Lord is installed and worshipped Continue reading "Coronavirus – Statement from ISKCON’s Deity Ministry
→ Dandavats"

The philosophical conclusions of Vedas establish that the universe is created by the eternal all-powerful Supreme Lord. A believer takes it as given that the universe must have a creator therefore God must exist. Over centuries great personalities have tried to establish or refute this proposition in various ways.

Is America Materially Advanced??
Srila Prabhupada: — Your seventh question, “How is it that there is so much material "advancement” in the USA even though there is no formal demigod worship? “ Actually there is no material advancement in the USA. Material advancement means there is amply opportunity for eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Superficially, it appears that in the USA there is sufficient provision of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, but actually nobody is safe even in his good apartment.

“ Yadi vatadi doshena mad bhakto mam ” “If My devotee is unable to remember Me at the time of death because of disturbances felt within the body at that time, then I shall remember My devotee and take him back to My supreme abode.”

Read More...

This is the point in time when the Hare Krishna devotee shines a torchlight of knowledge into the darkness. Krishna has arranged the stage and the spotlight. The vicious virus is yet another 9/11, a pause, of silence in which the conditioned soul can hear the chanting of the holy names, the transcendental sounds of the Gita and Bhagavatam, come into contact with the pure devotee. Let us use our intelligences to take advantage of this Golden opportunity. Maybe our message can go viral. Continue reading "COVID -19: The Bigger Picture
→ Dandavats"

O best among the descendants of Bharata [Yudhiṣṭhira], I maintain, therefore, that all this is within the plan of the Lord. Accepting the inconceivable plan of the Lord, you must follow it. (Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 1.9.17)

Krishna conscious kids.
We were at Coles (Supermarket in Australia) seeing all the empty shelves and I expressed to my 14 years old son Rama that it must be hard for you kids seeing all this chaos… his answer left me pretty stunned: “Well it would be hard if I wasn’t Krishna Conscious, but I know this is Kali Yuga and stuff like this is meant to happen.”

The Kirtan Fest program in Rishikesh is winding down (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: We’re leaving Rishikesh soon because of the impending Coronavirus. But not before we give the citizens and remaining tourists here a taste of the sweetness of Sri Krsna’s holy names!
Find them here: http://bit.ly/2wVFDy7

This picturesque panoramic shot of the TOVP by Thakur Saranga das shows the incredible beauty of the TOVP with the transcendental landscape of Sridham Mayapur in the background. You can go from left to right manually, zoom in or out, or just let the photo automatically rotate.

See it in its full glory by visiting this link.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
App at: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts at: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Beautiful TOVP 360° Panoramic View appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

In Italy, the worst hit country in Europe, neither the general public nor devotees can visit the temple because all places of worship – churches, mosques, temples – have been closed down, and everyone has been quarantined in their homes.

HG Shrutidharma’s Funeral (video)
HG Srutidharma Prabhu gave his life selflessly and wholeheartedly in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Radha Gokulananda.
Watch it here: https://is.gd/euPTde

Help us Fix the Roof in New Mayapur!
This is a humble request on behalf of New Mayapur community. New Mayapur’s Chateau, the main building which houses the Deities and Srila Prabhupada’ s rooms, is in urgent need of repair. The Chapel, a small church attached to the main building, is in a critical condition. The stone guttering and the walls are broken and water is leaking in. The walls, being damaged, are becoming waterlogged and the ceiling within is crumbling. If this is not dealt with urgently it is a matter of time before the roof collapses. The situation was not noticeable a couple of months ago but now it is deteriorating rapidly.

World leaders are adopting and recommending this gesture, part of the Vedic and vaishnava culture, and it is a step towards the right direction.

Amit Patel: Srutidharma Prabhu, as I reflect on your glorious life and departure from this world, hear the deeply moving remembrance by so many from all over the community, near and far. I will miss that kind smile the most ans that nod of your head, those reassuring words you would share even as you walked past. You made everyone you came across feel cared for. Despite so many responsibilities, you gave you time when it was needed the most with undivided attention. From a moments association to sitting and speaking for a while you were so very present. You knew and shared that essential principle of pleasing Krishna and Prabhupada which is to serve, to care deeply above all else.

Hare Krishna

I am perplexed and a little saddened

For years I’ve listened to many morning classes and have read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books and reading my social media feeds and e-mails it appears very few have faith in our philosophy nor in the chanting of the holy names (which is an offence as we all should know).

Let me explain:

We are told that nothing happens without the will of the Lord and whatever happens to us is down to our Karma and a product of our limited free will. With the mantra if Krishna wants us to live no one can kill us, but if Krishna wants us to die who can save us.

My first argument with my now guru Maharaja he defeated me by this logic

Your a nurse, tell me how many people you cure and send home never get ill again?

Can I ask you of all those who you cure and discharge never go on and die?

So he asked what is the paint of nursing as your cure isn’t pertinent the person still suffers and they will die.

Indeed I’ve nursed many souls who checked out

So he said the real welfare work is with the devotees for if we follow there advice yes you will leave this body but your suffering ends as you never take birth again, I had enough grasp of the basics by then to understand his point.

Looking at the health advice it’s the same I’ve seen every winter, most of the signs in public toilets act is the same I’ve seen for the last 15 years, catch it, bin it and wash your hands. If you have these symptoms limit your movements and stay at home. If you cough cover your mouth.

Given the uncertainty of covid-19 that needs to be more strictly adhered to, but the figures gathered by those who study epidemiology currently has the mortality rate for known Covid-19 at 0.5% whilst the flu at 0.1% of cases. Noting in most cases they have already underlying conditions so are less able to fight off infections.

These figures raise if you factor in unknown cases but is an estimation.

Following medical advice is always good, following facts is good, sadly few have asked or followed the advice of the chief medical officer here in the UK wrapped in media hysteria.

And as devotees good cleanliness is already there and most are sensible enough to stay at home even if it’s a common cold.

But if Krishna desires I will leave my body, by what disease or event I will find out at that point in time.

But for me the most vital message that I am not hearing is, during this time it is vital as devotees we are more attentive in our chanting, if we chant then even if we leave our material body it’s still all good.

This is philosophical correct and in keeping with our teaching.

As to temples, sanga groups and harinam I will leave that up to the individual managers and devotees to decied.

But be mindful few have altered what they do and were they go

So best propergate attentive chanting, chant more and actually read Srila Prabhupada’s books then no matter what life throws your way your fully prepared.

I’m perplexed why this isn’t being made clear.

“This Life is for Serving Others” Srutidharma Das, the beloved son of Raojibhai and Dhanlaxmi Patel, and younger brother to Mukesh, was born in Jinja, Uganda in 1958. As a twelve-year-old boy he made the journey to London with his family and grew up in Wembley. Around the same time, the early devotees of Krishna came from America and eventually started a temple at 7, Bury Place near the British Museum. It was there, at age 19, that the young Shailesh Patel met Srila Prabhupada and became very impressed with his words and mission.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s narration of an allegory.

Read More...

In the Bhagavad-gita it is also said that such fallen devotees are given a chance to take birth in a family of highly qualified brahmanas or in a rich mercantile family. A devotee in such a position is not as fortunate as one who is chastised by the Lord and put into a position seemingly of helplessness. The devotee who becomes helpless by the will of the Lord is more fortunate than those who are born in good families. The fallen devotees born in a good family may forget the lotus feet of the Lord because they are less fortunate, but the devotee who is put into a forlorn condition is more fortunate because he swiftly returns to the lotus feet of the Lord, thinking himself helpless all around. (SB 1.15.19) Continue reading "The Finest Quality of Transcendental Love
→ Dandavats"

A video by MayapurTV.

German with English subtitles. A video by spirituelle Bücher & Geschichten.

Over 500 people, including congregation members and the local community at large, are expected to attend the April 4th Foundation Stone Ceremony for ISKCON of New Jersey’s grand new temple in Parsippanny. The ceremony is set to launch construction on a project that took over a decade of hard work, and will ultimately cost a total of $7 to $8 million.

Although he took on the post of temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor in 2009, Srutidharma Prabhu served at the Manor for over forty years, starting back in 1978. In his final hours he was serene and without discomfort. His passing was auspicious as was his life, surrounded by devotees, chanting the Lord’s holy names, in the holy place of Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple.

Lokanath Swami: Dear Srutidharma Prabhu, My humble obeisances to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya of Bhaktivedanta Manor. An interviewer asked Srila Prabhupada: How would I recognize a true follower of the Krsna consciousness movement by his behavior? What would his outward expressions be?
Srila Prabhupada: He’d be a very perfect gentleman, that’s all. You could not find any fault in him.

There is no hopelessness. Anyone can attain the spiritual perfection. Satam prasangan mama virya-samvidah. (SB 3.25.25) [“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.”]

Therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended,

sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga—sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

[“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.”] (Cc Madhya 22.54)

 So our aim of life should be how to associate, how to keep association with devotees. Then everything will be possible. As soon as we give up the association and we associate with maya, our life is finished. Always remember this. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was asked by a devotee, “What is the business of a devotee? How will he make progress without any difficulty?” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said in two lines, asat-sanga-tyaga, ei vaisnava-acara (Cc Madhya 22.87): “A Vaishnava should always avoid asat, materialistic persons, always avoid the association.” Asat-sanga-tyaga. Matter is asat, not permanent. So those who are attached to the material world, they are called asat. Satam prasangat: one should associate with sat, those who are in spiritual advancement. They are called sat. And those who are interested in material advancement, they are called asat. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advised, “Don’t associate with persons who are trying to be advanced in a material way.” Asat-sanga-tyaga, ei vaisnava-acara. And how we can understand if a person is a materialist? That is stated in the next line: stri-sangi—those who are too much attached to sex are asat, materialist, and those who are not devotees of Krishna (krsna-abhakta). That’s all. If you can recognize these two persons, then you understand who is asat—and who is sat. Sat is just the opposite. Sat means one who is no more interested in material enjoyment. That is sat. And those who are interested in material enjoyment, they are asat.

If we keep our association with persons who are materially interested, then we cannot make progress. If you keep your company always with persons who are spiritually interested, then you make progress.

—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.25, July 9, 1975, Chicago

Tribute of Radhanath Swami to Sruti Dharma Prabhu. I cannot appropriately express the loss I am feeling in separation from His Grace Sruti Dharma Prabhu. My heart is broken. Yet, I am feeling immensely grateful, and blessed, that by Srila Prabhupada’s, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai’s and Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda’s mercy, he is among the dearest friends and spiritual brothers of my life. Radhanath Swami

We also request the following precautions: . Anyone involved in cooking or serving prasadam must wash their hands every twenty minutes with hot water and soap for twenty seconds. Servers must wear disposable gloves. . Anyone showing any symptoms of any illness should remain out of the kitchen and also not serve prasadam. . Avoid shaking hands. Continue reading "Updated Coronavirus Announcement
→ Dandavats"

HG Srutakirti prabhu: Srila Prabhupada’s airline slippers from his last flight from London to Mumbai in September 1977.

Spiritual Safari 2020 which was planned to visit Bangladesh for 20 days got cancelled and safari is being organised at Mayapur with various activities planned for the guests. Devotees from more than 25 countries including China are chanting dancing, serving, remembering, absorbed in Krishna consciousness and sheltered by the Holy dham. On first day, safari […]

The post Mayapur Spiritual Safari 2020 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Learning Process of Bhakti through Devotees (video)
“Learning Process of Bhakti through Devotees” Gaura Purnima Series Evening Class by HH Krishnakshetra Swami on 09-03-2020 @ ISKCON Chowpatty.

From Prashant

Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcriber: Sharan Shetty

Edited by: Keshavgopal Das

Question: How are karma and jnana are the cause of material desires?

Answer: The word material can have multiple meanings and at the simplest level, it refers to that which is related with matter. When we want to possess, control and enjoy matter then that desire is called material desire. The path of karma kanda or regulated material enjoyment is based on scriptural guidelines. For example, going to swarga or getting better facilities to enjoy in this world involve fulfilling material desires. When one hears the flowery and beautiful scriptural description of such material enjoyment then it may kindle ones material desires. Some people may want to fulfil their material desires without going through scriptures and instead, by their own independent endeavours (such people comprise the majority today) but in the past ages, people fulfilled their material desires through scriptural guidelines and that was the path of karma kanda which naturally resulted in material desires. Krishna describes about this in the Bhagavad Gita 02.42 – 43
yam imam puṣpitam vacam pravadanty avipascitaḥ
veda-vada-ratah partha nanyad astiti vadinah

kamatmanah svarga-para janma-karma-phala-pradam
kriya-visesa-bahulam bhogaisvarya-gatim prati

Krishna uses the word kamatmanah to figuratively describe that such people are so much filled with material desires that their atma (soul) is made up of kama (material desires). These people follow karma kanda so that they can go to heaven (svarga-para). They are so attracted by the flowery description of the scriptures (puspitam vacam) that they think nothing else is taught in the Vedic scriptures apart from this (nanyad astiti vadinah). Therefore, Krishna says that such people cannot develop the one-pointed intelligence for practicing spiritual life.
The desires for material enjoyment are entangling and from the absolute perspective, any desire to enjoy separate from Krishna can be considered to be sinful because ultimately, we are part and parcels of Krishna and we are meant for his enjoyment. This is not a form of self-deprivation because in giving enjoyment to him, we ourselves get the highest enjoyment that we can ever get in any other way. Thus, it is not self deprivation, it is self-fulfilment. Karma deprives one from this fulfilment because it kindles material desire although those desires are within scriptural guidelines.

The path of jnana is also based on material conception of spiritual reality. It has the idea that since matter has form and matter is limited therefore spirit being unlimited should not have any form and qualities. This is basically a negative material conception projected on spirit. The path of jnana aims at merging into the brahman, that is, the desire to become God. Such a desire is also sinful because instead of serving God, one wants to imitate God and take up his position for oneself. Therefore, the word sinful here does not refer to immoral.

Scriptures use the word sinful in many different ways, sometimes sin may refer to those activities which harm others, those which violate scriptural teachings. This is one definition of sin but from the absolute perspective, anything that keeps us away from Krishna and perpetuates our material existence and which ultimately results in suffering is sinful. In that sense, jnana is also a cause of material desire because there is the desire to become God and to be the controller. That way, since the jnani is not giving up his false ego and is rather pushing it to its summit by trying to become number one, not just in a particular field but in the entire creation, so it is considered sinful.

This desire is based on false ego which is the most subtle element that causes the soul to be covered by illusion and bodily misidentification. Therefore, because the desire to become God is the goal of the path of jnana yoga, it is based on the false ego and hence is considered material which leads to material desires. Further, often those who aspire for impersonal liberation do not attain that liberation and fallback from the spiritual path to grosser material desires because the spiritual reality is not variegated. Since it is not variegated, it does not attract the heart and therefore those with the aspiration of brahman liberation fall back to material existence.

Srila Prabhupada writes in the commentary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto One Chapter One that because the beauty of the Absolute Truth is being obscured by the impersonalists, more and more people are having no spiritual pathway for directing their urge for beauty and so find themselves attracted materially due to the urge for beauty. In this way, impersonalism (the path of jnana) promotes materialism and so is the path of karma. Therefore, karma and jnana are also the cause of material desire.

End of transcription.

The post How are karma and jnana the cause of material desires? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

An award-winning documentary about today's ISKCON and Prabhupada's impact around the world. 

A video by VanimediaMayapur.