Planet ISKCON

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The post When thoughts distract us while chanting, how to respond? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sacinandana Swami: Srila Prabhupada received the rose each one of us offered him. He gave another rose back to us, and he lectured.
While he lectured, like so many of my God-brothers, I felt that Srila Prabhupada was speaking just for me and was looking at me. I felt personally addressed by Srila Prabhupada.
It reminded me of how, when Krishna ate lunch surrounded by His cowherd boyfriends, He communicated to each one of the thousands of them.
Prabhupada’s eyes were wandering over his audience, and sometimes he closed his eyes in deep concentration, but somehow he connected to every one of us.
Then, because I felt so personally addressed by Srila Prabhupada, I put a challenging question to him.
Foolish as I was, I wanted to test Prabhupada to see if he was really the perfect spiritual master I could surrender to for my whole life.
Such surrender would have serious consequences as far as money and my position in life were concerned.
Since my mind was not spiritually developed, to see how Prabhupada would react I asked a question which I felt he could not answer.
I said, “If God is all good, why did He create this maya which inflicts suffering upon the living entities?” Prabhupada looked at me and requested Shyamasundar to repeat the question.
Shyamasundar had not heard my question, maybe due to my accent, and I repeated it. Prabhupada again asked for the question to be repeated.
I became insecure, but I again asked, “You say God is all good. It can’t be because He has created maya, which is certainly not all good. So either He is not all good or maya is no longer under His control and makes us suffer against the good intentions of God.”
Prabhupada looked at me intently and then said, “Krishna has not created maya, you have created maya.” I was startled.
Philosophically I couldn’t understand what he was saying—I created the whole material world? I could not even create a house because at that moment I was insolvent.
Later I understood his explanation, but at the time all I understood was that Krishna was not at fault for my situation. I was at fault. I thought,
“What a brilliant answer. I have understood the point. I better surrender to Krishna and Srila Prabhupada,” who seemed to be very close with the Lord.
It was my first memorable encounter with Srila Prabhupada and he had demolished, like a sadhu always does, my concept that I could challenge him.
And besides answering my foolish question, he effected a transformation in my heart.
In London, while all the devotees were taking breakfast prasadam and the temple room was empty, Srila Prabhupada went to the temple alone to take darshan and pray to the Deities. After a long time he returned to his room.
In the morning I washed Sri Sri Radha-London-Isvara’s dishes and at that time I was in turmoil. I thought, “What will be the consequences of my decision to surrender?”
My fiancīe had come to convince me to take up my old ways and my dying grandfather had requested me to come to his deathbed so he could ask me to give up Krishna consciousness.
My family tradition was that you had to agree to the wish of a dying man, but I could not agree to give up the Lord’s grace upon me. So I stayed in the temple but I did not clean the Lord’s plates well.
One morning as I was washing the plates, absorbed on the mental platform, the temple president came into the kitchen.
His face was red and he stammered, “During Prabhupada’s darshan of the Deities, Krishna told Prabhupada that His plates are not nicely cleansed, that the old offering is still on the plates. Prabhupada said that whoever washes the dishes has to do a good job from now on.”
This woke me from my dreaming state. I had to be responsible. I had been pondering deeply important issues but I had not performed my service correctly and Krishna had complained to Srila Prabhupada.
Besides Krishna, only the cook, who put the new offering on the plates, could know that the plates were dirty.
But the cook was too fast—he put the new offering on hurriedly, without looking at the plates.
Then the dirty plate was covered and only the person who ate the offering could know that the plate was dirty.
It was that Person, Lord Krishna, who had detected this and He had told Srila Prabhupada. I was moved.
And I was also happy that there was a direct connection between Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna. I became more inspired to surrender my life to Srila Prabhupada.
On a morning walk in Amsterdam we passed many sleeping hippies and Prabhupada commented on them.
Finally we came to a tree with a nest that had a little bird that was just about to fly.
The bird was a little doubtful if he should fly or not, but Prabhupada encouraged him and finally the bird more or less tumbled down but with some idea of how to hold his little wings.
Prabhupada turned to us and said, “How does the bird know how to fly?” “Instinct, Prabhupada,” said someone who wanted to represent the modern scientists.
Prabhupada immediately said, “That is just a name. The Lord as Paramatma is in the heart of the bird directing him to fly.”
Whatever Prabhupada saw, even a little bird making his first attempt to fly, he connected to Krishna. That was especially visible during morning walks.
My father was angry that Prabhupada had stolen his son and at a public program he confronted Srila Prabhupada.
My father said, “It is not responsible to bring the Indian culture into Germany. It’s as irresponsible as taking a crocodile from Egypt to the cold Rhine River. Just as the crocodile cannot survive there, so the people who are with you now will not be able to stay.”
Prabhupada must have understood that this man was the father of one of his disciples and he took up the challenge. He said, “You can become Krishna conscious in a suit and tie.”
My father thought, “This answer is too simple for my intellectual challenge.”
But the pure devotee’s words do not necessarily act on the intellectual or mental platform that the question came from. They have a transformative shakti which works on a much deeper platform.
From Prabhupada’s answer my father understood that Krishna consciousness was more than externals. It was not a matter of Indian culture—one didn’t have to dress according to the Indian culture.
The Germans are used to tough discussions and in the end my father thought, “What a pleasant encounter. My son is in good hands. This spiritual leader is a sensible personality.”
I was very grateful to Srila Prabhupada for solving a difficult family issue.
Our temple leader had made a big poster with Prabhupada’s picture and in big letters “DER FŪHRER,” in small letters “of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness” and in big letters “KOMMT.”
Anyone would read “DER FŪHRER KOMMT,” the fūhrer comes, reminding them of someone totally lacking divine qualities.
People drew little moustaches on the posters under Srila Prabhupada’s nose. It was an example of how Prabhupada’s disciples did not always serve his preaching mission well.
Srila Prabhupada had a few hostile elements in the audience, probably in part due to the unintelligent advertising.
One particularly disturbed man said, “The chanting is mass self-hypnosis,” maybe remembering Hitler’s influential and passionate speeches.
Prabhupada kindly said, “It is not self-hypnosis, it is self-purification.”
Prabhupada was so expert that with a few words he could alter the consciousness of those who heard him.
—Sacinandana Swami
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

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What happened after the battle of Kurukshetra? (Audio files)
Let Nirantara prabhu narrate you the following events in a profess...

Caitanya-caritamrta class.

The post The contraversies that arise in Vaisnava history appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Bronze Ornamentation Samples

Our very creative Manufacturing Process Engineer, Savyasachi Prabhu, wanted to observe the color possibilities of different bronze alloy compositions. The experiment was created to see how the composition colors will look for the ornamentation of the TOVP architecture, coating of the demigod sculptors, and other artistic projects.

The compositions were made in the Glass fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC) Factory. The alloys tested were nickel-aluminum bronzes.

One alloy formula is that which is used for dental implants and resemble a gold color. The second formula is one that is used for making monetary coins from various countries.

Both samples look great when they are polished. We are very pleased with the results. The first two images are of the samples we created. The image of Sri Hanuman gives us an idea what the bronze formula will look like when applied to our artisan work.

Demigod Sculptures

After a year of dedicated work and co-creativity, we are reaching a great milestone in our Art department. The artists have been creating 8 sculptures of chosen demigods and associates of the Lord.

The demigods that we have sculpted are Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Lord Indra, Sri Lakshmii Devi, Manu, and Garuda. Currently we are finishing the last two Vaikuntha associates, Nanda and Sunanda.

Once completed, the sculptures will be placed in Lord Nrsimha’s Dome. The 8 Demigods and the Lord’s associates will fill the circumference on the second gallery level of Lord Nrsimha’s Dome. They are all in the mood of fear and submission because they have never seen Lord Nrsimha this ferocious. They will be facing Lord Nrsimha because they have come to witness His pastimes and offer their humble obeisances.

After this project is completed, the artists will then begin sculpting the Guru parampara that will go on the leftmost altar in the Main Dome.

The First Cornice is Installed

We have reached a new level of work in our external ornamentation of the TOVP. We installed our first decorative cornice. The cornice was installed above a pillar’s capitol.

We are decorating the outside of the temple in a systematic order. We work on one section at a time on one level that goes around the whole temple. Once the pattern is completed, we then move up vertically to the next section. We will do this until the whole outside of the temple is decorated from the top to the bottom.

Thus, the entire outer circumference of the TOVP will be decorated with cornices in a linear fashion. Once this is complete, we will then go up above the cornice to the next level of white marble and sandstone work. On that new level, then the same white marble and sandstone pattern that was applied before will be repeated in the new location.

The TOVP’s New Hoist

Recently we have integrated another new Jaypee Hoist into our construction work. This new hoist can very sufficiently lift workers and an abundance of materials together.

It is assisting us and making our construction quicker and easier. It is creating an easy flow for us to lift up an abundance of materials at anytime constantly, without any stoppages. This new hoist has upgraded our construction logistics, and thus has made TOVP high tech.

Plastering on the TOVP

The beautification of the TOVP is set into full motion now. We are currently plastering all of the TOVP’s outer walls, including the walls under the Domes.

Once this is completed we will then begin the cladding of the white marble.

The workers are using our wonderful new hoist to keep their work simple and safe. Using this hoist is a remarkable alternative for scaffolding and is making our construction smarter, more cost efficient, and is saving us time.

The Chatri Peacock Work Continues

The TOVP has 8 roof top Chatris. Each Chatri will be beautifully ornamented with pillars, cornices, and peacocks. The peacocks have been hand crafted in the Glass fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC) Factory. Each Chatri will have 12 peacocks installed above the pillars.

The peacock is a symbol of beauty, prosperity, royalty, love, compassion, soul and peace. It is a magnificent bird that displays it’s beautiful plumage for all to see. Its iridescent plumage is remarkable and stunning. Peacocks are pure of heart. They pair with one mate and are loyal and faithful to their partners. To many, they also symbolise eternal love.

Currently, we are decorating our first Chatri with peacocks. This Chatri is located close to Lord Nrsimha’s Dome.

After we finish nicely decorating this Chatri, we will then do the electrical work. All of the pillars will have lights installed, and thus the peacocks will be illuminated to allow their glorious beauty to shine.

The post Additional Finishing Construction work from the month of September appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Iskcon 50: Message from the EO (Executive officer – appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh) of the TTD = Tirumala Tirupati Devastaanams - the managing authority for the Tirupati “Balaji” (Srila Prabhupada told us – I visited Tirumala with him during April 1974 - for a brief 3 day visit - that “Balaji” means “Baal Krishna”, that is Lord Krishna’s childhood [baal] form.) temple - India’s most visited and wealthiest Hindu temple, congratulating ISKCON on ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.
Tirupati is located 150 kilometers North of Chennai (Madras) in Andhra Pradesh, South India. It can be reached by flight (only via Hyderabad or Vijayawada – there was - not sure if there still is a hopping flight from New Delhi via Hyderabad), or by rail or road

Anyone who comes through these doors of this temple, we should know they are special guests caring to visit the Supreme Personality of Godhead and it is expected of us to give them such hospitality, without discrimination, what their material status in society may be. They should be given affectionate loving words. They should feel wonderful. Srila Prabhupada explains this principle is so important. When a guest comes to the house of a king, he gives them royal treatment, but even if you are very poor, if you give that person a little straw mat, a little water and affectionate words, you will completely satisfy him, or her. So this must be established, when people come they should be welcomes with affectionate words. They should be given a nice explanation of the Deities. They should be given some nice Krishna Prasadam. They should feel by the by the love and behavior of the devotees towards them that they have entered into Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. S owe should try to establish this principle, as far as possible. And not only for guests but even for devotees, the residents who live here, even congregational devotees when they come they are also like guests. We should feel like that, we should try to welcome them with great affection, make feel very happy, comfortable, give them love of Vaishnava and this type of exchange will bring about the real presence of Krishna. Because Krishna is revealed through the loving exchanges of devotees, through this process He is pleased to make His presence known to the world. Continue reading "Receiving guests at the Temple
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​Congregation Program at ISKCON, San Jose, USA

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The glories of prasadam distribution (1 min video)
You won’t believe how many people are waiting in a looooong line to get a plate of prasadam!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/767Iz8

A Durga Puja Pandal in West Bengal resembling Temple of Vedic Planetaurium

Shastra Dana report for Sweden; August - September 2016.
Mukunda dasa: We distributed:
150 “Beyond Birth and Death”
60 "Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers”
8 Bhagavad-gitas
5 Krishna books
3 Srimad Bhagavatams
Panca-Tattva’s Shastra Dana program has now existed for seven years.
From August 2009 to September 2016 we have distributed approximately 17,000 books.
Srila Prabhupada wrote to Cyavana das on the 26th of December 1971: ”Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity. Without books, our preaching has no solid basis”
Special thank to the following devotees: Ella & Sune Hellstrom, Magnus Hedstrom, Sten Bergil, Gilbert Rylander, Tomas Nilsson, Bh Jimi, Raman, Mikael Forian, Mikael Johansson, Robert Akerman, Cathryn Claesson, Astasiddhi dd, Smita Krishna Swami, Aja das & Pancavati dd, Yogindra das, Bahulasva das, Sri Jayadeva das, Dharani dd.

The Gita Champions League (GCL) is a competition based on the teachings of the ancient book of knowledge, the Bhagavad Gita. This contest was an inspiring and motivating way to help everyone to absorb themselves in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, enrich and refocus their life in the right manner. GCL was a written test primarily targeting students from age 7 to 14. The test based on following key topics of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is written by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON. Search for happiness Does god exist? Who am I? One god or many gods Why do bad things happen to good people? Practical application of Bhagavad-Gita Parents expressed their appreciation and joy for having access to this universal knowledge, which will help their kids to improve their lives as well as society. Organizers were pleasantly surprised to find that apart from the kids their whole families were involved in studying the Gita. Continue reading "ISKCON Laguna Beach Gita Champions competition
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In addition to classes, the kids also participate in the community, by volunteering and book distribution at festivals and events. At festivals, the kids participate from start to finish, gaining exposure on how an event is planned, set up, and executed. Kids see what goes on behind the scenes, developing life skills in project management and communication. At events, Sunday school provides them with the knowledge and understanding behind Krishna consciousness, allowing them to engage in conversation about a book or about philosophy. With a smaller community, the kids get to play bigger roles, which will help build their confidence to navigate the material world. Continue reading "Austin – Sunday School
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ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 09/11/2016

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari

Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna & Vraja

Participating Manager: Mukunda

Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani

1. Bahulaban Barn Community Center Proposal Update

Mukunda continues to communicate with the relevant governmental agencies regarding the various requirements, as well as Prakash Patel, from whom is he awaiting a report. He will begin putting together some rough cost estimates based on the information he already has.

2. Mukunda’s Monthly Report

• He finished installing double-door and windows at temple flower garden shed.
• He began preparing the inside walls of the temple milking goshala for the installation of plywood and vinyl panels.
• He terminated his participation as the ECO-V representative on the Steering Committee.
• He submitted his resignation as an ECO-V Manager and announced his plans to return to Florida shortly after the November Joint Board meetings.

The ECO-V team members present expressed their appreciation for Mukunda’s service and contributions over the nearly two years he’s been involved with ECO-Vrindaban and wish well both him and his wife Bhakti-lata Dasi.

3.  Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report

• He has been relocating 19 cows from Bahulaban to Nandagram.
• He repaired a well pump at Nandagram which had broken.
• 5,000 flowers were grown and picked for Radhastami.
• He brought a cow named Rasananda to Radha Kunda for the Radhastami celebration.
• He oversaw continued harvesting in the gardens.

4. ECO-V & INV Managers’ Meetings Update

These meetings are scheduled to be held every two months. The next meeting will be in approximately two weeks. A few days prior to the meeting, the Managers will compile a list of topics for discussion.

5. ECO-V Staff Meetings Update

Staff meetings are being held on alternating Fridays. Mukunda, Nitaicandra and Ranaka report that the staff has been enjoying and benefiting from the discussions and feel they have been helpful and productive.

6.  Developing ECO-V’s Cow Protection Endowment

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to establish an endowment to continue support for cow protection, both now and into the future.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $3K to be used for legal work with Mrigendra prabhu to establish an endowment.

A subcommittee consisting of Chaitanya Mangala, Ranaka and Jaya Krsna has been tasked to work on this project.

https://www.facebook.com/ECOVrindaban

Prabhupada Will Claim Us 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2016, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.19–24)

When we are struggling in our spiritual lives, it means that we have to put in more external activity. When there is an internal struggle, it means that externally there is a vacuum, that externally we have not put in enough worship of Krsna, not enough chanting of Hare Krsna and not enough absorption in Krsna’s teachings. There is not enough Krsna upadesh but we just have to increase it, somehow do more and then the breakthrough will come. 

It is a little difficult! Sometimes we say, “I cannot do more because I do not feel inspired.” This is the eternal dilemma, “If I was inspired, I would be more Krsna conscious.” No. Be more Krsna conscious and you WILL BE inspired. This is actually how it is. It is the kanistha-adhikari (neophyte devotee) who says to Krsna, “I will surrender if you give me the ecstasy. If you give me the bliss of Krsna consciousness then I will surrender.” Krsna says, “No, surrender and I will give you bliss.”

But the madhyam (intermediate devotee) has understood, “I will surrender. I will just do it and then see what comes. I will put my faith there. I put my faith that happiness is with Krsna, not with other things. I will leave these other things because what happiness is really going to come from it. It is going to be mixed at best – happiness and distress. I have faith that if I invest in service to Krsna, then happiness will come.”

’śraddhā’-śabde—viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.62). All good will come from serving Krsna, from devotional service. That is śraddhā’. That is faith. So that is madhyam. The madhyam has faith. Kanistha does not. Kanistha means weak determination.

So this is our predicament. We are waiting for Krsna to somehow or other send us some grace. “Oh, Krsna, please be merciful to me. Please send me the inspiration. Please send me nectar. Krsna, I pray to you.” Few minutes later… nothing is coming. The struggle goes on, the struggle continues. Because we have to make that step first, make the gift to Krsna of ourselves. We have to give ourselves in service and immediately the inspiration will be there. Immediately!

A wonderful service towards introducing Srila Prabhupada into schools (3 min video)
On the occasion of the appearance day of Srila Prabhupada and also celebrating 50 years of ISKCON’s Golden jubilee the youth initiative of ISKCON Pune GYST (Gita Youth Society for Transformation) distributed fruit sweets in 15 government schools of Pune.
Total 20,000 students got the sweets. Each student was given a card along with the sweets which contained the brief introduction of Srila Prabhupada and short summary of his teachings. Each school also received a picture frame of Srila Prabhupada which was hung in the school office. More than 30 volunteers were involved in making this activity possible. Our special thanks to HG Radheshyamprabhu the temple president of ISKCON Pune who inspired us.
The children and school teachers were extremely happy on receiving Prabhupad’s message with sweets and cards. The whole effort of was led by HG AnandMurariPrabhu a brahmachari monk and Bhakta Manjunath a brahmachari monk boosting the team to Glorify Srila Prabhupad also promoting Kids Janmastami in more than 20 schools and also in Rehabilitationaddiction centres across pune city. ISKCON Pune seeks blessings of all Vaishnavas to be able to continue such activities and please Srila Prabhupada more and more in coming future.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/nJWqg1

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj came to ISKCON Ujjain on 3rd October 2016. Maharaj will be staying in Ujjain for about a week. Please find here the recordings of the recent classes given by Maharaj at Ujjain: Srimad Bhagavatam Class – 4th October 2016 : Srimad Bhagavatam Class – 5th October 2016 : We […]

The post Recent Classes By Bhakti Charu Swami At ISKCON Ujjain appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave wonderful seminar at ISKCON Ujjain on “Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Teachings” from 12th to 15th September 2016. Please hear the recordings here:

The post Lectures Of Seminar On Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Teachings – Ujjain (12-15 September 2016) appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Bhakti Charu Swami: “Time and time again I am coming back to this point because it has become quite a common practice in India to present somebody as God or present oneself as God. We can see that those people didn’t even read Bhagavad-gita, and even if they did read, they didn’t understand Bhagavad-gita. The extent of their understanding of Bhagavad-gita is karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana. [Bg 2.47] “You work like a donkey and don’t worry about the results. Give the results to me”, that is their interpretation. Political people make this slogan: You work, don’t worry about the results. But they don’t understand who the result is meant for; the result is meant for Krishna. Krishna is saying to try your best to serve Him, accept everything for His sake and offer everything to Him as your service and don’t expect anything, because He will reward you in the most wonderful way. In this way we can see that although the Bhagavad-gita is there, so wonderfully presented by Krishna, unfortunately most of the Hindus are not taking advantage of it. There are plenty of translations of the Bhagavad-gita, plenty of Bhagavad-gitas in the market, but not a single devotee is generated from those books. I remember in ’76, I was a new devotee at that time, we took statistics of English Bhagavad-gitas in the market and we found more than 250 Bhagavad-gitas. There were more than 250 Bhagavad-gita translations in English. All those Bhagavad-gitas put together did not make a single devotee, whereas Prabhupada’s one “Bhagavad-gita As It Is” is making millions of devotees all over the world. And who knows how many devotees this book will make? As time is passing, more and more people are becoming devotees. So that is the potency of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. What is the meaning of “As It Is?” Prabhupada explained it: the way Krishna spoke and the way Arjuna understood it. That is the meaning of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.”

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What is actual independence?
Niranjana Swami: Everybody really likes to be independent. It’s one of the characteristics of being in the material world is that we like our independence. We don’t want anybody telling us what to do. We don’t want to become completely dependent upon anybody, because to become completely dependent upon somebody in the material world is a sign of misfortune. As soon as you become completely dependent upon somebody then you are obliged, you have to do so many things - things that you don’t want to do, but you feel like you have to do because, “I am dependent on that person.”
And then we always try to make some kind of separate arrangements so that we can gradually release ourselves from the clutches of that dependence. But when we try to release ourselves from the clutches of that dependence, than we have to become dependent on somebody else. But we don’t realize it. Or we may think, “At least this is a better type of dependence. It was better than the previous one.”
And actually that is what Srila Bhaktisiddhanta talks about here in this quote. He is describing what is actual independence. The quote begins with the statement,
“To try to become God is non-devotional. The desire to become independent in this world means to become the servant of others. Material independence is simply a covered form of dependence. Complete independence is obtained by becoming dependent on the Lord, who is full of eternality, knowledge and bliss, and desiring only to serve Him. As long as the living entities hold the rope of the Lord’s mercy they are known as His servants. Those who think themselves self-dependent, or independent, should know that they are actually dependent on others. Only those who depend on the Supreme Lord are truly independent. When we attain actual independence than the conception that we are eternally dependent on Sri Hari becomes prominent. Any object that is a complete whole is transcendental.”
This is an important point to explain.
“Service to, or dependence on that transcendental, absolute truth Sri Hari is actual joyful independence. Otherwise, the show of independence, while identifying oneself as the doer or master, brings only distress. It is nothing but subordination under maya.”

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