Devotional Service is Copyrighted by Lord Krsna!

[Guest guest]

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS COPYRIGHTED BY LORD KRSNA!

 

Welcome to the KrishnaSoft's Electronic Newsletter.

This is the December 1999 issue entitled: "Devotional Service is Copyrighted

by Lord Krsna!"

WEB: http://www.krishnasoft.com; EMAIL: krishna (AT) krishnasoft (DOT) com or

vdayal (AT) castle (DOT) net

 

This newsletter goes to over 1100 people who either have an interest in Vedic

science and/or spiritually entertaining multimedia technology.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

(1) Devotional Service is Copyrighted by Lord Krsna!

(2) Vedic Astronomy: Sun-Moon Distances

(3) Feedback: Miscellaneous

(4) Editorial Policy and Product List

 

 

1. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS COPYRIGHTED BY LORD KRSNA!

 

[The following is the thirteenth of a series of articles to present to

the benefits of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Krsna CDROM and the

Srimad-Bhagavatam CDROM from Krishnasoft present this great spiritual

masterpiece in multimedia format.]

 

In the November 1999 issue, we quoted from the Bhagavatam regarding how

one receives his devotional service by the mercy of the spiritual master who

is acting under Krsna's authority:

 

"It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that no one is barred from rendering service to

the Lord . Whether one is a woman or a laborer or a merchant, if he engages

himself in the devotional service of the Lord he is promoted to the highest

perfectional state and goes back home, back to Godhead . The devotional

service most suitable for different types of devotees is determined and fixed

by the mercy of the spiritual master." (Bhag. 3.25.28)

 

The empowerment is there in the instructions of the spiritual master to

carry out the service. We just need to carry out these instructions to the

best of our ability. It should be noted that the devotional service is

copyrighted by Lord Krsna so that one cannot just IMITATE someone else's

devotional service without being authorized by Lord Krsna through the

spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada received the instruction to preach via

publishing books so if one imitates this thinking "I will also write many

books", the results may not be very good. Imitation means the instructions

are coming from one's mental concoction not from a self-realized soul. For

example, Srila Prabhupada gave so many different instructions to so many

different devotees directly or in the form of letters. These instructions

vary depending on the individual. Thus, one cannot just randomly pick up a

letter or letters and consider that to be his devotional service as well.

That would also fall under the catagory of imitation and there will be no

sanction/empowerment from Krsna for the concocted service. One should follow

the principles of Vedic scriptures which direct one to receive his particular

devotional service from a bona-fide spiritual master. And if one FOLLOWS the

instructions of the spiritual master one is acting transcendentally. Arjuna

was advised to fight and not just sit down and meditate. Lord Brahma was

advised by his spiritual master, Lord Krsna, to create the universe:<P>

 

"It is said that a single pure devotee of the Lord can deliver all the fallen

souls of the world . Thus one who is actually in the confidence of a pure

devotee like Narada or Sukadeva Gosvami and thus is empowered by one's

spiritual master, as Naarada was by Brahmaajii, can not only deliver himself

from the clutches of maya, or illusion, but can deliver the whole world by his

pure and empowered devotional strength ." (Bhag. 2.8.5)

 

Imitation of a transcendental process may be okay for beginners but 100%

surrender to Krsna means surrender to Krsna's instructions as received through

the bona-fide spiritual master. On the material plane, one has to act

according to the dictation of the materialistic mind and on the transcendental

plane one acts according to the instructions of Krsna as received through the

medium of the bona-fide spiritual master:

 

"Another bona fide process is to abide strictly by the orders of the spiritual

master and engage in the Lord's service. Then the mind will be automatically

controlled . S'rii Caitanya Mahaaprabhu has instructed S'riila Ruupa

Gosvaamii: Brahmaanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva /guru-krsna-prasade paya

bhakti-lata-bija. When one receives the seed of devotional service by the

mercy of the guru and Kr.s.n.a, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one's real

life begins . If one abides by the orders of the spiritual master, by the

grace of Kr.s.n.a he is freed from service to the mind ." (Bhag. 5.11.17)

 

"This Kr.s.n.a consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the

Supreme personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His

instructions . Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he

follows the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are

naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord

Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spiritual master ." One

can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the

transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following

His instructions . Materialistic men are not interested in taking directions

from a liberated person, but they are very much interested in their own

concocted ideas, which make them repeatedly fail in their attempts . Because

the entire world is now following the imperfect directions of conditioned

souls, humanity is completely bewildered ." (Bhag. 4.18.5)

 

Even the holy name of Lord Krsna-- Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare

Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare-- which is recommended for

everyone in the age of Kali becomes offenseless when chanted under the

guidance of the pure devotee:

 

"To chant the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee is offenseless

chanting." (Bhag. 1.18.19)

 

"As for acceptance of the spiritual master, that is essential, because without

the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master, one cannot progress in the

spiritual science. One should approach the spiritual master with all humility

and offer him all services so that he will be pleased to bestow his blessings

upon the disciple. Because a bona fide spiritual master is a representative of

Kr.s.n.a, if he bestows any blessings upon his disciple, that will make the

disciple immediately advanced without the disciple's following the regulative

principles . Or, the regulative principles will be easier for one who has

served the spiritual master without reservation ." (Bg. 13.8-12)

 

 

2. VEDIC ASTRONOMY: SUN-MOON DISTANCES

 

"The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is

compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the

ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and

ALL-PERFECT." (Bhag. 1.3.40)

 

The Srimad-Bhagavatam is all-perfect so one should not try to pick and

choose and accept only that which tallies with one's imperfect mind and reject

other portions. One should accept the entire thing; this is what it means to

accept the authority of sastra:

 

"No one has to discover the nature of the Lord. It is already spoken by the

Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gita especially and in all other Vedic

literatures generally. We have simply to accept them IN TOTO and

abide by the orders of the Lord." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.36)

 

We already proved in the November 1999 newsletter that there are no mistakes

in the devotional literatures such as the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The lack of

speculative material standards are made up by the devotion of the writer and

reader. And without devotion, one cannot understand this literature even if

it was perfectly composed from the material point of view:

 

"The Personality of Godhead said: Knowledge about Me as described in the

scriptures is VERY CONFIDENTIAL, AND IT HAS TO BE REALIZED IN CONJUNCTION WITH

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. The necessary paraphernalia for that process is being

explained by Me. You may take it up carefully." (Bhag. 2.9.31)

 

Sometimes we find some readers doubting certain statements in the

Srimad-Bhagavatam on the basis of their own partial empirical observations or

blind a priori beliefs. One such myth is the claim by modern science of

having taken a spaceship to the moon. Either one accepts the authority of the

modern scientists or the authority of sastra:

 

"There are different lokas or higher planets scattered all over the sky, both

material and spiritual. A person can reach them by dint of his work in the

present life, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.25). No forceful entrace is

allowed there. THE TINY MATERIAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WHO HAVE DISCOVERED

VEHICLES TO TRAVEL OVER A FEW THOUSAND MILES IN OUTER SPACE WILL NOT BE

ALLOWED ENTRANCE. That is not the way to reach the better planets." (Bhag.

1.12.5)

 

So no one can reach the moon in a mechanical spacecraft like that of the

material scientists:

 

"Indra, King of the higher planetary system, has the power to push down any

conditioned soul attempting to go from the lower to the higher planets without

proper qualifications. The modern attempt to go to the moon is also an attempt

by inferior men to go to Svargaloka by artificial, mechanical means. This

attempt cannot be successful... To go to the higher planetary system, one

needs sufficient good qualities. A sinful person situated in the mode of

ignorance and addicted to drinking, meat-eating and illicit sex will never

enter the higher planets by mechanical means." (Bhag. 8.11.5)

 

"The moon is considered one of the planets of the heavenly kingdom. One can be

promoted to this planet by executing different sacrifices recommended in the

Vedic literature, such as pious activities in worshiping the demigods and

forefathers with rigidity and vows. But one cannot remain there for a very

long time. Life on the moon is said to last ten thousand years according to

the calculation of the demigods. The demigods' time is calculated in such a

way that one day (twelve hours) is equal to six months on this planet. IT IS

NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH THE MOON BY ANY MATERIAL VEHICLE LIKE A SPUTNIK, but

persons who are attracted by material enjoyment can go to the moon by pious

activities. In spite of being promoted to the moon, however, one has to come

back to this earth again when the merits of his works in sacrifice are

finished." (Bhag. 3.32.3)

 

It should be understood from the above Vedic evidence that no matter how fast

one flies or for how long in a sputnik, one will never reach the moon. That

is Krsna's arrangement. No one can override Krsna's plan. However, this

should not be confused with the distances of the sun and the moon as mentioned

in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Fifth Canto states that we

are within the region of Jambudvipa and the sun is about 15,750,000 yojanas or

125 million miles away whereas the moon is 300,000 yojanas (2.4 million miles)

above the earth (this 300,000 yojanas figure indicates the region of the moon

and not an exact radial distance). So the sun is farther away from Jambudvipa

than the moon as far as distance goes.

 

However, the sun is more approachable whereas the moon is not. This is

because the moon is in Svarloka which is a heavenly area where only people

qualified can enter. So although radially the moon is closer, as far as the

planar distance goes the moon is higher up than the sun. The universe is

divided into 14 planes from the highest being Brahmaloka down to Patalaloka.

Within each plane are different planets and stars. We are in Bhurloka which

is the 7th plane, above us is the 6th plane Bhuvarloka and the 5th plane is

Svarloka. The moon is in Svarloka. (For a complete list of planes and

distances, see September 1999 newsletter.) The sun is said to be located

between Bhuvarloka and Bhurloka. The inter-planar distance determines whether

you are in heaven, lower planetary systems, or the earthly planetary system.

Modern astronomy uses radial distances not planar distances as used by the

Bhagavatam.

 

Some people say that Srila Prabhupada recognized a mistake pointed out by

someone regarding some astronomical matters while he wrote the purport to

Bhagavatam 8.10.38 and although he asked for it to be removed, it was never

removed. However, there was never any mistake in this purport, for a

liberated soul never makes mistakes as we proved in the November 1999

newsletter. Srila Prabhupada tried to present the message of Krsna within the

standards of the material world; however, the perfection is the message of

Krsna and the devotion of presenting it and not the meeting of the mundane

standards. So once the purport is offered to Krsna with love and devotion

(published), it loses any contradictory qualities:

 

"Therefore the sounds of benedictions uttered by the learned brahmanas here

and there appear to be contradictory in relation with the Absolute Person, but

when they are APPLIED to the Absolute Person they lose all contradiction and

become transcendental." (Bhag. 1.10.19)

 

Here is the entire text from 8.10.38:

 

"TRANSLATION

 

Because of the impact on the ground of the legs of the demons and

demigods and the wheels of the chariots, particles of dust flew violently into

the sky and made a dust cloud that covered all directions of outer space, as

far as the sun. But when the particles of dust were followed by drops of blood

being sprinkled all over space, the dust cloud could no longer float in the

sky.

 

PURPORT

 

The cloud of dust covered the entire horizon, but when drops of blood

sprayed up as far as the sun, the dust cloud could no longer float in the sky.

A point to be observed here is that although the blood is stated to have

reached the sun, it is not said to have reached the moon. Apparently,

therefore, as stated elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the sun, not the moon, is

the planet nearest the earth. We have already discussed this point in many

places. The sun is first, then the moon, then Mars, Jupiter and so on. The sun

is supposed to be 93,000,000 miles above the surface of the earth, and from

the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the

sun. Therefore the distance between the earth and the moon would be about

95,000,000 miles. So if a space capsule were traveling at the speed of 18,000

miles per hour, how could it reach the moon in four days? At that speed, going

to the moon would take at least seven months. That a space capsule on a moon

excursion has reached the moon in four days is therefore impossible." (Bhag.

8.10.38)

 

The sun is the nearest as far as flying to it via a sputnik is concerned

because as the references we gave above show, the moon cannot be reached AT

ALL by any mechanical spacecraft no matter how fast you fly or for how long.

Here Srila Prabhupada is trying to point out some fallacy with the claim that

there has been an excursion to the moon because according to Vedic literature,

it's impossible with a mechanical spacecraft. There are many references.

There's a better chance that the sun can be reached with a mechanical

spacecraft as pointed out in this verse. An editor pointed out some error in

the above to Srila Prabhupada, so Srila Prabhupada wanted to remove the

purport; however, the error was not moon-sun distances since they are

mentioned in so many places in the Bhagavatam. Modern scientists may have a

hard time accepting the 1.6 million mile figure above since it is from the

Bhagavatam and not from their speculative results. But as we mentioned in our

newsletter for November 1999, the pure devotee may not be up to date on the

mundane standards of the material world, but he is 100% sure of the message of

Krsna and he's trying to express that message within the material standards:

 

"Our presenting this matter in adequate language, especially a foreign

language, will certainly fail, and there will be so many literary

discrepancies despite our honest attempt to present it in the proper way. But

we are sure that with all our faults in this connection the seriousness of the

subject matter will be taken into consideration, and the leaders of society

will still accept this due to its being an honest attempt to glorify the

Almighty God. When there is fire in a house, the inmates of the house go out

to get help from the neighbors who may be foreigners, and yet without knowing

the language the victims of the fire express themselves, and the neighbors

understand the need, even though not expressed in the same language. The same

spirit of cooperation is needed to broadcast this transcendental message of

the Srimad-Bhagavatam throughout the polluted atmosphere of the world. After

all, it is a technical science of spiritual values, and thus we are concerned

with the techniques and not with the language. If the techniques of this great

literature are understood by the people of the world, there will be success."

(Bhag. 1.5.11)

 

As we pointed out in previous newsletters, Krsna does reveal Himself to His

devotees and Bhagavatam is nondifferent from Him. The perfection of a pure

devotee is further clarified by Bhagavatam:

 

"By knowing the science of Krsna, one can become the MOST PERFECT MAN in the

world, and unless one has knowledge in this science, all qualifications and

doctorate diplomas acquired by academic education are spoiled and useless."

(Bhag. 1.12.4)

 

 

3. FEEDBACK: MISCELLANEOUS

 

[Here is some of the feedback since the last issue:]

 

>I am asking you this question for the sake of my soul . Are you liberated

>and if not is there someone who you know who is that I may take shelter of

>with full confidence?

 

One should only take shelter of Krsna with full confidence. A liberated soul

is one who is always acting for the pleasure of Lord Krsna. By taking shelter

of a liberated soul, you are actually taking shelter of the devotional service

which he is able to give you as received from Lord Krsna. This devotional

service is the ultimate shelter for the living entity including the liberated

soul. If one gives up the devotional service, he is no longer liberated.

 

...

>I am specifically referring to the section where you enumerate the reasons

why people do not

>take up to devotional service. If we were to accept your %100 failure rate

analysis for

>people who get educated and make money, you would have to include Srila

Prabhupada and

>Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura. Both of them were educated and both made money to

support

>their families.

 

We never said, you can't have families or get a job. Some of us have too! We

were talking about not taking up devotional service and using the family and

job as an excuse. Anyone can take up devotional service in any position of

life. You shouldn't judge Srila Prabhupada and Bhaktivinod Thakura to mundane

standards. You have no idea what they were thinking of or what their

consciousness was while executing their duties.

 

BG 9.27

yat karosi yad asnasi

yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kurusva mad-arpanam

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and

whatever austerities you perform-- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to

Me.

 

PURPORT

 

Thus, it is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he

will not forget Krsna in any circumstance. Everyone has to work for

maintenance of his body and soul together, and Krsna recommends herein that

one should work for Him. Everyone has to eat something to live; therefore he

should accept the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krsna. Any civilized man

has to perform some religious ritualistic ceremonies; therefore Krsna

recommends, "Do it for Me," and this is called arcana. Everyone has a tendency

to give something in charity; Krsna says, "Give it to Me," and this means that

all surplus money accumulated should be utilized in furthering the Krsna

consciousness movement. Nowadays people are very much inclined to the

meditational process, which is not practical in this age, but if anyone

practices meditating on Krsna twenty-four hours a day by chanting the Hare

Krsna mantra round his beads, he is surely the greatest meditator and the

greatest yogi as substantiated by the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita.

 

>At a certain stage in life it may be one's service to Krishna to make money

to support his family or get

>educated in order to make money to support a family and his spiritual

master's mission.

>The renunciants in Kali Yuga are so unfortunate that they often do not see

the mistake of

>criticizing the very hand that could be feeding them (the mercantile section

of society).

 

Sorry Prabhu, anyone can take up devotional service at any stage of life.

 

>...Lord Chaitanya conquered with love and Beauty. It was Krishna in

>a previous incarnation who demanded surrender as a starting point. I still

>do not know where you come up with the %100 failure rate for people who

>apply themselves more fully to the process of devotional service later on in

>life.

 

We stated in the article [October 1999] that people who do NOT engage in

devotional service are 100% failures. This is TRUE. If they take it up

later, then it's better late than never. However, for the time they were

unengaged, that was totally a waste of time- 100% failure. We are not trying

to be heavy-- it's all direct statements from Bhagavatam which maybe heavy for

many people to take.

 

>There are many examples in our scriptures of great souls who retired

>from material affairs later in life and attained the supreme destination. In

>fact the whole Varnasrama system is based on that model. Oh by the way.

 

Sorry, prabhu; Varnasrama system engages a person in devotional service in all

spheres of life- whether married or unmarried; whether working or not working;

etc. Without devotional service, Varnasrama system is a waste of time and

100% failure.

 

 

4. EDITORIAL POLICY AND PRODUCT LIST

 

Krishna Software Inc. is dedicated to help people become peaceful and happy

via spiritual science presented using modern multimedia technology. Our

editorial policy as well as our mission is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam

(10.2.37 Purport):

 

"One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krsna

consciousness movement, *ALL* our activities are concentrated upon

distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may approach any

person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the future he also

may become a devotee.... By fully concentrating on distributing books for

Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna."

 

Our newsletters are geared to show you the benefits of the instructions

contained in the transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada so you can judge for

yourself the value of these books and obtain them in book or CDROM format.

 

Krishna Software Inc. has produced some multimedia CDROMs and all the details

of these CDROMs can be found at our website http://www.krishnasoft.com. Here

is our current list of products:

 

(a) Multimedia Bhagavad-gita As It Is CD: Lord Krsna's eternal instructions to

Arjuna and the rest of the world about Isvara (Supreme Lord), jiva (the soul),

karma (activities), kala (time), and prakrti (nature). This is a 30-hour

audio-visual CDROM. Also available on CD-R in Hindi version.

 

(b) Multimedia Srimad-Bhagavatam CD: An encyclopedia on the science of Krsna

consciousness. This CDROM deals in detail with bhakti-yoga and covers various

subjects-- the creation of the universe, Vedic astronomy, transmigration,

birth-death, etc. This is about 35 hours of audio-visual presentations.

 

(b) Multimedia Krsna CD w/Vedic Astronomy game: This is a 51-hour audio-visual

presentation of the Krsna book and a Vedic Astronomy game based on the

Srimad-Bhagavatam. All on a single CDROM. Free sample demo downloadable.

 

© Multilingual Word Processor CD [version 4.00]: Type in diacritics, Hindi,

Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, and Assamese without knowing the

alphabet. This is for those who want to write articles using multiple

languages. Free demo downloadable.

 

All of the above software was tested on various Intel 486 and Pentium

processors running Windows 3.1, Windows '95, Windows '98, and Windows NT

(client and server).

 

Latest information and secure ordering is available at our web site:

http://www.krishnasoft.com.

------

End of Newsletter- written and edited by KSI staff; © 1998-1999 Krishna

Software Inc.

Our staff consists of: Hari Rama Dasa, Virender Dayal, Rajni Dayal, and

volunteers.

 

As long as this newsletter is sent in whole without adulteration, please

forward this newsletter to any friends who may be interested.

 

If you know anyone else who is interested to receive this free newsletter,

please email their email address to: info (AT) krishnasoft (DOT) com or

vdayal (AT) castle (DOT) net. On the other hand, if you want your name removed from our

mailing list, please tell us via email. If you have any questions about our

products, company, or this newsletter you can email them to us and we will

respond in the next issue.

 

All glories to Lord Sri Krsna and His transcendental potencies! All glories

to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna!