Fw: Man alone is responsible for his own spiritual rise or downfall.

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Hare Krsna

 

Bhagavan has clearly stated in the Gita -"Uddharedaatmanaatm aanam naatmaanamvasaadaye tAatmaiva hyaatmano bandhuraatmaiva ripuraatamanah" (Gita 6:5)"A man must raise himself by his own effort. He must not degrade himself; for the Self is his own friend and the Self is also his own enemy."The point is that man alone is responsible for his own spiritual rise or downfall. No one else is. God has bestowed this human body, and with it, he has given all the necessary tools to attain salvation. Therefore, one does not need anyone else for one's salvation.Guru (spiritual guide), Saints and God, uplift the soul only after man himself has trust and faith in them. Only after man accepts them (Guru, Saints, God), only after man comes to them, and and only after man follows their directions. If man does not accept them, then how are they to do anything for man's salvation? They simply

cannot do anything. If you do not become a student, then what can a teacher do for you? Just like some other person can come and drop off a meal at your home, but the hunger must come from within. If there is no hunger within, than what use is there of delicious food preparations that are placed in front of you?Guru, Saint and God are never non-existent. There have been many great Saints, Teachers, Gurus and Avatars (God's manifestations on Earth), but so far we have not attained salvation! It becomes clear from this, that we have not accepted them. Thus, in our rise or downfall, we alone are responsible. Those who believe that some one else is responsible for their rise or degradation they will never be elevated spiritually. They can never be

benefited with this belief.In reality, man himself is his own Guru - "Aatmano Gururaatmaiyva Purushasya Vishehataha. " (Srimadbhag 11:7:20). Therefore discourses are for your own self. Knowing this, see faults in your own self and seek to remove them, instead of seeing faults in others.