Krishna Consciousness

[KrishnaBhakta]

I am a neophyte at Krishna Consciosness, so please forgive me for any errs in advance.

 

Hare Krishna

 

I am new to this Krishna Consciousness movement, for I have known of it for only a year or so. However, before this, I had never really heard the phrase "Krishna Consciousness". I have tried to search out a lot about Krishna Consciousness, but for some reason or another, I fail to know it after the attempt. I try to chant the Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. I read the Bhagavata Gita, As It Is, once in a while. However, I have failed to grasp the real concept of Krishna Consciousness.

 

Reading one or two posts today, I came upon statements made by devotees about them seeing Krishna everywhere. I have heard a lot that we must be such devotees that we see Krishna in everything, and everyone. I do not mean to be offensive, but is this literal?(I suppose it is)..by this I mean that do you really "SEE" Krishna in everything and everyone? or do they just accept the fact that Krishna is everywhere, and thus accepting this, they say that they see Krishna everywhere because He is in every atom? If they do see Krishna everywhere, how is it possible for one like me to see Him everywhere?

 

I can not control the mind as I would like it, and thus cannot control the senses, or rather the desires of the senses, at all the time. How does one gain control of the mind?

 

I have heard, or rather read, that a true devotee is Krishna Conscious. I have read in a lot of places that one must be Krishna Conscious, for that is the meaning of this life, and the reason that we, as souls, are given these godies, one at a time. However, I cannot state that there are many places on the web that state exactly what is Krishna Consciousness, and how one can become Krishna Conscious. What does a Krishna Conscious person practice and do daily? I think that Krishna is going to have to make arrangements for me to have a spiritual haster, which I dearly wish he does; however, from my circumstances it seems that the circumstances must be changed by Lord Krishna, or arranged, for I live in Gallatin, TN, USA, and there isn't really any Krishna temple around here, and the closest one is a Ganesh temple, where we(that is the family) go once in a while. About me: I have been in this body for almost 16.5 years. Yes, I say this because I have accepted that I am a spiritual soul, residing in this body.

 

To make this post short: What are the necessary qualifications of one that is Krishna Conscious?

 

Thank You

[Guest guest]

You will probably get some very nice answers from the devotees here.

 

I'll keep this short. READ ALOT MORE. Read the Bhagavatam.

 

I once saw some nice snippets under a "Dialectic Spiritualism" title. Do a search for this here and read some great philosophy.

 

God Bless.

 

ancient paztriot

 

 

[gHari]

The Bhagavad-gita is a process, not a book to read. One needs to spend six months in that glorious conversation in which God gives His friend the greatest advice for one entangled in this body. It is not about accumulating knowledge. A bag of words gets us nowhere.

 

The qualifications are sincerity, sincerity, and sincerity. Only they will lead to Krsna, as He is.

 

Krsna says "Remember Me. Do not forget Me". That is a very good start.

 

gHari

 

[stonehearted]

I suggest that you read Bhagavad-gita for a little while, at least 20-30 minutes, every day. And don't skip the Introduction. Read that carefully. It will give you a good foundation for reading Bhagavad-gita itself, as well as a thorough introduction to Krishna consciousness.

 

In the introduction, Srila Prabhupada suggests that we read the Gita from the perspective that Krishna is who He says He is in the Gita--the supreme entity, the origin of all things. If you do that, the meaning of Bhagavad-gita will gradually reveal itself to you. Read some every day, and if you have questions, ask someone who has experience (that's most of us here).

 

It's also helpful to practice chanting the Hare Krishna mantra every day. If you have chanting beads, you might want to commit yourself to chanting one or two rounds every day, at least to begin with. After a while, you may find that you want to increase that. If you don't have beads, you can sing the mantra, maybe for 15-20 minutes every day. If you do these simple things, you may be amazed by the way your life changes, the way your perspective of the world broadens.

 

Are there any devotees of Krishna anywhere near where you live?

[gHari]

Just before dawn we see the sky lighten. We are conscious of the sun, even though we can't see it yet, because it is the source of that light energy. We feel the warmth on the back of our necks and we are conscious of the sun, the source of that radiant energy.

 

Similarly, this external energy (space/time), this marginal energy (living beings), these energies remind us of their source, their owner, Sri Krsna.

 

It is all about Krsna. Everything. Everyone. Three important basic facts to keep the world in perspective: God is the Supreme Proprietor; God is the Supreme Enjoyer; God is everyone's Best Friend. Memorize these three now so you can contemplate their truth when time allows (standing in line at the Walmart checkout, waiting at a red light, listening to Aunt Bessie's moaning and growning, etc.).

[gHari]

<center><img src=http://home.primus.ca/~caitanya/Syamasundara.jpg></center>

According to Lord Brahma in his Brahma-Samhita 5.38:<blockquote><center><font color="red">premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena

santaH sadaiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti

yaM zyAmasundaram acintya-guNa-svarUpaM

govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi

</center>

prema--of love; aJjana--with the salve; churita--tinged; bhakti--of devotion; vilocanena--with the eye; santaH--the pure devotees; sadA--always; eva--indeed; hRdayeSu--in their hearts; vilokayanti--see; yam--whom; zyAma--dark blue; sundaram--beautiful; acintya--inconceivable; guNa--with attributes; svarUpam--whose nature is endowed; govindam--Govinda; Adi-puruSam--the original person; tam--Him; aham--I; bhajAmi--worship.

</font>

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is SyAmasundara, KRSNa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.

 

PURPORT

The SyAmasundara form of KRSNa is His inconceivable simultaneous personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that form in their purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance. The form SyAma is not the blue color visible in the mundane world but is the transcendental variegated color affording eternal bliss, and is not visible to the mortal eye. On a consideration of the trance of VyAsadeva as in the zloka, bhakti-yogena manasi etc., it will be clear that the form of SrI KRSNa is the full Personality of Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a true devotee, which is the only true seat in the state of trance under the influence of devotion. When KRSNa manifested Himself in Vraja, both the devotees and nondevotees saw Him with this very eye; but only the devotees cherished Him, eternally present in Vraja, as the priceless jewel of their heart. Nowadays also the devotees see Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated with devotion although they do not see Him with their eyes. The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of the jIva. The form of KRSNa is visible to that eye in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion. When the devotion of the neophyte reaches the stage of bhAva-bhakti the pure eye of that devotee is tinged with the salve of love by the grace of KRSNa, which enables him to see KRSNa face to face. The phrase "in their hearts" means KRSNa is visible in proportion as their hearts are purified by the practice of devotion. The sum and substance of this zloka is that the form of KRSNa, who is SyAmasundara, NaTavara (Best Dancer), MuralIdhara (Holder of the Flute) and TribhaGga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.</blockquote>

[gHari]

The first step is to follow the four regulative principles of freedom (no meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex or gambling). You are young and many of these are not a problem yet. Keep it that way and save yourself the agony.

 

To control the urges one need only control the tongue, and then the belly and genital will automatically be controlled. To control the tongue it should only taste the remnants of vegetarian food offered first to Sri Krsna; and it should only vibrate sounds in relation to Krsna like chanting His names, offering Him prayers, and talking about His qualities and pastimes. A devotee is said to be silent, which means only speaking about Krsna.

 

Krsna is antiseptic and remembering His name, qualities, activities, or beautiful form will purify the mind. Therefore He urges: "Remember Me. Do not forget Me".

 

I used to program my environment when I would read the Gita so that if my senses wandered they would themselves help me remember Krsna. Devotional music, incense offered to Krsna, food offered to Krsna, these things help to control these wild horse senses that would drag our chariot around in circles. But when Krsna drives the chariot of our body, these horses are kept in line with His hands on the reins. "Always remember Me".

 

"Never forget Me".

 

 

 

 

[yasodanandana]

If they do see Krishna everywhere, how is it possible for one like me to see Him everywhere?

••••chanting hare krishna without the ten offences... very difficult:)

 

I can not control the mind as I would like it, and thus cannot control the senses, or rather the desires of the senses, at all the time. How does one gain control of the mind?

••••chanting hare krishna, there's not to make separate efforts, the effectiveness of the chanting is mostly based on the fact that we have faith that it is the only true and definitive medicine of all our problems

 

what is Krishna Consciousness

••••to recognise that we are parts and parcels of sri krsna and that we cannot really live without loving him

 

how one can become Krishna Conscious

•••••chanting hare krishna, associating with vaishnavas who will bring us to a pure uttama adhikari spiritual master, taking initiation, following humbly the advices of the master, chanting hare krishna, chanting hare krishna, chanting hare krishna

 

What does a Krishna Conscious person practice and do daily?

•••••basically he chants hare krishna without offences and with deep love for krishna.. in this way he see krishna and he lives in the spiritual world even if we see him in this earth. All his life is completely modelled by chanting and the act of sharing the chanting with others

 

I think that Krishna is going to have to make arrangements for me to have a spiritual haster, which I dearly wish he does;

•••••this desire reveals your sincerity and seriousness... you are a devotee, i offer to you my humble obeisances... be selective and ask to krsna to be blessed by the advent of a pure devotee in your life

 

What are the necessary qualifications of one that is Krishna Conscious?

•••••unlimited and pure love for krishna

[KrishnaBhakta]

Jay Sri Krishna

 

You tell me that one should chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra without the 'offenses'. Exactly what are the 'offenses', for I tried to search for them some time ago, but could not find a website that had them listed. I have memorized the pancha-tattva mantra(Jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri advaita Gadadhare sri vasaid gaura bhakta vrinda), but can you explain the meaning of this mantra?

 

Thank You

[mahak]

Haribol, great discussion, great folks discussin. Of course it is ideal to chant Harinam offenselessly, but this can be misconstrued into "dont chant if you are offensive". This is false doctrine, and greatly misunderstood.

 

I would have to say that most folks chant the first time almost completely free of offense. The motive for such chanting is very simple and pure, such as the quality of the music, the attraction to the Name, the taste of the prasadma. The motive for this first day of chanting may never be so pure. Later, offensive traits come into play, such as ambition, self service, show-boatism, etc. We should always try to meditiate on the first day and avoid the reactive war being waged by Maya when the name is first heard coming from the lips. This war is a great one, a kuruksetra, and the bhagavad gita is the song the Supreme Lord sings to us on the chariot to try to get us out of our nervous breakdown.

 

Haribol, ys, mahaksadasa

[Guest guest]

While I try to be sincere, it often seems more and more difficult as the years go by and I'm forced to see myself as anything but. My advice would be to keep it simple if possible, and very personal. For me it's primarily about relationship, far more than religion which can so easily become mechanical. We have so much information available now with so many books. What I find unique is the opportunity to know God as an individual, with His own personality, preferences, activities, etc. It helps me in trying to relate with Him more personally, or at least desiring to. Of course, that remains up to Him and His Divine Grace, but keeping that simple focus helps me avoid getting philosophically overwhelmed, what to speak of politically.

[Guest guest]

From the Nectar of Devotion:

 

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows:

 

1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord.

 

2) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Çiva or Lord Brahmä to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Viñëu. (Sometimes the atheistic class of men take it that any demigod is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viñëu. But one who is a devotee knows that no demigod, however great he may be, is independently as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, if someone thinks that he can chant Kälé, Kälé! or Durgä, Durgä! and it is the same as Hare Kåñëa, that is the greatest offense.)

 

3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.

 

4) To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.

 

5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Kåñëa to be imagination.

 

6) To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord.

 

7) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name of the Lord. (Because by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can be freed from all kinds of sinful reactions, it should not be taken that one may continue to act sinfully and after that chant Hare Kåñëa to neutralize his sins. Such a dangerous mentality is very offensive and should be avoided.)

 

8) To consider the chanting of Hare Kåñëa as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-käëòa).

 

9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name. (Anyone can take part in chanting the holy name of the Lord, but in the beginning one should not be instructed about the transcendental potency of the Lord. Those who are too sinful cannot appreciate the transcendental glories of the Lord, and therefore it is better not to instruct them in this matter.)

 

10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter.

 

Every devotee who claims to be a Vaiñëava must guard against these offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success.

 

Hey, how about that last one guys? Forgot that did ya? Yeah, me too. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

KrishnaBhakta, I want to also suggest you get a Prabhupada portfolio on cd for under $20. You can search keywords! Helps alot. Hari Bol!

 

ancient paztriot

[yasodanandana]

our friend "ancient patriot" has already written the offences..

 

with the panchatattva(five realities) mahamantra we are simply saying "JAYA" to sri chaitanya mahaprabhu and his close associates :

 

chaitanya

nityananda

advaita

gadadhara

srivasa

 

we recognize that they gave to us that mahamantra, we ask for their autorization and we ask to be forgiven as much as possible for the offences made chanting the mahamantra..

 

joking it is like : "chaitanya mahaprabhu, hou have said that i have to chant.. it is ok for me.....but now please forgive me if, following your instruction, i commit some mistakes"

[Guest guest]

Yasoda, you are too kind.

 

I'm sorry for not taking the diacritics out. (Somehow slipped my previous attempts. I guess you can fill in where needed.)

 

Ancient paztriot

[Guest guest]

Srila Prabhupada invented the term Krsna consciousness,

speaking (or maybe a letter i dont remember) to his godbrother Srila Sridhardeva he asked what he thought

of the term "Krsna consciousness", he created this term

to summarize the process of self realization according

to the authentic teachings of Sri Krsna,there was another

yoga society 'the self realization fellowship' that professed to be teaching self realization and the yoga

of Sri Krsna ,so basically it just means self realization

according to the Bhagavad Gita,Srimad Bhagavatam,and

Gaudiya Vaisnavism,Prabhupada used to say that Krsna

consciousness is the original natural consciousness

of the living entity,so basically it means a person

who is free from all illusions and is situated

in their eternal relationship with God.

 

 

 

 

[yasodanandana]

"No, you do not see Krsna literally,as in the form

of Krsna in gold dhoti holding a flute"

••••please correct me if i misunderstood your message, but if one chants without offences sees krsna syamasundara, goloka, gopis, gopas, sri radhe etc.

 

pure nama comes together with rupa, guna, lila...

 

(maybe i have not understood.. please excuse me)

[Guest guest]

 

he asked if the idea of seeing the lord everywhere means

seeing Krsna literally everywhere,the answer is no,

it means as described in the Gita,the self realized soul

sees Me in everything and everything in Me,the sage sees Me in the heart of all living entities,everyone follows

My path in all respects.

 

[yasodanandana]

he asked if the idea of seeing the lord everywhere means

seeing Krsna literally everywhere,the answer is no,

••••yes prabhu right.. it is a different realization and another kind of vision.. thanks

[Guest guest]

I am new to Krishna Conciousness.I chant the Mahamantra, read the Bhagavad-Gita, and attened temple as much as I can. But I have a question regarding Shiva. I know that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we must worship Him as such. But I also find myself very much attracted to Shiva. What is the teaching when it comes to other dieties (demi-gods)? Is it ok to worship Shiva as well?

Completely Confused:(

[Guest guest]

there's no problem in loving shiva and praying him to obtain the devotion to krishna. If you do like that Lord Shiva will be very pleased and relieved for a minute by the requests of all the people asking him money.

Shiva is worhipped by vaishnavas but to obtain krishna (thing that pleases shiva very much, he want to be a devotee not the supreme). you can read many things in krsna book, bhagavatam and chaitanya charitamrita about lord shiva.

But remember to mantain the focus on your main practice and goal.. chant hare krishna and be happy because in this way you are pleasing both krishna and his entourage ... the devas. If you divert your attention you risk seriously to remain with nothing in hand.. no devotion for krishna neither for demigods

 

yasodanadanadasa

[Guest guest]

there is one all pervading consciousness,so only one being

who can actually be aware of your existence at anytime,

anyplace in any circumstance,that is Visnu , who incarnates

as Krsna,Narayana etc.

 

Shiva is not that being,Shiva is a localized being,

just like ourselves,however those who believe Shiva

to be the all pervading lord of the universe and offer Shiva

their respect or prayer with that mentality are in the

same position as Christians who believe in Jesus as

being the supreme being, any prayer or other

act of devotion meant for them is actually recieved

only by the supreme being,Visnu,and accepted in the spirit

it was offered,as meant for God.

 

shiva

[Guest guest]

" any prayer or other

act of devotion meant for them is actually recieved

only by the supreme being,Visnu,and accepted in the spirit

it was offered,as meant for God."

––yes, obviously this is the case of a gaudya vaishnava practitioneer like our friend.. he has to know who's krsna and who's a deva, what is mahamantra and what's om namah shivaya..

 

otherwise there's:

8) To consider the chanting of Hare Krsna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda).

 

and the mosti important thing is that sooner or... sooner(!!)... a vaishnava surrenders to a pure acharya and he learns by him what he can do on particular things and details

 

yasodanandanadasa

 

[gHari]

Perhaps a few years too late, but here is an excerpt from the book "Elevation to Krsna Consciousness" by Srila Prabhupada:

It is not that we have coined this term "KRSNa consciousness." KRSNa consciousness is the oldest phrase in the history of the world:

 

 

<center>

man-manA bhava mad-bhakto

mad-yAjI mAM namaskuru

mAm evaiSyasi satyaM te

pratijAne priyo 'si me

man-manA bhava mad-bhakto

mad-yAjI mAM namaskuru

mAm evaiSyasi yuktvaivam

AtmAnaM mat-parAyaNaH

</center>

 

"Always think of Me. Become My devotee. Worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. The result is that you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this, because you are My very dear friend. Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, engage your body in My service; and surrender unto Me. Completely absorbed in Me, surely will you come to Me." (Bg.

18.65

,

9.34

)

 

 

The phrase

man-manA bhava mad-bhakto

means "just be always conscious of Me." This then is KRSNa consciousness

. In Bhagavad-gItA KRSNa is repeatedly saying that we should worship Him, offer obeisances unto Him and then come to Him. Bhagavad-gItA clearly points to the absolute necessity of KRSNa consciousness, and Bhagavad-gItA is accepted as the essence of the UpaniSads. Even from the historical point of view, it has no comparison. It has been calculated on the basis of archeological evidence that KRSNa spoke Bhagavad-gItA on the Battlefield of KurukSetra more than five thousand years ago. So this KRSNa consciousness movement, even from the historical point of view, is five thousand years old. Its philosophy is the oldest in the history of the world. If we wish to trace it even further back, we find that SrI KRSNa spoke it earlier to the sun-god. KRSNa is eternal, and consciousness of KRSNa is also eternal. In this way KRSNa consciousness should be approached. It should not simply be considered a theory.

 

 

When KRSNa consciousness is covered by any other consciousness, we experience our contaminated conditional life. When the sky is clear, we can see the sun's brilliant effulgence, but when it is covered by clouds, we cannot see it. We may be able to perceive the sunlight, but we cannot see the sun disc itself. When the sky is clear, it is in its natural condition. Similarly, our consciousness is eternally KRSNa consciousness because we are part and parcel of KRSNa eternally. This is asserted in the Fifteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gItA:

 

 

<center>

mamaivAMzo jIva-loke

jIva-bhUtaH sanAtanaH

manaH-SaSThAnIndriyANi

prakRti-sthAni karSati

</center>

 

"The living entities in this conditional world are My fragmental parts, and they are eternal. But due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind." (Bg.

15.7

)

 

 

 

Being conscious of Krsna is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita in verses 18.57 and 18.58:

 

<center>

cetasA sarva-karmANi

mayi sannyasya mat-paraH

buddhi-yogam upAzritya

mac-cittaH

satataM bhava

</center>

cetasA--by intelligence; sarva-karmANi--all kinds of activities; mayi--unto Me; sannyasya--giving up; mat-paraH--under My protection; buddhi-yogam--devotional activities; upAzritya--taking shelter of; mat-cittaH--in consciousness of Me; satatam--twenty-four hours a day; bhava--just become.

In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.

 

PURPORT

 

When one acts in KRSNa consciousness, he does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant, one should act fully under the direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master is unaffected by profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal direction of KRSNa but when KRSNa is not present how should one act? If one acts according to the direction of KRSNa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the representative of KRSNa, then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-paraH is very important in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life save and except acting in KRSNa consciousness just to satisfy KRSNa. And while working in that way, one should think of KRSNa only: "I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by KRSNa." While acting in such a way, one naturally has to think of KRSNa. This is perfect KRSNa consciousness. One should, however, note that after doing something whimsically he should not offer the result to the Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the devotional service of KRSNa consciousness. One should act according to the order of KRSNa. This is a very important point. That order of KRSNa comes through disciplic succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his direction, then one's perfection of life in KRSNa consciousness is guaranteed.

 

 

 

<center>

mac-cittaH

sarva-durgANi

mat-prasAdAt tariSyasi

atha cet tvam ahaGkArAn

na zroSyasi vinaGkSyasi

</center>

mat--of Me; cittaH--being in consciousness; sarva--all; durgANi--impediments; mat-prasAdAt--by My mercy; tariSyasi--you will overcome; atha--but; cet--if; tvam--you; ahaGkArAt--by false ego; na zroSyasi--do not hear; vinaGkSyasi--you will be lost.

If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.

 

PURPORT

 

A person in full KRSNa consciousness is not unduly anxious about executing the duties of his existence. The foolish cannot understand this great freedom from all anxiety. For one who acts in KRSNa consciousness, Lord KRSNa becomes the most intimate friend. He always looks after His friend's comfort, and He gives Himself to His friend, who is so devotedly engaged working twenty-four hours a day to please the Lord. Therefore, no one should be carried away by the false ego of the bodily concept of life. One should not falsely think himself independent of the laws of material nature or free to act. He is already under strict material laws. But as soon as he acts in KRSNa consciousness, he is liberated, free from the material perplexities. One should note very carefully that one who is not active in KRSNa consciousness is losing himself in the material whirlpool, in the ocean of birth and death. No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, but a person who acts in KRSNa consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by KRSNa from within and confirmed by the spiritual master.