Understanding Myself

This is a very nice section from www.atmayogi.com

This will help me to understand me better and others too and appreciate what others have to say but it's worth implementing

Understanding Your Personality

It is important to understand your own personality, for two reasons. Number one is that experience is subjective. We don't experience things directly, we experience them by means of our consciousness. Personality is a function of consciousness, so our personality affects how we perceive things. We need to calibrate our perception by understanding the biases that our personality introduces.

Number two is that other people have a different consciousness, therefore a different personality, therefore a different experience. When we fail to realize this we unconsciously establish our particular perception as an objective standard of reality, which is not a fact, and is disastrous to personal relationships and organization.

We are all unique individuals. No two of us are exactly the same. However, we are to a greater or lesser degree alike. It is as if we are all assembled out of factory made parts. There is a big bin of small parts, and nature assembles each person out of these parts. The overall person is unique, but different aspects of persons are shared. You have met people with whom you resonate, and others with whom you clash. This is due to aspects of personality. By understanding this you can understand where your strengths lie, where your area of significant contribution to a team lies, and you can learn to appreciate and value the strengths and contribution of those who are different from you.

Now in case you're going to say something like: “But we're not the body or the mind, we're pure spirit soul”, might I just point out that this book is not available in the spiritual world, so keep it real. There is no “pure spirit soul” restroom – there is a men's and a women's, and you use one of those two when you pass. So your body and your mind does influence your experience in this world, and so does your personality.

One classic example of this from my personal experience is the values clash between progress and harmony. You will value one more than the other, and which one you value the most is a function of your personality. You might think: “Well, I value both of those”, and of course you do. But when it comes down to it and there is a clear conflict between the two, you will fall on one side or the other. You will make a decision, or if you can't do that, at least manifest a preference through inaction, for moving ahead even though it means dissension, or standing around holding hands even though you missed the opportunity to move forward.

Different people will feel comfortable with different things. They are not right or wrong, just different, and understanding what your own preferences are will help you to be more understanding of the majority of others who differ.

Intense Love.

I have a calendar called "Vrindavan Meditation" I read it everyday. For Yesterday the thought was . "The Lord was controlled by the intense love shown by the elderly gopis of Vrindavan. They would clap and Krsna would dance. Anyone who has got genuine love for Krsna, can control Him."

So i was wondering how does it feel to have an intense love for Krsna. I don't remember of that how it would feel like. So i called my Siksha guru and inquired from him. I knew this thing that whenever you have a doubt get it confirmed from authority.

So we spoke for almost an hour and he told me that intense love for Krsna means to have complete surrender to Sri Guru's Lotus feet and Instructions. Just like HH Tamal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. Srila Prabhupada told maharaj to leave Radha Damodara Bus party and go and preach in China. So Maharaj left Radha Damodara Bus party at once and went to China for Preaching.

So that is intense love for Krsna. He made it so easy to understand the secret of loving Krsna intensely.

So To have Instense love for Krsna means to have complete surrender to the words of Sri Guru.

"Through mental speculation, even the greatest philosopher cannot know the Supreme Lord, who is the Absolute Personality of Godhead. He can be known only by His devotees through His mercy" Sri Isoupanisad Mantra 4 Purport


Guru Mukha Padam Vakya Citte Te Koriya Akiya
Arna Kori ho Mane Asha

Expert from the Talk between me and my siksha guru (HG Mahahari prabhu)

Bhagavad Gita Marathon 2008

Bhagavad Gita Marathon 2008 ---Unleash your Potential--- That is my tagline for my IM.

Today is 3rd day for Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad Gita Marathon. Despite everyone's tight schedule each devotee @ Nitai Desh is giving to their best capacities. As we all are working outside and IT sector there is always things tied up, it's difficult to take out time in weekdays. You need to chant 16 rounds everyday, read 1 hr, hear 1 hr these are the standards however everyone is trying their best. I have notice one of ashrama devotee he's coming from night shifts and going coming directly to the book stall to help. Some have cut down on sleep, some on prasadam. Everyone is trying to squeeze out time. One of congregation devotee is actually managing all the things. It's not easy to be manager among devotee where everyone needs to be handled with love and care. After all it's all voluntarily no body can pushed as in material world. I hope Srila Prabhupada, Gurudev and Krsna will be pleased upon all of the devotees who are trying hard to push the book distribution.

My dear lord I don't want anything. Nor i desire for any boom but what i really need is that, I always remember You, Your Lotus feet. May I never forget You. I desire that in my heart of heart You please come and stay eternally with Your entourage and may I always be fixed in Your transcendental thoughts.

Medicine for the disease of Birth & Death

O people, please hear of this treatment for the disease of birth and death! It is the name of Krishna. Recommended by Yājñavalkya and other expert yogīs steeped in wisdom, this boundless, eternal inner light is the best medicine, for when drunk it bestows complete and final liberation. Just drink it!
King Kulashekhar in Mukunda Mala Strota Verse No. 15

Dear mind, do not bewilder yourself by anxiously thinking, How can I cross this fathomless and impassable ocean of material existence? There is one who can save you — Devotion. If you offer her to the lotus-eyed Lord, the killer of Narakāsura, she will carry you across this ocean without fail.
King Kulashekhar in Mukunda Mala Strota Verse No. 12

From a close well wisher

What Krsna has to say about Brahmanas

At this time, Lord Krsna was present among His relatives who were
members of the ksatriya class. To teach them through the exemplary
character of King Nrga, He said: "Even though a ksatriya king may be as
powerful as fire, it is not possible for him to usurp the property of a
brahmana and utilize it for his own purpose. If this is so, how can
ordinary kings, who falsely think themselves the most powerful beings
within the material world, usurp a brahmana's property? I do not think
that taking poison is as dangerous as taking a brahmana's property. For
ordinary poison there is treatment--one can be relieved from its
effects--but if one drinks the poison of taking a brahmanas property,
there is no remedy for the mistake. The perfect example was King Nrga.
He was very powerful and very pious, but due to the small mistake of
unknowingly usurping a brahmana's cow, he was condemned to the
abominable life of a lizard. Ordinary poison affects only those who
drink it, and ordinary fire can be extinguished simply by pouring water
on it; but the arani fire ignited by the spiritual potency of a brahmana
can burn to ashes the whole family of a person who provokes such a
brahmana. [Formerly, the brahmanas used to ignite the fire of sacrifice
not with matches or any other external fire but with their powerful
mantras, called arani.] If someone even touches a brahmana's property,
he is ruined for three generations. However, if a brahmana's property is
forcibly taken away, the taker's family for ten generations before him
and ten generations after will be subject to ruination. On the other
hand, if someone becomes a Vaisnava, or devotee of the Lord, ten
generations of his family before his birth and ten generations after
will be liberated."
Lord Krsna continued: "If some foolish king who is puffed up by his
wealth, prestige and power wants to usurp a brahmana's property, he
should be understood to be clearing his path to hell; he does not know
how much he has to suffer for such an unwise act. If someone takes away
the property of a very liberal brahmana who is encumbered by a large
dependent family, then such a usurper is put into the hell known as
Kumbhipaka; not only is he put into this hell, but his family members
also have to accept such a miserable condition of life. A person who
takes away property which has either been awarded to a brahmana or given
away by him is condemned to live for at least sixty thousand years as
miserably as an insect in stool. Therefore I instruct you, all My boys
and relatives present here, do not, even by mistake, take the possession
of a brahmana and thereby pollute your whole family. If someone even
wishes to possess such property, let alone attempts to take it away by
force, the duration of his life will be reduced. He will be defeated by
his enemies, and after being bereft of his royal position, when he gives
up his body he will become a serpent, giving trouble to all other living
entities. My dear boys and relatives, I therefore advise you that even
if a brahmana becomes angry with you and calls you by ill names or cuts
you, still you should not retaliate. On the contrary, you should smile,
tolerate him and offer your respects to the brahmana. You know very well
that even I Myself offer My obeisances to the brahmanas with great
respect three times daily. You should therefore follow My instruction
and example. I shall not forgive anyone who does not follow them, and I
shall punish him. You should learn from the example of King Nrga that
even if someone unknowingly usurps the property of a brahmana, he is put
into a miserable condition of life."
Thus Lord Krsna, who is always engaged in purifying the conditioned
living entities, gave instruction not only to His family members and the
inhabitants of Dvaraka, but to all the members of human society. After
this, the Lord entered His palace.

From Krsna Book Chapter 63 "The Story of King Nrga"

What is Srimad Bhagavatam ?

padau yadiyau prathama dvitiyau tritiyaturyau kathitau yaduru nabhistatha pancama eva sasto bhujantaram doryugalam yathanyau mukharavindam dasamam praphullam ekadasau yasya lalatha pathakam siro pi yad dvadasa eva bati tamadidevam karuna nidhanam tamala varnam suhitavataram aparasamsara samudra setum bhajamehe bhagavata svarupam

"I worship Him, the Original Lord, the reservoir of mercy, who is of the color of a tamala tree, who has descended to benefit all (suhitavataram). He is the Personality of the Bhagavatam, a bridge to cross over the ocean of the endless material existence. The First and Second Cantos are His two feet (padau); the Third and Fourth are said to be His thighs (uru); the Fifth Canto is His navel (nabhih); the Sixth Canto is His chest (bhujantaram); the other two [Seventh and Eighth] Cantos are His two arms (dor-yugalam); O King, the Ninth Canto is His neck (kanthah); the Tenth Canto is His blossomed lotus face (mukharavindam praphullam); the Eleventh Canto is His forehead (lalata-pattakam); and the Twelfth Canto shines as His crown (sirah)."
(Padma Purana)

The Courtesy Japa # 1

By H G Mahatma Das

"Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram." Prabhupada once imitated howwe sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don't feel like chanting. You know themood behind this chanting; "I have to chant but I'd rather be doingsomething else." And in our minds we are thinking, "I can't wait to get these rounds out of the way." We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV.

Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less uselessbecause it will not produce the desired result, love of Krsna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant.

I call this kind of japa, "courtesy japa." "Courtesy japa" means that since you have taken a vow - either to your spiritual master or yourself - to chant a certain number of rounds daily, you keep that vow while chanting the kind of japa I described above.
Here are a few other examples (methods) of what I call "courtesy japa:"
* Chanting while talking to someone (you talk, and when they reply you chant).
* Chanting while reading (which could really work if you have two heads,one to read and one to chant).
* Chanting while listening to a CD or the radio (this is especially challenging while listening to the news or listening to rock and roll music).
* Chanting while shopping.
* Chanting while window shopping (this often happens on early morning japa walks).
* Chanting while you are dosing off (sometimes known as dive bomb japa).
* Chanting while site seeing or looking around at a million things(sometimes known as radar japa).
* Chanting while watching movies (Krsna Conscious movies are included in "courtesy japa").
* Chanting a little, talking a little, chanting a little, talking alittle (sometimes known as jibber japa).
* Chanting while ----------- (fill in your favorites).

Note, these are all excellent ways to ruin your japa and thus put your Krsna conscious transmission in park. You can make incredible advancement during japa. Good japa is like flying down the highway in fourth gear. Good japa produces inspiration, realization, detachment, increased desire to serve,attraction to study scripture, and an ability to see maya's workings more clearly. And there are so many more gifts japa delivers. Yet we deprive ourselves of these gifts when we chant "courtesy japa."

THE NEW MANTRA IS "DOWN WITH 'COURTESY JAPA'.""Courtesy japa" is like shooting a gun with blank bullets. When the triggeris pulled it just sounds like a bullet is being fired. Obviously you can't win a battle firing blanks. Similarly, "courtesy japa" sounds like the Hare Krsna maha mantra but it is just an empty sound, a shadow of the real thing.Certainly you can't win the battle with maya firing blank mantras.

The problem is - and this is something we have to accept philosophically as well as practically – if you keep practicing the wrong way, you'll continue to get wrong results. What's more is that bad chanting tends to produce more bad chanting. Let me say that in another way because this is really important. The more you practice the wrong way of doing something, the more it gets engrained/programmed within you and the harder it usually becomes to fix it.

THUS IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW THAT THE LONGER YOU CHANT THE MORE ADVANCED YOU WILL BECOME.

Do you have a severe case of courtesy japaitis programmed into you? If so,ask yourself how you are going to kick the habit. This is an important question to answer because good japa is one of the pillars of spiritual life.

It's all about fighting apathy in our japa. As Lord Caitanya said, playing the part of a conditioned soul, "I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for chanting Your Holy Names." So we have two choices during japa. One is to go with the flow and just let the mind wander. The other is to go against the flow and make a valiant effort to focus on the holy nameand chant in a prayerful, devotional mood. That's not so easy. It takes effort. It goes against everything "courtesy japa" stands for. And this is not much fun for lazy japa chanters like me. After all, concentrating is hard work.

Japa can be a creative time. Often when I chant I get all kinds of ideas. Also the many things I have to do in the day - and even creative ways of doing them - keep popping up in my mind (or should I say keep pooping in my mind). Don't dwell on these. If they come up, either neglect them (those good ideas will most likely come up later) or stop chanting and write them down so you don't have to think about them while you chant.

How will you break the habit of "courtesy japa?" Krsna is in your heart and He will help you as much as you want to be helped. Krsna says from Me come knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness. So He will show you how to become a master of japa or a master of "courtesy japa." It all depends on what you want. If you want to improve, He will show you when to chant (hint – earlyin the morning), where to chant (hint – where you are not distracted), how to chant (hint – in front of devotional pictures, tulasi, Deities, etc,not in front of a television or a non Krsna conscious magazine).

So here's the exercise. Write on top of a piece of paper, How To Improve MyJapa? Below that write the subtitle, Putting an end to"courtesy japa." Then make your list.
Let's put an end once and for all to "courtesy japa," the great enemy of Krsna consciousness.