Class on Sri Isopanishad. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!! JAYA SRI RADHA-KRISHNA!!!!
This class is ALWAYS open!
relationships, natural observation, the nature of the self
"vede ramayane caiva, purane bharate tatha ..." Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 7.131 "In the Vedic literature, including the Ramayanam, Puranas, and Mahabharata, from the beginning to the end, as well as in the middle, only Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is explained." But what of those who do not accept sastra, but depend upon their tiny brains instead? How can they be delivered? How can the agnostics take the Pure Names? I have had occasion to have to preach to some atheists lately. These…
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Arnold smith Prabhu; Re mantra 5 preceding;
Wow! Nice!
Srila Sridhara Maharajah used to speak, that a sadhu can harmonize the incongruent, ie that the contradictory can be reconciliated in the consciousness of spirit.
I really appreciate Prabhu Smith's description of the rock and the animal; both co-exist, and although apparently in different modes, Godhead is within each. As Srila Prabhupada says, paraphrase, "I know my pains and pleasures, and you know yours... but Krsna is within each and knows well everyone's pains and pleasures." Thus, it is possible to understand how He sees and yet has no eyes, hears but has not ears, both at the same time, as He is not limited to normal time and space, like an ordinary conditioned soul.
A broadness of thinking seems to be required of us; and there seems to be no end. All i want/need is a firm foothold in some aspect of the eternal lilas, then i am safe against repeated births and deaths in temporary designations in matter of all kinds.
Gour Govinda Swami tells us that sadhana bhakti is too weak, that in our age, sadhana siddha, or perfection obtained by restrictions and practices, is unattainable, that in reality, it is all krpa siddha, ie by Divine Grace, that somehow or other our attempts are appreciated and we are allowed to rise.
It can be maddening to realize that our current state of mind is restricted, shrunken, warped and plain old dumb as a post in Siberia. A moment of purer consciousness reveals the dreck from the nectar, and one hankers for more nectar, having once tasted.
15 October, 1969
My Dear Brahmananda,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 12, 1969 and have noted the contents. Regarding your question about Mantra 12 of Isopanisad, the verse as it is, is correct. The Absolute means Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. When the Absolute is realized hazily it is Brahman. When the Absolute is realized more clearly it is Paramatma. And when the Absolute is realized distinctly it is Bhagavan. So Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan are different phases of the Absolute Truth. But the Bhagavan aspect of the Absolute Truth is distinct from everything. Those who worship the Brahman and Paramatma aspect of the Absolute Truth are in a dangerous position because they have every chance of again falling down into the lowest regions. This is because they are not fully purified, and the least trace of contaminated desire can cause havoc to one's progress. Just like one lit cigarette can cause a whole house to burn down, so incomplete knowledge of the whole Absolute Truth may not be able to save one from going to the darkest regions of ignorance. Isopanisad says that such persons who accept Brahman or Paramatma as the final word of God-realization will be "still more'' condemned. This is because they are offenders of God and are very stubborn to accept the Supreme Personality. If one refuses to progress to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then he is sure to fall down again into darkness. The worshippers of the demigods at least have fear of some higher personality, and that may eventually develop into fear of the Supreme Personality. But the impersonalists think that everything is Brahma, everyone is God, therefore they can do whatever they want; and that is a still more dangerous position. I think this will clear up the matter for you.
I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
PS: Isopanisad means "the knowledge that leads nearer to Krsna.'' I am returning herewith the Gita Press book you sent me for the Sanskrit Text. It is nice.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Brahmananda -- Tittenhurst 15 October, 1969
Teacher, I brought you a basket of red apples;
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