Beyond So-Called Enjoyment
The most important thing we need to do is purify our consciousness of the tendency to be the enjoyer. We cannot be the enjoyer because our actual position is that we are the servant. It is when we agree to take the position of servant that we can actually enjoy. The perfection of being a servant is to become the servant of God because just as when we water the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, when we give loving service to the Supreme Person, the root of everything, we then give the best loving service to everyone and everything. We even end up also giving the best service to ourselves because we are also part of everything.
This is the secret of how to derive unlimited happiness at every minute and becoming completely immune to all forms of distress. Instead of trying to enjoy independently, we simply must dedicate ourselves to giving enjoyment to God. The result will be that we will enjoy on an equal level with the Supreme Enjoyment. In other words we will taste the supreme enjoyment.
I want to ask you about how to make a practical balance between materialism and spiritualism. I understand that the human birth is for developing love and devotion to Krishna and in elevation to Him, getting back to Godhead. But aren't our material requirements equally important?
If we get materially inclined, then we spend most of our time in earning for our material needs. So how to make a balance? Shall we suppress and curb down our material needs?
Another question I want to ask: Why is chanting 16 rounds on japa beads prescribed? If I have faith in Krishna and I just take His name once a day won't it give me bhakti & mukti.
Please enlighten me...
your student,
Rupesh
The principle of balance between spiritualism and materialism is presented in the ancient Vedic scripture, the Sri Isopanisad:
vidyam cavidyam ca yas
tad vedobhayam saha
avidyaya mrtyum tirtva
vidyayamrtam asnute
"Only one who can learn the process of material knowledge and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality."
---Sri Isopanisad Mantra 11
Since we are already solidly situated in material life from the day we were born, our balancing is to now give more emphasis to development of our spiritual life. We must now focus our energies on awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness.
Material requirements are important but they are not as important as the spiritual requirements. What is more important: to feed the bird within the cage or to polish the cage? Feeding the bird is more important. So this body is just a cage for the spirit-soul who is seated within. Along with keeping the body fit we must more importantly focus on keeping our consciousness fixed on the Lord.
On the material side we should accept the basic comforts for keeping body and soul together. There is no need for extravagance. The balance time and energy saved by plain living should be utilized for high thinking on the transcendental subject matter of the relationship between the individual being and the Supreme Being.
It's a fact that one pure utterance of the Hare Krishna Mantra is sufficient for our liberation. But at the present moment we cannot currently chant with complete purity. Therefore we must practice everyday by chanting at least 16 rounds. By this daily practice, gradually our chanting will improve and we will one day be able to utter the holy names with 100% purity. Even after reaching that stage one will continue chanting on the japa beads to set a proper example for others who are trying the perfect their chanting.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
This is the secret of how to derive unlimited happiness at every minute and becoming completely immune to all forms of distress. Instead of trying to enjoy independently, we simply must dedicate ourselves to giving enjoyment to God. The result will be that we will enjoy on an equal level with the Supreme Enjoyment. In other words we will taste the supreme enjoyment.
Answers According to the Vedic Version
Question: Balancing Materialism and Spiritualism...
I am new to Krishna Consciousness, at least in this birth. I attended your lecture and questions-and-answers session when you visited the Nerul, Mumbai Bhaktivedanta Academy of Cultural Education. I am developing faith and love in Krishna.I want to ask you about how to make a practical balance between materialism and spiritualism. I understand that the human birth is for developing love and devotion to Krishna and in elevation to Him, getting back to Godhead. But aren't our material requirements equally important?
If we get materially inclined, then we spend most of our time in earning for our material needs. So how to make a balance? Shall we suppress and curb down our material needs?
Another question I want to ask: Why is chanting 16 rounds on japa beads prescribed? If I have faith in Krishna and I just take His name once a day won't it give me bhakti & mukti.
Please enlighten me...
your student,
Rupesh
Answer: Emphasize Spiritual Life...
I am very happy to hear that you attended my lecture when I spoke at Bhaktivedanta Academy of Cultural Education in Nerul, Mumbai, India.The principle of balance between spiritualism and materialism is presented in the ancient Vedic scripture, the Sri Isopanisad:
vidyam cavidyam ca yas
tad vedobhayam saha
avidyaya mrtyum tirtva
vidyayamrtam asnute
"Only one who can learn the process of material knowledge and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality."
---Sri Isopanisad Mantra 11
Since we are already solidly situated in material life from the day we were born, our balancing is to now give more emphasis to development of our spiritual life. We must now focus our energies on awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness.
Material requirements are important but they are not as important as the spiritual requirements. What is more important: to feed the bird within the cage or to polish the cage? Feeding the bird is more important. So this body is just a cage for the spirit-soul who is seated within. Along with keeping the body fit we must more importantly focus on keeping our consciousness fixed on the Lord.
On the material side we should accept the basic comforts for keeping body and soul together. There is no need for extravagance. The balance time and energy saved by plain living should be utilized for high thinking on the transcendental subject matter of the relationship between the individual being and the Supreme Being.
It's a fact that one pure utterance of the Hare Krishna Mantra is sufficient for our liberation. But at the present moment we cannot currently chant with complete purity. Therefore we must practice everyday by chanting at least 16 rounds. By this daily practice, gradually our chanting will improve and we will one day be able to utter the holy names with 100% purity. Even after reaching that stage one will continue chanting on the japa beads to set a proper example for others who are trying the perfect their chanting.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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