Don't Despair
No matter what situation we may face in this often turbulent material existence, we should not despair. The Supreme All-Merciful Lord is always there behind the scenes bestowing His causeless grace upon us. Sometimes things appear to be going great, sometimes not so great, and sometimes completely devastating. But these are appearances only. The real fact is that beyond the dream of this material existence Lord Krishna is bestowing upon us an unlimited flood of loving kindness at every minute. The problem is that because of our false pride we have become blind to see such things. But now if we will agree to be humble devotees of the Lord, we will be able to see the Lord constantly and be overwhelmingly amazed at every minute by His inconceivable kindness.
Your servant
(These are the basic items of sadhana bhakti to be executed by all those who are serious about being a devotee of Lord Krishna.)
1. No illicit sex (sex other than for procreation)
2. No meat eating (including fish and eggs)
3. No intoxication (including coffee, tea, and cigarettes)
4. No gambling
5. Chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mantra every day on chanting beads
6. Only eat Krishna prasadam (food which has been first offered to Lord Krishna)
7. Regularly study the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Srimad Bhagavatam
8. Develop an ongoing service relationship with your nearest ISKCON temple.
9. Take shelter and become initiated by a bona fide spiritual master.
One of the items that enhances the above is the observance of Ekadasi. Ekadasi is observed from sunrise on the Ekadasi up until the sunrise on the following morning. One must fast strictly from all forms of grains and beans including anything cooked in a grain based oil like corn oil, or sweetened with a grain based sweetener like corn syrup.
If one wants to do extra austerities for extra blessings one can strictly fast by not taking anything except water. For even a stricter fast one can avoid water also. And for even a stricter observance one can stay home from work and spend the entire day and night from sunrise to sunrise hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada engaged us in the simplest form of Ekadasi, merely fasting from grains and beans. He also told us about the stricter forms. Many devotees have been inspired to observe Ekadasi in the stricter forms even though this is not mandatory.
Simply observing Ekadasi, even in its strictest form, will not liberate you from birth and death unless you also observe the above 9 items. But the combination of above 9 items along with the faithful observance of Ekadasi, either simply or strictly, will certainly deliver you from the cycle of birth and death.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version
Question: How to Observe Ekadasi?...
I have read a little recently about fasting and holy days, especially in regards to Ekadasi. How long should I fast, sundown to sundown? Is it better to fast completely, or just omit grains and beans? Are there general guidelines to fasting that I can access? I do not mean to bombard you with questions, but you recommended that I fervently seek to be set free from the cycle of birth and death, and fasting is supposed to help with spiritual advancement. As always I await your instruction, so that I may comply.Your servant
Answer: As an Ingredient in the Back to Godhead Recipe...
It's nice that you are desiring deliverance from the cycle of birth and death. To accomplish that you need to do the following:(These are the basic items of sadhana bhakti to be executed by all those who are serious about being a devotee of Lord Krishna.)
1. No illicit sex (sex other than for procreation)
2. No meat eating (including fish and eggs)
3. No intoxication (including coffee, tea, and cigarettes)
4. No gambling
5. Chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mantra every day on chanting beads
6. Only eat Krishna prasadam (food which has been first offered to Lord Krishna)
7. Regularly study the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Srimad Bhagavatam
8. Develop an ongoing service relationship with your nearest ISKCON temple.
9. Take shelter and become initiated by a bona fide spiritual master.
One of the items that enhances the above is the observance of Ekadasi. Ekadasi is observed from sunrise on the Ekadasi up until the sunrise on the following morning. One must fast strictly from all forms of grains and beans including anything cooked in a grain based oil like corn oil, or sweetened with a grain based sweetener like corn syrup.
If one wants to do extra austerities for extra blessings one can strictly fast by not taking anything except water. For even a stricter fast one can avoid water also. And for even a stricter observance one can stay home from work and spend the entire day and night from sunrise to sunrise hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada engaged us in the simplest form of Ekadasi, merely fasting from grains and beans. He also told us about the stricter forms. Many devotees have been inspired to observe Ekadasi in the stricter forms even though this is not mandatory.
Simply observing Ekadasi, even in its strictest form, will not liberate you from birth and death unless you also observe the above 9 items. But the combination of above 9 items along with the faithful observance of Ekadasi, either simply or strictly, will certainly deliver you from the cycle of birth and death.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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