As Within, So Without

Whatever sort of atmosphere we cultivate within our hearts will be manifest externally in the form of the world we see all around us. The more we cultivate inner purity, the more the external world will become pure in every way. And conversely, the more we are polluted with lust, anger, greed, and envy without our hearts, the more this world will be manifested as a nightmarish, polluted hell.

So the point is that if we want to live in a clean, happy, pollution-free world, this will only be possible when we clear out the pollution from our hearts. The easiest and most effective way of doing this is to reawaken the original, natural pristine state of consciousness now lying dormant within our hearts. In other words, we must become fully self-realized. For this age of Kali, the Kali Santarana Upanisad especially recommends that the most effective way of awakening our enlightened consciousness is to chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Heavily Polluted Beijing, China

Heavily Polluted Beijing, China

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Position of Goddess Lalitha Parameshwari

Gurudeva, one of my colleagues asked me to check with you as to what is the position of Goddess Lalitha Parameshwari, who is also known as Goddess Thripurasundari or Adi Para Shakhti. She is also worshipped in Sri Chakra form. According to Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam, she is the origin of all and things and beings - material non material including all gods came from her.

According to your instructions, Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme. How is Lord Krishna related to Goddess Lalitha Parameshwari? Pray, kindly dispel our ignorance.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Haridasan.P

Answer: Subordinate to Krishna

Although there are portions of the Vedas that cater to those with material desires as a temporary measure until they are ready to move on to spiritual perfection, the ultimate conclusion of all Vedic wisdom is give up all material desires by fully surrendering oneself to Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Vishnu. This culmination of spiritual understanding is clearly described in the Bhagavad-gita as follows:

arjuna uvaca
param brahma param dhama
pavitram paramam bhavan
purusam sasvatam divyam
adi-devam ajam vibhum

ahus tvam rsayah sarve
devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah
svayam caiva bravisi me

"Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me."--Bhagavad-gita 10.12-13

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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