Finish Up Your Business
This human form of life is meant for becoming spiritually perfect. It is not meant for material advancement. Of course, whatever material advancement is favorable for advancing our Krishna consciousness may also be accepted. It is not that we have to abandon all comforts and live in caves. But at the same time we must be very cautious to not become intoxicated by material advancement considering it to be the end all and be all of our existence. We must very soberly realize that our most valuable human form of life can end at any time and finish up our business of becoming perfect in Krishna consciousness as soon as possible.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Rajnish
Regarding considering the demigods to be equal kindly ponder the following points:
In these days of so-called political correctness it may be a very popular view to say that everyone is the same. But where do we see practically that anyone is the same? Everyone possesses a certain amount of wealth. I possess a certain amount; you possess a certain amount. We see practically that everyone possesses different quantities of wealth. If we say in the name of equality that everyone possesses the same amount of wealth, is that a very intelligent and proper statement? No. It is not, because it is not true. God is that person Who possesses all the wealth, therefore He is more wealthy than everyone else. This is why He is described in Sanskrit language as Bhagavan, the one who possesses all opulences. Thus we address Krishna as Bhagavan because He is confirmed in the Vedic literatures as being the possessor of all opulences.
The demigods are in different category. They are the deputed agents of the Lord who act as universal controllers on behalf of the Lord within this material world. Because of their highly exalted positions we offer them great respect, but we never make the mistake of thinking that they are on the same level as their master, Lord Krishna. We may honor some highly placed executives within a company, but we never make the mistake of thinking that they are the owners of the company. The owner is to given greater respect than what we give to his employees. So while the demigods are not disrespected, at the same time we do not falsely consider them to be incarnations of God.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari 2008 Vyas Puja Homage E-Book is now online at:
http://backtohome.com/vyas-puja/2008.pdfMore Photos from Sri Vyas Puja Celebration
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Isn't Everyone Equal?
When it is said that we should be neutral in happiness and distress, doesn't this mean that we should see everyone with one eye as a soul with everybody being equal? So why do we glorify Krishna and not the other incarnations? Shouldn't the demigods also be considered equal?Rajnish
Answer: No
Seeing happiness and distress with an equal eye does not mean that everybody is the same. It means that a fully realized transcendentalist experiences happiness and distress equally as manifestations of Krishna's mercy. Why do you say that we glorify Krishna and not the other incarnations? Even in the Hare Krishna mantra we are glorifying Lord Rama. You have incorrectly concluded that we do not glorify Krishna's other incarnations.Regarding considering the demigods to be equal kindly ponder the following points:
In these days of so-called political correctness it may be a very popular view to say that everyone is the same. But where do we see practically that anyone is the same? Everyone possesses a certain amount of wealth. I possess a certain amount; you possess a certain amount. We see practically that everyone possesses different quantities of wealth. If we say in the name of equality that everyone possesses the same amount of wealth, is that a very intelligent and proper statement? No. It is not, because it is not true. God is that person Who possesses all the wealth, therefore He is more wealthy than everyone else. This is why He is described in Sanskrit language as Bhagavan, the one who possesses all opulences. Thus we address Krishna as Bhagavan because He is confirmed in the Vedic literatures as being the possessor of all opulences.
The demigods are in different category. They are the deputed agents of the Lord who act as universal controllers on behalf of the Lord within this material world. Because of their highly exalted positions we offer them great respect, but we never make the mistake of thinking that they are on the same level as their master, Lord Krishna. We may honor some highly placed executives within a company, but we never make the mistake of thinking that they are the owners of the company. The owner is to given greater respect than what we give to his employees. So while the demigods are not disrespected, at the same time we do not falsely consider them to be incarnations of God.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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