The Topmost Lifestyle

In this material world everyone is trying to enjoy as much as possible. But in spite of all their endeavors because they are trying to please the material body rather than the true self within they are still not very satisfied. We suggest that they should instead adopt the topmost lifestyle of Krishna consciousness, which focuses primarily on satisfying the self within and gives only secondary importance to the temporary material body. If they seriously do so, they will gradually learn the art of enjoying life like anything at every moment. Once they get a real taste of Krishna consciousness they will not want to revert to material sense gratification for any reason because they will be solidly situated on the transcendental platform.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Teaching the Topmost Lifestyle Riga, Latvia--October 2007

Sankarshan Das Teaching the Topmost Lifestyle Riga, Latvia

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Mahamaya in the Spiritual World?

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisance, and all glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.

I have a question regarding the fall of the living being, the jiva. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, 1st Canto, Chapter 1, Verse 1 it is stated:

"I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Sri Krishna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world".

I understand yogamaya, the spiritual energy, is conducting the spiritual world and she expands in the form of mahamaya, the material energy,to conduct the material world. In the case of the jiva falling from the spiritual world, would it not be the influence of mahamaya, and how is she existing in the eternal abode of Sri Krishna?

Your servant,

Jayananda das

Answer: No. She is Only in the Material World.

It is a fact that mahamaya, the material energy, does not act in the spiritual world. So this may cause one to wonder that since mahamaya is not present in the spiritual world, what could influence the jiva, the living entity, to leave the spiritual world and come to the material world?

What happens is that since the living entity is part of Krishna, who is supremely independent, he also possesses a minute degree of independence. Since he possesses independence he must necessarily possess the power to misuse it. If he chooses to misuse it, he instantaneously finds himself in the clutches of mahamaya, the material energy. He does not require the power of the material energy to misuse his independence because his independence alone is sufficient empowerment. But as soon as he does so, he is immediately bound hands and foot by the material energy until that time when he is fortunate to be released by the mercy of Lord Sri Krishna's pure devotee.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Little Sparrow Who Conquered the Ocean

Image
In his purport to Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 6, Text 24 Srila Prabhupada wonderfully teaches us the power of determinations by telling us the story of the little sparrow who conquered the ocean: "As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuda at once asked t
Read more

Heart Melting Reunion with Amarendra and Gayatri

Image
On Friday 26 June 2015 I was blessed with the greatest good fortune of meeting with two of the dearest devotees of my entire life, His Grace Amarendra Prabhu and his good wife, Srimati Gayatri devi dasi. I am eternally indebted to these great souls for how much they helped me in my spiritual life when I was a young devotee. When I was young brahmacari monk in 1973 I joined with the two of them in Gainesville, Florida. We were a three person preaching center, and they were just like a mother and father to me. I had so many wonderful Krishna conscious experiences in their association that I can hardly begin to describe them here. But at least may it suffice for me to say for now that Gayatri taught me what it means to be a soft-hearted devotee of the Lord and she gave me my first cooking lesson, teaching me how to make cauliflower pakoras, and Amarendra taught me the art of how to preach strongly, intelligently, and coolly to defeat opposing arguments. Recently Gayatri almost died. But
Read more

Misguided Fools Say that Masturbation is Healthy

Image
Foolish modern day materialists recommend masturbation as follows: "Masturbation is a common activity. It’s a natural and safe way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and release built-up sexual tension. It occurs among people of all backgrounds, genders, and races. Despite the myths, there are actually no physically harmful side effects of masturbation." They are wrong. To get a proper understanding on this this topic read the question and answer section below. Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: What are the Ill Effects of Masturbation? Since you answered questions related to understanding the real need of sex in a human being's life, so I also request you to please enlighten us with the knowledge about semen conservation, it's importance, and the consequences of frequently releasing it thorough sex or masturbation. Since today most of the youth are indulged in mansturbation and they think it to be good in comparison to doing sex with some female for
Read more