Global Relationships Meltdown
The ever-increasingly impersonal modern day world is plagued by troubled and broken relationships. Treasures like a happy home and intimate lifetime relationships, which were once taken for granted, are now becoming a rarer and rarer commodity. What is the cause of this global relationships meltdown? It is happening because we as a world society are moving every day further and further away from the God-centered conception of existence into the abyss of godlessness.
For example, when the United States of America declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 the concept of God was presented in its declaration of independence. But the European Union, which has come into being from series of treaties beginning in 1952, has intentionally omitted any reference to God in its documents.
God is important, because He is the origin, the starting point, for all of existence. As soon as leave God out of the picture we eliminate the one thread that holds us all together as a cosmic family. The result of this godlessness will be increasing chaos and a gradually increasing breakdown of the social structure leading to eventual total anarchy on this planet. However, it's not too late the reverse this deadly transformation towards Godlessness. The Krishna consciousness movement was founded for the purpose of bringing God back into the center. We are calling upon all thoughtful, compassionate men and women throughout the world to join this movement for the benefit of the entire human society.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
For example, when the United States of America declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 the concept of God was presented in its declaration of independence. But the European Union, which has come into being from series of treaties beginning in 1952, has intentionally omitted any reference to God in its documents.
God is important, because He is the origin, the starting point, for all of existence. As soon as leave God out of the picture we eliminate the one thread that holds us all together as a cosmic family. The result of this godlessness will be increasing chaos and a gradually increasing breakdown of the social structure leading to eventual total anarchy on this planet. However, it's not too late the reverse this deadly transformation towards Godlessness. The Krishna consciousness movement was founded for the purpose of bringing God back into the center. We are calling upon all thoughtful, compassionate men and women throughout the world to join this movement for the benefit of the entire human society.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: How to Associate with the Lord's Devotees?
I have been attending a course on Krishna Consciousness philosophy at my local temple. In the course it was explained that there are different types of devotees. There are neophyte devotees (kanistha-adhikaris), intermediate devotees (madhyam-adhikaris), and topmost devotees (uttama-adhikaris).
It was explained that in order for one to make rapid advancement it is beneficial to associate with a devotee who is on a higher level of advancement than yourself. On the other hand for a devotee who is very advanced it is not beneficial to associate with less advanced devotee.
This makes me very anxious because I am in awe of the advanced devotees and I would very much like to have their association. But I don't even know if I can call myself neophyte devotee. So I do not want to cause harm to their own spiritual progress by giving my own association. How do I solve this situation?
Regards,
Kody
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi
"For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear."--Bhagavad-gita 18.68-69
Therefore it is not correct to say that it is not beneficial for the senior devotees to associate with the junior devotees. The seniors derive the greatest benefit by being merciful to the juniors.
What is not necessary is for the neophyte is to give his association to the advanced devotees. What is necessary is that he takes the association of the advanced devotees by hearing and inquiring from them submissively and rendering service unto them. Kindly note carefully the distinction I am making between taking association and giving association. We take the association of those who are more advanced and give our association to those who are less advanced. And for those who are equally advanced we engage in both giving and taking association.
So take full advantage of the association of the advanced devotees by bowing down at their feet, rendering service unto them, and eagerly learning from them. This will make your spiritual progress very speedy, solid, and steady.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
It was explained that in order for one to make rapid advancement it is beneficial to associate with a devotee who is on a higher level of advancement than yourself. On the other hand for a devotee who is very advanced it is not beneficial to associate with less advanced devotee.
This makes me very anxious because I am in awe of the advanced devotees and I would very much like to have their association. But I don't even know if I can call myself neophyte devotee. So I do not want to cause harm to their own spiritual progress by giving my own association. How do I solve this situation?
Regards,
Kody
Answer: By Transcendental Give and Take
When the advanced devotees mercifully give their association to those who are less advanced they receive the greatest mercy from Lord Krishna. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita as follows:ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi
"For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear."--Bhagavad-gita 18.68-69
Therefore it is not correct to say that it is not beneficial for the senior devotees to associate with the junior devotees. The seniors derive the greatest benefit by being merciful to the juniors.
What is not necessary is for the neophyte is to give his association to the advanced devotees. What is necessary is that he takes the association of the advanced devotees by hearing and inquiring from them submissively and rendering service unto them. Kindly note carefully the distinction I am making between taking association and giving association. We take the association of those who are more advanced and give our association to those who are less advanced. And for those who are equally advanced we engage in both giving and taking association.
So take full advantage of the association of the advanced devotees by bowing down at their feet, rendering service unto them, and eagerly learning from them. This will make your spiritual progress very speedy, solid, and steady.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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