There Are Two Ways of Experiencing Death
Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains as follows in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto, Chapter 25, Text 24:
"Because a devotee is freed from all contaminated material association, he is not affected by the miseries of material existence. Even though he appears to be in the material world, he is not affected by the miseries of the material world. How is it possible? There is a very good example in the activities of the cat. The cat carries her kittens in her mouth, and when she kills a rat she also carries the booty in her mouth. Thus both are carried in the mouth of the cat, but they are in different conditions. The kitten feels comfort in the mouth of the mother, whereas when the rat is carried in the mouth of the cat, the rat feels the blows of death. Similarly, those who are sādhavaḥ, or devotees engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the transcendental service of the Lord, do not feel the contamination of material miseries, whereas those who are not devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness actually feel the miseries of material existence. One should therefore give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of persons engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and by such association he will benefit in spiritual advancement. By their words and instructions, he will be able to cut off his attachment to material existence."
For non-devotees death is the most hellish experience of begging dragged to the court of Yamaraja, the god of death, for punishment. But for devotees death is the most wonderful experience of going to sleep and waking up with Krishna in the all-blissful spiritual world.
P.S. Out of our campaign for the new ISKCON Temple for Austin, Texas USA so far $3,105,216.47 has been raised. Our goal is $4,100,000. If you'd like to get Srila Prabhupada's special blessings click here to contribute.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Sometimes when I finish chanting my rounds, I get overly puffed up and think that I am more advanced since I chant more than others. When I have too much pride, I fall back to sense gratification and become flattered. How to always remain humble so that I can destroy this ego that is ruining my bhakti?
DR
My Dear DR,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
If you will always remember this most sublime instruction from Lord Caitanya, you will always be blessed with tasting the higher bless of Krishna consciousness with zero attraction for sense gratification:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others without expecting any respect for oneself. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."
(Śikṣāṣṭaka 3)
I hope this meets you in the best of health.
"Because a devotee is freed from all contaminated material association, he is not affected by the miseries of material existence. Even though he appears to be in the material world, he is not affected by the miseries of the material world. How is it possible? There is a very good example in the activities of the cat. The cat carries her kittens in her mouth, and when she kills a rat she also carries the booty in her mouth. Thus both are carried in the mouth of the cat, but they are in different conditions. The kitten feels comfort in the mouth of the mother, whereas when the rat is carried in the mouth of the cat, the rat feels the blows of death. Similarly, those who are sādhavaḥ, or devotees engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the transcendental service of the Lord, do not feel the contamination of material miseries, whereas those who are not devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness actually feel the miseries of material existence. One should therefore give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of persons engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and by such association he will benefit in spiritual advancement. By their words and instructions, he will be able to cut off his attachment to material existence."
For non-devotees death is the most hellish experience of begging dragged to the court of Yamaraja, the god of death, for punishment. But for devotees death is the most wonderful experience of going to sleep and waking up with Krishna in the all-blissful spiritual world.
P.S. Out of our campaign for the new ISKCON Temple for Austin, Texas USA so far $3,105,216.47 has been raised. Our goal is $4,100,000. If you'd like to get Srila Prabhupada's special blessings click here to contribute.
Death for a Non-Devotee is Like Being a Rat in the Mouth of Cat to Be Killed and Eaten.
But Death for a Devotee is Like Being a Kitten in Cat's Mouth for Being Lovingly Protected.
Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom
Question: How to Always Remain Humble?
Hare Krishna, Sankarshan Das Adhikari,All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Sometimes when I finish chanting my rounds, I get overly puffed up and think that I am more advanced since I chant more than others. When I have too much pride, I fall back to sense gratification and become flattered. How to always remain humble so that I can destroy this ego that is ruining my bhakti?
DR
Answer: Always Remember Lord Caitanya's Order
From: Austin, Texas USAMy Dear DR,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
If you will always remember this most sublime instruction from Lord Caitanya, you will always be blessed with tasting the higher bless of Krishna consciousness with zero attraction for sense gratification:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others without expecting any respect for oneself. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."
(Śikṣāṣṭaka 3)
I hope this meets you in the best of health.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ordered his disciples to become gurus and deliver the world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari has taken this order very seriously and is thus accepting disciples all over the world and has dedicated himself fully to the mission of making the entire world Krishna conscious as soon as possible. He requests your help in this most urgent world deliverance mission to save the suffering humanity from gliding down to the animal kingdom in their next births.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari email: sd@worldleader.com
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Most Urgent World Deliverance Mission
ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ordered his disciples to become gurus and deliver the world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari has taken this order very seriously and is thus accepting disciples all over the world and has dedicated himself fully to the mission of making the entire world Krishna conscious as soon as possible. He requests your help in this most urgent world deliverance mission to save the suffering humanity from gliding down to the animal kingdom in their next births.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari email: sd@worldleader.com
Comments
Post a Comment