Bhakti Shastri Chapter 4 V14-18 By HG Radha Krishna Prabhu

V14 - Krsna is free from all fruitive activites. He is naturally transcendental. He is free from such things. Due to that, he isn't interested in varnasrama dharma. He created it so the living entities can fulfill their desires and also allows the living entities to get purified in the varnasrama dharma. It is not for Krsna but for living entities to fulfill their desires and also get purified at the same time. He just created this system. By Karma we place ourselves by different varna or asrama. Hence we can't blame Krsna for our situation. He is not interested in any material work. He is also not interested in the fruits of anything. He is atma Rama. ex - King is ruling the city. Thieves steal in the evening and we can't say Sun is responsible for the stealing. Similarly, Krsna is not responsible for our problems. Thieves steal because it's their nature.  Another ex is the rain - rain is not responsible for different types of vegetation that grows. Krsna is not partial to any living entity. He is neutral to everyone and just gives us a facility to enjoy our desires and also get purified so we can come back to Him. He is only partial to pure devotees - so try to become a pure devotee by following the rules and regulations, reading SB everyday, association of devotees, service attitude, etc. Only way for us to become transcendental is anything we do - if we are able to connect it with Krsna's pleasure. When we are working to please Krsna every sec then the laws of karma won't be able to catch up and then in time we shall be able to burn up all our sins. When Krsna is acting he is aloof from the material nature as he is transcendental. He isn't affected by material nature. He is enjoying with his own internal energy which is superior to the material nature.

v15- In ancient times they all performed their duties as a pleasure for Krsna. Same way we neeed to act in the varnasrama dharma. The cleansing process takes a while and it a gradual process. It frees one from the material contamination. Originally we think that enjoyment of the senses is the goal of life, but as soon as we come in KC we understand the real purpose is to work for Krsna, for his pleasure. We shouldn't have an escape attitude when things get difficult - no matter what, we continue to keep doing our prescribed duties to please Krsna. We should follow in the footsteps of previous disciples of Krsna, just like we need to follow our Gurudeva's instructions.

V16-
Karma - Acting according to scriptures. Karma kanda activities but on the material platform.
Vikarma- All activities not recommended in the Vedas or prohibited actions cause bad reactions. someone who is enjoying the fruits of their activities. against scriptures, one which are sinful.
Akarma- working only for KC.  Krsna karma activities. Additionally, for us, we should follow SP's instructions, GBC and leaders within our temple. Only doing spiritual activities in relationship with Krsna are called transcendental activities.

V17- Action = karma, Forbidden action = Vikarma, inaction = Akarma

V18 - Just substitute some words here
Inaction in action  - If we are KC and are acting. One who see "no karma in KC activieis" and
Action in Inaction - Karma in false renunciation is intelligent among men. (When we renounce falsely then we get some reaction)

If you want to eat something, we prepare if for Krsna and after offering we eat then we get no karma. so we get not karma in KC activities. or inaction in action. Then we can do so many activities just for the pleasure of Krsna.

Lots of people falsely renounce, but internally they are enjoying in their mind - thinking = willing = feeling! Hence we should purify this mind by doing KC activity. Reactions come only when we act on it. If we are not practicing properly we might fall down and get bad karma for themselves and only by good practice and association can we again come back. When you fall - don't give up, GET up!

For a neophyte devotee if there is fall down what do we do?

1. We need to chat our rounds very very sincerely without any offenses
2. Pray to Krsna that they help us not to fall down. Whenever we get those urges, he helps us to have a superior intelligence to avoid that offense. When we pray sincerely, Krsna himself will bless us.
3. Try not to fuel those offenses - avoid contact with such things.
4. Associate with devotees and read Krsna books so we can get attached to a higher taste 

Bhakti Shastri Chapter 4 V9-13 By HG Radha Krishna Prabhu

V9 - Here SP is discussing in the purport that one does not take birth in this material world.
Devotional service and impersonalists - two different paths. Impersonalists is very very hard and their success is only partial because they merge into the brahmajyoti of the Lord. Dev aspect is very different and we need to only understand that we are spirit soul and all activities connected to Krsna are spiritual and not material. For us also in kali-yuga SP has given us the ability to chant to Holy names and get purified. The devotees goal is to not be born in this material world but to go back to Goloka. The impersonal feature is only the sat feature. Brhmajyoti feature is only the eternal feature but someone in Goloka get all the sac-cid and ananda features and hence higher than impersonal liberation. When we take care of the Lord, the Lord also wants to take care of us. He helps us, he protects us in whatever we do. This is the Lord's mercy. When the devotee understand Krsna's pasttimes, his advent, his glories etc - he doesn't have to take birth again - he is engaged 24*7 in KC activities - Also in practices etc. This way we understands Krsna and not just book knowledge but real knowledge - realization of Krsna. When that realization takes place then he is liberated.

V10: In wanting to perform dev service we need to be free from attachment (material life), fear (people who have problems with material life, it ends up in stress, fights, distress and hence they fear such relationships in the spiritual world. For such people merging into the Brahmajyoti is the highest concept and they fear relationships so much)  and anger (Someone trying to understand Krsna become angry when they are trying to obtain the truth but get cheated by so many different yogis and hence become angry. They want some spirituality and they get cheated and frustrated and become very angry.) and also be fully absorbed in Krsna. Such people who have such good Faith, association, bhajana kriya, anartha nivritti etc... they come to prema or pure love for Krsna. This practice is very important. How? Chanting, be purified by the knowledge of Krsna - hearing and reading Krsna Katha, as we get purified we get affection for Krsna and then it turns into pure love for Krsna. Then our sadhana bhakti will turn to prema bhakti.

V11-15 : How One should apply the knowledge of transcendental subjects. How did such people come to him?

V11- Directly proportional to how much we surrender to Krsna. Pleasure we derive are eternal pleasure in the spiritual world. But here everything is temporary - both happiness and distress are temporary here in the material world. Some want to realize Krsna as a lover, as a servant, friend etc. So different people want to surrender to Krsna differently. SP explains that whatever one's desire is, one should approach Krsna to fulfill their desires. If we have material desires, Krsna will fulfill them but still he will purify us so in time we won't have those desires. Whatever desires we have, if we keep Krsna in the center then we get purified gradually.

V12- Approach Krsna in different ways. Some approach Krsna indirectly through the demigods for some fruitive activities. He becomes the yagneshwara. Krsna says people who pray to demigods are less intelligent. They feel demigods are equal to Krsna. They are actually servants of Krsna. Everything works well in tandem. Eq- car and another ex is the body. and only organ which can enjoy is the stomach. When that is pleased then everybody is pleased. Same way by pleasing Krsna everyone is satisfied and pleased. All their desires are fulfilled by Krsna. He is the Supreme person and he is giving the powers to the demigods as well. Nowadays people are so foolish that they worship anything/anyone as God. Ex- Dhruva maharaj he approached Krsna for material desire to get a kingdom bigger than his grandfathers. As soon as the Lord touched him, he understood that he doesn't want those material things and asks for forgiveness from Krsna. Same way when we desire some material thing - he doesn't give it right away as it won't be good for us but after testing us he gives us those material things so we understand that we aren't hankering for it. Hence we should go for something which is permanent. We live forever if we live for Krsna. We should become intelligent that we don't have temporary things but something which is permanent.

V13- From previous verse we know we have desires but how do we go about purifying all our desires. In this verse Krsna explains how those in the varnasrama dharma can purify ourselves. The whole varnasrama systems is to help us purify our desires and be able to connect to Krsna. The 4 categories of people are there - Intelligent, who want to control, want to work, serve others. We notice many of us are sudras or we are working for someone and some have vaisya mentality. These divisions are based onthe modes of the material nature. Brahmans have mode of goodness. Ksatryias mode of passion, Vaisyasa - mode of passion and ignorance, Sudras - mode of ignorance but have parts of other qualities as well. Krsna also says that I am spiritual and not under these rules. Everythign is sustained within him. Lord has aboslute status. Although he has created this system for the Human beings can go through these Varnasrama system to purify their animal tendencies to human tendency and yet he is the non doer and not bound to this system. We try to serve the Supreme Lord and hence through this system we try to purify ourselves. Vaisnavas are higher than brahmana because they want to purify everyone and take them back to Godhead and hence they are as good as Krsna. One who is connected to Krsna can also go back home, back to Godhead.

On keeping vows

On keeping vows

by HH Çivaräma Swami

Today it is not uncommon to hear some devotees rationalize the breaking of the strict vows they took at initiation. This rationale goes something like this: “When I was initiated I was very young and did not know the consequences of making such vows. Therefore I should not be bound for life to a promise I made in ignorance.”

Initiation

Of course devotees generally take their vows neither as infants, nor in ignorance. Devotees are initiated when they are at least young adults and after they have been educated at least a year in the principles of Kåñëa consciousness.

It may be true that one cannot foresee all the consequences of a vow or promise. But it is dishonesty and cheating to argue that such lack of foresight validates breaking a vow or promise.

Neither materialists nor spiritualists can envisage the future; hence they cannot be fully aware of the consequences of their decisions or vows. For instance: until a married couple have their first child, they cannot understand what a serious and long term commitment they embark upon by starting a family. Still the parents cannot say about their 1 year old baby, “We didn’t know how troublesome, expensive, and exhausting it would be to raise a child, therefore we changed our minds and will abandon him in the local park.”

Similarly, youths decide on a profession without knowing what such work will be like, boys and girls marry without knowing what married life is like, and so on.

Life is full of decisions and commitments based on a present assumption, without full understanding of future consequences. It is only children who either do or say something and then later change their minds because they “didn’t like” the consequences. But when children grow up they are meant to mature, and part of maturity is that one stands by one’s promises, by one’s vows.

And of all vows, the one of sexual abstinence is the one most generally broken. No doubt we may have been unaware of how difficult it is to keep this vow. But, Çréla Prabhupäda says, sticking to that vow and accepting the inconvenience the sex-drive causes is our austerity, tapasya, without which there is no meaning to Kåñëa consciousness.

[Çréla Prabhupäda’s class on ÇB 6.1.13-14]

“So brahmäcärya, tapasya begins—brahmäcärya, celibacy, no sex life. That is the beginning of tapasya… Sama, to control the senses, to keep in equilibrium. Senses may not be agitated. Damena, even it is agitated, by my knowledge I have to curb down. Just like if I become agitated by seeing a beautiful girl, or for woman, a beautiful boy… That is natural. Yuvatinam yatha yunor yunor yatha yuvah(?). Young boy, young girl, they are naturally attracted. There is nothing surprising. But tapasya means that, “I have taken vow, no illicit sex.” That is knowledge. “Why? Even if I am attracted, I shall not do this.” This is tapasya. And “Because I am now attracted, now we shall enjoy”—that is not tapasya. Tapasya means even one is attracted, he should not act. That is tapasya. There may be some difficulty to control, but that should be practiced. It can be practiced. It is not very difficult. But one has to practice the determination: “Now I have taken vow before Deity because at the time of initiation, it is promised before the Deity, before the fire, and before the spiritual master, before the Vaiñëava, that ‘I’ll not have illicit sex.’ That is promised. How can I break it?” This is tapasya. “I have taken vow before the Deity, before fire, before my spiritual master, before the Vaiñëavas, ‘No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no drinking or intoxication, no gambling.’ I have promised it. If I am gentleman, how can I break my promise?” This is called jïäna. With knowledge one has to respect. That is called tapasya.”

BG Chapter 13.13 - The 5 Koshas! By HG Shyamsundar Prabhuji

What are Koshas - 5 layers that cover the consciousness of every living entity.



1.Annamayi Kosha - The living entity is only concious about food nothing else appeals to the living entity.

2.More than eating when he understands then he is in Pranamayi Kosha. There is life in this world, this is life in everything.

3.After Pranamayi Kosha he enters Jnanamayi Kosha - knowledge and then he enters

4.Vigyanamayi Kosha or practicing this Kosha which is practicing of the Jyana he has acquires.

5.And from practicing he reaches the inner most kosha or Anandamayi Kosha which is eternal bliss and love for Krsna.

Example is a child - Annamayi Kosha - he puts everything in his mouth. and then he realizes that Pranamayi Kosha - he learns wow there are

Ananda Brahma has realized the supreme personality of Godhead Krsna.

Vijyana Brahma is practicing of the knowledge he has acquired. Knowledge is there but no realization. When we put this knowledge inot practice and then he understands that I am this body noth spirit soul but that realization isn't complete - I am this spirit soul but where am I coming from - from Krsna my happiness depends on Krsna. This Vijyanami Kosha devotee then starts devotional service and reaches Anandmayi Kosha the pure bliss.

Only by the process of devotional service can you reach Pure Bliss.

0. Sakarma Yoga - Very much attached to fruits.
1. Nishkaam karma Yoga - When he graduates and he understands I need to give these fruits to Krsna
2. Jyana Yoga - Knowledge of the Supreme Yoga - Who is this higher personality = Krsna Jnana
3. Dhyana Yoga or Astanga Yoga = Actually I need to perform Dhyana or think of Supersoul
4. Bhakti Yoga = That Supersoul is Bhagavan or Krsna and then he takes to Bhakti Yoga.

At the Jnanamayi = Brahmajyoti level
At Vijnanamayi Kosha = Paramatma level
At Anandamayi Kosha = Bhagavan level

Higher step includes the lower steps. 

Bhakti Shastri Class Chapter 4 V1-

Transcendental knowledge - Surplus devotional service to Krsna. To talk about this knowledge he gives history and truths about himself. From this chapter we also understand how to get rid of the lusty desires by Transcendental knowledge.

1-10 - transcendental knowledge, history, truths about himself
11- 15 - application of that knowledge
16-24 - how Karma
25-33 - sacrifices one can perform to
34-42 - how to receive transcendental knowledge.

Memorize 1 and 2.
Please listen to the recording.

New Year Goals

By Vaishnavanghri Sevaka Das

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna……..” ringtone buzzed. Krishna Das nervously took his mobile from his pocket and looked at caller name. Govinda Das, a senior devotee is calling. There is no other option than to take the call.

“Hare Krishna Prabhu, what are you doing?” Govinda prabhu’s voice echoed in the ear. Krishna Das became restless as he is already late for a program. However, he maintained composure and replied the call.

“I am just leaving for attending goal-setting work shop by Vaishnavanghri prabhu today morning. I am already late” Krishna Das said.

“What Goal setting? Going back home, back to Godhead is our goal! Why any other new goal setting exercise?” Govinda Das gave a happy laugh on the phone.

“I can’t answer your question? But, if you want to clarify your doubt you may also attend for the workshop” Krishna Das suggested.

“Okay, I am joining you. Wait for ten minutes” Govinda Das said over phone and arrived as promised. Both jumped in a car and reached the venue just in time. Already all the devotees assembled there in a hall and started reciting invocation verses. Then with prema dhavni the initial proceedings are completed.

“Desire and goal are two different things. There is a gulf of difference between them” Vaishnavanghri started his seminar. “Desire is an activity of mind, whereas goal is an activity of intelligence. Krishna Consciousness means intelligence activity.”

Everybody is hearing with enthusiasm and deep concentration. All are taking notes seriously. Govinda Das and Krishna Das are also hearing happily. Govinda Das is very happy as the first topic itself is of his choice.

“Devotees say that going back home, Back to Godhead is their goal. But, they should analyze whether it is their desire or goal” Vaishnavanghri said very clearly.

Govinda Das just got stunned to hear that statement; Krishna Das looked at him smilingly.

“First, desire for an achievement develops in mind. But, to convert that desire into a goal one has to use his intelligence. For that purpose an action plan has to be devised. Time frame for the activity, identification and acquiring resources, review of the progress, etc. become the important points. When all these are nicely arranged, then the desire gets converted to goal. When the goal is achieved it results in great enthusiasm in the performer, who endeavors to set further higher goals. If these things are missed out, desire remains just as a desire. This is the difference between desire and goal” Vaishnavanghri said.

Govinda Das understood the point. He could realize the difference between desire and goal very clearly.

“In the corporate world every year individual goal setting activity is done religiously. This activity is done very meticulously, reviewed periodically and evaluated thoroughly to decide the yearly increments. This process is done at all levels without any discrimination. What is the reason? What is the purpose of that activity?” Vaishnavanghri raised the point.

“It is business. It’s all about money” one devotee answered.

“But, Krishna Consciousness is a more serious business. It’s all about the deliverance of soul. The struggle is going on for millions of years. Do you think goals are not required? Is progress monitoring not required?” Vaishnavanghri asked seriously.

Everybody nodded their heads in positive mode. “But, in corporate world all goals are linked to only business growth. That is they are linked only to intelligence. There won’t be any goals pertaining to mental status or body. But, these two factors influence a lot the intelligence of the employee. It means action of intelligence depends on body (health and freedom from bad habits) and mind.”

“All devotees desire only one thing. That is going back home, Back to Godhead. But, if this desire is not converted to goal it just remains only as desire or remains in words. However, this goal can’t be achieved in one day or one year! When we achieve some goals every year we move towards our ultimate goal. There is a process for achieving the same. It is called ‘inverted pyramid model.’”

Vaishnavanghri started drawing some pictures on white board with colour pens.

“This is called inverted pyramid model. Setting yearly goals and achieving them is a process that acts as a driver for transforming normal pyramid model to inverted pyramid. This transformation may take around 15 to 20 years, if one is very serious. Otherwise, as usual it takes unlimited lifetimes.”

“However, if you try to set goals only on intellectual platform, as corporate world does, it will be inadequate in Krishna Consciousness, for we have four platforms with us in total. They are body platform, mental platform, intellectual platform and soul platform. All these contribute towards the final goal achievement. Hence we have to set yearly goals for all these platforms to enable them to play their role. Then we can surely achieve our final goal.”

“In the beginning years goals setting follow a normal pyramid model. It means there will be many goals at body platform, as we are all embodied souls. Number of goals progressively reduces from mind to intelligence to soul. However, every platform shall have some goals every year. But, after a few years, say 4 or 5 years later goals for body platform almost become nil. But, the number of goals now progressively increases from mind to intelligence to soul. In this way the normal pyramid starts getting transformed to inverted pyramid model. When the devotee actually achieves this inverted pyramid model he will be completely situated on soul platform. He is very close to his long cherished desire of going back home, Back to Godhead” Vaishnavanghri continued his talk.

“But, how to set goals for these four platforms?” one devotee raised one question.

“I will narrate them right now. Please give a patient hearing” Vaishnavanghri continued. “At bodily platform we are required to get rid of a few things and acquire a few things. They become automatically our goals. Body diseases, obesity, underweight, big tummy, over eating, eating more sweets, many such things need to be discarded; Exercise to body, walking or dancing, true fasting, good health and many more practices to be acquired. However, all these points add up to 15 or 20 in anybody’s case. But, if you convert them into yearly goals, say 3 per year, and achieve them, then within five or six years all body related goals will be finished. At the most within 8 years one can get complete control over the body platform. Try for yourself and see the result!”

Everybody is nodding their heads positively. The whole atmosphere is getting surcharged with new energy.

“Goal for mind is one and only one. That is steadiness. We have only one method to achieve it. That is studying Srila Prabhupada books. It requires nearly 18 years to thoroughly study Srila Prabhupada books completely. By steadily studying those books one can tame the mind without any doubt. In fact one gets so matured by this wonderful process that mind automatically becomes very friendly. One may adopt the below given spiral model for this endeavor. Based on the model one can decide the number of books for study purpose on yearly basis.”

“Goals for intelligence could be many. If one wants to engage in ‘continuous-Krishna work’ support from intelligence is warranted. Learning mridanga, karatals, harmonium, other musical instruments for participating in sankirtan; writing essays, drawing, song/poems writing, books writing, translation, contributing to BTG magazine; learning useful techniques and acquiring skills to render service to Vaishnavas; learning hundreds of food recipes for Lord’s cooking service; learning handicrafts; memorizing Bhagavad-Gita and Bhagavatam verses on weekly basis; learning Sanskrit language or other languages for preaching, etc. can become intelligence goals. By achieving these goals over some years gives ample opportunity for Lord’s service to devotees.”

“Service to Lord Krishna and Gurudeva becomes the goals for soul. That service may be through money or physical service or intellectual service or in any other form. Chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra without offences and service to cows also become the goal for soul. Book distribution, preaching and increasing the number of devotees come under soul’s goals. These are only a few examples. By the intelligence given by Krishna and Guru one can conceive many such goals for the soul. As stated by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-Gita (18.56) ‘pure devotee, though engaged in all kinds of activities, under the His protection reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by his grace’. So, by goal setting and achieving the same, year after year devotees can transform their desire of going back home, Back to Godhead into an achievable goal” Vaishnavanghri continued enthusiastically.

“But, how many goals one should set per year? Because setting goals and achieving them for all the four platforms is not an easy task” one devotee asked.

“Indeed it is a nice question. In anybody’s case number of goals should not be less than 6. This is mandatory. At the same time the number should not cross 8. First, let’s get into practice of goal setting and achieving them. If you adhere to this practice a marked change will happen in 5 to 6 years’ time.”

“Okay. But, what is the procedure to be followed to start this practice?” another devotee asked.

“I made one format for this purpose. There is some space for all the four platforms in the format. Though there is space for four goals in every platform, in the beginning one may have 3 goals at body platform, 2 goals for mind platform, 1 goal each for intellectual and soul platforms. Later on one can adjust the goal number on different platform depending on the progress.”

Vaishnavanghri displayed the format to all the participants.

“Goals should be written in the given space of the format, get them endorsed by some senior Vaishnava, take his signature; one should also sign and then paste it in the temple room. Then you won’t miss them. Your goals remain in front of your eyes throughout the year. Review process should happen once in three months with the senior Vaishnava who signed the document. If you follow this process victory will be yours” Vaishnavanghri concluded his talk.

“Every year if we religiously take up this process of goal setting with all seriousness, I am sure after few years inverted pyramid model gets established. At that time we will have only soul activities. Surely, that will be liberated state” one devotee said emotionally.

“No doubt about it. All the best” Vaishnavanghri said. “Please take an hour time and write your goals for all four platforms. Later one by one you can come forward and present your goal sheet. I will do the necessary moderation” Vaishnavanghri said.

Then forms are distributed to all participants and everybody jumped into action of setting goals. By the evening the entire goal setting workshop got concluded. Now everybody became so enthusiastic to invite new-year with confidence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

H.G. Vaishnavangri Sevaka Das is an initiated disciple of H.H. Gopalkrishna Goswami Maharaja. He holds Ph.D. in Polymer science, working as technology specialist in Polymer Industry at Mumbai, India. He is actively serving BBT in translating Srila Prabhupada’s books into Telugu (South Indian language). He also contributes articles to BTG Telugu (Bhagavaddarshan) every month. He is actively engaged in preaching activity at ISKCON Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India.

New Year's Eve lecture by Gurudev

Use your brain, make goals and nudge yourself towards success in 2012!!
(Excerpt from the New Year's Eve lecture by HG Vaisesika Prabhu @ ISKCON of Silicon Valley, San Jose, California - USA)

It takes a nudge

Go over if you can all the things that you did last year, how your practice was, where you went, who you talked to, what books you read, make an honest assessment of how you did last year and write those things down and then think about what you want to do next year, what goals do you want to make, what improvements can you make, which habits do you want to form this year. You can form a new habit by just deciding ahead of time that you are going to make a new habit and then incrementally implementing it in your material life, just a little bit at a time. It takes a nudge....nudge...just a little push and you keep nudging something long enough then it will move into place. So look into places you need to nudge yourself. Nudge yourself into better sadhana, a better practice and all that leads to a better life, and to increase Krishna consciousness and happiness on all accounts.

Formula for success

The way to have disaster in life is to repeat a few bad habits every day. You may say that it is no big deal. You know we say an apple a day keeps the doctor away and you say the Hershey bar a day keeps the doctor away then, there is nothing wrong with it right now but in the future it will add up. You have to see what is going to be the effect over time. So the formula for success...there is a formula for success just as there is a formula for good cakes and pies, the formula for success is to find out those few habits that you will repeat every day that will bring you to a higher level…that will bring you to success and then use discipline to implement those habits into your life. They don't have to be huge. You don't have to be great. You just have to find some good habits and implement them. Even if you start on that smallest scale that you can imagine and that smallest increment is nudge.You start with a little nudge, going towards the good habits at least you should know what they are and if you write them down and endeavor for that…that is the formula for success. A few good habits repeated everyday and over a week , over a month, over 6 months, over a year you'll notice the difference and everyone else will too …..you can do this in any sphere of your life.

Think, Think, Think

When you make your goals it is a good idea to look into different categories of your life, how you are doing in your communications with your spouse or with your family members how would you like to improve those over time how are you doing with your health lot of people fall apart when they start getting around 40 or 50 or 60 years old but there are some improvements you can make … you can change..you don't have to be the same as when you walked in here today. Everyone can make a difference but it takes brain work.In human being, the primary factor is the brain, not the legs, not the arms but it is the brain so you sit down and do little brain work .One good way to do this is to take a legal pad and a pen and jsut sit there and start brainstorming and write down all the things that you did last year..things you want to improve. Think about it. Just think, think, think and that is the power of the human brain and then decide. To make a goals there is a simple formula-decide what you want and write it down. If you do that and consolidate your thoughts then it is like the rudder it will send you in a certain direction in your life.

Do it now!

Now is the good time to do it before the year starts. Because before you know it, if you don't nail it down, when you look down then it is going to be april and then you'll think oh well I'll do it next year.So take some time , schedule sometime today or tomorrow to sit down with yourself , with your spouse, with your family members and write down some things. Just get them down then you'll see you have a profound change in your life. I know that Prabhupad kept a little book , he made goals all the time . If you look back into his old letters, he had all kinds of plans & goals for what today is the International Society for Krishna Consciousnes , He wrote them down, he categorized things, he looked at it carefully and I saw on his little book in Vrindavan….he wrote down some notations like….meet the queen of England… & this and that...So if you write them down then you'll start gravitating towards those things .That is the great excitement of being a human being. Use your brain , make goals and nudge yourself towards success, gradually you'll attain all things in Krishna Consciousness and in every other aspect of your life.

Srila Prabhupad Ki Jai!

Gaura Bhakta Vrianda Ki Jai!!

(Excerpt from the New Year's Eve lecture by HG Vaisesika Prabhu @ ISKCON of Silicon Valley, San Jose, California - USA)

BG Class by HG Shyamsundar prabhuji - New Year class!

First day of 2015 and it's a great day to reflect and understand how we can improve our spiritual life. It's a good occasion as devotees to reflect and understand what is going on in our life - what is of value and what is of no value. The nature of the material world has it's own ways to remind us of one thing - one thing of value - how are we spending our current moment in KC - that is the only thing of value. If the current moment isn't KC then we have wasted the moment. If the current moment is KC then we have added value to the spiritual bank account which is ultimately going to determine our ultimate destination. This marking of ending of one year and starting of another year is a good thing.

Our New Year starts at Gaura Poornima and for others new year starts at different times. But if a particular event is helping us to become more KC then it is of great value. Our only business is to reflect. People don't even have time to sit down and reflect, we get old and we still feel we are young. We are getting old so fast that we don't even realize. example of two classmates - we forget that we are becoming old, our bodies don't have energy like previously. We are losing our time in this world, our time in this world is decreasing. Each day we are getting closer to death. We should understand with every New Year, one more year has gone by and our time has reduced! When time is reducing, we should understand - that we need to make use of our time. We should at this juncture at 2015, we should reflect whether we used our time wisely in 2014 or not?

CC gives an order that every man shouldn't only get the KC but also give it all around - it is the order of Mahaprabhu that we accept and also distribute to others that is Mahaprabhu's order. \

1. Practicing KC is just the first order of Mahaprabhu and
2. Giving or preaching to others is the second part of the order.

In this year, we should take up this goal that we not only take up KC seriously by not wasting any moment of this year and life - we become serious like that not to waste even a moment without Krishna and Second with the same sincerity we engage in distributing this message to others - taking the inconvenience to spread this message to others that will please the Lord. Without pleasing the Lord we can't progress. When Krsna sees the devotee is struggling to do both his orders - trying to accept KC sincerely and struggling to distribute to others.  Then our mission of this human life will be fulfilled. The purpose of this form is to complete our journey and go back home back to Godhead - that is the purpose of our Human Form (this should be our last form before we go back Home) - utilize every moment in serving Krsna's orders (ARK NFK). When we do a project - a 1 year project, the team lead looks at the status how much had we planned, how much have we completed and where are we - similarly, we are on a project a life project and these new year's are our milestones to take inventory to see what is the project goal, what have I accomplished, what do I still need to acomplish. Have I cleaned material desires from my heart? How much attachments do I still have to material things? What can I do to still come closer to Krsna - Serve your GM really well! If we can plan our year in this way then we have really made use of our New Year. All this can be achieved only by chanting our rounds very very sincerely. The HOLY NAME is our only shelter - the basics are the most important. The only thing that can give us solace is the HOLY NAME. It is our only shelter at the most difficult times then why can't we take shelter of Harinaam prabhu during all times when we are able to really focus our mind on the Holy Name. So when we are in trouble and we need to take shelter of the Holy Name, our mind will be so troubled that we won't be able to focus on the Holy Name. How will the strength come?

1. Chant sincerely.
2. Reading SB.
3. Association of Devotees.
4. Serving the pure Vaishnavas.

When we do all these items, then he gets internal strength to make rapid progress to come straight to Krsna. We should understand that we are in EMERGENCY mode, we have to do it now, we have to do it urgently - don't waste any moment, things can happen to us at anytime. SB shelter needs to be taken everyday - KC is emergency situation we need to be alert, we need to be afraid. If we forget this emergency mode, then we are in problem. SP was constantly in emergency mode how to give how to give Krsna to everybody at all times.