Fwd: [News] Who Do You Serve & Why? - AVA 7:30pm November 3rd, 2009 Ojai, Ca.

Hari Bolo Friends of the Vedas! Please accept my respects. All glory to the transcendental light of the Bhagavad-Gita as It Is! On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 7:30pm Come join this wonderful evening that includes: Congregational Mantra Meditation A short study in Sanskrit A FREE Vegetarian Feast and A Bona-fide Sat-sanga where we will discuss: "Who Do You Serve & Why" will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Egocentricity is the norm but prosperity begins when we give up foolish behavior and selfish conclusions. Learn about the non-speculative Vedic Sciences from generations of world class erudite masters at the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Rd. - 640-0405 Always Free! Current Events: Pre-Thanksgiving Alternative Vegetarian Celebration, Tuesday Evening 7:30 pm. November 17, 2009. Every year the American Vedic Association sponsors a pre Thanksgiving feast which is 100% completely Vegetarian. We offer this service to the community as a way to demonstrate that everyone can still have a wonderful traditional celebration with Cranberries, Pumpkin Pie, Baked Sweet Potatoes, and a tasty Tofu Turkey with its own flavorful stuffing and creamy gravy. The AVA congregation is never expected to bring food to AVA programs but this particular event does invoke the festive cooking nature in those who attend. If you would like to make a particular preparation you learned from your grandmother, or something that always showed up on your holiday table, then let us know about it so we can coordinate the menu with what everyone else is bringing. The important restrictions we request you to follow is that whatever you would like to make should NOT include any Meat, Fish or Eggs. Vaishnavas also discourage the use of Garlic, Onions, and Mushrooms. Call (805) 640-0405 for clarification if needed. Living Space Available There is currently a rental opportunity available for someone who has a steady income and is interested in living in Ojai. The space is appropriate for one person who is willing to respect the vegetarian diet and can meet the required financial responsibilities. Those who might be interested in this living situaiont are invited to contact mayesvara dasa directly for further information about the details of the spacet: (805) 640-0405. Prelude to This Month's Feature Article Who Do You Serve? One of the most effective ways to measure the spiritual maturity of someone is to look at how well they can control their senses. Those who are actually transcendental, have mastered how to (tran)verse the (sen)ses incen(dental)ly. This word refers to one who can go beyond the realm of the senses without effort. Such a person is referred to as a go-svami, or "master of their senses" in Sanskrit. One who is a servant to their senses is ignobly known as a "go-dasa." Understanding this one point would save a lot of well intended people from getting exploited by charlatan "Spiritualists" who are often charismatic speakers, but not at all qualified to give advice about how to traverse beyond this land of sense perception/gratification. They no doubt have many interesting things to say, but if their knowledge is not coming from a perfect divine source like the Vedas, their conclusions must be flawed because conditioned humans suffer from the four classic flaws. (Imperfect senses, Propensity to Cheat, Prone to Make mistakes, and Suffers from illusion.) It's really very simple. If someone is spiritually mature then they are focusing on pleasing the instructions of their spiritual master and restoring their lost relationship with the Supreme Lord. They have no interest in attempting to fulfill the endless material demands of their own sense gratification. This has always been the standard for the Gaudia Vaishnava devotee, and it shows up at least partially in other bona-fide paths as well. One of the main purposes of the traditional monastery is to provide a place where monks can live simply without having their senses assaulted everywhere they turn. The Hindu ashram, Buddhist lamasery, and the Jewish Kibbutz are all intended to serve the same purpose. Mantra of Irresponsibility Unfortunately as Kali Yuga progresses the concept of a holy person controlling his senses has eroded away, especially here in New-Age drenched Southern California. It has become very fashionable for ignorant spiritualists and fraudulent "teachers" to proclaim things like: "...give up fear, ...discover your own non-idenity, ...become free from entrapment, ...all beliefs are OK, ...no need to change anything, ...just come to our 'satsanga', ...we will confirm your divinity, ...everything is just fine, ...leave a love donation." Actually Bob Marly summed up the essence of the Indiscriminate New Age traditions quite nicely in his for word sutra: "Don't worry. Be Happy" Regardless of how popular Bob Marley's song may be, it has no philosophical foundation in anything except gross self-serving hedonism and is often twisted into a mantra for irresponsibility. The reason why it is so important for the leaders of society to have complete control over their senses is because if the have just this one quality, then they will not be attracted to bribery or coerced into making in-appropriate self serving decisions. The concept of: "What's In it for me?" evaporates when a person is truly self satisfied with internal spiritual communion with God in his own heart. That was the minimal standard for the Brahmin class which is expected to be the head of Vedic society. Doing "Nothing" is Easier then "Surrendering" When the Vedas say a spiritually advanced person is not prone to serving his senses it does not mean that he will simply sit under a blanket somewhere in the Himalaya Mountains and do nothing. That concept is often implied by some New Age ministers, but it is not recommended by the Vedas for people born in the Kali Yuga. Running away from responsibilities is much easier then learning how to engage one's senses in the service of Lord Krishna. That is actually the proper way to bring them under control but people who are too proud to surrender prefer to come up with their own concocted ideas about what constitutes spiritual life. To engage ones senses in service to Krishna one must first surrender to Him and that is very rare. manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah "Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 7"Knowledge of the Supreme", Text 3. The explosive growth of the New Age movement is a response to all the people who have drifted away from Christianity but have not fallen so far that they still experience the urging from Super-Soul for some type of spiritual community. There may be all sorts of unique characteristics that attract people to the various selection of New Age cults that have surfaced to meet that need, but the one thing they all have in common is that none of them even hint that one should control their senses or surrender to Krishna. The Gita however is not ambiguous and very clear: yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam "Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 9 "The Most Confidential Knowledge", Text 27. Purging Bad Habits When one understands this pivotal point and starts applying this principal in their life, then any residual attraction we may have to the inauspicious things which get us in trouble loose their attraction and eventually drop away. The alternative to learning how to do everything to please Krishna, is more of the same old entangling behavior that manifests as serving one's own selfish laziness, delusional desires, and conditioned false ego. durena hy avaram karma buddhi-yogad dhananjaya buddhau saranam anviccha krpanah phala-hetavah "O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers." Bg 2.49 - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 2 "Contents of the Gita Summarized", Text 49. This is particularly ironic because it is this rebellious attitude promoted and encouraged by New Age sophistry that lies at the root of everything we find unpleasant in the material world. That's because those who don't acknowledge their relationship with God become very materially attached and that's the origine of selfishness. The materialist is focused on getting what THEY want from any given situation and before too long that agenda leads to exploitation, manipulation, deceit, and in extreme cases, fully orchestrated fraud. The materialist tends to be greedy, angry, lusty insecure and therefore untrustworthy. The devotee however understands that his duty is to follow dharma faithfully and he is secure about offering everything he does as a service to the supreme. He is confident that Krishna is the ultimate controller and that he is pleased when we honor our word, temper our anger, and control our lust. This is indeed not only the path to person perfection, but the kindest thing one can do to improve the suffering of conditioned souls all over the world. yo mam evam asammudho janati purusottamam sa sarva-vid bhajati mam sarva-bhavena bharata iti guhyatamam sastram idam uktam mayanagha etad buddhva buddhiman syat krta-krtyas ca bharata "Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata. 19 This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 15 "Yoga Of The Supreme Person", Text 20. This Issue HOT LINK: Draupadi – Example of Surrender A very dramatic example of how to surrender to Lord Krishna is captured in one of the most memorial parts of the great Indian epic called the Mahabharata. The last thing the Pandavas lost in the corrupt game of dice they played against the cheating Shakuni is their shared wife, the beautiful Draupadi. After she was lost Dyroyadana ordered her to be disrobed in the presence of the entire assembly of kings, sages, princes, and assembled citizens. Back in those days people honored their word and kept their promises even when the integrity of their oath was tested under extremely dire situations such as this one. Consequently nobody in the court felt they could do anything to step in and interfere with Dyroyodana's horrible order for Draupadi to be disrobed. Initially Draupadi struggled under her own efforts, just like we tend to do in resolving our daily problems. However eventually she realized that her own efforts alone were inadequate to save her from the pending situation. That was when she thru up her hands and prayed for protection from Lord Krishna. The first hot link clip shows Dyroyadana ordering Dusshana to "Drag Draupadi by her hair" back to the kings assembly room. Draupadi makes all sorts of objections based on the etiquette of the day, but demons don't respect anyone else's rights and don't care about etiquette. Hot Link Part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0KF9l1GB3M The second part of this hot link captures the tension that builds up as Dusasana violently attempts to pull Draupadi's sari off her body. IT is a little drawn out which is typical of Indian movies, but if you have the patience to let the entire clip finish you will get a first hand taste for the beautiful reciprocation Krishna offers to his surrendered devotee. Hot Link Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQgErU7k_pk Main Article by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Servant of the Senses The following conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Dr. Chaturbhai P. Patel took place in Bombay on March 23, 1974. Dr. Patel: The other morning, when a young lady told you, "I am practicing medicine and serving people," you said, in effect, "You are a fool." HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Yes. She is not serving. Of course, as they say, "Everyone is serving" -- serving money. Everyone is serving, but unless he gets paid, no service. That is not service. Everyone in the material world is serving somebody. Because by nature he is a servant. Dr. Patel: He's serving everyone. HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: No, no. As the English proverb says, "Everyone's servant is no one's servant." Anyway, service is required. You cannot live without serving. That is not possible. Every one of us is serving somebody. But the result of this material service is disagreeable. I have given before the example that Mahatma Gandhi gave so much service. But the result was he was killed. He was killed. That person who killed him did not think, "Oh, this old gentleman has given so much service to us. Even if I do not agree with him, how can I kill him?" But people are so very ungrateful -- you see? -- that whatever service you may render, they'll never be satisfied. Dr. Patel: Gandhi's service -- he was doing his prescribed duty. HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: No, actually. But first of all, let us define service. What is service? Service means there is a servant and a master. And service is the transaction between the servant and his master. But we have created so many unprescribed masters. The wife master, the family master, the country master, the legislative master, this master, that master -- you see? And we are giving service. "Oh, it is my duty. I am giving service." But ask any of these masters, "Are you satisfied?" He'll say, "What have you done?" Dr. Patel: The master won't be satisfied. HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: No. These self-created masters will never be satisfied. And really, by serving them we are trying to serve and satisfy our own senses. I am giving service to my wife because I think she will satisfy my senses. Therefore I'm not giving service to my wife -- I'm giving service to my senses. So ultimately, we are servants of our own senses. We are nobody's servants. This is our material position. Yes, ultimately, we are servants of our senses. Constitutionally, I am a servant, but at the present moment, being conditioned by the material nature, I am giving service to my senses. But my senses are not independent. They are totally dependent. For instance, I am now moving my hands, but if the true master of my hand, Krsna, paralyzes it -- no more moving. Nor can I revive the moving capacity of my hand. So although I am claiming I am master of my hand, master of my leg, and so on, actually I am not. The master is different. One of Krsna's other names is Hrsikesa, "the creator and master of all senses." Therefore we should transfer our service to Lord Krsna. sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate "'Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one's senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.' ? - Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila Chapter 19 "Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Gosvami', Text170 We have tried in so many ways to serve our senses, but when we engage our senses in serving the master of the senses, we get the spiritual satisfaction of bhakti, devotion. Devotional service to Krsna is also service, but it is not service to the inert senses -- it is service to the living master of the senses. This is real satisfaction. So constitutionally I am a servant. I cannot become the master. My position is that I have to serve. And if I don't serve the master of the senses, then I will have to serve the senses and go unsatisfied. Dr. Patel: Now, the fact remains that each man does have prescribed duties to wife, family, country, and government. HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Yes. Dr. Patel: We have different kinds of bodies and senses, also, and that gives us different duties. One man has to act as a priest or teacher, another as an administrator or military man, another as a farmer or merchant, and still another as a laborer or craftsman. And when a man does his duty without expectation of any fruits, this is as good as devotion to the Lord. HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: No, no. Not expecting any fruits is not enough. You must do more than that. You must give the fruits unto Krsna. Give the result of your prescribed duties to Krsna. You can earn a million dollars, but don't simply take it all yourself or lavish it on your family. Give this fruit to Krsna. That is real service. Just like you are working as a medical practitioner. So give your earnings to Krsna. Then you become perfect. We simply have to see that by our work Krsna is satisfied. Krsna says; yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam "Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 9 "The Most Confidential Knowledge", Text 27. "Never mind what you are doing." Tat kurusva mad-arpanam: "Give Me it." [Srila Prabhupada laughs.] And people say, "No, no, no, sir. I am serving You, but the money is in my pocket." Dr. Patel: Everything is Krsna's. How can you give anything? Even a leaf? HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Oh, yes, yes. Just like these boys and girls are giving. They are giving their whole life. They do not ask me for money: "My dear sir, please give me some money; I will go to the cinema." They are serving, and they have given everything. This is service. They are not poor. They're earning, but everything for Krsna. If you divide your income partially -- "Some percentage for Krsna, some percentage for my sense gratification" -- then Krsna says; ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah "As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 4 "Transcenental Knowledge", Text 11. If you have spent cent percent of your energy for Krsna, Krsna is cent percent for you. And if you have spent one percent for Krsna. He is one percent for you. Responsive cooperation. This movement has advanced so much all over the world because we have these boys and girls who have dedicated everything for Krsna. Therefore it has so quickly advanced. They do not think of anything personal. Only how to serve Krsna. atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam "O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead." - Ref. VedaBase => SB - Srimad Bhagavat Purana Canto 1, "Creation" Chapter 2, "Divinity and Divine Service," The highest perfection is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. "Servant Of the Senses" (BTG #20-02/03 1985) *-*-*-*-*-*-*-* End This Issue Feature Article *-*-*-*-*-*-*-* This Issue Thoughtful Vedic Quote(s) 1. nirmana-moha jita-sanga-dosa adhyatma-nitya vinivrtta-kamah dvandvair vimuktah sukha-duhkha-samjnair gacchanty amudhah padam avyayam tat "Those who are free from false prestige, illusion and false association, who understand the eternal, who are done with material lust, who are freed from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who, unbewildered, know how to surrender unto the Supreme Person attain to that eternal kingdom." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter15 "Yoga Of The Supreme Person", Text 5. This Issue Thoughtful Scholarly Quote(s) 2. "I am most impressed with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's scholarly and authoritative edition of Bhagavad Gita. It is a most valuable work for the scholar as well as the layman and is of great utility as a reference book as well as a textbook. I promptly recommend this edition to my students. It is a beautifully done book." Dr. Samuel D. Atkins Professor of Sanskrit, Princeton University ()