Hrsikesa Masa Vol-03 - The Eight Petals - ebooks - ISKCON desire ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Hrikesha MasVolume: 03Issue: Sep’11-Oct’11Even upon receiving the mercy of the devotees, and getting the seed of this devotionalcreeper (bhakti-lata-bija), it is the choice of the living entity to take up the process ofdevotion. In other words, it is a matter of individual freewill. At every point, theconditioned living entity has full freedom of choice to turn his misdirected attention backto the Supreme Lord or not - otherwise there would be no meaning to the term freewillat all. (We have previously discussed freewill and predestination at some length -please see Digest 4 and Digest 12 Q 117)Thus, it is only by the causeless mercy of devotees, when received and accepted by aconditioned living entity by proper use of their freewill, results in their taking up puredevotional service.It is sometimes seen that certain individuals taketo the process of devotional service very quicklyand effortlessly, upon coming in contact withdevotees - just like dry wood catching fire. Insuch cases, it can be understood that they arecontinuing or resuming their spiritual progressfrom a previous life. One who takes up the pathof spiritual realization, or devotional service, butdoes not achieve complete success in thislifetime is given a further chance in the next life -this is confirmed by Krishna in BG 6.41-44. TheLord arranges in the lives of such persons anenvironment or an opportunity that is conduciveto once again take up the process from wherethey left. But even in such a case, it is not quite amatter of predestination - the individual still hasthe full freedom to choose or reject theopportunity given to them, to misuse or toproperly utilize it.Also, Krishna is fully independent, and so is Bhaktidevi - thus, it cannot be expected thatbhakti is obliged to appear because of one’s previous devotional practices. SrilaPrabhupada explains how the transcendental system of devotional service is fullyindependent — it may or may not develop in a particular person even after heundergoes all the detailed formulas. Similarly, the association of devotees is also freefrom material causes. One may be fortunate to have it, or one may not have it evenafter thousands of endeavors. Thus, freedom is the main pivot in all spheres ofdevotional service. (Cf. SB 1.6.37 p) By sincerely surrendering to the Lord through thetransparent medium of the spiritual master, we can hope to attract His causeless mercy.[NOTE: Maharaj’s above answer which appears as an article above was originally inresponse to the following question: Was it destined when I was born that I would oneday become associated with ISKCON and do all these spiritual activities? If yes, thenwhy do we preach? Won’t people destined to join ISKCON join it, and those notdestined to join ISKCON not join it? If no, then does it mean that joining ISKCON isoutside the influence of destiny? Source: www.dandavats.com.]Make Vrndavan Villages
Hrikesha MasVolume: 03Issue: Sep’11-Oct’11• Varnashrama Developments- HH Bhakti Raghava SwamiThis morning we held a special class in memory of Bhagiratha prabhu. To our goodfortune, one of the devotees close to Bhagiratha prabhu since his childhood, SrimanKisora Krishna prabhu, arrived here at Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Ksetra (SSKBK)the day before yesterday. Time was but too short to begin recollecting all the wonderfulmemories of this great Vaisnava who left our midst rather suddenly and unexpectedly.I first noticed Bhagiratha prabhu in the late nineties at the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama temple inDenpasar (Capital City of the Province of Bali) where even as a young student in primary andsecondary school he would come and associate with devotees by staying overnight at thetemple. He was then known as Bhakta Nyoman Bagia. He was likely less than 10 years oldwhen he started chanting the Holy names on japa mala. One of the earlier Balinese devoteeswho actually brought him and many other young students to Krishna consciousness was SrimanDhritatma prabhu, a teacher by profession who was and remains a very active preacher. By thetime Bhakta Nyoman Bagia was 16, he was already very serious in his devotional service.Kisora Krishna prabhu recalls how he had vowed to hand carve and string his own tulasi malathat, because of its large size, he finished just a short time before his Hari Nama diksaceremony in Bali In July of 2002. He had just turned 18 and received the name Bhagiratha dasbrahmacary.As part of the plan to send some Indonesian devotees to India for learning and training, I hadselected both Kisora Krishna prabhu and Bhagiratha prabhu who were fortunate to obtain athree year Student Visa to study Yoga and Sanskrit under the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan branch inMangalore, And so it was that in the later part of year 2003 they both went to India together, thisbeing Bhagiratha prabhu’s first visit to the holy land. It was during this period that he first visitedour Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Ksetra where he and prabhu Kisora helped develop theproject in its very early days.Make Vrndavan Villages
Page 2: Hrikesha MasVolume: 03Issue: Sep’
Page 6 and 7: Hrikesha MasVolume: 03Issue: Sep’
Page 10 and 11: Free Will Vs PredestinationEasily E
Page 16: Hrikesha MasVolume: 03Issue: Sep’
Page 20 and 21: Vamana MasVolume: 03Issue:July’11

Hrsikesa Masa Vol-03 - The Eight Petals - ebooks - ISKCON desire ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?