Welcome to the KrishnaSoft's Electronic Newsletter.
This is the January 2001 issue entitled: "Being Engaged in Devotional Service is Real Life Insurance!"
WEB: http://www.krishnasoft.com; EMAIL: krishna@krishnasoft.com or vdayal@castle.net
This newsletter goes to over 1100 people who either have an interest in Vedic science and/or spiritually entertaining multimedia technology.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
(1) Being Engaged in Devotional Service is Real Life Insurance!
(2) Some Vegetarians Are Worse Than Some Meat-eaters!
(3) Feedback: Miscellaneous
(4) Editorial Policy and Product List
1. BEING ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS REAL LIFE INSURANCE!
People are always looking for defending themselves from fearful conditions so they purchase so many material insurance policies like life insurance and medical insurance. However, no one has actually saved himself from birth, death, old age, and disease by any of these insurance policies.
"Bhagavad-gita (8.16) says, abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna: except for those who go to Visnuloka, everyone is subjected to the four principles of material life, namely birth, death, old age and disease. The Lord says, yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: 'The planet from which, once going, no one returns, is My supreme abode.' (Bg. 15.6) Dhruva Maharaja was reminded, 'You are going in our company to that planet from which no one returns to this material world.' Material scientists are attempting to go to the moon and other planets, but they cannot imagine going to the topmost planet, Brahmaloka, for it is beyond their imagination. By material calculation, traveling at the speed of light it would take forty thousand light-years to reach the topmost planet. By mechanical processes we are unable to reach the topmost planet of this universe, but the process called bhakti-yoga, as executed by Maharaja Dhruva, can give one the facility not only to reach other planets within this universe, but also to reach beyond this universe to the Visnuloka planets." (Bhag. 4.12.26)
The reason we are suffering the material conditions is because of our lack of surrender to the service of Lord Krsna. As soon as we surrender to Lord Krsna, the sinful reactions are all eliminated:
"'Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.' This same principle is described here (sakrn manah krsna-padaravindayoh). If by studying Bhagavad-gita one decides to surrender to Krsna, he is immediately freed from all sinful reactions." (Bhag. 6.1.19)
By surrendering to Lord Krsna, we can receive His blessings without which our attempts to counteract the material miseries will be a failure:
"In conclusion, not only for liberation must one depend on the Lord, but even for ordinary necessities in this material world. Prthu Maharaja therefore indicated that in spite of having rich parents, children are sometimes not happy. Similarly, in spite of valuable medicine administered by a competent physician, sometimes a patient dies; or in spite of having a big safe boat, sometimes a man drowns. We may thus struggle to counteract impediments offered by material nature, but our attempts cannot be successful unless we are favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Bhag. 4.21.30)
"'In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.' Elsewhere in the Gita (6.40) the Lord says, na hi kalyana-krt kascid durgatim tata gacchati: 'one who performs auspicious activity is never overcome by evil.' The highest kalyana (auspicious) activity is to surrender to Krsna. That is the only path by which to save oneself from falling down into hellish life." (Bhag. 6.1.19)
As explained in our previous newsletters, surrender to Krsna means surrender to the order of the spiritual master coming down through disciplic succession from Lord Krsna Himself:
"Of course, one should not commit sinful activities on the strength of having surrendered to Krsna. However, even if one who has surrendered to Krsna happens to do something sinful because of his former habits, such sinful actions no longer have a destructive effect. Therefore one should adhere to the lotus feet of Krsna very tightly and serve Him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be akuto-bhaya, free from fear." (Bhag. 6.1.19)
"The word tattvatah, meaning 'in reality,' is very important. Tato mam tattvato jnatva. Unless one understands Krsna in truth by the mercy of the spiritual master, one is not free to give up his material body. As it is said, aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah: if one neglects to serve the lotus feet of Krsna, one cannot become free from the material clutches simply by knowledge. Even if one attains the stage of brahma-padam, merging in Brahman, without bhakti he is prone to fall down. One must be very careful in regard to the danger of falling down again into material bondage. THE ONLY INSURANCE IS TO COME TO THE STAGE OF BHAKTI, FROM WHICH ONE IS SURE NOT TO FALL. Then one is free from the activities of the material world. In summary, as stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one must get in touch with a bona fide spiritual master coming in the parampara of Krsna consciousness, for by his mercy and instructions one is able to get strength from Krsna. Thus one engages in devotional service and attains the ultimate goal of life, the lotus feet of Visnu." (Bhag. 7.15.45)
Engaging in devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master is the only real means of protecting oneself from the material miseries in this life. As explained in the December 2000 newsletter, this devotional service is not dependent on EXTERNAL results:
"'Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.' The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhava-grahi janardana because He takes only the essence of a devotee's attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhava-grahi janardana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality." (Bhag. 8.23.2)
"By service of the bona fide spiritual master, the Lord consents to REVEAL Himself in proportion to the service rendered. Utilization of the human energy in the service of the Lord is the progressive path of salvation. The whole cosmic creation becomes at once identical with the Lord as soon as service in relation with the Lord is rendered under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master." (Bhag. 1.5.23)
2. SOME VEGETARIANS ARE WORSE THAN SOME MEAT-EATERS!
"The asuras want to enjoy a life of sense gratification, even at the cost of others' happiness. In order to fulfill this ambition, the asuras, especially atheistic kings or state executive heads, try to equip themselves with all kinds of deadly weapons to bring about a war in a peaceful society. They have no ambition other than personal aggrandizement, and thus mother earth feels overburdened by such undue increases of military strength. By increase of the asuric population, those who follow the principles of religion become unhappy, especially the devotees, or devas." (Bhag. 1.16.34)
As explained in the article above-- "Being Engaged in Devotional Service is Real Life Insurance!"-- even a little engagement in Krsna consciousness can save one from the most dangerous type of fear. Devotees work to establish the principles of religion everywhere so people can be happy and return back to Godhead:
"Happiness in the world depends proportionately on the maintenance of the religious principles, individually or collectively. The best part of valor is to maintain the principles despite all kinds of odds. Thus one can be happy during the span of life and ultimately return to Godhead." (Bhag. 1.16.25)
The asuras act for their own benefit regardless of whether it helps or hinders the spread of religious principles.
"The principal sign of the age of Kali is that lower-caste sudras, i.e., men without brahminical culture and spiritual initiation, will be dressed like administrators or kings, and the principal business of such non-ksatriya rulers will be to kill the innocent animals, especially the cows and the bulls, who shall be unprotected by their masters, the bona fide vaisyas, the mercantile community." (Bhag. 1.17.1)
By spreading religious principles like chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, the devotees purify the polluted minds of the people in general and actually decrease the killing of cows and the bulls. Some so-called administrators may not directly be killing the cows and the bulls, but by hindering the preaching, the so-called administrators ARE killing the cows and the bulls indirectly although they themselves may be vegetarians and followers of ritualistic religious formulae.
"In the age of Kali, the women and the children, along with brahmanas and cows, will be grossly neglected and left unprotected. In this age illicit connection with women will render many women and children uncared for. Circumstantially, the women will try to become independent of the protection of men, and marriage will be performed as a matter of formal agreement between man and woman. In most cases, the children will not be taken care of properly. The brahmanas are traditionally intelligent men, and thus they will be able to pick up modern education to the topmost rank, but as far as moral and religious principles are concerned, they shall be the most fallen. Education and bad character go ill together, but such things will run parallel. The administrative heads as a class will condemn the tenets of Vedic wisdom and will prefer to conduct a so-called secular state, and THE SO-CALLED EDUCATED BRAHMANAS WILL BE PURCHASED BY SUCH UNSCRUPULOUS ADMINISTRATORS. Even a philosopher and writer of many books on religious principles may also accept an exalted post in a government which denies all the moral codes of the sastras. The brahmanas are specifically restricted from accepting such service. But in this age they will not only accept service, but they will do so even if it is of the meanest quality. These are some of the symptoms of the Kali age which are harmful to the general welfare of human society." (Bhag. 1.16.21)
Therefore, it is better to be a meat-eater and helping for the cause of the spreading of Krsna consciousness than to be a vegetarian and hindering the spreading of Krsna consciousness. [Of course, it is best to be a vegetarian AND helping to the cause for spreading Krsna consciousness.]
3 FEEDBACK: MISCELLANEOUS
>Thank you very much prabhuji for including me in the newsletter. It is very
>meaningful to me to share Krsna kata. It is a very interesting subject about
>Prabhupada's books, and very well elaborated. Prabhupada has done a
>tremendous job in translating scriptures and writing books for the benefit
>of all of us. Not only are Prabhupada's books great but they were writen in
>the topmost devotional mood. Lots of Jivas have benefited from Prabhupada's
>books, and they will continue to do so in the future.
>Well Prabhuji, let me stop here, otherwise I will never stop prasing Srila
>Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
>Hare Krsna, and once again thanks for including me in the newsletter; Please
>keep me informed. Hari Bol!
4. EDITORIAL POLICY AND PRODUCT LIST
"One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krsna consciousness movement, *ALL* our activities are concentrated upon distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may approach any person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the future he also may become a devotee.... By fully concentrating on distributing books for Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna."
Our newsletters are geared to show you the benefits of the instructions contained in the transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada so you can judge for yourself the value of these books and obtain them in book or CDROM format. We also have video demos of the Gita CDROM and Bhagavatam CDROM available for those without computers or those who want to get a glimpse into what is on the CDROM.
Krishna Software Inc. has produced some multimedia CDROMs and all the details and reviews of these CDROMs can be found at our website http://www.krishnasoft.com. Here is our current list of products:
(a) Multimedia Bhagavad-gita As It Is CD: Lord Krsna's eternal instructions to Arjuna and the rest of the world about Isvara (Supreme Lord), jiva (the soul), karma (activities), kala (time), and prakrti (nature). This is a 30-hour audio-visual CDROM. Also available with Hindi translations.
(b) Multimedia Srimad-Bhagavatam CD: An encyclopedia on the science of Krsna consciousness. This CDROM deals in detail with bhakti-yoga and covers various subjects-- the creation of the universe, Vedic astronomy, transmigration, birth-death, etc. This is about 35 hours of audio-visual presentations.
(c) Multimedia Krsna CD w/Vedic Astronomy: This is a 51-hour audio-visual presentation of the Krsna book and a Vedic Astronomy simulation based on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. All on a single CDROM. Free sample demo downloadable from our website.
(d) Multilingual Word Processor CD [version 4.00]: Type in diacritics, Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, and Assamese without knowing the alphabet. This is for those who want to write articles using multiple languages. Free demo downloadable from our website.
All of the above software was tested on various Intel 486 and Pentium processors running Windows 3.1, Windows '95, Windows '98, Windows Me, and Windows NT (client and server).
Latest information and secure ordering is available at our web site: http://www.krishnasoft.com. Any upgrades can be downloaded from this website as well.
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End of Newsletter- written and edited by KSI staff; (c) 1998-2001 Krishna Software Inc.
Our staff consists of: Hari Rama Dasa, Virender Dayal, Rajni Dayal, and volunteers.
Any words appearing in CAPS in this newsletter is the editor's emphasis of a particular point.
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All glories to Lord Sri Krsna and His transcendental potencies! All glories to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna!