The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 2

Continued from

The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 1

Further Srila Prabhupada's explains that in SB 4.9.8:

The Lord's mercy is beyond our estimation:

1. The devotee understands that the Lord’s causeless mercy is beyond his estimation; he cannot know how much he is benefited by the grace of the Lord.
2. The more a devotee engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, the more encouragement is supplied by the energy of the Lord.
3. In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that to those who are constantly engaged in devotional service with love and affection, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives intelligence from within and thus they may make further progress.
4. Being so encouraged, the devotee can never forget, at any moment, the Personality of Godhead. He always feels obliged to Him for having achieved increased power in devotional service by His grace. 
5. Saintly persons like Sanaka, Sanātana and Lord Brahmā were able to see the entire universe, by the mercy of the Lord, through knowledge of the Lord. 
6. The example is given that a person may apparently abstain from sleep all day, but as long as he is not spiritually enlightened he is actually sleeping. He may sleep at night and perform his duties in the daytime, but as long as he does not come to the platform of working in spiritual enlightenment he is considered to be always sleeping.
7.  A devotee, therefore, never forgets the benefit derived from the Lord.

Inspite of hearing all this where is the ahankara and ego coming from that I am something :)

Lord please protect me from this tendency, help me understand that you are the cause of all causes, you are the ability in me, its your mercy that is acting. Help me become a servant of the servant of the servant.

If we do not surrender we are considered lacking in real knowledge:

1. The Māyāvādī philosopher, who does not surrender unto the Supreme Person, is understood to be lacking in real knowledge. 
2. The devotee in perfect knowledge cannot forget his obligation to the Lord at any moment.

The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 1

Dhruva Maharaja patiently executed his spiritual master Narada Muni's instruction, by doing so he attained the Supreme Perfection of life which was to receive darshan of the Lord. When the Lord was standing before him, he was speechless and stunned. He was unable to offer prayers in glorification of the Lord. The Lord very mercifully blessed him by touching His conchshell on his head.

He was thus enabled by the causeless mercy of the Lord , to offer fitting prayers.

• The Lord's mercy is needed to render service:
• Srila Prabhupada states in the purport to the verse 4.9.5:"To glorify or offer prayers unto the Supreme, one needs the Lord’s mercy. One cannot write to glorify the Lord unless one is endowed with His causeless mercy."
• Dhruva Maharaja experiences difference in himself:
• Therefore when Dhruva Mahārāja found this difference within himself, he could immediately understand that it was because of the causeless mercy of the Lord. 
• Acknowledgement and Gratitude for the mercy received
• He offered obeisances to the Lord with great respect and reverence, completely understanding that the Lord’s favor was upon him. 

How does such spiritual enlivenment work?

From Srila Prabhupada's purport to SB 4.9.6

• Action of the internal potency
• This spiritual enlivenment of Dhruva Mahārāja’s senses and mind was due to the action of the internal potency of the Lord.
• Connect with internal potency through chanting:
• Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spiritual energy of the Lord. The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, Hare.
• When does the spiritual energy act:
•  This spiritual energy acts when a living entity fully surrenders and accepts his position as an eternal servitor. 
• When a person places himself at the disposal or order of the Supreme Lord, that is called sevonmukha; at that time the spiritual energy gradually reveals the Lord to him.
• Nothing is possible without the revelation by the spiritual energy
• Without revelation by the spiritual energy, one is unable to offer prayers glorifying the Lord.
•  Any amount of philosophical speculation or poetic expression by mundane persons is still considered to be the action and reaction of the material energy. 
• Action  of the spiritual energy:
• When one is actually enlivened by the spiritual energy, all his senses become purified, and he engages only in the service of the Lord. At that time his hands, legs, ears, tongue, mind, genitals — everything — engage in the service of the Lord. 
• Such an enlightened devotee no longer has any material activities, nor has he any interest in being materially engaged. This process of purifying the senses and engaging them in the service of the Lord is known as bhakti, or devotional service.
• "Mechanically Engaged" followed by "Engagement with spiritual understanding":
•  In the beginning, the senses are engaged by the direction of the spiritual master and śāstra, and after realization, when the same senses are purified, the engagement continues.
•  The difference is that in the beginning the senses are engaged in a mechanical way, but after realization they are engaged in spiritual understanding.

Further continued in 

The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 2

Attain Perfection by following the instructions of the spiritual master

In the purport to SB 4.8.71 Dhruva Maharaja begins his worship as advised by Narada Muni Srila Prabhupada says:

1. "The significance of this particular verse is that Dhruva Mahārāja acted exactly according to the advice of his spiritual master, the great sage Nārada.
2. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī also advises that if we want to be successful in our attempt to go back to Godhead, we must very seriously act according to the instruction of the spiritual master. That is the way of perfection.
3. There need be no anxiety over attaining perfection because if one follows the instruction given by the spiritual master he is sure to attain perfection.
4. Our only concern should be how to execute the order of the spiritual master. A spiritual master is expert in giving special instructions to each of his disciples, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master, that is the way of his perfection."

In another purport SB 4.9.5 Srila Prabhupada says:

"Dhruva Mahārāja attained this perfection not by acting hastily, but by patiently executing the order of his spiritual master, and therefore he became so successful that he saw the Lord face to face. "

Some instructions recieved so far by us:

1. Become servant of servant of servant of the devotees of the Lord
2. Do not criticize devotees
3. Chant properly

To what extent are we following these?

What is the meaning of taking shelter of the Lord's Lotus Feet?

I heard this in a class by HG Vraja bihari Prabhu sometime in 2011 maybe:

What is the meaning of taking shelter of the Lord's Lotus Feet?

• Physical Darshan
• Humility, want to serve Krsna, become a servant of Krsna and His devotees. Take a humble position. Follow instructions

What is the qualification to take darshan of His Lotus Feet?

• Attachment to hearing and Chanting about Krsna
• Non enviousness
• Hold on to the Holy Name - Kaliya was envious but by allowing Krsna to dance on his head all his dirty poison came out. Similarly if we hold on to the Lord;s Holy Name we will be cured of our envy.

How to meditate on Krsna's Lotus Feet?

• Take Darshan step by step from His Lotus Feet progressively upwards finally to His face.
• Follow the instructions of the spiritual master.

SB 1.2.13 Hear submissively to make advancement

Important points from the purport to the verse:

tac chraddadhānā munayo jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā

paśyanty ātmani cātmānaḿ bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā

The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.

Points from Srila Prabhupada's purport

Book Bhagavat and person Bhagavat

1. A third class devotee is one who has knowledge - engages in so called devotional service is not detached from material association
2.  Therefore he has to receive instructions from authoritative sources of Bhagavata - the personality of a devotee and the Book Bhagavatam
3. A sincere devotee must, therefore, be prepared to hear the Vedic literature like the Upaniṣads, Vedānta and other literatures left by the previous authorities or Gosvāmīs, for the benefit of his progress. Without hearing such literatures, one cannot make actual progress. And without hearing and following the instructions, the show of devotional service becomes worthless and therefore a sort of disturbance in the path of devotional service. Unless, therefore, devotional service is established on the principles of śruti, smṛti, purāṇa or pañcarātra authorities, the make-show of devotional service should at once be rejected. An unauthorized devotee should never be recognized as a pure devotee. By assimilation of such messages from the Vedic literatures, one can see the all-pervading localized aspect of the Personality of Godhead within his own self constantly. This is called samādhi.

Power of Association with Devotees

SB 1.1.15: O Sūta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.

Purport:

Pure devotees of the Lord are more powerful than the waters of the sacred river Ganges. One can derive spiritual benefit out of prolonged use of the Ganges waters. But one can be sanctified at once by the mercy of a pure devotee of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that any person, regardless of birth as śūdra, woman, or merchant, can take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and by so doing can return to Godhead. To take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord means to take shelter of the pure devotees. The pure devotees whose only business is serving are honored by the names Prabhupāda and Viṣṇupāda, which indicate such devotees to be representatives of the lotus feet of the Lord. Anyone, therefore, who takes shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee by accepting the pure devotee as his spiritual master can be at once purified. Such devotees of the Lord are honored equally with the Lord because they are engaged in the most confidential service of the Lord, for they deliver out of the material world the fallen souls whom the Lord wants to return home, back to Godhead. Such pure devotees are better known as vicelords according to revealed scriptures. The sincere disciple of the pure devotee considers the spiritual master equal to the Lord, but always considers himself to be a humble servant of the servant of the Lord. This is the pure devotional path.

Sadhusangastakam - Verses 3.25.23 -24- How to recognize a sadhu - Part2

The perfection of Devotional service is made possible by association of devotees. Then we learned what are the characteristics of a sadhu - having that understanding one can recognize one - pay attention and cultivate and let that person become an object of your affection.

A sadhu does the thankless task of impressing upon others the importance of devotional service.- meet with so many opposing elements

One can have difficulties and risk in DS but devotees tolerate that inconvenience and danger because they are in service to the Lord - tolerant merciful- expand that message to so many others - human and animal society.

sadhava- one who abides by the principles must be a devotee of a lord

Text 22- staunch devotional service and renounced for the welfare of others. - test renunciation -e energy, resources, self everything employed in the service of the Lord.

SB 3.25.23: Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sādhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities.


FRom 3.2.3-6 -How should we associate with a sadhu and what is teh consequence-
Krsna had just finished speaking uddhava gita - and it was the same day that krsna had left- uddhava his life and soul was gone and vidura comes and he says - just seeing you reminds of krsna , baalaraama and all the people of dwarka


From 3.2.6 : given to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī by Lord Śrī Caitanya: "The living entities all over the universes are enjoying the effects of the respective fruitive results of their own work, life after life. Out of all of them, some may be influenced by the association of pure devotees and thus get the chance to execute devotional service by attainment of taste. This taste is the seed of devotional service, and one who is fortunate enough to have received such a seed is advised to sow it in the core of his heart.

The topic is sadhu sanga- sadhu like a tree and lotus feet of the Lord are like a tre- just like a creeper grows by attaching itself to a tree- the sadhu is like a tree gives support and water to grow for the creeper and the tree is attached to lotus feet of the Lord and therefore the creeper of our DS will grow.This is how sadhu sanga works.

Activity of grlofying through hearing and chanting- is the bhagavt form- from that all forms of service come through- "Ordinary conditioned souls, being forgetful of the activities of the Lord, are always full of anxieties and material tribulations. On the other hand, since the devotees always engage in the topics of the Lord, they are forgetful of the miseries of material existence."

root of any misery is forgetfulness of Krishna- we have  a bad bargain- this body material exience is a bad bargain we got a bopdy and now we are stuck with it- make the best use of a bad bargain use it in service to Krishna - along with bad bargain tolerate the miseries come along with it. Move one - to that which is sadhu guided - real misery is we forgot krishna - we are going on forgetting him that is misery- our reral happiness is separated from us

Why is the association of devotees so valuable?

1) One who is a a sadhu-devotee- they have unflinching mood of service in all circumstances - independent of circumstance - humble service to Krishna- because of this humble mood Krishna manifests in their heart- he is attracted to them - he is ever present in their consciousness and a when a devotee speaks devotee opens their heart- Uddhava just hearing Krishna's name - he became intensely absorbed- he was there with Krishna - but he wanted to serve Vidura and he spoke his heart to him - through sound vibration consciousness is transmitted. Potential of the association where trasnmitter and reciever are both tuned - teh potential of that is consciousness is transferred not just dos and donts - and int he process of receiving that sound vibration one gets even a glimpse of Krishna that is o powerful , meaningful and full of light- darkness is dispelled

What is that exp when glimpse of KRishna is recd through sound vibration?

That is the taste from 3.2.6 - something that encourages us to go further in devotional service. Krishna give a glimpse of Him- that is so powerful it keeps us goin- our chantign is like that until sudddha naama it is nam-abhasa- reflection of the Holy Name and that is so poweful it is retaining our KC- and in the assoc of a sadhu one who had that quality described by Kapilas Dev Krishna is there in teh heart- it is the Shyama Sundara form not 4 armed

the principle of sadhu- sanga is association that xfers from the heart of the sadhu to our heart if we are attending to taht association properly-

Anotehr poetic image given about the heart fo the devotee- is like crystal it takes on the color of that its surrounding - crystal shines - thus heart of the devotee shines radiantly- if there is a desire in the heart of a devotee ot connect with Krishna in the association of sadhu the covering diminshes and teh awakened state of love for KRishna is attained- ikt is more than hanging out- attach ourself with teh sadhu in a mood of service primarily hearing

sadhu wants to help everyone free them from material condition - through method of hearing- enlivening to the heart of ths sadhu to see people hearing sincerely.

Take it through the ear and the magic of hearing.

Kapila Dev's instruction is not just hanging it out it is attaching onself to the adhu through service.

Let the mind become attached from Text 23- naitān mad-gata-cetasaḥ thoughts are filled by thoughts of Krishna  chracteristic of a sadhu - their mind and heart are absorbed in Krishna - we become attached to that association through hearing and applying then material disease is gone.

SB 3.25.24: O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment.

bad bargain- we got misery while looking for happiness- cant get released by complaining about it- message of the sadhu is to cut the affinity for material attachment and bring to spiritual attraction.

This verse is the answer to Devahuti's initial question.

From the purport -

We have to rise above the modes of nature, 2 nd chapter BG be Xcendental to the modes of natures- which pollutes our consciousness, what do you do- cannot find anything pure in this world - how do we find anything pure in this contaminated world- bring you consciousness to that which is supremely pure- how? through sadhu sanga- a pure devotee is free from modes of nature and it is our duty to seek out

We must become a sadhu - become a benefit to the world- how? by taking these instructions to heart.

Those who are sadhus- do not feel the contamination of the material world - as we surrender to the Lord he reciprocates accordingly- therefore be a kitten 

sadhu cuts with words - message of SB-- cuts bondage of attachment to fruitive activity and its results.Prahlada's perfection - protected from so many difficulties by constant remembrance of the Supreme Lord - VCT's commentary- the fault of material association is destroyed by sadhu sanga

We must become attached to the instructions as receive and follow then catching the glimpse of Krishna in those instructions and carrying it in our hearts

Association tranffers contents from one person's heart to anotehr person's heart - surround our heart by sound vibration of saintly persons then that heart also becomes cleansed and filled with Krishna Consicousness
Association with advanced devotees is essential for those who want to advance in Krishna Consciousness - those who are free from illusion , false prestige and false association are elegible to center the kingdomn of God- So we need to cultivate underdtaning of that which is eternal and by that sadhu sanga- material dualities and lust and bewliderment of material circumstances is removed and thus we become eligible tro enter the kingdom of God.

in contaminated state we are immersed in modes of material nature- how do you get out of the contact? What are you supposed to do?

You cant do something and you cant do nothing - you cant counteract by further material activity? BG message is the process of sacrifice - take this tendency and use it in service- dovetail- karma yoga- then the elevation in Bhakti from the present circumstances to attachment to Krishna- how to free from modes of materila nature?

Association of sadhus-associate with devotees-by KC we will not feel the contamination of being in this places. - Sadhu sanga is a foundational prcnciple of spirtual life and give up the material association. By sadhus words attachment to material existence can be cut.


Deliberate and circumstantial fall down - as soon as the circumstance os removed teh beceome situated properly - then we regard that person as a sadhu- they were covered because of the overwhelming circumstance they became covered but after the circumstance is removed they continue bhajatae mam ananya bhak- should i listen to my mind or follow Krishna's opinion.

3.25 The glories of Pure Devotional service verses 7-12

3.25.7
Devahuti says :"I am disturbed by my senses contemplating temporary things"

3.25.8
Your Lordship is my only means of getting out of this darkest region of ignorance because You are my transcendental eye, which, by Your mercy only, I have attained after many, many births.

 She says"Please bring ,light into my existence" SP says : This verse is very instructive, since it indicates the relationship between the spiritual master and the disciple.


Paragam: one who can take one to the other side. Recognizing that is the position of the Spiritual master - that is give light to the place of darkness. By the SM's speaking one is taken to the other side. Therefore just by hearing on is taken to the spiritual side.


The means is thus hearing!!


tamasa andhasya: darkest region of ignorance
dusparasya - very difficult to cross


WE go on with the hearing process until it gives us confidence - that self confidence takes us beyond our capacity.


Devahuti understands taht.


VErse 9
referring Him as the sun- that removes darkness
she also knew her son was the Personality of Godhead- Lord Brahma had told this to her.


VERse 10: Theme of wishing that darkest region of ignorance, delusion to be gone and sick of being entangled by the senses - wants to come out of such a situation.


SP Purport: By the grace of the Lord one is allowed to enjoy this material world, but when one is disgusted with material enjoyment and is frustrated, and when one sincerely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, then the Lord is so kind that He frees one from entanglement.


SP Purport: Devahūti therefore said, "My engagement in sense gratification was also due to You. Now kindly get me free from this entanglement."

By the grace of the Lord one is allowed to enjoy this material world, but when one is disgusted with material enjoyment and is frustrated, and when one sincerely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, then the Lord is so kind that He frees one from entanglement. 

She has a strong desire to get to the spiritual world and an agent to get her there - I need your help- which comes in the form of instruction.

That surrender in its purified state is without any expectation.

Devahuti wants not just freedom from the miseries but she wants the entanglement from the material energy to be taken away by one who can take it away.

VErse 11:

Asking questions about distinction between spirit and matter( purusa(man - enjoyer) and prakriti (women - enjoyed). What is the proper relationship?

Metaphor is an ax - has a metal piece and the handle that is wooded.

Metal Piece: Transcendental knowledge and detachment(asanga sastrena drdhena chitva)

can cut the tree of material existence

Detachment means KRishna is the enjoyer - attachment to Krishna brings detachment from matter. It does not mean giving up things that can be used in Krishna's service.

Both are needed- finding the root of spritual existence and watering it and finding the root of material existence and cutting it both are need- anukelyasya and pratikulyasa

Devotionals Service is very powerful, things that are impediments in DS will be removed and if you are attached to dirty things you will be removed to. Thus let go of things that are not needed - when doing something in moderation and there is some attachment be prepared to gently and steadily to let go- on the strength of I want my relationship with Krishna strongly- strive in that Krishna.

She says take away my disposition of wanting to be the enjoyer- But I want happiness so let me find my happiness in Devotionals service.

One of the nice prayers is "OH Govardha ayour happiness is in service. I pray that in my heart some desire to please Krishna enters in my heart and I can pray in a simple unobtrusive way" You pray to those who have such a desire so that we cna have similar desire.

Devahuti prayed like that- desired full surrender- we must know where to place it and we must place it fully.

sad dharma - eternal oocupation- one's duty- she [rays please bless me with devotional service - assist me , kindly carry me to that position.

VErse 12:

Maitryea thus says: That the Lord thanked her within himself for her questions and was similing. VCT says : His smile is thinking within himself" Devahuti why are you speaking like thisa, you cannot be like this a gross materialist in the darkest region of material existence , you are speaking this for the otehrs suffering- so I will oblige you"

We must hear this pastime in this mood- this is spoken for me.

Just see what is pleasing to the Supreme Lord- He is feeling grateful - Of you have asked such a nice question, He is aalso showing by example- that whatever is that we recieve we should feel gratuitude- when  we feel gratutude it is is elevating - we rise above whatevevr it is that is going in - it is a feeling of love towards those persons from whom we have recd somehting and thus we want to reciprocating with those from whomw e have recd- and Devitional service just flows - quality of recicing gratutude and thus express it through devotional service.

apavarga vardhanam- expanding liberation which means devotional service that expands the platform fo Devotional sErvice - the SPG does that. Just by hearing we are put in touch with ssat and by paying attention we become sadhu that which is in touch with sat and that which is at it awakenbs within us and asat is burned away.

VCT says:" apavarga vardhanam has two meanings- incresing liberation and cutting out material life or existence- cutting with knoedlge and etachment" our process is the path of nivritti- one who is not prepared to let go is not going to progress therefore vyasadeva writes dharmah projhitta kaitava tra- Vyasadev says if you are interested with the material do not read SB but if you are interested in going to Krishna be prepared to gradually let go.

atma vatam

satam gatih- path to eternal is attractive to devotees

If you wants self realization be very clear or by the process of hearign become very clear. What is it? What is the clarity?

Self Relatization is God reliazation -God realkization and Self Realization occur simultaneously and who is going to give us that - paragam- the agent the spiritual amster- Maitreya is doing this for Vidura through the story of Devahuti and Kapila Dev- if we are ready twe can go to the realm of Xcendental knowledge by the process of devotional service..

When you are engaged in DS you mjust  be prepared to let go of things that are impure- do not conciously hold ont ot hose things- LET GO

Lord Krishna's instruction on having a Spiritual Master

SB 11.10.5: One who has accepted Me as the supreme goal of life should strictly observe the scriptural injunctions forbidding sinful activities and, as far as possible, should execute the injunctions prescribing minor regulative duties such as cleanliness. Ultimately, however, one should approach a bona fide spiritual master who is full in knowledge of Me as I am, who is peaceful, and who by spiritual elevation is not different from Me.

SB 11.10.6: The servant or disciple of the spiritual master should be free from false prestige, never considering himself to be the doer. He should be active and never lazy and should give up all sense of proprietorship over the objects of the senses, including his wife, children, home and society. He should be endowed with feelings of loving friendship toward the spiritual master and should never become deviated or bewildered. The servant or disciple should always desire advancement in spiritual understanding, should not envy anyone and should always avoid useless conversation.

Never abandon the feet of the spiritual master

SB 10.87.33: The mind is like an impetuous horse that even persons who have regulated their senses and breath cannot control. Those in this world who try to tame the uncontrolled mind, but who abandon the feet of their spiritual master, encounter hundreds of obstacles in their cultivation of various distressful practices. O unborn Lord, they are like merchants on a boat in the ocean who have failed to employ a helmsman.

Tolerance for being corrected

When difficulties come in my life, I at some point do think about the verse tat te nukampam and think that this is my opportunity to apply it. I also think about the fact that Krishna is the controller and I must surrender to His plan " mare Krishna Rakhe kaun rakhe Krishna Mare Kaun"
However these realizations come and ago during the face of difficulty. Eventually I start fighting it on my own, try to make arrangements to lessen the impact of difficulty which only cause more entanglement.

I sometimes have a spiritual conception while dealing with the difficulty and sometimes a material one. During the difficulty I realize I could have had a sustained spiritual conception during this time if I had performed good sadhana before and I resolve to do better sadhana.
I learn some lessons during that time, that Krishna is trying to teach me something here. He is wanting to correct me in some way, remove certain anarthas from me.

Once the difficulty is over I learn some lessons and miss some lessons and more or less revert back to my old ways.I get a little wiser in devotional service and a little sincere however I start forgetting many lessons. Whenever I remember the difficult time and I remember the painful things I heard, the painful situations I was in and it gives grief to my heart.

Why was it difficult for me ? 

 Obviously "I wasnt treated well but more importantly I could not "Tolerate being Corrected". The tolerance I needed was not to tolerate others and the pain but to tolerate being corrected.
I read this quote "Tolerate being corrected" in article BTG#29-04,1995, The Social Role of Cows
by Hare Krsna Devi Dasi. She writes "Probably no other animal is as tolerant as a cow. If by your daily care and affection you convince the cow or ox that you are its well-wisher, it won’t hold a grudge against you for reprimanding it. It won’t attack you. For example, once, by my foolish negligence, one of our milk cows got loose from her stall, and when I walked into the barn I found her eating from a grain cart. I knew she could die from overeating if she didn’t stop. So I yelled at her, but she didn’t stop. I hit her on the back with a stick, but she still kept eating. Finally, I had to hit her in the face, which I hated to do, especially since it was my fault she got loose. But she stopped eating grain and returned to her stall. In five minutes she was mooing softly for me to come and pet her. She wasn’t at all afraid of me, and she wasn’t angry at me. I knew a dog or cat or even a child would never have such tolerance.
If a person can develop tolerance for being corrected, it is a wonderful asset for advancing in spiritual life. Of course, a spiritual master doesn’t beat his disciple with a stick, but sometimes a disciple’s ego gets hurt when his actions or beliefs are shown mistaken. The cowherd can learn tolerance from the cows and oxen."


Just like Mataji first yelled at the cow, hit her on the back with a stick and then finally had to smack her on the face - Krsna also gives me mini indications of my mistake by giving me mini purification for the same bad habit. I don't end up learning then he gives me a little bigger purification but I still don't learn, because I cannot "tolerate being corrected" its too much for my false ego - I don't learn because I think I am perfect in that area - I don't have that problem someone else does. When I don't learn in-spite of numerous nudges by Krishna then he has to push me hard so that I fall from that false position of being perfect and can realize how I have been making this mistake repeatedly and I need to learn this lesson.

If I can tolerate being corrected it is a wonderful asset for my advancement in spiritual life. So tolerance is not of tolerating the people or the situation or the effects of our karma, it is also tolerating being corrected

One must carry out the order of the Spiritual master and serve the brahamanas nicely

In the sixth canto after Indra offends his Guru Brhaspati , the demigods were being rapidly defeated by the demons who took advantage of their weak condition.Being thus bewidered and weakened the demigoids approached Lord Brahma for help.

On looking at their pitiable condition Lord Brahma said :

SB 6.7.22: Because of your misbehavior toward Bṛhaspati, you have been defeated by the demons. My dear demigods, since the demons were weak, having been defeated by you several times, how else could you, who were so advanced in opulence, be defeated by them?

All the opulence we possess is thus a result of the blessings of Guru and the Guru Parampara. By ourselves without the mercy of the Spiritual Master and the Guru Paramapara we are insignificant. Any of our endeavors is successful only because if the mercy and the backing of the entire Guru Parampara.

Prior to devotional life every endeavor of mine was plagued with many hurdles and resulted in miniscule success. However in devotional life anything done under the direction of authority is always successful. Pleasing our authorities means we follow their directions properly.When we do so we are able to recieve their blessings and mercy to complete the endeavor.

However if we offend our authority we will find ourselves completely weakened like the demigods.The mercy will be withdrawn automatically.

Further in the 8th canto,in the fight between the demons and the demigods after the nectar from the churning of the milk ocean is consumed by the demigods, Bali was defeated, and he died in the fight, but by the grace of Śukrācārya he regained his life. Thus he engaged himself in the service of Śukrācārya, his spiritual master.
The descendants of Bhṛgu, being pleased with him, engaged him in the Viśvajit-yajña. When this yajña was performed, from the fire of yajña came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows. Mahārāja Prahlāda, Bali Mahārāja's grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Śukrācārya gave him a conchshell. Bali Mahārāja, after offering obeisances to Prahlāda, the brāhmaṇas and his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapurī with his soldiers.Blowing his conchshell, he attacked the outskirts of Indra's kingdom. When Indra saw Bali Mahārāja's prowess, he went to his own spiritual master, Bṛhaspati, told him about Bali's strength, and inquired about his duty. Bṛhaspati informed the demigods that because Bali had been endowed with extraordinary power by the brāhmaṇas, the demigods could not fight with him. Bali was endowed with the blessings of the descendents of Bhrgupati, the blessings of his spritual master Sukracarya because he had pleased him and also his forefathers.

Agaian we see that by the mercy of the spiritual master and the brahamanas Bali Maharaj becomes very powerful.
Srila Prabhupada writes in this regard in 8.15.28:
We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi **. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one's personal endeavor for such advancement. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says:


guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya,āra nā kariha mane āśā **

Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. By the paramparā system, one can thus be endowed with the original spiritual power coming from the Supreme Personality of Godhead (evaḿ paramparā-prāptam imaḿ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg. 4.2]).

Spiritual master helps us regain our spiritual identity

SB 7.15.43-44: In the conditioned stage, one's conceptions of life are sometimes polluted by passion and ignorance, which are exhibited by attachment, hostility, greed, lamentation, illusion, fear, madness, false prestige, insults, fault-finding, deception, envy, intolerance, passion, bewilderment, hunger and sleep. All of these are enemies. Sometimes one's conceptions are also polluted by goodness.
SB 7.15.45: As long as one has to accept a material body, with its different parts and paraphernalia, which are not fully under one's control, one must have the lotus feet of his superiors, namely his spiritual master and the spiritual master's predecessors. By their mercy, one can sharpen the sword of knowledge, and with the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's mercy one must then conquer the enemies mentioned above. In this way, the devotee should be able to merge into his own transcendental bliss, and then he may give up his body and resume his spiritual identity.
SB 7.15.46: Otherwise, if one does not take shelter of Acyuta and Baladeva, then the senses, acting as the horses, and the intelligence, acting as the driver, both being prone to material contamination, inattentively bring the body, which acts as the chariot, to the path of sense gratification. When one is thus attracted again by the rogues of viṣaya — eating, sleeping and mating — the horses and chariot driver are thrown into the blinding dark well of material existence, and one is again put into a dangerous and extremely fearful situation of repeated birth and death

Following the spiritual master at all times

In the purport to SB 7.12.11 Srila Prabhupada states:

In spiritual life, one must conduct one's whole life under the guidance of the guru. Only one who executes his spiritual life under the direction of the spiritual master can achieve the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. If one desires to advance in spiritual life but he acts whimsically, not following the orders of the spiritual master, he has no shelter. Yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.

Serving Vaishnavas gives freedom from material contamination

SB 7.5.32
Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.

Indra 1st offense: does not offer proper respect to his Guru Brhaspati

In the 6th canto, in the story of Vrtrasura- a great devotee of the Lord we read about Indra offending the three Brahmanas - Brhaspati, Vishwarupa and Vrtrasura.He is haunted by the resulting sinful reactions and does not find peace anywhere. To protect himself from the results of each offense he commits a new offense each time. We see that he keeps getting thus entangled due to his attachment for material opulence and power.This is not very different from what neophytes like me get entangled in.

This is a three part article that helps us examine the different motivations for each of the offenses and the lessons to be learned from each so that we can try to avoid the same and be more respectful in our interactions.In each part we will examine each offense.

Indra's first offense : Indra Offends Brhaspati, his Guru
Once when Brhaspati , the spiritual master of all the demigods was visiting Lord Indra, Indra did not get up from his seat , did not offer obeisances and neither offered a seat to him, even when he was his Guru. This was a grave transgression of etiquette. Indra was also accepting worship and glorification in his Guru's presence and because of being overly attached and proud of his material opulence he forgot his duties.

Lessons from the first offense :
Srila Prabhupada states in the purport to SB 6.7.12 "According to the laws of nature, when one is extremely opulent one becomes degraded, and this is true both individually and collectively".
Material opulence leads to pride. As we see in this pastime - pride and obsession with the material energy makes us callous towards vedic ideals. We may not experience such gross material opulence like Indra- being fanned by Gandharvas, Kinnaras with Apsaras dancing and white umbrella's over our head.However we experience the subtle opulence of fame, prestige, extraordinary talent, high position at work, etc.If we are not firmly rooted in our sadhana we will remain in material consciousness by enjoying those things and go further deep in material consciousness. We will become callous and commit offenses to people around us.

By committing offenses - aparadha , Radharani's mercy will leave us and we will slip in our devotional service. Offenses make us weak in our spiritual life. We not only slip from the spiritual platform but we also become increasingly susceptible to Maya's attacks.. We can also see this with Indra- because of this offense we see him gliding down further in the material pool and committing further offenses.Being firmly rooted in our sadhana, in strong association of devotees and developing a service attitude towards devotees will help us protect ourselves from mundane pride and its effects. By associating and serving devotees we will be able to see their wonderful qualities which our many times better than us.

We must accept our situation as a result of our previous actions and thus pray fervently to the Supreme Lord Krsna for His mercy and offer devotional service unto Him. This will clear all the misgivings in our heart.

In the next post we will see the effects of the first offense and how Indra gets entangled as a result of this offense. And then how he commits another offense to counteract the effects of this offense.