SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 8
jnana-vijnana- trptatma
kuta-stho vijitendriyah
yukta ity ucyate yogi
sama-lostrasma- kancanah

jnana--by acquired knowledge; vijnana--and realized knowledge; trpta--satisfied; atma--a living entity; kuta-sthah-- spiritually situated; vijita-indriyah- -sensually controlled; yuktah--competent for self-realization; iti--thus; ucyate--is said; yogi--a mystic; sama--equipoised; lostra--pebbles; asma--stone; kancanah--gold.

TRANSLATION

A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogi [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence and is self-controlled. He sees everything-- whether it be pebbles, stones or gold--as the same.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; A Krsna conscious person has realized knowledge, by the grace of Krsna, because he is satisfied with pure devotional service.

I can acquire knowledge by reading books but I will not be satisfied. I must also take to devotional service. By practicing japa and associating with the devotees I can make practical use of the knowledge I gain from my reading. Then I will have a shot at knowing the dictates of the Paramatma and be satisfied.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Sri Sri Kodha-Nitai Mayapur-Shasha
ISKCON Scotland

SLOKA OF THE WEEK
(from Krishna.com):

Sri-Nityanandashtaka Text Three

saci-sunu-preshtham nikhila-jagad-ishtam sukha-mayam
kalau majjaj-jivoddharana-karanoddama-karunam
harer akhyanad va bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati-haram
bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi

TRANSLATION

I worship Lord Nityananda, the limitless root of the tree of devotional service. He is very dear to the son of Saci-devi and is worshiped by the entire universe. Out of His great mercy He chants the holy name of Lord Hari, thus rescuing the souls drowning in the age of Kali and crushing the pride of the ocean of repeated birth and death.

JOURNAL:

The above photo of Lord Nityananda is from ISKCON Scotland. I have often wondered how the devotees there get along with their neighbors.

My wife and I went to Scotland in the spring of 2000 and at one point we came across an "Orange Parade". Our tour guide asked all the Catholics on board the bus to please not display their medals while we were in that town. She explained that in Scotland this was a courtesy that both Protestants and Catholics showed to each other on their various holidays and thus the country escapes the violence that they have in north Ireland.

So, I wonder. What do the devotees do if anything? Or are they immune to such cultural problems by virtue of them not being Christian. Certainly Sri Sri Chatanya Nityananda protects them no matter what the answer is.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 7
jitatmanah prasantasya
paramatma samahitah
sitosna-sukha- duhkhesu
tatha manapamanayoh

jita-atmanah- -of one who has conquered his mind; prasantasya- -who has attained tranquillity by such control over the mind; parama-atma- -the Supersoul; samahitah--approach ed completely; sita--in cold; usna--heat; sukha--happiness; duhkhesu--and distress; tatha--also; mana--in honor; apamanayoh-- and dishonor.

TRANSLATION

For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.

JOURNAL:

There is a unifying process going on inside of me that is undeniable. As I chant my rounds and strive to live my life by guru and sastra the duality that is life becomes less important. Instead seeing Krishna in everything becomes the goal. I cannot do this twenty-four/seven but growth is there and for this I am thankful.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 6
bandhur atmatmanas tasya
yenatmaivatmana jitah
anatmanas tu satrutve
vartetatmaiva satru-vat

bandhuh--friend; atma--the mind; atmanah--of the living entity; tasya--of him; yena--by whom; atma--the mind; eva--certainly; atmana--by the living entity; jitah--conquered; anatmanah--of one who has failed to control the mind; tu--but; satrutve--because of enmity; varteta--remains; atma eva--the very mind; satru-vat--as an enemy.

TRANSLATION

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.

JOURNAL:

I like to play folk music. If I want to learn something new than I have to go through the unpleasant process of learning it. My finger tips will ache as I try to teach them where I want them to go on the fretboard. My mind will scream at me for a break from the memorizing of new words. But, in the end, I know it will all be worth it when I bring out the new song and show it to another.

In much the same way I practice my japa in the hope that when temptation comes my mind will be easily brought under control and I will turn to the Lord and His Names. As Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Real yoga practice entails meeting the Paramatma within the heart and then following His dictation. Turning away may not be easy, and might be painful, but it is all worth it when I pick up my beads the next morning. Then my japa becomes a new song, incorporates a new verse that I learned during yesterday's trial.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 5
uddhared atmanatmanam
natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah

uddharet--one must deliver; atmana--by the mind; atmanam--the conditioned soul; na--never; atmanam--the conditioned soul; avasadayet-- put into degradation; atma--mind; eva--certainly; hi--indeed; atmanah--of the conditioned soul; bandhuh--friend; atma--mind; eva--certainly; riouh--enemy; atmanah--of the conditioned soul.

TRANSLATION

One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; The purpose of the yoga system is to control the mind and to draw it away from attachment to sense objects. It is stressed herein that the mind must be so trained that it can deliver the conditioned soul from the mire of nescience.

The most practical aspect of this teaching is japa. The constant dragging of the mind back to the Holy Names seems tiresome at times but hearing as well as chanting are necessary. The combination of the two, when practiced correctly, will train the mind to stay on task while at the same time allow the soul to experience God Himself.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 4
yada hi nendriyarthesu
na karmasv anusajiate
sarva-sankalpa- sannyasi
yogarudhas tadocyate

yada--when; hi--certainly; na--not; indriya-arthesu- -in sense gratification; na--never; karmasu--in fruitive activities; anusaj-jate- -one necessarily engages; sarva-sankalpa- -of all material desires; sannyasi--renouncer ; yoga-arudhah- -elevated in yoga; tada--at that time; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.

JOURNAL:

In his lecture (L.A. 2-14-69) Srila Prabhupada defines fruitive activities as any activity that is done with the aim of gaining some sense gratification. He even talks about giving to social organizations as fruitive activities in the mode of goodness. He gives the example that if one gives to a school he will get a nice education in the next life. His point, of course, is that we must work for the satisfaction of Krishna. That all other forms of work, no matter what mode they are done in, are not transcendental.

In his purport to today's sloka Srila Prabhupada writes; When a person is fully engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he is pleased in himself, and thus he is no longer engaged in sense gratification or in fruitive activities. Otherwise, one must be engaged in sense gratification, since one cannot live without engagement. Without Krsna consciousness, one must be always seeking self-centered or extended selfish activities. But a Krsna conscious person can do everything for the satisfaction of Krsna and thereby be perfectly detached from sense gratification. One who has no such realization must mechanically try to escape material desires before being elevated to the top rung of the yoga ladder.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 3
aruruksor muner yogam
karma karanam ucyate
yogarudhasya tasyaiva
samah karanam ucyate

aruruksoh--who has just begun yoga; muneh--of the sage; yogam--the eightfold yoga system; karma--work; karanam--the means; ucyate--is said to be; yoga--eightfold yoga; arudhasya--of one who has attained; tasya--his; eva--certainly; samah--cessation of all material activities; karanam--the means; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

JOURNAL:

When it comes to work I know just how Arjuna feels in the above picture.

When I started on the path of Bhakti-yoga I tried to figure out how I could live in this life and still maintain my connection to the Lord. As time has gone on I have come to realize that it is not that I stop working, or work differently, but that work (life) itself takes on a different meaning altogether. To put it simply, work does not feel like work when you do it because you are in love.

This blog is written out of love. It keeps me thinking of Krishna and His instructions to me. If others read it than it becomes preaching, which is love for my fellow man. Any way you look at it I do this both for my benefit and because I think it will be pleasing to Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. It is my attempt to show my love, which seems to me to be best shown by action, not words.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Artist Unknown

SLOKA OF THE WEEK
(from Krishna.com):

Sri Isopanishad, Mantra Fifteen
hiranmayena patrena
satyasyapihitam mukham
tat tvam pushann apavrinu
satya-dharmaya drishtaye

TRANSLATION

"O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee".

JOURNAL:

Occasionally I chant my japa while walking across the city. The rounds are much slower when I do this but my pronunciation is better. I can feel the Lord around me in the life that is everywhere and I ask that I be able to feel Him inside me as well. Brahman realization is easy at these times but I crave to see the Paramatma within.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 2
yam sannyasam iti prahur
yogam tam viddhi pandava
na hy asannyasta-sankalpo
yogi bhavati kascana

yam--what; sannyasam--renuncia tion; iti--thus; prahuh--they say; yogam--linking with the Supreme; tam--that; viddhi--you must know; pandava--O son of Pandu; na--never; hi--certainly; asannyasta-- without giving up; sankalpah--desire for self-satisfaction; yogi--a mystic transcendentalist; bhavati--becomes; kascana--anyone.

TRANSLATION

What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pandu, for one can never become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.

JOURNAL:

This morning, just before the Srimad Bhagavatam class in L.A., Mahatanna devi dasi gave me the spiritual name of Slokasitii Prabhu. She gave it to me on-line as a joke but I like it! It seems to be a combination of my two web site's titles, Sitting Properly and Sloka Asitis. If this is so it would mean "sitting with the verses", although the word sitii may have its own meaning in Hindi.

In The Nectar of Instruction, verse four, it is stated; Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasāda and offering prasāda are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another. The name feels like a gift and I feel honored to have it given to me. Joke or no joke.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 1
sri-bhagavan uvaca
anasritah karma-phalam
karyam karma karoti yah
sa sannyasi ca yogi ca
na niragnir na cakriyah

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Lord said; anasritah--without taking shelter; karma-phalam- -of the result of work; karyam--obligatory; karma--work; karoti--performs; yah--one who; sah--he; sannyasi--in the renounced order; ca--also; yogi--mystic; ca--also; na--not; nih--without; agnih--fire; na--nor; ca--also; akriyah--without duty.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Although the eightfold yoga system is recommended in this chapter, the Lord emphasizes that the process of karma-yoga, or acting in Krsna consciousness, is better.

I sit with a devotional item to occupy each one of my senses when I chant my japa. I touch my beads, listen to the group japa tape that Prabhupada made and my own voice, speak the Holy Names, keep a picture in front of me of Krishna and smell incense that I have offered. The process of the eightfold yoga system is the exact opposite of this.

I have found that as I chant I slowly stop thinking of the world around me. My senses seem to fall out from under my control and the astanga-yoga system that was described in 5.27-28 happens automatically as the number of rounds grows.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 5 Text 29
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvar am
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati

bhoktaram--the beneficiary; yajna--of sacrifices; tapasam--and penances and austerities; sarva-loka-- of all planets and the demigods thereof; maha-isvaram- -the Supreme Lord; su-hrdam--the benefactor; sarva--of all; bhutanam--the living entities; jnatva--thus knowing; mam--Me (Lord Krsna); santim--relief from material pangs; rcchati--one achieves.

TRANSLATION

A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; Everything depends on one's practical performance of duties in Krsna consciousness, which helps one control the senses in every respect and conquer the influence of desire and anger. And one who stands fast in Krsna consciousness, controlling the above mentioned passions, remains factually in the transcendental stage, or brahma-nirvana.

This is the last word in this chapter. We practice remembering Krishna while we go through each day, which will help us to keep desire and anger at bay. This gives us the opportunity we need to be able to be in full consciousness of the Lord and thus attain peace.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 5 Text 27-28
sparsan krtva bahir bahyams
caksus caivantare bhruvoh
pranapanau samau krtva
nasabhyantara- carinau

yatendriya-mano- buddhir
munir moksa-parayanah
vigateccha-bhaya- krodho
yah sada mukta eva sah

sparsan--sense objects, such as sound; krtva--keeping; bahih--external; bahyan--unnecessary ; caksuh--eyes; ca--also; eva--certainly; antare--between; bhruvoh--the eyebrows; prana-apanau- -up-and down-moving air; samau--in suspension; krtva--keeping; nasa-abhyantara- -within the nostrils; carinau--blowing; yata--controlled; indriya--senses; manah--mind; buddhih--intelligen ce; munih--the transcendentalist; moksa--for liberation; parayanah--being so destined; vigata--having discarded; iccha--wishes; bhaya--fear; krodhah--anger; yah--one who; sada--always; muktah--liberated; eva--certainly; sah--he is.

TRANSLATION

Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils, and thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger. One who is always in this state is certainly liberated.

JOURNAL:

Here a brief description of astanga-yoga is given. In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; One has to drive out the sense objects such as sound, touch, form, taste and smell by the pratyahara process in yoga, and then keep the vision of the eyes between the two eyebrows and concentrate on the tip of the nose with half-closed lids. There is no benefit in closing the eyes altogether, because then there is every chance of falling asleep. Nor is there benefit in opening the eyes completely, because then there is the hazard of being attracted by sense objects. The breathing movement is restrained within the nostrils by neutralizing the up-moving and down-moving air within the body.

Every time I read of a type of yoga other than Bhakti I realize how merciful Lord Chaitanya has been by giving us the Maha-Mantra to chant. If it is hard for me to find the time to do my rounds how much harder would it be if I had to practice this kind of yoga?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 5 Text 26
kama-krodha- vimuktanam
yatinam yata-cetasam
abhito brahma-nirvanam
vartate viditatmanam

kama--from desires; krodha--and anger; vimuktanam-- of those who are liberated; yatinam--of the saintly persons; yata-cetasam- -who have full control over the mind; abhitah--assured in the near future; brahma-nirvanam- -liberation in the Supreme; vartate--is there; vidita-atmanam- -of those who are self-realized.

TRANSLATION

Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized, self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of liberation in the Supreme in the very near future.

JOURNAL:

It is notable that anger and desire are listed together in today's sloka. And what is anger but a reaction to desire frustrated. A few verses back Krishna says;

Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is happy in this world. (BG 5.23)

Both here and above He speaks of anger and desire as if they are two halves of the same coin. In my own life I know that anger has caused me a lot of problems and most of the time what I was angry over doesn't even matter a few days later. Today's sloka gives us the key to overcoming anger. Be self-disciplined, always striving for the perfect goal of self-realization. They say practice makes perfect so continue to chant your japa, reaching out to God. The reward is happiness in this world and liberation in the next.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

The Six Goswamis by Acarya dasa

Of the six Goswamis the one that interests me the most is Sanatana Goswami. He wrote Sri Sri Damodarastakam, a text on the worship of Laddu Gopal or baby Krishna. These pasttimes of Krishna as a child fascinate me because they are so attractive! Much of my fascination centers around the lila of Krishna stealing butter and the chase with His mother that ensues. Being a father I have partaken in pastimes much the same with my son at that age. The balance between love and discipline is fragile. Simply being aware of this heightens your love for the child.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

Sri Godruma-Candra-Bhajana-Upadesa, Text One
yadi te hari-pada-saroja-sudha-
rasa-pana-param hridayam satatam
parihritya griham kali-bhava-mayam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

Translation

"If your heart wishes to be always absorbed in drinking the ambrosial mellows of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, then give up mundane household life, full of Kali-yuga quarrels and strife, and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers."

JOURNAL:

Last night I dreamed of the devotees. It was a small class given in a house and I kept getting stuck in an elevator. I missed the class and when I tried to approach the devotee who had lead it I was stopped by his wife and told that it "was only for those who are ready". She gave me a strange looking string of green plastic beads and I was sent on my way.

At fifty I am old enough by Indian tradition to renounce householder life. As an American I can't imagine doing it. We just don't leave our families and we hope to be surrounded by them at the time of death. Still, there is nothing to stop me from worshiping Lord Chatanya in my limited way.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 5 Text 25
labhante brahma-nirvanam
rsayah ksina-kalmasah
chinna-dvaidha yatatmanah
sarva-bhuta- hite ratah

labhante--achieve; brahma-nirvanam- -liberation in the Supreme; rsayah--those who are active within; ksina-kalmasah- -who are devoid of all sins; chinna--having torn off; dvaidhah--duality; yata-atmanah- -engaged in self-realization; sarva-bhuta- -for all living entities; hite--in welfare work; ratah--engaged.

TRANSLATION

Those who are beyond the dualities that arise from doubts, whose minds are engaged within, who are always busy working for the welfare of all living beings, and who are free from all sins achieve liberation in the Supreme.

JOURNAL:

It has been a long week. There is nothing like a work marathon to make you aware of the dualities of life. I have been binding thesis papers all week for graduating students from a most prestigious collage. On my breaks I would sit in a small grove of oak trees with the squirrels and chant the Holy Names while all around me the students would relax and celebrate the end of their school careers.

Here is success in all its glory. Thesis papers on every subject imaginable and yet not one that I saw dealing with the issue of who is God, or who am I. All that money spent to gain an education that cannot be taken with you when you die.