SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 5 Text 10
brahmany adhaya karmani
sangam tyaktva karoti yah
lipyate na sa papena
padma-patram ivambhasa

brahmani--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhaya--resigning; karmani--all works; sangam--attachment; tyaktva--giving up; karoti--performs; yah--who; lipyate--is affected; na--never; sah--he; papena--by sin; padma-patram--a lotus leaf; iva--like; ambhasa--by the water.

TRANSLATION

One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada expands on how this is accomplished; In the Isopanisad it is said that everything is related to the Supreme Brahman, or Krsna, and thus everything belongs to Him only. One who knows perfectly well that everything belongs to Krsna, that He is the proprietor of everything and that, therefore, everything is engaged in the service of the Lord, naturally has nothing to do with the results of his activities, whether virtuous or sinful. Even one's material body, being a gift of the Lord for carrying out a particular type of action, can be engaged in Krsna consciousness. It is then beyond contamination by sinful reactions, exactly as the lotus leaf, though remaining in the water, is not wet.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Isopanisad, Mantra One
īśāvāsyam idam sarvaḿ
yat kiñca jagatyāḿ jagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

TRANSLATION

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.

JOURNAL:

Here is the basis for peace on earth according to Srila Prabhupada's famous "Peace Plan" article. This article was one of the first things I read by him and it made a lot of sence to me. When I try to keep my own hankerings down and thankfully accept what Krishna sees fit to give me, I live a much more peaceful life. And so do those who have to live with me.

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.