By Gopinath (Recap given by Sujatha on 26 Dec ‘02)
We all know that this Bhagavatam is ‘Muktidayaka Shastra’. It is in our hands, so it is now our turn to take its teachings and absorb it. This is the only Shastra where there is so many glorifications about the Lord. When the Lord is glorified simultaneously devotees are also glorified. In the names of the devotees, the first and foremost name is our Naradji.
As we have seen in previous Slokas, he was also like all of us. He was tied up in the so called ‘Pasham’, the chiord of love, where there is no escape and was pulled by his mother. This is just exactly the normal day-to-day love, worldly love, what we are all now enjoying, chewing and tasting it. If the Lord comes and stands in front of us and says ‘I will give you mukti’. We don’t want because we are very happy with this very colourful and very cordial atmosphere.
We go to different temples but we don’t know that the Lord is behind us. Here through the Bhagavatam, Vyasa explains more and more taking the history of Bhaktas. Naradji is one among the choicest of the devotees. His mother doesn’t want him to go but he wants to go. These attachments are nothing but a block in our way. To remove this block, the Lord sends his messenger. In the case of Naradji, his mother was a block and the Lord sent a serpent. It bites his mother, when she was going to milk the cow at night and that poor and pitiable woman dies on the spot.
Naradji didn’t feel unhappy since he knew that the Lord did this; that he had so engineered it that he would get his freedom. Naradji took it as the Lord’s blessing in disguise. A true devotee of the Lord takes everything as prasad. After the death of his mother, he left the ashram and proceeded towards the North. This Northerly direction is very important. Even compass shows the North direction. People go to Kasi but we need not to go to Kasi. We don’t want any compass to show us the North direction because our compass is our Guruji, who is always showing us the right direction.
When we are more and more closer to the Lord, he guides and guards us. Man proposes and God disposes. We have seen 14K, 18K, 21K, 22K and 24K golds. Our Naradji is 24K gold and that is our goal to achieve. In order to achieve this, our goals and objectives should match together. The Lord gives us both problems and strength to bear and once we have the strength, what else we need? As Guruji says, ‘each day, every time, everywhere one has to progress’, this is the way Bhagavatam is to be taken.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 6, Slokas 1-8)
By Sugunan (Recap given by Shobha on 19 Dec ‘02)
This chapter continues the story of Narada. In the previous life of Narada, his mother was an ignorant servant in the house of a Brahmin. Some Sages had come to stay there in Chaturmasa and Narada was employed in serving them. He ate what remained after their eating and listened to the discourse they held, stressing on the importance of Love for Lord Krishna. They imparted to him, the knowledge that leads to self-realisation, the secret wisdom revealed by the Lord Himself. They told him how Karma blended with Bhakti generates Jnana and how one can dedicate oneself to the Lord and go towards Samadhi.
Suguji futher explained why one should use this world as a means to attain the Lord as a goal. But most of us use the Lord as a means to attain material benefits from this world. It is a tragedy. All our actions and interactions in this world should be the means to reach Him!
In reality, we are the puppets in the hands of the Lord, we have no choice other than live as instruments of the Lord in this world, but because of our ego, we think we are the author of this world and complicate our life.
...Read more!
This chapter continues the story of Narada. In the previous life of Narada, his mother was an ignorant servant in the house of a Brahmin. Some Sages had come to stay there in Chaturmasa and Narada was employed in serving them. He ate what remained after their eating and listened to the discourse they held, stressing on the importance of Love for Lord Krishna. They imparted to him, the knowledge that leads to self-realisation, the secret wisdom revealed by the Lord Himself. They told him how Karma blended with Bhakti generates Jnana and how one can dedicate oneself to the Lord and go towards Samadhi.
Suguji futher explained why one should use this world as a means to attain the Lord as a goal. But most of us use the Lord as a means to attain material benefits from this world. It is a tragedy. All our actions and interactions in this world should be the means to reach Him!
In reality, we are the puppets in the hands of the Lord, we have no choice other than live as instruments of the Lord in this world, but because of our ego, we think we are the author of this world and complicate our life.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 5, Slokas 32-40)
By Anil Hattangadi (Recap given by Sreelatha on 12 Dec ‘02)
The main theme in these Slokas was the glory of Karma blended with Bhakti.
These Slokas tell us how actions dedicated to the Lord, who is the ruler of this Universe serve as the cure for the threefold misery.
A medicine, which is given by the doctor, cures the patient. If we are taking it by ourselves, it may lead to some complications. Similarly, all our activities lead to bondage or transmigration, but the same when carried out as offering to the Lord, lose their binding character. Whatever work we do in dedication and for the pleasure of the Lord will give us knowledge as well as Bhakti in return. In that process, we are crushing our ego and recall his names and excellences.
So one should perform his actions according to the teachings of the Lord, which means one should surrender all his actions unto Him. Also, one should act as an instrument and keep Him as the real Agent.
We should have that intense love and consideration towards Him so that we become fit for the Real knowledge.
...Read more!
The main theme in these Slokas was the glory of Karma blended with Bhakti.
These Slokas tell us how actions dedicated to the Lord, who is the ruler of this Universe serve as the cure for the threefold misery.
A medicine, which is given by the doctor, cures the patient. If we are taking it by ourselves, it may lead to some complications. Similarly, all our activities lead to bondage or transmigration, but the same when carried out as offering to the Lord, lose their binding character. Whatever work we do in dedication and for the pleasure of the Lord will give us knowledge as well as Bhakti in return. In that process, we are crushing our ego and recall his names and excellences.
So one should perform his actions according to the teachings of the Lord, which means one should surrender all his actions unto Him. Also, one should act as an instrument and keep Him as the real Agent.
We should have that intense love and consideration towards Him so that we become fit for the Real knowledge.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 5, Slokas 16-23)
By Anil Hattangadi (Recap given by Sreelatha on 5 Dec ‘02)
The main theme of this chapter is Vyasa’s unrest after writing Mahabharata. We heard how Naradji instructs Sage Vyasa to compose Bhagavatam expounding only the greatness of Vasudeva.
In Slokas 15 to 23, Nadada continues to explain the purpose of Bhagavatam and about Supremacy of Bhakti. The glories of Lord or Bhagavatam should reach every person who is the slave of the three Gunas. Living in this material world thinking ourselves as the creator, destroyer and sustainer, we have forgotten our real nature. Keeping the Lord in center, even if one befalls from his Swadharma, will attain the ultimate. So a wiseman or a true knowledgeable person will see the Lord in every being without any ego. A true devotee will never be entangled in this Samsara. Our deity should see us instead of we see the deity. Even if we forget Him, He is always there within us, watching, guiding and protecting us like a mother. Like a magnet attracting and holding an iron piece, those who are attracted by the Lord will constantly attach to Him by his memory. This Universe is none than the Lord who is responsible for creation, sustenance and destruction who acts as a Sakshi.
So Naradji instructs Sage Vyasa to describe the Bhagavatam at full length. Whatever we do, whether it is a sacrifice, performance, austerity or recitation of the Vedas, it should give us enlightenment about the glories of the Lord.
...Read more!
The main theme of this chapter is Vyasa’s unrest after writing Mahabharata. We heard how Naradji instructs Sage Vyasa to compose Bhagavatam expounding only the greatness of Vasudeva.
In Slokas 15 to 23, Nadada continues to explain the purpose of Bhagavatam and about Supremacy of Bhakti. The glories of Lord or Bhagavatam should reach every person who is the slave of the three Gunas. Living in this material world thinking ourselves as the creator, destroyer and sustainer, we have forgotten our real nature. Keeping the Lord in center, even if one befalls from his Swadharma, will attain the ultimate. So a wiseman or a true knowledgeable person will see the Lord in every being without any ego. A true devotee will never be entangled in this Samsara. Our deity should see us instead of we see the deity. Even if we forget Him, He is always there within us, watching, guiding and protecting us like a mother. Like a magnet attracting and holding an iron piece, those who are attracted by the Lord will constantly attach to Him by his memory. This Universe is none than the Lord who is responsible for creation, sustenance and destruction who acts as a Sakshi.
So Naradji instructs Sage Vyasa to describe the Bhagavatam at full length. Whatever we do, whether it is a sacrifice, performance, austerity or recitation of the Vedas, it should give us enlightenment about the glories of the Lord.
...Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
