VEDAS in RUSSIA:

                                      

Veda means Spiritual knowledge. Most of the issues in our lives can be resolved simply by learning the spiritual knowledge & changing our lifestyle. Without Spirituality in our background, Materiality (fame, position, power, wealth, beauty) can create lots of disturbances & degradation in society. Our relationships, health & happiness are also dependent on our spiritual foundation. 

Harinama Sankirtan (meaning Harinama with Music, Singing & Dancing in a Group) is the Sober way to take the Spiritual messages in the society without agitating, annoying or angering anyone (see the 3 minutes video).

Currently there are more than 200,000 devotees in Russia who have happily adopted the life style as recommended in Vedas to become HAPPY 😃....it is pretty amazing...😉. These Russian devotees are the cultural & spiritual ambassadors of India/Vedas. How this miracle happened?

In 1971 Srila Prabhupada got only 5 days visa to visit Russia.
Although he spent only five days in the country, those five days changed Russia’s history. During them, Prabhupada spoke with Professor G. G. Kotovsky, then head of the Indian and South Asian Studies Department of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. The conversation left a distinct impression on the professor, who had it published in an important Russian periodical. 

Prabhupada’s meeting with a young Russian seeker—Anatoly Pinyayev—that was the biggest catalyst to spread Vedic philosophy or Krishna consciousness in the then Soviet Union. Anatoly Pinyayev (Ananta-santi dasa) was the first Soviet Hare Krsna devotee. Because of his spiritual influence so many from the intelligentsia were interested in Krsna consciousness. The Russian authorities became afraid, everything spiritual was considered to be criminal and thus they started repressions. He was subjected to severe persecution at various Soviet psychiatric hospitals. He was heavily medicated, punished, torchered & imprisoned for many years for spreading the spiritual knowledge.......what a shame?

Bg 6.9 — A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.

Bg 6.10 — A transcendentalist should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness.

TEXT 17: Gita 6.17: He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.

See the link for detailed.
https://iskconnews.org/ananta-shanti-das-in-his-own-words,3908/

https://youtu.be/YJOpTRP1Xfc

Thank You.

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MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu (Gujarati & Hindi), Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting or Hearing the Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook & Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone & Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God (Krishna , Absolute Truth).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. (whichever way we can understand God — either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction (means image, picture...etc) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person (not a abstract or some kind of light) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 — I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

TEXT 18: Gita 9.18: I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

Bg:13-12:— Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).

WHY VEGETARIAN?

                                       

This Blog is NOT based on sentiments, religion, culture or any nationality. I apologize in advance if I sound harsh or hurt anyones feelings. Don't be offended or take it to your heart❤️.

Audio: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xd0wm08jegm6ocr/WHY%20VEGETARIAN.m4a?dl=0

A Vegetarian or Non-vegetarian diet is a matter of choice; most of us have made that choice since birth based on our cultural or religious beliefs & upbringings. Currently, the majority of people in the world are non-vegetarian, but in their personal lives they have no intention to kill any creatures. If non-vegetarians have to kill any life by them selves and eat it, than many of them will change their mind & habits.. LOL 😂 🤣

WHY VEGETARIAN? A Few good reasons to be vegetarian are summarised below in bullet points.

1. Non Violence: Once Vegetables & Fruits ripen they will fall down on the ground anyway,...if you pluck them before the ripened stage, this is not a killing. The Tree is still alive & reproductive for next season.....or plant will die naturally at end of the season...we are not interfering with their life cycles.

2. Environmental Friendly: If more people turn vegetarian, we need to plant more vegetables, grains & fruits tree which are environmental friendly.....a win win strategy. On other hand we have to cut & burn more trees to fulfill the world’s meat demands. THE AMAZON is BURNING BECAUSE the WORLD EATS so MUCH MEAT. 

3. Saving Energy: The amounts of water used for cattle farms (to raise the cattle for slaughter houses) & energy spent to preserve meat products are not environmental friendly...it is one of the sources for Global warming. Any meat products remain at room temperature will start to decompose rapidly...vs...The grains can remain at room temperature for many months to years, vegetables & fruits for days to weeks....no waste of energy.

4. Kindness: It is very painful for anyone either vegetarian or non-vegetarian person to see the Slaughtering of innocent animals in mass....not pleasing to our heart. Animals also have families like we do. No mothers like their babies taken away from them. Like our pet Dogs, other animals are also loving by nature. NO ONE LIKES TO BE KILLED.

5. Health: For the purpose of health, vegetarianism is also favorable. In the long run, food has effects on our mind & body. PREVENTION is BETTER THAN CURE.

6. Higher Consciousness: Human species have the most evolved Consciousness among all other species. We can live with least harm to other species, including nature. EVOLUTION is BETTER THAN REVOLUTION.

7. Divine Arrangements: Fresh Vegetables, Fruits & Whole grains , Animal fat in form of Cow's milk & milk products are Mode of Goodness foods. They can easily obtained with LOVE without any RESISTANCE. Nature like to give to us by Divine arrangement.

8. Milks comes from Mother: Whoever gives milk to us is like our mother, we don't send our mother to slaughter house once she becomes weak & aged. Similarly a cow is like our mother; this world can not survive without cow milk, we should not send them to slaughter house once they become weak, aged and stop giving milk. 

9. Palatable Veggie Dishes: There are many palatable veggie dishes available in the market comparable to meat dishes to satisfy the cravings of our taste buds.

 Bg 17.8 — Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart. Vedabase.io

With a conscious mind, we can choose our choice to be either vegetarian or Non-vegetarian.

Thank You.

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CAN I CHOOSE my PARENT & PROGENY?

                                       

Of course, I can choose my parent and progeny......but not a spouse ...LOL. 😂 😂 😻🤩😎. 

Dust to Dust: The journey of my life begin from the Dust even before the conception in mother womb, passes through various stages and will continues after the fate of material body into Dust. Life-Death cycle is like a Spring-Fall cycle...comes & goes and continues.

Just like my high school grades play a major roll in choosing my future college, similarly the status of my consciousness (mind, intellect & ego) at the time of death play a major roll in choosing my future parent..LOL 😂 😝 😆 vice a versa Consciousness of parent plays a major roll in choosing their future baby. In human body I have a chance to upgrade my Consciousness..so let’s take this chance again in this life..LOL 😂.

For better understanding & clarification, see the video link below. These seminars (total 4 videos title: Dust to Dust) are based on Vedic philosophy, will be appreciated by people who are walking on the spiritual path. These videos will be very helpful to a couple who is planning to have a baby. 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrRNNRvHbMe_ju3Dq6wqxgwh22euccJKR

As always explained in very sound, eloquent, and thoughtful language with a deep, meaningful and transcendental message; followed by intelligent questions & answers.........by His Holiness Bhakti Rasamitra Swami.....A very pleasant & knowledgeable personality.

Bg 6.43 — On taking such a birth, he revives the divine consciousness of his previous life, and he again tries to make further progress in order to achieve complete success, O son of Kuru.

Bg 15.8 — The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another, as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.

Bg 15.10 — The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.

Thank You.

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MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu (Gujarati & Hindi), Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting or Hearing the Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook & Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone & Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God (Krishna , Absolute Truth).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. (whichever way we can understand God — either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction (means image, picture...etc) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person (not a abstract or some kind of light) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 — I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

TEXT 18: Gita 9.18: I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

Bg:13-12:— Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).

YOGA, YOGESHWAR & SAMADHI:

                                        

Everything changes with time, place & circumstances that include the practice of YOGA. In today’s modern, techie & fashionable world, Yoga means physical fitness. In reality YOGA is about our Spiritual fitness, which includes physical fitness. By practicing the Yoga, some people try to stop the mind from thinking but it is impossible. The goal of Yoga is not to become unconscious... LOL 😂 but to become God conscious, it is a state of Higher Consciousness.

Audio: https://www.dropbox.com/s/09gvqjfcn91bvpt/YOGA%2C%20YOGESHWAR%20%26%20SAMADHI.m4a?dl=0

YOGA is a Sanskrit word, meaning union, joining or linking of our eternal Soul to the Supreme Soul. Patanjali (Father of Yoga) Yoga Sutras have described 8 limbs of Yoga. The 1st seven limbs prepare us for the last limb of Yoga called SAMADHI, so our mind is ready to connect with the God. Lord Krishna in the Gita has spoken on every kind of Yoga which includes Dhyana Yoga , Karma Yoga, Knowledge Yoga & Spiritual Yoga to show us how to live efficient, satisfactory, peaceful, joyful & fulfilling lives. KRISHNA is also known as a YOGESHWAR, meaning one who is Supreme in all Yogi. Spiritual Yoga means an unconditional loving relationship with YOGESHWAR or God & his creations -- it is the essence of all Yoga. Out of all Yoga, it is easier to practice Spiritual Yoga (Bhakti Yoga ) in our daily lives. 

Bg 6.18 -- When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence (SAMADHI) – devoid of all material desires – he is said to be well established in yoga. 

Bg 6.27 -- The yogī whose mind is fixed on Me verily attains the highest perfection of transcendental happiness. 

Bg 7.1 -- The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Pṛthā, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.

An Unconditional, loving relationship with Lord YOGESHWAR by practicing Spiritual Yoga is nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us, but there is always a room for improvement. 

Bg 6.28 -- Thus the self-controlled yogī, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.

Our distress & demonic qualities (anger, greed, envy, conceit & possessiveness) diminish simply by associating with the supremely pleasant & divine personality-- Lord YOGESHWAR. Just like stabilizing a rocking boat, we need to anchor the boat to the fix objects. Similarly, we need to anchor our shaky Soul from material misery with the Lord YOGESHWAR. Self realizing ourselves as an eternal Soul is not enough.....we must link our Soul with the Supreme Soul or Lord YOGESHWAR to maintain our purity, love, stability and elevate ourselves higher. Otherwise, by default we will be disappointed, distressed & degrade in this world. If the higher human mind is not focused toward higher supreme objects, then by default, it will come down to lower mundane objects. 

Arjuna is addressing to Lord Krishna.
Bg 11.4 -- If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord Yogeshwar, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that unlimited universal Self. Vedabase.com

It is easy to say, but difficult to follow. I am in the same boat with everyone else, or I may even be behind, but thinking in the right direction will help us to go in the right direction.   
Thank You.  

Jay Yogeshwar.

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MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu ( Gujarati & Hindi) Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com . Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook & Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone & Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God (Krishna , Absolute Truth).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. (whichever way we can understand God -- either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction (means image, picture...etc) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person (not a abstract or some kind of light) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 -- I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

Bg:13-12:-- Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).

REINCARNATION PROOF:

                                        

The James Linegar Case..Story by Chris Cuomo, CNN. (FYI: watch up to 10 mins 40 seconds, when the initially skeptic father is convinced beyond doubt about his son's past life). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h82PwADicl8

What Gita says about Reincarnation.....(Reincarnation beliefs is pretty much same in Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism & Hinduism).

REINCARNATION: Just like we change clothes as a daily routine; at the spiritual level, we the Atma (Soul) change bodies one life after another. Soul remain in the body until body is livable & transmigrate to new body along with the subtle bodies (mind, intelligence & ego). Soul thus carries an individual’s desires & imprints to next life.

Bg 2.22 -- As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones. 

Here is the summary from the book: Consciousness - The Missing Link by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

- What is so special about life? Why do we view it as sacred? Example: Although the chemicals that make up the human body are not as expensive as those making up a Ferrari, we still first go and try to save a friend in case he/she has met with an accident in a Ferrari.

- Life means presence of the Atma, or the conscious force in a body

- Death means the absence or leaving of the conscious force (Atma) from the body

- The fundamental question that the Bhagavad Gita answers right in the beginning is "Who Am I?". 

- Our real identity, per Gita, is that we're not these bodies, but we are the Atma. It is not that we are the body, and Atma is just a foreign particle that energizes us. We are the Atma itself. The real me and the real you are the Atma.

- Matter is manipulated and energized by spirit, as can be practically seen by us all around.

- The body is compared to a vehicle and the Atma to a driver

- Another comparison given in the Gita: The body is like clothes and the Atma is like the person wearing these clothes. Just like we change clothes as a daily routine; at the spiritual level, we the Atma change bodies one life after another.

- 3 ways to perceive the Atma: Intuition, Inference, Experience

- Intuition: We say "my nose, my ears", and know that we're different from these body parts. Similarly, it can be understood that we're different from the whole body itself. Also, when someone dies, we say "he/she has left us", although the body is still lying there.

- Inference: Sunlight implies presence of the sun; similarly, consciousness implies presence of the Atma. Conscious beings are so amazing, and so distinct from dead matter. No matter how hard we try to manipulate dead matter, we cannot produce a living being out of it.

- Experience: Practical experience gradually comes with Yoga and Meditation performed under proper guidance.

- Three attributes of Atma: Sat - eternal and not affected by anything temporary; Chit - full of knowledge and awareness; Ananda - blissful. But under the following 2 coverings, these 3 attributes get covered and we undergo many tribulations. 

- We (the Atma) have two coverings - Gross body & Subtle body

- Gross body refers to the physical body we live in. Subtle body refers to our mind, our intelligence and the false ego that makes us identify with everything material. After death Soul transmigrate to new body along with Subtle bodies, thus carrying an individual’s desires & imprints to next life.

- Some modern discoveries about this ancient known fact about Atma:
 o Near Death Experiences (NDEs): Extensively researched by Cardiologist Dr. Michael Sabom. Many patients have reported leaving their bodies and observing facts/incidents that are impossible to be known for a patient lying unconscious.
 o Past Life Memories: Psychiatrist Dr Ian Stevenson has thoroughly investigated around 2000 cases of reincarnation; for example a child accurately speaking details about a remote place that even his/her parents never visited.

Additional Sources:
(1) Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, verses 11 to 30, which constitute the very beginning of Lord Krishna's teachings). Vedabase.com

Bg 2.13 -- As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

Thank You.  

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***************************

MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu ( Gujarati & Hindi) Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com . Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook & Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone & Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God (Krishna , Absolute Truth).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. (whichever way we can understand God -- either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction (means image, picture...etc) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person (not a abstract or some kind of light) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 -- I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

Bg:13-12:-- Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).

DO WE HAVE TO OBEY?

                                        

Obviously, it is up to us to obey someone or not. Let’s introspect our lives & see some examples below. 

Audio: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8eel4uomegnwlse/DO%20WE%20HAVE%20TO%20OBEY.m4a?dl=0

1. During childhood & teenage lives we were constantly protected & guided by our parents & teachers, meaning indirectly we have obeyed their instructions in our lives. Without their supervision & instructions we could have been lost in this world a longtime ago. 

2. To acquire a higher level of education we have to obey or follow the college’s curriculum.

3. As a citizen of a nation we are indirectly instructed and govern by the country’s laws. 

Either we know it or not we must obey the country’s rules & regulations. We can not live a irresponsible crazy life the way we want to live otherwise we will be punished and forced to surrender to the government. 

4. To become the best sport player we have to obey the coach’s instructions.

5. While driving also we are obeying the Google map to travel from point A to point B.

6. As a patient we are obeying the doctor’s prescription to cure the illnesses.

7. We are obeying the traffic rules & regulations in order to avoid accidents & traffic jams.... so on & so forth.

8. Even in the marriage life we have to obey the WIFE’s instruction to have a smooth & successful journey together...LOL 😂. At home my wife scolds me & shouts at me all the time 1. Don’t you even dare to come in kitchen, 2. Don’t even bother to clean the house, 3. Just seat-down on sofa, watch the TV, listen the Bhajan, Read the Gita, Write the Blog...And I Obey everything without any questions or arguments....that’s the secret of our Happy Marriage Life. I am not joking, I never do. If you guys don’t believe me, please come to our home & verify the truth...... Hilarious LOL 😂 🤣 😆.

In short throughout the life directly or indirectly we are following or obeying someone in our life. By obeying someone to whom we can trust (our parents, family members, teachers, scientists, technology, textbooks or friends) can be helpful in achieving our goal and also save us some times in searching the facts. 

Similarly in spiritual journey also we have to obey or follow (Obey with Devotion not with Fear) some guidelines which help us to live spiritually conscious lives & evolved further. Obeying the Scriptures like Gita & Bhagavatam will guide us towards the right path--Path of Duty, Wisdoms, Devotion & Liberation. These guidelines are the eternal truth, it’s meaning does not change with time, places or circumstances and are universally applicable to everyone irrespective of their nationality & religion.

Bg 16.23 -- He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.

Bg 16.24 -- One should therefore understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.

God has given us the Intelligence & Free Will to make the decisions.

Bg 18.63 -- Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.

With respect to everyone’s values & beliefs, whichever GUIDELINES ( Bible, Quran, Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other...) METHODS or WAYS work for us is good. 

Have a Great Day.

Thank You.  

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MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu ( Gujarati & Hindi) Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com . Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook/Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone/Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God ( Krishna , Absolute Truth ).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka, Agama, Guru Granth Sahib, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. ( whichever way we can understand God -- either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy ).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction ( means image, picture...etc ) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person ( not a abstract or some kind of light ) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 -- I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

Bg:13-12:-- Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).















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CITY of NINE GATES:

                                        

This article was originally presented at Toward a Science of Consciousness, an international conference attended by leading scientists, physicians, philosophers, and other scholars, and hosted by the University of Arizona in Tucson, April 1996. Very interesting article written by Drutakarma Dasa (Michael Cremo), will be appreciated by science & philosophy students.

The City of Nine Gates (Nava Dvara Pura) represents the human body, with its nine openings; two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, the mouth, the anus, and the genital opening. 

Is There A Conscious Self distinct from the physical mechanism of the body? Is there a mind distinct from the brain? Those who answer yes to such questions are called dualists, and they are rare in contemporary science and philosophy. An allegory from the Srimad-Bhagavatam sheds light on the mind/body connection.

Dualistic solutions to the mind/body problem are perhaps hampered by, among other things, inadequate analogies and allegories on the topic in Western thought. Whether we turn to Plato’s cave, to the formulations of Descartes, or to the proverbial little green man in the brain, there is apparently not enough substance to inspire the modern researcher of consciousness to seriously consider dualism. But if we turn to chapters 25-29 of Canto Four in the Bhagavata Purana, or Srimad-Bhagavatam, a Sanskrit text from India, we will find the elaborate allegory of the City of Nine Gates. The sophistication of this allegory challenges modern researchers to take a second look at dualism.

The central character in the allegory is a king named Puranjana. The Sanskrit word puran-jana means, one who enjoys in a body. So the king name hints at soul/body dualism. King Puranjana originally existed as a spirit soul in a purely spiritual realm in relationship with a supreme conscious being, God.

Materialists may oppose the introduction of this transcendental realm, which exists outside the material universe knowable by science. But even the materialist cosmology of modern science incorporates a transcendental realm, that is to say, a realm that exists beyond the universe knowable by science, and from which that universe emerged at the time of the Big Bang. This transcendental reality, existing beyond time, space, and matter, is called the quantum mechanical vacuum and is pictured as a pure energy field in which particles appear and instantly disappear. From this sea of virtual particles some expand and continue to exist. According to many cosmologists, our universe is one such expansion.

So both the Bhagavata Purana and the Big Bang cosmology of modern science point to an eternal transcendental existence from which our universe of matter, with its features of time and space, arises. Now, which version of ultimate reality better explains the variegated reality of our experience? Modern cosmologists and other theorists have a great deal of difficulty in coaxing enough variety from the rather smooth and featureless universe that, according to theory, expands from the quantum mechanical vacuum. The origin of consciousness also poses a difficult problem. In light of this, an ultimate reality that is itself conscious and variegated might offer a solution.

Having departed from the spiritual world, by misuse of independence, King Puranjana journeys through the material world, accompanied by Avijnata Sakha (the unknown friend). The Unknown Friend corresponds to the Supersoul expansion of God. When Puranjana leaves God and the spiritual world, his memory of them becomes covered. But unknown to Puranjana, God accompanies him on his journey through the material world. According to the Bhagavata Purana, God accompanies all spirit souls in the material world as their Unknown Friend, who observes and sanctions their activities.

In the Western world, mind/brain dualism is identified with French philosopher Rene Descartes, who posited the existence of (1) matter extended in space and (2) mind existing outside space. Cartesian dualism is characterized by an interaction between mind and matter, but explaining how this interaction takes place has proved problematic for advocates of the Cartesian model. For example, how are impressions transmitted from the realm of matter to the completely different realm of mind? Descartes thought the connection between mind and matter occurred in the pineal gland in the brain, an answer most scientists today reject.

According to the Bhagavata Purana, both matter and the souls in the material world are energies of God, and as such both have a single spiritual source. The philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana is thus both dualist and monist simultaneously. The interactions of matter and the soul in the material world are mediated by the Supersoul, who exists inside each material atom and also accompanies each spirit soul. By the arrangement of the Supersoul, impressions of material experience can be channeled to the soul. How this takes place is the subject of the allegory of Puranjana.

Having left the spiritual world, Puranjana, accompanied by Avijnata Sakha (the Supersoul), wanders through the material world. He wants to find a suitable place to enjoy himself. In other words, he searches for a suitable kind of body to inhabit. He tries many kinds of bodies on many planets.

Here we note that each species of life consists of a soul inhabiting a particular kind of body. In this respect, the Bhagavata Purana account differs from that of Descartes, who held that only humans have souls. For Descartes, animals were simply automatons. If one concedes that animals, with all their signs of life and consciousness, are simply automatons, then why not human beings as well? The Bhagavata Purana model avoids this weakness of Descartes’s system

Article is not finished yet...see the link : http://d6.krishna.com/city-nine-gates

Thank You.  

***************************
***************************

MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION , SOURCE & THE GURUS:

I am inspired to hear & read the Vedic Scriptures by regularly listening to Sri Pandurang Shashtri Athvale, also known as Dadaji ( speaks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Veda based discourses & western philosophy ) and the association of Swadhyay Parivar every Sunday in Swadhya Kendra. 

I also hear and read the discourses & literature on Vedic thoughts from Srila Prabhupada, his disciples & grand disciples ( HH Bhakti Rasamitra Swami, HH Chaitanya Charandas Prabhu, Shubha Vilas Prabhu, Sutapa Das, Amarnath Dasa, HH Bhakticharu Swami, HH Urmila Devi Dasi, HH Sivarama Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Romapada Swami, Lal Govind Prabhu ( Gujarati & Hindi) Prahalad Maharaj in Surat (Gujarati) .......and many more from ISKCON......). 

FYI: A good source of Vedic literature: Vedabase.com . Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence & Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) is the nectar of all Vedic scriptures. Repeatedly hearing/reading & meditating the Scriptures, Eating Sanctified Pure Food and Chanting Vedic Mantras are nourishing to our heart (Soul), transcendental to our consciousness, purifying to our senses and thus helps us to overcome our weaknesses or deficiencies. Yes, we do have good qualities within us but there is always a room for improvement. 

It is always a good idea to share our good thoughts & knowledge with others. Thanks to the Facebook & Social media for providing me the platform. Of course I use Smartphone & Google search to collect some data. 

Besides my parents, wife, teachers, family & friends GREATFUL to EVERYONE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED in MY LIFE. Hopefully my enthusiasm will continue by Grace of the Guru & God (Krishna , Absolute Truth).

NOTE:
Many times a word Hearing is used instead of Listening when it comes to the Scriptures. Because Scriptures are so potent that simply by Hearing them even if you don’t try to interpret or analyze or understand them still there will be passive positive effects on our mind & senses.

We can follow either the Quran, Bible,Torah, Tripitaka-Buddhism, Agama-Jainism, Guru Granth Sahib-Sikhism, Gita or any other Philosophy which makes sense to us, purifies us, elevates our consciousness and qualifies us to understand God and instill the love of God & his creation. (whichever way we can understand God — either Personal with many names or Impersonal as an universal consciousness & energy).

Don’t try to understand God by Name, Religion or Depiction (means image, picture...etc) but try to understand him by the Definition through Scriptures. The Transcendental subject of God & his creation cannot be understood by mental speculation. Some times people ask why God is Supreme? It is just like asking why is the circle circular? Just by definition, the circle is circular. Similarly by definition, God is unborn, complete, unlimited, infinite, eternal, the Absolute Truth the source of everything, cause of all causes. 

I see God, besides the above mentioned qualities, as an eternal living person (not a abstract or some kind of light) known by the name KRISHNA meaning one who attracts everyone has also MANY other NAMES, forms, abodes, incarnations, activities, qualities, associates, is full of wisdom, bliss, and the cause of all causes.

Bg 9.17 — I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

Bg:13-12:— Accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth ( God ) – all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance. ( Vedabase.com ).