God realization – Light of Godhead

SB 1.2.24-25: Beyond sense perception

SB 1.2.24: Firewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge [through Vedic sacrifices]. Similarly, passion [rajas] is better than ignorance [tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth.

As explained above, one can get release from the conditioned life of material existence by devotional service to the Personality of Godhead. It is further comprehended herein that one has to rise to the platform of the mode of goodness (sattva) so that one can be eligible for the devotional service of the Lord. But if there are impediments on the progressive path, anyone, even from the platform of tamas, can gradually rise to the sattva platform by the expert direction of the spiritual master. Sincere candidates must, therefore, approach an expert spiritual master for such a progressive march, and the bona fide, expert spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life: tamas, rajas or sattva.

light-of-godhead2015-09-07T22:46:59+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Canto 1, God realization, Goodness, Srimad Bhagavatam notes|Tags: Performing duty|

We cannot speculate

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Teach What Krsna has Said

So we have to follow mahajana because we are tiny living entities. We cannot speculate. This is nonsense. Speculation is nonsense. Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi manaso [Bs. 5.34]. If we speculate we shall never reach the Absolute Truth. That is not possible. But power is very limited. How long I shall speculate? This is called kupa-manduka-nyaya. Just like a frog in the well is informed by his friend, “My dear friend, Mr. Frog, or Dr. Frog, I have seen

light-of-godhead2017-07-04T19:25:58+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization|Tags: Frog, Speculation|

Krsna is self-effulgent

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Paltry research work

Here we get the information. Why should we take so much trouble? Krsna says aham adir hi devanam: “I am the original of all demigods.” Just like Brahma. Brahma is the first demigod within this universe, but he is not original. Original is Krsna. Aham adir hi devanam maharsinam. So He says that He is the adi, adi-purusam. Brahma says adi-purusam, the original person. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. So He’s the adi-purusa, He’s the original source. Every Vedic literature declares, every

light-of-godhead2015-08-14T01:15:44+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, Brahma, God realization, Krsna|Tags: Research|

Come out to see the light

Speaker: SrilaPrabhupada
Source: How to see the Absolute truth

To understand the Absolute Truth, even brahma-darsanam, Absolute Truth, you have come to the light, not in the darkness. If you want to see the sun at least, then you have come to the sunshine. Not that in the dark room, closing your doors, you can see sunshine. You have to come out. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. Therefore the Vedic injunction is “Don’t remain in the darkness. Come out to see the light.” Just like in the morning, somebody is sleeping,

light-of-godhead2015-08-13T02:12:20+00:00August 12th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization, Goodness, Ignorance|Tags: Absolute truth, Darkness, Light, Sunshine|

Sober activity is required

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: How to see the Absolute truth

Foolish activity has no meaning. Without brain, simply active, that is dangerous. Sober activity is required. Just like a high court judge. He is paid very lump sum, money, but he’s sitting on his chair and simply thinking. The others may think that “We are working so hard, we are not getting so big salary, and this man is getting so big salary. He’s sitting only.” Because foolish activity has no value, it is dangerous. So this modern world, they’re very

light-of-godhead2015-08-13T01:55:02+00:00August 12th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization, Goodness, Ignorance, Passion|Tags: Foolishness, Judge|

SB 1.2.22-23: Ultimate benefit

SB 1.2.22: Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.

The speciality of devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is specifically mentioned herein. The living entities are separated parts and parcels of the Personality of Godhead. Therefore Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original form of Godhead, and He is the last word in the Transcendence. Thus He is more attractive to the higher transcendentalists who participate in the eternal pastimes of the Lord. In forms of the Personality of Godhead other than Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva, there is no facility for intimate personal contact as in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord at Vrajabhūmi. The transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are not newly accepted, as argued by some less intelligent persons; His pastimes are eternal and are manifested in due course once in a day of Brahmājī, as the sun rises on the eastern horizon at the end of every twenty-four hours.

light-of-godhead2015-09-07T22:46:59+00:00August 6th, 2015|Categories: Canto 1, Demigod worship, God realization, Srimad Bhagavatam notes|Tags: Performing duty|

SB 1.2.20-21: How to know God

SB 1.2.20: Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.

The brahminical stage is the highest stage of human life because of its good qualities. So one cannot be a devotee unless one at least qualifies as a brāhmaṇa. The devotee is already a brāhmaṇa by action. But that is not the end of it. As referred to above, such a brāhmaṇa has to become a Vaiṣṇava in fact to be actually in the transcendental stage. A pure Vaiṣṇava is a liberated soul and is transcendental even to the position of abrāhmaṇa. In the material stage even a brāhmaṇa is also a conditioned soul because although in the brahminical stage the conception of Brahman or transcendence is realized, scientific knowledge of the Supreme Lord is lacking. One has to surpass the brahminical stage and reach the vasudeva stage to understand the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

light-of-godhead2015-09-07T22:46:59+00:00July 31st, 2015|Categories: Canto 1, God realization, Goodness, Srimad Bhagavatam notes|Tags: Performing duty|

God is not so cheap

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Spiritual Life Is Scientific

This is the sign. Evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah (SB 1.2.20). Then you can understand what is God. God is not so cheap: “Come on, I shall show you God. You haven’t got to follow any rules and regulations.” People want to be cheated. Therefore there are so many cheaters. They take advantage of it. Because they want everything very cheap. That is not possible. This is the stage, prasanna-manasa. Then you can understand what is God. Bhagavat-tattva-vi… Because it

light-of-godhead2015-07-31T18:59:08+00:00July 30th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization|Tags: Cheated, Cheaters, Mathematics, Science|

How to easily understand Krsna

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Spiritual Life Is Scientific

So it is not so easy to understand Sri Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye, yatatam api siddhanam: (BG. 7.3) “Those who have endeavored for perfection of life, out of many such persons, one can hardly understand Krsna.” It is not so easy. But it is by Krsna’s grace. Krsna being very compassionate with these fallen souls of this age, He appeared as Lord Caitanya and distributed Krsna. That is His prerogative. That is His right. If Krsna wants to distribute

light-of-godhead2015-07-31T19:00:36+00:00July 30th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization, Lord Caitanya|

I am so unfortunate

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Spiritual Life Is Scientific

So if you want to know God, then you have to follow the prescribed rules and regulations of bhagavad-bhakti-yoga. It is very simple. It is made very easy, especially in this age: simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. It’s so made easy, but we are so unfortunate that we do not take advantage of this. Etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu laments, “My dear Lord, You are so compassionate and merciful upon us that in this

light-of-godhead2015-07-31T19:01:16+00:00July 29th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, Chanting, God realization, Lord Caitanya|Tags: Lament, No taste, Rules and regulations, Unfortunate|

Spiritual life is scientific

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Spiritual Life Is Scientific

So bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam. Vijnana means science. It is not concoction, speculation. It is a science. Just like mathematics is a science: “Two plus two equal to four.” You cannot make two plus two equal to five according to your whims. No. Anywhere you go, it doesn’t matter. Because it is science, so either in America or in India or in England, everyone will accept “Two plus two equal to four.” That is science. Science is true everywhere. Not that “I can imagine my

light-of-godhead2015-07-31T19:02:54+00:00July 29th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, God realization|Tags: Imagination, Mathematics, Science|