Body in Krsna Consciousness and Iron in Fire

The spiritual body is developed through the practice of Krishna consciousness. This material body is spiritualized by this bhakti‑yoga process. If you place an iron within fire, the iron becomes so hot that it also becomes fiery. When the iron is red hot, it acquires all the qualities of fire. If you touch something with that iron, that iron will act as fire. Similarly, although this body is material, it can become spiritualized through Krishna consciousness and act as spirit.

Path of Perfection (pg 4)- Srila Prabhupada

Fire and wood

A nice example is given to illustrate the different characteristics of the body and soul.

Fire, which burns and illuminates, is always different from that which is burned for illumination. It may be said, however, that fire is present in an unmanifest form within wood. Similarly, in the conditioned life of ignorance, the spirit soul is present, though unmanifest, within the body. The enlightened condition of the living entity can be compared to the act of arousing fire within wood. Just as fire quickly burns wood to ashes, similarly the spirit soul, when enlightened, burns to ashes the darkness of ignorance. We are conscious of the body; therefore it may be said that the body is illuminated by consciousness, which is the energy, or symptom, of the spirit soul. Identifying the body and soul as one is just as foolish as considering fire and wood to be the same. In both cases, the intimate circumstantial connection between fire and wood or between the soul and the body does not alter the fact that fire is different from wood or that the soul is always different from the body.
Taken from Jaiva Dharma by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur


Interestingly, the spirit soul is often compared to being a spark of the original fire, Krishna. A spark naturally possesses the same qualities as it's source, the roaring fire, all be it in a much reduced proportion. It can therefore burn and give some glow. Similarly, as the soul, we possess the same qualities of eternality, full consciousness and ecstatic bliss as Krishna, as well as many more of his amazing qualities, but just in a proportionate quantity. As long as the spark remains within the fire it will retain it's full manifestation of firey potency. Yet, if the spark leaps out of the fire, becoming disconnected, then it quickly loses it's power to burn and give light. Whilst we are engaged in the fire of service to please Krishna, our original flame, through chanting his names and helping others to also benefit, then we can also fully manifest our divine qualities. However, when the soul turns away from his spiritual reality and becomes engrossed in temporary pursuits, then he becomes like the spark that has separated and fallen into water. It appears that there is no soul or that the spark has become extinguished, even though Bhagavad Gita explains that the soul is eternal and indestructible (click). If though, by great fortune, one comes in contact with the original fire of Krishna, then once again the dormant flame within starts to burn, simultaneously scorching away all negativity and dirt from the heart.

For more information please click here


Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Suffering

The whole world is suffering for want of knowledge. The present civilization is animal civilization. They do not know anything beyond eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That's all. This is animal civilization. Animal does not know beyond these four principles of life: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That's all.

Human life is meant for something else: "What I am? What is God? What is my relation with God? What is this material world? Why I am here? Where I have to go next?" So many things one has to learn. Athato brahma-jijnasa. This is human life. Not that eat and sleep and have sex life and die someday like cats and dogs. Therefore, there is need of acaryas, teachers, for propagating spiritual knowledge, Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada speaking on the occasion of the appearance of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, September 23, 1969

Oh Krishna!

Adventures of the spirit

The unlimited adventures of spiritual life are the means by which we can actually conquer death. By nature we are the eternal soul, so as these bodies gradually age and ultimately fall, we naturally move on to our next destination. We will all meet with this inevitable adventure, the next phase of our journey through life. Yet for most people it is a great unknown and a fearful conclusion.

To be ignorant of our eternal conscious identity places us in the hands of countless fears. Fear of survival, fear of feeding oneself, fears of maintaining our families, being loved or appreciated. Then, meeting frustrations throughout our personal lives we may even fear the idea of being an eternal person, someone who is held accountable for their actions. Finally there is fear of not being supremely independent, having to submit to a higher power.

Real adventure means to face all our fears and conquer them. Hiding away or trying to convince ourselves otherwise are symptomatic of cowardly behavior. To bury our heads in the sand only covers our vision of the truth, the ostrich is not out of danger, just the danger is out of his sight. Fear arises due to our becoming absorbed in the dreamlike condition of our material life. Whilst dreaming at night we become so engrossed that we fail to remember our bodies sleeping in the bed. Completely identifying with our dreamworld we forget our worldly duties and relationships. We may even experience being attacked by a tiger in our dream, running and screaming to escape. Yet, someone awake, watching our tossing and turning will not fear the tiger, for him it does not exist. Feeling concern, he may attempt to awaken us, thus relieving our distress. Upon awakening we immediately remember our actual identity and real life, the fears for the tiger now gone. Similarly, when we awaken from our material slumber we again become aware of our true spiritual identity and of our pure loving relationships on that platform. We remember that we have an incredible comrade known as Krishna, the original adventurous person and source of all fearlessness. With our consciousness of Krishna, our eternal friend and lover, finally restored, we once again taste the real adventure of the spirit. This rush of excitement of reuniting with Krishna through chanting his names, is so incredible that all other thrills appear insignificant.

For those tasting the transcendental bliss of chanting Krishna's names, searching for ways to give others this treasure becomes an unparalleled adventure. To try and awaken others to their real existence and their true potential is certainly a risky challenge. It is so much an adventure that even Krishna himself, the original pure consciousness, takes on this pastime. Descending as Gauranga, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, he personally unleashes a great flood of love and compassion upon the world, unconcerned with our disqualification for such priceless jewels. Unable to tolerate seeing the self-inflicted frustrations and fears of the people, Sri Chaitanya brings the highest wealth of pure love and seeks that everyone takes. To become an instrument of divine love in the hands of the supreme lover, Sri Chaitanya, is an unmissable opportunity for extraordinary adventure. Without doubt there will be risks and obstacles in such an endeavor, yet these act to enhance the flavour of the love, a ever-increasing love of reciprocation between Gauranga and his devotee. To be such an instrument of love, compassion and knowledge means that we will receive more ourselves. It is in giving that we receive. A hosepipe does not create water, it simple delivers it. The more it sprays, the more passes through it. Similarly, Sri Chaitanya is the fountainhead of this pure love and compassion, which passes down through the medium of his loving devotees. By acing as their servants, we will have this very love and compassion flowing through us. That is a sensation which does not have a comparison in this world of temporary fixes.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

The Spirit of Adventure

To some degree we all possess a certain craving for excitement or for experiences beyond the normal. Some of us feel enlivened taking risks of some kind whilst others simply strive to extend themselves beyond their comfort zones. Indeed, an adventurous spirit is considered by many to be a fundamental principle of life itself. Of course, we all have our own individual ventures and challenges and it is these very endeavors which can promote our growth and development.

Some people travel the world experiencing diversities in culture, sight and sound whereas for others sitting on the ocean floor forty meters under, surrounded by countless hungry sharks may be adventure. Some may penetrate deep into submerged caves with only a thin rope and limited compressed air as a life line to the surface. For others it may be the rush of free-falling from thousands of meters in the air or climbing forbidden peaks and mountains in exotic worlds. Then there are those who may hitch-hike across the unforgiving expanse of the Sahara desert or navigate the open ocean with its unpredictable elements, in only a teacup of a vessel. All of these different adventures often give one a profound sense of being alive and youthful. In fact for many, the need to challenge or even cheat death is required in order to feel truly alive.

From a deeper level of our existence though, we may not find such a continuous deep fulfillment through all our active pursuits. For most of the above adventures one may be searching for a certain sensation or rush of adrenaline to heighten the experience. From such a fix ones senses are enlivened giving the feeling of enhanced awareness. In this position one either faces or flees from his fears. However, we find that repeating the same activity several times reduces such a sensation as one becomes more accustomed to the situation. The initial rush of uncertainty is no longer felt as one becomes more familiar and even habituated or "natural" in their pursuit. Ever increasing challenges are required in order to access the fix we so eagerly yearn for. Even this exhilarating rush is itself relatively short lived due to the temporary nature of such activities. Through our temporary and limited body we can only experience temporary and limited happiness.

Bhagavad Gita explains that by nature we are the spirit soul, or pure consciousness. Being an individual living force beyond this temporary vehicle of our body, we possess an eternal nature and an eternal thirst for adventure. Also, this adventure, which alone can actually touch our real nature, is of a more refined quality. External activities may appear to be the same, but internally one's consciousness is of a different state.

The mind is the hub of our senses being the relay station for information coming in and of our subsequent interaction with the world. However, our minds are often our worst enemies if left uncontrolled. Therefore yoga aims at controlling the mind. This is the greatest challenge and adventure we could ever take. We have six formidable enemies who are enacting a fierce battle within our very hearts. Our pure consciousness is constantly assailed by these adversaries of lust, greed, anger, pride, illusion and envy. In fact our entire society today is founded on these hostile principles. A truly adventurous person is one who will stand up against these enemies and live for higher values. Through mantra meditation we can reawaken our pure identity and achieve victory in the battle. We then understand what is real adventure. However, meditation is not easy. Every session we enter the battlefield of our mind, combating against the missiles of negativity and laziness. To completely absorb our disobliging minds in the pure spiritual vibration of Krishna's names is an endeavor unmatched in this world. It is a gargantuan task as we have become so conditioned to materialism and ignorant of our real identity, becoming slaves to our enemies.

However, when we reconnect with our eternal relationship with Krishna through chanting his names, we reconnect with real adventure. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that he is that very principle of excitement or adventure which we are all seeking. Krishna is the absolute truth or the supreme original consciousness, and from him all else emanates. Therefore he is the source of all thrills and pleasures. By chanting Krishna's names we obtain the power to control our minds. By chanting we also obtain positive realization of Krishna and of the plane of pure consciousness, a spiritual dimension of never ending adventure. All activity there is of an ever-fresh nature, is if done for the first time. Each time one meets Krishna, one tastes the flavour of fresh newborn love and joy. Familiarity and boredom are unknown as one experiences ever increasing excitement and bliss. There is no limit to the unlimited. Krishna is unlimited and by knowing him we can do more than simply cheat death, we will actually conquer death, and become completely fearless.

One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode. Bhagavad Gita 4.9

The real spirit of adventure is the adventure of the spirit.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Ghostbusters- conclusion

"Oh no, it's started....it's started!"
The expression on the woman's face changed rapidly as did ours. What we had been expectantly awaiting was now immediately happening. As soon as we crossed the threshold of the apartment our hearts had taken on a new gear, sensing the thick heavy atmosphere. As if to ignite fear within us, two pictures of Christian saints had sprung from the hallway wall and crashed to the floor. Was this a message from our apparently hostile poltergeist suggesting our own immanent destiny? As each devotee individually deepened their soft recital of Krishna's names, we confidently ventured forward. Within a second a dining chair in the adjoining kitchen seemingly leaped up and smashed to the ground, sending the woman into a state of hysteria, as she frantically moved from room to room. We had been in the apartment for about ten seconds and had already experienced more than we could have imagined.

Standing in the centre of the main room we all looked at one another for a moment and then spontaneously erupted into kirtan, the loud calling of the names of Krishna, themselves feared by fear personified. The leader of the chanting requested we all chant in unison with full voice instead of the usual call and response style we are familiar with. What with the accordion sounding, clay drum booming and countless hand symbols chiming, along with the resounding call of a conchshell being blown, overall the effect was quite tumultuous. Placing all of our breath into the chanting we searched to find the protection promised from these all powerful names of the Supreme. What the neighbours were thinking was far from our thoughts as we absorbed our minds in the pure transcendental vibration;

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

One of our party had brought several sacred Narasingha stones called Salagram, and proceeded to bath them with pure water. These transcendental manifestations offer powerful protection as well as removal of inauspicious obstacles on our spiritual path. Spraying the bathing water all around we gradually moved from one room to another ardently chanting the recommended mantra for this age, Hare Krishna.

Noticing that the heavy wooden dining chairs had each begun to vibrate, the woman lay them down under the table, all the while rambling through prayers in a frenzied manner. Her mother tried to console her but had little effect. Just then a wooden drawer from a cupboard in an adjacent room came flying across the ceiling and smashed against the wall just behind the woman, spraying its contents everywhere. We instinctively moved closer to the woman and desperately called out the names. Meanwhile, in the kitchen a devotee was offering the bathing water to drink for protection to the family, when a chair rose one metre from the floor and within a split second zoomed across the room colliding with the boyfriend. Seeing no other means to assist, the devotee practically threw the liquid down the boyfriends throat only then to see the coffee machine also begin its levitation.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

We had been hoping to experience something and this local spook was certainly entertaining us.
Whilst the dining chairs were continuing to vibrate we moved through to the parents bedroom all the while intensifying our chanting of the all purifying names of Krishna. Vedic scripture explains that these names, the Maha-mantra, being completely spiritual, have the unlimited power of God by which the dirt of our hearts can be cleansed. Just as the sun can cleanse urine and waste from the earth by its scorching rays yet remain unpolluted, similarly the names of Krishna can never be contaminated, yet themselves clean even the reservoir of dirt in our consciousness.
As we danced to the sweet sound, the woman along with her Mother and Father was standing in the doorway, nervously chanting to herself. She appeared distant, lost in her racing thoughts. At that moment, seemingly thrust up against the wall, she was pinned by her invisible assaulter. As if held by the throat she was dragged along the wall banging into her parents. Pandemonium arose amongst them as we chased after throwing our weapon of the Maha-mantra in an act of rescue. Again she was released, although severely shaken.

We had now been chanting intensely for forty minutes and still the atmosphere seemed thick and heavy with darkness. Although violent events had occurred to the family members, nothing had touched any of us who were taking refuge in the sound incarnation of Krishna's names. We all felt completely protected and fearless. With such faith in Krishna names as well as the mood of compassion to help both the family and their uninvited phantom, we courageously danced and span around the home. Gradually we managed to involve the family in dancing and chanting with us which brought unlimited heights of bliss as the father of the family smiled for the first time. Then the atmosphere lightened and everyone felt the overwhelming joy of freedom whilst chanting Hare Krishna. It felt like a wonderful sunrise clearing away the darkness and fog of the evening, whilst simultaneously eradicating fear of thieves and dacoits. Carrying on for another fifteen minutes we all tasted the true happiness of the soul as he reawakens his relationship with his long lost friend, Krishna. With the mood considerably transformed we sat together on the floor and recited the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita in both Sanskrit and Italian, entitled Devotional service. We were refreshing ourselves with knowledge of our pure loving relationship with Krishna, whilst also praying that our poltergeist friend be now fully purified and able again to reawaken his own love.

We cannot be know what has happened to this ghost, although we are sure that immense purification took place not just for him but also the family and ourselves who came as menial servants of the sweet, all-powerful names of Krishna. By chanting the Maha-mantra we can purify our existence and fully reawaken our dormant love for Krishna and consequently each other. That love is within us all, even ghosts, but due to absorption in material pursuits we forget our real treasure within.

Since that day there has been no further disturbances in that home. That night was there first peaceful night in nine years. All glories to the unlimited glorious names of Krishna and all glories to the pure devotee of those names who has compassionately spread them throughout the entire world, Srila Prabhupada.

Mantra meditation

There is no knowledge as pure as the name; there is no vow as powerful as the name. There is no meditation more effective than the name nor is there any fruit greater than that attained by the name. There is no greater renunciation than the name; there is no greater peace than the name. In this world there is no greater pious activity than taking the name, nor is there any quicker progress than in the name. The name is the highest liberation, the highest freedom, the highest destination, the highest peace, the point of no more searching. The name is the highest devotion, the name is the purest inclination of the soul, the name is the highest love, and direct remembrance of the Lord. The name is the cause of all causes, the Supreme Lord, most worshipable, and is a form of guru to bring one to the Lord.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur


What is that very special and all-powerful name? Krishna

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

The learned scholar and the boatman

The boatman... In Bengal there are many rivers, and so people generally transport by boat service. So a learned scholar from Calcutta, say, was going home in the village on a boat, and he was very happy. So he was asking the boatman,

"My dear boatman, do you know what are these stars, this astronomy, how they are working?" "No, sir, I do not know."
"Oh, your life is twenty-five percent lost. You do not know anything."

Then after some time,

"You know the geology, how this earth, water, they are working?"
"No, sir, I am poor man. What can I know?"
"Oh, your fifty percent of your life is lost."

Then all of a sudden there was a cloud, black cloud on the sky, and there was storm.
Then at that time the boatman asked the learned scholar,

"Sir, do you know how to swim?"
"No, I do not know."
"Then one hundred percent you have lost.(laughter) You are going to be drowned."

He jumped and he drowned. So this is the point. So you are trying to understand the whole analytical study of the material world. That is very good. But if you do not know how to remember Narayana, Krishna at the time of death, then you are going to be cats and dogs. That's all.

If an actor becomes carried away with his role and forgets his actual identity, carrying on even after the performance, then he is living an illusion. Similarly, if we are absorbed only in this short span of a few years and become bewildered by our temporary situations, families and friends, and we fail to work towards our real nature then we are unfortunate. We don't mean to say that we should abandon our friends and families, but we could live a deeper life together based on longer lasting principles of our eternal existence. Otherwise, if we live only like polished animals then we may be awarded this animal opportunity in the next life.
Whilst living a spiritual life, however, we can find a fulfillment deeper than the superficial norms and we also prepare one another for a more advantageous future with higher consiouness. Krishna is the source of all love and joy. By sharing Krishna with each other we benefit now and after as we will return to our position of pure consciousness in loving service.

Hare Krishna

Ghostbusters

As soon as we entered the apartment we understood we were in for some excitement. We'd heard different stories of how this young woman had been terrorized by a ghost for the last nine years, of how just the other week she had been hospitalized due to a flying chair striking her in the head, and how she was now at the limit of her sanity. We'd been told of knives flying across the room, pictures leaping from the walls and levitating coffee machines. Chairs and other objects independently shaking and smashing into walls was a daily occurrence in this home.

"Hey, but ghosts don't exist". Well for many people and cultures they do. Ancient Indian culture explains that a ghost is someone, a soul, who upon dying is not awarded a new physical body, but painfully lingers around in their subtle body made of mind, intelligence and false ego. Such a situation may occur due to a sudden death or extreme negative acts such as suicide, and is a position of suffering as one has a mind full of desires yet no body to enact them. Ghosts often take advantage of weak minded persons or those under intoxication, entering their physical bodies and attempt to enjoy through this borrowed facility. Many people cannot believe what they have done whilst under intoxication or depression, acts they normally would refrain from.

So, such was the situation we found in a quiet village just outside Rome. The woman and her boyfriend had tried everything they knew to free themselves from this terrifying situation. On one occasion they'd lit incense and chanted prayers in order to purify the atmosphere only to find the nearby wardrobe seemingly come to life and violently vibrate, splitting into two equal pieces. Upon moving the ruptured closet they had been horrified to find a swarming mass of bleach-white worms, quite different from the indigenous species, covering the wall and floor.
The woman explained that nine years before she had been the object of attraction for one boy in her school. Repeatedly denying his requests for a relationships, she had found herself cursed by the boy's satanic mother, who was well practiced in the black arts of witchcraft. She was told that she would suffer for the rest of her life for this refusal. That had been nine years before, yet with some incident every evening it already felt like a lifetime. One may ask why they stayed in the same apartment, why not move? Well, theirs was a family home for several generations , and they still lived with her parents. Whilst her mother was very sympathetic to her daughter, the father had been always skeptical. Most of the happenings had been directed only to his daughter, until he also started to experience strange things.

Out of desperation, they had once invited the local Catholic monks to come and assist. The monks explained that they could perform an exorcism on the woman but they couldn't guarantee the ghost would leave the property. "Anyhow, at least let's do something", they decided, although they were not prepared for what they would witness.
At one point in the ceremony with the woman white like a sheet, trembling and covered with sweat, they beheld countless 3-inch nails shooting from her mouth, followed by a deep ghastly roar clearly not from such a simple lady. Whilst the couple were completely shocked, the monks explained that it was all quite normal in these situations and that the Vatican was full of such incidents.

Seeing no alternative, the boyfriend called upon his parents for help. As they were Vaisnava practitioners, Hare Krishnas, for more than twenty years, they enthusiastically seized the opportunity and organized a troop of devout spiritual followers, we were seven in total. We meditated not only on trying to help the disturbed family but also on helping the ghost who was himself imprisoned in such an agonizing situation. Our strategy would be to perform loud, intense chanting of Krishna's names which purify everything and are feared by fear personified. It is said that all negativity flies away when one chants the holy name of Krishna. This would be a chance to see how much we believed in what we had dedicated our lives to, were we really taking our spiritual life seriously or were we just pretenders.
We were not sure what to expect but we were certain that we wanted to experience something extraordinary. Were we ready for what was to come?

This is a true story from March 2009, the conclusion will come soon....

Empathy

A boy went to the pet store to buy a puppy. Four of them were sitting together, priced at $50 each. Then there was one sitting alone in a corner. The boy asked if that one was from the same litter, if it was for sale, and why it was sitting alone. The store owner replied that it was from the same litter, but it was a deformed one and not for sale. The boy asked what the deformity was. The store owner replied that the puppy was born without a hip socket and had a leg missing. The boy asked, "What will you do with this one?" The reply was that it would be put to sleep. The boy asked if he could play with that puppy. The store owner said, "Sure." The boy picked up the puppy and the puppy licked him on the ear. Instantly, they boy decided that was the puppy he wanted to buy. The store owner said, "That is not for sale!" The boy insisted. The store owner agreed. The boy pulled out $2 from his pocket and ran to get $48 from his mother. As he reached the door the store owner shouted after him, "I don’t understand why you would pay full money for this one when you could buy a good one for the same price." The boy did not say a word. He just lifted his leg trouser leg—he was wearing a brace. The pet store owner said, "I understand. Go ahead, take this one." That is empathy.

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy? Sympathy is "I understand how you feel." Empathy is "I feel how you feel." Both sympathy and empathy are important, but of the two, empathy is certainly more so.
HH Sacinandana Swami

Beware of sectarianism

"Subjects of philosophy and theology are like the peaks of large, towering, and inaccessible mountains standing in the midst of our planet inviting attention and investigation. Thinkers and men of deep speculation take their observations through the instruments of reason and consciousness. But they take different points when they carry on their work. These points are positions chalked out by the circumstances of their social and philosophical life, different as they are in the different parts of the world. Plato looked at the peak of the Spiritual question from the West and Vyasa made the observation form the East. So Confucius did it from further East, and Schlegel, Spinoza, Kant, and Goethe from further West. These observations were made at different times by different means but the conclusion is all the same in as much as the object of observation was one and the same. They all hunted after the Great Spirit, the unconditioned Soul of the Universe. They could not but get an insight in to it. Their words and expressions are different, their import is the same. They tried to find out the absolute religion and their labors were crowned with success, for God gives all that He has to His children if they want to have it. It requires a candid, generous, pious, and holy heart to feel the beauties of their conclusions.

Party spirit-that great enemy of truth-will always baffle the attempt of the enquirer who tries to gather truth from the religious works of his nation and will make him believe that absolute truth is nowhere except in his old religious book. What better example could be adduced than the fact that the great philosopher of Benares will find no truth in the universal brotherhood of man and common fatherhood of God? The philosopher thinking in his own ways of thought can never see the beauty of the Christian faith. The way in which Christ thought of his own Father was love absolute, and so long as the philosopher will not adopt that way of thinking, he will ever remain deprived of the absolute faith preached by the Western Savior. In a similar manner, the Christian needs adopt the way of thought which the Vedantist pursued before he can love the conclusions of the philosopher. The critic therefore, should have a comprehensive, good, generous, candid, impartial, and sympathetic soul.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur The Bhagavat: Its Theology and Ethics

Pranavayu-Life airs

Previously we mentioned how we are unable to see the air or wind that moves around us and affects the environment. Similarly, we may not be able to see the soul with our material eyes, yet we aware of the consciousness, the symptom of the soul, that certainly pervades the body.

In ancient Indian culture there is knowledge of prana, subtle life airs. Prana works throughout the body and is the force behind it's different actions such as digestion, blinking and heartbeat. Some believe that chi or qi from the far eastern traditions refers to this prana, and therefore we see a lot of similarities with forms such as Tai Chi and Yoga. There are seven circles of condensed movement for these life airs and these are called cakras. Pranayama and yoga act to find equilibrium between these life airs so that they can be harnessed and utilized for spiritual growth.

It is described that the soul is suspended within these life airs and also leaves the body with them. Yet again we cannot see these life airs just as we cannot see the winds blowing across our planet. However, there is a vast science of Vedic medicine known as Ayurveda which works on such a subtle level and is today becoming more popular because of it's wealth of understanding. Within Ayurveda there is detailed teachings of different types of bodily constitutions as well as symptom diagnosis from simply observing the pulse. One only has to research to find that Ayurveda is an outstanding medical science with documented results, showing that there are subtleties which may not be known to modern science.

Whilst writing this I also find myself reflecting on the energy current that is working this computer. Normally we cannot see electricity, yet we are sure that it exists. Under special circumstances we may see, for instance during an electrical storm, but normally we are completely unaware of the presence of this powerful force.

Here I have given a brief glance at the science of Ayurveda, cakras and prana, solely to help understand that although we may not be able to directly perceive something or even conceive of something, still there may be much more to be known. I end on a quote from Srila Prabhupada refering to these life airs and how we can spiritualize our existence. Once Prabhupada said that we can perform pranayama, balancing of life airs, simply by dancing and chanting for Krishna, the original powerhouse of all energies, subtle and gross.

The expert yogi who has thoroughly practiced the control of the life air by the prescribed method of the yoga system is advised to quit the body as follows. He should plug up the evacuating hole with the heel of the foot and then progressively move the life air on and on to six places: the navel, abdomen, heart, chest, palate, eyebrows and cerebral pit. Controlling the life air by the prescribed yogic process is mechanical, and the practice is more or less a physical endeavor for spiritual perfection. In olden days such practice was very common for the transcendentalist, for the mode of life and character in those days were favorable. But in modern days, when the influence of Kali Age is so disturbing, practically everyone is untrained in this art of bodily exercise. Concentration of the mind is more easily attained in these days by the chanting of the holy name of the Krishna. The results are more effective than those derived from the inner exercise of the life air. Srimad Bhagavatam

Have you seen your soul?

I would like to reflect on some thoughts that came this morning. After finishing my morning worship I sat on the balcony observing the sunrise over the Tuscany hills. This time of year is beautiful as a vibrant green returns to the trees and peacocks run around in excitement. Noticing that the fresh new leaves were gently swaying in the breeze I pondered a challenge recently received. "Have you seen the soul? Prove that there is such a thing." Good challenge. I Responded with the basic philosophy of Bhagavad Gita as it is and the man was satisfied, yet still I felt as though I could have explained clearer.

Now, we know that air exists and when moving is called wind, but have we actually seen this air or wind? As the leaves and branches of the tree gently sway in the breeze we certainly know that wind is present, as also when the clouds move overhead, but have we actually seen the wind? Is it the air moving that we are seeing or just the effects of that movement, or we could say the symptoms of the wind. In fact we cannot see the wind but we can see how wind affects the environment.

Similarly, we cannot see the spiritual particle called soul, but we can see it's symptoms. It is described that consciousness is the symptom of the soul, it is the soul's intrinsic quality. The soul is sat-cit-ananda; eternal, fully conscious and full of blissful love, whereas this physical body is composed of unconscious elements in constant flux. Whilst the soul is within the body it acts as a battery supply keeping the body working, yet when it leaves at death, then the body quickly decays. Although the soul is said to be situated in the heart cakra, it's symptoms are detected throughout the entire body. Even if a person looses a limb, they may still feel as though that limb were there, their consciousness still extending to produce the phenomena "phantom limb".

There are many who say that consciousness is produced from chemical synthesis, although they have a laboratory full of chemical yet fail to produce any. They say that life comes from matter, whereas ancient teachings declare that life comes only from life. Matter goes through constant change, but the conscious spirit soul is an energy beyond decay or change. In fact the soul, or in other words ourselves, are in a foreign place.

Someone living in a city may claim to see the air as it carries dust and pollution, or pollen in the country, yet again this is not the air we see but what it carries. Similarly, the soul carries layers of dirt in the form of false ego, bodily identification, lust, anger and greed, to name but a few, but these can be filtered by the process of buddhiyoga, loving service to Krishna.

But we can feel the wind as it caresses our skin, and so also we can feel the soul within a loved one when they touch our hearts. It is the soul who is the person we feel so much love for, not this temporary body. When a loved one dies we lament although their body lays before us. We understand that someone has left us, just as they have left behind their body, their temporary residence. It may have been someone who physically attracted us, maybe sexually, yet now we are repulsed by the decaying form left behind.

So, as the wind has great power and potential when harnessed, we also have incredible potential if only we can understand our actual identity and true source. When we chant Hare Krishna we can become infused with unlimited potential so long as we know how to direct it properly for the service and pleasure of Krishna.

Authority

Any question that is put forward may be answered by quoting the authority, and that satisfies the saner section. That is the system even in the law court. The best lawyer gives evidence from the past judgement of the court without taking much trouble to establish his case. This is called the parampara system and learned authorities follow it without manufacturing rubbish interpretations.
Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.51purport

Whenever we receive knowledge we are accepting an authority on that particular subject. Whether it be our professor at university or a supervisor at our workplace, we all require to learn from one who is already wise to the subject. But who is a suitable authority to enlighten us in the highest knowledge of reality and our intimate place therein? This is guru. Guru does not just mean teacher, but a direct representative of the absolute truth. Guru is a manifestation of the unlimited mercy of Krishna with the mission to redirect humanity and bestow the highest wealth of pure loving service. When one submissivly inquires and renders service to please guru then one can learn all by his grace. When guru passes on knowledge to such a disciple, he does not interpret or give his own opinion. Nor does he add or exclude anything. He acts simply as a transparent medium for transcendental knowledge to descend. A postman simply delivering the mail. Thus he is the perfect representative. A perfect teacher is one who is a perfect student, always learning from his authorities.

Yet sometimes we declare that we need no guru, guide or book to understand reality. We claim ourselves capable of understanding all by our own abilities. We do not want to accept any authority, "We are our own authority!!" To be free and rebellious is cool, is it not? Certainly we idolize those who stand on their own, but being under natures laws, how independent are they? Does freedom mean that we just follow our minds constantly changing ideas, regardless of advice?

Whilst respecting those bold enough to stand alone, we must also recognize our weaknesess.

It is described that we have 4 shortcomings that prevent us from independently understanding reality. We have imperfect senses, we commit mistakes, we are prone to illusion and we have a cheating propensity. Besides these, how can the unlimited absolute truth be conceived by our limited mind.

Therefore, understanding our tiny size in relation to the bigger picture, it would be in our best interest to approach an expert in these topics. Guru, acting like a judge, lives in harmony with his teachings. He resonates with the absolute truth as he is dedicated to the will of the supreme. His character is pure, free from duplicity and he lives a controlled life of wisdom and religiousity. He is qualified to reveal truth as he is directly perceiving truth. His life is absolute truth, he is the servant of Krishna, the supreme absolute truth.

Deep roots

Once, a wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits.

The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all.

"Now pull out that one," said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out.

"Now take this one out," said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge.

"I – It's impossible," said the boy, panting with the effort.

"So it is with bad habits," said the sage. "When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted."

The session with the old man changed the boy's life.

Often we believe that we are young and should enjoy life now to the max, "spiritual life can wait till I'm older, let me experience this world now, then later meditation.."

This sounds very nice, yet whilst trying to enjoy the facilities of this world, fulfilling our material desires, we acquire certain mindsets and conditionings contrary to our pure nature. Contact with materialism brings material attachments and conditionings. "I am just acting according to my nature!" Yes, but our conditioned nature not our pure spiritual nature. How we think determines how we will talk. As we talk, so we will act. As we act, so we form habits. From our habits, we develop our character, and from our character is born our destiny. All throughout our life we are planting seeds and strong roots are forming that will affect not just this short life but our future existence also. And who knows how long this life will last? For one who is born, death is certain. But when? Could be today, could be tomorrow.

However, if we take advantage of our human intelligence we can instead sow the seeds of purity and cultivate a forest of pure love and selfless service. We can become an expert gardener and protect our forest from the weeds of envy, lust, greed, pride and anger as well as the deep roots of material illusion. Why delay tasting the sweet fruits of spiritual life! Instead let us daily water these pure seeds with the life-giving nectar of Krishna's everfresh names and pastimes.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare