Spiritual Knowledge Through Kṛṣṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMatchless Gift 1: Spiritual Knowledge Through Kṛṣṇa
Spiritual Knowledge Through Kṛṣṇa
The aim of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to bring all living entities back to their original consciousness. All living entities within the material world are, to varying degrees, afflicted with a type of madness. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement aims at curing man of his material disease and reestablishing his original consciousness. In a Bengali poem a great Vaiṣṇava poet has written,
Getting Out — the Material Mireplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMatchless Gift 2: Getting Out — the Material Mire
Getting Out — the Material Mire
Our subject matter is most sublime: the glorification of the holy name of God. This subject was discussed by Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who noted that a brāhmaṇa, who was very fallen and addicted to all kinds of sinful activities, was saved simply by chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa. This is found in the Sixth Canto of
Learning to Loveplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMatchless Gift 3: Learning to Love
Learning to Love
Contamination from sinful activity requires proportionate atonement. That is the prescription of the scriptures. Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that if one accepts atonement before death, in his next life he will not fall down. If he does not atone, he will carry with him the resultant reactions of his sinful activities and will have to suffer. According to law, if a man kills someone he must himself be killed. The idea of a life for a life is not a very new concept but can be found in …
Learning Tapasya, Self-Controlplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMatchless Gift 4: Learning Tapasya, Self-Control
Learning Tapasya, Self-Control
If one does not come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he may be relieved for the time being from the reactions of sinful activities, but he will again commit transgressions. Therefore Parīkṣit Mahārāja said: kvacin nivartate ’bhadrāt kvacic carati tat punaḥ prāyaścittam ato ’pārtham:
When one reaches the topmost position of material opulence, the tendency for renunciation is natural. There are two tendencies in this material world---bhoga (sense enjoyment) and tyāga (renunciation of this material world). Without guidance, however, one does not know how to renounce. First of all, one wants to enjoy, and when he is frustrated in enjoyment, he renounces. Again, when he is tired of renunciation, he enjoys, like a clock pendulum which s…
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is easily achieved by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, but only some are fortunate enough to have the mercy of Lord Caitanya and His disciplic succession. According to Bhagavad-gītā:
If we simply worship the original person (ādi-puruṣaṁ), we need not fear being misled by anyone. Śrīdhara Svāmī, the original commentator on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, explains that one can reach the perfection of life simply by devotional service