वाचो वेगं मनसः क्रोध वेगं
जिव्हा वेगमुदरोपस्थ वेगम्
एतान् वेगान यो विषहेत धीरः
सर्वामपीमां पृथिवीं स शिष्यात् ॥
Translation
A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.
PURPORT
In Srimad Bhägavatam (6.1.9-10) Parikshit Mahäräja placed a number of intelligent questions before Shukadeva Goswami. One of these questions was: "Why do people undergo atonement if they cannot control their senses?" For instance, a thief may know perfectly well that he may be arrested for his stealing, and he may actually even see a thief arrested by the police, yet he continues to steal. Experience is gathered by hearing and seeing. One who is less intelligent gathers experience by seeing, and one who is more intelligent gathers experience by hearing. When an intelligent person hears from the lawbooks and Shästras, or scriptures, that stealing is not good and hears that a thief is punished when arrested, he refrains from theft. A less intelligent person may first have to be arrested and punished for stealing to learn to stop stealing. However, a rascal, a foolish man, may have the experience of both hearing and seeing and may even be punished, but still he continues to steal. Even if such a person atones and is punished by the government, he will again commit theft as soon as he comes out of jail. If punishment in jail is considered atonement, what is the benefit of such atonement? Thus Parrikshit Mahäräja inquired:
drishta srutäbhyäm yat paapam
jaanann apy äatmano 'hitam
karoti bhüyo vivashah
präayashcittam atho katham
[SB 6.1.9]
kvacin nivartate 'bhadraat
kvacic carati tat punah
präayashcittam atho 'paärtham
manye kunjara-shaucavat
[SB 6.1.10]
He compared atonement to an elephant's bathing. The elephant may take a very nice bath in the river, but as soon as it comes onto the bank, it throws dirt all over its body. What, then, is the value of its bathing? Similarly, many spiritual practitioners chant the Hare Krishna mahaä-mantra and at the same time commit many forbidden things, thinking that their chanting will counteract their offenses. Of the ten types of offenses one can commit while chanting the holy name of the Lord, this offense is called nämno baläd yasya hi päpa-buddhiù, committing sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra. Similarly, certain Christians go to church to confess their sins, thinking that confessing their sins before a priest and performing some penance will relieve them from the results of their weekly sins. As soon as Saturday is over and Sunday comes, they again begin their sinful activities, expecting to be forgiven the next Saturday. This kind of praayashcitta, or atonement, is condemned by Parikshit Mahäräja, the most intelligent king of his time. Shukadeva Goswami, equally intelligent, as befitting the spiritual master of Mahäräja Parikshit, answered the King and confirmed that his statement concerning atonement was correct. A sinful activity cannot be counteracted by a pious activity. Thus real präayashcitta, atonement, is the awakening of our dormant Krishna consciousness.
Real atonement involves coming to real knowledge, and for this there is a standard process. When one follows a regulated hygienic process, he does not fall sick. A human being is meant to be trained according to certain principles to revive his original knowledge. Such a methodical life is described as tapasya. One can be gradually elevated to the standard of real knowledge, or Krishna consciousness, by practicing austerity and celibacy (brahmacarya), by controlling the mind, by controlling the senses, by giving up one's possessions in charity, by being avowedly truthful, by keeping clean and by practicing yoga-äsanas. However, if one is fortunate enough to get the association of a pure devotee, he can easily surpass all the practices for controlling the mind by the mystic yoga process simply by following the regulative principles of Kåñëa consciousness—refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling—and by engaging in the service of the Supreme Lord under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master. This easy process is being recommended by Shrila Rüpa Goswami.
....to be continued
From - Nectar of Instructions of Srila Rupa Goswami.
Join the Ultimate self realization course at:
www.backtohome.com
Chant....
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAM HARE RAM RAM RAM HARE HARE
....and be happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment