In whatever route you approach God, He will approach you in same way

Today, there are few who sacrifice their work or fruit of work to the Lord without aspiring for anything in return. If he gives ten rupees, he expects ten thousand rupees in return. Sometimes one gives ten rupees to the Lord only after first getting ten thousand rupees from the Lord. Some want to get ten thousand rupees from the Lord and do not want to give even one rupee to the Lord. A person may want to get the money by sacrificing his words and mind through chanting hymns, devotion etc. Money is a form of work. When you sacrifice some money for the Lord's service, then the Lord will give you work (money, riches) in return. When you sacrifice the fruit of your work (money) He will also give money to you. In whatever route you approach Him, He will approach you in the same route. Some are coming to God to spend their leisure time for their entertainment, which costs nothing to them. Moreover other costly entertainment is avoided and their money can be saved. Added to this benefit, by spending this leisure time for God they may get some extra money also from God by His grace if He so desires. Some intellectuals may think about God as a multi-benefit saving scheme, like the present financial schemes. But the Lord is very very intelligent. He gives the money as desired by the people in return for such worship through words and mind. But that money gained along with the money already he has earned is lost by way of thieves, diseases etc. But when one sacrifices something for the Lord, a graceful look of the Lord fall on him or her.

One can keep the money that is required and necessary for a happy and comfortable life including savings for the future of the family but the excessive surplus should be returned back to the Lord. Ravana had his own wife called Mandodari. Even then he kidnapped Lord Rama's wife Sita. Therefore Sita had to be returned to Rama. Ravana did not do so and was thus destroyed. Ishavasya Upanishat says in the very first hymn that one should not fall a victim to excessive greed and return back the excessive surplus to the Lord for the purpose of spreading His Names and Glories in His devotional service all over the world.

Originally Posted by Anil Anthony.
Edited by the NITAAI Yoga Support Team in accordance with the Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy.

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The Cause of India's Poverty

The Veda says, “Bhunjithah magridhah” which means that all this is the wealth of the Lord. Take whatever is required. If you take too much extra, you are a thief, as Lord does not permit it. Therefore return it back to the Lord. Some people in India never donate even a single penny for God’s work (spread His Name and Glories). Even if they have earned enough to last ten generations, they will still keep working for the eleventh generation due to excessive greed. But if you see many foreigners (particularly westerners), they donate a lot for God’s work and ask even their children to live independently after a certain age. This is the reason why India suffers with poverty and the west is blessed with wealth.  Of course donating our words (chanting, reading, prayers etc.) and mind (mantra meditation) is the topmost and primary service to the Lord.

Originally Posted by Anil Anthony.
Edited by the NITAAI Yoga Support Team in accordance with the Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy.

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Sacrifice that Which you don’t give to Anybody

It is always great to give God that which you cannot give to anybody. What is the greatness in giving that which you can give to anyone? It is very difficult to sacrifice the fruit of work (money). Therefore the greatness lies in sacrificing work or the fruit of work. The Gita emphasized on Karma Phala Tyaga in view of the nearing Kali Yuga. Soon after the Mahabharata war, Kali entered. Since the Lord knows that in the Kali age, money, which is the fruit of the work, is going to be the topmost item, He taught us the sacrifice of money (Karma Phala Tyaga) for His service in the Gita. There are three Eshanas which are very strong bonds:

1) Bond with money
2) Bond with wife or husband
3) Bond with children.

We should not be very poor in the sacrifice of the fruit of our work for the service of spreading the Lord's Holy Names and Glories, which is important in our spiritual effort to reach God.

Originally Posted by Anil Anthony.
Edited by the NITAAI Yoga Support Team in accordance with the Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy.

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Posting Policies

Dear Devotees, Members, Visitors and Guests,
Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Jaya Shri Guru Parampara! Pranams!

We do not desire to make our site like many other free posting sites on the net as many of them close down eventually due to inevitable misuse and abuse. Also, we do not want to become a source which gives people wrong spiritual information (diluted philosophy) with respect to the standard of the spiritual truths which we ourselves practice and teach. We do not desire that our site becomes a place for criticism of any person or group even in an indirect manner. We are happy with qualitative and spiritually authentic participation and exchange even if it is lesser in volume than that on the normal free forums and blogs on the net.

Therefore, to maintain the purity, sanctity and authenticity of the spiritual content on our NITAAI Yoga Forums and Websites in accordance to the purest Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy as taught by our stalwart Acharyas like Shrila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, and Shrila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, some forum posting policies were formulated and are being implemented right from the beginning of our Forums. I hope you will kindly bear with us. They are as follows:

(1) Every post will go into an approval queue and will be subjected to moderation before it is publicly visible on our site. The approval or moderation will be performed by the NITAAI Yoga Support Team directly under my guidance. I may personally do the majority of the approval and moderation myself if I have the time.

(2) We retain the right not to approve any post which contains improper spiritual philosophy, which names specific persons or groups, and contains blasphemy, criticism, offensive language, spiritually irrelevant (out of context) content, links to sites which contain improper philosophy etc. This will be decided solely according to our spiritual discretion and understanding.

(3) If the post contains content which is spiritually correct, relevant and useful along with some content which is not so, then we reserve the right to remove those parts or sections which do not confirm to our posting policies and edit your post accordingly before approving it. We will also remove the url links in the post if any, to those sites which we feel are not presenting the correct spiritual philosophy or are not spiritually relevant to out site content. We will not be able to send you the edited post for your approval before posting it. But after we publish your edited post, if you feel that your post should be totally removed from the forums instead of it remaining in that edited form, then please send us an email or reply in that post with the removal request and we will remove it asap.

(4) Due to heavy workload of services, in most cases, we will not be able to provide a reason why a particular post was not approved or why it was edited before posting in the way it was edited.

(5) We also reserve the right at our discretion without providing any notice:
(a) to remove and block any Forum members who do not follow these posting policies,
(b) to change any offensive or irrelevant login usernames of Forum members without any notice, and
(c) to block the grossly offensive and abusive people from accessing our sites. We will be considerate as much as possible and these would be done only in the extreme cases.

(6) In almost all cases, we will try our utmost to give credit to the original author of the post content, if any, and even link to the author's site if it confirms to our philosophical policies. But in some rare cases like if the author is not known or controversial, we may decide to skip mentioning the author's name also.

(7) Due to this approval system, you will not be able to edit or remove your post after it has been submitted for approval or at a future date. So please read it again carefully before you submit it. You can always kindly send us an email or reply to that post if you want to suggest some changes to your original post or want us to remove it. Again, it will be up to our discretion whether to accept your request for changes or removal or not to do so. But in most general cases, your request for changes will be accepted. Requests for deletion of posts or usernames will need more serious considerations and may not be accepted as that would break the flow of the forum topics, though we will try our best to assist you as much as possible. Please note however that your post may have been already approved and visible before your suggested changes reach us. In that case, we will incorporate your changes in the published post.

(8) We will try to respect and be attentive to copyright laws regarding all external content posted. In case some copyrighted material is posted, please bring it to our attention with the relevant proof and we will immediately remove it from our site. Posters are requested to check first whether the content they are posting is copyrighted and allowed to be posted on other sites.

(9) If you feel that you are posting some content or a question which already may have been posted before, please use the Forum Quick Search and the Google Site Search, to check if your post is not a duplicate of an older one. If you find a similar topic to the content you are going to post, please post your text as a reply in that topic so that all the subject matter regarding that topic remains in the same place and is easily accessible for future visitors.

(10) If you desire to post regularly on the site regarding your spiritual quest and journey etc., please let us know and we can create a new blog forum for your posts so that they are all in one place in a forum, blog and the 4-column layout.

I hope you can kindly understand our position in this regard. These policies are solely impelled by our genuine desire to serve you in the best possible manner by providing you with a pure and healthy place (site) for undisturbed spiritual association on the net. You cannot imagine how happy we feel by seeing your posts and contributions on the site and we remain anxious to always have your kind association.

Eagerly looking forward to your regular posts and participation,

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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NITAAI Japa Kriyaa Video

This is a simple video demonstration of the most important NITAAI Japa Kriyaa for the Nityaananda, Gauraanga, and the Hare Krishna Mantras, on a rosary of 108 Tulasi (Holy Basil) beads. Video files: Low MP4, High WMV (Recommended), High FLV. The Blip page for more video qualities and formats for this video is here.

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NITAAI Lekhana Kriyaa

  Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! This is a video which shows exactly how to write the exact sequence of strokes of the Nityaananda,  Gauraanga, and Hare Krishna Mantras in Sanskrit for the practice of NITAAI Lekhana Kriyaa. As described previously, the Sanskrit syllables of the Mantras are fully non-different from the Mantri or Lord Gaura Krishna Himself. Meditation on these Syllables by writing Them on a paper with a pen or in the air with your finger or meditating on the Syllables entering and leaving while inhaling and exhaling (NITAAI Praana Kriyaa)  is non-different from meditation on the Lord Himself.

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So, preaching (sankirtana), and not counting beads (japa)

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura emphasized that kirtana means not only loudly singing the holy name, but preaching. Jiva Goswami has given a definition of sankirtana, bahubhir militva yat kirtanam tad eva sankirtanam: "When many people come together and glorify the Supreme Lord, Krsna, it is known as sankirtana." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came and introduced sankirtana. In this age of Kali, if the holy name is chanted congregationally, the combined efforts will be fruitful (sango sakti kalau yuge). There is the difference between the preaching mission of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, and the so-called bhajana of the sahajiyas, or imitationists.

Once, one of our Godbrothers was the subject of our guru maharaja's stern remark. He was a man of good character, but his tendency was generally towards nama bhajana. He did not like to do any other service, but was only inclined to chant the name of Krsna on his beads. I was in charge of the Delhi temple at the time, and was intimate with him, so I wrote to Prabhupada: "If you permit, I would like to engage my Godbrother in some preaching work here in the Delhi temple." The letter that Prabhupada wrote is still here. He wrote me in his letter, "If you can bring him there and make him help you in the work of preaching, then you will be doing the service of a real friend to him. I don't recognize that sitting in the jungle of Balihati only chanting,
counting beads, is krsnanusilanam, the proper cultivation of Krsna consciousness."

Preaching Means a Fight

So, kirtana means preaching, sravanam, kirtanam. Kirtana does not simply mean loudly chanting, but preaching. And preaching means there must be a fight with the opposition party. Kirtana means a fight. Kirtana creates the divine vibration which will fight with all the ordinary vibrations that are floating in this world in subtle and gross waves. So, Prabhupada told us that our tulasi beads should not fast. His minimum advice was that we must do some service in the form of chanting Hare Krsna while counting on beads, at least once daily. His exact words were, malika upabasa na: "The beads should not fast." And his general instruction was to preach as much as possible.

Once I had a talk with one of the big spiritual leaders of the Udipi temple in Madras. He told me, "Sometimes I preach about Madhvacarya and the bhakti cult, but I have no time for sadhana, (regulated spiritual practices such as japa, gayatri mantra, scriptural study, and so on). I supported him. Our guru maharaja said that hari-katha, preaching about Krsna, is no less important than sadhana. Rather, it is a more living thing. Preaching is more vital. When we are preaching, automatically we must have the maximum concentration. On the other hand, while chanting on our japa beads, we may be absentminded. When we are speaking about Krsna to another person, we must be all-attentive. Otherwise we cannot speak accurately. All our attention will automatically be concentrated when we talk about Krsna. And in writing about Krsna, accuracy is even more necessary than in speaking about Krsna. So, writing is also kirtana. The cultivation of Krsna consciousness may even be more intense when we are engaged in writing about Krsna.

So, the preaching mission of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the Gaudiya Matha, has declared totalitarian war against maya, illusion, and even all other existing conceptions of religion. And our authority is Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Divine love is the supreme most goal of every soul. Beauty and love is the summum bonum, our highest attainment; that is the ultimate controlling principle, and not power. And beauty and love are found at their highest position in Krsna in Vrndavana. The ultimate conception of the Absolute Truth is that of reality the beautiful and divine love. At the same time, the difference between lust and love should be clearly realized. That should not be misconceived. The acme of dedication is demonstrated in the love of the inhabitants of Vraja.

So, preaching (sankirtana), and not counting beads (japa), is the real service of Krsna. But because we have taken a vow, and it is ordered by Mahaprabhu and our gurudeva, we must chant the holy name while counting beads; it is our duty. Our guru maharaja told us, "The japa beads must not fast." So, if we engage ourselves in preaching work, there should be no doubt that we are really obeying the order of Mahaprabhu. Although he , has advised us to chant one hundred thousand names, or sixty-four rounds daily, that is a provincial saying. What is really all-important is the spirit of service. We are not told that the gopis always count the name on tulasi beads, yet they possess the highest position in the service of Krsna in Vrndavana.

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Ramananda Raya was a married man and master of his senses

Reality the Beautiful by Bhakti R. Sridhar Maharaj

Ramananda Raya was a married man, but he was recognized by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a master of his senses to the extreme degree. Once a brahmana priest named Pradyumna Misra came to Mahaprabhu and told Him, "I would like to hear about Krsna from Your lips." Mahaprabhu said, "I do not know anything about Krsna, but Ramananda Raya knows. Go to him and hear about Krsna. Take My name, and perhaps he will talk with you."

Pradyumna Misra was hesitant, but he went and observed Ramananda Raya for some time and then returned and reported to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu asked him, "Have you heard about Krsna from Ramananda? "No." "Why?" "I saw him engaged in something objectionable. I watched for some time, and then returned here." "What did you see?" Pradyumna Misra said, "I saw Ramananda Raya training some young dancing girls!"

Girls who are generally devoted to the service of the Jagannatha Deity from a young age are known as deva-dasis. They do not marry, and sometimes their character is not very good. Pradyumna Misra saw Ramananda Raya training deva-dasis in a very objectionable way. He was showing them how to go before the Jagannatha Deity and dance and sing. He showed them how their posture should be, how they should gesture, and how their looks should be enticing. And for such training he would sometimes even touch their private parts. So Pradyumna Misra told Mahaprabhu, "Seeing Ramananda doing all these things, I had no regard for him, so for some time I saw him busily engaged in that matter, and then I went away."

Mahaprabhu told him, "Don't underestimate Ramananda Raya. He is the master of his senses. There is not a tinge of craft in him. Even I feel trouble from sense disturbance within Me, but Ramananda has no such trouble. We have no direct experience that a stage can be attained where it is possible to be above mundane sense pleasure, but we have only heard through the scriptures that there is a stage when a man may transcend all these gross attachments.

This is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.33.39):

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh
sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

"One who hears with firm faith the supramundane amorous affairs of Lord Krsna and the gopis, as described by a pure devotee of the Lord, soon becomes freed from mundane lust and achieves divine love of Krsna."

One may be engaged bodily in such activities, while his heart is elsewhere. And there is only one who is of that type: Ramananda Raya. There are not big numbers of Ramanandas; there is only one Ramananda, who has acquired such a stage because he is well-versed in the kind of sentiment and realization which is necessary for the service of Krsna and the gopis. His heart is completely dedicated to the cause of Krsna; He has no selfish interest. He is always in Krsna consciousness, and whatever he does is for Krsna's satisfaction, so don't think ill of him. Go there again."

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