Tree of life - session notes

My notes from a meeting - HG Bhuta Bhavana Prabhu - Tree of Life - 18th January

Mentors meeting  with HG Kripamoya Prabhu and others.

Prequel

1) HH Sachinanadana Swami was asked for guidance by Pandava Sena UK for a holistic process for devotion for life.

2) His Holiness has developed the "Tree of Life" and has shared with Pandava Sena

3) HH Bhuta Bhavana Prabhu was asked to share this with Bhaktidevanda Manor mentors, and hence the meeting.

Introduction

1) There needs to be a balance in life.

2) Those that do well in KC are those who have this balance and thus are well situated.

3) Please rate yourself in three areas

A) Roots - A proper sadhana, hearing, chanting, reading, serving, association.

B) Trunk - physical, emotional, job, money - supportive things

C) Crown - social work, i.e. KC services, reaching out, serving, preaching, mentoring

Roots

1) One very senior Vaishnava has said "The problem in our movement is too much hearing and reading"

2) If we eat too much food and thus the food is not digested properly, we will become ill.

3) Similarly if hearing and reading is not digested properly, then we have some problems

4) We do need to meditate on our own lives when we hear and read.

5) Quality is important, Quantity will come later

6) The correct process to hear and read is

A) We hear or read.

B) We meditate on what we have read and read, in relation to our life.

C) We apply what we have read and read, to our lives.

D) We sincerely pray for realization of what we have read and heard, in our life.

7) In this way we will be able to digest what we have read or heard.

 

Trunk

1) Wanting to live beyond our means is not sattvic(goodness)

2) Working for needs is sattvic (goodness)

3) Working for wants is rajasic(passion)

4) Living within our means, for our needs is ok

5) Living for wants is greed and will reflect in our behaviour

6) Same with the mind, in fact "Satisfaction is the austerity of the mind"

Bhagavad Gita 17:16 "And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are the austerities of the mind."

7) For the body we need good diet, healthy sleep, cleanliness, exercise, recreation, healthy lifestyle.

8) It is mentioned that Intelligence is the function of sleep, when we have bad sleep, in our conditioned state we will have bad Intelligence, and bad Intelligence would mean bad decisions.

9) Three modes interactions with people

Exchanging insults - Tamah guna(ignorance)

Exchanging desires - Rajo guna(passion)

Exchanging knowledge - Sattava guna (goodness)

10) Being in sattava Guna helps us know what is to be done and what is not to be done

11) For a realized person body can be neglected, but we should be very conscious of the fact that we are still very much conditioned.

12) Set small goals, with help of seniors and when you meet those small goals, then you gain more confidence.

13) That way we become more successful and gain prowess in various aspects of devotion.

14) Be careful! "Power corrupts and Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

15) As we gain more and more prowess and more people follow us, then we must also become more and more humble, or else we will fall down, due to controlling others, for our own use and our own glory!"

16) Always the equation is "Genuine ingrained humility > Spiritual prowess"

Crown

1) Developing empathy is extremely important; it is a must at all times.

2) Putting ourselves in the shoes of others, this will help develop empathy.

3) Never putting ourselves in the shoes of others, will never develop empathy.

4) When we are empathetic, then being compassionate towards others is easy.

5) Also when we are empathetic then our heart holds no grudge, the heart is light, as we already understand others from their point of view.

6) Few points to remember when we do not feel empathetic or compassionate towards someone in particular

A) All are equal

B) All experience misery in the same way

C) To eradicate misunderstanding requires some serious effort from us

7) Try and always emphasize common things between us, it is simpler when we have common things to share. No need to focus time and attention on things not common between us.

8) Not all people will have all things common with us.

9) An old HG Kripa Moya Prabhu statement repeated by HG Bhuta Bhava Prabhu

"People do not care what you Know ! Unless they know that you really care about them"

10) Always pray for insight and permission to inspire

11) It is never "you vs them”, instead it is "you, Sri Krishna and them"

12) Behind all of our envy is a need, see if we have a need and can we satisfy it in a KC way

13) Needs could be

A) Security

B) Significance

C) Satisfaction

D) Self Expression

E) Socialization

F) Spiritual Direction

14) We could have the following complaints as examples

A) These devotees are not co-operative

B) These devotees are not personal

C) These devotees do not understand me

D) These devotees are selfish

E) These devotees are not sincere

F) These devotees do have a loving nature

15) What we actually mean is

"These devotees do not recognize me as important enough and will not do what I want them to do"

16) Again controlling mentality.

17) We have to change or what we do to others will come back to us

18) This is what will happen to us (nothing happens by chance)

A) We are not co-operative, and hence Sri Krishna sends us people who are not co-operative, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

B) We are not personal, and hence Sri Krishna sends us people who are not personal, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

C) We are not very understanding of others, and hence Sri Krishna sends us people who do not understand us, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

D) We are selfish, and hence Sri Krishna sends us people who are selfish, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

E) We are not sincere, and hence Sri Krishna sends us people who are not sincere, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

F) We do not love others, and hence Sri Krishna sends use people who do not love us, so we know what it is like and change ourselves.

19) So when we see a bad quality in others, know that it is Sri Krishna instructing us and thus we do not act that way

20) When we do act in this way sincere, personal, loving etc... We may see that no one is actually appreciating us, and then our tendency is to be morose

21) Do know that at all times Sri Krishna knows we are doing the right thing and just be happy in that knowledge that Sri Krishna appreciates us.

Discussion on values and competencies

1) Values have to be same to get along with people and become deep friends.

2) Competencies can be different for people with same values

3) We have to deeply respect, appreciate and be friendly to people of all values.

4) Relationships are built on common values

5) We should do the austerity to know what people like and talk to them about what they like and value.

6) Talking to someone about what we like and we value for hours is not right.

7) They may patiently hear us but we may have frustrated them, then we think why they avoid us later

8) Talking to someone about reading books for hours when this person loves Kirtan, is not correct.

9) Not all people will be inspired by and value the exact same things as us, we need to recognize that.

Lord Shiva - some notes

Some notes on Lord Shiva

Origin 

I had asked this question to HG Suhotra Prabhu, who explained that Shiva is the glance of Lord Sri Vishnu to Devi.

Among many things, mother Devi is all that we can see in this material world.

Since Lord Vishnu has nothing to do with  matter He transforms to Lord Shiva.

Lord Brahma explains in his prayers like this
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Bs 5.45
kṣīraṁ yathā dadhi vikāra-viśeṣa-yogāt
sañjāyate na hi tataḥ pṛthag asti hetoḥ
yaḥ śambhutām api tathā samupaiti kāryād
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
Word for word: kṣīram — milk; yathā — as; dadhi — yogurt; vikāra-viśeṣa — of a special transformation; yogāt — by the application; sañjāyate — is transformed into; na — not; hi — indeed; tataḥ — from the milk; pṛthak — separated; asti — is; hetoḥ — which is the cause; yaḥ — who; śambhutām — the nature of Lord Śiva; api — also; tathā — thus; samupaiti — accepts; kāryāt — for the matter of some particular business; govindam — Govinda; ādi-puruṣam — the original person; tam — Him; aham — I; bhajāmi — worship.
Translation: Just as milk is transformed into curd by the action of acids, but yet the effect curd is neither same as, nor different from, its cause, viz., milk, so I adore the primeval Lord Govinda of whom the state of Śambhu is a transformation for the performance of the work of destruction.
Purport:
(The real nature of Śambhu, the presiding deity of Maheśa-dhāma, is described.) Śambhu is not a second Godhead other than Kṛṣṇa. Those, who entertain such discriminating sentiment, commit a great offense against the Supreme Lord. The supremacy of Śambhu is subservient to that of Govinda; hence they are not really different from each other. The nondistinction is established by the fact that just as milk treated with acid turns into curd so Godhead becomes a subservient when He Himself attains a distinct personality by the addition of a particular element of adulteration. This personality has no independent initiative. The said adulterating principle is constituted of a combination of the stupefying quality of the deluding energy, the quality of nonplenitude of the marginal potency and a slight degree of the ecstatic-cum-cognitive principle of the plenary spiritual potency. This specifically adulterated reflection of the principle of the subjective portion of the Divinity is Sadāśiva, in the form of the effulgent masculine-symbol-god Śambhu from whom Rudradeva is manifested. In the work of mundane creation as the material cause, in the work of preservation by the destruction of sundry asuras and in the work of destruction to conduct the whole operation, Govinda manifests Himself as guṇa-avatāra in the form of Śambhu who is the separated portion of Govinda imbued with the principle of His subjective plenary portion. The personality of the destructive principle in the form of time has been identified with that of Śambhu by scriptural evidences that have been adduced in the commentary. The purport of the Bhāgavata ślokas, viz., vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ, etc., is that Śambhu, in pursuance of the will of Govinda, works in union with his consort Durgādevī by his own time energy. He teaches pious duties (dharma) as stepping-stones to the attainment of spiritual service in the various tantra-śāstras, etc., suitable for jīvas in different grades of the conditional existence. In obedience to the will of Govinda, Śambhu maintains and fosters the religion of pure devotion by preaching the cult of illusionism (Māyāvāda) and the speculative āgama-śāstras. The fifty attributes of individual souls are manifest in a far vaster measure in Śambhu and five additional attributes not attainable by jīvas are also partly found in him. So Śambhu cannot be called a jīva. He is the lord of jīva but yet partakes of the nature of a separated portion of Govinda.
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Humility

Some people worship Devi for so many material things, but Lord Shiva who is the husband of Devi, shows by example, that He owns nothing, no home even.

Plus he is constantly meditating or chanting. He is the best yogi and vairagi (renunciation).

Lord Shiva has no issues drinking an entire ocean of poison, so save the world and keep it in His throat, hence He is called neel kantha(blue throated).

And still at times when needed He is forced to act to show us how to act and not to act.

When Daksha prajapati was being disrespectful, Lord Shiva just tolerated, and even gave good advice to Devi.

Devi could not tolerate insult to Lord Shiva. She implored Daksha to repent and change.

It was only when Devi by her own power left her body, given by Daksha and still Daksha did not show any remorse, Lord Shiva was forced to act and even after all of this, He forgave Daksha and gave him some spiritual intelligence.

Here is how Daksha Prayed when he gained some spiritual  intelligence.
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SB 4.7.15
yo ’sau mayāvidita-tattva-dṛśā sabhāyāṁ
kṣipto durukti-viśikhair vigaṇayya tan mām
arvāk patantam arhattama-nindayāpād
dṛṣṭyārdrayā sa bhagavān sva-kṛtena tuṣyet
Word for word:
yaḥ — who; asau — that; mayā — by me; avidita-tattva — without knowing the actual fact; dṛśā — by experience; sabhāyām — in the assembly; kṣiptaḥ — was abused; durukti — unkind words; viśikhaiḥ — by the arrows of; vigaṇayya — taking no notice of; tat — that; mām — me; arvāk — downwards; patantam — gliding down to hell; arhat-tama — the most respectable; nindayā — by defamation; apāt — saved; dṛṣṭyā — seeing; ārdrayā — out of compassion; saḥ — that; bhagavān — Your Lordship; sva-kṛtena — by your own mercy; tuṣyet — be satisfied.
Translation: I did not know your full glories. For this reason, I threw arrows of sharp words at you in the open assembly, although you did not take them into account. I was going down to hell because of my disobedience to you, who are the most respectable personality, but you took compassion upon me and saved me by awarding punishment. I request that you be pleased by your own mercy, since I cannot satisfy you by my words.

Purport:
As usual, a devotee in an adverse condition of life accepts such a condition to be the mercy of the Lord. Factually, the insulting words used by Dakṣa against Lord Śiva were enough to have him thrown perpetually into a hellish life. But Lord Śiva, being kind toward him, awarded him punishment to neutralize the offense. King Dakṣa realized this and, feeling obliged for Lord Śiva’s magnanimous behavior, wanted to show his gratitude. Sometimes a father punishes his child, and when the child is grown up and comes to his senses, he understands that the father’s punishment was not actually punishment but mercy. Similarly, Dakṣa appreciated that the punishment offered to him by Lord Śiva was a manifestation of Lord Śiva’s mercy. That is the symptom of a person making progress on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is said that a devotee in Kṛṣṇa consciousness never takes any miserable condition of life to be condemnation by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He accepts the miserable condition to be the grace of the Lord. He thinks, “I would have been punished or put into a more dangerous condition of life due to my past misdeeds, but the Lord has protected me. Thus I have received only a little punishment as token execution of the law of karma.” Thinking of His grace in that way, a devotee always surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead more and more seriously and is not disturbed by such so-called punishment.

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Maha Raas

When Lord Sri Krishna was performing Maha Raas, not many people other than the Braja Vasi's were allowed to take part.

Even powerful demi-god were not allowed. According to Shrimad Bhagvatam Lakshmi Devi is sitting, performing meditation to cross the Yamuna to enter the Raas leela. This is at Belvan near Vrindavan.

Raas is the great dance of the soul and the Super-soul where ego has no place. Anyone with any tinge of any kind ego, other than "I am just the servant of the servant many times removed of the Lord of the Gopi's", can not enter.

And yet when Lord Shiva came to the area of the Raas, Sri Krishna left all and rushed to see him and

Lord Shiva not only took part, for all eternity anyone who wants to enter Raas, must first approach Gopeshwar Mahadeva as per Lord Sri Krishna.

 

Vaishnava

 

As per the Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Shiva is the greatest of All Vaishnava's .

 

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SB 12.13.16
nimna-gānāṁ yathā gaṅgā
devānām acyuto yathā
vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ
purāṇānām idam tathā

Word for word:
nimna-gānām — of rivers flowing down to the sea; yathā — as; gaṅgā — the Ganges; devānām — of all deities; acyutaḥ — the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead; yathā — as; vaiṣṇavānām — of devotees of Lord Viṣṇu; yathā — as; śambhuḥ — Śiva; purāṇānām — of Purāṇas; idam — this; tathā — similarly.

Translation: Just as the Gaṅgā is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta the supreme among deities and Lord Śambhu [Śiva] the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the greatest of all Purāṇas.
 

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Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explains the mood of a Vaishnava

 

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CC Madhya 13.80
nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ

Word for word:

na — not; aham — I; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa; na — not; ca — also; nara-patiḥ — a king or kṣatriya; na — not; api — also; vaiśyaḥ — belonging to the mercantile class; na — not; śūdraḥ — belonging to the worker class; na — not; aham — I; varṇī — belonging to any caste, or brahmacārī (A brahmacārī may belong to any casteAnyone can become a brahmacārī, or lead a life of celibacy); na — not; ca — also; gṛha-patiḥ — householder; no — not; vana-sthaḥ — vānaprastha, one who, after retirement from family life, goes to the forest to learn how to be detached from family life; yatiḥ — mendicant or renunciant; vā — either; kintu — but; prodyan — brilliant; nikhila — universal; parama-ānanda — with transcendental bliss; pūrṇa — complete; amṛta-abdheḥ — who is the ocean of nectar; gopī-bhartuḥ — of the Supreme Person, who is the maintainer of the gopīs; pada-kamalayoḥ — of the two lotus feet; dāsa — of the servant; dāsa-anudāsaḥ — the servant of the servant.

 

Translation:

“  ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

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Peekay(pk) movie some comments

A) Movie says that ‘Those who fear go to temples’

Really?

Fear and temples?

Having grown up in a household where we had deities at home and also went to temples, I do not remember being made to fear the deities. Asking for something material, maybe, but not fear.

My Mother would fast for nine nights and also would go sing and dance garba for Mother devi, and I know it was with love and many times tears in her eyes, but never fear, who would be afraid of Mother? Relief form distress, yes, but never fear. And also the same with my father who chanted so many Gayatri Mantra's at our Mother Goddess temple for months.

My father taught me verses from the Gita and he did not say "you are going to hell if you do not learn this, he was always encouraging". He was concerned about me learning the Gita, yes, but never afraid of Krishna.

My Eldest Mama (mother's brother) would do this nice yagya on Shiva Ratri, when he really did not need anything; you are telling me it was fear? He gave me books on Ramayana and asked to live by highest character. All I saw in him was an intense desire to please and serve and try and live by highest principles. My youngest mama’s asked me to sing Kirtan when my grandfather dies and he himself sang so nicely and feelingly. I know he danced in joy and ecstasy at the ISKCON temple in Pune. All of that is due to fear ? Really ?

Shiva is lovingly called Bapa (father), and we know he has nothing but our welfare in His heart. He is the only enjoyer of this material world and still shows by example that He does not even own a home.

I love going to Sri Rama Temple (near Bhagavati Hospital) on SV road in Borivali and Sri Ganesh temple in Vazira Naka. I went there since childhood, no one asked me for money, I was praying to Lord Sri Ganesh for some spiritual direction, just before getting Srila Prabhupada's Gita and have been ever grateful since then.

Point 1) You may have seen some people may go temple with fear, although i do not understand why ? But that gives no right to make a sweeping statement like "jo dar gaya woh mandir gaya". It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

Point 2) Among many saints, we know MeeraBai did get reciprocation. Really want reciprocation, then qualify yourself like her and you will see like her! You may have had, no reciprocation with any deity, ever, but that does not mean no one ever got any reciprocation.  It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

B) Movie shows temple priests as rouges

I have been to so many temples in Braj and at times we may see the temple people asking for donations.

But also the temple people, fed us.

4-5 young friends and myself were fed such nice Prasad(plate of food with roti, subji, daal, sweets, rice, etc..) on Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day in Radha Damodar temple, in Vrindavan, when we just happened to go there, because the ISKCON Hare Krishna temple was crowded because there is Srila Prabhupada's samadhi there. They even gave us money. We are so nicely treated, by the custodians of Srila Prabhuapada's rooms and the caretakers of the temple.

When going to Nand Gaon(Krishna's place) or Barasana(Mother Radhika's) place we may be a bit intimidated by some people asking of donations, but  the very same poeple have been taking care of the temples for millennia and also have been selflessly serving sadhu's like Sri Ramesh Baba ?

There are no saintly kings anymore, taking care of the temples. Most people will just hoard so much wealth but never give a penny for temples, and still these temples are being  cared for by these great families, who could send their children, to get super educated and then just leave these temples and go.

But No! Instead of thanking them for this great service you do this movie.

Is your real intention to close down all temples for all time to come and ruin our great shared culture?

Point 3) You may have seen some temples actively canvassing for money, but have you taken the time to work with and know these Brahmana’s? No! Then you have no right to criticize them. These Brahmana’s are just living life based on dakshina and serving the Lord. You also have made this movie just for the *important* motive of making a ton of money, of which you do not have *any* need, as you are already in India’s super rich club. It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

C) Movie depicts Hindu Saints and Sadhus as rogues

Really? Has the movie shown any real sadhus? No? Why not? Are there no real sadhus?

Here are just a few that I know of:

Have you met Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami ?

http://www.chinnajeeyar.org/main/content/

Have you met Sri Ramesh Baba ?

http://www.maanmandir.org/shri-ramesh-baba-ji-maharaj/

Have you met the caretaker Brahmana’s of Sri Radha Raman Mandir (Vrindavan) ?

http://www.radharaman.org/

None of these sadhus have canvassed for material things and none of them have ever claimed that they are God.

It is like saying some patients die in the hospital, so all hospitals are evil, never go to one.

Point 4) You may have not seen pure sadhu's. That does not mean that there are none. It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

D) Movie says deities are useless without any power (battery not there),  God is everywhere, so why have a deity?

Really? Have you followed the process? You say God is everywhere? Then why can not in the deity?

All learning process starts with faith and with other students who have faith.

When you take up engineering, medical courses you have faith that you will take the course and are in right hands.

Similarly, if you are really serious to study the science of God in Sanatana Dharama there are five *major* universities in India.

1) The Sampradaya of Sripad Sankar Achayra
2) The Sampradaya of Sripad Ramanuja Achayra
3) The Sampradaya of Sripad Madhva Achayra
4) The Sampradaya of Sripad Vishnu Swami
5) The Sampradaya of Sripad Nimbarka Achayra
(*major* - there may be many sub universities under these five)

Salve of Love

There is a process for accessing the mercy of the deity.

Lord Brahma who is in charge of universal creation explains it very clearly.

http://www.vedabase.com/en/bs/5/38

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Bs 5.38
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Word for word:
prema — of love; añjana — with the salve; churita — tinged; bhakti — of devotion; vilocanena — with the eye; santaḥ — the pure devotees; sadā — always; eva — indeed; hṛdayeṣu — in their hearts; vilokayanti — see; yam — whom; śyāma — dark blue; sundaram — beautiful; acintya — inconceivable; guṇa — with attributes; svarūpam — whose nature is endowed;  govindam — Govinda; ādi-puruṣam — the original person; tam — Him; aham — I; bhajāmi — worship.

Translation:
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.

Purport:
The Śyāmasundara form of Kṛṣṇa is His inconceivable simultaneous personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that form in their purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance. The form Śyāma is not the blue color visible in the mundane world but is the transcendental variegated color affording eternal bliss, and is not visible to the mortal eye. On a consideration of the trance of Vyāsadeva as in the śloka, bhakti-yogena manasi etc. [SB 1.7.4], it will be clear that the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the full Personality of Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a true devotee, which is the only true seat in the state of trance under the influence of devotion. When Kṛṣṇa manifested Himself in Vraja, both the devotees and nondevotees saw Him with this very eye; but only the devotees cherished Him, eternally present in Vraja, as the  priceless jewel of their heart. Nowadays also the devotees see Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated with devotion although they do not see Him with their eyes. The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of the jīva. The form of Kṛṣṇa is visible to that eye in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion. When the devotion of the neophyte reaches the stage of bhāva-bhakti the pure eye of that devotee is tinged with the salve of love by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, which enables him to see Kṛṣṇa face to face. The phrase "in their hearts" means Kṛṣṇa is visible in proportion as their hearts are purified by the practice of devotion. The sum and substance of this śloka is that the form of Kṛṣṇa, who is Śyāmasundara, Naṭavara (Best Dancer), Muralīdhara (Holder of the Flute) and Tribhaṅga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.
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For Dhruva Maharaj who followed this process, His Lord Narayana, was very Powerful.

For Prahalad Maharaj who followed this process, His Lord Nrsimha, was very Powerful.

For Sri Ramnanjua who followed this process, His Lord Ranganath was very Powerful.

For Ramdas Dwami who followed this process, His Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman was very Powerful.

For Sant Tukaram Maharaj who followed this process, His Lord Vittal-Rukhmai, was very Powerful.

For MeeraBai who followed this process, Her Giridhar, was very Powerful.

There are so many others.

What the movie seems to be saying is "I will *not* go to though the process but still the Lord should show Himself to me ASAP".

It is like saying "I have admitted myself to medical school, so please now just give me the degree".

Point 5) If the Lord is everywhere why is He not in the Deity. It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

Point 6) You may have not have accessed the mercy of the Deity. That does not mean no one has. It is a tad bit arrogant, don't you think.

Happiness from mocking others mentality:

Making fun of people is easy.

Really being compassionate to them and showing the correct path is hard. Finding pleasure in mocking people is easy, but it is not refined or cultured.

Here is How Sri Krishna asks us to act with the ignorant.

http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/3/26
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Bg 3.26

na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed
ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām
joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi
vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran

Word for word:
na — not; buddhi-bhedam — disruption of intelligence; janayet — he should cause; ajñānām — of the foolish; karma-saṅginām — who are attached to fruitive work; joṣayet — he should dovetail; sarva — all; karmāṇi — work; vidvān — a learned person; yuktaḥ — engaged; samācaran — practicing.

Translation:
So as not to disrupt the minds of ignorant men attached to the fruitive results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not induce them to stop work. Rather, by working in the spirit of devotion, he should engage them in all sorts of activities [for the gradual development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness].
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Conlusion

Most youth in India watches films and thus can be influenced by them. You can act responsibly or choose to act irresponsibly.

You are movie actors and how you act, people will follow. If you message is “All temples are useless and all Gods are manmade” then you will say to them forget our ancient culture.

If you are truly humble, you will say “Some sadhus may not be bona fide but i have not studied them all, there may be some qualified sadhu.”

If you are truly humble, “I have not done any real practice of Love of God like Meerabai and I do not want to, but that does not mean no one can practice of Love of God and access the real power of the Deity”

Remember if you are an important person in society then people will follow you whether you like it or not!
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Bg 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

Word for word:
yat yat — whatever; ācarati — he does; śreṣṭhaḥ — a respectable leader; tat — that; tat — and that alone; eva — certainly; itaraḥ — common; janaḥ — person; saḥ — he; yat — 
whichever; pramāṇam — example; kurute — does perform; lokaḥ — all the world; tat — that; anuvartate — follows in the footsteps.

Translation:
Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

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2013 08 24 Srimad Bhagavatam 10 24 01 Attachment to Recognition Krishna Chandra Pr

1) Every story of the Lord has many essential instructions for us.
2) We have an un-relenting desire for a sense of being honoured, recognition, prestige, prathista, it comes naturally to us.
3) So much of our pleasure is linked to that desire being fulfilled.
4) So much of our sadness is linked to when we are devoid of it.
5) The Srimad Bhagavatam has so many stories, in very enchanting way gives us this conclusion.
6) Maharaj bharat in his birth as jad-bharata, was already self-realized, but he acts now in this birth exactly opposite to what is told to him.
7) Somehow he becomes a carrier of the king's palanquin, and he does not want to kill even the ants. So he is not walking in unison with other 3 carriers.
8) They are not carrying just any person, they are carrying the King !
9) So Maharaj Rahuguna the king gets upset and he chastises jad-bharata
10) But then jad-bahart does not speak as always, but when he is forced to speak, 
the king understands the gravity of his mistakes, and he is astonished that a person who is just carrying the palanquin is a great avadhoot saint.
11) the King apologises and says it is so difficult to make judgements.
12) We are accustomed to give judgements on people so very fast
13) If someone becomes a minister or is rich he immediately becomes respectable, whether deserving or not.
14) If someone we know or in our family, one son,  is under-graduate from Stanford university and then he has done his graduate from MIT and say PHD from Princeton

university, we are immediately proud to introduce him. Such and Such has done this !
15) If the other child has done just BA in arts in national college, we would not necessarily bring that up so much.
16) So, we can see that so much of our value system is just based on externals !
17) Someone is living a simple life, materially not very rich, we may not offend him perhaps, but we would certainly consider him to be an ordinary person.
18) Nowadays our value system is such that of a person has a fleet of rolls Royce, Bentleys, Mercedes and so on then we are quite impressed.
19) These are the realizations one gets when reading the Srimad Bhagavatam, as we apply it our life.
20) here jad-bharata is understood by maharaja rahuguna, and he makes a prophetic statement, that so often we misjudge and we offend people.
21) Srila Prabhupada warned us that we do not know who the person sitting next to us is ! We do not know even our wives and husbands and children, in the sense 
that we have lived so many lifetimes and we do not even know all their glories in devotional service.
22) So Krishna knows and sees the totality, and being the paramatma He knows.
23) A very imp point or sutra for us "in the heart or hearts we expect respect, then we cannot give respect, to the extent we expect respect, to that extent we 
find it difficult to give respect, it is subtle"
24) Srila Prabhupada uses a very apt example "puffed up", one small prick and we are finished.
25) If we find our happiness from recognition, then Krishna will arrange for us through Maya to correct us.
26) people sleeping on the streets of Mumbai do not need sleeping pills, it is those who have homes, they need sleeping pills.
27) In other words, the state of mind of someone who is achieving a lot, thinks that the anxiety that comes with it, is all right. that is illusion, Maya
28) The Bhagavatam gives a nice analogy, the camel is eating is thorn, and blood comes and he is swallowing it thinking it is very nice.
29) The Problem is more we have more we want. it is subtle lust. Krishna in Gita explains that it is insatiable.
30) Right from our parents, driving us to achieve more and more !
31) The consciousness is that this is the most imp thing, to achieve !
32) Queen Kunti in her prayers, explains that what she considers impediments, are actually the basis for living in the outside world.
33) Wealth, fame, beauty, is most important today !
34) The beauty product business is doing most well !
35) Cosmetic dentistry is most profitable in the last 25 years, how you look, how you smile is most imp !
36) In weddings today, they get Bollywood stars, just to shake some hands !
37) Thus then what is real does not get importance, room for Krishna Consciousness is not given time and does not even figure in our minds !
38) Every year Forbes, gives a ranking of richest people, so now there are more than 1000 billionaires in the world, i.e. people have 1000 million dollars.
38) So 25-30 wealthiest people in world.
39) So it is just an estimate, because not all is out in the open.
40) So one gentleman from middle east was very offended and wrote protest 
letters, because he was rated by Forbes at 22 billion and as per him he was worth 29 billion, so he was dropping in the ranking, so instead of perhaps number 8,

perhaps he was 12 or 13. It was such an imp mater to him.
41) For a common man, if someone estimates the wealth to be 22 billion or 29  billion, he fact that you have that, you should be happy with that, but no, the 
ranking was very imp !, it was astonishing that it went back and forth and he was so very unhappy !
42) One gets as glimpse, we may think that he must be so happy, but actually, inside we do not know how the mind works.
43) Among devotees also we have a lesson, when Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, came in touch with Lord Chaitanya, he warned Lord Chaitanya. he was elderly and he said 
to Lord Chaitanya, that now You have taken sanayasa, now You will get so much respect, people will touch Your feet, If a sanyasi starts feeling that all that is for

himself, then his spiritual life is ruined.
44) Whatever good we have, if we think it is our own, then if someone misinterprets that good we have, our sensitivity becomes more !
45) Even in spiritual life, if we are attaching to anything it is very dangerous for us, there are stories in Srimad Bhagavatam to warn us.
46) Famous one is about Maharaj Priyavrat, who did not want anything to do with material life, he had renounced everything, he had gone to the mountains.
47) Only because he was ordered by three very great personalities, Lord Brahma, Narada Muni and Swayambhuva Manu, did he agree to come and take up the 
responsibility to rule the world, he had a family and he was very successful in administering.
48) But over time he got gradually attached and had some challenges and difficulties, But because he was sincere, he was protected by the Lord, and he had the humility

to pray for help.
49) It is shows how much danger there is for all of us.
50) Also there is the wonderful story of nala kuvera and manigriva, even though high born, and in their intoxication offended Narada muni. Narada muni was not a 
least bit offended , but to save them he cursed them to become trees in Vrindavan.
51) Srila Prabhupada's compassion, is such that he is facing so many small nala kuvera and manigriva's and he is so much compassionate, that he is making them 
devotees.
52) In the words of Jayadvaita Maharaj, there was a devotee named Rayarama prabhu, He was so scholarly, He was terrifyingly good in any debate on spiritual 
topics, he could smash anyone down, So brilliant. I like the word "terrifyingly good"
53) We would not expect someone from western world, who had just met Srila Prabhupada for a year or two to be so well versed in Shasta.
54) Today also more than 25 top leaders of ISKCON came from his preaching. He was in charge of the preaching at a university in buffalo, upstate new York.
55) But then 1969 he left, Then in 1971 he wrote to Srila Prabhupada that he wants to come back, and when he did that, devotees were so very happy, they were 
ecstatic, because he was perhaps the most powerful preacher, let’s say impactful preacher they had seen, and so many of these young boys and girls had 
joined due to his preaching in his centre there, eventually they became GBC's gurus, sanyasis, and they are still so active in highest positions in ISKCON.
56) But when he wrote in 1971 and he said I would like to come back and resume my services in the temple and he was already the president in some temple.
57) Srila Prabhupada wrote bank, "very happy you are coming back, you should join the temple just as everyone else, and start doing regular service, just like 
everyone else "
58) But Rayarama prabhu never came back, Jayadvaita Maharaj mentions that Srila Prabhupada sensed that he wanted to get back to his position of prestige, and 
that mentality was not so good.
59) Of course whatever Rayarama prabhu did for Srila Prabhupada is to his eternal benefit and will never be forgotten by the Lord.
60) Also Indra who is the centre of this story and it will unravel  over the next few weeks, he makes so many mistakes, like vishvamitra muni, prithu Maharaj
61) When we have a lot, we start seeing the world as per our attachment, I have this, I think it is precious, so everyone must want it and this we have the urge 
to protect it.
62) We see this with us on a regular basis, it may be money, power, prestige, sometimes in so many families, practically in all families we see, the urge to 
control, is so very difficult to let go.
63) Lord Balaram, just before the kurukshetra war was to start, he went to pilgrimage.
64) That was the era was of real sages.
65) The sages were doing a yagya for the welfare of the world and had chosen Romaharshana Suta as their leader.
66) When Lord Balaram came all people got up, except Romaharshana Suta.
67) Lord Balaram could sense in him a sense of pride, achievement at being the leader.
68) So Lord Balaram spoke is very pertinent for us and also I find it perturbing
69) Lord Balaram explained "Although he is a disciple of the divine sage Vyasa deva, and has very thoroughly learnt the scriptures from his guru, he has thoroughly

learnt the law books of religious duties, the epic histories, and the puranas, but still all his studies of scriptures has not produced good qualities in him, therefor

his study of scriptures is like an actor studying his part, for he has not developed humility, and self-control, he presumes himself to be a great scholar, although he

has pride, and he has not controlled his mind, I have incarnated in this world, especially to punish hypocrites, who appear as religious leaders "
70) Saying this Lord Balaram just picked up just one kusa grass and he touched him with this grass on the neck and Romaharshana Suta fell dead.
71) We may think this is over reaction, this is where guidance and understanding comes, we cannot understand this on our own, because we have so many anarthas, 
Conditionings. Lord Balaram ji is teaching us through this leela.
72) HH Hriday Andanda Goswami Maharaj, one of the earliest disciples of Srila Prabhupada, tells us about one time with Srila Prabhupada visited Mexico.
73) In early days devotees, would try to bring famous people to visit Srila Prabhupada, Here in Mexico devotees managed to get miss Mexico to visit Srila Prabhupada.
74) She was well trained for competition and was saying the right things, Srila Prabhupada said why do you want to come again ? Have you read my books ? She said no .. Then why? Not to humiliate her, but He wanted to get beyond superficialities, the same Srila Prabhupada, when there was a fire sacrifice and some western devotee Ladies were not pronouncing the Sanskrit properly, And One of Srila Prabhupada's god brother was there, he leaned back and told him, this is not correct, they are not  able to pronounce correctly, Srila Prabhupada just looked back and said, no no, they are fine, they will learn, So Srila Prabhupada never went by the externals, he saw the sincerity.
75) Spiritual life is not about externals,  that someone speaks in the best language, the best pronunciation, the best tone, that is not important.
76) Any sham will not do, because Krishna sees that.
77) When we get any lessons, when we feel a bit down, or humiliated, caught out or exposed, we should take that as a learning experience, and we should be grateful that it happened earlier in my spiritual quest so that now at least in the future i will not do the same. No one wants such situations to happen.
78) Krishna Consciousness is like a razors edge, one has to be very very careful
79) Srila Prabhupada was heavily citizen, people were saying that his disciples were coming from malechha families, yavana families, how could he give them Brahman initiations? they are of low birth, they do not deserve..
80) Srila Prabhupada's answer was i am simply following Lord Chaitanya, who has personally sent these devotees to be born in the western world, so that they can help spread this movement, Naam Acharya of The Holy Name which is not different from Krishna is actually was an untouchable in his era, Srila Haridas Thakur.
81) It is not that we do not offend only devotees, and we can offend anyone else.
82) We should feel ashamed if we offend anyone, or do some mistake, we should know that somehow we need to not repeat it.
83) You know what your motivation, is even if sometimes what you do is appreciated by people.
84) Sometimes we may have to apologize, but we need to do it, because if we do not , then , gradually this process of quietening the voice of The Paramatama, Who is guiding us, will 
Slowly lead us into thinking what we are doing is the best !
85) That is one way maya takes over, she works very subtly, Krishna's energy works very subtly and makes us feel we are on the right track, and then we can easily justify so many things.

2013 10 04 Srimad Bhagavatam 10 24 38 Benefits of Feeling Insignificant Sridama Prabhu

1) lake many stones many places many concentric circles = Material world
2) lake many stones one place, one concentric circles = Perfect harmony, spiritual world.
3) Vraja vasi are fully tuned only to Sri Krishna Desires.
4) Material world is we throw stones where we like. Spiritual world is where we throw stones in centre in perfect harmony.
5) In kirtan someone may sing his own same tune, whatever the leading singer is singing
6) In kirtan Dance, all are moing forward, this one person is going back, and vice versa
7) Imagine where we are in Bhavataam class, where service of one person is to speak, and other service is to listen. But imagine a class where the listereners say why should i not speak, if every one is speaking in bhagavatam class
8) This s material world, Krishna is seeing us all talking and not listening at all to what Krishna is explaining.
9) It will work well when everyone works in uniformity.
10) That is spiritaul world.
11) Krishna says worship Govardan and give up your generations of puja to Indra, the Braja vasis agreed and did what He asked and how He asked to worship.
12) What is result of doing this , as expalined in Gita it is
"tushyanti ca ramanti ca",
13) We see the world though our tainted glasses, we see the world blue or red though it is not so.
14) one mans poison is other mans food.
15) So Indra became offended. the Braja Vasi's were in bliss.
16) We have hope agrainst hope that things are not happeneing against our desires.
17) As Leaders we some time want to every aspect of our subordinates.
18) We may hope against hope that our councelle will not go to Vrindavan without asking me. But when he does, they we amy react with anger or be diplomatic "aaj kaal you are not not even looking t me huh, you went to vrindavan without asking me hih, i know i am very fallen, but ....", we want to devotee to respond with our glories
"no no prabhuji, i am still inspired by you, you are so nice ..." , we are afflited with pride.
19) This was the situation of Indra.
20) So many people were already worshipping him, but this one village insignificant did not worship him and he became offended.
21) The true test of a leader or even a genuine devotee is not how loyal he is with his friends. It is not frield in need is friend indeed. We may help a friend in need out of some desire to feel superiority.
22) How thrilled we are when a friend suceeds !
23) That is the test !
24) The worst thing we can do is to get angry when this happens, we are devotees, so the worst thing we can do is to tolerate and at the same time thinking "some day he will be exposed !"
25) Being happy on others sucess is also not enough ! That is also just in the heart.
26) A vaishava celebrates other success !
27) there is some action involved in that , it is not just in the heart !
28) It is a quality of a genuine Vaishnava ! celebrates other success !
29) Yudhistir was not unhppy that Arjuna had so many divine weapons! or that Bhima had so much more strength.
30) A leader is never insecure in his leadership
31) Indra was evry very insecure in his leadership
32) Krishna showed by this example His complete disgust at insecure leadership.
33) Some sings out of tune in Kirtan it is not so good, but some has a very loud voice and he sings out of tune in kirtan then that creates complete confusion and disturbance.
34) simliarly a simple devotee may not cause so much problems, but a leader if he is insecure, he causes so many problems.
35) the whole leela of Indra, from a leadership perspective, is to show how Krishna did not like insecure leadership.
36) Insecureity is due to constant comparision with others.
37) What i have is not important, what others have more than or less than me is very imp !
38) compare this this spiritual world, Sri Hanuman Ji so so fully satisfied in his dasya rasa , and does not feel the need to do anything else.
39) how relative is the material world and how harmonious is the spiriual world.
40) competeing is material quality, but complementing is spitual mood !
41) it is not that udhhava when he went he went to Braja, he saw the greatness of the Braja vasi , he wanted to became a gopi, no no , he wanted to become a grass in Braja, just complemening our service.
42) Many times in a gathering when we do not get to speak we might become depressed !
43) but That was not the mood during the mahaprakash leela at the time of Sriman Mahaprabhu !
44) One by one many people were called, but one was thinking when will my turn come ! they were seeing other getting mercy and simply becoming very very happy seeing that others were getting mercy, complimenting them.
45) That was the mood of the Braja vasi's
46) Rupa GoSwami at Sri Jagannath Puri Dham with Mahaprabhu and his associates, so much junior devotee than Sri Swaroop damodar goswami, Haridas thakur, Sri Ramananda raya and others.
47) Mahaprabhu was glorifying him and all others were so very happy complimenting him, jai rupa goswami, not that you are dabir khas, you even worked for a yavana king.
48) They were all so happy, he is sampradaya achaya, sri chaitanya mano bhistam.
49) reasons to be insecuere
a) Do it all my self to hog all limelight, if some one else is in limelight i do not like it. It is very very subltle. when other people get glorified and you are happy with it, be sure that you are insecure.
b) When you see juniors doing well, and you are not happy, not encouraging that person, be sure you are insecure.
50) we get out of insecurity by remembering always our fallen condition, our insignificance
51) pride is the mother of all these anarthas
52) pride causes insecurity, scarcity. small thinking , small conciousness
53) we know the story of punar mustika bhava, it has deep signifiance. we do what we do because of the mercy of Guru , Sadhus, and senior vaishnavas.
54) We are mice like, but doing things like lions, because of this mercy we have.
55) We have seen this time and again, we have no right to judge them, but we see somone comes like a mice, becomes a lion in KC and pride causes them to become mice again, it is very very painfull but is needed in KC.
56) HH Rasamrita Swami Maharaj is sitting in this class. He is worshippable by me and so many others. He is our dear siksha guru. HG Jana Nivas Prabhu and HG Pankanja Arngri Prabhu's are in manaypur. they are more senior than most of the poeple there. Yet they are there is every Bhagavatam Class.
57) This so called seniority is very very dangerous for us, we should always think of ourselves as struggling sadhana devotees and not anything else.
58) We have a choice, either act like Indra Dev or act like Braja vasis's, Udhhava Ji, The Asscociates of Lord Chaitanya etc ...

2013 11 22 Srimad Bhagavatam 10 27 10 Greatness of Indra Sridama Prabhu

release the victim(from whom you are expecting forgiveness) from the expectation of forgiveness

20131005 Srimad Bhagavatam 102501 Krishna Used Indra to Teach Us Bh. Rasamrita Swami

1) high position is very deangerous in this world, even as a devotee
2) Indra is a temple president of the material world
3) Krishna has nominated Indra
4) Krishna teaches though the medium of great devotees, so that it has impact. Then the lesson is very telling.
5) we learn though examples.
6) Pride in a high position makes us forget.
7) When there are no asuras then devas will become asuras. Krishna has created it like this so that devas have compition.
8) We want to do things for Krishna, but other devotees may not agree, there may be beaurocracy, critisim, etc. It is good for us.
9) Imagine if had a free ride and no critisim.
10) In the face of critisism we mellow down and think that "let me think carefully before i do this".
11) Thus there are asuras to keep devas in check, this is Krishna's arrangement.
12) the difference between devas and asuras is that when in difficulty then the devas turn to Krishna for help.
13) These are My devotees and they have been given the task of managing this world. But then such is the nature of power in this world, what will happen to their conciousness ? let Me have some ausras in place, then every now and then there will be some threat and the devas will become afraid and come back to Me. trahi trahi - please rescue us..
14) This is Krishna's inconcievable arrangement.
15) Thus Srimati Kunti Maharani has cautioned us "For One who has birth, lot of wealth, Knowledge, High education, learning and so on.. Beauty, when one has one or more of these qualities, then it becomes a cause of pride or state of intoxication..."
16) Pride is also same as madness.
17) We see this with dictators, certain leaders, or someone who as the above opulences, they live in a world of their own, out of touch with any form of reality.
18) Then one can not helplessly call out for the mercy of Krishna, because ine thinks one is not helpless, one is very powerfull, very capable, very acoomplished.
19) In sankskrit there is positive superlate , comparative. tara tamya nyaya, good, better, best or sweet, sweeter, sweetest.
20) guyha gyan, guhya tara gyan, guhya tama gyan as in the gita, knowledge of impersonal brhaman, pramatma, and Krishna as a Supreme Person.
21) In madness also it is same three.
22) There is mattah, pra-mattah, un-mattah
23) Statges of pride
Mattah - ordinary intoxication(blabbers, speaks non sense, but maybe one is not so dangerrous to others, some little tatrum within limits of controls)
pra-mattah - more intoxicated with pride(reckless in behaviour, willing to do anything, no question of morality, ethics)
un-mattah - extreme pride, insane madness
24) It can effect anyone, even a great devotee like Indra.
25) phone ! donation !
26) I anounced in vrindavan before lecture that if anyones phone will ring during class, then that devotee will pay 500 rs to goshalla which was short of money. Lot of money was raised in that lecture
27) 125 years was Krishna's eartly pastimes was just a few minutes for Indra.
28) So between krishna in vrindavan and Krishna in dwarka went to give to Indra things belonging to Indra and his mother, along with his wife Satyabhama. This was just a few minutes for Indra.
29) Satyabhama wanted the parijata tree from heaven without permission from Indra, and there was a battle, Krishna of course defeated him.
30) Srila Sukadeva Goswami expresses his displeasure at this. "Just see the darkness of ignorance that evelopes even the demigods, to hel with thier opulence"
31) Very next verse he condems the demigods as the opulence puts the demigods in ignorance.
32) Just see Indra does not recognize his Lord and then again He fights for a tree.
33) We may not condemn Indra still, as Srila Rupa Goswami has warned us.
34) Krishna is just using his own devotee Indra to help us. Indra got to see Krishna in Vrindavan, Indra was greatly benefitted.
35) Pride is very very blinding, when we become blind we do not see reality.
36) blind due to lobha, lust, envy, illusion, powerfull blinding agents. But nothing is more blinding than having a high position or respect.
37) Devotees must be very very careful to not to culivate pride.
38) We should not be attached to taking a position or not taking a position. We do what we are asked to do or intstructed to do. We are dependent on Guru, Vaishnavas, guru parampara to execute the duties of this position. But always depend on krishna to protect us, by following precautions like sadhana, humility, association, etc..
39) Even a pauper is proud of his penny.
40) Krishna uses great devotees to teach us lessons. If it was not such prominent personlities in these pastimes, then we might not take it so seriously.