Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

Topic

December 5

In Upadesamrta, Srila Prabhupada writes that the best way to control the mind is to always think about how to improve one's service to Krishna. Instead of mediatating on difficulties, we should instead think of how to increase our devotional service. It is the nature of the mind to reject difficulty and seek pleasure. If we meet difficulty in one service, we think we will avoid it by taking up another. Or perhaps we decide to give up service altogether, move to another location, or change our association. This does not enable us to contol the mind and senses because mind will always find an excuse to be dissatisfied. The mind is the reservoir of ideas for how to engage in sense gratification. It will never voluntarily surrender to Krishna.
Lectures from a disciple Vol 1, Sadhana, Pg 403, last paragraph

December 4

By dint of superior engagement, the mind and intelligence become subordinate to the soul and thus automatically controlled. When the mind and intelligence are engaged in Krishna's service, the senses follow. Trying to conquer the senses artificially is extremely difficult. Krishna explains that even one of the senses can lead a transcendentalist to lose his renunciation.
Lectures from a disciple Vol 1, Sadhana, Pg 400, 3rd paragraph

December 3

In the beginning of the bhakti Yoga process, it is strongly recommended that we regulate the senses by engaging in devotional activities. It is by regulation that we may achieve restraint. Thus we find that sadhana-bhakti means the regulated principles of devotional service.
Lectures from a disciple Vol 1, Sadhana, Pg 399, 1st paragraph

November 30

We should pray to have service, whether it's cleaning the temple (those who clean the prasadam room are very fortunate), or book distribution or harinama or some other form of preaching or Deity worship or whatever. There is so much service to be done. The basic morning program is meant to give us the enthusiasm to serve throughout the day, to mediatate on that service, and to expand it in whatever way possible. This full day's enagegement will naturally control the mind and senses.
Lectures from a disciple Vol 1, Sadhana, Pg 406 , 2nd paragraph

November 29

Hearing and chanting about Krishna are the important foundations of spiritual life. Those who practice these two items of sadhana seriously will be able to cultivate the faith required to make spiritual advancement. The guru emphasizes hearing and chanting over everything else for this reason. Everything, including the understanding of chanting, is contained in the hearing process.
Lectures from a disciple Volume 1 "Spiritual Lives of Grhasthas", Pg 364-365

November 28

All through the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna assures us that whatever condition we have attained in life does not need to be changed if we wish to practice devotional service. What we need to do is to learn how to work in the proper conciousness. Work is not simply meant to maintain the material body but as an offerring to Krishna. We need to place Krishna in the center of our lives. If we want to place Krishna in the center of our lives then we must hear and chant regularly.If we don't we will forget why we are working. We will think we are working to maintain the body and its extension - family, society and nation. We will not remeber that the goal of all work is to give pleasure to Krishna. By working in such conciousness we increase our attachment to Krishna.

Lectures from a disciple Volume 1 "Spiritual Lives of Grhasthas", Pg 363-364

November 27

Why does the sastra describe a materially absorbed person as a miser? They are misers because they possess something of great value, but they do not use it. Misers are interested only in seeing their bank balances grow; they never make use of their money. Similarly, those who possess a human body and who gain their enjoyment by watching its senses enjoy are misers.

LFD Vol 1, Spiritual Life of Grhasthas, Pg 394-395, last Paragraph

November 26

When we begin to cultivate detachment, those who expect something of us become concerned. They may not understand our detachment and may be afraid that we will not live up to our material obligations. Therefore, especially in family relationships, which tend to be full of obligation, it is good to quitely cultivate detachment while appearing externally attentive. Those who renounce their household duties without experiencing true detachment are false renunciates.
LFD Vol 1, Spiritual Life of Grhasthas, Pg 380-381, last Paragraph

November 25

We should absorb ourselves in Krishna-katha and thus free ourselves from material conciousness and at the same time, we should live simply, not acquiring more than we need. These two items are the only way by which we can lose our taste for matter and develop our taste for spirit. Although in the householder life we become attached to family and friends, our real object of affection is Krishna. If we do not understand that , we will look for relationships in the material world and be disappointed.
LFD Vol 1, Spiritual Life of Grhasthas, Pg 379, 2nd Paragraph

November 24

How can the Guru help his disciples advance in spiritual life if they are unwilling to hear regularly? It is not initiation that brings a disciple back to Godhead. The connection between Guru and disciple is based upon how well the disciple hears and acts upon the spiritual master's orders. When hearing is submissive and regular, the connection between Guru and disciple will be strong. Initiation is an automatic by-product of the hearing process; it should follow after a connection has been established through hearing.
Lectures from a disciple Volume 1 "Spiritual Lives of Grhasthas", Pg 365-366

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