Who am I?

Transcendental Substance The Absolute is Sachchidananda Vigraha - a transcendental body made up of complete knowledge, eternal existence, and bliss. I am a jiva-atma, an individual soul, a particle, which is part and parcel of the Absolute, the same in quality, but not in quantity. My constitutional position (sanatana dharma) is as a loving servant of the Supreme Divinity, as a happily contributing entity like an individual cell in a body. The Covering of the Soul I descended into this plane of existence when I chose to serve my own selfish interest instead of the Absolute. As my consciousness became more and more gross, my transcendental body became covered by a subtle body made up of ego, mundane intelligence, and mind, and furthermore, by a gross body made up of the mundane senses and the sense objects. The Peeling Process Not matter, but consciousness is the origin of everything. The process of bhakti yoga peels off these material covering just like the petals of a lotus opening up to reveal the original, pure nature of the jiva (living entity) as a transcendental, eternal entity full of pure consciousness and bliss. What is the Nature of the Absolute? One Source There are a multitude of ways in which persons can perceive the Absolute. The Absolute is like a diamond reflecting light in so many directions from its different faces, and we see that light depending on where we are standing. In a similar way, our soul's evolution and spiritual fortune, sukrti, will determine how we conceive of the Divine. The Supreme Lord revealed Himself through the ages according to the time, place and circumstance surrounding the persons who were about to receive His message. The Search for Truth It is the ultimate goal of our lives to search for the Absolute Truth. We are duty-bound to avoid blind faith and enquire after the truth, wherever any clues may be found. It is not a matter that this knowledge belongs to India or that knowledge belongs to the Middle-East. The transcendental Truth is not bound by place or time and is coming down to this plane by the infinite mercy of the Supreme who is searching for His lost servant. Three Aspects of Divinity

The Absolute Truth can be realized in three phases: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Brahman is the all-encompassing, non-differentiated, and impersonal aspect of Divinity. Paramatma is the realization of the Super-Soul residing within every atom and between every atom: the manifestation of the Divine within every living entity. Bhagavan is the personal aspect of Divinity-the Supreme controller, Supreme enjoyer, and reservoir of all pleasure. Analogy Brahman may be conceived as the light and sound emanating from a tunnel as a train approaches. It is the first perception of the Divine. Paramatma may be conceived as the outer form of the train - the metal frame and the windows-as it rolls into the station. It is a clearer realization. Bhagavan may be conceived as the person running the train: the driver. It is a personal conception acknowledging an intelligent driving force behind all of creation and beyond. What is my Relationship with the Absolute? The Five Rasas (sweet relationships) Shanta rasa (neutral)- a peaceful feeling of equanimity, Dasya rasa (servitude)-dutiful and faithful service, which binds the master to care, sakhya rasa (friendship) - there is no higher or lower position so the affection is spontaneous and mutual, vatsalya rasa (parenthood)-selfless and unconditional care and attention, madhurya rasa (conjugal relationship)-the deepest form which is more intense in paramour love. It tends to be accompanied by pain of separation. Who Should I love? All of these relationships are meant for the Divine Absolute, the All-Attractive Source known as Krishna. These relationships exist within this plane in minute proportion since we are the same qualitatively. However, a spark cannot give the same heat and light as the fire from which the spark emanates. Mundane love is like a drop and it is a reflection, whereas Divine Love is like an ocean and it is the reality. Who are Sri Sri Radha-Krishna? Sri Sri Radha-Krishna are Love and Attraction personified. The Absolute is Bhagavan, meaning endowed in unlimited measure with the qualities of knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame, and renunciation. Supreme quality points to the existence of a Supreme Entity possessing such quality, such as power cannot be separated from the powerful. In the absolute conception, this is expressed as female and male, similar to yin and yang. Why am I Eternally a Servant? Depending on the degree of our faithful love and affection towards the Absolute, we are reciprocated. Our intimate relationship with the Divine fills our existence more and more with its

qualities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead exists independently and is completely selfsatisfied, yet in the eternal play (lila) we are granted the opportunity of relating to the Divine in so many ways. It is by Krishna's sweet will that we perform any particular function. Why Am I Here? I am not this body... I misidentify myself with my body, responding to the urges of eating, sleeping, reproducing, and defending. Mesmerized by Maya, illusion, I am wrapped up in the delusion of "I, Me, and Mind" and have becoming a prisoner of my sense desires and emotions. Searching for fulfillment, I try to paint the prison walls pink, but I continue to spin the wheel of karma, of action and reaction. Accident or Regularity? Why are some people born in rich families and some in poor? Why do things happen that are beyond anybody's control? Finding no answers, many conclude that everything is ruled by accident, and that there is no logic in the universe. Law of Karma Universal Law does exist. Newton's third law states, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Similarly, according to the law of karma, every living being endures the reaction of past actions, whether good or bad, life after life. Soul Wandering-Reincarnation The physical body is only a garment for the soul. With the death of one body, the soul moves to another just like an old shirt is replaced when it has become old and useless. This cycle of birth and death is known as the Wheel of Samsara. Desires and past actions will affect which form will be acquired in the next birth. The Evolution of Consciousness The body of a living entity and the world it inhabits correspond to his type of consciousness. There are different levels of consciousness depending on the evolution of the soul: achadita chaitan-the covering consciousness of trees, mountains, etc, sankuchita chaitan-consciousness of animals, etc, mukurita chaitan-the start of human consciousness, that is, the ordinary human, bikachita chaitan-humans sustaining moral values, etc, and purnabika chaitan-one who is fully realized. Where am I going? A Precious Human Life

Every creature that is born has to die. The soul continually evolves to higher levels of consciousness and manifests more sophisticated bodies and circumstances accordingly. By the misuse of free will, by choosing to live in the land of exploitation and selfish interest, we may degrade back down. The human life is a very precious lifetime in which we have all faculties to perform the great escape from the Wheel of Samsara. The Gunas-The Three Qualities of Material Nature All creation is controlled by three cosmic energies-the forces of creation, support, and destruction (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.) These are simultaneously presiding over the modes of passion, goodness, and ignorance, respectively. In different combinations, they pervade everything in material nature like red, yellow, and blue can create a whole palette of colors. Nirguna - Beyond the Grips of Maya The nirguna plane is free from the control of the forces of material nature (gunas)- it is the transcendental plane. In this plane of existence, there is complete renunciation, that is, no desire for the fruits of action. There is no implication in material matters-one remains unmoved in the face of birth, death, heat, cold, or any circumstance. The Spiritual World This material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world, which exists beyond the limitations of time and space. It is an unlimited and perfect world of love, consciousness, bliss, and eternity-full of self-forgetting devotion. It is a world of supreme reality, never-fading beauty and unlimited charm. Everything there is moved by love to God, and He is reciprocating the feelings of all who are coming to his abode. How do I get There? Three Planes of Reality We are born in the plane of exploitation, but better than that is renunciation, and above that is dedication. The movement is from selfish interest, to non-aversion and non-desire, to selfless and unconditional live, which is ultimately directed towards the Absolute. Godly Activity by Devotional Service Karma yoga deals with performing duty without reaping the fruits of the action. Bhakti states that if we offer all fruits to the Supreme Lord, this is better than performing selfless service. The first creates a positive reaction, while the latter becomes transcendental, that is free from reaction, and finally has the effect of liberating the performer of action from the Wheel of Samsara. The Nine Processes

Hearing and chanting about the transcendental Holy Name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words)-these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. What Slows Down my Spiritual Advancement? The three main traps are money (material wealth), women (desire), good name and fame (ego). These are very attractive and very difficult to overcome. Gambling and speculation, intoxication, butchery and meat-eating, illicit sex, and gold-trading are al hindrances to awakening consciousness and should be avoided. The Greatest Love of All Who is Lord Chaitanya? Sri Krishna Chaitanya (a name meaning Krishna Consciousness) appeared in West Bengal, India, just over 500 years ago. he is considered the 'Golden Incarnation' of the Supreme Couple Sri Sri Radha-Krishna combined (supreme knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame, and renunciation with the mood of self-forgetful Divine Love and devotion.) The Pancha Tattva Lord Chaitanya (Gauranga) appeared in this world as Nimai Pandit and kept close association with Prabhu Nityananda (Nitai), Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivas Pandit. Their life and mission is the supreme mercy for human beings in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy. Sri Krishna Chaitanya inaugurated the Harinam Sankirttan movement (the chanting of the Lord's Holy Names in congregation), which delivers from illusion and gives Divine Love (prema). The Siksastakam Although in His youth he was widely renowned as a scholar, Lord Chaitanya left only eight verses, called Siksastakam, in which His mission and precepts are revealed. They convey how one should accept everything favorable for discharging devotional service, should reject everything not conducive to spiritual life, should have firm faith in the Lord's protection of His devotee, should feel exclusively dependent on the Lord's mercy, should have no separate interest besides the interest of the Absolute and should always feel oneself meek and humble. The Third Verse trinad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harih "Humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, always giving honor to others without expecting ay for oneself,one is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of the Lord." The Mahamantra The Original Sound A mantra is a string of transcendental sounds possessing great power. According to the timeless knowledge of the Vedas, manifestation of the material universe began with sound vibration: AUM. Thus, chanting mantras revives the transcendental nature of the soul. The Mahamantra The Mahamantra, or Great Mantra, is considered to have all other mantras within it, like a 500 Euro note contains all the other denominations. The Mahamantra is like the rainbow emerging from the original white light, which is Om (AUM.) Recommendation for this Age In this day and age, it is recognized that for many individuals it is very difficult to quiet the mind and suppress the senses. This meditation on the Supreme is a method that engages the sense instead of suppressing them. Harinam Sankirttan-The Power of the Holy Name In the first verse of the Siksastakam, the magnanimity of the Holy Names of God (Krishna, Govinda, Gopal, Radha-Madhava, Mukunda, etc.) are emphasized. Pure chanting purifies the environment and one's soul; it gives liberation from material desires, it awakes the soul to its real treasure, it makes the heart blissful, and all phases of the self are completely satisfied. Chanting the Mahamantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare refers to the power and pleasure-giving potency of the Supreme. Krishna is the allattractive Source, the Cause of all causes. Rama is His aspect as the Reservoir of all Pleasure. The mantra should be uttered in the mood of surrender and service. There are no rules and regulation regarding time and place for chanting the Mahamantra. FAQ What is Bhakti?

It is the Path of Devotion to the Absolute with an ideal of Divine Love (prema), which is selfless and unconditional. It aims at thinking, speaking, and acting with the Supreme Divinity at the center of everything. The highest realization will be revealed from above to the heart of the devotee through the power of love. It is not an ascending process, but a descending process. The development of Krishna consciousness manifests as complete knowledge, selfless action, renunciation, surrender, devotion, and Divine Love (prema.) Is Bhakti Yoga a Religion? Since we live in a world of misconception, rooted in our imperfect senses and separate interest, in Srimad Bhagavad Gita (18:66) Krishna said, "sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja- Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me." A religious person does not mean whether he is Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Buddhist. Religion means to accept God and surrender unto Him. Real religion is complete surrender (saranagati) unto the Absolute, independent of relative truths. Is Bhakti Yoga a Philosophy or a Science? Philosophy is the attempt to understand the nature of existence by logic, while science is practical analysis and conclusion by proven method. Bhakti yoga is often called the science of self-realization (due to its effective process or abhidheya), while the knowledge of what is what (sambandha jnana) is certainly logical. However, knowledge is only a tool, while the ultimate goal of human life (prayojana) is the attainment of Divine Love (prema.) Is Krishna God? Most faiths acknowledge one God such as the Jews, Christians, or Muslims, so it could be understood to be the same One. Buddhists seek Nirvana, and Hindus seek Brahman. Krishna is all of that: That for which all are seeking. Krishna is the all-attractive Source, the Cause of all causes. What is the Connection between Higher Consciousness and Pure Love? A higher consciousness makes us aware of our relationship with the Absolute. Relationships are based on deepening degrees of love and intimacy, therefore the highest consciousness allows us the greatest capacity for love. Why do I Need a Spiritual Master? In all walks of life we accept that we need a teacher, whether we want to be proficient in skills, academic training, the arts, etc. There is always a limit to how quickly we can progress on our own and how far we can go. There are three types of spiritual master (Guru - dispeller of darkness/ignorance,) the authoritative figure (Diksa Guru,) others who help us see the Truth (Siksa Guru,) and our inner conscience (Chaitya Guru.) Sri Guru is the most merciful and loving aspect of the Divine trying to causelessly reveal Himself to the jiva (living entity). Mercy is

above justice, and love is above mercy.