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उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ||
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
"Elevate
yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself, for
the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the
self." (Bhagavad Gita 6:5)
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All of us love to
experience peace and calm. We constantly seek favorable circumstances
that would lead to peace and tranquility of the mind. However,
"understand that internal peace is never a product of external
circumstances. It is a product of purified senses, mind, and
intellect," says Swami Mukundananda ji.
Read on to find out how to purify the mind and embark on the journey of peace.
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Bhakti Ras
The Only Source of Peace
 Towards the end of Dwapar yug,
Krishna Dwipayan, who is an incarnation of God, classified the Veda.
Hence, this great sage is known as Veda Vyas. He knew that the general
masses in the Kali yug would not have the memory capacity to
hear the sacred knowledge, and transmit it verbally to the posterity.
Hence, he classified and wrote down the Vedic knowledge. Then, for the
welfare of the less intelligent people, out of his compassion, he wrote
Mahabharat, Vedant Darshan, and eighteen puranas. In spite of composing
all these works, he was crestfallen, as his works seemed to be futile.
Although he clearly explained the karm-dharm in detail, no one would pay head to his instructions. Therefore, sitting on the shores of Sarasvati River one day, he pondered:
किम् वा भागवता धर्मा न प्रायेण निरूपिताह: प्रियाह् परमहंसानाम् त एव ह्यच्युतप्रियाह: kiṁ vā bhāgavatā dharmā na prāyeṇa niroopitāḥ priyāḥ paramahaṁsānāṁ ta eva hy acyutapriyāḥ (Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.4.31) "I
am discontented because I did not enumerate the devotional services to
the Lord, the services that are dear to the ascetics and to the
infallible Lord." While he was reflecting on how his works were inadequate, as he did not delineate bhagavat dharm,
sage Narad appeared. When Veda Vyas expressed his dissatisfaction, sage
Narad advised, "O Vyas Maharshi, the different types of sadhana
you have explained in your scriptures are not enough to purify one's
mind or cleanse the heart. So, compose a scripture that glorifies the
Supreme Lord." Following the instructions of sage Narad, Veda Vyas
returned to his ashram and sat down in meditation, with his mind
completely immersed in Shree Krishna. The result was Shrimad Bhagavatam
Puran that restored his peace of mind, and which teaches us how the mind
transforms when imbued with thoughts of Shree Krishna.
Therefore,
to attain and enjoy peace eternally, we have to absorb our mind in God.
Devotion to God alone can cleanse our mind that is smeared by arishadvarg - lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and envy - for many life times. As Tulasidas states in the Ramayan:
प्रेम भगति जल बिनु रघुराई, अभिअन्तर मल कबहुन जाई prema bhagati jala binu raghurāī, abhiantara mala kabahuñ jāī "Without devotion to God, the dirt of the mind will not be washed away."
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Inspirations for Living
If We Cleanse Our Mind, His Peace Dwells in Our Heart
In Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna repeatedly proclaims that many attained
His divine love and peace, being fully absorbed in Him and purified in
His knowledge. One of the outstanding examples from our scriptures is
Hanuman. During Shree Ram pattabhishekam (coronation
ceremony,) while honoring everyone with gifts, Shree Ram gave Sita a
pearl necklace along with apparels and other ornaments, Sugreeva a
golden garland studded with gems, Angadha, the son of Vali a precious
armlet. He did not reward Hanuman with anything, as He knew that
no gift would match the eternal love and service of Hanuman. Noticing
this, Mother Sita took out her pearl necklace, and affectionately
presented it to Hanuman. Hanuman received the pearl necklace
with great reverence and utmost joy. He sat at Shree Rama's feet, pulled
out the pearls one by one from the necklace, bit it into half, looked
keenly inside each pearl, and tossed it aside. Surprised at his
behavior, Mother Sita gently inquired, "Dear Hanuman, why are you
pulling the pearl necklace apart?" With a disappointed look on
his face, Hanuman replied, "Sita Maa, before I wear it around my neck, I
wanted to see whether my beloved Ram was in there, but I couldn't find
Him in any of the pearls." Listening to this, a few courtiers questioned
him about how he could wear his body that does not contain Shree Ram.
Hanuman immediately tore open his chest to reveal Shree Ram and Mother
Sita residing in his heart! Moved by Hanuman's love and devotion, Shree
Ram embraced His devotee and said, "I will always remain deeply indebted
to you." Now, how do we follow the path of Hanuman and purify
the mind so that our body becomes a temple and our heart a pedestal for
His love and peace? There are innumerable ways; our scriptures
prescribe the navada bhakti (nine-fold-devotion) - sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhya, and atma nivedanam. Of all these methods, smaranam - constantly remembering God and discerning Him everywhere - works like a charm. Attachment
with this world is the root cause of our mind getting dirty. This world
is in the realm of Maya (material energy) that consists of three modes -
sattva, rajas, and tamas (goodness, passion,
and ignorance.) When we attach our mind to any material object or
person, these three modes affect our mind. Instead, if we endeavor to
attach our mind in the all-pure God, who is gunateet (beyond the three modes of material nature), our mind becomes pure and calm. Hence, the Ramayan states: सब कै ममता ताग बटोरी, मम पद मनहि बान्ध बरि डोरी
saba kai mamatā tāga baṭorī, mama pada manahi bāñdha bari ḍorī
"Cut all the strings of worldly attachment of your mind; make a rope of these strings, and tie it at the lotus feet of God."
To
help us tie our mind to Him and attain peace, He has descended in many
splendid forms and performed delightful pastimes. Therefore, to pacify
and stabilize our mind, we have to constantly detach it from the world,
and attach it to the names, forms, virtues, pastimes, abodes, and
associates of the sweet Lord.
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 Celebrate Yoga & Holistic Health
A whole day filled with hands-on and interactive opportunities in over 10,000 sq.ft. venue!
Saturday, June 18th 2016
Venue: Comfort Inn & Suites, 700 Central Parkway East
Plano, TX 75074Follow us at DallasYogaFest.org for details |
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Bal-Mukund: Playground for Vedic Wisdom
Knowledge -> Faith -> Love -> Peace
Pankaj, a youth who lived In Mathura, almost every other day approached a sadhu (a holy person) in Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, and requested, "Babaji, can you please instruct me a mantra, which will bestow peace when I meditate?" After many such requests, the sadhu
one day asked Pankaj to come early next morning to learn the mantra.
The next day before the break of the dawn, he went to the sadhu
enthusiastically. The sadhu said, "My child, this is the most sacred and
purifying mantra," and he leaned forward and whispered in Pankaj's ear,
"Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!"
 All the enthusiasm of Pankaj evaporated, and he said, "Babaji, I thought you will give me a secret mantra
of the highest order. I already know this mantra, all my family members
chant this at home every day, so does every one in the temple all the
time. It's even written almost on every wall and tree trunk in Mathura."
The sadhu, with a smile, took out a dust-covered stone from the old rag
tied around his waist, and giving it to Pankaj said, "My child, I want
to sell it to whom so ever gives us the highest price. Go, try find out
the value of this stone."
Pankaj took the stone straight to the
grocer, from whom his family usually bought groceries. The grocer said
it was a fake colored stone, and he can give a coconut for it in return.
From there, Pankaj went to a goldsmith, and the goldsmith said he would
pay him fifty rupees, as he can break the stone and set the pieces in
earrings. Pankaj decided to go back to the sadhu to let him know the
value of the stone, and began walking towards the temple. On his way, he
met his longtime friend, a jeweler back in town. The jeweler friend
looked at it, and said, "Pankaj, this is a very valuable gem; I can pay
you ten thousand rupees." It suddenly dawned upon Pankaj that the stone
might be a precious one, and so he took it to a gemologist in the
neighboring city, Agra. Pankaj stood there in disbelief when the
gemologist examined the stone, and looking suspiciously at Pankaj, said,
"Where did you get this? It is a rare, priceless, antique gem that
belongs to fifth or sixth century BC."
Pankaj went back to the sadhu
at a lightning speed and said,"Babaji, you are so naïve; the stone is
invaluable. You had it with you all these years, but you didn't know the
real value of it."
"So didn't you, my child," said the sadhu with a
placid smile, and continued, "Everyone who looked at this stone
appraised it based on their knowledge. Only the gemologist knew its
quality and true value. Similarly, to know the value and greatness of
this mantra, you need knowledge, and God reveals that knowledge
through a guru. That knowledge will lead to faith and then to love for
God. That's when either this mantra or any other fetches peace, when you
meditate with its help after knowing its import."
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Upcoming Community Events 2016
The
Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas is very proud to announce several very
interesting upcoming programs. Please mark your calendars and save
these dates. For the benefit of the community, The Radha Krishna temple
provides abundant opportunities to volunteer and participate in various
events.
Holi Ke Rang Radha Krishna Ke Sang
 Vasant
(spring season) is fast approaching, and the breathtaking and
exhilarating early spring blooms of North Texas will soon burst
forth. Spring, the ṛitu rāja (the king of seasons) is an
illustration of God's magnificence. Holi is the very first
festival that gives us an opportunity to celebrate His opulence and the
advent of spring. At the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, we are
ushering in spring with soft flower petals, rich cultural programs,
Swami Mukundananda ji's lecture, and Braj-style kirtans on March 27, 2016. Please come join us for this lovely and divine experience.
For more details and to RSVP for this free community event, go to: http://radhakrishnatemple.net/events/holi-radha-krishna-2016/
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Other Ongoing Community Events
For
the benefit of the community, The Radha Krishna temple provides
abundant opportunities to volunteer and participate in various events.
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Weekly Satsangs
These
satsangs truly propel one in the ocean of bhakti through a combination
of prayer, singing bhajans/kirtans, viewing a video lecture, and
followed by arati, and Prasad.
For local satsang information visit:
www.radhakrishnatemple.net or info@radhakrishnatemple.net.
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Bhagavad Gita
Study Group
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Free Community
Yoga Classes
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Vishnu Sahashra
Naam Chanting
At: 4020 Sendero Trail
Plano, TX 75024
On: 1st Sat, 3 to 4 PM
Details & Registration
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'Dollar A Day' - Pledge Continuous Support!
Donate a Dollar a Day towards the building and upkeep of the Radha Krishna temple! By donating just $1 everyday,
you'll help this noble cause!
How many of us have the opportunity and are fortunate enough to build a house for God?
Set up monthly contributions through credit card/debit card by calling: 860-605-3685 or by visiting temple website at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (click).
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Wellness for Life
Roop Dhyan Meditation - Ease Your Mind on God's Strength
Meditation has
innumerable benefits. One of those is its effect on physical health.
Most ailments have their roots in the mind. When one harbors hatred,
envy, anxiety, tension, fear, etc., it disturbs the mental sheath (one
of the five sheaths in the body.) This disturbance is  then passed on to the pranic
sheath, which then manifests in the physical sheath of the body as
disease. Meditation on God heals the various ailments of the mind,
resulting in the enhancement of vital energy and the improvement of
physical health. "Mind is the life and soul of the meditation,"
says Swami Mukundanand ji. Therefore, while meditating, we need to take
our mind to God's splendid forms, glorious names, sublime virtues,
delightful pastimes, magnificent abodes, or His benevolent saints. To learn the method of how to practice Roop Dhyan meditation, see Roop Dhyan Meditation, or register for the free weekly yoga classes that the Radha Krishna Temple offers to the community.
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We really want to hear from you.
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Copyright © Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog 2016. All rights reserved. |
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