Linda Mar beach, March 13, 2016

I am parked at Linda Mar beach, checking out the waves. It is stormy and raining. The wind is off shore and the waves are head high.

As i look out through the eyes, i become aware of the silence. The normal mind chatter is noticeably absent.

In silence, i perceive “I” exist independent of the ever changing mind-body phenomenon. There is only the ever present witnessing awareness.

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 10.38, “ Of secret things, I am silence.”

In the Purport of this verse, Prabhupada states, “Among the confidential activities of hearing, thinking and meditating, silence is most important because by silence one can make progress very quickly. “

There you go!

Surrender & Trust

Trusting the moment is equal to trusting God.

When we are intentionally conscious of the present moment, we are not attempting to rewrite the past or control the future. AA says, “let go and let God.”

Accepting what is, is surrender. It is said not even a blade of grass moves without the will of the Lord. Does this mean we don’t try to change the things that we deem necessitating change such as changing a flat tire? No, of course not. It means we don’t mentally resist what already is in this moment and we change the flat tire at the appropriate time without stressing about it.

“God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

When we hear the word “surrender” it may conger up thoughts of sacrificing what is dear, of losing a battle, etc. When Krsna says “surrender unto Me”, what is He asking us to surrender? He ends His request for surrender by further adding “do not fear.” Krsna is asking us to surrender our fear and our doubts. He is asking us to surrender what is actually holding us back from our highest good.

Practically speaking how do we surrender to Krsna? We surrender by trusting the moment and giving up the urge to control what already is. This enables to be fully present and aware, which allows us to respond to each moment fresh as opposed to just unconsciously reacting due to materially conditioned habits of thinking and interpreting.

Surrender and trust are not blind. Surrender and trust are grounded in that which is unconditionally trustworthy. What is always present and never changes? That which is changeless we can certainly count on. Awareness, life its self, is unchanging. It is the unchanging substance upon which all life forms are created out of and maintained. Awareness is present before the thought, during the thought and after the thought. Even when the mind turns off and the body sleeps, awareness is present to breathe the body and wake it up when there is a noise. What is the source of this constant and therefore most reliable awareness? The Supreme Awareness Himself, Sri Krsna, is the cause of all causes and the source all that is. He is likened unto the sun that emanates the innumerable sunrays. He is supremely trustworthy.

What Is Meditation?

What Is Meditation?

The state of meditation is consciousness being aware of its self. You recognize that you are not the one thinking, or that you are not the thoughts, rather you are that which is aware of thoughts and sensations.

Meditation is the process of Consciousness becoming conscious of its self.

· As the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living being in the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness. BG 13.34

· Consciousness is the life energy of the living being.

· Life is consciousness.

· There is your life and the circumstances of your life.

· In meditation you forget about your life circumstances, and for a period of time you focus on your life energy.

· The circumstances of your life change with time, however, your life is timeless.

· Your life circumstances are a collection of thoughts about the past and future. Your life is the constant unchanging presence of consciousness.

· The present moment is a door that opens to the awareness of life.

· The circumstances of your life may be full of tribulations, but check to see if you have any difficulty in this moment. Ask yourself, “what is here now?” Two seconds ago is now nothing more than a thought about the past and two second from now is a thought about the future.

· You are present when you are aware of your life as opposed to the circumstances of your life. Life is substantial. Thoughts about your life are ephemeral. (adapted from Eckhart Tolle)

· How to meditate?

· Practice 4-4-4-4 breathing for 5 rounds. Then return to normal breathing and notice the life energy field that extends throughout your body. Maintain the awareness of “I am” the knower, the life energy, or consciousness that pervades the physical body. Being aware of your life energy field, will help keep your attention anchored in the now moment. Begin repeating the mantra with this awareness.

· As you meditate be present with your sense of aliveness in the physical body and with the sound of the mantra.

· Continue meditating with this awareness of your aliveness in the body, and stay present as the knower of the sound of the mantra for predetermined period of time.

· As consciousness becomes conscious of itself a natural joy arises.

· 3-mantra technique: Try to keep your attention focused for 3 mantras. When you notice that your attention has drifted into thoughts of the past or future or your life circumstances, gently return your focus to the knower of the “feeling” of the energy that is pervading your entire body and of the sound of the mantra. Repeat the process.

· Note: The purpose of the mind is to think. Thinking is natural. Don’t expect the mind not to think. Each time you recognize thinking is happening, your higher awareness is being activated and you recognize you are not the one thinking.

Cc. Adi-lila 34-35

Adi lila 1.34 & 35

TEXT 34
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual masters, the devotees of the Lord, the Lord’s incarnations, His plenary portions, His energies and the primeval Lord Himself, Çré Kåñëa Caitanya.
PURPORT
Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé has composed this Sanskrit verse for the beginning of his book, and now he will explain it in detail. He offers his respectful obeisances to the six principles of the Absolute Truth. Gurün is plural in number because anyone who gives spiritual instructions based on the revealed scriptures is accepted as a spiritual master. Although others give help in showing the way to beginners, the guru who first initiates one with the mahä-mantra is to be known as the initiator, and the saints who give instructions for progressive advancement in Kåñëa consciousness are called instructing spiritual masters. The initiating and instructing spiritual masters are equal and identical manifestations of Kåñëa, although they have different dealings. Their function is to guide the conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead. Therefore Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé accepted Nityänanda Prabhu and the six Gosvämés in the category of guru.
Éça-bhaktän refers to the devotees of the Lord like Çré Çréväsa and all other such followers, who are the energy of the Lord and are qualitatively nondifferent from Him. Éçävatärakän refers to äcäryas like Advaita Prabhu, who is an avatära of the Lord. Tat-prakäçän indicates the direct manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nityänanda Prabhu, and the initiating spiritual master. Tac-chaktéù refers to the spiritual energies (çaktis) of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Gadädhara, Dämodara and Jagadänanda belong to this category of internal energy.
The six principles are differently manifested but all equally worshipable. Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja begins by offering his obeisances unto them to teach us the method of worshiping Lord Caitanya. The external potency of Godhead, called mäyä, can never associate with the Lord, just as darkness cannot remain in the presence of light; yet darkness, being but an illusory and temporary covering of light, has no existence independent of light.

Ädi 1.35

TRANSLATION
I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.
PURPORT
Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, in his thesis Bhakti-sandarbha (202), has stated that uncontaminated devotional service is the objective of pure Vaiñëavas and that one has to execute such service in the association of other devotees. By associating with devotees of Lord Kåñëa, one develops a sense of Kåñëa consciousness and thus becomes inclined toward the loving service of the Lord. This is the process of approaching the Supreme Lord by gradual appreciation in devotional service. If one desires unalloyed devotional service, one must associate with devotees of Çré Kåñëa, for by such association only can a conditioned soul achieve a taste for transcendental love and thus revive his eternal relationship with Godhead in a specific manifestation and in terms of the specific transcendental mellow (rasa) that one has eternally inherent in him.
If one develops love for Kåñëa by Kåñëa conscious activities, one can know the Supreme Absolute Truth, but he who tries to understand God simply by logical arguments will not succeed, nor will he get a taste for unalloyed devotion. The secret is that one must submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor. A devotee already attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time in approaching the Lord through logic. The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept. Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.
One should always remember that a person who is reluctant to accept a spiritual master and be initiated is sure to be baffled in his endeavor to go back to Godhead. One who is not properly initiated may present himself as a great devotee, but in fact he is sure to encounter many stumbling blocks on his path of progress toward spiritual realization, with the result that he must continue his term of material existence without relief. Such a helpless person is compared to a ship without a rudder, for such a ship can never reach its destination. It is imperative, therefore, that one accept a spiritual master if he at all desires to gain the favor of the Lord. The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. If one thinks that he is above consulting anyone else, including a spiritual master, he is at once an offender at the lotus feet of the Lord. Such an offender can never go back to Godhead. It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the çästric injunctions. Çré Jéva Gosvämé advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.




シュリーチャイタンニャ・チャラナムリタ
アディリラ１・３４

私は精神の師に尊敬の礼を捧げます。師は、主の献愛者、主の化身、主全体の一部、主のエネルギー、そして根源の主ご自身であるシュリー・クリシュナ・チャイタンニャです。

解説
クリシュナダーサ・カヴィラ—ジ・ゴースワミは、この本の最初にこの節を書き、これからそれを詳しく説明していきます。まず絶対真理の６つの原理に尊敬の礼を捧げています。グルーンとは複数である事を意味しています。啓示教典をもとに精神的な教えを与える人は、誰でも精神の師として受け入れられるからです。初心者に道を示してくれる人もいますが、マハ・マントラで入門をさせてくれたグルは入門の師と言われ、クリシュナ意識をさらに高めるための知識を与えてくれた聖人は教えをくれた師と言われます。入門をくれた師と、教えをくれた師は、異なったやり方ですが、同等であり、ともに全く同じにクリシュナが現した姿です。彼らの仕事は、条件付けられた魂達を神のもとに返すよう導く事です。だからこそ、クリシュナダーサ・カヴィラ—ジ・ゴースワミはニチャーナンダ・プラブーも６人のゴースワミ達もグルのカタゴリーとして受け入れているのです。
イーシャ・バクターンとは、シュリー・シュリウ゛ァサの様な主に従うものたちをさします。彼らは主のエネルギーであり、質的には主と何ら変わりません。イーシャウ゛ァターラカーンは、アドウ゛ァイタ・プラブーの様な主のアウ゛ァタラをさしています。タット・プラカーシャンは、最高人格個神の直接の権化であるニチャーナンダ・プラブーと入門をくれた師をさします。タッチャクティーは、シュリー・チャイタンニャ・マハ・プラブーの精神的エネルギー（シャクティ＿の事です。ガダーダラ、ダーモダラ、ジャガダーナンダがこの内的エネルギーの種に属しています。
６つの原理はそれぞれ異なって現われていますが、皆同じように崇められるべきものです。クリシュナダーサ・カヴィラ—ジは、主チャイタンニャを崇拝する方法を私達に教えるためにまず彼らに尊敬の礼を捧げたのです。神の外的エネルギーはマーヤと呼ばれ、主と交わる事はありません。それは光のある所には暗闇はあり得ない様なものですが、光を一時的にあたかもなくなったように隠してしまう暗闇は、光から独立して存在する事もあり得ません。


３５節
私の入門を授けてくれた師、そして教えをくださった師の蓮華の御足にまず尊敬の礼を捧げます。

解説
シュリーラ・ジウ゛ァ・ゴースワミは、彼の論文であるバークティ・サンダルバ（２０２）の中で、無垢な献愛奉仕は純粋なウ゛ァイシュナウ゛ァが目指すものであり、他の献愛者とともに、そのような奉仕をすべきだと記述しています。主クリシュナの献愛者とつきあう事で、クリシュナ意識の感覚が培われ、主への愛の奉仕へと傾倒していきます。それが献愛奉仕を少しずつ感謝しながら最高主に近ずく方法なのです。純粋な献愛奉仕を望むのなら、シュリー・クリシュナの献愛者との交際を持たなければならない。そのような交際によってのみ、条件付けられた魂は、超越的な愛の味わいを得，特定な権化である神との永遠な関係、永遠に本来のものである特定な超越的関係（ラサ）をよみがえさせる事ができます。
クリシュナ意識の活動をする事で、クリシュナへの愛を高めれば、最高絶対真理を知る事ができるが、論議によってのみ神を知ろうとしてもできないばかりか、純粋な奉仕の味わいを得る事もありません。秘訣は神の科学を完全に知る人の話を素直に聞く事で、教師によって定められた規則に従う事で奉仕の過程を始めなければならなりません。最高主の名前や姿、質等に既に魅かれている献愛者は、献愛奉仕の中でも特定な方法に導かれるべきであり、論議を通じて主に近ずくという様な時間の無駄は省くべきです。優秀な精神の師は、弟子の力を主への超越的愛の奉仕にどう使うか心得ており、弟子の特別な傾向に応じて特定な献愛奉仕につかせます。教典の中で禁じられているため、入門の師は一人しか持ってはいけなません。しかし、教えをくれる師を持つ数には制限はありません。一般的には、精神科学を常に教えてくれる師が、後に入門の師となります。
精神の師を受け入れ、入門を受ける事を躊躇するものは、神の元に返ろうとする試みに必失敗するであろう事を覚えておくべきです。自分を偉大な献愛者と見せかけても、正式に入門を受けていないものは、精神的悟りを極めていく途上で、数多くの障害にあい、解放される事なく物質的存在をつずけなければなりません。そのようにどうしようもない人は、決して目的地に着かない舵のない船と比較されています。だからこそ、主に好意を持ってもらいたいのなら、精神の師を受け入れる事がとても大切なのです。精神の師の仕事は重大なものです。師に直接仕える機会がなければ、師の教えを思い出す事で仕えることができます。師の教えと師御自身とは何ら変わりはありません。師がいなければ、師の指示された言葉が弟子の誇りとなるべきです。精神の師を含めて、自分は誰にも相談する必要はないと思うのなら、それは主への侮辱を犯した事に匹敵します。そのような侮辱ものは決して神の元に返る事はできません。シャストラ（教典）の指示に従って権威ある精神の師を受け入れる事は真剣な人にとって必要無可決な事です。シュリー・ジウ゛ァ・ゴースワミは、家系や、社会または教会の決まりとした習慣で精神の師を受け入れてはならないと提言しています。精神的な理解を本当に高めるためには、正真正銘の資格を持つ精神の師を見つける努力をしなければいけなりません。

Guru and Sins

Please scroll down for Japanese translation.
日本語の翻訳したにあります。


SB 9.95
O King, I do not wish to go down to the planet earth, for there the people in general will bathe in my water to cleanse themselves of the reactions of their sinful deeds. When all these sinful reactions accumulate in me, how shall I become free from them? You must consider this very carefully.

PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead says: "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." (Bg. 18.66)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead can accept the reactions of anyone's sinful deeds and neutralize them because He is pavitra, pure, like the sun, which is never contaminated by any worldly infection.
Tejéyasäà na doñäya vahneù sama-bhujo yathä (SB 10.33.29). One who is very powerful is not affected by any sinful activity. But here we see that mother Ganges fears being burdened with the sins of the people in general who would bathe in her waters. This indicates that no one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is able to neutralize the reactions of sinful deeds, whether one's own or those of others.
Sometimes the spiritual master, after accepting a disciple, must take charge of that disciple's past sinful activities and, being overloaded, must sometimes suffer—if not fully, then partially—for the sinful acts of the disciple. Every disciple, therefore, must be very careful not to commit sinful activities after initiation. The poor spiritual master is kind and merciful enough to accept a disciple and partially suffer for that disciple's sinful activities, but Kåñëa, being merciful to His servant, neutralizes the reactions of sinful deeds for the servant who engages in preaching His glories. Even mother Ganges feared the sinful reactions of the people in general and was anxious about how she would counteract the burden of these sins.


シュリーマッド・バーガヴァタム９・９５
王様、私は地球には行きたくない、自分の犯した罪の反動を清めるために私の水で沐浴する民がいるであろうから。それらの罪の反動が私の中にたまってしまったなら、どうそれから自由になる事ができるのでしょうか？
この事をよく考えてください。

解説
最高人格個神は言いました：すべての宗教を捨て、私に身を委ねるだけでよい。あらゆる罪の反動からお前を救おう。恐れる事はない。（“バガヴァッド・ギータ”１８・６６）
最高人格個神はすべての人に罪深い行いの反動をも受け入れ、中和してくださいます。主はパウ゛ィトラ、どのような世俗的な汚れにもけっして汚されることのない太陽のように純粋だからです。
Tejéyasäà na doñäya vahneù sama-bhujo yathä (SB 10.33.29).
力のあるものは、罪深い行いの影響は受けない。
しかし、母なるガンジス川が、そこで沐浴する民の罪が重荷になる事を恐れているのがこの節から読み取れます。これは、最高人格個神以外は自分のものでも他の人のものでも、誰も罪の行いの反動を中和させる事はできないという事を示しています。
精神の師が弟子を受け入れると、その弟子の過去の罪を受け入れ、それが大きすぎるとその反動（全てでなくても一部でも）に苦しむ事があります。ですから、どの弟子も、入門を受けた後には罪深い行いをしないよう十分気をつけなければなりません。あわれにも精神の師は、弟子を受け入れ、罪深い行いの一部を荷ない、苦しむほどに優しく慈悲深いのです。しかし、クリシュナは、自分の召使いには慈悲深く、自分の栄光を広めようとしている召使いのために、罪の行いの反動を中和してくださるのです。母なるガンジス川さえも民衆の罪の反動を恐れ、どのようにその重荷を無くすか心配していました。

Absorbing the sins of the disciple

SP 9-07 (with Japanese translation. Please scroll down)

Guru has got the responsibility of absorbing the sinful reaction of His disciple’s life.

69-09-19
My Dear Sacisuta,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 8th, 1969, and I have noted the contents with enclosures. I have very much appreciated the interview article with you in the paper Ethos, and I am so pleased to know that you have given right interpretation of our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Now you have got a nice wife, Indumati, and together you preach the mission of Lord Caitanya as far as possible. I have seen what you have written about your protection by my humble self, but that is inevitable when a Spiritual Master accepts somebody as disciple. Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita that He takes charge of a surrendered soul; so much so that Lord Krishna protects His devotee from all his sinful activities in the past. Similarly, the Spiritual Master, when He accepts a disciple and the disciple surrenders unto Him, He has got the responsibility of absorbing the sinful reaction of His disciples life. This is a great responsibility of the Spiritual Master. We should therefore be very careful not to overburden our Spiritual Master by further repetition of sinful activities. Of course, one who has entered into Krishna Consciousness cannot act deliberately anything sinful. Still, we should always be on guard against such activities. Sometimes we hear that people are going to church to confess their sinful actions for being excused, but as soon as he comes out of the church, he begins the same drama again. This is like the bathing of the elephant, who immediately throws dirt again on his body. We should not follow such examples. Lord Caitanya accepted Jagai and Madhai on condition they would not commit further sinful activities. So all our students should be careful in the matter of violating the four principles and at the same time must carry on the chanting process rigidly.

COMMENT

Human beings are unique among the different species of life in that man is conscious of himself. We can actually watch and evaluate our thought, feeling and behavior. We can decide right from wrong, helpful from hurtful, useful from useless.
Animals follow the dictates of their senses. A human can control the mind and senses and decide to act from higher life values.
A man and woman may decide to marry. Although their mind and senses may experience an attraction to other men or women they see, married couples voluntarily choose to have sexual relations with only their committed partner.
Humans have the ability to behave according to higher values. They can choose to be proactive ( act according to higher values ) rather than unconsciously reactive.
All relationships are based on trust and commitment whether they be, husband-wife, mother-child, boss-employee, friend-friend, country to country, or teacher-student.
It is only after traveling throughout the thousands of universes and countless births and deaths that by the grace of Krsna fallen soul receives the good fortune to contact a bona fide guru. By the grace of such a guru, the lost soul is able to re establish a relationship with Krsna.
The guru-disciple relationship transcends the bounds of time and space because the relationship is established between eternal souls and Krsna, the beloved of all souls. Therefore the commitment between guru and disciples is the most enduring and grave. Such a commitment must not be entered into lightly. Just as a father must accept responsibility for the mistakes of the son, the guru is obliged to come to the assistance of his disciple who is in difficulty.

“Because of sinful activities, at night we have bad dreams, which are very troublesome. Indeed, Mahäräja Yudhistira was obliged to see hell because of a slight deviation from devotional service to the Lord. Therefore, bad dreams occur because of sinful activities. A devotee sometimes accepts a sinful person as his disciple, and to counteract the sinful reactions he accepts from the disciple, he has to see a bad dream. Nonetheless, the spiritual master is so kind that in spite of having bad dreams due to the sinful disciple, he accepts this troublesome business for the deliverance of the victims of Kali-yuga. After initiation, therefore, a disciple should be extremely careful not to commit again any sinful act that might cause difficulties for himself and the spiritual master. Before the Deity, before the fire, before the spiritual master and before the Vaishnavas, the honest disciple promises to refrain from all sinful activity. Therefore he must not again commit sinful acts and thus create a troublesome situation.” SB 8.4.15

OM TAT SAT

Satyadeva das
























シュリーラ・プラブパーダの手紙９−０７

グルには弟子の罪ある生活の反動を吸収する責任がある。

１９６９年９月１９日
親愛なるサチスータ、
私からの祝福を受けてください。１９６９年９月８日付けの手紙を受けとり、中身をあらためました。エトス新聞の会見記事非常に嬉しく思っており、あなたがクリシュナ意識運動を正しく伝える事ができた事を喜んでいます。さてあなたもインドゥマティという良い奥さんをもらい、一緒に出来る限り主チャイタンニャの使命を説教していってください。私の様なものに守られているという事を書いていましたが、精神の師が弟子を受け入れる時にはあたりまえのことなのです。クリシュナは“バガヴァッド・ギータ”の中で、自分に身を委ねた魂を守るとおっしゃっています。弟子の過去の罪深い活動から自分の献愛者を守るとさえおっしゃっているのです。
同様に精神の師は、弟子を受け入れ、その弟子が彼に身を委ねたなら、弟子の罪ある生活の反動を吸収する責任があるのです。これは精神の師にとって莫大な責任です。ですから、罪深い活動を繰り返す事で、師の責任を重くしないように注意しなければいけません。もちろんいったんクリシュナ意識になった人がわざわざ罪深い事をする事はありません。それでも常にそのような活動に対し気をつけるべきです。
自分の罪の活動の許しを請うために教会に行く人たちがいるそうですが、帰ってくればまた同じドラマが繰り返されます。これは水をかけた後すぐに土を体にかける像の水浴の様なものです。そのような例を見習う事はありません。主チャイタンニャももう罪深い活動をしないという事で、ジャガイとマダイを受け入れました。ですから、弟子達は皆注意して４つの原則に反しないよう、そして同時に唱名の方法を厳格に行っていかねばなりません。

解説　　　　　　　　　

人間は自分という意識を持つという点で様々な種類の生命体の中でもユニークな存在です。自分の考えや感情、行動を見つめて判断する事ができます。良いか悪いか、自分のためになるかならないか、有益かどうかを判断する事ができます。
動物は自分の感覚の言うがままです。人間は心と感覚をコントロールしてより高い価値感を持って行動を起こす事ができます。
男と女が結婚します。彼らの心や感覚は他の男性あるいは女性に魅かれる事があるかもしれませんが、夫婦は自分が誓った相手とだけ性交渉を持つことを自ら選んだのです。
人間はより高い価値観で行動できる力を持っています。無意識に反応してしまうのではなく、プロアクティブ（高い価値感に応じた活動）を選ぶ事ができるのです。
夫婦でも親子でも、上司対部下、友人同士、国対国、師弟でも、すべての関係は信頼とかかわり合いに基ずいています。
何千もの宇宙を旅し、数えきれない生死を繰り返した後に、下落した魂は、クリシュナの慈悲によりグルに会う幸運を得る事ができるのです。そのグルのおかげで、迷える魂はクリシュナとの関係を再度持つようになります。
師弟の関係は、永遠なる魂とすべての魂に愛されているクリシュナとの関係ができたという事ですから、時と場所をも超越しています。だからこそグルと弟子との誓約は永続し、厳粛なものなのです。軽い気持ちでそのような誓約をしてはなりません。父親が息子の間違いの責任を取らねばならないように、グルは苦境に立たされている弟子を助ける義務があるのです。

“罪深い活動のために、苦しい悪夢にうなされる。実際、主への献愛奉仕からほんの少しそれたが為に、マハラージ・ユディシュトラは地獄を見るはめになった。罪深い活動をするから悪夢にうなされるのである。献愛者は、罪深い人を弟子として受け入れる時もあるが、弟子から受けた罪の反動を消すために悪い夢を見なければならない。それでも精神の師とは罪深い弟子のために悪い夢を見てもカリ・ユーガの被害者達を助けるために厄介な務めを受け入れるのである。だから、入門を受けた後、弟子は、自分も精神の師も窮境に遭わないよう、二度と罪深い活動をしないよう気を付けなければならないのだ。御神像の前で、聖なる火の前で、精神の師の前で、ウ゛ァイシュナバ達の前で、正直な弟子はすべての罪深い活動を止める事を誓う。だからこそ窮境をつくる様な罪の活動は二度と犯してはならない。”
シュリーマッド・バーガウ゛ァタム　８・４・１５

オーム・タット・サット
サチャデーバ

There is no question of sectarianism.

SP 1-08
There is no question of sectarianism.

Los Angeles15 March, 1970
My Dear Acyutananda,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10 March, 1970.
I understand that there was some press interview, and in future also whenever there is press interview, you can remember the following points, which will help you to make a clear understanding of our Krishna Consciousness movement.
Try to convince in the meeting that the difference between animal society and human society is that the human society has in some form the ideals of Krishna Consciousness or God Consciousness. That is religion. Religion without God Consciousness has no meaning. And God Consciousness means that we are eternally related with Him. He is the Father, and everyone of us is the part and parcel or son. He is the Supreme Leader, and we are subordinates. He is the Supreme Maintainer, and we are completely dependent on Him.
Whatever we possess, including our body and our self, everything, belongs to Him. When one is completely in sense of this fact—he is God Conscious. And unless a living entity becomes God Conscious, he cannot be happy. So this is our propaganda. There is no question of sectarianism. Every religion should have this aim in view. But the system of religion that teaches development of God Consciousness is first class. We have to estimate by the result, and not by the formalities. So this movement, Krishna Consciousness, very quickly develops this God Consciousness, and it is very easy to adopt it.
But, at the same time, we must remember that a sinful man cannot develop God Consciousness. The four pillars of sinful life are: 1) illicit sex, 2) animal killing or animal eating, 3) indulgence in intoxication in any form, and 4) take to the life of gambling. We therefore request all religious institutions to check their followers from the reactions of these four principles of sinful life. That will pave the way of developing God Consciousness, and thus all the people will be happy.
It is not a question of following this religion or that religion. It is a question of philosophy of life. Our Krishna Consciousness philosophy is practical, easier, and based on sound reasoning and philosophy. We place it before impartial, thoughtful men of the world, and we are certain that they will find it sublime.
I wish that you American boys should live elegantly to the tradition of your great country. But at the same time you shall preach the Sankirtana movement, becoming humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree as instructed by Lord Caitanya.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

COMMENT

The teachings and philosophy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as taught by Srila Prabhupada are non-sectarian and comprehensive. These two aspects of the Krsna Conscious religion, 1) it is a complete philosophy and 2) it is inclusive to others, are what initially attracted me to begin the study and practice of Krsna Consciousness. It is also the reason that I have continued to practice Krsna Consciousness for 37 years.
The Krsna Conscious philosophy is comprehensive. Its scope is very broad; it includes the extremes of all philosophy. In the verse of SB 1.2.11, we find the extremes of God realization that are possible.

“Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this non-dual substance Brahman, Paramätmä or Bhagavän.”

Acintya abeda beda, inconceivably it says, the individual soul, the jiva, is simultaneously one with and different from God. We are God but not God. God is one, but yet can remain a separate unlimited supreme person.
If the jiva is in fact God, then how could the jiva ever be overcome by illusion? How can God ever forget He is God? The monists have no reasonable answer to this question, but the Vaishnavas do.
In the Upanishad it is said, “God is eternal and the individual jiva soul is eternal. God is conscious and the jiva is also conscious. The difference between the 2 eternals is that the many jivas are forever dependent upon the one source, God, for their existence.” Although the jiva is one in quality with God, the jiva is not one in quantity and thus can fall under the cloud of illusion. Clouds can never cover the sun, but clouds can block the separated sunrays.
Krsna consciousness is the essence of religion and doesn’t discriminate between the varieties of religion. In SB 1.2.6, we find the religious gold standard succinctly explained.

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.”

Krsna Consciousness is non-sectarian. It simply says gold is gold. There is only one God, one source and religion means to surrender to that source without personal motives and without interruption. To the degree a religion teaches its followers to love God; to that degree it is a bona fide religion. If a religion does not practice or teach surrender to the one God, then it is a religion in name only; there is really no gold in it!

OM TAT SAT
Ys
Satyadeva das







シュリーラ・プラブパーダの手紙１−０８

　　　　宗派という問題はない

１９７０年３月１５日　ロス・アンジェルス
親愛なるアチュータナンダ、
私の祝福を受けてください。１９７０年３月１０日付けの手紙を受け取りました。
記者会見があったそうですが、また将来そのような事があった場合、クリシュナ意識運動を明確に理解してもらうよう次の点を覚えておくといいでしょう。
動物社会と人間社会の違いは、人間社会には何らかの形で、クリシュナ意識あるいは神の意識があること。それは宗教です。神の意識のない宗教には意味がありません。神の意識は、永遠に神とのつながりがあるという事を意味します。神は父で、我々は神の一部であり、子供です。神は最高のリーダーで、我々は神に従う者です。神は最高の維持者であり、私達は完全に神に頼っています。
自分の肉体、自分自身、をも含めた所有物のすべては神に属しています。この事実を完全に知る者が神の意識であると言えます。生命体は神の意識にならなければ幸せになる事はできません。これが我々の言おうとしている事です。宗派的な問題等あり得ません。すべての宗教にこのような見解があるべきです。神の意識を高めることを教える宗教のシステムは第一級のものと言えます。形ではなく結果を見なければいけません。このクリシュナ意識は、神の意識を素早く高め、また、簡単にできる方法です。
しかし、同時に、罪深い人は神の意識を高める事はできない事も覚えておかねばなりません。罪深い生活の４つの支柱は、１）婚外の性交渉　２）動物の殺生あるいは肉食　３）陶酔物をとる事　４）賭け事をする事　です。ですから、この４つの罪深い行動の反動を受けないよう、すべての宗教にそれに従う人々がそれを辞めるようお願いしているのです。そうする事が、神の意識の発展への道を形造っていき、みんなが幸せになる事ができるのです。
この宗教に従う、あの宗教に従うという事ではありません。人生の哲学の問題です。我々のクリシュナ意識の哲学は、実践的で、簡単、健全な論理と哲学にもとずいています。世界中の公平で、思慮深い人々にそれを提示すれば、きっとその崇高さを分かってもらえると思います。
あなた方アメリカ人の青年達が素晴らしい国の伝統を受け立派に暮らす事を願っています。でも同時に、主チャイタンニャが教えたように草よりも腰を低くし、木々よりも我慢強く、サンキルタナ運動を説いてください。
いつもあなた方の事を思って。
A C バークティウ゛ェ−ダンタ・スワミ

解説

シュリーラ・プラブパ−ダが教えてくださった主チャイタンニャ・マハプラブーの教えと哲学は、宗派には関係なく、分かりやすいものです。クリシュナ意識の宗教の２つの見解、すなわち１）完全な哲学である。２）他のものをすべてふくんでいる。この事が、最初に私がクリシュナ意識に魅かれ、それを学び、やってみようと思った事です。そして。３７年間クリシュナ意識を続けてきた理由でもあります。
クリシュナ意識の哲学は、分かりやすい。範囲が広い。あらゆる哲学の極限をもふくんでいる。シュリーマッド・バーガウ゛ァタム１・２・１１の中では神の悟りの極限を見る事ができます。

“絶対真理に通じた学識ある超越主義者は、この二元性のない真理をブラフマン、パラマトマ、バーガヴァンと呼ぶ。”

アチンティア・ベーダ・ベーダ　とは個々の魂であるジーウ゛ァは、同時に神と一つでもあり異なってもいることを想像を絶して言っています。私達は神であり神ではないのです。神は一人でもあり、また別々の無限の最高人格者でもあります。
もしジーウ゛ァが本当に神であるのなら、なぜ幻想に負けてしまうのでしょうか？神が神である事をなぜ忘れてしまうのでしょうか？一元論者はこれに答える事はできませんが、ウ゛ァイシュナウ゛ァはできます。

“神は永遠であり、個々のジーウ゛ァ魂も永遠である。神は意識であり、ジーウ゛ァも意識である。その二つの永遠なものの違いは、ジーウ゛ァの多くは永久に一つの源である神に依存して維持されているという事である。”とウパニシャッドは言っています。ジーウ゛ァは神とは質的には同じですが、量的には同じではなく、幻想という雲の下に落ちてしまう事もあります。雲は太陽を覆ってしまう事はできませんが、別々の太陽光線を遮る事はできます。
クリシュナ意識は宗教の真髄であり、様々な宗教を分け隔てしません。シュリーマッド・バーガウ゛ァタム　１・２・６では宗教の黄金原則が簡潔に説明されています。

“すべての人類の最高の仕事（ダルマ）は、それによって超越的な主への愛の献愛奉仕を得るものである。そのような献愛奉仕は、物欲も、遮るものもあってはならず、それによって完全に自分が満たされる。”

クリシュナ意識は一つの宗派ではありません。金は金であると言っているだけです。一人の神、一つの根源しかなく、宗教とは、個人的な動機や妨げなくその一つの根源に身を委ねる事です。ある点までは宗教というものはそれに従う人々に神の愛を教えています。その地点までは権威ある宗教と言えるでしょう。もし宗教が一つの神に身を委ねる事を教えなければ、それは名前だけの宗教です。そこに金を見つける事はできないでしょう。

オーム・タット・サット
皆様の僕
サッチャデーバ