Open Thread 8

Chant Hare Krsna
********************************************
This transcendental sound vibration, the chanting of…
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
…is the sublime method for reviving our Krsna consciousness.
As living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere.
In this polluted concept of life, we are all trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in its complexities.
This illusion is called maya, or the hard struggle for existence over the stringent laws of material nature. This illusory struggle against the material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krsna consciousness.
Krsna consciousness is not an artificial imposition upon the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity.
When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. And the process is recommended by authorities for this Age.
By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this Maha-Mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual stratum.
When one is factually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of sense, mind, and intelligence – one is situated on the transcendental plane.
This chanting of…
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
…is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, surpassing all lower states of consciousness–namely sensual, mental, and intellectual.
There is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of mental speculation, nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra.
It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration, without any previous qualification, and dance in ecstasy.
We have seen it practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting, or even a dog can take part in it. The chanting should be heard, however, from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effect can be achieved.
As far as possible, chanting from the lips of a non-devotee should be avoided, as much as milk touched by the lips of a serpent causes poisonous effect.
The word Hara is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord. Both Krsna and Rama are forms of addressing directly the Lord, and they mean “the highest pleasure eternal”. Hara is the supreme pleasure potency of the Lord. This potency, when addressed as “Hare”, helps us in reaching the Supreme Lord.
The material energy, called as maya, is also one of the multi-potencies of the Lord, as much as we are also the marginal potency of the Lord.
The living entities are described as superior energy to matter. When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation.
But when the supreme marginal potency is in contact with the spiritual potency Hara, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity.
The three words: namely Hara, Krsna, and Rama, are transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra, and the chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy Hara, for giving protection to the conditioned soul.
The chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of the child for the mother. Mother Hara helps in achieving the grace of the supreme father Hari, or Krsna, and the Lord reveals Himself to such a sincere devotee.
No other means therefore, of spiritual realization is as effective in this age, as chanting the maha-mantra:
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
— His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
********************************************
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO0DtbaIeAM
streaming audio:
http://www.utahkrishnas.com/main/RKN_UTAH.m3u
http://www.audiokrishna.com/stations/bhajan.m3u

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s address (transcription contained in my previous comment above) was recorded on the 1966 music album which was titled “Krishna Consciousness”.
That recorded address is available in audio for listening or download here:
listen:
http://www.hansadutta.com/MP3MUSIC/Happening_Album/Address.m3u
download:
http://www.hansadutta.com/MP3MUSIC/Happening_Album/Address.mp3

Chant Hare Krsna
This transcendental sound vibration, the chanting of…
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
…is the sublime method for reviving our Krsna consciousness.
As living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere.
In this polluted concept of life, we are all trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in its complexities.
This illusion is called maya, or the hard struggle for existence over the stringent laws of material nature. This illusory struggle against the material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krsna consciousness.
Krsna consciousness is not an artificial imposition upon the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity.
When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. And the process is recommended by authorities for this Age.
By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this maha-mantra, or the great chanting for deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual stratum.
When one is factually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of sense, mind, and intelligence – one is situated on the transcendental plane.
This chanting of…
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
…is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, surpassing all lower states of consciousness — namely sensual, mental, and intellectual.
There is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of mental speculation, nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra.
It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration, without any previous qualification, and dance in ecstasy.
We have seen it practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting, or even a dog can take part in it. The chanting should be heard, however, from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effect can be achieved.
As far as possible, chanting from the lips of a non-devotee should be avoided, as much as milk touched by the lips of a serpent causes poisonous effect.
The word Hara is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord. Both Krsna and Rama are forms of addressing directly the Lord, and they mean “the highest pleasure eternal”. Hara is the supreme pleasure potency of the Lord. This potency, when addressed as “Hare”, helps us in reaching the Supreme Lord.
The material energy, called as maya, is also one of the multi-potencies of the Lord, as much as we are also the marginal potency of the Lord.
The living entities are described as superior energy to matter. When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation.
But when the supreme marginal potency is in contact with the spiritual potency Hara, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity.
The three words: namely Hara, Krsna, and Rama, are transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra, and the chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy Hara, for giving protection to the conditioned soul.
The chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of the child for the mother. Mother Hara helps in achieving the grace of the supreme father Hari, or Krsna, and the Lord reveals Himself to such a sincere devotee.
No other means therefore, of spiritual realization is as effective in this age, as chanting the maha-mantra:
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
— His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
——————————————–
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s address (transcribed above), as recorded in the 1966 album “Krishna Consciousness”, is available in audio here:
listen:
http://www.hansadutta.com/MP3MUSIC/Happening_Album/Address.m3u
download:
http://www.hansadutta.com/MP3MUSIC/Happening_Album/Address.mp3

Hi Brian!
I have read your blog off and on for over a year and enjoy your musings.
Your posts on Sat Mat make me chuckle because some of what you say rings so true.
I am a 32 year old satsangi living in the southern United States. I got initiated when I was 26 years old. I grew up in an RS family and so I am very familiar with all the weird what I like to call “strange cultural abnormalities intrinsic in the RSSB culture.”
In fact, I have been giving satsang for about 6 years now and I make a point of talking about plain old non-esoteric topics such as Service (not “seva” specifically but how to lead a live of service), faith, gratitude etc.
I get really tired of hearing hell fire and damnation satsangs about how we will all go into the jaws of the lord of death if we don’t …(fill in the blank with whatever but mostly it’s meditate).
I also get tired of hearing judgemental small talk before or after meetings. You know the talk of the zealots who say things like “meditation is the most important thing in my life” and we “must attend satsang.” etc. And what really makes me chuckle is when I hear people discussing the words of the representatives like they are somehow straight from the mouth of the master. At that point, I usually like to chime in and say, “You know, some of what those reps say is pretty hokey.”
I like to break in and say things like, “um… actually you can be incredibly devoted and never attend satsang or see the Master.”

Something happened and I couldn’t finish my last comment.
Anyway, I just wanted to write you and say that I think it’s terrible the way some people leave you such judgemental comments attacking you personally.
And I also wanted to say that I am an RSSB gal who is not afraid to admit that I am just over here in the trenches of life trying to figure out the small stuff like how to be talk to someone who has made me mad.. for example rather than how I must I must I must meditate for example 🙂
I probably sound judgemental myself judging other satsangies but there you have it.
Elizabeth-

Hi Elizabeth,
Welcome to the fish that swim outside the fishbowl that is painted black. Not such a bad place. I recently ate a big mac 🙂
You don’t even have to be humble here. You can get praise for the things you do that are worth something and you can believe that your relations are the most important things in life where you learn to help others on whatever path they are.
There is no isolation or judging others here. And no meditation unless you feel like it. I was never successful in meditation until I read some comments that pointed me into the right direction on this blog. Mainly comments from enkanckar.
Recently I learned that it was not the master that was helping me but it was my own strength. That I didn’t know that before strikes me now.
If I want to be humble it will be because of love for others. If I don’t it will be because I feel strength is needed to resist evil.
Don’t underestimate the undertow that you’re in right now!

HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXgVcl6gZ-Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61jlWqFJyhA sri krsna uvaca: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah sri krsna says: abandon all varieties of religion and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. do not fear.

Hi Nietzsche,
> I was never successful in meditation until >I read some comments that pointed me into >the right direction on this blog. Mainly >comments from enkanckar.
I’m curious – what comments helped your meditation?