JKYog e-Magazine, Issue No. 62

October, 2014 

 

आज तो है दीपावलि गोविन्द राधे | 

र में प्रकाश करु तम को मिटा दे  ||  

 

āj to hai dīpāvali  govind rādhe

ura meṅ prakāśh karu tam ko miṭā de

  

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says, "Today is Deepavali, illuminate your mind with divine knowledge and disperse the darkness of knowledge."

 
This month 'Sumiran' is picking up Diwali as the topic of the month.  In this issue we will be presenting Diwali special articles on 'Let us celebrate Diwali of the heart' and 'Diwali leela'.  Readers will also find Q/A session with Swami Mukundananda, Bal-Mukund Contributions, and Bhog Recipe.

 

Let us celebrate Diwali of the heart

Diwali, the popular festival of lights is here and it brings along with it great enthusiasm and excitement to celebrate.  Although traditions vary across regions, Diwali is celebrated with the same fervour everywhere.  In North India Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Ram and his eternal consort mother Sita to Ayodhya.  Lord Ram had returned to Ayodhya after slaying the demon called Ravan. The inhabitants of Ayodhya were so elated to have their beloved Lord return that they illuminated their entire kingdom with lamps.  In that tradition Diwali is celebrated even today. In South India however, Diwali is celebrated in relation to a leela when Shri Krishna and Satyabhama killed the demon Narkasura.  Satyabhama had declared that day to be a celebration and the beginning of a new era. 

 Deepawali or Diwali literally means a "row of lights and lamps".   The lighting of lamps signifies removal of darkness.  People light lamps to dispel darkness in their homes, but Deepawali has a much deeper significance for us.  When we light lamps we dispel physical darkness, but what about the darkness that resides in our hearts?  There is lust, greed, anger, hatred, envy, illusion residing in our hearts; there is tremendous darkness. 

There is a beautiful allegorical story to illustrate this point. A man used to take his evening walk by the side of a forest. One evening, he decided to walk in the forest instead. When he had walked a couple of miles, the sun began setting and the light started fading. He turned around to walk out of the forest, but to his dismay he found that animals had gathered on the other side. These ferocious animals started chasing him and to escape from them, he ran deeper into the forest. While running, he found a witch standing in front of him with open arms to embrace him. To escape her, he turned direction and ran perpendicular to the animals and the witch. By then, it had become dark. Unable to see much, he ran over a ditch that was covered by vine hanging from a tree. He fell headlong, but his feet became entangled in the vine. As a result, he began hanging upside down above the ditch. After a few moments he came to his senses and saw a snake sitting at the bottom of the ditch, waiting to bite him if he fell down. In the meantime, two mice appeared-one white and one black-and started nibbling at the branch from which the vine was hanging. To confound his problems, some wasps gathered and began stinging him on his face. In this precarious situation, it was found that the man was smiling. Philosophers gathered to ponder how he could smile in such a dire strait. They looked upwards and found a beehive, from which honey was dripping onto his tongue. He was licking the honey and thinking how pleasurable it was; he had forgotten the animals, the witch, the snake, the mice, and the wasps.

The person in the story may seem insane to us. However, this tale depicts the condition of all humans under the influence of desire. The forest in which the man was walking represents the material world in which we live, where there is danger at every step. The animals that chased him represent diseases that begin to appear in life, and continue harassing us until death. The witch represented old age that is waiting to embrace us with the passage of time. The snake at the bottom of the pit is like the inevitable death that awaits us all. The white and black mice that were nibbling on the branch represent day and night, which are steadily reducing our life and bringing us closer to death. The wasps that were stinging the face are like the innumerable desires that arise in the mind and agitate it, causing us pain and distress. Honey represents the sensual enjoyment we experience in the world, which clouds the discrimination of our intellect. Hence, forgetting our precarious position, we remain absorbed in enjoying the temporary delights of the senses.

The Scriptures say that we souls are living in darkness. If you find yourself attached to the sense objects of the world then know it that you are in the dark.  And if you find yourself attached to your eternal divine beloved, the Supreme Lord then know it that you are in the light. These little sensual pleasures of eating a pizza, visiting Disney land or driving a Cadillac divert us from the reality of our life. But the fact is that this darkness does exist. We are all in darkness and particularly there is darkness in our mind and heart.  There is darkness of anger, greed, lust, tension, stress, anxiety, fear, and loneliness.  If we could somehow dispel this darkness then that would be the real Deepawali of our lives.

How does the night get dispelled? If you light up a house completely with lamps, will the night go away? The night will still remain. Supposing it is a cloudless night, all the stars are visible. The light of the stars will still not be sufficient to dispel the night.  Even if it's a full moon night, the night will not disappear with the light of the moon.  But once the Sun rises, that night will disappear entirely. Without the appearance of the Sun the night cannot go. Then what about the night of the heart? This requires the divine Sun, I.e. God Himself.  The Supreme Lord is like the light and Maya, the material energy is like darkness. The moment the light appears the darkness immediately disappears.  The darkness in our hearts is because we have distanced ourselves from God.  We are suffering because we have turned our back towards God.  But the solution is also very simple. You bring God into your life and the darkness will get dispelled.  What if there is darkness in a cave since last thousand years? You strike a match stick there and bring some light. The darkness of a thousand years will vanish away with the light. In this case the darkness is of the infinite lifetimes. So God says, "Never mind you bring me to your heart.  You start walking my way and automatically this darkness of your mind will disappear."

So on this day of Deepawali lets keep this message with us that darkness in our hearts which has been continuing for so many lifetimes need to be dispelled. The process of dispelling is so simple; it is available to anyone and everyone. You simply bring God in to your heart by taking his name, bringing his divine form to your mind, and contemplating over his divine glories and virtues. Think God is so kind, compassionate and generous.  He is your  eternal relative. You can also meditate on his divine pastimes, divine abode and devotees.  The Lord is so merciful that He has seated Himself and invested all His powers in His names, qualities, abodes, pastimes and His Devotees, the Saints. The Ramayana says:

prabhu vyāpaka sarvatra samānā

 
Wherever you are you should feel Lord Ram's presence. Always remain absorbed in reciting his name and singing the glories of His qualities, pastimes and forms having full faith in them.  Vedas assure that if you do this properly and sincerely you will find all your faults falling away and one day you will start celebrating the Diwali of the heart. This illumination of the heart will make your life a true success.  
 
In This Issue
On this day of Deepawali lets keep this message with us that darkness in our hearts which has been continuing for so many lifetimes need to be dispelled. The process of dispelling is so simple; it is available to anyone and everyone. You simply bring God in to your heart by taking his name, bringing his divine form to your mind, and contemplating over his divine glories and virtues.  

    

 


 

 

गई लखी, दीपावलि बलिहार |

जगमग-जगमग जगमगात गिरि, गोवर्धन रिझवार |

लखि जाकि बाँकी झाँकी कहँ, दउँ बैकुण्ठहुँ वार |

इत ललितादि सखिन सँग विहरत, अलबेली सरकार |

उत मधुमंगलादि सँग, क्रीड़त, नागर नंदकुमार |

निज-निज साज साजि दोउ दल चल, मानसि-गंग मझार |

इक तट नटखट दल इक तट दल, राजत भानुदुलार |

दोउ दल निज-निज कनक-दीपकन, डार्यो जल मझधार |

दोउ कर अँजुरिन जल हलकोरत, दीपन-छवि छ्विदार |

झलमलात दोउ दल दीपावालि, हिल-मिल भये इकसार |

लखि 'कृपालु' कह, पुनि-पुनि जय हो, दीपावालि श्रृंगार ||

  


Oh Sakhi!  I offer myself heart and soul on the engaging sight of Diwali celebration.  Mount Goverdhana is sparkling with burning earthern lamps.  Seeing such a remarkable spectacle, I sacrifice even the splendour of Vaikunt on it.  On the one side, Kishori ji, is sporting with Lalita and other sakhis and on the other side, Shyamsundar is playing with Madhumangal and other friends.  Equipped with their respective paraphernalia, both the groups take off for Manasi Ganga.  Kishori ji beautifies one bank of the river with her group and Shyamsundar, the other with his.  Both the groups light their golden lamps and set them afloat in the river.  Then they begin  to toss the water to speed up the movement of the lamps.  Such a scene is truly worth seeing!  The burning lamps set afloat from both sides are joining in the middle of the Manasi Ganga.  Looking at this lovely scene, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj acclaims, "Hail to this bewitching sight and hail to the splendour of Diwali."

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News & Updates
Jagadguruttam Jayanti and Sadhana Shibir at Bhakti Dham Mangarh                         

Jagadguruttam Jayanti, the auspicious day of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's descend on earth, was celebrated at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh October 7, 2014. 
The annual sadhana shibir is has also begun and is running in Mangarh.  See Pic 

Swami Mukundananda conducted house satsangs in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, LA, Bay Area, Phoenix, Aurora, and Connecticut.  

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's Varshiki and other programs will be held in Mangarh, Vrindavan & Barsana. Swamiji will be reaching Mangarh on October 28th. He will participate in all programs till Nov 16th.  For details, please write to secretary@jkyog.org

Click Here for full program schedule 

Lectures


Two Kinds of People   

by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj  

 

 

People living in the world can be divided into two groups. These two groups are very much alike in one way, and yet in another way, they are very different from one another. How are they alike, and how are they different? 



People living in the world can be divided into two groups. These two groups are very much alike in one way, and yet in another way, they are very different from one another. How are they alike, and how are they different? They are alike in a way that both are looking for the same thing in life-happiness. They are different in a way that one group is looking for happiness in creation, and the other is looking for it in the Creator. One group follows the materialistic philosophy, and the other, Spiritual philosophy. Material philosophy says that we are the body, and we need things of the world to satisfy us.

 

So, a materialist is constantly busy, looking for happiness in things the world has to offer. He thinks that everybody wants happiness and by the fulfillment of every material desire, one can be happy. He believes that we are not eternal souls, but mortal bodies, and by the fulfillment of the material senses one can be happy. The senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, taste are five senses of our body. With the help of these senses, we make use of this world.

 

According to the materialists, the means of happiness in this material world is this corporeal body.  He is of the opinion that happiness can be attained by living in a big house filled with precious objects, driving the fanciest car, wearing designer clothing and the latest fashions, investing profitably and accumulating more and more wealth. He is always busy, because there is always something he does not have, and he works anxiously to get it.  Day and night, such an individual works for the sake of the body and one day he breathes his last breath after leading a meaningless life.

 

On the other hand, a spiritualist thinks that we are eternal souls and not this physical body.  This body is destroyable and is made up of five structural elements (water, air, fire, ether and earth) whereas, the soul ('I') is spiritual, and is an eternal part of God.  Bliss is another name for God, and being a part of him, we naturally desire bliss. Unlike the materialist, the spiritualist realizes that there is a vast difference between the mortal body and the immortal soul.  The body takes birth one day, and is therefore, subject to destruction.  The soul, on the other hand is immortal.

Jesus Christ said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." The more wealth one possesses, the further he goes away from God, and true happiness. It would be fine if his wealth would make him a happy man. But, this does not happen.  It cannot happen. Material wealth and objects are for the body, but what about the soul?  How can we satisfy the soul? The soul's nourishment is devotion to God, the true wealth.

 

It is worth noting that even the topmost materialist has not found happiness in the material world. The truth is that wealth can purchase temporary joys, but not everlasting happiness. Money can buy medicine, but not health. It can purchase security in the form of an alarm system and guard dogs, but not fearlessness.

 

While the topmost materialist is still trying to catch the elusive butterfly called happiness, even the beginner on the spiritual path starts seeing wonderful changes within.  He feels a sense of peace and contentment, and the more involved he gets with practicing a spiritual discipline, the more joyful and radiant he becomes.  His happiness is a result of his newly found treasures: faith in God, love for God, knowledge of God and shelter of a Guru.

Bhakti Shatak 

Explained by Swami Mukundananda 

 

Bhakti Śhatak is one of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's principle writings, with hundred golden couplets of inspiring quotes, advice, and guidance for sincere devotees seeking to firmly establish themselves on the path of bhakti.   

Continuing with the explanation of the verse:


saba sādhan sampanna kahań, poochhata saba saṅsār
sādhanahīna prapanna kahań, poochhata nandakumār

You will receive God's grace when you perceive yourself to be sadhan heen. Sadhan heen means to feel from within your heart, "I have no support other than your grace."  It is not an external state; otherwise we can say that a poor man is sadhan heen because the poor do not have material benefits like others.  He may be poor, but he may still take the support of his own personal things.  When we talk about taking support, it is the internal support.  Somebody may be very poor and yet think, "The 500 dollars I have is my protection for my old age.  Somebody may be a millionaire and thinks, "My faith is in none of these.  My faith is in the grace of God."  So the millionaire is in the state of sadhan heen.  Internally, where is your faith?  What do you think is your protection in this world with danger at every step?  

Let us look at an example from the Mahabharat.  Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas was being insulted openly in court by being stripped of her clothes by Duhshasan.  Initially, Draupadi had faith that her mighty husbands would save her.  When they did not respond to her entreaties, she turned to the elders in the assembly Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Vidur, Bheeshma, etc., who were authorities on religious principles.  When she saw no help coming from them either, she tried to protect herself and clenched her sari between her teeth.  Shree Krishna still did not come to her help.  When Duhshyasan pulled her sari with a jerk, she lost hold of it, and was totally helpless.  Now, she surrendered herself completely to Shree Krishna She realized my ashray is God only.  In other words, she came to a state of doing nothing.  It was only when she ceased to expect protection from other sources, that she was protected by God.

The day we become sadhan heen like Draupadi, that kind of surrender and the complete faith in the grace of God, that very day, divine grace will intervene.  How will we attain God?  By his grace.  Our assets are to be used to attract his grace.  But our efforts are never sufficient to purchase his grace, "I have done this much of sadhana, O God! Bestow your grace upon me."

Understand this with an example:  As long as a bird has a piece of food in its beak, it is noisily pursued by other birds and does not get a moment's peace.  The moment the bird lets go off the piece of food, it attains peace immediately because the other birds now leave it alone.  However, even if one lets go of everything and surrenders to God, it cannot be the price for his grace.  This is because what God gives is divine, unlimited and perfect. What we let go off is material, limited and defective.  Besides, of what use are material things to God?

So our faith should be in God's grace and thus Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says in this verse, "The world runs after those who possess the support of material opulence.  However, Shree Krishna loves those who have no other support and are completely surrendered to him."

Question and Answer with Swamiji 

Old habits are affecting my service to God. How do I change them? 

Breaking away from habits are like moving against the force of gravity. It is difficult but with bit of force we can overcome it.

Watch full video

We have earned well, children are also settled.  What next?

Once you are retired, your worldly duties are over and your body is still intact. Now you utilize your time and years for only one activity - God-realization

Watch full video

How do we serve God?


Seva are of various kinds. Highest of all the seva is the one done for the pleasure of God. But, how do we know what will please God? The best way is to serve God through Guru.

Watch full video

JKYog Presents

Bal-Mukund

Personality Development Classes for Children

Highlights:

·   Character Building Values

·   Yoga & Meditations

·   Bhajans, Shlokas & Prayers

·   Inspiring Stories

Showcase:

Bal-Mukund welcomes all contributions of creative works from children in different areas including poetry, moral stories, art work, etc.

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Centers

Books & CDs

 
Bal-Mukund Classes in Full Swing!

Bal-Mukund classes are in full swing at our various centers! As the leaves change color and Fall sets in, the enrolled children's enthusiasm and curiosity builds! With October being a festive month, all centers are focusing on introducing Diwali and its grandeur to the children. They are seeping themselves in learning about the Ramayana, and the significance of the Festival of Lights! To keep them informed and entertained, information and facts about Diwali are supplemented with the Ramayana movie, crafts and presentations! The CO Bal-Mukund center will be staging Ramayana as part of the Pookar fundraiser. It will be an amazing experience for all those in attendance, as well as the the actors and their families! What a wonderful way to re-enforce facts and ensure they leave an indelible mark on their minds! The children are like sponges so ready to absorb all the information that is sent their way, and at Bal-Mukund, the volunteers ensure they are given the highest and most pristine knowledge in a fun filled environment, to soak in. 
 
The Chhote Philosopher Contest (CPC) is keeping our 8+ Bal-Mukunds busy. They have chosen their topic and are now working on writing their thoughts in preparation of submitting their CPC entires. It'll be exciting to see how they consolidate and pen their thoughts. We wait eagerly to applaud our participants and winners!

  

As Winter sets in, all our Bal-Mukunds will have well adjusted to their Saturday and Sunday morning regimens! New friendships will have formed and old friendships will have strengthened! New Bal-Mukund parents will have discovered the joys of volunteering and full time Bal-Mukund volunteers, saturated in the bliss that comes with selfless service! The 2014-2015 session year will usher in many joys for all involved and we look forward to it being a fulfilling year!

  

Bal-Mukund Center Activities

Govardhan Puja

  

Bal-Mukund (Ahmedabad) celebrated Govardhan Pooja! An interesting pastime of Bal Krishna, Lifting Govardhan Mountain on his little finger was narrated and discussed. Children discussed their favorite Krishna leela and the reasons for the liking that in their own words. Mini Annakoot was also offered to Govardhan and Govardhan-dhari by children.  See pic 

Jagadguruttam Jayanti

Bal-Mukund (Ahmadabad) celebrated our Beloved Maharajji's Birthday with great enthusiasm and bhakti! Keeping his teachings in mind and to enhance the knowledge of children, a quiz was organized.  Group discussions also were organized on various topics like,"How and when God entered your life?", "Favorite pastime of Bal-Krishna","My experiences of Maharajji."  See pic 

Ramayana & B'day celebration
On Saturday, October 11th our Bal-Mukunds at North Carolina center enjoyed watching an animated version of the Ramayana and celebrating Tanisha's 7th birthday! See pic 

Tissue flowers
Kids from Connecticut center made flowers from tissue paper to offer Goddess Durga.
 

Bhog Recipe

CHIA SEED PUDDING

Chia seeds are nutritional powerhouses with high protein content, Omega-3's and unique thickening powers.

Ingredients 
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup milk (if vegan, use almond milk)
1 tsp agave nectar or honey
2 drops of vanilla extract

Method 
Stir all ingredients together, cover and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight. Stir and garnish with berries. 
Contact us

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