JKY e-Magazine, Issue No. 18                                                  December 2010


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In This Issue
Gems of Wisdom - Shree Maharajji
Announcements
Did You Know?
Current News
How to recognize a true Saint - Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
Secrets of Spiritual Sadhana - Swami Mukundananda
Swamiji's Birthday Celebrations!
Ask Swamiji
Bal-Mukund
Trivia Time
Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog

wisdom

Just as the holy Ganga flows incessently towards the ocean, if all our thoughts can flow towards God, that is bhakti.
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Bhakti, or devotion means to sit close to God.  For this we must repeatedly think, "Shree Krishna  is mine and I am His."
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Although God is Almighty, He has His rule of love, which allows the devotees to come close to  Him.
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God says whichever devotee loves Him to whatever extent,  God too will love that devotee to the same extent in the same sentiment.
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The mind is made of the material energy, Maya, so it is naturally attracted to the world.  But effort has to be made to attach it to God.
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The process of Karmyog is to attach your mind to God and Guru, while using the body to perform your worldly duties.

These tweets were sent by Swamiji from his Twitter account, to remind us of the eternal spiritual principles, as taught by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.
Announcements
Have you visited JKYog video library?
You can select a lecture or bhajan of your choice from various playlists.
Visit JKYog Video Library
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Inauguration of JKyog and Bal-Mukund Center on Jan 9th!
Bal-Mukund class
Children's Classes, Yoga Classes, and Satsang
Valley Ranch/Irving, Texas
Click here for details
Bal-Mukund is looking for teachers/volunteers.  If interested, please contact
info@bal-mukund.org
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   University of Illinois

Swamiji's lecture on the topic, "Synthesis of Spirituality & Materialism" given at the University of Illinois at Chicago is added to JKYog Video Library.

                View Lecture

Featured Kirtan CD:
Featured CD 
Yugal Sarkaar I
Featured Video:
Forms of God
Featured Video
         Did You Know?
            Swamjiup14
      Receive Daily Inspirations

You can receive inspiring messages from Swamiji himself by configuring your mobile on Twitter.
Steps to Configure Your Mobile
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      Become Swamiji's Friend
Stay connected, get the latest updates on Swamiji, JKYog events  and much more on Facebook.
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       Watch Swamiji's Lectures
Watch Swamiji's Lectures, Yog & Meditation, and melodious Kirtans on our Youtube channel.
Steps to watch Swamiji on Youtube
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Discussion Group
You can interact with other devotees and Swamiji in the discussion forum.
               Current News
                   JKY News
Cuttack Satsang
Swamiji is currently in Cuttack.  Hundreds of devotees eagerly waited to meet and have darshan of Swamiji after a very long time.  He will spend two months in Orissa.  A special satsang with Swamiji is held every evening in the Cuttack Ashram.  Devotees participate in the satsang and chant the sweet keertans and pads sang by Swamiji.  Highlight of this session is the explanations of the pads done by Swamiji himself everyday.

Tour Photos

Sambalpur

Swamiji visited various centers of Orissa in his short tour of 5 days.  He covered Phulbani, Baudh, Sambalpur, and Bhavanipatna.  Swamiji will visit more centers during the next month.

          View Tour Photos

Inauguration

On Dec 19th, Swamiji inaugurated a charitable homeopathic clinic, which will be opened everyday in the Cuttack Ashram.

The Editor
Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog


XVII/3305, 1st Floor,
Ranjit Nagar,
Near PUSA,
New Delhi - 110008
India

7405  Stoney Point Dr
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Welcome to the
 Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog
 e-Magazine
How to recognize a true Saint
by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj


    Shree Maharajji 
Continuing from the last edition....

Now we will discuss some direct evidences and notable specialties of a Mahapurush, or a true Saint.  In recognizing a true Saint, we should be very careful regarding a few things.  For example, a genuine Saint does not grant any kind of material objects to people.

A Mahapurush never gives worldly things to people.  This is a very important point to think carefully.  In the world, cheaters play a fake act of granting material gains, like wealth, son, etc. to take advantage of people.  In the material realm, ninety percent of the people desire worldly things.  These desires are often fulfilled by people's own prarabdh, or destiny.  When people visit a fake saint and wish for a material thing, if that desire is fulfilled, people think that it was due to the blessing they received from that saint.  

Just imagine, a Saint who understands the transitory nature of the world and has attained God, why will he give material things to people?  If he does that, then is he a Mahapurush or a demon?  Not even God can grant a person worldly gains, if it is not destined for him.  In Mahabharat, Abhimanyu's uncle was God Shree Krishna Himself, his father was the great Saint, Arjun, and the person who conducted his marriage was God Ved Vyas.  Yet, they could not save him from being killed in the battle.  Then how can a saint change the destiny of an ordinary person?  In our country, there is always a story of a so-called saint who has made the impossible possible.  Just imagine, if this kind of a thing would happen, then everybody in this world would have attained the Divine bliss of God.  That so-called saint who claims to make the impossible possible would only have to wish it, and all souls would be released from Maya.  However, even a God-realized Saint cannot make a resolution that souls attain God and be liberated from Maya.  The Saints are ready to take physical and mental abuses from the world, then why haven't they graced us spiritually?  It is said in Mahabharat:

nābhuktaṁ kṣīyate karm kalpakoṭi śhatairapi

"Even the great personalities have to experience what is written in their destiny."  Then how can we expect Saints to change our destiny just by their blessings.  And if someone pretends to do so, that person is not a genuine Saint.

However some people argue that a Mahapurush is: par upakār vachan man kāyā.  According to Ramayan, God is causelessly merciful, and desires the welfare of others.  So, if He fulfills their material desires then what is wrong in it?  Yes, it is true that sometimes God and Saints break their rules and grant material things to devotees, but history bears the fact that this was only for people who surrendered completely to God.  It was for just a few of them.  Secondly, even if a Saint or God grants some worldly thing with a special intention, he also gives the soul a special power so that the soul does not get attached to that thing. 

According to the Saints, while practicing devotion, we should keep contact with the world only to the extent that is necessary for the survival of this body.  This is for the reason that, our mind does not get entangled with the material world, and can concentrate on God freely and easily.  Kunti also asked for this wish from God, "O Shree Krishna! Give me sorrow and pain, so that due to the lack of material pleasures, I can chant Your glories. 

The second point to note carefully is that a Mahapurush never reveals any miracles or displays any siddhis, or supernatural powers.   We get into the trap of fake saints who perform miracles of a material nature.


There are mainly five types of siddhis.  The lowest of all is called as tāmas siddhi.  This power is practiced by the lowest kind of people and the result of performing this siddhi is hell.

The second kind of siddhi is rājas siddhi.  This type of siddhi is exercised by people to protect themselves.  This siddhi also keeps you within the bondage of Maya.

The third siddhi is sātvik siddhi.  It contains siddhis such as: aimā, laghimā, garīmā, prākāmyā, and others.  With these siddhis, a person can come to know the thoughts of other people, can take many forms of body, can become invisible, and can perform many impossible tasks.  We might be fooled into considering this kind of a person to be God.  However, we should stay a thousand miles away from such kind of people because they are still under the domination of Maya.  Hence, if they are not able to free themselves from the clutches of Maya, how can they do welfare for others?

The fourth siddhi is spiritual siddhi, which is called mukti, or liberation.  A person who acquires this siddhi gets liberated from the bondage of Maya, but with this siddhi, our own personality or individuality gets destroyed.  Just like a river, which flows into the sea and loses its identity, in the same way, we will always be deprived of the Divine Love Bliss of God.  So, we should be very cautious with this kind of siddhi.  The great spiritual teachers have referred mukti as a witch:

bhukti mukti spṛihā yāvat piśhāchī hṛidi vartate |

tāvad bhakti sukhasyātra kathambhyudayo bhavet ||

"As long as bhukti, or worldly desires up to the attainment of Brahmalok, and mukti, or the desire for liberation, resides in our heart, until then, devotion can never enter our hearts."  Therefore, those who are intelligent, reject this siddhi too.

as vichārī je param sayāne mukti nirādari bhakti lubhāne (Ramayan)

The fifth siddhi is Divine Love, which is the ultimate attainment.  In this kind of siddhi, a person not only gets freedom from material bondage, but also relishes the ultimate Bliss of Divine Love and receives it till eternity. 

You must have understood by now that we should be very alert and careful with the four siddhis and make attainment of the fifth siddhi as our goal of life, which is the attainment of Divine Love.  We should be far away from the person who performs miracles otherwise we would drift away from our aim of life.

Generally, people have a fear that a saint may curse them.  But this is against the kindhearted nature of a Saint.  We will now discuss how soft a Saint's heart is.

To be continued in the next edition.....

Secrets of Spiritual Sadhana
by Swami Mukundananda

 Swamiji Lecture
Continuing from the last month...

shvās jab khīṁcho to 'rā' kahu manahiṁ man te pyāre
śhvās chhoṛo to kahahu 'dhe' dhyān bhī karu pyāre

Some people have a question: How should one constantly contemplate upon God?  Here, Shree Kripaluji Maharaj discloses a secret.  He tells us to chant the Divine name of God with every breathe that we take.  Our mind needs a base to which it can get attached.  Otherwise, how will you attach your mind?  So the solution is to firstly, chant His Divine name.  When you chant His name, your mind will naturally think about God.  So, chanting of God's name is a very good means of absorbing your mind in God.  Besides chanting, you can also visualize and meditate upon the Divine form of God.  The third point is to think and sing the glories of God's qualities.  He is the friend of humble souls and purifier of sinners; He is the ocean of mercy and Grace, more beautiful than infinite cupids.  He is the soul of our soul.  By contemplating upon these qualities of God, we should divert our mind towards Him.

You should think about the leelas, or pastimes of God - He is sitting, we are fanning Him while He rests, He is sitting on a swing, etc.  You can imagine any leela of God as per your wish and meditate upon it.  In addition to the leelas, think of His Divine abodes.  If you are unable to concentrate upon God then you can think about Vrindavan.  Think that the tree nearby is a Divine tree from Vrindavan.  From every leaf, the sound of chanting of 'Radhey Radhey' is emanating.  Or, you can meditate on the form of the Guru.  The main point we have to remember is that God has infinite Names, infinite Forms, infinite Attributes, infinite Pastimes, and infinite Associates, and that are all one.  They all reside within each other.  Therefore, God's Divine Names, Forms, Pastimes, Abodes, Qualities, and Associates, all belong to the Divine realm of God.  By meditating on any of these areas, your devotion is strengthened.  This is the foundation for practicing devotion.  If you attach your mind to any of these Divine attributes, it is Divine and you will get the Divine result.  

bhakti bhakt bhagavant guru chaturnām vapu ek |

True Saints have blessed us with a huge treasure of devotion.  They write and compose keertans.  In these keertans, they have described God's infinite Names, Forms, Pastimes, Qualities, and Abodes.  Devotees sing and chant these keertans, and with the help of these Names, Qualities, Abodes, and Pastimes, the Saints shower their love for God.   Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has written many keertans.  Surdas, Tulsidas, Meera, Jaidev, Saint Tukaram, have composed many keertans and mentioned about God's Divine Name, Pastimes, Qualities and Abodes.  They have left a vast treasure for the future generations.  Surdas and Meerabai came to this world 500 years ago, and wrote so many keertans.  Since 500 years, the devotees have been singing these keertans and kept increasing their love for God.

That is why during the lifetime and descension period of a Mahapurush, very few devotees realize the importance and value of his appearance.  There is also less preaching about the teaching of that Mahapurush during the descension period, as compared to the wide preaching afterwards.  In every keertan of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj lies a treasure which is precious.  He says, "People are not aware what I have written in the 1008 pads of Prem Ras Madira.  When the propagation of these pads will happen, then people will specially learn Hindi language just to read and understand them, and immerse themselves in devotion."

Hence, the Divine Names, Qualities, Pastimes, Abodes, and Forms, are all the basis of practicing devotion.  Amongst all, the easiest one is God's name.  Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji said: 

bhajaner śhreṣhṭh navadhā bhakti | 

tār madhye sarvaṣhreṣhṭh nām saṁkīrtan ||

In Navadha Bhakti, the best is chanting the glories of God, or singing keertans

khāite suite yathā tathā nām leya |

While eating, drinking, sitting, standing, or doing any daily work, chant the name of God.  Keep doing your work alongside and keep chanting the Divine name of God.  This method will elevate you spiritually.  Lord Ram descended in this world in Tretayug, and lived for 11000 years.  In those years, He benefited only a few souls.  But He left the Divine name "Ram"By just uttering the name, many people benefited themselves spiritually.  Thus, Tulsidas ji writes:

rām ek tāpas tiya tārī | nām koṭi khal kumati sudhārī ||

"Just look at the wonders of Lord Ram's Name.  Ram descended to this world and graced only soul, Ahilya.  But His name, "Ram" is the most amazing thing.  It has provided spiritual benefit to millions of people and gave them Divine knowledge.  So, the Divine name of God is a very powerful way.  There is another specialty of the Divine name.  What is it?

To be continued in the next edition.......

Happy Birthday Dearest Swamiji!!
 Swamiji's Golden Jubilee Birthday Celebrations!!

              Swamiji's Birthday

              Swamiji's Birthday Celebration

In many centers of India, Swamiji's birthday, which was on Dec 19th,  was spontaneously celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm.  In the Cuttack Ashram, hundreds of devotees from across Orissa gathered to celebrate his birthday.  A grand function was organized by the devotees of the ashram.  The ashram was decorated with flowers and lights.  The premises were filled with devotees waiting for their chance to wish Swamiji on this special occasion.

View Program Photos

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Special e-card from JKYog devotees,

Bal-Mukund Plano, Connecticut, and Maryland

              Swamiji's Birthday Card          

In various centers of USA, devotees wished and celebrated Swamiji's birthday by chanting keertans.  Bal-Mukund children from all the centers wished Swamiji and wrote poems and birthday messages on this special occasion.

Click here to view contributions from:

Bal-Mukund Plano

 Bal-Mukund Connecticut

Bal-Mukund Maryland

 Plano devotees


ask swamiji logo
Question:
If someone is facing problems (himself/ herself) or a family member (or loved one) is suffering or in trouble, or someone close to you is being mistreated or victimized and you have done your level best to resolve it or get justice with no positive results, then should you make more efforts or leave it to God.  Like many people says "Jaisee Hari ki iccha".  Now remember the same person who is in trouble is not because of his/her own fault and is honest and always helped you and everyone and let's say now it is your turn and it is your utmost duty to help that person but you are expressing that you are helpless.  Then what is your duty now?  Should you leave it to God and feel that now you have peace.  And how can you concentrate in your sadhna or bhakti, or Meditation?
 
Answer:
As long as we are in material bondage, we cannot hope to be totally free from misery.  We will all grow old, we will all become sick, and we will all die one day.  Who can escape these realities of life?  Besides this, we all have sanchit karmas (the karmas of endless past lives) that create suffering and happiness for us from time-to-time.  Not even God violates this law of karma.  The Puranas tell us that the Pandavas suffered immensely, even though they were great devotees of Shree Krishna.

King Dashrath passed away from the world leaving Kaushalya a widow.  They were the parents of God Ram, and yet He did not interfere to remove their miseries.  As human beings, we are instructed by the scriptures to help others, and endeavour to mitigate their sufferings.  But we must do it in a detached manner, and leave the results to God.   How do we know, after all, that God is not giving them suffering for their wellbeing?  The "Bhagavatam" states:


      tam bharanshayami sampadbhyo yasya chechya manugraham.


Here God says, "When I wish to bestow the highest treasure of Divine Love upon someone, I first prepare the soul by giving suffering."  The Bible states: "God sometimes gives misery in our lives, to turn us away from sin, and seek eternal life."

At the level of our thinking, material suffering is bad, but in the Divine plan, it may be necessary for the evolution of the soul.

When we wish to do good to others, we think of removing their material miseries.  This is only a very partial and temporary solution - you give food to a hungry person, and after six hours, he is hungry again.  I am not decrying the need for doing material charity to society.  But that is not the only kind of charity that exists. The highest charity is to help someone attain love for God, and get out of the cycle of life-and-death.  The God-realized Saints engage in this Divine charity.  They remove the root cause of suffering of the souls, which is forgetfulness of God.  We are not so elevated ourselves, as to engage in this Divine charity by ourselves.  But if we help the God- realized Saints in their work, effectively we engage in the highest charitable work we possibly can.

So, if people are close to you, do try to alleviate their material miseries.  But at the same time, try to inspire them to strengthen their relationship with God.  And remember that your duty was merely to put in your best efforts, and leave the results in the hands of God.  Therefore, if your sincere efforts to help them do not yield results, do not be the least bit disturbed.     

       

Swamiji answers selected questions related to Yog, Spirituality and Philosophy every month on our e-Magazine.

BMnew

Bal-Mukund Showcase
Bal-Mukund welcomes all contributions of creative works from children in different areas including poetry, moral stories, art work, etc.
Submission Guidelines
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Bal-Mukund's Parents
Testimonial
"As I was telling you earlier, I have seen many positive changes in Devan since we started attending Bal-Mukund in August.  I'm amazed at how much a 6-year-old can consider the lessons he is learning and make the conscious decision to apply them.  He asks so many philosophical questions that I myself didn't ponder until I was much older.  He looks forward to Bal-Mukund and proudly tells people that he goes to "Sunday School."  His teacher shared a story with me that exemplifies Devan's confidence in his strengthened values.  There is a boy that in Devan's class who has some serious behavioral issues.  The other children have begun to treat him poorly and keep their distance from him.  When the children were asked to work in cooperative groups recently, one girl said she didn't want to sit next to that child.  The teacher overheard Devan telling the girl that she needed to be respectful of that boy's feelings.  Devan then said, "I'm going to sit next to him so that he doesn't feel lonely."  Devan has always had a huge heart, but I know the lessons he's learned at Bal-Mukund gave him the courage to do the right thing when he witnessed an injustice.  I am grateful for everything that Bal-Mukund is doing for my entire family."
                                                                                                   - Surekha Madadi

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Festivals of India
Sharat Poornima
 Raas Leela

Sharat Poornima, is a festival celebrating the onset of winter, under the cooling rays of the full moon.  It brings a respite from the heat and humidity of the summer and monsoon that have preceded it, and promises pleasant days ahead.  This festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September - October).

Origin

Sharat Poornima is the full moon night when the gopies danced in the "Raas Leela" with Shree Krishna.  The Raas Leela was Shree Krishna's most famous leela (pastime), which began with Him playing the flute on the full-moon night of Sharat Poornima. Shree Krishna took as many forms as there were gopies, and danced with every one of them.  Each of the gopies was devoted to Shree Krishna, and He graced them by showering Divine bliss on them.  Many Krishna devotees consider Sharat Poornima as the highest of all festivals, since it was on this day that God showered the highest Bliss of Divine love on His most loving devotees. 

It was on the cool night of Sharat Poornima in the year 1922 that our beloved Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj appeared in a small and remote village called Mangarh in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, in India.

In Maharashtra, it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi walks around all night asking "Ko jagarti?"  (Who is awake?).  Thus, this night is called "Kojagiri Poornima."

Celebrations

The grandest celebrations are in those parts of the country associated with the Divine pastimes of Shree Krishna - Mathura, Brindavan and Braj.  People spend the day fasting and praying, and stay awake the whole night in remembrance of the Lord.

In Maharashtra, Prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi, asking her to bless them with prosperity and good fortune.

In Orissa, it is the young girls who propitiate Lord Kartik on this day.

This festival is selected from the book,

    Bal-Mukund Character Building Series-Festivals of India
A collection of 18 festivals celebrated across India, with beautiful pictures
Festivals Book
A must have for all kids!
Get your collection of Bal-Mukund books TODAY!

Trivia Time
Celestial Gods and Goddesses
Lord Indra

Lord Indra is the king of celestial gods and Lord of Svargalok, or Heaven.  Indra is the god of thunder and rain.  He heads the Heaven and the celestial gods, such as Agni Dev, Varun Dev, and Surya Dev.  In Hindu scriptures, the rainbow is called Indradhanush meaning the bow of Indra.

He is also the god of war.  He is famous for the weapon, Vajra, the lighting bolt or thunder.  He rides on Airavat, the white elephant.

During the descension period of Shree Krishna 5000 years ago, a very interesting leela took place.  Shree Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Lord Indra and questioned his father Nanda about it.  He debated with the villagers about what their duty truly was.  They were farmers.  They should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection of their cattle.  He continued to say that all human beings should do their karm, or action, to the best of their ability.  And their prayers should be offered only to the Supreme Lord, not to any of the celestial gods.  Indra was a celestial god, not the Supreme Lord.  They should not worship him.  Instead, they should worship Goverdhan hill, who was the personification of Lord Vishnu Himself. 

The villagers were convinced by Shree Krishna, and did not proceed with the special pooja, or prayer.  Indra was angered, and flooded the village.  Shree Krishna then lifted Govardhan Hill with his little finger and held it up as protection to his people and cattle from the rain.  After seven days of continuously sending rain and yet being unable to submerge the land of Braj, Indra realized his folly.  He came to Shree Krishna and begged to be forgiven. 

Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog
Janu Shirshasan
Asan

Method

Sit with your legs outstretched.  Bend your right knee and place the sole of the right foot against the inside of the left thigh.  Keep the right knee on the floor.  Keep your spine straight and place your palms on top of the left knee.  Inhale (Radhey) in this position.  While exhaling (Shyam), bend forward from the waist and try to grasp the left toe. Also, try to touch the left knee from your forehead.  In the final position, try to place the elbows by the side of the calf on the floor.  While inhaling (Radhey), gently come back to the initial position.

Benefits

It tones and massages the abdominal and pelvic region including pancreas, stomach, liver, adrenal gland, spleen etc.  It helps alleviate disorders of the uro-genital system.  It controls diabetes, menstruation troubles, colitis, kidney troubles, bronchitis and eosinophilia.

Contra-indications

People with slipped disc and sciatica should not practice this asan.

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