Bøger af Krishna's Mercy

"Then, like a naracha arrow released from a bowstring, he flew quickly towards the garden of trees, which was surrounded by mango trees and had hundreds of creepers intertwined." (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 14.4) "Hanuman Enters the Ashoka Grove" is a collection of seventeen essays discussing the verses from the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's entry into the grove of Ashoka trees in Lanka during his search for Sita Devi.

"Worshiping the Deity" is a collection of twenty-four essays discussing the ancient art of deity worship, its purpose, its merits, its effectiveness, and how it is a most powerful tool used by the transcendentalist practicing bhakti-yoga, the highest occupation for man.

"The Lord is personal although impersonal, He is atomic although great, and He is blackish and has red eyes although He is colorless." (Kurma Purana) Chapters: God is a Person, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, A Personal Touch, Do You See What I See?, Is Not Null, I See Me, I'm Still Standing, What Is Maya, Achintya-bhedabheda-tattva, Always With Form, A Person With Knowledge, Driven to Impersonalism, The Two Mayas

"If you sway from the mission, Lakshmana's exceedingly violent, vehement, ghastly and sharp arrows, travelling very fast and being difficult to even look at, will make you their target for destruction." (Hanuman speaking to Angada, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 54.19) Hanuman Sowing Dissension is a collection of eleven essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana where Hanuman uses the divide and conquer method of diplomacy to try to get Angada to continue on in the search for Sita instead of give up.

I've been told that one cannot convert to Hinduism; that they must be born into it. Is this true? There are so many different religions out there, each having their own scriptures and teachings. How do I tell which one is correct? I practice devotional service regularly, but still from time to time, bad things happen to me. When they do, I can't help but blame God. 'Why do You put me through this? I thought You're supposed to relieve my suffering?' I know I shouldn't think this way, but I can't help it. What should I do? The Vedas declare that man has imperfect senses and a tendency to commit mistakes. That being the case, how can we accept the Vedic texts themselves as fact? How can we accept Krishna as God when no one has actually seen Him? How can the Vedic texts be authoritative when they were written by flawed human beings? Don't the moon landings and other scientific discoveries debunk Vedic science? I believe serving humanity is the best way to serve God. What should I concentrate my mind on during chanting? How do I concentrate on devotional activities when I have so many pressures to maintain a family? When Krishna says to surrender unto Him, is He referring to His sach-chid-ananda vigraha or to the embodied being who appeared on this earth and then left, or are they both the same? If everything is made from God and we have a tendency to enjoy like Him, why can't I enjoy all of His creation? Why should I have to avoid specific things like drinking and gambling? Do you think that by worshipping a God figure, you're separating yourself from the single, divine-unity? Couldn't it be that the worshipping itself is the barrier to attaining that state of transcendence; because it - worshipping - is an action taken in attempt to attain that state of total-love, and thus, a non-pure form of being? Where is the empirical evidence to back up the claims of the Vedas? How can we test that reincarnation exists and that Krishna is a real person and not a mythological character?

"Is Lord Krishna really blue, Is He not the god for only the Hindus? Why in His hands does Krishna carry around a flute, And why the flowers and peacock feather to boot? Some say that Krishna is God while others say Vishnu, Please explain these to me, for to Hinduism I am new. Honor the carved statues of Krishna, do many take the privilege, Trusting the Vedas, is not the worship of idols pure sacrilege? Lord Chaitanya, who is He and what did He do? Preach to men did He, but why not to women too? How do I find balance between material and spiritual life? Must I quit my job, renounce my family, home, and my wife?" Salient, appropriate, and insightful inquiries are these, For understanding the truths of life is surely not a breeze. But from hearing the Vedas and Krishna's words with humility, Soon all of life's questions answer will we with full certainty. Chapters: 1. Evidence That God Exists, 2. Shyamasundara, 3. Muralidhara, 4. Vishnu and Krishna, 5. Comings and Goings, 6. A False Choice, 7. A Sight For Sore Eyes, 8. Listen To Your Heart, 9. Self-Respect, 10. ...And Mercy For All

"Rama is like a mad elephant in battle. He has a purified and unblemished family lineage for His trunk, brilliance and splendor for His excitement, and two powerful arms for tusks. O Ravana, you are not even qualified to look at Him." (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.46) Khara, Dushana and friends to Dandaka did go, What they were in for little did they know. A single man to smite them, fourteen thousand in all, Effortlessly released His arrows, alone He stood tall. Akampana luckily to headquarters in Lanka returned, Spoke to leader Ravana what he saw and what he learned. Trusted Maricha also of Rama's ability told, "Agitate Him and your demise quickly to unfold". Thus even Rama's enemies about His glories can speak, From pages of Ramayana man to find wisdom he seeks.

Dharma is a Sanskrit word that usually translates to religion, virtue, righteousness, or duty. It is a difficult word to translate because it actually means the essence of something, that which is eternally existing with an object, or that which sustains something. Dharma can apply to anything: water, fire, wind, etc. For example, heat and light represent the dharma of fire, for without heat and light, fire would have no existence. What is the dharma for the living entity? What is it that sustains us? What is it that eternally exists with us? The Vedas tell us that it is the occupational duty of the spirit soul to serve God.

"(Hanuman did not see Sita) who was firmly situated on the eternal path of devotion to her husband, had her gaze always fixed on Rama, was always possessed by love for Rama, had entered the glorious mind of her husband, and was always the most exceptional of women." (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 5.24) "Hanuman Searches for Sita" is a collection of twenty-six essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's initial search for Sita Devi after he entered the city of Lanka.

"For Lakshmana" is a collection of 108 original poems in honor of the beloved younger brother of Shri Rama.

"Is God Nice? Is He a person? What are His features? What does He look like? How does He act? Is He violent or nonviolent? Is there only one God? Does He only have one form? Why does it appear that sometimes He does bad things to people? What causes Him to directly intervene in a situation?" "God Is Glorious" is a collection of fifteen essays that discuss these issues and more, relying on the authority of the Vedas, the ancient scriptural tradition of India.

"This is Sita, who is firmly dedicated to her husband and is the daughter of the great soul Janaka, who is the King of Mithila and strictly adherent to religious principles." (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 16.15) From Hanuman's words get a feel, For Sita, character from Ramayana real. Not a figment of the imagination, Or aspect of body representation. By relationship to father Janaka she is identified, With respect for dharma over kingdom he did preside. Also known as Shri Rama's beloved wife, Service to Him her dharma in life. From the speculating cheaters stay away, And instead listen to what Hanuman does say.

Original text and English translation of the great poet's work describing the marriage of Sita and Rama. Includes essay descriptions of each verse.

"There was a king named Dasharatha, the protector of dharma, as unshakeable as a mountain, true to his promises, well known throughout the world, and whose son is Raghava. Raghava, who is known by the name of Rama, is a righteous soul, famous throughout the three worlds. He has long arms and wide eyes. He is my husband and worshipable deity." (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 56.2-3) Forever Rama's is a collection of nineteen essays discussing the verses from the Ramayana where Sita Devi rebukes Ravana's advances and warns him of how her husband Rama will come to rescue her and destroy him in the process.

"Did Krishna really descend to earth? How do we know that He's not just an elevated yogi as opposed to the Supreme Lord Himself? Did He really hold up a massive hill with His finger? Did He really kill so many nefarious characters while in the form of a small child? If so, what was the purpose to His advent? When and where does He make His appearances? If God can incarnate in human form, does that mean that we are all incarnations of God? Can we perform the same miracles? Why did Krishna play like an ordinary child in Vrindavana? What is so special about Vrindavana?" "The Delight of Vrindavana" is a collection of nineteen essays that discuss these issues and more through delving into many of Shri Krishna's most famous pastimes and understanding them within the context of the ancient teachings of the Vedas and their foremost authorities.

"Driven by a virtuous or evil purpose, each living entity performs some work, which has consequences associated with it. After death, the same person steadily reaps all those auspicious and inauspicious results." (Hanuman speaking to Tara, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 21.2) "While karma leads to the future development of the body, associating with God enables one to transcend karma. This was the example set by Hanuman, who dedicated all his activities towards pleasing the Supreme Lord. He easily can get liberation whenever he wants, but he chooses to remain on this earth for as long as Lord Rama's story continues to be told. In this way, Hanuman is already liberated without even having to quit his body." "Free From Karma" is a collection of eleven essays describing karma, or fruitive activity, and how to transcend it through applied methods in bhakti-yoga, or devotional service.

When it comes to completely understanding its surrounding nature, the human being is totally in the dark, even when the sun is shining bright in the sky. The very need to have an external lighting source is enough to prove that the human being is limited in his capabilities. Thus when mentally concocted theories about the Supreme Absolute Truth, the origin of life, are posited in spite of this great limitation on intelligence and observation, the results miss the mark by a long shot. But through utilizing a different approach, the intelligence level that is our destiny can be reached very quickly. Not only can the necessary knowledge come to us without much strain, but we can also put it to good use. Chapters: Through The Never, Back on Earth, Raja Vidya, Amazing Discoveries, Always In Stock, Long and Short Game, Hoard Mentality, My Wonderful Brain, The Big Brain, Everyday Miracles, A Bucket of Mustard Seeds, Dissertation, The Missing Part, Shooting in the Dark, The Good and The Bad, Penumbra, Research Scholars, The Evolved Man, Men Are From Mars

"O You of great intellect, not even the demigods can fathom the level of Your intelligence. Due to bereavement Your wisdom is currently in a dormant state, and I am here to rouse it." "The Sharpest Knife: Lakshmana and His Words of Wisdom" is a collection of thirty-five essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe when Lakshmana counselled his elder brother Rama after Rama's wife Sita had suddenly gone missing.

The thought always that God we need to see, Only then in His existence we'll believe. The Vedas a different assertion make, That knowledge of Divine from hearing take. The ears also constitute a sense, So with sole reliance on vision dispense. Ancient wisdom spread through aural reception, To words of Vedas and teachers give attention. In this endeavor no loss or regret, For clear conception of God you'll get. "Hear to Believe" is a collection of seventeen essays discussing the process of devotional service known as shravanam, or hearing, and how it enables one to realize God and become fully enlightened in the process.

"Devotion Without Obstruction" is a collection of fifteen essays discussing the four regulative principles of devotional service [refraining from meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex] described in the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the effect following those principles has on consciousness.

"For Hanuman" is a collection of 108 original poems in honor of the beloved messenger of Shri Rama.

"For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.68) "From the seeds distributed to the disciples by the spiritual master, trees of devotion get planted everywhere. But what's even more remarkable is that the guru teaches his spiritual descendants how to distribute seeds themselves. This was especially the mission of Lord Chaitanya, who cut through the barriers erected by sectarian traditions and ignorance by traveling from town to town and inducing others to chant the names of Hari [Krishna]. Without the seed, there cannot be any fruit, so without the holy name being freely distributed to everyone, the ancient art of bhakti remains a secret known only to a select few. Since bhakti is the constitutional position of the soul, it should not remain hidden from anyone."

"Those great saints, who are knowers of dharma and greatly fortunate, spoke these words to me: 'Rama will visit your very pious ashrama. Along with Saumitra [Lakshmana], you should offer Rama the greatest hospitality as your guest. Thus after seeing Him, as a benediction, you will ascend to the eternal realm.'" (Shabari speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 74.15-16) "Welcoming Rama" is a collection of nine essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe the time when Rama and Lakshmana visited the female ascetic Shabari in the forest.

"All glories to Kunja-vihari, who playfully announces Madanotsava (Cupid's festival) with the melodies from His colorfully decorated flute, and whose pastimes are praised by a multitude of male and female parrots." (Shrila Rupa Gosvami, Shri Kunja-vihary-ashtakam, 4) "Praised by Parrots" is a collection of twenty-two essays discussing the Kunja-vihary-ashtakam of Shrila Rupa Gosvami.

"O Sita, those munis, who have taken to strict vows, living aggrieved in Dandaka-aranya have personally approached Me, who am a protector of the surrendered, and sought refuge." (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya-kanda, 10.4) The sages residing in the Dandaka forest were being harassed daily by the ogres ranging the night, those demons intent on thwarting the peaceful religious activities of the rishis given to asceticism and penance. Understanding that their only chance at safety and peace lay in the hands of the divine prince of Ayodhya, Shri Rama, the sages kindly petitioned that most humble, gentle, chivalrous, and capable of warriors to help save them from the attacks of the vile Rakshasas, the ogres given to black magic and illusion. Rama, wholly willing to provide for the protection of those dependent upon the administrative class of men, was ready to come to the aid of the ascetics, but before He could proceed any further, His beautiful, kind, and caring wife, Sita Devi, had a few concerns of her own. Knowing full well the nature of the attacking ogres and the innocence and exalted status of the sages in the Dandaka forest, Sita was still concerned that her husband, who had taken a vow to always abide by dharma, might take to unnecessary violence borne of anger and rage directed at the enemy. Not wanting her dear husband to even show a hint of unrighteousness, Sita kindly put her concerns before Rama. Rama's response to Sita's kind inquiry is found in the famous Ramayana, an epic poem and classic text of the Vedic tradition. Rama, who is celebrated as a divine figure throughout the world, responded to Sita by firmly establishing His dedication to the welfare and protection of the saintly class of men. Lord Rama: The Shelter for the Saints consists of fifteen essays covering the different verses from the Ramayana that constituted Rama's response to Sita. These descriptions cover a wide range of subjects, including spirituality, the divisions of work and spiritual institutions prescribed for man, the essence of human life, the temporary nature of life and death, the eternal wisdom of the Vedic teachings found in sacred texts like the Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, and much more.

"What is yoga? Is it about meditation? Is it strictly for health benefits? Is it for making the mind blank? Is it something from the Hindu tradition? What are the different kinds of yoga? Do they strive for the same goal? What should I concentrate on? Do I need to retreat to the mountains or can I stay at home? Is Krishna the object of yoga? Is He God? How can I think about Him? Why should I meditate on Krishna instead of others? Who are some of the notable personalities who have attained yoga, and how did they do it?" These questions and more are the subject matter of the nineteen essays that comprise "Attaining Yoga".

"For Sita" is a collection of 108 original poems in honor of the beloved wife of Shri Rama and daughter of King Janaka.

In dream one moment you're dwelling upon, And then the next moment it is gone. The universal manifestation in son's mouth to see, Then in an instant Yashoda from vision set free. To loving her beautiful son she returned, In process a deep respect for God was earned. But devotion in maternal affection not to stop, Concern for darling of Vrindavana she couldn't drop. Thus know there is higher state than reverence, Love in bhakti-rasa God's preference. "Yashoda's son" is a collection of twenty-one essays discussing the pastime where Lord Krishna shows the universal form to mother Yashoda.

Caught Butter Handed is a collection of sixteen essays describing the pastime where Lord Krishna is tied to a mortar by mother Yashoda for having broken a pot of butter in anger. If to a deserted island you should go, Not many possessions there you know. So take only those things you really need, Automatically choose favorite items indeed. Appreciation augmented by full reliance, Nothing else around, on object full dependence. For the yogi keep always one person in mind, Who in her courtyard feeding monkeys mother did find. Think of Yashoda telling Krishna that break pots He can't, Sweetest mental portrait drawn through holy name's chant.

"Even a decision made after carefully considering what should be done and what shouldn't doesn't come out successful (when undertaken by a careless messenger). Messengers who think themselves learned (but act carelessly) kill all chances for success in the mission." (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.40) "Hanuman Entering Lanka" is a collection of thirty essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's initial entry into the city of Lanka to look for Sita Devi, the princess of Videha.