simple thoughts

Materialistic life is based on sex life. The existence of all the materialistic people, who are undergoing severe tribulation in the struggle for existence, is based on sex. Therefore, in the Vedic civilization sex life is allowed only in a restricted way; it is for the married couple and only for begetting children. But when sex life is indulged in for sense gratification illegally and illicitly, both the man and the woman await severe punishment in this world or after death. In this world also they are punished by virulent diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea, and in the next life, as we see in this passage of Srimad-Bhagavatam, they are put into different kinds of hellish conditions to suffer. In Bhagavad-gita, First Chapter, illicit sex life is also very much condemned, and it is said that one who produces children by illicit sex life is sent to hell. It is confirmed here in the Bhagavatam that such offenders are put into hellish conditions of life in Tamisra, Andha-tamisra and Raurava

SB 3.30.28

Whilst checking the news I found an interesting article on the BBC news web pages it pointed out that most people got drunk in order to enjoy or enhance sex life, the flip side of this was that they undertook in a majority of cases sex that has the highest risks or regretted it in the morning this directly correlates into an increase in unwanted pregnancies.

And get we are said to be intelligent, we are torn and driven by the desires of our bodies and our own lusty desires.

It is said in the Manu-smrti that lust cannot be satisfied by any amount of sense enjoyment, just as fire is never extinguished by a constant supply of fuel. In the material world, the center of all activities is sex, and thus this material world is called maithunya-agara, or the shackles of sex life. In the ordinary prison house, criminals are kept within bars; similarly, the criminals who are disobedient to the laws of the Lord are shackled by sex life. Advancement of material civilization on the basis of sense gratification means increasing the duration of the material existence of a living entity. Therefore, this lust is the symbol of ignorance by which the living entity is kept within the material world. While one enjoys sense gratification, it may be that there is some feeling of happiness, but actually that so-called feeling of happiness is the ultimate enemy of the sense enjoyer. Bg 3.39

As this is one of the biggest diseases of material life it then stands to reason that it is the hardest to overcome; most fall-downs are related to sex life. So I am always surprised that we find that those who fall-down to sex life are sometimes treated so hard. We note how Srila Prabhupada noted three classes of person in Krsna Consciousness whilst giving reasons for fall-down:

The third-class person in Krsna consciousness may fall down, but when one is in the second class he does not fall down, and for the first-class person in Krsna consciousness there is no chance of falling down. One in the first class will surely make progress and achieve the result at the end. As far as the third-class person in Krsna consciousness is concerned, although he has faith in the conviction that devotional service to Krsna is very good, he has not yet gained adequate knowledge of Krsna through the scriptures like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Sometimes these third-class persons in Krsna consciousness have some tendency toward karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, and sometimes they are disturbed, but as soon as the infection of karma-yoga or jnana-yoga is vanquished, they become second-class or first-class persons in Krsna consciousness. Faith in Krsna is also divided into three stages and described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. First-class attachment, second-class attachment and third-class attachment are also explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam in the Eleventh Canto. Those who have no faith even after hearing about Krsna and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy, find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional service. For them there is very little hope of gaining perfection. Thus faith is very important in the discharge of devotional service.

Bg 9.3

There is a beautiful poem about Krsna in which it is clearly stated that any person who is engaged in the worship of demigods is most unintelligent and cannot achieve at any time the supreme award of Krsna. The devotee, in the beginning, may sometimes fall from the standard, but still he should be considered superior to all other philosophers and yogis. One who always engages in Krsna consciousness should be understood to be a perfectly saintly person. His accidental nondevotional activities will diminish, and he will soon be situated without any doubt in complete perfection. The pure devotee has no actual chance to fall down, because the Supreme Godhead personally takes care of His pure devotees. Therefore, the intelligent person should take directly to the process of Krsna consciousness and happily live in this material world. He will eventually receive the supreme award of Krsna.
 Bg 9.34

Those who have fallen-down and have asked for help do not need to be condemned of chastised this they have usually done themselves, but loving support and assistance in aiding understanding and help in spiritual progression is most important.

Krsna has been so merciful that many who fall to sex life are due to circumstances awoken to the true danger they are in, thus making further fall downs to sex life much less likely, but for some it will continue to be a problem, but this we can understand given the knowledge given.

But most of all we should heed the warnings of illicit sex Maya’s greatest weapon, after all as the BBC report showed in a vast majority of cases what is supposed to be pleasurable actually brings heart ache and misery.

One should be very careful of these three enemies to human life: lust, anger and greed. The more a person is freed from lust, anger and greed, the more his existence becomes pure. Then he can follow the rules and regulations enjoined in the Vedic literature. By following the regulative principles of human life, one gradually raises himself to the platform of spiritual realization. If one is so fortunate, by such practice, to rise to the platform of Krsna consciousness, then success is guaranteed for him. In the Vedic literature, the ways of action and reaction are prescribed to enable one to come to the stage of purification. The whole method is based on giving up lust, greed and anger. By cultivating knowledge of this process, one can be elevated to the highest position of self-realization; this self-realization is perfected in devotional service. In that devotional service, the liberation of the conditioned soul is guaranteed.

Bg 16.22

In the Uk we waste some 6.7million tonnes of food each year and according to the governments waste and resource action group almost two-thirds of the food thrown away could have been eaten if we managed our lives better. Nutritionist Angela Dowden noted that “There is no reason why you can’t eat something after that date, as long as it tastes ok” this as a majority of food thrown away simply because it is past the Best Before Date.

To put this in context £10.2bn is wasted on food bought but not eaten of which some £2.3bn is food thrown away unopened; some 13m grapes, 5.2m potatoes, 7m slices of bread 2.7m tomatoes are thrown each and every day

This is driven by simple greed not buying just for what we need but stocking up the larder in this way we have too much and thus such high waste; however we see the direct relationship with greed and a lack of spiritual progress or realisation this being warned about in all scriptures no matter what faith you are. The best advice is given below:

For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement. There are two things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doso guna-rasi-nasi. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good qualifications are lost. Therefore the adjustment is that one should not be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual advancement.

SB 7.15.21

If this advice is followed then with the amount of money and food produce saved the whole world could benefit from and we would see an end to the poverty and hunger; but may be this is just too simplistic.

POVA (protection of vulnerable adults) and Cause for concern, two fraises that are covered but you wish you never have to deal with.

Some are clear-cut there is no doubt in the mind but others are not so easy to call, taking into account circumstances or lack of evidence.

Do you then go with your gut instinct when faced with a clear abuse but poor or no evidence?

It’s one of those situations were if you get it wrong the press will rip you to bits, if you get it right then the best you may get is a well done from your colleges.

This is one of the hardest aspects of the job and no amount of training and looking at case studies can prepare you for the reality and issues in real life.

But for me it never gets easy, in a way I’m glad it doesn’t but the reassuring thing is having the support and backup of your fellow colleges.

As to were the cards land and how things end? The best I hope for is that the immediate suffering ends.

As I am now feeling a bit more normal (well whatever that may be) I’m slowly getting back up to speed.

So as I am traveling to the Manor I get a call inviting me to Brighton as Janananda Maharaja was visiting, an opportunity not to be missed.

I have taken a few pictures but the mobile phone does not have a very good camera so struggled in the low light.

HH Janananda Maharaja not long after his arrival in Brighton

A few of the musicians

Just a few of the happy faces

It was a gentle evening program enjoyed by all

Boozing Women, heart disease and self-Harm

It has been reported that a quarter of women admit binge-drinking at least once a week.

Don Shenker chief executive of Alcohol Concern pointed out that a majority of young women were following the example of their male counterparts and stated “Pubs and bars are targeting women with offers and cheap drinks to encourage them. It should be stopped”

But one of the biggest impacts of this binge-drinking has been the increases in arrests with the West Midlands police reporting the biggest increase of some 1,138%. In real terms the average has been an increase from 59 in 2003/2004 to 731 in 2007/2008. The medical problems have too been largely ignored as we see a reported increase in heart disease with some 45,000 women dying per year (that is four times that of those dying from breast cancer). As both binge-drinking and smoking are a major contributory risk factor (along with obesity which is estimated to effect over half of all women by 2050), this added to the belief of a majority of women that heart disease and problems related to alcohol consumption is a men’s only problem.

We have also seen an increase of children self-harming with a shocking 15,955 admitted last year. The biggest increase has been seen in the under 10 age group with boys outstripping the girls in this age group, this despite the continuing perception that it is only girls that self harm. Sue Minto from childline states “Triggers can be exam stress, bullying and feeling alone with no one to talk to. Self harm can also be an attempt to relive distress”. We have also seen an increase by 10% over the past 5 years of children with eating disorders with over 3,800 children needing hospital admittance sadly as in the case of women this figure is set to increase.

So as we advance medically, technologically, materially we see an increase in the suffering felt, these being just some of the headlines figures found in one paper in one day. Makes you think.

As we read and see continuing suffering of each spirit soul how could we be not moved to share with all who we meet the glories to chanting “Hare Krsna”

Politics involves accepting one group of men as enemies and another group as friends. Everything in politics is based on this philosophy, and the entire world, especially at the present, is engrossed in it. The public is concerned with friendly countries and friendly groups or enemy countries and enemy groups, but as stated in Bhagavad-gita, a learned person does not make distinctions between enemies and friends. Devotees, especially, do not create friends and enemies. A devotee sees that every living being is part and parcel of Krsna (mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [15.7]). Therefore a devotee treats friends and enemies equally by trying to educate them both in Krsna consciousness. Of course, atheistic men do not follow the instructions of pure devotees, but instead consider a devotee their enemy. A devotee, however, never creates a situation of friendship and enmity. Although Prahlada Maharaja was obliged to hear the instructions of Sanda and Amarka, he did not like the philosophy of friends and enemies, which forms the basis of politics. He was not interested in this philosophy. SB 7.5.3

It’s just been the local council elections here in Wales, to the run up we see the chase has been on for our votes, each pointing out the other parties failings and how if they were in power things would be so much better.

But I have also talked to some who although up as a candidate was hoping not to be elected, strange? May be but although they did not wish to be elected due to the commitment required wanted there own party to do well pointing out the faults of the other competing parties.

But this is not unique; we see this replicated thought out the world, from those politicians who insist that they must be re-elected, as they are the only ones able to steer the country through the economical downturn. To those who are standing down from position of power fighting to make sure that there party remains in power, to those who will not give up power no matter what.

We see divisions in part politics, setting out on a wider international footing who we can or cannot do business with; to those who wish to remove other states from the face of the earth.

Who gains from all this?

No one as the point of this human form of life is being lost as is further explained:

Generally, people are not educated in this confidential knowledge; they are educated in external knowledge. As far as ordinary education is concerned, people are involved with so many departments: politics, sociology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, etc. There are so many departments of knowledge all over the world and many huge universities, but there is, unfortunately, no university or educational institution where the science of the spirit soul is instructed. Yet the soul is the most important part of the body; without the presence of the soul, the body has no value. Still people are placing great stress on the bodily necessities of life, not caring for the vital soul.
 Bg 9.2

So we could argue that there is no place for politics, right? Well as they stand throughout the world now this could be right but politics does have its place if put in the right context:

Lord Krsna and His devotees are both on the transcendental plane; therefore the topics of Lord Krsna and of His pure devotees are equally good. The Battle of Kuruksetra is full of politics and diplomacy, but because the topics are related with Lord Krsna, the Bhagavad-gita is therefore adored all over the world. There is no need to eradicate politics, economics, sociology, etc., which are mundane to the mundaners. To a pure devotee, who is actually related with the Lord, such mundane things are transcendental if dovetailed with the Lord or with His pure devotees.

SB 1.16.6

We see the politics related to Krsna is not about building hatred between sets of individuals, countries or thoughts. Even the worst enemies are given liberation, now name one current politician that offers that ?

I am also pleased that one of the councillors here in Wales who has been helping me spread KC including nominating me for the local SACRE has maintained his seat on the council. He remains committed in helping me develop the school outreach.

Vista Downgrade.

It’s interesting how figures don’t quite tell the full story; take for instance the sales of Vista OS, Microsoft reports that the sales are on target but hide one fact the amount of users taking up the down grade option.

It simply means that although a Vista OS sale is logged the user is actually using the older XP professional OS instead; this as Vista continues to be plagued by compatibility problems and well-documented security loopholes.

It has also been reported that there is a steady uptake for new PC’s and laptops that are Windows OS free with Linux being offered as a preinstalled OS this makes economical sense, as there is no costly licensing to worry about and so you can get a higher speck PC for less money.

We are also seeing more open-source applications for basic word processing, database and spread sheets which is slowly loosening windows stranglehold on the market. A majority of companies already are using these applications offered by Google.

So the figures are not as they seem, vista appears to be a success despite the slow start, although there is an even quieter revolution going on as Apple increases it’s share of the market with one of the biggest attractions being stability in the OS and ease of use. Although it is felt the high cost is holding the sales back.

So then why does PCWorld insist on all new Apple owners buying a very expensive support package just in case they have problems adjusting to the new system from Windows?

Especially as those like me a bit old in the tooth would remember the launch of the first windows OS and those words echoed in all computer offices “wow that looks just like an Apple, isn’t it?” and not forgetting the costly lawsuit that followed.

Another small bit of computer news is that Cuda has now legalised the buying and use of home computers, with the cost being on average $800 (£400) in a country were the average citizen earns under $20 (£10) a month; due to the continuing trade embargo they cannot connect to the undersea fibre optic cable so if you want to use the internet this is via a limited bandwidth satellite connection a very costly business.

Over the past several months I have been finding the material body has been giving me some problems a fact that I knew would happen over time due to damage to the nerves, now I’ve been pondering if I should have the tests to see how much worse the condition has become. It is not my favourite test having a small electric current passed through the nerves and muscle although it is an interesting but at times painful procedure I am sure it will show what I already know a small but significant change.

As I was pondered on this I came across this interesting quote that explains fully the suffering found within the material world:

There is no one in the world materially engaged who can boldly say, “I am not suffering.” I challenge anyone to say this. Everyone in the material world is suffering in some way or another. If not, why are so many drugs being advertised? On the television they are always advertising tranquilizers and pain killers, and in America and in other Western countries they are so advanced that there are dozens of tablets for various pains. Therefore there must be some suffering. Actually, anyone who has a material body has to accept suffering. There are three types of suffering in the material world: adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika. Adhyatmika refers to the body and mind. Today I have a headache or some pain in my back, or my mind is not very quiet. These are sufferings called adhyatmika. There are other forms of suffering called adhibhautika, which are sufferings imposed by other living entities. Apart from this, there are sufferings called adhidaivika, over which we have no control whatsoever. These are caused by the demigods or acts of nature, and include famine, pestilence, flood, excessive heat or excessive cold, earthquakes, fire and so on. Nonetheless, we are thinking that we are very happy within this material world, although in addition to these threefold miseries there is also birth, old age, disease and death. So where is our happiness? Because we are under the spell of maya, we are thinking that our position is very secure. We are thinking, “Let us enjoy life,” but what kind of enjoyment is this?
 TLK Vs 23

The pain of the material body can at times seem intolerable, especially at the moment as I’m finding it harder to open my hand and walking is painful, but what I have been thinking about is that I am not using as many pain-killers even though my condition is worse.

I am sure there is only one reasonable explanation for this being absorbed in chanting the holy names of Krsna, reading and thinking about Krsna and being able to have a full explanation of the suffering caused and misery experienced by material life.

Several days a go I received an e-mail giving a small quote from one of Srila Prabhupada’s letters it is as follows:

31 December, 1970

Surat

My Dear Murari,
So far as your plan for opening centers is concerned, that program sounds very encouraging. But one thing you should know is that we cannot have another situation like Edinburgh. Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed. So if you are confident in this regard, then continue as planned.

Now I have been thinking about this quote ever since, not that I am thinking of opening a centre but in the context of my own personal commitment.

I have also beeing reading the document “Procedure for initiation and Checklist for Mentors” there is many good notations and advice held within but one thing struck me was the notation below:

The Congregational Committee of the Bhaktivedanta Manor has noticed that there are varying standards of practise amongst the initiated congregation. In fact it is often observed that initiated devotees have strayed from their previously good practise and slipped into bad habits with no-one even asking them how they were faring.

As I looked into the information available I noted that one reason that pops up again and again in why ISKCON centres close or go into decline is how we treat each other and those who come into our centres.

I have been thinking about the life long commitment needed along with the focus and steadiness of mind, but also the need for string centres with loving support from each other. Even when someone falls down the need to show compassion and loving support rather than condemning or making the individual an object of ridicule as I have observed in some cases.

The strength we gain is not found in ourselves but in other’s we are then further strengthened by helping others as this reinforces what we have learnt and experienced; the love and tolerance shown to us also then helps so we too can show the same love and tolerance.

Many followed Srila Prabhupada because of this, leading to a life time of commitment to the cause of spreading KC throughout the world, this should remain our aim and focus in life. Our centres will remain successful and expand simply by good examples being shown within.

Interesting article from the Australian press on Gen X which I am a part of, highlighting that they are stressed and insecure.

Gen x, stressed insecure and exhausted

However all is not lost the same survey also showed that some 65 per cent of Australians are extremely or very satisfied with life whilst some 70 per cent believe we are living in prosperous times (This despite the economic tern down).

Interesting that Maya covers us so well that no matter what we face we will still say “Yep life’s great” or “Well it could be worse” Even if the surveys paint a totally different picture.