Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

It can refer to different stages of bhakti-yoga. For those who like to satisfy their own senses in a religious way, it means to offer the results to Krishna. For those who are detached from the results it means to offer the activity itself as a sacrifice, for those who are practicing sadhana it means to actually do it for Krishna, and for those who are selfless it means to always remember Krishna. See also man mana bhava mad bhakto. http://krishnascience.com/Vaisnava%20Library/Courses%20-%20seminars/Bhagavad%20gita/Bhagavad%20Gita%20Bhakti%20Sastri%20Degree/Bhagavadgita%20notes/Gita%20Rahasya.htm

Before you add Krishna, there is no direction no compass...there is simply no knowledge of the fix you are in. When you add Krishna or better when you add Radha and Krishna as the devine couple into the centre then its easy to see the activities that will take you away from the center (devine couple) and the activities that will take you towards the center.

In the beginning it seems to be foreign and un-natural, because for so many life times we have only be concerned with sense enjoyment, which is like being on a sailing boat with no rudder, and desires are like bad winds blowing you in any direction. Try easing up on the sense enjoyment and sacrifice a little of your time to understanding Radha and Krishna, read the books, chant, offer your foodstuffs, listen to Srila Prabhupada lectures on line etc etc..these things will put a rudder on your sailing boat and a compass in your hand, then you can see the fix you are in and set sail towards the centre.

It is important to abstain from meat, intoxicants and drugs as these will place you in a tamasik consciousness (covered, morose), if you abstain from these after a while you will feel the clarity return to your consciousness as you become more Satvik. This is an important first stage, with that new clarity read Srila Prabhupadas books with an open heart and mind. At that point you have just set sail for the eternal spiritual sky, how long it takes to get there depends on how focused you stay with the rudder and what favourable spiritual winds are blowing into your sails.

As you make your journey deep into the heart of the devine couple and your love for Radha and Krishna grows you will slowly lose taste for the materialistic aspects of life and you will only accept those activities that draw you closer to the centre, to Radha and Krishna and their devine love. If you find that you are still attracted to mundane activities and it appears to be not working, just remember this is not some cheap piece of glass on offer it is the crest jewel of the universe, it is entrance into the devine pastimes that has been made possible by Sri Chaitainya Mahaprabhu, his devotees and the disciplic line of acharyas coming from him. It takes time, patience, humility, surrender, inquiry and above all love. The sooner you add Radha and Krishna to your life, the sooner you can set sail for the spiritual sky.

As in Pink Floyd "Set your controls for the heart of the sun" thats a bit on the mayavadi side, more like "Set your controls for the heart of Goloka Vrindaban"

[quote][cite] Baker:[/cite]I often hear one should "just add Krishna" to ones life.

What exactly does it mean to "just add Krishna"?
[/quote]

I might add that actually it is pretty advanced thinking, even as it can also be very simple, or very simplistic, for that matter.

Simplistic is something like: you drink beer and you thank Krsna for it.
Simple and advanced is remembering about Krsna in our every day activities, like when you are talking to someone and you remember that that person is a part and parcel of Krsna.
Very advanced is when you just cant separate your thoughts and deeds from considering Krsna at all times.

But if you dont believe in Krsna, it is all plain impossible to do. So in that case this approach may not work for you.

[quote][cite] Kula-pavana:[/cite]
But if you dont believe in Krsna, it is all plain impossible to do. So in that case this approach may not work for you.[/quote]

I dont even know what "believe in Krishna" means (I started a thread for it).
[br]Can you think of something else that I could do?

[quote][cite] Baker:[/cite][quote][cite] Kula-pavana:[/cite]
But if you dont believe in Krsna, it is all plain impossible to do. So in that case this approach may not work for you.[/quote]

I dont even know what "believe in Krishna" means (I started a thread for it).
[br]Can you think of something else that I could do?[/quote]

You could concentrate on developing mode of goodness in your life. That is very practical, tangible, and beneficial. And you can meditate on the sacred sound itself, never mind what the mantra may imply in the philosophical sense.