What is the The Most Wonderful Thing in the world?

Yamaraja  asked Maharaja Yudhisthira, ‘What is the most wonderful thing within this world?’ 

Mahārāja Yudhisthira replied (Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.116):

 ahany ahani bhutani gacchantiha yamalayam sheshaḥ sthavaram icchanti kim ashcaryam atah param 

“Hundreds and thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, but a foolish living being nonetheless thinks himself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most wonderful thing in this world.” 

"Everyone has to die because everyone is fully under the control of material nature, yet everyone thinks that he is independent, that whatever he likes he can do, that he will never meet death but live forever, and so on. So-called scientists are making various plans by which living entities in the future can live forever, but while they are thus pursuing such scientific knowledge, Yamaraja, in due course of time, will take them away from their business of so-called research."  - Srila Prabhupada

Every minute and every second we experience that living entities are going to the temple of death. Men, insects, animals, birds—everyone is going. This world, therefore, is called mrityuloka—the planet of death. Every day there are obituaries, and if we bother to go to the cemetery or crematorium grounds we can validate them. Yet everyone is thinking, “Somehow or other I’ll live.” Everyone is subject to the law of death, yet no one takes it seriously. This is illusion. Thinking we will live forever, we go on doing whatever we like, feeling that we will never be held responsible. This is a very risky life, and it is the densest part of illusion. We should become very serious and understand that death is waiting. We have heard the expression, “as sure as death.” This means that in this world death is the most certain thing; no one can avoid it. When death comes, no longer will our puffed-up philosophy or advanced degrees help us. At that time our stout and strong body and our intelligence—which don’t care for anything—are vanquished. At that time the fragmental portion (jīvātmā) comes under the dictation of material nature, and prakṛti (nature) gives us the type of body for which we are fit. If we want to take this risk, we can avoid Krishna; if we don’t want to take it, Krishna will come to help us.

What is the evidence for presence of Lord Krishna on earth ?

Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also because the site is considered as one of the four Dhamas (sacred place for pilgrimage) of the Hindu religion. According to ancient Sanskrit literature, the Lord Krishna founded the holy city of Dwarka, which subsequently got submerged under sea. Marine archaeological explorations of Dwarka have brought to light a large number of stone structures, which are semicircular, rectangular and square in shape in water depth ranging from inter tidal zone to 6 m. They are randomly scattered over a vast area. Besides these structures, a large number of varieties of stone anchors have  been noticed  along the structures as  well as  beyond 6 m water depth.  These findings suggest that Dwarka was one of the most busy  port centres during the past on the  west  coast of India. The comparative study of surrounding sites indicates that the date of the structures of Dwarka may be between Historical period and late medieval period.

Click here to read more about this research study

Underwater Worlds 3 Ancient Aliens - Dwaraka by Yahn25

Can you go a day, a week, a month, or more without saying anything bad about anyone?

We criticize others more often than we think. Make a mental note of how often you find fault with others and why you do it (both with devotees and non devotees). See if you can go a day, a week, a month, or more without saying anything bad about anyone.

(Calling a thief a thief is not considered fault-finding if one’s motive is to help or improve the situation.)

Becoming free from the tendency ...to criticize is best achieved by changing the way you see others and the world. If your general attitude is to see with the eye of appreciation, you will tend to notice the good in others instead of the bad. If you are to become free from fault-finding, this change of vision is essential.

For example, you may see someone doing something you consider wrong or improper. If you are developing the tendency to see with the eye of appreciation, you’ll naturally ask yourself, “What else could this mean?” This causes you to develop a broader and more compassionate understanding of why the person is acting this way.

You react to what you think is happening. If you think what is happening is wrong, improper, horrible, offensive, etc., you’ll likely react with complaining or criticism. Or worse, you’ll react with condemnation.

By asking, “What else could this mean?” you allow yourself to see the same situation in another light. You may still consider the action wrong, but now you have a perspective that allows you to better understand why the person acted this way. This perspective will cause you to respond with understanding rather than condemnation.

With this understanding, it’s possible to break your addiction to fault-finding. If you can go at least thirty days without finding fault with anyone, you will begin to develop a new healthy habit. Furthermore, you will be in the good company of those devotees who refuse to speak or hear about the faults of others.

How will you succeed? Decide to change your attitude. Instead of looking at what’s wrong in others, look at how you improve yourself.

If you are not up to the challenge, ask yourself why you think you are unwilling to give up fault-finding?

-By Mahatma Das.

How to control and purify our mind?

How to control and purify our mind?

That is a very important question. It’s the essence of life. That question and its answer is the path of perfection.

We become what we associate with. If we associate with impure people, impure activities, impure thoughts, we become polluted. If we associate with people who are pure, activities that are pure, and thoughts that are pure, we become purified.

Srila Prabhupada, gave the example of an iron rod. If we put it in fire, it becomes red and hot like fire; and if you touch it, you’ll be burnt the same way as when you touch fire directly. That is the power of association. But if we put that same iron rod in ice, it will become as cold as ice. So, our purification or our degradation is based on what our mind and senses associate with.

Krishna tells in the Bhagavad Gita that by engaging our senses and our mind, which is our sixth sense, in the service of the Lord, we become purified of all illusory designations. Elsewhere in the Vedas it is said that weather purified or unpurified, one who remembers the beautiful lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, becomes purified from both within and without.

Simply by our tongue we can invoke the presence of Krishna by chanting his name and discussing his glories. This Harinaam Sankirtan, Kirtan of the holy names, is the most recommended process in this day and age, called Kali Yuga in the Vedas. harer nama harer nama hare namaiva kevalam, kalau nasteva nasteva nasteva gatir anyatha: “In this age of kali the chanting of the holy names is the only practical means for the common people to attain the supreme perfection of a pure heart.” namnaam akaari bahuda nija sarva shaktis: “All the potencies and opulence of the Lord is present in the holy name.

Why there is fight in name of religion?

Why there is fight in name of religion?

Radhanath Swami:

I do not see it as a problem of religion. I see it as the problem caused by irreligion in the guise of religion. We have to find what religion actually is.

Real religion does not mean a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, Zoroastrian, Jain, or Buddhist. These can be very much social, ethnic, or egoistic identities.

Real religion is that process which awakens one’s love for God. Where there is the awakening of love for God, there are the qualities of tolerance, peace, compassion, mercy, self control, and forgiveness; these are the universal qualities of anyone who loves God. Where we find sectarianism, envy or cruelty that is not religion.

If any of these people who fight really understood what is really in their scriptures, they wouldn’t behave with another person based on external beliefs. When a man comes home, sometimes he is dressed in a three piece suit; sometimes he comes in a swimming suit; sometimes he comes in his pajamas. Now, his dog will recognize his master in whatever dress he wears. Isn’t that true?

So if our master is God, whether He appears as Krishna, Allah, Rama, or Christ, we will recognize Him in all these different appearances.

What is Leadership ?

Who is a leader?

• Within the Vedic culture, anyone who had dependents was considered a leader.


• Therefore, not only the Kings or Heads of State (ksatriyas) were accepted as leaders, but those having dependents even in household life, are also regarded as leaders.

Standard Qualities of Leaders

• Vedic literatures give us clear and specific information about the qualities needed for a good leader.
• From the Srimad Bhagavatam, the following ten qualities of leader are given:


• 1. influential ,
  2. unconquerable
  3. patient
  4. challenging
  5. charitable,
  6. can control the bodily necessities
  7. forgiving,
  8. attached to the brahminical nature
  9. always jolly
  10. truthful

Srila Prabhupada explains:

• Leadership within the Vedic culture carries a heavy responsibility.


• Leader should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son.


• To become a parent is a life-long responsibility, at least until the children are grown up and can start their own family life. Much preparation and training is required for both the young boys and the young girls before entering householder life.


• Likewise, to become a leader for a much larger family, a village, a state, a country or the world is even more demanding and requires the highest of qualifications.


• There is urgent need to establish both standard Gurukulas to train qualified leaders; otherwise we can expect to continue witnessing a leadership crisis around the world.

How to deal with Conflict?

Don't create enemies Unncecessarily.

We should understand that a sober,dispassionate opinion is much more powerful and less troublesome than an impulsive reply.

Even when someone is undobtedly resposible for a misdeed,it is advisable to directly avoid attcking him by name.There is a bengali proverb which says-chunco mere hatha ganda-if you want to kill a skunk,then your hands will smell.In other words,there is no sense in creating enemies unnecessarily,better to disregard the stinker altogather.We donot wish to engage in endless confict that disturbs our life as well as lives of others.

When Dharma,the bull was asked by King Parikshit to identify who mercilesly mutilated his legs,Dharma did not care to cast guilt upon anyone because he considered that there were superior and remote causes for his misfortune beyond the immediate actors.

Hence it is inaccurate to lay blame on someone else for unpleasant things that happen to us.

What is the cause for Climatic change,food crisis, financial meltdowns etc ?

Why Money, Take Away The ATM Itself !

New York Times reported on 27th Nov.2009
"A man in Colorado, US, tried to steal an ATM by hauling it away with a stolen truck."

The plan didn’t work. The attempted theft of the outdoor ATM in Boulder set off an alarm early morning. When police arrived they found the ATM on its side about 15 feet from its foundation outside a Chase Bank. No money had been taken.

Surveillance photos showed a man hooking the ATM’s chain to the back of a U-Haul truck. The truck, which had been reported as stolen, was discovered a short distance away later that day. Instead of stealing money from the ATM, the thief in question tried to steal the ATM itself. !!!!!!!!!!!!!





Similar is our story.

This world is an undisputed property of God because it existed before we entered here and will continue to exist after our exit. We humans are trying to haul it away from its lawful owner, God. Apart from stealing resources of the world, we are trying to haul away the World itself. We are denying the hand of God by manufacturing philosophies like Darwinism and Big Bang and in the name of nationalism, we are trying to carve out our share of the loot. Humanity is depriving other living beings their due share of natural resources.



Srila Prabhupada explains this in a conversation, “Tena tyaktena bhunjitha: [Isopanisad mantra 1] everything belongs to God. Just like the father has got many sons and the father is the proprietor of the house. He gives one son, “This is your room,” the other son, “This is your room.” So the obedient son is satisfied what the father allows to him. Others, those who are not obedient, they want to disturb other brother that “This room also belongs to me.” That creates chaos and confusion in the world. The United Nations, they have created a society for unity of the nations, but actually that is not unity. That is another way of encroaching upon others’ property. Therefore there is no peace, unless they accept God is the Supreme proprietor. And we must be satisfied with the allotment God has given to us. Then there is no trouble. But the trouble is that we are not satisfied with the allotment given to us. That allotment can be understood by language or similar culture. So why one should encroach upon others’ property which is allotted by God? That creates disturbance. So this so-called modern civilized man, first of all they create disturbances, and then they want to make some adjustment.”



Modern man is squandering finite natural resources, which are meant to be shared by all living beings, to fuel his insatiable greed in the form of rampant consumerism.By stealing from God we become subject to apprehension by His police force, which is known as material nature. As soon as we use the property of God to gratify our own senses, nature will inflict miseries upon us. People are not peaceful because if we steal something from someone else, we cannot expect peace. Nor can we ever really expect to enjoy that stolen property, because we will always be anxious about being caught.



This global loot has set the burglar alarms ringing, only if we are willing to listen. Climatic change, 2012, food crisis, financial meltdowns etc. are some of the unpleasant tintinnabulation of the very same alarm. ----------------------------By Sahadeva dasa

What is the difference between the teachings of Jesus and Krishna?

Answer:

Essentially there is no difference in the message of Krishna and the message of Jesus. Like father, like son. The very essence of Jesus' teachings is bhakti, or pure devotion to the Supreme Being.
Jesus was preaching perfectly, and his universal message is nondifferent from the teachings of Krishna.

Examples are as follows:

Message of Jesus :-

Man has to change his heart, give up sense gratification and turn to God with complete determination--"Thou shalt love The Lord Thy God with all Thy heart, with all Thy soul, and with all Thy might."

Bhagavad-gita
"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend" (Bhagavad-gita 18.65).

"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me" (Bhagavad-gita 10.10).

"To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance" (Bhagavad-gita 10.11).

The great Spiritual master Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur teaches:
manasa deho geho jo kichu mor arpilun tuwa pade nanda-kisor
"My mind, my body, my home, whatever I have in my possession, I offer unto You, my Lord."

Srila Rupa Gosvami, the direct disciple of Sri Krishna Caitanya, says:
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalamhrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate
"When all one's senses are engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord, the master of all the senses, and the soul renders pure service unto the Supreme, he is freed from all material designations, and one's senses are purified" (Narada-pancaratra qtd. in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.12).

The message is the same: Jesus was preaching intense spiritual life; to forsake, home, relatives and the rest and turn to God radically in pure devotion.

"…and if you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21).

"…Do not worry about anything: look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than them?"

"…And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:26-33).

"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:7-11).

One disciple said to him: "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said: "Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead" (Matthew 8:20-22).

All it depends upon is the surrender of the soul and complete abandonment to the will of the Supreme Lord: "Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done…" (Matthew 26:42); "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).

Here we hear the same old voice that is speaking at the heart and root of any genuine tradition: As the result of such surrender, Sri Krishna reveals Himself to His devotee:

ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
"As they surrender unto Me, I reveal myself" (Bhagavad-gita 4.11). Never mind religion, race or nation: samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo 'sti na priyah - "I am not partial to anyone. I am equal to all" (Bhagavad-gita 9.29).

sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah

"Abandon all varieties of mundane religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." (Bhagavad-gita 18:66).

Reference : Prithu das Adhikary / Peter Brinkmann www.omjesus.net

How much can a person tolerate?

By Giriraj Swami

As long as we are in this world, we must suffer–pain caused by others, pain caused by our own bodies and minds, pain caused by acts of nature. And unless we can tolerate, we cannot live in this world.

But how much can a person tolerate? Should we not, on occasion, resist? Why, then, should we tolerate? And if we must, what will enable us to endure the difficulty without being disturbed.

Srila Prabhupada told the story of a young boy who tolerated more than I can imagine, giving some idea of why he did not resist and how he was able to abide without being disturbed:

“Prahlada Maharaja–his father was putting him in so many dangerous conditions, even giving him poison. He knew that ‘My father has given me poison to drink. All right, let me drink. If Krsna likes, He will save me. Father is giving poison. Who can check?’ And his father was such a big, powerful demon–Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada’s mother cried, requested, but his father forced her: ‘Give your son this poison.’ She begged so much, but he was a demon: ‘No, you must give.’ So the mother knew, and the son knew, that the father was giving this poison. What could he do, a small child? ‘All right, let me drink.’ He was not agitated. ‘All right, if Krsna likes, I will live.’”

So, one reason to tolerate is that we have no choice. The forces that act in opposition to our will are too great, too powerful for us to resist. And what will enable us to endure without being disturbed? Faith in God, in Krsna. “If Krsna likes, He will save me. I will survive–and progress.”

In the same talk, Srila Prabhupada explained, “A sadhu [devotee] is titiksava–he tolerates all kinds of miserable conditions. Because this is a place of miserable conditions, a sadhu learns how to tolerate. A sadhu is never disturbed. Yasmin sthito gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate [Bhagavad Gita 6.22]. A sadhu, who has got the shelter of Krsna, if he is placed in the severest type of dangerous condition, he is never disturbed.”

So, again, one who has faith in God, who has taken shelter of God, can tolerate. But when he can resist, or leave, why should he tolerate? Srila Prabhupada answered with one word: karunikah–titiksavah karunikah:

“Titiksavah–the sadhu does not become disturbed. At the same time, karunikah. He is himself being disturbed, but he is merciful to others.

“Just like Jesus Christ. He was being crucified, and still he was merciful: ‘God, these people do not know what they are doing. Please excuse them.’ This is sadhu. Personally, he is being disturbed by the demons, but still, he is merciful to the general people. They are suffering for want of Krsna consciousness. Even up to the point of death, he is trying to preach Krsna consciousness. ‘Let the people be benefited. What is this material body? Even if I am killed, I am not killed; this body is killed, that’s all.’ This is sadhu. Titiksavah karunikah. On the one side he is tolerant, and on the other side, merciful.

“In the material world, when a man is disturbed, he cannot do any beneficial work for others. He is disturbed: ‘No, I am very much disturbed. Don’t talk with me.’ But a sadhu still goes on benefiting the people in general. Titiksavah karunikah [Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21].”

We all face situations that are painful and difficult, and we want to do what is just and right–ultimately, what will please God. If we act on the basis of our true self, the soul–not the body or the mind–with faith in God, to please Him, to present His message, He will give us the intelligence how to proceed and we will follow His direction.

I pray that He gives me that strength and intelligence.

How do we know if God is real? Is God, just a concept?Can a scientist believe in God?

One way we can come to understand or verify the existence of God is simply by studying the meticulous organization of this universe and all the things happening around us. There is such precise design, order and control in the way everything in nature functions, from the gigantic planetary movements down to the intricate workings of a cell.

Is it not illogical to propose that this vast universe is conducted so meticulously just by chance and for no purpose?

From our practical experience, we know that without much laborious planning, organization and maintenance, everything quickly degrades to chaos. So who has planned, organized and is maintaining the universe? Consider how is it that the sun rises every morning without fail or why there isn't a tsunami or earthquake every week, consider who has supplied all our necessities like fresh water, air and food? Scientists would try to explain that away as natural laws which have come by blind chance, but law means there must be a law-maker.

Nothing in our experience works automatically or by chance. A child may be amazed to see a remote-controlled car and conclude that it is moving by itself, but an intelligent person knows that somebody is operating it from behind the scenes. Just because we cannot see the operator does not mean he doesn't exist! Not just in the physical laws governing the universe, but there is order even in subtler laws that govern human interactions. It is hardly rational or meaningful to suppose that someone is born rich and another poor for no reason, some are endowed with brilliant intelligence, and others are born blind or crippled.

There is reason and justice behind all these and there is a Controller or law-maker -- we can come to this conclusion simply with a little introspection, although our modern ways of education and artificial living styles often rob us of opportunities for such introspection.........As explained by HH Romapada swami.

Killing of Plants and bacteria while cooking Vegtarian food.

It is written in purport of Bhagavad Gita (14.16) that one should not kill any living entity. But, microorganisms (bacteria, virus) are always killed by us and plants are also living entities. While one accepts that one should not kill animals for eating, but what about plants and bacteria and vermins? Does that incur sin?

Yes, killing any living entity knowingly, or even unknowingly, incurs sinful reactions. The Supreme Lord is the supreme Father of all beings and every living entity has the right to live in this world, just as we humans do. We do not have the right, because of being in a superior life form, to needlessly take the life of or even cause pain to any other living entity; rather as human beings we are expected to show compassion to these innocent creatures.

In fact, Srimad Bhagavatam describes that it is the duty of a grihastha (householder) to protect and maintain even the insects, lizards and other lower life forms as if they were one's own children, what to speak of killing them! (Please refer SB 7.14.9)

We also hear of great saintly persons taking the trouble to not kill even some insignificant ants crossing their path. It is the nature of a sadhu to be compassionate and not harm anyone even if it meant bearing personal inconvenience; and if there is an option to get rid of a troublesome living entity without killing that should be preferred.

It is impossible for an embodied living entity in the material world to exist without unavoidably inflicting some difficulty upon other embodied living entities. Just by one's very existence one kills many micro-organisms even while harmlessly walking or just by breathing.

The solution is to purify our existence. These unavoidable sinful reactions can be counteracted only by dedicating our lives unto God's service and performing yajna (such as sankirtana yajna, chanting the Lord's Holy Names). If one's very existence is completely dedicated to the Lord, and one is not envious towards any living entity but a well-wisher of all, then whatever one does becomes beneficial even to the unseen microorganisms.

Actitivities such as killing plants for food also incurs sin, albeit relatively less sinful compared to killing of animals. But when a devotee prepares food items and cooks for Krishna, offers the food to the Lord and then partakes the prasadam, there is no sin incurred for the devotees. Conversely, the plants derive great spiritual benefit because of being offered to the Lord's in devotion, and are thus promoted to higher forms of life than would have been the case had natural death taken place instead.-------As explained by HH Romapada swami.

PETA - Meet your Meat
The video that all meat-eaters should watch and every vegetarian should own, "Meet Your Meat," narrated by Alec Baldwin, covers each stage of life of animals raised for food.

What is real dharma / religion? Why there is quarrel in the name of religion?

Dharma is sometimes translated as religion,but that is not exactly its meaning. Dharma actually means that which one cannot give up, which is inseparable from oneself. There is nitya-dharma and anitya-dharma, eternaldharma and temporary dharma. Every living or noliving object around us , has its eternal nature or dharma. That nitya-dharma cannot be separated from the an object.
Srila Prabhupada gives an example: the warmth of fire is inseparable from fire. Therefore,warmth is the nitya or eternal dharma of fire. Another example is water. Liquidity is the eternal dharma of water. Sometimes if there is freezing cold then water turns into a block of frozen ice. But that is not its eternal dharma. The eternal dharma of water is liquidity. When the temperature rises again, it melts. The ice is temporary, anitya-dharma.
The body has its dharma, the mind has its dharma, and the soul has its dharma. Sense gratification is the dharma of the material body. The dharma of the mind is sankalpa and vikalpa, accepting something and rejecting something. Thinking, feeling, and willing is the dharma of the mind. We,living entities are soul,atman.We are neither body nor mind.

Dharma of the Soul

In chapter eighteen, verse sixty-six, Krishna has given His most concluding, confidential instruction in the Bahgavad Gita: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja i.e.“Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me.” That is the dharma of the soul, i.e atma-dharma. It is not the dharma of the body or the dharma of the mind. You are soul, and your eternal dharma is as a servant of God or Krishna,i.e.Krishna Dasa. If you donot become a servant of Krishna then you will be forced to become a servant of maya i.e.maya dasa.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, jivera svarupa haya Krishnera nitya-dasa. As a jiva, your svarupa, your constitutional position, is as an eternal servant of Krishna. [Cc. madhya 20.108] This is parama-dharma, bhagavata-dharma, the eternal dharma of the soul.
It is not Hindu dharma or Muslim dharma, or dharma of the black or dharma of the white. It is not Australian dharma, American dharma, Japanese dharma, Chinese dharma, or Indian dharma. No.Dharma is one. Dharma is to become God's/Krishna’s servant and completely surrender unto His lotus feet.That is the only dharma. You may be Australian, African, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian,whatever . but you are all souls.

If society can understand what is real dharma, eternal dharma, then there will be no quarrelling on the matter. Everyone will be satisfied. But they donot try to understand this subject. Therefore quarrelling goes on in name of dharma/ religion.

As explained by SRI SRIMAD GOUR GOVINDA SWAMI MAHARAJA

How to break bad habits?

The first step in overcoming this material conditioning is of course to recognize the bad habits themselves. This recognition should be accompanied by sincere regret followed by firm resolve to give up the habit. But often we find that despite being aware and regretful for their habits, many people are unable to avoid their sinful tendencies, because of the lack of proper effort. It takes great commitment sustained over time to accomplish the result.

Srila Rupa Gosvami gives us the formula for accomplishing it:(Nectar of Instruction verse 3)

utsahan niscayad dhairyat
tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vritteh
shadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati

i.e.Enthusiasm, determination, patience, following regulative principles under the guidance of saintly authorities, and avoiding bad association.

The particular methods for addressing specific bad habits may vary, but these are the fundamental principles and I would like to particularly highlight two key factors that support all the others, and help us stay on track until we completely break free — good association and adopting strong daily practice of devotional activities.

Submission and developing attachment to the good preceptor is the most compelling force that gives leverage to overthrow our deep-rooted bad habits. Srimad Bhagavatam describes, that even lowborn and uncivilized people can come to the highest perfection of life. Once again how we can develop that submission and attachment is by valuing and appreciating very deeply the association of such saintly devotees.
One way of practical expression of such submission is to take up strong devotional practices, (daily chanting, scriptural study etc) which themselves give us determination and keeps us enthusiastic. But beyond that they attract the mercy of the Lord, Who alone can ultimately cleanse all material contamination from within our hearts (SB 1.2.17:). Without the accompanying cultivation of theistic knowledge and positive spiritual practices, other methods to counteract bad habits, as we often see around us, would at best effect a temporary change. Sooner or later the living entity will once again become susceptible to and overwhelmed by material energy.
In short, the process of retraction of bad habits can be summed up as follows: Recognition, Regret, Rectification, and Reinstatement - aided by saintly association and devotional practices.

----As explained by HH Romapad Swami.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

One may ask a question-I have always been a pious man, given in charity and donated to the temple. Then why am I made to suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people?Why do innocents suffer in accidents or natural calamities?

Vedic scriptures give a very consistent explanation understanding which, having properly understood, one is not bewildered and shaken in their faith in God in the face of a tragedy.

The laws of karma are very intricate. Both scripturally and logically, however, we can conclude that every reaction hints at past actions. In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, BG 4.17: gahana karmano gatih. The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.

While the living entity is indeed dependent on God for both happiness and distress, God is not responsible for either; Human being is responsible for it.
Karma can be individual, or it can be collective, i.e. reactions experienced by an entire community or large segments of society.

Large-scale sinful activities of society such as organized slaughterhouses or undue exploitation of nature can lead an entire society to experience mass karmic reactions in the form of wars, epidemics and natural disasters.

Krishna has described this material world as 'duhkhalayam asasvatam' - a temporary place full of misery. ( BG 8.15 ): Srimad-Bhagavatam certifies this world as "a place where there is danger at every step" (SB 10.14.58), yet there is a place beyond this material realm, free from all anxieties, and which is our real home, and our goal should be to return there.

One who fully understands the laws of karma and the spiritual nature of self and is faithful to God, would naturally feel deep compassion for the magnitude of mass suffering; and in feeling thus, he/she would see the need to take deeper shelter of the Lord and encourage others to do so, knowing that to be the only real solution.

Is Human Superior Than Animals?

Mahabharat says :

ahaAra-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca.
samanyam etat pasubhih naranam .
dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso .
dharmena hina pasubhih samanah .

Four common things for animals and human beings.
1.Ahara- eating .
2.Nidra - sleeping .
3.Bhayam- having shelter or house for protection from fear.
4. Maithunam- Sex .

Srila Prabhupada.

Extra quality with human beings is the dharma or his duty to inquire about the absolute truth or God. The dharma of every human being is to understand what he is, who God is, the relationship between him and God,and to engage in rendering loving service to God.

Therefore a human being is superior than animals only when they inquire about the Absolute truth,otherwise they are considered just like animals.

What is mother?

What is mother ?

There are seven mothers according to VEDAS:

atma-mata guru patni
brähmani raja-patnika
dhenur dhätré tathä prithvi

saptaita matarah smrtah

1. Atma-mata -Real mother, from whose womb we have come to this world
2. Guru patni- wife of the teacher or spiritual master.
3. Brahmani- the wife of a brahamana

4. Raja-patnika- the wife of the king, or the queen.
5. Dhenu- Cow is our mother.
6.Dhatri-Nurse is also mother.
7. Tatha prithvi-the earth is also our mother.

Srila Prabhupada
According to Vedic civilization, anyone who supplies milk from the body, she is mother. So cow is mother because we are drinking her milk. So from that point of view, one cannot kill cow.

If a boy wants to understand, "Who is my father?" the only authority is the mother. Vedic literature is considered to be the mother. She gives evidence that God or Lord Krishna is our father.

Is there any life after death?

Bhagavad Gita says-we are eternal spirit souls and we get another material body after death.

BG 2.13: As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

BG 2.22: As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.


Please watch the follwing videos of real life experiences, for the verification of thousands of years old Vedic knowledge. More of these scientific videos on the side bar.

What is the importance of Sacrifice (Yajna) or austerities ?

By performance of yajnas, all activities become purified, as it is stated in the Vedas:

ahara-suddhau sattva-suddhih

sattva-suddhau dhruva smritih smriti-

lambhe sarvagranthinam vipramokshah.

Performance of yajnas has many benefits

By performance of yajna one's eatables become sanctified

By eating sanctified foodstuffs one's very existence becomes purified; By the purification of existence finer tissues in the memory become sanctified, and when memory is sanctified one can think of the path of liberation.

In Bhagavad Gita (BG) Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna

BG 3.16: My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person lives in vain.

As explained by Srila Prabhupada

Yajna or sarcifice for the current  Age of Kali is the sankirtana-yajna (Kirtan- chanting of the Holy name) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age.

How to achieve real peace ?

In Bhagavad Gita (BG) Lord Krishna instructs to Arjuna,

BG 2.70: A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires -- that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still -- can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

BG 2.71: A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego -- he alone can attain real peace.

BG 2.66: One who is not connected with the Supreme [in Krishna consciousness] can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?

BG 5.29 and Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.7

People are anxious to attain peace in the material world. But they do not know the formula for peace, which is explained here. "Men should offer everything to the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord because He is the proprietor of everything."

Isopanishad

Iso 1: Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the supreme Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.