Bhakti-Yoga E-Book

Yaśomatīnandana Dāsa

• Herausgeber: epubli
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 57

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

This ancient tradition of master-disciples in the practice of Bhakti-yoga is traced back since time immemorial, and as the history goes, this knowledge had been transferred through the via Medium of the heart by Kṛṣṇa Himself. In a mystical way this transcendental science is revealed, however, to bring it to daylight we need to write it down. By this process Bhakti-yoga has been in script for over 5000 years when Śrīla Vyasadeva composed the Vedic literature. "The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous to him, can be directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service (bhakti-yoga). But the mass of people do not know this, and therefore the learned Vyāsadeva compiled this Vedic literature, which is in relation to the Supreme Truth." (ŚB 1.7.6) The science of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness is the study of the Absolute Truth, a personal truth, that leads to self-realisation. What is this process of self-realisation? It starts by recognising oneself to be a minute part of the whole, a child under the care of a great parent, a fragmental part of God. Thus recognised, one can see the path of surrender, to render loving service in gratitude and appreciation. By the service one immediately earns true blessings, mercy and knowledge given by the spiritual master and the devotees of God.

Leseprobe

Inner Revolution:

Bhakti-Yoga, the spiritual science

From DOG Consciousness to GOD Consciousness

By Yaśomatīnandana Dāsa (Jan Wolter)

Disciple of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami

© YOGA PLUS (freelance Yoga instructor) 2024

www.linktr.ee/YashomatinandanaDasa

The Golden Age awaits

avatari’ caitanya kaila dharma-pracāraṇa

kali-kāle dharma — kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana

“In this Age of Kali, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the religious principle for this age.” (CC Madhya-Līlā 11.98)

Travel, Learn, Grow book series (2013-2023) compiled during world travel: Soul Searching

Travel, Learn, Grow

Where We Will Wænder

Overall Balance

Homecoming

Wisdom of Veda & Yoga: Learning the Art of Spiritual Travel Peace Love Union (2022)

Eternal Journey (2022)

Be Bliss! (2022)

Blissful Bonds (2022)

Green Living (2022)

Atmārāma - the source of all bliss (2022)

Minimalism - Simplicity in Yoga (2022)

Spiritual Traveler: Books for Inner Freedom

Travel + Freedom: Storytime (2015-2022)

Spiritual Traveler - Seven Acts Drama (2023)

Little writings - Essays on God consciousness (2023)

The Art of Spiritual Travel (May 2024)

Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Basics

Teachings of Saints, Holy Places and the sacred texts.

Four Principles of Freedom (January 2024)

Via Medium (February 2024)

Arcana - a taste of Deity Worship in Sridhama Mayapur (March 2024) Śraddhā - Beyond Faith & Blind Trust (April 2024)

Journals: Personal Diaries of a spiritual Traveler

Bhakti (Autumn 2023)

Bhajan (Winter 2023)

Pada Sevanam (Summer 2023)

Prachar (Spring 2023)

Join the Party (Spring 2024)

Invocation

I'm just an insignificant servant of Śri Guru & Gauranga.

“It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa because he is the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Kṛṣṇa has three varieties of energy.”

(Madhya 20.108-109)

Dedication

Please, let me dedicate this book to Śrīla Prabhupāda who started this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in the West and who I am eternally thankful for.

Foreword

Dear people of this world,

most of you are stuck in the cycle of eat, sleep, mate, defend. I am very sad to see this. Feeling compassion in my heart, I want to help you transform this animalistic consciousness of temporary life to a higher, divine consciousness.

Don't worry, there is hope. Eating from the streets, loitering here and there, following my tongue and passing stool at common places. All the time the dog would chase the she-dog to have intercourse and the great mass of society is doing the same. By Providence and the mercy of my spiritual master I was relieved from this act of living a degraded life to finding the true soul nature, a pure state of consciousness, free from fear and doubt.

The dog is always afraid to be bitten by the she-dog and kicked by the master. He feels loyalty to both and knows an honest heart. Sometimes the dog whimsically sings poetry and howls for food. What life this dog is living. Many people hold dogs like this because they appreciate the same maturity of consciousness. Some dogs look like their owners and vice versa. This dog life of eating, sleeping, mating and defending sounds alright, but it is not befitting a human being who has the capacity to inquire about the Absolute Truth.

“Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.”

(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.2.10)

No animal can ask questions about God, but humans can. Dogs may go to a temple or eat the remnants of sanctified food, but their capacity to understand and relish spiritual life is limited.

Humans have the rare opportunity in this life to experience the divine gift of God consciousness.

Our beloved teacher and spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda explains that this Kṛṣṇa or God consciousness is sublime and everyone can take part in it. The process is simple. Simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare one can experience spiritual bliss. One

can chant and dance in ecstasy with this Maha-Mantra, the great chant for deliverance and even a dog can take part in it.

In the spiritual texts of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi 10.1-2) it is said:

“Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If even a doggish non-devotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.”

In the purport it is explained:

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement is so strong that even a doglike non-devotee can gradually become a devotee by the association of a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Śivānanda Sena, a great householder devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, attracted a dog on the street while going to Jagannātha Purī. The dog began to follow him and ultimately went to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu and was liberated. Similarly, cats and dogs in the household of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura were also liberated. Cats and dogs and other animals are not expected to become devotees, but in the association of a pure devotee they are also delivered.”

This is also the story of the author who sincerely prayed to be delivered from this calamity called material life. He met the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa and found shelter Part 1

The Church of Dignity

Initially, I was never thinking about religion or a philosophical search for the truth. However, over time this path cleared up, people called me an “old soul” and astrology was on my side. Guided by an innate attraction to God conscious people, I landed in a clean, brightly lit, and nicely smelling room in the neighbouring village. A confirmation class led by a priest was taking place, due to the fact that we all agreed to take part in this religious activity. I was twelve at that time, and all of my peers were already part of the church in some way or form. They all had received baptism by Christian priests early on. Even though my family, especially my grandparents, who all have lived next to a church for all their lives, wasn't pushing me in this direction, they were liberal and open to this path. In this regard, I can only blame the system of this modern age.

Religion didn't seem attractive for most and many were fed up with this powerful institution.

Anyhow, I learned about this confirmation early on, especially through the connotation that one can get a proper donation by this ceremony. So, here I was, sitting in the quarters of the protestant church community centre singing Christian Psalms and choosing one for my confirmation which would take place at some point. It was Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.