01 November 2011

KKSblog.com - To take on too much service!

KKSblog.com - To take on too much service!

To take on too much service!

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:14 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011)

Run around for Krishna! Get really excited for Krishna about what we are having to do:

"Oh, I have to do all these things! So many things I have to do for Krishna! It's too much…..it's too much! I have to do all those things. I don't know how I can manage all of this? It's too much."

This is perfect! This is how it should be! If you think:

"I have too much service!"

That's perfect! You should have too much service. You should have so much service that you should be totally in anxiety:

"I'm totally in anxiety about all this service!"

Fantastic………fantastic! Because you want it, and not a second left to being in the anxiety about the material desires that are deeply rooted in the heart! This is how it is because we are so passionate, that we couldn't just peacefully sit there and chant the whole day!

Spoiling the senses

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:22 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011)

By gradually being firm with the senses, they become weaker. Some people have spoilt senses which are just like spoilt children. Every time they cry, they get what they want, and then they cry more, just like spoilt children! So the senses are like children, and if we spoil them, they cry. Sooner or later, we have to be a little firm with our senses, its inevitable. If you just treat them to whatever they want then it is difficult!

How to choose the initiating spiritual master

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:36 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Australia 2010)

One should not be too quick about initiation. In the beginning, one takes instructions from the various exalted and experienced vaisnavas, who then give many relevant inspiring instructions. Initiation is really not the order of the day!

In due course of time, one does need to go further and develop a deeper relationship, not just as a casual form of instructions, but also one needs to make commitments to those instructions. It's really lots of fun that someone gives far out instructions, but one still sits around thinking:

“This one I like…..but this one not so much. So that one I don't take.”

In this way one takes only instructions that one likes. That is in the beginning. The next stage is when one starts to make commitment and says:

“Ok, now I'm going to commit to the instructions of one particular spiritual master and promise to follow what he says.”

So then we have another good look at all the instructing spiritual masters, and at that point one asks:

“Well, which one do I want to commit myself to?”

At that point, one begins to realise what it takes to make such commitments. It takes some trust which must be there. Somebody can give a great class, but you don't know how he's going to instruct you outside of the class. The class may be absolutely fabulous, and then one asks:

“What should I do with my life?”

And the next thing is, that one gets the instructions to move to China and preach:

“But I don't want to go to China.”

It has been said that one must follow the order of the spiritual master. So therefore, one must test the waters. One must also see:

‘There are so many inspiring instructors, but there are a few whose nature and ways appeal to me. I have some confidence and trust in them.’

One should then ask them some questions, either in writing, or one may speak to them personally, and ask for some advice about their life. Don't ask them general questions. Ask them questions such as:

“Well, this is the situation in my life. What do you think? How should I react? How should I progress?”

Because it is still ‘siksa’ so one is not bound. One can test to see if it works, and if it starts to fit then one feels:

“Yes, I'm inspired by this person. I can see that the practical instructions that this person gives is something I can deal with.”

If one feels that the spiritual master is instructing in the way that one can relate to, then the relationship maybe comfortable.

At one point, one can make this commitment and start aspiring to become a disciple. Sooner or later, one will get a little more personal with some instructors than with others and they become candidates. Maybe someone would have two or three candidates. Test them, test them all on how the relationship works on a practical level. It is important to test!

One cannot test everything – like how advanced they really are. One cannot really test that, but there is another mechanism to make sure the chosen one is really spiritually advanced. And that is, when one has a particular interest in a spiritual master, then they should ask senior devotees for blessings, who will be able to look on a deeper level. When they start to give blessings, then that is the protection one has for the qualification of the spiritual master!

 

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