Wednesday, May 2, 2012

How devotees should control envious thoughts? -by H.H.Radhanath Swami


Q.Consciousness of a devotee and external behavior, is it related or independent? (This question is related to how a Vaishnava should behave in the mode of goodness so people in general are attracted by those qualities)

A. They are related. According to your consciousness, according to your thoughts and desires that is what will provoke words and actions. Therefore we have to go right to the root of the problem which is our material desires and material attachments and the Holy Name and devotional service goes right to the root of that problem and purifies our heart.

But in the meanwhile while this purification is taking place, on the external level we must be very careful to tolerate any inclination towards offensive activities. If we simultaneously perform the austerity of restraining our mind and senses and at the same time continue with the process of devotional service of chanting and hearing the Holy names and glories of the Lord, very quickly we become purified. If we do not contemplate and keep our mind endeavoring to be fixed on Krishna if we allow our mind to unrestrictedly contemplate the objects of the senses in envious and selfish thoughts then It is just a matter of time until those thoughts force us into offensive words and behavior. Therefore when these thoughts come into our mind we must restrain from giving into them and we must struggle and strain to replace them with holy thoughts. This is tapasya. This is real austerity.

Q&A with H.H.Radhanath Swami

17 comments:

  1. Thank u Maharaj for this wonderful contemplation of how to overcome the thoughts of sensual pleasures with the austerities of chanting the holy name, holy thoughts of the Lord.

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  2. Hari bol..Very wonderful article. We must have to control our senses and at the same time focus on the holy name.Jai

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  3. Tough lesson to learn and actually put into practice...but it is really essential. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. many many thanks for the clear cut answer. It is so essential for all of us. thank you very much

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  5. Very instructive! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Very sound advice indeed

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  7. Very nice reply by Radhanath swami about real austerity!

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  8. Thank you Radhanath swami for this wonderful article of how to control our senses by engaging our mind in the service of the lord.

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  9. Arjun K RamachandraMay 6, 2012 at 6:51 AM

    Perfectly balanced solution here by Radhanath Swami - Restrain our mind and senses and simultaneously keep it fixed on hearing and chanting the glories of the lord.

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  10. The science of tapasya described by Radhanath Swami Maharaj in a manner which can be easily understood, though it may take some time & conscious practice to actually assimilate it in our daily lives. But then, thats the challenge, isn't it?

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  11. What an amazing and practical solution Radhanath Swami has given here. Thanks much for this.

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  12. Radhanath Swami Maharaj gives a complete solution to the problem of envious thoughts !
    Thank you very much !
    Hare Krishna !

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  13. Wonderful lesson to be learnt and practiced.

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  14. This is really very instructive. Thoughts makes a man.

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  15. Thank you for the wonderful advice and giving us direction as to how to purify ourselves quickly.

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  16. Wonderful article. Thank you very much Maharaj for your sublime guidance.

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