Srimad Bhagavatam:
Continued Spiritual Teachings

      It is said that there is no joy greater than the joy of giving. Coveting merely brings us fleeting pleasure. The senses are dependant upon an external supply of commodities. When the supply is stopped, the senses cannot send the feelings of pleasure anymore. Sensuality is thus a matter of dependence. The worst example of this sensual affection is drug addiction. A person may often do harm to himself and to others in procuring the substance, which gives but a fleeting pleasure.

     Helping others brings us the joy of fulfillment. When we are asked for help, we often retract and dry up. We are so conditioned to receive the pleasurable feelings through acts of taking and receiving that we do not realize that giving and helping can be a source of much greater and more lasting joy. We therefore should redefine our mental attitudes and welcome the calls for help as opportunities for our self-fulfillment and lasting joy.

      The spiritual teachings are basically geared to awaken positive spiritual feelings, so that we may live more harmoniously and blissfully. Spiritual teachings form the core of this book; without spiritual teachings, what other role can religion play?
• When man loses his attention on God, he talks from his ego. He often says “This is me; this is mine,” and so on. Thus, he becomes a slave to his sensory organs and behaves more like a lower animal.
• Man often forgets his vows and promises, much like an elephant that takes a good bath in the river and then comes out and immediately lies down and rolls in the dust. So, too, man takes vows to improve and makes penance for his past bad actions, but no sooner does he accomplish this than he sees an object of sensual gratification; he loses all his control and commits the same mistakes all over again. A sick man may again become ill if he goes back to his old habits of poor health. So, too, a man needs to sincerely understand the whole purifying program properly and abide by it constantly in order to remain in good shape.
• Man often becomes a victim of lust. He commits grave errors under the influence of this temptation. Even the most powerful men have succumbed under the spell of lust. One should always be vigilant and avoid the pitfalls in this path, which are plenty. He must not become intimate with any women other than his own lawful wife.
• Forgiveness is a divine virtue. By forgiveness, we may attain God.
• Greed and lust may never be fully satisfied. However much we may get and enjoy, we remain unfulfilled and unsatisfied. Our true joy is in God and in performing the spiritual or divine actions.
• When Lord Krishna plays the sweet and melodious tunes on his flute, all become intoxicated. May they be the birds of the forest, cows, shepherds, or village maids (gopis), they forget everything and listen to his divine music. Such is the magic of God. Once the Divine entraps the man, he does not like to be separated. This is the eternal peace; this is the permanent bliss; and this is the everlasting joy. Whatever the entire world may say, the man of divinity forsakes all other relationships and cares not for shame or honor; he simply wants to drink in the nectar of spirituality.
• Man may ever be like a forest tree. It suffers the extreme degrees of the heat of the sun but gives cool shade to others; it gives leaves, fruits, flowers, wood, coal, and so much more. Only those who serve others and lay down their lives for the benefit of others know the true value of life. Only their lives are worthy lives.
• For attaining the Lord, one does not need any cleverness or any deep knowledge of the scriptures—nor, indeed, fasts and meditations. One may attain the Lord by simple and sincere surrender, by true longing, and by singing songs of the Lord. He comes to us in the easiest and most straightforward manner.
• Spend your life in the world, but keep your mind and soul in the meditation of the Lord. When the day is over, rejoice that you will return to God. Make God your constant companion. He will be your final and absolute security.
• All beings have the seed of God within. Even wicked persons have this divine seed within them. This seed may germinate and grow with one’s own effort or by the grace of the Lord. It’s man’s duty to remain in tune with the Lord all the time.
• Like the honeybee gathers trickles of honey from different flowers, so, too, the men of wisdom assimilate the essence of all scriptures and choose only the good in all religions. The Srimad Bhagavatam has become the immortal scripture of Hindus. Said the famous Srimad Bhagavatam guru Sri Mridul Shastri:
You must always go before God with humility and simplicity. Only then will you attain the divine grace and blessings. If you will attend the full narration (katha) of the Bhagavatam for all seven days with faith and sincerity, you will have enough spiritual vibrations to get all the answers to your queries from within!

_ ___ ________________________ ___ _

• Kindly forward the link www.hinduismpath.com to your contacts, who may want to read this book. All 65 chapters are uploaded on the web site.

• For any comments and inquiries:
  • email info@hinduismpath.com
  • visit Contact Us