Posts by Dr Keshav Anand Das

We can never thank God enough for His amazing grace and all the good things He has done and is doing for us.

Every time we try to thank Him by serving Him, He is so kind to accept our thanks even though we don’t serve Him perfectly. But that makes us owe Him even more. It’s a never-ending cycle. But that’s okay. That’s what love is.

Love doesn’t make sense but it feels good. Love is apparently illogical but sweet. We want to keep owing God more and more so that we are always His loyal servants. Love takes away our freedom but it gives us security. Everyone owes God a lot.

Those who know this are His followers, and those who don’t are His deniers. Among those who know this, those who try to thank Him by serving Him purely make God owe them!!

The verse 4.11 of Bhagavad Gita is a mysterious one. But don’t worry, I will explain it to you.

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.

This verse has various meanings.

-Krishna manifests as bliss within matter for those who consider matter to be the ultimate reality.

-Krishna shows His corporeal effulgence as impersonal light for those who believe He is impersonal, while concealing His lovely transcendental form.

-Krishna deceives those who deceive Him by concealing His pure devotion from them.

-Krishna surrenders to those who surrender to Him by finding an opportunity or an excuse to serve them.

-Krishna loves those who love Him by revealing His form, qualities, and pastimes unto them.

-Krishna does not hear the prayers and chanting of those who do not listen to His instructions.

-Krishna considers the pleasure of the senses of those who consider His pleasure by bestowing delight in devotion on them.

-Krishna entangles those who reject Him in the cycle of birth and death.

-Krishna manifests as Vishnu or Narayana, the supreme Lord of creation, for those who are struck by His power.

-Krishna manifests as the darling of Vrindavan for those who are impressed by His sweetness.

-Krishna shames those who shame Him by hypocrisy in devotion by engaging them in sense-gratification and causing them to fall.

-Krishna glorifies those who glorify Him by making them famous as great devotees.

The five elements of the body will laugh within, on those who mislead others.

Thirukurral Kural -271

Cheaters who mislead others will be led astray by God and His creation. God will ensure that even their own bodies betray them. No one will work for them, for they do not work for others. Such is the law. The law of nature. The law of God.

Even the five elements of their own bodies will revolt against these cheaters, filling their lives with misery and suffering. Anxiety, disease, old age, and death will haunt them relentlessly.

Have you ever wondered why we all experience disease, aging, and death? Are we cheating someone? Are we misleading others.

Indeed, we are cheating ourselves and not anyone else by cheating God by neglecting devotion to Him. God, in His mercy, sustains our lives by providing sunlight, moonlight, water, air, and food. Yet, we fail to express gratitude. Is this not extreme selfishness? Will God not feel deceived?Are we not those cheaters?

Imagine a lover who gives everything to their beloved, only to be met with indifference and ingratitude. Such is God’s plight when we fail to acknowledge His help, His existence, and His love.

The entire creation, the five elements, the celestial beings, destiny, and time itself will turn against us if we cheat God by neglecting to devote our lives to Him. We will have to face punishment in form of disease, aging, and repeated death, until we learn to love the Lord, to stop cheating Him, and to cease misleading one selves and others.

Those without religious inclinations often criticize the religious.

While the religious may criticize the devotees.

Those who follow rules-based devotion (vaidhi bhakti) criticize those who follow devotion guided by taste and rasa (prema bhakti).

But only those who embrace pure devotion guided by love (prema bhakti) are free from the tendency to criticize.

To avoid such criticism, one must cultivate Love of God, which is not just a goal but an essential need for the soul. Love opens our eyes to the illuminating wisdom of scriptures and the true path.

Put your utmost dedication into nurturing Love of God, or risk falling into the pit of envy and criticism.

“I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God’s will”.

Joan of Arc

God created us to serve Him and love Him. However, it is important to understand the concept of sin, which is going against God’s system or laws.

Sin separates us from God, depriving us of His mercy and leading to suffering in the cycle of birth, death, disease, and old age.

There are two types of sins: grievous sins (sudhurachar) and less grievous sins (durachar).

Grievous sins include offenses committed against God and His devotees, such as blasphemy and willful enjoyment of the material world despite knowing its temporary nature. These sins cut us off from God’s mercy and hinder our goal of connecting with and pleasing Him.

Examples of grievous sins specific to Krishna consciousness are the ten offenses against the Holy Name and the violation of the four regulatory principles related to eating meat, engaging in illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling. Committing these sins as a devotee can have severe consequences and lead to a loss of spiritual progress.

Less grievous sins, or durachar, encompass behaviors like overworking, overeating, indulging excessively in enjoyment, gossiping, blindly following rules without understanding them, associating with non-devotees or new devotees, and desiring material things. While these behaviors may not sever our connection with God, they can impede our devotion and spiritual progress.

It is important to note that God understands our limitations and shows mercy in certain situations. If a devotee unintentionally commits grievous sins or lacks knowledge about right and wrong, God continues to extend His grace. However, intentionally engaging in less grievous sins hampers our devotion more than unintentional grievous sins.

The key takeaway is that God’s mercy is based on our will and knowledge of what is right and wrong. By understanding the nature of sin and making efforts to eliminate it from our lives, we can connect with God and attain His grace. It is a continuous process of practicing righteousness, seeking forgiveness, and striving for a closer relationship with the Divine.

Unless we extend our best efforts earnestly,and qualify ourselves for the Lord’s mercy,it is next to impossible that we can be rescued from our fallen condition.

Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur -Upadesha Upakhyana

Doing any kind of work takes effort. If we don’t put effort into our work, it will slowly get worse and eventually be ruined. It’s like if we have a business but don’t work hard, we could lose money and the business might disappear. The same goes for knowledge -if we don’t put effort into learning and understanding, we can forget what we know.

And just like that, when it comes to serving God, we need to make an effort too. We can’t be lazy or give up easily.

We have to keep trying putting efforts to understand philosophy, ask questions when we’re unsure, and do our best to do what God wants, even when it’s hard.

We should also be careful to protect our faith by being careful about the people we spend time with, avoiding those who might influence us in a bad way.

And most importantly, we need to stay excited and enthusiastic about serving God.

A true devotee always focuses on making an effort in serving God. They know that putting in effort is important in everything we do, especially in our relationship with God. Devotees therefore fix their vision on the efforts in the service of God

When it comes to the path of devotion, two essential aspects seamlessly intertwine: the unwavering dedication of one’s efforts during acts of service, and the profound embrace of divine mercy in prayer.

Imagine them as the two wheels of a cart, for without one, the other loses its purpose, rendering the cart motionless. Thus, the harmonious convergence of both is indispensable.

Yet, the focus on mercy and effort undergoes a subtle transformation for the ardent devotee.

During active service rendered unto the Lord, the primary focus lies on the sheer exertion and diligence invested, with mercy assuming a secondary role, residing in the recesses of the devotee’s consciousness.

On the other hand, in the fervent moments of prayer, mercy takes center stage, occupying the forefront of the devotee’s thoughts, while effort retreats to a more subdued presence, lingering in the background.

In essence, during acts of service, the devotee wholeheartedly fixes on the precision of their efforts, for such service is dedicated to the perfection. In this pursuit, the devotee’s attention remains steadfastly devoted to the exertion required for flawless execution.

Conversely, when immersed in prayer, the devotee’s focus intensifies on the expanse of divine mercy, embracing it wholeheartedly. Surrendering themselves completely, the devotee bestows sole credit to the Supreme Lord for all their actions and accomplishments.

Thus, the dance between mercy and effort unfolds, harmonizing seamlessly as the devotee traverses the path of devotion, constantly shifting their focal points.

Everyone wants to be happy, and the good news is that happiness is within reach for anyone, regardless of their age, appearance, job, or income. Happiness is something everyone deserves, and you don’t have to strive to create it.

The real question is: How do we attain happiness?

Well, there’s a super simple four-step happiness formula mentioned in the Charaka Samhita:

Sukham shete satyavakta sukham shete mitavyayi।

Hitabhuk mitabhuk chaiva tathaiva vijitondriyah॥

1. Be honest and speak the truth: Always tell the truth and never lie. When you lie, you end up getting tangled in a web of more lies, which only leads to frustration.The best way to speak truth is to always speak about God because He is the Supreme Truth.

2. Spend wisely: Only spend money on what you truly need. Avoid unnecessary expenses and be mindful of your financial choices.

3. Don’t overindulge in food: Enjoy healthy meals, but don’t go overboard with your eating. It’s all about maintaining a balanced and moderate approach.

4. Keep your senses in check: If you can control your senses and not let them run wild, your mind will find peace and tranquility.

So, in a nutshell, the secret to happiness lies in telling the truth, spending wisely, eating in moderation, and having control over your senses.

It’s a simple yet powerful formula that can pave the way to a happier life.

The main thing holding us back from reconnecting with God isn’t some external force like Maya (illusion), but actually ourselves!

It’s hard to believe, but we are our own worst enemy in this regard. We have nobody to blame but ourselves for our current state.

That’s why Kanak Das, a follower of the Madhva Vaishnava tradition, sings, “I may go, If I will go.

“In simpler terms, if I can let go of my own ego and selfish desires, then maybe I can enter the spiritual world.

When we stop being so self-centered and start focusing on God, we can start our journey back to God.

Of all the nourishing foods,

Detachment nourishes the best.

(Ayurveda sutrasthan 25.40)

Forget popping pills or eating salads, the real deal for getting healthy is something totally different and way more awesome.

It’s called detachment!

Yes, you heard it right. Detaching yourself from material desires is like a super food for your mind and body. It’s the key to finding inner peace and kicking stress and anxieties to the curb.

And you know what that means?

Say goodbye to all those nasty lifestyle diseases like heart attacks, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Plus, your immune system gets a major boost, protecting you from those pesky infections. No stress, no diseases

But here’s the kicker: Detachment isn’t just about the body—it nourishes your soul too.

When you let go of worldly attachments, your soul becomes a warrior, resisting all those tempting distractions and staying focused on one thing: getting that sweet, sweet Love of God. A detached mind is a strong mind, and a strong mind builds a sturdy body!