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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 18, 2017 17:39:05 GMT -5
The Meaning of the Maha-Mantra "Hare Krsna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" This is the Hare Krishna mantra, or maha-mantra, the great mantra for deliverance. Composed of three of the holy names of God from the Sanskrit scriptures of ancient India, it is transcendental sound vibration. It is not ordinary sound. The word mantra comes from man (mind) and tra (to free). A mantra is a sound or prayer that frees the mind from the miseries of the material world. The three holy names in the maha-mantra are Hare, Krishna, and Rama. Hare is pronounced “huh-ray”. Hare means the energy of God. The Sanskrit word for energy is shakti. Shakti has a personal, specifically feminine, dimension to its meaning. So here, energy means the feminine aspect of God. Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, explained that the name Hare refers to Mother Hara, otherwise known as Radha or Radharani. Krishna is pronounced with a short “i”. The correct pronunciation is KRISH-na, (not KREESH-na.) Krishna means the All-Attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are many attractive qualities to be found in the world, and many people have some degree of one or more of these qualities, but the one who has all of these qualities in full and unlimited measure can only be God He is the source of all qualities, and in fact of all things in existence. He is a person, the original person, and the source of all incarnations and manifestations of Himself and of His creation, so He is called not just God but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rama is pronounced to rhyme with drama, RAH-muh. Rama means the reservoir of all pleasure. If we try to find pleasure independently we will only find brief snippets and it will be mixed with misery. But if we tap into the reservoir of all pleasure, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, by devotional service, we will be connected to the unlimited reservoir of all pleasure.. glimpseofkrishna.com/mantra.htm |
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 18, 2017 20:33:57 GMT -5
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 19, 2017 17:11:50 GMT -5
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 20, 2017 17:45:49 GMT -5
“A mantra is mystical energy encased in a sound structure and each mantra contains within its vibrations a certain power. But of all mantras, the maha-mantra (the Hare Krishna mantra) has been prescribed as the easiest and surest way for attaining God Realization in this present age.”— George Harrison (1943-2001), in his autobiography :’I, me and Mine’
The meaning of Hare Krishna Mantra
This mantra is made up of only three words : ‘Hare’, Krishna and ‘Rama’. ‘Krishna’ and ‘Rama’ are the name of Lord Vishnu – one of the mythological God in the trinity of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is said that in every yug (era) Vishnu takes incarnation on earth to establish the law of truth and righteousness.
Ram is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the Treta yug ( you must have heard the famous story of Ramayana – the popular Indian epic. Rama is the hero of that epic. You can learn more about Ramayana here.
Krishna is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the ‘Dwaper yug’. He is the central character in the Mahabharata (pronounced approximately as Ma-haa-BHAAR-a-ta ) -the another popular epic of India (which incidentally is the longest epic of the world). Krishna is the most popular God of Hindu religion.
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 21, 2017 17:30:51 GMT -5
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 22, 2017 17:06:42 GMT -5
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 23, 2017 15:15:00 GMT -5
“This transcendental vibration by chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness. As living spiritual soul, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by material atmosphere. In this polluted concept of life we are all trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in our complexities. This illusion is called maya, or hard struggle for existence, for winning over the stringent laws of material nature. This illusory struggle against material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived, and the process is recommended by authorities for this age. By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this Maha-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual stratum. When one is factually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of sense, mind and intelligence, one is situated on the transcendental plane. This chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, surpassing all lower stratus of consciousness — namely sensual, mental and intellectual. There is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor there is any need for mental speculation nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this Maha-mantra. It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration without any previous qualification and dance in ecstasy. We have seen it practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting, or even a dog can take part in it. The chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effect can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of non-devotee should be avoided as much as milk touched by the lips of a serpent causes poisonous effect. The three words, namely Hara, Krishna and Rama, are transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra and the chanting is spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy, Hara, for giving protection to the conditioned soul. The chanting is exactly like genuine cry by the child for mother. Mother Hara helps in achieving the grace of the Supreme Father, Hari, or Krishna, and the Lord reveals Himself to such sincere devotee. No other means therefore of spiritual realization is as effective in this age as chanting the Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” www.krishnapath.org/chant-the-hare-krishna-mantra/ |
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 24, 2017 17:53:21 GMT -5
What is the advantage of chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra?
By Sumit Bhandari (For me, Hinduism is a practice, Not a faith.)
I am 40 yrs old and had no faith in God till age of 31. It was an accidental verbal duel with an Iskcon devotee in Iskcon temple, which changed my perspective. I was dead against concept of God. I was like " Prove it."...The devotee suggested me to chant the Maha mantra. I did it very mechanically and its a truth that till date I feel its effect. There was no miracle, but events started happening. I started meeting people who gave me good company and slowly the spiritual company begins. Unknown people gifted me Bible , Guru Granth Sahib, Quran in hard copy as well soft form. I read a lot. There were numerous questions in life and all of them started getting answered at right moments. Strands of rope of ignorance started opening up.
Today I don't have blind faith in existence of God but I have a clear understanding. I am not confused like billions. I am at peace.
I will try to cut copy and paste from various sources as Its not right to comment on my own over this auspicious mantra.
Everyone knows that a happy life requires good health. Proper diet, adequate exercise, and sufficient rest are necessary to keep our bodies strong and fit. If we neglect these demands, our bodies become weakened and resistance wanes. Highly susceptible to infection, we eventually become ill.
Similarly , thought we may be unaware, is the inner self's need for spiritual nourishment and attention. If we ignore our spiritual health requirements, we become overwhelmed by negative material tendencies like anxiety, hatred, loneliness, prejudice, greed, boredom, envy, and anger.
In order to counteract and prevent these subtle infections of the self, we should,as recommended in the Vedic literatures, incorporate into our lives a program of self-examination and steady inner growth, based on spiritual strength and clarity of thought.
The transcendental potency necessary for developing complete psychological and spiritual fulfillment is already present within everyone. It must, however, be uncovered by a genuine spiritual process. Of all such authentic processes, India's timeless Vedas tell us that meditation on the Hare Krishna mantra is
The initial result of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is summarized by Srila Prabhupada in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita: "We have practical experience that any person who is chanting the holy names of Krishna (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) in course of time feels some transcendental pleasure and very quickly becomes purified of all material contamination."
In the preliminary stages of chanting, the practitioner experiences a clearing of consciousness, peace of mind, and relief from unwanted drives and habits. As one develops more realization by chanting, he perceives the original, spiritual existence of the self. According to the Bhagavad-gita, this enlightened state "is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish a
And in the Caitanya-caritamrta, a seventeen-volume commentary on the life and teachings of Sri Caitanya, founder of the modern-day Krishna consciousness movement, the ultimate benefit of chanting is described. "The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Krishna and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Krishna and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love."
So by chanting Hare Krishna, one reaps innumerable benefits, culminating in Krishna consciousness and love of God. We can realize the fruits of chanting by adopting the process of mantra meditation and applying it systematically. For clear understanding of the progressive effects of chanting, some of the more important benefits are discussed separately.
In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna explains, "One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?" By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we can control the mind, instead of letting it control us.
Mantra is a Sanskrit word. Man means "mind," and tra means "to deliver." Thus, a mantra is a transcendental sound vibration with potency to liberate the mind from material conditioning.
In his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada explains, "Our entanglement in material affairs is begun from material sound." Each day we hear material sounds from radio and television, from friends and relatives, and based on what we hear, we act. But as Srila Prabhupada points out, "There is sound in the spiritual world also. If we approach that sound, then our spiritual life begins." When we control the mind by focusing it on the purely spiritual sound vibration of the Hare Krishna mantra, the mind becomes calm. As "music has charms to soothe a savage beast," so the spiritual sound of the mantra soothes the restless mind.
The Hare Krishna mantra, being imbued with God's own supreme energies, has the power to subdue all kinds of mental disturbance. Just as a reservoir of water is transparent when unagitated, our mental perceptions become clear and pure when the mind is no longer agitated by the waves of material desires. The mind in its pure state, like a mirror cleansed of dust, will then reflect undistorted images of reality, allowing us to go beneath the surface and perceive the essential spiritual quality of all life's experiences.
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 25, 2017 18:01:39 GMT -5
The importance of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
Originally, the Maha Mantra was Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.This was the original Vedic Mantra and anyone and every one cannot invoke this mantra. It has to be properly invoked and only a qualified Brahmana has the required qualification to utter such holy mantra. This was possible only in the rest of the 3 previous yugas. However, in Kali Yuga, there are no Brahmanas at all to invoke the above mantra. In Kali Yuga, all are none but Sudras, because of the degradation. Therefore, out of His causeless mercy for the fallen Kali Yuga Jeevas, Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, who is none other than the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself, and who has incarnated 500 years ago, has changed the order of the above Mantra, while retaining the same potency of the original mantra, so that anyone and everyone can easily chant this holy name in this Kali Yuga and get purified. The newly-changed mantra is as follows : Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Thus, the Lord has made His mercy more easily available to one and all without exception. Chaitanya Charitaamrutha. Adi Leela. Text 17. 21 And Brhan-naaradiya Puraana Text harer näma harer näma
harer nämaiva kevalam
kalau nästy eva nästy eva
nästy eva gatir anyathäTranslation ‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.’ Kali Santarana Upanishad Text Iti shodasa naamnam
Kali kalmasha naasanam
Na tah parataropaayah
Sarva vedeshu drusyathe
Translation This Hare Krishna Maha Mantra has 16 names of the Supreme Lord and this destroys all the sins of the Kali Yuga. If you search out even in the entire of Vedas, you will not find any other means other than this chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, to destroy all the sin and ills of Kali Yuga. Chaitanya Charitaamrutha. Adi Leela. Text 17. 22 Text kali-käle näma-rüpe Krishna-avatära
näma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistära
Translation “In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.” yugalsarkarradhakrishna.blogspot.com/2011/01/importance-of-hare-krishna-maha-mantra.html
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 26, 2017 10:33:46 GMT -5
VERSES
* krsna krsneti krsneti, svapan jaagrad vrajamstatha, yo jalpati kalau nityam, krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah
(Varaaha Puraan)
Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that thename is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has beenordained by Lord Krsna.
* kali-kaala ku-sarpasya, tiksna-damstrasya maa bhayam, govinda-naama-daanena
,dagdho yasyati bhasmataam
(Skanda Puraan)
I see that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please beunperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the holy name of the Lord is being chanted, itis like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest.
* yagnaanaam japa-yagno 'smi
(Bhagavad Gita (BG) 10.25)
Of sacrifices I Am the chanting of the holy names – JAPA.
* kali-kaale naama-rupe krsna-avataara, naama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistaara
(Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Aadi Lilaa 17.22)
In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of LordKrsna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who doesthis is certainly delivered.
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 26, 2017 18:12:46 GMT -5
Dr. Daniel Coleman, associate editor of Psychology Today and author of The Varieties of Meditative Experiences, after studying the meditational techniques of members of the Krishna consciousness movement, said, "I found the Hare Krishna devotees to be well-integrated, friendly, and productive human beings. In a culture like ours, in which inner, spiritual development is almost totally neglected in favour of materialistic pursuits, we might have something to learn from their meditational practices." Everyone knows that a happy life requires good health. Proper diet, adequate exercise, and sufficient rest are necessary to keep our bodies strong and fit. If we neglect these demands, our bodies become weakened and resistance wanes. Highly susceptible to infection, we eventually may become ill. More important, but less well known, is the inner self's need for spiritual nourishment and attention. If we ignore our spiritual health requirements, we become overwhelmed by negative material tendencies like anxiety, hatred, loneliness, prejudice, greed, boredom, envy, and anger. In order to counteract and prevent these subtle infections of the self, we should, as recommended in the Vedic literatures, incorporate into our lives a program of self-examination and steady inner growth, based on spiritual strength and clarity of thought. The transcendental potency necessary for developing complete psychological and spiritual fulfillment is already present within everyone. It must, however, be uncovered by a genuine spiritual process. Of all such authentic processes, India's timeless Vedas tell us that meditation on the Hare Krishna mantra is the most powerful. The initial result of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is summarized by Srila Prabhupada in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita: "We have practical experience that any person who is chanting the holy names of Krishna Krishna-Mantra-uploading course of time feels transcendental pleasure. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare In the preliminary stages of chanting, the practitioner experiences a clearing of consciousness, peace of mind, and relief from unwanted drives and habits. As one develops more realization by chanting, he perceives the original, spiritual existence of the self. According to the Bhagavad-gita, this enlightened state "is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self " www.harekrishnasociety.com/vaishnava-philosophy/benefits-of-chanting-hare-krishna/ |
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Post by tenka on Jan 27, 2017 14:35:33 GMT -5
What part does faith play in the healing K? ...
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 27, 2017 18:21:55 GMT -5
What part does faith play in the healing K? ...
Rev. RICK REED, a senior pastor at the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa says, " This question is an intensely personal one for me, as I was recently diagnosed with cancer. Being told you have cancer is a sobering experience. It’s also a clarifying one. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen more clearly than ever the role my faith plays in health and healing. Sickness and death have been sad realities since our first parents chose to disobey God. We now live in a fallen world where none of us are exempt from suffering. ... As I begin cancer treatment, I have faith that God can heal me — by miracle or medicine. I’m grateful for the skilled and caring medical help I’m receiving, but my ultimate trust is in the God who promises eternal life to all who put their faith in Jesus (John 3:16). God has already given me renewed spiritual health; I can trust him with my physical health." |
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Post by krsnaraja on Jan 27, 2017 19:41:54 GMT -5
How My Cancer Became a Blessing
By Surapriya Devi Dasi
On August 18, 2002, my life took a fateful turn. A persistent leg-pain was diagnosed as being caused by malignant terminal breast cancer that had spread all over my body.
Till then my life had been more or less similar to that of most Indian Hindu housewives. I was born and brought up in Maharashtra, a province in Western India, in a cultured and pious family and had married a respectable school teacher, Bhagavan Malwadkar, who went on to become the principal of his school. Our three sons became well-educated young men, with bright careers in front of them.
Then Lord Krishna entered my life. Two of my sons—Siddhanath and Santosh—met devotees of the ISKCON Youth Forum, Pune, in the middle of 1997. Being inspired by the devotees’ association, they took to the practice of Krishna consciousness enthusiastically. I was somewhat taken aback by their sudden transformation, but after I met Gaursundara Dasa, the devotee who was teaching them about Krishna, I too was attracted by his disarming simplicity and profound wisdom. My husband and I invited him to start a weekly Bhagavad-gita program at our house in Kothrud, one of the main suburbs of Pune, and he agreed. As the weeks passed by, I was drawn more and more toward Krishna consciousness.
In the middle of 2000, my devotee sons decided to renounce their promising careers to join ISKCON full-time to become brahmacharis (celibate students). I was aghast; all the dreams of their glorious future I had cherished since their birth lay shattered. But I continued my devotional practices and gradually came to accept this as the inconceivable sweet will of the Lord. Meanwhile I suffered periods of poor health, but nothing seemed seriously wrong—till the day of that devastating diagnosis.
Within days of the diagnosis I underwent surgery, but it was a lost cause. The cancer was so widespread, doctors told my family members, that treatment could at best delay the inevitable by a few months. Not only was the disease itself very painful, but the treatment brought its own pains, with little chance of success.
As the horrifying reality of my plight sank in, I sensed that the pain, already excruciating, would worsen till death took its final toll. I felt it would be far easier to end my life myself right away than to try to endure the pain in an agonizing wait for an uncertain yet imminent death.
My sons, who had by now become initiated (Siddhnath had become Sankirtanananda Dasa, and Santosh had become Sundaravara Dasa), were alarmed when I revealed my thoughts to them. In gentle yet firm words, they told me that suicide would not solve my problems; rather it would aggravate them. They explained how all suffering comes from our past deeds and cannot be avoided by artificial means. They cautioned me that my trying to escape my destined suffering through suicide would only postpone the suffering to my next life.
Besides that, the reaction to the sinful act of destroying one’s own body by suicide only adds to future suffering. It was better, they told me, to take shelter of Lord Krishna through devotional service, tolerate the suffering, seeing it as His mercy, become purified, and return back home, back to Godhead, never to take birth again in this world of suffering. They reassured me that prayerful remembrance of the Lord would provide me relief from pain even in this life.
I was stunned to hear such profound philosophy from the sons I had nourished with my own breast milk. But soon the truth and wisdom in their words entered my heart, and I became filled with new hope. I resolved to spend the rest of my life cultivating devotional remembrance of Lord Krishna.
The doctors told me I had around seven months left. I started thinking of King Parikshit, who had only seven days to prepare for his death. He had gone to the banks of the Ganges, heard Srimad-Bhagavatam continuously for those seven days, and perfected his life. I decided to follow in his footsteps. I told my husband that I wanted to spend the last days of my life at the ISKCON temple in Pune. The temple president, Radheshyama Dasa, whom I had always revered as a compassionate saintly person, promptly agreed to provide us a room. I was moved by his kindness, as I knew there was an acute space shortage at the temple—forty-three brahmacharis lived in three rooms.
We quickly moved into the temple. As I started visiting the deities daily, hearing the classes and kirtanas, and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, I discovered something amazing: fixing my consciousness on Krishna protected me from the unbearable pain my body was inflicting upon me.
For a short period, my health seemed to improve, and my husband and I returned home, freeing up some space at the temple. But as soon as I left the temple, my pain became so excruciating that I felt like I was being pierced from within at a thousand places. No amount of painkillers helped, but whenever I returned to the temple, my pain subsided.
I realized again that it was Lord Krishna who was protecting me from my pain, not the medicines. I begged Radheshyama Dasa to please allow me to spend the brief remainder of my life at the temple, and he graciously consented, despite the inconveniences it would invariably cause him and the other devotees there.
Since childhood I had heard about Krishna bhakti, and I knew that devotion was incomplete without initiation from a bona fide spiritual master. I started praying intensely, “Dear Lord Krishna, please give me the shelter of a guru before I leave this body.”
On January 23, 2003, I underwent a major surgery. During the operation, my breath stopped for several minutes. During those traumatic minutes, I realized my identity to be distinct from my body; I could see, from a vantage point above the operation theater, my frail body lying lifeless on the operation table. I saw the doctors and nurses running around, trying frantically to revive me. I don’t know what happened after that, but I woke up to find myself inside my body again.
After that out-of-body experience (OBE) I felt intuitively that Krishna had given me a fresh lease on life just so I could get the shelter of a guru. And, sure enough, on April 4, 2003, His Holiness Radhanatha Swami, the spiritual master of my devotee sons, accepted me as his disciple.
When I look back at my life and the great spiritual transformation that has taken place over the last few months, I feel strongly that cancer has proved to be a blessing for me. Had it not been for this deadly disease, I would never have risen from ritualistic piety to heartfelt devotion; I would simply have grown old, got diseased, died, and continued on aimlessly in the cycle of birth and death. I would never have got the great fortune of living in the Lord’s temple, and I would probably never have sought or received initiation. And certainly I would never have experienced the sweetness of helpless remembrance of Lord Krishna. I feel therefore that the Lord has blessed me by giving me cancer and by simultaneously giving me shelter through His devotees and mission.
Generally when a young son renounces the world to serve God, his parents in particular and people in general are shocked at what they consider to be irresponsibility and escapism. I was no exception to such sentiments. My anguish was, in fact, much greater, because not one, but two, of my sons decided to forsake everything for the Lord’s service. But now on the verge of death, when the futility of all material achievements stands exposed before me and the inestimable value of devotional service is dawning upon me, I realize how wise my sons were in dedicating their life to the service of the Lord in the prime of their youth.
During my sickness, my two devotee sons carefully attended to my needs, arranging for me to come and stay in the temple with them, cooking for me, accompanying me to the hospital, and taking turns in serving me. Whenever I was in pain or distress, they were always there by my side to support and encourage me. They did all a faithful son can be expected to do for his mother.
But over and above caring for my body, they cared for the real me—the soul. They provided me with spiritual knowledge and devotional practices, which saved me from unbearable bodily pain and brought me indescribable inner happiness. I therefore feel that what they have done for me is far more than what an ordinary son can ever do for his mother.
I feel proud that they were so intelligent that they took to devotional service even before I did. It is sometimes said that the child is the father of the man. In my case, the sons have become the spiritual guides of their mother.
Lastly I feel profound gratitude to Srila Prabhupada, his followers, and his mission, ISKCON, for having provided me with the shelter of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet in my last days, when I so desperately needed it. It is only by their grace that for me cancer has been transformed from a curse into a blessing.
----------------
Surapriya Devi Dasi passed away on June 13, 2003, at 3:15 A.M. within the premises of the Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari temple, ISKCON, Pune. At that time, a CD player was playing a recording of Sria Prabhupada singing the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and her youngest son, Sundaravara Dasa, was chanting on his beads next to her. Before losing consciousness the previous night, she repeatedly chanted the name of Srila Prabhupada and said that she very distinctly felt his presence in the room, something she had felt dimly on several occasions earlier. A few hours before her departure, her husband told her that his presence next to her would distract her from thinking of Lord Krishna at the time of death and that he would therefore go to a nearby relative’s house for the night. She readily agreed.
During her last days, her relatives said that they saw no fear of death in her; rather they felt a divine peace pervade her being progressively. Even the doctors treating her commented that they had never seen a bone cancer patient so peaceful amid so much pain. (Cancer spread through the bones is known to be extremely painful.) She also requested of her husband that, after her death, he take to the vanaprastha (retired) order of life and dedicate his life to the service of Lord Krishna in ISKCON.
At the time of her initiation, Surapriya Devi Dasi wrote on her initiation form that she would like to preach Krishna consciousness. Devotees were skeptical that she could possibly preach, being in such a precarious physical condition. But she would fervently request every relative who came to see her to start chanting at least one round on beads of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Most of her relatives, being moved by her earnest concern for their spiritual well-being despite being herself on her deathbed, started chanting at once.
Moreover Lord Krishna fulfilled His devotee’s pure desire in a very special way. June 13 and 14 happened to be the dates of a spiritual camp at the Pune temple for over 150 young people from all over India. By arranging for her death on the first day of this camp, Krishna gave all these young people a timely reminder of the harsh reality of death, a reality that modern society tries to hide and ignore. Through her shining example, they also realized the necessity of accepting the saving grace of devotional service. Surapriya Devi Dasi thus preached the glory of devotional service through the way she accepted death. Krishna also glorified Surapriya Devi Dasi for her sincere devotion by arranging to have many devotees chanting to create an auspicious atmosphere at the time of her departure from her body.
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Post by tenka on Jan 28, 2017 4:21:41 GMT -5
What part does faith play in the healing K? ...
Rev. RICK REED, a senior pastor at the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa says, " This question is an intensely personal one for me, as I was recently diagnosed with cancer. Being told you have cancer is a sobering experience. It’s also a clarifying one. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen more clearly than ever the role my faith plays in health and healing. Sickness and death have been sad realities since our first parents chose to disobey God. We now live in a fallen world where none of us are exempt from suffering. ... As I begin cancer treatment, I have faith that God can heal me — by miracle or medicine. I’m grateful for the skilled and caring medical help I’m receiving, but my ultimate trust is in the God who promises eternal life to all who put their faith in Jesus (John 3:16). God has already given me renewed spiritual health; I can trust him with my physical health." I agree that certain experiences had bring forth moments of putting their faith in another be it God, Jesus the universe or their moms  . Faith can have a part to play in healing for sure . About 10 years ago a group of family and friends went to see a psychic surgeon and only me and my mum really believed in it (as we both are healers and work with energy) whereas the others were open minded enough to go but not really sure . For them it was more something different to try and a day out for them . Only me and my mum noticed a dramatic change after the surgery . |
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