THE SPIRITUAL SKY
There are a few reasons that motivated me to make this particular web page. One of the more outstanding ones being that we often get so lost in politics or dogma, even thinking they are Krishna Consciousness; or something different may be going on, but we may be stuck in it a bit. And sometimes we don't want to admit it our faith in the existence of the spiritual world is more mental than realized. Of course this will always be the case to a degree, until the day we become cent-per-cent pure devotees. However, we may need to take off the brakes. :-) .
Often there is little time spent talking about the spiritual world that exists outside of our vision, and much time often spent talking about politics; or only that which we can see, feel, taste, touch or smell. How can we believe in a transcendental world? How can we even become the slightest bit dhira (undisturbed)? Or how can we gain hope ......upon the death or crisis of one close to us or of one we respect, or even of ourselves (!) ..... if our faith is more blind than factual and realized?
For example, if someone is going to Europe or anywhere far from where they currently live, generally they get a brochure, read a magazine or two about how wonderful it is, borrow info from the library, learn about the people (what are they like there? What do they wear? What are their customs? Will they like me? What do I need to know so they will? Etc.). And a traveler may also wish to learn about the country, get some 'geography' straight, the land, its beauty, its various bodies of water, trees, the birds and animals that live only there and not here. This list can go on but you may see where I am going with it by now --
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Thus I have started this web page so all can read/talk about the spiritual world the way we did in the old days, understanding it as more of a reality, f-e-e-l-i-n-g a taste of that - also as we did in back than.
It is for everyone: Those who have not heard much detail about the spiritual kingdom, and those who have heard a lot, yet -- this knowledge is ever fresh, and we could all use some refreshing :-). Particularly in this age of forgetfulness. Therefore it doesn't matter whether we are refreshing our memories or learning or relearning (a bit rusty) -- in regards to jeweled homes, lovely streets that do not need to be swept because there is so little dust in the Spiritual Sky, etc. -- everyone is invited here. My hopes are that it will benefit readers of all ages and stages of their Krishna Consciousness (conscious of God); plus dear readers, please know that we are open to everyone.
Quick note: These are separate quotes, and I use color changes or bars or pictures to indicate the separation.
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Thank you for letting me serve you in this way!
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TRANSLATION
It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the Vaikuntha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one's intelligence. Those who give up the topics of Vaikuntha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance." SB 3.15. 23
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"In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that the Supreme Lord, Govinda, is always served in His abode by many, many millions of goddesses of fortune. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam. These millions and trillions of goddesses of fortune who reside in the Vaikuntha planets are not exactly consorts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but are the wives of the devotees of the Lord and also engage in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is stated here that in the Vaikuntha planets the houses are made of marble. Similarly, in the Brahma-samhita it is stated that the ground on the Vaikuntha planets is made of touchstone. Thus there is no need to sweep the stone in Vaikuntha, for there is hardly any dust on it, but still, in order to satisfy the Lord, the ladies there always engage in dusting the marble walls. Why? The reason is that they are eager to achieve the grace of the Lord by doing so." SB 3.15.21. P
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TRANSLATION
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Beyond the material nature lies the realm known as paravyoma, the spiritual sky. Like Lord Krsna Himself, it possesses all transcendental attributes, such as the six opulences.
PURPORT (partial)
"But the world beyond the twenty-four elements is not inexplicable, for it is explained in the Bhagavad-gita as the eternal (sanatana) nature. Beyond the manifested and unmanifested existence of material nature (vyaktavyakta) is the sanatana nature, which is called the paravyoma, or the spiritual sky. Since that nature is spiritual in quality, there are no qualitative differences there; everything there is spiritual, everything is good, and everything possesses the spiritual form of Sri Krsna Himself. That spiritual sky is the manifested internal potency of Sri Krsna; it is distinct from the material sky manifested by His external potency.
The all-pervading Brahman, the impersonal glowing ray of Sri Krsna, exists in the spiritual world with the Vaikuntha planets. We can get some idea of that spiritual sky by a comparison to the material sky, for the rays of the sun in the material sky can be compared to the brahmajyoti, the glowing rays of the Personality of Godhead. In the brahmajyoti there are unlimited Vaikuntha planets, which are spiritual and therefore self-luminous, with a glow many times greater than that of the sun. The Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, His innumerable plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions dominate each Vaikuntha planet. In the highest region of the spiritual sky is the planet called Krsnaloka, which has three divisions, namely Dvaraka, Mathura and Goloka. " CC. Adi Lila, 5.14
"In the effulgent rays of the spiritual sky there are innumerable planets floating. The brahmajyoti emanates from the supreme abode, Krsnaloka, and the anandamaya-cinmaya planets, which are not material, float in those rays." BG Intro
"People do not know about their real home in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there are many Vaikuntha planets, and the topmost planet is Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana. Despite the so-called advancement of civilization,there is no information of the Vaikunthalokas, the spiritual planets. " ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.48
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"Svetadvipa is the local Vaikuntha planet beyond the jurisdiction of the influence of external energy." ~ Krishna Book, Ch. 88, Deliverance of Lord Shiva.
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"The abode of the Supreme Lord is in the spiritual sky, and it is named as Goloka. In the Brahma-samhita it is very nicely described, goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. The Lord, although resides eternally in His abode, Goloka, still He is akhilatma-bhutah, He can be approached from here also. And the Lord therefore comes to manifest His real form, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], so that we may not have to imagine. There is no question of imagination. The Lord's presence, by His causeless mercy He presents Himself in His Syamasundara-rupa. Unfortunately, people with less intelligence deride at Him. Avajananti mam mudha. Because the Lord comes as one of us and just like plays with us as a human being, therefore we need not consider that Lord is one of us. It is His omnipotency that He presents Himself with His real form before us and displays His pastimes, just the prototype of His abode. So that abode of Lord, there are innumerable planets also in that brahmajyoti. Just like we have got innumerable planets floating on the sun rays, similarly, in the brahmajyoti, which is emanating from the abode of the Supreme Lord, Krsnaloka, Goloka, ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis, all those planets are spiritual planets. They are ananda-cinmaya; they are not material planets." Bhagavad Gita, Intro.
"The spiritual world of the Vaikuntha planets and Krsnaloka, the supreme planet, is situated in His energy of thinking.Although there is no creation in the spiritual world, which is eternal, it is still to be understood that the Vaikuntha planets depend on the thinking energy of the Supreme Lord. This thinking energy is described in Brahma-samhita (5.2), where it is said that the supreme abode, known as Goloka, is manifested like a lotus flower with hundreds of petals. Everything there is manifested by Ananta, the Balarama or Sankarsana form." ~ TLC 7.
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"In the spiritual sky there are innumerable planets, sanatana planets, eternal planets, which are never destroyed, annihilated. But of all those spiritual planets there is one planet, the original planet, which is called Goloka Vrndavana. So these informations are there in the Bhagavad-gita and we are given the opportunity for leaving this material world and get our eternal life in the eternal kingdom." Bhagavad Gita, Intro
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"It is to be understood that Devahuti entered the planet which is called Kapila Vaikuntha. There are innumerableVaikuntha planets predominated by the expansions of Visnu. All the Vaikuntha planets are known by a particular name of Visnu. As we understand from Brahma-samhita, advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam. Ananta means "innumerable." The Lord has innumerable expansions of His transcendental form, and according to the different positions of the symbolical representations in His four hands, He is known as Narayana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva, etc. There is also a Vaikuntha planet known as Kapila Vaikuntha, to which Devahuti was promoted to meet Kapila and reside there eternally, enjoying the company of her transcendental son." SB 3.33.30 P
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"The spiritual planets are also known as Vaikuntha planets. The universes of the material creation have a limited length and breadth, but as far as the Vaikuntha planets are concerned, there is no limitation to their dimensions because they are spiritual. Lord Caitanya informed Sanatana Gosvami that the length and breadth of each and every Vaikuntha planet is millions and billions of miles. Each of these planets is unlimitedly expanded, and in each and every one of them there are residents who are full in all six opulences--wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation. In each and every one of these Vaikuntha planets an expansion of Krsna has His eternal abode, and Krsna Himself has His original, eternal abode called Krsnaloka or Goloka Vrndavana." TLC 9
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"Devotees never enter to that impersonal Brahman. Devotees enter directly in the Vaikuntha planet. Mam eti. Mam eti. Krsna said, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhamam paramam mama. If you enter the Vaikuntha planets... There are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and above them there is the Goloka Vrndavana planet, Krsnaloka. So in either of them, if you enter, then that is not impersonal. Personal. ImpersonalBrahman is outside. Although impersonal Brahman is also spiritual existence, but it is outside the Vaikuntha planets. So the demons and the impersonalists, they cannot enter into the Vaikuntha planet. And because they cannot enter into the Vaikuntha planet, they again fall down, again fall down in this material world." SP lecture, SB 7.9. 29, Mayapur India, March 7, 76
"Regarding your second question: what determines whether a devotee goes to a Vaikuntha planet or to Goloka Vrndavana?--Those devotees who are following viddhi marg are meant for going to Vaikuntha planets and those who are following raga marg are meant for going to Krsnaloka. It is generally that the followers of Lord Caitanya are going to Goloka Vrndavana. There is no difference between the Vaikuntha planets and Krsnaloka, it is a matter of personal taste only." Srila Prabhupada letter to Tamala Krsna, LA, June 21, 1970
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"When we speak of sky, because we have material conception of the sky, therefore we think of sky with sun, moon, stars, like that. But the Lord says that the eternal sky, there is no need of sun. Na tad bhasayate suryo na sasanko na pavakah [Bg. 15.6]. Neither in that eternal sky there is need of moon. Na pavakah means neither there is necessity of electricity or fire for illuminating because the spiritual sky is already illuminated by the brahmajyoti." Bhagavad Gita, intro
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TRANSLATION
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Lowest of all is located Devi-dhama [mundane world], next above it is Mahesa-dama [abode of Mahesa]; above Mahesa-dhama is placed Hari-dhama [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Krsna's own realm named Goloka. Iadore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms.
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PURPORT
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The realm of Goloka stands highest above all others. Brahma looking up to the higher position of Goloka is speaking of the other realms from the point of view of his own realm: the first in order is this mundane world called Devi-dhama consisting of the fourteen worlds, viz., Satyaloka, etc.; next above Devi-dhama is located Siva-dhama one portion of which, called Mahakala-dhama, is enveloped in darkness; interpenetrating this portion of Siva-dhama there shines the Sadasivaloka, full of great light. Above the same appears Hari-dhama or the transcendental Vaikunthaloka. The potency of Devi-dhama, in the form of the extension of Maya, and that of Sivaloka, consisting of time, space and matter, are the potency of the separated particles pervaded by the penumbral reflection of the subjective portion of the Divinity. But Hari-dhama is ever resplendent with transcendental majesty and the great splendor of all-sweetness predominates over all other majesties in Goloka. The Supreme Lord Govinda by his own direct and indirect power has constituted those respective potencies of those realms." Brahma Samhita 5.43
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"But the spiritual world, which is beyond this material sky, paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo [Bg. 8.20], but that avyakta, that nonmanifested spiritual sky, is the paramam gatim, that is, one should desire, one should hanker after reaching that supreme kingdom." BG Intro..
"In the Brahma-samhita (5.38) it is said, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena: a saintly person who has developed love of Godhead by devotional service always sees the Lord's transcendental form of Syamasundara. This Syamasundara form of the Lord within the heart of a devotee is not imaginary. When a devotee becomes mature in his prosecution of devotional service, he sees face to face the same Syamasundara he has thought of during the entire course of his devotional service. Since the Supreme Lord is absolute, the form within the heart of a devotee, the form in the temple and the original form in Vaikuntha, Vrndavana-dhama, are all the same; they are nondifferent from one another." SB 4.9.2 P
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I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of laksmis or gopis.
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PURPORT
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By the word cintamani is meant "transcendental gem." Just as Maya builds this mundane universe with the five material elements, so the spiritual (cit) potency has built the spiritual world of transcendental gems. The cintamani which serves as material in the building of the abode of the Supreme Lord of Goloka, is a far rarer and more agreeable entity than the philosopher's stone. The purpose tree yields only the fruits of piety. wealth, fulfillment of desire and liberation; but the purpose trees in the abode of Krsna bestow innumerable fruits in the shape of checkered divine love. Kama-dhenus (cows yielding the fulfillment of desire) give milk when they are milked; but the kama-dhenus ofGoloka pour forth oceans of milk in the shape of the fountain of love showering transcendental bliss that does away with the hunger and thirst of all pure devotees. The words laksa and sahasra-sata signify endless numbers. The word sambhrama or sadara indicates "being saturated with love." Here laksmi denotes gopi. Adi-purusa means, "He who is the primeval Lord." -- Bs 5.29
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"He is not subjected to the threefold miseries created by the material energy because He is beyond it. The modes of material nature do not touch Him. It is explained here, svayam-jyotih: He is light Himself. We have experience in the material world of one light's being a reflection of another, just as moonlight is a reflection of the sunlight. Sunlight is also the reflection of the brahmajyoti. Similarly, brahmajyoti, the spiritual effulgence, is a reflection of the body of the Supreme Lord. This is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita: yasya prabha prabhavatah. The brahmajyoti, or Brahman effulgence, is due to His bodily luster. Therefore it is said here, svayam-jyotih: He Himself is light. His light is distributed in different ways, as the brahmajyoti, as sunlight and as moonlight. Bhagavad-gita confirms that in the spiritual world there is no need of sunlight, moonlight or electricity. The Upanisads also confirm this; because the bodily luster of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is sufficient to illuminate the spiritual world, there is no need of sunlight, moonlight or any other light or electricity." ~ SB 3.26.3 P
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"Krsna was very much pleased with the tailor and gave him the benediction of sarupya-mukti, which means that after leaving his body, he would be liberated and would attain a body exactly like fourhanded Narayana's in the Vaikuntha planets. He also granted him that as long as he would live he would earn sufficient opulence to be able to enjoy sense gratification. By this incident Krsna proved that those who are Krsna conscious devotees will not be lacking material enjoyment or sense gratification. They will have sufficient opportunity for such things, but after leaving this life they will be allowed to enter the spiritual planets of Vaikunthaloka or Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana." KB 41, Krsna Enters Mathura
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"As stated in Brahma-samhita (5.43), all the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual sky (known as Visnuloka) are situated in the planet known as Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana. In that supreme planet the Lord enjoys His transcendental blissin multiple forms, and all the opulences of the Vaikunthas are fully displayed in that one planet. The associates of Krsna are also full with six opulences." ~ TLC 9.
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"We get it from Bhagavad-gita. In the Fourth Chapter there is mention of the sun-god: imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam, vivasvate. Vivasvan is the name of the sun-god. At present, the predominating leader, or the principle deity, in the sun planet is called Vivasvan. So he's a person. He's a person, and his globe is the sun globe. And from the sun globe, there is sunshine. Similarly, there is a planet which is known as Goloka Vrndavana. In the spiritual world there are millions of planets there. As we have got millions of planets here in this material world, millions of universes, similarly, the spiritual world there are millions of planets, globes, which are called Vaikunthalokas. And the topmost of the Vaikunthalokas is called Goloka Vrndavana or Krsnaloka. That is the original abode of Lord Krsna. And from that globe, there is effulgence, which is bodily effulgence of Krsna. We get this information from Brahma-samhita: yasya prabha prabhavato jagadanda-koti. Yasya prabha. The brahmajyoti is the bodily effulgence of Lord Krsna. Exactly the sunshine is the bodily effulgence of Vivasvan, it is being emanating, it is emanating from the sun globe, similarly, the brahmajyoti is emanating from Krsnaloka. And in that Krsna, Brahman effulgence, so many universes and so many Vaikuntha planets are growing exactly the same way as so many planets have grown from the sunshine. This is scientific.
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So how Krsna is aham sarvasya prabhavah, you can understand it. If you study, if you take information from Vedic literature, if you attentively think over it, you'll very easily understand that everything is produced out of Krsna's bodily effulgence or energy. " Pandal Lecture, Bombay India, April 10, 71
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TRANSLATION
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"O King Pariksit, great sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely necessary for offering oblations into the fire. They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.
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PURPORT
Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuntha planets. As described in Brahma-samhita, Lord Krsna, on His planet, Goloka Vrndavana, engages in tending the surabhi cows (surabhir abhipalayantam). These cows are the Lord's petanimals. From the surabhi cows one can take as much milk as one needs, and one may milk these cows as many times as he desires. In other words, the surabhi cow can yield milk unlimitedly. Milk is necessary for the performance of yajna. Sages know how to use milk to elevate human society to the perfection of life. Since cow protection is recommended everywhere in the sastras, the brahma vadis took charge of the surabhi cow, in which the demons were not very interested." SB 8.8.3
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The brahmajyoti is the beginning of the spiritual world, and beyond the brahmajyoti are the Vaikuntha planets. In other words, the brahmajyoti stays outside the Vaikuntha planets, just as the sunshine stays outside the sun. To enter the sun planet, one must go through the sunshine. Similarly, when the Lord or His devotees enter the Vaikuntha planets, they go through the brahmajyoti. The jnanis, or monistic philosophers, because of their impersonal conception of the Lord, cannot enter the Vaikuntha planets, but they also cannot stay eternally in the brahmajyoti. Thus after some time they fall again to this material world." Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.11.19
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"In spiritual sky or in the brahmajyoti there are spiritual planets, innumerable spiritual planets, we have already discussed. And the number of those planets are far, far greater than all the universes of this material world. This material world is ekamsena sthito jagat. This is one-fourth part manifestation of the whole creation. Three-fourths part of the creation is the spiritual world and in the one-fourth part of this creation there are millions of universes like this which we are experiencing at the present moment. And in one universe there are millions and billions of planets. So there are millions and billions of suns and stars and moons in all this material world, but all this material world constitute only one-fourth manifestation of the whole creation. The three-fourths manifestation is in the spiritual sky. Now, this mad-bhavam, one who desires to merge into the existence of the Supreme Brahman, they merge in the brahmajyoti of the Supreme Lord. Mad-bhavam means that brahmajyoti as well as the spiritual planets in the brahmajyoti. And the devotees, who want to enjoy in the association of the Lord, they enter into the planets,Vaikuntha planets. There are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and the Lord, Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, by His plenary expansion as Narayana with four hands with different names, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Madhava, Govinda...There are many innumerable names of this four-handed Narayana. So one of the planets, that is also mad-bhavam, that is also within the spiritual nature. So any transcendentalist who at the end of life, either he thinks of the brahmajyoti or meditates upon the Paramatma or thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, in either case, they enter into the spiritual sky. But only the devotees, those who have practiced personal touch with the Supreme Lord, they enter into the Vaikuntha planets or in the Goloka Vrndavana planet." Bhagavad Gita, Introduction
"In the Padmottara-khanda (225.57) it is stated that the material energy and the spiritual energy are separated bywater known as the Viraja River. That river flows from the perspiration of the first purusa incarnation. On one bank of the Viraja is the eternal nature, unlimited and all-blissful, called the spiritual sky, and this is the spiritual kingdom, or the kingdom of God. The spiritual planets are called Vaikunthas because there is no lamentation or fear there;everything is eternal. The spiritual world has been calculated to comprise three-fourths of the energies of the Supreme Lord, and the material world is said to comprise one-fourth of His energy, but no one can understand what this three-fourths is, since even this material universe, which comprises only one-fourth of His energy, cannot be described. Trying to convey to Sanatana Gosvami something of the extent of one-fourth of Krsna's energy, Caitanya Mahaprabhucited an incident from Srimad-Bhagavatam in which Brahma, the lord of the universe, came to see Krsna at Dvaraka. When Brahma approached Krsna, the doorman informed Krsna that Brahma had arrived to see Him. Upon hearing this, Krsna inquired as to which Brahma had come, and the doorman returned to Brahma and asked, "Which Brahma are you? Krsna has asked." :-) ~ Teachings Of Lord Chaitanya, 9
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That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity and anyone who reaches it never comes back to this material world. Bhagavad Gita 15.6
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"This verse gives a description of that eternal sky. Of course we have a material conception of the sky, and we think of it in relationship to the sun, moon, stars and so on, but in this verse the Lord states that in the eternal sky there is no need for the sun nor for the moon nor fire of any kind because the spiritual sky is already illuminated by the brahmajyoti, the rays emanating from the Supreme Lord." Bhagavad Gita, Intro
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cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
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"This is the description of the Goloka Vrndavana planet in the Brahma-samhita. The first description is, "That planet is made of cintamani gems." Cintamani gem means... If you get by chance imitation cintamani gem, you can turn iron into gold. That is cintamani gem. So these things are there. One may believe or not believe, but we believe because we believe in the sastra. So we have no botheration.
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So there is Goloka Vrndavana planet, Krsnaloka, and Vaikunthaloka. There are... As there are different grades of lokas, planets... Here also, in this material world, there is one planet which is called Siddhaloka. Siddhaloka means there the inhabitants (are) automatically perfect in all yogic practice. Yogic practice means... If you become perfect in yogic practice, you can fly in the air without any instrument. Anima laghima prapti isita vasita. There are eight kinds of siddhi. You are sitting here. If you want such and such thing from London, you can get immediately. This is called siddhi, prapti. You can become the smaller than the smallest. You can be packed up in a box. We have seen it. And you'll come out. In Bose's circus, Calcutta, in our childhood, we saw this yogic practice. A man was tied up, hands and legs, put into a bag. The bag was sealed up, again put into a box. The box was locked and sealed. And the man again came out. We have seen. So yogic practice is such... Yes. Prapti siddhi anima. You can become the smaller... There was a saintly person in Benares, Trailanga Baba. So he was practiced to sit naked in the public road. So government objected that "You cannot sit naked here." So he did not speak. So he was arrested and taken to the custody and put into the jail. He again came out. He again came out.
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So these are yogic, I mean to say, perfection. Anything you like... The most perfect yogi can create even one planet.They become so powerful. But still, that is all material power. That is not spiritual power. The real spiritual power is that you give up this body, you give up this material world, go to the spiritual world, go back to home, back to Godhead. That is your perfection, and that is very easily obtained by this Krsna consciousness attitude. Thank you very much. (end)--lecture, SB 1.15.49, LA, Dec 26, 73
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The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Truth, but He is manifested by the expansions of His different energies also. Those who follow the regulative principles of devotional service ultimately attain the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world, but one who follows the principles of love in devotional service attains to the supreme abode, the highest planet in the spiritual world known as Krsnaloka or Goloka Vrndavana" TLC 15.
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"In order to make our brain and senses very purified and fine, we have to take to devotional service. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam. That fine brain and purified senses can be achieved. Just like you can get relief from diseased condition of life, similarly, the brain is already there; it will become finer, it will become subtler to understand Krsna when we are able to give up our all material designations. At the present moment I am thinking, feeling, and willing under different designations. I am thinking, "I am this body." I am thinking, "I am Indian." I am thinking, "I am American," "I am Russian," "I am Pakistani." These are upadhis. But if you practice devotional service, Krsna consciousness, then you become free from this contamination of designation. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam. Nirmalam means completely freed from all dirty things. These are all dirty things. As soon as I think that "I am this, I am that, I am that..." Just like in the Bhagavad-gita we have understood that the body is simply just like a dress. So suppose I am dressed in orange color robes. If I think, "I am orange color," is that very nice intelligence? Similarly, as soon as I think in terms of my body, in my nationality, in my creed, in my being--they are all designations. So purification of the senses made by devotional service, bhakti-yogena, nirmalam..." Pandal Lecture, Bombay India, April 10, 71
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"The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world both the Lord and the living entities live together very peacefully. Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world. However, when the living entity wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world." Srimad Bhagavatam, 4.28.54
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“The Supreme Lord is the seer of all worlds, both material and transcendental. In other words, the Supreme Lord is the ultimate beneficiary and enjoyer of all worlds, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (5.29). The spiritual world is the manifestation of His internal potency, and the material world is the manifestation of His external potency. The living entities are also His marginal potency, and by their own choice they can live in either the transcendental or material worlds. The material world is not a fit place for living entities because they are spiritually one with the Lord and in the material world the living entities become conditioned by the laws of the material world. The Lord wants all living entities, who are His parts and parcels, to live with Him in the transcendental world, and for enlightening conditioned souls in the material world, all the Vedas and the revealed scriptures are there-- expressly to recall the conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead." Bhag. 2.2.14
"The spiritual entities are meant for enjoyment, as stated in the Vedanta-sutra (1.1.12): ananda-mayo 'bhyasat. By nature and constitution, every living being--including the Supreme Lord and each of His parts and parcels--is meant for eternal enjoyment. The living beings who are encaged in the material tabernacle are constantly seeking enjoyment, but they are seeking it on the wrong platform. Apart from the material platform is the spiritual platform, where the Supreme Being enjoys Himself with His innumerable associates. On that platform there is no trace of material qualities, and therefore that platform is called nirguna. On the nirguna platform there is never a clash over the object of enjoyment. Here in the material world there is always a clash between different individual beings because here the proper center of enjoyment is missed. The real center of enjoyment is the Supreme Lord, who is the center of the sublime and spiritual rasa dance. We are all meant to join Him and enjoy life with one transcendental interest and without any clash. That is the highest platform of spiritual interest, and as soon as one realizes this perfect form of oneness, there can be no question of illusion (moha) or lamentation (soka). ~ Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 7
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"The Lord is ever increasingly merciful upon the fallen souls of this material world. The whole cosmic manifestation is a chance for all to improve themselves in devotional service to the Lord, and everyone is meant for that purpose." Bhag. 3.9.25
"In the Eighth Chapter it was said that only one who has become free from all sinful reactions can take to the worship of Lord Krsna. Thus one may think that unless he is free from all sinful reactions he cannot take to the surrendering process. To such doubts it is here said that even if one is not free from all sinful reactions, simply by the process of surrendering to Sri Krsna he is automatically freed. There is no need of strenuous effort to free oneself from sinful reactions. One should unhesitatingly accept Krsna as the supreme savior of all living entities. With faith and love, one should surrender unto Him..." B. Gita 18-66
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If one atones according to the directions of the sastras, one does not actually become free from sinful reactions, but if one chants the holy name of the Lord, even a glimpse of such chanting can immediately free one from all sins." SB 6.2
[NOTE: Of course, one must not take advantage, say by participating in bad karmic activity with intent to chant to free themselves of it's reaction. That is not honest, therefore will not work, is considered an offense or misuse of the strength of chanting. Instead, one must chant sincerely, in a humble state of mind, etc. No one has to be perfect, hardly. But we must all be honestly endeavoring. With that said.....]
"Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit." S.B. 6.2.7 P
"There is no difference between chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and meeting Krsna eye to eye, face to face. Simply one has to realize." Srila Prabhupada lecture, 1-12-73, Bombay, India
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