What H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today
‘Till love gets transformed into devotion, there is no satisfaction’
India, (Art of Living International Center, Bangalore), Aug. 14, 2009:
This knowledge sheet was given on the occasion of Janmashtami (Festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna)
We are celebrating lord Krishna’s 5139st birthday. He lived for 125 years. Krishna is not a vyakti (person) but shakti (energy). Krishna says: ‘People think I am in the human form, but I am ananta shakti (that energy which has no end). Those who see Me in others and others in Me are never far away from me. I will be with them always.’
All navarasas were present in Krishna. Krishna was poorna kala avataran (a complete incarnation).
Krishna is consciousness. The purpose of celebration is to realize that Krishna is in me and not different.
In the Bhagwat Geeta, Lord Krishna says, “One who sees everyone in Me and sees Me in everyone, for such a person, I shall never remain hidden and he shall never be far from me.”
Lord Krishna’s life has all the nine rasas (flavors). For instance, he was naughty like a child, a warrior, joy personified and a source of knowledge.
He was a perfect friend and guru. There never was and never will be a friend like Krishna.
Lord Krishna’s life has all the nine rasas (flavors). For instance, he was naughty like a child, a warrior, joy personified and a source of knowledge.
He was a perfect friend and guru. There never was and never will be a friend like Krishna.
To awaken the Krishna in our consciousness is the right way of celebrating Janmashtami.
‘Krishna is not far from me, not separate from me, he is within me’: this feeling will fill your life with Krishna.
To understand Krishna become Radha or Arjuna or Uddhava.
Three kinds of people seek refuge in God. The lover, the miserable and the wise. Uddhava was wise, Arjuna was miserable and Radha was love. So all are good. Arjuna was not saddened for himself but for the whole world. To be saddened for humanity is the dharma (duty) of a human. So when this pain for humanity is awakened in the heart and you don’t know what to do and what not to - then your life is filled with Krishna.
On the battlefield, Krishna tells Arjuna to become a Yogi. Krishna is also addressed as Yogeshwar (God of Yoga).
Follow what Krishna said, “See everyone in Me and see Me in everyone” and become a yogi.
‘Krishna is not far from me, not separate from me, he is within me’: this feeling will fill your life with Krishna.
To understand Krishna become Radha or Arjuna or Uddhava.
Three kinds of people seek refuge in God. The lover, the miserable and the wise. Uddhava was wise, Arjuna was miserable and Radha was love. So all are good. Arjuna was not saddened for himself but for the whole world. To be saddened for humanity is the dharma (duty) of a human. So when this pain for humanity is awakened in the heart and you don’t know what to do and what not to - then your life is filled with Krishna.
On the battlefield, Krishna tells Arjuna to become a Yogi. Krishna is also addressed as Yogeshwar (God of Yoga).
Follow what Krishna said, “See everyone in Me and see Me in everyone” and become a yogi.
Don’t be afraid of anything, be useful for everyone.
Krishna never scolded Arjuna, he did not let him feel guilty at all. He always uplifted Arjuna.
He reminded Arjuna that all the virtues are within him already. He did not need to work towards achieving them.
Krishna never scolded Arjuna, he did not let him feel guilty at all. He always uplifted Arjuna.
He reminded Arjuna that all the virtues are within him already. He did not need to work towards achieving them.
Krishna was born at midnight, when everyone was sleeping. When all the senses sleep, then the knowledge of the self is awakened. This can be interpreted spiritually. Deh (body) is Devaki*, Prana (life energy) is Vasudev*. When body and life energy unite, then the bliss that is born out of the union is called Nandlala**.
When Krishna was born, all the guards fell asleep. Guards represent the senses and bliss is beyond the senses. The jail represents the body and the river Yamuna, love. It rose to touch the feet of the little Krishna. This means that the love was so intense it could not refrain itself from touching the feet of the Lord.
Till love gets transformed into devotion, there is no satisfaction. So when love happens with a thing, person or situation - it is not fulfilling. However, love reaches its peak when it experiences the touch of the Divine.
The story has an amazing meaning behind it. That’s why our ancestors did not restrict a story to time and place- this is a forever continuing to flow, its happening everyday.
This is the essence of the Bhagwat.
When Krishna was born, all the guards fell asleep. Guards represent the senses and bliss is beyond the senses. The jail represents the body and the river Yamuna, love. It rose to touch the feet of the little Krishna. This means that the love was so intense it could not refrain itself from touching the feet of the Lord.
Till love gets transformed into devotion, there is no satisfaction. So when love happens with a thing, person or situation - it is not fulfilling. However, love reaches its peak when it experiences the touch of the Divine.
The story has an amazing meaning behind it. That’s why our ancestors did not restrict a story to time and place- this is a forever continuing to flow, its happening everyday.
This is the essence of the Bhagwat.
*Devaki, Vasudev – Krishna’s parents
**Nandlala – another name for Krishna
(From the Office of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
© The Art of Living Foundation
