Severe Penances - an essential subject: Difference between revisions

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Devotional service is very easy, it can be performed in a happy mood. One does not need to undergo any severe penance and austerity. He can live this life in devotional service, guided by an expert spiritual master, and in any position, either as a householder or a sannyāsī or a brahmacārī; in any position and anywhere in the world, he can perform this devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become actually mahātmā, a great soul. Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.


Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category:CATEGORYNAME|CATEGORYNAME]]''' category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following NUMBER quotes.
Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category:Severe Penances|Severe Penances]]''' category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes.
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== Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books ==  
== Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books ==  


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{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|A purified materialist who has performed many sacrifices, undergone severe penances and given the major portion of his wealth in charity can reach such planets as Dhruvaloka|A purified materialist who has performed many sacrifices, undergone severe penances and given the major portion of his wealth in charity can reach such planets as Dhruvaloka, and if he becomes still more qualified there, he can penetrate still higher orbits and pass through the navel of the universe to reach the planet Maharloka, where sages like Bhṛgu Muni live. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 5.22)'''}}


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{{VaniQuotebox|All the brothers (Trita, Ekat and Dvita the three sons of Prajapati Gautama) were great sages and strict followers of the principles of religion. By dint of severe penances they were promoted to Brahmaloka| All the brothers were great sages and strict followers of the principles of religion. By dint of severe penances they were promoted to Brahmaloka (the planet where Brahmājī lives). Once Trita Muni fell into a well. He was an organizing worker of many sacrifices, and as one of the great sages he also came to show respect to Bhīṣmajī at his deathbed. He was one of the seven sages in the Varuṇaloka. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.6-7)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|All these activities (material upliftment, understanding the Supreme by speculative knowledge, fruitive activity, severe austerity and penance) are against the natural growth of spontaneous love of Godhead| All these activities are against the natural growth of spontaneous love of Godhead. As soon as these are present within the heart, the heart should be understood to be unclean and therefore unfit to serve as Kṛṣṇa's sitting place. We cannot perceive the Lord's presence in our hearts unless our hearts are cleansed. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 12.135)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet|O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.30)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|Atheists like Ravana or Hiranyakasipu had to undergo severe penances before they could flout the authority of the Lord. But ultimately, they were rendered helpless and could not save themselves|Atheists like Rāvaṇa or Hiraṇyakaśipu had to undergo severe penances before they could flout the authority of the Lord. But ultimately, they were rendered helpless and could not save themselves when the Lord appeared before them as cruel death. This is also the case with the modern atheists who also dare to flout the authority of the Lord. Such atheists will be dealt with similarly, for history repeats itself. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.1)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|Being insulted, Jayadratha went to Gangotri in the Himalayas and undertook a severe type of penance to please Lord Siva. He asked his benediction to defeat all the Pandavas, at least one at a time|Being so insulted, he went to Gaṅgotri in the Himalayas and undertook a severe type of penance to please Lord Śiva. He asked his benediction to defeat all the Pāṇḍavas, at least one at a time. Then the Battle of Kurukṣetra began, and he took sides with Duryodhana. In the first day's fight he was engaged with Mahārāja Drupada, then with Virāṭa and then with Abhimanyu. While Abhimanyu was being killed, mercilessly surrounded by seven great generals, the Pāṇḍavas came to his help, but Jayadratha, by the mercy of Lord Śiva, repulsed them with great ability. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.16)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|Brahma underwent severe penances for that purpose, namely to regulate the process of creation so that the Lord might be satisfied|Brahmā underwent severe penances for that purpose, namely to regulate the process of creation so that the Lord might be satisfied. Therefore the Lord was very much pleased with him, and for this Brahmā was impregnated with Vedic knowledge. The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know the Lord and not to misuse the knowledge for any other purposes. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.20)'''}}


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}
{{VaniQuotebox|By undergoing severe austerities and penances, one cannot become one or equal with God, but one can attain most of the godly qualities|By undergoing severe austerities and penances, one cannot become one or equal with God, but one can attain most of the godly qualities. A living being can attain godly qualities to a large extent, but he cannot become God, whereas Kṛṣṇa, without undergoing any type of penance, is God always, either in the lap of His mother or growing up or at any stage of growth. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.7.27)'''}}
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'''CATEGORY - [[Vaniquotes:Category:CATEGORYNAME|explore more within this category]]'''.
'''Severe Penances - [[Vaniquotes:Category:Severe Penances|explore more within this category]]'''.


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Latest revision as of 17:35, 22 November 2020

Devotional service is very easy, it can be performed in a happy mood. One does not need to undergo any severe penance and austerity. He can live this life in devotional service, guided by an expert spiritual master, and in any position, either as a householder or a sannyāsī or a brahmacārī; in any position and anywhere in the world, he can perform this devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become actually mahātmā, a great soul. Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Severe Penances category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes.

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books


vanipedia.org 		A purified materialist who has performed many sacrifices, undergone severe penances and given the major portion of his wealth in charity can reach such planets as Dhruvaloka, and if he becomes still more qualified there, he can penetrate still higher orbits and pass through the navel of the universe to reach the planet Maharloka, where sages like Bhṛgu Muni live. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 5.22)



vanipedia.org 		All the brothers were great sages and strict followers of the principles of religion. By dint of severe penances they were promoted to Brahmaloka (the planet where Brahmājī lives). Once Trita Muni fell into a well. He was an organizing worker of many sacrifices, and as one of the great sages he also came to show respect to Bhīṣmajī at his deathbed. He was one of the seven sages in the Varuṇaloka. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.6-7)



vanipedia.org 		All these activities are against the natural growth of spontaneous love of Godhead. As soon as these are present within the heart, the heart should be understood to be unclean and therefore unfit to serve as Kṛṣṇa's sitting place. We cannot perceive the Lord's presence in our hearts unless our hearts are cleansed. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 12.135)



vanipedia.org 		O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.30)



vanipedia.org 		Atheists like Rāvaṇa or Hiraṇyakaśipu had to undergo severe penances before they could flout the authority of the Lord. But ultimately, they were rendered helpless and could not save themselves when the Lord appeared before them as cruel death. This is also the case with the modern atheists who also dare to flout the authority of the Lord. Such atheists will be dealt with similarly, for history repeats itself. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.1)



vanipedia.org 		Being so insulted, he went to Gaṅgotri in the Himalayas and undertook a severe type of penance to please Lord Śiva. He asked his benediction to defeat all the Pāṇḍavas, at least one at a time. Then the Battle of Kurukṣetra began, and he took sides with Duryodhana. In the first day's fight he was engaged with Mahārāja Drupada, then with Virāṭa and then with Abhimanyu. While Abhimanyu was being killed, mercilessly surrounded by seven great generals, the Pāṇḍavas came to his help, but Jayadratha, by the mercy of Lord Śiva, repulsed them with great ability. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.16)



vanipedia.org 		Brahmā underwent severe penances for that purpose, namely to regulate the process of creation so that the Lord might be satisfied. Therefore the Lord was very much pleased with him, and for this Brahmā was impregnated with Vedic knowledge. The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know the Lord and not to misuse the knowledge for any other purposes. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.20)



vanipedia.org 		By undergoing severe austerities and penances, one cannot become one or equal with God, but one can attain most of the godly qualities. A living being can attain godly qualities to a large extent, but he cannot become God, whereas Kṛṣṇa, without undergoing any type of penance, is God always, either in the lap of His mother or growing up or at any stage of growth. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.7.27)


Severe Penances - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.


   
 

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