Hello and welcome.
This website is dedicated to my spiritual preceptor (guru) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, without whose inspiration it would certainly never have happened. We will attempt here to encourage values inherent in factual spiritual life, which is based on 1.) the direct perception of the self by realization (Bhagavad-gita 9-2), and 2.) direct experience of God (Krishna) by virtue of development of transcendental love for Him (bhakti yoga). From introspection, observation and the teachings of Vedic scriptures we can understand that while traversing the material world, our consciousness has become deflected by many diverse forces from its natural, pristine purity. This writer found his consciousness torn between two nearly diametrically opposed elements: the practice of bhakti yoga, with its love of both the natural and supernatural realms, which is the yuga dharma, the prescribed form of meditation for this disturbed age of quarrel and hypocrisy; and motorcycles, knarly man-made elements of the machine-world. As he found out, riding the edge of this dichotomy between adventure and spiritual life can be hazardous to body and mind and also possibly extend unnecessarily one's ahankaras, the sequential series of false ego-induced births in which we now find ourselves bound, due to desire for material enjoyment. Of course that doesn't necessarily make riding a motorcycle a materialistic activity; materialism is known more by intention (desire) than the actual activity itself. One could be riding a motorcycle to a temple or thinking thoughts about the Divine or chanting the Holy Names of the Divine (Krishna) while riding. But we know from Lord Jesus' cautionary teaching - "One cannot serve two masters." - that prudence is in order. One may attempt to serve two masters, but ultimately one master will predominate. One may either become a willing servitor of the Divine or a false master within the confines of the material energy, Krishna's vitiated creation, as part of the renegade souls' grandiose experiment in faux freedom. Since we have free will, the choice is always ours. Riding the edge may work for awhile, but is neither possible nor wise in the long term. Let us set as our goal the willing servitude of that higher plane, rather than the false domination in this plane of confinement. Let us begin to reintegrate our disintegrated consciousness with the will of the Lord. Let us begin to vanquish our pride before it is vanquished by Death. This takes courage. Let us, then, pray for courage.
This website has been designed in the hopes of reaching both those newly inquisitive about bhakti yoga as well as more experienced practitioners. Please give us your blessings in order that we may carry this out. We have added a shopping cart with books that will enhance your devotional service to God (Krishna) & guru, His earthly representative. Please buy one of these books - your spiritual life may depend upon it. Beyond Birth and Death as well as Bhagavad-gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad are must reads. At only $8.95, we likely have the lowest price on the web for Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Journey to Ecstasy: Vaishnava Viewpoint by Jeff Ratner (Anandamaya das), a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and editor of this website, details the struggle of an aspiring bhakta (devotee) to make progress on the bhakti marg (devotional path) and also gives an overview of devotional principles as well as commentaries on topical issues from a devotional perspective. How is it possible that a nearly fatal crash and ensuing emergency operation could be the catalyst for a journey to an ecstatic state ? Read this fascinating book to find out. Click the "Shop" button to view these items. We have kept prices as low as possible to make them readily affordable to all sincere seekers of truth, and we ship worldwide. And now, Journey to Ecstasy: Vaishnava Viewpoint is also available at Amazon.com in the Kindle section.
While you're here, why not have a look at some of the pics on our Temples, Deities & Guru page and some of the prints on the Prints page? Inspirational scriptural quotes and relevant essays and poems on factual spiritual life may be found on the Scripture / Philosophy page.
Please bookmark this page in your "Favorites" folder and check back often.
Pranams, Anandamaya das, Editor
This website is dedicated to my spiritual preceptor (guru) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, without whose inspiration it would certainly never have happened. We will attempt here to encourage values inherent in factual spiritual life, which is based on 1.) the direct perception of the self by realization (Bhagavad-gita 9-2), and 2.) direct experience of God (Krishna) by virtue of development of transcendental love for Him (bhakti yoga). From introspection, observation and the teachings of Vedic scriptures we can understand that while traversing the material world, our consciousness has become deflected by many diverse forces from its natural, pristine purity. This writer found his consciousness torn between two nearly diametrically opposed elements: the practice of bhakti yoga, with its love of both the natural and supernatural realms, which is the yuga dharma, the prescribed form of meditation for this disturbed age of quarrel and hypocrisy; and motorcycles, knarly man-made elements of the machine-world. As he found out, riding the edge of this dichotomy between adventure and spiritual life can be hazardous to body and mind and also possibly extend unnecessarily one's ahankaras, the sequential series of false ego-induced births in which we now find ourselves bound, due to desire for material enjoyment. Of course that doesn't necessarily make riding a motorcycle a materialistic activity; materialism is known more by intention (desire) than the actual activity itself. One could be riding a motorcycle to a temple or thinking thoughts about the Divine or chanting the Holy Names of the Divine (Krishna) while riding. But we know from Lord Jesus' cautionary teaching - "One cannot serve two masters." - that prudence is in order. One may attempt to serve two masters, but ultimately one master will predominate. One may either become a willing servitor of the Divine or a false master within the confines of the material energy, Krishna's vitiated creation, as part of the renegade souls' grandiose experiment in faux freedom. Since we have free will, the choice is always ours. Riding the edge may work for awhile, but is neither possible nor wise in the long term. Let us set as our goal the willing servitude of that higher plane, rather than the false domination in this plane of confinement. Let us begin to reintegrate our disintegrated consciousness with the will of the Lord. Let us begin to vanquish our pride before it is vanquished by Death. This takes courage. Let us, then, pray for courage.
This website has been designed in the hopes of reaching both those newly inquisitive about bhakti yoga as well as more experienced practitioners. Please give us your blessings in order that we may carry this out. We have added a shopping cart with books that will enhance your devotional service to God (Krishna) & guru, His earthly representative. Please buy one of these books - your spiritual life may depend upon it. Beyond Birth and Death as well as Bhagavad-gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad are must reads. At only $8.95, we likely have the lowest price on the web for Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Journey to Ecstasy: Vaishnava Viewpoint by Jeff Ratner (Anandamaya das), a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and editor of this website, details the struggle of an aspiring bhakta (devotee) to make progress on the bhakti marg (devotional path) and also gives an overview of devotional principles as well as commentaries on topical issues from a devotional perspective. How is it possible that a nearly fatal crash and ensuing emergency operation could be the catalyst for a journey to an ecstatic state ? Read this fascinating book to find out. Click the "Shop" button to view these items. We have kept prices as low as possible to make them readily affordable to all sincere seekers of truth, and we ship worldwide. And now, Journey to Ecstasy: Vaishnava Viewpoint is also available at Amazon.com in the Kindle section.
While you're here, why not have a look at some of the pics on our Temples, Deities & Guru page and some of the prints on the Prints page? Inspirational scriptural quotes and relevant essays and poems on factual spiritual life may be found on the Scripture / Philosophy page.
Please bookmark this page in your "Favorites" folder and check back often.
Pranams, Anandamaya das, Editor
