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Your Best Friend (Spirituality for the Modern Youth Series)

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Especificaciones

Código del Artículo: IDI556

por Radheshyam Das

Paperback (Edición: 2005)

ISKCON Youth Forum, Pune (IYF)
ISBN 8125019022

Tamaño: 8.3" X 5.5
Páginas: 335 (B & W Illus: 49, B & W Figure: 8)

Precio: Euro 12.58

Descripción

Introduction

The Vedic texts are the panacea for all problems for all times; they give a crystal clear understanding of all the fundamental and essential truths of life including who we are, what the true goal of life is and how we can attain permanent happiness.

Unfortunately however, in the modern time, the Vedas have generally been misunderstood to be books of sentiment, blind faith or a bunch of empty rituals. And due to such preconceived misconceptions, the scientifically minded youth have reservations in even approaching them. Also, these texts being in intricate Sanskrit are not easily accessible to them.

With these considerations in mind, a need was felt for a systematic and scientific presentation of the five essential themes of the Bhagavad-gita ishvara (the Lord) jiva (the living entity), Prakriti (nature), kala (time) and karma (activity). A humble attempt towards making such a compilation was first made in 1994. These notes were based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, who is internationally acclaimed as an erudite Vedic scholar and as the greatest exponent of Krishna consciousness in the modern times. References were also taken from Back to godhead magazine articles and from discourses by senior devotees of ISKCON Prabhu and His Grace Krishna Smaran Prabhu. Those notes were refined over the years as we came to know more about the nature of doubts and questions that youths generally have.

Now we are presenting those refined notes in a handy form as series of five books, entitled the Spirituality for the Modern Youth (SMY) series. The books in this series are Discover Your-self Your Best Friend (the present volume), Your Secret Journey, Victory Over Death and The Yoga for the Modern Age.

We have been using these notes for vigorous youth preaching in ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF), Pune. IYF, Pune was started and is being run by the divine inspiration and blessings given by H. H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj, H. H. Gopalakrishna Goswami Maharaj, H. H. Lokanath swami maharaj, H. G. Devamrita Prabhu, devotees of Shri Shri Radha Gospinath Mandir, Chowpatty, Bombay and Shri Shri Radha Kunjabihari Mandir, Pune.

The approach of having a systematic presentation of the Bhagavad-gita has produced amazing results in effectively con-veying the message to the youth and inspiring them to take to Krishna consciousness seriously. IYF presently has hundreds of engineering students, who are chanting Hare Krishna and leading a pure life free from all bad habits like meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex and gambling.

We hope that this book will therefore act as a beacon light for every sincere seeker of the truth, especially among the youth and the young at heart. It is our hope that the book will also serve as a useful guide for all preachers throughout the world in their attempts to take Krishna consciousness to the youth in particular and to the masses at large.

This book is noting but a systematic presentation of the remnants of the bold preacher, Srila Prabhupada, and my beloved spiritual master. It is therefore a humble offering at their lotus feet. We will consider our humble efforts successful if this endeavor can assist in fulfilling their pure desire to flood the entire world with Krishna consciousness.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1
Definition of God	1
Discovering the Root of all Existence: God	2
Problems: Real and Relative	2
Solutions: Patch-up and Actual	6
Are You a Theist or an Atheist?	7
Proof of God's Existence	8
Various Misconceptions About God	10
Clear-Cut Definition of God	11
God: The Source of Everything	13
God: The Supreme Controller	14
God: The Supreme Enjoyer	16
Conclusion	17
Chapter 2
Vedas - Are They Relevant Today?	19
Vedas: The only Source of Perfect Knowledge	20
Parallels in Vedas and Modern Science	21
Vedic Predictions That Have Come True	23
Seeing with the Ears	24
Vedas: Our Real Mother	26
Modern Science - A Treacherous Witch	27
Relevance of the Vedas today	32
The Vedas: A Manual for Life	34
Chapter 3
Qualifications of Guru	35
Why Do I Need A Guru?	36
The Absolute Necessity of a Spiritual Master	39
How to Recognize the Spiritual Authority?	40
The Guru and the Parampara	42
Qualifications of the Guru	44
Check and Balance Through Guru-Sadhu-Shastra	52
Chapter 4
Qualifications of Disciple	53
Humble Surrender	54
Submissive Inquiry	57
Open-Mindedness	60
Service Attitude	61
Devotion to the Supreme Lord	63
Faith in the Spiritual Master	64
Avowed Truthfulness	66
Conclusion	67
Chapter 5
The Most Confidential Knowledge	69
Religion - A Global View	70
Different Religions Teach According to Time-Place-Circumstance	71
The Essence of All Religions
Different Platforms of Worshipping God: Fear, Desire, Duty and Love	75
Sanatana Dharma - The Supermarket of Religions	79
Worship According to Propensities	81
The Absolute Truth - A Conclusive Understanding	82
God: One Person Called by Different Names	82
Who Is God?	84
Is God Personal or Impersonal?	84
The Most Confidential Knowledge: God is a Person	87
Chapter 6
Krishna -The All-Attractive	93
Krishna- All-Beautiful	95
Krishna- All-Knowledgeable	97
Krishna- All-Strong	98
Krishna- All-Famous	100
Krishna- All-Wealthy	102
Krishna- All-Renounced	103
Krishna - The All-Attractive	106
Chapter 7
Evidences for Krishna's Supremacy	107
Krishna: Father of All Beings	108
Krishna: Source of All Demigods	109
Krishna: Source of the Impersonal Brahman	111
Krishna: Fountainhead of All Avatars	112
Is Krishna an Avatar of Vishnu?	114
Krishna's Supremacy Confirmed	117
Lord Krishna's Appearance and Activities	119
1. Krishna Knows Past, Present and Future	119
2. Krishna and his Body are Non-different	121
3. Krishna is Eternally Youthful	121
4. Krishna Neither Takes Birth nor Dies; He Appears and Disappears	123
Chapter 8
The Singular Supreme and The Plural Subordinates	125
God and god	126
Jiva Tattva	128
Do demigods really exist?	129
Do Things not Happen by Chance?	132
Vishnu Tattva	135
Shambhu Tattva	137
Krishna - The Singular Supreme Personality of godhead	138
The Supreme Opulence of Krishna	141
Chapter 9
The Controller of All Controllers	143
Demigods Seek Help from Krishna	144
The Demigods cannot comprehend Krishna's Divine Qualities and Activities	146
The Bewilderment of Lord Brahma, the chief of the Demigods	147
The Bewilderment of Indra, the King of Heaven	155
Lord Krishna delivers Lord Shiva	161
Krishna-The Supreme Controller	165
Chapter 10
Worship: Divine and Mundane	167
Relationship of Krishna and the demigods	168
Demigods Run to the Supreme Lord	169
Differences between Krishna worship and demigod worship	170
Demigods give what you Want; Krishna gives what you Need	170
Demigods cannot Award Liberation; Only Krishna Can	172
Demigod Worship is Ultimately Futile' Krishna Worship is Ultimately Successful	174
Demigod Worship is for the Less Intelligent; Krishna Worship is for the Truly Intelligent	176
If Demigod worship is condemned, why do the Scriptures prescribe it?	178
How should devotees deal with the demigods?	180
Chapter 11
Your Heart - To - Heart Friend	183
Krishna's Program for the Living Entities	184
Paramatma - The True Friend of the Jivatma	186
Who is the Paramatma?	190
The Role of the Paramatma in our Life	191
1. Paramatma - The Giver of Forgetfulness	191
2. Paramatma - The Giver of Knowledge	195
3. Paramatma - The Giver of Remembrance	196
4. Paramatma - The Giver of Inspiration	198
Perceiving the Paramatma	201
Attitude of Devotees and Demons	202
Towards the Paramatma	202
Paramatma is the Real Doer	204
Chapter 12
Well-Wishing Guide Who Always Accompanies You…..	207
Paramatma - Director of the Wanderings of the Living Entity	208
Paramatma fulfils the Desires of the Living Entity	210
The Paramatma sanctions Pleasure and Pain	213
The Paramatma : Overseer And Permitter	216
The Paramatma Responsible for our Good and Bad Acts?	219
Role of the Paramatma at the Time of Death	221
The Culmination - Surrender to Krishna	222
Chapter 13
The Infinitesimal and The Infinite	225
Am I God?	226
Differences between the living entity and Krishna	230
The living entity is Infinitesimal, but Krishna is Infinite	230
The living entity is the Knower of his own body, but Krishna is the Knower of all the bodies	232
The living entity is the Proprietor of his body, but Krishna is the Proprietor of all the bodies	233
The living entity can be put to Forgetfulness, but Krishna can never be put to Forgetfulness	234
The living entity has only Direct Awareness, But Krishna has both Direct and Indirect Awareness	238
Consciousness of the living entity is Limited, Consciousness of Krishna is Unlimited	239
Different States of Consciousness of the Living Entity	240
Chapter 14
Love of God: The Culmination of Religion	245
Love of God - The Ultimate Goal of Religion	248
Unalloyed Devotional Service	249
How Can One Achieve Pure Love for Krishna?	251
Practical Steps to Achieve Love for Krishna	253
Chanting the Holy Name : Meditation for the Modern Age	256
Different Yugas - Different Prescribed Methods	258
Spiritual Sound and Material Sound	260
Krishnaizing Everything	261
Appendix 1
Krishna's Rasa Dance: Can We Imitate?	263
What is the Rasa Dance?	263
Is Krishna's Rasa Dance Not an Immoral Act?	264
Can We Imitate Rasa Lila?	264
From Whom Should We Hear Rasa Lila?	264
Developing Faith	265
Philosophy behind Rasa Dance	268
Lord Krishna's body is Transcendental	268
The Lord is the Real Enjoyer	269
How should we approach the rasa-lila ?	275
Appendix 2
Avatars : Genuine and Fake	278
Purpose of Avatar	279
The Real Purpose Of Avatar	280
Genuine Avatar vs. Fake Avatar	281
An Avatar should be mentioned in scriptures before He appears	281
The Avatar is able to reveal the Cosmic Universal Form	281
The Avatar performs extraordinary activities that cannot be imitated	282
Every Avatar has a Unique Message or Mission	282
Specific Markings on Hands and Feet of the Avatar	283
Types of Avatars	283
Appendix 3
The Position of Lord Shiva	284
Lord Shiva - One of the Twenty Mahajanas	284
Lord Shiva and Durga	285
Lord Shiva - Ashutosha, quickly pleased	286
Lord Shiva -Protector of Dhama	287
Lord Shiva Bewildered by Mohini Murti	288
Why does Lord Shiva live in Graveyards and Roam with Ghosts and Hobgoblins ?	289
Why did Lord Shiva preach Mayavada?	289
How should Vaishnavas Worship Lord Shiva ?	291
Appendix 4
The Golden Incarnation For The Iron Age	293
Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ?	293
A Short Life History of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu	295
Predictions about Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance in Atharva Veda	295
Appendix 5
Meditation for the Modern Age	301
Appendix 6
Srila Prabhupada - The Ambassador of The Kingdom of God	305
Appendix 7
ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) At a Glance	308