This is a question from my quest book. I'm answering it here, since it's philosophical and not personal.
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Hare Krishna,
Its been said that main aim should be to get MUKTI "Permanent separation from re-birth" on the other hand we know that it is just the human body which decays and soul takes a form of another human body.
My question is that if someone acheives Mukti then what happens to the soul?
What is the idea of birth and re-birth?
I have heard a lot about these but then if you can cite me an example to understand it easily it would be great.
Hare Krishna.
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First of all, the main aim for a devotee is not to get mukti, or liberation, (permanent separation from re-birth). The main aim for a devotee is to love Krishna.
As far as what happens to the soul who achieves liberation from birth and death... well that depends on the individual soul. Basically though, the soul still exists, and is still individual. If that soul has developed it's relationship with Krishna, then it would go to be in it's eternal spiritual body, with Krishna.
The idea of birth and re-birth is based on material desires. Because of material desires, we take birth repeatedly in various bodies to act out these desires. We are also taking birth as a result of the consequences of acting out these desires (that is karma) and causes us to take birth again and again. It's a combination of those two things, our desire, and the result of acting according to our desire.
I'm not sure if these were your questions or if I have properly addressed what you needed to know.
We can talk about it more though, here in this forum. Others may have things to add also.
Hare Krishna,
Navasi
True, to love God
Hare Krishna,
Yes, a true bhaktha or devotee simply loves God intensely and with all his heart. Yet, at times, even the devotees fall prey to desires. They might desire the Grace of their deity. Or perhaps they wish to enjoy a vision of Him. Krishna devotees may be desirous of going to Goloka after death. Lastly, a devotee may desire that just as he or she loves the Deity, the Deity too must love him/her. None of these can be called "pure love".
A true devotee simply overflows with pure, intense love for God with no desires for anything whatsoever in return.
-AweStruckAwe
Krishna consciousness is
Krishna consciousness is very authentic, very genuine. Krishna is the source of everything and the devotees-- are the original people. The first people ever to exist looked like pure devotees look today.
Spiritual consciousness is inconceivable to material consciousness. We do not understand so easily because we are contaminated by millions of years of accumulated dust. Lord Caitanya was always mixed in an ocean of ecstatic love for Krishna. Krishna Himself came to taste and relish the mellow and nectar of devotional service, as Lord Caitanya, and He was the perfect devotee.
Our natural position is one full of bliss and knowledge. Love for Krishna is actually bliss. It is bliss because it is a reciprocated love. Our natural position is to serve Krishna, not to serve ourselves, but in this service we find our highest fulfillment. Spiritual consciousness-- God consciousness-- is a very long process. Ultimately, it is full of bliss and knowledge. It is difficult to describe, to understand, because it is the opposite of material consciousness. The peace and love of Krishna is so much higher than sense gratification. If we are living for sense gratification, we are actually living in separateness from Krishna, and we are also living in ignorance. The name of Krishna is inconceivably potent-- it is imbued with Krishna's internal energy, since it is non-different from Krishna Himself. It is imbued with transcendental bliss, knowledge, peace, eternal life. The Name Itself, since it is Krishna, is beyond our conceptions, beyond our understanding by speculation.
Haribol
Bhakta Alex
loving,pure devotional service without thinking abt its fruits.
Hare Krishna.
I totaly agree with Navasi mataji and bhakt alex prabhuji.Navasi mataji again here have introduces a very important point.All glories to Navasi mataji.
one shouldn't serve krishna for sake of getting rid from birth and death cycle but should serve him with full devotional service without thinking abt its fruits which we want from krishna.He(lord krishna) knews what we want.
Here i would like to mention a story between Sudama maharaj and lord krishna.......
Sudama was from a poor Brahmin family, while Krishna was from the royal family. But this difference in social status did not come in the way of their friendship. They lost contact over the years and while Krishna became a military leader and King of great repute at Dwaraka, while Sudama stayed as a humble, and somewhat impoverished Brahmin living in a village .
Some time later when Sudama was going through some bad times, not even having enough money to feed his children, his wife reminded him of his friendship with Krishna.
Though initially reluctant to go to his friend for help, Sudama finally agrees to go. He leaves with nothing but some puffed rice tied in a cloth as a present. He remembers that puffed rice (powa/poha in Hindi) is Krishna's favorite and decided to give this as a gift to the Lord.
Krishna is greatly pleased to see his old friend. He treats him royally and with much love. Overwhelmed by all this Sudama dosent tells him for what reason he actually came to ask. But the Lord realises what His friend needs, and the lord's consort Rukmini incarnation of Lakshmi, gifts him with his desires. On his return journey, Sudama ponders his circumstances and is thankful for the great friend he has in Lord Krishna. When Sudama finally returns to his home, he finds a palatial mansion instead of the hut he had left. He also finds his family dressed in extremely nice garb and waiting for him. He lives an austere life after that, always thankful to the Lord.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Not to trade bhakti for anything in return. Sudama did not ask Krishna for anything. Despite being poor Sudama had given Krishna everything he had (poha) hence in return the Lord gave Sudama everything he needed.
hare krishna
(if i have made any mistake pls forgive me)
Don't trade Bhakti for anything
One of my favourite parts of the Mahabharata is Arjuna and Duryodhana going to Krishna to ask for his assistance in the coming war.
I think it goes like this: Duryodhana chooses Krishna's army whilst Arjuna asks only for Krishna's help.
We are all like Duryodhana in the way that we covet peoples things, Krishna's things. We want wealth, beauty etc when these are all Krishna's things. If we take only Him, like Arjuna, then we have everything and success in the process is assured.
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Visit the Food Channel @ Krishna.com
Sudama Brahmin
Everything you have said is completely correct Abhay.
The story of Sudama Brahmin is an excellent example of a devotees love for Krishna, and attitude of giving without asking for anything in return.
Because of Sudama's love for Krishna, even though his need was so great, he was unable to ask for anything at all.
This story is also an excellent example of something else that comes up in these forums a lot... the question about praying to Krishna for help with various material needs or distress (praying for material things, or relief from distress I mean).
Here, we see that Sudama was reluctant to even go to Krishna in the first place, to ask for something. At the repeated request of his wife, who was desperate, he did so. Even though he was unable to ask Krishna for help when he got there, Krishna knew exactly what He needed.
This story can help us remember that Krishna already knows what things we need, so we have to just try to serve Him, and accept that He will provide what we need (if we do indeed need it).
Very good story to post here. : )
Hare Krishna,
Navasi