Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 51

In Bhagavad-gita (9.25) the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains:
"Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods, those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings, those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors, and those who worship Me will live with Me."

In Bhagavad-gita (9.22-25) the Supreme Personality of Godhead again explains:
"But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form, to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.

"Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding.

"I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognise My true transcendental nature fall down.

"Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods, those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings, those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors, and those who worship Me will live with Me."

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Many Chinese and Japanese acupuncturists (possibly out of a desire to “prove” the existence of chi to skeptical Westerners) have invented all sorts of electrical technological gadgetry to monitor the flow of chi through the meridians and to precisely locate the acupuncture points. So although chi cannot be perceived directly, its presence can be detected by a meter that monitors electrical activity.

Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks


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In Bhagavad-gita (9.30) the Supreme Personality of Godhead again explains:
"Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated."

In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.60) Srila Rupa Gosvami explains:
"Every man has the birthright to accept devotional service and to become Krsna conscious. This is proved with evidence from many scriptures."

In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.38) Srila Rupa Gosvami again explains:
"Even one drop of happiness in Krsna consciousness stands beyond comparison with an ocean of happiness derived from any other activity."


In the Tantras it is said:
"By cultivating transcendental knowledge one easily attains liberation and by performing yajnas and pious deeds one easily attains sense gratification. However, even after thousands of spiritual struggles it is still very difficult to attain devotion to Lord Hari."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 51

Sutra 47
Devotion to any object other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not recommended, for such devotion agitates the mind and is temporary by nature.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here someone may protest: On the path of performing pious deeds (karma), where one worships the demigods, pitas, and others, many benefits are obtained. Why, then, do you say that this path of pious deeds is not good?

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Work has been done regarding the life force present in plants. In one typical experiment, electrical wires are connected from an electro sensitive meter to a plant. After a stable reading is obtained on the instruments, a small twig is cut from the plant. Invariably, at that moment, a significant response is perceivable on the meter, indicating that the separation of the twig has disturbed or agitated the plant.

Science of Identity Foundation - Siddhaswarupananda


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Fearing that someone would raise this protest, the author speaks this sutra. Here the word 'kamya' means 'the result of lusty desires', 'itara' means 'other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead', devotional service offered to any one of the many millions of individual spirit souls is not recommended by the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for such devotion merely agitates the mind. There are many, many demigods and pitas and others, many many Sruti and Smrti scriptures describing them, many many rules and regulations to follow in many many different kinds of yajnas and worship offered to them. All this keeps the worshipper very very busy in many many different kinds of activities. In this way the worshipper's mind becomes agitated and he becomes influenced by the material mode of passion. This is described in Bhagavad-gita (2.41) where Lord Krsna explains:
"The intelligence of they who are irresolute is many-branched."

These many kinds of demigod-worship bring only temporary results. As farming and commerce brings results that are very short lived, so the wealth, good children and other benefits attained in this life time as well as the residence in Devaloka, Pitrloka and other benefits attained in the next lifetime are all very temporary and short-lived. That is the meaning.

In The Sruti-sastra it is said:
"A person filled with material desires should perform an agnistoma-yajna."

In the Chandogya Upanisad (8.1.6) it is said:
"As the benefits gained from pious deeds in this world are soon lost, so the benefits gained in the worlds of the devas are also lost very soon."