| So, the person who is desiring to get a new sports car, | | | | If we are negative we are meditating on a negative |
| beautiful wife, etc. is simply exhausting the fruits of his | | | | and this is what we will get-a negative. In other words |
| previous pious activities. If he knew this he would be | | | | if we are contemplating giving up this or not thinking |
| more careful about his desires! This is the same | | | | about that we will develop a stronger attachment to |
| concept Krishna describes in the Gita when he | | | | this or that by that negative contemplation. |
| describes the plight of the souls who go to the | | | | After contemplation of Krishna in a positive way we |
| heavenly planets because their good karma has | | | | enter the stage of feelings. What does that mean? |
| bought them a vacation there. | | | | We picture ourselves the way we want to be. Just |
| When their good Karma runs out they get kicked out | | | | like the person who really wants a new sports car will |
| of heaven and have to come back here. But, what | | | | envision himself seated at the driver's seat zooming |
| about the devotee's desires? A devotee has no bad | | | | down the highway with the top down. |
| or good karma. All karma bad and good is eradicated | | | | So, we picture (visualize) ourselves performing the nine |
| even by namabhasa chanting. | | | | processes of bhakti with great attention and devotion. |
| Krishna reciprocates with devotees' desires, but He will | | | | We visualize ourselves as enthusiastic preachers. We |
| only fulfill those desires that are helpful to the | | | | visualize ourselves as humble servants of our spiritual |
| devotee's spiritual progress. So, it is important for | | | | master. |
| devotees to have proper desires and the stronger the | | | | Of course when we come to the stage of Raganuga |
| devotional desire is the quicker that desire will be | | | | Bhakti the visualizations and meditations change. But, |
| fulfilled. | | | | the principle is the same. When you picture yourself in |
| What is a desire? Oftentimes we confuse thoughts | | | | this way, the intensity of your desire will increase. Not |
| with desires, or we confuse wishes with desires. A | | | | only can you picture yourself in this way, you can also |
| desire is something you really want with your heart | | | | picture others as advanced Vaisnavas. |
| and soul. Of course there are degrees of intensity of | | | | Your expectation for them will shape them too. Not |
| desires. When someone wants something with great | | | | only because the expectation will be communicated by |
| intensity that is called in Sanskrit laulyam (or intense | | | | you, but also because if you are a real Vaisnava and |
| greed). | | | | you desire some good fortune for someone else, |
| Tatra laulyam ekalam mulam; Prabhupada describes | | | | Krishna will reciprocate with your intense desire. |
| this intense greed for pure devotional service as the | | | | One example of this can be found in Srila |
| "best path available." How do we develop this intense | | | | Prabhupada's pastimes is that when he arrived in the |
| greed? In the material world greed is developed by the | | | | United States he had a vision of 108 temples. His |
| process of thinking, feeling and willing. In other words | | | | meditation was so intense that he understood that |
| we think of something (take some food like pizza for | | | | these temples already existed. He expressed this very |
| example). | | | | clearly when he stated: "We have 108 temples. Only |
| The more we think about(contemplate) that sense | | | | time separates us." |
| object the more we get attached to it. Then we begin | | | | He also envisioned devotees, books, sankirtan parties, |
| to feel that object of our senses. In the case of pizza | | | | and the rest. His vision became a physical reality. |
| we begin to salivate and almost taste it as we are | | | | Krishna fulfills the desires of His pure devotees. We |
| visualizing our interacting with that object. | | | | need to develop an intense internal vision and an |
| Then the stage of willing comes where the desire is | | | | intense external (the entire world taking up Krishna |
| so intense, we act. In Krishna consciousness, we | | | | consciousness) vision of Krishna consciousness. These |
| contemplate Krishna, His Pastimes, His devotees, and | | | | wishes will come true. Krishna will fulfill them. When our |
| His service, etc all in a very positive joyous way. This | | | | meditation/vision is harmonious with Krishna's desires, |
| is very important. | | | | success is sure. |