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GURU 2 - Earth
120 mins
A sober person, even when harassed by other living beings, should understand that
his aggressors are acting helplessly under the control of God, and thus he should
never be distracted from progress on his own path. This rule the Avadhuta brahmana
had learnt from the earth. Tolerance means to patiently endure unhappiness, such
as that provoked by the insults or negligence of others.
SLOKA RECITATION
Let us learn a sloka from the Srimad Bhagvatam which teaches us something
about the above theme.
Before teaching the present verse, the teacher should begin the class by
chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus with the children all together.
Chant the second verse of the 24 Gurus again. Tell the children we will learn
the eleventh verse and also understand it.
Learn the second verse. (The teacher recites the sloka line by line and makes
the children repeat and memorize the sloka)
titikava kruik
suhda sarva-dehinm
ajta-atrava nt
sdhava sdhu-bha
The symptoms of a sdhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living
entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his
characteristics are sublime. (Srimad Bhagvatam 3.25.21)
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GURU 2 - Earth
LESSONS FROM GURU (HONG KONG)
The teacher can explain to the children, the lessons which this Earth guru teaches
us. The abbreviation HONG KONG makes it convenient for us to remember what
the guru wants to teach us.
The teacher can write down on the board the below abbreviation and ask
the children to note it down and learn it.
In this session, after explaining the meaning of HONG KONG, the teacher will be
able to narrate a maximum of four stories. The remaining stories can be continued
in the next class.
Tolerance means HONG KONG
1. Tolerating Hardship, one must continue serving
2. The tolerant Lord gives you enough Opportunities to correct yourself
3. Saintly persons are by Nature tolerant
4. Greatness of a person estimated by his level of tolerance
5. Tolerance is the Key for a spiritual aspirant
6. Tolerate petty mindedness of Ordinary men
STORIES
STORY 1
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GURU 2 - Earth
much strength that he could tolerate
the heavy thunderbolts and torrents of
rain for seven days and seven nights.
He was very satisfied
receiving Krishnas touch
and getting higher taste
in relation with Krishna.
Thus it was the Lords touch
that empowered his devotee in
assisting the Lord perform his
STORY 2
STORY 3
{SAINTLY PERSONS ARE BY NATURE TOLERANT}
A sage once saw a scorpion in water
struggling. He lifted it to save its
life. It stung him. Due to the pain
he experienced he immediately
dropped it. Then again he lifted it.
Again it stung him and again he dropped
it. After a few attempts, a person who
was standing next to him asked him,
O saintly person, are you foolish?
Why are you lifting that ungrateful
scorpion again and again. He is
biting you so badly?
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GURU 2 - Earth
STORY 4
her husband.
Next Bhgu went to Vaikuha to
test Lord Nryaa. Going
up to the Lord, who was lying
with His head on the lap of
the goddess of fortune, Bhgu
kicked His chest. But instead
of becoming angry, both the Lord and
His consort stood up and offered Bhgu
respects. Welcome, said the Lord.
Please sit down and rest awhile. Kindly
forgive us, dear master, for not noticing
your arrival. When Bhgu went back to
the assembly of sages and told them all
that had happened, they concluded that
Lord Viu is certainly supreme.
Bhgu Muni tested the tolerance of the
Lord by purposely kicking His chest, but
instead of being angry at Bhgu Muni
the Lord begged his pardon, saying that
Bhgu Munis leg might have been badly
hurt because His chest is too hard. The
Lord has the sign of the foot
of Bhgupda as the mark of
tolerance.
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2/2
60 mins
GURU 2 - Earth
120 mins
The teacher should begin the second session of this Earth Guru with the recitation
of slokas first.
SLOKA RECITATION
The teacher should begin the class by chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus
with the children all together.
Chant the second verse of the 24 Gurus again.
titikava kruik
suhda sarva-dehinm
ajta-atrava nt
sdhava sdhu-bha
The symptoms of a sdhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living
entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his
characteristics are sublime. (Srimad Bhagvatam 3.25.21)
ki durmara titik
kim akryam asdhubhi
ki na deya vadnyn
ka para sama-darinm
What can the tolerant not bear? What will the wicked not do? What will the
generous not give in charity? And who will those of equal vision see as an outsider?
(SB 10.72.19)
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GURU 2 - Earth
STORY 5
{TOLERANCE IS THE KEY FOR A SPIRITUAL ASPIRANT}
Once a young man named Ram
approached a saintly person for
initiation and to be accepted
as disciple. The saint told Ram,
that he should practice penance
for one year and after that have a bath
and come back, he will accept him as
a disciple. So accordingly,
Ram performed severe
penance for one year. After
one year, Ram had bath
and was coming out. The guru asked
a sweeper to sweep dust on Ram after
he had had bath. Accordingly,
the sweeper broomed the road
and threw dust on Ram. Ram
became angry and ran after him
with great speed to beat him
up. Ram had bath again
and came to the saint for
initiation. The saint on seeing him said
that though he had done penance still
he had not been able to tolerate anger.
For a person aspiring to be a sadhu he
has to be tolerant. Then he asked Ram to
STORY 6
ORDINARY MEN }
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GURU 2 - Earth
STORY 7
{TOLERANCE IS THE KEY FOR A SPIRITUAL ASPIRANT}
He recalled with amusement
his own experiences in
establishing his movement in
the early days in New York.
Just like our poet, Allen
Ginsberg. He was always accusing me,
Swamij, you are very conservative and
strict.
Actually, I told him that I am never
strict, neither I am conservative. If I
become conservative, then I cannot
{LEADER OR
STORY 8
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GURU 2 - Earth
HOW IS IT RELEVANT IN MY LIFE?
It is easy to complain about anything, but it is extremely difficult to tolerate
and even more difficult to appreciate.
For example, let us study a pastime where someone had to tolerate many atrocities
and still continue his service and not be affected in his mood.
In the pastime of Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill, a question may be asked, What
was it that gave Giriraj the strength to tolerate this difficult situation? The
situation was that for seven days and seven nights, Indra was pouring
thunder and heavy rains on the body of Govardhan. All the Vrajawasis
were protected below the hill and more than that they were continuously getting
the association of Krishna. But Govardhan hill was neither getting any shelter and
protection from the rains and nor was he getting to even see the Lord.
The acaryas explain that it was the touch of Krishnas little finger that gave
him so much strength that he could tolerate the heavy thunderbolts and
torrents of rain for seven days and seven nights. He was very satisfied receiving
Krishnas touch and getting higher taste in relation with Krishna. Thus it was
the Lords touch that empowered his devotee in assisting the Lord perform
his pastimes on the planet.
Giriraj exemplified the highest platform in the mood of serving even at the cost of
undergoing distress himself. Indra was overwhelmed with desire for enjoyment. He
could not tolerate being not respected and worshipped. Immediately got offended
and decided to kill the vrajabasis.
Gratitude means to be remember what one has done for you till the end of your life
and be thankful to him for that kind act.
Complaining shows that you are not grateful. When we complain without tolerating
we are becoming insensitive to others efforts. For example if our mother makes some
nice dish for us to eat, if we find that it is having a little more salt or little
less, what is our first reaction to it. If our first reaction is to criticize then
we are not tolerant. But if our first reaction is to think how to appreciate
the efforts of our mother and try to thank her for her love and care; then it means
that we are tolerant.
Srila Prabhupada mentions, Greatness of a person is estimated by his ability to
tolerate provoking situations.
We have to learn this from the earth. The earth bears the entire burden but still does
not complain. She continues to render her service of bearing all the burden of all
living entities on herself.
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GURU 2 - Earth
scriptural STORIES
OF EARTH
1. Earth drowned by Hiranyakashipu
(The children may perform this drama or the teacher may narrate this story.)
The Appearance Of Lord Varaha
from rmad-Bhgavatam, Third Canto, Chapter 13
* * * * *
CAST: Narrator, Marichi, Brahmana, Manu, Lord Brahma, Varuna, Commander,
Hiranyaksha, Lord Varaha.
NARRATOR
Many thousands of years ago, the light of the sun and moon
suddenly became darkened, so all the demigods went, in great
fear, to Lord Brahma and asked him to explain the cause of that
darkness. Lord Brahma explained to them that, once upon a time,
the four Kumaras wanted to visit the Supreme Lord Narayana in
Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. These four Kumaras are great selfrealized devotees and are the oldest of all living creatures, and
yet by their mystic power they always appear to be small boys
of five years old. When they tried to enter the gate of Vaikuntha,
however, they were stopped by two gate-keepers named Jaya and
Vijaya, who mistook them for ordinary small boys. The Kumaras
become angry because they wanted very much to see Lord
Narayana, and thus they cursed the doorkeepers. When the Lord
heard of this, He approved this curse, for an offense to the lotus
feet of a devotee is the greatest offense one can commit.
By the Lords will, Jaya and Vijaya fell down from Vaikuntha and
entered the womb of Diti, destined to be born as the two most
powerful demons ever known-Hiranyakashipu and
Hiranyaksha! These two demons were so powerful that even while
they were in their mothers womb, the sun and moon become
darkened by their prowess! And what to speak of other demigods,
even Lord Indra, king of the heavens, hid in fear of them. But of
the two demonic brothers, the demigods were especially afraid
of Hiranyaksha, who traveled all over the universe challenging
everyone, and destroying all who got in his way.
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GURU 2 - Earth
Outside the palace of Lord Brahma
(Marichi and other brahmanas discuss the
catastrophe)
MARICHI
BRAHMANA
MARICHI
Patience! Sri Manu has already gone to Lord Brahma with this
problem. We must wait to hear what he has to say.
BRAHMANA
Look, here they come now. (Lord Brahma and Sri Manu enter,
conversing)
MANU
BRAHMANA
MANU
BRAHMA
What in the three worlds is it? It looks like a great boar, but it is
so beautiful!
BRAHMANA
Yes, it is wonderful!
MARICHI
BRAHMA
No, surely this is an avatara of Lord Vishnu, come to save the earth
from this catastrophe! (Varaha roars and everyone gasps. Brahma
confirms: ) Yes, it is the Supreme Lord Himself, appearing in the
form of a wonderful boar!
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GURU 2 - Earth
EVERYONE
Jai! All glories to Lord Boar! (Lord Varaha roars again) Jai! All
glories to Lord Boar! Haribol! Haribol! (they bow down and offer
their obeisances)
NARRATOR
COMMANDER
VARUNA
Fear not, my friend! Have faith in the Supreme Lord-He will not
leave us for lost!
(demonic roaring is heard from offstage. Commander runs in
fear. Hiranyaksha enters, falls at Varunas feet and challenges him
mockingly)
HIRANYAKSHA
O Varuna! You are the most powerful of rulers and have crushed
the might of many arrogant warriors! O great Lord, please fight
with me!
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GURU 2 - Earth
VARUNA
HIRANYAKSHA
VARUNA
HIRANYAKSHA
VARUNA
Lord Vishnu!
HIRANYAKSHA
VARUNA
HIRANYAKSHA
NARRATOR
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GURU 2 - Earth
By the Garbhodaka Ocean
HIYANYAKSHA
VARAHA
NARRATOR
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GURU 2 - Earth
the Lords chest and disappears. Then he begins to employ many
magic tricks against the Lord-fierce winds, hailstorms, volleys of
stones, rains of puss, blood, bones and stool. The Lord however
dispels all this with His disc. Hiranyaksha appears again, and
from behind tries to crush the Lord with his arms, but the Lord
slips out of his arms. Hiranyaksha then begins to strike the Lord
with his fists, but the Lord then slaps him indifferently at the base
of the ear. Hiranyaksha begins to wheel, eyeballs bulging, and
with his arms and legs broken, he falls down dead.
Demigods: Jai! Jai! All glories to Lord Varaha! (Lord Varaha roars
and walks off stage, victoriously)
BRAHMA
Oh, what a blessed death! To die by the lotus hand of the Supreme
Lord Himself... All glories to Lord Varaha who has assumed the
form of a boar to save the world! This demon was a torment to
the three worlds, but he has been slain by You so that we may live
peacefully in devotion to Your lotus feet. Lord Varaha ki Jai! Lord
Varaha ki Jai! Lord Varaha ki Jai! (kirtan)
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GURU 2 - Earth
Mother earth was burdened by the burden of sinful leaders who were not ruling by
the principles of servant leadership but were ruling by the principles of exploitation.
In the Tenth canto we see how Bhumi devi is actually setting a scene for the birth
of Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama and seeing what happens when the leadership is
corrupt and seeing how Krsna deals with the corrupt leadership.
bhmir dpta-npa-vyjadaitynka-atyutai
krnt bhri-bhrea
brahma araa yayau
Bhumi was overburdened by the burden of the leaders of the planet. The leaders
were daityas , asuras 1000s and 1000s of military phalanxes situated on this planet.
Extremely puffed up demons but they were disguised as kings. Mother earth was
very upset with such a situation realizing that she was bearing the burden of these
1000s of demons in the guise of ruling kings.
LESSONS
1.
Srila Prabhupada draws our attention that today we have many people who
are leaders but in actuality are nothing but demons in disguise. History repeats itself
and even 5000 years later mother earth is still burdened by these demons.
Once a question was posed in a talk show to Srila Prabhupada
If monarchy is important, but is there any ideal monarch like Yudhisthira?
Srila Prabhupada pointed towards himself and said he.
It was not vanity or false pride. It meant that if there is an ideal
monarch we shall offer him guidance. A brahmana guides a kshatriya
king. Five hundred years ago a similar situation existed.
The Moghul ruler Nawab Hussian Shah was ruling and he understood
that he needed good advisors if he had to rule properly. He had a maulvi
who used to guide him. He had the ability to see into the future. He told
him that there were only two people who were capable of doing this job.
They were Dabira Khaas and Sakara Malik.
When demoniac kings trouble or attack mother earth from outside it adds to the
burden. More than that one the internal demons, i.e.our heart is also burdened by
the six elements. Lust, anger, pride, greed etc.
Demons also appear in the heart. Just as the demons like Trnavarta,
Putana, Kaliya were killed by Krsna, similarly these anarthas also have
to be killed or purified. So Krishna has to appear in the heart and then
these demons will be killed.
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LESSONS
Janamastami
1.
Whenever there is a burden of demoniac persons, janamastami
takes place. The Lord personally appears to relieve mother earth of
the intolerable burden of demons by annihilating the miscreants and
liberating the pious and to establish principles of religion. Krishna
appeared in the form of the holy name and if we allow Krsna in the form of the holy
name to come into our hearts then definitely there is purification like Bhumi devi
who also allowed Krsna to enter into her heart.
2.
Seeking shelter
Mother earth was burdened 5000 years back. She is burdened even today
socially because of the leaders outside and personally because of the
demons living within.
Krishnas appearance is the only solution.
Krishna will not appear automatically .He will appear only when we take shelter. So
mother earth approached Lord Brahma seeking shelter of the Lord, spiritual master
and of the devotees. So todays society needs help and only when the leaders go
to the superiors to take guidance and lessons, there will be some kind of stability.
When we try to take the reins of our own lives in our hands not listening to the
advice of our authorities then destruction is inevitable.
E.g. Arjuna was confused trying to giving arguments why I should not
fight the battle. The entire first chapter is full of Arjuna trying to justify
as to why he should not fight. Atlast he realized that I am failing, I need
help from a person who can help me Hence we see BG 2.7 Karpanya
doso
Similarly Mother earth realized that she has to take help from
someone who can help her therefore she approached Brahma. She
remembered that when she was in distress when Hiranyaksha had
submerged her in the ocean she had sought help from Lord Brahma
and how Lord Varaha appeared from the nostril of Brahmaji.
Brahma was instrumental in the appearance of Varaha deva.
And he saved Bhumi devi.
Conclusion
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