There is a scarcity now of devotees of God. If we try to understand God scientifically and become a devotee of God, a lover of God, our lives become successful. God is one and religion is one. Real religion means love of God. If we develop our love of God, automatically we will develop our love for all living beings.
Our efforts at Purify My Life are meant to assist you on your journey of discovering real religion and real culture, and applying those principles in a practical way so that you can achieve the perfection of life- the joyful reawakening of your original relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The way of receiving real knowledge is by accepting proper authority. With any educational system of this world, there are textbooks, but the contents of that textbook are brought to life and understanding by a proper instructor who is well versed in the subject and has practical experience of the science. For example, one cannot study a surgical text and then proclaim oneself to be a surgeon. There is a system of education and proper practicum. One cannot reach real knowledge without being helped by someone who is already established in that knowledge, and that pertains at least equally to the spiritual science of self-realization.
The basis of human society, especially one centered on spiritual principles, lies in its morality. If there is no morality, there can be do discernment, either material or spiritual, what is best for oneself, ones family, and ones community. Without morality, there can be no progress. Human life is meant for spiritual progress. Following some basic moral principles frees us up to achieve spiritual happiness and success. It allows us to disconnect from the heavy anchor of material existence and move forward in spiritual victory. Where there is illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling, there can be no cleanliness, mercy, austerity, or truthfulness.
According to the ancient Vedic literatures, the power in the names of God are beyond any sound produced in this material world. Not only do they uplift our consciousness but they are imbued with the power to purify the unwanted things within our hearts. And what are those unwanted things: lust, anger, envy, greed, and illusion… the enemies of righteousness, religiosity and peace.
The word “prasādam” translates from the Sanskrit as “mercy.” It refers to the foodstuffs that have been duly offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and have thus become not only freed from any sinful reaction, but have been rendered totally transcendentally beneficial by the grace of the Lord.
The spiritual master’s duty is to engage his disciples in preparing varieties of nice foods to offer the Deity. After being offered, this food is distributed as prasādam to the devotees. These activities satisfy the spiritual master, although he himself does not eat or require such a variety of prasādam. By seeing to the offering and distribution of prasādam, he himself is encouraged in devotional service.
One should take prasādam with great faith and should chant the holy name of the Lord and worship the Deity in the temple, always remembering that the Deity, mahā-prasādam and the holy name do not belong to the mundane platform. By worshiping the Deity, eating prasādam and chanting the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra, one can always remain on the spiritual platform (brahma-bhūyāya kalpate).