Page 6 - Powerful Feminine Qualities
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son of Pritha, transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or
         in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil.” (Bg 6.40)
         Righteousness  or following the principles  of  dharma  makes  one famous. As Lord  Caitanya said,  the most famous
         person is  the pure devotee  like  the  great associates of  Krishna:  Radharani and  the  Gopis, Sitadevi, Yasodamayi,
         Kuntidevi, Draupadi, and  many  more. They were pure devotees  like His Divine Grace A.C.  Bhaktivedanta Swami
         Prabhupada by their exemplary devotion and unalloyed love and sacrifice for Krishna. Ramananda Raya said, “That
         person who is reputed to be a devotee of Lord Krishna enjoys the utmost fame and glory.” (CC Madhya 8.246)

         Smrtir - good memory, Medha - good intelligence
         In school, we take many courses and we must pass tests to verify if we have learned the subject matter. If one is gifted
         with a good memory to remember the subject matter, he is blessed with smrtir. For example, one may take a Bhakti
         sastri course and pass the tests. How much of the course does one remember and understand? To understand what
         one has read and have the ability to apply the knowledge when necessary is the sign of intelligence – medha. The first
         point is good  memory, and then good intelligence by which  one can solve a particular problem with realized
         knowledge.
         A lady asked me recently, “I have a difficult time balancing my life with all the responsibilities I have. I have so many
         challenges in my life. I have a husband, children, and I work during the day at a job. My in-laws live with me. I often get
         upset due to all my obligations. It affects my children, marriage, work, and the relationship with my in-laws.
         She asked the following question, “What do I do in this situation? I have so many challenges in my life. I have children,
         and a husband. I have work. I have my in-laws living with me. Moreover, sometimes I easily get upset, and I do not
         know how to balance  this, because it can  affect  my children, it can affect my marriage, and it can affect my
         relationship with my in-laws. Now, how do I balance all this?”
         This was a serious question. I answered, “You can balance it by lowering your material expectations. The reason you
         get angry is because you have strong material desires, and you see obstacles to reaching your desires that make you
         frustrated. Let me give you an example. You have a grandmother?”
         She said, “Yes, I have a grandmother.”
         “Tell me about her.”
         “She was a farmer.”
         “Did she have kids? Husband?”
         “Yes.”
         “Did she get angry?”
         “No!”
         “Why not?”
         “I do not know; she never got angry.”
         I said, “Did she have in-laws?”
         She said, “Yes!”
         “So she had everything you have. Did she have any money?”
         “No.”
         “Oh well, you have money. You are well-off.”
         Here is a well-educated woman. Her grandmother had the same situation she has at present. Perhaps not the same
         economic level, but a similar situation. Her grandmother had a very humble life. She was a farmer who was able to
         raise her kids, take care of her husband and in-laws, and work on the farm. But she did not get angry.
         She said, “I never saw her angry. Maybe she sometimes became angry, but I never saw her angry.”
         I said, “What was her lifestyle? Did she have an altar in the house?”
         She said, “Oh yes, she had an altar.”
         I said, “Did she offer food to God?”


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