Gaura Arati (Qüirio)

Mexican artist-duo Qüirio – our dear Godbrother Mahavishnu das and Godsister Murli Manohara devi dasi, disciples of Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaj – doing Gaura Arati in their own beautiful way.

The picture in the clip is from when they last visited Sweden and gave a performance of this song in Restaurant Sattva (where Nimaihuset's Mahahari das distributes high-quality prasadam every weekday). Now, a 20 seconds-clip of that performance is available on Swedish Internet buy-and-sell-market Blocket, in an ad where Nimaihuset is renting out its sound system, which is used here. Gaura Arati on Blocket! And whaddya know!, Siddhanta das, who is managing the sound system, and who is also known as the undisputed master in putting up tents, is guest starring in the clip as first solo guitarist to the far left! The whole performance can also be seen here.

Gaura Arati LYRICS (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura):

The improbability of a human birth

After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible only for a human being.

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.9.29

The Srimad-Bhagavatam stresses again, again, again, again, again and again how rare and valuable a human birth is, using the word durlabham: very difficult to obtain. Unfortunately we tend to forget this and take our human bodies for granted, which is very tragic considering just how rare and valuable they are. Someone who has understood this will try to use this chance to the utmost, and not waste a second on any other endeavour than self-realization.

Srila Prabhupada about accepting Krishna

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: How can we stop speculating?

Prabhupāda: Stop speculation? Don't manufacture ideas. You take what Kṛṣṇa says, then it will automatically stop. Speculation, the question of speculation comes when you do not accept what Kṛṣṇa says. If you accept Kṛṣṇa, what Kṛṣṇa says, then there is no scope of speculation. That is our movement, that "Accept Kṛṣṇa's teachings as it is. Don't speculate; then it is lost." This is our movement. Kṛṣṇa says that ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG 10.8): "I am the origin of everything. Everything emanates from Me." If you accept, then it is all right. And if you speculate, you can do that. But our movement is to accept Kṛṣṇa. Brahma means janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1), the origin of everything. Here is the person. He says, ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG 10.8). Accept it. Very simple thing. You are searching after who is the origin of everything, and Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the origin of everything." So if you accept, your question is solved. If you don't accept, go on speculating. There is no difficulty. Difficulty is when you do not accept Kṛṣṇa's instruction. Then difficulty is. Otherwise, there is no difficulty. And why people do not accept? That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gīta: bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate (BG 7.19). After many, many births' speculation, when one actually comes to the platform of knowledge, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate. So we don't find many such jñānavān. Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā. One who's accepted Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, as everything, that kind of mahātmā is very, very rare to be found. It is not very ordinary thing.

The Brahmana and the Cobbler, a story told by Srila Prabhupada

Narada Muni, he used to visit Narayana every day. So when he was passing on the road, so one very learned brahmana and taking thrice bath and everything very nicely, he asked Narada Muni, "Oh, you are going to Lord. Will you inquire when I shall get my salvation?"

"All right. I shall ask."

And then another cobbler, he was under the tree, sewing the shoes, old shoes. He also saw Narada Muni. He also inquired, "Will you kindly inquire from God when my salvation is...?"