June 4, 2025

3A - Awareness, Aspiration, Appreciation
Demigod worship takes one to the darkest regions of ignorance.
We may think that Krishna is just another demigod, but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Worshiping the impersonal Absolute is even more dangerous.
No one other than Krishna is independent; all others are dependent on one or the other.
Prabupada takes one from awareness to aspiration.
We should have appreciation for devotees, they have brought us from one place to the other.
Neither the hosts of demigods nor the sages know the Supreme Lord or his oppulences, unless one has the mercy of vaishnavas.
If touch stone touches iron, it becomes gold, but if it touches iron again, it becomes iron again. If devotees touch someone, they become devotees, but if they touch someone else, they become devotees again. This is the nature of devotional service.
Prabhupada clearly gives the direction here. If one follows demigods or impersonal brahman, one will be in the darkest regions of ignorance. By negation of impersonalism and demigod worship, one can come to the platform of devotional service.
Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate – the Absolute Truth is realized in three aspects: Brahman (the impersonal aspect), Paramātmā (the localized aspect), and Bhagavān (the Supreme Person). God has a form, qualities, oppulences and pastimes, which are all eternal and full of bliss and knowledge. Rupa gosvami gives us the descriptions as 64 oppulences.
We do not speculate about the Absolute Truth, we follow the scriptures and the ācāryas. The ācāryas are the ones who have realized the Absolute Truth and they give us the direction.
Our only prayers as a devotee is prayer while receiving mercy of other devotees. Gnana is the power of Rishis and sages.
Everything from our body stinks. The only thing that is in our control is our speech. We can use our speech to glorify Krishna and the devotees.
One who performs devotional service without any desire for material gain, who is free from the modes of material nature, and who is always engaged in devotional service, is the one who can understand Krishna.
Devotees do not want to know krishna, rather just serve Krishna. Knowledge comes natuarally afterwards through devotional service.
Bhakti: Loving devotional service. Most important point is service to Krishna and devotees.
Such devotees continue to serve Krishna, even in the spiritual world. They do not want to leave Krishna's service.
Devotees are not interested in liberation, they are interested in serving Krishna.
BG 7.20-23:

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.
TEXT 21: I am in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity.
TEXT 22: Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.
TEXT 23: Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.

Kadamba kanana swami: This life is like a musical chair. When the music stops, people move out. Finally, when the music stops, all move out. Similarly, life moves on from one body to another, and finally we leave this material world. The only thing that remains is our devotional service.
Permanent solution is devotional service. Devotional service is the only thing that remains after we leave this material world. Krishna and the soul are eternal, and devotional service is also eternal.
From the highest planet to the lowest planet, all are temporary. The only permanent solution is devotional service to Krishna.
The depth of a vaishnava is how willingly he wants to give Krishna to others.
Most of the problems in the world will go away with sincere chanting of the holy names.

Isopanishad Mantra Twelve

Śrī Īśopaniṣad – Mantra 12 Summary

Translation
Those who worship the demigods enter the darkest regions of ignorance, and even more so do those who worship the impersonal Absolute.

Summary
Mantra 12 warns against the worship of both demigods (asambhūti) and the impersonal aspect of the Absolute (Brahman), stating that such paths lead to deep ignorance. The Absolute Truth is not the formless, impersonal Brahman alone, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa (sambhūti), who possesses an eternal form full of bliss and knowledge.

Worship of demigods is discouraged because they are not independent—they derive their powers from Kṛṣṇa. People driven by material desires often seek temporary benefits through such worship, but it binds them to the cycle of birth and death. Even reaching the demigod planets, such as the moon or sun, offers no liberation, since all material planets are temporary. True freedom comes only by reaching Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, beyond this dark material universe.

Philosophers and mystics who speculate on the Absolute using logic and negation may reach the impersonal Brahman, but without devotion, they fail to progress to Bhagavān, the Supreme Person. This impersonal conception is another form of ignorance, denying the Lord’s personal form and qualities.

Pseudo religionists—those who reject scriptural authority, ignore the disciplic succession, or impersonate spiritual leaders—mislead others and risk entering the darkest regions after death. Their shallow displays of devotion, often cloaked in philanthropic or moralist appearances, are ultimately self-serving and spiritually destructive.

Bhagavad-gītā (7.23, 8.16, 16.19–20) and Śrī Īśopaniṣad stress that only by worshiping the Supreme Lord with genuine devotion, under proper spiritual guidance, can one be freed from the bondage of material existence and attain eternal life.

Key Points

Worship of demigods yields only temporary, material results.
Impersonalism leads to spiritual stagnation and deeper ignorance.
Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate source and the only object worthy of full worship.
True spiritual life requires following the disciplic succession and serving the ācāryas.
Pseudo religionists and impersonalists are dangerous to society and themselves.

Conclusion
Śrī Īśopaniṣad advises rejecting both demigod worship and impersonalism. Liberation lies in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sincere adherence to the Vedic path through proper ācārya-guided discipline.