“Realising value leads to love”, Pujya Bhaishri at Knoxville Katha Day 1

Twenty-eight years after the invocation and installation ceremony of the Radha Krishna deities in the temple of the Hindu Centre in Knoxville (TN), Pujya Bhaishri has arrived bearing a platter of Shrimad Bhagavat for Bhagavat (Lord Radhakrishna).

Pujya Bhaishri spoke of the pouring rains he witnessed at his residence on the first day and described his feelings, “It isnʼt water that is pouring down, but life itself!” Tomorrow exists due to the presence of water. Farmers understand the precious value of water for the sustenance of our life.

Our Upanishads encourage us to grow plentiful crops because grain is considered that Supreme Reality. Understanding its supreme importance, one should always honour it. Our gross physical body is made up of grains and is sustained by food. Ultimately upon death, it dissolves back into the earth and once again manifests as food.

Just as the physical body requires food for its sustenance, the divine form of the Lord invoked in the idol in the temple is pleased and nourished by offerings of the Shrimad Bhagavat.

Thus, Pujya Bhaishri stressed the supreme importance of the need to understand the significance of Bhagavat prior to receiving it.

The vyāspith is showering a volley of thoughts. Taken positively, they awaken the power to discriminate truth from untruth within one. The same thoughts, if shared negatively from such a seat of learning is called brainwashing. When discrimination arises instead, it guides us to understand what should be done and what should not be done.

Suicide is a crime in many countries and inspiring another to commit suicide is equally considered to be a crime. The positive sense of discernment that Katha empowers you with steers you towards a path of life filled with positivity.

Western Studies have shown that even ten minutes of positive thinking can counter-balance all the negativity of the day. With the force of positivity flowing through your life through satsang (association with Truth and saints), negativity will not stand a chance to survive.