Page 6 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

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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