Bhaktiyoga - practical II.

Bhakti
Body
Eight Aspects of Brahmacarya
Calling on the Name of the Lord in the Bible

Bhakti

- superior to liberation (SB 3.25.32)

sri-bhagavan uvaca
devanam guna-linganam
anusravika-karmanam
sattva evaika-manaso
vrttih svabhaviki tu ya
animitta bhagavati
bhaktih siddher gariyasi

Lord Kapila said: The senses are symbolic representations of the demigods, and their natural inclination is to work under the direction of the Vedic injunctions. As the senses are representatives of the demigods, so the mind is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind's natural duty is to serve. When that service spirit is engaged in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, without any motive, that is far better even than salvation.

zrI-harer bhakti-dAsyaM ca sarva-mukteH paraM mune
vaiSNavAnAm abhimataM sArAt sAraM parAt param

O Muni! Devotion to Sri Hari and service to Him are superior to all other Muktis and are liked by the Vaisnavas. This is the essence of all essence and higher than the highest. (Narada Pancaratra 2.7.4)

siddhayaH paramAzcaryA
bhuktir muktiz ca zAzvatI
nityaM ca paramAnando
bhaved govinda-bhaktitaH

Supremely wonderful mystic powers, sense gratification, eternal liberation and eternal transcendent bliss come from devotional service to Sri Govinda. (Satvata tantra 4.35)

- superior to other systems (SB 4.31.12, 11.15.*)

kim va yogena sankhyena
nyasa-svadhyayayor api
kim va sreyobhir anyais ca
na yatratma-prado harih

Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyasa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless.

PURPORT: In Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 24.109) it is said:

bhakti vina kevala jnane `mukti' nahi haya
bhakti sadhana kare yei `prapta-brahma-laya'

Impersonalists do not take to devotional service, but take to other practices, such as the analytical study of the material elements, the discrimination between matter and spirit, and the mystic yoga system. These are beneficial only insofar as they are complementary to devotional service. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore told Sanatana Gosvami that without a touch of devotional service, jnana, yoga and Sankhya philosophy cannot give one the desired results. The impersonalists wish to merge into the Supreme Brahman; however, merging into the Supreme Brahman also requires a touch of devotional service. The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases - impersonal Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All these require a touch of devotional service. Sometimes it is actually seen that these Mayavadis also chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, although their motive is to merge into the Brahman effulgence of the Absolute. The yogis also at times take to chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but their purpose is different from that of the bhaktas. In all processes - karma, jnana or yoga - bhakti is required. That is the purport of this verse.

Body

- human: attainment from last animal body: SB 5.14.30p. cow (body in sattva), lion (rajas), monkey (tamas)

first after leaving spiritual world: SB 4.29.4p., Brahma's - SB 9.24.58p.

- 32 symptoms of a great person: CC Adi 14.14-15p., quote from Samudrika

- care of:

dharmasya ayatam yatnac sariram paripalayet
na hi deham vina visnuh purusair vidyate parah

(Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 54.36)

Just to follow religious principles, one should take care of his body because without the body, one cannot worship Lord Sri Visnu and attain the supreme abode.

- six changes: jayate'sti varddhate, viparinamate, apaksiyate nasyati ca

"The body takes birth, exists after birth, grows, undergoes transformations by aging, dwindles, and finally dies." (Niruktam 1.1.2)

The soul however, does not undergo any of these changes. Krsna explains this in Chapter Two of Bhagavad-gita.

The argument for the soul not undergoing these changes is that it observes all these changes. The observer of a change is not affected by the change or he ceases to be an observer. A man sitting in a moving airplane and unable to look out the window cannot fathom its speed, but a man on the ground observes it easily. Similarly, everyone has the experience of the six types of changes occurring in his own body, but the observer of these changes is not the body. The observer is the soul. This is logically inferred. Hence the very experience "I am miserable" proves that I (the soul) am not miserable, because if I was miserable I would be unable to perceive the misery.

Eight Aspects of Brahmacarya

(Sridhara Svami, the Bhagavatam commentator, also quoted in Daksa smrti)

Discussion with evidences - Maha-mantra Das

(1) smaranam - One should not think of the opposite sex. One should think of Krsna and His service as given by the spiritual master. Memorize favorite passages or verses from the sastras.

(SB 7.15.36 purport) "In our Krsna consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the sannyasis and brahmacaris keep strictly aloof from the association of women so that there will be no chance of their falling down again as victims of lusty desires."

(2) kirtanam - One should not talk of sex life (prajalpa). One should talk of Krsna and discuss one's realizations with one's friends, other brahmacaris. (Practice gravity, chant japa nicely)

"Japa means tapa, tapasya. And that is drdha-vrata. Tapasa brahmacaryena. Tapasya begins with brahmacarya. There is no tapasya, there is no brahmacarya, there is no drdha-vrata," (Room Conv. Jan 31, 1977)

"So this is the process. Tapasa brahmacaryena. Brahmacarya is very, very essential. And that is, when one becomes detestable to sex life, that is the beginning of spiritual life. That is the beginning of spiritual life." (lecture CC Adi 1.11, April 4, 1975) (see determination)

tatranvaham krsna-kathah pragayatam anugrahenasrnavam manoharah tah
sraddhaya me 'nupadam visrnvatah priyasravasy anga mamabhavad rucih

"O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna and thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step." (SB 1.5.26)

Lord Sri Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is attractive not only in His personal features, but also in His transcendental activities. It is so because the Absolute is absolute by His name, fame, form, pastimes, entourage, paraphernalia, etc. The Lord descends on this material world out of His causeless mercy and displays His various transcendental pastimes as a human being so that human beings attracted towards Him become able to go back to Godhead. Men are naturally apt to hear histories and narrations of various personalities performing mundane activities, without knowing that by such association one simply wastes valuable time and also becomes addicted to the three qualities of mundane nature. Instead of wasting time, one can get spiritual success by turning his attention to the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. By hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Lord, one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead, and, as explained before, by hearing about the Personality of Godhead, from within, all accumulated sins of the mundane creature are cleared. Thus being cleared of all sins, the hearer gradually becomes liberated from mundane association and becomes attracted to the features of the Lord. Narada Muni has just explained this by his personal experience. The whole idea is that simply by hearing about the Lord's pastimes one can become one of the associates of the Lord. Narada Muni has eternal life, unlimited knowledge and unfathomed bliss, and he can travel all over the material and spiritual worlds without restriction. One can attain to the highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Sri Narada heard them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedantas) in his previous life. This process of hearing in the association of the devotees is especially recommended in this age of quarrel (Kali).

(3) kelih - Don't play or dally with the opposite sex, (even if it is your service to deal with them, try to minimize it).

Rupa Goswami says in NOD 'avyartha-kalatvam'. Pure devotees don't waste their time, they always are cautious to make sure they are always engaged positively in K.C.

"If one is absent-minded, he cannot work nicely because mind is absent or not in order. Therefore our method of controlling the senses is to engage the senses in the service of the Lord.

The first engagement should be that mind should be always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna. Always engaged. These boys, they are always engaged. Just like in offering arcana to the Deities from early morning up to ten o'clock at night, and then they go to rest. Again rise early in the morning. So somebody is engaged in cleansing the temple, somebody is engaged in dressing the Deity, somebody is engaged in cooking for the Deity, somebody is engaged going in Tokyo city for distributing literature, somebody is performing kirtana here, somebody is reading our various books. In this way we have got twenty-five hours engagement instead of twenty-four hours. So mind cannot go outside Krsna. That is called Krsna conscious. We don't allow the mind go out of Krsna's service. And this is sannyasa." (from lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

(4) preksanam - Don't look lustfully at the opposite sex. Focus your eyes (or remember) on your favorite Deity form of the Lord. ("The mind has a natural proclivity to enter into the material sense objects, and similarly the sense objects enter into the mind..." SB 11.13.25)

sarat-padmotsavam vaktram vacas ca sravanamrtam
hrdayam ksura-dharabham strinam ko veda cestitam

A woman's face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear, but if we study a woman's heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp, like the blade of a razor. In these circumstances, who could understand the dealings of a woman? (SB 6.18.41-42)

Woman is now depicted very well from the materialistic point of view by Kasyapa Muni. Women are generally known as the fair sex, and especially in youth, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, women are very attractive to men. Therefore a woman's face is compared to a blooming lotus flower in autumn. Just as a lotus is extremely beautiful in autumn, a woman at the threshold of youthful beauty is extremely attractive. In Sanskrit a woman's voice is called nari-svara because women generally sing and their singing is very attractive. At the present moment, cinema artists, especially female singers, are especially welcome. Some of them earn fabulous amounts of money simply by singing. Therefore, as taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a woman's singing is dangerous because it can make a sannyasi fall a victim to the woman. Sannyasa means giving up the company of women, but if a sannyasi hears the voice of a woman and sees her beautiful face, he certainly becomes attracted and is sure to fall down. There have been many examples. Even the great sage Visvamitra fell a victim to Menaka. Therefore a person desiring to advance in spiritual consciousness must be especially careful not to see a woman's face or hear a woman's voice. To see a woman's face and appreciate its beauty or to hear a woman's voice and appreciate her singing as very nice is a subtle falldown for a brahmacari or sannyasi. Thus the description of a woman's features by Kasyapa Muni is very instructive. When a woman's bodily features are attractive, when her face is beautiful and when her voice is sweet, she is naturally a trap for a man. The sastras advise that when such a woman comes to serve a man, she should be considered to be like a dark well covered by grass. In the fields there are many such wells, and a man who does not know about them drops through the grass and falls down. Thus there are many such instructions. Since the attraction of the material world is based on attraction for women, Kasyapa Muni thought, "Under the circumstances, who can understand the heart of a woman?" Canakya Pandita has also advised, visvaso naiva kartavyah strisu raja-kulesu ca: "There are two persons one should not trust-a politician and a woman." These, of course, are authoritative sastric injunctions, and we should therefore be very careful in our dealings with women. Sometimes our Krsna consciousness movement is criticized for mingling men and women, but Krsna consciousness is meant for anyone. Whether one is a man or woman does not matter. Lord Krsna personally says, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim: whether one is a woman, sudra or vaisya, not to speak of being a brahmana or ksatriya, everyone is fit to return home, back to Godhead, if he strictly follows the instructions of the spiritual master and sastra. We therefore request all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement - both men and women - not to be attracted by bodily features but only to be attracted by Krsna. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise there will be danger.

Here is a practical solution to the problem of agitation in the presence of so many women in Kali-yuga. Avoid unnecessary association, but be practical. Remember! The sense objects are not at fault. It's how one understands the purpose of the various sense objects that creates one's difficulties.

All creatures and all things must be offered for Krsna's enjoyment. If one understands this always, then one can be pacified despite provocation. But disturbance or not, we must carry on our preaching duties. Get association and counseling. Endeavor for rectifying your strength. Then after regaining strength go out to preach again. This time more cautious than before you had the initial weakness.

"Who has introduced these things, that women cannot have chanting japa in the temple, they cannot perform the arati and so many things? If they become agitated, then let the brahmacaris go to the forest, I have never introduced these things. The brahmacaris cannot remain in the presence of women in the temple, then they may go to the forest, not remaining in New York City, because in New York there are so many women, so how they can avoid seeing? Best thing is to go to the forest for not seeing any women, if they become so easily agitated, but then no one will either see them and how our preaching work will go on? ... It is not possible." (SP letter to Ekayani 12/3/72)

(5) guhyabhasanam - Don't talk intimately with the opposite sex in a secluded place. Make strong friendships with other brahmacaris (or offer your choice prayerful words to the Deity instead).

strinam niriksana-sparsa-samlapa-ksvelanadikam
pranino mithuni-bhutan agrhastho 'gratas tyajet

Those who are not married - sannyasis, vanaprasthas and brahmacaris - should never associate with women by glancing, touching, conversing, joking or sporting. Neither should they ever associate with any living entity engaged in sexual activities. (SB 11.17.33)

Praninah indicates all living entities, whether birds, bees or human beings. Among most species of life, sexual intercourse is preceded by diverse mating rituals. In human society, all types of entertainment (books, music, films) and all places of amusement (restaurants, shopping centers, resorts) are designed to stimulate the sexual urge and create an aura of "romance." One who is not married - a sannyasi, brahmacari or vanaprastha - should rigidly avoid anything related to sex and of course should never see any living entity, whether bird, insect or human, engaging in the various phases of sexual intercourse. When a man jokes with a woman, an intimate, sexually-charged atmosphere is immediately created, and this should also be avoided for those aspiring to practice celibacy. Even a householder who becomes attached to such activities will also fall down into the darkness of ignorance.

(6) sankalpo - The determination to engage in sexual intercourse. Don't contemplate to engage in sexual intercourse. Make sure you get proper counseling with a senior devotee(s) you have implicit trust in, if you have fallen to this bad state of mind (thinking, feeling, willing).

asankalpaj jayet kamam krodham kama-vivarjanat
arthanartheksaya lobham bhayam tattvavamarsanat

By making plans with determination, one should give up lusty desires for sense gratification. Similarly, by giving up envy one should conquer anger, by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up greed, and by discussing the truth one should give up fear. (SB 7.15.22)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has suggested how one can conquer lusty desires for sense gratification. One cannot give up thinking of women, for thinking in this way is natural; even while walking on the street, one will see so many women. However, if one is determined not to live with a woman, even while seeing a woman he will not become lusty. If one is determined not to have sex, he can automatically conquer lusty desires. The example given in this regard is that even if one is hungry, if on a particular day he is determined to observe fasting, he can naturally conquer the disturbances of hunger and thirst. If one is determined not to be envious of anyone, he can naturally conquer anger. Similarly, one can give up the desire to accumulate wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in one's possession. If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always anxious about keeping it properly. Thus if one discusses the disadvantages of accumulating wealth, he can naturally give up business without difficulty.

If one doesn't get help to stop this contemplation at an early stage, then eventually it goes from thinking to feeling. At this point, devoid of mind and sense control, the living entity loses all reasoning, and is unable to hear the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of sastras.

Such a person usually ends up (at best, through counseling) getting married, or (at worse) becomes a debauchee - falling into illicit life. Sometimes he tries to satisfy this craving through artificial means. (See SB 2.6.20 purport)

stambhayann atmanatmanam yavat sattvam yatha-srutam
na sasaka samadhatum mano madana-vepitam

"As far as possible he patiently tried to remember the instructions of the sastras not even to see a woman. With the help of this knowledge and his intellect, he tried to control his lusty desires, but because of the force of Cupid within his heart, he failed to control his mind." (SB 6.1.62)

"Regarding your proposed marriage, if you think it is nice then you have all my blessings upon you both. If you do not think you can remain brahmacari, then it is better to remain in Krsna Consciousness as householder and not pretend to brahmacarya artificially. From your description the girl seems very qualified and sincere, so you continue to train her in our Krsna Conscious way of life and she will work together with you as your helpmeet in Krsna's service." (to Jananivas Sept. 29,'70)

Incidentally, Jananivasa Prabhu never got married. Instead since 1971 he has dedicated his life to the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava in Mayapur, thus setting a wonderful example of dedication in Deity worship for all brahmacaris to follow.

(7) adhyavasayas - Don't endeavor for sex life. Endeavor to improve or get better devotees association than you have now.

Even if austerity and brahmacarya are painful because we want to be unrestricted, as soon as we are regulated, what appeared to be painful is in practice not painful. There are two classes of men - those who are sober (dhira) and those who are extravagant (adhira). When one, in spite of provocation or in spite of the presence of a source of mental agitation, can remain steady in his position, he is called dhira. An example of a dhira is given by Kalidasa Pandita, a great Sanskrit poet who wrote a book called Kumara-sambhava, wherein he has given an example concerning Lord Siva. It appears that when the demigods were fighting the demons and were being defeated, they decided that they could be saved by a commander-in-chief born from the semina of Lord Siva. Lord Siva, however, was in meditation, and to acquire the needed semina was very difficult. They therefore sent Parvati, a young girl, who appeared before Lord Siva and worshiped his genitals. Although this young girl sat before Lord Siva and touched his genitals, Lord Siva was steady in meditation. Kalidasa says, "Here is an example of a dhira, for despite a young girl's touching his genitals, he was undisturbed." Similarly, someone sent a young prostitute to disturb Haridasa Thakura, and upon hearing her appeals for intercourse, Haridasa Thakura said, "Yes, your proposal is very nice. Please sit down and let me finish my chanting, and then we shall enjoy." Morning came and the prostitute became impatient, but Haridasa Thakura replied, "I'm very sorry. I could not finish my chanting. Come tonight again." The prostitute came for three nights, and on the third night she fell down at his feet, confessed her intentions, and pleaded with him, "I was induced to perform this act by a man who is your enemy. Kindly excuse me." Haridasa Thakura then replied, "I know all about that, but I allowed you to come here for three days so that you could be converted and become a devotee. Now take these chanting beads, and go on chanting. I am leaving this place." Here is another example of a dhira who has control of his body (deha), words (vac), and intelligence (buddhi). One's body, words and intelligence should be controlled by one who is dhira and who actually knows the principles of religion.

(8) ca kriyanirvrttir - Don't engage in sex life. Doing it has more trouble in store for you (health and otherwise) then you think. Control the senses, mind, activities by devotional service.

nirvrttir eva ca - One executes real brahmacarya when all these activities come to a halt. (Sridhara Svami 6.1.12).

"Of course, one who thinks that family life is too big a responsibility can forgo it and thus avoid a lot of trouble. Family responsibility is very great; therefore if a man feels he cannot accept the responsibility, he should remain a brahmacari, a celibate student. A person who practices the science of brahmacarya under the care of a spiritual master automatically becomes seventy-five percent free from material entanglement." (lecture SB 6.1.21-22)

"At the present moment, in the materialistic concept of life, everyone is servant of the senses. Everyone acts by the dictation of the senses; therefore they can be called, in other words, as godasa, servant of the senses. Instead of becoming servant of the senses, one has to become the master of the senses. That is called gosvami, master of the senses. So how to become master of the senses? Senses are very strong. How one can become master? The simple method is when one engages the senses in the service of the Supreme Lord, it is automatically controlled." (from lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

etan maithunyam astangam pravadanti manisinah
vikarita brahmacaryam eda astanam laksanam iti

These eight kinds of enjoyments are eight kinds of breaks in the current of akhanda brahmacari life. We must avoid these eight interruptions with great care, hard work and diligent self-introspection (always analyzing at all times to observe true motivations). Only he who is truly free from these eight breaks can be technically called a brahmacari.

Srila Prabhupada has also acknowledged that in Kali-yuga it may be difficult to strictly follow all the details in avoiding these eight breaks in brahmacari life, but Krsna conscious life following the regulative principles will help the devotee to prevail over the occasional attack by maya.

Quotes from Bhaktivikasa Swami, Brahmacarya in Krishna Consciousness

ch. 35: If, however, a woman remains persistent in her desire for an unwilling brahmacari, the latter may frankly say to her, 'Mataji, I already gave many lifetimes to many women like yourself. Please give me your blessings that I can give this life fully to Krsna, without unnecessary disturbances or entanglements.' If the brahmacari is serious about his commitment, only a shameless woman would continue to pursue him further.

ch. 43: We should know that there is no easy way out. You can’t just take a pill to stop sex desire. There is no instant mantra, tantra, yantra, kavaca, or astrological stone that makes material desires vanish. And although mechanical means, such as restricting association with women and dietary control, will help, the real magic formula is Krsna consciousness, pure devotional service.

...It is a common misconception that lust can be conquered by being nasty to women, but traditional brahmacari training is to learn to respect women. For a person brought up in lust, ugly passions will arise whenever he sees a beautiful young woman. But the sight of the same woman will arouse a respectful feeling for a mother in the heart of a person who has been trained properly. One who feels reverence for women, considering them as mothers, cannot lust after them or want to exploit them.

ch. 48: The lifelong brahmacari must have a positive, hopeful outlook, born of faith in Krsna. Those with a critical, negative mentality cannot remain brahmacari.

Quotes from biographical works on Srila Prabhupada:

Yoga Student: Sometimes I have a sex urge. . .

Prabhupada: What? You? Everybody! In birds, beasts, demigods, the binding force is sex. The material life means sex desire. If you have a strong sex desire, pray to Krsna. Know that this is the attack of maya. Pray, and maya will go away. You cannot fight with maya by your own energy. Maya is presenting herself more beautiful than Krsna. But Krsna is more beautiful. (Prabhupada-lila)

"It is only by the grace of the Supreme Lord that one can be protected from the allurement of lusty material desires. The Lord gives protection to devotees who are always engaged in His transcendental loving service." (SB 3.12.32)

Jan: The essence is to achieve mercy of Devi Herself by respecting all women, getting their blessings (beginning with those in one's family and Godsisters) and praying. Very powerful prayer is:

bhajAmi rAdhAm aravinda-netrAM smarAmi rAdhAM madhura-smitAsyAm
vadAmi rAdhAM karuNa-bharArdrAM tato mamAnyAsti gatir na kApi

"I worship Sri Radha, the lotus-eyed one; I remember Sri Radha, who has the sweetest of smiles; I speak of Sri Radha, who melts of compassion; Thus, there are no other goals in my life." (Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Stavavali, Sri-Visakhanandabhidha-stotram 131)

Calling on the Name of the Lord in the Bible

Pandava Vijaya Das, expanded by bh. Jan

Acts 2:21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 9:14,21 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Your name. And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is this not the one who ravaged those who call upon this name in Jerusalem and came here for this, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests?

Acts 22:16 And now, why do you delay? Rise up and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same [Lord is] Lord of all [and] rich to all who call upon Him; For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints, with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours:

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says, Jesus is accursed; and no one can say, Jesus is Lord! except in the Holy Spirit.

1 Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Sankirtana (congregational glorification of God with musical instruments):

Samuel II 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

Chronicles I 13:8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

Chronicles I 15:16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

Chronicles I 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;

Chronicles I 15:20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

Chronicles I 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

Chronicles I 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

Chronicles I 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

Chronicles I 16:5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

Chronicles I 16:42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

Chronicles I 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

Chronicles I 25:7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

Chronicles II 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

Chronicles II 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

Chronicles II 29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

Chronicles II 29:26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

Chronicles II 29:27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.

Chronicles II 29:28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

Chronicles II 29:29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

Ezra 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Nehemiah 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

Psalm 9:11 And let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord.

Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will glorify Me.

Psalm 85:9 All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord: and they shall glorify thy name.

Psalm 91:15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Psalm 99:2 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy.

Psalm 113:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory. [Knights Templar motto]

Psalm 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

The purpose of calling on the Lord:

(1) To be saved - Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(2) To be rescued from distress - Psalm 118:5 From [my] distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me [and] [set me] in a large place.

(3) To be rescued from trouble - Psalm 81:7 You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

(4) To be rescued from sorrow and pain - Psalm 116:3-4 The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!"

(5) To participate in the Lord's mercy - Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.

(6) To delight oneself in God - Job 27:10 Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?

(7) To partake of the Lord's salvation - Psalm 116:13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD.

(8) To breathe the Lord - Lamentations 3:55-56 I called on Your name, O LORD, Out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, "Do not hide Your ear from my breathing, From my cry for help."

(9) To drink from the fountain of God's salvation - Isaiah 12:3-4 Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. And in that day you will say, "Praise the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make [them] remember that His name is exalted."

(10) To drink the spiritual water and to eat the spiritual food for satisfaction - Isaiah 55:1,6 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

(11) To enjoy the riches of the Lord - Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same [Lord is] Lord of all [and] rich to all who call upon Him;

(12) To enjoy the nearness of the Lord - Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

(13) To stir up ourselves to take hold of the Lord - Isaiah 64:7 There is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.

(14) To receive the Spirit - Acts 2:17,21 And it shall be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream things in dreams; And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How to call on the Lord:

(1) Out of a pure heart - 2 Timothy 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(2) With a pure lip - Zephaniah 3:9 For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

(3) With an open mouth - Psalm 81:7 You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah. 10 I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

(4) Corporately - 2 Timothy 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(5) Daily - Psalm 88:9 My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O LORD; I have spread out my hands to You.

(6) As long as we live - Psalm 116:2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call [upon Him] as long as I live.

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