Lectures by Śrīla Bhakti Ballabha Tīrtha Goswāmī Mahārāja · 2019. 1. 1. · Lectures His...

Lectures

HisDivineGraceŚrīlaBhaktiBallabhaTīrthaGoswāmīMahārāja

DhamaParikramaandHarinam:whydowenotreapthebenefitsfromthem?

Spokenin1987duringKartikaVraja-mandalaParikrama(circumambulationoftheholyregionofVrindavanduringthemonthofKartika),thislecturewasoriginallypublishedinHindiin“HariKathaSudha”,bytheChandigarhbranchofSreeChaitanyaGaudiyaMathinMarch1999.Transcriber's note: Once every three years, Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya MathorganizesVraja-mandalaparikramaof84kosas.(1kosa~3km).Itrunsforthe whole month of Kartika. As of this publication (October 2002), Vraja-mandalaParikramaiscurrentlyunderway.IremembertheVraja-mandalaparikramathatwasperformedin1987.DuringthelastdaysoftheparikramainSreeChaitanyaGaudiyaMath,Gokul-Mahavan,ourmostreveredSrilaGuruMaharaja,HisDivineGraceSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaj,raisedaquestiontohimselfinordertoinstructus.“Asweincreaseourendeavorfordevotion,ourattachmenttothisworldincreasesratherthanourattachmenttotheSupremeLord.Whyisthisso?”WhileSrilaGuruMaharajawasdeliveringatranscendentaldiscoursefromhislotusmouth,IrecordedthedivineandsublimewordsofGuruMaharaja.TopurifymyheartandtopleasethedevoteeswhohaveaffectionforSriGuru,Iammakingasmallattempttopresentthesametranscendentalwordsastheyare.KuldipChopraBhatinda(Punjab)

SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaja:YouhaveallperformedVraja-mandalaparikramaforsomanydays.Youhaveheardthegloriesofparikrama.Byperformingparikrama,ourloveandattachmenttotheSupremeLordincreasesandweloseinterestinanymatternotrelatedtotheSupremeLord.Wegottheopportunitytopracticethefivemostimportantprocessesofbhakti:sadhu-sanga(associationwiththedevotees),nama-sankirtana(congregationalchantingoftheHolyName),bhagavata-sravana(hearing),mathura-vasa(residinginMathura)andsraddhaye-sri-murti-seva(worshipofthedeitieswithfaithandaffection).Ofalltheseprocesses,harinama-sankirtanaisthebest.Wedidperformsankirtanaalso,butthedirtofourinnerselfhasnotbeenremoved.IknowthatmyheartisfulloftendencyforenjoymentandtoacceptwhateverisunfavorabletotheSupremeLord

(bhagavad-itar-pravrti).Onecanknowthecauseforsomethingbyseeingtheresults.Allofthesadhussaythatonegetsliberationfromthisworldbyperformingparikrama.One’stendencyforsensualenjoymentvanishesandonegetsloveandaffectionfortheSupremeLord.Butmyloveandaffectionforthisworldhaveincreasedandmymaterialworrieshaveincreased.Ihavedonesomuchsadhu-sanga,followedthesadhus,andperformedsankirtana.WhyhaveInotreapedthebenefitsofperformingparikrama?OnceinJalandhar,onematajiaskedasimilarquestiontoourGuruMaharaj.“Ihavebeencomingtothetempleforthepastfiftyyearsandperformingcircumambulationofthetemple.Ihavealsobeenhearinghari-kathafromsadhus.Ihavebeendoingthisforthepastfiftyyears;yetifIlookinside,Ihavefallenmore.Myaffectionfortheworldhasincreased.Why?”Ialsohavethesamequestion.Iamsayingthisformyself.IhavefullconfidencethatourGuruji,Param-Guruji,andMahaprabhujineverdeceiveus.Vaisnavasneverspeakfalse.Whenasadhuspeaksfalsely,heisnottobeconsideredasadhu.Asadhuisneveracheater;hecannotcheatanybody.Whateverhesaysisforourbenefit.Butwhyarewenotgettingbenefited?Mahaprabhuteachesus.Mahaprabhu’sassociatesteachus.Therecannotbeanycheatingintheirinstructions.WehaveseenthefaceofourGurujiexternally.Hedoesnotlooklikeacheater.Wehaveheardthatjustbygoingclosetohim,one’sheadwouldbowdownbyitself.ManypeopleusedtocometoourParam-Gurujiwiththethoughtthattheywouldarguewithhimonthescripturesanddefeathiminargument.But

nobodywasabletospeakaftercominginfrontofhim.Suchwashisdivineaurathatheadsusedtobowdownbythemselves.Hiswordscannotbefalse.SoitiscorrectthatitisbeneficialtodoVraja-mandalaparikrama.Worldlyattachmentswillbedestroyedanddevotionincreased.Butwhyistheoppositeeffecthappening?Inmyopinion,thereasonisthatwearenotdoingitasitshouldbedone.Surrenderisnecessaryfordevotionalpractice.Threethingsarerequired.TheBhagavatamsaysthatoneshouldhearandperformsankirtanaaboutCakra-paniSriKrsna(SriKrsna,theholderofthediskweapon);hearthedivinepastimesoftheLord’sbirthandotheractivities;andperformkirtanaoftheLord’sName,whichrevealsthepastimesoftheLord,whileremainingfreefromattachmentsandbadassociation.Whenwewilldoso,wewillgettranscendentalpower.Bhakti,detachment,andknowledgeoftheSupremeLordwillallcometogether.Thiscanbeexplainedbyoneexample.SupposeIcaneatonekilogramoffood.IfIeatјkg,јofmyhungerwillbesatisfiedandIwillgetenergyinsimilarproportion.IfIeathalfway,itwillbehalfsatisfied;ifIeatѕkg,itwillbeѕsatisfied.Whenweeatfully,allourhungerwillbeoverandwewillgetfullsatisfaction.Asweeat,ourappetitefillsinthesameproportionandwegetsatisfaction.

AsaranagatabhaktawillgetGod’srealizationalongwithbhakti.Detachmentorreductioninattachmenttothisworldwillalsocome.HewillloseinterestinwhateverisnotfavorabletoKrsna;hewillgetvairagya,completedetachment.Allthreewillcome.WeperformedVraja-mandalaparikrama,engagedinsravanaandkirtana,dideverything,butstillwehavenotgotattachmenttoBhagavan.ThenweshouldunderstandthatwearelackinginsurrendertotheSupremeLord.Whateverbhaktiasurrenderedsouldoes,hegetsequaldetachmentfromthethingsthatareunfavorabletotheSupremeLord.Ifourattachmentsinthismaterialworldareincreasing,weshouldunderstandthatthereissomefaultinoursurrender.FirstofallIamnotperformingbhajanandwhateverlittleIamdoingisnotaccordingtotheprescribedrules.ThereforeIamnotgettingthedesiredresult.Thescripturesarenotgivingfalseinformation;Vedavyasjiisnotdeceivingus.Thereisamistakeinourfollowing;thefaultisinourpractice.

Therearesixsymptomsofsaranagati(theprocessofsurrender):

Anukulyasyasankalpah:AcceptingwhateverisfavorabletoBhagavan.Butwedonotacceptfavorablethingsallthetime.Definitely,thisisourfault.Pratikulyasyavarjanam:Rejectingwhateverisunfavorable.WedonotrejectwhateverisunfavorabletoBhagavan.Whensurrenderwillbepure,thenbhaktiwillcome,Godrealizationwillcome,anddetachmenttounfavorablethingswillcome.Scripturalstatementscannotbefalse.FirmFaith:Whateverexternalorinternalproblems(e.g.,lust,anger,greed,attachment,etc)wemighthave,onlytheLordcangiveusemancipationfromthemall.Thisfaithislackinginus.Thatisourmistakeorfault.SeeingtheLordasoursoleProtector:IhavenotacceptedtheSupremeLordasthemaintainerinthecompletesense.Mybodilyneeds,mentalneeds,andspiritualneedsarebeingsatisfiedbytheSupremeLordonlyandnooneelse.IhavenotacceptedtheSupremeLordastheonlymaintainer.Humbleness:Weareproudofourbirth,wealth,andeducation.Therefore,wearelackinghumbleness.Atmanivedana: Self-surrender. We should think, "I do not belong to thisworld. I belong to the Supreme Lord." But we are lacking in thisconsciousness. I am committingmistakes in saranagati. This is one ofmyfaults.WedonothaveanyinterestinservingthedeitiesoftheLordandcommitoffensestothem.Weexternallyclaimtohavetakenshelteratthefeetofsad-guruandsuddhabhaktabutdonothavefaithinthedeitiesmanifestedbythesuddhabhakta─theobjectofworshipofthesuddhabhakta.Therefore,wedonothavefaithinhonoringprasadandpossess"riceanddalmentality"inhonoringprasad.Byhonoringprasad,attachmenttothematerialworldisdestroyed.However,evenaftersomuchprasadseva,whyhavetheworldlyattachmentsnotbeendestroyed?Arethescripturesfalse?

mahaprasadegovindenama-brahmanivaisnave

svalpa-punyavatamrajanvisvasonaivajayate“OnewhopossessesalimitedamountofpiousdeedsdoesnotseetheLord’sremnantsasmaha-prasadanddoesnotseethedeitiesofGovindaastheSupremeLordHimself.”Thementalitythat"thisisametaldeity"or"thisisastonedeity"remains.IfthepresidentofIndiaweretocomehere,whatwouldhappen?Everyonewouldstartwelcominghimandhonoringhimoutoffear.Butthegrandfatherofthegrandfatherofthegrandfatherofthepresident,theMasteroftheuncountableuniversesispresenthere;dowehavethisrealizationaboutHim?Thisisalsoafault.ItissaidbyVedavyasaMunithatseeingthedeitiesasstoneoridolsisanoffense.Ourheartbecomesdirtybythis.Whateverisbeingofferedtothedeitiesshouldnotbeconsideredassimplydal,rice,andvegetables.Itissaidthatbyhonoringprasad,onecangetfullcontroloverhissenses.

(bhai-re)sariraabidya-jal,jodendriyatahekal,

jivephelevisaya-sagore

ta'ramadhyejihwaati,lobamoysudurmati,ta'kejetakathinasamsarekrsnabarodoyamoy,koribarejihwajay,swa-prasad-annadilobhaiseianna-mrtapao,radha-krsna-gunagao,premedakocaitanya-nitaiBhaktivinodeThakurahasgiventheessenceofthescriptures.Hashewrittensomethingfalse?Dowehaveaproperunderstandingofprasadasthe

remnantsoftheSupremeLord?Wedonotseethedeitiesasnon-differentfromtheSupremeLordHimself,sowhatcanweunderstandaboutprasad?Wewillleavetheprasad.IhaveheardaboutourgurudevathatbeforecomingtotheMath,heusedtoeatonlyonceadayand,evenatthat,onlyboiledvegetables.HeperformedmanyausteritiesintheHimalayasandremainedwithoutfoodforthreedays.ButaftertakingshelterofPrabhupada(SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSarasvatiPrabhupada),hestartedtakingprasad.WhilewewerelivingwithGuruMaharaj,wedidnotseehimtakinganythingotherthanprasad.Occasionally,whenhewasill,ifwetriedtogivehimsomethingafterconsultingwiththedoctor,hewouldsay,“No!Takingonlyprasadisgood;otherwise,mydiscipleswillalsoimitateme.”Weusedtosay“Weshallcooksomethingseparatelyforyouandgiveittoyouinthemorning.Otherwiseyoumayfallill.”However,Gurujialwaysrefused;otherwiseeverybodyelsewouldstartdoingthesame.Bypracticingithimself,oneteachesothers.Gurujitookallthetroubletofollowithimself.Heusedtosay,“Noproblem!Itmaybe2o’clockor3o’clock.Iwilltaketheprasadwheneveritcomesfromthetemple.”Whydidhedothis?HisGurujiestablishedthedeities.TheyaretheSupremeLordHimself.Byhonoringtheirremnants,alltroubleswillbeover.Thatwashisphilosophy.

Whateveravaisnavagivesisalsoprasad.IamseeingthatIlackallthesequalities;therefore,alltheunwantedthingsarecoming.Idonothaveproperintelligencetoseethedeitiesasnon-differentfromtheSupremeLordHimself.Theremustbesomereasonforthis.Theworstisthistongue.Itismostdifficulttocontrolthetongue.Ofallthesenses,thetongueisthemostuncontrollable.Whoevercancontrolthetonguecancontroleverything.Whoevercannotcontrolthetonguecannotcontrolthesenses.Whatisthemeaningofgettingcontroloverthetongue?Doesitmeantoremainwithouteating?Ifthatwereso,ourGuruMaharajwouldhaveperformedmanyausterities.Whydidhestarthonoringprasadafterleavingtapasya(austerities)?Ifwehonorprasadwithproperrespect,ournon-eternalpropensitieswillgoaway.Itisverydifficulttocontrolthetongue.Bynoteating,eatingonlyonceaday,eatingvegetables,orlivingonair,onewillnotbeabletoremovethehankeringsofthetongue.Noteatingonedaycausesover-eatingthenextdayinsimilarproportion.Weeatmoreondvadasidayafternoteatingonekadasiday.Thetendencytoeat

doesnotgoaway.OurpreviousacaryaThakurBhaktivinodehasgivenustheremedythatbyhonoringprasadonecangetcontroloverthetongue.Ifyouwanttocontrolthetongue,honorprasad:theremnantsoffoodwhichhasbeenofferedtotheLord.OurtendencytorevoltagainsttheSupremeLordwillvanishbyhonoringprasad.WhyamInotacceptingthethingsthatarefavorabletodevotionalservice?WhydoInotgiveproperrespecttobhagavat-prasad?Wehavetoanalyzethis.GurujiandBhaktivinodeThakurarenotspeakingfalsely.WhatamIlackinginside?Wehavetolookatthis.HonortheLord’sprasad.TaketheremnantsoftheLord.Suchasimplepathtofollow.AllyourpropensitiestorevoltagainsttheSupremeLordwillvanish.Therefore,seeingtheLord’sdeitiesasstoneandseeingSriGuruasanordinaryhumanbeingarethetwobiggestmistakes.So,wefindfaultsinGuruji.OnewillgotohellbyconsideringGurutobeanordinaryhumanbeing.Imusthavethisfault.ImusthavecommittedsomeoffenseagainstGuruji.Otherwise,whyamInotgettingbenefitevenafterdoingsomuchservice?ThereasonsareconsideringGurujitobehumanandconsideringthecasteofavaisnava.Whatfamilydoesthevaisnavabelongto?Isheabrahmana,ksatriya,vaisya,sudra,orcandal?Whateverfamilyavaisnavatakesbirthin,heispure.HaridasaThakurtookbirthinaMuslimfamily.Ourheartbecomespollutedbyseeingthevaisnavaonthebasisofcaste;wehavetogotohell.AvaisnavaisdeartotheSupremeLord.Hecantakebirthinanyfamily.Thepuredevoteeisalwaysnirgunairrespectiveofthefamilyofhisbirth.Iamtellingyouaboutthepuredevotee,notthepretenderdevotee.Wemightpossesthisfaultinuswhichispreventingthecleansingofourheart.Similarly,wemustnotseethewaterofVisnupadiGangaandYamunaasordinarywater.Thewaterthathasbeenusedtowashthefeetofavaisnavaisnotordinary!Ordinarywaterjustcleansthedirtofthebody,butthewaterthathaswashedthefeetofavaisnavadestroystheilleffectofKaliYuga.ThewaterthathaswashedtheLotusfeetofLordVisnudestroystheilleffectofKaliYuga.Yamunawaterisnotordinarywater.ItdestroystheilleffectofKaliYugaandgivesbhakti.ByconsideringthewaterofGangaorYamunatobeordinarywater,onegoestohell.Thefoot-washwaterandthedustofthefeetofdevoteesarethestrengthofdevotionalpractice.TheygivethebenedictionofdevotiontoSriKrsna.OurGurudev,byhiscauselessmercyonusestablishedthedeitiesoftheSupremeLordhere.TheprasadoftheLord,after

beinghonoredbyavaisnava,becomesmaha-maha-prasad.

Oneshouldnotleavesuchprasad.Otherwisewewillconsiderthedeitiesasstoneandprasadasrice,dal,etc.Thisisnotgood.Ourgurudevaperformedhisdevotionalpracticewithgreatcarebecausewearethefollowersofexemplaryacts.Whoeverweseeasthebest,wefollow.TheLordandHisNamecandestroyallkindsofilleffectsofKaliYuga.TheHolyNamecangiveloveofGodhead.OneshouldnotconsidersuchNamestobeordinarywords.Whatwillhappenbydoingso?ByconsideringtheordinarynamesofthisworldtobeequaltotheNameoftheSupremeLordandconsideringtheLord’sNametobeordinary,onegoestohell.Whyisourheartnotgettingcleansedofdirt?Whatisthereason?Theremustbesomefault;wehavetoremoveit.ConsideringthedemigodstobeequaltoorindependentoftheSupremeLordSriKrsnacausesonetoattainhell.TheSupremeLordiscomplete;thereforeHeisone.TheSupremeLordcannotbethree,four,orthousands.Hemayhaveinfinitepastimes.AlldemigodsareunderHim.Brahma,RudraandothersareallHisdevoteesandsubordinates.OnewhoconsidersBrahma,RudraandotherdemigodstobeequaltoNarayanaisapretender.Thisistheopinionofthescriptures.Wehavegotsuchfalseideasandthatisthereasonwearenotabletogetanybenefitevenafterdoingsomuch.Thisisnotsurrender.Offensesarebeingcommittedatthefeetofguru,vaisnavaandtheHolyName.ItisthemosthorribleoffensetocriticizetheName,guruandvaisnava.OnewillnotachievetheSupremeLordbychantingtheHolyNameifheiscriticizingsadhusandguru.Hewillgotohell.EvenwhilechantingtheHolyName,onewillgotohell.Asmallamountofnama-aparadha(offensetotheHolyName)givestheboonofdharma,arthaandkama.Ifwearenotcarefulaboutthis,ourheartwillremainpollutedbyalloftheseoffenses.HereIhavedonemyself-examination.Somanydayshavebeenspentdoingparikrama,followingvaisnavas,andchantingtheLord’snameloudly.YoumightbethinkingthatIamdoingalotofkirtanaanddancing.Butwhatistheresult?Theheartisstillaspollutedasbefore.Saranagatimustbemissing.Thereissomefaultinoursurrender.Nama-aparadhaisgoingon.Dhama-aparadha(offensetotheholyplace)isgoingon.Thatiswhywearenotgettingthedesiredresults.Therefore,inthisholydhama,tobestowmercyon

us,ourguruji,whoisthedearmostoftheSupremeLord,gaveusshelterandinstalledhisobjectofworshipatdifferentplacesforoureternalbenefit.Gurujiisalwayspresenthere.JustastheLordisalwayspresenteverywhere,Hismanifestationofgurujiisalsoeternallypresent.Therefore,weprayatthelotusfeetofguruji.Iaminsuchamiserablecondition.HowcanIavoidcommittingoffenses?Puresurrendercanonlybeachievedbythemercyofthevaisnava.Ifwedon’thavefaithinthevaisnava,allourdeedsareuseless.Howtogetspiritualbenefitsothatwegetfaithinthevaisnava?Iwanttostayundertheguidanceofthevaisnavafortheremainingdaysofmylife.Iwanttoremoveallofmyanarthasbydevotionalpractice.Thisismyprayeratthelotusfeetofguruji.OursiksaguruParampujyapadaPuriGoswamiMaharajispresenthere.Hefeelscompassionforus;thatiswhyhecomeshereaftertakingsomuchtrouble.Howmuchaffectionhehas!Hethinksthatourgurujiisnotpresent."IfIdon’tgototheparikramathentheywillbediscouraged."Sohecomesandgiveshisblessings.Althoughhehasaffectionforme,Ipraytohimtogivememercyandtoremoveallthebaddesiresfrommyheart.Youarefreefromanydesire;thatiswhyyouhavecomehere.YouhavecometothedhamabecauseyouhavegotthemercyofguruandBhagavan.Youallpleaseblessme;thenIwillgetspiritualbenefit.

vancha-kalpatarubhyascakrpa-sindhubhyaevacapatitanampavanebhyovaisnavebhyonamonamah

SriKrishna-KirtanayaNamah

Tom'sPlaceWaikikiBeachHonolulu,Ohau,Hawaii.USA16February1998,7:00PM

OnegreatsaintofWestBengalspokeabouttheteachingsofLordSreeChaitanyaMahaprabhuinanutshellinoneverse:--

aradhyobhagavanvrajesa-tanayastaddhamavrndavanamramyakacidupasanavraja-vadhu-vargenayakalpita\srimadbhagavatampramanamamalampremapumarthomahansri-caitanya-mahaprabhormatamidamtatradaronahparah\\

SrinathCakravartti

[SrinathaCakravartti,AraUddhavadas\(CaitanyaCaritamrta,Adi-lilA,12.84).HeismentionedinthenarrationofbranchfromSrilaGadadharPanditGosvami]Inoneverse,VisvanathChakravarthyhasexpressedtheessenceoftheteachingsofLordChaitanyaMahaprabhu.WhatistheteachingofChaitanyaMahaprabhu?Whatwillbethehighestobjectofworship?AccordingtoLordSreeChaitanyaMahaprabhuyouaretoworshipvrajeshwara.Whoisvrajeshwara?NandaMaharaj,thesonofNandaMaharaj.VrajendrameansNandaMaharaj.KingofNanda-bhavan,GokulMahavan.SreeKrishna,sonofNandaMaharajistheHighestObjectofworship.WhatistheRealm?HisTranscendentalAbodeisatVrindavan.

Whatworshipisthebest?WhoarethebestworshipersoftheVrajendranandanKrishna?ThemodeofworshipofGopisisthebest-madhura-rasa.Theconsorthoodofworship-gopisisthehighest.Isthereanyevidence?YouwillfindtheevidenceinSrimadBhagavatam,thequintessenceofallscriptures.Itsubstantiatesthisview.Whatisitwehavetoget?Whatisthehighestattainment?Dharma,artha,kama,moksha???No.Dharma-piety;artha-wealth;kama-fulfillmentofdesires;moksha-salvation-thesearenotthehighestpursuits.Thehighestobjective,thehighestendoflifeisKrishna-Prema-'DivineLove'.

TheEssenceoftheTeachingsofLordChaitanyaThisistheessenceoftheteachingsofChaitanyaMahaprabhu.Thisistheessenceoftheteachingsofourparam-gurupad-padmaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiThakur.WhenweactuallyperformGuru-puja,whenweacceptitandworshipSriKrishnaasperthedirectionsofChaitanyaMahaprabhuandHisAssociates,thatiscalled"actualGuru-Puja".Withoutdoingthat,onlysaying,"OhIamdoingsomething,somethingisbetterthannothing-floraltributes"-withoutacceptingHisteachings,withoutrealperformance,youcannotachievetheactualobjective.WhyhasSriChaitanyaMahaprabhutaughtustoworshipNanda-nandanKrishna?HehasnottaughtustoworshipDevas-Brahma,RudraandotherDemigods?Hehasnotadvisedusinthisway.Nowherewillyoufindsuchadvice.Hehasnottaughtustoworshipbrahman,paramatma;neithertherormlessGod-brahmannorparamatma,theOversoul-theintelligent,indwellingmonitorintheheartofthelivingentity.Hehasnotadvisedustoworshiphere.HehasalsonottaughtustoworshipthemanyincarnationsofGodhead-Ram,Narasingha,etc.EvenHehasnottaughtustoworshipMathuradishKrishna.In Krishna, there are different forms - Mathuradish, Dwarkadish, even ourKurukshetra.Itisspecificallymentioned,"YouhavetoworshipNanda-nandanKrishna.Youcangetallkindsofananda-blissbyworshippingNanda-nandanKrishna."

Veda-VyasaMunialsosaysinSrimadBhagavatam:

etecamsa-kalahpumsahkrsnastubhagavansvayam\indrari-vyakulamlokammrdayantiyugeyuge\\(SrimadBhagavatam,1.3.28)Ram,Narasingha,etc.,arepartialmanifestationsoftheSupremeLordSriKrishna.Someothers,theyarealsopartialmanifestationsofpartialmanifestations.Kalameanspartofthepart.ButKrishnaissvayambhagavan.HeistheoriginalSupremeLord.Ifyoudonotunderstandthis,thenhowcanwehaveone-pointeddevotion?ByservingKrishna,youserveGod.EvenBaladev-allthePurusha-AvatarsarecomingfromBaladev;Mahavishnu,Karanavishnu,Kshirodakashayivishnu,Shesha-allaremanifestationsofBaladev.AndBaladevisGodheadHimself:

nayamatmabala-hinenalabhyo

nacapramadattapasovapyalingat\etairupayairyatateyastuvidvamstasyaisaatmavisatebrahma-dhama\\(Mundakopanisat,3.2.4)YoucannotgetKrishnawithoutthegraceofBaladev-baladoesnotmeanthisphysicalthing.Nayana-mantrabala-hinalobha-withoutthegraceofBaladev,nobodycangetKrishna.

TheServiceofKrishnacanonlybeattainedthroughBaladevOurGurumaharajusedtoexplainthatnobodycangettheserviceofSriKrishnawithoutBaladev.KrishnaHimself-thefirstmanifestationofKrishnaisBaladev.BaladevisalsoVishnu-Bhagavan.HehasmanifestedthisformtoteachushowtoserveKrishna-GodheadHimselfhastakenthepositionofGuru.Heisnotthemanifestationofpotency.Heisthe"Possessor"ofthat

potency.ThefirstmanifestationofSriKrishnaisBaladev.FromBaladev,thenSankarshaninVaikunthaismanifestedfromBaladev.ThenfromSankarshancomesKaranavishnu,Mahavishnu,Kshirodkashayivishnuandparamatma.Theyogisworshipparamatma.ParamatmaisthemanifestationofthemanifestationofthemanifestationofBaladev.BaladevisservingKrishna.WhattospeakoftheDevas,GodheadHimselfisservingKrishna.Weshouldnothaveanydoubtofit.Intwowayswecanunderstandathing-Therearepersonswhosay,"Krishnawasahumanbeing"becausehewasbornaswefindhumanbeingsgettheirbirthherethroughparents.Theysay,"VasudevaKrishnanandanhasgotparentssoHeisahumanbeing"-Hemaybesuperhuman;Hemaybeagreatpolitician,agreatdiplomat?ButLordChaitanyaMahaprabhuisnotteachingustoworshipgreatpoliticians,greatdiplomatsorsuper-humans.EvenintheGitayouwillnotfindthis.NowhereinGitawillyoufindanyevidencetoprovethatKrishnaisasuper-human,oragreatpoliticianordiplomat.ShowmeoneversefromGitawhereitsaysso-youwillnotfindit.No.Youwillfindjusttheopposite.InGita,KrishnaHimselfsays:

mattahparataramnanyatkincidastidhanan'jaya\mayisarvvamidamprotamsutremaniganaiva\\(Gita7.7)"ThereisnothingsuperiortoMe."M-Capital.Allthingsareinterlinkedasthegemsareinterlinkedthroughthethread.ItissaidnowhereintheGita-showmetheversewhereitsays-thatKrishnaissuper-human,Krishnaisapolitician,Krishnaisadiplomat.Where?Whydowespeaksuchthings?

Philosophyand"DarshanShastra"Iwanttosaysomethingonthephilosophicalsideregardingspirit,matterandperception.Therearetwoaspectsofathing-morphological(externalaspect),ontological(internaltrueaspect).The'criticalphilosophy'ofthegreatGermanPhilosopherEmanuelKantcanbediscussedhereforclearunderstanding.ThecontentionofKantisthatahumanbeingcanknowonlythe'Thingasit

appears'butnotthe'thinginitself'or'thethingasitis'.Humanbeingcanknowthethingsastheyappear'throughsensibility'and'understanding'.Bysensibility.theperceivedthingisputinto'form'andbyunderstandinginto'category'.Ofcourse,thereexistsonespecialcapacityintheunderstandingofhumanbeingwhichisapriori-innateinthecapacityofunderstanding,thathumanbeingcanknowuniversalandnecessarytruthofathingasitappears.Butthereisnocapacityinhimtoknowthe'thing-in-itself'.ButGermanphilosopherHegel,refutingthecontentionofKant,saysthatthe'thinginitself'canbeknownthroughspeculativereasoning.F.H.Bradley,Britishphilosopher,ontheotherhand,sayswhenthereisreasoning,whetherspeculativeornon-speculative,thebarbetweenthedebaterandthedebatedpreventsusfromknowingthe'thing-in-itself'.The'thing-in-itself'canbeknownonlythroughimmediatepresentationandfeeling.TheWesternphilosophers,throughtheinductiveprocess,ultimatelyareindirectlysupportingtheviewofIndiantheisticphilosophers-that'thing-in-itself'canonlyberealized,butcannotbecomprehendedbysubtleorgrosssenses.

'Philosophy'and'Darshan-sastra'arenotsynonymous.TheetymologicalmeaningofPhilosophyis'Philo'-'Sophia'-orloveofknowledge.TheIndianphilosophersofthetheisticschoolhaverefutedthiscontention:"Realitycannotbeknownthroughempiricism-knowledgecomprehendedbysubtleandgrosssenses."AccordingtoIndiantheisticphilosophers-"IfRealityisReality,thatRealityisalwaysexisting".Humanbeingisfinite,hisintellectisfinite,mentalcapacityisfinite,anythingdeterminedbyintellectandmentalcapacityofhumanbeingisalsofinite.Humanbeingcannotdeterminetheultimaterealitybyhisfiniteintellect-thatdeterminationwillbeanintellectuallyconcoctedthing,thatisnotReality.RealitycannotbemanufacturedinthefactoryofthefiniteintellectoftheHumanBeing.Realityisalwaysexisting.Wearenottoproduceit;wearetofindtheway,themethodofhowtoseethattruth,whichisindicatedbytheword'Darshan-Shastra'.

Self-luminous-seeeverythinginproperperspectiveIfwewanttoseethesuninthenight,wecannotsee.Wehavegotthe

experience,ifwehavetoseethings,werequirethehelpoflight.TheSunisathing.IfwecollectallthelightsofHonolulu,canweseethesuninthenight?Isthatthewayofseeingthesun?Sunisnotsuchathingtobeseenwiththehelpofotherlights.Sunisself-effulgent:-self-lumi-nous.Thereisenoughlightinit.Whensunwillrise,throughtheraysofthesun,wecanseethesun.Wecanseeourselves,wecanseeallthingsintheirproperperspective.Whensunwillrise,darknesswillgo,allproblemscreatedbydarknesswillbesolvedimmediately.Wedonotwanttotakethisprocess.WhenSupremeLordSriKrishna,WhoisTheCauseofallcauses,WhoisAll-Existence,All-Knowledge,All-Blissandassuch,isself-effulgentwilldescendtothesurrenderedsoul,nesciencewillberemovedandallproblemswillbesolvedautomatically.

nayam atma pravacanenalabhyo na medhaya nabahuna srutena \ yamevaisavrnutetenalabhyastesyaisaatmavivrnutetanumsvam\\(Mundakopanisat3.2.3;Kathopanisat1.2.23)

"TheSupremeLordcannotbeknownbyerudition,intellectorscripturalknowledge,HerevealsHisEternalTranscendentalFormtoacompletelysurrenderedsoul."

KnowledgeofrealitythroughrevelationPujypadBhaktivedantaSwamiMaharajhasgivenhisviewinonespeech.Hesaid:-"Thosewhodon'tbelieveinGod-theyareeitherfoolnumberoneormad."WhohasgiventhemtherighttosaythatthereisnoGod?FromwheretheyhavegotthepowertosaythatthereisnoGod?Whenthepowerwillbewithdrawn,cantheysayanything?Krishnaisself-effulgent,CauseofallCauses,throughrevelationwecanknowHim.EvenBrahma,theCreator,attaininghugespanoflife-whichcannotbemathematicallycalculated-couldnotrecognizeSriKrishna.

ThespanoflifeofKali-yuga(BlackAge)isfourlakhsand32,000years(onehundredthousand=onelakh).Only5500yearshavenowelapsed-youareseeingtheeffectsofKali-yuga-somanycrimesandsins.SpanoflifeofDvapara-yugaiseightlakhsand64,000years-double;Treta-yugais12lakhsand96,000years-triple,andSatya-yuga-fourtimesofthe

lifeofKali-yugaor17lakhsand28,000years.ThetotallifeofthefourAges[oneMahayuga]is43lakhs20thousand.Ifitismultipliedby71times-itwillbethelifeofoneManu.Brahma'sonedaycomprisesthelivesoffourteenManus,Brahma'snightisofthesamespan-Brahma'sdayandnightcomprisesthelivesof28Manus.So365ofthesedayscompriseBrahma'soneyear.Brahma'stotallifeis100years.Inconceivable.

ThatwhichLordBrahmacouldnotunderstandWhenBrahmacouldnotunderstandSriKrishna,howcanweunderstandHim?WhentheBrajavasis,theresidentsofVraja,Krishna'sdevotees-GopisandGop-Gopis-declared:"Krishnaisthehighestobjective-GodofallGods."Brahmacouldnotacceptthat:"Itcannotbe.Krishnaissonofmilkman,NandaMaharaj.Heisahumanbeing.Hewasbornacowherdboy.Heismovingintheforestwiththecowherdboys.Hehasgotnoaffluence,noopulences,HeisnotBhagavan."Bhagameansopulence.VanmeansOnewhopossesses.BhagavanmeansOnewhopossessesopulences.Six-foldprincipalopulenceshavebeenmentionedin'Vishnupurana':

aisvaryyasyasamagrasyaviryyasyayasasahsriyah\jnana-vairagyayoscaivasannambhagaitingana\\(Visnu-purana6.5.47)Onewhopossessestotalityofwealth,totalityoffame,totalityofpower;totalityofjnana-knowledge,totalityofrenunciationandtotalityofbeauty.

Bhagavanpossessesthis."YouwillnotfindanythinginKrishna.Heisacowherdboy.Krishnaispoor,Hisassociatesarealsopoor.Theyaretendingthecalves,movingintheforests-nowealth.Krishnawearsgarlandsofflowers,Hehasnogems,nodiamonds-nothing1HeisapoorpersonandleavesofthetreesofVrindavanareonhishead,andalsoaPeacock'stail-feather-hehasputitonHisheadandHehasbecomeBhagavan!How?Idon'tbelieveit."LordBrahmacannotunderstand;howcanweunderstand?

KrishnaisourmostbelovedfriendWhen Krishna killed Aghasura-great demon, gigantic giant, then Brahmathought, "How he killed that demon?" Then he came to examine, to testKrishna-whetherHeisBhagavanornot.Krishnaisfondofmakingfeasts-picnicyoumaysay-withthecowherdboysbythesideofthelake-sarovar-itissanctifiedword.BythesideofthelakealltheCowherdboysandKrishna-theygatherthere-cometogetherintheeveningandthecowherdboyshavebroughtfoodtofeedSriKrishna-notforthemselves,TheyhavegotextremeloveforSriKrishna,"SriKrishnaisourbosomfriend;wehavetogiveHimdeliciousfood."Firsttheytaste,whenitisnotsourorbitter,then,"Kanaya,takethis."Aftertaking,youcannotoffertoBhagavan.ButtheVrajavasishavegotnosuchcajesticfeelingoftheirobjectofworship.WithlovetheyserveSriKrishnaastheirownbosomfriend-norestriction.

RiceandyogurtinHisleft-handpalm

Brahmacame,"WhatisHedoing?Takingtheremnantsofallthecowherdboys?"BrahmaisseeingKrishna-how?Krishna,inHisleft-handpalmiskeepingriceandyogurtmixture-whatdoyousay,coagulatedmilk?dayee,yogurt?Andriceintheleft-handpalm.ThisisagainsttheinstructionsoftheVedas-weshouldnottakefoodintheleft-handpalm.Here,nobodyunderstandsthis.AndBrahmasaid,"HedoesnotknowtheVedicinstructions.

HowisitHecanbeBhagavan-rejected.AndHeiskeepingthefluteinsidethewaist,tuckedin,andthestickandhornattheleft-handarmpitandallthecowherdboysaddressingHiminaveryfamiliarway,inusingtheword"tu"-notarespectableterm.AddressingKrishna."ThisistheaddressofBhagavan?Theyshouldbowdown,makeprostrateobeisances-arespectablewaytoaddressBhagavan.HecannotbeBhagavan-reject.NowKrishnasays,"Youtakefood,Iambringingthecalves.WhenKrishnawenttobringthecalves,thenBrahmathought,"YouhasbecomeBhagavan?IshallexamineYou."Brahmaliftedallthecalves-heliftedthemandtookthemtothecavesofSumeruMountainandkeptthemthere.AndKrishnawassearchingeveryhere,"Wherearemycalves?"Verymuchworried,Heisaskingdifferentrichmenandotherpeoplethere,"HowcanIgoandreturntomyhouse?"'Wehavenotseen,'-hewasaskingmanypersons.

KrishnaispuzzledbythedisappearanceofthecalvesAndBrahmathought,"Oh,Heisnotbhagavan.Bhagavanisomniscient.Heknowseverything.Ihaveliftedthecalves;Hedidnotknow.Heisnotbhagavan-Ireject.Ifbhagavanisomnipotent,allpowerful-ifHewouldhavebeenbhagavan,Hecouldhaveforciblybroughtbackthosecalves.Heisnotomnipotent.Ireject."Kanayaisaskingmanypersonsquestions.Whenhereturned,Brahmahadliftedallthecowherdboys,tookawayallthecowherdboys,kepttheminthecaveofthemountain.WhenBrahmareturned,Krishnawasweeping,"Ihavelostmycalves;Ihavelostmycowherdboys.HowcanIgo,return?"Heisaskingmanypersons,goingtoadistantplaceandsearchingandweeping,butnothing.AndLordBrahma,"Oh,andYouhavebecomeBhagavan?ThisisthescienceofBhagavan.Youdonotknowwhereyourcowherdboyshavegone.YouarenotomniscientandYouarenotomnipotent."Brahmasmiledandwentaway.

KrishnaHimselftooktheformofthecowherdboys

WhenBrahmaleftthatplace,Krishnaalsosmiledandbecamesomuchnumberofcowherdboysandsomuchnumberofcalves.Whenhereturned,nobodycouldunderstandthattheyhavelosttheircalvesandlosttheircowherdboysbecauseheisAll-Powerful,Hecandoanything.OurParamPujyapadSwamiMaharajhastoldonestory.Iheardsomeportionofoneofhisspeeches.Hesaid,"WecannotgetBhagavanbecausewehavegotnobeliefinBhagavan.ThosewhohavegotnobeliefinBhagavan,theycannotgetBhagavan."Hehasgivenoneinstance:NaradaGoswamiisdearestdevoteeofKrishna.HewasgoingtoVaikunthafromtheEarthplanet.Ontheway,hemetonebrahmanwhoasked,"Whereareyougoing?"'Howitispossible?BhagavanisSupremeLord.Heisinfinite.HepossessesInfinitePotency.Hecandoeverything.Nothingisimpossible.ItisnothingtoHim.Ifwehavegotnobelief,howcanwegetHim."KrishnatooktheformwhenLordBrahmaleft,KrishnaHimselftooktheformofallthecalvesandcowherdboys-samecomplexion,sametone,everythingthesame.Nobodycouldunderstandthattheyhavelosttheirsons.Theycouldnotunderstand.Buttherewasonechange:previouslytheyhavegotnoattachmenttotheirhouseholdlife-gradationsofthehouse.TheyhavegotattachmenttoKrishna.Butonthisday,theyhavegotattachmenttothesonsbecauseKrishnacameintheformoftheirsons.Bytouchingtheirsons,theyhavegotecstaticfeelings.Whatisthis?BecausetheGop-gopis,theyhavegotthedesiretogetKrishnaastheirson.Krishnaisbhakta-vatsala.Weshouldunderstand.Fulfillingthedesiresofallthedevotees.BrahmahasnopowertotakeawayHisentourage-nopower.ByHisgrace,Hisdesire,Brahmaliftedthecowherdboysandcalvestofulfillthedesiresofthegopis.Gop's-theywanttoloveKrishnaasson-forthatreasonKrishnacame[astheirsons].Andalsothecowstheyarenotordinarycows;theyarerishismunis-theyhavebecomecows.Theyhavegotthedesire,"IfKrishnacomesascalvesandsuckingourbreaststofulfillourdesire.Byourmilk,SriKrishnaisserved.ButKrishnaHimself,ifhecomesintheformofthecalves,issuckingourbreasts."SoKrishnatooktheformofcalvestofulfilltheirdesire.TheLordmaycomeforthecows,foroneyearHefulfilledtheirdesires.

Thesamecalves,samecowherdboys

Afteroneyear,whichisonesecondinBrahma'slife.WhenBrahmareturnedandhewasseeingsamecows,samecalves,samecowherdboys.Hethought,"Krishna,wouldHe?--veryclever.HehascometolearnthatIhavekeptthosecalvesandcowherdboysincavesoftheSumerumountain."LordBrahmawentthere["Sumerumountain"]andhesawthesamecalves,samecowherdboys-theyweresleeping.Again,hecametotheVrajaandtheyaremoving.SeveraltimesHewasgoingthereandcoming-hehasgotfourheads.Hewasseeingtherealsothesamecalvesandcowherdboysandherealso,veryclever?Enchanting."InpastlivesImusthavecommittedagreatoffense.Whiletheyweretakingfood,Iliftedthem.Krishnawillnotapprove.HetookabsoluteshelterofKrishna.

SeeingthatIncomparableNanda-nandanKrishnaAfterthathewasseeingnocowherdboys,nocalvesnoVasudevmurtis.SriKrishnawithleft-handpalmwithricemixedwithyogurtandalso,fluteisinsidethewaist.Andundertheleftarmpitthatstickandhornstandingthere.HewasseeingallVasudevmurtiswereemanatingfromthatNanda-nandanKrishna.WhoisthecauseofVasudev.Thenhestartedprayers.YouwillfindintheSrimadBhagavatam,TenthCanto.

-Questions-

VrindavanBihariPrabhu:WhenyoucomehereitslikewegetVaikunthaassociation.ButthenwhenyouleaveIamafraidthatthemayawillattractmetothemind,musicandmaterialenjoyment.

SrilaGurumaharaj:Thisisverycomfortablewecanwritearticlesthereinthehouse.Therewillbenodifficulty,itisnothot-nothing,temperateclimate.Veryhot,verycold-nothing.Itiscongenialplaceforwriting.Itisgood.But,ifwehavegotsomeaffinityfortheattachmenttothis,then,atthetimeofdeathweshallrepent,becauseweshallbeforcedtobetaken

fromthis,andbebornthere-atSriMayapur.Isitgood?OranyotherplaceinIndiawhereitisveryhot,itisburning.ThenyouwillpraytotheLordpleasetakeme,takeme,takeme,takeme,Idonotwanttoremaininthisworld.Butifyouremainhere,youwillnotwanttoleavethisplace.ArjunahasputonequestiontoKrishna,

cancalamhimanahkrsnapramathibalavaddrdham\tasyahamnigrahammanyevayorivasuduskaram\\(Gita6.34)Arjunasaid:Mindisveryrestless,itisverydifficulttocontrolthismindevenmorethanwind.Itisdifficulttocontrolthismind.HowcanIcontrolthismind?"

asaMSayaMmahAbAhomanodurnigrahaMcalam\abhyAsenatukaunteyavairAgyeNacagRhyate\\

(gItA6.35)

"Yes,Iadmitmindisveryrestless."Butitcannotbecontrolledbyyourefforts.ItcanbecontrollesbyabhyAsenatukaunteyavairAgyeNacagRhyate(gItA6.35)vairAgyahasgottwomeanings-oneisnegative,non-attachmenttotransientworldlyobjects+positive,attachmenttotheLord,WhoisEternalReality,All-Existence,All-Knowledge,All-Bliss.Immediatelyifyouhaveconcentratedyourmindontheobjectofworshipbutthat previous impressionwillmisdirect you to other places, to sadness, notrealbliss.AndtrytomeditateonKrishna.Unknowlingly,yourmindhasgonetosomeotherplaces-Mauiandsomeotherplaces-NewYork."Oho,Ihavecontemplatedconcentratingonmyobjectofworshipandmymindhasgonetosomeotherplace."Againyouwilltry;againyourmindwillgo,becauseafterlakhsofbirthsyouhavegotpreviousimpressionsinthestoreofyourmindandwhenyoumeditate,thosethingswillcome.

Without'Sadhana'nobodycangettheobjectofworshipButgradually,thatwillgo.Youhavetoperformabhyasena;abhyasenameansrepeatedly.Whenaboytriestowalkseveraltimestheboyfallsdownbutthatboydoesnotstop.Hetriestostandandultimately,hecanstand.Youhavetogo.Withoutpenance,withoutsadhana[spiritualpractice],nobodycangettheobjectofworship.Andvairagya-weshouldhaveindifferenceandabnegationtowardsthetemporarythingsoftheworld.Non-attachmentisthenegativemeaningofvairAgya.Anattachment-therealmeaningofvairagya:

visayavinivarttanteniraharasyadehinah\rasa-varjjamraso'pyasyaparamdrstvanivarttate\\(Gita2.59)

Youhavegotlovefor,attachmenttoGod-Supremelord,whoisallbliss.Automaticallyyourattachmenttowardsthisworldisremoved-automatically.Itisthepositivesideofvairagyaandthenegativesideyouhavetoperformthissadhana--definitelytry.

ThevisionofHaridasThakur'sloudchantingTomCaprio:Wetalkaboutbeingblissful.Whatisthelevelofbeinginbliss?Becausewhenwechantandchant,itishardformetochantHareKrishna,HareKrishnaandtobelockedintoit-mymindkeepsgoingoff.Ireallyhavetoconcentratelikethat.Sometimes,IamreallyluckyifIcandooneroundconcentratingonKrishnabecauseI'llbedoingonebead,twobeadthreebead-...Iamon20beadandIdonotknowhowIgotthere.ButmymindbeingthinkingaboutthisandthatandthisandthatandImpulledbackagain.Itsverydifficulttokeepfocusedsometimes.

SrilaGurumaharaj:Forthatreason,CaitanyaMahaprabhutaughtus

throughHaridasThakur,jappam.Ifyouperformjappayouwillhavementaldiversion.Butyoushouldperformchantingintheholycompanyoftheshuddha-bhaktas.Ifyouchantloudly,youwillhearaboutKrishnaKrishna,Krishna-nosoundsofthisworldwillcome.Thatis,ifalwaysyouwillbehearingRadhaKrishnaRadhaKrishnaRadhaKrishna,youwillhaveconcentration.Forusloudchantingyouwillhaveconcetration.Forusloudchanting:

seidutikatha,bhulo’nasarvvatha,uccaihsvarekoroharinama-robo\phalguaroyukta,baddha,aromukta,kabhunabhaviho‘ekakara’sobo\\(«Vaisnavake?»bySrilaPrabhupadBhaktisiddhantaSarasvatiThakur)Ourparama-gurudev-hisadvise,hisguidanceisthatweshouldloudlychant,uccaiHsvare.ThosewhodonotloudlychantKrishna,thatisnotcorrectyukta-vairagya,thatisfalgu-vairagya.YouhaveseeninIndiathereisoneriver;outsideitseemslikethatitsonlysand,butinsidethereisundercurrent.Ifyoudonot loudlychant theHolyName, theHolyName'sGracewill notcometoyou-Hisgracewillnotcometoyou,Hisremembrancewillnotcometoyou.Soyourenjoyingspirit,yourulteriormotiveswillnotberemoved;thatwill be there. Outside this place is there-this place of abnegation is there.Outsideyoumaybesaying,"Iamarenouncer,"-self-denial.Butinwardlytherewillbe-youarewildlythinkingabouttheseobjectsofsensualenjoyment.Thisisfalgu-vairagya-pseudovairagya.

TheheartoflivingistobeabletohearInactualvairagya,youwilldevoteyourmindtowardsSriKrishna.How?Ifweloudlychantitwillbegoodforyouanditwillbegoodforalltheotherlivingbeingsofthisworld.BecausetheNameandtheNamedarethesameandifyouloudlychant,youwillhaveconcentration.Andheartoflivingistobeabletohear,Krishna,Krishna,Krishna.TheyhaveforgottenKrishnaandforthatreasontheyhavecometothisworld.Theywillrememberit,theymaynotbeabletoutterit-buttheycanhear.Buthereisis,"Nopermission,no

noise."WhenIwasinSanFrancisco,RamdasPrabhusaid:YoucanperformSankirtanatmytemplethere(Hawaii)butnothere(SanFrancisco).Ifyoudoit,theywillcomplain.Notsoloudly,no.Ihavecometothisplace(Hawaii).Suchaplaceherealsoifyoudoloudly,theadjoiningpersonwillcomplaintothepoliceandtheywillcome,"Whatisthis?"Isitso?ButinIndiatherearemanymosquitoesineveryhall,butyoucandoHarinamwhereveranywhereyoulike-sankirtan.Byspiritualdevotionalperformanceinyourassociation.Inaholyplaceperformingbhajaneverybodyknowstheyaretodothis.Insomecitiesyouhavetotakepermissionforcontroloftherouteifyouwanttotakeaprocessionforattracting.

Howcanwechangetheheart'soperation?VrindavanDasPrabhu:Howdoesonechangetheheart?Becauseevensometimesyoucanchantmanylifetimes,chantingHareKrishnaaccordingtoorder,butstill,theheartisnotchanging.Whatonehastodotogetheart?

SrilaGurumaharaj:Forthisonehastogotosuddha-bhaktabecausewehavegotinwardly-weareutteringthenameHareKrishna,HareKrishna,HareKrishna-butwehavegotthisconceptionofself,"Iamthisbody"andbodilyinterestspredominateourheart.Wearechantingthenameandthinking,"Iamhavingdifficulty;OhLord,Iamindifficulty,Irequireanother50,000dollars,pleaserescueme,HareKrishnaHareKrishna".Hewillseeinyourheart-accordingtoyourheartsdesire,Hewillsee.YouarenotwantingKrishnafromyourheart.Youaretryingtoremoveyourproblems.IfsincerelyanybodywantsKrishna,immediatelyhewillget.Butbecausewecan'tsincerelyutter-wearehabituatedhere,"IdonotwanttoleavethisHonolulu."Wherewewillbetakenwedonotknow?AndifKrishnacomes,hewillsay:"IwilltakeyoutoVrindavan,itisahotplace,butitsaverygoodplace."Soyouwillleavethisplaceandtherewillverygreatdifficultythere.Ishallhavetobegalms.Youwon'tbeabletogowithKrishnainVrindavan.YouareutteringthenameofKrishnaandKrishnacomes,"Ihavecome-now,comealong!"

No,no-ihavegotthesenicehogfamilyresponsibilitiesAswhenIndrahadbecomehogbythecurseofhisGurudev,hecametotheworld.Brahma,knowingthiswhenallthedemigodstoldBrahma,"Thereisnomonarchyonthethroneinheaven,thechairisvacant."Brahmainquired,"WhereisIndra?"-'Heisgone;heisgonetotheEarth.Hewascursed,hehastakentheformofahog."So,LordBrahmawenttheretothatplacewhereIndrawasahogandhetold:"Ohmydearsir(tothehogwhoisIndra)youarenotahog,youareaking,emperorofHeaven.Comealong."ThenIndra[thehog]said:"Whoareyou?Why,Ihavegotthisnicehogsociety,beautifulwife,manychildrenandIhavegotmyduty."-likethat.ButKrishna,Hesays:

sarvva-dharmmanparityajyamamekamsaranamvraja\(Gita18.66)

"Giveupallofyourduties.TakeAbsoluteShelter.Ihavecome."AndIndrasaid:"Whoareyou?Ihavegotthishogsocietyandmanyresponsibilities.ManyObligations-many.Ihavegotwife,children,etc.-Whoareyou?Idon'tagreewithyou.Iwon'tleave,Iwon'tleave,Iwon'tleavethisHonolulu.

LectureintheKapiOlaniUniversityHonolulu,Hawaii17Feb1998,12:00Noon

TheengagementwasarrangedbyTomCaprioandwasacombinationofthreeclassesmakinguproughly200-300students.Oneoftheteachersgave

afireofferingwithcandle;anotheroffereda"oMnamaHsarasvtyai"classrecitationtoSrilaTirthaMaharajwhoacceptedallofferingsgraciouslyandbeganhislecturewiththefollowing:

AtfirstIpaymyprostratedobeisancestothelotusfeetofmymostreveredGurudevaNityalilapravisthaOmVishnupadaastottasataSriSrimadBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGoswamiMaharaj,AbsoluteCounterpartoftheSupremeLordSriKrishnaandprayforhiscauselessmercytogivemestrengthtosingthegloriesoftheSupremeLordSriKrishnaandhispersonalassociatestopurifymymindandtogetexclusivedevotiontotheSupremeLordSriKrishna.IalsopaymyinnumerableprostrateobeisancesuntothelotusfeetofmymostreveredShiksha-gurus-instructorgurus-andprayforthecauselessmercytogivemestrengthtosingthegloriesoftheSupremeLordSriKrishnaandhisassociatestopurifymymindandtogetexclusivedevotionuntotheSupremeLordSriKrishna.Ipaymyduerespectstoall.ThisisthefirsttimeIhavegottheoccasiontocometoHawaii.LastyearItraveledtodifferentplacesintheUSA.SomefriendsanddevoteesthereinsistedonmycomingtoHawaii.Ifyougothere,itisverynice-itistemperate,goodclimate,everythingissoothing.SwamiBhaktivedantacamehereandheexpressedhisimpressionlikethis:"Hawaiiislikeaheaven."ButIcouldnotcomelastyearduetopreciouscommitments.SothisyearIhavegottheopportunitytocome.

The"originalcause"and"Hisinstruments"TheoriginalcauseisLordsdesire.Weareonlyinstrumental.WithouttheLord'sdesirenothingcanbedone.Ifanybodysays:"Yes,wecandoanythingwithouttheapprovalthentheSupremeLord'swill."Then,theSupremeLordwillloseHisposition.TheSupremeLordisAbsolute.Evenatreecannotmovewithouthissanction.WehavecomeherebyHiswill.TheSupremeLordisAll-Good.WhateverwehavedonetheSupremeLordisAll-Good.Itisforoureternalbenefit,forourselves.Wemaynotunderstanditbecausewehavegotnoknowledgeofthepastandwedonotknowthefuture.Sometimeswearetoolittletounderstandthecurrenthappenings-wethinkthesearenotcorrect.Buteverythingiscorrect,itisallforthebest.WhateverisdonebytheSupremeLordisAll-Good.

ChaitanyaMahaprabhu'sschoolofthoughtBywearingthissaffronclothyoucanseethatIamanasceticsannyasiandIbelongtoCaitanyaMahaprabhu'sschoolofthought.IcomefromIndia.Ihavegotonedifficulty.ImustadmitduringtheBritishadministration,wehadtheoccasiontospeakEnglishatdifferentfunctions.Incolleges,inuniversitiesandinotherplaces,ourmostreveredGurumaharajusedtoaddressthepublicgatherings,inEnglish.ByHisorderIhadalsothisopportunity.Duringthatadministrationwehadoccasiontospeakfortwentyorthirtyyears.ButnowadaysnobodywantstohearEnglish.Everythingischanged.NowforthirtyyearsIamattendingmanymeetingsinnorthIndiaandeveninsouthIndia.

NobodywantstohearEnglish.IhavelostthehabitofspeakingEnglish.Attimes,Icannotfindtheappropriatewordstoexpressmyheartandthatismydefect.So,Iamnotagoodorator.Icannotsatisfyyou,somyrequesttoyouis,youpleasetakethespiritofmywordsandnotthewordsthemselves.Imayspeakwrongly.Nowwhyyouhaveinvitedmyhere.Iamanasceticsannyasi.OurGuruMaharajhasgiventhisdanda-Ihavegotthreestickshere.Thisremindsmeyoushouldkeepitwithyou.Engageyourmind,sensesandwordsfortheserviceoftheSupremeLordandfornothingelse.YourlifeisforonlytheworshipoftheSupremeLord.Thisistoremindme."Youhavetotakethis"-thesethreestickshere.AndalsothisindicatesknowledgeactstocutyourattachmenttowardstheworldtotakeyoutotheLord.ForthatreasonIamtotakethiseverywhere-itiscalledtridanda.Soyouhavebroughtmehere-usuallyIspeaktospiritualpersonswhowanttohear.Butyouareallstudents,sowhyyouhavebroughtmehere?BecauseIamalsoastudent.

SecularKnowledgeandSpiritualKnowledge[para-vidha]Youarestudents,andIamalsoastudent.Becausetherearetwokinds

oflearningsoreducation.Insanskritthereisevidence

dvevidyeveditavyeitihasmayadbrahma-vidovadanti--paracaivaparaca\(muNDakopaniZat1.1.4)

Therearetwokindsofeducation---materialknowledgeandspiritualknowledge.parA-vidyA--spiritualknowledge,superiorknowledge:parAyayAtadakZaramadhigamyate.,andaparA-vidyA-inferiorknowledge,materialkknowledge.MaterialknowledgeyoucangetinthisUniversityinthismaterialworld.Butthereisanotherknowledge,itiscalledspiritualknowledge,superiorknowledge-Iamastudentofthatschool-theschoolofBhagavatam.Wehavegotourinstitution.Ihavetakenadmissiontothat,soIamalsoastudent.NowactuallyinIndiayouwillfind,theytakeshelter-theygivemoreimportancetospiritualknowledge,notmaterialknowledge.Becausehumanbirthisprecious.Yourbodyafterall,comesafteralongtransmigration-wefindenoughevidenceinourscripturesthere.Wehavetopassthroughmanybirths:

jalajanava-laksanisthavaralaksa-vimsatih\krmayorudra-san'khyakahpaksinamdasa-laksakam\\trimsal-laksanipasavahcatur-laksanimanusah\\

"Ninelakh[onelakh=100,000]speciesofbirthsofaquaticanimalsandtwentylakhbirthsofplantandtreesandherbsandalsotenlakhbirthswepassthroughdifferentkindsofwormsandinsects.Thentherearetenlakhbirthsofdifferentspeciesofbirdsandthirtylakhbirthsofdifferentspeciesofanimals.Afterthatyouhavegotthishumanbirth."

Thespecial"human"characteristicgivenbyGod

GodhascreatedhumanbeingsforHislove-forhappiness.Godhasgivenhumanbeingsthediscriminativepowerbetweeneternalandnon-eternal.Otherevidenceisdifficultto

understand-thisdiscriminativepowerisfordecidingwhatisgoodandbadandknowledgeoftheeternal.ThehumanbeinghasbeengiventhisspecialcharacterbyGod-Godhasgiven.Ifyoudenythis,thenthishumanbirthisfutile,itispurposeless-onlyforeating,sleeping,matinganddefending.Alltheanimalsandbirdstheyaredoing.Butforthatpurpose,Godhasnotcreatedthehumanbeing,thishumanbirth.Aftercreatinghumanbirth,GodwassatisfiedbythereadingfromSrimadBhagavatam.BecauseGodsawthat,'ThesehumanbeingscanworshipMe,theyhavegotthediscriminitativepower."So,Hewassatisfied.Whatweshoulddo?--weshouldgiveattentiongiveattentiontopara-vidha.Whatisthedifficultyofmaterialeducation,seculareducation?Whatisthemeaningofseculareducation?Whatisthewordderivation-secular,shouldbesecular.Inthedictionaryyouwillfind"concerningworldlyaffairs".Itisnotspiritualandsacred.Youconsultthedictionary,theOxfordedition.Secularisconcernedwithworldlyaffairsonly.Itisnotspiritualandatthesametime,notsacred.Everybodyisthinkingofthiseducation-itisnotsacred.Itismaterial.Youcanlearnmaterialthings,notnominalthings.Ultimately,itisanegoaffliction.Secular-whatisthemeaningofsecular?Secularitymeansthatqualityandeducationisnotbasedonreligion.Theysaythatsecularityisnotbased-thequalityandeducationisnotbasedonreligion.Thatiscalled"secular."ButIwanttobringyourspecialattentiontothesethings-theyarerationalthings.

Our"Dharma"isnotsynonymouswithyour"Religion"'Religion'and'Dharma'arenotsynonymous.Iwasinvitedtolectureafewyearsback,tomakeapresentationatanannualfunctionthereinCalcutta-FormidableReligions.Therewillberepresentativesfromdifferentgroups,differentfaiths.There,wewerepresentingtheteachingsofChaitanyaMahaprabhu-theeternalmessageofdivinelove.Youshouldpresideandtellthemthatthereshouldbenofightamonginter-religiousfaiths.So,wehave

cometorequestthatyoupresidethere.IwasstayingatthattimeinCalcuttasoIcouldnotrefusetheirrequest.Iattendedthefunction.ItoldthemthatReligionandDharmaarenotsynonymous.Wecannotfindtheappropriatewordsowe,inEnglishwesay'religion'whenwewanttosayDharma.Religionmeansasystemoffaith,asystemofworship,oritiswrittenlikethis.Itdoesnotgiverecognitiontoasupernaturalcontrollingpowertowhichtheremustbeobedience-theeffectwhichwouldbeconvertedtoinfluencehumansociety.ThereisnowordinEnglish.Humanbeingstheyarelikethat.Wemustadmitthis.Butthereisfaith;religiousfaithandreligiousworship-itiscalledasystemoffaithandasystemofworship.Thisiscalledreligion.Butdharmadoesnotdothat.Rig,thedharmaroot;Rigdharma,Rigdharmaroot,Rigmeans'toopen'?Anditsinflection,maupau.Dharmawithinflectionwhat'quality'.Dharmameanstosufferthis?Dharmameanstodharma.Dharmatowhom?Toalltheheritage,toallthesociety,toallthecountry,toallthecontinent,toallthewholeworldanduniverse.Whatwecandescribe?Likethis.Whatareweusingtheworddharma?Youmaynotbeleiveit,butyouhavetoexplainthatonadifferentplatform-alwar.

Theplatformofnobility:celibacyGenerallyten-folddharmayouwillfind:Onedharmaisbrahmacarya.Service,firmliness.Itiscelibacytocontrolthepassionsanddenyyourenjoyment.Ifanybodycontrols,whetherheisdoinginjuryregardingthesociety?

Haveyousavedthemoryouaresavingtheirbody?AlllakhsofCalcuttawillbeincreased.Iaskyou,"Ifyousayifanybodyperformscelibacy,hewilldoharm-thenhewillbesavedtoo-aspiritualeffect.Heiscontrollinghispassions.Yousee?Allthesociety-heisnotconcerned.Heisnotdeliveringpain.No.Cannotaccusehimforthat.Forthewholeofthesociety.Sensibility-BhagavataShlokathereisoneverse-Satya-dharma-tospeakTruth,truthfulness.WhetheranybodywhospeaksTruthisdoingharmtohisfamily,thesociety,thecountryortheworld?Iaskhim.Whatisthat-speaktome.He

revealedthatineverycountryyouwillfindtheyarespeakinglies,theyarespeakingthingsthatareagainst-yetdestroyedthem.Noproblemsaresolved.Scam,scam,scaminthenewspapers-samelikethis.Generalpeople,theywillwronglyunderstand.Theyarebeingswayed.Theymustgetadvicefromarealsannyasi,sadhufromIndiaandthatwillbesubstance.NomoreonlyindicationofthesubstanceSatya-tapasyaalsomeanstoperformpenance,austerity,etc.Towithdrawthesensesfromtheobjectsofthesenses-tapasya.Tapasya,Dhan-bynowallyouhaveheard,"Weshallenjoy,weshallnotgivetoothers."Ifyoudonotwantto,youdonotgive;youonlytake,take,take-thatwillnotholdyoursocietyorevenyourcountry.Theyareallhangingaroundandtheyarealltakers-itistrue.Butyouhavetakenhelpfromdifferentthingsbelievingthethingsoftheworldandthedemigods,etc.Youhavetopaybackortherewillbesomereaction.

CorrectyourselfbyorthodoxregulationSoyouaretocorrectyourselfwithdhan-sphereofregulation.Theregulationofthisbody;theregulationofbile,theregulationofyourrespiration,theregulationofurine.Ifthereisnoregulation,itwillhavenoresult-itwillallendinchaos.Andalsoanotherdharmayourhavingthequalityofforgiveness,tolerance.Inotherwords,youaretobeagoodperson.Andthereareotherqualities-non-violence-abstainingfromdoingthree-foldeffects,etc.Austere,non-violence,ahimsaandtryingtoleadyourmindtopurity.Allthisten-folddharma-whetherthiswilldestroythesocietyordoesitsupportthesociety?Iwanttoask?SriChaitanyaMahaprabhu-hehastold,"Wearetopropagatebhagavat-dharma"-bhagavat-dharmaistherealdharmaoftherealself.Ifthatdharmaismanifestedallthesequalitieswillautomaticallycome.Ifyoupourwaterontherootofthetree,thewholetreewillbenourished.Withoutpouringwaterontherootofthetree,splashingwateronthebranchesandleaves,etc.,althoughtheyarewithinthetree,theywillnotbenourished.Therefore,forrealdharmais,Iwillnotusethewordreligion,thenatureoftheeternalself.Thisbodyisnottheself.Nobodysaysthatthisbodyistheself.Assoonasconsciousnessisthere,itisconsideredtobethebody.Butwhenconsciousnessleaves,thenthatbodyisnotconsideredtobetheperson.Nodeadbodyisconsideredtobetheperson-nobody!

Consciousness-thedivinespark,atmaThatconsciousnessistermedinourscripturesastheatma.Itisknownasexistence,knowledgeandbliss-sat-cit-ananda.Andyouwillfind--humanbeingsbegethumanchildren;fromhorsewewillgethorse,fromcowwewillgetcowandthesamewithotherprogeny.TheseedsofthespiritualpatharecomingfromtheAbsoluteSpirit.ThatiscalledGodhead.HeisAbsoluteConsciousness,AbsoluteKnowledge,AbsoluteBliss-fullinsat-cit-ananda.

isvarahparamahkrsnahsac-cid-ananda-vigrahah\anadiradirgovindahsarvva-karana-karanam\\(Brahma-samhita,5.1)

Wehavegotconnectionthere:thatknowledgeweshouldimpart-characterevolutionshouldbethere.Whencharacterislost,everythingislost.Itissaidsecondarytothis,itisnotbasedonreligion;formalityandeducationisbasedonreligion.But,itisbasedondharma,notreligion.Expressingthat,isHareKrishna.

WithoutRelation,thereisnoQuestionofLoveReligionandDharmaareseparate.Ifyouhavethemeasureofthefunctionoftherealself,ifitismanifested,youcanlovetheSupremeLordSriKrishnaandyoucanseeallthelivingbeingsofthisworldareconnectedfromSriKrishna.IfIloveHim,IcannotinjureanyofHisparts.IfIloveHimIshouldloveHisAll-Parts.IfIloveHimandImakeinjurytoHishandsandfeet,etc.Hewillnotallow."IfyouloveMeloveMydog".Itissaidinthiscountry,"Ifyouloveanybody,theirdearestisyourdearest.IfyoulovetheSupremeLord,Ohthatmakesabigdifference.ThatDivineLovecansolveallproblems.Howcanwegetthis?LordSriChaitanyaMahaprabhusaid,"InthisKali-yuga,wehavegotshortlife,wecannotperformseverpenance,likeinpreviousyugas,previousages:

kRteyaddhyAyatoviZNuMtretAyAMyajatomakaiH\dvApareparicaryyAyAMkalautaddhari-kIrttanAt\\(bhA:12.3.52)

Thisisalsoinourschoolofthought-therearefourYugas,fourages:GoldenAge,SilverAge,BronzeAge,IronAge.Satya,Treta,Dwarapa,Kali.InSatya-Yugameditationwasprescribed;InTreta-Yuga,Tirtha[pilgrimagetoHolyPlaces]wasprescribedbecausetheycouldnotperformmeditation-theyhavegotloveforenjoyment,forsharpobjectsofthesenses.Theycannotperformmeditationbecausethemindisrestlesssotirthawasprescribed.SothenjnanaandKrishnawastheobjectiveprescribedforTreta-Yuga.WhereverIshallstayIshallengagemysensesforhisservice.InDvarapa-Yuga,thepopulacecannotevenperformyajnyasomuchattachmenttheyhavegotforknowledge.Toknowthenecessityfordevotion,tograspandunderstandthatknowledge,isnecessary.Butmanyaredisturbedandsoeasilylament.Eachdaywearedisturbedtogettingthingsforourlivelihood.Wellunderstood.ButhumanbeingsareunnecessarilyengagedinviolenceinthisaspectofKali-Yuga.Youareallinfluencedaslongasyouwillbeinthisbody.Youareborninthisbody-why?Thisisnotourrealself.Yetwealladmititcomestothat.Ifyoutakepower-then,canIgetthat?Yourrealselfyouunderstandyouhavetohaveclearknowledgeofwhat?Youthink,"Iamthisbody,"thentheheadofthebodywillbeyourbody.Youtryforit.Nobodycantakeit.Youthink,"Iamtheastralbody,"-mindandintellect,youtryforintellectualfaculty.Thenyouthink,"Iamspirit."Youshalltryforspiritualdevelopment.

TheIronyofourMisconception,MisidentityWheneverwewillfindthatIameternallyexisting,weareoftenrelieved.Doyouwanttodie?Likethis-isthereanysentientbeingwhowantstodie?Nosentientbeingwantstodie.Theyhavegotthedemandtoremaininthisworldeternally.ButduetotheillusorypotencyoftheSupremeLord,wethinkthat,"Iamthisbody."Thebodyhasitsbirth;itwillhaveits

death.Weareafraidof-death.Butinyourheartyouhavegotthedemandto

liveeternallybecauseyourrealselfiseternallyexisting.Youcannothavethedesiretoliveinthisworldlyplane.Thisisrequired.Theknowledgeprinciplesaysthatdevoidofknowledge,wehavegotdemandfor-knowledge-purestofall.Ofallknowledge,wewanttoseeallthetracks.SoweshallallgotoBigIslandtoseetheVolcano-verybig.Why?Becausethisknowledgeprincipleisthere.Andtheknowledgeprinciple,itiscalledcit.AndKrishnaConsciousness[sanskrit]wherewearesat-cit-ananda,eternallyexisting.Itisatma.Atma-withoutatmathereisnosatisfaction.Withoutatma,youcannothavesatisfaction.Youarerunningontheatmaaftermaterialthings.Aslongaswehaveamisconceptionoftheselfandwerunafterthesethings,thispainwillnotstop.Whenwestoprunning,thepainisgone.

HowtogetLove?WithoutRelation-ItisallLustAndwewillfind,"Iamdoinginjury;Iamdoinginjurytootherlivingbeingsandotherlivingbeingsaredoingittome!"Foreveryaction,thereisanequalandoppositereaction.Ifyourstrategiescommitharmalsothenyouwillbehandedovertothehigherreaction.Wewillalwayshavetopay.WhenIinjureotherbeingsformyownsatisfaction,thatwillcome.Bydoinginjury-himsa,--youcannotgetprema.So,youhavetostopinjuringothers.Andyouhavetolovethem-howtogetlovewithoutrelation?Ifyouloveyourownbrother,dearandnearones,nobodyhastoteachyouaboutthisrelation.Butwhenyouseeyourrelationtoallthelivingbeingsarecomingfromthesamesource,theSupremeLord,andIamlongingforthatallattendingdutytootherswhoarerelatedtotheCause.Soifthatisyouractualrealizationtolove-tohaveactuallove.Wesaylovebutitislust,notlove.AnyactivitynotengagedinKrishna'sworkbothgrossandsubtle-itislust.Whenyousomepersonsarenotabletofulfillyourlust,noloveshallbethere.ActualloveisloveforGodandrelationstoGod.Inthissacreddomain,actualloveisthere.Thishumanbirthyouhavegot,andyoucangettheSupremeLord:

labdhvasudurllabhamidambahusambhavantemanusyam

arthadamanityamapihadhirah\turnamyatetanapatedanumrtyuyavannihsreyasayavisayahkhalusarvvatahsyat\\(Bhag:11.9.29)

nr-dehamadyamsulabhamsudurllabhamplavamsukalpamguru-karnadharam\mayanukulenanabhasvateritampumanbhavabdhimnataretsaatmaha\\(Bhag:11.20.17)

SrilaGurumaharaj:TherecannotbemorethanoneGod,SupremeLord.SupremeLordisAbsolute-Infinite.WhenwesayAbsolute,howcanitbeInfinite?Thatistosay,thismindwithoutsideintelligence.Absolutecompleterealitycannotbedivided.AbsoluteCompleteisOne.Butyouwillfindtherearemanydemigods-WithouttheexpresspermissionofthepotencyofTruth.TheSupremeLordisOne,Vishnu.AndVishnuhasgotdifferentforms andpastimes.Theyareinfiniteformsandthereareinfinitepastimestosatisfythedevotees.ThereareinfinitetranscendentalRealities.ButtheSupremeLord,GodasGodhasgotopulences-six-foldopulences.Demigodsareconsideredtobeoneofthesixopulences.-theyhavegotsomepowerfromGod.ButtheyarenotSupreme.Theyaresubordinate.TheyareGod'sdeputies.Thosewhohavegotmaterialdesiresmaygotothemandtoworship-sothatwillgotothem.ButtheGodsandGodesses-sometimestheyaretired.Butwhentherealshuddha-bhaktacomes,thentheyarehappy-IhaveseeninPunjab.IwasinvitedtospeakatoneDurgaTemplefunctionthere.WeshouldnotworshipGoddessDurga-theexternalpotency.Thosewhowantmundanethings,theyworshipher,butweworshipRadhararanipraying,"PleasegiveMeone-pointeddevotiontoLordKrishna."Throughtheraysofthesunyoucanseethesun.AllraysofthesunareaccumulatedduetoRadha.Radharani'ssunissufficient.ItistheInternalPotency.WhenIwentthere-[thegatheringattheDurgaTemple],Itoldtheaudience,"Whyyouareinvitingmehere?

BecauseGoddessDurgaistired.Soyouallcome,'Givemeonechild,givememoney,'etc.-alwaysdisturbingsotheyaretired.Theywanttohavecompanyofshuddha-bhaktas,tohear--toseeandhearnam-sankirtanfromshuddha-bhakta,sad-guru.Theydonotwantanythingofthisworld.Alltheexperienceshereareuseless.Shehasgotthatdesire-spiritualdesire."Thesearedemigodsandajnanaworshipwhichisprescribedforthem,isanalternative-it is non-eternal. You have to understand our religion from anexpert.Thenyoucanunderstand.Thereisnoneedinworshipofdemigods.

LectureUnitarianChurchProgram17February1998

Honolulu,Ohau,Hawaii,USAUnitarianChurchProgram7:30PMSrilaTirthaMaharaj:IrequestTridandiSwamiBhaktiPrakashHrishikeshMaharajtospeaksomething.YourEnglishwillbecorrect,myEnglishmaybedefective.IcomefromIndia,Bengal.

[fordiacriticsofacharyasseebiography.FoursampradayaswerenotestablishedontheappearanceofSrIKrishna5000yearsago,butmuchearlier.i.e.brahma-sampradAyaatthetimeofsecondarycreation,etc.TheirrespectiveteachingswereestablishedinKali-yugaalsoatdifferenttimesbyfourprincipleacharyas.AlthoughSrImanmahAprabhublessedbrahma-mAdhva-sampradAyabytakinginitiationinit,heembracedallthebestfeaturesofeachvaisnavasampradAya.SrIcaitanyamahAprabhuisnotyugAvatArofSrIKrishna,butHeisKrishnaHimself,assumingthefeelingandhaloofHisAbsoluteCounterpartSrIRadhaandappearingatthetimeofyugAvatAr.ThemissionofyugavatarisincludedinHim]

BPH:SrilaGurumaharajiscomingfromIndia,Bengal.Ah?HespeaksBengali,buthedoesn'tspeakverygoodEnglish-sohesays.ButhespeaksbetterEnglishthanIdo.AnywayBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharajisfromamissioncalledSreeChaitanyaGaudiyaMath.ThisiscomingfromGaudiyaMathswhichisthegrandgroupofmissionswhichwasstartedbyBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaj'sParam-Gurudev,OmVishnupadaSrilaPrabhupadaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiThakur,backinthe1920'sand1930's.ThiswascalledtheGaudiyaMath.Andfromthatcamesomanymissions,fromhisdisciplesofwhichBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaj'sGurudev[SrilaMadhavaMaharaj]wasone.SohestartedoneoftheGaudiyaMissions.Sotheremustbeabout40ofthosemissionsinIndia.Andthisparticularmissionisoneofthebiggest,thatHeispresentlypresidessoverasPresident-Acharya.ThesemissionseffectivelycarrythemessageofoneoftheFourSampradayaswhichwereestablished5000yearsagoontheappearanceofLordSriKrishna.

EleventhinthelinefromChaitanyaMahaprabhuThisparampara,disciplicsuccession,isnotlikeinChristianity.Christianitydoesnotreallyhaveaparampara.ButinIndiathingsaredoneinthatway:frommantoman,toman...,frommastertomaster,tomaster...Thisparamparaextending5000yearsbacktoLordSriKrishnawhentherewerefourlinessetup.Thisisoneofthoselines,butthislineisknownmostfamouslybecauseoftheappearanceofLordSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu500yearsagointhisline.Hedidn'tappearinallfourlines,butheappearedinthisline.Sointhatwaythislineisparticularlysignificant.SoBhaktiBallabhTirthaMjis11thAcharya,the11thsuccessorinthelinefromSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu,whowastheYuga-avatara,thatistheincarnationofKrishnaforthisage,only500yearsagowhichisjustlikeonemomentinthetimespanofthemillennium.Now,whatisthesignificanceoflisteningtosuchaBengaliwhodoesn'tknowanyEnglish,whatisthesignificanceinlisteningtosomeonelikethis.Heisgiving this Vedic Siddhanta- it means the conclusion of Vedas which wasbroughttous5000yearsagobyDvaipayanaVyasadev,aliteraryincarnationofTheSupremeLordSriKrishnaatthattime.ThisiscomprisedinvolumesandvolumesofVedicliterature,someofwhichyoumightbeenexposedto,suchasSrimadBhagavatamandUpanishads.Youmighthaveheardofsome

ofthem.Theyarevoluminous.Andthisliteraturehasoneobjective,basicallyone objective, which is to relieve the human entity, human beings-not theanimals-but the human beings of their attachment and mis-identity withmatter.Attachmenttomatterandmis-identity,thatIammatter;infact,thatIam this body.So themisidentify that I am this body and the attachment toeverythingthatIhavehere.ThisisthemaincruxoftheVedas.AndifIamwrongyouwillpleasecorrectme.Thisthebasicideathatthesefoursampradayasbroughtastheydescendeddown5000yearstotrytodisseminatethiskindofeducation.Thiseducationisnotthetraditionalkindofeducationthatwethinkof.Traditionallywhenwegotoaneducationalinstitutionweapplyourclevernessandourskillstotrytolearnsomethingtoascendonaplatformsospeak.Sowebecomestrongerandmoreintelligentandmorecapable.Butthisparticularmeansofeducationisthereverseofthat.Howso?AllknowledgeiscontainedintheSupremeanditisdisseminatedbyHiminadescendingfashion-notinascendingfashion.Knowledgecomesfromuptodown,notfromdowntoup.

AscendingknowledgeversusdescendingknowledgeInotherwordswehave-inourtechnocraticsociety-wehavesomeassumptionthatthisageisthemostadvancedageinhumancivilisation.Isn'tit?Don'twethinkaboutourselveslikethat-wehavegonetothemoon,wehavedevelopedthemicro-microminiminimini-micro-chipandsomanythingsthatourtechnocraticagehasdone.Itissoadvanced.Butinfact,wefindthatinformeragestherewasmorespiritualsignificanceandmorepowerandmoreofthisdescendingknowledgethanofthisascendingknowledgeprevalentinrecentages.Andinfact,thehumanbeingisnothappywithascendingknowledgebecausetheascendingknowledgetendstosendhimtotheperipheryofhisexistence,whereasdescendingknowledgepullshimtotheCenter.TheCenterbeingGod,beingspirit,beingSupremebeing.SoifhereceivesanythingfromtheSupreme.Isn'titmorecentered?IfheservesthatSupreme,isn'themoreinharmonywiththeCenter?Thanifhegoesandtriestoacquireknowledgeinanascendingfashiontomakehimselfmorecapabletodowhat?Toidentifywiththismaterialwealth.So,heisgoingfurtherandfurtherawayfromGod.IcanseethatIamgettingthroughtonobody.IbettergiveitovertoBhaktiBallabhTirthaMj.HeistheeleventhinthelineandacompletelycharmingspeakerandIamsureyouwillenjoywhat

hehastosay.HareKrishna.

SrilaTirthaMaharaj:ThisisforthefirsttimeIhavegottheexperienceofHawaiiIslands.IwasinNewYorkandotherplaceslastyearandImetmanyfriendsthere.TheyarrangedmanyprogramsindifferentpartsofUSA.Andsomeofthefriendsinsistedonmygoingto,thatis,tocomingtothisplace."Yougothereyouwillbehappy."WhenSwamiMjcametoHawaiionce.Hewassatisfied."Itislikeaheaven."Itoldthem,"Ihavemyfixedprograms.AndforthesefixedprogramsIhavecomehere. Icannotspare time togo toHawaiinow. I shall thinkabout itnextyear.IfGodwills,thenIwillgo."NowitthewillofSupremeLord,thatIhavegottheopportunitytocomehere.Theplaceisgood,theclimateismoderate.Soit'ssoothing;itisgoodforwritingarticles.Thereisnodisturbancehere.Moderateclimate.ButifyouwillgotoIndia,insummerseasonveryhotandthereisalsoloadshedding-sometimesyouwillnotgetelectricity.Then,nofanetc.,noaircooler,soitisdifficulttowrite.Andincoldseasonofcourse,CalcuttaandotherplacesinBengalitissoothingbutinNorthIndia,itisverycold.Youwillfindextremeclimate.Heretheclimateissuitable.

RememberingwillbringyoueternalbenefitButthethingisthis-nothingisgoodifthereisnoscopeofrememberingGod-nothing.WemaybeinHawaii,wemaybeinanotherplace-goodplace.ButyouwillnotgetactualeternalbenefitifyoudonotrememberSupremeLord,whoisAll-Good.IfsaywewillnotbelieveinGod.IhaveseenSwamiMaharajwhiledeliveringhisspeechesinsomeplaces,Hesaid,"Therearesomepeoplewhosay,'Wedonotbelieve inGod.Wedonotbelieve in theexistenceofGod.WehavenotseenHim.'"Thenhegavehisreplylikethis."Whohasgivenyouthepowertosay,'IdonotbelieveinGod?'IdonotbelieveinGod-howwecansaythesewords?Whohasgivenyouthepower?ThosewhodonotbelieveGodatleasttheallcontrivingspirit,itiscontrivingtothewholeworld.Thosewhodon'tbelievethis,theyareeitherfoolnumberoneormad."Thatwashisimpression.Is

thereanysentientbeingintheworld,whodoesnotbelieveinGod?Canyouproveit?IdonotbelieveinGod,butIgotoarichman,wealthypersonandsubmittohimtogetsomemoney.Invokehissuperior,Iamsubmittingtohim-whoisGod?WesayGodBhagavan.WhatisthemeaningofBhagavan?Bhagameanswealth,ishvarya;vanmeanswhopossesseswealth.

Aisvaryyasyaverse(explanationofBhagavan)seeinTom’splacelecture.YouwillfindevidenceinVishnuPurana.Hehasgottotalityofthesix-foldopulences,whopossessesthis,heiscalledBhagavan.YousayGod,wesayBhagavan.Totalityofwealth,totalityofpower:visambadhaviryashyajagrsriya;fame,beauty,renunciation,knowledge.Whereyouwillfindtotalityofthisopulences,heiscalledBhagavan.Youarebelievingitinthisworld.YoumaynotbelieveSupremeLord,butyouaresubmittingtosmallgodswhopossessesthissortofqualities,Evenwrestlersubmitstoabetterexpertwrestlertolearnwrestling.

EveryonesurrenderstotheopulenceofGodIhadbeentoonecollegethisnoonthereweremanystudents.Whytheyhavegotadmissioninthiscollegeoruniversity?Theycanreadintheirhouse.Iftheysubmittedtotheprofessorsandtheteachers-becausetheyareexperts-theyalsobelieveinGod;theyaresuperiorinthislearning.Theyaresubmitting.ImaynotsubmittoSupremeLord,butIamsubmittingtomanypersonswhoarehavingbetterqualitiesinordertogetthatknowledge.Evenyouwillfindthedoghasgotthebelief.Asmalldog-notstrong,butweak-whenhemeetswiththestrongdog.Thatdogthinks,"Iwillnotbeabletofightwiththisdog."Heliesdownwithhisbackontheground,thatdogliesdown.Hesurrenders,youwillfind.Evenanant,ifheseesabigant,hegivesupthepathtothatant.EverywhereyouwillfinditisthebeliefofGodisinnateinthenatureofeveryself.

SupremeLordisfullofcompletenessIfwecannotbelievepersonswithallthings,withall,withsomequalities,whatistheharmofbelievinginGodwhohasgotinfinitekindsofpotencies.

It'sourill-luck.WedonotsubmittoGod,butwesubmittoworthlesspersons,toPrime-Minister,toMinisters,tootherworldlypersons.Itisourill-luck,ifwedon'tbelieveinGod,Godwilllosenothing;HeisInfinite.Heiscompetent.IfwebelieveGodweshallbebenefitedbyhisgrace.Hecanprotectus,rescueusunderallcircumstances.IfyouhavegotbeliefinHim,youwillnotdie:

ompurnamadahpurnamidampurnatpurnamudacyate\purnasyapurnamadayapurnamevavasisyate\\omsantihsantihsantih\\(Isopanisat,santi-path)

Heisfullofcompleteness.Thereisnothingoutsidehim.Forgettingthebeliefingodweshouldhavecompanyofsuchpersonswhohavegotthebelief.Theycanhelpusinthismatter.WebelongtoChaitanyaMahaprabhu'sschoolofthought.ChaitanyaMahaprabhu,inhisteachingyouwillfind,inshort,hehadwritteneightshlokas,itiscalledShikshastaka.InShikshashtakaintheFirstshlokahehastaughtus-youcangeteverythingbytheworshipofSri-SriRadha-Krishna.

ceto-darpana-marjjanambhava-maha-davagni-nirvvapanamsreyahkairava-candrika-vitaranamvidya-vadhu-jivanam\anandambudhi-varddhanampratipadampurnamrtasvadanamsarvvatma-snapanamparamvijayatesri-krishna-san'kirttanam\\(Siksastaka,1)ChantingSriKrishna,harekrishna,maha-mantra,toglorify,HeissingingthegloriesofthechantingofRadha-Krishna.BychantingRadha-Krishnawecanpurifyourmind,cleanseourmind,removeallkindsofhumandiseasefromthemind-positiveattainment.Ourmaindefectisthis;wehave

gotnoknowledgeofourrealself.Wethink,"Iamthisbody."Butinfact,youwillfindthatnobodyinthisworldbelievesthisbodytobetheperson.

NoonereallybelievesthisbodyisthepersonWecannotproveit.Adeadbodycanbekeptandinfact,bychemicalprocedureforalongtime.Butthatdeadbodyisnottobeconsideredbyanycountryanywhereasaperson,ifthereisnoconsciousnessinthat.Whenconsciousnessexists,thenyousay,"Heisaperson."Whenconsciousnessleavesthebody,thenadeadbodyhasnoreality.IfanychildisbornyouhavegothereIthink,acorporationofofficers.Weenterthatbabyorthatchildastheyusedto.Whenanybodydies,hewillcutitdown.Practically,nobodyisbelievingthisbodytobetheperson.Ifitiscremated,ifitisburiedorifitisdevouredbybeastsandbirds,nowherewillyoufindinanycountry-theisticcountryoratheisticcountry-thathewillbeprosecuted.Ifthedeadbodyisburned,aspersystem,differentsystemorburiedordevouredbybeastsandbirds,theydonotconsiderthedeadbodytobeaperson-collectively.Aslongasconsciousnessisthere,thatisdesignatedasatma-inourscriptures,eternallyexistingprinciple-atma.

najayatemriyatevakadacinnayambhutvabhavitavanabhuyah\

ajo nityah sasvato’yampurano na hanyatenahyamane sarire \\ (Gita2.20)"Thatatmahasgotnobirth,theyhavegotnodeath.Itisnotborn,itisnotburned."Alwaysitisborn,itisdying-itisnotthefact.Asbodyhasbirth,itwilldie.Atmahasgotnobirth,nodeath.Itthisbodyiskilled,atmaisnotkilled.Eternallyexisting-atma.Therealselfiseternal.OnceIhadbeentoPunjabduringthelife-timeofourGurudev.Hewasthere.

Hewenttheretoinaugurateonefunction.All-PunjabReligiousConferenceonJayaKrishnaJiandAdventAnniversaryofChaitanyaMahaprabhu.Iwaswithhim.He stayed in onedoctor's house andwe stayed in oneguest house justoppositetothathouseontheothersideoftheroad.

SrilaMadhavaMaharajexposestheapparenttruthManydevoteescamefromdifferentpartsofPunjabandotherplaces.OurGurumaharajwasgoingtoinauguratethefestivalat8PMthatevening.Shorltybeforethattime,twoorthreecarscamethereandsomeprominentpersonsofthecitygotnameinnewspapersandwehavecometomeetyou,totalktoyou.Pleasegiveustime."ThenGurumaharajtoldthem,"Wehadinvitedmanydevoteeshere,toinauguratethisfunction.IfIdonotgothere,thenthefunctionwillbespoiled.Youcomenextmorning,thenIshallhaveampletimetotalktoyou."Theysaid,"No,weshallleavethisplacetonight-thisnight.Wehavegotnotimetostay.Kindlypleasegiveustime."Thentheownerofthehouse,hecame,Dr.K.N.Kapoor.Hewasthelocalman-herecognisedthesepersons.Someprominentpersonsofthecityandalso,oneincometaxofficerwasthere,Mr.Pandey.HerequestedourGurumaharajweshouldstayforsometime,atleast15minutes.Iaminformingthatyoumaygo15minutesaftertoinauguralfunction.Weshouldstayhereforsometime.

Whatisthecomplexionofyourmind-blackorwhite?ThenGurumaharajreturnedandIwaswithGurumaharaj.IsawitandalsoIhearditwithmyownears.Mr.PandeyaftergoingtobringGurumaharajback-IturnedaroundandIsawtheywerethere-sittingontheground.Pandeysahibtold,"Idon'tbelieveinatma.Becausethatwhichisnotperceived,whichIcannottouch,whichIcannotsee-Idon'tbelieveinitsexistence.Ihadcometoyoutogettherepliesoftwentyquestions."IhavenotseenourGurumaharajinanunbalancedstateinanyway,inanytime.Ihaveneverseen.Hewasalwayssober.Gurumaharajreplied:heaskedmetogivehimonepaperandpen.Igavehimpaperandpen.Gurumaharajsaid,"Tellthemaboutadvent-anniversary.Ishouldreplyby

writingtwentyquestions,15minuteswillIhavepassed."Then,Gurumaharajtoldhim,"IfIcouldreplyatleast5minutesforeachquestion,Irequire100minutes.Icouldnotstayhere.IfIwillnotgotherethatwholefunctionwillbespoiled.Theyhavespentmanylakhsforus,forbringingusfromCalcuttaandformakingarrangementitwillnotbegood.SoyoucomenextdayandIshallreplytoallyourquestions.""No,weshouldleavetoday,pleasekindlypleaseadvisemeforaminute.Pleaseadviseme.Pleasetellmeoneincantation,mysticsyllablemantra,sothatIcangetpeaceofmind.Mymindisalwaysrestless,I'vegotnopeaceofmind.WithgreathopeI'vecometoyou,pleaseadviseme."ThenGurumaharajsmiled.GurumaharajleftthatroomandcameoutontheroadandPandywasalsogoingandIwasalsowithGurumaharaj.Mr.Pandeywasfollowing.Gurumaharajsmiled."YouaredeceivingmeMr.Pandey.""Whosays,SwamiJi?Iamnotdeceivingyou.Iamsincerelyspeaking,Ihavegotnopeaceofmind,pleasegivemeadvice.Youareactuallydeceivingme.Whyareyourepeatingthesame?"ThenGurumaharajtoldhim,"Haveyouseenyourmind?Haveyouseentheyourmindwithyoureyes?Whatistheformofmind?Whatisthecomplexion?Blackorwhite?Haveyouseenit?Haveyoutouchedit?Whetheritisshortorhard?Youhavenottouchedthemind,youhavenotseenthemind,thereisnomind.Sothereisnoquestionofitsrestlessness."

Thesoulcannotbedestroyed-byanything!ThenPandeySahibsaid,"AlthoughIhavenotseenformofthemind,Ihavenottouchedit.Bythequalityofthinkingevenwe,Ithinkthatthereismymind."SoGurumaharajsays-thisisthereply,"Firstyouhavecomehereandsay,'Idon'tbelieveifIdon'tseeit,ifIdon'ttouchit.'Youhaven'tseenmind,youhaven'ttouchedit.Butyouaresayingthatyouarebelievingintheexistenceofmind.How?So,likethat,whatisthevalueofthesesenses.materialsenses.Byastickifyoucanpenetratethisandhurtthismind,inamoment,thewholevisualfacultywillbedestroyed.Inamoment,Icandestroyit.IfIperforateyourtheearwiththestickthewholeworldofsoundsyouarehearing,itwillbestoppedinamoment.Andyouaresayingthesematerialsenses,"IfIhaveexperiencewiththesematerialsenses,thatisreality."Beingalearnedman,youaresayingthis.Whathaveyougotifthese

materialsenses-iftheydestroyed?Mindisthere.Mindisnotdestroyed,andintellectisevenfinerthanthemind:

manasastuparabuddhirbuddheryahparatastusah\\(Gita3.42)

Andsoulisfinest,finerthantheothers.Itcannotbedestroyed.WhenatombombwashurledinJapan,allthegrossthingweredestroyed,butskyisexistingnow.Theskyisfinerthanatombomb,couldnotdestroythesky,butmindisfinerthansky,intelligenceisfinerthanmindandsoulisthefinest.AndthecauseofsoulisParamatma,howcanitbedestroyed?ItalkedwithsomepersonsthereinPhoenix.Theytoldme,"WehavegonethroughyourGita,Gitaisadoredbyallkindsofpersonsinthisworld-Gita.SowehavegonetroughGita.ButIdon'tbelieveKrishnaisBhagavan."ThenIsaid,"Whydofinditso?""BecauseKrishnawasborn,Krishnaisahumanbeing,HemaybeSuperHumanBeing,hemaybediplomat,hemaybeapolitician.ButIdon'tbelieveHeisBhagavan.""ButyouhavecomethroughGita,whereyoufindKrishnawasadiplomat.GiveoneevidencefromGita,thatKrishnaisdiplomat.IsitinGita?Showmeoneevidence.No.Thereyouwillfindjustopposite,KrishnaistheSupreme:

yasmatksaramatito’hamaksaradapicottamah\

ato’smilokevedecaprathitahpurusottamah\\(Gita15.18)

"Iammorethanjivas,Iamsupremelybetter,superiortoBrahma-Paramatma,soIamcalledPurushottama."

mattahparataramnanyatkincidastidhananjaya\(Gita7.7)

"Thereisnothingissuperiortome,"withgreatassertionheissaying.Justtheoppositeyouwillfind.YouhavegonethroughtheGita,youcouldnotbelievetheteachingsofGita,whatistheuseofgoingthroughGita?InGitathisbodynottheself,itisinstructedthere.Krishnainstructedthatthisbodyisnottheself.Atmaistheself.Whatisthecauseofourafflictionsinthisworld?Whyhaveyoucomehere?ChaitanyaMahaprabhusaysourcauseofafflictionisforgetfulnessofourrelationshipswithSupremeLordSriKrishna.Youhaveforgottenhim.Evenifyouwillgetimmensewealthinthisworldyouwillnotbehappy.Inthisworldrichpersonsarenothappy.

TherichestcountryhasthehighestsuiciderateWhenDr.RadhakrishnanwasPresident, our IndianUnionCountry adoptedRadhakrishnanStatement,wehaveseeninnewspapersaboutworldstatistics.He said, "The richest country is America, but cases of suicide and madpersons are most in the rich persons there. He was a Philosopher. OurGurumaharajwent theGovernmentmeetingwhen he becamePresident.Hewas so abandoned how he will give me-the President. Gurumaharaj wasastonished!Heisaphilosopher,agoodperson.Hecannotspeakalie,"Theymayberich,theymaybePrince,buttheyhavegotnopeace.Theycommitingsuicide.Sointhisworldrichpersonsarenothappy,poorarealsonothappy.Sothosewhoarereligiousarenothappy,thosewhoatheistsarenothappy.HappinessisincurredonlyinharmonywiththeSupremeLord.Ifyouchurnthewater,canyougetbutterfromwater?Bychurningwater?Therearenoingredientsofbutterinwater.Howyoucanget?Allyoureffortswillbefutile.Butifyoucanchurnmilkoryoucanchurnyoghurt,thenyoucangetbutter.Likethat,ifyoualwayscultivatethesenon-eternalthingsanddevoidofknowledge,devoidofbliss,itseemstobethisworldlysac-cid-ananda,butactuallyitisnotsac-cid-ananda.

Floatingmirages,pinksubmarinesandrealanandaWhenthesun'sraysreflectinadesert,weseethespanofwater,cleanwaterfromadistance,buttherenowater.Ifweruntowardsthattoquenchourthirst,wecannotget.Thatisillusion.Itseemstobewater,butthereisnowater.Ifwecangetwater,wecanquenchourthirst.Werequireananda,butwearerunningafterphantasmagoria-mirage.WhenwebecomeaversetoSriKrishna,whoisAll-Existence,All-Knowledge,andAll-Bliss-weseeonlytheshadow.Thatshadowitcanbecalledmayainoursanskritword.Ma-Ya,atechnicalword.Ma-means'not',Ya-means'that'.Notthat-Maya.Thereisonemeaningofit.Itactuallyisnoteternallyexisting,butwethinkitiseternallyexisting.Actuallynotknowledge,devoidofknowledge,butwethinkitisknowledge.

TheshadowoftheinternalpotencyisdevoidofblissIfweseetheshadowofthetree,wemaythinkitastree,butthereisnosubstanceinit.Likethat.MayaistheshadowoftheinternalpotencyofSupremeLordSriKrishna.Wethinkittobetheeternallyexistingprinciple,butitisnot.Thisworldisnoteternal,thechangingalways,thenon-eternal,devoidofknowledge,devoidofbliss,joy.

anityamasukhamlokamimamprapyabhajasvamam\\(Gita9.33)

"Youhaveforgottenthis-Iamallbliss.Soyouhavecometothisworld.Thisisanitya.Thisisnoteternal.Thereisnoexistenceofanandahere.Youworshipme,continually.""Idonotbelieve.Ihavegotnobelief."Forthatreasonyouaredeprived.ForgetfulnessEvenHe,outofaffection,Heisdescendinginthisworldandadvisingus,wedonotbelieveinit.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharajhasgivenoneinstanceforthis.Ihaveciteditindifferentplaces.Itisveryimpressive.

TheobstinateemperorofheavenOnceIndra-EmperoroftheHeaven,wascursedbyhisGurudevandhebecameahoginthisworld.AndalldemigodswenttoBrahma"ThereisnoEmperorinHeaventogovern.Howcanwedo?"-'Whatisthematter?'-"IndrawascursedbyBrihaspatiforcommittingsomeoffenceandhebecamehog.Heisnowintheworld."-LordBrahmatold,"Yes,Iamgoing."Brahmacameinthisworldandmetthathog,"OhmydearSir,youarenotahog.YouaretheEmperorofheaven.Whyhaveyoucomehere?Youtakeyourposition.Comealong."ThentheEmperor-thathog,intheformofthehog,intheformofIndra,hesaid,"Whoareyou?Whoareyou?Icannotgo.Ihavegotmanydutieshere.Ihavegotthisnicehog'ssociety,beautifulwifeandchildren.Icannotgowithyou.Whoareyou?"-Forgetfulness.Brahmacameandtoldhim,"Youarenothog."Butheisnotbelieving.LikethatKrishnagavehim,"Youaremyeternalservant,youcangetimmenseananda."

Thatwhichbringsrealjoyispowerorsweetness?BybecomingGodwecannotgetananda,butbybecomingservitorofGodwecangetananda.Ifwebecome,ifwetrytomergewithGod,wemaynothavetheabilitytotasteGod.GodisAll-Sweet.Itisbettertobecomeaservitor.Youareveryfortunate,youaretheservitorofSupremeLordSriKrishnawhoisAll-Bliss.Youcangetthat.Theydonotknowit-infiniteananda."WorshipMe"-theSupremeLordSriKrishnaappearedinthisworldandsaid:

sarvva-dharmmanparityajyamamekamsaranamvraja\ahamtvamsarvva-papebhyomoksayisyamimasucah\\(Gita18.66)"YougiveupallyourreligiousdutiesandtakeabsolutesheltertoMe."

man-manabhavamadbhaktomadyajimam

namaskuru\mamevaisyasisatyamtepratijanepriyo’sime\\(Gita18.65)

"GiveyourmindtoMe,youserveMe,youperformworshipofMe.YousurrendertoMeandIwillgiveyouassuranceyouwillgetMe."Hetold.And,ourreplyis"Whoareyou?Weareverygood,wehavegotmanyresponsibilities,manyobligations.Wehavegotournicefamily,children,wifeetc.Whoareyou?Idon'tknowyou."Wesaylikethat.Whatcanbedone?Wehaveforgottenourrealself.

Pinksubmarinesandthepointoftruth-harinamForthatreasonGodHimselfappearsinthisworldoutofcompassionandwhenhedoesnotcome,hesendshisownpersonstoremindus,"Youarerunningafterphantasmagoria.Youwillnotgetanandathere.Youwillgetjusttheopposite.Yourememberthat.Howyoucanremember?WecanrememberbychantingHareKrishna.Youcannotmeditatenow.InthisKali-yuga,BlackAgeitisnotpossible,becauseonlyonepointisthere.Thatpointistruth-Harinam.AndthreeofthefourpiousqualitiesaredemisedinKali-yuga.InSatya-yugatherefourkindsofrightcharacteristics-tapasya,shaucha,daya,shannta-intheiractions.Atthattimepeoplecanmeditate,theirmindwillbecalmandserene.Atthattime-butnotnow.Tapasyashouchadaya-peoplecanperformimmensepenance,austerities-thereispurity,compassionandtruth.ButinTreta-yugaonequalityless,thereisnopenance,sotheycouldnotperformmeditationinTreta-Yuga,DaiviklostinTreta-Yuga.

GiveupyourobjectsofattachmenttotheSupremeLordSo,Rishis,Munisprescribedyajyas,youhavegotyourattachmenttotheobjectsoftheworld,wewillgiveittotheserviceoftheLord.Yourobjectsofattachmentifit'sgiventotheLord,thenyouwillgotoLord.Thatisthescience.Togetconcentration,youcannotmeditate.InDvapara-yuga-anotherqualityless-thereisnopurity.Youaregiventosenses,sensegratification,

youcannotuttermantrarightly.Sosacrifice,thissortofsacrifice,isnotpossible.InDvapar-yuga,youperformworshipofdeities.EngageallyoursensesfortheserviceoftheLord,sothatyoucangetconcentrationofobjectofworship.InKali-yuga,weevencannotperformworshipandriseupearly.Wecannotriseupearlier.Weriseat8:00AM,9:00AM-wheneveritsuitsus.Howcanweperformworship?Earlymorningyouhavetorise.InourKarttik-Vrata,weobserveKarttik-Vrata,Damodar-Vrata.Frommorning4:00AMtoevening10:00PMthereisalwaysprogram.Youhavetoriseupat3.30AM."No,wecannotriseup."-"thenyoucannotperformpuja."ThissortofsmallpenanceyoucannotperformforonemonthinKarttik-Vrata.Youwillgoonsleeping,sleepingandsleeping."Howwecanperform?"Somepenanceshouldbethere.Withoutanypenance,withoutanysadhana,nobodycangetKrishna.Wehavenoaptitudetoriseupearly,torememberKrishna.HowcanwegetHim?SoweshouldperformHarinam.WecannotdothisworshipofDeities.Wearealwayssleeping.Yourhealth,yourbodyisnotcompetenttoperformworshipofDeities.Suchisyourposition.Whattodo?Youmustperformhari-kirtana.ChantHareKrishna-bysleepinginthebed;byrisingfromthebed,whereeveritis,bywalking,remembering.Youshouldloudlychantforsometime.Butitisverydifficult.

Thatdomainwherenameandnamedareidentical

WhenIwasthereinSanFrancisco,RamdasPrabhutoldme,"Youdonotperformloudlyharinam,becauseotherpersonsmayobject,policewillcomeandinstructyou,"Pleaseyoucannotdonow,thisnotIndia,thisisAmerica."Nottospeakofnagar-sankirtan.Ifyouperformjapaminyourmind,thenifthereisanysound,yourmindwillbediverted.ButifyouwillperformKirtan,youarehearingHarinam.Harinamandhariareoneandthesame.NameandNamedareidentical.WhenyouperformKrishna-nama,Krishnawillcome.Thereisnobarthere.Inmaterialsoundsthereisbar.Ifyouutterwater,byutteringwateryoucannotquenchyourthirst.Youhavetotake,todrinkwaterthing.Waterthingandwaterwordaredifferent,youwillfindinthisworld.ButKrishnaNameandNamedareidentical.Thereisno

difference.SoifanybodyuttersKrishna,Krishna,Hewillcome.WhenheishearingKrishna,heisrememberingKrishna,hisattentionwillbethere.Ifyouloudlychanttheholyname,thennosoundsofthisworldwillcome.Thepollution,environmentpollution-howcanweremovethatpollution?BychantingtheHolyName,byblowingtheconch-shell-itshouldnotbestopped.Youcanstopthismaterialsound,physicalsound-thatisgood.Butifyoustoptranscendentalspiritualsound,itwillbeagreatmisfortune.Ifthatisperformed,thewholeworldwillbepurified-allpollution.

DrowninginanoceanofambrosiaSriChaitanyaMahaprabhusungtheGloriesofsankirtan."Byperformingsrikrishnasankirtanwecanpurifyourmind.Whenmindispurified,alldesiresareremoved.Therewillbenoconflagration,noperspiringforthethree-foldafflictions.Allafflictionswillberemoved."Secondattainment:

ceto-darpana-marjjanambhava-maha-davagni-nirvvapanamsreyahkairava-candrika-vitaranam"Andweshallgeteternalwelfare.Weshallremoveourafflictionsandmeans.Vidyavadhujivanam-paravidya-spiritualknowledge,that,"Iamnotofthisworld.IamofKrishna.IameternallyconnectedwithKrishna.Iamhiseternalservant."BychantingtheHolyNameyouwillgetthatknowledge.Whenyouwillhavethatknowledge,"IamofKrishna,"thenwithlove,youcanworshipSriKrishna.YoucanchanttheHolyName.Atthattimeyouwillbedrownedintheoceanofambrosia.Blissyoucangetatthatstep.Ateverystep,Krishna-namacannotbecomestale.KrishnaisInfinite,hisnameisInfinite,youcannotfinishHim.Youcanchantmilleniumyearsofinfinitetime,butyoucannotfinishthetasteofKrishna-nama.'pratipadaMpUrNAmRtAsvAdanam----completeambrosiayoucanhave,tasteofcompleteararestate.Andyourmindandbodyandeverything,soulwillbepurified,sanctified.ByutteringHarekrishna-mahamantrayoucangeteverything-allattainments,butwehavegotnobelief.

Questions

Question:Canyouexplainsomehowhowthesoulcomesincontactwiththematerialenergy,buttheoriginofthesoulisspiritual,sohowitcomesincontactwithmaterialenergy?

SrilaGurumaharaj:Inquality,thesoulisconsciousunitandhasgotthinking,feelingandwilling.Thesearethequalitiesofconsciousness.SoGodhasgiventhisrelativeindependencetoeveryspiritsoul.Youcangoanotherside.Ifheisforcedtodooneside,thenhehasbecomeinert.Hehasgotnovalue.Godcando-canforciblydo-butthenhewillbereducedtoinert.Godwillnotgetanybenefitandthatsensualbeingwillnotgetanybenefit.SoHeappearsandtriestoadvicehimtosubmittoHimbyhisownwill,bydoinggoodwithhisownwill.Heisnotforcing.Hehimselfcomesandhesendshisownpersons.Ifhedoesitforcibly,thenitwillbecomematter.

Question:Whythesoul,whoknowsKrishnaordoesnotknowKrishna-whydoesn'thewanttogotospiritualworld,beforehecomestothematerialworld?

BBTM:Whenthesoulisthere,when,bythemisuseoftherelativeindependencetheybecomeaversetoSriKrishna-theywanttoenjoythisworld.Andtheyhavegottheaptitudetoenjoytheworld.Krishnahasgotaffectionforhisownsons-weareallsonsofKrishna.Whenyouwillfindparents,whentheirsonsanddaughterstheywantsomething-badthings-then,sometimesoutofaffectiontheydonotdisturbthem.

Thegreatestopportunityofthe

humanbeingQuestion:Notcoming

fromVaikuntha?

BBTM:NotcomingfromVaikuntha-frommarginalpotency.Theycomingfromtatshtha-shakti-marginalpotency.Nowwhentheycome,theydesire.ThenKrishnacreatedinfinitebrahmanda'sandcreatedmanyspecies."Yougothroughitandenjoyifyouwantto."Afterenjoying,passingthrough80lakhsofbirths,throughaquatics,animals,birds,trees,etc.Whenhegetsthisprecioushumanbirth,Krishnagiveshimdiscriminativepowerbetweeneternalknowledgeandnon-eternalknowledge,"Youthinknow:youwanttoenjoythisworldoryouwantthistocometoMe.WorshipMe."-'No,Idonotwantthisbecausetherearemanymiseries.Therearemanybirthsandatthetimeofbirthinmother'swombIhadthegreatpainthere.Andthen,Igotthree-foldafflictions.Idonotwant,Iwanttoremain.Thenhecomeshere.

Question:SoKrishnaexposinghimselfthatheislackingsomething,heiswantingrasa-exchangeofthejiva?

SrilaGurumaharaj:HegivestheopportunitytojivastogetHim,togetHisservice.JivasaremorebenefitedthanKrishna.BecauseofKrishna,jivascancomeandjivacantastethesweetnessofKrishna-bygettingservice.KrishnaisAll-Existence,alwaysnityakishore,alwaysyoung.Krishnaisnotold.Andalwaysbeautiful.Herewewillfind,someladiesareverybeautifulandaftersometimesomediseasecomes,andshebecomessougly:youdonotfind?ButKrishnawillnotbecomeugly,alwaysbeautiful.Inallrelationships,HeisSupreme.YoucanloveHim,youwillbeverybenefited.

ButmyquestionisifwewillbecomeKrishna,wewillnotbebenefited.

KrishnaisforHimselfBecauseKrishnahasgivenusthescope,"YouloveMe.Youhavegotthechance.IshallacceptyouasMyservant,asMyservitor-toserveMe.Iam

givingyoutheopportunity,thegreatestopportunity."Butwearenottakingthatopportunity,wearerunningafterthis.Wearegettingafflictions.YoustartworshippingKrishna,seewhetheryouarehappyornot.Sincerelyyoutry.Takeabsolutesheltertohim.

EveofJanmastami-SanctifyingtheHeart

OurMostReveredGurudeva,NityalilaPravishtaOmVishnupadaSriSrimadBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGosvamiMaharaja,Founder/PresidentofSriCaitanyaGaudiyaMathinstitution,establishedthisCalcuttaMath,andhisobjectsofworship,SriSriGuru-Gauranga-Radha-NayananathaJiu,appearedherebydintofhisdevotion.HeinstalledtheDeitiesduringthewinterseason.Thereafter,ourGurudevaintroducedtwofive-dayreligiousmeetingsintheCalcuttaMath,tocelebratetheoccasionsoftheanniversaryoftheinstallationoftheDeitiesandSriKrishnaJanmashtami,theadventanniversaryofSriKrishna.Atthattime,whenhewaslivingonthisearth,wewereunderhimdirectly,sowehadnoworries.WhateverhedirectedwasdirectedbySupremeLordSriKrishna.GurudevaistheabsolutecounterpartoftheSupremeLord,andwewerenottobeworried.But,afterhisdisappearance,wecouldnotseehimphysicallyalthough,indirectly,hewasstilldirectingeverything.AsGodiseternal,Hisabsolutecounterpartisalsoeternal.Aslongasthereisthesun,thelightofthesun,thequalityofthesunwillalsobethere.Ifthesuniseternal,itslightwillalsobeeternal.Likethat,theSupremeLordistheSupremeEternalEntityand,therefore,Hisabsolutecounterpartisalsoeternal.Heisgraceincarnate.Hegracesallthedeservingenslavedjivasofthisworld.BythegraceoftheSupremeLord,wecanseethatHisgraceincarnateisthebonafideguru,Hispersonalassociate.Gurudeva,thegraceincarnateofSupremeLordSriKrishnaGauraigaMahaprabhu,appearedandputhisholyfootprintsinourownplace.IhadnoknowledgeofGaudiyaMath,butheattractedme.HeistheexpansionofCaitanyaMahaprabhu.CaitanyaMahaprabhusentHisownpersonalassociatehere.Gurudevaalsowenttomanydifferentplacesandrescuedmanyfallensouls.WehavetorememberGurudeva.Withouthisgrace,withoutsubmissiontohim,withoutsincerebeliefinhim,wecannothaveanykindofcontactwithKrishna.Throughouttheinfiniteplanets,youwillfindallthepastimesofSri

Krishnagoingoncontinuously,oneafteranother.Inthissense,Hisappearancepastimeiseternal:

ei-matabrahmanda-madhyesabara'parakasa'sapta-dvipenava-khandeyaiharavilasasarvatraprakasatanra—bhaktesukhaditejagateraadharmanasi'dharmasthapiteCaitanyaCaritamrita,Madhya-lila20.218-219)Thereareinfinitebrahmandasandinfiniteplanets—somanythatwecannotevenconceiveofthem.Somewherewithinthesebrahmandas,Heisappearingcontinuously.So,inthissense,Hisappearanceiseternal.ButHealsoappears,revealsHimself,inthesanctifiedheartofthesuddhabhakta.ThisisalsoHiseternalappearance.WehavetoprepareourselvessothatKrishnawillthinkustobequalifiedtogetHim.ThenHewillappearinourhearts.TodayisthedaybeforeJanmashtami—"adhivasa"."Adhivasa"meansthatwehavesomepriordutytoperformbeforeHisappearance,sothatwewillbereadyforHim.WehavetosanctifyourheartssothatKrishnacanappearthere.Krishnaisalreadythere,butwearenotawareofHispresence.

cetodarpanamarjanaabhava-maha—davagninirvapanam

sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranaavidya-vadhu-jivanamanandambudhi-vardhanaaprati-padaapurnamritasvadanaasarvatma-snapanaaparaavigayatesri-krishna-saikirtanam(Sikshashtaka1)SupremeLordSriCaitanyaMahaprabhuwrotethisversetherebyinstructingushowtoattaintheassociationofKrishna.HowcanKrishnaappearinus?Whatdowehavetodo?"Sri-krishna-sankirtanam":chanttheHolyNamesofSri-Krishna.Thenyou

willgeteverything."Youdonotneedtodoanythingtopurifyyourmind,excepttogoonchanting`Radha-Krishna',HareKrishnamahamantra.Everythingwillcometoyou."Wesaythisrepeatedlywithourwordsbut,inpractice,wehavenobelief.TheSupremeLordwilldescendintoourhearts—willberevealedinourhearts—whenweactuallyandsincerelytakeabsoluteshelteratHislotusfeet.HewillrevealHimselftothesurrenderedsoul.Ifwechantwithbonafidesubmission,wewillfindthateverythingisthereintheHolyName—Form,Attributes,everything.TheNameissaccidananda.Krishnaissaccidananda.Thisrealizationwilldescendintoourhearts.WemightthinkthatwewillgetHimbyourowncapacity,butHeisnotsubservienttous.HeisSelf-effulgent,Self-luminouslikethesun.SvamiMaharaja(SrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSvamiMaharaja)usedtosay,"Ifoneisenlightenedbythatknowledgebywhichignoranceisdestroyed,thenthatknowledgerevealseverything,justasthesunilluminateseverythingatdaybreak."Whenthesunrises,heshowshimselfandeverythingelseinproperperspective.WethinkharinamatobematerialsoundandthatwecangetKrishnabyourowncapacity.No!IfwesubmittoGodandHisabsolutecounterpart,thenallwillberevealed.WecannotbribetheSupremeLord.EverythingiswithinHim,thereisnothingoutsideHim.DhruvaMaharajareceivedthegraceoftheSupremeLord.WeareutteringtheNameandwearenotgettingthisgrace.Why?"Heisnotgracingus!"wecomplain.No,no.Thesunisgivinglighttoall.Itisshininginthefilthyplace,thecleanplace—everywhere.Somearetakingadvantageofit,butthemajorityisnot.Nonetheless,wecomplain,"Thesunisnotblessingus."Dhruvahadfirmbelief.Hisfaithwaswithoutatraceofdoubt."Mymothertoldmethat,bycryingtheNameofSriHari,IshallgetSriHari."Hewascrying,crying,cryingcontinuously.Wearenotdoingthis.HewascontinuouslyutteringtheHolyName,completelyabsorbedinHariand,whateverhesaw,whetheralion,crocodileoranyotherbeast,heembraced.Theydidnoharmtohimashewasprotectedfromalldanger.However,wehavedifficultybelievingthis.Ultimately,hereceivedthegraceofNaradaGosvami.ThatwasanexamplefromSrimadBhagavatambut,inthisKali-yuga,whenwewereonceinPunjab,averyastoundingeventtookplace.Adevoteewomanwastravelingbyrickshawfromhershoptoaremoteplace,abouttwomilesaway.Shewaswearingmanygoldornaments.Shetraveledforsome

timealongthewell-populatedroadwhensuddenlytherickshawdriverturnedawayfromthemainroad,towardafield."Whyareyougoingacrossthisfield?"theladyprotested."Thatistheway,overthere.""No,"therickshawdriversaid,"Iamtakingashortcut.Wewillgothisway."Hewouldnotheedthewoman'swords.Then,thewomanbecameafraid,thinking,"Iamwearingsomanygoldenornaments.Thedrivermustbegreedyforthem.Hewillrobmeandkillme."Forthisreason,shejumpedfromtherickshawandstartedtorunaway,shouting,"HahGovinda!HahGovinda!"Thisisfact.Wewerethereatthetime.

Tosaveherself,shejumpedintoawell.Interror,sheremainedinthewellthroughoutthenight,allthetimeuttering,"HahGovinda!"Atdawn,thenextmorning,manypeoplefromthevillagecamefortheirmorningwalk.Theyheardthesoundofawoman'svoiceutteringtheHolyName."Whatisthis?"theyasked.Theyfollowedthevoicetothewellandfoundthewomanwhowascrying,"HahGovinda!HahGovinda!"Anextremelypoisonoussnakewasswimmingaroundher,circlingher."Whatisthis?"theywondered.Then,theysawtherickshaw.Amanholdingadaggerlaynexttoit—dead.Agreatcryrosefromthecrowdandmanypeoplegatheredfromdifferentplacestoseewhathadhappened.Bynow,itwasdaylightand,aspeoplecametothewoman'said,thesnakeleft.Allthewitnessesatthescenesaidtheyhadneverseenthatsnakebeforeand,sincethattime,theyhaveneverseenitagain.Whentherickshawdriverwenttokillthewomanwithhisdagger,thesnakebithimandinjectedhimwithvenom,killinghiminstantly.Afterthat,thesamesnakeprotectedthewomanthroughoutthenightbycirclingher,sothatnoonecouldcomenear.Thewomanhadfirmbelief.Shedidnotutteranyothername,only,"Govinda!Govinda!Govinda!"EveninthisKali-yuga,youcanfindsuchanevent.Therefore,youshouldhavebelief.JanmashtamiandotherauspiciousfunctionsattheMathare"hari-smarana-mahotsava"(grandcelebrationsdedicatedtotheremembranceofHari).Youwillfind,inacertainhymn,thattheentirepurposeofperformingbhajanaistorememberKrishna.WeshalldestroyallevilthoughtsbyrememberingKrishna.Weshallgeteverythingbyremembering.But,itissaidinthe

scripturecalledVaishnavaCintamani,thatitisnoteasytoremember,tomeditate,withthismaterialmind.Itisverydifficult.Allthesins,vicesandevilthoughtswillbedestroyedbyremembranceofKrishna,butitisnotsoeasy.ButwecanrememberKrishnaifweutilizeourlipstoutterHisName.Bymovingtheselips,wecanobtaineternalbenefit,but,unfortunately,wehavenoaptitudeforthis.WecannotrememberKrishnabymeansofthematerialmind.

WhenweareabletorememberKrishnabyloudlyandcontinuouslyperformingharinama,andthatremembranceisrevealedinourhearts,thenwewillbeentitledtoperformbhajanainasecludedplace,butnotnow.SriCaitanyaMahaprabhuisteachingus.OurBhaktisiddhantaSarasvatiThakuraisteachingus.IfourGurudevaeversawsomedevoteesdancingandchantingtheHolyName,hewouldshowthemgreatrespect."Theyareexpressingtheirhearts!Haribol!"Inordertogainsomerespect,nameandfame,Iwasalsodancing."Ah!Verygood!"Gurudevawouldsay.Hewouldbepleasedwithme,althoughIwasdoingittoreceivepraise.Inside,Ihadnofeeling,nowantforKrishna,andnoperturbationofheart.Ididitonlytogetrespectfromothers.Nonetheless,Gurudevawassosatisfied.Why?Thisyouhavetounderstand."Kirtanaprabhavesmaranahaibe"(SrilaBhaktiSiddhantaSarasvatiThakura).RemembranceofBhagavancomesfromconstantchantingoftheHolyName.Prahaladatoldallthedemonboys,"Whyareyouafraid?ThereisnodifficultyinworshippingKrishna.YoushouldjustuttertheName.Youarecallingyourfatherandyourmotherwithoutdifficulty.CallHimandHewillbesatisfied.Thereisnodifficulty.Heiswithinyou.Hehasaffectionforyou.YouwillfindtheaffectionofcroresofmothersinSriHari."Hereinthisworld,onealwaysencountersdifficultywhentryingtopleaseanotherperson,butKrishnaisnotatalldifficulttoplease.Withasincereheart,utterHisName.Inyourhouseholdlife,youwileawaythetimefornothing,forworldlythings.Ifyouarealsogossipingaboutthesethingshereinthetemple,thenwhyhaveyoucome?ThetempleisfortheworshipofKrishna,nothingelse.Youshouldthinkaboutthis.Whyhaveyoucomehere?Haveyouspentsomuchmoneytocomehereonlytogossipaboutworldlythings?

Whatisbhagavan-bhajana?

sravanamkirtanamdhyanamhareradbhuta-karmanahjanma-karma-gunanamcatad-arthe'khila-ceshtitam(SrimadBhagavatam,11.3.27)

Once,ourGuruMaharajawasinVraja-mandalaperformingparikrama.Generally,ourGuruMaharajawouldremaininfronttoperformkirtana,guidingtheotherdevotees.Onthisparticularoccasion,GuruMaharajawasheldupwithworkatsomeplaceandwouldnotbeabletocomeuntillater.Atthefrontoftheprocession,alltheVaishnavaswerechantingtheHolyNameandtheotherswereansweringhimback.But,atthebackoftheprocession,thereweresomanydevoteeswhowereidlygossipingaboutworldlythings.TheydidnotknowthatGuruMaharajawascomingupfromtherear.WhenGuruMaharajacameuptothem,hesaid,"Oh!Yourwholelife'sfortunehasbeendestroyed!Atthisgreatprocessionyouarealsogossipingaboutworldlythings?Thentheyquicklystartedchanting,"RadheGovinda!RadheGovinda!"Whatisthereasonwhywehavespentsomuchmoneytocomeandbehere?Isittogiveourenergytoworldlythings?IfwehearaboutKrishna,weshallgotoKrishna.Ifwehearaboutworldlythings,weshallgotoworldlythings.IfwesingaboutKrishna,weshallgotoKrishna.IfwespeakaboutKrishna,weshallgotoKrishna.IfwerememberKrishna,ourmindswillgothere.IfwedevotealloursenseorgansfortheserviceofSriKrishna,weshallgotoHim.Thisiscalledbhajana.Ifwegoonexpendingallourenergyforworldlythings,whileremainingexternallyintheMath,whatbenefitwillwereceive?Tomorrow,Krishnawillappear.Hewillappearintheshrineofourhearts.HeistherewithinusandHewillappearthere.So,today,onthisadhivasatithi,wehavetocleartheheartandmindsothatKrishnawillcomeandsitthere.KrishnadoesnottakeHisseatinanimpure,dirtyplace.KrishnaistheHoliest.Wehavetoprepareourhearts,purifyourhearts.ThereshouldbenodesireotherthantheserviceofSriKrishna.Ifthereshouldbeanyotherdesire,thenthatheartisimpure.Aslongasimpurethoughtsarethere,Krishnawillnot

appear.InPurushottama-dhama(Puri),duringthetimeofthecarfestival(Ratha-yatra),LordJagannathatravelsfromHistempleinPuritotheGundicaTemple,adistanceofabouttwomiles.CaitanyaMahaprabhuexplainsthattheGundicaTempleisVrindavanaandtheJagannathaTempleisKurukshetra.Duringasolareclipse,peoplegotoKurukshetratobatheandperformotherrituals.Inthescriptures,youwillfinddescriptionsoftheimmensegloriesofthispractice.DuringthetimeofKrishna'spastimesonEarth,therewasasolareclipsewhereKrishnacamefromDvarakatoKurukshetrawithallHispersonalassociates.Atthattime,KrishnawastheKing,EmperorandSoleProprietorofDvaraka.AllHissubjects,consortsandpersonalassociateswereveryeagertogotoKurukshetraduringthesolareclipsesotheycouldbathe,performsandhyaandotherrituals.Iftheycouldperformthesesacrificeswiththebrahmanas,theycouldgetimmensefruits.TofulfillthisdesireofHissubjects,Krishnasaid,"Allright,weshallgo."So,allthenumeroussubjects,consortsandpersonalassociatescametoKurukshetra.KrishnaintentionallyinvitedeveryoneexcepttheVrajavasis—thedevoteesofVraja.NaradaGosvamiwasveryshockedbythis.HeapproachedKrishna,saying,"TheVrajavasisloveYousomuch.TheyareexperiencingextremeseparationgriefbynotseeingYou.YouareinvitingeveryoneinthewholeworldbutYouarenotinvitingtheVrajavasis?Whatoffensearetheyguiltyof?HavetheycommittedanoffensebylovingYou?Icannottoleratethis!"

ThenKrishnasaid,"Theyareourownpeople.Noonehastosendinvitationstoone'sown.Parentsdonotinvitetheirchildren,andviceversa.Theyareourown.Outsidepeopleareinvited.HowcanIinvitetheVrajavasis?Youareright,IintentionallydidnotinvitethembecausetheyaresaturatedwithloveforMe.Theyhavenointerestinperformingsacrificestoobtainmundanebenefits.Iftheycome,theresultsofalltheseritualpracticeswillbedestroyed.Forthisreason,Ihavenotinvitedthem."Althoughnotinvited,theVrajavasiscametolearnthatKrishnawascomingtoKurukshetra.TheVrajavasisthought,"KurukshetraismuchclosertoVraja-mandalathanDvarakais.WeshouldavailourselvesofthisrareopportunitytoseeKrishna!WecanhavedarsanaofKrishna!Weshouldnotmissthischance!"

Buttheycouldnotventuretogothere.Why?Theythought,"KrishnahasbecometheEmperor.Hisstandardisveryhigh,andwearemerelycowherdmenandwomen.Wearepoorpeople.PerhapsKrishnahasforgottenus.Ifwegothere,Hewillnotrecognizeus.Someoneofsuchahighpositionwillnotcometoseeordinarypeoplelikeus.PreviouslyHewasacowherdboyinourVraja-dhama,butnowHehasbecomeKing.Butweareextremelygrief-stricken.Wecannottoleratethisseparation."Thinkinglikethis,theVrajavasisreasoned,"Amanmightforgeteverythingelse,buthewillneverforgethisparents,eveniftheylivefaraway.IfNandaMaharajaandYasodagothere,thenKrishnawillbowdowntothemandmakeobeisances."SotheywenttoNandaMaharaja,saying,"KrishnaiscomingtoKurukshetra!Wearetoogrief-strickenwithseparationgrief.WehavenotseenHimforsuchalongtime,butwedonothavethecouragetogothere.WedonotknowifKrishnawillgiveustheopportunitytoseeHim,asHispresentstandardoflivingissohigh.But,ifHisparentsgothere,thenKrishnawillcometothemastheirsonandofferobeisances."ThenNandaMaharajaandYasodasaid,"No,no.Thisisnotcorrect.Hehasnotcomehereforsuchalongtime!HehassomanyconsortsandservantsservingHimthere.Heissowealthynow.Hiswivesarealsowealthy.Weareonlycowherdmenandwomen.Wehavenothing.Aftersolong,howcanwego?Ifwegothere,willHecometoseeus?IfwegotoKurukshetraandaredeprivedofseeingKrishna,weshalldie!"WhenKrishna,theEmperorofDvaraka,enteredKurukshetra,somanycavalryunits,elephants,horses,etc.accompaniedHim.OnlythosewhohadpermissionwereallowedtogotospeakwithHim.Hewassurroundedbyservants.Therewerefourgatekeepers,oneineachdirection.TheKing'sparents,VasudevaandDevakiwerealsothere.Thebrahmanashadgonetostartthesacrifices.So,noonewaspermittedtodisturbtheKing.NandaMaharaja,YasodaDeviandallthecowherdboysandotherfriendsofKrishnaapproachedwhereHewas.Nobodyacknowledgedthem.Armedforces,cavalryandelephantssurroundedKrishna.NandaMaharajaapproachedoneoftheguards."Ihavecometoseemybelovedson,"hesaid."Whoisyourbelovedson?"aguardaskedhim."Krishna.""Howisthat?Youareapoorperson.HeistheKing!Hisparentsarealreadyhere—VasudevaandDevaki.Wedonotbelieveyou!From

wherehaveyoucome?WhyareyouclaimingthatHeisyourson?Wedonotbelieveyou!"NandaMaharajacried,"Ishalldie!"Theguardsaid,"IamdoingmyworkaspertheorderoftheKing.IfIdoanythingagainstHisorders,Ishallbedismissed.Doyouhaveapermit?"

"No.""ThenIcannotletyouin,"theguardreplied.Thenallthecowherdboys,carryingtheirsmallcowprods,cried,"Myfriend!Mybosomfriend!Kanhaiya!"

"What?HeistheKing!Hisfriendsarelikethis?Youarepaupers!Idonotbelieveyou!"Thenthegopiscried,"WearetheconsortsofKrishna!""What?Theconsortsarealreadyhere.Satyabhama,Rukminiandalltheotherqueensarehere!Fromwherehaveyoucome?ShowmesomepermitfromtheKingorHisPrimeMinister!"Then,YasodaDevisaid,"Itoldyouthat,ifIgotoKurukshetraandIamdeprivedofseeingKrishna,Ishalldie!Ihavenothingleft.Mylifeisfinished!"Shecriedloudly,"Gopala!"andfellunconscious.Atthattime,Krishnawaswiththebrahmanas,whorequestedHimtostartthesacrifice.KrishnaremovedallHisroyalgarmentsandbecameasmall,nakedboy,crying,"Mother!OMommy!Mommy!Mommy!"HecriedandcriedandcriedandrantositonthelapofYasodaDevi.Now,withoutKrishna'spresence,alltheritualsacrificesweredestroyed.ByhearingonesinglecallfromYasodaDevi,Krishnacouldnotremainthere.ThenKrishnametthegopisandtheothers.ThegopisattractedKrishna.Theysaid,"WearenotveryhappyseeingYouhere.Therearesomanycavalrymen,elephantsandchariots—weshouldgotoVrindavana.There,itissweet.AllthisisYourmajesticaspect.So,pleaseallowustheopportunitytoseeYouinbettercircumstancesbycomingwithustoVrindavana.Pleasedonotremainhere!"HeGopinatha!HeGopinatha!Vrindavanecalo!HeGopinatha!"Inthatmoodofthegopis,saturatedwithgopi-bhava,CaitanyaMahaprabhu

pulledthechariotfromtheJagannathaTemple(Kurukshetra)towardGundica(Vrindavana).Duringthechariotfestival,Krishna,BaladevaandSubhadramakethetripinthreechariots.Thedaybeforethefestival,CaitanyaMahaprabhutoldthedevotees,"Yousee,KrishnawillcometotheGundicaTempletomorrow.YoumustcomewithMeandcleansethetemple.""Cleansingthetemple"meansthatyoumustremoveallthethornsandrubbishoutsideandtrimthegrass.Youmustclearthepathofanystonesandsweepawayallthedustwithabroom.ButitalsomeansthatyouaretoengageyoursenseorgansfortheserviceofKrishna.IfyoudonotengageyoursenseorgansforHim,youwillnotgetHim.Forthisreason,youhavetoclearyourheartofalldesirefortheattainmentofmaterialbenefits,bothhereandinthehereafter,inheaven.Ifsuchdesireisthere,Krishnawillnotcome.Thedesirefornon-eternalbenefitsandemancipation,thedesiretomergeyourselfinformlessBrahman,thedesiretomergeyourselfinParamatma,thesesortsofdesireswilldeteryoufromgoingtoKrishna.Krishnawillnotcometoyou.Forthisreason,youhavetoclearallofthisaway—thesedesiresarelikehardstones.

Outside,youclearthemawaywithbrooms,andallthedevoteesbringearthenpotsfullofwatertowasheverything.Afterthis,thereshouldbenodesirefornameandfameandothersuchthings.Allofthisshouldbetotallyremoved.Forthisreason,CaitanyaMahaprabhu,withthehelpofHisownuttri(thecloththatasannyasiwearsaroundhisneck),scrubbedtheinsideofthetemple.Thereshouldnotbeanykindofmaterialdesireswithintheheart,noteventhosehiddensecretly.ThenKrishnawillcometomorrow.KrishnaiscomingherefromtheJagannathaTemple,andyouhavetocleartheseunwantedthingsaway.Thismeansthatyouhavetoclearyourmind.Thereshouldbenootherdesire

exceptdesireforKrishna.KrishnaiscomingtoVrindavana.KrishnaistheonlyAutocratthere.Nootherideas,forcesorpersonsshoulddominateyourheart,exceptKrishna.So,youhavetomakeyourheartthesameasVrindavana,whereKrishnaissolelydominant.HeistheSoleProprietor.CaitanyaMahaprabhusays,"IhavemadethismindVrindavana,sothatKrishnawillbefree—freetoperformallHispastimesandsportingactivities."Youhavetomake

yourmindVrindavana.Nooneelseshouldbeallowedtoenter,andnootherthoughtsshouldbeallowed.Nowyouarestayinginaroomandoutsideyouhaveplacedabigsignthatsays,"Welcome."So,othersseethesignandsay,"Oh,welcome,"andtheycometoyourdoor.Butthedoorisclosedand,behindthedoor,therearemanychairs,tablesetc.Infact,theroomiscompletelyfilledwithfurniture!Theycannotevenopenthedoor.So,theygoaway,disappointed.Outside,yoursignsays,"Welcome,"andyouarethinkingthatyouarewelcomingKrishna.But,whenKrishnacomes,youhavethoughtsinyourmindofwife,children,house,money,name,fameandotherthings.Allthesethingshavefilledupyourheart.Krishnawillcomeandthengoback.Youhavetoclearyourmind,yourheart,forHim.Clearawayallattachmenttonon-eternalthings.ThenKrishnawillcometomorrow.Wehavetoperformharinama.Thisisthebestmethod.So,inthesedaysleadinguptotheadventofSriKrishna,weshouldperformharinamasaikirtana.Weshouldnotdothistoshowofftoothers.Wehavetodoourownbhajana.WemustcallandcallKrishnafromthecoreoftheheart.Thedaysshouldbespentperformingsankirtana.ThenourmindswillbecleansedandKrishnamayappear.IfyouwantKrishna,youhavetoremoveallthingsthatarenotKrishna.Thisis"adhivasa".CaitanyaMahaprabhuhastaughtusthatyouwillgeteverything,allkindsofattainments,bymeansoftheHolyName.HemadeallthedevoteeschanttheHolyName,beingcarefultoavoidthetenfoldoffenses.Youarenottoengageinmeditationoranyotherkindofpractice.Yourmindwillbecleansed.Alltheunwanteddesireswillberemoved:"cetodarpanamarjanam".Youhavemultifariousdesiresbut,ifyouperformsankirtana,thefirstattainmentisthatyourdesireswillberemoved.Whenthesedesiresaregone,sotoowillbethepangsofthreefoldsuffering—miseries.Thedesiresarethemiseries.Aslongasyouhavedesires,shouldtherebesomehindrancetothefulfillmentofthesedesires,yourmindwillbecomeupset.Forthisreason,whenthedesiresareremoved,therewillbenoafflictionsandKrishnawillappear.KrishnaisAll-Good.Afterthat,youwillhavearelationshipwithKrishna,thinking,"IamofKrishna."Withlove,youwilluttertheHolyNameandyouwillbedrownedintheoceanofambrosia—bliss—and,ateverystep,youwillhavethetasteofthatsweettranscendentalambrosiaoftheSupremeLord.

EveofJanmastami-SanctifyingtheHeart2

Thefollowingisanexcerptfromthechapter"SanctifyingtheHeart"inthebook"ATasteofTranscendence"bySrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaj.Inthischapter,MaharajdiscussestheinnermeaningofKrishna'sdivinepastimesduringbothRathaYatrafestivalandJanmastami.Formoreinformationaboutthisbook,clickhere.(ThislecturewasoriginallydeliveredattheCalcuttabranchofSriChaitanyaGaudiyaMath,thedaybeforeJanmastamiintheyear2000).

Tomorrow,Krsnawillappear.Hewillappearintheshrineofourhearts.HeistherewithinusandHewillappearthere.So,today,onthisadhivasatithi,wehavetocleartheheartandmindsothatKrsnawillcomeandsitthere.KrsnadoesnottakeHisseatinanimpure,dirtyplace.KrsnaistheHoliest.Wehavetoprepareourhearts,purifyourhearts.ThereshouldbenodesireotherthantheserviceofSriKrsna.Ifthereshouldbeanyotherdesire,thenthatheartisimpure.Aslongasimpurethoughtsarethere,Krsnawillnotappear.InPurusottama-dhama(Puri),duringthetimeofthecarfestival(Ratha-yatra),LordJagannathatravelsfromHistempleinPuritotheGundicaTemple,adistanceofabouttwomiles.CaitanyaMahaprabhuexplainsthattheGundicaTempleisVrndavanaandtheJagannathaTempleisKuruksetra.Duringasolareclipse,peoplegotoKuruksetratobatheandperformotherrituals.Inthescriptures,youwillfinddescriptionsoftheimmensegloriesofthispractice.DuringthetimeofKrsna'spastimesonEarth,therewasasolareclipsewhereKrsnacamefromDvarakatoKuruksetrawithallHispersonalassociates.Atthattime,KrsnawastheKing,EmperorandSoleProprietorofDvaraka.AllHissubjects,consortsandpersonalassociateswereveryeagertogotoKuruksetraduringthesolareclipsesotheycouldbathe,performsandhyaandotherrituals.Iftheycouldperformthesesacrificeswiththebrahmanas,theycouldgetimmensefruits.TofulfillthisdesireofHissubjects,Krsnasaid,"Allright,weshallgo."So,allthenumeroussubjects,consortsandpersonalassociatescametoKuruksetra.KrsnaintentionallyinvitedeveryoneexcepttheVrajavasis-thedevoteesofVraja.NaradaGosvamiwasveryshockedbythis.HeapproachedKrsna,saying,"TheVrajavasisloveYousomuch.Theyareexperiencingextremeseparation

griefbynotseeingYou.YouareinvitingeveryoneinthewholeworldbutYouarenotinvitingtheVrajavasis?Whatoffensearetheyguiltyof?HavetheycommittedanoffensebylovingYou?Icannottoleratethis!"ThenKrsnasaid,"Theyareourownpeople.Noonehastosendinvitationstoone'sown.Parentsdonotinvitetheirchildren,andviceversa.Theyareourown.Outsidepeopleareinvited.HowcanIinvitetheVrajavasis?Youareright,IintentionallydidnotinvitethembecausetheyaresaturatedwithloveforMe.Theyhavenointerestinperformingsacrificestoobtainmundanebenefits.Iftheycome,theresultsofalltheseritualpracticeswillbedestroyed.Forthisreason,Ihavenotinvitedthem."Althoughnotinvited,theVrajavasiscametolearnthatKrsnawascomingtoKuruksetra.TheVrajavasisthought,"KuruksetraismuchclosertoVraja-mandalathanDvarakais.WeshouldavailourselvesofthisrareopportunitytoseeKrsna!WecanhavedarsanaofKrsna!Weshouldnotmissthischance!"Buttheycouldnotventuretogothere.Why?Theythought,"KrsnahasbecometheEmperor.Hisstandardisveryhigh,andwearemerelycowherdmenandwomen.Wearepoorpeople.PerhapsKrsnahasforgottenus.Ifwegothere,Hewillnotrecognizeus.Someoneofsuchahighpositionwillnotcometoseeordinarypeoplelikeus.PreviouslyHe

wasacowherdboyinourVraja-dhama,butnowHehasbecomeKing.Butweareextremelygrief-stricken.Wecannottoleratethisseparation."Thinkinglikethis,theVrajavasisreasoned,"Amanmightforgeteverythingelse,buthewillneverforgethisparents,eveniftheylivefaraway.IfNandaMaharajaandYasodagothere,thenKrsnawillbowdowntothemandmakeobeisances."SotheywenttoNandaMaharaja,saying,"KrsnaiscomingtoKuruksetra!Wearetoogrief-strickenwithseparationgrief.WehavenotseenHimforsuchalongtime,butwedonothavethecouragetogothere.WedonotknowifKrsnawillgiveustheopportunitytoseeHim,asHispresentstandardoflivingissohigh.But,ifHisparentsgothere,thenKrsnawillcometothemastheirsonandofferobeisances."ThenNandaMaharajaandYasodasaid,"No,no.Thisisnotcorrect.Hehasnotcomehereforsuchalongtime!HehassomanyconsortsandservantsservingHimthere.Heissowealthynow.Hiswivesarealsowealthy.Weare

onlycowherdmenandwomen.Wehavenothing.Aftersolong,howcanwego?Ifwegothere,willHecometoseeus?IfwegotoKuruksetraandaredeprivedofseeingKrsna,weshalldie!"WhenKrsna,theEmperorofDvaraka,enteredKuruksetra,somanycavalryunits,elephants,horses,etc.accompaniedHim.OnlythosewhohadpermissionwereallowedtogotospeakwithHim.Hewassurroundedbyservants.Therewerefourgatekeepers,oneineachdirection.TheKing'sparents,VasudevaandDevakiwerealsothere.Thebrahmanashadgonetostartthesacrifices.So,noonewaspermittedtodisturbtheKing.NandaMaharaja,YasodaDeviandallthecowherdboysandotherfriendsofKrsnaapproachedwhereHewas.Nobodyacknowledgedthem.Armedforces,cavalryandelephantssurroundedKrsna.NandaMaharajaapproachedoneoftheguards."Ihavecometoseemybelovedson,"hesaid."Whoisyourbelovedson?"aguardaskedhim."Krsna.""Howisthat?Youareapoorperson.HeistheKing!Hisparentsarealreadyhere-VasudevaandDevaki.Wedonotbelieveyou!Fromwherehaveyoucome?WhyareyouclaimingthatHeisyourson?Wedonotbelieveyou!"NandaMaharajacried,"Ishalldie!"Theguardsaid,"IamdoingmyworkaspertheorderoftheKing.IfIdoanythingagainstHisorders,Ishallbedismissed.Doyouhaveapermit?""No.""ThenIcannotletyouin,"theguardreplied.Thenallthecowherdboys,carryingtheirsmallcowprods,cried,"Myfriend!Mybosomfriend!Kanhaiya!""What?HeistheKing!Hisfriendsarelikethis?Youarepaupers!Idonotbelieveyou!"Thenthegopiscried,"WearetheconsortsofKrsna!""What?Theconsortsarealreadyhere.Satyabhama,Rukminiandalltheotherqueensarehere!Fromwherehaveyoucome?ShowmesomepermitfromtheKingorHisPrimeMinister!"Then, Yasoda Devi said, "I told you that, if I go to Kuruksetra and I amdeprivedofseeingKrsna,Ishalldie!Ihavenothingleft.Mylifeisfinished!"Shecriedloudly,"Gopala!"andfellunconscious.

Atthattime,Krsnawaswiththebrahmanas,whorequestedHimtostartthesacrifice.KrsnaremovedallHisroyalgarmentsandbecameasmall,nakedboy,crying,"Mother!OMommy!Mommy!Mommy!"HecriedandcriedandcriedandrantositonthelapofYasodaDevi.Now,withoutKrsna'spresence,alltheritualsacrificesweredestroyed.ByhearingonesinglecallfromYasodaDevi,Krsnacouldnotremainthere.ThenKrsnametthegopisandtheothers.ThegopisattractedKrsna.Theysaid,"WearenotveryhappyseeingYouhere.Therearesomanycavalrymen,elephantsandchariots-weshouldgotoVrndavana.There,itissweet.AllthisisYourmajesticaspect.So,pleaseallowustheopportunitytoseeYouinbettercircumstancesbycomingwithustoVrndavana.Pleasedonotremainhere!"HeGopinatha!HeGopinatha!Vrndavanecalo!HeGopinatha!"Inthatmoodofthegopis,saturatedwithgopi-bhava,CaitanyaMahaprabhupulledthechariotfromtheJagannathaTemple(Kuruksetra)towardGundica(Vrndavana).Duringthechariotfestival,Krsna,BaladevaandSubhadramakethetripinthreechariots.Thedaybeforethefestival,CaitanyaMahaprabhutoldthedevotees,"Yousee,KrsnawillcometotheGundicaTempletomorrow.YoumustcomewithMeandcleansethetemple.""Cleansingthetemple"meansthatyoumustremoveallthethornsandrubbishoutsideandtrimthegrass.Youmustclearthepathofanystonesandsweepawayallthedustwithabroom.ButitalsomeansthatyouaretoengageyoursenseorgansfortheserviceofKrsna.IfyoudonotengageyoursenseorgansforHim,youwillnotgetHim.Forthisreason,youhavetoclearyourheartofalldesirefortheattainmentofmaterialbenefits,bothhereandinthehereafter,inheaven.Ifsuchdesireisthere,Krsnawillnotcome.Thedesirefornon-eternalbenefitsandemancipation,thedesiretomergeyourselfinformlessBrahman,thedesiretomergeyourselfinParamatma,thesesortsofdesireswilldeteryoufromgoingtoKrsna.Krsnawillnotcometoyou.Forthisreason,youhavetoclearallofthisaway-thesedesiresarelikehardstones.Outside,youclearthemawaywithbrooms,andallthedevoteesbringearthenpotsfullofwatertowasheverything.Afterthis,thereshouldbenodesirefornameandfameandothersuchthings.Allofthisshouldbetotallyremoved.Forthisreason,CaitanyaMahaprabhu,withthehelpofHisownuttri(thecloththatasannyasiwearsaroundhisneck),scrubbedtheinsideofthetemple.Thereshouldnotbeanykindofmaterialdesireswithintheheart,noteventhosehiddensecretly.ThenKrsnawillcome

tomorrow.KrsnaiscomingherefromtheJagannathaTemple,andyouhavetocleartheseunwantedthingsaway.Thismeansthatyouhavetoclearyourmind.ThereshouldbenootherdesireexceptdesireforKrsna.KrsnaiscomingtoVrndavana.KrsnaistheonlyAutocratthere.Nootherideas,forcesorpersonsshoulddominateyourheart,exceptKrsna.So,youhavetomakeyourheartthesameasVrndavana,whereKrsnaissolelydominant.HeistheSoleProprietor.CaitanyaMahaprabhusays,"IhavemadethismindVrndavana,sothatKrsnawillbefree-freetoperformallHispastimesandsportingactivities."YouhavetomakeyourmindVrndavana.Nooneelseshouldbeallowedtoenter,andnootherthoughtsshouldbeallowed.

TheGloriesofHisDivineGraceSrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharaj

Location:BostonCommon,Boston,Massachusetts,USADate:23August2002Time:12:30PM

WhyhasSanjayadasPrabhusuddenlybroughtustothisplace?Isthereanythingthatcanoccurspontaneouslyorareeventssuchasthispreordained?OurMostReveredParampujyapadaParivajakacharyaSrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharajcametothisplaceandstartedkirtan.Inhisremembrance,weareperformingkirtanhere,sothathewillbesatisfied.TheultimategoalshouldbethesatisfactionofSriKrishna.KrishnabestowedsomuchgraceuponSrilaSwamiMaharaj.OurParamgurudevaSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakur,theAbsoluteCounterpartoftheSupremeLord,wasthefounderofSriGaudiyaMathandSriChaitanyaMath.Itwashe,who,asthespiritualmasterofParamapujyapadSrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharaj,impartedtohimthepowertopreachallovertheworld.SrilaSwamiMaharajstartedonhislife'smissionbyprayingforthegraceofSupremeLordSriKrishnaandHispersonalassociates.Wehaveheardthathe

camealone,withnoassistancefromothers.HisGurudevahadgivenhimtheordertospreadtheall-embracing,all-accommodatingdivineknowledgeandloveofGodthroughouttheworld.HetravelledfromIndiawithgreatdifficultyandeventuallydisembarkedinBoston.IhaveheardthathecamebyshipandthatthiswasthefirstplacehecametointheUSA.TodayisthedaywhenSwamiMaharajleftIndiafortheUSA.Thisisaveryimportantday!Ihaveaconnectionwithhim.Wemaysaythatthisisaccidentalbutactuallyeverythingispreordained.Nothingoccursbychance.WhenIwasinVrindavanatSriChaitanyaGaudiyaMathwithmyreveredGurudevaParampujyapadaSrilaBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGoswamiMaharaj,weheardthatagodbrotherofourGurudeva,ParampujyapadaSrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharaj,wasstayingattheSriSriRadha-Damodartemple.AshewasagodbrotherofourGurudevaandadiscipleofSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakur,hewasnaturallytheobjectofgreatregardandreverence.Thinking,"Ishallgothereandpaymyobeisancestohim,"ImademywaytotheSriSriRadha-Damodartemple.Uponmeetinghim,Iofferedmyhumbleobeisancesandhethenbegantospeak.Showingmehiswritings,hesaid,"Iwanttopublishamonthlymagazine,BacktoGodhead.Pleasegothroughmywritings."Theprinting,byVrindavanPress,wasveryindistinct.Becauseitwashisorder,Itriedtogothroughit.WhenIhadgonethroughthetexthehadgivenme,hesaid,"Ihavewrittenotherarticles.Youshouldalsogothroughthose."Hedidnotmentionatthattimethathehadthedesiretogotoforeigncountriestopreach.TheonlythingthathesaidwasthatIshouldgothroughhiswritings.AfterthatIprayedoutloudtohim,"WillyounotcometoourMath?OurGurudevaisthere.Pleasecomeandseehim."Heimmediatelyagreed,saying,"Yes,IwillcometomorrowtoseeyourGurudeva."TheverynextdayhecametoourMathandenteredtheroomofourGurumaharaj.Iremainedoutsideduringthediscussionofthesetwogodbrothers.OnlySwamiMaharajandourGurudevawerethere.NeitherInoranyoneelseknowswhatsubjecttheymighthavebeendiscussing.SwamiMaharajcameoutoftheroomafterabouthalfanhourorsotogobacktohistemple.AtthegateofourMath,hesuddenlycalledmeandsaid,"Yousee,IhavethedesiretogooutsideIndiatospreadthemessageofSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu.Willyouaccompanyme?Willyougowithme?"BecauseatthattimeIwastheSecretaryofSriChaitanyaGaudiyaMathinstitutionandhadbeengivenenormousresponsibilitiesbyourGurudeva,Iremainedsilent.

SwamiMaharajisguru---shikshaguru---andourguruisalsoguru---dikshaguru---whatcouldIsay?Therefore,Iremainedsilent.FinallyIsaidthatIwastheSecretaryofthatinstitutionandthatGurudevahadgivenmemanyresponsibilities.Withurgentworktodo,howcouldIleaveatthattime?Hewasdisappointedashecouldnotfindanyonetoassisthim.Ultimately,hecametothewestalone.Hecametothisplacefirst.Hetraveledbyship,notbyair,andhedisembarkedhere.HeperformedkirtanherebythegraceoftheSupremeLord.TheSupremeLordcandoanything.Nothingisimpossibleforhim.Ifwehavestraight-forwardnessandsincerityofheartthentheSupremeLordwillfulfillourdesires.Weshouldperformkirtanwithstraight-forwardnessofheartandsincerebelief.SrilaSwamiMaharajperformedkirtanalonehere.Doyouthinkthatitispossibletodothisalone---topropagatethemessageofdivinelovealonethroughouttheworld?Howissuchathingpossible?ItispossibleonlybyGod'sgrace!Weshouldthinkaboutthis!Weshouldnotworrywhetherornotmanypersonsarecomingtoassist.WhenourParamgurudevaSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurwantedtotakeinitiationfromSrilaGauraKishoredasBabajiMaharaj,BabajiMaharajsaid,"Ihavemadeupmymind.Ishallnottakeonanydisciples.IfIacceptyouasmydisciplethenIshallhavetogiveconsiderationtoyou.Thiswilldistractmefrommyworship.Icannotassumetheresponsibility."OurreveredParamgurudevawouldcomeandprayforthegraceofBabajiMaharajrepeatedlybutwasrefusedeverytime.Actingasthoughhewereapersonexhibitingasortofmundanevanityorpride,SrilaGauraKishoredasBabajiMaharajwouldtellParamgurudevathattherearemanygurus,sowhybothertomakerepeatedsupplicationstohim?Heshouldgotosomeotherperson.However,ourParamgurudevaremainedfirminhisresolve.Repeatedlyhewouldcome,aboutfourteentimesinall.Finally,BabajiMaharajsaidtohim,"IwillaskSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu.Ifhesoorders,thenIshallgiveyoumantra."Aftersomedayshadpassed,ourParamgurudevaagainprayed,"WillyoupleaseaskSriChaitanyaMahaprabhuonmybehalf?"GaurKishoredasBabajiMaharajreplied,"Oh,Ihaveforgottenaboutit."Whenwebecomebewilderedweloseourfaithandcannotprogress,butourParamgurudevaremainedundeterred.Feelingdisappointed,SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurleft.Aftersometime,heagainreturned.HewasalwaysprayingtotheSupremeLord,"Pleasekindlyfulfillmydesire!"OurParamgurudevaaskedBabajiMaharaj,"DidyouaskSriChaitanyadeva?"

BabajiMaharajreplied,"Yes,Ididask."SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurthensaid,"WhatdidHesay?"GauraKishoredasBabajiMaharajsaid,"Mahaprabhusaysthatyouhavemundanevanityandpride.Hesaysthatyoushouldnotbegivenmantra."ThenourParamgurudevabecameverydisappointed.Heremainedthere,prayingtoLordChaitanya,"PleasegivemeYourorder."Atthattime,GauraKishoredasBabajiMaharajwassittingonabrokenboatonthebankoftheconfluenceoftheGangesandSaraswatirivers.Hewasalwaysperformingharinama.Ifsomeonerich,suchasaninfluentialzamindar(landowner),cametotouchhisholyfeet,hewouldimmediatelycursethemthatalltheirwealthandpossessionswouldbedestroyed.Theywereafraidofhimandpaidtheirobeisancesfromadistance.Nobodyhadthecouragetotouchhim.Butthen,BabajiMaharaj,aftersomanytimesrefusingtogivemantra,allofasuddentookthedustfromhisownlotusfeetandbesmeareditonSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiThakurtellinghim,"YouaretheonlypersoncapableofspreadingthemessageofSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu,thereforeIamblessingyouandgivingyoumantra."Heimpartedallhispowertoonlyonedisciple!HavingreceivedtheordersofhisGurudeva,SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurthenperformedsixyearsofpenance.HechantedSupremeLordHari'sHolyNameonebilliontimes.Suchgreatausterities!Afterthis,hethought,"Ihavenopersonalqualities.HowwillIbeabletofulfillthedesireofGurudeva?"Hefeltverydiscouraged,alwaysprayingforthegraceofGurudeva.Paramgurudeva'sfather,SrilaBhaktivinodeThakur,wasalsohisGurudeva.HehadavisionofBhaktivinodeThakur,GauraKishoredasBabajiMaharaj,JagannathadasBabajiMaharajandthePanchatattva(SriKrishnachaitanyainfivefeaturesoraspects).Theytoldhimnottobeafraidandthatmanypeoplewouldsooncometofollowhim."PreachthemessageofdivineloveofSriChaitanyaMahaprabhu!Start!"Takingthistoheart,hewenttoUltadangaRoadinCalcuttaandstartedSriGaudiyaMath.SrilaGauraKishoredasBabajiMaharaj,withonlyonedisciple,startedthewholemovement.SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakuralsoimpartedthatpowerstoothers.Wherevertheywent,theywerenotafraidofanything.Theymetwithmanyhighgovernmentofficials.TheyhadnofearandwenteverywherebecausetheyhadthepoweroftheirGurudevabehindthem.SrilaBonMaharajalsowenttoLondonfollowingtheordersofSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakur.Theywerepreachinginthisway.Ultimately,SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurwrotealetter

withspecificinstructionstoParamapujyapadSwamiMaharajwhowasahouseholderatthattime.WhenIvisitedNewYorkin1997,VaikunthanathdasPrabhu,adiscipleofSwamiMaharaj,metmeandwasveryenthusiastictotakemetodifferentplaceswhereImetmanydevotees.IwenttodifferentISKCONtemplesandwaseventuallytakentoTompkinsSquareParkbyVaikunthanathPrabhuandoneofSwamiMaharaj'sdedicatedsannyasidisciples[clickhereforanaccountofthatevent].Atthattime,SrimanVaikunthanathPrabhuaskedmetolistentoatapedlectureofSrilaSwamiMaharaj.ItoldhimthatIwouldhearitassoonastheopportunityarose.Ieventuallyhearditduringatwo-hourcarjourneytoHartford,Connecticut.Inthatrecording,SwamiMaharajwasrelatinghislifestoryincludingthedisappearanceofourParamgurudevaSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakur.SwamiMaharajsaid,"Ididnothaveenoughmoneytomaintainmyfamily.IcouldnotgetmoneyorearnanythinginCalcutta,soIwenttoBombay(Mumbai)butwasnotsuccessful.Inthemeantime,IheardthatourGurudevawasinPuri.Hewasnotfeelingwell.Hemightleavetheplanetatanymoment.Hearingthis,Iwasdisturbed.AtpresentIaminmyhouse,thinkinghowtomaintainmyfamily.Ontheotherhand,mygodbrothersarewithSrilaGurudeva.Theyareserving.Mylifeisfutile.Thinkinglikethis,IthenwrotealettertoSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakur,saying,'Kindlyinstructme.Iamyourunfortunatedisciple.Icouldnotserveinthewaythatallofyouareserving.Pleasegivesomeorderstome.'SrilaGurudevareceivedtheletterandthenrepliedsayingthatIhadagoodholdoverEnglish.HesaidthatitwashisdesirethatIspreadthemessageofdivineloveofChaitanyaMahaprabhutoallthecornersoftheworld.Ithought,'Allright,Ishalltry.'AtthattimeIwasthinkingthatIshouldkeepsomemoneyforthewelfareofmyfamilyalthoughIwastryingtofulfillmyGurudeva'sorder.ThenIgotthenewsthatGurudevahadpassedaway.Ithought,'Iamwastingtimeinhouseholderlife,attachedtoworldlyrelations.BydoingthisIshallnotbeabletofulfillthedesireofGurudeva.'ImmediatelyafterthatIrenouncedfamilylife."SwamiMaharajstayedfirstforseveralyearsattheSriSriRadha-Damodartemple.Imethimatthattime.Withgreatriskoflife,healwaysprayedfortheblessingsofhisGurudevaandperformedthekirtansofSrilaNarottamadasThakurandSrilaBhaktivinodeThakur.Nobodyinthewestunderstoodthem.Butheprayednonetheless.Inthiswayallthepeopleofthewesternworldgotintothehabitofsingingsongs

writtenbygreatdevoteesages.WhereverIgo,Inowhearthosesongs.SrilaSwamiMaharajhimselfusedtosingandwouldalsotranslateandpublishgreatVaishnavaliteratures.ThisisthefirsttimethatIhavecometoBoston.OurParamapujyapadSrilaBhaktivedantaSwamiMaharajcameherebyshipearlierwherehestartedthespreadofthemessageofall-embracing,all-accommodatingdivineloveofSriChaitanyaMahaprabhuinthewest.Iamonlyhereforfourdays.IamstayingatSanjayadasPrabhu'shouse.Hehasbroughtushere.Thisplaceisholyforus.Takethedust.[SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharajtakesthedustfromtheparkandputsitonhishead.]SrilaA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiMaharajwantedmewithhim,butIcouldnotcome.Icommittedanoffenseathislotusfeet.EverythingispreordainedbytheSupremeLord.GauraPremanande!HariHaribol!

QuestionsandAnswers

Devotee:OnethingIamkindofwonderingis,that,amongthemanydifferentgroupsofVaishnavas,thereissometimessomeconceptioneveryoneseemstoagreewith.Whenweperfectthepathofdevotionandgotothespiritualworld,wehaveaneternalrelationshipwithKrishna.Thatrelationshipisspiritual,soitisdynamicandchangingbutinanothersenseitiseternalandisunchanging.Myquestionisthis:whenwegotothespiritualworldwhereourrelationshipwithKrishnaandHisdevoteesiseternalandunchanging,isthereanythingthatwemaydohereinthismaterialrealmthatwillalterourrelationshipwithKrishna?Ishallgiveanexample.IfIbecomeabigguruwithmanydisciplesandthengobacktothespiritualworldtohavearelationshipwithmyguruandKrishna,willIbeabletodomoreservice?CoulditbeamaterialthoughtthatIwillbeabletodobetterquality,morewonderfulserviceinthisway?HDGSrilaB.B.TirthaMaharaj:IhaveheardfrommyGurudeva,SrilaBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGoswamiMaharaj,theeldergodbrotherofSrilaSwamiMaharaj,thattheguruneverthinksofhimselfasguru.Butanoutside

personmaythinkthatthispersonisactingasgurubygivingmantraandthatanotherpersonisactingasadisciplebythetakingofmantra.ButthegurualwaysthinksthatheistheeternalservantofSupremeLordSriKrishna.Hewillbesatisfiediftheconditionedsouls,whoareaversetotheSupremeLordandhaveforgottentheirrelationshipwithHim,areabletounderstandHim.IfhecanenablethemtounderstandtheirrealnatureandbringthemundertheshelterofthelotusfeetoftheSupremeLord,thentheSupremeLordwillbehappy.Forthatreason,thegurutriestoexplaintothemthattheyarenotofthisworld,thattheyareconnectedtotheSupremeLordandthattheyareHiseternalservants---theoutcomeofHismarginalpotency.Allpotenciesshouldremainforthepossessorofthepotency.MypotencyworksformeandtheSupremeLord'spotencyworksforHim.Onlythatshouldbeawakened.Forexample,thereisamagnetandthereisiron.Themagnethasthepowertoattractiron.Whenironcomesnearthemagnet,itbecomesattracted.Ifbothamagnetandironaretherebutthereisnoattraction,thensomethingmustbewrong.KrishnaisthereandHeisattractingall.Byattractingall,Hepleasesall.HeiscalledKrishnabecause'krish'means"toattract"and'na'means"togivehappiness."ByattractingHeisgivinganand---bliss.Heattractseveryone.NandanandanaKrishnapossessesallkindsofqualities,allkindsofsweetnessandallkindsofdelightfulness,butHeisnotattractingme---Iamnotfeelinganything!Whatisthedefect?Themagnetandtheironareboththere.Iftheironisnotrunningtowardthemagnetthentheironmusthavesomesortofdefect.Thereisacoatingofrustontheiron,andifIremovetherust,thenthenaturalfunctionwillbecomemanifested.Thentheironwillruntothemagnet.Themagnetwillattractit.Inthisway,whenwebecomeaversetotheSupremeLord,webecomecoveredbytheillusoryenergy(maya)intheformofthreeprimevalqualities,namelysattva,rajasandtamas.Byrajo-gunaweareborn,weremaininthisworldbymeansofsattva-gunaandbytamo-guna,wedie.Wearethencompelledtotakebirthindifferentspeciesandagainwedie.Bygreatfortunewehaveachievedthishumanbirth.OnlyinthehumanbirthhasGodgivenusthediscriminativepower:"YoushouldthinkwhetheryouwanttoenjoythisworldorifyouwouldrathercometoMe."Giveupthedesiretoenjoyanddominatethematerialworld.Youshouldnotjustengageineating,mating,sleepinganddefending.Alltheanimalsaredoingthesamething.Youhavebeengiventhisspecialpotencythatyoumustutilizetoaccepttheeternalandrejectthenon-eternal.When,byourpreviousgoodimpressions(sukriti),weknowinglyorunknowinglyserveKrishna,wecreateanimpactonourrealself.Whenwe

dosomethinggoodinthisworldwegetphysicalandmentalbenefit,butthatisonlytemporary.Thebodyisnoteternalsothebenefitisalsonoteternal.OurrealselfiseternalandiseternallyconnectedtotheSupremebymeansofassociationwithasuddha-bhakta---apuredevotee.TherearemanydifferentformsoftheSupremeLordsuchasLakshmi-Narayana,Sita-Rama,DwarakadishaKrishna,MathuradhishaKrishnaandNandanandanaKrishna.All thesearedifferentforms.ThereisHalf-man/Half-lionBhagavan(Narasimha),FishBhagavan(Matsya),BoarBhagavan(Varaha)andsomanymore.Now,ifyoureceivethegraceofthepreceptorialchannelforBoarBhagavan,thenthatmantrawilltakeyoutotheabodeofBoarBhagavanand,similarly,ifyoutakemantrafromapuredevoteeofNarasimhaBhagavan,thenthatmantrawilltakeyoutoLordNarasimha'sabode.IfyoutakemantrafromadevoteeofDwarakaKrishna,thenitwilltakeyoutoDwaraka.IfyoutakemantrafromNandanandanaKrishna'sdevotee,thenyoucangotoHisabode.Youhaveto gothroughthebhagavata-marg(thedevotionalpath)andwhenyouwanttostop somewhere,youmustnot---youmustgoon.YouhavetakenKrishnamantrafromapersonalassociateofNandanandanaKrishnaandyouarenottostop---youmustcontinuerelentlessly.Thenyouwillcross,cross,crossand,ultimately,attheculmination,youwillreachthelotusfeetofSupremeLordSriKrishna.AtPrayag,SrimanMahaprabhuimpartedthisknowledge,whichistheculminationofbhakti-rasa,toSrilaRupaGoswami."Howtoobtainkrishna-prema"isthesubjectofthe19thchapterofMadhya-lilaofSriChaitanyaCharitamrita.Haveyougonethroughthis?WithoutperforminganyservicetoKrishnaandthekrishna-bhakta,youcannothavethedesiretounderstandtheAbsolute."Athatobrahma-jijnasa":"NowisthetimetoinquireabouttheAbsoluteTruth."SriChaitanyaMahaprabhuhastaughtusthepropermodeofinquirythroughSrilaSanatanaGoswami.Whenthetimeofdeliverancefrommayaarrives,thenwewillputrelevantquestionstoarealizedsoul---asadguru(abonafidepreceptor).LordChaitanyaMahaprabhuappearedinthemoodofadevotee.IntheformofRadharani,theHighestGuru,NandanandanaKrishnaHimselfappeared.SanatanaGoswamiaskedHimquestionssuchas,"WhoandwhatamI?WhyamIburningfromthethree-foldafflictions[miseriescausedbyone'sownbodyandmind,miseriescausedbyotherlivingentitiesandmiseriescausedbythedemigodsintheformofnaturaldisasterssuchasearthquakes,floods,

hurricanesandsoon]?Whatistheultimateobjectandhowarewetogetit?"Whenweputthesequestionstoasadguru,thenthetimeforemancipationfromtheentanglementofthisnon-eternalspherehascome.ItwasdeclaredbySriChaitanyaMahaprabhutoSrilaSanatanaGoswami.Youmusthavethesetypesofquestionsinmind.Devotee:Youmentionedadifferentmantra-aNandanandanamantrafromarealizedsoul.HDGSrilaB.B.TirthaMaharaj:SrilaSanatanaGoswamihaswrittenthisinhisBrihad-Bhagavatamritam.YouwillgetmanythingsonthewaytoKrishnaand,ifyoustop,youwillnotmakeanyprogress.WhateveryouhavegottenfromyourGurudeva,youhavetocontinuetodo,withsincerity.ThenyouwillcrossVaikuntha,youwillcrossAyodhyaand,eventually,youwillreachthedhama(holyabode)ofNandanandanaKrishna.Patienceshouldbethere,forwithoutpatienceyoucannotgetanything.

KrishnalokaisdescribedinSrimadBhagavatam(10.20.47):FromthetranscendentalrealmwhichiscalledKrishnaloka,thereemanatesaglowingeffulgencethatresemblesthetailofacomet.Thisglowingeffulgenceisunlimited,immeasurableandunfathomable.Withinthiseffulgencethereareinnumerableglowingplanets,eachofthemself-luminous.Somewhere,alimitedpartofthatglowingeffulgenceiscoveredbymaterialenergy,justasapartoftheskyiscoveredbyacloud.Withinthismaterialenergythereareinnumerableuniverses,ineveryuniversethereareinnumerablematerialplanets,andtheearthisoneoftheseplanets.Thuswecanunderstandwhataninsignificantpartoftheentirecosmosisthisglobeonwhichwelive.HisDivineGraceSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGoswamiMaharajreachedVrindavanaon14October2002fortheonemonthlongVrajamandalaParikrama.Speakingonthesubject"WhowillshowusVraja-dhama?",SrilaTirthaMaharajjisaidthatonlyatatvik-vrajavasilikeSrilaBhaktiSiddhantaSarawatiGoswamiThakurPrabhupadcangiveustheknowledgeofVraja-dhama.QuotingfromSrilaPrabhupad'sdiscoursesofthe1932ParikramaofVrajamandala,SrilaTirthaMaharajexplainedthesignificanceofdoingcircumambulationofdhama."Thisworldisapervertedreflectionofthespiritualworld.Allactaspurushasandwanttoenjoyandlorditoverothers.IfwewantSriKrishnatoappearinourheart,wewillhavetomakeourmind

Vrindavan.UnlesswedothisSriKrishnawillnotappear.InVrindavan,SriKrishnaistheonlyEnjoyerandMaster.HeisPurushottama,thehighestPerson,allelseareHisprakriti."SrilaTirthaMaharajwentontodescribehowalltheholyscripturesofIndiadescribethegloriesofVrajamandala,thelandwhereSriKrishnaappeared5000yearsago.AlsoknownasVrajabhumiorVraja,theabodeofSriKrishnaisthemostsacredplaceofpilgrimage.Vraj,Mathura,VrindavanDham,notonlyrefertotheplacelocatedintheculturalandlinguisticregionofVrajasituatedonthebanksoftheYamunariverinthepresentdayUttarPradesh(U.P,India)but,inthespiritualsense,thisisthecelestialtranscendentalabodeoftheSupremePersonalityoftheGodhead,SriKrishna.Inthemindsofdevotees,thereisnodoubtthatthespiritualabodeofKrishna,descendedasearthlyVrajamandalaorVraja-dhama.Thisterrestrialdhamaisasmuchtranscendentalasthecelestialabode.SriChaitanyaMahaprabhuhassaidthatjustasSriKrishnaisworshipable,Hisabode,Vrajamandala,isalsoworhsipable.Eventhetrees,creepers,rivers,ponds,streetsetc.,ofVrajamandalaareasworshipableastheLord.InSrimadBhagavatamithasbeenstated;Vrindavan-dhamaisnon-differentfromSriKrishnabecausetheName,Form,AttributesandthePlacewheretheLordappearsareallidenticalwiththeLord”.InthewordsofthegreatGaudiyapoetsage,SriKrishnadasKavirajGoswami,"Vrajamandalamanifestsitstrueformonlytothosewholookuponitwiththeeyesoflove".WehavetofollowapuredevoteeofSriKrishnatogetthoseeyesoflove.Hearingfromabonafidesadhuisthebestwayofgettingthetrueknowledgeoftheabodeof

SriKrishna.Ontheeveningof16October,SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGoswamiMaharajcametothefirstcampofthisyear'sVrajamandalaParikrama,Mathura.DevoteesfromallovertheworldarrivedforparticipatingintheParikrama,whichcommencedon17October.Mathuraisoneofthesapta-puris,thesevenholycitiesofIndia.AllmajorPuranasmentionthenameofMathura,butonlytheRamayanaandtheHarivamshaPuranadescribetheoriginoftheplace.TraditionallyfoundedbyMadhuDaitya,thecitywasrehabilitatedbySriShatrughna,theyoungestbrotherofLordRama,afterconqueringtheregionfromLavana,thetyrannical

sonofMadhu.ThefirstreferencetoMathuracanbetracedbacktoAtharvaVedainthesloka:‘tadvishnuparamampadamsadapashyantisuryadivivachakshuratatam.LongafterthetimeofShatrughna,therecametheShursenadynastyinwhichLordSriKrishnaappearedinDvaparaYuga.MathurawaswidelyknownwhenKamsa,thecruelking,madeithiscapital.LordSriKrishnarescuedpeoplefromKamsa.Later,YudhishthirMahrarajenthronedthegreatgrandsonofSriKrishna,Vajranabha,whoestablishedthemajortemplesofVrajmandala.Mostofthesetemplesandtheirdeitiesarestillworshippedeventoday.

AMessageofTrueCatholicismOnthemorningofFriday24May2002,SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGosvamiMaharaj,accompaniedbySripadBhaktiVicarVishnuMaharaj,SrimanAnantaRamdasBrahmacari,SrimanSrikantdasBrahmacariandSrimanSudarshandasAdhikari,alightedatLondonHeathrowAirport,commencingthe2002preachingtouroftheUKandEuropeancountries.DevoteesfromtheUS,HollandandotherpartsoftheUKcametojointheentourage,astheytouredEnglandthrough2June.Afterthat,MaharajandtheotherdevoteescontinuedtheEuropeantourinFrance,Holland,Germany,Switzerland,Italy,AustriaandSlovenia,whichisstillunderwayasofthiswriting(26June2002).Thisyear,theUKitinerarywasdiverse,includingpublicprogramsattheSeekers'TrustinKent,TheLondonTheosophicalSociety,TheDeNobiliInterfaithCentre,BordersBooksandMusicinCentralLondonandGaurGovindaGaudiyaMathinBirmingham.TherewerealsomanywonderfulhomeprogramsheldinallfourdirectionsinBromley,Slough,BrightonandLeicester.ThedevoteeswereblessedtohaveMaharaj'sdivineassociationduringmanyauspiciousdays,includingNrsimha-caturdasion25May,whereSrilaTirthaMaharajledahair-raisingNrsimhakirtan,culminatingintheenthusiasticchantingof"JayaDao!JayaDao!"Whileeveryprogramwascertainlymemorable,therewasoneparticulareventthatdeservesspecialmention.OnthemorningofMonday26June,SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGosvamiMaharajhadameetingwithFatherAlfredAgius,aJesuitpriest,whoservesasheadoftheWestminsterInterfaithgroup,

throughouttheCatholicdioceseofWestminster(greaterLondon).FatherAgius,anamicablepersonofgenteelcharacter,hadbeenamissionaryinIndiaformanyyearsandcanspeakfluentHindiandBengali.HeisalsofamiliarwithVedicliteratureandhasagreatrespectforIndiantheologicalschoolsofthought.Thismeeting,heldintheWestminsterInterfaithOffice,locatedinatidyandtastefullylandscapedcomplexinCentralLondon,wasintimate,withonlyMaharaj,FatherAgiusandafewotherdevoteespresent.Afterexchangingintroductions,FatherAgiusshowedthedevoteesanumberofnicepublicationshehadassembledfortheWestminsterInterfaith,demonstratinghissincerededicationtopresentingreligiousperspectivesfromvariousfaiths.MaharajperusedthesematerialsforsometimewhiletheotherdevoteesengagedinconversationwithFatherAgius.Afterafewminutes,Maharajsuddenlybegantospeak.Heseemednearlytrancelike,focusinghiseyesstraightaheadofhim.Everyoneelseintheroom,includingFatherAgius,immediatelybecamesilentandlistenedwithraptattention.First,Maharajaddressedthe"Interfaith"themeofthedaybydefiningtheword"Hinduism"."Ifyoulookuptheword'Hinduism'intheOxforddictionary,"hesaid,"youwillfindthisdefinition:'religioussystempracticedbyaHindu'."Everyonelaughedatthis."So,"hecontinued,"ifyoulookuptheword 'Hindu', theOxfordDictionarysays,'Onewhopracticesasystemoffaithinvolvingtheworshipofmanygodsandgoddessesandbeliefinthecastesystem."Maharajwentontoexplainthevitaldifferencebetweentheideaofmodern'castesystem',whichisbaseduponbirth,andthevarnasramasystem,whichisbaseduponthecharacterofaperson.Heshowedhowthevarnasramasystemisanaturalthing.Hesaid,"Ifsomeonehasthetendencytoworshipandstudyscripture,heisabrahmana;ifhehasthetendencytorule,thenheisaksatriya.Itdoesnotmatterifyouuseadifferentword,inyourownlanguage.Thewordisnotimportant,buttheconceptisuniversal."FatherAgiusagreedwhole-heartedlywiththisexplanation.MaharajthenwentontoexplainthemisconceptionthatHinduisminvolvestheworshipofmanygodsandgoddesses.HeexplainedhowtheVedasaredesignedtoappealtoeverytypeofhumanbeing,allofwhomareinfluencedbythevariousmodesofmaterialnature.Therehastobesomesystembywhicheventhosewhoareinignorancemaymakeadvancement.Thusly,those

whoareaddictedtoeatingfleshandconsumingintoxicantscanbegraduallyelevatedtoahigherlevelbyworshippingthegoddess,Durga,whoistheembodimentoftheillusoryenergyoftheSupremeLord.Bythisgradualprocess,eventhelowestofhumanbeingscancometothehigherplatform,torajo-guna,thentosattva-gunaandeventuallytonirguna,ortranscendence.Maharajclearlyexplainedhowthismethodwasinnoway'polytheistic',astheultimategoalwasalwaysdevotiontotheOneSupremeLord.FatherAgiusandtheotherdevoteeslistenedmostattentivelyasMaharajwentontodescribethenatureofthesoul,atma,andhowitdifferedfromthebody.Next,hedescribeddharmaandwasparticularlyemphaticashedifferentiateditfromtheword"religion".Ingreatdetail,hedescribedthetenVedicdharmas,explaininghowthey"holdsocietytogether".Onebyone,Maharajexplainedtheefficacyofthesedharmas,includingcelibacy,truthfulness,charitablenessandnon-violence.WhenMaharajcametodescribingnon-violence,hegaveaclearexplanationofhowviolencealwayscomesbacktothepersonwhoprojectsit.Heslappedthetabletopwithhishand.Hesaid,"IfIhitthistable,whathappens?TheresultisthatIhurtmyownhand.Similarly,ifweperformanyactofviolence,itwillimmediatelycomebacktous.Thisshowsus,logically,thatviolencecannotsustainsociety;onlythepracticeofnon-violencecan."Maharajwentontodescribesanatana-dharma,andMahaprabhu'sformulaforWorldPeace,inwhichGodmustbeatthecenterofallthoughtandaction.Heusedtheanalogyofmanycircleswithdifferingcenters."Atsomepoint,theircircumferenceswillcross,indicatingconflict,"hesaid."Onlywhentheircentersarefocusedonthesamepointwillthecircumferencesstopcrossingeachother.Somemaybelarger,somesmaller,somewillperformalittleservice,whileotherswillperformalot;butallwillfallaroundthesamecentralpoint."This,hesaid,wastheonlyactualformulaforWorldPeace.ThenMaharajwentontodescribehowtheteachingsofSriChaitanyaMahaprabhucontainedthetoolstoactivatethatformula.HebeautifullybegantodescribethelovelykirtanofSriKrishnachaitanya,especiallyinHispastimesduringHispada-yatrathroughthejunglesofIndia."WhenMahaprabhuchantedtotheanimals,thetigerandthedeerwerekissing!Howissuchathingpossible?BecausetheHolyNameawakenedtheirtruenature."Maharajdescribedhowtheyarenottigersanddeer;theyarenotenemies;theyarenothunterandhunted.Theseareallillusoryattributes-theyareactuallypartandparceloftheSupremeLord.TheHolyNamehasthepowertoawaken

thetrueselfinalllivingbeings.Inatrancelikestate,Maharajchanted,"Hario'ramarama,hario'ramarama!"(CaitanyaBhagavata,Madhya-lila,23.92).EveryonewasquietforafewmomentsasMaharajcontinuedtogazestraightahead,asifhewerelookingathisbelovedGurudeva.Afterthissilence,FatherAgiusfinallysaid,"Well,Ihavetothankyousomuchforthatbeautifulexplanationof...of...well-reality!"HethenhumblysubmittedtoMaharajthatthereweresomebranchesofCatholicism,theEasternOrthodoxChurchinparticular,whosharetheviewofthepotencyofchantingtheHolyName.Herecitedaprayerthathecalledthe"JesusPrayer",which,hesaid,isrecitedrepeatedlybyadherentstotheEasternOrthodoxChurch.RepetitionoftheNameofJesuswasitsfocus.MaharajthenmentionedtoFatherAgiusthathehadbeentotheVaticanonapreviousEuropeanpreachingtour.Hedescribedhowhefounditoddthatthedevoteestheredidnottakeofftheirshoesbeforetheyenteredsacredplaces."Perhapsitisbecauseitisacoldclimate?"Maharajoffered."Thenperhaps,whenitiswarmweather,theymightbeencouragedtotakeofftheirshoes?"FatherAgiussmiledatthis,understandingthepoint.Maharajthenwentontodescribehisimpressionswhenhehadviewedthe"Pieta"ofMichelangelo.The"Pieta"isamarblesculptureofthebodyofJesuslyinginthearmsofhismotherMary,afterHiscrucifixion.Maharajsaid,withextremeemphasis,"WhenIsawthisstatue,franklyIwasshocked!""Shocked?"weasked."Yes!IwassoshockedtoseehowJesusdied!Andforthesakeofthelivingbeings!"Maharaj'sfaceshowedgenuinecompassionwhenhespokeaboutthis.FatherAgiusseemedclearlytouchedbytheexperienceofthatmeetingwithSrilaTirthaMaharaj.Aswegotuptogo,FatherAgiusofferedthedevoteesalittleculturalexchange,andhebegantosingaBengalisongbyRabindranathTagore,muchtotheamusementofSrimanAnantaRamdas.Itwasasweetandlight-heartedendtoaninspirationalmorning.ToconcludeinamannerinkeepingwithSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGosvamiMaharaj'steachings,wenotethattheEnglishdictionarydefinestheword"Catholic"as"wide-ranging","broad"and"all-embracing".Oursampradaya,descendingfromSrimanMahaprabhuisoftenalsoreferringtothe"all-embracingdoctrineofDivineLove".ThismemorablemeetingbetweenHisDivineGraceSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharajandHis

GraceFatherAlfredAgiuselucidatedthetruemeaningoftheword"Catholic",of"Interfaith"andof"DivineLove"forallsentientbeingsandtheirUltimateSource,theSupremeLord,SriKrishna.

SanatanaDharmaApril5,2003

DuetothelackofrealknowledgeaboutthesubjectmatterofSanatanaDharma',now-a-daysasanatanadharmaisbeingspreadassanatanadharma.People,lackingtheknowledgeoftherealmeaningofsanatanadharma,areconsideringsanatanadharmaasthereligionofHindusonly;whichisverylimitedconception.Whatistherealmeaningofsanatanadharma?Followingisanexcerptfromalecturegivenbythepresident-acharyaofSreeCaitanyaGaudiyaMath,SreeSrimadBhaktiBallabhaTirthaGoswamiMaharajonthetopicofsanatanadharma.Onethingisdharma'andanotherisreligion'.Bothdonotconveysamemeaning.WedonotfindanyotherwordinEnglish,soweusereligion.Intheoxforddictionarythemeaningofreligionis,"Asystemoffaith,especiallypersonalGodentitledtoobedience."Thereforereligion'wordisnotapropertranslationoftheworddharma'.Weshouldunderstanditverywellthatperformingritualsaloneisnotdharma.Upasana(worship)isthemethod.MindwillgetpurifiedbytheremembranceofSupremeLord(Bhagavan).PuremindwillresultintoloveforSupremeLordandloveforSupremeLordwillcausethedevelopmentofloveforallthelivingbeingsrelatedtoHim.Therewillnotbeanyviolencetowardsanybody.ThereforeloveforSupremeLordisthehighestdharma.SrilaSacidanandaThakurspeakinginrelationtotheworddharma'mentionsthatthemeaningofdharma'isnature'.Whateverthenatureofeach,istheirdharama.Inreality,dharmaisoftwotypes:Naimittikdharma(temporarydharma)andNityadharma.(eternalreligion).Forexample,thenatureofwaterisliquidity.Howeverduetoexcesscoldittakestheformofice,andon

gettingheat,againchangetowater.Thecoldwasthecauseforthewatertobecomeice,soiceisthenaimittikdharmaofwaterandliquidityiseternaldharma.Similarly,twokindsofdharmahavebeenseenforthejivas(livingentities).NaimittikandNitya.Butbeforeunderstandingthese,wemustunderstandwhatisthenatureofjiva.Becauseonlywhentheknowledgeofthenatureisthere,itcanbebetterunderstoodwhichdharmaofjivaisNaimittikandwhichisnityadharma?Nowlet'strytounderstandwhoisjivainnature?Normallyweunderstandbodyastheperson,butdonottellbodyasperson.Weusethefollowingterminologyinourdailyuse-mybody,mymind,myintelligenceetc.NobodysaysIambody,Iammind'.ThisexplainsthatthespeakerofI'isdifferentfrombody.Evenifweseeexternally,nobodyidentifiesbodyastheperson.Whetherit'sanatheisticcountryortheistic,everywhereuntilthebodyhastheconsciousprincipleitisconsideredasaperson.Onloosingconsciousprinciple,nobodycallsthedeadbodyasaperson.Soburningthedeadbody,givingittoanimalsorbirds,doesnotcauseanypunishment.Andnowherethedeadbodyhastherighttocastvote.Untilthebodyhasconsciousprinciple,whichisalsocalledasatmaorsoulinthescripturallanguage,itisidentifiedasapersonandnotabody.Untiltheatomicsoul,theenergyoftheeternallyexisting,eternallyblissful,eternallyknowledgeableSupremeLord,remainsinthebody,itisidentifiedasaperson.Bytheexistenceofthatprinciple,I'remainsandbytheabsenceofthatprinciple,I'donotremain;thatismynature(means,Iamasoul).Souliseternal,bodyisnoteternal.Nowlet'sthinkabouttherealpositionofthelivingentities(jivas).Wherefromthelivingentitiescame?Whatisit'sdharma?LordSriKrishnatellsaboutitatoneplaceinGitathatlivingentitiesarepartsofHisenergy.However,atanotherplacehesaysthattheyareHisownparts.Onthebasisofsecondstatement,somesaythatjivaispartofBhagavan,soheisalsoBhagavan.Howeverthisisnotcorrect.ThejivasarenotmentionedasBhagavanhere.BothoftheGita'sstatementsshouldbetaken.LordKrishnasays,"apareyamitastvanyamprakrtimviddhimeparam!jiva-bhutammaha-bahoyayedam

dharyatejagat!!(Omighty-armedArjuna!Thereisanother,superiorenergyofMine,whichcomprisesthelivingentities).AccordingtoGita,livingentitiesarenotpartofSupremeLord,apartofHisenergy.BecausethepartoftheLordisLordonly.Everypartofinfiniteisinfinite.ThepartofLordiscalledassvamsa,allincarnationsareLordKrishna'ssvamsa.Everypartofinfiniteisinfinite,butpartoftheenergyofinfinitecannotbeinfinite.Forexample,thepartofsunwillbesun,howeverhislightrayscannotbecalledsun.Evenallthelightrayscollectedtogethercannotbecalledsun.Similarlylivingentity(jiva)ispartofLord'senergy,notofLord's.Thejnanisexplaintattvamasi'asYouarethat'.HoweverVaisnavateachersrefuteitandexplainitas,tasyatvamasi,youareHisoryouareHis(Lord's)servant.Sunis14,00,000timesthesizeofearth.Ifthesun'slightiscomingtomyroombywindow,thenIcannotsaythatsunhascometomyroom.Sunis14,00,000timesofthesizeofwholeearth,howcanitcome?Itisthelightraysofsunorthepartofsun'senergy.Evenallthelightrayscollectedtogethercannotmakesun.Sungiveslight,lightdoesnotbecomesun.Lordhasinfinitepotenciesorenergies,Gitatalksabouttwoofthose,superior'andinferior'potency.Livingentities(jivas)aresuperiorenergy.Materialandsubtlebodiesareinferiorenergy.SriChaitanyaMaharprabhumadeitmoreclearthatjivaisthepartofLord'smarginalpotency,atomicconscious.JivaisfromBhagavan,inBhagavan,fromBhagavanandthereforeforBhagavan.Forexample,ifoneasksthefingerofhand,whoareyou?'andfingerweretoreplyIamtheperson'.Ifwetakethephotooffinger,someonemaygetmisunderstandingaboutperson,becausethatisnotaperson.Similarly,ifweconsiderjivaasBhagavan,thenwewillbemisunderstandingBhagavan.Justlike,fingerisasmallpartofbody,jivaisalsoasmallpartofLord'spotency,notthecompleteLord.SomepeoplealsosaythatwewereLordearlier,howeverbecamejivabytheinfluenceofmayaandwewillbecomeLordagainbychantingSoham!Soham!.Thisiscompletelywrong.Thisisnotscripturalinjunction.BecauseLordcanneverbecomeJiva,AbsoluteisalwaysAbsolute.

ThereforeLordiseternal.Lord'spotencyiseternal.Jiva,thepartofLord'spotency,isalsoeternal.Theirrelationshipisalsoeternalandtheirdharmaisalsoeternal.ThisiscalledaseternaldharmaorSantanaDharma'.ThemeaningofSanatanais,whateverexistedinpast,isexistingandwillremaintoexist.Howeverthedharmaofbodyisnotsanatana,becausethebodyisdestructible.Mind.Thesubtlebodymadeofmind,intelligenceandego,isalsonoteternal.Whenone'stendencyforsensualenjoymentends,hissubtlebodyalsoends.ThereforethedharmaofdestructiblethingcannotbeSanatanaDharma'.ThisiscalledasNaimittikDharma'.Duetotheinfluenceofmaya,soulhasgottwocoverings,firstismaterialcoveringandsecondissubtlecovering.Bothofthesebodieshavedifferentnature.HowmanydifferenttypesofmaterialdharmaswehaveinourIndia?

Geographicalbarriers,Socialbarriers,Nationalbarriers!Butthesoulissuperiortomindandbody.Itiseternal.Thereforeit'sdharmaisalsoeternal.SanatanadharmaisdharmafornotonlyIndia,butitisthedharmaforallthelivingentities,whoareininnumerableuniverses.Theessenceisthatsouliseternal,bodyisdestructible.Thereforeallbodyrelateddharmasaredestructibleandonlysoul'sdharmaiseternal.LivingentitiesarepartandparcelofLord'spotency.Potencyisalwaysunderthecontrolofpotentandservesthepotent.SimilarlytheserviceofLordisthehighestdutyoflivingentity.ThisdharmaofsoulisknownasBhagavatdharma,SanatanadharmaorVaishnavDharama.Thisisnaturaldharmaofthelivingentities.

Hari-BhajaninMarriedLife

(TranslatedfromtheViswaShantiSutraPravachanMalabooklet,publishedbySreeChaitanyaGaudiyaMath,Chandigarh)

TospreadthemessageofpureloveastaughtandpracticedbyLordSriCaitanyaMahaprabhu,andtogivemercytoenslavedjivas(livingbeings)like

us,thepresentacaryaofourmath,HisDivineGraceSriSrimadBhaktiBallabhaTirthaGoswamiMaharaja,reachedBhatindaalongwithseveralothersaintsdespitetheprecariousconditioninPunjab.(Punjabwassufferingfromterrorismduringthosedays).Onthelastdayofthefestival,whileaddressingthegatheringatnight,SrilaGuruMaharajabeganbysayingthatonegentlemanhadvisitedhimrecently.Hehadasked,"Whatisthedutyofgrhasthaslikeus?Howshouldweperformhari-bhajan?"SrilaGuruMaharajawentontosaythatmanymarriedpersonsaskhimquestionsaboutthissubject.Theysaythattheyliketodobhajanandgotospiritualfestivalsbutdon'tgettimefromtheirworldlyresponsibilities.Theyalsosaythatsadhusdon'thaveanythingtodootherthanhari-bhajanbutgrhasthashavesomanyresponsibilitiestofulfill.Whatshouldtheydoinsuchastate?Addressingsuchgrhasthas,SrilaGuruMaharajasaid,"Let'sassumeyouhavemanythingstodoandarealwaysengagedinsomeortheotherwork.Don'tyoutakesometimeofftoeatwhileengagedinwork?Youeatinthemorning,youtakelunch,andthenyoutakedinner.Somepeopleeveneatintheevening.Wehavesomanythingstodoandyetwefindtimetoeat3or4timesaday.Why?Becausewehaveunderstoodtheimportanceofeating.Weknowthatifwedon'teat,ourbodieswillbecomeweak.However,wehavenotunderstoodtheimportanceofhari-bhajan.Thatiswhywearenotabletofindtimeforit."SrilaGuruMaharajawentontosaythatnecessityisthemotherofinvention.Whenweunderstandtheimportanceofhari-bhajan,wewillalsofindsometimeforit.AtourmathsinCalcuttaandothercities,sat-sanga(scripturaldiscourse)isadailyactivity.Somepeoplecomedailyforsat-sangabutiftheyareunabletocomeforsomereasonlikerain,etc.theyalwayshankerforsat-sangaandlookforwardtowhentheywillbeabletogotothemathandhearthehari-katha.Whydoesthishappen?Becausetheirsoulhasbeenawakened.Whentheirsouldoesnotgetitsfood,theyfeelpainandemptiness.Thereforetheysomehowtrytomanageandgetmoreandmoretimeforsat-sanga.Onecaneasilyfindsometimeforbhajan,eveninthemidstofinnumerableresponsibilities.Tofurtherexplainthispoint,SrilaGuruMaharajagavetheexampleofAmbarisaMaharajafromSrimad-Bhagavatam.Howmanyresponsibilitiesmightwehave?Atthemost2or3bigshops,abigpieceofland,orafarm?However,SrilaSukadevaGoswamirelatedtoPariksitMaharajathestoryofMaharajaAmbarisawhowastheemperorofthewhole

world.Nowyoucanimaginehowmanyresponsibilitieshemighthavehad.Yet,heperformedbhajaninsuchamannerthatthecurseofDurvasaRsi,whichnevergoesinvain,wasnotevenabletotouchhim.

nabhagadambariso'bhunmaha-bhagavatahkrtinasprsadbrahma-sapo'piyamnapratihatahkvacit

"FromNabhaga,MaharajaAmbarisatookbirth.MaharajaAmbarisawasanexalteddevotee,celebratedforhisgreatmerits.Althoughhewascursedbyaninfalliblebrahmana,thecursecouldnottouchhim."(S.B.9.4.13)MaharajaPariksitwassurprisedtohearthisandhebecomeinterestedinhearingmoreaboutthecharacterofsuchanamazingdevoteeofthelord.SukadevaGoswamicontinued:

sri-sukauvacaambarisomaha-bhagahsapta-dvipavatimmahimavyayamcasriyamlabdhvavibhavamcatulambhuvimene'tidurlabhampumsamsarvamtatsvapna-samstutam

vidvanvibhava-nirvanamtamovisatiyatpuman(S.B.9.14.15-16)

Onewhopossesseswealthisconsideredtobefortunate.Inthisrespect,AmbarisaMaharajawasvery,veryfortunate.Hehadinexhaustible,unlimitedopulenceandprosperity.Ordinarypeoplecannotevenconceiveofhiswealth.Inspiteofbeingsuchagreatemperor,heconsideredallofhiswealthtobeveryinsignificantandtemporarylikeadream.OnthefootpathsofCalcutta,wecanseemanybeggarsthatarebornanddietherewhilebegging.Thinkofabeggarwhoishungryandsleepingonanoldanddirtysheet.Heisdreamingthathehasbecomeabigministeroraking.Everybodyishonoringhim.Therearebeautifularrangementsofvariouskindsoffoodstuffanddrinksforhissatisfaction.Therearearrangementsofair-conditionedroomsforhisresidence.Wheneverhewantstotravel,hegoesbyairplaneandvariousotherluxuriousvehicles.Whileseeingsuchabeautifuldream,hewakesupandseesthatheisstillsleepingonthefootpathoveratornsheet.Sohisdreamofbeingakingseemscompletelyfalse.Inthesameway,althoughMaharajaAmbarisapossessedimmensewealth,heconsidereditalltobefalseandtemporary.Hedidnothaveevenatingeofattachmentforhispossessions.Heknewverywellthathiswealthcouldbedestroyedwhilehewasaliveorhewouldhavetoleaveitbehind.Separationwasinevitable.Healsoknewthatattachmenttotemporarymaterialwealthcausesonetofalldownintoignorance,hellishconditionsormiseries.Thisisthesecret.Toliveintheworldwhilenotbelongingtoit.Sadhusalsoliveinthisworldbuttheyneverwanttoenjoyit.Sadhusconsiderthemselves,thisworld,andallthebelongingsofthisworldtobetheobjectsofenjoymentfortheSupremeLord.Thatisthereasonwhytheynevergetentangledinthismaterialworld.Itisknownassudarsan.IntheBhagavad-Gita(9.24),theSupremeLordSriKrsnasays:

ahamhisarvayajnanambhoktacaprabhurevaca

"Iamtheenjoyerofallkindofsacrifices.Iamthedoer.Nobodyelseistheenjoyerordoer."

WhenwecomeunderthemayapotencyoftheSupremeLord,weconsiderourselvestobethedoerorenjoyer.MaharajaAmbarisa,inspiteofbeingthesoleemperoroftheworld,nevergotthefalseprideofbeingtheowneroftheearth.Forexample,whenwegoonpilgrimage,wepay4000rupeestotherailwaycompanytobookapassengerbogie.Foronemonth,wetravelinthatbogietoalltheholyplaces.Duringourpilgrimagewepayfullattentiontothecleanliness,electricity,andwatersupplyinthebogie.Ifanythinggoeswrong,wegotothestationofficeandgetitfixed.Afteronemonth,wereachBhatinda(Punjab)andgetdownfromthetrainsofastit'slikethereisaracegoingon.Afterleavingthebogieweneverlookbackatit.Wespentsomanydaysinit.Wetookcareofitscleanliness,electricity,water,etc.andspent4000rupeesonit.However,wehavenotevenaslightattachmentforthatbogie.Whatisthereasonforthis?

Thereasonisknowledge

Theknowledgethatthisbogieisnotours.Itbelongstotherailwaycompany.Itwasonlymeantforourpilgrimage.Ifwegetasimilarkindofrealizationaboutthismaterialworld,wewillthinkthatallourpossessions,wife,son,family,houseandourverybodybelongtotheSupremeLord.AlwaysthinkthatwehavegotitforafixedperiodoftimeasperthewilloftheSupremeLord,andafterfinishingthatperiod,itwillgoawaybythewilloftheSupremeLord.Thenwewillnotkeepattachmentforthistemporaryworldwhichisfullofmiseries.Sometimes,travelerscometoadharmasala(lodge),stayforsometime,andthengoontotheirdestinations.Similarly,weshouldnothaveattachmentforthisworldwhilelivinginthisworld.However,theseareallnotjusttalkingmattersweshouldrealizethem.

Justthink!

MaharajaAmbarisadidnothaveeventheleastbitofattachmentforsuchagreatkingdomandimmensewealth.Andherewearenotabletoleaveourattachmentforahouseoracottage.Ifweloseatendollarbillwewillthinkaboutitcontinuously.Whatisthereason?HowhadMaharajaAmbarisagotsuchaconsciousness?Inreply,Srimad-Bhagavatamsays:

vasudevebhagavati

tad-bhaktesucasadhusupraptobhavamparamvisvamyenedamlostravatsmrtam(S.B.9.4.17)MaharajaAmbarisahadbhava(strongattachmentwithfeelings:thefirststageofdevelopmentofloveofGod)intheeternalblissfulformoftheSupremePersonalityofGodhead,Vasudeva,andinthesaintlypersonswhoaretheLord'sdevotees.Thatiswhythewholeuniverseandallitswealthwerevaluelessforhim.Therefore,unlesswegetahighertaste,wewillnotbeabletoforgoourattachmentstothisworld.Forexample,ifyouputalittlesugarorarasagullainthemouthofachildwhohaseatendirt,hewillspitoutallthedirtfromhismouthsomethinghewouldnotdoevenaftergettingscoldedforit.Hewillthenbecomegreedytoeattherasagulla.Similarly,bybeingattachedtotheSupremeLordandHisdevotees,allourattachmentstothisworldwillcometoanend.Withattachmenttothe

SupremeLord,allourgreed,ignorance,miseries,andfearofhellwillendandwewillgetthehighesttastefortheSupremeLord.GaurPremanande!HariHariBol!

TeachingsoftheGita

MangalacaranaPriortoeverylecture,HisDivineGraceSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharajaoffersprayerstoHisGurudeva,theVaishnavas,theDevoteesoftheSupremeLordandtotheSupremeLordHimself.Thebeautifulprayers(andtranslationsofthesame)whichHechantedontheeveningofthislectureappearbelow.

saksad-dharitvenasamastasastrairuktastathabhavyataevasadbhihkintuprabhoryahpriyaevatasyavandegurohsri-caranaravindam

"TheSpiritualMasteristobehonoredasmuchastheSupremeLordbecauseHeisthemostConfidentialServitoroftheLord.Thisisacknowledgedinallrevealedscripturesandfollowedbyallauthorities.IoffermyrespectfulobeisancesuntotheLotusFeetofsuchaSpiritualMaster,whoisabonafiderepresentativeofSriHari."

vancha-kalpatarubhyascakrpa-sindhubhyaeva

capatitanampavanebhyo

vaisnavebhyonamonamah

"IamrepeatedlymakingobeisancestotheVaisnavaswhofulfillalldesireslikeawish-yieldingtreeandwhoaregracioustoalllikeanoceanandwhoareredeemersofthefallensouls."

sankarsanahkarana-toya-sayigarbhoda-sayicapayobdhi-sayisesascayasyamsa-kalah

sanitya-nandakhya-ramahsaranammamastu

"ItakeabsoluteshelterofSrimanNityanandaPrabhu,WhoisBaladevHimselfandWhosePartialManifestationsandPartsofthePartialManifestationsareSankarsan,Karanabdhisayi,Garbhodasayi,KsirodasayiandSesa."

Karanatoyasayi(orKaranabdhisayi):FirstPurusavatara.HeisthefirstmanifestationoftheSupremeBeingwithrespecttothecreationofinfiniteBrahmandas(universes)WholiesontheCausalOcean.Garbhodasayi:SecondPurusavatara.HeisthesecondmanifestationoftheSupremeBeinglyingontheOceanproducedbyHissweat.HeistheIndwellingOversoulandSustaineroftheinfiniteBrahmandascreatedbythefirstPurusavatara.Payobdhisayi(orKsirodakasayi):ThirdPurusavatara.HeisthethirdmanifestationoftheSupremeBeinglyingontheMilkOcean,WhomDemigodsapproachfortheirrescuefromtheoppressionsofthedemons.HeistheIndwellingMonitorandSustainerofeachBrahmanda,andofeveryspiritsoul.Sesa:thelastmanifestationoftheSupremeBeingWho,intheFormofaHugeSerpent,holdsalltheworldsonHisheadasiftheyweremustardseeds.

namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya tekrsnaya krsna-caitanya namnegaura-tvisenamah

"IpaymyinnumerableprostratedobeisancestotheLotusFeetoftheSupremeLord,WhoisKrsnaHimself,WhoseNameisKrsnacaitanya,WhosecomplexionisGolden,

WhoisMostMunificentanWhoistheBestowerofKrsna-prema(lovefortheSupremeLord)."

tapta-kancana-gaurangiradhevrndavanesvari

vrsabhanu-sutedevipranamamihari-

priye

"OGoddessSriRadhe!OdaughterofSriVrsabhanu!YouarethebelovedConsortofSriHari;Yourcomplexionislikemoltengold,youarethePresidingDeityofVrindavan.IpaymyinnumerableprostratedobeisancestoThyLotusFeet."

hekrsnakaruna-sindhodina-bandhojagat-pategopesagopika-kantaradha-kantanamo'stute

"OSupremeLordSriKrsna,Youareanoceanofkindness,YouaretheFriendtothesubmissive,LordoftheWorld,LordoftheGopas(cowherdmenofVrndavan),BelovedConsortoftheGopis(cowherdladiesofVrindavan)andMostBelovedConsortofRadha.IpaymyinnumerableprostratedobeisancestoThyLotusFeet."

vandenandavraja-strinampadare

numabhiksnasahyasamharikathodgitampunati

bhubanatrayam

"IalwayssinginadorationthegloriesofthedustoftheLotusFeetoftheGopisofNanda-Vrajadham(theTranscendentalRealmoftheSweetPastimesofNandanandan,SriKrsna),WhoseKrsnakatha(narrationofthegloriesoftheName,Form,Attributes,EntourageandPastimesofLordKrsna)sanctifythethreeworlds,heaven,earthandunderworld,i.e.theentireuniverse."

bhaktya vihinaaparadhalaksaih ksiptasca

kamadi tarangamadhyekrpamayi tvam saranamprapanna vrnde numastecaranaravindam

"Iamdevoidofdevotion,Iamrepletewithmillionsofoffenses,distractedbywavesofevildesires.OcompassionateVrnda-deviItakeshelterofYouandIpaymyinnumerableprostratedobeisancesatYourLotusFeet.Kindlyrescueme.

sri-krsna-caitanyaprabhu-nityananda

sri-advaita-gadadharasrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-

vrnda

"IoffermyobeisancestoSriKrsnaCaitanya,PrabhuNityananda,SriAdvaita,Gadadhara,Srivasaandallothersinthelineofdevotion."

Hare Krsna HareKrsnaKrsnaKrsnaHare Hare HareRama Hare RamaRama Rama HareHare

Firstofall,Ipaymyinnumerableprostrated,humbleobeisancestotheLotusFeetofmyMostReveredGurudeva,OmVisnupad108SriSrimadBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGoswamiMaharaja,andprayforHiscauselessmercytogivemestrength,tosingthegloriesoftheSupremeLordSriKrsna,topurifymymindandtogetone-pointedexclusivedevotiontoSri

Krsna.Ialsopaymyinnumerable,prostrated,humbleobeisancestotheLotusFeetofmyShikshaGurusandprayforTheircauselessmercy,togivemestrength,tosingthegloriesoftheSupremeLordSriKrsna,topurifymymind

andtogetexclusivedevotiontoSriKrsna.Ipaymyduerespectstoallwhoarepresenthere.

TheMessageoftheBhagavad-gita

TheTrueNatureoftheSupremeLord

Today'ssubjectis"TeachingsoftheGita."Youhaveheardthenameof"Gita."Itisuniversallyadored.EverybodyknowsIt.Butthedifficultyisthis:therearethousandsofcommentaries,andinthesecommentariesthecommentatorshaveexpressedtheirviewsontheGita.Theyallhavedifferentviews,andordinarypeopleareconfusedtoknowtheactualteachingofSrimadBhagavad-gita.TheSpeakeroftheGitaistheSupremeLord,SriKrsna.Thosewhohavegotentrance into the Heart of Sri Krsna can know the real implication andsignificanceofthesayingsofSriKrsnaandforwhatpurposeHehasspokenandadvised.Outsidepeoplecannotunderstand.ButInIndiaandalsooutsideIndia,youwillfindmanypeoplewhosay,"WedonotbelieveKrsnaistheSupremeLordbecauseHewasborn;therefore,hewasahumanbeing.Hemayhavemanypowers,maybeevensuperhumanpowers.Hemaybeagreatpolitician,agreatdiplomat."EventhosewhogothroughtheGitawillalsotalklikethis.Itisveryastounding.WhenIaskthem,"HaveyougonethroughtheGita?"thereplyis,"Oh,yes."Itellthem,"How?IfyouhavegonethroughtheGita,thenyoushouldaccepttheteachingsoftheGita."TheSupremeLordSriKrsnasaysintheGita:

mattahparataramnanyatkincidastidhananjayamayi

sarvamidamprotamsutremani-ganaiva

(7.7)

"ThereisnothingsuperiortoMe"(mattah)--WithemphasisSriKrsnasaysthatHeistheSupremeLord.WereadtheGita,butwedonotbelievetheteachingsoftheSupremeLordSriKrsna?Howisit?"Mattahparataramnanyat,kincidastidhananjaya,mayisarvamidamprotam,sutremani-ganaiva:""NothingisseparablefromMe.EverythinginseparablyexistswithinMe,justasathreadwhenitisstrungthroughgems,allthegemsareinseparable."

ahamhisarva-

yajnanambhoktacaprabhurevacanatumamabhijananti

tattvenatascyavantite(9.2)

"I am the onlyMaster and the onlyEnjoyer of all yajnas" (sacrifices)."Aham:""Iamtheonlyone.""Ahamhi:""certainly,surelyIam.""I"denotesaperson."Natumamabhijanantitattvenatascyavantite:""ThosewhodonotbelievethisaredetachedfromReality."TherearemanyotherslokasintheGitasubstantiatingSriKrsnaastheSupremeLord:

aham sarvasyaprabhavo mattahsarvampravartate itimatvabhajantemam

budhabhavasamanvitah(10.8)

"Iamthecauseofallcreation,allorigination.""Aham:""I"and"mattah:""fromMe"donotsignifyanImpersonalGod.HesaystoArjuna,"Sarvampravartate:""ThroughMyinitiativeandimpartedpower,allaresetintoaction."

brahmanohipratinthaham

amatasyavyayasyacasasvatasyacadharmasya

sukhasyaikantikasyaca(14.27)

"Brahmanohipratisthaham:""IamthecauseoftheImpersonalFormlessGod(Brahman)."ThatImpersonalFormlessGodisthehaloofSriKrsna'sownLight,emanatingfromSriKrsnaHimself.Pratisthameans"foundation."SriKrsnaisthefoundationofBrahman."Amrtasyavyayasyaca:"Heisthefoundationofamrta(Ambrosia),thefoundationofavyaya(Imperishability)andthefoundationofsasvata(Eternity).Heisalsotheobjectofvrajaprem(exclusivepureloveanddevotion).KrsnaistheSupremeLord.HowcanweknowtheSupremeLord?WithoutHisGrace,nobodycanknowHim.Ifanybodysays,"Yes,IcanknowHim,"thenhewillbeequaltotheSupremeLord,orabovetheSupremeLord.ButtheSupremeLord,InfiniteandAbsolute,isOne.NothingcanbeoutsidetheInfinite.Ifyousay,"ThisflowerisoutsidetheInfinite,"thentheInfinitebecomesfinite.EvenaparticleofdustcannotbeoutsidetheInfinite,ortheAbsolutewillloseItsposition.AbsoluteisOne.HisFormsandPastimesmaybemany,butaccordingtoLordChaitanyaMahaprabhu,thehighestFormofGodisNandanandanaSriKrsna.Youcangetallkindsofbliss--ananda--intheworshipofNandanandanaSriKrsna.ThisistheteachingoftheSupremeLordChaitanyaMahaprabhu.Now,asthereisnoequalandnoonegreaterthanSriKrsna,withoutHisGrace,withouttheWillofSriKrsna,nobodycanknowHim.IfanybodygoestoseethePresidentofUSAatWashingtoncanhegostraighttohim?Therearemanysecurityguards.Hehastotakepermission;hewillhavetosubmithisrequesttothelowerofficer,andfromthereitwillgotothehigherofficers.Ultimately,itmayreachthePresidentoritmaynot.Evenafterreceiptofthepetition,hemaysay,"No,I'vegotnotime."Orhemayfixonedateandtimetoseehim.Withouthisconsent,youcannotseethePresident.TheSupremeLord,istheLordofallLords,theLordofinfinitebrahmandas(materialuniverses),infinitevaikunthas(spiritualuniverses).WithoutHisWill,nobodycangotoHimorseeHim.IfIcangraspHim,ifIcangetHimbymyownwillpower,thenIbecomepredominantandHispositionissecondary.But,ifbyHiswillIcangetHim,i.e.,ifIactaccordingtothewilloftheSupremeLord,thenHewillbepleased.IfbythatIgetHim,thenHewillnotloseHisabsoluteposition.TheonlywaytogetHimistotakeabsoluteshelterattheLotusFeetofSupremeLordandtoactaccordingtoHiswill.

ThereisnootherwaytogetHim,exceptexclusivepuredevotion.Therefore,thosewhohavesurrenderedtoSriKrsna,whohavegotentranceintotheHeartofSriKrsna,canunderstandtheimplicationsandsignificanceoftheteachingsofSriKrsna.ThosewhohavenoknowledgeofSriKrsna,whohavenotsubmittedtoSriKrsna--howcantheyknow?Theymaywritemanycommentaries,buttheycannotcomprehendtheactualsignificanceoftheteachingsofSriKrsna.Seeingthesadplightoftheconditionedsoulsoftheworld,theSupremeLordChaitanyaMahaprabhu,outofcompassion,sentHisownmen--SrilaBhaktivinodeThakurandSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurtotheworldtorescuethefallensouls.SrilaSaraswatiGoswamiThakurextendedHisgracethroughHisEntourageallovertheworld.Theyweremostpowerfulspiritualpersonalities.Theyrefutedallantidevotionalcontentionsbyreasoningandbyscripturalevidences.BhaktivinodeThakurhaswrittenthesignificanceoftheteachingsoftheGita.IfwegothroughHiswritings,weshallbeabletoknowtherealimplicationoftheteachingsoftheGita.EvidencefromtheKathopanisad:

nayamatmapravacanenalabhyonamedhayana

bahunasrutenayamevaivavrnutetenalabhyas

tasyaivaatmavivrnutetanumsvam(2.23)

"Godcannotbeattained,realizedbydeliveringlectures,byintellect,bybecomingagreateruditescholar.TheSupremeLordwillrevealHisownEternalFormonlytoabonafidesurrenderedsoul."

AsmyDivineMasterhasorderedme,IshouldspeakwhateverIhaveheardfromHimandfrommysuperiors,guruvarga(thelineofteachersinthepreceptorialchannel).ThatrecitationwillpurifymymindandtakemetotheTranscendentalRealm.Ishouldnotspeaktopleasetheworldlypeople.IfIdoso,myspirituallifewillbespoiled.Atayoungage,IrenouncedtheworldandItookshelterattheLotusFeetofGurudev.ItrytocarryouttheordersofmyDivineMastertospeakwhatIhaveheardsofarfromHim,fromotherSiksaGurus(teachers)andfromauthenticscriptures.Thatrecitationafterhearingwillpurifymymind.WhereverIgo,althoughI'vegotmydrawbacks,I'vegotnoholdoverEnglish

orotherlanguages,ItrytocarryouttheordersofmyDivineMaster.IfIgoonspeakingaboutworldlythings,mymindwillbecomeattachedtoworldlythings.IfIspeakaboutKrsna,mymindwillgothere.Thisiscalled"chanting"--chantingofthegloriesoftheSupremeLord,HisName,Forms,AttributesandPastimes.Chantingisoneformofdevotion;hearingisalsoaformofdevotion.PariksitMaharaja,byhearingonly,gottheultimategoaloflife.Ifwespeakaboutworldlythings,thenworldly,temporarythingswillcometoourminds.Ultimately,weshallhavefrustrationinourlife.YouwillfindattheendoftheGita,itsglorification:

gitasu-gitakartavyakimanyaihsastra-vistaraihyasvayampadmanabhasyamukha-padmad-vinihsrta

"Gitashouldberightlyread,withone-pointeddevotionforthesatisfactionofSriKrsna.NootherscriptureisneededifonetakesshelteroftheGita.GitaemergesfromtheHolyLipsofSriKrsnaandisonewithHim."

Itisnotmaterialsound.Inmaterialsound,youwillfindthethingreferredtobyasoundisdifferentfromthesound.Ifyouuttertheword"water,water,water,"thewater-wordisnotthewater-thing.Theword"water"referstoathingunderstoodtobewater.Hereyouwillfindadifferencebetweenthewater-wordandthethingreferredtobytheword"water."ButKrsnaandtheNameofKrsnaareOneandthesame.GitaandKrsnaareidentical.So,bytakingshelteroftheGitawecanhavecontactwithKrsna.WehavegonethroughtheGita,wehavereadtheGita,butwehavenodevotiontoKrsna,Thisisnotactualreading.IfwereadGitaactually,wewillhavedevotiontoSriKrsna.AsI'vesaidearlier,withoutthegraceofSriKrsna,wecannotknowthesignificanceoftheteachingsoftheGita.LordChaitanyaMahaprabhuhastaughtusinregardtothis.WhenHehadbeentoSouthIndia,onebrahmanausedtoreadGitadailywithgreatdevotionattheRaìganathaTemple.HehadnoknowledgeofSanskrit.Assuch,hecommittedmistakesinpronunciation.Manypanditsalsousedtogovisitthetemple.WhentheyheardthisbrahmanareadingtheGitaandcommittingmistakes,theyobjected:

"WhyareyoureadingGita?First,youshouldlearnSanskrit.Youpronounceitcorrectly,thenreadit."Butwithoutheedingtoanyremarksofthepeople,withraptattentionheusedtoreadtheGitafromthebeginningtotheend.LordChaitanyaMahaprabhucametovisittheTemple.HesawabrahmanareadingtheGitawithraptattentionandgreatdevotion.LordChaitanyaMahaprabhuwasverymuchattracted.Hestoodatthebackandwashearing.AfterthecompletionofthereadingoftheGita,thebrahmanastoodupandhesawChaitanyaMahaprabhu-theExtraordinaryDivinePersonality,GoldenComplexion,andTall,withArmsdowntoHisKnees.LordChaitanyaMahaprabhuexpressedHissatisfaction,"IamverygladtohearyourrecitationoftheGita."Thebrahmanasaid,"I'vegotnorighttoreadtheGita,butitistheorderofmyDivineMaster.Hesaid,'YoushouldreadGitafromthebeginningtotheendcompletely,andafterthatyoumaytakefood.'Icannotunderstandanyverse.I'vegotnoknowledgeofSanskrit.LordChaitanyaMahaprabhusaid,"Yes,yousayyoudonotunderstandtheGita,butwhileyoureadtheGitayouwereweeping;tearswereflowingdownfromyoureyes--why?IfyoudonotunderstandGita,whywereyouweeping?"Thebrahmanareplied,"Ihavenotdivulgedmyhearttoanybody,butYouareaDivinePersonality.ItisnotgoodtoconcealmyheartbeforeYou.Itistrue,IdonotunderstandtheGita,butaslongasIreadtheGitaIseebeforemeSupremeLordSriKrsnaworkingasaservant,beingsubduedbythedevotionofArjuna.HeistheSupremeLord,Lordofalllords,ofinfinitebrahmandas(materialcosmos),infinitevaikunthas(transcendentalrealms).SeeingHisBhaktaVatsalyaMurti(HisprofoundaffectionforHisdevotee),Icouldnotcontroltheflowoftearsfrommyeyes.Immediately,itcomes.ItisverysurprisingthattheSupremeLordisworkingasadriverandHisdevoteeisorderingHim:

senayorubhayormadhyerathamsthapayame'cyuta(1.21)

ArjunasaidtoKrsna,'OAcyuta(Oinfallibleone),placeMychariot(rath)infrontofthearmedforcesoftherivalwarringgroups".

LordChaitanyaMahaprabhusaidtothebrahmanawithassertion,"YourreadingoftheGitaiscrownedwithsuccess,asyouhavedevotiontoSriKrsna."

ManypeoplehavedistortedtheteachingsoftheGitatofulfillvilementality.Once,oneyoungerGod-brotherofourGuruMaharaja,PujyapadaSantaGosvamiMaharajahadbeentoKashmirduringtheBritishadministration.Atthattime,theMaharajaofKashmirwasHariSimha.Hearrangedonemeeting.Swamijiwasaroyalguest.Theinviteeswerealldignitaries,richpeople,andmanyofthemownedteagardens.TheMaharajaofKashmiralsoownedteagardens.OurSiksaGuru,PujyapadaSantaMaharajaisaveryspiritedperson.Hedidnothesitatetotellthetruth.InHisspeech,Hesaidemphatically:"Thosewhoarevirtuousshouldnotcommitsins.Theyshouldnotgamble,shouldnothaveillicitconnectionwithwomen,shouldnotslaughteranimalsandshouldnottakeintoxication,andeventea!"Thetea-gardenownerswerethunderstrucktohearthis.TheythoughtthattheyhadcommittedamistakebyinvitingSwamijiandsaid,"Weareadvertisingtea,andSwamijihascometodestroyourbusiness..."Oneofthetea-gardenownerscametoSwamijiandsaid,"Swamiji!Youhavespokenagainsttea,butitisglorifiedintheGita."Swamijisaid,"IhavegonethroughtheGitaseveraltimes.Ihavenotseenit.""Yes,itisthere."InIndiathewordfor"tea"ischa."Sothetea-gardenownershowedthatversefromtheGita:

sarvasyacahamhrdi

sannivistomattahsmrtirjnanamapohanamcavedaiscasarvairahamevavedyo

vedanta-krdveda-videvaCAHAM(15.15)

"Intheformofca(pronounced'cha'),'tea',Ihaveenteredintotheheartsofalljivas(livingentities).Andlastly,KrsnaHimselfsays'Iamcha'(caham)!"Thisisnotthemeaning.Themeaningistwistedheretoserveone'sulteriormotive.Thissortofcommentarywillmisguidethereaderandbeofnobenefit.Therealsignificanceofthisverseis:

"IresideintheheartsofalllivingbeingsasIndwellingGod.ItisfromMethat

livingbeingshavegotmemoryandknowledge,previouspreceptsandconceptsandeliminationofthesame.AlltheVedassubstantiateMeastheoneobjecttobeknown.IamtheauthoroftheVedanta(vedanta-krd),andversedintheVedas(veda-vid)."

SriKrsna'sLessonstoArjunaGitaispartofMahabharata.VaisampayanaRsihasnarratedtheinfatuationandmourningofArjunatoJanmejayain"Bhisma-Parva"(BhismaCantoofMahabharata).SanjayagotaboonfromVyssadevaMunithathewouldbeabletoseethehappeningsinKuruksetra(thesiteofthebattle)andnarratethesametoDhrtarastra:

dhrtarastrauvacadharma-ksetrekuru-ksetresamaveta

yuyutsavahmamakahpandavascaiva

kimakurvatasanjaya(1.1)

DhrtarastraaskedSanjaya,"Mysons,Duryodhanaandothers,andthePandavas,YudhisthiraMaharajaandothers,areassemblingintheholyplaceofKuruksetrawiththedesireforwagingwar.Whatdidtheydo?"

VisvanathaCakravartiinhiscommentaryhassaid:"Theyhavecomewiththedesiretofight--theywillfight.Whereisthescopeofquestioningit?"ButDhrtarastrahassomedoubt:'Kuruksetraisaholyplace,andthePandavasarenaturallyreligious-minded.Theywillacceptanagreementortreaty.Butmysonsmaynotaccept.ButbytheinfluenceofKuruksetra,theirmindsmaybechanged.Sotheremaybeanagreement,peace.'ThatdoubtwasinDhrtarastra'smind,soheaskedwhattheydid.Butinwardly,hewasthinking,'Ifthereisnowar,thenalwaysoursonswillbeindangerfromthePandavasthroughouttheirlives.Soitisbetterthatthereshouldbeafight'."AsperthedesireofArjuna,KrsnaplacedthechariotbeforetheKauravas(thearmyofDhrtarastra'ssons).Arjunawasbewilderedtoseeallhisrelativesbeforehimandhewasshivering.Hesawinfrontofhimhispaternalgrandfather,Bhisma,hisguruDronacarya,aswellaspaternaluncles,brothers-in-law,kithandkin.Hebecameperplexed:Allhavecometosacrificetheirlives.IfIgetthekingdombykillingthem,Ishallnotbehappy.

Letthemkillme,yetIshallnotfight."Helefthispowerfulmythologicalbow,Gandiva.OnseeingtheinfatuationofArjunaandhisreluctancetofight,SriKrsnareproachedhimandsaid:

sri-bhagavanuvacakutastvakasmalam

idamvisamesamupasthitam

anarya-justamasvargyamakirti-karamarjuna(2.2)

"OArjuna!Howhaveyougotthisinfatuationinthismostcriticaljunctureinfrontofthehostileopponentonthebattlefield?Thismaybebefittingtoanon-Aryan,butthissortofdeliberationofyoursatthisstageisunwarranted.Thiswilldeteryouingettingcelestialprosperityanddestroyyournameandfame."

klaibyammasmagamahparthanaitattvayyupapadyateksudramhrdaya-daurbalyam

tyaktvottisthaparantapa(2.3)

"OPartha(Arjuna)!Youshouldnotbecomeimpotent.Itisnotbefittingtoyou.Shakeoffyourweaknessofheart,riseupandbereadytofight.Youarecapableofcrushingtheenemy."

sri-bhagavanuvacaasocyananvaaocas

tvamprajna-vadamscabhasasegatasun

agatasumscananusocantipanditah

(2.11)

"Youarespeakingtomelikeaverylearnedperson,butyouaremourningfortheundeserved.Thewisedonotmourneitherforthebornorforthedead,becauseatma(therealself)iseternalandhasnobirth,nodeath."

dehino'sminyathadehekaumaramyauvanamjaratathadehantara-praptirdhirastatrana

muhyati(2.13)

"Acorporeallivingentityundergoestransformationinhisbody--childhood,youthandinfirmity.Deathisakindoftransformation.Thewisedonotbecomedeludedbythis."

najayatemriyatevakadacinnayambhutvabhavitavabhuyahajo

nityahsasvato'yampuranonahanyatehanyamanesarire(2.20)

"Jivatma(theindividualsoul)hasnobirthandnodeath.Itisnotbornagainandagainandithasnogrowth.Itisunborn,eternal--alwaysexisting(past,presentandfuture),oldbutalwaysfresh.Withthekillingofthebody,atmaisnotslain."

mayaivaitenihatahpurvamevanimitta-matrambhavasavya-sacin(11.33)

"OSavyasacin('Ambidexter'--expertinshootingarrowswiththelefthand)Ihavealreadykilledall;youbecomeonlyinstrumentaltoit.Shakeoffyourfalseegothatyouarethekiller."

ThenArjunathought,"Ispokeaboutvirtue,butSriKrsnaisdissatisfied.Hehasreproachedme.PerhapsIamwronginmyascertainingoftruthand

falsehood:karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavah

prcchamitvamdharma-sammudha-cetahyacchreyahsyan

niscitambruhitanmesisyaste'hamsadhimamtvam

prapannam(2.7)

Arjunasaid:"Ihavelostmynaturalvalor.Iambewilderedandcannotascertainwhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Isubmittoyou.Iamyourdisciple.Pleaseadvisemeaboutmyeternalwelfare."

WhenArjunatookshelterattheLotusFeetofSriKrsna,SriKrsnaasGurustartedadvisingArjuna,andthroughArjunaalltheconditionedsoulsoftheworld.SriKrsnagavevariousinstructionsintheGitabefittingthecompetencyorabilityofindividualsouls.Headvisedaboutkarma(thepathofperformingcorrectaction),jnana(thepathofknowledge),yoga(thepathofausterityandmeditation),andbhakti(thepathofpuredevotion).ButifwegothroughtheGitathoroughlyandcarefully,wewillfindultimatelythatKrsnatakesalltobhakti(devotion).KarmaKrsna,atfirst,speakshighlyaboutkarma,andinspiresalltodokarma:

nahikascitksanamapijatutisthatyakarma-krt(3.5)

"Nobodycanremainwithoutkarma(action)foramoment."

niyatamkurukarmatvamkarmajyayohyakarmanahsarira-yatrapicate

naprasiddhyedakarmanah(3.8)

"Alwaysdokarma(i.e.,nityakarma,oreternalkarma,asenjoinedinthescriptures).Doingkarmaisbetterthannotdoingkarma,asnobodycansustain

thebodywithoutkarma.Therearethreekindsofkarma:karma,akarmaandvikarma.KarmaisthatactionwhichisenjoinedbytheVedas;akarmaisabstainingfromdoingdutiesenjoinedbytheVedas;vikarmaisthedoingofactionprohibitedbytheVedas.Doersofkarmaintheworldareveryrare.Krsnarecommendedkarma,butultimately,Heistakingustobhakti:

yajnarthatkarmano'nyatraloko'yamkarma-bandhanahtad-arthamkarmakauteyamukta-sangahsamacara(3.9)

"DokarmaforYajna."

yajnavaivisnurtisrute

"Insrutisastra,Visnuisdescribedas'Yajna',andoneofHisnamesisYajna."

yaidamvisvamvyapnotitivisnuh

"VisnuistheAll-pervadingSupremeLord,CompleteReality."IfwedoanyactiontheSupremeLord--CompleteReality(Purna)--wewillnotbeinbondage.Ifwedoactionforanypart,wewillbeinbondage."

omtatsat

"TheSupremeLordis'tat'--transcendental--thatwhichcannotbecomprehendedbygrossandsubtlematerialsenses."

WeshouldperformkarmafortheSupremeLordwithoutanydesireforthefruitsofthekarma.TodoanyactionfortheSupremeLordisbhakti(devotion).Byinspiringustodokarma,Krsnatakesthekarmi(doer)tobhakti.Jnana

WhenSriKrsnaspeaksaboutjnana,Heextolsit:

nahijnanena

sadrsampavitramihavidyate

tatsvayamyoga-samsiddhah

kalenatmanivindati(4.38)

"Thereisnothingsosanctifiedasjnana:"

yathaidhamsisamiddho'gnirbhasma-satkurute'rjunajnanagnihsarvakarmanibhasma-satkurutetatha(4.37)

"Asablazingfireburnswoodandreducesittoashes,sotoojnanadestroysallkindsof

karmaandreducesthemtoashes."Karmaisinitiatedbythefalseegoofthedoer.

prakrtehkriyamananigunaihkarmani

sarvasahahankara-vimudhatmakartahamitimanyate(3.27)

"Thejivas(individualsouls),beingenvelopedbytheillusoryenergyoftheSupremeLord,whichconsistsofthreeprimalqualities(sattvas:goodness,rajas:passionandtamas:ignorance)misunderstandsthesequalitiestobethebodyandwronglythinkthemselvesasthedoers."

Whensattva-gunapredominates,webecomesattvik;ifrajo-gunapredominates,rajasik;andiftamo-gunapredominates,tamasik.Asperthecolorofthefalseego,karmaalsoisofthreecolors.

Thejnanis(thosewhopracticethepathofknowledge)striveforself-realization.Soallkarmasemergingfrommaterialegoaredestroyedbyjnana.Butbycommendingjnana,Krsnaisultimatelytakingustobhakti.

bahunamjanmanamantejnanavanmam

pradadyatevasudevahsarvamiti

samahatmasu-durlabhah(7.19)

"Aftermanybirths,proponentsofjnanamarga(thepathofknowledge)takeabsoluteshelterofMe(Vasudeva).SuchasaintwhoseeseverythinginrelationtoVasudevaisrarelytobefound."

Whenknowledgeismatured,jnaniscanunderstandthatwithoutthegraceofGod,nobodycanknowHim.AsthereisnoequaltoSriKrsna,andnoonemorethanHeis,nobodycangetHimwithoutHisgrace.YogaSriKrsna,Himself,haspronouncedacomparativejudgementinregardtothisintheGita:

tapasvibhyo'dhikoyogijnanibhyo'pimato'dhikah

karmibhyascadhikoyogitasmadyogibhavarjunayoginamapisarvesammad-

gatenantar-atmanasraddhavanbhajateyo

mamsameyuktatamomatah(6.46-47)

"OArjuna!Becomeayogi,asayogiissuperiortoahermitwhoispracticing

severeausterities.Theyogi(theworshipperofParamatma)issuperiortothejnani(theworshipperofformlessBrahman),andisnaturallysupremelysuperiortothekarmi(onewhodoesactionsenjoinedbythescripturesformundanebenefit).Amongstallkindsofyogis,onewho,concentratinghismindonMe,worshipsMe(EternalTranscendentalForm)withfirmfaithanddevotionisthehighestyogi.Hence,thebhakti-yogiisthehighest."

yasmatksaramatito'hamaksaradapicottamahato'smilokevedeca

prathitahpurusottamah(15.18)

"AsIambeyondksara(theindividualsoul)andsupremelysuperiortoaksara(BrahmanandParamatma),IamrenownedasPurusottama(theSupremePersonality)inthisworld.ThisiscorroboratedbytheVedas."

TheMostConfidentialSupremeCommandmentArjunawashearingKrsna'sinstructions,yetKrsnanowsays,"HearMe"("Srnume").SriKrsnawantedtodrawhisspecialattentiontoHispronouncement:

sarva-guhyatamambhuyahsrnume

paramamvacahisto'simedrdhamiti

tatovaksyamitehitam(18.64)

"OArjuna,youmighthavebeenunmindfultomypreviousinstructions.Itwillnotbesodetrimentaltoyou.ButyoushouldverycarefullyandattentivelyhearMenow.Asyouaremymostbeloved,Iamspeakingthistopmostsecretofallsecrets,Mysupremecommandmentforyoureternalwelfare."

ThisisSriKrsna'shighestinstructionthatHegavetoallconditionedsoulsoftheworldfortheireternalwelfarethroughArjuna:

man-manabhavamad-bhaktomad-yajimamnamaskurumamevaisyasisatyamtepratijanepriyo'sime

(18.65)

"DevoteyourmindtoMe.IfitisdifficulttodevoteyourmindtoMe,serveMe;engageyoursensesinMyservice.Ifthisisalsonotpossible,worshipMe.Ifthatevenwerenotpossible,takeabsoluteshelterofMe.Ipromiseyou,surely,youwillgetMe."

Inspiteofthat,Arjunawasoscillating,andcouldnotdecidewhattodo.Lastly,Krsnadirected:

sarva-dharmanparityajya mam ekamsaranam vraja ahamtvamsarva-papebhyomoksayisyamimasucah

(18.66)"RelinquishallMypreviousspiritualinstructionsaboutdharma(relativedutiesofvarnaandasramaasenjoinedbytheVedas).TakeabsoluteshelterofMe.Ishallrescueyoufromallsins.Donotbeoverwhelmedwithgrief."AccordingtotheGita(7.4-5),thephysical,grossbody(composedofearth,water,fire,airandsky)andthesubtlebody(composedofmind,intelligenceandpervertedego)arethe

outcomeoftheaparapotency(inferiormaterialenergy)oftheSupremeLordSriKrsna.Therealself,atmaistheoutcomeoftheparapotency(superiorspiritualenergy)oftheSupremeLord.Body,mindandatma--allbelongtotheSupremeLordSriKrsna.ItisthedutyofallindividualspiritsoulstoserveKrsna.Arjunasaid:

arjunauvacanastomohahsmrtirlabdhatvat-prasadanmayacyutasthito'smigata-sandehahkarisyevacanamtava(18.73)

"OAcyuta,byYourGracemybewildermenthasbeenremoved.IthascometomymemorythatIamYourservant,andallmydoubtshavebeendispelled.IhavecometolearnthatsubmissiontoYouisthehighesteternalfunctionofeveryindividualsoul.IshalldowhateverYouwillordertometodo."

Andthenthefightstarts...Arjuna'sfightisfordevotion.Notes:1.SrilaBhaktivinodeThakura(1838-1914)ofBengal,IndiawrotemorethanonehundredbooksinBengali,Sanskrit,Parsi,UrduandEnglishonthetopicofdevotiontotheSupremeLord.HesenthisowntranslationofSrimadBhagavad-gitatoAmericanauthorsH.D.ThoreauandR.W.Emerson(hencetheappellation"AmericanTranscendentalists")whospokeofthisgreatscriptureintheirjournals.BhaktivinodeThakurwasdedicatedtothespreadingofthemessageofSriCaitanyaMahaprabhuworldwide.Hissonandspiritualsuccessor,SrilaBhaktisiddhantaSarasvatiinstructedHisdisciplestopreachthroughouttheworld,whichhasresultedinthefoundingofmanygreatinstitutionssuchasGaudiyaMath,SriCaitanyaGaudiyaMath,SriChaitanyaSaraswatMath,ISKCON(InternationalSocietyforKrishnaConsciousness)GOKUL(GlobalOrganizationofKrishnachaitanya'sUniversalLove),etc.Thespeakerofthislecture,HisDivineGraceSrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGoswamiMaharaj,isthediscipleofoneofSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSarasvati'sintimateassociates,namely,SrilaBhaktiDayitaMadhavaGosvamiMaharaja,Founder-AcaryaofSriCaitanyaGaudiyaMath.

2.PariksitMaharajawasArjuna'sgrandsonandthelastofthePandavadynasty.Hewascursedbytheyoungsonofabrahmanatodieinsevendays.HespenttheselastdayslisteningtotherecitationoftheSrimad-BhagavatambySukadevaGoswamiandthusattainedpureloveforSriKrsna.

3.ThisisthefourthverseoftheglorificationoftheGitaknownasthe

gita-mahatmya,whichappearsinthePadmaPurana.TheseversesdonotappearinmostEnglishGitatranslations,butcanbefoundintheintroductiontothe"Bhagavad-gitaAsItIs"byHisDivineGraceA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiPrabhupada(BhaktivedantaBookTrust,publisher).

4.SriCaitanyaMahaprabhuappearedinWestBengalin1486andisunderstoodbytheVaisnavastobeanappearanceoftheSupremeLordKrsnaHimselfintheguiseofadevotee.Hepropagatedandprescribedthemethodofworshipforthisera,whichistochanttheNames,Pastimes,etc.,oftheSupremeLordwithgreatdevotion.Thisparticularstoryof:SriCaitanyaMahaprabhuisrelatedintheCaitanyaCaritamrtabyKrsnadasaKavirajaGosvami(Madhya-Lila,9.93-107).

5.ThetermMaharaja(literally:"greatking")canrefernotonlytoamemberoftherenouncedorder,asinthecaseofBhaktiKumudSantaGosvamiMaharajamentionedhere

(aswellasthespeaker,SrilaBhaktiBallabhTirthaMaharaja),butitcanalsorefertoakingofastate,asinthecaseoftheKingofKashmir,MaharajaHariSimha,alsomentionedinthisanecdote.

6.ButintheSanskritlanguage,theword"ca"means"and"(not"tea"asitdoesinHindi).

7.VisvanathaCakravartiisthefifthprincipalAcaryainthepreceptorialchannelfromSriCaitanyaMahaprabhu.

8.Sattva-guna("themodeofgoodness"):ifthemodeofgoodnessispredominant,webecomegood,passionproducesapassionatedisposition,etc.

9.Paramatmameans"theSupremeAtma",or"SupremeSpiritSoul"WhoisoneaspectofSriKrsnaHimself.Thetrueyogi(i.e.,onewhopracticesyoga)meditatesontheParamatmaasHepersonallydwellswithintheheartofeverylivingentity.

10.Varna:oneofthemostfrequentlymisunderstoodconceptsintheWest,usuallytranslatedas"caste."Therearefourvarnas:brahmana(thepriestlyclass),ksatriya(theadministrativeandwarriorclass),vaisya(themercantileclass),andsudra(theworkingclass,andthecraftsmen).Therearealsofour

asramas,orstagesoflife:brahmacarya(thestudentstage,whereinonelearnsalltheprinciplesofreligiouslife),grhasta(thehouseholderstage,whereinoneraisesafamilyaccordingtotheprincipleswhichhehaslearnedinthebrahmacaryastage),vanaprasta(theretiredstage,whereinamarriedcoupleorindividualleavesmateriallifetopursuereligiousactivities)andsannyasa(completelyrenouncedperiodoflife).Thislaststageofsannyasaisnotpracticedbyallindividuals,andisdifficulttoattainfortheaverageperson.Thespeakerofthislecture,HisDivineGraceBhaktiBallabhTirthaGosvamiMaharajaisinthesannyasiasram,asindicatedbyHistitles"Gosvami"and"Maharaja"AdetaileddiscussionontheVedicvarnasramasystemiswellbeyondthescopeofthisbriefnote,butsufficeittosaythatitwasunderstoodinVedictimes,andbyallthosewhofollowitstenetstothisday,thatallhumanbeingshaveapropensitytowardsoneofthefourvarnas,andthateveryone'slifemaybedividedintothefourasramas.Itisthedutyofallindividualstoactaccordingtotheirpositioninlife,baseduponfirmlyrootedreligiousprinciples,asopposedtomaterialisticmotivation.Thisallowssocietytoprogresssmoothlyandcooperativelywithoutconflictastheultimategoalforallindividualsisthesame:theserviceoftheSupremeLord.Unlikeitsmoderndistortion,theVedicvarnasramasystemisnotbaseduponheredityorwealthbutuponthenaturalinclinationsoftheindividualperson.Arjunaisaksatriyagrhasta.

20030113CalcuttaLecture

AquestionwasaskedbyAkincanPrabhu:VyasadevwrotethesupremepastimesofKrishnainthe10thCantoofSrimadBhagavatam.Whatisthenecessityofthe11thand12thCanto?

AnswerbySreelaBhaktiBallabhTirthaGoswamiMaharaj:

VedavyasMunihasnotunnecessarilywrittenthe11thand12thCanto.HehasnarratedthehighestpastimesofKrishnawiththeGopis,parakiya,inthe10thCanto.Itisverydifficulttounderstandthis.Wehavethehabittoimitate,especiallyelevatedpersons,peopleofrespect.KrishnaistheSupremeLord.Ifhehas16,108wives,thenwecanalsohavetwoorthree.Krishnamaybepowerful.ButKrishnawillbetheonlyenjoyer?Thisisnotgood.Itisinjust.Hemayhave95%.Weshouldhave5%.PreviouslyVedavyasMunigavewarningaboutthis.Directly,youcannotgotothe10thCanto.Youshouldfirststudythe1stCantothroughthe9th.Youshouldhearfromabona-fidesadhu.Afterhearing;whenyouwillbecompetentandhaveknowledgeofwhoisKrishna,whoaretheGopis,whatistheirrelation;thenyouareentitledtohearthepastimesinthe10thCanto.Notbeforethat.WhenSukadevGoswaminarratedtheBhagavatamtoPariksitMaharaj,hedidnotstartwiththe10thCanto.Hestartedwiththefirst.Thensecond,third,fourth,fifth,sixth,seventh,DrhuvaCharitra,PrahladCharitra,eighth,ninth,AmbarishMaharaj...Afterthat,afterhearingallofthis,thenSukadevnarratedthe10th.Wemighthearthesepastimes.Butwemaybeunmindful;ifwedonotmeditateonthesubject,wemaymakeawronginterpretationofit.SoVedavyasMunihaswarnedusbeforethe10thCantoandisagainwarningusinthe11th.Hehasdoubt.HavewereallyheardthefirstnineCantos?Andifwedidhear,whenwelistentothe10th,arewemeditatingonthosepastteachings?Inthe11thCanto,VidheyRajNimiaskedthisquestion:Weareenslavedjivas;weareslavesofthesenseorgans.Wearerunningafterenjoyment;weareenvelopedbytheillusoryenergy.Wehaveamisconceptionofself.Howcanwesurmountthecyclesofbirthsanddeaths;thethree-foldafflictions?Whatistheeasiestway?PrabhudhMunianswered:Inthisworld,everyoneisdoingsomething.Forwhatpurpose?Forremovingsufferingsandgettinghappiness.Whensomeoneisunabletogetthatbytheirsingleeffort,theymarry.Andtogethertheyworktowardshappiness,butjusttheoppositehappens.Butstill,theytogetherwanttoremovesufferingsandgethappiness.Iftheyhaveasonthiswillhelp.Sotheydothatandthetroubleincreases.Thenadaughter,three,four,fivechildrenandjointlytheytrytogethappiness.Andwiththegrowingfamily,thetroublesalsogrow.ThroughlovewecangetKrishna;purelove.Krishnahasallthelove

relations;master-servant,friendship,parental,husband-wife;andultimately,afterbeingmarried,havingloverelationswithothersoutsideofmarriage.Althoughthisisthehighestlovenarratedinthe10thCanto,itisthemostabominableinthisworld.Thehighestthereisthelowesthere.AlltheserelationsthatKrishnahasarealsoseenhere.Butwecannotthinkitisthesame.Heisthemaster.Wearenot.Heenjoyswithfriends,parents,wives,consorts.AsmuchaswetrytoenjoylikeHim,asmuchsufferingwewillget.SoafternarratingKrishna'shighestpastimesinthe10thCanto,VedavyasMuniisagainwarningus.OurloverelationiswithKrishna.Allaretryingtoremovetheirsufferingsandincreasehappiness.Ifwetrybyenjoyingalltheloverelationsinthisworld,miserywillnotberemoved,itwillonlyincrease.