English
Date: 05 June 2024
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj
Topic: Meditation
HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj:
The Rainy Season is here! Birds are understanding and they are chirping. You are not the devotees attending the KanyaDaan, but you are attending this zoom conference. Just listen and chant.
A chanter is a soul himself. You can say, I chant with my mouth. But if there will be no soul within this body, then can you chant? The soul makes the body to chant. The soul will be delivered by chanting. We have to make our soul a devotee. The body can be delivered by Fire sacrifice at the time of death. We have experienced this many times. But the endeavor of delivering the soul is still remaining.
BG 7.19:
bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ
Translation:
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2; Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.7.28:
mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ
kāraṇaṁ bandha-mokṣayoḥ
bandhāya viṣayāsaṅgo
muktyai nirviṣayaṁ manaḥ
Translation:
“For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation.” (Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2)(Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.7.28)
The mind is the only cause of our good and bad deeds. Mind plays an important role in our life. Mind is the cause of attachments as well as detachments.
When we chant attentively, then we will become devotees and be delivered. We have to chant thinking that these names are the lord himself. Who? Krishna!
This meditation will make us liberated and a devotee also.
CC Madhya 17.133:
nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ
Translation:
‘The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure.
Kṛṣṇa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.’
The chanters are called Japa yogis. This chanting is also a type of yoga, like bhakti yoga, Dhyan yoga. Another name for the eightfold yogas especially when it is done with love and devotion, the crane bird stands still, like he is meditating and sometimes on one leg for a long time. Externally we may think this is meditation or Dhyan yoga but he is pretending that he is not interested in any of the bugs and little fishes. But really he is thinking only about them. So, he is not undergoing meditation So, all of us are also thinking but about material objects; ; like touch, smell, sight, etc
BG 2.62:
dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate
sangat sanjayate kamah
kamat krodho 'bhijayate
Translation:
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.
We get trapped in the thoughts of seeing television, newspapers or any saree or refrigerator.Our minds get attached to the contemplated objects very fastly and then lust arises. We all are lusty. We are all thinking always, but, about material things in every step, in every life. When the desire is not fulfilled, then one is frustrated and anger arises.
BG 2.63:
krodhad bhavati sammohah
sammohat smrti-vibhramah
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso
buddhi-nasat pranasyati
Translation:
From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool.
What is the end result?
Krishna says that this will end up with hell. The doors of hell will open. These doors are anger, lust, illusion etc.
BG 14.18:
ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ
Translation:
“Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.”
The sinful activities will then lead us to hell and we will get entangled. So, this is the way the mind binds us and takes us to hell.
So, become a Japa Yogi. Yoga means link. Link like a bullock is yoked to the cart. The root in Sanskrit is yuj. By yoga, we establish our relation with the Lord. Spiritual life begins from relation with lord. Sambandha, then abhideya and then prayojana. These are philosophies. We should learn when we chant we should reach our worshipable lord, Ishta deva. Harinam is our Ishta deva. For the japa yogis, harinam is our foremost worshipable lord. How?
By understanding that hari and harinam is the same everyone has their Ishta deva-worship able lord. We should make the Lord our worshipable God. Lord Sri Caitanya says:
Caitanya-manjusa:
ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa tanayas tad dhāma śrī vrṇdāvanam
ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū vargeṇa vā kalpitā
śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalaṁ purāṇaṁ
śrī-caitanya mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatrādarāḥ na paraḥ
Translation:
The Personality of Godhead Śrī Krishna, Who is known as the son of the King of Vrajadhāma i.e. Śrī Nanda Mahārajā, is the ultimate worshipful Lord of all Lords. Similarly His residential abode namely the holy place of Vṛndāvana is as much worshipful as the Lord is Himself. The ways of His worship maybe various but the one which was conceived by the circle of the damsels of Vrajadhāma is unsurpassable by any other devotee. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Purāṇam is the unalloyed guidance for this purpose of approaching the worshipful Lord and that is the sum total opinion or cultural philosophy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
We have to meditate on the holy name and reach to our worshipable lord. He can be in Pandharpur or in Mayapur, and anywhere? Can it be demigods?
BG 4.12:
kāṅkṣhantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ
yajanta iha devatāḥ
kṣhipraṁ hi mānuṣhe loke
siddhir bhavati karmajā
Translation:
In this world, those desiring success in material activities worship the celestial gods, since material rewards manifest quickly.
Kamis or the people, who have desires, make demigods their Ishta deva, just to fulfill their desires.
BG 7.20:
kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā
Translation:
Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.
So, how can we understand who is really worshipable? By reaching a guru.
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Translation:
I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.
This is the arrangement of the lord.
BG 4.34:
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
Translation:
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
What do we do there?
Many times our eyes are open but we still can see. As we are blinded by lust, anger, envy etc
and our entire life is spent without seeing the lord. So, we can reach our worship-able lord wherever they are.
But, the reality is we don't know where our lord is. Lord says himself that I reside in your heart, go here and there and remember the lord there. It is good so we think this is far that is near, forget the distance when we meditate we will not be here. But we will be with whoever we are thinking about or he will be here. So, in reality there is no distance, like Srila Prabhupada would say even though i'm in New York, i feel like i'm in Vrindavan. The Supreme Personality of Godhead says:
Padam Puran:
nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe
yogināṁ hṛdayeṣu vā
tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada
yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ
Translation:
“I am not in Vaikuṇṭha nor in the hearts of the yogīs. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities.”
It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees. The gopis were thinking where are you oh lord! but when they came together and started singing the Gopi Geet, Krishna appeared there. As his song is non different from him, he appeared so.
Upon whom we meditate, we worship by meditating he is with us. Lord’s name is Aradhya-worshipable. This is not speculation. This is truth or tattva.
Cc. Ādi 17.21:
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
Translation:
‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.’
As sadhu, guru and sastra says this. then we wont take birth again and go back home to godhead.
BG 4.9:
janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Translation:
One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.
So, there are various tattvas or truths. So, we should learn from tattva darshis- knowers of the truth coming in the Parampara. My Godbrother HH Sacinandana Swami says your lord is with you in your heart. So reach your heart. There is a beautiful courtyard. Take your mind along and there is the lord. Pay obeisance to the lord. This is all meditation. Wake up the lord in the morning with prayers as he is a small boy who has to be lovingly woken up. Open the door and sing and request in sweet words and worship them.
Uthi Uthi Gopala
Wake them up sweetly and worship them.
Uthishtothishta Govinda
uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha
thrilokyam mangalam kuru (Twice)
Translation:
Sri Govinda! all the three worlds are under your rule; they have to prosper. Wake Up!
So, while you are chanting you are worshiping him in your heart. We shouldn't worship deities without mantras. Jiva goswami says harinam and pancharatrika Vidhi should go together. So, while we are chanting we are waking up the lord and bathing him with water from all the holy rivers in golden pots putting sandalwood paste.
Gangge Ca Yamune Cai[a-E]va Godaavari Sarasvati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri Jale-[A]smin Sannidhim Kuru ||
Translation:
O Holy Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and also Godavari and Saraswati, O Holy Rivers Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri; Please be Present in this Water (and make it Holy).
We chanters can chant and service the deities simultaneously. Then you dress the lord, and feed the lord.
So, this becomes the topic of meditation. We have to understand that the Holyname is the lord's form, qualities, abode, pastimes.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama rama Hare Hare
So, chanting attentively means chanting equipped with these meditations of his form, his qualities, his abode, his pastimes, his devotees like Haridas Thakura. Is this mundane to remember Haridas Thakur?
Your mind should be in the mantra and mantra should be in your mind. Mantra means man-mind, tra-trayate- mann(Mind) also means manan or what we have heard to meditate on it and contemplate on it. By doing so, the mantra delivers the mind and thus this becomes the path of our deliverance.
There is no hard and fast rule. We can make some rules and sankalpas in our hearts.
We can meditate in this way, go to your heart’s courtyard and worship the lord, and sing for them. So chant and meditate. All mantras are there in the Hare Krishna mahamantra. We can't meditate on zero. Some meditate on a flame that will burn your life. The impersonalist, what can they meditate on? Just by seeing the rays of the sun. Can we know the sun in its entirety? Sun is a planet. Sun is a Demigod too.
Sb 1.2.11:
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate
Translation:
Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.
We should understand and learn according to the parampara.
BG 4.2:
evam parampara-praptam
imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kaleneha mahata
yogo nastah parantapa
Translation:
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
