Monthly Archives: July 2020

31st July 2020

Let’s become true ‘Rupanugas’

Hare Krsna! We have 840 participants today.

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare Hare

All you Gaudiya Vaisnavas are welcome. You are aware that you are all Gaudiya Vaisnavas?

Today is the disappearance day of Rupa Goswami and Sri Gauri Das Pandit.
Tirobhav is the disappearance day, the day on which they returned to the Lord’s abode. The other is the appearance day, when they appeared in this world.

Both of them were our acaryas, who were there at the time of the manifest pastimes of Lord Caitanya. They were His associates during His manifest pastimes. Where had they come from? Or had Caitanya Mahaprabhu brought them here from Goloka Vrindavan? They assisted Mahaprabhu during His pastimes. Then on today’s day …

je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur

Translation
He, who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy–where has such a personality as Advaita Acarya gone? (Swa Parsada Bhagavad Viraha Janita Vilapa Song 1 by Narottama Dasa Thakura . Book – Prarthana)

They had brought the wealth of love of Godhead by being the associates of Mahaprabhu. O! Where has that Rupa Goswami Thakur disappeared? Where has that Gauri das Pandit gone? Narottam das Thakur is inquiring in this song, where they have gone? Actually, he knows where they have gone, but the feelings while writing this are, ‘I will be deprived of their association, their physical presence. They have gone now. Where have they gone? Why have they gone?’

Rupa Goswami is Rupa Manjari before appearing in the manifest pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Rupa Goswami was Rupa Manjari in Goloka Dhama. Lord Caitanya had gone to Ramkeli to meet Rupa, Sanatana and Anupam. There was no other objective of going to Ramkeli. Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Jagannatha Puri and from there he went to Bengal and then to Ramkeli, to meet Rupa and Sanatana. It was at that time that the initiation of Rupa and Sanatana took place. Manjaris of Goloka have appeared here, so Mahaprabhu named them Rupa and Sanatana. Earlier they were Nawab Hussain Shah’s finance ministers who were named Dabir Khas and Sakar Malik by him. They were waiting long to meet and be with their Lord again.

sri krsna caitanya radha krsna nahi anya

Their first meeting took place in Ramkeli. Caitanya Mahaprabhu told them that He will be going to Vrindavan and that they should also come there. He had met them there in Prayag and then Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Vrindavan and Rupa and Sanatan followed him after a few days. Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed Vraja-mandala Parikrama and he was waiting for Rupa and Sanatana to come as He wanted to give them some special service. He had already informed them that when they arrive in Vrindavan their service will be explained. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was returning to Jagannatha Puri as Rupa and Sanatana had not arrived in Vrindavan.

On His way Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached Allahabad which is now known as Prayag. Then Rupa Goswami along with his brother Anupama Mallika reached Prayag. Sanatana Goswami was imprisoned by the Nawab and was not allowed to go. He stayed there. That was around January when there is a festival in Prayag. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was doing kirtan and dancing over there. All the residents of Prayag were totally attracted by the beauty, dance and kirtan of Mahaprabhu. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going to Veni-Madhava temple at the confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, Rupa and Anupama observed the huge crowd which was led by Mahaprabhu. They kept taking darsana of Mahaprabhu from a distance.

The second meeting of Rupa and Anupama with Mahaprabhu took place after this procession was over and Mahaprabhu went back to his place of residence. Both these brothers reached there. As soon as they got there and Caitanya Mahaprabhu glanced at them, they fell flat on the ground to offer their obeisances. Then when they stood in front of Him for a while they offered obeisances again and again. It is at this place that Rupa Goswami compiled the pranam mantra of the Lord:

namo maha-vadanyaya
krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-
namne gaura-tvishe namah

Translation
O! most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. ( Lord Caitanya pranam mantra)

This is the famous pranam mantra which we keep repeating. Rupa Goswami was the first one who compiled this and who offered obeisances to Mahaprabhu while singing this. If we understand this pranam mantra then we can understand that Rupa Goswami had really understood the glories of Mahaprabhu. This is his experience of who Mahaprabhu really is. He has also included His name in this mantra. Caitanya Mahaprabhu ‘s qualities, pastimes and complexion are also glorified in this. This pranam mantra includes name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Caitanya. This is the introduction, the glories of Rupa Goswami, who had compiled such a complete pranam mantra.

Then Mahaprabhu bestowed more mercy on Rupa Goswami. He kept meeting him for 10 days and kept instructing him on various subjects at the Dasasvamedha Ghata in Prayag. At the same time many teachings and orders were given to Rupa Goswami. From there Caitanya Mahaprabhu then returned to Jagannatha Puri and Rupa Goswami went to Vrindavan where he stayed for the next 50 years. During these 50 years it was only once or twice that he went to Jagannatha Puri to meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but mostly his stay was in Vrindavan. Then along with other Sad-Goswamis he executed the orders of Mahaprabhu. Rupa Goswami is the principal acarya of our sampradaya. Because of this we Gaudiya Vaisnavas are termed ‘Rupanuga’. Anuga means one who follows someone in behaviour.

Mahajano yen gataha sa pantha

Walk on the path which has been shown by the great acaryas. For us our principal acarya who is the crest jewel of all Gaudiya Vaisnavas is Rupa Goswami, who searched for the Deities of Radha-Govinda and then established Their worship by constructing a temple for Them. He established the Vrinda Devi temple also. There are innumerable contributions from him. He compiled many, many scriptures. The most prominent among them is Bhakti-rasmrit Sindhu. These books are based on the teachings which he received from Mahaprabhu in Prayag. By his causeless mercy, Prabhupada has translated two of them – Bhakti-rasmrit Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion) and Upadeshamrit (Nectar of Instruction). On today’s tithi Rupa Goswami entered into samadhi.

In Vrindavan in the courtyard of Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple, the samadhi of Rupa Goswami is situated along with his bhajan Kutir. When I went to Vrindavan for the first time this was the first temple I visited. The second mandir I visited over there was the samadhi of Rupa Goswami. This was in 1972, when Prabhupada had stayed in Radha-Damodar mandir and everyday he gave lectures on Bhakti-rasmrit Sindhu. We were around 40 devotees at that time. I was also there. Prabhupada was explaining teachings of Rupa Goswami to us. He also initiated me in front of the Samadhi mandir of Rupa Goswami and in this way I also became a Rupanuga. In this way he connected me with him.

sri-caitanya-mano-‘bhistam sthapitum yena bhtu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam

Translation
When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?( Sri Rupa pranam mantra)

Let us all get the association of such a Rupa Goswami. May we all take benefit of his teachings by studying his books. Let him make us all real Rupanugas and Prabhupadanugas.

We offer such prayers at the feet of Rupa Goswami. All glories to the disappearance day of Rupa Goswami!

Hare Krsna!

30 July 2020

Jhulan of ecstatic devotion!

Hare Krishna! We have participants from 886 locations.

Ekadasi Mahotsava ki jai! You are all welcome to this japa session and japa talk. You may stop chanting now. Jhulan Yatra is going to start from today. Jhulan Yatra Mahotsava ki jai!

You should all celebrate this festival at your temples, at home or in the society, as far as possible. At least you must perform kirtana. I will also do kirtana. We are celebrating the Jhulan yatra in Pandharpur at 5 pm with a kirtana. Krishna Balaram temple in Mauritius is celebrating its 20th anniversary from today and I will be inaugurating the festival with a kirtana at 5 pm.

Jai Radhe Jai Krsna Jai Vrindāvana |
Śrī Govinda Gopīnātha Madanamohan ||

We have to reach Vrindavan if we want to join the Jhulan yatra, if not in body then in mind we can enter into the Julana yatra. That is if the Gopīs allow us to participate. At least we can witness, offer obeisances or have darsana of the Jhulan yatra of Śri Radha and Krsna.

divyad-vrindaranya-kalpa-drumadhah
srimad-ratnagara-simhasana-sthau
srimad-radha-srila-govinda-devau
preshthalibhih sevyamanau smarami

Translation
In a temple of jewels in Vrindavana, underneath a desire tree, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my most humble obeisances unto Them. (Abhidheyadhideva Pranama)

Whoever recites this mantra will also remember this pastime of Radha and Krsna in Vrindavan.

Śravanam kirtanam viśnoh smaranam

We do śravana and kirtana for smarana (to remember). Jhulan yatra is celebrated in Vrindaranya, the forest of Tulasi. kalpa-drumadhah – there are many desire trees and under one such tree, jhulan yatra is going on. srimad-ratnagara-simhasana-sthau, here in the verse, a royal seat has been mentioned. We may visualize a swing. Radha Govinda are seated on that swing. preshthalibhih, Radha and Krsna are surrounded by Gopīs and sevyamanau smarami, They are being served by them at Jhulan yatra. The Gopīs must have performed various services before Jhulan yatra. They must have decorated Radha Govinda. They must have offered betel leaves which would have turned the lips of Their Lordship even redder. Radha Govinda are swinging on the swing. They are showering flowers and singing songs in praise of their Lordships. The festival is incomplete without sangeet (songs). Sangeet is very important for celebrations. Sangeet means congregational chanting or singing, playing of instruments and dancing.

On this Jhulan yatrain in the month of spring, there is greenery everywhere, flowers are blooming and birds are singing. Radha Govinda are enjoying this blissful atmosphere. Sometimes Krsna also enjoys swinging with His cowherd friends, but this Jhulan yatra is with Radharani and the Gopīs.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna kirtana is also going on. This is the best song. We should sing this at Jhulan yatra. Kirtana and dancing is going on. Radha and Govinda are swinging. Such a scene should be imprinted in our minds. This will be the result of hearing and chanting. Smaran or remembrance of Radha Govinda is the result of hearing and chanting.

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. (BG. 10.9)

Gopīs also do smaran. They discuss with one another, “See this is the place where we saw Krsna.”

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ
vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo
valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum
komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ
gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ

Translation
The gopīs said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute He has placed to His lips, stopping its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance. (ŚB 10.35.2)

They say, vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo, Krsna bends His left cheek towards His left arm. valgita-bhrur, His eyebrows dance. adharārpita-veṇum, He has placed the flute upon His lips. komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ, His delicate fingers are dancing on the flute holes. gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ, some Gopīs are saying this to other Gopīs. How the Lord stands, how His eyebrows keep moving, how He has placed flute on His lips, How his fingers dance and how He plays the flute. In this way the Gopīs keep discussing Krsna.

Again they hear the flute being played. Krsna reaches the forest and on the full moon night He starts playing the flute. As soon as He starts playing and as soon as the Gopīs hear the flute being played, they get hypnotized (as mentioned in SB 10.21, gopigeet). They embrace each other and start running towards the flute, in love. They were not able to say anything, what they were experiencing in their minds due to the pain of separation.

yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ
dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva
putreti tan-mayatayā taravo ’bhinedus
taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato ’smi

Translation
Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, “O my son!” Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father. (ŚB 1.2.2)

Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who knows what’s going on in one’s mind, says, what the Gopīs were thinking, what was on their minds is their remembrance which Śukadeva Gosvāmī has revealed. What thoughts were the gopīs having?

barhāpīḍaṁ naṭa-vara-vapuḥ karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ
bibhrad vāsaḥ kanaka-kapiśaṁ vaijayantīṁ ca mālām
randhrān veṇor adhara-sudhayāpūrayan gopa-vṛndair
vṛndāraṇyaṁ sva-pada-ramaṇaṁ prāviśad gīta-kīrtiḥ

Translation
Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karṇikāra flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayantī garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vṛndāvana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories. (ŚB 10.21.5)

Gopīs first think about the barhāpīḍaṁ, peacock feather and the crown of Krsna. They say, naṭa-vara-vapuḥ, the form of our Krsna is like that of the best dancer or actor. Nata means an actor. Our Ācāryas says that vara here means groom. Like the groom is dressed and handsomely present at the time of marriage, so is Krsna beautifully decorated. karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ, He is wearing a beautiful flower named Karnikar on His ears. The flower is one and there are two ears. He places one flower over two ears. He keeps changing the place of the flower from one ear to another. Thus He shows the mood of natavara here. karṇikāra flower is yellow in colour. Why did He select a yellow flower? He is thinking of Srimati Radharani. bibhrad vāsaḥ kanaka-kapiśaṁ, He wears a yellow dhoti. That is why He is called Pītāmbara. This is not a normal yellow colour. It’s golden in colour, which is the complexion of Radharani. Radharani wears a blue saree which is the colour of Krsna’s complexion. That is why She is called Nīlāmbari. Krsna is Pītāmbara and Radharani is Nīlāmbari, one dressed in a blue saree. In this way They express Their love by matching Their outfits with each other’s complexion. vaijayantīṁ ca mālām, Krsna wears a vaijayantī garland, a garland that reaches His knees. The ācāryas say that this is a victory garland. It is singing the glories of Krsna.

Krsna Kanhaiya Lal ki jai!
Krsna Kanhaiya Lal ki jai!

vaijayantī, vai means definitely and jaya means victory. This garland is glorifying Krsna’s victory. When one achieves something he is honoured with a garland. The garland is the last thing in the Sringara of the Lord. This vaijayantī mala has 5 different flowers of different colours.

randhrān veṇor adhara-sudhayāpūrayan, Now Krsna is ready. adhara means lower lip, He had placed the flute on His lower lip. sudhayā means nectar. He is showering nectar all over through the pleasant music of His flute. gopa-vṛndair, this is a different situation where Krsna is surrounded by His cowherd friends who are singing His glories (gīta-kīrtiḥ) and dancing and constantly looking at Him. Some are ahead of Krsna and Balarama and they don’t miss the chance to see Krsna. Being in front of Krsna they walk backwards, looking at Krsna and Balarama. Jhulan Yatra Mahotsava ki jai!

sei annamrita pao, radha-krishna-guna gao (Prasādam prayer)

Do listen, read and sing the glories of Radha Krsna today. Don’t just eat and sleep. Engage in performing kirtana and bhajans. Celebrate Jhulan yatra.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Do kirtaniyah sada harih and that is to chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. (Verse 3, Sri Siksastakam)

Today is Ekadasi so do extra hearing and chanting. Please stay on as we have some announcements. By this time we have devotees from 991 locations.

We have two important announcements. Garudwaja Prabhu, one of our godbrother’s has tested corona positive. We pray to Lord Narsimha Dev for his quick recovery.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

As Śrī Krsna Janmastami is approaching, for 15 days from 30 July to 13 August, a Krsna Katha extravaganza has been organised under the shelter of Guru Maharāja and many senior devotees every morning from 8 to 9.30 am. Krsna Katha Mahotsava ki jai!

Krsna will manifest Himself in the form of the katha like He manifests in Gokula. The Zoom id – 7118416880 has been shared on WhatsApp . It will also be live streamed on 3 Youtube channels i.e. ISKCON Nagpur, Amravati and Solapur. Today, on the first day of the Jhulan yatra festival, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharāja from Mayapur Dhama will be delivering katha. Share the news and encourage as many as possible to join. This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate Janmastami.

Please mention your proper names along with your city while joining Zoom. We have again enabled the chat session and some devotees have again started writing pranāms and messages. It is a request, please do not write anything during the japa as it is disturbing many devotees and they are becoming apprehensive about joining the japa conference because of this. Please share this message with others. Please don’t chat or send messages, not only during japa, but also during the japa talk. There are English speaking devotees who rely on the translation to understand the japa talk. Chatting in-between makes it difficult for them. You can share your opinions, comments etc at the end of the session if time is specially allotted for this or on the Chant Japa with Lokanath Swami Facebook page or on Loksanga daily. Our team will respond to you there. We do not want to disable the chat session, but will be compelled to if you do not refrain from chatting. So please cooperate.

Hare Krishna!
Gaura prema nande hari haribol!

29 July 2020

Our Six Hidden Enemies

Hare Krishna. Welcome you all to the Japa Talk. Today 956 devotees are chanting. Today the topic of the Japa Talk is Our Six enemies (Shat Ripu)

Some may say that this will be Maya’s katha, but we know Maya as she is. Maya belongs to Krsna. We need to understand it. The discussions of the 3 modes of nature or 6 enemies or demonic natures are Maya, but we need to understand them and recognise them as Maya.

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

Translation
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. [BG 9.10]

daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te

Translation
My divine energy Maya, consisting of the three modes of nature, is very difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto me cross over it easily. [BG 7.14]

The material nature is Gunamay, which means it is made up of the 3 modes of nature. Gunas also mean ropes. This nature which is made up of 3 gunas, act as ropes. There are 3 ropes – Goodness, Passion and Ignorance. It controls everyone and engages them in karma.

prakṛiteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśhaḥ
ahankāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate

Translation
All activities are carried out by the three modes of material nature. But in ignorance, the soul, deluded by false identification with the body, thinks itself to be the doer. [BG 3.27]

The Lord says that all are controlled by nature, but out of ignorance and false ego we feel that we are the doers.

atha kena prayukto ’yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥ
anichchhann api vārṣhṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ

Translation
Arjun asked: Why is a person impelled to commit sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if by force, O descendent of Vrishni (Krishna)? [BG 3.36]

Arjun inquired, “Who is this? Who makes us do these actions which we don’t wish to ? We know that it is wrong and sinful, but still we do it?”

śrī bhagavān uvācha
kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam

Translation
The Supreme Lord said: It is lust alone, which is born of contact with the mode of passion, and later transformed into anger. Know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world. [BG 3.37]

The Lord replies that due to this mode of passion lust and anger manifest. We desire and make plans as per our desires. When there are obstacles and we are not able to fulfil our desires or there is a delay in this fulfilment, then anger arises. When we are angry we become blind. We don’t realize what we end up doing. We repent later. Greed can also be a result of lust. Lust is like a fire. It keeps burning and if you add oil, it may grow. This becomes greed. When one desire is fulfilled it may create more desires and turn into greed. When out of greed you have assembled a lot of wealth, then you become intoxicated with such wealth and pride arises. We start feeling that we are the doers and the owners. Then the person becomes illusional and falsely attached. Sometimes anger also leads to being illusional. After illusion, moha, there are more enemies. As we are moving further, talking about these enemies, we aren’t progressing, we are moving towards destruction.

Then comes envy (matsarya) or hatred. We start becoming envious of others, We don’t like others having things better than us, or we are not pleased seeing others progress. Our aim is to get over these enemies. By the mercy of the Lord, the desire of Lord, whatever is achieved is without any unnecessary efforts. We need to acquire only what we need and not satisfy our greed with whatever is availed by Krsna, then we may overcome envy. The origin of the fallen souls falling in the material world commenced with envy of the Lord. The desire is there to enjoy like the Lord. He thinks that the Lord says, ‘I am the Lord,’ so out of envy he feels, “I am also the Lord. I shall enjoy.” This is the ultimate conditioned situation when we are envious of the Lord. Everyone who is in this material world has chosen to go against the Lord:

asau mayā hataḥ śhatrur haniṣhye chāparān api
īśhvaro ’ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho ’haṁ balavān sukhī
āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛiśho mayā
yakṣhye dāsyāmi modiṣhya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ

Translation
The demoniac persons think, “I have gained so much wealth today, and I shall now fulfill this desire of mine. This is mine, and tomorrow I shall have even more. That enemy has been destroyed by me, and I shall destroy the others too! I am like God himself, I am the enjoyer, I am powerful, and I am happy. I am wealthy and I have highly placed relatives. Who else is equal to me? I shall perform sacrifices (to the celestial gods); I shall give alms; I shall rejoice.” In this way, they are deluded by ignorance. [BG 14-15]

Bhagavatam says that he becomes very unhappy then he becomes entangled in the pool of the 6 enemies, so the one who is busy all the time assembling the subjects of enjoyment gets entangled. One who keeps making efforts to satisfy his senses is always influenced by lust.

Opposite to this material lust is love, which is transcendental.

ātmendriya-prīti-vāñchā — tāre bali ‘kāma’
kṛṣṇendriya-prīti-icchā dhare ‘prema’ nāma

Translation
The desire to gratify one’s own senses is kāma [lust], but the desire to please the senses of Lord Kṛṣṇa is prema [love]. [CC Adi Lila 4.165]

Lust is natural, but the love is non-natural, which is spiritual. Lust, anger, greed, false ego, envy, and fear are our six enemies.(foes) Self sense gratification is lust and the desire to satisfy the senses of the Lord, to please Krsna, is loving Devotional Service. That is Bhakti.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

Translation
‘Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.’ [CC Madhya 19.170]

By our senses we must serve the Lord Hrisikesa, who is the Lord of the senses. This is the proper understanding, and when a person engages his senses in activities to please the Lord with such an understanding then he is a devotee, and this is loving devotional service, Bhakti.

I have opened this topic of the 6 enemies, but it is a vast topic. It cannot be completed in this short time. You all must think about this today. If you all wish to write something, you may. You can also ask questions and make comments.

We are supposed to satisfy the senses of the Lord, this means that we have to please the eyes of the Lord, the ears of the Lord, the tongue of the Lord, like that.

Tomorrow is Ekadasi. plan out how will you please Krsna tomorrow? How will you serve his senses?
• We will chant more. Using our tongue we will satisfy the ears of Krsna. It’s sravan utsava for Krsna.
• We will not eat grains.
• We will not worry about our sense gratification.
• We will attend Mangal arati* The Lord will be pleased seeing us in mangal arati. If we miss it, then He may wonder where are we?

Krsna also has His own likes and dislikes. He is pleased with some things and displeased with some things. So plan to satisfy Krsna’s senses.

Thank you so much
Hare Krishna!

28 July 202

Make your life sublime – chant anywhere, anytime

Hare Krishna. Welcome, all of you to this Japa session. I was already pleased when I saw you all chanting.

Govardhan Prabhu wrote, “Maharaja, you’re in bliss by seeing the devotees chanting.” I was surprised. I was already pleased, but Govardhan Prabhu wrote this. These are Paramatma connections.

The Paramatma (super soul) knows exactly what I was thinking about. The same super soul which is present in my heart, is in everyone’s heart and in Govardhan Prabhu’s heart as well. The same super soul is seated in everyone’s heart. He is not different from my heart to your heart. Take note of it. Eko bahusham. The one super soul divides Himself into many forms, but ultimately He is one. And this experience is proof of that. The super soul in everyone’s heart knows what we are thinking and at the same time He inspires us to think also. That’s why Govardhan Prabhu wrote exactly what I was thinking.

This is the proper way of using the chat session. I like this comment. This chat reminds me of Paramatma (the super soul in our heart).

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation:
“I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love. He is seen in His eternal form of Śyāmasundara, situated within the heart of the devotee.”(Brahma-saṁhitā 5.38)

One day, Mahaprabhu was going to the bathroom. Gopal saw Mahaprabhu going to the bathroom. He was going with His tongue held out between His teeth. Gopal asked, “Prabhu, is something wrong?” Mahaprabhu did not say anything—if you bite your tongue, how can you say anything? Mahaprabhu only made some sound in reply and went to the bathroom. Gopal asked Him again, “Prabhu, what is wrong? Why did You go to the bathroom with Your tongue between Your teeth? What has happened to You?” Mahaprabhu explained, “My tongue has become so naughty that even when I go to the bathroom, My tongue wants to chant the holy name!”

Hearing this, Gopal became very serious and said, “Why are You saying this, Prabhu? What is the problem? You can chant everywhere and anywhere.One should chant the holy name at all times and under all circumstances, pure or impure. If you were not able to chant while defecating, how would you be able to have an auspicious death, should death suddenly come upon you at that time? It might be possible that at the time of death the Yamdutas are approaching and the jiva is frightened. According to you, one should not chant at that time also. But it is a strong recommendation…”

itna toh karna swami jab prana tan se nikale,
Govinda naam leke tab prana tan se nikale

“When it is recommended that we should not forget to chant at the time of death then why should one not chant in the bathroom?”

Mahaprabhu said, “Gopal, what you are saying is right! You are my Guru. From today you are no longer Gopal, from now on you will be known as Gopal Guru!”

Later, he was known as Gopala Guru Goswami. He is the one who gave commentary on the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra which we have discussed in the past

Something similar also happened in the life of Tukarama, In the early morning, some karma kandi (one who follows Vedic literatures which recommend fruitive activities and sacrifices for elevation to heavenly planets) came to meet him at his house. He said, “Tukarama? Tukarama? Where is Tukarama? ”

They said that he was not at home right now. The karma kandi asked,”Where is he?”

His family said,”He went to the washroom. You can wait till he comes.” He was waiting for Tukarama. When Tukarama came back he was carrying a lota (a round water pot). This person realised that he had not as yet taken bath and he is chanting “Jai Jai Rama Krsna Hari Jai Jai Rama Krsna Hari. This person was surprised to see that Tukarama was chanting the holy names of the Lord without even taking a bath. This was not right. How was it that he doesn’t know this simple etiquette? Tukarama replied, “What can I do? Sometimes, I also think that one should not chant in this situation, but I can’t stop myself.”

This person said,”You can’t stop yourself. Let me stop you.”

Tukarama replied,” You may help me so that I don’t chant in the washroom or at least before taking bath. Go ahead and help me” This person came and tried to close his mouth with his physical strength. Somehow he closed his mouth. But every pore of his body was chanting the holy names of the Lord. His whole body was chanting the holy names of Lord, just like he was chanting from his mouth.

Once there was a Gaudiya Vaisnava. When he was very ill a doctor came for the check up. When he put his stethoscope to check his heart beat, the doctor also heard some other sound. It was Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. He was surprised. He looked at the face of that Vaisnava. His mouth was shut, but his soul was chanting. Although he was ill, even then he was continuously chanting.

There is one more example of Hanuman. Once Hanuman was going somewhere. He saw someone was chanting Rama Rama. Out of curiosity, Hanuman went to see who was chanting. He saw that one person in a bathroom was chanting Rama Rama. He got angry and kicked him and he said,”While defecating in such an inauspicious place why are you chanting Rama?” Then he left and reached Lord Ramacandra. There he saw some wound marks on the body of Sri Ramacandra. Hanuman enquired about that. Lord Ramacandra replied,” You kicked My devotee in the bathroom while he was chanting. This is that same mark.”

ksipram bhavati dharmatma
sasvac-chantim nigacchati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranasyati

Translation:
He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes. [BG 9.31]

Lord Ramachandra said, ” I was there in the bathroom in the form of My holy name and you kicked him. These are the same marks given by you.” He asked for forgiveness and he realised that he had committed nama apradha and Vaisnava apradha. He also realised that even Lord Ramacandra has permitted that his holy name can be chanted anywhere.

tatrarpita niyamita smarane na kalah
etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah

Translation:
In Your many holy names You have kindly invested all Your transcendental potency. And in chanting these names, there are no strict rules concerning time or place. Out of Your causeless mercy, You have descended in the form of divine sound, but my great misfortune is that I have no love for Your Holy Name.” [Siksastaka Verse 2]

pātrāpātra-vicāra nāhi, nāhi sthānāsthāna
yei yāṅhā pāya, tāṅhā kare prema-dāna

Translation:
In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. Wherever they got the opportunity the members of the Pañca-tattva distributed love of Godhead. [CC Adi Lila 7.23]

Once someone asked Srila Prabhupada, “How can we know that we are chanting properly? ”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “After finishing our 16 rounds, if we still have a desire to chant more, then it is a good sign. It shows that you have a taste fro harinama.”

When we chant offencelessly , we increase our taste in Harinama.

27 July 2020

Attentiveness reaps unlimited rewards!

Hare Krsna! Today there are 830 participants. Now I will do kirtan, and you all will be doing sravan. Sravanam kirtanam That was the way it was done in the forest of Naimisaranya Suta Goswami was doing kirtan and the sages assembled there were doing sravan. Suta Goswami said this in Canto 1, Chapter 3, Verse 44:

tatra kīrtayato viprā
viprarṣer bhūri-tejasaḥ
ahaṁ cādhyagamaṁ tatra
niviṣṭas tad-anugrahāt
so ‘haṁ vaḥ śrāvayiṣyāmi
yathādhītaṁ yathā-mati

Translation
O learned brāhmaṇas, when Śukadeva Gosvāmī recited Bhāgavatam there [in the presence of Emperor Parīkṣit], I heard him with rapt attention, and thus, by his mercy, I learned the Bhāgavatam from that great and powerful sage. Now I shall try to make you hear the very same thing as I learned it from him and as I have realized it. ( SB 1.3.44)

What did Suta Goswami say? Although I cannot explain it in detail, but the one thing I want to draw your attention to, is ahaṁ cādhyagamaṁ, understand the things which Sukadev Goswami was narrating to Pariksit Maharaja. “I realized those things which I had heard.” How was it possible? This is very important to understand. Vinistaha “I heard all the things narrated by Sukadev Goswami with rapt attention, with full concentration, that is why I understood and realized it so well.” He explained two things. First, “I heard it by being ekagra ( in full concentration). Ek – agra means stabilizing the mind, pin pointed on one point. When full concentration is added with bhava, it is ‘Dhyan purvak’. We also call this ‘prem-purvak’.

We should chant with full concentration. Attentive chanting! Dhyan-purvak japa ( with full concentration) or prem-purvak japa ( with love for the Lord). As I was reading the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3. 44 yesterday, I realised that Prabhupada has stressed this concentration aspect immensely. He has written that simple hearing is not all, we should hear with full attention. Here they are talking about the hearing of Srimad Bhagavatam. Suta Goswami said this about the hearing of Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada has also expanded on the same thing. But we have to understand, whether we are hearing Srimad Bhagavatam or we are chanting Harinama, it is the same thing. Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of the Lord. Harinama is also an incarnation of the Lord. Then hearing of Bhagavatam or hearing of Harinama is the same thing. All of the above instructions are applicable to both sravan as well as kirtan. Then it may be kirtan of the form or kirtan of the name or of His qualities and pastimes or about His Dhama. How should we do it? Prabhupad writes, “Simple hearing is not all.” Not with little attention, where the mind is running about here and there. In English they say, ‘spaced out’.

vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo ‘vyavasayinam

Translation
Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.( BG 2.41)

Not focused, not concentrated, our attention is distributed everywhere. This won’t help according to Prabhupāda. One must realise the text with proper attention. It is like when the army or policemen are at leisure, they are chatting and moving around and when they are ordered “Savadhan” by their superiors, when it’s time for the parade, they suddenly become alert with rapt attention. I was also in NCC while in school. We also got this “Savadhan!” order which meant whatever we were doing should be left as it is and with a steady mind, give attention to the parade. Move forward, go back, to the left or right, like that. That was – Savadhan!

The world nivistaha means Suta Goswami drank the juice of Bhagavatam through his ears. Suta Goswami became Savadhan! Then with the steady mind he drank the nectar of Bhagavatam through his ears. We also have to chant, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare by hearing with our ears, with full concentration of the mind.

Prabhupad further writes, “This is the real process of receiving the Bhagavatam. One should hear with rapt attention.” Here Prabhupada is explaining further by elaborating on rapt attention, as fixed attention. “Then at once one can realize the presence of Krsna in every page.” When one hears Bhagavatam with full concentration then it will give the experience of the pastimes of Krsna in the pages of Bhagavatam. Harinama will also give us darsana.

Realize abhinnatvat nam namino: realize that Krsna’s name is not different from Krsna.

“The secret of knowing Bhagvatam is mentioned here”. Prabhupada is mentioning here that the secret of how to approach Bhagavatam has been mentioned. What is the word that he has mentioned? – Attention – with rapt attention. Further he writes about the tools. We keep saying that we have to chant attentively with concentration, but how should one achieve that concentration? How should we become dhyani. For that Prabhupada is giving some tips over here which are very, very important, which I realised when I read it yesterday. So I thought of sharing that with you.

Make a mental note of it, write it down or you can always go to the purport of SB. 1.3.44. “No one can have rapt attention who is not pure in mind.” If we don’t chant or hear or do kirtan with concentration, our mind is not pure. He further writes, “No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action.” If one’s mind is impure , his actions cannot be pure. Further he writes, ” No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating , sleeping, fearing and mating”. Your lifestyle can’t be purified till the time you are not pure in your eating, in your sleep patterns, or mating. One should follow according to the rules and regulations set for mating for Grhastas. There should not be illicit sex. Grhastas are permitted to have sex, but under certain rules and regulations. If they follow those rules and regulations then that action will also be pure.

balam balavatam caham
kama-raga-vivarjitam
dharmaviruddho bhutesu
kamo ‘smi bharatarsabha

Translation
I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna] ( BG. 7.11)

The Lord explains, “Sex life which is not against the principles of religion is Me.” Such sex life is pure. It is said that one should be pure in eating, sleeping, mating and defending. If our actions are pure, then our mind will also be pure. When the mind is pure, then our mind can concentrate on Harinama chanting or hearing it attentively. Have you all noted? Prabhupada has mentioned that if our mind is pure, then our chanting will also be pure. How to purify the mind? If our actions are not pure, then the mind will not be pure.

How to purify our actions? We keep doing various activities.

‘śraddhā’-śabde—viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya (CC Madhya 22.62)

Whatever devotional activities we do throughout the day should be done by observing the do’s and don’t’s of devotional life. There are innumerable activities that we do which can be classified by using various verbs (Kriyapad). Kri is one dhatu, from where various verbs come. In Sanskrit there are around 2000 dhatus, which explain various foundational activities. From that 2000 it expands further to thousands and lakhs of activities which we keep doing. But Prabhupada mentions the four basic activities which the Lord has also mentioned in Bhagavad-GIta – āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca. Other activities are related to these.

Srila Prabhupada has mentioned here that if an activity is correct according to scriptural injunctions then our mind will be pure. When the mind is pure, we can chant attentively. Then we will chant with love.

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya

Translation
Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens. (CC Madhya 22.107)

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya

This love for the name of the Lord is then achieved. What is this kirtan? – Oh! This is Prem-kirtan. This is the way in which it was explained to King Prataparudra.

How can we do this Prem-kirtan? śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya When our mind is purified, then our activities will also be purified. Our hearing and doing kirtan will also be purified. When it is purified, then we can chant attentively. This is the connection. When there is purity, then we can chant attentively, with rapt attention and with love. This was some food for thought for the day. Contemplate on it, because our goal is – Attentive chanting.

There are no announcements today. I am aware we all have a tendency to write something. When we listen to something, we want to talk about it. We want to express our thoughts or it generates some questions in the mind. This must have happened with you all, is it not Aravind Locana? For that we are giving you some minutes to write. Oh! I got it! I understood this! Then you must have thought in your mind. This action of mine – eating mating sleeping defending – was not happening in a pure manner. Like that if you have made up your mind about some such thing which you will not do from now on. In this way if anyone wants to write, they can write. Others can continue chanting.

Today is Sanket’s birthday. Prerana is not chanting. We are wishing your brother a Happy Birthday and you are not chanting? Oh, is there a party? Have a good day! Happy day! Chant Hare Krsna and be happy every day. Make some determination to chant a certain number of rounds everyday. Perform some religious activities.

If you have any questions, answers to those questions are being given. Haridas Thakur has written some answers. Well done! Do read the answers to those questions on Facebook. Now you have understood something, then share your realisations with others. Do some bodhayantaḥ parasparam. Share things with family members and among counsellor and counselees. When you are preaching online or otherwise, then whatever you hear and understand in the session, share with others.

so ‘ham vah sravayishyami – that’s what Suta Goswami said to Saunak and the other munis. He said, “Whatever I have heard and understood I will explain to you.” Suta Goswami heard attentively from Sukadev Goswami. He also has written – anugrahat which means, “ Whatever I could hear is not only due to my endeavours. I have done my efforts, but it is also the result of your mercy.” God helps those who help themselves. This way Suta Goswami is explaining. Two factors are required, our endeavours and your mercy. The way mother Yasoda attempted to tie Krsna to the mortar. Although she was failing to do so she kept endeavouring with enthusiasm and determination. Then the Lord showered His mercy and allowed to be tied up. We learn from that pastime , devotees try to achieve the Lord by doing Sadhana and when the Lord sees his efforts, then He showers His mercy, then

kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha’te

When you shake hands, one person forwards his hand and then other one also does the same. Only then is some union possible. There are two parties. Guru and Gauranga is one party and we, sadhakas are another party. Actually we are not the other party, but the same party. The other party is Maya.

Pandavas vijayastu pandu-putranam yesham pakshe janardana

Janhavi Ganga, have you heard this before? That party, who is in Krsna’s party is undoubtedly victorious. You should also be in Krsna’s party. Follow the opinion of the Lord. Aapali mate konala? ( Whom do you vote for) This is Marathi. We vote for Krsna. Don’t get entangled in different thought processes. Follow the Lord’s guidelines, then you are from His party. At the end of Bhagavad-Gita it is said,

yatra yogesvarah krsno
yatra partho dhanur-dharah
tatra srir vijayo bhutir
dhruva nitir matir mama

Translation
Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion. ( BG 18.78)

Bhagavad-Gita is completed with this concluding verse.

26th July 2020

Radharani in Caitanya lila

Chanting is taking place from 808 locations. Today is Sunday morning. Devotees from Australia are also chanting. Welcome, you all. Gauranga! Stop chatting. There will be an announcement at the end of this talk to tell us what to do and what not.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya.
rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād
ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ
rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

Translation:
The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now, these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Radha and Krsna are one. Despite any differences, one soul becomes two. One is Krsna and the other is Radharani. They become Radha Krsna. 500 years ago those two souls became one as Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami explains that Krsna accepted the mood of Radharani and also the complexion of Rādhā and became Sri Krsna Caitanya.They are one, but in Vrindavan, they become two and in Navadvipa they become one – two in one that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

antaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ bahir gauraṁ
darśitāṅgādi-vaibhavam
kalau saṅkīrtanādyaiḥ sma
kṛṣṇa-caitanyam āśritāḥ

Translation:
“I take shelter of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is outwardly of a fair complexion but is inwardly Kṛṣṇa Himself. In this Age of Kali He displays His expansions [His aṅgas and upāṅgas] by performing congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.”

When They become one, inside is Krsna (syama) and outside is Gaura (fair, Radharani’s complexion). Krsna has externally accepted the complexion of Radharani, so Shyamsundar becomes Gaurasundar. He accepts the mood of Srimati Radharani.

naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

I bow down to such a form. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s form, Radharani is with Krsna. They are one. Thus Caitanya Svarupa is formed. In the Prakat Lila of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Radharani also appears as one of the Pancatattva members as Gadadhar pandit.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

dakhiṇe nitāicāńd, bāme gadādhara
nikaṭe advaita, śrīnivāsa chatra-dhara

Translation:
On Lord Caitanya’s right side is Lord Nityananda and on His left is Sri Gadadhara. Nearby stands Sri Advaita, and Srivasa Thakura is holding an umbrella over Lord Caitanya’s head. [ Gauri Aarti Verse 2]

The Pancatattva are present in front of us when we take darsana in Mayapur Candrodiya Temple. We see that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in the middle and on His left side is Gadadhar Pandit. That is Radharani in the form of Gadadhar Pandit to participate in the pastimes in Caitanya Lila.
When we talk about Deity worship or Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Worship, we worship Pancatattva, or Caitanya and Nityananda, as Gaura Nitai. Here we worship Krsna and Balarama.

brajendra-nandana jei, śacī-suta hoilo sei,
balarāma hoilo nitāi.

Translation:
Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Śacī, and Balarāma became Nitāi.

The son of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna has appeared as Caitanya and Balarama appeared as Nitai. They are the fathers of the Sankirtana movement. We also worship Gaur and Gadadhar together. When we go to Yogapitha for darsana, we see Nimai under the Neem tree, further on in the parikrama we see the Deities of Gaur Gadadhar.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura worshipped Gaura Gadadhar at Godrumdvipa, where his samadhi is. Worshipping Gaur Gadadhar is worshipping Radha and Krsna. Gaura is Krsna and Gadadhar is Radharani. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is both Radha and Krsna. Radharani appears as Gadadhar Pandit.

One more Radharani appeared as Sri Gadadhar. One is Gadadhar Pandit and the other is Sri Gadadhar. This Sri Gadadhar is the effulgence of Srimati Radharani. Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu “What are you doing here? Go to Jagannatha Puri, go to Bengal and preach there.” Nityananda went with so many devotees. Among them, Sri Gadadhar was also there. Sri Gadadhar once went to meet Chand Kazi to ask him to say, ‘Hare Krsna or ‘Haribol.’ Chand Kazi said, “I will chant Haribol tomorrow.” Sri Gadadhar got excited and said, “You have chanted it today”. He would come in the mood of Radharani and start acting like the Gopis. He would take the pot and say, “Take curd. Take butter. Take Damodar. Take Madhav” in the mood of Vrindavan. This is the third Radharani. Jagadananda Pandit was also part of Gaura Lila and a close associate of Mahaprabhu. He was Sri Satyabhama of Dvaraka. Vrindavan’s Radharani herself expands as Satyabhama of Dvaraka and this expansion appears as Jagadananda Pandit in Gaura Lila. Gadadhar Pandit, Sri Gadadhar, or Jagadananda Pandit, their external bodies are male, but their mood is feminine, like that of the Gopis. The same happens with the Goswamis.

They are also Manjaris who have appeared in Gaura Lila. When we read the pastimes of Jagadananda Pandit we can easily make out that this must be Satyabhama of Dvaraka. He also lived in Jagannatha Puri with Mahaprabhu. Svarupa Damodar, who was Mahaprabhu’s secretary at Puri, is Lalita Sakhi and Raya Ramananda, who was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, is Vishakha. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the banks of the Godavari and met Vishakha, He could not hide His identity. He revealed himself as Sri Krsna and Srimati Radharani united. Raya Ramananda saw the dual form. Raya Ramananda had taken early retirement and came to Jagannatha Puri for Mahaprabhu’s association. Both Swarupa Damodar (Lalita) and Raya Ramananda (Vishakha) were the companions of Mahaprabhu in Gambhira at Puri, just like Lalita and Vishakha were accompanying Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Radha Krsna and His Dhama is Navadvipa, also non-different from Sri Vrindavan Dhama.

25 July 2020

Religion without philosophy is sentimentalism

jaya śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya nityānanda; jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura bhakta vrṇda

Translation:
O Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all glories to You. O Prabhu Nityananda, all glories to You. O Lord Advaitacandra, all glories to You. O devotees of Lord Gauranga, all glories to you all.[Jaya Jaya Sri Krsna Caitanya Nityananda Song verse 1 by Narottama Dasa Thakura].

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Chanting is taking place from 818 locations.

That Gopinath who was served by Mukunda Datta and offered food by Sri Raghunandana is still there in Shrikhand, even today. Still the worship of Lord Gopinath is continuing. He still has that half laddu in His hand which He had left half eaten. Even today when devotees take darsana they can see that laddu.

Yesterday during our discussion, some devotee asked whether Mukunda Dasa and Mukunda Datta are the same.

The answer is they are not the same. Haridas Prabhu tried to answer this question. Earlier I told you or an announcement is going to be made that when the questions are being asked, the answers can be given by those who know it. Syamalata Mataji is asking questions. She keeps on asking questions. Before asking questions, you should do some research. Search the answers given by sadhu, sastra and acarya. You can ask your Siksa Guru. You all should have a counsellor. Take help from those who are older than you on this path and have more experience and knowledge. If you have more faith in them, accept them as a guide, friend and philosopher. You have to read Prabhupada’s books. You have to read more, as you have so many questions. You have to keep Prabhupada books in your home. Not only should you keep and worship, but there should be nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. You are chanting extra rounds on Ēkādaśī and during Caturmasya. It is welcomed. It can be called dharma. But along with it, philosophy is also important. Knowing tattva is very important. Prabhupada always repeated about religion and philosophy. Prabhupada said, “Books are the basis.” Sastras supports Dharma.

This Mukunda Datta was a companion and classmate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was famous as the best singer of Mahaprabhu’s Mandali. Mukunda Dasa was a doctor of Shrikhand and Mukunda Datta was a singer of Navadvipa. Try to research it, but you have to know that they are both different.

(kiba) jaya jaya gorācāńder āratiko śobhā
jāhnavī-tatạ -vane jaga-mana-lobhā
jaga-jana-mana-lobhā

Translation:
All glories, all glories to the beautiful Arati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. This Gaura-arati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi (Ganges) and is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.[ Gaura Arati Verse 1]

The Sandhya Arati which we sing regularly, also has the name of Mukunda. You should know this Arati.

narahari-ādi kori’ cāmara dhulāya
sañjaya-mukandaa-bāsu-ghos-̣ ādi gāya

Translation:
Narahari Sarakara and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with camaras, and devotees headed by Sanjaya Pandita, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosa sing sweet kirtana. [ Gaura Arati Verse 4]

It has been said here that Mukunda and Vasu Ghosa are singing.

bosiyāche gorācāńd ratna-siḿhāsane
ārati koren brahmā-ādi deva-gaṇe

Translation:
Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jewelled throne, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, perform the arati ceremony. [ Gaura Arati Verse 3]

Mukunda Datta’s name is mentioned in Gaura Arti. He also went to Jagannatha Puri with Mahaprabhu. The Mukunda who is mentioned in the Sandhya arati is the singer, Mukunda Datta. The arati was taking place on the banks of River Ganga in Navadvipa. It is this Mukunda Datta who was singing during the arati. He was an associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Someone asked about Raghunath Das Goswami.

We all should know about Raghunath Dasa Goswami as we are becoming Gaudiya Vaisnavas. He is one of our six Goswamis. He was the son of a landlord. You are not reading books like Caitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mangal, or Caitanya Bhagavat. There are so many scriptures. There are many books about Goswamis as well. We must read them. In our Vaisnava calendar, we have special days of appearance and disappearance of Goswamis and Acaryas. We must try to read about them on these days. In Adil ila of Caitanya -caritamrta, you can get a lot of information about many devotees. For your information, there is a book entitled Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika written by Sri Kavi Karnapura. It describes the identities of the prominent associates and followers of Sri Caitanya, in krsna-lila. Like Mukunda Datta was Vrinda Devi in Krsna Lila. Gaura Gano means the devotees of Lord Gaura. This book is worth reading. You have to get it from somewhere. You have to read it. You have to become a student. We are all students. We must study the textbooks. We have a syllabus and we have teachers. Gurus, Acaryas and Siksa Gurus teach us. We should also do self-study. Bhakti Sastri courses are also there. There are daily sloka wise Bhagavatam classes in the temple. You can go to the temple or hear online.

A Sloka a day keeps Maya away. We need to get trained in this way. Then we can become firm and develop devotional life. All these Gaudiya Vaisnavas are exemplary heroes for us. So-called heroes of Bollywood and Hollywood, make them zeroes. Their value in our life should be zero. There are many other people like politicians or scientists or any other such materialistic people who influence our minds. We must leave them. We should make our Gaudiya Vaisnava Acaryas our heroes. We must learn their teachings and try to follow them. There are many more Acaryas in other scriptures like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavatam. There are Gaudiya Vaisnava devotees. Many ancient devotees appeared again in Caitanya Lila. Sanatan Goswami says if we want to become a Gaudiya Vaisnava then following the Vaisnava Acaryas is more important for us, because they were the devotees of Braja.

They teach us Braja bhakti. All four Sampradayas have their Acaryas. Among all these sampradaya Vaisnavas, the Gaudiyas are special. We have to follow them so that we can also learn Braja Bhakti. We keep on talking about the 4 rasas: dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa, and madhurya-rasa. We must have such examples in our minds to keep friendship, parental or conjugal love, but we must have clarity. One is Aiswarya mishrit and another is Vishrambha. This Vishrambha Sakhya, Vatsalya Madhurya belongs to Vrindavan.

aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam
ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena va kalpita

We are the worshippers of this Vishrambha mood. Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His associates all together teach this. They relished it and also gave it to us by establishing it. Their Katha and their teachings are most essential for us. It will encourage you to become devotees of a similar mood. In Marathi, there’s a saying – see and understand the character of all these great Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas and then follow them and take the lesson from it.

You are given some time to write your questions and realizations in the chat. Kanaka from America has been detected positive for Coronavirus. Pray for him. You can write to him that you are praying. If someone has a birthday, wish them.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

If you know them, you can write their glorification. In this way, you can communicate with all. If you know the answer to their queries, you can answer them.

guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati. If you are answering, then it is prīti-lakṣaṇam. It is the symptom of love. This multi-dimensional, inter-relationship is not only with me. It should also be among all of you who are present here today, and your neighbours and all devotees. This is how it will develop in Goloka. We are a family so we should have a give and take relationship, ask and answer.

You should visit the Facebook page to read these messages, all the questions, their answers, birthdays and other information is all available there. You can get your answers as well on the page.

Hare Krsna to you all.
Gaur Premanande

24 July 2020

The Deity is the Lord Himself

Hare Krishna! Many people have gathered from 820 places like Australia, Mauritius, Poland, Middle East, Ukraine, etc. Gaura premanande Hari Hari bol!

Today is the disappearance day of Vamsidas Babaji and Raghunandana Thakura. We will remember only Raghunandana Thakura due to lack of time.

je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur

Translation
He, who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy–where has such a personality as Advaita Acarya gone? (Je Anilo Prema Dhana Koruna Pracura, Swa Parsada Bhagavad Viraha Janita Vilapa Song 1, Narottama Dasa Thakura)

Raghunandana Thakura was with us but where did he go? We already know the answer. Our ācāryas go back to the Lord in His Nitya-lila. It’s a matter of grief that we are deprived of his association. And at the same time, it’s a matter of joy that he now has the association of the Lord on this day.

Raghunandana Thakura was from Srikhanda Kśetra, not the one which we eat. This place is very famous and a mine of extraordinary devotees. During Caturmasya, many devotees of Srikhanda go to Jagannatha Puri to practice devotional service. Srikhanda is near Katva, the place where Śrī Krsna Caitanya Mahāprabhu took sannyāsa.

Three brothers resided there, namely Mukunda Dasa, Madhava Dasa and Narahari Sarkar Dasa. Mukunda Dasa was the incarnation of Vrinda Devi and his son was Raghunandana Thakura. What to say of a father like him! He was a doctor by profession.

One time, when Raghunandana was 5 years old, his father wanted to go out of town. Before going, he informed his son, “Lord Gopinātha has been worshiped by our ancestors for a long time. Now it’s our time to worship Him. I have to go somewhere today, and I am giving this responsibility to you today. Worship Him nicely. Cook and offer bhoga to the Lord to fully satisfy Him.” Raghunandana Thakura was on duty that day in serving Lord Gopinātha. His mother must have cooked the bhoga as he was just 5 years old. Raghunandana innocently took the naivaidya (bhoga) to Lord Gopinātha and placed the plate in front of Him. Due to his innocence, he thought that Krsna would step out of His Deity, put His murali (flute) aside and eat the bhoga with His hands. But nothing of that sort happened. Then he pleaded, “Oh Lord! It is the time for You to eat. Why are You not eating? Please eat. My father instructed me to serve You nicely and offer You bhoga. Please accept this bhoga, Oh Lord!” Raghunandana was very innocent. Thus he kept requesting as the Lord is ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno.

ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno
hy asvatantra iva dvija
sādhubhir grasta-hṛdayo
bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ

Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said to the brāhmaṇa: I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me. (ŚB 9.4.63)

The Lord said that He is under the control of His devotees. Due to His compassion and love, Gopinātha ate each and every item of bhoga that was offered to Him and the bhoga plate was empty. He may also have licked His fingers. After some time, Mukunda returned and inquired from his son whether he had offered the bhoga timely. His son replied, “Yes”. Because Mukunda was hungry, he asked for mahā prasāda (remnants of the bhoga). As soon as Raghunandana heard this he said, “The Lord ate everything. He didn’t leave anything for me as well.” Mukunda was astonished and couldn’t believe it. Now Mukunda wanted to experience this personally.

The next day, he again asked Raghunandana to offer bhoga to the Lord as he pretended that he had to go out that day also. Raghunandana offered the bhoga plate to the Lord and he requested Gopinātha in the same way. The time Raghunandana was offering bhoga, Mukunda came to see whether the Lord was really accepting the bhoga from his son. He was hiding and watching. Mukunda saw that the Lord had just started eating the bhoga. He had broken half a laddu and was eating it when Gopinātha saw that Mukunda was watching Him, He stopped eating. After having this darsana, Mukunda was overwhelmed with love for the Lord. He embraced his son Raghunandana and said, “Well done! You are really a great devotee.”

This is a small pastime which is enough to say about this great ācārya Raghunandana Thakura. The Lord really ate everything Raghunandana offered with love and devotion. So much affection and faith he had for the vigraha (Deity) of the Lord. Vigraha is an incarnation of the Lord.

kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra
nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra

Translation
In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. (CC Ādi 17.22)

The Lord manifests Himself in the form of His name and also as a Deity. Ācāryas request the Lord to descend and take the form of a Deity and install prāna (life) in this form. On the occasion of the disappearance day of Raghunandana Thakura, we pray to him and ask for his mercy to bestow love and faith for the Deity he had. During Deity worship, we should also do kirtana. Deity worship, reciting of different mantras or glorification of the Lord is completed when performed with kirtana.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

Translation
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. (BG. 18.65)

The Lord said, “Remember Me.” We can remember the Lord’s Deity also. We can become a devotee of the Deity. We see some are devotees of Shrinathji, Giriraja, Pandharinatha, Jagannatha or Sri Rama. Then the Lord said, “Worship Me”. We can worship the Deity or even a photo of the Lord. We can offer our obeisances to the Deity that will directly reach the Lord, with the faith and understanding that the Deities in the temple are the Lord Himself. Śrila Prabhupāda said, “We should offer obeisances to the Deity as soon as we enter the temple and then when we go near altar. That is Krishna consciousness.”

The Lord shows miracles from time to time like He showed Raghunandana Thakura. When we remember all these incidents, our faith in the Deity increases.

Sākshi Gopāla said to the Brāhmana, “I am a Deity. I can’t walk.” But the young Brāhmana said, “If You can speak, can’t You walk?” Lord was defeated by the love of the devotee and walked. The Lord gave many other examples like this where our ācāryas reciprocated with the Lord’s deity.

Raghunandana Thakura was a great ācārya. Once Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Mukunda Dasa, “Who is the father and who is the son from you both?” Mukunda Dasa replied, “Raghunandana is my father and I am his son.” He twisted the answer or he might be right as Raghunandana was a great devotee. Hearing this, Śrī Krsna Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased.

We will stop here. Have a good day! If you have any questions or comments, you can write on the chat session. Thank you for not writing pranāms (obeisances) during japa. This has shown your mind control.

vāco vegaṁ manasaḥ krodha-vegaṁ
jihvā-vegam udaropastha-vegam
etān vegān yo viṣaheta dhīraḥ
sarvām apīmāṁ pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt

Translation
A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind’s demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world. (Text 1, The Nectar of Instruction)

As Padmamali Prabhu has said, “Offer your pranāms, but don’t write it”. I am happy that you are not writing pranāms now. We need to establish this kind of culture during japa and more importantly during japa talk as the transcriber needs to transcribe the japa talk in English. We will give you some time at the end of the japa talk if you would like to write or communicate. You are welcome to share your realisations with everyone attending the japa talk. Now is the time you can write pranāms if you wish to. Your comments and realisations are published on Loksanga. Make a habit to read these realisations. You can again hear the japa talk on Youtube and read the transcription in English, Hindi, Russian or Marathi. You can also share this with your friends and relatives.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Translation
Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land. (CC Madhya 7.128)

You can also give your association to others. Take association in morning here and then give association to others during the day. Give and take. Only taking is not a good policy.

Akincan Bhakta reported that he had organised a very big ratha yatra in his village. You can read about it. We give you the response if you write. You can read some other comments or questions or you can also give the answers to the questions asked. This way it can begin bodhayantaḥ parasparam and guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati.

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. (BG 10.9)

dadāti pratigṛhṇāti
guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati
bhuṅkte bhojayate caiva
ṣaḍ-vidhaṁ prīti-lakṣaṇam

Translation
Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasāda and offering prasāda are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another. (Text 4, The Nectar of Instruction)

You can communicate with each other on this conference or you can comment on some other comments. You can also give appreciation.

Ok see you later.
Hare Krishna!

23 July 2020

‘Krsne matir astu’

Hare Krishna! We have participants from 888 locations today.

Sri Krsna Janmastami Mahotsava ki jai! Balarama Purnima Mahotsava ki jai!

Both festivals are approaching and hence temple authorities and congregational devotees will be engaged in making arrangements. Once one of the reporters asked Śrila Prabhupāda whether God is some kind of concept?

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā
mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto
mama bhūta-maheśvaram

Translation
Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be. (BG. 9.11)

There are so many foolish people in this world, as the Lord has said, who do not know the transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord. Śrila Prabhupāda replied to the reporter, “God is not a concept, but He is a person like you and me.” It does not mean that we start thinking, ‘God is like me or I am like God.’ We need to use ‘acintya bheda abheda tattva’ here. It all starts with whether the Lord exists or not? Maya has made conditioned souls illusional in this manner.

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

Translation
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. (BG. 7.14)

What is the proof that the Lord exists? The Lord appears to give proof. Although the Lord is present all the time and His pastimes are always going on in Goloka and Vrindavan, He appears from time to time.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I, Myself appear, millennium after millennium. (BG. 4.8)

The Lord appears to prove that He is the Lord. He looks like this. This is the truth and it is written in all the scriptures. Krsna Janmastami is approaching. When, where and why had the Lord appeared? How does He look? All these facts and information is available and it’s accurate. I got to know this in a dictionary. Lord appeared 5227 years ago. Now 2020 AD is going on. 3102 years Before Christ, Lord returned to His abode. From that day Kaliyuga began. Kaliyuga is 5122 years old. The Lord’s manifest pastimes continued for 125 years, from birth to disappearance. The Lord has nothing to do with death.

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Translation
For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. (BG. 2.20)

There is neither birth nor death for the soul. Then how does this apply to the Lord? The Lord appeared and then He displayed His pastimes for 125 years. Svadham … syam tyakva svapadam gatah. The Lord disappeared 3102 years BC. AC 2020 years have gone. When we total, it comes to 5247 years. What else is required?

On which day did the Lord appear? – It was a Wednesday.
Where? – In a prison house in Mathura He became the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Gopala Gopala Devaki Nandana Gopala…..
What was the time? It was exactly at midnight.

He then went to Gokula. Vasudeva took Him to Gokula. Then all His pastimes took place in Gokula and Vrindavan. He again returned to Mathura. He went to Ujjain and Avantipur. After that He went to Sandipani Muni’s asrama. Thereafter He went to Dvaraka where He had 16108 marriages. All this information is available with the names of His wives and His sons. Information regarding the Lord’s name, His form, qualities, pastimes, abode and associates are all given.

dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre
samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva
kim akurvata sañjaya

Translation
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pāṇḍu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukṣetra, desiring to fight, what did they do? (BG. 1.1)

Then the Lord goes to Kurukśetra where a battle took place. One time Śrila Prabhupāda was travelling by train from Amritsar to Delhi with his disciples and the train stopped at Kurukśetra. Śrila Prabhupāda showed the place where Krsna became the chariot driver (Sarathi) of Arjuna and is therefore also known as Parthasarathi.

senayor ubhayor madhye
rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta
yāvad etān nirīkṣe ’haṁ
yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam
asmin raṇa-samudyame

Translation
Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms. (BG. 1.21-22)

You can visit the exact location where the Lord took the chariot between the two armies. Mahatma Gandhi didn’t have faith that the Lord was there in Kurukśetra. He was saying that if this can be proven, then he would resign from the Hindu religion. His thinking was different. He was thinking how the Lord can inspire Arjuna to participate in violence. Mahatma Gandhi has misunderstood the concept of violence. There are various reasons due to which people don’t accept the existence of the Lord and if they do accept, then they call Him formless.

nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti
loko mām ajam avyayam

Translation
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible. (BG. 7.25)

The Lord does not manifest Himself in front of everyone. He covers Himself with His internal potency.

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

Translation
As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā. (BG. 4.11)

The Lord manifests Himself to the one who surrenders unto Him. If someone has zero faith in the Lord, his knowledge about the Lord is also zero. Conditioned souls don’t have knowledge about the Lord.

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

Translation
I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. (BG. 15.15)

Lord has compiled the Vedas and Puranas to give knowledge of His existence.

māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna
jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa

Translation
The conditioned soul cannot revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Kṛṣṇa compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Purāṇas. (CC Madhya 20.122)

The Lord has compiled śastras so that the conditioned souls can know Him. Can you celebrate Janmastami for an impersonal aspect of the Lord?

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

Translation
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. (BG. 18.65)

How will you offer obeisances to an impersonal aspect of the Lord? How will you become a devotee of Brahman (impersonal effulgence)?

Aham Brahmasmi, impersonalists increase their ego to such an extent that they can’t worship the Lord. They themselves want to be God or Brahman and not a devotee. There is also a misunderstanding that the Lord came from Brahman. But actually the Lord is the source of Brahman and paramātmā.

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. (ŚB 1.2.11)

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham
amṛtasyāvyayasya ca
śāśvatasya ca dharmasya
sukhasyaikāntikasya ca

Translation
And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is immortal, imperishable and eternal and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness. (BG. 14.27)

The Lord has explained that He is the source of the impersonal Brahman. The world is under illusion and by hearing words of such souls under illusion and impersonalists, we also become illusional.

Mayavadi Krsna Aparādhi

There are many mayavadis, impersonalists, materialists, Gandhivadis. Today everyone is preaching Individualism. We need to hear about the Lord and the ācāryas by studying Bhagavad-gītā and other śastras so that we can distinguish between right and wrong.

For now we will stop here.

Hare Krishna!
Gaura prema nande Hari Haribol!

22 June 2020

Become the Intelligent Driver!

Hare Krishna. Welcome to all in the Japa Talk session. Today devotees from 907 locations are chanting with us. Japa talk is nityam bhagvata sevaya. You should think about the Japa talk. It is food for thought. This way our intelligence will get developed and we will all become intelligent to know who is Krsna (Krsna tattva) and what is Maya ( Material tattva).

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said, ’kṛṣṇe matir astu’ bali’ gosāñi kahila

Offering his obeisances to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Namo nārāyaṇāya” [“I offer my obeisances to Nārāyaṇa”].

” In return, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Kṛṣṇe matir astu” [“Let your attention be on Kṛṣṇa”].” [CC Madhya Lila 6.48]

Mayavadis are not very intelligent, because they have misconceptions about God. The Lord gives intelligence to His devotees.

īśhvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛid-deśhe ‘rjuna tiṣhṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā

Translation
The Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings, O Arjun. According to their karmas, he directs the wanderings of the souls, who are seated on a machine made of the material energy. [BG 18.61]

May you also get intelligence. Intelligence drives our life just like driver or pilot. This body has been called a vehicle which is made of 5 elements. Maya is also there in the form of mind, intelligence and false ego. They are also part of this vehicle. Maya influences these subtle parts and steals the intelligence. If we are intelligent then we will drive our machine properly. Wherever there are pits, we will avoid them just like an intelligent driver does. If a driver is a drunkard then surely he will end up in the pit. Similarly due to worldly thoughts we will be making our rounds in this world. 8.4 million species means there are those many machines. The soul is the passenger. Due to Karma, the soul sometimes receives a stationary body as in a tree and sometimes a moving body, like it may be able to fly in the body of a mosquito or bird. By the Lord’s mercy we get this rare human form of life. The human form of life is the best of all the species because in this human species we can get such knowledge. In other species our knowledge is just related to eating, sleeping, mating and defending.

Ahara Nidra Bhaya Maithunam Cha
Samanam Etat Pashubhir Naranam l
Buddhir Hi Tesham Adhiko Visheshaha
Buddhya Vihinaha Pashubhirsamanaha ll

Translation
Food, sleep, fear and procreation are common between humans and animals. However, it is the buddhi alone (and the subsequent ability to wilfully perform dharma) sets a human being apart. A human who disuses (or abuses) this right is comparable to an animal. [Hito-updesh]

There is nothing special about this. This goes on in every species such as cats and dogs. It is only in this human life that we can realize about religion and follow dharma.

teṣhāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te

Translation
To those whose minds are always united with me in loving devotion, I give the divine knowledge by which they can attain me. [BG 10.10]

In the human form the Lord gives us that kind of intelligence. If we have received a human body and we only eat, mate and sleep, then we are wasting our human life. We are knowingly drinking poison, if we don’t utilize this human life to sing the glories of Radha Krsna. In the human form it is our duty to fix our intelligence in Krsna. I pray to the Lord to give you this intelligence. kṛṣṇe matir astu. [Isvar, Allah tero nama sabko sabmatti de bhagwan]

We have to read Vedas, Puranas in authoritative succession. All scriptures say that Guru, Sadhu and Sastra are three pramans and we have to follow their instructions.[Tukarama Maharaja and our acaryas have said it. Then we just need to hear from the authorities.]

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā
upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ

Translation
Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth. [BG 4.34 ]

We need to hear from authorities that Krsna is kind and hence He is guiding us from within. The Lord is the topmost authority. When we get such intelligence then as we are sitting in this vehicle, we first decide our destination then we turn on our engine. The soul is sitting within this vehicle, intelligence is the driver, holding the ropes. There are 5 horses which are the senses. The ropes driving the horses are in the hands of intelligence which is the mind. If the driver understands that he has to go to Vaikuntha, Vrindavan or an ISKCON temple to serve, then intelligence is settled.

sarvasya chāhaṁ hṛidi sanniviṣhṭo
mattaḥ smṛitir jñānam apohanaṁ cha
vedaiśh cha sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛid veda-vid eva chāham

Translation
I am seated in the hearts of all living beings, and from Me come memory, knowledge, as well as forgetfulness. I alone am to be known by all the Vedas, am the author of the Vedānt, and the knower of the meaning of the Vedas.[BG 15.15]

When the jiva does devotional services the Lord gives it remembrance. The Lord is sitting there within our heart. We have to fix our intelligence to go to Bhagavata dhama only, not to merge in Brahma Jyoti, Swarga and Narga, etc. If we have the realization that we are part and parcel, servants of Krsna then the intelligence is working properly and it will avoid all the pits and obstacles and reach Bhagavata dhama directly.

āmhī jāto āpulyā gāvā |
āmacā rāma rāma ghyāvā ||1||

tumacī āmacī he ci bheṭī |
yethuniyāṁ janmatuṭī ||2||

Translation
Tukarama Maharaja said, “I am going back to my home, ie Godhead. I pay my obeisances. Rama, Rama to everyone! This is a gift for you to say Vitthal-Vitthal or Ram Krsna from your mouth. I am going back to my home Vaikuntha.” [Tukarama Maharaja Abhanga]

If intelligence realises this then it directs the life avoiding the pits, it directs us to our home. We need to understand this. Before sitting in a vehicle we need to understand where we are going.

ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-
sthita-dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya

Translation
O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krsna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet. [Siksastakam 5]

In this way you can prepare yourselves. Don’t procrastinate. We have already lost many births by such low thinking – eating, sleeping and mating.

ṛṇaṁ kṛtvā ghṛtaṁ pibet
yāvajjīvetsukhaṁ jīvet
bhasmībhūtasya dehasya kutaḥ
punarāgamanaṁ bhavet

Translation
Even if one has to go in debt, as long as one lives, he should live happily bye eating as much ghee as possible. Since the material body simply becomes ashes at death, how will it ever come to life again? [Carvaka Muni]

A Communist leader in Russia once said to Srila Prabhupada that if a body is finished then everything is finished. Many people of this world have brainwashed us. Make a strategy that we will lead this life in a different way. We are telling you what is that difference. Srila Prabhupada said that every devotee should be independently thoughtful. You should be having thoughts of acaryas and scriptures. This is high thinking. Just as Prahlada Maharaja has said that sex life and other activities of grhamedhis are very cheap, we have to leave this low thinking and receive higher thinking. We need to become like Father, like son.

hank you!
Hare Krishna!

21st July 2020

Are you busier than Lord Brahma?

Hare Krishna. Welcome all to this Japa conference. Today participants from 954 locations are chanting. In each other’s association we chant attentively. I really like this company. Thank you for giving us your association. We get inspiration to chant when we see others chanting. This is mock psychology. When we see others chanting, we become more attentive and serious in our chanting. We think like this, “Everyone is chanting. I am not the only mad one. I should also chant.” These thoughts may come in our minds. In this way we inspire each other. I therefore request everyone to join in with the maximum numbers possible. Devotees of ISKCON Nagpur are also joining us. Many brahmacaris and other devotees are giving their association. We get their association too. Keep on chanting.

How long we should chant? Until we become liberated and our japa becomes suddha nama japa (chanting with love of God).

We taught you about this before:

1) Nama-aparadha: chanting with offence
2) Nama-abhasa: chanting as a liberated person
3) Suddha nama: chanting with love of God

Our aim is suddha nama japa. This means that we have been completely purified and then we are chanting the Lord’s name. The Lord is holy and pure and chanting is the holy Lord’s association.

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.’ [CC Madhya 17.133]

This is glorification of His holy name. The Lord’s name is nothing, but the Lord. How is the Lord or His name? Nitya mukta suddha purna means eternal, liberated, pure and complete.

When our japa is free from offences, then that is perfection. Then we are with the Lord. We have to practice this. How can we perform suddha nama japa? This takes practice. Keep on practicing.

sri-bhagavan uvaca
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate

Translation:
The blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment. [BG 6.35]

How much to chant within this practice?

sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih means being engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord with a fixed number.

We also have a fixed number – a minimum of 16 rounds. Maybe you have taken a resolution to chant more number of rounds on Ekadasi, Caturmasya or any festival. Chant a fixed number. We have to perform this sankhyapurvak (chant a fixed number of rounds). The six Goswamis didn’t need to chant sankhyapurvak, but they chanted as they were acaryas and setting an example for us. With humility they chanted a fixed number of rounds.

In our parampara, Srila Haridas Thakur is exemplary as he is our Namacarya. He is Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma became Srila Haridas Thakur. Lord Brahma is our acarya. Chanting is our religion in this age of Kali. (Harer namaiva kevalam)

He came to establish the religion of this age. Lord Brahma is our acarya. ISKCON belongs to Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya that is why our Acraya is Lord Brahma. Actually He is the busiest person in the universe. He has so much to do that just one head, one face is not enough to complete all the work. That is why he has four faces and four heads. We can imagine how busy he is. There is no comparison with us. He is so busy, still he is chanting. He took leave from his business and is chanting with us. We are not as busy as Lord Brahma. He became Namacarya and inspired all jivas (souls) in Kaliyuga to chant.

We always endeavour for happiness, but all our efforts go in vain. We are always in search of happiness and we may also get some happiness, but that happiness turns into misery. If you want any happiness then be ready for misery also. It is like a package. You will not only get happiness. There will always be a tag of misery attached. Sooner or later that happiness turns into misery. What didn’t we do to achieve happiness? The Jiva (souls) are always running from one place to another just to get happiness. Now let’s sit down and chant. Lord Brahma also sat down and chanted. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy. He took his beads and sat down to chant. He took leave from his business of creation and everything else. We also tried running here and there, entered into so many species just to get happiness. We also tried, but what we received is Coronavirus. Or old age is there. Then death comes and everything is finished.

In a similar way there are many varieties of miseries. Lakhs of miseries are there in this world. Why don’t we try something else? We have tried everything, but we didn’t receive any happiness. So now let’s sit down and chant the holy names. You can also explain this to everyone. I am explaining it to you and you tell others. You might have understood this, that is why you are chanting or you might be chanting, but are not very serious about it. Your mind is running and saying, “Why are you chanting?” Whatever I am saying applies to you as well as everyone else.

Namacarya Haridas Thakur chanted a fixed number of rounds. He chanted 3 lakh holy names of the Lord daily. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also accepted prasada only in such homes where there are lakhpati grhasta devotees, meaning those devotees who chanted 1 lakh holy names.

Material persons always say that when they have free time, then they will go to Vrindavan, go to temple, read Gita and Bhagavatam. We don’t have time to die. I remember once Radha Govind Swami Maharaja was saying that people say we will chant if we get free time. He was saying that devotees should think in the opposite way of the general masses – if we get time from chanting, Deity worship, reading Bhagavatam then we will work. Actually this is a straight forward thought. What is the work of ISKCON? It is dharma samsthapanarthaya. We are part of ISKCON. We have to give importance to this spiritual engagement. We have to give secondary priority wherever we are serving. Our acaryas have done it this way.

Once Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Jagannatha prasada to Srila Haridas Thakur. He accepted only a little prasada as his chanting was not completed. Initially he said,”How can I eat prasada? My chanting is still left.” But then he just honoured some prasada.

He chanted pure holy names, without offences and nama abhasa. Srila Haridas Thakur is exemplary for us. We have such foremost examples for ourselves. We pray at his lotus feet that we can chant pure holy names, without offences nama abhasa.

The Life and Teachings of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura

Chanting is taking place from 805 locations. Gaur Premanande!

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

This is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and it is also mantra meditation. The object of the meditation is Radha and Krsna. The mantra is about Radha Krsna. We keep on discussing in our Japa talks about the object of meditation and how to meditate. When we meditate on the things which are connected to Krsna, then it’s equal to meditating on Krsna. Remembering Krsna’s devotees is also remembering Krsna. For the last two days, we are remembering Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, his life and teachings. There are innumerable teachings. Acaryas appear in this world to explain everything about Radha Krsna.

I want to explain one more incident today. This incident has been explained in Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, Chapter 21 by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami who has written these verses. There is no time to explain it in detail, and if we try to explain it briefly then we can’t understand it. This is the problem, but we will try.

kāma-gāyatrī-mantra-rūpa, haya kṛṣṇera svarūpa,
sārdha-cabbiśa akṣara tāra haya
se akṣara ‘candra’ haya, kṛṣṇe kari’ udaya,
trijagat kailā kāmamaya

Translation:
“Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is identical with the Vedic hymn known as the Kāma-gāyatrī, which is composed of twenty-four and a half syllables. Those syllables are compared to moons that arise in Kṛṣṇa. Thus all three worlds are filled with desire.[ CC Madhya 21.125]

There are many types of gāyatrī, but among them, he is writing about Kāma-gāyatrī. Within this Kāma-gāyatrī there are twenty-four and a half syllables. In it, every syllable is compared to one moon. We call Krsna Krsnacandra as His form resembles the moon. The Gayatri mantra is the svarupa of the Lord. In His form, there are 24 and a half moons. What are they? It is written here in Bengali. He has written that the Lord’s face is one moon. It is the king of all moons.

purnendu sundar mukhat

This is one moon. His cheeks are the other two. There is tilak on his forehead which is also one moon. His forehead is also a half-moon. This is like Astami’s moon. The Lord has made us like Him. His form is Saccidanand, but our form is of this earth. Till now, we have discussed 4.5 moons. Then there are the 10 nails of His hands, so it becomes 14.5 moons. There are 10 nails of His feet. Ten more moons. It’s been said over here that when the Lord plays His flute and His fingers move over the flute, then it’s like all these moons are playing the flute. The sound which is produced by the flute is like a glorification by the moon. When the Lord is walking then His ankle bells are not making the sound, but the moons at His feet are singing. In this way the Kāma-gāyatrī is composed of twenty-four and a half syllables. It is the svarupa of the Lord. Such a form of the Lord fills the whole world with love.

The Lord has His 4 kinds of Madhuryas – Lila, Guna, Rupa, and Prema. He fills the whole world with this sweetness. Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura read that Gayatri mantra in Caitanya Caritamrta. He read that the Gayatri mantra is the svarupa of the Lord and that the Kama Gayatri has 24.5 syllables. Then he read that these 24.5 moons resemble the form of Lord. He couldn’t understand this. He thought why 24.5. He could not understand this number. Why not 24 or 25? He searched for the answer in various scriptures, but he didn’t get any information about this 24.5. He thought maybe Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has mistakenly written this. But how is it possible. He knew that Krsnadasa Kaviraj Goswami is free from the defect of illusion. There is no question of illusion. He thought whatever he wrote should be correct. He wanted to understand that half a syllable in the Gayatri mantra. He thought how will he possibly get siddhi from this mantra. It is necessary to understand the mantra, then the demigod to whom that mantra belongs, will become happy. He was not understanding how the total count came to 24.5 letters.

When he was failing to get an answer he thought of committing suicide. We remain free from anxiety if we don’t understand, but Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura was not like that. He wanted to realize and experience the 24.5 syllables. One night he reached the bank of Radha-kunda and he had made up his mind that if nobody explained this to him then it was better to give up his life.

The time came near when he was about to give up his life, but at that moment Radharani appeared and stopped him. Radharani knew his problem. She knew what question was troubling him. She gave him darsana, but he was still not understanding this half letter from the grammatical point of view. Then Radharani explained that the Gayatri mantra starts with Kamadevaya Vidmahe She said that if there is a ya before the vi it is pronounced as a half letter in the Gayatri mantra even though it is not considered as a half letter. With this understanding, Krsnadasa Kaviraj Goswami has written 24.5 letters in the Gayatri mantra.

In this way, Radharani became the philosopher, guide and counsellor of Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. You all also should have a counsellor to whom you can ask questions. We have said that he has appeared in this world. He is an associate of Radharani and he is Her Manjari. When the Lord appears all His associates appear in the manifest pastimes. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura appeared 200 years after the appearance of Lord Caitanya. He was not sadhana siddha, but nitya siddha. Nitya Siddha means they appear from the spiritual world and return there again. If such an acarya writes or speaks it means they know the Lord. We have such acaryas with us. If we accept such acaryas in our life, then we can become knowledgeable.

Krsnadasa Kaviraj Goswami Maharaja ki jai!

He was also a Gopi and he composed Caitanya-caritamrta. The Lord keeps on sending such acaryas to this world. If we come across such acaryas then we can also become an associate of the Lord

How to become ācāryavān?

Chanting is taking place from 790 locations.

ācāryavān puruṣo veda

Translation:
One who follows the disciplic succession of ācāryas knows things as they are (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.14.2).

When we become ācāryavān then we will understand and learn how we can become ācāryavān? By learning the teachings of our acaryas and their life we can become ācāryavān. Yesterday we were remembering Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Today I’m remembering one of the teachings of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura.

jaya jayojjwala-rasa sarva-rasa-sar
parakiya-bhave jaha brajete pracar

Translation:
All glories, all glories to the mellow of conjugal love, which is the most excellent of all rasas and is propagated in Vraja by Sri Krsna in the form of the divine parakiya-bhava [paramour love].

In Vrindavan, the Gopis were preaching Parakiya bhava. Similarly Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura also preached Parakiya bhava and did sadhana or Raganuga bhakti.

There are 2 types of sadhana – Vaidhi Bhakti sadhana and Raganuga bhakti sadhana. Gaudiya Vaisnavas practice Raganuga sadhana. Parakiya bhava is a part of Raganuga sadhana. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura preached parakiya bhava through his books.

There was one pandit who was preaching svakiya bhava in Vrindavan and by doing so he became against Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura who was preaching about parakiya bhava with his knowledge and books. One time that learned pandit thought that he is not able to change the thoughts of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura then why not kill him? One day they made plans to murder him. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura daily performed 5 Kosi parikrama in the morning. They decided that when he reached a particular kunja then they will catch and murder him. One day they reached the place and tried to surround him. They didn’t find Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura over there, but they saw a few beautiful and lustrous girls collecting flowers over there.

When they asked they replied that they are servants of Radharani and She had returned to Her parent’s place in Jawat. The pandit and his men asked if they had seen Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. They said, “Yes, but we don’t know where he has gone.” Then the pandits were trying to find him. Later on those pandits saw Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Now there were no girls. But one among those girls became Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. He was one of the manjaris. For some time he attains his original svarupa.

The pandits realized that he is not an ordinary soul, but he is an associate of the Lord and he is a gopi or Manjari.Then they fell at his feet and begged forgiveness for their offences. This is the greatness of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. In this way associates of Radha Krsna appear in this world.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation:
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.[ BG 4.8]

Just as the Lord appears to establish dharma, in the same way the acaryas appear and their purpose is also the same. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura stayed in Vrindavan 250 years ago and became the protector of Gaudiya or Bhagavata dharma. His main contribution is that he has written many commentaries, astakas like Gurvastakam. He also wrote many books. Among them is a book entitled Mādhurya-kādambinī. All such books are compilations of Srila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura. For Gaudiya Vaisnavas who practice Raganuga sadhana, Mādhurya-kādambinī is very important. All of you should study this book. In ISKCON so many seminars have been delivered on this.

In this, Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura talks about the steps from Sraddha to Prema. Our spiritual sadhana begins with sraddha. The sadhan is sraddha and sadhya is…

premā pum-artho mahān

Translation:
The highest perfection of life is premā, pure love in a relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

The specialty of Gaudiya Vaisnavas is that their aim is prema. Other’s aim is mukti or liberation. Gaudiya Vaisnavas don’t settle for anything less than prema. Prema means attainment of Radha Krsna, service, association and Their darsana. It starts with sraddha and ends with prema. In between, there are many stages. They have been described in detail by Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Time to time we also discussed these steps. Like ādau śraddhā, sadhu sanga, bhajana-kriyā, artha-nivṛttiḥ , niṣṭhā, rucis, āsaktis , bhāva and then prema. This is the science of devotional service. Just as Rupa Goswami has given Nectar of Devotion, in the same way many acaryas have given their commentaries on various sastras. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura has given Mādhurya-kādambinī which is also a science of devotional service. Srila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura knew this wisdom. He was a scientist. When we say the word “scientist” we remember Galileo and Newton, but we don’t remember our acaryas. We don’t address Madhavacarya, Srila Prabhupada, Ramanujacarya and Tukaram Maharaja as scientists. One who knows scriptures or sastras is a scientist or sastrajna. We think that Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Botany is science…

tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te
kāryākārya-vyavasthitau
jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ
karma kartum ihārhasi

Translation:
One should therefore understand what duty is and what not duty by the regulations of the scriptures is. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.[ BG 16.24]

… But Gita and Bhagavatam is science and is scientific. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura gave us so many scriptures as a gift. One of those is Mādhurya-kādambinī. Think about this and move forward. Senapati Bhakti do you have copy or access to this. Have you ever heard about this? So you can get it from somewhere, the internet or you may buy it. Then you will become ācāryavān. Then you will understand the acaryas, about their lives and teachings. One who is following the acaryas can become ācāryavān.

ācāryavān puruṣo veda

One who has an acarya is ācāryavān. As soon as he becomes ācāryavān one becomes knowledgeable.

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.

Srila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura is removing our ignorance. When we understand the science given by him, then we will become free from ignorance. So become knowledgable.

I’ve given you homework. Caturmasya is there so you can do it daily. Abhyas or study is something that is performed daily. Do this abhyas daily and with that siddhi, perfection is guaranteed. If you put in some effort, then you will get the Lord.

17th July 2020

Guru – An ocean of mercy!

Hare Krishna! We have participants from 781 locations. Thank you for observing Caturmasya and chanting extra rounds on Ekadasi yesterday. As you have chanted you would have become happy. You must have experienced bliss. Like when we eat, nobody has to tell us that we have enjoyed the meal. sei annamrita pao (prasāda prayer)

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

Translation
This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed. (BG. 9.2)

Similarly, Nobody has to tell us that we have become happy while chanting. The Lord’s devotional service is very pleasing to perform. When we render devotional service then we become blissful. As we do sadhana, our śraddha (faith) increases and we move towards nishtha (loyalty). Then we have to further move towards prema (love).

Śrila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura ki jai!

Śrila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura was a great ācārya and nitya mukta. The Lord’s associates appear as ācāryas, like Śrila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura. He has composed Gurvastakam. We sing this at the time of mangala arati.

vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

The Gurvastakam was attracting my mind when we were singing it in today’s mangala arati. This is the composition and emotions of Śrila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura in which he glorified the spiritual master. We need to sing it understanding its meaning. One understanding is that it is the glorification of a spiritual master.

saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities. (Verse 1, Sri Gurvastakam)

We say that we worship the lotus feet of Guru. How is the Guru? He is gunarnava, arnava means ocean. Guru is the ocean of qualities. He has mainly mentioned mercy in the first verse. The whole world is blazing with fire and who will extinguish it? Guru’s mercy can extinguish it and we can eventually become liberated. If there is a forest fire then it can’t be extinguished with a bucket of water. At such times, we need ghanaghanatvam, water pouring clouds to extinguish the forest fire, davanala, anala means fire. In the same way, whatever fire is there in our lives can be extinguished by the Guru’s mercy.

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca -kampāśru-tarańga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his bodily hairs stand on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Verse 2, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the second verse, he is mentioning kirtana, dance, instruments being played and ecstatic symptoms like shivering, crying which can be seen when Gurus perform kirtana. Mahāprabhu performed kirtana and our gurus and ācāryas are following Him in the disciplic succession and teaching everyone to follow. Ecstatic sankirtana and emotions while performing kirtana are being mentioned over here.

śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛńgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāḿś ca niyuñjato ‘pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Verse 3, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the third verse, Śrila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura mentions Deity worship. Spiritual master engages everyone in the service of Deities, cleaning of a temple, dressing of Deities, etc. We are also known as the ‘kitchen religion’. Wherever there are Deities, there will be a kitchen where 56 bhoga is being prepared and offered to the Deities. Deity worship is incomplete without kirtana and dance. Guru and ācāryas themselves worship Deities and engage others in Their worship and other activities. There might be Radha Krsna, Gaura Nitai or Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra in the centre and everyone else engages in their service.

catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-sańghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiḿ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is always offering Krishna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Verse 4, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the fourth verse, catur-vidha, vidha means kinds. There are 4 methods of honouring prasāda – licking, chewing drinking, and sucking and that food is offered to the Lord. When they see others offering and honouring prasāda then spiritual masters are pleased.

śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Sri Sri Radhika and Madhava, and about Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Verse 5, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the next verse, it has been mentioned that spiritual masters keep on discussing Radha Krsna’s name, form, qualities and pastimes and share with their disciples. This is their number one activity. prati-kshanasvadana-lolupasya, they relish hearing and chanting and encourage others to do the same and relish this nectar.

nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krishna’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrindavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Verse 6, Sri Gurvastakam)

Spiritual masters in their spiritual bodies are very vigilant to render various confidential services to the Lord as the Gopīs serve the Lord. Just as there are various arrangements in this world in this sankirtana movement or Deity worship, he engages everyone in the service of the Lord.

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. (Verse 7, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the seventh verse, it is mentioned that the spiritual master represents the Lord and therefore is to be honoured as the Lord. This is said in all the scriptures.

yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

Translation
Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed. (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23)

One should worship the spiritual master in the same way one worships the Lord. Who is such a spiritual master? kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya, He is very dear to the Lord. In this way, the spiritual master has been described in both ways, that is saksad-dharitvena, he is the Lord and on the other hand, kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya, he is very dear to the Lord.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. (Verse 8, Sri Gurvastakam)

In the last verse, it has been explained that if we please our spiritual master then we can please the Lord, as the spiritual master is a representative of the Lord and If we don’t please our spiritual master, then there is no way forward for us . In such a case, one won’t be able to receive the mercy of the Lord and return to Godhead. It is advised that one should remember the spiritual master three times a day. Actually ideally one should remember the spiritual master all the time. Śrila Prabhupāda said, ‘My spiritual master is always next to me and guides me.’ He always remembered his spiritual master who inspired him to do many things.

We should sing Gurvastakam by understanding its meaning which will benefit us. This way we can please our Guru and the Lord.

Śrila Prabhupāda ki jai!

16 July 2020

Sannyasa initiation of HG Sundaralal Prabhu
HH Sundara Caitanya Goswami Maharaja

Hare Krishna! I welcome everybody. I especially welcome HG Sundaralal Prabhu. I am addressing him on the occasion of his sannayasa initiation ceremony here. He is the hero of the day. Yadi Sundaralal na hoite

Today’s ceremony is happening because of him. He became qualified to the level of being awarded sannayasa. Sundaralal Prabhu is authorised by GBC. He is receiving his award today in Pandharpur Dhama on the occasion of Kamika Ekadasi on the banks of the Candrabhaga River which is non different from Ganga in the presence of Panduranga, Radha Pandharinath, Gaura Nitai, the demigods and Śrila Prabhupāda. We are sitting at Śrila Prabhupāda’s feet and performing this ceremony. His presence is most essential. We are also in the presence of all the devotees from around the world, ISKCON Pandharpur devotees, Sundaralal Prabhu’s godbrothers, godsisters, friends, well wishers, family members. They all are watching. A good number of devotees from Mauritius are online right here, right now. In fact they wanted this ceremony to happen in Mauritius, but it couldn’t because of the Corona pandemic. Corona is merciful and that is why it is happening here.

Are you all ready? Sundaralal Prabhu is getting initiated in Pandharpur where Nityananda Prabhu was initiated by Laksmipati Tirtha. Glories of this dhama are unlimited. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after taking sannayasa, had come to Pandharpur looking for His brother who also had taken sannayasa. Visvarupa took sannayasa and his sannayasa name was Sankararanya Swami. He spent a good amount of time in Pandharpur and he also departed from Pandharpur Dhama.

In the midst of the remembrances of all these pastimes, this ceremony is taking place here and now. I was thinking of what to say on this occasion and then I thought of remembering what Prabhupāda had said to me when he gave me sannayasa in Vrindavan. As I was reading Prabhupada’s talk, I thought, “Why not share a lot of that talk.” On this day let Śrila Prabhupāda speak for himself. Śrila Prabhupāda is addressing us all. I am beginning with the mellows of Prabhupāda’s talk. This was in Vrindavan, in the Krishna Balarama temple courtyard. I remember Śrila Prabhupada was sitting on the exalted vyasasana in the courtyard and addressing us,

“Although you are young men (we were 3 of us there), there are many difficulties in keeping sannayasa, but if you keep the faith, full faith in Krsna, then maya will not be able to touch you. Thus you should always keep yourself fixed in Krishna consciousness by strictly following the rules and regulations. And as sannayasis, you should increase your chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and go on preaching. Then you will be fixed up.”

I was chanting for some time now. Whenever I read Prabhupāda’s instruction it becomes a reminder for myself. I am sharing those with you.

Śrila Prabhupāda continued, “Caitanya Mahāprabhu also took sannayasa at a very early age. He was twenty-four years old only.”

As you all are listening to this address of Śrila Prabhupāda, I invite you also to take these instructions seriously and prepare for sannayasa, like those who attend a marriage ceremony and inspiring grhastas who make up their minds also about finding their match for entering into grhasta asrama. Make a revolution in Krishna consciousness. This is the best thing to do. In fact unless you do this, there is no going back home.

He continued, “Caitanya Mahāprabhu has practically shown by His activities how to preach Krishna consciousness all over the world. And He gives this order to everyone, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa. In whichever country you may live, it doesn’t matter, try to deliver them by becoming their guru. The sannayāsī is supposed to be a guru of all other divisions. Sannayāsa is the topmost stage. So if you become a guru, teacher, remembering the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then you will never fall down.”

“You haven’t got to manufacture anything.” Śrila Prabhupāda continued, “Simply you try to repeat the instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā, Krsna-upadeśa,

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.

Everyone can say this. You can say, ‘My dear sir, my only request is that you think of Krsna,’ and nobody will kill you for saying this. You do it personally and teach them. Then you become a guru.’

“When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī inquired from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, ‘You are a sannayāsī and you are not studying Vedānta, but simply chanting Hare Krsna. What kind of sannayasī are you?’ Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, ‘My dear sir, I am a great fool. My Guru saw Me as fool number one, therefore he has chastised Me’. We know Caitanya Mahāprabhu was not a fool or rascal. But He represented Himself as a fool, because we are fools –

bhārata-bhūmite haila manusya-janma yāra, janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra

Translation
One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people. (CC. Adi 9.41)

“It is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission that every Indian should learn what is this Krishna consciousness and preach it all over the world.”

He is commenting upon bhārata-bhūmite haila manusya-janma yāra. Mauritius is just an extension of Bharata varsha (India). Mauritius is chota Bharata. There are Indians, Maharashtrians, Vitthala temple, Marathi schools, South Indian temples, Balaji temple. There are Brahmanās. You are practically Indian. Prabhupāda says, ‘Every ISKCON devotee wherever he is now, if he is a member of the Hare Krishna movement, he is Bharatiya.’ This applies to all ISKCON devotees.

“It is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission that every Indian should learn what is this Krishna consciousness and preach it all over the world. That is His order. But our Indians are not taking care of it. Therefore it doesn’t matter – Indian, European or Canadian.”

We were 3 candidates in 1975. I was Indian, Sridhar Dasa Brahmacāri was Canadian and Pritu putra was European. Prabhupāda mentioned those 3 countries.

“Anyone who carries the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be benefited, and be glorified. So don’t hesitate, because the soul is neither Indian nor American. By executing the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu you will be glorified, the country will be glorified, (Mauritius would become glorified), and the whole world will be benefited. Thank you very much.”

We are very glad and happy to award sannayasa to Sundaralal Prabhu. There were 4 candidates selected by the GBC this year for sannayasa initiation and 2 of them are from Mauritius. This is the first batch from Mauritius. In ISKCON Mauritius no one ever dared to take sannyāsa. This is the first time 2 sannyāsis are from there. One is Sundaralal Prabhu and the other one is Bhakti Rakshak Radha Golokananda Swami. Radha Golokananda are the Deities in Mauritius at the Phoenix temple. Sundaralal Prabhu also is a part of Radha Golokananda temple. He was also the president in Solapur. He rendered different services. This is good news. The other one is more Indian than Mauritian. He was in India for 20-25 years. I am sure that the devotees in Mauritius must be glad, happy and proud that someone from their country is taking sannayasa today. I think you are all well wishers as he has rendered lots of preaching and programs. Those who are seniors, their blessings are desirable on this occasion of Sundaralal Prabhu’s sannayasa initiation.

kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ
sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ
prāhus tyāgaṁ vicakṣaṇāḥ

Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyāsa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyāga]. (BG 18.2)

This is a very big step. No more strings attached. Breaking of all the bonds and making oneself free from all the worldly complications. Giving up bhukti kamna, mukti kamna, siddhi kamna. That is sannayasa (renunciation) – giving up karmakanda, jñānakanda and being full of detachment, renouncing worldly things or thoughts. When you renounce something then you have to get something in return, not becoming null and void. Sannayasis are the Goswamīs of Vrindavan. They are full of love for the Lord by just becoming a sannayāsi. Then we have Mayavadi sannayasis. Today’s swami becomes Narayana tomorrow and becomes God. Then there are sannayasis studying Vedānta only, dry philosophy. Caitanya Mahāprabhu defeated those followers of Vedānta. Even Śankaracārya said, ‘Enough is Enough. Bhaja govindam.’

bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
sampraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane

Translation
Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death. (Text 1, Dvadasamanjarika-Stotra, Sri Adi Sankracharya)

You are reciting Vedānta and dry philosophy. But this will not help you at the time of death. You should go for bhaja govindam, worship Govinda. Gaudiya Vaiśnava sannyāsis are expected to be full of love for the Lord. Going for pancham purusharth, not just dharma (religion), artha (money), kama (desire), moksha (liberation) or aham Brahmasmi, unity of the Atman (individual self or soul) with the Brahman (the Absolute). Gaudiya Vaiśnava sannyāsis are known for their love for the Lord because they have to be renounced. They also have to become known for their renunciation. At the same time, they have to be full of love for the Lord and share that love with others wherever they travel to preach. Share that love for the Lord with them.

The six Goswamīs of Vrindavan were ideal sannayasis. Śrila Prabhupāda was an ideal sannayasi. Śrila Bhakti Siddhantha Sarasvati Thakura was an ideal sannayasi. It becomes complete when there is renunciation and love.

vāsudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ
janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ
jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam

Translation
By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world. (ŚB 1.2.7)

Sannyāsis are the combination of all three. Sannyāsis are renounced, knowledgeable and full of bhakti (devotion). Bhakti is ultimate. Sannyasis are bhaktas and their renunciation and knowledge only compliments their bhakti.

Hare Krishna!

15 July 2020

The Vaisnava Brahmana from Sri-Rangapuri

Hare Krishna! I welcome you all to the Japa Talk. Today 832 devotees are chanting with us. After the Japa talk there is an important announcement so please stay with us till the end.

Today’s Japa talk topic is from Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya Lila 9.93 to 9.107.

It is the time when Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached Sri-Rangam at the time of Caturmasaya.

sei kṣetre rahe eka vaiṣṇava-brāhmaṇa
devālaye āsi’ kare gītā āvartana

Translation
In the holy place of Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra, a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava used to visit the temple daily and recite the entire text of the Bhagavad-gītā [CC Madhya Lila 9.93]

A Vaisnava brahmana was living over there. He was not only a brahman, but a Vaisnava brahmana. This will prove that Vaisnsavas are greater than brahmanas.

aṣṭādaśādhyāya paḍe ānanda-āveśe
aśuddha paḍena, loka kare upahāse

Translation
The brāhmaṇa regularly read the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-gītā in great transcendental ecstasy, but because he could not pronounce the words correctly, people used to joke about him. [CC Madhya Lila 9.94]

That brahmana would come to temple and recite all 18 chapters with complete emotion. He was not able to pronounce everything correctly. This is case with us also. I’m getting reports that you are reading Ramayana, Bhagavatam in Caturmasya. You might also not be having the correct pronunciation.

sukha-duḥkhe same kṛitvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi

Translation
Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin. [BG 2.38]

keha hāse, keha ninde, tāhā nāhi māne
āviṣṭa hañā gītā paḍe ānandita-mane

Translation
Due to his incorrect pronunciation, people sometimes criticized him and laughed at him, but he did not care. He was full of ecstasy due to reading the Bhagavad-gītā and was personally very happy. [CC Madhya Lila 9.95]

But karma kandi brahmanas made fun of him. Still this Vaisnava brahmana was not affected.

pulakāśru, kampa, sveda,–yāvat paṭhana
dekhi’ ānandita haila mahāprabhura mana

Translation
While reading the book, the brāhmaṇa experienced transcendental bodily transformations. His hair stood on end, tears welled in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. [CC Madhya Lila 9.96]

As the Lord has said that he was not affected by others’ comment. He kept on reciting. Tears flowed from his eyes and all 8 ecstatic symptoms manifested in him.

mahāprabhu puchila tāṅre, śuna, mahāśaya
kon artha jāni’ tomāra eta sukha haya

Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear sir, why are you in such ecstatic love? Which portion of the Bhagavad-gītā gives you such transcendental pleasure?” [CC Madhya Lila 9.97]

The Lord was very pleased with all his symptoms. But one day the Lord went near him and asked him “Oh brahmana! When you read Bhagavad-gita what do you understand. What confidential thing do you understand?

vipra kahe,–mūrkha āmi, śabdārtha nā jāni
śuddhāśuddha gītā paḍi, guru-ājñā māni’

Translation
The brāhmaṇa replied, “I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gītā correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master.” [CC Madhya Lila 9.98]

That brahmana said, “ I’m a fool and I don’t know the correct recitation. My Guru has ordered me. I just know this. My Guru has ordered me to recite Bhagavad-gita. I try to follow it. I don’t pay attention to correct or incorrect pronunciation. The same instruction is there from Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The same instruction is repeated by Sri Guru. I just know this.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Translation
”Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” [CC Madhya Lila 7.128]

That’s why whether we are capable or not, we have to read Srimad Bhagavatam and we must also preach as Caitanya Mahāprabhu has ordered. The same instruction is repeated by Sri Guru. The ame thing is being said in Gita. Krsna’s form attracts me. Lord is attractive and the jiva gets attracted.

arjunera rathe kṛṣṇa haya rajju-dhara
vasiyāche hāte totra śyāmala sundara

Translation
The brāhmaṇa continued, “Actually I only see Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting on a chariot as Arjuna’s charioteer. Taking the reins in His hands, He appears very beautiful and blackish. [CC Madhya Lila 9.99]

arjunere kahitechena hita-upadeśa
tāṅre dekhi’ haya mora ānanda-āveśa

Translation
While seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting in a chariot and instructing Arjuna, I am filled with ecstatic happiness. [CC Madhya Lila 9.100]

yāvat paḍoṅ, tāvat pāṅa tāṅra daraśana
ei lāgi’ gītā-pāṭha nā chāḍe mora mana

Translation
”As long as I read the Bhagavad-gītā, I simply see the Lord’s beautiful features. It is for this reason that I am reading the Bhagavad-gītā, and my mind cannot be distracted from this.” [CC Madhya Lila 9.101]

I have a Gita in front of me and I try to read it. But I feel that Krsna is telling the Gita to Arjuna and I’m also hearing to it. I keep on taking darsana of the Lord. I see that Lord is instructing Arjuna. Hence I’m not able to stop the recitation of the Gita.

prabhu kahe,–gītā-pāṭhe tomārā-i adhikāra
tumi se jānaha ei gītāra artha-sāra

Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the brāhmaṇa, “Indeed, you are an authority in the reading of the Bhagavad-gītā. Whatever you know constitutes the real purport of the Bhagavad-gītā.” [CC Madhya Lila 9.102]

The Lord said to him that if someone is worthy of reciting the Gita then that one is you. This is the essence of the Gita. Krsna is the essence of the Gita. Krsna instructing Arjuna is essence of Gita.

eta bali’ sei vipre kaila āliṅgana
prabhu-pada dhari’ vipra karena rodana

Translation
After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the brāhmaṇa, and the brāhmaṇa, catching the lotus feet of the Lord, began to cry. [CC Madhya Lila 9.103]

Then the Lord embraced him. He said, “I’m not qualified to be embraced by the Lord,” and he offered obeisances at the feet of the Lord.

tomā dekhi’ tāhā haite dvi-guṇa sukha haya
sei kṛṣṇa tumi,–hena mora mane laya

Translation
The brāhmaṇa said, “Upon seeing You, my happiness is doubled. I take it that You are the same Lord Kṛṣṇa.” [CC Madhya Lila 9.104]

Then same Vaisnava brahmana shared his additional realisation that my bills have multiplied. Why? Because you are the same Krsna who is giving the instruction of the Gita. By reading the Gita that brahmana was purified. Hence he had realised that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna.

kṛṣṇa-sphūrtye tāṅra mana hañāche nirmala
ataeva prabhura tattva jānila sakala

Translation
The mind of the brāhmaṇa was purified by the revelation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and therefore he could understand the truth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all details. [CC Madhya Lila 9.105]

When we read the scriptures purification of the heart takes place. After that realization we get Caitanya tattva, without purification of the heart we cannot feel it.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

Translation
‘Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and, simply by being employed in the service of the Lord, one’s senses are purified.’ [This verse quoted from the Nārada-pañcarātra is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.12).]

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre karāila śikṣaṇa
ei bāt kāhāṅ nā kariha prakāśana

Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then taught the brāhmaṇa very thoroughly and requested him not to disclose the fact that He was Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. [CC Madhya Lila 9.106]

When the Lord heard this from that brahmana then the Lord asked him to keep that secret between the two of them.

sei vipra mahāprabhura baḍa bhakta haila
cāri māsa prabhu-saṅga kabhu nā chāḍila

Translation
That brāhmaṇa became a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and for four continuous months he did not give up the Lord’s company. [CC Madhya Lila 9.107]

After that the brahmana also became a devotee of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and he never left the association of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He also received the association of Mahaprabhu during Caturmasya.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu ki Jai!
Sri-Ranga Brahmana ki Jai!

There will be an auspicious announcement about sannyasa ceremony of Sundaralal Prabhuji. Please listen carefully.

Announcement: Chanting will be between 5.30 to 6.30 am as tomorrow is Kamika Ekadasi and then a class by Gurudev which will be telecast live on Facebook, YouTube and Zoom. Please attend the program.

14 July 2020

The incorporation of ISKCON in New York

Hare Krishna. Welcome to you all. Devotees are participating from 846 locations. All glories to the devotees! All glories to the Sankirtana Movement!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

param vijyate sri krsna sankirtanam

Jaya to the sankirtana movement and for those who participate in this movement.

Everyday there are some incidents on different dates. Today is also a special day. Today, 14 July 1966, is the ISKCON incorporation day. Srila Prabhupada registered ISKCON today. Around 55 years ago Srila Prabhupada founded ISKCON in New York in a formalised way. Srila Prabhupada had received instructions from his spiritual master in 1922 to preach in English in the Western world. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur had said to him “You look very intelligent. Why don’t you preach Krishna Consciousness in the western countries in English?”

Srila Prabhupada was preparing for this for a lifetime and he completed all his preparations today, on 14 July 1966. ISKCON was founded. At that time Srila Prabhupada would say that there are many temples throughout the world. He was visualising it, actually seeing that there are many temples throughout the world, many devotees chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and book distribution is going on. He was saying this to an American gentleman in 1966, with confidence, “I will have many temples throughout the world.”

At the time of Srila Prabhupada’s birth, the astrologer was making his horoscope, and he had predicted,”This child will establish 108 temples throughout the world.” This was inevitable. What we are doing today, chanting together, was seen by Srila Prabhupada then already. Srila Prabhupada knew everything because he was always in touch with the Lord. He also knew the past, present and future. He had a vision. He wrote the 7 purposes of ISKCON.

When he was in Jhansi in 1954-55, he established the League of Devotees. At that time he wrote the seven purposes for the Sarvabhauma Sabha and in future this will become the international society. He had thought about the purposes of such a movement. He was thinking to establish and register the movement over there in Jhansi, but it didn’t work out. Many devotees at ISKCON Jhansi say that ISKCON was conceived in Jhansi and delivered in New York. The dream and vision of this movement was created in Jhansi and was established and registered in New York. I keep visiting ISKCON Jhansi. I have an interest in that temple, because Prabhupada stayed there and wanted to inaugurate the movement in Jhansi.

Today ISKCON was registered in New York. He didn’t write new purposes. Many purposes were there at the time of the League of Devotees in 1954-55. These were edited by Srila Prabhupada and he registered them, almost the same. Srila Prabhupada was thinking about this for a long time. Few days ago Gopal Bhatta Prabhu was saying in SPT that every follower and member of ISKCON should remember the 7 purposes of ISKCON. I won’t be able to explain them to you now, but we will post them on Loksanga or you may find out.

The seven purposes of ISKCON :

1)To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2)To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3)To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4)To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5)To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

6)To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.

7)With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

We should know these seven purposes. We should learn it off by heart. The seven purposes of that organisation for which we have dedicated our life and whose founder Acarya is Srila Prabhupada, whose centre is Lord Krishna. Surrender and service to ISKCON is service to Krsna. ISKCON is non-different from Krsna.

You can read about the 7 purposes and preach about it. You can think how you can fulfil these purposes:

• 1st purpose is to educate people with spiritual knowledge systematically.
• 2nd purpose is that the basis of our preaching should be Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
• 3rd purpose is to bring the people of the society closer and then near to Krishna. Just see how Prabhupada thought.
• The 4th purpose is to preach about the holy names, teach the holy names, make others understand the glories of the holy names and preach and establish the holy name. I am also trying to preach to fulfil this purpose. The purpose behind the japa conference is this purpose. The 4th purpose is being fulfilled over here in the Japa conference. When we all come together and chant we fulfil this 4th purpose. You are also contributing in this.

Prabhupada left for America at the age of 70 and he faced a lot of difficulty, challenges and struggle on his journey. Generally people don’t even leave their homes at the age of 70. But Prabhupada went to America, not by plane but by cargo ship. En route he had 2 heart attacks. Srila Prabhupada has written about it in his Jaladuta diary. You should read Prabhupada Lilalmrta. You should know Srila Prabhupada by reading this book. We should all properly know about this Maha-bhagavat. He is a real Bharat ratna. Others didn’t understand Bharatiyata. They didn’t understand the culture of Bharat and they don’t follow Bharatiyata. When others go to America, they went to beg. Such was the case earlier. I also went to the same place in New York.

I was guided by Puru Prabhu to all the places throughout New York. He showed me all the places where Srila Prabhupada had stayed. At 26th 2nd Avenue Srila Prabhupada rented a place and established ISKCON. You can see that place behind me. ISKCON was registered over here. Prabhupada was saying that it was an International Society, but there was nothing international about it. The shopkeeper who had been there earlier had left the sign. The disciples had asked Prabhupada whether should they remove it? Prabhupada said, “No. Keep the sign board, because it is related to our movement.” He gave sanatana dharma culture to the world. It was a matchless gift for the world.

Today we are celebrating foundational day of ISKCON. At that time Srila Prabhupada was alone and hippies and uncultured people were there. But by the mercy of Gauranga, this team which is Prabhupada and Gauranga’s team became param vijayate. They distributed Krishna Consciousness all over the world.

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama

Translation:
Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion. [BG 18.78]

There would have been no ISKCON, if there had been no Prabhupada. We owe him everything. Let us offer our life – with our body, mind and words unto the divine lotus feet of ISKCON and Gauranga.

13 July 2020

Loving memories HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja

Hari Hari ! We have devotees chanting from 812 locations. You all are welcome. Are you ready for a little talk? Yesterday whatever types of asat-sang you all have conveyed, as per your thinking and suggestions have been compiled and posted. Do read all the types of asat-sang. Take note of that, and do not only take note, but avoid all those types of asat-sang.

asat-saṅga-tyāga,—ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra
‘strī-saṅgī’—eka asādhu, ‘kṛṣṇābhakta’ āra

Translation
To remain unattached to the modes of material nature, one should avoid associating with those who are asat, materialistic. There are two kinds of materialists. One is attached to women and sense gratification, and the other is simply a non-devotee. On the positive side is association with mahātmās, and on the negative side is the avoidance of nondevotees and women-hunters. ( CC Madhya 22.87)

This saying which was said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu you must all learn this by heart. There are many things to be talked about today. Tomorrow is ISKCON’s foundation or registration day. In 1966 on 14 July, Prabhupada registered ISKCON. There are the seven purposes of ISKCON. Currently there is a discussion going on about each one of these purposes. Today also it will continue. Today from 5.00 to 6.00 pm IST I also will be taking part in the discussion. Today it is about Harinama Sankirtana. Why was Harinama Sankirtana established by Prabhupada? “It was to inspire and teach the world how to chant, which was one of the main objectives”. This was one of the 7 objectives, which will be discussed from 5.00 to 6.00 pm today, in conversation with me.

We have made a presentation remembering HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja. Yesterday we had shown this to the disciples of Bhakti Caru Maharaja from Ujjain and other places and also to you all. Many of you must have seen this. But those who were deprived of it, fro them we will show it again.

The following is Gurudev’s commentary to the PPT presentation:
Srila Prabhupada gave him the name, Bhakti Caru Maharaja and also gave him sannyasa, told him this is your name now go and change your clothes to the sannyasa cloth.

Bhakti Caru Maharaja cooked for Prabhupada and also for his god brothers and then we honoured prasada altogether.
He is seen in this photograph doing Kirtana and giving lectures.
Here Bhakti Caru Maharaja is seen as a pujari.

This is Ujjain temple when it was built. Here in this photograph we can view, Bhumi-pujan ceremony of Ujjain temple. Ananta-sesa is being installed by Maharaja and then there is an opening ceremony in a short span of time. There was pran-pratistha of Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan, Krishna Balaram, Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadraji , Narasimha Dev. There was a very big festival in Ujjain.
We can see the humility of Maharaja.

Then he wrote, “Ocean of Mercy” about Prabhupada. You can all read it.

Next photograph is about Maharaja offering the Vyasa puja book to Srila Prabhupāda.
Then the next one is in Durban when there was a Vyasa puja of Maharaja and I was also invited.
In ISKCON Surat also he had invited me once for his Vyasa puja and he made me sit on his Vyasasan. He gave lots of respect to devotees.

tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

Translation
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. ( Siksastakam verse 3)

A few years back we were together In ISKCON Nasik. This is guhyam akhyati prchhati, which is priti laksanam.
This is in D-Land, where Maharaja was staying in Florida. It was last year, when I was also in America. He ordered me to do kirtana. This photo is when I was doing Kirtana.

This is one more time we had met and hugged each other. This way many unforgettable meetings kept happening. This is where he is sitting with many of his god brothers. We were invited there for prasada.

This is in GEV, GBC meetings.
This is a letter, which I had written to the disciples of Bhakti Caru Maharaja. You read it sometime. It’s there on Facebook.

Our last interaction was a telephonic talk before he went to America. He had seen “The Lost Village” documentary which he had liked very much. He came to know about my village. He told me, “By viewing this, I got to know you more.” We were talking, and then he inquired where I was currently situated. I had told him, “I am in Pandharpur. You can come over here sometime, take darsana of Lord Vitthala and then we can also go to my village which is not far away from here.” He had accepted my invitation. He can come now, not in his physical body, but in his spiritual body.

Sundar the Dhyan ubhe vitevari Kar katavari thevoniya. (Abhanga by Tukaram maharaj)

I had also told him about Prabhupada Ghata in Pandharpur that we had constructed a Ghata and have named it after Prabhupada. I had invited him to come and see this Ghata also. But now he has entered the eternal pastimes of the Lord.

Those of you who have not seen The Lost village documentary see it. It is available in English as well as in Hindi. It’s there on YouTube.

Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja tirobhav tithi mahotsav ki Jay!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jay!
Gaur Premanande Hari Haribol!

12 July 2020

Vaisnavas should avoid asat-saṅga

Hare Krishna. Gaur Premanande! Devotees are chanting from 827 locations. I am seeing a good crowd from Sydney also. Many of you are joining more often. Some are cooking in the kitchen. Some are doing Deity worship or Japa talk, morning walk. My brother, Ramdas became my disciple, and now daily he is chanting.

Today at 8 am there will be a Srimad Bhagavatam class and I’ll speak about my memories of Bhakti Caru Maharaja or My Bhakti Caru Maharaja. If you all are free, you are welcome to attend the class. Many devotees of ISKCON temple do japa with us and also hear the japa talk. Many devotees are joining us like from Amravati Temple. Many devotees have taken Caturmasya vows. I hope that you’re completing those sankalpas and progressing. Smart devotees take vows. It proves that you are smart by taking vows.

kṛṣṇa yei bhaje sei baḍa catura.

I was thinking whether it may be Caturmasya or any ordinary day, one Sankalpa that we need to take is…

asat-saṅga-tyāga,—ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra
‘strī-saṅgī’—eka asādhu, ‘kṛṣṇābhakta’ āra

Translation:
“A Vaiṣṇava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaiṣṇavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.[ CC Madhya 22.87]

Devotees should avoid asat-saṅga. Their lifestyle should be in such way that they avoid the association of ordinary people. We should daily try and take a sankalpa about how we can give up asat-saṅga. Then we can say that we are Vaisnavas.

There are 2 types of associations in this world – satsang and asat-saṅga. One is Krsna and the other is Maya.

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

Translation:
There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam – hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of non-devotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.[ NOI Verse 3]

We give up asat-saṅga and follow in the footsteps of saintly persons and then we become perfect and refined human beings.

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet

Translation:
My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.[SB 12.3.51]

If we do sravanam and kirtana and if it is related to Krsna then we can go back to Godhead. Those who do japa, kirtana and sadhu sanga will become free from asat-saṅga. So all of you think about this.

We need to identify whether this is satsanga or asat-saṅga. From morning till the time we go to sleep, we should identify it. Even in our dreams. 24 hours a day we have to identify this. Sometimes satsanga or sometimes asat-sanga happens. The Lord gives us the intelligence to identify. If not able to identify, then pray to the Lord.

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te

Translation:
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.[ BG 10.10]

The Lord gives us the intelligence. Intelligence does this task of discrimination between sat and asat, Krsna and Maya. Intelligence which is given by sadhu, sastra, and acarya gives the power of discrimination. This is supposed to be rejected and this should be accepted.The Lord has said, “I give intelligence”.

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

Translation:
I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.[ BG 15.15]

The Lord is residing in the hearts of all the living entities and from Him we all get intelligence, whether it is sat or asat. May the Lord give all of you the kind of intelligence so that you can discriminate. The Lord gives such intelligence and speaks with us, but we are not able to hear. Hence there is an arrangement of the sadhu, sastra and acarya. They become the authority and speak on behalf of the Lord. What the Caitya Guru [Lord] has to speak cannot be heard by us. So the Lord appears in the form of Guru. The Lord speaks through sadhu, sastra, and acarya to all the fallen souls.

māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna
jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa

Translation:
The conditioned soul cannot revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Kṛṣṇa compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Purāṇas.[ CC 20.122]

The syllabus is there, but someone has to be someone there to teach the Vedas and the Puranas. It is said ācāryavān puruṣo veda. One who has acarya and has taken the diksa in the disciplic succession is called acaryavan. One who has wealth is called wealthy in the same way when one has an acarya, one becomes intelligent. He can discriminate between sat and asat. Then at every step, he knows what to do and what not to do. At every step a Vaisnava should identify. As Caturmasya is going on, try to identify, what is sat and asat. We are exposed to asat-sanga. Sometimes there is asat-sanga at every moment at home, office while talking on the phone or watching television or listening to prajalpa. We can’t explain all this now. We need to see this if asat thoughts or food is there, asat events or asat place might be there. In this way, we need to introspect. The lion is famous for his introspection. A monkey or goat does not do introspection. They never stop and think before they proceed. We need to stop and see where we can get asat saṅga and where we can get satsanga and take benefit from it.

I was thinking of giving you 5 minutes so that you can write how you can get into asat-saṅga. Television is there, internet, waste of time on the phone, social media like Instagram and WhatsApp. Association with non-devotees is also an asat-sanga. Might be we also are becoming a cause for asat-saṅga. Getting updates on Coronavirus. You can get a little information, but you don’t need to see more. Keep on reading this. We will edit this and post it so that you can get to knowwhat is asat-saṅga. Caitanya Lila is writing his Sankalpa. The propensity of me and mine should be balanced. We are getting good ideas. You are declaring that these are asat-saṅgas.

I am going to address the devotees of Ujjain and other devotees. So if you are free, you are welcome. Kindly read these, we will post it.

Haribol.

10 July 2020

Our glorious Acarya – Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami

Hare Krishna! We have chanting taking place from 872 locations. We will stop now for the japa talk.

nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau sad-dharma-saḿsthāpakau
lokānāḿ hita-kāriṇau tri-bhuvane mānyau śaraṇyākarau
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-padāravinda-bhajanānandena mattālikau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Radha and Krsna. (Verse 2, Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam, Srinivasa Acarya)

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Today is a very special and auspicious day. Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami ki jai!

je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur

Translation
He, who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy–where has such a personality as Advaita Acarya gone? (Swa Parsada Bhagavad Viraha Janita Vilapa’ – Song 1, Narottama Dasa Thakura)

In this song, it has been said, “Where has Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami and all other ācāryas gone? We know the answer to this question. In the case of Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami, we can surely say that he has gone back to Godhead from where he had come. Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu had appeared and brought nityamukta bhaktas ( eternally liberated associates) with Him. One of them was Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Still today we are observing the Disappearance Day of Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Devotees would have observed this 500 years ago also. They would be happy as he has returned to Godhead and sad that they won’t be getting his association. Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami is our ācārya. All the six Goswamis of Vrindavan are ācāryas beginning with Rupa Goswami. We are Rupanugas, Gopal Bhatta Goswami-anugas or Sad goswami-anugas.

You can read about Gopal Bhatta Goswami. What can be described about him in 2 minutes?

vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya

Translation
One cannot understand the mind or the activities of the Vaisnava.

Even a very intelligent man cannot understand the activities of a pure Vaisṇava or ācārya. It is difficult to understand their life and teachings. It’s inconceivable or beyond our logic.

Śri Śri Radha Ramanji ki jai! Gopal Bhatta Goswami had installed Śri Śri Radha Ramanji. He had brought Silas from Gandaki River, Nepal. He would think,”Other Goswamis have Deities, but I am just worshipping Silas. If I could get a Deity then I will also decorate and worship Him.”

Vanshi vibhushit karaan navneerdabhat pitambara arun bimb phaladhroshtaat |
Purnendusunder mukharvindnetraat Krushnatparam kimapi tatvmaham na jaane

Translation
Lord Krsna with flute in His hands, cloud-coloured, attired in Pitambar (yellow dress),with red lips and a radiant face like a full moon, with eyes like full bloomed lotus, is my Deity. I know only Him and no one else. ( Vanshi Vibhushit Stuti)

Then his Śila transformed into the Radha Raman Deity. This is a wonderful, ecstatic incident. Nobody carved Radha Ramanji. What mood he must have had that such a transformation took place in his Sila ! That’s why it is said vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya.

Śri Krsna Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Vyankat Bhatta’s place during Caturmasya at Sri-Rangam. Gopal Bhatta was the son of Vyankat Bhatta. At that time, he was a child and he got the association of Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya

Translation
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is none other than the combined form of Śri Śri Radha and Krishna. (Caitanya Bhāgavata)

Gopal Bhatta Goswami would get His darsana and association.

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca -kampāśru-tarańga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Translation
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. ( Verse 2, Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka, Sri Gurvastakam, by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

It’s not that Gopal Bhatta was a conditioned soul and he became elevated by association. It is just a saying. Later Gopal Bhatta came to Vrindavan and became one of the six Goswamis. His uncle, Gopal Guru, also came to Vrindavan and became Śrila Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakura. Gopal Bhatta Goswami took initiation and śikśa from him. Later Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami initiated Śrinivas Ācārya. Śrinivas Ācārya has glorified all six Goswamis in his composition Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam.

vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau (Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam

Śrila Narottama Dasa Thakura took initiation from Lokanath Goswami and he has composed a song in glorification of his Guru.

śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando muñi sāvadhāna mate
jāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā jāi,
kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha’te

Translation
The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna. ( Verse 1, Guru Vandana Song 1, Narottama Dasa Thakura)

śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,
lokanāth lokera jīvana
hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,
ebe jaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana

Translation
Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O Lokanatha Goswami! O Master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. (Verse 4, Guru Vandana Song 1, Narottama Dasa Thakura)

Gaudiya Vaiśnavas in ISKCON also sing this song in Guru Puja in glorification of their guru. You should study both songs by Śrinivas Ācārya and Narottama Dasa Thakura. Śrinivas Ācārya has glorified his guru, Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami – how he discussed various śastras, how he is absorbed in the transcendental loving service of Radha and Krsna.

tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīḿ sadā tuccha-vat
bhūtvā dīna-gaṇeśakau karuṇayā kaupīna-kanthāśritau
gopī-bhāva-rasāmṛtābdhi-laharī-kallola-magnau muhur
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who kicked off all association of aristocracy as insignificant. In order to deliver the poor conditioned souls, they accepted loincloths, treating themselves as mendicants, but they are always merged in the ecstatic ocean of the gopis’ love for Krishna and bathe always and repeatedly in the waves of that ocean. (Verse 4, Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam)

It’s astonishing how Gopal Bhatta Goswami had given up his family and posts and lived a very simple life with simple clothing.

sańkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ kālāvasānī-kṛtau
nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau cātyanta-dīnau ca yau
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa-smṛter madhurimānandena sammohitau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who were engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord and bowing down in a scheduled measurement. In this way they utilized their valuable lives and in executing these devotional activities they conquered over eating and sleeping and were always meek and humble enchanted by remembering the transcendental qualities of the Lord. (Verse 6, Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam)

Śrinivasa Ācārya further described how his guru was always engaged in chanting 64 rounds or 3 lakh names tholy names of the Lord. He was always meek and humble and enchanted by remembering the transcendental qualities of the Lord. This song is very special and filled with many emotions.

he rādhe vraja-devīke ca lalite he nanda-sūno kutaḥ
śrī-govardhana-kalpa-pādapa-tale kālindī-vane kutaḥ
ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair mahā-vihvalau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who were chanting very loudly everywhere in Vrindavana, shouting, “Queen of Vrindavana, Radharani! O Lalita! O son of Nanda Maharaja! Where are you all now? Are you just on the hill of Govardhana, or are you under the trees on the bank of the Yamuna? Where are you?” These were their moods in executing Krishna consciousness. ( Verse 8, Sri Sri Sad-Gosvami-Astakam)

He searched for Krsna in all the places in Vrindavan like the gopīs, who were very eager to have darsana of Krsna. Thus all the Goswamis have put forward this mood of devotional service. Goswamis resided under a tree. The Bhajan Kutir of Śrila Gopal Bhatta Goswami is at Sanket which is in between Barsana and Nanda Gram. When I first saw the kutir, I was amazed. It is such a small kutir. Such simple living! We pray at his lotus feet that he bestows bhakti on us, “May we also develop taste for the holy names of the Lord. May we worship the Deities and study scriptures.” Hari Bhakti Vilas is a combined composition of Sanatana Goswami and Gopal Bhatta Goswami.

We will stop here. You all read and sing Sad-Gosvami-Astakam. Contemplate on this. This is the food for thought for today. Then you share this. Then same thing will happen,

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Translation
Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” ( CC. Madhya 7.128)

You hear this, realize it and then explain it to others. First do sravana, then kirtana. You listen and make others hear. My prayers that whatever sankalpas you have taken up, all get completed.

Hari Hari !
Gaura prema nande Hari Haribol!

9 July 2020

Harinama is most valuable possession in the world.

Hare Krishna! All glories to the devotees who are chanting from 805 locations. Somebody said japa meditation ki jai!

golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,
rati na janmilo kene tay
samsara-bishanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale,
juraite na koinu upay

Translation
“The only remedy is hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, which is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. How unfortunate I am that I have no attraction for this.”

Hari’s holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it.

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is wealth and the most valuable thing. It is not just a thing but the Lord. There is a story regarding the most valuable thing or gift between Sanatana Goswami and a devotee of Lord Siva. The devotee heard that Sanatana Goswami has the most valuable thing with him. He asked Sanatana Goswami to show that thing to him. San-atana Goswami agreed and said,”That most valuable thing is in the dustbin.” He went and found a touchstone in that bin. The importance of a touchstone is that it turns iron into gold. As he was returning to his house, he was dreaming that he would turn many things of iron into gold, just like all other material people think. While he was running home, others asked him,”Why are you running?” He told them about the touchstone, the most valuable thing and his plans. Then they asked, “Where was it kept?” He replied,”Santana Goswami has kept it in the dustbin.” They called him a stupid person and said that if it was the most valuable thing then why did Sanatana Goswami keep it in the bin. They asked him to col-lect the most valuable thing from Sanatana Goswami which he has not given.

Then the person went back to Sanatana Goswami and asked for something more valuable than the touchstone. Sanatana Goswami, after hearing from that person, asked him to first throw that touchstone in the bin and give up all the worldly wealth. The person was in two minds. If I throw this and if Sanatan Goswami doesn’t have any other valuable thing, then I will be the one who would have lost. Na ghar ka na ghata rahunga. Then that person eventually threw the touchstone after weighing the pros and cons. It led to the develop-ment of some renunciation in him. This was a lesson from this incident. Sanatana Gos-wami developed renunciation in him. Then Sanatana Goswami offered him Tulasi beads and asked him to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Sanatana Goswami described the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as the most valuable thing in the world. The person was wondering that Sanatana Goswami is always blissful. Is it be-cause the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the most valuable thing? The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is not just a thing or words, but the Lord. In this way that person got the most valu-able thing when he developed detachment for this world. Worldly wealth has no value. It cannot make us happy.

aisvaryayasa sama grasya veeryasya yasasah sriyah jnana vairagyos chaiva

The sextet of qualities that entitles a person to be called Bhagavan. (Ribhu Gita)

When we develop jñāna and vairagya (detachment) and vacate the space within our hearts of unnecessary things, then only can we place the most valuable thing there.

āśā-pāśa-śatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ
īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañcayān

Translation
Held in bondage by hundreds of desires, and driven by lust and anger, they strive to accu-mulate wealth by unjust means, all for the gratification of their senses. (BG. 16.12)

We are bound by hundreds of ropes of desires. We have to give up lust, anger and greed. That devotee of Lord Siva was greedy. We have to reduce this greed. As we reduce our greed, we will get more taste for Harināma. On the contrary, when we chant Hare Krishna, we get liberated from the bondage of desires.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Jñāna vairagyena chaiva

As we chant Hare Krishna, we will become vairāgyavān (possessor of renunciation) We will become fixed in devotional service. We have 10 offences against the holy name. The 10th one is, ‘To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to main-tain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this mat-ter.’ We also need to contemplate on this. We need to stay away from worldly attachment and people. Such social distancing is necessary.

Caturmas is the time of special sadhana. Many devotees have conveyed their sankalpas (oath). You can read these oaths on Loksanga and on the Facebook page. Take inspiration from that. There can be 2 types of sankalpas. – vidhi and nishedha.

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur
vismartavyo na jātucit
sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur
etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ

Translation
Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles. (CC Madhya 22.113)

“I will always think of Krsna” is vidhi and “I will never forget Krsna is nishedha”. Thus protecting ourselves from some bondage depends on how attentively we chant. The more we meditate on the Lord, the less we meditate on worldly affairs. Everybody in this world meditates. But unfortunately people meditate on the objects of the senses like that devotee of Lord Siva.

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ
saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ
kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate

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. (BG. 2.62)

We have to give up meditation on the objects of the senses and meditate on the Lord. Śrila Prabhupāda said,”Before you begin your meditation, you have to decide on the object of your meditation.” We have to meditate on Krsna. This is mantra meditation and this mantra is the Lord. We want to meditate on the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. This is the objective of chanting. As we do this, we will realize that Harināma Sankirtana is the wealth from Goloka which Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave us.

namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Translation
O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and You are wide-ly distributing pure love of Kṛṣṇa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. (CC Madhya 19.53)

Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave us love of Krsna. At the time of initiation we get the most val-uable thing or personality. Actually it’s not a ‘thing’ because a thing is lifeless, but Harināma is lively or sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaha.

ishvarah paramah krishnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaha
anadir adir govindaha
sarva-karana-karanam

Translation
Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spir-itual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.(Brahma Samhita, 5.1)

Before initiation we were also like that devotee of Lord Siva. But when we give up materi-al mentality, then we realise the wealth of Harināma. Contemplate on this. This is food for thought for you. Share this also.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Translation
Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate eve-ryone in this land. (CC Madhya 7.128)

Do śravana and kirtana. Listen and make others hear. I pray that you fulfil your oaths.

Hare Krishna!

8 July 2020

Dasa Mula Tattva

Hare Krishna!
Good Morning to all of you!

When we say suprabhatam it is Dev bhasha(Sanskrit). It means that your morning will be good. To make our morning good we remember the Lord. So keep on chanting. We always say, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy. Krsna always wants to see us happy. He wants to see a smile on our faces. He also suggested a way in the scriptures how to become happy.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṇkīrtanam

Translation
Glory to the śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This saṅkīrtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. [ Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam by Caitanya Mahaprabhu]

The whole world is burning in a fire, When we chant the Lord’s name then this fire is extinguished. When we whole heartedly chant the holy name of the Lord then He comes and sees us happy.

Question: What can you do to make others happy?
Answer: By chanting the holy name of the Lord we all become happy.

I had decided a few things, but time and tide waits for none. Time is Lord. If we don’t stay with the Lord then the Lord comes in form of death (Kaal). Always remain with Harinama. Then you are making the best use of your time. Otherwise Krsna will come in the form of Kaal Bhairava, which is not good. Stay with Krsna.

Today I am going to discuss with you some philosophical points which are written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

Dasa Mula Tattva

In this Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur explained the 10 Siddhantas. One is pramana and the nine others are prameya.

1. Pramana: The teachings of the Vedas received through guru-parampara are known as amnaya. The infallible evidence of the Vedas, of the smrti-shastras headed by the Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as evidence such as direct sense perception (pratyaksya), that concur with the guidance of the Vedas, are all accepted as pramana (evidence). This pramana establishes the following prameyas (fundamental truths):

2. Parama-tattva: Sri Hari alone is the Supreme Absolute Truth.

3. Sarva- Saktiman: Sri Krsna is the possessor of all potency.
Lord is energetic. So He is called as Lord. Radharani is also one energy. We are marginal potency. Whole creation is external manifestation.

4. Akhila-rasamrta-sindhu: He is the ocean of nectarean mellows. Rupa Goswami has written Nectar of Devotion in which he mentioned that Lord Krishna is a Ras Khaan-Ocean of Rasa.

5. Vibhinnamsa-tattva: Both the mukta (liberated) and baddha (conditioned) jivas are His eternally separated parts and parcels.

6. Baddha-jivas: Conditioned souls are subject to the control and covering of maya.

7. Mukta-jivas: Liberated souls are free from maya.

8. Acintya-bhedabheda-tattva: The entire universe, consisting of the conscious (cit) and unconscious (acit), is Sri Hari’s acintya-bhedabheda-prakasa, that is to say, it is His manifestation which is inconceivably both different and non-different from Him.

9. Suddha-bhakti: Pure devotional service is the only practice (sadhana) to attain perfection

10. Krsna-priti: Transcendental love and affection for Krsna is the one and only final object of attachment. (sadhya-vastu).

In this way this is Dasa Mula. Today this is the food for thought for you. You can read this and think on this. You can remain silent and keep your thoughts steady.

siddhānta baliyā citte nā kara alasa
ihā ha-ite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa

Translation
A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one’s mind becomes attached to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. [CC Adi-lila 22.117]

We should not focus on light minded things rather we should be more focussed on high thinking. This is Su vichar.

Take your resolutions and write them down and try to implement them in your life. In Caturmasa if you take resolutions ( Sankalpa) then your speedily progress is guaranteed. Tapasya means voluntary acceptance of some inconvenience. There are 3 kinds of austerities of body, mind and speech. Lord Rsabhadev instructed his sons to perform austerities. We are also the part of him, so do austerities as Bharat is Tapo Bhumi whom we are converting into Bhoga Bhumi.

Have a Good Day!
Hare Krishna!

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 8 июля 2020 г.

ДАША МУЛА ТАТТВА

Харе Кришна!
Доброе утро всем вам!

Когда мы говорим «супрабхатам» (доброе утро), это дев бхаша (санскрит). Это означает, что ваше утро будет хорошим. По утрам мы медитируем на Господа, и это делает наше утро хорошим. Так что продолжайте воспевать. Мы всегда говорим: «Повторяй Харе Кришна и будь счастлив». Кришна всегда хочет видеть нас счастливыми. Он хочет видеть улыбку на наших лицах. Также в Священных Писаниях Он предложил нам способ, как стать счастливыми.

чето-дарпана-марджанам бхава-маха-давагни-нирвапанам
шрейах-кайрава-чандрика-витаранам видья-вадху-дживанам
анандамбудхи-вардханам прати-падам пурнамртасваданам
сарватма-снапанам парам виджайате шри-кршна-санкиртанам

Перевод:
Слава шри-кришна-санкиртане, очищающей сердце от грязи, скопившейся в нем за долгие годы, и гасящей пожар обусловленного существования и повторяющихся рождений и смертей. Это движение санкиртаны несет величайшее благословение человечеству, ибо излучает сияние, подобное благодатному сиянию луны. Оно — душа всего трансцендентного знания. Оно углубляет океан трансцендентного блаженства и дает нам возможность насладиться нектаром, которого мы всегда жаждем.
(Стих 1, Шри Шикшаштакам)

Весь мир горит в огне, и когда мы повторяем имя Господа, оно тушит этот огонь. Когда мы от всего сердца повторяем Святое имя Господа, тогда Он приходит и видит нас счастливыми.

Вопрос: Что вы можете сделать, чтобы другие были счастливы?
Ответ: Повторяя Святое имя Господа, мы все становимся счастливыми.

Итак, время не ждёт… Время – это Господь. Если мы не останемся с Господом, тогда Господь придет в форме смерти (Каал). Всегда оставайтесь с Господом в форме святого имени. Тогда вы наилучшим образом используете свое время. В противном случае Кришна придет в форме Каал Бхайравы, что нехорошо. Оставайтесь с Кришной.

Сегодня я собираюсь обсудить с вами некоторые философские истины, которые написал Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур.

Даша мула таттва (Десять фундаментальных трансцентдентных истин Вед)

В этой книге Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур объясняет 10 истин.
Первое – это прамана (авторитетное свидетельство истинности), а девять других – это прамейа (истина, которую нужно разобрать и понять).

Даша-мула, утверждает следующие десять фундаментальных истин:

1. Прамана: учения Вед, полученные через гуру-парампару, известны как амная. Непогрешимое свидетельство Вед, смрити-шастр, возглавляемых Шримад Бхагаватам, а также такие свидетельства, как прямое чувственное восприятие (пратьякшйа), которые совпадают с руководством Вед, все принимаются как прамана (свидетельство). Эта прамана устанавливает следующие прамеи (фундаментальные истины):

2. Парама-таттва: только Шри Хари является Высшей Абсолютной Истиной.

3. Сарва-Шактиман: Шри Кришна – обладатель всей энергии.
Господь обладает всеми энергиями. Итак, Его называют Господом. Радхарани – это тоже одна энергия. Мы – пограничная энергия. Всё творение является внешним проявлением.

4. Акхила-расамрита-синдху: Он – океан нектарных вкусов. Рупа Госвами написал «Нектар преданности», в котором он упомянул, что Господь Кришна – это Рас-Хаан – Океан расы.

5. Вибхиннамса-таттва: и мукта (освобожденная), и баддха (обусловленная) джива – это Его неотъемлемые вечно отделенные частицы.

6. Баддха-дживы: обусловленные души находятся под контролем и покровительством майи.

7. Мукта-дживы: освобожденные души свободны от майи.

8. Ачинтйа-бхедабхеда-таттва: вся вселенная, состоящая из сознательного (чит) и бессознательного (ачит), является ачинтйа-бхедабхеда-пракашей Шри Хари, то есть, это Его проявление, которое непостижимо, одновременно едино и отлично от Него.

9. Суддха-бхакти: чистое преданное служение – единственная практика (садхана), позволяющая достичь совершенства.

10. Кришна-прити: Трансцендентная любовь и привязанность к Кришне – это единственный и конечный объект привязанности. (Садхйа-Васт).

Таким образом, это и есть Даша Мула. Это пища для размышлений для вас на сегодняшний день. Вы можете прочитать её и поразмышлять над этим. Постарайтесь для этого остановить поток ваших мыслей, создав внутреннюю тишину.

сиддха̄нта балийа̄ читте на̄ кара аласа
иха̄
ха-ите кр̣шн̣е ла̄ге судр̣д̣ха ма̄наса

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:

Искренний ученик не сочтет подобные обсуждения сиддханты пустыми препирательствами и не обойдет их вниманием, ибо они укрепляют ум. Благодаря им в уме развивается привязанность к Шри Кришне.
(Ч.Ч. Ади-лила 2.117)

Мы не должны сосредотачиваться на второстепенных вещах, мы должны быть более сосредоточены на возвышенном мышлении. Это су вичар.

Примите свои обеты, запишите их и постарайтесь следавать им в своей практике. Во время Чатурмасьи, если вы принимаете обеты (санкальпу), тогда ваш быстрый прогресс гарантирован. Тапасья означает добровольное принятие каких-либо неудобств.
Аскеза может быть выполнена тремя способами: аскеза ума, аскеза тела и аскеза речи. Господь Ришабхадев учил своих сыновей, включая старшего сына Бхарату, практиковать три вида аскезы. Мы также являемся поколением Господа Ришабхадева, поэтому наставления, данные им, также применимы и к нам, и мы должны практиковать то же самое. Бхарата (Индия) была известна как страна аскетизма (Тапо Бхуми), но мы превратили её в страну материального счастья (Бхога Бхуми). Мы должны попытаться сохранить её первоначальный статус Тапо Бхуми.

Хорошего дня!
Харе Кришна!

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Александра Ларина)

7 July 2020

Caturmasya vows and a special initiation

Hare Krishna. Welcome to you all in the japa talk. I think all of you are hearing me. I am very pleased when I see you all chanting. When you are chanting you become dharmic. All of you have become dharmic because of performing kirtana of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra which is the dharma for the age of Kali. When you accept this sankirtana religion, you are performing sarva dharman parityaja. By doing sarva dharman parityaja, we can do mam ekam saranam vraja.

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah

Translation:
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. [BG 18.66]

When we are able to give up all other dharmas (religions) and develop renunciation then we can surrender to the Lord. This is the last promise of the Lord in Bhagavad Gita. Mam ekam saranam vraja.

nāmāśraya kori’ jatane tumi

namasraya is mam ekam saranam vraja. While chanting we need to take shelter of the Lord’s name. Ekam means only Krsna’s shelter. Remembering the Lord’s name, form, qualities and pastimes is taking shelter of the Lord.This is saranagati. Lord is saranagat vatsal. Lord expresses His vatsalya for those who have taken His shelter. We can experience this vatsalya. Chanting is the time to experience this vatsalya. A few days ago when Caturmasya started then at that time I had told you about the glories of Caturmasya and how this is a special period and how we do special sadhana and derive benefit from that. How there can be special sadhana, to increase sadhana quantity and quality wise? Increase both quality and quantity of sadhana and service. Increasing quality means chant attentively and with love and devotion.

I received a letter from Sundar Vaman Prabhu from Ahmedabad. He sent me his resolutions (sankalpas) by thinking for 2 days. These are some of the resolutions given by him. Taking resolutions helps in our sadhana. Without this we become slack. These are a sample of resolutions in Caturmasya. I didn’t take his permission. I hope he doesn’t mind that I am sharing. We can get ideas from this and we can also take resolutions for some special sadhana in Caturmasya. There are glories of resolutions also. You can also take some resolutions after this and you can write to me in chat session how will you improve or increase your sadhana.

1) He has written that he will perform Mangal Arati every day at 5 am at home.

2) He will chant 18 rounds everyday and 25 rounds or more on Ekadasi and special days like festivals.

3) He will observe bramacarya.
He is a grhasta. But nowadays, grhastas are grhamedhis(centre of household life is sense gratification). And Krishna conscious grhastas are grhasta brahmacaryas.

‌4) Hearing and reading for 2 hours daily, minimum

5) Attend Sri Sri Radha Govindji’s mangal aarti least twice a month and Their sringar darsana at least 3 times a week.
He is from Ahmedabad and the ISKCON temple Sri Sri Radha Govinddev. He is writing that twice a month he will go to temple for Mangal Aarti and thrice a week he will attend Sringar darsana in temple. Sringar darsana takes place around 7.15 am or 7.30am in ISKCON temples.

6) Control unnecessary sleeping & eating. (No grains in evening and sleep for 6 hours).
He will give up unnecessary eating and sleeping. He will sleep for 6 hours daily. He will take only fruits at night.

7) 11 dandavat pranam daily to Their Lordships and to the devotees.
He Will offer obeisances to the Lord and His devotees 11 times. Like Sanatana Goswami used to pay obeisances 2000 times while on Govardhan Parikrama. Sometimes you say koti koti dandawat pranam Guru Maharaja (accept my millions of obeisances Guru Maharaja) but in reality you don’t offer even a single obeisance. But literally Sanatana Goswami would offer thousands of obeisances every day. We offer obeisances to the Lord and not to the devotees. This is not right.

vanca-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo
vaisnavebhyo namo namaha

Translation:
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Then the Lord says mam namaskuru means offer obeisances unto me.

8) Everyday Tulasi Maharani’s Parikrama and water giving.
He will offer water to Tulasi and sing Arati.If you offer prayer during cirumbulating Tulasi Maharani in the correct way then I’ll be happy. I’ve written a book Sanskrit Pronunciation. There I have mentioned the correct pronunciation of every mantra. So correct pronunciation will please the Lord and me also.

9) Minimal talking about worldly matters and minimal engagements.
Minimum talking about worldly matters (prajalpa) and engage less in worldly affairs. By doing so one may be able to reduce completely.

10) Attend all your holiness Japa sessions and hear all your lectures.
He will attend japa talk daily and will hear my lectures.

11) Increase sraddha in Guru, Sadhugan and Sastra
He will increase faith in Guru, Sadhu and Sastras.

12) To chant more attentively. Not rushing to complete his Japa.
He will try to chant attentively and not rush to complete the japa. It should not be the case that we rush through japa. Attentive chanting is the goal.

13)In all these not to overlook Vedang’s growth and also take care of him and have a spiritual and healthy relationship with my wife, HG Ratnavali Gopi DD and with parents as well.
He will take care of his family. He will help his son, his wife and parents to grow spiritually.

14) Being more patient and not to get angry.
He plans to become more patient and enthusiastic.

15)Do more vaisnava seva and make vaisnavas happy and to assist HG Murali Mohan Prabhuji in his projects.
He will try to please many vaisnavas by doing more service and he will assist his counsellor Murali Mohan Prabhu in his projects.

And he writes in the end, “Maharaja please bless me so that I can fulfil all the resolutions.”

May all your sankalpas be fulfilled!

You may think on your sankalpas and you can write them in the chat session.

Now there will be initiation ceremony. To attain the Supreme Lord, it is necessary for us to get connected to a bona fide sampradaya.

There will be program for 5 mins. Those who are able to wait can attend. We have a mataji named Kokila Mataji from Vallabh Vidyanagar. She is suffering from brain and lung cancer.She is not in a good condition. In special case Maharaja is giving initiation. She is chanting for the last 7- 8 years. Her husband and son are initiated devotees. This is being arranged under special circumstances as she is suffering through 4th stage cancer. Her family members are requesting this for the past since 8 years. Even though she is struggling with cancer still she is determined to take initiation from Gurudev. Gurudev gave her a name Kalyani Tulasi Devi Dasi.

Gurudev instructed her :
•chant minimum 16 rounds without committing 10 offenses towards the holy names.
•Sravana and Kirtan ( Hearing and Chanting) of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

ante narayana smriti

This is the goal of human life. By doing all this you can easily remember Krsna. Make your life successful by doing all these devotional activities. Utilise your time properly.

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 7 июля 2020 г.

ЧАТУРМАСЬЯ ОБЕТЫ И ОСОБОЕ ПОСВЯЩЕНИЕ.

Харе Кришна. Добро пожаловать всем на беседу о джапе. Я надеюсь, что вы все меня слышите. Мне очень приятно, когда я вижу, как вы все воспеваете. Когда вы воспеваете, вы становитесь дхармичными. Все вы стали дхармичными благодаря совершению киртана Харе Кришна маха-мантры, которая является дхармой для века Кали. Когда вы принимаете эту религию санкиртаны, вы совершаете сарва дхарман паритйаджа. Делая сарва дхарман паритйаджа, мы можем сделать мам экам шаранам враджа.

сарва-дхарман паритйаджйа
мам экам шаранам враджа
ахам твам сарва-папебхйо
мокшайишйами ма шучах

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
Оставь все религии и просто предайся Мне. Я избавлю тебя от всех последствий твоих грехов. Не бойся ничего.
(Б.Г. 18.66)

Когда мы можем отказаться от всех других дхарм (религий) и развить отречение, тогда мы можем предаться Господу. Это последнее обещание Господа в Бхагавад-гите. Мам экам шаранам враджа.

намашрая кори джатане туми

Намашрая это мам экам шаранам враджа. Во время воспевания нам нужно принять прибежище у имени Господа. Экам означает прибежище только у Кришны. Памятование имени, формы, качеств и игр Господа, принятие прибежища у Господа – это шаранагати. Господь это Шаранагат Ватсал. Господь изъявляет Свою ватсалью тем, кто принял прибежище у Него. Мы можем испытать эту ватсалью. Воспевание , это время испытать ватсалью. Несколько дней назад, когда началась Чатурмасья, я рассказал вам о славе Чатурмасьи и о том, какой это особый период, и как мы делаем особую садхану и извлекаем из этого пользу. Как должна выполняться садхана, чтобы увеличить ее количество и качество? Нужно повысить и качество, и количество садханы и служения. Повышение качества означает воспевать внимательно, с любовью и преданностью.

Я получил письмо от Сундара Ваманы Прабху из Ахмедабада. Он послал мне свои обеты(санкальпы), размышляя в течении 2 дней. Вот некоторые из обетов, принятых им. Принятие обетов помогает в нашей садхане. Без этого мы становимся расслабленными. Это пример обетов в Чатурмасью. Я не получил его разрешение. Надеюсь, он не против того, что я делюсь с вами. Мы можем взять отсюда идеи и принять решение совершать особую садхану на Чатурмасью. После прочтения вы можете принять какие-то обеты и написать мне в чате, как вы улучшите качество или количество своей садханы.

1) Он написал, что будет проводить Мангал Арати каждый день, дома, в 5 часов утра.

2) Он будет повторять 18 кругов каждый день и 25 или более кругов в экадаши и в особые дни, такие как праздники.

3) Он будет соблюдать Брахмачарью.

Он грихастха. Но в наши дни грихастхи – это грихамедхи (смысл семейной жизни – удовлетворение чувств). А грихастхи в сознании Кришны – это грихастха-брахмачарьи.

‌4) Слушание и чтение по 2 часа в день, минимум.

5) Посещать мангал арати Шри Шри Радха Говинды, по крайней мере, два раза в месяц и его шрингар даршан, по крайней мере, 3 раза в неделю.

Он из Ахмедабада и храма ИСККОН Шри Шри Радха Говиндадева. Он пишет, что два раза в месяц он будет ходить в храм на Мангал Арати и трижды в неделю он будет посещать шрингар даршан в храме. Шрингар даршан происходит около 7.15 утра или 7.30 утра в храмах ИСККОН.

6) Контроль ненужного сна и еды. (Без зерна по вечерам и спать 6 часов).

Он откажется от ненужной еды и сна. Он будет спать по 6 часов в день. Он будет есть только фрукты ночью.

7) 11 дандават пранам ежедневно Их светлостям и преданным.
Он предложит поклоны Господу и Его преданным 11 раз. Как и Санатана Госвами, когда он был на Говардхан парикраме, он совершал поклоны 2000 раз. Иногда вы говорите: коти коти дандават пранам Гуру Махараджа (примите мои миллионы поклонов Гуру Махарадж), но на самом деле вы не предлагаете ни единого поклона. Но Санатана Госвами предлагал тысячи поклонов каждый день. Мы предлагаем поклоны Господу, а не преданным. Это неправильно.

ванчха-калпатарубхйаш ча крипа-синдхубхйа эва ча
патитанам паванебхйо ваишнавебхйо намо намах

Перевод:
«Я в глубоком почтении склоняюсь перед всеми вайшнавами, преданными
Господа. Они исполнены сострадания к обусловленным падшим душам и подобны древу желаний, которое может исполнить любое желание».

Тогда Господь говорит, что мам намаскуру значит предложить Мне поклоны.

8) Ежедневная парикрама и предложение воды Туласи Махарани.

Он будет предлагать воду Туласи и будет петь Арати. Если вы будете правильно молиться во время поклонения Туласи Махарани, я буду счастлив. Я написал книгу «Санскритское произношение». Там я упомянул правильное произношение каждой мантры. Так что правильное произношение порадует Господа и меня тоже.

9) Минимум разговоров о мирских делах и минимум обязательств.
Минимум говорить о мирских делах (праджалпа) и меньше заниматься мирскими делами. Таким образом, можно полностью очиститься.

10) Посещение всех Джапа сессий Вашего Святейшества и слушание всех лекции.

Он будет ежедневно посещать джапу и слушать мои лекции.

11) Увеличение шраддхи в Гуру, Садху и Шастры.

Он укрепит веру в Гуру, Садху и Шастры.

12) Воспевать внимательнее. Не торопится закончить свою джапу.

Он будет стараться повторять внимательно и не спешить закончить джапу. Мы не должны спешить читая джапу. Внимательное воспевание – это наша цель.

13)При этом не забывать о росте Веданга, а также заботиться о нем и иметь духовные и здоровые отношения с моей женой Ратнавали Гопи Д.Д., а также с родителями.

Он позаботится о своей семье. Он поможет своему сыну, жене и родителям расти духовно.

14) Быть более терпеливым и не злиться.

Он планирует стать более терпеливым и спокойным.

15) Выполнять больше вайшнава-севы, делать вайшнавов счастливыми и оказывать помощь Мурали Мохану Прабху в его намерениях.

Он постарается угодить многим вайшнавам, оказывая им больше служения, и будет помогать своему наставнику Мурали Мохану Прабху в его проектах.

И в конце он пишет: «Махараджа, пожалуйста, благословите меня, чтобы я мог выполнить все обеты».

Да исполнятся все ваши санкалпы!
Вы можете подумать о своих санкалпах, и вы можете написать их в чате.

Теперь будет церемония посвящения. Чтобы достичь Верховного Господа, нам необходимо иметь связь с авторитетной сампрадайей.

Сейчас будет 5-ти минутная программа. Те, у кого есть время, могут поприсутствовать. У нас есть матаджи по имени Кокила Матаджи из Валлабха Видьянагара. Она страдает от рака мозга и легких, она в плохом состоянии.

В особом случае Махарадж дает посвящение. Она воспевает последние 7-8 лет. Ее муж и сын инициированные преданные. Посвящение дается при особых обстоятельствах, так как она страдает от рака 4-й стадии. Члены ее семьи просят об этом уже 8 лет. Несмотря на то, что она борется с раком, она полна решимости получить посвящение у Гурудева. Гурудев дал ей имя Кальяни Туласи Деви Даси.

Гурудев дал ей наставление:
• повторять как минимум 16 кругов, не совершая 10 оскорблений Святых имен.
• Шраванам и киртанам (слушание и повторение) Бхагавад-гиты и Шримад-Бхагаватам.

анте нараяна смрити

Это цель человеческой жизни. Делая все это, вы легко можете помнить о Кришне. Сделайте свою жизнь успешной, совершая преданное служение. Используйте свое время правильно.

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Юлия)

6 July 2020

Remembrance of Srila Vyasadeva

Hare Krsna!

started yesterday. We have started our Caturmasiya special sadhana. What is that? Our chanting itself is our austerity, which we should be doing. That’s the real sadhana.

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

Translation
For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord. ( CC. Adi. 7.76)

Yesterday was Vyasa-Purnima. Most of the people celebrate it as Guru Purnima. Yesterday we remembered our beloved Bhakti Caru Maharaja and we couldn’t remember Sri Vyasadeva. Srila Vyasadeva Bhagavan ki Jay! Vyasadeva took birth from the union of Satyavati and Sage Parashar. As he was the son of Parashar he is also called Pàràshar. As he was born in a boat near a small island ( Dvipa) so he is also called Dvaipayan. The meaning of the word ‘Vyasa’ is ‘to expand’. One who expanded the scripture, thus he received the name – Vyasa. Vyasadeva is a Saktyavesh incarnation of the Lord. He himself is not the Lord.

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ
mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

Translation:
All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. (SB 1.3.28)

The Lord has bestowed him with special power which He exhibited in the form of knowledge. The Lord created the universe and then He gave all the scriptures as manuals. Whenever any product is created, along with it a manual is given which contains instructions about assembling, operating and maintenance. The Lord also created the universe and He also created scriptures as manuals, so that all conditioned souls can become knowledgeable and will understand – ‘ke ami?’.

māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna
jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa

Translation
The forgetful living entities or conditioned souls have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Lord, and they are engrossed in thinking of material activities. Just to transfer their thinking power to the spiritual sky, Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa has given a great number of Vedic literatures.( CC. Madhya 20.122)

showered His mercy on those souls who are entangled in Maya and He gave the knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas. Krsna came in the form of Vyasadeva as his Saktyavesh incarnation and gave knowledge of the scriptures. He didn’t create that knowledge as knowledge is eternal. It is ‘trikalabadhit’ ( beyond past, present future). All the times of past, present or future cannot create any vikar in this. It doesn’t get destroyed with the passing of time. In the earlier days disciples heard from the Guru. There was sravan, kirtan and smaran. They heard scriptures from acaryas, understood it and remembered it. But in Kaliyuga, we souls are mandaha sumand matayo. We are ‘mand’ ( of poor memory). We are not ‘srutidhar’. In the earlier days people had photographic memories. They heard it once and remembered it. But now the situation has changed . For the current situation the Lord gave all the scriptures in written form in His incarnation as Vyasadeva. Then all the Vedas which were heard from one generation to other were divided systematically.

One Veda was divided into four. Vedas contain Upanishads which is considered as Jnana kanda . There is also Karma kanda, Upasana kanda and Jnana kanda. Vedas were first divided into four parts and then each Veda was further divided into four parts which were called Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyak and Upanishad. Upanishad is further described in detail and that scripture is known as Vedanta-sutra or Brahma-sutra which is also known as Vyasa-sutra. Sutra is difficult to understand and so it is explained in the form of Puranas along with examples and explanations of History. Thus Sruti-sastra came into existence. There are two parts – Sruti-sastra and Smriti-sastra. All the History, Srimad Bhagavatam is Smriti-sastra, which are commentaries on Vedanta-sutra, specially Srimad Bhagavatam. All these reservoirs of knowledge were made available like that. This pastime the Lord performs when he came as Vyasadeva. Lord is abhijnah svarat as is explained in the beginning of Bhagavatam.

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
janmādy asya yato ’nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ
tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ
tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’mṛṣā
dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi

Translation
O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth. ( SB. 1.1.1)

Lord is Sarva jnana. We witness this when he compiled all the Vedic knowledge in the form of Vyasadeva. Krsna said in Bhagavad-Gita,

vedaham samatitani
vartamanani carjuna
bhavisyani ca bhutani
mam tu veda na kascana

Translation
O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows. ( BG. 7.26)

The Lord has explained in Bhagavad-Gita, Veda aham, I know! What? – samatitani all those things which happened in the past, also vartamanani – whatever is happening in the present I know all about it. bhavisyani ca bhutani and I also know past, present and future of all the souls. But mam tu ved na kascana although I know everyone no one knows Me. For this reason also He compiled the various scriptures as Vyasadeva, so that we can know the Lord. If we know Him…

yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati

Translation
Vedic hymn declares emphatically that the devotee of the Lord knows everything material and spiritual in relationship with the Lord.(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.3)

He is everything and all the things are related to Him – aham mameiti and nothing else. What is there in this universe? We belong to Him. This creation belongs to Him. The whole universe belongs to Him. Everything is of Him, these material universes as well as the spiritual universe. Universe only consists of this aham mama and nothing else. The right to say aham , belongs only to the Lord. Mam – I am there and everything belongs to Him. All this knowledge the Lord compiled as Vyasadeva. With that He made arrangements for our upliftment.

The first sutra of the Vedanta-sutra is: Athato brahma jijnasa

Translation
Now is the time to discuss the Supreme Absolute Truth, Brahman. (aphorism 1 of Vedanta Sutra)

means now, ataha means ‘due to this’, O human being inquire about Brahman. This is the first Vedanta-sutra. Athato brahma jijnasa – the last Vedanta -sutra for the aphorism ends with the sloka anavritti shabdat

Ana avritti – avritti means punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare shayanam . This is avritti. To stop this repetition, to achieve a state of

janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam 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. ( BG. 4.9)

Our Bhakti Charu Mahāraja returned to abode of the Lord. How it is possible to attain the state of anavritti? – shabdat. Srila Vyasadeva has said in his last aphorism of the Vedanta-sutra about this shabda-brahma. All these words of Vedic literature are transcendental. By such words we attain the state of anavritti. By study of scriptures and if we live our lives according to ‘praman’ (evidences) of sastras then we attain this state of anavritti.

tasmac chastram pramanam te
karyakarya-vyavasthitau
jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam
karma kartum iharhasi

Translation
One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated. ( BG. 16.24)

Krsna said, ‘I am giving these scriptures and these scriptures are praman.’ We will remain eternally indebted to Sri Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva stays in Badrikasrama. In the beginning of Bhagavatam there is a conversation between Vyasadeva and Narada Muni. Narada Muni enlightened him and then Vyasadeva compiled one more scripture. Other scriptures which he compiled had some dirt (mala) remaining and so he compiled this amala purana / scripture which is Bhagavatam. This conversation took place on the banks of the Sarasvati where there is Vyasa gufa where Vyasadeva resides. Nearby is also a Ganesh gufa. Remember the scene where Vyasadeva is dictating and Ganeshji has become his assistant, and all these scriptures are being compiled. All this happened in Badrikasrama. When Madhvacarya went to Badrikasrama, he met Vyasadeva. There was some preaching and some orders given after which Madhvacarya wrote many commentaries.

We had gone to the Vyasa gufa in November. Srila Prabhupada was in Vrindavan at that time and his health was not good. We had no means to understand whether his health is improving or deteriorating and so we returned from Vyasa gufa to Vrindavan. Then we met Prabhupada. Our travelling party’s name was ‘Narada Muni Sankirtana Party’. We distributed books and scriptures. Srila Prabhupada explained that when we study and distribute this scriptural knowledge, that is the only means of pleasing Srila Vyasadeva. Prabhupada also would become happy hearing this. When we were giving our report, we told to Srila Prabhupada that when we had gone to Vyasa gufa we showed Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Bhagavad- Gita As It Is’ to Vyasadeva. I thought when we went with Prabhupada’s books in the Vyasa gufa, we didn’t see Srila Vyasadeva, but he must have seen us and the books we carried. That is why I gave the report to Prabhupada that we showed his books to Vyasadeva. Prabhupada was very happy listening to this.

Srila Vyasadeva ki Jay!
Vyasa-Purnima ki Jay!
Srila Prabhupada ki jay!
Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja ki Jay!

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 6 июля 2020 г.

ПАМЯТОВАНИЕ О ШРИЛЕ ВЬЯСАДЕВЕ

Харе Кришна!

Вчера началась Чатурмасья. Мы начали нашу особую садхану в Чатурмасью. Что это такое? Наше воспевание – это наша аскеза, которую мы должны совершать. Это настоящая садхана.

харер нама харер нама
харер нама ива кевалам
калау настй эва настй эва
настй эва гатир анйатха

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
«Святое имя, святое имя, святое имя Господа — вот путь духовного развития для тех, кто живет в эпоху Кали. Нет иного пути, нет иного пути, нет иного пути».
(Ч.Ч. Ади лила. 7.76)

Вчера была Вьяса-Пурнима. Большинство людей отмечают этот день как Гуру Пурнима. Вчера мы вспомнили нашего любимого Бхакти Чару Махараджа и не могли не вспомнить Шрилу Вьясадеву. Шрила Вьясадева Бхагаван ки Джай! Вьясадева родился от союза Сатьявати и Мудреца Парашары. Поскольку он был сыном Парашары, его также зовут Парашара. Поскольку он родился в лодке возле маленького острова (Двипа), его также называют Двайпаяна. Значение слова «вьяса» означает «распространять». Тот, кто распространяет Священные Писания, таким образом, он получил имя – Вьяса. Вьясадева – это Шакти-авеша-аватар Господа (в квалифицированную достойную дживу входит определенная энергия Господа с определенной целью). Сам он не является Господом.

эте чамша-калах пумсах
кр̣шнас ту бхагаван свайам
индрари-вйакулам локам
мрдайанти йуге йуге

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
Все перечисленные воплощения представляют собой либо полные части, либо части полных частей Господа, однако Господь Шри Кришна — изначальная Личность Бога. Они нисходят на разные планеты, когда там по вине атеистов возникают беспорядки. Господь нисходит, чтобы защитить верующих.
(Ш.Б. 1.3.28)

Господь даровал ему особую силу, которую он проявил в форме знания. Господь создал вселенную, а затем дал все Священные Писания в качестве наставлений. Всякий раз, когда создается какой-либо предмет, к нему предоставляется руководство, которое содержит инструкции по сборке, эксплуатации и техническому обслуживанию. Так Господь создал вселенную, и создал Священные Писания в качестве наставлений, чтобы все обусловленные души могли обрести знание и понять: «кто я?».

майа-мугдха дживера нахи сватах кр̣шна-джнана
дживере кр̣пайа каила кршна веда-пурана

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
«Обусловленная душа не может возродить в себе сознание Кришны собственными усилиями. Поэтому Кришна по Своей беспричинной милости дал людям Веды и дополняющие их Пураны».
(Ч.Ч. Мадхья 20.122)

Кришна пролил свою милость на те души, которые запутались в майе, и Он дал знание в виде Вед и Пуран. Кришна пришел в образе Вьясадевы, как Шакти-авеша-аватара, и дал знание Священных Писаний. Шрила Вьясадева не создавал это знание, поскольку знание вечно. Оно “трикалабадхит” (за пределами прошлого, настоящего и будущего). Прошлое, настоящее или будущее не могут изменить его. Оно не разрушается с течением времени. В прошлые времена ученики получали знания от Гуру. Это был шраванам, киртанам и смаранам. Они слушали Священные Писания от ачарьев, понимали и запоминали их. Но в Кали Югу мы, души, являемся мандана суманд матавйо. Мы «манд» (со слабой памятью). Мы не «шрутидхары». В прежние времена у людей была фотографическая память. Они слышали что-то один раз и запоминали. Но сейчас другая ситуация. Для нас Господь дал все писания в письменной форме в Своем воплощении Шрилы Вьясадевы. Затем все Веды, которые передавались от одного поколения к другому, были систематизированы.

Одна Веда была разделена на четыре части. Веды содержат Упанишады, которые считаются Гьяна-кандой. Существуют также Карма-канда, Упасана-канда и Гьяна-канда. Сначала Веды были разделены на четыре части, а затем каждая из Вед была разделена еще на четыре части, которые называются Самхита, Брахман, Араньяка и Упанишады. Упанишады далее подробно описана, и это писание известно как Веданта-сутра или Брахма-сутра, которая также известна как Вьяса-сутра. Сутру трудно понять, поэтому она объясняется в форме Пураны вместе с пояснениями и примерами из Истории. Так появилась Шрути-шастра. Есть две части – Шрути-шастра и Смрити-шастра. Вся история, Шримад Бхагаватам – это Смрити-шастра, которая является комментарием к Веданта-сутре, особенно к Шримад Бхагаватам. Все эти источники знания стали доступны подобно этому. Это лилы Господа, которые он совершает когда приходит как Вьясадева. Господь это абхиджна сварат, как это объясняется в начале Бхагаватам.

ом намо бхагавате васудевайа

итараташ чартхешв абхиджнах сварат
тене брахма хр̣да йа ади-кавайе
мухйанти йат сурайах
теджо-вари-мрдам йатха
винимайо йатра три-сарго ‘мрша
дхамна свена сада нираста-
кухакам сатйам парам дхимахи

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
О мой Господь Шри Кришна, сын Васудевы, о всепроникающая Личность Бога, я почтительно склоняюсь перед Тобой. Я медитирую на Господа Шри Кришну, ибо Он является Абсолютной Истиной и изначальной причиной всех причин созидания, сохранения и разрушения проявленных вселенных. Прямо и косвенно Он сознает все проявления и независим, ибо не существует иной причины, кроме Него. Именно Он вначале вложил ведическое знание в сердце Брахмаджи, первого живого существа. Даже великие мудрецы и полубоги введены Им в заблуждение, подобно тому, как человека сбивает с толку обманчивый образ воды в огне или суши на воде. Лишь благодаря Ему материальные вселенные, временно проявленные взаимодействием трех гун природы, кажутся истинными, хотя в действительности они нереальны. Поэтому я медитирую на Него, Господа Шри Кришну, вечно пребывающего в трансцендентной обители, которая всегда свободна от иллюзорных образов материального мира. Я медитирую на Него, ибо Он — Абсолютная Истина.
(Ш.Б. 1.1.1)

Господь это Сарвагья. Мы видим это, когда Он в воплощении Вьясадевы, составил все ведические знания. Кришна сказал в Бхагават-Гите:

ведахам саматитани
вартаманани чарджуна
бхавишйани ча бхутани
мам ту веда на кашчана

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
О Арджуна, как Верховная Личность Бога, Я знаю все, что происходило в прошлом, происходит сейчас и произойдет в будущем. Я также знаю всех живых существ, Меня же не знает никто.
(Б.Г. 7.26)

Господь объяснил в Бхагавад-гите: “веда ахам”- я знаю! “саматитани” все те вещи, которые произошли в прошлом, также “вартаманани” – что бы ни происходило в настоящем, я знаю все об этом. “бхавишани ча бхутани” и я также знаю прошлое, настоящее и будущее всех душ. Но “мам ту веда на кашчана”, хотя Я знаю всех, Меня не знает никто. По этой причине Он составил различные Священные Писания как Вьясадева, чтобы мы могли познать Господа. Если мы знаем Его …

йасмин виджнате сарвам эвам виджнатам бхавати

Перевод:
Если вы постигаете Всевышнего, всё остальное знание само собой открывается вам.
(Мундака Упанишада 1.3).

Он есть все, и все вещи связаны с Ним – ахам мамети и ничего больше. Что здесь в этой вселенной? Мы принадлежим Ему. Это творение принадлежит Ему. Вся вселенная принадлежит Ему. Все принадлежит Ему, эти материальные вселенные, а также духовная вселенная. Вселенная состоит только из ахам мама и ничего больше. Правильно сказать ахам принадлежит только Господу. Мам, Я здесь, и все принадлежит Ему. Все это знание Господь составил как Вьясадева. При этом Он позаботился о нашем духовном росте.

Первая сутра Веданта-сутры:

атхато брахма джиджнаса

Перевод:
Теперь настало время для того, чтобы вопрошать об Абсолютной Истине.
(текст 1 Веданта Сутры)

Ата означает теперь, атаха означает «благодаря этому», о человек, спрашивающий о Брахмане. Это первая Веданта-сутра. Атхато брахма джиджнаса – последняя Веданта-сутра для афоризма заканчивается шлокой анавритти шабдат

Ана авритти – авритти означает пунарапи джананам пунарапи маранам пунарапи джанани джатаре шаянам.
Это авритти. Чтобы остановить это повторение, чтобы достичь состояния:

джанма карма ча ме дивйам
эвам йо ветти таттватах
тйактва дехам пунар джанма
наити мам эти со ’рджуна

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
Тот, кто знает божественную природу Моего явления и деяний, никогда больше не рождается в материальном мире. Покинув тело, он достигает Моей
вечной обители, о Арджуна.
(Б.Г. 4.9)

Наш Бхакти Чару Махарадж вернулся в обитель Господа. Как можно достичь состояния анавритти? шабдат. Шрила Вьясадева сказал в своем последнем афоризме Веданта-сутры о шабда-брахмане. Все слова ведической литературы трансцендентны. С помощью этих слов мы достигаем состояния анавритти. Если мы изучаем Священные Писания, и живем согласно «праманам» (наставлениям) шастр, тогда мы достигаем этого состояния анавритти.

тасмач чхастрам праманам те
карйакарйа-вйавастхитау
джнатва шастра-видханоктам
карма картум ихархаси

Перевод:
Поэтому именно на основе священных писаний определи, что следует делать, а чего делать не следует. Изучив содержащиеся в них указания и правила, действуй так, чтобы постепенно достичь духовных высот.
(Б.Г. 16.24)

Кришна сказал: «Я даю эти писания, а эти писания являются праманами». Мы навсегда останемся в долгу перед Шрилой Вьясадевой. Вьясадева находится в Бадарикашраме. В начале Бхагаватам происходит разговор между Вьясадевой и Нарадой Муни. Нарада Муни просветил его, после чего Вьясадева написал еще одно произведение. В других писаниях, которые он составил, осталась грязь (мала), и поэтому он составил эту амалу-пурану / писание, которое называется Бхагаватам. Этот разговор происходил на берегах Сарасвати, где находится Вьяса гуфа (пещера), где проживает Вьясадева. Рядом находится Ганеша гуфа. Вспомните эпизод, когда Вьясадева диктовал, а Ганеша стал его помощником, так были составлены все писания. Все это произошло в Бадарикашраме. Когда Мадхвачарья отправился в Бадрикашрам, он встретил Вьясадеву. Шрила Вьясадева проповедовал ему и дал несколько наставлений, после которых Мадхвачарья написал много комментариев.

Мы ходили на Вьяса гуфу в ноябре. Шрила Прабхупада был во Вриндаване в то время, у него тогда было плохо со здоровьем. Мы не понимали, улучшается его здоровье или ухудшается, и поэтому мы вернулись из Вьяса-гуфы во Вриндаван. Там мы встретили Прабхупаду. У нашей странствующей группы было название «Санкиртана Нарады Муни». Мы распространяли книги и писания. Шрила Прабхупада объяснил, что когда мы изучаем и распространяем знания из Священных Писаний, это единственный способ угодить Шриле Вьясадеве. Прабхупада также был бы счастлив услышать это. Когда мы делали наш отчет, мы сказали Шриле Прабхупаде, что на Вьяса-гуфе, мы показали Вьясадеве «Бхагавад-гиту как она есть» Шрилы Прабхупады. Когда мы ходили с книгами Прабхупады в Вьяса-гуфе, мы не видели Шрилу Вьясадеву, но, я думаю, он, должно быть, видел нас и книги, которые мы несли. Вот почему я дал отчет Прабхупаде, что мы показали его книги Вьясадеве. Прабхупада был очень счастлив услышать это.

Шрила Вьясадева ки Джай!
Вьяса-Пурнима Ки Джай!
Шрила Прабхупада Ки Джай!
Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджа Ки Джай!

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Юлия)

5th July 2020

Remembering Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja

(1)
je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur

Nitai Gaur Premanande Hari Haribol. Srila Prabhupada ki jay.
Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja Tirobhāva Tithi Mahotsava ki jay!

Yesterday after the news of Bhakti Caru Maharaja’s departure, I wanted to hear Maharaja, so then I came across this song that Maharaja had sung on one of the Acarya’s disappearance’s Tithi. Now we are ending up hearing the same song on the occasion of Srila Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s disappearance day, the day after the disappearance.

Today we are celebrating Vyasa Purnima, Guru Purnima in India, in Pandharpur. I just heard that in America yesterday was Vyasa or Guru Purnima. Maharaja departed on Vyasa Purnima. It is a very auspicious departure in that sense. Today is the appearance of Srila Vyāsadeva here. One is an Appearance and another one is a disappearance. But it is also not like that. They only appear. Acarya or Gurus do not disappear. They keep appearing with their Vani, their life, and teachings. They will never disappear. They are eternal. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, “He reasons ill who thinks that Vaisnavas die or disappear”. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says this is not true. They live on and on with their life and teachings, with their vani.

kīrtir yasya sa jīvati

Translation:
One who has done service to the Lord lives forever.[ Cāṇakya Paṇḍita]

Sa jīvati. He lives forever who is kirtimaan. With the glories of that person, he lives forever. Maharaja has not disappeared. He is here in the form of his vani, his exemplary life and his teachings. In Marathi also there is a saying:

Marave Pari Kirti Rupi Urave

Of course, you have no choice. You have taken birth so you have to give up the body. But saying that, he should remain behind in the form of kirti. We cried and prayed to the Lord. The atmosphere was globally surcharged with prayers. There was Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja Consciousness all around the world.

ebe jasa ghushuk tribhuvana

Translation:
Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.[ Guru Vandana verse 4]

Literally, we were experiencing how Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja was on the mind of millions of devotees all over the world. prthivim sa sisyat. He has disciples all over the world. Some are his Diksa disciples, and some are Siksa disciples. My disciples are also Siksa disciples of Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja. Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja was a Jagat Guru, not less. He represented Srila Vyāsadeva perfectly. He was the representative of Srila Vyāsa deva that we can understand by knowing, seeing, experiencing, how perfectly he was representing Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada represented Srila Vyāsadeva. Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja represented Prabhupada so it is the same as he represented Śrīla Vyāsadeva.

We were talking yesterday also, remembering Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja, I said how in a very short time he became Prabhupadised, as we say Krishanised and Iskonised. He came in contact with ISKCON in 1977, at Kumbha-mela in Prayagraj. Eleven months association, but very intense association, It became a marathon. Being in close proximity to Srila Prabhupada he captured Srila Prabhupada’s Spirit, imbibed Srila Prabhupada spirit. In some ways, Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are a little like Prabhupada, representing Prabhupada. He was acting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, following the dictation of Srila Prabhupada. He was completely Srila Prabhupada conscious. He was born near Kolkata and studied in Kolkata. Certainly he was born in the same state where Srila Prabhupada was born, in the same state where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. The name Vyasa means one who expands. While representing Srila Vyāsadeva and Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja certainly expanded Krishna consciousness, expanded Vedic literature which is the main contribution of Srila Vyasadeva, the compiler of all the Vedic literature.

vedaiśh cha sarvair aham eva vedyo

That literature is meant for knowing the Lord. Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja certainly expanded. “You preach in the English language” was the instruction of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. That instruction Srila Prabhupada certainly followed. Then Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja also followed to expand and spread Krishna consciousness. He spread the message of Sri Krsna Caitanya and spread the holy names around.

“Translate my books in as many as languages as possible.” Srila Prabhupada wanted to further expand that body of knowledge. Different devotees stepped forward and translated Srila Prabhupada’s books in various languages. Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja gets the credit for translating all Srila Prabhupada’s books into Bengali. There is the expansion. He is known for his own preaching in English. He traveled. That’s what he was doing mostly and lately. He was traveling to all the six continents and representing Srila Vyasadeva and Srila Prabhupada wherever he went. Last time he went to America for the same purpose – to expand and spread Krishna consciousness.

As Srila Prabhupada left India and went to the West, Maharaja was following in his spiritual master’s footsteps. Risking his life, he went to America. Srila Prabhupada arrived in America in 1965 on September 17. The day on which Prabhupada arrived, our Sundar lal was also born on the same day. Prabhupada arrived in America and Sundar lal arrived in Mauritius. Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja also appeared on the same date ie September 17. What I do know is how Prabhupada conscious he was. I have attended several Vyasa pujas. I had the good fortune and for my own purification, I was with him. He celebrated his Vyasa puja as Srila Prabhupada Memorial Day.

He is the one. No one else on the planet thought of making a documentary on Prabhupada’s life, Abhay Charan. He wanted to see Srila Prabhupada’s life and teachings immortalised. As we were celebrating Srila Prabhupad’s Centennial anniversary each disciple was making his contributions. The translation of all Srila Prabhupada’s books was a major contribution. The other one was the documentary. We had a grand celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s 100th birth anniversary in the Netaji Subhas stadium in Kolkata. On that occasion, the Abhay Charan documentary was released. Maharaja dedicated Abhay Charan, as his offering to Srila Prabhupada.

What about the Ujjain temple? ISKCON Ujjain ki jaya! ISKCON Ujjain Temple and his glorious disciples, we are with you, Prabhus! We are right behind you. He built Ujjain temple within 10 months. That was another record. We know this. It seemed that the Bureau had just approved his purchase of land and building the temple and the next thing was that we received the invitation for the temple opening. On Nityananda Trayodasi of that year, before the GBC Meetings all the GBC’S landed in Ujjain and we had a grand temple opening celebration. I was thinking, he built a temple in Ujjain, Avantipur, in Lord Krsna’s Guru Sandipani Muni’s home town. In that town, Srila Bhakti Caru Maharaja opened the ISKCON temple, continuing the tradition. Avantipur is the place where Krsna and Balarama underwent their studies and then Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja installed Krsna Balarama on the altar and in the temple hall there is a Sandipani Muni murti. The only temple which has a Sandipani Muni murti.

Yesterday Prana Govinda Prabhu from Alachua was rushing to the hospital where Bhakti Caru Maharaja was hospitalised. Prabhupada understood that Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja wanted Prana Govinda Prabhu to do something with his final rites. I spoke with Prana Govinda Prabhu. He was still on the way. Soon he would be reaching Maharaja and he wondered whether he was going to reach the hospital and speak to Maharaja. Since Maharaja would only listen, he asked me, “Is there anything you would like to convey to Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja?” I said if you could manage to please convey to him not to leave us behind. Please come back and join us. Be amongst us. We are missing you. And I also said that if Krsna doesn’t want this to happen and Krsna wants him, has some plans for him, then I said, “Please convey to Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja that he may leave peacefully, happily, and we will take care of his zone, his services, especially his direct disciples.”

The last talk I had with him was just before he left for America. It was during the Pandemic lockdown period when Maharaja called me. I was surprised to receive his call and wondered why he is calling me. Then he disclosed the reason. He had some free time during the lockdown. He was talking and preaching for months. I was also preaching, but he did so much. It was a marathon. Every day for weeks and months he was giving English talks and Bengali talks. He was really giving himself to the world. He called me and told me that he had just finished watching the Lost Village documentary. The Lost Village is my village and he was so pleased to watch the documentary. He said to me that he got to know me more. He was really appreciating and congratulating me for my upbringing in a simple, natural village. He went on. Maharaja said to me, “Promote this video. Especially during this pandemic time that type of simple living was needed.” We were both talking that it would be good to do something so that we do not lose the villages and the culture. How we could revive, promote and propagate the spirit of Simple living and High thinking, and natural living. I had also invited Maharaja. He asked me, “Where are you?”

I said, “In Pandharpur.”
I also invited him to Pandharpur. I told him, “You could also visit my village which is not far from Pandharpur.” He was asking how far it is. So I extended that invitation to him to visit Pandharpur, and to visit the village that is getting lost. He had kindly accepted the invitation. We also talked about talking over the phone more often. I think of that meeting now and realise talking is only possible on another plane.

Srila Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja Tirobhāva Tithi Mahotsava ki jay!
Srila Prabhupada ki jay.
Gaur premanande!Hari haribol.

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 5 июля 2020 г.

ВСПОМИНАЯ ШРИЛУ БХАКТИ ЧАРУ СВАМИ МАХАРАДЖА..

Гурумахарадж начал беседу о джапе спев песню:

1. дже анило према-дхана коруна прачур хено прабху котха гела ачарйа-тхакур

2. каха мора сваруп рупа каха санатан каха даса рагхунатха патита-паван

3. каха мора бхатта-джуга каха кавирадж эка-кале котха гела гора ната-радж

4. пашане кутибо матха анале пашибо гауранга гунера нидхи котха геле пабо

5. се-саба сангира санге дже коило билас се-санга на паийа канде нароттама дас

Перевод:
1. Полный милости и сострадания, он даровал нам это сокровище, божественную любовь, – куда же ушел он, Шриниваса Ачарья?

2. Где мои Сварупа Дамодара и Рупа Госвами? Где Санатана? Где Рагхунатха дас, спаситель падших душ?

3. Где мои Рагхунатха Бхатта и Гопала Бхатта? Где Кришнадас Кавираджа? Куда так неожиданно исчез великий танцор, Господь Гауранга?

4. Я разобью свою голову о камни и брошусь в огонь! Где мне найти Господа Гаурангу, воплощение всех замечательных качеств?

5. Неспособный приблизиться к Господу Гауранге, сопровождаемому всеми этими преданными, в обществе которых Он проводил Свои игры, Нароттама дас просто плачет.

Вчера после известия об уходе Бхакти Чару Махараджа я хотел услышать Махараджа, тогда я нашел эту песню, которую Махарадж пел однажды в день ухода кого-то из Ачарьев. Сейчас мы пели ту же песню в день ухода Шрилы Бхакти Чару Махараджа.

Сегодня мы празднуем Вьяса Пурниму, Гуру Пурниму в Индии, в Пандхарпуре. Я только что слышал, что в Америке вчера была Вьяса или Гуру Пурнима. Махарадж оставил тело на Вьяса Пурниму. Это очень благоприятный уход. Сегодня здесь мы отмечаем явление Шрилы Вьясадевы. Обычно мы отмечаем день явления и день ухода. Но это тоже не так. Они только приходят. Ачарьи или Гуру не уходят. Они продолжают приходить со своим Вани, своей жизнью и учениями. Они никогда не уходят. Они вечны. Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур говорит: «Человек болен, думая, что вайшнавы умирают или уходят». Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур говорит, что это неправда. Они живут своей жизнью и учениями, своими Вани (наставлениями).

киртир ясья са дживати

Перевод:
Тот, кто служил Господу, живет вечно.
[Чанакья Падит]

Са дживати. Тот кто проповедовал Святые имена, будет жить вечно. Слава этого человека будет жить вечно. Махарадж не ушел. Он здесь в форме его вани, его образцовой жизни и его учений. В маратхи также есть поговорка:

Мараве Пари Кирти Рупи Ураве

Конечно, у вас нет выбора. Вы родились, поэтому вы должны будете оставить тело. Но, сказав это, он должен остаться в форме кирти (славных дел). Мы плакали и молились Господу. Атмосфера была переполнена молитвами. Сознание Шрилы Бхакти Чару Махараджа было по всему миру.

эбе джаша гхушук трибхувана

Перевод:
Пусть слава о тебе разнесется по всем трем мирам!
(Гуру Вандана, стих 4)

Буквально мы переживали, как Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж думал о миллионах преданных по всему миру. притхивим са шишьят. У него есть ученики по всему миру. Некоторые – дикша ученики, а некоторые – шикша ученики. Мои ученики также являются шикша учениками Шрилы Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджа. Шрила Бхакти Чару Махарадж также был Джагат Гуру. Он был прекрасным представителем Шрилы Вьясадевы, которого мы можем понять, зная, видя, понимая, как прекрасно он был представлен Шрилой Прабхупадой. Шрила Прабхупада представлял Шрилу Вьясадеву. Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж представлял Шрилу Прабхупаду, поэтому он так же, как Шрила Прабхупада был представителем Шрилы Вьясадевы.

Вчера мы также вспоминали Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджа. Я сказал, что за очень короткое время он стал последователем Прабхупады, как мы говорим, Кришнаизирован и Искононизирован. Он вступил впервые с ИСККОН в 1977 году на Кумбха-мелу в Праяге. Одиннадцать месяцев общения, очень интенсивного общения, стало марафоном. Находясь в непосредственной близости от Шрилы Прабхупады, он принял Дух Шрилы Прабхупады, впитал дух Шрилы Прабхупады. В некотором смысле ученики Шрилы
Прабхупады немного похожи на Прабхупаду, представляя Прабхупаду. Он действовал от имени Шрилы Прабхупады, следуя его указаниям. Он был полностью сознающим Шрилу Прабхупаду. Он родился недалеко от Калькутты и учился в Калькутте. Он родился в том же штате, в котором родился Шрила Прабхупада, в том же штате, где явился Шри Чайтанья Махапрабху. Имя Вьяса означает тот, кто распространяется. Представляя Шрилу Вьясадеву и Шрилу Прабхупаду, Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж распространял сознание Кришны, распространял ведическую литературу, которая является основным вкладом Шрилы Вьясадевы, составителя всей ведической литературы.

ведаиш ча сарваир ахам эва ведйо

Эта литература предназначена для познания Господа. Шрила Бхакти Чару Махарадж проповедовал её. «Вы будете проповедовать на английском языке», это было наставление Шрилы Бхактисиддханты Сарасвати Тхакура. Шрила Прабхупада определенно следовал этим наставлениям . Затем этим наставлениям стал следовать Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж, чтобы прославить и распространить сознание Кришны. Он распространял послание Шри Кришны Чайтаньи и распространял вокруг себя Святые имена.

«Переведите мои книги на максимально возможное количество языков». Шрила Прабхупада хотел еще больше расширить эту область знаний. Разные преданные двигались вперед и перевели книги Шрилы Прабхупады на разные языки. Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж получил признательность за перевод на бенгали, всех книг Шрилы Прабхупады. Это распространение. Он известен своей проповедью на английском языке. Он много путешествовал. Это то, чем он занимался в последнее время. Он путешествовал по всем шести континентам и куда бы он ни шел, он представлял Шрилу Вьясадеву и Шрилу Прабхупаду. В последний раз он отправился в Америку с той же целью – прославить и распространить сознание Кришны.

Когда-то Шрила Прабхупада покинул Индию и отправился на Запад, Махарадж пошел по стопам своего духовного учителя. Рискуя своей жизнью, он отправился в Америку. Шрила Прабхупада прибыл в Америку в 1965 году 17 сентября. В тот же день, когда Шрила Прабхупада прибыл в Америку, родился наш Сундара Лал. Прабхупада прибыл в Америку, а Сундара Лал прибыл на Маврикий. Шрила Бхакти Чару Махарадж также родился в тот же день, то есть 17 сентября. Я знаю, насколько он был в сознании Прабхупады. Я посетил несколько вьяса-пудж. Мне повезло, и для собственного очищения я был с ним. Он отмечал свою Вьяса-пуджу как “День памяти Шрилы Прабхупады”.

Он – единственный. Никто больше на планете не думал снять фильм основанный на реальных событиях о жизни Прабхупады, Абхай Чаран. Он хотел что бы жизнь и учения Шрилы Прабхупады были бессмертными. Когда мы праздновали 100-летие Шрилы Прабхупады, каждый ученик делал свой вклад. Перевод всех книг Шрилы Прабхупады был важным вкладом. Еще одним вкладом был фильм основанный на реальных событиях. У нас было грандиозное празднование 100-летия со дня рождения Шрилы Прабхупады, на стадионе Нетаджи Субхаса в Калькутте. По этому случаю был выпущен документальный фильм об Абхае Чаране. Махарадж предложил фильм Абхай Чаран в качестве своего подношения Шриле Прабхупаде.

А как насчет храма Удджайн? ИСККОН Удджайн ки джай! ИСККОН Храм Удджайна и его прекрассные ученики, мы с Вами, Прабху! Мы прямо за Вами. Он построил храм Удджайн в течение 10 месяцев. Это был еще один рекорд. Мы знаем это. Казалось, бюро только что одобрило его покупку земли и строительство храма, и вскоре, мы получили приглашение на открытие храма. На Нитьянанда Трайодаши того года, перед собраниями Джи-Би-Си, все Джи-Би-Си собрались в Удджайне, и у нас было торжественное открытие храма. Я размышлял, он построил храм в Удджайне, Авантипур, в родном городе Гуру Господа Кришны – Сандипани Муни. В этом городе Шрила Бхакти Чару Махарадж открыл храм ИСККОН, продолжая традицию. Авантипур – это место, где Кришна и Баларама проходили обучение, а затем Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж установил Кришну Балараму на алтарь, а в зале храма находится мурти Сандипани Муни. Единственный храм, в котором есть мурти Сандипани Муни.

Вчера Прана Говинда Прабху из Алачуа спешил в больницу, где был госпитализирован Бхакти Чару Махарадж. Прабхупада понял, что Бхакти Чару Свами Махарадж хотел, чтобы Прана Говинда Прабху провел для него последние обряды. Я говорил с Прана Говинда Прабху, когда он все еще был в пути. Он должен был вскоре попасть к Махараджу, он беспокоился, сможет ли он добраться до больницы и поговорить с Махараджем. Поскольку Махарадж мог только слушать, он спросил меня: «Хотели бы Вы передать что-то Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджу?» Я сказал, что если у вас получится, пожалуйста, передайте ему, чтобы он не оставлял нас. Пожалуйста, передайте, что бы он возвращался и присоединялся к нам. Оставался с нами. Мы скучаем за ним. И я также сказал, если Кришна не хочет, чтобы это произошло, или у Кришны есть некоторые планы на него, я сказал: «Пожалуйста, передайте Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджу, чтобы он мог уйти мирно, счастливо, что мы позаботимся о его миссии и особенно о его непосредственных учениках».
Наш с ним последний разговор был перед тем, как он уехал в Америку. Это было во время периода пандемии, Махарадж позвонил мне. Я был удивлен, когда он позвонил, и поинтересовался по какому поводу он позвонил мне. Тогда он объяснил причину. У него было немного свободного времени во время карантина. Он говорил и проповедовал месяцами. Я тоже проповедовал, но он делал так много. Это был марафон. Каждый день в течение нескольких недель и месяцев он давал лекции на английском и бенгали. Он действительно отдавал себя миру. Он позвонил мне и сказал, что только что закончил смотреть документальный фильм «Затерянная деревня». Затерянная деревня – моя деревня, и ему было так приятно смотреть документальный фильм. Он сказал мне, что он смог лучше узнать меня. Он очень ценил и поздравлял меня с моим воспитанием в простой, настоящей деревне. Он продолжал. Махарадж сказал мне: «Продвигай это видео. В это пандемическое время, необходимо понимание как жить той простой жизнью». Мы говорили о том, что хорошо было бы сделать что-то, чтобы не потерять деревенскую культуру. Как мы могли бы возродить, продвигать и пропагандировать дух простой жизни, возвышенного мышления и естественной жизни. Я также пригласил Махараджа приехать. Он спросил меня: “Где ты?” Я сказал: «В Пандхарпуре».
Я пригласил его в Пандхарпур. Я сказал ему: «Вы также можете посетить мою деревню, которая находится недалеко от Пандхарпура». Он спросил, насколько это далеко. Я пригласил его посетить Пандхарпур и посетить потерянную деревню. Он любезно принял приглашение. Мы также договорились чаще общаться по телефону. Я сейчас думаю об этой встрече и понимаю, что разговор возможен только на другом уровне.

Шрила Бхакти Чару Свами Махараджа Тиробхава Титхи Махотсава ки джай!
Шрила Прабхупада Ки Джай.
Гаур Премананде! Хари харибол.

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Юлия)

4 July 2020

The Importance of Caturmasya

Chanting is taking place from 714 locations. Welcome and greetings to all of you. Caturmasya is beginning from tomorrow. By another calculation, it starts from Ashadi or Sayana Ekadasi. On the day of Sayana Ekadasi, the Lord starts to sleep in the heavenly planets. Generally, demigods stay in the heavenly planets. The Lord also has His abode there. He sleeps there for four months – Sravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin and Kartik. In the month of Kartik, one more Ekadasi comes – Utthana Ekadasi. On that day the Lord wakes up. In this way, from Sayana Ekadasi to Utthana Ekadasi Caturmasya is celebrated. Lakhs of devotees visit here in Pandharpur so that devotees can take darsana of the Lord before He goes to sleep. Again lakhs of devotees come to take darsana when He wakes up. When the Lord sleeps, the devotees increase their austerities and glorify the Lord. They increase their sadhana and services. During the prakatya lila of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, devotees from various places like Navadvipa, Shantipur, and Kulina gram would stay with Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannatha Puri.

During the South Indian Yatra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Srirangam during Caturmasya and he engaged time in sravanam and kirtana.

mahaprabhoh kirtana-nritya-gita
vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena

Translation:
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.[ Gurv-astaka, Verse 2]

In the first canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Narada Muni tells Śrīla Vyāsa deva how he joined Krishna Consciousness. He shared the benefits he got by observing Caturmasya with Vyasa deva. He shared his association with the Bhaktivedantas during Caturmasya. His mother cooked for the Bhaktivedantas who observed Caturmasya which is also a period of the rainy season so the Parivrājakācāryas stays at one place. Narada Muni benefited by the association of such Mahatmas. Narada Muni also listened to the Katha of those Mahatmas and was serving them. Narada Muni got their association and he was also engaged in the service of the sadhus.

Sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga — sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

Translation:
The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.[CC Madhya 22.54]

He did sravanam and kirtana and also rendered service to the sadhus. Narada Muni especially mentions that by their permission he honoured their remnants. We can say that it is with this that he became Narada Muni. Muni means one who is thoughtful and He became Narada, meaning one who gives Narayan to others.

We also should take the benefit of this Caturmasya. In Hari bhakti Vilas Srila Sanatana Goswami writes about the glories of Caturmasya. Srila Prabhupada was pleased with Bhavananda Prabhu’s letter in which he mentioned about following Caturmasya. But Srila Prabhupada was not so much in favour as it stops the service of preaching due to certain strict rules that need to be followed.

In 1975 Srila Prabhupada saw that some of his sannayasi disciples had grown their hair and had become mauni babas. Then Srila Prabhupada chastised them and asked them to shave up. They again became active in services.

The rules of Caturmasya are very strict. One can follow as per time, place, and circumstances. It’s not easy. Some try to imitate and do the bhajan alone. There are austerities of body, mind and speech which are also mentioned in Bhagavad Gita. There is a need to do more austerities. We refrain from certain items every month.

We can increase the austerity of Japa. Japa is also an austerity. We can practice purifying our minds. We can increase sravanam and kirtana.

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

We can focus more on the quality of these 9 processes of devotional service. Take vows in Caturmasya. You can look at that which nourishes bhakti. This is a very nice season for sadhana bhakti. Every devotee should look to this starting from Guru Purnima. I also attempted to follow Caturmasya in Pandharpur before 15 years ago, but it was difficult as there was a flood at that time. Now, this time I’m thinking of staying in Pandharpur. As the rainy season is also coming, so Bhaktivedanta stays in one place. Coronavirus is also one reason. We have to maintain social distancing so I have decided to stay in Pandharpur. This has not stopped preaching. We are having a discussion. Preaching has increased.

We will continue our Japa and Japa talk during this Caturmasya from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. You can see how you can make your home and temple a more convenient place just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to spend time in Jagannatha Puri.

Devotees come to Pandharpur on Sayana Ekadasi and stay here for 4 months. Not only brahmacharis and sannayasis stay here, but many grhasthas also come. There is no need to go here and there. You can convert your homes into temples and make improvements in your sadhana bhakti. Work on making your weak points strong.

Gaur Premanande Hari Haribol

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 04 июля 2020 г.

ВАЖНОСТЬ ЧАТУРМАСЬИ

Воспевание происходит из 714 мест. Приветствую всех вас. Чатурмасья начинается с завтрашнего дня. По другим подсчетам, она начинается с Ашадхи или Шаяна Экадаши. В день Шаяна Экадаши Господь ложится спать на райских планетах. Обычно полубоги находятся на райских планетах. У Господа там также есть своя обитель. Он спит там четыре месяца – Шравана, Бхадрапада, Ашвин и Картика. В месяц Картика наступает еще один экадаши – Уттхана Экадаши. В этот день Господь просыпается. Таким образом, от Шаяна Экадаши до Уттана Экадаши отмечается Чатурмасья. Тысячи преданных приходят сюда, в Пандхарпур, чтобы получить даршан Господа, прежде чем Он уснет. Затем многие преданные приходят, чтобы получить даршан, когда Господь просыпается. Когда Он спит, преданные увеличивают свои аскезы и прославляют Господа. Они увеличивают свою садхану и служение. Во время пракатья-лилы Чайтаньи Махапрабху преданные из разных мест, таких как Навадвипа, Шантипур и Кулина грам, оставались с Чайтаньей Махапрабху в Джаганнатха-Пури.

Во время южно-индийской ятры Чайтанья Махапрабху жил в Шрирангаме во время чатурмасьи и занимался шраванам и киртанам.

махапрабхох киртана-нритйа-
гита-вадитра-мадйан-манасо расена

Перевод:
Движение санкиртаны Господа Чайтаньи Махапрабху – источник непреходящей радости для духовного учителя, который порой повторяет святое имя, порой танцует, охваченный экстазом, а порой поет и играет на музыкальных инструментах.
(Гурв-аштака, стих 2)

В первой песне «Шримад-Бхагаватам» Шрила Нарада Муни рассказывает Шриле Вьясадеве, как он присоединился к Сознанию Кришны. Нарада Муни поделился с Вьясадевой, преимуществами, которые он получил, соблюдая Чатурмасью. Он поделился своим общением с Бхактиведантами во время Чатурмасьи. Его мать готовила еду для Бхактиведант, которые соблюдали чатурмасью, это период сезона дождей, поэтому паривраджакачарьи оставались на одном месте. Нарада Муни получил благо от общения с этими махатмами. Он также слушал катху этих махатм и служил им. Нарада Муни получил их общение, и при этом, он занимался служением садху.

‘садху-санга’, ‘садху-санга’ — сарва-шастре кайа
лава-матра садху-санге сарва-сиддхи хайа

«Как гласят все священные писания, даже мимолетного общения с чистым преданным может оказаться достаточным для достижения полного успеха».
(Ч.Ч. Мадхья-лила 22.54)

Нарада Муни совершал шраванам и киртанам, а также служил садху. Он упоминает, что особенно важным было то что, с их разрешения он почитал остатки их пищи. Можно сказать, что именно поэтому он стал Нарадой Муни. Муни означает – тот, кто погружен в размышления, а Нарада, это тот, кто дает Нараяну другим.

Мы также должны воспользоваться этой Чатурмасьей. В “Хари бхакти Виласе” Шрила Санатана Госвами пишет о славе Чатурмасьи. Шрила Прабхупада был доволен письмом Бхавананды Прабху, в котором он упоминал о соблюдении Чатурмасьи. Но Шрила Прабхупада не очень поддерживал это, потому что в этот период прекращалась проповедь, из-за определенных строгих правил, которым необходимо следовать.
В 1975 году Шрила Прабхупада увидел, что некоторые из его учеников-санньяси отрастили волосы и стали как мауни-баба. Тогда Шрила Прабхупада отчитал их и попросил побриться. Они снова стали активными в сфере служения.

Правила Чатурмасьи очень строгие. Им можно следовать учитывая время, место и обстоятельства. Это нелегко. Некоторые пытаются имитировать это, и совершают бхаджан в одиночестве. Существуют аскезы тела, ума и речи, которые также упоминаются в Бхагавад-гите. Необходимо совершать больше аскез. Каждый месяц мы воздерживаемся от определенных вещей.

Мы можем увеличить внимательность Джапы. Джапа это также аскеза. Мы можем практиковать очищение нашего разума. Мы можем увеличить шраванам и киртанам.

шраванах киртанах вишнох
смаранах пада-севанам
арчанах ванданах дасйах
сакхьям атма-ниведанам

Мы можем больше сосредоточиться на качестве этих 9 процессов преданного служения. Примите обеты в Чатурмасью. Вы сможете увидеть то, что питает бхакти. Это очень хорошее время для садхана бхакти. Каждый преданный должен смотреть на это, начиная с Гуру Пурнимы. Я также раньше пытался следовать Чатурмасье в Пандхарпуре, более 15 лет назад, но это было трудно, так как в то время было наводнение. Сейчас я думаю остаться в Пандхарпуре. Поскольку наступает сезон дождей, Бхактиведанта остается на одном месте. Коронавирус также является одной из причин. Мы должны поддерживать социальную дистанцию, поэтому я решил остаться в Пандхарпуре. Это не прекратило проповедь. Мы продолжаем общение. Проповедь увеличилась.

Мы продолжим нашу беседу о джапе и джапа-сессию во время этой чатурмасьи с 6:00 до 7:00. Вы можете посмотреть, как сделать свой дом и храм более удобным местом, подобно тому, как Чайтанья Махапрабху проводил время в Джаганнатха-Пури.

Преданные приезжают в Пандхарпур на Шаяна экадаши и остаются здесь в течение 4 месяцев. Здесь останавливаются не только брахмачари и санньяси, но и многие грихастхи. Вам нет необходимости приходить сюда. Вы можете превратить свои дома в храмы и улучшить свою садхана-бхакти. Работайте над укреплением своих слабых мест.

Гаура Премананде Хари Харибол!

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Юлия)

3 July 2020

Vrindavan – The land where Krsna lives

Hare Krishna! We have devotees chanting with us from 670 locations. Welcome! Happy to see you all chanting. It’s not that only you become happy while chanting, but also the Lord and I become happy.

We can’t say that there is a change in the zoom conference time, but we will do it from 6 to 7 am. We will go back to normal. We will begin chanting at 6 am, begin the talk by 6.40 am and end by 7 am. Remember this and let others also know .

jaya sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Jagannatha Swami ki jai!

The Lord has returned. The Lord has gone back to Dvaraka from Kuruksetra. I was reminding you how the Dvaraka vasis and Vraja vasis met each other for 3 months in Kuruksetra. By the time the monsoon began, they returned to their respective places. I don’t want to repeat all those pastimes again. Krsna didn’t agree to return to Vrindavan at that time, but He promised that He would definitely return in the near future. He told them about future pastimes on His returning to Dvaraka and when Dvarakadhisa Krsna would be able to return to Vrindavan and become Kanhaiya.

Then as He had told them, He went to Hastinapur to kill Sisupal. News of the killing of Sisupal reached Dantavakra at Datiha village. He became very angry and wanted to kill Krsna for killing Sisupal. But immersed in anger, he lost his direction to Dvaraka. Narada Muni met him on the way and wanted to help him so he said to Dantavakra,”You don’t need to go to Dvaraka. Let me convey the message to Dvarakadhisa that you want to kill Him, and He will come to Datiha Village”. Narada Muni went to Dvaraka and told Krsna about Dantavakra. Then Krsna came on His chariot to Datiha and killed Dantavakra. Sisupal and Dantavakra were Jaya and Vijaya and they had appeared earlier as Ravan and Kumbhakarna. After killing Dantavakra, the Lord reached Vishram-ghata and dispersed all His weapons in Yamuna.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium. (BG. 4.8)

This mission of the Lord was accomplished. Then as He had earlier told the Vraja vasis that He would return to Vrindavan, He left for Vrindavan. Vraja vasis, on returning from Kurukshetra to Vrindavan, were eagerly waiting for Krsna. The Lord was again about to become Kanhaiya. The Lord blew His conch, Pancajanya. As the Vraja vasis heard it and as the Lord’s chariot came closer, they started cheering “Ayo re! Ayo re!!… He is here! He is here! …

Then Krsna touched the feet of the elders and those who were younger than Him, touched His feet. In this way, Krsna returned to Vrindavan after 100 years. All the Vraja vasis were celebrating. The Lord stayed in Vrindavan for 2 months in the same way the Lord stays in the Gundicha temple in Jagannatha Puri. Everyone was happy in Vrindavan, but the elders were lamenting because they were thinking that they were impatient and had married their daughters off. They didn’t wait for Krsna. Then Yogamaya, who stays in Vrindavan, came there as Purnamasi. She made some arrangements and asked all the Vraja vasis to come with their daughters. She also called Durvasa Muni and prayed to him to ignite the fire of his austerities. Then she asked everyone to look at their daughters. They saw two forms. There were the original Gopis and their shadows. Then she also told the Vraja vasis that the Gopis who are married are the shadows, not the original Gopis.

She asked every gopi to enter into the fire created by Duravas Muni in the same way mother Sita did. The shadow of mother Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and upon the fire the real mother Sita had reappeared. She asked all the Gopis to go through this test. All the Gopis passed the test. Then all of them were married to Krsna. They were all Krsna vallabha. Earlier Krsna had married Radharani and now He married all the Gopis. Everyone was experiencing bliss.

itidrk sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

Translation
By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in knowledge of His supreme majesty and opulence that He is only conquered by devotees whose pure love is imbues with intimacy and is free from all conceptions of awe and reverence. With great love I again offer my obeisances to Lord Damodara hundreds and hundreds of times. (Verse 3 , Damodarastakam)

All the Vraja vasis enjoyed this duration of 2 months with Krsna.

Krsna Kanaiya Lal ki jai!
Vrindavan Dhama ki jai!
Vraja vasiyon ki jai!
Radharani ki jai!
Gopiyon ki jai!
Śrila Prabhupāda ki jai!
Gaura premanande hari haribol!

https://youtu.be/KMlc3b71hyA

Наставления после совместной джапа сессии 03 июля 2020 г.

ВРИНДАВАН – ЗЕМЛЯ, ГДЕ ЖИВЕТ КРИШНА.

Харе Кришна! У нас есть преданные, воспевающие с нами из 670 мест. Добро пожаловать! Рад видеть, что вы все воспеваете. Не только вы становитесь счастливыми во время воспевания, но и Господь, и я тоже, становимся счастливыми.

Мы не можем сказать, что время zoom конференции изменится, мы будем проводить ее с 6 до 7 утра. Мы вернемся к обычному расписанию. Мы начнем воспевать в 6 утра, затем будет джапа толк с 6.40 и закончим в 7 утра. Запомните и передайте всем.

джая шри-кришна-чайтанья прабху нитьянанда шри-адвайта гададхара шривасади-гаура-бхакта-вринда

Харе Кришна Харе Кришна
Кришна Кришна Харе Харе
Харе Рама Харе Рама
Рама Рама Харе Харе

Джаганнатха Свами Ки Джай!

Господь вернулся. Господь вернулся в Двараку с Курукшетры. Я напомнил вам, как Дваракаваси и Враджаваси встречались друг с другом в течение 3 месяцев на Курукшетре. К тому времени, когда начался муссон (дожди), они вернулись по своим домам. Я не хочу рассказывать все эти игры снова. Кришна не согласился вернуться с ними во Вриндаван, но Он пообещал, что обязательно вернется в ближайшем будущем. Он рассказал им о Своих будущих лилах в Двараке, после которых Дваракадхиш Кришна сможет вернуться во Вриндаван и стать Каной.
Затем, Господь как и говорил, отправился в Хастинапур, чтобы убить Шишупалу. Известие об убийстве Шишупалы достигло Дантавакры в деревне Датиха. Дантавакра очень рассердился и хотел отомстить Кришне за убийство Шишупалы. Но погруженный в гнев, он не нашел дороги в Двараку. Нарада Муни встретил его в пути и захотел помочь, он сказал Дантавакре: «Тебе не нужно идти в Двараку. Позволь мне передать сообщение Дваракадхише, что ты хочешь убить Его, и он приедет в деревню Датиха». Нарада Муни отправился в Двараку и рассказал Кришне о Дантавакре. Услышав это, Кришна прибыл на своей колеснице к Датихе и убил Дантавакру. Шишупала и Дантавакра были Джая и Виджая, они являлись раньше как Равана и Кумбхакарна. Убив Дантавакру, Господь достиг Вишрам-гхата и утопил все свое оружие в Ямуне.

паритранайа садхунам
винашайа ча душкр̣там
дхарма-самстхапанартхайа
самбхавами йуге йуге

Перевод Шрилы Прабхупады:
Чтобы освободить праведников и уничтожить злодеев, а также восстановить устои религии, Я прихожу сюда из века в век.
(Б.Г. 4.8)

Эта миссия Господа была выполнена. Затем, как Он ранее сказал Враджаваси, что он вернется во Вриндаван, Он отправился во Вриндаван. Враджаваси, возвращаясь с Курукшетры во Вриндаван, с нетерпением ждали Кришну. Господь снова собирался стать Каной. Господь подул в Свою раковину, Панчаджанью. Когда Враджаваси услышали этот звук, и увидели, что приблежается колесница Господа, они начали восклицать: “Айо! Aйo рe !! … Он здесь! Он здесь!” …

Кришна коснулся стоп старейшин, а те, кто был младше Его, коснулись Его стоп. Так Кришна вернулся во Вриндаван спустя 100 лет. Все Враджаваси радовались. Господь оставался во Вриндаване в течение 2 месяцев так же, как Господь находился в храме Гундича в Джаганнатха Пури. Все были счастливы во Вриндаване, но старейшины сокрушались, потому что были нетерпеливы и не дождавшись Кришну, выдали замуж своих дочерей. Тогда Йогамайя, которая находится во Вриндаване, пришла туда как Пурнамаси. Она все организовала и попросила всех Враджаваси прийти со своими дочерьми. Она также пригласила Дурвасу Муни и попросила его зажечь огонь его аскез. Затем она попросила всех посмотреть на своих дочерей. Они увидели две формы. Там были настоящие гопи и их тени. Она сказала Враджаваси, что гопи, состоящие в браке, – это тени, а не изначальные гопи.
Она попросила всех гопи войти в огонь, созданный Дуравасой Муни, точно так же, как это сделала мать Сита. Равана похитил тень матушки Ситы, и из огня появилась настоящая матушка Сита. Пурнамаси попросила всех гопи пройти это испытание. Все гопи прошли испытание. После чего все они вышли за муж за Кришну. Все они были Кришна Валлабха. Вначале Кришна женился на Радхарани, а теперь он женился на всех гопи. Все испытывали блаженство.

итидр̣к сва-лилабхир ананда-кунде
сва-гхошам нимаджжантам акхйапайантам
тадийешита-джнешу бхактаир джитатвам
пунах прематас там шатавр̣тти ванде

Перевод:
Своими детскими играми Он одарил жителей Гокулы блаженством! Преданным, которые погружены в познание Его верховного величия и богатства, Он явил великую тайну — Его можно покорить только чистой преданностью и любовью, проникнутой близостью и лишенной трепета и благоговения. Сотни и сотни раз с огромной любовью я склоняюсь перед Господом Дамодарой!
(Стих 3, Дамодараштакам)

Все Враджаваси наслаждались этим общением 2 месяца с Кришной.

Кришна Кана Лал ки джай!
Вриндаван Дхама Ки Джай!
Враджа Васи Ки Джай!
Радхарани ки джай!
Гопи ки джай!
Шрила Прабхупада ки джай!
Гаура Премананде Хари Харибол!

https://www.facebook.com/136363619763123… ..
[Видеозапись]
Vrindavan The Land where Krishna Lives, Japa Talk 3rd July 2020, ISKCON Pandharpur
https://vk.com/video221328028_456239757

(Перевод Кришна Намадхан дас, редакция бхактин Юлия)

2 July 2020

Every moment is meant for devotional service

Hare Krishna!

vayaṁ tu na vitṛpyāma
uttama-śloka-vikrame
yac-chṛṇvatāṁ rasa-jñānāṁ
svādu svādu pade pade

Translation:
We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment. (ŚB 1.1.19)

Saunakadi Muni said to Suta Goswami,”We are not tired. Please continue the katha. We want to keep on hearing katha”. We are also listening to katha. There was a marathon of śravana-kirtana for the past few days. Devotees were going on speaking. Yesterday we had 12 hours duty from morning 4.30 to 8.30 at night. The soul cannot get tired at any time as it is an eternal servant. The body or material mind can get tired. People do 8 hours of duty then there is a lunch break or holiday. People get so tired that they need a weekend. But in a spiritual world, there is no break. Kirtaniya sada harih is possible at the spiritual level. We have to attain that stage.

nirodho ’syānuśayanam
ātmanaḥ saha śaktibhiḥ
muktir hitvānyathā rūpaṁ
sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ

Translation:
The merging of the living entity, along with his conditional living tendency, with the mystic lying down of the Mahā-Viṣṇu is called the winding up of the cosmic manifestation. Liberation is the permanent situation of the form of the living entity after he gives up the changeable gross and subtle material bodies. (ŚB 2.10.6)

Whatever form we possess or by which we are covered, by giving less attention to that form and hearing less to our mind, we can attain this stage.

tvayi me ‘nanya-viṣayā
matir madhu-pate ‘sakṛt
ratim udvahatād addhā
gaṅgevaugham udanvati

Translation:
O Lord of Madhu, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea without hindrance, let my attraction be constantly drawn unto You without being diverted to anyone else. (ŚB 1.8.42)

Kunti Maharani said, “May my devotional service be like the flow of Ganga”. Ganga starts flowing from Gangotri to the ocean. It keeps on flowing day and night until it unites with the ocean. There is no lunch break. Hence a nice example has been given by Kunti Maharani.

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati

Translation:
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. (ŚB 1.2.6)

Bhakti has been described as ahaituky apratihatā in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. There shouldn’t be any material motive or desire behind bhakti. There should be an inspiration of love, not lust. Bhukti Mukti Siddhi Kami… All work in this world is for these purposes. This includes all religions of the world whether Hinduism, Islam, Christianity or Buddhism.

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Translation:
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. (BG. 18.66)

Lord Krsna asked to give up karma kanda and jñāna kanda. Karma kanda is greater than jñāna kanda.

trai-guṇya-viṣayā vedā
nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
niryoga-kṣema ātmavān

Translation:
The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self. (BG. 2.45)

There are many works recommended in the Vedas which are influenced by the three modes. Krsna is asking us to give up all the karma kanda and jñāna kanda of different religions. It’s not that we have to give up the religion. It is said in the Bible. “Love thy Lord with all thy heart, with all thy strength”.

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Translation:
A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead. (ŚB 2.3.10)

This is pure devotion. There is only one religion which can be named as Sanātana or Bhāgavata dharma. We can also call it Varnasrama dharma, but it contains some contaminations as Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,

nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ

Translation:
I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance. (CC Madhya 13.80)

Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that He is not a brāhmana, but a Vaiśnava.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

Translation:
Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord. (CC Madhya 19.170)

Varnasrama is a material designation (sarvopādhi). Lord Krsna asked us to give up all these designations and become pure. There is some contamination in Varnasrama also. But Bhāgavata dharma or Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is amala purāna.

śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ

Translation:
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated. (ŚB 12.13.18)

Vaiśnava’ upādhi is there in Vaikuntha or Goloka. Krsna did not ask us to give up this designation. Vaiśnava upādhi will go with us. We become eligible to go to Vaikuntha when we become a Vaiśnava. Being a brāhmana comes under goodness, but not under pure goodness. In all religions, there are different material motives, not spiritual motives. Hence Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki twayi

Translation:
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth. (Verse 4, Sri Siksastakam)

He said He doesn’t want bhukti, mukti or siddhi.

karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi

Translation:
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. (BG. 2.47)

Lord Krsna said, “You have a right to do your duty”. phaleṣu means fruits or results. kadācana means you never have a claim over results. As soon as one hears this, one get inspired to do ones duty. For them work is worship. They just remember this verse. They don’t remember sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG. 18.66) or patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ (BG. 9.26) or yadā yadā hi dharmasya (BG. 4.7).

They just remember one part of this verse, not the latter 3 parts. Lord has asked us to do one thing, karmaṇy evādhikāras te, and not to do 3 things. What are these 3? mā means do not. mā phaleṣu kadācana, you don’t have a right over the result. One vidhi has been said and three nishedhas. Then mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr, Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities. If someone got some wealth, the Lord says, “Do not enjoy it”. Then the person will say, “Fine. I will give it to the Hare Krishna devotees. At least let there be my name”. Then the Lord says, “Do not consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities”. The Lord has explained that there are 5 reasons for any activity. Jiva is one of the reasons, but the main reason is the Lord. So the jiva is certainly not the only reason.

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam

Translation:
Kṛṣṇa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes. (Śrī brahma-saṁhitā 5.1)

The Lord is the cause of all causes. Then mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi, never get inclined to not doing your duty. A person may think that I will do my duty, but the result of that work can’t be enjoyed by me. Even the name or credit behind that work won’t be with me. Then one may think why should I work? Then the Lord is intelligently saying that mā (do not) te saṅgo (attachment) ’stv akarmaṇi (not doing prescribed duties), never get inclined to not doing your duty. This way the Lord has completed the circle. Mayavadis stop working, thinking,

Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya Jivo Brahmaiva Na Aparah

Translation:
Brahman (ब्रह्म, the Absolute) is alone real; this world is unreal; the Jiva or the individual soul is non-different from Brahman. (Niraalamba Upanishad – 28)

Merging into Brahman is considered as suicide. The soul cannot die, but the body can. Mind, intelligence, ego are known as atma tattva, apart from soul. Thus one denies the existence of the body.

We have to render devotional service every day, every hour, every minute, every second and every moment. This is the symptom of Bhakti. We have to attain this stage. We have to practice bhakti. Krsna will then surely protect us. Note this and preach it to others. If you have any questions then you can discuss these among your family members or brahmacāris or counsellors. Contemplate on this. You can also search for references in Bhāgavad-gītā or Śrīmad Bhāgavatam like Kunti Maharani’s prayers and other verses. Bhāgavad-gītā 2.47 is a very important verse. We tried to understand it. sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ, Sukadeva Goswami has said this in the 2nd Canto. Read the translation and Śrila Prabhupāda’s purports and discuss this within your study circle. Japa talk is a bigger study circle. This discussion can be termed bodhayantaḥ parasparam.

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation:
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. (BG. 10.9)

We will stop here. Haribol!

Vyasa Puja 1st July 2020

Today’s day, Ashadi Ekadashi Mahotsav is the biggest day in the year for Lord Vitthala, Lord Panduranga. Panduranga! Panduranga! Why is it the biggest day? Today devotees of the Lord come in large numbers to see the Lord. It doesn’t sound right to call them devotees of the Lord. Vithu maza lekur wala sangi gopalancha mela – this is a good relationship – vithu maza lekur wala, (my Vithoba is the father of many and He is in the association of the cowherd boys).

Who comes to see Lord Vitthala? Those who had forgotten before now come to see the Lord. The souls are bodily limbs of the Lord. They are parts and parcels of the Lord. Therefore they are very dear to the Lord. Such dear-most devotees could be His friends, cowherd boys, or parents. When such devotees come again to see the Lord, then what to say about the happiness of the Lord. This is the happiest day, biggest day for Lord Vitthala and also for His devotees. The Lord facilitated my birth on such a day. The Lord is happy, devotees are happy, hence I am also happy. You do not have to say, “Happy Birthday”. I know it is a happy day – happy for Lord Vitthala and also for the devotees of Vitthala, devotees of Krsna. Today’s day is the happiest day, anandi ananda gade jikade tikade chohikade (there is happiness every where). In the middle of the day when the happiness is spread all over, I was born. That’s why I want to celebrate my birthday, Vyasa Puja, in Pandharpur.

July 5, 1949, was a Tuesday. However today is Wednesday. Wednesday is Lord Vitthala’s day. This year’s Ashadi Ekadasi is being celebrated on Wednesday. Lord Sri Krsna was born on a Wednesday and Lord Rama was born on a Tuesday. I was also born on a Tuesday and I think that possibly my family members remembered this and that’s why they named me Raghunath. By the way I was called Raghya.

You have learnt that our true birth is the day when Guru gives us initiation, mantra, when the acaryas or Gurus connect us with the parampara. That day is our real birthday. It is the no more births, no more deaths day! From that point of view, Srila Prabhupada gave me my true birth. I was born in Vrindavan, in the courtyard of Radha Damodar in the month of Kartik. It was also the appearance day of Radha-kunda.

For the last few days as well as today I am listening to your glorifications. It is said, ‘vachane ka daridrata’, if we have to speak then why to be miserly in our speech, speak to your heart’s content, speak wholeheartedly, ‘vachane ka daridrata’. You were saying things which even I am not aware of. Am I really like this? You seem to know me better than I know myself. I was thinking I do not know myself, you know more than I do. Exaggeration is obvious as per the principle of vachane ka daridrata. I was thinking that you want to see me like this. Our Guru should be like this. He should have such qualities. You were saying that our Guru is like this, but I was thinking that you are expecting these qualities in me. I know that all these qualities are not in me, but you have big hearts and keep on saying, ‘Maharaja is like this and that’. In one sense, this is your greatness!

I was also thinking I have not manufactured all these qualities and I have not created these qualities in any factory or in my brain. These are only my qualities. No one has them and no one will have them. This is my property. This is mine, my creation. Only a fool claims this. All acaryas, all pure devotees have these qualities. Yet these qualities do not belong to them. The ultimate source of all these qualities is the Lord. It is said, ‘Like father, like son’. If the son has these qualities, then where do these qualities in him come from? They are in the father, that’s why the son has these qualities. These qualities of the son are not his own qualities. The Lord is the source of all these qualities. Not even a single quality belongs to me; I couldn’t label it with a stamp stating, “This is my quality.” I was also thinking all of you also have all these qualities. All these qualities are present in all of you. Every devotee has a specialty, one special quality. One may have lesser qualities and another may have more qualities. But every devotee has qualities. Devotee means soul. Every soul has qualities. Every soul is qualified. And why not?

Mamai vamso jiva loke jiva bhutah sanatanah

This is acintya-bhed-abheda. There are similarities as well as differences between us and the Lord. The Lord’s 50 qualities are present in the living entities. We were giving a presentation on the ‘Super Excellence of Gaudiya Vaisnavism’. At that time we showed you a chart where the living entities have 50 qualities of the Lord’s 64 qualities. This is the similarity, abheda. What is the difference, bheda? The Lord’s 50 qualities are in the living entities, but in a lower percentage.

Discover yourself! Know yourself! There is discovery and invention. What is the meaning of discover? There is something, some element, some tattva and one has to uncover it! It is covered and you have to only uncover it. When we discover, find ourselves, then we all will also know that these qualities are present in us also. We also have these qualities.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati (BG 5.29)

Prabhupada called it the ‘Peace formula!’ How is the Lord? suhrdam sarva-bhutanam – suhrdam, means friend. Whose friend is He? Sarva bhutanam, Lord is the friend of all living entities. This is Bhagavad Gita and when we see Bhagavatam, there it is said, suhrdah sarva dehinam. Sadhavah sadhubhusanah – it is all about the devotees. Sadhus are like this. What should one do immediately? Take a selfie or something! They are beautified with the qualities,

tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

These are the ornaments, the jewellery. This is the beauty of a devotee, of a soul. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said that the Lord is the friend of all the souls. In the Bhagavatam it is said, the devotee, sadhu is the friend of all the souls. Suhrdam sarva bhutanam, suhrdam sarva dehinam, you say bhutanam or dehinam, it is the same thing. What is common? Suhrdam, they are both suhrdam, friend of all living entities. This is one example. Being friendly is one of the 26 qualities of the Vaisnava. The soul has this quality. Here we consider someone as our friend and someone as our enemy. This is the effect of the three modes of material nature, specially the mode of passion. The effect of the mode of ignorance is feeling sleepy. When there is the effect of Rajo guna, then we start fighting.

yadrccha-labha-santusto
dvandvatito vimatsarah
samah siddhav asiddhau ca
krtvapi na nibadhyate

Lord says this. What should one do? One should cross over the dvandva, duality – this is a friend and this is an enemy. This comes only when we are in bondage, in lock down. Who is responsible for this lockdown? The three modes of material nature, the powerful bondage, the shackles, they make us think like this, due to lust, anger and greed.

Devotees, disciples, friends, brothers and sisters, understand yourself. Ke ami? Such was Sanatana Goswami’s question. When he met Caitanya Mahaprabhu the first time, he asked, ‘Ke ami? Kene amar jare tapa-traya? Who am I and why are these miseries of the world giving me trouble? Please tell me.’ Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained everything. Sanatan Goswami asked this question on our behalf. For us Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu answered the question. It is for us only that Lord Krsna had dialogues with Arjuna and therefore there is this parampara.

evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh

Sri Krsna is Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu with whom the parampara proceeds further. He is the Acarya of the Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara, and this is the arrangement of the Lord. In this way we can understand who we are. We should come to know that we are not from here. We are not from this world. We belong to Krsna. Right now we have our relatives, our family, husband, wife, bride, groom. They get married and then children take birth. They call it the family tree. We are in the centre – andha kupam. We are hanging in the dark well, and whoever is around us, is ours. But the real situation is different. That’s why the Lord comes to this world from time to time.

We have forgotten the Lord, but the Lord has not forgotten us. Grown up sons forget their parents. Daughters do not forget their parents as much as the sons do. So it is shown. But do parents forget their children? I was thinking, how I can talk like this as I am not a mother and father. But I am also a father. ‘Ham do aur hamare do’-we two (husband and wife) and our two kids! But when one becomes a Guru, a spiritual master, then even though he is a sannayasi, he becomes the father of 200 disciples, 2000 disciples. Our Jayapataka Maharaja has 40,000 disciples. For the disciples the Guru is mother and father. Maybe disciples can forget the spiritual master by becoming guru bhogi, tyagi or drohi, but the Guru can never forget, just like a mother and father can never forget. The mother and father are grihasta, family. They are a smaller unit. The Guru is also small compared to the Lord. The Lord is the father, aham bija pradah pitah; when the material mother and father do not forget. The Gurus who play a role of mother and father, do not forget, then the Lord who is the original father, the original mother, can He forget? No, He never forgets. That is why the Lord comes to this world. He comes to remind us, ‘I am yours. You are mine. You are not this body. You are the soul’. The Lord comes and leaves after making all the arrangements. Dialogues of Gita become the Granth, scripture of Gita. He performs many lilas. We get the Ramayana. Lord Rama came. His name, form, qualities, pastimes get glorified in Ramayana. Then there is Bhagavatam, Mahabharat, ante ca madhye ca harih sarvatra giyate

When the Lord appeared 5000 years ago, He came to Pandharpur from Dvaraka. This is History, fact. The Lord heard the prayer of His devotee. Pundalika who offered special prayers to the Lord. ‘Lord, You stay here.’ The Lord Dvarakadhish is staying in Pandharpur. He is Vitthala, He is Panduranga. Panduranga! Panduranga! Panduranga! Panduranga! Panduranga!

Whether the Lord came 5000 years ago or not, is no question. Is there any proof that the Lord came to earth and performed many lilas? What is the proof? Yes! Vitthala Bhagavan is the full proof. For the fools, this is the proof. Not only did the Lord come, but we all know how He looks?

Sundar te dyan ubhe vite vari
Kar katavari theuniya

Tuka mhane maze hechi sarv sukh
pahina srimukha avadine.

Lord gives realizations to such acaryas. Even after looking at the Deities, we still have doubts. Is He the Lord? But some devotees take darsana of these Deities,

Govinda govinda mala lagaliya chanda, maga govinda te kaya bheda nahi deva taya,

This is not just recitation. Tukarama Maharaja wrote an abhanga in such a way that we sing them. These are his realizations, maga govinda de kaya bheda nahi deva taya. There is no difference between the Deity of Govinda and Govinda. He is Govinda and I am looking at Govinda. I don’t know what is a Deity? I am looking at the Lord.

All these arrangements are facilitated by the Lord. Then the acaryas give the package of the parampara, all scriptures, all mantras, vidhi vidhan, nishedh, etc, and give it the name dharma. This is religion, the laws of the Lord. We follow these rules and regulations and understand the philosophy,

janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvata
then what happens,

tyaktva deham punar janma – no rebirth
Then what happens?
naiti mam eti

Mam eti, eti means he goes, sa-eti, so where does he go? Mam, he comes towards Me. Why does the Lord say this? Has He said it in vain? Does it have any meaning or has the Lord just said it without thinking? The Lord knows what He is talking about. That is why He came here, Golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat All the arrangements are done by the Lord so that we can again return to our village, return to our home.

Leave the talks of settling down here. Who wants to settle in this world? People say, “He is well settled.” And then comes corona and it is all finished. Forget about settling down in this world. Who wants to settle down in this world? No one has ever and no one ever will. Just when it looks like he will get settled, then death comes. Sometimes he constructs a new home, the house warming takes place and something happens. He died. During his entire life time he was thinking of getting settled and something happened. People think, “We are not able to settle down here, so let’s go to the moon.” Nowadays some fools are selling plots on the moon. Many are booking their plot. We could not settle here, so let’s settle on the moon. There is no question of getting settled here. We have to come to this conclusion that no settlement is possible. As quickly as possible, let’s go, amhi jato amuchya gava, back to Godhead.

There are some examples like this. Tukarama Maharaja showed the world. Can anyone really go to Vaikuntha? Yes, Tukarama Maharaja went. Ajamila also went. All the time the shuttle service between the earth and Goloka or Vaikuntha is going on, day and night. We cannot see it all the time, but sometimes the Lord shows through the example of Tukarama Maharaja and Dhruva Maharaja and many more. All this is done by the Lord which we call dharma, religion. The same arrangement is being done in ISKCON on behalf of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Our parampara acaryas were doing the preparations. A lifetime in preparation! Prabhupada was preparing his whole life for this.

Has Prabhupada started from scratch? No! Before Srila Prabhupada, so much preparation was done by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. And before him, hasn’t Bhaktivinoda Thakur done anything? Like that, every Acarya of the parampara makes the necessary preparations. Then the next acarya takes it forward and then the next generation, devotees, acaryas, those who do yare dekho tare kaho krsna upadesa, take it forward. And finally it is for me and all of us assembled here, the humans present on the planet to take it forward. Lord made Srila Prabhupada an instrument, nimitta matram bhava savyasachin. Like this the Lord made perfect arrangements, not to settle here, but to go back. Let’s go! Let’s go!

We have become one part of this arrangement and our journey is still continuing. You are on the way back home, back to Godhead. For such an arrangement we thank the Lord, thank the acaryas of our parampara and especially we thank Srila Prabhupada ki Jai! We will always be indebted to Srila Prabhupada. What he did for the world is matchless. Na bhute na bhavisyati, never happened before and will never happen again. Such are his arrangements. We are indebted, but we also need to get free from this debt. It is very difficult to get free from this debt. One time the disciples of Srila Prabhupada were asking Srila Prabhupada, ‘How can we get rid of this debt?’ Srila Prabhupada said, “No! No, you cannot get free from this debt.” Then after thinking a while Prabhupada said, ‘Yes! Yes, one thing can be done.’ And what is that? ‘You do as I did’ This is a very famous statement of Srila Prabhupada. ‘You do as I did.’ In other words we can say, ‘The work which I have started, you endeavour to take it forward by using your energy and intelligence’. We have to do that. I am trying my best to continue the work started by Srila Prabhupada, by following his lotus feet. Many of us are trying our best. It is a big team. In the beginning we were only 5000 disciples of Srila Prabhupada and at that time it was known as ‘Prabhupada days’. We were 5000 disciples, and slowly slowly, day by day, the number is growing and growing and growing ….
It is the request unto all of you …..

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam, kirtana, visnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23]—hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service. (NOI 3)

May you get such bhakti. We are expecting support from you. Srila Prabhupada also has expectations from you and we are expressing our desire on behalf of Srila Prabhupada that you will give your full support and contributions. Will there be any benefit in such contributions? It will be the best welfare. What will be that welfare? Krsna prapti hoya jaha hoite, What will you gain? Krsna prapti – you will get Krsna. Till now we were running behind Maya prapti, to get maya, aham mama. Due to our foolishness we were running behind that only. Now we are coming on the right track, becoming well organised. In his last days Srila Prabhupada said, ‘If you love me…’ Do you love Srila Prabhupada? It is easy to say. It is called lip service. We say, “Yes! Yes! I love you.” But Prabhupada said, ‘I want to see your love for me, not only hear it.” How will you show it? How you cooperate with each other, co – operation means together – if you will work by cooperating with each other, then you love me.’

I could also say this. For the past few days there was a disciples’ sammelan and you were expressing your love. We have heard that love and now we want to see it.

On this Vyasa puja day, we are requesting you all, we are expecting, desiring that all of you will cooperate with each other and will give and take support. Srila Prabhupada said, ‘How will you keep this institution together after I am gone? Protect this institution after I am gone?’ How can it be protected? How will it become strong? In Srila Prabhupada’s movement there are many different activities of Prabhupada’s disciples and even of grand-disciples. They have their own areas of operation. There are movements within the movement. Note that it should not clash with other movements which are within the international movement established by Srila Prabhupada. Our karya-kshetra or my karya-kshetra (area of operation) is as per the orders of Srila Prabhupada only. Prabhupada gave personal instructions to everyone. Sometimes he gave orders through letters. Some services are done before asking, some services are done after asking and some devotees don’t do the service even after asking. It may be possible that we could not follow some orders. That is a possibility. But we are trying to follow all the orders.

These padayatra projects are part of that only – padayatras, parikramas. You saw the letter from Prabhupada. Prabhupada is saying, ‘This is the land of Tukarama and the politicians are spoiling it. Awake the Krsna consciousness in Maharastra.’ Regarding padayatras, Srila Prabhupada said, ‘… millions of carts all over the world’. Such is the desire expressed by Prabhupada.

How many bullock-carts should be there? Millions of carts! Prabhupada is known for this. Prabhupada could have said dozens of carts or hundreds of carts, but what did Prabhupada say? Millions of carts! For how many lifetimes do we have to be engaged? I don’t know. He gave the order, but to follow the order, needs lots of time and energy and power; Prabhupada gives an order and with that He gave the facilities also. Krsna gives the facilities as Prabhupada has desired.

Most of my books are about this service only – Vraja-mandala darsana or Bombay Is My Office. I received Srila Prabhupada’s association and it is related to that. The experiences with Prabhupada during ‘The Mayapur Vrindavan Festivals’ is another book. We had many meetings or conversations with Srila Prabhupada, so there is one book like that – In Conversation with Srila Prabhupada. The first ever Padayatras are captured in Volume One Padayatra: On the Road with Lord Caitanya. Volumes 2 and 3 are also going to come. Srila Prabhupada gave me some instructions regarding chanting, so chanting is also going on. Then there was a book on this subject. Prabhupada was expecting that disciples will write books. This is also service for present and future generations. Prabhupada was thinking about a Worldwide International Society. I am expecting your contribution in my zone which is within Srila Prabhupada’s worldwide society. And if you give such support and contributions then I will understand that, ‘You love me’.

Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Sri Vitthala Rukmini ki jai! ISKCON Pandharpur ki jai! Radha Pandharinath ki jai! Radha Parthasarathi ki jai! Radha Rasabihari ki jai! Radha Madhava ki jai! Nitai Gaurasundar ki jai! Jagannath Baladeva Subhadra ki jai!

These are some special of the special Deities I have served as pujari, so I am remembering Them on this day. Hari Haribol!