English
29 February 2020
Beyond Birth and Death
Hare Krishna.
Dhananjay Krishna from New Jersey was reporting that he is celebrating his birthday today. He is seeking blessings from me and all other devotees who are chanting on this conference. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy. All of us can once chant one maha-mantra.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
We don't know how old you are. We ask in English how old you have become? This question itself is filled with ignorance since we are asking regarding the body. Here, you refer to the soul. The body can't be asked such a question and neither can the body re-ply. The soul neither has birth nor death. We understand that this person is so old and there are some here who are younger than him. In reality, we all are the same age. In 1977 when Srila Prabhupada was ill, one disciple asked Srila Prabhupada that since I'm young and you're old, I would like to offer my youth to you so that you can remain in this world for the benefit of all. Then Prabhupada replied that we are of equal age. Being old and young, is an illusion itself. Knowledge is that we are the soul. If someone is old and he dies at the age of 60 then when he again takes birth, he is of a small age while his son from the previous birth is 30 years old. In this way, the father from a previous birth has become younger. This understanding is an illusion.
In our culture, our age is measured in some other ways such as in terms of vaya vradha and gyana vradha. Vaya means age. One doesn't have to endeavour to become old. The only care that you have to take is you shouldn't die. There is no bravery in that. One should become advanced in knowledge with self-realization. During Caitanya Ma-haprabhu’s time, there was one associate known as Mukunda Dasa who had a son named Raghunandan. Raghunandan was quite advanced in devotional service. He was very advanced in terms of knowledge and realisations. Once Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Mukunda Dasa who is the father and who is the son? The father replied that my son is my father. He is more advanced in terms of knowledge and realisations. He was thinking of his son as his father. Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja is like the great grandfa-ther of Hiranyakasipu. When he opens his mouth, how awesome he speaks! He had old intelligence.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Those who have a birthday, please keep on chanting and get matured in terms of knowledge and be happy. Just like the birth of worldly people, there is not much to take away from it. We take birth in maternity homes. The child just cries as soon as he takes birth. There is no need to contemplate on these.
janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Translation:
Those who understand the divine nature of my birth and activities, O Arjun, upon leav-ing the body, do not have to take birth again but come to my eternal abode.[BG 4.9]
Our aim is not to take rebirth again, but to attain the Lord. One who knows My birth can come to My abode. Lord is saying this because My birth and activities are divine and one who understands them as they are is self-realised and God-Realised. We should re-member this on the birthday. Lord has asked us to remember His birth and activities.
Gauranga Mahaprabhu's birth is coming soon. We were seeing the moon as we were re-turning from Parikrama. Today is Pancami. Only 10 days to go. Forget about mine and your birth and hear about and understand the divine birth of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Cai-tanya Candra appeared on that day. Srila Prabhupada named this temple Mayapur Can-drodaya Mandir. 536 years ago when Gauranga Mahaprabhu appeared, the full moon hid with the excuse of the lunar eclipse as he was thinking the original moon is Caitanya Candra. The moon was thinking that as the light of millions of moons emanates from His face.
bahu-koti chandra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deshe bana-mala kore jhalamala
Translation:
On such an occasion how can I show my faces which is having so many black spots? [Gaura Arati]
He thought to hide himself and he didn't reveal his face. śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ. Hari has become the moon. Hari has appeared as the moon who is compared to the moon rising from the ocean. It seems that the moon appears from the ocean which we experience it at Jagannatha Puri. From the ocean of the womb of mother Saci, Cai-tanya Mahaprabhu appeared. This is celebrated grandly in Mayapur. All of you have to prepare for an appearance festival of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. To welcome Him, glorify and worship Him, we have to get ready.
When Saci Mata's Nimai appeared, all the demigods appeared for the birthday celebra-tions in Santipur. Gandharvas were singing and it was a divine celebration. Now it's our turn. Prepare yourself mentally and intellectually by chanting which will make us happy forever.
Gaura Purnima Mahotsav ki jay.
Gaur Premanande
Hari Haribol
