tadä rajas-tamo-bhäväù
käma-lobhädayaç ca ye
ceta etair anäviddhaà
sthitaà sattve prasédati
(SB 1.2.19)
Translation
As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.
Purport
A living being in his normal constitutional position is fully satisfied in spiritual bliss. This state of existence is called brahma-bhüta [SB 4.30.20] or ätmä-nandé, or the state of self-satisfaction. This self-satisfaction is not like the satisfaction of the inactive fool. The inactive fool is in the state of foolish ignorance, whereas the self-satisfied ätmänandé is transcendental to the material state of existence. This stage of perfection is attained as soon as one is fixed in irrevocable devotional service. Devotional service is not inactivity, but the unalloyed activity of the soul.
The soul’s activity becomes adulterated in contact with matter, and as such the diseased activities are expressed in the form of lust, desire, hankering, inactivity, foolishness and sleep. The effect of devotional service becomes manifest by complete elimination of these effects of passion and ignorance. The devotee is fixed at once in the mode of goodness, and he makes further progress to rise to the position of Väsudeva, or the state of unmixed sattva, or çuddha-sattva. Only in this çuddha-sattva state can one always see Kåñëa eye to eye by dint of pure affection for the Lord.
A devotee is always in the mode of unalloyed goodness; therefore he harms no one. But the nondevotee, however educated he may be, is always harmful. A devotee is neither foolish nor passionate. The harmful, foolish and passionate cannot be devotees of the Lord, however they may advertise themselves as devotees by outward dress. A devotee is always qualified with all the good qualities of God. Quantitatively such qualifications may be different, but qualitatively both the Lord and His devotee are one and the same.
Devotees Only Seek For Service
In this beautiful verse from the first canto of Srimad Bhagvatam the glories of devotional service are being enunciated such devotional service alone can completely dissipate all of the Anarthas for unwanted elements within the heart. Krsna explains that there is no other means to completely free the heart of contamination other than Bhakti or devotional service. Some people they aspire for Mukti or libration but according to the highest realms of transcendental understanding. Even that desire for libration is considered a contamination. Even that desire to be freed from all the miseries of the material existence is considered to be a selfish for position. It is not the true and pure quality of a soul.
sa vai puàsäà paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokñaje
ahaituky apratihatä
yayätmä suprasédati
[SB 1.2.6]
The supreme occupation the natural, eternal, constitutional position of every soul is to selflessly serve the supreme Lord with no motivation what so ever. Bhakti Vinod Thakur prayed that my Lord I am Your servant and You can do anything You like with me. If You like You can kill me or if You like You can protect me. I have no preference because I am only meant for Your satisfaction this is the prayers of the great devotees of the Lord.
na dhanaà na janaà na sundaréà
kavitäà vä jagad-éça kämaye
mama janmani janmanéçvare
bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké
[Cc. Antya 20.29]
Devotees never seek their own satisfaction they only seek service. I don’t wealth, no beautiful ladies to associate with, no even reputation, influence and power even freedom from suffering I have no inclination to aspire, to attain but only your loving service my Lord birth after birth after birth.
äçliñya vä pädaratäà pinañöu mäm
adarçanänmarmahatäà karotu vä
yathä tathä vä vidadhätu lampaöo
mat-präëa-näthas tu sa eva näparaù
My Lord I am coming to surrender at Your lotus feet. And now You can do whatever You like to do with me. If You like my Lord You can embrace me or if You like You can trample upon me or if You like You can make me broken hearted by not being present before me. You have any right to do anything You like because I am Your servant unconditionally. This along is the pure quality of the soul and this is the aspiration of every devotee, simply to be in engaged in the loving service of the Lord and to be in engaged in the loving service of servants of the Lord.
Learn The Principle Of Humility
The Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world he especially came to this world He especially came to establish the supreme position of loving devotion to path of Bhakti over any other religious concept. When He was living in Navadvip dham each night he would have beautiful kirtans in the house of Srivas Thakur and Caitanya Mahaprabhu He would dance so beautifully the site of His dancing was the most beautiful manifestation i.e. ever been presented within this cosmic creation but He would only allow those who are pure in heart and completely surrender to the path of pure devotion to take part in this wonderful kirtans. One time a brahmachari who was very faultless, very austere, very honest he so much desired to receive the mercy of the Lord. This brahmachari he would live in the jungles and the forest and for his sustenance through out practically his whole life he only would drink little milk and take little fruit. And he would eat nothing else. He was absolutely celibate. He was performing such tapasya such renunciation very difficult to endeavor. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu he would personally close to all the doors of Srivas’s house so that no body could come in unless they were completely surrenders to the path of Bhakti. So this brahmachari was not given entrance. Every day he would come to Srivas and he would say- please is there no way that I can come in to see the beautiful dancing and take part of the wonderful chanting of Lord Gauranga? Everyone is so blissfully engaged in the loving service of the Lord by loudly chanting the Holy Name-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Can I not come in to see? And Srivas he explained the Lord was very strict. But again and again this brahmachari would humbly beg him. Srivas said that the Lord is very disturbed by anyone who is not pure in their devotion but you only drink milk and eat fruits and you are very honest and quite pure so I will tell you what I can do. I collect you in but you have to hide in a secluded place so that the Lord doesn’t see you. But you will be able to see Him. So Srivas arrange for him the secrete hiding place and then the kirtan began and Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu He began to dance very beautifully and Gadadhar Pandit and Advaitacarya they surrounded the Lord, Nityananda Prabhu was also dancing very jubilantly and then Caitanya Mahaprabhu stop the kirtan. He said I am not able to experience the ecstasy of Krsna’s love in this kirtan. There must be some one who is not a pure devotee in this room and he inquired and Srivas who is very honest He told the Lord that there is one brahmachari He celibate his whole life. He is the great renunciate. He only drinks milk and eat fruits and he was so anxious to see Your beautiful dancing that I have hidden him. Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very angry. He began to chastise this man. He said do you think that you can attain Krsna simply by drinking milk. Do you think any amount of renunciation has any value to Krsna? Do you think because you are a Brahman that that attracts Krsna in any way? Hanuman was a monkey, Gajendra was an elephant if even an animal approached the Lord with no desire but pure loving service he can attain the supreme mercy of the Lord. You are not fit to be here. You get out as the brahmachari was walking out he was thinking the Lord is so merciful He has properly chastised me. By His chastisement He is purifying me from this ego that I am a great renunciate. He is purifying me of all my retched material desires. He is so kind. But I am so fortunate that for a few moments I was have to see His beautiful dancing and chanting. And in utter humility this brahmachari left the house of Srivas. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who was within the heart of all living beings could understand his mentality that even after being severely chastised and insulted by the Lord he was graciously and gratefully accepting it as being true for his own purification. So the Lord called him back in and the brahmachari came and fell at the feet of Gauranga and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu placed His lotus feet at the top of this brahmachari’s head. And He told him because you have learn the principle of humility and devotion beyond renunciation, knowledge or anything else in this world therefore today I grant you love of God. And all the devotees became jubilant and began to call out Hari Bol… Hari Bol… Hari Bol…This humble state of mind by which we aspire only for service must be the goal of our lives, nothing else.
Real Humility
Caitanya Mahaprabhu prayed–
trinad api sunicena, taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena, kirtaniya sada hari
That one should be humble like a blade of grass. Even more humble than the straw in the street, more tolerant than tree, ready to offer all respect to others and to expect none in return. You see simply to their insult is the begging of the humility. “A real humility is something positive, not neutral, not negative.” But when devotee endures jubilation or insult he should be grateful i.e. humility that Krsna you are so kind that you are giving me this loving purification. This is what it means to be more humble than a blade of grass. You see when you step on a blade of the grass it doesn’t complain, it don’t claim some position, it’s in the lowest position and when you spite on it or when you step on it or when you do what so many people do on it. The blade of grass is in the neutral condition simply accepts it doesn’t complain. But does it mean to be more humble than a blade of grass. It means to positively be grateful and thank Krsna for this mercy. Krsna you are so wonderful. You are doing this just to help me to become Your devotee just to purify me of the multitudes of retched sins in my heart. When Krsna when we offer some prayer to Krsna, some prayer for success in our devotional service and we fail and everything goes wrong do we thank Krsna? Yes Krsna I am so unqualified, I am so undeserving and You are helping me to realize this by making my life like as failure. The ruination i.e. come upon me is just to expose my fastidious, nonsense state of heart. You are so kind. Please Krsna do whatever you like i.e. real humility. And i.e. what is required to actually chant the Holy Name in quality.
Devotee Simply Expects Service
We should not complain. We should not the particular we should be surrendered. A conditional devotee is particular. We expect something for what we do but a sober and serious devotee simply expects service what the results may be is whatever Krsna feels is best. A devotee has no position to protect because of a servant has no position at all. The master has position. Therefore the master can do whatever he likes with us and what willing to gratefully accept and the supreme Lord He is so kind that He will test us again and again. And when this test comes he is giving us the opportunity to actually develop the most important virtue in our spiritual life. And when we fail the test when we complain when we blame some one else when we think Krsna this is not fair. When we try to defend our position or our egos what we have done is we have lost the opportunity that Krsna has given us to imbibe the most precious of all quality humility. How learned we may be what particular position in society even in a spiritual society we may have is irrelevant to Krsna. nähaà vipro na ca nara-patir näpi vaiçyo na çüdro. Caitanya Mahaprabhu He was in the highest position, He was the Brahman by birth, He was the grand son of Nilambar Chakravarti who was one of the greatest or most learned and purest of all Brahmans and He was also a Sanyasi. Sanyasis are socially to be worship by all other classes of man and woman. In fact according to the Vedic tradition if one does not bow down humbly before a Sanyasi when He first sees one when is suppose to fast for the whole day this is the tradition. So He was a Brahman and Sanyasi but it was not that he was expecting honor or distinction or service from others. We should know that this is a great danger to have some spiritual position if in that position you expect service from others then you are fallen. You are simply meant to engage people in Krsna’s service and by that engagement you become the servant by engaging someone in Krsna’s service you become that person’s servant.
One Who Offends Vaishnavas Can Never Gain Krsna
Caitanya Mahaprabhu wherever He went He was simply induce people to chant the Holy Names of Krsna-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
In this way He was rendering the most valuable, precious service to all humanity and in this way He explained- gopé-bhartuù pada-kamalayor däsa-däsänudäsaù that I claim no position except that I am aspiring to be the servant of the servant of the servant of Sri Krsna who is the Lord of the Gopis. But sometimes we want to criticize and judge others because our expectations from them are not fulfilled immediately our service attitude is spoiled.
In fact Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to demonstrate that one who gives up this service attitude to criticize any Vaishnava devotee of the Lord his spiritual progress or her spiritual progress is stopped and how to illustrate this point He did it with His own mother. You know the story Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the house of Srivas one day He decided to give blessings to fulfill the desire of all of His devotees He sat on the throne of Vishnu because after all He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vishnu and all the devotees would pray not praying simply for anything selfish but they were praying simply to be unalloyed servants of the Lord. And sometimes they were praying for the spiritual welfare for others. Someone would say my father he is antagonistic toward be being a devotee and he is a great materialistic please award him devotional service. These are the types of prayers being offered by the devotees. And then Srivas he said this is my prayer please give your mother Saci Devi love of Krsna. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu said impossible. She can’t attain love of Krsna because she has committed a great offense to a Vaishnava. One who offends Vaishnavas can never gain Krsna. Srivas was saying why you are saying like this. She is Your mother. You have come from her very womb. And she like the universal mother so kind and loving to all living being. What offense could have possibly have made? He said she has made an offense to Advaitacarya. And until she takes the dust from the feet of Advaitacarya with great humility and devotion she can’t be relived of that offense and she could never attain Krishna Consciousness. What was the offense that she committed? This is then explained that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu His elder brother Visvarupa He was an expansion of Lord Nityananda Balaramji. And he had such natural desire for Krsna always. And he was a very good scholar as well. But he was always anxious to hear the glories of the Lord and chant the Holy Names. So when His pursuit of learning He was travelling through out Navadvip going to various schools, various academies and institutions. And He would hear so many great great scholars speaking but no where did He hear the glories of Lord Krsna and no where did He hear the chanting of the Holy Names-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
So He was simply bored with all of this. It was all Maya. Any amount of learning without humble devotion is nothing but Maya. So then He came across Sri Advaitacarya who at Advaita Bhavan his home He would daily amongst other Vaishnavas recite the glories of Lord Sri Krsna and he would always be immersed with the other devotees in beautiful kirtan chanting the Holy Name-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Assosciation of Devotees Is All In The Life
So Visvarupa would spend all day at Advaitacarya’s house. He had no interest in anything or anyone else except being with the devotees. He understood that the association of devotees is the all and all in once life. Of course today we see people have so many other priorities, so many social commitments, so many economic necessities but actually there is only one necessity and i.e. to be in the association of devotees, hearing the glories of the Lord and chanting His Holy Name –
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Unless we have that our whole life is Maya, illusion. But if we have sufficient satsang with Sadhus then our whole life becomes embellished with devotion with Krishna Consciousness. So Visvarupa He would give such joy to Advaitacarya and His associates because He had such love and feelings and He was so learned that when He was speak the glories of Lord Krsna tears would flow from the devotee’s eyes and they never wanted to give up Visvarupa’s association nor Visvarupa ever want to give up their association. But every day Saci Devi the mother of Visvarupa would prepare Prasad for Him and she would send little Nimai, Viswambhar who was just the small little child that you go to Advaitacarya’s house and you bring Visvarupa back for Prasad and He would come and He would hold on to Visvarupa’s dhoti and pull it and say brother mataji is calling for Prasad. And when Advaitacarya and all the other devotees Mukunda, Gadadhar when they would see the beauty of this little Nimai they would be so struck with wonder. They couldn’t pleat their eyes, they couldn’t even talk about Krsna any more, they were just struck with wonder and Advaitacarya in his heart of heart he was start thinking that such attraction and such love never awakens in my heart except for Krsna Himself. Perhaps this is Krsna who is this child? And all the devotees would be thinking like this. And Viswambhar know being the super soul within their hearts, knowing with they were thinking He would just take His brother by the hand and they were just run home for prasad. Right after eating Prasad Visvarupa would do some puja in the temple room and He would go to the house of Advaitacarya’s. He was completely uninterested in anything except Sadhu satsang, Krsna katha and Harinam-sankirtan-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
So Saci devi and Jagganath Misra became very worried that He is not at all interested in anything of this world. The solution is we should find a nice wife for Him. [Maharaj coughing] Krsna. Sorry. Not intentional, I have coughed. So when Visvarupa heard they are looking wife He secretly without saying anything to anyone He left home He took Sanyas and He became initiated as Shankararanya Maharaj. Hari Bol…
Saci Mata and Jagganath Misra never sees the so intense pain in their broken hearts, they were weeping, suffering profusely for day and days and days they could practically not speak or eat or sleep. They were just crying, constantly thinking of the beautiful qualities of Visvarupa. And after some days when the pain began to subside slightly so was just at the level of the intense agony Saci mata thought within her mind that it is just Advaitacarya because my Visvarupa was at his house having Krsna katha and Hari kirtan, because of this Advaitacarya’s influence my child has become completely disinterested in all material things and He left this world to take Sanyas but she understood that if she speaks anything like this against the great Vaishnava that her life would be spoiled. So she said nothing. She kept those thoughts within her mind. Soon after this Jagganath Misra he has a dream and in this dream he saw his son his young son Nimai in the robes of a Sanyasi with shaved head with His arms raised chanting the Holy Name –
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
And there was hundreds, thousand, millions of people all gathered around Him with their arms raise very very loudly chanting-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Loudly chanting –
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Although it was the most beautiful site to behold it was the most horrible site for him to have to experience. And the next morning he was in anguish, weeping, crying out Nimai, Nimai. And Saci devi asked what happen what’s wrong with you? And he explained this is the vision that I saw I feel that very soon Nimai will also leave us and take Sanayas. It will be unbearable for us to live without His presence. Saci Devi said no no it is only a dream. We should not take it so seriously. Nimai will never leave us. He has given His word that He will always be with us. Shortly after this Jagganath Misra so preoccupied with the thought of this dream in the fear of losing his son he couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep and he left this world and went Back Home Back to Godhead. Hari Bol…Completely immersed in loving thoughts of his son the Supreme Personality of Godhead Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
Saci Devi Offends Advaitacarya
Saci Devi asked Nimai please after sometimes please you get married. Nimai said- Yes, whatever suits you My mother. So He married with Laxmipriya the daughter of Vallabhacharya who is none other than the supreme Goddess of fortune herself. And He was behaving as the most loyal, obedient son and the most respectable and caring and loving husband but after sometimes after he went to Gaya He became very much immersed in spreading the glories of the Holy Name. In fact He would spend so much time with Advaitacarya and the other devotees and He was so busy to preaching the message of Krsna and hearing the message of Krsna and being with devotees in beautiful kirtan of the chanting of the Holy Names-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
That He was hardly ever at home any more then Saci mataji she was witnessing this that now He spend so much time with Advaitacarya now He is hardly with us with His wife and with His mother this Advaita he is doing it again she was thinking like this by his influence my first son has left me and now by his influence my second son is losing all interest in material affairs and she became so uncontrollably fearful of her sons association with Advaita that through her mouth she just couldn’t contain herself she cried out that your name is Advaitacarya which means non duel but you are dvaita so your name should be dvaita which means you are full of duplicity. And she accused him of taking her child away due to his duplicities nature. Although she was perfectly innocent and pure in her loving affection still she criticized a Vaishnava.
Saci Devi Got Krsna Prema
So Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Saci devi that you can’t attain Krishna Consciousness until you get the dust from the feet of Advaitacarya upon your head. So they call Advaita and the devotees explained to Sri Advaitacarya the situation that please gives Saci Mata the dust of your feet on your head so that she can attain love of Krsna. And Advaitacarya said this is impossible. How can You act such a thing of me. This is crazy. She is the supreme universal mother she is none other than Yashoda devi, Devaki. She is none other than Ganga Devi. She is the mine of all the virtues. She is the supreme most devotee of my Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu. And he began to praise the glories of Saci mata and as he was praising those glories he became so intoxicated with love of god that he fell unconscious on the ground. Saci mata who was in inner chamber of the house, she immediately came out very quickly and she placed her head on his lotus feet. Hari Bol… And Lord Caitanya who was there witnessing this whole wonderful pastime. He became very pleased. He said Saci devi because today you with honest and sincere humility have worshiped the feet of this great Vaishnavas Advaita now you are being given Krsna prema. And all of the devotees became very happy and began to cry out. Hari Bol… Hari Bol…
Taking The Dust from the Great Vaishnavas Means Subordinating Ourself To be The Servant Of That Soul
So when this verse from the Srimad Bhagvatam we find that it is the humble and sincere devotion i.e. be all beyond all of the lives of those who are truly seeking shelter of louts feet of Sri Krsna. Thinking that this is some formality or ritual or some external action the Lord is not see what you do but He sees how you do it. Sometimes here in India people just with any motivation in mind they just want touch the deity’s feet or touch some sadhus feet put it on their heads there is no value to do that unless it is genuinely done in the mood of service and humility then that act can completely purify our entire existence. It is not a ritual. “Taking the dust from the feet of a great Vaishnavas devotee of the Lord means subordinating yourself to be the servant of that soul that I am willing to do whatever you ask me.” I am your servant I have no position in this world other than to be the servant of the servant of the servant of such a great soul. If you take the dust of the feet of such a soul in that consciousness that dust will purify your heart and your mind and that dust will be the most precious priceless gift which will award love of Krsna into your life. Don’t think that the dust from the feet of Krsna or His devotees is so cheap. It is this consciousness which purchases the true quality of that substance.
What is our life?
Narottam Das Thakur has prayed that the dust from feet of the Goswamis is my food. It is the only food that truly nourishes my life. What is our life? Our life doesn’t mean this physical body. The life of a devotee is his desire to serve i.e. our life. Whatever desire we have to serve to extend we have that we have life. “And from a spiritual point of view whatever selfish desires we have, whatever desires for enjoyment we have it is like death.” And Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains that it is in this state of consciousness with this aspiration of always being of the servant of the lotus feet of the great souls that we can actually chant the Holy Names of the Lord –
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
We Should Always Be Anxious to Give Up Our Selves
We should not expect anything for our selves but we should always be anxious to give up our selves. What is that story Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was a young student one day He was in a boat crossing the river Ganges and He was with one of His friends. And His young friend and just written a book about Sanskrit grammar and logic and he worked very hard to write this book. And he wanted to show this book to Nimai Lord Caitanya but Lord Caitanya had just written also a book on grammar and logic. As far we know it’s the only book He ever wrote in His whole life. He gave so many instructions to Rupa and Sanatan, to Sarvabhuma Battacharya there are so many recorded dialogs between the Lord and His devotees but all that we have right now that he has written is the eight verses of Sikshastakam but previous to this Sikshastakam was written during His most intimate and ecstatic pure it of life when He was living in Jagganath Puri but He wrote an entire book on grammar and logic the only book He ever wrote but He saw that His friend had written a book on the same subject. And when his friend found out that Nimai who is the greatest scholar as well as similar book he was feeling little sad thinking who is going to read my book Nimai’s written this book? He didn’t say anything. But Nimai could see that Oh! My friend is feeling bad that His book will be worthless because the book I have written. So He took that book right in front of His friend and He threw it in the river Ganges. Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu Ki Jay! The only book He ever wrote He threw in the river Ganges. Why? Because He didn’t care anything or any other principle than pleasing and serving his devotees. He wants His devotee to be famous. He wants His devotee to find pleasure. And He was willing to sacrifice all of the work that He had done if that’s what was satisfied His devotee. This is the principle of humility we must strive for.
To The Degree You Want to Enjoy You Will Suffer
Caitanya Mahaprabhu established this principle to teach us. They are not beautiful stories to enjoy, they are lesson to learn. We want to be enjoyed by the Lord, we want to be enjoyed by His devotees and to the degree you want to enjoy you will suffer especially if you are little sincere. If you approach Krsna and said Krsna I want to surrender to you then you made a big mistake if you want to enjoy this material world because at the point we say Krsna I am yours. At that point there is no turning back Krsna’s accepted you. Hari Bol… And if you change your mind and think Krsna may be I am yours but this is mine. And this is also mine and that’s also mine. And everything else I can find should also be mine. I want good health Krsna and I want nice respect from others and I want adoration from others and want to be recognized and I want power, influence so many things. What do you think Krsna will do? He will make you miserable. That’s what he would do. They are suffers. A devotee suffers to the degree that that devotee has attachments to enjoy material life. And there is no more miserable specie on earth that then a devotee who is trying to forget Krsna and enjoy material life nothing more miserable. You have seen here is the ocean they pull the fish in the nets and they are all flapping in pain. You see the beggars on the street they are suffering so terribly but not as bad as devotee trying to enjoy material life. That’s Krsna’s kindness you have given me your life. How want to take it back. My mercy is – yasyäham anugåhëämi hariñye tad-dhanaà çanaiù (SB 10.88.8). He would be frustrated. But that frustration is glorious because it is bringing us back to our constitutional position. So why should we needlessly suffer like this?
Price of Krsna
Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught by this beautiful example of throwing His only book in the river Ganges that we are simply meant for the enjoyment of the devotees. We are simply meant for the service of the devotees. And we will pay any cost to please the devotees. We will accept any sacrifice to please the devotees. We would endeavor any hardship or jubilation to please the devotees. We give up even what most dear to our life if it pleases the devotees. And what do we get in return? We should only expect one thing- More Service. After endeavoring such hardship for the pleasure of Krsna and His devotees what should we expect in return the opportunity to give more and more and more for the rest of eternity i.e. Krishna Consciousness i.e. love i.e. the price of Krsna. Bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti yävän yaç cäsmi tattvataù: it is only by this type of unalloyed devotion that Krsna can be understood as He is i.e. the payment. And Krsna will not accept any counter feet, payment of any other sort. But it is so frustrating because in our hearts it seems so terribly far away. There are so many lusty desires and so many envious desires and so much greed and too much pride. But how can we ever approach we expect so much. What Krsna’s grace is very powerful as is explains here in Srimad Bhagvatam- tadä rajas-tamo-bhäväù käma-lobhädayaç ca ye ceta etair that simply by rendering devotional service by simply aspiring with this goal and mind with enthusiasm and with patience simply serving the Lord and His devotees chanting the Holy Names, praying for this humility Krsna by His causeless grace reveals this most precious treasure within. So let us always aspire, let us always aspire to put aside our own conditioned desires to associate with Krsna’s devotees, to serve them and to chant the Holy Names.
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
This is actually all Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us so simple.
nitya-siddha kåñëa-prema ‘sädhya’ kabhu naya
çravaëädi-çuddha-citte karaye udaya
[Cc. Madhya 22.107]
The love of God is within the heart of all living being just the associate with His devotees make the order of your Guru your life and chant the Holy Name i.e. all i.e. require. Love of God would awaken within your heart that brahmachari he practice so much sever austerities his whole life, he was celibate, he was fasting but until he was grateful and humble to receive the chastisement of the Lord he was not given entrance into love of God. Saci Mata although she was the mother of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until she humble her self with great sincerity to take the dust from the feet of the Vaishnava on her head. She was not given that Krsna prema. So let us aspire for this. And let us unite on the principle of being servant of the servant and blissfully chanting His Holy Name. Hare Krsna. Is there any questions?
Question : How can we find out what offenses we have committed?
Answer : When Madhai became a devotee he fell at the feet of Nityananda Prabhu and begged his forgiveness but he was still feeling too much pain and sorrow within his heart. And he approached Lord Nityananda on another occasion and he said I have begged your forgiveness and you have forgiven me. But I have committed offenses to countless living beings. I was always in such an intoxicated state I don’t even know who I offended. How can I get forgiveness from all of them? This your condition? Actually you are saying like this but you are humble devotee certainly my position. Nityananda prabhu told him that you have to please Krsna. And the way you can do this we told him with your own hands you take the humble position of building a Ghat with the little shower you dig in the ground and you make steps to the river Ganges and every devotee that comes. Everyone that comes you bow down at his lotus feet, you take the dust from his feet and with sincere heart you beg them please forgive me for any offenses I may knowingly or unknowingly have ever committed to you and he did like this.
So we in this age of Kali we are prone to commit offenses first of all we must be extremely aware and careful not to commit any other offenses. Offenses that we knowingly have committed we should beg forgiveness sincerely and serve that devotee we have offended and for those which we don’t know we may have done we should simply try to be a humble encouraging servant of all Vaishnavas and this will please Krsna and chant the Holy Names –
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
Hari Bol… Any other questions?
Question : We know from the Bhagavad Gita that any realized devotee doesn’t hanker or lament however inner to become sorry for mistakes seen this is certain type of lamentation.
Answer : Yes too much. So it is also devotees are always hankering for service and for Krsna. The Gopis are hankering more than anyone but they not and when He left they lamenting more than anyone.
brahma-bhütaù prasannätmä
na çocati na käìkñati
samaù sarveñu bhüteñu
mad-bhaktià labhate paräm
[Bg. 18.54]
Krsna says- One who attains the brahma-bhütaù stage the librated state hankers for nothing and laments for nothing and when you come to that stage then you come enter into Bhakti, then you start hankering and lamenting like anything. But you have already transcended hankering and lamenting for your own sense gratification now you are simply hankering and lamenting for Krsna. That’s answer your question? We should not hanker or lament anything for our own selfish sense gratification. But we should lament. We should lament for any offense against any Vaishnava and we should always be hankering for the service of such Vaishnavas.
Question : Should we lament that we have wasted time?
Answer : We have just sung the beautiful song of Narottam Das Thakur- manuñya-jévana päiyä, rädhä-kåñëa nä bhajiyä, jäniyä çuniyä biña khäinu. My life oh! Lord Hari I have simply spoiled although I have taken this rare human birth like a miser I have not served my Lord. I have no love for You Radha and Krsna. And so quit purposely I have drunk poison. This is the way the greatest Achayas are praying to the Lord. They are lamenting but they are lamenting that they are not loving Krsna, that they are not giving their complete hearts to Krsna i.e. their lamentation. Sometimes Caitanya Mahaprabhu would weep and cry and say I have no love for Krsna because if I had one drop of love of Krsna I would be dead if I loved Him how could I survive without seeing Him. The fact that I am still breathing means I have no love for Him. This is transcendental consciousness. Hari Das Thakur he was always praying that I am the most retched, the most untouchable, the most sinful but you Lord are still so kind upon me to allow me to chant your Holy Name-
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
And because he was thinking like this he could chant so purely. So devotees should always be lamenting in this way and always hankering in this way. je änilo prema-dhana. Acharya Thakur Narottam also was so lamenting when he didn’t have the association of the devotees and he was always hankering for the association of devotees in fact Ramananda Ray when he asked he was asked by Caitanya Mahaprabhu about suffering he said “to be without the association of devotees is the only suffering in the whole creation.” So we are so fortunate tonight have so many wonderful devotees are with us are we grateful to Krsna? Of course because I am taking so long you probably hankering for Prasad and lamenting that I am talking too much. But to be in the association of the devotees and in that association to chant the Holy Names, to dance, to hear Krsna katha, to take Prasad i.e. the most precious gift in all of the world. It is the most intimate expression of Krsna’s love that he gives us this opportunity and if we are grateful we will make great spiritual advancement. “We should hanker for these opportunities to be with the devotees, chanting, dancing and feasting and we should lament when we don’t have such opportunities.” If we have to stay home when there is a night satsang we should weep, we should cry, we should lament. We should hankering for any opportunity. So let us celebrate just great occasion like to give our humble obeisances to Nathaji Prabhu, Maithilipriya mataji, Keshav, Caitanya Chandra, Vrinda Priya for making this wonderful arrangements tonight so that we could all come together to chant the Holy Names of Krsna. Everyone please stand up.
