24th January 2020

Japa-talk is an expression of my love for you!

Keep on chanting. You all are welcome.

All over the world devotees are chanting. There is no one foreign over here. We all belong to the Lord. Today’s Indian citizen goes to Dubai and becomes a foreigner. French citizens also come to India and become Indian. We all are foreigners in one sense as we belong to the spiritual world that is Vaikuntha, Goloka, Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Mayapur, Jagannatha Puri or Pandharpur Dhama. These all are our true worlds and we have to return to our spiritual world and we have to attract Lord’s attention by calling out the holy names.

Someone calls or sends message that we have met with an accident or in the hospital or we are in trouble. Please help. So, we all are in trouble in this temporary world of miseries. There is no guarantee over here. Anything could happen at any moment. That’s why we call the Lord. Draupadi also called out to the Lord when she was in trouble and the Lord appeared over there.

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

Remember the Lord and call out to Him and whenever you call Him, remember Him. Chant remembering His form. kar katevari thevonia… ( Sundara te dhyana – abhang of Tukaram Maharaja) how He has kept His hands on His waist. This way you can call and remember Pandurang Viththala.

bamsi vibhushit kara navneer dabhaat ( Anonymous)

How does He play the flute? How are His hands? He is holding a flute in His hands and His hands have been decorated due to holding the flute. There are 3 different kinds of flute. Bamsi, Murali and Venu.

vanand aravinda dala kataksham

So remember that.

baal charitanicha

Yasoda herself churns curd for her baby Krsna to feed Him butter so that her child will give up stealing butter from other places as she thought the servants could not make it tastier. While churning curd, she is remembering the butter stealing pastimes of the Lord at various gopis’ houses. In this way, she is doing her work remembering the Lord. We need to remember the Lord while chanting His name. We can remember the Lord in many ways such as His name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode, followers… There are so many topics. There is no restriction that you should just remember only this.

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragaha

Translation:
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus you have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these names. (Sri Siksastakam verse 2)

There is no restriction for time as well as when to remember and when not to remember the Lord. There is no restriction to just remember a few pastimes such as rasa lila, but we can remember the battlefield of Kurukshetra also. We can remember the instructions of the Lord.

The Lord said:
patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

Translation:
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”(BG. 9.26)

Remember and follow the instructions of the Lord. I am seeing that few mothers are cooking in the kitchen for their children who are about to go to school. Remember that you are cooking bhoga for the Lord and the Lord is the enjoyer. Cook vegetables only.

Lord didn’t accept Duryodhana’s feast as there was no love and devotion within it. Then He came to Vidura’s place. He was an exalted soul. He was living in a simple way – simple living and high thinking. He got confused when the Lord came to eat vegetables in His house. Vegetables means leaves (patram) and bananas means fruits (phalam). These all are natural and received from trees. Tulasi leaves are also leaves (patram). Vidurani fed Him banana peels not bananas, but the Lord accepted that as it was fed with Love. The Lord gave His own menu (patram puspam phalam toyam) while He was having a discussion with Arjuna. Like we ask our guests what they would like to have for breakfast or dinner. When we go to a restaurant, what we eat is important, but along with that which emotions they are feeding is more important. It is important to offer food with love and devotion.

Duryodhana was not offering with love. He was not a yogi, but a bhogi. What Vidurani was offering, even though it was simple like vegetables or banana peels, the Lord appreciated that as the best meal He ever had in His life.

Sabari also fed fruits to Lord Rama as she lived in a kutiya (hut). She was a disciple of Sage Matanga. She wanted to die, but she was asked by Sage Matanga to live as Lord Rama will come to her and she can have His darsana. One day Lord Rama came. Laksman was also there. Laksman was not going to eat anything. He fasted for 14 years. Lord Rama also just ate uncooked food like a vanavasi. He didn’t eat cooked food. Sabari had already collected Jujube fruit for Lord Rama as He could come anytime. Then she offered her fruit to Lord Rama. The Lord was very pleased with her offering. He thanked her. The Lord just wants love. He is pleased with our love and devotion and if the Lord is pleased then we are automatically liberated. In this way, Sabari fed Lord Rama and had darsana. Then Sabari was liberated. She collected some wood and entered into the fire and returned to Ayodhya or Saket dhama.

Lord said
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī mām namaskuru
mām evaisyasi satyam te
pratijāne priyo ‘si me

Translation:
“Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me.” (BG. 18.65)

This is Kali Yuga. You worship the Lord by performing Hari kirtana.

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

This is aradhana. And we should do deities worship as well.

sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

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. (Gurvastakam verse 3)

Syama Preshtha Mataji is worshiping Deities. But while worshiping deities, there should be kirtana. Like Gaura arati or we play a recording of kirtana at mangal arati.

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā (CC. Adi-lila 7.76)

There should kirtan with every service or worship. As we play kirtana, our worship becomes free from faults.

Lord said that we should think of Him, become His devotee, worship Him and offer obeisances unto Him. One who doesn’t offer obeisances, how can he be devotee? The Lord is so incredible that as soon as we offer obeisances, He does His magic.

Krishna jinka nama hai, Gokul jinka dhama hai
Aise Sri Bhagwan ko, mere Barambaar pranam hai

We should offer Him our obeisances again and again. And what will happen if you do this? The Lord said, “You will surely return to My abode.” Why am I telling you all this? Because you are very dear to Me. He is not just speaking to Arjuna, but all of us also. Parents love their all children. Krsna loves us.

‘Oh all my dear souls!’ Navayogendra Swami Maharaja addresses devotees in this way. All souls are very dear to the Lord and if we are dear to the Lord then we automatically become dear to our spiritual master and all devotees.

prema ki ganga bahaate chalo
jot se jot milate chalo ( Bhajan by Bharat Vyas)

Love the Lord in this way and spread this Ganga of love and light, the lamp of love with the one you have. Help others to revive their love for Krsna, distribute prasada, Harinama and Srila Prabhupada’s books to them. Don’t just say I love you, but show it. Don’t just do lip service.

I also express my love by speaking this Japa talk and addressing you all. Please accept my love.

Gaura prema nande hari haribol!

23rd January 2020

Ecstatic meeting of Swami and Bhrtya!

We were listening to the conversation between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai. But we have not heard or read the first ecstatic meeting between Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai. Maybe sometimes in the past we may have heard it, but we have not discussed that on this zoom conference. It was a sweet union or meeting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to Jiad Narsingh ksetra in Simhachalam. He had moved further along the banks of Godavari River. At Godavari he was reminded of Yamuna. He crossed the river and took bath over there.

godāvarī dekhi’ ha-ila ‘yamunā’-smaraṇa
tīre vana dekhi’ smṛti haila vṛndāvana

Translation:
When He saw the river Godavari, the Lord remembered the river Yamuna, and when He saw the forest on the banks of the river, He remembered Sri Vrndavana-dhama.( CC Madhya 8.11)

When he saw a small forest over there he was reminded of Vrindavan.

sei vane kata-kṣaṇa kari’ nṛtya-gāna
godāvarī pāra hañā tāhāṅ kaila snāna

Translation:
After performing His usual chanting and dancing for some time in this forest, the Lord crossed the river and took His bath on the other bank. ( CC Madhya 8.12)

Mahaprabhu did kirtana over there. When he was reminded of Vrindavan he started dancing in ecstasy.

hena-kāle dolāya caḍi’ rāmānanda rāya
snāna karibāre āilā, bājanā bājāya

Translation:
At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Ramanand Rai came there on a palanquin to take his bath.( CC Madhya 8.14)

There was one procession passing by and Ramanand was coming in that. He was sort of a Governor of Andhra Pradesh at that time.

tāṅra saṅge bahu āilā vaidika brāhmaṇa
vidhi-mate kaila teṅho snānādi-tarpaṇa

Translation:
Many brahmanas following the Vedic principles accompanied Ramanand Rai. According to the Vedic rituals, Ramanand Rai took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.( CC Madhya 8.15)

Many brahmins were accompanying him and they were chanting various mantras. This way Ramanand Rai took bath according to all the rituals.

prabhu tāṅre dekhi’ jānila — ei rāma-rāya
tāṅhāre milite prabhura mana uṭhi’ dhāya

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramanand Rai. The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him. (CC Madhya 8.16)

On seeing that personality , who was the chief among that procession,Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought that this must be Ramanand Rai. Although he had never seen him before , but Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya had told him, “During your travel when you reach Andhra Pradesh please do meet Ramanand Rai.” This thing had a deep impression inCaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mind that one day He has to meet Ramanand Rai. On seeing that personality in the procession he thought this must be Ramanand Rai.

tāṅhāre milite prabhura mana uṭhi’ dhāya

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so eager to meet him that he just wanted to run and go to him. In HIs mind he was thinking let me go and meet him.

tathāpi dhairya dhari’ prabhu rahilā vasiyā
rāmānanda āilā apūrva sannyāsī dekhiyā

Translation:
Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was running after him mentally, He remained seated patiently. Ramanand Rai, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him. ( CC Madhya 8.17)

But Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought that being a sannyasi to exhibit such eagerness would not be the right thing for him to do. Thinking this way he just remained seated over there.

rāmānanda āilā apūrva sannyāsī dekhiyā

But by then Ramanand had seen Mahaprabhu who was in the attire of sanyasi.

sūrya-śata-sama kānti, aruṇa vasana
subalita prakāṇḍa deha, kamala-locana

Translation:
Srila Ramanand Rai then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals. ( CC Madhya 8.18)

Rai Ramanand observed Caitanya Mahaprabhu from a distance. How was he viewing Him? Arun vasan He was wearing saffron clothes as just few months prior he had accepted the renounced order of life and so He was wearing saffron clothes. Aruna Sama- kanti. He was effulgent like the sun.

sūrya-śata-sama kānti, aruṇa vasana
subalita prakāṇḍa deha

He had a big body. He was bigger in size. Usually people from Bengal are of short stature but Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very huge in size , prakand deha. and kamala-locana- His eyes were like the petals of a lotus.

dekhiyā tāṅhāra mane haila camatkāra
āsiyā karila daṇḍavat namaskāra

Translation:
When Ramanand Rai saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod. ( CC Madhya 8.19)

When Rai Ramanand saw Him from a distance , it was an astonishing sight. chamatkar ko namaskar hota hai. Whenever people see some marvellous things they bow down to that. He offered prostrated obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

uṭhi’ prabhu kahe, — ūṭha, kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’
tāre āliṅgite prabhura hṛdaya satṛṣṇa

Translation:
The Lord stood up and asked Ramanand Rai to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna. Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very eager to embrace him. (CC Madhya 8.20)

Mahaprabhu told him to Remember Krsna. It’s talk of sravanam kirtanam visnohu smaranam. ( SB. 7.5.23-24) He looked at the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. prakand deha kamal lochan surya sam kanti. Try to visualise this description in your mind. Remember this form. Ramanand Rai took darsana of such a form of the Lord and he also offered his obeisances unto Him. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu told him, ‘Get up! Get up! Get up!’ and not only this but he was told to chant Krsna! Say Krsna! Krsna Krsna!

Jīva Jago jīva Jago Gaurachand bole … .( Bhajan from Geetavali by BVT)

‘Get up and listen to what I am saying’ and what he was saying? To say Krsna ! Chant Krsna! Krsna Krsna!

We also could do the same things. We also offer obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu in our mind. And Mahaprabhu can tell us also get up. Get up! Say Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Say Krsna! Say Krsna!

tāre āliṅgite prabhura hṛdaya satṛṣṇa

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Ramanand an intense desire developed in His mind sa-trisna ( strong desire) , what was that? Intense desire to embrace Ramanand Rai.

tathāpi puchila, — tumi rāya rāmānanda?
teṅho kahe, — sei haṅa dāsa śūdra manda

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramanand Rai, and he replied, “Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community.” (CC Madhya 8.21)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu still first enquired with him whether he was Ramanand Rai. There was eagerness in the mind to impress him, but still He first inquired just to confirm or make sure whether he was Ramanand Rai. teṅho kahe, — sei haṅa dāsa śūdra manda Ramanand explained that he was that. He was a lowly and unintelligent person. That Ramanand Rai who is from the low caste. That Ramanand Rai who is bereft of any intelligence. Just note that, this is the humility.
Amanina manaden ….. and trinadapi sunicen. He didn’t introduce himself in a positive manner, “I am that Ramanand who is the governor of this province.” Such thoughts never arise in the minds of such sincere devotees.

tabe tāre kaila prabhu dṛḍha āliṅgana
premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya doṅhe acetana

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramanand Rai very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.(CC Madhya 8.22)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Ramanand Rai firmly in his long hands. He not just touched him, but embraced him firmly. premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya doṅhe acetana When they embraced each other then premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya, one is Prabhu – master and other is bhrtya.- servant. Prabhu is Mahaprabhu and bhrtya is Rai Ramanand. Our state is also the same. We are also bhrtya.

isvara ekala krsna ar san bhrtya. ( CC Adi 5.142) Krsna is Swami, Jagannatha Swami or Krsna is the Isvara or parameswar and all others are bhrtya. We all are Bhrtya. When Prabhu and Bhrtya embrace each other they became unconscious to the external world. They lose body consciousness. They even forget that they were standing and they lose the balance.

svābhāvika prema doṅhāra udaya karilā
duṅhā āliṅgiyā duṅhe bhūmite paḍilā

Translation:
Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell to the ground. ( CC Madhya 8.23)

While embracing each other they lost bodily consciousness. They even forgot that they wear standing and so they lost balance and then they fell on the ground.

stambha, sveda, aśru, kampa, pulaka, vaivarṇya
duṅhāra mukhete śuni’ gadgada ‘kṛṣṇa’ varṇa

Translation:
When they embraced each other, ecstatic symptoms — paralysis, perspiration, tears, shivering, paleness and standing up of the bodily hairs — appeared. The word “Krsna” came from their mouths falteringly. ( CC Madhya 8.24)

Their whole body started exhibiting such symptoms as they became ‘stambhit’ – like a rod, like a stambh or pillar. Pillar never moves here and there, both of them became that way like the pillar. Then there was trembling , and they fell down on ground and there were tears from their eyes. Their hairs were standing on end. At times they were laughing and then they were crying. Both of them were in such an ecstatic state.

dekhiyā brāhmaṇa-gaṇera haila camatkāra
vaidika brāhmaṇa saba karena vicāra

Translation:
When the stereotyped, ritualistic brahmanas who were following the Vedic principles saw this ecstatic manifestation of love, they were struck with wonder. All these brahmanas began to reflect as follows. ( CC Madhya 8.25)

Rai Ramanand’s brahmans, ministers, servants were all there at some distance on the bank of Godavari. They were viewing this exhibition of intense emotions. When they saw this they were surprised, to see this meeting and such exhibition of ecstatic symptoms.

ei ta’ sannyāsīra teja dekhi brahma-sama
śūdre āliṅgiyā kene karena krandana

Translation:
The brahmanas thought, “We can see that this sannyasi has a lustre like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a sudra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?”

The level of the brahmanas who were accompanying Rai Ramanand was low. It was meeting of bhrtya and Swami. Gauranga and Rai Ramanand were in an ecstatic phase and in comparison to the state of their mind , their superior thinking , the level of the brahmanas was low. They were not able to understand , what was happening, and then they started commenting and criticizing. They just started pointing faults in both of them, and started discussing it. ‘Oh! Look at this sannyasi! Sannyasi should be serious and grave but this sannyasi is crying. And why he is crying?’ Although Rai Ramanand was the Governor but by birth he was sudra. He was the son of the Bhavanand Rai. The brahmins where thinking that Ramanand is sudra and this sannyasi is embracing the sudra? And look how he is crying.

ei mahārāja — mahā-paṇḍita, gambhīra
sannyāsīra sparśe matta ha-ilā asthira

Translation:
They thought, “This Ramanand Rai is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a maha-pandita, but upon touching this sannyasi he has become restless like a madman.”

And our chief Rai Ramanand, although he is very learned , but on touching the sannyasi he has turned so unstable. Why is he crying?

ei-mata vipra-gaṇa bhāve mane mana
vijātīya loka dekhi, prabhu kaila samvaraṇa

Translation:
While the brahmanas were thinking in this way about the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw those outsiders and restrained His transcendental emotions. (CC Madhya 8.28)

These Brahmanas are termed vijatiya. sajatiya and vijatiya. Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Rai Ramanand were of one caste or jati. They were filled with the same kind of emotions of devotion, so they were sajatiya. Brahmins were vijatiya. They were of the other type, or of the lower level. There was la big gap between both of their thinking and so they are termed vijatiya. Both of them observed that the other party is not understanding their emotions and they are gossiping among each other, criticising them. They must have heard something or must have guessed their talks.

Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Rai Ramanand composed themselves. The site of their meeting was confidential. It was not for the public. Actually this meeting should have happened in seclusion, but circumstances were not like that and so the meeting took place on the bank of Godavari itself. And then everyone witnessed their ecstatic emotions. All the people who were accompanying Ramanand Rai were vijatiya, among which were ritualistic brahmanas, and many other people. Preaching to the faithless is an offence. Preaching should not be done to those who have low faith or no faith. Ecstatic emotions of a higher level should not be executed in front of them. They won’t understand or they will understand it incorrectly and then we will commit offences. Because of this preachers and Spiritual Masters should be very cautious. Preaching to the faithless is an offence. Disclosing confidential things to low minded people or new people is an offence. To protect themselves from committing such an offence Mahaprabhu and Ramanand withdrew their ecstatic symptoms.

Then they had further conversation. We have just discussed the meeting and their glancing at each others. Till now their talk has not begun. Now they will introduce themselves to each other.

Further Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami has written in Caitanya-caritamrita. We will see further. This chapter is very important. Till now just the meeting is taking place. Then they kept on meeting everyday for 7 more days and kept conversing. This conversation between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand is part of Caitanya-caritamrita and is a very famous incident. Many confidential matters were discussed and disclosed in this conversation. Many things and theories and confidential matters of Madhurya lila pastimes were discussed in this. There are many such questions/answers from the discussion between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai, which are like Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Perfect questions, Perfect answers.’

22nd January 2020

Saari Bhumi Gopal Ki

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Amravati’s Temple President, Ananta Sesa Prabhu has sent a message about ISKCON Amravati’s Nama Japa Yajna. They are in need of land. So they are going to perform Nama Japa Yajna till they get land for the temple. All of you please give your best wishes. Keep on performing Nama Sankirtana Yajna all ISKCON Amravati devotees. All the land belongs to Gopal. But they are trying to claim it. They try to claim the land as their own and don’t want to give land to construct a temple. Those who don’t give land will get punished. To save oneself from it one should offer the land. We are trying to fight between me and mine, keeping the Lord away.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati

Translation:
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries. [BG 5.29]

Those who understand this will become peaceful.

Hadapsar devotees also need land. They should also do Sankirtana Yajna.
Srila Prabhupada called this 29th verse of 5th chapter the Peaceful Formula.
Those who falsely claim that land belongs to them and cannot donate the land for the construction of the temple get punished. If we want to avoid punishment, we have to understand this sloka. The Lord is the enjoyer and hence is offered everything. We should become yogi and Bhagavan is bhogi. If we don’t offer then we become rogi.

“Whatever yajna you perform offer that unto Me.”

Any activity we perform should be offered to the Lord. We should act for Yajna. Every single activity should be Yajna. Yajna means Supreme Lord. Lord is Yajna Purusha.

yajnarthat karmano ‘nyatra
loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samacara

Translation:
Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. [BG 3.9]

All activities should be offered unto the Lord.

tad kurum madh arpan – The tongue of the Yajna is the Lord’s tongue. If we don’t act for the pleasure of the Lord then it becomes a cause of bondage. It will become a knot in our heart. Why is the Lord the enjoyer? Because everything belongs to Him.

sarva-loka-mahesvaram [BG 5.29]

Oh fools, you also belong to the Lord. I belong to the Lord. This is the right ego or aham. You start from here – ‘I belong to the Lord’. That’s the end. There shouldn’t be any false ego. I’m servant of Krsna and this is the correct and true ego. As we identify ourselves as servants of the Lord then aham is finished. Then mama also gets finished. If we don’t identify ourselves as belonging to the Lord then something remains apart. Then this false identification leads to aham brahmasmi which Srila Prabhupada calls the last snare of Maya. With manasa deho geho everything finishes. I belong to the Lord. So I’ll perform Yajna and sacrifice everything which I was considering mine. I’ll use it in the service of the Lord. Everything belongs to the Lord and it has to be utilised in the service of the Lord.

In Bengal a house is called Thakur badi. They open an account in the name of the Lord. There is then no question of mamma or me and mine. Such a person is always liberated. For such people an airplane from Vaikuntha will come. We need to be liberated in order to get back to Vaikuntha. Maya has been described in Srimad-Bhagavatam in two words ME and MINE.

Aham mamma ja iti this is Maya.
Aham + mamma + iti

Aham means ‘me’, mamma means ‘mine’, iti means ‘this much’

They say there is no peace. If you all say there is no peace, if you aspire for Bhakti,
mukti, siddhi, then you won’t be peaceful.

kṛṣṇa-bhakta–niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī–sakali ‘aśānta’

Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.
[Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta-Madhya 19.149]

If we understand these three things:
1.Lord is enjoyer means Bhokta.
2.Why is the Lord the enjoyer? – sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Because everything belongs to Him.
3.Our heart or supersoul. Suhrdam

“Oh all living entities. I’m your best friend”. He is giving us this information. In English we say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” One who helps us when in need, is our true friend. Lord isn’t our friend for namesake. He always helps when we are in need. The Biggest problem is birth, death, disease and old-age. This will go on again and again.

punarapi jananam punaripi maranam
punarapi janani jathara sayanam,
iha samsra bahudusare krpaya’ pare
Pahi murare

This is a prayer to Murari made by Sankaracarya even though he preached Mayavada. He is pleading for help. No one can help. Neither scientists, doctors nor actors. Who has the solution? This problem will keep on going. We have established our temporary army of relatives, wife…. Which Sukadev Goswami calls false as it can’t help you to get rid of 4 real problems of ‘birth, death, disease and old age’. The Lord says that only He can help. One who knows these three things will attain peace. Let there be peace. May the minds of people in Amravati experience peace! The industrialists in Amravati also want peace so make them understand how they can get peace by giving up this false claim. It is a start at least. Let there be peace in India, America,Russia and everywhere.

This is the mission of Lord Caitanya and this is the purpose of ISKCON. So instruct everyone about the teachings of Krsna. Contemplate on this. Do you want peace in Damodardesh, Hadapsar? If you want, then preach truth and do Harinama. Essence of all truth is Nama Sankirtana. Give up garbage and grab the essence. Apart from the holy name there’s nothing valuable in this 14 planetary system. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur said this

kṛṣṇa-nāma-sudhā koriyā pān,
jurāo bhakativinoda-prāṇ,
nāma binā kichu nāhiko āro,
caudda-bhuvana-mājhe

Translation:
Drink the pure nectar of the holy name of Krsna. There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds. (From the Vaisnava Bhajan Udilo Aruna Puraba Bhage, Verse 8 by Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

It has filled the soul of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Thank you
Hare Krishna

21st January 2020

Sarvatma Snapanam

Hare Krishna. I. I am very happy and pleased that nearly 495-500 participants are chanting with us from all over the world.Keep chanting.

When I was rewarded this garland of flowers, I was reminded of Lord Caitanya when He visited Simhachal.

sri mahaprabhu simhachal gela

Gela is a Marathi word. Así means mother. Saci Mata is called as Aai which is also used in Marathi.

Lord Caitanya went to Simhachal. Simha means Narasimha and achal means Mountain. So Simhachal is where Lord Narasimha stays on the top of the mountain hill. Lord Caitanya offered His obeisances to Lord Narasimha. When you read, the idea is that we also see when we hear. That scene should be in front of us. We should see Lord Caitanya offering obeisances to Lord Narasimha. Both are the same Lord. The Lord is offering obeisances to Himself. He is also dancing and glorifying.

Jai Narasimha
Jai Jai Narasimha
praladesa jaya padma
mukha padma bhrnga

Praladesa means Prahalad+esa. The Lord of Prahlada means Narasimha. Bhrnga means bee. Only saying Jaya Narasimha is singing glory. Prahaladesh means the Lord of Prahalad. Laksmi has become bhrnga (bee) and She Is wondering around His face. We can also say that the Lord has become bhringa. Laksmi who is also called Padma stays on the chest of the Lord and is also there. The Lord has become a Bee and is drinking the beauty of the lotus face of Laksmi.

Ugram viram mahavishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham narasimham bhishanam bhadram mrtyum mrtyum namamyaham

In this sloka the 9 names of Narasimha are described.

There are 8 Narasimhas in Andhra Pradesh and a 9th in Simhachal. Are you taking darsana of the 9 Narasimhas that I am showing you?

We have published a photograph in our Padayatra Magazine. In that you will find darsana of Narasimha. Lord Caitanya is singing the glories of the Lord in ecstasy. The temple pujari brought the garland of Narasimha and offered it to Lord Caitanya. He also would have offered Tulasi at the feet of the Lord. In this way, the pujari welcomed Lord Caitanya. This is also the garland from Narasimha Kshetra which I have been offered. I was reminded of that when I was offered this garland.

In yesterday’s Japa talk we were discussing the conversation between Ramanand Rai and Mahaprabhu on the banks of the river Godavari.

When we read or hear anything, that scene should be in front of us. We should visualise Lord Caitanya offering obeisances to Lord Narasimha. Have you visited Simhachal? Srila Prabhupada and I had also gone to Simhachal. If you have not visited, then please go because one day we have to leave this world. Do not be attached to your house. When Lord Caitanya took darsana of Godavari, He immediately thought of Yamuna Devi. He was so Krishna Conscious. Any little fragrance or touch or water made Him remember Vrindavan. As soon as He sees a cloud He remembers Syamsundar. How are the clouds? They are dark just like Syam. This kind of remembrance used to take place in the case of Radha and the Gopis. Lord Caitanya is in the mood of Radharani. Whenever He saw any river, He remembers Yamuna. When He saw any forest, He would remember Vrindavan, the forest of Vrinda. If He used to see any hill, He would remember Govardhan. He has fully developed Krishna consciousness.

This is simple living and high thinking. Krsna’s thoughts are only high thinking.

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

When we are doing Kirtana, Lord Caitanya is pleased. Because He Himself chanted the maha-mantra. As soon as Lord Caitanya saw a river, a cloud or a hill then He would directly connect with Krsna. When we chant Hare Krishna we also establish direct contact with Krsna. Lord Caitanya was so Krishna conscious that there was no limit to his ecstasy.

anandam budhi vardhanam

We sing in Damodarastakam

itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe

Lord Damodar plays such pastimes and the Vrajavasis and associates of Lord Caitanya are taking a dip in the ocean of ecstasy when they witness the Lord’s pastimes.

Lord Caitanya has sometimes spoken on the chanting of Hare Krishna in His own astakam.

sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

When we chant our soul is having abhishek. We also take a dip in the ocean of the nectar of the holy name. There is no limit to the ecstasy. We also have to experience this ecstasy. Our past acaryas have experienced this. We have the means – nama sankirtana by following the rules and regulations of Japa and by learning how to chant.

One devotee of ISKCON has compiled a book, ”Art Of Chanting”. We need to learn this. At the time of initiation, we are given this homework. Chant a minimum 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily. Follow the 4 regulative principles. We are reminded of the ten offences. The aim of our life is to get Krsna Prema. We should attain Krsna Prema as soon as possible.

Hare Krishna
Thank you.

20th January 2020

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Rai Conversation Part 2

Today is Ekadasi. Japa should be constant, not seasonal. A few of the devotees chant on this conference on special days such as Ekadasi. Don’t do like this. If you chant daily, at the same place and the same time, then it is beneficial. The Lord will be pleased with us. Our meditation will increase.

We have two breaking news! Hare Krishna devotees also have their news. We should listen to this. News from material world are gram katha and Hare Krisna news are Krsna katha.

Yesterday in Greater Noida Purnanandi Mataji organised a children’s padayatra with 64 kids. They did kirtana as well as distribution of books. It’s good morning news. Please take note of this and you can organise such a special one day padayatra. Jayabhadra mataji had also organised Girl’s padayatra. One day padayatras are also going on which are organised by Murali Mohan prabhu. This way preaching is conducted through padayatra. It is also called nagar sankirtana or Prabhat Pheri in Maharashtra. Prabhat means morning hours and Pheri means to go from place to place while doing kirtana.

rama nama ke heere moti
main bikhraaun gali gali

Harinama is a jewel and we distribute these jewels of Harinama in various streets during Sankirtana. ( anonymous Rama bhajan)

Today is Ekadasi. We have to chant more and with more attention. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has recommended introspection of our sadhana on Ekadasi from the last Ekadasi to this one and to make some resolutions to improve our weak points. This is our homework.

ISKCON Amravati in Maharashtra is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its temple opening this year. They want to renovate the temple and hence they are organising a 20 hour Sankirtana Mahayajna today. They already have started. For this Mahayajna and renovation, all of you please chant Haribol and give your best wishes and blessings and inspire their leaders, devotees and congregation of ISKCON Amravati.

One more news, This year we have the 30th Anniversary of Mayapur, Nabadvipa-mandala Parikrama. This is a special celebration. You all are cordially invited. 30 years ago, we started Nabadvipa Parikrama and the number of participants went on increasing starting from 100. We are expecting 10 thousand participants this year. Please make an announcement regarding Nabadvipa Parikrama in your temple. There will be Kirtana mela in Mayapur and then Parikrama.

Now we will read the remaining conversation between Lord Caitanya and Rāmānanda Rāi. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is asking questions from Rāmānanda Rāi.

‘śreyo-madhye kona śreyah jīvera haya sāra?’
‘krsna-bhakta-sanga vinā śreyah nāhi āra’

Translation:
“Out of all auspicious and beneficial activities, which is best for the living entity?”
Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “The only auspicious activity is association with the devotees of Krsna.” (CC.Madhya 8.251)

Which is the best activity? One is śreyah and another is preyah.

Arjuna said

na ca sreyo ‘nupasyami
hatva sva-janam ahave
na kankse vijayam krsna
na ca rajyam sukhani ca

Translation:
I do not see 5any good (śreyah) can come from killing our own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Krsna, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness. (BG 1.31)

Arjuna call this śreyah. Preyah means immediate sense gratification. We don’t think of the result of such enjoyment. We don’t think of śreyah or long term benefit. We should not do this. We should think of śreyah. Children like to play. They don’t like to go to school. They are asked to think of the future. The world does not think of the future. They just think of the present. But everything’s not lost with death. We need to think of life after death. Please understand what is śreyah and preyah. We should act now in such a way that we will get the sweet fruits of our current endeavours later in future.

Krsna-prāpti hoy jāhā ha’te (Guru Vandana verse 1) Attaining Krishna is real śreyah. Which is the best activity for the living entities? How can we get śreyah is the question asked now.
There is no other medium to get śreyah other than through the association of devotees of Krsna.

Therefore, It is said that

‘sādhu-sanga’, ‘sādhu-sanga’, sarva-sāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya (CC. Madhya 22.54)

Translation:
Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Krsna consciousness. (CC. Madhya 22.54)

Siddhi means śreyah. san siddhi hari-poshanam Rāmānanda Rāi replied to get siddhi or śreyah, the association of devotees is mandatory.

‘kānhāra smarana jīva karibe anuksana?’
‘Krsna-nāma-guna-līlā–pradhāna smarana’ (C.C. Madhya 8.252)

Translation :
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “What should all living entities constantly remember?”
Rāmānanda Rāi replied, “The chief objects of remembrance are always the Lord’s holy names, qualities and pastimes.”

Anuksana comes after Ksana. Anu means to follow or Anusaran or Ramanuj, Krsnanuj. Anuksana means constantly. Whom to be remembered constantly? Rāmānanda Rāi replied that we should remember Krsna, His name, qualities, pastimes, form, abode, and His devotees. This is Bhagavad, anything which is related to Lord.

sri-radhika-madhavayor apara
madhurya-lila guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanasvadana-lolupasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Translation :
Srila Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakur has said that our ideal acaryas are always eager to chant and hear about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Sri Sri Radhika and Madhava, and about Their qualities, names, and forms. (Sri Gurvashtakam Text 5)

nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau
lokanam hita- karinau tri-bhuvane manyau saranyakarau radha-krishna-padaravinda-bhajananandena mattalikau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Translation :
Six Goswamis are absorbed in the mood of the gopis and experiencing bliss remembering name, form, pastimes, qualities of Radha Krsna. (shad Goswamy Ashtakam verse 2)

It’s been asked to remember Krsna always.

Smartavyam satatam Vishnu vismartvyam na jatu chit

Gopis also had asked to remember Krsna always. Not to forget ever Krsna. We have to practice this.

‘dhyeya-madhye jīvera kartavya kon dhyāna?’
‘rādhā-krsna-padāmbuja-dhyāna–pradhāna’

Translation :
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired, “Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all living entities?”
Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “The chief duty of every living entity is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Rādhā and Krsna.”(CC. Madhya 8.253)

Dhyeya means one worthy of remembrance. Object of remembrance. What should the living entity meditate on? Srila Prabhupada would ask us to fix our object of meditation before beginning our meditation. If you don’t know on whom you are going to meditate then what is the use of such meditation. This is the question.

Meditation on the lotus feet of Radha Krsna is real meditation.

radha-krsna-padaravinda-bhajanananda
sa vai mana krishna-padaravindayau

King Kulashekhar used to meditate on lotus feet of the Lord. This is speciality of Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

I was hearing Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was saying that those who worship Visnu are Vaisnavas, those who worship Krishna are Karsnas and those who worship Radha are Gaudiyas or Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

Radha and Krsna are always together. We should meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha Krsna.

‘sarva tyaji’ jīvera kartavya kāhān vāsa?’
‘vraja-bhūmi vrndāvana yāhān līlā-rāsa’

Translation :
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “Where should the living entity live, abandoning all other places?”
Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “The holy place known as Vrndāvana or Vrajabhūmi, where the Lord performed His rāsa dance.” (CC. Madhya 8.254)

Where should living entity stay giving up everything? Give up everything and run towards Vrindavan. This is our aim. We can go from time to time. If you get frustrated, then go to Vrindavan. When you return, then if you remember Vrindavan wherever you are, say Amravati, Nagpur, Moscow, New York or Pune, then you are in Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada said once, “I am not in New York. I am in Vrindavan.” So, this is also a way to live in Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada would say that he was missing his Radha Damodar, Radha Govind of Vrindavan because his heart was not in New York, but in Vrindavan.

So, you can also go to ISKCON temples which are also Vrindavan or else you can turn your home into Vrindavan.

asha pashashater bandhe A living entity should leave everything behind and reach to Vrindavan.

‘śravana-madhye jīvera kon śrestha śravana?”
‘rādhā-krsna-prema-keli karna-rasāyana’

Translation :
Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “Out of all topics people listen to, which is best for all living entities?”
Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “Hearing about the loving affairs between Rādhā and Krsna is most pleasing to the ear.” (CC. Madhya 8.255)

What is worth of hearing? Hearing Pastimes of Radha Krsna is worth hearing. Gaudiya Vaisnavas are like this only. They don’t leave Radha Krsna. If you want to live, live in the abode of Radha Krsna. If you want to meditate, meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha Krsna. If you want to hear something, then hear the pastimes of Radha Krsna. First hear, study or chant then automatically you will remember or meditate. śravanam, kirtanam, visnu smaranam or remembering the lotus feet of Radha Krsna. This is the best thing – to meditate upon but for this we have read or hear Srila Prabhupada books, Krishna book, Srimad-Bhagavatam.

‘upāsyera madhye kon upāsya pradhāna?’
‘śrestha upāsya–yugala ‘rādhā-krsna’ nāma’

Translation :
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?”
Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Rādhā and Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.”(C.C. Madhya 8.256)

Whom to worship? We sadhakas are upasak then who should be Upāsya?
The greatest worship is the name of Radha Krsna. He hasn’t spoken about the worshipping of Deities although we do this also as a part of navidha bhakti as aradhana. But this was recommended in Dvapara Yuga. Whatever benefit was attained by worshipping deities in Dvapara Yuga can be attained by chanting the holy names of Radha Krsna in age of Kali Yuga. That is why it is said in sastras:

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

” ‘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)

The best worship amongst yajnas is the chanting of the holy names. You can refer to the 8th chapter of Madhya Lila Caitanya-caritamrta from verse 240 onwards , if you want to read this again or you can give class on it.

Gaura prema nande hari haribol !

19th January 2020

Lessons from the Conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Rai

During His South India tour as the Lord was travelling to different regions on banks of Godavari, there He had a meeting with Rai Ramananda at Kovvur in Andhra Pradesh. It’s said that Rai Ramananda is the incarnation of Vishaka and Vishaka has descended and was Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Talks between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya

It’s a very famous conversation and is found in Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya Lila 8th chapter. The conversation between Mahaprabhu and Ramananda went on for about 1week .They met every day and there would be different discussions. This conversation has been presented in fthe orm of small questions and answers or perfect questions and perfect answers like we have Srila Prabhupada’s book Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers. It’s a very important dialogue. Here the answers were given by Rai Ramananda. Questions were being asked by Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya was getting them answered through Rai Ramananda.

Rai Ramananda said “Oh Lord you are speaking or you are making me speak. I’m an instrument in Your hands like a vina and I will make the sound as you play.” So the speaker is Lord Caitanya Himself. We will make you hear this conversation as it’s very useful and it should be learned and followed. We should develop our character through this.

Lord Caitanya inquired to Ramananda Rai:
prabhu kahe, — “kon vidyā vidyā-madhye sāra?” rāya kahe, —
“kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinā vidyā nāhi āra”

Translation:
On one occasion the Lord inquired, “Of all types of education, which is the most important?” Ramananda Rai replied, “No education is important other than the transcendental devotional service of Krsna.” [CC Madhya lila 8.245]

Ramananda Rai replied: Knowledge related to Krsna or devotion is knowledge and it is the essence of all. We should take lessons in bhakti yoga in this life. And that education or knowledge is supreme and the essence of everything.

Knowledge that we learn and teach is not knowledge of bhakti, but it is knowledge of bhukti. That is money making knowledge, not man making. When you earn money then it is just utilized for sense gratification, dharma, artha, kama. When the pocket is full one goes for sense gratification. We should learn bhakti not bhukti?

Lord Caitanya inquired from Ramananda Rai:
‘kīrti-gaṇa-madhye jīvera kon baḍa kīrti?’
‘kṛṣṇa-bhakta baliyā yāṅhāra haya khyāti’

Translation: “
Out of all glorious activities, which is the most glorious?” Ramananda Rai replied: “That person who is reputed to be a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoys the utmost fame and glory.” [CC Madhya lila 8.246]

Identifying oneself as servant of Krishna is true glory or kirti. So this is real glory, I am servant of Krsna, I am Krsnas and I do this for Krsna, all this things are glories. jiva krsna das ei visvas.

The glory in this world can be of two types – being famous for good deeds or being famous for bad deeds. Ravan was also very famous, but he was well-known for his bad deeds. Most of the idiots of this world are famous in this manner. We should identity ourselves as servants of the Lord, I am Krsna Dasa. This type of introduction one should give and that’s the real glory. If you become the Lord’s devotee, the Lord will increase and expand your fame all over.

Lord Caitanya inquired to Ramananda Rai:
‘sampattira madhye jīvera kon sampatti gaṇi?’
‘rādhā-kṛṣṇe prema yāṅra, sei baḍa dhanī’

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of the many capitalists who posses great riches, who is the topmost?`
Ramananda Rai replied, “ He who is richest in love for Radha and Krishna is the greatest capitalist.” [CC Madhya lila 8.247]
Which is greatest wealth amongst all wealth which can be called real wealth? Ramananda Rai replied: If you have been bestowed by Radha Krsna prema then you have real wealth. If you don’t have that then you are bankrupt. There is not even one penny in your account. You have just collect material wealth. The person who has Krsna prema that person is really wealthy. We chant Hare Krishna in the morning. We start to earn real wealth early in the morning while others start very late by 10 or 11 am. But Krsna’s devotees are very smart. They start increasing their fixed deposits early in the morning. Krsna prema is real wealth of the soul which pleases the soul. You are truly wealthy as you’re chanting Hare Krishna and earning real wealth.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked :
‘duḥkha-madhye kona duḥkha haya gurutara?’
‘kṛṣṇa-bhakta-viraha vinā duḥkha nāhi dekhi para’[CC Madhya lila 8.248]

Translation:
“Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?”
Ramananda Rai replied: Apart from separation from the devotee of Kṛṣṇa, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”
If we are bereft of association of devotees then what else couldn’t have been greater cause of despondency? Association of devotees is very important, it gives pleasure. And if we are not getting association of devotees that should be the cause of our unhappiness. We keep meeting many people who cheat us, mislead us. But mahajano yena gatah sa panthah, if we are not getting association of devotees who show us the right path that’s the cause of our sadness. We should always try to get association of devotees.

asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra [CC Madhya 22.87]

There are two types of association, satsanga and asatsanga. Asatsanga gives pain and satsanga gives pleasure. So it’s said here if we are not getting association of devotees that the cause of our lamentation. Oh why are you sad these days? Oh I am not getting association of devotees.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked:

mukta-madhye kon jīva mukta kari’ māni?’
‘kṛṣṇa-prema yāṅra, sei mukta-śiromaṇi’ [CC Madhya lila 8.249]

Translation: “Out of all liberated persons, who should be accepted as the greatest?” Ramananda Rai replied: One who has got Krishna prema is greatest amongst liberated personalities. Krsna prema, we call in Gaudiya vaishnav language as pancham purusartha. There are four purusartha-dharma, artha, kama, moksha. The Advaitavadis consider getting merged into Brahman as mukti.

kaivalya narkayate

Liberation of Mayavadis is worse than getting intoo hell. Attainment of Krishna prema is better than mukti. Superior than liberation is devotion for Lord Krsna. As you get Krishna prema then there is nothing left to be achieved. You get Krsna, His abode, His service and you get situated in your own eternal form or svarupa. hitva anyatha rupam sva-rupena avasthiti. This is liberation according to Bhagavatam. It’s not that the Lord does not have form. This ignorance is mayavad. One who escapes from this and achieves Krsna prema is the supreme amongst the devotees

Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked

‘gāna-madhye kona gāna — jīvera nija dharma?’
‘rādhā-kṛṣṇera prema-keli’ — yei gītera marma’

Translation:
“Among many songs, which song is to be considered the actual religion of the living entity?” Ramananda Rai replied: Singing glories of love of Radha Krishna are greatest. [CC Madhya lila 8.250]

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmāt

Keli means pastime like jala keli, prema keli, rati keli. So conjugal pastimes of Radha Krsna are the highest level of love.

gaurangera madhura-lila, jar karne pravesila, hridoya nirmala bhelo tar

You may say gaurangera madhura lila or Krsnera madhura lila, singing these pastimes is the greatest. Songs of Radha Krsna pastimes are the greatest. Everyone likes to sing, so one should sing this. For that we need to first hear these pastimes and then we need to engage our tongue to sing them or chant,

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

Hare Krishna maha-mantra includes all the pastimes and songs. We need to hear this maha-mantra. Lord Caitanya also used to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam. He also chanted Hare Krishna. He would go to Gadadhar Pandit at Tota Gopinath and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam from him. And in Gambhira the whole night He would spend time with Rai Ramananda. In Kovvur He told Rai Ramanand to join Him to give up his job of being Governor. Rai Ramananda asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu to stay for few more days. “We will have more katha and discussion. What big difference will a few days, I want to have discussions with you throughout your whole life. You renounce all this dirty business and come to Jagannatha Puri. Thus Caitanya Mahaprabhu inspired him and Ramananda Rai renounced everything and came to Jagannatha Puri. By the time Caitanya Mahaprabhu came back from South India tour Ramananda Rai reached Jagannatha Puri after retiring from his job. He spent his remaining life singing the glories of Radha Krsna with Lord Caitanya. He sang from Srimad- Bhagavatam, Gita Govinda, Krsna karnamrita, Candi Dasa. In this way Lord Caitanya has set a standard in front of the whole world – if you want to sing, sing the glories of Radha Krsna and chant

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

We will do the remaining questions tomorrow.
Gaur Premanande Hari Hari bol

18 January 2020

Radharani nourishes devotional service.

All of you are welcome.

In Kaundinyapur a katha is going on by Sarvabhauma Prabhu. You can also join.

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
Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa is one. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency combined. When Kṛṣṇa exhibits His pleasure potency, He appears to be two — Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one. This oneness may be perceived by advanced devotees through the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This was the case with Rāmānanda Rāya. One may aspire to attain such a position, but one should not try to imitate the mahā-bhāgavata. (CC. Ādi 1.5)

Lord Caitanya is combined form of Radha and Krisna is Lord Caitanya ekatmanapi,bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau Radha Krsna is one soul for the sake of pastime, They separate and become two. Krsna is energetic and the mighty God, whereas Radha is His energy. Krsna is Radha itself. shakti shaktimatayo abhedha
There is no difference between energy and energetic. That is why both Krsna and Radha both are God.

We have a power house from which we receive electricity. That power gets manifested in the form of heat, light, a cooling effect. Like the heating, cooling and lighting cannot be separated from electricity, in the same way, Radha and Krsna are one. They complement each other. Radha and Krsna cannot be separated from each other. bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau This has been explained by Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami at the beginning of Caitanya-caritamrta.

A worshipper of Shakti is called a Shakat.
A worshipper of Ganpati is called a Ganapatya,
A worshipper of Visnu is called a Vaisnava.
A worshipper of Surya is called a Saur.

We are Vaisnavas, but we worship Radha. Radha is the energy. We are also Shakats as we worship Srimati Radharani as the energy of the Lord. Like in Bengal, worshippers of Durga are called Shakats.

There are two energies of the Lord – the external and internal. External energy (Maha Maya) is Durga and Internal energy (Yoga Maya) is Radharani. Durga protects this fort, the material world. Durg means a fort from which it is very difficult to get in and out as it is well protected and Durga or the external energy protects this fort. Worshippers of the external energy are also called Shakats. We, Gaudiya Vaisnavas, worship Radharani who is the internal energy of Lord and also known as Yoga Maya. Visnu or Param Visnu, Sri Krsna also worships Radharani. We are not recognized as Shakats, but can be called that.

Radha Krsna love each other so much and when They sometimes get separated, They miss each other very much. When Krsna enters the kunja first then He waits and searches for Radharani. If He does not find Her over there then He gets upset. It’s not that only the gopis and Radharani look out for Krsna, Krsna also searches and waits for Radharani and the gopis. Krsna becomes restless without the association of Radharani and the gopis. Krsna also chants the names of Radha. When Mother Yasoda asks Krsna to chant the mantra given by Bhaguri Muni then Krsna begins to chant the names of Radha instead.

Radhe Radhe Radhe,
Radhe Radhe Radhe,
Jai Jai Sri Radhe

One day Krsna was playing flute at Imlitala and was calling the names of Radharani through His flute. Krsna’s flute can speak and send messages like we send a sms from a mobile. The flute speaks in five melodies. Sa re ga ma pa … these melodies are sweet, but not meaningful. But when Krsna plays the flute, it’s melody is very sweet and meaningful and sends messages and calls each of the gopis, Radha and cows by their names. Krsna was so absorbed in playing the flute and calling for Radharani that His whole bodily complexion was transformed. As Krsna called Her, Radharani reached over there. When She got there, She found that Krsna was absorbed in meditation and has become golden remembering Radharani. sravanam kirtanam radhayaha smaranam

Krsna was chanting, hearing and remembering Radharani and at that time, He didn’t remain Syamsundara but became Gaurasundara. He gave this darsana 5000 years ago at Imlitala before appearing as Gaurasundara or Lord Caitanya in Kaliyuga.

bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
dhule dhule gorā chāńda
hari guna gāi
āsiyā vrndāvane
nace gaura rāy ( anonymous Bengali)

When Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrndavan, He began to dance in kirtana and performed Vraja-mandala Parikrama. Then He began to stay at Akrura-ghata. He came to Imlitala and started to call the names of Krsna in the mood of Radha.

Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!he!
Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!he!
Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!Krsna!raksa!mam!

He was chanting the names of Krsna at the same place where Krsna was chanting the names of Radha and while chanting the names of Krsna, he became completely absorbed in meditation of Krsna, Gaurasundara became Shyamsundar.

In this way Radha Krsna chant remembering each other. They go into samadhi and feel intense separation from each other.

vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo
vaishnavebhyo 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. ( Vaisnav pranam mantra)

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu has asked all fallen souls like us to chant the holy names of Radha Krsna. bolo krsna bhajo krsna karo krsna siksa

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)

Radha chants the names of Krsna while Krsna chants the names of Radha, but we chant the names of both. When we say Hare, we are calling Radharani. When Krsna hears someone chanting the names of His Radharani then He gets pleased and excited. And when we say Krishna, Radharani gets pleased and excited when She hears the names of Krsna.

There are only 2 names in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra – 8 times Hare or Radha, 4 times Krsna and Rama making 8 times Krsna. So, this makes 8 names of Radha and 8 names of Krsna.

When we chant and They hear each other’s name being called then both of them get pleased and bestow happiness on the chanter. This way, it becomes complete. Krsna and Radha, both are sat-cit-ananda. Radha is the internal or hladini sakti of Krsna. Radharani gives bliss to Krsna and for your information, whatever pleasure we get, is also given to us by Radharani.

Krsna is sat-cit-ananda and we are part and parcel of Krsna. So we are also sat-cit-ananda. Sat is Sandhini, Cit is Samvit and Ananda is hladini. These all are potencies of Krsna. These potencies become person and the hladini potency or ananda is Radharani. Radharani gives bliss to Krsna and the jiva (soul). Radharani nourishes our devotional service. Karunamayi Radha! Radha is Vrndavaneswari!

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy and Radharani makes us happy.

17 January 2020

Perform devotional service like Radharani

You are all welcome this morning.

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teaching. It is said in Sanskrit and there are many

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

And moving forward:

srimad-bhagavatam pramanam amalam prema pumarthomahan
sri-caitanya-mahaprabhor matamidam tatradaro nah parah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is worshipped along with His transcendental abode Vrndavana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopis of Vrndavana. Srimad Bhagavatam is the spotless authority on everything and pure love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life for all men. These statements, for which we have the highest regard, are the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Caitanya-matta-manjusa by Srila Viswanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is inspiring us and showing us when we perform our worship, how we should do it. It should be the way in which the gopis performed worship. Make the gopis your ideal heroine. And of all the Gopis, Radha is the topmost. This word aradhana is called such due to Radharani. anayārādhito nūnaṁ

The gopis were searching for Krsna in the forest and just after seeing the Lord’s footprints, they could see some other footprints also. Before this they could not see any footprints and there was no sign whatsoever, but they kept searching and then they saw Krsna’s footprints. It was like a ray of hope as they saw the Lord’s footprints. ‘Krsna’s footprints are here so He must be here nearby. He must have walked this way.’ When gopis see His footprints what happens? He is caught like a thief. When there is robbery in the village people search for the footprints of the thief. Where he came from? Where he went? Till where he went? So the presence of footprints means there is hope that the person is around. First they saw Krsna’s footprints and then following those footprints after some time they again saw some other person’s foot prints.

As they saw this other set of footprints they started talking amongst themselves. They started guessing whose footprints they may be. So another Gopi exclaimed, ‘You silly girl, can’t you understand this? Who else’s footprints can these be? These must be Radhika’s footprints.’

And they spoke in these words,

anayārādhito nūnaṁ
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
yan no vihāya govindaḥ
prīto yām anayad rahaḥ [SB 10.30.28]

Translation:
Certainly this particular gopī has perfectly worshiped the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, Govinda, since He was so pleased with Her that He abandoned the rest of us and brought Her to a secluded place.

These footprints are definitely of Aradhita, the one who worships Krsna. Krsna aradhita, the one who worships Krsna.

They did not say ‘Radha’ directly, but they said anayārādhito nūnaṁ, yan no vihāya govindaḥ. Govinda left us when the Rasa dance was just about to take place. They were feeling hopeful that the rasa dance would start, but then He took this particular Gopi, this Aradhita, He took Her away alone somewhere. So where did He take Her? He brought Her here. He left us at that place and He took away that Gopi. Can you see Her footprints here? Govind bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ Hari has taken Her.

They called Him Bhagavan and Isvara as well as Hari. He who takes away our chitta. He took Radha away. He separated us from Himself. We were all with Radha, but that Govinda – Govinda means one who gives pleasure to the sense, to the cows, to the land. So the Gopis said ‘Govind, Isvara, Bhagavan, anayad’ He took Her away. This is the place, He has bought Her here. These footprints are Aradhita’s. They have not said her name directly, they have not said Radha. They said that He has bought the one who worships Him – Aradhita. There is only one place in the Bhagavatam where She is mentioned and Her name Radha is not mentioned directly, but indirectly ‘Aradhita’ the one who worships, that Gopi – Aradhita. These are Her footprints. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘We should worship Lord Krsna like the gopis or like Radharani worships Lord Krsna.’

sri caitanya mahaprabhor matam idam tatradaro na parah.

This is the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Radha’s bhava, the Gopi’s bhava, bhakti bhava is matchless. According to the opinion of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He gives inspiration to all the Gaudiya Vaisnavas that one should worship like the Gopis, worship like Srimati Radharani. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not just tell us, but He Himself worshipped the Lord like this and stayed in Radha bhava. The pastimes He performed in Jagannatha Puri, when He was staying in Gambhira, along with Swarup Damodar and Ramananda Raya, there Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was constantly in Radha bhava -in the mood of Srimati Radharani, Gopi bhava. This was a confidential, personal, private reason for His appearance, He wanted to understand Radharani.

To know Radharani, you have to perform devotional service like Radharani in the mood of Radharani. If we have Gopi bhava, if we worship like the Gopis, only then we will be able to understand devotional service. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu took up Radha bhava.

radha bhava dyuti suvalitam naumi Krsna swarupam

He took up Radha’s mood, Radha’s complexion. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became Gauranga, the colour of Radharani. tapta-kancana-gaurangi and Radharani is Gaurangi. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Gauranga. Gaura is constant – both are of Gauravarna. Radharani is gauravarna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu also became gauravarna.

Hemangi, so just from the outside, bahir gaura He became the colour of Gaura. radha bhava dyuti suvalitam. Radha’s complexion and Her bhava, Her mood from the inside and the outside He was Radharani. He is looking like Radha, He has Her complexion and her bhava, her whole mood is like hers. So Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taken Radha’s mood. He has taken also the mood of renunciation and He has all the right to tell us, take up Radha bhava, Radha’s mood, the Gopi’s mood. This is the mood of Sad Goswamis of Vrndavan. They used to run towards the forest searching for Krsna. kvasikvasimaha-bhuja. The six Goswamis are saying, he radhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-sunokutah, in the 8th verse of Sadgoswamiastak. ghoṣantāvitisarvatovraja-pure khedairmahā-vihvalau The Goswamis would become impatient, eager and through the whole of Vraja-mandala they would run and search ‘kutah’ where are You? ‘He Radhe, he vraja-devike, he Lailite, he nanda sunokutah!

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

We also have to do this chanting in the same mood – Gopibhava, or the six Goswamis of Vrindavan’s bhava. We read in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the devotion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He became a devotee and showed by His example how one should perform devotional service.

apani achari jagate sikhaye

He taught the world through His own His behaviour, His dealings. Then He went to Jagannatha Puri and performed such devotional service. Why in Jagannatha Puri? Jagannatha who is there in Jagannatha Puri is now sitting in Dvaraka and He is remembering the Gopis and mother Yasoda. The memories of the Gopis and the pastimes with the cowherd boys and Sridhama Sakha is always bewildering Him. He is eager to meet all of them. All these pastimes, ‘Oh when will I play?’ and the Vatsalya bhava with mother Yasoda, ‘When will I experience that again? And my friends! uddhav mohe braja visrat nahi. The Lord cried and cried as He spoke these words to Uddhava in Mathura.

So this Lord who cannot forget Vraja or the Vrajvasis and has this mood in His heart is sitting as Lord Jagannatha in Jagannatha Puri. That is why His eyes are so big.

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached Jagannatha Puri. And as Lord Jagannatha has the mood of searching for His devotees ‘Where are My devotees, when will I see My devotees?’ In this same way when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is reaching Puri He is thinking ‘When will I see My Lord?’ He is in Radha bhava, Gopi bhava. He is very eager to see the Lord, and to have His darsana and to embrace the Lord. Jagannatha is lamenting as He got separated from His devotees. Caiatanya Mahaprabhu in gopi bhava is thinking, “Krsna left me and went away.”

soduniya gopina krsna mathuresi gela

He left the gopis and went to Mathura. From there He was to come back but then He moved ahead, He went to Dvaraka. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in Jagannatha Puri, this was the mood He had. This is a nice combination of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Jagannatha. They search for each other, love each other and are in intense separation from each other. This is the mood Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took up and He has ordered or rather instructed that you all take up that mood up, service in separation, the mood of devotion in separation.

ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena va kalpita

One should chant with this mood. This is the practice, sadhana to have these thoughts, this bhava this mood while chanting. Otherwise remember and meditate on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His mood, the Gopis’ mood. You can meditate on Radharani’s mood and evoke that mood within you and chant,

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

nitya-siddha krsna-prema sadhya kabhu naya
shravandi-shuddha-chitte karaye udaya

Translation:
“Pure love for Krishna 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.” (C.C. Madya 22.107)

As we hear Hare Krishna, the holy name with that sadhana as we move forward with our mood of devotion, our Krsna prema will be revived.

Gaura Premanande Hari Haribol

16th January 2020

Kill them with love

Hare Krishna

Some of you are writing,

vancha-kalpatarubhyash ca
kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo
Vaisnavaebhyo namo namaha ( Vaisnava pranam mantra)

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaisnavaa devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfil the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls. ( Vaisnava pranam mantra)

So go on offering your obeisances to Vaisnavaas. This is also a prayer at the feet of Vaisnavas. vancha-kalpatarubhyash ca

Vancha – you are the desire tree who fulfils all the desires. Whatever one desires from the desire tree he gets it. Vaissnavas are like those trees. Even the trees in the abode of the Lord are desire trees and if the trees are desire trees then what to speak of Vaisnavas over there. They also fulfil our desires so you pray at the feet of Vaisnavas.

patitanam pavanebhyo
Vaisnavaebhyo namo namaha

My obeisances to those who purify the fallen souls. So keep on offering obeisances. Gaudiya Vaisnavaas are special Vaisnavaas.

Yesterday and the day before yesterday here in Juhu the 42nd anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari Temple was celebrated. Yesterday there was a huge rush of people aspiring to take darsana of the Lord. There was also abhishek of the Deities. A flag hoisting was also done with the help of a crane. I was also fortunate to participate in the flag hoisting on the top of Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari Temple. We kept singing Garud-dwaja. I had heard of this.

uttisthottistha! govinda!
uttistha garudadhvaja!
uttistha kamalakanta!
trailokyam mangalam kuru

Please wake up! Oh Sri Krsna who delights the cows and the mother earth! One who has Garuda on His Flag! One who is loved by Mother Kamala who is going to bring both of us together! Make the three worlds prosperous! ( Venkatesh Suprabhatam)

He! Radha Rasabihari, He! Panduranga! He! RadhaSyamasundar, He! Balaji please wake up. He! Garud-dwaja. One of the names of the Lord is Garuda dwaja, because on His flag there is a picture of Garuda. It is not only picture. It is Garud himself.

Yesterday in the evening there was satsang. Prabhupada disciples and devotees from the managing committee were present in big numbers. Devakinandan Prabhu, Narasimhanand Prabhu, Jagat Purusha Prabhu who taught me how to worship Radha Rasabihari were all on stage. While addressing the gathering over there I said that the presence of such great devotees has made the gathering roof- full. The way we say houseful, I said roof-full as the program was on the top roof. A huge number of people had gathered which Narasimhanand Prabhu also noted and expressed his happiness about it. He narrated the memories saying, ‘This temple is like a palace in which the Lord will definitely reside. There is a big hall made of marble , and all opulence is there. But if there are no devotees and it is all empty or visitor’s who come for darsana, then what is the beauty or usefulness of such a temple?’ Then it will not be a temple, but it will be like a crematorium. No one stays in a crematorium.’

I was also thinking that so many people have gathered and how many of these are followers and how many have gathered for darsana. How many of these are guests and how many consider themselves hosts. This temple belongs to us and lets us contribute in some way to manage the whole show. We follow what has been taught here. We are not only aya rama gaya rama. People go to many big temples like Birla mandir. They haven’t developed any relationship with the temple or don’t have any affection in the heart for the deities over there. They don’t listen to the words of great souls of Hari-katha over there. They are just visitors like guests. But we have to convert them from visitors to followers of Prabhupada. If they become followers they will be benefited. When such a society consolidates then the whole society will be greatly benefited. sanghe shakti kalau yuge so there will be exhibition of special power, power of devotion. People will witness so many people, those who have not remained people, but have become devotees. They will meet each other and then they will serve joining hands together. But before joining hands there will be joining of hearts. Together they will serve the Lord. Together they will do Sankirtana.

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

Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught the whole world this Hari kirtana and now we are learning. We have also become students. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave this Sankirtana and also said,

śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ
sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

Translation:
Cleansing the mirror of the heart, mind, and consciousness (citta), extinguishing the great forest fire of material existence, spreading the moonshine of the lotus of good fortune, the life of the spouse of all knowledge, increasing the ocean of bliss, giving a taste of full nectar (amrita) at each step, bathing all souls, let there be all victory for the congregational hearing and chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa. ( Siksatakam verse 1)

All those who are on the conference and also those who are sitting here with me and at other places also became fortunate, as they have come in contact with Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtana movement. They do kirtana together, they do sankirtana. And then the world witnesses the power of devotion and gets attracted to it. All the worldly people then have to think and proceed as they cannot ignore. When such power of devotion is exhibited then many other souls are impressed. They are forced to think before they proceed with their business as usual. sanghe shakti kalau yuge. This will cause the number of devotees to rise. We are all termed Vaisnavas. We are Vaisnavas. This is not some designation like any material designations, I am Indian, I am a man, I am dark, I am fair etc. So

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

‘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 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)

We will have to cast off designations of this material world. But one designation we cannot get rid of is Vaisnava. We are Vaisnavas. We are trying to become Vaisnavas and then will go back to Godhead. There also we will remain Vaisnavas. The abode of the Lord is full of Vaisnavas. All the citizens over there are Vaisnavas. No one is foreign there. Everyone is local, who are in their own country in the village or abode of the Lord.

vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye
je pīḍa parāyī jāṇe re,
para duḥkhe upakāra kare to ye
mana abhimāna na āṇe re

Call those people Vaisnava who
Feel the pain of others,
Help those who are in misery,
But never let self-conceit enter their mind ( Vaisnava bhajan by Narsingh Mehata)

Those whom we keep calling Vaisnava is the transcendental designation. What is their introduction.

pīḍa parāyī jāṇe re,
Je ka ranjale ganjale tyasi mhane jo apule

In other words this means one who becomes unhappy when he sees others in a problem. There was such an exalted Maha Bhagwat Vaisnava who went to America. Why did he go to America? Because he was in grief seeing others’ problems. ( Para dukhe dukhi) How would the upliftment in the consciousness of the world have been possible if Prabhupada had not gone to America? The number of Vaisnavas are increasing on the earth, and burden on the earth is reducing.

The earth was experiencing the load and was crying in grief and so had gone to the Lord. Then Lord appeared and then he again appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. What He did and not only did but still is doing,

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)

Whatever moment Caitanya Mahaprabhu started is still going on, at this moment also.

In 1965 Prabhupada was only one and now they have become many, many more. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is destroying our wickedness. In other incarnations he used an axe or bow and arrow. He threw arrows with the help of the bow. Jay Sri Rama, ho gaya kam! Or there is a Sudarshan with which Sisupal was killed. But what has Caitanya Mahaprabhu done?

sangopangastra parsadam …

All the devotees have become His weapons. In their association what happens? In English they say ‘ killing with words’. You are loving so much that you are killing me. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vaisnavas love us so much that the wickedness within us like Hiranyakasipu is killed with that love. It kills our wickedness and our offences. This love destroys all the offences within us. So in this way harinama

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

Early in the morning what do we do after getting up? There is wickedness within us. if you are thinking that there is no wickedness, then it’s an illusion. We have to understand that there is a Ravan hiding within us, a demon hiding within us, which is against Krsna.

daivasur eva ca …

Lord explained that there are two types of people in the world – one is with all the good qualities and others are demons. In the morning immediately after getting up what we try to do? We try to kill this demon. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam

There is a blur of demonic tendencies in our consciousness, which stains the mirror with different demonic tendencies. The eed of sin is in the inactive state in the mind. When it becomes active, it can create a nuisance. So we try to destroy it before it becomes active. This can trouble us in the future as we will have to face the consequences of committing sins. We try to kill the seed the desires of sin.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ

Listen carefully to what Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying, bhava-mahā-dāvāgni
Bhava means this material world and davagni , the fire which is here , which is also there in our mind in our home in our consciousness, then bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ

Then when we sprinkle

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

As is said sravan kirtana jale ‘sinchan’ in Marathi means to spray. So we spray with the maha-mantra. Whenever there is a fire at any place the fire brigade is called. They sprinkle water and try to extinguish the fire. Similarly there is a fire is in our consciousness, in our hearts, senses. There is fire in the senses, as neither the senses nor the mind is in peace, then this nama sankirtana extinguishes the fire and brings peace.

When we acquire the maha-mantra from Gurujans. It is said,

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. ( Gurvastakam, Verse 1)

Dava means fire, anal means wind. Whenever there is the mercy of the spiritual master and Vaisnavas, they extinguish this fire. We remain in gratitude for them and chant the mantra early in the morning. Those who gave this mercy to us, this Krisna consciousness to us those who did

yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa

krsna se tomarkrsna dite par tomar sakti ache

You can give Krsna to us. Those who gave this name of Krsna to us those who give prasada to us, give festivals, we should be in gratitude for them. So we say

vande guro sri caranaravinda… ( Gurvastakam)

We have to increase the numbers. We have to expand this Krishna consciousness.
sanghe sakti kalau yuge ………

Or is said ,

jyoti se jyot jagate chalo prem ki ganga bahate chalo…

In this world there is no love but in turn there is a brook of dirty water. There are lusty desires under the name of love. So all such Brooks of muddy water are cleaned. Lot has been talked about Swachh Bharat mission. But ISKCON campaign is swachh mann, clean minds. ceto darpana marjanam

By this all the wicked, dirty thoughts should be cleaned out and then there will be a clean consciousness. Such a campaign has been started by ISKCON. Srila Prabhupad is the founder acarya of this movement.
This becomes our duty that we have to make this Ganga of love that is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra flow everywhere, by which there will be all auspiciousness to us, as well as the whole world.

Hare Krishna!
We will meet again.

Japa Talk- 15/01/2020

Topic- Man vs Money Making Teaching

Hare Krishna. Now be attentive. All of you are welcome and congratulations.Today Gangul Prabhu from Bhiwandi has his birthday. So, we can all loudly chant Hare Krishna for him. Hare Krishna devotees always say, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy” while material people wish Happy Birthday.

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. [SB 1.2.6]

Do something by which the soul will be blissful . We try to keep our senses and mind happy. We try to pray to get such happiness. But we forget ourselves. If we forget ourselves then how will we or our souls experience bliss. Our devotional service should be free from material contamination and it should be without unmotivated and uninterrupted.

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

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

Devotional service should be free from lust. There is bhukti and bhakti. Both have huge differences. Bhakti should be constant and with love. Chanting Hare Krishna is also bhakti.

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. [SB 7.5.23]

sravanam kirtanam – Bhakti starts with hearing. Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlada Maharaja what he had learnt in Gurukul because He was sent to Gurukul to become a leader amongst the demons. Prahlada Maharaj replied that he had learnt the 9 types of devotional service. Chanting Hare Krishna, hearing it and then remembering it.

Prahlada Maharaja didn’t learn this from Sanda and Amarka. They would teach in the same way as it is being taught in today’s schools just to earn money. Today teaching is based on money-making-teaching not man-making-teaching. There is no stress on cultivating character, only money making. What is the purpose of vidya to make money? To earn some livelihood? To get a job in factory? The goal of vidya has become money making. Money is means. But what’s the goal? Kama or lust. Then you require roti, clothes, home.

Luckily Prahlada Maharaja by good fortune was already post graduate as he came out of the womb of his mother. At that time, Narada Muni protected his mother in his own asarama as the demigods wanted to kill him. He predicted that Mrs Hiranyakasipu will give birth to a saintly, great soul. He gave a crash course or training that he was self realised by birth. He was God realised from birth. He was Maha-bhagavat . He was not asurya-varya . He learnt everything from Narada Muni.

Srimad-Bhagavatam is supremely authorised which explains devotional service. Chanting Hare Krishna is the devotional service and dharma. Chanting of Hare Krishna maha-mantra is bhakti. śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ Whatever else other than this is bhukti or sense gratification.

In Bhagavad-Gita yogi bhava Arjuna and us are asked to become yogi. We have given this yugala mantra. Yugala means couple or pair – son of Nanda Maharaja and daughter of King Vrisabhanu. In Vrndavana, they are called Yugala Sarkar, Kisor-Kisori, Nanda-Nandini, Nandlala(Krsna)-Vrisbhanu dulari (Radha).

As we chant we become Japa yogis. The whole world says to become a bhogi or sense enjoyer, but they don’t know that if we become bhogi then it leads to rogi (diseased). It also leads to mental distress.

Lord Caitanya established this movement and Srila Prabhupada propagated this throughout the world and came back to India. Then in 1971, he came to Mumbai. There was news of “American sadhus in Mumbai.” I was moved by it. I was being taught by teachers like Sanda and Amarka. Then I went to see those American Sadhus and got convinced. I also saw Srila Prabhupada. Then I learnt the Raja Vidya or most confidential knowledge from Srila Prabhupada and began chanting.

In 1972 Srila Prabhupada purchased Hare Krishna land. Earlier it was known as Nairwadi. Then after a lot of struggle he established a palace for Radha Rasabihari. Then in 1977 he didn’t stay at the time of the opening 42 years ago as he already had gone back to Goloka. Today we are celebrating 42nd anniversary of Radha Rasabihari Temple.

There will be Guru Puja, then class by Srila Prabhupada. I have also been asked to give a class. There are so many programs in the evening and delicious prasada for all. So, if you are hungry, comets the inauguration and get the mercy of the Lord.

Thank You.
Hare Krishna