Venue: VOICE Nagpur
Date: June 11, 2011

Stay Focused! Don’t get distracted. This material world is meant for distractions. Our original relation is there with Krishna only in the spiritual world. This material world has been designed to make us forget that relationship. Half of the life is wasted in just sleeping.

Vriddha avastha chinta magna – nowadays if someone is lucky, then he will die in old age. Previously, the majority of the people used to die in old age. But nowadays, the majority dies in early age. Some die in womb through abortion. Then some commit suicide at young age. Farmers are also traffic jammed. Five percent of life is wasted in traffic jam. So where is the time for Krishna? There are people in the world, who have zero time for Krishna. We have created so many varieties of Illusions. All that glitters is not gold. Ten to twenty years before, Nagpur was not that much glamorous, the way it is now.

The 12th offense is to have mobile/Nokia next to you while chanting and hearing. The most important business is to become Krishna conscious.
Whatever is favorable has to be accepted – anukulasya sankalpa and whatever is unfavorable has to be rejected. This has to be understood. The focus has to be maintained on daily basis. That is the purpose of staying in the BACE.
We get regular reminders. Otherwise in the outside world, even if someone performs so called religious activities, the purpose is to make the material world more comfortable. Yavat jivam sukham jivet – ghrtam pibet. In church also people go and ask to Jesus – Oh God! Give us our daily bread. Some people desire to go to higher heavenly planets. It is just like going from lower grade prison house to higher grade prison house. There are some first class prison houses where there are five star facilities. Real intelligence is not in promotion from low class to high class prison but to get out of the prison.

The wives of Ganesh are Riddhi and Siddhi. Their sons are Shubha and Labha. But by such Shubha and Labha, one will only continue with his comfortable life in this material world or prison. We are entangled into so many activities of this world. Balavastha Kridasakta – all over the world, children have the tendency to play. Previously, I used to think only Indian boys have the tendency to play. First day in 1978, when I was going from airport to temple in the West, children were playing on the ground. This proves that all the children have common tendency. This also proves that father of all the human beings is one.

Turana avastha taruni asakta – Boy’s attraction for girl – I Love You. This might be natural on the bodily platform. But for the soul this attraction is completely unnatural. But when we say shut up to soul’s voice, body starts speaking – I Love You. Atma ka mukha – I Love Krishna e.g. When someone is drunken – whatever he does, whatever he speaks is insane. The people of this world are intoxicated with Maya. Intoxicated with lust, anger and greed. From greed is coming the corruption. In this way, the conditioned soul
remains always entangled in this so called routine life. The goal of life, vision, is forgotten. The goal of the captain in the boat is the light house. Otherwise he will be lost. Even if he is misdirected due to storm, he will be back on the track only if he will remain focused on the goal.

Sadhu Savadhan – if there is some high tension wires, it will be written – SAVADHAN /BEWARE. In this way, life will pass. So Krishna consciousness has never to be postponed. Yesterday only, one of our well-wishers, Mr. Onjhale from Pune, who used to come every year for my katha, left his body. He was about 40-45 years old. Nowadays this is natural.

During Ramacandra’s kingdom it never happened that in the presence of parents a child would die. Only once it happened, and then the father came to Lord Rama to complain. If someone dies in old age, they say it is a natural death. Temporary nature and the intensity of dukhalayam of this world increasing more and more day by day. On daily basis you should remain focused and check yourself – some evaluation should be done.

The program and concept of the BACE was not there during our time, when we were students. BACE is like a temple away from the temple and also at the same time, home away from the home. Not completely entangled in home and also not fully absorbed in temple. Something in between as a transit – Stop, think and go – coming out of the rat race. This BACE is also like an oasis. In desert, where there is no drop of water, oasis is a place where you can get water. Similarly in this concrete jungle of Nagpur – in that contamination, there is some mangal, auspiciousness is there at the BACE.

For thinking, one should accept the thoughts of Krishna from the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-bhagavatam. Are all of you watching how the whole world is running very fast? Srimad-bhagavatam also describes that. As soon as one wakes up, the senses become very active. The body is like a chariot, the senses are like the horses. The whole day the chariot is running and the horses are dragging the chariot in so many various directions.
In the night, some rest, dream world. Next day again running. BACE program is out of the world. Who are we and where we have to go? Someone is sitting in the train and if you ask him where are you going and he says, “I don’t know.” Then he is called mad. This life is also a journey but what is the goal? People don’t know. They only know the destination of the body – cremation but not of the soul. The soul is very disturbed from this rat race. She wants to get out of it.

You are very fortunate that you have come in contact with this religion. We wish you all success. Success in your exams. But not only that, there are so many exams in this world. How to balance the life between both sides? In future, if there is some change of ashram – that preparation is also required. So, all of you should take Krishna Consciousness very seriously. Hari Bol!

Venue: ISKCON Pandharpur

Hare Krishna !! You are all welcome. Pandharpur dham ki jay.
Pandharpur dham is known for chanting. Lot of chanting goes on here. Lot of singing. Varkaris (walking pilgrims) also sing. Gaudiya vaishnavas also sing. Prabhupada writes in the purport. They chant, they dance and they chant and they dance along with mridangas (drums), and kartalas (hand cymbals). Prabhupada compares like this the Caitanya Caritamrita. There is a description of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to Pandharpur. And many if not all saints from Maharastra, Vithhal bhaktas – they all sing bhajans, abhangas. Nam ghosh (loud chanting) on the banks of chandrabhaga river goes on. There is a connection. Namacha ghosh chandrabhagechya kathi, chandrabhagechya valvanti (loud sounds of chanting in the dessert on the banks of chandrabhaga river). So to such a place of Pandharpur dham we have come for Japa and kirtan. So I think we have very favorable setting here. We have the contact of dham. You already feel surcharged with chanting. This is going on for thousands of years. So we have not selected any particular verse this morning from Bhagavatam. But we have something from person ‘bhagavat’, Srila Prabhupada that I would like to share. Maharaja reads from the section “Mahamantra – the great chant” written by Srila Prabhuapda.
“This transcendental vibration – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare is a sublime method of reviving our Krishna Consciousness. We are all Krishna Conscious entities but due to our association with matter with time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by material atmosphere.”
Knowing Krishna is knowing His name: So that is the text for today from Srila Prabhupada. This is the Hari Nam mahatmya, japa mahatmya- the greatness of the holy name. Prabhupada describes here “transcendental” vibration of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. So this vibration is “transcendental”. It transcends material existence. In other words this chanting of Hare Krishna is not from this world. We also say ‘out of this world’. This chanting is from out of this world. Or chanting Hare Krishna is from spiritual world, the transcendental world. “Hare” is not from Maharashtra, or India or from this planet or even not from heavenly planets. From beyond this existence. “Golokera premadhana – Hari nama sankirtana” Although it sounds like ‘ha’ and ‘re’. Last varna (syllable) in varna- mala (list of syllables) is ‘ha’. Sometimes ksha also. Adhokshaja .. Adh- akshja –. From ‘a’ to ‘ha’ or from ‘a’ to’ ksha’ – both versions are there. We know ha , re; we know k , kr, sh, na .. .. it appears like these word are from this world. I was just looking at yesterday this Hari Namamrita Vyakarana. It says “Narayan udbhava varna” All the varnas (syllables) come from Narayan. “Aham Sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate (BG Verse 10.8 I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me). Even varna mala (list of syllables) a, aa, e, ka, kha, gha. these have origins in Narayan. This is the statement of Jiva Goswami. So originally these syllables – they are coming from Narayan. So people use these syllables, these varnas, these aksharas, but Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare …32 syllables, 16 words, “iti sodasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam” (verse from Kali Santaran Upanishad: these sixteen names can nullify all the degrading, contaminating effects of the materialistic Age of Kali.) 16 words, 32 syllables. They are all transcendental.
When they come from the Lord Himself and when they are used to utter the names of the Lord, Hare Krishna and Ram.. Srila Prabhupada explains that this is transcendental vibration. They certainly do not address or they certainly do not indicate anyone from this world. Krishna is from transcendental world. (BG 8.20 paras tasmat tu bhavo ‘nyo, vyakto vyaktat sanatanah : Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter.)
“Goloka dhamni nija dhamni” (verse 43 from Sri Brahma Samhita: above them all is located Kåñëa’s own realm named Goloka). There is His own abode. So there is no one in this world called Krsna, called Ram and called Hare or Hara. Do you know anybody? Or Krsna from Pune, or Mumbai? If someone claims that “my name is Krsna and my wife is Radha, you know!” Sometimes we go to life members. They introduced “I am Krishna” We say to them “you are Krishna devotee”. Oh, I am Krishna and my wife’s name is Radha. We correct them and say that you are prabhu, Krishna- dasa and your wife is Radha-dasi. Krisna is Krishna and Ram is Ram and Radha is Radha. There are not two Radhas and three Krishnas and five Rams.
There is but one Krsna and one Ram and one Radha and that is “Goloka namni nija dhamni”. They reside in Their own aobde. So here it is His name. Krishna’s name. Who is Krishna? Whose name is Krishna? Krishna’s name is Krishna. No one else has name Krishna. The name is non different from Krishna. We cannot separate it from Krishna. So it is transcendental. These names are transcendental. There is so much in these names. That is not the case – Chinku, Pinku, Tinku! (laughs) There is not much in there. There is not such much that you go deeper to understand those names. But these names! “Namnam akari bahuda nija sarva shaktis” (Siksastakam prayer 2: You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies.) So much shakti (power) is there in these names. There is so much to know. You could spend the whole life time just knowing name “Krishna”, knowing nam-tattva. “Bahunam janmanam ante” or you could take many life times just to know “Krishna” or even name “Krishna”. When you understand name Krishna then you will understand Krishna also. Krishna’s name is not different from Krishna. This is knowing the name of Krishna.
“Abhinnatvat nam namino” there is so much to know. (verse from Padma Puran: To know the name is non-different from Krishna – this is knowing Krishna or knowing person Krishna. So transcendental. (Reads) Srila Prabhupada says: “Chanting these names is the sublime method of reviving our Krishna Consciousness. As living entities or living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities. But due to our association with matter since time immemorial our consciousness has now been polluted by the material atmosphere. In this polluted concept of life, we are trying to exploit the resources of material nature but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities”
So more one tries to enjoy, it becomes exploitation. Srila Prabhupada uses the word ‘exploit’, ‘ Exploitation’. What happens when one gets entangled? Exploitation begins with contemplation. “dhyayato vishayan pumsan sangas tesupajayate” (BG verse 2.62: While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.) Entanglement is already started as soon as you contemplate. So the process of entanglement, exploitation begins with contemplation. One becomes attached, entangled just by contemplation. Making plans to enjoy, contemplate on, aspiring to enjoy or even contemplate on what had enjoyed in the past. Just remembering that, contemplating that, we get more entangled.
(Continues reading) “This illusion is called Maya, our heart’s struggle to winning over the stringent laws of material nature. Our heart’s struggle of existence for winning over the stringent laws of material nature. Every word, every sentence is loaded with full meaning. Living entity never succeeds, never wins in this attempt.
(Reads) “This illusory struggle against the material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krishna Consciousness.” How does it begin? “Daivi esha gunamayi mama maya duratyaya” (BG Verse 7.14 his divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.). So both statements are here. Struggle for existence for winning over. They do not know that this is Krishna’s Maya. And it is very strong. My Maya- your Maya, if it was; then not much strong Maya because we do not have much strength. But this His Maya, Krishna’s Maya. Krishna says. Hence ‘duratyaya’ (difficult to overcome). Never ever we would succeed or no one has ever succeeded and there has never happened. Individually or collectively there would be no winning. “Oh we won! We won!!” We could never say… “Oh these stringent laws – we broke, we changed them. We dismantled the system or the laws”. More one breaks the laws, he gets harder punishment. If he was in imprisonment only for three months and he breaks more laws – what happens – three years. And then he breaks and what happens – thirty years! You break the law, you are imprisoned, and you are punished. And then you again try to break, again the punishment during that imprisonment period. Then behind the bar, behind wall you may be sent to “kala pani” in the middle of some ocean, some island and imprisoned there. So like that. Living entity has already broken and is attempting to break. They again break or attempt to break laws then they get worst punishment ‘hang them’ – capital punishment they call it. Hanging. So by breaking laws of the Lord, going against the nature of the Lord, what happens? Punishment. What punishment? Death. So many other kinds of punishments are there.
Adyatmik, Adhibhautik, Adhidaivik. (from one’s own mind and body, from others and from demigods). This goes on and finally ‘kill’, “Mrutyuh sarvahas chaham” (verse 10.34 BG Krishna says I am all-devouring death) I come in the form of death. It is “Punarapi jananam, punarapi maranam, punarapi janani jathare shayanam” (again and again birth, death and again sleeping in the womb of another mother). So every time there is death punishment. Isn’t that what is happening?
Every time living entity goes against His laws, varieties of punishment come and capital punishment at the end. “Kill him” give another chance. If he breaks more laws, kill him, just take his life. So this has happened over again and again and again. So don’t think only the government has prisons and punishment or capital punishment. Lord also has this. There is arrangement and there is death.
(Continues reading) “So this illusory struggle against material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krishna Consciousness.” What is the process for revival? By chanting of Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has already said that.
Chanting of Hare Krishna is the process of revival of our dormant love for the Lord or dormant consciousness, original Consciousness, Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. So Krishna Consciousness is not something foreign or some imported or outside thing. From outside it is not imposed upon the living entity or injected into living entity. Not imposed. It is original energy of living entity. Chant like a mantra, just to get it into our head. “Krishna Consciousness is original energy of the living entity. It is original energy of the living entity..”
Go on saying this until we really understand, really realize this that Krishna Consciousness is original energy of the living entity. When we hear transcendental vibration this consciousness is revived. So living entity’s original consciousness is Krishna Consciousness. It is not imposition. It is natural and that original consciousness is revived by chanting of the holy name of the Lord and therefore the process of chanting of Hare Krishna is recommended by authorities for this age.
Everyone is recommending. Authorities are recommending. Not only Hindu authorities or Bhagavat dharma but everyone is into chanting. Allah….Oh Akabar. It is also chanting. Five times a day. “Dhyanan stuvam tasya yashah tri sandhyam”. We have three sandhyas. Islam has pancha sandhyas. Five times a day they chant. Broadcast the glories of the Lord. Even they chant their mantra. “Allah o Akabar.. Mohammad is the only prophet. Allah is the only God and Mohammad is the only prophet”. On their rosary they chant this mantra. Their rosary, Muslim rosary has 99 beads. We have 108. They have 99. We have Vishnu sahastra nam. Koran has 99 names of Allah. 99 sacred names of Allah have been listed in Koran. So 99 names. So they chant and they have their bead 99 beads. Their beads are made from the sacred clay of Makka and Madina. We get our tulasi beads from clay of Radha kunda. So we have tulasi beads, they have bead made from the clay of Makka and Madina. So they chant. Christians also chant. So all the authorities have recommended chanting. Srila Prabhupada said all authorities have recommended chanting Hare Krishna. That they don’t do. Krishna is kind. So they have other names. Al- Rahim, Al- Rahaman. Means God is kind or compassionate (Rahamna). Allah means God is great. There are other names.
(Continues reading) By practical experience also we can perceive that by chanting this maha mantra or great chanting for deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from spiritual stratum. Let us see whether we feel… (all chant Hare Krishna). Do you feel something? Coca cola. Coca cola.. ?? Do you feel anything? By chanting Hare Krishna there is a feeling. Thinking – feeling, willing. As we chant Hare Krishna, there is some feeling. Feeling is revived, feeling of the soul is revived as one chants Hare Krishna. Each time one gets more feeling. The original consciousness is revived. The soul comes in contact with the Lord in the form of the holy name and what happens ultimately? “Nayanam galad asru dharaya, vadanam gadgad rudhhya gira, pulakaira nichitam vapuh kadah tava nam grahane bhavishyati” (Sri Siksastakam, verse 6 : O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?).
The soul comes in contact with supreme soul; this is what happens during chanting. This is yoga, jap yoga, bhakti yoga. We are bhakti yogis and japa yogis. So as japa yogis, we chant the holy name of the Lord and our soul comes in contact with the Lord, the supreme Lord. As we chant Hare Krishna, who chants? The mouth is chanting or the tongue is chanting? Original chanter is the soul. Who is hearing? Soul is also hearing. It is attentive chanting. When the chanting is attentive, then the soul is chanting and the soul is hearing. The chanting is not attentive then “ikadun tikadun jai ware” (meaning the sound waves just pass through one ears and come out from the other ear). So when we hear, sound goes into one ear and out through the other. That is all. You are not there. Your soul is not there. There is a disconnection or short circuit. The complete circuit is when the soul is chanting with the attention and faith also. Adau shraddha (in the beginning faith) has to be there. If not enough shraddha (faith), then we have to hear again and again more and more mahatmya of the holy name. We should never be tired of hearing the glories of holy name. More we hear, more we will say .. this is it! this the process.. Nam chintamani Chaitanya rasa vigraha; purna shuddho nitya mukto, abhinnatvam nam namino. (Padma Puran – The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure.) Full of juice, full of nectar, full of mellow this holy name. The holy name is nitya, mukta, shuddha and purna. (Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself.
Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.’) The holy name is eternal, free, not bound, not conditioned. Liberated, pure. The goal of chanting name is shuddha nam (pure chanting).
One devotee in Vrindavan, my god brother. He was chanting and so what is your wish, I asked, what do you want, what is on your mind when you are saying. He said: “I wish to chant this shuddha nam. One of these days, I wish to chant shuddha nam. When will the shuddha nam be uttered and then relished by me.” My god brother responded like that. So the holy name is shuddha, pure. Pure chanting. Shuddha, nitya, mukta, and abhinnatvat nam namino. Nam and nami are non different. Krishna is the name. Whose name is it? It is krishna’s name. abhinnatvat nam namino.. nam- nami. Like Dham-dhami. Kama-kami, Dukh-dukhi. One who is full of dukh (misery) is called dukhi (miserable). One who is full of sukh (happiness) is called sukhi (happy). One who is full of kama (lust) is called kami (lusty). Like that. Full of dham is called dhami. Dhami means person. Dhami of Vrindavan is Krishna or Radha-Krishna. Dham-dhami, nam-nami. Full of name. Krishna is full of His name. Cannot be separated.
So we need to hear more. Not only we hear, but attentively hear more and more. We need to hear the glories of the holy name more and more. Or even the glories of the devotees, who are lovers of the holy name. We could hear the glories of Haridas Thakur. What are the glories of Haridas Thakur. Glories o f Haridas Thakur are the glories of the holy name. Glories of Krishna are glories of the holy name. Glories of the holy name are glories of Krishna. So as we hear more and more, then shraddha , dridha shraddha. From komal shraddha goes to dridha shraddha. It is called nishtha. Adau shraddha, sadhu sanga, bhajan kriya, anartha nivrutti. Then nishtha like that. These are all the topics of holy name, japa, japa reform topics are from shraddha to prema. Whole Siksastaka is about glories of the holy name. Cheto darpana marjanam, bhava maha davagni nirvapanam.. this sound “um” “um” comes seven times. Finally “param vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam” Vishesan. Seven vishshanas. The last is visheshya. Visheshan – visheshya. So seven.
The very first Siksastaka is the glories of the holy name. 7 glories. 7 glorious points about ‘param vijayate’. It says ‘whereas.. whereas.. whereas.. then therefore..param vijayate sri Krishna sankirtanam’. Not for nothing param vijayate. Seven times, seven glories, seven points,….then.. therefore this holy name is param vijayate. victorious. So shraddha. In the very beginning, shraddha is established by hearing. You hear the glories, your shraddha comes . Not to have faith, lack of complete faith in the holy name is offence at the holy name. Not only it is an off you cannot go forward. No faith no chanting.
So with faith and with attention as one chants, and one hears, what happens there? There is Yoga. Yoga happens there. What is yoga? Communication happens, milan, meeting , reunion happens, ‘shake hand’ happens there as one chants and hears with attention. What comes when we are not hearing with attention ? Whose is active there? Mind is active. Mind is active all the time. So that is the topic, that is the discussion that should happen one of these days. We should be talking about the mind.
(BG verse 6.5) uddhared atmanatmanamnatmanam avasadayet (One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.) The sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita is very useful tool to those who are chanter of the holy name. Sixth chapter. People may say: “we don’t want to be ashtanga yogis! We are bhakti yogis. So 6th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita will not be useful. We are bhakti yogis.” But bhakti yoga includes ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga yoga plus much more is bhakti yoga. Ashtanga yoga is not excluded from bhakti ygoa. It is part of bhakti ygoa. So in sixth chapter there is dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna (verse 6. 34) Chanchalam hi manah Krishna pramathi balavad dridham ..( For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.)
So the chanter of the holy name has to be also student of mind. Student of mind doesn’t mean follower of the mind. It means one should know the mind, study the mind, how it functions, where does it reside, how does it work, where does it fit into the hierarchy, where are the senses, where is the mind, where is the intelligence, where is the soul, where is the Supersoul. In 3rd chapter of Bhagavad Gita, towards the end of third chapter. So know the mind as chanchalam hi manah Krishna. It is very important exercise for those who wish to chant the holy name with attention.
Chanting of the holy name is not just sitting around. You are on the job. You are on duty when you are chanting, what are you doing? You are on job/duty. Attention!! The police or army Major says “Attention!!” Then everyone straightens up, acts up, including tightening their belts. When they are not on duty, the belt is around the waist but loosened.
If you see NCC college, as soon as the person in charge says attention, they really get together, not spaced out, looking here and there. No. they have to be together, belt has to be tightened. I was at Ratha yatra, during procession, police were standing there. We were encouraging everyone to chant Hare Krishna. We asked to police also to chant. They said, no I am on duty (laughter) he probably thought that chanting of Hare Krishna was distraction from his duty. He is on duty now. When you come to my home, or another time when I am not on duty, I will chant.
Chanting is being on duty, full attention, full focused. When I was just a new bhakta, and in Mumbai one life member had come to see our temple president and this life member he was looking for temple president. So I helped him out: I asked “what are you looking for?” Your president, he said. I said, “I will find out, I will arrange your meeting with him”. When I went looking, I found him he was in the temple and he was chanting. I just told him that such and such life member would like to see you and the president said, “tell him I am busy.” What was the president doing? He was chanting. And he said, “tell that life member that I am busy.” So that time, I thought what?? You are not busy. You are just sitting and chanting. You are not busy. Big life member has come all the way from downtown Bombay and you are coming with excuse that you are busy. You are not busy!! So of course, I did not say it to my president. I was thinking like that. Then after some time, I could understand, realize that yes yes, chanting of Hare Krishna is business, it is serious business. More important than any other business in the world.
So during the chanting mind also gets busy. More we try to control; more it goes out of control. May be at normal times, mind is not bothering us so much or going hither or tither. But during chanting it really wants to wander off, take off. So then sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita comes handy. What does Krishna say? What do you do under such circumstances when your mind is wandering off. What is the advice by the Lord? (BG Verse 6.26) Yato yato niscalati manah cancalam asthiram, tatas tato niyamaitad , atmany eva vasam nayet. (From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the self.) If it goes, wherever it goes, do not be surprised. That is the nature of mind. What do you do as a part of business, part of your chanting exercise? Tatah tatah, from there wherever it goes, drag it back, bring it back. Atmani eva or Paramatmany eva vasam nayet. Bring under the influence or under the shelter of atmany, Paramatmany. Here it is the holy name. Bring it under the holy name, influence of the holy name. Let that mind come back and surrender unto the holy name. So there is so much to do like this. This is big business during chanting. Otherwise that yoga, that link is not there. Otherwise between the soul, the chanter and the supreme soul (holy name), there is not yoga. Although there could be lots of chanting, they would be just the sound of hasty chanting “snik snik Hare Hare” Don’t just do the sound “snik snik Hare Hare”. Prabhupada wanted you to chant Hare Krishna , not snick snick. After chanting and chanting for five or ten rounds, and then we may begin just this sound“snick snik Hare Hare..” Prabhupada said, “say each word, pronounce each syllable properly”. We will have to be attentive. Ask yourself: Did I chant properly? Am I chanting properly?
(Maharaja demonstrates how to say each word separately, emphasizing each one). This is addressing – because I am addressing the Lord. Chanting the holy name is to address the Lord. So there are 16 addresses, 16 holy names are there each time it is addressed. That is why Hare is a form of Hara. We are addressing Hara. So it is Hare. We are addressing Krishna. That is why there is no visarga there. Without visarga, it doesn’t become even Sanskrit word. Ramah. That is Sanskrit. Krishnah. You understand the visarga? In the list of ‘k’ syllable, there are ka, kaa, ki, Kee, ke, kai, ko kau kam and kah. That ‘kah’ is visarga. Or Vishnu sarga. When there is visarga, then it is complete. Ramah. Then it is name. Ramah. Krishnah. Harah. It is not in maha mantra Krishnah, Ramah. Why this visarga is not there because it is sambodhan, address. Then there is no visarga. So Hara is not Hara, but Hare. Radha is Radhe. Sita is Site, Gita is Gite. Like that. So because each word is sambodhan, each word is address. So 16 addresses. 16 times we have ask the mind am I addressing the Lord?
Prabhuapda said stop this making of some sound. Say the complete mantra. There has to be attention. There has to be mind and business. If you are mindless then what kind of business? It is mindless. Mind is not there. Then who knows what is is going on. Whether we are chanting 16 names or not. We have no idea. Others, who are hearing while chanting, have probably some idea. But you have no idea because you are not there. Mind is not there. So full attention is the business. Very active while chanting. Very alert. “sit properly” Prabhupada said once in the middle of that chanting tape. Srila Prabhupada was chanting and others were chanting. And couple of times he said– “Sit properly.”
That also shows the importance of sitting properly. Some sitting postures are favorable. Some sitting postures are not favorable for chanting. Not favorable for attention of the mind. Again sitting is proper. Sitting is goodness. Standing is passion and lying down is ignorance. If you are transcendentally situated already, then doesn’t matter whether you are upside down, shirshasana or shavasana, sukhasana or standing asana. You are already, always transcendental. Anyway you are thrown, horizontal, vertical or whatever. You are always transcendental. But if you are not that, then this applies. So sitting is goodness, standing is passion, lying down is ignorance. In order to become transcendental, we should be at least situated in mode of goodness which is closer to transcendence. That is goodness. So that posture that sitting that helps chanting.
So this sitting and then some kind of yoga in 6th chapter of Bhagavad Gita. There is description of how we should be sitting. Backbone, head straight and nasagre (focus on the tip of the nose). So some of those things we should not think that we are transcendental to this ashtanga yoga principles or yoga principles. No. we are not. We have to follow those things. When chanting is attentive it means that we are made our mind as our friend. When our mind is uddared atmanatmanam, natmanam avasadayt ..then atmaiva hi atmano bandhuratmaiva ripuratmanah (BG verse 6.5 One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.). So atma could be mind, body. Or atma is soul. These are part of self.
So atmaiva ripuratmahan…here atma is not soul but atma here means mind. Mind could be your enemy or your friend. So during chanting we want our mind to be our friend for always. That is the goal. During chanting we have to strive harder to make our mind our friend. So it doesn’t go against us and drag us here there. So the mind has thinking, feeling, and willing, these are functions of the mind. Mind thinks. Mind has feelings. And then there is will. Thinking this way and that way. There are feelings that are aroused in the mind. When feelings become so strong or settled, then there is will, ichha, tivra iccha (strong desire). So thoughts about chanting, thoughts of the Lord, name are there in the mind, then the feeling comes. That is what Prabhupada is talking. The feeling is there. Prabhupada talks about “the feeling”.
(Continues reading) By practical experience also we can perceive that by this chanting of mahamantra or the great chanting for deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from spiritual stratum. So feel while you chant!! We can at once feel, at once feel. But we cannot act with just some feeling. We want wholesome, not just some but wholesome feeling. During chanting, we want nothing else but that wholesome feeling, Krishna Conscious feeling for transcendental ecstatic feeling from spiritual stratum. When one is actually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of mind, senses, intelligence, once is situated on transcendental plane. So going beyond senses, beyond mind and beyond intelligence also. All this mind, intelligence, senses – they act materially, they are contaminated. Our goal is to use the senses, mind, intelligence in service of the Lord and spiritualize them. (BG Verse 5.11) Kayena manasa buddhya kevalair indriyair api, yoginah karma kurvanti sangam tyaktva atma suddhaye (The yogis, abandoning attachment, act with body, mind, intelligence and even with the senses, only for the purpose of purification.)
Our senses are instrumental. Make senses the instruments. This is tritiya vibhakti, bahu vachan. (plural). Kayena is eka vachan (singular) because kaya (body) is one. Manasa is eka vachan (mind is singular). Buddhya also. Mind is one, intelligence is one. But senses are many – indriyair – it is bahu vachan (plural) Yogis do activity with body, with mind, with intelligence, with senses. The yogi is utilizing all that he has at his disposal – the body and its mountings – whatever is attached to the body he uses all that. Why doesstrong he do it? What is his goal? Sanga tyaktya atma shuddhye.
For atma sudhhi karan. For self purification and mind purification and intelligence purification and senses purification – ultimately soul or consciousness purification. The yogi is utilizing all kayen manasa buddhya. So during chanting are these things used? Do we use kaya? Of course, we talked about sitting. Body we need for chanting in the conditioned state we need body for chanting. Pure souls in the spiritual sky are also chanting. You don’t need body to chant. But now we have body; we cannot get rid of it. So we could only make best use of that bargain. Spiritualize that body, engage that body. Utility is the principle. So use the body. Use the mind. Yogi uses the mind, intelligence, uses senses also. All this things are used during chanting.
The lips have to be used Prabhupada makes the point one place. During chanting not just wishpering. That is why that .. mere sound ‘snik snik’ comes when you are not chanting each word separately H-a-r-e- K-r-i-s-h-n-a…emphasisizng on R – A – M – A. (Maharaja demonstrates how to stress on the ‘M’ fully and not hastily finish the sound M) ‘A’ has to come out then it is sambodhan. No ram but rama. Lot of times, North Indians, marathis do that. (Maharaja again demonstrates how people sometimes finish hastily the sound M which is incomplete) But that is incorrect. Technically incorrect. Hare ram is not sambodhan, not address. There is no A in there. It is called ‘halanta’ ‘M’ (half sound of M) M without A is half M. (demonstrates) Do you understand? I should use the black board or something. Open the mouth RA-. Closing the lips say M A. because this is “Oshtha” (pronounciation done with the help of lips). M is from the category of syllables pronounced with the lip movement) p, ph, b, bh and m. Oshtha is used but then you have to say another A. In order to say complete M sound , you have to say halanta/ half M plus A. In order to say A at the end of M, you must use kantha (throat) for A to come out. You must use kanthasta (sound through throat) and open your lips again then it is complete pronunciation.
So you could see you have to be so much alert, so much attentive. So many factors are involved in chanting . The point was that surpassing the stages of senses, mind and intelligence, one is situated on the transcendental plane . Transcending mental plane and sensual plane, then there is transcendental plane. Situated in atmani. Atnmani eva vasam nayet. It is hearing the names with full attention. (Maharaja and every one else chants Hare Krishna maha mantra).
So whole body senses, mind, intelligence, soul of course are busy. We already said that the original chanter is the soul. Who is hearing? Hearer is also soul! That is the whole goal. Soul is the goal. Soul has to chant. Soul has to be involved. Soul has to interact with the holy name. Then it is complete circuit. The chanter soul, the process of chanting and the holy name are the 3 things.. So chanter is the soul and this whole process, as we discussed some part of this process, some techniques, some aspects that we seem to be aware of and the goal is the holy name.
We could say in other words, there are three parties bhakta- bhakti and Bhagavan. Then it is complete, right? Bhakta does bhakti and he attains Bhagavan. They are all eternal. Bhakta and Bhgagavan are linked by bhakti. So here soul is bhakta. The holy name is Bhagavan. The process is chanting japa or kirtan. Japa or kirtan is the process and it is chanted by bhakta, the soul and the holy name is Bhagavan. So when they are linked, bhakta to Bhagavan, then it is complete circuit. That is yoga, bhakti yoga, japa yoga and not getting short circuit. Short circuit will not derive any benefit. Or there will be resistance. Either short circuit or resistance. Some metals are good conductors of electricity.
Some metals are naturally bad conductors. So when there is good metal wire, it is good conductor. Then electricity flows. Just like for the fan, there is a regulator. When the regulator is on number one, there is more resistance. Less current is allowed to flow to move the fan. When on 2, more current is allowed and faster it goes. Then go on and on upto 5 and then there is no resistance at all. In side is the device that regulates the current less or more resistance. If the device doesn’t exist, then the whole current from the power house will go in.
So mind is like that regulator of the fan. Mind could cause such so much resistance that chanting could stop. Nothing will come out of the mouth. Or one time may stop all together. No chanting for 6 months or 1 year or 2 yeas, 5 years. Nothing. Full stop. Mind will cause the resistance. Stopping lips and tongue and other parts, not even allowing to move lips. So we want that kind of mind to get out of here. Get out of our way. Get rid of that kind of mind. “Bhaja hu re mana”. My dear mind. Please.. please chant.. thank you.. thank you for chanting , thank you for worshipping .. bhaja hu re mana. Bhakti Sidhhanta Saraswati said – beat the mind. Sometimes beating the mind with the shoes, stick or broom – morning broom, evening shoes. So that kind of mind. Whatever it takes, work on this mind. Tame the mind. Subdue the mind. Shama and dama. Subduing the senses is dama. Sham is subduing the mind. From shama come shanti.. from subdued mind comes peacefulness. Krishna bhakta nishkama at eva shant. (Caintanya Caritamrita: Devotee of Krishna is detached (in mind), that is why he is peaceful).

Thank you. Hari Bol.

Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.23
Venue: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
Date: Feb 06, 2010

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam

 
TRANSLATION:

Engagement in Krsna Consciousness and application of devotional service unto Krsna make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment, as well as in self-realization.

PURPORT:

It is said by less intelligent men that bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, is meant for persons who are not advanced in transcendental knowledge and renunciation. But the fact is that if one engages in the devotional service of the Lord in full Krsna Consciousness, he does not have to attempt separately to practice detachment or to wait for an awakening of transcendental knowledge. It is said that one who engages unflinchingly in the devotional service of the Lord actually has all the good qualities of the demigods develop in him automatically. One cannot discover how such good qualities develop in the body of a devotee, but actually it happens. There is one instance where a hunter was taking pleasure in killing animals, but after becoming a devotee he was not prepared to kill even an ant. Such is the quality of a devotee.

Those who are very eager to advance in transcendental knowledge can engage themselves in pure devotional service, without wasting time in mental speculation. For arriving at the positive conclusions of knowledge in the Absolute Truth, the word brahma-darsanam is significant in this verse. Brahma-darsanam means to realize or to understand the Transcendence. One who engages in the service of Vasudeva can actually realize what Brahman is. If Brahman is impersonal, then there is no question of darsanam, which means “seeing face to face.” Darsanam refers to seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. Unless the seer and the seen are persons, there is no darsanam. Brahma-darsanam means that as soon as one sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can at once realize what impersonal Brahman is. A devotee does not need to make separate investigations to understand the nature of Brahman. Bhagavad-Gita also confirms this. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate: [Bg. 14.26] a devotee at once becomes a self-realized soul in the Absolute Truth. [End of Srila Prabhupada’s purport.]

You are all familiar with this verse? In the very beginning it appears and it is here again. The difference is jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7] (?) Engagement in Krishna Consciousness and application of devotional service unto Krishna make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment as well as in self realization. So this is Lord Kapiladeva speaking. He has been speaking for some time. He spoke yesterday also. You heard, nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18] . We are just taking a bite at a time.

tasmat tvam sarva-bhavena bhajasva paramesthinam [SB 3.32.22]

That was what we spoke yesterday.

tad-gunasrayaya bhaktya bhajaniya-padambujam [SB 3.32.22]

So already padambujam has been mentioned. Here it refers to darsanam. You start with the lotus feet and then you take complete darshan. Brahma-darsanam. Param brahma param dhama [Bg 10.12] Brahma is param brahma. That is Krishna. His darshan becomes possible by vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah.[Aside -Jayo!] When we talk about darshan, darshan is here. Radha Madhava Ki Jai! So bhakti yoga, performance of bhakti yoga and bhakti not of anybody and everybody – vasudeve bhagavati – bhakti of Vasudev. And who is this Vasudev? What kind of Vasudev? Bhagavati – the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not Bhagavatidevi. Full difference is there. Bhagavatidevi is rasva(?) here. Bhagavati his ears are there – Bhagavati. As devotional service unto Vasudev is performed, janayaty – that will give rise to janayaty, – janma will take place. As one performs devotional service someone takes birth – janayaty asu – quickly – janayaty asu vairagyam, jnanam – renunciation and knowledge. yad brahma-darsanam – as well as. Prabhupada says, as well as self-realization or brahma- darsanam. Darshan – seeing face to face becomes possible by performance of devotional service. Devotional service is complete and independently most powerful source of everything. Bhanu Maharaj was very nicely explaining that yesterday. From bhakti comes, jnan and vairagya and darshan ultimately – not the other way round.

anayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7]

Once upon a time Narada Muni had a meeting with Bhakti Devi. In Vrindavana they met and Narada Muni said to Bhakti Devi – Bhakti Devi at this time is in big trouble because her two sons – that’s what Narada Muni will be talking. Jnan and vairagya are sons of bhakti. janayaty asu – here we are talking about janma. Jnan and vairgya are taking birth from Bhakti Devi. [Sanskrit] Once upon a time O Bhakti Devi you had your hands folded, you were in front of the Lord and you enquired kim karomi – what can I do for You, my Lord? [Sanskrit] At that time Krishna ordered you or gave you assignment – Bhaktan posa yati(?) Please nourish My devotees. [Sanskrit] And you were ready!
“Yes Sir! You wish is my command.” “So be it.” The Lord was very pleased. [Sankrit] At that time the Lord became very, very pleased with you. And what did that pleased satisfied Lord do for you? [Sanskrit] he gave you one maidservant called mukti. The Lord made mukti your dasi. Mukti becomes your maidservant. [Sanskrit]And He also gave two sons – one was jnan and the other was vairagyam [Sanskrit.] You will not find an age like Kaliyuga. The best of all the ages! And in this age of Kali [Sanskrit] I will establish you O Bhakti Devé in this age of Kali I will propagate you. I will establish you [Sanskrit] in every house. [Sanskrit]In everybody or every society or from [Sanskrit] Every society, I will establish you. How will I do this? Do I have some strategy? He says, “I have a strategy how I will propagate you, establish you. [Sanskrit] Sounds familiar? sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg 18.66] It is said in different words here. [Sanskrit] I hate (?) all other processes, all other dharmans or all other ways. [Sanskrit] To keep in forefront of Me. Mahotsavan – the festival, I will organize festivals – mahotsavan. And with the festival as the forum, I will propagate you, establish you everywhere. That was Narada Muni speaking. This is Srimad-Bhagavatam–Mahatmya – Padma Puraëa, Uttara Kanda by Srila Vyasadeva. The greatness of Bhagavatam – Bhagavatam- Mahatmya . I wanted to stop there but you are enquiring.

So Bhakti Devi will go back now to her abode. Her two sons at one point they were in big trouble. Bhakti Devi says, “I was born in South India. Then I kind of grew up, I flourished in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Jai Maharashtra! But when I went to Gujarat I was fit for Intensive Care Unit – ICU! Somehow I managed to come to Vrindavan I got revived. [Sanskrit] In Vrindavan bhakti dances. But look at my sons they are still trembling and because of weakness and exhaustion. Maybe their last breath is not far, it appears! Could you do something? And then he was trying different things – chanting this mantra and the Puranas and the Itihasas, then Vedanta-sutra and this and that. Some help was coming, getting little bit revived or opening little bit eyes and little movement was there but not total revival.

So Narada Muni travels all over looking for the solution. What could be done! What could be done! Then he ends up as he was looking he ends up in Badrikashram were he comes in contact with four kumaras and he explains, “You know this is that state of affairs with Bhakti Devi’s sons and she has asked me to do something. I tried this. I tried that, this mantra that Veda, that Purana but nothing seems to be working. Do you know what could be done?” And they said, “Sure. You have not done one thing. Or let’s do one thing. Let them hear Srimad Bhagavatam.”

Then the four Kumara’s stepped down. They came down to the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of Ganga at Haridwar and Bhakti Devi managed to come also to that site where the four Kumaras had come and they were about to recite Srimad Bhagavatam. And everybody was there. Vaisnavas were the first ones to come and all the rivers, all the holy places; all the scriptures also had come. All the demigods are there and Narada Muni is sitting and Bhakti Devi, jnan and vairagya and four Kumaras begin to recite the Srimad Bhagavatam – om namo bhagavate. And it went on and on and on. And then the Lord appeared.

yatra gayanti mad-bhakta tatra tisthami Narada [Padma Purana]

Darsanam becomes possible as one performs devotional service – brahma darsanam. So by process of devotional service they are all busy with the process. It is called sravanam. Sravan bhakti then kirtan bhakti, smaran bhakti. This is bhakti – bhakti-yogah prayojitah [SB 1.2.7] As one engages in this bhakti tad darsanam – darshan becomes possible.

So as they were reciting Srimad Bhagavatam and everyone was listening with rapt attention, the Lord appeared – who is non different from His pastimes. The Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead is nondifferent from His transcendental name, form, pastimes or the sound vibration thereof. It is Srila Prabhupada’s purport – SB 1.6.33. I like this.

“As soon as a pure devotee engages himself in the pure devotional service of hearing, chanting and remembering the name, fame and activities of the Lord, at once He becomes visible to the transcendental eyes of the pure devotee by reflecting Himself on the mirror of the heart by spiritual television.” [Srila Prabhupada’s purport – SB 1.6.33.]

As the topics are heard it is like a television is switched on and on the screen you see the Lord and His form and His pastimes. Whatever you are hearing about that is non different from the Lord. So the television of the consciousness – This statement also is by Narada Muni and there also he is talking about darsan from,

ahuta iva me sighram darsanam yati cetasi [SB 1.6.33]

From the consciousness darshan becomes possible. Sighram – as asu vairagyam – quickly! Quickly the jnan, vairagya and darsanam becomes possible as we are hearing that from Kapiladev, Narada Muni elsewhere. How I came to Krishna Consciousness he is talking. How I cam to Krishna consciousness – those kind of articles we write. So he is speaking that firstly to Srila Vyasadev. He is saying, sva-viryani tirtha-padah priya-sravah [SB 1.6.33]. When Lord’s sva-viryani – His virya – His prowess and other items are recited, spoken this is what happens. Then Kapiladev says,

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido [SB 3.25.25]

As soon as the Mahatmas come together – satam – mahatmas come together, immediately – mama virya-samvido – mama virya – Me, Myself, Krishna becomes the topic – bodhayantah parasparam [Bg 10.9] samvido – prasangan or samvit – they talk – akyan – immediately begins.

We also have. Srila Prabhupada also – I am kind of jumping – a similar strategy as Narada Muni coming in that disciplic succession. This strategy also to propagate Krishna consciousness was – mahotsavan – the festivals. He named it Sunday festival and that festival and Mayapur festival and Vrindavan festival, Ratha yatra festival and Janmastami mahä mahotsava and Ramnaumi and on and on and on and on. And our morning program is a festival in itself and wherever there is chanting and dancing and feasting that is a festival. So as soon as devotees get together immediately at the center of that festival – mama virya-samvido and as the topic of discussion begins that is bhakti. That is bhakti!

Sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati [SB 3.25.25.] The stages are from sraddha to prema immediately begins unfolding. Mahatmas come together, the beginning of the festival, beginning of the GBC meetings, GBC’s have come, ABC’s have come. Everybody has come together. Senior men have come representing Srila Prabhupada and as soon as the santas come immediately mahotsavan – festival begins, the topic of Krishna begins. They begin talking, they begin singing – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama,Rama,Hare Hare. Bhakti-yogah prayojitah begins and that results in jnan vairagya and darsanam. We come to the festival to become a little more jnanis – knowledgeable, but that the source is bhakti. Bhakti is at the center. From bhakti we derive jnan, from bhakti we derive detachment, with the help of bhakti come prem and darsan of the Lord – everything in the context of bhakti – context of bhakti. And bhakti is propagated through the festivals.

So the four Kumaras they are also festival is Bhagavat recitation – mahotsava – was going on and Bhakti Devi, jnan and vairagya also was hearing and as the Lords topics were being remembered and recited Lord appeared there. And some more personalities appeared there. Brahma comes, Siva comes all devatas come, Sukadeva Goswami comes – om namo bhagavate . As Sukadev Goswami was coming was coming he was reciting verses from Bhagavatam as he always does. Prahlad Maharaj comes. Uddhava comes. Vyasadev has arrived. Indra is there, the whole universe is there practically and the Lord has already appeared there. As Bhagavat is recited the Lord has appeared and with all these devotees big roaring kirtan begins. Prahlad Maharaj is playing kartalas, Uddhava is playing whompers, Narada Muni has his vina – vina dhari. [Sanskrit] Arjuna is something like – aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! – raga kartaha arjuno.(?) [Sanskrit] Indra is playing a mrdanga in that assembly. [Sanskrit] Jayho jayho, jayho!!! The Kumaras are doing that and Sukadev Goswami is expressing all prowess, all the emotions.

So everyone has a role to play in that. And that kirtan and look! He is showing us – look at jnan and vairagya and Bhakti Devi also they are dancing like peacock in that kirtan. When they were brought on their feet their ambulance put them on the stretcher and gentle place them. They were lying down and trembling they were not sure whether they will survive – last breath. But as they heard Bhagavatam, as they performed this sravan bhakti of hearing Bhagavatam not only did they survive but they thrived/survived and they jumped and they were dancing in that kirtan. So this is Bhagavatam Mahatmya.

They are making the point that from bhakti comes jnan and vairagya. Janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7] She had given birth to them but then the influence of the age of Kali and they were very much exhausted and out of it but as they came to the festival, they heard Bhagavatam from the lips of these devotes – the four Kumaras. Their batteries were charged. We talk this language in ISKCON. And it was the end of the festival. We are in the first day of the festival. Immediately they were equipped with jnan and vairagya and darsanam. Darshan was already taken in that place because in the middle of the recitation of Bhagavatam Lord has appeared and everybody is able to take darsan of the Lord.

This year also is another big festival or a big theme for the festival is what? You know what – Lord Caitanya’s [aside – Ekalavya said something] 500th anniversary of sannyasa. This is the theme of the different festival, different devotees, different leaders are making that the theme of their festivals. I don’t know what’s the theme of this festival – but very much that sannyas took place not far from here. The Lord who stayed in Yogapith here in Mayapur.

Caitanya Bhagavat says if you wish to develop detachment and vairagya you should listen to the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu taking sannyasa. Are you interested in developing detachment? Anyone here? No one is attached. Suno suno bhai prabhurere sannyas(?) Suno brothers and sisters – only brother are mentioned but all the souls – [Bengali] If you hear the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sannyasa you will develop all the detachment. You just have to sit down and hear the Lord’s pastimes. He is taking sannyasa, He is renouncing all that. If you sit down and hear this and automatically – Prabhupada says automatically, unknowingly! Does anyone know how it happens but it happens. You just hear and bhakti is so potent. You touch the fire – how you touch, when you touch, who touches, regardless of all this it will burn. So listen to the pastime of Lord taking sannyasa. Now is not the time.

For those who had come to Nimai’s home – business as usual – everyday they used to come and that day they also had come. “Where is Nimai?” There was no Nimai. He had already left. Only Saci matta – she was also just sitting around and not only sitting of course – full of tears, speechless. And after long time she said, [Bengali] “Listen, listen O you all assembled. You know this is property of Visnu.” Her home – Nimai’s home “And you are Vaisnava’s. Go ahead pick up everything and anything that you like, some parcels – something, something. You take it away now.” Like that she was hinting indirectly what had happened that night. And soon they all realized.

[Bengali] They are all falling down, collapsing. Like when you cut banana tree at the bottom it falls down. So they all were falling, collapsing all around. [Bengali] And they were full of arthas (?) crying. [Bengali]They were embracing each other and crying. And they were rolling on the ground. Someone says, “Okay. Let’s all go now. Let’s go home and let’s put all our homes on fire. Let’s wear some earring and take some kamandal or some staff. Let’s leave this place. There is nothing here worth residing.” Those were their thoughts. Those were some but there are more. That was the nature of their thoughts. Does that sound like detachment?

“Anything and everything that we are attached to just burn that to pieces or ashes! Let’s just walk out of here. Let’s get out of here.” While they were crying of course Nimai had left. (Is someone going to stop us? You? Those who were in business they left already – Laughter.) So Caitanya Mahaprabhu had crossed Ganga and reached Katwa and met Kesava bharati getting ready for sannyasa.

“Hey who has recommended this sannyasa?” Some people in the audience they said, “We don’t accept this sannyasa. No way he has to take sannyasa. Who is recommending this and who has put this into the sastras – this process of sannyasa? No, We don’t  No, no, no!” Protest – no sannyasa. The barber had come and he was sitting in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was shaving hair. He had razor but he was trembling. ” No I cannot cut this hair now.” He thinks the hair of the Lord is the Lord Himself. His hair is non different from Him. ” I cannot cut hair!” And he was crying and rolling on the ground while others were protesting. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Haribol! Haribol.” “Sit down sit down stay there, we shall see what happens.”

It says in Caitanya Bhagavat that it took most of the days spent in getting shaved! People were protesting. The barber was no ready. Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the middle jumps up and is dancing and He sits down again. The whole scene was going on. Finally He was shaved up. Then He runs to Ganga to take bath and comes back. For the first time he now has saffron clothes on and He really looks beautiful. Kandarpa-koti-kaminiya-visesa-sobham [Brahma-samhita 5.30] That kind of attractive he looks like.

Then Kesava Bharati, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “You know last night one mahajan said one mantra to Me – sannyas mantra.” “Oh which one?” And Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “This mantra. This mantra he said. Is that the right mantra?” “This is pukka! This is the one. This is the right mantra.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu had given the mantra to Kesava Bharati and that was the right mantra. So Kesava Bharati was initiated first.

“Okay now give Me that mantra.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu received the mantra. “Okay take danda, take kamandal.” And there was a big roaring kirtan. Before that, “Your name is – You are Krishna. You are known as Krishna. krsnaya krsna-caitanya- [Cc Madhya 19.53] And because with Your sankirtana you will make this world full of Caitanya – full of Caitanya. The world is dead but with Your sankirtana You will make this world lively and living and You will stir up the whole world – Caitanya. So Krishna and with sankirtana You will bring – invest Caitanya consciousness into everybody. So You name from today onwards would be Sri Krishna Caitanya.” And so that was it and there was a big kirtan.

Lord Caitanya’s danda flew somewhere, His kamandalu flew somewhere and He was dancing in kirtan. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu Ki Jai! Nitai Gaura Premanande. Hari hari bol. [Applause]

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