We have been Chanting with devotees all over the world for almost 4 months now. Teach others how to join. It’s a quite powerful association. Someone from Mongolia which is near North Pole is Chanting with us. Devotees from Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Australia, USA, Mayapur, Delhi, Thane are Chanting with us. About 1500 devotees in total chant with us.

A young devotee from USA , Hardik Patel has communicated to me this morning that while doing Japa, he feels my presence. Then I was thinking, goal of this conference is not to feel my presence. We feel the presence of Lord, as we Chant together. We also feel presence of each other. So, you feel my presence, I feel your presence, but what good is that presence, if we don’t feel the presence of the Lord? Goal is to feel the presence of Radha- Krishna. Radha-Shyamsundar ki Jay!!

So, don’t misunderstand & don’t forget the goal of this conference. Either you are Chanting on this conference or wherever & whenever you are Chanting. The purpose is to feel the presence of the Lord, to realize the Lord. We are in search of the Lord. We want Lord! We want Krishna!!

Then I was just thinking, it could be even comparison. When Gopis lost Krishna, they were looking for Krishna in the forest. After long long search they also couldn’t find Him or catch up with Him. Then they all had gone to the banks of Yamuna, they sat down there & what did they do?They sang one song, popularly known as ‘Gopi-geet’. Something similar, we also sit down, come together on this conference & we are missing Krishna. Gopis were missing Krishna. We are also missing Krishna, yes or no? Gopis were really missing Krishna. “Shunyayitam jagat sarvam Govinda virahen mei”

(Shikshastakam verse 7)

This was not just there talk, these were there genuine thoughts. “Without Krishna this whole world is vacant!! There is nothing here.” They also expressed by saying truti yugayate tvam apashyatan

(SB 10.31.15- Gopi Geet) by not seeing You O! Lord, truti yugayate – time period equal to fraction of second, we feel that fraction as if many yugas have passed.

Hari! Hari! Don’t sleep. That means you are not missing Krishna. Then the feeling is we don’t care. We don’t need Krishna. Let Krishna be there or not there, we will rest that is the attitude. That is why I was saying whether we could compare Gopis singing with our Chanting of

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Difference is of ‘bhava’ or consciousness. ‘Bhav’ ka hi abhava hai, aisa hamara swabhava hai, kyoki bazar Bhav hi khopadi me ghumata rahata hai. (Bhav- feelings only are lacking, that is our nature, as we are too entangled with material preoccupations) But we try to follow in footsteps of Gopis. Quality wise Gopi-Geet is similar to Chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’. Whether you Chant Gopi- Geet or you Chant ‘Hare Krishna’, it’s the same. ‘Hare Krishna’ Mahamantra includes Gopi-Geet & all other mantras & prayers, they are part of it. So ‘Hare Krishna’ Mahamantra is not less quality wise. It is not less than Chanting of Gopi-Geet. So, Gopis they had lost Krishna, they were missing Krishna. Then they started singing Gopi-Geet. Then the outcome was, Krishna made His appearance!! Soon Lord was amidst the Gopis.

From this we can conclude, this is also easiest way to find Krishna, to realize Krishna, to see Krishna, to need Krishna. Just sit down. Too much run around has been done, now sit down & call out to Krishna. Just chant

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

And you will get Krishna. So we will have some experience, before seeing Lord face to face & doing shake-hand with Lord, we will have some experience of presence of the Lord, as we keep Chanting & Chanting.

Sun has not risen still. What time is sunrise? Okay, so for us sun has not risen as sky is covered with clouds. But still we are feeling the presence of sun, right? Whenever there is a dawn, sun has not risen, but we feel the presence, so it is like that. So keep Chanting & we always say aparadh shunya haiya laho Krishna naam

(Verse 3 of Bhajan Nadia Godrume Nityananda Mahajan) We should be Chanting, avoiding all the offenses towards Holy name. We should be Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’ offense lessly.

Do you have any questions related with Chanting? (Someone asked some question) It’s a comment & not question – Whenever we come together & chant, Lord makes His appearance, as has been promised by Him.

Yatra gayanti madbhaktaha tatra tisthami naradaha. ( Padma Purana – Uttarkhand 92.21)

O Narada! You will find Me in a place wherever My devotees have gathered & they are Chanting Hari-katha or Hari-kirtan. Wherever there is a gathering of devotees glorifying Lord, Krishna immediately makes His appearance.

Devotee 2 – While Chanting sometimes , he remembers deities, is that right?

Guru Maharaj – That is perfectly all right. That’s the goal. Deity is Krishna. While Chanting Hare Krishna, if you are remembering the deities, that means you are remembering Krishna. Remembering Krishna’s form. Shamsundar…. How beautiful He is ! You could think more like this.

Normally we remember people of this world, actor- actresses… Mickal Jackson & so on. So we want to get rid of those memories. Substitute to those memories is remembering form of the Lord. When we remember deity of the Lord while Chanting, it’s a right thing.

Sravanam kirtanam Vishnu smaranam. (SB 7.5.23-24) Vishnuhu shravanam , Vishnuhu kirtanam, Vishnuhu smaranam , Vishnuhu padsevanam, that’s the idea. You chant Krishna’s name, you hear Krishna’s names, then you remember Krishna. There is remembrance of Krishna.

Devotee 3 – Our mind is filled with ‘bajar-bhav’( worldly thoughts). How to get rid of this?

Guru Maharaj –

yato yato niścalati
manaś cañcalam asthiram
tatas tato niyamyaitad
ātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet
(BG 6.26)

Krishna’s advice in sixth chapter of Bhagvad-Geeta, wherever mind goes, goes to Bazar, goes here goes there, you have to drag the mind back, from those places, those people. If you are businessman you will have thoughts of business, if you are Brahamchari you will have those thoughts .

Atamani Eva vasham nayet.

Fix it on hearing ‘Hare Krishna’. Srila Bhaktisiddhant Sarswati Thakur’s advice is, in the morning, during morning program, or during Chanting , or during Bhagvatam session , you should sit with broom & bit your mind with a broom. Chastise the mind. In order to do this, we have to be Intelligent. We have to be Chaukidar. (Guard) watch during Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’. Keep an eye. Chanting is not the work of unintelligent person. Who can chant? Intelligent persons can chant. Intelligence is above mind & above intelligence is aatma. So, keep intelligence busy. This is a practice. While Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’, we are not sitting idle. We are active. Most active. Chanting time is a most active time.

Darshan is opening, so we will have to stop & distribute prasadam. Those who are on conference don’t get prasadam. Gaura Premanande Hari Hari bol!

Hare Krishna!

DEAR LORD! MAYA SAHA RAMASWA!!

I hope you had good time yesterday celebrating Ram Navami. Jai Sri Ram! So, what we did yesterday was preparation for today’s Chanting. So whatever we do, day before, the activities, festivities that we take part in, hearing- Chanting we do or we may be doing some offenses, that is also possible. So, all that influences this morning’s Chanting. So be prepared, prepare for Chanting all the time.

We had good time here in Rajkot, as we installed Sri Sri Sita Ram Laxman Hanuman deities yesterday. Ram made His appearance. Lord incarnates, as deities are installed. Of course, we had lots of Kirtan. We had Kirtan-Mela. I also did Kirtan. Then I was also reading Bhagavatam ninth canto, where Sukadeva Goswami has narrated pastimes of Sri Ram. Srila Prabhupada always quoted this while defining Ram. Who is Ram? How is Ram? What Yogis do with Ram.

‘Smarante yoginaha anante’. Or ‘Anante yoginaha ramante’. He also used to add sattyanande yoginaha ramante. He also added lot of times, chidatmane yoginaha anante sattyanande ( Padma Purana) ramante – Yogis take pleasure, they wander in contemplating , meditating upon Ram. Ram is to be meditated upon. Or in other words Ram is to be remembered. Yogis always remember Ram. What kind of Ram? – anante. Ram is unlimited. Yogis meditate upon unlimited Sri Ram. Ram is also sattyanande. i.e. He is eternally blissful Himself & as one meditates upon Him, He makes them also blissful. Chidatmane – Yogis meditate upon Chidatmani. Atmani or Parmatmani that is Supreme Lord. Chidatmani that is full of knowledge. Sattyanande – sat chit anand Ram. Ram is sat – He is eternal. Ram is chit – Ram is full of knowledge . Ram is Anand- Ram is full of bliss. Ram is sattyanande chidatmani . So Yogis always take pleasure by meditating on such Ram.

It is also described as ramati ramayati iti Ramaha. ramati – He enjoys, He takes pleasure. Also, ramayati – He gives pleasure to others. That is Ram. He enjoys Himself & He becomes cause of others enjoyment.

Then we understand or Prabhupada mentions also, that there are three Rams. There is the Parashuram, Sri Ram & Balaram. So this three Ramas are also Krishna. They are portion or the portion of the plenary portion of Sri Krishna. There are different kinds of incarnations of Lord Sri Krishna. Parashuram is shakttyavesh avatar of Sri Krishna. Sri Ram is Leelavatar of Sri Krishna & Balaram is Svayam prakash of Sri Krishna.

Balaram is almost Krishna. Manifestation of Sri Krishna. These are three Rams. But then Sri Krishna is also Ram or Sri Krishna is original Ram.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

So this Ram in Mahamantra is Krishna. He is addressed as Ram or called as Ram. He gives pleasure or He takes pleasure & He also enjoys giving pleasure to others. Sri Krishna gives pleasure to others. Hence, He is also known as Ram or He is the original Ram. It is mentioned, thousand names of Vishnu is equal to one name of Ram & three names of Ram is equal to one name of Krishna. One name of Ram, ‘Hare Ram Hare Ram’ -that Ram, three names of Ram, is equal to one name of ‘Hare Ram’ – Sri Krishna.

As Krishna is Radha-Raman, He enjoys with Radha or He gives pleasure to Radha. As both of Them do, They wander, mingle, mix, associate & interact, that is why He is called as Radha-Raman. Radha does Raman with Krishna. There is ‘Hare Ram’. Ram also does His Raman. Ram also mingles, wanders, associates & reciprocates with Sita & so is known as Sita-Raman. So, Krishna is Radha-Raman & Ram is Sita-Raman. Krishna is Radha-Mohan & Ram is Sita-Mohan.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

tuṇḍe tāṇḍavinī ratiṁ vitanute tuṇḍāvalī-labdhaye
karṇa-kroḍa-kaḍambinī
ghaṭayate karṇārbudebhyaḥ spṛhām
cetaḥ-prāṅgaṇa-saṅginī vijayate sarvendriyāṇāṁ kṛtiṁ
no jāne janitā kiyadbhir amṛtaiḥ kṛṣṇeti varṇa-dvayī
(Vidagdha – Madhav 1.15)

“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krish-na’ have produced. When the Holy name of Krishna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the Holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.”

This is Rupa Goswami’s famous prayer where he finds the Holy name. He says “O! I derive so much pleasure by Chanting ‘varnadwaye’. By Chanting these two syllables one is ‘Krush’ & other is ‘na’. It is also explained this ‘Krush’ part of the name of Krishna – ‘ya karshati iti Krishna.’ He attracts the living entities with first part of His name & then ‘na’ means He gives pleasure to that entity, devotee. That is why, early part of first half of mantra is also prayer, commentary by Gopal Guru Goswami, which says – ‘swa madhuryen mam chitta’ akarshaya’. O Lord! Please attract me. You are full of madhurya, You are full of sweetness, please attract me to You by Your madhurya, which is multifold such as Leela-madhurya, Rupa-madhurya, Prem-madhurya & Venu- madhurya.

Then second part of mantra is ‘ Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare’. So, when we say that Ram, then the commentary says ‘Maya Saha ramaswa’ – o Lord! Please enjoy me or enjoy with me. You always enjoy with Radha, You are also Radha-Raman, you are always enjoying in Yashoda’s association & association of Nandbaba & cowherd boys. So, Krishna not only does His loving dealings with Radha but also with His parents in ‘vatsalya’ bhav & friends in ‘sakhya’ bhav, so that is Raman. Whole world or ‘charachar’ is reciprocating with that & that is Raman. By doing that Raman, He gives them Anand. So when we pray by saying ‘Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare’ ( Maya Saha ramaswa) we are praying please enjoy me or enjoy with me. Me too! Me too! I am made for your enjoyment.

So Yogis – ramante anante sattyanande chidatmani. Yogis always meditate upon the Lord who is full of knowledge & ‘na’ full of pleasure. So, while Chanting ‘ Hare Ram Hare Ram, we are attempting to do Raman with the Lord. This Japa session is also attempt to do Raman with the Lord, reciprocation with the Lord , communicate with the Lord, reestablish our relationship with the Lord. This is Raman. ‘Krush’ part is attracting & then the pleasure.

We will conclude with the statement of Lord , said in Bhagavad Gita-

machhitta madgat pranaha
bodhayantaha parasparam
kathayantasha mam nittyam
tushanti Cha ramanti Cha.
(BG 10.9)

Lord said machitaha -. He introduces His devotees in this way with pride.

My devotees chetana , consciousness is glued to Me. Bodhayantaha parasparam. My devotees, they are always busy, they remind each other of Me & topic of their discussion is Me. Kathayantasha mam nityam – They always stay busy in Katha or Kirtan or naam-smaran. tushanti Cha ramanti Cha – They are always satisfied or Lord satisfies them, as they stay busy in naam-smaran.

Ramanti Cha – again this Raman, this is important word. They remain absorbed & stay busy in this activity. So this is Raman part. So we will stop here. I have to move to Baroda. See you Chanting another day.

Hare Krishna!

ROBBER CAN TURN SAINT BY CHANTING

Rama – Navami greetings to you all. Happy Rama-Navami to all. Jay Sri Rama – Hor Gaya Kaam. You will be successful, you will conquer death , just by uttering the names of Lord Ram. Jay Sri Rama. So go on chanting the holy names of the Lord. Narada Muni gave this Rama mantra to Ratnakar. He was a famous robber. But as he chanted the holy names of Ram ! RAM! This happened ten lakh years back in Treta Yuga. Such is the power of the holy name. Just by chanting the names of Sri Rama he became famous as Valmiki Muni. Valmik means ant hill. Ants make a hill. As he was chanting andchanting the holy names of the Lord, sitting in one place for a very long time ,fully concentrating on hearing the holy names of Sri Rama he has forgotten that he had a body. Ants were crawling all over his body. They even ate up his body parts and made a little hill around his body, which is called valmik. Hence his name became Valmiki Muni.

Holy name of the Lord is non-different from Lord. Just by chanting the holy names of the Lord he became Ramarealised. Lord Sri Rama revealed Himself unto Valmiki Muni. Lord revealed his own pastimes to Valmiki muni while he was chanting. As he was seeing he became realised and confidently compiled Ramayan.

Today is the day of appearance of Sri Ram. May Lord appear in your heart.

anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ

May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.
( CC. adi 1.4)

May Sacinandan manifest in your heart. Jay Sri Ram!! . Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Sadbhuj darsana to Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. Three Lords in one, three moon like Lords combined in one form. Caitanyacandra, Krsnacandra and Ramacandra. I am making the point that Ram is non different from Gauranga. Krishna is non-different from Gauranga. So it was a special darsana.

Krsna is Avatari and Rama is avatar. Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakura in Brhad Bhagvatamritawrites , Rama, Narsimha and Sri Krsna come in a special category, higher than all other avatars of the Lord. Krishna is Avatari.

rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan
nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu
kṛṣṇaḥ svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ pumān yo
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajām

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Kṛṣṇa and the different avatāras in the world in the forms of Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Vāmana, etc., as His subjective portions.( Brahmasamhita Verse 39). I

Today is Ram-navami . Today is also Laxman Navami and Bharat navami and Shatrughna navami. All of them are Lords. All of them appeared on the same day. Today all four Visnu Tattvas appeared – Vasudev, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.

I will have to wind up early today. There is big event taking place here in Rajkot, Gujarat. Lord is appearing here today. Deities of RAM Laxman & Seeta & Hanuman will be installed.

I just wanted to mention, when I was born, it was Tuesday. Rama also was born on Tuesday. I was born 70 years ago. Rama appeared lakhs of years ago . That could be the reason that, I was given the name Raghunath. Later Prabhupada changed it to Lokanath, at the time of new birth, initiation. That is the connection. So keep chanting. Today chant more and more.

Today Bangalore devotees are going on Padayatra, spreading the holy name of Ramaand Krsna.They will spread the pearls and diamonds of the names of Ram and Krsna on the streets of Bangalore.Likewise you should stay busy in serving Sri Ram and in festivities of Ram Navami celebrations.

Hare Krishna!!

STAY AWAY FROM VAISHNAV APARADHS!

Today I am going to share one thing explained by HH. Bhakti Purushottam Maharajaa. It is about avoiding Vaisnava aparadha or offending Vaisnavas.

aparadh sunya haiya laho krsna nama ( Verse 3 – Nadiya godrume Nityanand Mahajan) Japa has to be done without offences and specially without offences towards Vaisnavas. I have been talking from time to time, how we should be doing preparation of this chanting.

Tomorrow’s chanting preparation is done the day before or many days before. Avoiding offences towards Vaisnavas is among one of those. Offending Vaisnavas or other living entities or even common folks, why not?
So this pastime Maharajaa has narrated is about Rupa Goswami . Once he was chanting, but he was not feeling any ecstasy. No emotions or spiritual feelings were arising. It was dry chanting. He was wondering, “ Why it is so? Why I am not feeling any ecstasy? What could be the reason?” He was inquiring about this from someone. He was told that there is a possibility that he may have done some offence towards some Vaisnava.

Rupa Goswami was trying to recall. Thinking and thinking, he was not able to come to any conclusion. He
couldn’t recall offending anyone. He exclaimed No! No! No ! I have not offended anybody.

I don’t remember offending anyone.

So then there was a suggestion, that may be someone has been offended unknowingly or you have offended someone and forgotten about it. In this case, what you should do? You should invite Vaisnavas of this region and feed them Krsna prasada. Then that Vaisnava will forgive you for the offence you might have done. Then he was also told that you will invite everybody, but the one you possibly might have offended, will not turn up. He will not accept your invitation. Then you will come to know, “I might have offended this Prabhu or
that person and that’s why he has not come, for the prasada feast arranged by me. So then Rupa Goswami invited everyone. This must be at Radha Kunda or somewhere. All Vaisnavas came, except one lame person. Then the conclusion was that he must have offended him, that’s why he has not come.

Then Rupa Goswami went to him and inquired from him, “ Did I offend you?”. Then this person said, “ Yes! Yes! You did offend. You are an offender. This person explained that one day around noon, you were sitting on the banks of Radha-Kunda and I was passing by. The way I was walking as I am lame, looking at me, you laughed. You made fun of me. How could you do this? I am hurt. How can I forget this and tolerant this? You are an offender.

Then Rupa Goswami tried to recall, and said , “ No! No! I saw you limping or struggling to walk or maybe falling, getting up. That was not the reason why I laughed. That was not directed to you. The reason I laughed, was not because of your walking. He then inquired, as to why they were laughing if that was not the reason? Then Rupa Goswami explained, ‘I was doing lila smaran of Radha kunja Bihari.’ He explained one day Radha along with the Gopis , were picking up flowers at noon on the bank of Kusum Sarovar. But Krsna wanted to make fun of Radharani. So before the arrival of the Gopis and Radharani, Krsna reached there. And what did he do? He climbed up the branch of one tree. By his weight he lowered one branch. Then he was expecting Radharani to choose this branch to pick up the flowers.

Krsna knew that she would also hold on to the branch to reach out to that branch to pick up flowers. So that branch was lowered due to weight of Krsna. So as Krsna had planned , his strategy worked out. Radharani had come underneath that particular tree and she did catch hold of the branch. This was the time , he moved to the trunk of the tree. So immediately branch went up higher and Radharani was still hanging there, shouting for help. Help! Help! and then Krsna was laughing seeing this fun. Then Rupa Goswami explained, that’s when I laughed also. That’s why I was laughing that day. Not because of you , O! Lame Prabhu. I
wasn’t even looking at you.

Sthavar janjam Dekhi na dekhi tar murti, sarvatra hoy Istadever sphurty. (CC madhya 8.274)

That is Rupa Goswami’s status. Even if he sees this thing, that thing, that tree ,anything car, etc. They don’t see any objects, they are absorbed in Istadever sphurty. Istadev Radha-Krsna ki jay! So all this was explained by Rupa Goswami. This is what happens to Vaisnavas of caliber of Rupa Goswami. They remain absorbed in remembrance of their Istadev and are not seeing anything around. This clarification cleared the misunderstanding. There was no offence actually. It was simply a misunderstanding. So we have to also be very careful while dealing with Vaisnavas. We have to make all efforts to avoid offences. Or sometimes we haven’t offended, but it was perceived that way. But we should go out and possibly do all efforts to clarify the misunderstanding. Then that way there is a possibility of someone thinking that you have offended, will be cleared. Be careful, be cautious in dealing with Vaisnavas, and we say dealing with all the living entities. Prabhupada said, we don’t wish to hurt even an ant. Like that of Mrigari, the hunter. His Guru Maharaja had come. He had seen his Guru Maharaja had landed some distance away from where Mrigari was standing.

But he did not rush to touch the feet of his Guru Maharaja or to bow down. Instead of bowing down, he was clearing the ground. Going zig-zag. Then Narada Muni inquired what had happened? You should have run to me , as soon as you saw me. But his response was how I could have run? There were so many ants on the way , so I was trying to clear the path. I was not wanting to hurt them or kill them. Of course he developed this state of mind, by chanting Hare Krsna. So by chanting , the same person who was Mrigari, enemy of all the animals of the forest (He would half kill them. They would scream and he would happily enjoy and see what happened ! He doesn’t even want to hurt an ant. He had chanted Hare Krsna and then he developed:

titikshvaha karunika surudam sarva dehinaha ajat shatravaha shantaha sadhavaha sadhu bhushanaha. (S.B.3.25.21)

As one makes advancement in Krsna consciousness by chanting , one becomes more sensitive. Even a small or subtle offence is taken as big because now he is pure and advanced, he is also more sensitive, more kind and considerate. Then he becomes more cautious and caring also avoiding offences. That is what we observe from life of a mrigari. This is a big thing Bhakti Purushottam Maharaja said. When devotees are sitting around me
, Japa-talk becomes longer.

I will just conclude with Bhakti Purushottam Maharaja’s statement. One time he was travelling with Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. Whole world is getting ready for Maharaja’s 70 the birthday party in 2 to 3 days. He said , Maharaja used to carry a stick. Once that stick fell on Bhakti Purushottam Maharaja and immediately Jayapataka Maharaja started saying, “ I am sorry! I am sorry! Did I hurt you?” Bhakti Purushottam Maharaja was telling that it was not a big thing that his stick fell on me, but Jayapataka Maharaja took it as he has hurt Maharaja, I have hurt my disciple. Begging for forgiveness, saying, “ I am sorry! I am
sorry!!”

I have to get ready to move to next destination. I am here in Vallabh Vidyanagar since few days and I will be leaving for Rajkot where there is big temple opening coming up tomorrow. So it’s possible that we can meet again tomorrow and hopefully chant with you again.

YAJNA FOR AGE OF KALI.

Our family is Family of Krishna, Family of Gauranga! Jai Sri Ram!! Family of Sri Ram.

And we say “family that chants together, stays together.” Chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’ is a prayer. Mentally we are all one. We have one vision; we have one goal.

Eko dev devaki putra Eva. (Geeta Mahatmya from Padma Purana)

For all of us Devaki-putra is our Aaradhya Dev. All of us have one Dev.

Ekam sastram Devaki-putram gitam. For all of us there at One scripture i.e. “Srimad Bhagvad-Gita As It Is” one scripture for all. Mantra ekam tasya namani yani. For all of us there is one mantra. This mantra is full of Lord’s Names.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

For the whole world, one mantra. That is ‘Hare Krishna Mahamantra’.

Karma api ekam tasya devasya Seva. ( Gita Mahatmya verse 6). For all of us one activity. What is that activity??

Tasya devasya Seva. Tasya devaki putrasya Seva.

Service unto the lotus feet of Devaki or Son of Nand Baba & Yashoda. So, like that. Family that prays together, stays together.

Yadnyarthat karma Anya lokayam karmabandhanha (BG 3.9)

Krishna said in Bhagvad-Gita, yadnyarthat karma. We should be performing activity, or whatever we do, should be for Yajna. Yadnyarthat karma. All activities should be dedicated to Yajna. Swaha! Yadnyarthat… anyartha – otherwise. Lokoyam karma bandhanha. Perform every activity as an offering to the Lord. If it is not done that way, then that activity will become cause of our binding. To get more into Maya. We go further away from the Lord. Yadnyarthat karmano – all activities for karma. Lord is also called Yajna or Yajna-purush. One of the name of the Lord is ‘Yajna’. Same Lord said in Bhagavad Gita, in 10th chapter, yajnyanam japa yajnosmi (BG 10.25) – of all the sacrifices -japa yajnaha asmi. Aham japa yajnaha asmi. Lord said , ‘japa yajna, that is Myself.’ Of all the Yajnas, Japa Yajna is most important. He said, ‘That Japa-yajna is Me’. So during Chanting sessions, we become Japa-yogis. Who are we? What is our ID? We are Japa-yogis. Lord says, this Japa is Me & I am the Japa.

Jai Sri Ram. At the time of Ram Chandra, krte dyayate Vishnum tretayam yajato makhai (SB 12.3.52 ). In Treta Yuga, way to realize the Lord, the process in Treta yuga is Yajna. Tretayam means in Treta Yuga. Getayam means in Bhagvad Gita, like that. So Tretayam yajato makhai. In Treta Yuga you will realize the Lord by process of Yajna. Lord Sri Ram appeared to establish that kind of Dharma. Dharma Sansthapanarthay (BG 4.8) that is why, when he was just a young boy , sage Viswamitra had come. No no! Please come! Please come! Dasharath I need your sons, Ram & Laxman. What for?? They are just children of unshodasha varshiya (15 years) & you want to take them to the forest? Sage said, they would protect the fire sacrifice. They would establish & protect the fire sacrifice.

So Lord had appeared as Sri Ram for Dharma sansthapanarthay – to protect Dharma of that age. Dharma of age of Treta yuga is Swaha! Swaha!! There used to be the Agnihotra & Agni kunda, Ahuti & offerings & like that.

Tretayam yajato makhai so to protect the dharma of that yuga, Ram & Laxman both went with Viswamitra.

So those kind of yajnas were very very expensive. In Hastinapur Rajasuya yajna was going to take place. Yudhisthir maharaj sent his brothers in four different directions, to gather lot of wealth. Arjuna was successful in collecting lot of Dhan (wealth), so his name became Dhananjay- the conqueror of wealth, Gatherer of wealth. So not only wealth, but you need lot of preparations. Big field etc. Yajna of those days used to be a big or mega event. Sometimes 108 kundas were required. There used to be lot of Invitations & guests would come in large number to participate in that Yajna. Qualified Brahmins are required to carry out such Yajna. You need accommodation for guests, you need to feed them properly. So it used to be a big endeavour. This is not possible in this age of Kali. Specially not possible by non qualified Brahamins.

Kalau shudra sambhavaha- Kali is full of Shudras. Treta yuga was full of Brahmans. Satya yuga had lots of Brahmanas. Treta Yuga had little lesser in numbers. Much more lesser number of Brahmins were there in Dwapar Yuga & the least number of Brahmanas you will find in Kali Yuga. People perform yajnas even in the age of Kali. But they don’t get the results.

I remember, thirty years ago, I was in Ahmedabad & at Sabarmati river, there 1008 Kundiya yajna was to be performed. I was in ‘Narad Muni Sankirtan party’ travelling & preaching & distributing books. Then we saw big big pandal & lot of loud speakers etc. So we had gone to visit the yagyashala.

I will explain my experience briefly. It was winter time, as we were moving around yagyashala there, we found one purohit (brahmana), he was making offering of ghee with one hand – Swaha! Swaha!! But in the other hand we saw there was a ‘bidi’(cigarette). He didn’t lit it with matchbox or something. Fire was right there. So he lit his bidi in the fire of Yajna. Those were winter days, fire of Yajna was giving him warmth from outside but he wanted to have some heat, internally also. He was making two kinds of offerings, one into the fire & other into the mouth for self. Atmendriya Priti vanchha tar bale kam (CC Adi 4.165). For own sense satisfaction he was making offering of smoke of bidi.

So this is a state of affairs of Yajnas. There is also difficulty to find all the pure ingredients, pure ghee etc. Nowadays, we find only Dalda. Not only Dalda but in that also animal fat is added. So it is not possible to perform those kinds of Yajnas. So taking in consideration all such situations of Kali yuga, about what is possible in this age & what is not possible, Lord has given us another kind of Yajna. Name of that Yajna is Japa-yajna.

[Haribol! Don’t sleep! We are not supposed to sleep in the Yajna. If you sleep during Japa-yajna, then Yajna is finished. Then you will not get the Yajna-phal, i.e. benefit of the Yajna. So we should not sleep during this Yajna. Soega wo khoega! (One who sleeps will be looser, won’t get benefit of Yajna)]

So yajna of Kali Yuga is much simpler & cheaper version, it’s free. Easiest Yajna is Japa-yajna. If we wish wish to begin the Japa-yajna, take your mala which lot of time is hanging around your neck, wherever you are, sit down as doing japa in standing state is not the good thing to do, you can stand & dance in Kirtan & begin Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’. Such a simple thing.

In three seconds , you can begin this Yajna.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

So we had been giving guidance regarding this through japa & during Japa-talk. That is for guiding how to improve Japa, how it can be done attentively. So every day we talk something about Japa. To conclude we can say one thing, it’s from Bhagavatam, the talk of Yajna, specially Chanting or offering Mantras, it could be said in essence (listen properly) Chanting & hearing of ‘Hare Krishna’ Mahamantra that we do acts like a bow. Living entity or the chanter becomes arrow. Mahamantra which is Lord Himself acts like a bow & the chanter takes part as an arrow. Radha Giridhari’s lotus feet becomes the target of this arrow. When we shoot, there is always a target, right? Goal is to throw that arrow & make sure that arrow lands at the lotus feet of the Lord. Or next to the Lord, being in association of the Lord, & doing his service.

Contemplate on this. Remember what we are doing while Chanting & what is its Goal.

Okay. We will meet again another day. Gaur Premanande Hari Hari bol!!

RAMNAAM MAKES EVEN STONES FLOAT!

Uma kahun main anubhav apna, sat Hari bhajnu jagat sabh sapna

(Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulasidas)

I have heard this before. This is what Lord Shiva tells to Parvati. It’s a nice couple – Shiva & Parvati. As Sita & Ram are also wonderful, the divine couple. Shiva & Parvati are also ideal couple. Many of you are grihastha couples. Couple means two. They stay together. Shiv-Parvati is also exemplary couple. ‘Jai Sri Ram! Ho Gaya Kaam’.

Ram & Sita are also special couple. Shiva & Parvati they are always busy doing Harikatha or Ram-katha or Gaur-katha. Shiva has come to Naimisharanya in Nabadwip to listen to Gaur-katha. He also chants Krishna’s glories & names. He also chants glories of Gauranga & chants Gaura! Gaura!! Gaura!!!

Panchmukhi mahadev bole ‘Ram Ram Hare Hare’. Chaturmukha’ Brahma bole ‘Krishna Krishna Hare Hare’

So Brahma chants, Shiva chants. So he said one time to Parvati – ‘Uma kahu Mai anubhava apna’ ‘O! Uma’ you know who is Uma – Parvati. ‘I would like to share my experience, realization with you’. Shiva said , “Ram naam Bina jagat sab sapana.” Without name of Lord Ram world is like a dream & not a reality. Ram naam Bina without name of Ram or without Lord Ram rest is all illusion or dream. JainSri Ram.!! Ram is a reality & so is His name is also reality. Ram naam Satya hai’! Ram naam Satya hai’

When someone dies, then others remind each other about this while going for final rites. That time they remember Ram. If you just say the word Ram in reverse order, then what do you say? Mara Mara… i.e. Mar ja! That is ‘die’. This is what happens, without Ram we are dying.

Ram Navmi is around the corner. Not that only when Ram Navmi is around the corner, we should be remembering Ram. We should be always remembering Ram.

Best of all the servants, epitome of Dasya-bhakti. You know there are nine processes of Devotional service. One of them is ‘Dasyam’. There are examples of each process. Sukadev Goswami for recitation, Parikshit for hearing & Prahlad for smaranam, Prithu Maharaj for archanam & Laxmi for padsevanam. If we want to know, who is the best pad- sevak , then remember Laxmi. Atma Nivedanam is by Bali maharaj. So when we talk of Dasyam then devotees associated with Dasya Bhakti, among them topmost is Hanuman. Jai Hanuman!! Hanuman is also busy Chanting. Sometimes he takes Harinam chadar. He is absorbed in Ramnaam. ‘Tallinn’ in Ram.

Hanuman used to be fully absorbed. Becoming full of Ram, Chanting

Ram Ram Ram , Sita Ram Ram Ram.
Ram Ram Ram , Sita Ram Ram Ram.

Not that Hanuman chanted Ram Naam in past, once upon a time. But is he doing now? Yes now also , he is Chanting always. Ram is eternal & His devotees like Hanuman is also eternal.

There is one ‘Varsha’. There are nine varshas. Saptadwipas & nine varshas. Like that. So there is one varsha, called Kim-purush varsha. Like one is Bharat-varsha. In that Varsha which is a place or location, not just small location, it’s huge. Principal deity is still there. Sri Ram & main worshipper is Hanuman. There is another varsha where Narasimha dev is the principal Lord & Prahlad maharaj is a worshipper. For Bharat varsha Narayan is the ‘aaradhya’ & Narad Muni is the main worshipper. Narayan Narayan!!

So in Badrikashram it resonates – Narayan Narayan Narayan! Badri Narayan Narayan Narayan.

So Hanuman is Chanting still. So you could take inspiration from Hanuman. He is ideal devotee. Best of all devotees, all servants, we could also take inspiration from Lord Shiva. He is also Chanting. So you could take inspiration from him also. When Hanuman had to cross the Indian ocean & was searching place for landing, he was wandering where to land. Then suddenly from one part of Lanka he was hearing Ram Kirtan. Is that real?? Hanuman decided that was the favourable location. So he landed in a courtyard of Vibhishana’s palace. Vibhishana was a great devotee of Ram. Always Chanting names & glories of Sri Ram. He said that Vibhishan had written names of Lord Ram, all over his palace. So that was indication also, that what is in his mind. It manifests, where you reside or your surroundings is the reflection of your mind, or your thoughts. He was Ram- bhakta, so he had written names of Ram everywhere.

They say – mann Mei Ram, tann Mei Ram…. Or Hridaye Narasimha bahir Narasimha (Narasimha is inside heart). Not just that, yato yato Yami, Yatha yataha Yami – I go, here & there everywhere, O Lord Narasimha, You please appear, give me darshan or let me experience Your presence everywhere.

One time Ravan visited palace of Vibhishan. They were three brothers – Ravan,Vibhishan & Kumbhakarna & he saw name of Ram. He became furious, what is this!!! My enemy’s name is everywhere. But Vibhishan tactfully explained, no! no! no !! My dear brother this is not Ram’s name. This is your name.

How is that? He explained ‘Ra’ represents Ravan & ‘ma’ represents Mandodari your alahadini Shakti. .

Sri Sri Ravan- Mandodari. Vibhishan thus avoided the confrontation. Jai Sri Ram!

Then it was a time for crossing the Indian ocean for Ram & the army. Hanuman & company were building the bridge. Construction companies name was ‘Hanuman & company’. So whenever they were throwing big big rocks & mountains, Nal & Neel’s duty was to write name of Ram on it. In order to make them float on water, they had to be written name of Ram , stamped with name of Ram. There was amazing thing happening. There was name of Ram attached or carved on the bodies of those rocks, mountains & trees. All those objects were floating. What was the cause?

Ram’s name was the cause of that floating. Otherwise everything should be drowning in the water, as per law of gravitation everywhere. But there anti law of gravitation was happening. What was that factor. Ram Naam was the factor.

Jai Sri Ram!! Jai Sri Ram naam!!! So those objects, inert & lifeless objects were floating, could float & did float. We are much better. We have life. Those objects were lifeless. They were floating because of the association of name of Ram. Then certainly we could also float & go across, not drown in the ocean of material existence. Go across, go back to Ayodhya dham ki jai. Go back to Goloka or Vaikuntha, just by Chanting names of Ram & Krishna.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Valmiki also attained liberation. How? Narad Muni instructed him to chant. What we hear, that he was so sinful robber named Ratnakar, that he was not able to chant name Ram. Instead he was Chanting Ma-ra Ma-ra Ma-ra…..Ra-ma Ra-ma Rama!

So keep Chanting, then our offenses will reduce & our Chanting will be pure Chanting. So like that, Valmiki was not able to Chant properly. But he kept Chanting. He kept Chanting. Chanting purified him & then he was on the right track Chanting the name of Ram.

There is offensive japa, then there is stage of ‘naamabhas’, where offenses are reduced & then there is shuddha naam japa.

Ram naam Ram naam Ram naam Eva hi kevalam. Kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatiranyatha.

There is mantra like this in Ramayan Mahatmya.

So if someone may think this Hare Ram Hare Krishna is also Ram, so there is no problem.

Someone asked Prabhupada, is this Ram’s name in the mantra? Yes. Krishna includes Ram. Ram is Raman. Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman Raman Ram Radha Radha. So Ram includes Raman. So if you want to think this Chanting of Hare Ram Hare Ram is also Ram, it is alright. Because Ram & Krishna are non different.

So keep Chanting.

Hare Krishna!!

10th April 2019

PROVE YOUR INTELLIGENCE!

From many countries people are chanting with us. Some of you are regular chanters but also many of them are not chanting on the conference.

When we chant ‘Hare Krishna’ , you know what we are doing. We are worshipping Krishna. Serving Krishna. As we chant ‘Hare Krishna’, we have to know, how Lord makes His appearance. Then we have to experience as Lord appears. His appearance is for spiritual enhancement, very very subtle. In order to feel Lord’s presence, experience His presence, we have to be very very attentive & focused to identify the Lord & connect with the Lord as He appears before us, around us. He appears as Harinaam-prabhu.

kali kale nama rupe krsna avatara
nama haite haya sarva jagat nistara ( CC adi. 17.022)

To experience this incarnation of Lord, what can be done? We can attempt to chant attentively. We have been talking, ‘dhyan’ is our goal. Meditation & remembrance of the Lord is our goal. Goal of Chanting – goal of life. That meditation, that full focus & then perception of the Lord, that He is before us, around us, is not going to be possible instantly like an instant coffee. That’s why we have to do study of Chanting , so keep Chanting .

asaṁśayaṁ mahā-bāho
mano durnigrahaṁ calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
(BG. 6.35)

So, Lord makes Himself available through the name, we call that as Yoga. Yoga means linking. Linking with the Lord, that is soul & the super soul is called yoga. We try to re-establish the lost relationship with the Lord through Japa-yoga. We are Japa-yogis. Japa-yogis are also Bhakti- Yogis.

iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ
kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ nātaḥ
parataropāyaḥ
sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate
( Kali Santarana Upanishad verse 6)

This is what Narad Muni said to Brahma. What Narad Muni said was this

shodashakam namnam

sixteen names

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

This is to realize the presence of Lord Hari.

Natah upayaha sarva vedeshu drishyate.

Narad Muni said other then this there is no other way, no other way like

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā ( CC adi 7.26)

These sixteen names will destroy all the bad qualities of the Kali yuga. All the kalmasha of the Kali will be destroyed by these sixteen names. There is no other way. There is no other way. So this is Kali Santarana Upanishad Vani. Dialogue between Narad Muni & Brahma. This is a veda-vani i.e. statement of the Vedas.

It is also said ‘ shabda parabrahma’ . Shabda is parabrahma. These sixteen names is parabrahma.

Arjuna also said,

paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma
pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavan
puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam
ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum
(B.G. 10.12)

Arjuna said O Lord! Who is standing before me , as Parthasarathi! You are parabrahma. Elsewhere it is said – shabda parabrahma. That parabrahma becomes shabda. That parabrahma takes the form of the sound. It becomes naam. Then our job becomes difficult. Seeing the Lord in a deity form, although we don’t understand, but appears little easy. Understand this ‘shabda’ is ‘parabrahma’, then it is bit easier. This shabda ‘Hare Krishna’ is parabrahma. Then shastras also say,

Bhagvan shabda gocharaha
Indriyaani hayaan aahuh vishayaams teshu gocharaan
Aatmendriya-mano-yuktam bhoktetyaahur maneeshinah (Katha Upanishad)

You could understand Bhagvan through the shabda, through the sound. You could perceive Him. ‘Go’ means senses. Spiritual knowledge acquiring senses. Go-chararaan. We have heard, otherwise Lord is ‘a-gocharaan’, why? As it is difficult to understand Him with our senses.

Ataha Sri Krishana namadi na bhavet grayham indriye
(CC madhya 17.136)

Our senses are blunt, impure. With those senses it is not possible, to understand Sri Krishna naam, roop, gun , lila dham (name, form, qualities, past times, dham). Then

sevonmukhe hi jivadau swayameva sphuratyda
(CC madhya 17.136)

You could serve the Lord, beginning with the shabda & then ‘shabda- gocharaha’. Then you realize the Lord. You use your tongue for serving the Lord & then you say

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

If you chant attentively then that sound will reach our hearts. Then it cleanses the consciousness & our love for the Lord will be revived. That is Yoga. This all is supposed to be happening. Union of Atma & Parmatma. They stay adjacent to each other, but soul is not aware of it. Soul is right there in the heart next to the Lord. But soul is not aware of presence of the Lord. Lord of course, knows but the soul doesn’t know who this person is. He is the Super soul! Supreme soul!

Bahirmukh Krsna bhuliya
Jiva bhog vancha Kare nikatastha
Maya tare zapatiya dhare (Prem-Vivarta and CC Madhya 20.117)

Soul just want to go out, trying to reach out, going to the mall, here- there. Trying to gather object of senses. grab them , touch them. smell them, see them , hear them, taste them. This becoming ‘bahirmukha’ which we had been doing for long long time, life after life after life. Going ‘bahirmukah’. This has to be stopped.

By Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’ we become ‘ antarmukh’. So we should stop this nonsense! Foolish ignorant act. Looking outside, trying to get objects of senses. Whatever we are looking for outside, that is all there in purest form within us & in the Lord. Lord is the source of all shabda & everything. So by chanting & hearing, our ‘bahirmukahta’ or going out, will gradually go down & eventually stop. That is also ‘ Kali kalmasha nashanam’, whatever bad things of age of Kali, will be destroyed by the holy name.

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājan
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet (S.B. 12.3.51)

Sukadev Goswami told age of Kali is full of all flaws & defects, but kirtanad Eva Krishnasya Mukta sangaha param vrajet. Sukadev Goswami said this, only by Chanting Krishna’s names. Kirtanad eve Krishnasya muktasanga param vrajet. ‘Mukta sangaha’ you will become Mukta, you will become free from bad association of this age of Kali. All the doshas will leave.

So we were talking about ‘shabda- gocharaha’. Bhagwan shabda- go-charaha . We could understand, realize, reconnect with the Lord by su-shabda. By way of sound vibration. So this ‘Shabda’ is Bhagwan.

Hari! Hari!!

Vedant Sutra also says, ‘anavritti shabdat’. There is one sutra like this ‘Anavritti shabdat’. It means no Anavrutti, means repetition. ‘Shabdat’ means with the help of the sound. With the help of the sound you could stop the repetition. Repetition of what? Birth & death. This could be stopped. Repetition of birth & death is stopped with the help of shabda.

Those Shabdas are these set of sixteen names. These are very powerful. Ultimately He is Lord Himself. He is Radha & Krishna. So ‘Krishna suryasum Maya hai aandhakar jaha Krishna tahar nahi Mayer adhikar’

As we chant ‘Hare Krishna’, then Krishna is making His appearance. He is like a sun & then the path is lit. Then the darkness caused by ignorance, caused by Maya will flee or run away. Light & darkness cannot stay together. As soon as you light a candle, immediately darkness is dispelled. When there is Chanting, there is Krishna, that’s how we become free from ignorance.

‘Vidya vadhu jivanam
(shiksastkam sholka1)

is also there. You become knowledgeable.

If you have done Chanting means nothing more remains to be done. Complete activity has been done. Chanting is a complete activity. As it is said ‘Harer naam Eva kevalam’. We are not doing any other thing. We are doing only Chanting. But in fact this ‘only Chanting’ is everything, we have done everything. It’s complete activity.

‘Kayen vacha manasendriyeva buddhyatmana’ (S.B. 11.2.36)

So Kayen, manasa, vacha, buddhi & soul also . So atma means nice body, Atma is mind , Atma is soul. As we Chant ‘Hare Krishna’ we are using our body, speech & mind – which has to be there. Use of intelligence is very essential & then involvement of soul has to be there. Then you do the offering.

‘Narayanay samarpayet’

Chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’ is a japa-yajna or sankirtana- yajna. It’s an offering. Swaha! Swaha! swaha! This Japa yajna is offering. Soul is offering himself. He will be able to speak with Lord. Soul takes shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Sri Krishna sharanam mam! Sri Krishna sharanam mam. Some people chant like this. So those emotions are there.

Iam surrendering unto the Lord.

Iam offering to the Lord.

O! Lord make me eligible to serve you.

So ‘yajne sankrtane hi prayai yajantihi hi sumedhasa’

(SB 11.5.32).

Intelligent people will do japa-yajna. So you prove it that you are intelligent. How will you prove you are intelligent? By Chanting . If you are not Chanting ‘Hare Krishna’, you are not intelligent. You have no intelligence. Maya has stolen your intelligence. Mayaya aprhuta jnana . Maya steals your knowledge. Bewilders you. So keep Chanting & Make your life successful & be Happy for ever.

Hare Krishna!

8th April 2019

DO NOT STOP TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED!!

We had been doing this Japa session for three to four months. All the devotees from Latur can also join the conference and chant with the devotees all around the world. You need to have a smart phone. Some of you are trying hard to get other people to join the conference. Our target is to make seven hundred participants till Sayana Ekadasi.

I was thinking for chanting Hare Krishna we all have to make an effort, to take some trouble. That trouble could be getting you out of the bed. Effort is necessary. Chanting should be with attention and with effort, extra special effort is needed to chant with attention. Even the Bible says ‘ love thy Lord with all thy heart, with all thy strength.’ Unless we make efforts, nothing could be achieved.

Na hi suptasya sinhasya mukhe pravishyantihi mrigaha.’ ( Sanskrit Subhashita) There is a saying that the Lion is a very powerful animal, king of the forest. But just because he is the king no animal will enter his mouth. Oh! I am hungry , so the lion cannot expect that other animals will enter his mouth. He has to get up , run and chase other animals and then with great efforts he catches the deer or hare. So without effort even a lion can’t get his food. He has to make an effort. Without effort we can achieve nothing.

I was thinking when Yasoda wanted to catch and tie Krsna to the mortar she had to make a lot of efforts to catch Krishna

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

When we are chanting our goal is also to catch Krsna, to see Krsna, to touch Krsna. Yasoda was trying to catch Krsna. While chanting we are also trying to catch Krsna – from dhyana, dharana up to samadhi. So in the state of samadhi we want Krsna to sit on the throne of our heart. By chanting Hare Krishna with Krsna we want to retain Krsna, gain Krsna, catch Krsna, imprison Krsna within our hearts. When Yasoda was trying to catch and tie Krsna, it wasn’t an easy task for her. So much effort, try again and again and again. She was running after Krsna and Krsna was running, Yasoda was running. She was elderly and healthy and Krsna was just a small , swift boy. But Yasoda didn’t give up the efforts. She continued her efforts to run after Krsna to catch Krsna. They say, she started catching for Krsna, in the morning , which passed by and noon passed and then beyond noon( in Sanskrit it is called as Purvanna, madhyanha, aparannha) Yasoda was still running after Krsna to catch him. Many, many hours, she was running after Krsna, but she didn’t give up. She was trying and trying and trying. So while chanting Hare Krishna our goal is to attentively chant Hare Krishna controlling our mind. Controlling the mind is not an easy task, as it is very flickering and can’t be caught easily. But we should not give up. It’s difficult to control the mind. Arjuna also said, ‘No ! No! I can’t do this.’

cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram

The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is
more difficult than controlling the wind. (B.G. 6.34) In 6th chapter Arjuna has said it’s a difficult task , but you have to do it, make an effort.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
asaṁśayaṁ mahā-bāho
mano durnigrahaṁ calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.( B.G. 6.35) Practice , endeavor everyday. Yasoda kept making efforts of trying to catch Krsna. What Krsna sees is that we are trying harder and harder and harder to see Him, to meet Him, to catch Him, to love Him, to serve Him. Lord sees our efforts. Even if we are not successful our efforts, are not fruitful, still we don’t give it up. Krsna will take note how hard this person is working, to realize Me, to see Me , to catch Me. Krsna will be pleased with our efforts. Krsna was watching Yasoda. He was pleased with her efforts and then swa bandhane …… Then Lord said okay! Okay! You are not going to give up, leave the effort until you realise Me, see Me, so okay, you can catch Me. Like that finally Yasoda could catch Krishna. She pulled his ear and tied him with the rope. In Marathi there is a saying. – “ prayatnanti parameshwar”. ( By endeavouring hard , you can achieve God.) If you make prayatna (effort) then ultimately you will get Krsna. So don’t give up your effort. Keep
chanting

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

In the Bhagavatam it is mentioned that Yasoda caught Krsna but while tying Krsna to the mortar, the rope that she was using, was two fingers short. But again Yasoda was not giving up her effort. She was bringing longer and longer ropes and then Lord was pleased with that effort also of trying to bring more and more ropes. Finally only when the Lord was pleased with Yasoda’s efforts was she was able to tie Krsna. Then rope was no longer two fingers short.

These two fingers represent the following – one is our effort and other one is Krsna’s kindness.
When there is a combination of these two things, our efforts and Krsna’s kindness, our goal is reached. We have realized Krsna and we see Krsna. Ultimately we will go back to Krsna. So the point we are trying to make is – keep up the effort and never give up, especially during chanting. Try to remember Krsna, hear Krsna, remember his pastimes, form. We should never stop – “ Do not stop till the goal is reached.”

This morning hundreds of you are there all over India and all over the world chanting, but today we also had a large number of devotees from Latur attending. So the Lord has seen you attending mangal-aarti and seen you chanting. He must be pleased seeing this. So everyday you could make Krsna happy by making this effort to chant Hare Krishna attentively, offenselessly and lovingly.

When the Lord sees all these efforts, His heart will melt , as He is very merciful to His devotees. Today we have Ratha-yatra Festival in Latur. Lord is so kind, Normally we say, ‘Meri Dori tere haath,’ ( My ropes are in your hands Oh Lord) but today ‘ Unaki Dori aapane haath.’ ( Ropes of His cart are in our hands. ) Lord is merciful, and today you also become merciful, by pulling the rope of His cart. Lord says, “Fine, take me wherever you want.” Those people who don’t come for His darsana, you will take the Lord to them. Show such mercy.

Jive daya name ruci vaisnava seva ( Gopala Champu by Jiva Goswami)

So serve Vaisnavas. Those who are lost in the world of Maya, show your mercy to them. By doing this also you will get, name ruci – Your taste in the holy name will increase. By whatever efforts we do to chant daily by that we meet the Lord every day, not 100% , lesser in intensity, but we do meet. Ceto darpan marjanam also happens. Whatever we have chanted attentively, offenselessly, we get the fruit of it everyday, and we do move few steps closer towards Lord. Ceto darpana marjanam will happen. Yesterday evening I was saying that by having a Ratha-Yatra here , we will purify Latur. We will not only clean, because cleaning happens just superficially, but purification is much deeper. It is cleansing the minds. Purifying the minds, the hearts and consciousness by which people will be benefited. Their souls will be happy, and your soul will also be happy. This program of Swachha Bharat does the cleaning and decoration of the cage. But Hare Krishna devotees serve the parrot within that cage. So which seva is greater? Of the cage? Or of the parrot? There should be little of serving the cage , but most of it should be serving the parrot. What the parrot likes ‘Peruchi fod laagate god’ ( a parrot likes guava) but no one is feeding the parrot.

Nobody is giving the parrot any attention.

na te viduhu swarth gatim hi visnu ( SB. 7.5.31)

Our real ‘swarth’ is in achieving the Lord or Paramatma and also in understanding, ‘I am soul’. Then we have to think, how to care for the soul, but no one talks about it. So whatever is in shortage in Latur, the Hare Krishna devotees will supply that. That is the objective behind Ratha- yatra, to satisfy the souls of the people. Only having a mall culture and five star hotels is not sufficient. Then from five star hotels they are transferred to five star hospital. They will also die in style. All this is planning for dying only. Nothing is for soul. Everything ls for the body. “ Aapali mate konala? Hyana tyana “( Who will you vote for? ) All this is going on. But does anyone remember the Lord? Residents of Latur are souls. So whatever promises politicians give, we will do this or that , but there is zero goal for the soul. People are also mad. They are not aware what they really need.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

The Soul needs the Lord and we have had enough of Maya. Our politicians are giving only Maya. Krsna se tomar, Krsna dite par tomar shakati aache. ( Vaishnav Bhajan) But we devotees of Hare Krishna movement pray to acaryas, ‘You have Krsna. Krsna is yours, Can you give that to me.’ and for that only – aami to kangal krsna krsna boli dhai tava paache paache. ( Vaishnav Bhajan) We are running behind you with this hope that you will give Krsna to us. Happiness of all souls lies in this. Husband will be happy by getting Krsna, and wife will also become happy and children will also become happy forever, when they get Krsna. Your neighbours , relatives also will be happy when they get Krsna. All the souls in this world can become happy only when they get Krsna. This Hare Krishna mahamantra is Krsna.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

So give Krsna and take Krsna. When we do Nagar sankirtana or we do kirtana. We give Krsna and take Krsna. Serve society serve country, serve people in your locality. Serve your friends, relatives. Help! Help! Help! By giving them Krsna. Whatever you will give them except Krsna, all that is poison. Maush Janam paiya Radha Krsna na bhajiya janiya Sunita Vish khainu. (Ista-deve Vijnapti by Srila Narottam Das Thakura) You have got human birth, but you have not served Radha Krsna then that means one is drinking poison. So Maya is poison or Maya is darkness

kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine,

there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion
(the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish. ( CC Madhya-lila 22.31)

We are all dependent be on Krsna. Light is also Krsna or it is Krsna’s light.

Nitai Gaura premanande Hari Hari Bol.

All right we will stop here. Today we had little longer session, as so many devotees are sitting with
me over here. Tomorrow I will be travelling, so we will not have a Japa session tomorrow morning.
So we will meet day after tomorrow.
Hare Krishna!

REAL WEALTH!

I have made an observation that on Sundays number of participants goes down. Why is that? Of course in the Western world they never get up early, but on Sundays specially they sleep to their heart’s content. But we are from the culture of Hare Krishna devotees. So ‘Sunday ho ya Monday’ (whichever day it may be). It should not make a difference. See how all the participants can join our session on Sundays also. I am giving this message to encourage chanting on Sunday mornings also. I hope they will get this message. Those who are listening, tell your friends if they are not there, help them. ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’. Be a true friend,by getting them to chant on Sundays also. Send ‘Jiva jago’ message to them on Sundays also.

There are different traditions. Christians go to church on Sundays and Muslims have their Friday.
But for us it is everyday. For us it is not serving or praying occasionally. We serve or pray everyday,
constantly. kirtaniya sada hari . So keep chanting.

Yesterday we began our new year and we asked you to take a sankalpa (vow) of chanting everyday, or increasing the number of rounds everyday. People take vows at the beginning of the year. Chaitra – Vaishakh is another set of months. I was thinking people in general take different vows or initiatives or ‘sankalpas’ or goals. They begin new businesses. The idea is to make more money. On New Year’s Day they undertake some activities which helps them to make more money, or they buy gold to become more wealthy. But we have to understand that the chanting of Hare Krishna is the real wealth. There should be greater determination to acquire more wealth. I have been saying this from time to time. People begin making money at 10.00 am , but we begin making money at 5.00 am, way ahead of everyone else. Hare Krishnas are smart people. As soon as they get up, they begin earning . This is our business, chanting of Hare Krishna. We start acquiring money, begin depositing our earned money, early in the morning. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said Caitanya Caritamrta, krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura So become smart. If you want to become happy , you need wealth. But what will really make us happy is spiritual wealth, and not the mundane wealth. Hare Krishna maha mantra is the real wealth.

Once Srila Prabhupada was asked by a reporter in London, why he had come there?’ Srila Prabhupada responded, saying, ‘You also had come, your Viceroys had come to our country. Whatever they thought was wealth of India they looted from India. They stole our property. Whatever they thought was valuable , they were taking it to their country, including the Kohinoor diamond. Then he explained, but your Viceroys couldn’t recognize the actual wealth of India. The reporter inquired what is that wealth that our Voiceroys had not looted? Then Srila Prabhupada explained that the real wealth of our country is our culture, our ancient knowledge in the form of the Vedas and the Puranas, Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vedanta sutras . This is the real wealth. Srila Prabhupada must have added in that list holy name of the Lord. This Hare Krishna is
the most valuable. Basically, our Krsna is most valuable. Lord is most valuable.

aisvaryasya samagrasya (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.47)

Name and fame of the Lord, knowledge given by the Lord, and basically the Lord is the most valuable thing of our country. But they didn’t understand or recognize the real wealth and they have left that behind. So I have come to do a home delivery of that wealth – gifting to your nation the real wealth of our country. Another time Prabhupada had been hearing how Indians have been going overseas to other countries begging, give me this , give me that , give us super computers etc. Prabhupada said I have not come here, like other Indians who have not understood their country. I have come here to give. Because we have been going to the West, overseas every time.

Anybody – be it the politicians, students or anybody, and everybody, they are going there to bring something from the West. Because we had been begging and begging every time , India had no good image in the West. When around forty years back , I started my travels to the West people would ask, ‘ Swamiji from where have you come?’ On responding ‘From India’ they would respond, Oh! That India, the beggars country! That’s where you have come from!

Prabhupada has done something different that no other Indian has done before. He established the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS! “Society for what?” KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS’. This includes India’s culture, our scriptures, Deity worship, prasada distribution, lots of things and most importantly this includes relating to Krsna. He established a Krishna conscious society which is the most valuable gift to the world, because in that form he gave Lord Krsna to the world.

We had wonderful a wonderful Jagannatha Ratha-yatra Festival in Solapur yesterday which was a successful beginning the first day of the year. My thought was that such Ratha-yatras are held all over the world in some 700 cities. Then I was thinking Srila Prabhupada has introduced Jagannatha to the whole world. By introducing Jagannatha Ratha-yatra, Prabhupada is giving Jagannatha everywhere, in New York, in Durban, South Africa, Melbourne in Australia or Moscow In Russia. Hare Krishna movement is giving Jagannatha to the whole world. This should make us proud of being associated with such an institution, International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Then we can say with pride that we are Gaudiya Vaishnava or we are members of
Krishna consciousness society. We may not say ‘Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai!’. ( Say with pride ,
that we are Hindus.)

So take to this Krishna consciousness seriously,and see how you can spread this around. Get more and more people to chant Hare Krishna. You had been doing, propagating the holy name. There are many sevas, but this is also an important seva.

jare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa ( CC Madhya Lila 7.128)

Inspire others to chant Hare Krishna and take part in Jagannatha Ratha-yatra. So we will stop now.
Hare Krishna!

6th April 2019

LORD HAS GIVEN ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR TO YOU!

Hare Krishna!!
I am in Solapur. Japa talk is a serious subject, but the sound system is faulty, which is destroying the mood. Today many devotees are sending me good wishes for new year. Specially in Maharashtra this festival is celebrated in a grand way. ISKCON Solapur is celebrating it with a grand Jagannatha Ratha-yatra. This is their eleventh Jagannatha Ratha-yatra celebration.

I was thinking that on this day all over India and specially in Maharashtra, people take a lot of vows
(sankalpas). They make shubh arambh (auspicious beginning) of so many things. Bhogis also make sankalpas. We will do this and that. Or maybe they will think of beginning to chant. We devotees also should take a sankalpa for the new year, not like karmis. From today many start a new business or new work. They enjoy different bhogs and become bhogis and then they become rogi. They are not aware that bhog leads to rog ( disease). The Lord says, ‘yogi bhava’ ( Don’t sleep – zo pala tor sam pala {one who sleeps during a lecture is finished} ) This world does anti- Krsna propagation. Lord says, yogi bhava and the world says bhogi bhava. Unfortunately we are in the kingdom of Maya. Here everyone talks about the bhoga.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

But intelligent devotees take a sankalpa of becoming yogi. World is mad, less intelligent and so much more.

prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya
kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ
mandāḥ sumanda-matayo
manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ.

O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (SB. 1.1.10) It is a mad , mad, mad world. Devotees of the Hare Krishna movement take vows of becoming yogis. ‘Achhe din aayenge!’ ( soon there will be better days) by becoming Bhogi, achhe din kabhi nahi aayenge!’ ( If you become ‘bhogi’ then good days can never come) Good days will come and go. Ayaram – Gayaram! (They will come and go) So be Japa Yogis. Take a sankalpa to become Japa Yogis. By this yoga we should re-establish our lost relationship with the Lord. It should be
established by chanting Japa. We should take that vow of chanting. ‘fir achhe din aayenge!’.( Then
definitely there will be good days) Lord has guaranteed, Prabhupada has also guaranteed that chant Hare Krishna and be happy. This is not a false promise given by people in this material world, but you should realize, this is the promise given by supreme Lord.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ
sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam ( Siksastakam Verse 1 )

ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said , Chant Hare Krishna and then what will happen? – ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ – your consciousness gets cleansed. There is cleansing of the consciousness. bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ. We are burning in the fire of materialexistence. We will be saved from that fire by Chanting. Like that -vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam. We will also gain intelligence by chanting. ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ. Our happiness will increase at every step. prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ we will experience happiness at every step. sarvātma- snapanaḿ . What else will happen? There will be shower. We will be swimming in the nectar of the holy name. Haribol!! Caitanya Mahaprabhu said this in Siksastakam which we recite every
morning. Maybe we are not experiencing that now but that’s the goal. We will experience that state
of mind and existence , that we are empowered with the nectar.

ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ

Our soul will take bath in the ocean of Harinama. Then paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam. Lord has guaranteed that if we join this then you will be successful.

Success is guaranteed! What is that victory? paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam. We die and take birth again. It’s a defeat. Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare sayanam( Verse 21 of ‘Bhaja Govindam’ by Adi Sankaracarya) If this goes on you are dying again and again. Birth – death again and again and again , then you are defeated.( You are sleeping, that is also defeat. Sleeping means , you have been defeated by Maya again and again.) So what is the victory?

janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna

One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna. (BG 4.9) After leaving this body, you will not take birth again. The chanter will come to the abode where I reside, to Goloka. This is the victory. The poor fellow has died and has been burnt. Others are saying -’ Ram Nama Satya hai’. So Ram nama or Krsna nama is the reality or the truth. They are accepting the truth. Chanting always
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE! Ram Nama, Krsna nama, Hare Krishna nama ‘sat’ or satya hai and by doing japa of this nama we will also become ‘sat’. We will become eternal. We are souls and will remain in that form.

So get your things worked out. Of course on this conference we are doing that, by inspiring everyone to not just chant, but chant attentively. Chanting daily, offenselessly with love. This Japa talk is meant for that, to inform you about it. Otherwise years come and go , but no progress is made. What’s the use of this life if we don’t make any progress in chanting? If we have not reduced our aparadhas as yet, then the Lord has kindly given us one more year , in this body , in this world.

We should take advantage of this additional year. Happy New year! Then we will become happy. So there are 440 participants on this conference, which will increase gradually. We have to make 700 till Vyasa Puja.

So you could join us on this auspicious occasion of Caitra Pratipada. Make a sankalpa that we will chant on this conference. By that Japa will improve , which is the experience of many. Many have responded by saying Haribol! If you don’t know how to chant on this conference, you learn from those who know how to join and get started.

Hare Krishna.