I was on the streets yesterday or in the park of airport of Surat. So, from the streets to the palace today. Srila Prabhupada had told Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari to stay on & he will built a palace for Them. So, this temple of Radha Rasbihari is like a palace, which Prabhupada built for Them.

Before we talk more, it’s a time for celebration.

We have crossed the mark of 500. Today we have 503 participants. This is a good morning news for all of you. I had expressed my wish, that by end of this month we should reach the target of 500 but by efforts of all of you, by end of the day & not end of the month, target has been achieved. So, we did it. We achieved the target together. Param Vijayate Sri Krsna sankirtanam.

(Shikshashtakam verse 1)

This is also victory for the Sankirtan movement. When so many devotees come together & chant, then that is Sankirtan. Then victory is guaranteed for Sankirtan movement. So one phase of the victory we have achieved.

‘Jitega Bhai jitega’, (definitely there will be victory) they say in India. So Sankirtan movement will be victorious.

So keep Chanting. We achieved some sort of target. With all of your enthusiasm it was possible. But we have long way to go. But stay fixed & Chant every day with enthusiasm on the conference. Enthusiasm & Determination, both are required to become steady. What sort of determination is needed?

That we will Chant 16 rounds every day, we have to do, we have taken vow, so we don’t have any choice, but to Chant. However, if you could Chant with us that will be most welcomed & I think you will be also very much benefitted by the association.

The reason I wish to continue this conference, is because, it’s a part of taking care of you, taking care of devotees, taking care of disciples. To train the disciples to chant ‘Hare Krishna’. To train to be steady, train to be enthusiastic, train to be attentive, train to be offenseless. All sorts of training & aspects of Chanting are there & we have been reminding every day, this aspect, that aspect, this training, that training. Among all sorts of trainings, training of doing Japa is the topmost. If we become expert in Chanting, then it’s effect will be evident in all our spiritual life style. Your whole life will be revolutionize. All aspects of your life will improve, once your Chanting is improved. So take advantage.

Many of you are sharing your realizations & you are letting me know, how you have been benefited by this conference. Madhavi Gauri mataji wrote to me. It was a nice communication, I appreciated. I appreciated her appreciation and her realization. She has become steady chanter. Every single morning, fix time of the day, otherwise she was Chanting, but at all different times. Life was not disciplined. But now she also had a thought, that how she could not Chant, during this time of the day when her Guru Maharaj is sitting & Chanting, how she could be sleeping? Or how she could be doing some other thing. So those were her thoughts.

So keep Chanting. Be steady with your Chanting in association of devotees & also in my association.

‘loot sako to loot lo’ (You may take full advantage of this opportunity, which has come knocking at your door) that is the thing. So, take advantage. Just by sitting at home you are getting so much benefit. When you will get opportunity like this of getting association every day. You all should take full advantage of it.

I will have to close this Japa-talk soon as we have to greet Radha-Rasbihari. Also I will have to sing Guru Pooja Kirtan & in evening also we have Kirtan, beginning at 7.30pm. Let’s see what all things we can do. All day there are meetings also. So, day is packed.

All the talks that we had been giving, includes various thoughts, guidelines, various training points, different inspirational statements. Because we go on talking every day, we try to say something different, new or additional which you should be welcoming. However, whatever has been said in the past, we have said 100 times, as we have passed 100 days of Japa conference. Every day we have said something substantial, something useful, something meaningful, some practical tips. So, you should go back to those. You should remember, you should contemplate on that.

Some of you are making notes. Otherwise you also know, you must know, we had been posting transcriptions of these Japa talk in English, Hindi & Russian. Some of the participants of this conference are taking trouble of transcribing this Japa-talks in the language that you could understand.

So you could visit Japa-talk, “Let’s Chant together”, conference, or wherever it is posted, on Lok-Sanga. So you should read through those postings & refresh your memory. Guidelines, instructions, tips, hints that we have been giving & try to follow that every day as you chant.

So, I am just saying, don’t forget training points & guidelines which are meant to help you to chant with attention & offenselessly. So that’s also part of homework. Chanting is a homework & wherever we had been Chanting, revisit in your mind & try to remember. But in this age we can not rely upon our memory. We don’t have sharp intelligence. So better you write it down. Or whatever has been said or transcribed, you should make copy of that. Put that in your file those print outs & read & follow. Prabhupada used to say,’If you want to remember something, write it down.’

Hare Krishna! Thank you.

YOU DO AS I DID!

Hare Krishna! All participants have one target, not a big one. Just get one more. Each one of you get one more, your godbrother, godsister, your devotee friends, your near and dear ones to attend the conference and we will be able to achieve the target of this month. Remember that is also our target – to encourage others to join.

I am on the way to Mumbai. I was going to travel by train this morning, but then I would have missed this japa session, so I cancelled my train travel, instead I am here at Surat airport, so that I can fly to Mumbai later after attending the conference with you. I made this change, just to chant with you.

I am just sitting here in a park on a bench. This situation reminded me of Srila Prabhupada sitting
in New York, also in some park on a bench. Of course that time Srila Prabhupada was not surrounded by any followers. When he sat in Tompkins Square Park, there was no one to sit and chant with him. One day one gentleman was sitting on the same bench and Prabhupada was talking , ‘I have so many temples all over the world and so many followers all over the planet.’ Prabhupada was sharing his vision as he was ‘trikalajnana’ ( knower of past, present and future).

Prabhupada was sharing the future of the Hare Krishna movement. Gentleman sitting there asked ‘ Where are the temples?’ Prabhupada said, ‘Only time separates me from those temples and my followers. In due course of time there will be temples and followers all over the world.’ Now in Surat also there is temple and followers of Prabhupada. My thought was in the Bhagavatam, it’s a long story.

satyam vidhatum nija-bhrtya-bhasitam
vyaptim ca bhutesv akhilesu catmanah
Adrsyatatyadbhuta-rupam udvahan
stambhe sabhayam na mrgam na manusam

To prove that the statement of His servant Prahlad Maharaj was substantial – in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall – the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.8.17)
Lord Narasimha appeared to make the statement of his devotees true . He was asked, where is your Lord? He replied everywhere.

“Is he present in this pillar?”
“Yes! Why not , in this pillar also” Prahlad replied this way. In order to make statement of His devotee true, the Lord appeared as Narasimha from the pillar. Right out of the pillar! Brahma had also said, that you will not die inside the house , outside the house , in the sky or on the land, not in the morning or at night..,…. and on and on there is a big list. Lord had to appear to do the vinasaya ch duskrutam. ( B.G. 4.8) So the Lord appeared. He fulfilled all the conditions agreed upon by Brahma. The Lord kept all those conditions intact to keep Brahma’s boon given to Hiranyakasipu intact and still did the killing also.

Sattyam vidhatum Prabhupada said , “Oh! I have temples everywhere! “ So the Lord in order to make Srila
Prabhupada’s statement true that there are temples everywhere, devotees everywhere and books are being distributed, prasada is being distributed. . Prabhupada said this, so to make his statement true this Hare Krishna movement is spreading, and the Lord is getting everything done.

The Lord is behind this. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is getting it done. He is behind the Hare Krishna’ movement and with the Hare Krishna movement. He is making sure, whatever Prabhupada said , is being made a reality.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHANA KRISHANA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

But originally, it is the prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that My name will reach everywhere. Srila Prabhupada made his mission to make Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction true. Prabhupada also knew that if Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said , that My name is going to be chanted everywhere, then there are going to be temples and Bhagavatam recitation and prasada distribution and Ratha -Yatras. So not only holy name is going to reach everywhere, but there will be temples, Ratha-Yatras and book distribution. This was the vision and prediction. Prabhupada shared the Lord’s vision and in order to realize the Lord’s vision , he was working hard. He established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada made the Lord’s will his will. He became the executer of the will of the Lord. Father’s will is executed by the children, so Prabhupada is a good son of the Lord, as Jesus was the son of the Lord. Prabhupada was a good son who worked on bringing the will of the Lord true. So the Lord is cooperating. Now we the followers of Prabhupada have to make Srila Prabhupada’s will our will and we have to work on execution of the will of the Lord and Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada would say,“ You do as I did.” So we are eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada. To become free from this debt, he said, “ You do as I did.”

So let’s all push on this movement of Srila Prabhupada for the welfare of society. We will have to
stop now. I have to catch flight, and have to reach lotus Feet of Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari. So see you another day.

Hare Krishna!

SRAVANAM- KIRTANAM LEADS TO SMARANAM

I welcome you all and thank you for chanting with us. You should endeavour to make participants number more than 500 and by end of May our count of japa-yogi’s on this Japa club should go beyond 600. By end of June , we should be crossing 700. So if we all have a common vision, then we can work towards that goal. In Marathi it is said, “ prayatnanti parameshwar!” ( By endeavouring hard, one can even get supreme Lord.) Ultimately our goal is Parameshwar Sri Krsna. Krsna Kanhaiya Lal ki jay!!

I am here in Surat chanting with devotees from Surat. Yesterday there was a nice and beautiful Utsav. We were celebrating Jayapataka Swami Maharaj’s seventieth Birthday. I have been saying this, ‘from utsav comes utsaha.’ What do we gain from Festivals? Enthusiasm. Even to say word, ‘Utsaha’ you have to have enthusiasm. You are sitting dull , but to say the word utsaha you have to be upright. That is the effect of the word utsaha. We can say, taking part in utsav is part of the preparation of the next morning’s japa. We should engage in only such activities , which will give us enthusiasm, so that when we sit for chanting the next morning, we will chant with enthusiasm. After participating in utsav, that
should give us enthusiasm for chanting the next day.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHANA KRISHANA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

How was this morning’s japa for all of you? Was there any difference? Did anyone have some special feelings or experience?

One of the devotees shared that yesterday’s celebrations made him more enthusiastic, for today’s japa. Prabhuji was sitting straight, alert, taking in a lot of air by breathing deep. When you sit straight, you can take lot of air in then with enthusiasm you can utter the mahamantra. So that was the result of yesterday’s celebrations for this Prabhuji. You have to sit straight like a yogi, so now when you look at someone sitting like this you should identify him as a yogi.

Other devotee shared, that he was able to concentrate better, that was also due to association of devotees.

Someone asked , ‘How to be enthusiastic?’ The answer given was , -you should associate with someone, who is enthusiastic. What will be the fruit of this? You will also become enthusiastic. So you should associate with those, who are Chanting with enthusiasm. Someone shared while chanting that his mind goes away, here and there at times. I answered that it was good. Your mind doesn’t go away all the time , but sometimes. Every
time the mind goes away, don’t let it go. Be enthusiastic. Enthusiastically and intelligently try to bring the mind back. Every time it goes, try to drag the mind back, from wherever it goes. Or you could chant louder, distract your mind, or attract your mind with the mahamantra. Wake up your mind. Ask the mind, “What are you thinking?” The thing is earlier we have never stopped the mind. It has been spoilt. We have encouraged all these

bad habits of the mind as there was no restrictions. But NOW we have to put restrictions. So while doing Japa this tug of war goes on – the mind on one side and Krsna on the other side. Mind wants to become Bahirmukh.

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

When we become Bahirmukh, then we desire to enjoy this and that, then immediately Maya grabs you, controls you, compels you. The mind’s business is like this, it keeps running behind Maya. We have to endeavour to please Krsna.

ātmendriya-prīti-vāñchā — tāre bali ‘kāma’
kṛṣṇendriya-prīti-icchā dhare ‘prema’ nāma

The desire to gratify one’s own senses is kāma [lust], but the desire to please the senses of
Lord Kṛṣṇa is prema [love]. (CC Adi 4.165)

I had one thought that this could be my last day in this body. It could be my last chance to chant and remember. I think like that. It is possible. You could leave this body any day. It’s not just my thought. Make it very serious. Try to chant the holy name with concentration, thinking that this is my last chance. Then we will be able to become more serious.

While chanting someone asked, “I remember the deities. Is it allright?” I said, Perfectly all right. Very good.” So while chanting if you remember pastimes of the Lord, then it’s good.
Sravanam, kirtanam leads to smaranam.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHANA KRISHANA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

So when you remember, you should understand the fruit of saying and hearing Hare Krsna is smaranam. If you stop sravan and Kirtan then the smaranam will also stop. Basis of smaranam is sravanam and kirtanam. So we have to remember this outcome. We have to keep chanting and hearing so that we keep remembering also.
We look forward to chant with you another day. Learn to join the conference because this is to reform your japa. Chant Hare Krsna and be happy.

Hare Krishna!

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!