-C.A.R.E.
Submitted by Dr. Supriya Likhar, State College, Pennsylvania (U.S.) March 28, 2008
Bhagavad-gita As It Is By: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Submitted March 9, 2008 TRANSLATION
I can find no means to drive
away this grief which is drying
up my senses. I will not be able
to destroy it even if I win an
unrivaled kingdom on earth with
sovereignty like the demigods in
heaven.
PURPORT
Although Arjuna was putting
forward so many arguments based
on knowledge of the principles
of religion and moral codes, it
appears that he was unable to
solve his real problem without
the help of the spiritual
master, Lord Sri Krsna. He could
understand that his so-called
knowledge was useless in driving
away his problems, which were
drying up his whole existence;
and it was impossible for him to
solve such perplexities without
the help of a spiritual master
like Lord Krsna. Academic
knowledge, scholarship, high
position, etc., are all useless
in solving the problems of life;
help can only be given by a
spiritual master like Krsna.
Therefore, the conclusion is
that a spiritual master who is
one hundred percent Krsna
conscious is the bona fide
spiritual master, for he can
solve the problems of life. Lord
Caitanya said that one who is
master in the science of Krsna
consciousness, regardless of his
social position, is the real
spiritual master.
kiba vipra, kiba nyasi,
"It
does not matter whether a person
is a vipra
(learned scholar in Vedic
wisdom) or is born in a lower
family, or is in the renounced
order of life -- if he is master
in the science of Krsna, he is
the perfect and bona fide
spiritual master." So without
being a master in the science of
Krsna consciousness, no one is a
bona fide spiritual master. It
is also said in Vedic
literatures:
sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah
avaisnavo gurur na syad
vaisnavah sva-paco guruh
"A
scholarly brahmana,
expert in all subjects of Vedic
knowledge, is unfit to become a
spiritual master without being a
Vaisnava, or expert in the
science of Krsna consciousness.
But a person born in a family of
a lower caste can become a
spiritual master if he is a
Vaisnava, or Krsna conscious."
The
problems of material existence
-- birth, old age, disease and
death -- cannot be counteracted
by accumulation of wealth and
economic development. In many
parts of the world there are
states which are replete with
all facilities of life, which
are full of wealth, and
economically developed, yet the
problems of material existence
are still present. They are
seeking peace in different ways,
but they can achieve real
happiness only if they consult
Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita
and Srimad-Bhagavatam
-- which constitute the science
of Krsna -- or the bona fide
representative of Krsna, the man
in Krsna consciousness.
If
economic development and
material comforts could drive
away one's lamentations for
family, social, national or
international inebrieties, then
Arjuna would not have said that
even an unrivaled kingdom on
earth or supremacy like that of
the demigods in the heavenly
planets would not be able to
drive away his lamentations. He
sought, therefore, refuge in
Krsna consciousness, and that is
the right path for peace and
harmony. Economic development or
supremacy over the world can be
finished at any moment by the
cataclysms of material nature.
Even elevation into a higher
planetary situation, as men are
now seeking a place on the moon
planet, can also be finished at
one stroke. The Bhagavad-gita
confirms this: ksine punye
martya-lokam visanti.
"When the results of pious
activities are finished, one
falls down again from the peak
of happiness to the lowest
status of life." Many
politicians of the world have
fallen down in that way. Such
downfalls only constitute more
causes for lamentation.
Therefore, if we want to curb
lamentation for good, then we
have to take shelter of Krsna,
as Arjuna is seeking to do. So
Arjuna asked Krsna to solve his
problem definitely, and that is
the way of Krsna consciousness.
Posted
February 28, 2008
"Understanding the exchanges of transcendental
loving service with Krsna is possible only when one is
actually in touch with the pleasure potency of the
Supreme Lord. In this connection Sri Rupa Gosvami gives
an example of the clouds in the sky; the clouds in the
sky arise from the ocean, and when the clouds become
water again and fall to the ground, they glide back to
the ocean. Similarly, the pleasure potency of Krsna is
compared with the ocean. The pure devotee is the
pleasure-possessing cloud, and when he is filled with
transcendental loving service, then he can bestow his
mercy as a downpour of rain -- and the pleasure potency
returns to the ocean of Krsna."
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
TRANSLATION
In this
endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little
advancement on this path can protect one from the most
dangerous type of fear.
PURPORT
Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the
benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense
gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of
work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no
impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any
stage. Any work begun on the material plane has to be
completed, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a
failure. But any work begun in Krsna consciousness has a
permanent effect, even though not finished. The
performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even
if his work in Krsna consciousness is incomplete. One
percent done in Krsna consciousness bears permanent
results, so that the next beginning is from the point of
two percent; whereas, in material activity, without a
hundred percent success, there is no profit. Ajamila
performed his duty in some percentage of Krsna
consciousness, but the result he enjoyed at the end was
a hundred percent, by the grace of the Lord. There is a
nice verse in this connection in
Srimad-Bhagavatam:
 tyaktva
sva-dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann
apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi yatra
kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim ko
vartha apto 'bhajatam sva-dharmatah
"If someone gives up self-gratificatory
pursuits and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls
down on account of not completing his work, what loss is
there on his part? And, what can one gain if one
performs his material activities perfectly?" (Bhag.
1.5.17) Or, as the Christians say, "What profiteth a man
if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his
eternal soul?"
Material activities and
their results end with the body. But work in Krsna
consciousness carries a person again to Krsna
consciousness, even after the loss of the body. At least
one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being
born again as a human being, either in the family of a
great cultured brahmana or in a rich aristocratic
family that will give one a further chance for
elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in
Krsna consciousness.
January
26, 2008 Disappearance Day of Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja
Srila
Narrottama dasa Thakura prays, "Please give
me the association of Ramacandra Kaviraja.
Please place me with him."
Abhaya-caranaravinda re (the place of
fearlessness – the lotus feet of Sri Krsna).
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada
gave this name, Abhaya Caranaravinda, to
Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami
Maharaja.
Excerpt from the Bhagavad-gita
As It Is
All glories to His
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada, our greatest
savior!
December 2007
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
By
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Chapter 2, Text 7
TRANSLATION
Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all
composure because of weakness. In this condition I am
asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I
am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You.
Please instruct me.
PURPORT
By nature's own way the complete system of material
activities is a source of perplexity for everyone. In
every step there is perplexity, and therefore it
behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master
who can give one proper guidance for executing the
purpose of life. All Vedic literatures advise us to
approach a bona fide spiritual master to get free from
the perplexities of life which happen without our
desire. They are like a forest fire that somehow blazes
without being set by anyone. Similarly, the world
situation is such that perplexities of life
automatically appear, without our wanting such
confusion. No one wants fire, and yet it takes place,
and we become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom therefore
advises that in order to solve the perplexities of life
and to understand the science of the solution, one must
approach a spiritual master who is in the disciplic
succession. A person with a bona fide spiritual master
is supposed to know everything. One should not,
therefore, remain in material perplexities but should
approach a spiritual master. This is the purport of this
verse.
Who is the man in material
perplexities? It is he who does not understand the
problems of life. In the Garga Upanisad
the perplexed man is described as follows:
yo va etad aksaram gargy aviditvasmal lokat praiti sa
krpanah.
"He is a miserly man who
does not solve the problems of life as a human and who
thus quits this world like the cats and dogs, without
understanding the science of self-realization." This
human form of life is a most valuable asset for the
living entity who can utilize it for solving the
problems of life; therefore, one who does not utilize
this opportunity properly is a miser. On the other hand,
there is the brahmana,
or he who is intelligent enough to utilize this body to
solve all the problems of life.
The krpanas, or
miserly persons, waste their time in being overly
affectionate for family, society, country, etc., in the
material conception of life. One is often attached to
family life, namely to wife, children and other members,
on the basis of "skin disease." The krpana thinks
that he is able to protect his family members from
death; or the krpana thinks that his family or
society can save him from the verge of death. Such
family attachment can be found even in the lower animals
who take care of children also. Being intelligent,
Arjuna could understand that his affection for family
members and his wish to protect them from death were the
causes of his perplexities. Although he could understand
that his duty to fight was awaiting him, still, on
account of miserly weakness, he could not discharge the
duties. He is therefore asking Lord Krsna, the supreme
spiritual master, to make a definite solution. He offers
himself to Krsna as a disciple. He wants to stop
friendly talks. Talks between the master and the
disciple are serious, and now Arjuna wants to talk very
seriously before the recognized spiritual master. Krsna
is therefore the original spiritual master of the
science of Bhagavad-gita, and Arjuna is the first
disciple for understanding the Gita. How Arjuna
understands the Bhagavad-gita is stated in the
Gita itself. And yet foolish mundane scholars
explain that one need not submit to Krsna as a person,
but to "the unborn within Krsna." There is no difference
between Krsna's within and without. And one who has no
sense of this understanding is the greatest fool in
trying to understand
Bhagavad-gita.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
TRANSLATION
 For
the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having
once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn,
eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not
slain when the body is slain.
PURPORT
Qualitatively, the
small atomic fragmental part of the Supreme Spirit is
one with the Supreme. He undergoes no changes like the
body. Sometimes the soul is called the steady, or
kutastha.
The body is subject to six kinds of transformations. It
takes its birth in the womb of the mother's body,
remains for some time, grows, produces some effects,
gradually dwindles, and at last vanishes into oblivion.
The soul, however, does not go through such changes. The
soul is not born, but, because he takes on a material
body, the body takes its birth. The soul does not take
birth there, and the soul does not die. Anything which
has birth also has death. And because the soul has no
birth, he therefore has no past, present or future. He
is eternal, ever-existing, and primeval -- that is,
there is no trace in history of his coming into being.
Under the impression of the body, we seek the history of
birth, etc., of the soul. The soul does not at any time
become old, as the body does. The so-called old man,
therefore, feels himself to be in the same spirit as in
his childhood or youth. The changes of the body do not
affect the soul. The soul does not deteriorate like a
tree, nor anything material. The soul has no by-product
either. The by-products of the body, namely children,
are also different individual souls; and, owing to the
body, they appear as children of a particular man. The
body develops because of the soul's presence, but the
soul has neither offshoots nor change. Therefore, the
soul is free from the six changes of the body.
In the Katha Upanisad
also we find a similar passage which reads:
a jayate mriyate va vipascin
nayam kutascin na vibhuva kascit ajo nityah sasvato 'yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sarire
The meaning and purport of
this verse is the same as in the Bhagavad-gita,
but here in this verse there is one special word,
vipascit,
which means learned or with knowledge.
The soul is full of
knowledge, or full always with consciousness. Therefore,
consciousness is the symptom of the soul. Even if one
does not find the soul within the heart, where he is
situated, one can still understand the presence of the
soul simply by the presence of consciousness. Sometimes
we do not find the sun in the sky owing to clouds, or
for some other reason, but the light of the sun is
always there, and we are convinced that it is therefore
daytime. As soon as there is a little light in the sky
early in the morning, we can understand that the sun is
in the sky. Similarly, since there is some consciousness
in all bodies -- whether man or animal -- we can
understand the presence of the soul. This consciousness
of the soul is, however, different from the
consciousness of the Supreme because the supreme
consciousness is all-knowledge -- past, present and
future. The consciousness of the individual soul is
prone to be forgetful. When he is forgetful of his real
nature, he obtains education and enlightenment from the
superior lessons of Krsna. But Krsna is not like the
forgetful soul. If so, Krsna's teachings of
Bhagavad-gita
would be useless.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Translation and Excerpt from Purport: Chapter Two, Text 7
TRANSLATION
Now I am confused about my duty
and have lost all composure because
of weakness. In this condition I am
asking You to tell me clearly what
is best for me. Now I am Your
disciple, and a soul surrendered
unto You. Please instruct me.
PURPORT
By nature's own way the complete
system of material activities is a
source of perplexity for everyone.
In every step there is perplexity,
and therefore it behooves one to
approach a bona fide spiritual
master who can give one proper
guidance for executing the purpose
of life. All Vedic literatures
advise us to approach a bona fide
spiritual master to get free from
the perplexities of life which
happen without our desire. They are
like a forest fire that somehow
blazes without being set by anyone.
Similarly, the world situation is
such that perplexities of life
automatically appear, without our
wanting such confusion. No one wants
fire, and yet it takes place, and we
become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom
therefore advises that in order to
solve the perplexities of life and
to understand the science of the
solution, one must approach a
spiritual master who is in the
disciplic succession. A person with
a bona fide spiritual master is
supposed to know everything. One
should not, therefore, remain in
material perplexities but should
approach a spiritual master. This is
the purport of this verse.
Submitted by Sriji dasi, North Carolina, U.S.
LET
LUST LEAVE March 28, 2007: Krsna becomes obliged to the loving spirit of the devotee and not exactly to the service rendered. No one can serve Krsna completely. He is so complete and self-sufficient that He has no need of any service from the devotee. It is the devotee's attitude of love and affection for Krsna that makes Him obliged. A very nice example of this obligatory behavior was manifested when Sudama Vipra went to Krsna's palace. Sudama Vipra had been a class friend of Krsna's, and due to his poverty he was induced by his wife to see Krsna to request some aid. When Sudama Vipra reached Krsna's palace, Krsna received him very well, and both He and His wife washed the feet of Sudama Vipra, showing respect to the brahmana. Remembering His loving affairs with Sudama in their childhood, Krsna began to shed tears while receiving him. Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 22 (Qualities of Krsna Further Explained) In the spiritual kingdom of Lord Krsna, named Goloka Vrindavana, there are surabhi cows which give unlimited quantities of milk. There are desire trees from which anyone can take all kinds of fruits, as much as he may desire. The land is made of touchstone, which when touched to iron will transform it into gold. In other words, although in the spiritual kingdom, the abode of Krsna, everything is wonderfully opulent, still when Krsna was in Dvaraka His charity exceeded the opulences of Goloka Vrindavana. Wherever Krsna is present, the limitless opulence of Goloka Vrindavana is automatically present. Nectar of Devotion Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 20 By: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada When a person feels transcendental bliss, that is called "relishing the mellow"...This relishing of transcendental mellow in discharging devotional service cannot be experienced by all classes of men, because this sweet loving mood is developed only from one's previous life's activities or by the association of unalloyed devotees. As explained above, association with pure devotees is the beginning of faith in devotional service. Only by developing such faith in the association of a pure devotee, or by having in one's previous life executed devotional activities, can one actually relish the mellow of devotional service. In other words, this transcendental bliss is not to be enjoyed by any common man unless he is so extraordinarily fortunate as to be in association with devotees or to be continuing his previous birth's devotional activities."
March
13, 2007
In his book
Saranagati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura stated: March 11, 2007 Pujari from Sri Adwaita Acarya's house in Santipura, West Bengal
by
Mulaprakrti devi dasi
This
story was heard in Mayapura in 1980. A man came to the
ISKCON's Caitanya Candrodoya Mandira carrying with him a
copy of the Back of Godhead article about Srila
Prabhupada, entitled A Lifetime in Preparation.
"Just
recently an amazing realization occurred to me that I
wanted to share with devotees everywhere. I have been
the pujari and sevaite at the house of Adwaita Acarya
for many years. I was also there back in the 1940's and
50's.
At
that time, I noticed that one grhasta Bengali devotee
used to come to the temple quite regularly. He was
dressed in a white khadi dhoti and kurta and he always
came alone. He would sit in the back of the Mandira
without speaking, and would chant harinama on his mala
very quietly and deeply. I noticed that he came on the
weekends, usually once every month or two in regular
way. After chanting there for many hours, he would
always thank me when he left.
His
presence was profound and I became attracted to him.
Since his devotions were
solitary, I never spoke to disturb him. Sometimes I
happened to notice that while he was chanting, his eyes
would be full of tears and his voice would be choked
up."
"Then, for a very long time he did not come. However, I
distinctly recall that in August of 1965, I saw a
saffron-clothed sannyasi sitting in the back of the
Mandira. In a moment I recognized him to be my old
friend from before. Again he sat for a long time
chanting Hare Krsna. I could see his beads moving, his
eyes closed in concentrated devotion. He was weeping
unabashedly even more than he used to while he took the
Holy Name. Finally, as evening came, he paid his
dandavat pranama for long time. When he arose he came up
to me and again thanked me for my seva here at Adwaita
Bhavan. I asked him. Who are you? I remember you from so
long ago.'"
"He
replied, 'My name is Abaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta
Swami Maharaja. I am
an
unworthy disciple of His Divine Grace Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada, my
divine master. I have been coming here for such a long
time because my Gurudeva has given me an impossible
mission. His desire was for me to go across the ocean to
the Western countries and spread the sublime teachings
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are countless souls
there who have never heard of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and so
they are suffering greatly. I have not known how this
mission of his will be successful, so I have been coming
here to this special house of Adwaita Acarya, where he,
Nityananda Prabhu, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would
gather together to plan the sankirtana movement. It was
here that they launched the inundation of love of God
that swept India and continues to this day. Thus, I have
been praying very earnestly here that they will all give
me their mercy that somehow they will empower me and
guide me. I want to satisfy my gurudeva's desire, but I
am feeling unqualified to do this.'"
"As
he was speaking to me, I saw tears falling down on his
cheeks again.
Then
he continued, 'Tomorrow I am leaving for Calcutta to go
upon a ship across the ocean to America. I do not know
what will befall me there, but I am praying most
earnestly here for help.' Then he very humbly asked me
for my blessings. I was indeed moved by this Vaisnava's
sincerity and determination was I watched him depart
upon his journey."
"It
was a few years later that I began noticing, for the
first time, white Vaisnavas coming to Adwaita Bhavan.
They were wearing dhotis and saris and chanting on
tulasi-mala. I never spoke to any of them but then one
of them gave me this "Back to Godhead" magazine from
America. As I looked at the photographs, suddenly I
recognized a painting of the Founder-Acarya who had
brought Krsna consciousness to the West. It was a
picture of my friend, Bhaktivedanta Swami, who had come
and prayed here so many times before. Then I realized
that he has actually accomplished that impossible
mission of his Gurudeva. I saw that it was indeed he,
starting alone and without pretense, who had
accomplished this glorious miracle against all odds."
"As
soon as I saw this, I came here to his temple in
Mayapura to tell you this information. I know that he
has gone from this world now, but I thought perhaps you
might want to know this story about your and my beloved
Srila Prabhupada."
Early Writings by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada One may not misunderstand the meaning of transcendental service. There is distinct difference between material service and transcendental service although both of them are observed as one and the same by the common man. Every individual living entity is constitutionally meant for service. He is eternally the servitor of the Supreme Lord but somehow or other when he comes in contact with material nature, his service is exploited by the material nature as the service of a prisoner in the jail is exploited by the jail authorities. Service in the jail is not only exploitative but also troublesome not suiting the constitution of the particular man. In the same way service of the material world is not only troublesome for the servitor but also it is unsuitable for the constitution of the living entity. Transcendental service is encouraging, satisfactory and suitable to the very constitution of the living being. Back to
Godhead Magazine
January
4, 2007 Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.47.61 āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām ahaḿ syāḿ vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām yā dustyajaḿ sva-janam ārya-pathaḿ ca hitvā bhejur mukunda-padavīḿ śrutibhir vimṛgyām TRANSLATION The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, because the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet. PURPORT The word meanings and translation for this verse are taken from Śrīla Prabhupāda's English rendering of Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 7.47). Śrī Uddhava here shows the perfect Vaiṣṇava attitude of humility. He does not pray to be equal to the gopīs in their exalted stage of love, but rather to take birth as a bush or creeper in Vṛndāvana so that when they walk upon him he will get the dust of their feet and thus be blessed. The shy gopīs would never agree to give such blessings to a great personality like Uddhava; therefore he cleverly sought to get such mercy by taking birth as a plant in Vṛndāvana.
January
4, 2007
avad-brahma-katha vimukti-padavi tavan na tikti-bhavet As long as one has not seen a devotee of Lord Gauranga, he will be bound by social and Vedic convention, blindly following formalities and traditions without understanding their purpose. As long as
one never sees one of the beelike devotees addicted to
drinking the nectar from the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga, he
will be forced to walk in endless circles on the
labyrinthine paths of dry Vedic scholarship, wasting "Krishna is ready to talk with you. He has come. He has descended in arca-murti to talk with you, to be visible by you. Now you make yourself ready and fit to talk with Krishna. Then He will exchange conversation. This is possible." Srila Prabhupada, Bombay, December 4, 1974 November 30, 2006 Fate can be changed by Krishna consciousness. Krishna says, "I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed. When you surrender to Krishna, He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. Surrender to Krishna; then your fate is changed. From a letter by Srila Prabhupada, November 28, 1975
November 30,
2006
ajanu-lambita-bhujau kanakavadatau
sankirtanaika-pitarau
kamalayatakasau
visvambharau dvija-varau
yuga-dharma-palau
vande jagat-priya-karau
karunavatarau
I worship Their Lordships Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose
long arms extend down to Their knees, whose beautiful
complexions have the color and radiance of molten gold
and whose elongated eyes are like red lotuses. They have
graciously initiated the congregational chanting of the
holy names of Lord Krsna. They are the maintainers of
the universe, the topmost of the brahmanas, the
guardians of religious principles for this age, the
munificent benefactors of all living entities, and the
most merciful and compassionate incarnations of Godhead.
Transcript of Srimad-Bhagavatam class by Rukmini devi dasi
Date: October 7, 2006
ISKCON New Vrindaban
Vaishnavi Retreat 2006
atmanam ced vijaniyat
param jnana-dhutasayah
kim icchan kasya va hetor deham pusnati lampatah
TRANSLATION: The human form of
body is meant for understanding the self and
the Supreme Self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, both of whom are transcendentally situated. If both of them can be understood when one is purified by advanced knowledge, for what reason and for whom does a foolish, greedy person maintain the body for sense gratification?
PURPORT: Of
course, everyone in this material world is interested in
maintaining the body for sense gratification, but by cultivating knowledge one should gradually understand that the body is not the self. Both the soul and the Supersoul are transcendental to the material world. This is to be understood in the human form of life, especially when one takes sannyasa. A sannyasi, one who has understood the self, should be engaged in elevating the self and associating with the Superself. Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for elevating the living being for promotion back home, back to Godhead. Seeking such elevation is one’s duty in the human form of life. Unless one performs this duty, why should one maintain the body? Especially if a sannyasi not only maintains the body by ordinary means but does everything to maintain the body, including even eating meat and other abominable things, he must be a lampatah, a greedy person simply engaged in sense gratification. A sannyasi must specifically remove himself from the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals, which disturb one as long as one is not fully aware that the body is separate from the soul.
Rukmini Mataji: In
this chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam we are continuing to
hear the instructions of Narada Muni to Maharaja Yudhisthira, “Instructions for Civilized Human Beings.” There’s a question asked in this text. [Repeats translation]
So I want to ask you for what reason
and for whom, generally as we observe
in this world, for what and for whom are people maintaining the body for sense gratification? [someone gives answer]
Yes, right, for themselves, their
extended family and community. People are
thinking that I’ll save money for my children and grandchildren, and all will enjoy. But so often there’s very little gratitude from the family as our constitutional nature is higher, we are eternal servants of Krsna. So this greedy motivation doesn’t satisfy the self.
My mother-in-law was very sweet and
actively saved a treasured set of china
plates for each of her children. She had three children and gave one to each of them. Now this set had been used for 50 years for eating meat so I was less than enthusiastic, and I think the others threw them in the basement, and she was hurt by this. As a devotee we have to think that my love is meant for Krsna. Not that we shouldn’t love our children, but we should act in such a way as to give this kind of love to them.
There’s another story in India that
Srila Prabhupada told how the
grandfather is treated like a household dog. The grandfather is lying on the verandah and it’s getting cold. So the father tells his son to go get a blanket for the grandfather and the son says, “I’ll take him half a blanket, the other half is for you.” This is ingratitude. So we have to give our children Krsna consciousness; then we’re giving them a love that will outlast us and propel them to Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada, once here in New
Vrindaban, saw two kittens playing and
wrestling on the grass and he said there is love and happiness in the material world. Everyone was surprised to hear this from him, but then he said that this happiness is like drops of water in the desert, it doesn’t satisfy the self.
Once Srila Prabhupada was asked after
a lecture what was the purpose of
life. The devotees expected him to say for realize the Lord or something similar, but he said the purpose of life is to enjoy. He explained it in a dynamic way, that the purpose of life is to enjoy, to come to our real position in relation to Krsna. Krsna plays so many pranks, he’s so charming, he has so much fun, he’s so attractive. The idea is that our minds should also become attracted to that and we should go back to him and enjoy as one of his friends, lovers, parents, servants, cows, etc.
So we should take this as our urgent
need, to be able to taste that love and
give our family the type of love that will take them back to Godhead, not the type of love that will be an extension of our ego. An old Jewish lady who comes to our store told me that her son was a doctor before he was born. [laughter] So this is a very needy love, a need-based love; we have to go beyond this to try to love purely without strings attached.
Rumi tells a story that there was a
very wealthy doctor who brought his son
to the Islamic school to learn about God. So the Imam put him to cleaning the bathrooms. The father returned some time later and was very surprised to see this and said, “I could bring you ten Turkish slaves to clean the bathroom, why have you put my son there?” The Imam replied that “If you have a patient who is very sick and give the medicine to the Turkish slaves, then? So your son has the disease of arrogance so to teach him gratitude and humility this is the process.”
In Bhagavad-gita we hear the analogy
that the body is like a chariot, senses
are like five horses pulling it, mind is like the reins, intelligence is supposed to be the driver, and the real person is the passenger. If we are not dictating where we want to go, if they drag us here and there as they like, then we will fall off the cliff. So we have to dictate that Krsna is what we want, Srila Prabhupada’s service is what we want.
So in this purport Srila Prabhupada is
quoting the verse from Nectar of
Instruction:
vaco vegam manasah krodha vegam
jihva vegam udaropastha vegam etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat
The verse says that if someone can
control the pushings of the voice, mind,
anger, tongue, belly and gentitals, then he is qualified to accept disciples all over the world. Srila Prabhupada is the example of this real sannyasa.
Once Srila Prabhupada was asked why
all these people are worshipping him and
he said, “Because I have given up sex desire.”
The unqualified sannyasi, the greedy
pseudo-sannyasi, is so greedy that he
even eats meat. Prabhupada in particular is talking about a certain mission in India which does a lot of humanitarian work, but he expertly doesn’t mention them by name as he said if you kill a skunk your hand will smell. So this order is very active in Bengal. In India many people have Tulasi at home, but this leader said, “Why grow Tulasi? Grow eggplant, at least you will have something to eat.” He was trying to destroy the natural bhakti of the people. He especially mentions eggplant as eggplant is only for taste; it doesn’t have much nutrition.
Prabhupada would tell the story of the
cheater and cheated. Some people
would dress up as sannyasis and congregate where other sannyasis were, but their purpose was to attract women. At the same time there are some women who think it would be good to have a child by a sannyasi–the child will be powerful–and they go this place but ultimately get cheated by these false sannyasis. If you want to love Krsna, he will reciprocate in full. But if you want to cheat him, he will cheat you.
In Bengal there is a saying, “Biral
tapasvi”, the cat renunciate. I’ve seen this, a cat on the bank of the Ganga waiting near the mouse hole, poised just like in meditation staring into that mouse hole. Why is he a cheater? As he is only fixed on sense gratification. The object is just sense gratifi |
