KEY TAKEAWAYS from HH Harivilas Maharaj’s Morning Bhagavatam class on SB 1:19:25
- Sukhdev Goswami was disinterested in the affairs of this material world and self-satisfied by the great achievements of the devotional service.
- Śukadeva Gosvāmī never accepted any formal spiritual master. His father, Vyāsadeva, was his natural spiritual master because Śukadeva Gosvāmī heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from him. After this, he became completely self-satisfied
- Krsna says He cannot be seen simply studying vedas or performing penances
- Material elevation to life as a brāhmaṇa, demigod, ṛṣi and so on are not causes for developing love of Godhead, but if one sincerely engages in the service of the Lord, his Kṛṣṇa consciousness is complete.
- If one does not develop his love for Kṛṣṇa, these other processes are simply a waste of time.
- The test of perfection is one’s unalloyed devotion to the Lord
- One can very intelligently conclude that without devotional service, without becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, one cannot be happy.
- The transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord cannot be understood by foolish people who deride the Lord.
- For Vedic philosophers Krsna is a problem
- Unitelligent think that Krsna was impersonal before and later assumed the personal form
- Gnanis think that the absolute truth is not a person
- Krsna is the master of Yoga maya potency. To see Him two Mayas have to be uncovered (Mahamaya and Yogamaya)
- Only by one to whom He reveals Himself can He be seen.
- Krsna Consciousness is revelation theology, it is not based on following formularies. Based on sincere devotion of the lord.
- Any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation
- A bonafide spiritual master must be deeply experienced in scriptural knowledge and practical realization of the Personality of Godhead, to be able to dissipate the doubts of his disciples and eexecute the function of bringing the sincere student back home, back to Godhead.
SB 1.19.25 Translation
At that moment there appeared the powerful son of Vyāsadeva, who traveled over the earth disinterested and satisfied with himself. He did not manifest any symptoms of belonging to any social order or status of life. He was surrounded with women and children, and he dressed as if others had neglected him.
CLASS NOTES:
(SB 1.19.25) Śukadeva Gosvāmī never accepted any formal spiritual master
Śukadeva Gosvāmī never accepted any formal spiritual master, nor did he undergo any formal reformatory performances. His father, Vyāsadeva, was his natural spiritual master because Śukadeva Gosvāmī heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from him. After this, he became completely self-satisfied. Thus he was not dependent on any formal process. The formal processes are necessary for those who are expected to reach the stage of complete liberation, but Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī was already in that status by the grace of his father.
Becoming a devotee is not a simple thing for many. Although the process is simple and easy to do. Many people do not understand the goal of the process is and get side tracked by rituals, becoming a demigod, becoming a great saint. They can be very far away from
(BG 11.53) Krsna says He cannot be seen simply studying vedas or performing penances
The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am.
(SB 7.7.51 -52) Material elevation to life as a brāhmaṇa, demigod, ṛṣi and so on are not causes for developing love of Godhead, but if one sincerely engages in the service of the Lord, his Kṛṣṇa consciousness is complete.
My dear friends, O sons of the demons, you cannot please the Supreme Personality of Godhead by becoming perfect brāhmaṇas, demigods or great saints or by becoming perfectly good in etiquette or vast learning. None of these qualifications can awaken the pleasure of the Lord. Nor by charity, austerity, sacrifice, cleanliness or vows can one satisfy the Lord. The Lord is pleased only if one has unflinching, unalloyed devotion to Him. Without sincere devotional service, everything is simply a show.
Prahlāda Mahārāja concludes that one can become perfect by serving the Supreme Lord sincerely by all means. Material elevation to life as a brāhmaṇa, demigod, ṛṣi and so on are not causes for developing love of Godhead, but if one sincerely engages in the service of the Lord, his Kṛṣṇa consciousness is complete.
(BG 9.30) If one does not develop his love for Kṛṣṇa, these other processes are simply a waste of time.
“Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.” To develop unalloyed love for Kṛṣṇa is the perfection of life. Other processes may be helpful, but if one does not develop his love for Kṛṣṇa, these other processes are simply a waste of time.
Other processes – Study of vedas, charity, severe penances, etc.,
(SB 1.2.8) The test of perfection is one’s unalloyed devotion to the Lord
The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.
(SB 7.7.53) One can very intelligently conclude that without devotional service, without becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, one cannot be happy.
My dear friends, O sons of the demons, in the same favorable way that one sees himself and takes care of himself, take to devotional service to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present everywhere as the Supersoul of all living entities.
The word ātmaupamyena refers to thinking others to be like oneself. One can very intelligently conclude that without devotional service, without becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, one cannot be happy. Therefore the duty of all devotees is to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere all over the world, because all living entities without Kṛṣṇa consciousness are suffering the pangs of material existence.
(ŚB 1.2.6) The real Goal of Krsna Consciousness
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.
Devotion for lord cannot be pretended or feigned. It is something absolutely genuine. A mother’s love for the child is genuine. She is ready to sacrifice for the child.
(BG 9.11) The transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord cannot be understood by foolish people who deride the Lord.
Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.
Krishna is Sat chit Ananda Vigraha. People insult Krsna by saying he is an extra ordinary human being with some powers. He was elected to be a God. Modern philosophers like Radha Krsna wrote books insulting Krsna making speculative claims about Krsna. From impersonal form He attains a personal form. Ultimate truth is impersonal.
(BG 11.52) For Vedic philosophers Krsna is a problem
But for some who make a study of Kṛṣṇa by reading Bhagavad-gītā or similar Vedic scriptures, Kṛṣṇa is a problem. For one using a material process, Kṛṣṇa is considered to be a great historical personality and very learned philosopher, but He is an ordinary man, and even though He was so powerful He had to accept a material body. Ultimately they think that the Absolute Truth is impersonal; therefore they think that from His impersonal feature He assumed a personal feature attached to material nature.
(BG 7.24) Unitelligent think that Krsna was impersonal before and later assumed the personal form.
Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.
(BG 11.52) Gnanis think that the absolute truth is not a person
Those who are in search of knowledge also speculate on Kṛṣṇa and consider Him to be less important than the universal form of the Supreme. Thus some think that the universal form of Kṛṣṇa which was manifested to Arjuna is more important than His personal form. According to them, the personal form of the Supreme is something imaginary. They believe that in the ultimate issue, the Absolute Truth is not a person.
(BG 7.25) Krsna is the master of Yoga maya potency. To see Him two Mayas have to be uncovered (Mahamaya and Yogamaya)
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible.
To overcome the covering of maya on ourselves is impossible. It is very very impossible to uncover the yogamaya of Krsna and see Him as is. So therefore it is very difficult to become pure devotee and see Krsna as He is. Only by one to whom He reveals Hilself He can besson.
(BG 11.54) Only by one to whom He reveals Himself can He be seen.
My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding.
(Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23) Krsna Consciousness is revelation theology, it is not based on following formularies. Based on sincere devotion of the lord.
One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spiritual master, in whom he has similar unflinching faith, can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. One cannot understand Kṛṣṇa by mental speculation. For one who does not take personal training under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to even begin to understand Kṛṣṇa. The word tu is specifically used here to indicate that no other process can be used, can be recommended, or can be successful in understanding Kṛṣṇa.
Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na bahunā śrutena….
Most people ignore these things. Therefore they become entangled by the maya.
(SB 11.3.21) Any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation
Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.
Srila Prabhupada was the transparent via media. One cannot be a transparent via media even if they have one material desire. A Guru is a transparent via media.
It is very important take shelter of the bonafide spiritual master who is dedicated Srila Prabhupada.
Guru must be expert enough to dissipate the doubts of a disciple. Doubts, fears, anxiety. There are many layers of coverings.
Example – one is teaching BG AS IT IS. He is teaching mam ekam sharanam vraja. He change mam to me (himself). Adida
Lord chaitanya wanted everyone to become guru.
Guru must be expert enough to dissipate the doubts of a disciple. Doubts, fears, anxiety. There are many layers of coverings
(SB 11.3.21) A bonafide spiritual master must be deeply experienced in scriptural knowledge and practical realization of the Personality of Godhead
The bona fide spiritual master must be niṣṇātam, deeply experienced in authorized Vedic literatures and in practical understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without scriptural knowledge and practical realization of the Personality of Godhead, a so-called guru will be unable to dissipate the doubts of his disciples and therefore unable to execute the function of bringing the sincere student back home, back to Godhead. The symptom of realized understanding of the Vedas and Kṛṣṇa is upaśamāśrayam. In other words, the bona fide spiritual master is one who has retired from the glittering illusions of materialistic society, friendship and love.
(SB 11.3.21) The preliminary understanding of one’s identity as consciousness is called self-realization.
The preliminary understanding of one’s identity as consciousness is called self-realization. But beyond this elementary knowledge is the elaborate subject matter of how the soul came to exist within the cycle of 8,400,000 material species of life. And if the living entity is not the material body but consciousness, he must ultimately have an original status on a higher platform.
We fell down because of the idea of becoming a GOD. It keeps them in the material world. It is explained in BG 4.4 “Purusah prakriti sthohi… bhunkte… “ By associating with 3 modes of material nature. … Maya’s purpose is to attract the living entity to have sense gratification. Once they get attracted to those things they become entangled. To be able to get Krnsa we have to do unalloyed DS. Constant association of devotees, eating prasadam, then we have higher taste.
We have to strive to come to this platform to become active preacher. SP said it takes 100 gallon of blood to make one devotee. To make one drop of blood it takes about 2-4 pounds of. Food to make one drop of blood. No one can make blood in this world in a lab. There are some mysterious things that only Krsna can do. We should not imitate to do them. Rather we use the facilities Krsna has give us to serve Krsna. We have to serve Krsna and not maya.
BG 2.59
Though the embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.
Q&A – Does that mean there is maya in spiritual world? Question by Pankaj.
It is like – You see tesla you get attracted and try to work hard save and buy it. Thinking, feeling and willing.
BG 13.22
The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species.
That is the original reason why we came to this world. We wanted to be God.
ŚB 11.26.27
My devotees fix their minds on Me and do not depend upon anything material. They are always peaceful, endowed with equal vision, and free from possessiveness, false ego, duality and greed.
As long as we have the desire to possess things for sense gratification and exploit others for attaining those possesions, we are trapped. How can we free ourselves from that possessiveness?
If we understand. why we got trapped and how we are kept trapped by Maya and then you can see that Krsna has made that process to come out of it. Sing, Chant and Dance. The process is simple, our attachment is so strong that we cannot let go.
If we attain peace, happiness, knowledge and realization and put all that to practical application in spreading the movement then you will feel greater joy. You wont feel that you lost anything by becoming KC. You feel you gained something that is so precious and there is nothing comparable to it in the material world. At that time Krsna starts revealing to you.