KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.2.30
- Pure self-realization is the pure consciousness of admitting oneself to be the eternal servitor of the Lord.
- This stage of rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord without any hopes of emolument from the Lord, or any other way, can be attained when the material senses are purified and the original pure state of the senses is revived.
- Perfect purification of the mind is made possible when one is fixed in the conviction of being the eternal servitor of the Lord.
- Simple attainment of goodness is also a material mode; one has to surpass this stage of material goodness and reach the point of purified goodness, or vasudeva-sattva. This vasudeva-sattva helps one to enter into the kingdom of God.
- Mechanical yoga process to overcome the gross and subtle coverings as mentioned in SB 2.2.30 is not viable in the present age because of people’s being primarily unaware of yoga practice.
- The so-called yoga practice by the professional protagonists may be physiologically beneficial, but such small successes cannot help one in the attainment of spiritual emancipation.
- Lord Śrī Caitanya made it easier for the prospective devotee of the present age. He recommends that the devotee sow the seed of bhakti-yoga in his heart and nurture it by the watering of hearing and chanting the holy name, fame, etc., of the Lord. Ultimately there is no difference in the result.
- A sincere soul is helped by the Lord through meeting a bona fide spiritual master, the representative of the Lord. By the instruction of such a spiritual master, one gets the seed of bhakti-yoga.
- The simple process of offenselessly chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord will gradually promote one very soon to the stage of emancipation (liberation).
- There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord. The first stage is the offensive chanting of the holy name, and the second is the reflective stage of chanting the holy name. The third stage is the offenseless chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
- In the second stage only, one automatically attains the stage of emancipation. And in the offenseless stage, one actually enters into the kingdom of God, although physically he may apparently be within the material world.
- When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of devotees.
- When one reaches the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa at Goloka Vṛndāvana, the watering process of hearing and reading, as also chanting of the holy name in the pure devotional stage, fructifies, and the fruits grown there in the form of love of God are tangibly tasted by the devotee, even though he is here in this material world
- But the working devotee must always be mindful so that the Bhakti creeper which has so grown will not be cut off by following the 7 considerations. (Avoid Offense by one at the feet of a pure devotee… etc.,)
- By doing so, the devotee is able to relish the fruit of love of God and thus live practically with Lord Kṛṣṇa, even in this life, and be able to see the Lord in every step.
- The highest perfection of life is to enjoy life constantly in the association of the Lord, and one who can relish this does not aspire after any temporary enjoyment of the material world via other media.
- A pure devotee is constantly engaged. Sometimes he chants, sometimes he hears or reads books about Kṛṣṇa, or sometimes he cooks prasādam or goes to the marketplace to purchase something for Kṛṣṇa, or sometimes he washes the temple or the dishes – whatever he does, he does not let a single moment pass without devoting his activities to Kṛṣṇa. Such action is in full samādhi.
SB 2.2.30 TRANSLATION
The devotee, thus surpassing the gross and the subtle forms of coverings, enters the plane of egoism. And in that status he merges the material modes of nature [ignorance and passion] in this point of neutralization and thus reaches egoism in goodness. After this, all egoism is merged in the mahat-tattva, and he comes to the point of pure self-realization.
CLASS NOTES:
Pure self-realization, as we have several times discussed, is the pure consciousness of admitting oneself to be the eternal servitor of the Lord. Thus one is reinstated in his original position of transcendental loving service to the Lord,
This stage of rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord without any hopes of emolument from the Lord, or any other way, can be attained when the material senses are purified and the original pure state of the senses is revived.
YOGIC WAY OF PURIFYING THE SENSES
It is suggested herein that the process of purifying the senses is by the yogic way — namely, the gross senses are merged in the mode of ignorance, and the subtle senses are merged in the mode of passion. The mind belongs to the mode of goodness and therefore is called devamaya, or godly
ATTAINMENT OF MODE OF GOODNESS IS NOT SUFFICIENT
Therefore simple attainment of goodness is also a material mode; one has to surpass this stage of material goodness and reach the point of purified goodness, or vasudeva-sattva. This vasudeva-sattva helps one to enter into the kingdom of God.
Emolument – receiving benefits from, a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.Especially receiving it from a foreign country like a bribe…
Original pure state of senses – belong to Krsna and used in His service. Hrisikesa…
Mind should not be used to get sense gratification. It should be fixed to be the eternal servant of the lord.
Vasudeva sattva – purified goodness.
MECHANICAL YOGA PROCESS IS NOT VIABLE IN THIS AGE
is not viable in the present age because of people’s being primarily unaware of yoga practice. The so-called yoga practice by the professional protagonists may be physiologically beneficial, but such small successes cannot help one in the attainment of spiritual emancipation as mentioned herein.
LORD ŚRĪ CAITANYA MADE IT EASIER FOR THE PROSPECTIVE DEVOTEE OF THE PRESENT AGE
in the following specific manner. Ultimately there is no difference in the result.
A sincere soul is helped by the Lord through meeting a bona fide spiritual master, the representative of the Lord. By the instruction of such a spiritual master, one gets the seed of bhakti-yoga. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends that the devotee sow the seed of bhakti-yoga in his heart and nurture it by the watering of hearing and chanting the holy name, fame, etc., of the Lord.
Durvasa muni is a perfect yogi but he was envious of Ambarish maharaj. There is no envy in bhakti yoga.
Garden metaphor. Seed -> sapling – > plant -> fruits -> more seed
The simple process of offenselessly chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord will gradually promote one very soon to the stage of emancipation (liberation).
Liberation is not flying with some wings and going to other planets. It is getting liberated here while you are in material body.
STAGES OF CHANTING
There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord.
- The first stage is the offensive chanting of the holy name, and
- the second is the reflective stage of chanting the holy name.
- The third stage is the offenseless chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
In the second stage only, the stage of reflection, between the offensive and offenseless stages, one automatically attains the stage of emancipation. And in the offenseless stage, one actually enters into the kingdom of God, although physically he may apparently be within the material world.
This is said by Haridas Thakur in an assembly and it was rejected by a Brahmana. He later got leprosy. Lord Caitanya came near him and he begged to help him and lord refused. Blaspheming a pure devotee is the most serious offense. To get released from the offense one has to go to the one whom he offended. Krishna will not intervene.
TO ATTAIN THE OFFENSELESS STAGE, ONE MUST BE ON GUARD IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa (or systematically the sixteen names Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of devotees.
GROWTH OF BHAKTI SEED BY WATERING CHANTING AND HEARING
The primary practice of bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sown in the heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the bhakti-yoga creeper will begin to grow. By systematic nurturing, the creeper will grow to such an extent that it will penetrate the coverings of the universe, as we have heard in the previous verses, reach the effulgent sky, the brahmajyoti, and go farther and farther and reach the spiritual sky, where there are innumerable spiritual planets called Vaikuṇṭhalokas. Above all of them is Kṛṣṇaloka, or Goloka Vṛndāvana, wherein the growing creeper enters and takes repose at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead.
FRUCTIFICATION OF CHANTING AND HEARING
When one reaches the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa at Goloka Vṛndāvana, the watering process of hearing and reading, as also chanting of the holy name in the pure devotional stage, fructifies, and the fruits grown there in the form of love of God are tangibly tasted by the devotee, even though he is here in this material world. The ripe fruits of love of God are relished only by the devotees constantly engaged in the watering process as described above.
The same description is given in CC.
But the working devotee must always be mindful so that the creeper which has so grown will not be cut off. Therefore he should be mindful of the following considerations:
- Mad elephant – Offense by one at the feet of a pure devotee may be likened to the mad elephant who devastates a very good garden if it enters.
- Fencing – One must be very careful to guard himself against such offenses at the feet of pure devotees, just as one protects a creeper by all-around fencing.
- Weeding – It so happens that by the watering process some weeds are also grown, and unless such weeds are uprooted, the nurturing of the main creeper, or the creeper of bhakti-yoga, may be hampered.
- Types of Weeds – Actually these weeds are material enjoyment, merging of the self in the Absolute without separate individuality, and many other desires in the field of religion, economic development, sense enjoyment and emancipation.
- Types of Weeds –There are many other weeds, like disobedience to the tenets of the revered scriptures, unnecessary engagements, killing animals, and hankering after material gain, prestige and adoration.
- Why Weeding – If sufficient care is not taken, then the watering process may only help to breed the weeds, stunting the healthy growth of the main creeper and resulting in no fructification of the ultimate requirement: love of God.
- When to weed – The devotee must therefore be very careful to uproot the different weeds in the very beginning. Only then will the healthy growth of the main creeper not be stunted.
- Results of following these steps – And by so doing, the devotee is able to relish the fruit of love of God and thus live practically with Lord Kṛṣṇa, even in this life, and be able to see the Lord in every step.
How to follow the rules and regulations –
Chant Hare krishna
Attend classes
Engage actively in devotional service
Get rid of all unnecessary things not related to dev service
The highest perfection of life is to enjoy life constantly in the association of the Lord, and one who can relish this does not aspire after any temporary enjoyment of the material world via other media.
Devotee can enjoy life constantly in the association of the lord. Mayavadis say it is maya and reject everything. They are renouncing everything including Krsna. Devotees once they give us sense gratification, they enjoy life in service to Krsna. In union of Krsna.
Here we have a real explanation of Krsna Consciousness. SP is explaining every part of Bhagavatam, not leaving anything , he is explaining how the principle can be achieved by following Bhakti Yoga as prescribed Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which is practical for thr modern man.
Kids in older days were trained to go through these difficult process. These days they are trained to have sense gratification and work for it. If we teach them this
Not only they have blissful life, They are stable in KC.
(BG 12.12) A PURE DEVOTEE IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED IN LORD’S SERVICE
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect.
A pure devotee is constantly engaged. Sometimes he chants, sometimes he hears or reads books about Kṛṣṇa, or sometimes he cooks prasādam or goes to the marketplace to purchase something for Kṛṣṇa, or sometimes he washes the temple or the dishes – whatever he does, he does not let a single moment pass without devoting his activities to Kṛṣṇa. Such action is in full samādhi.
(BG 12.6-7) KRSNA IS THE SWIFT DELIVERER OF WHO ARE COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO HIM
But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Pṛthā – for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.
Everything is focused on Hearing and Chanting.
Sense of relativity that we discussed yesterday is explained in SB 1.1.1
(SB 1.1.1) PARAGRAPH 5, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL POTENCY, ABSOLUTE AND REALITY
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the narration of the svarūpa of the Lord manifested by His internal potency, and this potency is distinguished from the external potency which has manifested the cosmic world, which is within our experience.
Śrīla Vyāsadeva makes a clear distinction between the two in this śloka. Śrī Vyāsadeva says herein that the manifested internal potency is real, whereas the external manifested energy in the form of material existence is only temporary and illusory like the mirage in the desert. In the desert mirage there is no actual water. There is only the appearance of water. Real water is somewhere else. The manifested cosmic creation appears as reality. But reality, of which this is but a shadow, is in the spiritual world. Absolute Truth is in the spiritual sky, not the material sky. In the material sky everything is relative truth.
Kids are learning the relative truth in the school. Aristotle says Man is the measure… How can people like putin, trump be the measure…?
That is to say, one truth depends on something else. This cosmic creation results from interaction of the three modes of nature, and the temporary manifestations are so created as to present an illusion of reality to the bewildered mind of the conditioned soul, who appears in so many species of life, including the higher demigods, like Brahmā, Indra, Candra, and so on. In actuality, there is no reality in the manifested world. There appears to be reality, however, because of the true reality which exists in the spiritual world, where the Personality of Godhead eternally exists with His transcendental paraphernalia.
(SB 1.2.11) BRAHMAN, PARAMĀTMĀ AND BHAGAVĀN ARE QUALITATIVELY ONE AND THE SAME.
Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.
The Absolute Truth is both subject and object, and there is no qualitative difference there. Therefore, Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān are qualitatively one and the same. The same substance is realized as impersonal Brahman by the students of the Upaniṣads, as localized Paramātmā by the Hiraṇyagarbhas or the yogīs, and as Bhagavān by the devotees. In other words, Bhagavān, or the Personality of Godhead, is the last word of the Absolute Truth. Paramātmā is the partial representation of the Personality of Godhead, and impersonal Brahman is the glowing effulgence of the Personality of Godhead, as the sun rays are to the sun-god. Less intelligent students of either of the above schools sometimes argue in favor of their own respective realization, but those who are perfect seers of the Absolute Truth know well that the above three features of the one Absolute Truth are different perspective views seen from different angles of vision.
Four blind men touch the elephant. One hold the tail thinks it is snake, one holds the truck and thinks it is a tree…
If we only worship Bhagavan and do not know that the Brahman is the effulgence of the Lord and that Bhagavan can expand into paramatma in a every atom. Then our understanding is not correct.
As it is explained in the first śloka of the First Chapter of the Bhāgavatam, the Supreme Truth is self-sufficient, cognizant and free from the illusion of relativity.
Self sufficient – independent virat,
Cognizant – knows everything
Free from illusion of relativity – we are taught that everything is relative but we do not know.
In the relative world the knower is different from the known, but in the Absolute Truth both the knower and the known are one and the same thing. In the relative world the knower is the living spirit or superior energy, whereas the known is inert matter or inferior energy. Therefore, there is a duality of inferior and superior energy, whereas in the absolute realm both the knower and the known are of the same superior energy. There are three kinds of energies of the supreme energetic. There is no difference between the energy and energetic, but there is a difference of quality of energies. The absolute realm and the living entities are of the same superior energy, but the material world is inferior energy.
We are living in a world that is relative, everything is relative, because it all depends on Krsna which is the absolute. We think everything is dependant on us. We build airways, subways, …. That is not true. Everything depends on Krsna. We are relative truths. The absolute truth is Krsna… Nithya nithyanam…. Everyone of us is dependent on the absolute truth Krsna.
The living being in contact with the inferior energy is illusioned, thinking he belongs to the inferior energy. Therefore there is the sense of relativity in the material world. In the Absolute there is no such sense of difference between the knower and the known, and therefore everything there is absolute.
The seed depends on water and heat. Water depends on heat of the sun. Sun depends on Brahma Jyothir… everything is relative. When person comes in contact with material energy, he things he is dependent on material energy.
Sexual activity is not the real the cause of life. Krishna places the seed in the ovum.
THESE VERSES EMPHASIZE THE ETERNALITY OF THE SOUL
BG 2.12
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.
BG 2.20
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.
BG 15.7
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.