KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.1.23
- One should control the sitting posture, regulate the breathing process by the yogic prāṇāyāma and thus control the mind and senses and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord [called the virāṭ-rūpa]
- Unless such materialists are able to cleanse the materially absorbed mind, it is impossible for them to concentrate upon thoughts of transcendence. And to do so one may fix one’s mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord. [called the virāṭ-rūpa]. This is prescribed by Sukhdev Goswami as many people cannot take to the fact that the little boy of Vrndavan is the Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes.]
- The real purpose of all these yogic regulations is to eradicate the accumulated dirty things like lust, anger, avarice and all such material contaminations.
- It is the nature of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa.
- A devotee who chants, develops his original attitude of service to the Lord. In this attitude of constantly serving Kṛṣṇa, which is called bhāva, he always thinks of Kṛṣṇa in many different ways. One who has attained this bhāva stage is no longer under the clutches of the illusory energy.
- When the holy name is properly served (by taking hari naam initiation from a bonafide spiritual master and sincerely following the four regulative principles), automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads; in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name.
- One who is actually advanced in the fulfillment of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra induces others to chant also.
- Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī explains, kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana: unless one receives special power of attorney from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he cannot preach the glories of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
- One should reject all ideas of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation and fully engage in the service of the Lord, which is transcendental to these four principles.
- As stated by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the highest perfection in life is to develop one’s love for Kṛṣṇa (premā pum-artho mahān śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhor matam idam).
- Love of Godhead is the original function of the spirit soul, and it is as eternal as the soul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This eternity is called sanātana.
- When a devotee revives his loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it should be understood that he has been successful in achieving the desired goal of his life. At that time everything is automatically done by the mercy of the holy name, and the devotee automatically advances in his spiritual progress.
- “ ‘It is a characteristic of love of Godhead that by nature it induces transcendental symptoms in one’s body and makes one more and more greedy to achieve the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord
- “ ‘When one actually develops love of Godhead, he naturally sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes chants and sometimes runs here and there just like a madman.
- If one who is not yet developed imitates such symptoms artificially, he creates chaos in the spiritual life of human society.
- Actual blissful life, manifested in genuine spiritual laughing, crying and dancing, is the symptom of real advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which can be achieved by a person who always voluntarily engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
- “ ‘Perspiration, trembling, standing on end of one’s bodily hairs, tears, faltering voice, fading complexion, madness, melancholy, patience, pride, joy and humility — these are various natural symptoms of ecstatic love of Godhead, which causes a devotee to dance and float in an ocean of transcendental bliss while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
- It is therefore to be concluded that the ecstatic symptoms of āśaya-śuddhi (perfection of devotional service) are visible when a devotee’s service has no material cause and is purely spiritual in nature.
SB 2.1.23 TRANSLATION:
Śukadeva Gosvāmī answered: One should control the sitting posture, regulate the breathing process by the yogic prāṇāyāma and thus control the mind and senses and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord [called the virāṭ-rūpa]
CLASS NOTES:
THE YOGA SYSTEM FOR MEDITATION IS PRESCRIBED IN ORDER TO MOLD THE CHARACTER OF THE GROSS MATERIALIST.
The materially absorbed mind of the conditioned soul does not allow him to transcend the limit of the bodily conception of self, and thus the yoga system for meditation (controlling the sitting posture and breathing process and fixing the mind upon the Supreme) is prescribed in order to mold the character of the gross materialist. Unless such materialists are able to cleanse the materially absorbed mind, it is impossible for them to concentrate upon thoughts of transcendence. And to do so one may fix one’s mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord.
THE REAL PURPOSE OF YOGIC REGULATIONS IS TO ERADICATE THE ACCUMULATED DIRTY THINGS LIKE LUST, ANGER, AVARICE AND ALL SUCH MATERIAL CONTAMINATIONS.
The materialistic men are very anxious to have some mystic powers as a result of such a controlling process, but the real purpose of yogic regulations is to eradicate the accumulated dirty things like lust, anger, avarice and all such material contaminations. If the mystic yogī is diverted by the accompanying feats of mystic control, then his mission of yogic success is a failure, because the ultimate aim is God realization
He is therefore recommended to fix his gross materialistic mind by a different conception and thus realize the potency of the Lord. As soon as the potencies are understood to be instrumental manifestations of the transcendence, one automatically advances to the next step, and gradually the stage of full realization becomes possible for him.
A person goes to church, but is still a materialist. A person goes to temple, but is still a materialist. When it is self-imposed it is almost impossible to free them due to false ego. Therefore when one is attracted to yoga for material goals. Use one material thing to get rid of another material thing. (so one may fix one’s mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord.) The whole idea is if you fix your mind on impersonal light, then you will never achieve the goal of yoga system. You should fix your mind on the Supreme. If one has difficulty, they really dont like Krsna, Rama or Narayana, they can meditate on Virat rupa.
As Lord Caitanya recommended the Original form of Krsna as the source of everything, we go through the direct conception of achieving the Lord. Sri Vaishnavas worship Narayana. For materialists, it is easy for them to go through the universal form than Narayana or Krsna. Everyone is interested in the potency, energy. That is the segway to eventually understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why are we doing this, instead of directly reaidng 10th canto. The purpose of all this knowledge to be able to preach to these people who are gross materialists. Hearing this is very beneficial if you advance in devotional service you want to be a preacher. The best preacher is Lord Caitanya, and whoever is completely surrendered to Lord Caitanya, 6 Goswamis, Bhakti Vinod Thakur, … Srila Prabhupada. They took the time to hear all the cantos of SB one by one and they and did not jump to Canto 10. To understand these things and the result will be to become an expert preacher to convince everyone. We will continue to read from the past time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Prakasananda, Mayavadi Sanyasi..
(CC ADI 7.83) THE ATTITUDE OF CONSTANTLY SERVING KṚṢṆA IS CALLED BHĀVA
“ ‘It is the nature of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa.
A neophyte disciple begins by hearing and chanting, associating with devotees and practicing the regulative principles, and thus he vanquishes all of his unwanted bad habits. In this way he develops attachment for Kṛṣṇa and cannot forget Kṛṣṇa even for a moment. Bhāva is the almost successful stage of spiritual life.
While chanting and dancing or hearing the holy name of the Lord, one automatically remembers the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and because there is no difference between the holy name and Kṛṣṇa, the chanter is immediately linked with Kṛṣṇa. Thus connected, a devotee develops his original attitude of service to the Lord. In this attitude of constantly serving Kṛṣṇa, which is called bhāva, he always thinks of Kṛṣṇa in many different ways. One who has attained this bhāva stage is no longer under the clutches of the illusory energy. When other spiritual ingredients, such as trembling, perspiration and tears, are added to this bhāva stage, the devotee gradually attains love of Kṛṣṇa.
A sincere student aurally receives the holy name from the spiritual master, and after being initiated he follows the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. When the holy name is properly served in this way, automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads; in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name.
Thus all the disciples of such a spiritual master increase in attachment for Kṛṣṇa, and therefore he sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes dances and sometimes chants. These symptoms are very prominently manifest in the body of a pure devotee.
ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY ADVANCED IN THE FULFILLMENT OF CHANTING THE HARE KṚṢṆA MAHĀ-MANTRA INDUCES OTHERS TO CHANT ALSO.
Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī explains, kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana: unless one receives special power of attorney from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he cannot preach the glories of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. As devotees propagate the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the general population of the entire world gets the opportunity to understand the glories of the holy name.
(CC ANTYA 7.11): UNLESS ONE RECEIVES SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, HE CANNOT PREACH THE GLORIES OF THE HARE KṚṢṆA MAHĀ-MANTRA
kali-kālera dharma — kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana
Unless one is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one cannot spread the holy names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra throughout the world. Persons who do so are empowered. Therefore they are sometimes called āveśa-avatāras, or empowered incarnations, for they are endowed with the power of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
One may say I am preaching no one is listening or changing. That is because you are not yet purified and have not gotten the mercy of the Lord, Caitanya MahaPrabhu.
Krsna Consciousness is not an academic study, it is not something you need to practice for many years. It is simple for the honest and difficult for the dishonest.
CC ADI 7.84
“ ‘Religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation are known as the four goals of life, but before love of Godhead, the fifth and highest goal, these appear as insignificant as straw in the street.
The devotee knows that Religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation as the stepping stones to Krsna Consciousness. Either one takes the stepping stones of KC or directly takes to Krsna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada explains this in the following verse.
BG 8.28
The beauty of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, is that by one stroke, by engaging in devotional service, one can surpass all the rituals of the different orders of life.
Although Varnashrama system is the best way to organize society, so general people in the society can make gradual progress to the point of Krsna Consciousness. But, If one is very sincere and humble one can immediately come to Krsna Consciousness. It is the beginning and not the end. You cannot attain Prema Bhakti immediately. Go through the gradual process of Shradha, Sadhu Sangha, bhajana kriya, anartha nivritti, Nistha, Ruchi,…. bhava, prema. Srila Prabhupada was asked are your devotees pure. He said – Yes they are pure, what remains is purifying the purity.
WHILE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE SHOULD NOT DESIRE THE MATERIAL ADVANCEMENTS REPRESENTED BY RELIGIOSITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SENSE GRATIFICATION AND ULTIMATELY LIBERATION FROM THE MATERIAL WORLD.
As stated by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the highest perfection in life is to develop one’s love for Kṛṣṇa (premā pum-artho mahān śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhor matam idam).
When we compare love of Godhead with religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation, they are very insignificant in the eyes of a pure devotee who has developed bhāva, the preliminary stage of love of Godhead.
ONE SHOULD REJECT ALL IDEAS OF RELIGIOSITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SENSE GRATIFICATION AND LIBERATION AND FULLY ENGAGE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD, WHICH IS TRANSCENDENTAL TO THESE FOUR PRINCIPLES.
Dharma (religiosity), artha (economic development), kāma (sense gratification) and mokṣa (liberation) are the four principles of religion that pertain to the material world. Therefore in the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is declared, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra: cheating religious systems in terms of these four material principles are completely discarded from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, for Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam teaches only how to develop one’s dormant love of God. The Bhagavad-gītā is the preliminary study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and therefore it ends with the words sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.” (Bg. 18.66) To adopt this means, one should reject all ideas of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation and fully engage in the service of the Lord, which is transcendental to these four principles.
Why did Srila Prabhupada at the end, say that only 50 percent of my work is done and the other 50 percent is to establish the Varnashrama system. Why does he say that? That is because he knows that not everybody will take to Krsna Consciousness. Prabhupada himself initiated 4500 disciples and what is the population of the world. He is talking about billions of other people. Varnashrama system is the best system for organizing the society and gradually bring people to Krsna Consciousness. This is the best social organization much better than, socialism, anarchism…
LOVE OF GODHEAD IS THE ORIGINAL FUNCTION OF THE SPIRIT SOUL, AND IT IS AS ETERNAL AS THE SOUL AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. THIS ETERNITY IS CALLED SANĀTANA.
When a devotee revives his loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it should be understood that he has been successful in achieving the desired goal of his life. At that time everything is automatically done by the mercy of the holy name, and the devotee automatically advances in his spiritual progress.
That is when Krsna takes over. Let me take the reigns now. You just sit down for a ride. Before that we were navigating the complexities of the life. Love of God head is the original position of the Jiva. We are not the andhra, telangana, tamil, We are the servant of the Lord.
CC ADI 7.85
“ ‘For a devotee who has actually developed bhāva, the pleasure derived from dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa appears like a drop in the presence of the sea.
CC ADI 7.86
“ ‘The conclusion of all revealed scriptures is that one should awaken his dormant love of Godhead. You are greatly fortunate to have already done so.
This is Eswara Puri, the teacher of Caitanya MahaPrabhu explaining Him what he is seeing is the state of Love of Godhead.
CC ADI 7.87
“ ‘It is a characteristic of love of Godhead that by nature it induces transcendental symptoms in one’s body and makes one more and more greedy to achieve the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
It is the good greed as opposed to the bad greed. Instead of being greedy for money and sense gratification, One becomes greedy for the love of God.
CC ADI 7.88 – V Important purport
“ ‘When one actually develops love of Godhead, he naturally sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes chants and sometimes runs here and there just like a madman.
ONE WHO IS NOT YET DEVELOPED IMITATES SUCH SYMPTOMS ARTIFICIALLY, HE CREATES CHAOS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF HUMAN SOCIETY.
In this connection Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī says that sometimes persons who have no love of Godhead at all display ecstatic bodily symptoms. Artificially they sometimes laugh, cry and dance just like madmen, but this cannot help one progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Rather, such artificial agitation of the body is to be given up when one naturally develops the necessary bodily symptoms. Actual blissful life, manifested in genuine spiritual laughing, crying and dancing, is the symptom of real advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which can be achieved by a person who always voluntarily engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. If one who is not yet developed imitates such symptoms artificially, he creates chaos in the spiritual life of human society.
Everything has been explained by Prabhupada. Reading just the verses is misleading, if the purports of Prabhupada are not read. What Prabhupada predicted here actually happened. There is one person in the movement, who was really nice and everyone loved him and he artificially wanted to attain these symptoms of prema and it ruined his life. Many of his disciples left the movement.
CC ADI 7.89 -90
“ ‘Perspiration, trembling, standing on end of one’s bodily hairs, tears, faltering voice, fading complexion, madness, melancholy, patience, pride, joy and humility — these are various natural symptoms of ecstatic love of Godhead, which causes a devotee to dance and float in an ocean of transcendental bliss while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
Transcendental love of Godhead is not under the jurisdiction of the material energy, for it is the transcendental bliss and pleasure potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since the Supreme Lord is also under the influence of transcendental bliss, when one comes in touch with such bliss in love of Godhead, one’s heart melts, and the symptoms of this are standing of the hairs on end, etc. Sometimes a person thus melts and manifests these transcendental symptoms yet at the same time is not well behaved in his personal transactions. This indicates that he has not yet reached complete perfection in devotional life. In other words, a devotee who dances in ecstasy but after dancing and crying appears to be attracted to material affairs has not yet reached the perfection of devotional service, which is called āśaya-śuddhi, or the perfection of existence. One who attains the perfection of existence is completely averse to material enjoyment and engrossed in transcendental love of Godhead. It is therefore to be concluded that the ecstatic symptoms of āśaya-śuddhi are visible when a devotee’s service has no material cause and is purely spiritual in nature. These are characteristics of transcendental love of Godhead, as stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6):
sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati
“That religion is best which causes its followers to become ecstatic in love of God that is unmotivated and free from material impediments, for this alone can completely satisfy the self.”