KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.7.17 TODAY (09/23/21):
- By giving everything to the cause of the Lord, one does not lose anything, but he gains everything that he could never otherwise expect.
- Bali Mahārāja is the example of Atma Nivedanam. He gave all his material possessions, including himself to the Lord.
- When Bali Mahārāja was asked by Lord Vāmana for such small charity, Bali Mahārāja’s spiritual master, namely Śukrācārya, objected to this proposal because he knew that Vāmanadeva was Viṣṇu Himself, pretending to be a beggar.
- Bali Mahārāja did not agree to abide by the order of his spiritual master when he understood that the beggar was Viṣṇu Himself, and he at once agreed to give Him in charity the land requested.
- If the spiritual master violates the vedic knowledge, especially statements made by Krsna Himself. The disciple is not obliged to follow. Disciple has the right to reject if the Guru is not functioning as a guru and is violating the instructions of Acharyas and Krsna.
- By this agreement Lord Vāmana covered all the lands of the universe with His first two steps and then asked Bali Mahārāja where to place the third step.
- Bali Mahārāja was very glad to receive the Lord’s remaining step upon his head, and thus Bali Mahārāja, instead of losing everything he possessed, was blessed by the Lord’s becoming his constant companion and doorman.
- Activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Kṛṣṇa 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.
- “If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa 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?”
- 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness carries a person again to Kṛṣṇa 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 brāhmaṇa or in a rich aristocratic family that will give one a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
SB 2.7.17 TRANSLATION:
The Lord, although transcendental to all material modes, still surpassed all the qualities of the sons of Aditi, known as the Ādityas. The Lord appeared as the youngest son of Aditi. And because He surpassed all the planets of the universe, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On the pretense of asking for a measurement of three footsteps of land, He took away all the lands of Bali Mahārāja. He asked simply because without begging, no authority can take one’s rightful possession.
The history of Bali Mahārāja and his charity to Vāmanadeva is described in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bali Mahārāja conquered all the planets of the universe by rightful possession. A king can conquer other kings by strength, and such possession is considered to be rightful. So Bali Mahārāja possessed all the lands of the universe, and he happened to be charitably disposed toward the brāhmaṇas. The Lord therefore pretended to be a beggar brāhmaṇa, and He asked Bali Mahārāja for a measurement of three footsteps of land. The Lord, as the proprietor of everything, could take from Bali Mahārāja all the land he possessed, but he did not do so because Bali Mahārāja possessed all those lands by king’s rights. When Bali Mahārāja was asked by Lord Vāmana for such small charity, Bali Mahārāja’s spiritual master, namely Śukrācārya, objected to this proposal because he knew that Vāmanadeva was Viṣṇu Himself, pretending to be a beggar. Bali Mahārāja did not agree to abide by the order of his spiritual master when he understood that the beggar was Viṣṇu Himself, and he at once agreed to give Him in charity the land requested. By this agreement Lord Vāmana covered all the lands of the universe with His first two steps and then asked Bali Mahārāja where to place the third step. Bali Mahārāja was very glad to receive the Lord’s remaining step upon his head, and thus Bali Mahārāja, instead of losing everything he possessed, was blessed by the Lord’s becoming his constant companion and doorman.So, by giving everything to the cause of the Lord, one does not lose anything, but he gains everything that he could never otherwise expect.
Past time of Vamana dev – son of aditi and Kashyapa muni. Kasyapa muni married 9 daughters of Daksha.. With Aditi – DemiGod With Diti – Demon With Disha – Danavas
- Bali Maharaj is an example of giving every possession to the Lord including himself. He is the example of Atma Nivedanam. Mind, Intelligence, senses, body.. When one gives something to the lord, he is not a loser, he wins that no one can ever expect, eternal body, bliss.. Bali maharaj attains an eternal planet and gets the eternal association of the lord.
- Bali Mharaj rejects the spiritual master’s instructions. If the spiritual master violates the vedic knowledge, especially statements made by Krsna Himself. The disciple is not obliged to follow. Disciple has the right to reject if the Guru is not functioning as a guru and is violating the instructions of Acharyas and Krsna.
- Why did Sukracharya not want Bali to give any blessing to Vamana dev? He only asked 3 steps.. Because he understood that this dwarf is the Incarnation of the lord Himself and can take away everything that Bali has. Previously Sukra charya taught him that the enjoyer of all sacrifices is Krsna.. But now he is saying to not give.. This shows how one becomes denatured as soon as one has a material goal in spiritual life.
- Spiritual life should not have any material goal. One should have infinite spiritual goals. As long as one has a profit incentive, one cannot make any progress in Spirituality. Does that mean one cannot make any profit. No, you can earn all the money.. You only keep what is needed for you and give rest in the service of Krsna. No keeping to myself.. This is mine..
- Dr. Patel – SP once said that there is a relationship with him from his previous life because they got along well. They used to go for walks.. Even though he was nonsense. He did respect SP and would argue on various topics. SP said he would like to give new dhotis, kurtas to all poor kids who are coming to the temple. Why dont you donate some money for this.. Patel said that I don’t have any money.. But SP said what do you mean,, he said that my wife has it all and I don’t make any decisions on that money.. We can see how profit incentives.. Lying, cheating, insulting even pure devotees and even Krsna.. We should be very careful in becoming contaminated with this profit incentive.. We should use every asset we have, in the service of Krsna and dovetail everything into Krsna’s service that is success of grihastha life
- What is the meaning of Success. Our kids are falsely misled to think that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Larry ellison.. Are successful people.. They are NOT, they are having all this money due to their previous karma. But they are doing things which will end them up in being born as Dog, animals..
BG 2.40 –
nehābhikrama-nāśo ’sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt
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.
- What is the dangerous type of fear – born as an animal, worm.. Insect… worm in a septic tank.. Imagine where you can end up.
Activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Kṛṣṇa 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. Ajāmila performed his duty in some percentage of Kṛṣṇa 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17):
“If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa 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?” Or, as the Christians say, “What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffer the loss of his eternal soul?”
Material activities and their results end with the body. But work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness carries a person again to Kṛṣṇa 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 brāhmaṇa or in a rich aristocratic family that will give one a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
This means that you CANNOT BE A LOSER IN KC. But you will definitely be a loser in the activities of sense gratification. SP uses nice phrase which we will learn tomorrow –
Civilization of the mind, intellectual civilization, civilization of the spirit soul. Engaging in Bhakti yoga is civilization of the soul. One can only be a winner in that stage. Why should our children be duped to think – big money, big home, big car.. Big stool.. They should think small is good. We should not eat too much, drink too much, sleep too much.. We should be tempered in everything.. Anything acquired materially we will lose at the end when we die.. If we are KC in this life even if we get the animal body you will be able to remember the prayers like Gajendra. You will be a two time loser by following the culture of sense gratification. What Europe is, Russia is., AMerica is.. They are all civilization of sense gratification.
To be honest, to be free of sinful activities, not be troubled by lust, anger greed, illusion, envy.. To be free of those things and to live an honest life and practice KC without any hesitation.
BG 8.5
And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
In this verse the importance of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits his body in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is the purest of the pure. Therefore anyone who is constantly Kṛṣṇa conscious is also the purest of the pure. The word smaran (“remembering”) is important. Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Kṛṣṇa consciousness in devotional service. Therefore one should practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness from the very beginning of life. If one wants to achieve success at the end of his life, the process of remembering Kṛṣṇa is essential. Therefore one should constantly, incessantly chant the mahā-mantra – Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Lord Caitanya has advised that one be as tolerant as a tree (taror api sahiṣṇunā). There may be so many impediments for a person who is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, tolerating all these impediments, one should continue to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, so that at the end of one’s life one can have the full benefit of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Krsna is promising that you can go to Him if you chant Hare Krsna, honor prasadam and do timely devotional service. We should believe in Krsna and not the civilization of academia, civilization of intellectualism, we should be concerned with the civilization of the soul and spiritual life. What is the actual real success in life? Without understanding that we will be fooled by the numbers of people chasing after the rupees and dollars…
Haridas Thakur was never a loser even though he was beaten, treated unfairly by the brahmanas.. Lord Caitanya used to go to him after darshan of the lord and take him Jagannath Prasadam and feed him. He did not want to cause any social disruption.
I am not allowed in jagannath temple but I am not going to cause any riot or protest..
Gajendra is an example that you cannot be a loser in KC.