KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.10.24:
No one, therefore, can claim any proprietorship of the senses. The living entity is controlled by the senses, the senses are controlled by the demigods, and the demigods are the servants of the Supreme Lord. That is the arrangement in the system of creation.
The whole thing is controlled ultimately by the Supreme Lord, and there is no independence either of the material nature or of the living entity.
The illusioned living entity who claims to be the lord of his senses is under the clutches of the external energy of the Lord.
As long as a living entity continues to be puffed up by his tiny existence, he is to be understood to be under the stringent control of the external energy of the Lord, and there is no question of liberation from the clutches of illusion (māyā), however much one may declare himself a liberated soul.
BG 6.17 -He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
BG 5.18 – The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].
BG 5.20 – A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God is already situated in transcendence.
A liberated soul is not interested in anything which is temporary. Knowing well the joys of transcendental pleasures, how can a liberated soul agree to enjoy false pleasure?
“My dear sons, there is no reason to labor very hard for sense pleasure while in this human form of life; such pleasures are available to the stool-eaters [hogs]. Rather, you should undergo penances in this life by which your existence will be purified, and as a result you will be able to enjoy unlimited transcendental bliss.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.1)
Removal of ignorance involves the reestablishment of the eternal relationship between the worshiper and the worshipable and the consequent understanding of the difference between the part-and-parcel living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The living entities are always subordinate to the Supreme Lord, as in the case of the master and the servant, or the teacher and the taught.
Such clear knowledge is impossible to understand under the spell of ignorance, and to drive away such ignorance the Lord teaches the Bhagavad-gītā for the enlightenment of all living entities for all time.
SB 2.10.24 – 2/27/22
Thereafter when the Supreme Person desired to perform varieties of work, the two hands and their controlling strength, and Indra, the demigod in heaven, became manifested, as also the acts dependent on both the hands and the demigod.
In every item we can note with profit that the sense organs of the living entity are never independent at any stage. The Lord is known as the Lord of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa). Thus the sense organs of the living entities are manifested by the will of the Lord, and each organ is controlled by a certain type of demigod. No one, therefore, can claim any proprietorship of the senses. The living entity is controlled by the senses, the senses are controlled by the demigods, and the demigods are the servants of the Supreme Lord. That is the arrangement in the system of creation. The whole thing is controlled ultimately by the Supreme Lord, and there is no independence either of the material nature or of the living entity. The illusioned living entity who claims to be the lord of his senses is under the clutches of the external energy of the Lord. As long as a living entity continues to be puffed up by his tiny existence, he is to be understood to be under the stringent control of the external energy of the Lord, and there is no question of liberation from the clutches of illusion (māyā), however much one may declare himself a liberated soul.
FACT : No one, therefore, can claim any proprietorship of the senses.
FICTION: We are the controllers
As long as you have one desire you are not in control
The mystic yogi also has a desire – They want to develop yoga siddhis, when they develop1 or 2 siddhis they get satisfied.
Viswamitra creates an alternate universe to elevate a sudra to his own heavenly planets..
Jnanis are attached to is development of knowledge.
Einstein also went to India – but he did not meet Bhakti Siddhantha Saraswati Thakur.
He met Ravindranath Tagore
As long as one does not have association of a pure devotee one remains completely incomplete.
Everything depends on our desire. If we have spiritual desires there is no limit on how much Krsna can fulfill them. As long as we have material desires, we are only limited to our karma.
Animals have no free will???
Humans have free will – whether to accept Krsna or Reject Krsna.
He gives that free will because Love is voluntary.
CIvilized human form – one has free will and that is nor forced.
When we reject krsna we are completely under the control of Material nature
When we accept Krsna we are under the protection of Krsna.
Laws of Material Nature –
To go back to Godhead we need to know –
What we should not do
What we should do
What is spiritual life – Who is a civilized human being –
BG 6.17
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
BG 5.18
The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].
He sees every living entity as a walking temple.
BG 5.20
A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God is already situated in transcendence.
The symptoms of the self-realized person are given herein. The first symptom is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this body but is the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is therefore not joyful in achieving something, nor does he lament in losing anything which is related to his body. This steadiness of mind is called sthira-buddhi, or self-intelligence. He is therefore never bewildered by mistaking the gross body for the soul, nor does he accept the body as permanent and disregard the existence of the soul. This knowledge elevates him to the station of knowing the complete science of the Absolute Truth, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. He thus knows his constitutional position perfectly well, without falsely trying to become one with the Supreme in all respects. This is called Brahman realization, or self-realization. Such steady consciousness is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
BG 5.22
An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kuntī, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.
Material sense pleasures are due to the contact of the material senses, which are all temporary because the body itself is temporary. A liberated soul is not interested in anything which is temporary. Knowing well the joys of transcendental pleasures, how can a liberated soul agree to enjoy false pleasure? In the Padma Purāṇa it is said:
ramante yogino ’nante
satyānande cid-ātmani
iti rāma-padenāsau
paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate
“The mystics derive unlimited transcendental pleasures from the Absolute Truth, and therefore the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, is also known as Rāma.”
In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also (5.5.1) it is said:
nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛ-loke
kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye
tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvaṁ
śuddhyed yasmād brahma-saukhyaṁ tv anantam
“My dear sons, there is no reason to labor very hard for sense pleasure while in this human form of life; such pleasures are available to the stool-eaters [hogs]. Rather, you should undergo penances in this life by which your existence will be purified, and as a result you will be able to enjoy unlimited transcendental bliss.”
Therefore, those who are true yogīs or learned transcendentalists are not attracted by sense pleasures, which are the causes of continuous material existence. The more one is addicted to material pleasures, the more he is entrapped by material miseries.
Everyone has a mixed bag of karma – positive and negative – pleasure and misery. So one does not need to work hard fpr pleasure. Rather one should work hard for the eternal
If you please Krsna every other positive goal will be attained..
Laws of nature –
Birth, old age, disease and death
Eat, sleep, mate and defend (only way to diminish them is through KC
The more one is addicted to material pleasures, the more he is entrapped by material miseries.
The material desires are unsatiated they lead to anger, ..
Suffering of humanity is due to the forgetfulness of Krsna as the supreme enjoyer.. Proprietor and Supreme friend.
“Bhoktaram.. Tajna tapasa
BG 5.29
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.
Any type of penance which is for material – hurting body, and Krsna Consciousness –
This type of penance is demoniac.
Living a minimalist life
Krsna is the supreme best friend. Teaches how to get of the material body.
Even in mode of goodness we are forced to do things. Only in transcendental goodness one is nor forced..
False Attachment to friendship, family & so called love based on sense gratification will just create anxieties..
Family – teach purpose of life is to become a Hare Krsna.. Work honestly to maintain the family.. Minimalism, life should be simple, thinking – how to please Krsna
Whatever is produced in the material world in the name of the economic development, supreme lord in the time factor destroys it..
We should be concerned with things that are sat and not asat
BG 2.16
This is the beginning of the instruction by the Lord to the living entities who are bewildered by the influence of ignorance. Removal of ignorance involves the reestablishment of the eternal relationship between the worshiper and the worshipable and the consequent understanding of the difference between the part-and-parcel living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can understand the nature of the Supreme by thorough study of oneself, the difference between oneself and the Supreme being understood as the relationship between the part and the whole. In the Vedānta-sūtras, as well as in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Supreme has been accepted as the origin of all emanations. Such emanations are experienced by superior and inferior natural sequences. The living entities belong to the superior nature, as it will be revealed in the Seventh Chapter. Although there is no difference between the energy and the energetic, the energetic is accepted as the Supreme, and the energy or nature is accepted as the subordinate. The living entities, therefore, are always subordinate to the Supreme Lord, as in the case of the master and the servant, or the teacher and the taught. Such clear knowledge is impossible to understand under the spell of ignorance, and to drive away such ignorance the Lord teaches the Bhagavad-gītā for the enlightenment of all living entities for all time.
We should be concerned by only the eternal.. For what is not eternal we should be using them in the service of the lord so we are not entangled
Grihamedhi –
Grihastha –
BG 9.4
By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.
BG 9.5
And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation.
BG 9.6
Understand that as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, all created beings rest in Me.
BG 9.30
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.8.7:
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, all questions that may arise in the mind of a serious student must be cleared by the statements of the authority.
A person on the path of devotional service may inquire from his spiritual master all about the spiritual position of God and the living beings.
In the process of devotional service, the first step is to take shelter of the spiritual master and then inquire from the spiritual master all about the process. This inquiry is essential for immunity to all kinds of offenses on the path of devotional service.
The spiritual master must also be well versed and learned so that he may be able to answer all these inquiries from the devotees.
One who is not well versed in the authorized scriptures and not able to answer all such relevant inquiries should not pose as a spiritual master for the matter of material gain. It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple.
Nitya-siddha means one who has no chance to forget Kṛṣṇa.
Sādhana-siddha means one has forgotten Kṛṣṇa. That is the position of all materialistic men. Every one of us, forgotten. But even though forgotten, the thing is there. It has to be awakened only. And the awakening process is hearing.
Anyone who has forgotten Kṛṣṇa somehow or other—the cause may be so many—but if he is given chance to hear about Kṛṣṇa… Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. As soon as somehow or other one begins to hear about Kṛṣṇa… Either by his natural inclination or by chance or any way, he comes to hear about Kṛṣṇa, attempts hearing about Kṛṣṇa, then, Kṛṣṇa is within everyone’s heart, Paramātmā, so Kṛṣṇa helps him immediately.
Bhajana means serving the Lord. So bhajatām, one who is engaged always, twenty-four hours he’s engaged, in that stage, Kṛṣṇa becomes is very pleased upon you = “No, now he has taken to My service. He’s engaged twenty-four hours. All right, let him give some instruction.”
So Kṛṣṇa is within you.One profit is, by hearing about Kṛṣṇa, he becomes gradually sinless, simply by hearing. Unless we are sinful, we don’t come into the material world.
So we have to become sinless before going back to home, back to Godhead. Because God is pure; the kingdom is pure. No impure living entity can enter there. So one has to become pure.
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that once he’s given chance to erase all the sinful activities and keeping himself intact—no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling—if we follow this regulation, then after initiation all my sins are washed off. And if I keep myself in that washed-off position, then where is the question of becoming sinful again?
Once washed off, now keep yourself in that washed-off condition. That is required. So that will be possible if you keep yourself constantly in touch with Kṛṣṇa by hearing about Him. That’s all. You have to remain uncontaminated.
When one comes to the understanding that “I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, God, and my only business is to serve Him,” that is called mukti.
When we become engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this sense gratification business ceases.That is the test how you are becoming advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is the business of liberated soul, not for the conditioned soul. But even in our conditioned life we chant, we become gradually purified.Therefore it is recommended that everyone should chant.
Chanting the holy name of the medicine for the Bhava – Roga (means again and again taking birth) – cycle of birth and death. But the medicine is very pleasing.
It is very easy, even children can take up chanting of the holy name of the lord.
it is pleasing, even to the ordinary man..
For philosophers it is also pleasing
So either one is killing himself or killing animals, such a person cannot understand about the glories of the Lord.
BG 9.30, 31. 32 are the dispensation verses given by Krsna. These verses show how kind Krsna is, how merciful He is..
No one should take advantage of these verses and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.
We should not overestimate our achievements in life, we should always be humble and meek.
The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.
Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination
Devotional service and the guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking shelter of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance.
SB 2.8.7 TRANSLATION:
O learned brāhmaṇa, the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause? Will you kindly explain this, for it is known to you.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit, being a typical devotee, is not only satisfied by confirming the importance of hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the representative of Brahmājī by disciplic succession, but he is still more anxious to establish the philosophical basis of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, all questions that may arise in the mind of a serious student must be cleared by the statements of the authority. A person on the path of devotional service may inquire from his spiritual master all about the spiritual position of God and the living beings. From the Bhagavad-gītā, as well as from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is known that qualitatively the Lord and the living beings are one. The living being in the conditioned state of material existence is subjected to many transmigrations by continuous changing of the material body. But what are the causes of the material embodiment of the part and parcel of the Lord? Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquires about this very important matter for the benefit of all classes of candidates on the path of self-realization and devotional service to the Lord.
Indirectly it is confirmed that the Supreme Being, the Lord, makes no such material changes of body. He is spiritually whole, with no difference between His body and His soul, unlike the conditioned soul. The liberated living beings, who associate with the Lord in person, are also exactly like the Lord. Only the conditioned souls awaiting liberation are subjected to change of bodies. How was the process first begun?
In the process of devotional service, the first step is to take shelter of the spiritual master and then inquire from the spiritual master all about the process. This inquiry is essential for immunity to all kinds of offenses on the path of devotional service. Even if one is fixed in devotional service like Mahārāja Parīkṣit, he must still inquire from the realized spiritual master all about this. In other words, the spiritual master must also be well versed and learned so that he may be able to answer all these inquiries from the devotees. Thus one who is not well versed in the authorized scriptures and not able to answer all such relevant inquiries should not pose as a spiritual master for the matter of material gain. It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple.
This is very interesting.
Someone asked – Prabhu is it really necessary to only read the bhagavatam? There are
so many other books there’s a mana shiksha and there’s nectar of devotions nectar of instruction and other devotees books? What is the story here? The story here is the sages of naimisharanya discussed for 1000’s of years what is the best for the people in Kali yuga and came to the conclusion that Regular hearing SB is the best way. We are not saying that anything is wrong with the other books.
SB is the panacea (all encompassing cure for sense gratification, illusion, misery) for all the people of kali yuga.. We are going to hear SB till the last day.
LA June 1st 1972 (https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/720601sbla)
Prabhupāda: So this is the difference between sādhana-siddha and nitya-siddha.
So nitya-siddha means he has no chance to forget Kṛṣṇa. That is called nitya-siddha. And sādhana-siddha means by following the regulative principles, the rules and regulations, one revives his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Both things are siddha, because you cannot revive Kṛṣṇa consciousness without being Kṛṣṇa conscious. It may be covered. So nitya-siddha means he does not get covered by the influence of material nature about his natural devotion tendency to serve Kṛṣṇa. He never becomes covered. This is the difference. Kṛṣṇa gives him chance to get birth in such a family, just like Parīkṣit Mahārāja, that he never gets the chance of forgetting Kṛṣṇa. So one who does not get the chance of forgetting Kṛṣṇa is called nitya-siddha. This is the difference.
And sādhana-siddha means one has forgotten Kṛṣṇa. That is the position of all materialistic men. Every one of us, forgotten.But even though forgotten, the thing is there. It has to be awakened only. And the awakening process is hearing.
This is also explained in Bg 13th chapter –
BG 13.26
Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.
Just like you are out of your family touch for many years. Practically you have forgotten. Now, if somebody comes to you, some friend, “Do you remember your child, when he came out, he was such little, and now he is grown-up? Now he’s this, that, so on,” if for some days this topics of the family is…, then again he becomes attracted = “Let me go and see.” It is natural.
Similarly, anyone who has forgotten Kṛṣṇa somehow or other—the cause may be so many—but if he is given chance to hear about Kṛṣṇa… Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ.
As soon as somehow or other one begins to hear about Kṛṣṇa… Either by his natural inclination or by chance or any way, he comes to hear about Kṛṣṇa, attempts hearing about Kṛṣṇa, then, Kṛṣṇa is within everyone’s heart, Paramātmā, so Kṛṣṇa helps him immediately. Kṛṣṇa helps both ways. If you want to forget Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa will help you in that way, so that you will be able to forget Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, if you want to revive your lost relationship with Kṛṣṇa again, Kṛṣṇa will help you.
These things are stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānām. Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam [Bg. 10.10]. One who is engaged twenty-four hours in rendering service to the Lord with faith and devotion, bhajatām… Bhajatām, this word is used. Bhaja, sevā, service. Bhaja sevayā. Every verbal root has got particular meaning. When this bhajatām, bhajana… Just we call bhajana. Bhajana means serving the Lord.So bhajatām, one who is engaged always, teṣāṁ nitya, satata-yuktānām, twenty-four hours he’s engaged, in that stage, Kṛṣṇa is become…, Kṛṣṇa is very pleased upon you = “No, now he has taken to My service. He’s engaged twenty-four hours. All right, let him give some instruction.”
So Kṛṣṇa is within you. So śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. One profit is, by hearing about Kṛṣṇa, he becomes gradually sinless, simply by hearing. Unless we are sinful, we don’t come into the material world. So we have to become sinless before going back to home, back to Godhead. Because kingdom of God… God is pure; the kingdom is pure. No impure living entity can enter there. So one has to become pure. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, yeṣām anta-gataṁ pāpam. “One who has completely been freed from all sinful reaction of his life,” yeṣāṁ anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām, “and always engaged in pious activities, no more sinful activities.”
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that once he’s given chance to erase all the sinful activities and keeping himself intact—no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling—if we follow this regulation, then after initiation all my sins are washed off. And if I keep myself in that washed-off position, then where is the question of becoming sinful again? But once washed-off… You take your bath and again take the dust and throw on your body—that process will not help. If you say, “I’ll take again wash and again throw,” then what is the use of washing? Wash off. Once washed off, now keep yourself in that washed-off condition. That is required.
So that will be possible if you keep yourself constantly in touch with Kṛṣṇa by hearing about Him. That’s all. You have to remain uncontaminated. And that is puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ. If you hear about Kṛṣṇa, then puṇya, you will be always in pious position. Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ. Either you chant or… Therefore our recommendation is always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. So we should be careful about our slipping down again into the sinful activities, and everyone should be careful and keep oneself in the chanting process. Then he’s all right.
And gradually, as you go on hearing about Kṛṣṇa, the all the dirty things within the heart will be cleansed. The dirty things are that “I am a material body.” “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am this,” “I am that.” These are all different types of covering of the soul. The uncovered soul is fully conscious that “I am eternal servant of God.” That’s all.One has no other identification. That is called mukti. When one comes to the understanding that “I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, God, and my only business is to serve Him,” that is called mukti.
Mukti does not mean that you will have another two hands, another two legs. No. The same thing, simply it is cleansed. Just like a man is suffering from fever. The symptoms are so many, but as soon as the fever is not there, then all the symptoms gone. So our this fever in this material world is sense gratification. Sense gratification. This is the fever. So when we become engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this sense gratification business ceases. That is the difference. That is the test how you are becoming advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt [SB 11.2.42]. That is the test.
So… Because this disease is called bhava-roga… Bhava-roga means again and again taking birth. Bhava-roga. But if we take the medicine, bhavauṣadhi… Everything is there in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bhava-roga, the disease of repeated birth and death in the material world, and the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is bhavauṣadhi, the medicine to cure this bhava-roga. Bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-‘bhirāmāt, ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt virajyeta pumān vinā paśughnāt [SB 10.1.4]. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānāt. There are very nice verses in Bhāgavatam. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānāt. This chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, or God, is possible by a person who is disgusted with all these material activities. They can actually chant. That means mukta-puruṣa, liberated soul. It is… The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is the business of liberated soul, not for the conditioned soul. But even in our conditioned life we chant, we become gradually purified.Therefore it is recommended that everyone should chant.
Never mind, nama oṁ apavitraḥ pavitro vā yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣam. Anyone who remembers the Puṇḍarīkākṣa… By chanting, you’ll remember. So nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhi. It is the medicine for our this bhava-roga, repeated birth and death. Such a nice thing. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhi chrotra-mano-‘bhirāmāt. Not only it is medicine… Medicine is always bitter. But it is not bitter. Mano ‘bhirāmāt: it is very pleasing to the mind, to the senses. Otherwise, how we become ecstatic in chanting unless it is pleasing? It is medicine, but pleasing medicine. Other medicines, they are very bitter. If you practice yoga, oh, you have to take so much labor. And that, you do not know whether you’ll be successful or not, haṭha-yoga. And if you take to jñāna, that also requires much education, much understanding of philosophy.
So they actually, although they are medicine, but they are bitter medicine. Not very palatable. Neither everyone can take it. A child cannot become a jñānī. A child cannot become a yogī. But a child can become a bhakta. Therefore this is the easiest process. Pleasing. Everyone is pleased to execute this process. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhi chrotra-mano-‘bhirāmāt [SB 10.1.4]. Mano-‘bhirāmāt. Even for ordinary men who wants to hear about conjugal love… They read therefore so many novel, fiction, dramas. What is that? The love affairs between one young man, one young girl. But that is also there, Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. In that sense also, it is pleasing, even to the ordinary man.
So, mano ‘bhirāmāt, it is very pleasing. Nivṛtta-tarṣaiḥ… For philosophers it is also pleasing. We are talking all of philosophy in Bhāgavata. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhi chrotra-mano-‘bhirāmāt. Ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt. Uttamaśloka is Kṛṣṇa, who is worshiped by offering nice, selected ślokas, authorized. Just like we offer prayer, cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa… [Bs. 5.29]. Each line is full of poetry, poetic and literary character, grammar. Anything you take, they’re all full. All Bhāgavata, all Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. You cannot produce such literature in this days, such meaningful. Because Vyāsadeva was incarnation, he could produce. Therefore it is uttamaśloka: by the best selected verses, Kṛṣṇa is described.
So who can be away from such activities, to hear about Uttamaśloka through nice verses, philosophy? Who can be bereft? Vinā paśughnāt [SB 10.1.4] = only the animal-hunter or the animal-killer. The animal-killer cannot understand. Therefore it is prohibited = no meat-eating, no flesh-eating. This is the greatest disqualification for understanding. One cannot understand. The animal-killer cannot understand. Therefore it has to be stopped. Vinā paśughnāt. Paśughnāt means… Ghna means killer, and paśu means animal. And another meaning is, paśu means oneself, living entity—ghna. So either one is killing himself or killing animals, such person cannot understand about the glories of the Lord. It is not possible. Parīkṣit Mahārāja said that, ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt virajyeta vinā paśughnāt. Only the animal-killer.
So, have kīrtana.
SB 2.1.5
tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
smartavyaś cecchatābhayam
O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries.
Only books about Krsna – BG & SB, transcendental pastimes of Krsna and His devotees.
Help people understand – Krishna gives special dispensation. (Exemption of the rule, giving a loop hole)
Krishna has given Hari naam sankirtan..
If you want victory in this age – just chant Hare Krsna maha mantra..
Greatest quality of Kali Yuga.. just by chanting sincerely you can go back to Godhead..
Even thinking good you get the result
Even if you think bad there is no affect, until you act bad
Even if you do not get initiated and chant the holy name you get delivered. The holy name is so powerful.. Not to say that you should not get initiated.. we’re all coming from low backgrounds
Krsna is giving dispensation so that his devotees can go back to Him easily. But if one does not hear SB regularly, he does not even want to go back to Him.
These 4 verses – Krishna is giving the dispensations – loop holes
BG 9.30
shows how kind Krsna is
Even if one falls down if he is engages in DS he is
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
One should not misuse this dispensation. Three strikes and you are out. NOT premeditated fall down, but only accidental fall downs..
On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.
Example – Devotee who smoked marijuna to preach.. In Amsterdam..
Material energy is very powerful.
One devotee who was always reading SP books.. Went to a mayavadi philosopher class and he converted to mayavadi philosophy.. Blown away by their quoting of BG verses..
We should not overestimate our achievements in life we should always be
humble and meek.
And but preach yes we should preach but not think that we can conquer the whole
World – first we have to conquer our desire to have sense gratification that could take
a very very long time and once you do conquer that then still you would not go to places where people are openly violating the four regulative principles because
just witnessing such a thing makes you fallen already.
Example – One devotee murdered another devotee. He was caught and was convicted and has been in jail for 40 years.. But he is a devotee, he is chanting nicely.. He is preaching nicely.. He got the just punishment he can never get out of Jail.. there is no reason to criticize him.
Therefore a person who is situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and is engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words sādhur eva, “he is saintly,” are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has accidentally fallen down. And the word mantavyaḥ is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.
BG 9.31
Even if a devotee accidentally falls he will quickly become righteous due to the cleansing process..
He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.
This should not be misunderstood. In the Seventh Chapter the Lord says that one who is engaged in mischievous activities cannot become a devotee of the Lord. One who is not a devotee of the Lord has no good qualifications whatsoever. The question remains, then, How can a person engaged in abominable activities – either by accident or by intention – be a pure devotee? This question may justly be raised. The miscreants, as stated in the Seventh Chapter, who never come to the devotional service of the Lord, have no good qualifications, as is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Generally, a devotee who is engaged in the nine kinds of devotional activities is engaged in the process of cleansing all material contamination from the heart. He puts the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart, and all sinful contaminations are naturally washed away. Continuous thinking of the Supreme Lord makes him pure by nature. According to the Vedas, there is a certain regulation that if one falls down from his exalted position he has to undergo certain ritualistic processes to purify himself. But here there is no such condition, because the purifying process is already there in the heart of the devotee, due to his remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly. Therefore, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental falldowns. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations.
i can show you where prabhupada says even if one is committing offenses one
should not stop chanting but one should correct the offenses by getting help
from a senior devotee and continue chanting under no circumstances so one give up chanting but they should get help to chant purely
BG 9.32
Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination
O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth – women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] – can attain the supreme destination.
Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18) it is stated that even the lowest, who are called caṇḍālas (dog-eaters), can be purified by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and the guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking shelter of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance.
so here’s a formula for success for all types of people people who are following
krishna consciousness people who were following but fell down and human
people who are not following if you simply become humble and take instruction and what is that instruction – it’s hearing srimad-bhagavatam every day from genuine devotee or devotees and then of course = “engage your mind always in thinking of Me become My devotee offer obeisances to unto Me and worship me being completely absorbed in me surely you will come to me”
if we just stick to the four regulative principles you’ll never have a problem if you rationalize well this is for preaching just like there was one sannyasi in ISKCON whenever he would see someone who could become his disciple he would give him a picture of his feet a photo of his feet put this on the altar and worshiped it you know so there was one girl that was doing that and she said maharaj i’ve been worshiping your feet every day it’s so wonderful it’s giving me so much spiritual advancement but i would like to actually massage your feet you know because i’m meditating on them all so he said okay so eventually he fell down how can a sanyasi accept that a girl can massage his feet? but it was the feet first then the ankle this is all crazy stuff right by the way why is he giving a picture of his feet you know well is that going to help the girl you know it’s better she meditated on Srila Prabhupad right anyway here we see how one thing leads to another thing leads to another thing eventually they fall down so we should not play games with maya maya is stronger than us we just stick to the regulative principles and chanting hare krishna and hearing regularly and doing service then there won’t be any problem. That he overestimated
That devotee who smoked marijuna – he overestimated his abilities
yeah he figured he was puffed up because he always chanting chanting Hare Krsna everybody’s face all the time right you say something like that he wouldn’t even answer you this is uh dangerous oh my god that’s called being puffed up now we should always be lower than the straw on the street then we won’t have a problem of what everybody has that krsna’s in the heart and we’re all originally with krishna go ahead Yes no they never fall down well they they come here because krsna sends them to spread krishna consciousness, the nithya siddhas have never fallen Down but sometimes one can be sent here to do special preaching to help those fallen Souls like arjuna arjuna never goes back to godhead it’s always in a material world with krishna preaching and teaching others how to be Krsna Conscious so some people they’re always liberated in the material world and some people Are liberating the spiritual world arjun is a very special devotee so anytime krishna appears anywhere in the material world he’s with him okay good.