19870906 Upadeśāmṛta 2-3 with Tamil Translation

vande 'ham śrī-guroh śrī-yuta-pada-kamalam śrī-gurun vaisnavams ca
śrī-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam
sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devam
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-padan saha-gana-lalitā-śrī-visakhanvitams ca

Jayapatākā Swami:

Jaya jaya śrī caitanya jaya nityānanda
Jayādvaita candra jaya gaura bhakta vrṇda

vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

Jayapatākā Swami: Today is the sacred Ekādaśī festival, Mahā-Dvādaśī and in which disappearance of Rūpa Gosvāmī has also appeared almost 500 years ago. Rūpa Gosvāmī was one of the direct disciples of Lord Caitanya and he gave many instructions for us to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One book he wrote is called Upadeśāmṛta or Nectar of Instructions, which has only 11 verses. These 11 verses are very important. I would like to read two for your instructions. Second and third verse tell of the six items which are to be avoided in devotional service and six activities to be accepted.

Upadeśāmṛta 2

atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca
prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca laulyaṁ ca
ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati

Anyone here who doesn’t know Tamil?

These six things are to be avoided. These six activities well devotional service. Human life is meant for plain living identity Prabhupāda said. We have to……The three energies the spiritual energy, the material energy, and we are the material potency. So, normally this material world were under the external potencies control but by acting in the devotional service we can come under the control of the Kṛṣṇa's internal potency. Its Bhagavad-gītā verse 9.13 explains us:

mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

Translation: "O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible."

So to come under the protection of the divine energy is very easy if we mainly engage in the devotional service. The Prabhupāda, he advice what is the great soul, who is the mahātmā. Someone who is broad minded is a mahātmā. Opposite of mahātmā is a broad minded soul is a cripple minded person. Some of these always engage in service find in the senses. These type of person is opposite of mahātmā opposite of a broad minded soul because he is only thinking of his senses. Sometimes someone may renounce personal sense gratification but you are replaced with an extended sense gratification. To give the sense gratification to others like family members, community, society, nation. This is from personal sense gratification to extended sense gratification there is not much difference. The real broad-minded soul is working to gratify the Supreme Lord and his transcendental senses. We should know the difference between transcendental service and material welfare work, one is material and one is spiritual. So, to remain fixed in devotional service we need to engage our senses in Kṛṣṇa’s service. But our nature is that we may make mistake so, we have to avoid certain types of entanglement. Now, the first thing is called atyāhāraḥ which means overeating and hoarding, collecting more than needed. Prabhupāda says that the birds they eat something and they take it away but the human beings they not only eat but they also keep whatever they can use. In India this is the big problem, many other big businessmen they are hoarding all of the sugars in the market to raise the price. So, how to avoid this? We should eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda, we should offer our food to Kṛṣṇa and eat them. We should eat at the fixed time of taking prasāda, not in between the meals (pause). In this way it’s very easy to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness without difficulty. Prabhupāda said the purpose of religion is to bring the Human beings to actual civilized state, without religion the society is like animal society. Prabhupāda says but sometimes people says that they think that religion is a means to gaining the very high material prosperity. We always pray to God just to give us more and more material prosperity, this is also considered to be a excessive desire. True religion is to give people the spiritual strength to be satisfied with the necessities of life while cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, this is the second thing which is rejected this over endeavoring for mundane things or Prayāga. If we do religion but we don’t want to know God, the absolute truth, then that is the over endeavor because it is artificial.

The Absolute Truth, then that is an over endeavor because it’s artificial. So ‘atyāhāra’ means excessive sense gratification and ‘prayāsa’ means unnecessary endeavour, these two come hand in hand. ‘Prayāsa’ excessive endeavour. This way if someone wants to have more and more money to spend on sense gratification then they also have to work more and more to maintain that standard. Then the third impediment is called ‘prajalpa’, the unnecessary talking. Prabhupāda mentions that if we talk, you should talk about Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Prabhupāda said, when you meet with new friends, we immediately begin unnecessary talking, sounding, just like croaking toads. Everyone knows what croaking toads sounds like. So, so many things are there to read, newspapers, magazines, novels, crossword puzzles and so many things. These are all ‘prajalpa’ wasting our valuable time. We should keep on reading to the essential material matter and the rest to Kṛṣṇa consciousness matters. So, also devotees sometimes they like to discuss all talks, sought of rumors and things which disturbed the mind, this all ‘prajalpa’ should be avoided. This can destroy our devotional service, it can also implicate us in Vaiṣṇava offenses. This is saying by one great Vaishnava. grāmya-kathānākahibe grāmya-kathānāśunibe (laughter) Don’t listen to the materialistic gossip and talk, and don’t speak materialistic nonsense. Then jana-saṅgaś the fourth thing that we should avoid. This regards to associate anyone, persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are going to be engaged in the three previous activities very excessively. They will be talking prajalpa, they will be eating things which are not prasāda. And they will be desiring so many unnecessary things which are excessive, If we don’t need to be happy. So, we should avoid with association with such people who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because they all distract us. Of course, you can associate with someone to preach to them, to give them a good association, but not for doing all these other unauthorized things. So this is known as jana-saṅga.

So this is known as jana-saṅga. Prabhupāda mentions we have established the Society for Kṛṣṇa consciousness internationally, to give the people opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten Kṛṣṇa. And he said, this association is increasing day by day, all over the world. Here in Dahou, the expansion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also to give that type of transcendental association in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This type of Kṛṣṇa conscious association is very auspicious, this is very enlivening to the spiritual life. Okay, there is also two other things. One is called ‘niyamāgrahaḥ. ‘Niyamāgrahaḥ’ means to whimsically neglect the rules of the śāstra as well as to be a fanatic and practice the rules without proper understanding. You see, someone may, break regulative principles, performing illicit sex, meat eating, gambling, and intoxication, this is, directly against the, our spiritual advancement. Then, someone may follow some scriptural rule, but simply for making a show, or for some material purpose without actually desiring to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This will not be very useful. Then the (fifth) 6^th thing we should avoid is called ‘laulyaṁ’. That which is greed, wanting to acquire material benefits. And also desiring to achieve other type of spiritual opulences which are not useful for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Like mystic powers. Or merging in the brahma-jyoti. These are not good for devotional service, therefore one should not be greedy to achieve these things. Actually, we should try going to Rūpa Gosvāmī to engage in devotional service. Engaging in devotional service.

Now the 6 things which are favorable to devotional service are now mentioned. 

Upadeśāmṛta 3

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

These are the six things favorable for the devotional service. We should try to apply those into our life. So this Society of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, Prabhupāda created in order to provide the opportunity to practice this type of pure devotional service. Rūpa Gosvāmī, he was the finance minister for the emperor Hussain shah during the time of Lord Caitanya. Sanātana Gosvāmī was the Prime Minister. So, but when he went to see Lord Caitanya, Lord Caitanya came to see him on his way to Vṛndāvana, starting by his capital city. So When Rūpa Gosvāmī went to see at that time he was a minister, from a distance he just paid his obeisance’s on the ground like a stick. Putting up piece of grass into his teeth in humility, then Lord Caitanya saw the humility, he said you are breaking my heart with your humility. You come here, he said “No no we are truly impure, we are taking service other than devotional service, we were very impure.” Then Lord Caitanya, He forcibly grabbed them and blessed them. He ordered them to join his movement. Which they gladly agreed to do in future. So When Rūpa Gosvāmī went to Jagannātha Purī in Orissa to meet Caitanya Mahāprabhu at that time Lord Caitanya told Rūpa Gosvāmī to be the secretary assistant for Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. But Rūpa Gosvāmī would also spend time with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. And Lord Caitanya gave some personal instructions to Rūpa Gosvāmī on the science of devotional service. One day Rūpa Gosvāmī wrote a poem, this tells, Lord Caitanya’s feeling of deep love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya went to the house of Haridāsa Ṭhākura but He found no one there. Then He saw the poem, so He took and read it. He was shocked, how someone could understand His inner mind His deepest devotional secret. Rūpa Gosvāmī had understood the separation of Lord Caitanya for Kṛṣṇa, that was the secret love of Lord Caitanya.

Understood the separation of Lord Caitanya, for Kṛṣṇa, the most secret love of Lord Caitanya. Then, Rūpa Gosvāmī, later when he was in Vṛndāvana, he was living under a different tree every day, serving Rādhā and Govinda. He was very, he was living as a sannyāsī. Very poor. He had no… he just would beg and whatever he would get, he would offer that to Kṛṣṇa.

Janmāṣṭamī festival was coming and he thought, ‘It would be nice if I could offer a nice feast to Kṛṣṇa. But anyway, how is it possible, I am a poor mendicant. I just have to offer whatever I get.’

But the next day, one village girl came, with a big basket of different types of offerings. Milk, fruit, ghee, vegetables, grains. ‘This is for your Deity; you can offer to your Deity.’ ‘So who are you?’ Rūpa Gosvāmī asked. She said, ‘Oh I’m just a village girl.’ So then, Rūpa Gosvāmī took all the ingredients and he prepared a very nice feast, and he was offering to Kṛṣṇa. His older brother Sanātana Gosvāmī came and he saw this big feast being offered to Kṛṣṇa. He said, ‘You living under a tree every night. How did you get all these things to offer to Kṛṣṇa?’ He said, ‘Well some village girl gave to me.’ ‘What village girl? What did she look like?’ ‘She was very young, and she was very young, beautiful, little village girl.’ ‘What colour was her skin?’ ‘Well she was golden colour.’ ‘You fool, that was Rādhārāṇī! We here to serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, instead you taking service from Rādhārāṇī. How could you do this? How could you accept service from our master and mistress?’

So, then Rūpa Gosvāmī could understand that Rādhārāṇī had personally come and given these foodstuff. The devotee is so eager to serve the Lord. He is not asking to get any service from the Lord in exchange. This is pure bhakti. So, like this, Rūpa Gosvāmī was a very great devotee and today, on the day, when he went back to home, back to Godhead, you accepting this scared vows to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously.

To practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously, every devotional service that today during the Ekādaśī vrata is also magnified many many times. It’s a very good day to begin chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa if you are not already begin and to get the special blessings of Rūpa Gosvāmī and the blessings of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa on Ekādaśī. How many of the devotees present here are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa? How many of you are not yet chanting but interested to trying in the future? How many are chanting but want to increase their chanting? Very Good. So, today we are having some initiation ceremony. I think would that explained it all? (A-side: Guru Mahārāja asks a devotee. Translator: “Yes I Explained it all!”)

Which Gaura-maṇḍala has briefly explained. Harināma initiation means one is dwelling to Kṛṣṇa through the spiritual master and the disciplic succession and one is taking the vow to practice strictly regulative principles and the chanting under the guidance of the guru for the whole life. Gopīnātha and Selvam are taking this Harināma vrata. Then for those who are preparing to take the full shelter of Kṛṣṇa very near in the future and are regularly going to be practicing devotional service and they all take the Kṛṣṇa-sādhaka/ Kṛṣṇa-sādhakī that we have four candidates where the two are the wives of Selvam and Gopīnāthan. Mother Mariyai and Padmāvatī as well as Chandha Kumārī and Mandākinī are two other. Chandha Kumārī is daughter of Gopīnāthan. We like that this family, may remain in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and practicing devotional service. This is the practice Kṛṣṇa’s that all the generation grandparents, children and grandchildren everyone can practice. Then we have Kṛṣṇa-sevaka/sevikā for those who are engaging in Kṛṣṇa’s service and they want to advance further in devotional service for the perfection of platform.

Engaging in Kṛṣṇa’s service and they want to advance further in devotional service to that professional platform.

I will read the names out, raise your hands when I call your names, Nanda Swami, Nāgeśvaram, Karuṇākaran, Bhāgavat-kumār, Shiladevi, Haivalyam, Subhadrā Devī, Dhanalakṣmī, Prasannam, Nilan, Kamalā Kumārī, Padmanāthan, Harirājan. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Is that everyone? So first we give out Kṛṣṇa-sevaka blessings and Kṛṣṇa-sādhaka and then the Harināma. Firstly, Kṛṣṇa-sevaka vows are taken, all sevakas and sādhakas can make a confirmation of these four principles.

When I ask a question if you agree then you say Hare Kṛṣṇa and offer your praṇāmas with your hands.

First Question: If you are convinced that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Param-Brahma, Parameśvara and he has come as Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the Kali-yuga to give the Yuga-dharma then say Hare Kṛṣṇa. The sādhakas can stand up.

Second Question: He said, If you believe that pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the perfection of life and your personal goal of life is to achieve pure bhakti then say, “Hare Kṛṣṇa!”

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: Third he said to achieve this pure devotion if you want blessings, the teachings from Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the disciplic succession coming from Bhaktisiddhānta, Bhaktivedanta Prabhupāda (A-side: No don’t say, ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa!’ – Just translate what I say, I haven’t finished) and if you accept Prabhupāda representatives as your instructing spiritual master and instructing guides then say, “"Hare Kṛṣṇa!”

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: The Fourth is if you are determined to gradually increase your devotional service more and more and for this reason you want blessings to advance to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.