19950606 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.47.61

Lecture Code: 19950606-SB-Pundarika Mahajana Das

 

Scripture: Srimad Bhagavatam

Verse: 10.47.61

Date: 6th June 1995

 

Place: Murari seva farm in Mulberry Tennessee

 
Transcripted by : Pundarika Mahajana Das

Transcripted on : 17-07-2019

First level proof reading : Channah Mj, Reading UK Bhakti Vriksha

First level proof read on : 14th July 2020

 

STATUS: Completed

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj:

 

 

vande ’haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-

kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca

śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-

raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam…

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapathaka swami on June 6th 1995 at Murari seva farm in Mulberry Tennessee the class begins with a reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam tenth canto chapter forty-seven verse sixty-one.

āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām ahaṁ syāṁ

vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām

yā dustyajaṁ sva-janam ārya-pathaṁ ca hitvā

bhejur mukunda-padavīṁ śrutibhir vimṛgyām

Translation:

The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, because the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.

This verse from Srimad Bahgavatam ten forty-seven sixty-one was spoken by Uddhava. When Uddhava was said by Kṛṣṇa to see the condition of the gopis in Vrindavan he stayed there for a few months and their association always talked with him about Kṛṣṇa, although this greatly pleased the gopis and other residents of Vrindavan vraj bhoomi Vrindavan would it was thought that the gopis were severely afflicted afflicted by their separation from Kṛṣṇa the hearts were so disturbed that their minds were sometimes deranged observing the unalloyed devotion love of the gopis for Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava decided to become a creeper or blade of grass or herb in Vrindavana so that sometimes the gopis would trample him and he would receive the dust of the lotus feet on his head.

haridāsa-ṭhākura--mahā-bhāgavata-pradhāna

prati dina laya teṅha tina-lakṣa nāma

Haridāsa Ṭhākura the teacher of the holy name is among the most exalted of all devotees everyday he chants three hundred thousand times three hundred thousand holy names of the Lord.

nāmera mahimā āmi tāṅra ṭhāñi śikhiluṅ

tāṅra prasāde nāmera mahimā jāniluṅ

 

I have learned about the glories and the Lord’s Holy Name from  Haridāsa Ṭhākura and by his mercy I have understood these glories.

ācāryaratna ācāryanidhi paṇḍita-gadādhara

jagadānanda, dāmodara, śaṅkara, vakreśvara

kāśīśvara, mukunda, vāsudeva, murāri

āra yata bhakta-gaṇa gauḍe avatari'

kṛṣṇa-nāma-prema kailā jagate pracāra

iṅhā sabāra saṅge kṛṣṇa-bhakti ye āmāra"

 

Ācāryaratna,Ācāryanidhi, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara, Śaṅkara, Vakreśvara, Kāśīśvara, Mukunda, Vāsudeva, Murāri and many other devotees have descended in Bengal to preach to everyone the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and the value of love for Him. I have learned from them the meaning of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

 

bhaṭṭera hṛdaye dṛḍha abhimāna jāni'

bhaṅgī kari' mahāprabhu kahe eta vāṇī

 

Knowing that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa's heart was full of pride, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke these words, hinting at how one can learn about devotional service.

 

Purport:

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was greatly proud of his knowledge in devotional service, and therefore he wanted to speak about Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without understanding the Lord's position. The Lord therefore hinted in many ways that if Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to know what devotional service actually is, he would have to learn from all the devotees He mentioned, beginning with Advaita Ācārya,Lord Nityānanda, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya. As Svarūpa Dāmodara has said, if one wants to learn the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one must take lessons from a realized soul. One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books. One must become a servant of a Vaiṣṇava. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has confirmed,

 

chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā

 

one cannot be in a transcendental position unless one very faithfully serves a pure Vaiṣṇava. One must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru (ādau gurv-āśrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is. That is called the paramparā system.

"āmi se'vaiṣṇava’, --bhakti-siddhānta saba jāni

āmi se bhāgavata-artha uttama vākhāni"

 

[Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was thinking:] “I am a great Vaiṣṇava. Having learned all the conclusions of Vaiṣṇava philosophy, I can understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and explain it very well.”

bhaṭṭera manete ei chila dīrgha garva

prabhura vacana śuni' se ha-ila kharva

 

Such pride had existed for a long time within Vallabha Bhaṭṭa's mind, but as he heard the preaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his pride was cut down.

 

prabhura mukhe vaiṣṇavatā śuniyā sabāra

bhaṭṭera icchā haila tāṅ-sabāre dekhibāra

 

When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa heard from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about the pure Vaiṣṇavism of all these devotees, he immediately desired to see them.

bhaṭṭa kahe, — “e saba vaiṣṇava rahe kon sthāne?

kon prakāre pāimu ihāṅ-sabāra darśane?”

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “Where do all these Vaiṣṇavas live, and how can I see them?”

prabhu kahe, — “keha gauḍe, keha deśāntare

saba āsiyāche ratha-yātrā dekhibāre

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Although some of them live in Bengal and some in other states, they have all come here to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.

ihāṅi rahena sabe, vāsā — nānā-sthāne

ihāṅi pāibā tumi sabāra darśane”

“At present they are all living here. Their residences are in various quarters. Here you will get the audience of them all.”

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya (All repeat)

narayanam namaskritya

naram chaiva narottamam

devim sarasvatim vyasam

 tato jayam udirayet (All repeat)

 

mukam karoti vacalam

pangum langhayate girim

yat kripa tamaham vande

srigurum dinatarinam

paramananda madhavam

sri caitanya mano isvaram (All repeat)

 

vāsudeve bhagavati

bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ

janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ

jñānaṁ yad brahma-darśanam

vāsudeve — unto Kṛṣṇa; bhagavati — the Personality of Godhead; bhakti-yogaḥ — devotional service; prayojitaḥ — discharged; janayati — produces; āśu — very soon; vairāgyam — detachment; jñānam — knowledge; yat — which; brahma-darśanam — self-realization.

Engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and application of devotional service unto Kṛṣṇa make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment, as well as in self-realization.

Purport:

It is said by less intelligent men that bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, is meant for persons who are not advanced in transcendental knowledge and renunciation. But the fact is that if one engages in the devotional service of the Lord in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not have to attempt separately to practice detachment or to wait for an awakening of transcendental knowledge. It is said that one who engages unflinchingly in the devotional service of the Lord actually has all the good qualities of the demigods develop in him automatically. One cannot discover how such good qualities develop in the body of a devotee, but actually it happens. There is one instance where a hunter was taking pleasure in killing animals but after becoming a devotee he was not prepared to kill even an ant. Such is the quality of a devotee.

Those who are very eager to advance in transcendental knowledge can engage themselves in pure devotional service, without wasting time in mental speculation. For arriving at the positive conclusions of knowledge in the Absolute Truth, the word brahma-darśanam is significant in this verse. Brahma-darśanam means to realize or to understand the Transcendence. One who engages in the service of Vāsudeva can actually realize what Brahman is. If Brahman is impersonal, then there is no question of darśanam, which means “seeing face to face.” Darśanam refers to seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. Unless the seer and the seen are persons, there is no darśanam. Brahma-darśanam means that as soon as one sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can at once realize what impersonal Brahman is. A devotee does not need to make separate investigations to understand the nature of Brahman. Bhagavad-gītā also confirms this. Brahma-bhūyāya kalpate: a devotee at once becomes a self-realized soul in the Absolute Truth.

That ends the Bhaktivedanta Swami translation and purport to text twenty-three chapter thirty-two canto three of Srimad Bhagavatam Entanglement in fruitive activities, om tat-sat

So it’s very nice verse

vāsudeve bhagavati

bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ

janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ

jñānaṁ yad brahma-darśanam

 

early in the first canto there is a similar verse and jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam this means that causelessly one gets vairagya and gyana detachment and transcendental knowledge in this verse it says but you not only get vairagya, renunciation and gyana, spiritual knowledge but you also can realize the absolute truth face to face brahma-darśanam.

So by performing devotional service you can get everything there is no need of performing something else first. It’s not that devotional service is dependent upon anything else devotional service is self-sufficient complete and if we fully perform the devotional service then we can achieve all these successes.

So when I say I am too attached I can’t do devotional service I just too attached let me get detached then I will do devotional service but by doing devotional service someone will become detached and recite glory of devotional service.

You may be tired to be detached by other means but then when the push comes to shove when we are put in a real tight situation that we find that we become attached we would actually anytime attachment very hard to devote many permit while someone would bring devotional service that they become attached to Kṛṣṇa automatically their detachment for the material world increase attachment to this material world is not such as a question just as kind of said in one word vairagya is detachment  and aasakti is attachment but this attachment is very complicated because the desires of someone in the material world are many branch as it explains in the bahu-śākhā hy anantāś so many branches just like that you ever tried to uproot a tree or you see a tree root structure it’s not that the tree as a simple root structure in fact usually whatever you see on above the ground is what you see below the ground even sometimes more you see so many big branches and leaves about like that was equally developed in many cases root structure beneath the ground thousands and thousands even hundreds of thousands of millions of roots coming out in one tree.

Like that being in material world there is so many kinds of attachments which are binding us not one or two there may be somebody strong superficial what you can say like the tap roots remain predominant roots of attachment and some which are the most of the some attachments are made obstacles for spiritual progress especially those for sinful activities like eating meat, fish and eggs, onion, garlic eating and taking drugs any other form of intoxication but gambling gambling is another kind of addiction a diving international in this state we saw signs and Florida you know on compulsive gambling’s any other special Gamblers Anonymous or something like that some Association for helping compulsive gamblers is also a type of addiction everybody wants the fast buck easy money without working so they spend a higher end money and gamble (Instead of gaining) then uf course there is illicit sex which is another simple attention it’s not very kind to give a some system for human beings to help sex life within religious principles within therefore the institution of marriage was created so that people could fulfil those desires in elusive manner but desire is very strong for sex and soul and sometimes one is inclined to do so in illicit manner.

These are very gross, are a very strong sinful attachment which are very detrimental mass for spiritual life but apart from these are obvious pillars of Kali, the spiritual progress is also depending upon our gradually utilizing all the other subtle attachments gross attachments that we have and our creator time transcend to Kṛṣṇa all this that Kṛṣṇa's attachment is stronger than all the others.

So that the main topic becomes our Kṛṣṇa conscious they are very few smaller hoops those are not even able to cover and not cut, the tree is going to survive therefore it doesn’t matter may not even be necessary to cut those as long as the Kṛṣṇa root is a stronger.

Sometimes at different times just to show that actually the Kṛṣṇa root is stronger maybe for some moment different roots get cut and they grow back but they are not the principle root that were depending on our nourishment. So in the material life we have our roots that were depending on the main nourishment or sense gratification roots,  and if there is any religious route at all it’s probably one of the small material roots, not one of the main roots. But in Kṛṣṇa consciousness the main root is Kṛṣṇa consciousness and for the pure devotees gradually all their roots start to spread Lord Caitanya discuss about so many different devotees. In human society friendship, family all these are very prominent attachments but for the devotees gradually their friends become the devotees. A pure devotee finds friends amongst the pure devotees.

To do that one has to be a bit humble. One can always find some defect in everyone and everything, but to see the good qualities in others, to recognize the good qualities in the devotees their dedication their selfless worship, usually most people don’t do much unless there is some direct reciprocation or direct material benefit for that. When devotees are doing so many services without any material benefit they are doing the service out of the desire to please Guru and Kṛṣṇa therefore these are glorious.

Even if there is few percent however many percent might be of deficiencies in some areas but the Bhagavatam explains that there may be a person who’s got so many good qualities but if he doesn’t have devotional services or she doesn’t have devotional service ultimately other called is for not they are all being used simply for some mundane purpose which really doesn’t have any higher benefit and as a result even such good qualities when push comes to shove or becomes is some periodical situation they can all be discarded for one’s own self-interest.

Actually the big demons mentioned in the Bhagavad and Ramayana, wasn’t that they weren’t wondering already followed by persons they are very qualified persons’ even Kamsa he was very powerful very charismatic a great leader a great you know very physically well-built very strong and simple he was a very intelligent and he could be very kind and very gracious very gentlemanly. When he was at the ceremony on the wedding ceremony of his sister Devaki, he offered - its custom that the brother accompanies the daughter up to the house of the husband it’s too much for the mother and father they are feeling some loss of the daughter because in may big families the daughter would always be with parents until the wedding.

So they naturally they feel very much affection for their daughter, and so they want to see that the daughter safely reaches to her new home and so they send a brother there is a custom like that. But Kamsa, he didn’t have he for just accompanied and instead he very graciously offered - let me drive the chariot I'll drive you and he was driving and smiling and talking and being you know very wonderful loving brother he find all the sudden there is a daiva vani  your sister Devaki's eighth son you know who is the cause of your death will kill you.

As soon as you heard that all of a sudden his mood changed and he started saying that this sister of mine she is going to be the cause of my death her son is trying to kill me. So immediately he grabbed her by the hair pulled out so he is going to kill her right on the spot because your sisters son is going to be a cause of your death ok i'll kill her right now and then she saw the danger. So where was all the gentlemanliness where was all the graciousness and where was all the good qualities like all in the second everything disappears.

Of course where was his moment he was very much identified with his body his body was going to get killed by the son of Devaki according to the daiva vani the word from the sky.

So he took this as so he became really very fearful and out of fear and anger he wanted to kill the object that was putting him in material complication. So tomorrow was completely selfish and mundane. Sometimes someone may like what she taught me he is little bit impatient here and when he were discussing with Vallabha Bhatta he was very gently kind of admonishing him type of very mild chastisement instruction not to be proud not to think once also great pundit but trying to learn the devotion of qualities of other great devotees. We can gain something from every pure devotee and he mentioned so many devotees Shankar pundit, Vasudev Ghosh, Gadadhar pandit mentioned other so many other devotees said get their association and learn from them their mood of devotion for the Lord.

So this humble about time maybe came adjusted to meet these devotees. The neophyte devotee they always see God and don’t see the other devotees, although more than they see God and other Guru, but they don’t see other devotees but for the Kṛṣṇa conscious means to recognize Supreme Lord his one’s own Guru and all the dear devotees of the Lord. Lord Caitanya He sometimes will become impatient or angry for the devotee but that wasn’t find for selfish purpose but that was because He was concerned about the spiritual enhancement of the devotees.

Somehow, here Lord Caitanya is more direct interest but He is our compassion, He is giving some instructions to us would be to Baladeva Bhatta. Sometimes in a personal relationship there is a kind of possessiveness that comes which is a natural just like a parent care to their children is my child, child is my parents.

So then we have the possessiveness I am the parent for the children and naturally that gives responsibilities what they are doing its correct, but sometimes they may become excessive when you have a situation where then the children they rebel it's opposite of (In audible: 29.42) it’s an opposite the opposite is another form of attachment, it’s a negative attachment. These are my parents, I am rebelling against my parents it’s still focused on particular person just another form of material attachment to him it’s not parampara, it’s actually regimental similarly, in the relationships between friends or between husband and wife a type of possessiveness attachment for state later become anger all these things happening.

So we are best guided to all this by the sastra, what does sastras says we supposed to do, like the Shastras says that one should respect for his parents and should not do something disrespectful. Whatever the Sastra says, what are the duties of a husband, what are the duties of a wife. What is that a real friend according to sastra my neighbor that is a real kind of someone who is like always with you in the sense gratification. But in the spiritual sense,a real friend is someone who can tell one even when they doing something wrong. Vidura was the real friend of Dhritarashtra he was a real brother he told Dhritarastra, you are not doing the right thing you are always taking the side of your children of your siblings your children rather because you are generally the king or the Emperors so you are taking their side and you are not being just and favourable to sons of your brother Pandu the Pandavas.

 Even though they are more qualified than your own sons and their more highly qualified, but although attachment you are taking side of your sons and you are not acting as proper emperor or king in this regard - you're acting injustly - and as a result because your son's not qualified he is misusing the affection they are giving him- is creating so many problems. He really loves giving a good instruction, and of course Dhuryodhan he couldn’t take the criticism, he started chastising and saying this. You know, Dhuryodhan is just   like a dog and this and that - so many horrible things. And then Dhritarastra - he didn’t protest, didn't say ' dont insult my brother'. Actually he had no right to say this, didn't say any of this.

So there was a useless thing here, and you're the very instruction I give and from my own nephew ( 32.35 - 32.44 inaudible)

So when I give good instruction, none of these people can take it. So I said ' alright, you people want to see your own end - want to be all finished - and so I dont have sto stay here and watch you'

So that’s why in Kṛṣṇa conscious relationships one has to encourage someone when they do well in God consciousness and one has to discourage or buy some someone from doing something which is not correct for something which is not Kṛṣṇa conscious both signs are there.

In America but seems you know the rugged individualism is a good thing, but here we see that materially in a civilization there is a lot of bonding that goes between the different members, and then they take them spiritually there is a lot of bonding so much attachment that grows for Kṛṣṇa and please devotees. Lord Caitanya very much attached to His devotees, but not in a mundane sense but in a higher spiritual sense you know from and appreciate all of their service.

So by doing devotional service the right type of attachment grows, and the wrong kind of attachment is cut, that’s what I hear, neither we should be detached from serving Kṛṣṇa that’s not a great idea I am very I am very detached I don’t need to do any devotional service that’s not the detach that’s maya.

We cannot be without some form of attachment either we attach to Kṛṣṇa or attach to maya either looking at the Sun or look away or looking at shadow. So here we have Kamsa with a religion wants he was right here and cut off the head of his sister and Vasudeva is saying - it doesn’t look very good for you and his (In audible: 35.06) what are people going to saying here in public it’s just to be decapitating a system it will really be kind of a distasteful thing.

Since Kamsa was ultimately also very concened about his  reputation, how people though of him, but still when it came to life and death you know ok little bit of bad reputation you can tolerate. You know finish her off and save myself.

But then you look at after all and she is not the one which is going to kill you then why so kill her. Okay well I lose my reputation. But she is not the one. Still her sons are going to be the one, so if I kill her all children I'm saved. So I tell you what, I’ll give you the children as soon as they're born, you can do with them whatever you want.

So Vasudeva very famous for  being a very honest person. He was a devotee, devotees have forthright, honest character. If another demon had told Kamsa, I’ll give you, you know I can trust this guy as demon. He was a demon and though Vasudeva was a devotee - what he says he is going to do it.  So then, well if I get the baby somewhat up here I can notice and finish him off. So then he did he released the sister.

A very close call you know. So the demons, that even I can't do. I am a demon and that’s what happening in the world today. Right this to so many people who look really good but what are they really made of. If they're not devotees if they don't have that devotional quality they can become Kamsas in a second. And that’s what people are seeing you know ,that  that many of the leaders get exposed to different Whitegate, Watergate and this kind of thing and  different  kind of exposes and  accusations and sometimes they may be true or false or they may nott be very important things.

Prabhupada actually didn’t really consider it very wrong for a head of states to spy on this comparatives, as in Vedic time there was like half of course yet know what your competitors are doing but of course anyway that (In audible: 37.45) there were ethical problems. So whatever it may be there, whatever the rules of the game are in particular may be by Vedic standard there was nothing wrong but there is different rules than this come here to play that rules.

Anyway people try to bend the rules for their own personal gratification and grandisement,  and then actually people are things that this person is not a charactered person. So there is nature of attachment they are forcible to do things they wanted to do and from attachment. We don’t get what we want and we don’t them the reverse to negative attachment which is the false type of renunciation ,wE become angry and start to reject them.

This point on is not just angry rejection of things that we like to find out they don’t give us what we want so now we hate them where I will live this little detachment both positive and negative and they total attachment to Kṛṣṇa.

When we attached to Kṛṣṇa then, alright then it happens it doesn’t happen just like it’s not an issue then like somewhat like someone materially then you think, I want to make this person happy, but it’s kind of also prepare our efforts it makes me happy that person no longer makes me happy is actually an obstacle of my happiness then that same love gets so called love gets turn to hate because, I want to cause that person suffering. If I can cause that person suffering then it’s like make me happy.

All this is the mundane two sides of the same attachment coin. But this is not the vairagya .Maybe someone thinks I am detached but that’s not detached. Detachment means when you are really attached to Krishna and then (In audible: 39.54) So someone can discourage the problem you know they neophyte devotees think what does this mean. By that I should be attach my family, I should like if I neglect my family that shows I am really in test, something like that some kind of specular reaction.

First of all we should have independently tried to be detached by any kind of superficial method, is it all be artificial. You should trying to be attach to Kṛṣṇa do that devotional service that everything works out very nicely, we automatically become detached. And rather the how we can least everything we do it as a devotional service. Husband can protect his wife this is  devotion.

Kṛṣṇa will give this  devotee to help me my devotional service to be made a devotional companion and to raise Kṛṣṇa consciousness children. He protect my wife as if this is He protecting  a devotee ,guiding a devotee and vice versa, and consider this is my husband so devotee by serving him and serving Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is pleased that I'm serving a Vaishnava.

 So it’s important for people to be married to a Kṛṣṇa conscious spouses, then it’s very easy to see, of course one can even someone who may not be even Kṛṣṇa conscious sometime that husband very Kṛṣṇa conscious but you can think very good husband then you said even not wife will think while Kṛṣṇa is a supreme protector of everyone is a shelter everywhere so, at least materially by spiritually this materially my husband is protecting me.

Where is then people they have and I get further in this analogy for the non ideal situations when people don’t fulfil their duties but or take this ideal situation to show how it’s possible even in the material situation to be Kṛṣṇa conscious even while appearing to be attached, and even there may be some attachment that covers nature but the crucial issue is that the real attachment should be to Kṛṣṇa, to fulfilling whatever the desires of Kṛṣṇa, in some cases maybe even the situation is not so ideal, but the person will do that which is more Kṛṣṇa conscious, even if it means some inconvenience to himself.

So the strength to do that to tolerate the un ideal situations or to adapt to the different situation that comes because of the desire to please Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa can know that this person was doing because they want to please me.

Vairagyam Jynanam, spiritual knowledge, is not that very difficult to get spiritual knowledge so many people big big pundits, even they read the scriptures but they cannot get this spiritual knowledge second it’s like block, even you tell something to someone and they memorize the words but it is somehow doesn’t always penetrate. Just reading the books is not enough but they get this spiritual knowledge. Lord Chaitanya recommends that we should listen the Vaishnavas  we should be learning by associating with Vaishanavas here it is when Vasudeve bhagavati just serving the Lord.

But the best way of serving the Lord is by serving His devotees. He is more pleased on serving the devotees, in truth what I want to realize Kṛṣṇa and if they do offer devotional service how  will I realize Kṛṣṇa but here at thing of Brahma darshina they realized is absolute.

Jagannath Das babaji he was a realized soul he realized Kṛṣṇa, Radha and Kṛṣṇa he achieved the highest realization of His sidda swarup (In audible: 44.07) that’s why he is going to be siddha.

Jagannath Das babaji, it's not common that people living in this world can realize their own spiritual form. Even amoungst devotees it’s very rare. Usually at the time of death people realize, and they  pure devotees they realize their eternal form even though other moving he realized he is on the spiritual form after leaving this body simultaneously while leaving his body.

There's nothing wrong with that,  the point is to realize yourself your relationship with Kṛṣṇa but if someone is realizes while they are living that’s a very wonderful thing so Jagannath das babaji he was siddha he had realized  hisswarupa he is on spiritual form is that eternal associate of Kṛṣṇa.

Now, he was very famous one devotee came he was serving another Vaishnava, one devotee came to centre I took initiation and my Guru's engaging me in the deity worship and washing the pots and making the flower garlands then picking the flowers and sweeping the floors doing all this (In kinds of services but I know you are on siddha,  you realize your own swarup, so I want either teaching the higher so I can directly say him so I can directly sit and meditate on  Radha Kṛṣṇa pastimes so I don’t have to do all this other menial services and train those go back and do those services by doing those services you are going to get purified and will become by that by doing the devotional service in a humble state of mind that’s how we are going to achieve the realization.

It’s not that you are going to get realization by sitting and speculating about it,even buy practically doing the devotional service it comes automatically, that’s why we call that the people who develop a practical devotional service and just imagine that they are already on the elevated platform to be sahajiya, to take the whole thing cheap.

 If I just imagine that I am associating with Kṛṣṇa then I am associate, and in a material world that we just imagine you a Napoleon people would  put you in a straight jacket and in spiritual life like if you just imagine that I am Radharani and I am Radharani something like that and imagine that such and such devotee, imagine that I am a peacock in Vrindavan but it’s not the procedure that’s recommended by the goswamis,recommended by the Bhagavatam.

You can mentally do services, but we shouldn’t mentally already think that we are in particular rasa in a way which is not authorized by the sadhu Shastra and Guru. But by doing practical devotional service actually with our rasa, our swarupa all the secrets and mysteries of devotional service can be revealed.

So this is known as Brahma darshana. It is an all-encompassing it realizes Kṛṣṇa also realizes His effluences which is Pramana. Pramana means which is also absolute truth Pramana also means all the aspects Supreme so someway we refer to Pramana  as the personal aspects but Pramana in general sense means the  absolute.

So Brahma darshana means realization of spiritual reality. so the devoteeneeds to have that type of conviction and confidence by doing devotional service I will achieve everything that I need I achieve everything if one doesn’t have that confidence or just being taken to someone’s house and (In audible: 48.49) the instructions were not very clear what happened  actually the instructions were right but they are the roads have got two numbers they have got a counting number County Road number so and so, but then recently that also put little street numbers, like a street number 141 of and sometimes the county number and the street number one were not the same so this person was passed away several times and might visit is there.

 So I wanted to be sure you got the instructions right so it said on the map is going to be a church cemetery in the beyond Road 241. Said look, this is road 141 where it shows you on the streets side, be sure you got the right road and because he was no issue of getting lost person for then all of a sudden he got real paranoid or maybe I took a wrong turn but then as we were driving we saw that there was the church maybe the number there at least something with let’s see if we, he said no no,  I want to turn around and show me the wrong turn you may get all paranoid.

Maybe its a  wrong turn but then there was a cemetery I said it should put even though the numbers run ,we got the church in the cemetery we done pretty good we said no no no it must be the wrong road must be because you just got a lot of also lots of confidence you know that just go for, anyway let's go far and we went took the right turn like the map saidand sure enough there was the house we are looking for we tried to find a little swagger map editor box and he said owes the county number of that road was dismembered street number they just put out a new street members to it.

So the that person doesn’t have confidence everyday it was within ten feet of attorney wanted to turn around you have lost the confidence that I can’t make it, is not the right way he was the right way maybe the direction wasn’t hundred percent correct.

But my point is so funny example how we lose the confidence that he may be so close to Kṛṣṇa, but if we lose confidence in devotional service he could turn around right next to the goal, and until you get Brahma darshan until you reach Kṛṣṇa it is difficult to know how far away you are how close you might be. Once you realise Kṛṣṇa then you that type of darkness or ignorance.

It’s like if you have a dark right to get out of the dark, you are in the dark never exactly able to see anything how powerful you are in the light it’s there is some road sizes of indications but dark is dark there is no light in the dark so much eternal light on as soon as you get out of the dark and everything changes it’s a whole different picture.

So one of the obstacles is that neophyte devotee even sometimes advanced devotees they, give up their confidence in the process of devotional service. If I just stick to the devotional service I will achieve more success.

And even they get very close to the next in making advancement because of something another, some thing that makes them lose their confidence maybe someone said something or something happened or the weakness of mind or some suddenly they just lose that conviction even though they may be very close to the destination we turn around and head back.

We were bathing in the spring also near Alachua and there is some caves, underwater caves that you see all the  scuba divers going down and enters into these caves someone mentioned how this recently the signs everywhere dangerous case what your honour if people died here so how one person gone in and somehow got lost from there they put a wire in there was some kind of a lifeline, somehow got detached from the lifeline and said he was in that that whole letter to a traveling I don’t know two paid brother underwater and he perished in there in the cave, he was just a few feet from the line

Another five minutes, three, four minutes even with the time he said you know I am writing could I easily got to the light but if I he gave up it was headed to know seemed to be headed in the right direction little bitty where he got to light and serve it was hopeless I can’t do it they wrote them letter whatever you work some message to his loved ones.

So devotional service is the supreme kind of spiritual marathon .We just go as much as we can to the very know last breath if i make the last breath is the most important that’s the one especially one when we want to sayHare Kṛṣṇa the last one the last one.

Kṛṣṇa said if you say remember me at the time of leaving your body you come to me so the most important one is the last one after the last breath then it’s alright after the one who enters in devotional service it means is to the sweet and bitter and whatever it is, to the very end and of course in Kṛṣṇa consciousness the end is bittersweet it might be very bitter right before the end at the end is sweet because if you are thinking of Kṛṣṇa you will go back to Kṛṣṇa.

 That’s very important not to lose their confidence, and that’s why these verses are very important that they are telling us that what is the nature of devotional service if we stay to the devotional service we don’t need to deviate into speculative knowledge for the rights of anything either stay the devotional service and once you all success. Thank you very much Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Any Questions?

Mukeswari Devi Dasi:

So we have a Guru to find out each individual case whether something is in mental platform or whether it is inspired by Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes, I mean I used to whether Prabhupada proposing something go back I think you are overworking you need all the rest (all laughing) it’s not that Guru always says to go go there is no need go take a break that you are overworking some devotees tendency is to workaholic

Guru has to tell us to take it easy is kind of the time you just chanting and reading or something but someone may be a sleeper always do something and you know whatever may be some kind of work and the Guru may have to say something else the biggest problem comes when people start to take their mind as the Guru mind is not reliable mind can always some mislead you try to  figure things out to that intelligence based upon what the Guru were instructed in which we did the intelligence is not sure that whether have any doubt weather completely be sure that what we are doing is correct and the Guru is on the planet there is no reason will remain in adharma we should be taking his instruction finding out whether our ideas are correct or not and if we get the sanction it’s alright if you don’t the sanction if we give some other instruction when we know it together questionnaires you see a lot of devotees are beginning and devotional very submissive enthusiastic with the matches sometime it’s like the year we read earlier about one great pundit he said I know I know devotional service, I am a great devotee I understood scriptures and they start relying upon Sadhu and Guru and they just relying on their understanding of sastra that was big pundit but then up course you have the devotees they know no sastra and they just relying on sastra they relying on their own sentiment at that moment.

 

 So though rationale their logic logic is not even a very week type many times maybe it’s a tool but it’s not the way to know the absolute truth if someone who is in sastra now this logically trained understand Shastra even for them Lord Caitanya said that does not idea where you are practicing diversity we should learn from the other devotees and come to their spiritual master but if a person doesn’t even use Shastra but this it is logically well, I mean after already human being these are the limitations and we put that on cake that to apply define what I could do it and really tonight started devotional service when I was young and idealistic but in reality I really have a lot of desires and you, know okay that just be real risking about everything and dive in sense gratification in a moral way something like that I am I can’t let you know even if I take you anywhere it’s called manoratha the mental chariot using that kind of (In audible:1.00.37) you could you know usually goes step by step your one pointer from there you notice like how you start going to be going the temples (laughing) you can’t even do anything if you are not bow down to the sastra and to the Guru and Vaishnavas. So one does (In audible: 1.00.58) these are these physical or mental some kind of limitation that I am experiencing is this is the challenge that they have to overcome how do i over did everything to make it challenging they do (In audible: 1.01.20) don’t think of an obstacle but it’s just challenges I deal with the challenge that’s why we take advice from the Vaishnavas like a Guru we do things in accordance with sastra that’s why Kṛṣṇa appreciated the (In audible: 1.01.40) he was trying to do the right thing they didn’t really have enough knowledge so he was saying think so much fun very terrible but he was trying to think of what a claim your scripture was the right thing scripture it’s not right for somebody kill their Guru and kill other In audible: 1.02.00) but those scriptures very low level moral scriptures by Kṛṣṇa  was telling is a higher principle here and even if bother another teacher of martial arts even though there are all respectable personalities but actually they on the other side irreligion and for the sake of religion even in fact yogis fantasy things like that. So many ways scriptures so vast that one may means that one a particular code may apply in a certain circumstance but another circumstance that might not apply there may be a higher principle that is more applicable. So when we figured things out according to Shastra if it’s not been confirmed by Guru and by the devotees sometimes your reward is entirely two different things remember which okay now it’s really confusing and finally know the Guru is someone is here to take the responsibility if a Guru some devotees may say why until I think it’s like this on ones I think it’s like ultimately it’s our responsibility they may be respond to extend that they told you they are wrong idea if you follow it if you survive you have every response for you they are not responsible for you where this responsible own actions but the Guru the diksha Guru is responsible for the disciple even if the disciple doesn't follow the diksha Guru he is also responsible that’s how? That’s why you take a Guru sometime devotees make decisions which have a very major decisions which are affecting their own course in life and in life you are asking for that all you want to bother you but if they take another birth is serving to follow the instructions of Guru what to be big botheration there may be many minor details someone is having difficulty relating with other individuals and even husband and wife have some detail I have some bad or something out of better relate with each other individual person may be they have better discuss with a senior grahasta produce same as (In audible: 1.04.45) someone decides and someone renounce my family life I want to change my whole situation do things there is so much of another consultant and higher authority for the situation is very great and the guru senior Vaishnavas are there you can call another (In audible: 1.05.09) these okay this situation you can discuss with senior vaishnava in some cases it was said he would also directly give some advice it’s not that he never given but if a person that serious then he preferred that it just matters dealing with the details of family life that’s the family member family disciple that Bhakti Siddant saraswati Thakur he had assigned the whole hierarchy of Upadesha which I raised in my disciples so that we can have this but I think it wasn’t discussed in Atlanta the idea that there should be among the disciples that some disciples would be established in the future as a spiritual elder brothers and sisters so that elders prabhus to help the younger of devotees. So Srila Bhakti Siddanta Thakur have that Upadeshas, Upadesha means adviser councillor structure. So for the Brahmacari we have Upadeshas and for the Sanyasis and for the married in a different Upadesha and then amongst that (In audible: 1.06.35) may upadesha knows who became more experience and counselling and helping the younger devotees then he gave them a promotion and made them maha upadesha. Great instructors are bigger instructors for your comfort and after a while amongst all of those maha upadeshas in here planner very select wanted to few an objective anomaly but it’s not very selected became a maha upadesha. So if you wanted to come with a personal problem you couldn’t go directly to the Guru first under normal circumstances because that is also Upadesha, maha upadesha (In audible: 1.07.26)  you are referring those like sometime I give phone out I computer technical you know first thing a person answers the former they must be like to look for general this kind of technique go through a few basic things that they do turn your machine (In audible: 1.07.47) you got this some you know they kind of check over all the bottle thing if you go through that and he is not giving in this time really you know what’s your problem is it’s really confident what we can tell you what hold on I got chance you ordered this year I number you know song so then they can see up to another one that might be about fifty (In audible: 1.08.06) a whole number of first level and then you get you get referred to you know the higher and that person tried to call you many cases very quickly even though phone I had another get right to the root of the issue and salvage the other was just kind of spinning the wheels full up I think it’s most people problems might easily get solve you might be the first case and some cases together the situation where even the second page they can’t solve your problem and they tell you listen I think that’s what makes the given value now I am feeling it a number cantered a little bit of it (laughing) yeah look at this man so Srila Bhakti siddanta Thakur he had that system it’s just for the spiritual advice Prabhupada he cannot combine that between his temple presidents and GBC’s they are all his disciples now this time there is many different Gurus and sometimes some of the administrators are very interested in spiritual I mean all interested in spiritual life some other may be not able to represent that Guru (In audible: 1.09.15) that’s why considering that the main three values will they have a amongst the particular Guru disciple Upadesha counsellor. Up course the temple president is very maybe the temple president in some cases may not even have to be the same disciple of the Guru that person is considered to be reliable to your transparent counsel I know some native person I could require upadesha to get that kind of confidence there is some people right I may not have that confidence even they might be my god brothers I might not think that they were giving advice leases transform and all that making nice Kṛṣṇa consciousness and some respect may not be the thing that’s going to really take that anything take that help get that help to the disciple they are good looking for. So anyway there is always kind of facilities that were there the bottom line is that whether you to do (In audible: 1.10.27) Guru if we get out of them so follow the Guru but he is just worked for someone or directly do they do but we have to get some advice to confirm whether what our decision is is correct or not that if it’s such a major decision that it is affecting a whole direction of devotional service. So (In audible: 1.10.57) from whatever you like my permutation what I really am in the north and sometimes you hear people say writer and I am not a pure devotee I can’t really give you the order so therefore like someone is saying well I can I miss the ecology so I mean since I broke Leslie thank the rest of amendment there is a principle you break a poverty accidentally can you realize it doesn’t mean the wandering cinder of survey continue to follow Ekadashi soon as you have realized your era and again you do another Ekadashi couple days later are you doing Nirjala Ekadashi. So all our devotional service we get Brahma darshan we get ahaituki (In audible: 1.11.48) without gyana how would happen ahaituki that we can’t figure it out matter suddenly I find it becomes so smart that we figured out where I really can’t be appeared ability by devotional service not ready for it that’s maya but how to what extent is your devotion or so that what type of devotional service this is the things that I Guru is (In audible: 1.12.10) you see people take this logic versus what kind of devotional service I can or can’t do you put those limited in from there it becomes whether I can even do devotional service in a few manner. So many Prabhupada disciples in a very critical situation and Srila prabhupada is not available in the same way that he was before to directly answer the questions to other senior god brother or sister to some extent through his books but the when the Guru is no longer on the planet every disciple is really a eventually introspective attend remember what is it Prabhupada what is Guru s instruction so now Prabhupada disciples have that look at many of them undecided about becomes as a rational decision about their limitations and their left devotional service eventually while reduce their devotional outlooks effectively the minister quantity rather than really pacing themselves and thank you the best use of a bad bargain and the famous dozen I remember one time the devotee came to Prabhupada with mesery long face goes away goes why you are unhappy so you have no right to be unhappy in the presence of your Guru i order you to be happy so its order of guru we must be happy so if the Guru is not here then you like to be unhappy but I if get any questions and problems I am here to solve it not either staying in any kind of confusion Hare Kṛṣṇa