Hare Krsna to all Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
For those eager to continually hear from a bona fide spiritual master, the words I have given below from various lectures and purports should instill in us, a deeper sense of understanding spirituality.
Topic of discussion below:
When we stop hearing from the bona fide Spiritual Master (due to false ego), or his bona fide representatives , then our continued spiritual advancement is severely hampered.
Why is that, one may ask?
SB 4.22.31 When one deviates from his original consciousness, he loses the
capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present
one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a
false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars consider that the
soul is lost.
Therefore we come under the clutches of Maya, the illusory energy of God and she makes us think we can do what we want, go where we want, and think what we want and in this way, unknowingly, are dragged all over the universe from one body or another. And at the same time we will “think” we are– “OK”, exactly like souls trapped in hog bodies, “thinking” stool is so tasty. And for them it is, but those with slightly developed consciousness, they will not agree to such a proposal. So our senses in conditioned life are always deceiving us, therefore we need to hear constantly from the spiritual master or his representatives.
(SSR 2 Choosing a Spiritual Master
Gentlemen, our knowledge is so poor, our senses are so imperfect,
and our sources are so limited that it is not possible for us to have
even the slightest knowledge of the absolute region without
surrendering ourselves at the lotus feet of Sri Vyasadeva or his bona
fide representative. Every moment we are being deceived by the
knowledge of our direct perception. It is all the creation or
concoction of the mind, which is always deceiving, changing, and
flickering. We cannot know anything of the transcendental region by
our limited, perverted method of observation and experiment. But all
of us can lend our eager ears for the aural reception…..
Now let us hear , from the spiritual master, what is our actual position in this body.
This next verse may shock some….
SB 3.7.17 Further Inquires by Vidura
Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all
intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the
material pangs.
PURPORT
The lowest of fools do not understand material miseries; they pass
their lives merrily and do not inquire into the miseries of life. Such
persons are almost on the level of the animals, who, although in the
eyes of superiors are always miserable in life, are unaware of
material distresses. A hog’s life is degraded in its standard of
happiness, which entails living in a filthy place, engaging in sex
enjoyment at every opportune moment, and laboring hard in a struggle
for existence, but this is unknown to the hog. Similarly, human beings
who are unaware of the miseries of material existence and are happy in
sex life and hard labor are the lowest of fools. Yet because they have
no sense of miseries, they supposedly enjoy so-called happiness. The
other class of men, those who are liberated and are situated in the
transcendental position above intelligence, are really happy and are
called paramahamsas. But persons who are neither like hogs and dogs
nor on the level of the paramahamsas feel the material pangs, and for
them inquiry about the Supreme Truth is necessary. The Vedanta-sutra
states, athato brahma jijnasa: “Now one should inquire about Brahman.”
This inquiry is necessary for those who are between the paramahamsas
and the fools who have forgotten the question of self-realization in
the midst of life in sense gratification.
SB 3.7.18 Further Inquires by Vidura
But, my dear sir, I am obliged to you because now I can understand
that this material manifestation is without substance, although it
appears real. I am confident that by serving your feet it will be
possible for me to. give up the false idea
PURPORT
The sufferings of the conditioned soul are superficial and have no
intrinsic value, like the cutting off of one’s head in a dream. Yet
although this statement is theoretically very true, it is very
difficult for the common man or the neophyte on the transcendental
path to realize practically. However, by serving the feet of great
transcendentalists like Maitreya Muni and by constantly associating
with them, one is enabled to give up the false idea that the soul
suffers from material pangs.
[Next time we suffer from anything, please remember these words by
Srila Prabhupada]
720420SB.TOK Lectures
Karandhara: “Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O king, unless one is
influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead…”
Prabhupada: It is simply the influence of the material energy,
nothing. Actually he has not fallen. Another example given is given.
Just like the moon is covered with scattered cloud, the passing cloud.
You have seen. Everyone has experience. The cloud passes, and it
appears that the moon is moving. Have you seen this?
Devotees: Yes.
Prabhupada: Actually the moon is not moving. It is a maya, illusion.
It appears that the moon is moving. But similarly, the living entity,
because he is spiritual spark of the Supreme, it has not fallen. It
has not fallen. But he is thinking, “I am fallen. I am material.” That
is the reason. He is thinking, “I am this body.” Actually the body has
no connection with me. That is experienced, that the body has no
connection with the soul. The body is changing, dying. But I am the
same.
Try to understand. Have questions and answer. It is very important thing.
Atma-mayam rte rajan. Except atma-maya, the illusory energy… It is
the maneuver or handling of the illusory energy of Krsna. This
illusory energy develops when we forget Krsna. That’s all. It is… In
other words, this illusory identification of me with the body is
simply due to my forgetfulness. We wanted to forget, we wanted to give
up Krsna and wanted to enjoy this material world. Therefore Krsna is
giving us…
Just like when you play some part in a drama, if you feel that “I
am king,” then you can talk very nicely. And if you feel that “I am
Karandhara,” then you cannot play nicely king. Is it not? Feeling must
be there. If you are playing the part of a king, then you must have
the same courage and belief that “I am king.” You have to forget that
you are Karandhara. Then your part will be very nicely played. It will
be appreciated. But if you think simultaneously that “I am Karandhara.
I am taking, playing the part of the king,” then you cannot play. So
because we wanted to play the part of Krsna, enjoyer, Krsna is giving
us chance that “You feel like Me.”–“I am king. I am Krsna. I am God.”
(laughter)
Sometimes we played in our younger age Caitanya-lila. I introduced.
And one big director, Amrtalal Chosa, he was just like grandfather. He
was one of the, just like in England Shakespeare and others, big, big
dramatic, well-known persons. This Amrtalal Chosa and Girish Chandra
Chosa, they introduced in India theatric… So we called him to give
us direction. He was giving us direction, and repeatedly he was
telling that “You feel like that,” especially to me. “You feel like
that.” So actually, when we played according to his direction, the
audience were all crying. And we could not understand how they cried.
We could not understand. On the stage when we played, it was so
perfect that all audience were crying. Actually we saw they were
smearing over their eyes with… But the whole thing is artificial,
but the effect to the audience became so nice. So similarly, we are…
Actually we have nothing to do with this material world, But we have
been trained by the illusory energy in such a way that we are
thinking, “I am Indian. I am American. I am this. I am that. I am
brahmana. I am sudra. I have to do this. I have got so much duty,” all
these illusions, simply thinking. We have nothing to do with all this
nonsense, but still, we are taking it very serious. “I have to do like
that. I have to do like that. I am this. I am that.” That’s all. That
is explained. Atma-mayam rte rajan: “Except the influence of that
atma-maya, the illusory energy of Krsna…” Atma-maya.
sambandhah. Svapna-drastur ivanjasa. The very exact example is given,
svapna-drastuh. Just like a man seeing dream: “Oh, there is tiger,
tiger, tiger, tiger! Save me!” He is crying. Another man is, “Where is
tiger? Why you are crying? Where is tiger?” But he, in the dream, he
is actually feeling: “The tiger has attacked me.” Therefore this
example is given, na ghatetartha-sambandhah. There cannot be any
meaning of this relationship except like a man dreaming and he is
creating a situation. He is dreaming there is a tiger and he is
creating a situation, fearful situation. Actually there is no cause of
fear. There is no tiger. That situation is created by dream. Actually
there is no tiger. Similarly we have created this material world and
activity. People are running, “Oh…, sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh,
sonh, sonh,” identifying that “Oh, I am the manager. I am the factory
owner. I am this, I am that. We have got his politics. We have to
defeat such competitors.” All these things are created exactly like
that, svapna-drastur ivanjasa, just like a man is creating his
particular situation simply by dream. That’s all.
So the answer is, when somebody asks you that “When one has become
in contact with this material nature?” He has not become in contact.
He is thinking by the influence of the external energy. Just like the
same example: A man is dreaming; there is no contact with tiger.
Actually he has no contact with that. Similarly, actually we are not
fallen. We cannot be fallen. But we have created a situation that we
are, become… Try to understand understand. It is very important
point. We have simply created a situation. We have not created a
situation, Krsna has given us a situation. Because we wanted to
imitate Krsna, so Krsna has given an opportunity: “All right. Imitate.
You want to be imitation king in the stage. So feel like this. Play
like this. Do like this. People will applaud. ‘Oh, a very nice king,
very nice.’ ” That is the… So everyone in this material world, they
are playing some part. They wanted, “I want to be prime minister.”
“All right.” “I want to become very big business magnate.” “I want to
be leader.” “I want to be a philosopher.” “I want to be a scientist.”
So all this nonsense, they are trying to play–Krsna is giving him the
opportunity: “All right.” But it is a nonsense, all nonsense. Simple
dreaming. Just like you are dreaming. Next moment when the dream is
gone, everything is finished. No more tiger, no more jungle, no
more… Everything is finished. Similarly, so long this body is
continuing, I am thinking, “I am a responsible leader, I am this, I am
that.” But as soon as this body is finished, oh, these are
(indistinct) gone.
Sarva-haras caham. The death means… Krsna says, “I am death. I
take it away, all, everything. Gone.” Now just think of our past life.
Suppose I was a king or something like that. From Bhrgu-samhita it was
ascertained. They said–I do not know–that I was a big physician in
my last life, very spotless character, no sins, like that. He
explained me. So it may be. But actually I have no remembrance that I
was a physician. So what do we know? I might have been a very big
physician, influential physician, having a good practice, but where is
all…? All gone. So this situation, our contact with matter, is just
like dream. Actually we are not fallen. Therefore, because we are not
fallen, at any moment we can revive our Krsna consciousness. As soon
as we understand that, “I have nothing to do with. I am simply Krsna’s
servant. Eternal servant. That’s all,” immediately he becomes
liberated.
So in the above passages, Srila Prabhupada is nicely explaining how much illusion or
influence from Maya we are under. When we “suffer”, which 99.9% most of us will admit, at least from time to time, this suffering is not really suffering for the soul itself, but due to our association with matter
since time immemorial, we “think” we are suffering, just like a man being eaten by a tiger in a dream.
As long as his dream persists, he is convinced he is being killed by some tiger. When his friend wakes
him up, then only can he understand-it was only a dream, there was no tiger, I am not this body, I dont
belong to this body or this family, these are not my children, this is not my real home, etc etc.
Tell this to most anybody and they will “think” WE are crazy, when in fact , we all are crazy if we continue to identify with this dream like existence and material understanding.
OK, now add this one below to the whole material package-Even if we understand we are suffering, or not suffering, the attempts to remedy that suffering– is more trouble than the suffering itself !
760224SB.MAY Lectures
So we can try to counteract. Just like in this material world there
are so many attempts to mitigate. Just like the United Nation. They
have formed the United Nation formula to mitigate–no more fighting,
no more war, no more enmity. This is an attempt. Enmity is there;
otherwise why there is proposal of United Nations? Because we are
disunited, therefore the counterproposal is “Let us become united.” So
he says, “To organize such thing is also very difficult and
troublesome.” “Although it is remedial measure, let us settle our
misunderstanding”–it is very good proposal. But to settle up this
misunderstanding is more troublesome. You have got experience. When
you make some agreement with other party, he proposes something, you
propose something. So although the agreement is a remedial measure,
but come to the agreement is very, very difficult.
[Ever
have to deal with lawyers?]
Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says this remedial measure, ausadha, is still more
troublesome. When there was enmity, that is troublesome. Just like
when there is some disease, something–you have got a boil in your
body–it is painful, but when you take the remedial measure, surgical
operation, it is still more painful, still more. You have to take
anesthetic, chloroform, because it is more painful.
… We have accepted this body, identifying this
body, on account of this. If you are on the spiritual platform, then
there is no trouble, there is no misunderstanding.
… Only solution is to surrender to Krsna. Krsna gives this nice
advice: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam. That will cure your
all disease. And this mentality comes by practical experience after
many, many births, bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyante,
when one understands properly that without becoming Krsna conscious,
without being servant of Krsna, there cannot be peace or happiness.
Why we fight one another? I am thinking that “I shall enjoy
this. I shall become the leader.” And another party says, “No, no, I
shall become the leader. I shall enjoy this.” So there is fight. But
if we understand that “Either you or me, we are not enjoyer; we are
servant. The enjoyer is Krsna,” then there will be something.
Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram, suhrdam sarva-bhutanam.
We are trying to become friend of another friend. “My dear friend, I
shall help you in this way. You are in trouble.” So he can help, but
there will be misunderstanding. Again the friend will be enemy. So
there cannot be any peace. But if we all agree that Krsna is the
friend, real friend… Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Krsna, if He’s not our
friend, why He’s coming down on this platform where we are living in
rotten condition? He’s great friend, Dina-bandhu. His name in
Dina-bandhu. Who is very, very poor in heart, He becomes very great
friend, dina-bandhu, and advises him. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. He’s
always friendly. Krsna is never enemy. But still, we create enmity. We
become demon with Krsna. That is the trouble.
In this way we are wandering throughout the universe, because unless
we become Krsna conscious, unless we have taken fully shelter at the
lotus feet of Krsna, there is no stoppage of this repetition of birth
and death, neither there is any peace or happiness. We must know this
from all angles of vision and stick to Krsna consciousness very
rigidly. Then we shall be happy. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja requests
Lord Nrsimhadeva that “I have tried life after life to get peace and
become happy and friendly, but I have failed. Now, Krsna…” Prahlada
Maharaja says, vada me tava dasya-yogam: “Because I am now convinced
that without becoming Your servant, there is no more chance for peace
and prosperity of this troublesome world.” Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
680817SB.MON Lectures
Hamsaduta: So that mind is part of the soul. It’s just, it’s polluted.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is a symptom of… Mind is the active principle.
Without mind, how can you act? The mind is there. But at the present
moment, becoming covered by the material energy, everything is
contaminated. Mind is contaminated, the intelligence is contaminated,
the ego is contaminated, I, or self, I am contaminated. Everything is
contaminated.
Nanda-kisora: Swamiji, what is that mind,you know, that material mind? In other words, there’s a spiritual mind and a material mind?
Prabhupada: What is the difference of your material life and spiritual
life?
Nanda-kisora: One is for Krsna, and one is for…
Prabhupada: That is the difference between material mind and spiritual
mind. Because you are thinking that you are this body, this is
material conception. Therefore everything is material–mind,
intelligence, and identification, everything material. Similarly, if
you think, that thinking means mind, that you are Krsna’s, then
everything is spiritual. That we have to practice. That is Krsna
consciousness. We have to keep ourselves always in Krsna
consciousness. .. So whole Krsna consciousness activity is
purification of the mind, of the intelligence, of the ego, everything,
purifying process. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam. The
impurification is that upadhi, designation. I’m thinking “I am
American,” “I am Indian.” This is designation. Actually, spirit soul
is neither American nor Indian nor Hindu nor Muslim. So one has to get
out of this entanglement, material entanglement.
Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam. And how one can become
purified? Tat-paratvena, when he identifies himself, aham brahmasmi,
“I am servant of Krsna. I am Brahman, I am pure self. I’m not matter.
I’m not this body.” This is the stage of purification. And when one is
purified, then hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Hrsika means
senses. So mind is also one of the senses. There are eleven senses.
Five senses gathering knowledge and five senses working, and mind is
the center. So mind is also accepted as sense. So hrsikena
hrsikesa-sevanam. When your purified senses are applied in the service
of the master of the senses, Hrsikesa, that is called bhakti. This is
the definition of bhakti. So mind required there. You are thinking
that “I shall decorate Krsna in such a way.” That is a function of
mind. And as soon as you think that “I shall decorate my such and such
person in this way,” that is maya. So mind is there. Sometimes it is
acting for maya, and when it is acting for Krsna then it is purified.
So in the Krsna consciousness nothing has to be eradicated. Everything
has to be purified. This is the Krsna consciousness process. Yes?
Malati: When they go back to Godhead, some people can remember their
past lives.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Malati: In the mind.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Malati: I thought the mind was left behind.
Prabhupada: No. Actually mind carries you to the next body. So mind
goes with you. The material mind, material ego, material intelligence
become nil when you are completely liberated. But at that time your
spiritual mind acts. It is not very difficult to understand. Somebody
is acting under the impression… Just like one of our students, he
was acting under the impression that he is Frenchman and doing
something subversive, and now he is thinking that “I am Krsna’s.”
(chuckles) He has stopped all those nonsense. (break) When he was
thinking that he’s a Frenchman, that mind was there. And now he’s
thinking that “I am Krsna’s,” the mind is there. So where is the
chance of losing the mind? You want to question anything? (break) This
boy?
Malati: I don’t understand how materialistic people, if they have
material minds, they can remember their past lives.
Prabhupada: Material mind has to be treated by spiritual medicine,
then the material mind will be spiritual. Just the same example, that
a man has got some bowel disturbance by drinking excessive milk, and
the physician gives him another milk preparation, curd, and he is
cured. Similarly, the Krsna consciousness movement is just to treat
the mind by Krsna engagement. Then he becomes freed from material
contamination. And actually it is happening. Those who are taking to
this treatment, they are experiencing how it is happening.
Conclusions- After studying Srila Prabhupada, and his books for many years, my humble conclusion is
I do not know anything about actual-spiritual life. I hear from him daily, absorb some of it, yet the
initial tangible fruit of being transcendental to the three modes of material nature still escapes my consciousness. These ideas he presents above are very controversial and mostly not understandable to
a conditioned soul..
But, when you put yourself out in the cleansing rain, and you are dirty, eventually, if you stay there long enough, we will get completely cleansed.
His instruction to the inmates of this age are to —Chant Hare Krsna, and Be Happy.
Chant the Holy Names, Chant the Holy Names, Chant the Holy Names
In this age of kali, there is no other way, no other way no other way to become happy.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das