Hare Krsna-
Below we have a short study of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam verses wherein the Lord is explaining to us why we should have knowledge of Him and not approach Him just sentimentally, although that is also good, but one must go past that sentimental stage.
Sept 10 1973 Stockholm–
Prabhupāda: Because it is a science. Religion means a kind of faith. It is not faith. It is a science. Science must be based on logic and philosophy. Science means that. And religion means sometimes sentiments.So religion without philosophy is sentiment, and philosophy without religion is mental speculation. Both must be combined. Then it is perfect. You cannot have religion without philosophy. That is sentiment, fanaticism. So religion must be on the basis of science and logic. That is first-class religion
Sometimes devotees say well this person sings nicely so he must have lots of devotion, or this person gives money frequently, so he also must have lots of bhakti. But the real test is how we know Him, in Truth. Knowing Him in truth means eventually, we should be less and less inclined towards matters of materialistic life. Unless
vairagya or detachment from maya manifests in our life, then we are still clinging to illusions, anarthas, etc.
And if this knowledge of Him is not so important,as some say, then why did Lord Krsna take the trouble to speak it to Arjuna in the first place? Just to have something to say, on the battlefield? Like most of the modern foolish facebook postings which consume our valuable time but do nothing for us spiritually? This sacred Divine conversation in Bhagavad Gita has been handed down now for over 5000 years and continues to be heard and read. What today of what we now do, will be around 5000 years from now? Nothing. But the Bhagavad Gita is still here and will continue for millions of more years as well.
Srila Prabhupada wrote his books for us to read, to study, and be absorbed into our consciousness to help us advance to the spiritual platform which is past the sensual, mental and intellectual levels of consciousness. These three material levels are all to real and most of us function somewhere, within them. If we were actually completely on the spiritual platform, then we would be liberated and know our svarupa siddhi-our eternal relationship with the Lord. How many of us know what that is? Honestly ? Yes we all know we are servants eternally, but each of us has one particular rasa with Krsna and that relationship is revealed when we are liberated. If we dont know it yet, then we are still conditioned bhaktas. And how to move above those lower platforms means we need jnana and vijnana-knowledge and realized knowledge which comes from sincere , regulated chanting, and service without offense.
Some devotees just fall asleep soon after a class begins on the sastric study as they just don’t have much interest in hearing the philosophy. Or some just walk away and do something else. Some just need to keep “busy” or they will fall asleep if they just sit and hear. And some need some devices or “aids” to even chant the Maha Mantra, their minds are so uncontrolled.
The Sastra says that all these problems can be solved (eventually) by one method- by hearing the words of a pure devotee of the Lord. Please consider the below Bhagavad gita verses on knowledge and then the concluding statements by Srila Prabhupada.
The Sastra says that all these problems can be solved (eventually) by one method- by hearing the words of a pure devotee of the Lord. Please consider the below Bhagavad gita verses on knowledge and then the concluding statements by Srila Prabhupada.
Also please note that I am not singling anyone out in particular with these articles, as probably most all of us are in the same boat .
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
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BG 7.16-O best among the Bhāratas Arjuna, four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
BG 7.17-Of these, the wise one who is in full knowledge in union with Me through pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.
BG 3.28-One who is in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, O mighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and sense gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.
BG 4.33- O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice of knowledge is greater than the sacrifice of material possessions. O son of Pṛthā, after all, the sacrifice of work culminates in transcendental knowledge.
BG 4.36-Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge, you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.
BG 4.39- A faithful man who is absorbed in transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace
BG 5.15-When, however, one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up everything in the daytime.
BG 6.34-For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.
BG6.35-The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
BG 6.36-For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion.
[So what are those “right means” Krsna mentions above? Answer- Hearing the words of instruction from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord. And below, is the proof]
SB 4.24.53-Caitanya wanted to impress upon Rāmānanda Rāya that simply by executing the duties of varṇāśrama–dharma one is not guaranteed liberation. Finally Rāmānanda Rāya referred to the process of bhakti–yoga: sthane sthitāḥ śruti–gatāṁ tanu–vāṅ–manobhiḥ (Bhāg. 10.14.3). Regardless of one’s condition of life, if he practices bhakti–yoga, which begins with hearing (śruti–gatām) the transcendental messages of the Lord through the mouths of devotees, he gradually conquers the unconquerable God.
God is known to be unconquerable, but one who submissively hears the words of a self-realized soul conquers the unconquerable. The conclusion is that if one is serious about liberation, he not only should execute the occupational duties of varṇāśrama–dharma but should also engage in bhakti–yoga by beginning hearing from a realized soul. This process will help the devotee conquer the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead and become His associate after giving up the material body.
TLK Vs 30–Even if one speculates for many years, he cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. One has to receive the mercy of Kṛṣṇa through the spiritual master, and this is the path recommended by ŚrīCaitanya Mahāprabhu. Sthāne-sthitāḥ śruti-gatāḥ tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ (Bhāg. 10.14.3). Another name for Kṛṣṇa is Ajita. No one can conquer Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa can be conquered by His devotee. One should be submissive and say, “Kṛṣṇa, I am very poor. I have no means to understand You. Please be merciful upon me. Please allow me to understand You and surrender.” This is wanted. Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, and when He sees that someone has surrendered, He will help from within.
SB 4.30.33—Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to our material contamination and wander from one type of body to another and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those who are engaged in discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets.
PURPORT
This is the best benediction that a devotee can ask of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ (Bhāg. 10.14.3). One may be in one position or another according to destiny, but in any case one must continue to hear about the activities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, regardless of circumstances. A pure devotee does not pray for liberation or for cessation of the cycle of birth and death because he does not consider that important. The most important thing for a devotee is getting a chance to hear about the pastimes and glories of the Lord. The devotees who engage in the service of the Lord in this world will have the same opportunity in the spiritual world also. Thus for a devotee, everything is in the spiritual world, for as long as he can hear about the pastimes of the Lord, or wherever he can chant, the Lord is personally present. Tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada yatra gāyantimad-bhaktāḥ. When the pure devotees assemble to chant, hear and talk about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the place where they assemble becomes Vaikuṇṭha. For the devotee there is no need to pray to the Lord for transferal to the Vaikuṇṭha world. A pure devotee can createVaikuṇṭha or Vṛndāvana anywhere simply by chanting the glories of the Lord without offense.
SB 9.18.2 purport–Mahārāja Parīkṣit was involved in politics, but because at the end of his life he heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, he attained perfection very easily. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has therefore suggested: sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām (Bhāg. 10.14.3)Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or goodness, if one regularly hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the self-realized soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.
SB 2.9.18 purport–Following in the footsteps of Lord Brahmā, any person, even up to this day, can attain the same perfection by following the path of the paramahaṁsa as recommended herein. Lord Caitanya also approved of this method of self-realization for men in this age. One should first, with all conviction, believe in the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and without making efforts to realize Him by speculative philosophy, one should prefer to hear about Him from the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā and later from the text of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One should hear such discourses from a person Bhāgavatam and not from the professional man, or from the karmī, jñānī or yogī. That is the secret of learning the science. One does not need to be in the renounced order of life; he can remain in his present condition of life, but he must search out the association of a bona fide devotee of the Lord and hear from him the transcendental message of the Lord with faith and conviction. That is the path of the paramahaṁsa recommended herein. Amongst various holy names of the Lord, He is also called ajita, or one who can never be conquered by anyone else. Yet He can be conquered by the paramahaṁsa path, as practically realized and shown by the great spiritual master Lord Brahmā. Lord Brahmā has personally recommended this paramahaṁsa-panthāḥ in his own words as follows:
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir
ye prāyaśo ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyām
Lord Brahmā said, “O my Lord Kṛṣṇa, a devotee who abandons the path of empiric philosophical speculation aimed at merging in the existence of the Supreme and engages himself in hearing Your glories and activities from a bona fide sādhu, or saint, and who lives an honest life in the occupational engagement of his social life, can conquer Your sympathy and mercy even though You are ajita, or unconquerable.” (SB 10.14.3)
That is the path of the paramahaṁsas, which was personally followed by Lord Brahmā and later recommended by him for attaining perfect success in life.
CONCLUDING NOTES—
BG 4.10–Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purifled by knowledge of Me—and thus they all attained— transcendental love for Me.
SB 1.2.16– O twice–born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA !!!
