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Bhakti Vriksha User Guide

Diksha

Bhakti Vriksha Lessons for Members - Diksha

1 | P a g e I S K C O N N e w R a j a p u r J a g a n n a t h a D h a m , B e n g a l u r u

Contents

The Transcendental Gardeners………………………………………………………………………………2

Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Lessons…………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………5 61. Personal and impersonal feature of God ........................................................................................ 6 62. Wiseman’s story ............................................................................................................................. 9 63. Sadhana Bhakti ............................................................................................................................ 11 64. Most confidential knowledge ....................................................................................................... 13 65. Surrender unto Me ....................................................................................................................... 15 66. Vyuha 10 - Hare Krsna world and GBC ....................................................................................... 17 67. Accepting things favourable for devotional service (part 1) ......................................................... 18 68. Accepting things favourable for devotional service (part 2) ......................................................... 20 69. Rejecting things unfavourable for devotional service (part 1) ...................................................... 23 70. Rejecting things unfavourable for devotional service (part 2) ...................................................... 25 71. Vyuha 11 – ISKCON Disciple course ........................................................................................... 27 72. Vyuha 12 - Graduation – Glories of preaching ............................................................................. 28

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Bhakti Vriksha User Guide - Diksha


The Transcendental Gardeners

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says to all the people of the world

ekalä mäläkära ämi kähäì kähäì yäba ekalä vä kata phala päòiyä viläba (CC Adi lila 9.34)

ataeva ämi äjïä diluì sabäkäre yähäì tähäì prema-phala deha’ yäre täre (CC Adi lila 9.36)

ataeva saba phala deha’ yäre täre khäiyä ha-uk loka ajara amare (CC Adi lila 9.39)

“I am the only gardener. How many places can I go? How many fruits can I pick and distribute? Therefore I order every man within this universe to accept this Kåñëa consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere. Distribute this Kåñëa consciousness movement all over the world. Let people eat these fruits and ultimately become free from old age and death.”

Suno suno Nityananda, suno haridasa, Sarvatra amara ajna koroha prakasa, Prati ghare ghare giya koro ei bhiksa,

Bolo Krsna, bhaja Krsna, koro Krsna siksa (Caitanya Bhagavata Madhya-lila 13.8-9)

“O hear Me, hear Me Nityananda! Hear Me Haridasa! Simply disseminate My order everywhere. Go from house to house and beg the residents as follows: Speak about Krsna, worship Krsna and teach others about Krsna.” In Sri Godruma-Kalpatavi, Bhakti Vinoda Thakura, one of the pioneering acaryas of our parampara, describes the structure of the Nama Hatta. The spirit of his endeavor exactly matched the mood of Lord Nityananda, who was personally ordered by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thakura established over five-hundred Nama Hatta sangas (associations).

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati instructed his disciples to broadcast the glories of Sridham Mayapur and Navadvip parikrama, to print books and establish Nama Hatta. Of these three activities, brhad mridanga, or the massive distribution of books has been considered the primary method of expansion. But nowadays with ninety-eight percent or more of our devotees being congregational members, Nama Hatta is more relevant to ISKCON today than it was at the beginning of our movement.

In a letter Srila Prabhupada appreciates home preaching, “Your home to home preaching is very good. The important thing is to make arrangements that they hear and chant. That will make your preaching successful. Once they begin chanting then automatically they will want to follow the rules and regulations, attend arati, take prasadam, etc.” (Letter to Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9th January, 1976)

In the introduction to the translation of Sri Godruma Kalpatavi HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja says that, “In this modern age it is most practical to apply the Nama Hatta form of preaching - cultivating people through small groups formed of the congregation. Nama Hatta groups can begin anywhere, without restrictions, whereas in a temple there are so many restrictions, not only spiritual but also material, in the sense that so many expenses must be met.

Today we have different kinds of Nama Hatta programs, such as counsellor groups, Bhakti Vrikshas and various other groups, all of which are included in the broad category of the Nama Hatta.”

Implementation of Nama hatta for the present time in the form of Bhakti Vriksha was introduced by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. The Bhakti Vriksha program’s structure follows the same format as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Nama Hatta organization, adapted for the current times.



Inspired by Srila Prabhupada and HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja a team of devotees in ISKCON New Rajapur Jagannatha Dham (NRJD), Bengaluru have made an insignificant attempt in compiling these lessons for the benefit of the devotee community.

These lessons have been compiled to help the Bhakti Vriksha sevaks to help their members to systematically advance spiritually.

Devotees who have any queries, suggestions or would like to seek any clarification on this Bhakti Vriksha Lessons for Members or congregational preaching may reach out to us on [email protected].

Your servants,

Caitanya Avatari Das and Rasamayi Devi Dasi

(On behalf of the Editorial team, ISKCON - NRJD, Bengaluru)

P.S.: If you are interested in successfully implementing Bhakti Vriksha in your Yatra / area please contact the Congregational Development Ministry (phone: +91 (3472) 245619, email: [email protected])



Preface

In the introduction to the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srila Prabhupada writes

tasmat sarveshu kaleshu mam anusmara yudhya ca mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mam evaishyasy asamsayah

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” (BG 8.7)

“He (Krsna) does not advise Arjuna simply to remember Him and give up his occupation. No, the Lord never suggests anything impractical. In this material world, in order to maintain the body one has to work. Human society is divided, according to work, into four divisions of social order – brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and sudra. The brahmana class or intelligent class is working in one way, the kshatriya or administrative class is working in another way, and the mercantile class and the laborers are all tending to their specific duties. In the human society, whether one is a laborer, merchant, administrator or farmer, or even if one belongs to the highest class and is a literary man, a scientist or a theologian, he has to work in order to maintain his existence. The Lord therefore tells Arjuna that he need not give up his occupation, but while he is engaged in his occupation he should remember Krsna (mam anusmara) (BG 8.7). If he doesn’t practice remembering Krsna while he is struggling for existence, then it will not be possible for him to remember Krsna at the time of death. Lord Caitanya also advises this. Therefore we have to practice remembering the Lord always, twenty four hours a day, by chanting His names and moulding our life’s activities in such a way that we can remember Him always.”

The commitment level to practice Krsna consciousness varies depending upon the involvement of the practioner and also the help/guidance given by the Bhakti Vriksha sevak /Bhakti Vriksha sector sevak. Whatever may be the level of commitment Krsna Himself promises in the Bhagavad Gita, “There is no loss or diminution in this endeavor and even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most fearful type of danger.” (BG 2.40)

In order to encourage the members to systematically advance spiritually, different shiksha-levels of commitment and standards of devotional service are recognized by ISKCON. These standards are prescribed for the devotees who are practicing Krsna consciousness from home . The shiksha program helps the congregational devotees to consolidate and increase their spiritual practises.

The different shiksha-levels of commitment and standards prescribed are:

Shraddhavan Krsna / Gauranga Sevak Krsna / Gauranga Sadhak Srila Prabhupada Ashraya Sri Guru Charana Ashraya Diksha



Lessons

Introduction

This is the Part 2 of the Bhakti Vriksha User Guide for Shraddhavan Level. The Lessons along with ‘Sri Namamrta’ and ‘Preaching is the essence’ for Bhakti Vriksha sessions 61 to 72 are provided.

The relevant lessons along with the ‘Sri Namamrta’ and ‘Preaching is the essence’ should be printed every week and shared with the participants during the weekly session. It is suggested that all the participants read through the lesson during the weekly program. Subsequent discussions and questions will be centered on the lesson.

The Bhakti Vriksha sevak should moderate the discussions based on his advanced preparation and the lesson for the week.



61. Personal and impersonal feature of God vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jñänam advayam brahmeti paramätmeti bhagavän iti çabdyate (SB 1.2.11)

"The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases of understanding by the knower of the Absolute Truth, and all of them are identical. Such phases of the Absolute Truth are expressed as Brahman, Paramātmā, and Bhagavān."

These three divine aspects can be explained by the example of the sun, which also has three different aspects, namely the sunshine, the sun's surface and the sun planet itself. One who studies the sunshine only is the preliminary student. One who understands the sun's surface is further advanced. And one who can enter into the sun planet is the highest. Ordinary students who are satisfied by simply understanding the sunshine — its universal pervasiveness and the glaring effulgence of its impersonal nature — may be compared to those who can realize only the Brahman feature of the Absolute Truth. The student who has advanced still further can know the sun disc, which is compared to knowledge of the Paramātmā feature of the Absolute Truth. And the student who can enter into the heart of the sun planet is compared to those who realize the personal features of the Supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore, the bhaktas, or the transcendentalists who have realized the Bhagavān feature of the Absolute Truth, are the topmost transcendentalists, although all students who are engaged in the study of the Absolute Truth are engaged in the same subject matter. The sunshine, the sun disc and the inner affairs of the sun planet cannot be separated from one another, and yet the students of the three different phases are not in the same category [from the purport to BG 2,2]

According to the Vis nu Purāna (6.7.61-3), the living entities are considered ksetrajña energy. Although the living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and is fully cognizant, he nonetheless becomes entrapped by material contamination and suffers all the miseries of material life. Such living entities live in different ways in accordance to the degree of their entanglement in material nature. The original energy of the Supreme Lord is spiritual and nondifferent from the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead. The living entity is called the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord, and the material energy is called the inferior energy. Due to his material inebriety, the living entity in the marginal position becomes entangled with the inferior energy, matter. At such a time he forgets his spiritual significance, identifies himself with material energy and thereby becomes subjected to the threefold miseries. Only when he is free from such material contamination can he be situated in his proper position.

According to Vedic instructions, one should understand the constitutional position of the living entity, the position of the Lord, and the position of material energy in their interrelation. First of all, one should try to understand the constitutional position of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead. That Supreme Lord has an eternal, cognizant, blissful body, and His spiritual energy is distributed as eternity, knowledge and bliss. In His blissful identity can be found His pleasure potency, and in His eternal identity He can be seen as the cause of everything. In His cognizant identity, He is the supreme knowledge. Indeed, the word Krs na indicates that supreme knowledge. In other words, the Supreme Personality, Krs na, is the reservoir of all knowledge, pleasure and eternity. The supreme knowledge of Krs na is exhibited in three different energies — internal, marginal and external. By virtue of His internal energy, He exists in Himself with His spiritual paraphernalia; by means of His marginal energy, He exhibits Himself as the living entities, and by means of His external energy He exhibits Himself as material energy. Behind each and every energetic exhibition there is the background of eternity, pleasure, potency and full cognizance.

The conditioned soul is the marginal potency overpowered by the external potency. However, when the marginal potency comes under the jurisdiction of the spiritual potency, it becomes eligible for love of Godhead. The Supreme Lord enjoys six kinds of opulences, and no one can establish that He is formless or that He is without energy. If someone claims so, his contention is completely opposed to the Vedic instructions. Actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of all energies. It is only the living entity, who is an infinitesimal part and parcel of Him, who is overpowered by the material energy.

In the Mundaka Upanisad it is stated that there are two birds sitting on the same tree, and one of these birds is eating the fruit of this tree while the other bird is simply witnessing his activities. Only when the bird eating the

http://vedabase.net/todo/purana6/7/61/en



fruit looks at the other bird does he become free from all anxieties. This is the position of the infinitesimal living entity. As long as he is forgetful of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who witnesses all his activities, he is subjected to the threefold miseries. But when he looks to the Supreme Lord and becomes the Supreme Lord's devotee, he becomes free from all anxieties and material miseries. The living entity is eternally subordinate to the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Lord is always the master of all energies, whereas the living entity is always under the domination of the Lord's energies. Although qualitatively one with the Supreme Lord, the living entity has the tendency to lord it over material nature; however, being infinitesimal, he is actually controlled by material nature. Thus the living entity is called the marginal potency of the Lord.

Because the living entity tends to be controlled by material nature, he cannot at any stage become one with the Supreme Lord. If a living entity were equal to the Supreme Lord, there would be no possibility of his being controlled by material energy. In Bhagavad-gītā the living entity is described as one of the energies of the Supreme Lord. Although inseparable from the energetic, energy is still energy, and it cannot be equal with the energetic. In other words, the living entity is simultaneously one and different from the Supreme Lord. Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-5) clearly states that earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego are the eight elementary energies of the Supreme Lord and are of inferior quality, whereas the living entity is of superior quality. The Vedic literatures confirm the fact that the transcendental form of the Supreme Lord is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. [Adapted from the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Lesson 25]

Discovery

1. What are the three phases of understanding the Absolute Truth? 2. What are the different energies of the Lord? To which energy do the living entities belong? 3. What is the constitutional position of the living entity? 4. What is the position of the Lord? 5. What is the position of the material energy? 6. How are the above 3 related?

Understanding

1. Explain the three phases of understanding the Absolute Truth with examples. 2. Why is the living entity subjected to the three fold miseries? 3. As per the Mundaka Upanishad how can the living entity become free from all anxieties? 4. At what stage can the living entity become one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead? 5. Explain the concept of simultaneously one and different. Give an example.

Application

In your every day life what are the forms of the Lord you associate with? Which do you relate to the most? Why?

SRI NAMAMRTA Lord Caitanya introduced the mahä-mantra to counteract the philosophy of impersonalism

[Lord Caitanya to Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté]: "The Mäyäväda philosophy is so degraded that it has taken the insignificant living entities to be the Lord, the Supreme Truth, thus covering the glory and supremacy of the Absolute Truth with monism."

Çrépäda Çaìkaräcärya purposely claimed the jéva-tattva, or living entities, to be equal to the Supreme God. Therefore his entire philosophy is based on a misunderstanding, and it misguides people to become atheists whose mission in life is unfulfilled. The mission of human life, as described in Bhagavad-gétä, is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord and become His devotee, but the Mäyäväda philosophy misleads one to defy the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and pose oneself as the Supreme Lord. Thus it has misguided hundreds and thousands of innocent men....the Mäyäväda philosophy, misguiding people by claiming the living entity to be the Lord, has created havoc throughout the entire world and led almost everyone to godlessness. By thus covering the glories of the Supreme Lord, the Mäyävädé philosophers have done the greatest disservice to human society. It is to counteract these most abominable activities of the Mäyävädé philosophers that Lord Caitanya has introduced the Hare Krsna mahämantra. [Cc. Ädi 17.120]

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harer näma harer näma / harer nämaiva kevalam

kalau nästy eva nästy eva / nästy eva gatir anyathä [Cc. Ädi 17.21]

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE

The saìkértana movement should be preached without restriction:

Not considering who asked for it and who did not, nor who was fit and who unfit to receive it, Caitanya Mahäprabhu distributed the fruit of devotional service.

This is the sum and substance of Lord Caitanya's saìkértana movement. There is no distinction made between those who are fit and those who are not fit to hear or take part in the saìkértana movement. It should therefore be preached without discrimination. The only purpose of the preachers of the saìkértana movement must be to go on preaching without restriction. That is the way in which Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu introduced this saìkértana movement to the world.

(Cc. Ädi 9.29)



62. Wiseman’s story

Caitanya Mahāprabhu relates a story from the commentary of Madhva which occurs in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Madhva-bhās ya) Sarvajna to a poor man who came to him to have his future told. When Sarvajna saw the horoscope of the man, he was at once astonished that the man was so poor, and he said to him, "Why are you so unhappy? From your horoscope I can see that you have a hidden treasure left to you by your father. However, the horoscope indicates that your father could not disclose this to you because he died in a foreign place, but now you can search out this treasure and be happy." This story is cited because the living entity is suffering due to his ignorance of the hidden treasure of his Supreme Father, Krs na. That treasure is love of Godhead, and in every Vedic scripture the conditioned soul is advised to find it. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, although the conditioned soul is the son of the wealthiest personality — the Personality of Godhead — he does not realize it. Therefore Vedic literatures are given to him to help him search out his father and his paternal property.

The astrologer Sarvajna further advised the poor man: "Don't dig on the southern side of your house to find the treasure, for if you do so you will be attacked by a poisonous wasp and will be baffled. The search should be conducted on the eastern side where there is actual light, which is called devotional service or Krsna consciousness. On the southern side there are Vedic rituals, and on the western side there is mental speculation, and on the northern side there is meditational yoga."

Sarvajña's advice should be carefully noted by everyone. If one searches for the ultimate goal by the ritualistic process, he will surely be baffled. Such a process involves the performance of rituals under the guidance of a priest who takes money in exchange for service. A man may think he will be happy by performing such rituals, but actually if he does gain some result from them, it is only temporary. His material distresses will continue. Thus he will never become truly happy by following the ritualistic process. Instead, he will simply increase his material pangs more and more. The same may be said for digging on the northern side, or searching for the treasure by means of the meditational yoga process. By this process a person thinks of becoming one with the Supreme Lord, but this merging into the Supreme is like being swallowed by a large serpent. Sometimes a large serpent swallows a smaller one, and merging into the spiritual existence of the Supreme is analogous. While the small serpent is searching after perfection, he is swallowed. Obviously there is no solution here. On the western side there is also an impediment in the form of a yaks a, an evil spirit who protects the treasure. The idea is that a hidden treasure can never be found by one who asks the favor of a yaks a in order to attain it. The result is that one will simply be killed. This yaks a is the speculative mind, and in this case the speculative process of self-realization, or the jñāna process, is also suicidal.

The only possibility then is to search for the hidden treasure on the eastern side by the process of devotional service in full Krsna consciousness. Indeed, that process of devotional service is the perpetual hidden treasure, and when one attains to it, he becomes perpetually rich. One who is poor in devotional service to Krs na is always in need of material gain. Sometimes he suffers the bites of poisonous creatures, and sometimes he is baffled; sometimes he follows the philosophy of monism and thereby loses his identity, and sometimes he is swallowed by a large serpent. It is only by abandoning all this and becoming fixed in Krs na consciousness, devotional service to the Lord, that one can actually achieve the perfection of life.

(Extract from Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 4 – The Wise man)

Discovery

1. What is the hidden treasure the astrologer is talking about? 2. What is the advice of Sarvajna to the poor man?

Understanding

1. Why is the living entity suffering?



2. Can one achieve the ultimate goal by following the ritualistic processes? Why not? 3. Why is meditational yoga process compared to a large serpant? 4. Can the treasure be obtained by digging in the western side? 5. Which side should the search be conducted? Why?

Application

1. What are the ritualistic practices you have been able to overcome after understanding this process of Krsna consciousness?

2. How do you help someone who is determined to follow the path of meditation? 3. What is the treasure you are digging for in your life?

SRI NAMAMRTA

Simply by chanting, one becomes free from sinful life, steady in devotional service, and elevated to the platform of mahätmä

To cultivate knowledge for worshiping Krsna culminates after many, many births and deaths when one actually becomes wise. When one becomes wise in this way, he surrenders to Krsna, recognizing Him at last to be the cause of all causes and all that is. That sort of great soul is very rare. So those who have surrendered to Krsna life and soul are rare sudurlabha mahätmas. They are not ordinary mahätmäs.

By the grace of Lord Caitanya that highest perfectional status of life is being distributed very freely. The effect is also very encouraging; otherwise, how are boys and girls without any background of Vedic culture quickly occupying the posts of rare mahätmäs simply by vibrating this transcendental sound, Hare Krsna? And simply on the basis of this chanting, the majority of them (those who are very sincere) are steady in devotional service and are not falling down to the four principles of material sinful life, namely (1) meat-eating, (2) illicit sexual connection, (3) taking of intoxicants, including coffee, tea, and tobacco, and (4) gambling. And that is the last sütra of the Vedänta-sütra, i.e., anävåttiù çabdät ["By sound vibration one becomes liberated"].

One has to learn by the result (phalena paricéyate). Our students are ordered to act like this, and they are not falling down. That they are remaining on the platform of pure spiritual life without hankering to culture the above principles of avidyä, or sense gratification, is the test of their proper understanding of the Vedas. They do not come back to the material platform, because they are relishing the nectarean fruit of love of God.

(The Science of Self-Realization - page 93)


The Lord's plan is to end the living entities' suffering:

... because He [the Lord] wants to maintain the creation, He desires the mass of people to follow the right path of self-realization, which enables the living beings to enter into the kingdom of God. The Lord wants the suffering human beings to come back home, back to Him, and cease to suffer the threefold material pangs. The whole plan of creation is made in that way, and one who does not come to his senses suffers in the material world by pangs inflicted by the illusory energy of the Lord.

Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.10.2



63. Sadhana Bhakti

Devotional service means transcendental activities. On the transcendental platform there is no contamination by the three modes of material nature. This is called viçuddha-sattva, the platform of pure goodness, or goodness free from contamination by the qualities of passion and ignorance. In this Krsna consciousness movement we require everyone to rise early in the morning, by four o'clock, and attend maìgala-ärati, or morning worship, then read Çrémad-Bhägavatam, perform kértana, and so forth. Thus we hold continuous activities in devotional service twenty-four hours daily. This is called sato våtti, or following in the footsteps of the previous äcäryas, who expertly filled every moment of time with Krsna conscious activities.

If one strictly follows the advice given in this verse by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé—namely, being enthusiastic, being confident, being patient, giving up the association of unwanted persons, following the regulative principles and remaining in the association of devotees—one is sure to advance in devotional service. In this regard Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura remarks that the cultivation of knowledge by philosophical speculation, the collection of mundane opulence by the advancement of fruitive activities, and the desire for yoga-siddhis, material perfections, are all contrary to the principles of devotional service. One has to become thoroughly callous to such nonpermanent activities and turn his intention instead to the regulative principles of devotional service.

(Extract from Nectar of Instruction – Text 3)

According to the Bhagavad-gétä (2.69):

yä niçä sarva-bhütänäà tasyäà jägarti saàyamé yasyäà jägrati bhütäni sä niçä paçyato muneù What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage. There are two classes of intelligent men. One is intelligent in material activities for sense gratification, and the other is introspective and awake to the cultivation of self-realization. Activities of the introspective sage, or thoughtful man, are night for persons materially absorbed. Materialistic persons remain asleep in such a night due to their ignorance of self-realization. The introspective sage remains alert in the "night" of the materialistic men. The sage feels transcendental pleasure in the gradual advancement of spiritual culture, whereas the man in materialistic activities, being asleep to self-realization, dreams of varieties of sense pleasure, feeling sometimes happy and sometimes distressed in his sleeping condition. The introspective man is always indifferent to materialistic happiness and distress. He goes on with his self-realization activities undisturbed by material reactions. Discovery 1. What is meant by transcendental activities? 2. Name the two classes of intelligent men. Explain about them.

Understanding 1. By which activities one is sure to advance in devotional service? 2. Which are the principles contrary to devotional service? Application Analyse in which mode (of material nature) you perform devotional service? What is the improvement required? Where do you want to be in say 1 years time? In 3 years time?



NAMAMRTA

Simply by remembering or chanting Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's holy name one can be delivered from material existence:

The representative of the Orissan government, the mahä-pätra, thinking to himself!: "It must be Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu Himself who has changed the Muhammadan's mind. Due to His presence and even due to His remembrance, the world is liberated."

The mahä-pätra to Lord Caitanya: "Simply by hearing Your holy name, a caëòäla, lowest of men, can be purified."

One can be delivered from material existence simply by remembering Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's holy name or by visiting Him. This Krsna consciousness movement is being spread throughout the world, but not even one yavana or mleccha addicted to drinking could have changed and accepted Krsna consciousness without Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's grace. People are often astonished to see many thousands of Westerners converted to Vaiñëavism. Generally Westerners are addicted to meat-eating, drinking, gambling and illicit sex; therefore their taking up Krsna consciousness is astonishing. In India, especially, there is much astonishment at this. The answer, however, is given here: darçana-smaraëe yäìra jagat tärila. This change is made possible simply by the remembrance of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. The Western devotees are very sincerely chanting the holy names of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His associates: çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda. By the mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His associates, people are being purified and their consciousness directed from mäyä to Krsna.

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Madhya-lélä 16.175


The duty of all sane men is to save the people in general:

Parékñit Mahäräja ... anxiously wanted to know from Çukadeva Gosvämé how humanity can be saved from gliding down to hell.... Intelligent men must take advantage of these instructions. Unfortunately, however, the entire world is lacking Krsna consciousness, and therefore people are suffering from the grossest ignorance and do not even believe in a life after this one. To convince them of their next life is very difficult because they have become almost mad in their pursuit of material enjoyment. Nevertheless, our duty, the duty of all sane men, is to save them.

Çrémad-Bhägavatam 6.1.6



64. Most confidential knowledge man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru mäm evaiñyasi satyaà te pratijäne priyo 'si me (B.G 18.65)

TRANSLATION

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.

PURPORT

The most confidential part of knowledge is that one should become a pure devotee of Krsna and always think of Him and act for Him. One should not become an official meditator. Life should be so molded that one will always have the chance to think of Krsna. One should always act in such a way that all his daily activities are in connection with Krsna. He should arrange his life in such a way that throughout the twenty-four hours he cannot but think of Krsna. And the Lord's promise is that anyone who is in such pure Krsna consciousness will certainly return to the abode of Krsna, where he will be engaged in the association of Krsna face to face. This most confidential part of knowledge is spoken to Arjuna because he is the dear friend of Krsna. Everyone who follows the path of Arjuna can become a dear friend to Krsna and obtain the same perfection as Arjuna.

These words stress that one should concentrate his mind upon Krsna—the very form with two hands carrying a flute, the bluish boy with a beautiful face and peacock feathers in His hair. There are descriptions of Krsna found in the Brahma-saàhitä and other literatures. One should fix his mind on this original form of Godhead, Krsna. One should not even divert his attention to other forms of the Lord. The Lord has multiforms as Viñëu, Näräyaëa, Räma, Varäha, etc., but a devotee should concentrate his mind on the form that was present before Arjuna. Concentration of the mind on the form of Krsna constitutes the most confidential part of knowledge, and this is disclosed to Arjuna because Arjuna is the most dear friend of Krsna's.

Discovery:

1. What is Krsna’s promise to Arjuna? 2. Here it is said one should not even divert his attention to other forms of the Lord. Why?

Understanding:

1. Who is eligible to return to the abode of Krsna? 2. Why is Krsna disclosing the most confidential part of knowledge to Arjuna?

Application:

How are your activities moulded as of today? To what extent do they help you remember Krsna?



NAMAMRITA

One must become the servant of the holy name:

In the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute; the name, form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such, one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in that spirit, without offenses, is certainly elevated to the platform of understanding that the holy name and the Personality of Godhead are identical. To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly. In Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu it is clearly said: sevonmukhe hi jihvädau svayam eva sphuraty adaù [Brs. 1.2.234]. The holy name becomes manifest when one engages in the service of the holy name. This service in a submissive attitude begins with one's tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvädau: One must engage his tongue in the service of the holy name. Our Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle. We try to engage all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement in the service of the holy name.

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 8.16


The Lord descended as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu to deliver the entire world:

Advaita Äcärya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls of the entire world. "The entire world is full of nondevotees," He thought. "How will they be delivered?" Determined to deliver all the fallen souls, Advaita Äcärya decided to cause Krsna to descend. With this vow, He began to offer Ganges water and tulasé leaves to worship the Lord. Similarly, Haridäsa Öhäkura chanted in his cave on the bank of the Ganges with the intention to cause Krsna's descent. Because of the devotional service of these two persons; Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu descended as an incarnation. Thus He preached the holy name of the Lord and ecstatic love of Krsna to deliver the entire world.

CC Antya 3.223-226



65. Surrender unto Me sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù (B.G. 18.66)

TRANSLATION

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

PURPORT

The Lord has described various kinds of knowledge and processes of religion—knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, knowledge of the Supersoul, knowledge of the different types of orders and statuses of social life, knowledge of the renounced order of life, knowledge of non-attachment, sense and mind control, meditation, etc. He has described in so many ways different types of religion. Now, in summarizing Bhagavad-gétä, the Lord says that Arjuna should give up all the processes that have been explained to him; he should simply surrender to Krsna. That surrender will save him from all kinds of sinful reactions, for the Lord personally promises to protect him.

In the Seventh Chapter it was said that only one who has become free from all sinful reactions can take to the worship of Lord Krsna. Thus one may think that unless he is free from all sinful reactions he cannot take to the surrendering process. To such doubts it is here said that even if one is not free from all sinful reactions, simply by the process of surrendering to Çré Krsna he is automatically freed. There is no need of strenuous effort to free oneself from sinful reactions. One should unhesitatingly accept Krsna as the supreme savior of all living entities. With faith and love, one should surrender unto Him.

The process of surrender to Krsna is described in the Hari-bhakti-viläsa (11.676):

änukülyasya saìkalpaù prätikülyasya varjanam rakñiñyatéti viçväso goptåtve varaëaà tathä ätma-nikñepa-kärpaëye ñaò-vidhä çaraëägatiù

According to the devotional process, one should simply accept such religious principles that will lead ultimately to the devotional service of the Lord. One may perform a particular occupational duty according to his position in the social order, but if by executing his duty one does not come to the point of Krsna consciousness, all his activities are in vain. Anything that does not lead to the perfectional stage of Krsna consciousness should be avoided. One should be confident that in all circumstances Krsna will protect him from all difficulties. There is no need of thinking how one should keep the body and soul together. Krsna will see to that. One should always think himself helpless and should consider Krsna the only basis for his progress in life. As soon as one seriously engages himself in devotional service to the Lord in full Krsna consciousness, at once he becomes freed from all contamination of material nature. There are different processes of religion and purificatory processes by cultivation of knowledge, meditation in the mystic yoga system, etc., but one who surrenders unto Krsna does not have to execute so many methods. That simple surrender unto Krsna will save him from unnecessarily wasting time. One can thus make all progress at once and be freed from all sinful reactions.

One should be attracted by the beautiful vision of Krsna. His name is Krsna because He is all-attractive. One who becomes attracted by the beautiful, all-powerful, omnipotent vision of Krsna is fortunate.

There are different kinds of transcendentalists—some of them are attached to the impersonal Brahman vision, some of them are attracted by the Supersoul feature, etc., but one who is attracted to the personal feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and, above all, one who is attracted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Krsna Himself, is the most perfect transcendentalist. In other words, devotional service to Krsna, in full consciousness, is the most confidential part of knowledge, and this is the essence of the whole Bhagavad-gétä.



Karma-yogés, empiric philosophers, mystics and devotees are all called transcendentalists, but one who is a pure devotee is the best of all. The particular words used here, mä çucaù, "Don't fear, don't hesitate, don't worry," are very significant. One may be perplexed as to how one can give up all kinds of religious forms and simply surrender unto Krsna, but such worry is useless.

Discovery:

1. What are the kinds of knowledge and processes of religion? 2. Who can take to the worship of Lord Sri Krsna? 3. What should one be confident of in all circumstances? 4. Why should one be attracted to the beautiful vision of Krsna? 5. Who is the most perfect transcendentalist?

Understanding:

1. Does one have to become free from all sinful reactions to surrender to Lord Sri Krsna? 2. What is the result of unhesitatingly accepting Krsna as the Supreme Saviour of all living entities? 3. Which are the religious principles one should simply accept? 4. When are a person’s activities considered to be in vain? 5. Why is the word ‘ma sucah’ significant? 6. Why is one perplexed? Is such worry useful?

Application:

After coming to Krsna consciousness what all have you given up and what more do you plan to give up?

SRI NAMAMRITA

Krsna came again as Lord Caitanya to teach us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga:

Just before the beginning of Kali-yuga—or, in other words, at the end of Dväpara-yuga—Lord Çré Krsna appeared and left His instructions in the form of Bhagavad-gétä, in which He asked all living entities to surrender unto Him. Since the beginning of Kali-yuga, however, people have practically been unable to surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, and therefore, after some five thousand years, Krsna came again as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu just to teach the entire world how to surrender unto Him, unto Çré Krsna, and thus be purified....(SB 8.5.23)


Devotees must preach all over the world, as ordered by the spiritual master:

Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's devotional cult teaches one not to sit down in one place but to spread the devotional cult all over the world. The Lord dispatched Sanätana Gosvämé and Rüpa Gosvämé to Våndävana to excavate and renovate the holy places and from there establish the cult of bhakti. Therefore Våndävana was given to Sanätana Gosvämé and Rüpa Gosvämé as their place of residence. Similarly, everyone in the line of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's devotional cult should accept the words of the spiritual master and thus spread the Krsna consciousness movement. They should go everywhere, to all parts of the world, accepting those places as prabhu-datta deça, the places of residence given by the spiritual master or Lord Krsna. The spiritual master is the representative of Lord Krsna; therefore one who has carried out the orders of the spiritual master is understood to have carried out the orders of Krsna or Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu wanted to spread the bhakti cult all over the world (påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma [CB Antya-khaëòa 4.126]). Therefore devotees in the line of Krsna consciousness must go to different parts of the world and preach, as ordered by the spiritual master. That will satisfy Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. (CC Antya 4.144)



66. Vyuha 10 - Hare Krsna world and GBC



67. Accepting things favourable for devotional service (part 1) utsähän niçcayäd dhairyät tat-tat-karma-pravartanät saìga-tyägät sato våtteù ñaòbhir bhaktiù prasidhyati

TRANSLATION

There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëam [SB 7.5.23]—hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous äcäryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.

One should accept this opportunity to return home, back to Godhead, very enthusiastically. Without enthusiasm, one cannot be successful. Even in the material world one has to be very enthusiastic in his particular field of activity in order to become successful. A student, businessman, artist or anyone else who wants success in his line must be enthusiastic. Similarly, one has to be very enthusiastic in devotional service. Enthusiasm means action, but action for whom? The answer is that one should always act for Krsna—kåñëärthäkhila-ceñöä (Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu).

In all phases of life one has to perform devotional activities under the direction of the spiritual master in order to attain perfection in bhakti-yoga. It is not that one has to confine or narrow one's activities. Krsna is all-pervading. Therefore nothing is independent of Krsna, as Krsna Himself states in the Bhagavad-gétä (9.4):

mayä tatam idaà sarvaà jagad avyakta-mürtinä- mat-sthäni sarva-bhütäni na cähaà teñv avasthitaù

"By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them." Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one has to make everything favorable for Krsna's service. For example, at present we are using a dictaphone. The materialist who invented this machine intended it for businessmen or writers of mundane subject matters. He certainly never thought of using the dictaphone in God's service, but we are using this dictaphone to write Krsna conscious literature. Of course, the manufacture of the dictaphone is wholly within the energy of Krsna. All the parts of the instrument, including the electronic functions, are made from different combinations and interactions of the five basic types of material energy—namely, bhümi, jala, agni, väyu and äkäça. The inventor used his brain to make this complicated machine, and his brain, as well as the ingredients, were supplied by Krsna. According to the statement of Krsna, mat-sthäni sarva-bhütäni: [Bg. 9.4] "Everything is depending on My energy." Thus the devotee can understand that since nothing is independent of Krsna's energy, everything should be dovetailed in His service.

Endeavor executed with intelligence in Krsna consciousness is called utsäha, or enthusiasm. The devotees find the correct means by which everything can be utilized in the service of the Lord (nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe yuktaà vairägyam ucyate). The execution of devotional service is not a matter of idle meditation but practical action in the foreground of spiritual life.

These activities must be executed with patience. One should not be impatient in Krsna consciousness. Indeed, this Krsna consciousness movement was started single-handedly, and in the beginning there was no response, but because we continued to execute our devotional activities with patience, people gradually began to understand the importance of this movement, and now they are eagerly participating. One should not be impatient in discharging devotional service, but should take instructions from the spiritual master and execute them with patience, depending on the mercy of guru and Krsna. The successful execution of Krsna conscious activities requires both patience and confidence. A newly married girl naturally expects offspring from her husband, but she cannot expect to have them immediately after marriage. Of course, as soon as she is married she can attempt to get a child, but she must surrender to her husband, confident that her child will develop and be born in due time. Similarly, in devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident. The



devotee thinks, ‘avaçya rakñibe kåñëa’ - "Krsna will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service." This is called confidence. (Extract from Nectar of Instruction – Text 3)

Discovery

1. What are the six principles favourable for the execution of devotional service? 2. What do you understand by ‘utsaha’?

Understanding

1. For whom should one act enthusiastically? Why? 2. What are the basic types of material energy? Give an example how they can be engaged in Krsna’s service. 3. How can we understand that the material things being used in Krsna’s service are actually spiritual? 4. What should be the mood while executing devotional service? Why? Explain with an example. 5. What do you understand by ‘being confident’ in Krsna consciousness?

Application

1. Share your experience as to how patience in Krsna consciousness has helped you. 2. Share an instance when your confidence in the Lord was tested. Were you happy with the the way you

depended upon the mercy of the Lord? Could you have done any better?

NAMAMRTA Krsna conscious householders should hold saìkértana festivals in their homes by distributing prasäda, talking about Krsna, and holding congregational chanting of the holy name:

Advaita Äcärya set an ideal example for all householder devotees in His receiving of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His devotees and in His execution of a daily festival at His home. If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya, who are engaged in preaching all over the world, and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasäda and talking about Krsna during the day and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Krsna consciousness movement. Thus they will daily perform saìkértana-yajïa. In Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.5.32) the daily performance of saìkértana-yajïa is recommended for this age (yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair yajanti hi sumedhasaù). One should worship Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His four associates, the Païca-tattva, by distributing prasäda and holding congregational chanting. Indeed, that yajïa or sacrifice is most recommended in this age of Kali. In this age, other yajïas are not possible to perform, but this yajïa can be performed everywhere and anywhere without difficulty. (CC Madhya 3.203)

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE Performing daily rituals of devotional service is not enough—one must preach, and in such preaching not be concerned for success or failure:

The favorable conditions for discharging devotional service are that one should be very enthusiastic in serving the Lord. The Lord in His form of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu wanted the cult of devotional service to the Lord to be preached all over the world, in every nook and corner, and therefore a pure devotee's duty is to discharge this order as far as possible. Every devotee should be very enthusiastic, not only in performing his daily rituals of devotional service, but in trying to preach the cult peacefully by following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya. If he is not superficially successful in such an attempt, he should not be deterred from the discharge of his duty. Success or failure has no meaning for a pure devotee because he is a soldier in the field. Preaching the cult of devotional service is something like declaring war against materialistic life.... A devotee should see to the right discharge of devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master and should not stick only to the formalities. Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master ... one should see how much service is being executed, and not simply in the matter of rituals. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.8.21)



68. Accepting things favourable for devotional service (part 2)

utsähän niçcayäd dhairyät tat-tat-karma-pravartanät saìga-tyägät sato våtteù ñaòbhir bhaktiù prasidhyati

TRANSLATION

There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëam [SB 7.5.23]—hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous äcäryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.

Devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy. Its substance is practical activity. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, in his Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu (1.1.11), has defined devotional service as follows:

anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam änukülyena kåñëänu- çélanaà bhaktir uttamä [Cc. Madhya 19.167]

"Uttamä bhakti, or unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Krsna, involves the rendering of devotional service in a way that is favorable to the Lord. This devotional service should be free from any extraneous motive and devoid of fruitive karma, impersonal jïäna and all other selfish desires."

Bhakti is a sort of cultivation. As soon as we say "cultivation," we must refer to activity. Cultivation of spirituality does not mean sitting down idly for meditation, as some pseudo-yogés teach. Such idle meditation may be good for those who have no information of devotional service, and for this reason it is sometimes recommended as a way to check distracting materialistic activities. Meditation means stopping all nonsensical activities, at least for the time being. Devotional service, however, not only puts an end to all nonsensical mundane activities, but also engages one in meaningful devotional activities.

One should not be idle but should be very enthusiastic about executing the regulative principles—tat-tat-karma-pravartana. Neglect of the regulative principles will destroy devotional service. In this Krsna consciousness movement there are four basic regulative principles, forbidding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. A devotee must be very enthusiastic about following these principles. If he becomes slack in following any of them, his progress will certainly be checked. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé therefore recommends, tat-tat-karma-pravartanät: "One must strictly follow the regulative principles of vaidhé bhakti." In addition to these four prohibitions (yama), there are positive regulative principles (niyama), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on japa-mälä beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm. This is called tat-tat-karma-pravartana, or varied engagement in devotional service.

It is further stated in the Tenth Canto: "Although mental speculators and fruitive actors may perform great austerities and penances, they still fall down because they do not have information about the lotus feet of the Lord." The devotees of the Lord, however, never fall down. In the Bhagavad-gétä (9.31), the Supreme Personality of Godhead assures Arjuna, kaunteya pratijänéhi na me bhaktaù praëaçyati: "O son of Kunté, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes."

Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once has begun it, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success. Sometimes a person will give up his ordinary material engagements and out of sentiment take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and thus begin the preliminary execution of devotional service. Even if such an immature devotee falls down, there is no loss on his part. On the other hand, what is the gain of one who executes the prescribed duties according to his varëa and äçrama but does not take to devotional service? Although a fallen devotee may take his next birth in a low family, his devotional service will nonetheless resume from where it left off. Devotional service is ahaituky apratihatä: it is not the effect of any mundane cause, nor can it be terminated by any mundane cause or permanently curtailed by any material interruption. Therefore a



devotee should be confident about his engagement and should not be very interested in the activities of the karmés, jïänés and yogés.

There are certainly many good qualities among fruitive actors, philosophical speculators and mystic yogés, but all good qualities automatically develop in the character of a devotee. No extraneous endeavor is needed. As confirmed by Çrémad-Bhägavatam (5.18.12), all the good qualities of the demigods progressively become manifest in one who has developed pure devotional service. Because a devotee is not interested in any material activity, he does not become materially contaminated. He is immediately situated on the platform of transcendental life. However, one who engages in mundane activity—be he a so-called jïäné, yogé, karmé, philanthropist, nationalist or whatever—cannot attain the higher stage of mahätmä. He remains a durätmä, or cripple-minded person.

Since all the devotees of the Lord are under the protection of His supreme potency, they should not deviate from the path of devotional service and take to the path of the karmé, jïäné or yogé. This is called utsähän niçcayäd dhairyät tat-tat-karma-pravartanät, enthusiastically executing the regulative activities of devotional service with patience and confidence. In this way one can advance in devotional service without hindrance.

Discovery

1. What is the definition of devotional service as per Rupa Goswami? 2. What will destroy devotional service? 3. What are the positive regulative principles which are to be performed with enthusiasm? 4. What do you understand by ahaituki apratihata?

Understanding

1. Is it possible to get complete success in devotional service? Substantiate. 2. What are the similarities and differences between meditation and devotional service? 3. Why do mental speculators and fruitive workers fall down? Why are the devotees different from them? 4. Can the jnanis, yogis, karmis, etc attain the higher stage of mahatma? Why not?

Application

Which of the six principles of pure devotional service have you applied in your life? Can you share the results you have experienced?

NAMAMRITA The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra will be effective if accompanied by the austerity of giving up the four sinful activities:

[Çukadeva Gosvämé to King Parékñit]: For a few months the sons of Prajäpati Dakña drank only water and ate only air. Thus undergoing great austerities, they recited this mantra: "Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Näräyaëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always situated in His transcendental abode. Since He is the Supreme Person [Paramahaàsa], let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Him."From these verses it is apparent that the chanting of the mahämantra or the Vedic mantras must be accompanied by severe austerities. In Kali-yuga, people cannot undergo severe austerities like those mentioned herein—drinking only water and eating only air for many months. One cannot imitate such a process. But at least one must undergo some austerity by giving up four unwanted principles, namely illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Anyone can easily practice this tapasya, and then the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra will be effective without delay. One should not give up the process of austerity. (ÇB 6.5.27-28)

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE For a preacher to have potency, he must be pure: Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit by their association. In this way the number of pure devotees increases. Professional preachers cannot create pure devotees.... Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service. It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Krsna consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. They



should regularly chant the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend maìgala-ärati and recite Çrémad-Bhägavatam and Bhagavad-gétä regularly. In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination.... To make a show of devotional service will not help one. One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service.... If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others. Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.

(Cc. Madhya 24.98)



69. Rejecting things unfavourable for devotional service (part 1) atyähäraù prayäsaç ca prajalpo niyamägrahaù jana-saìgaç ca laulyaà ca ñaòbhir bhaktir vinaçyati

TRANSLATION

One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.

Human life is meant for plain living and high thinking. Since all conditioned living beings are under the control of the Lord's third energy, this material world is designed so that one is obliged to work. In the material world one has to work for the maintenance of the body and soul, but how can one perform such work in a way that is favorable for the execution of Krsna consciousness?

Everyone requires possessions such as food grains, clothing, money and other things necessary for the maintenance of the body, but one should not collect more than necessary for his actual basic needs. If this natural principle is followed, there will be no difficulty in maintaining the body.

According to nature's arrangement, living entities lower on the evolutionary scale do not eat or collect more than necessary. Consequently in the animal kingdom there is generally no economic problem or scarcity of necessities. If a bag of rice is placed in a public place, birds will come to eat a few grains and go away. A human being, however, will take away the whole bag. He will eat all his stomach can hold and then try to keep the rest in storage. According to the scriptures, this collecting of more than necessary (atyähära) is prohibited. Now the entire world is suffering because of it.

Collecting and eating more than necessary also causes prayäsa, or unnecessary endeavor. By God's arrangement, anyone in any part of the world can live very peacefully if he has some land and a milk cow. There is no need for man to move from one place to another to earn a livelihood, for one can produce food grains locally and get milk from cows. That can solve all economic problems. Fortunately, man has been given higher intelligence for the cultivation of Krsna consciousness, or the understanding of God, one's relationship with Him, and the ultimate goal of life, love of God. Unfortunately, so-called civilized man, not caring for God realization, utilizes his intelligence for getting more than necessary and simply eat to satisfy the tongue.

By God's arrangement there is sufficient scope for the production of milk and grains for human beings all over the world, but instead of using his higher intelligence to cultivate God consciousness, so-called intelligent men misuse their intelligence to produce many unnecessary and unwanted things. Thus factories, slaughterhouses, brothels and liquor shops are opened. If people are advised not to collect too many goods, eat too much or work unnecessarily to possess artificial amenities, they think they are being advised to return to a primitive way of life. Generally people do not like to accept plain living and high thinking. That is their unfortunate position.

Another impediment is prajalpa, unnecessary talking. When we mix with a few friends, we immediately begin unnecessary talking, sounding just like croaking toads. If we must talk, we should talk about the Krsna consciousness movement. Those outside of the Krsna consciousness movement are interested in reading heaps of newspapers, magazines and novels, solving crossword puzzles and doing many other nonsensical things. In this



fashion people simply waste their valuable time and energy. In the Western countries old men, retired from active life, play cards, fish, watch television and debate about useless socio-political schemes. All these and other frivolous activities are included in the prajalpa category. Intelligent persons interested in Krsna consciousness should never take part in such activities.(Nectar of instruction – Chapter 2]

Discovery

1. When is one’s devotional service spoiled? 2. Do you think animals are better than human beings? Why? 3. Why is one obliged to work? 4. Why are men given higher intelligence? 5. What is prajalpa?

Understanding

1. Is there any difficulty in maintaining the body? 2. Do you think the entire world is suffering? Why? 3. How can we follow the principle of plain living and high thinking? 4. Are human beings using the intelligence for the intended purpose? 5. How is prajalpa an impediment in advancement in Krsna consciousness?

Application

1. What are the challenges you are facing while executing devotional service? 2. Share atleast one instance where these three principles are an obstacle / hurdle in your devotional life. How

do you plan to overcome them?

NAMAMRTA By minimizing bodily necessities, the devotee can primarily devote his time to cultivating Krsna consciousness

through chanting the holy name:

[Lord Caitanya explains that] a devotee should accept only those things that are favorable to keep his body and soul together and should reject those things that increase the demands of the body. Only the bare necessities for bodily maintenance should be accepted. By minimizing bodily necessities, one can primarily devote his time to the cultivation of Krsna consciousness through the chanting of the holy names of God.

(Teachings of Lord Caitanya – Chapter 1)

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE Preaching ability is based on detachment and wisdom: To disseminate transcendental knowledge one must retire from mundane activities on the strength of enlightenment in knowledge in terms of Vedic wisdom. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.7.38) The devotee should preach kåñëa-kathä for the benefit of human society: In the impure state of a living being, the respective senses are fully engaged in mundane affairs. If the ear is not engaged in the service of the Lord by hearing about Him in the Bhagavad-gétä or in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, certainly the holes of the ear will be filled up with some rubbish. Therefore the messages of the Bhagavad-gétä and the Çrémad-Bhägavatam should be preached all over the world very loudly. There are hundreds and thousands of sources for distributing mundane news of the world, and people of the world are also receiving them. Similarly, the people of the world should be taught to hear the transcendental topics of the Lord, and the devotee of the Lord must speak loudly so that they can hear. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.3.20)



70. Rejecting things unfavourable for devotional service (part 2) atyähäraù prayäsaç ca prajalpo niyamägrahaù jana-saìgaç ca laulyaà ca ñaòbhir bhaktir vinaçyati

TRANSLATION

One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.

Jana-saìga refers to associating with persons not interested in Krsna consciousness. One should strictly avoid such association. Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura has therefore advised us to live only in the association of Krsna conscious devotees (bhakta-sane väsa). One should always engage in the service of the Lord in the association of the Lord's devotees. Association with those engaged in a similar line of business is very conducive to advancement in that business. Consequently materialistic persons form various associations and clubs to enhance their endeavors. For example, in the business world we find such institutions as the stock exchange and chamber of commerce. Similarly, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give people an opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten Krsna. This spiritual association offered by our ISKCON movement is increasing day by day. Many people from different parts of the world are joining this Society to awaken their dormant Krsna consciousness.

Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura writes in his Anuvåtti commentary that too much endeavor to acquire knowledge on the part of mental speculators or dry philosophers falls within the category of atyähära (collecting more than needed). According to Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the endeavor of philosophical speculators to write volumes of books on dry philosophy devoid of Krsna consciousness is entirely futile. The work of karmés who write volumes of books on economic development also falls within the category of atyähära. Similarly, those who have no desire for Krsna consciousness and who are simply interested in possessing more and more material things—either in the shape of scientific knowledge or monetary gain—are all included under the control of atyähära.

Karmés labor to accumulate more and more money for future generations only because they do not know their future position. Interested only in getting more and more money for their sons and grandsons, such foolish persons do not even know what their position is going to be in the next life. There are many incidents that illustrate this point. Once a great karmé accumulated a vast fortune for his sons and grandsons, but later, according to his karma, he took his birth in a cobbler's house located near the building which in his previous life he had constructed for his children. It so happened that when this very cobbler came to his former house, his former sons and grandsons beat him with shoes. Unless the karmés and jïänés become interested in Krsna consciousness, they will simply continue to waste their life in fruitless activities.

Accepting some of the scriptural rules and regulations for immediate benefit, as utilitarians advocate, is called niyama-ägraha, and neglecting the rules and regulations of the çästras, which are meant for spiritual development, is called niyama-agraha. The word ägraha means "eagerness to accept," and agraha means "failure to accept." By the addition of either of these two words to the word niyama ("rules and regulations"), the word niyamägraha is formed. Thus niyamägraha has a twofold meaning that is understood according to the particular combination of words. Those interested in Krsna consciousness should not be eager to accept rules and regulations for economic advancement, yet they should very faithfully accept scriptural rules and regulations for the advancement of Krsna consciousness. They should strictly follow the regulative principles by avoiding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication.



Desires to expand the mind by perfecting mystic yoga, merging into the existence of Brahman, or attaining whimsical material prosperity are all included within the category of greed (laulya). All attempts to acquire such material benefits or so-called spiritual advancement are impediments on the path of Krsna consciousness.

This Krsna consciousness movement offers a spiritual community that can bring about a peaceful condition in the world. Every intelligent man should purify his consciousness and rid himself of the above-mentioned six hindrances to devotional service by taking wholehearted shelter of this Krsna consciousness movement.

Discovery

1. Do you think associating with non-devotees is a distraction in devotional life? Why? 2. What are the things which fall within the category of ‘collecting more than needed’ (atyahara)? 3. What are the things included in the category of greed (laulya)? How does this impact our Krsna

consciousness?

Understanding

1. Why does Narottama Dasa Thakura advise us to live only in the association of devotees? 2. How can we take full advantage of the spiritual association offered by ISKCON? 3. Is it intelligence to accumulate for future generations? Why? Why not? Give examples. 4. How should a Krsna conscious person accept rules and regulatons? 5. Who is an intelligent man?

Application

What would be your advice be to your devotee friend who has been invited to attend a function / party at a relative or friend’s house?

NAMAMRTA The best purpose of Vedic rituals, Vedänta philosophy and Vedic mysticism is served by chanting the holy name: One must be intelligent enough to understand the purpose of the Vedas, without being attached to the rituals only, and must not desire to be elevated to the heavenly kingdoms for a better quality of sense gratification. It is not possible for the common man in this age to follow all the rules and regulations of the Vedic rituals and the injunctions of the Vedäntas and the Upaniñads. It requires much time, energy, knowledge and resources to execute the purposes of the Vedas. This is hardly possible in this age. The best purpose of Vedic culture is served, however, by chanting the holy name of the Lord, as recommended by Lord Caitanya, the deliverer of all fallen souls. When Lord Caitanya was asked by a great Vedic scholar, Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, why He, the Lord, was chanting the holy name of the Lord like a sentimentalist instead of studying Vedänta philosophy, the Lord replied that His spiritual master found Him to be a great fool, and thus he asked Him to chant the holy name of Lord Krsna. He did so, and became ecstatic like a madman. In this age of Kali, most of the population is foolish and not adequately educated to understand Vedänta philosophy; the best purpose of Vedänta philosophy is served by inoffensively chanting the holy name of the Lord. Vedänta is the last word in Vedic wisdom, and the author and knower of the Vedänta philosophy is Lord Krsna; and the highest Vedäntist is the great soul who takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord. That is the ultimate purpose of all Vedic mysticism. (BG 2.46) PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE It is the duty of every disciple to preach:

Spreading Krsna consciousness is Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His desire.... The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krsna consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. It is not that one should act whimsically for his own personal satisfaction. This order comes down through the paramparä system, and the spiritual master presents these orders to the disciple so that he can spread the message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya's message all over the world.

(Cc. Madhya 16.64)



71. Vyuha 11 – ISKCON Disciple course



72. Vyuha 12 - Graduation – Glories of preaching

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