Essence of Srimad-BhagavatamIn 11 Instructions

Text 1Text 1väco vegaà manasaù krodha-vegaàväco vegaà manasaù krodha-vegaà

jihvä-vegam udaropastha-vegamjihvä-vegam udaropastha-vegametän vegän yo viñaheta dhéraùetän vegän yo viñaheta dhéraù

sarväm apémäà påthivéà sa çiñyätsarväm apémäà påthivéà sa çiñyät

““A sober person who can tolerate the urge to A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of speak, the mind's demands, the actions of

anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over genitals is qualified to make disciples all over

the world.”the world.”

Understanding Real AtonementUnderstanding Real Atonement

A Transformation of the HeartA Transformation of the Heart

““In Çrémad-Bhägavatam In Çrémad-Bhägavatam (6.1.9-10) Parékñit (6.1.9-10) Parékñit Mahäräja placed a Mahäräja placed a number of intelligent number of intelligent questions before questions before Çukadeva Gosvämé. Çukadeva Gosvämé. One of these questions One of these questions was: "Why do people was: "Why do people undergo atonement if undergo atonement if they cannot control their they cannot control their senses?“”senses?“”

What is AtonementWhat is Atonement

Atonement-Amends or reparation made for an Atonement-Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation; the act of atoning injury or wrong; expiation; the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity) deity)

Three types of sinful activity:Three types of sinful activity: 1. Those of the body1. Those of the body 2. Those of the mind2. Those of the mind 3. Those of speech3. Those of speech

Sinful life is performed by body, mind, and speech; thus three Yamadutas arrested Ajamila to take him for being punished.

Senses

MindIntelligence

Body

Soul

“The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence. “ Bhagavad-Gita 3.42

The Impetus for Sinful Activity

1) Consciousness impetus for sinful sense enjoyment1) Consciousness impetus for sinful sense enjoyment 2) Intelligence discriminating in terms of 2) Intelligence discriminating in terms of sense-sense-

enjoymentenjoyment 3) Mind accepting and rejecting in terms of the 3) Mind accepting and rejecting in terms of the

senses pleasuresenses pleasure 4) Gross manifestation of enjoyment, leading to4) Gross manifestation of enjoyment, leading to

sinful life because of 3 types of urges:sinful life because of 3 types of urges: Urges of the BodyUrges of the Body Urges of the MindUrges of the Mind Urges of speechUrges of speech

Stages of Sinful Activity:

Dangers of No Sense ControlDangers of No Sense Control

Being Pull in Different Directions

One whose senses are uncontrolled cannot be trusted

Pleasure of Ear-Deer CaughtPleasure of Ear-Deer Caught

Pleasure of smell-Bee CaughtPleasure of smell-Bee Caught

Pleasure of tongue-Fish caughtPleasure of tongue-Fish caught

Pleasure of touch-Elephant caughtPleasure of touch-Elephant caught

Pleasure of Eye-Moth BurntPleasure of Eye-Moth Burnt

Dangers of No Mental ControlDangers of No Mental Control ““While contemplating the objects While contemplating the objects

of the senses, a person develops of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.and from lust anger arises. From From anger, delusion arises, and from anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material falls down again into the material pool.” Bhagavad-Gita 2.62-63pool.” Bhagavad-Gita 2.62-63

Levels of IntelligenceLevels of Intelligence

“…“…a thief may know a thief may know perfectly well that he perfectly well that he may be arrested for his may be arrested for his stealing, and he may stealing, and he may actually even see a actually even see a thief arrested by the thief arrested by the police, yet he police, yet he continues to steal.”continues to steal.”

““Experience is gathered Experience is gathered by hearing…by hearing…

……and seeing”and seeing”

““One who is less One who is less intelligent gathers intelligent gathers experience by experience by seeing,…seeing,…

“…“…and one who is more intelligent gathers and one who is more intelligent gathers experience by hearing.”experience by hearing.”

““When an intelligent person When an intelligent person hears from the law books and hears from the law books and sastras, or scriptures, that sastras, or scriptures, that stealing is not good and hears stealing is not good and hears that a thief is punished when that a thief is punished when arrested, he refrains from theft. arrested, he refrains from theft. A less intelligent person may A less intelligent person may first have to be arrested and first have to be arrested and punished for stealing to learn punished for stealing to learn to stop stealing. to stop stealing.

Levels of Intelligence:Levels of Intelligence: Hearing (1Hearing (1stst class) class) Seeing (2Seeing (2ndnd class) class) Experiencing (3Experiencing (3rdrd class) class)

Conscious Disposition Makes the DifferenceConscious Disposition Makes the Difference

““However, a rascal, a However, a rascal, a foolish man, may have foolish man, may have the experience of both the experience of both hearing and seeing and hearing and seeing and may even be punished, may even be punished, but still he continues to but still he continues to steal. Even if such a steal. Even if such a person atones and is person atones and is punished by the punished by the government, he will government, he will again commit theft as again commit theft as soon as he comes out of soon as he comes out of jail.”jail.”

A doctor can prescribe A doctor can prescribe medicine to restore the body medicine to restore the body of a patient who has of a patient who has contracted an STD due to a contracted an STD due to a bad sexual tendency. The bad sexual tendency. The Medicine can help the body, Medicine can help the body, but Because the tendency but Because the tendency remains, the patient again remains, the patient again returns with the same returns with the same problem. What then is the problem. What then is the use of the prescription?use of the prescription?

What is the use of an elephants bath?What is the use of an elephants bath?

“He compared atonement to an elephant's bathing. The elephant may take a very nice bath in the river, but as soon as it comes onto the bank, it throws dirt all over its body. What, then, is the value of its bathing?... This kind of prayascitta, or atonement, is condemned by Pariksit Maharaj, the most intelligent king of his time.”

““Thus real Thus real prayascitta, prayascitta, atonement, is atonement, is the awakening the awakening of our dormant of our dormant Krishna Krishna consciousness.”consciousness.”

Stages of Real AtonementStages of Real Atonement 1) Consciousness motivation determines if senses are 1) Consciousness motivation determines if senses are

controlled or not. Real atonement, must take place on a controlled or not. Real atonement, must take place on a conscious level.conscious level.

2) Intelligence must discriminate in relation to Krishna. One’s 2) Intelligence must discriminate in relation to Krishna. One’s level of intelligence is determined, proportionate the service level of intelligence is determined, proportionate the service mood.mood.

3) Mind accepts and rejects according to one’s service to 3) Mind accepts and rejects according to one’s service to KrishnaKrishna

4) Body performs actions in relationship to service for 4) Body performs actions in relationship to service for Krishna.Krishna.

Performance of Real AtonementPerformance of Real Atonement

Understanding the Importance of Understanding the Importance of Association of the Pure DevoteesAssociation of the Pure Devotees

““Real atonement Real atonement involves coming involves coming to real knowledge, to real knowledge, and for this there and for this there is a standard is a standard process.”process.”

““A human being is meant to be trained A human being is meant to be trained according to certain principles to revive his according to certain principles to revive his original knowledge.”original knowledge.”

“Such a methodical life is described as tapasya.”

““One can be gradually elevated to the standard of real One can be gradually elevated to the standard of real knowledge, or Krishna consciousness, by practicing knowledge, or Krishna consciousness, by practicing austerity and celibacy (brahmacarya), by controlling austerity and celibacy (brahmacarya), by controlling the mind, by controlling the senses, by giving up the mind, by controlling the senses, by giving up one's possessions in charity, by being avowedly one's possessions in charity, by being avowedly truthful, by keeping clean and by practicing yoga-truthful, by keeping clean and by practicing yoga-äsanas.”äsanas.”

““However, if one is However, if one is fortunate enough to fortunate enough to get the association get the association of a pure devotee, he of a pure devotee, he can easily surpass all can easily surpass all the practices for the practices for controlling the mind controlling the mind by the mystic yoga by the mystic yoga process…” process…”

“…“…simply by following simply by following the regulative principles the regulative principles of Krishna of Krishna consciousness—consciousness—refraining from illicit refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, sex, meat-eating, intoxication and intoxication and gambling—and by gambling—and by engaging in the service engaging in the service of the Supreme Lord of the Supreme Lord under the direction of the under the direction of the bona fide spiritual bona fide spiritual master.”master.”

““This easy process is being recommended by Srila This easy process is being recommended by Srila Rupa Gosvami.”Rupa Gosvami.”

Mechanical means have temporary effect

Knowledge one gains frompurificatory activities is certainly purifying, but notcomplete.

But, if one receives mercy ofDevotees, esp. the Pure Devotee,And accepts the guidance seriouslyOne can achieve the highest aim.Simply by association with Haridas

Thakur, and the serious acceptance ofhis guidance, the prostitute achieve highest aim of Krishna Consciousness.

The Value of a Pure DevoteeThe Value of a Pure Devotee

““My dear King Rahuguna, unless one has the My dear King Rahuguna, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vänaprastha, householder life, leaving home as a vänaprastha, accepting sannyäsa, or undergoing severe penances in accepting sannyäsa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee.” SB 5.12.12attained the mercy of a great devotee.” SB 5.12.12

6 Principles of Application6 Principles of Application

The Art of Engaging the 6 types of UrgesThe Art of Engaging the 6 types of Urges