The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration: His Divine Grace ÇR La Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswåm Mahåråj

All Glories to r^ Guru and r^ Gaurga
The Benedictine Tree

of Divine Aspiration
Compiled for the satisfaction of
His Divine Grace

r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda
Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
And all the Devotees of r^ Chaitanya Srawat Mah
with its branches world-wide
On the completion of the second and final part
of r^la Govinda Mahrjs First World Tour21st February 1993.
Places visited:
First part: Singapore, Australia, Hawaii, California, Florida,
Mexico, Venezuela, London, and Ireland.
Second part: Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, and South Africa.
All rights reserved by
The Sevaite-President-Acharya,
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip
Founder Acharya:
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Successor Sevaite-President-Acharya:
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Printed in India, 1993
Edited by: Mahananda Das Bhakti Rajan
With special mention to many. In particular:

His Holiness Sripad Bhakti Ananda Sagar Maharaj
for the articles in Part II and the Appendices
His Holiness Sripad Bhakti Svarupa Tridandi Maharaj
and Sripad Cidananda Das Brahmachari
for their assistance with Chapter 3
and Sripad Srutasrava Das Adhikari
for the first two articles in Part I
Published by:
Sri Rasabdhi Brahmachari,
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math,
Kolerganj,
Post Office: Nabadwip,
District: Nadia,
West Bengal, Pin 741302, India
Website: http://www.scsmath.com
Contents
Part I
From the World Tour, First Leg
Chapter 1: Divine Benevolence Abroad 1
by r^ Mohannanda Dsa Adhikr^
Chapter 2: Universal Grace 9
Lecture by r^la B.S. Govinda Mahrj
Chapter 3: Demolishing Pillars of Ego 23
Part II
From the World Tour, Second Leg
Chapter 4: The Eye-Opener 37
by r^ Adhokaja Dsa Adhikr^
Chapter 5: Lifes Destination 39
Chapter 6: Reaping the Eternal Fruit 45
Chapter 7: Our Super Benefit 55
Continuation of the previous lecture
Chapter 8: Everyones Real Friend 65
by r^pd B.A. Sgar Mahrj
Appendices
Appendix I chryya-charaa-vandana 68
(Verses in glorification of r^la Govinda Mahrj)
Appendix II The Mahmantra 70
Appendix III Daa-vidha Nmpardha 71

(The Ten Offences to the Holy Name)
Book List 73
All Glories to r^ Guru and Gaurga
Part I
from the
World Tour, First Leg
1
Divine Benevolence Abroad
An interview with r^ Mohannanda Dsa Adhikr^,
coordinator of the first World Tour of
r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
Interviewer (Q): Please tell us some- and he is an expert adjuster. He only

thing about r^la Govinda Mahrjs tour needs to be told once, or observe once,
and his plans. and hell take it perfectly.
r^ Mohannanda Prabhu (A): Plans (Q): Have you seen His Divine Grace
have been formulated and they change change during the tour?
accordingly everywhere we go. But (A): Physically hes put on a bit of weight
one thing is certain: the desires of the because the food has been not only
devotees have been fulfilled very much. tasteful, but nourishing. We Westerners
I can see it in their faces. And it is recip- know that living on a Western diet you
rocalyou can see it in r^la Mahrjs dont have to eat much because the food
face too, how happy he is. We are now is nourishing and potent. Even small
in the San Jose, America, part of the quantities will be nourishing. But the
tour, and just about halfway done. The devotees desire is to give r^la Govinda
energy count will be a bit low, but he is Mahrj a try of everything at one time;
really stimulated each time he sees the and Mahrjs desire is to fulfil the wishes
devotees. We are all pros at travelling but of the devotees, so hes trying everything
he hasnt travelled around the world at one time. As a result hes putting on a
before, so hes adjusting accordingly, bit of weight, but thats also necessary
1
Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration
because hes doing a lot of work. Hes Mahrj felt a need to go to see all of
constantly working, but the work of these people and give them some of that
travelling is a different kind of work mercy that he and only he has. Because,
than sitting at a desk writing a book as you can see from the faces of the
or walking around the grounds of devotees, all he has to do is just look
Nabadw^p. Hes 63 years old and he at them, and they melt like hot butter.
leaves me for deadand Im 20 years So he came for that purpose, just to see
his junior. When we walk he takes giant the devotees.
strides and I have to run just to keep up The preaching side of the mission
with him, and everyone thinks Im quick! developed as we progressed. You cant
When he is on the go he is super fast. stop that. People want to ask questions.
(Q): What were r^la Mahrjs expecta- People want to hear Ka-kath or they
tions on this tour? want to know about this or that pastime
(A): Actually this tour was organised for or what r^la Swm^ Mahrj and r^la
one reason onlyfor His Divine Grace r^dhar Mahrj were really like. And
to see his friends and family: all of his r^la Govinda Mahrj is mercifulhe is
disciples and those who are spiritually talking to everybody. He tries to answer
related to him in one way or another. everyones questions in detail, with such
That includes all of r^la A.C. Bhakti- person-to-person intimacy that youd
vednta Swm^ Mahrjs disciples also. have to be a very insensitive person not
We are basically all of the same family to pick that up. He is really very intimate
tree; just different branches, if you like. and very direct. He may talk to your eyes,
So he is just coming to see all of his well- but actually it is directly to your heart.
wishers and his friends. The reason he Wherever people may be from, and from
felt the need to come to the Western whatever sampradya or whatever ideas
part of the world is because he consid- they may have, Ive not seen one person
ered that, whereas in Nabadw^p we can whos met him and not felt absolutely
come one-by-one to him from all other satisfied. Whether they are writers or
parts, for many reasons not all Westerners Sanskrit paits, or whoever they may
can go there. Now the economy is in a be or think they may be, r^la Govinda
slump and people cant afford to go, and Mahrj satisfies them fully. They keep
those who can afford to go may not like coming back for more. They cant get
the conditions. Some are too sick to enough!
travel, and others cant travel because of (Q): Is it because they are building a
illegal status: Mexicans in America, and temple in Australia that he was inspired
others in Australia. Theyre all over, trying to go there?
to make a living. They dont understand (A): Not exactly a temple. The intentions
bureaucracy and boundaries, and they originally were to build a temple, then
cannot go to Nabadw^p and see r^la when r^la Govinda Mahrj came he
Govinda Mahrj. Still others cant travel explained that to run a temple means
because the husband can go but the wife you have to have full-time commitments.
cant, or vice-versa. So r^la Govinda You have to think about it in terms of
2
generations. You dont think about only It cannot be manufactured. It just comes
now. If youre going to have Deities, from the heart. You cant stop it. It is like
then you have to seriously consider how an overflowing riveryou try to dam it
many generations can worship those but it is useless, the stones are going to
Deities. They are not just dressed-up be ripped apart. If r^la Govinda Mahrj
dolls. And when the devotees heard this stayed here for one month, all of Los
directly from r^la Govinda Mahrj, Angeles would be coming here. San
then their conception changed a little. Jose would become the second largest
We will have a nice ashram for the city in America. And it is the same in
brahmacr^s and visiting sannys^s, Australia. People started coming out from
where those who want to take full-on everywhere like ants out of woodwork,
practices and full doses of the good coming from everywhere.
medicine can go. For those who just (Q): Devotees that you hadnt seen for
want to take medicine in small doses many years?
or want to come and get together, then (A): For donkeys years! You cant
well have a k^rttan hall. Well build a imagine. Never mind they came; they
nice mandir, where everyone can come. didnt want to go home. We suddenly
There will be a photo of the Deities of had to find accommodation for all of
the Nabadw^p Mah, and there will be them. Of course a lot of pre-planning
our Parampar photographs. Well didnt take off because while a lot of
chant, break bread togethertake some devotees desired to see r^la Govinda
Prasdamand everyone will be happy. Mahrj come, another side of them told
We can come together in the name of them, Its not possible, it wont happen.
our Guru Mahrj, r^la Bhakti Sundar They heard this many times. Even up to
Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, and be two or three weeks before the tour was
happy. What we are doing is taking actually going to take off, there was a lot
association, which is what r^la Govinda of pessimism that, As a matter of fact, it
Mahrj wants. The devotees are together might not happen. But when they heard
taking association and trying to preach that r^la Govinda Mahrj was actually
to other people the glories of Mah- on the plane and off to Australia, then it
prabhus message, and trying to get them was action-stations: All men on board;
to see that there is a right path in this diffi- lets get to work. Weve got to get this
cult world. And if you follow the right thing together. And everybodys ears
path, good. pricked up, all woke up, dusted off the
(Q): We have the experience in San Jose cobwebs of their spiritual bodies, and
that devotees have become surcharged just kept coming.
since r^la Govinda Mahrj arrived. Has (Q): The question on everyones mind
this been the experience in every city is: Is this the only trip r^la Govinda
hes been to? Mahrj is going to take, or does he feel
(A): Absolutely. Even more so. The enthu- inspired to make more trips?
siasm I see is a sweetness that comes (A): If anybody thinks this is his only
from the heart. It cannot be disguised. tour, then they really havent realised
3
how much the devotees have pleased time. You can have weekly meetings,
r^la Govinda Mahrj. r^la Mahrj will and if you can be consistent and meet
travel. Hell travel probably more now regularly, that would be nice.
and for longer periods than before. Ill give you a perfect example of
Because now hes seen and knows how that. When the Australian ladies com-
to travel basically by himself, except for mittee was collecting money and sending
the immigration forms which will take r^la Govinda Mahrj some money on a
him just a short while to do, he wont be monthly or quarterly basis, it wasnt
travelling with such a large party next much money, but what really pleased
time. Naturally they dont need an expen- r^la Govinda Mahrj was not the sum
sive porter like myself to tag along, for a that was collected but the fact that these
start. And r^la Govinda Mahrj has ladies were actually working together.
seen what the devotees can prepare in Each time, they took association with
the way of his personal Prasdam and each other, and through that they built a
needs. So where we can economise, we bond between each other. And now in
will. r^la Govinda Mahrj is very con- AustraliaI can truthfully say, and even
scious of how the money the devotees r^la Govinda Mahrj will support me
give is spent. Every dollar in Nabadw^p in this statementit is very harmonious
he has accounted for. And youre a tax and very wonderful that the devotees
man, Hsyapriya Prabhuyou know have put all their differences out of the
how difficult it is to keep a constant door. Of course, we may occasionally
check. But r^la Mahrj can account for fight with each other, but generally the
everything right to the last cent. family in which there are never any fights
(Q): What are r^la Govinda Mahrjs is a family that is childless. In our family
aspirations for the mission? we have happy fights. But we also have
(A): What r^la Govinda Mahrj would happier times when we have a meeting
really like more than anything else is and Prasdam together once a week.
constant association among the devotees. We have a simple chanting-hall where
That is, forget about your personalities were getting together.
for a moment; forget about your petty You Americans are the masters for
differences. Forget about what other marketing anything. Look what you
sampradyas and other people are doing. did with the message of r^la Swm^
Get on with your devotional life. Get on Mahrj. No doubt he was a great per-
with meeting with each other. If you sonality. He came here, and as r^la
can get together for Vaiava-saga as Govinda Mahrj always says, although
often as possible, that is nourishment for he wasnt the most successful business-
each one of you. That is most important. man, in the business of Ka conscious-
Chant the glories of the Holy Name, ness he was the master, and he had the
preach to newcomers, and spread the best of everything. Americans came out
word if you can. But if you cant, then from everywhere and didnt know any-
just come together. A few families can thing about Gau^ya Vaiavism, but
meet; you dont all have to meet at one they were the best marketers. You can
4
promote the message and thats what (A): San Jose, definitely next year. r^la
we need now. We need people to go Govinda Mahrj has promised. In Maui,
out and say, Yes, Ka consciousness is one gentleman has offered r^la Govinda
still alive. The real sweetness of Kas Mahrj 55 acres of land, and the man is
message is still available, and not just at not even a discipleyet another example
the airports, but it is available at any of our saying about people coming
time that you desire it. Here in America out of the woodwork. There is one
it is available at the San Jose temple; at man who is hungry for some sort of
the Miami branch of the r^ Chaitanya service to Ka. And somebody else
Sraswat Mah; in New York, and else- whose desire was not true would
where. It is available. It may not be have grabbed it immediately, but r^la
absolutely known to everybody, though, Govinda Mahrj always looks at the
so thats the job for us now: to let other devotees needs, and he says, I shall
people know. This is what our various come back and then we can talk. And if
newsletters around the world are doing. the gentleman still feels the same, which
(Q): What can we do to attract r^la Im certain he will, then something will
Govinda Mahrj to return? develop on the island of Maui, and r^la
(A): Thats what were doing now. I can Govinda Mahrj has promised them
really only answer for Australia in a also that he will come back for two or
definite way, and for others I can only three weeks.
give you a glancing preview. In Australia He has mentioned to me privately
we are definitely trying to attract r^la that he would like to come to San Jose
Govinda Mahrj by getting some land again, because our time here is not suffi-
immediately. Right now Im constantly cient. Were here for only seven days,
getting calls from the devotees, asking and were visiting two places within
me to find out what kind of land r^la 50 kilometres of each other. r^la Govinda
Govinda Mahrj wants. Land is much Mahrj wants to see other parts of
more available there, and certainly at a America, particularly New Yorkhes
cheaper price than here, but still the promised r^pd Giri Mahrj that some-
endeavour to do so is available every- time he would like to go there to see the
where. On his next trip r^la Govinda Big Apple, as he calls it.
Mahrj will go to Malaysia, Mauritius, Also, many devotees want to take
and South Africaparticularly Mauritius, initiation from r^la Govinda Mahrj
which he has promised to go to for many and time is not sufficient to initiate them
years. And after that tour, when he all. r^la Govinda Mahrj shall do what
returns to Australia he will see a mandir, he can now, but the desire to give con-
hall and quarters that were going to build nection and mercy is there constantly.
for him, and then he can visit Australia He must come back. But you can make
on a regular basis. it more inviting for him by saying, Well
(Q): Youre talking about a second tour. Mahrj, were getting a temple together.
What will be the tentative itinerary for Were meeting every week and doing
the second tour of America? some service.
5
Everybody wants to get connection (Q): Is there an open invitation for all
and r^la Govinda Mahrj is giving that the devotees to visit Nabadw^p and
easily; but not everybody is coming and spend time there?
saying, Please engage me in service. I (A): I can say that absolutely wherever
do hear it from some, quietly, but not he goes r^la Govinda Mahrj contin-
many are coming up and saying, Please uously makes an open invitation to
engage me in service. But if everyone everyone. You can go there and be his
comes up and receives connection and guest if you like, or if you are his disciple,
then engages in service, automatically you can go to your fathers house
you will have a temple here, and it will happily. He will very happily nourish
probably be the crowning jewel of the you in any way he can, because he likes
r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mahs overseas to serve.
branches. (Q): On Mahrjs next tour, what can
r^la Govinda Mahrj has special we do to improve things for his conve-
affection for many devotees, but great nience?
and special affection for devotees con- (A): In an organisational sense, I cant
nected to the San Jose Mah because see how you could improve things. You
despite all of their trials, tribulations, are doing the best within the shortest
and difficult circumstances they still go period of time. What is necessary is
ahead and do their service, and do that we want to try and give him maxi-
their service also to the central Mah in mum exposure to the devotees and the
Nabadw^p. That is another thing people general public in the minimum amount
musnt forget. We do our service for our of time.
local Mah, but we must also do our (Q): Is there anything else youd like to
service for the centre. Devotees should express to the devotees world-wide
go there whenever possible. Everybody when we publish this interview?
should try to go and stay there for six (A): I would like them to know how
months and spend some time. r^la grateful I am to everyone who wrote to
Govinda Mahrj likes to engage the me with all their suggestions, and to all
Westerners in service there. They are for their assistance and their planning.
happy to be there and they are doing It is not a one-man showI didnt do
good service. They are doing things this by myself. Through the grace of
which are full of austerities for them in r^la Govinda Mahrj, and through the
their Westerners bodies, but theyre kindness of r^pd Sgar Mahrj who
doing it very happily. And r^la Govinda asked me to take charge of this particu-
Mahrj feels comfortable when the lar part of the tour in planning, Im just
Westerners are at the Mah. He feels that another cog in the wheel. The only
his family is all there. If it is only the reason the wheel has turned around
Indians and Bengalis, then he feels that very nicely without any disruption is
only half of his children are there. But because of everybody everywhere. And
when all the Westerners are there, he that means from the person who delivers
feels happy; then hes jolly. our Mahs publications, to the chief
6
cook making a buffet meal for all of presence of r^la Govinda Mahrj.
useverybody has assisted in every way r^la Govinda Mahrj loves every
possible. Everyone has found some one of us, and if the devotees can come
engagement, some way to serve, and together as a loving, serving family, then
they are serving the centre as the servant a beautiful thing will happen. Whenever
of the servant of the servant. That has strangers will see r^la Govinda Mahrjs
been the pleasing thing, to know that disciples they will say, There go those
we have such a big family and they are people. They are Govinda Mahrjs
participating all over the world. disciples. They are so harmonious and
I tell you, any devotee who wants to so loving to each other. They are a nice
go any place in the world now, once we bunch. We should get to know these
have our missions branches properly people, instead of, There goes such-
establishedwherever they go they will and-such persons disciples. All theyre
find their brothers, sisters, etc. They are doing is just gossiping and speculating,
never going to feel alone ever again. and back-stabbing each other the first
Once r^la Govinda Mahrj has finished chance they get. We dont want to hear
this tour and established everything such things, for it burns our ears. All we
nicely, no devotee will be able to say want to hear are sweet things. There
that hes alone. And if he says hes goes r^la r^dhar Mahrjs disciple; there
alone, then he is not seeing very clearly, goes r^la Govinda Mahrjs disciple.
because all around him is his family They are so nice, and so loving to each
everywhere. All he needs to do is get in other. Lets try to arrange something
contact with them in the same kind of with them so that we can gain their
service mood as youve all shown in the association.
7
2
Universal Grace
The following address was given at the Lauden Nelson Center,
in Santa Cruz, California, on June 30, 1992
by
His Divine Grace r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
o ajna-timirndhasya possible he tried to come. And he came

jnjana-alkay alone. But what is that feeling he had?
cakur unm^litam yena Actually what did he want to do, and
tasmai ri-gurave nama why? My connection also is with that
consciousness, and I can say it is the
vch-kalpatarubhyasca
topmost necessity for the conditioned
kp-sindhubhya eva ca
souls. One who can understand this
patitn pvanebhyo
cannot tolerate living without giving
vaiavebhyo namo nama
something of that consciousness. That
namo mah-vadnyya was r^la Prabhupdas position. He
ka-prema-pradya te was always feeling compassion for the
kya ka caitanya- conditioned souls who are suffering so
nmne gaura-tvie nama much in this mundane world. Condi-
tioned souls cannot understand what is
Respected devotees, my dear God- good for their real life, their eternal life.
brothers and sisters, honourable gentle- That feeling brought him to the West.
men and ladies, by your mercy I have No doubt, his Gurudeva, r^la Bhakti-
come here for meeting with you all, and siddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, ordered
I want to spend some time with you to him to preach in the West, but r^la
speak about Ka consciousness. I am Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur gave
not so learned and especially I am very that order to all the devotees also.
poor in English, but you have much The feeling to do good for others
affection for me and you are always my was deeply in the heart of r^la Swm^
well-wishers, so I shall try to express Mahrj. He had no money and not so
something about Ka consciousness. much experience, but he had eagerness,
Why have I come here to the West? affection, and a full, good heart. With a
Previously, a great general in the line of full, good heart, he could not tolerate
Ka consciousness, r^la A.C. Bhakti- the deficiency of knowledge and Ka
vednta Swm^ Prabhupda, felt a great consciousness in the j^va-souls, and he
necessity to preach Ka conscious- tried as soon as possible to come to the
ness, especially in the Western world. He West. He tried so hard to give Ka
could not wait to do that, and as soon as consciousness, and during the first year
9
he suffered in many ways, but his eager- There are several kinds of Relation-
ness and his deep feelings gave success ships in Service to Ka, and feelings
to his preaching Ka consciousness. are also infinite there. Our connection
He started alone, buteko ha with the Infinite is always giving us that
bahu symI, the One, became many. infinite position. And our service mood
This is an aphorism of the Upaniads. will also always work infinitely in that
Bhagavn, the Supreme Lord, was alone Infinite World. That is Goloka Vndvana.
first and then He became many, and Some may consider the ultimate plane
with His heart of Love He manifested to be Paravyoma or Vaikuha, but the
Himself in millions of Forms. Similarly, underlying necessity is to practise Ka
r^la Swm^ Mahrj, whose heart was consciousness, and that is our lifes goal.
filled with Divine Love, wanted to dis- Our real form is transcendental, not
tribute Ka consciousness. His feeling destructible, and there is much possibil-
was that it was an extreme necessity for ity to get a position in the Service World.
the conditioned souls, and if they didnt We have that type of possibility and
get it, what would they take? And in form. If, in any way, any auspicious soul
which way would they live? can connect us with that Transcendental
Actually he was very disturbed and World, we will get everything there.
could not understand why the condi- This feeling was in the heart of r^la
tioned souls were running around in the Swm^ Mahrj. He tried in many ways
illusory environment. His feeling was to begin his mission in India, but lastly
very strong. He wanted to give some- he thought, My place is in the West,
thing, and he gave it first in the Western and I can try to do something there.
world. All religions are always showing us
I have come to meet with you all something. Some are showing heaven,
my friends and your families. I have some are showing Vaikuha, and some
received mercy from you, therefore I are showing Goloka. But all religions
can come. Mercy means your affection. are trying to take us upwards, not down-
Affection has attracted me to meet with wards. That is the nature of religion.
you, and this affection has grown through Everybody has some eagerness to
Ka consciousness. Otherwise, I live know what Indian religion is. But actu-
in India and you live in Americawe ally religion is not for India and not for
live so far apart. But attachment, attrac- America; religion is for the j^va-soul.
tion and affection have all grown J^va-souls have permanent existence
through Ka consciousness, and thus which is thinking, feeling, and willing,
I have a chance to come here and meet and j^va-souls are eternal. They have the
with you. What can I give to you? You Religion of Service to Ka, their Lord,
have all material things. But Ka con- and service to the Transcendental Plane.
sciousness has no end. We can only start There we find all happiness, all ecstasy,
and we can only proceed, but we will all beauty, charm, and Divine Love.
find that there is no end. It is infinite. Whatever we want in this mundane
Ka consciousness is infinite. world within our conditioned position
10
Universal Grace
beyond that, in the Transcendental giving or taking anything mundane. You
World, that Divine Love is always are my Godbrothers, Godsisters, and
waiting for us, waiting to embrace us. spiritual relatives.
That is the actual position, and one who Actually the tm, the soul, is coming
can understand this cannot live without from a vast power, and we are part of
giving that gift to others. That is Ka that. In that way, we are all relatives.
consciousness. When a particular sdhu came from India
Once we wake up and get connect- and addressed the people, Brothers
ed with that consciousness, we can and sisters of America, everybody
never leave it. We must proceed stage was charmed to hear it. We really are all
after stage up to Vrajadhm, Goloka brothers and sisters related with each
Vndvana. That is the Religion of all the other in a higher way, and everybody
j^va-souls. has some existence with a relationship
Many auspicious mahtmas, or great to each other in their eternal formthat
religious teachers, come from time to is caitanya-j^vtmand everybody
time, and their goal is to try to take us has a service relationship with our
up over this illusory environment. Some Divine Lover, Lord r^ Ka. In that way
religions want to take us to heaven, some we are all related. We must try to help
religions want to take us to Brahmaloka, each other to progress in the line of
some want to take us to Vaikuhaloka Ka consciousness, and then we will
all of them want to take us to a higher easily proceed to our destination. That is
level. But ultimately all the Scriptures the advice of the Scriptures.
and the very intimate servitors of Ka In this way, I need your association.
come down into this mundane world to You are giving me much affection, but
show us our highest lifes goal, which not for mundane enjoyment, and not for
is Service to our Divine Lover, Lord r^ taking or giving something mundane.
Ka. One who has that feeling will By your association perhaps I can give
surely give us connection with Kaloka. some hope to you all to try to proceed
That is the nature of the sdhu. Sdhus to your destination. I can say what is
do not want to enjoy anything, but they your own property, what is the wealth
are always trying to give enjoyment to of your soul. I must try to help you, and
othersnot mundane enjoyment, but you also can give me hope and encour-
transcendental joyfulness, happiness, agement for that Transcendental Service.
ecstasy. The description of Kaloka That is my hope. You have many things
or Goloka Vndvana is very nicely in this mundane world, but the real
given in Brahma-sahit, r^mad- necessity is the mood of practising Ka
Bhgavatam, and other Scriptures that consciousness. That has no end, and it
are trying to give Divine Knowledge is increasing in an ever more beautiful
to us and trying to make us qualified way. With heartfelt energy you please
servitors in that Divine Plane. try to proceed, and you can preach this
So I have come to meet with you all Ka consciousness to others for their
not for any mundane enjoyment or for benefit. I shall try to help in that way,
11
and if you have any questions about Lord Rmachandra said this about
Ka consciousness, I will try to give Bibhâa. Everyone wanted to oust
an answer. Bibhâa. Bibhâa was the brother of
My English is very poor, so I cannot Rvaa, and Rvaa was the enemy of
give a formal lecture. It is very difficult Rmachandra, so everybody thought
for me to give that. But it is very easy for that Bibhâa must have come as a spy.
me to give answers about Ka con- But Rmachandra said, Maybe he is
sciousness. I have received some mercy a spy; maybe not. But since he took
from my r^la Guru Mahrj and r^la shelter of Me, I must protect him, and I
Swm^ Mahrj, and for a long time I am must give him assurance that he will not
connected with their movement. Also, it be ousted.
is my duty to everybody. If I can help So when we took shelter, whether
you to feel satisfied in Ka conscious- there was any deficiency in us or not
ness, then I must feel satisfaction in my will be the first question. Otherwise, in
service. So if you have any questions the middle of the way, why are we
you can ask them, and I shall be very leaving Ka consciousness? Many may
happy. leave and stop practising, or somehow
Question: We became attracted to Ka some disturbance may come to them.
consciousness by a great soul, but some- But what is the process to leave or oust
times we may not go fully, all the way. that disturbance? The process is here:
What can help us to continue to the goal Ka Himself says,
without leaving it halfway?
sat prasangn mama v^ryya-savido
r^la Govinda Mahrj: This is a very
bhavanti ht-kara-rasyan kathh
good question. Thank you for your
taj joand v-apavarga-vartmani
attentive question. It is not only your
raddh-ratir bhaktir anukramiyati
question, it is the question of all of us.
(r^mad-Bhgavatam 3.25.25)
We surrendered unto the Lotus Feet of
r^ Ka and tried to proceed to our What we need are good friends and
destination, but many obstructions are association, then we can proceed
coming in our life, and we are feeling happily. And the other factor is that if
many disturbances, thus it seems that our surrender is perfect, then from the
we cannot proceed to our full destina- upper level faith will come to us and
tion. There are two factors: one, if we protect us. If someone is fully surren-
surrender fully to the Lotus Feet of Ka, dered to Ka in His form as Guru or
Ka will see us. That is one hundred sdhu, then Ka will certainly protect
percent certain. In the Scriptures it is him. He must protect him. But it is also
said, sometimes a factor of time as to when
sakd eva prapanno yas Ka will accept that devotee or how
tavsm^ti ca ycate much time He will spend for him. But
abhayam sarvvad tasmai we should not feel hopeless because of
dadmy etad vrata mama that. When the time actually comes we
(r^ r^ Prapanna-j^vanmtam 9.4) shall surely understand. It may be a very
12
Universal Grace
short timejust in front of usor maybe (the saintly persons). When there is no
a long, long time. But what is time? May- saintwhen we do not find a real sdhu
be a few births can also come and go in and his associationat that time we can
that time, but that is also a very meagre take help from the holy books. In this
thing. In relation to infinite time it is age, that will be very helpful for the
most insignificant. From Ka we get practitioner. Our Guru Mahrj and
our hope, and this is a one hundred r^la Swm^ Mahrj have both given
percent assurance. But while we are many holy books for our practising lifes
waiting for that position of liberation instruction. If we read those books, we
from this mundane environment, and will get much strength and nourishment,
when we want to proceed to our destina- and we can proceed very happily to
tion, this is when the association of our destination.
Kas devotees will be most helpful. So if a living sdhu is not in front of
Such association can give relief and me, I must try to read his books. And
nourishment to our mind and soul. another thing we can do is take the
Lord Kapiladeva told His mother, direct association of Kathat is, by
Devahti, Mother, please dont worry. way of His Holy Name. That is the Hare
You are a woman and have no ability to Ka Mahmantra. This method is
read the Vedas, and you cannot practise only for this age of Kali-yuga. It is not
yoga and so forth, but dont worry. I am for other ages. In Kali-yuga it gives a
always satisfied with My servitors who very good chance to the conditioned
are engaged twenty-four hours a day souls. Ka Himself appears in His
in My Service. You just try to get their Name, in the form of the Mahmantra.
association. Through their association The Hare Ka Mahmantra and Ka
your practising life will happily progress. are nondifferent. All the Scriptures teach
That means with ravaam, k^rttanam, this to us.
vandanam, etc. The Lord says, If you The Name and the Person are the
hear from My servitors about Me, and same. They are both transcendental and
in their association you happily chant eternal. Then if we try to chant that Holy
the Hare Ka Mahmantra* and My Name with faith and respect and without
Glories, you will get much nourishment offence*, then we must get the direct
for your practising spiritual life. Then, association of Ka, also our mood of
ultimately you will get strong, firm service to Ka will increase.
devotion, and strong attachment to My So these three methods are immedi-
Transcendental Form. It is necessary for ately in front of us. If we can get all three,
the practitioners to get real sdhu-saga, that is very good; but in any case we
association of the real saints. must serve the Hare Ka Mahmantra,
It is possible to get sdhu-saga in chant Hare Ka, and try to get His holy
two ways: from stra-bhgavata (the association. And for our practising life, if
holy books), and bhakta-bhgavata we cannot get the association of a holy
*See Appendix II *See Appendix III

13
person, a sdhu, then we can still read Australia, I see everywhere so many
the holy books. This is the hopeful pro- ladies driving carsnot only cars, but
cess to reach our destination. big, big trucks as well. Easily they are
Question: When r^la Prabhupda came driving, and with a very free mind. They
to the West, he distributed Ka cons- have a culture in which everybody is
ciousness in a very broad and free way. giving respect to everybody. I have seen
Over the years, many of us have devel- it in Australia especially. We were stand-
oped what might be considered not very ing in the road, and a lady was going
good habits, such as putting pictures of by in a car very fast. Although she did
Rdha-Ka on the wall without offering not know us, and we did not know
any worship to Them; saying Haribol her, still she gave us some attention and
without any reverence, etc. Should we some honour.
in the West now try to make a change in Anyway, the cultures of India and
our attitude? the United States are not the same, also
r^la Govinda Mahrj: If r^la Prabhu- the lifestyles are not the same. Prabhu-
pda would have immediately given pda considered: If I try to give them
what he wanted to establish in the West, the Indian way, they will not be able to
everyone would not have been able take it. So he gave some method where-
to digest it. In a very broad way, r^la by you must follow the four directives.
Prabhupda tried to distribute Ka The four prohibited acts here are very
consciousness in the West. He selected a common. Everybody is drinking liquor.
process when he gave Ka conscious- Maybe those who have some disease
ness, and he gave some conditions. dont, but everybody else does. Father,
You want to chant Hare Ka? Will mother, wife, sons, and daughters
you follow four directives*? Yes. So all are drinking something at the same
he gave you the Mantra and instructed, dinner table. And for mixing of the sexes,
You must chant sixteen rounds, and everybody has freedom; they can mix
you must follow the four directives. If almost without restriction. There is so
you want to live the life of a brahmacr^ much freedom in the West, and when
you can stay in the Mah, or if you like Prabhupda saw that, he decided to
you can stay in the Mah in ghastha establish the four directives. He thought,
form. That chance he also gave. He If they can follow these, they will
knew the Western worlds activities, become advanced in the line of Ka
in which way it was going, and the West consciousness.
and India are not the same. Indian cul- Regarding the sixteen rounds, he
ture and Western culture are very differ- considered: They do not know about
ent. In India, in meetings, ladies are Ka-nma, Hari-nma. So he said,
always seated on one side, and gents You first practise chanting Hare Ka
on the other side. But it is not like that Hare Ka Ka Ka Hare Hare,
in the West. Here in America, and in Hare Rma Hare Rma Rma Rma
*No gambling; no intoxication; no illicit sex; and no meat eating.

14
Universal Grace
Hare Hare. Practise! Practise! Then, you you were born in this world. Ka only
will understand what is behind that. wants your love, your affection, and
When I first heard that Mantra in your attachment for Him with full faith
my youth, I was very small, only twelve and sincerity. And wherever He finds it,
years old at that time. I did not know Ka will give His mercy. But it is not
Sanskrit, but the Mantra is manifest in always coming through the practising
the Sanskrit language. Brhmaas may process. The practising process will only
give mantras for meditation, but if asked help us. If I say, Haribol, Haribol, an
the meaning of the mantra, they gener- outsider will also see me, and he will
ally reply, It is not necessary to know. imitate, saying Haribol. In that way,
Just meditate on what I have told you, some saskra (acquired tendency or
and the mantra will reveal the meaning notion) will come to them.
in your heart. That was their advice. There is practically no comparison
And it is true for the Mahmantra that it between Western and Eastern saskra,
is transcendental, and He will be revealed but you have the right to practise Ka
in our hearts. consciousness, and they have the right to
r^la Swm^ Mahrj advised every practise Ka consciousness. Ka
one, Chanting sixteen rounds daily is consciousness is completely separate
the minimum amount of chanting. But from all cultures and customs. Ka
in this way the habit will come to you to consciousness is the only necessity for
chant. First you will get that habit, then the j^va-souls. Prabhupda tried to give
your practising life will become very that to the Western world.
easy. And when the searching tendency There are many differences we see
grows in your heart, you must try to between Indian and Western cultures. I
search out what it is, and you will receive remember one devotee who was con-
help from the upper level. That is the nected with Ka consciousness for
main process. Prabhupda did not fifteen years. He is a disciple of r^la
always tell everything to everybody, but Swm^ Mahrj. When he met with me
he did ask everyone, Will you follow in Nabadw^p, he had a bag with him
the four directives? Yes, sir. You will and he requested, Mahrj, I shall go to
chant Hare Ka? Yes. Very nice. Calcutta for three or four days; can I
Now heretake these beads and go on keep my bag in your room? I told him,
chanting sixteen rounds daily. In this Yes, Prabhu, you can. So he kept his
way he engaged everyone. bag in my room. I left, and I did not see
Ka is very merciful. He does not where he put it. Then when I came
just look at the devotees external activi- back, I saw that he had placed it near
ties. Ka wants the heart of the devo- the door. I noticed one pair of big shoes
tee. He wants to see if there is love and just inside his bag. Suddenly it came in
affection along with the service for Him. my mind, Is there anything holy inside
Ka wants that. He is not looking to the bag? So I took out the shoes and I
see if you are American or you are Indian. saw the r^mad-Bhgavatam, and the
Ka does not want to know where Bhagavad-g^t also. Then I became
15
puzzled, and I took it this way: I apolo- He put his beads right on top of the
gised to Ka, He does not know what big, big shoes. He was thinking, This is
is what. You please forgive his offences, the highest place. If I put them on the
and forgive my offence for not preventing ground, that is offensive, so some higher
this from happening. place is necessary. Seeing that his shoes
After four or five days that boy came were higher, he put his beads there.
back, and I said to him, Oh Prabhu, I told him, Oh Prabhu, what have
what have you done? You kept your you done? Dont do this. Then he was
shoes upon the Bhgavatam and G^t. very upset. And he said, Oh Mahrj, I
That is very bad. But he replied, No, am a mleccha. Forgive my offences. I do
Mahrj, I have not kept my shoes in my not know what is what. Please forgive
bag. Somebody else put them there. I my offences.
said, No, Prabhu, nobody else is coming Then again I embraced him and told
in my room, only you came. Nobody him, Who am I? Ka will surely forgive
touches anything in my room. Everything you. Ka knows what is what. You
is kept here in a very methodical way. have much affection for Ka conscious-
Only I know what is where, and nobody ness; that is your qualification, and that
ever touches anything. You have done is the highest qualification. Ka is not
this. But he very strongly denied it, seeing where you are putting the Tulas^
No, Mahrj, I could not have done beads, but I must see, because I am cul-
that. I have been practising Ka con- tured by Indian philosophy. But Indian
sciousness for fifteen years. I know what philosophy or Western philosophy will
is what. I could never do that! Lastly, not give liberation, and they will not
because he has so much affection for give Devotion. Actual Devotion and
me, and he thought I was angry with liberation will come from the heart.
him, he began to cry. While he was And that heart you have. So dont
crying, I embraced him. worry, Prabhu. Then I embraced him
I told him, Prabhu, I believe you again and I told him one loka from
have not done it. You are saying that the Scriptures:
you have not done it, and I believe you.
murkho vadati viya
Now be happy! Dont cry. Hearing this,
dh^ro vadati viave
he was very happy and stopped crying.
ubhayos tu samam puya
He then wanted to show his respect
bhvagrhi janrddana
and affection for me, so he fell down to
(r^ Chaitanya Bhgavata, di 11.108)
offer daavat prams, full daavats.
But at that time he was chanting on his Ka is enjoying the mood of devo-
beads. So where would he keep his tion, and not anything of this mundane
beads? He is expertfifteen years in plane. And there are two processes of
Ka consciousness. But immediately practising life. One type completely tries
he put his chanting beads on top of his to follow the directives of the Vedas, but
shoes! Therefore by this example you does not know their actual meaning.
can understand what is saskra. All the rules, regulations and directives
16
Universal Grace
of the Vedas are taking us to the mood felt desire to serve Ka, then Ka will
of Devotion. And Ka is very merciful see only that.
to one who has the mood of Devotion. We must try to follow some rules
But one who has no mood of Devotion and regulations, and that is good, but it
can do anything, however holy it may is not the all-essential thing. It is essen-
appear, but Ka will not recognise it. tial for the peace of society. r^la Guru
I explained the meaning of that loka Mahrj said that the system of var-
to him, and he was very happy. I also rama is proper adjustment with the
told him, Never do this again. It is offen- environment and sympathetic dealings
sive, but not for you. It is offensive for with nature. That is varrama. We
me; that is, I know it is not good. You need sympathetic dealings with nature,
do not know. Therefore Ka will for- ourselves, and others. But even if we
give you, but He will not forgive me if I cannot do that, Ka will never be
allow it. Ka knows that I am familiar angry or throw us out if He sees that we
with, and accustomed to, the proper have the proper mood of devotion and
habits from my childhood, but you service. That is the answer, Prabhu, to
are not habituated in this way. You are your question.
thinking that shoes are higher than Question: How should we picture
the ground, so you kept your beads Ka in our mind while chanting? And
upon the shoes. In that way you are how should we see ourselves in relation
very innocent. to Him so that we can remain Ka
Sometimes a small baby passes stool conscious?
on his mothers lap while she is eating, r^la Govinda Mahrj: Once, when
but the mother does not cast the baby r^la Guru Mahrj was giving Hari-
off her lap. The mother cleanses the nma-d^k to someone, they asked,
baby and gives it much attention and What should we think about when we
nourishment. So Ka is like our mother chant Hare Ka? Guru Mahrj said,
and our father. Ka is always very It is not necessary to think of anything.
affectionate and merciful. He has much You should just know that the Hare
love, and we have tiny love. He is always Ka Mahmantra is a transcendental
searching for the j^va-soul and thinking, Mantra. If you can give proper nourish-
When will he come home? ment to yourself and to that Mantra, He
Ka gives the j^va-souls their free- can be revealed to you in your heart.
dom, and He will not take back that Proper nourishment means that you
freedom. With freedom the j^vas can must avoid the ten kinds of offences.
finish their material existence through And during your chanting time, you
Divine Service to Ka. And for that He must pray to the Holy Name, O Hare! O
gives them freedom. But He is expecting Ka! Please be revealed in my heart.
service, expecting love. He has much The Mantra is couched as a calling
love, and He wants to reciprocate with unto the Lord. Hare Ka means
the j^va-souls. Therefore Ka will not Rdha-Ka, but it is not necessary for
see any bad in us. We just need the heart- you to know a literal meaning. You only
17
need to know that Ka is the Supreme world, but I never received any instruc-
Personality of Godhead, and He appears tions or authorisation to chant by any
in this mundane world in the form of higher Vaiava. Now I think I may be
the Hare Ka Mahmantra. He can making offences. What shall I do? What
appear in the heart of each of us with is the proper way to go?
His full Form; He has that capacity. r^la Govinda Mahrj: The proper
Kas Holy Name is nondifferent from way is that you have somehow gained
Him, so I shall only pray to the Hare some divine connection, and that is by
Ka Mahmantra, Please appear in the mercy of Ka. You are attracted
my heart, and dance on my tongue. It is to chant Ka-nma, so inspiration is
not necessary to think about anything coming to you from the upper level and
else. This lesson we learned from r^la giving you some light.
Guru Mahrj. You are living within the An incident happened in the life of
mundane world so your tongue is also Dhruva Mahrj, who also had no Guru.
mundane, and a mundane thing cannot His mother told him, If you want the
chant the Transcendental Name. wealth for which you are seeking, go to
Lakm^patiNryaa, Viu. Try to
ata r^-ka-nmdi
satisfy Him. So he went to the jungle.
na bhaved grhyam indriyai
He did not know how to perform
sevonmukhe hi jihvdau
tapasy (penance) and he did not
svayam eva sphuraty ada
know what is what, but because his
Kas Name, Kas Form, Kas mother told him, Just try to meditate
Qualities, and Kas Pastimesall are on Nryaa, he tried to do that with
transcendental, but we are living with faith and determination. He became
mundane consciousness in the mundane absorbed in thinking, I must try to
world. Here we cannot properly chant satisfy Nryaa. In that way he tried
Ka-nma. It is not possible. Mun- to meditate, and Nryaa, who has
dane and transcendental cannot mix, His existence within everybodys heart,
but the mundane may be transformed in immediately understood what Dhruva
contact with the transcendental. And we wanted. At that time He told Nrada
must pray to Ka: Please make me Muni, Nrada, this boy wants My con-
transcendental and show Your Form in nection, but it is only possible through
my heart and dance on my tongue. That the proper channel, and you are the
is my prayer. When Ka will reveal proper channel for him. That is Disci-
Himself in our heart, then we can feel, plic Succession; we consider this the
we can seewe can become transcen- proper channel. The Mantra comes
dental. This was r^la Guru Mahrjs down through heart-to-heart transmis-
answer. sion, and in that way it is manifest in the
Question: I was in a park, and a devotee heart of a devotee. Some special mercy
gave me a book from which I learned may always be available, and somebody
the Hare Ka Mahmantra. I began can get that. Still, it is also necessary to
to chant and feel detachment from the accept a direct connection with the
18
Universal Grace
Transcendental World, and that is com- Question: I would like to see a centre
ing in the line of Disciplic Succession. for Ka consciousness develop in Santa
This is the advice of the Scriptures. Cruz, but there seem to be two camps:
So Nryaa said to Nrada, Go and the camp of r^la r^dhar Mahrj, and
initiate him with the Mantra. Therefore the camp of ISKCON. Do you have any
Nrada initiated Dhruva Mahrj, and suggestions how to bring these two
through that Mantra Dhruva received camps together?
the darana (he beheld the Divine r^la Govinda Mahrj: I have come
Form) of Nryaa. here without any sectarian campaign. I
Nryaa does not want to break am living within that consciousness
His own rule. When one feels attach- where my instructors, my Gurus, are
ment and attraction to the Holy Name playing freely. And both of themr^la
within ones mind, that is certainly not r^dhar Mahrj and r^la Bhaktivedanta
offensive, but it will be offensive if you Swm^ Mahrjare my Gurus. r^la
do not know the proper process to r^dhar Mahrj is my Instructor Guru
chant the Hare Ka Mahmantra. and my Dik-Guru (Initiating Guru).
There are ten kinds of offences, and it And r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj,
is necessary to receive the Mantra from by the mercy of r^la r^dhar Mahrj, is
a proper channel. You can read the also my Instructing Guru. So I only want
Mantra in a book or you can hear it to practise Ka consciousness. I have
from anybody, but that will not be very no party feelings. I do not know who is
effective. Still, some effect must be living in this party, and who is living in
there. Anybody can hear it and he will that party, who is living in India, and
be affected. That is called nmbhsa, who is living in America. I have no dif-
the hazy Name. That bhsa can come ferentiating mind. We want to practise
to you. The Holy Name is never inauspi- Ka consciousnessthis is what we
cious; it is a very auspicious thing, no have received from r^la Bhaktisiddhnta
doubt. But it is necessary to connect with Saraswat^ hkur. This is our Preceptorial
a qualified person who will give you the Line. In that Line, I am so fortunate to
transcendental seeds of that Mantra, have two Gurus, and many others also.
and also give you advice on how to But two are super-instructors and Gurus,
chant Hare Ka. and I am trying to follow their directives
I can advise you to avoid the ten and their process. I am preaching this to
kinds of offences, and that will be very my friends and to whoever has some
fruitful for you. But it is necessary to faith in me. My process is to preach, and
take advice. A teacher is always neces- not to say that this Prabhu or that person
sary, whether we reach a very junior is better.
class, a senior class, or a higher class. The process is humility, tolerance,
Even if we want to eat something, there and giving honour to others. This process
also a teacher is necessary. Guidance is was given by Mahprabhu. You know
always necessary! Guidance is always that loka, the third loka of the ik-
good for everyone; this is the answer. akam. The proper chanting qualification
19
is that you must be humblehumility association into our life. We will always
must be your property; you must be try to get good association. A devotee
tolerant, and you must give all honour may be in ISKCON, or he may be in r^la
to others. Through these three things, r^dhar Mahrjs Mahs, but what is
one can easily avoid Vaiava-apardha. important for me is sdhu-saga, and
Vaiava-apardha is the greatest wherever there is a sdhu, I shall try to
obstruction to chanting the Hare Ka get his association. A sdhu will not
Mahmantra. The Mahmantra is com- differentiate between this camp or that
ing from the upper level, and through camp. He will differentiate between the
the Vaiavas it is coming down. Through levels of devotion. Wherever there is
the Pacatattvar^ Ka Chaitanya, pure devotion, he will be attracted there.
Prabhu Nitynanda, r^ Adwaita, r^ My business is like that. I want to
Gaddhara, and r^vsa hkurthe make everybody my friend and well-
Hare Ka Mahmantra is distributed wisher, not my enemy. This has always
in this mundane world. But if you make been my tendency since childhood. I
any offence to Them, the Mahmantra always bow down to everybody. I shall
will not be happy with you, and He will not make any offence to any Vaiava.
not manifest Himself in your heart. Mah- Even if a devotee is not in our Sam-
prabhu said we must avoid Vaiava- pradyahe may be in the Rmnuja
apardha, and also the other nine kinds Sampradya or any other Vaiava
of offences to Harinma. Very easily we Sampradyabut I am afraid to make
can avoid them. any offence to him.
What is necessary, nose or breath? If There is no question about ISKCON. If
we have no nose, it may be tolerable, but anybody has that type of feeling, that
if we cannot breathe we shall die. What party spirit, then I must ask him to leave
is our life? Our life is for practising Ka that feeling. Avoid that type of mentality,
consciousness. That is what we need. and come and chant the Hare Ka
For every j^va-soul, the most important Mahmantra which was given by r^la
thing is that we need to practise Ka Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^
consciousness. What our identification Mahrj, or given by r^la Bhaktivednta
isthat is not so important. Whether Swm^ Mahrj. They did not want to
someone is r^la r^dhar Mahrjs dis- make a sectarian party, so why are we
ciple or r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ eager to make a party? We want to
Mahrjs disciple is not so important. harmonise with everything. So we can
The important thing is we need to easily harmonise both of their societies.
practise Ka consciousness under the But society means many people.
guidance of a good Vaiava who has People have many faults, many difficul-
the aforementioned three qualifications; ties. The ego is the worst enemy for
who has developed real feelings about everybody. We must avoid false ego.
Ka consciousness; and who is expert What will I lose if I give honour to others?
at giving us Transcendental Knowledge If I am humble and tolerant, all good
about r^ Ka. We must invite his qualities will come to me. Mahprabhu
20
Universal Grace
said that with this qualification we shall then that is very good. That will give us
try to chant Hare Ka, and then we more inspiration, and that will give us
will gain real feeling for that transcen- more attachment and attraction for each
dental Harinma Mahmantra. The other. That would be very good, but
Holy Name is nondifferent from Ka, actually it is very difficult to do. I can
so it is a good practice not to think in control my own ego, and maybe I can
the line of party spirit. It is our lifes goal control a few of my friends egos, but I
to practise Ka consciousness without cannot control everybodys ego. And
offence to Harinma; and wherever because our ego is our worst enemy, it is
that is possible, we are slaves of that questionable how much total harmony
place. is possible.
What is our lifes goal? And what am Another consideration is that Ka
I here for? If I can do something good does not want to give Prema-bhakti to
for others, then I shall feel that my mis- just anybody. Ka wants to give mukti,
sion is successful. Otherwise, so much liberation, but He does not want to give
money is being spent, and that money Bhakti, Devotion, indiscriminately. Even
came through the energy of the devo- though His devotee is freely distributing
tees. I shall not be happy if my mission the seeds of Bhakti, Ka sometimes
is not successful. And what is my mis- tries to avoid that because He becomes
sion? To meet with my friends and their controlled by one who becomes His
families. And if I get the chance to preach devotee.
Ka consciousness, then I shall try to So a reaction may come to the mind
preach in an independent way. That is of the general seeker in such a way
my mood. I shall be very happy if by my that he may leave Ka consciousness.
association anybody will feel inspired to But we must go on practising Ka
proceed in the line of Ka conscious- consciousness even though Ka may
ness. Even if it is only one man, then still not want to give it, because if a devotee
I shall be very happy. Then I will feel wants to give it, then Ka cannot do
that my mission is successful. anything. However, when the devotee is
We all need to practise Ka con- no longer present, Ka may try to hide
sciousness, and whichever way it is it. Ka is not foolish! Ka may some-
possible, we shall try to follow in that times try to avoid freely giving out con-
line. Many missions are going in the line sciousness of Him. That is the nature of
of party spirit. Sometimes they are doing spiritual transactions.
good, and sometimes they are doing In the Scriptures it is said, mukti
many wrong things. Actually, we have dadti karhicit sma na bhakti-yoga.
no line in that sense. But what is our This is the reason why there is some
lifes goalwe must first keep that, and disturbance coming in every society.
then without disturbance to the environ- When a devotee wants to leave, Ka
ment and others, we can proceed. It is feels that He has no right to check that.
necessary to see the goal. And if it is Devotees randomly distribute Ka
possible to make everything harmonious, consciousness, but after that, one must
21
practise. The devotee who gave you the not a party man. Your strong common
seed will not come and practise Ka sense, super intelligence, and disinter-
consciousness for you. Then in the prac- ested (detached) nature always attract
titioners life there may be some fault, me and this is why I am coming to see
and Ka may be avoiding him. Faults you. Talking with you, I always feel very
are coming, and the practitioners are happy. That is why I am coming to you.
going away from the track. Then the I am a disciple of that r^la r^dhar
examination is failed, and one is dis- Mahrj, and I have also grown with that
qualified. When boys run in a race, consciousness. I am feeling everybody is
everyone has a lane to stay in. And if my friend. And if they are not my friend,
anyone goes out of his own lane, he is then I want to make them my friend. I
disqualified. But with the proper help do not want to have any enemies.
from the genuine Vaiavas, we will I have many friends in the ISKCON
always remain on the right path.
society, and some of them are very good
r^la Guru Mahrj always tried
friends. In r^la Guru Mahrjs God-
to harmonise everything. The whole
brothers societies and my own God-
Gau^ya Mission, and the heads of other
missions, came to him from time to time brothers societies, many devotees are
and took advice from himeven his very affectionate to me, and actually I
enemy group. Enemy means those who am living by their mercy. They are affec-
were abusing him. On one occasion one tionate and merciful, and when I am
person who was the head of an oppo- getting their affection and mercy, I am
sition camp, came to see r^la Guru thinking that my practice of Ka con-
Mahrj, and Guru Mahrj asked him, sciousness must go on in a happy way.
Why are you coming to see me? You So, following in the footsteps of r^la
are living in an opposite camp. And Guru Mahrj, I am trying to harmonise
that person replied, Mahrj, you are with everything. That is my mood.
22
3
Demolishing Pillars of Ego
A Lecture given on the Island of Maui, Hawaii,
by
Why have I come here to the West? ahakra-nivttn

Many times I have thought about it. The keavo nahi draga
devotees have spent much money for ahakra-yutn hi
my World Tour. I do not know how madhye parvvata-raya
much they have spent, but I am thinking (Brahma-vaivartta Pura)
that for me it is far too much. However, I
The position of Ka is that He is
must give something to my friends, to
very near and dear to everyone of us,
my Godbrothers, to the devotees and
sincere seekers. I must give something, but why are we not feeling His presence
but what shall I give? I can only give a within our heart? What is the cause? We
connection, and sometimes I can rectify. must try to search the cause. We have
If anyone has any questions, or if received the Harinma Mahmantra
anyone has any deficiency or any doubts from a great Guru, but how much actual
about Ka consciousness, I shall try progress are we making? This is neces-
to remove these. I will try to give some sary to consider.
nourishment to them, and I also will A schoolboy receives every week or
get some mercy from themthat is my every month a progress report which
wealth, and that is why I have come out he shows to his guardians, This is my
from Nabadw^p. progress report. Similarly twenty-four
I know what is the position of Guru. hours pass every day, but what is our
Guru is not laghu, light. The Guru never progress report in Ka consciousness?
has a light position. But I am very tiny, This we must realise. We have a grand
and a conditioned soul, so in which way Guru, r^la Guru Mahrj, and a grand
will I give advice to others? However it Guru, r^la Swm^ Mahrj; they are
is my good fortune that I have that type world-wide Gurus, and we have gained
of sev. It is very hard sev, and it is very a connection with them. We are so
hard to continue it, actually. fortunate no doubt, but what seed have
It is hard in this way. First, we must they given to us? And have we planted it
prevent ego from coming to attack. Ego properly or not? Is it showing its form
is a very bad thing for the practitioner. and glory or not? It is present in our
In the Scriptures we see: heart, but it is necessary to realise how
23
much it is showing itself. We can say ness. If such enquiring feelings do not
that this is one kind of self realisation. arise within us, then Ka consciousness
In this way it is as a reminder of r^la actually is not possible.
Guru Mahrj and r^la Swm^ Mahrj Mahprabhu is Himself r^ r^ Rdh-
that we are meeting here, also we can Ka, and what did He say? He appears
discuss together how much progress we in this mundane world for our supreme
have made in the line of Ka conscious- benefit no doubt, but He has some inter-
ness. If we have not progressed so much, est to taste the Supreme Devotional Mood.
where is the deficiency? It is necessary He wants to taste in which way it is play-
to know. The Scriptures say that Ka is ing between Ka and the devotees.
living within the heart of everyone and
sei rdhra bhva la caitanyvatra
in all the environment. The Scriptures
yuga-dharmma nma-prema kaila
also say that it is possible to see Ka;
paracra
He is present everywhere. But why can
(Chaitanya-caritmta
we not see His presence within our
di-l^l 4.220)
heart always?
One very big obstruction to seeing Ka is very beautiful Reality the
Ka is ego. We have freedom; every- Beautiful. That is the Form of Ka.
body has freedom, and through freedom Kas beauty is such that no other
ego is growing. But in one way freedom incarnation can compete with Him.
is very good. I shall give an example. I
sarvvdbhuta-camatkra-
have freedom of my tongue. I have a
l^l-kallola-vridhi
tongue, and that tongue can taste many
atulya-madhura-prema-
opulent things. It can taste many opulent
maita-priya-maala
types of Prasda such as sweets and
(Chaitanya-caritmta
honey. But it is also within the freedom
Madhya-l^l 23.82)
of my tongue to always taste bitter things.
Ka has given the tongue, and all Ka is playing with the Gop^s, and
the senses, for service to Him, but at there everything is automatically serving
present we are not using them for that. the whole environment. The Play of
We are eager to make ourselves like Ka is going on there like waves in the
pillars of ego, thus preventing ourselves ocean. Full happiness and full joyfulness
from making much progress. It is neces- are present. It is full of Divine Love,
sary to remove the ego from between ecstasy and nectar. In the L^l of Ka
ourselves and Ka. Ego is in between those waves are always playing.
us, and it works in a very bad way. We Ka lives with such loving souls
must remove it. But ego means what? who always try to serve Him in every way
What does everyone need? Every- with their full energy. The Ka concep-
one needs some positioneverywhere tion is full-fledged theism, and they are
we see it. But it is necessary to know using their full energy in serving Him.
what is our actual position, otherwise They are always playing with Ka
we cannot understand Ka conscious- within the four types of Rasas.
24
Somebody feels, I am the servant of with the whole of that environment.
the servants of the servant of Ka. If suddenly the sound of His flute
Someone else feels, Ka is my overflows from that plane and goes
friend. Ka and myself, we are equals. everywhere, everyone becomes puzzled,
We shall play together in the playing like Brahm. He thinks, This is not my
ground. Such a person will join with sound! I am the creator of the whole
others to take Ka out from His house universe but this is not my sound. Where
and go to a grass field or within a cave. has this sound come from?
They have the form of cowherd boys Anantadeva has the form of a snake,
and they play with Ka in many ways. and on his head the planets are present.
Others think, Ka is my son, and It is described that this entire universe
they show much affection in the mood is upon his head, but when that huge
of Vtsalya-rasa. And others are in the Anantadeva heard the overflowing of
supreme Rasa, Madhura-rasa: the Ecstat- that Divine Sound, He also was puzzled.
ic Divine Relationship of Consorthood The whole universe becomes puz-
and Paramour Love. zled to try to understand from where this
Ka is not born from the womb of sound is coming. And not just our uni-
other ladies, but each of them are think- verse, but all the universes. That sound
ing, Ka is my son. Even the cows sometimes comes to other universes
are thinking, Ka is my son! also, just like lightning which sometimes
In r^mad-Bhgavatam we can see flashes through the sky, illuminating it
that all the Rasas are playing in a very for a moment.
ecstatic and joyful way in Vndvana. But Ka is just playing. Ka
Divine Love is always playing there. doesnt know, and He has no time to
know, who He is. He is always intoxi-
trijagan-mnaskari-
cated with the devotees love, and in a
mural^-kala-kjita
loving way He always plays in Vraja-
asamnordhva-rpa-r^-
dhma, Vndvana. That is His position.
vismpita-carcara
Atulya-madhura-prema-maita-priya-
(Chaitanya-caritmta
maala.
Madhya-l^l 23.83)
His transcendental land is such that
Ka plays His flute, and everybody service is always going on there, and we
keeps contacted through that sound. are connected in that line. r^la Guru
When Ka plays His flute, Mother Mahrj gives a very nice example of
Yaod and other ladies with maternal how we are connected with that world:
feelings towards Him think, Ka is our connection is through the telescopic
hungry. He wants to take some food and system. We cannot see how many stars
nourishment. And the cowherd boy- are present in the sky; we cannot see
friends of Ka think, Oh, Ka wants them either in the day-time or the night-
to play with us, now we shall go! Ka time. But through a telescope we can
is playing His flute and calling us. In this see many stars and planets; and a pow-
way the flute always keeps connection erful telescope can show us even more.
25
Transcendental knowledge comes passed on to someone else, then another.
down through the telescopic system of In this way our identity will become
the Guru-parampar. Actually that plane known and when our petition will win
is our home, and we have shelter there, approval, only then can we meet with
but only through service and hankering the King. This is the procedure, and it is
can we enter. Through the mood of found everywhere, not only for meeting
hankering and the mood of service we the King. It also applies if we want to
can go to that plane. And that plane is see the Prime Minister, or any minister
transcendental and infinite. or official. Similarly, if we want to join in
Ka can appear anywhere and the Ka consciousness line it is neces-
everywhere at any time. It is possible by sary to follow a proper line of approach.
His will. We cannot control that. If an r^la Guru Mahrj called it the proper
ant runs on the floor in front of me, he channel. If we come through the proper
does not know I am sitting here, but channel we can easily go to that transcen-
if I touch the ant, he can understand, dental world, and then we will be able
Something is touching me. But that to see what is going on there. From here
touch depends on my will, not his. I can we cannot understand, but it is possible
withdraw my finger and the ant will no for the transcendental world to appear
longer feel anything. In a similar way within our heart.
transcendental knowledge comes down In which way will we actually get
in this mundane world; but all is depen- Ka consciousness?
dent upon the will of that infinite world.
ata r^-ka-nmdi
You have read in one of r^la Guru
na bhaved grhyam indriyai
Mahrjs books that someone questioned
sevonmukhe hi jihvdau
him: If the finite can understand the
svayam eva sphuraty ada
Infinite, then how can He be Infinite?
But r^la Guru Mahrj answered, If the We cannot chant pure Ka-nma,
Infinite cannot make Himself known to so in which way shall we chant? The
the finite, then He is not Infinite! Scriptures and saints all say that Ka-
The Infinite has the absolute right to nma and Ka are non-different,
do everything, therefore He can show His body is a transcendental body, His
Himself also. We may be very tiny souls playing ground is a transcendental play-
but He can show Himself to us, but that ground, and when He appears in the
depends upon His will, and we need Form of Harinma that also must be
to attract His will. His will means His transcendental. So how with this mun-
mercy. We can only try to attract His dane tongue can we chant the Hare
mercy, otherwise it is not possible. Ka Mahmantra?
We cannot go directly to the King. If Na bhaved grhyam indriyai.
we want to go to the King we must first Indriya means the senses: the tongue,
make some petition and identify our- eyes, ears, nose and skin. We have these
selves and our wish. Our petition will five senses, and through them we can
be taken by an officer, then it will be feel. But our senses are all mundane
26
senses, so in which way will we chant by r^man Mahprabhu, then the ego
and feel the transcendental Harinma? will go out, and other obstructions will
It is not possible by anything mundane, go out also. His advice is:
but if we gain a transcendental seed of
tnd api sun^cena
Harinma, and if we can plant and
taror api sahiun,
nurture it in a proper way, then it will
amnin mnadena
appear in our heart. When He appears
k^rttan^ya sad hari
I shall only be able to see Him through
transcendental senses, so my senses will One who knows himself as more
be transformed in this way, and through insignificant than a blade of grass, who
those senses I shall be able to see the is as forbearing as a tree, and who gives
play of Harinma. due honour to others without desiring it
r^man Mahprabhu said that Hari- for himself, is qualified to sing the glories
nma Himself will appear within your of Lord Hari constantly.
heart, and when He will appear, you will First of all it is necessary to feel who
then be able to feel His presence. You we actually are and what our position is,
will be able to feel joyfulness, happiness then the ego cannot come, and we must
and a living ecstasy. You will feel every- be humble. Taror api sahiun means
thing. to be tolerant, like a tree. If you cut the
First we need a connection with the branch of a tree he will not protest, and
proper channel, then it is necessary to cannot protest also. Everything depends
plant that within our heart. We have upon your will, but the tree treats you as
received that seed from a grand Guru, his friend. If you cut his branches, next
then it is up to us to plant it nicely. The year he will still give fruit to you. He will
ball is now in our own court; and not stop his benevolence.
whether someone can score a goal or In which way does the tendency to
not depends on their own capacity. be an enemy come in this world? Every-
Capacity comes to us through the one feels the need to have some posi-
process of humility, tolerance and giving tion, and each have the tendency to
honour to others. Mahprabhu expressed make all others lower than themselves:
that mainly capacity means that without that is ego. But if we give honour to
offence we are to chant the Hare Ka everyone, even to those who have no
Mahmantra. If we are able to chant in honour, they must be pleased with us.
this way, the Hare Ka Mahmantra Therefore if we can make ourselves very
must appear within our heart. The ten humble, tolerant and in the mood of
kinds of offences are dangerous things*. giving honour to othersnot only by
The main obstruction is ego. If we mouth, but actually by our naturethen
cannot first remove the ego then in the enemy tendency will not come from
which way can we chant? Therefore we any other side. Everyone will become
must follow the four advices given to us our friend, and if we give honour to
*See Appendix III

27
everyone, then no possibility will arise [A child comes and makes an offer-
to make offence to the Vaiavas. It is ing to r^la Govinda Mahrj and draws
very difficult to know who is a Vaiava his attention.]
and who is not. We do not have that
type of capacity, so in which way shall Seeing how the young children are
we decide? Therefore it is necessary to coming and making offerings, and see-
always give honour to everyone. ing how enlightened and attracted they
r^la Swm^ Mahrj generally are by Ka consciousness, I am thinking
instructed, Chant Hare Ka and this is all the mercy of r^ Ka. I am
follow the four directives. Your duty is moved to see it. These small boys are
to chant Hare Ka without offence. very enthusiastic to chant the Hare Ka
In this way you will get everything. And Mahmantra, and it is not only as a
read the books. Why? It is necessary formality, but it is coming from their
to read the Scriptures in order to make heart. It is genuine. They do not know
yourself good, but it is not permitted to about this mundane world and many
read all the Scriptures. things, but with the association of their
It is not permitted because we may fathers, mothers and other devotees,
not be able to understand the content they feel much inspiration to chant the
properly: Hare Ka Mahmantra.
They are so innocent. Sometimes
yha, bhgavata paa vaiavera sthne
we mention something to them to make
eknta raya kara caitanya-carae
them conform to customs, Oh, this is
(Chaitanya-caritmta
not good, this is not the behaviour of a
Antya-l^l 5.131)
good Vaiava, but who are we to
If you want to read the r^mad- tell them like that? We must also show
Bhgavatam, go to the Vaiava who them humility, tolerance and honour.
knows its real meaning. In front of him But humility and tolerance does
you are to read the Bhgavatam, and in not mean that if anybody kicks my Guru
that way you will gain some proper Mahrjs photo, or in front of me kicks
understanding, otherwise you will not a Vaiava, that I shall tolerate such
be able to understand. actions. This is not the actual meaning.
I can read Bengali, and there is a We must have tolerance of mind for
translation of r^mad Bhagavad-g^t in anything against ourselves. If, however,
Bengali, then why did r^la Guru Mahrj we see too much disturbance, our first
instruct me, You go to Swm^ Mahrj duty is to take ourselves as well as our
and read Bhagavad-g^t from him? dependents away from that place. We
There is a reason for that. r^la Guru must leave such association. In this way
Mahrj explained, By this process you it is necessary to protect ourselves and
will not go in the wrong way. Rather, the children. At the same time the chil-
your understanding must develop in the dren must always receive some good
proper way. The Bhagavad-g^t was inspiration, and I am seeing in the West-
the first of our books that I read. ern world that they are getting that.
28
I was in Australia, and seeing the of the devotees for the service to the
mood of all the devotees and children, devotees, and to give help to whoever
I was stunned. They are so enlightened has the devotional mood. I have come to
with Ka consciousness and so devot- help the sincere seekers who have eager-
ed. They gave me some photographs of ness for Ka consciousness. I shall try
us all together, and if you will see them to help them.
you will be happy to notice how nicely If a blind man cannot cross the road,
they are chanting the Mahmantra and what shall I do? I shall take his hand and
how enlightened they are with Ka help him: Oh, come, you can cross the
consciousness. Actually it is all the prop- road now. In this way it is help to others.
erty of our Gurudeva.
o ajna-timirndhasya
Now that chair of Guru has come to
jnjana-alkay
me. What is my practice? It is that my
cakur unmilitam yena
Guru has ordered me, Do this, there-
tasmai ri-gurave nama
fore I am doing it. But if any ego will
come to me, then I will fall down, no All the conditioned souls are blind
doubt: Oh, I am a grand Guru! Why are actually. They can neither see the Form
you not giving respect to me? I have of r^ Ka nor the world of His tran-
seen many examples of this. It is no scendental affairs. They cannot see,
joking matter. so in this sense they are blind. They
For forty-two years I was with r^la are searching, Where is my property?
Guru Mahrj. I did not go anywhere Where is my property? It is their prop-
without his service, but all the Gurus erty, but they cannot see it. The follow-
came to r^la Guru Mahrj. So it is my ing example is given in r^ Chaitanya-
fortune that I have seen many things in caritmta.
their dealings and how they gave con- You are the full proprietor of a large
stant honour to others. Some of that wealth but, even though it is within your
mood I have also gained from them. own home, you do not know where it
Whenever they came to the Mah is hidden. You do not know that it is
they would always give honour to hidden within you. In searching for it,
one another very nicely. Also my r^la if you go to the western side, if you go
Guru Mahrj right up to his last days to the southern side, or if you go to the
expressed, I am a student, I am not a northern side, you will be cheated. You
master. You are also students. You are all can also dig a deep well, but you wont
my friends, and students; and I am feeling find any wealth there either. But if you
I am also a student. I have received that go to the east corner of your house
teaching from my Guru Mahrj, and and dig there, you will find it. This
I cannot forget it. I am a student. I am example is given, and the expert who
his servants servant, and I am trying to knows that, will show you: Your wealth
serve his devotees. is within you. Try to get it in this partic-
I have come out from India to serve ular way. Following him, you must be
the devotees. I have come by the will successful.
29
vantu vive amtasya putr. r^la Govinda Mahrj: Yes, I can
We are all sons of nectar, sons of the help to explain it through the following
nectarean ocean. Therefore it is neces- example. When a railway carriage runs
sary for everyone to discover that wealth, along the main track it must not deviate
and to find out that it is within, it is in to another track or become derailed. So
our own heart. And it will be very helpful r^la Guru Mahrj said, When I am not
for us if anyone can show in which way here, you read r^mad Bhagavad-g^t
we can easily discover it. This is Ka from r^la Swm^ Mahrj. Stay on the
consciousness. track! That was his advice, rather his
When you give knowledge of ones order. At that time he did not give advice
wealth to someone, he will adjust his to us; his order was sufficient!
own activities in order to try to discover Since the day of my joining the Mah
ithe will develop the proper devotion- I have seen many things by the mercy of
al mood. r^la Guru Mahrj. I have also gained
ravaa k^rttana vio many friends, and they are all very good
smaraa pda-sevanam Vaiavas.
arccana vandana dsya r^la Swm^ Mahrj was a very great
sakhyam tma-nivedanam Vaiava, and when he expressed,
Govinda Mahrj is my son, it is not
iti pusrpit viau a light thing. At that time he was a grand
bhakti cen nava-laka world Guru. In the meeting for the
kriyeta bhagavaty addha opening of the Mypur Chandradoy
tan manye dh^tam uttamam Mandir in 1973, he also told the gather-
First is ravanam, hearing, and if ing that he considered myself as his son,
you can listen very attentively, then you and r^la r^dhar Mahrj as his ik-
can chantk^rttanam. Then comes Guru. In the opening meeting of his
smaraam, pda-sevanam, arccanam, Temple he expressed it. I consider this
vandanam, dsyam, sakhyam and tma- as one kind of honour for me, and it is
nivedanam. These are the nine principal a high fortune, otherwise I would not
kinds of practising processes, and you get this type of honour. But I know that
will try to do them. They give nourish- I am a very tiny and fallen soul, and I
ment to the bhakti-lat, the creeper of always feel it.
bhakti, the creeper of devotion. You When r^la Guru Mahrj wanted to
must try to grow that creeper within give his chair to me I was very afraid
your heart. to take it. I did not want to be a Guru.
Question: r^la Mahrj, you mentioned Actually I have some previous brahmini-
how r^la Guru Mahrj asked you to cal experience: I was born in a family of
read r^mad Bhagavad-g^t under the brhmaas, and that family was a guru
guidance of r^la Swm^ Mahrj and family. My father, grandfather, great-
that this process would keep you on grandfather, etc. were all gurus. Being
the right track. Please could you explain born in such a family I know what is the
this further. position of a Guru. Therefore I was not
30
eager to take the position of Guru, and r^la Guru Mahrj immediately
I did not want to play or pretend with called r^pd Ka araa Prabhu* and
others in such mattersthat is not my instructed him, Go and bring the priest.
nature. I therefore avoided: r^la Guru The day after tomorrow Govinda Mahrj
Mahrj, I am a very fallen soul. I cannot will take sannysa and I shall give all
be Guru now. You are Guru, please you charge to him.
continue. I was afraid to see the chair of r^la
When will you be Guru? Guru Mahrj. I did not want to be a
I shall see, later. Guru. It was inconceivable to me, but
More than thirty years passed in this I could not ignore it. I know what is the
way. But r^la Guru Mahrj was very Gurus position, therefore I was afraid.
knowledgeable in law and he said, When r^la Guru Mahrj gave that
After giving this chair to you if I live for position to me, from that day on I thought
at least two years, then your position that I must be humble, I must be tolerant,
will be firm; otherwise some legal dis- and I must give honour to others. These
turbances may come. He explained that are the first qualifications I need. I must
if someone gives any property to others feel that I am a servant of the servant of
as a gift, then according to Indian law it the servants of r^la Guru Mahrj.
will be secure if he remains alive for at What is the sannysa promise, and
least two more years. what is the meaning of the sannys^s
Then r^la Guru Mahrj said, I shall tridaa? The meaning is, With my
not stay in this world much longer so body, with my speech and with my mind,
you must take it at this time. What I I shall serve my Guru. I am promising
am telling you is my last desire. If you this, and I am accepting the tridaa
do not take this now, I shall die today. so that by holding it I shall always be
Do you hear that? reminded of my service.
I wanted to wait three months more, In this way I promised to r^la Guru
so I said, Mahrj, I have not managed Mahrj, I shall serve you with my body,
everything, so please give me three I shall serve you with my mind and I
months more time. shall serve you with my speech. I shall
r^la Guru Mahrj replied, No. You give this punishment to myself. I make
must take sannysa the day after tomor- this promise in front of you and in front
row, and at that time you must take the
of the sacrificial fire. That is tridaa-
chair of this Mah. I shall give it to you,
sannysa. Sannysa does not mean to
and if you say No, then I must die
be a Guru, actually. But it means, I must
today.
serve you with my full energy. I shall not
I told r^la Guru Mahrj, Mahrj,
spend one moment for any other pur-
I am your goat, your sacrificial goat. If
pose. That is real sannysa.
you want to cut my tail, or if you want
to cut my throat; that is your will. I am
*Who since received sannysa from r^la
ready. When you are telling me this, what Govinda Mahrjand the name r^pad
shall I do? I am ready for the sacrifice. Bhakti Prasn Araya Mahrj.
31
In the r^mad-Bhgavatam is given chanting the Holy Name. Never abuse
a description: them at any time, because that will be
an offence to the Name. The Name of
et sa sthya partma-nihm
Ka and Ka Himself are the same,
adhysit prvvatamair maharibhi
and if you abuse those who are preach-
aha tariymi duranta-pra
ing Their glories, the Name will not be
tamo mukundghri-nievayaiva
happy with you. The Name will not then
By the service to Ka and the appear in your heart.
devotees, I must cross over the illusory The ninth apardha is:
environment and join the transcendental
nme raddh-h^na-jana
service world, the plane of dedication.
vidht-vacita
I must join there. This is the sannysa
tre nma dne apardha sunicita
promise, and it is the real meaning of
sannysa. Dont advise those who have no
In the present day we see that many faith to chant Harinma.
sannys^s are feeling, I took sannysa, You can notice that faith is necessary
now everyone will serve me. But this is everywhere. If you are a follower of
not the meaning of sannysa. Rather, Mohammedanism, Christianity, Buddhism
the sannys^ should serve everyone. or Confucious, the first property of the
Such service may be: If anyone will follower is faith. You must be faithful,
try to connect with Ka consciousness, then you can enquire further.
and if I have some seeds of that property, The first necessity is to have faith. If
I must give that to him. If so, then first someone is faithful and a sincere seeker,
we must see that whoever wants con- I shall try to give help to him, and that
nection is a sincere seeker. It is neces- will also come to give help to me.
sary to look and see whether he has A real Guru always feels, My disciple
sincerity and faith, otherwise giving him is not actually a disciple of myself. He is
the seed may destroy me also. my Guru appearing in the form of my
There are ten kinds of Nmpard- disciple in order to teach me. If these
ha. One of them is that you dont give feelings will come to a Guru, he is a real
advice to chant Harinma to one who Guru. Further, he will feel, If I shall do
has no faith. I composed verses about anything wrong in front of my disciple
these ten offences. The first one is: he will also do wrong and will not be
benefitted by my words; therefore I must
harinma mahmantra
try to be perfect.
sarvva-mantra-sra
Before taking sannysa, and before
ydera karunbale jagate pracra
taking this chair, I was a very angry
sei nma-paryaa sdhu, mahjana
person. My nature was that I could not
thdera nind n kariha kadcana
tolerate anything wrong. If anyone told
The Holy Name is chanted all over a lie, directly I would chastise him; that
the world by the power and grace of was my previous nature. But when
the saints. They are always absorbed in r^la Guru Mahrj gave me the service
32
of Guru, I left that bad nature. Now was that if we make a big student home
I am trying to follow the directives of where perhaps one thousand can stay,
r^la Guru Mahrj, and I am also telling if ten men will come in the line of Ka
those directives to my friends and to my consciousness we shall feel ourselves
disciples. successful. Why? Because it is a very
If I am humble, I can say to a boy, rare thing to come in the line of Ka
You must be humble! But if I am not consciousness. It was his proposal that
humble, then in which way will he learn we could gain some affection from the
humility? If I will not give honour to general younger section in this way,
others, then how will he learn it? There- and for that, he was prepared to forego
fore when I have a position as a master, our prestige.
I must serve the disciple, at the same r^la Guru Mahrj came from a
time that will help myself. This is the very exalted brahminical family famous
main and vital thing in the Ka con- all over India, and earlier he was very
scious line. attached to brahminical standards. When
Now we are all to look to see how r^la Prabhupda Saraswat^ hkura
much progress we have made in our mentioned the possibility of supplying
Ka consciousness. It is necessary in meat, r^la Guru Mahrj was seated
any way to make some progress. We there and said to him, Oh, r^la Prabhu-
have very exalted Gurus in r^la Guru pda, our prestige will be lost if we
Mahrj and r^la Swm^ Mahrj. They arrange their non-vegetarian food to be
are both in the line of r^la Prabhupda brought from a restaurant.
Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkura who r^la Prabhupda Saraswat^ hkura
was very broad-hearted. We cannot con- replied, We shall supply everyone with
ceive of how broad-hearted he was. vegetarian food, but if anyone cannot
One day the following incident tolerate only vegetarian food, we shall
happened. r^la Prabhupda Saraswat^ try to supply according to their needs.
hkura wanted to establish a centre in He showed such a degree of tolerance.
London. He proposed that a student But r^la Guru Mahrj said, We are
hostel be constructed where Indians and Vaiavas. If we do that, everyone will
foreigners can stay. There would then abuse our mission, and that will not be
be some chance to give them some nour- good.
ishment, and some chance to preach to r^la Prabhupda Saraswat^ hkura
them about Ka consciousness in a responded, A thousand births ago I
very sober way. By this we could gain considered this point and decided in this
some friends from the student section in way.
London. r^la Prabhupda expressed Then r^la Prabhupda Saraswat^
that if necessary we can supply them hkura said something. Upon hearing
their own type of foodmeatfrom a this, r^la Guru Mahrjs conception
restaurant. The main thing is that they became very clear: Always you must be
will come and that they will try to under- within Vaikuha-vtti. Your mood must
stand our conception. His point of view be always the full serving mood, then
33
you can use anything for the service sin behind it. He did not express to the
of Ka. unqualified how much sin was in that
Everything can be used in service to money, but he digested it all himself.
Ka, so why did r^la Swm^ Mahrj He had such power of digestion.
advise his disciples to follow the four He did not instruct, Dont bring
directives, and from where did he get money. Instead he advised, Go for
those directives? I shall explain. preaching and book distribution. Every-
These are found in the r^mad-Bh- where money is needed otherwise it is
gavatam. Actually there are not four, not possible to preach, so also collect
but five, directives given there: dytam, money. He stood by that principle and
pnam, striy, un and jta-rpam. he had the capacity to digest it. That is,
But why did r^la Swm^ Mahrj avoid he is a aktyvea-avatra. He is an
mentioning much about the last, gold? incarnation of the power of Nitynanda
Money is the main problem for the Prabhu, so he can digest everything.
conditioned souls. They get everything He said, Everything belongs to
through money: gambling, drinking Ka, therefore you are to serve Him in
and intoxication, illicit sex, and killing every respect and in every way. You can
animalsmeat eating. And these are use everything in the service of Ka.
the other four places Kali was given to In this way he did not make others feel
live in by Mahrj Par^kit. hopeless.
Gambling, intoxication, illicit sex life He knew that it is a very difficult
and animal slaughter did not exist within thing to use money, so he took all that
the kingdom of Mahrj Par^kit therefore charge himself. He ordered, Do this
Kali feared for his life. He therefore asked with the money, and do that. Whatever
Mahrj Par^kit, Please allow me to also sinful things will come through that
live where there is money. money, I shall take that.
The King agreed, Yes, I am giving Ka said in r^mad Bhagavad-g^t,
that place to you also. You can reside
yajrtht karmmao nyatra
where there is goldmoney. In this way
loko ya karmma-bandhana
Kali stays in five places, therefore actually
tad-artha karmma kaunteya
there are five directives, but r^la Swm^
mukta-saga samcara
Mahrj did not stress much about the
(r^mad Bhagavad-g^t, 3.9)
fifth, money. It is necessary to understand
why. I can say the reason, and for that I If you will try to serve the Lord of
have come here. Yaja, Ka, with your full energy
r^la Swm^ Mahrj always said, through a real Guru or real Vaiava,
You try to serve Ka in any way. And you will not receive any mundane reac-
in any way you can, try to collect money tion. But if you dont engage in such
for use in service to Him. service, you will receive reaction.
He knew how money was coming r^la Swm^ Mahrj came out from
for his mission, but he digested all the India to the West in order to spread Ka
34
consciousness throughout the mundane the Eastern, Western, Southern and
world, and he knew money to be neces- Northern worlds and r^la Guru Mahrj
sary for that. It is the basis. said, This mission is now growing very
He thought: If I tell my students, big. You should put some limit to it.
Dont touch money, Kali is there! then But I was very enthusiastic to see
my preaching programme will be ham- everyone being drawn to r^la Guru
pered. In the West nobody else was Mahrjs teachings and I told r^la
able to preach, so r^la Swm^ Mahrj Guru Mahrj, I shall take all the charge,
took that preaching responsibility him- dont you worry. If you give your per-
self. That was his actual desire. mission I shall serve them.
Unlike r^la Swm^ Mahrj, our r^la He replied, You do not know
Guru Mahrj continued his preaching English so in which way will you serve
in a very small way. He did not want to them?
make his mission very big. He wanted I said, Mahrj, by your mercy
to stay in r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah English will come to me. I shall not go to
without going anywhere else. He did not learn English. By your mercy everything
want to construct many buildings. His that is necessary will come to me, there-
wish was to have just one building for fore I am not worried about that.
the Deities, and in a part of that building In this way r^ Chaitanya Sraswat
he wanted one room for his quarters Mah has grown and by r^la Guru
and one room for guests. That was Mahrjs grace and the affection of you
his desire, but when he trained me he all we now have this chance to discuss
expected that I would do some service such topics of Ka consciousness in
for the devotees. the line of r^la Guru Mahrj even here
Many devotees started to come from in Hawaii.
35
Part II
from the
World Tour, Second Leg
4
The Eye-Opener
Introducing r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
to a gathering in Mauritius during the second leg of the World Tour.
By
r^ Adhokaja Dsa Adhikr^
Its a very great opportunity to have We also have in our midst r^pd
in our midst r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj. He is
Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj. He represents highly learned. Apart from English he
the r^ Rpnuga Sampradya in the also knows Hindi, Sanskrit and Bengali,
whole world today. His Gurudeva, and he can speak each fluently.
Paramahasa r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar r^la Govinda Mahrj himself is
Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, is unanimously a master of Sanskrit and Bengali, com-
hailed for his high teachings of the posing many lokas and songs in these
ultimate conclusions of the Scriptures. languages.
And we are all truly aware of the great, Now Ill talk about the need for a
world-renowned r^la A.C. Bhaktivednta Spiritual Master.
Swm^ Mahrj Prabhupda who formed As our Scriptures we have the Vedas.
the world-wide ISKCON movement. These Veda means to know, and there our
two great teachers and Swm^j^s both knowledge begins. Spiritual knowledge
blessed our Guru Mahrj, r^la Bhakti begins only when we surrender to the
Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, Lotus Feet of a Spiritual Master.
to spread the Holy Name around the Material education such as we have
world. in colleges and universities is, we are
37
sorry to say, nothing more than progress For example, there are many educa-
in ignorance. I also used to be in that tional books, such as books for doctors,
tunnel, but the fact is that such education but without a qualified teacher, our
is considered in this way. We can have studies will be in vain. Similarly, matters
true knowledge only when we surrender about spiritual things can be had only at
to the Lotus Feet of a Spiritual Master. the Lotus Feet of a bona-fide spiritual
Real knowledge will make us understand teacher, a Spiritual Master, and nowhere
our own self, and God. We will realise else. Indeed, this is the advice of Lord r^
our happy position as a servitor, and we Ka, our Lord, Bhagavn. We should
will serve accordingly. We will have have complete faith in His words.
proper service and we will engage
cryya m vijn^yn
ourselves in proper activities.
nvamanyeta karhicit
We pray in the temples for some
na marttya buddhysyeta
spiritual benefit, and in the temples we
sarvva deva-mayo guru
also read the Scriptures. There it is said
that real knowledge of our self is avai-
lable only at the Lotus Feet of a Spiritual Lord Ka Himself glorifies the
Master. position of an chryya, and says that
He Himself comes as the chryya. We
tad viddhi praiptena
cannot see Lord Ka, He is spiritual
paripranena sevay
and we are material. But He comes in
upadekyanti te jna
the form of a Spiritual Master. So, you
jninas tattva-darina
see, we have the Lord Himself explain-
(Bhagavad-g^t 4.34)
ing about His own Self, His own wealth.
Without surrender we shall not get I wont say more, because our Guru-
proper light of who we are, and our deva is here and we wish to hear his
service will be nearly null and void; this words. But we can learn everything only
is mentioned in our Stras. Lord Ka from the Lotus Mouth of our Spiritual
says in Bhagavad-g^t, If you want to Master. He is our eye-opener. And by
have knowledge, this is available only at his grace we will have spiritual insight.
the Lotus Feet of a Gurudeva. Now our r^la Gurudeva will speak.
38
5
Lifes Destination
by
Honourable teachers, respectable authorities as the authentic treatise

Vaiavas, and my beloved students, depicting the Teachings of r^man
I am feeling very fortunate that you have Mahprabhu..
given me this chance to speak about ^vara parama ka
Ka consciousness. I am especially sac-cid-nanda-vigraha
indebted to the authorities of this college; andir dir govinda
because of their kindness it was possible sarvva-karaa-kraam
for me to meet with you all today. (r^ Brahma-sahit 5.1)
When I first came here to Mauritius I
noticed some very auspicious symptoms. The Supreme Personality of God-
I noticed that the trees are bearing so head, the Embodiment of Truth, Con-
many fruits, all the earth is very fertile, sciousness and Joy, is Govinda, Ka.
and all the people are very conscious of He is beginningless, the Origin of all that
religion. I was surprised to see that this be, and the Cause of all causes. That is,
country is like a heaven on earth. I saw the actual form of each one of us origi-
that many mangoes had fallen from the nates from the Sac-cid-nanda-vigraha
trees, and many other trees bore ripe of Ka.
papayas and other fruits, yet nobody All the Vedic Scriptures teach us that
collected those fruits. Seeing these symp- Ka is the Supreme Personality of
toms immediately inspired me to remem- Godhead. Other gods also have their
ber r^ Vndvana Dhma. There we own abodes and full powers, but as
find ripe fruits on the trees everywhere, expansions of the Power of the Infinite
and the souls residing there are full Personality of Godhead, Ka. If you
of the mood of service. They are all subtract infinite power from infinite
eternally engaged in the Divine Service power, you will still remain with infi-
of the Supreme Lord. We find such nite power, in a similar way as zero
descriptions of Goloka-Vndvana, the minus zero equals zero.
Holy Abode of Ka, in r^ Brahma- o pram ada pram ida
sahit. This holy book was brought by prt pram udacyate
r^man Mahprabhu from South India, prasya pram dya
and it is widely accepted by religious pram evvaiyate
39
A proper examination of the Vedic To every action there is an equal and
Scriptures will leave us with no doubt opposite reaction. Every action has
that Ka is the Supreme Personality of reaction. Therefore we shall try to do
Godhead. Throughout the whole world good things otherwise we shall not
people are chanting the Hare Ka receive any good reaction.
Mahmantra, and through that we can And to get relief from all reaction
also have some understanding. In all the we are to follow in the line of Ka
Scripturesthe Vednta, Upaniads, consciousness. There we can see that if
eighteen Puras, etc.everywhere we we surrender fully to Ka then every-
find chanted the Glories of the Supreme thing will go directly into His account. If
Personality of Godhead, Ka. Still the we can put all our actions in the line of
question arises, What is Ka conscious- Ka consciousness, reaction will not
ness, and why should we worship Ka? come to us. This process has been given
We are in want. We are not fulfilled in r^mad-Bhgavatam and r^mad
within ourselves, and for that fulfilment Bhagavad-g^t.
we must worship Ka. What is our In this gathering you are all students
want? We need love, we need beauty, we and you all wish to know something
need charm, we need ecstasy, and so on. about religion, specifically something
These are essential for our living soul. about Ka consciousness. If you will
The soul is always in a state of living try to read r^mad Bhagavad-g^t,
the properties of the soul are willing, you must be benefited. Everyone has
feeling and thinking. The soul can move, the chance to improve his future by
and the jaa, the material, cannot move. reading this book whether he is a
But even within matter, souls are living. fruitive worker who needs to do some
Within a tree is living a soul, and this has work, or a knowledge seeker who
also been proved by scientists such as always must think and gain knowledge,
Jagadish Bose. But this knowledge is not or a yogi wanting to conquer power
new; in the ancient Vedas we will find from the environment, or a bhakta
all knowledge given in a living way. who is always surrendered and fully
The knowledge given by the Vedas is dependant upon the knowledge of
that behind everything is the living soul, Ka consciousness. Everyone can gain
and if we study the Vedas we will find some good future prospect from reading
this out. r^mad Bhagavad-g^t.
The property of the living soul is
ansaktasya viayn
willing, feeling and thinking. One who
yathrham upayujata
has these properties must necessarily
nirbandha ka-sambandhe
need to do something. He can do good
yukta vairgyam ucyate
or he can do bad. If he will do good, then
(Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu 1.2.255)
good reaction will come to him. And if
he will do bad then bad will come to The real benefit to be gained is that
him as his reaction. You have probably without mundane attachment we are to
heard Newtons third law which states, engage in service to Ka.
40
Lifes Destination
aocyn anvaocas tva good even from childhood. This is the
praj-vd ca bhase knowledge of r^mad-Bhgavatam and
gatsn agats ca Ka consciousness. Whenever we
nnuocanti pait shall gain any knowledge, we shall try
(Bhagavad-g^t 2.11) to use that for a good purpose; not only
a good purpose, but we shall use it in a
Ka said to Arjjuna, You are
way that will be good for everybody. If
speaking like a wise man, but you are
we will proceed in this way we shall get
suffering from this material happiness
super benefit in our life as the final result.
and sadness. You are showing your-
When students endeavour for pro-
self to be knowledgeable in the Vedas
motion to a higher class, they try heart
(pait), but you are not actually fol-
and soul. But everyone is not able to get
lowing that line. Then Ka started
the desired result because there may be
to give some knowledge of the Vedas to
many types of deficiency. Some may fail
Arjjuna. He explained that there is a
in their class, but if we can think that
certain plane, and if we can live there,
failure is the pillar of success then we
no reaction will come to us.
can get much strength to try and try
Ka said,
again. Even in the mundane world we
niyata kuru karmma tva must apply this process.
karmma jyyo hy akarmmaa At first nobody can run. When a very
ar^ra-ytrpi ca te young child tries to run, he must fall
na prasiddhyed akarmmaa down on the ground, but again he tries
(Bhagavad-g^t 2.8) to run. He falls down, runs, falls down
but gradually he will gain strength and
If you do not do anything then you
capacity, and finally he will be able to
will not get anything. You will not even
run properly. In this way a karmm^, a
be able to survive. You must do some-
fruitive worker, has some prospect,
thing, so try to do something good.
jn^s also, yogis also, but the super pro-
yajrtht karmmao nyatra spect is with those who are fully surren-
loko ya karmma-bandhana dered to Ka. By their own freewill
tad-artha karmma kaunteya they march in the line of Ka con-
mukta-saga samcara sciousness, and they will gain the benefit
(Bhagavad-g^t 2.9) accordingly.
In r^mad-Bhgavatam we find
O Arjjuna, this whole world of
the advice of Prahlda Mahrj to his
living beings comes into bondage by
student classmates.
all action except action performed as
selfless duty offered unto Lord Viu. kaumra caret prjo
Therefore, being free from attachment, dharmmn bhgavatn iha
fully engage in the performance of durlabha mnua janma
action for the purpose of such sacrifice. tad apy adhruvam arthadam
Actually, we need to do something (r^mad-Bhgavatam 7.6.1)
41
Prahlda was a devotee of Lord other variety of species.
Nsihadeva. His classmate friends were Actually we are not this body. We
from 5 to 12 years of age. When he met are living inside this body. We can under-
with them in their teachers house they stand it when we see a person who is
would discuss together and he would dying. At that time we cannot give him
urge them to enquire about, and prac- any more days. We can understand that
tise, spiritual life even from childhood. inside the body is the spirit of the person.
We have fortunately gained this With the spirit is willing, feeling and
human body. We are j^vas-souls and we thinking, and that is called the j^va, the
may be given any type of body accord- soul. When a man dies, that soul leaves
ing to our activities. But now some good the temporary material body. This is
previous activities have brought us this not only Indian philosophy, but in the
human body. In the human body there Western countries also we find famous
is very much possibility to learn many philosophers such as Hegel who have
things. We have much capacity to learn similar realisations.
and realise. Other species such as dogs, We must try to do something good
cows, etc. only have a very limited for our self, for our soul. Good is possi-
power of understanding; just sufficient ble through the processes of humility,
to try to achieve some basic happiness. tolerance, and giving honour to others.
Real happiness, however, is not possible We should try to avoid the opposing
in this mundane world, but some reali- environment, and in that way we can
sation is possible. happily study what is the soul, what
We use knowledge in many ways is God, and what is the super benefit
to try to gain happiness and a good of this life. Also we shall study about
result. The best thing for the j^va is to where we have come from, where we
try to know what is the transcendental shall go, etc. Birth and death is natural
worlds environment, and his place in this world, and we are always getting
there. Who am I? Why am I here? What happiness and sadness and many other
is my destination of life? After death temporary feelings. We must try to
where shall I go? In this human body we understand all these things.
can realise the answers to many such Prahlda Mahrj said,
questions; and that is called Bhgavat-
kaumra caret prjo
jna, Bhgavat-dharmma. If we shall
dharmmn bhgavatn iha
try to read and know about such topics,
durlabha mnua janma
we must be benefitted.
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
It is necessary that in this life we try
to know what is the super benefit of our
human life, and the super benefit of the We must try to know what is
soul. The soul is actually transcendental, Bhgavat-dharmma, and when that
but our body is mortal. The transcen- steady knowledge comes within us, we
dental body is living in the mortal body, shall try to gain the chance through that
whether it be a human body or any knowledge to know what is what. If not,
42
Lifes Destination
we shall be losers. Actually it is only in with these qualities. Furthermore, their
this human body that we can understand tendency is to be real searchers, and
properly what is good and what is bad, they are practising to do good according
and if we shall try sincerely we must get to their capacity, while avoiding bad
that type of knowledge. things. I am very happy to see this within
What is necessary is sincerity, toler- this small country.
ance, humility and giving honour to I am pleased to meet with you all.
others. These four qualities are neces- I do not know how much good I can do
sary for everyone. I am very happy to for you, but I am with you, and it is my
observe that the people here in Mauritius expectation that our attempt must be
are very enthusiastic and enlightened fruitful for the future.
43
6
Reaping the Eternal Fruit
A lecture delivered in Mauritius by
(Translated from the original Hindi by r^pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj)
o ajna-timirndhasya My dear honourable faithful souls,

jnjana-alkay worshippable Vaiavas, ladies, gentle-
cakur unmilita yena men and beloved children, by your
tasmai r^-gurave nama hearts auspicious desire the Supreme
Lord has bestowed His mercy upon me
vch-kalpatarubhyas ca so that I could come into your presence
kp-sindhubhya eva ca today, and am able to have the opportu-
patitn pvanebhyo nity to see your auspicious selves and
vaiavebhyo namo nama offer my worshipful prayers unto you.
After we offer our worshipful prayers to
he ka karu-sindho our Divine Master we also realise that
d^na-bandho jagat-pate the good souls who come and assemble
gopea gopik-knta wanting to hear about Kathey too
rdh-knta namo stu te become worshippable to us.
jayat suratau pagor The Supreme Lord resides within
mama manda-mater gat^ everything that be. We find His Presence
mat-sarvasva-padmbhojau everywhere. It is not that the Lord lives
rdha-madana-mohanau only in Vaikuha or Goloka, although
that is His Divine Abode where His
Eternal Play goes on. But there are also
Jaya O Viupd r^la Bhakti Rakak many Forms of the Supreme Lord.
r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj k^ jaya!
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattva yaj-jnam advayam
Jaya samavet bhakta-vnda k^ jaya!
brahmeti paramtmeti
bhagavn iti abdyate
All the Eastern and Western devotees
k^ jaya!
We can know about three principal
All the Mauritius devotees k^ jaya! Forms of the Lord from the r^mad-
BhgavatamBrahma, Paramtm
Gaura-premnande Hari bol! and Bhagavn. From a very distant
45
viewpoint, we may have a very hazy the world, whether Christian, Buddhist,
conception of the Lord, and that is Muslim or Hindu, all are one with each
called Brahma, just as we observe the other in that the aim of all is to reveal
sun by its blazing lightyet, within the same objective. The cause of the
the sun itself there is another plane of manifestation of this material world seen
movement. In the sun there is air, oxy- from various angles and distances of
gen, fire, and so many elements. But perception is the reason for different
we cannot enter the sun-abode; we religious conceptions being preached in
can only see an effulgent form from a the world. But the Vedic Religion, or the
distance. Similarly, to view the Lord Teachings given by the Vedas, show
from a great distance means to see only us that all souls are manifest from the
a form of effulgence. Marginal Potency of the Lord; and from
Further, another Form of the Lord is their manifestation, the potencies of
Paramtm. Paramtm resides within thinking, feeling and willing remain
all j^va-souls. All the souls act in various with them. Since they possess these
ways in this world, and the Paramtm potencies, they are therefore units of
is always with them as the Witness. The life, units of consciousness.
individual souls by nature are implicated It is also shown in this scientific age
by their actions, but the Lord, with His of exploration of atoms, neutrons and
Transcendental Nature, remains unaf- protons, etc., that everything in existence
fected. Remaining ever-present within is in a state of movement. Every atom
the souls, the Lord as Paramtm has a certain measurement of other
observes the activities of the souls, or bodies revolving around it. Similarly, in
j^vtms. Furthermore, He is also pre- the Vedic Teachings we see that life is
sent in every atom of existence; so it is present everywhere. With their modern
said in the Scriptures that there is no research and studies, the scientists are
place in creation where the Lord does teaching us these things, but from thou-
not preside. When the souls try to enjoy sands and thousands of years ago the
the illusory energy of the LordMy Vedic Teachings tell us that whatever
they abandon their natural inner tendency exists in the worldeverything is cetana.
for service and adopt the nature of an It is all conscious, living.
enjoyer. Still, the Lord desires to take Even a cement and brick building is
even those fallen souls back home to cetana. Although at present we do not
His Divine Abode, known as Paravyoma- perceive any movement of the building,
dhma, Vaikuha, or Goloka. in a few hundred years we shall notice
The souls belong to the taasth- that a pillar or other part of the building
akti, or Marginal Potency of the Lord. has dissolved or undergone a reforma-
They are not born, but they are manifest tion. Actually nothing has dissolved, but
by the Will of the Lord. This is accepted the internal action of the object has
in all the Scriptures. When they are thus finally made itself visible to us.
manifest, they appear in many forms. The state of cetanaconsciousness
Whatever religious forms appear in or lifeis present everywhere in two
46
basic forms: sthvara and jagama, or law. So in the world there may be bil-
stationary and moving. A tree is consid- lions of humans, of which maybe only a
ered sthvara, or stationary, yet there is few hundred thousand are imprisoned.
life present in the tree. This has been The rest are free to live and do their
discovered by a Bengali scientist, and it business in the world. Similarly, in the
has been demonstrated with scientific Transcendental World, which is known
instruments that a tree experiences as Paravyomadhma, all the residents
pleasure and pain. So life is present live their lives happily without any
everywhere, and life is called tm, or obstacles; this plane is also known as
soul. In our body millions of life-forms, Sev-bhmi, or the Land of Service.
or souls, are present, but one principle There, everyone gives joy to one another.
soul guides the entire body as the master As everyone serves the Supreme Lord,
of the body, and he is called deh^ or He also serves themas a son serves his
tm. In this way, life is present every- father and a father serves his son. This is
where, and when it shows movement it similar to what we find in this world
is called jagama, otherwise it is called where fathers, mothers, brothers and
sthvara. When a soul leaves the body sisters all live happily together.
what happens? Within two or three days But what is our work here? Some
the body noticeably decays. The body become husbands, some masters, some
can no longer movealthough there is servants, etc., but what is their real
still movement in it by way of its decay- work? Service. That is everyones work
ing. After only a month or so only bones here. A father accepts service from his
remain, and they too will later become sons but he also serves them by rearing
fossilised. The Observer or Witness of and nourishing them. So service is the
all the actions of the moving souls is work of everyone. But in this world that
the Paramtm. Paramtm is present service only remains temporarily and
within everything in existence. This is thus cannot afford us real value. If we
the Nature of the Form of Paramtm. construct a grand house we think that
Bhagavn is the Supreme Personality our son will live there, our daughter will
of Godhead, and by His Nature, His L^l, live there, our relatives will live there;
or Divine Pastimes, continue eternally. we shall have a TV set and live happily
In this relative world the taasth-akti there. But soon our lifetime will be over.
j^va-souls are bound as though in a Somehow or other in the end we shall
prison-house, and this is a relative aspect leave this world, and this must happen
of the Lords L^l. In a jail only a very to us. Our juniors are also leaving this
small percentage of the population are world. It is not a matter of seniors going
found, maybe one percent or less. The and juniors staying, and at every moment
normal population are not sent to jail we see that in this or that village or town
they reside at their homes and fulfil their people are going, they are dying one
works. The evil-doers are sent to jail by by one.
the law. The law is for everyone, but We have sufficient experience that
the jail is reserved for the violators of the as soon as one leaves this body he must
47
leave this world, and no one can live their misfortune is born. Beyond this we
forever within this body. After ten or cannot consider any other cause of the
twenty years, or twenty-five or a j^va-souls coming to this world, so we
hundred years, or two or four months must admit the cause of their coming
whatever the time may be, everyone here is simply their misfortune. When
must die. Death is inevitable. As long as they see My they think, Here is the
there is birth, death is inevitable. So no object of my enjoyment. I am superior,
matter how hard we try, we cannot and that is inferior. Therefore they are
know happiness here. Today we need attracted to this Myik, or illusory, plane,
money, but is a rich man happy? What is which is just like a prison-house.
his fate? He may end up with severe Still, the Supreme Lord has made all
stomach trouble and be unable to eat arrangements for taking them back to
more than a few grains of rice. And one the Transcendental World. Sometimes
who has beauty cannot be happy either. when too many disturbances arise He
When his pulse goes wrong he worries comes here Himself, just as when
why he has become ill, why he has disturbances arise in a prison, a senior
become thin. Today we see that some- officer or administrator comes personally
one has become a great celebrity, but and fires a few shots here and there to
tomorrow he may not have even the manage the situation. The Supreme Lord
power to walk. In this way, the whole descends Personally. He is the Supremely
world is temporary, and although we Powerful, so He has no anxiety. When
are attached to this temporary world we Nryaa comes from Vaikuha there is
cannot remain here forever. no question of Him leaving Vaikuha
We cannot claim the house we have empty. Simply by His Will another
built as our own, and our son even Nryaa can descend here. Also with
wont be able to enjoy it for very long. Him are the Potencies of thinking, feel-
The money we deposited for our sons ing and willing, but that Plane is cetana,
welfare may be squandered by him for or conscious and living, while this plane
drugs and other useless or injurious is jaa, mundane or material.
things. One man saves while the other The illusory nature of this plane is
squanders. This is the way of the world. also the Potency of the Supreme Lord,
So all souls have appeared from the but this Potency is like a shadow. Fire
Marginal Potency, or taasth-akti, of has both its form as well as its shadow.
the Lord, and their own home is the The form of fire has its own existence,
vast and infinite Transcendental World, without which a shadow would not
Paravyomadhma, and they mostly all appear. By dint of light, shadow makes
go there and happily serve the Lord. It is its appearance. And we have fallen into
only a small handful of souls like us that this shadow-potency. This is a Potency
cast their glance upon the prison-house of the Supreme Lord, and it is also eter-
of this illusory world of My despite the nal. It will continue on and on. The
opportunity to serve in the Transcen- Divine Pastimes of the LordL^lalso
dental World; from that fateful glance go on eternally.
48
The holy book Bhagavad-g^t is but all these matters are only the shad-
now known all over the world. Many ow of the Original Cause. So when the
will know the famous verse: Supreme Lord appears, so many souls
are rescued and leave this world forever.
yad yad hi dharmmasya
Sometimes He comes Himself and
glnir bhavati bhrata
sometimes He sends His representative.
abhyuttnm adharmmasya
The representative is known as the
tad tmn sjmy aham
sdhu or Guru. He comes here to teach
When severe discrepancies in the the souls, J^va jgo j^va jgo gora cnd
rules and regulations of religion appear bole, ko nidr jo my picira kole
in the world, the Supreme Lord comes you are all sleeping here! Wake up!
personally to set matters right. How? Wake up to your real selves! You are
Paritrya sdhnam. There may be transcendental, conscious life, and your
some good souls in this worldof the home is the Transcendental World of
prisoners in a jail, there may be many Divine Consciousness and Life. There
who aspire for their own good. To you will find everything, your house,
protect them, rescue them from their your home. Please get ready to go there.
trials and to take them up, the Lord Him-
uttihata, jgrata,
self comes.
prpya varn nibodhata
paritrya sdhn kurasya dhr niit duratyay
vinya ca duktm durga pathas tat kavayo vadanti
dharmma-sasthpanrthya
Here, in the Upaniads, we find the
sambhavmi yuge yuge
Teachings of the Vedic Philosophy. The
So when the Lord comes, all evil Scriptures tell us, Arise from your slum-
disappears just as with the appearance ber in this painful world and have your
of light, darkness is dispelled. As soon good fortune! Follow the saints! They
as the Lord appears in the world, all the also tell us who we are and what our
darkness of the world vanishes. All the fortune is: nvantu vive amtasya
j^va-souls constantly emanate from the puttr. O tat satthese words echo
Marginal Potency of the Lord, therefore all over the universe.
the illusory world is again filled up, as The Transcendental World is Truth,
a jail never stays vacant. When each the Supreme Personality of Godhead is
prisoners term is up they one by one Truth, and we are all residents with Him
leave to enjoy their fortune. in that Supreme Plane. Our nature is the
We have seen that sometimes when same as that Transcendental Plane.
a country attains independence, all its The burning power of the sun is
prisoners are released. Sometimes when also present in the suns rays. There are
a president of a nation is changed, for also seven primary colours in the sun-
the honour of the new president many light. Similarly, as spiritual rays of the
prisoners are released. All these things Lord, we are endowed with powers
are seen in the world from time to time, of thinking, feeling and willing. As the
49
Lord is Pra-cetana or the Supreme life; and it eternally possesses the potent
Original Conscious Entity, we, the qualities of conscious life: thinking,
individual souls, are aucetana, or feeling and willing. Anything having
atomic particles of consciousness. In the potency can actwhether with good or
vetvataropaniad the soul is described bad actionsand such potency of the
as being so subtle that it is invisible to soul is actually very great. A candle
the eye: flame may be very tiny, but from such a
tiny flame a gigantic fire can be ignited.
blgra-ata-bhgasya
From the tiny candle a larger candle can
ata-dh kalpitasya ca
be ignited, and a larger one still; and the
bhgo j^va sa vijeya
power of the large candle is of an equal
sa cnantyya kalpate
nature to the small one. Their burning
The tip of a hair divided ten thou- power is non-different. Similarly, the
sand times is a general estimation of the Sat, Cit and nandathe Potent Quali-
subtle form of the j^va. So he is invisible. ties of Eternal Existence, Consciousness
But despite his minuteness, his power is and Ecstasyfound in the Original Form
great. He resides in the deepest recesses of the Supreme Lord are also found
of the heart in such a subtle form, and to within the soul, who is a part (aa) of
date he has never been seen. Nowadays the Lord. However, at present the soul is
some scientists say they can photograph covered. Light burns within a lightbulb,
some hazy shadow aspect of the soul, but the fire that causes that light cannot
but still they could not ascertain the be found outside the bulb, although
infinitesimal form of the soul. As this some heat is apparent. There is also cold
body is a covering, the soul also has a fire, like neon for example, where even
covering as mentioned in the G^t: heat seems to be absent. In the
microphone there is the invisible fire
indriyi pary hur
of electricity doing its work. We cannot
indriyebhya para mana
perceive that fire, but we see from the
manasas tu par buddhir
results that its work is being accom-
buddher ya paratas tu sa
plished. In this way, the action of power
These are all more and more subtle moves in many, many forms. So the
coverings of the soul. More subtle than potency of the j^va-soul can be used
this bodily type of covering is the cover- for either good or evil. When fortunate
ing of the senses; more subtle than the souls are ready to use their energy for
senses is the covering made of the mind; good, if anyone disturbs them the Lord
more subtle than that is the intelligence; comes personally and destroys the
and more subtle still is the soultm. disturbing elements. Those who want
So the soul resides within so many layers good are good. Thus He has said in the
of coverings, and its form is still unknown G^t, I come to protect the saints and to
to us. vanquish the evil-doers. The less good
Still, even though the soul is infinitesi- that one wants, the more he is punished,
mal in size, it is a particle of conscious and one who aspires for good is given
50
a chance by the Lord: Yes, you want The Lord also has many different
good, so may you be virtuous. Virtue is Forms, and in each Form He enjoys
your own wealth. What shall I take from certain corresponding Pastimes; and the
you? I am full in Myself. In the Upaniads j^va-souls can gain the fitness to enter
we find: into particular Pastimes according to the
classification of their Pure Devotion. The
o pram ada pram ida
gradations of Ecstatic Divine Relationship
prt pram udacyate
are known as nta-, Dsya-, Sakhya-,
prasya pram dya
Vtsalya- and Madhura-rasas, or Passive
pram evvaiyate
Service, Active Service, Friendship,
The Infinite Whole Source of all Parenthood and Consorthood. The pure
Avatras and the Infinite Whole Avatra devotees render Service to the Lord
both are Whole, that is, full with all according to the Rasa of their inner
Potencies. The Infinite Whole Avatra hearts attraction. We normally speak
appears from the Infinite Whole Source of Service to the Lord, but we should
of all Avatras for the purpose of mani- know that the Lord Himself also serves
festing His Pastimes. In order to fulfil His His devotee. When Ka stole butter
Pastimes, the Infinite Whole Avatra Mother Yaod chased him with a stick.
accepts His Infinite Whole Form, and Why have you stolen butter? We have
finally the Infinite Whole Source of no shortage of butter, and you have
all Avatras remains present; so in plenty to eat, so why do you have to
no way can the Infinite Completeness steal it? Then she bound Him with
of the Supreme Lord ever suffer any a rope to a tree. In this case the Lord
diminution. serves His devotee in this mood of
So if the Infinite Whole is subtracted dealings as the son of His devotee.
from the Infinite Whole, the Infinite The Relationship of Consorthood
Whole yet remains. In the Scriptures the takes place between the Lord and the
Supreme Lord is described as nija-lbha- Gop^s.
praHe is perfect and complete in In the Divine Abode, full-fledged
Himself. Therefore He feels no necessity Service in the five types of Divine
for Himself; still, by virtue of His Willing Relationships continues eternally. In
Potency (icch-akti) His Pastimes go the Abode of the Lords four-armed
on, and by His Pastimes the fortunate Nryaa Form the appropriate Services
devotee souls offer themselves to Him go on; in the Abode of the Lords Rma-
through Divine Service, and He too chanda Form, the appropriate Services
serves them and ecstatically gives Him- go on, as the Lord manifests Himself in
self to them. In that service exchange, those particular Expansions and Forms
the ecstasy that the Lord feels is felt of different Divine Moods. But we
twice as much by His devotees. This is worship r^ Kachandra with His
the nature of that Transcendental World, Eternal Divine Pastimes, because it is in
Paravyomadhma, the Divine Abode of such Form, His most Original Form, that
Goloka. full-fledged Service is manifest in all the
51
five Rasas, and this is the Supreme both the fortune and the misfortune of
Ecstasy for the j^va-souls. Such ecstasy the j^va-souls. The Lord has given inde-
cannot be experienced anywhere else. pendence to all soulsfrom their very
The friends of the Lord say, Let us inception they have the potency of think-
play! Whoever is defeated must carry the ing, feeling and willing. This indepen-
winner on his shoulders! When they dence has been given to us by the Lord.
take a bite from some nice fruit they Why? So that by our own desire and
immediately offer it to the mouth of free wish we can engage ourselves in
Ka, saying, Oh, Brother, this is so His Service. With as much power at our
tastycome on, please take some! All command, as much as we desire, we
such friendly, familiar dealings are can combine everything we have and
found only in Ka-l^l and nowhere render Divine Service to the Lord.
else. The Gop^s accept Ka as their The Lords feeling is, I have given
husband in their thought and actions you independence, and I will not take it
also. Such Service they render to the back. If you want to serve Me, you may
Lord. So we have heard about the Lords do so; otherwise you can go to My.
Pastimes and we have heard about His You may do as you wish. But you will
Holy Name, and if we get a connection be happy if you render service to Me.
there, we can have the chance to be Why will you be happy? If you serve the
allowed into those Pastimes. This is eternal, you will reap the eternal fruit; if
the way of Bhakti, and this is called you serve the temporal, you must reap
Devotion to the Supreme Personality of the temporary fruit.
Godhead; and He is Ka. To every action there is an equal
Just see how sweet the Name Ka and opposite reaction, as the scientist
is. Ka means He who attracts all Newton said in his third law. So Ka is
the souls to His Abode, and gives them saying, Do My Service and your service
Ecstasy. That is Ka. will be done twice as well. When Kas
friend is eating a very sweet fruit, he will
kir bh-vcaka abdo
give that fruit to Ka, See, Brother,
a ca nirvti-vcaka
you will like this very much. Then Ka
tayor aikya para brahma
eats some and says, Yes, this is excel-
ka ity abhidh^yate
lent, but how shall I eat it alone? You
(Mahbhrata)
also eat! Then they both eat very happily.
The root K expresses the All- We also hear about the Pastimes of
attractive Existence, and the word a Ka with the Gop^s on the banks of the
expresses the Supreme Ecstasy. The Yamun. Ka gives happiness to all,
two combined give the Name Ka, even to the point of giving Himself. If
ascertaining the Parama Brahmathe anyone is unhappy, He gives them
Supreme Absolute Truth, the Godhead. double happiness. And the conception
He is attracting everyone, yet He that has been given to us by r^ Chaitanya
never takes away the independence that Mahprabhu is most elevated: Viraha-
He has given us. This can be seen as milana, the conception of Union in
52
Separation, is the bestower of the great- joy. Such joy is found in the Pastimes
est joy. In the world we may have some of Ka, and not other pastimes. r^
feelings resembling that. If a man has Chaitanya Mahprabhus Gift is to give
gone to a very far and distant land and everyone a chance to aspire to become
could not return home to his wife for as a member of those Pastimes and live in
long as three or four years, when he Vndvana. There you will find forest
finally returns home, how much joy do flowers, cows, milk, cream, cheese; you
they both feel? We can just imagine how can play with Ka, run with Ka,
much joy the husband and wife feel in meet with Kaeverything, you can
their hearts. do with Ka. Kas Pastimes are the
After a great separation, the joy of most ecstatic of all.
reunion is the highest and supermost
53
7
Our Super Benefit
The second part of the previous lecture
When as a young lad of 17 I joined and I also felt some trouble to reply
with r^la Guru Mahrj in 1947, he said properly. So when I returned home I
to me, I will not be here in Calcutta at told r^la Swm^ Mahrj about it; actually,
all times, so you learn Bhagavad-g^t every day I used to recount to him the
from Swm^ Mahrj Prabhupda. days happenings. So when I told him
When r^la Swm^ Mahrj read the about the challenge by the worshippers
G^t he would translate it and also teach of Mother Kl^, he said, Oh! you are
it to me. At that time we were staying in foolish. Couldnt you answer them some-
r^la Swm^ Mahrjs house. That was how? You are a devotee of Ka and
before he took sannysa. r^la Guru you worship Ka, thats no problem;
Mahrj and r^la Swm^ Mahrj were and they are devotees of Mother Kl^,
very intimate friends. I was 17, and r^la thats also no problem. But when you
Swm^ Mahrjs son was also 17, so want to bring them from that concep-
we were friends. Sometimes we fought tion to this, couldnt you have said
as well. something?
Every day I would go to Bara Bazaar I replied, What could I say to them?
for preaching, and during the preaching They said that from the worship of
many questions would come up, and Mother Kl^ we would get wealth, beau-
many would ask me, Why have you ty, family, and so on.
become a sdhu? What value do you Then r^la Swm^ Mahrj said, Will
find in this life? Why have you given you die eventually or not?
up school studies to become a sdhu Sure, everyone has to die some
begging in the street? In this way many time. We are no exception.
people would question me. One of the Alright. If you worship Ka
questions that came up was, Oh, why properly, in the end you get the shelter
dont you worship Mother Kl^? If you of Kaloka, is it not?
worship her she will give you everything. I replied, Yes, it is true. If we wor-
Just pray, Dhana deh^, rpa deh^, ship Ka properly we must get His
jana deh^, yaa deh^, Youll mercy, and if we get His mercy we must
get everythingwealth, beauty, family, go to Kaloka.
prestige. Youll get everything, so why r^la Swm^ Mahrj then pointed
dont you worship Mother Kl^? Why out, And what will be your destination
do you worship Ka? after death if you worship Mother Kl^?
They seemed to be speaking the truth You will reach the place of Mother Kl^.
55
By doing her service, when she is satis- Then you can tell them, Alright, that is
fied with you, you will become one very nice, you can become Mother Kl^s
of her associates. What is your gain in son; but we are not interested in the out-
becoming one of her associates, and come of that. We prefer to have fruits,
where will you go? She lives in the crema- cream, cheese and butter in the company
tion ground, otherwise she lives peace- of Ka in Vndvana, and enter into
fully with Lord iva in the Himlayas. His Pastimes in Kaloka: Yamun-l^l,
There it is absolutely freezing. If you Rsa-l^l, etc. Do you prefer this, or do
go to join her in the cremation ground you prefer that? Whatever you please,
there is another disturbancewhen you you can accept; it is your decision!
become her associate, what kind of form In this way with his jolly mood r^la
will you take? All her associates have the Swm^ Mahrj used to joke with me in
forms of witches, wizards, ghosts and my youth.
spirits; she has two sons with such The argument of the general people
forms, and you also will have to take was, We are gaining all these things
such a form! No doubt you can get the wealth, family, youth, etc. But Prabhu-
wealth, family and other things that you pdas argument was, Oh, you are get-
are praying for, but when she is satisfied ting all those things, but they will not
by your worship what will you get? stay with you. You will lose all. Then, if
Think about that. And Mother Kl^ also you become a great devotee of Kl^, you
has a special natureshe goes naked. will live with her. Think what you will
The artists paint pictures of her clothed, get then. But when we become great
but the Scriptures tell us that she goes devotees we shall live with Ka. We
naked. She covers herself with hands. will reach the home of Ka!
Whose hands? The hands of her own So Kaloka is the Plane of the most
sons. You call her motherso whose special Transcendental Pastimes of Ka.
mother is she? Shes your mother. And There, the highest Divine Play takes
she cuts off the hands of the demons and place, covering the Principal Divine Rela-
uses their hands as her clothing. She tionships of Dsya-, Sakhya-, Vtsalya-
attracts them, chops off their heads and and Madhura-rasa.
uses their skulls as a garland. What good In Nryaa-loka or Vaikuha-loka
will you get from that? And after the Pastimes take place within two and a
becoming her devotee you will have to half Rasas beginning with nta-rasa,
become a witch or ghost to live with then Dsya-rasa and half Sakhya-rasa.
her! It is never mentioned in the Scriptures
That was r^la Swm^ Mahrjs reply. that Nryaa has any friends. All are
Then he said to me, Couldnt you have His reverential servants, or half-friends,
replied to them like that? like Lakm^dev^, Nryaas Consort. Her
I said, If I speak like that to them mood with Nryaa is always, Please,
they will beat me! They will say, What what is Your order my Lord?
kind of preaching is this? She can never behave with familiar-
r^la Swm^ Mahrj responded, ity like a Sakh^ (lady-friend) and chide
56
Our Super Benefit
Him, Ka, go away! But in Vaikuha example, Lord Rmachandra is the God-
all dealings with the Lord in His Nryaa head Himself, Pra-brahmathe All-
Form are mainly on the level of rever- perfect Supreme Godhead, completely
ential servitude. This is not the case in transcendental to the mundane plane.
Kaloka; there, Mother Yaod may But what does He show us in His L^l?
pull Kas ear and chastise Him, Oh He resides completely within the juris-
what is this wrong you have done? And diction of law. He always gives full hon-
Ka accordingly will also play with her our to all the Vedic laws and injunctions.
as her son. He never breaks any of the rulings,
Once some cowherd girls, Gop^s, infallibly. This is His behaviour at all
came to Mother Yaods house and times. For this reason He is famous as
accused Ka of some misbehaviour. Maryyd-puruottama, or the Supreme
They went to Mother Yaod and gave Lord as the Protector of Vedic Rulings.
her a report, accusing that, Your son He is none other than the Supreme Lord
comes to our house and does such and Himself, but He manifests this special
such. He creates disturbances, and our aspect. Although He is free and inde-
milk and other dairy foods are spoiled pendent of all rules and regulations, He
by his meddling. shows this full subordination to the Vedic
Then Ka denies, No, no! See my codes of conduct. When it came to His
handsI never touched any of their milk ear that, Your wife was in anothers
or butter, you would smell the scent house, He immediately banished
otherwise. I took whatever food you r^mat^ S^tdev^ to the forest. So in this
gave me, thats all. They are telling lies. Incarnation, the Lord manifests the
Mother Yaod asks, Then why on nature of complete subordination to law.
earth are they lying? But as Ka there is no such ques-
Well, of course, they are only com- tion of law. The question of law never
ing here just to see Me! Thats the real enters His thoughts. His freedom is
reason. But they cant tell you that; they absolute, but there we find love, beauty,
are hiding behind their accusations. charmas much affection of the heart
Then the cowherd girls laugh, Ka as is ever possible, as much beauty as
also laughs; Mother Yaod also laughs can ever be possible, as much attraction
and she leaves the matter. But when the as can ever be known in the world
cowherd girls walk back to their homes
and beyondeverything is found in its
Ka suddenly appears before them,
fullest possibility in Ka-l^l.
saying, What is this? You went to My
When Ka personally appeared in
mother and caused so much trouble for
this world, He Himself declared, I am
Me. Now I shall retaliate by coming to
the Supreme Lord! In the Teachings of
you all as your husband; what will you
the G^t we find this all through:
do about that?
Such are the Pastimes in Kaloka. tam eva araa gaccha
But this play of Ka cannot be found sarvva-bhvena bhrata.
in any other Form of the Lord. For (18.62)
57
And: self in these various Forms according
to the particular nature of His various
m hi prtha vyapritya
Pastimes. But the Pastimes of Ka are
te pi syu ppa-yonaya
so elevated; the Lord makes the law,
striyo vaiyas tath drs
the Lord breaks the law, yet nothing
te pi ynti par gatim
can touch Him. In such a Form the
(9.32)
Supreme Lord has His Transcendental
O Arjjuna, whoever takes full shelter Play. Therefore it is mentioned in r^-
in Me, whether they are low-born as sin- mad-Bhgavatam (1.3.28):
ful outcastes, women, vaiyas or dras
ete ca-kal pusa
they too will attain the Supreme Objec-
kas tu bhagavn svaya
tive; taking their own internal divine
form they go to the topmost plane, the The Lord has infinite Expansions
Plane of My Service. and Sub-expansions, all embodying the
Supreme Potency of Godhead, but Ka
sarvva-dharmmn parityajya
is the Original Supreme Godhead Him-
mm eka araa vraja
self, Bhagavn. So in His Original Form
Ka is saying, I am the Supreme BhagavnKa plays His Pastimes;
Lord, the Supreme God. Take shelter and in His indwelling Supersoul Form
in Me! ParamtmHe resides within the
hearts of all living beings. Therefore the
man-man bhava mad-bhakto
Divine Principles of Vaiaivism teach
mad-yj^ m namaskuru
usj^ve sammna dibe jni ka-
Give yourself to Me, be My devotee, adhihna (C.c. Antya 20.25)to give
worship and honour Me. obeisances to all souls, to give respect to
all, knowing Ka to be resident there.
daiva hy e guamay^
If it is your son, you must still offer
mama my duratyay
him obeisances; but that is to be done
mm eva ye prapadyante
mentally. Otherwise it will not be to the
mym et taranti te
childs benefit, for he will think, My
Here, the Lord refers to My, the father is offering me obeisances, so I
illusory power, as His My; so, natural- am superior to him. But he should be
ly, I give liberation from that My to respected with the knowledge that the
anyone who surrenders to Me, further- Lord is residing within his heart. This is
more, I give them entrance into My Pas- the principle.
times. I am so powerful, I am Bhagavn. So today you have all assembled
At that time, Ka spoke in that very here to hear the messages of the Lord.
manneryet there was no one, with- The Lord Himself is your own natural
out exception, who could oppose Him. wealth, and in your hearts the Lord is
As we mentioned before, there are gloriously presiding. He has many, many
many Forms of the Lord, such as Rma, Forms, and we have many, many paths
Nsiha, Vmana, etc. He reveals Him- to reach Him; but the Supreme Path is
58
Our Super Benefit
Bhakti, Devotion. The Transcendental The point is to work in such a way
Knowledge given by the Lord in G^t that you dont become bound by that
is greatly respected all over the world. work. You need liberation from such
Why? Because the Teachings given there bondage, so you should work to attain
are for one and all. The book itself is that end. One poet of India wrote that,
very compact700 verses. The r^mad- At birth, a child must cry, but everyone
Bhgavatam is 18,000 verses, and the laughs and smiles, happily discussing,
Mahbhrata is 100,000 verses. The Oh, very nice! You have a child; is it a
Padmapura is also a full 100,000 boy or a girl? Oh, it is healthy. Just see, it
verses long. is crying. So at birth, all a baby can do is
The G^t is only 700 verses long, cry, but the rest of the world laughs. But
but it is accepted world-wide. In the you have to work in such a way that you
G^t, the karmm^ (worker) finds his can leave the world laughingyou can
interest, the jn^ (liberation-seeker) be detachedand the rest of the world
finds his interest, the yog^ (meditator) may weep for you. There is such a
finds his interestand the bhakta, or work, and that work is to render Service
true devotee, finds his interest. Even an to the Supreme Lord.
anarchist may be found to be keeping
yat karoi yad ansi
the G^t in his pocket, because the way
yaj juhoi dadsi yat
to attain detachment is clearly given
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
therein. This Knowledge of G^t now
tat kuruva mad arpaam
pervades and commands the respect of
(Bhagavad-g^t 9.27)
the world; even Russia. The Knowledge
of the G^t is so unprejudiced. The Lord O son of Kunt^, whatever work you
happily praises the worker in the world: do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer
in sacrifice, whatever you give away,
niyata kuru karmma tva whatever vows you may followdo all
karmma jyyo hy akarmmana as an offering unto Me.
ar^ra-ytrpi ca te Ka is saying, In this way, work
na prasidhyed akarmmana only for Me, and you will never be bound
(Bhagavad-g^t 3.8) in this world. Who am I? I am Viu,
Do something! Otherwise you wont the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
even get your food for your bare main- Yajrtht karmmao nyatra loko
tenance. Man must work, so work in ya karmma-bandhana. Therefore
such a way as to invite your highest if you work for Viu, you cannot but be
good. That will be most auspicious for blessed with all success. Everything you
you. And that is (3.9): do will become auspicious.
You can think like this: Oh, there
yajrtht karmmao nyatra are so many flowers in my garden, but
loko ya karmma-bandhana they are being wasted by falling all over
tad artha karmma kaunteya the road. If I collect the flowers from
mukta-saga samcara those trees and offer them to the Lord,
59
they will then become worshippable, and scientific term applied is heliocentric;
I shall take them and touch them to my and when the earth is considered the
forehead. central point of reference, the term used
Similarly we see so much grass on is geocentric; but we need to make our
the pathways, and daily we may trample lives Godcentric. We need to invite
it underfoot. But if any auspicious grass Him into our families. If whatever we
has been used in the worship of the do, we first offer to Him, then all our
Lord, we touch it to our heads in respect. activities will become unselfish. More
Therefore the Lord is teaching us, than that, they will also become
Take everything for worship. Make transcendental. Nothing inauspicious
your intelligence mature, then all your will be able to enter thereeverything
bondage will leave you and even in this will be auspicious. This is the Service
world you will find true happiness. One of the Supreme Lord, Bhagavn.
whose heart is purified can tolerate both Sarvva karmmkhila prtha jne
the joys and sorrows of this world. One parisampyate (G^t 4.33)all these
who has gained real consciousness never varieties of sacrificial works culminate in
laments over anything in this world Knowledge Divine. This means that the
(gatsn agats ca nnuocanti acme of Knowledge is Bhakti:
pait [2.11]).
tapasvibhyo dhiko yog^
This will be the proper adjustment.
jnibhyo pi mato dhika
Whoever has appeared in our house,
karmmibhya cdhiko yog^
either as a son or a daughter, our duty is
tasmd yog^ bhavrjjuna
to attend to them with our best ability.
We must think that the Lord has placed yoginm api sarvve
them under our care, so now we must mad-gatenntartman
serve them. Even if one or more of them raddhvn bhajate yo m
suddenly dies, we shall not be sad, sa me yuktatamo mata
knowing that the Lord has taken them. (Bhagavad-g^t 6.46,47)
Everything is the wealth and property of
bahn janmanm ante
the Lord. Whatever we eat we shall first
jnavn m prapadyate
offer to Him and then take His Divine
vsudeva sarvvam iti
Remnants, Prasda. If we shall give
sa mahtm sudurllabha
anything to anyone we shall first offer it
(Bhagavad-g^t 7.19)
to the Lord and give that to a devotee for
their service to Him. In this way if we Such are the Teachings of the Lord
live our normal lives in the world, what- in the Bhagavad-g^t. The main point
ever we do will be auspicious. When is that you are to give yourself to Him.
we surrender ourselves to the Lotus There is no question of seating Him on a
Feet of Ka, whatever we do, whether far and distant throne and just offering
family life or anything, the Supreme some worship. He is in your heart, He
Lord becomes our centre. appears in your templeHe is within
When the visible universe is consid- all living beings. He resides everywhere
ered to revolve around the sun, the at all times (vsudeva sarvvam iti).
60
Our Super Benefit
Knowing this, you will easily know what But with every breath billions of atomic
is needed of you: Bhakti, Sevthe living entities enter into our bodies.
service of a divine slave. The Sanskrit Therefore we are not fit to maintain our-
word Bhakti originates from the root selves, and this is why this world is called
bhaj: bhaj-dhtu sevy. The funda- the plane of exploitation. We cannot live
mental potency of the root bhaj is without killing others. We cannot survive.
service. So we want to live in the plane So we are bound to commit violence.
of full service. But the Scriptures say, Why have
The Scriptures inform us that where you opened your own account? You
we live at present is the plane of exploita- dont need this account. If two or three
tionif we dig a hole in the ground, policemen chase a murderer but are
wherever we throw the earth must unable to catch him, they may shoot;
become a hill. This example is a nice one or two people may be killed, one
analogy of this world. We fulfil our occu- or two may be injured, but what can
pations and maintain our bodies, but we be done? One of the policemen may
are bound to commit violence. Without be injured or even lose his life in the
violence we cannot survive. The Scrip- attempt to catch the culprit. Then what
tures prohibit us from taking the life of are the consequences?
other living beings, especially from taking All the responsibility is absorbed in
meat, fish, and so on. Still, we must eat the governments account. The injured
something to survive. For our survival policeman who caught the criminal will
we must feel the need to secure food. be promoted or have his salary doubled.
The question may then arise that in All his medical necessities will be pro-
our garden there are very nice vegetables vided. Otherwise, even if he is unable to
and fruits. But how shall we eat them? return to his work for the rest of his life
We shall have to cut the vegetables, but he will be awarded double pension as
that is also killing, for even within fruits compensation. He will be rewarded.
there are millions of atomic life-forms, If you shoot someone you will be
and we cannot avoid eating them along arrested immediately for the most
with the fruit. If we examine cows milk heinous crime, but if someone is killed
under a microscope we shall also find by a policeman in the attempt to catch a
millions of life-forms moving hither and criminal, all responsibility is absorbed in
thither. We enjoy yoghurt very much, and the account of the government.
we are very careful to see that it is set However, one who cannot survive
properly when making it, but under a without exploiting others or giving pain
microscope we shall see that it is abso- to others needs, to be saved himself. And
lutely full of living bacteria. this is possible if such a person offers
So what will you eat? Atomic bacteria everything to the account of the Lord:
and microbes? Whatever you eat, you O Lord, this is all Your wealththis
are bound to murder other living entities. house, family, sons, everything. I am
And if you stop eating altogether, you a servant in Your family, and I shall do
will nonetheless have to breath; without service to all. I will also get Prasda,
at least breathing you will never survive. and all my needs will be fulfilled. In this
61
way, one who makes his family God- niketan tu nirguamWhoever lives
centric will gain all success for them. in My home lives in the Transcendental
We can consider, therefore, three Plane. He is not bound by those mundane
stages in general: the plane of exploita- qualities. Whatever is done in My Plane
tion, the plane of renunciation, and the is done with Devotion for Me, Bhakti,
plane of dedication. A surrendered and that Devotion is the source of all
soulone who has given his all and Blessings and Benedictions. Thus Bhakti
himself to the Lordhe can do no has been given the absolutely highest
wrong. Whatever he does goes to the position in all Scriptures. Whether you
Lords account. The Lord Himself said are capable of doing anything or not,
ynti deva-vrat devn offer yourself, surrender yourself unto
pitn ynti pit-vrat the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Whether you
bhtani ynti bhutejy are a ghastha, sannys^ or brahmacr^
ynti mad-yjino pi mm is not the point, whatever you may be,
(Bhagavad-g^t 9.25): you will get your supreme benefit. This
is the direction of our Vedic Religion.
The worshippers of other gods
So, as I said before, you have assem-
(demigods) gain entrance into the corre-
bled here today to hear about Bhagavn,
sponding abode of the god worshipped;
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I
the worshippers of the forefathers who
have tried with all my might to speak to
regularly perform the rddha cere-
you about Him. And you have given me
monies reach the forefathers abode,
much time in which to do so. I consider
Pitloka; and My devotees reach Me.
myself blessed because you have all so
My devotees attain to My abode.
patiently heard these talks about the
My devotees are transcendental to the
Lord. I want to do some good for you
three qualities of mundane nature: good-
all. There are so many forms of religion,
ness (truthfulness, illumination), passion
but real religion is in your hearts. That is
(agitation, activation), and ignorance
your potency, and that is your wealth
(foolishness, stupefaction)(sattva-gua,
and that is Love for the Supreme Lord,
rajo-gua and tamo-gua).
Divine Love, Prema. It is in the hearts of
rddhva gacchanti sattva-sth all, and it is for all. The Lord is engaging
madhye tihanti rjas in a loving search for the lost servants.
jaghanya-gua-vtti-sth As the Lord searches for His servants,
adho gacchanti tmas you also have the tendency to search
(Bhagavad-g^t 14.18) for Him.
The good go upwards (as far as We can take some help from the
Satyaloka); the passionate remain in the ground, like a small child trying to walk
middle (in the human plane); and the for the first time. In the beginning he falls
ignorant must fall (to the hellish regions). down, but taking the help of the ground
So those who remain in those par- he again stands, regains confidence and
ticular qualities will receive a corre- finally, after a few attempts, begins to
sponding result. But the Lord says, man- walk. When the same child grows, he
62
Our Super Benefit
may well be able to run the four-minute senses reacting with their objects give
mile. He gets such strength. Similarly, the sensations of cold and heat, pleasure
we live in this world, and taking what and pain. But they are all temporary,
help we can get in this world we can always coming and going. So tolerate
begin to walk on the path of the life of them, O Bhrata.
Devotion for the Supreme Goal. Then When joy comes, it is followed by
we can have our super benefit. We need sorrow. After the sun rises, it later sets;
to invite the attitude to want to do good again it rises, again it sets. So happiness
for others. In that way we will get our comes, then sadness; after sadness again
own benefit and we shall be able to do comes happiness. There is no shortage
good for the entire world. Viva pra- of happiness in this world. It will come
sukhyate. We want to be able to live our automatically. But when we have attained
lives and maintain our families through this human form of life, and when we
our Service without exploiting others, have heard about the Supreme Lord
and automatically we shall see that no Ka and come to know a little about
burden will ever come to us. His Holy Abode through the Scriptures
If we are not the cause for the birth and the association of devotees, we
of others, then we, acordingly, will not shall get the aspiration to find our own
be born. This is also thought out by home, the soil of the soul. If we simply
many brahmacr^s, so they avoid mar- make the attempt to proceed to that
riage and go on in life as free men. But Transcendental World we will come to
those who marrythey also have their our natural position.
religious life. Actually, according to the We all know that none of us can
Scriptures they hold the highest position remain in this world. We all have to leave
in the world of religious thought because one day. But if we only once aspire to
they are the maintainers of all the other proceed to our own home, we will get
ramas, the religious categories into much opportunity. The Lord will surely
which humankind is divided. So from bless us. The Lord says that even if one
whatever position you may be in now, dies before completing his spiritual
you can start on the journey towards practising life, in the next life he will
Kaloka. You are already in the life of be given a higher position (uc^n
searching for happiness and preventing r^mat gehe yoga-bhrao bhijyate).
unhappiness, but it is already the law of One who only once makes the attempt
nature of this world that joy and sorrow for auspiciousness is never a victim of
will come and go automatically. inauspiciousness (na hi kalya-kt
kacid durgati tta gacchati). He can
mtr-spars tu kaunteya
progress to a higher and higher destiny.
^toa-sukha-duka-d
The Wisdom of the G^t is so beauti-
gampyino nitys
ful. Everything needed to be known, for
ts titikasva bhrata
everyone, is found there. This is why the
(Bhagavad-g^t 2.14)
G^t is preached throughout the world.
O son of Kunt^, the contact of the The elevated saintly persons declare that
63
r^ G^t is the entry standard for spiritual hearts will graciously manifest Himself
life. If one can first properly appreciate the Lord and His Name are identical:
the G^t, then he can aspire for a higher
nma-cintmai
position; it is like passing the entrance
ka-caitanya-rasa-vigraha
examination before entering college.
pra uddho nitya-mukto
Everybodys primary benefit is to be
bhinnatvn nma-nmino
found, therefore, in the G^t.
(Padmapura)
I thank you all very much for giving
me this time today. By the wish of all The Holy Name Ka is the wish-
you devotees, by your grace, I came here fulfilling Gem, Ka Himself, the Living
today, so I must try to give you some- Form of Ecstasy, the Absolute Whole,
thing. Please go on together chanting Transcendental to My, the Eternal
the Holy Name of the Lord, Harinma- Independent; because, the Name and
sak^rttana, and from this, all Transcen- the Named are identical.
dental Knowledge will be revealed in So by the Grace of the Supreme
your hearts. Harinma-sak^rttana is Lord we have today this opportunity to
the yuga-dharmma of Religion for the chant His Holy Name, and we shall do
age, and if you continue happily with that for the auspicious conclusion of this
this, the Lord who is already within your meeting.
64
8
Everyones Real Friend
At the end of a gathering in Mauritius. A short talk given
by
His Holiness r^pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj
We are very fortunate to have had Govinda Mahrj. For this reason I, and
the opportunity in Mauritius to hear from others, many times invited him to travel
r^la Govinda Mahrj. In a very simple around the world. It is therefore a special
and charming way he has delivered to us event for me that he has kindly taken
some words about Ka consciousness. me with him on these travels.
As it was mentioned by a respected guest Here in Mauritius we have all had
earlier today, I see r^la A. C. Bhakti- the opportunity to hear how r^la Mahrj
vednta Prabhupda in r^la Govinda has given us a very happy idea about
Mahrj. This is no accident, because serving Ka. He has also expressed
r^la Prabhupda and r^la Govinda much appreciation for this lovely country.
Mahrj are very intimately connected. The Vaiavas never say, I am
For many years in India they lived togeth- Guru. They never show themselves
er, and r^la Govinda Mahrj was as being superior to us. r^la Mahrj
like a son to r^la Prabhupda. He said, always said, I am a simple man. r^la
I consider Govinda Mahrj as my most Prabhupda was a great Guru, but I am
beloved son, actually. a simple man and I do not know if I
It was from r^la Prabhupda that can do such big things.
r^la Govinda Mahrj studied r^mad But gradually from all over the world
Bhagavad-g^t. r^la Prabhupda himself people came to r^la Guru Mahrjs
studied from r^la Govinda Mahrjs home, r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah in
Guru, r^la r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj. Nabadw^p, and as they went back to
So these three form a very intimate their own homes around the world they
group. also felt, We need such a teacher.
After r^la Prabhupda left the world Consequently they sent more and
in 1977 we had r^la r^dhar Mahrj to more invitations. The result is that now,
guide and shelter us. We all felt the need like r^la Prabhupda, r^la Govinda
that after r^la r^dhar Mahrjs disap- Mahrj is doing these same things and
pearance there would be someone to is spreading the exalted teachings of the
continue presenting these teachings in a r^ Rpnuga Sampradya around the
genuine and authentic way. I knew from world.
both r^la Prabhupda and r^la r^dhar The Vaiava, the devotee of God,
Mahrj that the person would be r^la the devotee of Ka, is the real friend of
65
all living beings and of all human society. childhood and through our youth-hood,
He is their natural friend, and he has no it will stay with us eternally. In such a
enemy in the world. He gives us the way we shall have a start in life and we
teachings of how we also can became shall have some purpose.
Vaiavas. Vaiava means the servant In French there is a nice expression,
of God, Viu. One who belongs to raison dtre. We must have raison
Viu is called a Vaiava. Vaiavas are dtre, we must have a goal in life, we
not sectarian religionists. must have a purpose in life, not only
Dharmma is often translated as eating. When we are hungry we can
religion. But dharmma comes from the only think about eating, and when
original root word dhri which means to we are tired we can only think about
hold. It means that our very nature, the sleeping. Later on we may marry and
substantial part that holds us in our life, have a family and we may have to fight
is dharmma. Vaiava-dharmma is our for our family and for our country.
original nature, and it is also called But these things alone are not every-
jaiva-dharmma. Jaiva comes from the thing. There is raison dtre. There is a
word j^va. As r^la Govinda Mahrj reason for living, beyond and above our
explained here, the j^va is the soul; that bodily existence.
is, you and I. We are souls, and our r^la Mahrj has pointed out to us
nature is to serve God, to serve Ka. that we are not this body. The person in
But now our original spiritual nature has this body goes from boyhood to youth
become covered by mundane associa- to old age. An old person once had a
tion, the material world. Therefore the young body, but in both bodies he is the
Vaiava saints come from time to time same person, the same soul. Similarly
to awaken us to our original natural self you were also in a young babys body,
of being a servant of Ka. In Bengali now you are in a young ladys or gentle-
this is called j^vera svarpa haya mans body. Your body will become
kera nitya-dsa. We are not only ser- older and old, but you are the same
vants of Ka in the morning or in the person. From young, to being youthful,
evening, but eternally. Eternal means to adult, to older, you are the same
that there is no beginning, and no person; only the body is changing. And
end. It is our natural position to serve that person is spiritual. He or she is
Him, and we can serve Him through j^vtm, a living soul. The soul is spiri-
the mercy and grace of the Vaiava tual and has some spiritual work to do,
teachers like r^la Govinda Mahrj. some spiritual function to do, and that is
Service to Ka is the most natural service to God.
function of the soul. It is not a matter of It is r^la Mahrjs observation, and
converting anybody from this religion also mine by his grace, that in Mauritius
to that religion. It is already the natural you all naturally have that Godly heart.
function within the soul of all beings. It is a very happy thing to see, because
And, as r^la Mahrj has kindly told your future will be very great and bright.
us, if we start this knowledge from our When r^la Prabhupda came here it
66
Everyones Real Friend
was reported that he said, This country the association of r^la Prabhupda, we
can all become Vaiavas. They can all are now so lucky to have r^la Bhakti
become devotees of God. He had that Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj.
vision to see. And r^la Govinda Mahrj He is carrying the same current. He is a
also has told us like that. He feels very personality of the same soil, the same
much happy and at home here. land. He can, and is, giving us these
Just as we were so fortunate to have teachings.
67
r^ r^ Guru Gaurgau jayata
Appendix I
chryya-charaa-vandana
Glorification of r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
Composed (and translated) by His Holiness r^pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj
jaya r^la mahrja cararavinda

r^ bhakti sundara deva-goswm^ govinda [1]
jagatera sumagala karibra e
tumi avat^ra hail snigdha guru-vee [2]
praphulla nalina yena hsimkh mukha
dekhi vddha-bla-yuv pya mah-sukha [3]
svadee-videe harinmera pracre
abhinava gaura-preme bhsle sabre [4]
r^-kare lekhan^ yena ananta phowr
sumadhura divyav^-vigalita-dhr [5]
su-siddhnta-dhrdhara satya sugambh^ra
r^-guru-vaiava-sev-niha mahdh^ra [6]
sdhu-priya saralat tomra bhaa
amn^ mnada sad miha-sambhaa [7]
guru-mahrja yatirja-rjevara
r^-bhakti-rakaka deva-goswm^ r^dhara [8]
parama santua tava virambha-sevya
nija-hte vyssane vasla tomya [9]
sukhe manon^ta kail uttardhikr^
ehena aprvva sneha kotho n heri [10]
rpa-sarasvat^-r^dhar-dhr-srotasvin^
tava hde vahe sad bhuvana pvan^ [11]
^va-guru-sakaraa karu-nilaya
nitynanda-rpe tava hde vilasaya [12]
sujana sudh^ra-gaa tava gua-gya
durbhg vacita apardhe mare hya [13]
guru-gaura-ka-sev-saubhgya-prake
snande sgara bhse sak^rttana rse [14]
68
All Glories to the Divine Master and
the Supreme Lord r^ Ka-Chaitanya
chryya-charaa-vandana
Glory to the Lotus Feet of our r^ Gurudeva

r^ Bhakti Sundara Deva-Goswm^ Govinda. [1]
Wishing Grace Divine upon the whole of the creation,
From Goloka came thee down, most Gracious Incarnation. [2]
Hundred-petalled lotus flowerLotus Face ablooming,
Young and old behold thee, all their hearts joy overflowing. [3]
Both home and abroad Lords Hallowed Name thou art apreaching,
Flood of Love for Gaura entire planet inundating. [4]
Benedictine fountain from thy pen in hand awriting,
Sweetest songs of Love Divine a flow is never ending. [5]
Agent of the Waves of Perfect Truthfathomless ocean,
Serve r^ Guru and Vaiava! thy lifes dedication. [6]
Truthful heart adored by saintsthy natural compassion,
Always humble, giving honour, in sweet conversation. [7]
Guru Mahrj of Nys^ Kings the Great Grandfather,
r^ Bhakti Rakaka Deva-Goswm^ r^dhara [8]
Satisfied supremely with thy Service dedicated,
By his own hand did he place thee on his chair exalted. [9]
Joyfully as his successor he hath thee achosen,
Such benign affection neer we find in all creation. [10]
Rpa-Saraswat^-r^dhar River flowing freely
From thy heart throughout the world makes everything so Holy. [11]
Supreme God of Good our Guide, compassions Divine Treasure
Ever plays within thy heart as Nitynandas Pleasure. [12]
Faithfully the true devotees sing thy Supreme Glories,
Lost, deluded souls dishonour thee, alas! and perish. [13]
By thy Grace shall we now serve our Lord and Golden Master,
Sgara exults in thy Sweet Chanting Dance forever. [14]
Tridaibhiku r^ Bhakti nanda Sgar

ri Gaura-Purim
8th March,1993
69
Appendix II
Chanting the Mahmantra
From The Search for r^ Ka, Reality the Beautiful
by
His Divine Grace r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj
Before chanting the Holy Name of Ka, we must first chant the Paca-tattva Mantra:
r^ Ka-Chaitanya, Prabhu Nitynanda

r^ Advaita, Gaddhara, r^vsdi Gaura-bhakta-vnda
The Paca-tattva, or five features of the Absolute Truth, came to give the Hare Ka
Mahmantra to the fallen devotees of this age, so they are the general representation
of Guru for us. They help us to enter into the domain of Ka and also the plane of r^
Chaitanya Mahprabhu.
After chanting the Paca-tattva Mantra, we should chant the Mahmantra:
Hare Ka Hare Ka
Ka Ka Hare Hare
Hare Rma Hare Rma
Rma Rma Hare Hare
This Harinma Mahmantra is found in the Upaniads, as well as in the Agni
Pura and the Brahma Pura. In the Kalisantaraa Upaniad, it is recom-
mended as the highest Mantra, and the scholars have mentioned this Mantra as a
means of address only; no appeal should be attached to that. This Hare Ka Mah-
mantra is the yuga dharmma nma, or the process of God realisation especially
meant for the present age: Kali-yuga. We find the Mahmantra mentioned everywhere
in the Puras. This Mantra can be chanted silently, mentally, or aloud. It has been
given to us by Mahprabhu as the general recommendation for the fallen souls.
He has given it for all, whether they are qualfied or unqualified. The only condition for
receiving it is raddh, faith.
oooo
70
Appendix III
Daa-vidha Nmpardha
The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
(to be carefully avoided by the devotees)
by His Divine Grace
(Translated from the original Bengali by r^pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj)
Hare Ka Mahmantra The Vedas with Mother Gyatr^

of all mantras the best, and r^mad-Bhgavatam
Throughout the world is preached Illuminate the lotus feet
by saints potent grace behest; of r^ Haris name;
Such saints to the Name devoted, Whoever vilifies
such pure souls great: those Holy Vedic Scriptures
Never dare offend them Never keep their company,
never show them hate. know them as offenders.

Lord Ka, son of Nanda, The glories of the Name
of all lords the Leader all Scriptures exaltation;
The great iva and all the gods Dare not think their praise
serve His feet forever; to be exaggeration.
The touchstone of the Name Agastya, Ananta, Brahm,
is Ka incarnate iva, etc., ever
His pastimes, nature, form, also Sing the glories of that Name
think not separate. with full-hearted fervour.
Who can cross the ocean
Gurus a form of Ka of the glories of that Name?
the Scriptures corroborate; Whoever says exaggeration
In the form of Guru, have their sin to blame.
Ka blesses the fortunate.
Never offend that Guru The Holy Names of Ka
by thinking him mere mortal; eternal wealth of Goloka:
Gain your highest objective Who thinks those Names imaginary,
serve the Name for time eternal. mundanehes offender.

71
All Scriptures claim the Name Despite them hearing the infinite
all sin it can destroy, glories of Kas Name,
But those who spend their time in sin Those whose hearts dont melt in love
making it a ploy are rascals of ill fame;
Such a wicked attitude Only pride and avarice
is that of an offender their thoughts and deeds do yield
Deceived by illusion, The Pure Name of Ka
perpetually to suffer. to them is neer revealed.

Incomparable Name of Ka Casting off these ten offences,
the treasure of ecstasy: leaving no exception,
Never dare compare it with Those pure souls who chant the Name
auspicious piety. in Holy Congregation
The miracle of love for Ka
Those whore faithless tward the Name they will surely savour,
deceived by Providence: The Name Divine Himself will shine
Giving them the Holy Name within their hearts forever.
surelys an offence.
(Tridai-bhiku r^
Bhakti Sundar Govinda)
72
Publications available
from
r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah, Nabadw^p
Website: http://www.scsmath.com
i) By and about r^la B.R. r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj

Search for r^ KaReality the Beautiful
r^ Guru and His Grace
The Golden Volcano of Divine Love
r^mad Bhagavad-g^t(The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute)
Loving Search for the Lost Servant
r^-r^ Prapanna-j^vanmtam (Positive and Progressive Immortality)
Subjective Evolution(The Play of the Sweet Absolute)
The Guardian of Devotion
Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Vols. I, II, III, IV
Home ComfortAn Introduction to Inner Fulfilment
Holy Engagement
Exclusive Guardianship(Concise Conclusions of Devotional Life)
Absolute Harmony
r^ K^rtana Majua(The Treasure Chest of Divine K^rtanas)
r^ r^ Prema Dhma Deva Stotram
r^ Gau^ya Daran 1983-88, & 91
The Mahmantra
Ocean of Nectar
Words from the Guardian of Devotion
ii) By and about r^la B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj

The Divine Servitor
Dignity of the Divine Servitor
Golden Reflections
Divine Message for the Devotees
r^ Gau^ya Daran 1989, 90, 92
iii) Various
r^ Brahm-sahit
The Bhgavata (r^la Bhaktivinod hkura)
r^ Chaitanya MahprabhuHis Life and Precepts (r^la Bhaktivinod hkura)
r^ Nabadw^p Bhavataraga (r^la Bhaktivinod hkura)
Relative Worlds (r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkura)
r^ Chaitanya Saraswat^(The Voice of r^ Chaitanyadev)
Omni-Science oooo
r^ Vaiava Toshani
Counterpoint Publications are also available in
Kalyan Kalpataru (Magazine) Bengali, Dutch, Hindi, Hungarian,
Guardian of Devotion (Calcutta Publication) German, Italian, Orian,Portuguese,
K^rttan Guide Spanish, Swedish, and Tamil.
Vaiava Calendar
oooo oooo
73

What we need are good friends and
association. Then we can proceed happily.
And the other factor is that if our surrender is
perfect, then from the upper level faith will
come to us and protect us. If someone is fully
surrendered to Ka in His form as Guru or
sdhu, then Ka will certainly protect him.
He must protect him.

A teacher is always necessary,
whether we reach a very junior class,
a senior class, or a higher class. Even if we
want to eat something, there also a teacher is
necessary. Guidance is always necessary!
Guidance is always good for everyone.


The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration: His Divine Grace ÇR La Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswåm Mahåråj

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration: His Divine Grace ÇR La Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswåm Mahåråj

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration: His Divine Grace ÇR La Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswåm Mahåråj

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

All Glories to r^ Guru and r^ Gaurga

The Benedictine Tree

Compiled for the satisfaction of

His Divine Grace

Printed in India, 1993

Edited by: Mahananda Das Bhakti Rajan

With special mention to many. In particular:

Appendix III Daa-vidha Nmpardha 71

Interviewer (Q): Please tell us some- and he is an expert adjuster. He only

o ajna-timirndhasya possible he tried to come. And he came

*See Appendix II *See Appendix III

*No gambling; no intoxication; no illicit sex; and no meat eating.

Why have I come here to the West? ahakra-nivttn

*See Appendix III

Honourable teachers, respectable authorities as the authentic treatise

o ajna-timirndhasya My dear honourable faithful souls,

jaya r^la mahrja cararavinda

Glory to the Lotus Feet of our r^ Gurudeva

Tridaibhiku r^ Bhakti nanda Sgar

r^ Ka-Chaitanya, Prabhu Nitynanda

Hare Ka Mahmantra The Vedas with Mother Gyatr^

i) By and about r^la B.R. r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj

ii) By and about r^la B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj

You might also like

See Appendix II See Appendix III