CONTENTS:
- SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 3.5.12 (PART - 6) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 3.5.12 (PART - 6) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
SB 3.5.12
munir vivakṣur bhagavad-guṇānāṁ
sakhāpi te bhāratam āha kṛṣṇaḥ
yasmin nṛṇāṁ grāmya-sukhānuvādair
matir gṛhītā nu hareḥ kathāyām
TRANSLATION
Your friend the great sage Krishna-dvaipayana Vyasa has already described the transcendental qualities of the Lord in his great work the Mahabharata. But the whole idea is to draw the attention of the mass of people to Krishna-katha [Bhagavad-gita] through their strong affinity for hearing mundane topics.
Q: Who is more merciful Krishna or Balarama and when Lord comes as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
A: When Balarama sees that this is the mood that Krishna has assumed then he says, ok, let me help Him all the way. If this is what Krishna wants then let me help Him all the way therefore Balarama’s mercy is even greater than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy is greater because He is assisting. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is merciful but Nityananda Prabhu is even more merciful because he is assisting Him in this pastime.
Question unclear
A: Just as Prabhupada has mentioned that when you develop Krishna prema what actually happens is Krishna appears and in the light of Krishna you see everything. Like when the sun comes up. Then you don’t have to imagine about your form you can just stand in front of a mirror and see yourself. Similarly, when we become pure and in that pure consciousness which means Krishna consciousness. If your consciousness is self-consciousness or selfish consciousness that is the impure state of consciousness. Pure consciousness is Krishna consciousness, Krishna centred consciousness Krishna centred consciousness you see everything, you see everybody. In Krishna centred consciousness you see yourself in relation to Krishna and that identity of yours is your swarup. Self-centred consciousness means body consciousness and we see everything through the body, whatever the body is going through, whatever relationships we have gone through the body, you are seeing everything in the light of the body through our senses and that is the material consciousness. When you see everything where Krishna is the centre then that is Krishna Consciousness.
Q: Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu unlike Krishna He and we worship Lord Chaitanya so do we still have to surrender to Krishna?
A: Surrender we have to in any condition whether it is to Krishna or to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or to Nityananda Prabhu or to Radharani, spiritual master or to Vaishnavas. SURRENDER IS A MUST. Without surrender spiritual life is not possible. As far as offenses are concerned there are no offense on the spiritual plane, in the real spiritual platform there is no offense. There may be fights but there is no offense. But at the same time, we should be careful not to commit any offenses. On our part we become very concerned about not committing offenses always and at the same time we just become absorbed in our devotional service. When it comes to devotional service then offense no offense that becomes developed, that time when you absorbed in service there is no time to think of offense no offense.
The mood of a devotee is for the sake of my service if I have to commit an offense then what to do? For the sake of my service if I have to go to hell I will go to hell. But the point is when we become absorbed in such mood of service then there is no room for offense. We notice sometimes that while rendering service we can’t worry so much about offenses and the mood id for the sake of rendering service if I have to commit some offense I don’t care, my service is what really matters. Especially I notice when it comes to guarding, protecting the institution that Srila Prabhupada gave us sometimes we apparently exposed to offenses we have to say things about what is happening and is hurting our movement and we have to speak up. If we say of, I don’t want to commit offense then what will happen? They will completely destroy this society.
If you see somebody has come to steal and you say if I shout, I will commit offense better I keep quiet and the people steal everything, so better shout, and make everybody know. Sometimes consider a dog is inside the house, the dog barks, even when friends of the master come the dog barks but does the friend take offense? No because he knows that is the duty of the dog and the master comes and pats the dog. If we become too concerned about offenses then we forget our responsibility. The mood should be for the sake of rendering my service if I should go to hell I am prepared to go. The example of the Gopis when Narada muni came for the dust from their feet to offer to Krishna, they gave without hesitation and Narada muni told them they would go to hell and they said so what, we are prepared to go to hell as long as Krishna is happy and pleased.
Question unclear?
A: Devotees should be humble. Don’t think that you have become a devotee that you have become above others. Become more humble than a blade of grass. If you have to control the crowd then do it in a proper way. Even if you have to stand in a queue of a mile or two long, there is no room for hustling or bustling. My general request and instruction to all of you when people come to the temple treat them like your honoured guest, they are coming to Krishna’s temple not your father’s house, treat them like they are coming to Krishna’s temple and you are Krishna’s servant, they are Krishna’s guest. If you have to crowd control the make the proper arrangements and don’t unnecessarily get into arguments like that. In the name of service if nonsense is going on that should not be tolerated.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Srila Prabhupada spoke for quite a while, urging me to surrender to Krishna. Finally, he told me, “Just offer this life to Krishna and see what happens. Even if nothing happens, what is the loss? After all, it is just one life out of so many.”
In my mind, I vowed, Yes Srila Prabhupada, I am offering myself to you, I know that if I do that I will achieve the ultimate perfection of my existence.
(Excerpt from page 89 of Ocean of Mercy, book written by HH Bhakti Charu Swami)
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
- When you see everything where Krishna is the centre then that is Krishna Consciousness.
- SURRENDER IS A MUST. Without surrender spiritual life is not possible;
- The mood should be for the sake of rendering my service if I should go to hell I am prepared to go;
- Devotees should be humble. Don’t think that you have become a devotee that you have become above others. Become more humble than a blade of grass; and
- When people come to the temple treat them like your honoured guest, they are coming to Krishna’s temple not your father’s house, treat them like they are coming to Krishna’s temple and you are Krishna’s servant, they are Krishna’s guest.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 26 August 2008 in ISKCON Ujjain)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)