CONTENTS:
- Siksastakam Part 2 (verse 1),
- Srila Prabhupada's Appreciation; and
- Guru Maharaja’s instructions.
1. SIKSASTAKAM PART 2 (VERSE 1)
Keshava Kashmiri’s benediction
Keshava Kashmiri actually had a benediction from Sarasvati that Saravati would always remain on his tongue, that means whatever he would say would be a manifestation of Saravati’s mercy. Keshava Kashmiri went back and he started to cry, “you had to embarrass me in this way that I had to accept defeat from a young boy.” Sarasvati appeared to him and said, “Keshava, your learning, wisdom and scholarship has achieved this perfection today. The personality who defeated you is even my master, Krishna, Himself.” This is how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu defeated Keshava Kashmiri and established Himself as the greatest scholar.
Isn’t it interesting to know
Mahaprabhu Himself wrote only eight verses, today we will only cover the first verse. How many of you already know these verses? Please make it a point to memorize these verses. Isn’t it important the eight written verses by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the only thing that Mahaprabhu left in written form? Now that we have it, we can understand how important these eight verses must be. What do these eight verses do? These eight verses actually describe the characteristics of the Holy Name and the effect of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. What is the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra? What is the benefit and effect of chanting the Maha Mantra? What happens when you chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra? That has been described through these eight verses. The first verse is like the introduction to the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. What does the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra do? What the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is? The first verse is describing what does the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra do? When we chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra what happens? Isn’t it interesting to know?
Mirror of your mind is cleansed
Chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra has seven effects. The first effect is when you chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra the mirror of your mind is cleansed. Mirror of your mind or your consciousness, it becomes purified. Why mind has been specifically mentioned here ceto can mean mind or consciousness, like cetana, those of you who know Sanskrit or Hindi what is the word for consciousness? Cetana. This mind, why mind because in the material nature, in our material condition our consciousness is flowing through the mind. Our consciousness is projected through the mind, through the senses into this material nature.
When we perceive something with our five senses, all our sense perceptions are limited to these five senses. Does the reception take place only through the senses? No through the mind. For example, there is a light here in front of your eyes, the light is lit but until I said the light is there did you see it? Although your eyes are open and the light is coming into this room from this light source but were you aware of it? No. Why not? Because your mind was not connected to that. But now that you are aware of it, you look at it and your mind is tuned into it you are registering it. Registration of our sense perception takes place through our mind. According to the Vedic understanding mind is an internal sense. We have five external senses: eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue and one internal sense and that internal sense is the mind. Our consciousness is flowing through the mind, all our perceptions are taking place through the mind but it is something like a mirror. In a mirror you see a reflection. Your mind is there as a mirror. Can you see your face? In order to see your face, you need a mirror. Similarly, your consciousness is there but in order to register your consciousness you need your mind. Are we seeing ourselves through our consciousness?
False ego
What are we seeing? We are seeing a distorted concept of ourself which is known as false ego. Now if the mirror is dirty will you be able to see your face? If there are layers of dirt on the mirror, will you be able to see your face? Therefore, what is needed? To clean the mirror. When the mirror is clean all, you do is just wipe out the dust and the mirror becomes clean and you can see your face. Similarly, we are not able to see our real self. Why? Because our mind is dirty. So, what does the Holy Name do when you chant the Holy Name and take shelter of the Holy Name? The first thing it does is cleans the mirror of our mind and as a result of that we get to see ourselves. Ceto darpana-marjanam.
A mirage
Then what is the next effect of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra? bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam it extinguishes the forest fire of material existence. Our existence in the material nature has been compared to being in the middle of a forest fire. How will you feel if you are in the middle of a forest fire? You will be burnt. Will that be a very pleasing experience? Similarly, our situation in the material nature is like being in that forest fire. We are constantly burning; we are suffering so much in this material nature. Due to the illusory energy of the Lord, Maya, we are thinking that, “Oh this suffering is so wonderful.” This is the illusion; illusion means to consider something in a way that it is not. Like in a dessert the hot sun appears to be like water. A mirage, its actually hot sand but what impression are you getting? That is water. Is it water? No, it’s something else. Its diametrically opposed to water but we are thinking that it is water. Similarly, due to our illusion we are thinking that suffering is enjoyment, that is our condition in the material nature. So, when we chant the Holy Name of the Lord bhavamaha-davagni-nirvapanam this dangerous ocean of material existence which is like a huge forest fire is extinguished. nirvapanam means extinguished. You chant the Holy Name your suffering will be removed; it will go away.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Whenever Srila Prabhupada spoke to someone, especially someone important, he would remind him or her about the real solution to all our problems – acceptance of Krishna Consciousness, “Just surrender unto Krishna and try to serve Him,” he would say. “He will take care of you in all respects and provide for everything you need. Laksmi-devi will be so pleased with you that she will shower so much wealth with her four hands that you will not be able to receive it with your two”
(Excerpt from page 138 of Ocean of Mercy, a book written by HH Bhakti Charu Swami)
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Please make it a point to memorize these verses; and
You chant the Holy Name your suffering will be removed; it will go away.
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Dasi)