CONTENTS:
- The History of our Vaishnava heritage part 4;
- Srila Prabhupada's Appreciation; and
- Guru Maharaja’s instructions.
1. THE HISTORY OF OUR VAISHNAVA HERITAGE- PART 4
Hare Krishna. I see that many of you were not here yesterday so I will briefly describe what we discussed yesterday because it is quite important. Yesterday, we discussed the foundation or heritage of our movement. Yesterday, we considered that Vaishnavism is not a new movement, it is actually the eternal movement, and it exists eternally because even in this world Vaishnavism started when Krishna imparted the knowledge to Brahma so we can see right from the beginning of creation Vaishnavism existed. We can even go back in the spiritual sky every living entity is a Vaishnava. A living entity in his constitutional position is a Vaishnava, only when a living entity becomes conditioned, he ceases to be a Vaishnava. In order to make us Vaishnavas again Krishna gives the knowledge to Brahma. The Vedas that Krishna gave to Brahma in the beginning of creation was simply to give the living entities the opportunity to become a Vaishnava again. Then we considered that there are different developments of our spiritual life and ultimately one becomes a pure devotee. To become a devotee is not enough, when one becomes a devotee and he has desire for enjoying this material nature then he remains a mixed devotee, mixed with his fruitive desires and then when he gets fed up with this material nature and wants to get out of this material nature by attaining liberation that stage of devotion is known as devotion mixed with knowledge jnana misra bhakti but when one becomes free from the desire from enjoying this material nature and desiring liberation then he becomes a pure devotee. It is a pure devotee who is identified as a Vaishnava. For example, demi-gods in heaven are also devotees of Narayana but do we classify them as pure devotee. No why not? Because they are mixed with the fruitive desires, they are devotees submissive to Narayana, worshipping Narayana, dependent upon Narayana but in order to get material facilities so that is why demi-gods are not considered to be pure devotees.
In that level the pure devotees are like Lord Shiva who has transcended the platform of the demi-gods, he doesn’t have any desire for liberation or sense enjoyment that is why on that level Lord Shiva is considered to be the greatest devotee but then again Lord Shiva is not the greatest devotee. The residents of Vaikuntha are even greater devotees than Lord Shiva. In Vaikuntha there are different grades of devotees and ultimately the devotees of Krishna in Vrindavan are the greatest devotees. Among all of the pure devotees they are the highest because of the intensity of their love for Krishna. This is what we are going to discuss in this seminar. The objective of this seminar is to recognize the very important aspect of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s gift is extremely unique and even more unique is the gift of Srila Prabhupada. So ultimately, we will come to that point and this is the history of our heritage. The spiritual life that we are pursuing is truly the highest, the best but it is not just a vain and sentimental claim it is factual. This is the purpose of our discussion in this class.
So today, we will give out some notes of yesterday and today’s discussions at the end of the class but do take notes and listen very carefully now. Yesterday, although we established pure devotion through the example of Vritrasura. Isn’t it amazing that here is a demon, Vritrasura was a demon but the description from the Srimad Bhagavatam we find that he was the greatest devotee, one of the most wonderful devotees? Apparently, he is a demon but at heart he is a wonderful devotee, most pure devotee. Yesterday, we did not discuss but I added a few verses from Srimad Bhagavatam just the English translations of the verses you’ll find and from that you will see how pure Vritrasura actually was, how pure was his devotion to Krishna and as a result of that how detached he had become from all material attachments.
Today, we will start off with the point, what are we pursuing? The process that we are pursuing what it actually is. Vaishnavism is known as Sanatanadharma. Sanatana means eternal religion, although it is translated as eternal religion but dharma and religion are not exactly the same thing. Religion is not the exact synonym for dharma. The Sanskrit word dharma means the inherent characteristics of a substance. Like in Sanskrit according to this description it will be described that liquidity is the dharma of water. Now wherever there is water there is liquid, isn’t it? Heat and light are the dharma of fire. Wherever there is fire will you find heat and light? Can you separate heat and light from fire? No, they are inherent in the substance fire. Dharma actually means the inherent characteristics of the substance. Now consider when the inherent characteristic change then the substance is also identified in a different way. Like when water becomes solid do you call it water? No what do you call it? Ice. So when the characteristic changes the substance is not identified the same way. Similarly, when water becomes vaporized then do, we call it water? No, we call it water vapor. When the liquidity is lost then water is not identified as water. This is the meaning of dharma. Now spirit soul is a substance and the inherent characteristics of the spirit soul are the dharma of the spirit soul and since the spirit soul is eternal the dharma of the spirit soul is also eternal. Sounds logical?
That is why it is called Sanatana-dharma, the eternal religion. Wherever there is a spirit soul what do we find? What is the inherent characteristic of the spirit soul? The inherent characteristic of the spirit soul is love. Wherever there is a spirit soul there is love. However, that love is meant to be directed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why? Because, the living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a part and parcel naturally a living entity is supposed to be connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The part’s existence lies in being connected to the whole. My finger is a part of my body if the finger is cut off from the body does it have any utility? No but when the finger is connected to the body then it is so important. Similarly, the utility of a living entities existence lies in being connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The factor that connects the living entity to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is love. Love is a force that unites. Hatred separates and love unites. If we want to be connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose parts and parcels we are then it is through love that we become connected to Him. Every living entity has this love, love actually is a spiritual energy and the source of this energy is Srimati Radharani. Love is the energy that unites us with Krishna. Love is the energy that connects us to Krishna and that energy is there is everyone’s heart. Wherever there is a living entity there is love and the cultivation of this love and applying this love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Sanatanadharma or the eternal inherent quality of a living entity. When we speak of Vaishnavism or Sanatanadharma we don’t really speak of a religion we speak of our inherent characteristic. Every living entity is meant is to be connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead whether he is Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jewish irrespective of that every living entity whether he is a human being or a lion or tiger, snake, bird or a reptile or a tree, every living entity has this propensity, has this tendency. The utility of his existence lies in developing or applying this love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a living entity successfully does that than his existence has become successful. This is how a living entity becomes free from material bondage.
In order to teach this the Lord has given the Vedas. The purpose of giving the Vedas is simply to let a living entity understand how to develop his loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are gradual developments like in the beginning that comes in the form of karma-kanda, for a conditioned soul the application comes in the form of karma-kanda fulfilling his desires to enjoy this material nature. Jnana-kanda the liberation from material bondage and finally it comes to pure devotional service. This line of pure devotional service actually started from Brahma to Narada. Brahma received the Vedas but Vedas branched off in two directions one is the karma-kanda and jnanakanda sections towards the materialistic direction and the other is the Bhagavad parampara which is going to the spiritual sky. When the Vedas are directed towards the spiritual sky then it is Bhagavad. When the Vedas are applied in the material direction it comes one side of the coin is karma-kanda and the other side of the coin is jnana-kanda. One side of the coin is how to enjoy this material nature and the other side of the coin is how to get out of this bondage of this material nature. Both karma-kanda and jnana-kanda enjoyment of material nature and liberation from material bondage, both are two sides of the same coin and both are dealing with the material nature. Pure devotion is dealing with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and our relationship with Him.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA’S APPRECIATION
Prabhupada used to stay up through the nights, Prabhupada used to sleep only for two to three hours at night and used the rest of the time to translate his books. To dictate the words of the previous Acharyas and Vedas in the most palatable and sublime way and in the simplest way that anybody can understand a simple fact that beyond this material nature there is a spiritual reality. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the center of that reality and we all came from the spiritual sky.
Just consider had you not have got Srila Prabhupada’s books could you have become a devotee? At least I can say with all sincerity that I couldn’t have become a devotee if I hadn’t received Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada’s books gave me the words and knowledge about another reality and that is why I am here today. I can say with all sincerity that today I feel that my life has become sucessful because I have found this way. For the last forty years I have been practising the process and never was there a moment when I felt that I made a mistake rather at every moment I felt that this was the ultimate perfection of my existence.
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Hare Krishna. So you all are getting excited about this opportunity to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada’s books are very very important. This world is suffering and going through a very critical condition and although many so called leaders are coming and giving different ideas and hopes but we know that none of them will be able to solve the problems of this world. The only thing that can solve the problems of this world is Krishna Consciousness. Krishna Consciousness is founded on Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada’s books aretherefore the key to the solution to the problems of this world. So please take this opportunity to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. The other day I was talking to one devotee about the importance of Srila Prabhupada’s books and I just pointed out to him that these books are actually carrying the message of the spiritual world. When we give out these books people are actually getting an opportunity to perceive, to see the spiritual world.So let them see what the spiritual world is like. Let them see how to go back to the spiritual world. Let them recognise the importance and benefit of going back to the spiritual world. So when we are giving these books to them we are actually opening the gate to the spiritual sky to them. That is why Srila Prabhupada was so concerned about distribution of his books. Prabhupada used to stay up through the nights, Prabhupada used to sleep only for two to three hours at night and used the rest of the time to translate his books. To dictate the words of the previous Acharyas and Vedas in the most palatable and sublime way and in the simplest way that anybody can understand a simple fact that beyond this material nature there is a spiritual reality. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the center of that reality and we all came from the spiritual sky. So this is a wonderful opportunity where the whole world is vibrant and rejoicing this ocassion of Christmas and New Year. Let us take this opportunity to show the the way to really enjoy and that real enjoyment is in receiving Krishna Consciousness and accepting Krishna Consciousness and practising Krishna Consciousness in order to become qualified to go back to the spiritual world. You are all very very sincere devotees, you have all accepted Krishna Consciousness wholeheartedly and now please give it out to others so that they can benefit. Just consider had you not have got Srila Prabhupada’s books could you have become a devotee? At least I can say with all sincerity that I couldn’t have become a devotee if I hadn’t received Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada’s books gave me the words and knowledge about another reality and that is why I am here today. I can say with all sincerity that today I feel that my life has become sucessful because I have found this way. For the last forty years I have been practising the process and never was there a moment when I felt that I made a mistake rather at every moment I felt that this was the ultimate perfection of my existence. I am sure you are all feeling the same way that Krishna Consciousness gave the ultimate perfection and now give this opportunity to everybody else to fulfill the purpose of their existence and become Krishna Conscious. Thank you all very much and I wish you all the best. Happy book distribution marathon. Gaura Premanande Hari Haribol! (Video posted on Facebook on 1 December 2022)
(The content of this E-magazine was based on a Seminar Given By HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja Entitled: “The History Of Our Vaishnava Heritage”)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Dasi)