12 April 2020
Aim of our life is not to get free from lockdown, but from Maya.
Welcome to all of you. I’m also pleased to see all of you chanting from various places. We can see all the devotees on one screen after another. I’m also seeing you all, but you also would be seeing others. You will be experiencing that 1500 to 2000 devotees are chanting from 784 locations. This is very pleasing. This is very enlivening and inspirational news. When the Lord sees that all these devotees are chanting from these many locations and are having friendly dealings amongst each other then the Lord appears.
The same happened in the case of the Pracetās. They were 11 brothers. You all are also brothers and sisters. We are all Prabhupada’s family. They were also engaged in sadhana and absorbed in it. They were suhrd and friendly with each other.
suhrd sarva bhutanam
Suhrd means those who are good-hearted, and who love others and have a friendly nature. Seeing these friendly dealings between the Pracetas Vaikuntheshwar gave them darsana. And while giving the darsana the Lord said to them, ‘By seeing your suhrd (brotherly affection) and your absorption in sadhana, I’m giving you darsana.’
nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe
yogināṁ hṛdayeṣu vā
tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada
yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ
Translation:
“My dear Nārada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuṇṭha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogīs, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes, and qualities.”
Wherever my devotees are chanting, there I always reside. I might not be found in the hearts of yogis, in Vaikuntha, but wherever My devotees sing My glories there I can be found.
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca
Translation:
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.[ BG 10.9]
‘Wherever devotees get pleasure by getting absorbed in singing My glories at those places I stay, Oh Narada.’ So we chant together. Chanting together has the benefit that Maya can’t capture us. If we are alone she can capture us, but if we are together Visnu Maya runs away. Keep on doing kirtana and Japa on Zoom Conference. You can make your teams. You can do this in your family. The family that prays together stays together. Hare Krishna is a prayer and the effect will be that the family will stay together.
You have posted many reports in the morning. Revati Raman Prabhu from ISKCON Thane has written that they are distributing 22000 plates of prasada. The municipality is supplying the groceries. Devotees are cooking and distributing prasada packets. Solapur also distributed 1500 prasada packets. Prem Padmani chanted 64 rounds. Some devotee chanted 26 rounds, and a devotee from Gurgaon chanted 32 rounds. Kirtana is also happening every day at 5:00 p.m. Govardhan Prabhu from Delhi is doing kirtana daily. I had a zoom conference meeting with my disciples from New Jersey, America. They said that they are performing kirtana at 5 pm. It is spreading worldwide. We have taken a vow of doing Akhanda Harinam Sankirtan Yajna. Continue it daily at 5:00 p.m. Some of you are reporting that you are doing 1hour kirtana. It is welcomed – the more, the merrier. Kathas are also going on. Many ISKCON kathakars are giving kathas. I am also doing Katha. Marathi Katha is going on at 10 am. Take benefit of this. From 5.30pm to 6:30 pm we have Srimad Bhagavatam Katha in English. Many of you know English or mleccha Bhasha, language. Basu Ghosh Prabhu, the temple president of ISKCON Baroda says that English is mleccha Bhasha. For Hindi devotees, there is Katha at 8 pm. In this way there are morning sessions, then Marathi, English and Hindi Katha. Many of you reported and praised the sweetness of the Kathas. This is the mercy of Krsna. The whole world is caught is a situation where everything is down. Nothing is up. We are conditioned souls, but Hare Krishna devotees don’t want to be locked down. Our houses have become prisons. You all have been put under house arrest. We all want to get free. We just don’t have to become free from this lockdown, we have to get free from the lockdown of Maya.
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate
Translation:
The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature.[ BG 3.27]
The Lord is telling us how foolish lie are to think that now we are free. We can do anything and everything we like. This is not the case. We’re bound and shackled. We are bound by the three modes of material nature – sattva, raja and tama. These three modes have also been described as ropes. We have been bound by three ropes. We, the bewildered living entities are bound up.
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
Translation:
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. [ BG 7.14]
The Lord always speaks the truth and cares for our welfare. We are all bound by the 3 modes. To get free from these 3 modes on your own is not easy. We need help to get rid of three modes. Lord has further said that if you come to My shelter, it will save from Maya. He is saying mām eva. Carefully hear every word. ‘Those who come to My shelter will be saved from Maya.’ Those who take shelter of other demigods have been described as less intelligent. Don’t think that once locked down is over we become free. Don’t think that once lockdown is over our offices and business will reopen and we will become free. No, we are never rid of this lockdown. We will still remain locked within the three modes and dance like puppets to it. The Puppeteer is never seen, but He controls all the puppets. They are not independent.
mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
Translation:
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.[ BG 9.10]
The Lord has said, ‘I’m the puppeteer of this nature of the three modes.’ This nature is making us dance. We need to understand this. We need to get free from the 3 modes. If we take shelter of the Lord then we will become free. The aim of our life is not to get free from this lockdown, but from Maya. We have to transcend the 3 modes and get to pure goodness. This is Krishna Consciousness. The lockdown in India has been extended to 30 April. Take this lockdown as a blessing. All Gaudiya Vaisnavas, ISKCON followers, Prabhupadanugas should take full advantage of it. Make the best use of this bad bargain. The sadhana which you have been doing for 3 months is a little different from your so-called normal life. This is a welcome development. We are being forced to do sadhana and also share it with others. So continue. Keep on doing what you’re doing. Make a plan for the next 2 weeks. You are doing good sadhana. Keep it up.
Hare Krishna
—————
11 April 2020
Devotion means Devotional Service
vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nityānandau sahoditau
gauḍodaye puṣpavantau
citrau śan-dau tamo-nudau
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.” This material world is a dark well of ignorance. The fallen soul in this dark well must take shelter of the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitāi, for thus he can easily emerge from material existence. Without Their strength, simply attempting to get out of the clutches of matter by speculative knowledge will be insufficient.[CC Adi 1.2]
Mohanrupa Prabhu from Pandharpur is doing Rama Katha. Shyamalangi Mataji is teaching Bhagavad-Gita to new devotees. Prasada distribution is taking place in Solapur. Someone is saying that they are chanting 108 or 25 rounds. We are getting reports of kirtana, which is happening daily from 5:00 pm to 5:15 pm. I’m unable to read all the reports. Welcome to all of you. Chanting is taking place at 780 locations.
Devotees from Australia chant every Saturday. But now all days are Sundays. 7 days are Sundays. So it is a possibility that devotees from Australia are chanting daily. It might be that 1000 or 2000 devotees are chanting together. We are getting such association and also their best wishes. Thank you to all of you for such association.
I said a pranam mantra at the beginning. I offer my obeisances to Gauranga Mahaprabhu and to Nityananda Prabhu who has also risen along with Him. One is the Sun and another is the Moon. They are incredible, amazing, and wonderful and They give us peace and vanquish darkness. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Their lotus feet again and again. If we have to offer obeisances then we have to fix Their forms within our hearts and remember Their pastimes. Gaur-Nityananda always stays together, as Krsna-Balarama or Rama-Laksman always stayed together. If we visualise them, then we can offer our prayers. Our prayer is not impersonal like that of our Muslim brothers. They read the Namaz, but they don’t know to whom they are praying. They don’t know about the forms of the Lord or they don’t believe it. This is Mayavada. Mostly many religions preach impersonalism. It includes Hindus also.
jīvera nistāra lāgi’ sūtra kaila vyāsa
māyāvādi-bhāṣya śunile haya sarva-nāśa
Translation:
“Śrīla Vyāsadeva presented Vedānta philosophy for the deliverance of conditioned souls, but if one hears the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, everything is spoiled. [ CC Madhya 6.169]
Caitanya Mahaprabhu has asked us to be cautious with Mayavadis. Be cautious of the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya such as ahaṁ brahmāsmi ( I am Brahman). If we want to offer obeisances and greet, then there should be the form of the Lord.
vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nityānandau sahoditau
gauḍodaye puṣpavantau
citrau śandau tamo-nudau
Gaur-Nityananda appeared in the Gauda region. We see the pictures of Their appearance and pastimes. As we hear Their pastimes, audio turns into the video.
Once upon a time Gaur-Nityananda were roaming and were looking at nature and appreciating the birds, their chirping and pleasant air. They were happy to see that. It was very attractive to Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Gauranga Prabhu was saying this to Nityananda Prabhu. When Brahma got to know that the creation made by him is being appreciated, he descended from Brahmaloka. He descended at vayu mandala where Gaura Nityananda were sitting on the swan. Other demigods also came.
One thing to be mentioned is that Navadvipa and other dhamas such as Vrindavana, Ayodhya, and Dvaraka were not created by Brahma. They are eternal. They are not created. All were looking at Gaura Nitai seeing this creation outside Navadvipa Mandala. This creation may be situated on the outskirts of Navadvipa. There is Gaura Mandala which is bigger than Navadvipa Mandala. When Brahma and others were looking to Gaur Nityananda, they were getting the experience that two moons had appeared. They could not understand whether they were in heaven or on earth. They were thinking that if they are in heaven, then there is only one moon. How come two moons are there. Such illusions were created by the Lord in the mind of Brahma and other demigods.
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham
Translation:
I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. [BG 15.15]
The Lord says I am seated in everyone’s heart. Even in the hearts of demigods, I am seated. Had you ever thought of this? He gives us remembrance and He makes us forget and puts us in illusion. Yes, indeed He has put everyone in illusion. In that pastime by looking at Gaur Nityananda, Lord Brahma and others were saying that there are two moons. They were thinking that they are in Heaven. Some were saying that the one is the Sun and another is the Moon. In this pranam mantra puṣpavantau means one is the sun and another is the moon. Somewhere They are mentioned as Caitanya Chandra or Nitai Chand.
bahu-koti chandra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deshe bana-mala kore jhalamala
Translation:
The brilliance of Lord Chaitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.[ Gaur Arati verse 6]
We sing in Gaura Arati – look at Their lotus faces. How brilliant and radiant it is, which is equal to the radiance millions of moon.
nitai-pada-kamala koti-chandra-susitala
ye chayaya jagata judaya
hena nitai bine bhai radha-krsna paite nai
drdha kari’ dhara nitaira paya
Translation:
Nitai’s lotus feet are cooling like ten million moons: their shade soothes the whole world. O brother! It is not possible to reach Radha-Krsna without Nitai, so firmly clasp Nitai’s feet![ Nitai Pada Kamala song verse 1 by Narottama Dasa Thakura]
It’s also said that the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu are as radiant as the Lotus face of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Many millions of moons are rising from the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. One who is receiving the rays from these feet can experience a very soothing effect.
This is the story of that day when Gaura Nitai reached an ashram while roaming. They offered obeisances to the sannyasi of that ashram. As They sat down this sannyasi started to give benedictions for a long, happy life, to become wealthy, to get good progeny and wives. Such blessings have been described in Caitanya Bhagavat. They said that all these benedictions are temporary. All the achievements in this life are because of previous karma. All this is very fragile, just like a drop on a lotus petal. Please give Us blessings regarding Bhakti that We may get Krsna Prema and bhakti. This is the pastime played by Them. Nothing is beyond Their control. They went and then they commented on the blessings They received to teach the whole world what kind of blessings should be received? Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave blessings that…
‘namo nārāyaṇāya’ bali’ namaskāra kaila
‘kṛṣṇe matir astu’ bali’ gosāñi kahila
Offering his obeisances to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Namo nārāyaṇāya” [“I offer my obeisances to Nārāyaṇa”].” In return, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Kṛṣṇe matir astu” [“Let your attention be on Kṛṣṇa”].”[CC Madhya 6.48]
krsne matir astu. May your consciousness get absorbed in Krsna! May your mind, body and home get engaged in service of the Lord! Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also gave the same blessings. These thoughts have been mentioned in Siksastakam by Caitanya Mahaprabhu
na dhanaḿ na janaḿ na sundarīḿ
kavitāḿ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
Translation:
O, almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth. [Sri Siksastakam verse 4]
I don’t want to enjoy wealth, beautiful woman, liberation. I don’t want name, fame and glory. It’s good that you don’t want Bhukti, then at least receive mukti.
Bhakti does not only mean devotion. Srila Prabhupada says Bhakti means devotional service, not only devotion.
atram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah
Translation:
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit a water, I will accept it.[ BG 9.26]
So with devotion, there is devotional service.
yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam
Translation:
O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.[ BG 9.27]
Every activity should be done with devotion. There should be devotion and service. Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is teaching us from His pastimes what kind of blessing we should wish for. In this way, Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us the various lessons from His acaran and pastimes. This is food for thought.
Have a good day. Remain busy 24 hours a day in the service of the Lord. Our goal is to be engaged in the service of the Lord in every situation. As the lockdown is there, take full benefit of all the facilities.
Nitai Gaur Premanande
Hari Haribol
———–
Chant japa with Lokanath Swami Japa talk 10 April 2020
10 April 2020
When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
Hare Krishna!
We welcome the new participants. I noticed many new faces who were chanting with us.
This modern technology known as the internet, zoom conference, social media is also a gift from God. This is one of the products of the material energy but, “Utility is the principle”. We can engage everything in the Lord’s service. Hare Krishna devotees are making use of this technology. Hence, we all are chanting in this conference and are able to see and hear each other. I was wondering what would have happened if Coronavirus had spread and there was no social media. That would be a real lockdown situation. In this situation, all Hare Krishna devotees are very busy preaching. I said all, but not all are busy. You can make use of this internet facility.
The kathas are in three languages, Hindi, English and Marathi. They were telecast live yesterday. 10 am in Marathi. I had given this Bhagavat katha in Durban, South Africa, which is being released for the first time here. It is new for you. It is being telecast in English at 5:30 pm and there is a katha in Hindi at 8 pm. Take advantage of it. We are doing,
yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘krsna’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāna guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
Translation:
Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land. (CC Madhya-lila 7.128)
You also do this. The internet and social media is there. We can say that by the Lord’s mercy, there is an arrangement to do kirtana or guhyam ākhyāti prcchati – explaining and inquiring about the confidential service of the Lord.
Yesterday I saw the report sent by the devotees of the East Coast of America. They wrote that they are doing kirtana on zoom conference. The leader, mrdanga and kartala players are sitting at various places, but doing kirtana together. They are experiencing that they are together. You can take advantage and can also do the same. This lockdown has happened, but preaching must not stop – ever. The benefit of the whole world lies in this only. We have to favour them.
paropakaram vahanti nadya, paropakaram duhanti gaaya
paropakaram phalanti vriksha, paropakaram idam shareeram
Translation:
Rivers flow for Paropkar (Charity), Cows give milk for Paropkar, Trees bear fruits for Paropkar, similarly this body is also meant for Paropkar.
This body is meant for the welfare of others. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,
bhārata-bhūmite haila manusya-janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra
Translation:
One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India (Bhārata-varsa) should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people. (CC Adi-lila 9.41)
You are Hare Krishna devotees and hence Bharatiyas. All followers of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu were instructed by Him to do welfare of others if he wants to make his life successful. Eat, drink, enjoy and preach. Revati Raman Prabhu wrote that he delivered a seminar to 50 devotees. All reports are being published on Chant japa with Lokanath Swami Facebook and Loksanga. Please read that.
Keep chanting. Chant while facing obstacles. If “the going gets tough, the tough get going”. If going ahead is becoming difficult due to any reason like Coronavirus, devotees becomes tough and make their faith stronger. They engage themselves in chanting, kirtana and preaching with more determination. This is the work of the Lord, although we are doing it. The Lord wants preaching to take place. We are fortunate that we have been selected, employed by the Lord. Feel proud to say that we are Krsna Bhaktas, Rama Bhaktas or Gaura Bhakta Vrindas. Hanuman was a bhakta of Rama. That is something to be proud of. Becoming a government servant is not a big achievement. We must identify that we are eternal servants of Krsna.
jiv krsna-dās, e biśwās,
korlo to’ ār duhkho nāi
krsna bolbe jabe, pulak ha’be
jhorbe āńkhi, boli tāi
Translation:
If you just understand that the spirit soul is the eternal servant of Krishna, you will never have any more sorrows. Chant Hare Krishna and your eyes will fill with tears and your body will feel transcendental shivering. Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant! (Gitavali, Nagara Kirtana Song 4, Radha Krsna Bol Bol, Bhakti Vinod Thakur)
śīta ātapa bāta barisana
e dina jāminī jāgi re
biphale sevinu krpana durajana
capala sukha-laba lāgi’ re
Translation:
Both in the day and at night I remain sleepless, suffering the pains of the heat and cold, the wind and the rain. For a fraction of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men. (verse 2, Bhaja Hu Re Mana, Govinda Dasa Kaviraja)
In this world, we become servants of someone and there is no benefit from that. If we don’t get any job then we become a servant of a dog. Then we are described as miserly as we are serving cripple minded or low class people. One is brahmana and another is krpana. We should serve brahmans, vaisnavas or jivas. Economically krpana (miserly) persons might be the richest, but they are low class or narrow minded. We don’t serve saintly people, but wicked people. This has no fruit. We have to taste the fruit of Krsna prema.
e dhana, yaubana, putra parijana
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana talamala
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re
Translation:
What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one’s wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.
(Verse 3, Bhaja Hu Re Mana, Govinda Dasa Kaviraja)
mām upetya punar janma
duhkhālayam aśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānah
samsiddhim paramām gatāh
Translation:
After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection. (BG 8.15)
We need to always remember the uncertainty or temporary nature of this world. How is this world? It is just like a drop of water on the lotus petal. Our situation is also the same as we keep on serving some people in this world.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
We need to chant like Srila Namacarya Haridas Thakur. We need to follow in his footsteps. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him the title of Namacarya. He was asked to learn different aspects from different acaryas – like renunciation from Raghunath Das Goswami and the Nectar of Devotion from Rupa Goswami. He wants us to learn how to chant from Srila Haridas Thakur. He is also called Brahma Haridas Thakur as Lord Brahma appeared as Haridas Thakur. Lord Brahma is our first acarya. He is not only the generator of the universe. We come in his disciplic succession. We are known as Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnavas. He appeared as Haridas Thakur at the time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He chanted 3 lakh names daily. He took birth in a Muslim family, but still he was engaged in chanting. Many obstacles came in his way, but he didn’t stop chanting. One night, a prostitute came with the desire to enjoy with Haridas Thakur, but he continued chanting and stopped that prostitute.
balavastha krida sakta, yuvavastha taruni rakta
Translation:
As soon as you are a young man, you start looking for young women with the desire of lust.
In his youth Srila Haridas Thakur controlled such thoughts of sense enjoyment. Once he was imprisoned by the Kazi. He was locked in. Today we have been imprisoned in our homes. But has kirtana stopped? No! In fact, he preached to many prisoners and he started to chant with them. He increased the difficulties of the Muslim government. Then he was beaten in 22 market places. Did he stop while being beaten? No! He said, “No matter if my body gets cut into pieces, I will continue to chant.” (Even if my body becomes khand khand, I will chant akhand) Chanting is the calling of the soul. The soul is the one who chants.
nainam chindanti śastrāni
nainam dahati pāvakah
na cainam kledayanty āpo
na śosayati mārutah
Translation:
The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. (BG 2.23)
Once in Phulia, he was chanting in a cave where a poisonous snake was living. His visitors were afraid to visit and hence they said they would not come again. But Srila Haridas Thakur fearlessly kept on chanting. He said, “Let’s see who goes out of the cave. Me or that snake?” Then by the next day the snake left that cave and his chanting continued without obstacles.
Then Srila Haridas Thakur was in Jagannatha Puri. It was becoming difficult for him to chant as he was getting old. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Jagannatha maha-prasada to him via Govinda. He refrained from honouring the prasada as his chanting was not yet completed. Then the next day, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu came and said, “You are not supposed to complete your rounds because of old age.” But still he didn’t stop.
We need to ask you to chant more. Why only 16? Chant 32 or 64 rounds. But here Lord Caitanya is saying to Srila Haridas Thakur to chant less, but he kept on chanting. We pray at his lotus feet to get a taste to chant more after completing the prescribed 16 rounds. We can always engage ourselves in kirtaniyah sada harih.
Hare Krishna!
———-
6 April 2020
Social Distancing from worldly attitudes
Hare Krsna
Are you all situated in bliss and happiness? Stay safe. Be in your homes. You are all getting information from various people, from the Prime Minister up to local administrative heads and from doctors from WHO. All are informing you about what is good for you, what are the do’s and don’ts. How to save ourselves from the fast spreading Coronavirus and how we should not get entangled in its bad effects. Be aware! All these notices which you are getting through various mediums like print media , electronic media , social media all are spreading awareness about it. Our happiness lies in knowing, understanding and following all this information. This is for your own benefit as well as for others’ benefit. There are some Hare Krishna devotees who profess that they don’t care about all these notices. Not only for yourself, but also for others and to take care of others you must follow these guidelines. Don’t be careless, be careful. Follow all the rules and regulations.
Along with these, there is one more thing. Since you have a lot of time now, it’s loot sako tor loot lor ….
asat-saṅga-tyāga, — ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra
‘strī-saṅgī’ — eka asādhu, ‘kṛṣṇābhakta’ āra
Translation:
“A Vaisnava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaisnavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Krsna. ( Caitanya-caritamrita , Madhya, 22.87)
How is the behaviour of a Vaisnava? He stays away from asat-sang, mayavi or illusory association of worldly people, from people desiring material satisfaction , liberation, mystic achievements etc. Those who stay away from such asat-sang are called Vaisnavas. This curse of the Coronavirus is also proving to be a ‘boon’, as we are automatically staying away from such asat-sang. We should leave asat-sang, but satsang is a must.
‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
Translation:
The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success. ( Caitanya-caritamrita , Madhya, 22.54)
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was conversing with Raya Ramanand. He enquired from him, ‘Which is the situation of real pain?’. Whatever Mahaprabhu wanted to explain he is getting it explained by Raya Ramanand. Raya Ramanand explained, “Not to get the association of devotees is the real painful situation.” We are not able to meet devotees. If we are not able to meet devotees, not get their association then it’s a painful situation. Stay at home. Like Krsna who never goes out of Vrndavana.
Vrndavana parityajj ekam padam na gachhati
Lord Krsna never a lifts a foot out of Vrindavan. He always likes to stay in Vrndavana.
You also don’t step out of the house at all. We will be unhappy not getting the association of devotees. But we are getting association in this way, like on this Zoom conference right now. We are getting association. “Utility is the principle!” All these electronic media, internet social media, we are spiritualising the social media. Sitting at home we are getting association. Also apart from the japa and Japa-talk, all day long so many leaders are doing Katha, istagosti and even meetings are unstoppable. Some days back on Rama Navami, we had small meeting of our Bureau members. There is some planning being done for katha, kirtana and meetings. This all is possible I think all day long. If you search, you will get association. You can also take darsana on YouTube, Facebook etc. Audio and videos are available. I am also doing Katha in English in the evening. 5 parts are completed. Even though they are completed, they are not over as they are still available on YouTube. The katha is ‘Karunavatar Gaur Bhagwan’ in English. Besides me so many Kathakars and kirtaneers are narrating the glories of the Lord on the internet.
We all should take full advantage of this golden opportunity, as it’s a rare opportunity available to all of us. So exploit it fully.
avatirne gaura-candre vistirne prema-sagare, yena majyanti majyanti te maha anartha sagare (Caitanya-candramrita by Prabhodanand Sarswati)
Prabhodanand Saraswati has explained that Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared and vistirne prema-sagare, expanded the ocean of love. Due to Coronavirus everything is jammed. Traffic is at a halt. Everything is at a halt. People can’t move around at all. But in this situation also this prema sagar is expanding even more and more. Waves and ripples of this prema sagar are spreading far and wide, through the medium of media. So many vibrations are being created through this media. Very easily we souls , hearers, and seers are benefiting. Yesterday we took such beautiful darsana of Lord Vitthala from Pandharpur on the internet even though the temple is closed. Tirupati Balaji darsana is also closed, but we are getting darsana through the internet. We are also getting darsana of devotees. We are doing sravana and kirtana. By this sarvatma snapanam is happening. We can immersed ourselves in this vistirne prema-sagare, Get immersed in this prema sagar. Get drowned in it. You won’t die, but you will be enlivened. Prananti. You will get a new life. Prabhodanand Saraswati Thakur said,
avatirne gaura-candre vistirne prema-sagare, yena majyanti majyanti te maha anartha sagare
Currently ISKCON is making good association available to the whole world. Others are participating and fulfilling their roles, but then it also becomes your duty. You also have to put your share in it as per your capacity and facilities available. Everyone has to spread this prema sagar, spread these Kathas, kirtanas by way of preaching for ones own purification as well as.
ye tv aksaram anirdesyam
avyaktam paryupasate
sarvatra-gam acintyam ca
kuta-stham acalam dhruvam
sanniyamyendriya-gramam
sarvatra sama-buddhayah
te prapnuvanti mam eva
sarva-bhuta-hite ratah
Translation:
But those who fully worship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of the senses, the all-pervading, inconceivable, fixed, and immovable-the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth-by controlling the various senses and being equally disposed to everyone, such persons, engaged in the welfare of all, at last achieve Me. ( BG 12. 3 and 4)
For the benefit of all the souls as all the souls are our family members.They are our brothers and sisters. Devotees have such expanded vision. They are not low thinkers and low minded, but they have a broad vision, a vision for the future. A Krsna conscious person can have such broad vision because he carries the Lord in his heart. The Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, but those who perceive the Lord’s presence in their hearts, their heart becomes big and magnanimous as the Lord is residing in it. Then low mindedness is not possible at all. Persons become high thinkers. Have a vision for the future. Keeps the whole world in his heart.
Again back to what Prabhodanand Sarswati Thakur said , yena majyanti majyanti te maha anartha sagare
One is prema sagar and other is maha anartha sagar. This whole world is a maha anartha sagar. This is the experience now that we have come to the banks of this anartha sagar. We have made our home into a temple or Vaikuntha. Devotees have installed Deities or pictures of the Lord in the house. We have so many scriptures in our house. We have Tulasi Maharani. On the walls of our house we have pictures of the Lord and devotees of the Lord, and possibly some may even have a cow at home. We have a kitchen in the house which is dedicated to preparing bhoga for the Lord. Such is our home where after offering bhoga to the Lord, that is honoured as prasada. Although we are in this anartha sagar, we have reached the banks of this ocean. We have converted our home into a temple. The atmosphere in the house, and our actions are Lord centred where lots of sravanam and kirtanam is happening. If someone rings up, then we don’t say Hi!Hello! But we say Hare Krsna! Haribol! Our whole lifestyle is surcharged with Krsna consciousness. We dress ourselves in the way that the residents of Goloka or Vaikuntha do, not like Meri pataloon englisthan ki and juta Japan ka’ . We have thrown pataloon in the gutter. We are wearing dhoti now. We have thrown Jeans out. Women devotees drape themselves in sarees or like the attire of Gopis. Then even if we are in the house we have reached the bank of this anartha sagar, reached the beach. We were moving with the flow of this material world, but now have reached the shore. We don’t belong to this world, but being in the world so we are out of this world. We have become transcendental to this world, have surpassed the three modes of nature. We are different. We don’t belong to this world.
Sitting at home, this prema sagar of sravana kirtana is available to us. The whole world is in our hands if you have smart phones in your hands. Both are there. Prem sagar as well as maha anartha sagar is available through this medium of media. Be aware! It’s not that this social distancing that we have follow is just refraining from going out in society, to work etc, we have to distance ourselves from the peoples’ worldly attitude of watching movies and so many such unwanted things. All these things are also available on media. We have to also do distancing from such Maya – physically, mentally, vocally , kayen manasa vacha. Srila Prabhupada would say , ‘Society friendship ,love’. People of this world are busy in worldly friendships, worldly love, which is only lust. We have to stay away from this during lockdown and always. Our principal is…
anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam
raksisyatiti visvaso goptrtve varanam tatha
atma-niksepa-karpanye sad-vidha saranagatih
Translation:
”The six divisions of surrender are: accepting those things favorable to
devotional service, rejecting unfavorable things, the conviction that Krsna will
give protection, accepting the Lord as one’s guardian or master, full self-
surrender, and humility.”( Hari bhakti Vilas , verse 11.417 by Srila Sanatan Goswami)
Whatever is favourable should be accepted and unfavourable should be discarded, Such determinations and options (sankalpa and vikalpa.) we have to opt for. In scriptures it is also said, ‘Heya and Upadheya’. Heya refers to things to be discarded and Upadheya things to be accepted.
Pray to the Lord that He bestows us with the right kind of intelligence . It’s the job of intelligence to distinguish between sat and asat , Krsna and Maya, favourable and unfavourable. We cannot understand this with the help of the mind. It’s the work of intelligence. That is why the Lord said,
teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te
Translation:
To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. (BG 10.10)
To whom does the Lord bestow intelligence?
teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
Those who worship Him constantly. Now there is an opportunity these days that you can worship the Lord constantly . Then the Lord will bestow you with intelligence and we will reach closer to the Lord. We will reach more and more closer to the Lord. We have to go close, closer and closest to the Lord. Take full advantage of the situation and try to achieve personal spiritual advancement.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
5 April 2020
Suprabhātam! (Good Morning!) We chant so that our morning can be a “Good Morning”. If we don’t chant then how can it be a Good Morning. It will be “Bad Morning” (Kuprabhat).
Chanting is taking place from 575 locations. Where is 1000 and where is 575? Zoom has made some changes to the password. Possibilities are there that yesterday the number of participants was crossing 1000. I don’t know why. Has everyone been informed regarding the changes to having a password to join? All the smart chanters have joined. Others might not be knowing that a password is needed. They will get to know about the change today or by tomorrow. Please take note of the change of the use of a password. I don’t know if it will change again or not. Please inform others about this change so that they can join.
All of you chanted extra on Kamada Ekadasi. All have taken vows to chant 64 rounds. Those who didn’t chant 64 rounds are requested to write in brief why they couldn’t. And those who have chanted more than 64 rounds are requested to write about their number of extra rounds and why they chanted extra. There must be a reason for chanting extra rounds. This will be posted on Loksanga and this is daily news now. This will be posted on Chant Japa with Lokanath Swami on Facebook. You can see and I can also see. Few devotees in this world chant 64 rounds daily. Those who chant 64 sometimes get the confidence to chant 16 rounds easily daily. This is the benefit of chanting 64 rounds.
Chanting more than 16 rounds pleases the Lord. Additional rounds please the Lord more. Chanting more rounds means fighting with the mind. Prabhupada would say, “Preaching is fighting”. While chanting we don’t preach to the world, but to the mind. We are preaching to ourselves. We discipline the mind. Or it may be that these are prayers to the mind to worship the lotus feet of the Lord.
bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
Translation:
O mind just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless.[ Bhaja Hu Re Mana song by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja]
This can be the prayer to the mind while chanting.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
When we say the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and try to hear it, then the mind doesn’t want to hear and it runs somewhere else. It is busy with some other thoughts. We wake up with such a mind. Jiva Jago. At the time of chanting, we preach to the mind. If we do 16 rounds, we preach to the mind. The more we chant, the more we preach. One thing is that we should chant more every day.
sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati
Translation:
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.[ SB 1.2.6]
Performing devotional service is dharma. Adhokshaja is the Lord’s name. This is not the name of demigods. Adhokshaja refers to Visnu Tattva. The highest dharma of human civilization is to render devotional service to the Supreme. There should be apratihata (constant) bhakti. Nowadays there is talk of constant kirtana or chanting. Daily we have to do kirtana from 5:00 to 5:15 pm. I received news from many cities such as Nagpur, Bhiwandi, Noida, that devotees are chanting for half-hour slots in their homes and covering 24 hours. Sadhana Bhakti Mataji, Venugopal, and many more devotees are doing kirtana in their respective homes for half an hour. Japa is an important part of bhakti. There are many limbs of bhakti. By adopting them one after another we are busy 24 hours. Kirtana or bhakti should be non stop. It’s not only on Sundays. Christians go to the church on Sundays. Our Muslim brothers go for Namaz on Fridays. Namaz happens 5 times a day, but it’s difficult to say how many do this. Bhakti should be ahaituky and apratihatā. Ahaituky means there should not be any material reason to do bhakti. Bhakti should not be for dhanaḿ, janaḿ, sundarīḿ and kavitāḿ. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also has said that and many scriptures say the same thing. Sadhu, Sastra, and Acarya say in one voice ahaituky apratihatā bhakti. There are prayers to perform shraddha bhakti and day by day we should increase concentration, intensity and focus while performing bhakti.
akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param
Translation:
“Whether one is without desire (the condition of the devotees), or is desirous of all fruitive results, or is after liberation, one should with all efforts try to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead for complete perfection, culminating in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”[ SB 2.3.10]
This happens when we practice. By practice only we can have more focus, intensity and attentiveness.
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate
Translation:
The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.[ BG 6.35]
Arjuna asked his question on our behalf and even though he was not in that situation, still he asked the question to the Lord.
cancalam hi manah krsna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram
Translation:
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.[ BG 6.34]
He asked oh my Lord my mind is very obstinate and takes me to various thoughts. I can stop hurricanes but the controlling mind is more difficult than it. When Arjuna shared this confidential thing unto Lord then He said yes Arjuna, the mind is restless.
The Lord is saying it’s difficult but not impossible to control the mind. It is very possible. Then how to do it? abhyasena tu kaunteya. By practice.
The act of chanting is one kind of preaching. When we go for Nagar Sankirtana with mrdangas and karatals then we inspire others to chant. But we do Japa for our welfare and the purity of our mind. We should preach to our minds. And this is a daily practice. If Japa is not there then there is no practice. We do this practice with the help of Hari …
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.
…and as we chant we ask for Their help. “O Krsna and Radhe Please see my mind and I’m being bothered.” Srila Prabhupada said that as we chant we are supposed to be in deep meditation and we should chant attentively. But the mind troubles and might be that intelligence is helping the mind. There is the possibility that senses are joining that team and putting forward difficulties. Srila Prabhupada said that when we go to meet any friend we might have to deal with a dog at the gate. He doesn’t allow us to go inside as it keeps on barking. Then only one option remains – to call and take help from the friend. Then our friend and master of the dog will come out and he may say something to that dog and control it. And it becomes easier to stop it’s barking in one minute. Then it’s done as you can go inside and meet your friend. In chanting also the same situation is there. We want to meet Krsna, get His darsana. But the mind keeps on barking like a dog and doesn’t allow us to think of the Lord and reach Him. In such a situation, we may have to call the Lord with a loud voice and with more intensity. It’s not that we should do bhakti seasonally and occasionally. We need to practice it every day and we can increase our Japa a little more and we can chant with more love. We should chant with feelings such as…
yugāyitaḿ nimeṣeṇa
cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaḿ jagat sarvaḿ
govinda-viraheṇa me
Translation:
O Govinda! Feeling Your separations I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.[ Sri Siksastakam verse 7]
….life is useless without the Lord. “This world is zero without You.” When the Lord hears such prayers, such as call made by Draupadi then He will surely hear. This is food for thought for the day. Contemplate on this further and translate this into action.
Thank you
Hare Krishna