{"id":18560,"date":"2015-07-21T16:08:15","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T16:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=18560"},"modified":"2015-07-21T16:08:15","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T16:08:15","slug":"the-krishna-approaching-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=18560","title":{"rendered":"The Krishna-Approaching Body"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

By Ravindra Svarupa dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here is an excerpt from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1. It was delivered in New York, on April 10, 1969. (Some comments follow the excerpt.)<\/em><\/p>\n

As soon as I am desiring something, immediately my body is formed. Immediately a particular type of body begins to form, and as soon as I am mature to change, my next body I get according to my desire. Therefore we should always desire Krsna. Then from this life, the Krsna-approaching body or the spiritual body will be formed. The more you become sincere servant of Krsna, the more your body becomes Krsnaized, electrified. Therefore advanced Krsna conscious person is considered to have a spiritual body. The same example, as I have given several times: just like iron rod. You put into the fire, it becomes warmer, warmer. The more it is connected with fire, it becomes warm, warm, warm. And at last it becomes red hot, so that at that time, if that iron is touched to any other thing, it burns. It does not act as iron; it acts as fire. Similarly, by this Krsna consciousness, continuous chanting, you will make your body spiritualized. At that time, wherever you go, wherever you touch, he\u2019ll be spiritualized. Similarly, the iron: Without being spiritualized, without being red hot, if you touch, it will not act.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So every one of us, those who have come to this Krsna consciousness movement, expected to preach in the future and to become a spiritual master also in the future. But first of all you must spiritualize yourself; otherwise it is useless. So krsna-<\/em>sakti vina<\/em> nahe<\/em><\/strong>. Without\u2014 Just like without being red hot, you cannot burn any other thing. Similarly, without being fully spiritualized, you cannot make others spiritualized. Therefore we have to follow the parampar<\/em><\/strong>a<\/em> <\/em><\/strong> system. The disciplic succession, as we get the knowledge, as we get the power, as we get the instruction, so we have to follow. That will help me to spiritualize myself. And when you are spiritualized. . . . <\/span>You\u2019ll have to wait for that time. Then, wherever you will preach, the result will be there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pen-line-4\"<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\u201cAs soon as I am desiring something, immediately my body is formed. Immediately a particular type of body begins to form, and as soon as I am mature to change, my next body I get according to my desire.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Here Prabhupada alludes to the normal workings of karma, according to which an embodied living being transmigrates from one life-form to another, then another. Prabhupada bases his statement on Krsna\u2019s description in Bhagavad-gita (15.8-10):<\/p>\n

\n

The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another. The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, eye, tongue, nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects. . . . One whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAs soon as I desire something, immediately my body is formed,\u201d Prabhupada says, pointing out that the subtle laws of nature are at work every moment, unseen by us. When I develop some particular desire, simultaneously I am developing a future or potential material body to satisfy that desire. When the time is ripe\u2014\u201cmature to change\u201d\u2014I leave this body and assume the new body, already prepared and awaiting me in its potential form. It becomes actualized, endowing me with the particular set of instruments of knowledge and action to fulfill my desires.<\/p>\n

\n

Therefore we should always desire <\/strong>Krsna<\/strong>. Then from this life, the <\/strong>Krsna<\/strong>-approaching body or the spiritual body will be formed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

The process of karma in the material realm is one manifestation of a more general principle: Krsna\u2014the Supersoul, the overseer and the permitter\u2014fulfills each soul\u2019s desire. If we desire to enjoy independently of Krsna, and we acquire through karma bodies with senses to facilitate the satisfaction of all kinds of desires. (That is the reason there are so many varieties of life-forms on this planet.)<\/p>\n

<\/span>If we \u201cdesire Krsna\u201d then during this very life our body will be transformed into a form that will enable us to draw near to and interact with Krsna: a \u201cKrsna-approaching body\u201d or \u201cspiritual body.\u201d<\/p>\n

We may safely assume that we have acquired a material body for the purpose of separation from Krsna. Yet because we have attained a human form, our bodies have the potential for transfiguration or transmutation:<\/p>\n

\n

The more you become sincere servant of Krsna<\/strong>, the more your body becomes Krsna<\/strong>ized, electrified. Therefore advanced Krsna<\/strong> conscious person is considered to have a spiritual body.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I touch a live electrical wire, not only do I feel the shock, but my body itself becomes a conductor of electricity: it has become \u201celectrified.\u201d Similarly, when I contact Krsna with my present material body, that body becomes \u201cKrsnaized.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Bhakti-yoga<\/em> is the discipline of connecting the present body\u2014yoga<\/em> literally means \u201cconnection\u201d\u2014to Krsna by means of devotional service (bhakti<\/em>). Here is the classic definition from the Na<\/em>rada-pas<\/em>cara<\/em>tra<\/em>: hrsikena hrsikesa<\/em>\u2013 sevanam<\/em> bhaktir ucyate<\/em>: \u201cBhakti<\/em> means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the masters of all the senses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

How is it possible to bring our senses into contact with Krsna? He makes himself accessible in this world even to our present materially afflicted senses through a variety of ways: first of all, his names, the n<\/em>a<\/em>ma-avat<\/em>a<\/em>ra<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\"Janmashtami\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Then as His form for worship in the temple, the a<\/em>rc<\/em>a<\/em>-avat<\/em>a<\/em>ra<\/em>:<\/p>\n

<\/a>\"radha-saradbihari\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n

And in the form of books:<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\"bhagavata-purana-set-7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n

And of food spiritualized by having first been enjoyed by the Lord:<\/p>\n

\n

\"festival-prasadam\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n

When the senses become engaged and absorbed in various ways in the Lord, who has made himself so accessible, these senses become \u201cKrsnaized.\u201d As engagement becomes progressively more complete and uninterrupted, our material body becomes capable of directly apprehending Krsna and interacting with Krsna: a \u201cspiritual body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

In the kingdom of God, Krsna and the liberated devotee\u2014both present to each other in spiritual forms\u2014engage in various transactions of love. In these forms there is no difference between the soul, the mind, and the body, and each sense or part can perform the function of every other sense or part. As a devotee practicing in this world\u2014in his s<\/em>adhaka-deha<\/em>\u2014becomes advanced, that human form becomes capable of full transcendent experience. At the same time, the devotee\u2019s eternal spiritual identity\u2014the siddha-deha<\/em>\u2014also becomes manifest; the devotee in that transcendent form will continue to serve Krsna even after his sa<\/em>dhaka-deha<\/em> has ceased.<\/p>\n

\n

The advanced devotees in this world, no longer animated by their past karma, but solely by Krsna\u2019s desire, are present in a spiritualized material body. Prabhupada elsewhere compares such a body to a gold-plated box. For all practical purposes, it is as good as the siddha-deha<\/em>, the solid gold box. <\/em>Although the sa<\/em>dhaka-deha<\/em> may seem to exhibit the afflictions common to material bodies, there is no impediment or inconvenience to the service of the devotee.<\/p>\n

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The same example, as I have given several times: just like iron rod. You put into the fire, it becomes warmer, warmer. The more it is connected with fire, it becomes warm, warm, warm. And at last it becomes red hot, so that at that time, if that iron is touched to any other thing, it burns. It does not act as iron; it acts as fire. Similarly, by this Krsna<\/strong> consciousness, continuous chanting, you will make your body spiritualized.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iron, made red hot in fire, acts just like fire. Although it is a form of earth, it is as good as fire.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n


\nAt that time, wherever you go, wherever you touch, he\u2019ll be spiritualized. Similarly, the iron: Without being spiritualized, without being red hot, if you touch, it will not act.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As red-hot iron has the power to make a fire, a devotee with spiritualized body can also spiritualize others.<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

So every one of us, those who have come to this Krsna<\/strong> consciousness movement, expected to preach in the future and to become a spiritual master also in the future. But first of all you must spiritualize yourself; otherwise it is useless. So krsna<\/em><\/strong>\u2013<\/strong>s<\/em>akti vin<\/em>a<\/em><\/strong> nahe<\/em>. Without\u2014 Just like without being red hot, you cannot burn any other thing. Similarly, without being fully spiritualized, you cannot make others spiritualized. Therefore we have to follow the parampar<\/em><\/strong>a<\/em><\/strong> system. The disciplic succession, as we get the knowledge, as we get the power, as we get the instruction, so we have to follow. That will help me to spiritualize myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here is Prabhupada\u2019s desire for his disciples: by following his directions, they become spiritualized. Then those disciples will have the power to spiritualize others.<\/p>\n

\n

He quotes from Caitanya-caritamr<\/em>ta<\/em> (Anya-li<\/em>la<\/em> 7.11) Vallabha Bhatta\u2019s statement to Lord Caitanya:<\/p>\n

\n

kali-ka<\/em>lera dharma\u2014krsna<\/em>-na<\/em>ma-san<\/em>kirtana<\/em>
\nkrsna<\/em>-s<\/em>akti vina<\/em> nahe ta<\/em>ra pravartana<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe spiritual practice established for this Kali-yuga is the chanting of the name of Krsna. That practice cannot be propagated unless one is empowered by Krsna\u2019s spiritual potency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

That potency is passed down from Lord Caitanya through the chain of disciplic succession:<\/p>\n

\n

Therefore we have to follow the parampar<\/em>a<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>system. The disciplic succession, as we get the knowledge, as we get the power, as we get the instruction, so we have to follow. That will help me to spiritualize myself. And when you are spiritualized. . . . <\/span>You\u2019ll have to wait for that time. Then, wherever you will preach, the result will be there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before I encountered the Krsna consciousness movement, I was engaged in graduate religious studies in a university. One day a professor remarked: \u201cThe issue is not whether or not God exists. The issue is whether or not God is available.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

After some thought, I agreed with him: If God is available, that settles the existence question. And if God exists but is not available, what difference does it make?<\/p>\n

\n

When a little later I came into contact with Krsna\u2019s devotees, the availability question became overwhelming settled.<\/p>\n

\n

Here Prabhupada tells us how God becomes available to us, and\u2014what is more\u2014how we can also make God available to others.<\/p>\n

\n

That is the \u201cKrsna-approaching body.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"HareBy Ravindra Svarupa dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as I am desiring something, immediately my body is formed. Immediately a particular type of body begins to form, and as soon as I am mature to change, my next body I get according to my desire. Therefore we should always desire Krsna. Then from this life, the Krsna-approaching body or the spiritual body will be formed. The more you become sincere servant of Krsna, the more your body becomes Krsnaized, electrified. Therefore advanced Krsna conscious person is considered to have a spiritual body. The same example, as I have given several times: just like iron rod. You put into the fire, it becomes warmer, warmer. The more it is connected with fire, it becomes warm, warm, warm. And at last it becomes red hot, so that at that time, if that iron is touched to any other thing, it burns. It does not act as iron; it acts as fire. Similarly, by this Krsna consciousness, continuous chanting, you will make your body spiritualized. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-ravindra-svarupa-dasa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18562,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18560\/revisions\/18562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}