viernes, 16 de septiembre de 2011

What to Follow [Evening lecture at Rūpa-Sanātana Mandira in Vṛndāvan: Sept. 24, 2000 Ekadāśi]

What to Follow [Evening lecture at Rūpa-Sanātana Mandira in Vṛndāvan: Sept. 24, 2000 Ekadāśi]

Oṁ viṣṇupāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja

In the line of devotion, when guru gives the bhakti-lata bīja, there are two things required for success -- the mercy of Guru and Vaiṣṇavas, and one's own endeavour to serve his guru. One will have to fully obey Guru and Vaiṣṇavas. If someone is a true Vaiṣṇava and pure devotee, there will be no difference between Gurudeva and that devotee. On the other hand, if someone has a difference of opinion from Gurudeva, we may have some honour for him, but we should only follow the true dīkṣā and śikṣā Gurus. They will be in one line. Then there will be no confusion.

First, the mercy of Gurudeva and Kṛṣṇa is there. They have given the seed of bhakti-lata, the desire to serve Kṛṣṇa. We may have taken dīkṣā, but we should try to realise what is real dīkṣā. Mercy is needed, but we must also make effort to engage our mind always in Kṛṣṇa’s service, fully engaging all the senses and all our possessions. We should see that not even for one second do our minds go here and there. If the guru is bona fide, try to obey his orders, like those in Upadeśāmṛta first verse. These verses are not only for remembering, but for fully following. If you don’t do this, you are simply cheating yourself. You cannot cheat Guru, Vaiṣṇavas and Kṛṣṇa. If you don’t follow Upadeśāmṛta you cannot follow the Guru's internal moods. If you follow from the beginning, from vāco vegaṁ manasā krodha vegaṁ, continuing to all the ślokas, then you can actually follow and get the mercy of Guru -- otherwise not. Guru and Kṛṣṇa will see.

Sometimes it is very hard to follow, but try to overcome all the senses. Try to keep your heart and mind empty, so that it may be filled by Guru and Kṛṣṇa.

Our objective should be fixed. You may have a certain objective at present, but when your standard of bhakti goes up; your objective will also change and develop. From the time I first joined the maṭha, up to now, so many things have changed. When rati (bhāva-bhakti) will come, then your objective will be fixed. Before that time there will be so many changes of objectives. An objective may be alright today, but tomorrow you will see that it was not perfect. When rati, the first stage of prema, comes, and especially when sthāyi bhāva comes, at that time the objective will be fixed.

We should engage our heart, mind, and senses in the execution of bhakti, beginning with śravaṇaṁ, kīrtanam, viṣṇu smaraṇaṁ. Always engage in svarūpa-siddha bhakti, otherwise you will be derailed. I am seeing, and I have seen throughout my whole life, that so many came and joined the maṭha, and then later fell, because they didn’t try hard. So practice vāco vegaṁ manasā krodha vegaṁ.

Sometimes I may become angry and chastise a disciple, but he should not be affected or take it in a bad way. I may especially become angry when someone tries to touch my feet. It is svābhāvika; it is natural that I become angry about this. Sometimes devotees become upset, but they need not.

I also know that brahmacārīs become upset when they cannot reconcile the different statements I make. Sometimes there appears to be contradictions in the scriptures, like the Vedas and Upaniṣads, and that is why Śrīla Vyāsadeva manifested Vedanta Sutra. Still, without an explanation you cannot understand it. Even in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam there are so many statements that appear contradictory to each other, and you cannot reconcile them.

There should be no hopelessness. This sense of hopelessness is the cause of downfall. If gurudeva chastises us, we should simply think how to please him more -- not that we become hopeless. For some period of time my Gurudeva appeared to be not satisfied with anything. What did I do? I always engaged in doing a great deal of service, so that he would become happy. So don't be hopeless. Think, "It is for my betterment." Gurudeva has no self-interest. You should think, "My Gurudeva is so much more intelligent than me. He is most intelligent. He is my well-wisher and friend." If a bona fide guru chastises a disciple, it is for the betterment of that disciple -- for the development of his bhakti.

I know that especially western devotees are attracted at once, but after some time they go away. They easily go. Don't be like that. Always engage your mind in bhakti. It will help you.

Try to follow from top to bottom, from beginning to end. Don’t miss any of gurudeva's classes. If I say, "Stand up and say something in front of all the devotees", don’t hesitate. It will help your bhakti.

Now our parikramā is coming. Try to give honour to Vraja Maṇḍala and engage in service. Always remember that Nārada has two boons from Kṛṣṇa. The first is that if one hears Vraja-kathā, this kathā will give mercy and kṛṣṇa-prema will come. The second is that if one touches the līla sthāna, the places of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, kṛṣṇa-prema will also come. Don't be in confusion about this. The effect will definitely come. It is certain. In this there is some obstacle, and that obstacle is doubt. If there is doubt, the mercy will not come.

You have heard and read in Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta:

 'sadhu-saṅga, nāma saṁkīrtana, bhagavata-śravana,
mathurā-vasa, śrī mūrtira śraddhayā sevana.’

These are the five most important items of bhakti.

What is the meaning?

One must have the association of rasika bhāvuka bhaktas, and he must do Nāma-saṁkīrtana in that association. He should always chant and remember Śrīmad Bhāgavatam in the company of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, in the line of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, (by hearing, reading, and remembering their commentaries) in sadhu-saṅga. He should stay in Mathurā or Vṛndāvana, and go to such places as Rādhā Kuṇḍa and Govardhana, in the association and guidance of pure sadhus. In sadhu-saṅga he should engage in the service of Śrī Mūrti. But that worship should not be third-class arcana. It should be like that of Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. The activity may look the same, but the mood is different. We should follow the mood of worship of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, whose Deity is Gokulānanda. See how Rūpa Gosvāmī used to serve. See how Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī served his Śālagrāma-śilā so well that the Deity Himself turned into Śrī Rādhā-Ramaṇa. We should follow these Ācāryas. 

If one even slightly touches any of these five, kṛṣṇa-prema will definitely come.

If we have another motive than kṛṣṇa-prema, if we commit Vaiṣṇava-aparādha and nāmāparādha, we will be in confusion. Even if there is nāmābhāsa, the clearing stage of chanting, progress will take so much time. If we have more faith in money than we do in Gurudeva, Vaiṣṇavas and Bhakti, or if we have something to hide from Gurudeva, we will not progress. So we should be ready to open our hearts, even if bad thoughts are coming. If you practice like this, then very soon, in this life, you can realise something.

One may worry that:

"Gurudeva and the Vaiṣṇavas are doing parikramā, and I may be so busily engaged in service that I won't be able to complete my chanting of one lakh names, and I won't be able to do daṇḍavat parikramā"

But there is no harm. I remember when I joined the maṭha, and Gurudeva and the Vaiṣṇavas were doing parikramā by foot. At that time I was so busy doing management that I could not chant or remember ślokas and prārthanās (prayers). Gurudeva had also told me:

"Don't do nirjala ekādaśī, or you won't be able to manage."

I asked him what I should do. He said he would take all the responsibility for me.

Even if you are very busy at that time, always try to engage your mind in Kṛṣṇa. Try to have a śikṣā-guru, keep your heart with that śikṣā-guru, and ask him or her questions. I will also help, but sometimes I may not be physically available. There are many qualified devotees here who can help you.


  • Rama Kānta Dāsa First, the mercy of Gurudeva and Kṛṣṇa is there. They have given the seed of bhakti-lata, the desire to serve Kṛṣṇa. We may have taken dīkṣā, but we should try to realise what is real dīkṣā. Mercy is needed, but we must also make effort to engage our mind always in Kṛṣṇa’s service, fully engaging all the senses and all our possessions. We should see that not even for one second do our minds go here and there. If the guru is bona fide, try to obey his orders, like those in Upadeśāmṛta first verse. These verses are not only for remembering, but for fully following. If you don’t do this, you are simply cheating yourself. You cannot cheat Guru, Vaiṣṇavas and Kṛṣṇa. If you don’t follow Upadeśāmṛta you cannot follow the Guru's internal moods. If you follow from the beginning, from vāco vegaṁ manasā krodha vegaṁ, continuing to all the ślokas, then you can actually follow and get the mercy of Guru -- otherwise not. Guru and Kṛṣṇa will see.

    Sometimes it is very hard to follow, but try to overcome all the senses. Try to keep your heart and mind empty, so that it may be filled by Guru and Kṛṣṇa.

    Our objective should be fixed. You may have a certain objective at present, but when your standard of bhakti goes up; your objective will also change and develop. From the time I first joined the maṭha, up to now, so many things have changed. When rati (bhāva-bhakti) will come, then your objective will be fixed. Before that time there will be so many changes of objectives. An objective may be alright today, but tomorrow you will see that it was not perfect. When rati, the first stage of prema, comes, and especially when sthāyi bhāva comes, at that time the objective will be fixed.

    We should engage our heart, mind, and senses in the execution of bhakti, beginning with śravaṇaṁ, kīrtanam, viṣṇu smaraṇaṁ. Always engage in svarūpa-siddha bhakti, otherwise you will be derailed. I am seeing, and I have seen throughout my whole life, that so many came and joined the maṭha, and then later fell, because they didn’t try hard. So practice vāco vegaṁ manasā krodha vegaṁ.

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario