sábado, 20 de agosto de 2011

THE VALUE OF ASSOCIATION WITH PURE DEVOTEES Australian Tour 1.2.2000. Pm.

THE VALUE OF ASSOCIATION WITH PURE DEVOTEES Australian Tour 1.2.2000. Pm.

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

I am happy that devotees from various parts of Australia, and also various parts of the world, have assembled here for association. You could have easily chanted the holy names, read books, and performed other devotional activities at your home. You can easily do that.

So why have you come here?

Spending so much money you have come here—only for hearing hari-kathā. This is a very good sign.

The association of high-class bhaktas is glorified everywhere in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has written the song:

“Śuddha-bhakata-caraṇa-reṇu, bhajana-anukūla.”

What is the meaning of this song?

“The dust from the lotus-feet of the high class of Vaiṣṇavas, especially those in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and especially in the line of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī, is very favourable for success in bhajana.  Also, if rāsika Vaiṣṇavas are telling all kinds of very high hari-kathā, it is so beneficial to hear from them. Therefore, when Śrī Śukadeva Goswāmī began to give class on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, including Śrī Narada, Śrī Vedavyāsa and Śrī Parāśara Muni all the elevated Vaiṣṇavas assembled to hear from him.

I can tell, therefore, that you are so fortunate. So, so much fortunate.  I pray to Kṛṣṇa, to Śrīmatī Rādhikā, to Their combined mercy in the form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and to Śrī Guru Nityānanda Prabhu to bestow His mercy.  By mercy They are non-different, and therefore I told only ‘His’ mercy or ‘Her’ mercy. 

I think you’re coming here will not go in vain.  It will ever go in vain.  Even if you have so much lust, no harm.  Even if you have many worldly desires, there is no harm.  Even if you have so many impurities, there is no harm—as long as you have very strong belief in the association of pure devotees.

“sādhu-saṅga sādhu-saṅga sarve śāstre koy
lava mātra sādhu- saṅga sarva-siddhi hoy

What is the meaning of sarva-siddhi?

All perfection. If you especially want sarva siddhi, that is very good. If you want Svarga, attainment of heavenly planets, very good. If you want Vaikuṇṭha, or if you want the love and affection of Rāmacandra like that of Hanumān, very good. If you want to be like the prominent queens of Dvārakā like Satyabhāmā’s and others, you can have that very quickly. Moreover, if you want to be a Vrajavāsī, and you want the Vrajavāsīs love and affection for Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa will engage Śrīmatī Rādhikā and say:”

O, try to give them that love. At once they should have it.”

And, if Śrīmatī Rādhikā wants this, then it will happen quickly.

Don’t have any doubt about this. Never, never. If you have some doubt, duplicity, hypocrisy, or other unwanted mentalities, then this sādhu-saṅga will not give its fruit. You should be saddhiam (one who has no offensiveness in his heart).

Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī has explained about the five most prominent items of bhakti. 

What are they? 

Sādhu-saṅga, Nāma-kīrtana, Bhāgavata-śravaṇa, Mathurā-vāsa, and śrī-mūrtira śraddhāya sevana.  The meaning is that if you are chanting the holy name in Vṛndāvana under the guidance of Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī—if you are in his line—this is the most important thing…

tan-nāma-rūpa-caritādi-sukīrtanānu-
smṛtyoḥ krameṇa rasanā-manasī niyojya
tiṣṭhan vraje tad-anurāgi-janānugāmī
kālaṁ nayed akhilam ity upadeśa-sāram                                         
(Śrī Upadeśāmṛta, 8)

“The essence of all advice is that one should  utilize one’s full time—twenty-four hours a day—in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma] and serve Kṛṣṇa under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.”

 If you are chanting the holy name, remembering, or doing anything, it must be under the guidance of advanced Vaiṣṇavas in the line of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī and it must be in Vraja. If you are not physically in Vraja, then always keep your mind there.  All these things—Nāma kīrtana, Bhagavat śravaṇa, and so on—must be performed in that high class of association. Mathurā vāsa.  Mathurā means Vṛndāvana or Vraja-maṇḍala, Kṣetra-maṇḍala (Jagannātha Purī), Gauḍa-maṇḍala (Navadvīpa)—anywhere—as long as you are under the guidance of elevated Vaiṣṇavas. If you are going to Navadvīpa, it should be under the guidance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura or Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura.

If you are performing arcana, that arcana alone will not do. However, when you do it under the guidance of Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Goswāmī, then your arcana will be like his—bathing Ṭhākurji (the Deity) with tears, and fanning Him with side-long glances. Everything should be under the guidance of high-class Vaiṣṇavas. Then, if your chanting is somewhat less, no harm. If your arcana is less, no harm. If there is some defect, no harm. Give importance to that association.

You should not think:

 “Oh, he is a disciple of my Gurudeva. Whether he has good qualities or not, I should follow him.”

This will not do. You should always keep your eyes and your heart on the high class of Vaiṣṇavas in the family of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.  There should be no consideration of caste and creed at all.  We should try to follow all these things.  I want that Prema Prayojana should speak about the glories of sādhu-saṅga.

[Prema Prayojana] Everywhere, throughout the scriptures, the glories of sādhu-saṅga have been given. They are so wonderful, inconceivable and miraculous that we cannot even explain them. It is such a great thing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited Mathurā -maṇḍala. He met with one brāhmaṇa there, and when He saw him they began to have kīrtana. While this brāhmaṇa was chanting in the kīrtana, he was crying. He had such ecstatic symptoms that when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw him, He could understand one thing.  Mahāprabhu said to him;

“I think that you must have had some connection with Śrī Mādhavendra Purīpāda. Unless one has had connection with Mādhavendra Purīpāda, he cannot have such ecstatic transcendental love for the lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.” 

So this is the effect. Without sādhu-saṅga this transcendental love cannot be realised. And, sādhu-saṅga produces such a miraculous effect that even the lowest of persons can become greatly elevated very quickly.

This morning Śrīla Gurudeva gave the example of the Mathurā brāhmaṇa, and how he met Gopa Kumara. Gopa Kumara spoke so much hari-kathā to him; yet he had not realised the subject matter. He had not understood it; he had not felt it in his heart. He was only hearing without any realisation. Gopa Kumar understood this, and he did something which is not available by reading books, something which is not available by watching videos of any sādhu on the television, something which is not available by hearing from any tape recorder—or any medium whatsoever. 

What did he do? 

He gave his blessings. He placed his hands upon the brāhmaṇas head and he blessed him. In a moment that brāhmaṇa found himself racing all the way up to Goloka Vṛndāvana, and he became an eternal associate of Kṛṣṇa—just like Gopa Kumara himself.  One may say, “But this is impossible.

How is it possible?”

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja] Gopa kumāra had practised for lakhs and lakhs of years and births, and he gradually went everywhere. After that he came to Vṛndāvana, and from there he went to aprakat (unmanifest) Vṛndāvana.  He took many births—so much time. As for the Mathurā brāhmaṇa, however, he never did any practice. He achieved perfection only by the mercy of Svarūpa (Svarūpa is the name of Gopa Kumāra in his form of a cowherd boyfriend of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana). What Svarūpa had achieved by so much difficulty, by his hand—in a moment—they both went to Goloka Vṛndāvana directly. How wonderful this is. Don’t disbelieve this. Don’t have doubt. Then quickly you will realize the same thing.

[Prema Prayojana] anārādhya rādhā-padāmbhoja-reṇum.

First of all you have to worship the foot-dust of Śrīmatī Rādhikā.

anāśritya vṛndāṭavīṁ tat-padāṅkām. 

And you have to worship Śrī Vṛndāvana dhāma which is sanctified by Her footprints.       

asambhāṣya-tad-bhāva-gambhīra-cittān.

You must associate with that devotee whose heart is fully dedicated to Her lotus feet; and you should hear the nectarean discussions of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa from Her pure devotee. Only then can you understand, only then can you have some idea or conception, and only then can you ultimately realise what is the yugala-prīti of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise it is quite impossible.

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja] You should know, and have strong belief, in what has been told here. In high-class association, first śraddhā (faith) comes in sādhana (practice) and then it comes in sādhya (perfection). Gradually that faith will increase, and love and affection for Kṛṣṇa will surely come.

If we think that we are associating with high class of devotees, but still lust and a wish for marriage, worldly opulence and so on comes in our heart, what should we decide? 
Is this the fruit of elevated association?
Why did such desires come?

There is some defect. Try to give up that association very quickly. On the other hand, there are so many instances where a person with material desires became renounced by good association. One example is the prostitute who took the association of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura and then became a saint, a devotee.

Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Goswāmī had the association of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara.  He never developed desire for worldly things, not even in dream. Rather, he was gradually developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and ultimately he was bitterly weeping, “Rādhe Rādhe.”

tavaivāsmi tavaivāsmi na jīvāmi tvayā vinā
iti vijñāya devī tvaṁ naya māṁ caraṇāntike
(Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali)

“I am Yours! I am Yours! I cannot live without You! O Queen, please understand this and bring me to Your feet.”

Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī, who is the “Guru of Guru of Gurus”, prayed:

“O Rādhike please put my name on the list of your dāsīs. If you do not do so, I will give up my life.  Even if my name is the last on the list, no harm.  Even if I am the dāsī of the dāsī of your dāsī, no harm.  I want to be the dāsī of the dāsī of the dāsī of your dāsī.  So please enlist my name; otherwise I will give up my life.”

hā devi! kāku-bhara-gadgadayādya vācā
yāce nipatya bhuvi daṇḍavad-udbhaṭārtiḥ
asya prasādam abudhasya janasya kṛtvā
gāndharvike! nija-gaṇe gaṇanāṁ vidhehi
(Śrī Gāndharvā-samprārthanāṣṭakam 2)

“O Devi Gāndharvike! In utter desperation I throw myself on the ground like a stick and with choked voice humbly implore You to please be merciful to this fool and count me as one of Your own.”

This is the result of sādhu-saṅga. If you are thinking, however:

“Oh, lust is coming; I must marry. I should have a very high class of building and so many opulence’s”

This is not the result of good association. At that time you should think:

“Where is the defect?”

And try to reform. That is why Śrīmad Bhāgavatam says:

jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir
ye prāyaśo 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyām
(Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 8.67)

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja asks Śyāmarāṇī dāsī to speak] In Caitanya Caritāmṛta there is a wonderful discussion between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāya Rāmānanda. Śrīman Mahāprabhu is asking Śrī Rāya Rāmānanda,

“What is the essence of the perfection of life?”

This verse represents his first suggestion which Lord Caitanya did not reject and say, “It is external; say something else.” Hearing this suggestion Lord Caitanya said, “Very good. You can go on.”

‘Jñāne’ has two meanings. It generally means mental speculation culminating in the desire to become one with the Supreme.  But there is another meaning: to become a ‘jñānī bhakta’, a devotee who is aware of the opulence of God. Such a devotee is aware that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is saying:

‘Jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva’

One should give up the conception that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and instead hear the sweet pastimes of Vrajendra nandana Kṛṣṇa from the lips of a pure devotee. It does not matter in what position one is in the varṇas or āśramas.

Sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir.

It doesn’t matter if one is in a very fallen position, or as Śrīla Gurudeva mentioned, if he has so many anarthas; if he is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, or vaiśya; or if he is a sannyasi or a gṛhasta. Whatever one is, if he is surrendered to hearing, and following what he hears, with body, mind and words, then no matter where he is, anywhere in the three worlds, tais tri lokyām, 'jita jito 'py asi. He becomes pure. At that time the unconquerable Lord Ajita, who is never conquered by anyone, becomes conquered by that devotee.”

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja] Śrīla Sanātana Goswāmī is telling us about sādhu-saṅga. In this world someone may knowingly or unknowingly be in the association of a lusty person who is smoking, taking drugs, or doing all other bad things—whose character is very loose.

If you take your meals with him, if you sleep beside him, if you do other activities with him, what will be the result?

You will go to hell. You will become like him. Your character will be loose and you will begin to take drugs and all other things. You will be very far away from bhakti and thus your life will be spoiled.

Similarly, if even unknowingly, you get the association of a very high class of Vaiṣṇava and take meals with him, talk with him, and always be with him, what will be the result?

All his good qualities will enter you, and thus your life will be successful.

Suppose you have the opportunity to be in the elevated association of an advanced devotee who has very good character, and who has so much love and affection for Kṛṣṇa and for chanting and remembering hari-kathā. Even if that devotee is not telling any hari-kathā, you should sit with him.  Don’t give up his association.  Even if he speaks about worldly things, there will be much benefit from that.  Somehow he will bring Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes there by trick, and he will convert all worldly things into high-class hari-kathā. Therefore, even if he is not telling hari-kathā, you should try to be in his association.

Even if that advanced devotee is not giving any instructions, you should try to be with him. Vidura has stated in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam:

yat-sevayā bhagavataḥ
kūṭa-sthasya madhu-dviṣaḥ
rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ
pādayor vyasanārdanaḥ                      
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.7.19)

“By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distresses.”

This is a very brilliant śloka, and Śrī Sanātana Goswāmī explains it in his commentary. One should serve high class of bhāgavata who is bhagavataḥ kūṭa-sthasya madhu-dviṣaḥ.

The association of those who are serving Svayam Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa is highly desirable. Even if there is no greed for that association and my mind is not liking it; even if some sleepiness or some idleness is coming, still I will not give it up.  I will be with him; I will always be with him.

And what will be the result? 

Rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ —one develops transcendental ecstasy in service.

Śrīla Sanātana Goswāmī explains that ‘kūṭa-stha’ means he who has totally left everything—all worldly things. Kūṭa-stha means worldly desires, lust and so forth. If one has left all kinds of desires for Svarga and mokṣa, and even for service to Dwārakādīśa and all other Vaikuṇṭha avatāras, he is kūṭa-stha. Moreover, ‘kūṭa’ means mountain, and in that case kūṭa-stha means one who is always on the mountain.

Who is that? 

Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān.

He is always on Govardhana Hill. He is also known as Madhu-dviṣah; and what is He doing as Madhu-dviṣah? 

He is always drinking madhu, the honey of the association of the gopis, sakhās, and others.  If you are serving and associating with a bhakta of this Madhu-dviṣah, Kṛṣṇa, who is cow herding and playing in the groves of Govardhana, then rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ.  Rati means bhāva (transcendental emotion). Very soon bhāva for the lotus-feet of Kṛṣṇacandra becomes manifest. There is also another meaning of rati. Rati rāso. A pure greed to enter rasa (the mellow taste of ones specific transcendental relationship with Kṛṣṇa) enters in the heart. Greed will come very soon. Rati-rāso bhavet tīvrah.

The gopis are dancing on Govardhana Hill, and Kṛṣṇa is also dancing there. It may be that Kṛṣṇa will tell the gopis:

“O, now you are tired and you are perspiring.”

He takes His pītāmbara (yellow shawl) and removes their perspiration. He asks them;

“O, may I tie your ankle bells?
May I massage you because you are tired?”

This is called ‘rasa’.

We may enter in rasa by hearing, and by associating with this kind of bhakta.  Perhaps you are in the assembly of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī, and there Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Goswāmī is giving class of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.  Or you should come to Jagannātha Purī, in the council of Ṭoṭā-Gopīnātha. 

Who is speaking Śrīmad Bhāgavatam? 

Śrī Gadādhara Pandit. 

And who is the śrotā, listener?

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is hearing along with so many others like Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, and Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Goswāmī, and sometimes Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī and Śrī Sanātana Goswāmī may be there. Śrī Śikhi Māhiti and Śrīmatī Mādhavī devī may also be there.

Who is speaking? 

Śrī Gadādhara Pandit. 

Who is he? 

He is actually Śrīmatī Rādhikā. Śrīmatī Rādhikā is giving class on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, rāsa-pañca-adhyāya (the five chapters explaining rāsa-līlā).

tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ
kavibhir īḍitaṁ kalmaṣāpaham
śravaṇa-maṅgalaṁ śrīmad ātataṁ
bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ                                                                                                                  
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.31.9)

“The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. These narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities, and they eradicate all sinful reactions. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers.”

What high class of association is there? 
And what is the result of being in such association?

Rati-rāso bhavet tīvrah. You will have so much thick greed to enter that rasa. This is the highest thing; you cannot even imagine. You should know the benefit of an exalted Vaiṣṇava coming anywhere. Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda came. 

Why did he come?

What he has realised in so many past lives, what he learned from his Gurudeva for so many years—he came to give all these things. He could have given everything in a moment, but you were not sufficiently qualified to enter into those topics.

Similarly, I have served my guru-varga (disciplic succession of bona fide spiritual masters)—and then I realised something—and I have also come to give these realisations. Sometimes I was worried that I cannot give all these truths, because I am not so qualified, or it may be that no one is so qualified to realise them.  But really, I have no self-interest at all. I came only to help you, and to give this same thing. That is why I am explaining these topics in this class.  If, out of lakhs and lakhs, hundreds and thousands, a rare person somehow picks up this kathā, then it will be a very great gain for the whole world.

After me there will be another guru. And after that guru, another guru will give all this to others. And among those others, some will be qualified. Thus, in the line of guru paramaparā, this kathā will go on. 

Otherwise, if we are not giving all these things, the link will be broken—and what will happen?

All will be deprived of happiness.  So, whether you have so much taste or not, somehow you should try to be there, and to hear all these truths.  Gradually you will see that all kinds of lust and worldly desires will quickly leave.

rati-rāso bhavetasmin mahan-mukharitā madhubhic-caritra-
pīyūṣa-śeṣa-saritaḥ paritaḥ sravanti
tā ye pibanty avitṛṣo nṛpa gāḍha-karṇais
tān na spṛśanty aśana-tṛḍ-bhaya-śoka-mohāḥt tīvraḥ                                                
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.29.40)

“My dear king, in the place where pure devotees live, following the rules and regulations and thus purely conscious and engaged with great eagerness in hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in that place if one gets a chance to hear their constant flow of nectar, which is exactly like the waves of a river, one will forget the necessities of life—namely hunger and thirst—and become immune to all kinds of fear, lamentation, and illusion.”   

What is the meaning?

You cannot please me by anything else—neither by money nor by praise. I have so much praise—too much praise—and I am tired of it. You should take a very little of what we are discussing. That is all I want. Sometimes I see that someone becomes sleepy and wants to go outside. So I have some medicine for this. Chili powder. When you become sleepy, just give this punishment to the eyes and say:

“Why are you like this?”

Try to listen very carefully. You have come from very far, far distant places, and you are giving up all other things—only for this. If you take just a little bit, my coming will be successful.

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja asks Navīna Kṛṣṇa prabhu to speak.]

[Navīna Kṛṣṇa (now Pūjāpāda Bhaktivedānta Mādhava Mahārāja)] Śrīla Gurudeva was explaining the glory of sādhu-saṅga. He quoted one śloka, “tasmin mahan-mukharitā...” He told you that he came to distribute his realisations. Among lakhs and lakhs of devotees, if one person can understand his realisation, he thinks his coming and preaching in the West is successful.

Why?

Because those who will accept can distribute this idea, this conception, this realisation, to others.

For example, so many fountains are coming from the Himalayas, and there is no end to this water. Similarly, when a sādhu is speaking hari-kathā from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, then automatically, like a fountain, the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are realised and seen in his heart. He is explaining all topics about Kṛṣṇa, and they are coming automatically, without any effort.  Madhubic cāritra. 

What is the characteristic of Madhubic?

Madhubic is Kṛṣṇa, He who can destroy the Madhu demon. Madhu also means lust, and madhubhic is He who can destroy lust. By hearing, we can understand who is this personality.

[Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja] What is an example of madhubhic-caritra?

Kṛṣṇa’s prema- lāpa, His loving conversations or dialogues with the gopis. This is very sweet rasālā (nectar). The gopis say:

“O Kṛṣṇa, we are very thirsty”.

“O, you can go to Yamuna, or here and there, and you can take water.”

“No, I am very thirsty for your love and affection.”

This is a very sweet conversation, and there are so many other things.

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is mad in divyonmāda. Jalpa, prajalpa, and so on (there are ten kinds of conversations in transcendental madness described in śāstra) are going on, and Uddhava is hearing and seeing all these pastimes.

“Madhupa kitava-bandho...”

“O black bee, you should at once go from here. You are a drunkard and you are impure. At once go. I don’t want to see you. You want to fall at my feet, telling me you have some message from Kṛṣṇa.”

This is mādhurī cāritra. Pīyūṣa-śeṣa. It is more than nectar, and the hearer of hari-kathā is always drinking this nectar.

How? 

Not with the mouth, but by the heart.  He will never be satisfied in lakhs and lakhs of years. He will say:

“O more should come; more should come.”

We have to drink with our ears. In the material world we drink by mouth, but in this case we should not drink by mouth.  We have to drink this nectarean drink from the bona fide sādhu by the ear. 

And what will be the effect?

When you hear with your ears, then ‘praviṣṭa karuṇā.’ Kṛṣṇa will enter through your ears—because there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and kṛṣṇa kathā. By the causeless mercy of Guru and Vaiṣṇavas, Kṛṣṇa will enter in our heart through hari-kathā. When Kṛṣṇa once enters, He never comes out. At that time bhāva will manifest in our heart, and then we can control Kṛṣṇa there.

For we have many types of anarthas (unwanted habits and mentalities)—and especially lust—then Śrī Śukadeva Goswāmī is telling another thing.  Kṛṣṇa will wash all these away. Śrīla Śukadeva Goswāmī gives the example that in the rainy season all rivers and falls become muddy.  Even if you want to purify it, it will be muddy when the rain comes again. When autumn season comes, however, the water will become transparent—automatically—without any effort.  Similarly, if you want to get rid of lust, anger, and anarthas by your own endeavour, this is not possible for you. However, if you have sādhu-saṅga, if you come under the guidance of any bona fide Gurudeva and hear these pastimes from him, it will be very powerful.

[Mādhava Mahārāja] Śrīla Mahārāja said it will be so powerful. Kṛṣṇa will come in your heart and arrange that bad things will never again come in your heart. Gurudeva is very merciful. He has explained in a very simple way, just as a mother teaches her son, holding his hand and writing ‘A, B, C’. The boy does not know anything, so the father and mother are teaching. Similarly, Śrīla Gurudeva is so causelessly merciful—giving us the essence of Śrī Sanātana Go swami’s commentary.



  • Rama Kānta Dāsa Śrīla Sanātana Goswāmī is telling us about sādhu-saṅga. In this world someone may knowingly or unknowingly be in the association of a lusty person who is smoking, taking drugs, or doing all other bad things—whose character is very loose. 

    If you take your meals with him, if you sleep beside him, if you do other activities with him, what will be the result? 

    You will go to hell. You will become like him. Your character will be loose and you will begin to take drugs and all other things. You will be very far away from bhakti and thus your life will be spoiled. 

    Similarly, if even unknowingly, you get the association of a very high class of Vaiṣṇava and take meals with him, talk with him, and always be with him, what will be the result? 

    All his good qualities will enter you, and thus your life will be successful.

    Suppose you have the opportunity to be in the elevated association of an advanced devotee who has very good character, and who has so much love and affection for Kṛṣṇa and for chanting and remembering hari-kathā. Even if that devotee is not telling any hari-kathā, you should sit with him. Don’t give up his association. Even if he speaks about worldly things, there will be much benefit from that. Somehow he will bring Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes there by trick, and he will convert all worldly things into high-class hari-kathā. Therefore, even if he is not telling hari-kathā, you should try to be in his association.

    Even if that advanced devotee is not giving any instructions, you should try to be with him. Vidura has stated in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 

    yat-sevayā bhagavataḥ
    kūṭa-sthasya madhu-dviṣaḥ
    rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ
    pādayor vyasanārdanaḥ 
    (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.7.19)

    “By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distresses.”

    This is a very brilliant śloka, and Śrī Sanātana Goswāmī explains it in his commentary. One should serve high class of bhāgavata who is bhagavataḥ kūṭa-sthasya madhu-dviṣaḥ.

    The association of those who are serving Svayam Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa is highly desirable. Even if there is no greed for that association and my mind is not liking it; even if some sleepiness or some idleness is coming, still I will not give it up. I will be with him; I will always be with him. 

    And what will be the result? 

    Rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ —one develops transcendental ecstasy in service.
  • Nanda Nugent We have to beg from the core of our hearts for this type of good association. Krishna will hear our heartfelt plea, and manifest himself in the form of Ashraya Bhagavan, Guru, who has Krishna sheltering in his pure heart.

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