"Singing In Saintly Company"

13 Mar 74 , Vrndavana

Prabhupada: ...Mayavadi sannyasis why He was not engaged in reading Vedanta-sutra, and why He was indulging in chanting Hare Krsna mantra, that in this age, Kali-yuga, Vedanta-sutra, to study Vedanta-sutra and to understand the purport of Vedanta-sutra, is very difficult. It requires a very good Sanskrit scholarship. Although it is not very difficult to understand if it is taken by the parampara system, but because people try to understand Vedanta-sutra by scholastic demeanor (?), therefore it becomes difficult. It was discussed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. He was a very learned scholar. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya... (aside, about fan:) Make little curved. (someone turns fan off)

Tamala Krsna: You want...? Prabhupada wants the fan down more, on him.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Tamala Krsna: To keep the flies off. (fan noise resumes)

Prabhupada: Not so much. That's all.

Tamala Krsna: Touching his body.

Prabhupada: So the Mayavadi sannyasis everywhere, they are very proud of their Sanskrit education. Sometimes people ask our students whether you have learned Sanskrit. But Krsna consciousness understanding does not depend on Sanskrit scholarship. That is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said to the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati that "My Guru Maharaja studied Me as a great fool." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, presenting Himself. He was a learned scholar, undoubtedly, very learned scholar. In His youthful age He was known as Nimai Pandita. This pandita title, especially the brahmanas are given this pandita title. But He was specifically known as Pandita, Nimai Pandita, very good scholar. And He defeated the Kesava Kashmiri, a great, renowned scholar of Kashmir. The Kashmir country is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also. It is a very old country. And there were many learned scholars. And one scholar came to Navadvipa to defeat the panditas, the learned scholars of Navadvipa, but he was defeated by a young boy, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Nimai Pandita was at that time only sixteen years old. But He defeated only in composition, Sanskrit composition. The Sanskrit composition, there is rules and regulations. So you know the story. He pointed out many defects in the verses composed by the Kesava Kashmiri. So he was defeated.

So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a great scholar. There is no doubt of it. But in spite of His becoming a great scholar, He is presenting Himself as a great fool. He says, "My Guru Maharaja saw Me a great..." Even one is very great scholar, he has to abide by the decision of his spiritual master. Even one is very great scholar, and if his spiritual master says that "You are a great fool," he should accept it. This is called full surrender. For example, I'll give you a practical... My Guru Maharaja was very great scholar, and his Guru Maharaja, from literary point of view, he could not even sign his name, Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. And Bhaktivinoda Thakura asked Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to accept Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja as his, as his spiritual master, that "You go and take your initiation from Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja." So he thought that "I am a great scholar, and I am son of a magistrate, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and great Vaisnava. He'll be very much pleased to accept me." Of course, he was very much pleased. But in the beginning he refused. He refused. Because... Of course, that is only show. He was not proud. Just to teach us. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati explained that "I was little proud. So I was thrice refused by Guru Maharaja," although he was the only disciple. So the scholarship is not a qualification of becoming devotee. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching. Scholarship may help, but it is not necessary. Real necessary is that one should be humble and meek and follow the instruction of the spiritual master. This is real qualification.

trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
[Cc. Adi 17.31]

Because bhakti does not depend on any material qualification. Bhakti is different subject matter. Aprakrta. Adhoksaja. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6].

So that is being taught, that... Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained His position to Prakasananda Sarasvati that "My Guru Maharaja, studying My character, he found Me a great fool. Therefore he advised Me to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." The idea is that by studying Vedanta-sutra, by becoming a very great scholar, to achieve transcendental position of devotional service is very, very difficult nowadays. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gift. But whatever you may be, if you chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra offenselessly, then everything is achieved, without any difficulty. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomara. Sarva-siddhi. Siddhi means perfection. Siddhi means perfection. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised... That is His propaganda. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam sarvatmanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... So His Guru Maharaja advised Him... He presented Himself like that to Prakasananda Sarasvati. Presenting Himself as fool means that the general mass of people, they are not fit for becoming very great Sanskrit scholar or very good philosopher or student of Vedanta philo... That is not possible in this age, in Kali-yuga. Mass of people, they are almost sudra. Sudra-sambhava. Scholarship, to study Sanskrit, to study Vedas, Puranas, they are meant for the brahmanas. Not even for the ksatriyas, or what to speak of vaisya. Vaisya, sudra and woman, they have been classified in the Bhagavad-gita as less intelligent. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim. But Krsna is so merciful. If you take the shelter of Krsna's lotus feet, whatever you may be... You may be scholar or not scholar. You may be rich or poor; women, sudra, vaisya, or papa-yoni. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. In Bhagavata also, Sukadeva Gosvami says, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa [SB 2.4.18]. Papa means born in low-grade family. They are called papa. Suddhyanti: they become purified. This is the verdict of the sastras, that bhagavad-bhakti does not depend on any kind of material qualification. Simply you have to become very sincere and serious. That is the only price.

Rupa Gosvami also recommended like that. Tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. Rupa Gosvami advised, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto 'pi labhyate. He advises that "Krsna consciousness, if it is available, you purchase. You purchase anywhere it is available." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's advice, that one should be eager to purchase this Krsna consciousness at any price. Generally, we think price means some, in terms of money, monetary transaction, say, hundred pounds or two hundred pounds or millions pounds, billion pounds, like that. The price is different. Here Rupa Gosvami says that "You price..., you purchase at any price." But what is that price? Tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. Laulyam, eagerness. That is price. That is the only qualification. You must be very, very eager to see the lotus feet of Krsna in this very life. You must be very eager to talk with Krsna in this very life. But not to become sahajiya. By service. Krsna talks with the devotee, but not with nondevotee. He says in the Bhagavad-gita, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Only persons who are always engaged in Krsna's service. He has no other business. Satata. Satata means twenty-four hours. He has no other business. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam. And the bhajatam. Bhajatam means in service. You must find out always some opportunity how to give, render service to Krsna. That is the qualification. It doesn't matter what you are. You may be this or that. It doesn't matter. But this eagerness for service can be acquired by anyone simply by sincerity. That is the price. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Rupa Gosvami says, tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. "So that I, I have got too much eagerness." But no. Immediately Srila Rupa Gosvami warns, na janma-kotibhih sukrtibhir labhyate. This eagerness to achieve Krsna's mercy, to approach the lotus feet of Krsna in this life, determination, "I shall do anything. I shall sacrifice anything," this kind of determination is not very easily obtained. Na janma-kotibhih sukrtibhih. Sukrti means pious activities. Without being pious, nobody can approach Krsna. Krsna is not so cheap. You may show yourself that you have become a great sannyasi or Vaisnava or whatever it may be, but so long you'll be engaged in sinful activities, there is no question of Krsna consciousness. That sinful activities means illicit sex and intoxication, gambling, and meat-eating. These are the pillars of sinful activities. So one must be purified. Janma-kotibhih. These... To purify oneself from the resultant action of sinful activities, it takes many, many births. Janma-kotibhih sukrti. By counteracting the sinful activities, to engage oneself only in pious activities. So pious activities means brahmacarya... Samo damo titiksa. The brahminical qualifications. But it is very difficult nowadays to practice. Tyagena samena damena va.

Gurukrpa: Tapasya... Tapasya brahmacari...

Prabhupada: Ah! Tapasa brahmacaryena tyagena samena damena... [SB 6.1.13]. These are the process of pious activities. But who is going? It is very difficult. Therefore this nama-sankirtana, if we offenselessly perform nama-sankirtana, everything is done.
So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as a fool number one before His Guru Maharaja. He advised that "It will be difficult for You to study Vedanta-sutra or practice tapasya, brahmacarya, sama, dama, titiksa, tyagena, samena, damena, niyamena, yamena... [Bg. 18.42]" It is possible for a human being, but in this Kali-yuga all these functions, to do is difficult. Therefore this process is recommended, vasudeva-parayana, bhakti-yogena. Niharah. Niharam iva bhaskarah. Just like the, there is mist, fog, and as soon as the sun rises there, all fog is immediately disseminated. Otherwise, it requires so much arrangement. Your railway train cannot move. The ships in the sea, they cannot move. It is very difficult position. Similarly, our sinful activities has covered our heart just like a fog. We cannot see anything. But by bhakti-yoga, it can be immediately dissipated. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was thus advised by His spiritual master to chant Hare Krsna, and He got perfection. That was explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So His spiritual master congratulated Him like this, that,

bhala haila, paile tumi parama-purusartha
tomara premete ami hailan krtartha
[Cc. Adi 7.91]

When a disciple becomes perfect in spiritual advancement, the spiritual master feels very, very happy, that "I am a nonsense, but this boy, he has followed my instruction and he has achieved the success. That is my success." This is the spiritual master's ambition. Just like a father. This is the relationship. Just like... Nobody wants to see anybody more advanced than himself. That is the nature. Matsarata. If anybody becomes advanced in any subject matter, then I become envious upon him. But the spiritual master or the father, he does not become envious. He feels himself very, very happy, that "This boy has advanced more than me." This is spiritual master's position. So Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu expresses, He expresses(?) that "By..., when I chant and dance and cry in ecstasy, so My spiritual master thanks Me this way: bhala haila, 'It is very, very good.' " Paile tumi parama-purusartha: " 'Now You have achieved the highest success in life.' " Tomara premete: " 'Because You have advanced so much, ami hailan krtartha, I am feeling so much obliged.' " This is the position.

Then he encourages, naca, gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana: "Now go on. You have achieved so much success. Now again You go on." Naca: "You dance." Gao: "You sing and chant," bhakta-sange, "in the society of devotees." Not to make a profession, but bhakta-sange. This is the real platform of achieving success in spiritual life. Narottama dasa Thakura also says that

tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vasa
janame janame mora ei abhilasa

Narottama dasa Thakura says that "Birth after birth." Because a devotee, he does not aspire after going back to home, back to Godhead. No. Any place, it doesn't matter. He wants to simply glorify the Supreme Lord. That is his business. It is not the business of the bhakta that he is chanting and dancing and executing devotional service for going to Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrndavana. That is Krsna's desire. "If He likes, He'll take me." Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura also: iccha yadi tora. Janmaobi yadi more iccha yadi tora, bhakta-grhete janma ha-u pa mora. The, a devotee only prays that... He does not request Krsna that "Please take me back to Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrndavana." No. "If You think that I must take birth again, that's all right. But only, only my request is that give me birth in the house of a devotee. That's all. So that I may not forget You." This is the only prayer of the devotee. Because... Just like this child. She has taken birth having Vaisnava father and mother. So she must have been a Vaisnavi or a Vaisnava in her previous life. Because this is an opportunity from the... All our children, those who are born of a Vaisnava father, mother, they are very, very fortunate. From the very beginning of life, they are hearing Hare Krsna maha-mantra. They are associating with Vaisnava, chanting, dancing. Imitation or fact, it doesn't matter. So they are very, very fortunate children. Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastah-sanjayate [Bg. 6.41]. So they are not ordinary children. They are... These children, they're always hankering after associating with devotees, chanting Hare Krsna, coming to us. So they are not ordinary children. The bhakti-sange vasa. This is the very good opportunity, bhakta-sange vasa.

So our Krsna consciousness society is a bhakta-sanga, is a society of devotees. Never try to go away. Never try to go away. Discrepancies there may be. You should adjust. And this chanting and dancing amongst, within the society of devotees, has got great advantage, great value. Here it is confirmed -- and all the Vaisnavas have confirmed --

tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vasa
janame janame mora ei abhilasa

Janame janame mora means he doesn't want to go back. That is not his desire. "When Krsna will desire, Krsna will allow me. That is different thing. Otherwise, let me go on in this way, life in the society of devotees and chanting and dancing is my business." This is required. Not anything else. Anything else, anything desiring, that is anyabhilasa. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. A devotee should not desire anything except this, that "Let me live with the society of devotees and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." This is our life.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.91-2 -- Vrndavana, March 13, 1974