Stay Under Krishna's Protection
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.18
Nairobi, October 27, 1975
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Take a testNairobi, October 27, 1975
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Harikesa: "The glory of the Lord is
always worth singing, for His glories enhance the glories of His devotees. One
should therefore meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and upon His
devotees. One should meditate on the eternal form of the Lord until the mind
becomes fixed."
Prabhupada:
kirtanya-tirtha-yasasam
punya-sloka-yasaskaram
dhyayed devam samagrangam
yavan na cyavate manah
[SB 3.28.18]
This is called meditation. Yavan, so long the mind is disturbed and deviates from our subject of meditation, one should practice this kirtana. Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that the devotee should chant always, twenty-four hours, kirtanya: "It is worth singing." It is worth singing, why? Punya slokasya, punya slokasya. Punya sloka yasaskaram. Even if you do not fix up your mind... Kirtana means fix up your mind, but even if you do not fix up your mind, then you are still gainer. The more you glorify the Lord, you become pious simply by kirtana. It is not necessary that you understand, but if you go on chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, then you become pious. Punya-sloka. Krsna's another name is Punya-sloka, Uttama-sloka. Simply by chanting "Krsna," you become pious.
So dhyayed devam samagrangam. The dhyana, the meditation, should begin from the lotus feet. As soon as you begin kirtana, first of all concentrate your mind on the lotus feet, not all of a sudden jump over the face. Be practiced to think over the lotus feet, then still higher, the knees, then the thighs, then the belly, then the chest. In this way, at last go to the face. This is the process. It is described in the Second Canto. The process is how to think of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. This is meditation. So this... By kirtana it becomes very easy. If you chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra twenty-four hours like Haridasa Thakura... That is not possible. So as much as possible... Tirtha-yasasa. Kirtana, this is also kirtana. We are talking about Krsna, reading about Krsna, reading Krsna's instruction in the Bhagavad-gita or reading Krsna's glories in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. They are all kirtana. It is not that simply when we sing with musical instruments, that is kirtana. No. Anything you talk about Krsna, that is kirtan.
Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31] means that... Vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane. This is the character of Maharaja Ambarisa, that whenever he would talk, he would talk about Krsna. This is kirtana. He won't talk anything else. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh [SB 9.4.18]. Whenever he will think, he will think of Krsna -- His lotus feet, His body, His hands, His flute. This is meditation. Meditation means that... Trance means when your mind is so fixed up on Krsna or Visnu that not for a second your mind is deviated from the Krsna's form. That is called trance. Not artificially. You can practice it. If you see Krsna daily in the temple, if you worship, you offer your obeisances -- man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65] -- naturally you will think of Krsna twenty-four hours, and that will make you more pious, because without being pious, nobody can think of Krsna. Yesam anta-gatam papam. Pious means there is no reaction of sinful life. It is all squared up. That you can do at any moment. Krsna takes charge. Krsna says, buddhih sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. He can do that. He can nullify the destiny. Karmnnirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. Everyone is bound up by the laws of karma. Yas tv indragopam athavendram aho sva-karma-bandhanurupa-phala-
So if we keep ourself always in contact with Krsna, then we become pious more and more, and as soon as our sinful reaction of life is counteracted by these pious activities, we begin to understand Krsna. Yesam tv anta-gatam papam. Without being sinless, nobody can understand Krsna. So this process should be continued. Kirtanya-tirtha-yasasam punya-sloka-yasaskaram dhyayed devam. Devam. Devam means the Supreme Lord. Samagrangam. So if He has no form, how you can think of His whole body, samagra? Samagra means the whole; angam means body. Samagrangam. So if He has no body, if He is formless, if He is nirakara, then where is the question of angam? He has angam, samagrangam, but He hasn't got a form like us. That is the meaning. When in the sastra it is said that God has no form, it means that He has no material form. He has form; otherwise how can I think of His form? This Krsna's form is not like us. Just like if you take my statue or any other statue and if you pray or if you offer food, that does not go actually to the person. But Krsna's His anga, His form, is nondifferent from Krsna. Foolish people may say that "These men, they are offering food to a marble statue. Everyone knows." No. It is not the fact. The fact is Krsna is omnipotent. He can accept your service, becoming a marble statue. Because I cannot see Krsna by my present eyes, therefore He has appeared before you just like a marble statue. But He is not marble statue. We must know that. If you think, "Here is marble statue, and if I commit some offense, who is going to see?" this is wrong conclusion. He is, Krsna, personally present here in a form which we can see. It is His mercy. It is called arca-vigraha. Krsna is everything. This marble is also Krsna's energy. Bhumir apo'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. So He can accept your service from any of His energy. The marble is also His energy, the water is also His energy, the air is also His energy -- everything. Without Krsna nothing can exist. So He is omniscient, all-powerful. He can accept your service through His energy. This is arca-vigraha. Samagrangam.
So Krsna has got form, angam, but His anga is different. Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. His anga is sac-cid-ananda, not like...Ananda-cinmaya-rasa pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih [Bs. 5.37]. Krsna and His expansion-ananda-cinmaya. Just like Krsna is in the rasa dance. These gopis are also expansion of His energy. And you will find, therefore, with each and every gopi, Krsna is there. That is another expansion. So we should not take Krsna's dancing like our ball dance. No, that is mistake. If we understand Krsna's dancing, then we become liberated. It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that instead of reading some books of this ball dance, if you read about Krsna's dancing, then what will be the result? The result will be hrd-roga-kamam apahinoty asv acirena dhirah. Everyone, we have got these lusty desires, but if actually one is advanced and he hears from a realized person what is the meaning of Krsna's rasa dance, then the result will be hrd-roga-kamam. We have got a heart disease. Heart disease means lusty desire. Hrd-roga-kamam apahinoti: "It becomes vanquished." If one actually hears Krsna's rasa-lila, then no more material lusty desires, this is the result.
But unless we are so advanced spiritually, we should not indulge in hearing about rasa-lila. Then we shall commit offense. We shall think that "Krsna is dancing like us." How He, Krsna is dancing? Krsna is dancing with each and every gopi. Can you do that? Then how you can say that "Krsna is dancing like us"? If you see the picture, you will find that each and every... Every gopi is thinking that "Krsna is dancing with me." How it is possible? If you dance with imitation... There are many rascals. They imitate that, that "I am Krsna, and I can dance also like that." No. It is ananda-cinmaya-rasa-
So we have to become advanced in spiritual understanding. And people, the so-called artists, they indulge in Krsna's pictures, His dealings with the gopis. That is not very good. That is misleading. People may think, and actually that happens. If without being mature, without being advanced in spiritual consciousness, if one tries to understand or see Krsna-lila with the gopis, then he will be misled. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you will find, rigidly He discussed this Krsna-lila with very confidential devotee, Ramananda Raya, not with others. He never discussed with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya or Prakasananda Sarasvati. He discussed on philosophy of Mayavada, but not on Krsna-lila. Krsna-lila He discussed with Ramananda Raya, most confidential devotee. And to understand Krsna, Vyasadeva has devoted nine chapter, nine cantos. And then, from Tenth Canto, he begins Krsna-lila.
So Krsna-lila is the face of Krsna, smiling of Krsna. So here we have to practice to see the different parts of the body gradually from down. We first of all see His lotus feet, then gradually... So that is described. The two feet, they are called the first chapter, in the First Canto, Second Canto. In this way we must go. Everything is very scientifically arranged. If we take it in chronologically, according to the instruction of the sastra, then it will be very easy. Otherwise,
manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascid vetti mam (tattvatah)
[Bg. 7.3]
We should understand tattvatah. That tattvatah means... Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Again tattvatah. Only through devotional service.
So devotion What is devotional service? Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-seva... [SB 7.5.23]. We have to follow these nine principles of devotional service, especially this sravanam, kirtanam and arcanam, arcanam, worshiping the Deity, and sravanam kirtanam. Even if you follow one, that is sufficient, but there are nine different processes. As far as possible, we shall execute everything, and, at least, sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam. Arcana is very important. For kanistha-adhikari, devotee in the lower stage, arcana is very, very important. Although the devotee in the higher stage, he also offers worship, but Krsna is everywhere. For a neophyte devotee Just like some people say that "Why you should go to the temple? Krsna is everywhere." Who was asking that question? "Krsna cannot be served..." Here, last night. I think those girls, svarna(?) girls. Krsna is everywhere, that is a fact, but that is for the paramhamsa, one who is very very advanced. For the kanistha-adhikari, he cannot He, like parrot, he can say, "Krsna is everywhere." He must be educated, "Here is Krsna in the temple." Otherwise it is simply blaspheme, that "Krsna is everywhere." That's a fact, but where is your realization? Krsna is within your heart. Have you got that realization? Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Have you got that realization, that Krsna is within your heart? Can you talk with Krsna? He says, Krsna says, "I talk." Buddhi yogam-dadami tam. Krsna gives intelligence. Krsna is giving, but have you got that realization?
So these are all facts, that Krsna is everywhere, Krsna is within your heart, Krsna is within the atom. Andantara stha-paramanu-cayantara-tham. That's a fact, but where is your realization? Therefore you have to begin realization by arcana. That is very essential. Then more you become expert in arcana, ye yatha mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11], the more you become realized, then more you become advanced. So therefore, for kanistha-adhikari, he has to raise himself.
arcayam eva haraye
yah pujam sraddhayehate
na tad-bhaktesu canyesu
sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah
By executing this arca-vigraha, arcanam, gradually you advance. But if you simply remain in the arcana-viddhi or arcana process, and you cannot understand who is a bhakta and what to do with others... That is also a bhakta's duty, not that simply we shall remain engaged in arcana. We must know how to respect devotee, how to do some service to others also. That is madhyama-adhikari. Simply if you become satisfied, that "Now I am initiated and I am offering arcana. I have become perfect," no, the perfection is still awaiting. You have to understand who is a devotee. You have to understand how to give service to the innocent. If you do not know that, then if you simply become packed up by arca-vigraha-seva, arcana, then you will remain in the material platform. Na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah. Prakrtah means material. He is trying to go to the spiritual platform, but if he simply remains in the arcana and does not preach, this is na tad-bhaktesu canyesu. Anyesu. Anyesu means those who are innocent. That is madhyama-adhikari, middle stage.
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
Isvara. Then, by arca-vigraha worship, by sravana-kirtana, by making your properly advanced you will understand what is the position of Krsna, isvara. And isvare tad-adhinesu. And adhina. Adhina means those who are working for Krsna. They are called tad-adhina. Adhina means subordinate.
So every devotee is subordinate. Nobody is equal to Krsna. If we do that, then it is mistake. Devotee... A devotee never says. Dasa. Dasa means servant. Servant is always the subordinate. Therefore Vaisnava says "dasa." He never says "master." Vaisnava, dasa, subordinate, tad-adhina, under the..., under Krsna. Nobody can be superior to Krsna or equal to Krsna. That is mistake. These Mayavadi philosophers, they think, "Now I have become equal to Krsna. I am also Krsna." That is rascaldom. Krsna, God, is never equal to anyone. Asamaurdhva. Asama means "not equal," and urdha, "always the top." Asamaurdhva. That is described in the Bhagavad... So we should remain tad-adhina, always under Krsna. That is our perfection. If we remain just like in Western countries -- they rebel. If a woman is advised to remain under the control of the husband, that is insult to them. They cannot tolerate it. But actually we see in India that a wife who remains under the guidance of the husband, she is happy. That's a practical fact. That is a practical fact. And therefore in the Manu-samhita it is advised, na striyam svatantram arhati. Women should be always protected. That is... Protection does not mean negligence, no. Protection means to give him (her) all facilities. That is protection. Just like father gives protection to the chil... That does not mean neglecting. Similarly, a woman should be protected. It is not that neglecting. They misunderstand. In the Western countries maybe there is misbehavior, but actually we have seen, still going on in India, the woman is... That is the ideal given by Lord Ramacandra, how woman is given protection by the husband. Sitadevi was kidnapped. Ramacandra is the Supreme Lord. He could have married many thousands of Sita, but as the dutiful husband, to rescue one wife He killed the whole family of Ravana. This is protection. He killed the whole family of him. He became... This is. So woman requires protection, and the husband is responsible to give protection, the father is responsible to give protection, and the elderly children, they are responsible to give protection.
So we are prakrti. Prakrti purusa. So Krsna is the purusa. He is the protector of all living entities. Yesterday, bhrtyanugraha-kataram. Just like a father is always anxious to see his children are well protected, similarly, Krsna is also always anxious to give protection to His subordinates. But if the subordinate denounce Krsna, "I don't want Your protection," then suffer your karma. That you are doing. Those who are in the material world, they are suffering. Why? They have given up the protection of Krsna. They are thinking that "We can protect ourself. What is the use of Krsna?" So this is called dharmasya glanih. This is deviation from the natural way of life, when you give up the protection. So our Krsna consciousness movement is: again go back to that protection, go back to home, back to Godhead.
Thank you very much.
Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada. [break]
Prabhupada: ...pariprasnena. To understand the subject matter submissively, to question, is one of the paraphernalia.
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti tad jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
[Bg. 4.34]
Devotee (1): You said that if we made a marble image of you and offered food to it, you would not accept it. So...
Prabhupada: Hm?
Brahmananda: In your lecture you said that someone who offers food to a statue of yourself...
Prabhupada: He is not statue, but people think statue. He is Krsna Himself. But because we cannot see Krsna at the present moment, therefore He appears like a statue.
Brahmananda: His question... You stated that a statue of yourself is not the same as you, and yet in some of our temples, such as Vrndavana, the murti of Your Divine Grace has been installed and they are offering prasadam. So is it the same, that the prasadam is accepted by the guru?
Prabhupada: Yes. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. Guru is nondifferent from Krsna. That is accepted by all the sastra. Saksad-dharitvena samasta sastraih. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktah: ** "It is said," tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih, "and those who are advanced devotees, they accept it like that." Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya: "But the guru's position is the most confidential servant." So guru is the servant God, and Krsna is the master God. Both of them are God, servant God and master God. Guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. So we have to serve both the servant and the master. Through the servant, we go to the master. Any other question? Chant Hare Krsna. (end)
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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