CONTENTS:
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH GURU MAHARAJA
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH GURU MAHARAJA
Q: Guru Maharaja is it presumptuous to think that one can leave this material world in this current life?
A: Yes, it’s only a matter of changing our consciousness from body consciousness to Krishna consciousness, as simple as that. Yes, it is possible.
Q: Why do we like to take control ourselves? Why do we fear to surrender so much when it would take the burden off from us? What is the reason?
A: Yes, very good question because as you asked why are we afraid to surrender? Surrender should be easy. There are two considerations:
- Our false ego is saying, “You can do everything why should you surrender? It is undignified for you, you are such an important person, why should you surrender? False ego is telling us that; and
- Because we are not able to see Krishna therefore, we don’t develop the faith in Krishna that, if I surrender Krishna will take care.
So, these are the two main reasons why one cannot surrender therefore what needs to be done? If it’s a matter of false ego preventing us then what will happen? We may not be able to surrender now but a time will come when we will be totally helpless and when we can see that no one can take care of me. I can’t rely upon anyone. I can’t rely upon my relatives, doctors, bank account and police. When no one is there that I can rely on then probably we will be able to get rid of false ego and say, “Krishna, I am yours and I am surrendering unto you, please accept me. I am so sorry that all these years I have not been able to surrender to You although You so emphatically assured us in Bhagavad Gita that You will take care of us in all respects if I surrender unto You. So please Krishna removes that doubt from my heart. Please, that demon in the form of doubt is denying us so please kill that demon and make me surrender unto you with full faith. Krishna, you are there although I see you every day in the temple in that beautiful form, although I am reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, given so many reassurances please allow me now to have full faith in them and surrender unto you.”
Q: When we sleep, we waste time by not hearing about Krishna because our gross body is inactive. If we want to always hear the holy name even when we sleep can we play Srila Prabhupada’s chanting? What benefit do we get by this if any? What happens if one dies in one’s sleep how will one remember Krishna? Very good question. The question is how can we remember Krishna twenty-four hours a day?
A: Like when we fall asleep, we tend to forget Krishna and that’s why we have to practice Krishna Consciousness in such a way that even in our sleep we will not forget Krishna. Even in our sleep we will dream about Krishna, even in our sleep we will either chant the holy name or hear the holy name. Yes, that is possible and that is the meaning of being fully Krishna Conscious. Now let’s remember Srila Rupa Goswami’s instructions, “Remember Krishna all the time and never forget Krishna.” Now when he says never forget Krishna doesn’t it include even in the sleeping state? Even when you are sleeping don’t forget Krishna. So at least we know we have to practice it in that way that even in our sleep we do not forget Krishna.
Q: I have heard the spiritual master has to come to this material world until every living entity has not reached the abode of Krishna. We also sing this during Guru Puja janme janme Prabhu se. What form does the Guru come to rescue us again and again in the material world? Does the Guru come literally like in our present life? I feel however much I try I will not be able to achieve the platform of Prema in this lifetime with so many anarthas so in a way will I be troubling my spiritual master to take birth again? Please shed light on this concept Guru Maharaja and forgive me if my understanding is wrong.
A: Very good question. There are a few things to consider. Yes, Guru takes the responsibility of the disciple provided the disciple is fully surrendered. The disciple remains fixed up and, in that respect, why I am saying it. In that respect Srila Prabhupada giving example when you are crossing a river in a boat the boatman takes the responsibility to take you across. But if you jump overboard, out of the boat into the river then the boatman may or may not rescue you. Therefore, as a disciple one should be very very fixed up. As you were saying if I can't make it my Guru Maharaja will have to come back again. So why make your Guru Maharaja come back again and again? Rather you become as fixed up as Srila Prabhupada said, “If one of my disciples become a pure devotee then I can feel safe that he can take me back to Godhead.” Just like Dhruva Maharaja's mother.
Dhruva Maharaja became a pure devotee and due to his credit, his mother also was taken to the spiritual world that is the second consideration. Third consideration is that if a disciple is sincere even if spiritual master goes back to Godhead, then there, he may make arrangements to take the disciple back home or help the disciple in his spiritual life. Spiritual master doesn't necessarily have to take birth again. Liberated soul can help even from the spiritual world. The sanyasis' bodies are not burnt but hurried so that their presence can continue even though they achieved spiritual perfection, they continue to help the sincere disciples. Fourth consideration is that Krishna as the Supersoul is the original spiritual master. So, when somebody becomes serious about his spiritual life then although the spiritual master may not be present then Supersoul as Chaitya Guru can guide that individual in his spiritual progress.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
In that respect Srila Prabhupada giving example when you are crossing a river in a boat the boatman takes the responsibility to take you across. But if you jump overboard, out of the boat into the river then the boatman may or may not rescue you. Therefore, as a disciple one should be very very fixed up. As you were saying if I can't make it my Guru Maharaja will have to come back again. Rather you become as fixed up as Srila Prabhupada said, “If one of my disciples become a pure devotee then I can feel safe that he can take me back to Godhead.”
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
- “Krishna, I am yours and I am surrendering unto you, please accept me. I am so sorry that all these years I have not been able to surrender to You although You so emphatically assured us in Bhagavad Gita that You will take care of us in all respects if I surrender unto You. So please Krishna removes that doubt from my heart. Please, that demon in the form of doubt is denying us so please kill that demon and make me surrender unto you with full faith. Krishna, you are there although I see you every day in the temple in that beautiful form, although I am reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, given so may reassurances please allow me now to have full faith in them and surrender unto you.”;
- The question is how can we remember Krishna twenty-four hours a day? Like when we fall asleep, we tend to forget Krishna and that’s why we have to practice Krishna Consciousness in such a way that even in our sleep we will not forget Krishna. Even in our sleep we will dream about Krishna, even in our sleep we will either chant the holy name or hear the holy name. Yes, that is possible and that is the meaning of being fully Krishna Conscious; and
- Now let’s remember Srila Rupa Goswami’s instructions, “Remember Krishna all the time and never forget Krishna.” Now when he says never forget Krishna doesn’t it include even in the sleeping state? Even when you are sleeping don’t forget Krishna. So at least we know we have to practice it.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on the Questions and Answers of a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 22 April 2020 at ISKCON Ujjain via live feed to Facebook and YouTube on Uddhava Gita Part 14)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)