Verse: Srimad Bhagvatam 4.25.29
Date: September 10th, 2014
Place: ISKCON Ujjain, India
Transcription: Sevanandini Devi Dasi
Edited: Anupama Madhavi Devi Dasi Devasri Radhika Devi Dasi
nāsāṁ varorv anyatamā bhuvi-spṛk
purīm imāṁ vīra-vareṇa sākam
arhasy alaṅkartum adabhra-karmaṇā
lokaṁ paraṁ śrīr iva yajña-puṁsā
SYNONYMS
na — not; āsām — of these; varoru — O most fortunate one; anya-tamā — anyone; bhuvi-spṛk — touching the ground; purīm — city; imām — this; vīra-vareṇa — the great hero; sākam — along with; arhasi — you deserve; alaṅkartum — to decorate; adabhra — glorious; karmaṇā — whose activities; lokam — world; param — transcendental; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; iva — like; yajña-puṁsā — with the enjoyer of all yajñas.
TRANSLATION
O greatly fortunate one, it appears that you are none of the women I have mentioned because I see that your feet are touching the ground. But if you are some woman of this planet, you can, like the goddess of fortune — who, accompanied by Lord Viṣṇu, increases the beauty of the Vaikuṇṭha planets — also increase the beauty of this city by associating with me. You should understand that I am a great hero and a very powerful king on this planet.
PURPORT
There is a difference between demoniac mentality and devotional mentality. Devotees know perfectly well that the goddess of fortune, who is the constant companion of Viṣṇu, or Nārāyaṇa, cannot be enjoyed by a living entity. This higher sense of understanding is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Nonetheless, everyone wants to become happy by imitating the prosperity of Nārāyaṇa. In this verse Purañjana states that the girl appears to be an ordinary woman. However, since he is attracted by her, he requests that she become as happy as the goddess of fortune by associating with him. Thus he introduces himself as a great king with great influence so that she might accept him as her husband and be as happy as the goddess of fortune. To desire to enjoy this material world as a subordinate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is godly. The demons, however, want to enjoy this material world without considering the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the difference between a demon and a demigod.
The word bhuvi-spṛk mentioned in this verse is very significant. When the demigods sometimes come to this planet, they do not touch the ground. Purañjana could understand that this girl did not belong to the transcendental world or the higher planetary system because her feet were touching the ground. Since every woman in this world wants her husband to be very influential, rich and powerful, Purañjana, to seduce the girl, introduced himself as such a personality. In the material world, whether one be a man or a woman, one wants to enjoy. A man wants to enjoy a beautiful woman, and a woman wants to enjoy a powerful, opulent man. Every living entity who possesses such material desires is called puruṣa, an enjoyer. Superficially it appears that the woman is the enjoyed and the man is the enjoyer, but internally everyone is an enjoyer. Consequently, everything in this material world is called māyā.
LECTURE
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF KING PURAÑJANA
The story of Purañjana somewhat marks a beginning. Purañjana symbolising the living entity, while travelling in the material nature is awarded with a human form in bharata-varsha (in the land of Bharata/India), where he actually has the good fortune of becoming Krishna-conscious.
Yesterday, I had discussed that the glory of the land of India or bharata-varsha is that, this is the land where the Vedic culture is generally available. Vedic culture was not available in other parts of the world, before. Hence, in previous ages, the saintly people or those with Vedic wisdom did not go out of India. They used to consider that the oceans should not be crossed.
However, that was not a generous attitude. Although, sadhus generally did not go out of India in those days, Srila Prabhupada decided to go out of India. Moreover, leaving Vrindavana and at the age of sixty-nine or seventy.
Srila Prabhupada left India, when he was sixty-nine and he was seventy, when he reached America. He celebrated his birthday on the ship, in the oceans— this is how generous Srila Prabhupada was.
SRILA PRABHUPADA’S GIFT TO THE WORLD
He went and distributed Krishna-consciousness. As a result, people are getting Krishna-consciousness all over the world - it is available to them. Otherwise, they would not have had this good fortune.
People outside of India, did not have the good fortune. Although, many sadhus/people had gone to the West, they merely spoken about Vedas and the Vedic wisdom. They did not give Krishna-consciousness, which is the ultimate goal of the Vedic wisdom. It is the ultimate perfection and achievement.
During Prabhupada’s time also, when he was in America, there were many sadhus, gurus and yogis there; but none of them spoke about pure devotional service. Therefore, we see that they may have gathered a few followers, but did not really achieve much. They may have made some money but did not benefit the people of that country.
Even now, people think about Vivekananda as a great spiritual personality, who conquered the west and that is what Ramakrishna Mission tries to portray. But what did Vivekananda achieve? How many western followers, did Vivekananda have? He had one follower, sister Nivedita and so she became famous. He brought one memsahib to India. However, Srila Prabhupada brought hundreds of white women - memsahibs and they all wore sarees. When you see sister Nivedita, she is not wearing a saree, she is still in a gown. But all these devotees that Srila Prabhupada made, they are wearing sarees. They completely adopted the Vedic culture.
The men were wearing dhotis and kurta, and women were wearing sarees, even in those days. That is the gift of Srila Prabhupada. Not only did he make them wear sarees and dhotis, he even taught them how to eat with hands, he taught them how to cook with Indian spices and ghee and most importantly, he made them devotees of Krishna.
They were completely transformed. They became devotees of Krishna. And even now, this movement is spreading so extensively all over the world. That is the real goal of Vedic culture. This is how we can see what Srila Prabhupada has given to the world and how Srila Prabhupada extended the glory of India.
IMPERSONALISM VS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Today, the real glory of India has been established in this way. The people are accepting the Vedic way of life, which means devotional service to Krishna. Impersonalism is not the goal of life nor is it the goal of the Vedas.
In the early stages of education, we are taught some words like bat, cat, mat etc. but making one learn this sort of words is not the goal of the English language. The goal is to develop skills to ultimately be able to read books in this language, may be. Similarly, impersonalism is just the initial stage of the spiritual understanding.
What is the basic concept of impersonalism? It is based on the brahma-jyoti. Jyoti means light. Ours is a world of darkness and the other world is that of light. The first understanding is: tamasomajyothirgamaya. Tamaso, means darkness. From the world of darkness, you go to the world of light. But just the concept of a world of light is not complete, it’s not everything.
In the world of light, you see many things. There are many planets such as Vaikuntha, Ayodhya, Dwaraka and the topmost region, Vrindavana. That is why, those who are positively situated, for example, Sukadeva Goswami, four Kumaras; though they were initially impersonalists but they eventually became personalists. It is just like how you go to primary school and then secondary school and then high school and so on - gradually you make advancement. That is the positive way of moving.
However, Mayavadis are negative impersonalists. The difference between positive impersonalists, namely, brahmavadis and the mayavadis is that initially, one can be a Brahmavadi. The Upanishads are actually about Brahma and apparently, the students of Upanishads are Brahmavadis. But the difference between a Brahmavadi and the Mayavadi is that, a Mayavadi thinks that the form of the Lord is maya or material. Therefore, they do not have any possibility of accepting the transcendental form of the Lord. The Lord’s form is spiritual, but they have concluded that the Lord’s form is material. Therefore, they do not have any possibility of understanding that the Lord's form is actually spiritual. Whereas, the Brahmavadis know that this is Brahman.
The spiritual light of spiritual world is brahmajyoti - the world of light or brahman, and they are open to understanding further. Shankaracharya established Mayavada, which is very damaging: mayavadi krishna aparadhi. The Mayavadis are offenders of Krishna therefore they are doomed. They do not have any hope, unlike the Brahmavadis. Narada Muni was always a devotee, from his previous life. But Sukadeva Goswami was a Brahmavadi initially and so were the four Kumaras. However, eventually they could develop an understanding.
HUMANS DEVOID OF SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE WANT TO ENJOY
The ultimate goal of the spiritual understanding and of Vedic wisdom is to understand the spiritual reality, the way it is, with different levels of realisations. First, with Brahman realisation, one comes to Vaikuntha. If he can go further, he goes to Ayodhya, then Dwaraka, Mathura mandala and finally, he goes to Goloka - Vrindavana. The human life is actually meant for achieving this goal. But when one gets a human form of life, initially he wants to enjoy because the nature of everyone is, to enjoy. Everybody wants to enjoy.
The Vedas provide that opportunity. In order to enjoy, one needs intelligence. Like that question came up yesterday during the class, that in the previous verse, in the purport Srila Prabhupada identified Purañjana’s intelligence. But in the later parts in Srimad Bhagavatam, it has been pointed out that Purañjana is a living entity and this woman is intelligence. So, what is the reason behind Prabhupada putting it that way? It is with intelligence; a man decides that I want this woman. That is one aspect of a living entity. In order to accept the material intelligence, he has to have intelligence. He is deciding and wooing that woman, flirting - you are this, you are that. And a living entity thinks that his intelligence is the most wonderful thing and with that he is going to enjoy the material world - this is the allegory.
In the allegory, the example is given to make a real point. Like Purañjana is not a king as such, but everybody feels like that, especially when he gets a human form of life. Especially, when he gets an advance human form of life. The most advanced human form of life is the life in the holy land of India. He is now considering, I want to enjoy and in order to enjoy, I need a woman. Similarly, a living entity in order to enjoy, needs his intelligence.
BONDAGE OF THE SUBTLE BODY
The first covering in this material nature is the covering of ahankara or false ego. The second covering is that of intelligence and the third covering is that of the mind. In this way, a living entity becomes entangled with these three subtle elements. He becomes bound by these three subtle elements and develops a subtle body. The body consisting of false ego, intelligence and mind. What is the objective basically, with the subtle body? What does the subtle body want? The subtle body wants to enjoy and while he is trying to enjoy, he is committing both sinful and pious activities. As a result of pious activities, he is enjoying further. As a result of sinful activities, he is suffering. As he develops his subtle body, accordingly he gets his gross body. In this way, the subtle body is our formation and the gross body is nature’s gift. We are forming our subtle body with our karma; but in the way our subtle body takes shape, accordingly, mother nature gives us our gross body and on that, we do not have any control.
But importantly, we have the ability to control our subtle body. That is why, the Vedic instruction guide us as to how should one act, so that the subtle body will get an appropriate opportunity and facility to enjoy in this material nature or even get out of it. What is the ultimate consideration? How can one get rid of the subtle body? Although, we are bound in this material nature with the subtle body, the question is how we can get out of this bondage. There are very clear instructions in Bhagavad-Gita. Arjuna is asking, what shall I do with the mind? You are asking me to control the mind but how can I control the mind. It is impossible and is as difficult, as to control the wind. However, Krishna is giving the instruction: abhyassena tu kaunteya vairagyena ca grihyate. These are the two factors:
- abhyasa and vairagya. Abhyasa and detachment to matter. Abhyasa - to be connected to the spiritual and vairagyena - to detach from the material.
- What is the process? Man mana bhava mad bhakto: with your mind just think of me and in this way, when you are constantly thinking of me,
- tesam satata yuktanam bhajatam priti purvakam. When one is trying to serve Krishna, being engaged in this way constantly, dadami buddhi yogam tam - Krishna assures, “do not worry; I will give you buddhi yoga.”
- This buddhi yoga has two aspects: in one aspect, we know how to utilize our intelligence properly - how to fix the mind in Krishna, thinking about Krishna. And the other is how to become engaged in devotional service.
Buddhi yoga is actually bhakti yoga, it is bhakti. Initially, in sadhana bhakti we make efforts on our part. We try to render devotional service following the rules and regulations of the scriptures and then as a result of that, we achieve prema bhakti: loving devotion to Krishna. But when one engages in serving Krishna in this way, what happens to his false ego? It is gone!
Jivera swaroop hoye nitya krishna das: when one has become Krishna’s eternal servant, the false ego, the mistaken identity that I am this body, that I am the enjoyer of this material nature is gone. At that time, iha yasya harer dasye karmana manasa gira: one becomes engaged in serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead with his karmana or body, manasa or mind and gira, with his words. In which ever condition he may be, such a person is jeevan mukta. He is liberated, though he is still in the material body and material nature. Therefore, this is the goal of Vedic wisdom. The Vedas are taking us to this point. However, it is should not be done artificially. Vedas state that one may do whatever they want, but following the Vedas is imperative. One may want to enjoy, then enjoy following the Vedas. One may want to become liberated, try to become liberated following Vedas. This is how one is ‘on-track’ and can eventually come to the main point, which is pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the ultimate achievement that one receives by following the Vedic wisdom.
DIRECT BHAKTI DUE TO THE MERCY OF SRI CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU
By Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy, we receive bhakti directly, this is different from all other ages. We do not have to go through any other process. This is also a very interesting consideration.
Why this special mercy? Srila Prabhupada gives an example in this respect - generally, when you want to do a Ph.D., you have to finish school, you then college; you have to go to the university, get a masters and then you write your thesis and thereafter, you set out to become a Ph.D. student. It’s a gradual and long process. But sometimes, the university may award the Ph.D. title to someone directly. One may become a doctorate, despite not going to the university and not even finishing his school. There are some individuals like that, they never even finished school but became such an outstanding personality, that they got Ph.D. That is what happens, let’s say, when sometimes the big national leaders like the President, go to a big university, say Oxford University, which awards him a Doctorate. Like the other day,I was reading that Narendra Modi, first wanted to join Ramakrishna Mission. But they refused to accept him because he was not a graduate. But look at him now.
If Narendra Modi goes to Oxford, perhaps he may be awarded Ph.D. Moreover, he is so exalted that about 25,00 Ph.Ds are working under him now. That is what we tell people also, that we do not have to be Ph.Ds I have so many Ph.Ds working. Srila Prabhupada used to also say that - I have so many Ph.Ds as my disciples; so I am the guru of the Ph.Ds. Similarly, one has to generally struggle much to achieve devotion. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu awards devotion directly, without any consideration of qualification. In this respect, there is a very nice anecdote.
A SPECIAL VISIT TO VRINDAVAN
One day, when Srimati Radharani was a little girl child, Mother Yashoda took Her to Vrindavana (Braja) and showered Her with immense affection and love. When Radharani went back to Barsana, King Vrishabhanu, her father asked “Lali, how did you like Vrindavana?” She said, it was very nice and continued describing how Mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja treated Her, and that She also met many friends there. But then, she said “Father, there is one thing, I did not like.” King Vrishabhanu became quite alert: what is there in Vrindavan, which is perfect, that Lali did not like! He asked, what was it that She did not like. She said, “Every morning Nandalala (Krishna) used to distribute prasada. There used to be a long queue. They used to come to take prasada from Nandalala. But Nandalala would give prasada to those who had a patra or pot. But those who did not have a pot, He send them back - go get a pot and come.
And then when they returned, they had to stand at the back of the line and then there were some, who were so poor that they did not even have any patra (pot). Therefore, they were deprived of Nandalala’s prasada. That is the one thing, I did not like. Why must Nandalala refuse those who did not have the patra (pot)?” Thereafter, King Vrishabhanu sent the message to Nanda Maharaja, who called Krishna and stated how Lali was unsatisfied that you refused those who did not have the patra (pot). Krishna said, “Since Laali wants it, I have to do something. But what could I do? Here, I cannot give prasada, unless one has a patra (pot). Now that Lali wants, I must. In the mood of Lali, I will give prasada to those who do not even have any patra.”
That is how we are receiving causeless mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Patra means yogyata or qualification. Krishna gives prema only to those who are qualified. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is distributing it to those who do not have any qualification. That is the special prerogative, advantage and benefit in this age of Kali. Even though we do not have any patra, Krishna and Radharani are giving it. That is the goal of life.
Thank you very much.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Question 1: The last story you mentioned is so incredibly beautiful. Does it mean that this mood that Lord Chaitanya came with, it is actually Radharani distributing mercy rather than Krishna doing it?
Krishna became Radharani, isn’t it? Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? Is it Krishna or Radharani? He is Krishna but he is acting like Radharani. That is what Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is: radhabhava dyuti suvalitam naumi krishna swarupam. Krishna with the complexion of Radharani and Her mood.
Question 2: Is it Radharani’s mercy and compassion because of which this is happening?
When Krishna assumes the mood of Radharani, He acts like that. There are two reasons for that, one is external and the other, internal. Why did Krishna come as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? The external reason is to give, what He did not give before, anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam. After performing His vraja-lila; abundantly performing His pastimes in Vraja, Krishna withdrew His pastimes.
kare anthardhan - Krishna disappeared and then He considered, antardhan kori more kori anuman. He considered after that, this vraja-prema, I do not give it all the time. But without this love, there is no meaning of the creation of this material world. The purpose of the material world is to achieve that love. Therefore, He came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The internal reason is Krishna wanted to know the glory of Radharani’s love. To know, what is there in Him, that attracts Radharani so much. He wondered, “What is there in me that is attracting Her?”
He wanted to know that by loving Himself - to comprehend the kind of joy, she experiences. Thus, in order to experience these three things, He appeared from the womb of Mother Sachi, just as the moon appeared from the milk ocean.
Question 3: I had a question from yesterday’s class, if I can ask? This is regarding the relation among the devotees. Yesterday, you described how the devotees after some time or some sannyasi, leave the movement and then they might even change the ashram. Sometimes, what happens is when we are discussing with the new devotees, some newcomers go on the internet and come with questions. When we describe things to them, there is always a concern at the back of our minds that we might be committing some offence towards the devotees, because they are Vaishnavas. Shall we always avoid such kind of talks or how should we deal with such kind of questions?
These topics have to be dealt with cautiously, but at the same time, even though they are new devotees, they shouldn’t be kept in darkness. It is better for them to hear from us and understand the topic, than go on to the internet and get to see some nonsense, some individual is saying. Ultimately, even if someone has fallen down, it doesn’t matter. Devotional service is so powerful that it remains with him. I’ll give you an example, one devotee, he was a sannyasi. After Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, he completely left ISKCON and got lost. He then got AIDS and you know out of what kind of lifestyle, one gets AIDS. So, he got AIDS and he was dying. He was living with a woman at that time. Anyway, he died and this woman, she didn’t know what ISKCON was or even who Prabhupada was. One day she met some devotees and asked - Can you tell me who is Prabhupada? Or she may have even asked, what is Prabhupada. She was so much in ignorance. Then this devotee asks her, “Why are you asking? Why do you want to know?” She mentioned that her boyfriend, at the time of dying, practically sat up and said, “Prabhupada, you came!” and then, he left his body.
This is how Prabhupada is going to take care of his devotees, who had committed themselves to him. At the same time, there is no harm in discussing what they have gone through, but with proper understanding. Well, it happened, so what! The ultimate thing for consideration is their ultimate end. What you go through life is not as important as how you face your death - that is most important. That is why you know, this is our consideration also, that we are dealing with mature individuals, grown up individuals. For example, the father may not discuss intricate things of the family with the child. But when the child grows up, then he takes him into confidence and consults him. So that is how we have to look at things. They have gone through various difficulties, so posterity needs to know.
Question 4: How does one deviate? Is it due to the enjoyment-mentality being still present?
Deviation, you know can happen in various ways because Maya is strong. Maya can practically, always allure anybody. But the thing is, it is said that the fall down after becoming a devotee is generally because of offences. Once you take shelter of Krishna, Krishna gives you protection. But Krishna fails to give protection, when you commit offences to the Vaishnavas. Like Durvasa muni, he went all the way to Narayana in Vaikuntha. Narayana said, look I cannot do anything - you committed an offence to Ambarish Maharaja. In that case, Krishna remains helpless.
Question 5: Your precious words are so touching that they touch the mind and heart with equal proportion. I have learnt a lot from you and I want to tell you that during my graduation, I was bedridden for one month. I could not make my legs move. I could not walk. There were certain reasons because of which I went through this. My family and friends used to bypass me and mistreat me. I went out of control. I was taking medicines and still now, I am taking medicines. I cannot fully concentrate on what I am doing. Can you please tell me what to do? I want to read the Bhagavad-Gita.
While you are coming to the temple, what did you learn - what to do? Do you chant Hare Krishna? That is the only thing that you have to do, just do that. You are a vegetarian?
Response: I am a pure vegetarian.
That is very good. Chant Hare Krishna, come to the temple, associate with the devotees, make friends with the devotees, everything will be alright!
Question 6: Being a devotee we may not grossly try to enjoy Lord’s resources and energies. But there is a tendency to procrastinate in rendering sevas. So how must we overcome such tendencies?
There is a tendency to procrastinate. See, that is one of the disqualifications that one has in the age of Kali. They are lazy. Procrastination is due to laziness. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, jiva jago jiva jago - wake up, don’t be lazy. Become active and become engaged in serving Krishna. When the opportunity comes to serve Krishna, don’t procrastinate. Just do it, considering that, that is the greatest opportunity that you have received.
Question 7: I have a question from the purport. Somewhere in the purport, Prabhupada makes this point, that the desire to enjoy this material world as a subordinate, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is actually godly. Can you please throw some more light on this understanding?
I think that yesterday and even the day before, I actually mentioned about sura and asura. Those who accept Krishna’s arrangement, they are suras or demigods. Those who defy Krishna’s arrangement, they are the asuras or demons. Everyone is trying to enjoy this material nature, but when you try to enjoy, accepting Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; and that all these enjoyments are simply due to His causeless mercy - remain grateful to Him, that is divine. There is no harm in enjoying if you accept it with proper gratitude to Krishna: “Oh, Krishna! You are so kind!”
Devotees are not deprived of anything. The wonderful thing about devotional service is that devotees enjoy, while they are in this world and devotees enjoy when they go back to Godhead.
An example is, the U.S. Government sent an ambassador to some other country. When the ambassador goes to the other country, does he suffer? He gets the best of their treatment, as an ambassador, although he is away from home; because he is serving the government and when he comes back home, then naturally he enjoys more.
Another example is of the prison house, which is meant for the prisoners. But those who are serving the king, are they prisoners in the prison house? The king has appointed these employees, are they imprisoned there?
That is what happens to the devotees of the Lord. As because they are serving the Lord, they have become the agents of the Lord, even though they are in the prison house of the material nature - they are not bound. They are not imprisoned. They are not suffering. They enjoy.
Question 8: It was so nice, the pastime of Prabhupada that you shared, taking the disciple at the time of death. You also mentioned about the patra and also who is not a patra. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came and gave love to everyone. But He also gave love to only Bharata-varsha people. I was wondering what is the position of Srila Prabhupada, who gave love to everyone on this earth. Please share.
Yes, what is there to say. You have said it already. You see, it is the natural characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that He tries to glorify His devotee, even more. Just like the father, who does something very wonderful, but he wants his son to excel more and facilitates for his son - “Son, please go and open a branch in America, I will supply all the money. You go and expand the business.”
And not only in America, the son actually spreads it all over the world. So that is what Srila Prabhupada did. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started the business, with Nityananda Prabhu - a joint venture in India. The company was doing very well, but then it began suffering a lot. The business almost dwindled to nothing. Then came Bhaktivinoda Thakura - he started to revive the business. Then came, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who established the business in India. And then came Srila Prabhupada, who took the business to America. Then from America, he took it to all over the world. That is what Srila Prabhupada’s position is.
Question 9: Is it described as tri-danda: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu takes sannyasa and then Nityananda Prabhu breaks the danda into three parts? Is it also described as jiva-danda?
Apparently, Mahaprabhu took the ‘eka-danda sannyasa.’ Mahaprabhu did not take tri-danda sannyasa. But Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, that Mahaprabhu took tridanda sannyasa, by symbolising it - breaking the danda into four parts. Tridanda sannyasi bears four sticks and not three. This pastime was to prove that the sannyasa Mahaprabhu took, is Vaishnava sannyasa and not Mayavadi sannyasa.
And jiva-danda means the living entity in the material nature is suffering; danda means suffering.
Question 10: Inaudible
One should accept his guru, on his own. The decision should be his. About guru selection in ISKCON, the GBC (Governing Body Commision) has a resolution that there should not be any canvassing. There should not be any pressure, coercing, or forcing anyone. It should be completely up to the individual to decide who he wants to select as his guru.
Question 11: What about the temple in which only one guru is residing, but there are disciples of different gurus. What should the counselor do?
Well, it is one family. In the family, there are so many cousins. The father is the family head. But then, is it desirable that with the different brothers, the family splits and breaks down? It is happening in the age of Kali, especially when the brothers get married, they move out of the house; but is it desirable? At least in the context of ISKCON - No, it’s not desirable. Therefore, it is very important that we recognise the head of the family - Srila Prabhupada and with him in the center, we become related to each other.
Question 12: (Question unclear) I was having some confusion with pronunciations: Ram and Rama.
Generally, the word is Rama but then it is sometimes Ram. There is no hard and fast rule - like sometimes, when you are singing, you say Rama.
Question 13: I seek your blessing today, as I turn 33. My question is, is there possibility of chanting in mode of passion?
We all wish you a very happy birthday. Yes, if one is in the mode of passion, his chanting can be in the mode of passion too. For example, one may be chanting the holy name, but his desire is to enjoy the material nature. That will be chanting in the mode of passion. Ultimately, chanting should transcend the modes. Pure chanting is transcending the modes of material nature.
Thank you.
Gaura Premanande - Hari Hari Bol!