CONTENTS:
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S WONDERFUL ARRANGEMENT
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S WONDERFUL ARRANGEMENT
So festival means to take advantage of the spiritual atmosphere. The most important factor is association of devotees. Srila Prabhupada created such a wonderful arrangement through ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada is allowing us to take full advantage through ISKCON. It is important to recognize Krishna’s identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; understand how to become a devotee of Krishna and the importance of protecting our spiritual life. Always remember ISKCON gives the perfect protection for your spiritual life so stay in ISKCON then you are safe but if you leave ISKCON then there is no chance to protect your spiritual life. I have seen how so many devotees left ISKCON and their spiritual lives were finished. Fortunately some came back even just before leaving their bodies and in ISKCON the result is going back to Godhead The goal of life is to remember Krishna at the end of life. Remember Narayana at the end and your life was perfect, the life goal was achieved.
Srila Prabhupada is pointing out always remember Krishna and never forget Him so at the time of death you can remember Him. Design your lives accordingly. Make it a point of your life to remember Krishna all the time. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came and gave the holy name and gave the example of chanting the holy name in japa and kirtan very nicely. You have taken a vow to chant 16 rounds every day and that’s the first contract be very strict about it. Hear nicely when you are chanting. Attentive chanting means hearing properly. The holy name is transcendental sound vibration and is received by hearing. Don’t ever neglect your chanting! I have seen in course of time when one forgets the importance of chanting and the vow of 16 rounds what happens.
Please don’t fall into that trap. Chant 16 rounds very very carefully, attentively. If you don’t chant you are not following the process so how will you ever get the result? If you are sick you take the medicine and then you are cured but if you do not take the medicine there is no question of you being cured. The purpose of being spiritually situated at least chant 16 rounds. How can you expect to make spiritual advancement if you don’t? Never. You are getting a chance to go back to Godhead. Practice the process it will happen the process is meant to take you to the spiritual sky. Devotees don’t care for liberation, whether you here or in the spiritual sky. The fact that we are situated in ISKCON we are in the spiritual sky. Wherever Krishna situates you that is perfect for you. Preaching is a wonderful way of rendering service to Krishna. Why worry? It’s a wonderful process that Srila Prabhupada gave us now it’s up to us how sincerely we will take up the process.
Q&A WITH GURU MAHARAJA
Q. Sometimes we have to force ourselves....?
Forcing is necessary at the time of sadhana practising stage. By practise we achieve perfection in developing our love for Krishna and it will become spontaneous. Speak, think, sing the glory of Krishna all the time. It requires some effort to come to that platform but it is the development of love. When love is achieved everything is achieved.
Q. Before sleeping how can we remember to chant and the pastimes of Krishna?
Always remember Krishna even when you are sleeping dream of Krishna. In deep sleep we are transported to spiritual reality and associate with the Lord. First aspect is to engage the gross body and mind in the service of Krishna, when awake be active in devotional service; when you dreaming dream of Krishna. When you in deep sleep you will be transported to the spiritual world and you wake up and come back.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Srila Prabhupada created such a wonderful arrangement through ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada is allowing us to take full advantage through ISKCON
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Make it a point of your life to remember Krishna all the time. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came and gave the holy name and gave the example of chanting the holy name in japa and kirtan very nicely. You have taken a vow to chant 16 rounds every day and that’s the first contract be very strict about it. Hear nicely when you are chanting. Attentive chanting means hearing properly. The holy name is transcendental sound vibration and is received by hearing. Don’t ever neglect your chanting!
(The content of this E-magazine was based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 16 September 2015 in Surat)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)