CONTENTS:
- SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 3.9.42
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 3.9.42
Today we will do Srimad Bhagavatam third Canto, Chapter 9 verse 42. This Chapter is entitled as “Brahma’s prayers for creative energy.”
Aham atmatmanam dhatah
Presthah san presyasam api
Ato mayi ratim kuryad
Dehadir yat-krte priyah
Aham – I am; atma – the Supersoul; atmanam – of all other souls; dhatah – director; presthah – the dearest; san – being; preyasam – of all dear things; api – certainly; atah – therefore; mayi – unto Me; ratim – attachment; kuryai – one should do; deha adih – the body and mind; yat krte – on whose account; priyah – very dear.
TRANSLATION
I am the Supersoul of every individual. I am the supreme director and the dearest. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies, but they should be attached to Me only.
PURPORT
The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead is the dearest in both the conditioned and liberated states. When a person does not know that the Lord is the only dearmost object, then he is in the conditioned state of life, and when one knows perfectly well that the Lord is the only dearmost object, he is considered to be liberated. There are degrees of knowing one’s relationship with the Lord, depending on the degree of realization as to why the Supreme Lord is the dearmost object of every living being. The real reason is clearly statedin Bhagavad Gita (15.7) Mamaivamso jiva loke jiva bhuta sanatanah: the living entities are eternally parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. The living entity is called atma, and the Lord is called Paramatma. The living entity is called Brahman, and the Lord is called Parabrahman or Paramesvara. Isvara paramah Krsnah. The conditioned souls, who do not have self-realization, accept the material body as the dear most. The idea of the dear most is then spread all over the body, both concentrated and extended.
The attachment for one’s own body and its extensions like children and relatives is actually developed on the basis of the real living entity. As soon as the real living entity is out of the body, even the body of the dearest son is no longer attractive. Therefore, the living spark, or eternal part of the Supreme, is the real basis of affection, and not the body. Because the living entities are also parts of the whole living entity, that Supreme living entity is the factual basis of affection for all. One who has forgotten the basic principle of his love for everything has only flickering love because he is in maya. The more one is affected by the principle of maya, the more he is detached from the basic principle of love. One cannot factually love anything unless he is fully developed in the loving service of the Lord.
It’s a long purport but we will discuss until this point. The verse again:
“I am the Supersoul of every individual. I am the supreme director and the dearest. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies, but they should be attached to Me only.”
Just in this verse the conditioned soul in this state and liberated state. Yesterday what did we discuss? Yesterday we discussed how the living entity enters into the gross and subtle bodies and when one becomes free from the gross and subtle body then he becomes situated in the spiritual identity and that can be very easily done by executing devotional service. Now the Lord is explaining to Brahma that he is the Supersoul of every living entity; He is the director of every living entity and He is the dearest of the living entity. Unfortunately, people get wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies. One should become attracted only to Krishna. Then Prabhupada mentioned in the purport that when one is attached to Krishna then he is liberated and when he is not attracted to Krishna but attracted to his body and things related to his body then he is in a conditioned state, he is in maya. Maya means attachment to anything other than Krishna. Krishna Consciousness means loving relationship with Krishna. So, when we have our loving relationship with Krishna; when we have developed our love for Krishna then life has become perfect.
Prabhupada is pointing out that the body's attachment extends to the others those who are related to the body. Things that belong to this body, we consider this to be our own that is an extended selfishness. Body consciousness is selfishness and extended selfishness are things that are related to the body and we become attached to those things. Now the question is what about our family, we have our children and we have our relatives. Yes, in the other condition the instruction would be give them up and walk away from home and take the life of sanyas but Krishna Consciousness gives us a very wonderful opportunity. That is the difference between other processes and Krishna Consciousness. Krishna Consciousness says you remain attached to Krishna and those who are very dear to you, you offer them to Krishna so in that way you are not losing anything. You have your family and relatives; they are not your relatives but Krishna’s servants. Your son is not your son your son is Krishna’s servant, Krishna’s property. You are a caretaker simply a caretaker on behalf of Krishna. You can maintain your relationship with your son with the understanding that he belongs to Krishna and you are his caretaker. Your son is Krishna’s property.
In the Vedic culture, generally this kind of understanding already develops. Like the daughters are considered to be the husband’s property and the parents are the custodians, caretakers. When the daughter grows up then what is the father’s duty? Offer the daughter to the rightful owner. Who is the rightful owner? The rightful owner is the husband. Already you see the sense of detachment is developed. Parents are naturally attached and affectionate to the daughters but they know one day this daughter will go away. Krishna Consciousness extends that concept not only daughter will go away but son will also go away. In this way they learn to develop their relationship with Krishna in that way. What happens? We will lead our life with detachment so that the real knowledge like everything belongs to Krishna, my family, my home, anything that I possess belongs to Krishna. That understanding is very important and beneficial and then what happens? Then we do not develop attachment to anything in relation to the body, then we learn to develop our relationship with Krishna. Develop our relationship with Krishna, as it has been pointed out in this verse, Krishna Himself is saying, “Don’t become attached to your subtle and gross body but become attached to Me because I am the supreme object of love and I am the dear most. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies but they should be attached to Me.”
So when you become attached to Krishna then what happens? Whys is it so important to develop our attachment to Krishna? Because that is the way to go back to the spiritual world. The qualification that is needed to go back to Godhead is by developing our relationship with Krishna. You become attached to Krishna and you will go to Krishna. You remain attached to your body then you will come back to another body. You become related to some objects in relation to the body then you running the race to come back in that way.
BG 8.6
yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah
As one leaves his body, remembering whatever he remembers, whatever he thinks, when he leaves his body, he will get that body. Nowadays people are running at such a big risk like who is their dear most object of love? Dogs. They are so attached to dogs and what will happen? They will come back as a dog. They don’t understand even when they are told they don’t want to listen.
We should develop attachment to Krishna then we can lead a normal life but because our attachment is to Krishna at the time of death who will we naturally think of? What will be our last thought? Wherever our deepest attachment is that will be our last thought. If we can develop our attachment to Krishna then we will think of Krishna at the time of death. If we can leave our body thinking of Krishna then what will happen? The dream will be over, we will wake up from the dream and we will see that Krishna is standing there and Krishna will say, “Okay, come back.” So that is why it is so important to practice Krishna Consciousness. Practicing Krishna Consciousness is something like preparing for a test. Throughout the year the student prepares for the test and at the end of the year comes the test. Now if he has prepared nicely what will happen? He will get a good result. But if he did not prepare nicely what will happen? He will go back to the same class.
So easily we can just cross over the material nature therefore for a devotee the material nature is like water in the hoof print of a calf. Material nature is so vast but for a devotee why so small? Krishna will come. When you fly across the ocean does the ocean appear very large? You are comfortably sitting in the plane, similarly, when the chariot comes from the spiritual world we will simply be sitting there and the entirety of the material nature will be left. It becomes like water in the hoof print of a calf. That is how easily we can overcome the material conditioning. Simply by developing our attachment to Krishna. Now the question is how do we develop our attachment for Krishna? We develop our attachment to Krishna by hearing. Hearing from those who have developed their attachment to Krishna because then the hearing becomes real and reading also is hearing therefore it is so important to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books means hearing from Srila Prabhupada. The devotees, because they have love for Krishna just by hearing then we also develop our love for Krishna.
Ganga Narayan Chakravati was a very big, exalted and learned scholar who became attracted to Narottama das Thakur. Anyway, there is a very nice story. Two sons of a Brahmana went to get some animals for sacrifice. Meanwhile Narottama das Thakur and Ramachandra Prabhu went out to preach somewhere and they were returning and saw these two very handsome Brahmana boys taking the animals so they could understand what these animals were going for. They felt that these are such nice boys but they are getting entangled in this kind of activities so they decided to deliver them. They started to walk just Infront of these boys so that they could hear what they were talking about and they were discussing about the effects of animal sacrifice, what happens when you sacrifice animals? The animals that you sacrifice you have to come back as animals and be slaughtered by them and you make a condition what I am doing to you, you will do to me.
That is how the word mamsa came, mam – to me and sa – he. He will do to me what I am doing to him. So, when these boys heard that they became very worried and fell at their feet and said, “please save us from this terrible condition.” Narottama das Thakur told them to release the animals and they did that. They became so attracted to Narottama das Thakur that they came to his place and had no business of going home. The parents became worried and started to look what happened and they found out that their sons had become attracted to Narottama Das Thakur and were staying at his place. The parents got upset and forcibly brought them home and wanted to teach them that one should not do that but these two boys started to speak and the father got defeated by his sons because they understood and got the knowledge from Narottama da Thakur. He pointed out by sacrificing animals what you were going to get.
Your karmic reaction will come back to you, common sense. You are going to kill these animals so these animals are going to come and kill you. The father thought that he is not good enough and knowledgeable enough so he appointed Ganga Narayan Chakravati the big scholar. While talking to then he noticed these boys were speaking with so much love for Krishna. He felt that, “My daughter is very dear to me but when I speak about her, I don’t speak with so much love. How much love they have for the Lord?” As a result of that he got transformed and went to Narottama das Thakur and became his disciple. This is the effect of hearing from a devotee then you see the love that he has developed for the Lord and this love is infectious. When you hear about someone speaking about his love for the Lord then you get infected by that and fall in love with him. Krishna is all attractive how can you ever not love Him? This is what Krishna and His devotees are pointing out in the scriptures time and time again. Thank you very much. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
2. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Our attachment should be for Krishna but as parents we have a responsibility for our children so how should we see that responsibility and take care of that responsibility?
A: As I was mentioning. Well, don’t think that they are yours rather think that they belong to Krishna. Who is their real owner? Krishna so if Krishna is their real owner, then can you claim that they are yours? So, what you can do is try to bring them up in such a way that they grow up to become devotees of Krishna. When they grow up, they are independent then you can’t force them so you have to leave it up to them. But what you can do is when they are children when they are little guide them to Krishna Consciousness then when they grow up then they are on their own. Therefore, give Krishna Consciousness in such a way that they will never forget. When they are young, they will have some tendencies and they want to do things then let them do it but pray to Krishna that Krishna guides them and brings them back to Him.
Question is inaudible?
A: Make them understand that Krishna Consciousness is the ultimate. Let them understand what’s the benefit? If you have a product and you want to sell it, what do you do? You make everyone understand that this is the best thing. Now you have a product which is the best so broadcast that. Krishna is doing so much for you already. You are eating where is that food coming from? Just think you are drinking water where is that water coming from? You are breathing where is the oxygen coming from? Then you will see Krishna’s arrangement. We are taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide so many of us are breathing what would have happened? The whole atmosphere would be filled with carbon dioxide but did it happen? No, why not? The trees and plants are taking in the carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. Who made this arrangement? Krishna. Just understand and see this is how wonderfully Krishna is taking care of us. Recognize Krishna’s greatness. Recognize Krishna’s love and if somebody loves you so much why you shouldn’t love Him? He loves you why not you love Him? In this way we have to develop our love for Krishna. Just remind yourself. When you do not depend on Krishna, Krishna is taking care of you so nicely, can you imagine when you depend upon Krishna what He’ll do then? Then you tell them how Krishna protected Prahlad Maharaja, Druva Maharaja and Ambarish Maharaja. This is how Krishna Gives protection so if you depend upon Krishna, Krishna can give you all protection you don’t have to worry about anything.
Question is inaudible?
A: After a certain point you can take care because you are dealing with living entities you are not dealing with some inert object. That living entity at some point feels, “I am independent” Then if you try to treat him in a very possessive way then he will be upset and you will be upset. Therefore, let him be. Until you were 18, I took care of you, until you finished your studies I took care of you. Now that you have completed your studies you on your own so you decide but if you are facing difficulties then come back to us. It will happen because you have given him Krishna Consciousness at a young age, he won’t forget it and he will know Krishna is the only shelter. Then someday he’ll get hurt then what will he do? When he gets hurt, he will go to Krishna. You are dealing with a living entity you have to be sensitive about it. Think about yourself when you were young and your father interfered too much how you felt? So, your sons feels the same way. Your father may have been worries at one point what you are doing but you came to the right track. So have confidence in him someday he will come back even if he is going in a wrong way he will come back on the right track.
Question is inaudible?
A: You have come to the right place Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet. Institution of ISKCON stay there in the shelter of this wonderful institution which is in fact a manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.
3. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books means hearing from Srila Prabhupada. This wonderful institution which is in fact a manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.
4. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
- We should develop attachment to Krishna. If we can develop our attachment to Krishna then we will think of Krishna at the time of death;
- That is how easily we can overcome the material conditioning. Simply by developing our attachment to Krishna;
- Reading also is hearing therefore it is so important to read Srila Prabhupada’s books;
- Recognize Krishna’s love and if somebody loves you so much why you shouldn’t love Him? He loves you why not you love Him? In this way we have to develop our love for Krishna. Just remind yourself;
- When you do not depend on Krishna, Krishna is taking care of you so nicely, can you imagine when you depend upon Krishna what He’ll do then? and
- This is how Krishna Gives protection so if you depend upon Krishna, Krishna can give you all protection you don’t have to worry about anything.
The content of this E-Magazine is based on a lecture given by HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja on 5 July 2013 at Richmond.
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)