We are trying, that is the nature of a vaishnava. A vaishnava is always saying that he wants to be the servant of the servant of the servant, as much as possible. This is very good, but it is necessary to be more and more conscious about this matter. I have been thinking for two or three days how can I present this to the devotees? I am trying as possible but they will also try as possible. But the chesta, trying attitude, must be perfect. Otherwise we will cheat our own self. This is a very exclusive and important matter for everyone.
The first point is: what is religion? There are so many different forms of religion because people have so many different natures. According to their nature they will find a religion. This is true not only for humans, this also includes the dogs, cows, elephants, lions, jackals, etc. Everyone has some nature, because the jiva soul is existing, living everywhere. Really, religion is one for everyone. That is a very important thing to think about.
Devotees came to Srila Govinda Maharaj from all over the world to hear his instructions on spiritual life.
A human body is not very easy to get:
bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma su-durlabhah
(Srimad Bhagavad Gita: 7.19)
“After many births, the enlightened soul (blessed with devotional association) realizes that everything is of the nature of subordinate to Vasudeva (the Supreme Lord), and thus he surrenders unto Me. Such a great soul is very rare.”
Bahunam janmanam ante: so many births have passed previously. Then by sukriti, by good fortune, by the mercy of the servitor of the Lord, the Vaishnava, by the mercy of Guru, through so many different channels, the merciful rain comes to us and we get this human body.
There are four hundred thousand species of human bodies but Mahaprabhu said:
Bharata-bhumite haila manusya janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’kara para-upakara
(Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita: Adi-lila, 9.41)
“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.”
Srila Gurudev and Sripad Vijayraman Prabhu
In this world there are so many different species of humans, but just to be born in a human body is not sufficient. He who is born in Bharata Bhumi, in the fertile land of religion is always hearing the Veda, Vedanta and Upanisads. This is actually amnaya: knowledge descending from above, from the transcendental world through some particular qualified soul. From God, Lord Krishna Himself, through so many different incarnations that appeared on this Earth, in Bharata Bhumi, to give that knowledge.
Thus the souls that are getting the manusya-janma, a human body, are very fortunate. Sriman Mahaprabhu has clearly explained that to us. Yet in India we will find so many religious ideas, like the Mayavad, Vaisnavism, Battacharyya and so many others. However we must understand that even though there is jungle religion, village religion and city religion, these are all different kinds and forms of religions of India. The real pure religious ideal is Veda, Vedanta and Upanisad.
As a historical form we can see the Mahabharata. There is an expression in India that says: “jane Mahabharate tale bharate… What is not within the Mahabharata, that is not in India, and what is in the Mahabharata, that is in India.” Then we can believe that full-fledged religion is in the Mahabharata, but who has given that to us? The consciousness we have and what we hold as an ideal, is dharma, religion. The giver is Vyasa Dev, who is also known as Veda Vyasa. Through him we have received all the knowledge of Veda, Vedanta, and Upanisad. But finally Veda Vyasa was unhappy. He understood: “what I am giving is not palatable for everyone. It is the medicine for a sick man, medicine for a poor person. It is not the medicine for a healthy person.” He felt this way, and he did not know how to give this real knowledge to everyone.
Sri Vyasadev Composed the Vast Collection of Ancient Wisdom into the Books Known as the Vedas
Through telepathy his spiritual master, Narada Goswami, came to him and asked “how are you?” Veda Vyasa replied: “well Prabhu I was just thinking of your lotus feet, because I am not happy, I am not well. Physically I have no disease, but mentally I am unsatisfied.” Narada Goswami said “I understand that, and that is why I have come to you, to see you and give some nourishment to you.”
Narada Goswami said:
jugupsitam dharma-krte ’nusasatah
svabhava-raktasya mahan vyatikramah
yad-vakyato dharma ititarah sthito
na manyate tasya nivaranam janah
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.5.15)
“The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.”
Sr Krishna and Arjuna blowing their conchshells in Kuruksetra
You have given everything, but not properly. That which has manifested will not enter into the heart of everyone. They do not know where they are living. But you have settled them; they feel like they are standing in their own land; that you have given them. But they have no land, this is not their home. And you have given some food, dress, etc. but they have not received proper accommodation.
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam
kutah punah sasvad abhadram eisvare
na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.5.12)
“Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?”
Narada Goswami told him so many things. Veda Vyasa received these special instructions, and he meditated on them. Because Narada Goswami said to him “I am giving you this mantra, this knowledge to you, you meditate on it and it will give you the result.” And he did:
bhakti-yogena manasi
samyak pranihite ’male
apasyat purusam purnam
mayam ca tad-apasrayam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.7.4)
“Thus he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control.”
From his meditation he saw the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His paraphernalia, His devotees, His Cit-Shakti, His Jiva-Shakti, His Maya-Shakti, he saw everything. He felt these realizations came by the grace of his Gurudev, Narada Goswami and thereafter he composed the Srimad Bhagavatam. Composed means that he explained what knowledge he received from Narada Goswami.
Sri Sukadev Goswami recites the Srimad Bhagavatam
After that everything was very good, and then he wanted to give this knowledge to others. But previously he had given so much knowledge to everyone. Now this new knowledge if he wanted to give it, it would be necessary to have some assistance. But who was better than himself to present it? Then he remembered his son Sukadev and thought only that boy Sukadev can give it: Stri-pum-bhida na tu sutasya vivikta-drsteh (Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.4.5)
He searched for his own boy Sukadev Goswami. But Sukadev had forgotten everything, parinisthito ‘pi nairguny. He is always existing within the transcendental knowledge and he never descended from that platform, and so Veda Vyasa was searching for him. And this story you know; in which way he found him. Thus he gave that knowledge to Sukadev Goswami and Sukadev Goswami gave that knowledge to Pariksit Maharaj’s assembly, where he distributed that knowledge. There were sixty thousand rishis, sages, at this meeting, and sitting amongst them was Suta Goswami.
Thus Veda Vyasa composed the full history of Krishna Lila and the Divine abode, and around this Divine Abode he described so many beautiful things. All of this he collected and then gave it to Sukadev. Sukadev in turn distributed everything. Then he composed it and gave that to us as the divine form of Bhagavat, Srimad Bhagavatam. And that Srimad Bhagavatam, is the divine form of Lord Sri Krishna who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Padah yatah prapah dvitiyah: His lotus feet, His mouth, etc.–the divine form of Krishna.
Krsne sva-dhamopagate
dharma-jnanadibhih saha
kalau nasta-drsam esa
puranarko ’dhunoditah
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.3.43)
“This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.”
This is all a historical matter, you know this. But what I want to say, is what I have been thinking for two or three days in which way shall I present this to all of you? It is necessary to follow what I shall say now. That will be so important and so good for my friends. That is dharma. What I am saying that is dharma. But what kind of dharma are we practicing?
dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.1.2)
“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart.”
Srila Govinda Maharaj, Sripad Goswami Maharaj and Srila Janardan Maharaj (right to left)
That is our religion. We are the practitioners of Krishna consciousness. That divine form of religion. That is dharma. From our preceptors, we have heard so many explanations of: projjhita-kaithavo. But the main point we must follow is to completely reject all cheating. The vital point of: Paramo nirmatsaranam satam is not to be envious. Be that kind of sadhu. Be that kind of practitioner. Projjhita-kaitavo, (cheating) that is very bad.
We are not searching for our liberation. But we are searching for our spiritual life. What is clean from karma jnana? Anu Krishnanushilana. We want to worship our Lord with love and affection. With love and affection this is a very vital point, otherwise we cannot be engaged fully. Love and affection is necessary, that is the first thing and the second thing is not to be envious. It is harmful for our spiritual movement, our spiritual life, very harmful. Then avoid that.
You are all very qualified and very much clean hearted personalities, who were born in the western world. Because they do not know what is what but they have joined by their sukriti, their good fortune which is pushing them from behind and they have joined Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness can reveal itself everywhere, and that opportunity you have received, but the obstacle is that; not to be envious of others and always be affectionate and with a loving heart.
Srila Gurudev giving darshan
Mahaprabhu said that everyone will be merciful to the jiva souls. “Jive doya name ruci vaishnava seva” serve the vaishnavas and with love and affection chant the Holy Name of Lord Krishna and be merciful to everyone. In this way proceed in the line of Krishna consciousness. That is the real religion of the jiva soul. Veda Vyasa said it: Projjitha Kaitavo ‘tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam and this can give opportunity to more and more promotion from this environment and we can very easily cross the gravity from the illusory environment. Everywhere there is some gravity and we can avoid that gravity and that illusion. That is the situation. It will hold us. If we have the substance then we need that to hold us. Our position must be a substantial position and that will be to practice Krishna consciousness with love and affection, and submission. This is the first condition. That will be the launching pad from where we will throw ourselves. That launching pad must be substantial.
‘sraddha’-sabde-visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya
Krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya
(Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita: Madhya-lila, 22.62)
“Sraddha is confident, firm faith that by rendering transcendental loving service to Krishna one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable to the discharge of devotional service.”