Lecture [Partially Recorded] At Śrī Kṛṣṅa Caitanya Maṭh [BV Purī Mahārāja]

Prabhupāda:

kṛṣṅot-kīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pūjitau śrī-caitanya-kṛpā-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhārāvahantārakau vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau [Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here to participate in this great Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. This movement was started by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as we have explained several times, and the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was followed by the six Gosvāmīs. Vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yagan śrī-jīva-gopālakau.

The six Gosvāmīs, who lived at Vṛndāvana, they came from different parts of the country. Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī belonged to formerly South Kanada, and they established..., their forefathers established themselves in Bengal. So Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was South Indian. Similarly, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī belonged to Bengal. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu picked up very great personalities from all parts of the country. Vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yagau śrī-jīva-gopālakau. So how they...

[break] [indistinct]. The next ācārya from Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī. So their process of executing this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement was, kṛṣṅotkīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau [Śrīnivāsa Ācārya].

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṅa and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Caitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe.]

They were always engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, kṛṣṅotkīrtana, utkīrtana—very loudly. Hare Kṛṣṅa, Hare Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa Kṛṣṅa, Hare Hare, just like these boys are chanting and dancing.

Chanting very loudly Hare Kṛṣṅa and automatically they are in ecstasy and dancing jumping very high without any care. This is transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual platform, kṛṣṅotkīrtana. Kṛṣṅa-kīrtana is so powerful that immediately he reaches the spiritual platform and enhances the spiritual energy in the form of dancing.

Kṛṣṅotkīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī, they are merged in ocean of transcendental bliss. Dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau, the Gosvāmīs were dear to all classes of men. There are two classes of men, one class is dhīra, dhīra means one who has satiated his material desires he is called dhīra. He has no more any anxiety for sense gratification he is called dhīra, and the other class is called adhīra they are busy for sense gratification.

So this kṛṣṅotkīrtana the chanting and dancing, is dear very pleasing both to the dhīras and the adhīras, therefore the Gosvāmīs were dear to all classes of men. They were living in Vṛndāvana, not that they were liked by the devotees only but even ordinary men. They also worshipped these Gosvāmīs even in their family quarrel between husband and wife they would refer the case to the Gosvāmīs. They were so dear to the general public that they would submit the family quarrel and whatever the Gosvāmīs would decide they will accept it.

So dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau, priya-karau because this movement is so pleasing that anywhere it can be attractive that we are feeling practically…

[disturbance in the audience].

This is not pleasing to the children… [laughter] That’s all right. So wherever we are doing in the remotest part of Africa where practically they have not seen what is civilised life. There also we find that when you chant this Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra all the boys, all the males and females in the village they come out and join with this chanting and dancing. Dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau priya-karau, it is so pleasing.

The Africans are asking Indians there that why did you not bring this movement, so long? Because there are many Indians in Africa, you know, many Gujaratis are there. So now there are asking why this movement was not imported so long and the African government also is very pleased upon us. We had also that saṅkīrtana festival for seven days many government officer came and they gave us permit that we welcome any nice movement in this country. So they welcomed our movement we have no hindrances from the government or from the public it is going on nicely.

So dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau, it is pleasing to all classes of men nevermind whether he is dhīra or adhīra. Śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhu-kṛpā-bharau bhārāvahantārakau, this is possible only when one receives the blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī-caitanya-kṛpā-bharau, this Rūpa Gosvāmī received blessings directly from Lord Caitanya continually for 10 days in Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa at Prayāga Allahabad. Similarly Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī was instructed continually for two months in Vārāṅasī. In this way these Gosvāmīs, vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau. They were directly disciples of Lord Caitanya and empowered to preach this cult of Kṛṣṅa consciousness all over the world. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked not only the Gosvāmīs he asked all the Indian people through the Gosvāmīs he says,

bhārata-bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra [Cc Ādi 9.41]

[One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.]

This is para-upakāra, India is not meant for exploiting other countries. India’s special privilege is to do well to other countries, para-upakāra. They do not know what is the value of life, they are struggling hard simply for sense gratification but they are now disgusted. So this is the opportune moment to preach Kṛṣṅa consciousness to the Western countries and other countries, here also. Here naturally people are inclined to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, just like you all ladies and gentlemen come here, why? Because you have imminent love for Kṛṣṅa so you are so eager to hear about Kṛṣṅa. Unfortunately our leaders are not interested in Kṛṣṅa consciousness they are trying to divert the mind of the people to material consciousness. So everywhere there is great necessity of this movement, Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement.

In South India just now I was speaking in the ladies meeting—you have got the directions of the great ācāryas. Especially Vaiṣṅava ācāryas, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya. So our request is that you South Indian people you should take, Caitanya Mahāprabhu also very extensively travelled all over South India and you were blessed and still you are blessed. You take this opportunity of Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement take it seriously, it is not very difficult. What we are doing here it can be introduced in every home, in every home.

You can worshipped Lord Caitanya and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa just like here you see in this temple they are worshipping Lord Caitanya along with Rādhā and Kṛṣṅa. So you can also keep in your home a picture of Lord Caitanya a picture of Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa and you are cooking, you cook it very nicely, very cleansly, for God. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ [Bg 9.26],

[If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.]

Kṛṣṅa is very pleased to accept all kinds of vegetable preparations if you offer Him with devotion, tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ. If you offer anything from this group, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati.

The real thing is bhakti. Kṛṣṅa the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not in want of food He is fully satisfied He is ātmārāma, He is satisfied with Himself He hasn’t got to take any outside help for His satisfaction. But still He is so kind He says that any person with love and devotion if he offers Me, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ, I accept—I eat. Kṛṣṅa is so kind He does not... Nobody requires… Very gorgeously to offer Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa wants only bhakti, yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Kṛṣṅa is not interested in karma, jñāna. He is interested in bhakti therefore His name is bhakti-vatsala, you know. You will never find Kṛṣṅa’s name as jñāna-vatsala or karma-vatsala His name is bhakti-vatsala, perhaps you know it.

So Kṛṣṅa also says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg 18.55]

[One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.]

and if you want to know Kṛṣṅa you cannot know Him by gymnastics of work, no. Kṛṣṅa can be known simply by bhakti, bhakti means loving spirit, serving spirit, everyone should always be anxious to serve Kṛṣṅa or His representative, sevonmukhe hi jihvādau [Cc Madhya 17.136].

[Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṅa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṅa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṅa really is.]

Simply by serving you can see Kṛṣṅa eye to eye, you can speak with Kṛṣṅa face-to-face that is possible, there are many instances.

People say where is God? Can you show me? God is not very cheap to be seen by anyone and everyone He can be seen only by the devotees, not ordinary devotees. There are three kinds of devotee’s, kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī. Kaniṣṭha-adhikārīcan see Kṛṣṅa in the temple in the form of deity incarnation, arcā incarnation. Madhyama-adhikārī can see Kṛṣṅa everywhere and uttama-adhikārī can see Kṛṣṅa eye to eye. So it is a process only that you have to raise yourself from kaniṣṭha-adhikārīto madhyama-adhikārīand from madhyama-adhikārī to uttama-adhikārī. Uttama-adhikārī;

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁśyāmasundaram acintya-guṅa-svarūpaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.38]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṅa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.]

Uttama-adhikārī bhakta means who has developed his Kṛṣṅa consciousness to the topmost level, kṛṣṅa-prema. This kṛṣṅa-prema can be achieved by everyone provided he tries to make himself attached to Kṛṣṅa these things are instructed by Kṛṣṅa himself in the seventh chapter of Bhagavad-gītā;

mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṅu [Bg 7.1]

You have to increase your attachment for Kṛṣṅa that attachment can be increased also by process;

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu- saṅgo ’tha bhajana-kriyā tato ’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhātato rucis athāsakti [Cc Madhya 23.14-15]

[In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṅa consciousness.]

This athāsakti, the first thing is ādau śraddhā little faith. Kṛṣṅa consciousness is very nice let us go to the temple and hear about it. This is called śraddhā, this is the beginning of Kṛṣṅa consciousness. So if one is serious then he can make association with the devotees who are actually practising Kṛṣṅa consciousness. That is called sādhu-saṅga, sādhu means those who are devotees of Kṛṣṅa, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ, bhajate mām ananya-bhāk [Bg 9.30].

[Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.]

So this is the second stage of Kṛṣṅa consciousness sādhu-saṅga, the third stage is after sādhu-saṅga—to become anxious to be initiated. The initiated process when accepted then there will be anartha-nivṛttiḥ, just like these boys American and European, after initiation their all anarthas, unwanted things they have given up. What are those unwanted things? Illicit sex life, gambling, intoxication and meat-eating, they have given up.

This is called anartha-nivṛttiḥ when there is anartha-nivṛttiḥ then there is niṣṭhā, firm faith beginning with the faith. Then after anartha-nivṛttiḥ then one becomes firmly faithful to Kṛṣṅa. Tato niṣṭhā tato ruci, they have no other taste for anything material except Kṛṣṅa consciousness. They are no more interested in going to the cinema or any public political meeting or newspaper. They are useless for a person who is trying to advance his Kṛṣṅa consciousness. These material things are useless, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt [SB 11.2.42], this is the taste of bhakti.

[Devotion, direct experience of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from other things—these three occur simultaneously for one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the same way that pleasure, nourishment and relief from hunger come simultaneously and increasingly, with each bite, for a person engaged in eating.]

As you advance in bhāgavata-bhakti you become distasteful to all these nonsense, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra. Tato niṣṭhā tato ruci athāsakti, then attachment, these attachments are the firm footage of Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Athāsaktis tato bhāvas, the next step and the last stages is prema, sādhakānām ayaṁ premṅaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ. These are the different steps for raising oneself to the platform of love of Godhead and that is the highest perfection of life.

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati [SB 1.2.6]

[The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.]

If you actually want perfectness of mind, peacefulness of yourself then take to this Kṛṣṅa consciousness and be happy. Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṅa. [end]