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Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!
Date: February 26, 2006
Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.26
Speaker: HH Sivarama Swami
quote:vaisvanaram yati vihayasa gatah
susumnaya brahma-pathena socisa
vidhuta-kalko 'tha harer udastat
prayati cakram nrpa saisumaram
TRANSLATION:
O King, when such a mystic passes over the Milky Way by the illuminating Susumna to reach the highest planet, Brahmaloka, he goes first to Vaisvanara, the planet of the deity of fire, wherein he becomes completely cleansed of all contaminations, and thereafter he still goes higher, to the circle of Sisumara, to relate with Lord Hari, the Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT:
The polar star of the universe and the circle thereof is called the Sisumara circle, and therein the local residential planet of the Personality of Godhead (Ksirodakasayi Visnu) is situated. Before reaching there, the mystic passes over the Milky Way to reach Brahmaloka, and while going there he first reaches Vaisvanara-loka, where the demigod controls fire. On Vaisvanara-loka the yogi becomes completely cleansed of all dirty sins acquired while in contact with the material world. The Milky Way in the sky is indicated herein as the way leading to Brahmaloka, the highest planet of the universe.
The astrological technicalities that are being discussed here in Srimad Bhagavatam are not within my grasp or understanding. Perhaps Bhanu Maharaja or Prahladanada Maharaja can elaborate how these things... .
In the previous verse Srila Prabhupada is referring to two classes of living entities, transcendentalists, and those who fell into the category of materialists, fruitive workers, etc. The general description here is understood to be of those who are yogis, or more specifically, yoga-misra bhaktas, devotees who still have some particular attachment to mystic yoga or who want to see these different parts of the universe in which different kinds of perfection are achieved.
This kind of gradual and systematic elevation is described by Srila Sanatana Goswami in Brhad Bhagavatamrta. Of course there the description is via Gopa Kumara who is not a yogi, but he gets this sort of tour of the planets of the universe, and the different grades of devotees who practice Krsna consciousness there in order to enhance or increase his desire for really going back to Godhead and reassuming his position of being a cowherd boy in Vrindavan.
There are technically two different means to attain the perfectional stage that is sought by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the great acaryas in our line. One is the indirect way, and the other one is the direct way or what Srila Prabhupada refers to clearly as the sankirtana movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The indirect way we sometimes call the Vedic system. In his instructions to Sanatana Goswami Caitanya Mahaprabhu begins by elaborating on this Vedic system.
The same is there in the discussion between Ramananda Raya and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, beginning with conditioned living entities who have little inclination or little aspiration towards spiritual life. But somehow or other, "brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan", someone becomes bhagyavan. Bhagyavan in any context, whether it's in the context of a materialistic person becoming fortunate, or a practicing devotee becoming fortunate, or even a perfected devotee becoming fortunate, refers to the association of pure devotees.
So in Bhagavad-gita, Krsna uses the word sukriti. Sukriti in the sense of living entities becoming yesam tv anta-gatam papam, excuse me, not sukriti, but punya, jananam punya-karmanam. So Srila Prabhupada as well as his predecessors emphasized that punya-karmanam means association with Vaisnavas. This is a truth or principle which is glorified right from the very beginning to the end of Srimad Bhagavatam as well as all Vedic literature. Sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga is that without the association of sadhus no one makes any spiritual advancement. For that reason, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, or perhaps Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, points out that this is the mula-anga, the root or limb of devotional service whether you are a beginner, you are intermediate or an advanced devotee. In fact it says even if you are a premi-bhakti, you reached the perfectional stage of devotional service, then the root of everything is based upon association.
Srila Prabhupada elaborates on this in so many places and in Nectar of Instruction points out how this is the theme or the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement, to give association to everyone, karmis. Devotees associate with each other and by that type of dynamic or interaction devotees of peer Krsna consciousness inspire each other, devotees who are more advanced than others are able to elevate or lift others, and devotees who are junior can ask for help and request for support, inspiration, guidance on their path back to Godhead.
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu says bhagyavan jiva, someone becomes fortunate because somehow or other he comes in contact with devotional service. Somehow or other is sometimes translated in English as this ajnata-sukriti complex, but unknowingly someone renders some type of devotional service. Srila Prabhupada points out the example of Prakasananda Sarasvati, who was an aparadhi. Mayavadis were all aparadhis, but specifically, he was already critical of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He thought this kind of dancing, this kind of singing was some kind of sentimental expression, which Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya also made the same mistake, which is indicative of somebody being emotionally unstable or mentally unstable.
Mental disturbance is not a modern-day phenomena, it already existed during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time. But it is unlike, for instance, nowadays we have psychiatrists or psychologists, and worse than that, all kinds of medication. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya prescribed to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you should read Vedanta Sutra to stabilize your mind. That's a good recommendation. They don't say read Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and that will stabilize your mind. And it certainly does. Even when Lord Caitanya was younger and He would exhibit different kinds of fits, mother Saci would rub this type of Visnu oil, I don't know what type of oil this Visnu oil is, but it is meant specifically to cool the brain. In other words, if the brain gets too hot and you become delirious, your brain can be cooled by this type of medicated oil.
Somehow or other, Prakasananda Sarasvati... but when Caitanya Mahaprabhu came, because he was a sannyasi, and He took a very humble position when he came into the association of the sannyasis, he wouldn't come in. In fact, He stayed outside where they would keep the shoes. Although in a Western context that doesn't mean very much, but in India, what to speak of five hundred years ago, amongst brahmanas and brahmana sannyasis, that's a very muci place to be, that's a very muci thing to do. So immediately he brought Him in. Srila Prabhupada points out this was actually Prakasananda Sarasvati's ajnata-sukrti. Unknowingly he rendered some service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that triggered off his Krsna consciousness, his devotional service, which gave him ultimately enough qualification to be able to hear. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to speak, he began to understand what Lord Caitanya said.
We have this experience that sometimes we may be preaching, or not just preaching but even speaking to devotees, and devotees will not understand what we say. The reason for that is because the language is different. They do not have the qualification, the comprehensive ability to be able to understand. They do not have the punya. They don't have the ticket to understand what someone is saying, and for this reason, sometimes this gradual or indirect process of Krsna consciousness is recommended. Ajnata sukriti, you become a bhakta, Srila Prabhupada uses this term devotee in many, many contexts, but sometimes devotees have a great motivation for material enjoyment. In Bhagavad-gita they are classified as sakama-bhaktas, people who have material desires. We find this type of religious process or devotional service not just prevalent in India, although the term bhakta perhaps manifested from this language, but it's in every religion in the world. People worship God for some material reward, sakama, you give us our daily bread. So it's not the ideal, but it's good. It's good because it increases one's faith, it makes one turn towards the Lord, and it places one on the path, provided one can traverse the path from beginning to end.
That is what Srila Prabhupada had repeatedly told us that although this Vedic path is Vedic, although it was practiced particularly in a previous age, during the varnasrama age, although it is very scientific, but still, it's not going to work in this day and age. Become a sakama-bhakta, someone who has material desires, practice very, very strictly within the framework of a really strict varnasrama institution in which even in the present day, for example, very few people agree on what varnasrama is - what to speak of how it should be instituted - but without that, you cannot progress in a ritualistic society where you are meant to be performing those types of rituals that purify the heart.
Just like it is stated here that by the mercy of the fire god, the heart becomes purified, one makes different types of offerings, and even if it is for material gain because it's properly done by the guidance of the brahmanas and the association of the Vaisnavas, accepting sastra and if one gets a result, one's faith increases, one progresses, and ultimately, by good association, by transcendental knowledge, the desire for the enjoyment of the fruits of work is dissolved. What remains is more the attachment to that type of ritualistic activity. One becomes niskama. There is sakama, niskama, then there is niskama jnana misra bhakti yogi. Here we are talking about the yogis, those who want to enjoy certain types of mystic opulence. Ultimately one comes to the path of pure devotional service.
But the social framework is not there. The entire system or structure in itself is not being practiced properly anywhere. Particularly Mayavada philosophy has undermined the Vedic system to such an extent that you can't go through these steps without being in contact with all kinds of impersonal concepts which evoke the ritualistic and especially the knowledge aspect of this Vedic culture are prerequisite.
So this is the beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam, Vyasadeva has presented Vedas, Vedanta-sutra, Mahabharata, with just this idea of gradually elevating living entities, increasing their faith, increasing their knowledge, increasing their renunciation, and after it's all done, he's not satisfied. If you write a book and the author's not satisfied, how's anyone who reads the book going to be satisfied? So he wasn't satisfied, and parasarya maha-bhaga, when Narada Muni comes he says, "You think you've done a good thing by helping people just reinforce the bodily concept of life?"
The whole concept of Narada Muni's instruction, giving the example of life, is that you have to directly glorify the Supreme Lord. You neglected to do that, but not only you neglected to do that, but this is what is going to work in this age because kaler dosa-nidhe rajann. People are so disturbed in this age. They are manda, sumanda, that they are not going to be able to traverse this path. They will simply use these rituals as an excuse for sense gratification. The same way that Romapada Maharaja pointed out that how Caitanya Mahaprabhu also pointed out in Caitanya Caritamrta that Mayavada philosophy is so difficult, so complex, that ultimately it also becomes an excuse for sense gratification for the laymen. Maybe the one in a million sannyasi who has that type of samskaras can actually then actually practice all the renunciation and austerity which are required, and do nothing else to read Vedanta-sutra, and has the intellectual and learning capacity to unravel these sutras and meditate upon them, but the common man's capacity to unravel these sutras and meditate on them, for the common man it means yata mata tat patha, any path is all right. The path of sense gratification, you worship the eggplant, you worship Tulasi; it's all the same.
So it doesn't work, and Narada Muni tells Vyasadeva it doesn't work, so you should directly glorify Krsna - yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajante hi sumedhasah. Sumedhasah, intelligent people, those who understand what the essence of dharma is, and who understand what this brahma-pathena, the actual path, mama vartmanuvartante, the path that leads to Krsna knows that this type of indirect process, which we in ISKCON sometimes also refer to, we use different terminologies, "Maybe I'm not so advanced, I can't do it in one step, maybe sixteen rounds is a little too much, maybe it won't be a one lifetime progress path for me, but a many lifetime," but Srila Prabhupada said don't risk it, You've got no guarantee that it's in one lifetime effort. The example of Bharat Maharaja is there that it wasn't just a one lifetime effort. It took him actually three lifetimes, and that's Bharat Maharaja, he was already very, very advanced in spiritual life.
So therefore rather than going through all of these indirect, step by step systematic process, our recommendation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's recommendation is that you chant Hare Krishna. Chant Hare Krishna, hear Srimad Bhagavatam, sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana, mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana. These five things, they summarize all the sixty-four items of devotional service which Rupa Goswami describes in the Nectar of Devotion which constitute anusilanam. Despite the fact that the process is simple, it doesn't mean it is meant to be neglected.
That is the reason so much emphasis is given on this very simple thing - chanting. Whereas any old way of chanting is good for the novice, but any old way of chanting for someone who is more advanced is not so good. They should know what the offences to the holy name are. They should avoid the offences to the holy name. Ultimately they should chant without offence and ultimately they should chant with love. They idea that any old way is good is reverting back to this indirect process that it will just sort of happen automatically.
That's an interesting word in itself, Srila Prabhupada uses it quite often. Perhaps it deserves a whole course in itself, but "automatic" is sometimes a type of term that is not only really taken out of context but misunderstood and is used to mean some time of excuse for doing anything and that things will automatically on their own course.
That's not in the way in which things automatically in the material world. Things happen automatically if they follow a prescribed formula. Otherwise what happens in the material world is that everything degrades. Matter, energy, comes to its lowest status, energy status, automatically. The only way that it goes up, and this is what the idea is, that there's a systematic method of simply going up; it still goes higher.
In Krsna consciousness, we're going higher and higher, so things don't go higher automatically. They go higher automatically if there's a systematic input of energy, consciousness, according to a particular science. Then they go up. Otherwise the automatic method without effort means that it goes down. For this reason, Rupa Goswami describes devotional service as anusilanam. There has to be a specific cultivation and when that cultivation of the holy name, when the cultivation of the association of the Vaisnavas, when the cultivation of Srimad Bhagavatam, when the cultivation of the worship of the transcendental form of the Lord, respecting the dham, and all the other aspects, when they are cultivated systematically, then automatically one progresses up.
Just like if you have an airplane and if you drive it properly, you will automatically be going up, or in this case, the yogi has gone through extraordinary austerities, has earned how to propel the soul via the agency of the subtle body from one level to another going through things that we can't even follow as we read, what to speak of actually be enacting them, but something that actually happened. He's going higher and he's only going higher to some material planets. Here it says he is associating with Hari, the personality of Godhead. He's going to see Ksirodakasayi Visnu in Brahmaloka, he has darsana, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, Stil then, still there are some kalmasa, still some impure things that reside within the heart.
Here kalka, the word dirt, is being used. Two types of dirt, one is that type of dirt which is the result of past sinful activities, but the other type of dirt, which is actually the lusty desires, hrd-roga kama, the impure things which are present within the heart, they will not just automatically be purified simply by traversing through fire. It requires more fire. It requires a different type of tapa to purify the heart than simply going, entering into fire.
Baladeva Vidyabhusana, in one of his commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam, on Vedanta Sutra, on one of the slokas, he describes the tapa, or the interpretation of the word tapa in terms of the fire of austerity. He says that according to Sankaracarya, tapa or the fire of austerity is sannyasa. You give up everything and you burn up the results of your past activities in the austerity of tyaga.
Then the concept of tapa in terms of Madhvacarya's line, which is so speaking, our line, Sripad Madhvacarya says this tapa, or the fire of austerity, refers to the fire of pure devotional service. That by engaging in devotional service, ceto-darpana-marjanam, and finally, he gives his own commentary, tapa is the fire of austerity, ordeal which the Vaisnava goes through in feeling great separation from Krsna and he gives the gopis as the example of the greatest feelings of separation. By those types of feelings of separation, all of the types of impurities become free, but simply fire, we may all just go through so many fire that is going on, we may walk through fire, it's an easy way of going back to Godhead, but it's not that easy. It requires more than just that.
Therefore this systematic progression which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us, at least, Srila Prabhupada used to indicate, one has to make a very conscientious effort.
Tomorrow is the disappearance day of His Holiness Tama Krsna Goswami Maharaja, we' be celebrating that. There was one conversation with Srila Prabhupada that he used to like to repeat. I remember sometimes we would discuss about which was his question to Srila Prabhupada, "Well, all right, Srila Prabhupada," of course now I am paraphrasing, "say that I do that anusilanam throughout this life but still all of the impure things, all of the kalka, all of the hrd-roga kama, al of the impurities within the heart haven't been fulfilled, what will happen?"
Goswami Maharaja would say that Srila Prabhupada would say that well, you make that effort. Then you just leave the rest to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then the context would be, even you... . There's two of these stories. One was, in relation to this, He will cover for you and the other one was well, what if He can't think about this, yam yam vapi smaran bhavam. Then Srila Prabhupada would reply or told Goswami Maharaja, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Krsna will come enter into your mind and He will forcibly make you remember Him.
Of course these two things are the different aspects of not only Gaudiya Vaisnavism, but in all religions. In Christianity they call it the path of faith, the path of works, and the path of grace. In other words, it doesn't matter what you do, just believe in God, just believe in Jesus Christ, and he'll take you back to Godhead, he's so merciful. I don't know if he'll take you back to Godhead, but he'll take you somewhere. The other one is no, you have to work, you have to work. There are even certain nuns and priests who lock themselves up from age fourteen, fifteen years old, particularly Catholic denominations do this, and they just pray for the world all of their lives. They're almost like in a cell, in a prison. Same thing for us, we have the concept of mercy, and we also have the concept of effort, and both of them are required.
Our path, or our process, that Srila Prabhupada emphasized, is you work hard. He wanted us to work hard for preaching and spreading Krsna consciousness and Srila Prabhupada said, "I take great pleasure when I see you painstakingly struggling to become Krsna conscious." Prabhupada wanted us to struggle to be Krsna conscious and he would repeatedly say that until you get beyond this anartha-nivrtti, it's a struggle. We have to be able to expect that, but if for some particular reason, that perfection, despite all effort - and it is not inconceivable that such perfection is elusive because this age is so fallen, because we're not born with such good samskaras, because it's so difficult for us even just to do the basics of Krsna consciousness, following regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds - but still one makes the effort to the service of the mission, on the other side, the effort in following the procedures that Srila Prabhupada has outlined in his books, then one can depend on Caitanya Mahaprabhu's words that Caitanya Mahaprabhu will yoga ksema vahamy aham,
Just in conclusion I'll quote one Srila Prabhupada says, which admittedly I cannot find in the Folio, but it's common knowledge in the UK because it happened in the UK, it happened at Bhaktivedanta Manor. It was at the conclusion... . Tell me if I'm saying it right. It was at the conclusion of a class, Srila Prabhupada says that to go back to Godhead, you have to be pure. Of course, everyone became a little discouraged. The devotees asked, "Well, Srila Prabhupada, what if you're not completely pure?"
Then Srila Prabhupada said, "All right, 95%?"
And I don't know who was asking the question, but he was pretty bold, he must have been a person who does, an auctioneer, in his last life, or this life. He said, "Prabhupada, what if we're not 95% pure?"
Srila Prabhupada said, he was getting off the vyasasana, he was already in motion, he said, "All right, 75% pure." And then what was the last figure? You don't remember, but it's true what I'm saying isn't it? Anyway, [inaudible comment from audience] I was going to make it lower, but as Prabhupada was walking out the door, he said, "All right, 50%."
In other words, you can't go back to Godhead with 50%, but whatever it takes to do that last 50%, then you have to get ready for it, it may happen at the last minute. One way or another way, by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, even if the effort doesn't work through our efforts in Krsna consciousness, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is really unlimitedly merciful, becomes purchased by the efforts the devotees make, particularly to serve His mission and give Krsna consciousness to others, He'll cover it. And that seems to be Srila Prabhupada's repeated emphasis that Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krsna will also cover and we can make this quick time. We don't need to go by this roundabout route, although it seems like such a long, long way away for us. There is no indirect path available to us anymore. Narada Muni [unclear] Srila Vyasadeva. It's not something that we see that works. People simply end up becoming materialists, atheists, so many other things..
The only path is the direct path, the sankirtana movement that Srila Prabhupada very nicely and clearly given us and if we follow that path, we go directly - tyktva deham punar janma, then we go directly back to Krsna. Practically speaking, Narada Muni says like thunder and lightning. In the previous verse it says the transcendentalists are concerned with the spiritual body. Automatically one acquires one's spiritual body as if we never left.
That's such a nice part of Brhad Bhagavatamrta where Krsna is coming through the forest and where the jiva goes back to Godhead and Krsna greets him, Krsna embraces him and says, "Where were you? I was waiting for you for a long time." So that is really our path which we can rest assured in and while we can see what is technically the process by which other spiritualists, aspiring transcendentalists become purified, we should read about it and we can know about it and offer our respects to it, but actually, we should tread the path, put the energy in the path that Srila Prabhupada gave us and that will very quickly, in this lifetime, give us the opportunity to get the highest benefit. One doesn't have to go the planet of Ksirodakasayi Visnu. One can go directly back to Godhead.
It's exactly nine o' clock, so if you don't mind, I won't answer any questions, but we'll just end the class. Hare Krsna. Thank you.
(applause)
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