Part One: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 ~ Preparing to Understand Krsna’s Transcendental Pastimes

tava vikrīḍitaṁ kṛṣṇa, nṛnāṁ parama-maṅgalam
karṇa-pīyūṣam āsādya, tyajanty anya-spṛhāṁ janāḥ
{Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 11.6.44}

Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes are unlimited and unfathomable. They are completely beyond our material and limited conception. Although we can’t understand anything of Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes from here, they are nevertheless supremely auspicious for everyone and are our goal of life.

Devotee: Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāj Prabhupāda published the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in a summary form as the Kṛṣṇa books. There he described the Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs. He says if someone reads these Pastimes, or hears about them from a bona fide authority in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all that is lusty in his heart will disappear. Could you please explain how this is possible?

Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Yes. The śloka you are referring to is this:

vikrīḍitaṁ vraja-vadhūbhir idaṁ cha viṣṇoḥ
śraddhānvito ’nuśṛṇuyād atha varṇayed yaḥ
bhaktiṁ parāṁ bhagavati pratilabhya kāmaṁ
hṛd-rogam āśv apahinoty achireṇa dhīraḥ
{Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 10.33.39}

“Anyone who with faith hears or describes the Lord’s playful affairs with the young gopīs of Vṛndāvan will attain the Lord’s pure devotional service. Thus he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart.”

But there is a serious condition given in this śloka and Śrīla Prabhupāda has explained what that condition is: that it is necessary to hear about Kṛṣṇa consciousness from a bona fide authority in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And when one hears from a bona fide authority, that authority will not at first explain Kṛṣṇa līlā but will start by trying to turn you into a good “receiver” of those Pastimes. He will prepare you so you can properly receive and understand those Pastimes. When you become a good receiver, or when you are qualified to hear those Pastimes, that authority will explain the Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs. Otherwise you will not be able to understand that supramental theory. It will not come to you in a proper way.

Faith: the basis of all religions

When one receives transcendental knowledge from his Guru and is firm in his faith to his Guru, that person will begin to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Without solid faith we cannot do anything. Faith is the basis of all religions, not only Vaiṣṇavism. In Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, faith is the basis. It is necessary to have firm faith in great personalities like Śrīla B.R. Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda and Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākur as well as our entire Guru-paramparā. It is necessary to have faith in the words of Lord Kṛṣṇa as expressed in Śrīmad Bhāgavad-gītā. Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself said to Uddhava in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam {11.12.14-15}:

tasmāt tvam uddhavotsṛjya,
chodanāṁ pratichodanām
pravṛttiṁ cha nivṛttiṁ cha,
śrotavyaṁ śrutam eva cha
mām ekam eva śaraṇam,
ātmānaṁ sarva-dehinām
yāhi sarvātma-bhāvena,
mayā syā hy akuto-bhayaḥ

“Take shelter of Me and you will get the love, beauty, charm and
ecstasy for which you are searching. But you must keep faith in
My words or you will not get what you want.”

Another important verse is:

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta, jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare cha niṣṇātaṁ, brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
{Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 11.3.21}

“The Guru must be qualified and the disciple must have faith. Then Gurudev will come forward and one can approach him with humility, honor and faith.”

Faith is necessary, otherwise it is not possible. After one’s faith develops, the seed of the bhakti-latā can be planted by a sādhu in the fertile ground of a faithful heart, and with good nourishment it will grow.

No imitation

When one begins to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness all his anārthas, or impurities, will leave him. Then he will be able to understand the Pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. But first his Guru must consider him a qualified candidate, then that spiritual authority will describe the Pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa—not before. If we hear those Pastimes without being qualified they will destroy our spiritual bhakti-latā-bīja, the seed of the creeper of devotion. They will kill us—that is they will destroy our spiritual life of devotion and we will fall into the hellish garbage of sahajiyāism, or imitationism.

There is another śloka in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam {10.33.30} that describes how Lord Śiva can digest an ocean of poison:

naitat samācharej jātu, manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ
vinaśyaty ācharan mauḍhyād, yathārudro ’bdhi-jaṁ viṣam

If one does not hold such a powerful position as Lord Śiva and drinks an ocean of poison, he will be destroyed. The play of the Sweet Absolute is like that, it is beyond the lustful plane of this world. Since we live in the lustful plane it is necessary to cross that plane by our practices. Then we will be able to understand the Pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and transcendental consciousness will appear in us.

Since these are higher level topics, before we can approach them, it is necessary to change our consciousness from material to spiritual consciousness. It is necessary to pass through all the stages and varieties of material consciousness and come to the brahma-bhutaḥ stage and we can do that by devotion. Then we will become qualified to hear the Pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and transcendental consciousness will appear within us.

If anything wrong remains within us in that plane it is known as a shadow of lust. This will be quickly demolished and very soon we will get clean Kṛṣṇa-prema, or love, affection and service to Kṛṣṇa. When our enjoying mood and spirit disappears we will become qualified for the service of the Vraja-gopīs. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has given us this caution but one phrase is very important in the above śloka and that is, “the qualified spiritual master.”

Devotee: How can one get a qualified spiritual master?

Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: It depends on the jīva-soul’s own fortune, or his sukṛti. Not everyone is able to get a qualified spiritual master, but in the age of Kali there is special help for the conditioned souls, like the many instructions Lord Kṛṣṇa gives in the Bhagavad-gītā. There are also many incarnations and associates of the Lord who have appeared in this world. If we are able to get at least some light from them, we may search for a great personality from whom we can get the property of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And this searching spirit will come by reading the literature of the divine devotees of the Lord.

Devotee: During the battle of Kurukṣetra not only perfected souls saw Kṛṣṇa but everyone saw Him. Duryodhana and others also saw Kṛṣṇa. I am an ordinary person then why am I not able to see Kṛṣṇa?

Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: We can see Kṛṣṇa but what kind of Kṛṣṇa do you want to see? You are seeing Kṛṣṇa. It may be in a photo or may be in the form of a deity.

Devotee: In the human form just like everybody. How can I recognize the ‘human’ form of Kṛṣṇa? Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Yes, we can see that if we will get that vision. Arjuna wanted to see the Viśvarūpa, Universal Form of Kṛṣṇa, but before showing that to Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa said, “You cannot see Me with these eyes so I am giving you divine eyes. Now you can see Me.”

nā tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum, anenaiva sva-chakṣuṣā
divyam dadāmi te chakṣuḥ, paśya me yogam aiśvaram
{Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, 11.8}

In this śloka Kṛṣṇa said to Arjuna, “I am giving you transcendental vision, now you can see Me.” If I get transcendental vision by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, then I can see Kṛṣṇa. If we wait a few years maybe through science we will be able to see many things. Through scientific research we can see many things and that is not transcendental, no doubt, but it is one kind of vision, which is recognized as ‘transcendental’ by mundane people.

Proper source

It is necessary to discover where our deficiency or disease is. After we hear about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, more and more hankering for Kṛṣṇa consciousness should develop within us. This hankering is a good sign but to get such hankering it is necessary to go to the proper source or the proper “university.” All universities are not the same. If you want to study physics, mathematics or chemistry you must go to a teacher who can teach you those subject matters. You must train under his guidance. If we want everything in a cheap way, you won’t get anything; you will only get imitation knowledge. You will get an imitation stone, not a real diamond.

If I feel it is necessary to elevate myself from my present position in this mundane environment to a higher stage, I must go to that type of qualified source who can take me from this world. I must practice under his guidance. When the time for higher study comes, we must go to the proper type of expert who can give us higher knowledge.

Devotee: My experience is that the lust within me is not disappearing. At times it is suppressed but again it comes back. I think it hasn’t actually disappeared. Is this correct?

Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Yes. It will completely disappear if we can keep ourselves in the plane of service; and the stage by stage process for doing that is given in the Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu {1.4.15-16}:

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo ’tha bhajana-kriyā
tato ’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā ruchis tataḥ

Lust will remain with us up to the plane of ruchi. Ruchi means “taste.” Lust will disappear from our hearts when we become firmly situated in the plane of ruchi. When a special kind of attraction or taste for service to the Lord appears, I will be promoted to that plane of service. Then lust will leave and ruchi will develop. Lust will exist below the standard of ruchi. Sometimes it will come and sometimes it will go, and sometimes it will be suppressed.

Conditions for growth

Lust has a very sweet name. It is called mano-bhāva. Mano-bhāva means it takes birth in the mind; it appears in the mind. If the mind is clear, lust will automatically go to Kṛṣṇa. Lust will not come to your mind. We can understand lust grows in the mind because if the mind is absent, or if your mind is disturbed, lust will not come to you. This is the proof lust grows in the mind. When the mind is absent, lust is not present. It will grow in your mind when a particular situation arises.

Once the demigods and asuras were churning the ocean. After they finished, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in the form of Mohinī Mūrti to distract the asuras. When Lord Śiva saw her, he chased after her. Normally Lord Śiva isn’t like that, but a particular situation developed and he ran after Mohinī Mūrti.

This proves lust grows in the mind. Everyone can understand this if they will try. In the primary stage it is necessary to control lust; and in the final stage it will not appear because Kṛṣṇa is Reality the Beautiful. All attachment, attraction and service will automatically go to Kṛṣṇa. Love, affection and everything will go to Kṛṣṇa and lust will disappear. It will not come again. Before that it will come and go. But don’t be fearful—it will be removed; it will be removed by dharma-buddhi. Lust can be removed by dharma-buddhi, and dharma-buddhi means religious intelligence.

Once Kṛṣṇa asked Mahārāj Yudhiṣṭhir about this subject. Kṛṣṇa is very naughty, and He asked Mahārāj Yudhiṣṭhir this question because Mahārāj Yudhiṣṭhir never told a lie. His question was very dangerous.

Kṛṣṇa said, “Your mother looks like an eighteen or twenty year-old girl. She is very beautiful. Have you ever been polluted in your mind by seeing her?”

Yudhiṣṭhir said, “Yes. Sometimes I am shocked to see her, but I control everything with my religious intelligence.” This answer is found in the Mahābhārat.

Hare Kṛṣṇa: all in all

Devotee: Could you please speak about Gāyatrī dīkṣā or second initiation?

Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Dīkṣā means initiation. Harinām dīkṣā is the main initiation in our Vaiṣṇava religion. In the age of Kaliyuga, if you do not take second initiation—called Gāyatrī dīkṣā in our society—that will not be harmful if you took the Harinām Mahāmantra from a bona fide Guru.

Generally people take initiation from a bona fide Guru in order to save themselves from the material environment. The Gāyatrī dīkṣā mantra is for second initiation but the Lord Himself has given a special prescription for the age of Kali: the Lord has manifested Himself through the Guru-paramparā in the form of the Harinām Mahāmantra. There are no rules and regulations for chanting the Harinām Mahāmantra. This is stated in the Scriptures, but if I say this, I will be an offender to Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda, but the śloka is this {Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta, Madhya 15.110}:

ākṛṣṭiḥ kṛta-chetasāṁ sumanasām
uchchāṭanaṁ chāṁhasām
āchaṇḍālam amūka-loka-sulabho
vaśyaś cha mukti-śriyaḥ
no dīkṣāṁ na cha sat-kriyāṁ na cha
puraścharyāṁ manāg īkṣate
mantro ’yaṁ rasanā-spṛg eva phalati
śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmātmakaḥ

The gist is, “You chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra and be happy.” This śloka is very strong. Śrīla Prabhupāda gave four directives; but what will happen if someone cannot follow these four directives?

Medicine and diet

Prabhupāda’s instructions were, “If you want the proper results of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra, you must follow the four directives.” If you want good results in curing a disease, you must take medicine—but you must also follow a proper diet. Then the disease will go away very easily. This is the harmony between this śloka and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions.

Prabhupāda said if you engage in nonsense activities and take the Harinām Mahāmantra it will take time before the results of chanting come to you. Prabhupāda considered everyone a sick man. A sick man must have a good diet. On some days I am taking only milk and sago {tapioca}, because my health isn’t always good. If I take too many fried foods my sugar will increase. So the diet must be appropriate.

Prabhupāda knew Western society has no rules and regulations of life. They hold a big license for enjoyment, and the name of that license is “teenager.” Society has given young people a big license for sense enjoyment and that is, “Oh, he is a teenager.” That means a teenager can do anything. The parents and the society are all giving enthusiasm for this.

But Prabhupāda wanted to control this. At least he thought it was necessary to give them the knowledge that they should not kill others. If a father has a lot of money and takes his teenager gambling and loses everything, that is not good. Prabhupāda said: “Do not kill others, do not gamble, and do not take drugs.” He also said don’t take other intoxication or have illicit sex.

The life of this world is a sexual life. Through that, birth and death and happiness and sadness come to us. But you can use this process in your practicing life. Sexual life can also give you the supreme benefit. You only have to be a devotee and serve Kṛṣṇa with your wife and children. That is legal and in this way you can proceed in your practicing life and difficulties will not come to you.

It is necessary to know the meaning of everything and for that a Guru is necessary. A Guru will say what is good and what is bad. Prabhupāda also said this. He had some experience of the Western world, but not full experience.

In the beginning Prabhupāda wanted to make a “Guardian ruled family” in which everyone in the family would happily worship Lord Kṛṣṇa. He wanted to make a Vaiṣṇava village in Māyāpur, but I have seen this was not possible.

Everything is within us

Many different kinds of activities are going on in the Western world and this influence is entering the Indian culture and destroying it. It is destroying the Vedic culture but what can be done? Kali is the master of this age. He is the guardian now. To avoid Kali’s influence is difficult but those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious must try to proceed under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then other influences will not come.

An example is everyone takes food, but one who is Kṛṣṇa conscious does not take food. What do you think? Is he fasting? No. He takes mahā-prasādam. First he offers food to Lord Kṛṣṇa and then he takes the remnants of that prasādam. Then reactions won’t come to him. Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā:

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo, muchyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ
bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā, ye pachanty ātma-kāraṇāt

“Whoever cooks for himself eats sin but when one prepares food for the Lord and offers it to Him, those preparations become transcendental because the Lord Himself is transcendental.”

The remnants of prasādam give us spiritual strength and life. This is the Kṛṣṇa conscious person’s life. Everything is within you but you must be Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Valuable property

When we have a physical body, there will be physical problems. But everything is valuable if I can use it properly. Narottam Dās Ṭhākur said, karmārpaṇe krodha bhakta-dveṣi jane, lobha sādhusaṅ ge Hari-kathā {Śrī Prema-bhakti-chandrikā}.

We can use everything for Kṛṣṇa consciousness; we must use what is within us wisely. This is the meaning of the four directives given by Śrīla Prabhupāda. But that śloka—ākṛṣṭiḥ kṛta-chetasāṁ sumanasām uchchāṭanaṁ chāṁhasām—should not give us enthusiasm to break the rules or to do anything and everything as we may like.

We are getting Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the cheapest way. Because of this we cannot understand what we are getting and what we are losing. If you pay a thousand dollars for one day you will think it is very valuable but if you get it very cheaply how will you understand its value? You offer one flower at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa or Gurudev and afterwards you throw it away. It may not be in an inauspicious place, but you throw it away.

Everything can produce spiritual property—śabda, sparśa, rūpa, rasa, gandha: experience by sound, touch, sight, taste and smell—all can give us good results if we adjust them in the proper way for our spiritual benefit.

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Religion of the Heart ~ His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
© 2006—Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math