Devotional Service is blissful....

Verse 1.2.22: Srila Prabhupada is writing here that Bhakti is very pleasing. Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and other scriptures repeatedly tell that you are not this body, you are a spirit soul. The constitutional nature of the spirit soul, being a part and parcel of it is to render service to Lord Krishna. Unmotivated and uninterrupted devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So actually anything that is natural to the spirit soul, it is very very happy.

So when we don't do that, we are in a different difficult state. Because of the association of matter for such a long time, because of the desire to enjoy without Krishna, we think we are enjoying in the material life with eating, sleeping, mating and defending. We think we are happy, but it is actually a suffering.
But as soon as we turn to this constitutional position of serving the Lord, we become so blissful. That's why so many transcendentalists could be so delightful.
Eg: Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.... they all gave up everything although they had so oppulent background.

So when we begin this process of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, initially what happens, we get nice pleasure. Then Krishna wants us to serve Vaishnavas and by our continued sincere service, we get progress little by little by little and ultimately leading us to enlivening our self.

The knot is cut.....

Verse 1.2.21 : All these verses, they explain the process of our existence. This is a process. We are trying to know who we are and our connection with God. God realization also means self-realization. (Eg: Having $100 also means having $10)
....
We are stuck in this body, the knot is there. The spirit soul is tied up with the body by the root of false ego. So how do we cut this root. By reading Srimad Bhagavatam, serving devotees. Then what happens...today's sloka. The tough knot in the heart is pierced and all misgivings cut into pieces. So this know is cut by knowledge and detachment. Then we will see the spirit soul.

When we see the spirit soul, then we attain the perfection of life. Until such time we are caught up in so many problems. The only control we have is we can purify ourselves of our karma, with the grace of Krishna. What is that we have in our hands, thoroughly purify our hands. Do we try to enjoy in the bathroom, not really. We try to cleanse our body there, similarly this world means to purify ourselves.

Rendering service to the Pure Devotee + Regular reading of Srimad Bhagavatam = Highest perfection of Life

Verse 1.2.18: This section of the Srimad Bhagavatam is very important, verses 13 to around 24. Here Srila Suta Goswami is explaining the perfection of life and the process to achieve it. In verse 13, he explains how to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead and from there on he explains how each one links to other. Like a chain reaction:
13: Highest perfection of life is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead
14: Hearing, remembering and worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can please him
15: What will we achieve then, we will be able to cut the knot of material entanglement
16: Then he goes on to explain, how one can get the taste of Hearing. Just by serving the devotees, one gets the taste for hearing. Serving is most important.
17: Then what happens, once we get the taste, the paramatma cleanses the heart
18: Here, service to devotees and attending bhagavatam classes are stressed. This will help loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead get established into our heart. By serving the book and devotee bhagavatam, all obstacles troublesome to the heart are completely destroyed. These two things are very important for all devotees to remember. This will eventually help us to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead and therefore achieve the highest perfection of life.

Urge to hear His messages...Cleanses the Heart!!

Verse 1.2.17: What a wonderful sloka. First Canto is very very important because of these wonderful slokas. Krishna is to be glorified, when we chant His name, what happens... anything that is troublesome to the heart, it is removed. It can be seen from experience. The knots of the heart, the things that are troubling us for so many years, are removed. We might live in the material world, we are dealing with so many things, when we keep chanting, our perception to the world changes. How is this, Krishna in our heart, is cleansing us of so many things. It can be very clearly observed as life passes.

The day is over, the year is over....., we don't even realize how years are going by, we are so much in passion that it just keeps going. But when we come to Krishna Consciousness, then we start looking at our bad qualities. The socialists say introspection, but did we ever do it. It is actually Krishna, who is giving us the difference between bad and good and is cleansing our impurities. We are going to the temple, reading SP's books,how...because of Lord Krishna. He is also called "Uttama Sloka".

Actually if we glorify Krishna, our heart gets purified. So what we have to do, develop this taste. How...just chant properly. Morning one hour and evening one hour, or it is good to do all our rounds in the morning. But should not to do two things at a time, chanting and thinking of something else when Krishna is coming to us. Then our chanting is offensive and we cannot get His mercy. So we should please chant very very attentively.

Attraction to Krishna, by Service and Humility

Verse 1.2.16: When we serve the devotees, (with humility and sincerity), what happens, we develop affinity (attraction) to Krishna and His devotees. This is the subtle science. If we serve nicely to devotees and Krishna, we will surely see an increase in our attraction to the pastimes of Krishna. That is the barometer.

Our condition life exists because we are rebellious of Krishna. So how do we come out of that. By serving the pure devotees. Eg: Narada muni, in his previous life, served the bhakti-vedantas for 4 months, had their remnants and that increased his affinity to the Lord. That type of service brings you from the greatest problem of life to the lotus feet of Krishna.

Whoever has surrendered their life to the lotus feet of Krishna, their life will go on smoothly, even if they have tons of karma, their life will just be so smooth. So we surrender our life to Krishna through Guru, then he protects us from the blazing fire of material existence. But what we have to do, to let the mercy flow, we should be very very eagerly serving the devotees, chanting the Holy name of Krishna and thus get attracted to Krishna's lotus feet.

Cutting the knots of Material Existence...

Verse 1.2.15: Always thinking of Krishna will cut the knot of the chain of reactions. Actually, Srimad Bhagavatam very nicely explains the process of self-realization, as to how do we come out of the problems due to passion, ignorance and finally transcend the mode of goodness into spirituality.

How to come to mode of goodness, everybody is passionate. By listening SB, listening about the pastimes of Krishna, by constant remembrance of Krishna, slowly even for 5 to 10 minutes every day, slowly we will come to the mode of goodness. When we come to mode of goodness, we will be happy. But Krishna says that we should be just be there, we should aim for the spiritual world, ultimate service for Krishna. Liberation is an insignificant by-product of Bhakti. Sravanam and Kirtanam are most essential for this Bhakti process. All 9 processes of bhakti are important too.

Anything we do, we can do it for Krishna. Imagine we are greedy, just think of Krishna, we will lose all our greediness. Since where Krishna is there, there is no passion or ignorance.

It all depends on our chanting. Praying and chanting is our only way for spiritual progress.

4 Principles of Life: Glorifying, Hearing, Remembering & Worshipping the Supreme Personality of Godhead!

Verse 1.2.15: Bhagavatam is imploring everybody, that we should listen, glorify and remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna all the time. What is the advantage? Because of the 3 modes of material nature, whatever is temp appears as perm and whatever is perm appears temp. That is the problem of this yuga. A person does not know how to enter and exit from this world, because he does not have the eyes of scriptural knowledge. Until he is cleansed off his conditioning, it is tough. And how is this done, by glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, chanting His name, serving His devotees.

So SB is imploring everybody that the problems in this world exists because there is no Krishna Consciousness. Material benedictions have a beginning and an end, but pure devotional service has no end.

Eg: Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami, how they left their affluent material situations to simply serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Devotees: Morning they do sadhana for themselves, later part of the day they utilize everything they know for others, bringing them into Krishna Consciousness. That's what will keep us in KC always and protect us from the hands of maya.

3 phases of the Absolute Truth!

Verse 1.2.11: Everyone should definitely memorize this verse. Prabhuji will ask in a couple of days.

So Sukadeva Goswami after telling the previous slokas, was talking about the spirit souls. But now, he is coming to the Absolute Truth. This is very important, the absolute truth is realized in 3 phases: brahman, paramatma and bhagavan. There is qualitative oneness, but there is difference too.

Srila Prabhupada has given a lot of emphasis: brahman, paramatma and bhagavan. Everything rests in the brahman, but Krishna is telling that I am the source of brahman. Next is paramatma, which is the localized presence of Krishna, he is the closest to the soul. The next and the highest is Bhagavan. Srila Prabhupada always gave this example: Sun rays (similar to all pervading brahman), Sun Planet (similar to trying to understand paramatma) and the Sun God (similar to realizing Bhagavan).

Brahman (sat feature is there), Paramatma (sat and chit feature is there), but only in Bhagavan ( has all three: sat-chit-ananda features). Similar to perfect, more perfect and most perfect.

The actual ananda comes in the Bhagavan realization stage, since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is enjoying different rasas with so many of His devotees.

Restraint of the Senses, Inquiry of the Absolute Truth!

Verse 1.2.10: This is a very heavy verse and it is important too. There is lot of difference between Kama and Prema. They really do not know that nobody in the word except for devotees know the difference between lust and love.

When we try to enjoy our senses, then it is lust. When we try to please Krishna's senses, it is love. Srimad Bhagavatam is clearly explaining this. We should not target enjoy our life for sense enjoyment. Srimad Bhagavatam is telling don't enjoy on the level of senses, it is degraded. Because people do not know that they are spirit soul, they go to huge extents and finally leave the body. Not just America, even India is nothing less is sense enjoyment.

Eyes want to see nice beautiful things, similarly ears, skin, tongue everything wants nice things. But Srimad Bhagavatam is explaining please do not do that. It is not asking us to completely stop it, but it is asking us to exercise restraint. Regulation is absolutely required.

Anybody who says yes to us is our friend, no to us is our enemy. Thats how it is. Everyone is nicely using their life for sleeping, eating, mating and defending. All the time is gone here. Today that person is considered more advanced, if he does it in more advanced way (laughter). Actually we need a lot of preaching in this world now.

Life and life, we are completely absorbed in this sense gratification, but Srimad Bhagavatam is asking us to desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one's works.

That's why we have to chant very nicely, clearly cleanse the heart, otherwise we are missing the chance.

Occupational Engagements not for Sense Gratification!

Verse 1.2.9: Actually, Sukadeva Goswami is telling about the goal of life. Dharmasya hi apavargasya. The goal of Srimad Bhagavatam for our life is to go back home back to Godhead. First thing is we need to come out of the materistic life. The "pa" varga: parishram (people work very hard for sense gratification), then comes bhoga-tyaga (enjoyment-renunciation), since they work so hard, in the night they get "fena", foam comes out of their mouth, then sense gratification and then comes "bha" means bhandha (bondage), then comes "bhaa" means bhaya (fear to protect what one has), then one day they will reach "ma" means mrutya, death, which takes away everything.

But what is the use of Srimad Bhagavatam here, it gives us the a-pa-vargasya. It is giving the means of breaking the above problem, through reading Srimad Bhagavatm, serving devotees, then attraction to Krishna comes, then we can break this chain of "pa" varga. Then we will be eternally happy.

For this chanting should be very very sincere.

Religion is not for sense gratification, religion comes from the root religio means to connect back, back to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How is this done, by serving the book and devotee bhagavat sincerely.

Shrama eva hi kevalam!!!!

Verse 1.2.8: Actually, the verse that we read today is so wonderful. We have to really understand it very well. Anything in this world, that has no connection with Krishna is absolutely useless. For example, a rich person constructs a big 20-story house and starts collecting money for 20-30 years. But still he has to leave and go some time or the other. Even Brahma has to leave.

But here Bhagavatam is telling about pure devotional service, that which is eternally useful to us. It is telling that we are either in sense gratification or extended sense gratification. We are better and we want others also to get better to enjoy better sense gratification, since everything does not involve Krishna.

So bhagavatam is straight away rejecting such ism's. Anything we do should increase our inclination for hearing and chanting, increase our attachment to Krishna. Any other thing is useless.

Which does not invoke attraction to Krishna, all such activity is absolutely useless. Philanthropies, Altruism etc etc, all this without Krishna will not get us anything.

Prabhuji wants everyone to memorize this verse too. Thank you.

Knowledge and Detachment!

Verse 1.2.7: This is a very very nice verse. This verse tells you actually as to why we should worship Krishna.

People now do not have faith in God, they are thats why shifting to other Baba's etc. But that is why our philosophy is so great. It starts from you are not this body, you are spirit soul.

But by devotional service to Krishna, the advantage is that detachment and knowledge comes with it. We will not be proud with our positions etc, since we develop detachment, with the increase of bhakti.

Another advantage of worshipping Krishna is knowledge. When we eat, we will be satisfied, our stomach is full and we get energy. Like wise, in bhakti we get detachment and knowledge.

So Bhakti is ultimate.

Fearless!

Verse 1.2.6: Prabhuji asked us to tell this verse without seeing the text and its purport.

Message for today: No one is fearless in the world, except for Pure Devotees.

Tomorrow too: Devotees will have to quote this verse without seeing the text. This verse is so very important.

From Garuda Purana...

Verse 1.2.6: The constitutional nature of spirit soul: unmotivated, uninterrupted service to SPG.

Prabhuji spoke from from Garuda Purana today.
.......
Internally, do good sadhana, pursue process of self realization. Externally, we can do our services in working, taking care of family etc.

This process is Vaidybhakti. Mind does not want to do it, but we still need to do it.
Serve nicely, chant nicely, increase our attraction to Krishna by the mercy and Guru and Krishna.

Story of King Mayuradvaj!

Verse 1.2.6: Continuing the summary of this verse, with a nice story.

Story: There was a king by name Mayuradvaj. Janamajeya was asking whether there were any other pure devotees, contemporary to the Pandavas. So he was told about Mayuradvaj.
Arjuna...sacrificial horse...Tamaradvaj...defeat Arjuna...then Krishna will come into their kingdom...etc.

Unparalleled sacrifice of King Mayuradvaj is the essence here. That's why devotional service is great.

Moral: The bhakti to Krishna is unmotivated and uninterrupted. That type of devotion wins Krishna. This story was told to substantiate the purport to the verse.

We are Spirit Soul!!

Verse 1.2.6: Continued from second paragraph of Purport

What is the dharma of the living entity?
We are not this body, we are spirit soul. To understand this practically is perfection of human life. But how do we come out of it. By unmotivated and uninterrupted service to the Supreme.

If we understand that everybody is a part and parcel of Krishna and we start serving them, then automatically we come out of the grip of our senses.

If we serve like this, we become the friend of everyone and not be envious of anyone. That's why we need to do intense sadhana.

Unmotivated and Uninterrupted Devotional Service

Verse 1.2.6: The first step in spirituality is that we are not the body, we are spirit soul. But when we are covered by conditioning, we look for the demands of the body...of nice eatables, skin needs nice touch, eyes need beautiful things to watch, ears need nice words, nose wants nice smell.

Thats why the first step of spirituality is sense control. But as a spirit soul, we need to enjoy, so we indulge in the loving service of Krishna. Radharani is the Goddess of Devotion, she does not have any other motive other than pleasing Krishna. She is cooking for Krishna, she is making all arrangements for Him. So when we offer something to Krishna, she makes it pure and offers to Krishna. And she gives all the credit to us.

Likewise, we should also try. Vaishnava means to push others forward and himself stays at the background.

Those people who want to control the senses, servitude is the way. Then Krishna will be pleased with us, since our bhakti is unmotivated and uninterrupted, then we become happy because our senses are completed satisfied by serving Krishna. Then we attain the perfection.

Thats why chanting means what, O Radharani, please engage me in Krishna's service. That's why we Her mercy.
Srila Prabhupada makes the point, how do we make progress in Krishna Consciousness, please Radharani. And how, by serving other vaishnavas and Guru.

Questions and Answers, to satisfy the soul!

Verse 1.2.5: Here is an interesting point that Srila Prabhupada is pointing out. There is only one thing happening in the whole world, questions and answers. The whole world is running on the basis of questions and answers. Srila Prabhupada says that different kinds of people, birds have different kinds of questions and answers. But unless they ask questions about Krishna, there is no satisfaction in this act of questions and answers. As we keep reading Srimad Bhagavatam, since it deals with questions and answers about Krishna, it gives us total satisfaction. No mundane talk will give us satisfaction, only Srimad Bhagavatam can provide us an all around solution, as Krishna is the sum total of all things.

Srimad Bhagavatam is a spotless Purana!

Verse 2.1.4: This shloka everyone has to memorize. The next shloka also.

So if we want to get mercy, because Bhagavatam is Krishna, it is not like any other book, it is a book that brings us out of the 3 modes of material nature, we have to offer obeisances to Krishna, nara-narayana rishi. Srimad Bhagavatam is actually Krishna, we need to worship and take care of it.

Even when we read it, we should request Krishna to give us the intelligence and sincerity to understand it.

For this, we should have good sadhana and a good service attitude. So when we pray to them genuinely, we will definitely make progress. Because the path of self-realization is given in the coming shlokas. Srimad Bhagavatam is for paramhamsa's who want to come above the body.

We have to serve the book bhagavatam and the devotee bhagavat too.

Becoming a Vaishanava

Verse 1.2.2: Many wonderful points in today's reading
1) Nobody should stay in Grhasthashrama for a long time. Brahmacharya until 25, Grhasthashrama until 50, Vanaprastha and then in due time Sannyasa.
2) For anyone to achieve success in spiritual life, they should practise detachment also. Sukadeva Goswami, as soon as you are born, he walked away not even seeing his mother. Srila Prabhupada explains here about a person becoming a dvija (twice born), then he becoming a vipra and then once he realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then he becomes a Vaishnava. And such a person is rare.
3) Just by chanting Krishna's holy name, even the lowest born will attain to the spiritual platform. Many examples in this regard, Srila Haridas Thakur is the foremost example here.

Maintain the status of a Vaishnava, which is a rare birth. Genuinely chant the Holy name, follow the 4 regulative principles and purify your existence.

Starting Canto 1 Chapter 2

Sept. 1, Verse 1.2.1

Srila Suta Goswami being pleased with the questions of the sages, begins to answer their questions.
Prabhuji summarized the whole Chapter 1 of Canto 1 today.