Worshipping the Sound form of the Lord!

Verse 1.5.38: Here, Srila Narada muni is instructing and explaining to Vyasadeva, saying that he is not satisfied because Vyasadev has not yet explained the glories of the Lord. Naradamuni here continues to say that he is the actual seer, who worships the Lord in the from of transcendental sound representation.

Here, Srila Prabhupada in his purport, is talking about how powerful sound vibration is. Just by listening to somebody about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our faith in Him will become strong. If we hear about the glories of the Lord, then we can come out of our conditioning and we realize that our faith is becoming stronger in Him.

As we put some little faith in science and start off in our studies. Similarly in our spiritual life also, we need to put some faith and associate with devotees. Now starting to chant and listen about the Lord, our faith becomes stronger and we get further realizations about the actual presence of the Lord in and around us.

The instructions given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu also, just 8 of them, the first one is chanting of the Holy Name. He is describing the glories to the Holy name, which is the sound representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Service Attitude brings about Realizations!

Verse 1.5.37: From Krishna comes Balaram, from Balaram comes the first chaturvyuha - vasudeva, sankarshana, pradyumna and aniruddha. Then again the second chaturvyuha comes and from there comes Narayana (nara+aayana = shelter of the living entities).

The Supreme Lord is accessible by mantra's and brahmanas know the mantra's. This brahmana is not just by birth brahmana. One who has served his Guru with complete surrender is a Brahmana. And a Vaishnava is higher than a brahmana, since all he has unmotivated and uninterrupted devotion to Guru and Krishna. Patience, knowledge, purity, sadhana (realized knowledge) are all qualities of a Brahmana. Without sadhana, whatever we are reading becomes simply theory. The realization will only come by sadhana. Important ingredient is seva, for reading Srimad Bhagavatam. Unless the paramatma in our heart is pleased, we will not realize the essence of this Bhagavatam. Krishna in our heart is watching all our moves, thoughts, everything. We have to sincerely take shelter in Krishna.

Laxmana is called Lakshmi sammpanna, because of the service attitude he possessed for Lord Rama. That's why he could stay with Lord Ram all the time. That way, if we also perform service with full heart, we will also become the recipient of Krishna's mercy.

Preaching the Bhagavad-gita!

Verse 1.5.36: Continuing Purport today..

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita that anybody who helps spread the message of this Bhagavad-gita, who does the preaching, he is very dear to me and at the end of the life, he will come to back to Me.

That's why preaching of this Bhagavad-gita is so very important. But how can we preach if we don't follow. So we should follow nicely: chant very sincerely, read Srila Prabhupada's books, take care of deities, eat only Krishna prasad. All this is nice preaching. A person who is washing the pots in the temple, who is doing deity worship, all these form preaching. This will help us change the heart of anyone who might see all this.

Our income: 50% for Krishna, 25% for personal emergencies, 25% for family maintenance.
Instruction is, preach nicely, serve Krishna to the best of your ability.

Bali Maharaj donated everything to the Lord. We should follow in footsteps of such devotees. And of course, we should not imitate what we are not. So we should genuinely pray to Krishna to help us in His mission. We should be very strict with ourselves, but lenient with others. When anyone newly comes to the temple, we don't talk about the 4 regulative principles. Just simply ask them to chant, that itself will help them purify their heart and come closer to Krishna.

True progress in Bhakti: When we listen to our paramatma, He will guide us with his instructions. That will give us realizations. But how can we listen to our paramatma, only when our sadhana is very good. That will only help us listen to the paramatma.

Engaging everything in the service of the Lord!

Verse 1.5.33: As a continuation from yesterday's verse, Srila Narada muni is telling how one's miseries can be overcome. By spiritualizing our activity, any activity can be made to cause our liberation. Just using all activities in the service of the Lord.
Eg: Food that we eat, so much karma due to so much violence in it. But very same food, when offered to the Lord, this prasadam will be the cause of our liberation.

The best way to make the best use of a bad bargain is to use everything in relation with the supreme spiritual being. When everything is thus employed in the service of the Lord, we can experience that there is nothing except the Supreme Brahman. The Vedic mantra that "everything is Brahman" is thus realized by us.

A spiritual master is one such expert person, who knows how to engage everything in Krishna's service. We need to approach such a spiritual master and submissively inquire from him in this direction.

Taking shelter of the Internal Energy!

Verse 1.5.31: Scriptures are perfect. The description of Srila Narada muni is given here in this verse.

Is there anyone in this material world, who is happy for 1 year. No, this is itself an indication that whatever is given in scriptures like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam is absolutely true.
But the sadhus, the mahatma's, they take shelter of the internal energy of Krishna, Srimati Radharani and therefore they are eternally happy. But when we take shelter in the external energy of Krishna, we are always in anxiety.

Sometimes people question: Is God there? Can you show me?
But the actual question is: Do we have the capacity to see God. Can we see Ghee in the milk.

God is not a order-supplier, to come before us as and when we want. He places some qualifications, that are required to see Him. We need to do sadhana, complete surrender to Guru and Krishna, follow this process and slowly we get detached from this material world and one day we will surely see Krishna eye-to-eye. That is the power of Devotional Service. Only bhakti or the bhakta's can know Him as He is.

And how do we perform bhakti:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
aracanam vandanam dasyam
sakyam atma-nivedanam

Follow these 9 processes of devotional service. And by the mercy of Krishna alone, we will get everything in Bhakti!

Most Confidential Knowledge!

Verse 1.5.30: Krishna is telling in the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, that this knowledge is most confidential.

Confidential: You are not this body, you are a spirit soul
More confidential: God is a person, He has a impersonal form pervading everywhere as Brahman, as Paramatma He is in everyone
Most confidential knowledge: We can attain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but pure devotional service. This is done by unalloyed pure devotional service.

Those who are bhaktivedanta's have this knowledge. Srila Prabhupada, he was given the title Bhaktivedanta, he know how to execute this pure knowledge and taught it also to so many many many of us.

We have to continue to execute the order of our spiritual master, at all times. Srila Prabhupada, during his vanaprastha time did not even have proper clothes, but still he continued just to serve his spiritual master.

Attachment to the Pure Devotees!

Verse 1.5.29: Advantage of getting attached to the devotees (Narada Muni is talking about what happened when he was attached to the Sages, he became to a Sage himself, a pure devotee).

Whatever we are attached to, we take birth accordingly. But if we are attached to Sages, we will automatically attached to Krishna, what is the advantage, we will be liberated.

Again and again we take birth in this world, because of attachments.

Greatest welfare work is of spreading Krishna Consciousness. Develop attachment to devotees and Krishna. Then one day, Krishna will take us back. And for this, our chanting, attachment of devotees, service attitude is good, then all this will happen.

Solution of Ignorance and Passion...

Verse 1.5.28: The only way to come out of modes of passion and ignorance is chanting the Holy Names of Krishna, in this age especially. This is the process of self-realization. In the association of devotees, when we execute devotional service, the hardest knot of material existence is cut off. The person who is in the mode of passion and ignorance is actually never happy, even though he has money, wealth etc.

The earning of money does not make the mind peaceful. But by taking shelter of the Holy Name of Krishna, the mind becomes peaceful.

The whole world actually is suffering, more and more. The solution is reading Srimad Bhagavatam everyday, chant the Holy name of Krishna everyday, serve the devotees everyday.

Realizing our Transcendental Nature!

Verse 1.5.27: First lesson in spirituality is: we are not this body, we are spirit soul. Because of our desires, we take up a gross body and a subtle body. Our gross body changes depending upon our desires, experiences and consciousness. But the subtle mind comprising mind, intelligence, false ego, is only one through all the life times. But the beauty is we are not the subtle body neither the gross body. These bodies are temporary, whereas we are eternal.

It is all like a dream. When we get up from the dream, are we really sad that somebody scolded us. When we wake to the reality, when we realize that we are not this body, we are spirit soul, we recognize that all this is a dream.

But to wake up, it is not easy. We have to do sadhana, we have to raise ourselves. Then we clearly see the demands of the mind, clearly see the agitations of the mind, then we can tell the mind to shut-up. For us to realize that we are transcendental, part and parcel of Krishna, we need to do good sadhana, our chanting should be really good.

Hearing from the Right Sources!

Verse 1.5.26: Sri Narada muni developed the taste for hearing from the bhakti-vedantas, thus developed his attraction of the Lord.

Rendering service, taste for hearing about the activities of the Lord, is the key trigger. This is an infinite cycle in devotional service, both increasing each other continuously.

Srila Prabhupada says: Everyone is always involved in hearing something or the other: movies or politics. They are not realizing that they are wasting their time in such non-useful activities. If one starts listening to the Lord and His pastimes, all the sins accumulated within are eradicated and apart from that, even the tendency to do sinful activities is also done.

From Nectar-of-Instruction: Neophyte Stage, constant hearing is required. Then second stage, the person gets attached to hearing Krishna's pastimes. Then stage of remembering Krishna comes in, interrupted first, but then soon it becomes uninterrupted remembering.

It is also important that we hear from the right sources. Association means senior associated. We have to attentively listen from them, so that all our misconceptions are eradicated.

Remnants of a Pure Devotee, Association!

Verse 1.5.25: Srila Naradamuni is continuing to tell Srila Vyasadeva, as to how he came into devotional service. He is saying: Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me.

Key point: Unless one is purified in heart, one cannot be attracted to the transcendentalists.

Srila Prabhupada is saying, key thing is the association of pure devotees. He also says we should be careful of pseudo devotees.

Qualifications of a Pure Devotee
- Attracted to name, form, pastimes of Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Not at all attracted to material things
- steady in nature, perfect taste, transcendental emotions

All this is developed by association of pure devotees of the Lord. So what is this association? A: Key thing is one should approach a pure devotee, inquire submissively and serving humbly. We need to tune ourselves to their words. Unless we are tuned in, we cannot receive anything from them.

Association does not mean only physical association. Eg: Srila Prabhupada saying, so many big big Sannyasi's associating with his Guru Maharaj...

Nectar of Instruction: Srila Rupa Goswami in Text 5, talks on how to associate with devotees.

Finally, associating with the Holy Name. Each one of us has so many bad qualities like lust greed etc. Until and unless we associate with a person who does not have these qualities, we cannot purify ourselves. And who is the purest, Krishna. And He is in His Holy Name. So associating with Krishna through His Holy Name, will get rid of all these bad qualities.

Utilizing our skills in Krishna's service!

Verse 1.5.22: Krishna is telling Bhagavad-gita about the glories to Devotional Service. We have to utilize all energies that we have in the service of Krishna. Since bhakti is greatest, whatever skill that we have should be utilized in Krishna's service. In bhakti, it is not important what we are doing, but more important is with what motive we are doing.

Bhakti does not mean sitting in the corner and doing meditation, Bhakti means utilizing all energies and skills in Krishna's service.
Eg: George Harrison, utilized his skills of attracting people through his music, in Krishna's service.

When we have good sadhana, then we can use our skills very efficiently in Krishna's service, that's why our chanting should be very good.

Spiritual Master, Guru Maharaj!

Verse 1.5.21: The importance of accepting instructions from a Spiritual Master is highlighted here. Even The Lord, when He incarnates accepts a spiritual master, just to show its importance. Lord Ramachandra accepted Vasista Muni, Lord Krishna accepted Sandipani Muni, and later Vyasadev Himself, who is the literary incarnation of Krishna accepted Srila Narada Muni as his spiritual master.

Qualifications of a Spiritual Master:
- He should be in a disciplic succession
- He should be realized person
- ...

One should accept and serve the Spiritual Master. Pleasing the spiritual master should be the goal of one's life. That is done by serving him in any way possible.

Acintya beda-abeda Tattva!

Verse 1.5.20: That's why Srimad Bhagavatam is a purana, the scripture. Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur said that even if all the literatures in this world are burnt and only Srimad Bhagavatam remains, then also it is no problem. From Srimad Bhagavatam, everything can be constructed back.

Krishna is separate from His expansions. He is in the spiritual world.
No matter what we try to do, we always have happiness and distress. Our time is running out. All our relationships have a start and an end. Time is running out. Our eternal relationship is only with Krishna.

We need to purify our heart. Everywhere it is give, 9th chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Krishna is telling, "in my unmanifested form, I am pervading everything. All the living entities are in Me, but I am not in them." How is this understood, the acharya's explained the acintya-beda-abeda tattva.

To understand all this, we should chant sincerely to purify our heart. Chanting is the core to self-realization.

Relishing the taste of Devotional Service!

Verse 1.5.19: Instructions about the glories to Devotional Service is given here. The devotee if he falls down, will never forget the taste of this devotional service. So definitely he will come back. It is being assured by Narada muni here.

In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains how the Lord personally takes care of such a devotee. Krishna when very merciful, he puts us in situations where we can helplessly remember Him always.

Eg: So many incidents in our Krishna Consciousness movement, where devotees fell down, but were eventually taken back home.

We are always under the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whenever we are in difficulties. He puts us in situations that will enhance our devotional service and develop the taste for His lotus feet.

Service to the Lord feteches Eternal Credit

Verse 1.5.17: So here, Narada muni is talking: What loss is there when you give up your occupation and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Even if you now fall down, still there is no loss. Since all the service you did has eternal credit and you will come back to the Lord.

Story: About a man, who at the moment of his death offered flowers to Krishna by saying: Krishnaye namaha, Govindaye namaha.

"One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything."

Qualifications and Vyasadev's Compassion

Verse 1.5.16: Two parts of this verse actually
1) What kind of person deserves to get this knowledge - Only a very expert personality, retired from the activities of material happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of spiritual values.
2) Describe this pre-condition, giving knowledge of the transcendental activities of the Lord to the general people. That will be the greatest welfare for all living entities.

In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly stated that out of many hundreds and thousands of men only one person deserves to enter into transcendental realization. And out of many thousands of such transcendentally realized persons, only a few can understand the theological science specifically dealing with God as a person.

Srimad Bhagavatam: reveals the most close pastimes of the Lord, for all people. Just due to compassion of Srila Vyasadev.

And the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself came as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to show how exactly to live by Srimad Bhagavatam and how a devotee is to behave.

Relationships are everything in the process of Krishna Consciousness. It is bi-directional.
Krishna is coming in so many ways for us to establish that relationship. He comes in the from of His Deity, the Holy Name, in the form of His pastimes through the Bhagavatam. He is waiting for us to re-establish that relationship with Him. A change in consciousness is required, to detach ourselves from Maya.

Relationship is the key to KC!!!

Verse 1.5.15: Important for us to know the mood of Vyasadev. Srila Vyasadev spent major portion of his life in compiling all the Vedas and the Puranas, just for the benefit of mankind. And now Srila Narada muni comes and says that all that he has done is just misguided mankind. So it is important for us to understand the mood of Vyasadev and how he took the instructions of his spiritual master, for the best.

The human tendency is to enjoy, but actually we are suffering due to ignorance. So to come out of ignorance, we need knowledge from an authoritative source.
But to listen from someone and learn from it, 4 things required:
1) Personal relationship with a speaker is required, for the words to enter into our heart
2) Need to be ready to set our misconceptions on the side
3) To inquire submissively
4) Establishing a relationship, then maintain and enhance the relationship. This second thing can be performed only by performing service to him

We will notice that in the conversation between Narada muni and Vyasadev, all these 4 things exist and that is why Vyasadev takes to the instruction of his spiritual master nicely.

Same thing about these 4 points exist with
* Deity worship
* Chanting
* Relationship with devotees

Key thing in Krishna Consciousness is Relationship, it is very very essential for our life.

Bhagavata Purana, the only essential Purana!

Verse 1.5.14: Srila Narada muni is actually chastising Srila Vyasadev for the literatures he wrote for karmi's, gyani's, yogi's and bhakta's.

He is recommending him to write the Bhagavata Purana, which glorifies the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone.

Srila Prabhupada is making a point that it is the best process for directly glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, Srila Vyäsadeva should not have compiled any Puranas other than the Bhägavata Purana because a slight deviation from that may create havoc for self-realization. This is to say that there is no need for us to read any other Purana.

Anything that we try to do that is separate from Krishna, will only create unwanted reaction for us. Eg: Hiranyakashipu, had everything in this world, but still was not satisfied. He was agitated in his mind, since he did not have Krishna is that apparent everything that he had.
It's like chewing the chewed.

Dharma: Real dharma is to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our dharma is to simply serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, if we don't then we are always in reactions and not satisfied. As soon as we serve, we get eternal bliss. And chanting is directly serving Krishna. Hence we should chant very very nicely.

Vedic Literature and Devotion

Verse 1.5.12: An instructive verse.
Context: Srila Vyasadev is feeling despondent, even after compiling the 4 vedas, puranas etc.
Why so (is explained here by Narada Muni): 2 kinds of literature - mundane literature used only for sense gratification and second type is Vedic literature
Even in the later,the literatures which are in the impersonal conception or which does not glorify the Supreme Lord, then he is condemning them.

So here, Narada muni is also condemning the fruitive work, since it is always painful. Eg: Process of acquiring is painful and process of maintaining it is also painful. However, fruitive work can be made fruitful also, by making is subservient to Krishna, with devotional service.
Another example is Prasadam. Everything is given back by Krishna to us, just by doing this attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead develops, at the same detachment from material things develop too.

And material attachment creates bondage to the material world, which will continue to keep us in the cycle of birth and death.