Way to inquire, way to receive Answers...

SB 2.8.29 (M Prji):

* Today, the chapter is ending by explaining how MP inquired all the questions and how they are going to be answered by SG.
* Diff types of questions were asked by MP
 - about the transcendental qualities of the Lord
 - narration considering the Lord, his qualities, potency
 - about different living beings in the planets
* SG answered in a systematic way as it was got from the disciplic succession
* So this chapter tells us what is the way to acquire knowledge and what is the proper way of anwering questions
* BG 4.34 also speaks something similar
 - if we want gyana, then we have to first of all find out a person who is tattvadarsinah
 - eg: if we want to purchase Gold, we must know where Gold is available. If we go to a grocery shop for it, we will surely be cheated
* If we are really in search of knowledge, then Krishna will surely help us
* Krishna will send the proper Guru in our direction
 - If we want a particular type of Guru, Krishna will send such a Guru
* In Katha upanishad also, it is mentioned
 - tat vijyanartham sa gurum eva bhi agachhet
* Also told in our samsaradava prayers
 - if one pleases Guru, then everything is possible,

Experimenting in the laboratory of Devotional Service...

SB 2.8.28 (SA Prji):

* "He began to reply to the inquiries of Mahārāja Parīkṣit by saying that the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord Himself to Brahmā when he was first born. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supplementary Vedic literature, and it is just in pursuance of the Vedas."
* SP says that Bhagavatam is a science of the personality of Godhead
 - it has two things then, theory and practical realizations of that theory. That is science
 - so it has gyanam and vigyanam
* Every single word in every single page of SB given by HDG SP is actually verifiable, realizable
* There are so many people actually who read the SB page to page, yet they don't understand its essence
* To verify, SB invites the person to the laboratory of devotional service
 - Here, student is encouraged to do the experiments and realize things which are beyond the sense perception
 - Here, things are perceived through sabda praman
* When one conducts such experiments, two things will surely happen
 - transformation of the heart
 - will have realizations
* SB gives us this chance of coming into the lab of DS
* Second thing SP is giving here
 - That it is a perfect answer to the impersonalists argument and basically shoots down all their points
* Through pastimes of the Lord and His pure devotees, it brings out the personality of the Lord
* Third point SP mentions
 - this SB is in pursuance to the Vedic scriptures
 - it is the nature commentary on the Vedanta Sutras
* One of the ten offenses to the holy name is rejecting the scriptures in pursuance to the Vedic literature
 - so the impersonalists who reject SB are actually committing this offense
* Only a Vaisnava can give Krishna to such impersonalists
 - cause a Vaisnava is a adhikari, one who has Krishna within his heart
* Forth point of SP
 - how can one learn this SB
 - By approaching a bona fide Spiritual master. Cause he simple repeats what his own SM has said. Does not do any concoctions (just like a postman), He must be a realized soul through disciplic succession
 - thus, this science of SB can be understood
* Guru, shastra and Sadhu should confirm with each other
* Interpreting the SB or concocting in our own way is the greatest offense to the lotus feet of the Lord

Attentively Hearing, Enthusiasm in Hearing!

SB 2.8.27 (K Prji):

* So far in this chapter, we saw that MP asked some questions to SG about the SPG
* Here we see that SG is very pleased with the inquisitiveness of MP and is happy narrate the glories of the SPG
* Similar thing, we saw in Chapter 5, between the discussions of Naradamuni and Brahmaji
* We have seen the same with our founder acharya, Srila Prabhupada. He was always intent on speaking about Krishna and also was very attentive in hearing about Krishna
 - Nice pastime in New Vrindavan, on Janmashtami night, SP was so absorbed in hearing from the Krishna book
 - So he was so enthusiastic in hearing about the SPG
* Similarly he we see in the shloka that SG is so pleased to talk about Krishna and MP is so interested in hearing more and more about Krishna
* MP was also very intelligent spiritually, cause he used his last 7 days (when he was cursed to die in 7 days) in hearing SB and absorbing himself in the pastimes of Sri Krishna
* We should aspire to always like the nectar of SB, and not be attracted to the mundane literature
 - then we can at the end of the body surely return back to home, back to godhead
* If not, it is like a frog shouting during the raining time. It will only attract the snake to come and eat the frog
 - Similarly, mundane topics will keep us busy and frog like death will come and finish everything for us
* Enthusiasm for hearing, listening attentively when hearing the topics of the SPG are the main points here
 - Eg: Maharaj Kulasekhar's pastime
* Likewise, in our daily chanting too, we should hear very clearly and attentively pronounce the holy name

Hearing from a bona fide Speaker!

SB 2.8.26 (N Prji):

* Here, SP is mentioning about the importance of disciplic succession
* Any other parampara is not valid because it does not have the Lord as its progenitor
* If the process is not genuine or if we are not hearing from a proper source, then we will not get any purification
* Only a bona fide process will purify us and the knowledge will become a part of our life
* For purification to happen
 - process must be genuine (we have to apply it too very sincerely in our life, eg sadhana)
* We have to be indebted to SP for establishing ISKCON, cause that is giving us this chance to hear from bona fide sources
* ....
* Mental speculators might be speaking well too, but because the process is not standard, transformation of heart does not happen
* All these philosophies are like the glow of a light worm. It will not last long and also does not provide any warmth
* Hearing from a pure devotee is not like that
* Theoretically hearing but not engaging in practically practicing it will not really help us
* It is important to take up the practical processes is effective in cleansing the mind and the heart
 - chanting the holy name for example cleanses the mirror of the mind
* In BG, Krishna says: those who are constantly trying to engage in DS for me, I will guide them personally from within their heart
* Teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was giving this knowledge to Sanatana Goswami
 - as to who am I etc
* If we engage our senses in service to Krishna, then our soul becomes very happy

4 Important Learnings...

SB 2.8.24 (R Prji):

* Four important topics in this verse
 - surrender
 - inquisitiveness
 - limited knowledge
 - mercy
* Surrender, we should do it to Krishna
 - again sincere and insincere surrender exist
 - Sincere devotee is one who surrenders to the instructions with full conviction
 - by being accountable to the representative of the Lord, we make progress
* Inquisitiveness
 - Different types exist
 - Being inquisitive about spiritual life for self realization is necessary
 - if it progresses in the right direction, we lose interest in material things
 - We won't take it cheaply
* Limited knowledge
 - How much can we inquire, because we have limited knowledge
 - If one tries to understand Krishna with his material mind, we can never understand Krishna cause mind cannot understand something that is infinitely increasing
 - SB 1.8.19
 - So we are very limited, that is why we should seek a spiritual master and know from him
 - Eg of HH Giriraj Maharaj (opportunity to get a donation from Birla)
 - So sincerely following Spiritual Master's words is essential
* Mercy
 - By Krishna's mercy, we get SM and by SM's mercy, we go back home back to godhead
 - By following the regulative principles, we can get the mercy of the Lord
 - Real glorification comes through sacrifice and surrender
 - Krishna is pleased when we glorify our spiritual master
 - We can go ahead only by Guru and Krishna's mercy
 - SBVT that is why sings, Gurudeva krpa bindu diya...

The Lord's Independent Nature

SB 2.8.23 (Kp Prji):

* "The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the external potency, and He remains a witness to it all." - MP is asking
* Even though the Lord is the creator and maintain of all the 3 worlds, yet the Lord is aloof from all this
* Lord Śri Krsna, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead and fountainhead of all other incarnations, is the only independent person. He enjoys His pastimes by creation as He desires and gives them up to the external energy at the time of annihilation.
* "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead and fountainhead of all other incarnations, is the only independent person. He enjoys His pastimes by creation as He desires and gives them up to the external energy at the time of annihilation."
* The only powerful Kings who were left, when Krishna was leaving the world, were the Yadus. They were so powerful that they could take the whole earth under their control
* So Krishna desired to take all of them with Him. So for this a pastime was enacted by the Lord
* So through the curse on Samba, the whole dynasty was finished, yet the Lord was independent of it all
* Further, "He is the witness of everything that is happening, and yet He has nothing to do with anything. He is independent in every respect. Maharaja Pariksit desired to know more perfectly, for a pure devotee ought to know well."
* This is one of the lilas of the Lord. As to how he enjoys his pastimes, completes them and also annihilates them and yet is completely different from it.

Perfecting the Human form!

SB 2.8.21 (Kp Prji):

* Maharaj Parikshit is continuing to ask wonderful questions to Srila Sukadeva Goswami
 - Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction?
* SP in his purport has given a lot of information
* First thing: Samplavaha, in the sense of "perfect means," is employed to denote the discharging of devotional
service, and pratisamplavaha means just the opposite, or that which destroys the progress of devotional service.
* SBVT is prime example of someone who can do perfect devotinal service, while executing the functional conditional life also very nicely
* Living the conditional life is just like plying a boat in the middle of the ocean. One is completely at the mercy of the ocean, and at every moment there is every chance of being drowned in the ocean by slight agitation. If the atmosphere is all right, the boat can ply very easily, undoubtedly, but if there is some storm, fog, wind or cloud, there is every possibility of being drowned in the ocean. No one can control the whims of the ocean, however one may be materially well equipped. One who has crossed the oceans by ship may have sufficient experience of such dependence upon the mercy of the ocean. But one can ply over the ocean of material existence by the grace of the Lord very easily, without any fear of storm or fog. It all depends on the will of the Lord; no one can help if there is some unfortunate danger in the state of conditional life.
* Everything is temporary, will get over at any point of time. A conditioned person will not know what step to take in this situation. That is why they are anxious all the time.
* But for the devotees, for him, his precaution is taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. The pure devotee is always protected by the Lord. So the instruction is that one should try to always be a pure devotee of the Lord
* Second thing is that one should hear about the pure DS from a bona fide spiritual master
* One should accept only the honest means of earning wealth for self-sustenance. Otherwise, one will easily lose devotional service.
* Third aspect is that pure devotee's duty is to discharge this sankirtana movement throughout the world.
* Our perfection comes by following the instructions of the acharyas
* Every devotee should be enthusiastic in the rituals, service too. Even if one fails in getting results, one should
not be disturbed, but keep continuing.
* We should be willing to serve the instructions of the Spiritual master, in extending the mercy of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu

Getting out of the 3 modes of material nature

SB 2.8.15 (P Mji):

* In this chapter, MP is inquiring about the modes of nature
* It is this inquiring behavior of his that took him back to Godhead
 - because of this, this SB was given to us
* The goal of life is to rise above the 3 modes and to reach the transcendental mode
* Everything that happens and everywhere it is all God's plan and in His power
 - it is all His arrangement through the modes of nature
* About the modes of nature
 - Spirit soul is pure. Just as rain water comes down and mixes with mud, it becomes dirty
 - Same with the soul, in material world, becomes mixed with goodness, passion and ignorance and so looses its pure state
 - because of this we surrender to the modes of material nature
 - every action has an equal and opposite action. It also creates a disposition in our heart according to our actions
 - The amount we pay, same type we get the body
 - Just as wind is pure. If it goes through a rose garden, it gets an aromatic fragrance, but the same wind passing through sewage carries a bad small
* The most important thing is to love Krishna, and that means to love every living entity similarly
* Laws of Karma will happen and they act all times, whether we believe it or not
* With that knowledge in mind, we should accept Krishna Consciousness. Then a window opens that can take us out of this cage of the 3 modes of material nature and get us out of this cycle of birth and death

Going beyond the 3 Modes is essential...

SB 2.8.13-14 (M Prji):

* Here, in this shloka the 3 different material natures are explained. Based on our nature, we are promoted to
different higher or lower planets
* SP although is emphasizing on the transcendental mode, beyond the 3 modes of material nature
* Unless we go to this transcendental mode, we cannot go back to Godhead
* BG. 9.25
* Actions of the different mode, SB 11.5.2-5
- Goodness: ...
 - Passion: ...
 - Ignorance: intolerant anger, stinginess, violent hatred, hypocrisy, quarrel, unhappiness, depression, sleeping too much, fear and laziness
* Results of these 3 modes, from SB 5.26.2
 - Goodness: religious and happy
 - Passion: mixed misery and happy
 - Ignorance: always unhappy and lives like an animal
* Based on these modes how people live, their destination is also decided
* But what is our aim here
 - Our aim is by listening to SB, to become transcendental
 - to go above the 3 modes, transcendental
* By chanting Hare Krishna, one comes to KC, then with reading Vedic scriptures like BG, SB, CC, our mind is cleansed
 - in this way one becomes more and more free from contaminations
* SB 1.1.22
 - regular hearing SB and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troubling to the heart is removed
* Then one gradually advances in KC

Krishna is everything, everything is not Krishna!

SB 2.8.11-12 (SA Prji, Boston):

* "O learned brahmana, it was formerly explained that all the planets of the universe with their respective governors are situated in the different parts of the gigantic body of the virat-purusa. I have also heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virat-purusa. But what is their actual position ? Will you please explain that?"
* "Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planets of the universe."
* Parikshit Maharaj is inquiring from Srila SG on the topics of the SB
* Any Puranas (18)
 - Bhagavatha P has 18000 shlokas
 - Vishnu P had 23000 shlokas
 - more
* All of them have different contexts or lakshanas (sarga and prathi sarga)
* So here PM is asking about Sarga and prathisarga
* Krishna is saying, by me in my unmanifested form, this entire manifestation is being pervaded. All beings are in me, but I am not in them
* Since Vishnu is pervaded everywhere, some Mayawadi's say that Vishnu is everywhere so is impersonal. Cause anything with a shape must be limited
* But Krishna has wonderfully answered in BG, that He is in everything, but still He is not. He is the cause of all causes
* Krishna cannot be understood so easily
* Even one studies the Vedic scriptures completely, still Krishna cannot be easily found. But for a devotee, Krishna becomes easily accessible
* Eg: King is not there everywhere in the state, but still his authority exists everywhere and the Government runs well
* So Krishna is saying, I am infinite, yet have a spiritual form
* We have to carefully understand that Krishna is the source of everything, but everything is not Krishna. Hence Supreme Absolute Truth is simultaneously personal and impersonal

A real Spiritual Master...

SB 2.8.7 (R Prji):

* PM says: the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body.
* This is the first instruction of Krishna to Arjuna in BG
 - dehinosmin yatha dehe..
 - nayanam chindanti....
 - antha vantha ime deha...
 - All of these instructions, start only when Arjuna says that I am a soul surrendered unto you
* Essence of BG is to surrender unto Sri Krishna
* Meaning of surrender: SBVT says, there are 6 ways
 - humility, dedication of self, -- , consciousness that Krishna will always protect me, doing favorable things, not doing things unfavorable to KC
 - Srila Rupa Goswami says the favorable and unfavorable things in NOI
* So doing these favorable and unfavorable things too, humility is required, as told by Sri CM
* And this process is clearly given to us by SP
* Now we come to the question of PM: Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause?
* So how did the jivas who were part and parcel of Krishna become conditioned
 - we will come to know of it as we read SB
* But some hint is given here
 - Karma ...
 - Serious students should ask relevant questions to the Spiritual master or to the self-realized souls
 - tadviddi pranipatena....
* SP also says: It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple.
* So we can think how exhalted the Swami's of ISKCON are.

Faith in the words of SB and Spiritual Master!

SB 2.8.6 (M Prji):

* "A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, for they fully satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey."
* The last few days we are nicely listening to the glories of SB, which Brhmaji is narrating
* Glories of SB, very current and most appropriate for us
* SP exhibits this, how much faith he has on SB
 - He comes to USA just with a few SB's
 - He expresses the glorification in his prayers on the ship
* First few verses in the first canto of SB, also very nicely describe
 - taking us from the modes of ignorance and passion to goodness
* He had faith on SB. He never had faith on his own capacity, but he has ultimate faith on SB
* We have to develop that aspect within us
* Today, we are hearing that the devotee of the Lord never looses faith and enthusiasm to serve the Lord
 - this is surrender. Doesn't matter what circumstances are, he will always execute his duty
* SP's life is a lifetime in preparation
* He was always working towards that goal of preaching KC in the western world
* Even at 70 years old, SP had the enthusiasm to come across 7 oceans to preach KC
 - We, being a little sick, try to excuse ourselves from services to the Lord
 - we can see dedication here in SP!
* "One should make the order of the Spiritual Master as life and soul"
* Two points we can learn from SP's life
 - how he took up the word of SM as life and soul
 - how he not lost faith in the words of the SM and SB!

Constantly engage in reading SB...you will attain Krishna!

SB 2.8.5 (A Prji):

* A very powerful verse
* Krishna says in BG: He who meditates on...sure to reach Me.
* We have to remember the Lord all the time and this is possible by chanting the holy name of the Lord
* Mystic yogic ways may be useful for a short time, but will not last long
* Whereas chanting Krishna's name will purify us slowly but permanently
* Constantly engage the mind in chanting the holy name of Krishna, then it is certain that at the end of our life we will have same bodily constitution as Krishna
* A pure devotee does not only save himself, but also saves everyone around him
* The Lord is always within the heart of the living being, but He becomes manifested by one's devotional service.

Hearing regularly the SB..reveal the Lord!!

SB 2.8.4 (Kp Prji):

* "Persons who hear Śrīmad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Śrī Krsna manifested in their hearts within a short time."
* So here how the Supreme Lord can be seen within the heart, is explained about
* Krishna does not reveal Himself to everyone
* Kuntidevi says, you are existing everywhere, but you cannot be seen by everyone. That is because he is covered by Yoga maya
* But here Parikshit Maharaj is saying that the Lord can be seen within the heart
* So it is the Lord's mercy that He reveals Himself within our heart, through pure devotional service
* Because the anarthas within our heart exist, we cannot see Krishna within our heart
* The process recommended is hearing SB regularly, from pure devotees. Then all obstacles, within and without, are eradicated
 - we become then situated in the pure mode of goodness
* But we have to follow the process of hearing must be followed
 - but simply hearing from the professional reciters will not do any help
* So PM is asking SG to please continue to narrate the pastimes of the Lord, so I can completely become absorbed in KC and cleanse my heart completely from material impurifications
* With complete faith and in earnestness, we should regularly hear from the SB. We have to take the matter very seriously too and then in due course of time, one will see the Lord with the heart. That is the realization of Parikshit Maharaj himself

The Disciplic Succession!

SB 2.8.1 (K Prji):

* In the last chapter, we saw Lord Brahma instructing the great sage Naradamuni about the incarnations of the Supreme Lord and also asked him to preach it all over
* Here, Parikshit Maharaj is now asking how did Naradamuni do this
* The Lord is aguna, has no material qualities
* Only pure devotees like Naradmuni can instruct on the qualities of the supreme Lord
* He is a great devotee of the Lord and also he heard from the right source, Brahmaji
* It is very important for us also, that where we hear from and how we hear
* Vedic knowledge is like a ripened fruit, if it falls down, it will be damaged. So it has to be passed from one hand to another, in disciplic succession
* Thus, the supreme science is received through a chain of disciplic succession
* Hence, hearing from the Supreme Lord, or Brahmaji or Naradamuni is the same, cause the messsage is maintained the same
 - Same is hearing from a bona fide spiritual master in this disciplic succession
* Caitanya Mahaprabhu too stresses on this same aspect
 - The brahmana in Kurmaksetra wants to join Sri CM. Then Sri CM tells him not to leave his position, but to stay and distribute this message to whomever we come across
* We also learn this from SP's life, as to how to distribute this message of love of Godhead to everyone
* Message: abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto the Supreme Lord Krishna
 - this is exactly what SP wanted all of us to distribute. And of course keep the message intact as it is coming in the disciplic succession
* Krishna says in BG, the greatest advantage of distributing this knowledge
 - pure devotional service is guaranteed
 - there is no servant more dear to me than he