Serving Krishna with Sincerity & without Deviation

This is an humble attempt to transcribe the wonderful class which our beloved spiritual master, H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj took on Srimad Bhagavad Gita at Sharjah in June 1996. We watched this video on Maharaj's Vyasa puja day at Abudhabi and relished the full nectar of Maharaj's class. Watching the special open-hearted laughter of Maharaj throughout the class, we realized that it is very difficult to laugh like Maharaj. Unless we have a pure heart, we cannot laugh whole-heartedly. We don't know how to laugh and the benefits of the same. There are special yoga classes going on to teach people how to laugh. Even in photo studio, photographer has to remind us to smile artificially. But Maharaj's class brought a natural smile in all our faces. Though we are incapable of transcribing his mood or capture fully the essence of his nectarean instructions mentioned in his class, we shall make an humble effort to share some of the points with all of you.

In Bhagavad Gita verse 14.26 Lord Krishna states

maam ca yo 'vyabhicaarena / bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunaan samatityaitaan / brahma-bhuyaaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."

1. Unmotivated devotional service takes us out of modes: vyabhichaar means illegal relation or prostitution. Lord does not like this. He likes avyabhichaar bhakti. Those who serve without deviation, develop detachment and knowledge. As long as we are not interested in putting others into difficulty, then we are attached to Krishna. But as soon as we concoct, the modes of material nature attacks us. Then we create so much misery around us. Bhakti should go on ahaituki, without any motive and this will takes us out of the modes of material nature. Because avyabhichaar bhakti is absent, Krishna leaves us and three modes of material nature attacks us. As soon as we perform ahaituki bhakti, we slip out of three modes of material nature. In any angle of life, devotional service is the best service. In this world everybody is worrying. So we should go to Krishna conscious person. We should write down our doubts and when Krishna conscious person comes, clear it. Conversation gives us practical experience. Even Srila Prabhupada used to clear the doubts of devotees through conversations. Srila Prabhupada explained in his purport that one should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of nature; instead of putting our consciousness into such activities, we may transfer our consciousness to Krishna conscious activities. Krishna conscious activities are known as bhakti-yoga, always acting for Krishna. One who surrenders unto Krishna, at once surmounts the influence of the modes of material nature. To be in Krishna consciousness or in devotional service means to acquire the quality of Krishna. We must be eager to serve Lord Krishna. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.11.26, Vrtrasura prays to Supreme Lord.

ajaata-pakshaa iva maataram khagaah
stanyam yathaa vatsataraah kshudh-aartaah
priyam priyeva vyushitam vishannaa
mano 'ravindaaksha didrkshate tvaam

"O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You."

ajaata paksha - newly born bird waits anxiously for mother bird to feed. Same way we are waiting anxiously for Krishna.

2. Ahankaar takes us away from Krishna: We should not be afraid of any difficulty. Everybody have their own difficulties. To get rid of this, the best way is to go to Krisha councious person only and make submissive inquiry. Krishna cannot tolerate arrogance. Ahankaar is never tolerated by Lord and in this context Maharaj narrated a story. Once Satyabhama, Garuda and Sudarshana cakra got ahankaar due to their prominent position. Lord decided to crush their pride and He sent Garuda to Himalayas to bring Hanumanji to Dwaraka. At the same time Lord said to Satyabhama, "One of the dearmost devotee of Lord Rama is coming to see Me. I will become Lord Rama for him but you don't try to become Sitaji. Instead you send Rukhminidevi here." But Satyabhama did not like this and insisted that she would only become Sitaji. The Lord told her, "It's your wish." Then Lord instructed Sudarshana cakra not to allow anybody to enter into the palace. When Garuda reached Himalayas he saw Hanumanji chanting Lord Ram's names. Garuda said, "I have come to take you to Dwaraka as desired by the Lord." Hanumanji said, "OK. You proceed I will come." Garuda said, "No. I will take you now with me." Hanumanji humbly requested Garuda, "You please proceed and I will reach there before you. Otherwise also you cannot carry me." Garuda said, "I am carrying Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are nothing. I can carry even your father also." Hanumanji got angry. He caught hold of tail of Garuda and threw him into the ocean. Garuda landed straight in the ocean near Dwaraka and went deep down to bottom of the ocean. And by the time he came up, he saw Hanumanji already standing in front of the Lord. When Hanumanji reached Dwaraka, there Sudarshana cakra was standing at the gate and did not allow him to enter into the palace. Hanumanji humbly said, "I am always living with the Lord. So please let me in." When Sudarshana cakra did not get convinced and refused entry, Hanumanji caught him and put him into his mouth and entered into the palace. When Hanumanji saw Satyabhama standing next to the Lord, he asked Him, "My Lord, who is this maid servant?" Satyabhama felt very ashamed. Hanumanji did not recognise that she was one of the queen of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because she artificially tried to become Sitaji. Later Lord asked Hanumanji, "What is in your mouth?" Immediately Hanumanji said, "This creature was obstructing my path so I took him into the mouth." Saying so he took Sudarshan cakra out. Thus Lord crushed the pride of all three.

We know that all of us have four defects - imperfect senses, committing mistakes, illusion and cheating propensity. But if we are with Krishna, then there is no chance of making these mistakes. Bhagavatam is Krishna. Even running reading of Srimad Bhagavatam benefits. So please read Bhagavatam daily. If we bow down before Deity our ahankaar will be vanished and we can understand our goal of existence. To improve our devotional service we must have transcendental association and then material world will not touch us. Hanumaji pleased Lord Rama just by verse 5.19.7 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

na janma nunam mahato na saubhagam
na vaan na buddhir naakrtis tosha hetuh
tair yad visrshtaan api no vanaukasash
cakaara sakhye bata lakshmanaagrajah

"One cannot establish a friendship with the Supreme Lord Ramacandra on the basis of material qualities such as one's birth in an aristocratic family, one's personal beauty, one's eloquence, one's sharp intelligence or one's superior race or nation. None of these qualifications is actually a prerequisite for friendship with Lord Sri Ramacandra. Otherwise how is it possible that although we uncivilized inhabitants of the forest have not taken noble births, although we have no physical beauty and although we cannot speak like gentlemen, Lord Ramacandra has nevertheless accepted us as friends?"

Only sincerity is required for devotional service. We are bound to die. Therefore we should always meditate on janma, mrtyu, jaraa, vyaadhi and turn our mind towards Krishna.

We sincerely pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev to bestow his causeless mercy upon us, so that we can understand and practise above instructions for the pleasure of Lord Krishna.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Tushta Krishna Das and Suniti Devi Dasi
Sharjah.