Going Back to Godhead!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011)


Vibhu Caitanya, became the cook in the Krishna Balarama Mandir, shortly after the opening. He was Bengali and would just cook everything. He would cook all of the offerings, and it was a big temple! He cooked all the offerings… ….mangal aarti sweets and everything….and that’s a lot of cooking – seven offerings. He did that for eighteen years, and then he became old and ill. His feet were swelling up and he couldn’t do it anymore.
He was really upset because he couldn’t do that service. When he became ill, I was the temple president. So at that time I said:
“Well right now may be you should sit down and just distribute carnamrta”.
He didn’t want to do it. He said:
“No I want to cook”.
But he couldn’t so after a few days he surrendered to it, and then he got into it…… into distributing the carnamrta. He was sitting there and made sure that everyone got a tulsi leaf. He had special tulsi leaves here and special cups for the V.I.P. He made a huge arrangement of giving out carnamrta. Everyone got the maximum mercy, and in this way he served.
In his last days he couldn’t even do that, since he was just in his room, but then he had a loud speaker from the temple to his room, so that he could still hear the kirtan and the aartis – so that he felt that he was still with the deities. He had pictures of the deities in his room.
Vibhu Caitanya never went outside of the walls….never once. He never went out. He always stayed in the walls of the Krishna Balarama Mandir. He would walk from him room to the kitchen…and from the kitchen back to him room – and that was all. He had no other interest. He didn’t want to enjoy Vrindavan since he only wanted to serve. That’s how we go back to Godhead!

- HH Kadamba Kanana Swami

Real Knowledge

The status of real knowledge is explained in this verse. There are many children, but we accept some children as our sons and daughters because of our affection for them, although we know very well that these children are different from us. Similarly, because of great affection for money, we accept some amount of wealth in the bank as ours. In the same way, we claim that the body is ours because of affection for it. I say that it is "my" body. I then extend that possessive concept and say, "It is my hand, my leg," and further, "It is my bank balance, my son, my daughter." But actually I know that the son and the money are separate from me. It is the same with the body; I am separate from my body. It is a question of understanding, and the proper understanding is called pratibuddha. By obtaining knowledge in devotional service, or Krishna consciousness, one can become a liberated soul.

(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.28.39 Purport)

Smiling Face of Lord Krishna

As long as one is in conditional life, in the material body, it is natural that he will suffer from anxieties and agonies. One cannot avoid the influence of material energy, even when one is on the transcendental plane. Sometimes disturbances come, but the agonies and anxieties of the devotees are at once mitigated when they think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His beautiful form or the smiling face of the Lord. The Lord bestows innumerable favors upon His devotee, and the greatest manifestation of His grace is His smiling face, which is full of compassion for His pure devotees.

The entire universe is full of miseries, and therefore the inhabitants of this material universe are always shedding tears out of intense grief. There is a great ocean of water made from such tears, but for one who surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ocean of tears is at once dried up. One need only see the charming smile of the Supreme Lord. In other words, the bereavement of material existence immediately subsides when one sees the charming smile of the Lord.

(Srimad Bhagavatam - 3.28.27-28 Purport)

Grace of the Lord and His Devotees

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.28

TRANSLATION
Thus during two seasons-the rainy season and autumn-I had the opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari. As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance vanished.
PURPORT
Transcendental loving service for the Supreme Lord is the natural inclination of every living being. The instinct is dormant in everyone, but due to the association of material nature the modes of passion and ignorance cover this from time immemorial. If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. Such a flow of devotional service cannot stop. On the contrary, it increases more and more without limitation. The flow of devotional service is so potent that any onlooker also becomes liberated from the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance. These two qualities of nature are thus removed, and the living being is liberated, being situated in his original position.

Progressing in Spiritual Life by Attachment to Saintly Persons

At the lotus feet of the Lord we will find all of the Lord's devotees. We will also find complete instructions as to how to best approach these lotus feet in pure consciousness. By incorporating these instructions within our lives, we will attain the Lord's shelter, His eternal service, and His eternal abode.

Early on in the 1st Canto Narada narrates his own story, how he personally became transformed from 'rags to riches', or from worldly insignificance to a superlative exalted state of spiritual perfection. The details of his transformation are of great pertinence to our own efforts on the bhakti path. One of the Argentinean sankirtan devotees visiting here in NY just asked me, in a very sincerely expressed inquiry, if it would be possible for them to actually go back to Godhead at the end of this life. YES! This is the gift that the Bhagavatam offers, and Srila Prabhupada expressed his explicit desire to train us to achieve this goal within our lifetime. The highlighted traits and qualifications marking Narada's sojourn are most important for us to note very carefully.
The preliminary character traits of Narada certainly helped his progress; as for ourselves, we should value and attempt to gradually manifest such qualities for the purpose of attracting the mercy of elevated souls and Krishna Himself to shower their descending mercy upon us.

Key in all of this narration is the statement found in 1.5.25 purport, where Srila Prabhupada declares: There are many things which hinder one from entering devotional service. But by the association of pure devotees all these obstacles are removed. The neophyte devotee becomes practically enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee, which means attraction for the Personality of Godhead's name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc. Infection of the qualities of the pure devotee means to imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead.

The #1 gift which a student/dependant can receive from their superior is to attain attachment for Krishna, Krishna-katha, and the sublime taste of pure devotion. And then- This transcendental taste at once makes all material things distasteful. Therefore a pure devotee is not at all attracted by material activities.
- His Holiness Romapada Swami

Devotee and Karma

Teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

Question: When a devotee is born in a family, does that family benefit from his or her birth?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta: When a great saint, a pure devotee, appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for a hundred generations each are elevated. When a devotee of the middle stature (madhyama bhagavata) appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for fourteen generations each are elevated. When a neophyte devotee appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for three generations each are elevated.

Question: Why are devotees sometimes born in low class families? If devotees are not subject to the results of their actions (karma), then why are they sometimes illiterate or disease ridden?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta: Devotees are never subject to the result of their karma. It is by the will of the Lord that they take birth and perform other pastimes. But when it is seen that they are born in low class families, are illiterate, or are disease ridden, we should know that there is a great or noble purpose behind it. If people saw that devotees were always born in high class families or were always strong or educated, then they would become discouraged. So the merciful Lord, in order to benefit people of all classes, sends his devotees to different classes of society to give his mercy to other living entities. This is something like catching a wild male elephant by sending a trained female elephant. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur has said in the Caitanya Bhagavata that a vaisnava delivers everyone just by taking birth. In a land and in a family where a vaisnava descends, many hundreds of miles around that place become purified by his influence.
Even if you see some external misery in a vaisnava's life, you should know that he is in great ecstasy. Those who are blinded by pride in their material possessions do not know any of these things. Intoxicated with pride in their education, money, and family, they do not recognize a vaisnava.
If a devotee appears in a low-class family, then we should not think that it is a result of his sin that he was subject to the result of his action. Rather, we should know that he has purified a low-class family. If a good person becomes successful only in the devotional process, then we should consider him a great soul.

Meditating on the Lotus Feet of the Lord

Sri Sri Radha Shyamsunder (Sri Vrindavan Dhaam)

The mind of the conditioned soul, on account of its association with the material energy from time immemorial, contains heaps of dirt in the form of desires to lord it over material nature. This dirt is like a mountain, but a mountain can be shattered when hit by a thunderbolt. Meditating on the lotus feet of the Lord acts like a thunderbolt on the mountain of dirt in the mind of the yogi. If a yogi wants to shatter the mountain of dirt in his mind, he should concentrate on the lotus feet of the Lord and not imagine something void or impersonal. Because the dirt has accumulated like a solid mountain, one must meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord for quite a long time. For one who is accustomed to thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord constantly, however, it is a different matter. The devotees are so fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord that they do not think of anything else. Those who practice the yoga system must meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord for a long time after following the regulative principles and thereby controlling the senses.

- Srila Prabhupada (SB 3.28.22 Purport)

No Krishna = Misery

Any relationship where we forget that Krsna is also a part of it, then it leads to misery… Krsna is always there and every situation has to be offered to Him and no exceptions. It’s not that some things are to be offered to Krsna and some things not- ‘some thing’s are my private affairs’ no, no there is no private affair, everything is Krsna’s affair. He governs every aspect of our life.

If we become depressed then we can understand that we have really made a wrong choice. And you can of course start soul searching- ‘which choice was it? I don’t know! I can’t think of anything! And now I feel even worse!’ You can do that exercise but that’s not required. Just from now on start making the right choices because the opportunity will come again and again to choose for Krsna. So it means that we didn’t choose for Krsna, that’s why we are depressed. Start choosing for Krsna now and the depression will go. People in the world suffer from depression but devotees should not have that problem. But if they do have that problem it means that they are not choosing for Krsna. It’s not part of our life…you just have to choose for Krsna.



(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, August 2010, Sweden)

Getting Inspired to stay Krishna Conscious

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011)

Contaminated thoughts come up in the mind. The mind is strong, but we must perform austerities of the mind! The austerity of the mind is…… one is when sinful thoughts come up, then we cut, and we do not allow what we would call, ‘the train of thought’. One thought…next thought….next thought…..No! Cut…and if it goes in the wrong direction than stop immediately.
So in this way we do have a duty to control the mind, since we cannot just let the mind go in whatever direction it wants to go. We have to steer it back to Krishna. Soon as the mind is going in the wrong direction….back to Krishna!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011)

Srila Prabhupada said:
“For fifty books, its $250!”
A set of books in those days….a set was not big then, because they didn’t have much books. So a set of books in America was maybe fifty books and they were available for $250.
And Prabhupada said:
“For fifty books, it’s $250. Somehow or other we should take, $250 off everyone and we should put a set of Srila Prabhupada’s books in every house on the planet!”
This morning I was remembering and just imagining how a devotee would appear in front of the window here, with books in a remote house like this. This mediation – to give Krishna to others! To do good for others….that is required.
It may not necessarily be like that for everyone. But everyone goes on the street with books, and when we do it than we should know that there are very great blessings there, because there’s no doubt that that was so pleasing to Srila Prabhupada! That was the one thing that would give him enthusiasm, in life when his health was not very good.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011)

If we are not absorbed in glorifying Krishna, then we will look to be glorifying ourselves. So also in chanting we have this tendency. We are the first one up and already chanting and everyone can hear, and the mind goes:
“I’m the first one up…I’ll chant a little louder so everyone can hear!”
I saw someone who had not sixteen counting beads but sixty four. So then we can see immediately what kind of chanting that is. That is not being absorbed in just glorifying Krishna. That is being absorbed in being glorified ourselves. So how much devotional service are we actually doing to be glorified?
“I’m leading the kirtan….. I’m playing the kartals ………I’m playing the mrdanga!”
So how much is done for show? And how much are we doing it for show? Because we are addicted. Addicted to this glorification. We are always looking for this glorification. It comes out of a type of insecurity maybe. Some fear of rejection and we are just constantly looking for recognition. So one has to become very sober in chanting of the Holy Names!

How Far is One Advancing in Krsna Consciousness

So by the result, one has to see.

Just like there is examination. One student says, "Oh, I have studie so much." But when the examination was taken, he failed. So what does it mean that he studied? That means he did not study, that's all. The test is that spiritual advancement means minimizing material activities. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. Automatically they will be detestful for material engagement. Spiritual advancement means that.

Just like a hungry man, if you give him to eat, as soon as he begins to eat, immediately he'll feel satisfaction, and when he is fully fed, he'll say, "No, I don't want any more." So similarly, spiritual advancement means proportionately one should be detestful to material engagement. That is the test.

So if anyone is advancing by meditation or bhakti-yoga or Krsna consciousness, one has to give evidence that he is now being proportionately detached from this material engagement. That is the test. This is not for only the meditators. It is for you also. How far you are advancing in Krsna consciousness you test yourself -- how far you have become detached from material consciousness. That's all. The proportionately you have advanced in Krsna consciousness, the proportionately you'll not like material engagement. If you have advanced cent percent, then cent percent you become detached. That is the way.

So everyone has to test himself, "how far I have advanced." That means "How far I have become detached with material contamination." That'sall. The test is in your hand. And if you are sincere, then you should
test yourself. And if you want to make show, that is a different thing. That is explained in the Second Chapter, sthita-prajna. The behavior of a person who has advanced in spiritual consciousness, that
is explained. You have studied. He talks like that, he walks like that, he behaves like that. So many things, they have been explained. These are the tests. So we may not be able to achieve all the success immediately, but everyone should try to follow.

The meditation process is also one process. That is also one of the processes. That is good. But we simply say that this process is not, I mean to say, very fruitful in this age. In this age, this chanting of
Hare Krsna is the most beneficial process.

That is our program. We don't deprecate the meditational process. That is a process, standard process. But we don't say... We have not manufactured. It is the sastra says. Krte yad dhyayato visnum. Meditation of Visnu was possible in the Satya-yuga when people used to live for one hundred thousands of years. Just like Valmiki Muni, he meditated for sixty thousands of years. He got perfection. Here it is very difficult even to meditate for sixty minutes at a time. You see? Krte yad dhyayato visnum. That process was recommended in the Satya-yuga.

And the next process is tretayam yajato makhaih. The next stage, by performing great sacrifices. That is very costly affair. Nobody has money. Suppose if I prescribe performance of some sacrifice, and if I order that "You have to secure one hundred tons of butter or ghee," can you secure? Oh... You see? So therefore that is not possible. Krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam.Temple worship is also not possible. So kalau tad-hari kirtanat - Chanting hare krishna is the only way, the sastras recommend.

So, Just like Arjuna.

He sacrificed all sentiments, all connection, everything for Krsna. That is called sannyasa, real sannyasa. Although he was a warrior, a fighter, a householder having more than dozen
wives, but he was sannyasa. Because he sacrificed everything for Krsna. That is wanted. That is Krsna conscious.So everyone can test how far he has advanced simply by this, "How far I have become prepared to sacrifice everything for Krsna?" He doesn't require to take certificate from others. He can test himself, "How far I am prepared?" Then it is all right. This is the standard.

Srila Prabhupada Lecture :: Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 3.1-5 -- Los Angeles, December 20, 1968