Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Bhagavatam Meditations

11/22/06 Notes on Jayadvaita Swami’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.23
Srila Prabhupada reminds us that the tapasya (austerity) by which Krishna is realized is the devotional service of the Lord, and nothing more. The energy of devotional service is the Lord’s most intimate energy.
Usually we hear penance is voluntary acceptance of discomfort for the purpose of spiritual advancement. Here we learn that penance is also the uncomfortable situation that we are stuck in by the mercy of the Lord.
Material enjoyment is based on the false conception of ourselves as enjoyers of the world. Actually we are servants of the Supreme Enjoyer, Krishna.
Just as when the pillars of a building are removed the building comes crashing down, similarly our sinful existence comes to an end when we give up its pillars, meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex, and gambling.
The more we serve Krishna, the more we realize that the best thing is simply service to Krishna.
In Goloka, the spiritual abode of Krishna, they all serve Krishna without calculation of self-interest.

Q: Bhagavad-gita 7.28 says we have to be free from sinful reactions to engage in devotional service. What then is our position?
A: The verse actually says that if we are free from sins we can engage in devotional service with determination. We can, however, begin devotional service from before that point.

Our sinful desires are compared to seeds and the process of devotional service is compared to a fire which can fry so many seeds, making them unable to sprout. Sometimes we say that “we are fried” [when we have too much engagement]. Better that we aspire that our sinful desires may be fried.

Bhaktivaibhava Canto 4, Chapter 9, Verses 1-26, Gaura Krishna Prabhu

“Transcendental devotional service cannot be complete and cannot be relishable without the association of devotees. We have therefore established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krishna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible” (SB 4.9.11, purport).

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrit-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin” (SB 3.25.25).

Who can realize the Absolute Truth?
"Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed." [Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23]

My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years” (SB 10.14.29).

Bhaktivaibhava Canto 4, Chapters 1-7, Srimati Mataji
Srimati Mataji had a well organized presentation that she obviously put a lot of time into.
False identification is the cause of our entanglement in material life. We must remember that we are all in Lord Caitanya’s drama, and we are just playing different roles (such as brahmacari or grhasta) for the satisfaction of the Lord.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura once said regarding the necessity of chastisement, “You cannot move a buffalo with a peacock feather.”