1. Kali-yuga is full of quarrel and faults, so a devotee should look at his own shortcomings instead of criticizing others.
2. The greatest blessing of Kali-yuga is Hari-nama sankirtana — chanting the holy names purifies the heart.
3. To progress in bhakti, avoid offenses, especially sadhu-ninda and guru-avajna.
4. Guru-nistha is essential — Guru’s mercy leads one to Krishna and real spiritual advancement.
5. Real surrender means accepting what is favorable for bhakti, rejecting what is unfavorable, and trusting Krishna as protector and maintainer.
6. Dehatma-buddhi — identifying with the body — is the root of suffering; our real identity is Krishna’s eternal servant.
7. Hari-katha and seva should go together. Hearing with sincerity and serving with devotion bring real taste in bhakti.
8. A true practitioner should honestly ask: “How many rounds have I chanted today?” and cultivate taste for Hari-nama and Hari-katha.
* Gold should only be used for Thakuraji, otherwise Kali will disturb us.
* The service given to the index finger is so that it points to itself and sees its own defects.
* On the ten offenses.
* Without sheltering at the lotus feet of Guru, we will never be free from Maya.
* Our only focus should be: “how to be focused and loyal to my Gurudeva?”.
* The first stage of bhakti.
* We receive mercy by doing seva and surrendering.
* On the attachments of family life.
* The main cause of our attachment is dehatma-buddhi (bodily conception).
* All offenses and suffering stem from bodily conception.
* Without service, we cannot manifest the Holy Names in our hearts.
TRANSCRIPT
Just I want to speak a few words. Well, I will not take too much time. We will translate. So, you listen. Okay.
What Kali means
This is called Kali-yuga. What yuga? Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga means, what is the meaning of Kali? Kalaham lati iti kali. Kalaham means always quarreling, arguments, disagreement. This is called Kali.
And especially in Srimad-Bhagavatam it is explained. Kali Maharaja, he asked Pariksit Maharaja, “Give me how many places?” Four places. First he asked, “Give me four places.”
The places where Kali lives
dyutam, panam, striyah, suna — where adharma is of four kinds. [The Sanskrit on the recording is broken. He at once explains it, and that explanation is the verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam on the places given to Kali.] And where they are playing, what is it called? Gambling. Dice. Dice. Panam: where the people are drinking alcohol, any kind of intoxication. That is called the place of Kali. Panam. The third, that is called illicit activity. Illicit activity also. And the fourth, where the people are also killing. But Kali Maharaja is not happy with these four places. Then he asked, “You give me a fifth place,” pancama sthana. That is called suvarna, gold.
And in Kali-yuga you should not use gold. And where the gold is, automatically Kali will come. So how do you use gold? Gold is used only for Thakurji, for the Visnu mandira. And all the Visnu temples, the dome, they decorate with gold. This is the process. Otherwise Kali will disturb you. So just I explain this way, because Srimad-Bhagavatam gives the evidence. dyutam, panam, striyah, suna, where adharma is of four kinds. [unclear half-line]. And again Kali Maharaja asks Pariksit Maharaja, “Give me a fifth place.” That is called — svarna — gold.
Look at your own faults
And also, the people of Kali-yuga, the mind is very disturbed. With reason, without reason, everybody is quarreling with each other, arguing with each other. So how will the jivas of Kali-yuga perform bhajana and sadhana, and be delivered from this ocean of maya? Actually Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is thinking this way.
And Srimad-Bhagavatam also explained: kaler dosa-nidhe rajann. In this Kali-yuga there are so many faults. Not one. Many faults. And the people, how they are crazy also. No one looks at their own faults. Everybody wants to see others’ faults.
Just give an example. What is called a big strainer. Many holes. The strainer is not looking at his own holes. How many holes has the strainer? [unclear]. But he is not looking at his own faults. The strainer is saying all these things. He looks at your one hole, and his [own he does not see]. And looking. This is the nature of this Kali-yuga.
So for this, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada is saying: when you will see your own faults, then you have no time to see others’ faults. This is the process also.
The index finger
So when you are chanting the holy names, this finger, this finger is called the index finger. This index finger has no job, no work. And the four fingers, they are serving the Lord. When you chant the holy names, the four fingers are inside your japa-mala, holding this, and this finger is out of the japa-mala. Because this finger is very bad. That person’s nature, his work, is looking at others’ faults.
Another example. If you buy ten kilos of potato in one bag, but one potato inside is completely rotten, then after a few days what will you see? All the potatoes are rotten and finished. So who is the intelligent person? What will you do? Take1 out the rotten potato and throw it away. Is this good or bad? Then you can save all the potatoes. This is the process also.
So why I am saying this simple example. These four fingers, they are very calm, quiet, in the service of the Lord. And this index finger always criticizes others, looking at others’ faults. What is the regard in our Vaisnava tradition? This index finger is not inside the bead bag. It is outside. Then this finger, he is crying. He is crying, “I have no job. Please give me some job.” That time he said, “Okay, I am giving you one job. What is this? Index finger, you should point — and point to yourself. And how many faults have you?” This is the process. When you chant the holy name, not this way. This finger should be indicating towards your chest, just your heart, and look here: how many faults I have, you can see. So this is the process also.
The one good quality of Kali-yuga
So for this, Srimad-Bhagavatam, what is it saying? kaler dosa-nidhe rajann. Okay, English. The people in this Kali-yuga, they have innumerable faults. But this Kali-yuga has one good quality. The good quality of Kali-yuga: kirtanad eva krsnasya. If you chant the holy names — Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — then you will be free from all kinds of faults, and finally attain the Lord. Because Kali-yuga is the yuga of nama-sankirtana. There is no other process to attain the Lord. There is no other process to purify your heart. Only one process is there: nama-sankirtana.
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Nama-sankirtana.
Chant the pure name
But you have to chant the holy names, pure holy names. Pure holy names have to be chanted. That is called suddha-nama, the pure holy name. When a question will come: how will I chant the pure holy name? The question is coming. How will we chant the pure holy name?
Three kinds of chanting
Three types of holy names. One is called nama-aparadha, with offences. Another is called nama-abhasa. Some shadow, some semblance, of the holy name is there. And suddha-nama. All these, listen. Nama-aparadha, the offences to the holy name. If you want to chant the holy names, you have to consider the ten offences to the holy names. But the first three are very important.
Sadhu-ninda: never criticize any sadhu. Second: the name of the Lord. Never think that Krsna-nama and Siva-nama are the same. Lord Siva is the nearest servant of Lord Krsna. This is true. But you should not think that Siva’s name and Krsna’s name are the same. Krsna-nama: Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is Bhagavan.
nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah, purnah suddho nitya-mukto ‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh. ‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh. There is no difference between the holy name and the Lord who is named. And in this Kali-yuga the Lord invested all His potencies in His holy names. And your chanting of the holy names means you directly meet with Sri Krsna. The holy name is Himself. So, you think this way.
Guru is not an ordinary person
And the third offence to the name: guru-avajna. To neglect Guru. To think Gurudeva is an ordinary person.
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih, kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam. And this is Guru-astaka. saksad-dharitvena. Gurudeva is directly the manifestation of Sri Hari, in the mood of the servant. saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair: all the scriptures — Veda, Purana, Upanisad — everywhere glorify Sri Gurudeva.
If Guru and Krsna stay together, what will you do? First, whom will you worship? prathamam tu guru-pujam, tatas caiva mam arcanam. Krsna says to Arjuna: if Guru and Krsna stay together, first you worship — who will you worship? Guru. Guru. Then, Krsna says, you worship Krsna. This is the process. Because by the causeless mercy of Guru-pada, then we can realize Krsna, Krsna-bhakti.
Without Guru, the ocean is not crossed
binu guru, bhava-nidhi tarai na koi. Tulasidasa, in the Ramacaritamanasa, very clearly explained: guru binu bhava-nidhi tarai na koi, jo viranci sankara sama hoi. Who has a vast knowledge, like Brahmaji, like Sivaji, but he has no guru-nistha, no guru-bhakti — all that knowledge is useless. So, guru binu bhava-nidhi tarai na koi. Without taking shelter of the feet of Guru, you will never be delivered from this ocean of maya. So, the same thing. Always remember this verse. guru binu bhava-nidhi tarai na koi, jo viranci sankara sama hoi.
Our only aim and object: how will I give my intention to serve Guru-pada? How will I go on, one-pointed, with Guru? One life, just this: how to catch hold of the lotus feet of Guru-pada. Yes?
[Singing Sri Guru Carana Padma]
Narottama Dasa Thakura, he sang this song in
Prema-bhakti-candrika: guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa. All these are the instructions. Siksa-guru. Guru-nistha. If you have no guru-nistha, not even one point with Guru, then all your sadhana, bhajana, whatever it is, that is called useless. Well, at least one life you have to completely, absolutely surrender to the feet of Gurupada, of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Mahaprabhu at Gaya
And Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He met with Isvara Puri-pada in Gaya — because Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nimai, He came to Gaya to perform His father’s, what is it called? Sraddha ceremony. And according to India now, this time is Pitr-paksa. People are also doing, for the father, the oblations, and the sraddha ceremony, doing it this way. Yes, that is the way. In the same way, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Gaya to perform this oblation, His father’s pinda. But that time He met with Isvara Puri-pada. Then at that time Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited these verses.
[He explains the verse:] The pilgrimage of Gaya, to perform this sraddha ceremony — now, why? Now I am taking darsana of the lotus feet of Isvara Puri-pada, of Guru-pada, guru-carana-darsana. So: prabhu kahe, gaya-yatra saphala amara… Guru-carana-darsana. This is very important. This is the process also.
And that time Caitanya Mahaprabhu, very humble, He also told: [possibly:] ajna ha, samarpilun tomara carane. Caitanya Mahaprabhu told His saranagati: now I have completely surrendered to Your lotus feet. That is called atma-samarpanam. What is it called? Atma-samarpanam. Bhakti, the first stage, that is called — what is it? Samarpan. Surrender. You have to understand. To completely, absolutely surrender.
Surrender
Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says: sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. sarva-dharman parityajya: all the rules and regulations of the society, and absolutely surrender to Me. I assure you. I promise you. I will deliver you from the ocean of papa. So, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. Do not fear. And do not worry. Because Krsna is saying this.
Meditation, worship, mantra, and mercy
The source of all kinds of meditation, that is called the meditation on Sri Gurudeva. Then: dhyana-mulam guror murtih, puja-mulam guroh padam. The source of all types of puja, that is called the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Then: dhyana-mulam guror murtih, puja-mulam guroh padam, mantra-mulam guror vakyam. The source of all kinds of mantras, that is called the instruction of Gurudeva. Guru-vakya. guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa. We want this one faith. What Gurudeva is saying, I have to follow. This is the process also.
[And] moksa-mulam guroh krpa: the source of liberation or salvation is the mercy of Guru. When you receive this mercy of Guru, then you will attain the goal. This is the process. So the question will come: how will you receive this mercy? By your sadhana, then Guru’s mercy will come, and Krsna’s mercy will come. guru-krpa, krsna-krpa. And when it is complete, the main thing is what? Surrender. Saranagati.
Draupadi
I say, in the Mahabharata there is an example, an evidence. You know, before, at Kuruksetra, Duryodhana and Duhsasana, they tried to pull the cloth of Draupadi. At first she was thinking, “All my guru-varga is here. Bhisma-pitamaha, Dronacarya, Krpacarya, all are there. They will help me.” But they did not help. No one helped. Then she thinks, “Maybe my five husbands — Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakula [the other names are not clear] — they will help.” No one helped. Then Duhsasana was dragging the cloth of Draupadi. Then Draupadi thinks, “Okay, so I can help myself.” So for this, Draupadi also holds her cloth with her teeth. But this is not possible. Then, when Draupadi is now completely hopeless and helpless, then Draupadi also raises her two hands. And then Krsna manifested in the form of one incarnation. That is called vastra-avatara, the incarnation of cloth. Duryodhana is dragging, pulling, and then become very tired. All the while he was pulling the cloth. But finally, completely, [it did not end].
So I am saying this lila in this way. Once Draupadi also asked Krsna, “Why did You not help me?” That time He said, “No. I helped you. You were thinking, ‘They will help me.’ So I am not coming in front of you. When you think, ‘He Krsna, You help me.'” This is the process also. When you are completely, only, surrendered to Krsna.
So the saying is: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja….Yes. Sarva-dharma means all kinds of dharma, the rules and regulations of the society. Give them up. Only surrender to Krsna. rakhe krsna mare ke, mare krsna rakhe ke. If Krsna protects you, no one can kill you. If Krsna is thinking, “I will kill you,” no one can protect you. Understand these realities. All this is the standard. Krsna is my maintainer, and Krsna is my protector. This is called — there are the six limbs of surrender. How many limbs of surrender? First you learn these things. Not only “Radhe, Radhe, Radhe.” Radhe, Radhe — good. But you have to learn: how many limbs of surrender? Six. Who knows? Who is it? Ypu say. How many? Do you know the sloka or not?
The six limbs of saranagati
anukulyasya sankalpah, pratikulyasya varjanam, raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha, atma-niksepa-karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih. Everyone learn this verse. These are the six limbs of sarana. That means saranagati.
anukulyasya sankalpah: whatever is favorable for bhakti, you have to accept. pratikulyasya varjanam: whatever is unfavorable for bhakti should be rejected. anukulyasya sankalpah, pratikulyasya varjanam. raksisyatiti: are you saying, “Krsna is my protector”? This type of faith. raksisyatiti visvasah. goptrtve varanam tatha: and Krsna, He is my maintainer. Who is giving food to me? Who is giving? Krsna. Then, Krsna is giving everything. This type of faith: without Krsna’s mercy, nothing is coming. [atma-niksepa:] our whole self is given over. This is the fifth. And the sixth is karpanya. Karpanya means very humble. Then.
So, again. anukulyasya sankalpah, pratikulyasya varjanam, raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha, atma-niksepa-karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih. Isn’t it? Again. Krsna is my maintainer, and Krsna is my protector. goptrtve varanam. This is called that. Very important. goptrtve varanam, goptrtve varanam, means Krsna is our maintainer. He is giving everything to us. Who is giving the food? Krsna is giving the food. Krsna is your protector.
Household life
There is one devotee. His — I think his name, just I forget his name. He was a brahmacari. The Puranas say: a very nice person, a brahmacari. He thinks, “I will do bhajana and sadhana in my brahmacari life.” But his family members forced him: “You have to marry.” Then he married. When he married, he was thinking, “How will I do bhajana and sadhana?” Household life is not so easy, to perform bhajana and sadhana. One step you will go, then ten steps automatically you will go back. You understand? You go up, then down. Up and down. Understand this? Not so easy also. One step you go, and then the next step also you will come down. Coming down. Up and down. Not so easy. And because there are so many asaktis in our household life. Understand. Asakti means attachment. Right? Do you understand? Attachment is called the cause of bondage. What is the cause of the bondage of the world? Asakti. Not so easy to give up the attachment. My son, my daughter, my husband, my wife. This is there. All this is there. You are saying: it is not so easy to conquer the attachment.
Vrtrasura’s prayer
But Vrtrasura, at last, he prayed to Lord Sri Hari. What is he saying? [unclear Sanskrit. He names Vrtrasura and then translates. The sloka itself was not clear enough to print. …natha bhruvat]
Vrtrasura, he prayed this verse. Very important. “O my Lord, according to my previous karma, my previous actions, I may be wandering in the cycle of repeated birth and death. I may stay with my family members, my wife, my children, my sons. But one blessing You give me: I will never be attached to my family members.” This verse everybody has to learn.
[He repeats a fragment:] asakta-citta… Or, if you stay, automatically asakti will come or not? If you stay in the water, your body will be wet. Wet or not? This is the nature also. But how will you keep from getting wet? Come out of the water. But one process is also there. If you put the oil, the water will not touch your body. This is the process also. So, people, when they are going to take bath, what do they do? They put oil. This is the process also.
[Returning to the prayer:] “O Lord, give me this, only this one blessing. I will never be attached to my family members.” This is the process. You need to perform what I am saying. Otherwise it will be difficult. This samsara, this material world, is not easy to conquer. Maya. You are saying it is easy to conquer maya? Are you?
Maya is not easy to cross
Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita: daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. Not easy to conquer. Sometimes, okay, you are also holding, and the other hand maya is holding. Maya is very powerful. Maya is very, very powerful. And once you are going the other way, she is grabbing you.
Then Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita — learn this verse — daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. When one has completely, absolutely surrendered to Krsna, Krsna says: he has surrendered to Me, because he is My own, My servant. Understand? He said, then maya-devi, she will go away from you. jahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara. krsna—surya-sama; maya haya andhakara. jahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara.
Krsna is like the blazing sun, the delightful sun. And maya is compared in this way: maya is like darkness. Where there is Krsna, there is brightness, and automatically the darkness is not there. This is the process. So, krsna—surya-sama, maya andhakara, jahan krsna tahan nahi mayara adhikara. So if we are surrendered to Krsna, then maya-devi stay far from you. Maya-devi will not come to you, I am saying. And maya-devi will be happy: “Okay, you are surrendered to Krsna.” Because maya-devi is also the maidservant of Krsna. Maya-devi is saying, “I am serving, but my job is the job of tamoguna. My job is the tamoguna job: to give the punishment to others.” Otherwise, the police — what is the job of the police? To give the punishment to those who are not following the rules. Who is giving the punishment? So, to give punishment, this is also there. That is the work of tamoguna. So if you serve Krsna, then maya will be very happy. “I will not go to you.” So, jahan krsna tahan nahi mayara adhikara. krsna—surya-sama, maya andhakara. jahan krsna tahan nahi mayara adhikara. So surrender to Krishna. Learn this verse.
So, which verse? daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te.
I am not this body
Another thing. And our main thing: what is the main cause of our attachment? What is that? Dehatma-buddhi. And all kinds of offences, all kinds of anarthas, are coming from dehatma-buddhi. Dehatma-buddhi. You are attached to this body. “I am this body.” “I am the servant of Krsna” — when you think this: jiva krsna dasa ei visvasa karle to aur dukha nai. But it will not happen just by words. When you think, “I am not this body. Who am I? I am the eternal servant of Krsna.” jivera svarupa haya—krsnera nitya-dasa. Everybody is saying it, but it is not so easy to realize. But again and again I remind you: you have to realize yourself. I am not this body. Who am I? I am the servant, the eternal servant, of Krsna. Krsna-dasa. jivera svarupa haya—krsnera nitya-dasa. But it is not so easy. A hundred times you are saying. A hundred times you are listening. A hundred times you are speaking. [Still] I am not saying [that it is realized]. So dehatma-buddhi is coming.
And a little — what is it called? An ant, small, coming to bite you. Are you feeling pain or not? Even if you are sleeping and the mosquito is also sitting, then the hand is going this way. Even at that time, you will close your eyes and then you have to do this. For this you are putting some kinds of creams. But sometimes the creams are not working.Dehatma buddhi. Not so easy to get out.
So Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in [possibly: Jaiva-dharma], explains: dehatma-buddhi, bodily conception, is really the cause of all kinds of distress, unhappiness, and offences. First it is coming this way. “I am this body. I am a man. I am a woman. I am Indian. I am — what is it called? — Malaysian. I am British. I am Chinese. I am Dutch.” All this, we are thinking this. This is actually not true. Only, just, this illusion comes. What is written? On your body it is written. Who wrote on your body? “Are you Chinese?” “I am Indian.” “Made in China.” “Made in China.” And you are not Chinese. You are the eternal servant of Krsna. Krsna-dasa. Understand? All the ingredients are coming from Krsna. Understand? Our body is made with the five ingredients. All the ingredients, coming from where? China, or India, or Pakistan, or Australia? Coming from where? Tell me. Krsna. Krsna. Understand? But he is saying that everything is coming from China. I don’t know what to say. “Made in China,” he said. Everything comes from Krsna. [A joke in the room:] “Krsna is going to be made in China.” He is saying again. Again he is saying, “Krsna is going to be in China.” Now, Krsna comes from China? Which one is true? Krsna descended from Goloka Vrindavan. He is staying everywhere. He is staying in China, Britain, America. He is staying everywhere. He is not coming from China.
So try to understand this side. Dehatma-buddhi. First, the main thing is what? Dehatma-buddhi is the root cause of all kinds of distress, and unhappiness, and offence. From dehatma-buddhi is coming. First understand this word. What is it called? Deha, atma, abhimana. Three words are here. Deha, atma, and abhimana. Three words or not? Deha only is the body. Atma is the soul. Abhimana is the ego. It is the false ego. “I am this body.” Then who am I? I am the eternal servant of Krsna. Again and again you think these things also. Try to realize these things. Then you will be qualified to practice devotional service to the Lord. Bhagavat bhakti. Also this not so easy. But how do you realize this? Self-realization is the best realization. Atma-anubhava. You realize these things.
Do bhajana and sadhana. Pray to the Lord. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
In Kali-yuga, without chanting the holy names, nothing. In this Kali-yuga: nama-sankirtana, nama-sankirtana. But when will suddha-nama come? When will the pure holy name manifest on your tongue? When you completely surrender to Krsna. This is the process also.
So, mostly, the holy names uttered in our mouth, that is called nama-aparadha. What is it called? Nama-aparadha. Sometimes also nama-abhasa comes. But all these things are there. They are obstacles to suddha-bhakti. Suddha-nama: who will chant the pure holy name? This is aim and oobject. When you chant the holy name, completely surrendered to Guru and to Krsna, then [it comes].
There are six limbs of saranagati. anukulyasya sankalpah, pratikulyasya varjanam, raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha, atma-niksepa-karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih. And with these, you chant the holy names. You are doing sadhana. And listen to hari-katha. Hari-katha is very important.
Hari-katha is the best
And, chanting the holy names, or listening to hari-katha — which is very powerful? Tell me. One person, he is chanting the holy names. Listen to Gurudevs. One person, he is chanting the holy names. One person, he is also doing parikrama, Govardhana parikrama, or going to many pilgrimage places. And one person just sits in front of a sadhu, and this is hari-katha. Who is the best? Hari-katha. Hari-katha is the best. Right? Yes.
Because always remember: this hari-katha is not different from Sri Hari. This hari-katha means, what is it? srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah, punya-sravana-kirtanah, hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam. nasta-prayesv abhadresu, nityam bhagavata-sevaya… Hari-katha is very powerful. But simultaneously you serve Guru and Krsna also. Seva. If you are not serving, then the platform will not come, to manifest the pure holy name in your heart. This is another thing also. So, seva and the chanting of the holy names. Both. You also have to keep the balance. And here, in hari-katha: sravana and seva. Only listening also will not get the fruit. Only service also will not get the fruit. Both are needed. Sravana and seva.
Two Bhagavatams
Sravana. This is very important. Listen to hari-katha. So, what is being said? Listen, listen, listen. Again and again, listen. Then hari-katha will go. This hari-katha will enter your ears, and come into your heart, and clean. Krsna-katha comes to clean your heart. Krsna is saying “I will clean your heart.” And so, the same word. srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah, punya-sravana-kirtanah, hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam, nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya. There is the sadhu, and there is Bhagavatam. Two Bhagavatams. One is called grantha-bhagavata, the book. Another is called bhakta-bhagavata. You are listening, you are reading Srimad-Bhagavatam: that is also Bhagavata-seva. But it is very difficult to understand the real meaning of the slokas of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The other Bhagavatam, that is called bhakta-bhagavata. So, two kinds of Bhagavatam. One is called grantha-bhagavata, and one is called bhakta-bhagavata. So, whose service is best? Grantha-bhagavata, or bhakta-bhagavata?
Dust, water, and remnants
What is the real meaning of the water from the feet of the devotee? And what is the real meaning of the remnants of the devotee? I am saying this. You try to understand this. That means: listen to hari-katha. Sadhu-sanga. Associate with sadhu. Bhakta-pada-dhuli means: follow the footsteps of the sadhu. That sadhu is going, and you have to follow. This is the process. But not [only] external. Internally follow. Understand. Sometimes external following may be there, and we do not understand. But internally follow means: he is going — listen to his hari-katha. Follow his instructions. Follow his instructions. Bhakta-pada-dhuli. Bhakta-pada-jala. Jala means water. The sadhu, his instruction. Now, this dust, the foot-dust, that is called: follow his instruction. Or bhakta-pada-dhuli and pada-jala, that is called: listen to his hari-katha. Or third, you also take his remnants. What does it mean? You have to try to understand his mood, his bhava. This is very hard also. How to understand the heart of the sadhu. When you receive this mercy of sadhu and guru, [then] you will understand. Otherwise, not.
He understood the heart of Guru
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, he took diksa from Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. And Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada — he wanted to build one temple in Calcutta. Calcutta, understand? Calcutta. Then Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, Gurudeva, told him, “No. Oh, that is the place of Kali. Calcutta means Kali. Don’t go to the place of Kali. Calcutta.” But Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, first he built the temple in Calcutta. Why? Externally looking, oh, he did not follow the instruction of his Guru, Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. But you know, he realized the heart of Guru, Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Then first he built a Gaudiya Math. Where? Calcutta. Bagbazar Gaudiya Math. Understand this. Realize these things. Realize these things. Always I am saying these things. Try to understand the heart of Guru.
This year. Actually this depends on your bhajana and sadhana. Then chant. Guru-seva. And surrender to the feet of Guru-pada. And give up your own independence, svatantrata. What do you call it? Svatantrata. Svatantrata means independence. This is the process. “I will completely surrender to Krsna. Surrender to Guru-pada. What Gurudeva is saying, I have to follow.” This is the process.
Do not give up Guru
guru chadi, govinda bhaje, sei papi narake maje. One who gives up Guru and does bhajana and sadhana, thinking, “I am doing bhajana and sadhana” — actually, after he is dead, he will go to hell, to naraka. And they are saying: guru chadi, govinda bhaje, sei papi narake maje. You think Krsna will protect me, and Krsna will not be merciful to you?
harau ruste guru trata, guru ruste na kascana. Learn these words also, again. harau ruste guru trata, ar guru ruste na kascana. If Krsna is unhappy with you, who will protect you? Guru-pada. And if Guru is unhappy with you, even Krsna will not protect you. This is the process. So always our aim and object is: how to serve Guru-pada? How will Guru be happy? This is it. This is the process. Onepointed on Guru. Guru-nistha. Guru-bhakti. This knowledge. And one life, you have to surrender to the feet of Guru. Then the next life you will be a sadhaka of Vraja. And then automatically the sadhana and bhajana will follow. Then automatically the taste will come, to chant the holy names.
Ask yourself how many rounds
When you wake up early in the morning, automatically — what is it called? — desire will come. How do you chant? Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the process, always. That is called: automatically the bhajana will go. Now it is very difficult to chant. You ask yourself. Now, one o’clock, two o’clock. How many rounds have you chanted? Tell me. You ask yourself. Do not tell me. No, no need to tell. I will not give you so much embarrassment. But you ask yourself, and look at your japa-mala. The counter is there also. How many rounds have you chanted? Tell yourself, not me. You ask yourself. In the mind: how many rounds will I chant? Look, and see. But when the taste will come — ruci. Ruci in bhakti. And when you wake up, then [you chant].
If you have no taste, this is in hari-katha. All your endeavors — because everything, the result, is two things. Hari-katha-ruci, and also hari-nama-ruci. Two things. Hari-nama and hari-katha. This is very important.
Taste
So: dharmah svanusthitah pumsam, visvaksena-kathasu yah, notpadayed yadi ratim, srama eva hi kevalam. So remember these things. Is ruci coming, or not? Ruci means taste. You are hungry, and any kind of food will come. Will you eat, or not? Three days you did not eat. Now Ekadasi is coming. If it is Nirjala Ekadasi, and the paran is very late, all you think is: when will the time come? Sometimes the paran is too late, or not? Maybe it is written, your paran time, maybe 11:30. After 11:30. What will you do? So many times you are looking: is 11:30 coming, or not? “Is 11:30 coming, or not?” Maybe what you did: you did a full fast. And yesterday you did a full fast. Today, the paran time. And your throat automatically is dry. You want to drink water. And so, what do you do? Always looking: what is the time? What is the time? And on that day, at that time, you are drinking so much water.
So, in the same way, when ruci, the taste, will come for chanting the holy names, that time, automatically, when you wake up: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Chanting hari-nama. Then you think, “Oh my God, what is this? Time is going. I have to attend mangala-arati.” Understand? Then, very quickly, you go to the bathroom, taking a shower. The time is coming. Can you do this? Has this type of taste come, or not?
Or, you are very hungry. Then any kind of food will come. Will you eat, or not? Or, if you are not hungry, no ruci, then you ask, “Who cooked this? Who cooked? This is overcooked? Undercooked, or overcooked? No salt. Too much salt.” Many questions will come up. “Who offered? Is he a brahmana or not? Is he initiated or not? Which mantra did he use to offer to Thakurji? Did he receive this mantra from Guru or not?” Understand this. You are thinking on this. Or if you are hungry, then I am not asking you all this. “Okay. Give it to Thakurji, and according to the time you can offer. The first plate you offer to Thakurji. The rest, now, give to me.” Is this coming, or not? This is the test.
So for this, Sanatana Gosvami — it is called Brhad-bhagavatamrta — if ruci will come, the taste. Ruci means taste. This is the symptom. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. All this taste comes in this way. Chant the holy name. Bhajana and sadhana. And this is our goal. Aim and object. Why have you come here? Why are you called here? This is the reason. How will it be? Your taste will come. A little taste will come for chanting the holy names. A little taste will come to listen to hari-katha. Not other than this.
Why you have come
People are going to many places for enjoying sense gratification. But you have come here not for any kind of sense gratification. Not for so much delicious food. Nothing of that way. Wake up early in the morning. Come to mangala-arati. Then listen to hari-katha. Then you will be fine. How to engage your mind, control your mind, in Krsna, and in Krsna-nama, Krsna-katha. One life, just to control yourself. Then the next life it will be spontaneous.
That is called — for this regard— raganuga-bhakti. One is called svabhaviki. What is it called? Svabhaviki. Svabhaviki means spontaneously. One is called vaidhi-bhakti. That is called buddhi-purvika. What is it called? Buddhi-purvika. And the person, according to his intelligence, according to the sastra, he is doing. That is called buddhi-purvika. Raganuga-bhakti is called svabhaviki. Svabhaviki. Understand? Spontaneous. This is how it goes. So remember these two words. One is called buddhi-purvika, and thevother is called svabhaviki. When you wake up early, when you are in raganuga-bhakti, when you are svabhaviki, all these activities, all the activities of bhakti, will be spontaneous.
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Nine limbs of bhakti
To practice all the limbs of bhakti: sravanam, kirtanam, visnoh smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam. iti pumsarpita visnau, bhaktis ca nava-laksana. These are the nine limbs of suddha-bhakti. sravanam, kirtanam, visnoh smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam. These are the nine limbs of bhakti. This is the way. So do this. Bhajana is this way.
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Bolo Vrndavan Biharilal ki jai. Jai jai Sri Radhe.
Now do arati. Midday arati, then you take prasada. Then again at 6:30, arati. Then after arati, again kirtan and hari-katha. Then again maha-prasada. My slogan is very nice. Maha-prasada, hari-katha. Hari-katha, Maha-prasada. Good or not? Bolo Vrndavana Biharilal ki jai.
You took maha-prasada or not? Breakfast, the maha-prasada. Now hari-katha. Maha-prasada. Hari-katha, maha-prasada….
Bolo Vrndavan Biharilal ki jaya. Jaya jaya Sri Radhe.
Visnurata has come from very far for listening Harikatha. Nice boy! Do Pranaam [ Visnurata comes to offer his obeisances]
Oh, Vijaya Prabhu….okay Arati now.
Transcribed with AI and checked by devotees. May contain mistakes