The Art of Living without Attachment: Questions on Nāma, Yogamāyā and Ātyantikī Śraddhā
• Kathā or Mālā: In this informal room session Gurudeva says the mind cannot be absorbed in kathā and mālā at once; only those of a high level can, like the gopīs who carry water pots on their heads while talking with their sakhīs. At kathā time, hear kathā even if the number of rounds becomes less.
• Faith in Hari-nāma: Having come to Mahāprabhu’s feet, have faith that He will take us; Bhagavān forgives offences. Do bhajana with enthusiasm (utsāha, niścaya, dhairya …), and chant the number with steadiness, not under pressure. Do not go into the negative; keep the firm faith that Gaurasundara will take us across.
• Yogamāyā and Many Forms: Asked how one can be in two places, Gurudeva says Yogamāyā arranges it. Nārada at Dvārakā saw Kṛṣṇa at the same time in the palaces of 16,108 queens, conversing and joking with each. As Bhagavān takes many forms, by Yogamāyā’s mercy the bhakta can too; since Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says so, we have no doubt.
• Bharata Mahārāja and the Last Thought: Asked about Bharata Mahārāja’s attachment to a deer, he quotes the Gītā on the thought at death (yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran …) and says Yogamāyā also shows such līlās; attachment alone is the cause of bondage.
• Vṛtrāsura’s Prayer: Wherever my karma takes me, even living with family in saṁsāra, may I have friendship with Bhagavān’s devotees and no attachment to home, wife and children (Bhāgavatam 6.11.27). Living in saṁsāra is not bad; attachment is.
• The Art of Life: Āsakti is when the mind runs again and again after a thing we feel we cannot live without; anāsakti is remaining the same whether it comes or not, as we use a fan in the heat without attachment. The bad impressions of many births go gradually by practice, and the citta becomes pure.
• The Power of Practice: Yogīs control even hunger and thirst by practice; like a potter’s wheel that turns by itself after one push, the body’s activities then go on naturally. Rising at four becomes natural by habit, even when the clock changes in America.
• Ātyantikī Śraddhā: Komala śraddhā is not enough; one needs Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s resolve not to give up the name even if the body is cut to pieces (khaṇḍa khaṇḍa hai …). As a thirsty man wants only water, not rasagullā or rice, one with such śraddhā cannot live without nāma and kathā.
• Stages of Anartha-nivṛtti: Anarthas go from ekadeśa-vartinī to bahudeśa-vartinī through sādhu-saṅga and niṣṭhā, to prāyikī, almost ninety-eight percent, and are complete only in prema-daśā. Until prema, a fall remains possible, as shown by Bharata Mahārāja even after reaching bhāva.
Gurudeva closes the talk by remarking that people go to see Rāvaṇa-dahana and in Mathurā they burn Kaṁsa, but that we do not take much interest in this.
Verses quoted
• 00:12:00: yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran … tyajaty ante kalevaram [Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā 8.6]
• 00:12:50: mamottamaśloka-janeṣu sakhyaṁ… [Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.11.27]
• 00:24:05: khaṇḍa khaṇḍa hai … yadi … prāṇa… [Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.94]
