CC Madhya 19.151 – Attaining Good Fortune

Giriraj Swami: So we shall read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. This is a wonderful book that all of you should read eventually. There is a progression in this spiritual science beginning with the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, then The Nectar of Devotion, then Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and then Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. And the verses we will read today are from Lord Chaitanya’s instructions to Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami was the principal disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and he wrote many books on the science of devotional service especially the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu which Srila Prabhupada has rendered as The Nectar of Devotion, a summary study. And the verse I will read is very important. Srila Prabhupada quoted it often and he paraphrased it in his letter to me on the occasion of my initiation.

First we will recite a mantra that appears in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and then we will read the verse.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā, Chapter Nineteen, “The Lord instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī”

TEXT 151

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

TRANSLATION

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

When we speak of brahmāṇḍa, we refer to the whole universe, or to the cluster of many millions of universes. In all the universes there are innumerable planets, and there are innumerable living entities upon those planets — in the air, on land, and in the water. There are millions and trillions of living entities everywhere, and they are engaged by māyā in suffering and enjoying the results of their fruitive activity, life after life. This is the position of the materially conditioned living entities. Out of many of these living entities, one who is actually fortunate (bhāgyavān) comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.

COMMENT

So this was the case of me and many thousands of devotees who had the good fortune of meeting Srila Prabhupada and receiving the seed of the creeper of devotional service from him. And that same seed is being distributed now as we shall discuss.

PURPORT (continued)

Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone’s heart, and if one desires something, Kṛṣṇa fulfills one’s desire. If the living entity by chance or fortune comes in contact with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and wishes to associate with that movement, Kṛṣṇa, who is situated in everyone’s heart, gives him the chance to meet a bona fide spiritual master. This is called guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāda. Kṛṣṇa is prepared to bestow His mercy upon all living entities, and as soon as a living entity desires the Lord’s mercy, the Lord immediately gives him an opportunity to meet a bona fide spiritual master. Such a fortunate person is fortified by both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master. He is helped from within by Kṛṣṇa and from without by the spiritual master. Both are prepared to help the sincere living being become free from material bondage.

COMMENT

So one example that illustrates this principle is Dhruva Maharaja. Dhruva, as a young boy of five years was playing on his father’s lap. His father was the King and Dhruva’s stepmother who was the favorite of the father said, “You cannot play on the lap of the King; you cannot sit on the throne, you were not born from my womb.” And the father was so attached to his wife that, against his own heart’s inner feelings, he rejected his son, Dhruva, out of deference to his favored co-wife’s wishes. Now Dhruva being born in a royal family, a kshatriya family, he had a bit of a kshatriya nature even though he was only five years old. So naturally he felt very sorry and angry about what had happened and he went to his mother and told her what happened, and asked what he could do. And she said, “I really do not know what you can do because your father favors his other wife, and I don’t know what you can do.”

So Dhruva was a very determined young boy, and so when she said I cannot help you he said, “Well, who can help me? I want my kingdom.”

And she said, “I don’t know but maybe God can help you.”

Then Dhruva said, “Where do I find God?”

She said, “Many sages and saintly persons search for God in the jungle, in the forest, so maybe if you go to the forest, you can find God.”

So he went to the forest; left home at the age of five and in his own way was looking for God, looking in the bushes, looking behind the trees, turning over the logs, looking under the mushrooms. He was looking for God, but he was so sincere in his desire to find God that God within his heart wanted to help him fulfill his desire and therefore He sent His devotee, Narada Muni, to guide Dhruva.

The Lord within the heart of Narada Muni, inspired Narada Muni to go to the forest to Dhruva Maharaja to act as his spiritual master to guide him. So he went and he first of all tested Dhruva. This is very important as Srila Prabhupada says, one must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master. So he tested Dhruva to see how determined he was, but also there was truth to his words. Everything that a liberated soul like Narada Muni says, is filled with truth. He said, “My dear boy, what brings you to the forest?” He told the story how his stepmother insulted him and his father rejected him and he was being deprived of his kingdom and he wanted his kingdom. So Narada said, “You are only five years old, you should go home, don’t take it so seriously you, should go home and enjoy life as a child. Play and have fun with your friends, and when you are older and more mature then you can come to the forest and look for God and think about these weighty matters.” And Dhruva said, “If you can help me find God that will be very nice, but if you are going to tell me to go home then you can go home.” He was so determined. So then Narada understood, “Yes, he is very serious, I should guide him.”

So he gave him a mantra with the holy name of God and he told him to chant the mantra. He gave other instructions. The spiritual master will give mantra but along with the mantra, he will give other instructions that are favorable to chanting the mantra to full effect. And Dhruva followed every single instruction that Narada gave him, to such a point that God came to see him. God came in the form of Vishnu, Krishna in the form of Vishnu, descended and appeared before Dhruva. And Dhruva was overwhelmed with loving devotional ecstasy. Seeing the Lord, he offered many beautiful prayers to the Lord and in the end the Lord asked him, “What can I do for you? I am prepared to offer you any benediction that you want.”

And Dhruva said, “I do not want any benediction. Svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce. I do not want any benediction. I am completely satisfied.”

And the Lord said, “What about your kingdom? You were so eager for your kingdom.”

And Dhruva replied, “That kingdom that I was seeking was like a piece of cut glass and you are like a most precious diamonds, so I am millions of times more satisfied with you. I do not want any other benediction.”

So this is the power of devotional service; the power of strictly following the instructions of the bonafide spiritual master, that one gets Krishna, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. By the mercy of Krishna one gets the association of a bonafide spiritual master, and by the mercy of the spiritual master who trains the disciple in the methods of devotional service, the disciple is able to realize God, Krishna. And even if one comes with material desires, those desires can be purified or replaced by something better. Dhruva came with a material desire. He wanted his kingdom; he wanted to be vindicated, but when he realized God, he understood that that kingdom was nothing compared to God. He had gotten something much more valuable. So one may come to devotional service with other motives besides to serve God and love Him. But if one follows the process strictly, with great intensity, one will realize God and then everything else is seen in its proper place. And therefore, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam [2.3.10] says,

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

That, akāmaḥ, if one has no desires, sarva-kāmo, or one is full of desires or mokṣa-kāma, if one is desirous of liberation, tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena, if he follows the process of bhakti-yoga—tīvreṇa, this is the crucial word; tīvre is like the sun, very powerful. So if one follows the process of bhakti-yoga with great intensity, one will realize the supreme goal. One will realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And that was shown in the case of Dhruva Maharaja. So, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. Krishna is in the heart, He understands the sincere desire of the living entity and if the living entity desires Krishna, Krishna sends a bona fide spiritual master to guide him, so that he can realize Krishna, service to Krishna, and love for Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

How one can become this fortunate can be seen in the life of Śrīla Nārada Muni. In his previous life he was born of a maidservant. Although he was not born into a prestigious position, his mother was fortunately engaged in rendering service to some Vaiṣṇavas. When these Vaiṣṇavas were resting during the Cāturmāsya period, the boy Nārada took the opportunity to engage in their service. Taking compassion upon the boy, the Vaiṣṇavas offered him the remnants of their food. By serving these Vaiṣṇavas and obeying their orders, the boy became the object of their sympathy, and by the Vaiṣṇavas’ unknown mercy, he gradually became a pure devotee. In the next life he was Nārada Muni, the most exalted of Vaiṣṇavas and the most important guru and ācārya of Vaiṣṇavas.

COMMENT

So the same Narada Muni who appeared as the spiritual master for Dhruva Maharaja, in his previous life was born as the son of a maid servant who was fortunately engaged in serving Vaishnavas, sages, in the forest during the Cāturmāsya period. And during that time he got to associate with them and he became the object of their mercy. We had a similar case in Juhu, Bombay. When we first came to the Juhu land which became Hare Krishna Land, there was a lady who was coming and doing service there, washing the pots. And she had a young boy, at the time he was probably just five years old maybe, about the same age as Narada. And so, because she was always at the temple washing the pots and utensils and cleaning, and doing different jobs, that boy was always associating with devotees, hearing the holy name, and he was also doing small acts of service. So time passed and as he grew older he learned from the devotees how to play mridanga, and he began to play the mridanga drum very nicely. And eventually he became a devotee and his mother also became a devotee, and they were initiated. He was too young to take initiation from Srila Prabhupada, so he was initiated by His Holiness Lokanath Swami. And whenever I would see him, I would think of the story of Narada whose mother was engaged in menial service to the Vaishnavas, and then her son, of course he became Narada Muni, the most exalted guru and acharya for Vaishnavas.

So this is a very potent process. The association of Vaishnavas is very potent. if one is innocent and does not commit offences.

PURPORT (continued)

Following in the footsteps of Nārada Muni, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. . .

COMMENT

This phrase, “the Krishna consciousness movement” can be read in two ways especially during Srila Prabhupada’s presence, it meant him, but it also meant and means the larger Krishna consciousness movement, which is an extension of him.

PURPORT (continued)

Following in the footsteps of Nārada Muni, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is rendering service to humanity by giving everyone a chance to come in contact with Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENT

Krishna’s name, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, Krishna’s form, the beautiful deities, and talks of Krishna in the scriptures and in the discussions of devotees; that is all ways of coming in contact with Krishna. 

PURPORT (continued)

If one is fortunate, he becomes intimately related with this movement.

COMMENT

So many people come and take prasāda and they get great benefit by taking prasāda, but those who are more fortunate, they become intimately related with the movement. Not just coming and taking prasāda and going which is good. That is good; that would definitely help them, or coming, seeing the deities, putting a little money in the box and going, taking prasāda and going. But if you become intimately related with the Krishna consciousness movement you are very fortunate.

PURPORT (continued)

If one is fortunate, he becomes intimately related with this movement. Then, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, one’s life becomes successful.

COMMENT

As I was speaking about becoming intimately related with the movement and how one is fortunate, I was looking at some of the faces in the audience. And I detected, or at least imagined, on at least one or two of the faces that there was some doubt. That, “I am going to become fortunate.” Some people think if they become intimately related with this movement, they will become unfortunate. We had a very enthusiastic preacher in Bombay and Juhu named Mahaprabhu dasa, who was a lawyer. He was very enthusiastic and he would invite his friends and colleagues, practically anyone he knew or met to come to the temple. And so many of them came and became intimately related with this movement and progressed in bhakti-yoga, became successful as the purport says. But some would not come; they absolutely refused to come because they felt that if they came, they would eventually become intimately related with the movement and become unfortunate, materially. And he said, because I was saying can’t you do this, can’t you do that; somehow or other just get them to come. And he said, “I have tried everything. I have said, you just come to Govindas, just take prasāda, you don’t have to go in the temple, you don’t have to talk to anyone. Just come to the restaurant and take prasāda, and they wouldn’t do it. Because as he put it, they knew this is a one-way street. Once you enter that street you can’t turn back. There is only one way to go and you have to keep going. So they were determined not to take even the first steps.

So I guess we could say there is different perspectives on what being fortunate is and what being successful is. But certainly, if we evaluate the two definitions of success; material success which is temporary, and spiritual success which is eternal, there is no comparison. Because material success, whatever you have, is ultimately lost, if not before, at the time of death. Srila Prabhupada gave the example that if you trade in shares, the stock market, and you invest your money and in the morning trading the shares go up, you are like a multi-millionaire. And then something happens and at the end of the trading the share falls, plummets, and you lose everything. Now, if that person feels very happy that, ”For three hours I was a millionaire,” of course, in the end I lost it all, now I have nothing but for three hours I was a millionaire.” Is that very intelligent? So we are like that; we are trying to amass so much, but at the end of the day we are going to lose it all, so what is that success? That is not real success. But the success in spiritual life means you get Krishna, and not only is your relationship with Krishna eternal, it continues even after you leave the body, but it is much more satisfying than anything material, even than a million dollars.

As Dhruva Maharaja said, Krishna is like a precious diamond and the kingdom is like an insignificant piece of cut glass. So if we actually analyze what is good fortune, what is success, definitely coming in touch with the Krishna consciousness movement, getting a bonafide spiritual master who can guide one to actually attain Krishna and love of Krishna, that is good fortune, real good fortune, and that is success in life. Then by the grace of Krishna, one’s life becomes successful.

PURPORT (continued)

Everyone has dormant kṛṣṇa-bhakti — love for Kṛṣṇa — and in the association of good devotees, that love is revealed. As stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.107):

nitya-siddha-kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya

śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya

Dormant devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is within everyone. Simply by associating with devotees, hearing their good instructions and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened. In this way one acquires the seed of devotional service. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja.

COMMENT

So it is in everyone, not just Indians or Hindus or brahmans; it is in everyone and Srila Prabhupada proved that practically by giving this seed to anyone and everyone. And those who accepted it and watered it, the seed grew and they have been practicing Krishna consciousness and have been successful. I will just read a little bit more and then we will end. This is the next verse.

TEXT 152

mālī hañā kare sei bīja āropaṇa

śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye secana

TRANSLATION

“When a person receives the seed of devotional service, he should take care of it by becoming a gardener [mālī hañā] and sowing the seed in his heart [bīja āropaṇa]. If he waters the seed gradually by the process of śravaṇa and kīrtana [hearing and chanting], the seed will begin to sprout.”

COMMENT

So you get a seed, you plant it, then you have to water it. And what is the water? It is śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale, chanting and hearing about Krishna; like what we are doing now. I am chanting or speaking about Krishna and you are hearing briefly from the purport

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

To live with devotees or to live in a temple means to associate with the śravaṇa-kīrtana process.

After receiving the spiritual master’s mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called śravaṇa-kīrtana — hearing and chanting. One who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kīrtana). This is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.41): vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who has not listened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit for chanting or for preaching the cult of devotional service. One has to water the bhakti-latā-bīja by receiving instructions from the spiritual master.

COMMENT

So first we hear, and when we repeat what we have heard that is kīrtana; we hear, that is śravaṇa, and when we repeat what we have heard that is kīrtana. And Srila Prabhupada said of himself, that his only qualification for becoming a disciple of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, was that he liked to hear. He said even though he didn’t understand everything that his guru Maharaja said, whenever there was an opportunity he would sit and listen to him. And he said that one who hears nicely will be able to speak nicely or preach nicely. So this is very important. We should not just receive the knowledge and keep it to ourselves, but we should repeat what we have heard; we should share the knowledge with others. That is the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada, to be magnanimous.

Srila Prabhupada told us the story of Ramakrishna and his disciple, Vivekananda, as reported by Vivekananda, that his so-called spiritual master told him to close his eyes and that he would transfer his spiritual knowledge to him. And so, by some touch, by some electrical current or whatever he transferred his so-called spiritual knowledge to his disciple. And when his disciple opened his eyes he saw that his spiritual master was weeping and he asked, “Why are you weeping?” And his so-called guru replied, “Because I have given all of my knowledge to you and I have none left.” So obviously, this is a very material conception of spiritual knowledge. He is thinking, if I have ten dollars and I give you ten dollars, then I have nothing left. But spiritual knowledge is not like that. Srila Prabhupada said that if you have spiritual knowledge and share it with others, your knowledge increases. And to the contrary, if you have knowledge and you don’t share it with others, if you just keep it to yourself, you become envious. So when one hears, śravaṇam, then he must repeat, kīrtanam. And Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master told him, “That will be good for you, and that will be good for those who hear you and support you.” 

So I am going to take the opportunity to add a personal note although it is really not meant just for me. We met Srila Prabhupada, I met him in 1969, and you can say I received the seed of the creeper of devotional service from him then. And then I watered it by hearing from him, reading his books, hearing from him personally, and then as he taught us, we would repeat what we heard him say. Often in speaking to others and sometimes in writing, from quite early I would write articles for Back to Godhead magazine, and that is how we water the devotional creeper.

So Srila Prabhupada himself directly instructed me to write and many devotees also encouraged me to write and share what I have received from Srila Prabhupada; experienced with him and heard from him. And so that has come out now in the form of a book, it just came a few days ago, and the title of the book is Watering the Seed and so to tonight we offered that book to Srila Prabhupada here on the vyāsāsana. I just opened it, and it happened to open to a piece on book distribution, which I thought was very auspicious. Very auspicious because the first page of that article, and I thought that was very auspicious because Srila Prabhupada and his spiritual master, were very anxious and eager that this message should be spread in the form of books. It was their highest priority to publish and distribute books. And New Dvaraka traditionally has been a leader in book distribution and book publication. In fact, this book Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta was published under extraordinary circumstances, right here in New Dvaraka. I think it is a seventeen volume series but I think fourteen or fifteen were published within a matter of a few months. It was unprecedented and I have heard that Srila Prabhupada was or is in the Guinness Book of Records for writing and publishing books.

So anyway, we are making this book available, Watering the Seed if any of you want. I will stay here, you can get copies or you can get them at a book table outside and I will stay here and I will inscribe your book. Don’t worry about prasāda, Srivasa Prabhu has assured me that there is plenty, but even then, of course you are not worried, but if you are just hungry that is okay; you can go. I will stay here and I will be here when you finish prasāda. We thank you for listening. Hare Krishna.