CC Adi 13.32 – Maha Gaura-purnima

Giriraj Swami: It is a great honor and privilege and pleasure to be here with all of you in this most auspicious place of the Pancha-tattva temple on the most auspicious occasion of the Maha Gaura-purnima festival in the association of such wonderful devotees. As I heard Vaisesika Prabhu speak, I thought of a verse from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta that encapsulates the same mood but takes it further. And somehow, I could not find that verse. I had it in my hand two days ago, and I couldn’t find it. And I was in so much anxiety, and it reminded me of the idea that Krishna presented to the gopīs after He disappeared from them. That if a poor man with great difficulty earns some money and then he loses it, he will think of nothing but that money day and night. Sometimes we have something very precious, but we take it for granted, and we only realize how valuable it was and how important it was to us when we lose it. I must have taken that verse for granted. [laughter] And, if someone had told me that they had lost a diamond ring and if I found it, I could keep it, I wouldn’t have been looking for it with the same intensity as I was looking for this verse. [laughter] And that made me realize how valuable these verses are. Each verse of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is more valuable than any amount of gold or jewels. And so, now I will read the verse. I hope it is still there; I pray that it is still there. [laughter] Please repeat.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

We read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Chapter Thirteen,

TEXT 32

nagare nagare bhrame kīrtana kariyā

bhāsāila tri-bhuvana prema-bhakti diyā

TRANSLATION

The saṅkīrtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kīrtana. In this way He inundated the whole world by distributing love of Godhead.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Kṛṣṇa, since Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana only in the Navadvīpa area. The answer is that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the saṅkīrtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENT

So, this verse and purport are extremely significant and profound and relevant for us. The verse says that Lord Chaitanya wandered everywhere in Navadvipa and performed saṅkīrtana, and by His performance of saṅkīrtana, the whole world was inundated with love for Krishna. And Srila Prabhupada raises the question that Lord Chaitanya performed saṅkīrtana only in Navadvipa, how can it be said that He spread it all over the universe? And Srila Prabhupada gives the answer that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead sets the creation of the universe in motion, and that is how the whole universe is manifested. In the same way, Lord Chaitanya began, He set in motion the spread of the saṅkīrtana movement in Navadvipa, and from there, it spread, or will spread, throughout the world; and Srila Prabhupada says throughout the universe.

So, this is a very great opportunity we have to take part in this movement, which is destined to spread not only over the world, but throughout the universe. I am sorry that I come from such a background that some of my examples are from more frivolous contexts, but when we were little, we used to go to the amusement park. And there were these cars that you would get in, and you were in the illusion that you were driving the car. And there were people all over the place driving these little cars as if they all bumped into each other. But actually, they were on tracks. As little children, we thought we were driving, “Oh, we are going to crash into this one, crash into that one that was going to crash into me.” But actually, it was all on tracks.

So, what Srila Prabhupada is saying here, and what Caitanya-caritāmṛta is saying here is, there is tracks laid out and all we have to do is get in the car. We might imagine we are driving and that this calamity is coming and that calamity is coming, I think that game or whatever it is called bumper cars or something because they are getting bumped, but actually it would all be prearranged. Some architect planned the whole thing out, and you are in this little car thinking you are driving and all these other drivers are driving and you might bump them or they might bump you, but you are all on tracks. So, the initial impetus that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave to the Krishna consciousness movement, to the saṅkīrtana movement, set in motion something that will continue and spread all over the world and all over the universe. And we have the opportunity to take part of an amazing opportunity. And Srila Prabhupada, although in his purport, he does not really mention himself very directly, but what Srila Prabhupada did with this initial impetus from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was practically unimaginable. That verse, pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma, does anyone know what that verse means? Raise your hand, please. I see someone on the side there. Yes?

Devotee: The translation?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the translation.

Devotee: “In as many towns and villages there are throughout the world, my name, or Krishna’s name, will be sang.”

Giriraj Swami: Yes. “In as many towns and villages there are throughout the world, My name, or Krishna’s name, will be sung.” That prediction was made by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu about five hundred years ago in Ramakeli-gram. But nobody, not even Gaudiya Vaishnavas could imagine how it could happen. But Srila Prabhupada with faith in the order of his spiritual master and the desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began with nothing, pretty much, and he did something that was impossible. Srila Prabhupada said impossible is a word in a fool’s dictionary. And what he did, ordinarily would be impossible. And even as I have seen recently in the last year, there have been articles published about people who are successful late in life. There were two separate articles, and in both of them, they mentioned Srila Prabhupada. This completely ordinary, mundane, mainstream news media, that he came to America at the age of seventy and spread the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world, and wrote eighty books, it is unimaginable.

In fact, someone might question, “What is the proof of Krishna consciousness?” And when I think of what Srila Prabhupada did, I would say. . .there could be many other proofs, but to me, that is proof. Because how could someone at the age of seventy, cross the ocean, have two heart attacks at sea, and preach Krishna consciousness, the highest philosophy amongst some of the most fallen people on the planet, perhaps in history. [laughter] And build this movement from there, it is inconceivable. When you read Srila Prabhupada’s biography or Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta or other biographical books about him, up to a certain point, you can conceive of what is happening. He got an order, he took up the order, he struggled, he got the clearance papers to leave, he got the free passage on the steam ship, he survived the two heart attacks, he arrived in New York City, there was no response. You can conceive of that. But then, what happened after that, I find inconceivable. It is like, what happened? It is just like, what did happen? I mean, really, what did happen? But I take solace in the fact that Srila Prabhupada said you can ask any question who, what, where, and when, but you cannot ask how. So, how Srila Prabhupada did it, there is no answer, it is inconceivable. Even if you ask, “How is your hair growing out?” You can’t answer, it is inconceivable. But this inconceivable, I don’t know if there is degrees of inconceivable, but this inconceivable is more inconceivable than any other inconceivable that I can conceive of. [laughter] We were in the darkest of darkness.

Once, Srila Prabhupada even commented when he was walking, maybe amongst the hippies, “This is the darkest of dark regions.” But out of his love and compassion and conviction, he was able to infuse bhakti in the hearts of many sincere souls or insincere. [laughter] He did it. And that seed of bhakti went so deep, it can’t come out. Sometimes, because we are in the material world, even in the association of devotees, still we are in the material world, and sometimes there are mishaps and reversals. And one can think, I came to the temple, I am chanting Hare Krishna, and someone stole my shoes. [laughter] Or, I have given my life to Krishna, and suddenly, everything has been taken away from me. So, if one’s faith is not deep, one can give up the process that, “Oh, I came to the temple, someone stole my shoes, it is a sign, I shouldn’t have come to the temple. [laughter] Let me go to the super bowl.” Or  whatever, or the more extreme case, “I have given my life, I thought I had a secure position, and now suddenly it is all taken away. Now what am I going to do?”

But by Srila Prabhupada’s potency, coming from Mahaprabhu, from Krishna, Krishna Chaitanya, kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nāhe tāra pravartana, without being empowered by the shakti of Krishna, Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, no one can spread the saṅkīrtana movement all over the world, and Srila Prabhupada did that. I was struck having had the great fortune of seeing Srila Prabhupada in action close up, that he didn’t ask us to do anything that he didn’t do. In other words, whatever he did was more difficult than anything that we are being asked to do. Just traveling alone on a steam ship at the age of seventy, coming to America, living with the Bowery Street bums in New York and the hippies in San Francisco, none of us are being asked to do anything like that. And there are many details, which are very relishable. And therefore, I really recommend everyone to read Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, and even see the videos, Following Srila Prabhupada compiled by Yadubara Prabhu. One very nice devotee in Mumbai said that without seeing the videos, you cannot conceive of the people that Srila Prabhupada was preaching to. In all the fantastic stories of Tolkien or whoever, you don’t come across people like the ones in the early footage of Srila Prabhupada preaching in New York and San Francisco.

But these devotees, so many devotees in this room have gone through a lot. Everyone does, everyone in the material world goes through a lot. I was at the chiropractor’s office yesterday, and there are several tables in the same room, and I wasn’t really following it, but I just overheard, I didn’t even hear what the doctor said to her, I just heard the word ‘emotion.’ And she said, “It has been a hard week.” And I thought, How many people are thinking that way? Probably almost everyone. [laughter] “And the week before, that was a hard one too, and the week before that. . .So, Srila Prabhupada, he wanted to relieve people of their sorrow. When he was staying at the Scindia Steam Ship Company colony, workers quarters in Andheri, Srimati Murarji’s secretary joked with him, “I know why you want to go to America. You want to see the sights and enjoy. That is why everyone wants to go to America.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “What have I to enjoy? My life is finished. But I know there is a generation of young people who are confused and unhappy, and I want to go and do something for them, I want to make them happy.” And we are, and those who take to the process, are happy. And therefore, in spite of all the knocks that one gets in the material world, even in the association of devotees, we continue. And devotees here have been chanting for forty years or more.

And it is described in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was traveling in South India, in His ecstatic love, He would embrace a person, and that person would have ecstatic love awakened in him. And then, whoever that person embraced, he would get ecstatic love awakened in him. And then, whoever he embraced would get ecstatic love. So, we have come in touch with someone who was touched by someone who was touched with ecstatic love from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and we have been touched by them, directly or indirectly. And therefore, by associating with those devotees who are touched, other people can be touched, their hearts can be touched, their lives can be changed. We should not take it for granted. Like that verse, we shouldn’t take the association for granted, we shouldn’t take service for granted, we shouldn’t take the holy name for granted, we shouldn’t take the books for granted, we shouldn’t take the deities and temples for granted. And there are people who don’t have them, they can’t have them. We have heard the wonderful story about Krishna consciousness in Burma. But there are places, even now you can’t have a temple, you can’t go to a temple. And even to gather in small groups is very dangerous because oppressive, geographical, demonic governments. So, we should count our blessings, we should consider every moment we have precious in the association of devotees, from the deities, reading scripture, chanting the holy name, and distributing books.

When I was in Bombay, at that time the Birlas, they were the wealthiest family in India. Well, the Birlas and Tatas, they were the two most wealthy. And Mrs. Gopikumari Birla invited me to see a drama. And I was a strict brahmachari, I have never gone to any such thing, but she said, “There is some group that has come, they are doing caitanya-līlā at Prem Puri Ashram. So, I would like you to come with me.” And I thought, She is an important lady, I should go.” So, one brahmacari and I went. And these children, I am not sure how old, twelve or somewhere, they were dressed up as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, even associates. And so, they were performing caitanya-līlā. And one part of the līlā, which is so moving, I mean, even when you read it in the scripture, it is so moving. It is the first meeting of Nimai and Nitai. And I could describe it, but when you get your set of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, you will be able to read it for yourself. [laughter]

So, they see each other. It is like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He existed just to meet Nitai, and Nitai existed just to meet Nimai. And when They finally met in Nandan Acharya’s home, it is like Their eyes were just drinking up the beauty of the other’s face, it is like every sense was transfixed, and just absorbing, They were stunned in ecstasy, and then They fainted, then They got up and looked at each other again, fainted again. [laughter] And it was like “Nimai-Nitai! Nimai-Nitai!” And these little children were playing this, and it was so moving. It was so moving, I had goose bumps and tears were in my eyes. And then I realized, “It is not exactly these children.” Yes, they were playing the parts, but through the medium of the drama, it is the absolute platform, Krishna’s name is Krishna, Krishna’s form is Krishna, Krishna’s quality is Krishna, Krishna’s pastime is Krishna. They were actually Nimai and Nitai. And it was a very deep experience.

So, when we preach. . . It is like Prabhupada always said about himself, “I haven’t done anything wonderful.” People said, “Swamiji, you have done something wonderful.” Of course, that was his humility. But, “I haven’t done anything wonderful. I have just presented the message as it is. I haven’t adulterated it, or compromised it.” So, when we present the message as it is, we are presenting Krishna, we are presenting Gaura-Nitai, we are presenting Srila Prabhupada and their potency act. And this afternoon’s performance, I don’t know what literary genius wrote that script, but there was so much in that. I think it is like Tukarama Prabhu mentioned Rupa Gosvami. I mean, for this day and age and audience, that drama was packed with very profound messages related to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, internal and external, and Srila Prabhupada’s mission. And I will probably never forget that. I mean, that line when the devotee came to Prabhupada and he said that, “Priest in Radha-Damodara said, If I keep doing what I am doing in my next life, I can take birth in a brahman family and become a pūjārī.” And Srila Prabhupada says, “Tell him if he keeps doing what he is doing, he will take birth in San Francisco and become a book distributor.” [laughter] That is profound. I mean, there are many verses and commentaries that support that point.

And then, the way Krishna and the gopīs were dancing, it was just like Lord Chaitanya and His associates would dance like our devotees dance. It is the same, gaura-līlā, kṛṣṇa-līlā, and what we are doing, it is the same. And if we could realize what we are doing, we would see that it is the same. And that other line, they are distributing books, and Krishna appears, they offer obeisances and ready to take [Unintelligible 00:37:16]. But if we go to Goloka, Vrindavan, everyone is a devotee; who will we preach to? To whom will we distribute books? You want to take away our service? These are, like, profound philosophical truths. Rupa Gosvami has written volumes on this subject, that devotional service is beyond liberation, that a pure devotee has no desire for liberation, he wants only devotional service. So, I feel like I am drowning in this ocean, this sea, of wonderful devotees. As it is mentioned in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, the members of the Pancha-tattva, they inundated the world with love for Krishna, and the pious people were drowning in it. But there were some rascals, there are those mean types, envious, who weren’t drowning, they were floating. And so, Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, the members of the Pancha-tattva, they would go after them and push them under. [laughter] But yes, I honestly feel I am sinking here. [laughter] I hope I can drown. So, let us take this sacred mission to heart, let us not take anything for granted that we have, and let us do both, that is the mission of Lord Chaitanya, to taste Krishna consciousness and to distribute it. If we just try to relish ourselves but we don’t distribute, it is not complete. And if we just try to preach and don’t practice, that is also not complete. We need to do both.

I will just end with one little story about a devotee who came from a background, he had many bad habits, really bad habits. Even after coming to the association of devotees, he would relapse into his bad habits. But he was very good with people, very good, he had a really good heart. And so, he was a very good book distributor in Texas. And Tamal Krishna Goswami kept wanting to initiate him, and he kept saying, “I don’t feel I am ready, I don’t feel I am ready.” Because I guess he knew his own weakness or whatever. And this was going on for years. And Tamal Krishna Goswami said, “Look, I picked a name for you, and I have been keeping it for you for all these years. Now, if you don’t take initiation now, I am going to give that name to someone else.” [laughter] So, the boy said, “Okay, okay.” So, he took initiation, and Tamal Krishna Goswami gave him the name Ajamila dasa. [laughter] And he was a really good book distributor, but that conditioning from his bad habits would come back. And Tamal Krishna Goswami wrote him a letter when he was at a really low point, saying, “We are going to have the marathon, and we really need you now. You should come back to the Dallas community and do book distribution. And if you do book distribution, everything else will follow.” And it is true because book distribution is not an ordinary activity, you actually have to have spiritual power to really do it. And so, Tamal Krishna Goswami had that face that if he took that instruction to heart to distribute books, everything else would follow. Because if he gets that potency, he would have to get up in the morning, he would have to chant his rounds, he would have to do everything that a devotee does as a basic sadhana in order to do book distribution. And that devotee was really touched. I won’t tell the whole story, but at the end, maybe two years ago, he left his body, and he was alone. From a certain point of view you could say it was in a devotee community or New-Talavan or some place or near there, and it seems that no one was with him when he left. But it also seems that he knew he was going to leave because when the devotees found his body, it is like he was all shaved up, dressed as a perfect Vaishnava, he had his hands and his bead back, he had pictures facing him. I mean, it was like Ajamila.

So really, as Srila Prabhupada often said, “Well, just give this one life to Krishna.” I mean, what is one life? It is nothing in eternal time. If you look at the continuum of eternal time and our life span, it is not even a dot, it is like a dot within a dot within a dot within a dot, it is nothing. And we just give this one lifetime, and we can get eternal life of ecstatic love and bliss. And meanwhile, we are so fixed in this little fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction, and we think everything that is going on around us is so important. “Do you see the way he looked? “Oh my god, I could have died!” [laughter] I mean, it is like everything is so magnified and it is nothing, it is less than nothing from the perspective of eternal time and from the perspective of what awaits us if we just give this one life to Krishna.

So, yes, I feel blessed to be here. I pray that I can come again and again. And always have this association, have this opportunity to serve and remember this beautiful panorama of Krishna and His līlā and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His līlā, Srila Prabhupada and his devotees, and their saṅkīrtana. Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna. [applause]