Srila Prabhupada’s Unmatched Contribution

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. It’s a great honor to be here in Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra Temple with all of you. Radheshyam Prabhu said many things about which I will not comment, but I will follow his request that I speak on concluding words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Srila Prabhupada wrote this piece in Juhu, Mumbai. And our general practice was that in the morning, at about six o’clock, we would go up to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters at Hare Krishna Land in Juhu and accompany him on his morning walk on Juhu Beach. But this one particular morning, the day of Sri Rama-ekādaśī, which comes in the month of Kartik, Srila Prabhupada’s door was locked, which was very unusual. And we knocked but there was no response.

On that floor of the apartment building, there were two flats: one side was Prabhupada’s, and the other side was his servant’s and secretary’s. So, we tried knocking on that door, and eventually, Srila Prabhupada’s secretary came to the door and opened it slightly. He told us that that night or early that morning, Srila Prabhupada had completed his translation of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and that he had written the most wonderful glorification of his Guru Maharaja.

And Prabhupada was in a very joyful mood. He said that all the devotees should celebrate with a feast. Are we having a feast today? So, we heard about Srila Prabhupada’s concluding words just maybe hours or less after he had written it. But we didn’t actually read them until the whole Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta was published.

So, all of us now have the great facility of being able to read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. But when he began the movement, he didn’t have any books except one small book that he had published in India. Does anyone know the name? Yes, Easy Journey to Other Planets.

That also, we didn’t have many copies, [Unintelligible]. But one by one, he would translate and publish other books, and then we could learn more. When I first came to the Boston temple, there were two books, well, three. There was the abridged Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, [Unintelligible] which had only some of the purports, not the full purports. And there was The Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, which was published in Japan. And yes, there were the first three volumes of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Srila Prabhupada wrote in India. There were not many copies, there were few. So, we should not take these books for granted. They were not always there.

Now, new devotees come and all the books are there, but it wasn’t always like that. And so, every book that came out was regarded by the devotees as the greatest gift from Srila Prabhupada.

So now, I’ll read from the concluding words and speak.

“Today, Sunday.” What is the day today? Oh, this is an amazing coincidence. This means that I’m actually speaking this message today.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

Today, Sunday, November 10, 1974, corresponding to the 10th of Kartika, Chaitanya era 488, the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, the Rama-ekādaśī. We have now finished the English translation of Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’s Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, in accordance with the authorized order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Maharaja, my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide, and friend.

COMMENT

So, in this first sentence, Srila Prabhupada set the theme for the entire concluding words, which is the order of the spiritual master, that his work of translating Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta was done in accordance with the authorized instruction of his spiritual master. And that theme will run throughout the entire concluding words, and that principle is essential for us to incorporate in our lives. And more than incorporate in our lives, that principle should be the central focus of our lives.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

Although according to material vision, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura   Prabhupada passed away from this material world on the last day of December 1936, I still consider His Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vāṇī, his words.

COMMENT

So, the presence or absence of the spiritual master may be perceived differently. From the material point of view, he may be absent, but from the spiritual point of view, through his words, his instructions, his vāṇī, he is present. And it is for us to realize his presence through his vāṇī.

READING from Concluding Word to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

There are two ways of association- by vāṇī and by vapuḥ. Vāṇī means words, and vapuḥ means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not. But vāṇī continues to exist eternally. Therefore, we must take advantage of the vāṇī, not the physical presence. The Bhagavad-gītā, for example, is the vāṇī of Lord Krishna. Although Krishna was personally present 5,000 years ago and is no longer physically present from the materialistic point of view, the Bhagavad-gītā continues.

COMMENT

Now, Srila Prabhupada will tell us about when he first met his spiritual master, because ultimately, there must be some personal association with the spiritual master. And from the personal association come the personal instructions. And then, the personal instructions become the life and soul of the disciple. Of course, there are general instructions in the books and the books are alive, they can guide us just when we need, just the way we need. So, the books are also alive. They are actually Srila Prabhupada, the whole paramparā.

But still, once, a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “By serving the book Bhagavat and by serving the person Bhagavat, we get the same result. But still, is one better than the other? The person Bhagavat and the book Bhagavat, is one better than the other?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “The person Bhagavat is better because He can catch you by the ear.” So, we actually need that personal touch to encourage us, to rectify us, to reform us, along with the written words.

So now, Srila Prabhupada explains.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

In this connection, we may call to memory the time when I was fortunate enough to meet His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada sometime in the year 1922. Srila Prabhupada had come to Calcutta from Sridham Mayapur to start the missionary activities of the Gaudiya Matha. He was sitting in a house at Ultadanga when through the inducement of an intimate friend, late Sriman Narendranatha Mallika, I had the opportunity to meet His Divine Grace for the first time. I do not remember the actual date of the meeting but at that time, I was one of the managers of Dr. Bose’s laboratory in Calcutta. I was a newly married young man, addicted to Gandhi’s movement and dressed in khadi. Fortunately, even at our first meeting, His Divine Grace advised me to preach the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in English in the Western countries. Because at that time, I was a complete nationalist, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s, I submitted to His Divine Grace that unless our country was freed from foreign subjugation, no one would hear the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu seriously. Of course, we had some argument on this subject, but at last, I was defeated and convinced that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message is the only panacea for suffering humanity.

COMMENT

What is panacea? Raise your hands. Yes, the solution to all problems, the cure for all ills.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

But at last, I was defeated and convinced that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message was the only panacea for suffering humanity. I was also convinced that the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was then in the hands of a very expert devotee and that surely, the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would spread all over the world.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada has described that even in his youth, he was the leader among his friends. And one Surendranath Banerjee Maurya met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and was impressed with him. He wanted Srila Prabhupada, who was then known as Abhay Charan, to meet him and to give his opinion. Srila Prabhupada also describes that opposite his home in Calcutta, there was a building in which ninety men lived. And basically, they would go out during the day and make money, and then come back at night, and together, they would cook, a couple of them would cook. And then the whole group would be eating. Then they would go to sleep. Then in the morning, the same thing, get up, go out, and collect money.

So, Srila Prabhupada noticed that among them, some of them, in the morning, they would put on the dress of a sadhu. And that was the way they collected their money during the day. But they were just like everyone else. They would come back, relax, eat, and sleep, and then repeat the same thing the next day.

So, Srila Prabhupada said that he didn’t have a very high estimation of sadhus. His father was pious, Gaur Mohan De, he would also entertain sadhus at home. But Srila Prabhupada was not very satisfied with their duties. So, when his friends suggested he meet Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he thought, There are so many sadhus, he may be another one like that. He didn’t want to go. But his friend insisted, and eventually, Abhay agreed.

And as he describes it, the devotees, of course, were seated down, and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was sitting up. There were other arrangements to sit up. And not knowing that, Abhay sat up. Later, he realized that he was supposed to sit down. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was very bold. And straight away, he addressed them. And as I am about to utter these words, I request you to think whether they can also apply to you.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “You are all educated young men. I request you to preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” And in the case of Abhay, he said in the English language in the western world. Of course, sometimes educated young men get work in western world. But then they also preach, so that’s also there.

So, Srila Prabhupada felt, “Who will listen to India if it is still under foreign domination? Who will listen? First, we should get political emancipation, and then people will take us seriously, take our message seriously.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura countered his argument and he explained that the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is eternal. Such conditions as political dependence or independence are temporary. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message is eternal and it is necessary for the welfare of the world, and it cannot wait. And Srila Prabhupada said that he was defeated. He said it was the first time in his life that he had ever been defeated in an argument. And he said, “I’m glad that I was defeated in the argument.”

So now, what did Srila Prabhupada do after receiving that instruction? This is a very important question.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

I was convinced that the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was then in the hands of a very expert devotee and that surely, the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would spread all over the world. I could not, however, immediately take up his instructions to preach, but I took his words very seriously and was always thinking of how to execute his order, although I was quite unfit to do so.

COMMENT

So, Srila Prabhupada received the instruction, he accepted the instruction, but because of circumstances, he was newly married and he had at least one small child. And so, he felt that he could not take up the instruction immediately, but he always kept the instruction within his heart, and he was always thinking when he would be able to execute it. Although he considered himself unqualified. And this is also another important instruction for us, that we may feel unqualified for a particular service, but if we surrender to the order of the spiritual master with all sincerity, he can inspire us and guide us and empower us to fulfill the instruction. When the spiritual master gives the instruction, he also gives the potency to execute the order.

Now, in a later talk that Srila Prabhupada gave in Los Angeles, he related the story of how he met his Guru Maharaja and his Guru Maharaja asked him to take up the mission. And Srila Prabhupada explained why he thought he couldn’t take it up immediately. And in this talk, he said, “Actually, I should have taken it up immediately. But better late than never.”

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

In this way, I passed my life as a householder until 1950, when I retired from family life as a vanaprastha. With no companion, I loitered here and there until 1958, when I took sannyasa. Then I was completely ready to discharge the order of my spiritual master.

COMMENT

Now, this is another significant event, a very significant event, Srila Prabhupada’s sannyasa. And of course, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had left, much earlier, he left, but he was coming to Srila Prabhupada in dreams and calling him to come with him to preach. And Srila Prabhupada would wake up feeling very horrified, “My Guru Maharaja wants me to give up my family life and take sannyasa and follow him.” And he thought that he couldn’t do that. But then, one of his godbrothers, Sri Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, told him, “Without taking sannyasa, you cannot preach as Guru Maharaja wants. You should take sannyasa.”

And later, when Srila Prabhupada was in America and got the news that this godbrother had passed away, he spoke very affectionately of his godbrother. And he said, “I was unwilling to take sannyasa, but this godbrother forced me.” Then he said, “Not exactly my godbrother forced me, but my Guru Maharaja forced me through him.”

So, this is another important instruction for us, that the order of the spiritual master, the guidance of the spiritual master, can come to us through another person. And there is a very nice statement by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, “In the absence of my Guru Maharaja, how will I get guidance?” And then he said, “My Guru Maharaja speaks through many voices. And those who are close to my Guru Maharaja, my Guru Maharaja speaks to me through them.” That’s the idea.

And so, Srila Prabhupada took it that way, that his Guru Maharaja was forcing him through his godbrother to take sannyasa. Even others who are not perhaps on that level, they can also give us good advice. And we should be open to hearing the voice of Krishna or the voice of our spiritual master through anyone, persuaded and evaluated, we should be open to them.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

In this way, I passed my life as a householder until 1950, when I retired from family life as a vanaprastha. With no companion, I loitered here and there until 1958, when I took sannyasa. Then I was completely ready to discharge the order of my spiritual master. Previously, in 1936, just before His Divine Grace passed away at Jagannatha Puri, I wrote him a letter asking what I could do to serve him. In reply, he wrote me a letter, dated 13th December 1936, ordering me, in the same way, to preach in English the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as I had heard it from him. So, the earlier instruction was confirmed. After he passed away, I started the fortnightly magazine.

COMMENT

What’s the name of the magazine? You know everything.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

After he passed away, I started the fortnightly magazine Back to Godhead sometime in 1944 and tried to spread the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through this magazine. After I took sannyasa, a well-wishing friend suggested that I write books instead of magazines. Magazines, he said, might be thrown away, but books remain perpetually.

COMMENT

So, this is an example of friends suggested and you took it seriously. The same thing happened with Srila Prabhupada. One of Srila Prabhupada’s said friends in Bombay was Mr. Brijratan Mohatta, who was a businessman, but very intelligent. But not really a devotee. Although eventually, by Srila Prabhupada’s association, he did become a devotee.

He suggested to Srila Prabhupada, “Why don’t you insert an installment of the Bhagavad-gītā in each issue of the Back to Godhead magazine?” At first, Srila Prabhupada adapted this suggestion, and later, he added from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And that tradition is continuing even now, but that original idea came from Mr. Brijratan Mohatta.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

Then I attempted to write Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Before that, when I was a householder, I had written on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā and had completed about eleven hundred pages, but somehow or other the manuscript was stolen.

COMMENT

This is also an important lesson, to be determined. There may be many reversals, but we have to be fixed in our determination to serve the order of the spiritual master. “Maybe Krishna wants me to do, and so [Unintelligible] maya doesn’t want to do it, Krishna does want that, guru wants it.”

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

In any case, when I had published Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, in three volumes in India, I thought of going to the U.S.A.

COMMENT

And that also was a little bit of a bold decision by Srila Prabhupada. As he said, most swamis from India when they go abroad, they prefer London. And Srila Prabhupada thought New York City and America are more important than London. And it was, of course, much further, and he took the risk.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

By the mercy of His Divine Grace, I was able to come to New York on September 17, 1965. Since then, I have translated many books, including Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya (a summary), and many others. In the meantime, I was induced to translate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and publish it in an elaborate version. In his leisure time in later life, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would simply read Caitanya-caritāmṛta. It was his favorite book. He used to say that there would be a time when the foreigners would learn the Bengali language to read Caitanya-caritāmṛta. The work on this translation began about eighteen months ago. Now, by the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, it is finished. In this connection, I have to thank my American disciples, especially Śrīman Pradyumna dasa Adhikari, Śrīman Nitāi dasa Adhikari, Śrīman Jayādvaita dasa Brahmacārī, and many other boys and girls who are sincerely helping me in writing, editing, and publishing all these literatures.

COMMENT

So, Srila Prabhupada began by expressing his appreciation to his Guru Maharaja, that by his mercy, he was able to complete the work. And then he also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to his disciples. And actually, the two are not separate, because sometimes Srila Prabhupada said that all of these disciples were sent to him by his Guru Maharaja to help him to execute his Guru Maharaja’s order.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

I think that His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye. Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramātmā feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates.

COMMENT

This is very significant. My first temple president, when I joined in Boston, was His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Goswami Maharaja. And I always admired him for so many reasons. And we had a common interest, I mean, every disciple of Srila Prabhupada does have. We had a special affinity for remembering Srila Prabhupada and discussing about Srila Prabhupada and writing about Srila Prabhupada.

So, Srila Prabhupada told a story about a drama, a book called Shahjahan. I see some of you have recognized this reference, which means that you are listening to Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and the meanings he translates, which is very good. Something that I recommend all of you should do.

So, Srila Prabhupada was making the point that the author of a work knows the purpose of his work. And who is the author of the Vedānta-sūtra? Vyasadeva. And who is the author or compiler of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam? Vyasadeva, yes. And they both began, Vedānta-sūtra and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, with the same aphorism, janmādy asya yataḥ. So, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is considered the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra written by the same author. And because he is the author, he knows what his purpose was. So, in this book, Shahjahan, all the exploits of Shahjahan’s son, Aurangzeb, are described.

So, there was a party in Calcutta, and someone approached the author and said, “Your whole work is filled with the description of the exploits of Aurangzeb.” Aurangzeb, was a great tyrant and he was a demon. He wanted to control everything. He didn’t want anything to come in his way. So, he arrested his own father, Shahjahan, and imprisoned him without informing him. And Aurangzeb killed his own brothers who could be contenders to the throne. And in general, he was creating havoc everywhere. And the whole work was filled with Aurangzeb's exploits.

So, the person asked the author, “Why have you kept the name Shahjahan? The hero of the book is Aurangzeb.” And the author replied, “Actually, the real hero is Shahjahan, because when he was sitting on the upper porch in captivity, he was getting the news, ‘Aurangzeb has done this. Aurangzeb has done that.’ And it was feeding on his heart. So, he is the actual hero.”

So, one day in the Johannesburg temple, very soon after Srila Prabhupada left, maybe a few years after Srila Prabhupada left, I went into the temple room and I saw Srila Prabhupada’s Deity  on the vyāsāsana [Unintelligible], and I just felt that he knew everything that was going on in his mind. He knew all the successes and trials, all the failures and difficulties. And it was all coming to him, and it was beating on his heart.

So, I wrote this to Satsvarupa Maharaja, and I was surprised and shaken when I received Maharaja’s reply. And I think along with that, I mentioned that Srila Prabhupada is in our hearts. That’s how he knows. He knows everything that’s going on with every devotee. And Satsvarupa Maharaja wrote, “We understand that Krishna, as the Supersoul, is in the heart. The spiritual master, after he leaves, he will either take birth somewhere in the material world to continue to preach, or join Krishna in His pastimes in the spiritual world. So, how can you say that Srila Prabhupada is in your heart? It’s a sentiment.” And because of my admiration for Satsvarupa Maharaja, I was very shaken.

My tendency is to try to please people and not differ with them. Something within me would not allow me to just agree with him. But at the same time, I knew that I can’t just write something based on sentiment. “I know Prabhupada’s in my heart, I can feel it.” I couldn’t write that. I had to actually see if there was some scriptural support for all of my contentions. And I found different ones, but I’ll just come to this one, because this one was extremely relevant.

Now, what was the last sentence I read? This requires two things. One, that you would have to listen, absorb, watch, and read. And then you’d have to remember after all of that I said in between what I read. But it’s very much to the point. Okay, I’ll read again. Now, this time, I’ll pause at different points, and then afterwards, I’ll ask you what you just heard. So, you should be prepared.

Radheshyam Prabhu said that it’s a very big part of students’ lives, taking exams. So, you are going to have a little exam here. There is so much here.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

I think that His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye.

COMMENT

So generally, we would say that the spiritual master is guiding us from within the heart by his instructions, that’s what Srila Prabhupada is saying. And the instructions were said to write books. In Radha-kunda, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta told Srila Prabhupada, “Whenever you get money, print books.” And also, to preach the messages of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in English language throughout the world. So, that is one way in which we receive guidance from the spiritual master in the heart, by keeping his words, his instructions, within our hearts. And now, Srila Prabhupada goes a step further.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramātmā feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates.

COMMENT

Did you hear that? So, the Paramātmā is not alone within the heart, but He is sitting with all of His associates, which include the spiritual master. So, the spiritual master is in the heart because Krishna is in the heart, and the spiritual master is with Krishna. So, it wasn’t a sentiment. It was confirmed by Srila Prabhupada’s statement. And so, I wrote Satsvarupa Maharaja, and he very much appreciated my reply. And the next year, Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day in Vrindavan, Maharaja mentioned this in his talk, that Srila Prabhupada is present and is in our hearts.

So now, we come to another important point.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master, because personally, I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work.

COMMENT

So, remember earlier, Srila Prabhupada said that he received the instruction but he was not able to take it up immediately? But he always kept the instruction within his heart. Although he felt quite unfit to execute it. And this can happen to any of us, that we’ll receive an instruction and we feel unfit to execute it.

But here, Srila Prabhupada gives us the solution, and that is to surrender to the spiritual master within the heart. Now, there are some conditions to be able to hear the spiritual master within the heart, and that requires some maturity and purity. And in the Fourth Canto, there is a metaphorical description of the disappearance of the spiritual master, which describes how one can receive instructions from the spiritual master even after he has left.

And the two requirements are that one should be completely detached from the material world, and the other is one should be ready to lay down one’s life through his service to his spiritual master. If one is ready to sacrifice his life fully for the service of instruction, the spiritual master teaches you. In the Bhagavad-gītā also, Krishna says, teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ. So, what is that?

Yes, always engaged in Krishna’s service, and prīti-pūrvakam. So, anyway, Krishna can speak to you from within your heart if you are constantly engaged in the service with love and devotion. In other words, not that servant pushes through hard times. You can be a grihastha and execute your activities,  you can be a student and fulfill your responsibilities as a student. But your mood should be to do everything for Krishna. And if you are ready to take any instruction, even if you can’t execute it, you don’t feel qualified, but Krishna will give you the intelligence, or the spiritual master in the heart will give you the guidance on how to do it.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master, because personally, I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work. I do not think myself a very learned scholar, but I have full faith in the service of my spiritual master.

COMMENT

This is the basic requirement, full faith in the order of the spiritual master.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta

His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. If there is any credit to my activities of translating, it is all due to His Divine Grace.

COMMENT

Giving all the credits to his spiritual master. I heard a saying, I don’t know, [Unintelligible 01:00:13], you may have already heard. One should give all credit to the spiritual master, one should give all Laxmi to the wife, and one should pass on all women to Krishna. This is giving all credit to the spiritual master.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

Certainly, if His Divine Grace were personally present at this time, it would have been a great occasion for jubilation. But even though he is not physically present, I am confident that he is very pleased by this work of translation.

COMMENT

So, if he were here, it would have been a great occasion of jubilation, but even though he is not here, Srila Prabhupada says, “I know he is so pleased, even though he is not here in person.”

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

He was very fond of seeing many books published to spread the Krishna consciousness movement. Therefore, our society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, has been formed to execute the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

COMMENT

And what is that order? What is that mission? One important part of it is to print and publish and distribute books. Now, Srila Prabhupada is speaking to you, to all of you, and each, and everyone.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

It is my wish that devotees of Lord Chaitanya all over the world enjoy this translation.

COMMENT

This is the direct desire of Srila Prabhupada for you to enjoy this translation, which means first, we have to read, and while reading it, you should relish it. Begin by reading, and while reading, you’ll come to relish it.

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

And I am glad to express my gratitude to the learned men in the Western countries who are so pleased with my work that they are ordering in advance all my books that will be published in the future. On this occasion therefore, I request my disciples. . .

COMMENT

This includes any follower of Srila Prabhupada. He is the foundation śikṣā-guru of ISKCON [Unintelligible 01:03:58].

READING from Concluding Words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta 

On this occasion therefore, I request my disciples who are determined to help me in this work to continue their cooperation fully, so that philosophers, scholars, religionists, and people in general all over the world will benefit by reading our transcendental literatures such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

COMMENT

There is that one, among devotees, I would say the famous scene of Srila Prabhupada sitting on vyāsāsana in Los Angeles and addressing his disciples about the books, “Kindly help me translate and distribute these books in as many languages as possible. Please, Guru Maharaja.” So, we have so much to do, and we can’t waste a moment. We have to read the books, we have to relish the books, somebody has to publish them and distribute them. And you got the potency to do this and everything else, that’s a part of the same effort or the same mission. We have to give ourselves fully to the order of our spiritual master, coming from paramparā, without any reservations, and receive the mercy of the spiritual master [Unintelligible].

So, I’m sure you are all fit candidates to take up this call, and if you feel you are unfit, it’s not a problem, because you’ll become fit by the mercy of the spiritual master and the paramparā. And Krishna helps. Just like the history of Pune yatra, so many wonderful [Unintelligible] that we could not have imagined.

Just yesterday, I was reminded about Mr. Banerjee and his house that he wanted to give to his son and his Balaji Deity. And so, because of zoning, he couldn’t really use the property that he offered. Well, he sold the property. And by selling the property, he got about 1.5 crores, which was just the amount we needed to buy this property that we are sitting in right now. And in those days, there was no way you could get 1.5 crores with this property. And then he wanted us to take care of this Deity, and now we have this nice Balaji temple, which is a nice complement to our Radha Vrindavan Chandra. And many, many would get in the property in the attempt of Radha Kunj Bihari’s Temple. Krishna did so many things, so we just have to make our effort and have a sincere desire in Krishna.

In one letter, Srila Prabhupada wrote. . . A disciple wrote to him that she felt separation from him, and Srila Prabhupada wrote back, “I understand that you feel separation from me, but I never feel separated from my spiritual master, because I have dedicated myself to following his instructions. So, if you work sincerely to serve me, you will be associated with me, and all the spiritual blessings of bhakti will be received.”

So many places in the world, all over the world, so many spiritual blessings, so many devotees who are sincerely trying to search Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, it’s happening here, and it’s happening increasingly here. So many plans, guest house, restaurants, [Unintelligible]. So, these are all the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, the paramparā, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We just have to invite those blessings through our sincere service and surrendering to the mission. And by the consistent chanting of holy names.

Devotees: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna! We have time for questions. Are there any questions or comments?

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Thank you for a wonderful class. It was very touching and enlivening. Maharaja, you mentioned that one can hear the voice of the spiritual master in the heart if they are completely detached from the material world and if they are ready to lay down their lives for the spiritual master. In our case, we see that we have some inclination to serve, but not to that way you mentioned. So, how can we feel, in ISKCON scenario, the presence of our spiritual master in our heart?

Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada said that we should always. . . What he said himself, he felt that his spiritual master is always seeing his activities. So, that we can do. Srila Prabhupada said that we should always feel that our spiritual master is with us, looking over our shoulder. So, that we can do. And as far as being detached, that is a gradual process, for most people. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham, if you surrender to Krishna, He reciprocates accordingly. So, if we are 1 percent surrendered, if we give ourselves 1 percent to Krishna, He’ll give Himself 1 percent to us. If we give 10 percent, He’ll give 10 percent. If we give 100 percent, He’ll give 100 percent.

So, it’s not that you have to give yourself 100 percent and be 100 percent detached. But to the extent that you give yourself and are detached to that extent, Krishna will reciprocate and He’ll give guidance in your heart. [Unintelligible]. And sometimes we have a particular question and want an answer, and we may pray for the answer.

And even as a relatively new devotee, I’d do that, I’d pray to the Deities, and I will get the answer. And sometimes I wouldn’t. And I would say, “Why not? Is it that I have some resistance within me?” If Krishna knows that I will do what He tells me, then He’ll tell me. But if He thinks that if He tells me and I may not actually do it, then He may not waste His time with useless words. So, that would happen, and I would think, What if Krishna gave me this answer? Would I be prepared to do it, or would I have too many material attachments that I would want to hold on to that would interfere with my execution?

But within myself, if I could summon enough sincerity where I can really say, “Whatever You want, I will do,” then I comment that the answer could come to you that hadn’t come earlier. But I would say just continue, you have the sincere desire, you have the seed of the sincere desire, and just keep watering it by chanting the names, protected by associated devotees.

And then we have others who can guide us. But if you have an instruction and you follow it, the instructions come through spoken instruction or written instruction or evident instruction, and try to follow it, you’ll be associated with the spiritual master.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Thank you very, very much for a wonderful class. Actually, when I heard Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, and read, I practically saw that Prabhupada was really practical in term of having some leaders to be achievement to mission. And Prabhupada also mentioned [Unintelligible] disciple should complete some substantial service to spiritual master. So, how to be a real contributor in Prabhupada’s mission? Because sometimes, sentimentally, a disciple may be very attached to his spiritual master, say, “Jaya jaya.” In terms of remembrance. But practically, the contribution is basically a self-oriented approach. So, how to see that Prabhupada [Unintelligible] in remembrance of a spiritual master or some contribution substantially is made? Thanks. 

Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do both; to taste Krishna consciousness and to distribute Krishna consciousness. The members of Pancha-tattva broke open the storehouse of love of God, and they tasted the contents, and they also distributed the contents. So, that’s really what Prabhupada wanted. And depending on the situation, he would emphasize one or the other, depending on what we needed. But yes, he did want something practical.

Just the other day, I was quoting one time that Srila Prabhupada said, “They shed tears in their eyes and they say, O Prabhupada, O Prabhupada, I love you, I love you.” And Prabhupada said, “Tell them to bring me my sleepers.” It was something practical, to show your love. And as many of you have heard, he said, “Your love for me will be shown how you cooperate to spread Krishna consciousness.” But to get the strength to spread Krishna consciousness, we should also follow the regulative principles. And it was repeated by Srila Prabhupada again and again and again, to have the spiritual strength to preach, you have to rise early, attend the morning program, follow the regulative principles, chant your rounds, read the books. So, that also counts.

But even the desire. Once, a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “How can I please you?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Just your desire to please me, pleases me.” And that is a very deep statement, having that sincere desire.

And there is the verse, īhā yasya harer dāsye karmaṇā manasā girā. The general translation is that by engaging one’s īhā yasya harer dāsye karmaṇā – one’s activities, manasā – mind, girā—words. īhā yasya harer dāsye, if you have the desire to engage in the service with body, mind, and words, jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate, liberated even within the body. So, it’s the desire, even if you are not able to do it. Of course, Krishna will help you to fulfill your desires, but you are liberated just by your desires. Of course, if you do have the desire, it will be manifested in the activities of your body, mind, and words. Sometimes at the time of death, we may not have the physical capacity to do so many things, but just that desire can take us to Krishna.

Devotee: Maharaja, I have a small question. In the Bhagavad-gītā 6.4, at some point, it is mentioned [Unintelligible], but mechanically, we should try to escape from this regret. How do we achieve that? We should mechanically escape from those desires, [Unintelligible].

Giriraj Swami: Can you repeat it? I missed something.

Devotee: Bhagavad-gītā 6.4, it is written that only realized souls can understand what is happening. So, I’m not able to understand, we should mechanically try to escape the desires, selfless desires, and we should try to maintain [Unintelligible]. So, how do we mechanically try to escape from those results?

Giriraj Swami: I would say our fundamental practice is chanting the holy names. And there are ten offenses. And Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that the one offense is sort of the root of all the other ones. You know one offense that is the root of all the other ones?

Devotee: Inattention.

Giriraj Swami: Inattention, pramāda. So, if we try to chant with attention, that will destroy the other offenses, one of which is to maintain material attachments even after understanding so many instructions. So, chanting with attention in the beginning can be done mechanically. Mechanically means you are chanting and you are careful to pronounce each word by monitoring your syllable. And when your mind wanders, you notice that your mind is wandering, and then you bring it back to the sound. So, that’s a mechanical process. But by that process, all these different nāma-aparādhas can be eradicated. But beyond mechanical, it’s better if we have the mood of prayer to Krishna; Hare Krishna maha-mantra, calling the names of Krishna and Radha.

So, it’s better if we are conscious that we are calling their names, we are asking for their help to chant with attention and in whatever way we want to be able to serve them. That adds to it. But it can be done mechanically. But it’s better if we had some mood of that prayer, calling their names with their service along with the mechanical process.

Devotee: [Unintelligible] sometimes they don’t even receive the particular personal instructions, and sometimes, even if they receive, their ongoing journey of Krishna consciousness, and it adds a direct guidance [Unintelligible]. So, how much do we [Unintelligible], and at what stage do the devotees get a direct connection within the heart with the voice of their spiritual master? Because they sometimes [Unintelligible]. 

Giriraj Swami: I’ll start with the last part of your question first, “How do we know if we are actually getting dictation from the spiritual master within the heart?” We might think that we are getting dictation from the spiritual master within the heart, but we may be deceived. So, in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam purport, Srila Prabhupada writes that everything is prompted by the Supersoul within the heart and confirmed by the spiritual master within. So, if we are taking it that the Supersoul and the spiritual master within the heart, he has got to confirm it with other spiritual masters who are outside. Because if it really is Guru and Krishna, it will be confirmed by sadhus.

And we have these three authorities; sadhu, shastra, and guru. It will be Krishna’s will that He reveals [Unintelligible] confirmed. Somehow, it will be confirmed. Even liberated souls like Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami Maharaja, he was taking blessings to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He approached Vaishnavas, he approached the Deities, it was their right. It was confirmed. So, that’s a very important Chapter, very important.

So, what was the earlier part of the question?

Devotee: [Unintelligible]. How to apply this in our life? Also, [Unintelligible] what he wants to do to get some vāṇī [Unintelligible].

Giriraj Swami: So, you see, your seniors are in the role of śikṣā-gurus, many śikṣā-gurus, but as we heard in relation of Srila Prabhupada, a śikṣā-guru can be an elevated godbrother, as in the case of Prabhupada and Bhakti Vijnana Kesava Maharaja, or it could also be a well-wishing friend. This can happen [Unintelligible]. And there can even be a so-called ordinary person. Many devotees who have done book distribution have told me that they feel that Krishna guides them on book distribution through the people they approach. They might approach someone who will say. . . I’ll give a little case of my own.

Very recently, I was in Phoenix, Arizona. And so, I had some programs where I’ve signed funds. And so, I wanted to deposit the funds in the bank. So, my host accompanied me to the bank. And the bank teller saw that it was a business account. And she said, “How’s your business doing?” So, my heart [Unintelligible], I know this is not a businessman, but I think maybe Krishna is trying to tell me I shouldn’t be a businessman.

So, we should be open to receiving instructions from the spiritual master through many sources. And that depends on our own eagerness, in our own openness. But if that’s there, you’ll know that, you will get that. Just recently, I was with His Holiness Radhanath Swami at Chowpatty. And there was a group of students from Southern California with him. And they had read Journey Home. And they were saying how they appreciated the lessons that he had extracted from different circumstances, from different events that took place. And in response, he quoted the Bible, “Seek and you shall find.” He was saying that if you are seeking a spiritual connection or wisdom, you will find it. You can find it even in apparently ordinary occurrences in the material world.

So, I think he was saying that, maybe in the same context that I was trying to make, that is our openness, our eagerness to receive guidance that will enable us to get instructions even from ordinary people or ordinary circumstances. In the Eleventh Canto, twenty-four śikṣā-gurus were learning from animals, from prostitutes, because he had that eagerness, he wanted to be instructed, he wanted to learn something he could improve.

Devotee: Maharaja, [Unintelligible]. One point I wanted to make before my question, to convey that on the 31st of this month, Maharaja gave one class in the USA. And Maharaja spoke on the subject, “You’ll never die.” I wish you should [Unintelligible] read that. So wonderful, from Bhāgavatam. [Unintelligible 01:36:51]. Just the day before yesterday, at Janhava Mataji’s place, Maharaja spoke on the subject of, “Why Krishna gives prema,” such a topic. These are the topics, which help us in our lives. These problems are good to come in our lives. And we should make notes, but we will never die. This is such an important topic. So, I thought that I should convey this message.

But I have a question, something which is a very old question, which I ask for us. Maharaja, please tell me how you came into Krishna consciousness? You can read in news, YouTube, how you came into Krishna consciousness, but something you can’t get on YouTube. And Maharaja told us this story. I’m not going to repeat that story on how sisters, you have two thousand places [Unintelligible] I got a realization, by that realization [Unintelligible] he’ll never be satisfied. He’ll [Unintelligible].

Now at this time, Maharaja, everywhere, that we people at any stage of life are working hard. People don’t even know what they are working for. What? Ask any question to anybody. When people get married [Unintelligible]. Finally, what are they supposed to do? What should be their line of action so that they can balance their life in such a way that they can live in this world, take care of the family. But finally, how to achieve whatever stage we are, otherwise [Unintelligible]. Because they don’t know [Unintelligible]. People want guidance on how, what they should work, and how, what should be their ultimate [Unintelligible]. But still, there is so much confusion that people don’t know what to do, where to go, how to do it. [Unintelligible].

Giriraj Swami: So, spiritual advancement is a gradual process. And part of that process is that the sense of possessiveness gets transferred to Krishna. In other words, we begin with, “This is mine,” and we end with, “I’m Krishna’s.” And so, it may be that a particular incident can awaken renunciation in a person. When we went to Ramakeli with His Holiness Radhanath Swami and His Holiness Sacinandana Swami, yatra, we heard the story of how Rupa Gosvami gave up his government service to Nawab Hussain Shah.

There was a specific incident, and that is that one night, there was a terrible rainstorm, thunder, and lightning. And the area was getting flooded. And he was running to Nawab because he had called for him.

And at a certain point, he passed a little cottage. And in the cottage, the husband and wife were discussing, “Who could that be? Who could be running through this horrible rainstorm at such a late hour? Who would be doing that?” And the other one said, “Oh, it must be Rupa Gosvami. He had Sanatana Gosvami, Dabir Khas, and Sakar Malik. Only he could do it. It must be that the Nawab is calling him, otherwise, no one else would do such a thing.” So, he took that as a message that he shouldn’t be the servant of the Nawab. And hearing those words had awakened the sense of renunciation within his heart, and then he resolved, “I’m going to leave this.” And he did it.

So, there may be incidents that help us. Sometimes it may happen with the death of someone we love. It awakens a sense of renunciation, “What am I doing all this for? Where is it all going to be?” But that has to be supported with spiritual practices and good association. Otherwise, there is smashan-vairagya, the renunciation that develops in the crematorium. When you are at the crematorium, you see the body burning, and you think, Where does it all end up? It all ends up in smoke and ashes. What is the use? Why am I working so hard like a donkey? But it doesn’t last, I experienced it.

One of the wealthiest Hindu families in the world. At least then the wealthiest, the Hindujas, the eldest son died. And then they brought the body to Bombay and they had the cremation ceremony just in Santa Cruz. And there was another really big Sindhi industrialist there. And he came to me in that mood, “I’m working so hard. Where is it all going to end? My body’s also going to be consumed in the flames of the funeral fire. And what is the use of it? I should be like you people.” But it didn’t last very long. Soon enough, he was back in the office.

So, I guess what I’m saying is there are both the gradual process, the chanting offenselessly and observing our process, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Srila Prabhupada said, and this might be encouraging to some of you, “When you become a pure devotee, you will remember everything I ever said, even if you were sleeping in the class.” Because it’s going in. Spiritually, it’s going in. But we are covered. We hear it and we forget. But it is going in, and it is there. And by purification, we will remember that gradual process, the transfer of mamtā from, “This is my wife, my family, my children, my money, my house, my car,” to, “I am Krishna’s.”

I don’t know what potency you had, like Radheshyam Prabhu said, when you ask a question, it’s almost always followed by thunderous applause. But yeah, that’s good how to make the theoretical practical. And ultimately, we depend on mercy. From one point of view, we cannot go forward one centimeter, one millimeter, without mercy. So, along with our efforts, we should constantly be praying for mercy, begging for mercy, and acting in such a way that we can get mercy. And we know that Krishna is pleased when we preach.

So, that’s the way to get Krishna’s mercy. Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, paramparā. So, serving devotees, serving more advanced devotees. Please them and please Krishna. So, it’s a general, gradual process of advancement, but that process is based on the combination of our own endeavors, sincere endeavors, and hard work, and Krishna’s mercy. Praying for mercy and trying to act in such a way that Krishna will be inclined to give us His mercy. Hare Krishna.