SB 11.7.51 – The Illuminating Knowledge of a Pure Devotee

Giriraj Swami: 

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

We read from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto Eleven, Chapter Seven: “Lord Krishna Instructs Uddhava.”

TEXT 51 

budhyate sve na bhedena

vyakti-stha iva tad-gataḥ

lakṣyate sthūla-matibhir

ātmā cāvasthito ‘rka-vat

TRANSLATION

Even when reflected in various objects, the sun is never divided, nor does it merge into its reflection. Only those with dull brains would consider the sun in this way. Similarly, although the soul is reflected through different material bodies, the soul remains undivided and nonmaterial.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The sun is reflected in many objects, such as windows, mirrors, shiny metal, oil, water, and so on, yet the sun remains one and indivisible. Similarly, the eternal spirit soul within the body is reflected through the screen of the material body. Thus the soul appears to be old or young, fat or skinny, happy or sad. The soul may appear to be American, Russian, African, Hindu or Christian; however, the eternal soul in its natural position is free of any material designation.

The word sthūla-matibhiḥ in this verse indicates those whose intelligence is gross and dull. We have practical experience of a dog urinating on a valuable painting at an outdoor art show. Due to its dull intelligence, the dog could not appreciate the actual value of the painting. Similarly, unless one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one is grossly misusing the invaluable opportunity of human life. Human life is meant for self-realization, and we should not waste time bickering over material designations such as capitalist, communist, American, Russian, and so on. Instead, all people should take to the loving devotional service of God and realize their eternal, pure identity. One should understand the sun by observing its direct manifestation and not its distorted reflection on material objects. Similarly, one should consider every living being in terms of his pure spiritual identity beyond the distorted manifestation of material designations.

COMMENT

So there is more to the purport but I will stop and comment here because the first point is very important, which is that the sun is reflected in different objects but the sun has its own identity which is distinct from its different reflections. So in the same way the soul has its spiritual identity which is distinct from its manifestation in different bodies. And on account of false identification with the body, we quarrel and fight and waste so much time on the basis of the body. So the verse and purport are advising us not to see the soul reflected in different manifestations of different bodies, but to see the soul in its original pure spiritual existence and that applies both to ourselves as souls and to others as souls. When we see someone we shouldn’t think, oh this person is American, Russian, old, young, fat, thin or whatever, but one should see that this is actually a soul and that soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, Krishna, and should engage in devotional service to Krishna. And in this consciousness we are all one in the sense that we are all spiritual, we are all eternal servants of Krishna, and we are all supposed to cooperate for Krishna’s pleasure. And in that consciousness all the quarrel and discord that arise from bodily identification disappear. Our relationships are harmonious and congenial and ultimately spiritual.

So now we come to the next part of the purport 

PURPORT (continued)

The word ātmā in this verse also refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as we tend to observe ordinary jīva souls through the reflection of the material body, we tend to observe the Personality of Godhead through the distorting screen of our material mind. Thus, we imagine God to be impersonal or material or unknowable. When the sky is overcast, sunlight is the highest possible perception of the sun, which is covered by clouds. Similarly, when one’s mind is fogged over with mental speculation one may take the light emanating from the transcendental body of God to be the highest spiritual truth. However, when the mind is spotlessly clear like a cloudless blue sky, one can see the actual form of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Absolute Truth cannot be perfectly understood by the covered mind of the conditioned soul; rather, one must see the Lord through the clear blue sky of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is free from fruitive desires and mental speculation. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings:

jīvera kalyāṇa-sādhana-kāma

jagate āsi’ e madhura nāma

avidyā-timira-tāpana-rūpe

hṛd-gagane virāje

“The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa descends into the darkness of the material world just to benedict the conditioned souls. The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa is just like the sun that rises in the clear sky of the heart of the devotees.” Such brilliant knowledge cannot be understood by those who are trying, in the name of either piety or atheism, to exploit the material creation of the Lord. One must become a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and then his knowledge will illuminate everything in all directions: kasmin nu bhagavo vijñāte sarvam idaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavatīti (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.3).

COMMENT

So just as the soul can be reflected through different bodies and we can miss the actual identity of the soul in the same way, we can also misunderstand the Lord because of seeing Him through the screen of our minds. And sometimes the mind is foggy and when the sky is foggy or cloudy we cannot see the sun. At most we can see the sunshine to some extent but we cannot actually see the form of the sun, which is hidden behind the clouds or fog. So in the same way when our minds are foggy or clouded with material conceptions, we cannot appreciate the form of the Lord. At most we might appreciate the effulgence of the Lord which is emanating from His form, but when the mind is clarified and the fog and clouds are removed, then we can see the form of the Lord and understand our eternal relationship with the Lord as His eternal servant. And when we understand the Lord then we understand everything, which is the meaning of the verse quoted from the Mundaka Upanishad 1.3 at the end of the purport, kasmin nu bhagavo vijñāte sarvam idaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavatīti.

As Srila Prabhupada says, “Krishna consciousness is like a switch. You turn on the switch to the light and immediately you can see everything. So when we turn on the light of Krishna consciousness or when our consciousness is illuminated by Krishna, especially in the form of the holy name of Krishna, then we can realize the truth of Krishna and everything else in existence including ourselves, the living entities, the various forms and expansions of the Lord, the various energies of the Lord, everything becomes revealed. And we see that actually Krishna is the origin of everything and everything belongs to Him and therefore everything including ourselves and each other should be engaged in His service. 

So these are very important principles. We may have heard the same points before but as Srila Prabhupada says, repetition is important for understanding because we are in the material atmosphere, which is full of fog and clouds and therefore even though something may be clear at a certain time in the right association, the same things become clouded over again and we may lapse into certain habitual ways of thinking which are not spiritual or Krishna conscious. So we always have to pray that the truth of Krishna consciousness remains illuminated within our hearts and that we don’t slide into the fog and clouds of material consciousness. Hare Krishna.

So are there any questions or comments? Yes, Kunti, the first point is that repetition is necessary so I have no objection if you repeat it. 

Devotee: Okay, now we have it. Is this the one that you spank?

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Devotee: Haribol. So the question is, how important repetition is and that we need to hear it constantly and as much as possible that we are not this body. I think I am going to give up on this thing. Anyway it is working okay. So the long story short here is, we sometimes fall in the trap of offensive mentality of identifying somebody with the body or the mind and how to remedy quickly, how do we withdraw quickly? Is it just finding someone to reveal your mind to, that can preach to you and beat you on the head shastricly or how do we remedy that problem?

Giriraj Swami: That is a very good question. Kunti is saying that because of false identification with the body, we tend to quarrel with others even other devotees. And although we hear that we are not the body and that we are the soul within the body, and the soul within every body is the same and is eternal servant of Krishna, but because of the polluted atmosphere we are always exposed to false propaganda that, you are the body, you are the mind, and so we tend to get into quarrel. And especially with other devotees, it is a trap that we want to avoid falling into but we might end up falling into. So I believe the question is that if we happen to fall into that trap and get into a quarrel with another devotee, how do we get out of it before it gets worse? Nityananda Prabhu, I think you are the fit person to answer this question.

Devotee: My experience has been that, if we always remain humble and understand that my personal condition is not very good, that I actually have to stay with the fundamentals of the process which is chanting nicely, associating with devotees who are not on that platform, who I see that they are not on that platform. And particularly in my case, I found that if I read scrutinizingly, Srila Prabhupada’s books and then reach out to others and serve others so that they can become more advanced in their Krishna consciousness, raise their consciousness in the first instance. As Srila Prabhupada says, you have to be conscious before you are Krishna conscious, and so the idea is to make an attempt to raise one’s Krishna consciousness at all times and be Krishna conscious by actually sharing one’s Krishna consciousness with others. It keeps one very much in the mood of always remembering Krishna never forgetting Krishna, always being with guru and Krishna like that. So this actually allows us not to fall in the trap because our consciousness is in the right position at all times. And the only time we get into difficulty is when our consciousness slips back because of our past conditioning. And this past conditioning as Srila Prabhupada says is from time immemorial. So it is very strong, it is extremely strong, and as they say in this world that recognition of the problem is 50 percent of the solution. That we recognize that I have this tendency to always be in material consciousness. To be in material consciousness not always, but to be in material consciousness then I have to guard against it. And preaching really helps like that when reaching out to others, teaching and preaching really helps because you bear question, questions are asked, people don’t accept.

We find that there are so many people, very stubborn in their lives, in what they are doing, they don’t feel they need a spiritual master, they don’t feel that they need the presence of Krishna in their life. They are doing well, things are working out and so staying with the fundamentals, particularly most importantly in the association of devotees. As Srila Prabhupada said 90 percent of our success will come from the association devotees and 90 percent of our success will come from our chanting, constantly chanting the holy names of the Lord; humble state of mind. As the verse says, tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. In my case, I find that that really helps me and then when I forget, because I think that I am the person who is doing something and I have this lording mentality come back, that is when I find that I have my problems, and so avoiding that mentality is very very important.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, I think in one case some disciples asked Srila Prabhupada about this problem and he said that if we always think that we are the servants of the servants of the servants, then we won’t have those problems. So yes, I think that is good what Nityananda Prabhu said. In one rendition of your question you mentioned, how do you get out of it before it gets worse and then you mentioned getting hit over the head with shastra to bring you to your senses. So what Nityananda Prabhu said is also very relevant and appropriate, that if we are constantly, regularly, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, then our mind will be tamed or controlled or at least influenced by the right philosophy. And so even before we get into a fight or before the fight becomes too aggressive, that good sense will come to us and we can stop ourselves.

One passage in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that comes to mind, which I feel is sometimes relevant to devotees, comes when Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. . . Well the background was, there was a Muhammadan Chowdhury who used to collect the taxes in a certain area and then that assignment was given to Raghunatha dasa’s uncle and father. But unfortunately they were keeping more than they were supposed to keep and giving less to the government, so the Muhammadan Chowdhury who had lost that job became aware of this, and so he came to arrest Raghunatha’s father and uncle, but they were not there, so he arrested Raghunatha instead. And Raghunatha, he is very intelligent and he said, “You and my father and uncle are just like brothers and sometimes brothers quarrel like enemies, and then after some time they are friends again and no one can predict when this will happen.” And yes, he spoke in such a sweet way, it is described like tears were flowing down the Muslims beard. So he was saying, “Yes, now you are quarreling with my uncle and father, but at any moment that situation could change and you will be friends again.” So I think we should keep that in mind. There may be some temporary disagreement but we are brothers and sisters, so the next moment we will be friends again. So since we are going to be friends again anyway, why not be friends right now and skip the other part. Any other questions or comments yes. 

Devotee: Once as Nityananda Prabhu said that by just knowing that you have this problem with you, you have already reached the halfway to the solution. So the other half is it possible or is it right to do; so you recognize that this is the problem and after the facts now something has already happened and then you ask for forgiveness to that soul and also ask for forgiveness to the Krishna within that soul whenever you get a chance or whenever you are in that good state of mind. 

Giriraj Swami: So I mean what you said is nice that after an event you come to your senses and you ask to be forgiven by that devotee and by Krishna, so what was the question? 

Devotee: Is it right to do it? I know that it doesn’t allow you to keep doing it again but what if those things are happening again and again, can you still keep asking for forgiveness after the fact?

Giriraj Swami: Well something like, I can forgive you once I can forgive you twice I can forgive you three times, but then after that how many times? Prabhupada said that so yes, after the first time you shouldn’t repeat it. But if due to bad conditioning you do it a second time, we still have to ask for forgiveness but there are other approaches besides just asking for forgiveness. One is that suppose you speak badly about someone, so the shastra recommends that that same tongue which you use to criticize the devotee, with that same tongue you should glorify the devotee. So it is really a question of replacing the bad behavior with better behavior. Because if it is just, okay you did something bad then you try to come to a neutral position but then you may again lapse into the bad behavior. But if in between you try to engage in positive activities that are the opposite of the bad activities, then two things; one is that your heart will become purified and that contamination that led to the bad behavior will get purified and you will also develop better habits, so you won’t lapse into those. Does that answer your question?

There is a subcategory, and I am not saying this at all because the question came from Hemangi, but there is a subcategory of dealings between husbands and wives, or it could be parents, and children and because of the. . . it doesn’t have to be there but there it is very possible that there could be like a material aspect to the relationship that our awareness of the person as a soul becomes covered and we know it is my wife, my husband, or my child, and then we can lapse into that type of behavior within the family which is also not good because we are dealing with devotees and spirit souls but on top of it with devotees. So we should try to keep our relationships in the family pure as well, assuming that everyone in the family is at least in the mood to become Krishna conscious, which isn’t always the case but if they are then there is good hope. 

Devotee: Previously Srila Gurudeva, whenever he would come for the first time he would ask everybody to say something nice about another devotee, and so he instituted that and then just in thinking about it, I remember the devotees would always glorify one another in the morning. Each morning you would read off the scores, saṅkīrtana scores. It was just part of being here that everybody would be recognized for what they were doing, there would be a lot of glorification, there would even be festivals at the end of the year; how these pujaris did so nice this year, the book distributors did so good, there was an instituted program glorifying the devotees. 

Giriraj Swami: That is good, yes. 

Devotee: It is part of coming to the temple. 

Giriraj Swami: Yes, His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami mentioned something similar. I have heard of it in different places. I heard they do it in Hong Kong but there will be, I guess, a bag with the names of all the devotees and then you pick a name out of the bag and then you glorify that devotee. And everyone gets to glorify someone else so yes, that is very good practice. 

Devotee: And it is so relishable, you feel so happy doing that. And then your tendency is to want to just think and glorify and be more positive and appreciative. It seems to really overcome that fault-finding bodily concept; you are useless and I hate you mentality.

Devotee: Just real quick, in 1980 when we were all out on saṅkīrtana in the Houston temple, and back then they called it the shoe box because it was just a five-story building, all the brahmacharis were packed in there and the matajis would come visit, the brahmacharinis would come for the program and then we would all have prasādam up on the second floor. But at one point when Srila Gurudeva was first in China, the fighting was so bad in the temple; everybody was fighting with everybody, it was so bad. Then Srila Gurudeva came, we had a three-hour class where he had everybody in the room glorify and say something good about every single person in the room and that, it totally put the fire out but the fire was so bad. It was awful and Gurudeva he used that. Thank you. 

Giriraj Swami: Nice, all right on that high note; oh did you want to add something?

Devotee: Yes Maharaja, coming back to that family situation. We see that in the Third Canto that Devahuti who is such a very advanced soul and the daughter of Manu, very well trained, very well brought up, also fell in the trap that she didn’t see her husband in spiritual light and enjoyed life for a long time until she came to this understanding that actually, the greatest strength my husband, is his spirituality, spiritual strength, and then she surrendered to him. And I think this is very important for families and families that husbands and wives understand this, that we have to surrender to the spiritual strength of the husband or the wife, whichever way it is. Generally the husband is supposed to be the person who has a lot of spiritual strength and the wife serves him in such a way that he will develop that spiritual strength and be a leader. And what I see that in this movement what is happening a lot of times is, there is no longer that taking risk by each person, they are not reaching out to try.

At the time when Srila Prabhupada was here, people were told this is the goal, and the goal was set very high and everybody had to achieve a very high goal. And in the process of trying to achieve the high goal they had to keep their consciousness very good, stay in very good consciousness because otherwise they won’t achieve that goal, they will feel that they won’t get the mercy from the deities and the devotees and therefore, “I won’t be able to distribute as many books or I will not be able to reach out to so many people and serve them in their Krishna consciousness.”

And I think personally now individually, we have to start doing that even if the movement doesn’t do that in the same way. But individually I think we have to set ourselves some high lofty goals that mean that we are taking a risk. We know that we can easily fail in trying to achieve this goal and so to avoid the failure, we will always stay in good consciousness because that means that will allow the mercy to come through so that we can achieve that goal. So pushing ourselves like that is something I think that is also very necessary now as devotees, that we push ourselves to do things that are very Krishna conscious, particularly reading books, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Keshava Bharati Maharaja made a vow that he will read forty pages every day from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. That is not an easy vow to actually fulfill on a daily basis, but taking vows because it says in the Bhagavad-gītā, dridah vrata; vrata is actually very very strong. We take these strong vratas that I will do this. Srila Prabhupada once when asked about this question he actually also answered that in fact, “Earlier on I made a vow that I will see Krishna face to face.” That is a heavy vow to make, that I will see Krishna face to face. That just changes your consciousness. From that point you realize that everything that you do in every minute detail has to be perfect because otherwise you are not going to see a Krishna face to face. So I think this taking a vow is very important as well. We start taking personal values that “I will do this” something that is little more difficult than my current level if I push myself like that, then we will avoid these pitfalls of criticizing others and seeing that there is a fault in others when actually the fault lies in me and I need to correct my faults if I really want to advance in my Krishna consciousness. So I thought this vow taking is also very important, that we need to push that more and more.

Giriraj Swami: All right. Thank you very much.

Grantharaja Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ki jaya! Gaura-bhakta-vṛnda ki jaya!