NOI 3

Giriraj Swami: I will begin by singing the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers, and leading a short kirtan, and then I will speak on the Upadeśāmṛta, verse three.

My dear devotees, we are reading a very important verse from a very important scripture, written by Srila Rupa Gosvami, at a place in Vrindavan called Ter kadamba, Text Three.

TEXT 3

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

TRANSLATION

There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam – hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy. Its substance is practical activity. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.11), has defined devotional service as follows:

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

“Uttamā bhakti, or unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, involves the rendering of devotional service in a way that is favorable to the Lord. This devotional service should be free from any extraneous motive and devoid of fruitive karma, impersonal jñāna and all other selfish desires.”

COMMENT

So, in Sanskrit works, there is a verse called the paribhāṣā-sūtra, which is considered to be the verse that governs all the other verses in the work. So, this verse is the paribhāṣā-sūtra for the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Every other verse in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu is governed by this verse which defines pure devotional service. The word anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ, which generally means without any other motive, is significant. Actually, the phrase anyābhilāṣ-śūnyaṁ would mean without any other desire. But Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, in his commentary says that the suffix itā has a special meaning. It means that under ordinary circumstances, one has no other desire. But in some extreme situation, one may manifest another desire. And he gives the example that suppose, someone approaches you with deadly weapons to kill you—in that extreme situation you may pray for protection, but under ordinary circumstances you wouldn’t pray for protection, you would pray only for pure devotional service. But that prayer or desire in an extreme situation is not a violation of the principles of pure devotional services.

The word ānu-śīlanaṁ means cultivation. Aṇu means either continuous or to follow. So, kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ means pure devotional service is a continuous cultivation, following sadhu, shastra, and guru. So now, coming back to Srila Prabhupada’s purport, he says:

PURPORT (continued)

Bhakti is a sort of cultivation. As soon as we say “cultivation,” we must refer to activity. Cultivation of spirituality does not mean sitting down idly for meditation, as some pseudo yogīs teach. Such idle meditation may be good for those who have no information of devotional service, and for this reason it is sometimes recommended as a way to check distracting materialistic activities. Meditation means stopping all nonsensical activities, at least for the time being. Devotional service, however, not only puts an end to all nonsensical mundane activities, but also engages one in meaningful devotional activities.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada gives the example that in a classroom, if a student is misbehaving, the teacher may tell the child, “You sit in the corner, and don’t say anything or do anything, just sit in the corner and look at the wall.” So that punishment is meant to teach the child not to engage in nonsensical activities. But it is not the goal. The goal is that the child is able to interact properly with the teacher and the other students in the classroom. Now, what are these meaningful devotional activities?

PURPORT (continued)

Śrī Prahlāda Mahārāja recommends:

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

The nine processes of devotional service are as follows:

1. hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

COMMENT

This is śravaṇam.

PURPORT (continued)

2. chanting His glories.

COMMENT

That is kīrtanam.

PURPORT (continued)

3. remembering the Lord.

COMMENT

That is viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ.

PURPORT (continued)

4. serving the Lord’s feet.

COMMENT

That is pāda-sevanam.

PURPORT (continued)

5. worshiping the Deity.

COMMENT

That is arcanaṁ.

PURPORT (continued)

6. offering obeisances unto the Lord.

COMMENT

That is vandanaṁ.

PURPORT (continued)

7. acting as the Lord’s servant.

COMMENT

That is dāsyaṁ.

PURPORT (continued)

8. making friends with the Lord.

COMMENT

That is sakhyam.

PURPORT (continued)

9. surrendering oneself fully to the Lord.

COMMENT

That is ātma-nivedanam.

PURPORT (continued)

Śravaṇam, or hearing, is the first step in acquiring transcendental knowledge. One should not give aural reception to unauthorized persons, but should approach the proper person, as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34):

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”

It is further recommended in the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: “To understand that transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide spiritual master.” Thus this method of submissively receiving transcendental confidential knowledge is not merely based on mental speculation.

COMMENT

So, in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami describes ten preliminary items of devotional service. And the first is guru padasraya; “One should take shelter of the feet of a guru,” and “sikseti, one should take instruction from him,” and “dikseti, one should receive initiation from him.” So, this is the beginning of pure devotional service.

PURPORT (continued)

In this regard, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Rūpa Gosvāmī:

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

“In the course of traversing the universal creation of Brahmā, some fortunate soul may receive the seed of bhakti-latā, the creeper of devotional service. This is all by the grace of guru and Kṛṣṇa.” (Cc. Madhya 19.151)

COMMENT

Yes, it is said, by the mercy of Krishna one gets Guru and by the mercy of Guru one gets Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

The material world is a place of confinement for the living entities who are by nature ānanda-maya, pleasure-seeking. They actually want to be free from the confinement of this world of conditional happiness, but not knowing the process of liberation, they are bound to transmigrate from one species of life to another and from one planet to another. In this way the living entities are wandering throughout the material universe. When by good fortune one comes in contact with a pure devotee and hears from him patiently, one begins to follow the path of devotional service. Such an opportunity is offered to a person who is sincere. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is giving such a chance to humanity at large. If by fortune one takes advantage of this opportunity to engage in devotional service, the path of liberation immediately opens.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada, actually paraphrased this verse in my initiation letter.

This is dated July 5th 1969, and he wrote; “My dear Giriraj, please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated July 2nd 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj.”

And then he paraphrases this section from the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He writes, “I am very glad to understand that you have at least relished some of the transcendental bliss of Krishna consciousness. It is a great fortune for you. Living entities are roaming within the universes in different species of life, and in different planetary systems, enjoying or suffering the reactions of pious or impious activities. But they have no information how to get out of this entanglement of repetition of birth and death. Due to the darkness of ignorance, most living entities have no idea about the values of life. Therefore, one who understands the importance of Krishna consciousness must be a very fortunate soul. So, I marked it in your person when I was in Boston, and I prayed to Krishna, that this good soul may be aware of the importance of Krishna consciousness.”

Thank you Srila Prabhupada!

So now, having established the background of devotional service, Srila Prabhupada begins to discuss these six items, beginning with enthusiasm.

Srila Prabhupada writes.

PURPORT (continued)

One should accept this opportunity to return home, back to Godhead, very enthusiastically. Without enthusiasm, one cannot be successful. Enthusiasm means action, but action for whom? The answer is that one should always act for Kṛṣṇa – kṛṣṇārthākhila-ceṣṭā (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu)

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada gives the definition of enthusiasm. He writes.

PURPORT (continued)

Endeavor executed with intelligence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called utsāha, or enthusiasm. The devotees find the correct means by which everything can be utilized in the service of the Lord.

COMMENT

So that’s enthusiasm. Then, Srila Prabhupada says.

PURPORT (continued)

These activities must be executed with patience. One should not be impatient in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Indeed, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was started single-handedly, and in the beginning there was no response, but because we continued to execute our devotional activities with patience, people gradually began to understand the importance of this movement, and now they are eagerly participating. One should not be impatient in discharging devotional service but should take instructions from the spiritual master and execute them with patience, depending on the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada said that we need both enthusiasm and patience. He said that patience without enthusiasm, can lead to lethargy or laziness. And enthusiasm without patience can lead to a desire to control.

PURPORT (continued)

The successful execution of Kṛṣṇa conscious activities requires both patience and confidence. A newly married girl naturally expects offspring from her husband, but she cannot expect to have them immediately after marriage. Of course, as soon as she is married she can attempt to get a child, but she must surrender to her husband, confident that her child will develop and be born in due time. Similarly, in devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident. The devotee thinks, avaśya rakṣibe kṛṣṇa: “Kṛṣṇa will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service.”

COMMENT

So, confidence means that we have confidence in Krishna, that He will help me for the successful execution of devotional service. This is called confidence.

PURPORT (continued)

One should be very enthusiastic about executing the regulative principles – tat-tat-karma-pravartana. Neglect of the regulative principles will destroy devotional service. In this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are four basic regulative principles, forbidding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. A devotee must be very enthusiastic about following these principles. If he becomes slack in following any of them, his progress will certainly be checked. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī therefore recommends, tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt: “One must strictly follow the regulative principles of vaidhī bhakti.” In addition to these four prohibitions (yama), there are positive regulative principles (niyama), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on japa-mālā beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm. This is called tat-tat-karma-pravartana, or varied engagement in devotional service.

Furthermore, in order to be successful in devotional service one must give up the association of undesirable people. This includes karmīs, jñānīs, yogīs and other nondevotees. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises: asat-saṅga-tyāga, – ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra: “Characteristically, a Vaiṣṇava is one who gives up the association of worldly people, or nondevotees.”

COMMENT

So, these are the basic requirements for success in devotional service. And Srila Prabhupada concludes his purport by saying.

PURPORT (continued)

This is called utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt, enthusiastically executing the regulative activities of devotional service with patience and confidence. In this way one can advance in devotional service without hindrance.

COMMENT

So, I thank you all for joining us. I thank Srila Prabhupada for giving this beautiful elucidation on this verse from the Upadeśāmṛta, and I thank Srila Rupa Gosvami for giving us this wonderful book.

So now devotees can ask questions or make comments.

Devotee: Thank you very much for your class. You mentioned that we must give up the association of karmis and jnanis, and this includes not being influenced by their philosophies and their thoughts, not only to give up the physical association of them. Nevertheless, sometimes when the devotees are preaching, they include ideas from these karmis and jnanis, because they think that by doing this, they will reach more people and that people will be able to relate better to what they are explaining. Is this appropriate? I’m talking about including ideas from psychology or social tendencies that are popular nowadays.

Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada used to use the phrase, “Catching a big fish without getting wet.” In other words, one should be expert. If one is expert, one can use ideas from psychology or sociology to attract people to Krishna consciousness and convince them about Krishna consciousness. But one should be able to do so without being influenced away from Krishna consciousness by reading their ideas. But if associating with them by hearing them or reading their works may influence you, confuse you, bewilder you, then it’s better to avoid that association.

Cheena Khanna: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. You mentioned the yāmas and niyāmas. So sometimes, you are not really able to do the yāmas, but if you do the niyāmas properly, will that help you overcome not being able to practice the yāmas?

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. Yes, it will. There are yāmas and niyāmas. Yāmas are negative prohibitions and niyāmas are positive injunctions. So, she is asking if we engage in the niyāmas, the positive activities, will that help us overcome yāmas the negative prohibitive activites? I said “yes.” In fact, there is a very important verse in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, and it says that one should always remember Krishna and never forget Him. smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit One should always remember Vishnu or Krishna and never forget Him. And all the negative prohibitions are servants of the one negative prohibition to never forget Krishna. And all the positive injunctions are servants of the one positive injunction to always remember Krishna. So, if you can always remember Krishna and never forget Him, then your following of all the other rules and regulations is complete. And the negative prohibitions, such as no eating meat, fish, or eggs, no taking intoxicants, no illicit sex, no gambling, or mental speculation, are there because those activities help us to forget Krishna.

Pascual Cedano through translation: He wants to know what’s the benefit of him giving his money to Krishna consciousness, if he is not initiated, if he is not doing actual service.

Giriraj Swami: Well, giving money to Krishna is a good service! And in fact, everything belongs to Krishna. So, what you call as your money, really isn’t yours, its Krishna’s, and you have stolen it from Him. It’s good for you to return that stolen money. I mean, the money is meant to be used in Krishna’s service. We may spend some money on food and clothing and shelter, but the purpose should be to keep our body and soul together so we can serve Krishna. Ultimately, all of our spending should be for Krishna. And we should give to Krishna; we should give to Krishna’s devotees to use the money in the Krishna’s service.

Mukunda Madhava: Thank you for the blessings of your presence. You explained enthusiasm and confidence. And when you have confidence in something, it’s because you know what it is. How a neophyte devotee can develop that confidence?

Giriraj Swami: As Srila Prabhupada mentioned in the purport, the confidence, ultimately is confidence in Krishna that He will help us. We are confident that with Krishna’s help we will be successful. But if we are confident of ourselves independent of Krishna, that’s false ego. We are always dependent on Krishna’s mercy.

Mukunda Madhava: Srila Prabhupada explains a lot of things in his books. Do we have to accept whatever Prabhupada explains literally, or should we think that he is talking about something else?

Giriraj Swami: Generally, we accept what Srila Prabhupada wrote literally. There is only one section in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Srila Prabhupada said is allegorical, and we don’t take it literally, as fact, but we try to learn the lessons that the allegory is meant to teach us. Generally, what is in the scripture and what Srila Prabhupada says is meant to be taken literally. For example, somebody had the interpretation of the Bhagavad-gītā that the Pandavas are the five senses, and Krishna’s the higher self. So that sort of interpretation is rejected by Srila Prabhupada. We take it literally. Krishna is there, the Pandavas are there, the Kauravas are there, Kurukshetra is there. It’s all real!

Raushan: Hare Krishna Maharaja. My question is; if we give up association of non-devotees, how can we live in a society where a majority of people are non-devotees? In our classes, offices, we have to deal with them in everyday life.

Giriraj Swami: That is a very good question and I’m glad you asked it. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the answer. He says that in your school or in your workplace, you will have to meet ordinary materialistic persons. And he says that we should be polite in our dealings with them. But we should not associate with them intimately. And especially we should not take their advice on spiritual subjects. But yes, we should be polite in our dealings with ordinary people. And we should associate with them as far as required for our work or our studies. But not more than is necessary.

Malati dasi: Guru Maharaja, sometimes we cannot neglect the association of materialistic people. But if they offend a devotee, so while we are hearing that offense, I don’t know how to tackle it. . . is it okay to hear them? Or completely say, “Please don’t speak about devotees!” But that creates more problems. . .

Giriraj Swami: Sometimes, one lives with family members who are not devotees, and that situation does present challenges. Yes, sometimes you can agree superficially, externally, but not internally. There is even a verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that says that sometimes family members will make suggestions, and that externally, one can agree, “Yes that is very good,” but internally, they should remain fixed in their determination to keep their life simple and progress in Krishna consciousness. So yes, sometimes we have to do that.

Devotee: There is a devotee who is asking on Facebook, if we can  worship Narada Muni in order to increase our devotional service?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, Narada Muni is one of the mahājanas, one of the great authorities in Krishna consciousness. Svayambhuva, Narada, Śambhu. Narada is mentioned second and he is our original guru, almost. In the paramparā, first is Krishna, then is Brahma, and then is Narada. So, he is our guru and we can pray to him. And he also came in caitanya-līlā, as Srivasa Thakura. So, he is worshipable by us, and we are meant to follow him.

Thank you very much!