Energy Class for Bhakti Shastri Students

Giriraj Swami: So, my dear devotees, to begin, because we are addressing the Bhakti-sastri students, I thought to read some things that Srila Prabhupada wrote about Bhakti-sastri. In a letter to Kanupriya dated January 15, 1969, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is very carefully, and we are going to hold an examination next year in January on this book. I hope that you will be enough expert in this Krishna consciousness science to pass the examination and be awarded with the title of “Bhakti-sastri” one who knows the principles of devotional service.”

And in a letter to Amirad Aniruddha dated February 4, 1969, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “We wish to hold examinations and award titles such as Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, and Bhaktivedanta. We require many enlightened students who can go to any part of the world and establish a center. Anyone who is a little bit conversant with the above books can go anywhere, chant Hare Krishna, distribute Back To Godhead, and hold classes on our books. The world needs this consciousness of Krishna, and we have to manufacture many preachers for this purpose.”

So, my dear students, you can understand from this letter of Srila Prabhupada that he wanted the students of Bhakti-sastri to share their knowledge with others, or, in other words, to preach the message of Krishna consciousness. Then, in a letter to Mahapurusa dated February 7th, 1969, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “I thank you very much for your appreciation. In January of 1970 we will be holding an examination among all of our students on Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, and those who will pass shall be awarded with the title of Bhakti-sastri. With these examinations I wish to encourage all my disciples to very carefully learn this philosophy of Krishna consciousness because there are so many preachers who will be required to bring this message to all corners of the earth.”

Then, in a letter to Radhavallabha dated January 5, 1976, “The Nectar of Instruction has come out very nice. It is very important and must be immediately read by all devotees. In the near future we shall introduce the Bhakti-sastri examination for second initiation and this shall be one of the books required for study. Anyone who reads it will immediately understand what Krishna consciousness is.” 

And then, on January 6, 1976 Srila Prabhupada’s personal secretary, Tamal Krishna Goswami sent this letter, which was approved by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. “His Divine Grace wishes to institute examinations to be given to all prospective candidates for sannyasa and brahman initiation. In addition, he wishes that all present sannyasis and brahmans also pass the examination. Awarding of these titles will be based upon the following books: Bhakti-sastri—Bhagavad-gītā, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Īśopaniṣad, Easy Journey to Other Planets, and all other small paperbacks, as well as Arcana-paddhati (a book to be compiled by Nitai Prabhu based on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa on Deity worship). Anyone wishing to be initiated as a brahman will have to pass the Bhakti-sastri exam. This will prevent our Society from degrading to the level of so many other institutions where, in order to maintain the Temple, they accept all third class men as brahmans. Your servant, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Personal Secretary, Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.”

And then, in a letter dated the next day, January 7, 1976, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “You must see that the brahmans are given sufficient time to read the books. Soon we shall be introducing the Bhakti-sastri examination which all brahmans will be expected to pass. It will be based on Bhagavad-gītā, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Īśopaniṣad, and the small paperback books such as Easy Journey. A brahman should be a pandita.”

And then, in a letter to Locanananda dated January 10, 1976, “The brahmans should carefully study, especially Bhagavad-gītā, Īśopaniṣad, The Nectar of Devotion and The Nectar of Instruction as well as all the small paperbacks. Soon we will have yearly examinations for brahmans based on these books and those who pass will be awarded the Bhakti-sastri title.” And I will conclude with a conversation with Srila Prabhupada on a morning walk in Nellore on January 6, 1976.

“Prabhupāda: Whatever books we have, they should be studied. Bhakti-śāstrī means The Nectar of Devotion, Bhagavad-gītā, the Nectar of Instruction, Beyond Birth and Death—in this way we select some ten books. That is bhakti-śāstrī. So from next year, unless one passes Bhakti-śāstrī, he cannot be second initiated. First initiation is open for everyone. “Come on. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” That will purify him. Then let him understand what is bhakti.

“Yaśodānandana: That is very good, because those who will have second initiation will have to know the scriptures, will have to know your books.

“Prabhupāda: Yes, that is. . .

“Mahāmṣa: And unless they know your books, they will never be fixed-up devotees.

“Prabhupāda: Yes.

“Acyutānanda: Many times people give second initiation because they need a pūjārī in the temple.

“Prabhupāda: No.”

COMMENT

So, you can get a sense of how important the Bhakti-sastri is, and basically, Srila Prabhupada wanted devotees to be knowledgeable in these books: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Īśopaniṣad, The Nectar of Devotion, the Nectar of Instruction, Easy Journey to Other Planets, and the small paperback books. Now, Buddhimanta Prabhu brought up the topic for discussion of devotees’ suffering, and I have thought to consider this topic with reference to important instructions that Srila Prabhupada gave on that topic because we all suffer, we all have suffered in one way or another, and we all do suffer. But how do we see that suffering? How do we deal with that suffering? So, in The Nectar of Devotion, one of the items is Expecting the Lord’s Mercy, and I will read that.

NOD 10

In the Tenth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, verse 8, it is said, “My dear Lord, any person who is constantly awaiting Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him, and who goes on suffering the resultant actions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible to become liberated, for it has become his rightful claim.”

COMMENT

That is the translation of 10.14.8 in this section of The Nectar of Devotion, and now Srila Prabhupada continues his explanation in The Nectar of Devotion.

NOD 10 (continued)

This statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be the guide of all devotees.

COMMENT

I will read it again.

NOD 10 (continued)

This statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be the guide of all devotees. A devotee should not expect immediate relief from the reactions of his past misdeeds. No conditioned soul is free from such reactionary experiences, because material existence means continued suffering or enjoying of past activities. If one has finished his material activities then there is no more birth. This is possible only when one begins Kṛṣṇa conscious activities.

COMMENT

In other words, we cannot stop activities, but we can be done with material activities if we engage in spiritual activities in Krishna consciousness.

NOD 10 (continued)

This is possible only when one begins Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, because such activities do not produce reaction. Therefore, as soon as one becomes perfect in Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, he is not going to take birth again in this material world. A devotee who is not perfectly freed from the resultant actions should therefore continue to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even though there may be so many impediments. When such impediments arise he should simply think of Kṛṣṇa and expect His mercy. That is the only solace. If the devotee passes his days in that spirit, it is certain that he is going to be promoted to the abode of the Lord. By such activities, he earns his claim to enter into the kingdom of God. The exact word used in this verse is dāya-bhāk. Dāya-bhāk refers to a son’s becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father. In a similar way, a pure devotee who is prepared to undergo all kinds of tribulations in executing Kṛṣṇa conscious duties becomes lawfully qualified to enter into the transcendental abode.

COMMENT

That is The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter Ten, “Expecting the Lord’s Mercy.” Now, the purport to the verse cited in The Nectar of Devotion is instructive and encouraging, and I will read that verse and purport. Again, it is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto Ten, Chapter Fourteen, Verse Eight.

TEXT 8

tat te ‘nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo

bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam

hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

TRANSLATION

My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada:

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains in his commentary that just as a legitimate son has to simply remain alive to gain an inheritance from his father, one who simply remains alive in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, following the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, automatically becomes eligible to receive the mercy of the Personality of Godhead. In other words, he will be promoted to the kingdom of God.

The word su-samīkṣamāṇa indicates that a devotee earnestly awaits the mercy of the Supreme Lord even while suffering the painful effects of previous sinful activities. Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in the Bhagavad-gītā that a devotee who fully surrenders unto Him is no longer liable to suffer the reactions of his previous karma. 

COMMENT

Yes, Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gītā,

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

“If one gives up everything and surrenders to Krishna, Krishna will free him from all sinful reactions.”

PURPORT (continued)

Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in the Bhagavad-gītā that a devotee who fully surrenders unto Him is no longer liable to suffer the reactions of his previous karma. However, because in his mind a devotee may still maintain the remnants of his previous sinful mentality, the Lord removes the last vestiges of the enjoying spirit by giving His devotee punishments that may sometimes resemble sinful reactions. The purpose of the entire creation of God is to rectify the living entity’s tendency to enjoy without the Lord, and therefore the particular punishment given for a sinful activity is specifically designed to curtail the mentality that produced the activity. Although a devotee has surrendered to the Lord’s devotional service, until he is completely perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness he may maintain a slight inclination to enjoy the false happiness of this world. The Lord therefore creates a particular situation to eradicate this remaining enjoying spirit. This unhappiness suffered by a sincere devotee is not technically a karmic reaction; it is rather the Lord’s special mercy for inducing His devotee to completely let go of the material world and return home, back to Godhead.

A sincere devotee earnestly desires to go back to the Lord’s abode. Therefore he willingly accepts the Lord’s merciful punishment and continues offering respects and obeisances to the Lord with his heart, words and body. Such a bona fide servant of the Lord, considering all hardship a small price to pay for gaining the personal association of the Lord, certainly becomes a legitimate son of God, as indicated here by the words dāya-bhāk. Just as one cannot approach the sun without becoming fire, one cannot approach the supreme pure, Lord Kṛṣṇa, without undergoing a rigid purificatory process, which may appear like suffering but which is in fact a curative treatment administered by the personal hand of the Lord.

COMMENT

And to continue this discussion, I will read an interesting conversation with Srila Prabhupada on a morning walk on Juhu beach. This is also recounted in my book “I Will Build You a Temple, The Juhu Story,” but it is very instructive.

So, I had read that when Krishna had confronted the Kaliya demon, His devotees, the Brajbasis had felt transcendental anxiety. So, I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Does the sentiment of anxiety or fear for Krishna exist in the spiritual world in Goloka?” “No,” Prabhupada replied. “That is separation. The gopīs are full of anxiety, ‘Oh, Krishna has gone to the pasturing ground.’ Their anxiety is there. Rukhmini was thinking, Oh, Krishna may not give Me up, He is talking in this way, She fainted.”

So, anxiety is there, the anxiety that one may be separated from Krishna, that is the anxiety. Actually, there is no separation, only the feeling of separation out of ecstatic love. One who has got love for another person, beloved, always thinks, My beloved may not be separated from me. This is the ecstasy of love. Just like a miser who has much wealth always thinks, My money may not be lost, my money may not be lost. Out of his excessive attachment for the money he thinks like that, “How shall I protect this money?” To earn money is troublesome, to keep money is troublesome, and when it is lost, that is also troublesome, that is the position. But with Krishna, there is no such thing as loss.

As we continued, the topic turned to devotees’ sufferings. I was reading the Krishna book at the time on the morning walks, and I read, “Oh, Lord, yYu have descended especially for the purpose of annihilating all kinds of disturbing elements within the world, and because You are the absolute truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment.”

So, my dear devotees, this is a very important point, “Because You are the absolute truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment.” Srila Prabhupada commented, “The surgical operation is there. The knife is being used on the patient’s body, but that means he is getting relief, it is not punishment.” I asked, “Is that benefit coming in all suffering, or only when it is given by Krishna?” Prabhupada replied, “When there is suffering given by Krishna. Therefore, a devotee does not take suffering seriously.” tat te ‘nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo, the same verse we were just reading and discussing. “A devotee thinks, It is the favor of Krishna that He has put me into suffering. They never see suffering as suffering, it is Krishna’s favor, that is a devotee’s vision. It is exactly like a son who knows his father well. If the father slaps, the son never protests, he knows, ‘It is good for me.’” Beautiful. “Similarly, a devotee is never disturbed when there is suffering given by Krishna.”

Then I began to respond, “The karmi’s suffering is just the law of. . .” And then Prabhupada interjected, “The karmi is different. He is suffering like a criminal is suffering. A criminal is given a slap by the police, that slap and the father’s slap are different. Although they look the same, there is great difference.”

And Satsvarupa asked, “So, there is no benefit to suffering unless it is connected with Krishna?” And Prabhupada replied, “Yes, when Krishna. Therefore, we should fully surrender to Krishna. As Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, mārobi rākhobi-jo icchā tohārā, Now, I surrender. Now, if You want to maintain me, that is all right. And if You want to kill me, that is also all right.’ This is surrender. It is not business, ‘If You maintain me, then I surrender. If You kill me, then I do not surrender.’ It is not like that, mārobi rākhobi-jo icchā tohārā, now, as You like. If You want to maintain me, that is good. If You want to kill me, that is also good.’ That is the devotee’s view.”

And hearing Prabhupada’s words, I felt chastened that my own lack of surrender was being exposed. Satsvarupa asked, “Someone might say, ‘But if one is surrendered, why should Krishna give him trouble?’” “Yes,” Prabhupada replied. “Because Krishna is always free. Why do you make Krishna dependent on your so-called goodwill? That, ‘Krishna must always give me pleasure.’ That is sense gratification, that you approach Krishna for your comfort. That is not bhakti, that is sense gratification. Prahlada Maharaja was given suffering by his father so harshly, but he never said, ‘Oh, I am a devotee of Krishna, and He has given me so much trouble? Oh, give it up.’ He never said that. Neither he asks Krishna to come and save him. The Pandavas were always with Krishna, and they were suffering. They never asked Krishna, ‘You are the supreme, so why are we suffering?’ They never said. This is Krishna-bhakti.”

I continued reading, “Because You are the absolute truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment.” And Prabhupada said, “Yes, this is to be understood. If we understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, absolute truth, then this is the understanding that either suffering or enjoying, it is all Krishna’s mercy. There must be some purpose. When Krishna puts me into suffering, there must be some purpose. So, we should welcome it because it is Krishna’s mercy. tat te ‘nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam, I should have been suffering more from my misdeeds. It is Krishna’s mercy that He is reforming me with only slight suffering. I would have suffered very greatly on account of my past deeds, but He is kindly accommodating me by giving me little suffering, that is all.”

I felt humbled. I realized how far I had to go to reach the stage of surrender, a pure devotional service, and I also felt grateful that I was under the merciful protection of Sri Krishna and His most merciful representative, Srila Prabhupada.

So, my dear devotees, these are some reflections on suffering that should help us see suffering administered by Krishna in a positive light, as the Lord’s mercy to help us let go of our attachment to the material world and the last vestiges of the sinful mentality that led us to commit sinful activities even after we’ve given up the sinful activities. That it is all Krishna’s mercy, and we should accept it as such, gratefully. As that purport said, it is a curative treatment administered by the personal hand of the Lord, that the sincere devotee earnestly wants to gain the association of the Lord, and he considers all suffering encountered on the way as a small price to pay for the ultimate benefit of gaining the Lord’s association.

I think now of my late disciple, Archa-Vigrha devi dasi. She was a renowned artist in South Africa, but she got cancer. In a way, she was ahead of her time because she bought some property in Vrindavan when no one else had, and she built a house, and she kept the ground floor for herself, and the next floor for me. So, she went to Vrindavan to spend her last days. Actually, the doctors gave her six months, but she ended up living for three years. And she received so much mercy from the senior devotees. I won’t go into detail, but she received so much mercy, and I was thinking, What did she do to receive so much mercy? And I thought of this verse, that she was tolerating all the difficulties and expecting the Lord’s mercy. And thus, mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk, she was eligible for liberation, it was her rightful claim to enter the kingdom of God.

And there are many devotees in ISKCON who have lived their lives according to this verse, ŚB 10.8.14, and who have, as promised in the verse, become eligible for liberation, to go back home, back to Godhead. So, in a similar way, if we live our lives according to this verse, we will also become eligible for liberation. Just as a son need do nothing except remain alive in order to inherit his father’s property, all we have to do is remain alive in Krishna consciousness by following the rules and regulations of bhakti-yoga, and we will inherit the kingdom of God. So, in a way, it is very easy.

So, my dear Bhakti-sastri students and all others, I congratulate you on your studies, and I hope and pray and expect that you will apply the knowledge that you’ve gained in your life, and make your life successful, and share the knowledge with others, share your good fortune with others. That is our basic process, to taste Krishna consciousness, and to share Krishna consciousness.

So, my dear Bhakti-sastri students and all others, this is our mission, this is the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and our paramparā. They have given us this knowledge, these scriptures that were locked in Sanskrit or Bengali, have been made available to us by Srila Prabhupada in English, so we are very fortunate, and yes, we should take advantage, we should study Srila Prabhupada’s books, we should apply his teachings in our lives, and we should share our good fortune with others by distributing the knowledge that we have received by Srila Prabhupada’s grace. Hare Krishna.

Host:  Thank you so much, Maharaja, for such an amazing class. You said it right. Whatever Krishna do, He does it for our best, and that is why we were destined to hear from you so that we can elevate ourselves on this path. Maharaja, we have received some questions via chat. If you allow, can we send each question to you on Zoom one by one?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. I mean, I prefer if the person who. . .

Host:  Okay, if you want. . .

Giriraj Swami: …commented the question can personally present the question.

Host:  Okay, Maharaja, they have sent. . . If you want, we can send you one by one, or if I can read, and if anybody is having questions, if you are saying, then we can ask them.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, they can raise their hand, their physical hand or their virtual hand. I see there is a question in the chat. But that person is on Zoom, no?

Host:  Yes, yes, Maharaja, that person is on Zoom right now.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, can I see that person, and can that person ask his question orally?

Host:  Maharaja, I guess they want their name to be confidential because we are having so many problems, they don’t want to discuss in front of everyone. Maybe that is why they have sent over the chat.

Giriraj Swami: [laughter] Okay, alright.

Host:  But they are definitely listening to you.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. “Maharaja, I find it easier to forgive friends and acquaintances, but the biggest pain or resistance comes when someone very dear and close to me hurts me. I have been hurt by someone very close, and I am unable to forgive that devotee. How do I let that go, Maharaja?”

Well, that is a very good question about forgiveness. In fact, it is said, and it is interesting because we were reading how Bhakti-sastri is a requirement for brahmans, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that different people are beautified by different qualities, and a brahman is beautified by forgiveness, the quality of forgiveness. I will find that and read it to encourage you. So, forgiveness defines and beautifies a brahman, and I will read these two verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto Nine, Chapter Fifteen, Texts Thirty-nine and Forty.

TEXT 39

vayaṁ hi brāhmaṇās tāta

kṣamayārhaṇatāṁ gatāḥ

yayā loka-gurur devaḥ

pārameṣṭhyam agāt padam

TRANSLATION

My dear son, we are all brāhmaṇas and have become worshipable for the people in general because of our quality of forgiveness. It is because of this quality that Lord Brahmā, the supreme spiritual master of this universe, has achieved his post.

TEXT 40

kṣamayā rocate lakṣmīr

brāhmī saurī yathā prabhā

kṣamiṇām āśu bhagavāṁs

tuṣyate harir īśvaraḥ

TRANSLATION

The duty of a brāhmaṇa is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

COMMENT

In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada:

Different personalities become beautiful by possessing different qualities. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says that the cuckoo bird, although very black, is beautiful because of its sweet voice. Similarly, a woman becomes beautiful by her chastity and faithfulness to her husband, and an ugly person becomes beautiful when he becomes a learned scholar. In the same way, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras become beautiful by their qualities. Brāhmaṇas are beautiful when they are forgiving, kṣatriyas when they are heroic and never retreat from fighting, vaiśyas when they enrich cultural activities and protect cows, and śūdras when they are faithful in the discharge of duties pleasing to their masters. Thus everyone becomes beautiful by his special qualities. And the special quality of the brāhmaṇa, as described here, is forgiveness.

COMMENT

I may mention that His Grace Radhika Raman dasa gave a brilliant seminar on forgiveness, lessons from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which I highly recommend, and you can view the series on YouTube. I guess I could share those links in the chat. [laughter] But anyway, maybe not. If you look, you will find it. Yes, Radhika Raman’s series on forgiveness, lessons from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

So, I hope this will help you to be forgiving. It is hard, but it is important for both. It is important for the other person that you forgive the other person, and it is important for you that you forgive the other person. Just let it go, don’t hold on to it, let it go. You are not perfect, so we can’t expect others to be perfect. So, yes, you will feel better, you will feel better if you can forgive the person, and you can. Yes, Hare Krishna.

Host:  Maharaja, you must have received another question in the chat.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. “Maharaja, in married life, even after becoming devotees, there are differences of opinion. How to let go of negativities and ensure a peaceful, loving, and positive Krishna conscious environment in our grihastha life?”

Well, today is Srivasa Pandita’s Appearance Day, and it also happens to be the Disappearance Day of my dear god-brother His Holiness Sridhara Swami Maharaja. And one of Sridhara Swami’s motto was, “There is no utility in negativity.” So, that should be your motto, the motto of all of us. But in the context here, yes, there is no utility in negativity. It happens that there are differences between husband and wife, but Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says those should not be taken seriously. I mean, husband and wife relationship is there, but ultimately, you are devotees, and you should respect each other as devotees, and serve each other as devotees, and, don’t let these differences of opinion cause a rift in the relationship. I mean, we are individuals so we will have differences of opinion, but yes, they should not cause a rift in our relationships as husband and wife.

There is a saying, or a question, “Is being right more important, or is the relationship more important?” Generally, the relationship is more important than being right. I don’t know what the specific issues are or if you would want to say. I mean, of course, if you did say what the specific issues are I could give more specific and detailed advice, but yes, you should try to see the good in the other.

In fact, I think I will read something. It is not specifically about husband and wife, but it is about the mood of devotees in general, how they should interact with each other. And I will read this excerpt because it is really very encouraging. So, this is purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.12, in which Srila Prabhupada describes the mood of service and appreciation among devotees as it should be, including between husband and wife.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaiṣṇava thinking, Vaikuṇṭha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuṇṭha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuṇṭha competition. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuṇṭha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: the Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, giving dictation according to the attitude of the servant. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ

bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam

dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ

yena mām upayānti te

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” Everyone is actually a servant, not an enemy or friend, and everyone is working under different directions from the Lord, who directs each living entity according to his mentality.

COMMENT

So, that should be our mood amongst ourselves. “Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaishnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking.” Your home will be Vaikuntha, in that attitude.

So, question three, “Maharaja, how can I practically understand there is no point of suffering without Krishna?”

Yes, there are two types of suffering. The suffering of a devotee is given by Krishna Himself for the benefit of the devotee, for the rectification of the devotee, for the purification of the devotee, and then there is the regular suffering of ordinary people, karmis, although Srila Prabhupada said we shouldn’t use the word karmi too much because we’ll feel superior. But in a technical sense, they’re karmis, materialistic workers.

So, yes, the same example that Srila Prabhupada gave, that if a father gives a slap to the child, the child will never protest because the father is doing it for the child’s benefit. So, when Krishna gives suffering to a devotee, the devotee doesn’t protest but he sees it as the Lord’s mercy. Whereas an ordinary person who is enjoying and suffering the results of fruitive activities doesn’t particularly get any benefit from that suffering. I mean, in an ultimate sense, we could say that everything arranged by the Lord is for the person’s benefit, but we see that as devotees, but an ordinary person won’t see it as the Lord’s mercy, for him it will just be suffering, and he won’t particularly get any benefit from it, as such.

So, question four, “Sometimes devotees in the initial stage lose their faith due to constant troubles and miseries.” Well, now, this is another point that Srila Prabhupada made, that maya will test a devotee, especially in the beginning. Maya will test the devotee to see, “Is this devotee coming to serve Krishna, or is this devotee coming to trouble Krishna?”

So, “Sometimes devotees in the initial stage lose their faith due to constant troubles and miseries.” I don’t know why they should lose their faith. “They blame themselves and their past deeds.” Well, that could be valid because due to our past misdeeds we do suffer consequences, troubles, and miseries. “Then they stop serving the Lord.” Well, that part makes no sense whatsoever, that makes absolutely no sense. Why should they stop serving the Lord? Devotional service is a solution to all their problems. So, I don’t know if there is. . .

Oh, I see, I see, there is more to this. “How can I encourage them to continue serving the Lord? How can I help them come out of this weakness?” Well, I would say you should encourage them to chant nicely. If they chant nicely, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam, all the dirty things will be cleansed from the heart. Chant nicely and study Srila Prabhupada’s books. As you say, they are weak spiritually, and they can gain spiritual strength by the attempt of chanting and hearing of the holy name and of the scriptures. So, they have to take the medicine, and they’ll be cured, there is no doubt about it.

“Any regrets in life, Maharaja?” I am not sure if this person is asking if I have any regrets in life. I think of the statement of one American patriot around the time of the American revolution. He said, “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country.” But of course, we have more than one life to give in service to the Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, my only regret is that you are not perfectly Krishna conscious, but I hope that one day you will be. Maybe you already are, then I have no regrets.

“Maharaja, is it true that your parents had to offer Srila Prabhupada a blank check in order to buy you back from Srila Prabhupada? Did it work? Could you please narrate that?” I think I have the answer to that in this book called Watering the Seed.

READING from Watering the Seed

In October of 1971, my parents came to see me in Calcutta. While Srila Prabhupada was talking with some of his disciples in his quarters, my parents entered. Srila Prabhupada received them warmly. After hearing him speak for some time, they finally came to the point. They wanted me back. Srila Prabhupada said, “I have no objection. Ask your son.” I said, “I want to stay with Srila Prabhupada.” My father said, “We want to set up a big trust for Giriraj, and we want him to come home to sign the papers.” “Yes, you can send the papers,” Srila Prabhupada replied, “He can sign.” My parents said that they had no objection to my remaining in the movement, but they did not want my health to deteriorate, so they wanted me to be stationed near home. Srila Prabhupada said, “Do not worry, I will take personal care of him.” My parents were still apprehensive, so Srila Prabhupada said, “Let him stay with me in India for some months more, and I will take personal care of him. Then, when I return to the west in April, he can come with me.” With my parents somewhat relieved, I said, “Just see how intelligent Srila Prabhupada is. In the winter, when the western countries are cold and dark, Srila Prabhupada stays in India, and in the summer, when the west is warm and sunny, Srila Prabhupada goes there.” My father was becoming enlivened by Srila Prabhupada, and he affirmed, “Yes, he is very intelligent.” Srila Prabhupada said, “No, your son is intelligent. He has understood my strategy of always being where the weather is.” My father said, “No, you are intelligent, actually.” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Well, I must be intelligent, otherwise how could I attract so many intelligent young men like your son?” My mother was still thinking of my poor health and long absence from home, and she began to cry. To cheer her, Srila Prabhupada gave her a sandesh, a sweet. At first, my mother wouldn’t accept, but Srila Prabhupada’s kind and gentle persistence prevailed. Then he told her, “These sweets, sandesh and rasagullā are made of cheese, and are very high in protein.” Then he said, “Giriraj, you must take at least two dozen sandesh and rasagullā every day.”

COMMENT

[laughter] I am working on it, I haven’t made it yet, but I am working on it.

READING (continued)

“You must take at least two dozen sandesh and rasagullā every day, then you will be strong and healthy.” Srila Prabhupada assured my parents, “I will personally see that he is supplied with sufficient sandesh, do not worry.” Everyone was fully pleased and satisfied by Srila Prabhupada’s loving feelings. As my father was leaving the room, he remarked, “Well, I can say two things about your master. He is a brilliant organizer, and he really knows how to deal with people.” And in my father’s system of values, those were the highest compliments.”

COMMENT

And I can add that after Calcutta, I went to Madras. And in Madras, we didn’t have any temple or center, so I was staying at different people’s homes, and I was eating very well in their homes. When my parents had seen me in Calcutta, I was quite thin, but after some time in Madras, I put on weight. And then I invited Srila Prabhupada for a preaching program in Madras, and when Srila Prabhupada saw how healthy I was having gained weight, he said I should take a picture of myself and send it to my mother so she would see that I am healthy. So, he hadn’t forgotten my dear mother’s concern.

So, yes, I mean, my father did try to offer a million dollars to get me back but he was not successful. That is very interesting, after Srila Prabhupada left, a visiting devotee gave a talk in Juhu, in which he told the story of a devotee whose parents tried to offer him a million dollars to leave Krishna consciousness, but they were not successful. But later, after Prabhupada left, the parents died, and the son inherited a million dollars, and he left Krishna consciousness to enjoy the million dollars.

But in my case, I don’t know if I should say this, but in a way, I ended up getting that million dollars, but I didn’t leave Krishna consciousness by Prabhupada’s grace. I used that money to serve Krishna and the devotees by Srila Prabhupada’s grace.

Question number seven, “Maharaja, in the beginning days, you and all the devotees had one common spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Now, in the congregation, there are disciples of so many different gurus. How can we ensure everybody feels equally included, warm and welcome, regardless of who their guru is?”

Well, I mean, Srila Prabhupada is our founder acharya, and he is the foundational shiksha guru for everyone in ISKCON. So, in that sense, we are all in a way shiksha disciples of Srila Prabhupada. And amongst the gurus, I mean, they’re all serving Srila Prabhupada, they’re all representing Srila Prabhupada, they’re preaching the same message, they’re following the same process. So, there really shouldn’t be any discord amongst disciples of different gurus, or any rivalry among disciples of different gurus.

Again, I think of the same instruction, “Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service and not be proud of his own service.” I mean, it may happen naturally, disciples of the same guru will feel a certain kinship or bond with other god-brothers and god-sisters, which is natural. But still, yes, everyone should feel welcome, everyone should feel included, and we shouldn’t allow sectarianism to mar our relationships or pollute the atmosphere. “Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord.”

Host:  Thank you so much, Maharaja, on behalf of Bhaktivedanta Academy ISKCON Narada. Thank you so very much for taking out your time and so patiently answering all the questions, and for giving us your mercy. This was truly, truly, truly an unbelievable experience. Maharaja, before we end today’s Energy Class, would you like to give a final message to our Bhakti-sastri students as your blessings, please?

Giriraj Swami: [laughter] Well, I think of in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was interviewed, maybe on the radio, and the interviewer asked Srila Prabhupada, “Do you have any final message for the people of New York?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes. Don’t live like cats and dogs.”