Hare Krishna,
We know māyā affects us through mind. But while chanting Lord's name we are associating with Krishna, then why mind goes to various things during chanting ? Is not mind going to various object while chanting indicate māyā acting in presence of Krishna ?
It says :
CC Madhya 22.31 : kṛṣṇa — sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra .. yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra
=> Then why māyā acting while we are associating with Krishna through His holy name ? Why we need to struggle so much to keep mind intact in holy name if - As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.
Is this verse applicable specially to those who are advanced in bhakti ? Please help to understand meaning of this sloka well (share references if possible for further study). Thanks a lot.
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nanadana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
Replies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ad82ydn2Ug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3u8smhJvHI
I am sorry this to post these two vid from other organisation but still they are also having Krishna in them also., I don't think it would be any bother.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!!!!
The sloka which u stated -
kṛṣṇa — sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra .. yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikār
This is applicable to all devotees nothing like advanced or starter devotee. But the point here which das anu das prabhu stated is right. When u do sankirtan in temple or in a congregation with many devotees like in a temple that place maya doesn't bother becoz , we all have observed when we r in temple and during aarti time we all start to dance and completely involve in that.
Mind is not thinking of the time, place or even it doesn't think then about either past or future. Most of the time when the mind is resting we either plan for future or brood over our past. But during group sankirtan yes. That is possible Maya wont dare to bother us. Devotee association is must in Kaliyug.!
1. first check point is stopping all sense distractions ( TV, Mobile etc.)
2. second check point is restricting senses ( controlling ur senses even when TV ,moblie etc., is on).
3. Third check point is using intellect ( buddhi) to discriminate between real and unreal / temporary and permanent things /happiness of body vs bliss of soul).
senses do their job. u cannot sit closing ur eyes , mouth, nose and ears. but you can train ur mind not to react to these by giving commands. Mind is under control of intellect. apply buddhi. Lastly.,
lsri-bhagavan uvaca
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate
The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ad82ydn2Ug
Hare Krishna.
Thanks for these beautiful instructions and those great videos. They are really helpful. I shall try to make use of these teachings. Thanks a lot.
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nandana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
Thank you very much mataji for these nice piece of information. I understand sincerity and determination in the key. I must strive for these qualities as No success possible without these. Still I am looking for the meaning of the part of the sloka - "As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish".
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nandana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
Hare Krsna
Is it applicable for those who are advanced in bhakti ?
No, it is applicable to everyone.
why mind goes to various things during chanting ?
If mind goes to various things during chanting it means mind is not chanting. Hence maya captures the mind. If mind is chanting then maya cannot capture the mind.
What happens typically is that when a devotee sits for chanting, the intention is to fully absorb in the holy names. Tounge chants, ears grasp sound. But the key is mind. Mind needs to concentrate on hearing the sound vibration. That is the way mind gets purified. While mind is concentrating on holy names, maya tries to allure the mind towards material things. The trick is to say no to the allurements of maya and continue to focus on hearing the holy names of Krsna.
Is not mind going to various object while chanting indicate māyā acting in presence of Krishna ?
Yes, but maya is not winning over Krsna, maya is winning over the mind. Mind leaves Krsna and goes to maya.
Mind is a very active element. Mind makes a choice. As long as mind is concentrating on Krsna, Maya cannot separate mind from Krsna. But maya can allure the mind away from Krsna. The solution is to stay focused on Krsna. How ? Krsna gives the answer in BG 6.35 - By practice and detachment. Srila Prabhupad explains what practice & detachment in purport
By the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, one engages in nine types of devotional service to the Lord. The first and foremost of such devotional engagements is hearing about Kṛṣṇa. This is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the mind of all misgivings. The more one hears about Kṛṣṇa, the more one becomes enlightened and detached from everything that draws the mind away from Kṛṣṇa. By detaching the mind from activities not devoted to the Lord, one can very easily learn vairāgya.
Then why māyā acting while we are associating with Krishna through His holy name ?
Because mind has material desires. Material energy controls mind through material desires.
Every time the mind says no to maya while chanting, maya is weakened, material desires reduce and our spiritual strength increases. But maya will come again with greater allurements. We have to again say no to maya and focus on Krsna. This will go on till we lose all material desires completely. When all material desires are eradicated then mind cannot trouble, it will in fact take us towards Krsna.
Why we need to struggle so much to keep mind intact in holy name if - As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.
Because we haven't fully taken to Krsna consciousness. We have lot of material desires in our mind. We are attached to these material desires, very much. We are more attached to our material desires than we are attached to Krsna or Krsna consciousness.
Then doesn't it mean that the verse CC Madhya 22.31 is only applicable to only very pure devotees then ?
No, even those who are chanting in nama-abhasa stage can can understand that Holy names of Krsna is purifying the mind and liberating from the ignorance of material existence.
There 3 stages - 1. Offensive or nama-aparadha, 2. Clearing of offences or nama-abhasa stage & 3. Pure chanting or Shuddha nama stage.
Hare Krsna
Thank you Prabhuji for your great reply as always. I suppose for now I got my answer here - "mind is not chanting".
Along with few key points :
1. Need to improve on hearing.
2. We have to say no to maya and focus on Krsna repeatedly.
3. Try to clear of offences.
Regarding 3 stages of chanting, I will try to search, but still if you have any good lecture explaining them, may you please share. Thank you.
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nandana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
naham tisthami vaikunthe yoginam hrdayesu va
mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada
na—not; aham—I; tisthami—stay; vaikunthe—in Vaikuntha; yoginam—of the yogis; hrdayesu—in the hearts; va—or; mat-bhaktah—My devotees; yatra—where; gayanti—they chant about Me; tatra—there; tisthami—I stay; narada—o Narada Muni.
My dear Narada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuntha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogis, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities.
here bhaktah is meant as plural, devotees. (not single devotee). Srila Prabhupad said we should chant in association of devotees.
Hence where devotees (plural) chant, Krishna is present,
forgive me this may be incomplete answer ...
Jai Sri Ram
wonderful answer,impressive
Das anu das said right., when we r in temple and doing sankirtan that place maya really wont bother us we are fully in Kc during that time. where hari bhakts are aggregated and doing chanting taking holy name or kirtan togerther that place maya is not able to enter.
Hare Krishna.
Yes mataji, I understand and agree to Das and Das Prabhuji's point.
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nandana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
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