Similarly, yogis, they also want power, material power. Anima laghima siddhi. Asta-siddhi. So if you have some power, you can fly in the air, you can walk over the water, you can get anything you desire immediately. These are yoga-siddhi. So that is also satisfying own sense gratification. So except bhakti, everything is for sense gratification. That is unfavorable. Krsna does not want to satisfy anyone's senses. That is not Krsna's business. Krsna is the Supreme. He wants everyone should serve Him. He's not going to serve anyone. That is Krsna's position. Therefore anyone who serves Krsna and preaches this philosophy, to serve Krsna, that is favorable. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Generally, people are engaged in different activities to get some material profit, while most philosophers are engaged in proposing transcendental realization through volumes of word jugglery and speculation. Pure devotional service must always be free from such fruitive activities and philosophical speculations. One has to learn Krsna consciousness, or pure devotional service..."

Prabhupada: Yes. Jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Pure devotional service should be uncovered by the motive of nirbheda-brahmanusandhana, the motive of karma and motive of jnana. That is pure devotional service. No motive.

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam...
[Brs. 1.1.11]

Simply to do things which Krsna wants to do, that is bhakti. That is pure bhakti. Go on.

Pradyumna: "One has to learn Krsna consciousness or pure devotional service from the authorities by spontaneous loving service."

Prabhupada: Spontaneous. This service should be spontaneous, not forced. Just like a father loves his son spontaneously. A young man likes to love a young girl spontaneously. So bhakti should be like that. As soon as one hears the name of Krsna, immediately, spontaneously, he should be ready to serve Him. That is pure devotion. Not that forced. In the beginning, we have to force, that "You rise early in the morning. There is mangala aratrika. You have to perform it." But when this function will be done spontaneously, "Oh, this is the time to offer mangala aratrika to my Lord..." That is wanted. That is wanted. Not that "Oh, it is a heavy burden to rise early in the morning and to offer mangala aratrika." That is not spontaneous. But one has to act under the direction of spiritual master and sastra, which is called vidhi-bhakti, regulative devotional service, he comes to the platform of spontaneous service.

We have got an example in this connection. Formerly there was child-marriage. Boys and girls were married at the age of ten years, twelve years. So at that time, there was no practically love. But the guardians, they induced the girl to go and offer her husband some eatables, to give her some service. In this way... That was just like regulative. But when they actually come in the platform of attraction, there is no need of direction. So the spontaneous love, when spontaneously we shall serve Krsna, without any obligation, without any force, that is required. Spontaneous love, raga-marga. Go on.

Pradyumna: "This devotional service is a sort of civilization. It is not simply inaction for people who like to be inactive or devote their time to silent meditation. There are many different methods for people who want this, but civilization of Krsna consciousness is different. The particular word used by Srila Rupa Gosvami is this connection is anusilana, or cultivation by following the predecessor teachers, or acaryas. As soon as we say 'cultivation,' we must refer to activity. Without activity, consciousness alone cannot help us.' "

Prabhupada: Yes. People say that inactivity, silence, that is perfection. But no. In bhakti cultivation, there is no such thing silence. Always active. The same example can be given that Arjuna... Arjuna became devotee not by silence, but by being active. Activity, spontaneous activity. "I have to do this. My Lord will be pleased. So I have to do this." Activity. But if I have no idea what is Lord, what does He want, how He's pleased, if we do not know all these things, naturally there will be no activity. But one who knows what is this Lord, what does He want, what is my relationship with Him, then there is activity. So actually, that bhakti, bhakti is not silence. Bhakti is activity.

Just like personally, up to seventy years, I was practically doing nothing. But at the age of seventy years, by the grace of God, Krsna, there was inspiration. I went to western countries. Not to sit down there silently. So bhakti, the path is not inactivity. Actual activity begins when one is situated on devotional service. It is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, brahma-bhutah prasannatma. When one is brahma-bhutah, self-realized, he's prasannatma, joyful, anandamaya. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. He has no desire to fulfill, neither he has lamentation. Here, in the material world, we hanker after things which we do not possess. "I want this. I want that." And we cry when the thing is lost. Na socati. But a brahma-bhutah, when one is self-realized, when one knows that he's not this body, he's spirit soul, he's part and parcel of Brahman, at that time, he becomes joyful. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati, samah sarvesu bhutesu. And he sees everyone on the equal footing. Because Brahman-realized. He knows everyone is not this body. He's spirit soul, part and parcel of Supreme Brahman. This position, when one comes to this platform, brahma-bhutah stage, mad-bhaktim labhate param. That is the stage to be promoted to the Brahman activity.

The nirvisesa, impersonalists, they want to stop activity, but actually Bhagavan, Krsna, says that real activity begins when one is self-realized, one is situated in Brahman realization. Brahman realization does not mean to stop. Brahman realization means to act for Krsna, not for sense gratification. That is Brahman realization. Mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54]. And in that bhakti stage, bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Actually, simply by executing devotional service, being freed from all material contamination, when one is engaged in devotional service, bhakti, that process, bhakti process can help one to understand what is God. Bhaktya mam abhijanati. It is not said that by karma, "karmana mam abhijanati." No. "Jnanena mam abhijanati." Abhijanati, tattvatah, if one wants to know God in truth, then he must take to devotional service. And this devotional service, actual devotional service begins when one is Brahman realized.

So one may argue, "Does it mean that all the bhaktas... We see they are not even educated... How he has realized Brahman?" That answer is given in the Bhagavad-gita that

mam ca avyabhicarini
bhakti-yogena yah sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]

This very platform of serving Krsna, avyabhicarini, without any adulteration, means without any motive... When one is engaged in Krsna's service without any motive... Not that "I establish a Deity in the temple with a motive that people will come, will give money, and I shall make it a path of earning my livelihood." That is not devotion. Devotion is without any motive. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. So without any motive, when one is engaged in devotional service, that is brahma-bhutah stage. That is liberated stage. According to Bhagavata, liberation, mukti, means to be situated in one's constitutional position. That is called mukti. Muktir hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih [SB 2.10.6]. Hitva anyatha rupa.

Now because we are designated, we have got this body, designation, therefore we are situated in different positions. Somebody's working for his family. Somebody's working for his community. Somebody's working for his nation. But this is anyatha rupam. This is depending on the bodily designation. "I am American. I am Indian. Therefore I must sacrifice everything for my country, for my nation." This is anyatha rupam. And when we engage ourself that "I am Krsna's part and parcel. Krsna is my master. I am His eternal servant. I must work for Krsna." That is mukti. That is liberation. So anyone who is working for spreading Krsna consciousness, he has no other motive than to satisfy Krsna. He has no other motive than to satisfy the representative of Krsna. Therefore they are hitva anyatha rupam.

These European, American boys, they are working for Krsna. It is practical. They are not working for their community, country or nation. Neither Krsna is their God. According to common understanding, in the Dictionary it is said Krsna is Hindu God. But they are not working for Hindu God. They are working for Krsna. Krsna says that

sarva-yonisu kauteya
sambhavanti murtayah yah
tasam mahad-yonir brahma
aham bija-pradah pita
[Bg. 14.4]

They have understood this philosophy that Krsna is neither Indian nor Hindu or this or that. Krsna is Supreme Personality of Godhead. He's father of everyone. They've understood in this spirit. Therefore they're working for Krsna. Without any motive. This is practical. Not only Europe and... Everywhere. Everywhere, all over the world. Why? Because Krsna consciousness is there in everybody.

Nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti. This devotional service of Krsna is dormant in everyone. It is, it has to be awakened. That's all. Sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya. Simply by hearing, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanam [SB 1.2.17]. If you simply hear Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam from the representative of Krsna... As Caitanya Mahaprabhu directed, bhagavata paro diya bhagavata sthane. One should hear about Bhagavata from the devotee. There are two kinds of Bhagavata, the book Bhagavata and the person Bhagavata. So we have to relish the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the contents of Srimad-Bhagavatam, from a devotee who is self-realized. Then it will be very nice. Satam prasangad mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah. When you hear about Krsna from a Krsna devotee, it becomes very pleasing to the ear and the heart. Hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah. Therefore to become Krsna conscious, to become a devotee of Krsna... Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Tad vidhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. This is the process. So this Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is the science of devotional service. If one wants to become a devotee of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead...

When we speak of Krsna, Krsna means all Visnu forms, all Visnu forms. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu, krsnah svayam samabhavad paramah puman yo [Bs. 5.39]. All incarnations, they are also Krsna, expansion of Krsna. But Krsna, this Personality of Godhead, Krsna, He's the Supreme Person. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. So these things are explained in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, as they are in the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam. The summary, the juice of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, devotional service is given in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. We have translated this book as Nectar of Devotion. And you'll be pleased to hear that in some of the universities in U.S.A. this book has been recommended as study book in the religious class. They're now reading regularly.

So we shall stop now. It is dark. There is no light. Hare Krsna. Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 28, 1972


The Nectar of Devotion
--
Vrndavana, October 29, 1972

Pradyumna: (reading) "...may be divided into two classes: one class may be for achieving a certain goal, and the other may be for avoiding some unfavorable circumstances. In Sanskrit these activities are called pravrtti and nirvrtti, positive and negative action. There are many examples of negative action. For example, a diseased person has to be cautious and take medicine in order to avoid some unfavorable illness. Those who are cultivating spiritual life and executing devotional service are always engaged in activity. Such activity can be performed with the mind or with the, with the body or with the mind. Thinking, feeling and willing are all activities of the mind, and when we will do something, the activity comes to be manifest by the gross bodily senses. Thus, in our mental activities, we should always try to think of Krsna and try to plan how to please Him, following in the footsteps of the great acaryas and the personal spiritual master. There are activities of the body, activities of the different senses, and activities of speech. A Krsna conscious person engages his words in preaching the glories of the Lord. This is called kirtana. And by his mind a Krsna conscious person always thinks of the activities of the Lord as He is speaking on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra or engaging in His various pastimes at Vrndavana with His devotees. In this way, one can always think of the activities and pastimes of the Lord. This is the mental culture of Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: So Krsna consciousness is not inactivity. This we have discussed yesterday. Actually the activity is being influenced by the soul. But it is being expressed through intelligence, mind and body. The activities are coming from the spiritual platform, but because it is now contaminated by the material coverings, the activities are not very adjusted. Diseased activities. The thinking, feeling, and willing... This thinking, feeling, and willing now polluted on account of material coverings. Therefore we have to revert to the thinking, feeling, and willing by Krsna consciousness. As it is explained here, that we shall always think of Krsna's activities, we shall always feel for satisfying Krsna, and we shall always will to enact as He desires.

The same feeling... Nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe yukta-vairagyam ucyate. Srila Rupa Gosvami has given us two formulas how to become Krsna consciousness, or how to remain in Krsna consciousness. So one formula is that anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. You should not be attached to the visayas. Just like we have got a tendency to construct a skyscraper building. As in your country, you do. So you should not attached to the skyscraper building, but you can utilize the tendency by constructing a big temple like skyscraper for Krsna. In this way, you have to purify your material activities.

Actually in pure Krsna consciousness there is nothing material. I have several times explained. Material activities means activities without Krsna consciousness. That is material activity. Just like we are speaking through this microphone. We do not reject it as material. We take it as spiritual. Because it is being used in spreading Krsna consciousness. Anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. Yatha arhati, as it deserves. Because this microphone is made of material elements, earth, water, fire, air... But this, if we remember that these material energies, earth, water, air, fire, sky, even mind, intelligence, ego... Prakrti me, prakrti me bhinna astadha. They're also energies of Krsna. They're not separate from Krsna. Therefore if Krsna is spirit, then these so-called material elements, they are also spirit. But it is used as material because we do not remember the relationship of these material elements with Krsna. Therefore the conclusion is when we are forgetful of Krsna, then it is material. Otherwise, there is nothing as material. Everything is spiritual. Because brahmanah sakti.

It is described in the Visnu Purana. Eka-desa sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha, sarvedam brahmanah sakti... I just don't remember the whole verse. So everything, this is sakti-parinama-vada. Sakti-parinama-vada. Everything... Sarvam khalu idam brahma. Everything that we experience, that is manifestation of the energy of Krsna. Sarvedam akhilam jagat. Brahmanah sakti. Sakti and saktiman, they are not different. So if we accept everything as expansion of brahmanah sakti, energy of Krsna, and utilize it for Krsna, then there is nothing, such thing as material. Everything becomes spiritual. So if we think in that way, thinking, feeling, and willing, if we utilize our psychological activities in Krsna consciousness, then we keep steady in attached with Krsna. Yukta-vairagyam ucyate. Vairagya means renunciation. We do not require to renounce anything, provided we see everything dovetailed in Krsna consciousness. That is required. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Similarly, we can offer many services with our bodily activities, but all such activities must be in relationship with Krsna. This relationship is established by connecting oneself with the bona fide spiritual master who is the direct representative of Krsna in disciplic succession. Therefore the execution of Krsna consciousness activities with the body should be directed by the spiritual master and then performed with faith."

Prabhupada: Yes. We should not manufacture in our own way that: "This is Krsna's activity." It must be confirmed by the spiritual master. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained in his comment on Bhagavad-gita in connection with the verse vyavasayatmika-buddhih ekeha kuru-nandana... Vyavasayatmika-buddhih, niscayatmika-buddhih. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that "Whatever order I get from my spiritual master, that is my life and soul. I must execute it thoroughly, without caring for my personal convenience or inconvenience. That is called vyavasayatmika-buddhi." Eka. We cannot manufacture anything as Krsna conscious activities, but we must be ready always to carry out the order of spiritual master who is representative of Krsna. Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastrair **. The spiritual master is recognized as the bona fide representative of Krsna. Saksad dharitvena. Therefore he should be offered respect as good as to Krsna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado **. And if we can please our spiritual master, then we please Krsna.

Just... Somebody says that "Krsna appeared five thousand years ago. He's no longer present. Then how we shall execute Krsna's order?" Krsna's order can be executed by executing the order of the spiritual master. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado **. We cannot disobey. Yasyaprasadad na gatih kuto 'pi. This is the process. In Caitanya-caritamrta it has been very extensively explained what is the position of the spiritual master. But at the same time, the spiritual master does not accept himself as he's God or Krsna like the Mayavadis. No. the bona fide spiritual master always thinks of himself as the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayoh dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Not that "Because my disciples accept me as good as Krsna, and because my disciples offer me respect exactly he offers respect to Krsna..." That does not mean I am Krsna. I am servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. This is the position. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The connection with the spiritual master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection between Krsna and a person cultivating Krsna consciousness is established. Without initiation by a bona fide spiritual master, the actual connection with Krsna consciousness is never performed."

Prabhupada: Yes. We must connect with the current. Just like you have heated your room with electrical wires, but if you do not touch it with the current going on, then simply electrical heating with not help you. Similarly, initiation is essential. Adau gurvasrayam. Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu for executing proper spiritual life, one must take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Person who is actually interested in uttamam. Uttamam means transcendental. Udgata-tamam. After darkness. This material world is darkness. Tamasi ma jyotir gamah. The spiritual world is full of light. Therefore anything spiritual, that is called uttamam. There...

Krsna's another name is Uttama-sloka. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naistiki. Krsna does not belong to this material world. Only the fools and rascals, they think of Krsna having material body. Avajananti mam mudhah manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Krsna is always in His spiritual body, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Similarly, if we establish our bona fide relationship with the spiritual master, representative of Krsna, immediately our connection with Krsna becomes established. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The cultivation of Krsna consciousness is not material. The Lord has generally three energies, namely, the external energy, the internal energy, and the marginal energy. The living entities are called marginal energy and the material cosmic manifestation is the action of the external or material energy. Then..."

Prabhupada: So parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. The Supreme Absolute Truth, Personality of Godhead, has got innumerable, multi-energies. Out of that, learned scholars, devotees, they have divided the whole energy into three, external, internal, and marginal. So the living entities, they are production of the marginal energy. The living entity is energy, prakrti. Not the purusa. Purusa is Krsna. We are all prakrtis, all living entities. Prakrti means predominated, and purusa means predominator. Just like we see, ordinarily, husband and wife, the husband is predominator and the wife is predominated. Although there is no difference between husband and wife. They are one, divided into two. Similarly, prakrti and purusa, they are one. They are not two.

It is explained by Svarupa Damodara: radha-krsna-prakr..., pranaya-vikrtir hladini saktir asmad ekatmanav api pura deha-bhedo gatau tau. Radha-Krsna, They are one. But, although They are one, They bifurcated Themselves as Radha and Krsna. So there is no difference between Radha and Krsna. Radha is the superior energy, or spiritual energy. And Krsna is the energetic. Similarly, this material world is external energy. Similarly, the living entities, they're marginal energy, between the external and internal energy. The living entities are called marginal energy because the living energy has to act under another energy, that either material energy or spiritual energy. So when the living entity is under spiritual energy, that is his normal condition, and when he's under the material energy, that is his abnormal condition. We should always remember. Material energy means forgetfulness of Krsna. Just like in this material world, everything is there, but it is lacking in Krsna consciousness. You travel all over the world, you'll see there is profuse arrangement of sense gratification, but there is no arrangement for understanding Krsna. This is called material energy. But if you bring in Krsna in the so-called material energy, it becomes spiritual energy.

Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is awakening that spiritual energy of the living entity. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. The mahatma and duratma. What is the difference? The difference is the duratma is under the influence of external energy. Bahir-artha-maninah. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. When we are too much engrossed with the concept of bodily life, "I am this body," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am brahmana," "I am ksatriya," when we are influenced by the bodily concept of life, that is called material energy. And when we are influenced by the spiritual energy, we always think that "I am servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna." Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayoh dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Naham vipro na ca nara-patir. "I am neither brahmana or ksatriya or vaisya and sudra or sannyasi or brahmacari." This, this is a verse given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He denies any material designation, and He informs us also that jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. When we feel actually that "I am eternal servant of Krsna," that is our liberation. Hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih [SB 2.10.6]. This is svarupa. When you are existing as servant of Krsna, then you are mukta, liberated. You haven't got to endeavor separately for becoming free or liberated. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Then there is the spiritual world, which is a manifestation of the internal energy. The living entities who are called marginal energies, energy, perform material activities when acting under the inferior, external energy. And when they engage in activities under the internal, spiritual energy, their activities are called Krsna conscious. This means that those who are great souls, or great devotees, do not act under the spell of material energy, but act instead under the protection of the spiritual energy."

Prabhupada: Hmm. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. They do not act under the influence... Ordinary persons, they see that "Devotees are acting like us." No. Their activities are under the influence of spiritual energy. It, it, it looks similar like the karmis, jnanis, but bhaktas are different from karmis and jnanis. Jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. They are not influenced by the tenets of jnana and karma. They are influenced by activities which can satisfy Krsna. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anusilanam activities, culture. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. So they are simply engaged in Krsna activities. Although it looks similar to the ordinary activities. Therefore they misunderstand. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is fighting and another soldier is fighting the other side. But Arjuna's activities as soldier is devotional service. Because he's trying to please Krsna. Other side, they're fighting for their own interest, how to become victorious and take up the kingdom. That was their idea. Here, Arjuna, he did not like to fight, but when he understood that "Krsna desires this fighting," he engaged in it. Therefore his fighting was to satisfy Krsna, not to satisfy his senses. As it is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta, to satisfy one's own senses, that is called kama, and to satisfy the senses of Krsna, that is called prema. That is the difference. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Any activities done in devotional service or in Krsna consciousness are directly under the control of spiritual energy. In other words, energy is a sort of strength and this strength can be..."

Prabhupada: This is spiritual energy. Just like Arjuna is fighting. That energy is inspired by Krsna. So Arjuna took it, "I must fight. Krsna wants it. I must satisfy Krsna." This is spiritual energy. Just see. The other party, they are also fighting in the same energy, but they have no Krsna consciousness. So to act in Krsna consciousness is nothing wonderful. Simply you have to divert the energy for Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. Everyone has got energy, but when it is enacted for one's sense gratification, that is material. And when it is enacted for the satisfaction of Krsna, that is spiritual. Try to understand the difference between material and spiritual. Go on.
Pradyumna: "In other words, energy is a sort of strength, and this strength can be spiritualized by the mercy of both the bona fide spiritual master and Krsna."

Prabhupada: Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. We have to acquire this energy through the mercy of guru and Krsna. So Krsna is within as caitya-guru, and when we are serious He comes out as the spiritual master. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru. So there is no difference between siksa-guru and diksa-guru and Krsna. Krsna manifests Himself externally as siksa-guru and diksa-guru. Go on.

Pradyumna: "In the Caitanya-caritamrta by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami..."

Prabhupada: (Hindi)

Pradyumna: "...Lord Caitanya states that it is a fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. One who is serious about spiritual life is given by Krsna the intelligence to come in contact with a bona fide spiritual master, and then, by the grace of the spiritual master, one becomes advanced in Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is the statement in the Caitanya-caritamrta.

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Cc. Madhya 19.151]

We are wandering in different species of life in different planets. Brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva. Not all, fortunate. One must be very much fortunate to come in contact with Krsna and guru. So how that fortunate becomes possible? It is called ajnata-sukrti. Sukrti and duskrti, these two words are used in Bhagavad-gita. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. There is the word, duskrti. And sukrti. Catur-vidha bhajanti mam sukrti 'rjuna. So this sukrti, this fortune, there is a chance which is called ajnata-sukrti. Ajnata-sukrti means just like Krsna's representative is preaching all over the world, and if somebody comes in contact with that representative of Krsna, and satisfies him, he acquires some ajnata-sukrti. This is called ajnata-sukrti. He does not know what spiritual benefit he's achieving by serving the representative of Krsna. He does not know. But he acquires it imperceptibly. This is called ajnata-sukrti. So when ajnata-sukrti is accumulated, then he becomes fortunate. That is called kono bhagyavan jiva.

Just like Sukadeva Gosvami is describing about the cowherd boys who were playing with Krsna.

ittham (satam) brahma-sukhanubhutya
dasyam gatanam para-daivatena
mayasritanam nara-darakena
sakam vijahruh krta-punya-punjah
[SB 10.12.11]

Krta-punya-punjah. These boys who are playing with Krsna as cowherd boys, they are not ordinary boys. Sukadeva Gosvami says. They are krta-punya-punjah. For many, many lives, they accumulated their pious activities and thus now they have got the association of Krsna to play with Him. Krta-punya-punjah. Similarly, these ajnata-sukrti, when they are accumulated... Just like you deposit in the bank, four annas, two annas. In this way, one day it becomes one hundred rupees. Similarly, these ajnata-sukrti, when they're accumulated, that makes the fortune of a person to associate with guru and Krsna.

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Cc. Madhya 19.151]

mali hana sei bija kara aropana
sravana-kirtana-jale karaye...

So bija means seed. Bhakti-lata seed. Bhakti's compared just like a creeper. The creeper does not stand alone. It embraces another tree and then it grows. Similarly, bhakti-lata, bhakti always embraces the lotus feet of Krsna, and then grows. Therefore it is called bhakti-lata. So bhakti-lata-bija. If one is fortunate, by accumulating this imperceptible good activities, by association with devotees, then he gets this bhakti-lata-bija, the seed of bhakti-lata. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, mali hana bija kare aropana. Just like you get some nice seed of rose flower. So if you sow it on the ground, just becoming a nice gardener, and pour water, then it gradually grows. So we have to take the bhakti-lata-bija from the bona fide spiritual master, and sow it within the heart. Taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani sraddha bhaktir anukramisyati. And pour water. Just like simply sowing the seed is not your business is finished. You have to sow, you have to pour water. So what is that pouring water?

mali hana sei bija kare aropana
sravana-kirtana-jale karaye secana
[Cc. Madhya 19.152]

This is the watering, hearing about Krsna, chanting about Krsna. So you take the bhakti-lata-bija from the spiritual master. That is called initiation. And develop it by pouring water of hearing and chanting. Then it will grow. One day it will grow so big that it will penetrate the walls of this universe. It will go to the spiritual world, and gradually go to the Goloka Vrndavana and catch up the lotus feet of Krsna, and then produce its fruits, and you will enjoy by eating the fruits. Go on. What is the time?

Devotee: Six o'clock Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: All right. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 29, 1972


The Nectar of Devotion
--
Vrndavana, October 31, 1972

Pradyumna: (reading) Page xxi. "In the Caitanya-caritamrta, by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Lord Caitanya states that it is a fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. One who is serious about spiritual life is given by Krsna the intelligence to come in contact with a bona fide spiritual master."

Prabhupada: Yes. Here it is stated, "It is..., it is a fortunate person." Not the unfortunate. "It is the fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master." This question, we were just discussing before coming to the class, how to select a bona fide spiritual master. So that is not very difficult. Just like in our ordinary business life, we accept somebody as representative of the firm who is actually come, canvassing for the benefit of the firm. He's representative. Suppose he's representing some book seller, publisher, so he should canvass for selling the books published by his firm, not for anything else. Suppose he has taken the advantage of becoming representative of a business firm, but he's doing his own business. He's not bona fide. He's not bona fide. So real guru is Krsna. Krsna... Aham eva asam agre. Krsna existed before the creation. Then He made His representative, Brahma. Tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. He instructed the original guru, Brahma. Because there was no other living creature, except Brahma, in the beginning of creation, and He instructed Brahma. Tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. There are other versions in the Vedas, that He instructed Brahma. So therefore, the original guru is Krsna. The same guru, Krsna, is instructing Arjuna also. Krsna became guru of Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Him guru: sisyas te 'ham [Bg. 2.7]. Arjuna said, "Now I am not talking with You as friend, but I accept You as my guru." Therefore, by sastric conclusion, Krsna is the original guru. Who can deny it? Krsna is jagat-guru. He's guru of everyone, because everyone (is) accepting this authority of Krsna. Anyone is accepting the authority of Bhagavad-gita, he's accepting, imperceptibly, Krsna as guru. Therefore, bona fide spiritual master means who is representing Krsna. Who can deny it?

So to find out a bona fide spiritual master is not a very difficult job, because if one is representing guru, Krsna, then he must speak of Krsna, canvass for Krsna. What do you think, Visanji?

Indian man: Jaya, Maharaja.

Prabhupada: So that is bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty to find out a bona fide guru? Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "You preach the words of Krsna." Therefore He's bona fide. Similarly, anyone who is representing Krsna and canvassing for Krsna, he's bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty? Is there any difficulty? Anyone can understand that if Krsna is the original guru, and if somebody's canvassing for Krsna, he's bona fide guru. If somebody canvassing for himself, he's not bona fide guru. So there is no difficulty to find out a bona fide guru, provided I am serious to find out a bona fide guru. But if I want something else... Because hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani. If in my heart there is something else, then I must be cheated by some..., somebody else who is not a bona fide guru. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].

So to find out a bona fide guru, spiritual master, is not very difficult. It is very easy. Krsna says explicitly, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. This knowledge, Vedic knowledge, is received by parampara system.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972