Attaining Taste For

Glorifying The Lord

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

The following is a discourse by H.H. MahaVishnu Goswami May 2009 in London on a series of verses from the tenth, eleventh and twelfth cantos of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The verses illuminate how a person who is satisfied with whatever life brings him can attain the complete mercy of the Lord. Satisfaction is the prerequisite for hearing and relishing the glories of the Supreme Lord, and thus by following the directions of Maharaja in how to remain satisfied in our situation we can enter into the realm of Srimad Bhagavatam.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.52.31-32, Lord Krishna says:

santusto yarhi varteta
braahmano yena kenacit
ahiyamaanah svad dharmaat
sa hy asyaakhila-kaama-dhuk
asantusto 'sakrl lokaan
aapnoty api suresvarah
akincano 'pi santustah
sete sarvaanga-vijvarah
When a brahmana is satisfied with whatever comes his way and does not fall away from his constitutional position or prescribed religious principles, those very religious principles become his desire cow, fulfilling all his desires. An unsatisfied brahmana wanders restlessly from one planet to another, even if he becomes King of heaven. But a satisfied brahmana, though he may possess nothing, rests peacefully, all his limbs free of distress.

In dreaming also a truly satisfied person does not expect anything from anyone. Whatever the living entities do or give to them, they are grateful to them. As long as we have this material body the same fruitive mentality will be there in likes and dislikes. Because of attachment to the body we are forced to dip into mode of ignorance. Thus we are completely drowned in material existence.

If we expect and it is not supplied we are in distress. When one has nothing to expect from anybody it means that one is peaceful. Ask Krishna for what you want, but don't expect anything from anybody. There is a difference between suggestion and dictation. Suggestions we may put before the Lord, but dictation is left to the Lord. As long as possible you should associate with the deities, and learn the proper behaviour towards the Lord. We may not have sense gratification, but still we cling on with ideas of sense gratification. This clinging must be finished. As soon as you are santosh - satisfied, the clinging is finished.
Lord Krishna says in Srimad Bhagvatam verse 10.52.33

vipraan sva-laabha-santustaan
saadhun bhuta-suhrttamaan
nirahankaarinah saantaan
namasye sirasaasakrt
"I repeatedly bow My head in respect to those brahmanas who are satisfied with their lot. Saintly, prideless and peaceful, they are the best well-wishers of all living beings."

For a satisfied person in Krishna conscious there is no enmity, everywhere there is friendliness. Sincere efforts are there to improve our economic condition, but the result should be left to Him. Once we have developed the santosh, satisfaction, we are eligible candidates to enter into the realm of Krishna.

There are five things Krishna wants:

1: Satisfied with their lot
2: Saintly
3: Peaceful
4: Prideless
5: Well-wisher of all living entities

These five becomes SSPPW (Double-S, Double-P and Double-You)
If you follow that, Krishna will be forced to bow down to you! So at any cost we should follow these. We can do nothing – everything is under Krishna’s control. So let him execute His control and we will be satisfied.

1) sva-laabha-santushtaan (satisfied and happy in all respects) - What is the meaning of being happy? Being happy means that whatever you get you are satisfied. If you get chappati you are satisfied, if there is no chappati you are satisfied.

2) saadhun (saintly) - Don’t look to what others are doing. If you want Krishna to bow down to you, you have to be saintly.

3) suhrittamaan - a saintly person is a natural well-wisher of everyone, because he is

4) nirahankaar - prideless

5) shaanta - then peacefulness follows

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.14.16, Lord Krishna says,

nirapeksam munim saantam
nirvairam sama-darsanam
anuvrajaamy aham nityam
puyeyety anghri-renubhih
"With the dust of My devotees' lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within Me. Thus, I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who do not expect anything from anyone, who are silent in material things, who are peaceful, without any feelings of enmity, and of equal disposition everywhere."

A person in Krishna consciousness is silent in material matters, but in spiritual matters he is very open.

This verse is a description of Santosh: - a person who is satisfied is

1) Nirapeksham – he doesn’t expect anything, that’s why
2) Munim – he doesn’t speak of anything else but Krishna, therefore
3) Shaanta - he is peaceful
4) Samadarshanam - he is equipoised and therefore
5) Nirvairam - he has no enemies

So if you

1) don’t expect anything
2) are silent
3) are peaceful
4) are equipoised and
5) you have no enemies

- then the Lord bows down to you.

Then, when you are satisfied, the result of being satisfied is that you do sankirtana, chant the glories of the Lord.
While summarising the topics discussed in Srimad Bhagavatam, Suta Goswami says in verse 12.12.48

sankirtyamaano bhagavaan anantah
srutaanubhaavo vyasanam hi pumsaam
pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesam
yathaa tamo 'rko 'bhram ivaati-vaatah
"When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead or simply hear about His power, the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every trace of misfortune, just as the sun removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds."

Sometimes we may squeak the Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavatam. Squeaking doesn’t have any potency. In that situation also Krishna is very kind to the living entities. Krishna enters the heart and cleanses our life. If we can force the living entities to hear Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavatam, or names of Krishna, kirtan chanting, they will be helped to clear their life. That is why we follow the Harinamas and festivals, rathayatra. The purpose is to force the living entities to hear the Harinama.

Suta Goswami further continues in verse 12.12.49

mrsaa giras taa hy asatir asat-kathaa
na kathyate yad bhagavaan adhoksajah
tad eva satyam tad u haiva mangalam
tad eva punyam bhagavad-gunodayam
Words that do not describe the transcendental Personality of Godhead but instead deal with temporary matters are simply false and useless. Only those words that manifest the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord are actually truthful, auspicious and pious.

We have to be serious about our own sadhana and from that everything will spring up. Don’t worry keep on reading Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavatam, have your own humble altar and everything will be auspicious.
In verse 12.12.50 he says:

tad eva ramyam ruciram navam navam
tad eva sasvan manaso mahotsavam
tad eva sokaarnava-sosanam nrnaam
yad uttamahsloka-yaso 'nugiyate
Those words describing the glories of the all-famous Personality of Godhead are attractive, relishable and ever fresh. Indeed, such words are a perpetual festival for the mind, and they dry up the ocean of misery.

As soon as we chant feelingly the Lords names we come to the Bhagavad gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Eating gives pushti - nourishment to the body, whereas bhakti gives pushti to body and soul. We may discuss for a whole day and not feel like taking prasadam. The verse must be concentrated upon. For Bhagavatam there must be long time. Instead we waste our time. How many hours, days, years have already gone? The more you can do Bhagavatam the other things will be arranged, therefore we should make it a point to do more of Bhagavatam and less of other things. Prasadam, the Lords mercy, will then fill in through the ears, and past lamentation and future concoction will be finished. Like this we should be in the present with Bhagavatam.


Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.