Don't Talk But Walk

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

In a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 3.32.34- 36 Maharaja explains about karma, vikarma and akarma activities. From the three kinds of actions, namely action, forbidden action and inaction, the best among these three is action and still better is action with fruitless desires. This is called seva. Connecting these verses of Srimad Bhagavatam with verse from Bhagavad gita 4.17 Gurudeva said that all instructions opposite to Bhagavad gita are vikarma or forbidden activities or simply uncontrolled activities. e.g. smoking, gambling, chewing tobacco etc. These activities bring in different kinds of diseases. Diseases also come in through laziness and this is due to lying in bed - inaction. Laziness is the first symptoms of Kali yuga and the reason for this is absence of Svadhyaya - studying and researching and ultimately preaching of the scriptures. Sleep should be minimized for the movement of the body. Movement is necessary for the body by walking and for the soul by studying. Maharaja said that not simply moving, even thieves move during night - no, not that, this is misdirection. Movement means instead of going to gym, the same thing can be done at home and office by cleaning the environment, our surroundings etc, walking as much as possible will keep you active and chanting is movement of the mouth. Good association, homemade food and simple living are compulsory. Why force our body to detoriate? Why do what other general mass of people do? Either they are lacking perfect knowledge or either they are ignoring it. When you have some pain and if you ignore it, it does not go away, but increases.

Gurudeva adviced us to perform only productive labor. Don't talk but walk. Here talking means reading the scriptures only philosophically and walking means putting the same thing into practice. Don't see what others do not do, see what you can do. Because knowing is not enough - following is necessary. We ignore purity by following impurity. By not following the scriptures perfectly we give power to non-sense. And to stop this, controlling the senses is the only way. But this can be done only by chanting. Chanting is the root. Neglecting of chanting Maharaja said is as good as vikarma - forbidden action. Only more and more chanting will result in offenseless chanting. Only and only sound vibration of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can kill all our worries. Just as not following the orders of our parents, we end up in difficulties and later worry, similarly not following the orders of Lord Caitanya of chanting the mahamantra is the root cause of all our difficulties. Maharaja said, while sitting, traveling, waiting etc. utilize this time simply by chanting and reading instead of dreaming.

I beg for the mercy of Guru Maharaja to bless me with persistent chanting so that I can progress in my attempt to perform devotional service.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.