This blog is more of a question, than an answer.There is danger of a pitfall even after one starts chanting regularly. This danger is from the enemy called LUST. It will use all sorts of tricks to pull you back into maya. Repeating the same mistake and then chanting to nullify that mistake is an offensive form of chanting, and should be avoided. Chanting the name of the Lord is as good as associating directly with the Lord, and after such association, if we fall back to old habits, it can be very undesireable. So Lord Krishna says that in the beginning this enemy - LUST must first be destroyed. Now the question is HOW?. How to destroy this LUST completely so that it does not interfere with the chanting process ever again?. I would really appreciate some expert advice on this.I do not want to commit the blunder of chanting Harinaam and then falling back into this network of LUST again. This world itself is just a place of LUST nowadays. I think the best way out is to first retire from this material world, live in a secluded place, and then chant the holy name firmly and ensure that this Lust does not come up in the mind ever again, but this is my opinion and I would love to hear some expert opinions.
After some years of living in seclusion,I realised that seclusion alone does not help.The mind is an expert in concocting.One has to serve a true devotee, an elevated soul, to rise further.At such a time we get many opportunities to serve.We must avail of these, and the benefit will accrue automatically.Sometimes it is hard to find a great devotee, yet one must keep the search going on.We do find,Krishna never lets us down.When I met HH Lokanatha Swami Maharaj, I was fortunate enough to have found a great devotee.I am still to get an oppportunity to serve him, hope it comes soon.
Dear Amit Kalra Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Prabhu, serving Bhagavata devotee is as good as serving book Bhagavata.
Please read the blog Change of Heart.
Hope this answers your question.
Attraction for reading Srimad Bhagvatam arises in the final stages of spiritual life. it is the most advanced scripture, in my opinion.Even stumbling across the Srimad Bhagvatam by chance is a divine blessing.Once during my younger days, I was practising my sadhana under a saint, who is a very elevated Jeevan Mukta. Yet after so many experiences, I was still not satisfied, till I came across the Srimad Bhagvatam in a Library of my college, and there were no borrowers of this wonderful set of books.I borrowed it and began reading and got hooked. After that, with the exception of reading Bhagvad Gita, I have not taken up the reading of any other book. So that would show you how special Srimad Bhagvatam is, but it comes to you at a point when you are ready to renounce the mayavadi concepts totally.That is a turning point in the life of any seeker, and it leads to the grand platform of Krishna Bhakti. yet I do not claim myself as an elevated devotee, as the body given to me by the Lord has to be perfected and cleansed thoroughly and only His name is the source of all the real enjoyment in my life, nothing else. I bow down to the elevated Vaishnavas humbly, for being kind enough to allow me to associate with them.
hank you pr for wonderful and most important question and thank you Girdhara pr for enlightening answer. I do not have attraction towards Srimad Bhagavatam, What should I do prabhu?
Thank you Giridhar Gopal Prabhu, for your wonderful answer. Indeed it has helped me, and now I am sincerely looking for opportunities to serve Lord Krishna through His devotees.You mention about Lokanath Swami Maharaj. I am so lucky to have have met him from time to time, between 1984 and now. He has inspired me, though I have not told him yet. I want to fall at the feet of his disciples and surrender.Thank you for the wonderful suggestions, I have learn now two things - Reading Srimad Bhagvatam will ensure our progress, and performing service to Krishna by completely surrendering to Krishna willhelp increase our strength, and prevent us from falling back into the service of illusions.Offering humble obeisances to all of you.
Hare Krishna Prabuji.
What an important question. And what a wonderful answer... Thank you Prabhujis...I have learnt something of great value today...
Haribol!
Your eternal servant,
eternal muser
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru and Gouranga.
As Jiva Goswami comments in Bakti Rasamrta Sindhu, the purpose of mind is to show the alternative enjoyment to the self in this material world. LUST is considered to be the top enjoyment in this material world and so, as long as we are in this material world, mind will bring these alternatives to us. But it's upto us whether to accept this alternatives or not.
Then the question comes how to stop accepting these alternatives. The answer is that we should change our desires. The lusty desires has to be replaced with the desire to serve Krishna. Till now we might be serving Krishna but different desires. Now the question comes how to replace these inferior desires with desire to serve Krishna. Change of desire means change of heart.
My GuruMaharaj(H.H.Loakanath Swami Maharaj) said the change of heart can happen only when one reads Srimad Bhagavatham regularly and sincerely.The Srimad Bhagavatham has the capability to change our hearts and desires.
As long as our desires are not changed we will fall victim of LUST even if we are in a secluded place.
As our life duration is short in this Kali yuga, controlling lusty desires first and engaging in devotional service is
not possible. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has asked us to be in the service of Krishna and his devotees, and if we are sincere in our services we will perfect ourselves and will be engaged in the undeviated and unmotivated devotional service to Krishna. Chanting and reading Srimad Bhagavatham are also to be considered to be service.Chanting and reading Srimad Bhagavatham are the top most services, if we realize how they can be services.
Prabhu, you mentioned falling back to old habits after chanting or associating with Lord. As i said earlier chanting is also a service, so after doing one service we should engage in another service to Lord Krishna. If we are not engaged in serving Krishna means we are engaged in serving senses. With out change of heart, serving Krishna continously is not possible.
Without Krishna's mercy our endeavours are useless. So we should beg Krishna to engage our selves in His service with out any deviation and motivation.
Prabhu, I hope you know all the things i mentioned above. Replying you helped me to focus more on my sadhana
Comments
After some years of living in seclusion,I realised that seclusion alone does not help.The mind is an expert in concocting.One has to serve a true devotee, an elevated soul, to rise further.At such a time we get many opportunities to serve.We must avail of these, and the benefit will accrue automatically.Sometimes it is hard to find a great devotee, yet one must keep the search going on.We do find,Krishna never lets us down.When I met HH Lokanatha Swami Maharaj, I was fortunate enough to have found a great devotee.I am still to get an oppportunity to serve him, hope it comes soon.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Prabhu, serving Bhagavata devotee is as good as serving book Bhagavata.
Please read the blog Change of Heart.
Hope this answers your question.
Hare Krishna.
Jai Sri Krishna.
Prabhuji, very well said, too good answer, but i m still fighting to reach the purest stage of chanting!
What an important question. And what a wonderful answer... Thank you Prabhujis...I have learnt something of great value today...
Haribol!
Your eternal servant,
eternal muser
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru and Gouranga.
As Jiva Goswami comments in Bakti Rasamrta Sindhu, the purpose of mind is to show the alternative enjoyment to the self in this material world. LUST is considered to be the top enjoyment in this material world and so, as long as we are in this material world, mind will bring these alternatives to us. But it's upto us whether to accept this alternatives or not.
Then the question comes how to stop accepting these alternatives. The answer is that we should change our desires. The lusty desires has to be replaced with the desire to serve Krishna. Till now we might be serving Krishna but different desires. Now the question comes how to replace these inferior desires with desire to serve Krishna. Change of desire means change of heart.
My GuruMaharaj(H.H.Loakanath Swami Maharaj) said the change of heart can happen only when one reads Srimad Bhagavatham regularly and sincerely.The Srimad Bhagavatham has the capability to change our hearts and desires.
As long as our desires are not changed we will fall victim of LUST even if we are in a secluded place.
As our life duration is short in this Kali yuga, controlling lusty desires first and engaging in devotional service is
not possible. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has asked us to be in the service of Krishna and his devotees, and if we are sincere in our services we will perfect ourselves and will be engaged in the undeviated and unmotivated devotional service to Krishna. Chanting and reading Srimad Bhagavatham are also to be considered to be service.Chanting and reading Srimad Bhagavatham are the top most services, if we realize how they can be services.
Prabhu, you mentioned falling back to old habits after chanting or associating with Lord. As i said earlier chanting is also a service, so after doing one service we should engage in another service to Lord Krishna. If we are not engaged in serving Krishna means we are engaged in serving senses. With out change of heart, serving Krishna continously is not possible.
Without Krishna's mercy our endeavours are useless. So we should beg Krishna to engage our selves in His service with out any deviation and motivation.
Prabhu, I hope you know all the things i mentioned above. Replying you helped me to focus more on my sadhana
HariBol