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Nondeceptive Penance - Part 3

This is in continuation of the previous offerings transcribing the class by our beloved God brother HG Devakinandan prabhuji on Srimad Bhgavatam verse 2.9.4.

13. Turn towards the Lord to be peaceful: Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to Bhagavad Gita 2.22, "The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanishad, as well as the Svetaasvatara Upanishad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krishna) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend. Krishna is the witnessing bird, and Arjuna is the eating bird. Although they are friends, one is still the master and the other is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship by the atomic soul is the cause of one's changing his position from one tree to another, or from one body to another. Both the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.2) and Shvetaasvatara Upanishad (4.7) confirm this:

samaane vrkshe purusho nimagno
'nishayaa shocati muhyamaaah
jushtam yadaa pashyaty anyam isham
asya mahimaanam iti veeta-shokah

"Although the two birds are in the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord and knows His glories—at once the suffering bird becomes free from all anxieties."

As long as the bird is engaged in eating the fruits, the bird is sometimes happy and sometimes sad. This is causing dusthita mati-oscillation and nobody likes a situation where there is always ups and downs. This is because of absorption in eating the fruits. How many times Maharaj told us, "When you are sick, do not take prasdam. Just fast and you will become peaceful." But we hear the mind and suffer and then regret. As a well-wisher, the Lord does not abandon us but is waiting very patiently for us to turn our face towards Him. He does not scold us either because we are already suffering. The day we turn our face to the eternal transcendental form of Krishna, which comes from the austerity of not attaching ourselves to the fruits of this material world, that day, without deception we become peaceful. This is the science of atma tattva. We can only become peaceful if we do not ask the husband in the story mentioned earlier, the silly question, "Will you save me or your mother?" You will actually become peaceful when you prepare how to swim so that you do not wait for your husband or anyone else to save you. You learn to swim on the platform of devotional service. Then that devotional service becomes the boat in this material world and the material world itself becomes like water in the hoof print of a calf. Srimad Bhagavatam very beautifully describes in 10.14.58, how Brahmaji approaches and takes shelter of Krishna

samaashritaa ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yasho muraareh
bhavaambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadaam na teshaam

"For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Mukunda, or the giver of mukti, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's footprint. param padam, or the place where there are no material miseries, or Vaikuntha, is his goal, not the place where there is danger in every step of life."

Here Brahmaji accepts devotional service to Krishna as the only shelter without deception. Devotional service is non-different from Krishna. Devotional service is the be all and end all of our existence. Everything else that comes out of devotional service is a byproduct.

14. Avoid Attachment, Aversion and Deception: Maharaj said, "Whenever we are attached to something, we should ask ourselves whether we are attached to it because of our liking or because it pleases spiritual master and Krishna. If it pleases spiritual master and Krishna, please be attached to it. At the same time, do not be averse to anything." Maharaj very famously said, "We do not hate anyone. We do not love anyone. We are happy with everyone on the strength of serving them for the pleasure of Krishna. That is our transaction in the material world. Anything other than this creates disturbance." When there is aversion and deception, how can there be attraction for Krishna? Then instead of becoming daasaanudas, we become servant of our senses. The greatness of the acharya Srila Madhavendra puri that attracted Krishna's mercy was that he was neither attached nor averse. Madhavendra puri's non deceptive nature made Gopinathji steal sweet rice for him. He ran away from name, fame and popularity, but Madhavendra puri's name and fame went before him and this is Krishna's glorification of His devotee. Maharaj said that we do not have to run after name and fame and they automatically run after a devotee, because a devotee does not want them. If a devotee wants name and fame, he drags name and fame with him and because of that he loses bhakti. 

15. Bhakti makes things easy: In Dwaraka many people were lining up to see Krishna. Krishna was giving charity in such a way that He was not even waiting to take the items in the right hand. He gave with His left hand also. Narada muni on seeing this asked the Lord, "Why You are giving with left hand? It is not auspicious." Krishna said, "the mind is so rascal that before I change my mind, it is better to give away in charity". Deception means we pause, "Should I give?" Hesitation means deception. We must adjust ourselves in the material world in such a way that we do not even think twice before performing service. Take up the service first and worry later on how to perform it. Srila Madhavendra Puri did that and everything followed. Krishna asked some people to wait in the waiting room. Narada muni asked Krishna why He was asking some people to wait? Krishna said, "These people are asking me for bhakti. So those who are asking for bhakti, they have to go to the waiting room. Everything else I am ready to give them. But when I give them bhakti, I have to give Myself to them. So I have to full heartedly surrender to that devotee." That is why when bhakti is taken up, everything is easy. When bhakti is not taken up, everything is difficult. In Adi lila 14.1:

kathancana smrte yasmin / dushkaram sukaram bhavet
vismrte viparitam syaat / shri-caitanyam namaami tam

"Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu I offer my respectful obeisances. "

16. Devotional service is to be performed with full honesty: We should not have deception in the heart. Then with full honesty, we will perform devotional service. Brahmaji prays in SB 10.14.3

jnaane prayaasam udapaasya namanta eva
jivanti san-mukharitaam bhavadiya-vaartaam
sthaane sthitaah shruti-gataam tanu-vaan-manobhir
ye praayasho 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyaam

Lord Brahma said, "O my Lord Krishna, a devotee who abandons the path of empiric philosophical speculation aimed at merging in the existence of the Supreme and engages himself in hearing Your glories and activities from a bona fide sadhu, or saint, and who lives an honest life in the occupational engagement of his social life, can conquer Your sympathy and mercy even though You are ajita, or unconquerable."

a) We must abandon speculation. When there is a problem in the world, see and accept the hand of Krishna, instead of speculating. When we accept Krishna, we accept who Krishna is and that is atma tattva. We know that Krishna is sat cit anand. Krishna knows better than I know. So He knows exactly what is to be given to me at what time. Till then why should I worry? Brahmaji was therefore peacefully performing tapasya for 1000 devata years which pleased Krishna and He revealed His eternal transcendental form. So when one comes to the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam, we have to reject motives other than to glorify the Lord. Then without delay, the reality which is Srimad Bhagavatam will be revealed to us.

b) The way to see Krishna's form is to hear about Him from a bonafide devotee. In Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.11 this is confirmed by Brahmaji.

tvam bhakti-yoga-paribhaavita-hrt-saroja
aasse srutekshita-patho nanu naatha pumsaam
yad-yad-dhiyaa ta urugaaaya vibhaavayanti
tat-tad-vapuh pranayase sad-anugrahaaya

"O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed, and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence in which they always think of You."

c) We have to engage ourselves which as Maharaj says is having Srimad Bhagavatam in one hand and broom in the other hand. The broom helps us to clean and also to beat our mind for its unwanted tendencies. So service is very important. But that service is to be performed in the mode of detachment. The way to come out of our misidentification is very wonderfully described in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 3.7.12

sa vai nivrtti-dharmena / vaasudevaanukampayaa
bhagavad-bhakti-yogena / tirodhatte shanair iha

"But that misconception of self-identity can be diminished gradually by the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, through the process of devotional service to the Lord in the mode of detachment."

For one who is detached, there is neither attachment nor aversion. This leads to control of senses and control of senses means prasadam adhigaccati - attracting the mercy of the Lord. Krishna becomes sold out by devotional service. Krishna who declares Himself svarat- supremely independent in the start of Bhagavatam, towards the end declares that, "I have no independence" - aham bhakta paradheenah.

d) The concluding point is that we must lead an honest life in the occupational engagement of social life. Maharaj says that Krishna becomes conquered by how honest you are with Him and with your life. Those who fail in this world, because they are honest, they are victorious. Those who win in this world, because they deceive, they are losers. We are in all ways losers in the material world because death puts an end to everything. But do not become a failure in devotional service.

Our heartfelt thanks to HG Devakinandan prabhuji for these valuable points we should try to imbibe in our lives.

Thank you very much
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Vaijayanti mala devi dasi,
Chennai.