Organized Life

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

Last week it was our good fortune in Abu Dhabi, that for an entire week we could have the association and blessings of our Spiritual master, H.H. Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaja who is festive nature personified. In one of his class Maharaja gave very nice instructions to be applied in our practical life. I shall try to summarize a few of the important instructions of Maharaja. He taught a beautiful verse from Bhagavad gita 18.51-53 and explained how to organize our life.

buddhyaa visuddhayaa yukto
dhrtyaatmaanam niyamya ca
sabdaadin visayaams tyaktvaa
raaga-dvesau vyudasya ca
vivikta-sevi laghv-aasi
yata-vaak-kaaya-maanasah
dhyaana-yoga-paro nityam
vairaagyam samupaasritah
ahankaaram balam darpam
kaamam krodham parigraham
vimucya nirmamah saanto
brahma-bhuyaaya kalpate
‘Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful—such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.’

Budhayaa: Before kings were known as Rajshree (Raja+Rishi). When one is purified by intelligence, he keeps himself in the mode of goodness.

Vishudhayaa: It is always positive to get up early in the morning. If regulation is not there then spiritual pursuit is absent. We can’t get up early in the morning but if somebody offers us a millions of Dirham, we can stand from 12 pm (midnight). We are lacking because swadhya is not there. We should be on right path, whatever activity we do, with honesty, leading a simple life with certain spiritual values.

Dhrtaatmanam: Self determination means to be regulated. Without regulation there is no purity. We have to organize things in a regulative manner otherwise life is nothing but a complete mess. Our clothes are basically vertical and horizontal threads and while washing them we must take care that no thread is disturbed. If we take care of our clothes then our clothes will take care of us! We are not qualified for self realization and we talk about Dhruva Maharaja, Prahlad Maharaja and Putana. The basic objective is to be organized. Unless our existence is purified every thing is a waste. Religious duties carried out for self enjoyment and recreation should be avoided. If we follow basic things then our life will be as it should be inclusive of Krishna Bhakti! Devotional service is based on foreground of knowledge combined with purification. Sincerity and determination are the seeds that help us grow on the right path.

Vivikta-sevi: We must choose a quiet environment in the house to meditate upon Hari Naam. One, who is not attached to the objects of sense gratification, is free from attachment and hatred. Such a detached person naturally prefers to live in a secluded place.

Laghv-aasi: Eating habit should be controlled. One, who eats more than what is necessary cannot control his body and mind. Our speech, body and mind should be controlled as they are interrelated. Remember, if wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost something is lost, but if religion is lost then every thing is lost.
Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that we must be satisfied with everything that is offered to us by the grace of the Lord. We must not endeavor to acquire sense objects. Also, we must not get angry in the absence of sense gratification. When one is completely free from false ego, he becomes non-attached to all material things, and that is the stage of self-realization of Brahman. This stage is called the brahma-bhuta stage. When one is free from the material conception of life, he becomes peaceful and therefore cannot be agitated.

Let me pray at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva that I may have organized life with determination, free from sense gratification and pride.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.