Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
When out of aversion to the service of the Supreme Lord the living entities become conditioned, sense gratification then becomes their only goal of life. Conditioned souls are fully absorbed in gratifying their senses. The speech of conditioned souls is confined to material names, forms, qualities, and activities suitable to their sense gratification. Therefore, since the living entities have no opportunity to hear topics of Krishna's names, forms, qualities, and pastimes, they become entangled in scrutinizing other subject matters.
Desiring eternal benefit for the living entities, Sri Gaurasundar blessed them with the words, "May the propensity for serving Krishna awaken in you." He further prohibited them from engaging in the prajalpa of discussing names, forms, qualities, and activities not related to Krishna. In other words, he instructed them to always engage in congregational glorification of Hari. As soon as discussion of topics related to Hari diminishes, discussion of sense gratification becomes prominent. This results in inauspiciousness. (Purport to Caitanya-bhagavata, madhya 23.74.)
Devotees consider all objects to be ingredients of the Lord's service. If we see things with a service attitude rather than a spirit of enjoyment, then everything is worshipable. If there is a gap in our hearing, chanting, or remembering the Lord, then we will be swallowed by the idea that we are the enjoyer. If we become absorbed in gossip we will lose the opportunity to associate with sadhus and therefore lose the serving mentality. Hearing and chanting about Hari is both sadhana, the process of attaining the goal of life, andsadhya, the ultimate goal. By good fortune we have received a human body. By good fortune and the grace of guru and Krishna, we have been given an opportunity to serve the Supreme Lord. If we waste our time in idle talk then we are misusing that gift. It is our duty to always discuss hari-katha and to cultivate Krishna consciousness. By doing so we can become the Lord's devotees, become free from the material concept of life, and attain perpetual happiness. (From Amrta Vani, "A Devotee's Vision", anecdote 18.)
Hearing worldly topics is more harmful to us than eating palatable foods. Similarly, speaking prajalpa is more harmful to others than our dressing opulently. When we gossip or indulge in worldly topics, we become like prostitutes. Gossip contaminates and disturbs people's hearts. The more taste one has for useless talks, the less natural taste one has for hari-katha. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami said, asad varta vesya visaja mati sarvasya harinih — "Worldly topics are like prostitutes. They contaminate and disturb one's mind." Whenever a few people gather there is bound to be idle talk. That is why devotees always glorify hari-katha. If we discuss krsna-katha, no one will have the opportunity to gossip. Those who are serious about worshiping Hari should neither hear nor speak worldly topics, nor should they pay attention to palatable foods or opulent dress. The desire to eat and dress opulently will certainly take us away from our worship of Hari. We cannot worship Hari as long as we desire to eat voraciously and dress attractively. Moreover, if we maintain a taste for hearing and speaking worldly topics, we will become distracted from the path of worshiping Hari. Such talks will misguide us and force us to forever relinquish our worship. Therefore persons who are interested in Lord Hari's service must be careful about such things. Otherwise they will inevitably fall down. (From Amrta Vani, "Devotional Service", anecdote 3.)
Don't gossip. Gossip benefits no one. Understand carefully what is good for you. And don't blaspheme. The mahajanas have said that blasphemers never achieve anything good. Let the materialists engage in whatever activities they choose — we need not bother about them. But think about yourself. We often say that while others are bad, we are worse. It is imperative that we keep our sinful minds engaged constantly in worshiping the Lord. To spend time attacking others, trying to dissuade them from this or that, is not the preacher's course but the act of a cheater. We have become busy in various activities and have forgotten our original constitutional duty. Make a sincere endeavor to clean out the filth accumulated in your heart. Although this appears to be self-interest, it is essential and should be done immediately, because preaching without following has no value. Unless one constantly engages in haribhajana,it will be impossible for him to induce others to worship Hari. (From Amrta Vani, "Preaching", anecdote 9.)
Comments