The Means of Conquest

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

The following is an excerpt from the lecture given by our Guru Maharaja H.H. Mahavishnu Goswami on 10.12.2006 at Sri Sri Radha-NeelMadhav Dham, Rajkot.

Maharaja began by advising us to always recite verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.4. before reading Srimad Bhagavatam.

naaraayanam namaskrtya
naram caiva narottamam
devim sarasvatim vyaasam
tato jayam udirayet

"Before reciting this Srimad Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rshi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author."

From the translation, he said the seven words "which is the very means of conquest" are very hard to understand for the whole life time, and what to speak of understanding the rest of the whole Bhagavatam.

He explained further, "We all want to conquer something or the other, you may conquer many things such as high status, wealth or even a state or a country, but unless our mind and our senses are conquered we cannot move an inch towards spirituality. Everyone of us even in the temple our mind is wandering and we are moving under the dictation of the mind. We pose that we chant but we really don't. Without meditating on the personal form of Krishna how can we stablilize our mind? We have to study Bhagavat-gita and Bhagavatam (that too only Srila Prabhupada's) on a regular basis without any excuses. Everything is easily achievable but not devotional path because it is like walking on a sharp razor. To achieve success in this path, we have to be truly very innocent in our devotion, just like a small child - unconditional devotional service. Our material activities are due to our material body but to get rid of this process of birth and death Bhagavatam is the only answer. Through Bhagavatam anything can be conquered!"

Maharaja said,"I am sorry to say but our words have no potency, whatever we may speak, and the reason is because we do not follow them. With a cigarette in your hand how can you ask others to stop smoking? Your words will never be relevant unless you become practical with those words. The whole world accepted and adored Prabhupada not only because he translated Gita and Bhagavatam in its original format, but because Prabhupada was practical in his words and in all that he preached. Needless to say his life was non-different from Bhagavatam - L.L.B., Live Like Bhagavatam.

Gurudeva challenged, "In which business do you get profit of billions by investing a mere 40 rupees only? Today we can see ISKCON, a multi-billion society and still flourishing. The Juhu temple has come out of the 40 Rupees! The Mayapur temple has manifested out of the 40 Rupees! Every one of our temple in the world has its origin in the 40 Rupees that he carried with him to the US first time. More than that, the real mission of the society to educate human beings about Krishna and the easy way to perform bhakti is the most non-stop activity. With 40 rupees so many thousands of people have been gifted with pure and transcendental knowledge and the clean straight path, Back to Godhead. Srila Prabhupada was Simple - Serious - Sincere - Satisfied and that is why he was Successful. When you surrender yourself to this power of ‘S' of Srila Prabhupada, success is sure to come.

I beg for the blessings of Gurudeva whose mercy alone can make us successful in our attempt to glorify the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.