Transcendental Pearls of Wisdom

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

Notes from the instructions given by our most merciful spiritual master, His Holiness Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaja, at an evening program in London, June 7, 2008.

REAL-IZATION VS CONCOCTION
We are all here by Srila Prabhupada's mercy only. Unless we follow seriously we cannot pass it on. What we often forget is this world is 1) temporary and 2) very much changing. That is REAL-isation.

Cala cittam. Our mind is flickering, always. Unless it's under the shelter of Krishna, it is never steady. Calatvittam. Our wealth is flickering. Wealth is always under the Lord's control. Inflation always eats up the wealth. Calaacalam idam sarvam. We base all our behavior on the concoctions and thus make problems only.

Those who know, knows that Krishna is sarva karana karanam. But we concoct. For e.g., if someone did not invite me, immediately we concoct "Why I'm not invited? They do not like me?" etc. As soon as we stop concocting, half of our lifetime is saved and we can utilize it on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

CLEANLINESS NEEDED
Except for ourselves, we look at everyone else. For e.g. in the temple: "Why he's not doing this?" etc. This must be stopped. If our room is clean, our mind is clean, and if our mind is clean, we can do anything.

So we must be clean. I always advice: "In one hand the bead bag and another, the duster. We claim cleanliness is next to Godliness, but that's only lip service. As soon as someone visits us, so much we have to clean. Because we're not organized, we cannot do anything; forget about Bhakti."

If our room is dirty, then so are we. And if we are dirty, we cannot be happy.

We may have degrees etc. but our spiritual education is lacking. We want to educate ourselves spiritually!

Cleanliness
Discipline
Education (spiritual)
For
God

With these preliminary habits, we become ready for Bhagavad-gita. Please keep small Bhagavad-gita with you and you'll gain taste, and with this higher taste you'll never be attracted to the lower taste.

PLEASE REMEMBER
One thing we should remember: We cannot remember Krishna, if Krishna doesn't remember us. We are here today because Krishna remembered us! Those who know Bhagavad gita, but do not preach, will be proud of it. As soon as pride is there, we'll become envious: "They are not doing anything".

Pride
Envy
Anger

P-E-A. Peas, especially split peas; produces unnecessary air in the body, giving so much pain. It is important that our body is in order, just basically. As long as there is unregulated air in the body, we cannot concentrate on the Bhagavad gita. But don't go to doctors – they do not know anything! At least Ayurvedic doctors, they know about ginger etc. But as far as possible, do not go to the doctor. Just try to find some solution; change something, for e.g., the air you breathe, your habits – what's needed. Please remember: aagamaapaayino anityaas – that what has come, will eventually go away. Like you have come here; we don't need to throw you out, because eventually you will go away. We just have to tolerate you while you're here, that's all. Please read our Granthraj – you'll benefit so much.

DETERMINATION IS REQUIRED


yesaam tv anta-gatam paapam
janaanaam punya-karmanaam
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktaa
bhajante maam drdha-vrataah

Three things mentioned here: Those people….

1) whose sins are completely eradicated (anta-gatam paapam),
2) who have acted piously in previous lives (punya-karmanaam), and
3) who are free from the dualities of delusion (dvandva-moha-nirmuktaa)

…. can engage themselves in serious devotional service to Krishna (bhajante maam drdha-vrataah). Often a verse's conclusion is stated at the end. Yamaraja is not after those who have done something in devotional service. How long does it take to remember these verses? But we're not serious about it. We're not serious about leaving our body. (Maharaja sings a Gujarati bhajana, saying that the sinful reactions stop us from remembering Lord Krishna.) Medicine cannot eradicate sinful reactions – it aggravates it. But if we go to Bhagavad gita and Srimad Bhagavatam we can become cured. "By-pass?" There is no by-pass or "fly-over" for the body. There is no limit to our foolishness. Misery captures our mind.

For those who have miserable inclination, more attentive chanting should be there. We're only miserable when we are weak in devotional service – so we should increase the devotional service. Please don't read anything else than Srila Prabhupada. You'll be misled. Everything is there in Srila Prabhupada's translations and purports.

That is our position. We're condemned to death, but the day is not decided. We always think it will happen two years later. Intelligently we have to visualize this, and then we can become determined to get out of this bodily concept. Like the sparrow's determination. The sea took her eggs. When asked, the sea didn't give the eggs back, so the bird told the sea: "Please return my eggs, or I'll empty you". With her small beak she then began to pick out the water and put it on the beach. Garuda then came down and made the ocean return the eggs.

How much determination Srila Prabhupada had, 40 rupees and all these temples. Prabhupada said: "I didn't waste my time. I always did something, and Lord Krishna helped me."

VERY SIMPLE
Devotional service is very simple: Simply chanting nicely. Why make it more difficult? Get up for mangala-arati: (Maharaja sings another poem)

Give up sleeping,
Just remember Krishna
You are the one
You are the one

Very simple instruction, through a simple song. Our attachment is creating so many horrible things, so please be spiritually detached and do this simple way of devotional service.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.