A Living Sadhu (1/2)

A Living Sadhu

Questions after class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.6.7 (Chapter one) Perth Australia

22 November 1990

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada always emphasized that he was eternally present in his books, instructions, tapes, and letters. So when you say we should take association of a sadhu can we do that through Srila Prabhupada’s books?

Present in his Books

Gour Govinda Swami: If Prabhupada says he is there, then you try to see him, associate with him and listen from him. Do you see Prabhupada? Do you hear from Prabhupada? Is he speaking to you?

Devotee: Through his books.

Gour Govinda Swami: Through his books, yes. All sadhus speak through their books. Jiva Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Bhaktivinoda µhakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Srila Prabhupada all say that they speak through books. This is not a new thing. This is our Vaisnava procedure. But you should see him. Can you see Bhaktivinoda µhakura?

Can you see Jiva Gosvami? You may say, “Oh I have read their books, I have their association.” That won’t help you. You cannot understand what they have said merely by reading their books. Your consciousness is very low, so you cannot understand their words. They are very, very merciful, but you should follow the proper path.

If you are intelligent you will understand how they are still here, not only in the form of their books but also they are here. You should see them. Why are you thinking so foolishly? So many books were already there, so why has Srila Prabhupada said this? You are thinking, “We need only to read books. There is no need of associating with a sadhu who is physically present. Is there any sadhu? No, there is no sadhu at all.”

Seeing is Believing

Your motto is, “Seeing is believing.” You cannot see, so you cannot believe. Because you are a conditioned soul your vision is defective. You cannot see a sadhu. Krsna is there, can you see Him? No, you cannot, because you are not endowed with proper vision. First develop the proper vision and then you can see Krsna. Then you can see how a sadhu is there. It is not a fact that sadhus are not present.

How is everything going on? How does the sun rise, the wind blow, and Indra give rain? All these things are going on. No sadhu? No Krsna? It’s nonsense, foolishness. We are so proud and puffed up. We are identifying our self as the body, mind and false ego. We think we are very great. So we say, “Oh, there is no sadhu.” We are in the category of identification with the body and mind. We have not come to the beginning of the stage of purity. No!

Devotee: So we have to associate with a living sadhu?

Gour Govinda Swami: Definitely. There is always one there. But he is not a cheap person. Such a person is very rare. If you can get his mercy then you can see him. Otherwise, by your own effort and perception you cannot see him. No, no, no.

You always think that you are drasta, the seer, and that the sadhu is drsta, the one to be seen. Everyone is like this. They think they are the seers. But it is just the reverse. You are to be seen and they are the seer! Think this over very deeply. I think you cannot completely understand what I say. We always think that we are the seer and that they are to be seen, but this is not a fact. It is just the reverse. They are the seers and we are to be seen.

Merciful Glance

Devotee: How are we seen by the sadhu, by our service?

Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. The sadhu is the seer. If he showers his mercy upon you, he sees you. If you receive that merciful glance then you are very fortunate. However, you are in the category of bodily consciousness. How can you have it? Guru is the manifestation of the supersoul, caitya-guru in the heart. He manifests a body and appears. He knows your heart.

Devotee: I don’t quite understand.

Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, try to understand. As I told you, just hear patiently. A new bhakta cannot understand it because it is a topic of the highest class. You are in pre-primary class, how can you understand? You are not even in the primary class. How can you understand this topic of the highest class? Just accept the bona fide authorities. That will help you. The teacher says, “Two plus two is four.”

The primary school student accepts it. If the teacher asks the child, “What is two plus two?” the child will reply, “Two plus two is four.” “Why is two plus two four?” “My teacher says.” He will answer like this. That means he has accepted authority. This is the only principle in the beginning. How is two plus two four? Why not three or five? That will be explained in a higher mathematics class, not in the beginning.

You have to have patience and get a promotion. My guru- maharaja says in his purport that the beginning is purity of consciousness. First come to this beginning stage, then gradually other things will come up. You are not in the beginning stage so how will the higher topics come up? This is a very, very subtle and very deep philosophy.

Putting full faith in the sadhu you need only submissively hear—sravaNam, sravaNam, sravaNam. In that way you can get the mercy of that sadhu. That will help you. Only one thing is required, nothing else—sravanam, sravanam, sravanam. Just hear. Serve that sadhu, please him, hear submissively, surrender yourself at his lotus feet, and submissively ask questions. Out of mercy the sadhu will impart this tattva-jñana to you. This is the only process.

Unless you get association with a living sadhu, what can you do? Will you put some question to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada will answer you? This process is a living thing, it is always there, it is always current. It is not that inquiry was done a certain way in the past and now things are done differently. No! It’s an eternal process, pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya.

A Society Without EnvyA Society Without Envy [This wonderful lecture was one of the last given by His Divine Grace Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj, before he departed from this world]

Mayapura, 21 February l995 – Bhg. 4:18:33-36

Gunadhikam mudam lipsed Anukrosam gunadhamat Maitrim samanad anvicchen Na tapair abhibhuyate

Translation: Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.

Purport by Srila Prabhupada: Generally when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him; when we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities. Theses are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage Narada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him.

Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one meets an equal, instead of being proud of one’s own activities before him, one should treat him as friend. One should also have compassion for the people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Krsna. These important functions will make one happy within this material world.

Lecture by Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj: These are the instructions of Narada Muni. Marada muni is a mahajana, and this is mahajana-vakya, the words of a great personality. Mahajana yei kahe, se satya mani-what a sadhu-mahajana says, that is truth, satya. Mahasano yena gatah sa pranthah-the mahajana has shown us the path, and that is the path we have to tread.

We have to follow the footprints of the mahajanas. There is no need of manufacturing some new path. Here Narada Muni instructs Dhruva Maharaj how to be happy here-how one should behave and how he should deal with others so that he will never be affected by the threefold miseries of the material world.

“When he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very please; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him.” These are the dealings of a Vaisnava, a devotee. One who is not a vaisnava, he behaves in the opposite way. As Srila Prabhupada has said in his purport:

“Generally we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations.” Whatever is said here by Narada Muni describes the behavior of a Vaisnava, especially a madhyama -adhikari -second class) Vaisnava.

Srimad-bhagvatam pramanam amalam prema pum-artho mahan sri caitany mahaprabhor matam idam tatradaro na parah (Caitanya matta manjusa)

Srimad-Bhagvatam is amala-pramana, the spotless proof, and prema-pum-artho mahan, prema bhakti is the highest truth. These are the opinions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu..

Bhgavati je na mane se yavana sama Tara sasta ache janme hanme prabhu yama (CB. Adi, 1.39)

On who does not accept Srimad-Bhagavatam is a mleccha and a yavana. He is to be punished by Yamaraj, not for one life, but janme janme-life after life. So we should accept Srimad Bhagvatam, and all mahajana vakyas are there.

Madhyama-adhikari

These are the dealings of a madhyama-adhikari

isvare tad-adhinesu balisesu dvisatsu ca prema-maitri-krpopeksa yah karoti sa madhyamah (Bhag. 11.2.46)

Isvare, one who has developed love for isvara, love for the Supreme Lord Krsna; tad-adhinesu, one who has developed friendship with those who are equal Vaisnavas; balisesu, one who becomes compassionate or merciful towards balisa, ignorant fools, murkha, and dvisatsu ca, one who ignores an offender is a mdhyam-adhikari. A madhyama-adhikari behaves in this way.

In Harinama Cintamani also Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahajana, a great acarya in our Gaudiya Vaisnava-parampara, has said like this: Krsne prema krsna bhakte maitri acarana Balisete krpa ara dvesi upeksana Karile madhyuama-bhakta suddha-bhakta hana Krsna-name adhikara karena arjana

Krsne prema krsna-bhakte maitri acarana, one who develops love for Krsna and makes friendship with krsna bhaktas; balisete krpa, one who becomes compassionate or merciful towards a balisa, a murkha, and ignorant fool; are dvesi upeksana, one who ignores an offender; someone who behaves like this is a madhyama-bhakta. Madhyama-bhakta suddha–bhakta hana, such a madhyama-bhakta becomes a suddha-bhakta, a pure devotee.

Then what happens? Krsna-name adhikara karena arajana, then he gets adhikara (qualification) in chanting krsna-nama. This is Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s instruction.

Kanistha-adhikari

In this connection we’ll also speak about who is a kanishta-adhikari”

Arcayam eva haraye Pujam yah sraddayehate Na tad-bhaktesu canyesu Sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah (Bhag. 11.2.47)

A kanistha-adhikari is one who offers worship to the Deity form of Lord Hari, arca-vigraha, according to laukika-sraddha (ordinary faith), not sastriya-sraddha (faith based on sastra). It is a question of sraddha. Two types of sraddha are there, sastriya-sraddha and laukika sraddha. When we speak of sraddha we mean sastriya-sraddha.

One should develop sastriya-sraddha, nor laukika sraddha. And , na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah, one who doesn’t pay respect to hari bhakta, the devotee of Lord Hari, and isn’t compassionate toward other living entities in whom Lord Hari is present, he is a kanistha-bhakta.

Uttama-adhikari

Then who is an uttama-adhikari?

Sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed Bhagavad-bhavam atmanah Bhutani bhagavaty atmany Esa bhagavatottamah

“The most advanced devotee sees within everything the soul of all souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. Consequently he sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord and understands that everything that exists is eternally situated within the Lord.” (Bhag. 11.2.45) Also in Caitanya- caritamrta, Stavara-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti Sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti (Madhya 8.274)

This is uttama-adhikari. He sees the moving and nonmoving entities, sthaivara-jangama, but he never sees their outward form. What dos he see? He sees his ista, his most beloved Deity, Krsna, everywhere, sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti. This is a completely Krsna conscious person. And who is completely Krsna conscious and what is complete Krsna consciousness? Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita:

yo man pasyati sarvatra sarvan ca mayi pasyati tasyaham na panasyami sa ca me napanasyati ( Bg. 6.30)

“One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, he is completely Krsna conscious, tasyaham na panasyami sa ca mena panasyati. I am never out of his sight and he is never out of my sight. He sees Me, I see him. This is complete krsna consciousness. That is an uttama-adhikari. Stavara-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti, sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti, he sees moving and nonmoving entities but never sees the outward form. Everywhere he sees his ista, his most beloved Deity, who is there in the heart, Lord Krsna. That is an uttama-adhikari.

Then there is bhagavata-uttama. Who is a bhagavata-uttama?

visrjati hrdayam na yasya saksad dharir avasabhihito Œpy aghaugha-nasah pranaya-rasanaya dhrtanghri-padmah sa bhavati bhagavata-pradhana uktah

“One who chants the holy name of the Supreme Lord, Hari, even unconsciously is freed from all sins. When Lord Hari grants liberation from sin to one who even unconsciously or negligently chants His holy name, the position of one who never abandons the shelter of His lotus feet must be considered highly exalted.

Such a devotee can never give up the association of the Lord, nor can the Lord give up his association of the Lord, nor can the Lord give up his association. Krsna Himself dwells eternally within his heart. Such a great soul is known as bhagavata-pradhana-the most exalted devotee of the Lord.” (Bhag. 11.2.55)

By uttering the name of hari all sinful reactions are destroyed, and that Hari is bound up in the heart of a Vaisanva, pranaya-rasanaya, but the rope of love. In other words, Lord Hari never leaves the heart of such a Vaisnava, a bhagavata-uttama.

According to Faith

Also in Caitanya-caritamrta Kaviraja Gosvami has spoken of these three types of Vaisnavas.

Sraddhavan jana haya bhakti-adhikari Œuttama’, Œmadhyamna’, Œkanistha’—sraddha anusari (CC. Madhya 22.64)

According to one’s sraddha, faith, one’s eligibility for bhakti is classified as uttama, madhyama or kanistha.

Sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra Œuttama-adhikari’ sei taraye samsara (CC. Madhya 22.65)

One who is very expert in presenting sastric evidences and who has unflinching faith in sadhu-sastra- guru, unflinching faith in Krsna, drdha-sraddha, he is uttama-adhikari. Taraye samsara, he can deliver the whole world.

Sastra yukti nahi jane drdha, sraddhavan Madhyama-adhikari sei maha-bhagyavan (CC. Madhya 22.67)

Who is madhyama-adhikari? He doesn’t know so much sastra-yukti, logical arguments on the basis of revealed scripture, but he is drdha sraddhavan, he has strong faith in sadhu-sastra-guru, strong faith in Krsna. Sadgati-padata krsne karaha visvasa, put complete faith, unflinching faith, in Krsna, who is adgati-padata. One who does so is madhyama-adhikari. Sei maha-bhagyavan, he is very fortunate.

Two Kinds of Faith

Yahara komala sraddha, se Œkanistha’ jana Krame krame tenho bhakta haibe Œuttama’ (CC. Madhya 22.69)

One who has not developed sastriya-sraddha (faith in sastra) but has developed only laukika-sraddha (faith in what common people say), he is kanistha-adhikari. Sastriya-sraddha is described in Caitanya- caritamrta:

Œsraddha’‹sabde—visvasa kahe sudrdhna niscaya krsne bhakti kaile sarva karma krta jaya (CC. Madhya 22.62)

Sraddha means visvas, faith, sudrdha, very strong faith, unflinching faith. Faith in what? Faith in sadhu-sastra-guru, faith in Krsna .This is faith. If someone develops krsna-bhakti, all his activities are finished, krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya. Nothing is left out if you have faith.

yahara koimala sraddha, se’kanistha’jana krame krama tenho bhakta haive’uttama’ (CC Madhya 22.69)

Whose sraddha is soft, who has not developed sastriya-sraddha, only laukika-sraddha, he is kanistha jana, a neophyte. By associating with more elevated Vaisnavas, hearing from them and putting Firm faith in their words, gradually he will make advancement and ultimately also become uttama.

What is sastriya-sraddha and what is laukika-sraddha? Sastriya sraddha means unflinching faith in the sastriya siddhantas, the teachings which are given‹especially as found in the Srimad Bhagavatam, which is the essence of all Vedas, Vedanta, and Upanishadas:

Sarva-vedanta-saram hi Srimad-bhagavatam isyate Tad-rasamrta-trptasya Nanyatra syad ratih kvacit (Bhag. 12.13.15)

Srila Jiva Gosvami has put emphasis on sastriya-sraddha. One should develop sastriya-sraddha, not laukika-sraddha. One who is a neophyte devotee, a kanistha-adhikari, he has only faith in the words of Materialistic people, materialistic scientists, philosophers, etc. He has not developed faith in the words of sadhus, Vaisnavas, mahajanas, those who are acaryas.

For example, people in this locality say, “Oh there is a ghost in that tree.” Then someone comes and hears from them. He says, “Oh, the people say there is a ghost in that tree.” If he comes to this area when the electricity is off and there is dense darkness, he may see something—as if someone is standing there wearing white cloth.

“Oh, yes! A ghost is there.” Because he has heard it from these people. This is laukika-sraddha. But when the electricity comes, he sees, “Oh, what is this” Oh, it is only a dead tree”. Because it looks white he thinks it is a ghost.

We should not develop laukika-sraddha. We should develop sastriya-sraddha. Unless you develop sastriya-sraddha, unless you deal with others as Narada Muni has instructed here, then you will be affected by the threefold miseries of this material world. You will never be happy

Vaisnava aparadha

So who are offenders? Skanda Purana states that there are six types of offenders and they all fall down and go to raurava, naraka (hell).

Nindam kurvanti ye mudha vaisnavanam mahatmanam patanti pitrbhih sardham maharaurava-samjnite

hanti nindati vai dvesthi vaisnavan-nabhi-nandati krudhyate yati na harsam Krudhyate yati na harsam darsane patanani sat

Skanda Purana says, nindam kurvanti ye mudha vaisnavanam mahatmanam—those who blaspheme a mahatma Vaisnava, they are great offenders. Patanti pitrbhih sardham maharaurava-samhnite‹they definitely go to maha-raurava, naraka. Not only them, but pitrbhih‹all his ancestors also.

The six types of offenders are: those who try to kill a Vaisnava; those who blaspheme a Vaisnava; those who upon seeing a Vaisnava do not pay pranama, obeisances, those who become angry with a Vaisnava; those who develop enmity with a Vaisnava; and those who upon seeing a Vaisnava do not become jolly, but instead curve their faces, “Oh who is he!”

They are offenders. Here Prabhupada says, “Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him.” Instead of becoming jolly, such a person becomes envious and covers his face. He is an offender. These six types of offenders fall down to maha-raurava,naraka.

See Krsna Everywhere

Srila Prabhupad formed this society for Krsna consciousness. It s a society of Vaisnavas. Why did he form the society? Because those who will become members of this society should develop complete Krsna consciousness. That opportunity is given here.

yo mam pasyati sarvatra sarvam camayi pasyati tasyaham na pranasyami sa ca me na panasyati (Bg. 6.30)

This Bhagavad-gita verse describes complete Krsna consciousness. Krsna says that one who sees Him everywhere, stharva-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti, sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti, he sees the different moving and nonmoving entities, but he never sees their outward form. He sees his ista, his move beloved Diety, Krsna everywhere. Who is such a person?

bhakta ama preme bandhiyache hrdaya-bhitare jahan netra pade tahan dekhaye amare (Cc. Madhya 25.127)

That devotee who as bound Me up in his heart with the rope of love, jahan netra pade tahan dekhaye amare‹such a bhakta, wherever he looks he sees Me. Such a premi-bhakta, who has bound up Krsna with the rope of love in his heart, he can see Krsna everywhere. Otherwise no one can see Krsna everywhere.

Krsna also says:

Naham prakasah sasrvasya Yoga-maya-samavrtah Mudho’yam nabhijanati Loko mam ajam avyayam (Bg. 7.25)

These are the words of Krsna. “I am never manifest before everyone, I am never manifest everywhere. I am covered by My yoga-maya potency. Mudho Œyam nabhijanati‹Krsna says they are mudhas, rascals, “They cannot se Me. They cannot understand Me.” In other words, Krsna keeps Himself hidden.

But if Krsna keeps Himself hidden, how can we see Him? Who can see Him? Bhakta ama preme bandhiyache hrdaya-bhitare, jahannetra pade tahan dekhaye amare‹only such a premi-bhakta can see Him, one who has developed krsna-prema, who has bound up Krsna in his heart with the rope of love. This bondage is very,very strong. Even Krsna, who is almighty, cannot break it.

He says na paraye na paraye na paraye, I cannot, I cannot, I cannot. Such bondage is so strong. Krsna cannot keep Himself hidden before the eyes of such a premi-bhakta. A premi-bhakta sees Him everywhere, though Krsna keeps Himself hidden.

Society Without Envy

This is the society for Krsna consciousness formed by Srila Prabhupada. One who becomes a member of this society gtes the opportunity to develop complete Krsna consciousness, to see Krsna everywhere.

Yo mam pasyati sarvatra Sarvam ca mayi pasyati Tasyaham na panansyami Sa ca me na panasyati (Bg. 6.30)

This is the goal. Prabhupada has written in his books, “The Krsna consciousness movement aims at crating an atmosphere of non-envy. Of course, it is not possible for everyone to become Krsna conscious, but the Krsna consciousness movement can create an exemplary society wherein there is no envy.”

Where is the question of enviousness? One who is envious is not a Krsna conscious person. In other words, he is not a Vaisnava. A real Vaisnava sadhu is not at all envious. He sees every jiva as Krsna’s jiva. Krsna is the object of his love, so how will he be envious?

Enviousness means lust. What does that mean? Pride is your enemy, crookedness‹kapata. If someone is making advancement on the spiritual path, others become envious of him. They cannot tolerate it. “Oh, he is making such advancement.” They start to speak all nasty things about him. Combining together, they start pulling down on him and attacking him.

This is enviousness. In a society of Vaisnavas that should not be done. A Vaisnava is not envious at all, atra paramo nirmatsaranam satam vedyam. Who understands bhagavata-dharma-tattva? Only a Vaisnava, who is non-envious can understand. Others will speculate, “Oh, this is that, this is that.” Only speculation will go on because they cannot understand.

They are not Vaisnavas, they are all envious persons. Prabhupada says, “One who is envious of the success of a Vaisnava is certainly not a Vaisnava himself but an ordinary mundane man.” He may be pretending to be a Vaisnava, but actually he is only an ordinary mundane man.

If the purpose of forming his society fails, how will Sria Prabhupada be happy ? This is a most important factor. So here it is said, “Generally when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him.” This is the general nature of people who are avaisnavas‹who are not Vaisnavas, they become envious when they see a person more qualified than themselves.

But a Vaisnava, who is completely Krsna conscious, he’ll never become envious. “Instead of being envious of a more qualified man one should be jolly to receive him.” Krsne prema krsna-bhakte maitri acarana-he who develops krsna-prema, he develops friendship with Vaisnavas, krsna-bhaktas. And when he sees a more qualified Vaisnava than himself he becomes jolly. That is a real Vaisnava, a pure Vaisnava. This is the purpose for which Srila Prabhupada formed this society for Krsna consciousness.

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