Hare Krsna,
In the last lesson, we discussed about spiritual masters being representative of Lord Krsna. This reminds me of a particular like in Sri Guru Vandana (prayer to Srila Prabhupada) that we sing at temples every day. divya-jnana hrde prakasito. “By his mercy divine knowledge is revealed within the heart, bestowing prema-bhakti and destroying ignorance. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.” The key is that the divine knowledge is revealed within the heart.
In SB 1.1.1, it is again mentioned tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye. “It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being.”
Every living entity has a heart. Within the heart, there resides the soul and the Supersoul. The direct communication between the Lord and His devotee is basically the communication between the soul and the Supersoul. As it is stated in the Upaniṣads, there are two birds sitting in one tree; one is acting and enjoying or suffering the fruits of the branches, and the other is witnessing. But one who is demoniac has no knowledge of Vedic scripture, nor has he any faith; therefore he feels free to do anything for sense enjoyment, regardless of the consequences. The fruit-eater (living entity) has forgotten his real identity and is overwhelmed in the fruitive activities of the material conditions, but the Lord (Paramātmā) is always full in transcendental knowledge. The Supersoul bird is always expecting when this individual soul bird will turn towards Him. He is so merciful. He is going, “My dear friend, why you are trying to become happy by enjoying this material fruit produced by your work in this body?”
But as soon as the individual soul (jiva) turns to the Supreme Lord through the execution of devotional service, the reciprocation commences from the Lord to the devotee. “To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (BG 10.10) The condition for such enlightenment from the Supreme Lord is the previous verse. “The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” (BG 10.9)
“Pure devotees engage themselves fully in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Their minds cannot be diverted from the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Their talks are solely on the transcendental subjects.” (SB 10.9 P). In other words, the Lord declares that by enlightenment in theistic knowledge He awards attachment for Him to those who constantly engage in His transcendental loving service. “The qualification is that a person always engage himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and with love and devotion render all kinds of services. He should perform some sort of work for Kṛṣṇa, and that work should be with love. If a devotee is not intelligent enough to make progress on the path of self-realization but is sincere and devoted to the activities of devotional service, the Lord gives him a chance to make progress and ultimately attain to Him.” (BG 10.10)
The Lord resides within our heart as Paramatma; He therefore understands our prayers, desires, motives, aspirations, and level of love and surrender. He, thus, reciprocates accordingly.
“The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.” (BG 18.61)
As sadhakas, it is therefore important for us to chant and hear the name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc. of the Supreme Lord sincerely and attentively following the instructions of bonafide disciplic succession. The direct communication between the Lord and the devotees through the medium of disciplic succession.
“The truth of these mysteries was revealed to Brahmā by the descending process, without the help of the ascending one. The Lord’s mercy descends to a devotee like Brahmā and, through Brahmā, to Nārada, from Nārada to Vyāsa, from Vyāsadeva to Śukadeva and so on in the bona fide chain of disciplic succession.” (CC Adi 1.52 Purport)
And depending on the level of surrender, the Lord reciprocates accordingly. Ya yatha mam prapadyante (BG 4.11)
Although the direct communication between the Lord and His devotees is a mystery to the non-devotees, it is a basic principle understood only by the devotees. Devotees understand and realize that the Supreme Lord is a person (Adi-purusa); they act with that understanding through the process of devotional service.
The best process to engage in devotional service in this age is the chanting of the Holy Name. Our sincere chanting pleases our dear Lord and spiritual masters; They, in turn, reciprocate in return for the pleasure of the devotees. Thus there is a constant blissful communication between the Lord and His devotees.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 