Hare Krsna,

This material world is like an international airport. People from different origins and desired destinations come to the airport to take the right flight. The airlines ensure that they serve different routes to fulfill the needs of the flyers. The airport provides a platform for the flyers and various airlines to operate from a common ground. Similarly living entities with unlimited variety of desires appear in this material world. The Supreme Lord (acting like an airline) provides different mechanisms (such as worship of different demigods) to the living entities to fulfill their desires. Material nature acts like the airport of this world to facilitate the fulfillment of these desires. People worship the demigods to fulfill their material desires without even realizing that the ultimate sanctioning authority is the Supreme Lord. Depending on what demigods people worship, they will reach that particular destination. As Krsna says in BG 9.25, “Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.”

I grew up in demigod-worshipping family. We did not know the goal and purpose of life then. We just lived under the illusion that dharma, artha, kama, moksha are the goals of life. We performed so-called dharma (worshipping the demigods) to acquire artha (economic needs) for kama (sense gratification). Moksa was hardly ever discussed. Each member of the family worshipped different demigods. Since I have propensity for knowledge and learning, I worshipped Goddess Sarasvati (goddess of learning). Since my mother had the responsibility of running the household with a limited budget, she worshipped Goddess Laksmi for financial security. My father was a business and so he worshipped Ganesha. My sister worshipped Lord Siva. But over the years (even before coming to Krsna consciousness), we all collectively realized that the fruits derived from demigod worship are temporary and not free from misery. Such worship did not kill our material desires but fueled the fire of such desires. How ignorant and stupid we were! Thanks to the light of Krsna consciousness coming into our family, we gradually gave up the worship of demigods. We still perform limited demigod worship to continue the family traditions that have come down to us for generations. One example is worshipping Mother Durga during Dussehra in India. Or observing Siva Ratri annually. But now we perform such festivities in the mood that we are worshipping servants of Krsna (as both Goddess Durga and Lord Siva are very dear to the Lord).

This is part of a conditioned living entities journey in this material world. Some of them start from the platform of voidism (like Buddhism), then move on to impersonal stage, then to demigod worship, and finally to the one and only Supreme Lord.  The highest dharma is the worship of the Supreme Lord Krsna as He is the source of all incarnations, the root of all creations, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, and the well-wisher of all living entities. BG 5.29.

We now know that “The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.” (SB 1.2.6-7)

And this is exactly what Lord Kapiladeva is advising His mother Devahuti. He is advising her that instead of following the path of fruitive religious activities, she should simply take direct shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by performing devotional service.

SB 3.32.11: Therefore, My dear mother, by devotional service take direct shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated in everyone’s heart.

Because I still have some material desires (the material conditioning is so hard to get rid off), I am not a pure devotee yet. I am a sakama-devotee (devotee with material desires). The goal is to gradually move to become a niskama devotee (without any material desires). The ultimate goal is to imbibe the mood of Lord Caitanya in Siksastakam 4: O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.

To become a pure devotee (completely surrendered to Krsna) in the mood of dasanudasa (servant of the servant) is the innermost core of my desire. But I accept that I am not there yet. It is a journey and I hope to reach there at some point (or in some lifetime). May I just take shelter of the Holy Name of the Lord because nothing will purify my dirty heart better than the chanting of the Holy Name. I don’t care what results I obtain out of devotional service – be it going back to Godhead or becoming liberated from the clutches of maya. I just wish to be situated in my eternal constitutional position as a servant of the Lord acting for His pleasure only. Now I do not desire to go to the heavenly planets where materialists live. What is the use of associating with them there as we have had enough of their association on this earthly planet? It is better to stay in the association of sincere devotees wherever we are and serve them. This should be our core desire.

“Śuddha-cetasaḥ means Kṛṣṇa conscious; their consciousness has become purified. In unpurified consciousness one thinks of himself as the Lord of the universe, but in purified consciousness one thinks himself the eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Putting oneself in that position of eternal servitorship to the Supreme Lord and working for Him perpetually, one actually becomes completely satisfied…Engaged in devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one has no proprietorship claim, nor is one situated in the false egoism of thinking that he is God or the master. He always thinks himself the servant. That is the process of purifying consciousness. With pure consciousness only can one enter into the kingdom of God.” (SB 3.32.5-6 P)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

The concluding lesson of Chapter 31 is how a jiva, after attaining the human form, undergoes great pains in the womb of the mother, during birth, as an infant and as a child. By the laws of karma, one takes birth in this material world. The goal of life is to free oneself from all material contaminations and designations. By the process of devotional service, one must purify himself and achieve self-realization. However, forgetting this goal of life, the jiva gets further entangled in this material world through bad association. If that jiva again enters the path of unrighteousness, association with sinful people in order to satisfy his stomach and genitals, he again enters hell, as before. In bad association, he loses all good qualities such as truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, control of mind and senses, and so on.

This chapter clearly instructs us that one should not associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a dancing dog in the hands of a woman (or opposite sex). The bondage that accrue to a man from attachment to any other object is not as complete at that resulting from attaching to the opposite sex. I found this instruction quite alarming. Just as a woman is a cause of bondage for man, man is also a cause of bondage for woman. All these attachments lead to unnecessary and prolonged suffering.

Over the last few weeks as we were reading this chapter and understanding the various stages of suffering (before and after birth ), I was quite depressed cursing myself how stupid I am to end up in this material world. What is that one mistake that led me to end up here? Guess we will never know the answer to this question. Is there a remedy to all these sufferings? Some people renounce everything and go to the holy dhama or mountains or forests trying to escape all sinful actions and resultant sufferings. But looks like renunciation is also not the remedy. Srila Prabhupada sums up the simple process of remedy in his purport to SB 3.31.47-48. Just as Krsna assures Arjuna in BG 18.66 not to worry, similarly Srila Prabhupada instructs us not to be unnecessarily upset. Rather we should try to find a remedy to the miserable condition of this material body. He says that the remedial measures can be understood in the association of liberated persons. A liberated person is one who engages in uninterrupted devotional service to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada also compassionately answers the topic of false renunciation. He instructs that rather than leaving our home or family, we should renounce the false understanding that one can lord it over material nature. This is actual renunciation. In other words, renunciation does not mean renunciation OF actions, but renunciation IN actions.

Therefore we should live in this world free from attachment, steadfast in our purpose of life, fixed up in our devotional service, and detachment from material way of life. I liked the verse that our teacher put. It sums up how we must act in this world in our daily duties but keeping our mind and intelligence fixed in Krsna.

“”The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Kṛṣṇa and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted Kṛṣṇa consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things.” (SB 10.44.15)

This is an example of the highest level of transcendence and absorption in Krsna. I am definitely nowhere close to this level. But the idea is clear – that if we focus our mind on Krsna (through the process of hearing, chanting and remembering), we can gradually free ourselves from the material bondage. It is a matter of steady practice.

“The devotee’s intelligence is always in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His attitude towards the material existence is one of detachment, for he knows perfectly well that this material world is a creation of illusory energy. Realizing himself to be part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, the devotee discharges his devotional service and is completely aloof from material action and reaction. Thus at the end he gives up his material body, or the material energy, and as pure soul he enters the kingdom of God.” (SB 3.31.48 Purport)

The final instruction of this chapter is loud and clear: endowed with proper vision, reason, devotional service and detachment, one should move about in this world of maya without attachment to the body and its extensions (family, friends, etc.)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

My understanding so far from whatever we have studied on the attachment between males and females is that association with the opposite sex is not the issue. The issue is when we start thinking of them as objects of enjoyment and attachment. This is the beginning of material attachment. It is very difficult in this modern age not to be attracted to the opposite gender. Most of the advertisements and marketing objectifies women and men. The objectification of women in the media teaches girls that all they have to offer is their body and face, and they should expend all their effort on physical appearance. Look at any sports coverage and you will notice that the focus is more on capturing the visuals of women at specific angles or focusing on their skimpy outfits. Men are not exempt from objectification either. Images of shirtless men with chiseled six-pack is a form of objectification of men. All these things create unnecessary attachment between men and women – sometimes leading to disastrous results.

Our scriptures, therefore, come down heavily on this misplaced attachment between men and women. People who do not have sufficient understanding of Vedic teachings may wrongly come to the conclusion that the Vedas are against women empowerment and freedom. It is common to hear such criticism about India and Indian culture from the western world. The real teaching of the scripture is that the goal of life is attaining 100% Krsna consciousness. Any person who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and who desires to pass beyond material nescience must not associate himself with women and men or with persons interested in material enjoyment. For a person seeking advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, such association is more dangerous than suicide.

The verse (SB 3.31.35), “The infatuation and bondage which accrue to a man from attachment to any other object is not as complete as that resulting from attachment to a woman or to the fellowship of men who are fond of women” really caught my attention. This is so true. Our material miseries and bondage begin from this attachment between men and women. The desire to please and form a relationship to the opposite sex leads to one thing after another (marriage, home, child, job, etc.) thus ending up in real entanglement from which it is hard to free oneself.

Therefore, it is important to keep Krsna in the center of everything – even in our relationship with our spouse. The mind is so strong and obstinate that it naturally tends to seek pleasure from everything – including our spouses and partners. But if we are deep-rooted in Krsna consciousness by practice, knowledge, service, and renunciation, such attachment will not be able to trouble us. Krsna consciousness is the only protection from false attachments. In Chapter 25, we studied about the descriptions of the kingdom of God. There it is mentioned that “The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha travel in their airplanes made of lapis lazuli, emerald and gold. Although crowded by their consorts, who have large hips and beautiful smiling faces, they cannot be stimulated to passion by their mirth and beautiful charms.” (SB 3.15.20)

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada writes that “in the Vaikuṇṭha world the consorts of the residents are many, many times more beautiful than we can find in this material world, even in the higher planets. It is specifically mentioned here that a woman’s large hips are very attractive and they stimulate man’s passion, but the wonderful feature of Vaikuṇṭha is that although the women have large hips and beautiful faces and are decorated with ornaments of emeralds and jewels, the men are so absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness that the beautiful bodies of the women cannot attract them. In other words, there is enjoyment of the association of the opposite sex, but there is no sexual relationship. The residents of Vaikuṇṭha have a better standard of pleasure, so there is no need of sex pleasure.” (SB 3.15.20 P)

It is a question of dovetailing everything to Krsna consciousness. Our attachments for the opposite sex will be there as long as we are conditioned in this material body. But when we are able to dovetail everything to Krsna’s service, then no material attachment can affect us.

“Man and woman should live together as householders in relationship with Kṛṣṇa, only for the purpose of discharging duties in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Engage the children, engage the wife, and engage the husband, all in Kṛṣṇa conscious duties, and then all these bodily or material attachments will disappear. Since the medium is Kṛṣṇa, the consciousness is pure and there is no possibility of degradation at any time.” (SB 3.31.42 P)

Srila Prabhupada us how to transform our material attachment to spiritual attachment. He writes that “instead of being attracted by material beauty, if one is accustomed to being attracted by the beauty of Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa, then the statement of Bhagavad-gītā, paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate, holds true. When one is attracted by the transcendental beauty of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, he is no longer attracted by material feminine beauty. That is the special significance of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa worship.” (SB 3.31.38 P). Therefore, we need to earnestly pray to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna that somehow or other may our attachment for Them grow day by day to the extent that we are no longer attracted to this material world and material bodies.

In conclusion, the solution to the illusory attachments between males and females lies in cultivation of proper Krsna consciousness. There is no other way.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

In the previous chapter (SB 3.30.5), we studied that once Indra, the King of heaven, was cursed by his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati, on account of his misbehavior, and he became a hog on this planet. After many days, when Brahmā wanted to recall him to his heavenly kingdom, Indra, in the form of a hog, forgot everything of his royal position in the heavenly kingdom, and he refused to go back. This is the spell of māyā. Even Indra forgets his heavenly standard of life and is satisfied with the standard of a hog’s life. By the influence of māyā the conditioned soul becomes so affectionate towards his particular type of body that if he is offered, “Give up this body, and immediately you will have a king’s body,” he will not agree. This attachment strongly affects all conditioned living entities.

This is the situation with all conditioned souls. We have forgotten our eternal identity (svabhava) and our relationship with the Supreme Lord Krsna. We are actually in amnesia with respect to our spiritual identity. We consider our body all in all and our bodily relationships as our own. Gradually we accept non-permanent things as our own and thereby increase our ignorance in the darkest region. We do not realize the workings of praseptamika and avaranatmika aspect of maya.

Therefore we need the associations of bonafide and compassionate sadhus to open our eyes and take us out our ignorance – just like Lord Brahma tried to do with Indra in the above pastime. In the association of sadhu sanga, we are enlightened to know who we are, what our constitutional position is, what our relationship with Krsna is, and what is the ultimate goal of life. Basically, sadhus remind us of sambandha, abhideya, and prayojana. Acaryas such as Srila Prabhupada repeatedly reminded us that we are not our bodies but eternal souls part and parcel of Krsna. Our constitutional position is that we are eternal servants of Krsna, and the goal of life is to develop love of Krsna (prema-pumartho mahan). Where would we get this transcendental knowledge without sadhu sanga?

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, we become advanced in Krsna consciousness. Sadhu sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krsna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and by acting for Krsna. Chanting the Hare Krsna mantra purifies us. It gradually removes the covering of ignorance from our hearts. This chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto−darpana−marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12] By chanting the names of Krsna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the conditioned soul loses interest and attachment in everything external. When one is influenced by the external energy of the Lord, his heart is impure. When one’s heart is not pure, he cannot see how things are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, by sadhu sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure in heart.

Real sadhus make us aware of the continuous cycle of births and deaths traversed by conditioned souls, and give us the remedy how to end this vicious cycle. Without their guidance and following their instructions, we run the risk of falling deeper and deeper into the Andha-tāmisra and Tāmisra hellish conditions, and after suffering there we get a hellish body like the dog’s or hog’s. The sadhus remind us that human birth is very rare, and it should not be wasted for asat activities. We have suffered endlessly in various bodies in the past. But after all these sufferings, if we get another chance in a human body and not reminded by sadhus that we should not waste our valuable time in the association of persons who are concerned with sexual life and palatable dishes, then naturally we again glides down to the same Andha-tāmisra and Tāmisra hells. This is why the association of sadhus is extremely important to get us out of the samsara of repeated birth and death.

Therefore all the great saints in the devotional line very strongly recommend the process of hearing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra to give everyone a chance to hear Krsna’s holy name, for simply by hearing Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one becomes purified and end the vicious cycle of repeated birth and death.

This is why we always recite the beautiful prayer everyday –

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”

This is the power of sadhu sanga. They remove us from the hellish path of ignorance and guide us to the transcendental path of knowledge and Krsna bhakti. Only Krsna consciousness can save us from the repeated cycle of birth and death.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

I want to share something about my life to give a better context of the tribulations faced by a living entity within the womb of the mother and outside in the material world.

I grew up in a beautiful mountainous town in Northeast India. It is a very small town nested in the mountains. Life was very peaceful and quiet. There was no pollution, noise, and crowd. The weather was cool. We had no experience of hot weather. The air was clean, the water from the springs sweet. Everything was within walking distance – the stores, the schools, post office, hospitals, temples, and churches, etc. We would walk to school in the morning, come back home during lunch break, and go back to school again. Life was not busy. We had ample time after school to play and enjoy. At night I would spend time looking up at the clear sky and counting the stars. We always had family dinner. The entire town would shut down after dark. People went home to their families after the day. There would hardly be anyone outside on the streets. People would go to bed by 8:30 or 9:00 PM. Life was just perfect and blissful. We had time for each other. However there was a lurking desire to ‘explore the world.’ I think that was the calling of maya.

Fast forward to 15-20 years. I had to move out of the town for college and later on for employment opportunities. My friends and I in college wanted to live in a big city like Mumbai or Delhi for our jobs. Krishna fulfilled our desire. I landed in Mumbai to work for a reputable IT firm. Life seemed to be good initially. Mumbai is the financial city of India – something like New York City of India. The city is completely opposite to where I grew up. Life is extremely fast paced. It is extremely populated, noisy, and polluted. But still life seemed to be good in the beginning. We found what we were missing growing up. We had ample opportunities for sense enjoyment. There are malls, movie theaters, bars, fancy restaurants, big architectural buildings, etc. Life seemed to be perfect.

Krsna says in BG 18.38: That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.

In line with Krsna’s teachings above, my initial nectarian experience slowly turned into poison. Being a small-town person, the big city environment took its toll on my mental peace. I was not able to adjust to the crowd, constant noise, pollution, and fast paced life. I dreaded going to work in the morning. The trains and buses were always extremely crowded. I couldn’t handle the heat. I didn’t enjoy the restaurant food anymore. I missed my family. I couldn’t deal with people’s duplicity and propensity to cheat. I didn’t know how to handle corporate politics. I didn’t know how to deal with intense competition at work. I just didn’t fit it. Then I desired to move out of Mumbai to a ‘better’ place.

Again, Krsna showed his mercy. He removed me from India and sent me to the USA. The quality of life is much better here. I thought I knew why people wanted to move to America and Europe – for a better life. This blissful experience continued for many years. But now I have started to see the realities of the material world. Even though I am in the most progressive country in the world, I was still not happy. Something was missing. Finally, Srila Prabhupada showed his mercy through his books. Life took a different turn from then on.

Why did I share this experience above? Just to show that the baby’s prayer in the womb for deliverance is similar to my current prayer to the Lord to give me relief from material distress and unhappiness. I am at a stage now where I can see that there is no perfect place in this world. Every place is a place of birth, death, old age and disease. It is not designed to be a happy place. Be in Mumbai, New York or Amsterdam, life is just distress. Every so-called happiness here has a hidden side-effect – misery and distress.

Whatever Srila Bhaktivinoda said in his prayers is so true and relevant to me. I gave up the happiness of my birth place (and home) to come to the bigger world of pain and sorrow. While growing up in the loving care of my parents, I passed my time smiling and laughing. My parents’ affection helped me to forget the pangs of birth, and I thought the world was very nice. Day by day I grew and soon began playing with other boys. Shortly my powers of understanding emerged. I read and studied my lessons incessantly. I travelled from place to place, city to city. I got a good education. People respected me for my education and material accomplishment. I started to earn money and support my family. I bought my first house and my first car. Materially I felt satisfied.

But now I feel miserable. I feel miserable because I forgot my eternal friend Krsna. Through the process of bhakti, I am trying to revive that lost relationship with Krsna. I am unable to handle this world of pain and sorrow. No matter wherever I go, the chains of three modes of nature do not leave me. Due to the misuse of my little independence, maya has bound me.

Now I am anxious to get out of the influence of material clutches. I want to be reinstated in my constitutional position as eternal servant of Krsna. I have served my bodily attachments for many lifetimes and their expectations never end. I cannot make them happy; neither do my service to them can make me happy. Like the child in the womb of the mother, I too, situated in the womb of the material world, pray to the Supreme Lord for deliverance. I beg for His mercy because without the Lord’s mercy, how can one again engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord? Like the child, I also pray “O my Lord, when shall I, a wretched soul, be released from this confinement?” (SB 3.31.17)

“Therefore, without being agitated any more, I shall deliver myself from the darkness of nescience with the help of my friend, clear consciousness. Simply by keeping the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu in my mind, I shall be saved from entering into the wombs of many mothers for repeated birth and death.” (SB 3.31.21)

“I have a body in which I can control my senses and can understand my destination; therefore, I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whom I have been blessed with this body and by whose grace I can see Him within and without.” (SB 3.31.19)

By the grace of the Supreme Lord and His bonafide representative like Srila Prabhupada, I know the process to engage in devotional service and become free from the clutches of maya. May I earnestly repent for my past sins and engage in loving service to the Lord. May I never take birth in the womb of another mother again to suffer in this world. May I take birth only to serve the Supreme Lord and His mission in this material world.

“Absorption of intelligence in the personal service of Kṛṣṇa and full consciousness of Kṛṣṇa always are the path of self-realization and liberation. Without being unnecessarily agitated, if we take to the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness by constantly chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, the cycle of birth and death can be stopped for good.

One can cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness anywhere and everywhere, provided he can always think of Kṛṣṇa. The mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, can be chanted even within the abdomen of one’s mother. One can chant while sleeping, while working, while imprisoned in the womb or while outside. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be checked in any circumstance. The conclusion of the child’s prayer is: “Let me remain in this condition; although it is very miserable, it is better not to fall a victim to māyā again by going outside.” (SB 3.31.21 Purport)

Similarly let me remain in whatever condition I am in. But let me not fall victim to maya again by trying to go outside of Krsna’s association and service.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

Janma-mrtyu jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam (BG 13.9). The body is subject to its own principles of birth, death, old age and disease, but one who is situated in spiritual life (yato bhaktir adhoksaje) has no birth, no death, no old age and no disease. Whenever we explain to a layman these four defects of human life – birth, death, old age and disease – most of them agree that death, old age and disease are understandable defects of human body. But why is birth considered a defect? Isn’t birth a beautiful thing that brings life, joy, and happiness to this world and to the family? We usually do not associate misery with birth. Yes, the process of giving birth is a painful experience to the mother but that same experience is a matter of joy to her. But if one reads this chapter and how Lord Kaplideva is giving a graphic description of the suffering of a child in the womb of the mother, all the pre-conceived notions about birth not being a defect will go out of the window. How painful it is for the child to stay in a fixed position in the mother’s womb, being bitten by worms and germs, being fed pungent food, being in great pain always, not being able to communicate to anyone what he is going through, and desperately waiting for some kind of relief! It seems the baby is somewhat conscious all the while and is aware of his suffering. That is the benediction of māyā, who endows the suffering body with the qualifications for tolerating such terrible tortures. (SB 3.31.7 P). And this is the working of praksepatmika potency of maya – throwing the living entity into material darkness with a material body. Miserable life begins from the moment the living entity begins to contact his material body. (SB 3.31.6 P). And then avaranatmika makes the living entity forget this experience of painful birth as soon as he comes out.

“One has to transmigrate from one body to another, and the transmigration into the bodies of dogs and hogs is especially miserable. But despite such miserable conditions, due to the spell of māyā we forget everything and become enamored by the present so-called happiness, which is described as actually no more than a counteraction to distress.” (SB 3.31.6 P). This is the work of avaranatmika.

In the Zoom review session today, I shared my realization that I too have gone through the hellish experience at some point in my previous lifetimes. I too have gone through the painful existence in the womb of a mother (be it in human body or animal body) life after life. Of course due to avaranatmika, I do not remember any of it and continue to live with a false illusory hope that this material world can also give me happiness (even though it is not designed to be so).

“Unfortunately, we forget all these sufferings and try to be happy in this life, not caring for the liberation of the soul from the entanglement of birth and death. It is an unfortunate civilization in which these matters are not plainly discussed to make people understand the precarious condition of material existence.” (SB 3.31.8 P) Thanks to Srila Prabhupada, we are aware of our precarious condition of our births and material existence.

I liked what Mother Samapriya said in the session yesterday. She said ‘urgent devotional service’. It really caught my attention. Just performing mundane devotional service is not enough. We have to perform ‘urgent’ and ‘desperate’ devotional service with a sincere mood of repentance (for committing so many sins life after life), gratitude (that we have been given this human body to practice devotional service and get out of the repeated cycle of birth and death), forgiveness (seeking forgiveness from the Lord for our sins and mistakes), and urgency (that I no longer want to suffer in this human body). Enough is enough! If after  hearing all these graphic descriptions of painful life in the womb and punishments in hell do not wake us up from our illusory slumber in the lap of maya with her praksepatmika and avaranatmika potency , I am not sure what else will!

Thanks to Srila Prabhupada, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya. We have the Vedic knowledge in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam that is trying to remove us from darkness of ignorance. I love what Srila Prabhupada wrote in this purport. He hit the nail of the head.

“After birth the child may forget about the difficulties of his past lives, but when we are grown-up we can at least understand the grievous tortures undergone at birth and death by reading the authorized scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If we do not believe in the scriptures, that is a different question, but if we have faith in the authority of such descriptions, then we must prepare for our freedom in the next life; that is possible in this human form of life. One who does not take heed of these indications of suffering in human existence is said to be undoubtedly committing suicide. It is said that this human form of life is the only means for crossing over the nescience of māyā, or material existence. We have a very efficient boat in this human form of body, and there is a very expert captain, the spiritual master; the scriptural injunctions are like favorable winds. If we do not cross over the ocean of the nescience of material existence in spite of all these facilities, then certainly we are all intentionally committing suicide.” (SB 3.31.9 P)

Just as a child prays in the womb to the Lord for relief and deliverance, may I pray to the Lord, while out of the womb now, that I practice devotional service with utmost sincerity and promise that I will never again commit sinful activities and have to be put into the womb for repeated birth and death. May I surrender fully to my spiritual master, to Srila Prabhupada and to Lord Krsna. Only they can save us.

“As the Supreme Lord puts the living entity into the condition of horrible existence, He can also deliver him, and therefore one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa demands, “Give up everything and surrender unto Me.” And it is also said in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who approaches Him does not come back again to accept a form in material existence, but goes back to Godhead, back home, never to return.” (SB 3.31.12 P)

May I always remember that constitutionally, I am the subordinate servitor of the Supreme Soul and may I not try to become one with the Lord and lord it over material nature. This is the root cause of my material existence and hellish sufferings.

“The entire process of devotional service is to purify oneself of this contamination of material nature and put oneself on the spiritual platform, where he is qualitatively one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Vedas it is said that the living entity is always free. Asaṅgo hy ayaṁ puruṣaḥ. The living entity is liberated. His material contamination is temporary, and his actual position is that he is liberated. This liberation is achieved by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which begins from the point of surrender. Therefore, it is said here, “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Person.” (SB 3.31.14 P)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

Upon reflecting on this chapter deeply, I am quite alarmed at the way Lord Kapiladeva is unraveling the perils of unregulated family life. Typically, what we consider to be a safe comfort zone turns out to be a gateway to hell if handled carelessly.  Family household life is a source of great joy and happiness to millions across the world. But the same family life can lead us to hell if there is no Krsna consciousness or God consciousness in it. The sad part is that in the name of family, we have normalized abnormal practices. Just as Mother Chatamayi so graciously shared in her last post, drinking was normalized in her family. While growing up, my family normalized meat and fish eating. Millions in the USA normalize possession of guns and commit violence in the name of self-defense. Schools normalize free intermingling of opposite sex; the prom culture is nothing but subtle sexuality. Treating women as objects of enjoyment is normalized through advertisement and marketing. Unfortunately, millions do not realize how dangerous this situation is. When families, directly or indirectly, encourage sinful behavior, the end result will be nothing but descend to lower forms and planets. Even the popular culture of keeping pets is quite dangerous. Didn’t Bharata Maharaja, who was situated in the stage if bhava, fall down from human platform because he developed too much attachment for a fawn? Srimad Bhagavatam is filled with teachings on how to lead a sinless, pious, and regulated life. Unfortunately, the abnormalities have become so normal in today’s world that we dare not even speak about them. Try telling someone that keeping pets and developing too much attachment for them is dangerous for the progression of the soul? Try telling someone that maintaining slaughterhouses and possessing guns will always lead to negative consequences?

In this chapter, Lord Kapiladeva is gradually enlightening us how the path to hell is quite open if we are careless, even in household life. He explains the pains in youth, old age and death for person agitated by attachment to family and children. The root cause of bondage is sexual desire. Sex life is the cause of bondage of the conditioned soul to remain in the material world. From sexual desire, one gradually develops attachment to one’s partner, family, children, relatives, property, etc. When one develops sexual bondage, prakṣepātmikā and āvaraṇātmikā subtly takes over. Praksepatmika makes us forget our eternal relationship with the Lord and throws us into a household life.  Avaraṇātmikā keeps us in ignorance and gives us a false impression that a peaceful happy family life is ultimate happiness. Gradually this avaranatmika potency makes us commit all sorts of sinful actions. We end up working crazy long hours for our livelihood, we have mounting expenses, our health is compromised, we are stressed and always disturbed, we worry about our future, we worry about retirement, and so on. But still, we think we are happy. This is how avaranatmika works.

I want to share a strong purport by Srila Prabhupada from Second Canto. I happened to read it recently during SB study with another group. I think it is relevant to this forum topic.

SB 2.6.8 Purport: The genitals and the pleasure of begetting counteract the distresses of family encumbrances. One would cease to generate altogether if there were not, by the grace of the Lord, a coating, a pleasure-giving substance, on the surface of the generative organs. This substance gives a pleasure so intense that it counteracts fully the distress of family encumbrances. A person is so captivated by this pleasure-giving substance that he is not satisfied by begetting a single child, but increases the number of children, with great risk in regard to maintaining them, simply for this pleasure-giving substance. This pleasure-giving substance is not false, however, because it originates from the transcendental body of the Lord. In other words, the pleasure-giving substance is a reality, but it has taken on an aspect of pervertedness on account of material contamination. In the material world, sex life is the cause of many distresses on account of material contact. Therefore, the sex life in the material world should not be encouraged beyond the necessity. There is a necessity for generating progeny even in the material world, but such generation of children must be carried out with full responsibility for spiritual values. The spiritual values of life can be realized in the human form of material existence, and the human being must adopt family planning with reference to the context of spiritual values, and not otherwise. The degraded form of family restriction by use of contraceptives, etc., is the grossest type of material contamination. Materialists who use these devices want to fully utilize the pleasure potency of the coating on the genitals by artificial means, without knowing the spiritual importance. And without knowledge of spiritual values, the less intelligent man tries to utilize only the material sense pleasure of the genitals.

The theme of household life being a gateway to hell comes up repeatedly in Srimad Bhagavatam. Prahlada Maharaja says to his father, “O best of the asuras, King of the demons, as far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest [vana]. More clearly, one should go to Vṛndāvana, where only Kṛṣṇa consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.“ (SB 7.5.5)

Similarly, Lord Kapiladeva says, “After leaving this body, the man who maintained himself and his family members by sinful activities suffers a hellish life, and his relatives suffer also. He goes alone to the darkest regions of hell after quitting the present body, and the money he acquired by envying other living entities is the passage money with which he leaves this world. Thus, by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maintainer of kinsmen is put into a hellish condition to suffer for his sinful activities, like a man who has lost his wealth.” (SB 3.30-32)

It is therefore a time for re-awakening and realizing that we need to keep Krsna consciousness at the center of everything and stay away from sinful habits. It is time to revisit as a family what we are doing wrong and that needs correction. Otherwise, we run the risk of falling into hell.

However, there is always hope. The fact that we have a human body is a thing of rare privilege and should not be wasted. After going through all the miserable hellish conditions, and then many births in the lower forms, we became purified and reborn as human beings. It is, therefore, important that we practice bhakti intensely and try diligently to stay away from sinful actions.

“Just as a prisoner, who has undergone troublesome prison life, is set free again, the person who has always engaged in impious and mischievous activities is put into hellish conditions, and when he has undergone different hellish lives, namely those of lower animals like cats, dogs and hogs, by the gradual process of evolution he again comes back as a human being… It can be concluded that if someone is not willing to enter into hellish life, as in Tāmisra or Andha-tāmisra, then he must take to the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is the first-class yoga system, because even if one is unable to attain complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life, he is guaranteed at least to take his next birth in a human family. He cannot be sent into a hellish condition. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the purest life, and it protects all human beings from gliding down to hell to take birth in a family of dogs or hogs.” (SB 3.30.34 Purport)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

“Māyā has two phases of activities. One is called prakṣepātmikā, and the other is called āvaraṇātmikā. Āvaraṇātmikā means “covering,” and prakṣepātmikā means “pulling down.” In any condition of life, the materialistic person or animal will be satisfied because his knowledge is covered by the influence of māyā.” (SB 3.30.4 Purport)

We are witness to the subtle workings of prakṣepātmikā and āvaraṇātmikā in our everyday lives. One place where we see the application of them is with respect to the atheists. In BG 7.15, Lord Krsna declares that four kinds of people do not surrender unto Him.

“Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.”

The atheistic class of people are called mayayapahrta-jnana, or those persons whose erudite knowledge has been nullified by the influence of illusory material energy. They are the impersonalists of Mayavadis who are very proud of exhibiting their Vedanta knowledge through grammatical jugglery. Therefore, they are bereft of real spiritual knowledge being covered by the avaranatmika potency of maya. These people deride the Personality of the Supreme Lord and consider Him merely another human being. They do not know that the blessed form of human life is designed after the eternal and transcendental feature of the Supreme Lord.

prakṣepātmikā and āvaraṇātmikā also applies to conditioned souls like me. Because of my desire to enjoy in this material world, praksepatmika threw me into this material world and avaranatmika keeps me covered by ignorance that I am enjoying here despite all the miseries I go through. This human body is a punishment if we do not practice bhakti. But we go on craving for sense gratification living in ignorance that this material body can give us unlimited material happiness. Srila Prabhupada gives us a beautiful example of Indra in SB 3.30.5. Due to avaranatmika potency, Indra, in the form of a hog, forgot everything of his royal position in the heavenly kingdom, and he refused to go back when invited by Lord Brahma. Similarly, we are also so attached to our bodily relationships that we do not want to give them up. Krsna declares in BG to surrender unto Him and abandon everything else. But still, we are so stubborn that we do not want to do so. This is how maya cruelly binds us in this material world through her two energies – prakṣepātmikā and āvaraṇātmikā.

We need to be careful of these two potencies of maya. Sometimes when performing bhakti and struggling to reach our spiritual goals, maya may dictate, “why are you trying so hard? You have been chanting the Holy Name for so many years but still you are struggling in this material world with the three-fold miseries. Give them up and go back to your early sense gratificatory life.” This is how maya may try to distract us from our true goals. This is called prakṣepātmikā. Maya is dragging and distracting us.

Therefore, we need to be extremely careful of maya and her tendency to distract us from bhakti and keep us entangled in ignorance. We must take shelter of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda who are just like the sun and moon who have arisen on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. (CC Adi 1.2) This material world is a dark well of ignorance. The fallen soul in this dark well must take shelter of the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitāi, for thus he can easily emerge from material existence. Without Their strength, simply attempting to get out of the clutches of matter by speculative knowledge will be insufficient.

“Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu drive away the five kinds of ignorance of the conditioned souls. In the Mahābhārata, Udyoga-parva, Forty-third Chapter, these five kinds of ignorance are described. They are (1) accepting the body to be the self, (2) making material sense gratification one’s standard of enjoyment, (3) being anxious due to material identification, (4) lamenting and (5) thinking that there is anything beyond the Absolute Truth. The teachings of Lord Caitanya eradicate these five kinds of ignorance. Whatever one sees or otherwise experiences one should know to be simply an exhibition of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s energy. Everything is a manifestation of Kṛṣṇa.” (CC Adi 1.102 Purport)

“Therefore, this knot is very difficult to cut, but here is suggested, “If you take this sword…” What is that sword? Yad anudhyāsinā. Always chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Take this sword. This sword is only remedy. Yad anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ. If you take this sword, then karma-granthi-nibandhanam, this hard knot of karma (can be cut).” (SP lecture on SB 1.2.15)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

SB 3.29.37-45

The time factor, who causes the transformation of the various material manifestations, is another feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Anyone who does not know that time is the same Supreme Personality is afraid of the time factor.

Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the wind blows, out of fear of Him the sun shines, out of fear of Him the rain pours forth showers, and out of fear of Him the host of heavenly bodies shed their luster. Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the trees, creepers, herbs and seasonal plants and flowers blossom and fructify, each in its own season. Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the rivers flow, and the ocean never overflows. Out of fear of Him only does fire burn and does the earth, with its mountains, not sink in the water of the universe.

The eternal time factor has no beginning and no end. It is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maker of the criminal world. It brings about the end of the phenomenal world, it carries on the work of creation by bringing one individual into existence from another, and likewise it dissolves the universe by destroying even the lord of death, Yamarāja.

I have been meditating on the lotus feet of Lord Krsna while chanting my japa. One of the symbols on Sri Krsna’s lotus feet is a disc. It is said that the disc on Krsna’s foot represents the time factor. One who always meditates on Krsna’s lotus feet will never be destroyed by time; he will live eternally in the blissful world of Vraja Gokula. (Radha-Govinda Meditation Techniques – Mahanidhi Swami)

Therefore, for a devotee who always meditates on Krsna’s name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode, paraphernalia, associates, etc., there is nothing to fear from the influence of time factor which is another representation or manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the material world. I am saying ‘in the material world’ because there is no time factor in the spiritual world. We do not realize how time devours us every moment. It is such an irony that popular culture is to celebrate one’s birthday. The bitter truth is that we are actually celebrating our state of being closer to death. I say, “I am 30 years old.” In essence, what I am saying is that 30 years of my present lifetime has died. But such is the inscrutable working of time that we do not realize its deathly influence upon us. The time factor is as illusory as maya. Therefore, it is important for us to take shelter of Krsna and be protected from the cruel time factor.

Another realization I had on the time factor is how each culture respects time. The modern Western civilization is generally considered to be lacking in God consciousness, whereas the Indian civilization is still predominantly God consciousness. If we treat time as a representative of the Supreme Lord, it means that we should respect time in the same manner as we treat the Lord. Ironically, Indians are considered to be less punctual whereas the Western culture is known for its punctuality. What a paradox and contradiction! I wonder whether the Western culture’s respect for time originated from the knowledge that time is a manifestation of the Lord.

As for me, I am very conscious of being respectful of other’s time. I am hardly ever late to appointments. Even at work, I do not schedule meetings for more than 30 minutes while the convention is to schedule 45-60 minutes meetings. My idea is that if we cannot communicate something within 30 minutes, it is less likely that we would be able to do so in an hour. A popular proverb says that ‘Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.’

The key takeaway for me from this lesson is these statements from Srila Prabhupada, “Therefore a devotee does not desire anything in this material world. A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This servitude exists eternally; the Lord exists eternally, His servitor exists eternally, and the service exists eternally.” (SB 3.29.45 Purport). How uplifting and hope-giving!!

The Supreme Lord is eternal. As spirit souls parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, we are eternal too. When both these eternal entities meet with love and devotion, the result is bound to be eternal. Two positives always make a positive. Therefore, bhakti is eternal. The servitude exists eternally; it is never vanquished by the time factor. Just as a typewriter will type whether it is used in the material or spiritual world, the servitude will continue to be transcendental whether the servitor and served are in the material or spiritual world. A pure devotee does not desire anything except to serve the Supreme Lord eternally. Eternity factor and influence of time factor cannot go together. The only way to overcome the fearful time factor is to always engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

“It is therefore said, hariṁ vinā na mṛtiṁ taranti: no one can be saved from the repetition of birth and death without the help of the Supreme Lord. It is therefore the duty of all living entities to take shelter of the lotus feet of Viṣṇu and thus save themselves from the cycle of birth and death.” (SB 3.29.39 Purport)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

This was a nice coincidence. As I was reading through the gradation of the living entities, I was thinking how Srila Prabhupada is beyond each of the stages. When the forum topic suggested that we meditate on the unique position of His Divine Grace, I couldn’t help smiling at this sweet coincidence.

As Mother Chatamayi mentioned, the last seven stages beyond varsnasrama are quite unique in themselves. Even though Brahmana stage is a desired platform, it is not the end of the story. Even study of the Vedas and knowing its purport is not enough. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya knew studied all the Vedas but still he didn’t know that by all the Vedas Lord Krsna is to be known – vedas sa sarvair aham eva vedya (BG 15.15). Higher than realizing the essence of the Vedas is to deliver the suffering living entities from nescience and situating them in the highest platform of pure devotional service.

I am reminded of a very nice conversation between Sanatana Goswami and Haridasa Thakura. Sanatana Goswami was praising Haridasa Thakura. He said, “O Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who is equal to you? You are one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore you are the most fortunate. The mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for which He has descended as an incarnation, is to spread the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Now instead of personally doing so, He is spreading it through you. My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name 300,000 times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting. Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.” (CC Antya 4.99-103)

These statements perfectly applied to our Srila Prabhupada as well. There are many pure devotees in Sri Vrndavana dhama. They practice pure bhakti but do not preach; they do not step out of the dhama. But our Srila Prabhupada is so merciful and compassionate. He not only practiced pure devotional service but also preached the cult of Krsna consciousness all over the world. He gave us the highest ‘matchless gift’ of pure Krsna bhakti. He was not only satisfied by being a pure devotee himself but also desired that the whole world become pure devotees. Like Haridasa Thakura, he simultaneously performed his duties in relation to the holy name by his personal behavior and by his preaching. Therefore he is ‘jagad guru’ – the spiritual master of the entire world.

How fortunate are we to come under his loving shelter! How fortunate are we to study his books in each other’s association! How fortunate are we to be able to follow his instructions and footsteps. While meditating on Srila Prabhupada’s extreme compassion and mercy on all of us, I am filled with immense gratitude. I feel very disqualified to perform pure bhakti. But I have faith that if I sincerely and faithfully follow the process and instructions given by him, he will hold my hands and take us to our desired destination of attaining pure love and devotion for Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada has given us all the love of Krsna, a rare gift that cannot be obtained even by practicing austerities or offering sacrifices or following Vedic rituals or performing any other practices for millions and millions of years. But Srila Prabhupada has given us a few very simple practices that are so easy and practical to perform and the result of performing them is that anyone can get the love of God in just one lifetime.

Many years ago, I read a strong rebuttal by HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja to people who falsely claimed that Srila Prabhupada did not give us everything. Maharaja said that Srila Prabhupada gave everything. He not only gave us pure bhakti but also created the good fortune for the living entities for the age of Kali to have access or entrance to Våndavana. Srila Prabhupada gave the way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arranged, the way Kåñëa arranged. This is the divine arrangement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and that is what Srila Prabhupada gave. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada’s presentation is perfect and complete.

“If anybody says that Prabhupada did not give everything I will very clearly say that he is in Maya and he is not following Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is hurting Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement.” (HH Bhakti Charu Swami – Class on CC Adi 3.5-6, Gitanagri, 2017)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!