Hare Krsna,

In Bhakti-Rasamrta Sindhu (BRS 1.2.4), Srila Rupa Goswami has summarized the whole essence of Krsna consciousness in the following verse –

Yena kena prakarena manah Krsna nivesayet

“Somehow or other just engage your mind in Krsna.”

Also, in Padma Purana there is a famous verse,

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇurvismartavyo na jātucitsarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syuretayor eva kiṅkarāḥ

“‘Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.’”

In this regard, the teachings of both Lord Kapiladeva and Lord Caitanya are the same because the ultimate goal is one – to always fix the mind on Krsna. Only the process to attain the goal is different according to time, place, and circumstances. Lord Kapiladeva’s instructions to Mother Devahuti were practical and possible during Satya-yuga. What is possible then is not possible now. What to speak of now? It was not even possible 5000 years ago. Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept the system of dhyana-yoga recommended by Lord Krsna. Arjuna said:

BG 6.33-34: O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.

If the environment was not conducive 5000 years ago for yogic practice, things are harder now. The present age is characterized by a bitter struggle for existence.

SB 1.1.10: “O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.” (SB 1.1.10)

With such a disturbed mine, it is almost impossible to perform astanga-yoga in the present age. It is difficult to master correct asanas, regulate breathing, withdraw the senses from material objects, and so on.

The ultimate stage of astanga-yoga is samadhi. Samadhi is the state of the mind’s being virtually absorbed in the Lord. Performing the eight-limbed astanga-yoga is liking taking stairs to the top of the building (samadhi). Lord Caitanya is so kind that He has given us an elevator to reach the top. That elevator is the constant chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord and thus fixing the mind on the Lord.

SB 3.28.11 purport — “For every item in the yoga system there is a parallel activity in bhakti-yoga, but the practice of bhakti-yoga is easier for this age. What was introduced by Lord Caitanya is not a new interpretation. Bhakti-yoga is a feasible process that begins with chanting and hearing. Bhakti-yoga and other yogas have as their ultimate goal the same Personality of Godhead, but one is practical, and the others are difficult.”

Even five thousand years ago, Lord Krsna confirmed to Arjuna that of the two processes (astanga-yoga and bhakti-yoga), the path of bhakti-yoga is better and one can reach the highest platform by this process.

BG 6.47: And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself and renders transcendental loving service to Me – he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport, “The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in bhakti yoga…If one is fortunate enough to come to the point of bhakti-yoga, it is to be understood that he has surpassed all other yogas.”

SB 3.28.18 purport — “One has to fix his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly. When one is accustomed to thinking of one of the innumerable forms of the Lord — Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu, Rāma, Nārāyaṇa, etc. — he has reached the perfection of yoga. This is confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā: a person who has developed pure love for the Lord, and whose eyes are smeared with the ointment of transcendental loving exchange, always sees within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The devotees especially see the Lord in the beautiful blackish form of Śyāmasundara. That is the perfection of yoga.”

BG 6.47 Purport: The ideal yogī concentrates his attention on Kṛṣṇa, who is called Śyāmasundara, who is as beautifully colored as a cloud, whose lotuslike face is as effulgent as the sun, whose dress is brilliant with jewels, and whose body is flower-garlanded. Illuminating all sides is His gorgeous luster, which is called the brahma-jyotir. He incarnates in different forms such as Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He descends like a human being, as the son of mother Yaśodā, and He is known as Kṛṣṇa, Govinda and Vāsudeva. He is the perfect child, husband, friend and master, and He is full with all opulences and transcendental qualities. If one remains fully conscious of these features of the Lord, he is called the highest yogī.

Therefore, it is a matter of great comfort that the eight-limbed astanga-yoga and the nine-limbed bhakti-yoga (Sravan, kirtanam, visno smaranam, etc.) are one and the same thing. The process of meditating on the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within oneself and the process of chanting the glories and pastimes of the Lord are the same. The only difference is that hearing and fixing the mind on the pastimes of the Lord through the chanting of the Holy Name is easier than visualizing the form of the Lord within one’s heart.

It is said that whatever purpose is served by a small well of water is naturally served in all respects by a large lake (BG 2.46). Similarly whatever purpose is served by the practice of astanga-yoga taught by Lord Kapiladeva is easily served by the process of chanting the Holy Name of the Lord taught by Lord Caitanya.

Let us therefore chant the Holy Name of the Lord with full relish, attention, and detachment because is the yuga-dharma of this age.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

Hearing Lord Kapila’s various yoga practices in SB 3.28 sounds overwhelming and makes me quite discouraged. Hearing Him speak about concentrating the mind, performing prescribed duties, being satisfied with gain achieved by the grace of the Lord, being frugal in eating, living a secluded life, practicing nonviolence and truthfulness, abstaining from sex life, performing austerity, being clean, studying the Vedas and worshiping the Lord are just too many mountains to climb. As such, I am struggling with chanting attentively and following the four regulative principles while performing my so-called material duties. This itself is too much austerity for me. As if this is not enough, Lord Kapila continues to recommend more yoga practices and austerity. Looks like I can never make it to attaining perfection.

Srila Prabhupada’s statement is also a bit confusing. On one hand, he recommends us to go back to Godhead and not struggling in this material world. On the other hand, he says, “A mixed devotee engages in devotional service for the spiritual benefit of being eternally engaged in the transcendental abode of the Lord in full bliss and knowledge.” (SB 3.27.27 Purport) Is desiring to go back to Godhead and serve Krsna doesn’t fall under pure devotional service? I am confused.

Long story short, there is no way I can achieve perfection in devotional service by my own endeavors. I am so materially conditioned and struggling to stay steady in bhakti. The only way I can achieve perfection is by the causeless mercy of Krsna. I need to do my part while at the same time must pray to Krsna for help. What is impossible with His mercy? By Krsna’s mercy, little Dhruva Maharaja attained perfection within six months. By His mercy, Gajendra was released from the jaws of the crocodile and became delivered. By His mercy, Mother Yasoda could bind Krsna after great endeavor. She kept trying again and again but each time the rope fell short by two fingers. Finally Krsna, seeing His mother becoming tired and exhausted, decided to be bound and come under her loving control. By Krsna’s mercy, Arjuna and the Pandavas were victorious in the battlefield of Kuruksetra against the Kauravas even though the latter had a greater army and more skilled warriors like Bhismadeva, Duryodhana, Karna, etc. If these great souls had to rely on Krsna’s mercy, what can an insignificant jiva like me accomplish by myself? I must therefore completely surrender to Krsna and pray for His mercy. Krsna promises in BG 9.22, “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form – to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”

In fact, one of the six limbs of surrender to Krsna(saranagati) is to be firmly convinced that Krsna will give us protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. Krsna is merciful to His devotees and gives them all protection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service. “The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Kṛṣṇa consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life.” (BG 9.22 Purport)

The best way achieve Krsna’s mercy is to follow the instructions of our acaryas and distributing Krsna consciousness to others. Our goal as devotees is to achieve Krsna prema, to join Krsna’s pastimes in Goloka Vrindavana. However, this is normally a very high and difficult goal. In the Brhad Bhagavatamrta, we get the information that even extraordinarily exalted devotees like Narada and Uddhava aspire to join Krsna’s pastimes there. The only real way for us is through the mercy of Lord Caitanya, who is easily satisfied when someone spreads Krsna consciousness.

“One should endeavor for that which is never obtained by wandering up and down the universe as a result of the reactions of karma. What is that? One should endeavor to become Krsna conscious. If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Krsna consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Krsna consciousness.” (SB 8.7.44 purport)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

It is conclusively established in the scriptures that one can get liberation from the bondage of material nature ONLY by performing pure devotional service unto the Supreme Lord.

BG 7.14: This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

On a side note, I could not fully understand from the conversation of Mother Devahuti and Lord Kapiladeva whether complete release from the material nature is possible for the spirit soul. What I understood is that complete release is not possible because both material nature and the spirit soul are two different potencies of the Supreme Lord. The spirit soul is the marginal potency of the Supreme Lord, and matter is the external potency of the Lord. The two eternal potencies have somehow or other been combined, and therefore it is difficult to separate one from the other.

What struck me from their conversation is the usage of the words ‘seriously’ and ‘strongly’.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One can get liberation by seriously discharging devotional service unto Me and thereby hearing for a long time about Me or from Me. By thus executing one’s prescribed duties, there will be no reaction, and one will be freed from the contamination of matter. This devotional service has to be performed strongly in perfect knowledge and with transcendental vision. One must be strongly renounced and must engage in austerity and perform mystic yoga in order to be firmly fixed in self-absorption. (SB 3.27.21-22)

This shows that getting release from the material bondage is not easy. It is possible only by SERIOUS, STRONG, and STEADY engagement in devotional service. Lord Kapiladeva says that we must continue to hear about Krsna or from Krsna for ‘a long time’.

As conditioned souls living in Kali, we are restless to achieve immediate results. We want everything quickly and instantly. We want instant food, instant heating/cooling system, instant customer service, instant ordering and returning policy, etc. We carry this material conditioning to spiritual realm and expect immediate results. We perform bhakti for a few years and start doubting the process if we think we haven’t made much progress in bhakti. I have heard devotees complain, ‘I have been chanting for so many years but why am I not advancing?’ The answer lies in Lord Kapiladeva’s teachings. It is important to ask ourselves from time to time, “Am I performing bhakti seriously and strongly? Am I chanting without any offenses? Am I able to put my mind, action, and words in remembering Lord Krsna’s lotus feet?”

Bhakti is a relatively simple process as compared to jnana-yoga, astanga-yoga, and so on. What is difficult is to continue our bhakti for a prolonged period of time without observing symptoms of progress. It’s like being in-flight for a long time and not reaching anywhere. But the fact is we are travelling closer to our destination every minute. This is why Srila Rupa Goswami says in Nectar of Instruction Verse 3:

“There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam – hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.”

He mentions being enthusiastic, being confident and being patient. All three are important. It is important to always stay enthusiastic. Enthusiasm means action, but action for whom? The answer is that one should always act for Kṛṣṇa – kṛṣṇārthākhila-ceṣṭā (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu). Secondly, one should be confident and patient. The successful execution of Kṛṣṇa conscious activities requires both patience and confidence. A newly married girl naturally expects offspring from her husband, but she cannot expect to have them immediately after marriage. Of course, as soon as she is married she can attempt to get a child, but she must surrender to her husband, confident that her child will develop and be born in due time. Similarly, in devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident. The devotee thinks, avaśya rakṣibe kṛṣṇa: “Kṛṣṇa will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service.” This is called confidence. (NOI 3 Purport)

“Since all the devotees of the Lord are under the protection of His supreme potency, they should not deviate from the path of devotional service and take to the path of the karmī, jñānī or yogī. This is called utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt, enthusiastically executing the regulative activities of devotional service with patience and confidence. In this way one can advance in devotional service without hindrance.” (NOI 3 Purport)

At a personal life, I have extremely confident about the process and promise of bhakti. What I am struggling with is complete absorption in the Supreme Lord. I am trying to be aware of the diktats of my mind and try to bring it back to Krsna whenever it deviates. This applies while chanting, reading, and performing services at home or temple. I think small steps like this will make a difference. I am not yet at a stage where I am able to fix my mind on Krsna 24 hours a day. Hopefully with patience and enthusiasm, I will get there some day. Therefore, I do not expect perfection in one lifetime. Considering my limited capability and late start to bhakti, I am determined to continue this process for many lifetimes. It is hard to erase countless lifetimes of material conditioning in one lifetime. This is why I like Lord Kapiladeva mentioning ‘hearing for a long time about Me or from Me.’ It is important to remain fixed in devotional service. Remaining fixed on the transcendental platform is liberation from material entanglement.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

Studying Srimad Bhagavatam regularly removes our misconceptions about lot of things. I used to have some misunderstanding about the concept of liberation. I used to think that liberation is possible only when one is free from this material world. As long as one is in this material world, one is considered conditioned. Of course, this principle does not apply to liberated souls who come to this material world to execute Lord’s mission. For example, our dear Srila Prabhupada is eternally liberated. My misconception rose from the scriptural view that jivas are either eternally conditioned or eternally liberated (nitya-baddha and nitya-mukta). Therefore, for a conditioned jiva to transcend the conditioned stage, he has to transcend this material world first. The analogy is a prisoner in a prison. As long as he is inside the prison serving his sentence, he cannot be considered liberated. Only when he completes his sentence and is released from prison does he become liberated. I thought the same principle applied to material conditioning and liberation.

This lesson teaches us that one can attain liberation even while being in his so-called material body and within this material world. Liberation basically (at least in the beginning) means change in consciousness. As long as one thinks he is the enjoyer due to false ego, he is considered conditioned. But when one comes to the realization that he is an eternal servant of Krsna and acts in that consciousness, he is considered liberated.

The question is, how does a liberated soul think, feel, and act? The answer is given in SB 3.27.11. A liberation soul realizes the Supersoul to be – (a) transcendental, (b) manifest as a reflection even in the false ego, (c) the cause of prakrti, (d) pervading into everything, (e) one without a second, (f) absolute, and (g) the eyes of the illusory energy. This means a pure devotee (and a liberated soul) sees the presence of the Supreme Lord as a reflection in everything material manifested. He does not see anything but Krsna, and in everything he sees that the energy of Krsna is acting. This means he is no longer under the illusion of false ego but thinks that he is a spirit soul – part and parcel of Krsna. When one is reflected through the material contamination of the body and mind in false identification, he is in the conditional state, but when he is reflected in the pure stage, he is called liberated. (SB 3.27.13 Purport).

Next question is how does one become liberated? As our teachers posted in the forum post, the yogic process outlined by Lord Krsna to Arjuna is not possible in this age. It is said that in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (SB 1.1.10). Due to a troublesome and restless mind, it is not at all possible to perform the eight-fold mystic yoga process to attain liberation. Nor does one have a long-life span to achieve yogic perfection in this age.

Considering the miserable condition of the conditioned soul, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whose appearance day would be celebrated in a few days, advented in this age of Kali Yuga to bestow what no incarnation has ever bestowed before. He has given us nama-sankirtana (chanting of the Holy Name) by which we can achieve all perfection – even in this lifetime. Not only do we achieve liberation but also, we achieve Krsna-prema. What could be more glorious and higher than this? If we sincerely follow the teachings of Mahaprabhu, we will attain the goal of becoming a liberated soul. For this, we have to sincerely engage in the nine types of devotional service beginning from hearing, chanting, remembering, etc.

“By the practice of Krsna consciousness, however, one engages in nine types of devotional service to the Lord. The first and foremost of such devotional engagements is hearing about Krsna. This is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the mind of all misgivings….This is practical because by hearing about Krsna one becomes automatically attached to the Supreme Spirit. This attachment is called paresanubhuti spiritual satisfaction. It is just like the feeling of satisfaction a hungry man has for every morsel of food he eats. Similarly, by discharge of devotional service, one feels transcendental satisfaction as the mind becomes detached from material objectives. It is something like curing a disease by expert treatment and appropriate diet. Hearing of the transcendental activities of Lord Krsna is therefore expert treatment for the mad mind, and eating the foodstuff offered to Krsna is the appropriate diet for the suffering patient. This treatment is the process of Krsna consciousness.” (BG 6.35-36 Purport)

īhā yasya harer dāsye | karmaṇā manasā girā | nikhilāsv apy avasthāsu |jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate

“A person acting in the service of Kṛṣṇa with his body, mind and words is a liberated person even in the material world, although he may be engaged in many so-called material activities.” (BRS 1.2.187)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

So far, we have learned that all the material elements have originated from the Lord’s external energy and entangle the soul (jiva) who wishes to enjoy independent of the Lord. Lord Kapiladev explained the manifestation and the characteristics of the material elements such as earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, ego, senses, sense objects and so on. By knowing these, one is freed from the influence of material modes, cut the knot of temporary attachments, and attain to self-realization.

SB 3.26.72: Therefore, through devotion, detachment and advancement in spiritual knowledge acquired through concentrated devotional service, one should contemplate that Supersoul as present in this very body although simultaneously apart from it.

The jiva is spiritual in nature, yet he experiences material conditions due to his association with sense objects for material enjoyment. Thinking himself to be the doer in false ego the spiritual jiva binds himself to existence in the material world. The solution to this incompatible predicament of the spiritual soul is to gradually control the material mind though bhakti.

This means that we have to get out of our consciousness in false ego that we are the enjoyer which is a result of contemplation on sense enjoyment. This state of consciousness (that we are the enjoyer) is so ingrained within us since time immemorial that it needs a major ‘transcendental surgery’ to get out of this state. Bhakti-yoga (devotional service) is that transcendental surgery. The gravity of the situation does not become apparent until we engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

“It is therefore recommended in this verse that one engage very seriously in the devotional service of the Lord. This means that one should not think that he is the proprietor, benefactor, friend, or enjoyer. He should always be cognizant that the real enjoyer is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; that is the basic principle of bhakti-yoga. One must be firmly convinced of these three principles: one should always think that Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor, Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer and Kṛṣṇa is the friend. Not only should he understand these principles himself, but he should try to convince others and propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” (SB 3.17.5 Purport)

Therefore, Lord Kapiladeva recommends that one has to become faithful by practicing the controlling process of the yoga system and must elevate himself to the platform of unalloyed devotional service by chanting and hearing about Him. (SB 3.17.6)

I have been engaged in this chanting and hearing process for quite a few years now. The transformation I see in myself is that my faith in the power of devotional service to get me out of material consciousness gets stronger day by day. I realize that I have been given the various gross and subtle senses not for my enjoyment but for the enjoyment of the Supreme Lord. In this material world, we live under a big illusion that enjoyment means happiness. Quite to the contrary, material enjoyment actually brings misery even though we do not realize it at first. On the other hand, in bhakti we are taught that service to the Lord with devotion, detachment and transcendental knowledge is the key to real and eternal happiness. Of course it is still not very easy to engage my mind to the Lord 100%. My mind is very turbulent and restless. Therefore, I have been trying to chant the Holy Name by fixing my mind on each mantra to bring my mind under control. Even when I hear any lectures, I try to hear attentively. I am trying to build up my attention span gradually from 5 mins to 10 mins, and up. I do not have to perform strict yoga asanas like yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, etc., which are beyond my capability. I am taking shelter of the Holy Name to achieve the same.

“The practice of yoga by physical exercise is not the ultimate goal; the real end is to concentrate and to control the mind and train oneself to be situated in faithful devotional service.”  (SB 3.27.6 Purport)

Thus, we can remain undisturbed by material elements even though living in this material world by the process of devotional service. Unless one is completely faithful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages himself in the process of hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord, there is no possibility for liberation. (SB 3.27.6 Purport)

By intense bhakti, the influence of maya over the jiva can be removed. Maya cannot bewilder an enlightened soul who has fixed one’s mind in Lord Krsna.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

While considering what to write for this forum topic, I was trying to meditate on the difference between the sankhya philosophy and bhakti yoga philosophy. My research led me to couple of wonderful sections in the 5^th chapter of The Bhagavad Gita. Verses 4-5 states:

“Only the ignorant speak of devotional service [karma-yoga] as being different from the analytical study of the material world [Sāṅkhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both. One who knows that the position reached by means of analytical study can also be attained by devotional service, and who therefore sees analytical study and devotional service to be on the same level, sees things as they are.”

Srila Prabhupada provides a perfect summary in BG 5.4: “The aim of the analytical study of the material world is to find the soul of existence. The soul of the material world is Viṣṇu, or the Supersoul. Devotional service to the Lord entails service to the Supersoul. One process is to find the root of the tree, and the other is to water the root. The real student of Sāṅkhya philosophy finds the root of the material world, Viṣṇu, and then, in perfect knowledge, engages himself in the service of the Lord. Therefore, in essence, there is no difference between the two because the aim of both is Viṣṇu. Those who do not know the ultimate end say that the purposes of Sāṅkhya and karma-yoga are not the same, but one who is learned knows the unifying aim in these different processes.”

In the next purport, Srila Prabhupada explains, “The real purpose of philosophical research is to find the ultimate goal of life. Since the ultimate goal of life is self-realization, there is no difference between the conclusions reached by the two processes. By Sāṅkhya philosophical research one comes to the conclusion that a living entity is not a part and parcel of the material world but of the supreme spirit whole. Consequently, the spirit soul has nothing to do with the material world; his actions must be in some relation with the Supreme. When he acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is actually in his constitutional position. In the first process, Sāṅkhya, one has to become detached from matter, and in the devotional yoga process one has to attach himself to the work of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Factually, both processes are the same, although superficially one process appears to involve detachment and the other process appears to involve attachment. Detachment from matter and attachment to Kṛṣṇa are one and the same. One who can see this sees things as they are.”

What we studied and learned in SB 3.26 is no different. Here also we studied that the culmination of the analytical study of the material world is finding the source of everything. By nature, material nature, five gross elements, gross senses, subtle senses, etc., are inert. They cannot be aroused to function by themselves.  Only when they are linked with the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead do they become active. In other words, only the Supersoul activates everything and everyone to function properly.

SB 3.26.71: When a man is sleeping, all his material assets — namely the vital energy, the senses for recording knowledge, the senses for working, the mind and the intelligence — cannot arouse him. He can be aroused only when the Supersoul helps him.

This means that the Sankhya philosophy systems also ultimately leads to the Supersoul – or the source of all existence. It helps us discern matter from spirit very distinctly. This helps us to become detached from matter, become attached to the Supreme Lord through the process of devotional service. It helps us develop detachment (from matter) and knowledge (in the Absolute Truth).

SB 1.2.7: By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.

Why do we need such detachment from matter? This is because, “as long as the mind is distracted towards the material, there is no possibility of concentrating one’s mind and intelligence upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His partial representation, Supersoul. In other words, one cannot concentrate one’s mind and energy upon the Supreme unless one is detached from the material world. Following detachment from the material world, one can actually attain transcendental knowledge of the Absolute Truth. As long as one is entangled in sense enjoyment, or material enjoyment, it is not possible to understand the Absolute Truth.” (SB 3.26.72 P)

In summary, the analytical study of the elements of material nature and the concentration of the mind upon the Supersoul are the sum and substance of the Sāṅkhya philosophical system. The perfection of this sāṅkhya-yoga culminates in devotional service unto the Absolute Truth. (SB 3.26.72 P)

Therefore, through devotion, detachment and advancement in spiritual knowledge acquired through concentrated devotional service, one should contemplate that Supersoul as present in this very body although simultaneously apart from it. (SB 3.26.72)

Studying this chapter carefully under the guidance of our experienced teachers and association of like-minded devotees has been a revelation in understanding the essence of Sankhya philosophy better – and that is to detach ourselves from material contamination and simply engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord with perfect knowledge that He is the source of everything including this material nature. By viewing Sankhya philosophy from an impersonalist standpoint, we run the risk of staying under material illusion for a very long time to come thinking ourselves as products of matter. But understanding Sankhya philosophy from a personalist standpoint where the Supreme Lord is the source of everything, we can be liberated from that same material illusion.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

As we have studied so far, material consciousness is the cause of jiva’s conditional life, in which conditions are enforced upon the living entity by the material energy. Although the spirit soul does not do anything and is transcendental to such activities, he is affected by conditional life. Subsequently material nature (prakrti) is the cause of the conditioned soul’s material body and senses, and the senses’ presiding deities, the demigods (SB 3.26.7-8). The manifestation of the intricate material nature including the gross elements and senses is actually the mercy and grace of the Supreme Lord. It is His mercy because He has manifested this material world for our sense gratification and to fulfill our material desires. It is His grace because He has made this material world so miserable that, upon becoming enlightened with transcendental knowledge, we no longer want to prolong our stay in this place, and thus develop a desire for “home coming.”

As I was meditating on this topic, I realized how our desire to enjoy separately from the Lord created layers of separation between the Lord and us. Firstly, there is pradhana, then time, followed by Mahat-tattva. The material ego (ahankara) springs up from the mahat-tattva. The material ego (ahankara) is endowed predominantly with active power of three kinds: good, passionate, and ignorant. It is from these three types of material ego that the mind, the senses of perception, the organs of action, and the gross elements evolve. From the false ego in goodness, mind develops. From the false ego in passion, intelligence develops. From the false ego in ignorance, five sense objects and five gross elements develop. From egoism in ignorance, the subtle element sound is manifested, and from sound come the ethereal sky and the sense of hearing. Subsequently sound is transformed into Ether, Ether into Touch, Touch into Air, Air into Form, Form into Fire, Fire into Taste, Taste into Water, Water into Smell, and Smell into Earth. Since the cause exists in its effect as well, the characteristics of the former (e.g., Water) exist in the latter (e.g., Earth). Correspondingly the five gross senses – Ears, Skin, Eyes, Tongue, Nose – develop.

SB 3.26.47-49: The sense whose object of perception is sound is called the auditory sense, and that whose object of perception is touch is called the tactile sense. The sense whose object of perception is form, the distinctive characteristic of fire, is the sense of sight. The sense whose object of perception is taste, the distinctive characteristic of water, is known as the sense of taste. Finally, the sense whose object of perception is odor, the distinctive characteristic of earth, is called the sense of smell. Since the cause exists in its effect as well, the characteristics of the former are observed in the latter. That is why the peculiarities of all the elements exist in the earth alone.

The important point to note is that each one of us is more than a combination of material elements. Although our body is composed of material elements, we are ultimately none of these elements. We are spiritual beings. It is the presence of soul or atma that gives apparent life to our body, senses, mind, and intelligence. Our body is practically dead because it is composed of dead matter. What keeps the body alive is the spirit soul within it. This atma is our true identity. Aham brahmasmi.

Therefore, breaking down all the barriers of separation between us and the Lord is a wise thing to do. Since the soul is intimately connected with the Supreme Lord, gratifying the senses of the Lord is our actual constitutional duty. This means somehow or other we need to connect with the Supreme Lord. In order to do so, we do not need to retrace our steps to break down each material barrier in reverse order. All we have to do is to take advantage of the sound vibration. By hearing about the Supreme Lord and by vibrating the sound of His holy name using our tongue, we can reconnect with Him. In fact, we can engage each gross senses in His service. We can use the ears to hear the spiritual sound vibration, skin to touch and feel the Lord’s paraphernalia and His Deity form, eyes to see the beautiful form of the Lord, tongue to vibrate His holy name and glories, and also to taste the remnants of food offered to Him, and nose to smell the fragrant flowers offered to Him.

Thus, if we simply hear and chant His holy name – Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare – we will be able to sever our ties with the gross elements and senses, and ultimately regain our true eternal spiritual existence.

“By thus engaging in devotional service to the Lord, great sages or devotees free themselves from the results of work in the material world. In this way they become free from the cycle of birth and death and attain the state beyond all miseries [by going back to Godhead].” (BG 2.51)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

After studying Srila Prabhupada’s books diligently in the association of devotees, it is pretty well established that we are suffering in this material world due to our false ego. False ego means accepting this body as oneself. The identity of false ego is also quite subtle. It basically means that “I am the enjoyer of everything in this world.” Driven by “I” and “Mine”, we think that we are the lord of material nature. That the material world has been created for our enjoyment. In the previous chapter, we studied Mother Devahuti’s prayers to Kapiladeva. She prayed, “Due to my feeling of false ego, I have been engaged by Your māyā and have identified myself with the body and consequent bodily relations.” (SB 3.25.10)

Illusioned by the material nature, the living entity identifies with false ego. When the living entity is entrapped by the material body, he at once identifies with the bodily relationships, forgetting his own identity as spirit soul. This false ego associates with different modes of material nature, and thus the senses become attached to the modes of material nature.

I think it’s all a matter of consciousness and right perspective. There is false ego and there is real ego. We can never get rid of ego. We just have to remove “false” from “false ego.” When the sense of “I am” is applied to this false body it is false ego. When the sense of self is applied to reality, that is real ego. “I am this body” or “Everything in relationship to the body is mine” is called false ego, but when one is self-realized and thinks that he is an eternal servitor of the Supreme Lord, that identification is real ego. Therefore, I really like the verse from CC Madhya 20.108-109:

jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya — kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’

kṛṣṇera ‘taṭasthā–śakti’ ‘bhedābheda-prakāśa’

“It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa because he is the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Kṛṣṇa has three varieties of energy.

In essence, it is not really difficult to come out of false ego. As soon as we turn to Krsna and realize that we are His eternal servants and act in that mood and spirit, we are out of our false ego.

Once we accept that we are Krsna’s dear servants and are meant to serve Him, what difference does it make whether we are in the spiritual world or in the material world? This is why pure devotees are not disturbed by material tribulations and upheavals in this material world. In the review session today, our teachers gave the example of Srila Prabhupada who, even though was in this material world, was never disturbed by the nature of this material world. His activities, mood, service, devotion to the Lord, compassion for the suffering living entities were transcendental. He would have been in any material planet and would have continued his mission with the same mood and intensity. The nature of material world would not be able to disturb him in any way.

This is why I really liked the quotes that our teachers put in the last forum post topic. It said, “A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material coverings by the effect of his devotional service. The conditioned souls are within the coverings, whereas the liberated soul is far beyond the cover.” (SB 1.13.55)

This is because the pure devotee does not have a false ego and does not act on the platform of false ego. He has completely internalized that he is a dear servant of the Lord, and always act in that spirit – material world or spiritual world notwithstanding.

False ego keeps us entangled in this material world; real ego will liberate us from this material world and will place us on transcendental platform.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

The question is whether pure consciousness exists in material nature. It has to. Otherwise, how would conditioned souls attain liberation from the material world! Just as impure consciousness binds us to this material world, similarly pure consciousness will free us from the material world.

As Srila Prabhupada explained in the purport to SB 3.26.22, the pure status of consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, existed in the beginning. Just after creation, the consciousness was pure and not polluted. Gradually due to association with matter, consciousness becomes contaminated. It is like a mirror. When we first buy the mirror from the store, it is crystal clear and clean. Gradually dust starts to accumulate over it and the mirror no longer reflects our image. The same situation manifests in our heart. Our heart is pure in the beginning, but gradually it gets polluted due to impure association and desires. Therefore, the bhakti process is all about cleansing the heart of contamination. Ceto Darpana marjanam.

We have studied in SB 3.7.11 that as the moon reflected on water appears to the seer to tremble due to being associated with the quality of the water, so the self-associated with matter appears to be qualified as matter. Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that actually, like the original moon in the sky, the moon reflected on the water should also not quiver, but because of being associated with water, the reflection appears to be quivering, although in actual fact the moon is fixed. The water moves, but the moon does not move. Similarly, the living entities appear to be tainted by material qualities like illusion, lamentation, and miseries, although in the pure soul such qualities are completely absent.

Therefore, it is possible for us to make our consciousness pure again. Pure consciousness means Krsna consciousness. The root cause of the contamination of our consciousness is forgetfulness of our relationship with the Supreme Lord, and forgetfulness of the transcendental service of the Lord. But when one is engaged in transcendental service through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one becomes at once liberated from this illusion that we are products of matter. One can acquire such pure knowledge only from the bona fide spiritual master. Perfect knowledge is that the Supreme Soul, Kṛṣṇa, is the supreme shelter for all living entities, and giving up such shelter, the living entities are deluded by the material energy, imagining themselves to have a separate identity. Thus, under different standards of material identity, they become forgetful of Kṛṣṇa. When, however, such deluded living entities become situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is to be understood that they are on the path of liberation, as confirmed in SB 2.10.6: muktir hitvānyathā-rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ. Liberation means to be situated in one’s constitutional position as an eternal servitor of Kṛṣṇa (Kṛṣṇa consciousness). Jivera svarupa haya Krsne’r nitya dasa.

Only someone whose consciousness is pure and is liberated FROM this material world even though living IN this material world can help us attain our pure Krsna consciousness. It is, therefore, important that we hear from such great souls and serve them. Just as a person infected with Covid can transmit Covid to another person through the power of association, so too a pure devotee with pure consciousness can transmit pure consciousness to others. This is why Lord Krsna advised in BG 4.34, “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”

By hearing transcendental topics from pure devotees and by chanting the Holy Name of the Lord attentively and lovingly, our consciousness will become purified in due course of time, thereby helping us become free from the chains of this material nature.

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya

Dormant devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is within everyone. Simply by associating with devotees, hearing their good instructions, and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened. In this way one acquires the seed of devotional service. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. (CC Madhya 19.151 Purport)

In this way, we will become like those great pure devotees who lives in material nature without becoming entangled.

“A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material coverings by the effect of his devotional service. The conditioned souls are within the coverings, whereas the liberated soul is far beyond the cover.” (SB 1.13.55)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna,

As I am going through Lesson 3, I cannot stop marveling at what a magnificent scientist and creator our Supreme Lord Krsna is. The intricacies of the mechanics behind the creation of the material nature is beyond any human or superhuman ability. Who in the mortal realm could even conceive that creation would begin from the unmanifested eternal combination of the three modes (pradhana), this unmanifested state would later transform into prakrti, the prakrti would be composed of 25 elements, this prakrti would be agitated by time leading to the birth of mahat-tattva and so on? All these combine together to bewilder the conditioned souls. The jiva has his free choice either to serve his own senses and accept a material body or to engage in Krsna consciousness and get a spiritual body. The Lord is so merciful that he has created this unfathomable material nature for the conditioned souls to fulfill their material desires. Material scientists are proud of creating a tiny thing and cannot even maintain it for long. Anything created in this material world is prone to be destroyed by the influence of time. They create weather-proof buildings, and one small earthquake is enough to destroy them. Scientists in Japan have been trying to build earthquake proof buildings. But who can ever win over material nature? We live in such a fickle world and foolishly desire to prolong our earthly existence and possessions. Lord Krsna says in BG 11.32, “Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people.” Time is destruction, and all manifestations are to be vanquished by the desire of the Supreme Lord. That is the law of nature. Therefore, why wouldn’t any sane person give up the idea of lording over material nature and just surrender to Krsna?

I was watching a few rescue videos on the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. How small children are trapped in the rubble and rescue workers are trying to bring them out alive! How people have lost their entire families in this calamity! How some children will never see their parents again, and vice versa! It is so painful to watch them. I have been thinking how brutal material nature is. It does not even pardon small innocent children. Athiests will find an excuse to blame God for this. Others may see the play of karma in this. And compassionate souls like Srila Prabhupada would cry to deliver humankind from the clutches of material nature.

We conditioned souls think that we are the controllers of things in our life. But the bare truth is that we cannot even respond to material nature. We just react to whatever material nature throws at us. We ignorantly think we are the doers, but the real doer is material nature working under the hidden sanction of the Supreme Lord. “The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature.” (BG 3.27)

We are like dice and material nature is throwing us the way she wants. We think we are in control of the play. But what control does the dice have? It is just a tool in the hands of the dice-thrower (material nature). She is pulling us and diverting us the way she wants. She covers our knowledge and gives us a small drop of happiness to keep us entangled. Due to this covering of knowledge we forget our eternal goal and desire to derive more happiness from this happiness-less desert of the material world. Therefore real intelligence is to see all these ruthless works of prakrti and endeavor to get out of her clutches. If at all we want to be a dice, why not be a dice in the pastime and play of the Supreme Lord? He is our best friend, best benefactor, and best well-wisher. He will never cheat us.

We should therefore try to get out of the material clutches and take up spiritual life. That will make us happy. That is the only source of happiness. If we want happiness, then we have to give up the association of prakṛti. Because as long as we will be in the material world, we will have to associate with the modes of material nature. Therefore, we just have to pray to Krsna the way Lord Caitanya did to save us from this material world:

“O son of Mahārāja Nanda [Kṛṣṇa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.” (Siksastaka 5)

“The spirit soul is actually sac-cid-ānanda — eternal, full of bliss and full of knowledge. Under the clutches of māyā, however, he suffers from continued birth, death, disease, and old age. One has to be serious to cure this condition of material existence and transfer himself to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for thus his long suffering may be mitigated without difficulty. In summary, the suffering of the conditioned soul is due to his attachment to material nature. This attachment should thus be transferred from matter to Kṛṣṇa.” (SB 3.26.7 Purport)

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!