20240829 Śrī Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta 1.7. The Ultimate Goal of Life

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

First Shower — Seventh Stream

Jayapatākā Swami: My eyes are a bit dilated. Apart from the cataract I don’t see anything now! I can see a red saree.

TEXT: The process of Hari-bhajana in varṇāśrama

Note:

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.19.24

na yātrā vaikuṇṭha-kathā-sudhāpagā
na sādhavo bhāgavatās tadāśrayāḥ
na yātrā yajñeśa-makhā mahotsavāḥ
sureśa-loko ‘pi na vai sa sevyatām

An intelligent person does not take interest in a place, even in the topmost planetary system, if the pure Ganges of topics concerning the Supreme Lord’s activities does not flow there, if there are not devotees engaged in service on the banks of such a river of piety, or if there are no festivals of saṅkīrtana-yajña to satisfy the Lord [especially since saṅkīrtana-yajña is recommended in this age].

Jayapatākā Swami: So we see that the most important part of varṇāśrama is saṅkīrtana!

TEXT: Abandon completely association with women and persons who associate with women. Be especially careful that association of non-devotees does not happen.*

Note:

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.10.8–9

na hy anyo juṣato joṣyān
buddhi-bhraṁśo rajo-guṇaḥ
śrī-madād ābhijātyādir
yātrā strī dyūtam āsavaḥ

hanyante paśavo yātrā
nirdayair ajitātmabhiḥ
manyamānair imaṁ deham
ajarāmṛtyu naśvaram

Nārada Muni said: Among all the attractions of material enjoyment, the attraction of riches bewilders one’s intelligence more than having beautiful bodily features, taking birth in an aristocratic family, and being learned. When one is uneducated but falsely puffed up by wealth, the result is that one engages his wealth in enjoying wine, women and gambling. Unable to control their senses, rascals who are falsely proud of their r riches or their birth in aristocratic families are so cruel that to maintain their perishable bodies, which they think will never grow old or die, they kill poor animals without mercy. Sometimes they kill animals merely to enjoy an excursion.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, I remember that when we were discussing about the four puruṣārthas – dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa, Śrīla Prabhupāda said people are mainly interested in the middle two – artha and kāma. So, people if they have money they think they can get whatever they want for material enjoyment. So artha and kāma, these are the main things that people are interested in. Here, it tells that how people who have wealth become very puffed up and how they try to enjoy the material world. So he is a go-dāsa – servant of the senses. He is only thinking of the temporary happiness of the material world. But we want all the people to actually be focused on Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness is what Śrīla Prabhupāda preached all over the world. And he was very successful. So that means one needs more mercy of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Prabhupāda, he organized Ratha-yātrās, and had the devotees chant and dance. It was something wonderful! So in this way, we can get people to be actually be Kṛṣṇa conscious rather than māyā conscious!

TEXT: Abandon criticism of others. Without duplicity, know yourself to be most fallen and lowly. With tolerant heart, bearing all things, benefit the world properly. Don’t be proud of one’s caste, wealth, people, form, strength, worldly knowledge, position etc. Respect everyone with the proper respect they deserve.

Note:

Śikṣāṣṭaka 3

tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

“One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give respect to others, can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!

Someone gave me a book by Dale Carnegie, How to Make Friends and Influence Them. The whole book was on this mantra, tṛṇād api sunīcena – that, be humble, offer respect to others and don’t expect any respect for yourself. This is the magic formula! You do this and you will become very popular. I was wondering how many millions were made just by publishing this book! Actually, the whole book is about tṛṇād api sunīcena!

TEXT: In this kind of life, with full of feeling chant Harināma constantly. In this you will get pure love by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa will work in the form of your servant.

Note: Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛtam

bhaktis tvayi sthiratarā bhagavān yadi syād
daivena naḥ phalati divya-kiśora-mūrtiḥ
muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjali sevate ‘smān
dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ

“O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense-gratification are all automatically attained without separate endeavor.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa provides all these things, one doesn’t have to make a separate endeavor. But they should have Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Want to please Kṛṣṇa. Haribol!

Koṭi, koṭi blessings!

Today is also His Holiness Gopāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami’s Vyāsa-pūjā. He is not here at present, but his disciples are here. So, we are very grateful for his inspiring association. He also used his Vyāsa-pūjā a couple of times to raise funds, donation for the TOVP. In so many ways, he was very special! Also, it is your birthday (pointing to a devotee). Kṛṣṇe matir astu!