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If one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he has to associate with pure devotees. Such association alone can, by degrees, release one from the quivering elements.

The quivering quality of material existence, which comes from identification with matter or thinking oneself, under the material influence of philosophical speculation, to be God, can be eradicated by devotional service to the Lord, by the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. As discussed in the First Canto, the application of devotional service to Lord Vasudeva, because it invites pure knowledge, quickly detaches one from the material conception of life and thus revives one's normal condition of spiritual existence, even in this life, and frees one from the material winds which cause one to quiver. Only knowledge in devotional service can elevate one towards the path of liberation. The development of knowledge for the purpose of knowing everything without rendering devotional service is considered fruitless labor, and one cannot get the desired result by such labor of love. Lord Vasudeva is pleased by devotional service only, and thus His mercy is realized by association with pure devotees of the Lord. Pure devotees of the Lord are transcendental to all material desires, including the desire for the results of fruitive activities and philosophical speculation. If one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he has to associate with pure devotees. Such association alone can, by degrees, release one from the quivering elements. (More...)

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In this verse the word naiskarmyam, which means transcendental knowledge, is also significant. Unless one comes to the platform of transcendental knowledge and offers devotional service to the Lord, he is not perfect. Generally the processes of jnana, yoga and karma are executed life after life before one gets a chance to render pure devotional service to the Lord. This chance is given by the grace of a pure devotee, and it is in this way only that one can actually attain liberation. In the context of this narration, the wives of the demigods repented because although they had the opportunity of a birth in a higher planetary system, a lifetime spanning millions of years and all material comforts, they were not as fortunate as Prthu Maharaja and his wife, who were actually surpassing them. In other words, Prthu Maharaja and his wife scorned promotion to the higher planetary systems and even to Brahmaloka because the position which they were attaining was incomparable. In Bhagavad-gita the Lord affirms, abrahma-bhuvanal lokaḥ punar avartino 'rjuna: "From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place." (Bg. 8.16) In other words, even if one goes to the highest planet, Brahmaloka, he has to return to the miseries of birth and death. In the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna also asserts: (More...)

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One cannot become a perfect devotee of the Lord without having touched the lotus feet of a great devotee. One who has nothing to do with this material world is called niskincana. The process of self-realization and the path home, back to Godhead, means surrendering to the bona fide spiritual master and taking the dust of his lotus feet on one's head. Thus one advances on the path of transcendental realization. Vidura had this relationship with Maitreya, and he attained the results. (More...)

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Only a devotee can surpass maya's great influence. It was no fault on Maharaja Nabhi's part that he wanted a son. He wanted a son like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the best of all sons. By the association of the Lord's devotee, one no longer desires material opulence. This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.54): (More...)

If one is serious about escaping maya's influence and returning home, back to Godhead, one must associate with a sadhu (devotee). That is the verdict of all scriptures. By the slight association of a devotee, one can be freed from the clutches of maya. Without the mercy of the pure devotee, one cannot get freedom by any means. Certainly a pure devotee's association is necessary in order to obtain the loving service of the Lord. One cannot be freed from maya's clutches without sadhu-sahga, the benediction of a great devotee. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) Prahlada Maharaja says: (More...)

One cannot become the Lord's pure devotee without taking the dust of a great devotee on his head (pada-rajo-'bhisekam). A pure devotee is niskincana; he has no material desire to enjoy the material world. One has to take shelter of such a pure devotee in order to attain his qualities. The pure devotee is always free from the clutches of maya and her influence. (More...)

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The two brothers Jagai and Madhai epitomize the sinful population of this age of Kali. They were most disturbing elements in society because they were meat eaters, drunkards, women hunters, rogues and thieves. Yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered them, to say nothing of others who were sober, pious, devoted and conscientious. Bhagavad-gita also confirms (kim punar brahmanaḥ punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha) that to say nothing of the brahminically qualified devotees and rajarsis, anyone who by the association of a pure devotee comes to Krsna consciousness becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita the Lord declares: (More...)

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In this Twenty-second Chapter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu describes the process of devotional service. In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga. In all circumstances the living entity is recommended to accept the path of devotional service as personally explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called jnanis is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kanḍa, jnana-kanḍa and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Krsna consciousness. In this way one's life will be successful. If one takes to Krsna consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by Lord Krsna Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahatma sudurlabhaḥ). A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one's dormant Krsna consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees. If one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken. (More...)

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By his mercy we cross over this dangerous material existence, and by his mercy Krsna is obtained. Unless one is favored by the pure devotee, he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of krsna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from bondage of material existence. (More...)

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Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity, not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee's mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence. The word mahat in this verse means "a pure devotee." As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita: (More...)

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"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential. (More...)

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" 'O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.' (More...)

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There is a nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, Fifty-first Chapter [10.51.53], where it is stated by Muchakunda: "My dear Lord, a living entity, while travelling in this material world through different species of life, may develop towards liberation. By chance he may come in contact with pure devotees. Only at that time is he liberated from the clutches of the material energy, and he becomes a devotee of Yourself, the Personality of Godhead." (More...)

When a conditioned soul becomes a devotee of Krishna, Krishna by His causeless Mercy trains him in two ways: He trains him by the Spiritual Master from the outside, and He trains him from the inside by the Supersoul. In this connection there is a very nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twenty-ninth Chapter [11.29.6], in which it is said: "O my dear Lord, if somebody should get a duration of life like Brahma's, still he would be unable to express his gratitude to You for the benefits derived from remembering You; because, out of Your causeless mercy, You drive away all inauspicious conditions for a devotee, expressing Yourself from outside as the Spiritual Master, and from inside as the Supersoul." (More...)

Somehow or other, if somebody gets in touch with a pure devotee and thus develops a desire for devotional service to Krishna, he gradually rises up to the platform of love of Godhead, and thus he is freed from the clutches of the material energy. This is explained in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter [11.20.8], where the Lord says: "For one who becomes attracted by the topics of My Activities out of his own accord-being neither lured nor repelled by material activities-the path of devotional service, leading to the perfection of love of God, becomes possible." (More...)

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India has always been known as a holy land long before the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who originated the Hare Krsna movement 500 years ago. Lord Ramacandra, who was the incarnation of the Supreme Lord in the role of the perfect king, actually walked on this land millions of years ago when it extended as the kingdom of the whole world. His activities are recounted in the Ramayana, which is accepted by all transcendental authorities as authentic scripture. The most pious and learned devotees of the Lord have resided in India and taught there. The appearance of the incarnation of Lord Buddha was foretold in the First Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Chapter Three, verse 24, written 2,000 years before Buddha's birth: "In the beginning of the Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, for the purpose of deluding persons envious of the faithful theist." India is therefore the land where the religion of Buddhism sprang forth. For his special mission, Lord Buddha rejected the Vedas, and therefore the authority of the scriptures had to be reaffirmed. This was done by the great spiritual master Sahkaracarya, who drove Buddhism from the land of India by his brilliant explanations based on the Vedic literature. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam Lord Krsna is Himself the source of all the incarnations. The self-same Lord Krsna appeared in His original form, also on Indian soil, 5,000 years ago when He exhibited full-fledged activities as the Personality of Godhead in the provinces of Vrndavana and Mathura. As it is said, God is great. The true vision of His pastimes and His greatness was then displayed to all living entities on this planet, and it is all recorded in the book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is even stated in a recent book called the Aquarian Gospel that Lord Jesus Christ declared by the New Testament of the Holy Bible to be the son of God, also spent some time in India and worshiped in Jagannatha Puri. India is naturally pious, and throughout the villages of India the people still remain God conscious. But this present age is an impious age. It can be checked only by dependence on the Lord and His devotees and by following the benediction of this age. The leaders of India have in recent history rejected the transcendental culture of the Vedas, which points out that everything is actually spiritual. This material world is simply temporary and is inherently miserable, due to birth, death, disease and old age. The human form of life is therefore meant for realizing God, even by working at one's occupation; the whole society has to aim at realization of God through its activities. Instead of following this path, called varnasrama-dharma, the Indians, influenced by the attraction of foreign city life, have rejected their original culture and tried to be happy by following the materialistic ways of the great countries of the West such as the United States. The danger in their rejecting this Krsna consciousness while in the human form of life is expressed in the Bhagavad-gita. One may slip down to the lower forms of life in the future births. We are all spiritual by nature, but we have become covered, like a mirror becomes covered by dust. Especially for this age, Lord Caitanya, the incarnation of Krsna who is appearing as a devotee in order to teach, has given a very simple method. Everyone should chant the holy name of God, and everyone can do it in any position of life. He has especially stated that anyone born in India has the responsibility to take up this chanting and spread it, and He has quoted scripture to state that there is no alternative for spiritual realization in this age than chanting the holy name of God. It is therefore concluded that spiritual life is urgently needed, and this method should be taken. It is very easy and is being taught by Krsna Himself, yet it has been rejected in India. By the line of disciplic succession, the Brahma-sampradaya has passed down this information; despite the corruption of the present age, it remains pure and intact. Since the incarnation of Lord Caitanya, the spiritual masters in this line are Rūpa Gosvami, Raghunatha, Jiva, Krsnadasa, Narottama, Visvanatha, Jagannatha, Bhaktivinode, Gaura Kisora, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and now His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although the teachings are intact, unfortunately the philosophers of the impersonal school have misinterpreted the Vedic philosophy to deny the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They have given all attention to the impersonal aspect and thus have wreaked havoc. This is not a theoretical disagreement on theology, but it concerns all humanity. If there is no understanding that God is the Supreme Person, then people in general are led to believe that there is no God, or they are told that if there is any spiritual existence at all, then this implies that every man is God, and that he can do as he likes, without worshiping the supreme authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the impersonal philosophy of the Absolute Truth there is no ultimate love. There is no reason to stay on the spiritual platform; therefore intoxication and sex life enter and take over, and both the impersonalist teachers and their students glide to the hellish path. There are real spiritual individualities and spiritual activities according to the Bhagavad-gita, but if one does not take to them then one must take to material individuality, which is temporary and leads to lower births. Seeking to become one with the Supreme in nirvana is not a substitute for the permanent positive happiness which the spirit soul is seeking. One has to engage in spiritual life in service of the Supreme Lord under the direction of a spiritual master, or else he must return to the material platform. Thus it is stated that in order to wipe out impersonalism and to present an easy to perform process of devotional service to the people in this age, Lord Caitanya appeared. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna states, "Just surrender to Me," but Lord Caitanya was even more merciful. His movement is simply joyful. His program is listening to Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, chanting Hare Krsna and feasting on prasadam (spiritual food). The Krsna consciousness movement is not a Hindu or national culture, but it is the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the father of all living entities. The attainment of the eternal, peaceful, happy state of loving service taught by Lord Caitanya can bring the solution to all the problems of life that has not been attained by technology, politics or modern science. Srila Prabhupada, on the order of his spiritual master, and due to the solid teachings of the order of his spiritual master, came to the United States in 1966 to teach this message. Due to Srila Prabhupada's all-attractive transcendental nature as spiritual master and due to the solid teachings of scriptures and the cleansing experience of chanting the mahamantra, and eating prasadam, spiritual foodstuffs, this message quickly gained support. Temples began opening here in the United States in 1966, and now, in 1970, with 50 temples open, when Srila Prabhupada returned to India his reception was overwhelmingly favorable. (More...)

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In Bhagavad Gita it is stated, in the Seventh Chapter, 16th verse, that there are four kinds of beginners in devotional service whose backgrounds are very righteous. They are the distressed, the inquisitive, the seeker of material profit, and the Jnani, or the wise man. These four kinds of people, when they are coated by previous righteous activities, come to the devotional service of the Lord. Out of these four, those who are distressed and those who are in need of material possessions are called devotees with desires, whereas the other two, the inquisitive and the wise, are under the heading of seeking liberation. But, because they worship Krishna, they are considered to be very fortunate. In due course of time, if they give up all their desires and become pure devotees of the Supreme Lord, they are called the most fortunate. (More...)

Such fortunate beginners can develop only in the association of pure devotees of Lord Krishna. When one is associated with such pure devotees, one becomes a pure devotee himself. This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam in the First Canto, Tenth Chapter [11], as follows: "A person who is actually intelligent is able, by association with pure devotees, to hear about Lord Krishna and His activities." These activities are very attractive, and he does not give up such association with the Lord. (More...)

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First of all, Srila Ramananda Raya enunciated the system of the varnasrama institution. He recited various verses about karmarpana, stating that everything should be dedicated to the Lord. He then spoke of detached action, knowledge mixed with devotional service, and finally the spontaneous loving service of the Lord. After hearing Srila Ramananda Raya recite some verses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the principle of pure devotional service devoid of all the kinds of speculation. After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to explain the higher platform of devotional service. Then Srila Ramananda Raya explained unalloyed devotional service, love of Godhead, serving the Lord with pure servitude as well as in fraternity and parental love. Finally he spoke of serving the Lord in conjugal love. He then spoke of how conjugal love can be developed in various ways. This conjugal love attains its highest perfection in Srimati Radharani's love for Krsna. He next described the position of Srimati Radharani and the transcendental mellows of love of God. Srila Ramananda Raya then recited one verse of his own concerning the platform of ecstatic vision, technically called prema-vilasa-vivarta. Srila Ramananda Raya also explained that all stages of conjugal love can be attained through the mercy of the residents of Vrndavana, especially by the mercy of the gopis. All these subject matters were thus vividly described. Gradually Ramananda Raya could understand the position of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His real form, Ramananda Raya fell unconscious. After some days, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to retire from government service and come to Jagannatha Puri. These descriptions of the meetings between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are taken from the notebook of Svarūpa Damodara Gosvami. (More...)

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Those who are always engaged in bhajana-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-they are mahatmas. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritaḥ, bhajanty ananya-manasaḥ. This is bhajana-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama... There is mahatma. So mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. If you serve such mahatma, just like Haridasa Thakura, who is always engaged in chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, then your path of liberation is open. And tamo-dvaram ahur yositam sahgi-sahgam. And if you associate with the materialistic person who are after sense gratification, then your tamo-dvaram... That is the way to the darkness. The life's business is not tamo-dvaram. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. Jyotir gama, go to the light. Don't remain in... This is Vedic instruction. (More...)

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Devotional service is not dependent on subhasubha-karma. It is simply dependent on the mercy of Krsna and His devotees. Krsna de... Sadhu... Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc Madhya 19.151]. Guru-krsna-krpaya. Naisam matis tavad urukramahghrim, mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita ya... [SB 7.5.32]. Unless we surrender to the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to come to the platform of devotional service. That is the way. (More...)

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That is the special verse. It is not very easy thing. Bahūnam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19]. Don't take things very easily. Things are very serious. Therefore we have to go step by step. That is, Narottama dasa Thakura said, tahdera sahge. Aim should be how to serve Rūpa-Raghunatha, Rūpa-Raghunatha. And bhakta-sane basa, pure devotee, to stay with pure devotee who has no other intention. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu ]. This is the process. So do it carefully. That's all. (More...)

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