Raw, very minimally edited transcript:
What is agreeable, that answer Mahaprabhu given. That is,
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti
Then Mahaprabhu said, “Eho haya, āge kaha āra (This is acceptable, now speak further)”.
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir
ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām
[“In whatever position they may be, those who give up the endeavour for knowledge, surrender to the sadhus, and dedicate their lives bodily, verbally, and mentally to their talks of the Lord, can conquer the Lord, who is otherwise unconquerable.”]
At this sloka Mahaprabhu told, “Yes, it is in the line and the fundamental basis is here.” What basis? Jñāne prayāsam udapāsya: first, what property you have, leave that. That is knowledge. Your own realisation, your own research, everything, you leave it. What you are doing through your knowledge, that you leave. It may be your knowledge and it may be others’ knowledge that you are eating and vomiting, that is not a factor. But what is the fundamental basis? Namanta eva jīvanti: to fully surrender and be alive with sravan-kirtan. That is the main thing. San-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām. Means kirtan and sravan. Anywhere, sthāne sthitāḥ. Anywhere. Śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir: verbally, mentally; kaya (physically), mana (mentally), vākya (verbally). That is the main fundamental basis.
This type of question came when Guru Maharaj was searching for his Guru, “Where is my Guru, where is my Guru?” And he went to Bharat Seva Ashram Sangha, Pranavananda Swami. And he asked Pranavananda Swami, “You are not my Guru I know, but where is my Guru, can you say?” And Pranavananda told to Guru Maharaj, “Here anything you can collect, but first go to Shankaracharya, jnana-marga. Then yoga marga. Then go to bhakti marga. And bhakti marga is the super, superior no doubt. But first necessary to karma, jnana, yoga, then bhakti. That is indicated in Gita also externally. Then you do that.” But Guru Maharaj told to Pranavananda, “But Mahaprabhu not told that, first you go to karmi, then you go to jnani, then you go to yogi, then you go to bhakti-yoga. Mahaprabhu not told and scripture also not told it. Then why you are telling like this? Bhakti yoga starting and bhakti yoga is end. There is in the middle nothing.” Guru Maharaj given answer to Pranavananda who is the founder president of Bharat Seva Ashram Sangha.
Anyhow. There Guru Maharaj have got one friend, Suresh, his name is Suresh. And Guru Maharaj asked Suresh, “Chaitanyadev is Bhagavan or bhakta, what is your opinion?” Both are staying in a hostel. And Suresh given answer very nice, Guru Maharaj told: “If Chaitanyadev is bhakta then he is more better than many Bhagavan [chuckles]. He is more better than so many Bhagavan if he is a bhakta. That is my opinion.” And Pranavananda said, “First go to karma-yoga. Through your energy you collect one goat and go to Mother Kali and sacrifice there and eat that meat then get strength, karma-yoga, like that.” [chuckling]
Anyhow, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told, when Mahaprabhu rejected sarva-dharmān parityajya Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja—not rejected actually, Mahaprabhu told it is external, bahya, means external, not a deeper conception. “You, Ramananda, I want to hear from you deeper and deepest conception about Krishna consciousness. You tell that. And Ramananda one by one telling and Mahaprabhu rejecting. Eho haya, āge kaha āra. Mahaprabhu told, “Yes it is ok but more than that, you proceed on.” That is the fact.
But bhakti-yoga starting with surrender, mood of surrender and immediate starting practising life with sravan and kirtan. That is Mahaprabhu’s line. Immediate you surrender and got up and sravan and kirtan.
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
Jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām means, hear from the proper channel the divine glories of Lord Krishna. Everyone not expert to glorify properly. As their mentality they can glorify that way, but proper glorification will come from proper personality. And if you are fortunate, then you must will get that opportunity. And hearing from the great saint sadhu, here is question, sadhu means saffron cloth? That is not mentioned in the scriptures. Sadhu means sat, sat means who will understand sachchidananda, he is sadhu. Only sat is not good. Good, but not good. Sufficient. But chinmayananda, where is the transcendental feelings and transcendental joyful presentation, there you will feel sadhu. That may be brahmachari, may be grhastha, may be vanaprastha, may be sannyasi, may be antyaja, may be mlechcha.
Actually we make some standard for peace in this material world. Not will disturb, “You not will disturb my family, I shall not disturb your family.” This is the rules and regulation. Scriptural rules and regulations means like that, but they are always mixed with some religious theistic mentality. Not atheistic in any way. Always theistic. But the proper guideline is that devotion to Lord Krishna is final. Guru Maharaj said very clearly in Prapanna-jivanamrta book, what is saranagati, what is surrender. What I told just now. First surrender, then come out with your practising life. What is surrender, meanings:
bhagavad-bhaktitaḥ sarvam ity utsṛjya vidher api
kaiṅkaryaṁ kṛṣṇa-pādaikāśrayatvaṁ śaraṇāgatiḥ
[“Having faith that everything is attained by devotion to the Supreme Lord, abandoning subservience to even scriptural injunctions, and taking shelter of Sri Krishna’s feet exclusively is known as saranagati.”]
This is written in Prapanna-jivanamrta. “Everything will be fulfilled, even scriptural advice you can avoid, but everything will be fulfilled by surrender to Sri Krishna. This knowledge you keep fully with you and your everything will be successful through that.”
This kind of faith and example given in Srimad Bhagavat:
yathā taror mūla-niṣechanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāch cha yathendriyāṇāṁ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam achyutejyā
(4.31.14)
When we are putting the water in the root of a tree, the whole tree is getting nourishment through that water. Like that, when we are putting our devotion to Lord Krishna then everything is becoming very peaceful and happy. There is no question who is Indra, who is Chandra, who is Varun, who is Brahma, not necessary to search because when I am giving my devotion to Krishna everyone getting that, like root of tree getting water and whole tree getting nourishment. Like that. Krishna-bhakti that is the supreme and devotion to Lord Krishna with full faith: full faith, this is the main thing. Not necessary to realise how much percentage I shall give here, how much percentage I shall give there, how much percentage—not necessary to realise that.
I remember when I joined in this mission I came to Guru Maharaj’s lotus feet and Guru Maharaj was happy to see my activity. But one question Guru Maharaj given me: “You joined in my mission, it’s ok, but can you follow me?” And I told “Yes.” That time my habit was to say “Yes.” ‘No’ it is not in my life I am telling. Always yes. And Guru Maharaj ask me, “Can you follow me?” I told, “Yes.” “No, no, not like that. What I shall tell you, you will follow, and what you know, you leave that knowledge. Can you do that?” I told yes. And I feel many question come after the Guru Maharaj’s, with the service of Guru Maharaj so many questions come, but I don’t care the questions. Guru Maharaj’s order is, and I am doing that. That was my nature that time, I have got that inspiration and I have got very, very good result with that. If Guru Maharaj want it bas, sufficient, no question is there.
This type of mentality in our society many I have seen. Here yesterday gone Yudhamanyu, you know Yudhamanyu Prabhu? Yudhamanyu, he have no question. Many times I asked him, “Have you any question?” “No, Maharaj.” But when I am telling to Yudhamanyu something, Yudhamanyu telling me, “You want this?” Only his one question. “You want or not?” Bas. No other question. Yudhamanyu has only one question. And I am surprised: he is American, and a great man, and long time he is in Krishna consciousness, but habit is very perfect habit. He accepted me as an acharya of society, then what I shall tell, that is the final for him. And every question, I am many question I have done him, but his only question one, “You want, or not?” When he gone to China before that he asked me, “I am getting one opportunity to go China but you want, or not?” And I told “Yes, I want everyone will go everywhere, and you must. But my target you know, Krishna consciousness must be there with you.” And he accepted and gone to China. And very good result, one man and spreading Krishna consciousness very happily.
This is the fact: viswas.
‘śraddhā’-śabde – viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niśchaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
(Chaitanya-charitamrta: 2.22.62)
[“Sraddha means firm, confident faith that everything is attained serving Krishna.”]
Sraddha, what is the main fundamental basis, that is sraddha, means viswas, means faith, and not ordinary faith: sudṛḍha niśchaya [firm conviction] must be through this devotion.
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
If Krishna is satisfied everything will be satisfied. This is viswas. You see very wide Vedic mission. Veda, Vedanta, Upanisad, so many Upanisad, Vedanta-darsan and four or five kind of Vedas and astadas Purana, eighteen kinds of Purana and so many scriptures like Garga-samhita etc., etc. But everywhere Krishna-bhakti is supremely established. And I am surprised, where little bit chance have got the rishis they establish devotion to Krishna. I am surprised to see that. Because we had before some suspicion [doubt] about our religious activity. But now it is clear. But I have seen Srimad Bhagavatam is a big book and supreme in Krishna consciousness but finally what advice given Srimad Bhagavatam, Nama-sankirtan. You do Nama-sankirtan of Lord Krishna and you will be fully satisfied with your all activity.
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ yasya sarva-pāpa praṇāśanam
praṇāmo duḥkha-śamanas taṁ namāmi hariṁ param
(12.13.23)
[“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.”]
And Mahaprabhu more simple way told,
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
[“The Lord’s name, the Lord’s name, the Lord’s name is the only way.”]
And you will see all the religious practitioners they are chanting the holy name of the Lord. Lord may be Allah, or Lord may be God, or Lord may be Buddha or any. But everyone chanting the Lord’s name. All sampradaya. And that all everything knowledge coming from Vedic knowledge. We can understand this when we will realise the whole spiritual history. This way Guru Maharaj told it, Kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya. It is in Chaitanya-charitamrta, if you give your devotion to Lord Krishna you will be fully satisfied with that.
But one thing is that, the question will come to us, we are doing but not happening. That is the main question. We are trying, we are doing, but not happening, what is this? And that is the difficulty for us to stay in one position. But before that if we will realise we can see somewhere something fault and that fault, what is that fault? We must try to understand that fault and if we realise we can see there offences, ten kind of offences we are telling, that is the obstacle. And avoid the offences you must get result. And scripture also said which way you can avoid, that is
nāmāparādha-yuktānāṁ nāmāny eva haranty agham
(Padma-purāṇa: Svarga-khaṇḍa, 48.49)
Constantly, with love and affection when you will chant, the holy name will be pleased with you and your obstacles will go out. And this is fact. Like daylight why you not will get that result? And this is Mahaprabhu’s conception: attach yourself with that divine connection, then you will get result.
Main thing is that blindly put your faith. Not necessary, one life in my hand and here we shall go always fighting with several conception? Several type of debating? That’s not necessary. When simply we understand from the whole system going to mood of devotion, it is true everywhere may be there the divine form of Lord there some question may can come, but practitioners’ mood of activity must be devotional. Here is no doubt. And everywhere that they told. Then no problem to surrender to Lord Krishna when Kṛṣṇas tu Bhagavān Svayam, all scriptures said Kṛṣṇas tu Bhagavān Svayam, Krishna is the supreme personality of godhead.
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sach-chid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
[“The embodiment of spiritual energy, consciousness, and ecstasy, Sri Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Lord of all Lords. He has no origin, He is the origin of all, and He is the cause of all causes.”]
And who read the Brahma-samhita is so highly qualified I can say because everything in a very simple way is exposed in Brahma-samhita. Those two books Mahaprabhu brought from South India. One is Brahma-samhita fifth chapter, one chapter only, and second is Krsna-karnamrtam. Two books Mahaprabhu brought from South India. Krsna-karnamrtam there is pastimes of Lord Krishna exposed; different kinds of moods of devotion but all devotional moods are going to madhura-rasa. No other rasa is exposed there, only madhura-rasa is exposed there, and that is the supreme. Then we can understand that. But Krsna-karnamrta maybe from far we can see, not to go so close or it will be sahajiyaism. Not to go so close but from far we must see. And which way we will see, see through the eyes of the proper person. Only not my eyes, my eyes can show the opposite like slideshow. When slide you will go, it will go upside down, then it will come positive way. Anyhow God conception and procedure Mahaprabhu given that two things, one is Brahma-samhita God conception and second is procedure madhura-rasa. Santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhura. but here is exposed madhura-rasa.
bhaktis tvayi sthiratarā bhagavan yadi syād
daivena naḥ phalati divya-kiśora-mūrtiḥ
muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjaliḥ sevate ’smān
dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ
[“O Lord, if our devotion to You were more steady, then Your divine, adolescent form would naturally appear (in our hearts), liberation would personally serve us with joined palms, and the goals of piety, wealth, and enjoyment would wait for orders.”]
Like this sloka so many good, good sloka in Krsna-karnamrta.
Then not necessary to start with karma, jnan, or with others, and Mahaprabhu rejected that:
varṇāśramāchāra-vatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam
(Vishnu-purana: 3.8.9)
[“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas.”]
Every procedure should go to follow the devotional line, and Mahaprabhu said it is not necessary to go by any other way. Come this way, straight down the Grand Trunk Road, from Howrah to Peshawar. Grand Trunk Road, one road is there, Grand Trunk Road from Kolkata. So long time ago Sher Shah done it. Sher Khan. Like that. If your vehicle follows that road you will go to Kashmir Peshawar. Anyhow. Bhakti yoga is like that.
vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ
janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ cha yad ahaitukam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.2.7)
[“Devotion to the Supreme Lord quickly produces detachment and self-revealed knowledge.”]
Everything you will get if you have the mood of devotion and full surrender to Krishna, and continue with sravan-kirtan in your practising life. Bas, you will be fully satisfied. And for that Mahaprabhu said, it is not necessary to go on the head of karma-yoga, then the head of jnana-yoga, then the head of astanga-yoga, then the head of bhakti-yoga. Not like that. Bhakti-yoga is starting from sravan, kirtan, smaran, vandana, archan, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedan. And no other practising procedure. From top to bottom is one procedure.