16 July 1992, Miami

Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Deva-Goswami Maharaj speaking on 16 July 1992 in Miami, USA

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Jay Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jaya!
Respectable Vaishnavas, honourable gentlemen and ladies, and my dear godbrothers and sisters, disciples and beloved children, I first bow down to you all, that is you come in this occasion for *me*, to see me or meet with me. Any way you are bestowing your mercy and affection to me, I have no doubt. Actually I cannot speak English, it is true. That is I not read in school. What I can say in English it’s come through the mercy of the devotee. That is devotees’ communication with me now come and I have no other way, and “necessity is the mother of invention”. I not read books or not read in school but necessity come to meet with the devotee. Before it was only heart to heart some transaction. I surprised which way it is possible but it’s happen. In the Western devotees’ character, specially Spanish devotees, they cannot speak English, I cannot speak English, they do not know Bengali, I do not know Spanish; but they are every year coming to Nabadwip, after Guru Maharaj also, and happily, they are only smiling and giving their seva for the service to Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundar and happily staying, maybe sometimes one month, two months, they are staying in the Math.
And this happen. That is, I think not only language there, our heart transmission and transaction, that’s also very valuable. And I am so fortunate that they have affection, and I have also attraction and affection for them. And that affection take out me from India. First it’s happen in Australia. It was plan, all the Australian devotees was very enthusiast, they given so much land in the Australia, and I wants to go and there give some foundation of the temple. That was my plan, but Sripad Sagar Maharaj and Mohanananda Prabhu said when you are going out from India then you must go all over the world. Why not? And plan changed by the mercy of Sagar Maharaj and the devotees. And from all over the world devotees’ response come very heavily and they want to meet with me in their own country. And this way, this suddenly happen my world tour program.
And I am also very enthusiast to preach but I have much responsibility in Nabadwip, Puri, Kolkata, Vrndavan, recently. Cannot come out from there but by the mercy of the devotee, it’s happen, and it’s very nicely I relish with the mood of the devotees. Before Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad and Guru Maharaj also, Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad three times told me, when he is finishing his world tour, every year going to Guru Maharaj, to see Guru Maharaj, with talking with Guru Maharaj he feel very happy. And every time going, that time, 1973, 1975, 1976, like that. Every time telling “Oh Govinda Maharaj you come with me, and I shall take you, I shall give you world tour ticket, you will see what I am preaching all over the world and you will give report to Sridhar Maharaj and he will be happy to hear that, *more* happy. I am giving report but if you will give report—[cut]—” — come out in form of my world tour.
And it is, what by their wills not happen that time, but there devotees eagerness and wills more effective, I am seeing that. That is, by their mercy I can come out from India.
Anyhow, I am getting much response from everywhere, from everywhere I am getting much response to preach. But Sagar Maharaj told, actually I come to meet with my friends and their families. Not for preaching. Two day, three day, four days, it is not preaching program. Actually if you wants to preach, before necessary to make something, environment you must create there, then you will try to preach, then your preaching mission will be successful. But I have no time, that way. Here two days Miami, here two days Hilo, two days there Honolulu two days, Maui two days. Like that program. It is not actually preaching program.
Anyhow, where I am going, everywhere Sripad Sagar Maharaj or Sripad Janardan Maharaj they are putting me in the court, in the court, judgement, putting in the court and [Bengali] like prisoner they are presenting me in front of the devotee. “Oh Govinda Maharaj has this quality, that quality, that quality, now I shall give examination, what they told, it is I have, I must try to prove that. Which way I shall prove, it is not with me! Actually they are telling too much about me and I am feeling very uneasiness. Guru Maharaj told, “Yes he have that quality”, that is, he wants to establish his mission, and they are following also Guru Maharaj. Then they are telling too much for me, but I am telling it is too much for me actually. I am unqualified and insignificant, I have nothing actually. But one qualification if you can say, that is I am fanatic to Guru Maharaj. Always where is Guru Maharaj, there I am following, trying to follow him. Following is very difficulty, that is Guru Maharaj is so high and I am very low. But trying to follow, and another way I can say, his mercy is very causeless mercy and its bestow upon me and others also. And it is I cannot guess which way [so] much mercy he bestow upon my head.
That is he, always giving support as a bad boy I am, but he is always giving support to me, and from my young age. I joined with Guru Maharaj in 1947, then forty-two years spend with Guru Maharaj, but I never seen Guru Maharaj told anything against of my character or anything. Always Guru Maharaj giving support, “Oh, what this boy doing, it is good.” That way. But he is making for his own mission, and I do not know how much I can serve him, but I am trying wholeheartedly, as possible by me. And some qualification coming, what is required for his preaching, service to his mission, service to his devotee and the Deity, that’s coming gradually by the wills and mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj. Here is, I have no credit actually. I cannot speak English one word. Actually, “Yes, no, very good”—three word I know. That is in 1981. Who went after that to the Math he can understand it, it is true. I know ‘yes’, I know ‘no’, and I know ‘very good’. Three word I know. But after that, I not read book and also I not try to learn English but English also gradually coming to me, I am seeing that. It is very hopeful for me that I can express now something in English. Maybe there grammar some wrong but you can understand, that is you are so merciful devotee. You can understand easily what I wants to tell, tell to you. Then now I have not so many problems or much disturbance I am not feeling, but when formal talk in the meeting, necessary to give some speech, that time I am feeling very uneasy.
Maharaj told right, that question answer is easy for me. That is, I am thinking, answer is no problem for me. I spent with Guru Maharaj forty-two years, with Srila Swami Maharaj ten years. Then question answer it is very easy for me. Thousand of thousand question came to Guru Maharaj and they gave answer, then it is very easy. But formal talking is very uneasy for me. Maharaj told correct.
Anyhow I have got much inspiration to come in the West and when I enter into Australia fifteen days there day night program continuously continued there. Fifteen days. Like a big hotel. Hundred devotee always eating prasadam, sleeping there, always some discussion going, chanting, sankirtan. Many things. Initiations, many things. But it is actually preaching program, like that, happen in Australia. And when I come to Singapore I surprised to see there hundred devotee from Malaysia come to see me. Then I have got much enthusiasm. Before it was not my idea. They have much love, I know they love me, they are coming time to time Nabadwip and also they are doing seva of our Math. But this type of affection and eagerness I have not seen before. Gradually I am enlightened and I am very happy to see their mood and affection. And what was beyond my thinking, now it is coming in my mind, yes I can also preach something in the West.
But what new I shall give to you all? That is my thinking now. What given by Srila Swami Maharaj, what given Srila Guru Maharaj that is the supreme for all the jiva-souls. Srila Swami Maharaj worldwide mission organised one year he have got much trouble and austerity for preaching his mission in America. One year he cannot preach successfully. Even he have got too much austerity, but after one year all environment wholly changed and within five years all over the world chanting and dancing Hare Krishna mahamantra by his mercy. And after that Srila Guru Maharaj’s time also we have got much inspiration. And they both Gurus given too much in this world.
We come in the West, when Swami Maharaj come he was alone, nobody was helper of Srila Swami Maharaj. But when I come in the West, hundred and thousand my friend they are giving reception to me. Which way I am getting that, it is mercy of Srila Swami Maharaj and Guru Maharaj. Actually it is really Swami Maharaj given that chance to us, Guru Maharaj later. I give sometimes the example, Swami Maharaj make tunnel, blasting the western culture and we enter there very happily. When he came here, that time he have no friend, and when *we* come then we have got many friends here. Actually we come to see my friends and family. Then now circumstance change and also mood of the devotee that’s also change. That is it’s passed twenty years actually, more than twenty years maybe.
[quotes sloka 17.30 mins] Always one wave cannot run. Sometimes jōẏāra and sometimes bhāṭā [Sripad Sagar Maharaj: ebb and tide of the ocean]. Once came very big jōẏāra, tide, from the ocean, coming in water, that is called jōẏāra. In the time of Srila Swami Maharaj some jōẏāra came and flooded all over the world in the Hari-sankirtan. And they are chanted and dancing [Sripad Sagar Maharaj: tidal wave] in the name of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nobody knows before in the Western world. They do not know who is Sri Chaitanyadev, who is Nityananda Prabhu, who is Advaita Prabhu. And now from ten thousand miles or kilometers far this Miami here worshipping Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu, and their devotees, and you are all the devotee of that Sriman Mahaprabhu.
It is mercy of Srila Swami Maharaj and Guru Maharaj told Srila Swami Maharaj was saktyavesh avatar, it is true, one man cannot do this, only power of the god can do it. Power of God, that means Nityananda Prabhu, he is very eager to preach about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And that power fully bestowed and concentrated in the mood of Srila Swami Maharaj, and through that you have got much through him and through Guru Maharaj also. Then what I can give more, I only can give you their conception what I have got from them, that I can give in my own way. I can represent to you that conception, and nothing else I have. Then I come to meet with you and also I have got much affection and much inspiration to see the mood of the devotees in this Western world. And also it is our life, sannyas means to do promise in front of his Guru, “with my body, with my mind, and with my speaking I must do your seva.” That is sannyas, kay man vakya. Kay means body, mind, and speech, words, I shall do seva of my Guru. And that promise is sannyas.
Guru Maharaj wants to give me sannyas so long but I was afraid to take his chair. That is, I know the respect of the chair of Srila Guru Maharaj; but anyhow, by his strong will its come to me. And I am trying to serve him and I promise yes I shall preach Krishna consciousness, I shall try to preach your conception and it is now come to me as my duty. Then where I am going there some preaching, and preaching his mission, glories of Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu and the devotees. This is my duty now.
Anyhow I am very happy to come this place Miami. And here is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math so long, maybe seven, eight years, is it? Five years, five years Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math representing here, our Brajabala Devi. [Devotees clap] It is very nice, somebody sometimes telling there is one house and you are giving name of Math, I told, “No, there sannyasi, brahmachari, everybody going there and they are living house, they are taking prasadam, they are preaching. Then it is Chaitanya Saraswat Math representing, I have no doubt there. And now I come and I am seeing that it is true, all the sannyasi, brahmachari, our Sripad Giri Maharaj,  Janardan Maharaj, Ashram Maharaj, you also came here before? Many of the sannyasi-brahmachari. Sadhu Maharaj they are coming here and preaching from here and she also preaching regular conception of Srila Swami Maharaj and Guru Maharaj, and if you see the altar here, I have seen the altar,  then I can understand immediately what preaching going from this place.
Actually Math means from where we can preach Krishna consciousness. This age meanings of the Math coming that way. And I am very happy to come here first. It was not my idea it is possible in a house we can make some Math but now I am happy to see that Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Miami we given address in our book. And many things coming, letters also come, I have got letter from Guru Kripa Prabhu, you may know him, he happily wrote. I was in Honolulu in the house of Guru Kripa Prabhu, and he also gave much nourishment and affection to me. Now he is also very enthusiast to preach. He stopped his preaching before. Now everywhere they are getting some inspiration, and feelings they are getting more enlightened way in their heart. And it is my good fortune, I can do something for them. If I can do something good for them I feel very happy. Then it’s come out and I also feel I can preach something in the Western world. But If Krishna will give again chance to come in the West my program also I shall make other way. Two day, two day, two days, it is not good for preaching. Seven days at least if we can stay somewhere, then we can preach something about Krishna consciousness.
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very easy thing, that is, it is everybody’s religion. It is not religion of Hindu, it is not religion of Muslim, or Christian, or Buddha, or Śaṅkar sampradāya. They have some sampradāya, we have not really sampradāya. It is religion of the jīva-soul, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
jīvera ‘svarūpa haya—kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’
kṛṣṇera ‘taṭasthā-śakti’, ‘bhedābheda-prakāśa’
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 20.108)
[“The soul is by nature an eternal servant of Krishna. The soul is Krishna’s tatastha-shakti (marginal potency); a manifestation both distinct and non-distinct from Krishna.”]
kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha
ataeva māyā tāre deya saṁsāra-duḥkha
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 20.117)
[“When souls outside the realm of time and space turn away from Krishna and forget Him, Maya subjects them to the various miseries of worldly existence.”]
And which way we can get relief from this environment, that’s also given Kavirāj Goswāmī very clearly and very simple way:
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
mālī hañā kare sei bīja āropaṇa
śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye sechana
upajiyā bāḍe latā ‘brahmāṇḍa’ bhedi’ yāya
‘virajā’, ‘brahmaloka’ bhedi’ ‘paravyoma’ pāya
tabe yāya tad upari ‘goloka-vṛndavāna’
‘kṛṣṇa-charaṇa’-kalpa-vṛkṣe kare ārohaṇa
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 19.151–4)
[“After wandering throughout the world, a fortunate soul by the grace of Śrī Guru and Kṛṣṇa receives the seed of the creeper of devotion (faith). Becoming a gardener, the fortunate soul sows the seed within their heart and sprinkles it with the water of hearing and chanting. The creeper grows and crosses beyond this universe. It crosses through the Virajā and Brahmaloka and reaches Paravyoma. It then goes beyond that to Goloka Vṛndāvan and climbs into the wish-fulfilling tree of Kṛṣṇa’s feet.”]
Bas, very easy thing, only necessary mercy from Sādhu, Guru, and Vaiṣṇava. And through that we will get some sukṛti, and sukṛti means our fortune making, fortune-maker. And we must search for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, easily it will come to us. And who is Kṛṣṇa? If we go to the sādhu, they will say and show the Reality the Beautiful. And God consciousness all over the world everywhere you will see, in the different names. God consciousness everywhere, but in different name. But what is the Supreme Personality of Godhead? That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and why? That explanation very simply given in the scriptures. Then we can understand easily, Kṛṣṇa bhajan, mane worship and practising Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is our life’s goal. And given by Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj, given by Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, and that days come, non-stopping way it is running. Maybe somewhere something disturbance, it will come, that is the nature of this mundane world. Always we are living within disturbing environment, then it must be with us, but by the by we shall proceed to our destiny, cross over all the disturbance, and that destiny is: ‘Kṛṣṇa-charaṇa’-kalpa-vṛkṣe kare ārohaṇa.
Mane service to the Kṛṣṇa, and leaving that plane of exploitation, leaving that plane of renunciation, we must try to pratistha, establish ourselves in the plane of dedication. And dedication to whom? We shall surrender to whom? That is Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmad Bhāgavat said clearly, “Kṛṣṇas tu Bhagavān Svayam”. In Brahma-saṁhitā told:
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sachchidānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
(Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā: 5.1)
[“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.”]
That is, we must worship Kṛṣṇa, that is Kṛṣṇa is Īśvar, and He is Parameśvar, Paramaḥ Kṛṣṇaḥ, and He is sach-chid-ānanda-vigraha. What is the English Mahārāj, sach-chid-ānanda-vigraha? Eternal form of consciousness and bliss, that is sach-chid-ānanda-vigraha. And He is anādir ādih: He is the beginning and beginningless, anādir ādih, and His name is Govinda. And sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam, cause of all causes.
Very clearly in Brahma-saṁhitā we can see. Then with our mood of devotion that is within us, within everybody’s heart the mood of devotion, and through that devotion we can worship Kṛṣṇa very easily. Affection, love, beauty, everything we have, and through that we can worship. And He is, that is, nectar of ocean, when we will go in touch with Kṛṣṇa we will get everything there. And Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj and Guru Mahārāj, they are both Guru, world Guru, and they preach this conception in this world, and it is Mahāprabhu’s conception. Mahāprabhu Chaitanyadev five hundred years ago appeared in this world with His paraphernalia and associates, and through Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s associates ṣaḍ-goswāmī we have got that Kṛṣṇa conception, and that is the supreme conception of our life. Actually everywhere have some fearful environment, but in Kṛṣṇa consciousness there always environment giving us ecstasy, and hopeful, and happiness. That is the wealth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness: tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate.
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā-matiḥ krīyatām yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate
tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 8.70)
[“Purchase ecstatic devotion to Krishna wherever it is available! The only price is hankering. It is not attainable by acting piously (practising vidhi-bhakti) for ten million lifetimes.”]
Everywhere some rules and regulation, restriction, many things giving, mane, discouragement. All the Vedic knowledge also, there we have seen, we can see many things, discouragement there present. Ladies cannot worship the Deity, and gents also there many different type of position, we can say: brāhmaṇ, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, and also brahmachārī, vānaprastha, sannyasī, gṛhastha, many way differentiating Vedic knowledge. But Kṛṣṇa consciousness here everybody is same position if they have attraction and hankering for the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they can enter into that world. There is love, beauty, ecstasy, charm, and only laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate, laulyam, what is English, Mahārāj? Hankering, there is wealth, and you can buy that through your hankering. This is the Mahāprabhu’s conception, and that we have got through our Guru Mahārāj and Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj, and all over the world now chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra. That is Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra that is nondifferent with Kṛṣṇa, and if we can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra, we will get everything, what we need, what we want in our life, everything we will get. This is Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and other scriptures very clearly told.
Today when I am coming some tape we heard,
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
(Bṛhad-Nāradīya-purāṇa: 38.126)
“In this Age of Kali there is no other way, no other way, no other way than the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of Lord Hari.”
Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj giving explanation: nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva, this way. Without chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra, you have no other way to get that supreme goal of your life. Then Harer nāmaiva kevalam and that consciousness, conception given by Srila Swami Maharaj, Guru Maharaj, and still their associates all over the world they are also preaching that consciousness. Somewhere some disturbance, somebody going that way, that way, it is not lookable, actually in the battlefield many soldier dying but necessary to win the battle. And that’s happening. Now Russia also, there thousands of followers they come in Krishna consciousness line. It is very good news and always we are getting enthusiasm. When I went to Australia this time there also I have got hundred, over hundred the devotee, new devotee. Everywhere, fifty, forty, hundred, one day, two days, talking with them and they are getting much enthusiasm and coming in the line of Krishna consciousness. And this way if we can preach in this world we must get our friends more and more, I have no doubt. And if Krishna will give chance we shall try again to come in the western world and southern world for the preaching. This is not our preaching program actually, but it is only survey, we are doing survey, what is possibility. Through that we are getting much inspiration and love and affection from the devotee and also sincere seeker. They are all wants to get it. And that is our good fortune I am also thinking.
38.30 Anyhow if you have any question, I cannot give speech actually. If you have any question you can do that, but not very big question like Paramadvaiti Maharaj [laughter from devotees].
Sripad Janardan Maharaj: Should Ashram Maharaj say something in Spanish?
Srila Gurudev: You can understand the English? Something, something can understand. Not necessary to explain, translate in Spanish.
Question: One thing I would like to hear something from your lotus lips is some little controversial topic. It is said, Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākur he asked his disciples to chant sixty-four rounds, then sometimes we heard that was down to thirty-two. Then our Swāmī Mahārāj Prabhupād he said you should try at least sixteen rounds. Now you are saying minimum four rounds. And I can see that these rules of the chanting that is one thing, but you are stressing so much love and affection, not ignoring the rules but above the rules. Maybe you can give us some understanding how this all can harmonise.
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: It is true Mahārāj. Mahāprabhu said, “Who is lakha-pāti, I shall take food from his hand.” But that time also nobody chanting one lakh every day. Otherwise this question why will come to Mahāprabhu? That time also everybody was fearful, and who cannot chant sixty-four rounds, he is not telling anything to Mahāprabhu, fearful, “I cannot, oho! Mahāprabhu not will take in my house!” Then they are not inviting Mahāprabhu. And I think Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭāchārya also not chanting sixty-four rounds. That is he was busily engaged with the service of Mahāprabhu. But what is the mood, that necessary to know.
Actually, why we shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra? And we cannot chant. If I say you cannot chant, you will be hopeless. You see one śloka, then you can understand what you can do or not to do. This is the vital and main śloka about Hari-nām-saṅkīrtan.
That is:
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
(Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: Pūva-vibhāga, 2.234)
You cannot chant, that is, your tongue, your lips, your body is mundane. Śrī Kṛṣṇa ataḥ, ataeva Śrī Kṛṣṇa Nāmādi. Nāmādi means Śrī Kṛṣṇa Name, Fame, Glories, Nāma, Rūpa, Gūṇa, Līlā—Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes, all is transcendental, and your tongue is mundane. Kṛṣṇa Name is transcendental, nondifferent with Kṛṣṇa. Nām nāmī abheda, Kṛṣṇa-nām and Kṛṣṇa, it is nondifferent, and Kṛṣṇa is transcendental, Kṛṣṇa-nām is transcendental. And here śloka mane mentioning, na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ. Indriyaiḥ means senses. Senses, pañcha indriyaiḥ, five. Eyes, ear, nose, tongue, and touch, skin. Through these five you cannot get that mane, contact [Sagar: with the Name]. Then which way you will chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra, you can say me? You are chanting, ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare‘ through your tongue, and it is mundane. But Kṛṣṇa is transcendental. Hari-nām is nondifferent with Kṛṣṇa. Na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ, and scriptures said you cannot chant. That is you have no transcendental tongue. Then what you will do? You will stop to chant? That is, you immediate can understand you cannot chant, through this śloka. Then what is mane solution? Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau Svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ: you do sevā, and that is also one kind of sevā, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. And that order given your guru, you do sevā this way of Hari-nām, then Hari-nām will appear in your heart. Then as much as possible you try to chant. That is main thing.
And other way:
prabhu kahena, —’kṛṣṇa-sevā’, ‘vaiṣṇava-sevana’
‘nirantara kara [tumi] kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 15.104)
Mahāprabhu said, “Service to the Vaiṣṇava, service to Guru can give you that form of transcendental. And through that you can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra, and you can do sevā.” Then first necessary to do service, to give your service to Guru–Vaiṣṇava, and through that you will get everything. Your form must will take transcendental. And other way you can see in the scriptures, in Chaitanya-charitāmṛta:
dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa
sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama
sei deha kare tāra chid-ānanda-maya
aprākṛta-dehe tā̐ṅra charaṇa bhajaya
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Antya-līlā, 4.192-193)
[“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself. “When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.”]
 Then nobody got dīkṣā from your Guru. Here also meanings coming this way. Dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa: when you are taking dīkṣā from your Gurudev, you are doing surrender, ātma-samarpaṇa, and immediate Kṛṣṇa in form of your Guru He is taking you, and immediate making your body transcendental. And through that transcendental body you are worshipping Kṛṣṇa. That is the meanings, is it not Mahārāj?
Where that consciousness? Then everything depending upon mood of service. Then Kṛṣṇa-nām you can do, you can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, but service is essential for Guru–Vaiṣṇava and Hari-nām. Here, more essential and more effective service to the Guru–Vaiṣṇava. And where that proof in the scriptures, we can see Kṛṣṇa Himself said:
ye me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha na me bhaktāś cha te janāḥ
mad-bhaktānāṁ cha ye bhaktās te me bhaktatamā matāḥ
(Ādi-purāṇa)
“Who is My devotee he may not be My devotee, but who is My devotee’s devotee he must be My devotee. He is My devotee, I have no doubt. But who is My devotee, he may not be My devotee. Ye Me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha na Me bhaktāś cha te janāḥ: who is My devotee really he is not My devotee, I think, but who is My devotee’s devotee, he is My devotee, here I am two hundred percent sure.”
And why Kṛṣṇa telling that? Kṛṣṇa wants to satisfy his devotee. That is, devotee always trying to give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa through their service, and devotee twenty-four hours giving their service to Kṛṣṇa. Engaging themselves to the service to Kṛṣṇa, for the service to Kṛṣṇa. That is the nature of the devotee. And Kṛṣṇa naturally He wants to give return. And rules is mundane and transcendental world, rules is there same, to every action there is equal and opposite reaction. When Kṛṣṇa will take, Kṛṣṇa must give return, Kṛṣṇa not will digest that. But which way Kṛṣṇa will give return to His devotee? Devotee engaged twenty-four hours for the service to Kṛṣṇa Himself, then Kṛṣṇa not getting chance to give return to His devotee. Automatically Kṛṣṇa feeling debt, indebted to His devotee, then He is hopeless position, “They are giving so much, they are giving all to Me, I cannot give return anything to them.” And what they are trying to give return, that’s also coming double way return to Kṛṣṇa. But who is servicing devotee of Kṛṣṇa, he is getting that chance to serve Kṛṣṇa. And Kṛṣṇa giving much encouragement to devotee’s devotee, “Oh, what I cannot do you can do that! Then really you are doing My job. What I wants to do, you are doing that. Then I am slave of you.”
Na pāraye ‘haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ, this śloka in Śrīmad Bhāgavat, if you discuss, then you can understand immediately that. Kṛṣṇa Himself said, “I cannot repay My debt to My devotee. But devotee’s devotee, they are always servicing My devotee. Then sevā, service to Hari-nām, service to the devotee’s devotee, it is very essential, and Prabhupād Saraswatī Ṭhākur, he organised that very mane broad way. Saraswatī Ṭhākur organised it. He gave too much attention for the service to Vaiṣṇava, for the service to Guru. And etat sarvaṁ gurau bhaktyā puruṣo hy añjasā jayet, it is in Śrīmad Bhāgavat, and also:
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreyah uttamam
śābde pare cha niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.3.21)
[“Therefore (because there is no lasting fulfilment in the material world), those who are in search of the highest good should surrender to a Guru who is adept in Sabda-brahma (revelations of the Divine, the scriptures) and Parabrahma (direct experience of the Divinity), and who is an abode of tranquility (unaffected by anger, greed, etc.).”]
tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigachchhet
samit-pāniḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham
(Muṇḍaka-upaniṣad: 1.2.12)
[“To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth.”]
Through that sevā we can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra. No other way. But we cannot stop to chant, that also one kind of sevā. You can do sevā by your hand, through your hand, through your mind, but you can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa everywhere and all time. But minimum some rules and regulation if not will give to you, then you will forget the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra. And also the tulasī bead will fast every day. You must will try to make some excuse, “Oho, I cannot chant today, that is I have much sevā!” But it’s not will be. For that Guru Mahārāj said, “Minimum four rounds you chant.” Sixteen rounds, Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj said sixteen rounds. But everybody not chanting sixteen rounds! But they promise in front of his Guru. Swāmī Mahārāj asked, “Can you chant sixteen rounds?” “Yes.” “Can you follow four directives?” “Yes.” “Take Hari-nām.” But after that they are not chanting sixteen rounds, and they are doing gurv-aparādha, offence to his guru. And it is not only for Swāmī Mahārāj. Everywhere we have seen, and Āchāryas have some experience of their life, own life.
Guru Mahārāj one day told to Mādhav Mahārāj—Mādhav Mahārāj means godbrother of Guru Mahārāj—one night, twelve o’clock, in the roof Mādhav Mahārāj chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, whole day, festival gone. He have not got time to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. And Guru Mahārāj also have no time, but they was very good friend. And when he heard Mādhav Mahārāj chanting in the roof, Guru Mahārāj gone to Mādhav Mahārāj. That time his name was Hayagrīva Brahmachārī. And Guru Mahārāj said, “Go to bed and sleep, early in the morning four o’clock you must wake up. Now twelve o’clock. How much you chanted?”
“Only five rounds I chanted now.”
“Go to bed, four rounds is sufficient. Go to bed and take rest, then you will get some energy, more energy will come to you, and you can do sevā tomorrow. Otherwise if you try to finish sixty-four rounds, then you cannot do anything.”
This way, sometimes Prabhupād Saraswatī Ṭhākur in the Janmāṣṭamī, Janmāṣṭamī day we are fasting everybody, whole day we are fasting. And night twelve o’clock, eleven thirty after worshipping Kṛṣṇa, we are taking some prasādam as anukalpa, fruits, etc. But one day heavy job come to do, for that Hayagrīva Brahmachārī, Prabhupād Saraswatī Ṭhākur wants to send him to Delhi, or somewhere like that, so far. And he not will get prasādam, whole day fasting, night after twelve o’clock he not will take and he will be exhausted, then next day he cannot do work. Some disturbance must will come to him. Then Prabhupād said his secretary, “Give him prasādam, make some rice for him, and give him some rice and dāl. He will eat and he will go.” And that devotee surprised, “Why Prabhupād gave this way order?” Then devotee asked, “Prabhu, you gave order, I shall …?” “Yes, yes, not necessary to teach me! What I am telling, you give him.” Then Guru Mahārāj was there, Guru Mahārāj asked to Hayagrīva Prabhu, “Hayagrīva Prabhu, Prabhupād ordered to you, you must take some rice and dāl, he is making for you.” And Hayagrīva was very shy, and also brahman mentality, he told, “Not necessary to give me dāl and rice. Please give me some fruits. I shall take fruits.” And he took some fruits, and some potato etc., then he gone. Prabhupād need sevā, service. And mood of service can give everything to us.
etat sarvaṁ gurau bhaktyā puruṣo hy añjasā jayet
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.15.25)
What we cannot control our senses, through the service to Guru–Vaiṣṇava we can control easily. That is the, all the scriptures saying. Then when Mahāprabhu appeared that time rules and regulation was very hard. And that time Mahāprabhu advised to everybody, “You must chant sixty-four rounds, then I shall take prasādam to your house.” But that time also nobody chanting. Few must chanting, no doubt. And after that when Swāmī Mahārāj come that time also everybody not chanting sixteen rounds. First they will chant sixteen rounds, Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare. But chanting is necessary through service,
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
(Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: Pūrva-vibhāga, 2.234)
[“Through the spirit of dedication They manifest themselves on the tongue and to the other senses.”]
But you see the mane behaviour of Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj: Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj gave much importance who have done much sevā. It is true or not, you can say, I do not know. I have no experience actually. Who have done much sevā, Swāmī Mahārāj gave much encouragement to that devotee, not given who have done much mane japa, but who have done much sevā he gave much encouragement to him. It is true. Otherwise Guru Kṛpā Swāmī which way he is a big devotee that time? You know Guru Kṛpā? This time I met with him. And he have got much affection from Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāj. But he have done sevā. And which way he have done sevā everybody knows, that his sevā. But Swāmī Mahārāj given him encouragement. Now Kṛṣṇa–Balarām Mandir come out through his service actually.
Then sevā is necessary. First sevā, but it must be sevā. Otherwise that’s also will go wrong way. Ego if will come to you, you will go down. Then without ego you will try to satisfy your Guru, satisfy to the Vaiṣṇava, then you will get proper result. Mahāprabhu said three directives:
tṛṇād api sunīchena taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
(Śikṣāṣtakam: 3)
[“Always chant the Lord’s Name with more humility than a blade of grass, tolerance like a tree, and while giving respect to others without expecting it for oneself.”]
“If you are not qualified with three qualifications, you cannot chant Hare Kṛṣṇa,” Mahāprabhu said, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā Hariḥ, he can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa who have these three quality, and Rūpa Goswāmī said, ataḥ Śrī Kṛṣṇa -nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaih. That is, your tongue is mundane, your senses all mundane. Mundane sense cannot represent the transcendental sense. It is impossible. Then you must make yourself transcendental. And which way it is possible? Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau Svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa-nām will reveal in your heart. When mercifully He will appear in your heart He reveal Himself, then you will get everything, feelings of Hari-nām. But you not will stop that. You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra, not look the bead, look sevā, look service and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare Kṛṣṇa chanting, it is uncountedly, unlimitedly you can chant. But that is, you have got the chanting beads from your Guru, then minimum Guru Mahārāj said, minimum four rounds you must chant. And that’s restriction, some restriction. If you cannot chant four rounds, then it is not will be twenty-five thousand, four rounds? Sixteen round is twenty-five thousand, then minimum six thousand, no? That is four round. This is their mane mood, but as much as possible you try to chant. Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur said, you are doing offence to the Hari-nām no doubt, but that offence also will go out if you [with a] mood of prayer and service chant Hare Kṛṣṇa as much as possible, Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra will be merciful to you, and He will make out all the offence from you, and He will appear in your heart. This told Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur.
Jay Guru Maharaj.
Yes, Prabhu?
Question: Srila Govinda Maharaj, I am a little embarrassed to ask this question, but I had the causeless mercy of being able to serve Śrīla Prabhupād for some years, not even knowing what I was doing. But somehow or other Kṛṣṇa consciousness became real, and a feeling of indebtedness to Śrīla Prabhupād was there. But over the years maybe the waning moon or whatever, I’ve gotten a lot of speculative thoughts in my overactive mentality. Even sometimes regarding Śrīla Prabhupād and esoteric questions like higher and lower Vaiṣṇavas. My question is, how can I bring at this point in my life Śrīla Prabhupād and Kṛṣṇa consciousness more from here to here? [presumably gesturing from head to heart]
Śrīla Janārdan Mahārāj: He wants to bring Kṛṣṇa consciousness not so much in mind but more in heart.
–And Śrīla Prabhupād too.
–He wants to know how he can make everything feel more in his heart than in his head.
–In relation to Śrīla Prabhupād.
–and to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Kṛṣṇa consciousness when really enter into the heart, He not will go out from that, you can say devotee or that mane soul, auspicious soul. Not go out from him. Kṛṣṇa consciousness not — [Bengali] — not momentary broken matter. It is, it must exist in your heart as a form of seed. You know seed? But when it will get chance, it immediate will reveal in your heart, and any moment can reveal if will get proper nourishment. Understand? (Yes) Bhakti-lata-bīja, it is called bhakti-lata-bīja. The bīja mane seed you can plant, you can throw everywhere, but not will grow everywhere. But seed not will loss his potency, that is it is transcendental. When you have got from Prabhupād, then it is not lost if you not will boil it by Vaiṣṇava aparādh. Then it not will be lost. It is live in your heart, and if you give again proper nourishment, nourishment means śravaṇ-kīrtan, that is proper nourishment, śravaṇ and kīrtan, hearing from the proper channel and anukīrtan, after hearing, hearing from the proper channel, otherwise wrong interpretation will come in your heart and make massacre. Fertiliser you will give, but fertiliser must be proper for that plant, suitable. Otherwise it will burn the seed. Then from proper mane expert you try to take association. Nourishment, proper nourishment of bhakti-lata-bīja, good association. And through that association, seeds will get proper nourishment by you. And then you chant, what you have got that knowledge, you can chant. Śravaṇ-kīrtan, kīrtan means anukīrtan. Anukīrtan: what you heard that you can tell to others, that is anukīrtan, and that is the proper nourishment. Chaitanya-charitamrta said,
brahmāṇḍa brahmite kona bhāyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
mālī hañā kare sei bīja āropaṇa
[śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye sechana]
(Madhya-līlā, 19.151-152)
Mālī, gardener. You are gardener now. You give nourishment, you give some sunlight, many things, what you know which way plant growing. That śravaṇ-kīrtan, śaraṇ-vandana like that. You give nourishment, it must grow, and that is transcendental, and it will reveal in your heart, and it will grow more and more. You will get strength. When you will eat, you feel your stomach going full, you feel your body getting strength, and hankering going out, hunger going out. Then,
bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir
anyatra chaiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.42)
[“As one who eats feels satisfaction, nourishment, and relief from hunger with each mouthful, so a surrendered soul simultaneously develops devotion (bhaktih), realisation of the Supreme Lord (Paresanubhavah), and detachment from all else (viraktih anyatra).”] 
Result you will see, your mood of devotion will increase when you will give proper nourishment to bhakti-latā. Mood of devotion will increase, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo, and feelings must, substantial feeling in your heart will reveal gradually, and attachment with this mundane world it’s also go, gradually. You will live within your family, but attachment must will go from there. This way it will reveal in your heart. And Prabhupād given, you have got, in the middle way you not given nourishment. Then, but seed within you, no doubt. That is, your feelings not gone out. Your feelings it is, you need. It is with you and you need it increasement. Then it is not spoiled, already within you, that transcendental knowledge seed.
Sripad Janardan Maharaj: Mahārāj, I have one small question.
Śrīla Gurudev: Small? [laughter]
Sripad Janardan Maharaj: Now, in story of Ajāmil, we see he was brought up as brahman, but when he saw a sudra couple, man and woman embracing, his mind became contaminated and his activities became fallen. Now you have come to the West, and you are seeing what are the activities in the West, television, newspaper, movies, everything is giving very strong mundane vibration here. And many devotees they are afraid of that vibration, they try to insulate themselves, but sometimes they are too rigid about that insulation, and they’re fearful. Now my question to you is, what do you think now you have seen what is the West, how the devotees can go on when they are in this strong environment of all around them, much men, women, sense gratification, many strong vibrations are going on, how do you see that Mahārāj?
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Necessary to cross over the illusionary river, illusionary river to cross over And in the river there many things, crocodile, many things in the river, but you are in a boat, then you must try to cross over that river, then you are in the middle of river maybe, but if you keep yourself in the boat, and boat is mane not broken but anything, then you can go mane easily. It is you Mahārāj, you see in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, about Gītā there:
bhīṣma-droṇa-taṭā jayadratha-jalā gāndhāra-nīlotpalā
You know this śloka?
śalya-grāhavatī kṛpeṇa vahanī karṇena velā-kulā
aśvatthāma-vikarṇa-ghora-makarā duryodhanāvartinī
sottīrṇā khalu pāṇḍavai raṇa-nadī kaivartakaḥ keśavaḥ
(Verse 6, Śrī Gītā Maṅgalācharaṇam)
[“One bank is Bhīṣma, the other Droṇāchārya; Jayadratha is the water; the sons of Gāndhārī, the blue lotus flower; Śalya, the crocodile; Kṛpa, the waves; Karṇa, the shore; Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa and company, the fearful sharks; Duryodhana, the whirlpool; and Keśava is the boatman of this river of the battle that was crossed by the Pāṇḍavas.”]
Many things disturbance will come, but they cannot touch your mind if you keep yourself in the boat, and that is necessary. Not to involve with that other things. It is habit will come through unconditional service to the Guru–Vaiṣṇava, and no other way. We have seen, it is my life experience, I can say you. We need many things but Guru Mahārāj not to do, not to give permission to do everything. And why? Now we can understand, for this purpose Guru Mahārāj told, “Don’t do it!” Some rules and regulation why there putted? Now I have no restriction to read newspaper, but it was restriction in Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh, no brahmachārī will read newspaper. Brahmachārī not will read newspaper. That is also was applicable for me, and we never read newspaper before. But after few years, maybe twelve years, then Guru Mahārāj said, “You can read now newspaper.” Then I am keeping one newspaper for our Maṭh, but only Guru Mahārāj reading and myself reading, and nobody reading it. And Guru Mahārāj gave that restriction for others. But take out from me, “You can read now newspaper, then you can keep one newspaper.” And he is every day reading newspaper, and through that I have got much knowledge for preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
When Guru Mahārāj said it, which way I am telling to every action there is equal and opposite reaction, it is Newton’s third law. I not read English, and I not read science. But I know many things about science, I know many things about history, I know many things about earth, commerce, many things I know. Some way it has come to me, that is the way. I am reading newspaper, actually I am seeing the advertisement. News not too much in the paper, news maybe few news, somewhere some disturbance happen. That is very mane little news in the paper. But big portion of the paper there is advertisement, and if I get time, I am seeing the advertisement, and through that I am collecting the knowledge in favour of my preaching. And this way if we can collect from everywhere, they cannot bind us. If we can use for the service to Kṛṣṇa that knowledge, no problem will come to us. Otherwise everywhere problem, we are living in mundane world, without problem we cannot live here. Living in the plane of exploitation, then we only can learn here exploitation, which way we shall exploit to others, that we can learn. No other knowledge is here. But when we will get good association, then we must get the mood of devotion. And mood of devotion within us, within everybody, the mood of devotion. Only necessary to wake up in that plane, it is English? Then — [cuts out, tape end]