1530, March 22, 2008.
Mountain View, California, USA.
Mountain View, California, USA.
(Lord Gouranga during Abhishek on Gour Pournima - March 21, 2008, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan Temple (ISV - ISKCON silicon Valley), San Jose.)Hare Krishna!
Today is the last day of this US trip. And the Krishna Conscious activities are yet not over! I will shortly go to H. G. ShyamLila Prabhu's house for attending an "Essence of Bhagavad Gita" class. Such is the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lords Chaitanya-Nitai that wherever you go you will find devotees and Krishna Consciousness. Who can describe the glories of the Sankirtan movement? We keep hearing that Lord Goura Sunder is the most munificent incarnation of Godhead. In fact, He is Godhead Himself in His most munificent mood. But actually, as with so many other truths that we hear or read about in Srila Prabhupada's movement, we cannot really fathom the true magnitude of the significance of this truth.
Yesterday was the appearance day of Lord Nimai. The same darling of Yasoda Mai came again as the life and soul of Mother Shachi. What have we done to deserve being part of His Sankirtan movement? Are we spotlessly pure, are we severely austere, are we madly in Love of God? Then how is it that such ordinary persons like me are associating (through their teachings) with such Paramahamsas like Srila Prabhupada, Srila BhaktiSiddhanta, Srila BhaktiVinod, the six Goswamis, and so on ? How is it that I have got access to the Srimad Bhagavatam through a bonafide disciplic succession, whereas pure devotees in the past had to struggle so hard to get the same mercy?
The answer lies in understanding the significance of the phrase "the most munificent incarnation of Godhead". Lord Gour Hari is so merciful that he doesnt look for any qualifications while showering His mercy. He doesnt require that one be in the mode of goodness, or austere, or pure hearted, or scholarly, or already devoted, and other such qualifications. He doesnt look for a reason or a cause to bestow His divine mercy. That is the meaning of causeless mercy. Without such causeless mercy, what chance is there for the people of this age to get Love of God? Which other form of worship can the Kali Yuga residents perform? Can they do elaborate daily deity worship in their homes amidst their tight work schedules? Can they perform regular fire sacrifices in the cities that they live in where there is no place to even walk safely? Will they leave all their worldly activities and go to the Himalayas in search of perfection? These thoughts do not even cross their minds.
Even if someone develops a desire to take to spirituality, he/she finds that these authorised paths are not possible for him to practice. They are just too tough. Therefore, such an unfortunate person either gives up the idea of spirituality as impractical and too utopian, or he/she takes to other unauthorised practices that are typically mental concoctions of some imperfect human being. Thus, either they are frustrated, or they are cheated. In such an unfortunate state of affairs advents the Lord of Goloka - Goura Sunder. He rises as if millions of suns and dissipates the dense clouds of spiritual ignorance, spiritual laziness, frustrated material and so-called spiritual endeavours, and misdirected pursuits of happiness, by the brilliant rays of the sound vibrations of the infallible holy names of Himself! The Sankirtan Movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the only shelter for all souls in this dark age of Kali. No process can be as authorised as His Sankirtan movement, because He is the Supreme Lord, and this process is created by Him directly. And at the same time, it is so easy that a even a new born baby can take part in it. No qualifications are required. This is His munificence.
When it comes to preaching to the masses, to one and all, the teachings have to be simple and not esoteric. And yet, for the movement to serve its purpose, the message must be powerful enough to take one back to Godhead. Furthurmore, the philosophy has to be infallible for it to stand against the scores of mental speculators and armchair philosophers whose only aim tends to be the satisfaction of their puffed up egos and whose only occupation tends to be rejecting the conclusions of the standard authorities of the scriptures like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Lord Chaitanya, Narada, Vyasa, etc. This impossible combination of requirements are quite easily met by the teachings of His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanarvinda BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada. And his advent on this earth is another example of the unfathomable munificence of Lord Gouranga.
Today is the last day of this US trip. And the Krishna Conscious activities are yet not over! I will shortly go to H. G. ShyamLila Prabhu's house for attending an "Essence of Bhagavad Gita" class. Such is the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lords Chaitanya-Nitai that wherever you go you will find devotees and Krishna Consciousness. Who can describe the glories of the Sankirtan movement? We keep hearing that Lord Goura Sunder is the most munificent incarnation of Godhead. In fact, He is Godhead Himself in His most munificent mood. But actually, as with so many other truths that we hear or read about in Srila Prabhupada's movement, we cannot really fathom the true magnitude of the significance of this truth.
Yesterday was the appearance day of Lord Nimai. The same darling of Yasoda Mai came again as the life and soul of Mother Shachi. What have we done to deserve being part of His Sankirtan movement? Are we spotlessly pure, are we severely austere, are we madly in Love of God? Then how is it that such ordinary persons like me are associating (through their teachings) with such Paramahamsas like Srila Prabhupada, Srila BhaktiSiddhanta, Srila BhaktiVinod, the six Goswamis, and so on ? How is it that I have got access to the Srimad Bhagavatam through a bonafide disciplic succession, whereas pure devotees in the past had to struggle so hard to get the same mercy?
The answer lies in understanding the significance of the phrase "the most munificent incarnation of Godhead". Lord Gour Hari is so merciful that he doesnt look for any qualifications while showering His mercy. He doesnt require that one be in the mode of goodness, or austere, or pure hearted, or scholarly, or already devoted, and other such qualifications. He doesnt look for a reason or a cause to bestow His divine mercy. That is the meaning of causeless mercy. Without such causeless mercy, what chance is there for the people of this age to get Love of God? Which other form of worship can the Kali Yuga residents perform? Can they do elaborate daily deity worship in their homes amidst their tight work schedules? Can they perform regular fire sacrifices in the cities that they live in where there is no place to even walk safely? Will they leave all their worldly activities and go to the Himalayas in search of perfection? These thoughts do not even cross their minds.
Even if someone develops a desire to take to spirituality, he/she finds that these authorised paths are not possible for him to practice. They are just too tough. Therefore, such an unfortunate person either gives up the idea of spirituality as impractical and too utopian, or he/she takes to other unauthorised practices that are typically mental concoctions of some imperfect human being. Thus, either they are frustrated, or they are cheated. In such an unfortunate state of affairs advents the Lord of Goloka - Goura Sunder. He rises as if millions of suns and dissipates the dense clouds of spiritual ignorance, spiritual laziness, frustrated material and so-called spiritual endeavours, and misdirected pursuits of happiness, by the brilliant rays of the sound vibrations of the infallible holy names of Himself! The Sankirtan Movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the only shelter for all souls in this dark age of Kali. No process can be as authorised as His Sankirtan movement, because He is the Supreme Lord, and this process is created by Him directly. And at the same time, it is so easy that a even a new born baby can take part in it. No qualifications are required. This is His munificence.
When it comes to preaching to the masses, to one and all, the teachings have to be simple and not esoteric. And yet, for the movement to serve its purpose, the message must be powerful enough to take one back to Godhead. Furthurmore, the philosophy has to be infallible for it to stand against the scores of mental speculators and armchair philosophers whose only aim tends to be the satisfaction of their puffed up egos and whose only occupation tends to be rejecting the conclusions of the standard authorities of the scriptures like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Lord Chaitanya, Narada, Vyasa, etc. This impossible combination of requirements are quite easily met by the teachings of His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanarvinda BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada. And his advent on this earth is another example of the unfathomable munificence of Lord Gouranga.
(Lord Gouranga is Krishna Himself, in the mood of Srimati Radharani!)In Pune, there are hundreds of devotees. But in San Jose, there are only about a hundred (at the moment). There is a different kind of charm in such a small congregation. I am always touched when I see the humble heartfelt attempts of the San Jose devotees to serve Srila Prabhupada by helping H. G. Vaisesika Prabhu (temple president and massive book distributor). Especially, I get a lot of inspiration here to go out and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. I hope and pray that after reaching Pune, with the blessings of the Vaishnavas, I can add book distribution to my list of regular Krishna Conscious activities.
(H. G. Vaisesika Prabhu pointing at something during book distribution) Yours in the service of Krishna,
Abhijit.
