Listen to Hari-katha as much as you can

[Hari-katha spoken by Nitya Lila Pravista Om Visnupada
Astottara Sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
Maharaja – Srila Gurudeva]
 
To listen to the audio file of this class, please click
on this link:
 http://sbnmcd.org/all_mp3/1996/19960514DEN_HAAG_T13B.mp3

Srila Gurudeva: . . .Srila Rupa Gosvami is engaged in
all the services of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is no
need to order Rupa Gosvami for performing a service.
Srila Rupa Gosvami will not wait for the order of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So, this is the symptom of a very
qualified disciple. We should behave like this.
Otherwise, a person gives mantras to the prospective
disciple and later, falls down. What is to be done in
such a situation? You certainly cannot take his moods,
conceptions, and behavior. You cannot follow him, as he
is not a guru anymore. But, if you follow the path,
actions, teachings, and behavior of a bona fide guru,
and as a result, you are gradually developing your
bhakti, then the personality you follow is indeed your
guru. He may be a siksha guru (instructing spiritual
master) or a diksa guru (initiating spiritual master).
Siksha guru is not less than diksa guru. Sometimes, the
siksha guru may be superior to the diksa guru. For
example, I say that Gaura Govinda Maharaja is the diksa
guru of someone. But like us, the disciple’s siksha
gurus are Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Krishna, Lalita, Visaka, and the acharyas of our
disciplic order. Who is superior between Srila Rupa
Gosvami and Srila Gaura Govinda Gosvami Maharaja? Srila
Rupa Gosvami is superior, because Srila Gaura Govinda
Maharaja also follows Srila Rupa Gosvami. His Gurudeva,
parama Gurudeva, paratpara Gurudeva, paramesti Gurudeva,
and the entire Guruvarga follows Srila Rupa Gosvami. So,
Srila Rupa Gosvami is superior to all, he is the
greatest siksha guru. But mercifully, Gaura Govinda
Maharaja took you in this devotional line. So, you must
worship him first and then offer your worship to Srila
Rupa Gosvami, the Guruvarga, and Krishna. But, Srila
Rupa Gosvami is so merciful. We should try to follow
this line.
 
Don’t commit offenses to any Vaisnavas. You should be of
a sweet demeanor.
 
trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
 
–Sri Siksastakam 3
 
[One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble
state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in
the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree,
devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer
all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can
chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.]
 
Gurudeva told his disciple, “Don’t commit offenses to
anyone and never become angry.”
 
The disciple replied, “What if someone misbehaves with
my mother or speaks ill of her? Should I not be angry?”
 
“You should not be angry, even when you are incited. To
remain undisturbed when there is no reason to be
undisturbed or angry, is not very laudable. But it is
very commendable on your part to remain undisturbed and
not become angry, when there is every reason and cause
to become angry. This is a very good quality.”
 
But if anyone abuses or speaks against your Gurudeva,
siksha guru, Krishna, Bhagavat, Gita, and other related
paraphernalia, then you must become angry. But you must
not become angry if an abuse is hurled at you or when
any similar disregard is meted out. If Krishna,
Gurudeva, bonafide Vaisnavas, Tulasi-devi, Gita, Srimad
Bhagavatham, and the Vedas are abused, then you must try
to cut his criticism, and silence him. But what will you
do if he silences you? Then you are not so powerful, so
you should try to cheat him by your arguments. And if
you still not competent to defeat him, then close your
ears and rush to any sacred river like the Ganges and
take a full bodied bath without removing your clothes.
After emerging out of the river, chant Hare Krishna.
Don’t return to quarrel.
 
Now, time is over and we should end today’s class. Gaura
Premanande! Haribol! After taking rest, I will speak on
Sri Raya Ramananda samvad in the evening for half an
hour. When I spoke on Raya Ramananda samvad earlier, it
took me a month to complete it in summary.
 
[Laughter]
 
I will try to explain Raya Ramananda samvad during the
evening class. If I have time in England and America, I
will enunciate on my explanations of Sri Raya Ramananda
samvad. There are many truths manifested in Sri Raya
Ramananda samvad that we ought to know if we want to
progress in our Krishna Consciousness. I again appeal to
you all that after I leave, you should all assemble
together every week or two, or at least every month.
Assembling together, try to hear harikatha from a
bonafide Vaisnava and engage yourselves in kirtan. If
you are of the same level, then speak harikatha to each
other. You should read the purports of Svamiji in Sri
Caitanya Caritamrita to each other. You should read the
explanations and other books of Svamiji and read my
books also. You should also read the Srimad Bhagavatham
and Sri Bhagavad Gita. This way, your relationship as a
congregation will be sweet and all of you will progress
in your Krishna Consciousness.
 
I will never forget the services you have rendered to
me. You have helped me so much. I will never forget you
all. If Krishna wishes and my health permits, I will try
to come to Holland again and speak more harikatha.
 
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
 
Srila Gurudeva: I see so many devotees here! In Holland,
there are many Indians also. If you will listen to my
discourses in Hindi, I know for certain, that the
audience will change and become devotees. The priest
will not appreciate.
 
[Laughter]
 
Anyhow, my visit to Holland is fully successful. I
wanted to unite all the devotees who have left Iskcon
for any reason. They should be helped and united. I
think this purpose has been served. I pray to Krishna
that Iskcon’s leaders also have their mentalities
changed. One day, they will surely feel, they are bound
to feel regret if they want to progress in bhakti.
Otherwise, committing offenses and offenses, they will
displease Krishna.
 
Gaura Premanande! Haribol!
 
[Break of audio]
 
Srila Gurudeva: That is why, Shyamarani is so qualified.
If I tell her to speak harikatha, she will speak
marvelously. Sometimes, I will send her here as my
representative and she will come here and speak
harikatha.
 
Amongst you, Shyamasundara and Sashikala are also there.
Krishna is the moon being referred to here and sashi
here means Srimati Radhika. And what is your mother’s
name?
 
Sashikala dasi: Ananga-manjari dasi.
 
Srila Gurudeva: Oh Ananga-manjari dasi! Sometimes,
Srimati Radhika leads Her younger sister—Ananga-manjari
by Her hand and gives her, Her own seat that is next to
Krishna.
 
Try to develop your moods of devotion by chanting the
Hare Krishna maha-mantra. I don’t think you can
understand, should I speak in Hindi?
 
Devotee: But we will not understand.
 
Srila Gurudeva: I will speak in Hindi and English. One
day, you will have to learn Vraja bash (the dialect of
Vrindavana) here or there. “Maiyari, Maine makhan nahi
kaya (Mother, I did not eat butter),” “Maiyari, Mainehi
makhan kaya (Mother, I did eat butter).”
 
Yasoda replied, “Tumne hi makhan kaya (Indeed, You ate
the butter!)”
 
“When did I eat butter? At dawn, you sent Me to graze
the cows in Madhuvana. Throughout the day, I ran behind
the cows. I would wander here and there with the cows. I
would return home in the evening.”   
 
“Mother, I have not stolen butter. But repeatedly, you
claim otherwise. Perhaps, I am not your son. I am your
adopted son, so you accuse Me of thievery. I should
leave home as you claim I am a thief every day. I am
leaving now as I have realized I am not your son.”
 
On listening to her Kanhaiya speak, Yasoda changed her
stance. Weeping, she told Krishna, “Tu nahi makhan kayo
(You did not eat butter). I spoke without due
consideration. Touching the Narayana sila, I swear that
You are my son. You are not an adopted son.”
 
Krishna replied, “Maiya, Maine hi makhan kayo (Mother,
indeed, I ate the butter).”
 
“Nahi, Tune makhan nahi kayo (No, You didn’t eat the
butter),” speaking in this way, Yasoda embraced Krishna
and began to weep.
 
So, you will have to learn Vraja-basha when you go to
Vrindavana. You should try to learn the language from
where you are presently situated. Vraja-bhasha is a very
sweet language. The dialog between the gopis and
Krishna, and between Nanda baba and Krishna, were spoken
with these moods of Vraja.
The language resembles Sanskrit. Vraja-bhasha and Bangla
(Bengali) are the daughters of Sanskrit.
 
What more should I speak on?
 
In the Western countries, I only speak in English. But
in India, I can speak in many of her native languages.
Yadurani, Vrindavana-Vilasini, and many other devotees
were not happy there, but now they are so happy because
I speak only in English.
 
Devotee: Your Hindi is more relishable.
 
Srila Gurudeva: Yes. I can speak so fluently in Hindi. I
cannot express all my thoughts in English. My English is
lame.
 
Devotee: Only one word is enough to express your moods
Gurudeva.
 
Srila Gurudeva: Gaura Govinda Maharaja was a very
learned person. I am not learned.
 
Devotee: He would say the same thing.
 
[Laughter]
 
He would say, “Please help me baba. My language is
defective. How can I explain? I don’t know.”
 
[Laughter]
 
[Break of audio]
 
Devotee: Sometimes, it’s only the head.
 
Srila Gurudeva: For worship, you should consider the
whole body. For any reason, you may have the passport
and visa.
 
[Laughter]
 
Devotee 2: It is our passport to Goloka Vrindavana.
Maharaja is always dancing in ecstasy, so it is very
hard to get him on a picture frame.
 
I think it is better to link the whole body. Don’t keep
half things for worship on the altar. Keep the whole
figure on the altar. Now, you should try to listen to
something.
 
Srila Rupa Gosvami has said in the first sloka of
Upadesamrita. What is the meaning of Upadesamrita?
 
Devotee: Nectar of Instruction.
 
Srila Gurudeva: It is like nectar. It is not like
nectar, but it is the same as nectar. The instructions
are like a flow of nectar. Or it may also be called as
the platform to obtain nectar. You can realize what
nectar is, by following these books.
 
The first sloka of Upadesamrita states:
 
vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam
ihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam
etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah
sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat
 
[A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the
minds demands, the actions of anger, and the urges of
the tongue, belly, and genitals is qualified to make
disciples all over the world.]
 
You should learn all these slokas. You cannot enter the
realm of bhakti by bypassing these slokas. You
must always remember these slokas. I think
kanista-Vaisnavas want to gallop past these slokas. But
you should not try to avoid these slokas, you must
follow them. Of the six kinds of urges—vaco vega (the
impetus to speak), mano vega (the agitation of the
mind), krodha vega (onset of anger), jiva vega (the
vehemence of the tongue), udara vega (the urge of the
belly), and upastha vega (the agitation of the
genitals); mano vega (the agitation of the mind) is the
root of all evils for grihastha bhaktas (householder
devotees) and for the bhaktas who have left their homes.
Sometimes, you cannot control this urge. This drawback
is the reason for fall down. By quarrelling with family
members like husband, wife, and children, the mind
becomes disturbed and you cannot concentrate on being
Krishna conscious. Anything besides divine love for the
Divine Couple—Sri Radha and Krishna, should not come
within your mind. Whatever you do, do for the benefit of
your Gurudeva and to please the Divine Couple—Sri
Radha-Krishna, Sri Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu, and Sri
Gaura-Gadadhara Prabhu. Don’t concern yourself with many
requirements and desires to obtain worldly things. If
you have any worldly desires, then surely something
against will enter and disturb your mind. With your mind
disturbed, anger will accost you and everything will be
spoiled. If you have no worldly requirements and desires
for sense gratification, you will have no reason to
become angry. So, try to follow Rupa Gosvami. At the
onset of anger, you will duly contemplate on how to
react. No one can be controlled by exercising anger on
them. To conquer your enemies, behave with them in a
manner infused with love and affection. The servants
will dance and all evils will abandon their nature and
become favorable. You should try to conquer this
formidable enemy. Also, if you have anger and no control
over your tongue, then this unrestricted tongue will
speak much nonsense. This is shown in Mahabharatha:
 
Draupadi told Duryodhana, “The sons of a blind father
are also blind.”
 
Listening to these words of Draupadi, Duryodhana became
furious. And he took a vow to avenge this insult. With
this intention in mind, he tried to have Draupadi
disrobed in front of the royal assembly.      
He also made lewd gestures to her. This was the terrible
fruit of anger. Draupadi did not think twice before she
spoke the way she did to Duryodhana. So, you should
control the waggle of your tongue. The tongue has no
backbone and is extremely restless. It will speak in an
unrestricted manner, so it should always be controlled.
Don’t tell anything, which is not favorable for
Krishna’s service and Guru’s service.
 
[Srila Gurudeva speaks in Hindi]
 
If you seek your auspiciousness, the tongue must be
controlled under all circumstances. By controlling the
tongue, anger will subside and the mind will be
conquered. I think the tongue is the root of all kinds
of evil. Don’t give chance for idle gossip to enter your
fold. At all times, control your tongue. Use your tongue
for promulgating the glories of Krishna and your
spiritual master. Use due discretion while using your
tongue, otherwise it will cause mayhem.
 
This is a brief delineation of jiva vega (urge of the
tongue).
 
What is udara vega? It is the desire to taste delicious
food. If delicious food is not eaten, anger will arise.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha das Gosvami, “Bhalo
na kaibe bhalo na paribe….”
 
Mahaprabhu instructed Raghunatha das Gosvami, “Don’t run
after delicious food and other luxuries. Be far away
from them. Adopt those practices that are favorable for
Krishna’s and Guru’s service.”
 
Excessive intake of food can lead to a person becoming
extremely overweight. In that condition, the person will
not be able to move an inch and will be unable to walk
entirely. He will also have many bodily disorders. That
person who eats less will have a long duration of life,
while he who eats excessively will die earlier as he
will be beset with diseases. Over eating will lead to a
person becoming ugly and his stomach will bulge out. He
will go here and there and waste his life. So, it
depends on your will.
 
One may also be of the conception, “I cannot live for a
moment without the association of the opposite sex.
Whether Krishna is served or not, I want that
association.” So, everything will be spoiled by such
mentalities. If you want to serve Krishna to His full
satisfaction, then follow in the footsteps of Srila
Raghunatha das Gosvami. If that is not feasible, then
serve Him at least a little. Live and eat in a simple
fashion. Always speak with caution and don’t become
angry. Purity and love should be the defining
characteristic of your behavior. Control your tongue and
never speak anything that is unfavorable to Krishna and
His service. We should completely control these six
urges and follow the following slokas of Upadesamrita
with all enthusiasm.
 
Sripada Madhava Maharaja: Atyahara prayasas ca
niyamagrah…
 
Srila Gurudeva: Do you remember this sloka? You should
try to remember all the slokas of Upadesamrita.   
   
Atyahara prayasas ca niyamagrah…
 
What is atyahara?
 
Devotee: Over-collecting.
 
Srila Gurudeva: Eating and collecting things, which are
more than necessary is atyahara. Don’t ever accept any
object that is not favorable to your bhakti. Money,
expensive clothes, pride, inclination to see beautiful
things, listening to melodious music, and watching
movies are detrimental to your bhajan. Don’t run after
movie stars, or lady movie stars, it will ruin your
bhakti. Don’t entangle yourself in these actions. Listen
to hari-katha, Krishna-katha as much as you can. You
should also see the lotus feet of the deities, and the
lotus feet of Gurudeva for all the time you want. But
don’t see the faces of beautiful ladies and men or else,
these mundane faces will make you nonsensical. If you
see any lady, think, “She is my mother,” or “She is my
daughter,” or “She is my sister.” But never look at the
lady as an object of your enjoyment, as worldly persons
do. If you see a beautiful lady, think, “My sister is so
beautiful; she is the beloved of Krishna.” When you come
across any beautiful lady or object, think, “Oh how
beautiful this person is! This person must be engaged in
the service of Krishna. Oh how beautiful this object is
also! It must be used in the service of Krishna.” Always
think of ladies as your mother, sister, or daughter.
 
If a young beautiful person is seen, think, “Oh he is
the friend of Subala, Sridhama, Madhumangala, and the
other sakhas. They are all serving Krishna.” No worldly
lust should be there.
 
What is prayasas ca?
 
Devotee: Over-endeavor.
 
Srila Gurudeva: Don’t over-endeavor for the worldly
things of this world. Don’t engage yourself in these
futile activities. You may go to an astrologer who will
tell you, “Oh I will see what is written in your hand.
Let me see your hand, I am extremely good at palmistry.”
 
Sensing the weak nature of this person, the astrologer
will say, “I know that you are very poor. Also it is
written on your hands that you have a stomach problem
and Shani-deva’s glance of misfortune is on you.” Don’t
go. Only go to the very good doctors—the good devotees.
By harinama and hari-katha, they will have your
well-being assured. They are the best doctors and
astrologers. I can tell anything here, I can predict and
forecast the future of every person in this assembly,
but I don’t do so because it is against Vaisnava
etiquette. I know every person’s previous births, which
number in the millions. Sometimes, you were pigs and
hogs. Sometimes you were also dogs and sometimes
demigods.
 
Devotee: My Guru Maharaja told me that I am still a hog.
 
[Laughter]
 
Srila Gurudeva: So, I know everything, really I know. By
the pulse of the patient’s hands, the doctor knows the
cause of the disease and the disease itself. So, don’t
try to meet an astrologer or a palmist. Don’t be naïve
to the beguiling tricks of a magician. Don’t be
overpowered by enthralling displays. I know so many
devotees of Iskcon who come to an astrologer; this
astrologer is a prominent disciple of mine in Mathura.
They all come to see him, when I see them I think that
they are not actually devotees. They are going in the
opposite direction. You should not go to these
astrologers and palmists. Our astrologer is Shyama
Vaidya. Do you know who Shyama Vaidya is? He resides in
Vrindavana. Vaidya means an ayurvedic doctor. Who is
this ayurvedic doctor? He is Shyama Himself. So, we will
go there and He will clear all our problems. Without
feeling our pulse, He will give many good medicines and
you will be all right. Don’t go anywhere, especially to
an astrologer or a palmist. They will only tell you,
“The eye of Shani has fallen on you, you will have to
bring ten grams of gold and many articles. Also, bring a
hundred dollars with you and I will perform a ceremony
by which the eye of misfortune will be spurned.”
 
[Laughter]
 
The astrologer will take the ten grams of gold, the
money and duly place it in his pocket. So, don’t succumb
to the thoughts of going to an astrologer.
 
Devotee: Gurudeva, I know of many people who make lots
of money from this.
 
Srila Gurudeva: I know that most devotees go to these
beggars. They are beggars. If, they can make anyone
rich, then why are they themselves poor? All the
palmists and astrologers are so poor, that they cannot
feed their wife and children. But they promise, “I will
make you rich, I will make you like Indra! I will stop
Shani’s glance from falling on you.”
 
“But have you stopped Shani’s glance from falling on
you?”
 
[Laughter]
 
Have a very strong belief in bhakti. Srila Rupa Gosvami
has said and it has also been stated in many scriptures
that:
 
madhura-madhuram etan mangalam mangalanam
sakala-nigama-valli-sat-phalam cit-svarupam
sakrd api parigitam sraddhaya helaya va
bhrguvara nara-matram tarayet krsna-nama
 
[[“Lord Krsna’s holy name, which is the sweetest of
sweet things, the most auspicious of auspicious things,
and the transcendental fruit of the vine of all Vedic
literature, delivers, O best of the Bhrgus, anyone who,
either with faith or contempt, chants it even once.”
(Sri Skanda Purana)]
 
If you are not chanting bona fide name, yet, you only
chant nama-abhasa; but this semblance of the holy name
(nama-abhasa) will relieve you of all sins, offenses,
anarthas, worries and troubles of this world. Ajamila is
an example of this fact. Ajamila was a notorious
personality. He was a drunkard who abandoned his wife
and children and went to a prostitute. But, he named the
last son he bore of her as Narayana. And by calling out
“Narayana,” he crossed the ocean of birth and death and
he had the service of Narayana. The name he chanted was
abhasa (a semblance of the holy name). What will be the
result if you chant suddha-nama (the pure holy name)? I
have never showed my hands to any palmist or astrologer.
On the contrary, many astrologers and palmists come to
me; to become my disciples, but I reject them. I tell
them, “First leave this profession and then come to
me.”   
 
atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati
 
–Sri Upadesamrta
 
[Ones devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too
entangled in the following six activities: (1) atyahara,
eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than
required; (2) prayasa, overendeavoring for mundane
things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) prajalpa,
talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4)
niyamagraha, practicing the scriptural rules and
regulations only for the sake of following them and not
for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the
rules and regulations of the scriptures and working
independently or whimsically; (5) jana-sanga,
associating with worldly-minded persons who are not
interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) laulyam,
being greedy for mundane achievements.]
 
Don’t engage yourselves in prajalpa, idle gossip. Other
than Krishna-katha, all talks are maya-katha. This idle
gossip should be given up. Always chant, “Haribol!
Haribol! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” If you
want water, tell, “Hare Krishna, can you please bring
water?” “Hare Krishna, I am going outside.” Never speak
of anything that has no connection with Krishna-katha.
Always speak of topics that are favorable to Krishna,
Gurudeva, and our Guruvarga. We should serve our
Guruvarga by our words.
 
atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati
 
–Sri Upadesamrta
 
[Ones devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too
entangled in the following six activities: (1) atyahara,
eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than
required; (2) prayasa, overendeavoring for mundane
things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) prajalpa,
talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4)
niyamagraha, practicing the scriptural rules and
regulations only for the sake of following them and not
for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the
rules and regulations of the scriptures and working
independently or whimsically; (5) jana-sanga,
associating with worldly-minded persons who are not
interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) laulyam,
being greedy for mundane achievements.]
 
We should try to understand what niyamagrah is. When I
am engaged in the worship of the Lord, the rule and
regulation is that I should not speak to anyone and I
should not forsake the service to go anywhere else until
I have completed the worship. But what if, at the time
of your worship, your Gurudeva comes? What should you do
in such a situation? You may have taken an oath that you
will not give up the worship of the Lord (archana),
until you have completed it. But at the same time, your
Gurudeva came and he saw that there was no one to
receive or honor him. What should the disciple do in
such a situation? He should stop his worship immediately
and duly receive his Gurudeva. Only by Gurudeva’s grace
is he engaged in the worship of the Lord, so it is his
foremost duty to receive his Gurudeva, see to his needs
and obediently serve him. After pleasing his Gurudeva,
he should take his permission and resume his worship. If
you are not doing so, it is niyamagrah (excessive
attachment to rules and regulations). Don’t do like so.
When you are a kanista-adhikari (third class devotee),
Gurudeva tells you to chant sixteen rounds, to engage in
archana, and in other forms of worship. These
instructions are for the novice. As the kanista-adhikari
gradually develops in his Krishna Consciousness, he will
want to chant sixty four rounds or even more. The
disciple may think, “If I chant sixty four rounds, I
will neglect the order of my Gurudeva because he has
told me to chant sixteen rounds and not sixty four.”
This is also an instance of niyamagrah. We should
advance in our Krishna Consciousness. When we are
matured and advance from the kanista-adhikari stage…


[Audio file ends]