24 February 2000, Mathura

(note — here "Srila Prabhupada" refers to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)

This morning, warmly wrapped in his saffron woolen chadder and his white woolen hat, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja came into the freezing, winter-cold but beautiful temple room at Sri Kesavji Gaudiya Math in Mathura, to glorify Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

After offering pranama mantras to his own Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and to Srila Prabhupada and to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, to our Srila Prabhupada (AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada), to all the Vaisnavas and to Sriman Mahaprabhu, he gave an astonishing lecture in Hindi, on the subject of Srila Prabhupada’s Upadesavali.

“Preaching without following proper conduct is ordinary karma, fruitive activity.”

He began by saying that this is the only real puspanjali (offering of flowers)–to accept and follow Srila Prabhupada’s practices and conduct, as well as his vicara (his conceptions or siddhantas). We cannot actually follow, but we should try with our maximum strength, with as much power as we have. For the liberated soul this is no problem. The day before he entered aprakata lila, Srila Prabhupada gathered his disciples together in his Bag Bazaar Math in Calcutta, and gave his final, very valuable instructions.

In the back of the Gaudiya Giti Guccha songbook these instructions are known as Upadesavali. We have quoted a few of the points in this report.

[Upadesvali 17 "If I were to desist from lecturing about the Absolute Truth due to being fearful that some listeners may be displeased, I would be deviating from the path of Vedic truth and accepting the path of untruth. I would become one who is inimical to the Vedas, an atheist, and would no longer possess faith in Bhagavan, the very embodiment of Truth."]

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja quoted Srila Prabhupada’s saying that, "I have spoken many things which have disturbed others; intelligent boys have come to me, leaving their family, and their parents have become disturbed. The jati gosai, the cast brahmanas, were also disturbed because I said, ‘a brahmana’s son is not automatically a brahmana, and the son of a devotee is not automatically a devotee. Only by doing bhajan does one become qualified; otherwise one is a son or a wife in name only.’ One day, however, in the future, all will appreciate the value of what I have taught." One day, in Navadvipa, several great scholars and brahmanas, who had previously been against Srila Prabhupada, came to the Devananda Gaudiya Math and confessed to Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, "Now we understand that he is a maha-purusa, a maha-bhagavata bhakta. Now we are trying to follow him."

[Upadesvali 2 "Sri Krsna, who is the visaya-vigraha or the object of the devotee’s prema, is the sole enjoyer, and all others are to be enjoyed by Him.]

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja continued to explain that the root asraya-vigraha, or principle of a sevaka (servant), is Balarama, and ultimately it is Sri Radhika. Diksa and siksa gurus are also asraya-vigraha. By following under their guidance one can serve the visaya-vigraha, Sri Sri Radha Krsna conjugal. This body will perish soon, but before it does, one should become fully surrendered, never leaving guru-seva under any circumstance. It is not so valuable to serve with the intelligence. Service must be performed with the atma, or the whole self. We must fix up the goal; it must be fixed up. Then we can take to the process to achieve it. Srila Rupa Gosvamipada took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s conceptions and teachings, as did Srila Sanatana Gosvami and Srila Raya Ramananda. In their conversations, sadya, the goal, and sadhana, the process, were vividly described. We should try to follow the principle of what Srila Prabhupada did in his practical life. Srila Prabhupada made it clear that the only worshipable object (upasya) is Sri Krsna sankirtanam.

[Upadesavali 1 "‘Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam–supreme victory to the congregational chanting of Krsna’s names’–this is Sri Gaudiya Math’s sole object of worship."]

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja elucidated Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction: ‘param vidyayate sri krsna sankirtanam…’. He said that this the motto of the Gaudiya Math. So many people, even ordinary people, hear kirtan, but the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have a special kirtan. It begins from sadhu-sanga, bhakti-lata bija, and then gurupadasraya, (taking shelter of a self-realized rasika bhavuka guru). Then visrambena gurau seva, (serving Guru without the fear impelled by awe and reference), mamata yukta seva (with a sense of mine-ness), and then anartha nivritti, becoming free from anarthas. Then steadiness, and then a glimpse of taste in bhajan and kirtan. Then some realization of relationship comes; and then param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam can manifest. This is the vritti, or quality, of svarupa-sakti (Krsna’s internal potency), because bhakti is not a thing of the mind, but rather of the atma. By serving guru, bhakti comes in the heart. If there is no anartha nivrtti, no relationship, and no guru-nistha (firm faith in guru), then there is no param vidyayate sri krsna sankirtanam. Rather, ceto darpana marjanam, cleansing the dust from the heart, is starting.

[Upadesavali 9: "Serving the Vrajavasis who felt great separation from Krsna when He left Vraja to reside in Mathura is our supreme constitutional occupation."]

Why did Srila Prabhupada come? What was his mood? How did he do bhajan? He was always absorbed in the mood of separation, following the sentiments of the kirtan of his Gurudeva, Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja: ‘Radhe radhe premamaiya radhe…’. He was always calling, "Ha Radhe, alas Radhe!" This mood will not come to any tattva-jnani person. It will not come by exercising ones intelligence; it will only come with nistha for Sri Gurudeva and Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Madhavendra Puripada’s disciple, Ramacandra Puri, was a great writer, very intelligent and educated. His other disciple, Isvari Puri, was not a scholar, but day and night he did seva. And, in his guru’s last days, he cleared out his stool and vomit. (Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took initiation from him). When Madhavendra Puripada, in the mood of Sri Radhika lamented the separation of Krsna when He went to Mathura, ‘ei dina dayatra natha…’, Ramacandra Puri could only criticize him, thinking he was lamenting materially; but Isvara Puri could understand his mood because he had that atma-samarpit, that surrender. How does one get this surrender? By anyabhilasita sunyam…, serving with body, mind and words; doing what is right and giving up what is wrong. If we serve Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas with our hearts, with all energy, then we will attain the mood of Sri Guru. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja gave the example of Parampujapada, Srila Vamana Maharaja who serves his Gurudeva with body, mind, intelligence and atma.

There are 4 kinds of vicaras, conceptions, explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. 1) Pratyeksa vicara (direct–fulfilling material desires). This conception comes from our material senses. 2) Paroksa vicara (indirect–the conception of Svarga, heavenly enjoyment). We don’t see the heavenly planets, but we want them. 3) Aparoksa vicara–neither direct nor indirect–advaitavada and brahmavada conceptions. This idea is not offensive–it refers to that of devotees like the four Kumaras, and not Sankara’s mayavada conception, which is not a conception, but an offense. 4) Adhoksaja vicara–what is taught by acaryas like Sri Ramanujacarya–the desire to go to Vaikuntha. Above these 4 vicaras there is aprakrita vicara, which is the conclusion of our Gaudiya guru-parampara. Especially Srila Prabhupada came to give this–Vraja-seva, unnatujjvala rasa. Therefore, what a reservoir of mercy he is.

In his pranama-mantra, ‘madhuryojjvala-premadhya-sri-rupanuga-bhaktida…’, there are 2 ideas expressed: 1) bahiranga, external, vicara; and antaranga, internal, vicara. Outwardly he defeated all other conceptions which are opposed to suddha bhakti, like mayavada, smarta, sahajya etc.; and the internal conception is that he gave vraja-prema, or parakiya rasa. He is ‘sri-varsabhanavi-devi-dayita’, very dear to Srimati Radhika; and he forcibly smashed all philosophies which differ from that of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam manifest fully at the advanced stage of Vraja-prema. Then we can serve visaya-vigraha. One who leaves his intelligence and mind, and surrenders fully, can have this. Surely there is no other way. Without Sri Radhika, Krsna is not complete, and so the real visaya vigraha is Sri Sri Radha Krsna yugala.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja explained that one must be a Math-vasi (inhabitant of the Math, or temple). What does this mean? To adopt all activities performed in the Math: attending mangala aratika, serving, chanting, reading, serving prasad, and especially attending lectures. He said that you may be a materially stupid person, but if you follow with respect and love, you will realize everything. But not all residents of the Math are Math-vasis, and not all those living outside the Math are not Math-vasis. If one is living in the Math, and he is affected by small things, he is not a Math-vasi. Don’t get entangled with the itchings of mosquito bites; it will distract you from bhajana. You will be meditating on how to kill mosquitoes. "Good Knight" mosquito repellent is not the answer, because it has a poisonous smell. Just sit under a mosquito net and do your bhajan. Krsna wants to teach us tolerance. If there are no disturbances, how will we learn tolerance? Don’t give up the Math. It is the life and soul of bhajana. Those who leave the Math to do bhajan, do bhajan without life and soul. How can we do bhajana independently? If the guru is weak, and bhajana and kirtana in the Math is not going on, then you can leave your Math. Otherwise not. If you leave a proper Math to do bhajana, then ladies may be attracted to you and will gather around you. There will be no one to protect you. In the Math we are protected because so many eyes are watching us. At the time of Srila Bhakti Prajana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, Pujapada Muni Maharaja and Pujapada Narasingha Maharaja used to watch everyone. They saw what everyone was doing. Pujapada Muni Maharaja was about 100 years old. The younger devotees used to think that he didn’t know what was going on. But of course, he had a whole life’s experience. He knew what was what.

Then, putting himself in the position of a conditioned soul for our benefit, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja said that he also, once, for a moment, wanted to live outside the Math. But then he realized that inside the Math he would be protected by the eyes of the others. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja continued to say that there may be so many diseased persons in the Math, but one must bear them.

There was one pandita who was apparently very learned, but actually he knew nothing. One devotee in the Math wanted to study the Bhagavatam from this pandita, but Prabhupada said, "Go to Vaisnava dasa to study the Bhagavatam, He knows it." Vaisnava dasa was a very simple, dedicated devotee. He was not very learned in sastra; he was always doing menial service for the Vaisnavas, like scrubbing pots, etc. Later on, by his association, that devotee learned that Vaisnava dasa was a living Bhagavata.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja continued to say that real diksa means to not rely on your intelligence. He said that when he first joined the Math, his Guru Maharaja wanted to give him saffron cloth. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja told him, "I have gathered all the affection that I had for my family, relatives, children and friends, and I am placing it at your lotus feet. I have no other life now; no other separate desire. If you want me to wear saffron, I’ll wear saffron, If you want me to wear white, I’ll wear white, or if you want me to wear no clothes, I will do that. Anything you wish. Your desire is my life." When his Guru Maharaja heard this, tears fell from his eyes.

Bhakti parasana bhava–by engaging in bhakti three things come: tusthi, pusthi and vairagya; taste, realization and detachment. It is good that problems come; otherwise how can we practice detachment? There are two types of devotees: one who will cook himself and the other who will eat whatever prasadam is offered to him. One can accept cooked prasada directly. Mercy is always flowing. Why go to the effort to cook yourself?

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote one kirtan, "Atma nivedanam, tuwa pade kori.." There he says, "I have become supremely happy by surrendering myself at Your lotus feet. Sorrow has gone far away, and there are no more cares. All I see is joy in the four directions." If the mind is flickering or restless, this will not happen. Hearing, chanting and serving with utsaha niscayat enthuses Krsna to reveal Himself. A restless mind means that we have not surrendered, and are not engaging in Sri Krsna sankirtanam. As soon as one surrenders, he will be very enthusiastic to do any seva, like cleaning pots, giving class, etc. Then Krsna will become enthusiastic to give His own darsana.

Grantha prakash, printing books, and preaching and doing Namahatta is the genuine service to Sri Mayapura. Whatever qualifications you already have, you can use that. There is no need to endeavor for more education. If the root, guru-seva, is done–then everything is done.

We have not come to become sat-karmis (virtuous) or to gather knowledge. No. We have come to carry the shoes of our guru on our heads; to follow his instructions perfectly.

Be introspective, and think, "Why do I not have bhakti?" See others’ devotional attitudes. Learn from them and progress. Don’t criticize others; don’t offend anyone. Don’t see others with material eyes. Think, "Why am I pointing out the faults in others?" If one desires, he can even find faults in Nityananda Prabhu–"Oh, He married twice, after taking sannyasa. He was so lusty." Look at your own faults and remove them. Otherwise you’ll see faults in Narada Muni–"Oh, he causes troubles to others." If we have a positive outlook, we will see that Narada’s curse (to the Yamalarjuna trees) was actually a benediction.

What is our dharma? The Gopis were in a mood of deep separation when Krsna went to Mathura. Our dharma is to serve those Vrajabasis, whose mood manifested most in Uddhava Kyari. Even the Yadava patnis glorified their mood.

A Mahabhagavata sees everyone as his guru, and therefore he can become guru of everyone. He is jagad-guru. If you want Vraja-bhakti then don’t listen to the opinion of lakhs of other persons. Give up all futile paths, and hear from transcendental sources. Dedicated devotees have no other desire than to serve Rupanuga Vaisnavas. The mood of total dedication to serve Mahaprabhu must be very intense. There is no other way to serve nirguna vastu than through the ears. Nirguna vastu is guru, bhakti, Tulasi, prasada, harinama, dhama, Mahaprabhu etc. Service is rendered through the ear. Diksa also comes through the ear. Whoever gives his ear to Sri Guru will proceed very fast. Hari-katha of bonafide Vaisnavas will protect us from disturbances of the mind.

One devotee, Naveen Candra prabhu, was very learned and expert in all sastras. He lived in the Math and chanted, but he didn’t have much faith in Gurudeva. Another devotee, Rasaraja prabhu, used to tease him, "I will give you a beautiful girl to marry if you bring me Rs 50,000." When, one day he brought Rs 50,000, Rasaraja prabhu laughed and said, "Oh, I was joking." Later Naveen Chandra left and got married, and became crazy. If one is sincere and dedicated, guru will always protect him. Be without hypocrisy–be sincere. Hypocrite means that one thinks, "I am intelligent". This is kapata, duplicity. Simplicity is the intrinsic quality of a Vaisnava.

Helping to take souls from maya is the best compassion, the best charity. If one soul is saved, this is better than opening unlimited hospitals. Real mercy can be understood by a madyama adhikari only.

Avoid associating on spiritual grounds with those who do not care to serve pure Vaisnavas. Don’t boycott them; you may speak with them, but don’t take any advise from them.

Preaching without following proper conduct is ordinary karma, fruitive activity. (Upadesavali 8)

Be like a postman and give Lord Caitanya’s message. The biggest disease is collecting things not required for the service of Krsna. Collect only what can be used to serve Vaisnavas. The devotee collects biksa, alms, to serve Vaisvavas, not themselves.

Always think that we will die very soon–just now. Such thinking is a stimulus to do bhajan, and then we can give up our body doing bhajana. The only desire of a high-class devotee is to become Srila Rupa Gosvami’s foot-dust. The moment we surrender, greed will come and then things will start happening for us. (See Upadesavali 16)

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja then quoted Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s kirtan: Manasa deha geho– "Now I am fully surrendered to You, I am no longer responsible for my own affairs–You must oversee me." A dog with a collar around his neck is cared for by his owner. There will be no court-case against that dog. If the dog does anything wrong, it is the owner who will be taken to court. We should be like that dog, and have the dog-collar of the pure Gaudiya Vaisnava around our neck.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja ended his class, here and returned to his quarters. Sri Ramacandra prabhu gave an English translation of the class to the Western devotees present and this was proceeded by kirtan. At about 11:00 am Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja returned to the temple-room and began further glorification of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

He began by explaining Srila Prabhupada’s pranam mantras.

‘Nama om visnu-padaya…’ Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja said that those who can render service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are called Visnupada. Pada means base, where Visnu’s lotus feet are placed. ‘Madhuryojjvala-premadhya…’ His own form is full of madhurya, sweetness and he also grants this sweetness. He was always absorbed in gopi-bhava, especially when he stayed at Radha-kunda. ‘Premadhya’ means the treasure of love. Although he was busy in cutting the jungles of false philosophies, his purpose was to give suddha-bhakti. As he himself explained in his Caitanya-caritamrta anubhasya (commentary), Vraja-bhakti is the only suddha-bhakti. Only raganuga bhakti is pure bhakti. Vaidhi bhakti is not pure bhakti.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja then said that when his Guru Maharaja would go to Mayapura with his disciples, he was filled with a mood of separation from Srila Prabhupada. The moment he spoke Srila Prabhupada’s name, he could no longer speak. Full of emotions, his voice became choked up, and he had his disciples stand up and speak.

Srila Prabhupada contained within himself the acaryas of all the 4 sampradayas, and all our Gosvamis and acaryas, along with the specialities of their individual conceptions and moods. He gathered everything within himself–the cream of everyone’s specials thoughts, and distributed them. Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote so many great literatures. However, if Srila Prabhupada had not published them, it may be that they would have been simply eaten by worms and termites. Srila Prabhupada had 2 boxes: a charity box and a donation box. A charity box gives, and a donation box takes. So Srila Prabhupada took the donations of the previous acaryas’ conceptions, and gave them in charity to the world.

Sri Ramanujacarya, Sri Madhvacarya and other acaryas took shelter of kings in order to preach. They took the kings’ strength and wealth, and then preached. But Srila Prabhupada did not do that. He went to intelligent students–young men and young women–15 to 17 years old. How did he make his preaching successful? He instructed his disciples to request 1 paisa donation from each person they met. He told them not to take more. With this 1 paisa practice, he made a very big empire. People were impressed, first by the hari-katha of the collectors, and then by their renunciation. (If they wanted to give more then one paisa, the devotees would refuse). The disciples went to trams, buses, bazaars, streets, villages, and there they gave hari-katha and asked for the donation.

Nowadays people think that it is not good to do pracar (preaching)–it is not favorable for deep bhajan. They say, "First do deep bhajan." But no. Preaching is one of the angas (limbs) of bhakti, as are printing and distributing books.

Srila Prabhupada preached against the bad activities of so-called Vaisnavas who would earn money by performing kirtans at funerals. Their purpose was money. Because of activities like this, such a high thing as Gaudiya Vaisnavism was badly regarded. Srila Prabhupada therefore first had to cut the jungles of so-called Gaudiya Vaisnavism. The so-called Vaisnavas simply wanted to hear about gopi-bhava and rasa-lila, but they did not want to observe any religious principles. When Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was in Jagannath Puri, many such people came to hear his Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrta classes. But when Srila Prabhupada came and gave his class, the audience was cut in half after the first day. The next day, half of the previous day’s audience was left, and it went on like this. Finally, instead of listening, the people fought with him–because he was not giving ‘anukulyena krsnanusilanam…’. Rather, he was stressing ‘anyabhilasita sunyam…’ ‘Anukulyenana…’, which is the intrinsic characteristic of suddha-bhakti, is not suddha-bhakti, unless it is supported by it’s marginal characteristic–giving up all desires other then to please Krsna, and giving up all unwanted habits. Srila Prabhupada was preaching that if one takes tabacco, even if he is hearing rasika-katha, he will go to hell. No one wanted to give up smoking and eating fish. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore told his son to stop preaching there, and go to Mayapura, because the few people who were left were simply quarreling.

Srila Prabhupada was very strong regarding babaji’s who were having relations with other’s wives, and who were saying that this was parakiya rasa. He totally smashed the old society of so-called Vaisnavas, and created a new society of fresh, young, sincere people.

Srila Prabhupada was the first to give brahmana initiation to those born as sudras, and to engage them in worshipping Salagram-sila. In Srila Rupa Gosvami’s writings, and in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, it is stated that it was proper, but no one had instituted it before, because society was such that our previous acaryas did not want to start a revolution at that time.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were ostracized from society, because he gave diksa and gayatri mantra to vaisyas and sudras. One disciple, Sanatana prabhu, had arranged a marriage for his daughter. But the villagers wouldn’t allow this to happen, because the father was Prabhupada’s disciple. When Sanatan prabhu brought the bhoga, which would have been used for the marriage festival, to the Math, the brahmacaris were very happy. Srila Prabhupada, however, became very grave upon hearing this. He said, "We should excommunicate any society which does not allow marriage with Vaisnavas." He said that if the girl wasn’t married within a few days, he himself would give up his body, and then come back and marry her. He blessed Sanatan prabhu that his daughter would surely marry, within a few days, with a high-class devotee; and so it happened. He said, "We are not brahmana, sudra, etc.–we are the servants of the servants of the servants of the maintainer of the Gopis. ‘gopi bhartur padakamalor dasadasanudasa.’"

One Sanskrit professor from Benares University met Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, Hayagriva prabhu and Nanda suno prabhu, who had gone to the university to preach. The professor asked, "Where are you coming from?" They answered, "From Mayapur." Then he said, "Oh, your guru gives initiation to sudras?" "Yes, he gives mercy to sudras also." Then the disciples quoted many slokas, and defeated that professor, who began to perspire and feel faint. His wife became worried and asked the boys to go away, because her husband was old and might die. The professor was 60 years old and the disciples were 20 years old. But they were so capable that they had defeated the professor.

Although there were so many successes in this type of preaching, this was not Srila Prabhupada’s real preaching. He wanted to give ‘Param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam’. He wanted to give the real thing--unnatujjvala-rasa; but it is so high, so valuable, and so delicate, that it should always remain concealed. It should be spoken very carefully, only after seeing a person’s qualifications.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja then commented on the speech that one his brahmacaris had given, describing some details about Srila Prabhupada’s siddha-svarupa as an eternal maidservant of Srimati Radhika. He said that we can discuss this subject among those who are qualified, but these things should not be revealed to the general public.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja then glorified Srila Prabhupada’s role in establishing Navadvipa dham parikrama. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had written the Parikrama guide, but he did not conduct parikramas himself. This was started by Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada was powerful. His sannyasa disciples were also powerful. They never fell down. Ananta Vasudeva gave himself sannyasa, and he fell down. Most of Srila Prabhupada’s brahmacaris remained strong. He made world-wide preaching possible.

After his class, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja led the devotees in offering arati to Srila Prabhupada, offering flowers, and then offering arati to Sri Sri Radha Vinoda Bihariji, Mahaprabhu and Giri Govardhan.

Your humble servants,

Syamarani dasi

and

Vrinda-devi dasi