Notes on Radhanatha Swami Brahmacarya Lecture

[Guest guest]

Notes on Chowpatty and Juhu Brahmacaris’ Meeting with Radhanatha Swami

At Prabhupada’s Quarters in Juhu. Mumbai (Bombay) on September 30, 2005

 

If you are able to be without sex life and association of the opposite

sex that is superior. Lord Caitanya was happy when his devotees followed

their asrama, but He could not tolerate hypocrisy.

What is a brahmacari? The saffron color is the flag of renunciation. What

are the prime duties on one in the renounced order? Exclusive dedication to

the service of the Lord.

Lord Caitanya told Raghunatha Dasa Goswami:

Do not talk prajalpa (gramya-katha or village talk).

Do not listen to prajalpa .

Do not eat luxuriously.

Do not dress opulently.

Offer all respects to others.

Do not demand any respect in return.

Constantly chant the names of Krishna .

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that saralata (simplicity) is the

first qualification of a sadhu.

Remember the Lord is situated in our heart and is watching. Prabhupada

wanted purity and unity.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says the fire that Krishna swallowed represents

politics among devotees. Prajalpa can destroy our spiritual life and our

preaching. We have no justification for gramya-katha as renunciants. A

sadha does not go here and there to satisfy his belly and genitals.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura once ordered his sannyasis to serve

prasadam to keep them humble. He compared prestige to the dung of a boar.

Submissive servant—that is brahmacari.

We must be attached to chanting the holy name and hearing Krishna-katha.

Srila Prabhupada did not want people living in Vrindavana. If anyone did

stay in Vrindavana, they should strictly serve the mission.

Association of brahmacaris is very important to protect ourselves from

maya. Hearing and chanting about Krishna protects us from envy. If we can

practice brahmacarya nicely, then it is the express highway back to Godhead.

 

Q: So many greater Vaishnavas than us have fallen. What chance do we have?

A: Big or small, inattention in sadhana (practice) and offenses to

Vaishnavas can cause us to fall. If we follow Lord Caitanya’s principle of

tolerance and humility, we will not fall down: “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.”

Q (by me): We are often separated from people who we become attached to and

that causes us pain. How then can we develop the intimate relationships with

devotees that are recommended?

A: Do the best you can. We can communicate in other ways, when we are apart,

and when we are together we can really relish the association. Also it is

very strengthening to have close relationships in the community you live it.

 

Q (by Vaishnava youth, Radha Madhava): I am attracted to the principles of

brahmacarya, but I still have some attachment to my family relationships and

some friends of the opposite sex. What can I do?

A: Well as long as you like associating with the opposite sex, you cannot be

brahmacari, but brahmacari training is good for grihasthas. So you can be a

brahmacari for now, but act like a real brahmacari and then worry about

getting married later.

Q: Kardama Muni seemed so renounced and yet flew about in the palace

enjoying with his wife. Can you explain this?

A: Kardama Muni was genuinely renounced. He would just meditate and his wife

would arrange prasadam for him. When his wife was emaciated from performing

austerities and wanted children, he arranged the palace. Kardama Muni was so

much in the mode of goodness, the flying palace was necessary to stimulate

him to passion for the creative act.