Understanding Bhagavad Gita

[Govindaram]

 

Can you offer flowers to the Gita

out of respect so it will bestow

its mercy upon you..Hari bol.

[theist]

Krsna is non-different from His words.

[livingentity]

for Srimad Bhagavatam; First Canto, Chapter 2; verse 18...

 

"Here is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within

the heart which are considered to be obstacles in the path of self-

realization. The remedy is the association of the Bhâgavatas. There

are two types of Bhâgavatas, namely the book Bhâgavata and the

devotee Bhâgavata. Both the Bhâgavatas are competent remedies, and

both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the

obstacles. A devotee Bhâgavata is as good as the book Bhâgavata

because the devotee Bhâgavata leads his life in terms of the book

Bhâgavata and the book Bhâgavata is full of information about the

Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees, who are also

Bhâgavatas. Bhâgavata book and person are identical.

 

The devotee Bhâgavata is a direct representative of Bhagavân, the

Personality of Godhead. So by pleasing the devotee Bhâgavata one can

receive the benefit of the book Bhâgavata. Human reason fails to

understand how by serving the devotee Bhâgavata or the book

Bhâgavata one gets gradual promotion on the path of devotion. But

actually these are facts explained by Úrîla Nâradadeva, who happened

to be a maidservant's son in his previous life. The maidservant was

engaged in the menial service of the sages, and thus he also came

into contact with them. And simply by associating with them and

accepting the remnants of foodstuff left by the sages, the son of

the maidservant got the chance to become the great devotee and

personality Úrîla Nâradadeva. These are the miraculous effects of

the association of Bhâgavatas. And to understand these effects

practically, it should be noted that by such sincere association of

the Bhâgavatas one is sure to receive transcendental knowledge very

easily, with the result that he becomes fixed in the devotional

service of the Lord. The more progress is made in devotional service

under the guidance of the Bhâgavatas, the more one becomes fixed in

the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The messages of the

book Bhâgavata, therefore, have to be received from the devotee

Bhâgavata, and the combination of these two Bhâgavatas will help the

neophyte devotee to make progress on and on."

 

 

[gHari]

According to Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita 18.70:<blockquote>And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence. </blockquote>

 

So offer the Gita your intelligence, your time, your desire. In the Gita, Krsna says that if one offers Him a flower with devotion, He will accept it. Water the root Krsna, and then flowers like the Gita will bloom.

 

The secret of the Gita is to do it. It is a process, not just a book to be read. And then, armed with yoga, stand and fight.

 

Through this knowledge, through Krsna's words, through following His advice, mixed with all of Srila Prabhupada's mercy, you can develop great faith in and love for Krsna in the process of the Bhagavad-gita. That faith will keep you moving forward, and that love will shrink your material attachments. If you also develop humility, now knowing of and contemplating Krsna's greatness, then you will have won.

 

Be patient. Krsna is in charge. Let Him lead you through the process. After all, this is God we are talking about. Don't be satisfied with something cheap.

 

Remember humility. Just consider how humble you would be if Sri Krsna appeared before you right now. You must be that humble to be successful. You must have great desire, which includes having no material attachments for name, fame, fudge and anything temporal. Krsna teaches the process to acquire perfection in renunciation and yoga.

 

Some read the Gita and then move on to the next book. No. There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. Krsna is our best friend; He will be there with you every step of the way. He will even move your feet for you if you let Him, just as He drove Arjuna's chariot for him.

 

gHari

[gHari]

I can't remember where I found this on the net; perhaps Living Entity's learning site. <a href=http://canoeparts.ca/KINGDOM/GITA/BGESENCE.ZIP>This zip file</A> contains several more similar study passages (the file extensions are strange but each file can be read with notepad or Word).<blockquote>

THE THIRD AND FOURTH ESSENCES

 

THE GITA-RAHASYA AND THE CHARAN-SLOKI

(Bg 18.65 & 18.66)

 

The Essence of Devotion and the Essence of Surrender

 

 

Focus on the Purport of Bg 18.65

 

**The most confidential part of knowledge is that one should become a pure

devotee of Krsna and always think of Him and act for Him. One should not

become an official meditator.**

 

Notes:

 

1. The rahasya or secret of the Bhagavad-gita is revealed by Krsna only to His

devotees.

 

Bg 4.3

"That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told

by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend and can therefore

understand the transcendental mystery of this science."

 

2. The secret of the Bhagavad-gita is that although Sri Krsna summarizes for

Arjuna the karma, jnana and mystic yoga systems, His purpose in instructing

Arjuna is to establish bhakti-yoga as not only the "topmost yoga system" but

ultimately the only yoga system that returns the jiva to His original eternal

position in the spiritual world.

 

Bg 6.47

"And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of

Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me--he is the

most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My

opinion."

 

Bg 12.2

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My

personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and

transcendental faith are considered by Me to be the most perfect."

 

Bg 18.55

"One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by

devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such

devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God."

 

SB 11.14.25

"Just as gold, when smelted in fire, gives up its impurities and returns to

its pure brilliant state, similarly, the spirit soul, absorbed in the fire of

bhakti-yoga, is purified of all contamination caused by previous fruitive

activities and returns to its original position of serving Me in the spiritual

world."

 

3. The other yoga systems outlined in the Bhagavad-gita are meant to prepare

an unqualified person for the path of bhakti-yoga.

 

Bg 18.67

"This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not

austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is

envious of Me."

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada

"So drdham iti, isto'si me drdham iti tato vaksyami 'I am not speaking to the

rascals. I am speaking to you because you are My most confidential friend.'

What is that? Man-mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru, mam evaisyasi

satyam te pratijane priyo 'si me. 'You are My dear friend.' This is... Sarva

dharman parityajya. 'Whatever I've spoken, they are all nonsense. There is

sense, but the truth which I am speaking to you just now, "You just become My

devotee, just think of Me, just offer your obeisances unto Me, just work for

Me," this is the most confidential.' But those who are not able to understand,

they are not to be spoken. They are to be instructed that you become a yogi,

you practice your breathing, you sit like this, you sit like that. Because

he's unable to understand. Therefore He says, idam te na atapaskaya. One who

has not undergone severe austerities, don't speak this final knowledge. He'll

not understand. He'll misunderstand. Just like scholars, like Radha-Krishnan,

misunderstands because he has no tapasya. It requires tapasya to understand

this philosophy. Therefore Bhagavat says tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed

sattvam. 'My dear boys, just accept austerity voluntarily. Restrain.'"

 

**One should always act in such a way that all his daily activities are in

connection with Krsna. He should arrange his life in such a way that

throughout the twenty-four hours he cannot but think of Krsna.**

 

Notes:

 

1. Bhagavad-gita 8.6-8 explains why we should always think of Krsna.

 

"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, or son of

Kunti, that state he will attain without fail. Therefore, Arjuna, you should

always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time carry out your

prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your

mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without a doubt."

 

**And the Lord's promise is that anyone who is in such pure Krsna

consciousness will certainly return to the abode of Krsna, where he will be

engaged in the association of Krsna face to face. This most confidential part

of knowledge is spoken to Arjuna because he is the dear friend of Krsna.

Everyone who follows the path of Arjuna can become a dear friend to Krsna and

obtain the same perfection as Arjuna.**

 

Notes:

 

1. "The path of Arjuna" refers to the path of practical engagement in

devotional service as given in this verse. There are four items of practice

mentioned--"Always think of Me", 'become My devotee", "worship Me" and "offer

your homage to Me." From these four the nine processes of devotional service

expand.

 

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada:

"Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Smaranam 'also always thinking of Me.' Yoginam api

sarvesam mad-gatenantaratmana, sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo

matah. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. That is sravanam

kirtanam visnoh smaranam, always thinking of Krsna."

 

"The simple thing is that you follow the instruction of Krsna, man-mana bhava

mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. So this is very natural. This temple

worship is meant for that purpose. Actually, when we see the Deity,

immediately our mind become Krsna conscious. At least, we think of Krsna,

"Here is Krsna." So that is man-mana. Chanting also, chanting, that is

Krsna-mana, man-mana. In this way you become bhakta. Regularly chanting, you

become bhakta. Without becoming bhakta, nobody can chant. So man-mana bhava

mad-bhakto mad-yaji. And worship Deity. He has come very kindly to accept your

service. You just dress Him, just bathe Him, just decorate Him with ornaments,

with garland, with nice thing."

 

"And what is that bhakti? Mad-bhakta. Devotional... Devotion means service.

Mad-yaji. You render some service to the Lord. Just like we are engaged here

always. Whenever you'll come, you find us engaged some duty. You see. We have

manufactured some duty, just to think of Krsna only. Therefore our Society's

name is Krsna Consciousness, Society for Krsna Consciousness. We have got so

many literatures. Each and every boy is engaged. Somebody's printing,

somebody's writing, somebody's typewriting, somebody's dispatching, somebody's

attending letter, somebody's cooking. Twenty-four hours, we are thinking of

Krsna. How? Because we are engaged in the duties of Krsna. So mad-yaji mam

namaskuru. And what is that duty if you have no obedience? You have to obey.

Therefore it is said namaskuru, you offer your respect. So bhakti minus

respect, that is not bhakti. With love, with respect, with designated duties,

if you be engaged in Krsna consciousness, then your life will be successful."

 

Quote from SB 7.5.23-24, Purport

"Arcanam means worshiping Lord Visnu as one does in the temple, and vandanam

means offering respectful obeisances. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam

namaskuru. Vandanam means namaskuru--offering obeisances or offering prayers.

Thinking oneself to be nitya-krsna-dasa, everlastingly a servant of Krsna, is

called dasyam, and sakhyam means being a well-wisher of Krsna. Krsna wants

everyone to surrender unto Him because everyone is constitutionally His

servant. Therefore, as a sincere friend of Krsna, one should preach this

philosophy, requesting everyone to surrender unto Krsna. Atma-nivedanam means

offering Krsna everything, including one's body, mind, intelligence and

whatever one may possess.

One's sincere endeavor to perform these nine processes of devotional

service is technically called bhakti."

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

Question: "What is the business of Krsna consciousness society?"

Prabhupada: "Always thinking of Krsna. As Krsna says. Man mana bhava

mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. These four principles. Always think of

Krsna, become Krsna's devotee, worship Krsna and offer your respect,

obeisances to Krsna. That's all. This is Krsna consciousness. They are doing

that. Nothing more, nothing less. These four principles."

 

**These words stress that one should concentrate his mind upon Krsna--the very

form with two hands carrying a flute, the bluish boy with a beautiful face and

peacock feathers in His hair. There are descriptions of Krsna found in the

Brahma-samhita and other literatures. One should fix his mind on this original

form of Godhead, Krsna. One should not even divert his attention to other

forms of the Lord. The Lord has multiforms as Visnu, Narayana, Rama, Varaha,

etc., but a devotee should concentrate his mind on the form that was present

before Arjuna. Concentration of the mind on the form of Krsna constitutes the

most confidential part of knowledge, and this is disclosed to Arjuna because

Arjuna is the most dear friend of Krsna's.**

 

Notes:

 

1. Quotes from Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Vrndavana-mahimamrta (2.19)

"Within the boundless, all-pervading effulgence of the brahmajyoti is the

extremely blissful and effulgent realm of Lord Visnu. Within that realm of

Lord Visnu is another effulgent realm of immeasurable transcendental bliss.

Within that place is this forest of Vrndavana."

 

(14.22)

"When moon-faced Lord Krsnacandra places the flute to His splendid smiling

lips and plays very sweetly, Sri Radha fixes her eyes upon Him, and the

residents of Vaikuntha feel ecstasy and the hairs on their bodies stand erect

with joy. However, when Lord Narayana, the master of Vaikuntha, fixes all His

senses in meditation on this scene, He faints in the ecstasy of love. At that

time the goddess of fortune becomes unhappy, and the residents of Vaikuntha

cannot find the slightest happiness anywhere."

 

2. Quote from Sri Krsna-sandarbha 29.23

"The reason some people maintain that Krsna is a partial expansion of the

Original Personality of Godhead, and not the Original Personality of Godhead

Himself, is described by the Lord in Bhagavad-gita (7.25):

 

'I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent to the foolish and

unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal potency (yogamaya), and so

the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.'

 

"Sri Krsna only partially reveals Himself to the ordinary living entities.

Because of this partial revelation, ordinary people believe that Krsna is

merely an expansion of the Original Godhead."

 

Focus on the Purport of Bg 18.66

 

**Now, in summarizing Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that Arjuna should give up

all the processes that have been explained to him; he should simply surrender

to Krsna.**

 

Notes:

 

1. There are two paths to Krsna consciousness given in the Bhagavad-gita: the

path of gradual elevation by knowledge, and the path of immediate,

unconditional surrender. In 18.66 Sri Krsna declares that the path of

unconditional surrender is the best, for in this way one attains all

perfection without separate effort.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"First of all, one becomes jnanavan; then he surrenders to Vasudeva.

Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. This is one process. Another

process is you become a devotee of Vasudeva, then jnana, vairagya, will

automatically come."

 

SB 6.1.19

"Although not having fully realized Krsna, persons who have even once

surrendered completely unto His lotus feet and who have become attracted to

His name, form, qualities and pastimes are completely freed of all sinful

reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement. Even in

dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamaraja or his order carriers, who

are equipped with ropes to bind the sinful."

 

2. To surrender to Krsna even before having realized Him is itself the

superior path of knowledge, because Krsna is the goal of all cultivation of

knowledge. One who simply surrenders to Krsna begins his spiritual life at

the point of full knowledge.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"Therefore the whole world is confused. They do not know where to repose the

love. That do not know. Therefore Krsna is canvassing: sarva dharman parityaja

mam ekam. 'Come here! Love Me! Increase your attachment for Me. Everything

will be all right.' Otherwise it is simply vague. Srama eva hi kevalam. Simply

waste of time. Dharma svanusthitha pumsam visvaksena kathasu ya, notpadayed

ratim yadi srama eva hi kevalam. It is simply waste of time."

 

3. The other processes of dharma explained in the Bhagavad-gita are based upon

bhoga (enjoying separately from Krsna) or tyaga (renouncing separately from

Krsna).

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"Krsna says: sarva dharman pari... You have to give up this bhoga dharma and

tyaga dharma. Sarva dharman parityaja. You are now engaged in two kinds of

dharma. Somebody, karmis, they are bhoga, bhoga dharmi. They want to enjoy.

And tyagi, they want to renounce this bhoga. So both of these will not help

you. Bhoga-tyaga. Then what? Seva. You have to take the dharma of seva. That

is bhakti. Krsna-seva. For Krsna, you can accept anything. That is... it may

appear bhoga. Just like Prahlada Maharaja, Prthu Maharaja, they were kings,

very opulent kings. Dhruva Maharaja. So still they were great devotees. Not

only ordinary devotees, mahajanas. So this bhoga-tyaga has no meaning. It has

no benefit. One has to become devotee. Either in the bhoga field or in the

tyaga field. It doesn't matter. Bhoga-tyaga is not required. Required

service."

 

4. Unconditional surrender is the priti-purvaka, the method of love, which is

vidhi-purvaka (the right method) as opposed to avidhi-purvaka (see Bg 9.23).

For an example of the difference between the two, one may refer to the story

of the wives of the brahmanas in Krsna Book.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"They neglect this word, avidhi-purvakam. They simply say that to worship

other demigods is also the same. No. It is not the... It is avidhi-purvaka.

And if you... Suppose you are in trouble. You have to satisfy the police

commissioner. But you are trying to satisfy the police commissioner by bribing

the constable. That is avidhi-purvaka. If it is known, then you'll be punished.

So don't try to satisfy Krsna--avidhi-purvakam. Vidhi-purvakam. That

vidhi-purvakam is direct. Sarva-dharman parityaja mam ekam saranam vraja. That

is wanted. That is vidhi-purvakam. Otherwise avidhi-purvakam. And how? The

avidhi... The vidhi-purvaka, how? Just as the Ganges water is flowing

automatically toward the sea, similarly, your devotional service like that,

automatically, without any check... Then your life is perfect."

 

**In the Seventh Chapter it was said that only one who has become free from

all sinful reactions can take to the worship of Lord Krsna. Thus one may think

that unless he is free from all sinful reactions he cannot take to the

surrendering process. To such doubts it is here said that even if one is not

free from all sinful reactions, simply by the process of surrendering to Sri

Krsna he is automatically freed. There is no need of strenuous effort to free

oneself from sinful reactions.**

 

Notes:

 

1. Surrendering to Krsna destroys sin at its very roots.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"This, these four kinds of stages of sinful activities, in stock, almost

fructified, manifest, all the stages of sinful activities can be immediately

nullified. Because it is assured by Krsna: aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

moksayisyami. It is not imagination. If we believe in the words of Krsna, then

there is no question of denying this fact. Krsna personally says, aham tvam

sarva-papebhyo moksa... Sarva-papebhyo. The kutastha, phalonmukha, prarabdha,

everything. It become immediately nullified. Simply by this process, by

surrendering."

 

2. Other methods of religion cannot deliver one from the root of sin because

they are essential man-centered, not God-centered. The root of sin is our very

lack of surrender to Krsna; this unsurrendered attitude manifests in

man-centered religions as the portrayal of God as mankind's order-supplier.

 

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada:

"Therefore Krsna says, 'First of all surrender. Then try to understand.'

Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva papebhyo

moksayisyami. When you surrender, and by that surrendering process, when you

are free from the resultant action of sinful activities, then you can

appreciate God, not that God is my order-supplier."

 

"Sarva-dharman parityaja mam ekam saranam vraja: 'You have manufactured so

many rascaldom in the name of religion. Give up all this nonsense. Simply

surrender unto Me.' This is wanted. But Krsna knows that 'If I say to the

rascals, "Surrender unto Me," he'll take otherwise.' A big scholar says, 'Oh,

this is too much, sophistry.' Krsna is demanding: 'Simply surrender unto me.'

And the commentor, commentator is remarking, 'Oh, this is too much.'

 

3. As one requires no preliminary knowledge to surrender to Krsna, similarly

one requires no preliminary purity or piety.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"So without being pavitra, without being pious, without being free from

contamination of material activities, nobody can approach Krsna. That's a

fact. But Krsna is so kind that He orders that `Even if you have got some

kamana, some desire, material desire, still, you can take shelter upon Me.'

Sarva-dharman parityajya. `You do not take shelter of anything else. Simply

depend on Me.' Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. `You haven't

got to depend on anything else. I will give you protection.' So we have to

take faith in the words of Krsna and pinch (sic) our complete faith and

devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna."

 

Bg 9.32

"O son of Prtha, those who take shelter of Me, though they be of lower

birth--women, vaisyas [merchants] and sudras [workers]--can attain the supreme

destination."

 

SB 11.14.18

"My dear Uddhava, if My devotee has not fully conquered his senses, he may be

harassed by material desires, but because of his unflinching devotion for Me,

he will not be defeated by sense gratification."

 

**The process of surrender to Krsna is described in the Hari-bhakti vilasa

(11.676):

 

anukulyasya sankalpah

pratikulyasya varjanam

raksisyatiti visvaso

goptrtve varanam tatha

atma-niksepa-karpanye

sad-vidha saranagatih**

 

Notes:

 

1. Just as the four items of Bg 18.65 take into account the nine processes of

devotional service given in the sastra, so the method of surrender advised in

18.66 takes into account the sad vidha saranagati (sixfold method of

surrender) given in the sastra.

 

Quote from CC Madhya-lila 22.100:

"One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following

characteristics. (1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable

for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord. (2) He must

reject everything unfavorable to the Lord's service. This is also called

renunciation. (3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Krsna will give him

protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly

convinced of this is called faith. This kind of faith is different from the

faith of an impersonalist who wants to merge into the Brahman effulgence in

order to benefit by cessation of repeated birth and death. A devotee wants to

remain always in the Lord's service. In this way, Krsna is merciful to His

devotee and gives him all protection from the dangers found on the path of

devotional service. (4) The devotee should accept Krsna as his supreme

maintainer and master. He should not think that he is being protected by a

demigod. He should depend only on Krsna, considering Him the only protector.

The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no

protector or maintainer other than Krsna. (5) Self-surrender means remembering

that one's activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is

completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires. (6)

The devotee is meek and humble."

 

**One should be attracted by the beautiful vision of Krsna. His name is Krsna

because He is all-attractive. One who becomes attracted by the beautiful,

all-powerful, omnipotent vision of Krsna is fortunate. There are different

kinds of transcendentalists--some of them are attached to the impersonal

Brahman vision, some of them are attracted by the Supersoul feature, etc., but

one who is attracted to the personal feature of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, and, above all, one who is attracted by the Supreme Personality of

Godhead as Krsna Himself, is the most perfect transcendentalist. In other

words, devotional service to Krsna, in full consciousness, is the most

confidential part of knowledge, and this is the essence of the whole Bhagavad-

gita.**

 

Notes:

 

1. Unreserved surrender to Krsna is the method of devotion of the gopis, who

are the most perfect transcendentalists.

 

SB 11.12.13-15

"All those hundreds of thousands of gopis, understanding Me to be their most

charming lover and ardently desiring Me in that way, were unaware of My actual

position. Yet by intimately associating with Me, the gopis attained Me, the

Supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore, My dear Uddhava, abandon the Vedic mantras

as well as the procedures of supplementary Vedic literatures and their

positive and negative injunctions. Disregard that which has been heard and

that which is to be heard. Simply take shelter of Me alone, for I am the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, situated within the heart of all conditioned

souls. Take shelter of Me wholeheartedly, and by My grace be free from fear

in all circumstances."

 

2. Krsna's invitation to the living entities to surrender to Him under His

full protection is the expression of His own unreserved love for His eternal

parts and parcels.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"Krsna loves us more than we love Him. We do not love Him. But Krsna loves.

Krsna loves every living being. He says, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti

murtayo yah: 'Every living being, whatever form he is, that doesn't matter, I

am the bija-pradah pitah, I am the seed-giving father.' So the father is

always affectionate to the sons. The sons may forget the father, but the

father cannot forget. So Krsna comes here out of His love for us to deliver

us, to give us the right path. Sarva-dharman parityajya: 'My dear sons, why

you are rotting in this miserable world? You come to Me. I'll give you all

protection. You are the son of the Supreme. So you can enjoy life very

supremely, very magnificently, without any death. Why you are rotting?' That

is Krsna's mercy."

 

3. In Bg 18.66 Sri Krsna is inviting the living entities to enter into an

intimate loving relationship with Him.

 

Quote from Srila Prabhupada:

"Everyone has prema, love. This propensity to love others. That is... There

is, everywhere. But that prema, that love, is originally for Krsna.

Nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti. That is the original prema. But because we are

illusioned, that prema is being applied or used for so many maya. Prema I have

got. I have got my love. That is a fact. But I do not know where to repose

that love. That is my misfortune. Therefore Krsna says that sarva dharman

parityaja mam ekam saranam vraja. 'You have got prema. You apply it to Me.

Then you'll be benefited.' Prema is already there. You are simply misusing it.

Therefore you are not happy. This is the process. Prema, you have got. But you

are misusing it. But if you take Krsna's word, that "Give your prema unto

Me..."

 

GITA-RAHASYA and CHARAN-SLOKI SUMMARY:

 

SB 11.11.33

"My devotees may or may not know exactly what I am, who I am and how I exist,

but if they worship Me with unalloyed love, then I consider them to be the

best of devotees."

 

SRILA PRABHUPADA ANSWERS A DOUBT ABOUT BG 18.66

 

The doubt may be expressed thusly: Why, if Bg 18.66 is an essential verse of

the Bhagavad-gita, did Lord Caitanya say "This is only external" when this

verse was quoted by Sri Ramananda Raya during Ramananda's explanation of the

ultimate goal of life?

 

"So as I told you, Ramananda Raya, the discussion between Ramananda Raya and

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramananda Raya proposed different steps of spiritual

advancement, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, 'Yes, this is good, but this is

external. It is not very effective.' Even sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam

saranam vraja, that also Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, 'It is also not effect.' It

is not effective for these go-kharas. Otherwise it is effective. But in the

beginning, they cannot. Otherwise in the Bhagavad-gita it is plainly said,

sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam. Who is taking it? Nobody is taking it.

Therefore it is not effective for the go-kharas. It is effective for one who

is actually human being, but they are not human being. They are all rascals,

go-kharas. Therefore it is not effective. If you instruct a dog, 'My dear dog,

please surrender to Krsna,' will he do that? So similarly, human being who

does not surrender, he is no better than the dog. What is the difference

between dog and this human being, go-kharas? The cats, the dogs, they cannot

do it. And if you human beings, they cannot do also, then what is the

difference? Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etad pasubhir naranam.

Simply eating, sleeping, sex life and defending. These are common things of

the cats and dogs and the human beings. The human being is specially benefited

when he surrenders to Krsna. Otherwise he is cat and dog. So Caitanya

Mahaprabhu knew that these cats and dogs, they are so degraded, they cannot

understand what is the meaning of surrendering to Krsna. They cannot

understand. Therefore He said, eho bahya, age kaha ara: 'This is external.

Please speak more, something effective.'"

</blockquote>

[Guest guest]

Wonderful

I pray that i can take this path of surrender to heart

that i can walk Krishna's talk ,The Bhagavad Gita

[gHari]

looking at this thread it would seem that offering a flower to Srimad Bhagavad-gita or even thinking about offering one, has already generated enormous Gita mercy.

 

I can remember having a bush that produced incredibly beautifully scented flowers. One day I took some to the Toronto ISKCON temple. When the Deity doors opened, I almost fainted. Srimati Radharani had one of the flowers in Her hand for Krsna.

 

gHari

[gHari]

That was so poetic; I'm gonna steal it.

[Govindaram]

"I can remember having a bush that produced incredibly beautifully scented flowers. One day I took some to the Toronto ISKCON temple. When the Deity doors opened, I almost fainted. Srimati Radharani had one of the flowers in Her hand for Krsna."

 

This thread is now nectarian.