Speculation

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

Hari Hari

 

I am finding that not speculating is a very nice, as taught by Acharyas. What is the need to speculate unless to feed the ego?

 

Oh yes, there is a difference between speculations and sincere inquiries. Remembering Guru/Sadhu/Sastra. Not speculating will make you a devotee, since you cannot speculate on who God is. Everybody to the Mayavadis, down to the Impersonalists, speculate. Vaishavana's on the other hand discuss. Anyhow until I'm chanting properly, and [a lot]. Time out. Gaurabolo!

 

[Guest guest]

I second that!

[krsna]

 

 

Bombay 21 January, 1972

 

My Dear Chaturbhus,

 

Please accept my blessings.

 

I am happy to receive your nice letter of January 10, 1972, and I am pleased to note that you are asking very intelligent questions.That is natural position for the neophyte devotee who is sincerely seeking to understand what is the Absolute Truth.

 

So I am very much engladdened to hear that you are very intelligent boy, like your father, and that your whole family is advancing in Krishna Consciousness. May Krishna give you all blessings.

 

Lord Caitanya met Moulana in Sara, U.P., not at Allahabad. His process was to take a quotation from the Koran and convince the Moulana that Krishna Consciousness or pure love of Godhead in mood of selfless devotional service is the ultimate goal of life.

 

As for the difference between mental speculation and philosophical speculation, we take it that everything is known by the psychological action of the mind, so that philosophical speculation is the same as mental speculation if it is merely the random or haphazard activity of the brain to understand everything and making theories, "if's" and "maybe's." But if philosophical speculation is directed by Sastra and Guru, and if the goal of such philosophical attempts is to achieve Visnu, then that philosophical speculation is not mental speculation. It is just like this: Krishna syas in Bhagavad-gita that "I am the taste of water." Philosophical speculation in the accepted sense then means to try to understand, under the direction of Sastra and Guru, just how Krishna is the taste of water. The points of Bhagavad-gita, though they are simple and complete, can be understood from unlimited angles of vision. So our philosophy is not dry, like mental speculation. The proper function of the brain or psychological activity is to understand everything through Krishna's perspective or point-of-view, and so there is no limit to that understanding because Krishna is unlimited, and even though it can be said that the devotee who knows Krishna, he knows everything (15th Chapter), still, the philosophical process never stops and the devotee continues to increase his knowledge even though he knows everything. Try to understand this point, it is a very good question.

 

Lord Caitanya may have long hair in his early grhastha life, but that does not mean that we should imitate Lord Caitanya. Caitanya also had shaven head and sikha. The important thing is that we follow the regulative guidelines as laid down by great saints and acaryas in our line, and so it is recommended that we wear clean-shaven heads. but there is no hard and fast rule in this respect. If it is practical to grow hairs out, that can be done. But it is not that we may imitate Lord Caitanya by growing big hairs.

 

Hoping this will meet you in good health and happy mood. Your father is serving nicely in Delhi by printing our books and magazines in Hindi language, and I am very much pleased with him also. Now you protect your good mother and brothers and sisters, help them to advance more and more in Krishna Consciousness by holding chanting in your house regularly daily and by having altar. If you become very serious to have the ultimate satisfaction of life, then I think that you will practice this KC process very enthusiastically and be successful in all respects.

 

Your ever well-wisher,

 

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

 

 

[krsna]

by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

 

Changing the Body

 

Advancement of material science in the field of medical surgery has made it possible to change the body of a human being from male to female or from female to male by surgical operation. The desire to change the body in this way is a kind of mundane lust. This lusty idea is a perverted reflection of the transcendental idea of changing the body as in the case of the srutis. The idea of changing the body from one form to another is quite possible even by way of the materialistic mind. Therefore, by spiritual development the possibility of changing the body for the better is even greater.

 

The conclusion of the above-mentioned spiritual perfection is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.9.21):

 

nayam sukhapo bhagavan

dehinam gopika-sutah

jnaninam catma-bhutanam

yatha bhaktimatam iha

 

<font color="blue"> "Sri Krsna, who is the son of Srimati Yasodadevi, is more easily available to persons engaged in spontaneous devotional service than to persons engaged in empiric philosophical speculations." </font color>

 

One who therefore accepts the example set by the cowherd girls of Vraja and always meditates upon the transcendental pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna day and night while living in Vraja and serving Them there will ultimately obtain the body of a sakhi and directly serve Radha and Krsna.

 

An Eternal Life of Ecstasy

 

The supramundane body is transcendental to the gross and subtle bodies of the living entity and it is suitable for rendering loving service to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Transmigration of the soul from one body to another takes place in material existence according to the living entity’s fruitive activities, which are carried out in relation to the three modes of nature. In the Bhagavad-gita, the transmigration of the soul is vividly described. The mind carries the soul to another body just as the air carries aromas. At the time of death, one’s state of mind is very important in this connection. The mind is prone to be absorbed in the particular kind of thinking, feeling, and willing that it has always done in relation to its daily activities.

 

The state of the mind at the time of leaving the body depends on the modes of thinking, feeling, and willing. Devotees are advised to think continuously, day and night, about the transcendental pastimes of Radha and Krsna, so that their minds will be absorbed with that type of thinking, feeling, and willing. As such, it will be possible for the living entity to enter the kingdom of Radha and Krsna to directly associate with Them for rendering loving service in the particular sentiment that he cultivated continually during his life.

 

In material existence, the mind is always conditioned to think about material enjoyment. Therefore, the mind has to be engaged in contemplating the transcendental subject matter that has no connection with the three modes of nature. The divine pastimes of Radha and Krsna and the activities of the cowherd girls of Vraja are above the three qualities of material nature. When the mind is engaged in thinking, feeling, and willing in connection with such transcendental subjects, the living entity is sure to ultimately get the service of Radha and Krsna.

 

The deva-vrata, people who are situated in the mode of goodness, worship the demigods such as Brahma and Siva and attain the abodes of such demigods. The pitr-vratas, people who are situated in the mode of passion for enjoying the material world and who worship the pitrs, forefathers who have passed away, attain the different abodes of the pitrs. The bhutejyas, animal and ghost worshipers, who are situated in the mode of darkness and ignorance, also attain their respective destinations in the material world. But the devotees of the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna attain His supreme abode, which is eternal. No one ever returns after attaining that abode.

 

All other spheres of attainment are considered temporary abodes because they are either vanquished after a limited duration of time or the residents of those abodes have to come back again to this earth after they have exhausted the results of their previous pious activities. As far as the bhutejyas are concerned, they are doom- ed to hover on this earth or in even lower regions of the universe.

 

Lord Caitanya offers all people in the age of Kali, who are by nature very unfortunate in every respect, the highest benefit of life. As such, those who take this opportunity will be considered the most fortunate souls. By following the principles of devotional activities as propounded by Ramananda Raya under the order of Lord Caitanya, every human being can attain the eternal life of ecstasy in the company of the Personality of Godhead in different transcendental rasas as are enjoyed by the denizens of Vraja or Goloka Vrndavana, the eternal abode of Sri Krsna.

 

No Entrance for Laksmidevi

 

Without pursuing the footsteps of the gopis, no one can obtain the spiritual body of a sakhi and render service to Sri Krsna, even if the devotional service is rendered in the mood of opulence. A vivid example of this is Sri Laksmidevi, who desired entrance into the transcendental pastimes of the rasa-lila of Sri Krsna. However, because Laksmidevi did not follow in the footsteps of the cowherd girls of Vraja, she did not get entrance.

 

This statement of Ramananda Raya caused Lord Caitanya to melt in complete ecstasy and thus He embraced him in His arms. Both Ramananda Raya and Lord Caitanya were overflowing with tears of transcendental joy. The whole night was thus passed in divine conversation, and when the morning came, both Ramananda and Lord Caitanya went about their respective engagements.

 

As Lord Caitanya was leaving, Ramananda fell at his feet and fervently requested Him in the following way:

 

more krpa karite tomara ihan agamana

dina dasa rahi’ sodha mora dusta mana

toma vina anya nahi jiva uddharite

toma vina anya nahi krsna-prema dite'

 

"You have come here to bestow Your Divine Grace upon me; therefore, please remain here for at least ten days and see to it that my polluted mind is corrected. There is no one in the world but You who can deliver the fallen souls and there is no one in the world except You who can bestow upon them the transcendental mellowness of love of Godhead."

 

Lord Caitanya replied,

 

prabhu kahe—ailana suni’ tomara guna

krsna-katha suni, suddha karaite mana

yaiche sunilun, taiche dekhilun tomara mahima

radha-krsna-premarasa-jnanera tumi sima

dasa dinera ka-katha yavat ami jiba'

tavat tomara sanga chadite nariba

nilacale tumi-ami thakiba eka-sange

sukhe gonaiba kala krsna-katha-range

 

"I came to you after hearing of your reputation of pure devotion in order to purify My mind by hearing the transcendental message of Sri Krsna. I have just verified My information about you upon seeing and hearing you. You are he zenith of transcendental knowledge regarding the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. As such, it will not be possible for Me to ever leave your company, what to speak of after ten days or so. We shall both live at Nilacala (Jagannatha Puri) together and pass our time in perfect happiness always talking about the subject of the divine pastimes of Radha and Krsna."

 

Perfect Questions and Answers

 

Thus Ramananda Raya and Lord Caitanya separated from one another in the morning and in the evening they met again. The meeting took place in a secluded area and the talks began in the same manner of question and answer, with Lord Caitanya questioning and Ramananda answering.

 

Q: What is the essence of learning in the field of educational activities?

A: There is no superior quality of learning than the knowledge pursued in regard to devotional service to Sri Krsna.

Q: What is the highest fame?

A: The highest fame of a living being is a reputation of being a devotee of Sri Krsna.

Q: What is the most valuable possession of life among all the assets of the world?

A: One who has transcendental love for Radha and Krsna is to be considered the richest person in the world.

Q: What is the most grievous type of sorrow among all the sorrows and distresses of life?

A: There is no greater type of sorrow than the unhappiness created by separation from devotees of Sri Krsna.

Q: Who is most perfectly liberated among all the liberated souls of the universe?

A: One who has transcendental love for Sri Krsna is the greatest of all liberated souls.

Q: What is the best song that a person can sing?

A: The essence of all songs is the singing of the transcendental glories of Radha and Krsna.

Q: What is the highest benefit of life that a person can seek?

A: There is no greater gain in life than the association of devotees engaged in the service of Sri Krsna.

Q: Who is to be remembered constantly by the living being?

A: One should always think of the transcendental name, fame, and qualities of Sri Krsna.

Q: What should the living being meditate on?

A: The most perfect type of meditation is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna.

Q: Where should the living being reside exclusively, leaving all other residential quarters?

A: One should live in Vrndavana, where the transcendental pastimes of rasa-lila are perpetually performed.

Q: What should the living entity hear about, leaving aside all other topics?

A: The reciprocal loving pastimes of Radha and Krsna are the only subject matter for aural reception by the living entity.

Q: What is the most worshipable object among all those to be worshiped?

A: The topmost worshipable object is the combined names of Radha and Krsna.

Q: Where do persons go who aspire after liberation or sense enjoyment respectively?

A: The first person attains a body that is immovable (such as a stone or mountain), and the other attains a celestial body. (According to Gautama Buddha, liberation means to become like a stone, without any sense perception. That is the culmination of Buddhist philosophy.)

 

The above questions and answers contain the essence of all transcendental knowledge confirmed in the authoritative scriptures.

 

Most Learned Fellow

 

The gradual development of educational activities should be estimated in the following manner: brahma-vidya or knowledge of the spirit soul is superior to the knowledge of the physical world; knowledge about the Personality of Godhead is superior to the knowledge of the impersonal Brahman or spirit; and knowledge of Sri Krsna and His pastimes is superior to the knowledge of the Personality of Godhead Visnu.

 

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is said that the highest work is that which will satisfy the senses of Hari, and the highest education is to teach about Him. One who has learned the nine different processes of devotional service—hearing, chanting, remembering, serving the Lord’s lotus feet, worshiping, praying, becoming a servant, embracing the Lord in friendship, and fully surrendering unto Him—is to be considered the most learned fellow.

 

Fame

 

The fame a person receives because of being a devotee of Sri Krsna is described in the authoritative scripture Garuda Purana:

 

kalau bhagavatam nama

durlabham naiva labhyate

brahma-rudra-padotkrstam

guruna kathitam mama

 

"I have heard from my spiritual master that in the age of Kali it will be very difficult to find a person who is famous because of being a devotee of Sri Krsna, although such a position is better than the position of Brahma or Siva."

 

Sri Narada Muni has said,

 

janmantara-sahasresu

yasya syad buddhir idrsi

daso 'ham vasudevasya

sarval lokan samuddharet

 

"A person who considers himself the eternal servant of the Personality of Godhead Vasudeva (a conception that is achieved after thousands and thousands of births) can deliver all the fallen souls in material existence."

 

In the Bhagavad-gita, it is also confirmed that a person who is actually a mahatma or great soul, having thoroughly understood that Vasudeva is the Lord of all the universes, is very rarely found. After many, many births of acquiring knowledge, he surrenders unto Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.

 

In the Adi Purana, it is said that the liberated souls, including the srutis, follow the pure devotees of Sri Krsna. In the Brhan-naradiya Purana it is stated:

 

adyapi ca muni-srestha brahmadya api devatah

 

"Until now even the best among the munis (sages) or the demigods like Brahma and others do not understand the influence of the devotee who has completely surrendered to the transcendental service of Visnu."

 

In the Garuda Purana it is stated:

 

brahmananam sahasrebhyah satra-yaji visisyate

satra-yaji-sahasrebhyah sarva vedanta-paragah

sarva-vedanta-vit-kotya visnu-bhakto visisyate

vaisnavanam sahasrebhya ekanty eko visisyate

 

"Out of many, many thousands of brahmanas, one who is expert in the performance of sacrifices is considered the best. Out of many thousands of such experts in the performance of sacrifices, one who has surpassed all the knowledge in the Vedas is considered the best. Out of all those persons who have excelled in the studies of the Vedas, a person who is a devotee of Visnu, the Personality of Godhead, is considered the best. And out of many, many thousands of such worshipers of Visnu, one who is a pure Vaisnava or an exclusive devotee of Sri Krsna is the best because only he will attain the highest abode called Param-dhama, which is described in the Bhagavad-gita by Sri Krsna Himself."

 

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is also said that the purpose of acquiring knowledge of all the srutis and of endeavoring in all the other ways of spiritual culture is that one will become addicted to the process of hearing the transcendental qualities, name, and fame of Mukunda (Sri Krsna).

 

In the prayers of the Narayana-lila, it is said that a pure devotee does not desire to be situated even in the position of a Brahma if he is devoid of the devotional service of Godhead. Rather, the pure devotee prefers to become even a small insect if such a life is engaged in the devotional service of Godhead.

 

All Are Not Equal

 

The fame of Prahlada Maharaja as a devotee of Godhead is described in the Skanda Purana by Lord Siva: "Not even I can know Sri Krsna as He is. Only the devotees know Him, and of all the devotees, Prahlada is the best."

 

In the Brhad-bhagavatamrta, Sanatana Goswami says that above Prahlada, the Pandavas are still better devotees, and the Yadus are better than the Pandavas. Out of all the Yadus, Uddhava is the best devotee, and the damsels of Vraja are even better than Uddhava. Therefore, they are the topmost of all devotees.

 

In the Brhad-vamana, Brahma spoke to the rsis as follows:

 

sasti-varsa-sahasrani

maya taptam tapah pura

nanda-gopa-vraja-strinam

pada-renupalabdhaye

 

"I tried my best by undergoing austerity for 60 thousand years in order to be able to get the feet-dust of the damsels of Vraja, the cowherd boys, and King Nanda. Yet I did not get the blessings of the dust of their feet. Therefore, I think that myself, Siva, and Laksmi are not at all equal to them."

 

In the Adi Purana, the Personality of Godhead said,

 

na tatha me priyatamo

brahma rudras ca parthiva

na ca laksmir na catma ca

yatha gopi-jano mama

 

"There is nobody dearer to Me than the cowherd damsels of Vraja—not even Brahma, Siva, Laksmi, or even My own Self."

 

Follow Srila Rupa Goswami

 

Among all the inhabitants of Vraja, Srimati Radharani is the dearest of all. Srila Rupa Goswami is the most confidential servitor of Srimati Radharani, and is therefore very dear to Lord Caitanya. The followers of the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami are known as the Rupanuga devotees of Sri Krsna. Such Rupanuga devotees are eulogized in the Sri Caitanya-candramrta (127) as follows:

 

astam vairagya-kotir bhavatu

sama-dama-ksanti-maitry-adi-kotis

tattvanudhyana-kotir bhavatu

va vaisnavi bhakti-kotih

koty-amso ‘py asya na syat tad api

guna-gano yah svatah-siddha aste

srimac-caitanyacandra-priya-carana-

nakha-jyotir amoda-bhajam

 

"Persons who are attached to the rays of the effulgent nails on the toes of the lotus feet of the beloved and dear devotees of Lord Caitanya are by themselves fully qualified with all transcendental qualities. Even powerful renunciation, equanimity, sense control, fortitude, meditation, and similar other great qualities that are found in the devotees of Visnu do not compare to even one-millionth of a part of their transcendental attributes."

 

Real Wealth

 

 

The general masses who are driven by the dictates of the mind for material enjoyment, desire to accumulate more and more wealth, which is the medium for obtaining their sense gratification. However, by pure transcendental intellect, one can objectively assess the value of material wealth and see that there is no wealth that can be compared with the value of love for Radha and Krsna. Here are some quotations in support of the above conception from the sastra:

 

kim alabhyam bhagavati

prasanne sri-niketane

tathapi tat-para rajan

na hi vanchanti kincana

 

"Although everything is available for devotees of the Personality of Godhead, they do not desire anything for their own sense enjoyment." (Bhag. 10.39.2)

 

mam anaradhya duhkhartah

kutumbasakta-manasah

sat-sanga-rahito martyo

vrddha-seva-paricyutah

 

"Conditioned souls are always unhappy in their attachment for relatives as they do not worship Me and are thus bereft of the association of pure devotees and service unto Me."

 

sva-jivanadhikam prarthyam

sri-visnu-jana-sangatah

vicchedena ksanam catra

na sukhamsam labhamahe

 

"The association of the devotees of Visnu is worth more than my life, because being detached from such association for a moment, I do not feel even the slightest trace of happiness." (Brhad-bhagavatamrta 1.5.44)

 

muktanam api siddhanam

narayana-parayanah

sudurlabhah prasantatma

kotisv api mahamune

 

"Out of millions of great sages who are liberated souls, it is very difficult to find a sober devotee of Lord Narayana." (Bhag. 6.14.5)

 

anugrahaya bhutanam

manusam deham asthitah

bhajate tadrsih krida

yah srutva tat-paro bhavet

 

"The Personality of Godhead, in order to bestow mercy upon His devotees, appears on this earth and manifests His pastimes so that the devotees may be attracted to Him and His pastimes." (Bhag. 10.33.37)

 

ata atyantikam ksemam

prcchamo bhavato ‘naghah

samsare ‘smin ksanardho ‘pi

sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam

 

"O most auspicious one, I am asking You for the highest benediction. I wish to have the association of Your pure devotees because the association of Your devotees for even a moment is the most valuable gain in this world." (Bhag. 11.2.28)

 

tasmat sarvatmana rajan

harih sarvatra sarvada

srotavyah kirtitavyas ca

smartavyo bhagavan nrnam

 

"O King, the Personality of Godhead Hari is to be heard, glorified, and remembered by all human beings at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances." (Bhag. 2.2.36)

 

tasmad ekena manasa

bhagavan satvatam patih

srotavyah kirtitavyas ca

dhyeyah pujyas ca nityada

 

"The Personality of Godhead, who is the sustainer of the pure devotees, is to be heard and glorified, worshiped and meditated upon with rapt attention at all times." (Bhag. 1.2.14)

 

asam aho carana-renu-jusam aham syam

vrndavane kim api gulma-latausadhinam

ya dustyajam svajanam arya-patham ca hitva

bhejur mukunda-padavim srutibhir vimrgyam

 

"My desire is to become a blade of grass or a creeper that grows in the forest of Vraja. In that way, it will be possible for me to receive the dust of the feet of those great personalities who have worshiped the lotus feet of the great liberator, Mukunda. The dust of the feet of these great personalities is sought after even by the srutis. Leaving aside the affection of their own kith and kin, which is ordinarily impossible to give up, the gopis of Vraja have sacrificed everything for the satisfaction of Sri Krsna." (Bhag. 10.47.61)

 

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh

sraddanvito ’nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah

bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam

hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

 

"A person who with a reverential attitude hears the transcendental pastimes of Sri Krsna with the damsels of Vraja from the mouth of a pure devotee and then describes those pastimes accordingly, achieves the supramundane loving service of Godhead within no time and thereby drives away mundane lusty desires for sense gratification from his heart." (Bhag. 10.33.40)

 

etavan eva loke ’smin

pumsam dharmah parah smrtah

bhakti-yogo bhagavati

tan-nama-grahanadibhih

 

"The highest duty of every human being in this world is to be engaged in the loving service of the Personality of Godhead and to chant His Holy Name." (Bhag. 6.3.22)

 

Dry, speculative knowledge is compared to the bitter fruits of the Nim tree. This fruit is unworthy of human consumption but is quite suitable for those persons who, like the crows, are situated in a rough, argumentative way of life. Their dry philosophical speculations sound like the crowing of crows.

 

On the other hand, the newly-bloomed buds of the mango fruit, which are sweet to taste and completely palatable, are compared to the transcendental loving service of Godhead. As such, this fruit is tasted by the pure devotees of Sri Krsna, who are compared to the parrots who are always delivering sweet sounds. Dry philosophical speculation is the only gain of the unfortunate jnani empiric philosopher, and the juicy nectarean taste of the loving service of Godhead is the drink of the fortunate devotees.