B.G 11.47 - 48 class by HG Shyamsundar Prabhu: What is being humble mean?

BG 11.47: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, happily have I shown you, by My internal potency, this supreme universal form within the material world. No one before you has ever seen this primal form, unlimited and full of glaring effulgence.

BG 11.48: O best of the Kuru warriors, no one before you has ever seen this universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas, nor by performing sacrifices, nor by charity, nor by pious activities, nor by severe penances can I be seen in this form in the material world.

Krsna here is saying that the universal form was never shown to anyone ever till Arjuna. Few imp points:

He has shown this universal form by his internal potency. This point needs to be understood. What is this internal potency of the Lord. This internal potency has 3 Shaktis - 

a) Ladhini Shakti (pleasure giving potency) - Srimati Radharani is a representation of the internal potency of the Lord. It actually allows the devotee to enter into Krsna. People of this material world can't see me, because i'm covered by the internal potency of the Lord. To enter into the world of the Lord - name, form, pastimes etc it is very important to connect through the internal potency of the Lord. The Bliss is got only by the internal potency of Krsna. How can we get the joy or Krsna prema only through the internal potency of Krsna.Lord touches Dhruva maharaj's head by the conch shell. The internal potency of Krsna comes through the conch shell to empower Dhruva maharaj on who is Krsna and that gives him intelligence to offer poems and prayers to Krsna. That is the power of the internal potency of the Lord. Without this power of internal potency, nobody can understand Krsna as Krsna is covered. The universal form could be seen openly only by those blessed by the internal potency of the Lord and nobody else could see it. Dhruva maharaj says that Hare Krsna maha mantra is the transcendental sound vibration and is directly an internal potency of Krsna. Whenever a devotee says the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra, they are placed directly in the internal potency of Krsna and can experience the glory of Krsna when chanted with no offense. This is the direct touch of the Lord by chanting the Holy name. And when we chant this, we can actually experience what Arjuna was feeling seeing the Universal form. 

1st point to understand is to see Krsna you have to get the divine vision which you get by the internal potency or the mercy of Radha Rani and hence HARE is the first word in the mahamantra - oh Radharani, oh mother, oh maate, please with shower your mercy and can you please allow me to serve you so I can get the Love for Krsna. Without the mercy of Radharani there is no hope. 

2nd point - only by the Divine vision can you see Krsna. Who will receive this divine vision - person taking the shelter of the internal potency. Divine vision means - Krsna. Anything related to him is Divine. Only the Mahatmas will receive it - why? because they have taken shelter of daivi prakrati - the spiritual nature of the Lord the internal potency of the Lord. Hence, they are constantly singing the divine names of Krsna. Only one who has taken the shelter of the internal potency can get the divine vision to see Krsna. 

So how do you get the mercy of Radharani or take shelter of the internal potency?

Mahatmas who have got the divine vision are not interested to get liberation and they all want to only serve Krsna and see Krsna and serve the divine couple with pure Love. Srimati Radharani's mood is so openly and clearly expressed in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The mood of internal potency. So if we are interested to take the shelter of internal potency - we must take the shelter of Sri Mahaprabhu. To be the servant of the servant of Krsna. As soon as you follow in the footsteps of Mahaprabhu you immediately take the shelter of the internal potency - chant and preach with no offenses and only then you get the mercy of Radharani. 

But the first step and most important is being in the mood of humbleness and meekness. The highlight of all the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is - 3rd verse of Sistastakam - one must be more humble than the blade of grass, like the straw in the street ... be very very very humble and meek. This should become the most primary instruction in our lives and only then can we instantly attain Krsna by Radharani's mercy. 

What is being Humble mean? - I'm insignificant and Krsna and his devotees are significant. We pray more to Krsna and serve Krsna and the devotees and we completely disregard our own separate needs. One need we have is the need to serve Krsna and to nourish ourselves (that is not a separate need but an appropriate need). The separate need is something which is not aligned with Krsna but only for our desires separate from Krsna. We need to move away from it. That is true humility - only do service for Krsna and that is true humility. Humbleness is to realize the truth of life - we are insignificant and Krsna is the only significant personality. Why insignificant?  because nothing is going to exist at the time of annihilation except Krsna and our relationship with Krsna. That is pure humility and we just need to serve the lotus feet of Krsna. So with humility understand Krsna and our relationship to Krsna. That is what Mahaprabhu is saying - O my Krsna please pick me up and place me as an atom of your lotus feet. That is true humility, just as is - just pure and accept that Krsna is my master and my sustenance is dependent on Krsna

To be humble is from the core of our heart, we need to feel that we are very very low and fall down at the feet of Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu and beg them for their mercy so we can get out of this material world. A very good idea is to start with "Humble speech" i.e. words that are truthful, beneficial , pleasing and regularly reciting the sashtras. 

So let's follow in his footsteps just like Narattom das thakur says in his poem - http://kksongs.org/songs/s/srikrsnacaitanyaprabhu.html

b)Sandhini shakti:

c)Samvit shakti: These two are meant for the creation and maintenance of the spiritual realm. One shakti creates and other nourishes the spiritual realm with bhakti.

BG 11.45 -46 by HG Shyamsundar Prabhu

BG 11.45: After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear. Therefore please bestow Your grace upon me and reveal again Your form as the Personality of Godhead, O Lord of lords, O abode of the universe.

BG 11.46: O universal form, O thousand-armed Lord, I wish to see You in Your four-armed form, with helmeted head and with club, wheel, conch and lotus flower in Your hands. I long to see You in that form.

So here Arjuna is helping our progress in understanding the personality of Godheads various forms. He has unlimited incarnations. Brahmaji in Brahma samhita says you have various forms - Rama, Narasimha...etc.He actually has multiple forms. The human form is material, because it is part of this material universe which is coming from the supreme Lord. but it is separated from him and he is not covered by it. 

People who are less advanced and are in that mode, it is advised that they  meditate on the universal form. But for devotees who want to achieve the highest position, they are advised to meditate on the two handed form of Krsna. The 4 handed Narayan forms of the lord is on each vaikunta planet. On top of all these planets - Goloka Vrindavan is Krsna residing in his original form. The reason of the Universal form is to instill fear in the hearts of the material creations. Why? because till we have fear we can't submit to the supreme Lord. Ex - if the child going to school is afraid of the consequences of not studying then he puts his energy in studying.

Only with sufficient amount of fear of the material energy can we actually submit to Krsna and try to become his pure devotee. Ex - Prabhupada said once that I'm praying to Krsna that protect me from maya, because I'm very afraid of it. Even the great acarya, GauraKishore das babaji even though very elevated, he was very afraid of maya. He would run away to the forest, because he was afraid that if I associate with materialistic people, they will take away my time from Bhakti and I will come into maya. He would go to a place with stool so there are less people disturbing him. 

Even Mahaprabhu expressed this fear example of the king wanting to meet him and Mahaprabhu rejected it. Even Sukhadeva gosvami in the womb of the mother understood maya and that maya can delude anybody and hence he didn't even come to this world and it might make him fall down. Hence we was in the womb of his mother for 17 YEARS before coming out. Universal form instills fear and by that fear we become attracted to Krsna. Same here, Arjuna is praying to Krsna I want to look at your 2 handed form. From Krsna all the lamps are being lit and then you can tell the difference between the original and the Krsna. Hence, Arjuna pleads with krsna to come to this form and it the source of all other forms and it reciprocates with all the qualities with the devotee. 

One step backwards from Krsna is Mahaprabhu. How? because he is Radha Krsna The beginning of the world is that form and to expands the pleasure of (Krsna) Radha is separate as the internal potency to give more pleasure to Krsna.

Hence he is coming as one as Mahaprabhu (combination of Radha and Krsna) and hence he is most magnanimous, generous of all the forms and he appeared to give the holy name to everybody. The most imp pasttimes of Mahaprabhu is how to become part of the Vaishnava seva whicis acutally the fact tto become a servant of the devotees how? He used to pesonally serve the devotees of the Lord. He also demoonstrated Vaishanava rules. He demonstrated the power of bhakti through his devotees. He empowered them to go out of the world and give the holy name to everybody mercilessly.  Hence read the CC, Caitanya Bhagavat and Caitanya _____

Unless and until a devotee gets the mercy of the Lord himself we can't understand this philosophy. Ex - Sarvabhuma bhatacharya gets the mercy of Mahaprabhu to listen to the vedic scriptures. Channa avatara. Mahaprabhu was asked to be a fool and chant the holy name continuously. Hence we should approach the lord and beg for his mercy because he has come to deliver everybody to the supreme Lord just  by chanting the holy name of the Lord. 

Arjuna wanted to bring us gradually from the Universal form to the 2 handed form so for the layman there is no room left for any speculation. He showed the universal form and the same Krsna shows the 4 handed form and then he comes to the Original form of 2 handed form so there is no speculation for any laymen. 

To preach we should learn from Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He shows how humble he is and actually pays his obeisances to Keshava Kasmiri and it is so nice to see how he preaches to him without humilating him. This is the way we should adopt to preach. Also, how he spoke to Prakasananda misra. about mayavadi philosophy and how humble he was.

Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day glories.

Glories of Srila Nityananda Prabhu

The supreme absolute truth appears in this age of Kali yuga appear as the panca-tattva. The absolute truth is appearing in these 5 features to perform the most auspicious activity of giving the yuga dharma of this age.

Lord Krsna is the original supreme personality of Godhead. In the BG 11th chapter which we are reading Krsna is revealing to us that he is the supreme personality and everything comes from Krsna and he is the original personality of God. His first expansion is Baladev. Baladev or Balaramji is exactly identical to Krsna and the only difference between them is bluish black in complexion and the other is white in complexion as the white cloud. That is the only difference, otherwise they are the same personality. Krsna is the sevya bhagavan and Balaram is sevaka bhagavan one who is performing the service. When it comes to serving Krsna, there is no one capable of serving Krsna. Krsna is practically unlimited so can a limited personality like us give service to Krsna? We can perform some service but not give complete service to Krsna. Hence, we expands as Baladev and he gives service to Krsna. He expands as the dhaam and all the needs to serve Krsna.

Whenever he comes to the material world he comes with his entourage and he comes with all like Rama, Laksman, Sita, Bharat, Shatrughan. When he appears as Caitanya Mahaprabhu then Balaram comes as Nityananda Prabhu.

So who is he? Krsna became sati suta and Balaram came as Nitai. What is the mood of Balaramji when he appears as Nityananda prabhu. Krishnadas Kaviraj Gosvami say they are the sun and the moon who have appeared simultaneously and have come to give the Holy name of the Lord. The Lord will come in this age to chant the Holy name and that is why he has appeared.In different ages different yugas, but in this age it is chanting the holy name.

Baladev has assumed more merciful form than Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu is merciful but Nityananda prabhu is more merciful. He gives mercy to the fallen souls of this age. If the lord starts seeing the qualification no body will be qualified. Hence he came as the most merciful in the form of Nityananda prabhu to give this harinamm to everybody. Nitya ananda - one who is eternally enjoing bliss. He is constantly enjoying chanting the holy name and he is always blissful. One of the quality of a blissful person is that he never becomes angry or takes offence.

Hence Locanadas prabhu has explained the mood of Nityananada prabhu in his song that is how we can get his mercy. Nityananda is most merciful but how do we get his mercy?

1. AKrodha paramananda - never angry. - example when child becomes angry when the doc gives medicine, yet the doc doesn't become angry he is always very merciful to help the child. Same mood was of Srila Prabhupada. That is the key quality of a personality of who wants to give mercy. He is always tasting the bliss of
2. Adhama papita  - doesn't have any pride. He is going on the door of everybody to please give the gift of the mercy of the Holy name. He is begging people to please take the gift. Hence he has no pride. Whomever he sees he is saying please chant the holy name of Hari.He is free from false pride.
3. What is the price to accept the holy name is Shradha (FAITH) - He has setup a shop of the holy name he is asking for only one price and what is the price FAITH. With that faith anybody can take the holy name from Nityananda prabhu. Only then can you get the mercy from Nityananda prabhu.

The deliverance of Jagai Madhai give the mood of Nityananda prabhu. We are also like Jagai Madhai, but it is only by the mercy of Nityananda prabhu that he is praying tO Mahaprabhu saying that please give them your mercy and if I've every done any good in my life please have mercy on them.

Nityananda prabhu is the original adi-guru. SP, also delivered the jagai madhai of this world everywhere in this world. This is the mercy of Nityananda prabhu and our Guru maharaj is actually begging for our mercy. Hence the GM is praying please oblige him and get rid of his faults and show your mercy. Thus this day is considered most auspicious of all the days in the year. Gaura poornima and Nityananda prabhu should be celebrated really nice as these are the most imp days in our lives. Locana thakur is praying that Nityananda's lotus feet are like millions of moons which are giving soothing rays and with great determination and faith we should hold onto the lotus feet of him. Without his mercy and the mercy of our GM we can get the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, Radha, Krsna.

How do we accept it> So far you ahve commited so many sins but from NOW onwards start fresh. Rectify one's situation and not engage in sinful activiteies and now sheare them with others. Along with this mercy, we need to share the mercy with others. That is how we can get the mercy of Nityananada prabhu - FAITH AND PREACHING. Material world is going insane. This is how we need to hold onto the mercy of Nityananada prabhu.  

Glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

"Srimati Radhika is the guru of the inner circle of the servants of Krishna. Srimati Radhika, however, accepts the offer of service of only those souls who are specially favored by Nityananda and are deemed by Him to be fit for Her service. There is, therefore, a most intimate relationship between the function of Nityananda and that of Srimati Radhika, which is at once supplementary to and inclusive of the former." Nityananda Rama ki Jaya!!

-Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupad in the Harmonist magazine.

I eternally worship Lord Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotional service. He appears like the autumn moon, very splendid and free of any taint. Maddened with pure love for Lord Hari, He walks as gracefully as an elephant, and His eyes constantly roll about. He is the Absolute Truth, His face is smiling, and He disperses the influence of the Age of Kali with the staff in His hand.

Importance of the Holy Name - by Mahaprabhu himself

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says to Prakasananda Sarasvati in CC Adi 7:

My spiritual master said:

CC Ādi 7.72: "'You are a fool,' he said. 'You are not qualified to study Vedānta philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. This is the essence of all mantras, or Vedic hymns.

SP: Mahaprabhu is teaching us that this should be our mood, that we are fools and we just have to follow our Gurudev. We should learn that chanting the Holy name is the "ONLY" way to go back in this yuga. We should remember that the Holy name is none other than Krsna himself.

CC Ādi 7.73: "Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.

CC Ādi 7.74: "'In this Age of Kali there is no religious principle other than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.'

CC Ādi 7.75: "After describing the potency of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, My spiritual master taught Me another verse, advising Me to always keep it within My throat.

CC Ādi 7.76: "'For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.'

CC Ādi 7.77: "Since I received this order from My spiritual master, I always chant the holy name, but I thought that by chanting and chanting the holy name I had been bewildered.

SP: By following in Mahaprabhu's footsteps we should remember that the Holy name is the the only way to go back home in this age and hence chant our rounds without offence every morning during Brahma-muhurata to get the most benefit + Once you have received instructions from your Gurudev, follow it with you heart, mind, body and words!

CC Ādi 7.78: "While chanting the holy name of the Lord in pure ecstasy, I lose myself, and thus I laugh, cry, dance and sing just like a madman.

SP: Mahaprabhu confirms that by chanting without any offenses, you will see the lotus feet of the Lord and then you will be in pure ecstasy.

CC Ādi 7.79: "Collecting My patience, therefore, I began to consider that chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa had covered all My spiritual knowledge.

CC Ādi 7.80: "I saw that I had become mad by chanting the holy name, and I immediately submitted this at the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

SP: Whenever in doubt, approach your Gurudev and senior vaishnavas for questions.

CC Ādi 7.81: "'My dear lord, what kind of mantra have you given Me? I have become mad simply by chanting this mahā-mantra!

CC Ādi 7.82: "'Chanting the holy name in ecstasy causes Me to dance, laugh and cry.' When My spiritual master heard all this, he smiled and then began to speak.

SP: Purport is beautiful to this verse. When your Gurudev sees you progressing, he will become very happy and will be obliged that you have taken this path seriously.

Importance and Significance of Brahma-Muhurt

Lord Kṛṣṇa used to lie down with His sixteen thousand wives, but also He would rise up from bed very early in the morning, three hours before sunrise. By nature’s arrangement the crowing of the cocks warns of the brāhma-muhūrta hour. There is no need of alarm clocks; as soon as the cocks crow early in the morning, it is to be understood that it is time to rise from bed. Hearing that sound, Kṛṣṇa would get up from bed, but His rising early was not very much to the liking of His wives. The wives of Kṛṣṇa were so much attached to Him that they would lie in bed embracing Him, but as soon as the cocks crowed, Kṛṣṇa’s wives would be very sorry and would immediately condemn the crowing.

After rising from bed, Lord Kṛṣṇa would wash His mouth, hands and feet and would immediately sit down and meditate on Himself. This does not mean, however, that we should also sit down and meditate on ourselves. We have to meditate upon Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. That is real meditation, Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa Himself; therefore He was teaching us that brāhma-muhūrta should be utilized for meditation on Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. By doing so, Kṛṣṇa would feel very much satisfied, and similarly we will also feel transcendentally pleased and satisfied if we utilize the brāhma-muhūrta period to meditate on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and if we think of how Śrī Rukmiṇīdevī and Kṛṣṇa acted as ideal householders to teach the whole human society to rise early in the morning and immediately engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

KRSNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead – 1970 Edition

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Vol. 2, Chapter 15

"The time early in the morning, one and a half hours before sunrise, is called brahma-muhurta. During this brahma-muhurta, spiritual activities are recommended. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning have a greater effect than in any other part of the day. SB 3.20.46, purport

Srila Prabhupada was always vigilant about the devotees' being awake early in the morning. He often called for a temple president, asking why some devotees were regularly absent. "The morning temple program," he said, "was very important, and everyone must attend." Prabhupada especially wanted the devotees to attend the first kirtana of the day, mangala-arati.

"The exact time for the mangala-arati would vary according to the clock," he said, "but it must always be one-and-a-half hours before sunrise."

What is so special about this time?

There are many scriptural references:

The last line of Sri Gurvastakam appears in the Stavamrta-lahari of Sri Visvanath Chakravarti Thakura as follows:

srimad-guror astakam etad uccair

brahme muhurte pathati prayatnat

yastena vrndavana natha saksat

sevaiva labhya januso 'nta eva (9)

"That person who very attentively recites this astakam to Sri Gurudeva during brahma muhurta is sure to achieve direct service to the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, the very life and soul of Vrindavana, at the end of his life."

Srila Prabhupada writes in Cc. Madhya 24.331, purport:

In the early morning hours (known as brahma-muhurta) one should get up and immediately chant the Hare Krsna mantra, or at least `Krsna, Krsna, Krsna. In this way, one should remember Krsna.

In Krsna book, "Lord Krsna's Daily Activities", Prabhupada writes:

"Lord Krsna would immediately get up from bed exactly on the appearance of brahma-muhurta.. After rising from bed, Lord Krsna would wash His mouth, hands, and feet and would immediately sit down and meditate on Himself."

Garga-samhita 4.8.19 states:

eka-varam- jalam- pitva dhauta-vastro 'ti-nirmalah

brahme muhurta utthaya caikadasyam- harim- natah

"During ekadasi one should be pure-hearted and very clean, wear clean garments, drink water only once, rise during brahma-muhurta, and bow down to Lord Krsna"

Garga-samhita 5.15.2:

brahme muhurte cotthaya gopyah sarva grhe grhe

dehaly-anganam alipya dipams tatra nirupya ca

"In each home the gopis rose at brahma-muhurta, anointed the doorways and courtyards, arranged the lamps, . . ."

Garga-samhita 8.10.7 also says:

brahme muhurte cotthaya rama-krsneti ca bruvan

natva gurum bhuvam caiva tato bhumyam padam nyaset

"One should rise at brahma-muhurta, chant the holy names of Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, and bow down before one's guru. Only then should one place his feet on the ground."

Srila Prabhupada states that according to Vedic astrology, the day is divided into 30 periods called muhurtas. The brahma-muhurta begins 1 hr 36 minutes before sunrise and lasts for 48 minutes. He also states that ideally, the time for mangala-arati, which should be during brahma-muhurta, should vary according to the sunrise time because the brahma-muhurta time always depends on the time of sunrise. The time of sunrise determines the times of all the muhurtas in the day.

Even if one is not living in the temple, if one is serious about spiritual life, one should be awake and performing some spiritual activity during the brahma-muhurta.

Importance of Chanting

Krishna says:

"I dwell not in the spiritual kingdom

nor in the hearts of yogis;

where the chanting goes on

there, o Narada, stand I." 

                          Padma Purana 

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness.This point should be very carefully observed,then you will advance very quickly to the perfectional stage of Krishna Consciousness." (Letter to Kanchanbala,20.04.70)

 There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge.

From Harinama Cintamani

by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

The most complete form of the Lord is the holy name .

Chanting the holy name is the intimate way to associate with Krishna.

By repeating HIS name we always remain in HIS association

Fear personified is afraid of the name of the Supreme Personality of  Godhead. 

HG Vaisesika Prabhu

Devotee: "Srila Prabhupada, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders."

Srila Prabhupada: "So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. That is all."

You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear. What is the question of mind?"

Our strength is in following the regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds japa. Then Krsna will give you protection.

Letter to Visvadharini dasi

12th January 1977

"Everyone of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything clearly so that you may act for the pleasure of the Lord without uncertainty."

Letter to Damodara

January 10, 1971

Chanting japa is repairing our broken relationship with Krsna with intense absorption we calm down our mind and get ready to meet Krsna for two and half or three hour’s and if that meeting was very attentive than the whole day the remembrance is present subconsciously.

Japa Retreat

by Mahatma dasa

“Chanting ‘I’m late, I’m late!’

like the rabbit in Alice

in Wonderland. But I shall

not let it ruin the quality of my rounds.

I’ll say them with rapid attention

and hear the syllables go

quickly through my mind.

I’m chanting to please Krishna

and not to complete a race.

I ask Him to forgive me

if I rush and I’ll

try to pray, not run.”

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Chanting offenselessly is the remedy for all of these diseases. Therefore I have established that the duty of the president of each temple and also the GBC is to see that each devotee is following the rules and regulations, chanting 16 rounds so that they may be spiritually fit.

Letter to Vidarbha Kanya dasi

19 August, 1974

There is no question of your falldown. Chant 16 rounds regularly and no power in all three worlds will make you fall down. Krishna will save you always.

Letter to Himavati

19 August, 1971 

One should chant attentively with full surrender unto the Holy name. A sincere devotee has full faith in the Holy name. He always tries to improve his chanting by pulling our the weeds of illicit desires. The determined sadhaka enthusiastically moves on the path of devotion by surrendering moment to moment to the Lord of attraction.

Illuminations on Nama Aparadha

by Mahanidhi Swami

"So while you are chanting, you don’t have to get to something else or go somewhere else or wait for "it" to happen, but you just have to realize that this is actually Krsna. Then, as you realize Krsña more, you get more into the chanting. You realize that the chanting is simply to chant Krsna's name, and you want to do it more and more."

From Japa Reform Notebook

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

When we chant with attention to the sound and really give it our devotion, then we feel something from Krsna and we WANT to keep chanting.

When we wake up in the morning and take bath, we WANT to chant the Holy names because we feel Krsna's presence during Japa and that's the Lord reciprocating with our efforts to hear the Holy names.

In our chanting we should do the same....don't be in a hurry to finish your rounds, really relish the taste of chanting by pronouncing the words and syllables clearly - by giving everything to the Holy names, the Lord will certainly reward us.

This respectful chanting will invoke the Lord's reciprocation and we can leave behind us mechanical Japa and really experience a sweet taste for chanting the Holy names.

by Rasa Rasika

"If you follow these two principles, Kṛṣṇa will be within your grip.”

“So our process is very simple. Simply engage your tongue. Leave aside all other senses. The tongue is very strong. And tongue is our bitterest enemy, and tongue can be your most intimate friend. This tongue. Therefore the śāstra says that sevonmukhe hi jihvādau: just engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, and He will b...

e revealed. Very nice. Now what…, what we do with the tongue? We talk: talk of Kṛṣṇa. We sing: chant of Kṛṣṇa. We eat: taste, eat Kṛṣṇa prasāda. You will understand Kṛṣṇa. Any foolish person, any uneducated or any position of life, you can use your tongue for Kṛṣṇa’s service. Don’t eat anything which is not eaten by Kṛṣṇa—your tongue becomes your most intimate friend. And don’t talk anything except Kṛṣṇa. If you follow these two principles, Kṛṣṇa will be within your grip.”

[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.14.44 - New York, April 8, 1973]

BG 11.39 - 42 summary by HG Shyamsundar prabhu

BG 11.39: You are air, and You are the supreme controller! You are fire, You are water, and You are the moon! You are Brahmā, the first living creature, and You are the great-grandfather. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again!

BG 11.40: Obeisances to You from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything!

BG 11.41-42: Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You "O Kṛṣṇa," "O Yādava," "O my friend," not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonored You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses.

The Lord has shown the universal form to Arjuna and he has shown that everything is part of this universal form. After seeing this universal form, Krsna in front of me isn't an ordinary person. He begins composing beautiful prayers by Arjuna to Krsna. Is everything Krsna? In one way everything is Krsna but it's just a reflection of Krsna - a minute particle of Krsna. Without Krsna the living entity has no existence. Only that way can we become Krsna conscious. He struggles to see Krsna - even in the deity form. 

But, one who is in an exalted position like Arjuna then he know that everything is in Krsna and everything is Krsna. When one wants to give respects, they circle the Lord. Same way Arjuna is paying obeisances from all sides. The best parikrama in this world is performing dandavat parikrama to Govardhan parvat. While he was doing this, he remembers what has he done?

I thought of you as a friend, I rashly addressed you and did all sorts of things. Please excuse me of all these offences. When we think of Krsna that he is all pervading we have awe and reverence. And at the same time brajavasis had so much love for Krsna that they didn't consider Krsna as the supreme Lord. But our situation is we also don't consider him Lord because of our conditioned lives. But for Arjuna - covered by internal potency of Krsna and so he was ok. 

Same example is how mother yashoda sees the entire universe when Krsna opens his mouth. If mother yashoda thinks that Krsna is the Lord, then her relationship ends as then she won't take care of him as her child. The importance of relationsihp is very importance. Relationships in perfection is KC. The entire KC is given so we can learn to cooperate and have loving relationships with the devotees of the world and only when we have a good relationship here only then can we enter into the spiritual realm. 

Hence, we have to become expert in relationship between devotees. This Virat roopa is simple behaving as a ordinary friends to his devotee. This is inconcievable and yet a very sweet aspect of the Lord. Inspite of being so great, yet he becomes a lowly servant of his devotee. That is what we should learn from Krsna.  We should become humble like Krsna. This is the sweetest aspect of Krsna, most loving aspect. If we just meditate on this, it will liberate us. Here is your Viraat rupa and you are showing me Krsna and what have you done to me, you have become my friend and now my saarthi my servant. How loving is my Lord. 

As we are understanding the limitless power of the lord, yet at the same time we should remember that he is the MOST LOVING PERSON in this world. When we get this feeling that KRSNA loves me, then every material thing goes to trash and we become very very satisfied. Children know my parents love me and hence become satisfied when they see their kids.

Hence we should never lose sight of the supremacy and power of the Lord and at the same time we should never lose sight that Krsna LOVES me and only when we have both we get the faith and determination to develop that relationship with Krsna. Through that aspect of love, Krsna is coming to show us mercy and is always reciprocating with us. 

The nature of the Lord is to serve the devotees and the nature of the devotees is to serve Krsna. So there is always a competition to serve each other better. example - Advaita prabhu and Mahaprabhu; Gopis and Krsna, Radha and Krsna - that is the only way we can get joy only by becoming a servant. Because even Krsna wants to become a servant then why are we becoming shy of becoming a servant. When we get initiated we get the title dasa, and that is the officially saying that now we are the servant of Krsna. Krsna is also getting joy from his devotees only by serving his devotees and that is his reciprocation to him.


Why universal form shown to Arjuna? - 
1. Arjuna asked for it.
2. He wanted to solve Arjuna's confusion. He was just an excuse, he wanted to give this BG to the entire human kind and give the entire knowledge to the human race. He is making it more and more clear as he gives these concept to Arjuna. Arjuna is even more excited and wants to see the opulences and form of the Lord (Arjuna requests in 10). Arjuna is only a seeker, and Krsna is the teacher. If Arjuna is asking as a sincere seeker (and a sincere seeker will ask these questions) and on behalf of all of us - Krsna is obliging and showing his mercy to everybody. He is helping Arjuna to gain his conviction and faith in Him.